Jakub Skarek – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #28

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:30:44 +0000

ELMONT, NY - JANUARY 28: New York Islanders Right Wing Samuel Bolduc (4) skates with the puck during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the New York Islanders on January 28, 2023, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Top 20 New York Islander Prospects

1. William Dufour

It was an interesting QMJHL career for Dufour, to say the least. Over his four years in the league, he played with four different teams. That included three before he was even drafted, 152nd overall in 2020. He had a short and strong DY+1 season but his +2 season with the Saint John Sea Dogs was something else altogether. With 116 points and a league-leading 56 goals in 66 games, he was named league MVP and then led the Sea Dogs to a Memorial Cup title, also being named MVP for the tournament. Oh, and he found time for a World Junior gold medal in between. Dufour made the jump to the AHL last season, sliding in extremely well and impressing with his production. He has a pro frame which has helped him muscle his way into success at the higher level. His skating has improved, he has a great wrist shot, and his hands are looking softer by the game. There’s middle-six potential here.

2. Samuel Bolduc

One of the best young d-men in the AHL last season, it’s been a slow burn for Bolduc since being drafted 57th overall in 2019. He’s had a slow and steady pace of improvement each season throughout his QMJHL career and now into the AHL, other than 2021-22 - his AHL sophomore season. Thankfully, he made up for that down campaign last season, earning a spot on the NHL roster. All signs are pointing to him graduating from prospectdom sooner rather than later. He plays a consistent, two-way game with excellent mobility, he has a knack for getting in the passing lanes in his end, and he’s shown that he can contribute offensively, especially with his big shot. He looks like a viable bottom-four rearguard right now, but should be able to produce more offense as he gets more settled in the NHL.

3. Ruslan Iskhakov

The path taken by Iskhakov is an case study for why you should never give up on your dream. The Islanders drafted the Russian out of the MHL way back in the 2018 NHL Draft. From there, he joined NCAA University of Connecticut, where he spent two seasons. He then went back overseas, spending a season with TPS in the Liiga before playing a year in the DEL with Adler Mannheim. Iskhakov just wrapped up his third-straight rookie season in a pro league, this time with the AHL Bridgeport Islanders. Even better, he had an excellent season and was among the leaders both on the team and among rookies around the league. While he’s on the smaller side at 5- 8”, 165 pounds, he’s extremely elusive, from his quick hands to his light footwork, and his offensive awareness stands out. He has the skill to be a middle-six contributor but give him some more time in the AHL first.

4. Calle Odelius

Selected 65th overall in the 2022 Draft, Odelius is a bit of a polarizing prospect as some believe he can be a game-breaker, while others lean more toward a depth defender. Depending on the game you watch, you can understand either assessment. The Islanders selected him out of the J20 Nationell, where he had a strong season, earning seven games in the SHL. With Djurgardens being demoted to the HockeyAllsvenskan, he didn’t progress as one would hope, struggling to pop offensively or show development in other areas of the game. When he’s on, he’s a good four-way skater, and solid in his own end, breaking up plays and turning the puck up the other way. He may even end up more defensive leaning as he progresses. He could still surprise, but a depth defender is likely where he ends up.

5. Danny Nelson

For two thirds of the year, Nelson struggled with consistency as his role within the USNTDP team changed repeatedly. After getting his own line with the role of shutdown center in the bottom six and a top penalty killing option, his game and confidence took off. He capped off his draft season with an extremely strong performance at the U18’s in helping the USA take home gold. Nelson is intriguing because of his high floor, strong athletic foundation, and because of his great progression over the course of the season. One of the youngest players eligible in 2023 (with an August birthday), he is already 6- 3”, 200 pounds and his skating ability has already improved considerably. Although his lack of creativity and high-end skill may ultimately make him more of a bottom six player at the NHL level, the opportunity to escape the shadows of Will Smith and Oliver Moore while developing at Notre Dame may bring out the best in him.

6. Matt Maggio

Maggio was one of the many OHLers impacted by the OHL season shutting down due to the pandemic in his draft year. While he already had two seasons of OHL action under his belt, he wanted to get scouts’ eyes on him and headed overseas, playing with Sweden’s SK Lejon in the HockeyEttan. It wasn’t enough though, as he went undrafted. Heading back to the OHL in 2021-22, with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, Maggio took a huge step forward with 85 points. Last season, he took an even bigger jump forward, leading the OHL in goals (54) and points (111). His strength, ability to get into the high-danger areas, and competitiveness have all contributed to this progression. While making it as a pro isn’t a sure thing, these are all aspects that should help him get there as a reliable bottom six player.

7. Otto Koivula

One of the older players still considered a prospect by McKeen’s, Koivula heard his name called back in the 2016 Draft, 120th overall. Islanders’ fans have had to be patient with the forward since then. He was selected out of the U20 SM-liiga, where he helped Ilves to a championship, earning playoff MVP in the process. The next season, he made the jump to the Liiga where he led all rookies in assists (20) and points (30) and was named Rookie of the Year. The 6-5” forward spent one more season in the Liiga before making the jump to North America, where he has stuck ever since, spending most of his time in the AHL. He’s been good in the AHL but just hasn’t been able to stick in the NHL. He’s likely at his ceiling now, bouncing between leagues.

8. Alex Jeffries

Drafted out of the high school prep circuit in the 2020, Jefferies had a strong draft year with The Gunnery and played AAA with the Rochester Coalition. In both leagues, he was named to All-Star teams. He then made the jump to Merrimack College, where he’s been getting better and better each season, playing at over a point per game last season and leading the team in scoring. He plays a fast-paced game, has an excellent shot, and has an improving ability to find space in the offensive zone. Jeffries is an above-average skater with good vision and even brings a decent level of two-way ability. How exactly he translates to the next level remains to be seen, but as a late bloomer, his stock seems to be trending up. He likely peaks as a depth forward who might bounce between the AHL and NHL.

9. Quinn Finley

Drafted by the Islanders in the 2022, 78th overall, the organization has to be happy with Finley’s progression last season. This was after his sophomore season in the USHL with the Madison Capitols, where he was considered a player to watch although he didn’t stand out. Last season, he was back in the USHL and split the season with the Capitols and the Chicago Steel, doubling his production from the previous season. He also participated in the World Junior A Challenge, producing a point per game, and helping Team USA to a gold medal. Finley is very intelligent and processes the game very well. He doesn’t seem to truly drive his line or take over plays, limiting his overall ceiling. While his progression has impressed, at this point he seems likely to be a depth player. However, he will have some time to continue developing and will move to the University of Wisconsin next season, which will be very telling.

10. Jesse Nurmi

A skilled young man with some real jump in his game when motivated, Nurmi was widely seen as a top 100 candidate in the 2023 draft after an unspectacular Hlinka Gretzky Cup performance turned into a tremendous season in Finland’s U20 circuit, where his output over 41 games was good for 6th overall and only six points behind the league leader. As such, the Islanders didn’t hesitate in announcing his name 113th overall with only their second pick of the draft. To be clear, Nurmi has much to do before the pieces of his puzzle are put together. Despite strong performance in the Finnish junior ranks, we have not yet seen much from him internationally and his game without the puck still leaves much to be desired. A coordinated and athletic player, his average height and lack of weight will have to be compensated for in the coming years. If he manages to bulk up accordingly, there’s ample offensive skill and energy for him to become a viable option moving forward. He’s in line for a regular role with his Liiga club this season, the success of which will be very telling with respect to his developmental curve. He is also a strong WJC candidate for Finland.

11. Isaiah George

One of the better skaters in the OHL, George went on a lengthy run with the London Knights last season, playing a crucial role. His mobility can be a major asset in the defensive end, however his offensive development has yet to take that next step.

12. Eetu Liukas

Liukas is a power forward who loves to apply himself physically and who is coming off a breakout offensive season in Liiga action where he finished third in goals for HPK. At the very least, he could be a great replacement for Cal Clutterbuck in a few seasons.

13. Robin Salo

It’s taken Salo a long time to get there, but the former second round pick finally appears to have turned the corner. The next step is solidifying himself as an NHL regular. Competition will be tight at training camp, but his mobility and improving defensive game may give him an edge.

14. Cameron Berg

After two decent years with the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Berg has transferred to North Dakota for the upcoming season. It will be interesting to see what kind of effect that has on his development. A two-way power center, Berg still has middle six upside.

15. Arnaud Durandeau

Durandeau had a breakout offensive season last year for Bridgeport, as he emerged as a scoring leader for the Sound Tigers. Offense isn’t likely to be his game at the NHL level though. He’s a future bottom six, energy guy who can play the penalty kill.

16. Tristan Lennox

After battling injuries and the Covid shutdown in the OHL, Lennox’s development finally got back on track last year with Saginaw. The former highly touted prospect will hope to use a strong OA year as a springboard to a strong first pro season.

17. Jakub Skarek

Skarek is likely reaching a crossroads in the Islanders organization after three mediocre pro seasons. The big Czech netminder will need a big year to stave off competition and to remain in the Islanders’ future plans.

18. Daylan Kueffler

Kueffler is very much a throwback to the power forwards of yesteryear. He throws big hits. He drops the mitts. He’s a net front presence. Skating may ultimately limit his NHL upside, but his first pro season with Bridgeport should provide greater feedback.

19. Travis Mitchell

Signed as a free agent out of Cornell, Mitchell is far from an exciting blueline prospect. He won’t wow you with skill or high-end mobility, but he is a staunch defensive presence with a chance of being a bottom pairing, PK type for New York in the future.

20. Aidan Fulp

Another heavy defender signed out of college (Western Michigan), Fulp will be competing for a role with the aforementioned Mitchell in the future. Of the two, who can adapt to the pace of the pro level the best while maintaining their physical advantage?

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #26 New York Islanders

Josh Bell — Sat, 13 May 2023 15:19:06 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 26^th (30^th last year)

The Islanders under Lou Lamoriello (GM since 2018) remain in ‘win now’ mode, despite missing the playoffs for the last two years. Prior to that they advanced to the Semi-Finals and the Conference Finals (under coach Barry Trotz). Lane Lamber took over as coach for the past season, narrowly missing the postseason. Lamoreillo had traded his first pick for the three past years. This past season he acquired leading free agent Bo Horvat, for his 2023 first, prospect Aatu Raty, and Anthony Beauvillier. Prior to the start of the season, he sent his 2022 1^st for Alexander Romanov from Montreal. The season prior was for Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. This has left the prospect pipeline depleted, with not a lot on the horizon.

Despite the lack of high picks, they have placed five prospects in our top 200 (Dufour, Bolduc, Iskhakov, Odelius, and Maggio). Simon Holmstom, Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson have all graduated for the 2019 and 2018 first rounds. Credit to scouting and development with Dobson emerging as a star. A core built around Horvat, Barzal and Brock Nelson down the middle (Barzal has been on wing at times) with Dobson, Pulock, and Romanov on defense, and one of the best goalies in the league in Sorokin, will keep them looking to add. Past is prologue and expect Lamoriello to follow the same playbook next season.

1. William Dufour

It was an interesting QMJHL career for William Dufour, to say the least. Over his four years in the league, he played with four different teams. That included three before he was even drafted, selected 152nd overall in 2020. He had a short but strong DY+1 season but his +2 season with the Saint John Sea Dogs was something else. With 116 points and a league-leading 56 goals in 66 games, he was named MVP and then lead the Sea Dogs to a Memorial Cup title, also being named MVP. Oh, and he had a World Junior gold medal in there too. He’s made the jump to the AHL this season, sliding in extremely well and impressing with his production. He has a pro frame which has helped him muscle his way into succeeding at the higher level. His skating has improved, he has a great wrist shot, and his hands are looking softer by the game. There’s middle-six potential here.

2. Samuel Bolduc

One of the best young d-men in the AHL this season, it’s been a slow burn for Samuel Bolduc since being drafted 57th overall in 2019. He’s had a steady pace of slowly getting better and better each season throughout his QMJHL career and now into the AHL, other than 2021-22 - his sophomore season in the AHL. But he’s made up for his slow year this season, earning a spot on the NHL roster. All signs are pointing to him being a graduate sooner rather than later. He plays a consistent, two-way game with excellent mobility, he has a knack for getting in the passing lanes in his end, and he’s shown that he can contribute offensively, especially with his big shot. He should stick where he is, as a bottom-four rearguard, but should be able to produce more offense as he gets more settled in the NHL.

3. Ruslan Iskhakov

The path of Ruslan Iskhakov is an example of why you can never give up on your dream. The Islanders drafted the Russian out of the MHL way back in the 2018 NHL Draft. From there, he joined the University of Connecticut in the NCAA, where he spent two seasons. He then went back overseas, spending a season with TPS in the Liiga before playing a year in the DEL with Adler Mannheim. Iskhakov is now in his third-straight rookie season in a pro league, but in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. Even better, he’s having an excellent season, among the leaders on the team and with rookies around the league. While he’s on the smaller size at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, he’s extremely elusive, from his quick hands to his light footwork and his offensive awareness stands out. He has the skill to be a middle-six contributor but give him some more time in the AHL first.

4. Calle Odelius

Just selected in the recent 2022 NHL Draft, 65th overall, Calle Odelius is a bit of a polarizing prospect where some believe he can be a game-breaker and others lean more toward a depth defender. Depending on the game you watch, you can understand one assessment or the other. The Islanders selected him out of the J20 Nationell, where he had a strong season and earned seven games in the SHL. With Djurgardens being demoted to the HockeyAllsvenskan, he hasn’t progressed as one would hope, struggling to pop offensively or in other areas of the game. When he’s on, he’s a good four-way skater, and is solid in his own end, breaking up plays and turning them up the other way. He may even end up more defensive leaning as he progressed. He could still surprise, but a depth defender likely is where he ends up.

5. Matt Maggio

Matt Maggio was one of the many OHLers impacted by the OHL season shutting down due to the pandemic in his draft year. While he already had two seasons of OHL action under his belt, he wanted to get scout’s eyes on him and headed overseas, playing with Sweden’s SK Lejon in the HockeyEttan. It wasn’t enough though, as he went undrafted. Heading back to the OHL in 2021-22, Maggio had a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, taking a huge step forward with 85 points. This season, he’s taken an even bigger jump forward, leading the OHL in goals (54) and points (111). His strength, ability to get into the high-danger areas, and competitiveness have all contributed to this progression. While making it as a pro isn’t a sure thing, these are all aspects that should help him get there as a reliable bottom-six player.

6. Otto Koivula

One of the older players still considered a prospect by McKeen’s, Otto Koivula heard his name called back in the 2016 NHL Draft, 120th overall. Islander’s fans have had to be patient with the forward since then. They selected him out of the U20 SM-liiga, where he helped Ilves to a championship and was named playoff MVP in the process. The next season, he made the jump to the Liiga where he led all rookies in assists (20) and points (30) and was named Rookie of the Year. The 6-foot-5 forward spent one more season in the Liiga before making the jump to North America, where he’s stuck ever since, spending most of his time in the AHL. He’s been good in the AHL but just hasn’t been able to find that success in the NHL. He’s likely at his ceiling now, bouncing between the leagues.

7. Alex Jefferies

Drafted out of the high school prep circuit in the 2020 NHL Draft, Alex Jefferies had a strong draft year with The Gunnery and played AAA with the Rochester Coalition. In both leagues, he was named to All-Star teams. He then made the jump to Merrimack College, where he’s been getting better and better each season, playing at over a point per game this season and leading the team in scoring. He plays a fast-paced game, has an excellent shot and has an improving ability to find space in the offensive zone. He’s an above-average skater with good vision and even brings a level of two-way ability. How exactly he translates to the next level remains to be seen, but as a late bloomer, his stock does seem to be trending up. He likely peaks as a depth forward that might bounce between the AHL and NHL.

8. Quinn Finley

Recently drafted by the Islanders in the 2022 NHL Draft, 78th overall, the Islanders have to be happy with his progression this season. This was after his sophomore season in the USHL with the Madison Capitols, where he was a player to watch but didn’t overly stand out. This season, he’s back in the USHL and split the season with the Capitols and the Chicago Steel, doubling his production from a year ago. He also participated in the World Junior A Challenge, producing a point per game and helping Team USA to a gold medal. Finley is a very intelligent player that processes the game very well. He doesn’t seem to truly drive his line or take over plays, limiting his overall ceiling. While his progression has impressed, at this point he seems likely to be a depth player. However, he will have some time to continue to develop and will move to the University of Wisconsin next season, which will be very telling.

9. Isaiah George

Another 2022 NHL Draft selection, Isaiah George was selected 98th overall from the OHL’s London Knights as a rookie. It would have been his sophomore season had it not been for the cancelled season. George could be an interesting prospect, as he could explode at any minute with the Knights, as soon as he gets bigger minutes. He’s an underrated two-way defender, who plays a very confident, reliable game. He’s good in transition and his awareness in his own end stands out. He’s a versatile defender able to play on either side of the rink. It has to be wondered if playing on the deep Knights has slowed his progression, but he does have some processing issues at times that also need to be factored in. George could still surprise when given the chance, but at this point, he looks like a depth, two-way defender.

