Jan Bednar – McKeen's Hockey

2024 NHL Prospect Pool Rankings: Detroit Red Wings Take No. 1 Spot – The Yzerplan takes root

Josh Bell — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 11:36:04 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 03: Detroit Red Wings center Nate Danielson (29) controls the puck during warm-ups before a game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks on October 3, 2023 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

When Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman was hired as the general manager for his former team back in 2019, Red Wings’ fans placed their faith in the ‘Yzerplan’. Five years later, the new general manager has the Original Six team on the upswing, and the prospect cupboard is extremely full of future talent. It does seem safe to say that the Yzerplan is coming together.

Yzerman was brought in after the club saw their remarkable 25-year playoff run come to an end, followed by three consecutive seasons of failing to make the playoffs under the previous regime. While Yzerman and company have yet to crack the playoffs themselves, although came close this season, it’s hard not to have hope for this young group.

Before diving into the prospects that carried Detroit to the No. 1 spot on McKeen’s Hockey farm system rankings, let’s consider the two young pieces that have been drafted by Yzerman and have already made the jump and thus don’t even factor into this ranking. In 2019, with his first selection at the helm, Yzerman drafted German defender Moritz Seider - now a Calder Trophy winner and the team’s No. 1 defender. He followed that up in 2020 with Swedish forward Lucas Raymond - already a top-line winger.

From Yzerman’s first five drafts, those are the only two graduates at this point. Patience is a key aspect of the Yzerplan, and that patience looks like it’s about to pay off as a number of these pieces on the outside look poised to make the jump in the very near future.

This farm system is about to take a big hit though as top prospect Simon Edvinsson already looks to have solidified his spot with the big club, suiting up for 16 games this season including playing a big role for the Red Wings down the stretch as they pushed for a playoff spot. The Swedish defender has seen steady growth since Detroit called his name sixth overall in 2021, moving to the SHL and then the AHL. The No. 11-ranked prospect on McKeen’s Hockey’s prospect ranking, Edvinsson’s confidence with the puck on his stick stands out, thanks to his remarkable puck handling ability.

A knock on Edvinsson in the past has been his defensive game and his decision-making, but both have taken significant strides. He can be relied upon in his own end and can be put out in any situation that the coach needs him. He’s figured out how to use his 6-foot-6, 216-pound frame to his advantage, both with his body to rub people off the puck or to create separation, or utilizing his reach to disrupt opposition plays. He’s very much on his way to becoming a top-four, two-way defender for the Wings.

The Red Wings have shown that they have a type in recent years, targeting Swedish defenders. Since 2019, other than Edvinsson, the organization has drafted Albert Johansson (60th overall in 2019 - ranked 15th for the Wings by McKeen’s), Gustav Berglund (177th in 2019 - not ranked), William Wallinder (32nd overall in 2020 - ranked eighth), Anton Johansson (105th in 2022 - not ranked), and Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th in 2023 - ranked fourth).

The highlight of that group is one of the newest additions, Axel Sandin Pellikka. Ranked 33rd overall in McKeen’s prospect ranking, the Swede is an impressive offensive threat, thanks to his ability to read the ice, his strong four-way mobility, and his excellent straight-line speed. He can dictate the pace of play and while he’s on the smaller side based on NHL standards, he’s not afraid to get physical. It’s not hard to imagine him next to Seider or Edvinsson and quarterbacking a power play in Motor City.

The other ‘big’ name to pay attention to is William Wallinder. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound defender just played his first full season in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, and while it looks like he’ll need at least one more season there to continue his development, there’s a ton of promise to his game. He has the confidence, mobility, playmaking and the processing ability to be an impact player in a bottom-four role. He’s still a bit raw and needs to continue to improve his decision-making, but he’s on his way.

Another to mention is Albert Johansson - yet another Swede who fits the mould. He’s big (6-foot-4, 196 pounds), he’s physical, and he moves well for a d-man of his size. He could be on his way to a bottom-pairing, penalty-killing role with the Wings.

Outside of the Swedes but staying with defenders, Shai Buium is another promising piece that’s working his way up the ranks. After three years and a national title with the University of Denver, Buium has signed with the Red Wings and has already dressed for his first AHL game. The 2021 36th overall pick looks to be a stable, intelligent player who could play up and down the defensive lineup. He moves the puck well, has the skill to make an impact offensively, and defends very well with his gap control and stick work.

The last defenseman worth a call-out is Andrew Gibson. A lesser-known prospect compared to the rest of the names on this list, Gibson was taken 42nd overall in the 2023 NHL Draft from the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, where he’s spent the past two seasons working his way to becoming one of the most impressive two-way defenders in the league. He uses his 6-foot-3 frame well, plays physically, and could be utilized in a shut-down role if called upon. There’s potential for him to become a No. 6-7 guy.

Detroit Red Wings Goalie Sebastian Cossa (33) (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

While the defence looks extremely promising, the Red Wings future looks even better in the crease. Headlined by one of the best goaltending prospects in the world, Sebastien Cossa, the goaltending crop is extremely enviable. Cossa, drafted 15th overall in 2021, has the makings of a future No. 1. The 6-foot-6 netminder is confident, athletic, and technically sounds. His reflexes are excellent, and the power he commands in the net is clear. He’s looked very comfortable in his AHL rookie season, and the NHL doesn’t seem too far away.

But Cossa’s not the only potential No. 1 in the system. The Red Wings drafted a safety net in 2023, 41st overall, by selecting Trey Augustine from the USNTDP. One of the most patient, poised goalies out there, the young goaltender is a reliable, focused player who tracks well, controls the puck well, and moves quickly. He likely develops into a strong backup, but there’s the possibility he becomes a very strong 1B.

Before moving on to the forward group, keep an eye on Czech netminder Jan Bednar, drafted 107th overall in 2020. He just wrapped up a very strong rookie season in the ECHL and looks poised to continue to rise.

Looking at the Red Wings’ pool, the defence is big and mobile and the goaltenders are confident and athletic. Both are likely the top positional prospect groups of any team in the NHL right now. The forwards in the system may not be ranked at the very top of the league overall right now, but there’s a ton of skill and a variety of player types knocking on the door.

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 13: Grand Rapids Griffins center Marco Kasper (92) shoots the puck during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Cleveland Monsters on February 13, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

You can really take your pick at the top, with centremen Nate Danielson or Marco Kasper. Danielson, taken ninth overall in 2023 and McKeen’s No. 2 prospect in the Detroit system, brings a highly competitive edge, leadership, and consistency. His game looks like it should translate so easily to the pro level despite lacking a specific high-level trait or dynamic ability. He looks like he should become a very strong 2 or 3C.

While McKeen’s placed Kasper just behind Danielson, it’s definitely not for a lack of skill. The Austrian forward, drafted eighth overall in 2022, looks like he’s on his way to becoming an impact player. He plays a very mature game, is patient with the puck, isn’t afraid to dive into puck battles, and brings strong two-way ability. Any coach should feel confident to throw him on the ice in any situation. Like Danielson, Kasper looks like he’s on his way to a role as a middle-six pivot.

There’s a bit of a drop in skill after these two forwards, but there are a handful of pieces who look like they could fit into bottom-six, role-player types. Just like the defenders, the forwards seem to fit a mould - they are hard-working, competitive, and reliable. Carter Mazur headlines this group, as he continues to outperform his 70th-overall selection in 2021 and could even slide into a middle-six position.

