Jack Bar – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – DALLAS STARS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:48:44 +0000

Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

1 - Wyatt Johnston C

The 23^rd overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Wyatt Johnston was a surprise to some to be a 1^st round pick, but Johnston is looking like one of the best players from the draft at the moment after a massive breakout year, solidifying the case for his draft positioning. The former 6^th overall selection in the 2019 OHL Draft had a strong rookie year, finishing with 30 points (12G,18A) in 53 games. Unfortunately, during the 2020-2021 season, Johnston did not play due to the Covid-19 shutdown. The only chance for Johnston to showcase himself that year was the U18 World Championship where he displayed his ability to adapt to a depth role while still producing. During the 2021-2022 season, Johnston took the OHL by storm and became one of the most dangerous players in the league. Finishing the season with 124 points (46G,78A) in 68 games, which was 1^st in the league in points, 3^rd in the league in goals, 2^nd in the league in assists and first on the team in points, goals and assists. Johnston’s best assets are his hockey sense and playmaking. He has the ability to take over a game because of his strong awareness in all three zones, knowing when to play aggressive or conservative. He’s strong defensively because of the intensity he brings on forechecks and in board battles, outworking his opponents often with an active stick and physicality. He’s able to read and anticipate plays very well, timing his passes perfectly and seeing passing lanes before they open, always making him a threat with the puck. He’s able to attack high danger scoring areas consistently and understands how to take advantage of a vulnerable opponents. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Johnston will once again look to dominate the league and be a player that every team will hate to play against. - DK

2 - Logan Stankoven C

You have to be a very special prospect with truly elite traits to succeed in hockey when you only stand 5'8”, and that description fits Stankoven to a T. He was picked by the Dallas Stars 49^th overall in 2021, though there are likely already other teams that are second-guessing not snagging the reigning CHL Player of the Year first when they had the chance. His hockey sense and work ethic are both exceptional, allowing him to be an impactful player on a shift-over-shift basis. He is seemingly always in the thick of the play because he has an Energizer Bunny motor that never quits and because he knows exactly where he needs to be and what he needs to do to help his team. He is especially tenacious on the forecheck, pickpocketing unsuspecting enemies, intercepting opposing passes and getting to loose pucks first. When he gets the puck on his stick his hands and feet work together in seamlessly frenetic motion, making him shifty and elusive, and he has a lethal shot that he can deposit through the smallest of openings and with a disguised release. The captain of the Kamloops Blazers, he exudes confidence and leadership, and amplifies his game in the biggest situations, as evidenced by his play in the WHL playoffs (17 goals and 31 points in 17 games) and also with the gold medal-winning Canadian team at the 2022 World Juniors (10 points in seven games). With equally talented young forwards like Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and Mavrik Bourque to play with in the Stars organization it is easy to foresee Stankoven becoming a big-time point producer and fan favorite whenever he reaches the NHL. - DN

3 - Mavrik Bourque C

Mavrik Bourque is the offensive catalyst that led the Shawinigan Cataractes to win their first President Cup ever as the oldest franchise in the QMJHL. Bourque stands out from everyone else with his superior hockey sense that allows him to dominate a game with exceptional passing and playmaking abilities. Due to his smaller size, in combination with average skating ability, Bourque fell all the way to the end of the first round to the Dallas Stars in 2020. However, he has worked feverishly to improve his quickness and the results have spoken for themselves. Additionally, Bourque is now much stronger on the puck, making him so efficient at playing through traffic. He can just beat you in so many ways. Aged out of the QMJHL Bourque will join the Texas Stars in the AHL this upcoming season where he’ll look to make an immediate impact at this level. There may even be an outside chance that Bourque makes the Stars out of camp, given that they do have some openings at the forward position. But he will need to show that he is quick enough and strong enough to compete against men consistently. Bourque has the potential to become a top six forward at the NHL level and is easily one of the best prospects from the QMJHL. - EB

4 - Thomas Harley D

Even if Harley struggled at times in his NHL debut last season, the hope is that it was ultimately best for his development. He had performed well in the AHL and was ready for that next challenge. Even if his minutes and responsibilities were sheltered, the experience allowed him the opportunity to gain confidence at the NHL level. There were times where he struggled with his decision making and positioning, and there were others where he flashed his potential as a top four puck mover. Harley is at his best with the puck on his stick, where he can use his long strides to chew up ground as he pushes into the offensive zone. His skating ability (overall) is extremely impressive given his length. Over his OHL career, Harley has improved his defensive play a lot, especially in terms of his physicality, however the pro level has offered new challenges. He will need to continue to improve his strength and confidence to use his body to defend effectively at the NHL level. This coming season, he has an outstanding opportunity to make a profound impact as the replacement for John Klingberg, both at even strength and on the powerplay. With a new coaching staff in place, perhaps they can bring out the best in Harley and he can become a full time NHL contributor. - BO

5 - Ty Dellandrea C

Playing in his second pro season, Dellandrea had an excellent AHL campaign for Texas last year, finishing second in team scoring. The former 13th overall pick can still struggle with his offensive consistency, but he does so many other things well that it gives him a solid NHL projection. Best case scenario? Dellandrea continues to improve his play with the puck and his ability to make skilled plays through traffic. His shot is an asset, and he can play a power game, using his size and strength to get to the net and win battles along the wall. This leads him to become a quality middle six center not unlike someone like Mike Fisher. Worst case scenario? Dellandrea still develops into a quality fourth line center and penalty killer because of his speed, tenacity, and defensive potential. He is a very safe bet to be an NHL player in some capacity. This coming season, he will battle with some other Stars prospects (some of whom might currently be ahead of him on the depth chart) for a fourth line role with Dallas. Even if he has to spend another year in the AHL, it could be good for his development as an offensive player as he would build further confidence. - BO

6 - Riley Damiani C

Two years ago, Damiani was the breakout star of the Stars’ system. His outstanding freshman pro season led him to being named the AHL’s Rookie of the Year. Even though he was not able to mimic that same success last year (with the AHL operating at a higher level due to the elimination of the taxi squad at the NHL level), he remains a quality pro prospect. He even got his first taste of NHL action and scored his first NHL goal. Damiani is an extremely intelligent, playmaking pivot. He makes up for his lack of size with excellent vision and anticipation in the offensive end. He is also slippery with good agility and confidence on his edges, making him tough to contain as he eludes checks and sticks to keep plays alive. Like any smaller player who finds success at the pro level, Damiani is also a hard worker who is not afraid of playing through traffic or taking a hit to make a play. As such, he is an easy player to cheer for. This season, he will likely return to the AHL to continue improving upon his quickness and strength on the puck. He is probably at least another year away from being a full time NHL player. His potential as an NHL player is that of a middle six center who can excel on the powerplay and help to make his wingers better. - BO

7 - Lian Bichsel D

Bichsel was recently selected 18^th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2022 draft. He plays a high-energy game with a combination of size, physicality, and puck moving ability. Standing at 6’5” and 220 pounds, Bichsel is able to control gaps, defend the rush and make crushing hits against his opponents. While he is big, he still has the ability to be a factor in transition, generating speed with his skating stride while protecting the puck using his large frame. As a 17-year-old he was able to carve up a large role playing in the SHL for Leksands, playing up to 20 minutes of ice time per game, due to his physical defensive presence. That, plus his potential upside as a puck mover, is why the Stars felt comfortable using a mid-first round selection on him. There is some offensive potential for Bichsel, too, as he has shown he is willing to skate down low in the offensive end and utilize the give-and-go with his teammates. Last season, in 11 J20 games, Bichsel produced 7 points, while putting up three points in 29 SHL games in a more purely defensive-minded role. A late season concussion truly put a damper on Bichsel’s season as he was not able to showcase his skill at the U18’s against high-end competition of his own age. However, that did not hurt his draft stock as the Stars are banking on the strong physical presence and the potential offensive upside. Bichsel will look to maintain a top-4 role on Leksands in the SHL for the upcoming season while showcasing more of his offensive skills. - ZS

8 - Antonio Stranges LW

The 123rd overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, Antonio Stranges had a great season being one of the leaders and top producers on the Knights. The former 21st overall selection in the 2018 OHL Draft had a solid rookie season, finishing with 34 points (13G,21A) in 66 games. During the 2019-2020 season, Stranges didn’t have a big leap in production but showed good growth and finished with 40 points (19G,21A) in 61 games. In the 2020-2021 season, Stranges got the opportunity like some others to play in the AHL, which was an exception made because of the OHL being shutdown. Although he only played nine games, he still got great experience testing his abilities against pro’s and he managed to get one assist in his time in the AHL. During the 2021-2022 season, Stranges made the return to the OHL and came back hot, finishing with 84 points (31G,53A) in 60 games, which was 16th in the league for points, 11th in the league for assists, and 2nd on the team in all categories. Stranges best assets are his skating and puck handling. If you’ve watched Stranges play, you know about his mohawk skating and how well he utilizes it. He’s able to lead breakouts and drive play in transition consistently because he navigates through traffic so well and finds open space easily. Not only can he accelerate quickly and play with great pace, but he’s also very strong at beating opponents 1-1 with his quick and deceptive hands and great creativity. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Stranges will make his return to the AHL and look to gain more experience and test his abilities against pros. - DK

9 - Ayrton Martino LW

Perhaps the thing that sticks out most about Ayrton Martino is the fact that he’s scored everywhere he’s played. At the OJHL level, Martino dominated, routinely outclassing the lower competition level he faced through sheer skill. His tools carried him to USHL success, and his offensive abilities made him a productive freshman at Clarkson University. Martino was one of Clarkson’s most productive wingers as a freshman and figures to get a larger role moving forward. Martino’s offensive production comes from a wide variety of sources, and it’s the fact that he’s not over-reliant on one outstanding offensive tool that gives confidence that he’ll continue to score at the college level and perhaps even the pro level. Martino possesses great vision, and he’s always looking to make a creative pass. He doesn’t have great straight-line speed, but he’s good at manipulating what speed he does have to create space in his own zone. His edges do a lot of the work in helping give him time with the puck, but he may need to add another gear to his game to maintain his production as a pro. Martino should be a regular top scorer for Clarkson for the foreseeable future, and assuming he keeps that trajectory he’ll remain among the Stars’ more notable forward prospects. The real test for Martino will be seeing if his scoring will translate to the professional game. He has the overall skill level to do it, and the brain to effectively solve the problems pro hockey will present, but the main question is if he can get stronger and handle the physical rigors of playing against men. - EH

10 - Christian Kyrou D

The 50th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Christian Kyrou was one of the most divisive prospects in the OHL last year because of his high-end talent and skill, but some concerns around his skating. There is no doubt that Kyrou is a highly offensive defenseman with great instincts and awareness, but there are times where his skating hinders his ability to create space and separate himself from opponents. During the 2019-2020 season, Kyrou played 21 games in the OHL, but was unable to produce any points. With the OHL shutdown due to Covid-19, Kyrou had a big offseason to improve and come in stronger for the next season. In 2021-2022, Kyrou had a great season on a Sarnia Sting team that finished 3rd lowest in goals for, not giving him much to work with. Kyrou was still able to finish the season with 60 points (18G,42A) in 68 games which resulted in 3rd on his team in points, 4th in points by a defenseman, and also 3rd in goals by a defenseman. Kyrou’s best assets are his puck handling and his shot. Kyrou was the go-to player for the Otters the majority of the time in transition and in the offensive zone, being able to drive play with great poise, never looking overwhelmed with the puck. He’s able to use his quick hands to beat opponents 1-1 and deceive defenders to open up space. No matter where he was in the offensive zone, Kyrou was a scoring threat. His shot is both very quick and powerful, being able to get dangerous shots off with little time or space. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Kyrou will once again be the #1 defenseman for the Otters, playing heavy minutes and in all situations. If he is able to improve his skating, he will be one of the best offensive defensemen in the OHL. - DK

11 - George Fegaras

A pre-draft favourite of McKeen’s scouting director Brock Otten, Fegaras is an athletic two-way defender who will play in Muskegon (USHL) this year before attending Cornell the following year.

12 - Artyom Grushnikov

The offensive game is pretty much non-existent at this point, but Grushnikov did help Hamilton capture an OHL title this year as a pure, shutdown defender. His combination of size and mobility gives him an NHL projection.

13 - Ben Gleason

The former free agent signing is coming off his best AHL season to date and has put himself back in contention for an NHL roster spot. A mobile defender, Gleason’s defensive game has improved a lot in recent seasons.

14 - Francesco Arcuri

It was a breakout year for Arcuri, as he emerged as one of Kingston’s (OHL) most consistent offensive players. Arcuri is great in puck protection scenarios but still needs to upgrade his skating.

15 - Ryan Shea

The former Northeastern captain was way better in his second AHL season than his first, putting him in line for a potential NHL call up at some point this year. Shea is a mobile two-way blueliner with good vision.

16 - Fredrik Karlstrom

Likely being groomed to be a checking line center for Dallas, Karlstrom was used similarly by Texas in the AHL as a rookie pro last year. He will return to Texas this season with the hope that his offensive production increases.

17 - Conner Roulette

Roulette is a highly intelligent playmaking winger with Seattle of the WHL. If he can find a way to improve his skating further, he could be a potential pro.

18 - Matthew Seminoff

A competitive forechecker and tireless worker, Seminoff went much lower in the NHL draft than anticipated. The Kamloops winger will look to be a more consistent offensive player this coming season.

19 - Gavin White

White won an OHL Championship with Hamilton this past season. He is a highly mobile, offensive defender who is best classified as a late bloomer. He still needs to work on his defensive game, especially his ability to win battles in traffic, but there is upside.

20 - Jack Bar

A right shot defender with good mobility and physicality, Bar is a very raw prospect. His freshman year with Havard had some ups and downs, but Dallas knew they would have to be patient with his development.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: DALLAS STARS – RANK: #26 – TIER V

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:56:16 +0000

Dallas Stars

#26 Dallas - I love the Stars' most recent draft, but too many years of low upside picks keeps them down here....for now.

CEDAR PARK, TX - MARCH 12: Texas Stars defender Thomas Harley warms up prior to AHL game featuring the Colorado Eagles and the Texas Stars on March 12, 2021 at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire)

Thomas Harley

It was a very strong first professional season for the standout defensive prospect, as Harley’s 0.66 points per game was the second best rate by a U20 defender in the AHL this millennium (minimum 30 games played) behind John Carlson’s 2010 season when he posted a 0.81 rate. The fleet of foot, 6’3 defender certainly met the high expectations placed upon him and he proved that he may be ready for a full time NHL spot as early as this upcoming season.

Harley is incredibly dangerous when attacking because of his length, fluid stride, and puck skill. He is incredibly aggressive in leading the attack and rarely passes up on the opportunity to take a chance to create offense. Throughout his OHL career, he worked hard to improve his defensive play and to become a more physically assertive defender. This continues at the pro level. He will also need to learn to pick his spots better and become less of a high-risk attacker. However, his potential is sky high and with Dallas’ defensive gaps heading into this season, there is a strong chance that he earns a spot straight out of training camp. - BO

Mavrik Bourque

At the junior level, the end of the season was a disappointment for Bourque and his Shawinigan Cataractes team. However, he was able to finish the year in the AHL, leaving a great impression with the Texas Stars as he scored one goal and made four assists in six games. This past season, we have really seen the extent of his talent as a playmaker. His good vision of the game and his intelligence on the ice were evident night after night. He has proven that he can be a key player on his team and in the QMJHL, especially on the powerplay.

Bourque has worked hard to polish his game further and the Stars have to be happy with the way he progresses every year. It is likely that the Stars see him playing another junior year, before moving to the pros in the AHL for a full season after that. Bourque should be among the leading scorers in the QMJHL with Shawinigan this season and may also earn a role with Canada at the World Junior Championships. Within a few years, he should develop into a quality second line center for the Stars. - BB

Logan Stankoven

With seven goals in six games, Stankoven was the only WHL player to average over a goal per game this year (albeit in a small sample size). Additionally, he wore an “A” for Canada at the U18’s and had eight points in seven games, good for fifth in team scoring. We, at McKeen’s, had him ranked considerably higher than Dallas selected him in 2021 and believe greatly in his potential to develop into a top-notch NHL forward.

Obviously, the biggest concern with Stankoven is his lack of size as he measures in at 5’8. In 2016, a 5’7 Alex Debrincat fell to the second round as NHL scouts questioned his ability to score at the NHL level at that height. Obviously, the Blackhawks now look like geniuses for taking that chance. Smaller players still need to possess a couple key characteristics to excel at the NHL level, quickness and toughness. Stankoven possesses both. He can also put the puck in the net. Not only does he have excellent goal scoring instincts, but he can also rifle the puck. Armed with a quick and accurate wrist shot, Stankoven is a nightmare for opposing goaltenders from both the perimeter and the slot, as he has shown a consistent ability to pick corners and beat them cleanly. He may take a little time to develop because he will need to continue to get quicker and stronger given his size, but the upside is alluring if you are willing to be patient. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Wyatt Johnson

A talented playmaking center, Wyatt Johnston stood out for Team Canada at the U18’s due to his suffocating two-way play and the versatility he provided for the Gold medal winners. While his skating ability will need to continue to improve, the rest of his game is very sound. A highly cerebral player, he is able to alter the pace of play and manipulate coverage to highlight his strengths as a passer. Difficult to separate from the puck and difficult to contain in the slot, Johnston projects as a hard-nosed two-way pivot who can play in any situation at the pro level.