10. Eetu Liukas

Playing in the Finnish TPS organization his entire career - until this season - Eetu Liukas has a steady path of progression. The Islanders saw that ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft, calling his name 157th overall. He was just making the jump to the Liiga that season, still playing mainly in the U20 SM-sarja. That pendulum swung in 2021-22, as he spent the majority of his time in the Liiga but still saw some time in the junior ranks. This season, he was full-time in the Liiga and showed a significant step in the right direction. He has a pro frame and plays with a ton of strength. He has a sneaky good shot but does often wait for the play and the puck to come to him rather than taking charge on the ice. If he can reach the NHL, he’s likely to be a call-up option at this point.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 19:37:39 +0000

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 28: New York Islanders Center Aatu Raty (61) controls the puck during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers on September 28, 2021 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Aatu Raty C

Since being drafted 52^nd overall in the summer of 2021, Räty has been on vengeance tour to prove to the hockey world that he should not have lasted as long in the draft as he did. Räty was fantastic for Finland at the U20 Five Nations Tournament in 2021 following the draft and then went on to have one of the best pro seasons of any drafted U23 player in Europe. After a slow start, he exploded after being loaned out to Jukurit, clipping at just under a point-per-game pace during the regular season. With an ELC already in his pocket, Räty completed the year with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, putting up a goal and four points in six postseason games. He then was one of the best overall players in this summer’s rescheduled WJC, where he finished 5^th in scoring with three goals and 10 points in seven games winning a silver medal. Despite all this progress and the consistency with which he has produced since being drafted, Räty continues to have a rather stiff skating stride and a subpar second gear. Quite shifty in traffic and very adept with the puck, his tendencies lean towards playmaking although his wrist shot and one-timer have proven deadly time and again. The Islanders say he’s tabbed for Bridgeport this season, but don’t be surprised if he keeps proving the doubters wrong and gets NHL games. - CL

2 - William Dufour RW

Dufour just had an exceptional season with the Saint John’s Sea Dogs: he won the league MVP award with 56 goals and 60 assists in just 66 games and won the Memorial Cup, winning the tournament’s MVP award there as well. To add a cherry on top, he played an instrumental role on the first line (at times) of Team Canada at the World Junior Championship helping them win a gold medal. Dufour’s standout attribute is his shot: it is hard, heavy and has pinpoint accuracy. He rounds out this attribute with a very efficient physical game and explosive skating. In his draft year, some scouts were pointing out Dufour’s lack of intensity. It’s now safe to say that William corrected this part of his game as he always plays aggressive on the forecheck and provides a consistent physical edge. William’s 6’3” frame combined with his great north-south skating and his excellent release gives him a great chance to develop nicely into a good middle-six scoring option at the NHL level. This upcoming season, Dufour will have a chance to prove himself furthermore with the Bridgeport Islanders as he was drafted in the 5^th round by the New York Islanders back in 2020. In retrospect, it looks like a steal of a pick by the Isles who must be thrilled by Dufour’s progression so far. - EB

3 - Robin Salo D

Making a name for himself thanks to his strong lateral movement along the opposition blueline, Salo has been taking his time to mature since being drafted 46^th overall in 2017. After more than six full seasons of professional hockey experience in Europe, this past season was his first in North America and it ended with mixed reviews. He suited up for the New York Islanders 21 times and earning time on the second power play unit. Heady, active, and confident in rushing the puck, Salo looked overwhelmed at times when it came to pressure exhibited by forecheckers. His corner and net-front work continue to be a work in progress, but there was no lack of effort or confidence playing a two-way, game from the blueline. His 46 total games of AHL play saw him begin and end with a good bit of responsibility as a top two defenseman, but he hit a wall mid-season. This could be attributed to playing more games than he ever had before, but the midseason Covid lull may have also impacted his second half slide. He looked like a certainty for a February call-up, but Parker Wotherspoon got the call instead with the Islanders noting that Salo wasn’t where he needed to be in his play at the time. The Islanders now enter the 22-23 season with an open spot on the left-hand side and the decision should come down to Salo, Sebastian Aho, or newly acquired Dennis Cholowski. – CL

4 - Otto Koivula C

A 2016 4^th rounder, the 6’4”, 220-pound Koivula is coming off his best season as a pro. Not only did he set career highs with 35 assists and 47 points in 56 AHL contests, he also suited up eight times for the Islanders, collecting his first two NHL assists. A tall player with a very formidable build, you wouldn’t be blamed for mistaking Koivula for Islander top goal-scorer Brock Nelson, as the two look incredibly similar in the way they carry themselves, but the similarity stops there. The speed of the NHL game is still a bit overwhelming for the Finn and he played very conservatively, looking to make quick, safe plays at every juncture. Overall, his time on Long Island saw him deployed in a bottom six capacity, averaging 11 minutes per outing. Originally a left wing whose greatest holdback has been his skating, Koivula was a bit of a prospect sensation for the Islanders when he was immediately moved to center during his rookie AHL season in 18-19 and proceeded to put up 46 points. Nonetheless, his progress has somewhat stalled since then and his future role in the organization is uncertain. He heads into the upcoming season with two years remaining on his second contract and finds himself as the 5^th man on the center depth chart. Huge production on the farm could be just the tonic necessary to make the jump for an Islanders team that is constantly seeking more offense. - CL

5 - Simon Holmstrom RW

Drafted 23^rd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, Holmström was widely seen as an off-the-board pick despite being one of Sweden’s top forwards available that year. In light of the progress of players such as Philip Tomasino, Connor McMichael, and Arthur Kaliyev (not to mention fellow Swede Nils Höglander), all currently taking NHL shifts and having been selected shortly after Holmström, the belief that he was a poor selection persists. Nonetheless, he has shown progress and it is too early to write him off. He spent the majority of last season healthy and forced his way into a top six role for the Bridgeport Islanders. His 12 goals and 43 regular season points were good for third on the team. At 6’1”, 195 lbs., Holmström is solidly built and has been working hard on moving from a largely perimeter game to one with more sandpaper and a greater readiness to make his way to the net through traffic. His playmaking continues to be strong, and he occasionally pulls off the type of move that pulls viewers out of their seats. An NHL debut this season is not unthinkable, but the Islanders still find themselves in a “win-now” mode and are looking for Holmstrom to take a greater step as a go-to guy on the attack for the AHL outfit. Ultimately, contracts for players like Zach Parise and Josh Bailey are winding down and the organization sees Holmström as a high priority to ultimately fill those future lineup holes. - CL

6 - Calle Odelius D

Odelius was selected with the 65^th overall pick by the New York Islanders in the most recent draft. He projects as a two-way defenceman with solid mobility and playmaking ability. He spent this past season playing with Djurgårdens in the J20 league, producing 30 points in 43 games. His skating stride stands out as he has strong ankle flexion, good balance and impressive four-way mobility. He is often able to read plays before they occur and position himself to break up offensive chances. Once he breaks up possession, he quickly looks to transition the puck, either with a crisp pass through the neutral zone or with his smooth north-south skating. While his offensive game isn’t dynamic per se, his ability to assess passing lanes and complete passes at an efficient rate make him a decent offensive option. He is extremely athletic and uses his frame to edge out opponents for the puck. Odelius was part of a large group of draft eligible players playing for Djurgårdens at the junior level last season and will look to develop along with that group moving forward. He will work on rounding out his game, splitting time between the Allsvenskan and the J20 league for Djurgårdens in the upcoming season. - ZS

7 - Isaiah George D

The 98th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Isaiah George dropped farther than some were expecting, as he was projected as a potential 2nd round pick by some. Like others, George missed the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid-19 shutdown. During the 2021-2022 season, George was given little opportunity to play, as do most London Knights rookies, especially defensemen. Despite not given a lot of time on ice, George was able to make the most of his time, being very effective in transition, both offensively and defensively. George displayed great strength and mobility when breaking up and shutting down plays in transition in the defensive zone. Being able to keep a strong gap control with good four-way mobility, an active stick and being physical when needed. At the end of the season, George finished with 23 points (6G,17A) in 67 games, which was 7th on the team in points and 2nd in points for a defenseman on the Knights despite playing minimal minutes. During the skills testing at the CHL Top Prospects Game, George did very well, ranking 1st in 30m backward skating with and without the puck, and 3rd in 30m forward skating with and without puck which resulted in George finishing 4th overall. George’s best assets are his skating and puck handling. He has the ability to play with great speed and pace each shift, having the acceleration and agility to separate himself from opponents and create space for himself. He’s able to use his quick hands to stay deceptive and keep control of the puck in traffic, showing great poise. Going into the 2022-2023 season, George will most likely see an increase in minutes and be given more of an opportunity to play in more situations. His point totals should also see an increase in production. - DK

8 - Cameron Berg C

A player who was passed up in his first year of NHL draft eligibility, Cameron Berg’s 2020-21 USHL campaign was strong enough for him to be selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL draft. Berg’s time as a Muskegon Lumberjack was far more fruitful than his time with the Omaha Lancers, but despite that Berg chose to head back to Omaha for his collegiate career, suiting up for the University of Nebraska-Omaha. There, Berg had a solid first college season, scoring 23 points in 37 games. Berg wasn’t a top player at even strength, but he received solid power play minutes and flashed some real offensive upside in those situations, times when he wasn’t as hard-pressed to create space due to the man advantage. Berg doesn’t have a standout offensive tool, instead relying on his hard work and persistence to be effective on the attack. This will likely be enough for him to survive as a scoring threat in college, but it severely limits his NHL upside. Still, Berg should take a jump next season and be a top scorer for Nebraska next season. If he can do that, maybe his offensive upside as a pro will warrant a second look. But right now, Berg’s motor will be the most likely tool that carries him as a pro, and he’ll need to prepare for the inevitable transition he’ll make into being more of a role player without a lot of offensive opportunities. While the expected jump in production many expect for Berg will draw more attention, it’s the improvements that he does or does not make in his two-way game that will have more of an impact on his chances of becoming an NHL player. - EH

9 - Quinn Finley LW

Quinn Finley, one of the younger players available at the 2022 draft, was a bit of a divisive prospect. Ultimately drafted 78th overall by the Islanders, some saw the pick as a reach for a player yet to put all his talent together at the USHL level, while others saw it as an appropriate home run swing for an organization that has a prospect pipeline short on skilled offensive players. While Finley’s numbers — 29 points in 39 games for the Madison Capitals — Finley has legitimate scoring upside. Finley is both a threat as a passer and a shooter, although he’ll likely do his most damage in a role as the latter. Finley can pick a corner on a goalie and score from a perimeter. His shot is his best tool, and it’s what contributes the most to his NHL upside. That being said, Finley needs to get better at finding the right places and times to unleash his shot, and while he isn’t a perimeter-only player he can stand to get better at scoring goals from closer to the net. As a playmaker, Finley showed the chops to set up teammates in the USHL, but he’ll need to develop his approach and add more deception in order to be a playmaker at higher levels. How far Finley goes will largely depend on how far his shot and speed tools can carry him. Barring any major developments to his away-from-the-puck game, Finley has the upside to be a speedy goal-scoring specialist at the NHL level. His odds of actually achieving that upside will come down to how he spends his time in college at the University of Wisconsin. Finley has all the tools to outperform his third-round draft billing, and he’ll be one of the freshmen players to watch in college hockey next season. - EH

10 - Eetu Liukas LW

Built like a truck, the 2021 5^th rounder spent last season becoming a verifiable NHL prospect. 10 goals and 20 points in 13 U20-league games showed he can score, but 12 goals in a lower line role over 65 games for TPS of Liiga make him more interesting still, with a game that is all about taking the body and getting under opponent’s skin. This is exactly what he did for Finland at this summer’s WJC, with two assists and a +3 in six games while throwing his weight around and contributing to the penalty kill. One indicative play from late in the Gold Medal game saw him win a puck battle in Canada’s corner, send a tape-to-tape pass to his onrushing defenseman, charge the net, partially screening the goalie while gaining the attention of both Canadian defensemen, giving Joakim Kemell just the time and space necessary to score on a one-timer. Liukas has a strong build and understands his role to a T, playing a throwback style harkening the likes of Esa Tikkanen. He can be unpleasant, tough along the boards, and dish out some hurt, but he keeps his penalty minutes to a minimum. On top of it all, he has a surprisingly hard and accurate shot. He is signed on this season with HPK with the intent of securing a top nine role. A strong season could lead to an ELC next summer. - CL

11 - Alex Jefferies

Jefferies, a slippery and skilled playmaking winger, has had two good, but not great seasons at Merrimack to start his NCAA run. The Islanders will be looking for him to truly take that next step as an offensive leader as a junior.

12 - Jakub Skarek

A former third round pick of the Islanders, Skarek has been playing with Bridgeport the last three seasons. Last year was his best as a pro, which does breed some confidence that he can be an NHL netminder if he can continue to progress this year.

13 -- Matt Maggio

The competitive goal scoring winger took massive strides forward with Windsor of the OHL this past season. He could turn pro this season or return to Windsor for his overage year.

14 - Ruslan Iskhakov

The road to prospect relevancy has not been standard for Ishakov. Two years at UConn, a year in Liiga, and a year in the DEL (most recently). However, the undersized playmaking center has produced at each of those levels and will now try his hand in the AHL next year.

15 - Tristan Lennox

Last season was pretty much a write off for the former highly touted goaltending prospect. Injuries plagued his year, and the Spirit were pretty bad in front of him when he did. Without a strong overage season next year, the Islanders may not elect to sign him.

16 - Blade Jenkins

After three mediocre OHL seasons, Jenkins has now had two mediocre AHL seasons with Bridgeport. The big forward needs to have a much better third pro season to stay in New York’s plans.

17 - Bode Wilde

No question Wilde is talented. He is athletic. He is skilled. There were many OHL games during his time with Saginaw where he was the best player on the ice. However, as a pro, his lack of game awareness has limited him. He will return to the AHL this year after a year abroad in Sweden last year.

18 - Arnaud Durandeau

There is a path to the NHL for Durandeau, a lunch pail type of winger who can be used in a variety of different situations. The upside may not be more than as a fourth liner, but he could still have a productive career.

19 - Matias Rajaniemi

A hulking Finnish defender, Rajaniemi has become a regular in Liiga with Pelicans the last two seasons. He’s not the fleetest of foot, but there is value in his shutdown capabilities.

20 - Samuel Bolduc

Bolduc’s pro debut with Bridgeport was solid in the shortened, watered down AHL season two years ago, but last year was a major step backward. The big defender is more of an offensive powerplay QB, rather than a staunch, physical force (as you might expect given his 6’4, 220lbs frame).

New York Islanders 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:27:55 +0000

The 2014 draft, while lacking in clear cut superstars, was very strong. Of the 30 players selected in the first round, only one, Conner Bleackley, has yet to appear in an NHL game. (As an aside, he took three years to become an AHL regular, and a depth one at that. He may never complete the circle.) These players are basically still 23 or 24 years old and already 34 players selected that June have played over 100 games in the NHL, with another 10 set to join them in 2019-20. 13 of the players have already accrued 100 points we well. (Another aside – only three netminders from that draft have appeared in the NHL, and none has played more than 10 games yet.)

The Islanders had two picks in that first round. Their own, at fifth overall, and the 28^th overall pick, which they acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for a pair of second rounders. Among the more successful players available when the Islanders made their first pick, include William Nylander, Dylan Larkin, Nick Schmaltz, and David Pastrnak, among others. When the Islanders called out the name of Michael Dal Colle, no one flinched, as he was widely recognized as being among the top half-dozen prospects in the draft class.

At pick 28, the Isles had just missed out on Pastrnak, who lasted until pick 25 before Boston pounced, but played including Adrian Kempe, Ivan Barbashev, Marcus Pettersson and more. But again, no one flinched when Garth Snow and friends called out the name of Josh Ho-Sang. Like Dal Colle, Ho-Sang was a talented, high scoring winger from the Toronto area who played in the OHL who was widely seen as good value that late in the round.

Perhaps you can guess where this is going before you read on to the list below. Dal Colle and Ho-Sang are still here, so neither has ever played up to 35 games in a single season, or 60 games combined. The 28 games Dal Colle played in last year bring him to 32 for his career. Ho-Sang appeared in 10 games for the Islanders last year, a drop off from the previous two seasons, when he played in 21 and then 22 games, respectively.

The two young wingers seem to be moving in opposite directions as far as their careers are concerned. Dal Colle seemed to be in serious danger of flaming out, while Ho-Sang was the more mercurial talent. Scouting is an inexact science at the best of times and the red flags that scouts had identified in both players have been what has held each of them back.

For Dal Colle, blessed with ideal power winger size and an abundance of skill, the concern was that he played a somewhat passive game, rarely asserting himself to the max against his opponents. For Ho-Sang, the opposite was true. He was intelligent, but very head strong and very much a non-conformist, leading to him rubbing many evaluators the wrong way. Dal Colle may have figured it out last season, and he was accordingly rewarded with his best AHL season and a prolonged NHL stint. Ho-Sang, on the other hand, is still the same young man for whom some evaluators said was a “no-draft”. There was little to separate his 2018-19 season from the two previous ones.

Dal Colle may have saved his career, as young as he still is. Ho-Sang seems to need a change of scenery to be evaluated with a fresh set of eyes.

