Jake Fisher – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #29 Colorado Avalanche – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:00:39 +0000

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Trent Miner #50 of the Colorado Avalanche makes a save during a game between the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on October 26, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 29th (Last Year - 28th)
GM: Chris MacFarland Hired: July 2022
COACH: Jared Bednar Hired: August 2016

With one of the longest-tenured head coaches in the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche have once again pushed their chips to the center of the table in pursuit of another Stanley Cup.

In an effort to solidify their window, the Avalanche aggressively targeted veteran talent, acquiring key pieces such as Brock Nelson at the 2025 trade deadline while also adding established centers Nazem Kadri and Nicolas Roy in 2026. Of course, the cost of that push has been high. Over the next three years, Colorado has moved three first-round picks, two second-round picks, and two third-round picks in order to reinforce the NHL roster. Colorado added just three players in the 2025 draft, and while the 2026 class is currently projected to include eight selections, half of those picks will come in the seventh round.

There are, however, a few encouraging pieces. Goaltender Ilya Nabokov (95th) remains the organization’s most intriguing long-term asset, while dynamic defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev also finds his way into McKeen’s Top 150. Further down the pipeline, 20-year-old Christian Humphreys — a seventh-round selection in 2024 — is enjoying a breakout overage season with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and could position himself for a transition to the professional ranks in 2026–27.

Beyond those few bright spots, the system remains thin on impact talent, with most prospects projecting as depth contributors at the NHL level. Still, when your core includes elite players such as Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Nečas and the opportunity to chase a second Stanley Cup in five seasons, the cost is one Colorado has been more than willing to pay.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
Col	1	Ilya Nabokov	G	23	6-0/180	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	38	22	7	2.74	0.901
Col	2	Mikhail Gulyayev	D	21	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	54	1	2	3	14
Col	3	Sean Behrens	D	23	5-10/175	Colorado (AHL)	55	5	18	23	22
Col	4	Francesco Dell'Elce	D	20	6-1/180	Massachusetts (NCAA)	36	5	16	21	18
Col	5	Trent Miner	G	25	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	32	17	8	2.62	0.904
Col	6	Nikita Prishchepov	C	22	6-1/195	Colorado (AHL)	22	3	9	12	28
Col	7	Christian Humphreys	C	20	5-11/170	Kitchener (OHL)	63	27	58	85	33
Col	8	Louka Cloutier	G	19	6-1/170	Boston College (NCAA)	33	19	13	2.34	0.910
Col	9	Alex Gagne	D	23	6-3/205	Colorado (AHL)	58	1	12	13	53
Col	10	Linus Funck	D	19	6-3/185	London (OHL)	65	4	18	22	29
Col	11	Jake Fisher	C	21	6-2/190	Denver (NCAA)	43	8	11	19	6
Col	12	Nolan Roed	C	20	5-11/185	St. Cloud State (NCAA)	36	5	13	18	32
Col	13	Taylor Makar	LW	25	6-3/190	Colorado (AHL)	52	14	10	24	56
Col	13	Taylor Makar	LW	25	6-3/190	Colorado (NHL)	12	0	0	0	4
Col	14	Danil Gushchin	RW	24	5-8/165	Colorado (AHL)	49	18	14	32	26
Col	15	Isak Posch	G	24	6-3/210	Colorado (AHL)	28	15	8	2.78	0.891

1. Ilya Nabokov, G, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

After some impressive seasons in the KHL (especially his rookie year), Nabokov's numbers have taken a bit of a dive. He is sitting just above a .900 SV% and has a career high GAA. Despite this, he is the starting goalie for the best KHL team in Metallurg, which is reflected in his 22-7-5 record. Nabokov is at his best when he's playing aggressively and confidently, utilizing his elite athletic ability and flexibility. The footwork and speed are impressive, able to keep up with the puck as it moves across the ice with his strong T push or lateral mobility from the butterfly. When he is able to anticipate play, he is very difficult to beat. But Nabokov’s weaknesses have been a bit exposed this season. There is some inconsistency in his ability to track pucks, and he is prone to taking atrocious angles. The overuse of T pushes forces him to constantly readjust his position. He favors the near post, leaving far side shots, rebounds, or backdoor passes open for prime looks. The plan should be to get him to North America soon to work on the more technical side of the game. The athletic base is special, and if he can be reigned in, there could be a quality goaltender in the future.

2. Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Avangard Omsk (KHL)

For a player touted as an offensive defenseman, Gulyayev’s production has not impressed, producing the worst point totals of his career. The skating is still exceptional, using the extreme mobility to close gaps, be effective on breakouts, and make plays along the blue line. The offensive game is exciting at times, activating along the half wall and walking the blue line, throwing pucks into the slot and getting shots through traffic. On breakouts, he's always pushing up ice, making himself an option and having the ability to carry it himself. There is just an overall lack of involvement when he is on the ice. Defensively, he is still struggling to play physically and handle stronger opponents. There is also a tendency to be behind plays, chasing the puck and abandoning his position. To be an effective NHLer, he needs to be more engaged and take more risks in the offensive zone. The talent and mobility are there to be an offensive weapon; it’s just a matter of application.

3. Sean Behrens, D, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Sean Behrens missed the entirety of last season with an injury, which has delayed his developmental timeline, but he is nevertheless a talented defensive prospect who can log heavy minutes at both ends of the ice. The hallmark of Behrens’ game is his hockey sense; he just knows where to be on the ice, which allows him to be in excellent position to make that next defensive play, or that next outlet pass to his streaking forwards. Behrens can also man the point on a power play, as he was especially effective as a power play quarterback during his time with Denver University in the NCAA. This season, Behrens’ game with the Colorado Eagles has taken a bit of time to take off (53 GP, 5-17-22), but he is trending in the right direction and looks to be regaining the confidence that made him such a dominant force at the NCAA level. Look for Behrens to continue to build reps this season at the AHL level, where he ultimately projects as a bottom-pairing defender for the Colorado Avalanche.

4. Francesco Dell'Elce, D, UMass (NCAA)

Dell’Elce was passed over in two NHL drafts before being selected in the third round by the Colorado Avalanche. He took a strange path to this point, making the jump to the NCAA at 20 years old from the BCHL. In his first NCAA season, he performed well enough to be drafted over younger prospects in their first year of eligibility. This season, he has scored just three fewer points in four fewer games. His passing ability is outstanding, and he has incredible poise with the puck on his stick. He is largely unfazed by forechecking pressure, and his edges and smarts allow him to escape and make plays in those pressure moments. His skating and lack of a more physical presence were the main knocks that I had on him entering the 2025 draft. This year, he has added a bit more physicality. His skating, specifically his straight-line speed, still needs improvement. But he looks like he’s still well on his way to becoming a depth contributor thanks to his pro-style play and overall smarts and poise with the puck. He looks like a bottom-pair contributor down the line, with puck-moving upside.

5. Trent Miner, G, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Trent Miner has really had to grind away to get to where he is in professional hockey - a spot as the number one goalie for the Colorado Eagles in the AHL (31 GP, 17-7-8, 2.54 GAA, .906 SV%), with promise to become a future backup goalie for the Colorado Avalanche. Although Miner does not have any one standout attribute, his game has gotten him so far because it is built upon consistency. Miner almost never pitches a bad game, and even on nights when he struggles, he almost always finds a way to fight through and make a timely save when it counts to keep his team in the game. It is unlikely that Miner becomes a starter at the NHL level, but for a seventh round pick that has had to literally battle for every opportunity at the pro level, Miner’s career is a nice story. Look for Miner to fill in every now and then for the Avalanche as a capable option this season, and to graduate to full-time backup status at the start of next season.

6. Nikita Prishchepov, C, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Nikita Prishchepov might be a bit of an unknown commodity to many Colorado Avalanche fans, but he has really burst onto the scene as a potential bottom-six option from a very bare Avalanche prospect cupboard. Prishchepov is a decent-sized winger who has underrated two-way ability, which allows him to stay in the right areas at both ends of the ice. He won’t ever wow you with any game-breaking offensive skill, nor is he the world’s best shutdown player, but he can be counted upon to play effectively at both ends of the ice without hurting his team. Prishchepov does need a bit more time to build reps at the pro level, as his offensive game has a lot of room to grow, but he has played well this season for the Colorado Eagles (22 GP, 3-9-12) and remains a potential call up option for the Avalanche in the event they face more injuries this season. Expect Prishchepov to become a two-way fourth line player down the line at the NHL level, with potential to become a defensive-oriented third line player.

7. Christian Humphreys, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Christian Humphreys has been a key piece of Kitchener’s offense, providing top-notch playmaking, and finished fifth in assists among all OHL skaters. The undersized American was drafted out of the NTDP back in 2024 in the seventh round before graduating to the University of Michigan and promptly transferring to the Kitchener Rangers 10 games in. He wanted more touches and ice time, and he’s certainly achieved that with top-line minutes and PP1 on a contending team. His playmaking game is super well-rounded, using touch to float passes over sticks and deception to redirect opponents. Stylistically, Christian Humphreys fits more into a top six, but I’m not sure if he has the jam or pace to get there. I’m still not sold that he has a role in an NHL bottom six, but crazier things have happened, especially considering Colorado’s pretty barren prospect barracks. It’s tough to bet against the intelligence he has. I foresee some strong AHL production in the coming years.

8. Louka Cloutier, G, Boston College (NCAA)

Last season was a tough one for him with the storied Chicago Steel. However, Cloutier is having a bounce back season after joining Boston College for his first year in the NCAA. Despite playing against tougher competition, his counting stats have greatly improved from a year ago. Now, the Steel have not been as dominant over the last few seasons, which has left Cloutier out to dry quite often. He did flash his strong glove hand, flexibility, and mostly strong rebound control. But it was his angles that let him down often in the chances opposing teams generated, alongside his lack of aggressiveness. Because of his lack of aggression in taking on shooters, his slightly smaller stature and slouched stance make him easier to be beaten up high. With Boston College, his stance is still a work in progress. But he is noticeably more aggressive, coming out to challenge shooters far more often. He’s also attacking pucks as they’re fired at him, essentially punching at shots instead of letting them hit him. While he has a ton of talent, and he has found early success in the NCAA, he still has a ways to go developmentally.

9. Alex Gagne, D, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Alex Gagne is a big defenseman who went unsigned by the Tampa Bay Lightning after a solid four-year career at the University of New Hampshire. The best part about Gagne’s game is his frame; he’s a 6-foot-5, 225-pound defender who is extremely difficult to play against in his own zone. He’s able to use his frame effectively on the penalty kill, and he skates quite well for a player of his size. Gagne does not have game-breaking offensive skill, but he can move pucks capably out of his own zone to his forwards. Gagne does need to work a bit on his mean streak, as teams will want him to play with more bite at the NHL level, but overall, he has a nice toolkit that projects well to a bottom-pairing penalty killing role. Teams look for players like Gagne to fill prominent minutes in the NHL playoffs, and with the way Gagne has been progressing this season, it’s not hard to envision a scenario where he fills that role one day for the Avalanche.

10. Linus Funck, D, London Knights (OHL)

A fourth round pick last year out of Sweden, Funck made the jump to the OHL this year with London. He has been a steady defensive presence, showing upside as a depth, stay at home type. He’s been tasked with playing a middle of the lineup role for the Knights, with coach Dale Hunter relying on him heavily to help anchor London’s penalty killing unit. Funck has been a big reason why the Knights’ PK group has been a top three ranked unit in the OHL this year. He’s not a highly physical player, but he’s efficient defensively because he has good overall mobility and an active stick. He makes strong reads in the defensive end and has excellent gap control. Offensively, his game has shown to be somewhat limited at the OHL level; he’s not a high skill player or someone who is overly confident with the puck outside of the defensive zone. Funck is eligible to return to London next year as an Import, and if he does, he might have the opportunity to receive more offensive responsibility, and that could give us a better indication of his ultimate upside.

11. Jake Fisher, C, University of Denver (NCAA)

Fisher is a hardworking, lunch pail kind of forward who is playing in his sophomore season at the University of Denver. He’ll need to have an offensive breakout at some point to be considered an NHL option.

12. Nolan Roed, C, St. Cloud State University (NCAA)

A talented and hard-working playmaker, Roed has had a successful freshman season at St. Cloud State. Continuing to improve his skating and defensive play will be key for him due to a bottom six projection.

13. Taylor Makar, LW, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Originally considered to be an example of nepotism, Cale’s brother is carving his own path after a breakout campaign at Maine and now a decent rookie year in the AHL that has already seen him earn an NHL look.

14. Daniil Gushchin, LW, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

In a very thin Colorado system, Gushchin remains a top 15 prospect even though his days seem numbered in North America. He hasn’t been able to transfer his AHL scoring to the NHL level and is likely destined for a long career in Europe.

15. Isak Posch, G, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Posch was signed last offseason after a great year with St. Cloud State. The big Swedish netminder has added solid depth to the Colorado organization and shows upside as a possible back-up down the road.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #28

The McKeen's Scouting Team — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 15:59:53 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 28th (May 2025 - 31st)
GM: Chris MacFarland Hired: July 2022
COACH: Jared Bednar Hired: August 2016

Trading away your top prospect is rarely the path to rebuilding a strong pipeline, but that’s the gamble Colorado made by shipping out Calum Ritchie at the trade deadline in preparation of a 2025 Stanley Cup run.

That said, the Avalanche made some off-season moves, adding a pair of NHL-ready hopefuls in Gavin Brindley from Columbus and Daniil Gushchin from San Jose—players who offer promise but are far from blue-chip replacements.

The club’s 2025 draft didn’t do much to move the needle, either. With just three selections (in the third, fourth, and seventh rounds), Colorado failed to land any notable reinforcements to add to an already stagnant pool.

Further down the pipeline, the Avs may have unearthed a fifth-round gem in 2024 with Maxmilian Curran, who led the Tri-City Americans (WHL) with 74 points in 65 games and has emerged as a player to watch. Taylor Makar also joins the fold after signing his entry-level deal, fresh off helping UMass to its second Hockey East title in three years.

In the AHL, Ivan Ivan had a quietly strong campaign and sits on the cusp of contributing at the NHL level. Meanwhile, goaltending prospect Ilya Nabokov continues to produce quality results in the KHL, giving the Avs a flicker of hope between the pipes.

Despite these bright spots, the overall system lacks impactful talent. Most players project as depth contributors at best, and the team is now staring down a third straight year without a first-round pick in 2026.

With Mikko Rantanen no longer in the fold, Colorado’s window remains open, but their margin for error is thinner than ever. They’ve pushed their chips in, hoping their NHL core can carry the load for another run at the Cup. But if those plans falter, the decision to move on from Calum Ritchie could loom large in hindsight.

Colorado Avalanche Top-15 Prospects

1 - Mikhail Gulyayev

Mikhail Gulyayev’s offensive game continues to impress. Now in his third KHL season, he shows more poise and decision-making, using elite skating to drive offence with smooth edgework and effective transitions. His speed helps set up plays in the offensive zone, but his production has plateaued compared to last year. He moves the puck well but doesn’t create the same quality chances as he did in juniors. I’d like to see him attack the middle more with his passes and cuts rather than sticking to the perimeter. Defensively, he still struggles with strength and positioning, often chasing the play rather than shutting it down. Despite these challenges, his skating remains elite, with quick acceleration and agility. Gulyayev has NHL potential as a middle pairing defenceman and power play quarterback, but he must improve his defensive game and maximize his offensive talents to carve out a role on Colorado’s deep blue line.

2 - Gavin Brindley

Coming off a great D+1 in college where he became the Big Ten Player of the Year, Gavin had some issues adjusting to his first pro season. Since he lacks the big body, it was inevitable that he was going to have some issues adapting to playing professional hockey and the main problem was the physicality. Gavin clearly struggled establishing a presence in front of the net and with winning board battles. However, smaller players usually struggle in the beginning of their pro career and there’s no reason to panic in terms of Gavin’s play either. He’s still a swift skater with good technique in his edgework, works hard and displays good compete on a consistent basis and would show flashes of playmaking ability through his first pro stint. A future as a top six forward probably is not realistic as his scoring touch is not dynamic enough, but together with his hard work and being able to drive the net he should be able to become a future top nine winger for Colorado.

3 - Ilya Nabokov

Ilya Nabokov has proved that his rookie KHL season wasn’t a fluke, backing up his stellar season with another great one as one of the league’s top goalies. This past season he played a lot more aggressively and displayed his world-class athletic ability more frequently this season. His skating is second to none, he uses his compact stance and low center of gravity to explode from any position to fly around the crease. Additionally, his tracking has improved and continued to process play rapidly. However, this more aggressive, athletic, and flashy approach this season likely won’t work as well at the NHL level. He has shown that he can be much calmer in the net, focusing more precision rather than explosiveness. Being too wild can lead to inconsistency, and especially in the case of Nabokov, creates a lot of dangerous rebounds. Unlocking his calmer side could be the key to him becoming the next Dustin Wolf in a few years.

4 - Daniil Gushchin

Last season was another productive year in the books for Daniil Gushchin, though his assist production took a hit. He’s always been an all-around offensively gifted player, but his playmaking was too inconsistent this year. Hopefully this was just an off year as he has shown that he has the offensive instincts to create chances for his linemates. The guy can shoot too. Daniil is able to score in multiple different ways, beating goalies cleanly with his wrist shot and has a howitzer of a slapshot. The hands are amazing too, a dynamic puckhandler and is elusive when he’s getting past defenders. His off-puck game is concerning though as he can look disengaged defensively and disappear completely through games. The physical game is lacking as well and also has issues engaging in it too. These are the reasons why Daniil’s future in the NHL is dependent on his offensive talent alone and if he’s not playing in the top nine, he’s probably not playing at all in the top league.

