Jere Lassila – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: 2026 European Free Agent Frenzy – 47 Players you may see with an NHL franchise next season

Chapin Landvogt — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:17:08 +0000

There was a time when almost every spring brought with it a free agent name or two out of Europe that created a bit of a bidding war among interested NHL teams. This aspect of springtime business has calmed down in recent years as the rate of regular NHLers to be found has also cooled down, perhaps considerably. The Panarins of the world have been few and far between, even if KHLers usually head the list of desirables. The New York Islanders gobbled up two respective top names coming out of that league in the offseasons of 2024 and 2025, with the results having been less than satisfactory to date.

2024 target Maxim Tsyplakov put in a fairly solid 10-25-35 statline in his first NHL season but had just one point in 25 outings for the Islanders this season before being unceremoniously traded to the New Jersey Devils in what was part of an Ondrej Palat salary dump, only to find himself waived by the Devils about a dozen games later. An undersized Maxim Shabanov was the most heavily targeted prize last spring and ultimately made his way to Long Island but has found himself scratched of late more often than not, even if his 4-12-16 statline over 42 games did include some plays of brilliance that indicated there’s probably more in the tank.

Interestingly, the Tampa Bay Lightning went free agent hunting in Europe last spring and made several signings, with current defenseman Charle-Édouard D’Astous having become the most successful of last year’s crop. He not only has 27 points this season but has regularly chalked up over 18 minutes of TOI throughout the season, serving as the prime example of what teams hope to get when they go this route. Two years ago, the Dallas Stars added 22-year old forward Arttu Hyry to their program, who went on to have a 49-point rookie AHL season and has gotten into 13 NHL games this season as lower line depth.

Each are an attest to what many teams hope to find when they chance it on a low-key signing of a player enjoying success in Europe’s top leagues.

What we’re seeing this spring is that the various European leagues are lacking in big must-have free agent names but are well represented in providing players whom a number of teams would appear interested in adding to their farm systems. Furthermore, a number of available KHL players are not only in their mid-20s but just happen to be free agents in Russia as well, a concern that always precludes some of the statistically most successful players from being market grabs each spring. No less than five forwards have excelled this season and find themselves open to go to whoever they see the best opportunity with, be it in North America or the KHL.

Likewise, leagues such as the SHL, Liiga, NL, and DEL just happen to have the odd U25 player or two available who very much look like worthy ELC candidates, even if none appears close to being an immediate homerun swing of any sort.

With this in mind, we have little doubt that a number of the following players - many of whom were draft topics at one point or have come out of nowhere in recent years - will land themselves a contract with an NHL team and their chances of doing so will be considerably better if they are open to multiyear two-way contracts for next season. As always, the NHL season is a long one with injuries always playing a role, so there’s plenty of reasons for players to pine for the kinds of opportunities that, for example, fell into Pavol Regenda’s lap this past season.

MOST LIKELY TO BE SIGNED THIS SPRING OR OFFSEASON

Vitali Pinchuk (BLR) - C - 24 - 6-foot-3, 203 pounds. - KHL

The well-built former Kingston Frontenac is the cream of the crop for this spring’s European free agents. There were things scouts liked back in the 19-20 season, but it never led to a drafting, and he was quick to return to Belarus (granted, it was the pandemic), where he got a lick of the KHL the next season. Now he’s wrapping up his fourth straight season of KHL play and what a season it’s been, seeing him finish sixth overall in league scoring (66 points) and third overall in goals scored (31). He also put up a +21 rating. Already last season, his 43 points raised a good number of eyebrows and had teams very curious about this season, knowing he was scheduled to become a free agent this spring. He’s in full playoff mode now with three points in an initial round sweep of Dynamo Moscow. It is felt that he should be NHL-ready right off the bat, capable of a heavy game and nifty stickwork. There was a bit more hoopla about Tsyplakov and Shabanov in recent years, but Pinchuk may have the kind of overall game that’ll make him a more versatile NHL option.