The lone Russian drafted under Yzerman, Dmitri Buchelnikov was selected 52nd overall in 2022 and might just be a sneaky selection soon. He doesn’t fit the typical pick from the Red Wings as he’s undersized at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, but does he ever have skill. He’s a goal scorer who can put the puck in the net in so many different ways. He’s so good at creating separation and finding the open ice. Don’t be surprised if he comes over in 2025-26 and impresses at the NHL level immediately.

The Red Wings' future is extremely bright. With the team already heading in the right direction, some of these players mentioned, and others including Elmer Soderblom, Noah Dower-Nilsson, Amadeus Lombardi, Dylan James, Red Savage, and Cross Hanas, should continue to build on this momentum as they graduate to the NHL. The Red Wings are very much a team to look out for - and soon.

2022 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: TEAM CZECHIA – Experienced Forwards, Young Defense look for 11th Consecutive Quarter Final Appearance

Derek O'Brien with notes from Vince Gibbons and Clare McManus — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 15:34:40 +0000

There doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary about Czechia’s roster at this year’s World Junior Championship, and therefore results out of the ordinary shouldn’t be expected.

Of the 28 players named to the preliminary roster by head coach Karel Mlejnek and assistants David Bruk and Pavel Trnka, only eight are returning from last year’s squad that the same trio led to a familiar quarterfinal loss. While 10 have already been drafted by NHL teams, only four players have yet to be draft-eligible: late 2003-born defencemen David Jiricek, David Moravec and Matej Pinkas, and 2004-born forward Jiri Kulich.

The team was dealt a significant blow when goaltender Nick Malik, who has experience from two previous World Juniors, chose not to risk losing his starting job with KooKoo Kouvola in the top Finnish league. Malik is having a fantastic rookie professional season and was projected to be the Czechs’ starting goalie. His absence gives Jan Bednar a chance to step into the starter’s role, although Jakub Malek might challenge.

The Czech defense is quite young, taking advantage of a strong 2003-born defense core led by Jiricek and Stanislav Svozil, who both played for the team last year and held their own as 17-year-olds. A year older, they’ll be expected to lead this year. The only two 19-year-olds on the back end are Michal Hradek and Michael Krutil. At 6-3 and 203lbs, Krutil is the biggest of a skilled but not-so-big group, which includes the 5-9 puck-mover Jiri Tichacek.

The Czech group of forwards is more experienced, with 10 of 15 players named being 19 years old and six already drafted. As is often the case, this group has some high-end talent but is somewhat lacking on depth, with center Jan Mysak and right winger Pavel Novak the team’s two most dangerous offensive weapons. Expect to see them together on the team’s top line and power-play unit, as was the case last year. While Novak is speedy and somewhat undersized, the biggest Czech forwards are 18-year-old wingers Jaroslav Chmelar and Martin Rysavy.

So far this season, the Czech national junior team has played seven games in the summer, which included its players based in North America, and a three-game U20 tournament in Sweden in November, which included only European-based players.

The Czechs play their first tournament game against Canada on December 26.

In a group that contains Canada, Finland, Germany and Austria, the Czechs are solidly projected to finish third. Any thoughts about the Germans challenging them were put into serious doubt with the recent announcement that Tim Stutzle, J. J. Peterka and Lukas Reichel would not be playing. In any case, the Czechs have made it to the quarterfinals of this tournament the last 10 years in a row and, barring a major collapse, will do so again. Going beyond that is possible but will be very difficult for a country that has only one final-four appearance in the last 16 years.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jan Bednar, G

With Malik declining the invitation to play, the starting job is Bednar’s to lose. As a 16-year-old, Bednar burst onto the scene, winning the Extraliga’s Rookie-of-the-Year award with Karlovy Vary. Positionally sound, mobile, 6-foot-4 and 196lbs, he was pegged as a future impact goaltender. However, Bednar’s 2019-20 campaign was a disappointment as he was stuck behind a weak team. Bednar was drafted in the fourth round by the Detroit Red Wings in 2020 and is now the starting goalie for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the QMJHL. Although the lustre has somewhat worn off him over the past couple of years, the World Juniors could be his chance to show everybody that he still has the potential to be an NHL starter.

FRISCO, TX USA - MAY 1: The Czech Republic's Stanislav Svozil #14 skates with the puck while Russia's Prokhor Poltapov #13 chases him down during preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on May 1, 2021 in Frisco, TX USA. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Stanislav Svozil, D

At 18 years of age, this Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect more than held his own in his first World Junior Championship last year. Lauded for his high hockey IQ, speed and solid two-way game, the Czechs will rely heavily upon the experienced d-man, who after two Extraliga seasons with Kometa Brno, now plays for the WHL’s Regina Pats. Whereas his offensive contributions have been minimal among older players, focusing his efforts more on the defensive side of things, Svozil will now be expected to play a big role in the transition game and quarterback the power play. While not particularly big for a defenseman at 6-1 and 185lbs, he is known for his speed, allowing him to contribute offensively without sacrificing anything on the back end.

EDMONTON, AB CANADA - DECEMBER 26: Czech Republic's David Jiricek #8 battles for puck possession against Sweden's Arvid Costmar #14 in preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 26, 2020 in Edmonton, AB Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

David Jiricek, D

Jiricek is the other young stud Czech defenseman, who looks to be a sure-fire first rounder in 2022 – and top-10 according to many sources – due to his late-2003 birthday. Jiricek was the Czech Extraliga’s Rookie-of-the-Year last season as he picked up three goals and 10 points in 36 regular-season and playoff games as a top-four defenceman with Skoda Plzen. So far this season, Jiricek, who turned 18 in late November, already has five goals and 11 points in 29 games. Already more offensively inclined than Svozil, the Czechs will definitely look to Jiricek to jump into the rush and contribute offensively. At 6’3” and 190lbs, Jiricek already has the height and with added weight over time could be a physically imposing figure added to his skill set.

Michael Krutil, D

Ishockey, Karjala Tournament, Tjeckien - Sverige: Jan Mysak #44, CZE during Icehockey Beijer Hockey Games match between Czech Republic - Sweden at the Hartwall Arena on 05. November 2020 in Helsinki, Finland. (Tomi Hänninen/Newspix24)
© Bildbyrån

Jan Mysak, C/LW

A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Draft, Mysak will be expected to carry the offensive load and be a veteran presence for the Czechs in his third World Junior Championship and his second as captain. After struggling as a pro last season split between hometown Litvinov and the AHL’s Laval Rocket, in which he garnered three points in 33 total games, he is now back in the OHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he is once again scoring at better than a point per game. Internationally he has shown a scoring touch as well and has led the Czech national junior team with 10 points in seven games so far this season.

Jakub Brabenec, C

Brabenec is a playmaking center who sees the ice well and could be a mid- to late-round Draft pick this year. After seeing limited ice time as a 13^th forward in 23 Extraliga games and three second-division games last season, Brabenec now plays for the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders, where he has 32 points in 28 games. Like many good centers, he’s strong defensively and he tends to look to pass rather than shoot, so he will need wingers to get open if he’s to help the team to his maximum potential.