-Ryan Wagman

New York Islanders Defenseman Noah Dobson (45) (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire)

1 Noah Dobson, D (12^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 2) Dobson has everything you love in a defenseman as a prospect – great skater, great hockey sense on both ends, great puckhandler and passer, contributes offensively and defensively, and has the ideal size for the NHL level. He has the potential to make the Islanders as early as this coming season, and he has all the tools to make that happen. His skating, hockey sense and positioning could put him into the NHL right now without skipping a beat, and he has played a lot of hockey in the last two years – two Memorial Cup titles while playing 30-minutes-a-night, two Team Canada summer camps and a holiday season with Team Canada at the world juniors. Dobson only needs to fill out his frame to have a true impact at the NHL level, and he is set to be a top pairing defender for a long time. - MS

2 Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) Two years after selecting Kieffer Bellows in the first round, the Isles tapped a similar well in drafting Wahlstrom, a sniper from the USNTDP who put up great numbers in the Program, but was seemingly conflicted about the college track. Also like Bellows, Wahlstrom had one underwhelming season on campus before he turned pro. To Wahlstrom’s credit, he shows willingness to work in his own zone, but it will always be the quality of his shot, and his ability to get it off cleanly, that will determine his path to the NHL. He has slick mitts that aid in the shot preparation and release, as well as maintaining puck possession. The Isles should be patient with him, letting him round out his game in the AHL, but his upside is still first line. The hope is that he does not develop as a top six or bust player. - RW

3 Simon Holmstrom, RW (23^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Holmstrom is an elite skilled winger who I expect will get a good look at SHL hockey this season. That said, he is a top six or bust forward and plays for a top ranked team so he may need to start with the junior team. He actually is signed by the Islanders but will play in Sweden for at least another season. Holmstrom has an elite skillset and can control the pace of the game. He is a strong technical skater and with more strength in his legs he can see fast improvement. Against his peers you can see separation speed. He possesses both a good wrist shot as well as an elite playmaking potential. Injuries have slowed his development curve a bit. Last summer he couldn’t train properly, and he missed a big portion of the season due to multiple injuries. Holmstrom will be a long-term project for the NY Islanders but one that could be worth the wait. - JH

4 Ilya Sorokin, G (78^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 6) At age 24, Sorokin has gathered a lot of experience in the last few years and he can easily be considered one of the best goaltending prospects in the world. He posted stellar numbers over the past four seasons with CSKA Moscow and he will now play a final year in Russia before crossing the pond. He plays at such a level that should allow him to play in the NHL right away, even if period of adaptation will be needed in any case. Sorokin is a tall, calm goaltender who makes great use of his reach and is very athletic – both qualities that will help him to shine even in North America. It is expected that the Russian netminder will join the NHL lineup right away and the Islanders may even go with a rare Russian duo in net for the 2020-21 season with Sorokin and Varlamov as Greiss has only one more year left on his contract. - ASR

5 Bode Wilde, D (41^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) While there are some areas of his game that are best described as “developing,” Wilde possesses tantalizing potential because of his athleticism. Blessed with size, skill, and power, he blasts his way up ice and is virtually unstoppable when it comes to crossing the blueline on his rushes. He also possesses a terrific shot and scoring instincts for a defender. All of that said, he is a high risk/high reward player who can spend a little too much time in the offensive end and not enough in his own. Furthermore, his positioning in the defensive end will need to improve as he has a tendency to chase the puck or make poor reads. Wilde is an exciting prospect who could easily develop into a top pairing defender if his game settles down and he is able to improve defensively. - BO

6 Michael Dal Colle, LW (5^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 7) Dal Colle is not to be slept on despite his struggles to make an impact at the next level. For a fifth overall pick he has had a tough time adjusting to and reacting to the pace of the play as a professional. He is a highly skilled player, he can skate, shoot and do just about everything at the NHL caliber and he now brings a highly competitive edge to the game. Dal Colle succeeds and does fine at the AHL level and having managed a point a game average with Bridgeport last season he proved his ability to play at the professional level, however he only had 7 points in 28 games during his call up with the Islanders. The Islanders will need Dal Colle to step up his play this coming season to earn his bottom six spot with the chance of moving up the line up. - SC

7 Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 4) A strong skater and good passer, Ho-Sang is a power forward that can be relied upon to carry the puck deep and make creative plays. His work below the goal line is explosive and his passing is accurate which helps him stand out when he has the puck. Many of his goals scored may not be the prettiest but his tenacity around the net is admirable, he gets into the dirty spots and drives the net hard to create chances for himself. However, Ho-Sang will need to be more dependable as a two-way player if he wants a shot in the NHL with the Islanders again next season. With his experience in the NHL already, he knows what to expect and this coming season he should do much better with his zone coverage and timing as he continues to grow and develop his game. A quick note that he should also be mindful not to be too overzealous when with the puck to help him remain within team structure. - SC

8 Kieffer Bellows, LW (19^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Bellows is a strong, dominant force on the ice with physical prowess and a highly competitive attitude. He plays to win and with an impressive amount of passion to compliment his natural scoring ability and skill set. He did not see the success he is used to in his first professional season with Bridgeport, managing only 19 points throughout 73 games along with 101 penalty minutes. He will need to have better control of his game next season and step up his play a bit to earn a spot at the next level. Bellows has great potential as a strong second liner with the Islanders, but he still has a lot of maturing to do before that can happen. Bellows is an offensive gift to any team, but a player of his skill has to be able to play well at both ends of the ice and his defensive positioning will also need small adjustments before he makes any further jumps. - SC

9 Anatoli Golyshev, LW (95^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) One of the KHL’s top wingers, Golyshev had a career year in 2018-19, with 19 goals and 40 points in 54 regular season games. He has further stepped up and his talent has removed some of the rougher edges, with a more concrete game and less wasted efforts. He is not big, but is very tough on his skates and can play bigger than his size, however he often prefers playing on the perimeter. Golyshev boasts a ton of raw talent, but there are two things that may concern the Isles. First is his adaptability – he recently signed a new four-year deal in Russia, with an out clause, but it is yet to be seen what it will be in two years. Second, he is very injury prone. He has never played all the regular-season games for Avtomobilist, and he is currently out for the first two months of 2019-20 with a lower body injury. - ASR

10 Sebastian Aho, D (139^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11) The Swedish born Aho is a smooth skating and smart playing defenseman. Although not known for his shooting ability, he is accurate and his shots from the point are of quality. He is a strong passer and a creative playmaker which was notable in his second AHL season, as he finished second on Bridgeport with 37 assists. He still needs to work on his physical play and his timing when it comes to pinching and making the decision whether or not to play the puck. He has adapted well to the North American style of play and his progress over two seasons has been very good. Having already played up with the Islanders, Aho has yet to show his true potential and is barely pushing a bottom four ceiling. He will need to work on his composure and avoiding seeming too scrambly, and if he can polish up the positional aspects of his game, he will be on the right path to earning a more permanent NHL spot. - SC

11 Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (43^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) Quicker than he is fast, the pint-sized Iskhakov adapted remarkably well to his first exposure to North American hockey and the smaller ice sheet. The number three scorer on a young Connecticut squad, despite missing some time in the first half after suffering a concussion from a massive open ice hit. He is most notable as a prospect for his playmaking ability and vision. His return to the ice after the hit and without a dropoff in production no less, tells us that he remains somewhat fearless and plays without hesitation. As with many players of his stature and ability, his defensive zone work often leaves something to be desired, leaving the fear that he could be top six or bust. Either way, the Islanders can afford to be patient with Iskhakov. - RW

12 Parker Wotherspoon, D (112^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 12) Wotherspoon’s second professional year with Bridgeport was an improvement to his rookie year as he cracked the 20 point margin and saw his confidence grow as a defenseman. He walks the line well and finds ways to creep down the sides to gain offensive ground with ease. He flies under the radar offensively but makes his presence known physically. He would benefit a little more with less time spent fighting and more time focusing on using his skill to prove himself on the ice rather than in the penalty box. For a skilled defenseman with a knack for passing he has the potential to gain a bottom four spot with the Islanders and be a physical force if he can learn to balance both aspects of his game and turn them into assets. Wotherspoon will also need to work on getting more shots to the net this coming season and proving that he is not just a good passer but a good shot as well. - SC

13 Jakub Skarek, G (72^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 17) Skarek really impressed in the first half of the past Liiga season, but the level of his performances dropped off as the campaign progressed. He is a butterfly goalie with very good quickness and plenty of athleticism to boot. He shows great fluidity when moving laterally. He moves quickly and effectively post-to-post. He can make the occasional flashy, athletic save thanks to his quick reflexes and glove. Skarek has good vision as he tracks the puck well through traffic and bodies in front of the net, constantly keeping his eyes on the puck. He knows when to challenge shooters and be more aggressive in order to cut down the angle. The biggest downside in Skarek’s game is that he has a tendency to overcommit at times by dropping into the butterfly too early. He has high upside but must add consistency and prove that he can be a difference maker in big games. - MB

14 Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 18) Vande Sompel is smooth skating, hard shooting, yet undersized defenseman who manages to get the puck to the net and rarely passes up the chance to shoot. He is a good skater and a hard worker, and his transitions are especially smooth which allow him to be quick and outwork opponents in races for the puck. He already has the mindset and the vision to be an NHL defenseman, but he still needs to be winning more boards battles and stay strong when protecting his own net. He will have to be harder on the puck and work on maintaining priority in the defensive zone, as Vande Sompel cannot get caught too deep forechecking or pinching if he wants to cut it as a bottom four defenseman at the next level. He may see the play well but his patience still has to improve and he will need to mature a small bit before he can make the jump any further. - SC

15 Mason Jobst, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 2, 2019. Last Year: IE) In terms of pure upside and dynamic ability, Jobst could rank higher on this list. His main drawbacks as a prospect are his size (5-8”, 185), and his age (25.5). A four year top collegiate scorer at (The) Ohio State, he plays a much bigger game than his listed measurements, willing and able to take big hits in order to complete a play. His stickhandling ability pops on nearly every shift and he is equal parts playmaker and finisher. His style of play gives him a number of avenues to reach and stick in the NHL, with attributes that would fit on any line, but considering his age, his window is limited. - RW

16 Otto Koivula, LW (120^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 9) Koivula is a massive forward and a very handy player to have in front of the net as his positioning is generally very good in all areas of the ice and his size makes his net positioning is very strong. He is not the greatest skater nor the most agile on the ice but he makes up for it with his hands and his uncanny ability to find open ice. He sees the play very well and has a good eye for making difficult passes in tight spots and from behind the net. Overall, he is a very clean and skilled player. For a big body, Koivula gets breaks and can move once he gets up to speed, however this takes him four to five strides too many to hit a top speed. He will need to find a way to get faster and gain a jump in his step in order to be considered a potential bottom six forward with the Islanders. - SC

17 Reece Newkirk, C (147^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Newkirk went through quite a transition last season from the one before, as he jumped from 11 points to 59, quickly moving him up the ladder and helping advance into the draft rankings. He is a bit on the smaller side with his size, but plays way beyond that in his type of play. He is a versatile player who is relied upon to play and produce in all situations. He is an energy guy who is confident, drives the net, and plays with an edge both hard and tough. He works extremely hard, competes at both ends of the ice and can contribute in multiple ways. Although he isn't the best skater, he projects as a bottom six forward with a scoring touch. - KO

18 Blade Jenkins, C (134^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 14) Jenkins is a power center who is aggressive and assertive with the puck. He is always in attack mode, looking to drive the net. And with his strength on the puck, he can be very effective below the hash marks, prolonging possession along the wall. The question is, are his hands good enough for him to play an offensive role at the NHL level? That remains to be seen and improving both his vision with the puck and his finishing ability will be areas of focus for him. He should have a good offensive season on a strong Saginaw team, but remains a long term project for the Islanders who could develop into a checking line role player down the road. - BO

19 Kyle Burroughs, D (196^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 19) Burroughs is a good playmaker and a decent all round player. He is not flashy nor one who particularly likes to carry the puck but is instead a stay at home defenseman who does well protecting his end of the ice. He has a mean streak and that streak saw him spending a lot of unnecessary time in the box. The irony is that when Burroughs is not in the penalty box, he serves as a great power play defenseman and can quarterback a play without problem. His ability to take one timers paired with his release make him an ideal blueliner to have on the point. With discipline and a little more urgency, he could be a bottom four defenseman but he will have to impress this season or he could see his chances at getting to the next level come to an end. - SC

20 Jacob Pivonka, C (103^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Son of Washington Capitals legend Michal Pivonka, Jacob will never reach his father’s scoring exploits, but he is still a prospect to pay attention to. A teammate of Wahlstrom and Wilde’s with the USNTDP, Pivonka played a depth forward role, one he reprised last year as a freshman at Notre Dame. Despite his piddly point totals, he has some playmaking ability and a nice enough shot release. What makes him noteworthy though is the maturity of his game and his reliability in his own zone as well as his faceoff ability. He is patient, reads the ice well and uses his stick nicely to break up opposing plays. Pivonka will need to add some extra offense to make it, but if he does, he could be a prototypical fourth line center and penalty killer in the NHL. - RW

New York Islanders Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:02:04 +0000

With the best draft class (technically, tied with Detroit) among all NHL clubs this year in terms of talent acquired, it stands to reason that we take a few moments to discuss it and its significance in the grand scheme of the Islanders’ organization both now and in the near future.

With six of the eight picks made by the Islanders in June featuring on the below list, including each of the top three prospects, one aspect of how this draft class will impact the Islanders going forward is fairly clear. A more subtle aspect to the impact is what the draft class says about the direction the Islanders will be taking under new President of Hockey Operations and GM Lou Lamoriello.

Previously, under the direction of Garth Snow, the Islanders actually did an alright job at the draft, getting a good number of their top picks into the NHL, and often in impactful roles. While not every pick worked out (see Reinhart, Griffin, and Dal Colle, Michael), he otherwise had a remarkably successful run on draft day, both in the first round, and in subsequent rounds. For proof of the latter, see the 2008 and 2009 draft classes, which included Jared Spurgeon, Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Anders Lee, none earlier than the fourth round.

Lamoriello is better known for his long, Hall of Fame stretch at the helm of the New Jersey Devils, but it is perhaps more instructive to look at the two drafts he presided over as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, even though Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas, his two senior-most executives with a hand in scouting, are not following him to Long Island.

Though those two draft classes in Toronto (2016-2017) have seen only one player, Auston Matthews, play a game in the NHL, they showed a mixture of skill and sandpaper, mobility and size. Seven players in the Toronto top 20 are members of those two draft classes, including their top prospect and three of their top five.

As small a sample size as two draft classes is, Lamoriello’s Long Island sample of one draft is naturally smaller. So what can we see? Of the four forwards drafted, size was not a concern. Two forwards stand 6-1”, and one measures in at 5-8”. The three blueliners he selected all top out bigger, standing between 6-2”, and 6-4”. The one goalie also has good size, but that is a pretty universal benchmark among young goalies as the days of smaller netminders is rapidly disappearing into the mist of history.

In all honesty, we cannot deduce what the next generation of Islanders draft hopefuls will look like based on the eight players selected this year. The fact that they selected the best skilled players they could in the first two rounds bodes well, but it could also be a matter of letting the chips fall where they did, and picking up the pieces, as he had spent barely a month with the team before draft day. There is a very good chance that the picks made were more a reflection of the scouting reports left over from the previous regime’s scouting staff than any input brought forth by Lamoriello, or any other new hires in particular. We should applaud the injection of talent right now, and remain open minded about how things shake out next June in Vancouver.

Oliver Wahlstrom

1 Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Oliver Wahlstrom's superb puck-handling allowed him to become an internet sensation in his boyhood, and is perhaps still the most dynamic skill the first-round pick has to offer at 18 years old. The Islanders spent their highest 2018 pick on the electric U.S. National Team Development scoring forward (26-22-23-45), wowed by his near elite puck-protection skills and lethal shooting touch. Graded as perhaps the best shooter in the draft class, he has the raw shooting skill to be a goal-scoring phenom at the NHL level. His skating ability is deadly when used at full capacity, as his speed and cutting can leave defenders helpless, but he does tend to coast and not exert full effort from time to time. Physically, Wahlstrom needs to improve on his assertiveness with his sturdy, bulky body, as he could really make an impact in that aisle. A Boston College commit, his time in the NCAA should be very brief.

2 Noah Dobson, D (12th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) A major part of the Acadie-Bathurst team that won the QMJHL and the Memorial Cup, Noah Dobson headlines an Islanders prospect core loaded with defensemen. A highly-intelligent, point-producing blueliner (67-17-52-69 last season), he has a diverse set of skills that transcends any defensive scheme and competition level, playing a game that looks like it will easily translate to the pro ranks. The puck-moving 18-year-old makes great reads, always puts the puck in the right place, and has exceptional hockey sense and defensive awareness that rivals even Rasmus Dahlin, the draft's number-one pick. His shot is great (the 17 goals from the blue line speak for themselves), as is his willingness to play a physical brand of hockey. He is not a dynamic skater, but serviceable in his own right; he is mobile and athletic, but does not routinely dazzle onlookers with his speed and cutting. His ceiling may not be as high as his 2018 draft peers, but his floor is as lofty as any.

3 Bode Wilde, D (41st overall, 2018. Last year: IE) If his game comes to fruition and he reaches his All-Star ceiling, Bode Wilde will go down as a certifiable steal in the coming years. Projected as a mid first-rounder in the weeks approaching the 2018 draft, Wilde slipped to the Islanders, to which he brings his graceful skating, heads-up decision making, and versatility. A wondrous straight-line skater, he does everything with such impeccable precision at full speed, retaining the ability to pivot and cut with grace almost effortlessly. His skating pays off defensively, where his gap control and backwards-to-forwards transitions display top-pair potential. A right-shooter, Wilde will be a weapon in all three zones, with a good shot from the point to make him a decent goal-scoring contributor. His defensive-zone efforts need major improvement (physical assertiveness, attentiveness to moving forwards, and more), but when that comes along, he could emerge as a formidable NHLer.

4 Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28th overall, 2014. Last year: 3rd) It has been four years since Joshua Ho-Sang infamously said he would become the best player from the 2014 draft class. Though he has been treated somewhat unfairly coming up through the ranks with the Islanders, we are still waiting for the former Windsor Spitfire to emerge. He still has the raw skill that made him a first-round pick back in 2014, most notably his skating ability and his exciting, flashy puck-handling capabilities. He is well above average in driving offensive plays, as his passing, creativity, and effectiveness with entering the zone and maintaining possession are unlike nearly any on the Islanders roster. When the 22-year-old was with the NHL club last season, it seemed like he was creating chances every time he stepped on the ice, despite playing with lesser linemates. His defensive deficiencies and off-ice troubles are detrimental to both Ho-Sang and the Isles, but with new management and new coaching entering the fold, he has a fresh start and a chance to impress again.

Kieffer Bellows

5 Kieffer Bellows, LW (19th overall, 2016. Last year: 7th) Much like Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows comes from the U.S. National Development Team and specializes in puck play and a fatal shooting touch. The Edina, MN native tallied 41 goals in just 56 games for WHL Portland with that skillset, and used that offensive firepower to be the most dangerous player on the ice for Team USA's World Junior entry last season with nine goals in seven games. Unlike Wahlstrom, the 20-year-old is more of a trailer than a pacesetter and does not possess blazing skating speed, but uses positioning away from the puck and the smarts to get open to score a bounty of goals at any level. He causes disruption in the neutral zone and on the forecheck, and also plays center frequently enough to perhaps project as an NHL middle-six pivot. As he turns pro this season, he will have to prove that he can score goals at higher competition levels, unlike his underwhelming lone NCAA season.

6 Ilya Sorokin, G (78th overall, 2014. Last year: 4th) One of the game's top goalies outside of North America, Ilya Sorokin has put up ridiculous numbers as the starter for CSKA Moscow, one of the KHL's top clubs. Putting up goals against averages of 1.06, 1.61, and 1.59 over the past three seasons, the former third-rounder has clear, raw talent. An extremely composed netminder, the 6-2" 23-year-old has excellent reactions, mobility, and lateral quickness to complement a solid, strong upper-body. He is as focused on the job at hand he is as athletic, and his mental toughness in the crease continues to make big strides. Under contract in the KHL for two more seasons, Sorokin is already 23 and if the Islanders want the Russian star to come aboard, they might have to buy him out of his KHL deal. The problem is they need the goaltender more than the goaltender needs the Islanders.