Danil Aimurzin (RUS) - C - 23 - 6-foot-0, 180 pounds. - KHL

Not the biggest, fastest, or slickest player out there, Aimurzin nonetheless is very solid on his skates, makes a husky impression, and, well, constantly brings the puck to the goal. And if he’s not doing it, he’s heading to the net to make himself a pass option or pounce on rebounds. There’s a solid offensive orientation to his game, featuring strong patience with the puck, and he plays in a manner that makes it feel like he doesn’t sense stress. Although very different in the highlights department from a player like Maxim Shabanov the year before, Aimurzin is still fairly young and has a puck-protection style that is easily imaginable on North American ice. Truth be told, he’s coming off his worst regular season (14-29-43 and -7) in several years but is only now truly a free agent topic due to his current contract concluding this spring. His 57 points last season (including 31 goals) would have made him a likely signing last summer, so teams that were interested then are surely going to continue being in the hunt. For what it’s worth, his Cherepovets team features two draft picks from both Carolina and Pittsburgh.

260108 Skellefteås Pontus Johansson under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Skellefteå och HV71 den 8 januari 2026 i Skellefteå.
Foto: Johan Löf / BILDBYRÅN / COP 230 / JH0083

Pontus Johansson (SWE) - LHD - 24 - 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. - SHL

A slick, mobile defenseman whose deep knee crouch and long, straight back are reminiscent of former Blackhawk and Coyote Niklas Hjalmarsson, Johansson is currently suiting up for playoff hockey in his fifth season of SHL hockey, having literally exploded onto the scene this season after four relatively anonymous seasons of SHL play. His six goals in 51 games are as many as the past four seasons combined while his 25 points and +15 far outweigh anything he’s done before. That he’s often chewed up over 20 minutes of TOI per game only goes to show how much his role has grown for an absolute championship contender this year, not surprising in light of Skelleftea’s regular ability to develop future NHL talent. Pontus’ age is just right to take the next step, and his all-round play should be making him an attractive target for teams looking for a wide variety of defensive depth options.

Nick Malik

Nick Malik (CZE) - G - 23 - 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. - CZE

It wasn’t too long ago that the US-born Czech goaltender was a Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick selected as a 20-year-old after a strong season as a starter for Kookoo of the Finnish Liiga. He continued to be a starter there in the years thereafter, but always with a losing record and numerical statistics that didn’t inspire Tampa to sign him on time to retain his rights. In the past two years, he’s taken his act back home to Plzen, where he’s served as the starter for a regular playoff contestant, putting up topflight stats in that league each year. At the moment, his team looks poised to easily get to the second round of the playoffs, naturally with Malik in net, so a signing will have to wait a few weeks. Alas, when a goaltender of this age in a pro league carries his team to the tune of a 25-14 record with six shutouts, a 1.65 GAA, and a .929 save percentage in a whopping 41 starts, he can become a hot topic for NHL teams seeking viable goaltending depth.

Daniil Gutik (RUS) - LW - 24 - 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. - KHL

Had Gutik been available last offseason, it’s hard to imagine that he’d not have been gobbled up. He was 23 and coming off a total of 28 goals and 57 points. He has size, can aptly get from point A to B, and has actually been more noticeable as a playmaker to that point, until he started putting pucks in the net with regularity. This season didn’t kick off as promising with an Admiral Vladivostok team that never really competed, but a midseason trade to Spartak Moscow saw him pick things up again, collecting 19 points in 21 games and now having scored two goals in three playoff games to date. All in all, he finished 20-27-47 in 65 games and has a total package that should lead to a couple of suitors, again fully aware of his current contractual status as an unrestricted KHL free agent. The assumption will be that he’d need some time in the AHL to gain his bearings in North America.