Pavel Novak, RW

Pavel Novak from the Kelowna Rocket (24-13-18-31-8-8) is a smaller winger that has continued to impress. Building on an impressive draft season he again is leading his team is most every statistical category. He is first in goals, assists and points and drives so much of the offense. He will play a similar role for the Czech team at the World Juniors where opportunistic players will have to make the most of their chances to compete against the top teams in the tournament. Novak has a good combination of speed and skill where he can make plays in open ice, attacking off the rush and making defenders back off. He is a player who engages and competes hard which despite his size and allows him to win a surprising amount of puck battles. He is capable of creating offense out of very little with his great vision or improving finishing ability which make his him a key top six forward for the Czechs.

Michal Gut, C

Michal Gut from the Everett Silvertips (24-7-25-32-8-23) is a player that has grown substantially in the structured defense first style Everett is known for. His offensive game is predicated on his quick evaluation and decision making rather than his speed and skill but is a player that will contribute at both ends of the ice. This year he has taken a step in his game away from the puck and has shown a willingness in his own zone to do more than his part. His passing skills and ability to create should help him chip in offensively especially on a roster that will need timely scoring. He is a player that can contribute even if he isn’t scoring with his energy and ability to cycle the puck and wear down opponents.

Goaltenders (3):

Daniel Král (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Acadie-Bathurst, QMJHL), Jakub Málek (Vsetín).

Defensemen (9):

Matěj Pinkas (Litoměřice), David Jiříček (Plzeň), Jakub Šedivý (Benátky nad Jizerou), David Moravec (Mladá Boleslav), Michal Hrádek (Pardubice), Jiří Ticháček (Kladno), Michael Krutil (Rockford, AHL), Stanislav Svozil (Regina, WHL), David Špaček (Sherbrooke, QMJHL).

Forwards (16):

Josef Koláček, Tomáš Urban (both Litoměřice), Jakub Konečný (Sparta Prague), Sebastián Malát (Plzeň), Tomáš Chlubna (České Budějovice), Vojtěch Jiruš (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jiří Kulich (Karlovy Vary), Stanislav Vrhel (Lahti, Finland), Jaroslav Chmelař (Jokerit Helsinki, Finland U20), Jakub Kos (Ilves Tampere, Finland), Michal Gut (Everett, WHL), Martin Ryšavý (Moose Jaw, WHL), Jan Myšák (Hamilton, OHL), Pavel Novák (Kelowna, WHL), Ivan Ivan (Cape Breton, QMJHL), Jakub Brabenec (Charlottetown, QMJHL).

2021 World Junior Championship: Czech Republic Training Camp Roster Preview

Derek O'Brien — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:42:22 +0000

National junior head coach Karel Mlejnek named the Czech Republic’s preliminary 45-man roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at a press conference on Wednesday (Dec. 2, 2020). As expected, the list includes 10 returnees from last season’s team and nine players who have been drafted by NHL teams.

In a group that includes Russia, Sweden, the USA and Austria, the Czechs are projected to finish fourth and advance to the quarter-finals. Whatever they achieve beyond that would be a pleasant surprise.

With the unusual circumstances that have affected all teams in the tournament to varying degrees, the Czech Republic was hit hard by a second wave of COVID-19 in the autumn, resulting in a shutdown of all organized sports for much of October and November. Furthermore, many teams have been forced to quarantine for additional time due to localized positive tests. While all of the team’s CHL-based players have returned home, some have been limited to only a handful of games.

While the Czech national junior team hasn’t played this season, save for a three-game series with Slovakia back in July, 10 junior-aged players were named to the Czech senior men’s team that competed at the Karjala Cup in Finland in November.

The last two years, the Czechs were led by Anaheim Ducks prospect Lukas Dostal in goal, but he’s too old this year. Last season, Dostal missed a couple of games due to injury, which gave Lukas Parik and Nick Malik an opportunity to get into some game action. The three goalies on the roster this time will be Parik, Malik and Jan Bednar, but the starting job is wide open.

Last year’s young defence corps will be this year’s gain, with four returning defencemen – Martin Has, Karel Klikora, Simon Kubicek, and Radek Kucerik. But the most interesting names on defence from a scouting perspective are 17-year-olds Stanislav Svozil and David Jiricek. Both were born in 2003 but their birthdays mean Svozil will be eligible to be drafted in 2021 and Jiricek in 2022. Additionally, both played at the Karjala Cup and Mlejnek indicated they both have a good shot at making the team.

“Based to their play so far, their chances are very high,” Mlejnek said at the press conference. “I don’t think they seemed out of place at all at the Karjala by being so young. They adjusted to the opportunities they were given and played with confidence. We believe that they will continue to prove that throughout December.”

Up front, the consensus top two lines based on Mlejnek’s lines in July and at the Karjala Cup in November consist of Jan Mysak centering Pavel Novak and Adam Raska and Jaromir Pytlik between Michal Teply and Filip Koffer. Novak – a 2002-born Minnesota Wild prospect – and Koffer will be playing in their first WJC while the other four all return from last year. After the top six, the talent up front drops off significantly. Marcel Barinka, who spent the past two seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads, had a solid shot at being the third-line center but declined the invitation to camp, having just signed with German club Kolner Haie and wanting to have a good camp there in anticipation of a December 17 opening to the DEL season.

Jan Mysak during the ice hockey quarter final game in The IIHF U18 World Championship between Sweden and The Czech Republic
Photo: Jonas Forsberg / BILDBYRÅN

Lukas Parik, G

While it’s not totally clear who the Czechs’ starting goalie will be, national team general manager Filip Pesan may have tipped his hand when he named Parik to the Karjala Cup roster. He played in one game there and stopped 27 of 30 shots against a Russian team that consisted exclusively of junior-aged players and will largely be the same squad that the Czechs will face in Group B in Edmonton. The other two goalies in contention are Nick Malik and Jan Bednar, who are both a year younger. At 6-4”, Parik is a big goalie who relies on his size and positioning to stop pucks, in contrast to the equally big but more acrobatic Bednar.

Martin Has, D

Has has only played in a couple games this season for second-division HC Benatky nad Jizerou, making this the first time he has played for a club in his home country since he was 16. The Washington Capitals‘ draft pick has spent two seasons with Tappara Tampere‘s junior squad in Finland, where his mobility and hockey sense were occasional issues. Has played last season in the OHL with the Guelph Storm. The right-shot defenseman is an intriguing blueliner with a promising tool set, but he looks very raw at the moment. At his first WJC he had a solid tournament with three points in six games, and will be heavily relied upon this time around.

Simon Kubicek, D

Kubicek is a very well-rounded two-way defender who plays physical and is tough to compete against in the defensive zone, although it has been noted that his speed needs to improve if he wants to make it to the next level, which may be why he was passed over in the 2020 Draft. The late-born 2001 has been a standout the last two years for Seattle and played well at the World Juniors for the Czechs, and they will count on him to be even better this season. So far he has spent this season with HC Stadion Litomerice in the Czech second division, where he has played on the team’s top defensive pair.

Stanislav Svozil, D

A potential first-round pick for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Svozil debuted in the Extraliga last season as a 16-year-old and didn’t look out of place in the pros, tallying five points in 41 games. This year, he has become a regular on the Kometa Brno defense and made his senior national team debut at the Karjala Cup, although that hasn’t translated into offensive production. While not particularly big for a defenseman at 6-1” and 172lbs, he is known for his speed, allowing him to contribute offensively without sacrificing anything on the back end. Being 10 months older than fellow 17-year-old Jiricek, Svozil probably has a slightly better chance of making the team.

