Jack St. Ivany – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #19

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Josh Bell — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:00:24 +0000

_{TAMPA, FL - APRIL 06, 2023: Michigan forward Rutger McGroarty (2) skates to the bench after drawing a penalty during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four game between the Quinnipiac Bobcats and the Michigan Wolverines on April 06, 2023, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (Previous Rank - 23rd)
GM: Kyle Dubas Hired: June 2023
COACH: Mike Sullivan Hired: December 2015

For the first time in the Sidney Crosby era, the Pittsburgh Penguins have missed playoff contention in consecutive seasons. The silver lining? Their prospect system is climbing the ranks as a result. Not too long ago, the Penguins were near the bottom of our rankings here at McKeen’s, but now find themselves within the top 20 and on a positive trajectory to turn the prospect ship around.

The longstanding lack of prospect depth is not surprising, considering that the Penguins have gone without a first-round pick eight times over the last 12 years, including the 2024 NHL Draft in Vegas. But hey, with players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang holding up your core, you do what you can to keep that winning pedigree alive.

Samuel Poulin, long considered atop the organization’s prospect pyramid, now sits at our 228th-ranked and has slowly dropped in the pecking order. While he has been a fine contributor at the AHL level, his development hasn’t quite met the lofty expectations set earlier in his career. Speaking of the farm, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will benefit from the addition of Ville Koivunen (92nd) in 2024-25, who has officially crossed the pond from Liiga. Meanwhile, Joel Blomqvist (126th) made that same journey last year and put up a tremendous rookie campaign between the pipes, posting a 25-12-6 record. The 22-year-old was one of the AHL’s top netminders, boasting a 0.921 save percentage and a 2.16 goals-against average. Finally, after an eight-game audition last season, 2022 first-rounder Owen Pickering (131st) is set to embark on his official rookie year in the AHL. While still a few years away from NHL readiness, these names make up the bulk of the new era that is poised to rejuvenate the Penguins' lineup.

GM Dubas pulled the trigger on a prospect for prospect trade, acquiring Rutger McGroarty, who forced a trade from Winnipeg by not planning to report following his NCAA career. They sent back the other way their number one prospect in Braden Yager. McGroarty, now takes that place, and may be NHL ready sooner and able contribute to whatever playoff window remains sooner.

Despite not having a first-round pick in 2024, the Penguins added some intriguing talent in Vegas to round out the remaining crop within the Penguins system. They selected a pair of Western Leaguers, Harrison Brunicke (213th) and Tanner Howe (243rd), with their first two picks and both carry intriguing NHL potential.

After 15 years of consecutive playoff appearances, coupled with three Stanley Cup mixed in, a major transformation is on the horizon for this Penguins squad.

Pittsburgh Penguins Top-15 Prospects

1. Rutger McGroarty

The newest top prospect for the Penguins, McGroarty got his wish to be traded away from the Jets. He is a very intriguing prospect, because his game is fairly pigeonholed, yet he’s an undeniable expert in two specific areas: in the cycle and at the net front. There’s actually an art to scoring greasy, blue-collar goals, and he seems to have mastered it. He is an absolute tank sometimes down low, with an abundance of lower-body strength, and once he gets himself dug in at the top of the crease, he can be nearly impossible to box out or win body positioning against. He’s also very hard to contain when he tries to take the puck from the wall or behind the goal line into a better scoring position. His feet are, unsurprisingly based on what was just said, quite heavy and slow, but he keeps working hard to improve his quickness and mobility.

2. Ville Koivunen

Ville Koivunen's 2023-24 campaign was a story of mid-season upheaval. Drafted by Carolina in 2021, he started strong with Liiga's Kärpät, notching 56 points in 59 games. His playmaking ability and offensive instincts were on full display. However, a blockbuster trade in March sent him to the Pittsburgh organization. Questions remain about Koivunen's transition to North America. While his offensive talent is undeniable, his defensive awareness and overall physicality need refinement. This season will be crucial. Can he adapt to the smaller ice surface and the NHL's quicker pace? The team will likely give him time to develop in the AHL, but a late-season call-up isn't out of the question if he impresses. Koivunen's long-term success hinges on his ability to translate his offensive brilliance to the North American game. This season will be a test as he looks to stick in the AHL.

3. Joel Blomqvist

Drafted 52nd overall in 2020 by Pittsburgh, Joel Blomqvist's stock soared in 2023-24. He manned the crease for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, putting on a clinic. Blomqvist led all rookie goalies in wins (25) and finished near the top in both save percentage (0.921) and goals-against average (2.16). He even earned a call-up to the AHL All-Star Classic. He’s an aggressive netminder who plays far out of the crease to cut down angles and is capable of moving fluidly in the crease as well. He plays a good technical game although can get a bit lost in high-pressure scrambles. Questions remain about his ability to translate this success to the NHL, but his calm demeanour and athleticism are encouraging signs. His performance has undoubtedly boosted his standing within the organization. He could be pushing for an NHL backup role sooner rather than later.

4. Owen Pickering

Owen Pickering's 2023-24 season was a year of refinement. Drafted 21st overall by Pittsburgh in 2022, he started the year battling an undisclosed injury. After a brief stint with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2022-23, he was reassigned to the WHL's Swift Current Broncos and remained there in 2023-24. While there, he showcased his impressive physical tools (6-foot-3, 179 pounds) and strong skating. He chipped in offensively (46 points in 59 games) but consistency remained a question mark. Flashes of brilliance – heady plays and a booming shot – were overshadowed by stretches of disappearing acts. While Pickering's potential as a future top four defenceman remains, his development hinges on ironing out his inconsistencies and making smarter decisions with the puck. This season will be crucial in determining if he can take that next step. Seeing how his game translates to the AHL will be very telling for how his game will progress.

5. Vasily Ponomarev

Ponomarev's 2023-24 was a season of AHL development. He bounced between three teams (Chicago Wolves, Tucson Roadrunners, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) due to trades and call-ups, amassing 30 points in 45 games. He continued to look comfortable in the AHL last season, showing off two-way skill and all-around offensive ability. He isn’t going to wow or dazzle with his skill, but he’s consistent and seems to do all the little things right. Those are the exact types of players needed to fill out a roster. Skating and puck protection are his strongest assets, but decision-making remains a work in progress. This inconsistency is a cause for concern. He has the tools to be a top six winger, but can he harness his talent and become a consistent producer? The answer to that question will determine his NHL ceiling.

6. Harrison Brunicke

Harrison Brunicke is a solid, stay-at-home defenceman known for his poise and reliability in the defensive zone. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he has the size and strength to be a physical presence, often using his body to effectively clear the crease and win battles along the boards. Brunicke’s positioning is one of his strongest assets; he rarely gets caught out of place and has a knack for breaking up plays with his stick. While not the flashiest player, Brunicke makes smart, simple plays with the puck, often opting for the safe pass to exit the zone rather than forcing risky offensive plays. He’s a reliable penalty killer, utilizing his reach and shot-blocking abilities to neutralize opposing power plays. Brunicke’s skating is solid for his size, though adding a bit more agility could enhance his overall game. He projects as a dependable, shutdown defenceman with the potential to log significant minutes at the professional level.

