Jansen Harkins – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – NHL Player Profiles

Scott Cullen – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 22:27:36 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) stickhandles across the blue line during the Winnipeg Jets versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on January 18, 2022 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Mark Scheifele

Winnipeg’s No.1 center has questionable defensive impacts, and that might be the kind way to put it, but he is also an elite point producer, scoring at least one point per game in each of the past six seasons. Scheifele has played more than 20 minutes per game for six straight seasons as well and even if his defensive play is not ideal, the Jets have outscored opponents by 29 goals with Scheifele on the ice during 5-on-5 play over the past six seasons, though Scheifele was outscored last season at 5-on-5 for the first time in his career. He is a high percentage finisher, scoring on 18.3% of his shots in the past six seasons, the fifth highest shooting percentage in the league among players that have appeared in at least 100 games over that time. Considering how consistently Scheifele has surpassed a point per game, that is a fair expectation for him this season. Maybe he won’t play in every game, but 75 points would be a sensible target.

Kyle Connor

One of the premier goal-scoring wingers in the league, Connor had 47 goals last season and he generated more than four shots on goal per game last season for the first time in his career. A quick and creative winger, Connor can either drift into soft spots in the zone to find openings from which to unleash a quick wrist shot, or he can dart into open space and score in transition. He is an equal opportunity finisher. In the past five seasons, Connor has accrued 176 goals, which ranks sixth in the league, so he has established that he is an elite goal-scorer. The trouble is that his offensive contributions get mitigated by subpar defensive results. For all of the goals that Connor scores, the last time the Jets outscored the opposition at 5-on-5 with Connor on the ice was in 2017-2018. Although he is lean and not physically imposing, Connor’s defensive play could be improved with better focus and commitment to positioning. He did win the Lady Byng Trophy last season, recording just four penalty minutes in 79 games. There are defensive issues when it comes to evaluating his game as a whole, but Connor is a game-breaking offensive performer, a reasonable bet to score 40 goals and 80 points this season.

Nikolaj Ehlers

A spectacular skater who drives play like few other wingers in the league, Ehlers has surpassed 20 goals for six straight seasons, and the Jets have outshot and outscored the opposition every year of Ehlers’ career. He generated a career-high 3.95 shots per game last season and while his scoring totals are not tops on the team, Ehlers is the most dangerous player on the Jets and does not pad his numbers on the power play. He scored 46 of his 55 points last season at even strength and has never had more than 13 power play points in a season. But Ehlers is dominant at evens. There are 218 forwards that have played at least 2000 5-on-5 minutes in the past three seasons. From that group, only the Boston Bruins duo of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand have a better relative Corsi percentage than Ehlers’ +6.6 CFRel%. In addition to dominant possession numbers, Ehlers should be in the range of 30 goals and 60 points this season.

Pierre-Luc Dubois

While there was some drama in the offseason relating to Dubois’ future in Winnipeg, he is still with the Jets and that gives the team a chance to be competitive this season. He just scored 28 goals and 60 points with strong possession numbers. Dubois, who scored a total of four power play goals in the previous four seasons, tallied 15 goals with the man advantage in 2021-2022. He is an impact player and could produce even more considering that his 5-on-5 shooting percentage last season was 5.6%, easily the lowest mark of his career. A 6-foot-3 center who is a strong skater and enough of a physical presence to dominate along the boards when he is on top of his game, Dubois drew 50 penalties last season, tied with Connor McDavid for most in the league. He could push 60 points again and it would be another very successful season.

Blake Wheeler

Even at 35 years old, Wheeler continues to contribute offensively. The 6-foot-5 winger had 60 points in 65 games last season, but the Jets have not outscored the opposition during 5-on-5 play with Wheeler on the ice since 2017-2018. Since 2017-2018, Wheeler has 111 power play assists, which is tied with Jonathan Huberdeau for second among forwards, behind only Connor McDavid. The challenge for the Jets would seem to be managing Wheeler’s ice time, as he played 19:32 per game last season, a higher average time on ice than he had in the prior two seasons and a possible indictment of Winnipeg’s forward depth. While Wheeler is not the impact player that he was during his peak years, he remains a productive scorer, and has scored at least 60 points in eight of his past nine seasons, with the shortened 2020-2021 season the only exception, so Wheeler could still be expected to produce points at that level this season.

Adam Lowry

At 6-foot-5, Lowry is a physically imposing checking center, who has won 54.4% of his faceoffs in the past five seasons. He uses his size effectively and has gone over 200 hits four times in his career. Lowry’s offensive contributions are limited, however, as he has never scored 30 points in an NHL season, and it might even be optimistic for the 29-year-old to hit that mark. Limited scoring and big hit totals are the expectation for Lowry, and he knows his role, so that’s what he provides.

Mason Appleton

The Jets traded to get Appleton back from the Seattle Kraken after losing him in the expansion draft and the 26-year-old winger played more than 16 minutes per game after returning to Winnipeg, though he managed just four points in 19 games. While the production wasn’t there, it might be encouraging for Appleton’s role with the Jets that he was playing that much down the stretch last season. He is a checking winger who helps to drive play and has a positive goal differential despite starting more of his shifts in the defensive zone. Appleton has enough skill to contribute secondary offense and that could mean 12-15 goals and 25-30 points.

Dominic Toninato

A 28-year-old journeyman forward, Toninato appeared in a career-high 77 games for the Jets last season, contributing a career-high seven goals and 14 points. Among the 245 players to appear in at least 75 games last season, Toninato had the lowest average time on ice (8:24). Extremely one dimensional, Toninato can hold his own defensively but contributes so little offensively that he is a prime candidate to get replaced in the Jets lineup whenever a prospect is deemed ready for the job.

Jansen Harkins

Another checking winger who can fill a defensive role but with little offensive contribution, Harkins is a high-energy player who played a career-high 77 games last season but, like Toninato, is a candidate to get replaced in the lineup unless he finds a way to offer a greater contribution. Harkins has never been a big goal scorer but has had some moments of point production with a disproportionate number of assists. In the NHL, though, he is not going to get the opportunity to play with players that will notably increase his scoring totals.

DEFENSE

Josh Morrissey

After a down season in 2020-2021, Morrissey rebounded last season with the most productive season of his career, re-establishing his place atop Winnipeg’s defensive depth chart. He had a career high 12 goals and 37 points while registering a career high 150 hits and playing a career-high 23:40 per game. It was his fourth straight season logging more than 22 minutes per game on the Winnipeg blueline. His defensive results bounced back significantly from a 2020-2021 season in which he had the worst defensive impacts of his career. Given his role on the Jets power play, where he scored 15 points with the man advantage last season, Morrissey could still be counted on for 35 total points this season.

Neal Pionk

The right-shot defenseman was surprisingly effective in his first two years with the Jets but struggled last season, his game seemingly slipping after an early December game against Toronto when Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza caught him in the head with a knee. Pionk had 16 points in 24 points at that stage of the season and then managed three assists in his next 20 games. Overall, Pionk still finished with 34 points, but his possession numbers were easily the worst of his three seasons in Winnipeg. While he is not big, listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, Pionk plays a robust physical game, registering more than 130 hits in four consecutive seasons, including the shortened 2020-2021 campaign. If Pionk can re-group, he can still be a productive part of the Winnipeg blueline, as he has proven he can handle a significant role and a 40-point season could still be within reach for the 27-year-old blueliner.

Nate Schmidt

For the fifth straight season, Schmidt logged more than 20 minutes per game and finished with 32 points, the fourth time in the past five seasons that he scored at least 30 points. He has been moving around in recent seasons, with stops in Vegas, Vancouver, and Winnipeg after starting his career in Washington. Schmidt is very well mannered on the ice, never having exceeded 16 penalty minutes in any of his nine NHL seasons. He saw a spike in offensive zone starts with the move to Winnipeg, with 56.2% offensive zone starts for the Jets after 35.2% offensive zone starts in Vancouver the year before. That deployment naturally worked in his favor and his possession results improved even if Schmidt’s 5-on-5 goal differential (-13) was the worst of his career. The 31-year-old is a strong skater who can move the puck and, even if he has some defensive deficiencies, Schmidt should contribute 30 points this season.

Brenden Dillon

A thumper on the Jets blueline, Dillon recorded 20 points for the third time in his career, but the 6-foot-4 31-year-old defender also delivered a career-high 212 hits. That physical presence, combined with good mobility for his size makes Dillon a solid contributor on the Jets blueline. Dillon’s track record as a defender is excellent but his first season in Winnipeg brought relatively mediocre defensive results. He barely gets involved offensively – his 1.08 shots on goal per game last season was his highest per-game rate since 2017-2018 – so those defensive results need to be better, but the Jets should give Dillon a chance to bounce back and if he provides 20 points along with better defensive results, that would be of serious value to a Jets team that is still seeking stability on the blueline.

GOALTENDING

Connor Hellebuyck

The Winnipeg Jets paid a lot of lip service to the premise of a tandem in net over the first half of starter Connor Hellebuyck’s career. But with each passing year, they’ve abandoned the idea more – and by the 2021-22 season, the 29-year old Michigan native was one of the most heavily-deployed goaltenders in the entire NHL.

Part of that is a casualty of the team’s decline on paper; they’ve gone from looking like a legitimate threat to a team that doesn’t seem to be much of a surefire guarantee to make the playoffs at all, and their need to grind out points in as many games as they can has left them desperate to utilize Hellebuyck’s game-changing style as often as they possibly can. But the toll certainly seems to show up the more often the Jets rely upon Hellebuyck without giving him time to recover, and his numbers last year reflected that. For the first time since the 2016-17 season, Hellebuyck failed to finish last year among the league’s most successful performers; for just the third time since becoming a full-time NHL starter, he didn’t receive a single Vezina vote. It sees all too apparent that he plays his best when he’s able to give each game his all; he thrives on being able to utilize his unique physical build to reach shots that other goaltenders wouldn’t be able to, particularly when his defense misses the mark in front of him, and that becomes significantly more of a challenge when he’s even a beat slower or forced to play even a hair more conservatively. It still speaks volumes about him that even his ‘bad’ seasons are ones that a number of other teams around the league would covet, and his ‘bad’ games are most often the fault of the defense in front of him rather than his own unforced errors. But even so, the Jets have built their team around his game – and with an inconsistent David RIttich as his new backup for the upcoming year, it appears that Jets fans will have to hope that the off-season was long enough to give Hellebuyck a chance to get himself back to one hundred percent.

Projected starts: 65-70

Winnipeg Jets 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:36:35 +0000

Having sat at the helm of the Winnipeg Jets since a few weeks before the 2011 Entry Draft – in other words, since the team left Atlanta - Kevin Cheveldayoff is now one of the longest tenured GMs in the sport. The length and stability of his tenure, as the team rose from an absolute also-ran into one often considered among the second tier of Stanley Cup candidates is a testament to the patient team building espoused by the man known as “Chevy” and the True North Sports and Entertainment Limited ownership group.