Jan Mysak, C

A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in this year’s NHL Draft, 2002-born Mysak will be expected to carry the offensive load for the Czechs in his second World Junior Championship. After scoring at better than a point-per-game clip last season for Hamilton in the OHL, he is back home in Litvinov this season but has been held pointless in his first nine games of the season, averaging about 14 minutes per game on the Extraliga’s lowest-scoring team. Internationally he has shown a scoring touch, with four points in three games for the U20 national team back in July, and an assist in two games for the senior men’s team in November. In these games, he has mostly been centering a line with speedy, undersized wingers Pavel Novak and Adam Raska.

Michal Teply, LW

Teply is another player who has seen limited action back home in the Czech Republic after playing last season in the CHL, coming from the Winnipeg Ice to Mlada Boleslav and Litomerice, where he has played only a handful of games so far. He is a skilled and instinctive offensive-minded player whose passing skills and vision are his biggest strengths. He makes the right choices with the puck and his overall skill level is very high. He has a good, accurate wrist shot and the potential to be a good goal-scorer at the pro level. At 6-3” and 192lbs, he is one of the biggest forwards on this Czech team. In pre-tournament games, Teply has been playing the left side with Jaromir Pytlik and Filip Koffer.

Jaromir Pytlik, C

A member of the Soo Greyhounds now playing for HC Litomerice in the Czech second division, Pytlik is another returning player and top-six forward on this team. Last season, he began the tournament on a line with Jan Jenik but that lasted all of 15 seconds before the team’s star forward went down with a knee injury. After that, the Czech forward lines were a mess and Pytlik played a depth role. He is a mature two-way forward who plays a very heavy, pro-ready game. The versatile New Jersey Devils prospect excels playing through traffic, prolonging possession along the wall, and finishing off plays tight to the crease. He competes hard at both ends and shows high-end anticipation as a defensive forward and penalty killer.

Adam Raska, RW

After spending last season with the Rimouski Oceanic, tallying 21 points and 37 penalty minutes in just 35 games and then getting drafted by the San Jose Sharks, Raska has returned to the club that developed him, split this season so far between Trinec in the Extraliga and second-league affiliate Frydek-Mistek. Raska was a depth forward at last year’s WJC but will be a top-six forward this year, lining up on Mysak’s right side, where he should get a chance to display his goal-scoring touch. While somewhat undersized at 5-10” and 168lbs, he plays bigger than his size, not shying away from the physical play, which should only improve as he bulks up.

Goaltenders:
Lukáš Pařík (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Karlovy Vary), Nick Malík, Tomáš Suchánek (both Frýdek-Místek), Šimon Zajíček (Litvínov).

Defencemen:
Karel Klikorka (Mladá Boleslav), Martin Hugo Haš (Benátky nad Jizerou), Michal Hrádek (Pardubice), Stanislav Svozil (Kometa Brno), Adam Rutar (Olomouc), David Jiříček, Vladimír Kremláček (both Plzeň), Ondřej Baláž, Michael Krutil, Šimon Kubíček, Jan Mlčák, Daniel Poizl (all Litoměřice), Radek Kučeřík (Přerov), Jiří Suhrada (Zlín).

Forwards:
Adam Najman, Jakub Rychlovský (both Liberec), Michal Gut (Sokolov), Martin Beránek (České Budějovice), Jonáš Peterek, Adam Raška (both Frýdek-Místek), Jakub Brabenec (Kometa Brno), Sebastián Malát (Plzeň), David Vitouch (Sparta Praha), David Jindra, Filip Koffer, Martin Lang, Pavel Novák, Filip Přikryl, Jaromír Pytlík, Michal Teplý, Matěj Toman (all Litoměřice), Jan Myšák (Litvínov), Ivan Ivan (Vítkovice), Martin Ryšavý (Přerov), Radek Mužík (Lulea, Sweden), Theodor Pištěk (Örebro, S), Ondřej Pšenička (Waterloo, USHL).

2020 NHL Draft: Analysts Choice for Top Sleepers Around the World

Brock Otten — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 11:24:10 +0000

While the status of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft remains unclear in the current world climate, we at McKeen’s Hockey continue to bring you detailed and engrossing features that focus on the players available.

By now, most draft followers and fans are familiar with the top end players available. The names of Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Lucas Raymond, and many other potential first round selections have received significant attention, including in-depth scouting reports on this platform. But what about potential sleepers; the players available who could go relatively high but are failing to receive serious hype?

We have polled our various analysts around the world and asked them to provide us with their favorite personal “sleeper.” The definition applied here being, “a player said analyst feels is being underrated right now, but who could end up as a fairly high NHL draft selection.” In other words, our analysts feel that the players highlighted in this article deserve more of your attention.

Karri Aho - Defense – 6-1”, 180lbs - Ilves U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)

Analyst: Marco Bombino

One of the younger players available due to a September 6 birth date, Aho played for three different teams this year. He bounced between the U18 and U20 programs with Ilves, in addition to a cup of coffee with KOOVEE in the Mestis league.

Perhaps due to him not playing at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup for Finland, Aho has certainly flown under the radar among draft eligible Finnish defenders this year. With 5 points in 8 games with KOOVEE in a men’s league (the Finnish second division), Aho really caught the attention of some scouts. Although a small sample size, his production there compares favorably to other young strong Finnish defenders like Olli Maatta and Sami Niku.

“Aho is a smooth-skating defenseman with good four-way mobility. Light and nimble on his skates, he has strong edges and pivots well. Love his poise and confidence with the puck as he remains unrattled no matter what situation he's in. A firm, strong passer who can move pucks quickly to the forwards. His defensive game loses nothing, as he uses an active stick and keeps tight gaps, making him an effective defender in the neutral zone and defensive zone. Made significant strides this past season and will continue to get better once his physicality catches up with the rest of his game. The ceiling isn't the highest and he may not play in the NHL for several years, but I think this is a gamble worth taking.” (Bombino)

The Czech Republic Goalkeeper Jan Bednar and Swedens Karl Henriksson during the ice hockey quarter final game in The IIHF U18 World Championship between Sweden and The Czech Republic on April 25 in Örnsköldsvik.
Photo: Jonas Forsberg / BILDBYRÅN

Jan Bednar - Goaltender – 6-4”, 195lbs - HC Banik Sokolov (Czech2)

Analyst: Derek O’Brien

Bednar, along with Soo Greyhounds (OHL) netminder Nick Malik, has been on the scouting map for a few years now. The two had very high expectations coming into the year, but both struggled, despite taking different routes. Malik missed the preseason Hlinka/Gretzky because of injury, giving Bednar the opportunity to be the lone starter. Unfortunately, he struggled at the event and that really set the tone for the rest of his season.

Splitting the year between the Czech Extraliga and the Czech second division, the hulking netminder failed to replicate the strong performance he had in the Extraliga last year. And with the IIHF U18’s cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Bednar did not get an opportunity to show scouts that he can play up to his potential. As such, he has seen his draft ranking suffer.