5 - Sean Behrens

Sean Behrens suffered a torn ACL during practice which resulted in him missing the entire 2024-2025 season. Though before his injury, there’s a ton to like with this player. Responsible defensively and a great first-pass defenceman that scans his options quickly to be able to transition up the ice. Scoring 10 goals in three NCAA seasons is not really eye-popping, but he has the offensive awareness to jump up play and score from a cross-ice pass. His offensive talent shines more in the playmaking category, as he’s good at finding teammates backdoor thanks to his vision. Most of his points actually don't come from the offensive zone since he excels at turning the play around and creating odd-man rushes. Something that fits the Colorado system perfectly. The top four potential is still there but the lack of size is concerning and despite only a couple of professional games he looks to have issues with the physical aspect. Though it will be quite interesting how a healthy Sean Behrens will look and what kind of stamp he can make at pre-season camp.

6 - Francesco Dell’Elce

Dell’Elce was one of many puck-carrying defencemen taken on day two of the 2025 NHL Draft. Unlike many of those selected, Dell’Elce is 20 years old and played in the NCAA at UMass last season. The ultimate draw for a defenceman like Dell’Elce is both the skating prowess and stability in his performance last season. 31 other organizations would kill for a performance like Dell’Elce’s this past season at a great NCAA program like UMass, and the Avalanche are hoping that he will repeat with a similar performance. Though Dell’Elce is our sixth-ranked Avs prospect at only 20 years old, we could see his debut as early as two to three years from now.

7 - Max Curran

Injury issues shortened Curran’s draft year in 202023-24, and he was shut down for good right when he was heating up and beginning to play some inspired hockey, which might have caused some regional scouts to miss seeing him what he looked like when he was at his best. The Avalanche, who picked him 16first overall that year, surely aren’t complaining about that right now. After getting healthy again and returning to Tri-City the Czechia native promptly led his team in scoring. There’s a lot of utility to his game, as a player who can line up at center or on the wing, and as someone who can be effective on both sides of special teams. Take a look at the top teams in the NHL in any given season and almost all of them will have a guy or two who plays like Curran does and contributes in similar ways, so Colorado could have something on their hands here with this prospect.

8 - Nikita Prishchepov

Nikita Prishchepov was a little bit of a revelation for the Colorado Avalanche as he was drafted in the seventh-round 2024 and in the same year made his NHL debut. He didn’t get another call-up after his stint playing 10 games but this upcoming season there’s opportunity for Nikita to get a more permanent spot. Nikita is never going to shock you with offensive production, no matter which league he plays in. But what he brings is a great defensive game, uses timely stick checks to break play of the opposition and pressures well in his own end. While not the tallest at 6-foot-1, he’s very broad-shouldered coming in at 195 pounds and uses that size well. What may hold him back into becoming an NHL bottom six regular is his puck skill. With less time to make plays at the NHL level, it could cause him too many problems. Surely Nikita will be trying to get back to the NHL but since last season was his first season overall as a pro, it wouldn’t hurt him to spend another time with the Eagles

9 - Jake Fisher

Fisher showed steady progression in his first college season. His defensive game stands out, characterized by strong positioning, responsible play, and consistent support in puck and board battles. He effectively covers for his defencemen, demonstrating excellent defensive awareness and a reliable presence in his own zone. His ability to read plays contributes to cleaner breakouts for his team and transitioning to offence faster. Offensively, he positions himself in the slot, creating traffic and seeking rebound opportunities. However, his offensive impact remains limited, lacking dynamic play-driving abilities. Fisher's skating, agility, and puck skills are average, but his intelligence and understanding of the game are notable. He also has received power play time, maintaining movement and communication. With continued development in his puck handling and offensive engagement, Fisher projects as a reliable, defensively responsible forward at the pro level, with potential to contribute in a bottom six role and on special teams. We should see higher production and opportunity this upcoming season.

10 - Christian Humphreys

After Humphreys struggled to earn ice time with the University of Michigan to start last year, he left the program for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL and finished the 2025 season there. Things went quite well for Humphreys with the Rangers, so much so that he’s already announced that he’ll be returning to the OHL for the upcoming season. The average sized pivot’s strengths are his vision and IQ with the puck. He’s an excellent playmaker. Even if he’s not the strongest on the puck, he can create time and space for himself with his hands and he makes quick decisions with the puck. The key for Humphreys as he returns to the OHL will be finding that “B” game. Can his off puck play become more consistent? Can he develop into a solid two-way player? Additionally, he’ll need to continue to upgrade his quickness and explosiveness, especially at his size, to be a top nine NHL player.

11 - Zakhar Bardakov

Bardakov is coming off a productive KHL season, posting 35 points in 53 games thanks to his size, reach, and skill level. After spending four seasons in the KHL, he’ll try to make the jump to the NHL thanks to a one-year contract with Colorado. However, he’s publicly stated that he’s prepared to go back to Russia if things work out.

12 - Matt Stienburg

A checking center in the AHL, Stienburg saw a promotion to the big club last season. He won’t turn heads with his offence, but his energy style could help him stick this season.

13 - Trent Miner

Miner posted a strong season in the AHL with a .918 save percentage, after having spent the majority of the prior year in the ECHL, showing a nice steady progression to his game. It’s unlikely he cracks the NHL this season with the Avalanche’s goalie depth, but there could be a path here down the road.

14 - Linus Funck

A rangy right shot defenceman with some offensive flair, Funck’s skating should allow him to take another step forward in Swedish junior hockey this season. At his size and with his tools, there’s a chance for NHL duty down the road.

15 - Tory Pitner

A defensive defenceman, Pitner enters his sophomore season at Denver University, where he will continue to build on his current skill set, while also hopefully adding back some of the offence he flashed in the USHL.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:37:22 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 28: Colorado Avalanche draft pick Mikhail Gulyayev poses for a photo with team officials during the first round of the Upper Deck NHL Draft, June 28, 2023 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire)

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Colorado 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #25

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Josh Bell — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 18:00:53 +0000

_{OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 16: Colorado Avalanche Goalie Justus Annunen (60) looks to make a save during first period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on January 16, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 25th (Previous Rank - 20th)
GM: Chris MacFarland Hired: July 2022
COACH: Jared Bednar Hired: August 2016

With both Alex Newhook and Bowen Byram now graduated and dealt elsewhere, the Colorado Avalanche dropped five spots in our McKeen’s prospect rankings to finish well within the bottom 10 of the list.

That said, the 2024-25 season saw several of their young prospects make solid strides in their development. Ivan Ivan made a smooth transition to the AHL, posting 31 points, while Oskar Olausson (226th) matched his rookie totals (20 points) in nearly half the games during his sophomore season. Sean Behrens (169th) also made his professional debut with the Eagles’ after winning a National Championship while being named the NCAA (NCHC) Best Defensive Defenceman with Denver. Meanwhile, goaltender Justus Annunen (195th) continued to impress between the pipes, recording a 14-5-4 record to bring his career AHL ledger to a solid 60-29-19 through 114 games. Annunen is poised to officially graduate and become the backup goaltender for the Avalanche behind Alexandar Georgiev next season.

Away from the farm, the club’s top two rated prospects, Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev, continue to develop well. Ritchie, who sits just inside McKeen’s top 50 at 48th, increased his stock with the Oshawa Generals, finishing with a career-high 80 points in 50 games. Gulyayev (64th), Colorado’s 2023 first-round pick, continues to log solid minutes as an 18-year-old (now 19) over in Russia. Both are progressing, but still far from arm's reach to directly contribute to the big club.

Although the Avalanche did not have a first-round pick in the 2024 Draft, they managed to inject a healthy dose of fresh talent into their pipeline by selecting nine prospects in total. Ilya Nabokov (250th), a double-overaged goaltender, offers a solid future option in net. Meanwhile, William Zellers could provide some low-key offensive upside down the road. Aside from them, the jury is still out on the remaining seven names.

With a top-flight core featuring Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar and Devon Toews, the Avalanche’s winning ways are likely to continue. However, some roster turnover should be expected over the next few seasons as the team looks to – no, needs to – graduate more of their younger players. First up is McKeen’s 77th-ranked prospect, Nikolai Kovalenko, who is expected to slot into the NHL lineup out of training camp.

Colorado Avalanche Top-15 Prospects

1. Cal Ritchie

Ritchie, the Avalanche's first-round pick (#27) in 2023, put together a dominant season with the Oshawa Generals. The 6-foot-0 center exploded offensively, putting up a career-high 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) in 50 games. This production came alongside a strong +45 plus/minus rating, showcasing his two-way awareness. While the gaudy numbers are impressive, it’s important to remain cautious. Ritchie's offensive outburst came in a sheltered role with the Generals, raising questions about his ability to translate that production against tougher competition. There are also concerns about his consistency – flashes of brilliance can be overshadowed by stretches of disappearing acts. Still, Ritchie's overall performance solidified his status as a top prospect. His skating and playmaking ability are undeniable, and his defensive awareness is improving. He'll likely spend another year in the OHL before turning pro but don't be surprised to see him pushing for a roster spot in Colorado sooner rather than later.

2. Mikhail Gulyayev

Drafted 18th overall in 2023, Gulyayev opted to stay in Russia in his DY+1. He spent the year honing his craft in the KHL with Omsk Avangard. He stood out there for a young defenceman, racking up 12 points in 64 games. His offensive prowess, particularly his transition ability, remains his calling card. Skating and mobility separate him from most of his age group peers. Explosive speed, a smooth utilization of crossovers, and a wonderfully fluid stride really pop out during transitions, guiding his team’s exits and entries, or executing give-and-go plays. However, questions about his defensive consistency persist. While he's not a liability in his own zone, there is a need to see a stronger showing in this area moving forward. Gulyayev's path remains unclear, especially since he’s signed through the 2025-26 season in the KHL. One thing's for sure: His offensive talent is undeniable. The key will be rounding out his game and proving he can be a reliable two-way force.

3. Nikolai Kovalenko

Kovalenko turned heads in the KHL in 2023-24. After signing an entry-level contract with Colorado but remaining in Russia on loan, the 24-year-old winger thrived for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. He finished his KHL campaign strong, putting up 11 goals and 35 points in 42 games. Kovalenko's blend of size (6-foot-0, 192 pounds) and skill makes him a dangerous offensive threat. He can overpower defenders and possesses a knack for finding the net. He thrives in his small-area game, thanks to excellent hands and creativity. He stands out as a playmaker but is able to find the back of the net on his own too. However, questions linger about his overall consistency and defensive awareness. While flashes of brilliance exist, stretches of disappearing acts raise concerns. His performance will be crucial in determining his NHL readiness. Regardless, his KHL showing solidified his status as a top prospect.

4. Sean Behrens

Behrens solidified himself as a defensive cornerstone for the Denver Pioneers in 2023-24. The smooth-skating defenceman (5-foot-10, 190 pounds) led the team in blocked shots (58) and chipped in offensively with 31 points, ranking third among Denver's defencemen. His season wasn't without hiccups. A brief injury sidelined him for four games, and his consistency can occasionally waver. However, his strong two-way play earned him the NCHC's "Defensive Defenceman of the Year" award en route to the NCAA Championship where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team. Behrens' performance solidified his status as a potential top four NHL defenceman. He moves exactly as well as you’d want an undersized blueliner to move, and his mobility gives him upside as a transitional defenceman. His stride is extremely smooth and looks almost effortless when he’s picking up the puck in his own zone in order to lead a breakout. While questions about his offensive ceiling remain, his ability to shut down attackers and contribute on offence makes him a valuable prospect to watch.

5. Justus Annunen

Justus Annunen's 2023-24 campaign was a turning point. After splitting time between the AHL and NHL early on, the Finnish netminder solidified his place in Colorado with a late-season surge. In 14 NHL appearances, he boasted a strong 0.928 save percentage and a respectable 2.55 GAA. Even more impressive were his two shutouts, showcasing his ability to steal games. This strong showing earned him a two-year extension, signalling their confidence in him as a future starter. Questions remain – his sample size is small, and consistency will be key. But Annunen's composure and athleticism have fans and analysts alike buzzing. Could he be the heir apparent to the Avalanche crease? Only time will tell, but his 2023-24 performance was a promising step in that direction. Look for him to stick with the big club this season as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev.

6. Jean-Luc Foudy

Foudy's 2023-24 campaign was a glimpse of his potential but lacked consistency. Despite a strong showing in the AHL (14 points in 26 games), a brief NHL stint was forgettable (one goal in four games). Injuries played a role, limiting his overall development. His calling card remains his blend of size, skill, and skating. He can protect the puck and create scoring chances, as evidenced by his AHL success. However, translating that into the NHL will require more from him. Decision-making needs to be sharpened, and defensive awareness has to improve. Foudy's future hinges on refining his game. Another year in the AHL could be crucial. If he can elevate his all-around performance, a more permanent NHL role could be within reach. The Avalanche still views him as a valuable prospect, but the clock is ticking for him to solidify his spot.

7. Oskar Olausson

Olausson's 2023-24 campaign was a rollercoaster. After a decent start with 20 points in 39 AHL games for the Colorado Eagles, shoulder surgery abruptly ended his season. His offensive flash – a lethal shot and smooth hands – was evident. He displayed the tools that made him a first-round pick in 2021. Feed him the puck in the offensive zone and give him enough time and space and there's a good chance he'll make the other team pay, primarily through his hard, accurate release. Unfortunately, he runs into trouble creating scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates, and his off puck play leaves a lot to be desired. There were stretches where he dominated, followed by stretches of disappearing acts. The injury throws a wrench into his development. While his offensive upside remains enticing, the key question remains: Can he find consistency and become a reliable producer? The 2024-25 season will be crucial in answering that question and determining his NHL arrival timeline.

8. Ilya Nabokov

Ilya Nabokov should have been drafted in 2023 based on his MHL All-Star performance, having posted impressive numbers over three seasons: 61-27-10 record, 0.930 SV%, and a 2.02 GAA. Instead, he had to wait - to the benefit of Colorado. In his draft year, Nabokov excelled in the KHL, quickly securing the starting role for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He went 23-13-3 with a 0.930 SV% and a 2.15 GAA in 43 games and was even better in the playoffs with a 0.942 SV% and 1.82 GAA, earning Rookie of the Year, Playoff MVP, and helping his team win the Gagarin Cup. His seven shutouts highlight an outstanding year. Nabokov is technically sound and makes athletic saves when needed, always staying in position. While his mobility can be uneven and his rebound control needs improvement, his overall performance makes him a promising prospect.

9. Sam Malinski

Malinski's 2023-24 campaign was a grinder's delight. The Avalanche prospect spent most of the year with the Colorado Eagles, chipping in 27 points (5 goals, 22 assists) in 46 games while suiting up for his first 23 NHL games. While the point totals might not jump off the page, Malinski's value lies in his defensive acumen. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, he’s not the biggest but uses his frame effectively to protect the puck and clog passing lanes. His skating is a strength, allowing him to stay mobile and make plays in transition. However, offensive flashes remain inconsistent. There are moments where he displays a good shot and the ability to join the rush, but these are overshadowed by stretches of quiet play. The question is one of offensive development. Can he refine his offensive skillset and become a more consistent contributor at both ends? If he does, there is the potential to be a reliable bottom six defender in the NHL.

10. William Zellers

Zellers was a challenging prospect for NHL teams to evaluate in his draft year. He excelled at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and with Shattucks, showcasing high-end skill, vision, and competitiveness. His ability to consistently find the net and problem-solve is evident, but his NHL projection is complicated by his skating. Zellers relies on his hands and spatial awareness rather than dynamic speed. Although he’s agile and explosive on his edges, allowing him to exploit poor defensive coverage and cut into the slot, he isn’t as effective in linear skating. His quick release means he doesn’t need much space to score. However, there are questions about his overall skill level. If he can enhance his athleticism and physical tools over the next few years at North Dakota, his offensive abilities could make him a valuable complementary player in the NHL.

11. Ivan Ivan

Ivan Ivan made a strong impression in his first pro season, leading Colorado Eagles rookies with 12 goals, 19 assists, and 31 points in 67 AHL games. While his offensive skills are evident, his skating and defensive awareness need improvement. The Avalanche signed him to a two-year NHL deal, and although a full-time role this season seems unlikely, expect him to get NHL exposure. His future depends on refining his defensive game and translating his AHL success to the NHL.

12. Tory Pitner

Tory Pitner is a stay-at-home defenceman who excels in his role, demonstrated by his solid performance with the Youngstown Phantoms and his leadership in his draft year. At 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, he uses his strength effectively to win battles and disrupt plays. His stick work and rush defence are strong, though he lacks offensive skill. Committed to the University of Denver for 2024-25, Pitner is expected to develop further. He has potential as a bottom-pairing shutdown defender.

13. Jake Fisher

Surprised that Fisher went undrafted last year despite being ranked 130th, he has since made a strong case for himself with Fargo, capturing a Clark Cup and returning to the draft radar. Fisher is a well-rounded center with good size, strong two-way play, a powerful shot, and improved skating. While he shows promise as a top NCAA player for the Denver Pioneers, his lack of a standout skill may limit his upside.

14. Maros Jedlicka

After being passed over in the NHL Draft twice, the Avalanche took a flier on Slovak forward Maros Jedlicka. After a strong showing in the 2023 camp, he ended up missing the entire season due to shoulder surgery. He’s heading to Czechia for the 2024-25 season, where the Avs hope that he can get right back on track in his development.