Considering Winnipeg’s reputation as a frigid outpost with very limited entertainment options, the team had to grow organically, through the draft and player development. It was easy to build with key pieces when the team was struggling. They were not trading their picks and they tended to pick high. In Chevy’s first draft, the Jets nabbed Mark Schiefele seventh overall. In his second go round, Jacob Trouba was selected with the ninth overall pick.

It wasn’t until 2015 when they finally had to wait through the first half of the draft before making a selection, but that worked out well, too, as the Jets picked twice in round one, selecting Kyle Connor and Jack Roslovic. It was really only in 2018 that the plan began to change in Manitoba.

The team had made the postseason only once in its first six seasons as the Winnipeg Jets, and had turned things on, with young Patrik Laine sniping without end and 2012 draft pick Connor Hellebuyck emerging as a high-end workhorse in net. They were suddenly one of the best teams in the league. As top teams do – but as Cheveldayoff had never had to do before – they went about supplementing that largely home grown core through trade, sending their 2018 first round pick (and a few other pieces) to St. Louis for center Paul Stastny. The Jets made it to the Western Conference Finals before bowing out.

For a team that was used to picking twice in the first round, it must have felt like years before they got to call out a name at the end of the second round.

Last season was another strong one for the Jets, although not as consistently so. Regardless, they once again traded away their first-round pick, this time sending it to the New York Rangers (again, along with some stocking stuffers) for big center Kevin Hayes, a pending free agent. It should be noted here that Stastny was also a pending free agent at the time of the 2018 trade and he had signed with Vegas in the offseason, despite Winnipeg trying to retain him. Back to the present, the Jets were knocked out in the first round this time. Hayes did not perform well.

The Jets were now looking at two years outside of the first round and knowing Hayes would not be resigned, they had nothing to show for it. So, they sent the rights of RFA Trouba (my, how time has passed) to the Rangers to get their original pick back. They had a first-round pick, but that was one of only five picks they got to make in Vancouver.

While the Winnipeg Jets lack hardware to show from the last two seasons, they proved that they could reach close to the NHL pinnacle with a pure draft and development philosophy. There are still some nice pieces in the pipeline, but the system now lacks depth. Their drafted and developed players are moving on to second and third contracts and are getting very expensive. Can they turn the trick again?

-Ryan Wagman

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Sami Niku (83) (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire)

1 Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) Vesalainen is a strong skater with very good speed to achieve separation from defensemen. He has good quickness in his first few strides and shows quite nimble footwork for a player of his size. Much more of a shooter than a playmaker, he has a highly accurate wrist shot with a quick release. He can also score with a slap shot or one-timer. He has decent passing skills and offensive instincts. He likes to drive the net and can gain the inside position around the net. On the downside, he can be invisible for overly long periods, mainly at 5-on-5. He needs to be more involved in the game and also show some more intensity with greater consistency. Vesalainen has the potential to develop into a solid, versatile middle-six winger who can provide offensive punch. - MB

2 Dylan Samberg, D (43^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 5) A raw high schooler when the Jets used a second-round pick on Samberg, he has done nothing except collect hardware in the two years since. Actually, that isn’t true. He has also ground down some of the rougher edges of his game to the point where he is one of the better two-way defenders in college hockey and perhaps the best of the traditional, big-man defensive prospects in the game. He reads the ice like a 10-year pro and anticipates opposing forays, allowing him to get his stick on seemingly everything. He has also developed his offensive game nicely. He moves the puck well on the power play, finding teammates down low with sharp diagonal passes against the run of play. He has a hard shot too, suggesting he can continue playing on the man advantage when he finally turns pro. I’m not saying he is the next Brent Burns/Shea Weber, but he is built in that mold and has top pairing upside. - RW

3 Ville Heinola, D (20^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Heinola is a smooth skating, offensively gifted defenseman with terrific hockey sense. He has very good offensive vision and displays remarkable poise with the puck. He has already proven that he can run the power play in the Liiga like a seasoned veteran. He gets his shots through and moves the puck with crisp passes. He is effective at carrying the puck up ice, yet also has good playmaking skills from the back end. He is calm under pressure and has swift hands to control the puck well I tight spaces. He makes plays in all areas of the ice. He is not very physical but has good gap control and understands the principles of defending. Heinola has a high ceiling and projects as a firs or second pairing NHL defenseman. - MB

4 Logan Stanley, D (18^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 6) Standing at 6-7” tall, Stanley is a difficult guy to miss when he is out on the ice. The physical beast is one of the tallest prospects (or player of any level) in hockey, and his high-end defensive game leans heavily on his near-incomparable length. With his long and impassable gaps, active stick, and ability to take any opposing forward off the puck, his defensive game is one that seems NHL ready at just 20 years old. The former first rounder has a developing offensive game, using his booming slap shot, hockey sense, and passing skill to make something happen consistently at the other end. The main issue displayed during his first pro year with AHL Manitoba is his lack of technical skating skill, which hinders his acceleration and momentum and limits his NHL potential even if he moves well for his size. There is reason to believe he can grow on it and reach his top-four ceiling, but it will take some time. - TD

5 Sami Niku, D (198^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 4) His struggles at the NHL level last season made an elephant in the room of Sami Niku’s development, but his prospect ceiling -- and floor -- remain high as a surprisingly talented former seventh-round pick. With Winnipeg in 2018-19, he failed to have any of the success he had in the AHL the season prior, but still displayed flashes of absolute brilliance as a depth two-way defender. A splendid skater with fantastic puck-moving skills and smarts, he fits the Jets’ up-and-down style well and looked increasingly comfortable with a regular role alongside Ben Chiarot. His offensive game is well versed, but his defensive game -- most notably his initial blue line defense and discipline with moving the puck out -- will have to improve. At worst, he is a third-pair defenseman with some power-play time in the future. - TD

6 David Gustafsson, C (60^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 8) Gustafsson has looked good in the early stages of this pre-season. He looks a bit faster and stronger and looks to earn a bigger role in the SHL while aiming to be the first line center for Sweden’s WJC run later in a few months. He is an average skater and his puck skills are similar, but he relies heavily on his high end compete level. With his size and strength, he can be a force to face. His NHL potential is more of a middle six or bottom six center than someone for the top six, but he has a good chance to reach that and will probably be an NHLer within two or three years. He scored 12 points in each of his two SHL season as but should be able to at least double that this upcoming season, his last as a teenager. - JH

7 Simon Lundmark, D (51^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A smooth skating, puck-moving defenseman. Lundmark has good size and reach but lacks elite skill and can be both sloppy and soft in his game. That said, he shows good vision and plays a calm game with poise. He played full time in the SHL over the second half of last season. He has top six NHL defenseman potential. He doesn’t really have any elite skills in his toolkit and looks more to be an effective in five-on-five play than a power play or penalty kill specialist. He needs to work on his shot to be a better point-producing defenseman and he also needs to get stronger and to compete more in the more physical aspect of the game. His skating, vision, and reach will help him be effective with his stick defensively. Next season, he is expected to play regularly in SHL from the start. - JH

8 Giovanni Vallati, D (153^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) Vallati progressed very well this year following an offseason trade from Kitchener to Oshawa. His size and mobility combination make him very effective at both ends of the ice. He is very difficult to beat to the outside because of his feet and reach, and he closes in on dump ins very quickly to get play started the other way. Vallati also possesses a good low point shot, which he uses to create second chance opportunities when operating the point. As an NHL prospect, his upside is that of an all situations second or third pairing defender. Without elite puck skill, there may be some concerns as to how his offensive game translates, but his mobility and size should play in the defensive end. - BO

9 Harrison Blaisdell, C (134^thoverall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Blaisdell had a very good year for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL, with 33 goals and 58 points in 51 games, and added to that with an impressive showing in the World Junior A Challenge with four goals and five points in six games. The speedy center is a strong two-way player who plays an up-tempo style and a quick transition game. He has a solid frame, really quick hands, with a really good shot and rapid release. He has been successful at every level and will continue to do just that as he heads to the University of North Dakota next season. He has great leadership qualities, along with some versatility, and projects to be a bottom six forward at his peak. - KO

10 Michael Spacek, C (108^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 9) As one of the finest defensive players in the Winnipeg system, Spacek has a clear NHL future due solely to his hard work and intensity in all three zones, but he can be better than a defensive specialist. The Czech native’s high-end two-way game has translated well from the WHL to pro hockey, as his shot, passing skill, and of course, his maturity and responsibility as a defender has impressed in the Winnipeg system. He is a decent skater, has solid stick-quickness, and features a very quick wrist shot release with enough velocity to fool defenders. His issue right now comes down to consistency, as his shot is sorely underused, he does not do much offensively without the puck on his blade, and he can go missing for long stretches. He is a very reliable player and is sure to eventually get his shot in the big leagues, but he will first need a little more seasoning. - TD

11 Jansen Harkins, C (47^th overall, 2015. Last Year: Not ranked) After a slow start to his pro career, Harkins experienced his best season yet last year (70-15-16-31) and is starting to look like the second-rounder Winnipeg drafted in 2015. The gritty, intelligent center ended up in the ECHL for a brief moment last season, and looked like a certified bust, but his 2018-19 season was an impressive one that exhibited his three-zone excellence, his nifty puck-handling skills, and his smarts as a passer and cycle player. With good speed and discipline, he can and does play all three forward spots pretty frequently and is adaptable enough to move up and down the lineup. He is still a long-term project who needs to work on assertiveness and skating, but he has finally shown up as a prospect. - TD

12 Joona Luoto, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jun. 15, 2019. Last Year: IE) Luoto is a strong, physical winger who plays with high energy and competes hard in each and every shift. He is a puck hound who wins most of his board and corner battles and is tough to play against in that sense. He does not quit on plays and is very dependable. He scored a fair bit in juniors, but he was not a point producer for Tappara in the Liiga as he was mostly deployed on the third or fourth line, without many opportunities on the power play. That said, there were occasions when he displayed fine technical skills and a goal-scoring touch. He is not a speedster, but he has good hockey sense and moves into good spots. He has a chance to be a checking line winger in the NHL. - MB

13 Santeri Virtanen, C (105^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 10) Virtanen is a competitive and reliable center who has shown really well at the international stage. He plays a tenacious game without the puck, battles hard for pucks, and consistently provides puck support. He reads plays well, making himself available for passes and getting into position defensively. He is not the most skilled prospect but plays a straightforward game with the puck and can chip in offensively from time to time. Virtanen's skating is quite ordinary, and he needs to add agility, quickness and endurance. He is versatile, can play up and down the lineup and is a good penalty killer. He may not have a very high ceiling, but he could eventually develop into a third- or fourth-line center at the NHL level. - MB