“One of the more curious Czechs available at this year’s draft is goaltender Jan Bednar. As a 16-year-old, Bednar burst onto the scene, winning the Extraliga’s Rookie-of-the-Year award. Positionally sound, mobile, 6-foot-4 and 196 lbs, he was pegged as a future impact goaltender. However, Bednar’s 2019-20 campaign was a disappointment. He only played 13 games in Karlovy Vary, spending most of the year in the second-tier Chance Liga. It’s a shame Bednar didn’t get the chance to redeem himself at the cancelled U18 Worlds. Heading into the season, Bednar was projected to be a second- to fourth-round pick, but that’s dropped a bit as scouts now question his mindset a bit. However, if a team figures he’s still got all the physical tools to be a starting NHL goaltender down the line and he just needs a change of scenery to get him back on the right path, they may take a chance on Bednar.” (O’Brien)

Valentin Demchenko - Right Wing – 6-0”, 175lbs - Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

Analyst: Benoit Belanger

While his production certainly doesn’t jump off the page at you, the Belarussian winger has done well to open some eyes in his first CHL season. Like a lot of first year imports, Demchenko struggled initially, but by season’s end he was looking quite comfortable in the QMJHL with the Drakkar. His high-end puck skills give him a high offensive upside, which is why NHL teams should have him on their radar heading into the NHL Draft.

On top of playing for Baie-Comeau this year, Demchenko has also suited up for Belarus at the International level. As an underager, Demchenko was part of that U18 team that was able to stay in the main group last year (along with the likes of Vladislav Kolyachonok and Yegeni Oksentyuk). And as a double underager, he was part of the U20 squad that competed at the lower division World Juniors this year (although Belarus failed to advance to the main draw).

“For the choice of a sleeper player in the later rounds, I had a few names in mind. However, the one that came back to me was more "sexy" because of his origin: Belarus. It is not so common to see players from Belarus landing in the QMJHL. The 44th player selected during the last CHL import draft came to Baie-Comeau as a total unknown. It was a season of adaptation for the young winger but the more the season progressed, the more he looked comfortable on the QMJHL ice rinks. He produced 25 of his 34 pts after Christmas and 30% of his shots were generated in the month of February. Demchenko has excellent puck skills, probably his strongest attribute. He has shown his soft hands on multiple occasions, whether by coming alone in front of the goalkeeper or for making a superbly accurate pass. His shot, clapper or wrister, is excellent. He is deceptive and precise. In terms of skating, I like his mobility and the way he uses his edges. He is not the strongest physically, but he has fairly good balance, which allows him to be solid on his skates. He has a good hockey sense and understanding of the game. I would like to see him improve his passing game. Not because he is not a good passer, it's more about the vision. Sure, he still has to mature his entire game. He also needs to start gaining weight, strength and power to his body. If he can add grit and bulk up his game, I remain convinced that he is the kind of player who will have a good progression in the junior ranks. He showed me that he was smart enough to improve his weaknesses and work on those aspects. I would not hesitate to make him one of my choices in the late rounds of the draft.” (Belanger)

Riley Duran - C/RW – 6-1”, 175lbs - Lawrence Academy (USHS-MA)

Analyst: Tom Dorsa

Almost all players drafted out of high school are longer term projects, with NHL teams operating under the assumption that they will need to be patient with them. Duran is exactly that. One of the largest risers in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings (breaking inside the top 100 of North America), the lanky pivot is enticing because of his skating ability and size combination and is tracking towards a potential top 100 selection in 2020. In recent drafts, the Massachusetts prep scene has done very well with the likes of Jayden Struble, John Farinacci, and Jay O’Brien all being selected high. This year, Duran and defender Ian Moore could follow the pattern.

Originally a second-round selection of the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL Draft, Duran has spent the last two seasons at Lawrence Academy (which has alumni such as former Boston Bruin Steve Heinze). He recently signed a tender with Youngstown of the USHL to play there next year before heading to Providence the following season.

“Riley Duran elevated himself 47 spots on the NHL Central Scouting board from the mid-term rankings to the final rankings revealed just weeks ago. Prep school players will generally have a harder time getting on a pro scout’s radar, but Duran has made his presence known over the last few months. The Lawrence Academy forward plays a complete 200-foot game and has the skating ability and physical attributes to carry that kind of playing style into the college ranks, where he will suit up for Providence. His hands are not elite, but his lanky frame gives him solid puck-protection skill with which he can bulldoze to the net for scoring chances. The American prep school ranks are not generally where elite junior players will come from, and so, his game should be taken with a grain of salt. Added to that, he does play a fairly careless, wide open game, and that could be an issue for some coaches. I was expecting a respectable sixth- or seventh-round selection for Duran, but now I would not be surprised to hear his name called in the third or fourth rounds.” (Dorsa)

Max Glotzl - Defense – 6-2”, 200lbs - Kolner EC U20 (DNL U20)

Analyst: Chapin Landvogt

A good sized, left-handed shot defender, Glotzl has emerged as one of the top young defenders in Germany, which has greatly improved their country’s status of a development hotspot as of late. Perhaps overshadowed by the trio of potential first round forwards (Stutzle, Reichel, Peterka), Glotzl is a quality player in his own right.

As an underager, he was a member of the U18 squad that captured the Division A title at last year’s IIHF U18s. This would have allowed Germany to play in the main draw of this year’s now defunct tournament. He played four games against men this year at the DEL and DEL2 levels, and was top 5 in defenseman scoring in the U20 league, in addition to being one of the highest scoring U18 players overall.

“No single player in the German ice hockey scene would have benefited more from the U18 Worlds than Max Glotzl. Blessed with size, athleticism, and a powerful - though not yet particularly quick - stride, Max has been a man among boys for Cologne in Germany's U20 DNL junior league. The highest scoring U18 defenseman in the league, his ability to read the game, maintain a physical presence, and take on a major offensive role for one of the better junior programs in Germany earned him a 2-game look with the big boys in the DEL and another couple of outings with Bad Nauheim in Germany's DEL2.” (Landvogt)

James Hardie of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

James Hardie - Left Wing – 5-11”, 180lbs - Mississauga (OHL)

Analyst: Michael Rand

If you eliminate a stretch of 14 games from mid-October to the end of November, where Hardie struggled (1 goal and 2 assists), his numbers hold up with some of the best in this year’s OHL draft class; 33 goals and 60 points in 45 games. That type of production is similar to the likes of Tyson Foerster and Jacob Perreault, two players widely considered as potential first round selections.

Originally a first-round selection of the Steelheads in the OHL Priority Selection, Hardie improved greatly in his second year in the OHL. The Mississauga Steelheads, a quality young team led by 2019 NHL draft picks Thomas Harley, Cole Schwindt, and Keean Washkurak, had a very strong showing in the second half of the OHL season and Hardie was one of the main reasons for that. He ended up finishing the year as the team’s leader in goals, shots, powerplay goals, game winning goals, and was second in points. Yet, we don’t hear his name very regularly as a potential selection in the first three rounds.

“James Hardie of the Mississauga Steelheads is a super intriguing prospect. Hardie is a player that a few years down the road, could quite possibly look like a steal in the mid to later rounds of the draft. He is a very strong skater and a player that handles the puck quite well. He adds that “bite” component to his game as well, as he does not shy away from engaging in physical contact. With a continuation of honing in on this defensive zone coverage and his play away from the puck, we could be talking about a completely different player come next season. Hardie was a 30-goal scorer and over one point-per-game with the Steelheads this past season and if he continues his offensive abilities and tidies up those details in his game, he could be a force to be reckoned with next season.” (Rand)

Leksand's Emil Heineman during the ice hockey match in SHL between Brynäs and Leksand on March 7, 2020 in Gävle.
Photo: Daniel Eriksson / BILDBYRÅN

Emil Heineman - Left Wing – 6-1”, 185lbs - Leksands IF J20 (SuperElit)

Analyst: Will Scouch

The exhilarating thing about covering junior hockey, prospects, and the draft, is the unpredictability of a player’s development. Look no further than Swedish winger Emil Heineman. The late born 2001 forward was not on the radar at all at this point last year. He was coming off of a season in the SuperElit league where he had a single goal and had not played for Sweden Internationally...ever. Yet here we are discussing Heineman because of the steps forward that he took this year.