15. Matthew Steinburg

It’s been a long road for Matthew Steinburg who was drafted back in 2019 and then spent all four years in the NCAA before joining the AHL’s Colorado Eagles in 2023-24. He played more of a depth role, which does seem like the role he will stick with moving forward. He’s likely reached or is approaching his ceiling at this point.

2024 NHL DRAFT: RE-ENTRY CANDIDATES – USA

Editor: Brock Otten - Contributors - Brock Otten, Mark Dube and Ethan Hetu — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 19:59:49 +0000

In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year high end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind does. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).

For those unfamiliar, North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th, will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st, will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. In the last decade, NHL scouts have increased the rate with which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European based players especially attractive. However, these players have had a lot of success in recent years too. Look around the league and you see these players everywhere. For example, Calgary Flames standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. Ottawa Senators standout forward Drake Batherson was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Pyotr Kochetkov, one of the top young netminders in the NHL was also one.

Last year, eight “re-entry” candidates went in the Top 110; Adam Gajan, Yegor Sidorov, Vadim Moroz, Florian Xhekaj, Cole Knuble, Patrick Thomas, Ty Mueller, and Bogdan Konyushkov. In our “second chances” article last year (Part 1): (Part 2): (Part 3): We wrote about five of those eight. In total there were 40 taken, right around the trend of other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected). Additionally, of those 40, we identified and wrote about 28 (well over half of them) in our aforementioned second chances series. Just like in previous editions of this annual report, we aim to identify more.

In 2024, we have some very interesting candidates. Maybe not at the level of Adam Gajan, who was nearly a first-round pick, but there are definitely a few players who could…and should go inside the Top 100. Finland’s Jesse Pulkkinen seems like the top candidate to go first among this group and has had a terrific year offensively. Tri-City netminder Lukas Matecha has been terrific in the WHL as an Import and played in this year’s CHL Top Prospect’s Game. North Bay’s Anthony Romani has been among the leaders in OHL scoring all season. This article intends to highlight them and many other candidates who could be part of that 20% this year.

This is part two of the series, putting the spotlight on those re-entries available from leagues based out of the United States.

USHL

Austin Burnevik. Photo courtesy of the USHL.

Austin Burnevik - Wing - Madison Capitals

Burnevik was in my opinion a surprise to be passed up at the 2023 NHL Draft last year. It may have been due to the fact that Burnevik was demoted to the U17 team towards the end of the year and left off the IIHF U18 roster, but the tools were there for him to still be selected. Quiet offensively for a stacked NTDP team last year, posting 19 points in 43 games, Burnevik has found his scoring touch with the Madison Capitols in the USHL this year where he leads the team in points (59) and goals (36) as of this writing. He is a large-bodied forward, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 201 pounds. These types of players take more time to develop as they grow into their bodies, and we are seeing this trend with Burnevik. The St. Cloud commit has an NHL-caliber shot to go along with some decent vision and passing in his repertoire. The only concern with Burnevik’s development at this point is his skating, but with some growth and strength conditioning, he may be able to overcome that deficiency and make the next jump, especially when he begins to play at the NCAA level next season. There’s a pretty good chance a team will take a chance on him at this year’s draft. (Mark Dube)

Kaden Shahan - Wing - Sioux City Musketeers

Shahan has taken a big leap forward in his development this season while playing in Sioux City of the USHL. He currently sits second in goals (35) in the entire league and has amassed 49 points in 46 games in his second season. Shahan is currently ranked as a fifth-round projection according to the NHL Central Scouting Midterm list. He is committed to the University of Connecticut next season which should help with his progression and development, playing at a higher level against older players. Shahan possesses a great motor and is always engaging on the forecheck and works hard along the boards and is not afraid to get physical, all traits that are translatable at the NHL level, in a bottom-six checking type role. The fact that he has elevated his offensive output and demonstrated some scoring touch bodes well for a potential re-entry selection at the 2024 NHL Draft. (Mark Dube)

Charlie Cerrato - Center - Youngstown Phantoms

Cerrato re-enters the NHL draft after being part of the U18 NTDP team last season where he played a limited role and ultimately ended the season skating with the U17 crew (like the aforementioned Burnevik). He brings tenacity and a willingness to challenge players along the boards and in front of the net, but his skill set is still somewhat limited at this point, even if he is seeing some offensive success with the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL this season. Cerrato currently has 42 points in 35 games played and is committed to Penn State University next year where he will continue his development. He is ranked in the seventh round on the NHL Central Scouting Midterm list. (Mark Dube)

Blake Montgomery - Wing - Lincoln Stars

After spending his draft campaign playing U18 AAA hockey at Mount St. Charles Academy, Montgomery moved to the USHL for a season of preparation before he heads off to the University of Maine in the fall. While his production at Mount St. Charles (33 points in 52 games) made him a long shot to be selected in the 2023 class (he ultimately went undrafted) it’s the immense progress he’s shown in his time with USHL Lincoln that makes him a candidate to hear his name called at this summer’s draft. The core appeal of Montgomery as a prospect is his tools. The left winger stands six-foot-four and still has room to fill into that frame as he’s listed at just 175 pounds by the Stars. Montgomery’s skating is pretty good for someone his size, and he can be quite a lot to handle when he’s charging full steam ahead on the rush. His reach creates turnovers all over the ice and has been the catalyst for many a rush chance this season. For someone his size, Montgomery has quality puck skills. He’s not an out-of-this-world dangler, but he’s definitely capable of putting a highlight together here and there. That’s certainly the type of game he appears to want to play, and he’s done so with some success in the USHL. Montgomery’s tools have started to come together on a more consistent basis, and he’s been arguably the Stars’ best player this season. While there’s still a long runway ahead of him, Montgomery is an interesting prospect for a team to draft and then track as he develops at the University of Wisconsin. (Ethan Hetu)

Jake Fisher - Center - Fargo Force

A dominant high school player in his first year of draft eligibility, Fisher did not hear his name called in the 2023 draft in large part due to questions over how his game might translate at a higher level of hockey. It’s likely that teams were most likely looking to see how he’d fare playing against tougher competition in the USHL before deciding whether to invest a draft pick in him. In his draft year, Fisher’s limited USHL exposure didn’t exactly go well, as he played sparingly, didn’t make much of an impact when he did play, and Fargo won only four of twelve games with him in their lineup. This season, though, Fisher has found his way in the USHL. He’s at the moment slotted in as the Force’s second-line center (behind high-flying Penguins prospect Zam Plante) and is scoring at around a point-per-game rate. With a college career playing at the University of Denver on the horizon, Fisher could very well hear his name called at the 2024 draft by teams looking to see what one of the best coaches in college hockey (Denver’s David Carle) can do with him. Standing 6’2, 192 lbs, the main point of progress Fisher has made in morphing himself into a draft-able prospect is his physical development. He’s far better suited at the moment to survive the rigors of USHL hockey than he was a year ago, and it’s evident when comparing his shifts for Fargo last season compared to this year. He no longer looks overwhelmed and as a result is in a better position to show off his standout offensive tool, which is widely held to be his shot. Fisher is a player with whom it isn’t exactly difficult to imagine an NHL future. He works hard, brings some offense, and has all the physical tools teams look for. The question Fisher will need to answer is if he has enough dynamic quality, efficiency, or versatility to his game to be more than just an elite junior (and potentially NCAA) player. (Ethan Hetu)

Joe Connor - Center - Muskegon Lumberjacks

Although the presence of two top USHL products for the 2024 draft (Sacha Boisvert and Matvei Gridin) has drawn most of the attention among Muskegon Lumberjacks, Joe Connor’s progress is notable and has made him a prospect worthy of consideration for the 2024 draft. Like Fisher, the Avon Old Farms product only played in 12 USHL games last season, though he did keep his head above water to a degree Fisher was unable to manage. This season, Connor has emerged as one of Muskegon’s most reliable offensive producers outside of the big two in Gridin and Boisvert. While Connor was prolific playing high school hockey and wowed scouts with his work ethic and exceptional energy level, he simply was not playing against strong enough competition to confidently project how his game might translate at the pro level. Now with a full USHL campaign under his belt, Connor has put together a body of work that suggests a pro future is very much in the cards. Connor was a well-liked but ultimately undrafted prospect last season in large part due to his motor. This season, it’s how Connor has learned to better manage his motor that’s been the most significant improvement. Connor has shown the ability to moderate his energy level in order to provide more nuance and deceptive potential to his game. He’s no longer running at top speed all the time, and his ability to utilize his teammates to create offense has improved as a result. That core tool still remains, and it’s one that will carry him to Northeastern in the fall. The lack of high-end skill or true deceptive elements in Connor’s game likely means he doesn’t have a high-end ceiling at the pro level, but the easy-to-appreciate aspects of Connor’s profile such as his work rate and skating gives him legitimate potential to be a role player in the pros. (Ethan Hetu)

Benjamin Poitras - Wing - Green Bay Gamblers

While Poitras certainly had a solid USHL rookie season, his 37-point performance was not enough for him to hear his name called. As a five-foot-eleven forward with average-to-below-average physical tools, Poitras simply did not possess the kind of profile NHL teams are looking to invest in with their limited number of draft picks. Now with another season of USHL hockey under his belt, Poitras stands a better chance of hearing his name called at the 2024 draft, though his fate there is still very much up in the air. Poitras is a good skater, but not an elite one. He’s got enough zip to be an asset off the puck on the forecheck and hustling back in transition, and his speed is certainly something to build off of. Poitras also has a decent skill level, and the combination of those puck skills with his skating allows him to create a decent number of relatively clean carry-in zone entries for his team. That being said, his approach to offense can be very straightforward at times. While he works hard and has produced effectively this season, his game lacks the kind of deceptive elements that lead to offense at higher levels. It’s certainly something he can work on, but at the moment it’s hard to have a ton of confidence that he’ll pile up points against more difficult competition. Still, his skating, work rate, and basic skill level are enough to make him worth considering for the 2024 draft, especially since he’ll be at Northeastern next season which could be a strong place for him to continue his development. (Ethan Hetu)

Philippe Blais-Savoie - Defense - Tri-City Storm

Blais-Savoie’s statline certainly doesn’t stand out to the point where you’d assume he was a serious draft candidate. However, offense isn’t his game. He’s a lockdown, stay at home defender who is unquestionably one of the best defensive players in the USHL. This was also evident at the World Junior A Challenge, where he was named a tournament all star despite barely hitting the scoresheet. The issue is that Blais-Savoie doesn’t have the size/reach that you like to see from your typical stay at home types in the NHL; he’s a non-traditional defensive stalwart. However, with excellent mobility and strong defensive instincts, it’s clear that Blais-Savoie doesn’t need to be hulking to be highly effective at the junior level. Colorado College has rapidly turned into a premier program again under Kris Mayotte and scouts are bound to love that destination for Blais-Savoie. It wouldn’t shock me at all if he were a late round selection by a team who believes that his safe puck play and defensive acumen could make him a Zach Whitecloud type. (Brock Otten)

Ethan Gardula - Wing - Sioux City Musketeers

Not a dynamic player, but Gardula has been extremely effective for Sioux City this year in his first full season out of Cushing Academy. He builds in deception well by varying his pace and altering his approach offensively, reacting to what the defense gives him. More slippery than quick, Gardula is confident on his edges and can shake coverage by quickly pivoting or shifting his direction; utilizing stops and starts while maintaining possession. Gardula is also an active forechecker who plays a physical game, consistently applying pressure in retrieval opportunities. A high IQ player, NHL scouts are bound to hesitate regarding Gardula because the physical tools are currently lacking. There’s a need to improve his explosiveness and quickness, and with average size and skill, questions regarding his projection are realistic. A UConn commit, NHL teams may take a wait and see approach. (Brock Otten)

Erik Pahlsson - Center - Dubuque Fighting Saints

Pahlsson was ranked last year by us as a re-entry after a terrific season in the Swedish J20 league, but he ultimately went unselected. NHL scouts would be silly to make that mistake again after Pahlsson has been one of the best players in the USHL this year with Dubuque. The University of Minnesota commit’s pace of play may concern NHL scouts; he prefers to slow the game down and is at his best working East/West, versus North/South, however his vision, skill, and offensive zone anticipation are all impressive. He shows good speed in bursts and will use this to escape pressure initially, but his top speed would be classified as only average. Even though he’s an older draft prospect, he’s likely a longer term project still because there’s a need to add strength and improve his physical play in order to succeed at the higher levels with the way he likes to play. However, after three or four years at Minnesota, Pahlsson could be an excellent complementary offensive piece. (Brock Otten)

Jake Sondreal - Center/Wing - Dubuque Fighting Saints

One of the leading scorers in the USHL this year, Sondreal is a Boston College commit. He’s transformed himself from being a high energy, two-way support player to a go-to offensive player for Dubuque. His game is still fueled by his tenacious approach and speed, but he’s found a niche as a terrific offensive support player who gets himself in good scoring position and who shows good vision with the puck in transition and coming off the cycle. He’s not an overtly creative player with the puck and he’s probably best suited for the wing at the next level, but his game is tailored nicely to a middle six role at the pro level if he continues to develop. (Brock Otten)

Gavyn Thoreson - Wing - Waterloo Blackhawks

We ranked Thoreson 209th last year after a strong season split between the USHL and Minnesota High School hockey with Andover High. We liked his combination of competitiveness and skill, but worried about his lack of dynamic stride given his lack of size. Playing a full year in the USHL, it’s obvious that Thoreson has put in the work to improve his athleticism. He’s still not the most dynamic skater, but he’s more confident on his edges and has gained a step to make him more consistently dangerous on the counter attack. He’s still an impressive playmaker who can thread the needle, which in combination with his great work ethic and puck protection skills, make him one of the USHL’s premier set-up men. However, I’d put him as a draft long shot still, because of the same projection concerns teams would have likely had last year. (Brock Otten)

Noah Powell - Wing - Dubuque Fighting Saints

One of the most improved players in the USHL this year, Powell has been one of the USHL’s leading scorers in the second half of the season, emerging as an offensive juggernaut. The 6’0, 200lb power forward and Ohio State commit has learned how to leverage his size and skill advantage to become a dominant force at the junior level. He’s not the prettiest skater, but he builds up sufficient speed to play his North/South game. He’s extremely active in puck pursuit and he has great off puck instincts to help force turnovers, both with his stick and his body through heavy hits. Perhaps what has impressed me most this year is how strong his playmaking ability coming off the wall has been. He wins those battles, forces those turnovers, but is then able to quickly assess the ice in front of him to set up scoring chances. When he’s not looking to set up plays from behind the net or the half wall, he’s getting to the net front and has a clear understanding of how to be an effective power player. At this point, given his rapid progression, NHL teams would be silly to pass on him at this year’s NHL draft. (Brock Otten)

Brian Nicholas - Center - Sioux City Musketeers

A former highly touted player coming out of the New York area (and prep school scene), Nicholas’ first USHL season and initial NHL draft year did not go according to plan last year. He struggled with the adjustment and found himself buried in the Sioux City lineup. This year has been a different story. He finds himself just outside the top ten of assists in the entire USHL and Nicholas has been an offensive catalyst for Sioux City. The former Michigan, now Brown commit (he flipped his commitment early in the calendar year) has worked hard to improve his skating and that added extra speed has made him a more difficult cover in transition, especially when you factor in his strong puck protection skill. Nicholas is excellent in close quarters and does his best work in high traffic areas, utilizing his quick hands and strength on the puck to extend plays. If he could just find another level physically to improve his two-way outlook, many of his tendencies and skills could make him a solid pro. NHL scouts are sure to be familiar with Nicholas previously and it’s likely more than a few have been impressed by his improvement this season. (Brock Otten)

Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev - Goaltender - Muskegon Lumberjacks

Even if he has struggled a bit lately, Gadzhiev has done enough in a limited sample size this season to impress scouts. He came to Muskegon from the Slovak second league at the start of the calendar year and has emerged as the team’s starting netminder. He only has average size, but he’s clearly a strong athlete with the ability to cover post to post quickly and get in and out of the butterfly efficiently. He challenges shooters well and has a lot of potential technically because of his athleticism. He’s struggled a bit with his rebound control and positioning in the last little bit and teams have made adjustments on him, but his overall body of work has been solid enough. Where he goes from here remains to be seen (especially as a 2004 born). He could play in the USHL as an OA next year and try to search for an NCAA scholarship (if he’s deemed eligible despite playing in the Slovak second league). Depending on NHL interest, the avenues for his development are pretty vast. (Brock Otten)

NCAA

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 12: Northeastern defenseman Vinny Borgesi (22) turns up ice during the Beanpot Championship game between Boston University and Northeastern on February 12, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Vinny Borgesi - Defense - Northeastern

As a five-foot-eight blueliner, Vinny Borgesi was always going to face an uphill battle in terms of getting drafted by an NHL club. While his work in the USHL was solid (38pts in 57 GP with Tri-City in his draft campaign) he didn’t put forth an overwhelming, undeniably impressive statistical case to be drafted. He ultimately didn’t hear his name called at the 2022 draft in Montreal, nor was he selected in Nashville for the 2023 draft after his freshman season at Northeastern. Now, in the midst of a significantly improved year two with the Huskies, Borgesi has his last and best chance of being selected in an NHL draft. In some ways, Borgesi is the same defenseman he was in the USHL. He remains a confident, aggressive blueliner who always seeks to activate and involve himself in the play. He’s still a strong skater (both in terms of stop-start ability/work on his edges and straight-line speed) with quality puck skills and strong vision. But now that he has significant college experience under his belt, he’s become a far more well-rounded player and a stronger pro prospect. He’s added more deception to his game, and he’s more efficient in his approach to creating offense from the blueline. One of his favorite things to do is utilize his skating to dart into open space in the offensive zone, drawing the attention of opponents and thereby creating space/separation for teammates. That’s led to quite a few assists this season. Borgesi is now the Huskies’ most relied-upon defenseman and is driving far better results than he did a year ago when he sometimes looked overwhelmed as a freshman. Borgesi averages more minutes per game than any other Huskies player, and with the box score numbers to back up his very real on-ice improvements, the smooth-skating undersized blueliner could be an intriguing late-round option for an NHL team looking for a player a bit closer to being pro-ready. (Ethan Hetu)