14 Clinston Suess, LW (129^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 14) After tearing it up with Minnesota State-Mankato for four full seasons, Suess was expected to jump right into the AHL and carry that offensive firepower into the Manitoba Moose lineup. However, his season came to an early end when he got into a scramble in a mid-December game and he missed the rest of the season with an upper-body injury, finishing with just the 12 points (8G, 4A) he accrued before his injury. Though his health did not cooperate last season, he still brings with him a solid ceiling of depth power forward scorer, due to his high-end upper-body strength, nose for the net, and ability to sense developing plays well. At 25 and having never played a full pro season, Suess is still a question mark, but a very intriguing one. - TD

15 Declan Chisholm, D (150^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) A smooth skating offensive blueliner, Chisholm saw his production increase greatly in his first post-draft season in Peterborough. He starts the breakout very effectively by making a clean exit pass or by using his mobility to create rushing lanes that he can exploit. He has worked hard to cut down on his turnovers and improve his decision making. Defensively, he has improved his strength down low and is competing hard, but consistency is still an issue. There are still lapses of concentration. Additionally, he will need to improve his point shot if he wishes to be a powerplay QB at the NHL level. Chisholm projects as a third pairing puck mover who can line up alongside a more defensively oriented blueliner. - BO

16 Luke Green, D (79^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 17) The bad luck with injuries that Green has sustained in the last two seasons should not affect his best attribute – his skating. He is a very solid skater on his edges or in a straight line and it has been his best path to success in his career. However, a shoulder injury suffered in a prospect tournament in 2017 and a concussion last season restricted his availability to just 27 games over the last two seasons combined. Green has great hockey sense with and without the puck, a great puckhandler with an equally strong first pass; he just needs to see more of the ice to grow. He projects to be a jack-of-all-trades finesse two-way defender who can handle the middle-pair and powerplay minutes in the NHL, but he needs health and more time to marinade. - MS

17 Pavel Kraskovsky, C (164^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 19) After a promising youth career, Kraskovsky has struggled to reach the next level, and unfortunately injuries have played a significant role in this lack of development. He may have not missed the train yet although he may need to breath some new air after being part of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl system for his whole life. He is gifted with good size and excellent two-way abilities and he may become a solid bottom-six player for the Jets, but he needs to restart his development path and play a full, injury-free season. At this point, however, Kraskovsky is just a long shot to make the NHL. His contract with Lokomotiv runs out next year and it is likely that he will try to get to Winnipeg at that time. - ASR

18 Mikhail Berdin, G (157^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 18) A star at the USHL level with Sioux Falls, Berdin wasted no time getting adjusted to the higher competition of the pro-affiliated levels, posting outstanding numbers with both ECHL Jacksonville (16-8-2, .912 Sv%, 2.66 GAA) and AHL Manitoba (12-11-0, .927, 2.34) as a 21-year-old. Extremely athletic and hard-nosed, Berdin plays a fundamentally refined game that minimizes high-danger chances. He also possesses the last-resort agility to shut down anything that he can’t immediately get to. His puck-handling is incredible as well, as he can single-handedly force an opposing team to abandon a dump-and-chase scheme midway through games. He will need to improve his tool selection and anticipation, but the tools for a mid-tier NHL starter exists within the Russian stopper. - TD

19 Leon Gawanke, D (136^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Gawanke is a great result of drafting a determined player from a lesser-known international program and letting him take advantage of the international experience he is sure to get. He is expected to be a mainstay on the Team Germany blueline throughout his professional career, and has played in three world junior championships, albeit in Division 1A with his native country. Either way, that plethora of experience has paid off for Gawanke, who is more than just a booming shot. He is a risk-taking offensive defender who loves to skate with the puck and make plays. His defensive play needs work, but his raw offensive game will propel him in the pro ranks. He will need time with the Moose but could be a power play quarterback at the NHL level with his shot and his smarts. - MS

20 Henri Nikkanen, C (113^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Prior to last season, Nikkanen was considered a potential first or second round pick for the 2019 NHL Draft. Unfortunately for him – but fortunately for Winnipeg – after having a rough season and missing the WU18 championships, the skilled center fell all the way to the fourth round. He has shown flashes of high-end skill in the offensive zone, He can carry the puck into the zone displaying fast stickhandling and smooth hands. He is a decent skater with solid agility, though his top speed is average, and his balance could use some work. He plays a solid defensive game, takes away time and space from opponents and can cover his man in the defensive zone. Nikkanen has nice skill, but his game might be too bland for the NHL and there are also questions marks around his hockey sense for the time being. - MB

Winnipeg – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:14:37 +0000

The goaltender paradox is one of the last and most difficult-to-overcome issues remaining in hockey. On the one hand, some of the best goaltenders of all time were lightly regarded as amateurs – or not regarded at all – while many netminders that were highly touted as amateurs, never establish themselves in the NHL. On the other hand, an NHL team could be talented and deep from first line to fourth, first pairing to third, and be sunk by mediocre goaltending while some mediocre teams are lifted to great heights by a talented netminder playing at the top of his game at the right time.

The modern-era Winnipeg Jets understand that before they moved back to Winnipeg, in their time as the Atlanta Thrashers, the organization used the second-overall pick of the 2002 draft on a big, athletic netminder from Finland named Kari Lehtonen. Lehtonen was – and still is – not a horrible goalie by NHL standards, but hindsight tells us that they would have been better off selecting Jay Bouwmeester (who went third).

*In fairness to Lehtonen, 2002 was a poor draft year in retrospect. As at times frustrating is his career has been, the number of players selected in 2002 after him who were clearly more valuable over their careers can be counted on one hand – Bouwmeester, Duncan Keith, Alex Steen, Valtteri Filpulla, Frans Nielsen.

Since that time, the combined Thrashers/Jets franchise has been much more conservative with the goaltending position at the draft. In 15 subsequent drafts, they have twice used second round picks on goalies, and never higher. Of course, that does not mean that they have solved goaltending. Like the rest of us, they have long known the pain of inconsistency between the pipes. To understand that pain, it is sufficient to know that the only goaltender in franchise history with more starts than Lehtonen has been Ondrej Pavelec, who finally played his last eight games in a Jets uniform last season.

Moving back to the premise of the first paragraph above, the Jets have tended to draft very well. Two years ago, Hockey Prospectus ranked their system as the best in hockey and last year, they still ranked sixth. They rarely are in contention for high-end free agents and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff tends to be very shy when it comes to trades, so their roster is largely home grown.

Thankfully, the roster is good. Very good. Forwards like Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Patrik Laine are legit superstars. The next wave, featuring Nikolaj Ehlers, Bryan Little, and Matheiu Perrault, is similarly inspiring. On the blueline, they feature diverse talents like Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, and Josh Morrissey. And the Jets currently have an abundance of very talented young players ready to reinforce what is already on-hand. There are good arguments for four of the top five listed below to spend this coming season in the NHL.

Not the perfect roster, but they have been good. They took more shots at even strength than their opponents in two of the last three years. Yet only once in that span did they make the playoffs, a minimalist appearance in which they were swept in the first round by Anaheim. And for all of that, their success will be predicated on the work of the goalies. They have not been able to develop front end goalies, and unless Steve Mason proves the answer, that mystery will continue to haunt this franchise.

Jets Kyle Connor (81) (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire)

1 Kyle Connor – One of the best players in NCAA as a freshman, Connor was not physically ready for the NHL even if his skill set was (and remains) high end. He struggled over 20 games with the Jets, but after going back to the AHL, emerged as one of the best players in the circuit by year’s end. Owns an incredibly quick release which scarcely needs one touch before firing. Will never be a physically dominant player, but cannot fault his effort. Should form a great 1-2 scoring punch with Patrik Laine for years to come.

2 Jack Roslovic – The top under-20 scorer in the AHL last season, Roslovic justified the decision to leave Miami (Ohio) after only one season. The former first round pick (taken the same year as Connor) plays a very mature game with great vision and puck skills. A solid-average skater, his offensive output is more meat-and-potatoes than creative, but still very effective. Plays with a very high work rate and is strong for his size. Has second line upside.

Jack Roslovic

Kristian Vesalainen (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

3 Kristian Vesalainen – Shuffled between teams in SHL, Liiga and SuperElit, it should be little wonder that Vesalainen struggled to produce offense with any consistency during the regular season. Finally playing amongst his peers at the WU18 tournament, he took off, with 13 points in seven games for the Silver medal winners. He is a big power forward with an excellent shot and a mature all-around game. Should be able to use his size to his advantage against men next year.

4 Logan Stanley – Drafted as a gamble on elite height with good hockey intelligence, Stanley’s post draft season was blighted by injuries, but when he played, he was beginning to show some of the promise that the Jets saw in him when they used the 18th overall selection in 2016 on him. An incredible skater for his height, he is extremely difficult to skate around. He is very strong on the puck and has a cannon for a point shot. Given better health, his point totals should take off.

5 Tucker Poolman – Dynamic and intelligent, Poolman can do a little bit of everything on the ice. Strong in his own zone, he rarely made the wrong decision in his collegiate career. Likes to pinch in with the knowledge that his skating prowess will allow him to get to his own zone in plenty of time. Has a strong, lanky body and will occasionally lay out bigger bodies with thunderous checks. Has a decent point shot, but is more effective at moving the puck smartly to teammates.

6 Santeri Virtanen – After spending the vast majority of his draft season injured, Virtanen exploded in the last five games of the season for TPS U20 and was one of the top players on Finland’s U18 team. He is a high end skater who has a rare extra gear. A very dangerous penalty killer. Plays with bravery, getting into lanes late to block shots or using his aggressive stick to create turnovers. Very high hockey IQ. Excited to see what he can do when fully healthy.

7 Jansen Harkins – A highly intelligent two-way forward, his offense in the WHL had stalled at plus, but not dominant levels. More a playmaker than a shooter, he exhibits very good vision and passing chops. He has a good frame for the pro game, but is not an overly physical player, relying on positioning and anticipation more than intimidation in his own end. Projecting as a middle six center, he is the type of player for whom his AHL stay could be brief.

8 Dylan Samberg – Raw, but incredibly toolsy, Samberg was a smart, calculated gamble in the second round this year. He combines plus size with great mobility and a strong point shot. Likes to pinch in deep, he is able to get back in time if the offensive charge does not go as planned. Patient with the puck and capable of executing long passes, he will not likely dazzle with his carrying ability. His strength is functional, but projects for more. Off to Minnesota-Duluth this year.