In 29 SuperElit games this year, Heineman had 26 goals, by far the best goals per game rate of any player in the league, including some highly ranked prospects like Zion Nybeck. This of course led to a call up to the SHL where he played 11 games and did not look out of place playing against men.

“My work allows me to view and track games almost anywhere in the world, and I can’t just talk about Marat Khusnutdinov forever, so I thought I’d dig for someone still not getting the attention they deserve. Heineman came out of absolutely nowhere this season to become a near goal-per-game player at the Under-20 level for Leksands, earning a callup to the SHL club to play 11 games. Heineman didn’t look out of place in the SHL playing decent minutes and finishing the year as an average possession player on the team, with a -0.83 SAT% relative to Leksands without him on the ice. The question with Heineman is both “What happened” and “Is this just the best year of his career?” Heineman has scored 29 goals in any level of competition over the course of the last five seasons yet scored 26 this year alone. From what I’ve been told, there’s a positional awareness and shot quality that people had not seen prior to this year, and while I’m still somewhat skeptical considering his track record, the data speaks for itself. All of his points at even strength were primary points, he had primary points on 71% of the goals scored with him on the ice at the U20 level, he relinquished under 0.6 even strength goals against all season, a measure 60% better than his team without him on the ice, and he was a clear power play threat on top of everything. He’s a quick and agile scoring winger who is still a bit lanky and could fill out his frame more over time, but I’m of the belief that the guy is legit. He had two points in SHL competition, but in my viewings he could’ve been even better, and I’m fascinated at where his name will be called and by whom at the 2020 NHL Draft.”

Sweden's Anton Johannesson during the ice hockey match in the U16 4-nation tournament between Sweden and Russia on April 15, 2018 in Umeå.
Photo: JOHAN LÖF / BILDBYRÅN

Anton Johannesson - Defense – 5-9”, 155lbs - HV71 J20 (SuperElit)

Analyst: Jimmy Hamrin

Injuries can be a tough thing for players in their draft year, let alone their draft year and the year prior. That was the case for Johannesson who has missed a good chunk of the last two years, including the previous summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. When you combine injury issues with a smaller frame, this can cause a lower ranking among the scouting community.

However, upon Johannesson’s return towards the end of the 2019 calendar year, fully healthy, he was able to showcase why he has long been considered one of the most skilled blueliners in Sweden among his age group. His 1.20 points per game (across 20 games) in the SuperElit league was considerably better than more hyped Swedish blueliners like Helge Grans (1.00 ppg), Emil Andrae (0.95 ppg), and William Wallinder (0.65 ppg). It would appear that Johannesson would have had a lot to gain from playing at the World U18s, had they actually occurred. Instead, he is a prospect currently flying under the radar.

"Anton Johannesson was under the radar early due to injury issues. After he got back in November, he dominated in the SuperElit scoring 24 points in only 20 games, including 8 goals. Johannesson surely has some red flags in his defensive game and his physicality, but in my opinion, he is the most skilled Swedish defenseman in the draft. He has elite puck skills, a good shot and his offensive hockey IQ is elite. He can control the pace of the game and shows awareness under pressure. He also skates fast with ease and can move around coast-to-coast with the puck. He isn’t ranked particularly high and I can see teams hitting a jackpot picking him as early as late in the first round. His upside is that good." (Hamrin)

Mitchell Miller. Photo by Dan Hickling. Hickling Images

Mitchell Miller - Defense – 5-11”, 195lbs - Tri-City (USHL)

Analyst: Ryan Wagman

Not only was Miller the highest scoring defender at the 2018 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup (for Team USA), but he was also the highest scoring defender at the most recent World Junior A Challenge. The later born 2001 left shot defender uses his strong skating ability to impact the game in all three zones yet finds himself outside of the first two rounds on most scouting lists.

A North Dakota commit, Miller was a standout for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm this year, helping them to finish 4th in the Western Conference. His 33 points helped him finish third in USHL defenseman scoring.

“At this point, I believe that Miller is the top draft eligible defender among the non-USNTDP USHLers, and no one else is particularly close. A true modern-era defender, Miller has great edges, enabling him to stop and change direction on a dime, breaking ankles along the way and his high-end acceleration leads to Miller leading his share of rushes from end to end. A very composed puck mover, Miller combines his puck skills with his skating to present dynamic elements fairly regularly. He has very good vision and is a creative passer. His puck control is high end. He can dangle at top speed to evade the defense as he prepares to attack the home plate area. Between his high-end skating and puck skills and refined hockey sense and instincts, he looks like a potential second pairing defender with some power play time thrown in. He would not look out of place in the second round.” (Wagman)

Tristan Robins. Photo by Steve Hiscock/Saskatoon Blades.

Tristen Robins - Center – 5-10”, 173lbs - Saskatoon (WHL)

Analyst: Vince Gibbons

Robins, a late born 2001 center, used a terrific second half to the WHL season to propel himself up the draft board. He ended up leading the Saskatoon Blades in scoring with 73 points in 62 games this year. However, if you dissect those numbers, you’ll see how good he was in the 2020 calendar year. During that span (27 games), Robins had 22 goals and 23 assists. Those points per game (1.66) and goals per game (0.81) numbers would put him right near the top of the WHL, not just among draft eligible players, but all players.

Buried behind a strong group of centers and forwards (Kirby Dach, Max Gerlach, Gary Haden, Eric Florchuk, Ryan Hughes, Chase Wouters) on a terrific Blades team last year, Robins was given a much larger role this year and flourished. This was especially true after Florchuk was dealt to Vancouver at the beginning of January. Even though the expectation was that Saskatoon would be in a rebuilding year after dealing off veteran players, the one two punch down the middle of captain Chase Wouters and Robins helped the Blades finish the season strong and end the year as a playoff team.

“Tristan Robins is a player that fully embodies the old adage “greater than the sum of his parts.” He doesn't have size, but he isn't small. He is a jack of all trades, master of none sort of player that contributes at both ends of the ice. He has great hockey sense and good offensive instincts. He supports his defense well down low and really excels at carrying the puck out of his own zone. His uptick in production coincides with his move back to Center where he handles his defensive responsibility well despite occasionally being physically overmatched. One of his most notable attributes is his willingness to pass the puck. Seems backwards for a ‘shooter’ but he trusts he will get it back. His game consists of a lot of quick one-two passes or give-and-goes where he creates a couple more inches of space to then release his very good shot. He has a quick release and consistently hits the net. He is a volume shooter who ranks ahead of several first round picks at 3.76 shots per game. His even strength production is also comparable to guys like Zary, Sourdif, Neighbours & McClennon with Jarvis the only one who has created any real separation and yet most of those players are ranked 30-60 spots higher than him.” (Gibbons)

Evan Vierling of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images

Evan Vierling - Center – 6-0”, 165lbs - Barrie (OHL)

Analyst: Brock Otten

A former second overall selection in the OHL Priority Draft, Vierling’s draft season could be termed unsteady. He started the year in Flint but left the team in November for personal reasons. Sitting out nearly two months, Vierling was traded to Barrie where his game flourished closer to home.