7. Samuel Poulin

Samuel Poulin's 2023-24 campaign with the Penguins was a rollercoaster. Drafted 21st overall in 2019, the winger played practically all season with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins - outside of a brief three-game trip to the NHL. While flashes of potential emerged, injuries and stretches of disappearing acts plagued him. Inconsistency remains a major question mark. There's undeniable talent – a scorer's touch and strong skating. But decision-making lapses and a lack of focus at times raise concerns. The Penguins gave him a late-season call-up, hoping to reignite his spark. While scoreless in those games, it was a chance to prove his NHL readiness. Poulin's future is a wait-and-see. A dominant AHL season could earn him a permanent NHL spot. However, last season was a microcosm of his potential – exciting glimpses overshadowed by stretches of inconsistency.

8. Tanner Howe

Tanner Howe is a highly skilled forward who plays with a blend of finesse and tenacity. At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, he may not be the biggest player on the ice, but he compensates with exceptional speed and agility. Howe's skating is one of his most impressive traits; he has a quick first step and the ability to change direction on a dime, making him elusive in tight spaces. Offensively, Howe is a creative playmaker with excellent vision. He can thread the needle with precise passes and is equally dangerous as a shooter, possessing a quick and accurate release. His hockey IQ is advanced, allowing him to read the game well and make smart plays under pressure. Despite his size, Howe isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas, battling for pucks and playing with a high compete level. With his skill set and determination, Howe has the potential to be an impactful top six forward.

9. Tristan Broz

Tristan Broz is a skilled and intelligent center with a well-rounded game. He excels as a playmaker, using his exceptional vision and anticipation to find open teammates and create scoring chances. His quick hands and accurate shot make him a threat from the slot, and his speed and agility allow him to navigate through traffic with ease. He's also a responsible defender, using his active stick and positioning to disrupt opponents' cycles. The forward has the ability to attack hard, be relied upon as a playmaker, and create space for himself but the problem is that he’s too inconsistent in his effort level. He can disappear in games or show some delays in his processing. With continued development, he has the potential to become a top six forward and a key piece on the Penguins' power play. His upside as a playmaking center with a scoring touch makes him a promising prospect.

10. Mikhail Ilyin

Drafted 142nd overall in 2023, Mikhail Ilyin is an intriguing prospect that might just end up being a much-needed steal for the Penguins. After splitting his year between the MHL and KHL in his draft year, he stuck in the KHL in 2023-24, collecting 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 65 games. He’s a less-than-flashy winger who plays a smart, simple game. While not necessarily driving play, he doesn’t slow it down but rather matches the pace that his teammates dictate. He does compete hard, never giving up on a play. He supports his teammates well and isn’t afraid to play a physical game. His skating will need to see some significant improvement if he’s going to be successful at the next level, but he did take strides forward this year in that department. Ilyin looks like he could be a solid bottom six contributor.

11. Cruz Lucius

Cruz Lucius is an electrifying winger known for his speed, skill, and competitiveness. He creates scoring chances off the rush with quick feet and agility, and his heavy, accurate shot complements his strong vision and anticipation. As a relentless forechecker, he uses his speed and physicality to force turnovers. However, he needs to enhance his explosiveness and strength. With further development, Lucius could become a top six forward and key contributor for the Penguins, showcasing his potential as a high-scoring, physical winger.

12. Sergei Murashov

Sergei Murashov is an intriguing goaltending prospect with sharp reflexes and solid positioning. His ability to track pucks and maintain composure under pressure stands out. While his rebound control and consistency could be refined, Murashov’s agility and strong fundamentals show significant potential. With further development, he could emerge as a reliable NHL starter.

13. Emil Pieniniemi

Emil Pieniniemi is an agile forward with a knack for creating scoring opportunities through quick hands and sharp playmaking. His speed and offensive instincts stand out, allowing him to evade defenders and generate chances. While his defensive game and physicality need refinement, Pieniniemi’s offensive potential and creativity make him a compelling prospect with promising NHL upside.

14. Mac Swanson

Despite a standout year, including USHL Forward of the Year, Hlinka/Gretzky Cup success, and Clark Cup MVP, Swanson is ranked lower due to his size and skating concerns. While he shares challenges with smaller players like T.J. Tynan, his elite playmaking and vision offer substantial upside. His upcoming freshman season at North Dakota will be key in addressing these concerns and showcasing his potential.

15. Jack St. Ivany

Jack St. Ivany is a steady, right-shot defenceman with solid size and hockey sense. While he doesn't wow with flashy plays, his game is built on reliable decision-making and strong positioning. St. Ivany's skating and puck-moving abilities are serviceable, making him effective in transition. However, his offensive upside is limited, and he'll need to continue refining his defensive game to carve out a role in the NHL. He's a safe, low-risk prospect for the Penguins.

US COLLEGE: Ivy Leaguers Finding New Ice to Keep Fresh

Jashvina Shah — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 15:54:31 +0000

Last March, the Ivy League was the first to cancel in college hockey.

“No one really knew the scope of this whole thing,” Harvard goaltender and Capitals draft pick Mitchell Gibson said. “I didn't even take all my equipment home I still have equipment up in the locker room right now because I thought we'd be back in a few weeks, no big deal.”

For the 2020-21 season, the Ivy League were the only ones to announce as a block, in mid-November, that there would be no winter sports. The day the announcement was made Gibson, a superstitious goaltender, knew it would be bad news. After all, it was raining.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 03: Harvard University Crimson goaltender Mitchell Gibson (44) eyes a face off during a Beanpot semi-final between the Harvard Crimson and the Northeastern Huskies on February 3, 2020, at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

“I was watching some of my best friends play. Last night, Michigan, Ohio State the night before. And, you know, I'm here in my house, you know, doing schoolwork and just having no plan,” Gibson said. “I just was disappointed in the, in the amount of effort I think that some of the Ivy Leagues put forth, like they didn't really make any effort to try to put us in hotel rooms or even if they told us to try to get our own place to stay and that we'd go to a rink somewhere else and play other teams. I would have been fine with that, but it just seemed like they just cancelled it because it was the easier decision. Granted, the cases are spiking. I know it's not great so you have to respect their decision to not take any of the liability from the players getting it. But I mean I would have liked to have some sort of option available.”

Gibson was one of 12 drafted Ivy League players who had their season canceled. While safety is at the forefront, players don’t have much of an option to sit out the season - in a sport where everyone is fighting to get the “edge,” that becomes a setback for anyone who plans on playing after college. And while transferring is an option of sorts, it isn’t one some players want to take.

“The biggest thing is being a goalie right like I need more time to develop,” Gibson said. “I'm not anywhere in a position right now to go ahead and sign pro and be successful. So I'm looking at it like I’m going to have to be fully developed before I leave. I want to stay with Harvard for as long as I can, especially get the degree. That's one of the reasons why I came here. I saw the whole, the whole thing shift and a lot of kids leaving to sign pro, but I don't think any goalies did that, to be honest. I think a lot of them knew that they need to spend more time in college and develop.”

And if, like Gibson, you live in a state like Pennsylvania that has rinks and other venues shutting down, training at home provides few options.