9 Sami Niku – A slightly undersized offensive defenseman, Niku will be making his North American debut this year. He is a smooth skater who hits top speed quickly and has an accurate, if not very hard, point shot. His real strength is his high end puck play. He can deliver crisp, long passes, that are easy to handle by his teammates. Also strong carrying the puck with speed up the ice. He will not be a quick AHL study, but has eventual top four upside.

10 Mason Appleton – Another example of the Jets drafting talented, skilled players in the late rounds, Appleton was by far the best player on a moribund Michigan State squad last year, and arguably as a freshman as well. The Jets seemed to agree, coaxing him out of school with an ELC this offseason. Strong on the half-wall, he plays the puck with patience and great vision. Not the fastest, but very agile. Responsible in his own end. Hands are quicker than his feet.

11 Erik Foley – An athletic winger with plus wheels, Foley can both produce offense at a respectable clip, while looking like a passenger, led along by better players. He has finishing ability and good net drive, featuring plus acceleration, but his hands often look stiff. He can protect the puck, leveraging his core strength and positioning against the wall, but struggles more when trying to stickhandle in tight. Can succeed if he plays a physical, power game.

12 Eric Comrie – Currently the top goaltending prospect in the Jets’ system, through two seasons in the AHL, Comrie has proven that he can handle a pro workload but not that he can be better than average between the pipes. He is athletic and minimizes second chances, but is prone to the snowballing effect, where one bad goal quickly leads to another. Small by modern netminding standards, he relies on lateral agility and scrambling to cover the net.

13 Michael Spacek – A strong scorer at both the international and junior levels, Spacek has all of the offensive tools, including skating prowess, a hard arsenal of shots, and slick hands that allow him to project as a potential middle six contributor at the highest level. Although he is a hard worker, and puts forth a commendable effort at backchecking and taking care of things in his own end, his lack of size or strength will hamper his speed of ascent.

14 Luke Green – An above average skater, Green has struggled to keep his career on the path he seemed to be on when Saint John made him the number one choice in the 2014 QMJHL Entry draft. He has the talent, and the all-zones awareness to project onto a future second pairing, but has also shown a disappointing propensity to wilt as the pressure mounts. Forced his way out of Saint John last year as he was being asked to play more at forward in deference to Thomas Chabot and Jakub Zboril. Has a chance to end his junior career on a high note.

15 Pavel Kraskovsky – The tall and lanky Russian pivot took a big step forward this season, his second full season in the KHL. A two-way player, he has good hands and playmaking instincts in the offensive zone, and is positionally mature in his own zone. More of a support player than one who can lead a top six line, he is currently on a one year deal with his hometown Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Another year of progress like last year and the Jets should be working to entice him to cross the pond.

16 Chase De Leo – Pesky, undersized De Leo took a step back offensively in his second go-round in the AHL. Partially, it was a function of regression in his percentages and partially from being less involved offensively. He has enough slippery skating ability and quickness in his hands to be able to provide offense from a bottom six role in the NHL in the near future. He could probably contribute this season without embarrassing himself if the opportunity arose.

17 JC Lipon – AHL vet Lipon plays a physical game that is much bigger than his average size. After scoring at a nice clip in 2015-16, his offensive game fell off last year, while he still continued to rack up loyalty rewards for frequent use of the penalty box. A strong two-way forward, he might be more highly considered by Jets’ brass if he could only reign in his aggression on the ice. Could produce more offense with his shot and surprisingly nimble hands if he could stay out of the box.

18 Johnathan Kovacevic – Drafted this year in his third year of eligibility, Kovacevic exploded onto the prospect map this year, his freshman season with Merrimack. He is a big, calm puckmoving defenseman. A good skater for his size, he generally opts for the safe, simple play instead of risking something more flashy. Has great reach and leverages his large frame well at both ends. Already 20 years old and as big as he will get, the question is how much more development is in there?

19 Brendan Lemieux – The son of super-agitating Claude Lemieux, as a junior, Brendan Lemieux was the spitting image of his old man. He could contribute second line offensive numbers and was hell to play against. As a first year pro, only the latter half of that equation remained in place. He is a good skater with nice puck playing ability, but he got so caught up in the agitation, that he rarely had time to contribute to the offense. Also, spending that much time in the penalty box is no longer fashionable.

20 Nelson Nogier – Literally as unexciting as a prospect can be while still being a prospect, Nogier had a quietly steady first full pro season, spent mostly in the AHL, but also including 10 games up with the Jets. A modern-day defensive defenseman, he specializes in retrieving the puck in his own end and getting it moving again towards the offensive. Once the puck is out, he has little involvement although he is a good skater, and his point shot, when he takes one, is hard enough.

With many young players already starring in the NHL, the Jets system is not as strong as it recently was, but through continuing their approach of drafting high end skill whenever possible – ensuring that a high proportion of their picks have at least one skill that grades out as well above average – they are in a position to continue filling out the NHL roster from within. They recognize the inherent limitations they face from a player procurement perspective and continue to maximize the routes open to them.

2015 NHL Draft Guide – Youngblood: Generational top end supported by potential stars – Part 2

Brendan Ross — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 11:00:19 +0000

Appealing depth elevates 2015 class

In an NHL where many star players are drafted using lottery picks, it’s arguably more important for teams to hit on their middle round selections. Finding high-upside talent outside of the opening round can be a major influence in icing competitive teams. The 2015 class offers up those exact type of players as soon as the draft hits double digits.

Heading outside of the lottery picks, talent drops off slightly but there are upwards of 30 appealing players who have some high-upside qualities who could develop into special NHLers. Led by a cast featuring USHL scoring champ Kyle Connor, Swiss power forward Timo Meier, heart-and-soul sniper Travis Konecny, skilled Russian powerhouse Evgeni Svechnikov and Kelowna’s productive playmaker Nick Merkley, the middle first round options feature some potential home-run prospects.

Dazzling skilled forwards Jeremy Bracco and Daniel Sprong, slick puck moving defensemen Jérémy Roy and Oliver Kylington, and rangy high-potential European forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Denis Guryanov headline the wildcard candidates. Two-way pivot Colin White rebounded nicely from his bout with mononucleosis putting forth a great Under-18 World Championship performance showing scouts with timely goals why he’s considered a big-game player. Jansens Harkins, Brock Boeser and Anthony Beauvillier are talents being tossed around as first round potentials after each of them established themselves as top scoring options in their respective leagues.

Teams looking past the first round for high-skilled players that could develop into the next wave of Tyler Toffolis, Derek Stepans, Brandon Saads and Nikita Kucherovs, might be tempted by Swiss dynamo Denis Malgin, speedster Zach Senyshyn, smart winger Jack Roslovic, budding skilled wingman Blake Speers or highly competitive Americans Christian Fischer and A.J. Greer. On the other end of the spectrum, 2015 offers up a number of two-way players who would provide a stabilizing hard-to-play-against presence in the lineup with Nicolas Roy, Jordan Greenway, Graham Knott, Alexander Dergachev, Roope Hintz and Filip Ahl all fitting that billing perfectly. Whatever style player your team fancies, finding them after a stacked top 10 should not be an issue as the opening rounds are flushed with high-potential impact options at every position.

Photo by Tom Sorensen

Stocked blue line

On the blueline, the aforementioned Hanifin, Provorov and Werenski headline an extremely deep pool. Saint John defensemen Thomas Chabot and Jakob Zboril are names to watch in the opening round while Brandon Carlo (Tri-City), Noah Juulsen (Everett), Vince Dunn (Niagara), Mitch Vande Sompel (Oshawa), Travis Dermott (Erie) and Rasmus Andersson (Barrie) are a half-dozen other major junior candidates that are destined to hear their names called early on in Sunrise, Florida. Europeans Erik Cernak (Kosice), Jacob Larsson (Frolunda), Gabriel Carlsson (Linkoping) and Jonas Siegenthaler (ZSC) have each completed impressive seasons of their own, earning high praise from both international competition and club play. In a year stacked with star forwards, defensemen with big minute potential are plentiful which could allow teams to wait longer than usual to address their blueline needs.

Safe yet unspectacular goaltender crop

Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Between the pipes, consensus is split with no true top goaltender and, certainly, no first round worthy option. Barrie’s Mackenzie Blackwood, Sweden’s Felix Sandström, Czech Daniel Vladar and Russia’s Ilya Samsonov are the names thrown around most as top candidates at their positions. Finn Veini Vehvilainen was outstanding at the Under-18s and Matej Tomek pulled on the heart-strings of NAHL followers, earning enough praise to be in the conversation as well. It’s a rather pedestrian goaltending class without a frontrunner but the overall depth of top goaltenders appealing.

Having McDavid and Eichel as the main draws undoubtedly boosts the overall appeal of the 2015 draft class, causing envy among all teams missing out on these stud pivots. Fortunately, it’s a particularly strong Top 10 which offers up potential front-line star forwards and a trio of projected first-pairing defenders. As the picks begin to trickle out into the latter parts of the opening round, followers should expect a lot of movement with very little consensus creating a fun and unpredictable draft. The eastern regions, explicitly the Boston and QMJHL populations, are chocked-full with top prospects, furnishing the ’15 class with more players than normal out of these hockey markets.

With Connor McDavid driving the bus and Jack Eichel riding shotgun, the 2015 draft will undoubtedly be an exciting event as each of the NHL’s two conferences will welcome a future superstar. Looking to unseat the superb 2003 draft class, McDavid and his peers have some big foot steps to follow but if there are two players who can lead this group to stardom it’s McEichel, as both of these wonder kids are experienced in exceeding lofty expectations. The timing for an outstanding crop of future NHL stars couldn’t be better as storied franchises, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, look to rebrand their losing identities and are secretly trusting that their vital reclamation pieces lie somewhere within the upcoming 2015 draft.

Wheeler’s Final Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League

Scott Wheeler — Tue, 05 May 2015 13:00:19 +0000

Each season, I release three instalments of my rankings of the top 60 prospects for the NHL draft. This year, these rankings will be divided by league and produced in November, February, and May, and available online at McKeen’s for the first time.

Note on the rankings: The following rankings are compiled through extensive coverage and viewings of Ottawa 67s and Gatineau Olympiques home games, which provide the chance to watch and follow a hundred or-so draft eligible players in the OHL and QMJHL who make up the majority of the top end of the draft class (especially this year in a very QMJHL-populated class) from training camps through playoffs. For prospects from the NCAA, USHL, NTDP and abroad, I make sure I have several viewings before the first publication of these rankings in November. These viewings are cumulative from this year and last (while scouting the previous class). Events viewed beyond the CHL include the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, World Junior Development Camps, the Subway Super Series, Under 17s, Under 18s, club play internationally, marquee U.S. events, college tournaments, and a heavy focus on a select few European players in SHL and Swe. Jr. games.