If Johnston succeeds in becoming an NHL player, it will be because of how well he thinks the game. It is a cliched statement but an apt one in this case. He is an effective forechecker because of his ability to get his stick in exit lanes and because of his ability to read the breakout attempt. However, Johnston also sees the ice well as a passer in the offensive zone. He always seems to have his head up when in control of the puck, surveying for the best passing option. As mentioned, he also alters pace really well, manipulating the play around him to suit the coverage he is facing. Johnston will be a leader for the Windsor Spitfires this coming OHL season, where he will look to further develop his offensive skill set. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Riley Damiani

Talk about a breakout season! After Damiani saw his production drop in his final OHL season with Kitchener, the expectations for him in his first pro season were fairly tempered. But after averaging a point per game for Texas, the former OHL captain was named the AHL’s Rookie of the Year. Many recipients of this award have gone on to have long NHL careers and his AHL performance last year certainly has changed the narRative surrounding his status as a prospect.

A high energy, skilled playmaker, Damiani’s success has always been tied to his work rate and ability to read and breakdown opposing defenses. His skating, particularly his explosiveness, looked improved in Texas this year and it allowed him to drive the pace of play more consistently. Damiani projects as the kind of versatile forward that NHL coaches love. He can navigate and control the half wall in offensive schemes with his vision and creativity. He can kill penalties and work as the F1 in puck retrievals. As he gains further strength, Damiani has a chance to become a quality middle six player for the Dallas Stars. Even after a strong AHL season, he is likely still another season away from being a consistent contributor at the NHL level. - BO

Ayrton Martino

After joining the Omaha Lancers in time for the second game after the calendar flipped to 2021, Martino was electric, putting up 56 points in 38 games, involved in 40% of all goals scored by the team while he was there. As such, we at McKeen’s had him ranked fairly high for the draft, only to be shocked that he was still available for Dallas in the early third round in 2021.

It doesn’t take too many viewings of Martino to understand the kind of player he is and what he brings to the table. We are talking about plus straight-ahead speed and high-end puck skills and playmaking instincts. Martino has exceptional coordination and touch, making him tough to strip the puck from. If we factor in playmaking, it is simply safe to say that he made his linemates, previously anonymous USHL veterans, into near point-per-game players. His highlight reel aside, Martino is far from a perfect player. While he keeps his feet moving in his own zone, as mentioned above, that is too often just spinning around near the blueline waiting for a fast break. He will need to prove that he won’t be pushed around at higher levels and will take his talents to Clarkson next year. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Jack Bar

A rookie with the Chicago Steel this year, Bar started off slowly as he adjusted to playing at a higher level (coming out of St. Andrew’s College previously). The right-handed shooter was focused on his own zone game, killing penalties, and basically just getting his feet wet in the offensive zone. As February drew to a close, Bar’s game hit a new level.

Bar’s true, sustainable upside isn’t really yet known. He is a strong, forceful skater and likes to activate deep into the offensive end. His stickhandling is fine, if unrefined. He can play with the puck at top speed and force his way through the defense without coughing it up, even if he rarely looks graceful doing it. He can fit his game into a number of styles and game situations. He will never be a big point accumulator, but I believe that he can be a solid, trustworthy contributor to the attack, and that facet should improve over time as he settles into a middle pairing role. Bar will be attending Harvard next year as they rejoin the NCAA after a yearlong hiatus. A long-term project, he could prove to be an exceptional fifth round selection. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Artyom Grushnikov

Things were really looking up for Grushnikov this year. He had signed on to play with Hamilton of the OHL to anchor their blueline and hopefully demonstrate the offensive skills that were previously a bit of a mystery due to him consistently playing a level up in Russia and on their national teams. A very fluid mover and strong defensive stalwart, Grushnikov was subsequently left with nowhere to play this year (including an odd snub from the Russian U18 team). Yet, the Stars still made him a second-round selection in 2021, without him playing a game all season.

At the very least, Grushnikov should be able to become a high-end defensive player at the next level because of his defensive instincts, plus mobility, reach, and physicality. However, his offensive game is a question mark, as alluded to earlier. At this point, he is a huge wild card. Grushnikov will finally suit up for Hamilton this upcoming OHL season and the expectations remain high. He will get all the ice time that he can handle and by season’s end, Dallas should have a better idea of what they have in him moving forward. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Antonio Stranges

By now, most hockey enthusiasts know Stranges’ for his dynamic mohawk skating style and his creativity with the puck. Stranges loves to employ the 10/2 stride to build speed and has the utmost confidence in his edgework and lateral quickness to help him beat defenders wide. Due to his combination of skill, creativity, and explosiveness, Stranges possesses among the highest offensive potential of any forward in the Dallas system.

However, his game still requires a lot of refinement. This was evident in a small audition in the AHL this past season with the OHL on hold, as Stranges’ play without the puck, ability to get to the net, and his decision making with the puck all showed to be areas of weakness. This coming season in the OHL with London will be huge for him. He will finally be given the opportunity to play a first line role and he should flourish with that added responsibility. If there is a coach that can get Stranges to buy into playing a more complete and refined game, it is Dale Hunter. By the end of the coming season, we should have a much greater idea of the type of potential Stranges’ possesses at the NHL level and how likely he is to reach it. - BO

Conner Roulette

A skilled and intelligent winger with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, Roulette’s body of work this year for scouts to go off of was pretty limited. Due to the late start, he was limited to only 11 games with Seattle before having to depart for the World Under 18’s. As part of the gold medal winning entry for Canada, Roulette played a depth role and did not see consistent ice time.

He is a very well-rounded offensive player. He shows an ability to score in a variety of ways, although his best asset may be his quick and explosive wrist shot, which can beat goaltenders clean from a distance. He is also a highly intelligent offensive player who shows good vision and anticipation, making the most of his skills despite a lack of dynamic physical tools. The concern is that Roulette is an average sized player with some skating limitations. Roulette is neither quick nor dynamic, requiring him to rely on his hands and processing ability to make plays at a slower pace. This was very evident at the Under 18’s, where Roulette struggled to keep up with the pace of Canada’s quicker forwards. Additionally, Roulette will need to increase his physical intensity and improve his strength on the puck. With a greater focus on strength and conditioning, Roulette could easily break out in a large way in the future, much like Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Beckman. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Jacob Peterson

A highly intelligent two-way forward, Peterson signed with Dallas after a breakout season in the SHL last year with Farjestad. Given his mature and reliable approach, he could move quickly through the organization if he performs well at training camp and in the AHL to start.

Evgeni Oksentyk

Slippery like an eel, the undersized Belarussian forward finds ways to slip through traffic, using his dynamic edgework and balance to create scoring chances. Already signed with Dallas, he will be loaned back to Belarus for the upcoming season before likely making the jump to the AHL.

Dawson Barteaux

Barteaux will never be confused with Miro Heiskanen. He is not flashy. However, the right shot defender is a reliable presence in the defensive end. He will continue his development at the AHL level this year and projects as a potential third pairing type for Dallas in the future.

Jordan Kawaguchi

The cousin of former NHL’er Devin Setoguchi, Kawaguchi was recently signed by Dallas as a free agent after four great years at the University of North Dakota. The talented playmaking center will hope to be an immediate impact player with Texas of the AHL this season in hopes of moving quickly through the organization.

Adam Scheel

Another free agent signing by the Stars out of UND, Scheel is the reigning NCHC goaltender of the year after a terrific junior season in college. He also showed well in a brief stint in the AHL to close out last year. Look for Scheel to emerge as the starter for Texas this season and he could push for an NHL opportunity sooner, rather than later.

2021 NHL DRAFT: CENTRAL DIVISION REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:33:40 +0000

2021 NHL Draft Review

Time to review the draft, in depth. As I have done in previous seasons, this review will cover the league one division at a time. For each team, we will offer a quick summary of their draft class, a deeper look at their first pick/first rounder(s), and then a look at what we think to be the best value pick of their draft class, and a final look at their worst value pick. Once the divisions have all been covered, a final article will go over some other miscellaneous trends of the draft that was (odds & ends), and the annual McKeens shadow draft class. Let’s dig in.

Central Division

Dylan Guenther. Photo by Andy Devlin

Arizona Coyotes

1 (9) Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

2 (37) Josh Doan, RW, Chicago (USHL)

2 (43) Ilya Fedotov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)

2 (60) Janis Jerome Moser, D, EHC Biel-Bienne (NL)

4 (107) Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, D, Sparta Sarpsborg (Norway)

4 (122) Rasmus Korhonen, G, Assat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

5 (139) Manix Landry, C, Gatineau (QMJHL)

6 (171) Cal Thomas, D, Maple Grove HS (USHS-MN)

7 (223) Sam Lipkin, LW, Chicago (USHL)

New General Manager Bill Armstrong’s first draft for the Coyotes (he was GM at the 2020 draft, but per the terms of his contract, was not allowed to participate in the draft) was a curious one. Looking at not being involved on Day One, he pulled off a morning of the draft blockbuster, sending Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland to Vancouver for a package including three overpriced veterans each on their final year under contract, and three draft picks, including a top ten pick in this draft, a second rounder next year, and a seventh rounders in 2023. This trade followed a similar deal made a few days prior, where Arizona picked up the dying contract of Andrew Ladd from the Islanders for a second-round selection, and picks in future drafts. The last trade on the draft floor (so to speak) saw the Coyotes leverage their extra picks in later years by sending a 2022 seventh rounder to Montreal for a late seventh rounder this year.

What made the Arizona draft curious though, were not the trades, but many the players they selected. The first pick was a chalk selection, as Dylan Guenther was a top ten talent for anyone, in any draft class. After taking that WHL star, the Coyotes focused almost exclusively on Europeans and college-bound players, with one exception in the fifth round. Furthermore, almost without exception, the players they selected after Guenther were drafted higher than expected, often by a long distance. That one QMJHL player was also the only pick they made of a player standing under 6-0” tall. The final note here goes to their first of three second rounders, Josh Doan, son of Coyotes’ legend Shane Doan, who was invited to announce the pick. A second-year eligible player, the younger Doan may be seen as a nepotism pick by some, but those people will not be familiar with the player. One of the most improved players in the USHL this year, Doan at pick 37 is maybe a touch high, but that is within range of where he belonged, if on the high end of that range. He is advanced enough to be paying dividends to the Coyotes sooner than later.

First round pick – Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), 9^th overall

One of the biggest, purely offensive weapons in the draft class, there was no guarantee that Guenther would be available at pick nine, as he grades out as plus almost across the board. He has a big shot, is a talented puck handler, skates very well, and reads the game very well without shirking duties in his own end. He has the size, and the strength should come, although he is not naturally physically aggressive. That said, he is not shy and will play in the greasy areas and take punishment to make something good happen for his team. After a few years of drafting players for their maturity and two-way sensibilities, Guenther is a nice change of pace as a projected top line scoring winger.

Best value pick(s) –Manix Landry, C, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), 139^th overall

As mentioned above, Landry was the only player selected by Arizona this year who stands under 6-0” tall. Not by much, by 5-11” isn’t 6-0”. Already the Gatineau captain in his draft year, he doesn’t have top six projection, and none of his physical tools really sticks out, but he has always been able to maximize what he has with the hockey IQ expected of the son of an NHLer (Father Eric played briefly with Montreal and Calgary and for many years in Europe afterwards). The younger Landry also plays gritty enough and with enough energy and positive intangible qualities to be a bottom six option in a few years. Not an exciting pick, but very good value for the fifth round.

Worst value pick – Ilya Fedotov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL), 43^rd overall

There were other options for this slot, but they were later rounders. Seventh rounder Sam Lipkin didn’t look like an NHL draft pick in my many viewings of him with Chicago. Sixth rounder Cal Thomas was maybe the third best NHL prospect on his high school team and the second-best defender after the undrafted Henry Nelson. Fourth rounder Emil Martinsen Lilleberg was playing in Norway and was in his third year of eligibility, but in fairness, Swedish teams had already taken notice and he will be in the SHL next year. So Fedotov gets the nod here as the Russian winger was taken in the middle of the second round and we don’t know that he does anything at a level high enough to profile to a top six or middle six slot. His production also doesn’t suggest a player who produces above his tools. He is a lanky young man who skates well and has some decent playmaking ability but is overly mistake prone and reactive. Arizona scouts clearly disagree but we think they could have nabbed him far later if they would have waited.

Allan_Nolan (2) photo by Keith Hershmiller

Chicago Blackhawks

1 (32) Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

2 (62) Colton Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)

3 (91) Taige Harding, D, Fort McMurray (AJHL)

4 (105) Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga (OHL)

4 (108) Victor Stjernborg, C, Vaxjo HC (SHL)

6 (172) Ilya Safonov, C, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

7 (204) Connor Kelley, D, Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA/NCHC)

7 (216) Jalen Luypen, C, Edmonton (WHL)

Like a number of other teams this year, Chicago went big at the draft. By which, I mean that they went almost exclusively for big players. Their first four selections measure in at 6-2”, 6-4”, 6-7”, 6-4”. Among the back half are two more big guys, and two at 5-10”, but even one of that latter duo weights over 200 pounds. Considering the lack of scouting opportunities this year, size doesn’t need too many looks to assess. Other notable points about the Blackhawks’ draft class include the even split between centers and blueliners, as the team did not select any goalies or wingers, and that fact that fully half of their draft class came from Western Canada, none of whom appeared in more than 28 games last year. Finally, as you may have heard, the team used their second-round pick on Saskatoon center Colton Dach, younger brother on current Blackhawks’ rising center Kirby Dach, a pick made the day after they traded for Seth Jones, teaming him up with brother Caleb, the return from another offseason trade.

I do have to wonder how, if at all, Chicago’s draft class would have differed were they not able to come to an agree with Columbus on the eve of the draft to acquire Seth Jones and the last pick of round one, in exchange for Adam Boqvist and pick 12 (a few other picks went in each direction in this trade). What direction would Chicago have headed with pick 12? Would they have taken the most powerful player available at that time, found another way to trade to do so, or even taken one of the two top goalies? We can’t know for sure, but we do know that the draft had started to overweight size and strength by the time Chicago selected Nolan Allan to end day one and can only assume that their strategy changed after the domino effect put into motion by Ottawa’s selection of Tyler Boucher at #10 overall.

First round pick – Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL), 32^nd overall

Once upon a time a top three pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, Allan has since developed into a poised and reliable own zone defender. He makes the first pass to kickstart the transition. He can be relied upon to defend against the opposition’s best at the junior level. He played a similar role, including PK time, for Team Canada at the recent WU18s, helping his nation to a Gold. The offensive promise that he showed in AAA hockey in Saskatchewan has not yet shown up in the WHL. While not completely useless in the offensive zone, he is a fifth wheel of sorts. If Chicago is current about Allan, he is a number four in the mold of Nicklas Hjalmarsson. If not, he will be more of a number six along the lines of a different former Blackhawk, Slater Koekkoek.

Best value pick – Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL, 105^th overall

Think Nolan Allan, but two inches taller and 15 pounds heavier. Del Mastro is similarly a big, stay at home defender who was highly touted as a Bantam player, showed minimal offensive ability as a junior, although he has had far less time to prove himself at that level due to the OHL cancellation last year. He even played a similar role as Allan for Team Canada at the U18 championships, albeit Del Mastro was rustier with the puck. Del Mastro’s upside and downside are similar to those of Allan but getting the former in the fourth round makes it tremendous value.

Worst value pick – Taige Harding, D, Fort McMurray Oil Barons, AJHL, 91^st overall

A giant (6-7”, 236) in his second year of draft eligibility, Harding added a bit of offense from the blueline this year, going from six points in 46 games in his first draft year, to 13 in 16 games this year. The son of an old Hartford Whalers draft pick, the younger Harding learned to use his size to better establish positioning and succeeded as a 19-year-old in the AJHL. The problem with the pick, beyond the player not really having a clear NHL skillset, is that he likely could have been drafted far later than the third round, indicating that the Blackhawks overvalued him to a large degree.

Södertäljes Oskar Olausson under ishockeymatchen i Hockeyallsvenskan mellan Södertälje och AIK den 29 januari 2021 i Södertälje.
Foto: Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN

Colorado Avalanche

1 (20) Oskar Olausson, RW, HV 71 (SHL)

2 (47) Sean Behrens, D, USNTDP (USHL)

3 (92) Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque (USHL)

7 (220) Taylor Makar, C/LW, Brooks (AJHL)

Not much to say here. Three forwards with good size and one blueliner deciding lacking in size. Of the four picks, the last three will be moving on to college hockey next season, while the first-round pick, the one drafted out of Europe, will be coming to North America to play in the OHL. It is fair to point out that the Avalanche have generally stayed clear of the CHL over the last few drafts, and Olausson is likely to be the only player in the system playing Canadian Major-Junior next season.

If a trend can be spotted out of four picks, it is a complete disregard for drafting young, first-time eligibles. Second rounder Behrens is the only 2003 born player among the quartet. Olausson is a late-birthday 2002 player, while the other two picks are not only re-drafts, but multiple re-drafts. Buyalsky was in his fourth year of eligibility and Makar was in his third year.