Skellefteås Rickard Hugg
Foto: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN

Rickard Hugg (SWE) - C/W - 27 - 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. - SHL

After captaining the Kitchener Rangers in the 18-19 season and scoring at over a PPG pace that year, some were surprised that Hugg didn’t latch on to an NHL organization. In light of his skating style and average size, it shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise. He then immediately headed back to his home region in Sweden and went pro with Skelleftea, playing two decent seasons on a lower line before becoming a top six mainstay. Over his last four seasons, he’s managed to put up between 40-50 points every year, playoffs included. However, as this year’s playoffs get underway, Hugg is coming off a career best 56 regular season points and a +13 rating, having established himself as a serious threat in every game and seen in the SHL as one of the top 5-10 forwards whatsoever. He’s simply hard to get the puck from and combines a hounding playing style with some very nifty mitts and a strong wrister. The feeling is that he can immediately jump onto an NHL roster and contend for a third line spot, especially in light of his cycling abilities and net-area instincts.

Simon Johansson (SWE) - RHD - 26 - 6-foot-2, 194 pounds. - Liiga

Johansson is a known commodity who, as a 2018 5th rounder, joined the Wild organization for two solid, but unspectacular AHL seasons not too long ago and actually has a contract for Kloten of the NL in the bag for next season. However, he’s coming off a monster season in the Finnish Liiga in which he accounted for 19-32-51 and a +16 over 58 games, regularly logging app. 20 minutes of ice time every night. This not only meant he was the league’s top scoring defenseman but 14th overall in league scoring. If there’s any hope on his behalf of giving the NHL another shot, now wouldn’t be the worst time. He has never been a defensive beast but has savvy transitional skills and comes with strong bloodlines (cousin to Alex Winnberg and brother to Anton and Victor, both drafted). Perhaps accompanying one of the pups to their respective AHL club next season would make for a good storyline.

SHOT IN NORTH AMERICA BECKONS!?

Matyas Filip (CZE) - 25 - C - 5-foot-11, 187 pounds. - CZE

Filip is just the type of unassuming player who could see himself in a Radek Faksa or Zemgus Girgensons role at the NHL level within a few years’ time if he plays his cards right. Having shown steady play as a lower line center for years now, Filip took a step towards being one of the Czech league’s most important two-way players. With 13 goals, 26 points, and a +11 in 46 regular season games as well as another 3 points and +4 in 7 playoff games, he’s assuming the middle six forward role to a tee for his Plzen club in this career year, but the stats only tell part of the story for a player who thinks team-first and is a go-to must when the defensive chips are on the line. Skating and average size is there for a player who could very well be a solid lower line option after a season of AHL preparation.

Tobias Normann (NOR) - 24 - G - 6-foot-1, 187 pounds. - SHL

Normann spent last season, his first in the SHL, as famed Frölunda’s 1B starter. This season, he made his way to being the team’s 1A. Ultimately, his season ended on April 2nd against Lulea with a 2-3 record and a sparkling 1.33 GAA and .921 save percentage, something his stacked club couldn’t make use of. Alas, Normann’s regular season saw a number of fantastic performances including three shutouts in 24 appearances. Furthermore, his 1.68 GAA and .923 save percentage led the entire SHL in both categories, even if his 14-10 record was good, but pedestrian for a club that had heavy title ambitions. Originally from Norway, Normann has extensive pro experience from teenage years back home and used a strong 23-24 season in the HockeyAllsvenskan to jump up to the SHL last year. He also stood in goal for Team Norway three times at the Men’s WC last spring, pitching a shutout and 2.63 GAA along the way. We expect him in net in Switzerland this spring as well, likely as his nation’s starter. The time is ripe for him to take a next step if he should have any NHL ambitions, even if Frölunda would love to see him finish off his contract there, which first expires after the 28/29 season.