7 Michael Dal Colle, LW (5th overall, 2014. Last year: 5th) As recently as a couple of years ago, Islanders management dreamed of Michael Dal Colle potting 40 goals on John Tavares' wing. Now, the young winger is a symbol of disappointment, and has been anything but an NHL-quality player. His game revolves exclusively around his near-elite shot, a force for accurate, strong snipes from all around the offensive zone, but his game is so concentrated on scoring that when he cannot produce points, he disappears. He lacks the skating speed to generate scoring chances on his own, and his smarts are not enough to contribute regularly. He still has plus size, great hands, and again, an NHL-caliber wrist shot. On the last year of his ELC, it is a make or break year for the former fifth-overall pick.

8 Anatoli Golyshev, RW (95th overall, 2016. Last year: 12th) Drafted as an overager back in 2016, Anatoli Golyshev is like Sorokin in that he is a very intriguing, mysterious Russian with NHL-quality skill playing over in the KHL. The 23-year-old winger is a great shooter with enough speed and agility to create his own shot with his skating, and has playmaking skills that are headlined by a variety of quick, effective passes and nifty offensive vision. His lack of size (5-9", 172 lbs) is masked completely by his creativity with the puck, which rarely puts his body in harm's way. He bounced back from a down season the year prior in his homeland by leading Yekaterinburg in goals and points in 2017-18. Whether he will come to North America after all is still an open question, but judging by raw talent, he is more than ready to make an impact on Long Island.

9 Otto Koivula, LW (120th overall, 2016. Last year: 20th) With a big body, some reliable skill, and the maturity that earned him -- a fourth-rounder playing overseas -- an ELC at just 20 years old, Otto Koivula leaped from 20th to 9th in the Islanders prospect rankings. An ability to stick in the Liiga at such a young age is impressive on its own, but the winger has put up two solid seasons from a production standpoint to earn that pro consideration with the Isles. What the left-hander does well is use his great size (6-3", 220 lbs) to create space for himself to release his heavy, accurate wrist shot, while he is also very tough to play with against around the corners. On the other hand, he is a borderline horrid skater with no straight-line speed, awful technical skating skill, and a clear lack of athleticism; this impacts his upside heavily, and as he debuts in North America with AHL Bridgeport, is something to keep an eye on.

Devon Toews

10 Devon Toews, D (108th overall, 2014. Last year: 8th) An extremely fast, graceful skater since his Quinnipiac days, Devon Toews was an AHL All-Star two seasons ago and has all the makings of an NHLer. However, a shoulder surgery ended his 2017-18 season before he could make a splash on the Islanders' roster. How he can respond is the question, but the answer starts with his unmatched pure skating speed; he might have the fastest high gear of any Isles prospect. He is a strong puck-mover, has good two-way senses, and is very calm and reserved with the puck. On one side, he could be the ideal replacement for the departing Calvin de Haan, and on the other, he is 24 and his offensive numbers are probably a tad inflated by his maturity in a league ripe with 21-year-olds. If his offensive game translates to the NHL, he has top four potential.

11 Sebastian Aho, D (139th overall, 2017. Last year: 17th) Widely known as the “other Sebastian Aho”, the defenseman made a great impression on the Islanders brass as a 21-year-old overager in the 2017 draft and broke the NHL roster for 22 games last season. He put up good numbers in the NHL and below, where he led all Bridgeport defensemen in goals (nine) and points (29). He is an excellent skater by both technical skills and pure speed, and grades as average or above in puck skills and smarts. His undersized body inhibits his physical game tremendously, but he is fast and intelligent enough to mostly make up for his tiny frame in the defensive zone. In reality, Aho should have been drafted sooner than the fifth round in his fourth year of eligibility. He will likely start the season in Bridgeport but has a chance for promotion in short order.

12 Parker Wotherspoon, D (112th overall, 2015. Last year: 10th) A leading offensive force from the blueline on some poor Tri-City teams, Parker Wotherspoon was a prolific defensive scorer in the WHL. The leader in points (10-56-66) among WHL defensemen in his final junior year (2016-17), the former fourth-rounder made the transition to the AHL last season as a member of the Sound Tigers, with which he had cups of coffee in the previous two seasons. At first, it was a disastrous debut, being a healthy scratch in 15 of the first 30 games, but he found his groove with his good skating, two-way discipline, and skills to a spot on both the power play and penalty kill units before the end of the season. The 21-year-old has no special assets, but is around average or above in every attribute that makes for an NHL-caliber player. However, and through no fault of his own, Wotherspoon is a while away from any real NHL impact; the Islanders' top-six seems set up already and he is behind both Aho and Toews on the depth chart.

13 Ruslan Iskhakov, C (43rd overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Ruslan Iskhakov is the first true center on this prospect rankings. If you still have John Tavares on your team, that would not be an issue, but the Islanders are thin in that position now without their former franchise cornerstone. No pressure, Ruslan. The undersized forward with absurd numbers in the Slovakian and Russian junior leagues comes to North America to play for UConn of the NCAA this season, looking to build towards an eventual career in the NHL. A creative and visionary playmaker, he is dangerous with the puck on his blade and is very difficult to strip of possession. His passes are crisp and to the tape and his play around the boards, despite a slight 5-8" frame, is pretty solid. Unfortunately, he lacks the quick acceleration and smooth skating of the typical undersized forward, and does not have much of a shot. Maybe with UConn, he can improve his foot speed amid a faster competition level.

14 Blade Jenkins, LW (134th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) If you were to draft players annually based exclusively on their energy levels, high-end motors, and inexhaustable tenacity, Blade Jenkins would be a top ten selection. A tireless and speedy skater, he produced offense at a reasonable clip for OHL Saginaw this year but looks to be more valuable as a blazing, tough forechecker with infectious spark. The 18-year-old is a gift on the defensive side when playing back there, as the left-shooting winger has good enough size to pin forwards up against the boards and steal pucks away with his athleticism. His offensive upside has not been fully explored, as he has pretty decent hands and good vision, but tries to create scoring chances solely with speed and needs to be better at slowing the game down and sustaining possession. Jenkins is lightning, and with some key players graduating from Saginaw, the Spirit staff can catch it in a bottle with the Jackson, Michigan native playing top-six offensive minutes.

15 Linus Soderstrom, G (95th overall, 2014. Last year: 6th) Drafted as a potential goaltender of the future back in 2014, the Islanders will see Linus Soderstrom in the pro ranks for the first time this season as he starts out with Bridgeport. The 22-year-old broke out in 2016-17 with HV71, helping them to an SHL championship with a 1.34 GAA, .943 Sv%, and 18 wins in 22 games. Last season was a struggle though, as he missed most of the season after surgery and came back in March with a SV% under .900 and a GAA more than double that of the season prior. He is an aggressive netminder who minimizes second chances with good rebound control and the ability to cut down angles well. He has plus athleticism and is very technically sound, moving from side to side almost robotically. Though he is behind Sorokin in terms of potential in the crease, he has the Russian beat as far as his timeline for NHL-readiness goes, he just needs to get back to 100% health and take it from there.

Ben Mirageas

16 Ben Mirageas, D (77th overall, 2017. Last year: 11th) One of several fleet-footed, defensive-minded defensemen deep in this prospect ranking, Ben Mirageas had a formidable freshman campaign for Providence, where he displayed his solid stay-at-home skillset and an improved capability to chip in offensively. He can skate the puck out of his zone and into the offensive side with ease or spark breakouts with quick, decisive passing, all while remaining disciplined and never stretching too far one way or another. At 6-1", size is no issue for the left-hander, and he uses it well to control the line and force forwards to the outside. What remains to be seen is what version of Mirageas turns pro, and how his well-rounded though non-dynamic game translates to the next level when the time comes.

17 Jakub Skarek, G (72nd overall, 2018. Last year: IE) One of the top goaltender prospects coming into the 2018 draft, Jakub Skarek had an up and down year and still netted a third-round selection, which really says a lot. He flopped at the World Juniors, a worrisome sign in a best-on-best tournament, but had superb stats in the Czech Extraliga -- a men's league -- at 18 years old. The goaltender has great vision and demonstrates insane reflexes between his athleticism and low-to-the-ice, Jonathan Quick-esque style. He is a smart and composed competitor, capable of massive workloads and facing tons of shots. Skarek has loads of starter potential, but could also be a spectacular bust, and the Islanders will give him plenty of time to sort things out.

18 Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82nd overall, 2015. Last year: 14th) Mitchell Vande Sompel is exactly what the Islanders need most; a fast, puck-moving defenseman with relentless offensive pressure and skill. He was rewarded for his success in his first AHL season with a trip to the All-Star Game, earning a spot with seven goals and 22 assists in his rookie pro season. A brilliant and gifted skater, he is one of the more underappreciated players in the Islanders system; he has great hockey IQ, is comfortable playing the puck under immense pressure, and packs a physical punch in spite of his 5-10" frame. His defensive awareness away from the puck is what needs the most work; often he looks lost out there if he is not directly defending the puck carrier, and can get beat on cuts and passes. He also has plenty of experience playing on the wing from his days on the OHL, which may be something revisited going forward.

19 Kyle Burroughs, D (196th overall, 2013. Last year: 18th) A seventh-round pick, the fact that Kyle Burroughs is still here is somewhat miraculous, and he is only getting better and tougher with age. A brawny, intelligent blueliner who is always willing to sacrifice himself for the betterment of the club, the right-hander has groomed himself into a top-four role with Bridgeport out of nowhere. He is a long shot to ever make the NHL in a permanent capacity due to limited upside, poor skating, and a lack of skill, but his penalty kill toughness and physical tenacity has wowed AHL coaches. His ceiling is NHL bottom-pair/seventh d-man, but his floor is someone who assists in the development of the numerous young, left-handed defensemen coming up for New York. There is no way to lose for the Isles.

20 David Quenneville, D (200th overall, 2016. Last year: 15th) A historically gifted offensive dynamo from the blueline with WHL Medicine Hat, David Quenneville joins Bridgeport as a 20-year-old right-hander looking to prove the doubters wrong. With 80 points in his final WHL season last year (tops among WHL blueliners), he broke the all-time Medicine Hat defenseman scoring record with 214 points over four seasons. The issue here is that at 5-8" and without breakneck speed, he will have trouble cracking an NHL roster, but his plus stickhandling skills, sensational vision, and natural hockey IQ definitely help his case. His lack of physical stature and foot speed will hinder his NHL chances, but going by statistics, the most comparable CHL players over his age group are Mikhail Sergachev, Samuel Girard, and Ivan Provorov. Clearly, there's upside there.

2018 NHL Draft Review: Metropolitan Division

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:09:35 +0000

The draft is over and 217 young players are newly affiliated with 31 different NHL organizations. Outside of three to six of those players, who could jump right into NHL lineups in the fall, we will not know whether the vast majority of those players are draft successes for two, three, four, or five years.

The lack of clear foresight aside, we should still be able to judge draft classes at least in terms of expected value. In some cases, we can look at strategy as well, although the way the board shakes out based on the picks that came before, we can rarely truly discern what a club was trying to do, but only what they were able to do.

I had hoped that we would be able to provide an average Overall Future Projection of the various draft classes, but there are a few picks from the high school ranks, the NAHL and a few European junior leagues for whom we lack enough information to give a full grade, so we will focus on where we had players ranked as we assess the draft haul of each team, as we run division-by-division through the NHL.

Here is the Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes
1 (2) Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL) - ranked 2nd
2 (42) Jack Drury, C, Waterloo (USHL) - ranked 66th
4 (96) Luke Henman, C, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) - ranked 156th
4 (104) Lenni Killinen, RW, Blues U20 (Jr. A SM-Liiga) - ranked 137th
6 (166) Jesper Sellgren, D, Modo (Allsvenskan) - ranked 207th
7 (197) Jacob Kucharski, G, Des Moines (USHL) - not ranked

For starters, a heartfelt congratulations are in order to the Carolina Hurricanes, their employees and their fans, as they did not overthink the #2 selection in the draft and walked away with the best forward money couldn’t buy in Andrei Svechnikov. In his first year in North America, he scored 1.2 points per game for Muskegon of the USHL in his age 16-17 season. After that, he moved up to the OHL and put up over 1.6 points per game for the Barrie Colts, despite missing time to the WJC and assorted injuries and suspensions. I am not saying we can expect two points per game as a rookie next season for the Hurricanes, but I am saying that he will be a rookie next season for the Hurricanes, and 20 goals is my minimal projection. He can play at both ends, but I expect him to be somewhat sheltered as a rookie. He is going to be very good for a long time. Moving on to the rest of the draft class.

After Svechnikov, the Hurricanes selected three more forwards, one blueliner and a goalie. Considering that the strength of the organization is on the blueline and most of their defenders are still rather young, that was a good strategy to take. Unfortunately, while I can say good things about the rest of the players that were drafted by Carolina, I cannot say that they selected the best player on the board at any other slot. Jack Drury is a good player with deep NHL bloodlines. He does a lot of things well. The points he put up for Waterloo were spectacular. On the other hand, way too many of those points were second assists and/or power play points. He is generally not the engine that makes the offense run. Just looking at the USHL, I would have taken either Blake McLaughlin or Sampo Ranta at that spot.

The Hurricanes did not have a third round pick, but selected twice in the fourth. The first pick there was used on Luke Henman, an athletic center from Blainville-Boisbriand in the QMJHL. He is an undersized playmaker, who performed well enough as a rookie in the Q this year and then upped his stock with a very good showing at multiple stations at the Draft Combine. Staying just with forwards from the Q, I would have preferred Dmitri Zavgorodny or Anderson MacDonald. But for those last two picks, it seems like the Hurricanes, with a management team that has not yet spent much time together, heavily weighted combine performance. With their second fourth rounder, the Canes finally took a non-combine player, grabbing Lenni Killinen from their usual stomping grounds in Finland. An explosive skater with promising offensive tools, Killinen put up respectable point totals in the Finnish junior ranks, but we would have preferred one of Ville Petman, Arttu Nevasaari, or Kristian Tanus, among young Finnish forwards.

Jesper Sellgren makes for a nice story as their sixth round pick. In his third year of eligibility, he was named to the Swedish team for the WJC. He is a very good skater and exhibits very good hockey sense, but his ceiling is limited. A reasonable pick in the sixth round, no doubt, but among Swedish netminders, fellow ’98 birthdate Henrik Malmstrom, would have been our pick there. Finally, in the seventh round, the Hurricanes added another netminder to their stable. Jake Kucharski has a lot of tools and can look very good at times, such as his performance in the USHL Top Prospects Game. But he could not keep the job in Des Moines, which brought in Roman Durny from Slovakia after the WJC. Kucharski scarcely played from there on out. This was a down year for netminder in the USHL, but I would have been inclined to gamble on one of Keegan Karki or Vincent Purpura instead. Your mileage may vary. In total, I cannot truly fault the Hurricanes for their draft picks. I don’t love it, but they did under circumstances (new management group) that do not often allow for exemplary draft planning.

OFP - 53

Columbus Blue Jackets
1 (18) Liam Foudy, C, London (OHL) - ranked 25th
2 (49) Kirill Marchenko, LW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL) - ranked 34th
3 (80) Marcus Kallberg, RW/LW, Leksands IF J20 (SuperElit) - unranked
6 (159) Tim Berni, D, GC Kusnacht Lions (NLB) - unranked
6 (173) Veini Vehvilainen, G, Karpat (Liiga) - unranked
7 (204) Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW, Edmonton (OHL) - ranked Honorable Mention

As a testament to the Blue Jackets history of going away from the so-called “consensus”, the example always brought up is when they selected Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall in 2016 instead of Jesse Puljujarvi, who was ranked third by literally everyone else. It is still early, but that pick looks pretty good so far for GM Jarmo Kekalainen. That, and the relative success of other recent unheralded prospect acquisitions by Columbus such as Markus Nutivaara (7^th round, 2015) or Markus Hannikainen (UDFA, 2015), suggest that we reserve judgement after the Jackets only selected two players we had ranked in our top 217, and only one more who made our top 300. The third round pick, Marcus Karlberg, was the biggest head scratcher of the lot. He put up great numbers in the SuperElit, but he is tiny, and outside of his hockey IQ, lacks tools that project to above average.

Their first sixth rounder, Tim Berni, is an accomplished young defender from Switzerland, who did not look completely overwhelmed at the last WJC, but similarly did not show much to suggest a surefire NHL upside is within. There is some promise there, but I would want to see him do something at the top flight in Switzerland. All of his success thus far has come in the junior ranks, or in the second tier. The other sixth rounder, a rare Finnish pick by Kekalainen, is someone I can get on board with. To be completely honest, we have had Vehvilainen ranked in previous drafts, but left him out this year, his fourth of draft eligibility. Mostly, we figured if his amazing run at the WJC in 2017 was not enough to get him noticed, what else could he do. He is borderline undersized by modern netminding standards, but he dominated in the top men’s league in Finland and then led Karpat to the Liiga championship while still mourning the death of his father. He was also named the top goaltender in Liiga. Not every goalie with that hardware makes it in the NHL, but some (Tim Thomas, Kari Lehtonen, Antti Raanta, Miikka Kiprusoff, etc.) do. Trey Fix-Wolansky, the Columbus draftee we listed as an honorable mention selection, does not look like a good player, as he is short and stocky, and he is not the greatest skater, but he is very strong on the puck and has finished first or second in scoring for the woeful Edmonton Oil Kings in each of the last two seasons. So those are the picks that are off our boards. Despite not having the full-throated backing of the McKeens scouting staff, we can see good reasons for liking each of them (OK, maybe not Karlberg).

Thankfully, we really like their first two picks. Liam Foudy was a classic late riser. He began the season in a bottom six role with the London Knights, but when the perennial powerhouse decided that this was not going to be their year, a few veterans were traded away and Foudy ascended way up the depth chart. And he excelled. Over the second half of the season, he was one of the more electric players in the OHL, and backed it up with strong performances in the CHL Top Prospects Game as well as at the WU18s. He also has a strong case to be proclaimed the best athlete in the draft class. Kirill Marchenko was someone who drew mixed reviews from our Russian-based scouts, but raised his play for international events. He has a great skill set and fantastic size and could project to nearly any role down the road. The Blue Jackets are certainly an enigmatic team when it comes to scouting, but they are correct more than their fair share of the time. I wouldn’t put it past them to surprise again.