First round pick – Oskar Olausson, RW, HV 71 (SHL), 28^th overall

Like all junior aged players in Sweden, Olausson was forced to join the SHL once the junior leagues were cancelled around mid-season due to the pandemic. That said, Olausson was in the process of forcing his way up to the SHL anyway, with 27 points in 16 games before a stint with the Swedish WJC team and a brief period in the second tier HockeyAllsvenskan. He brings a big frame, plus skating and stickhandling and a lack of ego enabling to take on a bottom six role as needed, with the willingness to do the unheralded dirty work in his own zone. He could develop into a decent middle six player with special teams utililty.

Best value pick – Sean Behrens, D, USNTDP (USHL), 47^th overall

While lacking in the size that seemed to be all the rage at the draft this year, Behrens plays a fearless style of hockey, and you rarely notice his dimensional disadvantage on the ice. His skill set is moderate, but he always wrings every ounce of it from his body, pushing the pace and setting his team up for success in all zones. Headed to the University of Denver, the Avalanche will be keeping a close eye on Behrens, whose overall game is not too dissimilar to that of former Pioneer stalwart Ian Mitchell. I believe that he will be able to fit into an Avalanche blueline that already features the likes of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Samuel Girard, acting as the more stable presence while the others play more dynamically.

Worst value pick – Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), 92^nd overall

To be clear, I don’t think that Buyalsky was a bad pick at all, but the other option was a late seventh rounder, and Taylor Makar’s selection was suspiciously close to the announcement that his older brother Cale had signed a long-term contract extension with the club. Was the drafting of Taylor a quiet stipulation of his agreement to terms? Maybe. Either way, Taylor is a big winger who has demonstrated good playmaking at the AJHL level, even if he is already 20 years old, and there is scarcely such thing as a risk in the seventh round. As for Buyalsky, he is even older than Makar, turning 21 a few weeks after the draft. A speedster from Kazakhstan, he came to North America last December to play in the USHL and immediately added an exciting element to Dubuque’s attack. He is painfully thin but has decent skill to go along with his wheels. The only real element of risk in his pick is his age, which indicates less room for growth. In a draft class with more than four players, Buyalsky would be very unlikely to be featured in this spot.

Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Dallas Stars

1 (23) Wyatt Johnson, RW, Windsor (OHL)

2 (47) Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops (WHL)

2 (48) Artyom Grushnikov, D, Hamilton (OHL)

3 (73) Ayrton Martino, LW, Omaha (USHL)

3 (79) Justin Ertel, LW, Western Capitals (MJAHL)

4 (111) Conner Roulette, LW, Seattle (WHL)

5 (138) Jack Bar, D, Chicago (USHL)

5 (143) Jacob Holmes, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

6 (175) Francesco Arcuri, C, Steel Wings Linz (AplsHL)/Kingston (OHL)

7 (207) Albert Sjoberg, LW, Sodertalje SK J20 (J20 Nationell)

The previous few Dallas drafts prior to 2020 were marked by an abundance of lower upside, “safer” picks. They had physical gifts, but skill was lacking (Miro Heiskanen was an exception). Even 2019, with Thomas Harley, an offensive defender, as their first rounder, saw the team draft for safety with their other picks. While that approach sometimes leads to a late rounder blooming into a bottom of the lineup player, more often than not it leads to a player who doesn’t even garner an Entry-Level Contract. The 2020 draft saw Dallas go in another direction, selecting three forwards with skills to dream on. Sure, they might bust, but those low upside guys also have bust as their respective floors. Anyway, when Dallas named two-way center Wyatt Johnston as their 2021 first rounder, I immediately thought of Ty Dellandrea, a player with a similar profile at the time he was drafted. More smarts than skills, and by a mile. A solid pick for the second round, but not so much on Day One.

More on Johnston soon, but Dallas did a 180 on Day Two, stocking the system with high upside prospect after high upside prospect, giving them, all things considered, one of the draft classes I am most optimistic about in the league. Overwhelmingly North American, only one of their ten players selected don’t have some pre-existing ties to a North American league. They stayed away from goalies, a position of relative strength in the system. And even shied away from defensemen, with only three of the ten players known to patrol the blueline. Unlike many other teams, they were not too concerned with size, and Dallas was the landing spot for a few smaller players who fell further than their respective talent levels would have dictated. The 2021 draft class has the strength to be organization defining for a generation.

First round pick – Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL), 23^rd overall

A tremendous forechecker, Johnston, despite his pedigree as a sixth overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection two years ago, has not shown much offensive punch. Due to the cancellation of the OHL last year, his only game action in the last 12 months was a bottom six role for Team Canada at the WU18s. He was a valuable member of that Gold Medal winning team, but even there he didn’t show as a probable first round pick. He will do the little things right, paying attention to detail, and playing hard in all three zones. His stick work is good enough for a bottom six role, and he has a grinder’s mentality, but will need to improve his skating to reach that ceiling.

Best value pick – Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 47^th overall

While Johnston was a role playing for Team Canada, Stankoven was the team’s third highest scoring draft eligible forward. He is a fantastic stick handler, playing courageous at both ends. He recognizes opportunities in an instant and has the skills to capitalize on them. His ability to put the puck in the net is up there with anyone drafted this summer. He is also a gifted skater, with great edges and four-way mobility. So why was he still available in the middle of the second round? Because he is 5-8”. The NHL, as a group, is still deciphering the lessons of Alex DeBrincat and Cole Caufield. Stankoven will join that duo and continue to change minds about the need for size in the NHL.

Without giving profiles of them here, Dallas had quite a few high value picks this year, and I should at least mention Ayrton Martino, Jack Bar, Francesco Arcuri, Conner Roulette, and Albert Sjoberg as steals where they were selected.

Worst value pick – Justin Ertel, LW, Summerside Western Capitals (MJAHL), 79^th overall

While I had some mild concerns about Artyom Grushnikov and Jacob Holmes, neither of whom played at all last season, they had decent pre-draft year pedigrees, and both were expected to be drafted and were drafted near those expectations. Ertel is a different case. He was planning to play for St. Andrew’s the prestigious Ontario prep school, as a stepping stone to NCAA hockey at Cornell, but hockey was cancelled all over Ontario, not just in the OHL, so Ertel went to the Maritimes to play in the relatively obscure MJAHL. He showed enough skill and hockey smarts to gain notice of draft-worthiness, but there is little reason to think that he wouldn’t have still been available two rounds later than the Stars made the move for him. With a draft class of this strength, it won’t hurt Dallas, but it was a bit of a head-scratcher.

210121 Luleås målvakt Jesper Wallstedt under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Luleå och Växjö den 21 januari 2021 i Luleå.
Foto: Simon Eliasson / BILDBYRÅN / COP 159 / SE0026

Minnesota Wild

1 (20) Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL)

1 (26) Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg (WHL)

2 (54) Jack Peart, D, Fargo (USHL)

3 (86) Caedan Bankier, C, Kamloops (WHL)

4 (118) Kyle Masters, D, Red Deer (WHL)

4 (127) Josh Pillar, C, Kamloops (WHL)

6 (182) Nate Benoit, D, Mount St. Charles HS (USHS-RI)

At the cost of a late third round pick, Minnesota traded up two spots in the first round, and snagged the goalie most pundits and scouts – including ourselves – rated as the top goaltender in the draft. We have historically been shy about ranking goalies as first rounders in the past, Wallstedt was an obvious first rounder, who is technically refined, experienced at high levels, and checks all of the boxes for a future NHL starter. More on him soon. The Wild had a second first rounder, and snagged a top defensive prospect in Carson Lambos, a player who might have been off the board much earlier if not for a medical concern that cropped up late in the season.

If the Minnesota draft was just those two first rounders, it would be cause for great optimism for the Wild and their fans. But they continued to pick up good upside, focusing on the blueline, where they used three of their remaining five picks, including one – second rounder Peart – who we had rated as having first round value. The other notable element of the Minnesota draft class was their clear lean towards the WHL, from where four of their seven picks emerged. Even if only Wallstedt lives up to his advanced billing, this draft will be monumental for the Wild. In that case, all other NHL contributions from the remainder of the draft class will be bonuses. And we think there will be more.

First first round pick – Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL), 20^th overall

We were not alone in ranking Wallstedt as the best goalie in the 2021 draft. In fact, the Detroit Red Wings may have been the only team that preferred Sebastian Cossa (probably not, but they were in the minority). Furthermore, we believe that Wallstedt is more advanced at this stage than either Yaroslav Askarov or Spencer Knight were in the past two years. His ability to read the play is especially impressive, helping him stay prepared for whatever the opposition is cooking up. His other tools all also grade out as above average and better. He has a year remaining on his SHL contract and should be competing for time in the Minnesota crease by 2022-23.

Second first round pick – Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg ICE (WHL)

A smooth, fast skater with a well-rounded tool kit through the rest of his game, Lambos already had a very impressive WHL rookie campaign under his belt before the pandemic threatened his follow-up. During the enforced layoff, he had the chance to keep playing in Finland, for the JYP organization, and he excelled in their junior ranks, making a seamless adjustment from the North American game. Lambos expected to return to the WHL at the end of his Finnish experience, but two games after he got back to Winnipeg, an undisclosed medical issue emerged that forced him off the ice again. His medicals are reportedly fine now, giving Minnesota a second first rounder drafted substantially later than was expected before the year began.

Best value pick – Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force (USHL), 54^th overall

To be honest, Minnesota’s best value picks were their two first rounders, but getting Jack Peart at #54 was a third coup for Bill Guerin and the Wild. After crushing in the Minnesota high school ranks at Grand Rapids HS, Peart went back to Fargo of the USHL where he showed zero issue adjusting to the vastly improved level of play. By the postseason, he was the Force’s number one defender, helping lead the team to the Clark Cup finals. Peart is not physically imposing, but his reads and decision making are both incredibly impressive, convincing us to give him a first round ranking in our draft guide. Peart is also the third Minnesota Mr. Hockey to have been drafted by the Wild

Worst value pick – Caiden Bankier, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 86^th overall

As much as we loved Minnesota’s first three picks, the remainder of their selections left us unmoved. None of the four was especially egregious, but third rounder Bankier was their first reach, so he gets the dreaded ‘Worst Value Pick’ spot here. He has good size and decent creativity with the puck, but nothing about his game suggests top size potential, and his style hasn’t fit bottom six characteristics either. In other words, he looks like a tweener. That’s totally fine in the fifth round or later but is gearing for disappointment as a third rounder.

Fyodor Svechkov. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Nashville Predators

1 (19) Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL)

1 (27) Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

3 (72) Anton Olsson, D, Malmo (SHL)

4 (115) Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago (USHL)

4 (124) Jack Matier, D, Ottawa (OHL)

6 (179) Simon Knak, RW, HC Davos (NL)

As the first round was proceeding, the Predators decided that they would rather have two first round picks than have one first and two seconds, and I can’t say that I disagree. The Carolina Hurricanes felt differently, and a trade was born, allowing Nashville to finish Day One with two new talented forwards to add to their prospect pool. To make up for the forward lean on Day One, they went heavily on defense on Day Two, using the first three of their remaining four picks on blueliners.

Curiously, the Predators returned to Carolina on Day Two for another trade up scenario, moving up 11 spots in Round Three by sacrificing their fifth-round pick. With two moves of this nature, it seems fairly clear that Nashville had specific prospects targeted and preferred to miss out on an extra lower probability player in order to secure the player they really wanted. In the end, they have added six new talents to their pool, all of whom have reasonable claims to a future in the NHL. A final, minor note, Nashville didn’t seem to get caught up in the size rush this year, with only one of their six picks measuring in with above-average size, in fourth round blueline Jack Matier.

First first round pick – Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL), 19^th overall

A well-rounded offensive force who plays with an exciting combination of pace and touch, Svechkov had a very strong regular season split between Russian juniors (MHL) and the nation’s second tier senior league (VHL). But he really shot into wider prominence with a thrilling performance at the WU18s, where his ability to move the puck in the offensive zone was mesmerizing. Nashville has never been shy about drafting Russian players at the top of their draft classes, and Svechkov is next in line. He could be ready for the NHL once his Russian league contract expires after the 2022-23 season.

Second first round pick – Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

The former third overall pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft, L’Heureux solidified his status as one of the top draft talents out of the Q with a well-rounded game that emphasizes a wicked shot and a prominent aggressive nature. That latter aspect turned off a few teams and prognosticators, as it led to a pair of suspensions for the winger last year, forcing him to miss time as his team competed for postseason standings. Notably, neither suspension occurred due to a normal, run-of-play type incident, but due to behavior that was, or at least should have been avoidable. Assuming that maturity could stem those types of behaviors in the future, he profiles as a force in a middle six role.

Best value pick – Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago Steel (USHL), 115^th overall & Jack Matier, D, Ottawa 67s (OHL), 124^th overall

These two are of a pair, both defenders being selected in the fourth round by Nashville, when both could easily have been off the board a full round or more earlier than when the Predators finally announced their names around half an hour apart. Although both blueliners are right-handed shots, the rest of their respective profiles couldn’t be more different. Ufko is small, but vicious, with a pronounced aggressive streak and a huge point shot. His skating needs a little work, but he is headed to a defensive factory at UMass and big things should be in his immediate future. Matier is huge, but skates well. He missed the year due to the OHL cancellation, but looked sharp at the WU18s, showing enough puck movement skills that he can profile to at least be viable in a third pairing role if paired with a more dynamic player. Either or both of Ufko and Matier could play a role in the NHL, which is more than can be said for many fourth rounders.

Worst value pick – Anton Olsson, D, Malmo Redhawks (SHL), 72^nd overall

We were probably lower on Olsson as a draft prospect than most other venues, but on its face, a third-round pick for the Swedish defender is not bad value. The only reason he ends up here is that Nashville traded up to get him, so his cost is both the #72 pick, as well as pick #147. Olsson can look good at times, but his feel for the game offensively can also be sorely lacking, leading to questions about his upside. If Olson in the third round is a team’s worst value pick, that team had a pretty good draft.

Zachary Bolduc. Photo courtesy of the QMJHL.

St. Louis Blues

1 (17) Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)

3 (71) Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

5 (145) Tyson Galloway, D, Calgary (WHL)

7 (198) Ivan Vorobyov, RW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)

One of the smallest draft classes this year, the Blues will benefit from also snapping up perhaps the best value pick in the entire draft. Not much else to state about their draft, as there was no other clear trend in their selections. The four players are all from different geographical locations and range from undersized (Vorobyov) to supersized (Galloway). If their top two picks pan out, this draft class will be deemed a success. If not, it will be a failure. With smaller draft classes, there is no room for error.

First round pick – Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL), 17^th overall

A playmaking, two-way center, Bolduc’s production in his draft year was a mild disappointment, with point-per-game rates very similar to what he put up in the previous season, albeit with a vastly different shape. Whereas he scored almost three goals for every assist in 2019-20, last year the ratio was practically flipped, with nearly two assists for every goal scored. At times, his play seemed passive, which could impact his effectiveness, but a touch of added confidence should help him grow in all three zones, into a solid middle six center projection.

Best value pick – Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea AIK (SHL), 71^st overall

Granted, we had Robertsson ranked too high for the draft. We focused too much on his discrete tools – which are all individually very impressive – and less on his overall game and how those tools all work together. The son of former NHL defender Bert Robertsson, young Simon split his draft year between the Swedish junior ranks, which he dominated before the league was cancelled half-way through, and the SHL, where his ice time and impact were both severely limited. He wore a letter for Sweden at the U18s, and performed fine, if not exceptionally. Robertsson has easy top six upside if he can put it all together, and bottom six value if he doesn’t. Getting that in the middle of the third round is a heist, and the Blues knew it, trading up with San Jose to get this pick, at the cost of a later third rounder and a sixth-round pick.

Worst value pick – Ivan Vorobyov, RW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL), 198^th overall

A seventh-round pick would rarely be chosen for this dishonor, but the Blues didn’t give us much to choose from. Their first three picks ranged from solid to exceptional vis-à-vis draft value. Vorobyov is a second time eligible winger who still hasn’t filled out a severely underdeveloped frame. He put up good numbers in the MHL last year (6^th leading scorer among the U19 set, with more stress on playmaking than finishing. Four games over the last two years in the VHL, Russia’s second men’s league constitute his sole experiences above junior hockey, and he has never been selected to represent Russia internationally, even for exhibition games. He is no more a gamble than any player picked in the seventh round, but for St. Louis, he is the biggest gamble of their 2021 draft class.

Chaz Lucius. Photo courtesy of USA Hockey/Rena Laverty

Winnipeg Jets

1 (18) Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL)

2 (50) Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)

3 (82) Dmitri Kuzmin, D, Dinamo Molodechno (Belarus)

5 (146) Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL)

I can simply repeat much of what was written in this section about the St. Louis draft class. Winnipeg drafted only four players, and at least three of them already look like great value selections. Also like the Blues, the Jets selected three forwards and one defender. If four is enough of a sample size to detect any trends (it usually isn’t), we can at least note that three of Winnipeg’s four picks were out of Russia/former Soviet Union states, although one of those players is expected to move to North America as soon as next season, with third rounder, defender Dmitri Kuzmin signing his Entry Level Contract. His most likely next destination is in the OHL, where Flint controls his CHL player rights.