Tanner Adams - Center/Wing - Providence

As one of the younger players who were eligible to be drafted for the first time in 2023, it shouldn’t come as a massive surprise that Adams went undrafted last season but now looks to be a near-lock to become a 2024 selection. He was solid across two seasons in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm, if not at all spectacular. But it’s his early performances as a first-year player for the Friars that have really caught scouts’ attention. Adams won’t turn 19 until early September and has been one of the more effective forwards at Providence this season despite his relative inexperience. A well-rounded, detailed player, Adams has a commitment to bringing value on both ends of the ice. On defense, he’s a hard-working player who leverages a strong motor and quality defensive instincts to help kill chances and transition the puck to the neutral and offensive zones. On offense, Adams has decent puck skills and a functional shot, though he doesn’t have separating talent in any one offensive area. He’s a smart player who knows how to make an impact on the game, and he’s far from a perimeter player. But his offensive game can lack deception at times, and there are moments where one would like to see his understanding of timing and spacing relative to his teammates in the offensive zone improve. There’s a lot to work with here given Adams is such a versatile, hard-working player. But there may not be the kind of tools to write home about that would warrant spending a draft pick on Adams earlier than the middle rounds. (Ethan Hetu)

Dylan Hryckowian - Wing - Northeastern

The second Hryckowian brother to play at Northeastern University, Dylan Hryckowian is in the midst of an impressive freshman campaign. Despite scoring at a solid clip for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL last year, Hryckowian did not hear his name called at the 2023 draft. Now it’s his work as a freshman with the Huskies that gives him a solid chance to be selected at the 2024 process. The name of the game for Hryckowian is speed and work rate. He’s a lot to handle as the F1 on the forecheck, and he can be highly disruptive. That carries over to his work in his own zone, where he’s a plus contributor defensively and an asset in helping transition pucks up the ice. Offensively, Hryckowian is more of a mixed bag. He’s an intelligent player, and one can certainly appreciate the details of his game. He has a solid understanding of how offense is created, and his work off the puck is very polished. But in terms of his actual skill level when the puck is on his stick, he’s missing the kind of separating skill that most scorers at the pro level have. He has a decent shot and his puck skills are far from a liability at the NCAA level, but when he transitions to the pro game he could very well have trouble creating time and space with the puck on his stick unless he relies on his skating exclusively. Given those questions as to how his offense might transition to the pro game, Hryckowian isn’t likely to be selected as high as his strong college production (23 points in 29 games at the time of writing) might suggest. But his high-end skating, high-energy style, and refined understanding of how to contribute offensively away from the puck make him a solid candidate to be a late-round draft selection. (Ethan Hetu)

Patrick Geary - Defense - Michigan State

Although Patrick Geary does not have the sort of statistical profile that merits an NHL draft selection, looking at just his box score numbers either from this season at Michigan State (28 GP 11pts) or last year with USHL Waterloo (60 GP 13pts) would not do justice to how effective a player Geary is. He’s a throwback stay-at-home defenseman, a steady, reliable blueliner who can limit the likelihood of his team surrendering a goal whenever he hops over the boards while also bringing an imposing physical element. Geary was a fast-rising player at Waterloo, and although his offensive numbers actually declined year-over-year in the USHL, it’s hard to argue he wasn’t a significantly improved player in his sophomore campaign there. Now as a first-year player on a top NCAA program, Geary has not played as big of a role but has been similarly effective as a defense-first defenseman who plays with an edge. In his final year of draft eligibility, Geary has shown he can excel defensively against stiff NCAA competition. He’s certainly made strides in other aspects of his game, though those areas are still a work in progress. It’s possible an NHL team decides to invest a draft pick in Geary this summer in order to be in a position to reap the benefits of Geary’s continued development as an all-around player, hoping that at the very least he offers the basic upside of a strong defensive defenseman. (Ethan Hetu)

Isaac Gordon - Wing - Michigan Tech

One of the top scoring freshmen in college hockey this year, Gordon is operating near the point per game mark for the Huskies. He has a lot going for him as a complementary winger. His release is terrific, and he has shown an ability to score in a variety of different ways this season. He’s one of those players who hunts open ice well and always is in a strong shooting position with his stick on the ice, ready for the one timer; he doesn’t need much room to operate. He also operates well as an F1 and invites and initiates contact to make a play, making him an excellent boards player. He’s intelligent, energetic, and he has enough offensive talent to be a goal scorer at the next level. Really the only thing missing from his game is high end skating ability, which is obviously cause for concern. However, you simply can’t argue with the success he’s had this year as Michigan Tech’s leading scorer. (Brock Otten)

Gavin O’Connell - Wing - Michigan State

On a team with several NHL draft picks (and a few future ones), O’Connell has fit right in as a freshman, sitting tied for second on the team in goals (as of writing this). He’s not driving the bus, but he’s certainly helping to navigate it. He plays a really honest North/South game and has worked hard to improve his skating from last year, which has made him a more effective player on and off the puck. Equal parts playmaker and goal scorer, O’Connell is a chameleon who does what is needed depending on what the situation calls for. He shows well as a goal scorer in tight with soft hands, but he’s probably at his best putting defenders on his back driving wide or working the wall. It’s cliche, but O’Connell plays a very pro style game, built around attacking traffic, protecting the puck, and making quick decisions. Based on his development and play this year, he should very much be on the draft radar of many teams. (Brock Otten)

Ben Robertson - Defense - Cornell

Part of a very strong freshmen class for the Big Red, Robertson has had an immediate impact, playing well over 20 minutes per night on a lot of occasions. On a blueline with three NHL drafted players, Robertson has been the most effective of that group and it should bode well for his chances of being selected this year in his final year of eligibility. He doesn’t have the most efficient linear stride, but he’s quite mobile and confident on his edges, part of what makes him such a competent powerplay quarterback. He’s playing with a ton of confidence offensively despite being a freshman and is constantly looking to attack by carrying up ice into the offensive zone. Defensively, he’s been better than expected and has fit into Cornell’s system really well. Being only 5’11, there will be question marks regarding his ability to defend at the pro level. There will also be question marks surrounding whether he’s creative or innately skilled enough to be a powerplay quarterback at the pro level. However, as a heads up puck mover who gets pucks through and who can use his mobility to his advantage in all three ones, Robertson has value. (Brock Otten)

Albin Boija - Goaltender - Maine

Got confirmation that standout freshman netminder for Maine, Albin Boija, is indeed eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, despite turning 21 this year while playing in NA. Same reasoning Lucas Edmonds and Andrei Buyalsky were eligible previously. Boija has come in and stolen the starter’s job away from senior and fellow Swede Victor Ostman, posting some of the most impressive numbers in the NCAA. Boija is only average sized at 6’1, but he’s very technically sound. He is ultra-aggressive in counting down angles and lives at the edge of the blue paint. His movements are calculated to ensure that he’s covering his angles, and his rebound control is quite refined. While his pads are quick and he competes hard to make second chance saves, there’s going to be a need for him to improve his lower body strength to get quicker post to post. At times he has to take a secondary push to go post to post and might not be as quick as NHL scouts might like given his average size. However, you can’t argue with his success this year and the upside he might possess. (Brock Otten)

NAHL

Stephen Peck - Goaltender - Bismarck Bobcats

We ranked Peck pretty aggressively last year (106th) after a terrific season with Avon Old Farms in the prep circuit, but he ended up going unselected. This year, Peck has taken his talents to the NAHL with Bismarck and his strong season has put himself back on the scouting map as a re-entry. What’s most impressive about Peck’s year is that he’s improved considerably since the start of the season. Things didn’t start great for him, but he’s been nearly unbeatable the last few months. The University of Michigan commit even got a cup of coffee in the USHL with Muskegon, winning his only appearance. Peck remains a calming presence in the crease because of his play tracking ability, strong positioning, and excellent rebound control. He limits second chance opportunities and always seems to be in great position to make the initial save when play moves North/South. However, it doesn’t appear that his quickness/agility has improved from last year and until that happens, his upside as a pro will be limited. He’s still susceptible to being caught out of position when the play moves quickly East/West and he struggles to get in and out of the butterfly to make second chance saves when needed, or when he has to react to a redirect or blocked shot. IMO, athleticism can be improved. And this is why I’d still advocate for Peck to be selected this year. He has a chance to be a long-term starter as part of a great program in Michigan (with Barczewski graduating and Peck/Korpi coming in) and he’s going to get the off ice development needed to improve the weaker points of his game. (Brock Otten)

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions

McKeen's Scouting Team - Director of Scouting, Brock Otten — Sun, 28 May 2023 16:20:45 +0000

It’s that time! The McKeen’s scouting staff has finalized our final rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft ahead of the release of our draft guide in a few weeks. As per usual, our list runs 224 players deep to match the number of selections in the draft, but we have included over 300 players when you include our Honorable Mentions.

Much to the surprise of no one, Connor Bedard remains our top ranked player, as he has been all season long. In fact, our top three remains unchanged from our midseason rankings with Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson holding down the second and third spots, respectively. There has been one change in our top five with Will Smith leapfrogging Matvei Michkov into the fourth position following his dominant second half and U18’s.

Russian defender Dmitry Simashev remains our top ranked blueliner but has now moved into the top ten. His combination of size, mobility, physicality, and improving offensive skill set is going to be alluring to NHL teams and we feel that his upside is the highest in a weaker crop for defenders.

A trio of Swedish players are among our biggest risers from our midseason list, with Tom Willander, Anton Wahlberg, and David Edstrom all jumping up into the first round. All three were excellent in the second half of the season, which culminated with strong performances at the U18’s. Willander, in particular, has a huge fan in our Director of Scouting, Brock Otten. “If you were to ask me who my favourite defender in the draft class is, I’d probably say Willander. He rarely makes a poor play and I believe that we are underappreciating his potential as an NHL defender because of how efficient and safe his game can be. I would be shocked if he does not become a quality second pairing guy at the NHL level and I don’t think the other defenders ranked in the first have that same assurance,” said Otten.

Another massive jumper in our list is Hamilton Bulldogs winger Nick Lardis. 98th on our midseason list, Lardis now finds himself ranked just inside of our first round. His play with Hamilton, following a trade from Peterborough has vaulted him up draft boards, including ours. His combination of quickness and scoring ability gives him a solid projection at the NHL level.

Despite having two goaltenders inside of our first round at midseason (Carson Bjarnason and Michael Hrabal), we ended the year with none. Trey Augustine is now our top ranked netminder, ranked in the mid second round. However, Augustine, Bjarnason, Hrabal, and USHL Clark Cup MVP Jacob Fowler are all closely ranked in that range.

Look for the release of our 2023 Draft Guide in the next couple weeks. It will include all of our rankings and reports, a mock draft, a preview of the 2024 NHL Draft, and much more.