May’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (overall ranking in brackets)

OHL:

Connor McDavid, Erie, C (#1)
Dylan Strome, Erie, C (#4)
Mitchell Marner, London, C/RW (#5)
Travis Konecny, Ottawa, C (#12)
Pavel Zacha, Sarnia, C (#13)
Lawson Crouse, Kingston, LW (#15)
Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia, RW (#34)
Mitchell Vande Sompel, Oshawa, D (#45)
Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie, C (#48)
Dante Salituro, Ottawa, C (#50)
Vince Dunn, Niagara, D (#53)
Mitchell Stephens, Saginaw, C (#54)
Matthew Spencer, Peterborough, D (#57)

QMJHL:

Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke, D (#11)
Daniel Sprong, Charlottetown, RW (#16)
Evgeni Svechnikov, Cape Breton, LW (#18)
Timo Meier, Halifax, RW/C (#19)
Jakub Zboril, Saint John, D (#20)
Anthony Beauvillier, Shawinigan, C/LW (#25)
Thomas Chabot, Saint John, D (#26)
Dennis Yan, Shawinigan, LW (#28)
Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown, C (#29)
Nicholas Meloche, Baie-Comeau, D (#30)
Nathan Noel, Saint John, C (#32)
Yakov Trenin, Gatineau, LW (#33)
Dmytro Timashov, Quebec, LW/RW (#44)
Nicolas Roy, Chicoutimi, C (#55)
Alexandre Carrier, Gatineau, D (#60)

WHL:

Mathew Barzal, Seattle, C (#7)
Ivan Provorov, Brandon, D (#8)
Nick Merkley, Kelowna, C (#17)
Jansen Harkins, Prince George, C (#24)
Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current, LW (#27)
Paul Bittner, Portland, LW (#31)
Ryan Pilon, Brandon, D (#38)
Brandon Carlo, Tri-City, D (#39)
Ryan Gropp, Seattle, LW (#40)
Noah Juulsen, Everett, D (#47)
Parker Wotherspoon. Tri-City, D (#59)

United States (NCAA, USHL, NTDP):

Jack Eichel, Boston University, C (#2)
Noah Hanifin, Boston College, D (#3)
Zach Werenski, Michigan, D (#6)
Kyle Connor, Youngstown, C (#10)
Brock Boeser, Waterloo, RW (#21)
Jeremy Bracco, NTDP, RW (#22)
Colin White, NTDP, C (#23)
Thomas Novak, Waterloo, C (#35)
Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Omaha, C (#36)
Jack Roslovic, NTDP, C/RW (#41)
Christian Fischer, NTDP, C (#42)
Jordan Greenway, NTDP, LW (#56)

Sweden (SHL, Swe. Jr.):

Oliver Kylington, AIK/Farjestad, D (#14)
Jens Looke, Brynas, RW (#37)
Jacob Larsson, Frolunda, D (#43)
Joel Eriksson Ek, Farjestad, C (#49)
Sebastian Aho, Skelleftea, D (#51)
Filip Ahl, HV71, RW (#52)
Jesper Lindgren, Modo, D (#58)

Finland:

Mikko Rantanen, TPS, RW (#9)

Slovakia:

Erik Cernak, Kosice, D (#46)

Just missed: Erik Foley, Anthony Richard, Roope Hintz, Michael Spacek, Kay Schweri, Graham Knott, Gabriel Carlsson, Ethan Bear, Rasmus Andersson, Travis Dermott, Adam Musil, Tyler Soy, Glenn Gawdin, Alex Dergachyov, Denis Gurianov, Denis Kase, Jonas Siegenthaler, Julius Nattinen, Adam Marsh, Guillaume Brisebois, Zachary Senyshyn.

2015 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Top 120 Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:17:44 +0000

Ilya Samsonov made the most of his opportunity in front of NHL scouts last month in the Czech Republic.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound native of Magnitogorsk helped lead Russia to victory at the Five Nations Tournament.

Samsonov showcased a full package of skill and smarts while upsetting Team USA in a 5-4 overtime win - being outshot 51-to-16 - and then shutting down Sweden 5-1 in the final game.

He played this season in the MHL with Stalnye Lisy, Magnitogorsk's junior team, and will get another chance to bolster his draft stock at the U18 World Championships next month in Switzerland.

A number of Samsonov's U18 teammates could draw some draft interest with strong showings in Zug and Lucerne, the two host cities for the U18 Worlds.

Big, strong-shooting winger Denis Gurianov of Lada Togliatti is rated in the second round - 40th overall - on the McKeen's Top 120 rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Mikhail Vorobyev (Salavat Ufa) is rated 78th overall and is a smart, well-structured pivot in the classic old Russian style, while diminutive winger Kirill Kaprizov (Novokuznetsk) is listed as a late third-rounder - 89th overall. Just 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Kaprizov was a creative force throughout the Five Nations and demonstrated that he has the courage and work ethic to help overcome the size factor.

Samsonov is the top-rated goaltender in the McKeen's rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft - debuting in the first round in the 29th spot.

Drafting goalies in the opening round has becoming increasingly less common. In fact, only six goaltenders have been selected in the first round over the past eight drafts (2007 to 2014). That compares to the five-year period from 2002 to 2006 in which a total of 14 goalies were first-round picks.

Samsonov is one of 11 goaltenders to earn spots in the McKeen's Top 120 rankings.

Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts is next on the goalie list - ranked as an early second-rounder at 33rd overall - while a pair of QMJHL goalies hold down the next two spots - Callum Booth of Halifax at 61st and Samuel Montembeault of Blainville-Boisbriand in the No. 68 spot.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
6	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
7	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
9	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
11	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
12	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
13	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
14	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
16	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
17	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
18	Joel Ek Eriksson	C	Farjestads (Swe)	6-2/180	29-Jan-97
19	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
20	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
21	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
22	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
23	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
24	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
25	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97
26	Jonas Siegenthaler	D	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-2/220	6-May-97
27	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
28	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
29	Ilya Samsonov	G	Magnitogorsk (Rus)	6-3/200	22-Feb-97
30	Jack Roslovic	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	29-Jan-97

31	Erik Cernak	D	Kosice (Svk)	6-3/200	28-May-97
32	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
33	Mackenzie Blackwood	G	Barrie (OHL)	6-4/215	9-Dec-96
34	Tom Novak	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/180	28-Apr-97
35	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
36	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
37	Blake Speers	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/180	2-Jan-97
38	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
39	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
40	Denis Gurianov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-2/185	7-Jun-97
41	Noah Juulsen	D	Everett (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Apr-97
42	Jordan Greenway	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-5/225	16-Feb-97
43	Alexander Dergachyov	RW	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-4/200	27-Sep-96
44	Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson	C	Omaha (USHL)	6-1/195	31-Oct-96
45	Jeremy Bracco	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-9/175	17-Mar-97
46	Zachary Senyshyn	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/195	30-Mar-97
47	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
48	Ryan Gropp	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/185	16-Sep-96
49	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
50	Jens Looke	RW	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	11-Apr-97
51	Robin Kovacs	RW	AIK (Swe)	6-0/170	16-Nov-96
52	Glenn Gawdin	C	Swift Current (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Mar-97
53	Nikita Korostelev	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/195	8-Feb-97
54	Travis Dermott	D	Erie (OHL)	5-11/195	22-Dec-96
55	Gabriel Carlsson	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-4/185	2-Jan-97
56	Adam Musil	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	6-2/200	26-Mar-97
57	Mitchell Vande Sompel	D	Oshawa (OHL)	5-10/180	11-Feb-97
58	Christian Fischer	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/215	15-Apr-97
59	Brendan Guhle	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-1/185	29-Jul-97
60	Dennis Gilbert	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/200	30-Oct-96

61	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
62	Sebastian Aho	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/175	26-Jul-97
63	Ryan Pilon	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/210	10-Oct-96
64	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
65	Austin Wagner	LW	Regina (WHL)	6-1/180	23-Jun-97
66	Graham Knott	LW	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/195	13-Jan-97
67	Michael Spacek	C	Pardubice (Cze)	5-11/190	9-Apr-97
68	Samuel Montembeault	G	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-2/165	30-Oct-96
69	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
70	Daniel Vladar	G	Kladno (Cze)	6-5/185	20-Aug-97
71	Kyle Capobianco	D	Sudbury (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Aug-97
72	David Kase	C	Chomutov (Cze)	5-11/170	28-Jan-97
73	Bailey Webster	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-3/210	8-Sep-97
74	Felix Sandstrom	G	Brynas (Swe)	6-2/190	12-Jan-97
75	Jesper Lindgren	D	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/160	19-May-97
76	Keegan Kolesar	RW	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/215	8-Apr-97
77	Kevin Davis	D	Everett (WHL)	6-0/185	14-Mar-97
78	Mikhail Vorobyev	C	Salavat Ufa (Rus)	6-2/195	5-Jan-97
79	Vince Dunn	D	Niagara (OHL)	6-0/185	29-Oct-96
80	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
81	Gustav Bouramman	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/185	24-Jan-97
82	Matej Tomek	G	Topeka (NAHL)	6-2/180	24-May-97
83	Lukas Jasek	RW	Trinec (Cze)	5-11/165	28-Aug-97
84	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
85	Roope Hintz	LW	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	6-2/185	17-Nov-96
86	Mitchell Stephens	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/185	5-Feb-97
87	Jean-Christophe Beaudin	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/185	27-Mar-97
88	Filip Ahl	LW	HV 71 (Swe)	6-3/210	12-Jun-97
89	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	Novokuznetsk (Rus)	5-9/185	26-Apr-97
90	John Marino	D	South Shore (USPHL)	6-0/175	21-May-97

91	Chaz Reddekopp	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-3/220	1-Jan-97
92	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
93	Parker Wotherspoon	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/170	24-Aug-97
94	Loik Leveille	D	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	5-11/220	25-Sep-96
95	Adam Gaudette	C	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	6-1/175	3-Oct-96
96	Justin Lemcke	D	Belleville (OHL)	6-2/200	13-Feb-97
97	Gabriel Gagne	RW	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-5/190	11-Nov-96
98	Thomas Schemitsch	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-3/205	26-Oct-96
99	Jesse Gabrielle	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/205	17-Jun-97
100	Jonne Tammela	LW	KalPa (Fin)	5-10/180	5-Aug-97
101	Christian Jaros	D	Lulea (Swe)	6-3/200	2-Apr-96
102	Ales Stezka	G	Liberec (Cze)	6-3/180	6-Jan-97
103	Ethan Bear	D	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/200	26-Jun-97
104	Mathieu Joseph	RW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	9-Feb-97
105	Jeremiah Addison	LW	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	21-Oct-96
106	Devante Stephens	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Jan-97
107	Michael McNiven	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/205	9-Jul-97
108	Jeremy Lauzon	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-2/195	28-Apr-97
109	Luke Opilka	G	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	27-Feb-97
110	Philippe Myers	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-5/195	25-Jan-97
111	Adam Werner	G	Farjestads (Swe)	6-5/185	2-May-97
112	Brendan Warren	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	7-May-97
113	Julius Nattinen	C	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-2/190	14-Jan-97
114	Colton White	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	3-May-97
115	Samuel Dove-McFalls	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-2/205	10-Apr-97
116	Veeti Vainio	D	Blues (Fin)	6-2/170	16-Jun-97
117	Matt Bradley	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-11/185	22-Jan-97
118	Tyler Soy	C	Victoria (WHL)	5-11/170	10-Feb-97
119	Dmytro Timashov	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/190	1-Oct-96
120	A.J. Greer	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-2/205	14-Dec-96

2015 NHL Draft – Top 20 WHL Prospects

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 04:18:15 +0000

Mathew Barzal unquestionably boasts the wheels to play catch up.