The above paragraph notwithstanding, Winnipeg hasn’t drafted seven or more players in a single year since 2017, and they had not even drafted six players in a season since 2018. It is exceedingly difficult to maintain a competitive organization when your team has only four or five picks every year while other teams are selecting seven or more. It will be interesting to see if GM Kevin Cheveldayoff continues to trade picks for present help or finally starts to hold onto those assets.

First round pick – Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL), 18^th overall

Although his draft year was impacted at both beginning and end by injury, Lucius showed more than enough when he was healthy enough to take the ice that the first half projections placed on him previously were accurate. He was expected to go even higher in fact, but his foot speed was seemingly impacted by his pre-season knee surgery and that may have caused him to slide a few spots to Winnipeg. Skating aside, Lucius is a special offensive talent. His sense of timing and positioning lead to the bulk of his goals – helped along by a quick shot, of course – but he can also contribute as a playmaker thanks to his great ability to read the defense and exploit the smallest of gaps. He could explode with a fully healthy freshman season at Minnesota.

Best value pick – Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL), 50^th overall

Like St. Louis, Winnipeg managed to grab a player on Day Two who we had ranked as a first round talent. In this case, Chibrikov is small, but very feisty, and in possession of an exceptional offensive skill set. A creative player with high-energy, his development can go in a number of ways, and his ultimate projection will follow accordingly. Greater offensive consistency is all that stands in his way for a top six outcome, but the energy, reads, and overall mobility would also fit in a bottom six, disruptor role. A full year playing against men in Russia will go a ways towards unveiling his continued path.

Worst value pick – Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL), 146^th overall

This is once more not truly a low value pick. Rashevsky led the top Russian league, the MHL, in goals scored in 2019-20, his second year of draft eligibility, but went undrafted. Now 20 years old, and still exceptionally thin, he made his senior hockey debut last year and was pretty solid, especially in his time in the second tier VHL, where he put up 22 points in 30 games split between two teams. Rashevsky is not currently under contract in Russia, although there has yet to be any indication that Winnipeg wants to lock him in place just yet. If there is a low value element to this pick, it is the question of what is different about Rashevsky now than in the previous two years where he wasn’t selected? Even if there is no difference, perhaps the true answer is that he simply should have been drafted last year.

2021 NHL DRAFT: DALLAS STARS REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 20:50:26 +0000

Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Dallas Stars

1 (23) Wyatt Johnson, RW, Windsor (OHL)

2 (47) Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops (WHL)

2 (48) Artyom Grushnikov, D, Hamilton (OHL)

3 (73) Ayrton Martino, LW, Omaha (USHL)

3 (79) Justin Ertel, LW, Western Capitals (MJAHL)

4 (111) Conner Roulette, LW, Seattle (WHL)

5 (138) Jack Bar, D, Chicago (USHL)

5 (143) Jacob Holmes, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

6 (175) Francesco Arcuri, C, Steel Wings Linz (AplsHL)/Kingston (OHL)

7 (207) Albert Sjoberg, LW, Sodertalje SK J20 (J20 Nationell)

First round pick – Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL), 23^rd overall

Best value pick – Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 47^th overall

Worst value pick – Justin Ertel, LW, Summerside Western Capitals (MJAHL), 79^th overall

2021 NHL Draft Wrap-up: Favourite Picks By Round Plus The Best of the Undrafted

Brock Otten — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:00:39 +0000

The weirdest draft year that I have ever covered is finally over, as the 2021 NHL Draft concluded this past weekend. Considering the circumstances, we at McKeen’s are incredibly happy with our coverage this year. 25 of our top 31 were selected in the first round and only five of our top 100 went unselected (the highest being Eric Alarie at #70).

My review will look at my favourite selections in each round, in addition to the best players not selected.

ROUND ONE

Mason McTavish. Photo Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

#3 Overall to Anaheim - Mason McTavish

We had McTavish going to Anaheim in our mock draft and I really like this selection for them. I see Mason providing a lot of versatility to the Ducks in the near future. He could slot behind Trevor Zegras as the team’s number two center, bringing power and tenacity to complement their selection of skilled wingers. However, because of his terrific shot, McTavish could also look extremely comfortable on the first powerplay unit with Zegras, operating as his triggerman and helping to create some space for him to operate.

#18 Overall to Winnipeg - Chaz Lucius

Sure, the injury issues are a concern. It has delayed some development in his skating ability. In addition, Lucius’ playmaking ability and vision could stand to improve. But we had Lucius in our top 10 for a reason. He projects as possibly the best pure goal scorer from this class because of how well he navigates the net front and the middle of the ice. The Jets need someone like Lucius, and he is not only terrific value at this spot, but also a great fit with the organization.

#20 Overall to Minnesota - Jesper Wallstedt

What fantastic value for Minnesota here. The top-rated goaltender on our board and our fifth rated player, Wallstedt slid to number 20 and he gives the Wild a young goaltender to build around in the future. Wallstedt may not have the elite physical tools of Cossa (who went ahead of him), but he is considered one of the best play trackers to come through the draft in recent years.

HM - Fabian Lysell to Boston (#21)

Logan Stankoven. Photo Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers

ROUND TWO

#34 overall to Anaheim - Olen Zellweger

While Anaheim took Zellweger higher than we had him in our rankings (#42), it is still a terrific selection. Zellweger is the perfect defender for today’s NHL because of how well he skates and how well he processes the game. Critical thinkers with pace rarely fail, even if they lack ideal size. If Zellweger had played a full year in the WHL before starring at the U18’s, he could have been selected even higher.

#47 overall to Dallas - Logan Stankoven

While we did not expect Stankoven to go as high as we had him rated (#13), there was a belief that he would go higher than 47. He is proof that size still matters in this draft (see Tyler Boucher at #10). In the mid second round, he provides terrific value to the Stars as he has the skill and compete level to be an Alex Debrincat level star in the NHL.

#52 overall to New York Islanders - Aatu Raty

Our 12th overall rated prospect for the draft, Raty suffered a drastic fall, especially when you consider that he came into the draft season as a potential first overall candidate. The Islanders have to be ecstatic (and they were) to grab Raty since they did not own a first-round selection this year. He was unquestionably higher on their own list, and he has the potential to be an impact player if he can put this year’s disappointment behind him.

HM - Francesco Pinelli to Los Angeles (#42)

Skellefteå's Simon Robertsson during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Skellefteå and Brynäs on 5 December 2020 in Skellefteå.
Photo: Ola Westerberg / BILDBYRÅN

ROUND THREE

#71 overall to St. Louis - Simon Robertsson

Our 14th overall ranked player, the Blues traded up to secure the right to Robertsson after seeing him still available on the board. His U18 performance was no doubt disappointing, but he is still a potentially well rounded, goal scoring winger who could have a very long NHL career. A team without a second-round selection, you have to believe that the Blues had Robertsson ranked significantly higher than this...perhaps even as a first rounder on their board.

#81 overall to San Jose - Ben Gaudreau

After Cossa and Wallstedt went in round one, it would be nearly 60 selections before the next goalie would be selected (Kolosov at #78). We had Gaudreau ranked as a borderline first rounder, and we stand by that ranking. The top goalie from this year’s U18’s, Gaudreau has all the tools you are looking for from a starting NHL netminder and has the potential to be just as good as the players taken in the first round. Had the OHL actually played this year, I don’t believe Gaudreau would be available here.

#95 overall to Buffalo - Josh Bloom

Have to go with a personal favourite here. I had a feeling that he would be selected in the 80-110 range. Bloom didn’t play this year, but the Sabres did not hold that against him. He has everything you look for from a top six supporting winger today; size, speed, skill, and awareness. This has the potential to be a terrific pick for the Sabres.

HM - Stanislav Svozil to Columbus (#69)

Nathan Del Mastor. Photo courtesy of the OHL

ROUND FOUR

#98 overall to Florida - Josh Lopina

A national champion with UMass this year, Lopina was the Hockey East’s rookie of the year. We ranked him to be selected last year and this year, in his second and third years of eligibility. Lopina has a chance to be a Barclay Goodrow kind of player for the Panthers, someone who can excel at both ends and provide positional versatility. It was inevitable that he would be one of the first “re-entry” candidates off the board.

#105 overall to Chicago - Ethan Del Mastro

We had Del Mastro ranked 52nd overall this year, so naturally there is belief from our team that this was a great pick by Chicago. Del Mastro is a big, physical defender who also moves well. Over the course of the U18’s, his play improved, which should not be shocking given that it was his first action of the season. Look for him to show more offensively as he matures.

#125 overall to New York Islanders - Cameron Berg

Like Lopina, we had Berg ranked for last year’s draft. However, after a strong USHL season, he secured his selection this year and it is a shrewd one by the Islanders. Berg has the potential to develop into a strong two-way power center after a few years at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. This is especially true if he can continue to upgrade his skating, which he has done already.

HM - Dylan Duke to Tampa Bay (#126)

Jack Bar. Courtesy of the USHL

ROUND FIVE

#130 overall to Anaheim - Sean Tschigerl

No question, if the WHL season is not severely shortened, Tschigerl has a chance to go much higher than this. Over the final ten games of the season, he was playing as one of the league’s top goal scoring options. He brings speed. He brings physicality. It is easy to see him developing into a terrific middle six scoring option for the Ducks. We had him ranked #92.

#138 overall to Dallas - Jack Bar

Our 37th ranked player, Bar had a terrific year for the Clark Champion Chicago Steel. A Harvard recruit, Bar improved with each passing month in the USHL and steadily climbed our rankings as a result. While he will require patience to reach his full potential, the big, physical defender has the kind of raw tools that often prove to be moldable. Harvard has done a terrific job of developing defenders like Bar in recent years.

#153 overall to Toronto - Ty Voit

Another OHL player who did not play this season, Voit has to be considered one of the draft’s best pure playmakers. No question he needs to bulk up, as he can be too easily pushed off the puck; his size is a concern. But his creativity and puck skill are tremendous, and this is the type of high upside pick good teams take in the middle rounds.

HM - Justin Robidas to Carolina (#147)

Ryan Mast of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

ROUND SIX

#178 overall to Vancouver - Connor Lockhart

The former third overall pick in the OHL Priority Draft, Lockhart had an up and down U17 season the last time the OHL played. Then he did not play this year. Tough for him to prove that he could have been an elite level offensive option. But he does possess that kind of potential. A very high-end skater and someone with terrific skill and instincts, if Lockhart was a point per game player in the OHL this year, he is likely a top 50 selection. Instead, the Canucks get him in the sixth round. Well worth the gamble that he improves.

#180 overall to Edmonton - Matvei Petrov

Petrov is not without his warts. His wavering physical engagement level is concerning. The U18’s were a disaster for him. However, few players in this draft class can shoot the puck like he can. He is absolutely lethal from the faceoff circle, especially on the powerplay. If he can find a way to be consistently motivated without the puck, the potential is extremely high. He will play in the OHL with North Bay next season.

#181 overall to Boston - Ryan Mast

I know it seems like there has been a lot of OHL flavour on this list; maybe I am bias, however I do feel that many OHL players selected will prove to be “steals” due to the circumstances they were dealt with this season. Mast is a very solid defensive defender who has length, mobility, and strong awareness. He was already a top defender for Sarnia as a U17 player but did not play this season (except for the Erie showcase), preventing him from showing progression as an offensive player. It is easy to see him developing into an NHL defender.

HM - Liam Gilmartin to San Jose (#167)

Södertäljes Albert Sjöberg, March 2021 i Stockholm.
Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN /

ROUND SEVEN

#203 overall to New Jersey - Zakhar Bardakov

A “re-entry” who was terrific for Russia at the World Juniors in a supporting role, Bardakov is someone we had ranked at #138 because we believe in his potential to develop into a quality bottom six, penalty killing option in the NHL. He is likely close to making an impact in New Jersey too.

#207 overall to Dallas - Albert Sjoberg

Our 86th ranked prospect for the draft, Sjoberg is someone we felt would go earlier. However, his disappointing performance against men in the Allsvenskan likely contributed to his fall. This is a player with a great work rate and who has the skill and sense to develop into a high-quality finisher.

#219 overall to Carolina - Joel Nystrom

A smaller defender, but one with a serious chance to become an NHL player because of his strong two-way abilities and mobility. Selected in his second year of draft eligibility, Nystrom showed great improvement at the SHL level as the season progressed, performing especially well in the playoffs for Farjestad. We had him ranked at #169, but there was some belief that he could go even higher than that.

HM - Joe Vrbetic to Montreal (#214)

Eric Alarie (9) Photo by Keith Hershmiller

BEST OF THE UNDRAFTED

Eric Alarie

After a breakout season with Moose Jaw (that saw him over a point per game), this strong, support winger was ranked 71st by us. Ultimately, NHL teams must have felt that his skating still required too much improvement.

Jiri Tichacek

An undersized Czech defender, Tichacek may not have been selected as high as we had him ranked (#76), but to see him go through completely was a surprise. A Jared Spurgeon type, Tichacek will have to continue to prove that his lack of size is not a detriment.

Trevor Wong

One of the draft elite skaters, Wong came into this draft season with a fair amount of hype. A disjointed WHL season likely led to some consistency issues. While he may not be large, he does have the speed and tenacity to make up for it. If he bounces back strong with Kelowna next year, he will be selected.

Florian Elias

One of the breakout stars of this year’s World Junior Championships, it was surprising to see Elias go unselected after starring between Peterka and Stutzle on Germany’s top line. A workhorse type with skill, Elias should remain on the NHL radar.

Marcus Almquist

A poor showing upon returning home to Denmark was the likely reason that this tiny (5’7) play creator was not selected. One of the youngest players eligible, perhaps there is some physical maturation still to occur, allowing him to perform better playing against men.

Cameron Rowe

A former USDP member, Rowe looked like a candidate to be selected in his final year of eligibility and that is why we ranked him at #104. After a strong freshman year at Wisconsin, the 6’3 netminder was named to the Big 10’s all-rookie team (along with high NHL picks Faber, Power, Johnson, Beniers, and Bordeleau). Look for him to be a top free agent candidate down the line if he continues to play well for the Badgers.

Valterri Koskela

A late ‘02 defender, Koskela emerged as a steady two-way defender in Liiga this year despite being a little undersized. As such, we ranked him at #108 because we felt that his mobility could be a big asset at the NHL level. I suppose projection concerns (what role does he play in the NHL?) kept him off the board.

David Gucciardi

A smooth skating, two-way rearguard, Gucciardi had a strong year for Waterloo in the USHL. His decision making does leave some to be desired, but the tools are there. He will now head to Michigan State next year and with a good freshman year, he could easily hear his name called in 2022.

Peter Reynolds

Ranked inside the Top 100 by pretty much every independent scouting agency (except for us at #111), Reynolds was probably the most shocking undrafted player. The former highly touted two-way center didn’t have quite the season expected of him after coming over from the BCHL, but he still has the potential to be an NHL player in some capacity.

Sasha Teleguine

A player whose production did not match his talent level in the BCHL, Teleguine was considered by many to be a mid-round “sleeper.” Committed to the University of Connecticut, the highly skilled and deceptive winger will look to have a strong freshmen year to prove that he should have been selected.

HM - Stuart Rolofs, Hunter Strand, Nick DeGrazia, Miguel Tourigny, Arvid Eljas, Dmitri Zugan, Henry Nelson, James Hardie

USHL: 2020-21 Playoff Preview – Expect Entertaining Hockey with Chicago a Clear Favourite

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:27:15 +0000

If there is an exception to the across-the-board negative impact of COVID-19 on the world of hockey, it may rest in the USHL. As north of the border, the three leagues of the CHL were in disarray – at best – the USHL, played a fairly “normal” year.

Sure, the league proceeded without the participation of the Madison Capitals (regional COVID restrictions) or the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders (a Derecho huffed and puffed and blew the arena down), but the rest of the league played (an approximately) 54 game schedule with rather few disruptions.

Not only that, but in terms of quality, the league was better than ever, as a number of players who had expected to suit up for Canadian teams – both CHL and Jr. A – were given an opportunity to play for various USHL teams as their regular leagues were delayed indefinitely, or outright cancelled. Those bonus players included some that were drafted already, including Cross Hanas, Bear Hughes, and Danil Gushchin*. Other drafted players came in from the Ivy League schools, who did not play a hockey schedule this year. In addition to the likes of Henry Thrun, Jack Malone, and Austin Wong coming to the USHL after some time in college, others like Sean Farrell and Alex Laferriere, who had intended to start collegiate life this year, were forced to stay back for one more year in the Midwest.

*Gushchin, who had played the previous two seasons with Muskegon, was expected to play in Ontario with Niagara for the 2020-21 season, but with the OHL in permanent statis, he was loaned back to the Lumberjacks, where he put up his best season yet.

And then there were the draft-eligible ringers who unexpectedly joined the league and played so well that they have legitimate first round consideration at the end of it. I am thinking, of course, of Cole Sillinger, who joined Sioux Falls, before it was known when, or if, the WHL would get going, and Ayrton Martino and Jack Bar, who had played in Ontario last year and had been planning on playing in the BCHL this year before Canadian restrictions pushed them to the USHL, with Omaha and Chicago, respectively.

Of course, there were many other unexpected players in the league this year, with those mentioned only scratching the surface of the most famous names.

So, before we preview the postseason, which begins this Friday (Apr. 30), let’s pour one out for the six teams that didn’t make, and give a word to the top 1-3 draft eligible players from those squads.