As a subscriber, link to our full ranking with links to the player pages here - McKeen's Draft Rankings - You can download the ranking as an excel file as well.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	HT/WT	DOB	NATION	TEAM	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Connor Bedard	C	5-10/185	17-Jul-05	Canada	Regina (WHL)	57-71-72-143
2	Adam Fantilli	C	6-2/195	12-Oct-04	Canada	Michigan (B1G)	36-30-35-65
3	Leo Carlsson	C	6-3/200	26-Dec-04	Sweden	Orebro (SHL)	44-10-15-25
4	Will Smith	C	6-0/175	17-Mar-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	59-51-75-126
5	Matvei Michkov	RW	5-10/170	9-Dec-04	Russia	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	30-9-11-20
6	Zach Benson	LW	5-9/160	12-May-05	Canada	Winnipeg (WHL)	60-36-62-98
7	Dalibor Dvorsky	C	6-1/200	15-Jun-05	Slovakia	AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)	38-6-8-14
8	Ryan Leonard	RW	5-11/190	21-Jan-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	56-50-43-93
9	Dmitri Simashev	D	6-4/200	4-Feb-05	Russia	Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)	33-1-11-12
10	Matthew Wood	RW	6-3/195	6-Feb-05	Canada	Connecticut (HE)	35-11-23-34
11	Oliver Moore	C	5-11/185	22-Jan-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	60-31-43-74
12	Colby Barlow	LW	6-0/195	14-Feb-05	Canada	Owen Sound (OHL)	59-46-33-79
13	Nate Danielson	C	6-1/185	27-Sep-04	Canada	Brandon (WHL)	68-33-45-78
14	Axel Sandin Pellikka	D	5-11/180	11-Mar-05	Sweden	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	31-16-20-36
15	Daniil But	LW	6-5/200	15-Feb-05	Russia	Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)	32-18-14-32
16	David Reinbacher	D	6-2/185	25-Oct-04	Austria	Kloten (Sui-NL)	46-3-19-22
17	Eduard Sale	LW	6-1/170	10-Mar-05	Czech	HC Kometa Brno (Czechia)	43-7-7-14
18	Samuel Honzek	LW	6-3/185	12-Nov-04	Slovakia	Vancouver (WHL)	43-23-33-56
19	Mikhail Gulyayev	D	5-11/170	26-Apr-05	Russia	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	22-2-23-25
20	Lukas Dragicevic	D	6-1/190	25-Apr-05	Canada	Tri-City (WHL)	68-15-60-75
21	Gabe Perreault	RW	5-11/165	7-May-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	62-53-79-132
22	Otto Stenberg	C	5-11/180	29-May-05	Sweden	Frolunda (Swe J20)	29-11-15-26
23	Tom Willander	D	6-1/180	9-Feb-05	Sweden	Rogle (Swe J20)	39-4-21-25
24	Calum Ritchie	C	6-2/185	21-Jan-05	Canada	Oshawa (OHL)	59-24-35-59
25	Andrew Cristall	LW	5-9/165	4-Feb-05	Canada	Kelowna (WHL)	54-39-56-95
26	Gavin Brindley	C	5-8/165	5-Oct-04	USA	Michigan (B1G)	41-12-26-38
27	Bradly Nadeau	LW	5-10/165	5-May-05	Canada	Penticton (BCHL)	54-45-68-113
28	Anton Wahlberg	C	6-3/195	4-Jul-05	Sweden	Malmo (Swe J20)	32-14-13-27
29	Riley Heidt	C	5-10/180	25-Mar-05	Canada	Prince George (WHL)	68-25-72-97
30	Brayden Yager	C	5-11/165	3-Jan-05	Canada	Moose Jaw (WHL)	67-28-50-78
31	David Edstrom	C	6-3/185	18-Feb-05	Sweden	Frolunda (Swe J20)	28-15-13-28
32	Nick Lardis	LW	5-10/165	8-Jul-05	Canada	Pbo-Ham (OHL)	69-37-28-65
33	Kasper Halttunen	RW	6-3/205	7-Jun-05	Finland	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	27-0-1-1
34	Jayden Perron	RW	5-9/165	11-Jan-05	Canada	Chicago (USHL)	61-24-48-72
35	Oliver Bonk	D	6-2/175	9-Jan-05	Canada	London (OHL)	67-10-30-40
36	Quentin Musty	LW	6-2/200	6-Jul-05	USA	Sudbury (OHL)	53-26-52-78
37	Trey Augustine	G	6-1/185	23-Feb-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	28-1, 2.14, 0.925
38	Tanner Molendyk	D	5-11/185	3-Feb-05	Canada	Saskatoon (WHL)	67-9-28-37
39	William Whitelaw	RW	5-9/170	5-Feb-05	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	62-36-25-61
40	Ethan Gauthier	RW	5-11/175	26-Jan-05	Canada	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	66-30-39-69
41	Gracyn Sawchyn	C	5-11/160	19-Jan-05	USA	Seattle (WHL)	58-18-40-58
42	Carson Bjarnason	G	6-3/185	30-Jun-05	Canada	Brandon (WHL)	21-19, 3.08, 0.900
43	Aram Minnetian	D	5-11/190	19-Mar-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	61-7-24-31
44	Michael Hrabal	G	6-6/210	20-Jan-05	Czech	Omaha (USHL)	9-13, 2.86, 0.908
45	Jacob Fowler	G	6-1/215	24-Nov-04	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	27-9, 2.28, 0.921
46	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	C	6-0/165	18-Feb-05	Denmark	HV 71 (SHL)	41-4-3-7
47	Carson Rehkopf	LW	6-1/195	7-Jan-05	Canada	Kitchener (OHL)	68-30-29-59
48	Beau Akey	D	5-11/170	11-Feb-05	Canada	Barrie (OHL)	66-11-36-47
49	Danny Nelson	C	6-3/200	3-Aug-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	61-20-26-46
50	Etienne Morin	D	6-0/180	9-Mar-05	Canada	Moncton (QMJHL)	67-21-51-72
51	Felix Nilsson	C	6-0/175	22-Jun-05	Sweden	Rogle (Swe J20)	36-19-22-41
52	Maxim Strbak	D	6-1/205	13-Apr-05	Slovakia	Sioux Falls (USHL)	46-5-13-18
53	Jakub Dvorak	D	6-5/205	25-May-05	Czech	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	24-0-2-2
54	Carey Terrance	C	6-0/175	10-May-05	USA	Erie (OHL)	67-30-17-47
55	Jesse Kiiskinen	RW	5-11/180	23-Aug-05	Finland	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	31-20-23-43
56	Mathieu Cataford	C	5-11/185	1-Mar-05	Canada	Halifax (QMJHL)	68-31-44-75
57	Roman Kantserov	RW	5-9/175	20-Sep-04	Russia	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)	45-27-27-54
58	Tristan Bertucci	D	6-1/170	12-Jul-05	Canada	Flint (OHL)	63-11-39-50
59	Andrew Gibson	D	6-3/195	13-Feb-05	Canada	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	45-7-14-21
60	Caden Price	D	6-0/185	24-Aug-05	Canada	Kelowna (WHL)	65-5-35-40
61	Charlie Stramel	C	6-3/215	15-Oct-04	USA	Wisconsin (B1G)	33-5-7-12
62	Coulson Pitre	RW	6-0/170	13-Dec-04	Canada	Flint (OHL)	59-25-35-60
63	Adam Gajan	G	6-2/165	6-May-04	Slovakia	Chippewa Steel (NAHL)	19-12, 2.57, 0.917
64	Hoyt Stanley	D	6-2/185	4-Feb-05	Canada	Victoria (BCHL)	53-4-34-38
65	Andrew Strathmann	D	5-10/190	27-Feb-05	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	56-3-35-38
66	Hunter Brzustewicz	D	5-11/185	29-Nov-04	USA	Kitchener (OHL)	68-6-51-57
67	Luca Pinelli	C	5-8/165	5-Apr-05	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	67-29-34-63
68	Cam Allen	D	6-0/195	7-Jan-05	Canada	Guelph (OHL)	62-5-20-25
69	Tanner Ludtke	C	6-0/185	27-Nov-04	USA	Lincoln (USHL)	57-32-34-66
70	Theo Lindstein	D	6-0/180	5-Jan-05	Sweden	Brynas (SHL)	32-1-1-2
71	Koehn Ziemmer	RW	6-0/205	8-Dec-04	Canada	Prince George (WHL)	68-41-48-89
72	Carter Sotheran	D	6-3/195	26-Jun-05	Canada	Portland (WHL)	68-4-19-23
73	Arttu Karki	D	6-1/175	8-Dec-04	Finland	Tappara (Fin-U20)	36-13-26-39
74	Albert Wikman	D	6-0/190	10-Mar-05	Sweden	Farjestads (Swe J20)	43-2-10-12
75	Quinton Burns	D	6-1/180	14-Apr-05	Canada	Kingston (OHL)	54-2-27-29
76	Nico Myatovic	LW	6-2/180	1-Dec-04	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	68-30-30-60
77	Jeremy Hanzel	D	6-0/190	27-Feb-03	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	66-13-35-48
78	Easton Cowan	RW	5-10/170	20-May-05	Canada	London (OHL)	68-20-33-53
79	Juraj Pekarcik	LW	6-2/185	12-Sep-05	Slovakia	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	30-0-3-3
80	Denver Barkey	C	5-8/160	27-Apr-05	Canada	London (OHL)	61-22-37-59
81	Martin Misiak	RW	6-2/195	30-Sep-04	Slovakia	HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia)	29-1-9-10
82	Drew Fortescue	D	6-1/175	28-Apr-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	61-1-25-26
83	Felix Unger Sorum	RW	5-11/170	14-Sep-05	Sweden	Leksands (Swe J20)	42-10-36-46
84	Lenni Hameenaho	RW	6-0/175	7-Nov-04	Finland	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	51-9-12-21
85	Kalan Lind	LW	6-0/160	25-Jan-05	Canada	Red Deer (WHL)	43-16-28-44
86	Rasmus Kumpulainen	C	6-2/190	8-Aug-05	Finland	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	41-11-23-34
87	Alex Ciernik	LW	5-11/175	8-Oct-04	Slovakia	Sodertalje-Vasterviks (HockeyAllsvenskan)	25-3-9-12
88	Alexander Rykov	RW	6-0/175	14-Jul-05	Russia	Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL)	20-4-7-11
89	Scott Ratzlaff	G	6-0/175	9-Mar-05	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	25-8, 2.15, 0.918
90	Yegor Rimashevsky	RW	6-3/200	1-Feb-05	Belarus	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	29-13-13-26
91	Jesse Nurmi	LW	5-10/165	7-Mar-05	Finland	KooKoo (Fin-U20)	41-21-29-50
92	Kaden Hammell	D	6-1/175	12-Mar-05	Canada	Kam-Evt (WHL)	67-8-18-26
93	Jayson Shaugabay	RW	5-9/155	4-May-05	USA	Warroad (USHS-MN)	31-33-63-96
94	Noel Nordh	RW	6-2/195	25-Jan-05	Sweden	Brynas (Swe J20)	38-13-14-27
95	Gavin McCarthy	D	6-1/180	2-Jun-05	USA	Muskegon (USHL)	42-8-19-27
96	Tyler Peddle	LW	6-0/195	28-Jan-05	Canada	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64-24-17-41
97	Francesco Dell'Elce	D	6-0/165	23-Jun-05	Canada	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	51-20-42-62
98	Timur Mukhanov	LW	5-8/170	17-Jun-05	Russia	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	31-4-4-8
99	Larry Keenan	D	6-3/185	15-Mar-05	Russia	Culver Academy (USHS-IN)	49-11-26-37
100	Emil Jarventie	LW	5-9/165	4-Apr-05	Finland	Ilves (Fin-U20)	21-8-11-19
101	Matthew Mania	D	6-1/180	11-Jan-05	USA	Sudbury (OHL)	67-10-28-38
102	Juha Jatkola	G	6-1/175	12-Sep-02	Finland	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	20-11, 2.16, 0.903
103	Zach Nehring	RW	6-3/180	7-Mar-05	USA	Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN)	48-34-40-74
104	Austin Roest	C	5-9/175	22-Jan-04	Canada	Everett (WHL)	60-32-46-78
105	Hedqvist, Isac	C	5-10/165	22-Mar-05	Sweden	Lulea (Swe J20)	41-14-20-34
106	Stephen Peck	G	6-2/170	18-Jan-05	USA	Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT)	28GP, 1.26, 0.948
107	Yegor Klimovich	RW	5-9/160	14-May-05	Russia	Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL)	36-19-30-49
108	Nikita Susuyev	RW	6-0/170	6-Feb-05	Russia	MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL)	38-11-17-28
109	Ethan Miedema	LW	6-4/205	22-Mar-05	Canada	Wsr-Kgn (OHL)	68-20-32-52
110	Luca Cagnoni	D	5-9/180	21-Dec-04	Canada	Portland (WHL)	67-17-47-64
111	Jakub Stancl	LW	6-3/200	10-Apr-05	Czech	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	35-11-6-17
112	Aydar Suniev	LW	6-1/200	16-Nov-04	Russia	Penticton (BCHL)	50-45-45-90
113	Ty Henricks	LW	6-4/205	28-Jun-05	USA	Fgo-Mus (USHL)	47-9-10-19
114	Yegor Vinogradov	C	6-2/180	17-Apr-03	Russia	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	53-7-10-17
115	Yegor Sidorov	RW	5-11/180	18-Jun-04	Belarus	Saskatoon (WHL)	53-40-36-76
116	Will Vote	RW	5-8/155	22-Feb-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	60-16-29-45
117	Brandon Svoboda	C	6-3/210	4-Feb-05	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	59-16-10-26
118	Axel Landen	D	6-1/185	29-Mar-05	Sweden	HV 71 (Swe J20)	44-10-6-16
119	Alexander Hellnemo	G	6-2/180	5-Jan-04	Sweden	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	15-8, 2.32, 0.916
120	Nikita Nedopyokin	C	5-10/185	22-Mar-05	Russia	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	37-14-18-32
121	Brady Cleveland	D	6-5/210	1-Apr-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	54-0-6-6
122	Ondrej Molnar	LW	5-10/170	8-Feb-05	Slovakia	Erie (OHL)	34-4-15-19
123	Noah Dower Nilsson	LW	6-0/175	25-Apr-05	Sweden	Frolunda (Swe J20)	37-26-28-54
124	Jordan Tourigny	D	5-10/165	28-Feb-05	Canada	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	67-6-35-41
125	Cole Knuble	C	5-11/175	1-Jul-04	USA	Fargo (USHL)	57-30-36-66
126	Erik Pahlsson	C	6-0/170	9-Apr-04	Sweden	HV 71 (Swe J20)	46-26-37-63
127	Eric Pohlkamp	D	5-10/200	23-Mar-04	USA	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	59-16-35-51
128	Dylan MacKinnon	D	6-1/185	12-Jan-05	Canada	Halifax (QMJHL)	61-6-17-23
129	German Tochilkin	LW	6-2/180	24-Sep-03	Russia	Kunlun Red Star (KHL)	21-4-2-6
130	Jake Fisher	C	6-1/180	27-Mar-05	USA	Cretin-Durham Hall (USHS-MN)	29-34-29-63
131	Damian Clara	G	6-6/215	13-Jan-05	Italy	Farjestads (Swe J20)	17-17, 2.79, 0.903
132	Aiden Fink	RW	5-9/155	24-Nov-04	Canada	Brooks (AJHL)	54-41-56-97
133	Bogdan Konyushkov	D	5-11/175	20-Dec-02	Russia	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	64-2-23-25
134	Yegor Zavragin	G	6-2/185	23-Aug-05	Russia	Mamonty Yugry (MHL)	11-6, 2.49, 0.920
135	Ty Halaburda	C	5-11/175	22-Apr-05	Canada	Vancouver (WHL)	66-21-16-37
136	Cole Burbidge	LW	6-1/160	26-Aug-05	Canada	Saint John (QMJHL)	68-19-31-50
137	Daniil Karpovich	D	6-3/210	6-Dec-04	Belarus	Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)	47-10-25-35
138	Andrei Loshko	C	6-1/175	7-Oct-04	Belarus	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	67-22-48-70
139	Beckett Hendrickson	C	6-1/175	24-Jun-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	51-13-21-34
140	Alex Pharand	C	6-3/205	1-May-05	Canada	Sudbury (OHL)	67-18-21-39
141	Zeb Forsfjall	C	5-9/170	16-Jan-05	Sweden	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	34-8-14-22
142	Joe Connor	C	5-9/170	31-Mar-05	USA	Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT)	28-21-23-44
143	Samuel Urban	G	6-1/195	1-May-05	Slovakia	Team Slovakia U18 (Svk2)	1-13, 4.51, 0.897
144	Mazden Leslie	D	6-0/195	15-Apr-05	Canada	Vancouver (WHL)	66-12-38-50
145	Maxim Fedotov	D	5-10/170	22-Jan-02	Russia	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	64-9-17-26
146	Joey Willis	C	5-10/170	14-Mar-05	USA	Saginaw (OHL)	68-15-29-44
147	Artyom Kashtanov	C	6-6/190	9-Dec-04	Russia	Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)	43-15-25-40
148	Angus MacDonell	C	5-9/180	11-May-05	Canada	Sar-Mis (OHL)	64-29-12-41
149	Konstantin Volochko	D	6-0/170	19-Jun-05	Belarus	Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL)	46-8-12-20
150	Hannes Hellberg	LW	6-0/175	19-Jun-05	Sweden	Leksands (Swe J20)	42-34-23-57
151	Carsen Musser	G	6-4/215	19-May-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	14-6, 3.07, 0.890
152	Yaroslav Tsulygin	D	6-0/160	19-May-05	Russia	Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)	44-0-2-2
153	Thomas Milic	G	6-0/180	14-Apr-03	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	27-3, 2.08, 0.928
154	Arno Tiefensee	G	6-4/190	1-May-02	Germany	Adler Mannheim (DEL)	13-10, 2.43, 0.910
155	Quinn Mantei	D	5-11/180	23-Apr-05	Canada	Brandon (WHL)	67-2-23-25
156	Matthew Soto	RW	5-10/180	31-Aug-05	Canada	Kingston (OHL)	54-15-27-42
157	Matt Copponi	C	5-10/165	3-Jun-03	USA	Merrimack (HE)	37-14-15-29
158	Vojtech Port	D	6-2/170	3-Aug-05	Czech	RD-Edm (WHL)	48-4-13-17
159	Michael DeAngelo	LW	5-11/180	19-Nov-04	USA	Green Bay (USHL)	52-11-24-35
160	Matteo Mann	D	6-5/225	31-Dec-04	Canada	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	45-0-5-5
161	Paul Fischer	D	6-1/190	30-Jan-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	55-4-17-21
162	Hudson Malinoski	C	6-0/175	19-May-04	Canada	Brooks (AJHL)	44-16-53-69
163	Brad Gardiner	C	6-0/180	6-Mar-05	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	68-19-20-39
164	Zaccharya Wisdom	RW	6-0/175	29-Apr-04	Canada	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	59-28-20-48
165	Jonathan Castagna	C	6-1/185	20-Apr-05	Canada	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	50-29-43-72
166	Tanner Adams	RW	5-11/185	2-Sep-05	USA	Tri-City (USHL)	49-12-21-33
167	Grayden Siepmann	D	5-10/185	26-May-04	Canada	Calgary (WHL)	61-9-34-43
168	Axel Hurtig	D	6-3/200	10-Jun-05	Sweden	Rogle (Swe J20)	34-2-6-8
169	Ian Scherzer	C	6-0/180	3-Jul-05	Austria	Rogle (Swe J20)	30-3-4-7
170	Ryan Conmy	RW	5-9/190	23-Oct-04	USA	Sioux City (USHL)	60-33-29-62
171	Ethan Hay	C	6-1/190	15-Jan-05	Canada	Flint (OHL)	64-17-11-28
172	Rodwin Dionicio	D	6-2/205	30-Mar-04	Switzerland	Nia-Wsr (OHL)	50-15-35-50
173	Josh Van Mulligen	D	6-2/180	26-Jul-05	Canada	Medicine Hat (WHL)	68-1-8-9
174	Nikita Ishimnikov	D	6-3/195	21-Apr-05	Russia	Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)	41-11-7-18
175	Justin Kipkie	D	6-4/190	28-Jul-05	Canada	Victoria (WHL)	67-8-25-33
176	Sawyer Mynio	D	6-1/175	30-Apr-05	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	68-5-26-31
177	Brady Stonehouse	RW	5-9/180	6-Aug-04	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	68-37-20-57
178	Hunter Anderson	LW	5-9/175	28-Apr-05	USA	Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN)	48-52-47-99
179	Spencer Sova	D	6-0/185	10-Jan-04	Canada	Erie (OHL)	68-16-23-39
180	Oliver Tulk	C	5-7/170	19-Jan-05	Canada	Calgary (WHL)	68-24-36-60
181	Isac Born	C	5-11/165	7-Jul-04	Sweden	Frolunda (SHL)	36-2-3-5
182	Beau Jelsma	C	5-9/175	28-Apr-04	Canada	Barrie (OHL)	67-31-30-61
183	Carmelo Crandell	RW	5-11/170	2-Mar-05	Canada	Sherwood Park (AJHL)	49-17-37-54
184	Stanislav Yarovoy	LW	6-2/195	26-Aug-03	Russia	Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL)	45-9-7-16
185	Elliot Stahlberg	LW	6-0/185	29-Mar-05	Sweden	Farjestads (Swe J20)	35-9-12-21
186	Ivan Anoshko	C	5-11/170	7-Oct-04	Belarus	Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL)	53-21-32-53
187	Jake Livanavage	D	5-10/175	6-May-04	USA	Chicago (USHL)	48-6-30-36
188	Adrian Carnebo	D	6-2/185	1-May-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	43-7-28-35
189	Jaden Lipinski	C	6-3/205	2-Dec-04	USA	Vancouver (WHL)	66-19-32-51
190	Ian Blomquist	G	6-2/185	29-Mar-03	Sweden	Vasteras (HockeyAllsvenskan)	4-11, 2.97, 0.904
191	Emil Pieniniemi	D	6-2/170	2-Mar-05	Finland	Karpat (Fin-U20)	31-1-12-13
192	Oskar Asplund	D	5-11/175	18-Nov-03	Sweden	Almtuna (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49-6-24-30
193	Daniil Davydov	C	5-11/165	6-Mar-04	Russia	MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)	47-11-35-46
194	Victor Sjoholm	D	5-9/175	8-Jul-03	Sweden	HV 71 (Swe J20)	37-2-8-10
195	Aron Jessli	LW	5-11/185	29-Oct-04	Norway	Pickering (OJHL)	52-25-43-68
196	Adam Dybal	G	6-1/165	2-Sep-05	Czech	Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20)	29-15, 1.85, 0.942
197	Jonathan Fauchon	C	5-10/170	13-Jan-04	Canada	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	53-25-40-65
198	Luke Mittelstadt	D	5-11/175	22-Jan-03	USA	Minnesota (B1G)	38-5-16-21
199	Owen Beckner	C	6-1/175	27-Feb-05	Canada	Salmon Arm (BCHL)	53-17-33-50
200	Ilya Kanarsky	G	6-2/165	6-Dec-04	Russia	AKM-Junior Tula Region (MHL)	4-19, 3.59, 0.919
201	Braeden Bowman	RW	6-1/205	26-Jun-03	Canada	Guelph (OHL)	54-33-39-72
202	Luke Coughlin	D	5-9/170	11-Apr-05	Canada	Rimouski (QMJHL)	37-5-14-19
203	Norwin Panocha	D	6-1/185	24-Feb-05	Germany	Eisbaren Juniors Berlin (DNL U20)	34-6-16-22
204	Cole Brown	LW	6-2/180	27-Apr-05	Canada	Hamilton (OHL)	60-17-25-42
205	Tomas Suchanek	G	6-0/180	30-Apr-03	Czech	Tri-City (WHL)	27-14, 3.05, 0.912
206	Vadim Moroz	RW	6-2/185	20-Nov-03	Belarus	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	39-5-9-14
207	Davis Burnside	RW	5-11/175	22-Sep-03	USA	Ohio State (B1G)	40-14-7-21
208	Maros Jedlicka	C	6-1/185	23-Oct-02	Slovakia	HKM Zvolen (Slovakia)	39-17-18-35
209	Gavyn Thoreson	RW	5-8/180	30-Oct-04	USA	Andover High (USHS-MN)	31-41-56-97
210	Austin Burnevik	RW	6-3/200	3-Jan-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	43-6-13-19
211	Elmeri Laakso	D	6-1/185	19-Jul-04	Finland	SaiPa (Fin-Liiga)	32-4-7-11
212	Frantisek Dej	C	6-4/200	28-Feb-05	Slovakia	HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2)	24-8-13-21
213	Matvei Maximov	C	6-0/175	18-Jan-05	Russia	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	48-18-19-37
214	Connor Levis	RW	6-1/190	5-Oct-04	Canada	Kamloops (WHL)	68-27-40-67
215	Teddy Townsend	C	5-10/160	2-Sep-05	USA	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	27-14-25-39
216	Petter Vesterheim	C	5-11/165	30-Sep-04	Norway	Mora (Swe J20)	41-12-27-39
217	Justin Gill	C	6-1/190	27-Jan-03	Canada	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	68-44-49-93
218	Alex Weiermair	C	6-0/190	10-May-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	55-11-15-26
219	Jan Sprynar	RW	6-1/175	26-Feb-05	Czech	Rimouski (QMJHL)	60-23-17-40
220	Ty Higgins	D	6-0/185	26-Sep-04	Canada	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	68-13-28-41
221	Tom Leppa	C	6-0/175	31-Jul-05	Finland	Jokerit (Fin-U20)	45-19-12-31
222	Aaron Pionk	D	6-1/175	16-Jan-03	USA	Waterloo (USHL)	60-12-24-36
223	Hampton Slukynsky	G	6-1/180	2-Jul-05	USA	Warroad (USHS-MN)	28-1, 1.47, 0.941
224	Noah Erliden	G	5-10/170	9-Sep-05	Sweden	HV71 (Swe J20)	10-8, 2.93, 0.912
HM	Matthew Andonovski	D	6-1/200	14-Mar-05	Canada	Kitchener (OHL)	67-0-16-16
HM	Gleb Artsatbanov	G	6-2/170	2-Mar-04	Ukraine	Sparta Praha (Czechia U20)	13-10, 1.95, 0.938
HM	Cale Ashcroft	D	5-10/200	5-Aug-04	Canada	Tri-City (USHL)	62-8-29-37
HM	Alex Assadourian	LW	5-8/170	24-Jul-05	Canada	Sby-Nia (OHL)	66-12-29-41
HM	Arvid Bergstrom	D	5-11/160	12-Jun-05	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	41-2-21-23
HM	Kevin Bicker	LW	6-0/175	29-Jan-05	Germany	Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20)	20-10-11-21
HM	Philippe Blais-Savoie	D	6-0/185	10-Jun-05	USA	Tri-City (USHL)	61-2-9-11
HM	Linus Brandl	C	5-11/185	1-Apr-05	Germany	Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20)	32-25-22-47
HM	Finn Brink	LW	5-9/180	6-Apr-05	USA	Maple Grove (USHS-MN)	31-31-38-69
HM	Yaroslav Busygin	D	6-3/185	14-Feb-03	Russia	Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL)	42-1-2-3
HM	Kalle Carlsson	C	6-0/175	2-Mar-05	Sweden	Orebro (Swe J20)	44-11-24-35
HM	Adam Cedzo	RW	5-10/165	23-Feb-05	Slovakia	HC Ocelari Trinec (Czechia U20)	39-23-23-46
HM	Aiden Celebrini	D	6-1/185	26-Oct-04	Canada	Brooks (AJHL)	47-5-16-21
HM	Andon Cerbone	C	5-8/150	13-Apr-04	USA	Oma-Yng (USHL)	64-24-39-63
HM	Chase Cheslock	D	6-3/210	25-Oct-04	USA	Rogers High (USHS-MN)	28-4-27-31
HM	Sam Court	D	5-10/180	7-Jan-04	Canada	Brooks (AJHL)	52-13-59-72
HM	Adam Csabi	LW	5-10/160	17-Feb-05	Czech	SaiPa (Fin-U18)	28-16-15-31
HM	Nathaniel Davis	D	6-1/185	15-Nov-04	Canada	Burlington (OJHL)	45-10-26-36
HM	Nathan Day	G	6-2/180	4-Feb-05	Canada	Flint (OHL)	17-10, 3.91, 0.874
HM	Kocha Delic	C	5-10/185	11-Mar-04	Canada	Sudbury (OHL)	46-22-30-52
HM	Tyler Duke	D	5-8/180	19-Jul-04	USA	Ohio State (B1G)	40-4-8-12
HM	Filip Eriksson	C	6-0/170	5-Nov-04	Sweden	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	11-5-5-10
HM	Jiri Felcman	C	6-4/190	17-Apr-05	Czech	Langnau U20 (Sui-U20-Elit)	40-10-21-31
HM	Samuel Fiala	C	6-1/170	9-Apr-05	Czech	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia U20)	44-19-9-28
HM	Mans Forsfjall	D	6-0/180	30-Jul-02	Sweden	Skelleftea (SHL)	52-2-12-14
HM	Cooper Foster	C	5-11/170	4-Jun-05	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	63-19-17-36
HM	Salvatore Guzzo	RW	6-0/185	17-Apr-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	58-17-11-28
HM	Michael Hagens	D	5-11/170	18-Feb-05	USA	Chicago (USHL)	60-9-17-26
HM	Sam Harris	LW	5-11/190	14-Oct-03	USA	Sioux Falls (USHL)	56-30-26-56
HM	Jack Harvey	C	5-10/175	31-Mar-03	USA	Chicago (USHL)	62-40-34-74
HM	Bogdans Hodass	D	6-2/200	13-Apr-03	Latvia	Medicine Hat (WHL)	56-11-24-35
HM	Ryan Hopkins	D	6-1/180	15-Apr-04	Canada	Penticton (BCHL)	48-10-39-49
HM	Ewan Huet	G	6-0/170	8-Feb-05	Switzerland	Lausanne (Sui U20-Elit)	14-12, 2.73
HM	Gustaf Kangas	C	6-0/175	27-Jul-05	Sweden	Vasteras (Swe J20)	27-7-13-20
HM	Sean Keohane	D	6-3/180	4-Nov-04	USA	Dexter Southfield(USHS-MA)	32-4-12-16
HM	Oiva Keskinen	C	6-0/175	28-Feb-04	Finland	Tappara (Fin-U20)	38-20-21-41
HM	Ruslan Khazheyev	G	6-4/200	20-Nov-04	Russia	Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL)	8-8, 2.38, 0.923
HM	Matteo Koci	D	6-0/165	7-Jun-05	Czech	HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20)	36-7-13-20
HM	Ryan Koering	D	6-3/185	11-Feb-05	USA	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	27-6-10-16
HM	Cameron Korpi	G	6-2/150	26-May-04	USA	Tri-City (USHL)	13-4, 2.52, 0.911
HM	Sergei Kosovets	D	6-5/250	17-Jul-02	Russia	HK Sochi (KHL)	26-2-2-4
HM	Artyom Kudashov	D	6-0/160	10-Jan-05	Russia	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	42-2-7-9
HM	Roman Kukumberg	LW	6-0/185	21-Mar-05	Slovakia	HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2)	33-5-6-11
HM	Emil Kuusla	LW	5-9/165	11-Jan-05	Finland	Jokerit (Fin-U20)	36-18-17-35
HM	Jani Lampinen	G	6-2/185	14-Feb-03	Finland	Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-Mestis)	15-6, 2.35, 0.902
HM	Charles-Alexis Legault	D	6-3/205	5-Sep-03	Canada	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	40-2-7-9
HM	Aiden Long	LW	6-3/190	13-Mar-05	Canada	Whitecourt (AJHL)	50-19-27-46
HM	Connor MacPherson	RW	6-0/170	2-Mar-05	Canada	Leamington (GOJHL)	43-28-35-63
HM	Matthew Mayich	D	6-2/185	21-Dec-04	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	64-5-17-22
HM	Donovan McCoy	D	6-0/200	11-Oct-04	Canada	Peterborough (OHL)	65-2-11-13
HM	Cole Miller	C	6-4/175	4-Feb-05	Canada	Edmonton (WHL)	61-10-9-19
HM	Lucas Moore	D	5-9/180	7-Jun-05	Canada	Hamilton (OHL)	65-3-25-28
HM	Josh Nadeau	RW	5-7/145	22-Oct-03	Canada	Penticton (BCHL)	54-44-66-110
HM	Alexei Noskov	G	6-2/205	13-Nov-04	Russia	Taifun Primorsky Krai (MHL)	7-26, 3.86, 0.905
HM	Owen Outwater	LW	6-2/160	4-Jan-05	Canada	Kingston (OHL)	62-16-25-41
HM	Joe Palodichuk	D	6-0/165	26-Feb-03	USA	Fargo (USHL)	44-8-21-29
HM	Petr Pavelec	LW	6-0/200	10-Feb-05	Czech	HC Vitkovice (Czechia U20)	46-8-5-13
HM	Oliver Peer	RW	6-0/165	9-Mar-03	Canada	Windsor (OHL)	63-22-45-67
HM	Chris Pelosi	C	6-1/180	6-Mar-05	USA	Sioux Falls (USHL)	43-13-6-19
HM	Matthew Perkins	LW	5-11/175	21-Jan-04	Canada	Youngstown (USHL)	60-15-29-44
HM	Nico Pertuch	G	6-2/200	29-Jul-05	Germany	EV Landshut (DNL U20)	15GP, 3.57
HM	Dominik Petr	C	6-2/165	30-Apr-05	Czech	Lukko (Fin-U20)	18-1-0-1
HM	Chase Pietila	D	6-1/180	3-Mar-04	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	60-7-29-36
HM	Chase Pirtle	RW	6-2/185	8-Mar-05	USA	Mount St. Charles 18U AAA (USHS-RI)	47-20-24-44
HM	Benjamin Poitras	C	5-10/175	18-Jul-05	Canada	Sioux City (USHL)	61-14-24-38
HM	Connor Punnett	D	6-1/200	16-Jun-03	Canada	Barrie (OHL)	66-14-34-48
HM	Ivan Remezovsky	D	6-1/165	8-Feb-05	Russia	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	45-0-13-13
HM	Charlie Robertson	G	6-3/165	2-Apr-05	Canada	North Bay (OHL)	12-6, 3.17, 0.892
HM	Pier-Olivier Roy	D	5-9/175	5-Mar-04	Canada	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	68-6-62-68
HM	Rainers Rullers	C	6-4/195	11-Dec-04	Latvia	Zemgale (Fin-Mestis)	46-4-6-10
HM	Bennett Schimek	RW	5-11/180	15-Apr-03	USA	Providence (HE)	37-11-9-20
HM	Zach Schulz	D	6-1/195	14-Jun-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	51-1-9-10
HM	Magomed Sharakanov	D	6-1/200	11-Oct-04	Russia	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	44-7-25-32
HM	Cam Squires	RW	5-11/165	11-Apr-05	Canada	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	67-30-34-64
HM	Julius Sumpf	C	6-1/175	11-Jan-05	Germany	RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL)	23-9-9-18
HM	Alexander Suvorov	RW	5-9/160	30-Nov-02	Belarus	Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)	47-13-11-24
HM	Gabriel Szturc	C	5-11/185	24-Sep-03	Czech	Kelowna (WHL)	56-24-55-79
HM	Nikita Telegin	C	6-1/155	21-Jun-05	Russia	Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL)	22-6-4-10
HM	Patrick Thomas	C	5-11/160	21-Aug-04	Canada	Hamilton (OHL)	66-17-39-56
HM	Hudson Thornton	D	5-11/180	4-Nov-03	Canada	Prince George (WHL)	68-23-51-74
HM	Jiri Tichacek	D	5-9/170	30-Jan-03	Czech	Rytiri Kladno (Czechia)	39-0-6-6
HM	Djibril Toure	D	6-6/200	5-Jun-03	Canada	Sudbury (OHL)	57-5-11-16
HM	Tuomas Uronen	RW	5-11/180	19-Mar-05	Finland	HIFK (Fin-U20)	39-20-23-43
HM	Noa Vali	G	6-0/160	19-Apr-05	Finland	TPS (Fin-U20)	17-8, 2.38, 0.912
HM	Nicholas Vantassell	RW	6-4/195	18-Apr-04	USA	Green Bay (USHL)	62-19-18-37
HM	Visa Vedenpaa	G	6-2/170	11-May-05	Finland	Karpat (Fin-U20)	31GP, 0.886
HM	Evgeny Volokhin	G	6-3/170	6-Apr-05	Russia	Mamonty Yugry (MHL)	20-6, 2.12, 0.927
HM	Declan Waddick	C	5-10/170	24-Jan-05	Canada	Niagara (OHL)	64-28-21-49
HM	Saige Weinstein	D	6-0/180	30-May-05	Canada	Spokane (WHL)	57-4-14-18
HM	Ethan Whitcomb	LW	6-4/190	13-May-04	Canada	Muskegon (USHL)	53-24-24-48
HM	Raul Yakupov	RW	6-1/180	21-Jun-04	Russia	Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (MHL)	49-32-29-61