OFP – 52.25

New Jersey Devils
1 (17) Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL) - ranked 15th
4 (110) Xavier Bernard, D, Drummondville (QMJHL) - ranked 71st
5 (136) Akira Schmid, G, Langnau U20 (Elite Jr. A) - ranked Honorable Mention
5 (151) Yegor Sharangovich, C, Dynamo Minsk (KHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (172) Mitchell Hoelscher, C, Ottawa (OHL) - ranked 134th
7 (203) Eetu Pakkila, LW, Karpat U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) - unranked

One year after injecting a boat load of talent into the organization thanks not only to owning the number one pick in the draft, but making 11 total selections, this year, the Devils exhibited a magnificent turnaround and ended up trading away both their second and third round picks, as part of packages for Michael Grabner, and Sami Vatanen. Considering that the team still has the young core drafted in 2017 as well as a surprise playoff berth in their recent past, it’s a pretty good trade off. And even picking 17^th this year, in a deep draft for defenders, the Devils were able to add another high end talent to their system, a player who many had projected to be taken in the top ten. Ty Smith, while small, is an excellent puck mover and plays an advanced positional game in his own end. In league play, he has been very effective at winning the puck back for his team, although he has had his bumps in the CHL Top Prospects Game as well as at the WU18s. Still, between his skating, puck skills, and high, high hockey IQ, there is potential for a future first pairing defender.

When they finally selected a second player, 93 picks later, the Devils were fortunate to get late Xavier Bernard, a player who looks much different than Smith, but has similar attributes. He is a smooth skater, can make the basic passes, and exhibits promising hockey IQ. On the other hand, Bernard is not a natural puck mover, but has much more impressive size and knows how to utilize it. New Jersey went to Europe with both of their fifth round picks, both times taking players from smaller hockey nations who have plenty of international experience. Akira Schmid started his draft off with a bang, thanks to a stellar showing at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. He was then one of the top goalies in the Swiss junior ranks, but struggled at the WU18s to end the year. He has enough size and athleticism to be a decent gamble. Yegor Sharangovich was in his third year of eligibility and has three WJCs (one in the second tier) under his belt for his native Belarus. He played a depth role for the Dynamo Minsk KHL team this year, but has flashed impressive goal scoring ability in the past.

Sixth rounder Mitchell Hoelscher is slight, but wiry strong. His production with the Ottawa 67s was not much in his first full season in the OHL, but he is a good skater, and plays an intelligent brand of hockey. He has energy line upside. With their final 2018 selection, the Devils popped Finnish winger Eetu Pakkila, a winger with great feet and a good shot. Despite decent numbers for Karpat’s U20 team, Pakkila slipped under the radar due to rarely being considered for international duty for any age group in Finland. While one could quibble about the upside about their late round selections, with the exception of Hoelscher, the Devils did a nice job of drafting players with a history of production in their local leagues. And without exception, each player has at least one attribute that suggest NHL upside.

OFP – 52.5

New York Islanders
1 (11) Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 5th
1 (12) Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) - ranked 8th
2 (41) Bode Wilde, D, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 17th
2 (43) Ruslan Iskhakov, RW, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) - ranked 68th
3 (72) Jakub Skarek, G, Dukla Jihlava (Czech) - ranked 93rd
4 (103) Jacob Pivonka, C, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 182nd
5 (134) Blade Jenkins, C, Saginaw (OHL) - ranked 69th
7 (196) Christian Krygier, D, Lincoln (USHL) - unranked

Two years ago, the Islanders drafted Kieffer Bellows from the USNTDP and seem to be pretty happy with their choice. Of course, Lou Lamoriello was not there when that draft went down. He was in Toronto. His Maple Leafs drafted Auston Matthews, another (indirect) USNTDP alum, and a couple of other program graduates in the middle rounds. Prior to his time in Toronto, Lamoriello spent many years in New Jersey and his draft record there is also dotted with players who had come from the program. That history aside, it is still at least somewhat surprising that the Islanders ended up with three players from this year’s stacked USNTDP graduating class. Two of those players, right winger Oliver Wahlstrom and defensemen Bode Wilde, were widely not expected to be available at picks 11 and 41 respectively. Wahlstrom is one of the best natural goal scorers in the draft class. He is a near elite sniper, a fantastic puck player and a very strong skater as well. He can float for some stretches, but his talent suggested he should have gone up to five picks earlier were the other teams not so focused on drafting centers at the top. Wilde elicited some rumors that his stock had fallen before the draft, partially due to a poor showing at the WU18s and partly due to de-committing from Michigan. He is not the most intense defender, but looks downright pretty carrying the puck up the ice. He is a high end skater and puck handler and mostly needs refinements to his game away from the puck to be an impact player.

The third USNTDP player drafted by the Islanders this year, Jacob Pivonka is more of a grinding role player with decent hands, but plays a 200 foot game, and has NHL bloodlines, as father Michal played over 800 games in the NHL. Outside of those three, the Islanders drafted two others with USNTDP ties, although they were not in the program in their draft year. Fifth rounder Blade Jenkins left the program for Saginaw of the OHL prior to this past season. He plays a gritty game and is a gifted skater, although the latter trait does not always show up at game time. He has very good sleeper potential. In the seventh round the Islanders selected Christian Krygier, the more physical of the Krygier twins who spent this season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. Krygier has very marginal puck skills, but he skates well and plays hard.

Not every pick made by the Islanders this year was American. In fact, immediately after drafting Wahlstrom, Lamoriello and company returned to their table for a couple of minutes to work the phones (reportedly to trade the pick for immediate NHL help) but then returned to the podium and selected Noah Dobson, another player thought by some to be a potential top five pick and leading the Titan to both QMJHL and Memorial Cup championships, eating up a ton of minutes on the journey. Dobson looks like nothing so much as a future first pairing blueliner, between the wheels, the smarts, and the ability to put that bulk to work. His shot and puck playing ability also grade out as above average. He might be only twelve months from playing in the NHL. Two picks after nabbing Wilde, the Isles made an upside play in drafting pint-sized Russian winger Ruslan Iskhakov, who while not as quick as other players of his stature, has amazing hands and has been hard to catch. He has performed well both in Russian junior league play as well as on the international stage.

Finally, nothing rounds out a diverse draft class like a promising goalie. Along with four forwards and three blueliners, the Islanders selected Jakub Skarek, a highly accomplished netminder from the Czech Republic, in the third round. Although he looked bad at the most recent WJC (his second go round in the high profile tournament), he is very athletic, has prototypical size and reads the play well. He will get to test himself against more advanced competition this year as he leaves his homeland to play for Pelicans in Finland’s top circuit, Liiga. While I would have preferred them drafting the other Krygier with their seventh round pick, this is almost the perfect draft class. Two players ranked in our top ten, another ranked as a first round talent, and three more in our top 100. There are players who will be ready for professional hockey within one or two seasons, and players who will need (and due to where they were drafted from) and will receive three or four years before forcing the Islanders’ hands. Along with Mathew Barzal, Wahlstrom and Dobson should make up a big part of the team’s core for years to come.

OFP – 55

New York Rangers
1 (9) Vitali Kravtsov, RW, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) - ranked 16th
1 (22) K'Andre Miller, D, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 14th
1 (28) Nils Lundkvist, D, Lulea (SHL) - ranked 37th
2 (39) Olof Lindbom, G, Djurgardens J20 (SuperElit) - ranked 91st
3 (70) Jakob Ragnarsson, D, Almtuna (Allesvenskan) - ranked 152nd
3 (88) Joey Keane, D, Barrie (OHL) - ranked 99th
4 (101) Nico Gross, D, Oshawa (OHL) - ranked 82nd
5 (132) Lauri Pajuniemi, RW, TPS (Liiga) - unranked
6 (163) Simon Kjellberg, D, Rogle J20 (SuperElit) - unranked
7 (216) Riley Hughes, RW, St. Sebastian's School (USHS - MA) - ranked 208th

With three first round picks, including the drafting of my personal favorite player from the 2018 draft class, I want to be able to say nice things about the Rangers’ large draft haul. Unfortunately, I am underwhelmed. Of course, with 10 players taken, they have definitely given their organizational depth, for years an afterthought, a serious injection of talent. Further, considering the imbalance of their draft class, with six blueliners taken among the 10 picks, I know that they did not go for balance, but drafted the top player on their board. Further, with the early success of their two 2017 first rounders (Lias Andersson, and Filip Chytil), both of whom were thought to be reaches at the time, I cannot assume to know more than they do. I can note the six player drafted out of Europe, and how four of those six were already playing in men’s leagues, meaning their lead time to being ready will be shorter than others. That’s definitely a positive. Again though, I wanted to see more upside.

Starting in the first round, they took two Europeans who have already experienced impressive performances in the top leagues in their respective countries. Ninth overall pick Vitali Kravtsov had one of, if not the, best performances ever by a teenager in the KHL playoffs. He earned plus-plus grades for his skating, puck skills and shot. He might be able to come to North America after one more season with Chelyabinsk. If there is a concern here, it is due to having so little international experience, we do not have a great feel for how he would do on the smaller North American ice surface. At pick 22, the Rangers selected my personal favorite in K’Andre Miller. He is a tremendous athlete, has prototype build for a defenseman, is a terrific skater and plays with brawn and skill. If there is a downside, it is how raw he is as a defender, having only converted from forward three seasons ago. He could be a legit number one defender, but will need at least three years in college before he is ready. With the 28^th pick of the first round, the Rangers selected late rising Swedish blueliner Nils Lundkvist. He is undersized, but incredibly skilled with the puck and demonstrates very impressive hockey intelligence. He was excellent in the Swedish junior ranks, but struggled some in roughly half a season in the SHL and underwhelmed at the WU18s. There is also the question of whether he is a good enough skater to mitigate his size issues. All three first rounders could work, but none is without questions.

Similar to their second rounder, Olof Lindbom, the first netminder selected in 2018. He is a good goalie prospect, as far as that class goes, was a world beater at the WU18s, and receives especially high grades for his ability to read the play and his technique, but he is a goalie after all. He is also slightly undersized by modern goaltending standards, listed at only 6-1”. Of their remaining six picks the Rangers selected four defensemen. Jakob Ragnarsson and Simon Kjellberg were both drafted out of Sweden, and Joey Keane and Nico Gross were both selected out of the OHL. Keane is interesting as a second year eligible prospect who took big steps in his second season with the Barrie Colts. He is a very good skater, with a decent all around game. Ragnarsson’s father Marcus played for the Sharks and the Flyers around the turn of the century. He is more of a defense-first defender, who makes a sharp first pass. He has never been tested outside of Sweden’s domestic leagues.

Simon Kjellberg is another bloodlines player, as his father Patric spent time with Montreal, Nashville, and Anaheim. The younger Kjellberg has good size, and plays a muscular game, but his skating is currently very rough. He will need to improve that aspect of his game significantly to have a chance at playing in the NHL. Of the four mid round defenders, I have the most time for Nico Gross, a Swiss national who has already played at two WJCs and three WU18s. He is a solid skater, who plays with poise and energy. While not often an offensive force, he has shown enough flashes there to project for more growth in that side of his game. Of the two late round forwards, Lauri Pajuniemi could surprise. He has high end puck handling ability and held his own in his first year in Liiga. As for seventh rounder Riley Hughes, he is not bad as far as prep products go, but there is a reason why more and more future collegians are electing to play in the USHL instead of staying home. He has never really been tested against high end competition. He is likely to spend next year in the USHL (Sioux Falls has his rights) before attending Northeastern in 2019. I have no doubt but that one or two of the players drafted by the Rangers this year will exceed my expectations, but I would have been happier if I did not have to make this kind of mitigating remark.

OFP – 53.25

Philadelphia Flyers
1 (14) Joel Farabee, LW, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 12th
1 (19) Jay O'Brien, C, Thayer Academy (USHS-MA) - ranked 48th
2 (50) Adam Ginning, D, Linkoping (SHL) - ranked 42nd
4 (112) Jack St. Ivany, D, Sioux Falls (USHL) - ranked 108th
5 (127) Wyatte Wylie, D, Everett (WHL) - ranked 139th
5 (143) Samuel Ersson, G, Bryan J20 (SuperElit) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (174) Gavin Hain, C, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
7 (205) Marcus Westfalt, C/LW, Brynas IF (SHL) - ranked 162nd

As with the Rangers above, I expected to like the Flyers’ draft class more than I did. Again, this has nothing to do with the players taken. Fine talents, all of them. The Flyers have been strong with USHL prospects over the past few years and dug deep in the top NCAA-feeder league once again, with three selections, plus another who will head to college from the pre ranks. They have also scouted Sweden heavily in recent years and took three more Swedish prospects this year. And continuing the theme of visiting familiar territory, the final Flyers’ pick not yet accounted for came from the same Everett program in the WHL where they would have been comfortable in light of top prospect Carter Hart calling it home. I like the Flyers drafting from areas where they are comfortable that they can project out. I like that the Flyers selected players of different positions, with two centers, two wingers, three defensemen and a goaltender (it wouldn’t be a Flyers draft without at least one goalie). And, as stated above, I like the players. I just see this draft class and the draft slots that the Flyers owned, and do not see many high value picks. Some players drafted roughly where they should have been selected, some taken earlier than I would have advised, and one notably higher than we believed was reasonable.

They kicked things off in fine fashion, with winger Joel Farabee, one of two players they selected out of the USNTDP system. Farabee can play up or down the lineup. He has experience in the middle, but is more natural on the wing. He is a true 200 foot player with skill, grit and heavy on the intangibles. He will need to bulk up at Boston University, but his potential is top six, both special teams and a team leader. Five picks later, Ron Hextall and friends stepped to the podium again and dropped jaws across the hockey world. Jay O’Brien is a confident young man, brash even, and he shows some high end attributes, with a fine shot and slick puck handling skills. He plays tough and he has been well coached, but he has very rarely been tested against other high caliber prospects. He was the big man on campus at Thayer, scoring closing to three points per game than two. But in 12 games of experience in Tier I hockey over the last two years, he had only three points. All draft picks are risky, but high picks out of the high school ranks are riskier than most.

Philadelphia’s first three picks on day two were all blueliners, each with good size. Adam Ginning is the stay-at-home type of the trio. Although he contributed offense at a decent clip for Sweden at the WU18s, his game is about positioning and making the first pass to clear the zone. Low upside, but high floor. After sitting out the third round, the Flyers used their fourth rounder on second year eligible Jack St. Ivany of Sioux Falls in the USHL. He was very young in his first year of eligibility and only one year removed from playing U16 hockey in the Los Angeles area. He took a few big steps forward this year for the Stampede and shows some two-way ability. I’m a fan. The Flyers rounded out their blueline haul with Wyatte Wylie, an alliterative late 99 birthdate player who not only played with Carter Hart in Everett, but is actually from Everett. He is not bursting with skill but plays hard.

Later in the fifth round, Philadelphia drafted the obligatory goalie, picking up Swede Samuel Ersson, who has been overshadowed in his homeland by Olof Lindbom and others, but was an absolute workhorse for Brynas’ U20 team and some of the best numbers in the SuperElit. He is a technically proficient goalie with a good frame. Speaking of overlooked, sixth rounder Gavin Hain was often relegated to the bottom six with the USNTDP, below players like Farabee and others, but he is not without a modicum of hockey skill and is responsible in all three zones. I haven’t seen anything to suggest he has hidden talent, but he is not a bad way to use a sixth round pick. Finally, the Flyers used their seventh rounder on big Swedish winger Marcus Westfalt. His skill set is moderate, but he uses his big frame well to create havoc in front of the net. If Jay O’Brien works out, the Flyers will be laughing for ages. If not, Farabee is safe enough that the draft class will not be a write-off, but will be looked at as a relative disappointment.

OFP – 52.5

Pittsburgh Penguins
2 (53) Calen Addison, D, Lethbridge (WHL) - ranked 30th
2 (58) Filip Hallander, C, Timra (Allsvenskan) - ranked 47th
5 (129) Justin Almeida, C/LW, Moose Jaw (WHL) - ranked 173rd
6 (177) Liam Gorman, C, St. Sebastian's School (USHS - MA) - unranked

Only four picks, but the Penguins made them count. Well, most of them anyway. Actually, they would have had a fifth pick, but traded up into the late second round when they saw value on the board. Despite not picking until 53^rd overall, the Penguins walked away with two players who had reasonable arguments to go in the first round. Their first pick, Lethbridge defender Calen Addison is a modern style blueliner, making up in speed and daring what he lacks in size or the ability to play physically. He needs a lot of work off the puck, but he proved both in the Ivan Hlinka tournament and the WHL postseason that he can step up his production in the spotlight.

The player they gave up two later picks to nab towards the close of the second was Swedish center Filip Hallander, who had a very strong draft year in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second highest men’s league. The fact that he was as productive as he was (20 points in 40 games) while dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of the WU18s. He is very physical while still playing clean, and grades out above average as a skater, shooter, and for his hockey intelligence. With Timra now in the top flight SHL, and Hallander presumably healthy, Hallander’s stock could leap forward next year. The Penguins went with production over physical maturity when they finally selected again late in the fifth round, selecting Moose Jaw’s second year eligible center, Justin Almeida. After scoring only 28 points between the Warriors and Prince George in his first year of draft eligibility, he was an afterthought entering the year, but with 43 goals and 98 points for the powerhouse Warriors, he could not be overlooked again. He is a strong skater and gifted with the puck on his stick. Finally, they took Massachusetts prepster Liam Gorman, with their final pick. Gorman was not really on our radar, and in fact was only the number three scorer with St. Sebastian’s, behind fellow draft pick Riley Hughes. He has plus size though, and is likely to spend next season in the USHL. The 2018 draft class will not alter the trajectory of the Penguins’ fortunes, but they should be pleased with the type of quality they came away with.