Team USA

One point behind Dubuque for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference – although far further back via points percentage (.510-.481), the USNTDP team that would have played in the USHL playoffs had they made it would have been the U17 team. The best of that group – Rutger McGroarty, Isaac Howard, Ryan Chesley, Lane Hutson, Charlie Stramel and others – are playing with the U18 team in Texas at the WU18 tournament. No draft eligibles but remember those names for next season.

Youngstown Phantoms

By points percentage, easily the weakest team in the league. The aforementioned Jack Malone, a Vancouver draft pick, was far and away the top performer on the team, which is to be expected from a player with a year at Cornell under his belt. Among first year draft eligibles, Japanese import Yusako Ando was the most notable, although his second year in the league was worse than his first. He can create for others, but he doesn’t skate well enough to make up for his slight 5-7” frame. The only other draft eligible who ever made a positive impression on me from this roster was blueliner Austen May. The Providence commit is on the small side, but he is really fleet of foot and shows decent attention to detail off the puck.

Des Moines Buccaneers

Despite the presence of three drafted players – Alex Laferriere (LA), Noah Ellis (Vgk), and Lucas Mercuri (Car), the Buccaneers struggled this year, particularly in terms of putting the puck in the net. The drafted guys were all solid, but too few of the rest of the roster could match their output. Perhaps things would have been different if Paul Davey hadn’t of left mid-season for a stint back home in Connecticut. Davey and Scout Truman were the two most notable first time draft eligible on the roster, but neither really put their stamp on the season. If there are to be any Buccaneers drafted this year, they will be among the redraft candidates. To that end, file away the names of Matt Choupani and Remington Koepple. Choupani is a forward who lacks much in the way of physical tools but can play the puck well. Koepple is a goalie who had decent numbers in his first year in the league, although he has only average size and athleticism and he chocked in the BioSteel game, hurting his standing for some.

Lincoln Stars

The Stars went heavy on the ringers partway through the season. Cross Hanas was already mentioned, but he was just one of four players brought in from the WHL Portland Winterhawks, joining Clay Hanas (no relation), Jack O’Brien, and James Stefan, as well as Charles-Alexis Legault from West Kelowna in the BCHL and Michael Mastrodomenico from AAA hockey in Quebec. Simply put, the shuffled team never gelled, and the newcomers couldn’t get into the swing of the USHL.

O’Brien was the biggest disappointment. There was some expectation that he could be a high round pick this year, but one goal and six assists in 23 games ended that sentiment. Blueliner Legault didn’t hurt his stock too much, as he still has great size and skates well and shoots from his right side. Stefan, son of former first overall pick Patrik Stefan, had enough moments to maybe convince some team to call his name in the late rounds. A kind word also to big bruising winger Gleb Veremeyev. Veremeyev isn’t an offensive threat, but one of the top PIM players in the league is a threat, nonetheless. The USHL is not a very physical league, and when a player has that size and plays with that snarl, he sometimes gets drafted, such as we saw with Nick Capone last year and Martin Pospisil in 2018.

Waterloo Black Hawks

Generally contenders, the Black Hawks find themselves out of the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15, and only the second time in 14 seasons for which there were playoffs. Fielding one of the smaller and least experienced lineups in the league, this just wasn’t their year. Their one drafted player, Toronto’s Wyatt Schingoethe, regressed heavily from his strong draft year. The team cycled through goalies, with three seeing significant minutes. Remember the name of Emmett Croteau, the best performing of their netminders, as he won’t be draft eligible until 2022.

Among players eligible this year, the most impressive were second time eligible defenseman Cooper Wylie, a USHL rookie, who can play the puck and skate well enough to make his ornery game effective, if not spectacular. He could be drafted. On the other hand, David Gucciardi, acquired in an early season trade from Youngstown, will be drafted. His game is raw, and his mistakes are often critical, but he has tools, and his instincts are good enough to think he can be a good one if he relies on his instincts all the time.

Sioux Falls Stampede

The Western Conference bottom feeders are a mystery. In the last USHL playoffs, the Stampede took home the title. In addition to their usual solid team, this year they brought in the highest profile ringer in Cole Sillinger, who didn’t disappoint, with a team leading 46 points despite only playing in 31 games. He is a sniper with an NHL style game who will be back in the WHL next year. The USHL rarely sees a player of his caliber, whether talking about skill or about reading the game, yet he couldn’t drag the Stampede upwards on his own. I would be surprised if he isn’t the first player from this year’s USH: crop to play in the NHL.

Defender Brent Johnson was one of the better draft eligible defenders in the league as well. A power play specialist with good wheels and an ornery side, his season ended right before the BioSteel All American Game due to a shoulder injury, but could hear his name called in the 50-80 range of the draft if his medicals hold up.

Although not as high profile, I also have time for second time eligible, defenseman Nate Schweitzer, who can do a lot well, but nothing spectacularly, and winger Mike Citara, who can skate and shoot. I don’t expect either to be drafted, but I wouldn’t be surprised if either was.

The Playoffs

The format this year is simple. The top four teams from each conference made it in. All series are best-of-threes. Top seed plays the fourth seed, and second seed plays the third seed. All games are hosted by the higher seed. One series per weekend until one team lifts the Clark Cup. Let’s go!

Western Conference

Jack Peart. Photo Dan Hickling, Hickling Images

#1 Tri-City Storm vs #4 Fargo Force

The Western Conference was incredibly tight at the top with the playoff picture not being settled until the final weekend of the regular season. The points percentage difference between Tri-City and Fargo (32 percentage points) was less than between Fargo and fifth place Des Moines (34 percentage points).

Fargo was the third best defensive team in the league, although Tri-City was the best at keeping the puck out of its net. Neither team is known for filling their opponents’ nets either, but both had generally done enough to walk away with points more often than not. In fact, they are quite evenly matched. The difference in these three games (outside of home ice advantage) is likely to rest in special teams. Fargo was mediocre on both the power play and the penalty kill, while the Storm were strong with the man advantage and almost impregnable on the penalty kill, leading the league with a breathtaking 88.3% kill rate. To Fargo’s credit, they have played far more of their season at 5-on-5 than Tri-City. And they will have to do that again this weekend to keep their season alive.

Beyond the expected close games, another reason to watch this series is the head-to-head matchup between two very interesting and talented draft eligibles. On Fargo, that would be Tristan Broz, a two-way center with a good motor and the vision to be a power play weapon. The Minnesota commit ran away with the scoring lead on his team. His numbers would be even more impressive if he had more talented teammates to play with. On Tri-City, the man of the hour is Matthew Knies. Knies started his season painfully slow, but ended it on fire, with 20 points in his final 11 games. Knies has heavier feet, but a very mature build and at his best, can take over the game. He will join Broz with the Golden Gophers next year.

Knies and Broz are not the only intriguing draft eligible players in this series. In fact, Fargo blueliner Jack Peart has a very good chance to be the highest drafted player in this series. The St. Cloud State commit split his season between Fargo and Grand Rapids High School (Mn). He is a good skater with a very strong first few steps, who plays with preternatural poise. He controls the puck like a much older player and plays a strong 200-foot game. Had Peart spent the entire season in Fargo, the final standings may have looked very different. For Fargo, also keep an eye on Aaron Huglen, a Buffalo draft pick who returned from over a full year on the sidelines after around a third of this season was done and has played a skilled game ever since.

On Tri-City, Knies is joined by a pair of intriguing draft eligible players in Hunter Strand and Carter Mazur, the latter of whom is a second time eligible player. Strand is a USNTDP alum, whose late birthday prevented him from being drafted last year. The Alaska native is a great skater and plays a patient game with the puck. Mazur has more of an East-West style game, helped along by plus edges. He can play the pest role as well and retains utility off the puck. Strand and Mazur both outscored Knies this year, but Knies already had a big reputation through his big pre-draft year and his run to end the year keeps him top of mind.

Prediction: Fargo in three. A mild upset to be sure. The return of Peart helps Fargo just as much as the loss of top blueliner Guillaume Richard hurts Tri-City. Richard is currently representing Team Canada at the WU18s in Texas. Neither team has stellar goaltending, but Fargo’s Brennan Boynton should be able to roughly match Tri-City’s Todd Scott.

#2 Omaha Lancers vs #3 Sioux City Musketeers

Both Omaha and Sioux City put up 63 points in 53 games, but their paths to getting there could scarcely have been more different. Consider that Omaha’s goal differential was a mediocre +13, while Sioux City outscored their opponents on aggregate by 35 goals, with the league’s best – by far – defense.

The two teams are both led by high end goaltending, each starting one of the three drafted netminders in the league. For Sioux City, that man is the Swiss Akira Schmid, a New Jersey prospect, while Montreal draftee Jakob Dobes, from Czechia, mans the pipes for Omaha. Dobes was a true workhorse for the Lancers, playing in 47 of the team’s 53 games, while Schmid played roughly two-third of the time for Sioux City, as his back up was more reliable.

Schmid will need to be at his best in this series, however, as Omaha has one of the biggest offensive weapons in the league at their disposal in Ayrton Martino. Martino joined the club shortly after the calendar flipped into 2021 and took the league by storm, with the fifth best points-per-game ratio in the USHL (1.47). A great skater with a fantastic shot, Martino did not let his slight frame prevent him from dominating, and his playmaking game is just as strong as his finishing ability. If Sioux City can shut Martino down, the Lancers don’t have too many other weapons at their disposal as their secondary scoring is largely in the hands of USHL veterans like Ryan Lautenbach, Nolan Renwick and Zach Dubinsky. The Omaha roster is one of the oldest in the league.

Sioux City, on the other hand, has a few more weapons at its disposal. Detroit draft pick Chase Bradley and New Jersey pick Ethan Edwards were both in the team’s top four in scoring, while Buffalo pick Matteo Costantini showed well after joining the league mid-season. Although the Musketeers don’t have a draft eligible player the likes of Martino, don’t sleep on defenseman Shai Buium. A USHL rookie out of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s program, he combines quick hands with smooth, if not quick, feet. He plays a strong two-way game and if he were a better skater (he isn’t bad, but he isn’t great), we would be hearing more people call for him as a first round type of talent. As is, he has enough raw skill to dream on a big, late-blooming future. I am also keeping an eye on redraft candidates defenseman Daniel Laatsch and center Justin Hryckowian. Laatsch is a USNTDP alum who has great size and some burgeoning skill, but is still raw, while Hryckowian has a fun skill game, but an injury-filled history and a sub-optimal build.

Prediction: Sioux City’s depth overcomes Martino’s solo skill in three games.

Western Conference Final Prediction: Sioux City over Fargo in three games. Sioux City is just too difficult to score against and has enough offensive weapons to get the job done.

Eastern Conference

Matthew Coronato. Photo by Dan Hickling, Hickling Images

#1 Chicago Steel vs #4 Dubuque Fighting Saints

By all accounts, this should be a washout. Chicago is, by great lengths, the top team in the USHL. They enter the postseason on an eight-game undefeated streak, and won 38 of 54 games this year, often by wide margins. Their goaltending has been shoddy at times, but far more often than not, they were able to outscore their troubles and their total of 265 goals scored was 24 more than the runners-up. Dubuque, on the other hand, won only 24 of 51 games, securing the final playoff spot in the east thanks to a win in their final game coupled with a loss from the U17 USNTDP squad.

If Dubuque is to have a hope in this series, look to their defensive players. Goalie Lukas Parik, a Los Angeles draft pick, struggled since joining the team, in late-January from the Czech second division, but shut out Green Bay in his final game, reminding us of what he is capable. On the blueline, fellow LA pick Braden Doyle teams up with Anaheim draft pick Henry Thrun to give the Fighting Saints a pair of weapons. Up front, Dubuque has a balanced attack, but the man to watch is Robert Cronin. While too old to be drafted this year Cronin is a late bloomer with speed and skill who will be a good follow next year once he joins the University of New Hampshire. The boy to watch, on the other hand, is Matthew Savoie. The 17-year-old is a 2022 draft eligible, who should have been playing in the WHL, but the uncertainty in that league led him to Dubuque, where he immediately played a central, and at time dominating, role. He’s going to be really fun to watch next year.

Looking at draft eligibles for this summer, keep your eyes on Connor Kurth and Andrei Buyalsky. Buylasky is actually the same age (born three days later) as Cronin, but as he is considered a foreign player (this is his first season in North America), the Kazakhstani forward is draft eligible while the American Cronin is not. Buyalsky is an impressive skater with impressive finishing ability. Kurth, on the other hand, has no particular big attributes to his game, but he finds a way to put up good numbers. He has a very stocky build but moves well enough regardless.

Moving on to Chicago, almost every skater on the roster is worthy of mention. Start with Montreal draft pick Sean Farrell, a USNTDP alum who would have been with Harvard this season had the Crimson actually played. Instead, he put up a breathtaking 101-point season for the Steel. His playmaking ability is simply unfair to most opponents on most nights. Then there is Matthew Coronato, a likely first round pick, who scored 48 goals in 51 games. Sure, it helps to have Farrell playing on your team, but the two actually rarely played together at even strength. Coronato is an offensive dynamo, who is content to cycle on his own for multiple full loops of the offensive end before he sees a seam to exploit.

Then there is Jack Bar, a late add to the roster from the BCHL. After a brief period acclimating to the league, he began to dominate. The defenseman likes to get deep into the offensive zone but is also a physical and committed defender. He has some first round upside. Of course, I also have to mention Mackie Samoskevich, who at one time was seen as a better draft prospect than Coronato. Samoskevich struggled somewhat after a midseason injury but is another gifted playmaker and a fantastic skater to boot.

I don’t want to get into the weeds too much, but I also expect Josh Doan (son of Shane), Ryan Ufko, and Jackson Blake to be drafted this summer, and Jack Harvey being drafted wouldn’t surprise me either. Anaheim draft pick Ian Moore has been impressive in his first season in the USHL, and 2023(!!) eligible forward Adam Fantilli is a burgeoning superstar. As good as everyone else already mentioned on this roster is, Fantilli’s upside is the highest. I am talking top three in the draft upside.

Prediction: Chicago in two, barring a complete breakdown in net. Chicago in three if the goalies stumble.

#2 Muskegon Lumberjacks vs #3 Green Bay Gamblers

A testament to how tight the West is, the Muskegon-Green Bay series is the second most lopsided duel after Chicago-Dubuque, with .040 percentage points separating the Lumberjacks and the Gamblers. Muskegon plays an up-tempo, high-event game with red lights going off at both ends. Green Bay is best when they keep goals to a minimum, and actually ended the season with the fewest goals allowed in the conference.

Green Bay’s chances are led by a pair of Boston Bruins’ draft picks in defender Mason Lohrei and center Jake Schmaltz. The latter is a two-way forward, who after three seasons in the USHL, has figured out how to be a factor offensively. He does a lot of little things well but lacks any dynamic elements. Lohrei was a surprise second rounder last season but has grown his game even more this year. He is big, skates very well, has a big point shot and plays a tough game at all ends. The Gamblers will go as far as he can take them. Vancouver draft pick Jackson Kunz and Vegas pick Jackson Hallum are also on the roster, and while both have shown the ability to provide secondary offense, neither can make things happen on their own. 2022 eligible Ryan Greene is an interesting player, but if there is a wild card in Green Bay, it is Camden Thiesing. The Tennessee native combines skill with grit, finishing third in the league in PIMs. He will work to make things happen on his own, and when he stays out of the penalty box, he is dangerous.

Led by San Jose draft pick Danil Gushchin, Muskegon is incredibly entertaining. Gushchin is a dynamo, who is not the most consistent player, but when he is involved and engaged, is one of the top handful of forwards in the league. He is joined by a deep roster of talented players, a few of whom should be drafted this summer, many of those in their second year of eligibility. The best of that secondary bunch is center Cameron Berg. Berg finished last year hot after a slow start and didn’t miss a beat coming into this year. He has a high-end wrist shot and knows how to create space for himself to rip one off. Winger Quinn Hutson is another second-year eligible forward who made waves this year. The type of player to get to the right spot at the right time, he knows how to finish what his linemates create. On the blueline, there are a trio to watch. The offensive blueline is Jacob Guevin, a power play specialist, whose production overshadows his average tools. Alex Gagne and Hank Kempf are bigger, more physical blueliners who make life difficult for attacking forwards. I could see all three drafted this summer.

Prediction: Muskegon in three games.

Eastern Conference Final prediction: Chicago in three games over Muskegon. This would be an immensely entertaining series.

Clark Cup Final Prediction: Chicago over Sioux City in three games. It’s really hard to bet against the Steel this year.

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s April Rankings – Pre-U18 World Championship – Top 32

Brock Otten — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 21:43:22 +0000

Scouting the draft certainly has not been easy this year. We could go on at length about that. Delays to the WHL season. The (recent) cancelation of the OHL season. Shortened junior seasons in Europe. Constant disruptions due to covid protocols. Rink restrictions. A greater reliance on video. These are the struggles that independent scouting agencies like ourselves have had to endure in order to evaluate and rank the best the 2021 NHL Draft has to offer. But the show must go on. Just because scouting has been different this year does not mean that our scouts have not been putting in the work. That work just looks a little different.

It has been over two months since the release of our preliminary Top 32 ranking. This time around, for our mid-season ranking, we will be increasing the length of our list to 64, along with some honorable mentions.