Patrik Puistola (FIN) - 25 - RW/LW - 6-foot-0, 181 pounds. - SHL

It’s hard to say if the former Carolina Hurricanes draft pick could one day be a true NHL option, but it is clear that he’s not only overcome a few skating issues from his earlier years but has spent the past four seasons establishing himself as a top producer in both the SHL and Liiga, meaning there’s little doubt he’d at least contribute to an AHL line-up right off the bat. Anyone seeing him the past two seasons has noticed a player who is very keen on generating high octane opportunities and even found more of a playmaker gene than initially thought, seeing as how he was originally drafted as a gunner off the wing, thanks greatly to being a Mestis-league goalscorer in his draft year and then a bit of a sniper at ensuing U18 Worlds and WJC tournaments. Agile and slick with his turns in the corner, Puistola is not a speedster and certainly not one to be found deeply involved in rough stuff. It definitely feels like a team playing with house money would best be served by bringing him in and seeing how much of an option he turns himself into after he gets a bit of AHL play under his belt.

Theo Rochette (SUI/CAN) - 24 - C/LW - 5-foot-11, 172 pounds. - Swiss NL

A former Memorial Cup winner, Rochette first turned 24 in February and has taken his steady development to a new level this season, serving as perhaps the NL’s top U25 player whatsoever. After regular seasons of 30 and then 31 points the past two years, he jumped to 22 goals and 43 points this past season and just exited the playoffs in an exciting seven-game series, pitching in with seven points along the way. The author of 317 points in 271 career QMJHL games, it was felt Rochette may sign a contract last summer after a spring to remember featuring 11 goals and 17 points in 19 playoff games. When one combines his continued growth as a point collector with what’s been an uncanny ability to play meaningful hockey every spring - and constantly fantastic +/- stats to boot -, it should be a foregone conclusion that an NHL team will look to give him a shot as soon as this summer.

Sandro Schmid (SUI) - C/RW - 25 - 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. - Swiss NL

No relation to Swiss NHL goaltender Akira Schmid, the former Malmö Redhawk junior player is coming off his seventh straight NL season, and it has been his finest by a country mile, turning into a top league playmaker with a career year of 10-28-38 over 52 games. Actually, it’s been a longer stretch of fine play for Schmid who was not only a part of Switzerland’s silver-medal-winning WC squad last spring but contributed a 3-4-7 statline in the process. All this also led to him being at this winter’s Olympics where he provided a strong Swiss club with some feisty 3rd line play and intelligent corner work. And this is where it gets interesting because he’s always been capable of providing energy and conducting yeoman work but now it’s turning into more dangerous creation of offensive opportunities off the forecheck. This development would indicate there’s sound logic in believing he can step right onto an NHL checking line without missing a beat. Another strong WC performance this spring - a tournament taking place in his native Switzerland - might be all we need to see before he signs an ELC.

Axel Sundberg (SWE) - RW/LW - 27 - 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. - SHL

Last year, we identified Sundberg as a heavy-built winger who had come out of nowhere to put himself on the map of system depth options. With skating deficiencies that nonetheless look like they’d be little problem on smaller ice surfaces, Sundberg went from being a lower level nobody to a 2nd line SHLer last season. Now somewhat fully developed, he’s taken it all a bit further this spring, jumping from 25 to 34 points and engraving himself on the left face-off circle of the power play. There’s a physical dimension to his game and he uses his body adeptly to not only protect the puck, but ward off oncoming attackers. Sure, he’s come a long way in a short period of time while quickly heading towards his late 20s but it’s very easy to picture him wreaking some havoc on a North American ice surface. We’ll soon find out if an NHL team feels the same way.

JUST GETTING OUT OF THEIR DIAPERS

Hugo Fransson (SWE) - LHD - 21 - 6-foot-0, 176 pounds. - SHL

If he were one year younger, we’d have little doubt that Fransson would be an overage draftee this summer. Despite two straight seasons of SHL play with at least 27 contests per season, rounded out by some decent HockeyAllsvenskan play, no-one foresaw the kind of breakout season he enjoyed this year, albeit for an SHL team that needed to punch its SHL ticket for a 3rd straight year in the relegation round series. Finishing off with 11-16-27 numbers over 56 games, Fransson has been the discovery of the season in the SHL and everyone’s curious to see if that’ll pocket him an ELC, especially in light of how many smaller, mobile defensemen have made their way to the NHL in recent years. At his age, it would be akin to a team signing a draft pick.