“Throughout the summer it's just been super inconsistent in the Philadelphia area, at least with rinks closing,” Gibson said. “There might be an outbreak here or there. My gym has been fairly consistent, but it's still gone through points where you know you see cases spiking and then you want to try to stay home as much as you can just to protect my family. There were times where I drove over two hours, I would hear of a rink in, like, North Jersey that had an ice session or two. So I would go all throughout Central PA, North and South Jersey and Delaware even a few times just to find wherever there was ice to hop on with some guys. It was kind of nice (in the) beginning when there were a couple of NHLers around so I was on the ice with Tony DeAngelo quite a bit, Johnny Gaudreau once or twice. With all the college guys, the AHL and NHL guys that were still in the Philadelphia area, I would say, right around September, once training camp started to open up and a lot of college guys started to go back to campus, myself as the Ivy League player, we really got stuck to my own devices here with a limited amount of guys so I really don't know any other Ivy League players in my area, to be honest. There was no one else to really, you know, be in the same boat with. So I want to say once you know September came it really, really dried up with options.”

The ramifications for Ivy schools might be long lasting - the league itself already contends with some unique rules like starting late and playing fewer games. But his shut down could cause long term ramifications for recruiting.

The players had to wait until an official decision on the season was made. Then, they ran through their options. One of them included getting a house off campus in Boston, but the school shut down its facilities. Another option was to go to Plymouth, Mich., and play at the USA Hockey rink while living in Plymouth.

“It was logistically the hardest to go through the NCAA with training with the NTDP and that whole thing. I think it was also the most expensive option,” Gibson said.

The second one was in Fort Meyers, Florida, using Hertz Arena - the home of the ECHL Florida Everglades. But that package was a little too expensive.

Enter Brett Strott.

The former associate head coach of the U.S. women’s national team and the current owner of the USPHL’s Tampa Bay Juniors called Harvard captain Jack Donato with a proposition. He said they would be willing to accommodate their schedules and work with them for ice time, at the best price out of any of the other packages. Tampa Bay is the USPHL’s hub city, and is also hosting the PWHPA All-Stars. The Harvard players will also stay at the Saddlebrook Resort. The players will have their own separate section of the resort and their own entrance to the rink. They will undergo testing.

“We're not going to go out and do whatever, go to colleges and do the stupid things like that,” Gibson said. “We’re going to be mature and we all want to make this last for as long as we can. No one really wants to quarantine in the room for a week or so and miss some of the fun of being in Florida. So, I think it's really going to be, you know, sticking to our guys and try to limit our exposure as best we can. No, I mean it’s definitely nerve-wracking going down there when it starts to spike again, but I think if our guys just use caution and we stick to our little mini Harvard bubble, we should be okay.”

In order to keep this experience NCAA compliant, no Harvard coaches were involved and the players will pay for everything on their own, provide their own equipment, and play with and against other collegiate players.

“The difference here is that we're paying for it and it’s our own decision,” Gibson said.

Throughout this process, Gibson kept in touch with the Capitals goaltending coaches Scott Murray and Alex Westlund. They went over video and kept tabs on him and news of the season. Gibson called them as soon as the season was officially canceled.

“It's tricky because they can't offer me ice,” Gibson said. “I can't go down there to D.C. and stay with them or live with them, right, like I'm still an amateur so it's just been a lot of phone calls saying if I need something you know they'll be there for me."

They helped him with goalie-specific work, kept him mentally involved and sent him at-home workouts after the initial lockdown

“I understand I can't go down to DC and be on the ice with Ovie [Alex Ovechkin] or any of those guys,” Gibson said. “It's got to be within boundaries. It’s tricky, it is. But like I said, they’ve been helpful.”

Gibson also knew he was a long-term project who would stay in college longer to develop, and he hopes Florida will give him time to get better.

“This will be a little bit of a, of a mock season for us trying to get scrimmages in, trying to keep the pace, the intensity high before going into the next season. Trying to do a little bit every day, stay in shape. I don't think many colleges besides like the NCHC, which has 30 games schedule and I mean the ECAC is only going to play 20 games, so it sounds like we’re not missing that much. As much as I would like to be playing games, I think if we get down to Florida and are able to get a good sort of setup there and take it seriously, we'll be able to replicate some [games] a little bit to get some development in.”

One of Gibson's Harvard teammates he played with in Pennsylvania during the offseason, John Farinacci, left the Crimson and returned to the USHL. He wasn't the only drafted Ivy League player to depart. Among others, two more Harvard players (Henry Thrun and Austin Wong) left for the USHL as well. Both Reilly Walsh and Jack Rathbone left school early (a rarity among Ivy Leaguers) signed professional contracts in the offseason, Jack Badini graduated early to sign an ELC with Anaheim while Jack Drury turned pro in the Swedish Hockey League. Yale's Jack St. Ivany and Cornell's Matt Cairns transferred to Boston College and Minnesota-Duluth, respectively. Cornell's Jack Malone and Matthew Stienburg went back to junior hockey, the former returning to the USHL and the latter agreeing to play in the BCHL (although he hasn’t suited up yet).

The plans of Nick Abruzzese, Curtis Hall, Liam Gorman, and Andong (Misha) Song are not known as of this time. Abruzzese reportedly underwent a minor surgical procedure a few months ago, which may have been moved up because of the COVID-based postponements. Hall was in discussion to return to the USHL, to team up with Jack Malone on Youngstown, but that has seemingly feel through.

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 15

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

Philadelphia Flyers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NCAA East Region 2019-20 Season Preview: Hockey East and ECAC

Jashvina Shah — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:58:42 +0000

NCAA East Region Preview

While Hockey East and the ECAC are different leagues with different tendencies, both conferences see a gap between the top-tier teams and the bottom ones. The factors that separates the elite from the not-so elite are either excellent coaching or top-end talent. Primarily, teams need excellent coaching. Because you need a lot of top-end talent if you’re going to win on talent. As Herb Brooks said, “you don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone!”

There shouldn’t be too many surprises in the east this year, and teams that succeeded last year will mostly repeat this year.

MANCHESTER, NH - MARCH 29: Clarkson University Golden Knights forward Haralds Egle (18) breaks in on Notre Dame Fighting Irish goaltender Cale Morris (32) during a Northeast Regional semi-final between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Clarkson Golden Knights on March 29, 2019, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

ECAC

Brown: The Bears have hovered in the ECAC basement of a while now. They finished eighth in the regular season but got hot in the playoffs, beating Princeton and then knocking off top-seeded Quinnipiac in the quarterfinals. Brown fell to Cornell in the ECAC semifinals 6-0, but that was a case of them being bested by the better team. A trip to the ECAC tournament marked it a wildly successful season for Brown. The roster is more or less the same, ensuring a similar regular-season finish.

Clarkson: The Golden Knights were one of the strongest teams in the ECAC thanks to balanced offense and defense. It helped Clarkson take the short trip to Lake Placid, where it won the ECAC championship in overtime. The Golden Knights lost two key pieces in Nico Sturm, who potted 45 points, and Jake Kielly, who posted a .929 save percentage. Clarkson should be able to replace Sturm’s scoring output, especially with 40-point scorer Haralds Egle returning. While goaltending will be a question mark, the Golden Knights will still be one of the strongest teams in the league.

Drafted players: Nick Campoli (VGK), Dustyn McFaul (BOS), Kris Oldham (TBL), Anthony Romano (ARI)

Colgate: The Raiders slipped last season, their win total decreasing from 17 to 10. They finished 10th in the league and were swept by Union in the first round of the playoffs. The good news is, Colgate returns nearly the entire roster, and the experience should benefit them. The bad news is, the Raiders don’t have much to build on.