While the top 5 remains unchanged from our previous list (Beniers, Power, Hughes, Wallstedt, Edvinsson), there have been some pretty significant changes to the way we have ranked the players inside the Top 15. Chaz Lucius, Matthew Coronato, and Sebastian Cossa have made significant jumps, while Carson Lambos, Zachary L’Heureux, and Corson Ceulemans have seen large drops.

Lucius, of the U.S. National Development Team, was injured early on in the season, severely limiting our views of him. Now fully healthy, he is playing exceptional hockey (averaging over a goal per game in the USHL) and has moved up into our Top 10. Coronato has sustained his high level of play from earlier in the USHL season, leading the USHL in goal scoring. While Sebastian Cossa has been sensational to start the WHL season in Edmonton, currently leading the ‘Dub” in save percentage. His 6’6 frame and stopping ability are going to make him very attractive to NHL scouts inside the lottery range. The last time we had two goalies taken inside the Top 15 was 2006 when Jonathan Bernier (11th) and Riku Helenius (15th) were selected. There is a very real possibility of that happening again in 2021.

Carson Lambos is definitely a widely debated prospect these days. His play in Finland (on loan) was indifferent and, unfortunately, his season was ended early due to a medical procedure which halted his WHL season two games in and has prevented him from playing at the World Under 18’s in Texas. Ultimately, our scouts are less sure of his high-end offensive potential than they were a year ago, or even several months ago. Zachary L’Heureux is a talented player, no doubt, but his inability to stay in the Halifax lineup due to suspensions has become a concerning trend. And Ceulemans’ play since the AJHL returned has not been at the same level as it was before the stoppage. His play at the U18’s in support of Brandt Clarke on Team Canada will go a long way in determining his value for the draft.

In total, there are seven new faces ranked inside of our first round compared to last time. Those would be the aforementioned Chaz Lucius, Logan Stankoven, Aidan Hreschuk, Jack Bar, Ayrton Martino, Simon Robertsson, and Ville Koivunen.

Of course, this list is far from being set in stone. The IIHF World Under 18’s in Texas, which commence at the end of April, will be highly scrutinized. With the cancellation of events like the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, the World Junior A Challenge, and the Five Nations, this will be the first time scouts will have an opportunity to compare the top talent against one another. While it is important to not use a single tournament as the basis of your evaluation on a player, there is no doubt that the results of the U18’s will have wide sweeping effects on the year end lists of NHL scouts. Of our ranked top 64, 32 (exactly half) are scheduled to play at the U18’s.

While tempering projections based on the U18’s will be one challenge, the other main one is the cancellation of the OHL season. Typically, nearly 20% of all players drafted come from the Ontario Hockey League. While some of the top players have played in Europe (like Brandt Clarke and Mason McTavish) or will be participating in the Under 18’s (like Ben Gaudreau and Wyatt Johnson), others will have their evaluations and grades based upon their performances last season. That is unless the CHL and Hockey Canada can successfully stage a prospect tournament in a bubble setting sometime before the draft (which is apparently being discussed and on the table). Where to slot OHL based players inside our final rankings will be a challenge.

As mentioned, this time around we have ranked the Top 64. Of course, there were several players who just missed this list. Our ‘Honorable Mentions’ for midseason were as follows (alphabetically): Eric Alarie, William von Barnekow, Josh Doan, Liam Gilmartin, David Gucciardi, Jayden Grubbe, Samuel Helenius, Brent Johnson, Tristan Lennox, Robert Orr, Kyle Masters, Connor Roulette, Joshua Roy, Ryan Winterton, and Trevor Wong.

Without further ado...the McKeen’s April top 32 rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft. Subcribers can access the top 64 by linking here.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Matthew Beniers	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/175	5-Nov-02	24-10-14-24
2	Owen Power	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-6/215	22-Nov-02	26-3-13-16
3	Luke Hughes	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/175	9-Sep-03	38-6-28-34
4	Jesper Wallstedt	G	Lulea (SHL)	6-3/200	14-Nov-02	12-10, 2.23, .908
5	Simon Edvinsson	D	Vasteras (Swe 2)	6-4/200	5-Feb-03	14-0-5-5
6	Chaz Lucius	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/175	2-May-03	12-13-5-18
7	Dylan Guenther	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-0/170	3-Apr-03	12-12-12-24
8	Brandt Clarke	D	Nove Zamky (Svk)	6-1/180	9-Feb-03	26-5-10-15
9	Fabian Lysell	RW	Lulea (SHL)	5-10/175	19-Jan-03	26-2-1-3
10	William Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-10/175	10-Dec-02	40-11-12-23
11	Kent Johnson	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/170	18-Oct-02	26-9-18-27
12	Aatu Raty	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-2/185	14-Nov-02	35-3-3-6
13	Matthew Coronato	LW	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/180	14-Nov-02	50-46-37-83
14	Cole Sillinger	LW	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-0/195	16-May-03	31-24-22-46
15	Sebastian Cossa	G	Edmonton (WHL)	6-6/210	21-Nov-02	12-0, 1.61, .939
16	Mason McTavish	C	Olten (Sui 2)	6-0/200	30-Jan-03	13-9-2-11
17	Francesco Pinelli	C	Acroni Jesenice (Slv)	6-0/185	11-Apr-03	13-5-6-11
18	Logan Stankoven	C	Kamloops (WHL)	5-8/170	26-Feb-03	6-7-3-10
19	Oskar Olausson	RW	HV 71 (SHL)	6-1/180	10-Nov-02	16-3-1-4
20	Ryder Korczak	C	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-10/170	23-Sep-02	13-3-11-14
21	William Stromgren	LW	MODO Hockey (Swe 2)	6-3/175	7-Jun-03	27-3-6-9
22	Isak Rosen	RW	Leksands (SHL)	5-11/155	15-Mar-03	22-0-1-1
23	Aidan Hreschuk	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/180	19-Feb-03	43-5-28-33
24	Jack Bar	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/190	24-Oct-02	32-5-10-15
25	Corson Ceulemans	D	Brooks (AJHL)	6-1/190	5-May-03	8-4-7-11
26	Simon Robertsson	RW	Skelleftea (SHL)	6-0/190	5-Feb-03	22-1-1-2
27	Ayrton Martino	LW	Omaha (USHL)	5-10/170	28-Sep-02	36-18-36-54
28	Zachary L'Heureux	LW	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-11/195	15-May-03	33-19-20-39
29	Xavier Bourgault	C	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-0/170	22-Oct-02	29-20-20-40
30	Stanislav Svozil	D	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-1/180	17-Jan-03	30-1-2-3
31	Ville Koivunen	LW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-11/160	13-Jun-03	38-23-26-49
32	Brennan Othmann	LW	Olten (Sui 2)	5-11/170	5-Jan-03	34-7-9-16

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s April Rankings – Pre-U18 World Championship – Top 64 (Subscribers)

Brock Otten — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 21:00:58 +0000

Without further ado...the McKeen’s April top 64 rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Matthew Beniers	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/175	5-Nov-02	24-10-14-24
2	Owen Power	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-6/215	22-Nov-02	26-3-13-16
3	Luke Hughes	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/175	9-Sep-03	38-6-28-34
4	Jesper Wallstedt	G	Lulea (SHL)	6-3/200	14-Nov-02	12-10, 2.23, .908
5	Simon Edvinsson	D	Vasteras (Swe 2)	6-4/200	5-Feb-03	14-0-5-5
6	Chaz Lucius	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/175	2-May-03	12-13-5-18
7	Dylan Guenther	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-0/170	3-Apr-03	12-12-12-24
8	Brandt Clarke	D	Nove Zamky (Svk)	6-1/180	9-Feb-03	26-5-10-15
9	Fabian Lysell	RW	Lulea (SHL)	5-10/175	19-Jan-03	26-2-1-3
10	William Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-10/175	10-Dec-02	40-11-12-23
11	Kent Johnson	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/170	18-Oct-02	26-9-18-27
12	Aatu Raty	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-2/185	14-Nov-02	35-3-3-6
13	Matthew Coronato	LW	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/180	14-Nov-02	50-46-37-83
14	Cole Sillinger	LW	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-0/195	16-May-03	31-24-22-46
15	Sebastian Cossa	G	Edmonton (WHL)	6-6/210	21-Nov-02	12-0, 1.61, .939
16	Mason McTavish	C	Olten (Sui 2)	6-0/200	30-Jan-03	13-9-2-11
17	Francesco Pinelli	C	Acroni Jesenice (Slv)	6-0/185	11-Apr-03	13-5-6-11
18	Logan Stankoven	C	Kamloops (WHL)	5-8/170	26-Feb-03	6-7-3-10
19	Oskar Olausson	RW	HV 71 (SHL)	6-1/180	10-Nov-02	16-3-1-4
20	Ryder Korczak	C	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-10/170	23-Sep-02	13-3-11-14
21	William Stromgren	LW	MODO Hockey (Swe 2)	6-3/175	7-Jun-03	27-3-6-9
22	Isak Rosen	RW	Leksands (SHL)	5-11/155	15-Mar-03	22-0-1-1
23	Aidan Hreschuk	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/180	19-Feb-03	43-5-28-33
24	Jack Bar	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/190	24-Oct-02	32-5-10-15
25	Corson Ceulemans	D	Brooks (AJHL)	6-1/190	5-May-03	8-4-7-11
26	Simon Robertsson	RW	Skelleftea (SHL)	6-0/190	5-Feb-03	22-1-1-2
27	Ayrton Martino	LW	Omaha (USHL)	5-10/170	28-Sep-02	36-18-36-54
28	Zachary L'Heureux	LW	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-11/195	15-May-03	33-19-20-39
29	Xavier Bourgault	C	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-0/170	22-Oct-02	29-20-20-40
30	Stanislav Svozil	D	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-1/180	17-Jan-03	30-1-2-3
31	Ville Koivunen	LW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-11/160	13-Jun-03	38-23-26-49
32	Brennan Othmann	LW	Olten (Sui 2)	5-11/170	5-Jan-03	34-7-9-16
33	Samu Tuomaala	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-10/175	8-Jan-03	30-15-16-31
34	Mackie Samoskevich	RW	Chicago (USHL)	5-10/175	15-Nov-02	36-13-24-37
35	Nikita Chibrikov	LW	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	5-10/160	16-Feb-03	16-1-1-2
36	Jack Peart	D	Fargo (USHL)	5-11/180	15-May-03	22-1-13-14
37	Carson Lambos	D	Winnipeg (WHL)	6-0/200	14-Jan-03	2-0-0-0
38	Anton Olsson	D	Malmo (SHL)	6-1/185	26-Jan-03	39-0-4-4
39	Zach Dean	C	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-0/175	4-Jan-03	23-10-10-20
40	Evan Nause	D	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-2/185	20-Jan-03	32-4-18-22
41	Fyodor Svechkov	C	Lada Togliatti (VHL)	6-0/180	5-Apr-03	38-5-10-15
42	Justin Robidas	C	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	5-7/175	13-Mar-03	35-19-17-36
43	Red Savage	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	15-May-03	39-16-22-38
44	Daniil Chayka	D	CSKA (KHL)	6-3/190	22-Oct-02	11-1-1-2
45	Benjamin Gaudreau	G	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/165	11-Jan-03
46	Sasha Pastujov	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/185	15-Jul-03	34-23-29-52
47	Logan Mailloux	D	SK Lejon (Swe)	6-3/215	15-Apr-03	19-7-8-15
48	Liam Dower Nilsson	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/170	14-Apr-03	16-5-12-17
49	Prokhor Poltapov	LW	Krasnaya Armiya (MHL)	5-10/160	1-Feb-03	61-25-27-52
50	Sean Behrens	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-9/175	31-Mar-03	39-6-25-31
51	Vincent Iorio	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/190	14-Nov-02	20-4-7-11
52	Roman Schmidt	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-5/210	27-Feb-03	38-3-10-13
53	Artyom Grushnikov	D	Hamilton (OHL)	6-2/185	20-Mar-03
54	Victor Stjernborg	C	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	5-10/200	22-May-03	30-2-2-4
55	Wyatt Johnston	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-0/180	14-May-03
56	Zachary Bolduc	C	Rimouski (QMJHL)	6-1/175	24-Feb-03	27-10-19-29
57	Ryan Ufko	D	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/175	7-May-03	52-10-28-38
58	Colton Dach	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Jan-03	17-8-6-14
59	Brett Harrison	C	KOOVEE (Fin Jr)	6-1/175	7-Jun-03	7-4-5-9
60	Chase Stillman	RW	Esbjerg (Den Jr)	5-11/175	29-Mar-03	8-9-7-16
61	James Malatesta	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/180	31-May-03	32-10-13-23
62	Alexander Kisakov	LW	Dynamo Moskva (Rus Jr)	5-9/160	1-Nov-02	61-36-37-73
63	Ethan Del Mastro	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-3/195	15-Jan-03
64	Kirill Kirsanov	D	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	6-1/195	19-Sep-02	29-0-3-3

USHL: Jack Bar, D, Chicago Steel, 2021 NHL Draft Eligible

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 22:44:17 +0000

Jack Bar, the one-time teammate of current LA farmhand Quinton Byfield in the York Simcoe Express program in his hometown of Newmarket, Ontario, has a chance to be the second high end draft pick from that class. His next stop was at the famed St Andrew’s College in nearby Aurora, where he continued to develop alongside Detroit draft pick Keinan Draper. After two full seasons with SAC, Bar was planning on joining Penticton of the BCHL, but, like most of his former teammates and opponents in Ontario, he found himself without a sure place to play as the COVID pandemic brought significant uncertainty to hockey in BC. Sensing an opportunity, Chicago acquired his USHL rights from Fargo and brought him to Illinois.

Already a strong and deep team, Bar fit right in on the right side of their second defensive pairing, also earning steady PK time and a smattering of shifts on the power play. He joined the Steel with some moderate hype, but it didn’t take long before he was far surpassing expectations. He plays a very heady game, allowing him to make an impact in every zone, on every shift. He is the type of player to force others to react to him, instead of letting the game come to him. Some players like that can be as dangerous to their own teams as to opponents, but Bar is more calculated than that, choosing his spots carefully enough to rarely force his teammates to scramble to make up for his adventures. Due to how quickly he has adapted to the higher pace of play in the USHL (compare to the aforementioned Draper, whose own USHL debut season has thus far consisted of four points in 32 games for Omaha), and his overall composure in all zones, he may still only be scratching the surface of his potential. Outside of the USNTDP, Bar is the top blueliner in the USHL for my money.

Jack Bar	2021 NHL Draft Eligible
Position: D, Shoots R	H/W: 6-2", 188 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Chicago Steel, USHL (28-5-10-15-16)

Jack Bar 2021 NHL Draft Eligible

Position: D, Shoots R H/W: 6-2", 188 lbs

Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS) Chicago Steel, USHL (28-5-10-15-16)

Skating – Although Bar will not make anyone forget about the skating prowess of the likes of Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, he moves pretty well in his own right. His top speed is fine. He takes big strides to chew up the ice, and skates with good strength as well, as you can sometimes catch him bulling through opponents to move from zone to zone. Bar loves to skate deep into the offensive zone, and not just for fly-by’s as we sometimes see defenders do. Bar is liable to get stuck into a puck scrum behind the net in the offensive end. His mobility is four-directional. I am especially impressed with his ability to transition from one direction to another and his recovery speed, which allows him to keep up with counter attacks and nullify scoring chances. Grade: 55

Shot – Bar has a slap shot of decent power and accuracy, which can beat a goalie clean when he gets his all into it. His wrister is adequate as well, for when he is higher up in the slot. That all said, the right-shooting Bar is not a big shooter. At the time of writing, he has taken one shot on net in his previous four games, and only three shots in the previous eight games. While he does receive a modicum of time on the power play, the bulk of his offensive contribution comes from moving the puck. The grade is based on the presence of the tool, even if a new approach would be necessary for it to be a functional in-game weapon. Grade: 50

Skills – This is the area of Bar’s game that is most liable to elicit differing opinions depending on when you see him. At his worst, he can be a bit brutish, stickhandling through defenses with size and pace more than acts of skill. His hands can sometimes look stiff. On the other hand, watch how often he is used to carry the puck from the defensive to the offensive end. Even when he lacks grace in his movements, he gets the job done and helps his team establish possession in the offensive zone. Once in a while, he will also show off some slick moves, with enough wiggle to fool opponents. I see this most often when he is getting the breakout started from deep in his own zone. Bar’s passing game is also a plus. In my most recent viewing, he fired a puck from the Chicago half of the neutral zone to the other blueline, splitting two defenders at the end, allowing teammate Jack Harvey (draft sleeper alert!) to slip behind them and get in on goal all alone. (see attached video clip) Bar’s offensive zone passing game is pretty vanilla, but almost always useful in the play alive and progressing. Grade: 55

Smarts – Even as Bar was getting his feet wet in the USHL, his ability to process the game in front of him was noticeable from the get-go. Even though he plays second pairing minutes, he was used on the penalty kill from day one. Off the puck he plays a tough, physical game. His gaps are tight and his stickwork is excellent. One play, where he was hustling to keep up with a speedy opponent racing up the wing, just inside the Chicago blueline, Bar had to transition from backwards skating to forwards, so he poked his stick out while turning to push the puck off the opposing forward’s stick. He has been very good since joining the Steel at using a combination of his physicality and active stick to shut down opposing rushes. Bar plays an alert style of game, keeping his head swiveling to read the game. More than anything, I have been impressed by how quickly he has adapted to the speed of game after coming to the league mid-season. During his first month in the league, he was functional and fine, but more supporting than driving. Not great, but considering he had barely played since he was a member of St. Andrews Collegiate in Ontario in the 2019-20 season, is was fine. Over the past six weeks, Bar has rapidly evolved into a player who could take on a lead role on the regular. The Harvard commit plays the game with the moxie of a league veteran, suggesting he should have little trouble adapting as he continues to climb up to new levels. Grade: 60

Physicality – Bar should continue to fill out over time, but his 6-1” frame is already plenty strong and impactful at this level. He doesn’t play a vicious game, but he puts his size to good use, shutting down zone entries and shrugging off opponents to move forward. Based on his physical development at his young age, and full physical maturity, I expect him to be able to more than hold his own defensively against professionals. Grade: 55

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jack_bar_-_1st_period_5_32_-_5_54.mp4

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 55.75

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Catching up with OHL 2021 NHL Draft prospects transplanted around the world – Video Review

Brock Otten — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 21:33:36 +0000

Wednesday, March 11, 2020. That was the last date an OHL game was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, hockey in Ontario is more than just the Ontario Hockey League. It’s the OJHL. It’s the CCHL. It’s the GOJHL and the prep circuit (like the prestigious St. Andrew’s College). All of these leagues were equally affected and as such, junior hockey, as a collective entity, has suffered greatly this year in Canada’s most populous province.