2023 NHL DRAFT: Top “Tier 2” players available for the draft this year (AJHL, BCHL, CAHS, CJHL, OJHL, USHS) with video – Part One – Forwards

Brock Otten — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 15:10:46 +0000

McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, provides a close examination of all the top "Tier 2" players available for the draft this year (USHS, CJHL, etc). The first part in the series highlights the forwards.

Bradly Nadeau

Wing/Center - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

5’10, 63lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 60, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 55

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/bradly_nadeau_-_2nd_period_34_12_-_34_24.mp4

Notes: One of the elite shooters in this year’s draft class, Nadeau has torched the BCHL in 2023 along with his older brother Josh (more on him later). Bradley is a lethal off puck option with his ability to find open space and quick release. His offensive zone anticipation is terrific, but he also competes for open space and plays a lot larger than his 5’10, 163lbs frame would suggest. Nadeau consistently makes use of the space he is afforded too, thanks to a lightning quick release. Armed with a thunderous one timer and an explosive wrister, Nadeau routinely beats goaltenders cleanly…from a distance. An area of Nadeau’s game that probably doesn’t get enough credit is his tenaciousness. He is very active on the forecheck and in puck pursuit and really seems to derive energy from playing the body. He routinely plays through the opposition, rather than around them and as he gets stronger, this power component to his game is only likely to become more prevalent. However, Nadeau is a bit of a polarizing prospect this year because there are some concerns over projectability. His on-puck play can be inconsistent because his ability to blend skating and puck control is a work in progress. His use of linear crossovers does layer deception in his attacks and he has good balance, allowing him to take advantage of his shooting gifts. However, his stride length is inconsistent, causing his first step quickness to be lacking a bit for a smaller player. Additionally, Nadeau is not what you would call a magician with the puck. He handles well, but his game is predicated on quick decision making and use of space. As that space is taken away, he’s often not creative enough to work his way out of defensive pressure. These things can and should improve, especially as he heads to the NCAA (with Maine). However, it makes one wonder if Nadeau projects best as a high energy, complementary goal scorer at the NHL level who will need to play with a high-end playmaker to be successful. Obviously, that still has significant value, especially if he can become a Jake Guentzel type.

Aiden Fink

Wing - Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

5’9, 152lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 53.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/aiden_fink_-_2nd_period_21_19_-_21_31.mp4

Notes: Recently named the AJHL’s MVP (joining the likes of Cale Makar, Dylan Holloway, Mason Raymond, and Mike Comrie in the history books), Fink is a slippery, offensive wizard. His shot might be his best weapon. He can score in a multitude of ways. He sets up shop at the half wall near the dot and shows a consistent ability to one time pucks cleanly, especially on the powerplay. He can create space for himself in transition and shoot in full stride. He has a quick release in the slot and requires little time and space to generate velocity. Fink’s ability to blend agility with puck control is also impressive. He has excellent control on his edges and can stop/start on a dime. This allows him to consistently spin off checks and attack East/West, moving toward the slot with little hesitancy despite his size/strength deficits. His linear quickness needs work. He has difficulty sustaining speed and he doesn’t generate significant power in his pushes. Right now, his skating would probably best be assessed as a 50, but with a focus on elongating his stride and sometime in the weight room, his skating has a real chance to be above average thanks to his lateral quickness and agility. Thus, the 55 grade as a projection. The other impressive feature of Fink’s game is his ability to alter pace. He is impressive in transition but is just as effective when the game slows down because he is tenacious and competitive. His performance at the World Junior A Challenge was extremely impressive, especially in the game against the United States, versus players he will be competing against at the NCAA level with Wisconsin. That said, his lack of size and lack of explosiveness/quickness will be bound to scare off some scouts. When his feet and hands can’t create space, he can be easily pushed off the puck at this current time. Additionally, his defensive zone play does leave a lot to be desired. Ultimately, this is why Fink is heading to Wisconsin and not the WHL. This will give him a ton of time to work on his athletic tools in hopes that they catch up to his skill and creativity. He is well worth a look in the middle rounds as a high upside selection.