OFP – 52.25

Washington Capitals
1 (31) Alexander Alexeyev, D, Red Deer (WHL) - ranked 35th
2 (46) Martin Fehervary, D, Oskarshamn (Allsvenskan) - ranked 78th
2 (47) Kody Clark, RW, Ottawa (OHL) - ranked 138th
3 (93) Riley Sutter, RW, Everett (WHL) - ranked 87th
4 (124) Mitchell Gibson, G, Lone Star (NAHL) - unranked
6 (161) Alex Kannok-Leipert, D, Vancouver (WHL) - unranked
7 (217) Eric Florchuk, C, Saskatoon (WHL) - ranked 168th

If there is a team for which the draft is a serious afterthought, it would be the team that is still hungover from the release of winning their first Stanley Cup championship. That is not to imply that the Capitals did not draft some good prospects, but that they would not be focused from the top down on these players at the moment. True to the Washington drafting rulebook, they went heavy on the WHL (four players), avoided the QMJHL and Finland, and took a player from a lower level of hockey (NAHL goalie Mitchell Gibson). With three forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, they balanced themselves positionally.

Their first round pick, Alexander Alexeyev, could have been taken higher, but suffered through a trying draft year, most notably dealing with the unexpected passing of his mother in the days before the CHL Top Prospects game. He is a very big player who skates beautifully, handles the puck very well and processes the game wisely. Given a full, healthy season, he could take off. Washington buttressed the blueline with their first of two consecutive picks in the middle of the second round, taking Slovakian Martin Fehervary, who has been playing in Sweden for the last four seasons. A veteran of two WJCs and two WU18s, Fehervary is a great skater and a physical player, but has minimal offensive upside. While we think Fehervary was a slight reach at 46, the selection of Kody Clark (son of Wendel) at 47 was a massive overreach. Like Alexeyev (and his own father) Clark has been injury prone in his two OHL seasons, but has no real standout tool. His skating and shooting abilities are fine, but he looked like a better candidate for the middle rounds than the second round. Also, this is the first time the Capitals have selected a player out of the OHL since drafting Tom Wilson in the first round in 2012.

A more appropriate pick was their use of a fourth rounder on another bloodline player in Riley Sutter, the son of Ron from the famous clan. A big, beefy player, Sutter will never be mistaken for an elite skater, but he plays a responsible, heavy game and can finish. Goalie Mitchell Gibson was not very prominent on our radar, but the NAHL has a knack for producing one or two goalies of note every year, and Gibson was obviously the one for 2018. He was named the top netminder in the league and will likely spend next year in the USHL before moving on to Harvard. The Capitals will give him plenty of time.

The Capitals ended their draft with two more players from the WHL in Vancouver blueliner Alex Kannok-Leipert and Saskatoon center Eric Florchuk. Kannok-Leipert is undersized and does not have a standout attribute, although he is a decent skater and is surprisingly physical. Florchuk, on the other hand, 2018’s Mr. Irrelevant, is quote good value for the end of the draft. His trade at midseason from the competing Victoria Royals to the moribund Saskatoon Chiefs, might have pushed him off the radar for some scouts, but he scored a decent clip for both clubs. He is a fine skater and a gifted puck handler. Although the Capitals selected some interesting players here, the leap to draft safe early will hurt them within a few years when they need to integrate low salaried youth into an aging roster.

OFP – 51.5

McKeen’s 2018 NHL Draft Ranking – April 2018 – Top 125

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 14:25:48 +0000

With the CHL leagues now into the second round of their respective playoffs, the NCAA season completed (congrats to new champions Minnesota-Duluth!), European leagues beginning to wrap up and the USHL with only one more weekend remaining in their regular season, it is time for the penultimate McKeens Hockey Draft List. This list once again runs 125 players deep, with a few more names tacked on at the end to keep in mind.

Our final list will run deeper – and be more definitive – but know that the names you see below are the fruit of the combined labor of the full McKeens scouting team. Covering all of the leagues touched on in the first paragraph above, we have watched them all and players in most cases were also cross-checked by multiple team members.

While the size of our list has not changed from the previous iteration, much else is different. Yes, Rasmus Dahlin still heads the ranking (hint: barring a career-threatening tragedy in the next 10 weeks, he will lead our final list as well), but the next player who maintains the same position as last time is Joel Farabee, still sitting in 12^th. Alexander Alexeyev, at 29^th, is the only other player in the top 31 who is ranked the same today as he was in February.

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

Looking at the top ten, the changes begin in the two/three slots, as we saw fit to bump Russian import Andrei Svechnikov past Czech import Filip Zadina. The latter has been strong all season long, but the two keys for us were a) he plateaued to an extent in the dying days of the regular season while Svechnikov has taken his production to a new level down the stretch. On a point per game measure, Svechnikov’s 1.64 points per game outshine Zadina’s 1.44, and the latter’s extra ten games played cannot explain away the discrepancy. The first round of the playoffs have seen this trend continue. Zadina has been very good. Svechnikov has been stellar. b) Svechnikov is four months younger than Zadina. In the grand scheme of things, that is not much. In a draft class, that is a full third of the way from one year of eligibility to the next. There is just that much greater likelihood that Svechnikov has more development potential. This factor is not destiny, but cannot be overlooked.

ANN ARBOR, MI - MARCH 03: Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) passes the puck during the Michigan Wolverines game versus the Wisconsin Badgers in the BIG10 Hockey Tournament on March 3, 2018. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

Quinn Hughes and Adam Boqvist, both undersized (by traditional standards, if not by modern ones) and very mobile defenders have almost switched places. Hughes, whose game grew by leaps and bounds since playing a supporting role for the US Bronze winning WJC entry ended his season in the Frozen Four. He was the youngest player in the NCAA this year and tied for 16^th among all defensemen in scoring. Only one of the blueliners with more points is within even one year of his age. Through the second half of the year, he was consistently the best player on the ice whenever he stepped over the boards. He leaps from 9^th last time, to 4^th now. Boqvist, who dropped from 5^th to 8^th, is still an electrifying skater whose speed brings an extra dimension to his game. He is still highly coveted, but there is at least a hint of a red flag due to his dearth of production at the senior level in Sweden. He scored nearly one point per game in the SuperElit league, but has only one assist in 18 regular and post-season SHL games. The skill set is obvious, but his struggles against men highlight the greater gap between what he is and what he should become.

The one change to the previous top ten sees Spokane defender Ty Smith fall from 10 to 16. His offensive production in the WHL has been fantastic all the way through the Chiefs’ first round playoff exit. There have been some questions about his play off the puck, which were highlighted by a rough showing earlier in the year at the CHL Top Prospects Game. He should have another chance to boost his stock in the coming weeks as part of Canada’s entry to the World Under 18 Championships.

Joe Veleno (#90), player of Drummondville Voltigeurs, season 2017-18 of the QMJHL. Drummondville, Que., Dec. 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Ghyslain Bergeron

Taking Smith’s place in the top ten is former Exceptional Status player Joe Veleno. Huge things were expected of Veleno this year, not only due to his unique entry point into the QMJHL, but a three goal showing for Saint John at last year’s Memorial Cup certainly whetted the appetite for a huge draft season. Unfortunately, his previous team, the Saint John Sea Dogs were gutted by graduation and trades, and Veleno started off slowly, amid reports that he was taking the team’s struggles too much on his own shoulders. He scored only six goals in his 31 games in the Maritimes. A mid-season trade to Drummondville has allowed him to take off in a more competitive atmosphere, finishing the year with 48 points in 33 games for the Voltigeurs. He is also having another strong post-season, helping his team into the second round. In short, Smith has seen questions added about his projection, while Veleno has answered more of his, helping him jump up from 11^th to 9^th.

Without laboring over each change in the list, let us meditate briefly on the four subtractions (and four additions) to the top 31. Dropping into our second round are Jett Woo, B-O Groulx, Jack McBain, and Martin Kaut. Like Ty Smith above, none of these players necessarily did anything to harm their own standing, but were simply surpassed by some players who managed to end on a strong note. For each of the four, it can legitimately be said that there are open questions about their offensive upsides. Woo, Groulx, and Kaut may lack top half of the roster upside, while McBain did not score as much as his talent would suggest he should have in the OJHL. Like Smith, he is expected to play for Canada at the WU18 and his performance with CHLers should speak volumes about his draft standing.

Rasmus Sandin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Replacing those four are a trio of small defensemen who have finished strong in Rasmus Sandin, Nils Lundkvist, and Calen Addison, and one ultra-talented German forward developing in Sweden in Dominik Bokk. These four players all carry a dynamic element to their games that the four players falling to the second round do not look to have.

The next six weeks, including the completion of the North American junior playoffs as well as the WU18 competition will see several more reputations made and others tarnished, as happens every year. We try to see the whole picture, and promise not to inordinately elevate the ranking of any player simply for getting hot at the right time. Our final list will reflect not just good or bad production at the right time, but the skill sets of the best draft-eligible talent in the hockey world, leavened by their ability and success rates of those skills in actualizing as performance.

We welcome your feedback on this list and look forward to seeing our draft list through to its completion in Dallas in late June.

To link to a player page, use the tags at the bottom of the page, or from our McKeen's Draft Ranking found here It is also downloadable to an excel file.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/185	13-Apr-00	41-7-13-20
2	Andrei Svechnikov	RW	Barrie (OHL)	6-2/185	26-Mar-00	44-40-32-72
3	Filip Zadina	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/195	27-Nov-99	57-44-38-82
4	Quinn Hughes	D	Michigan (B1G)	5-10/175	14-Oct-99	37-5-24-29
5	Brady Tkachuk	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-3/195	16-Sep-99	40-8-23-31
6	Evan Bouchard	D	London (OHL)	6-2/195	20-Oct-99	67-25-62-87
7	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	NTDP (USHL)	6-1/205	13-Jun-00	54-40-43-83
8	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas (Swe Jr)	5-11/170	15-Aug-00	25-14-10-24
9	Joe Veleno	C	SNB-Dru (QMJHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-00	64-22-57-79
10	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-3/180	7-Jan-00	67-17-52-69
11	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea (Swe)	6-0/185	6-Nov-99	42-6-9-15
12	Joel Farabee	LW	NTDP (USHL)	5-11/165	25-Feb-00	54-27-37-64
13	Barrett Hayton	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/190	9-Jun-00	63-21-39-60
14	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori (Fin)	6-1/190	6-Jul-00	57-10-19-29
15	Bode Wilde	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-2/195	24-Jan-00	53-11-25-36
16	Ty Smith	D	Spokane (WHL)	5-10/180	24-Mar-00	69-14-59-73
17	K'Andre Miller	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-3/205	21-Jan-00	50-7-17-24
18	Akil Thomas	C	Niagara (OHL)	5-11/170	2-Jan-00	68-22-59-81
19	Jared McIsaac	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	27-Mar-00	65-9-38-47
20	Grigori Denisenko	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	5-11/175	24-Jun-00	31-9-13-22
21	Serron Noel	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-5/200	8-Aug-00	62-28-25-53
22	Rasmus Kupari	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-1/185	15-Mar-00	39-6-8-14
23	Ryan McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/200	21-Sep-99	68-26-44-70
24	Ryan Merkley	D	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/170	14-Aug-00	63-13-54-67
25	Mattias Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-3/215	14-Mar-00	50-9-19-28
26	Rasmus Sandin	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/185	7-Mar-00	51-12-33-45
27	Nils Lundkvist	D	Lulea (Swe)	5-11/180	27-Jul-00	28-2-3-5
28	Alexander Alexeyev	D	Red Deer (WHL)	6-3/200	15-Nov-99	45-7-30-37
29	Calen Addison	D	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/180	11-Apr-00	68-11-54-65
30	Jacob Olofsson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/190	8-Feb-00	43-10-11-21
31	Dominik Bokk	LW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-1/180	3-Feb-00	35-14-27-41
32	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)	6-2/170	23-Dec-99	35-4-3-7
33	Martin Kaut	RW	Dynamo Pardubice (Cze)	6-1/175	2-Oct-99	38-9-7-16
34	Jett Woo	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-0/205	27-Jul-00	44-9-16-25
35	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	6-Feb-00	68-28-27-55
36	Jesse Ylonen	RW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-0/165	3-Oct-99	48-14-13-27
37	Nicolas Beaudin	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	5-11/175	7-Oct-99	68-12-57-69
38	Adam Ginning	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-3/195	13-Jan-00	28-1-1-2
39	Jack McBain	C	Tor. Jr Canadiens (OJHL)	6-3/195	6-Jan-00	48-21-37-58
40	Jonny Tychonick	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/175	3-Mar-00	48-9-38-47
41	Ty Emberson	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-0/195	24-May-00	53-4-18-22
42	Ty Dellandrea	C	Flint (OHL)	6-0/190	21-Jul-00	67-27-32-59
43	Allan McShane	C	Oshawa (OHL)	5-11/190	14-Feb-00	67-20-45-65
44	Blake McLaughlin	LW	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/165	14-Feb-00	52-23-28-51
45	Gabriel Fortier	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/170	6-Feb-00	66-26-33-59
46	Kevin Bahl	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-6/230	27-Jun-00	58-1-17-18
47	Sampo Ranta	LW	Sioux City (USHL)	6-1/195	31-May-00	53-23-14-37
48	Filip Hallander	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-1/185	29-Jun-00	40-9-11-20
49	Jay O'Brien	C	Thayer Acad. (USHS-MA)	5-10/185	4-Nov-99	30-43-37-80
50	David Gustafsson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	6-2/195	11-Apr-00	45-6-6-12
51	Liam Foudy	C	London (OHL)	6-0/185	4-Feb-00	65-24-16-40
52	Filip Johansson	D	Leksands (Swe Jr)	6-1/175	23-Mar-00	29-4-5-9
53	Niklas Nordgren	RW	HIFK (Fin Jr)	5-9/170	4-May-00	18-8-18-26
54	Aidan Dudas	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-8/170	15-Jun-00	68-31-34-65
55	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	Okotoks (AJHL)	6-0/180	30-Jun-00	49-20-21-41
56	Xavier Bernard	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-2/210	6-Jan-00	66-11-24-35
57	Martin Fehervary	D	Oskarshamn (Swe 2)	6-1/190	6-Oct-99	42-1-6-7
58	Jonatan Berggren	RW	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	6-Jul-00	38-18-39-57
59	Alexis Gravel	G	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-2/225	21-Mar-00	20-11(3.38).890
60	Cole Fonstad	C	Prince Albert (WHL)	5-10/160	24-Apr-00	72-21-52-73
61	Xavier Bouchard	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-3/190	28-Feb-00	65-3-18-21
62	Cam Hillis	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-10/170	24-Jun-00	60-20-39-59
63	Marcus Westfalt	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-3/205	12-Mar-00	31-1-3-4
64	Pavel Gogolev	RW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-0/175	19-Feb-00	66-30-17-47
65	Alexander Khovanov	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-11/195	12-Apr-00	29-9-19-28
66	Scott Perunovich	D	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	5-10/170	18-Aug-98	42-11-25-36
67	Giovanni Vallati	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-1/180	21-Feb-00	65-3-23-26
68	Olivier Rodrigue	G	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-0/160	6-Jul-00	31-16(2.54).903
69	Oskar Back	C	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/195	12-Mar-00	38-10-22-32
70	Riley Sutter	RW	Everett (WHL)	6-3/205	25-Oct-99	68-25-28-53
71	Stanislav Demin	D	Wenatchee (BCHL)	6-1/190	4-Apr-00	57-9-36-45
72	Lenni Killinen	RW	Blues (Fin Jr)	6-2/180	15-Jun-00	38-13-28-41
73	Tyler Weiss	LW	NTDP (USHL)	5-10/160	3-Jan-00	50-10-17-27
74	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	Krasnaya Armiya (MHL)	5-8/155	22-Jul-00	33-6-24-30
75	Kody Clark	RW	Ottawa (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Oct-99	56-18-21-39
76	Patrick Giles	RW	NTDP (USHL)	6-4/205	3-Jan-00	54-10-9-19
77	Anderson MacDonald	LW	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/205	16-May-00	58-27-18-45
78	Jake Wise	C	NTDP (USHL)	5-10/190	28-Feb-00	30-9-27-36
79	Jakub Lauko	C	Pirati Chomutov (Cze)	6-0/175	28-Mar-00	42-3-6-9
80	Adam Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-6/240	21-Jun-00	54-4-20-24
81	Philipp Kurashev	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-0/190	12-Oct-99	59-19-41-60
82	Sean Durzi	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/195	21-Oct-98	40-15-34-49
83	Kirill Marchenko	RW	Mamonty Yugry (MHL)	6-3/190	21-Jul-00	31-8-8-16
84	Jakub Skarek	G	Dukla Jihlava (Cze)	6-3/200	10-Nov-99	21GP(2.41).913
85	Milos Roman	C	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/190	6-Nov-99	39-10-22-32
86	Blade Jenkins	LW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Aug-00	68-20-24-44
87	Danila Galenyuk	D	St. Petersburg (MHL)	6-1/200	10-Feb-00	20-1-5-6
88	Kyle Topping	C	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/185	18-Nov-99	66-22-43-65
89	Tyler Madden	C	CIL-TC (USHL)	5-10/155	9-Nov-99	50-15-19-34
90	Jack Drury	C	Waterloo (USHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-00	54-23-40-63
91	Alec Regula	D	London (OHL)	6-3/200	6-Aug-00	67-7-18-25
92	Ivan Morozov	C	Mamonty Yugry (MHL)	6-1/180	5-May-00	30-11-12-23
93	Jachym Kondelik	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-6/225	21-Dec-99	43-16-16-32
94	Riley Damiani	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-9/165	20-Mar-00	64-19-18-37
95	Samuel Fagemo	RW	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/195	14-Mar-00	37-19-11-30
96	Jack St. Ivany	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-2/200	22-Jul-99	51-6-30-36
97	David Lilja	C	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	5-11/175	23-Jan-00	37-3-5-8
98	Curtis Douglas	C	Bar-Wsr (OHL)	6-8/235	6-Mar-00	66-22-24-46
99	Luka Burzan	C	MJ-Bdn (WHL)	6-0/185	7-Jan-00	72-15-25-40
100	Linus Karlsson	C	Karlskrona (Swe Jr)	6-1/180	16-Nov-99	42-27-25-52
101	Kristian Reichel	C	Red Deer (WHL)	6-1/170	11-Jun-98	63-34-23-57
102	Toni Utunen	D	LeKi (Fin 2)	5-11/175	27-Apr-00	28-2-10-12
103	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	Rimouski (QMJHL)	5-9/175	11-Aug-00	62-26-21-47
104	Samuel Bucek	LW	Chicago (USHL)	6-1/215	19-Dec-98	47-19-23-42
105	Nathan Dunkley	C	Kgn-Ldn (OHL)	5-11/195	3-May-00	60-21-36-57
106	Carter Robertson	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-2/180	15-Jan-00	57-5-13-18
107	Albin Eriksson	RW	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	6-4/205	20-Jul-00	38-22-18-40
108	Ryan O'Reilly	RW	Madison (USHL)	6-2/200	21-Mar-00	42-20-12-32
109	Nando Eggenberger	LW	Davos (Sui)	6-2/185	7-Oct-99	36-3-2-5
110	Tyler Tucker	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-1/205	1-Mar-00	59-3-20-23
111	Axel Andersson	D	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	6-0/180	10-Feb-00	42-6-25-31
112	Alexey Polodyan	LW	St. Petersburg (MHL)	5-11/165	30-Jul-98	21-5-6-11
113	Jack Perbix	RW	Elk River (USHS-MN)	6-1/175	13-Sep-00	25-19-42-61
114	Nico Gross	D	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/185	26-Jan-00	58-4-10-14
115	Declan Chisholm	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/185	12-Jan-00	47-3-17-20
116	Ivan Prosvetov	G	Youngstown (USHL)	6-4/175	5-Mar-99	18-9(2.87).913
117	Kevin Mandolese	G	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-3/180	22-Aug-00	15-13(3.46).884
118	Vladislav Kotkov	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/205	8-Jan-00	61-21-28-49
119	Jonathan Gruden	C	NTDP (USHL)	5-11/175	4-May-00	53-25-26-51
120	Anthony Del Gaizo	C	Muskegon (USHL)	5-11/195	31-Jan-98	58-39-32-71
121	Justus Annunen	G	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	6-4/215	11-Mar-00	26GP(2.31).907
122	Olof Lindbom	G	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	6-2/185	23-Jul-00	20GP(3.10).897
123	Matthew Struthers	C	OS-NB (OHL)	6-2/210	26-Dec-99	62-23-22-45
124	Alex Steeves	C	Dubuque (USHL)	5-11/185	10-Dec-99	53-18-36-54
125	Ben Copeland	C	Waterloo (USHL)	5-10/180	27-Apr-99	58-17-42-59