Cornell: The Big Red dropped the ECAC championship game in overtime after the referees failed to blow the whistle when the net dropped on goaltender Matthew Galajda. He was injured, so Austin McGrath took over for the rest of the game and throughout the postseason. McGrath helped Cornell to a regional win over Northeastern. Aside from losing a couple seniors, the Big Red will return their leading scorer, Morgan Barron, along with Galadja, making them one of the league favorites.

Drafted players: Matt Cairns (EDM), Matthew Stienburg (COL), Alex Green (TBL), Morgan Barron (NYR), Jack Malone (VAN), Misha Song (NYI)

Dartmouth: After finishing T-5th last year, the Big Green knocked off 12th-place St. Lawrence in the first round of the playoffs. With much of their roster returning, the Big Green should finish in roughly the same place, especially if Adrian Clark can build off his .910 save percentage from at last season.

Harvard: Adam Fox’s departure is unfortunate for the Crimson, since he not only led the team with 48 points but was also one of the best defensemen in the country. Harvard still has its offensive leaders, including Reilly Walsh and Casey Dornbach. Goaltender Michael Lackey also graduated, but he missed some of last season with an injury, opening up the net for Cameron Gornet. Gornet filled in well, and can put the Crimson in a prime spot for another top-four ECAC finish.

Drafted players: Jack Drury (CAR), Jack Badini (ANA), John Farinacci (ARI), Reilly Walsh (NJD), Nick Abruzzese (TOR), Mitchell Gibson (WSH), Jack Rathbone (VAN), Henry Thrun (ANA), Austin Wong (WPG)

Princeton: Just one season after winning the ECAC tournament, the Tigers struggled to repeat their success. Princeton’s top line of Ryan Kuffner, Max Veronneau and Alex Riche -- which combined for 107 points last season -- couldn’t bring the team past its lackluster goaltending hurdle. The trio, along with top defenseman Josh Teves, graduated, making the Tigers much weaker on both ends of the ice. Princeton’s success, or lack thereof, lies solely on goaltending. But most likely the Tigers will finish in the bottom half of the league.

Drafted players: Liam Gorman (PIT)

Quinnipiac: The Bobcats usually finish in the top half of the league and usually make the ECAC tournament. They finished first last year but were upset in the playoffs by Brown. Chase Priskie, another one of the top defensemen in the league, is gone. So is Andrew Shortridge and his .940 save percentage. The Bobcats are well-coached, though, and Odeen Tufto, who put up 42 points, will be back.

Drafted players: Keith Petruzzelli (DET), Karlis Cukste (SJS), Skylar Brind’Amour (EDM), Peter DiLiberatore (VGK)

RPI: The Engineers finished in 11th, just ahead of St. Lawrence and two points behind Princeton. RPI has struggled over the last few seasons, and most likely will this year as well. The team’s top five scorers are returning, although they didn’t score much to begin with. The goaltenders who played the most, Owen Savory and Linden Marshall, are also returning.

Drafted players: Todd Burgess (OTT), Simon Kjellberg (NYR), Will Reilly (PIT)

St. Lawrence: The Saints have struggled since Greg Carvel left for UMass. After earning just six overall wins and three conference wins, the school parted ways with Mark Morris and hired Brent Brekke. With a new coach, lack of elite talent and just a program-wide mess (the rink renovations are not finished, so the Saints are shifting their first few home games to a different rink.) Unless Brekke has magic powers, it seems likely the Saints will stay in the basement for the third-straight year.

Union: Union’s top two scorers graduated and the third, Liam Morgan, left after his sophomore season. Just one of the team’s top seven scorers is returning. On the other hand, Darion Hanson did have a .919 save percentage last season and, if he can replicate that, should keep Union in the middle third of the league.

Drafted players: Parker Foo (CHI), Jack Adams (DET)

Yale: Yale’s biggest loss was Joe Snively, who had 36 points last season, double that of the team’s second-place scorer. Corbin Kaczperski is the team’s sole returning goaltender. Like Quinnipiac, the Bulldogs are well coached and don’t often finish in the bottom third.

Drafted players: Curtis Hall (BOS), Jack St. Ivany (PHI), Luke Stevens (CAR), Phil Kemp (EDM)

Five Undrafted Free Agents to Watch from the ECAC

Haralds Egle, Clarkson
Odeen Tufto, Quinnipiac
Matthew Galajda, Cornell
Casey Dornbach, Harvard
Devin Brosseau, Clarkson

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 22: Massachusetts Minutemen forward Mitchell Chaffee (21) tries to put the puck past Boston College Eagles goaltender Joseph Woll (31). During the University of Massachusetts Minutemen game against the Boston College Eagles on March 22, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire)

Hockey East:

Boston College: Despite winning just 10 conference games and finishing seventh in Hockey East, the Eagles surged late last season for a trip to the Hockey East tournament. Now the Eagles have that momentum plus an excellent incoming class that includes Spencer Knight, who’s expected to become a top goaltender. Alex Newhook and Matt Boldy will also be joining the team. It’s hard to predict how any freshman goaltender will fare, but Knight has the potential to boost BC back to the top.

Drafted players: Matt Boldy (MIN), Spencer Knight (FLA), Alex Newhook (COL), Drew Helleson (COL), Logan Hutsko (FLA), Jack McBain (MIN), Michael Karow (ARI), Graham McPhee (EDM), David Cotton (CAR), Aapeli Rasanen (EDM), Marshall Warren (MIN), Ben Finkelstein (FLA)

Boston University: Despite struggling last year the Terriers still managed to finish 5th in the league, but they will probably drop from that place. BU has struggled since David Quinn left for the NHL, and now they’ll be facing several additional critical departures including goaltender Jake Oettinger and the team’s leading scorers, Joel Farabee and Dante Fabbro. BU’s success, or lack thereof, will depend mostly on coaching, and then on contributions from the incoming freshman class and someone shining in net.

Drafted players: Trevor Zegras (ANA), Robert Mastrosimone (DET), Alex Vlasic (CHI), Cam Crotty (ARI), David Farrance (NSH), Domenick Fensore (CAR), Kasper Kotkansalo (DET), Jake Wise (CHI), Case McCarthy (NJD), Ethan Phillips (DET), Patrick Harper (NSH), Logan Cockerill (NYI)

Connecticut: Since joining Hockey East, the Huskies have fluctuated in the standings, taking advantage of years when the league has been weak. Though they finished ninth last year, they will benefit from having two of their top three scorers returning. Goaltender Tomas Vomacka, who took over the net with a .922 save percentage, will also be back.

Drafted players: Vladislav Firstov (MIN), Ruslan Iskhakov (NYI), Carter Berger (FLA), Jachym Kondelik (NSH), Kale Howarth (CLB), Tomas Vomacka (NSH)

Maine: Maine, far from its former glory, was able to finish sixth in the league. It is returning Mitchell Fossier, the leading scorer from last year with 36 points. But the Black Bears had a slew of early departures - including sophomore defensemen Alexis Binner and Brady Keeper. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who posted a respectable .919 save percentage, will be back, though.

Drafted players: JD Greenway (TOR), Jeremy Swayman (BOS), Patrick Shea (FLA), Matthew Thiessen (VAN)

UMass-Lowell: The River Hawks have been one of Hockey East’s most consistent teams in the last decade or so, and they finished fourth last year. UMass-Lowell’s offense lost its top two scorers, but the back end has usually been the team’s strength. Goaltender Tyler Wall, who is returning, carries a .921 save percentage into the season.