Since returning from a 27-game absence to November knee surgery, Barzal has been making up for lost ground.

The Coquitlam, B.C. native has been turning heads with his speed and playmaking abilities, racking up 30 points in his past 18 games (18-5-25-30) - to move into second in scoring for the Seattle Thunderbirds.

His draft stock is improving steadily as he shows scouts more of an 'inside' game - and helps dispel concerns early on the season that he plays too much on the perimeter.

Barzal moves into the top 10 on the McKeen's rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft - and sits second among WHL players behind Brandon's Ivan Provorov.

Barzal is one of four Seattle Thunderbirds to earn a place in the WHL Top 20 list of draft-eligible prospects.

Winger Ryan Gropp is ranked ninth among WHL players - and 48th overall - with Keegan Kolesar 15th (76 overall) and blueliner Ethan Bear at No. 20 (103rd overall).

WHL	ALL	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	5	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
2	10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
3	17	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
4	20	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
5	21	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
6	24	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
7	35	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
8	41	Noah Juulsen	D	Everett (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Apr-97
9	48	Ryan Gropp	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/185	16-Sep-96
10	52	Glenn Gawdin	C	Swift Current (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Mar-97
11	56	Adam Musil	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	6-2/200	26-Mar-97
12	59	Brendan Guhle	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-1/185	29-Jul-97
13	63	Ryan Pilon	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/210	10-Oct-96
14	65	Austin Wagner	LW	Regina (WHL)	6-1/180	23-Jun-97
15	76	Keegan Kolesar	RW	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/215	8-Apr-97
16	77	Kevin Davis	D	Everett (WHL)	6-0/185	14-Mar-97
17	91	Chaz Reddekopp	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-3/220	1-Jan-97
18	93	Parker Wotherspoon	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/170	24-Aug-97
19	99	Jesse Gabrielle	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/205	17-Jun-97
20	103	Ethan Bear	D	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/200	26-Jun-97

Jansen Harkins: Prowling all three zones

Andy Levangie — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:45:07 +0000

When looking to define Harkins’ game the words that come to mind are “Power Forward Centre”. Steadily improving his game through the WHL season and most recently with a strong performance at the Top Prospects game centering a line with fellow WHLers Paul Bittner (Portland) and Glen Gawdin (Swift Current). A unit led by Harkins playing down the middle drove possession, cycled well, and enjoyed strong transition play and factored into the scoring.

Leading the Western Conference last place Cougars in scoring (51-17-42-59) he currently sits 17th in WHL scoring and is currently ranked #24 on McKeen's Hockey's January draft rankings. Andy LeVangie provide a scouting report:

Jansen Harkins, Prince George Cougars

Photo by CJ Relke

Harkins plays in all situations on the ice during WHL action, trusted with taking face-offs in all 3 zones and is a mainstay on both the power play and penalty kill .. a knack for pushing the puck with force through all three zones, with well above average top end speed .. can accelerate well but would benefit from some work on his separation gear .. those critical first 3 steps would create a little more space, allowing him more time to make plays and get to that top end speed just a little quicker .. he’ll need that burst when spaces and time are limited at the next level - showing a lot of promise making high speed plays .. once his body gets to top gear, he can be hard to stop… A hard charging skater who can drop his shoulder and muscle his way through opposing bodies .. owns an unorthodox skating style with an obvious hunch at the shoulders - still keeps his head up for the most part but could be guilty of leaning out leaving him open for predatory hits .. displays a habit of reaching out with his stick to make plays that could leave him off balance or vulnerable to being knock down or take hard unnecessary contact .. a heady player that can play the game smart, however, can turn on the aggression and drive a puck through crowds and bodies .. uses the lines on the ice very effectively making plays, can drive a puck out to clear the defensive zone using strong awareness of the play in front of him, knowing when to pull up for a pass or push his speed up and drive into open space .. hardly a fancy player, but makes simple plays in a very effective manner, drags and pulls the puck away from defenders with flashes of very efficient puck handlin .. doesn’t over handle the puck and cause giveaways, but puts it in available space to make plays in a ‘less is more’ manner - tones down the riskiness, a trait that doesn’t show lack of skill but rather exhibits maturity by not over playing the puck .. powerful lower body provides a strong shield for the puck .. very effective using his shoulders, legs and hips to hold off defenders, an asset that makes for strong board play, finding an open teammate or driving pucks deep into the zone .. employs a heavy forecheck and always looks to finish with authority .. when at his top end speed can hold off checkers well .. drops his shoulder and uses the patented power forward move to drive the net .. effective driving with one hand on his stick or two, using the free hand to fight off stick checks or defender .. has a strong one-time shot with a minimal wind up .. quick snapping release on his wrist shot, with no problems keeping it low or working to the upper parts of the net .. not afraid to play in the rough areas of the ice and will head to the crease to score his goals .. shines as a setup man and rarely takes anything off his fast low passes .. accuracy is an asset, using his setup ability to create deception, not always looking to drive and shoot, will gain the offensive zone with speed and pull up looking for a streaking teammate, making smart plays to keep zone time alive .. passes remain accurate when at high speed and can hit guys on the move with precision .. simple is better with Harkins, won’t dazzle, dangle or deke guys out of position, has a power offence that finds the openings, cleanly passes, and finishes with quick hands and authority ..

Jansen Harkins breakaway goal vs Spokane (10/4/14)

Video courtesy of Hockey Prospect Videos @ YouTube

Watch for Number 12 at the beginning he loops the defensive zone and closes in on the D Man trying to hold the blueline. Once he sees the puck jump the defenders stick he accelerates and by Centre Ice he looks to be at full speed… Keeps a solid position holding the defender behind him protecting the puck for any attempt at a stick check… Makes a simple pause on the forehand to freeze the goalie and one move to the backhand to open the five hole and tuck it in… Simple, Quick & Effective

As always, Thanks for reading.

Andy Levangie

thehockeyuniverse@gmail.com

@AndyLevang

Wheeler’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (February)

Scott Wheeler — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:01:56 +0000

Each season, I release three instalments of my rankings of the top 60 prospects for the NHL draft. This year, these rankings will be divided by league and produced in November, February and May (prior to the draft itself) and available online at McKeen’s for the first time.

Note on the rankings: The following rankings are compiled through extensive coverage and viewings of Ottawa 67s and Gatineau Olympiques home games, which provide the chance to watch and follow a hundred or-so draft eligible players in the OHL and QMJHL who make up the majority of the top end of the draft class (especially this year in a very QMJHL-populated class) from training camps through playoffs. For prospects from the NCAA, USHL, NTDP and abroad, I make sure I have several viewings before the first publication of these rankings in November. These viewings are cumulative from this year and last (while scouting the previous class). Events viewed beyond the CHL include the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, World Junior Development Camps, the Subway Super Series, Under 17s, Under 18s, club play internationally, marquee U.S. events and a heavy focus on a select few European players in SHL and Swe. Jr. games.

February’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (overall ranking in brackets)

OHL:

Connor McDavid, Erie, C (#1)
Dylan Strome, Erie, C (#4)
Mitchell Marner, London, C (#5)
Pavel Zacha, Sarnia, C (#12)
Travis Konecny, Ottawa, C (#14)
Lawson Crouse, Kingston, LW (#15)
Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia, RW (#29)
Matthew Spencer, Peterborough, D (#46)
Mitchell Vande Sompel, Oshawa, D (#51)
Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie, C (#52)
Dante Salituro, Ottawa, C (#54)
Vince Dunn, Niagara, D (#57)

QMJHL:

Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke, D (#13)
Daniel Sprong, Charlottetown, RW (#16)
Evgeni Svechnikov, Cape Breton, LW (#18)
Jakub Zboril, Saint John, D (#19)
Anthony Beauvillier, Shawinigan, C/LW (#24)
Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown, C (#25)
Timo Meier, Halifax, RW/C (#26)
Thomas Chabot, Saint John, D (#28)
Dennis Yan, Shawinigan, LW (#30)
Nathan Noel, Saint John, C (#34)
Nicolas Meloche, Baie-Comeau, D (#35)
Yakov Trenin, Gatineau, LW (#38)
Guillaume Brisebois, Acadie-Bathurst, D (#47)
Dmytro Timashov, Quebec, LW/RW (#48)
Nicolas Roy, Chicoutimi, C (#49)
Alexandre Carrier, Gatineau, D (59)

WHL:

Ivan Provorov, Brandon, D (#7)
Mathew Barzal, Seattle, C (#8)
Nick Merkley, Kelowna, C (#11)
Jansen Harkins, Prince George, C (#23)
Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current, LW (#27)
Ryan Pilon, Brandon, D (#32)
Brandon Carlo, Tri-City, D (#33)
Paul Bittner, Portland, LW (#39)
Ryan Gropp, Seattle, LW (#40)
Noah Juulsen, Everett, D (#45)
Adam Musil, Red Deer, C (#50)

United States (NCAA, USHL, NTDP):

Jack Eichel, Boston University, C (#2)
Noah Hanifin, Boston College, D (#3)
Zach Werenski, Michigan, D (#6)
Kyle Connor, Youngstown, C (#17)
Jeremy Bracco, NTDP, RW (#20)
Brock Boeser, Waterloo, RW (#21)
Colin White, NTDP, C (#22)
Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Omaha, C (#36)
Thomas Novak, Waterloo, C (#37)
Jordan Greenway, NTDP, LW (#41)
Christian Fischer, NTDP, C (#43)

Sweden (SHL, Swe. Jr.):

Oliver Kylington, AIK/Farjestad, D (#9)
Jens Looke, Brynas, RW (#31)
Jacob Larsson, Frolunda, D (#44)
Filip Ahl, HV71, RW (#53)
Sebastian Aho, Skelleftea, D (#56)
Jesper Lindgren, Modo, D (#58)

Finland:

Mikko Rantanen, TPS, RW (#10)
Roope Hintz, Ilves, RW (#60)

Slovakia:

Erik Cernak, Kosice, D (#42)

Czech Republic:

Michael Spacek, HC Pardubice, RW (#55)

Just missed: Mitchell Stephens, Anthony Richard, Kay Schweri, Graham Knott, Gabriel Carlsson, Ethan Bear, Rasmus Andersson, Travis Dermott, Tyler Soy, Glenn Gawdin, Alex Dergachyov, Denis Gurianov, Denis Kase, Jonas Siegenthaler, Julius Nattinen, Adam Marsh, Parker Wotherspoon.