Santeri Huovila (FIN) - LW - 21 - 6-foot-0, 172 pounds. - Liiga

After putting up a 9-33-42 statline in 49 games as a Liiga rookie last year, Huovila managed to tie that output this year with 5-37-42, yet he achieved that in all of 33 games! We understand if you need to blink twice seeing that stat. A 21-year-old undrafted player collecting more than one assist per game is something you quite frankly do not see in many established pro leagues, much less one featuring former NHLers and current NHL draftees. There is of course a reason for doubt, as he not only is a lightweight out on the ice but doesn’t have much of a second gear. However, there’s a radar in that head of his and if you’re open and in a scoring position, watch out! You will get the puck. He is incredibly adept at handling the biscuit and quickly distributing it. A team willing to invest in a physically underdeveloped player will add a skillset and player who has started looking underchallenged in the Finnish Liiga.

Adrian Klein (GER) - LHD - 22 - 6-foot-3, 212 pounds. - DEL

There was a time when Klein was just a 16-year-old gangly defenseman who managed to put up 11 points in Germany’s 3rd pro league circuit. It’s not something we see often, so the hope was that he’d make his way to being an NHL topic. Even though he progressed fairly evenly, bit by bit, getting 80 DEL games under his belt between the ages of 17-19, participating in a U18 Worlds and two WJCs, the size and experience combo just wasn’t enticing enough to overcome some mobility and hockey IQ issues and see him get drafted. What has happened since is that he’s become a DEL regular and after two seasons of being his team’s # 6/7 defenseman, he established himself as a clear-cut top four this past season, making incredible use of his size as a shot and pass blocker while regularly muscling out opponents along the boards and in front of the net. In addition, he put in a career year statistically with five goals, 16 points, and a+10 rating over 51 games heading into the playoffs. We’d love to see him play for Germany at the men’s WC and have to think there’s an NHL team out there that knows he’s ready for a bigger test - and may not want to wait to enter what would likely become a bidding war if he ups the ante once again next season.

Jere Lassila (FIN) - C - 22 - 5-foot-10, 176 pounds. - Liiga

There are those out there in the scouting community who wonder how players like Lassila slip through the cracks come draft day. Once the captain of Finland’s U18 entry (8 points in 6 games) and then two years later its WJC entry (8 points in 7 games), Lassila is basically a coach’s dream. He’s a hound out there who plays with intensity and simply understands where he needs to be and what he needs to be doing in situations in all three zones. He’s seen regular Liiga action for four straight years now, seeing his point production increase from 3 to 26 to 35 to now 58 points. Indeed, a 20-38-58 and +4 statline in 60 games for a non-playoff team is highly impressive for a player who just turned 22 at the end of March. Seeing as how his game is very much a two-way affair, it’s hard to imagine there won’t be an NHL team ready to bring him in and start shaping him for a future bottom nine role at the NHL level. There was a time when he was just felt to be downright small, but his actual size isn’t unheard of at the NHL level.

Vasili Machulin (RUS) - LHD - 23 - 6-foot-4, 201 pounds. - KHL

A no frills defenseman with great size, Machulin plays an unspectacular all-round game in which he has no hesitation to use his body in a variety of ways. Playing for a weaker Sochi team for several seasons now, Machulin racks up the TOI, often getting upwards of 21 minutes per contest, seeing use in just about every situation, save for the power play. There’s little risk in his game and yet it always looks like there’s a bit more that could be squeezed out under the right circumstances. He nonetheless has 19 and 14 points to show for himself the past two seasons. For teams that keep their eyes open for low-risk, physical additions such as an Artyom Zub or Ilya Lyubushkin, for example, Machulin could be right up their alley. He is well-schooled and now quite KHL-experienced for a player who hasn’t yet turned 24.