Drafted players: Seth Barton (DET), Logan Neaton (WPG), Tyler Wall (NYR), Andre Lee (LAK)

Massachusetts: After its most successful season in program history and a national championship appearance, the Minutemen were extremely lucky to only lose Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro early. Those are big names, but usually teams with surprising successful runs lose more players in the offseason. Yet UMass retained Mitchell Chaffee and John Leonard, who combined for 82 points. They also still have Marc Del Gaizo, who was the leading freshman defenseman in scoring with 29 points. That said, goaltender Filip Lindberg is the player to watch. His play was key in edging out Denver in the national semifinal and he limited Minnesota-Duluth to three goals, which is an accomplishment. If he repeats his .934 save percentage performance, the Minutemen should take a top spot in Hockey East.

Drafted players: Zac Jones (NYR), Marc Del Gaizo (NSH), John Leonard (SJS), Filip Lindberg (MIN)

Merrimack: With 16 freshman, Merrimack will have the largest rookie class in the country. The Warriors won just seven games last year, but it was Scott Borek’s first season in charge and it typically takes coaches around three-four years to settle in, start their own systems and recruit their own players.. The incoming class signals a roster changeover, so this will be one of those “rebuilding” years.

Drafted players: Patrick Holway (DET)

New Hampshire: It’s Mike Souza’s second year as head coach of the Wildcats, who are still transitioning to life without Dick Umile. They didn’t lose much and have two of their leading scorers as well as goaltender Mike Robinson, who posted a .913 save percentage, returning. While it isn’t fair to say the Wildcats are rebuilding, they’re stuck in stasis.

Drafted players: Max Gildon (FLA), Mike Robinson (SJS), Angus Crookshank (OTT), Benton Mass (WSH), Ty Tailor (TBL)

Northeastern: The Huskies have surged at times over the past five seasons. Last year they took advantage of BU and BC’s struggles, finishing second in the conference with 15 wins. But part of Northeastern’s success came from good defense and goaltending, which will suffer with the early departures by Jeremy Davies and goaltender Cayden Primeau. Since Primeau was a big part of Northeastern’s rise, it’s tough to see the Huskies repeating last year’s success.

Drafted players: Jayden Struble (MTL), Matt Filipe (CAR), Jordan Harris (MTL), Tyler Madden (VAN), Ryan Shea (CHI), Mike Kesselring (EDM), Riley Hughes (NYR), Aidan McDonough (VAN)

Providence: Following its second Frozen Four appearance in four years, the Friars also got hit with key offseason departures. Kasper Bjorkqvist, Jacob Bryson, Brandon Duhaime and Josh Wilkins all left early. Additionally, Hayden Hawkey, who posted a .920 save percentage, graduated. But Providence is always a well-coached, tough defensive team to play against, and the Friars will finish at the top of the league again.

Drafted players: Ben Mirageas (NYI), Max Crozier (TBL), Tyce Thompson (NJD), Michael Callahan (ARI), Jack Dugan (VGK), Patrick Moynihan (NJD), Jake Kucharski (CAR)

Vermont: The Catamounts finished 10th last year and probably won’t rise, unless goaltender Stefanos Lekkas can put up more than his .930 save percentage from last season, but that’s a lot to ask of a goaltender. Vermont saw a couple departures with Jake Massie and Liam Coughlin, but most of its players are returning.

Drafted players: Bryce Misley (MIN)

Five Undrafted Free Agents to Watch from Hockey East

Mitchell Chaffee, Massachusetts
Stephanos Lekkas, Vermont
Spenser Young, Providence
Mitchell Fossier, Maine
Patrick Curry, Boston University

Philadelphia Flyers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Ryan Wagman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ECAC Playoff Preview: Defending Champions Princeton in tough against strong Union squad

Russ Cohen — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 15:40:20 +0000

The ECAC tournament is the second oldest active conference tournament in college hockey. It first started in 1961. The ECAC first-round matchups run from March 15-17, and all series are best of threes. There are some very good matchups but a few of them could be sweeps. Usually, these teams despise each other enough to make the games very entertaining.

12 St. Lawrence at. No 5 Dartmouth

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 04: St. Lawrence Saints goaltender Daniel Mannella (30) catches a puck during the Ice Vegas Invitational Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire)

The Dartmouth Big Green men’s hockey team had a home record of 6-7-2 this season and they are 1-1 in their last two on home ice. On February 16th they tied St. Lawrence on the road. Goaltender Adrian Clark should be between the pipes for Dartmouth. He stopped 21 in his last game for the win. Junior Will Graber had a hat trick in that game. The 6-5” undrafted center was third on the team in goals. Freshman Drew O’Connor scored two goals in his last game and led the team with 13 goals and 22 points in 29 games.

The St. Lawrence Saints had a 1-16-0 road record. They spit a home-and-home with Clarkson to end the season. In one of those games, junior netminder Daniel Mannella stopped 48 shots for the win. He made another 37 in the 3-0 loss so he is capable of a keeping his team in the game even with a heavy workload. Center Carson Gicewicz led his team in scoring with 18 points and David Jankowski (brother of Calgary Flames center Mark Jankowski) led the team with eight goals.

Prediction: Expect Dartmouth to win this series.

11 RPI at 6 Yale

RPI head coach Dave Smith will have to lock horns with a mainstay in Keith Allain of Yale. The latter man has been there since 2006 and won a national title in 2013. The Yale Bulldogs limped into the playoffs losing their last four games of the season. Senior backstop Sam Tucker should draw the start. He has faced a lot of shots this season. Curtis Hall, drafted by the Bruins in 2018, brings a big two-way presence to the forward unit, while blueliners Phil Kemp, drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2017, can add a bit from the back as well as Jack St. Ivany, a Flyers draft pick in 2018, who has done well for a freshman with 2019 U20 World Junior Championship experience. He has fired off as much as eight shots in a game this year. Joe Snively, a senior left winger, has a team-high 14 goals and needs to keep on rolling.

The Engineers had a 5-11-1 road record this season and lost three consecutive games to close out the season. Freshman goalie Owen Savory will likely draw the start. He had a .928 save percentage on the season. Todd Burgess, drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2016, had seven goals, one an overtime winner, and 16 points this season. Top-line center, Jacob Hayhurst led the team with 23 points in 27 games. They have to hope this series will be a defensive battle as RPI lacks offensive depth.

Prediction: Yale will win this in what could be a tight series.

10 Colgate at 7 Union

The Union Dutchman had a superb 10-3-3 home record this season. They won their last two games, one of them against Harvard. Union has nine seniors, one of whom is a talented goalie in Jake Kupsky, a 2015 draft pick of the San Jose Sharks. Sophomore Parker Foo, a 2017 draft pick of the Blackhawks, is one to watch. His brother Spencer played at Union and was signed by the Flames as a a free agent. Same goes for Jack Adams, a 2017 draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings. The 6-5” right winger has nine goals and 19 points this season. Captain Cole Maier is a senior and he is the top scorer on the team with 28 points in 34 games.

Colgate was 4-10-2 on the road this season. They lost their last two games heading into the playoffs. Colgate should roll with freshman goalie Mitch Benson. He played in 31 games this season posting a .912 save percentage. Forward Bobby McCann will pace the offense. He had eight goals and 23 points in 31 games. After that, the offense gets a bit sparse.

Prediction: Union will win this without the need of a third game.