If you have any questions regarding a player, or his ranking, don’t hesitate to contact me @scottcwheeler. Be sure to check out the latest edition of the McKeen’s 2015 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings as well.

Youngblood: Mid-Season 2015 NHL Draft Ranking

Brendan Ross — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 15:06:45 +0000

As buzzer sounds on the first half of the season and draft eligible players take the ice looking to make their final push up the scout’s draft lists, Youngblood is proud to release it’s midseason 2015 NHL draft rankings. There are no surprises at the top of the list with Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin firmly planted. At this point, it’s a near-lock for McDavid to be drafted 1^st overall followed by the Boston University phenom Jack Eichel. The chance to add franchise-changing players like McDavid and Eichel is a rare opportunity and as a result, expect the “tanking” chatter to reach incomprehensible levels as the NHL season stretch run unfolds.

The 2015 draft class has one of the most appealing top ends in recent history and talents are not just limited to McDavid, Eichel or Hanifin. London’s Mitch Marner has been tearing up the OHL scoring race and is closing in on the 100-point milestone (45GP-35G-58A-93P), justifying his ranking in the Top 5. Following closely, Pavel Zacha (who will be out of the lineup with injury for the next month), Dylan Strome and Lawson Crouse are virtually interchangeable players depending on their most recent performance. The second tier of prospects is as tight as its ever been and an arguement could be made for each individual to lead the way. For now, it’s an extremely fluid group that’s bound to see some change and they will eventually iron out their places by the time these players head to Florida in June.

After spending two weeks observing the always entertaining 2015 IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championships, several prospects made a jump in the rankings after being very impressed with their live performances. Finland’s Mikko Rantanen, Switzerland’s Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler, Sweden’s Jens Lööke and to a lesser extent, Sebastian Aho and Roope Hintz (Finland), David Kase (Czech Republic), Alexander Dergachev (Russia), Denis Malgin (Switzerland) and Erik Cernak (Slovakia) all left lasting impressions from their WJC performances. With June just around the corner, players have the stretch run and playoffs in their respective leagues to do some final jostling and work their way up the rankings.

Several key injury updates:

Pavel Zacha – out 3-5 weeks with an upper-body injury (as of January 19^th)

Mathew Barzal – returned to game action on January 23^rd after missing nearly three months of action.

Mitchell Vande Sompel – returned to action after being sidelined with an upper body injury

Mitch Marner – shoken up in London’s recent game versus Oshawa, it appears Marner won’t miss any significant time.

Rankings in Tiers

As a result of the tightly packed first round, Youngblood has opted to break down the opening round into five tiers as an attempt to separate the gaps in ranking. If a group of players are found ranked inside the same tier then there’s likely little discrepancy between their rankings and movement is quite possible (less likely in Tier 1). Please also note that the varying tiers, especially Tiers 3, 4 and 5, are separated by minute differences as well.

First Tier

1. Connor McDavid, LC, Erie (OHL)

Dubbed “exceptional” at 15 years of age, McDavid has made that tag seem rather ordinary, elevating his play to elite levels. Every challenge thrown at McDavid seems to be met and solved with ease. On the ice, McDavid’s elusiveness, first step speed, unpredictable attacks and silky-smooth puck skills appear as though the gaming community developed the ultimate video game player. Off the ice, McDavid is mature, driven, intelligent, humble and professional. In an exceptional draft class, #97 is everything you want in a generational talent.

2. Jack Eichel, RC, Boston University (H-East)

In any other draft year, Jack Eichel is waiting at the stairs of the draft stage waiting for his name to be announced as the first selection. It’s rare to have two franchise players at the top of the draft but Eichel is arguably the best consolation prize for the team picking 2^nd since Evgeny Malkin who went 2^nd to Alexander Ovechkin in 2004. Eichel’s 13 goals and 36 points top all collegiate players, a near impossible feat for the underage freshman.

Second Tier

3. Noah Hanifin, LD, Boston College (H-East)

Blessed with great size, outstanding four-way mobility and confident puck skills, Boston College freshman Noah Hanifin continues to hold down the third spot. His high panic threshold and overall poise under pressure allows Hanifin to dictate the pace of the game from the backend. Through strong positioning and an edgy defensive game, Hanifin proves to be as impactful on the defensive end as he is on the attack.

On the fly scouting note…. The next six skaters are tightly grouped and are considered interchangeable. Looking at each individual skill set and their long-term potential, the following is their current ranking. Don’t be surprised to see this as a fluid second tier group as the draft draws nearer.

4. Mitch Marner, RW/C, London (OHL)

Making a case to be considered Hanifin’s biggest rival for 3^rd overall, Mitch Marner is shredding apart the OHL as its leading scorer. In a Patrick Kane-like way, Marner is capable of tying up opposing defenses with his quick, creative puck skills and superb skating ability. Outside of McDavid, Marner owns the best set of puck skills in this draft class and when combined with his elite vision and playmaking skills, he elevates his teammates to star levels. Throw the size concerns aside, Marner’s elusiveness, speed and ability to anticipate danger allows him to escape pressure with ease.

5. Pavel Zacha, LC, Sarnia (OHL)

Boxscore watchers might question this ranking but the big Czech import has the best “pro” package outside of only McDavid and Eichel. Willing to stick my neck out a bit with this ranking (even in this stacked Top 10) because of his high-end package of size, skill and physicality… and the fact that he’s just beginning to blossom. An explosive skater with good possession skills, Zacha uses high-end lateral agility to evade checkers at top speed and combines quick puck handling ability and a lethal (somewhat underrated) snap shot to strike on the fly. He offers a nasty edge and impressive physical tools that have resulted in two separate suspensions. Pavel Zacha is slated to miss the next five weeks with injury.

6. Dylan Strome, RC, Erie (OHL)

Sitting second in OHL scoring at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game break, Dylan Strome is a smart two-way pivot who has excelled offensively in the first half of the season. Point production aside, Strome finds a way to contribute in all three zones and has an ability to adapt his game to operate as a skilled forward or engage in the cycle game. His skating has improved and will remain an area of concentration but his vision and playmaking abilities make him bonafide top line prospect.

7. Lawson Crouse, LW, Kingston (OHL)

The hot-button debate from the 2015 draft class seems to be led by Lawson Crouse’s rankings. Originally slated to be ranked 5^th on this list, Crouse was surpassed by Marner, Zacha and Strome simply based on their longterm “upsides”. Witnessed first-hand at the 2015 WJC, Crouse is a beast of a power forward capable of playing a heavy possession game and nearly impossible to knock off of the puck. Arguably the best defensive prospect at the top of the draft, Crouse is a “coach’s player” who can be relied on to play tough defensive minutes. However, don’t mistake this “defensive” label as a limitation because Lawson Crouse’s offensive instincts are equally impressive. He owns soft hands and is capable of creating his own chances and will only continue to develop on these skills.

8. Zachary Werenski, RD, Michigan (Big Ten)

Excelling as a freshman on the Wolverines’ blueline, Zach Werenski also didn’t look out of place on a young American blueline at the WJC where he arguably outplayed draft peer and teammate Noah Hanifin. Werenski’s tool box is stacked and he uses all of his tools to manage the blueline very well. His style is reminiscent of Jacob Trouba, a former UofM blueliner. His skating, puck handling, defending and decision making are all above average and he packs one of the hardest point shots of this age group.

Third Tier

9. Ivan Provorov, LD, Brandon (WHL)

An elite processor of the game, Ivan Provorov relies on his astute hockey sense, strong mobility and dominant possession game. Never willing to give up an inch of ice, Provorov suffocates attackers defensively (displaying elite gap control) and attacks with a purpose, rarely conceding possession. Provorov recently competed with Russia at the WJC but didn’t start seeing much meaningful ice until the latter part of the tournament, limiting his chance to shine. He’s not big or overly strong but his ability to excel as a puck mover in the North American style should squash any concerns that he’ll flee back to Russia.

10. Oliver Kylington, LD, AIK IF (SWE-AL)

With the uber-slick Oliver Kylington an NHL team is going to land a future powerplay quarterback who is a bit of an untamed horse at times. He packs an impressive offensive skill set featured around smooth four-way mobility, steady puck skills and an above-average shot. At the next level, he’ll need to show that he can execute safe plays and not opt for the “homerun” play everytime to be trusted in all situations. Upside is very high with Kylington.

11. Mathew Barzal, RC, Seattle (WHL)

After an impressive WHL rookie season where Barzal showed he could produce, he entered his draft season with some jump scoring often. Unfortunately, a broken knee cap has kept him out of action for most of the season but he’s since returned and is eager to re-establish himself as one of the drafts best offensive talents. Barzal is an intelligent pivot and owns creative instincts. He’s always hovering around the puck looking to make a difference and with his slick puck skills and strong attacking skills, he usually finds a way. With his skill set, Barzal has room to climb these rankings with a good return from injury.

12. Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS Turku (FIN)

Coming off an excellent World Junior showing and after impressing against men in Finland’s top professional leage, Mikko Rantanen has shown scouts that he’s got Top 10 talent. He carried a Finnish team on his back at the WJC not only showcasing his silky playmaking abilities but unleashing a series of shots from his wicked shooting arsenal. He possesses a competitive motor, engages physically and wants to make a difference on every shift – all projectable character skills.

13. Jérémy Roy, RD, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

One of the draft’s best offensive defensemen, Roy has posted impressive statistics from the blueline. Quick agile skating ability with impressive start-and-stop abilities, Roy’s at his best with the puck on his stick using creative stick misdirection and cuts in mobility to evade checking forwards. Precise and confident in his passing abilities, many of Sherbrooke’s best scoring chances start from the blade of Roy’s stick. Continuing to add strength and developing his defensive game will only assure that Roy remains a lock for a Top 15 selection and a candidate to go Top 10.