Aron Jessli

Wing - Pickering (OJHL)

6’1, 190lbs

Grades: Skating: 57.5, Shot: 50, Skills: 55, Smarts: 47.5, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 53.125

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1-aron_jessli_-_3rd_period_3_7_-_3_19.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2-aron_jessli_-_2nd_period_28_31_-_28_43.mp4

Notes: Jessli has to be considered one of the most fun and entertaining under the radar prospects available this year. A Norwegian, late 2004 born winger, he has been playing (mostly) in North America the last half decade, most recently with Pickering in the OJHL. Headed to Niagara University next year, Jessli offers up a really intriguing upside thanks to an intriguing blend of skill, speed, and power. As you might expect from someone who has over 100 penalty minutes on the year, Jessli is aggressive. He’s not a huge hitter, per say, but he is ultra tenacious and quite the pest. Discipline is an issue; lots of penalties taken out of frustration or from just poor decisions, but he’s definitely a tough guy to play against. The driving force behind Jessli’s game is his speed. Lightning quick, Jessli loves to play at a breakneck pace. The thing is, he’s also pretty skilled with the puck. He routinely turns defenders inside out off the rush and he blends his quickness and skill together really well. Once he gets a head of steam, he is a very tough player for Junior A defenders to stop. His playmaking ability shows well at times too. Sure, he can skate himself into trouble at times and he’s certainly confident in his ability to beat defenders one on one, but he does make some impressive passes and reads as he’s attacking. He’s got a pretty quick snap shot and he can one time pucks cleanly from the slot and the half wall, but overall he’s best in tight to the net as a scorer. Most of his shots from a distance fail to hit the mark or go right into the goaltender’s chest. The biggest challenge is assessing Jessli’s on ice IQ and awareness. As mentioned, he can make some impressive plays as a set-up man. But overall, his decision making does leave some to be desired. He’s at his best when attacking with speed, and as the game slows down, he can be less effective. Sometimes that means not making quick enough decisions with the puck on his stick. Sometimes that means not supporting his teammates off the puck, failing to identify opportunities to get to open space. His defensive play is certainly not as solid as his offensive play, with the majority of his physicality being served in pursuit of scoring chances in the offensive end. All that said, I find myself very, very intrigued by Jessli and it comes as no surprise to see that NHL Central Scouting has him as the highest ranked player in the OJHL this year; a league that routinely has multiple players selected. I can’t say for certain what type of player he will eventually develop into, but his combination of speed, size, skill, and tenaciousness gives him a chance, even if I wish he were headed to a better program (no offense meant to the fine folks at Niagara U).

Zach Nehring

Wing - Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep)

6’3, 180lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 53

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/zachary_nehring_-_1st_period_23_43_-_23_58.mp4

Notes: Nehring is an intriguing potential power forward that oozes athleticism. There’s room for improvement in his agility and edgework, but he’s a strong linear mover with big, long strides. This allows him to play a really solid North/South game, as he routinely beats defenders to the net on drives, with and without the puck. He has a real clear understanding already of how he should play given his skill set. He excels in the bumper position on the man advantage and takes up position near the blue paint at even strength, looking to screen, tip, or put home second chance opportunities. Nehring is also a consistent physical presence and is very active in puck pursuit on the forecheck and backcheck. While his defensive game is a bit inconsistent currently, he does show great potential to be a strong two-way forward with his power, length, and tenaciousness. Headed to Western Michigan, it will be interesting to see how the full complement of his skills comes together as he fills out his frame.

As an offensive player, Nehring is at his best when he keeps things simple. He actually has great offensive zone awareness. He fills space well, working give and go’s, and he has good vision coming off the wall. His anticipation and off puck movement are key to his offensive production. However, currently his offensive tools would best be classified as average. He can lead the charge North/South and has great puck protection tendencies (using his frame to shield the puck), but he’s not the type of player who is skilled enough to create when pressure collapses around him; he can get boxed in. Additionally, he does not always catch pucks cleanly when accepting passes or when trying to pick up speed through the neutral zone. He excels as a finisher in tight, but he does not have a high end shot that can beat goaltenders clean from a distance. Most of his work is done in tight. I actually like his playmaking ability and vision more. That said, as mentioned, Nehring is far from a polished, finished product. Lots of room for further development here and he has a chance to be a quality middle six, two-way power winger.

Jayson Shaugabay

Wing - Warroad High (USHS-MN)/Green Bay (USHL)

5’9, 155lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 62.5, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1-Jayson_shaugabay_-_2nd_period_24_31_-_24_51.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2-jayson_shaugabay_-_1st_period_1_25_-_1_42.mp4

Notes: Shaugabay is a shifty and highly deceptive playmaking winger with significant offensive upside. When playing in the Minnesota High School loop, he’s been arguably the best player in the State and was subsequently named Mr. Hockey for the season. He started the year with Green Bay of the USHL and was a standout for the Gamblers too, with one of the highest point per game averages on the team. Shaugabay should legitimately be considered one of the most skilled and creative players with the puck available this year. He routinely creates extra time and space for himself by beating the first and second layers of pressure, turning would be defenders into pylons. He is not a traditional burner, but he is extremely shifty because of how well he alters pace to build in deception. Quick stops and starts, in addition to fakes and delays make him a difficult cover in transition, especially when you consider his ability to blend skill and movement effortlessly; he can truly keep the puck on a string. He is really good at inviting pressure, before sliding pucks to open teammates for significant scoring chances because of how much attention he draws in the offensive zone. His passing precision is generally very impressive.

That said, there are a lot of areas to his game that will need work in order for him to reach his high ceiling. He’s undersized and his skating ability would best be classified as average. He doesn’t possess elite escapability with his feet alone. Additionally, his strength on the puck will need to improve considerably. Factoring in these two things, turnovers can be a major issue as he tries to navigate high traffic areas. At his best on the perimeter, is this translatable? Shaugabay’s off puck play is best described as inconsistent too. He can apply pressure on the forecheck, and he does have a good stick to help force turnovers, however his engagement isn’t always present, especially in the defensive zone. I actually really like that he’s going to Minnesota-Duluth, a program that tends to draw different players than Shaugabay; players who are more polished off the puck and incorporate power into their game. UMD should help him become a more well-rounded player and he’ll likely form an interesting one/two punch with Isaac Howard on the powerplay.

Aydar Suniev

Wing - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

6’2, 200lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/aydar_suniev_-_1st_period_34_14_-_34_26.mp4

Notes: Really the only thing missing from Suniev’s game is dynamic skating ability. He has a very wide, Wayne Simmonds’ esque, stride that limits his quickness and agility. Most often he is forced to delay or slow pace down to a crawl because he lacks the ability to beat defenders to the outside. He is very balanced and strong on his skates, which allows him to play through contact. Additionally, his puck protection habits and strength on the puck are excellent, meaning that he can play through the middle of the ice and drive the net at the BCHL level without above average quickness. But, how will this ability translate to the NHL level without upgrading his skating? A transplanted Russian, Suniev has been playing in North America for several seasons now, bouncing between programs such as the Yale Bulldogs, Hill Academy, St. Andrew’s College, and the Thorold Blackhawks of the GOJHL. Starring with Penticton this year, Suniev has earned a full ride to UMass, a route that will allow him time to upgrade his athleticism.

The rest of his game is very impressive. He has very quick hands and excels as a playmaker because of his ability to miss sticks and read/react to defensive pressure. He can be turnover prone at times, but these turnovers usually are as a result of his lack of explosiveness causing pressure to close in on him and not because of poor reads. Suniev also has a great shot and is a real threat on the powerplay with his one timer and quick release. Away from the puck, Suniev has great forechecking habits and routinely puts himself in position to apply pressure to puck carriers, even without strong closing speed. He uses his size effectively to separate players from the puck and he will battle along the wall to keep pucks alive. I wouldn’t go as far to call him a power forward, but he plays with a strong motor and brings energy regardless of whether he has the puck or not. Suniev’s development as an NHL prospect will be directly tied to his ability to improve his skating.

Hudson Malinoski

Center/Wing - Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

6’1, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/hudson_malinoski_-_1st_period_22_45_-_22_57.mp4

Notes: This is a great story. Back in 2017, Malinoski ended up with a torn vertebral artery after falling off his roof. After a successful experimental surgery, Malinoski was kept out of hockey for a year and had to work his way back up the hockey ladder. Passed over in his WHL draft and a late bloomer physically, Malinoski (2004 born) is now playing in his first year in the AJHL with Brooks and he’s been one of the best players in the league as a rookie. He also was a standout at the World Junior A Challenge for Canada West. Watching Malinoski, you can’t help but wonder if this is a player who is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. The athletic tools are very intriguing. He’s a dynamic linear attacker who generates significant power in his stride, which he uses to push into the offensive zone. He controls the puck well at full speed and uses his length to protect the puck, helping him gain the zone. There’s room for further development in his balance and edgework, but this can be improved. Malinoski also shows well as a playmaker. He runs the point of the Brooks powerplay and is great at drawing in pressure before finding passing lanes. He actually has a good shot but does not use it enough. A lot of his production this year has come with the man advantage, and the reason for that is that Malinoski has a lot of room to grow physically. He can be separated from the puck and can struggle to find the inside consistently at even strength. He shows a desire to work the wall and defend down low, but he often finds himself on the losing end of those battles. A Providence College commit, the upside here is really intriguing. Once Malinoski fills out and gains confidence, will his game reach another level? He has missed so much development time and he really hasn’t seen much time at the higher levels of hockey. A lot of parallels can be made between Malinoski and Adam Ingram last year and it seems likely that NHL teams are going to be very interested in him this draft in hopes that they can unlock his potential with a patient approach.

Jake Fisher

Center - Cretin-Derham Hall (USHS-MN)

6’2, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/jake_fisher_-_3rd_period_13_15_-_13_30.mp4

Notes: Fisher is a strong skating, power center who is a candidate for Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey award this year. A fluid skater with big, powerful strides, Fisher consistently has a positive impact as a puck carrier in transition, leading the charge across the opposing blueline. He’s not the most creative or skilled attacker, per say, but he is effective with his ability to use his frame to protect the puck, in combination with the power in his linear crossovers. He already understands how to alter pace too, using both delays and continued pace when entering the zone, showing an ability to survey the ice and select an appropriate carrying strategy. He’s far from a head down, North/South attacker. Fisher’s strong offensive production this year can be attributed to his excellent IQ and offensive zone awareness. Again, he’s not incredibly creative, but he is very effective off the puck, consistently sliding into gaps in coverage. He drives the net and will use his size to score the dirty goals near the crease. He is also an effective forechecker and three zone player who uses his size and quickness combination to force turnovers. Fisher is not necessarily an overtly physical player, but he does compete for pucks and space. He recently decommitted from Northern Michigan and is apparently deciding between Notre Dame and Denver for his official commitment at the NCAA level. Fisher’s offensive upside may be somewhat limited, but his athletic tools do give him an intriguing upside as a high energy, two-way center with a nose for the net at the higher levels.

Joe Connor

Wing - Avon Old Farms (USHS-Prep)/Muskegon (USHL)

5’10, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/joseph_connor_-_1st_period_15_46_-_15_59.mp4

Notes: It’s been quite the year for Avon Old Farms winger and Northeastern commit Joe Connor. It started with him suiting up for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. It ended with him recently helping Avon Old Farms capture the New England Elite 8 Championship (prep school playoffs), where he was named MVP. The first things you notice about Connor are his motor and competitiveness. He’s a great forechecker and he works hard in all three zones to earn touches/force turnovers. He’s certainly not big, but he plays bigger than his 5’10, 170lbs frame would indicate (as much as that is cliche). He’s also an intelligent off puck player. He consistently slips between coverage to earn scoring chances and his anticipation is a standout quality. He could stand to be a little more poised with the puck in the offensive zone (rushed passes, low volume shots), but as he gets stronger on the puck and becomes more comfortable protecting the puck and absorbing contact, I believe these issues should resolve themselves.

A high-volume shooter, Connor does have a good (but not great) shot. A snappy release helps him get pucks to the net quickly from the slot and he has good hands in tight to finish off plays under pressure. There are some limitations to his game that could prevent him from having a high ceiling. For one, he’s not a dynamic skater for a player of his size. From a mechanical point of view, his stride is not poor. He just doesn’t generate significant power. That does bode well for him eventually improving his speed and quickness as he gains strength over his NCAA tenure at Northeastern. Additionally, he’s not a high skill player. He can struggle to beat defenders one on one and one of the reasons why he can be pressured into rushed shots or passes is because he doesn’t have the hands or creativity to routinely escape said pressure. The key for Connor will be the improvement to his athleticism in order to make him a more dynamic player. There is a future that sees Connor develop into a Frank Vatrano type of player at the NHL level.

Hunter Anderson

Wing - Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep)/Des Moines (USHL)

5’9, 181lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/hunter_anderson_-_1st_period_15_22_-_15_34.mp4

Notes: Intelligent goal scoring winger who has been the straw that stirs the drink for Shattuck St. Mary’s this year. Excellent complementary player who is good at finding space to shoot, using excellent edgework and lateral quickness to push away from defenders into open space. Has a quick release on his wrist shot, but also one times pucks with authority, usually from his office on the right side of the net front. Anderson also finishes plays off well near the crease and will jockey for position near the blue paint in order to get deflection or second chance opportunities. Anderson shows good hands in tight spaces, using toe drags or inside/out moves to create extra time and space for himself, especially when he attacks the middle of the ice. Perhaps most impressive from Anderson is that he’s not just a high-volume shooter. He has good instincts and vision with the puck in the offensive zone. He will draw in defenders before dishing off, using the threat of his high-end shooting ability as a decoy; deception is certainly a layered component to his game. As a skater, as mentioned, Anderson has quick feet in the sense that he can evade checks with strong edgework, balance, and agility. However, his linear quickness and top end speed will need to be upgraded to find success at the next level, especially given his lack of ideal size. This has been very evident over the last two years when he has played in the USHL with Des Moines and has been unable to create his own scoring chances in transition or when driving wide. Additionally, while Anderson has a good compete level in the offensive end, his defensive play is a major work in progress. He can leave the zone early or be late to his backchecking assignment. He is far from being a physical player. Headed to the University of Denver, Anderson has a chance to develop into a quality complementary goal scorer, but the athletic tools will need to be upgraded over his NCAA career first.

Josh Nadeau

Wing - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

5’8, 160lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/josh_nadeau_-_3rd_period_12_34_-_12_49.mp4

Notes: Even with the production increase, one has to wonder…is Josh Nadeau really an improved player over last year when he went through the 2022 Draft unselected? He’s a more impressive player than his younger brother Bradly on the puck. He routinely evades pressure with his quick feet and quick hands, creating additional time and space for himself, both in transition and when delaying. Despite limited strength on the puck, he routinely escapes scrums with the puck on his stick thanks to his tenaciousness and skill blending ability. Like his brother, Josh also possesses an excellent shot and can beat goaltenders cleanly with a quick snapshot or wrister. Even though he’s small, he actually does the majority of his goal scoring dangerous from in tight by finishing off second chances, getting pucks on sticks, and getting himself clearance in the slot to use his release. Even though his physicality/compete grade is a 45, his compete level is extremely admirable. He’s like “the little engine that could” out there. He takes a beating, but he keeps on ticking. He will take the body. He is very middle of the ice centric. However, one has to wonder how effective he’ll be playing that particular style as he moves up a level or two. He gets hit a lot. Durability could be a concern for sure. Additionally, for such a smaller player, his lack of explosiveness is bound to be concerning to NHL scouts. He’s not a poor skater by any means, but his quick, small strides (almost like a sewing machine), don’t really generate a ton of power and this does not give him the escapability that he’s going to need in order to continue to be an offensive juggernaut. The hands, touch, and sense all certainly give him a chance. He’s a skilled and intelligent playmaker. But few players his size succeed without being truly elite movers. I’d probably feel more comfortable seeing how he performs at the NCAA level first (with Maine).

Jonathan Castagna

Center - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

6’2, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/jonathan_castagna_-_3rd_period_18_12_-_18_24.mp4

Notes: Castagna is the prototypical Cornell University recruit. Just like previous successful forwards with the Big Red (like Riley Nash, Morgan Barron, Colin Greening, and currently Matthew Stienburg), Castagna is a competitive two-way player who likely projects as a potential bottom six player if everything goes according to plan regarding his development. The 6’2 pivot is an excellent skater who loves to lead the attack. He plays an aggressive North/South game and is very middle of the ice focused. He uses his speed well without the puck too, operating effectively on the forecheck, while also looking to crash the net looking for second chance opportunities. Castagna is aggressive physically in the defensive end and in the neutral zone, using his size and quickness to close quickly on puck carriers and to be a disruptive force defensively. As a skilled player, his upside remains somewhat questionable. He shows some nice skill when keeping plays alive along the wall, but most of his offensive chances at the prep level are created by his speed advantage. When he gets bottled up, he can be forced off the puck or commit turnovers. I wonder if he would be best served to move to the wing where his speed and physical aggressiveness would play well without the pressure of being the primary playmaker. The most difficult thing to assess would be Castagna’s IQ and smarts. This is simply due to the level that he’s playing at. As mentioned, Castagna often skates circles around prep level defenders and that means he’s not forced to problem solve high traffic situations all that consistently. He shows a good understanding of how to play without the puck. But what upside does his playmaking ability possess? At this point, Castagna is probably a slam dunk to be a draft selection as NHL team’s see a player with an intriguing floor as an energy player, but also some mystique surrounding his offensive ceiling.