OTHER DRAFT CANDIDATES
Jett Alexander	G	North York (OJHL)	6-4/190	8-Nov-99
Yaroslav Alexeyev	LW	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	5-9/160	17-Jan-99
Justin Almeida	C	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-9/160	6-Feb-99
Seth Barton	D	Trail (BCHL)	6-2/175	18-Aug-99
Justin Bergeron	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-0/180	14-Sep-00
Erik Betzold	RW	Koln (Ger)	5-11/165	18-Jan-00
Brandon Biro	RW	Penn State (B1G)	5-11/165	11-Mar-98
Mikhail Bitsadze	C	Dynamo Moscow (Rus)	5-11/170	18-Nov-99
Shawn Boudrias	RW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-4/195	14-Sep-99
Jakob Brahaney	D	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/185	26-Mar-99
Justin Brazeau	RW	North Bay (OHL)	6-5/220	2-Feb-98
Dennis Busby	D	Flint (OHL)	5-10/190	6-Jan-00
Michael Callahan	D	Central Illinois (USHL)	6-2/195	23-Sep-99
Ryan Chyzowski	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-0/190	14-May-00
Powell Connor	D	Chilliwack (BCHL)	6-1/175	4-May-00
Connor Corcoran	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-1/185	7-Aug-00
Paul Cotter	C	Lincoln (USHL)	6-0/190	16-Nov-99
Angus Crookshank	LW	Langley (BCHL)	5-11/185	2-Oct-99
Max Crozier	D	Nanaimo (BCHL)	6-1/185	19-Apr-00
Ethan de Jong	RW	Prince George (BCHL)	5-10/170	12-Jul-99
Jack DeBoer	C	NTDP (USA)	6-2/190	17-Aug-00
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev	C	Peterborough (OHL)	5-10/160	15-Sep-00
Lukas Dostal	G	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-1/165	22-Jun-00
Grigori Dronov	D	Magnitogorsk (Rus)	6-2/205	10-Jan-98
Justin Ducharme	LW	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	5-11/180	22-Feb-00
Daniel Dvorak	G	Hradec Kralove (Cze)	6-3/160	9-Jan-00
Jesper Eliasson	G	Troja/Ljungby (Swe)	6-3/200	21-Mar-00
Caleb Everett	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/185	20-Jan-00
Christian Felton	D	Kimball Union (USHS-NH)	6-0/190	4-Feb-00
Trey Fix-Wolansky	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	5-8/185	26-May-99
Eric Florchuk	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-1/175	10-Jan-00
Carson Focht	C	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/180	4-Feb-00
Adam Gajarsky	RW	Kometa Brno (Cze)	5-10/175	4-Mar-00
Jeremi Gerber	RW	Bern (Sui)	6-1/185	1-Mar-00
Damien Giroux	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-10/175	3-Mar-00
Jack Gorniak	LW	West Salem High (USHS-WI)	5-11/180	15-Sep-99
Matthew Grouchy	RW	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-1/190	19-Nov-99
Glenn Gustafsson	C	Orebro (Swe)	5-10/200	4-Sep-98
Curtis Hall	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-2/195	26-Apr-00
Kevin Hancock	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	2-Mar-98
Jordan Harris	D	Kimball Union (USHS-NH)	5-11/180	7-Jul-00
Reece Harsch	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-3/195	7-Jan-99
Brady Hinz	C	Peterborough (OHL)	5-9/150	3-May-00
Mitchell Hoelscher	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-11/160	27-Jan-00
Mac Hollowell	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-9/170	26-Sep-98
Krystof Hrabik	C	Bili Tygri Liberec (Cze)	6-4/210	24-Sep-99
David Hrenak	G	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	6-2/190	5-May-98
Riley Hughes	RW	St. Sebastian's (USHS-MA)	6-1/175	27-Jun-00
Jere Huhtamaa	G	Blues (Fin)	6-2/190	10-Apr-00
Logan Hutsko	RW	Boston College (HE)	5-10/175	11-Feb-99
Jacob Ingham	G	Mississauga (OHL)	6-3/185	10-Jun-00
Jere Innala	LW	HPK (Fin)	5-9/175	17-Mar-98
Michal Ivan	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-1/185	18-Nov-99
Georgi Ivanov	C	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Rus)	6-0/190	25-Sep-98
Jan Jenik	RW	Benatky nad Jizerou (Cze)	6-1/165	15-Sep-00
Jack Jensen	C	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	6-0/195	31-Aug-00
Joey Keane	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-0/185	2-Jul-99
Brett Kemp	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6-0/165	23-Mar-00
Michael Kesselring	D	New Hampton School (USHS-NH)	6-4/185	13-Jan-00
Juuso Ketola	D	Assat Pori (Fin)	5-11/210	18-Mar-00
Patrick Khodorenko	C	Michigan State (B1G)	6-0/205	13-Oct-98
Liam Kirk	C	Sheffield (EIHL)	6-2/160	3-Jan-00
Semyon Kizimov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-0/175	19-Jan-00
Jordan Kooy	G	London (OHL)	6-2/185	30-Apr-00
Ivan Kosorenkov	RW	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	5-10/185	22-Jan-98
Demetrios Koumontzis	LW	Edina (USHS-MN)	5-10/185	24-Mar-00
Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Rus)	5-10/175	17-Oct-99
Filip Kral	D	Spokane (WHL)	6-1/170	20-Oct-99
Renars Krastenbergs	LW	Oshawa (OHL)	5-11/185	16-Dec-98
Cole Krygier	D	Lincoln (USHL)	6-3/195	5-May-00
Daniel Kurovsky	LW	Vitkovice (Cze)	6-4/215	4-Mar-98
Michal Kvasnica	RW	Frydek-Mistek (Cze)	6-1/190	7-Apr-00
Owen Lalonde	D	Guelph (OHL)	6-0/180	1-Feb-00
Jackson Leppard	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/200	18-Jan-00
David Levin	C	Sudbury (OHL)	5-10/180	16-Sep-99
Mitchell Lewandowski	RW	Michigan State (B1G)	5-9/175	17-Apr-98
Adam Liska	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/185	14-Oct-99
John Ludvig	D	Portland (WHL)	6-0/185	2-Aug-00
Brady Lyle	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-1/205	6-Jun-99
Guillaume Maillard	C	Geneve-Servette (Sui)	6-0/200	11-Oct-98
James Malm	C	Vancouver (WHL)	5-9/180	25-Jun-99
Anton Malyshev	D	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Rus)	6-0/180	27-Feb-00
Riley McCourt	D	Flint (OHL)	5-11/170	26-Jun-00
Aidan McDonough	LW	Thayer Academy (USHS-MA)	6-1/175	6-Nov-99
Nolan McElhaney	D	Cushing Academy (USHS-MA)	6-3/175	22-Apr-99
Jeremy McKenna	RW	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-10/175	20-Apr-99
Albert Michnac	LW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	18-Oct-98
Amir Miftakhov	G	Irbis Kazan (Rus)	6-0/160	26-Apr-00
Artyom Minulin	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-2/200	1-Oct-98
Travis Mitchell	D	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/195	25-Nov-99
Billy Moskal	C	London (OHL)	6-0/185	22-Mar-00
Nolan Moyle	RW	Green Bay (USHL)	6-1/185	13-Apr-99
Arttu Nevasaari	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/180	23-Jan-00
Tristen Nielsen	C	Calgary (WHL)	5-9/180	23-Feb-00
Kirill Nizhnikov	RW	Sudbury (OHL)	6-2/190	29-Mar-00
Linus Nyman	RW	Kingston (OHL)	5-9/160	11-Jul-99
Andrei Pavlenko	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-1/175	4-Apr-00
Radovan Pavlik	RW	Hradec Kralove (Cze)	5-9/175	18-Feb-98
Ryan Peckford	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-0/190	4-Mar-99
Matej Pekar	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/170	10-Feb-00
Ville Petman	C	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	5-10/180	18-Jan-00
Mathias Emilio Pettersen	C	Muskegon (USHL)	5-10/170	3-Apr-00
Jacob Pivonka	C	NTDP (USA)	5-11/200	28-Feb-00
Karel Plasek	RW	Kometa Brno (Cze)	5-10/155	28-Jul-00
Dylan Plouffe	D	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/195	27-Apr-99
Martin Pospisil	C	Sioux City (USHL)	6-2/180	19-Nov-99
Josh Prokop	C	Vernon (BCHL)	5-10/175	30-Jan-00
Cole Purboo	RW	Windsor (OHL)	6-3/205	18-Jun-99
Vincent Purpura	G	Omaha (USHL)	6-3/195	29-Oct-98
Jacob Ragnarsson	D	Almtuna (Swe)	5-11/170	23-Sep-99
Jack Randl	LW	Omaha (USHL)	5-11/180	7-May-00
Connor Roberts	C	Flint (OHL)	6-4/210	22-Feb-00
Alexander Romanov	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Rus)	5-11/185	6-Jan-00
Nikita Rtishchev	RW	CSKA Moscow (Rus)	6-1/195	23-May-00
Merrick Rippon	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	27-Apr-00
Radim Salda	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/185	18-Feb-99
Santeri Salmela	D	KOOKOO (Fin)	6-1/195	10-Jun-00
Akira Schmid	G	Langnau (Sui)	6-4/165	12-May-00
Phillip Schultz	C	Rodovre (Den)	6-0/195	24-Jul-00
Zdenek Sedlak	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-2/205	23-Mar-00
Peetro Seppala	D	KOOKOO (Fin)	6-1/175	17-Aug-00
Bulat Shafigullin	LW	Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (Rus)	6-1/165	29-Dec-99
Yegor Sharangovich	C	Dinamo Minsk (Rus)	6-2/195	6-Jun-98
Alexander Shepelev	D	Chelyabinsk (Rus)	6-2/185	17-Mar-98
Marsel Sholokhov	RW	Chelyabinsk (Rus)	5-10/170	12-Jan-98
Graham Slaggert	C	NTDP (USA)	5-11/185	6-Apr-99
Egor Sokolov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-3/225	7-Jun-00
Zach Solow	RW	Northeastern (HE)	5-9/185	6-Nov-98
Riley Stotts	C	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	5-Jan-00
Vladislav Syomin	D	SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-3/215	17-Feb-98
Matt Thiessen	G	Steinbach (MJHL)	6-2/190	9-Jun-00
Michael Vorlicky	D	Edina (USHS-MN)	6-1/165	17-Jul-00
Pavel Vorobey	D	Kunlun Red Star (Rus)	6-3/195	10-Sep-97
Lukas Wernblom	C	MoDo (Swe)	5-9/170	22-Jul-00
Chase Wouters	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	5-11/180	8-Feb-00
Wyatte Wylie	D	Everett (WHL)	6-0/190	2-Nov-99
Vladislav Yeryomenko	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/185	23-Apr-99
Libor Zabransky	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/190	26-May-00
Egor Zamula	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/170	30-Mar-00
Danila Zhuravlyov	D	Irbis Kazan (Rus)	6-0/165	8-Apr-00

Czech: Jakub Skarek (2018 Draft Eligible)

Julius Dabrowski — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 12:19:50 +0000

Jakub Skarek is the highest ranked goaltender on McKeen's mid-season rankings but is projected to land in the third round, with no dominant goalkeeper in the picture. As the starter on the Czech Republic, Skarek had a disappointing World Junior Championship with a 5.19 GAA and a 0.848 save perecentage. Julius Dabrowski does not feel this will impact his draft ranking. He breaks down why below:

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 5: The Czech Republic's Jakub Skarek #1 looks on during bronze medal game action against the U.S. at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Jakub Skarek	2018 Draft Eligible
Position: G, Catches: L	H/W: 6-3", 200 lbs
Stats to date (GP-GAA-Save %)	HC Dukla Jihlava, Czech (18-2.60-.900)
	HC Litomerice, Czech2 (8-2.02-.939)
	Czech Republic U20, WJC-20 (5-5.19-.848)

Athleticism/Quickness/Speed: Skarek is an incredibly athletic and lightning fast goalie. He moves across his crease quickly and with extreme power, and his lateral movement is impressive. Combining his great reflexes, high level of agility and lack of fear indicates that he might become a game changer in the NHL one day. He covers the lower part of the ice very well and is capable of making post to post highlight split saves. Once he makes a save down low he gets back up in a hurry rapidly. He has very solid hands and reacts well on close range slap shot attempts. Grade: 60

Compete/Temperament: He does not seem to be out of place playing in the Pro Czech league as an 18 year old netminder. He is usually calm and keeps his team in the game even if he lets in a goal. He has the ability to shift the momentum during the game by making a spectacular or desperation save. His consistency is high and he takes every game seriously. He competes and wants to play more games which is why he has been loaned to the Czech 2 team HC Litomerice. Grade: 55

Vision/Play Reading: He reads the play very well and stays square to the shooter. He follows the action and knows when to stay deep in the net or move out and cut the shot angle. His positioning is very good and it is hard to surprise him with a tricky or bad angle shot. His focus level is very high and he keeps track of every faced shot. His 6-3” height helps him scan over heavy traffic during a Penalty Kill. He rarely over anticipates plays or is over aggressive with his save attempts. Grade: 60

Technique/Style: Skarek is aggressive in the butterfly but rarely slides out of position leaving the net open. If he lets in a goal in league play it is usually a very well placed shot or off a redirect. He has great mobility and displays very good side to side movement. It is not easy to score a wraparound goal on him. He covers the bottom of the net extremely well and his pads spread across the entire width of the net not giving an option down low. He rarely gets beaten on the lower part of the net. He reads off the shooter very well and covers the top corners with his fast blocker and glove. His glove-hand positioning is almost always in the right spot. He takes into consideration every possibility and minimizes the opponents’ chances to score. He stole a few games in the Czech2 league and will most likely do that in the bigger leagues as well. He might use his stick more often to poke the puck off the opponents but that is an adjustment which should come naturally to him in the next few years of his development. Grade: 55

Rebound Control: Pucks launched towards his chest are almost always absorbed by him effortlessly. Whenever he faces a low shot he kicks it out to the corner and rarely leaves a juicy rebound up the slot. He might let a puck bounce off of him near his crease when the traffic in front of him is greater but that is inevitable and rather untouchable. He smothers pucks going high glove and bounces off shots going to the blocker side. He jumps fast on rebounds and does not give the opponents time or space for a second chance. Grade: 55

Puck Handling: His stickhandling is fine and he can stop a rolling puck off the boards behind his net and play it to the defenders or leave it for his teammates. He can also clear the puck by sending it off the glass. He does not mishandle the puck or try to make a play he cannot handle. He knows what he is capable to do with the puck on his stick. Skarek is a solid puck handler. Grade: 50

Summary: Jakub Skarek has the potential to become an outstanding net minder in the future. This draft eligible goaltender might become a cornerstone for a NHL franchise if he keeps up the hard work and stays motivated. He is mentally strong and has no major flaws in his game. His athleticism helps him get through the rough stuff and he brings fans out of their seats with his cat-like reflexes or amazing sprawling saves. Many hockey experts predict Skarek to be picked in the third round but he might become a surprise pick in the second if a team needs to load their prospect pool with a very promising goalie. Once he gets settled with an organization and gets his fair share of game experience in the lower league he should find himself in the NHL locker room soon. His performance during the WJC in Buffalo, as disappointing as it was, should not lower his stock in the draft.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 56.25

2018 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Mid Season Rankings – Top 100 plus Honourable Mentions

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:00:33 +0000

One of the first lessons I learned when I began scouting a number of years ago was that draft eligible prospects generally start to make their marks after Christmas of their draft year.

Around two months ago (Dec. 8), we released a snapshot of the 2018 draft class, walking through the 62 strongest prospects at the time. Since then, all of the 62 have had plenty of chances to make their marks. In addition to the weeks and weeks of regular season action they all had, some were also afforded the showcase of appearing in the World Junior Championships, while others fought to be included in the CHL and USHL Top Prospect Games or the World Junior A Challenge.