9 Princeton at 8 Brown

The Princeton Tigers are the defending champs. The struggled mightily for parts of this season but they finished out the season strong, including a 5-1 win over Brown. Freshman goalie Jeremie Forget was in for the last two and he may start over sophomore netminder Ryan Ferland. In four games this season Forget has a great 1.21 goals against average and a staggering .959 save percentage. Will coach Ron Fogarty ride the hot hand? Princeton’s top line of Ryan Kuffner, Alex Riche and Max Veronneau, the latter a Hobey Baker candidate, is the best in the ECAC. They have gotten hot late and they have combined for 98 points on the season. Add the offensively gifted Josh Teves on the blueline, and you have the key cogs on the top power play and the top four scorers on the team. Teves, a senior, even played on the wing this year but that won’t happen in this important series and possibly the last for the all-senior top line.

The Brown Bears might start Luke Kania, who had a .912 save percentage in 16 games this season. Junior goalie Gavin Nieto hopes that is not the case though. The latter has started 15 games with a .913 save percentage over the season. 6-3” left winger Tom Marchin, the team captain, is a threat offensively, having scored a team-high eight goals and 22 points in 29 games. Freshman forward Tristian Crozier had 17 points this season and the team will need some of that offense if they are going to advance.

Prediction: Princeton wins in three games.

Following the series this weekend, next up is the quarterfinal round which incorporates the winners here as well as the top four seeds from the ECAC in Quinnipiac (T-1^st), Cornell (T-1^st), Clarkson (T-3^rd) and Harvard (T-3^rd). Eventually the finals will be played in Lake Placid, New York. There are a number of possible paths to that pinnacle, but for what it’s worth, we project Union to win the ECAC conference championship for the first time since 2013-14, which they followed up with a national championship. Until then, some collegiate careers will end with hopes of having NHL teams signing them this summer while others will advance to the NCAA tournament, hoping to get an eventual berth into the Frozen Four.

2019 IIHF World Junior Tournament Review: USA

Tom Dorsa — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 16:03:53 +0000

Though the late breakdown and subsequent loss in the gold medal game against Finland still stings for the players and a lot of American hockey fans, there was a lot to like out of Team USA's performance in the 2019 World Junior Championship. After we projected the Americans to fall in the semifinals, they once again exceeded expectations, collecting a medal for the fourth straight time at the annual tournament.

Within a goal of winning the gold for the second time in three years, it's hard to argue that Team USA could have -- or should have -- done anything different in the team's selection process. The only real notable snub from the club is Matthew Boldy, but at just 17-years-old and Team USA never being a squad that takes many chances on draft-eligible players, it is understandable why they went a different route.

For example, only forward Jack Hughes (the consensus the pick in the 2019 NHL Draft) and goaltender Spencer Knight (who didn't play a minute for the Americans in the tournament) were draft eligibles who made the roster. Besides, the squad had tons of chemistry and team-wide success, with forward lines that -- for better or worse -- stayed basically the same throughout the tournament because of the way they all meshed together well.

Head coach Mike Hastings, of Minnesota State-Mankato fame, is always one to choose experience over exuberance, and he did a fine job (save for maybe playing the younger Hughes on the fourth line).

Hastings' squad scored the second-most goals in the tournament with 25, behind only Russia and their electric forward corps. The Americans threw shots on goal at will, with 264 tries, 16 more than the next-best team.

A lot of pundits point to the goal-scoring talent atop the Team USA lineup as the reason why, with Tyler Madden, Josh Norris, and Ryan Poehling all in the top five in shots for the tournament. But a potent, mobile defensive core looked to be the generator of the high-powered American offense in Vancouver, with Quinn Hughes, Mikey Anderson, and K'Andre Miller all being frequent and active contributors to the offensive attack.

There was individual success for Team USA as well, headlined by (ironically) a pair of Montreal Canadiens prospects. The Habs' second-ranked prospect (McKeen’s preseason ranking) Ryan Poehling took home tournament MVP honors with five goals and three assists in seven games, while ninth-ranked Cayden Primeau backstopped the team to a 4-1-0 record with a 1.61 goals against average and .937 save percentage in five starts.

Poehling was a scorer of big goals and the center who played arguably the biggest two-way role and excelled at it. He worked up and down the lineup at times and played well with everybody on his side and in all situations.

Primeau showed flashes of brilliance for the Americans as a long-term prospective project for Montreal. The 199th pick in 2017 draft has a long way to go, but this was a good start. He was composed, quiet in his crease, and made great reads all throughout the tournament, the same thing he has done with Northeastern (where he is 10-3-1 with a .931 Sv%) thus far this winter.

The other two Team USA players that posted a point-per-game were San Jose Sharks prospect Alexander Chmelevski (4-3-7) and Dallas Stars prospect Jason Robertson (1-6-7). Chmelevski would have been my choice for tournament MVP over Poehling, as his vision, elusiveness on his skates, and heavy wrist shot were on the display all tournament long. For my money, he was the strongest Team USA forward in terms of creating chaos for the opposition, although he didn't face competition as tough as Poehling did.

Robertson looked passive at times and didn't have the assertive goal-scoring power that has made him a constant threat in the OHL, but he looked increasingly dangerous as the tournament proceeded. He became a challenging player to defend with how much momentum and power his skating strides create (even if he isn't all that fast), and would work down in the zone and in the cycle beautifully. I would have liked to see the 2017 second-rounder utilize his wicked shot more but given that his biggest issues coming into the season were passing and skating, I am glad to see him working on it all.

I would have liked to see more of Oliver Wahlstrom. The 19-year-old has not had the best season at Boston College, but as the 11th overall pick in 2018's draft, I wanted to see him play more than just the auxiliary role he appeared in. Wahlstrom was effective with his time, contributing two goals and two assists in middle-six deployment, but he looked dangerous with the puck every time he got it.

Joel Farabee and fellow NCAA star Tyler Madden both fared well in top-six roles in the tournament. Both 2018 draftees, Farabee played a hefty number of minutes as the top-line left wing and totaled three goals and two assists, showing off his near-elite hockey IQ and great technical skating ability. Madden tested opposing goaltenders with every chance he got, finishing fourth in the WJC despite playing mostly a middle-six role. Madden has an undersized frame, but he gets into the tough positions and lets shots go like someone 40 pounds heavier.

On defense, Mikey Anderson was the best player on a pretty strong blueline. Anderson was the only defenseman who ranked top ten on the team in scoring (2-3-5, 6th) while quarterbacking a Team USA power play with a lot of movement and a lot of pure shooters. He was steady in his own zone as well, taking on the opponent's top line most of the time and exhibiting his pro-like gap control and stick-readiness. For the most part, the 19-year-old carried defense partner and fellow Minnesota-Duluth staple Dylan Samberg.

Quinn Hughes was exactly what Team USA fans expected, and in a cool way, the WJC audience in Vancouver got to see the city’s future defensive superstar as the Canucks’ prospect dazzled onlookers. Hughes put his sublime speed and skillful deception to work in garnering two assists in seven games, and probably would have scored more if not for his deployment with less mobile shutdown guy Phil Kemp.

Another Minnesota-Duluth regular to make an impact for the silver medalists was Noah Cates, who saw some limited top-six time in some tournament games and chipped in one goal and two assists. Cates is a grinder with some untapped skill and the Flyers prospect made a great impression after being overlooked for all of his young career. A first-round pick in 2018 by the same Philadelphia franchise, Jay O'Brien fared somewhat well for someone who embraced the unofficial 13th man role, playing in all seven games and showing grit and determination.