As 2020 comes to a close, much to the delight of all, the state of hockey in Ontario remains in flux. The Ontario Hockey League plans to start playing in February, with camps opening in January. The Tier 2 circuit (including the OJHL, CCHL, etc) has recently started playing exhibition games, however teams must play without physical contact as per the mandate issued by the Ontario government, and not all teams from those leagues have started.

So where does that leave Ontario based players in their NHL draft years? Worried about falling behind their European and American counterparts, many have relocated in the pursuit of more significant playing time. This article intends to highlight some of those players and will be divided into two sections. The first section will examine Ontario based players who have NCAA commitments. Some, like Owen Power, have been playing outside of Ontario for a few seasons already. Others, like Jack Bar and Thomas Sinclair, moved in order to make sure that the most important year in their development is not lost. The second section will examine OHL players who have secured loans overseas, playing in various European leagues to stay fresh before the OHL opens up (hopefully) in the new year.

Section One - NCAA Commits

Owen Power

Defense, University of Michigan Wolverines, NCAA

6-5”, 215lbs

It would be a disservice to start this article with anyone but Power, one of the front runners for first overall in 2021. Michigan is one of the NCAA teams fortunate enough to start their season without hiccups and Power is part of an explosive freshman class that will have scouts flocking to their games...when scouts are actually allowed to flock to games again. A November born 2002 player, he is playing heavy minutes for the Wolverines and looking every part the dominating two-way presence that he was expected to be.

As mentioned, Power has been playing outside of Ontario for several seasons now. While he was a second round OHL Draft selection by Flint, he never had any intention of reporting there. If he was focused on the OHL, he would have been a candidate to go first overall in the 2018 priority selection. He committed to Michigan in 2018 and played the last two seasons with Chicago of the USHL, winning the league’s best defenseman award in 2020.

The Strengths

Watching Power take the ice for Michigan, it becomes quickly apparent that he is a defender with very few flaws. At 6-5”, 215lbs, he controls both ends similarly to Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman and projects as a top pairing, future NHL All Star.

As a skater, Power has terrific four-way mobility, especially for such a bigger defender. He picks up speed with only a few strides and covers the ice efficiently. This allows him to be very aggressive as an offensive defender. He will lead the attack, both at even strength and on the powerplay, pushing deep across the opposing blueline. It is not uncommon to see him pinching deep to help maintain possession along the wall below the hash marks and he is consistently looking to slide down to seek out scoring chances back door. However, it is rare to see him caught out of position because he covers ground so quickly and is able to recover to his defensive position before play flips the other direction.

Power also controls the point with patience and poise, exhibiting terrific vision both with and without the puck. Sometimes with larger defenders, their feet are stagnant at the line as they look to set up for one time opportunities. But Power is consistently in motion, be it working the give and go, or pushing in tighter to the crease to create scoring opportunities. He makes calculated decisions with the puck on his stick and makes quick and precise passes to open teammates to set up scoring chances. It is rare to see him force a shot or pass through traffic, instead opting to make the safe play if nothing presents itself. His shot has significant velocity due to a powerful release, but he does a great job getting it through traffic and on net.

As a defensive player, Power is just so efficient because of his size, reach, and mobility. I tried to find a few clips of what I would call “strong or smart defensive plays.” But in reality, every shift of his is similar in that teams are simply not able to set up offensive zone time when he is on the ice. He forces dump ins because teams do not try to push past or through him in transition. And he recovers those dump ins quickly and efficiently, flipping possession, keeping Michigan on the attack. When a forechecker is able to beat him to a loose puck, teams rarely keep possession for long below the hash marks because of how well Power seals and separates his man from the puck, using his size and reach to his advantage. Those expecting him to be a physical presence may come away disappointed; Chris Pronger he is not. However, there is such a quiet efficiency to his defensive approach.

The Weaknesses

While I may be nitpicking to a certain extent, there are some flaws in Power’s game that have become more apparent playing with Michigan at a higher level of competition.

At this point in his development, he is a better and more effective offensive player when working inside the opposing blueline. Turnovers inside his own end have been a bit of an issue at Michigan as Power attempts to force stretch passes through multiple forecheckers. When he uses his mobility and length to gain clearance and open up those passing lanes, he is extremely effective. But there has been a tendency to force those exits when gaps are not apparent.

Additionally, while Power possesses strong puck skill, he is clearly much stronger on his forehand. When forced to his backhand, be it when operating in his own end, or when pushing forward with the puck through the neutral zone, turnovers or inaccurate/sloppy passes have been a bit of an issue. No question, Power relies on his quick processing ability and vision to make plays, rather than pure creativity the way guys like Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar do.

While Power is a strong skater, there are times where balance and staying on his feet is an issue. When engaging physically down low, he occasionally loses his footing and gives up positioning. The same can be said when trying to use his reach to make plays, as he can be knocked off stride too easily for a larger player. That said, it is important to remember that Power is just recently 18 and playing against older, more experienced college athletes. As his conditioning and lower body strength improves, he has the potential to be quite physically dominant.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 22

Jersey Color: White/Dark Blue

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Owen-Power-collection.mp4

Roman Schmidt

Defense, USNTDP (U18), USHL

6-5”, 210lbs

While Schmidt is not Canadian born, it felt correct to include him in this article. He did, after all, play the majority of his minor hockey in Ontario before accepting a spot with the U.S. National Development Team. In his U16 year, Schmidt played with the Don Mills Flyers along with Shane Wright and potential 2021 top five selection Brandt Clarke.

A hulking defender, Schmidt stood out in a positive way with the U17 program last year, performing well in the USHL. He has carried over that success to this season with the U18’s and is garnering early consideration for the opening rounds of the 2021 Draft. Early on, Schmidt has been partnering with fellow potential high selection Aidan Hreschuk. A Boston University commit, Schmidt has impressed McKeen’s U.S. scout (and director of scouting) Ryan Wagman thus far with his mobility given his size.

The Strengths

Schmidt is definitely an intimidating physical presence. He is extremely aggressive in denying zone entries by stepping up on would-be attackers. Occasionally, this takes him out of position defensively, so he will need to learn to pick his spots to attempt those big hits. However, he also exhibits good gap control when defending in transition and angles attackers well to the corners, where he can use his size to finish them off along the wall and flip possession.

His mobility is also an asset at both ends. Dating back to his U16 days, it is clear that he has put in the work to improve his four way mobility and explosiveness. He generates significant power in his first few strides and in his pushes laterally and this makes him very quick to close gaps. He changes direction quickly and efficiently, demonstrating a more fluid stride than you typically see in a 6-5”, physical defender.

Schmidt also exhibits a powerful point shot, which he is doing a good job of getting through traffic. Last year, as part of the U17 program, he was receiving some powerplay time, but that has not occurred yet this season. While it is rare to see him leading the attack, he will jump up in the play as the third or fourth man in, and he will look to sneak back door for scoring chances.

The Weaknesses

Schmidt is, at this point, a defense first blueliner who tries to limit the amount that he plays with the puck, instead deferring to frequent partner Aidan Hreschuk. He occasionally utilizes his long strides and power to lead the attack, but is much more likely to look for an exit pass rather than carrying the puck out. This is where Schmidt needs to improve, as the accuracy of his breakout passes is a weakness. Many are slightly behind or ahead of the mark, which results in turnovers and prevents an effective breakout. Additionally, he can be pressured into turnovers by forecheckers when recovering dump ins. The decision making needs to be better in his own zone and a lot of that could improve by trusting his mobility to get him out of danger, and by keeping his feet moving when accepting passes or in retrieval situations.

As mentioned, Schmidt can also occasionally take himself out of the play looking for the big hit. These hits can be quite intimidating, but if not executed properly, they can put his team at a serious defensive disadvantage. This is not a part of his game that he should eliminate, instead, he will need to refine his approach.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 27

Jersey Color: Blue/White

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Roman-Schmidt-collection-2.mp4

Thomas Sinclair

Left Wing, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL

6-3”, 195lbs

After playing last year for St. Michaels of the OJHL (along with Ayrton Martino, another player on this list), Sinclair decided to head south of the border this season to play with Muskegon. He also recently committed to the University of Vermont. However, there had been some previous interest in the OHL. Sinclair attended Sarnia Sting orientation camp as a free agent in 2019 and was drafted by the Hamilton Bulldogs as a re-entry in 2020. Unquestionably, the pandemic and the state of hockey in Ontario aided in his decision to commit in the U.S.

A late bloomer, Sinclair was 5-11”, 150lbs at the 2018 OHL Cup when he played for the Mississauga Rebels (along with U.S. Development team member Roman Schmidt). A late physical bloomer, he has since blossomed into a high end playmaking forward who can use his size effectively along the wall. He has previously played center but has been playing left wing with Muskegon so far.

The Strengths

Sinclair really excels along the wall and in close quarters, where he can use his size and reach to help him protect the puck. He has quick hands, which aid in his ability to keep pucks alive and avoid stick checks. He also has strong vision, showing an ability to make passes coming off the wall with his head up.

Sinclair excels as a forechecker who looks to use his long reach to disrupt passing lanes. When moving forward, he appears quick to loose pucks and is first into the offensive zone. His overall skating ability remains a bit of a question mark as at times he looks explosive and quick, and at others his stride length shortens and he appears less effective. This could be a conditioning issue.

Given his size, skill, and willingness to be a combatant down low, Sinclair possesses the potential to be a strong supporting player on a scoring line. He has not looked out of place when skating with Arizona draft pick (and Harvard transplant) John Farinacci, although he has spent more time with fellow Ontario born forward (and 2022 eligible) Owen Mehlenbacher.

The Weaknesses

As mentioned, Sinclair’s skating can be difficult to assess. At times, he moves well and looks explosive. At others, his stride looks choppy and he finds himself behind the play. One has to wonder if this is a conditioning issue. It will be interesting to monitor his progress over the full season in this regard.

At this point in his USHL career, Sinclair does not seem to possess the confidence to shoot first and ask questions later. Being a pass first player can be a fault if shooting attempts are being given up due of passivity. With his size and hands, he will need to prove that he can shoot and score in tight spaces and create his own scoring chances with power and strength.

Additionally, Sinclair’s defensive play has not been spectacular in Muskegon. Despite his size advantage, he has struggled at times to tie up his man in the defensive end. In one of the clips you will see as part of his video collection, he loses focus, gets caught puck watching and misses his defensive assignment, resulting in a goal against. Again, with his reach and ability to control the wall, there is certainly the potential for Sinclair to become a quality two-way forward.

At this point, Sinclair will be an interesting player to follow over the rest of the USHL season. Playing on one of the higher scoring teams in the league, he will continue to receive the opportunity to impress. He could certainly be on the NHL draft radar (whenever the 2021 draft takes place).

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 5

Jersey Color: Black/Grey

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Thomas-Sinclair-Collection.mp4

David Gucciardi

Defense, Youngstown Phantoms, USHL

5-11”, 160lbs

A late born 2002, Gucciardi is already on his third USHL team in under two years. He played for both Muskegon and Sioux City last year and is now suiting up for Youngstown. The season prior, Gucciardi played with Toronto of the OJHL, where he was excellent as a 16 year old. With a commitment to Michigan State in his back pocket, there was some talk that he would report to the OHL last year after his rights were traded to the Niagara IceDogs. However, he stuck firm with his intent to play south of the border.

In Youngstown, Gucciardi plays a ton of minutes, seeing time in all situations for the Phantoms. The foundation of his game is built around his high end skating ability and it is sure to bring him looks from NHL scouts.

The Strengths

As mentioned, Gucciardi is a high class mover. He has a real effortless stride and he builds up speed in only a few strides. This makes him a very strong puck mover who looks to be aggressive in pushing the pace. He can play aggressively high in the zone and take chances because he recovers well. He also uses his quickness well in the defensive end. He closes gaps well and shows strong transitional quickness, moving from backwards to forwards. This allows him to recover dump ins quickly and efficiently.

The biggest surprise for me comes in the defensive end, where Gucciardi is very effective. He plays much bigger than his size (at only 5-11”, 160lbs) and is terrific at winning battles along the wall. He is very assertive physically, which leads me to believe that he has even greater potential as a stalwart when he ultimately adds to his thin frame. He truly looks like a complete defender.

As a powerplay quarterback, there is some good and some bad. He has a hard point shot and his quickness obviously helps him gain entry with relative ease when a man up. At times he shows strong vision, so the potential for him to improve in this regard is pretty high.

The Weaknesses

Sticking with his work on the powerplay, there is certainly room for improvement. For such a strong skater, Gucciardi does not use his quickness consistently enough to create those passing/shooting lanes. He can be a little stagnant back there. His confidence in his ability to push laterally, or even his ability to do so with the puck, could improve. Because he stops moving his feet, he gets easily pressured by penalty killers and forced into poor decisions.

At this point, the points certainly are not piling up for him, even if Gucciardi passes the eye test. Youngstown is one of the lower scoring teams in the USHL thus far, so the pressure will be on Gucciardi to take more chances offensively and try to put this team on his back moving forward. Otherwise, as mentioned, his performance this season has been extremely impressive.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 77

Jersey Color: Dark grey

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/David-Gucciardi-collection.mp4

Luca Fantilli

Defense, Chicago Steel, USHL

6-0”, 160lbs

If you recognize the last name, it is because Luca’s younger brother Adam is one of the most hyped prospects in the 2004 age group. He would have undoubtedly been the first overall selection in the 2020 OHL Draft had he not signed a tender with Chicago and hinted at a desire to play in the NCAA. Of course, part of the allure for Adam was the opportunity to play with his brother Luca in Chicago this season.

This is Luca’s first year in the USHL, but not his first playing in the U.S. He spent last year with Kimball Union Academy, where he was one of the higher scoring defenders in the New England high school prep circuit. Even though he is a late 2002 born, Fantilli is being brought on slowly by Chicago thus far. He is seeing sheltered minutes on the third pairing until he gets up to speed. After all, this is his first true season of “junior.” High school prep last year, and U18 (previously coined major midget but now changed) the year before that. He is a long term project, but one who flashes skill and the potential to be an impact player.

The Strengths

Fantilli skates well moving forward and demonstrates the potential to be a high end puck carrier. His confidence in carrying out of the defensive zone seems to be increasing as we get further into the USHL season. He has the ability to change direction quickly and sharply when pushing laterally and this gives him elusiveness as he passes through the neutral zone.

Fantilli also shows a very good stick in the defensive zone. It is clear that he thinks the game well from a defensive standpoint as he closes passing lanes well with good anticipation and positioning. He also does a good job winning one on one battles along the wall, especially for a young man who is still rather physically immature. Again, this is thanks to good positioning and an understanding of how to use his stick as leverage. As he matures, he actually shows the potential to develop into a strong defensive presence and someone who can see significant shorthanded responsibility.

The Weaknesses

While Fantilli shows well moving forward and as a puck mover, his transitional mobility needs work. His four way mobility could use some refinement, especially in his ability to go from backward to forward. He loses too many races to dump ins, either because his angles are not correct or because he just is not efficient enough in his turn. This puts him and his team at a disadvantage, as the majority of his shifts are spent in the defensive end.

Fantilli really seems to be struggling with the pace of play so far at the USHL level. This is evident in his decision making with the puck in the defensive end. Turnovers have been an issue in the face of forecheckers. No doubt, this is a big jump for him coming from Kimball Union Academy and an adjustment period was to be expected. It will be interesting to track his development over the course of the season to see if he is making quicker and smarter decisions with the puck, and if he is gaining the confidence to use his mobility to escape those forechecks.

While manning the point (at even strength as he has not been given significant powerplay responsibility yet), these decision making issues are also present. He needs to be quicker moving that puck and to do a better job of getting his shot through to the net.