Developing terrific chemistry with fellow 2020 draft eligible Tyson Foerster, Vierling put up 34 points in 28 games with the Colts. That is a production clip of 1.21 points per game, which would place him right near Sarnia’s Jacob Perreault, who is universally considered a potential first round selection.

“Towards the end of the season, we really got a glimpse of the real Evan Vierling in Barrie. He had become an impact player, night in and night out. He is a very complete player. He plays the game with power despite needing to bulk up and is very effective in traffic because he shields the puck well, has a high IQ, and possesses high quality hands. Vierling competes hard in all three zones and projects as a middle six, all situations, playmaking center. Once a slight knock on him, his skating has improved considerably this year and is no longer an issue. Had the U18’s occurred, I believe that Vierling would have been an integral part of the team (alongside Foerster) and raised his draft stock above where it currently is. He is definitely someone who closed out the (abrupt) OHL season well.” (Otten)

William Villeneuve - Defense – 6-1”, 165lbs - Saint John (QMJHL)

Analyst: Mike Sanderson

When discussing the top QMJHL players available for the 2020, Villeneuve seems to fall through the cracks despite being a former second overall QMJHL selection, an assistant captain in Saint John, and the leader in defenseman scoring in the QMJHL this year.

His defensive partner Jeremie Poirier receives much more attention. Perhaps that’s due to the fact that Villeneuve is not quite as flashy. Additionally, his skating and strength level are areas that will require improvement. However, his quiet effectiveness and elite IQ should have him closer to his teammate than scouting rankings currently do.

“Honestly, I don't get the wide gap separation between Poirier and Villeneuve, and I've seen them both 40+ times in their junior careers. To me, Villeneuve will be just about as good offensively and won't be that far off defensively. I see Villeneuve, with more experience, as a finesse defender with great positioning and solid stick off the rush consistently. Currently holding Villeneuve back a bit is the need to put on a bit more muscle. From this, his stride will be more powerful and it'll help him out. He's very agile and fleet on his feet, maybe a better technical skater than Poirier. Additionally, he is more calm and mature with the puck than Poirier. He works the line really well, but I'd like to see him play with more confidence, generally. He doesn't take charge that much offensively, but does put up points. Adding more weight would also aid him defensively, as his reads are decent, but he can be beaten wide and lose some physical battles.” (Sanderson)

Czech Republic: Jan Bednar, G, Karlovy Vary (2020)

Jimmy Hamrin — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:18:15 +0000

Early in the season, his stats don’t look that great, but this is a prospect that with the right goalie coach can develop well. He has good size and mobility but plays a bit lazy. I would like to see him compete more and not just being a puck-stopper. He has the tools to become a good goalie if he learns to use his mobility and size in the right way and if he could compete more. With competitiveness, it is not just a matter of competing for loose pucks, but it is about being competitive and ready for various situations. It is still early in the season but I could see Bednar getting drafted next summer, maybe even in the 2-4 round range of the draft. He has the size and some strong foundations in his game.

Jan Bednar	2020 NHL Draft Eligible
Position: GK, Glove: L	H/W: 6-4", 196 lbs
Stats to date (GP-GAA-SVP)	Karlovy Vary, CZE (5-3.84-.893)
	Banik Sokolov, CZE-2 (5-3.37-.813)
	CZE U18 Hlinka (4-4.47-.828)

Characteristics
Athleticism/Quickness/Speed: Bednar has good basic elements. He moves well in the crease and is a good skater. He is fast up and down. He lacks a bit in his edge plays and tends not to react fast enough, but when he reacts, he is quick. Grade: 55

Compete/Temperament: He’s calm and poised in the net. He doesn’t move too much and plays square to the puck. He could compete more though. Bednar is a typical goalie who relies a lot on his size and saving the first shot. Grade: 50

Vision/Reading Play: His calmness comes from being in the right position much of the time. He sees where the play is heading and can make hard saves look easy. Often square to the puck. Grade: 60

Technique/Style: Strong glove hand and agile movements. Can be a bit low with his upper body and should work on his upper body strength. Has good size and plays to his strength. He relies more on his size than good structure. Reacts more to the situations than acts in anticipation of them. At the junior level he gets away with his style better but when the pace and velocity of the shots gets up, he should be in more trouble. Grade: 50

Rebound Control: Strong across the goal line and his strong glove helps him with the rebounds. I would like to see him compete harder though. He played in front of a tight defense and his rebound control wasn’t tested that hard. Grade: 50

Puck Handling: A bit shaky at times but most often he remains calm. For the most part, he essentially keeps things simple. Grade: 45

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 53

2020 NHL Draft: U18 5-Nation tournament

Jimmy Hamrin — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 15:16:06 +0000

SUNDSVALL, SWEDEN: I attended the U18 5-nations tournament with big expectations as these tournaments have been historically very good. Now that the tournament is over, in retrospect, the many of the 150-200 NHL scouts who attended as well as myself did not get much high-end value in terms of scouting for the upcoming draft. There were some top players missing due to either injury or playing in the U20 tournament. Team USA is not the same powerhouse as they have had been in the past and neither Canada nor Russia attended. In hindsight, Germany would’ve been more interesting to see for draft purposes this year than Switzerland which came with a young roster. This made the games less competitive than they otherwise might have been. Both the Czechs and the Swiss played defensively to stay in the games while the elite offensive talents on the other teams were too few to dominate the score in the other games. The best game was the final game between USA and Sweden where USA impressed mightily with a high pace – high pressure game to reveal the weaknesses on the Swedish team.

USA won all four games, Sweden won three, Finland two, the Czechs one and Switzerland lost all four. Seven players scored over a point per game (Kasper Simontaival FIN, Juuso Maenpaa FIN, Matthew Beniers USA, Zion Nybeck SWE, Brett Berard USA, Theodor Niederbach SWE and Thomas Bordeleau USA). I’ll go through the five teams and name the players that stood out:

USA:

The top two lines were clearly their best. The bottom six (not counting Ty Smilanic) saw nothing particularly interesting for the top half of the draft. Ty Smilanic looked as the best forward prospect, but he only put up two assists in the three games he played. He played on the third line and on the power play. He is a big forward and a fast skater with nice hands. He looked really dominant at times. He drove play and created many scoring chances, but mostly for himself, as he didn’t make his line mates better in these games.

The American first line with both Luke Tuch and Landon Slaggert looked a bit slow but very strong possession-wise with their physical advantage. Dylan Peterson impressed the most on that line. He skates well and was strong around and in front of the net. He looks like a future NHL player in that regard. The second line showed with three “B”-players, Beniers, Bordeleau and Berard, showed the most overall skill and produced good offense. Thomas Bordeleau is a creative center with nice playmaking skills and Brett Berard is a smallish winger who played intensively with good offensive instincts. Matthew Beniers (2021) is very strong on the puck. He has a good lower-body balance but maybe not elite offensive hockey sense. He was hard to catch and drove hard to net. He was the best player in the final game and stepped up with some big goals there.

On the defense, Jake Sanderson impressed me the most. He is a big puck-moving defenseman who, on this level, could skate away with the puck from any situation. His puck skills may not be elite, but I can see him being a good second or third pairing defenseman in the NHL in the future. Brock Faber showed good puck-moving skills as did Eamon Powell. The latter turned some heads when he scored three times in a shootout versus Finland.