Another Flyers prospect, Jack St. Ivany, was impressive as a solid stay-at-home defenseman, a role which the big and bulky blueliner played in all seven Team USA games. St. Ivany's partner on the Americans' blueline was Mattias Samuelsson, the son of a former Flyer, himself a Sabres prospect after Buffalo used the first pick of day two of the 2018 Draft on the 18-year-old. Samuelsson and St. Ivany made up the third pair of the USA blueline, and both players went scoreless in seven games of action.

Samuelsson almost certainly has the higher ceiling of the two, and he showed exactly what he is in the WJC. A pest in the corners of the defensive zone with his bullish 6-4" frame, the Buffalo prospect forced speedier forwards to the outside to shut them off and limited a lot of inside chances against the Team USA goalies. Intelligent and strong, he was a perfect depth defenseman on a good team, like he will be with Buffalo sooner or later.

Evan Barratt was good but not great with a lone goal in seven games, an underwhelming mark when considering his 29 points in 17 games at Penn State this season. He had his time to work on the USA power play and often the second line, but he just didn't click in this tournament. The Blackhawks prospect has a good wrist shot and high hockey IQ upon which to build going forward.

Backup netminder Kyle Keyser made two appearances and went 1-1 with a goals against average of 2.95 and a save percentage below .900. The Bruins prospect struggled with the speed of the opposition (he played against Slovakia and Sweden, both dangerously quick teams) and failed to effectively make reads and cut down shooting lanes, but you could see the potential Team USA staffers saw out of him with his top-notch athleticism and compete level.

Bottom-six forwards Jack Drury and Logan Cockerill were mostly non-factors, while defenseman Phil Kemp saw time with Quinn Hughes on the Team USA blueline and held his own but was otherwise pretty invisible.

If Jack Hughes comes back for next year's World Junior Championship, it'll probably be as the most recent number-one overall pick, although considering how most number ones go straight to the NHL, a return engagement is relatively unlikely. Spencer Knight, on the other hand, himself a projected 2019 first-rounder, will look to lock down the starting role in 2020 WJC in the Czech Republic after filling in as the third goalie for this club. Team USA is never one to let the young ones fly, and therefore there is seemingly always a pipeline of returning players looking to make their mark on international hockey.

2019 IIHF World Junior Championship Guide now available for Download!

McKeen's Hockey — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 15:36:10 +0000

We are proud to be releasing our second annual World Junior Guide prior to the start of the tournament

It will include analysis, player profiles, and feature articles. Included in your McKeen's subscription it will be an invaluable resource throughout the tournament.

Prospect coverage included in your subscription includes:

Learn more by linking here!

Insight from our team of scouts located around the world and are our eyes in the rinks providing detailed scouting reports throughout the season. We have a deep and extensive database of thousands of prospect scouting reports and profiles.

We have made available our player pages (usually behind a paywall) on key players in the World Junior Tournament to show the depth available on the site

Click on the players name to link to his page

Jack St. Ivany, United States

Quinn Hughes, United States

Erik Brannstrom, Sweden

Isac Lundestrom, Sweden

Noah Dobson, Canada

Evan Bouchard, Canada

Martin Kaut, Czech Republic

Vitaly Kravtsov, Russia

Nando Eggenberger, Switzerland

Jonas Rondbjerg, Denmark

Rasmus Kupari, Finland

Milos Roman, Slovakia

Scouting reports and profiles of prospects eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft are being added all season long. We will cover over 125 prospects by seasons end.
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Dropping the puck on the 2018-19 NCAA season – Part 1 – Atlantic 10, WCHA, ECAC

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 11:25:24 +0000

Don’t call it a preview. The NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey slate technically kicked off in the last weekend of September with the beginning of the annual set of exhibition games between American schools and Canadian ones as Simon Fraser (the only Canadian school to hand out athletic scholarships) went up to Alaska to play one each against Fairbanks and Anchorage.

In 36 total exhibition games played between NCAA schools and their north-of-the-border equivalents, mostly stocked with CHL graduates, the American schools only lost four times, with one draw, coming out victorious 31 times.

There are currently 60 schools participating in Division I Men’s Ice Hockey, and the majority have taken their first few tentative steps toward a hopeful berth in the year ending Frozen Four, this year set to take place in Buffalo, New York, after four regionals in Providence, Rhode Island, Manchester, New Hampshire, Fargo, North Dakota, and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The clearest way to run through the level is conference by conference, of which there are six, but in fairness, a word should be spared for the sole independent school, Arizona State, which has not been able to find a suitable conference home since joining the top flight of the collegiate ranks in time for the 2015-16 season. In three seasons, the Sun Devils have won 23 games out of the 95 they played. As impressive as their four wins in their first six games of the new season is, they have come against Alaska-Fairbanks and Alabama-Huntsville, not exactly powerhouses in their own rights either. To their credit, they played well in losing a set against Ohio State, and goaltender Joel D’Accord, an Ottawa draft pick has been spectacular, with a .956 save percentage playing every minute. ASU may be improved but they are still far from a regional threat.

Atlantic 10

The A10 is both the only conference to have started inter-conference games in earnest, and the only conference that can be generally overlooked from a scouting perspective, at least as far as future NHLers are concerned. Of the 194 NHL drafted players currently suiting up for NCAA teams, only three play for A10 schools and there is a good chance that none of the three ever signs an NHL contract. Robert Morris is usually a good bet to compete for the conference’s automatic NCAA entry, but Mercyhurst is worth a look this year, if their early-season, non-conference games are any indications, as they include an exciting 6-6 tie against powerhouse Notre Dame, as well as a victory over Ferris State. If there is a dark horse candidate to have NHL teams sniffing around, keep tabs on Dylan McLaughlin, a senior center with Canisius. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award last year after putting up 48 points in 37 games and has six in his first four games of the new season.

Western Collegiate Hockey Association

Although not quite as overlooked as the A10, the WCHA is no longer a collegiate powerhouse conference, as the formation of the NCHC has left the once-feared conference lacking in world beaters. The conference is currently home to only seven NHL drafted players, but there are usually a few more every year who garner NHL interest and a number of others who wind up playing on AHL deals after graduation. Of the ten teams in the WCHA, we can almost dismiss out of hand the two Alaskan members, as Fairbanks and Anchorage are hamstrung by insane travel schedules and lack much in the way of impact talent. We can also skip over Alabama-Huntsville, which has not had a winning season since 2005-06 and has lost its top two scorers from last year to graduation.

In the uninspiring middle, we find schools such as Lake Superior State, Ferris State, Northern Michigan, and Bemidji State. LSS has fallen a long way from the near dynasty that claimed three NCAA titles between 1988-1994 and has been among the weakest teams in the country over the last four years. They will need big years from Latvian netminder Mareks Mitens and senior forward Diego Cuglietta to have a chance. Ferris State has been known to have the odd big year of late, and have a few interesting players on the roster, including Boston draft pick Cam Clarke, and captain Corey Mackin, an undersized point producer. Northern Michigan rarely gets much press, but they quietly put up a very good year last year and have some impact forwards returning, including Darien Craighead and Adam Rockwood. Keep an eye on tiny freshman Griffin Loughran, who was a key contributor with USHL champions Fargo last year. Bemidji State is similarly unheralded, although with a veteran roster including returns from three of their top five scorers from last year, could be strong, even without any NHL prospects of note.