Some of the WJC combatants were already considered to be at or around the top of the draft class, including each of the top four of our Mid-Season ranking. Others found themselves in the spotlight by virtue of holding nationalities that do not have the depth of talent in their age 19 class as we found with the Gold Medal winners from Canada, from which the entire roster consisted of previously drafted players.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 4: Sweden's Axel Fjallby Jonsson #22 and Isac Lundestrom #20 have words during semifinal round action against the U.S. at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

While an appearance at the WJC will only go so far for most of the prospects of Denmark, Switzerland, or Belarus, for players like the Czech Republic’s Martin Kaut (#31) and Kristian Reichel (#83), Slovakia’s Milos Roman (#57), Sweden’s Isac Lundestrom (#14), and others, players who came into the tournament with some expectations and managed to exceed them, they were able to ensure that they will be front of mind for scouting staffs through the end of the season. In fact, three of those players have seen their respective places in our rankings rise between December and now. The fourth, Milos Roman, did not fall all that much, and that can be explained largely with an injury that has limited him to a single game played since the tournament ended.

Speaking of movement in the lists, we can report that each member of the previous version of this list, which went 62 deep, is still in the mid-season top 100. Only four of those 62, Nando Eggenberger (#76), Olivier Rodrigue (#78), Marcus Westfalt (#86), and Adam Samuelsson (#95) are now lower than 75. Even though Eggenberger had a poor WJC and Rodrigue failed to impress in the CHL’s Top Prospect game, the midseason marquee event of Canadian Junior hockey, the current rankings of those four is more a reflection of other players making bigger moves than they have. All still profile as draftable prospects of note. If anything, they still have more to prove before late June in Dallas.

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

One of the two biggest jumps in the past two months belong to the aforementioned Kaut, who was fantastic at the WJC, showing a wide range of skills, plus hockey IQ and even a bit of a physical game to boot. He jumped up from 55 in December to 31 now and some in our scouting team felt that we may still be underrating him. Climbing only 21 spots, but more impressive as he started off at a higher level in December than Kaut is now, is London blueliner Evan Bouchard (#7). At the time, there were some concerns about his foot speed. Not only has he put those concerns to rest with steady displays of solid top end velocity, showing his ability to defend against rushes from some of the players long considered to be among the quickest in the OHL, but between his plus shot, advanced hockey brain and quarterbacking style, it is no real surprise that he is currently seven points clear as the highest scoring blueliner in the OHL.

The highest ranked newcomer to the list is Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkvist (#40), who had a scouting report from our own Jimmy Hamrin posted just last week. Although undersized, Lundkvist is mobile, moves the puck ably and has exceptional hockey IQ. Others debuting in the top 50 include Jakub Lauko (#44) a teammate of Kaut’s from the Czech WJC squad, Stanislav Demin (#45) a blueliner from the BCHL who impressed in the WJAC, and Niklas Nordgren (#49) an undersized, yet silky skilled winger who has been tearing up the Finnish junior ranks.

When I mentioned above that draft eligible prospects begin to make their marks after Christmas, that does not mean to suggest that we feel this present snapshot will be an accurate representation of how things ultimately shake out in June. There are some players who start the year hot and then slowly peter out. We may think we are viewing a rough mid-season patch and for some, they will never recover. Eggenberger is one. Xavier Bouchard (#62), who looked like a strong second tier draft prospect from the QMJHL two months ago, has contributed only two points since the calendar flipped to 2018. He is not an offensive blueliner, but more is expected.

Liam Foudy of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Other players started off very slowly and have been hot of late, getting themselves some mid-season recognition. One such player we debated at length was Liam Foudy (#82). When we released our December rankings, he had played 27 games and had put up a mere five points. Since then, in 23 games, he has 19 points, a period highlit by a strong showing at the CHL Top Prospect Game. In his case, it seems that London’s decision to sell off a large number of their regular top six forward options has given Foudy the chance to play in an offensive role and he has thus far flourished, to the extent that he was just named the OHL Player of the Week on the morning of this writing. He is a great skater and if he can keep this level of offensive production up for a few more weeks, showing that his recent play has not just been a flash in the pan, he will likely rocket up the list.

As we continue to scout the junior aged prospects of the world, this draft list will change again and again. In addition to extending our list to 100 as we pass the mid-season point for all leagues, we have also included a group of 25 others who had some fans about the McKeens scouting squad. As the intensity of the season rises with many teams and players jockeying for a post-season berth, some of the 125 players listed here will see their respective stocks go up and others will go down. Players who we may have skipped over in November and January will force us to pay attention in March and April. From now until draft weekend, we will continue to post scouting reports of the players you need to know about for the 2018 draft. We welcome your questions and comments and hope you enjoy the ride with us.

To link to a player page, use the tags at the bottom of the page, or from our McKeen's Draft Ranking found here It is also downloadable to an excel file.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/185	13-Apr-00
2	Filip Zadina	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/200	27-Nov-99
3	Andrei Svechnikov	RW	Barrie (OHL)	6-2/185	26-Mar-00
4	Brady Tkachuk	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-3/195	16-Sep-99
5	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas (Swe Jr)	5-11/170	15-Aug-00
6	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	13-Jun-00
7	Evan Bouchard	D	London (OHL)	6-2/195	20-Oct-99
8	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-3/180	7-Jan-00
9	Quinn Hughes	D	Michigan (B1G)	5-10/175	14-Oct-99
10	Ty Smith	D	Spokane (WHL)	5-10/180	24-Mar-00
11	Joe Veleno	C	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-00
12	Joel Farabee	LW	NTDP (USA)	5-11/165	25-Feb-00
13	Bode Wilde	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/195	24-Jan-00
14	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea (Swe)	6-0/185	6-Nov-99
15	Grigori Denisenko	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-11/165	24-Jun-00
16	K'Andre Miller	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/205	21-Jan-00
17	Barrett Hayton	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/190	9-Jun-00
18	Jared McIsaac	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	27-Mar-00
19	Akil Thomas	RW	Niagara (OHL)	5-11/170	2-Jan-00
20	Ryan McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/200	21-Sep-99
21	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori (Fin)	6-1/190	6-Jul-00
22	Serron Noel	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-5/200	8-Aug-00
23	Rasmus Kupari	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-1/185	15-Mar-00
24	Jacob Olofsson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/190	8-Feb-00
25	Ryan Merkley	D	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/170	14-Aug-00
26	Jett Woo	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-0/205	27-Jul-00
27	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	6-Feb-00
28	Alexander Alexeyev	D	Red Deer (WHL)	6-3/200	15-Nov-99
29	Mattias Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/215	14-Mar-00
30	Jack McBain	C	Toronto Jr Canadiens (OJHL)	6-3/195	6-Jan-00
31	Martin Kaut	RW	Pardubice (Cze)	6-1/175	2-Oct-99
32	Calen Addison	D	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/180	11-Apr-00
33	Jonny Tychonick	D	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/175	3-Mar-00
34	Jesse Ylonen	RW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-0/165	3-Oct-99
35	Dominik Bokk	LW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-1/180	3-Feb-00
36	Blake McLaughlin	LW	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/165	14-Feb-00
37	Kevin Bahl	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-6/230	27-Jun-00
38	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	Traktor Chelyabinsk (Rus)	6-2/170	23-Dec-99
39	Ty Dellandrea	C	Flint (OHL)	6-0/190	21-Jul-00
40	Nils Lundkvist	D	Lulea (Swe)	5-11/180	27-Jul-00
41	Rasmus Sandin	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/190	7-Mar-00
42	Adam Ginning	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-3/195	13-Jan-00
43	Allan McShane	C	Oshawa (OHL)	5-11/190	14-Feb-00
44	Jakub Lauko	C	Chomutov (Cze)	6-0/175	28-Mar-00
45	Stanislav Demin	D	Wenatchee (BCHL)	6-1/190	4-Apr-00
46	Filip Hallander	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-1/185	29-Jun-00
47	Xavier Bernard	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-2/210	6-Jan-00
48	Ty Emberson	D	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	24-May-00
49	Niklas Nordgren	RW	HIFK Helsinki (Fin Jr)	5-9/170	4-May-00
50	Sampo Ranta	LW	Sioux City (USHL)	6-1/195	31-May-00
51	Jay O'Brien	C	Thayer Academy (USHS-MA)	5-10/185	4-Nov-99
52	Jonatan Berggren	C	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	6-Jul-00
53	Kody Clark	RW	Ottawa (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Oct-99
54	David Gustafsson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	6-1/195	11-Apr-00
55	Nicolas Beaudin	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	5-11/175	7-Oct-99
56	Cam Hillis	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-10/170	24-Jun-00
57	Milos Roman	C	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/190	6-Nov-99
58	Gabriel Fortier	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/190	6-Feb-00
59	Riley Sutter	C	Everett (WHL)	6-3/205	25-Oct-99
60	Martin Fehervary	D	Oskarshamn (Swe 2)	6-1/190	6-Oct-99
61	Philipp Kurashev	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-0/190	12-Oct-99
62	Xavier Bouchard	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-3/190	28-Feb-00
63	Giovanni Vallati	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-00
64	Alexander Khovanov	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-11/190	12-Apr-00
65	Blade Jenkins	LW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Aug-00
66	Filip Johansson	D	Leksands (Swe 2)	6-1/185	23-Mar-00
67	Alec Regula	D	London (OHL)	6-3/200	6-Aug-00
68	Jakub Skarek	G	Dukla Jihlava (Cze)	6-3/200	10-Nov-99
69	Nico Gross	D	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/185	26-Jan-00
70	Anderson MacDonald	LW	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/205	16-May-00
71	Kyle Topping	C	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/185	18-Nov-99
72	Oskar Back	C	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/200	12-Mar-00
73	Nathan Dunkley	C	London (OHL)	5-11/195	3-May-00
74	Patrick Giles	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-4/205	3-Jan-00
75	Jake Wise	C	NTDP (USA)	5-10/190	28-Feb-00
76	Nando Eggenberger	LW	Davos (Sui)	6-2/185	7-Oct-99
77	Alexis Gravel	G	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-2/225	21-Mar-00
78	Olivier Rodrigue	G	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-0/160	6-Jul-00
79	Tyler Madden	C	Central Illinois (USHL)	5-10/155	9-Nov-99
80	Lenni Killinen	LW	Blues (Fin Jr)	6-2/185	15-Jun-00
81	Filip Kral	D	Spokane (WHL)	6-0/170	20-Oct-99
82	Liam Foudy	C	London (OHL)	6-1/185	4-Feb-00
83	Kristian Reichel	C	Red Deer (WHL)	6-1/170	11-Jun-98
84	Danila Galenyuk	D	Mamonty Yurgy (Rus Jr)	6-1/200	10-Feb-00
85	Aidan Dudas	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-8/170	15-Jun-00
86	Marcus Westfalt	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-3/205	12-Mar-00
87	Jachym Kondelik	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-6/225	21-Dec-99
88	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	Okotoks (AJHL)	6-0/180	30-Jun-00
89	Carter Robertson	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-2/180	15-Jan-00
90	Kevin Mandolese	G	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-3/180	22-Aug-00
91	Ryan O'Reilly (2000)	RW	Madison (USHL)	6-1/205	21-Mar-00
92	Merrick Rippon	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	27-Apr-00
93	David Lilja	C	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	5-11/175	23-Jan-00
94	Alex Steeves	C	Dubuque (USHL)	6-0/185	10-Dec-99
95	Adam Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USA)	6-6/240	21-Jun-00
96	Linus Karlsson	C	Karlskrona (Swe Jr)	6-1/180	16-Nov-99
97	Jack Drury	C	Waterloo (USHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-00
98	Albin Eriksson	LW	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	6-4/205	20-Jul-00
99	Sean Durzi	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/195	21-Oct-98
100	Jacob Ingham	G	Mississauga (OHL)	6-3/185	10-Jun-00
HM	Curtis Hall	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-2/195	26-Apr-00
HM	Toni Utunen	D	LeKi (Fin 2)	5-11/175	27-Apr-00
HM	Riley Damiani	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-10/165	20-Mar-00
HM	Cole Fonstad	C	Prince Albert (WHL)	5-10/160	24-Apr-00
HM	Pavel Gogolev	RW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-0/175	19-Feb-00
HM	Jan Jenik	RW	Benatky nad Jizerou (Cze 2)	6-1/165	15-Sep-00
HM	Daniel Kurovsky	LW	Vitkovice (Cze)	6-4/200	4-Mar-98
HM	Luka Burzan	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/185	7-Jan-00
HM	Eric Florchuk	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-1/175	10-Jan-00
HM	David Levin	C	Sudbury (OHL)	5-10/180	16-Sep-99
HM	Chase Wouters	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	5-11/180	8-Feb-00
HM	Justus Annunen	G	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	6-4/215	11-Mar-00
HM	Seth Barton	D	Trail (BCHL)	6-2/175	18-Aug-99
HM	Declan Chisholm	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/185	12-Jan-00
HM	Paul Cotter	C	Lincoln (USHL)	6-0/190	16-Nov-99
HM	Caleb Everett	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-2/185	20-Jan-00
HM	Johnny Gruden	C	NTDP (USA)	5-11/175	4-May-00
HM	Jordan Harris	D	Kimball Union (USHS-NH)	5-11/175	7-Jul-00
HM	Michael Kesselring	D	New Hampton School (USHS-NH)	6-4/185	13-Jan-00
HM	Juuso Ketola	D	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	5-11/210	18-Mar-00
HM	Jackson Leppard	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/200	18-Jan-00
HM	Scott Perunovich	D	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	5-10/170	18-Aug-98
HM	Ivan Prosvetov	G	Youngstown (USHL)	6-4/175	5-Mar-99
HM	Tyler Weiss	LW	NTDP (USA)	5-10/160	3-Jan-00
HM	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	Rimouski (QMJHL)	5-9/175	11-Aug-00

2018 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Mid-Season Rankings

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 15:53:52 +0000

One of the first lessons I learned when I began scouting a number of years ago was that draft eligible prospects generally start to make their marks after Christmas of their draft year.

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

Liam Foudy of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Here is our mid-season top 31 ranking for the 2018 NHL Draft. For subscribers the full list of 100 plus honourable mentions can be found here - Top 100 2018 NHL Draft - Mid Season. If you are interested in a subscription, you can learn more here - $9.99 for three months access, plus any downloads we release. We publish a 2018 NHL Draft Guide on June 1st, 2018 and our 24th anniversary of the McKeen's Hockey Pool Yearbook on September 1st, 2018.

RK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/185	13-Apr-00	35-6-11-17
2	Filip Zadina	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/200	27-Nov-99	44-35-28-63
3	Andrei Svechnikov	RW	Barrie (OHL)	6-2/185	26-Mar-00	32-30-18-48
4	Brady Tkachuk	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-3/195	16-Sep-99	29-7-16-23
5	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas (Swe Jr)	5-11/170	15-Aug-00	23-14-7-21
6	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	13-Jun-00	38-31-22-53
7	Evan Bouchard	D	London (OHL)	6-2/195	20-Oct-99	52-18-48-66
8	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-3/180	7-Jan-00	53-13-42-55
9	Quinn Hughes	D	Michigan (B1G)	5-10/175	14-Oct-99	27-3-15-18
10	Ty Smith	D	Spokane (WHL)	5-10/180	24-Mar-00	53-9-47-56
11	Joe Veleno	C	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-00	49-14-48-62
12	Joel Farabee	LW	NTDP (USA)	5-11/165	25-Feb-00	38-19-25-44
13	Bode Wilde	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/195	24-Jan-00	38-7-17-24
14	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea (Swe)	6-0/185	6-Nov-99	35-6-9-15
15	Grigori Denisenko	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-11/165	24-Jun-00	23-4-10-14
16	K'Andre Miller	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/205	21-Jan-00	38-6-12-18
17	Barrett Hayton	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/190	9-Jun-00	52-18-31-49
18	Jared McIsaac	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	27-Mar-00	53-7-30-37
19	Akil Thomas	RW	Niagara (OHL)	5-11/170	2-Jan-00	53-15-47-62
20	Ryan McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/200	21-Sep-99	52-18-36-54
21	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori (Fin)	6-1/190	6-Jul-00	52-8-17-25
22	Serron Noel	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-5/200	8-Aug-00	48-21-19-40
23	Rasmus Kupari	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-1/185	15-Mar-00	31-5-5-10
24	Jacob Olofsson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/190	8-Feb-00	38-9-11-20
25	Ryan Merkley	D	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/170	14-Aug-00	50-12-44-56
26	Jett Woo	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-0/205	27-Jul-00	30-8-15-23
27	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	6-Feb-00	55-21-20-41
28	Alexander Alexeyev	D	Red Deer (WHL)	6-3/200	15-Nov-99	37-6-25-31
29	Mattias Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/215	14-Mar-00	34-6-13-19
30	Jack McBain	C	Toronto Jr Canadiens (OJHL)	6-3/195	6-Jan-00	44-19-33-52
31	Martin Kaut	RW	Pardubice (Cze)	6-1/175	2-Oct-99	35-5-6-11

Jakub Skarek – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #28

Top 20 New York Islander Prospects

1. William Dufour

2. Samuel Bolduc

3. Ruslan Iskhakov

4. Calle Odelius

5. Danny Nelson

6. Matt Maggio

7. Otto Koivula

8. Alex Jeffries

9. Quinn Finley

10. Jesse Nurmi

11. Isaiah George

12. Eetu Liukas

13. Robin Salo

14. Cameron Berg

15. Arnaud Durandeau

16. Tristan Lennox

17. Jakub Skarek

18. Daylan Kueffler

19. Travis Mitchell

20. Aidan Fulp

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #26 New York Islanders

Prospect System Ranking – 26th (30th last year)

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Top 20 Prospects

New York Islanders 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

New York Islanders Prospect System Overview

2018 NHL Draft Review: Metropolitan Division

McKeen’s 2018 NHL Draft Ranking – April 2018 – Top 125

Czech: Jakub Skarek (2018 Draft Eligible)

2018 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Mid Season Rankings – Top 100 plus Honourable Mentions

2018 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Mid-Season Rankings

Prospect System Ranking – 26^th (30^th last year)