Gavyn Thoreson

Wing/Center - Andover (USHS-MN)/Waterloo (USHL)

5’8, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51.75

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Notes: Thoreson, a late born 2004, has been one of the best forwards in the state as part of a dominant first line in Andover (along with Cooper Conway and Cayden Casey). He is an incredibly fun player to watch thanks to his combination of hustle, competitiveness, and skill. He may be small, but he’s not weak. Even at the USHL level this year, he was throwing the body and finding his way to the net, doing most of his damage from the middle of the ice and in high traffic areas. Thoreson’s best offensive attribute might be his shot. He has a lightning quick release, and he can pick corners from a distance. He also is a skilled handler who creates time and space for himself, something that is extremely important given his lack of truly dynamic skating ability. This is obviously the concerning thing as it pertains to his NHL draft chances. At 5’8, you really wish that he was a better skater. He has a decent top speed, but he takes time building up to it. Short, choppy strides prevent him from gaining separation, forcing him to rely on his hands and his brain to help him operate in transition. Additionally, he’s not the world’s most agile skater, with a lot of room for him to improve his lateral quickness and confidence on his edges. Starting the year with Waterloo of the USHL, Thoreson’s lack of quickness was evident as he failed to create off the rush the same way that he does with Andover. That said, he was still able to play at a point per game pace with the Blackhawks, a testament to his high skill level, offensive zone awareness, and tenaciousness. Headed to St. Cloud State, Thoreson is obviously a longshot to be an NHL player, but if he could just improve his skating, he could be an intriguing prospect. At the very least he should become a high-level NCAA player and draw interest as a free agent in the future.

Owen Beckner

Center - Salmon Arms Silverbacks (BCHL)

6’2, 181lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 50, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51.625

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Notes: Beckner would have fit in perfectly with the NTDP had he been an American born player. By that I mean, he has that mix of length, athleticism, and two-way competitiveness that the program has valued in their bottom six recently (with players like Devin Kaplan, John Beecher, Dylan Peterson, Andre Gasseau, and Alex Weiermair this year). I mean this completely as a compliment, even if it points to some upside limitations too. Beckner is an impressive mover, especially given his length. He has long, powerful strides that allow him to generate power and quickness easily. He uses this speed to play a North/South attacking style, often leading the charge across the blueline for the Silverbacks. He also uses it to be a defensive and three zone presence, consistently applying pressure on the backcheck. He is a physically assertive player, especially when supporting his defenders down low or on the half wall. Because of his speed, two-way awareness, and tenaciousness, Beckner has NHL upside as a third/fourth line center who can kill penalties and play a shutdown role. However, his offensive skill set will need to continue to improve in order to reach that level. He flashes puck skill in transition, but when he’s not able to beat defenders with speed to the outside, he can get bottled up. He’s not often able to problem solve out of intense layers of pressure and becomes way less of a factor when the game slows down. His shot is not currently much of a weapon, forcing him to operate primarily as a pass first kind of player. He often works the point of the Salmon Arms powerplay, a testament to his vision and passing ability. Heading to Colorado College, Beckner’s offensive production this year may not be all that impressive, but it is important to state that Salmon Arms are not an incredibly high scoring team and for much of this year, Beckner has led them in scoring. I could easily see an NHL team being interested in him in the later rounds this year given his athletic profile and size.

Teddy Townsend

Center - Eden Prairie High (USHS-MN)/Waterloo (USHL)

5’10, 165lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 47.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51.625

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Notes: Townsend came into the year with a significant amount of fanfare and high expectations. He was already one of the better players in Minnesota last year and looked good in a short call-up stint with the NTDP U17’s. However, this season his development seems to have plateaued a bit. It started with a disappointing performance at the U.S. Hlinka/Gretzky camp, where he was ultimately a surprise cut. Then he returned to Eden Prairie for another year of high school hockey, and while he’s been great and a team leader, his game hasn’t really taken another step forward either. Townsend is a well-rounded offensive player. He has a powerful linear stride and despite being only 5’10, 165lbs, he is very successful driving the net with a strong lower half. He is hard to knock off the puck in full stride and can put defenders on his back after pulling by them with his speed, keeping the puck in his hip pocket. He has a quick release and finds his way to the middle of the ice without the puck. He is also a precise passer and a creative playmaker who can elevate the play of his wingers.

Defensively, Townsend is a work in progress, especially if he wants to stick down the middle. Additionally, I’ve been disappointed in the growth of his game with the puck, especially his decision making. He is very much North/South in how he attacks and can burrow his way into turnovers with his head down. While the sample size is extremely small, he’s been highly ineffective at the USHL level and in a single game with the NTDP (against St. Thomas) because he’s not identifying passing lanes or making quick enough decisions. As alluded to, perhaps he is best suited to a move to the wing moving forward. Obviously, Townsend’s offensive upside is still significant. He’s one of the youngest players available this year (born in early September). He has runway to improve, especially physically. One has to think that he’ll play next year with Waterloo in the USHL full time before moving on to the University of Minnesota, whose incoming class is stacked. As far as mid to later round picks go, Townsend is extremely intriguing because he does have the potential to be an impact player. However, I would not be able to justify a higher ranking at this time.

Chase Pirtle

Wing - Mount St. Charles Academy (USHS-Prep)

6’2, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 55, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51.25

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Notes: I was already fairly familiar with Pirtle’s game dating back to his OHL draft year with the North Jersey Avalanche (playing alongside Quentin Musty, Matthew Mania and Nick Moldenhauer). His combination of size and skating ability is definitely going to intrigue NHL scouts; his athleticism is impressive. He routinely likes to play at a breakneck pace, often leading the charge in transition. He is an excellent transporter with his great top end speed, and he can control the puck well at full speed, using changes of pace or direction to evade pressure, often without significant speed loss. He shows good skill and creativity in small spaces, often evading the first layer of pressure with a quick move and can explode to the net coming off the wall. The rest of his game is definitely best described as a work in progress. For all his speed and skill, he can skate himself into trouble far too often. A lot of his impressive drives end up dying on his stick once inside the offensive zone, as he attempts to drive through defenders or makes an ill-timed pass. One has to wonder how his game would have looked had he gone the USHL route this year (his rights are now owned by Omaha) and played with more talented linemates (no offense meant to his Mount St. Charles teammates).

Additionally, Pirtle’s finishing ability is not a strength. He does not generate significant power on his wrist shot, often failing to elevate it quickly. He can struggle to hit the net at times or puts it straight into the goalie’s chest. He does earn good looks thanks to his quickness and power, but he can also struggle to finish in tight, sometimes failing to corral loose pucks. I’d also love to see Pirtle use his size and power more consistently off the puck. He could be a great forechecker and he could be quite the presence near the net front (especially at the prep level), but he can be too perimeter oriented. He flashes physicality, but it’s certainly not a huge part of his game. Armed with a scholarship to Cornell, is Pirtle a true NHL draft prospect? I would definitely say yes, even with his current shortcomings. His athleticism is impressive, and his upside is high. He can have a profound impact on the transition game and Cornell is a great spot for him to improve his off-puck play, given the program’s strong defensive acumen.

Connor MacPherson

Wing - Leamington Flyers (GOJHL)

6’0, 176lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51

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Notes: Only one player in the history of the NHL has been drafted out of the GOJHL (formerly junior B in Ontario); Daultan Leveille, 29th overall to Atlanta from the St. Catherines Falcons. MacPherson has a real chance to be the second. Along with his twin brother Ryan, Connor has been one of the best players in the league with Leamington and has a scholarship to New Hampshire in his back pocket. Connor is a cerebral winger who has many layers of deception built into his game. Not a quick or powerful skater, he prefers to slow the game down to a crawl, offering himself an opportunity to see the ice. His quick hands routinely afford him the extra time and space that his feet do not. He can keep the puck on a string as he stops, starts, and pivots to help him evade pressure and maintain possession. His vision with the puck is high end. His off-puck anticipation and reads are high end. He times his cuts perfectly and routinely finds himself with scoring chances in the slot and near the crease.

Connor is also a competitor who will get to the net or take a hit to make a play. Unquestionably, adding strength will be key for him as he moves forward as he can be pushed off the puck too easily at times. Obviously, his skating needs to be upgraded too, as does his confidence playing with pace. His shorter strides prevent him from gaining separation speed. MacPherson suited up for a GOJHL all-star team that captured the title at a U18 prep school showcase in late January, however he was a relative non-factor offensively at the event that was highly attended by NHL scouts. At this point, a lack of dynamic skating in combination with him playing in an, admittedly, lower-level league, would cause me to hesitate to recommend him as a draft selection at this time. I’d be more curious to see how he handles a move to a higher level next season, be it the NCAA or another feeder league.

Jack Ziliotto

Center/Wing - Mississauga (OJHL)

6’1, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51

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Notes: A power forward, Ziliotto was, at one time, considered one of the better forward prospects in Ontario during his minor hockey days. However, his development really plateaued in his U15-U16 years, and it led to him being a later round pick in the OHL. As such, Ziliotto took a long, hard look at the NCAA route and it’s been good for his development. Playing at the OJHL level, Ziliotto has improved incrementally over the last two years. This is especially true of the second half of this OJHL season where he put a weak Chargers team on his back and ended up leading the team in scoring by a significant margin, averaging almost two points per game down the stretch. Ziliotto has some intriguing components to his game. He shoots the puck well, owning a powerful, whip-like release on his wrister that can beat goalies clean from a distance. He also shows well as a playmaker deep in the offensive zone, spinning off checks to get pucks to the slot, or to drive the net. He definitely tries to play with power and is middle of the ice focused, often taking up residence near the crease when he’s not supporting his linemates in the cycle or carrying in transition.

Ziliotto also shows great potential as a two-way player. He has a really good stick and anticipation in the neutral zone and in the defensive end, helping him to force turnovers which he can use to counterattack. The key for him has always been and continues to be the need to improve his skating. He has a hunched over posture, inconsistent stride length, and is rather stiff when trying to play off his edges or alter his direction. I think this is preventing him from being a truly consistent two-way force. I’m also not confident about his ability to stick at center. The skating and skill limitations probably will force him to the wing, and I mean, he was also only 44% on the draw this year in the OJHL. I’d really like to see Ziliotto head to the USHL for a season before going to RPI. Not only will that give him another year to improve and build confidence, but it could also allow him to play with some more talented players…no offense meant to his teammates the last two seasons.

Giacomo Martino

Wing - St. Michael’s (OJHL)

5’10, 160lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 50.75

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Notes: Giacomo, the younger brother of Dallas Stars draft pick and Clarkson standout Ayrton Martino, came into the draft year with pretty high expectations after he was a point per game player in the OJHL as a U17 player. However, he hasn’t really taken that next step to become a dominant Junior A player, at least to the level where he would be considered a slam dunk draft pick. If you recall, Ayrton had one of the highest point per game averages in the OJHL and was a standout at the World Junior A Challenge as a U18 player. Whereas Giacomo has been good, but not outstanding with St. Mike’s, and was a relative non-factor at the World Junior A Challenge. Giacomo does have a well-rounded offensive profile. Good shot and shooting mechanics. Good offensive zone instincts. Solid skill with the puck. Has a similar stride to his brother in the sense that he is confident on his edges and is very agile. Solid top speed, but certainly not the type of dynamic skater that you’d like to see from a 5’10 forward. Martino does work hard in the offensive zone and is a quality forechecker. Adding strength is a necessity for him moving forward as he can be too easily pushed off the puck at the OJHL level. Martino’s defensive zone play needs work too. I’d really love to see him head to the USHL for a season, like his brother did, before heading to Northeastern. I guess my concern is that he’s an undersized winger who lacks dynamic skating ability and athleticism, in addition to having a fairly average offensive projection. Could definitely see a team using a later round pick on him if they are convinced that he will really blossom as he matures physically.

A.J. Lacroix

Wing/Center - Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)

6’0, 195lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 50.75

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Notes: Lacroix is a competitive and versatile forward playing out of the BCHL. He has dual citizenship and thus was a top nine forward on the U.S. Hlinka/Gretzky squad in the summer, where he had three assists in four games. A Michigan State commit, Lacroix’s best asset is his tenacity. He competes hard off the puck, applying himself physically in puck pursuit, consistently finds his way to the net front, and works hard in the defensive end to tie up opposing players and block shots. Because of this, he is an excellent penalty killer. As an offensive player, his ceiling likely has some limitations. He is an adequate skater, who does build in linear crossovers to help him build speed, however his wide stance also prevents him from being truly explosive or agile East/West. He has a fairly quick release on his shot and can operate as a goal scorer in tight, but he can struggle to cleanly catch passes at times too. A standard North/South attacker, he operates best in puck pursuit as a dump and chase player or forechecker, as he does not have the kind of high-end skill or creativity to consistently beat defenders one on one. His playmaking ability shows potential but is also inconsistent. Some shifts his passes and reads prove to be on the mark, as he creates after forcing turnovers or by attacking wide and delaying. However, other times, the precision on his passes is not strong and they miss the mark, resulting in turnovers. Lacroix’s positional versatility, competitiveness, and the potential to improve his athletic tools could interest NHL teams in the later rounds this year, but it would also not be shocking to see them pass on him to see how he performs at a higher level first (perhaps as a re-entry following a year in the USHL or in the NCAA).

Finn Brink

Wing - Maple Grove High (USHS-MN)/Madison (USHL)

5’9, 180lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 50

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Notes: Brink is a smaller, high IQ winger who is having a terrific offensive season this year between the Minnesota high school ranks (where he is a top Mr. Hockey candidate) and the USHL. He has terrific offensive instincts and is great at finding gaps in coverage. Armed with a quick release, Brink is able to consistently take advantage of the scoring chances that his anticipation and awareness afford him. At the high school level, Brink is able to work as a lead attacker with decent top end speed and puck skill, driving North/South to enter the zone. However, at the USHL level he is much more of a complementary piece with limitations due to a lack of explosiveness and overall agility. His initial short, choppy strides prevent him from building speed quickly and this makes him a step behind the play at the USHL level at times. One would have to believe that it would have even larger negative implications at the NCAA level and above, the primary reason that Brink was not ranked by NHL Central Scouting despite such a strong offensive season. Brink is also not a player you would consider to be a high-end physical presence or defensive player. The reality is that Brink does have some offensive potential due to that high IQ and skill. However, the physical tools need to be upgraded. Maybe an NHL team throws a later round selection at him in hopes of him developing slowly. However, it seems more likely that NHL teams put him on a watch list to see how areas of his game develop next year with a full USHL season or the following year in the NCAA with Wisconsin, before selecting him.

Jake Fisher – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #29 Colorado Avalanche – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 29th (Last Year - 28th) GM: Chris MacFarland Hired: July 2022 COACH: Jared Bednar Hired: August 2016

1. Ilya Nabokov, G, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

2. Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Avangard Omsk (KHL)

3. Sean Behrens, D, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

4. Francesco Dell'Elce, D, UMass (NCAA)

5. Trent Miner, G, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

6. Nikita Prishchepov, C, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

7. Christian Humphreys, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

8. Louka Cloutier, G, Boston College (NCAA)

9. Alex Gagne, D, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

10. Linus Funck, D, London Knights (OHL)

11. Jake Fisher, C, University of Denver (NCAA)

12. Nolan Roed, C, St. Cloud State University (NCAA)

13. Taylor Makar, LW, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

14. Daniil Gushchin, LW, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

15. Isak Posch, G, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #28

Colorado Avalanche Top-15 Prospects

1 - Mikhail Gulyayev

2 - Gavin Brindley

3 - Ilya Nabokov

4 - Daniil Gushchin

5 - Sean Behrens

6 - Francesco Dell’Elce

7 - Max Curran

8 - Nikita Prishchepov

9 - Jake Fisher

10 - Christian Humphreys

11 - Zakhar Bardakov

12 - Matt Stienburg

13 - Trent Miner

14 - Linus Funck

15 - Tory Pitner

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #25

Colorado Avalanche Top-15 Prospects

1. Cal Ritchie

2. Mikhail Gulyayev

3. Nikolai Kovalenko

4. Sean Behrens

5. Justus Annunen

6. Jean-Luc Foudy

7. Oskar Olausson

8. Ilya Nabokov

9. Sam Malinski

10. William Zellers

11. Ivan Ivan

12. Tory Pitner

13. Jake Fisher

14. Maros Jedlicka

15. Matthew Steinburg

2024 NHL DRAFT: RE-ENTRY CANDIDATES – USA

Austin Burnevik - Wing - Madison Capitals

Kaden Shahan - Wing - Sioux City Musketeers

Charlie Cerrato - Center - Youngstown Phantoms

Blake Montgomery - Wing - Lincoln Stars

Jake Fisher - Center - Fargo Force

Joe Connor - Center - Muskegon Lumberjacks

Benjamin Poitras - Wing - Green Bay Gamblers

Philippe Blais-Savoie - Defense - Tri-City Storm

Ethan Gardula - Wing - Sioux City Musketeers

Erik Pahlsson - Center - Dubuque Fighting Saints

Jake Sondreal - Center/Wing - Dubuque Fighting Saints

Gavyn Thoreson - Wing - Waterloo Blackhawks

Noah Powell - Wing - Dubuque Fighting Saints

Brian Nicholas - Center - Sioux City Musketeers

Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev - Goaltender - Muskegon Lumberjacks

Vinny Borgesi - Defense - Northeastern

Tanner Adams - Center/Wing - Providence

Dylan Hryckowian - Wing - Northeastern

Patrick Geary - Defense - Michigan State

Isaac Gordon - Wing - Michigan Tech

Gavin O’Connell - Wing - Michigan State

Ben Robertson - Defense - Cornell

Albin Boija - Goaltender - Maine

NAHL

Stephen Peck - Goaltender - Bismarck Bobcats

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions

Prospect System Ranking – 29th (Last Year - 28th)
GM: Chris MacFarland Hired: July 2022
COACH: Jared Bednar Hired: August 2016