Michigan Tech was a surprise NCAA tournament team last year and could make noise again. They start a pair of senior forwards in Jake Jackson and Jake Lucchini, the former of which is a Sharks draft pick. Minnesota State (Mankato) was the top team in the conference last year, but have lost two of their better players to the NHL. There are still a number of good college players on the roster who should keep the Mavericks competitive, including Parker Tuomie, Marc Michaelis, Reggie Lutz, Jake Jaremko, and others. With decent goaltending, they could top the conference once again. That said, the favorite going into the year should be Bowling Green State. The only team in the WCHA with more than one drafted player, the Falcons have three, between start netminder Ryan Bednard (Florida), defenseman Adam Smith (Nashville) and winger Brandon Kruse (Vegas). Sophomore Max Johnson also seems primed for a big year. The team has youth and offensive depth to challenge any team in the conference.

Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference

As is typical, the ECAC lets the rest of the college hockey world get started before they drop the puck, with murmurs of academic integrity among the conference’s Ivy League schools the typical explanation. Only five of the 12 schools have played regular season games so far. Let us hand wave away the chances of RPI and St. Lawrence, the former of which has won only 14 games combined over the past two years. Their most interesting player is Penguins’ draft pick Will Reilly, an offensive defenseman. St. Lawrence has been good in the recent past, but the bottom fell out last year (8-27-2) and they seem to lack the horses to turn that around too much. Blueliner Bo Hanson earned some attention in his USHL days, and 6-8” Keenan Suthers struggled to assert himself in his time in the USNTDP or as a freshman, but has started strong this year. Dartmouth could be mildly interesting, if not a true contender, what with most of their top scorers returning. I am most curious to see if big Will Graber could take the team on his broad shoulders. He will be supported by Shane Sellar and Quin Foreman. Another Ivy League dark horse is Brown, which has not surpassed eight wins in a season since 2013-14. They have some interesting recruits arriving for the 2019-20 season, but for now will be reliant on co-captains Tom Marchin, and Max Gottlieb to spearhead the attack. The back half of the conference should be completed with Colgate and Yale. Colgate was a surprise competitor last season behind the goaltending of Colton Point, but he is now in the Dallas system. AJHL alumnus Mitchel Benson is the new netminder in town and the offense seems to have a “by-committee” construct. Yale has a lot of talent on the team, including four drafted players, but lacks much in the way of offensive experience after returning leading scorer Joe Snively. Between Phil Kemp (Edmonton) and Jack St. Ivany (Philadelphia), their blueline will be worth watching.

Despite losing top defenders Terence Amorosa and Kelly Summers to graduation and speedy forward Sheldon Rempal early to LA, Clarkson returns enough talent to threaten in the ECAC again. Netminder Jake Kielly has been a workhorse since first stepping foot on campus. The offensive attack will be led by the returning trio of captain Devin Brosseau, tiny sophomore Jack Jacome, and big German Nico Sturm. Among the prized newcomers are included Nick Campoli (Vegas) and big Josh Dunne, whose game I liked in the USHL. Union shocked the hockey world by winning the NCAA title in 2013-14, led by Shayne Gostisbehere, Daniel Carr, Mike Vecchione, and others. Those days are long gone, but this team still attracts a fine standard of player. Cole Maier has matured into a leading player, while fellow senior Brett Supinski has been a top scorer since first stepping foot on campus. San Jose draft pick Jake Kupsky seems ready for his big chance to take over in goal and Detroit pick Jack Adams could take a step forward.

Princeton surprisingly won the ECAC postseason tournament last year, and despite losing Eric Robinson to Columbus, top scorers Max Veronneau, Ryan Kuffner, Jackson Cressey, and Josh Teves eschewed the pros for another kick at the can. Netminder Ryan Ferland needs to take another step forward to convince me that they can return to the dance. Quinnipiac struggled somewhat last season, looking little like the team that made the NCAA finals twice in a four year span earlier in the decade. With big netminder Keith Petruzzelli (Detroit) looking like he has put a disappointing freshman season behind him, they could be returning to the former heights. There is proven talent up and down the roster, led by blueliners Chase Priskie (Washington), Karlis Cukste (San Jose) and Brandon Fortunato and forwards William Fallstrom, Craig Martin, Odeen Tufto, and the speedy Wyatt Bongiovanni.

That leaves us with two serious contenders for the conference crown. Cornell lost its top three scorers, but returns a ton more and should prove to be very strong at the back. Netminder Matthew Galajda was sensational as a freshman. The blueline is talented and deep, featuring Yanni Kaldis, Alex Green (Tampa Bay), Alec McCrea, Cody Haiskanen, and the hope that Edmonton pick Matthew Cairns can stay healthy and show some of the talent that he displayed two years ago. Rangers pick Morgan Barron, along with returning contributors Brenden Locke, Jeff Malott, and Mitchell Vanderlaan should lead the offensive attack. Freshman Maxim Andreyev is also one to watch. The stacked roster in Ithaca aside, the team to beat in the ECAC should be Harvard. This is a team with six drafted players on the roster, all of whom are legit prospects, as opposed to the late round fliers that we sometimes see on NCAA rosters. The strength of this team is on the blueline, starring Adam Fox (Carolina), Reilly Walsh (New Jersey), John Marino (Edmonton) and freshman Jack Rathbone (Vancouver). All play two-way games, and Fox and Walsh are both particularly dynamic talents, on the small side, mobile and skilled with the puck. There is less up front, but captain Lewis Zerter-Gossage was a big contributor last season, Anaheim draft pick Jack Badini should increase his production as a sophomore and freshman Jack Drury (Carolina), Baker Shore, and Casey Dornbach were all big point producers in the USHL. The main question the Crimson will have to answer is who will replace Merrick Madsen in net. Big Michael Lackey probably gets first dibs, but keep an eye on freshman Derek Schaedig, who also has ideal size and has had success in his time in the NAHL and USHL.

Philadelphia Flyers Prospect System Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joel Farabee

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

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

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

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

German Rubtsov

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

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

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

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

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

Pascal Laberge

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

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

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

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

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

David Kase

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jack St. Ivany – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #19

Pittsburgh Penguins Top-15 Prospects

1. Rutger McGroarty

2. Ville Koivunen

3. Joel Blomqvist

4. Owen Pickering

5. Vasily Ponomarev

6. Harrison Brunicke

7. Samuel Poulin

8. Tanner Howe

9. Tristan Broz

10. Mikhail Ilyin

11. Cruz Lucius

12. Sergei Murashov

13. Emil Pieniniemi

14. Mac Swanson

15. Jack St. Ivany

US COLLEGE: Ivy Leaguers Finding New Ice to Keep Fresh

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 15

Philadelphia Flyers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NCAA East Region 2019-20 Season Preview: Hockey East and ECAC

NCAA East Region Preview

ECAC

Hockey East:

Philadelphia Flyers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

ECAC Playoff Preview: Defending Champions Princeton in tough against strong Union squad

2019 IIHF World Junior Tournament Review: USA

2019 IIHF World Junior Championship Guide now available for Download!

Dropping the puck on the 2018-19 NCAA season – Part 1 – Atlantic 10, WCHA, ECAC

Philadelphia Flyers Prospect System Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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