Luca Fantilli certainly shows the potential to be a good two-way puck mover, but right now he is still definitely adjusting to both the USHL and to the system utilized by Chicago. He deserves to remain on the draft radar.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 21

Jersey Color: Black/White/Red

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Luca-Fantilli-Collection.mp4

Jack Bar

Defense, Penticton Vees, BCHL

6-2”, 195lbs

A former high pick of the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, Bar has spent the last two years playing for the St. Andrew’s College program (an Ontario based prep school, which has produced some terrific players, including current Carolina Hurricanes forward Warren Foegele). A Harvard commit, Bar originally intended to play for the Crimson in his draft year. However, the pandemic and US/Canada border situation complicated this and he was not able to secure a visa. Regardless, Harvard, along with the rest of the Ivy League programs in the ECAC, has cancelled its season in light of the pandemic. As such, he made the move across the country to play in the BCHL with the terrific Penticton Vees, which seems to be churning out NHL draft picks better than some OHL teams in recent years.

With Penticton, Bar is logging heavy minutes in all situations and is starting to really draw the interest of NHL scouts because of his size, mobility, and right handed shot on the blueline. He is raw, but the potential is there for him to develop into an impressive player.

The Strengths

Bar is a very strong and explosive skater. He really swallows up the ice with ease, and it allows him to play a very aggressive offensive style. He takes chances with his pinches to try to keep pucks in or to jump up in the play, knowing that he can recover if required. His first few strides are especially impressive and noticeable.

Offensively, he owns an extremely powerful point shot and is aggressive in seeking out opportunities to use it. He can rifle pucks with both a quick wrist shot and a deft one-timed slapshot. As he learns to create his own shooting lanes and gains further confidence in using his mobility more as a powerplay QB, look for him to score his share of goals.

Bar also shows promise as a defensive player, given his length and overall mobility. He closes gaps well and will engage physically along the wall in order to separate his man from the puck. There are some consistency issues at play here, especially in his defensive positioning, but with the right coaching, he could be an asset at both ends.

The Weaknesses

While Bar is a truly impressive skater, he does not yet utilize this consistently to create offense from the back end. As mentioned, he is aggressive in jumping up in the play without the puck, but with the puck on his stick, he can play rather conservative. At the moment, it is rare to see him push much further than his own blueline when exiting the zone, opting to defer or look for an outlet instead. Additionally, as mentioned, he could stand to look to push forward more when quarterbacking the powerplay, using that explosiveness to create lanes for himself. If Bar can gain the confidence to be more impactful with the puck on his stick, he could be quite the asset offensively...more than he already is.

Part of the reason Bar’s skating ability is not being utilized to its potential may be due to some processing delays. He appears to still be adjusting to playing in the BCHL coming out of St. Andrew’s. Some poor decisions, be it bad pinches or plays with the puck, have resulted in goals against Penticton. As a higher risk, higher reward defender, you may have to live with some of these poor plays, but Bar will have to work to eliminate most of them from his game.

While Bar does show promise as a defensive player, he will need to gain strength in order to be more consistent. He can be too passive in stepping up on attackers and will need to do a better job of keeping the action ahead of him when defending in transition. Additionally, some of those poor decisions offensively put him at a disadvantage defensively, as he gets taken out of position and is left scrambling.

All that said, I have enjoyed watching Bar and I feel that he should be pretty high on draft boards right now because the potential for him to develop into a standout defender is high. He is raw, but there is a lot of Stars’ first round selection Thomas Harley in him. Patience is going to be required though.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 44

Jersey Color: Blue/White

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Jack-Bar-collection.mp4

Ayrton Martino

Left Wing, Chilliwack Chiefs, BCHL

5-10”, 170lbs

A standout the last two seasons in the OJHL with St. Michael’s, Martino certainly had multiple options of where to play this year. With a Clarkson commitment, the OHL was not likely in the cards. And given the state of hockey in Ontario - especially the GTA - another year with St. Michael’s likely did not make sense for his draft season. Martino had been drafted twice in the USHL (in 2019 and 2020), but he ultimately chose to go play in the BCHL with Chilliwack, where he is familiar with coach Brian Maloney, who coached Martino at last year’s World Junior A Challenge, where the winger led Canada East in scoring on the way to helping them capture silver.

A talented playmaking winger, Martino’s game is built around his vision and quick feet. The transition to the BCHL has been seamless thus far as he leads the Chiefs in preseason scoring and has one of the higher point per game averages during that time period. Already on the draft radar heading into the year, Martino has solidified that place and looks to be a potential top three round selection in 2021.

The Strengths

Martino is definitely a pass first playmaker from the left side, who can both play up tempo, or slow the game down. There is a dynamic quality to his approach. On the Chiefs powerplay, he is playing the right point, which shows you how highly the Chilliwack coaching staff values his distribution ability. He has quick feet and quick hands and this allows him to navigate traffic well; he has that elusive quality to his game in the offensive end. He is definitely difficult to pin down, and if cornered, he identifies passing lanes well. Offensive zone turnovers are certainly limited when the puck is on Martino’s stick.

As a skater, Martino is deceptively quick. He builds up speed with his crossovers and consistently catches defenders off guard with his quickness. He will use this speed to try to drive wide and through to the net, and plays a relatively fearless game. As a smaller forward, continuing to improve this facet of his game will be key, but his quickness stands out.

Martino is also an asset without the puck. He can play in any situation and excels as a forechecker because of those quick feet and a good stick. He shows high end anticipation, reading defenders well and is highly successful at forcing turnovers at the other end of the ice. The term “puck hound” may not be thrown around all that often anymore, but Martino fits the description to a tee.

The Weaknesses

Like any pass first playmaker from the wing, it would be great to see Martino shoot the puck more and with greater authority. Having watched a fair amount of him this year and last, he possesses a good shot. However, he shies away from using it and can be pass first to a fault. If he were to be more aggressive in using his speed to seek out shooting opportunities, and actually shooting when given those openings, it would only elevate his playmaking ability further.

As an undersized winger, adding strength will also be an area of focus as Martino heads to Clarkson in the future. At times he can be separated easily from the puck if his feet do not allow him to escape pressure, and being stronger along the wall in support of linemates would help him sustain pressure in the offensive zone for longer periods of time. It would also help him to be a more effective defensive player on his side of the ice and would likely elevate him to being an elite penalty killer in the future.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 29

Jersey Color: White/Red

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Ayrton-Martino-collection.mp4

Section Two - OHL Players on Loan

Chase Stillman

Right Wing, Esbjerg U20, Denmark U20 (on loan from the Sudbury Wolves)

5-11”, 170lbs

The son of former NHL’er Cory Stillman, and brother of Florida Panthers defenseman Riley Stillman, Chase is an aggressive power winger who is a chip off the old block. Last year was his rookie season in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves (which his father Cory coaches) and it was a strong debut for Chase. He ended up being named to the OHL first all rookie team, 6th in scoring among the 2003/04 crop of 16/17 year olds with 34 points in 58 games.

Given the late start to the OHL, Stillman secured a loan to Denmark to play in the Danish U20 league with Esbjerg. The league itself is not to be considered on par with the OHL, but Stillman is playing heavy minutes and has received the desired head start on his NHL draft year. The larger ice surface has also been good for him to showcase the improvements made to his skating ability. At over 2 points per game so far, he looks every bit as dominant as he should be.

The Strengths

No question, the part of Stillman’s game that has shown the most growth is his skating ability. He looks much more explosive this year and is generating scoring chances by pushing the pace, beating defenders cleanly. Stillman also looks stronger on the puck and he is able to assert himself physically, using his speed to drive through the opposition and not just around them.

Stillman is also an aggressive physical player who looks to use his speed to apply pressure on the forecheck and tracking down dump ins. He is a willing and successful combatant in the corners and in front of the net, where he is a disruption to goalies as he establishes position near the blue paint for redirections and rebounds. Stillman has looked terrific on the penalty kill in Denmark and will likely continue to play this role when the OHL continues and beyond.

On the powerplay, Stillman is playing down low, usually as a net front presence or working below the hash marks/behind the net. His patience and poise with the puck looks to have improved as he is making quicker and cleaner passes, identifying gaps in coverage more quickly and efficiently than he was last season in the OHL.

The Weaknesses

Unfortunately the nature of dominating offensively can sometimes come with the shirking of defensive responsibilities. While Stillman has looked terrific as a penalty killer and as a forechecker, he has been less effective playing through the neutral zone and in his own end. There has been a bit of a tendency to float around the blueline or leave the defensive zone early to try to beat defenders up ice. I do not see this as being an issue moving forward, as I am sure that when Stillman returns to the OHL, his effort in all three zones will be more consistent. That said, he will need to prove that he can play a complete game.

Other than that, Stillman has looked about as dominant as you could ask for playing against weaker competition and it will be interesting to see how the improvements in speed and strength help him when the OHL returns.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 29

Jersey Color: Yellow

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Chase-Stillman-collection.mp4

Brennan Othmann

Left Wing, EHC Olten, Swiss League (2nd division) (on loan from the Flint Firebirds)

5-11”, 170lbs

A potential first round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Othmann was able to secure a loan to Switzerland thanks to his Uncle Robert, who spent over 15 years playing in Switzerland and is still coaching over there. While EHC Olten is in the 2nd division (behind the NLA), it is still an opportunity to play against men and keep his conditioning up to prepare for the upcoming OHL season.

A strong goal scoring winger who is committed and intelligent at both ends of the ice, Othmann is a former teammate of Shane Wright and is coming off a strong rookie season with the Flint Firebirds last year. His ice time with EHC Olten has certainly not been consistently high, as he has been playing mostly from the third line. However, he has seen some minimal time with Team Canada Spengler Cup member Dion Knelsen and has looked good beside him. If you are looking for an idea on the strength of the SL, the current leading scorer (at over 2 points per game) is former OHL’er Riley Brace.

The Strengths

Without question, Othmann’s best quality is his shot. He can really rifle the puck. With EHC Olten, he has been the beneficiary of some high end scoring chances, but has not yet been able to finish on them. Most of these chances have occurred in tight to the crease, where Othmann loves to get his nose dirty. He has not yet really shown his ability to create his own shots, and has only been utilized on the powerplay minimally. With the man advantage he can serve as a triggerman near the dot, but again we have not seen a ton of that in Switzerland. That said, Othmann does possess these abilities, even if his play in Switzerland has not showcased this.

What has been evident and showcased is Othmann’s play without the puck and his strength as a two-way forward. He is so strong in support and on the backcheck and is a willing combatant along the wall in all three zones. He is not huge, but he is strong and wins the vast majority of his one on one battles, even against men in the Swiss league. He is also a physical player who looks to throw his weight around in order to try to force turnovers on the forecheck and in the neutral zone. Othmann is a player who demonstrates a very pro ready game.

The Weaknesses

What has been hard to determine from his action with EHC Olten is whether Othmann’s skating ability has taken that next step forward. He is not a poor skater by any means, however scouts were looking to see whether he could improve his first few strides and overall explosiveness in order to be a more consistent goal scorer. On some shifts, especially on the forecheck, Othmann builds up considerable speed. However, consider his overall future ability in this area to be determined.

Hand in hand with those improvements in his skating, scouts were looking to see if Othmann could demonstrate a greater ability of creating his own scoring chances with the puck on his stick. Being less of a triggerman and crease crasher, and more of someone who could create his own shooting lanes and opportunities in transition with pace and skill with the puck. This was something that Jack Quinn took tremendous strides forward in last year in the OHL and it helped him rise into the top 10 of the NHL Draft. At this point with EHC Olten, we are not seeing Othmann playing considerably with the puck on his stick. Again, the sample size is small so that does not mean that this area of his game and his confidence level has not increased, it just means that the jury is still out.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 78

Jersey Color: Dark green/White

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Brennan-Othmann-collection.mp4

Logan Mailloux

Defense, SK Lejon, HockeyEttan (on loan from the London Knights)

6-3”, 215lbs

Mailloux is different from the other two OHL players listed (Stillman and Othmann) in that he has yet to establish himself as an OHL regular. However, it is important to remember that Mailloux is a member of the London Knights and that with the depth of the organization, he was forced to play out the year in the GOJHL in 2019/20. In many other organizations, Mailloux would have been an OHL regular last season. With the London Nationals, Mailloux put together one of the best offensive seasons ever from an U17 defender in "Junior B" history, even dating back to before the merger (68 points in 48 games). This helped him dominate award season in the GOJHL. He was also named one of the OHA’s Top Prospects, an award won previously by NHL draft picks like Zach Uens, Hunter Jones, and Jake Evans.

This upcoming OHL season, the expectation is that Mailloux will step into the lineup full time, perhaps even as a top four defender. To prepare him, Mailloux secured a loan to Sweden with SK Lejon in HockeyEttan, which is the 3rd division of the Swedish men’s circuit (behind the SHL and the Allsvenskan). I spoke with Swedish McKeen’s scout Jimmy Hamrin about the quality of play in the HockeyEttan and he had this to say, “It's like the NCAA leagues but with older players who need to have a day job. Some divisions (like the Southern) is strong, just as good as the bottom of Allsvenskan. The Western and North divisions are bad. They usually have one or two good teams but the rest are very bad.” SK Lejon happens to be in the North division, which Jimmy classified as being quite poor. So while Mailloux’s performance in the league has been impressive, it should also be taken with context. The leader in scoring in the HockeyEttan this year is former OHL’er Kristoff Kontos (with 37 points in 17 games). Kontos was a good OHL player, but struggled in the ECHL in the past before heading to the CIS. Great for Mailloux to be performing well against men, but our expectations for his play in the OHL should be somewhat tempered.

It should be said that as a right shot defender with size, mobility, and a two-way acumen, there is a reason why Mailloux is garnering early attention for the opening rounds. It should also be noted that Mailloux and SK Lejon are currently on quarantine as he, along with several other team members tested positive for the coronavirus. He apparently only had mild symptoms and is recovering well.

The Strengths

As mentioned, SK Lejon is a bit of a mess as a team, as they have yet to win a game with Mailloux in the lineup. He is seeing significant minutes, but is a -10. However, in my review of his shifts, he should not really be blamed for these goals against. He has actually been quite strong defensively. The negative +/- can be attributed to teammates fumbling passes, defensive assignments missed by linemates, or bad goals given up by his goaltender. Mailloux is extremely aggressive physically, using every inch of his 6-3”, 215lbs to make his presence felt. He will step up on attackers to deny them access to the neutral zone or his own end. He punishes forwards near the wall and will consistently initiate contact to help separate his man from the puck. And he will punish forwards in front of the net. With good mobility, Mailloux also defends well in transition. His performance in his own zone should be classified as very strong, especially when you consider his age in comparison to his opposition.

Mailloux is a very aggressive player in all facets of the game. I spoke to his physicality and penchant for the big hit. However, he is also aggressive offensively. He pushes the pace of play by leading the rush and will push deep across the opposing blueline to make plays. He shows little fear of pinching deep in the offensive zone to help prolong possession and will try to play through the middle of the ice. With his mobility, Mailloux shows the ability to recover well, even when it looks like he could be caught up ice.

Mailloux’s four way mobility also shows extremely well, especially for a larger defender. He is a very fluid skater and in a lot of ways reminds me of former OHL’er (and NHL first round selection) Logan Stanley. His turns are so crisp and his long strides really help him cover the ice rather effortlessly. Working the point of the powerplay, Mailloux does well to use his quickness to keep pucks in or open up passing/shooting lanes. Mailloux’s point shot also shows great potential as it is heavy, although his accuracy will require further refinement.

The Weaknesses

With SK Lejon, Mailloux’s game has shown few weaknesses. He has looked extremely strong. As he transitions back to the OHL come February, the biggest adjustment for him will be in his decision making given his aggressiveness. He will have to show that he can pick his spots to jump up or extend his rushes and not put London at a disadvantage. Additionally, he will need to find that balance between physical assertiveness, and recklessness, which could take him out of position defensively. Another area to watch will be Mailloux’s effectiveness as a puck mover coming out of the defensive end. On the smaller rinks in the OHL, he will have less time and space to make decisions with the puck and he will need to show that he can escape from the forecheck with less room to operate. For what it’s worth, I believe that Mailloux can do these things and will establish himself as a top OHL prospect once he returns from his European adventure.

Video Collection

What you need to know:

Jersey number: 5

Jersey Color: Orange/White

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Logan-Mailloux-collection.mp4

In Summary

Comparing the ten players examined in this article is certainly difficult. Some of the players above are following the path that they set out on prior to COVID. For them, the pandemic has not caused much deviation from their previous plans. Others have had to scramble to find a place to play due to the pandemic and the restrictions in Ontario (be it NCAA bound players or OHL players on loan). Early season viewings can also be misleading, as players are adjusting to new roles or new teams and leagues. That said, after extensively researching these players and going over video from this year and last, I have placed them in the following tiers at this current time for the 2021 NHL Draft.

Tier 1 (Potential Top 10 selection): Owen Power

Tier 2 (Potential Top 50 selection): Brennan Othmann, Chase Stillman, Roman Schmidt, Logan Mailloux

Tier 3 (Potential Top 3 round selection): Jack Bar, Ayrton Martino

Tier 4 (Potential Mid to Late Round selection): Luca Fantilli, David Gucciardi, Thomas Sinclair