Sweden's Emil Andrae Photo: Jonas Ljungdahl / BILDBYRÅN

Sweden:

There were a handful of Swedes who looked strong in the tournament. Goalie Jesper Wallstedt (2021) is very impressive to watch. He was the best goalie in my opinion and has the whole package, from hockey sense, compete level to good structure. He will have a good chance to become the highest drafted Swedish goalie ever next year.*

*The current record is 31^st overall, a mark shared by Oscar Dansk (Columbus, 2012) and Jacob Markstrom (Florida, 2008).

Theodor Niederbach looks very smart on the ice and can process the game impressively. He is very strong offensively and had a strong tournament. He didn’t play for the whole year last season but shows good development early on, nonetheless. Zion Nybeck is highly ranked but didn’t dominate. He showed impressive flashes though and his puck skills are at a higher level than most in this tournament. Big forward Daniel Torgersson looks interesting with good skating and strong around-the-net presence. Some no-shows from whom I had higher expectations were William Eklund (2021), Elliot Ekmark and Daniel Ljungman.

On the defense, Emil Andrae is on a higher level than the other Swedish d-men on this team. He will be kind of tricky to rank for the draft as he has neither size nor standout speed, but his puck skills and hockey sense both look to have elite potential.

Finland:

Most of the offense came from two players, Juuso Maenpaa and Kasper Simontaival. Simontaival has a strong offensive toolkit with impressive puck skills, good playmaking ability and a good shot. He can be both a setup-guy and a shooter on a power play. He also skates well. He lacks size but looks to be skilled enough that I can’t see him being available after the first two rounds of the draft. Maenpaa is trickier. He is a 5-7” center who doesn’t have the elite puck skills that Simontaival possesses. Maenpaa does everything well, though. He works very hard, he drives play, he is always in motion and he creates a lot of offense. He has good skills and a very good hockey IQ. I think he can be a smart pick in the later rounds, low risk and maybe a high reward.

On the defense, they played Eemil Viro a ton, and he looked okay. He is a good puck-mover and played with poise. Joni Jurmo didn’t play as much but he looked interesting nonetheless. He brings good puck-moving and size. He could be a possible riser down the line.

Czech Republic:

The Czechs played four close games, but they had some trouble controlling possession of the puck. They played a mostly defensive game and rarely had lengthy attacks. Their best player was goalie Jan Bednar who kept the score down to a 1-0 loss versus USA and to a shootout loss versus Finland. He has good size and a good foundation technically with good athleticism and hockey sense. He is a good skater for a netminder as well. I would like to see him act instead of react for me to rank him as a top three round goalie but I am sure he will be drafted.

The Czech offense was mostly driven by Tomas Chlubna and Jakub Konecny on their top line. They both showed flashes of skill, but neither of them look like high-end prospects at this point. I can’t see either of them having top six forward potential at the NHL level. The same goes for defensive prospects like Michael Krutil and Marek Blaha. The latter stood out with his tremendous skating. He will be interesting to follow as he is only 5-7”, but seems to produce well in Czech junior system. Krutil looks interesting as a defensive defenseman as he combines size with good skating and passing abilities.

Switzerland:

A very young team with most of the players too young for the 2020 draft. They were smaller and less skilled than their opponents in all of the games. I liked what I saw from 2003 born Dario Sidler (puck-moving defenseman), Louis Robin (creative winger) and Lorenzo Canonica (smart center) though and they look to form the basis of a stronger U18 team next season.

IIHF 2019 U18 World Championship Preview – Czech Republic

Marco Bombino — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:40:16 +0000

CHELYABINSK, RUSSIA - APRIL 29: The Czech Republic's Michal Teply #25 celebrates after scoring a second period goal against Sweden during bronze medal game action at the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

The Czech Republic will have two returning players from last year: forward Michal Teply and defenseman Hugo Has. They will bring four forwards from North America (Marcel Barinka, Martin Lang, Filip Prikryl and Michal Toman), as well as defenseman Simon Kubicek from the WHL. Kubicek is expected to be play a key role on the backend alongside Has. Lukas Parik will likely be the starting goalie, with either Jan Skorpik or 2002 born Jan Bednar being the backup.

Two surprising cuts were made before the start of the tournament, with underage goalie Nick Malik and forward Jaromir Pytlik being left off the roster. Since the Czechs do not have too much depth on the roster, it makes these decisions somewhat odd, especially in Pytlik's case. The center has been one of the top Czech players in some of the international tournaments prior the World Championship.

Despite all of this, the Czechs will have a potent offense. The defensemen may not contribute a ton on the offensive side of things which could be an issue, but if the goalies will bring their A-game, they have a chance to reach the medal round.

Here are three players to watch:

Michal Teply, LW

Teply is the player to keep a close eye on from the Czech team. He's a skilled and instinctive player with impressive passing skills and vision. His overall skill level is very high – quick hands and soft touch on the puck. Has a precise wrist shot, good shooting technique and mechanics. What's more, Teply is an agile skater with good mobility and coordination at 6'3” and 187 lbs.

Hugo Has, D

Has is a towering 6'4" defenseman who looks very raw right now, but could develop into a solid player when all is said and done. The right-shot blueliner has a great point shot and gets a lot of power behind his slap shot and wrister. His mobility is okay, and puck skills need some work as well. There might be some untapped potential if he can work on his above-mentioned weaknesses and elevate his offensive game. Could be a decent mid-round pick in the draft.

Adam Najman, C

A smallish center with an intriguing offensive skill set. Najman sees the ice and his options very well and finds his teammates with pinpoint passing in the final third. Stylistically, I think he's more of a playmaker than scorer, but he has found the back of the net regularly with the national team, scoring eight goals this season. His strides are a bit short, not allowing to generate a whole lot of power. However, he thinks the game well and has a lot of skill.

Jan Bednar – McKeen's Hockey

2024 NHL Prospect Pool Rankings: Detroit Red Wings Take No. 1 Spot – The Yzerplan takes root

2022 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: TEAM CZECHIA – Experienced Forwards, Young Defense look for 11th Consecutive Quarter Final Appearance

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jan Bednar, G

Stanislav Svozil, D

David Jiricek, D

Michael Krutil, D

Jan Mysak, C/LW

Jakub Brabenec, C

Pavel Novak, RW

Michal Gut, C

Goaltenders (3):

Defensemen (9):

Forwards (16):

2021 World Junior Championship: Czech Republic Training Camp Roster Preview

Lukas Parik, G

Martin Has, D

Simon Kubicek, D

Stanislav Svozil, D

Jan Mysak, C

Michal Teply, LW

Jaromir Pytlik, C

Adam Raska, RW

Goaltenders: Lukáš Pařík (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Karlovy Vary), Nick Malík, Tomáš Suchánek (both Frýdek-Místek), Šimon Zajíček (Litvínov).

2020 NHL Draft: Analysts Choice for Top Sleepers Around the World

Czech Republic: Jan Bednar, G, Karlovy Vary (2020)

2020 NHL Draft: U18 5-Nation tournament

IIHF 2019 U18 World Championship Preview – Czech Republic

Michal Teply, LW

Hugo Has, D

Adam Najman, C

Goaltenders:
Lukáš Pařík (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Karlovy Vary), Nick Malík, Tomáš Suchánek (both Frýdek-Místek), Šimon Zajíček (Litvínov).