14. Kyle Connor, LC, Youngstown (USHL)

Highly energetic USHL pivot with slick puck handling ability, Kyle Connor drives the offense for the Phantoms. Connor was a standout for Team USA at the 2014 Under-18 as an underage forward producing at a point-per-game and he’s clipping along over that rate in his third season with Youngstown. Committed to the University of Michigan next year, Kyle Connor has a bright future as a two-way forward who’s capable of becoming a top line player at the next level based on his superb skating skills, strong hockey sense and driven motor.

Fourth Tier

15. Jeremy Bracco, RW, U18 USA NTDP (USHL)

Dating back to his OHL draft year, Jeremy Bracco quickly planted himself high in my ranks. Since those days of dominance, Bracco has continued to exceed all expectations setting scoresheets on fire with the Under-18 NTDP. Possessing a truly unique skating technique, relying on crafty edge-work and a heel-to-heel stride, Bracco is a dynamic offensive winger who competes at high speed. His ability to draw in defenders and then exploit their abandoned space is elite and speaks to his high-end vision and creativeness with the puck. He’s small by NHL standards but his skill for producing offense is too much to ignore.

16. Timo Meier, RW/C, Halifax (QMJHL)

The hard-working skilled Halifax winger, Timo Meier, has been one of the fastest climbers on this list. After a two-week period of eye-opening hockey on Switzerland’s WJC top line, the feisty Meier has quickly become a personal favourite. Blessed with sliick hands in traffic, explosive two-step quickness and the ability to open up space with his physicality, Meier creates an impact every shift he takes. He packs a quick release that catches goaltenders off guard as he exits scrums with the puck and attacks instantly. If it weren’t for the stellar group of players ahead of him, he’d be in consideration for the Top 10.

17. Nick Merkley, RW, Kelowna (WHL)

In the mold of a true playmaker, Nick Merkley’s vision, anticipation and imaginative passing abilities are in the top echelon of the draft. However, his pass-first mentality is predictable at times, which is a small knock against the smaller forward. Kelowna’s top scoring forward is an very good skater with elusive puck skills and he’s shown to be one of the WHL’s most consistent producers so don’t expect him to last long at the draft.

18. Travis Konecny, RC, Ottawa (OHL)

Coming off Team Orr Player of the Game honours at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, Travis Konecny is back on the Top 15 radar that he occupied earlier in the season. He’s struggled with his statistical consistency this season but following the holiday break Konecny has looked more determined. An outstanding shooter who competes at an incredible pace, Konecny has arguably the best motor and shot combination of the draft. He’s a lethal attacker on the fly and an underrated passer as well. Despite his average size, Konecny plays a physical game and relies on contact to open up space for himself. Will Konecny be able to withstand that relied upon physicality at the next level to play his style of game? That’s yet to be determined.

19. Evgeny Svechnikov, RW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)

Next to his draft peers, Svechnikov appears to be competing in a man-like frame – possessing both advantageous strength and power. He’s produced impressive QMJHL rookie numbers and it’s not a surprise given his silky smooth puck skills. Svechnikov’s puck handling is particularly impressive in tight quarters where he dangles through legs and sticks with ease. His best quality is adaptability, knowing when to use his power game versus his skilled game. This two-way attacking ability only makes Svechnikov a more attractive prospect.

20. Daniel Sprong, RW, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

Born in the Netherlands, Daniel Sprong has the dynamism that teams want in a top-line prospect. He’s capable of flashing one-on-one attacking ability with his slick puck skills and then unleashing a deceptively quick shot. Unfortunately, Sprong has struggled to put all of these skills together on a consistent basis. Sprong is a confident player but has been caught trying to individually carry the team’s offensive attack at times as well. Despite being a good skater, Sprong has started to become a perimeter player, especially against tough checking defenses. He owns the skills to be a Top 15 selection and that could happen if he can mature his game.

21. Colin White, C, U18 USA NTDP (USHL)

Staying out of the infirmary has been Colin White’s biggest challenge this season (battled mono to start the season) but his all-around package will certainly draw NHL suitors early. A high-character player with blue-collar determination and the hockey sense to excel on both ends of the puck, White has the makings of an impact top-nine playmaking forward. His anticipation and awareness through 200-feet of ice earns him big minutes and it’ll be those skills that scouts are enamoured with.

Fifth Tier

22. Brock Boeser, RW, Waterloo (USHL)

The Minnesotan has emerged as one of the best American draft eligible scorers racking up 23 goals with the Waterloo Blackhawks. Boeser is an opportunistic shooter who doesn’t need much time to unleash a shot with pin-point accuracy. Teams looking to add goals (who isn’t?) and a player with a good two-way work ethic, should move Boeser up their rankings.

23. Thomas Chabot, LD, Saint John (QMJHL)

An elite skater, one of the draft’s best, Thomas Chabot uses his best skill set to drive the puck up ice and to escape pressure defensively. He’s shown to be a willing combatant in loose-puck battles but can be overmatched at times, which shouldn’t be an issue longterm as he bulks up. Chabot is a high-upside defenseman who’s just starting to scratch the surface and a potential riser on the blueline.

24. Jakub Zboril, LD, Saint John (QMJHL)

Broke out at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka tournament, Czech defenseman Jakub Zboril has the makings of an offensive defenseman. He is a creative passer and displays inspiring four-way mobility offering good offensive zone upside. Zboril has struggled with his game-to-game consistency and will need to continue to improve on his defensive play but he mixes his offensive tools and physicality too well to not be considered a first round talent.

25.Jansen Harkins, LC, Prince George (WHL)

Highly competitive pivot who is always moving his feet wreaking havoc for opposing defenders. Harkins projects as a #2 or 3 energy centerman at the next level, carving out a role as a two-way all-situations forward. He’s an adept puckhandler at top speed and owns good vision as a playmaker. Reminescent of a younger Marcus Kruger.

26. Brandon Carlo, RD, Tri City (WHL)

Carlo had a bit of a coming-out-party at the WJC logging big minutes on USA’s young blueline. Opportunities to draft 6-foot-5 defensive defensemen with good mobility do not come around often so Carlo should be an attractive prospect as the June draft rolls around. He blends suffocating defensive skills with hard-nosed physicality and, as a bonus, his offensive tools are starting to emerge too.

27. Jens Lööke, RW, Brynäs (SHL)

Competing against men in Sweden’s top league, Lööke has not looked out of place and his slowly increasing minutes reflect his rookie success. As an underager on Sweden’s WJC squad, Lööke flashed some of his promising offensive abilities and was trusted by Rikard Grönberg during critical game moments, scoring three goals in seven games. Lööke has good wheels and competes at a high intensity, showcasing creative passing and an element of elusiveness. The young Swede is an intriguing prospect with good longterm upside.

28. Paul Bittner, LW, Portland (WHL)

Far from a complete package, it’s Bittner’s raw tools that warrant a high ranking. He’s a good skater given his rangy frame and at his best when playing to his strengths, which are battling along the boards and using a chip-and-chase attacking game. He displays above-average hockey sense and is a tenacious forecheck who wields a quick stick capable of forcing turnovers. He’ll forge out an NHL role if he can learn to exploit his best attributes - size, strength and a great shot.

29. Jake DeBrusk, LW, Swift Current (WHL)

Son of former NHL tough guy, Louie DeBrusk, Jake has already smashed his freshman totals midway through the WHL schedule. DeBrusk is a clever attacker who relies on great positioning and quick clever puck movement to maximize possession time with his linemates. He has a great knack for timing passes, shots and arrivals into scoring areas and capitalizing on them instantly. Scouts will love his passion and his complete game, featuring above-average offensive skills, should ensure him a solid NHL career.

30. Nicolas Roy, RC, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Drafted 1^st overall at the 2013 QMJHL draft, Nicolas Roy was an absolute force at the Under-17 tournament for Quebec looking like a bonafid number one centerman. More recently, Roy has played more as a two-way pivot, demonstrating high levels of hockey sense, a determined 200-foot pursuit and the size and power to wear down opposing teams. His production has been all over the map but that could also be chalked up to Chicoutimi’s league worst goals for totals. Whether you consider Roy a 1^st line player or two-way presence in the top-nine, he holds good value as a future NHLer.

31. Mitchell Vande Sompel, LD, Oshawa (OHL)
32. Anthony Beauvillier, LW, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
33. Thomas Novak, LC, Waterloo (USHL)
34. Alexander Dergachev, RW, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (RUS-MHL)
35. Sebastian Aho, RW, Karpat (FIN)
36. Denis Yan, LW, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
37. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, RC, Omaha (USHL)
38. Filip Ahl, LW, HV71-J20 (SWE)
39. Jesper Lindgren, RD, Modo J20 (USHL)
40. Nicolas Meloche, RD, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
41. Denis Guryanov, RW, Ladia Togliatti (RUS-MHL)
42. Ryan Pilon, LD, Brandon (WHL)
43. Jacob Larsson, LD, Frolunda (SWE)
44. Jonas Siegenthaler, LD, ZSC Lions (NLA)
45. Nikita Korostelev, RW, Sarnia (OHL)
46. Filip Chlapik, LC, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
47. Parker Wotherspoon, LD, Tri-City (WHL)
48. Alexandre Carrier, LD, Gatineau (QMJHL)
49. Adam Musil, RW/C, Red Deer (WHL)
50. Jordan Greenway, LW, U18 USA NTDP (USHL)
51. Erik Cernak, RD, Kosice (SVK)
52. Michael Spacek, RC, Pardubice (CZE)
53. Gabriel Carlsson, LD, Linkoping (SWE)
54. Roope Hintz, LW, Ilves Tampere (FIN)
55. David Kase, LC/LW, Chomutov (CZE)
56. Matthew Spencer, RD, Peterborough (OHL)
57. Ryan Gropp, LW, Seattle (WHL)
58. Glenn Gawdin, C, Swift Current (WHL)
59. Zach Senyshyn, RW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
60. Blake Speers, RW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
61. Kyle Capobianco, LD, Sudbury (OHL)
62. Denis Malgin, RC, ZSC (Switzerland-NLA)
63. Dmytro Timashov, LW, Quebec (QMJHL)
64. Andrew Mangiapane, LW, Barrie (OHL)*
65. Mackenzie Blackwood, G, Barrie (OHL)
66. Jesse Gabrielle, LW, Regina (WHL)
67. Travis Dermott, D, Erie (OHL)
68. Christian Fischer, RC, U18 USA NTDP (USHL)
69. Sebastian Aho, LD, Farjestad (SWE-SHL)
70. Guillaume Brisebois, LD, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
71. Callum Booth, G, Quebec (QMJHL)
72. Noah Juulsen, RD, Everett (WHL)
73. Rasmus Andersson, RD, Barrie (OHL)
74. Graham Knott, LW, Niagara (OHL)
75. Vince Dunn, LD, Niagara (OHL)

Be sure to check back to our Youngblood section to view the upcoming mock draft for the 2015 NHL draft.

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