Janne Naukkarinen (FIN) - C/W - 22 - 6-foot-2, 192 pounds. - Liiga

The 23-24 season was Naukkarinen’s first full season of Liiga play (20 points) and also saw him get in some reps at the WJC where he collected two assists. This wasn’t enough to get drafted as an overager, but he continued to keep eyebrows raised with a decent 24-25 season that didn’t see any real progress pointwise (18 in total) yet a continued Liiga role as a third line center with five points over 21 playoff games to boot. This year saw him in a similar role but with a good bit more production, delivering 24 points and cutting down his penalty minutes. The skating is anything but polished yet he’s a big body with a solid slate of pro experience to date and an offensive game that keeps showing flashes of being deserving of more opportunity. Could that come in the AHL next year?

Nestor Noiva (FIN) - RW - 22 - 6-foot-0, 183 pounds. - Liiga

Despite strong U18 and U20 league stats, Noiva has only represented his nation in international friendly play and not at any of the major tournaments. However, he did work his way into a regular shift and 25 points last season as a Liiga rookie and there was no sophomore slump this year, as Noiva put up 12-24-36 and +5 regular season numbers, which he impressively improved on with 7 points in a 5-game first round playoff victory over Kiekoo-Espoo. His importance to his Assat team can’t be overstated as he regularly logs ca. 19 minutes of TOI per game and is coming off a recent 38-minute performance in a game that stretched over six periods. Should he get signed this offseason, we would say there’s good potential for Noiva to take the same kind of developmental path as recent Dallas Stars signing Arttu Hyry.

Veit Oswald (GER) - LW - 21 - 6-foot-2”, 179 pounds. - DEL

Where to start. After a quiet but interesting draft year with a sneaky good U18 Worlds performance, Oswald really made some noise in his DY+2 (both at the WJC and in DEL play) but didn’t get drafted and then fell off the planet a bit in conjunction with a disjointed Munich team in DY+3, despite having attended the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect camp the summer before. Still 21 right on up into August, Oswald has reset his clock this year, being the most effective U22 player in the DEL and serving as a multifaceted weapon for a Munich team with serious aspirations. Often playing with established ex-AHLers, Oswald has never looked out of place and set career highs of 12-14-26 and a +16 in 38 games before suffering an injury that has kept him out since mid-January. Chances are that his numbers would be even more appealing just now as his team found a bit of a groove right down the stretch. We’re convinced that a team ready to give him an ELC can throw him right into a top nine role in the AHL next season and think of him much like a drafted player with NHL upside moving forward.

Matvei Polyakov (RUS) - RW - 21 - 5-foot-10, 176 pounds. - KHL

Aside from strong MHL statistics the past two seasons for SKA St. Petersburg’s junior club, Polyakov hasn’t popped out as an overage Russian player you risk a pick on. That’s usually reserved for someone who is sticking out in the KHL. Now beyond draftability, the slightly undersized Polyakov decided to use the last year of his current contract to force his way onto St. Petersburg’s roster and simply become the veteran-laden squad’s sixth best scorer with a 16-13-29 statline. Likely a player St. Petersburg fully intends on retaining, signing him now would - age wise - be like investing in a recent European draft pick. Combine this season and the prior high-scoring junior years and well, Polyakov has clearly outplayed a number of Russian forwards who have been drafted this century.

Alexander Smolin (RUS) - G - 22 - 6-foot-2, 168 pounds. - KHL

One of the youngest goalies on the market, Smolin has seen an astronomic rise in his stock in a very short period of time. Only two seasons ago, he was splitting his time between the junior MHL, the second tier VHL, with a bit of KHL hockey sprinkled in between. Then he became a full-time back-up for Metallurg last season, generating all-round solid numbers and a 14-6-2 record. This season saw him split duties and take things to another level. A 23-8-2 record was accompanied by a 2.33 GAA and .915 save percentage, stats that are fine if not lights out in the KHL. He has kicked off the playoffs with three straight victories and a 1.00 GAA and .947 save percentage. There are Gagarin Cup ambitions here, so we’ll see where Smolin is at when all is said and done, but there’s no doubt the age/performance ratio is very enticing.

Jimi Suomi (FIN) - LHD - 23 - 5-foot-11, 174 pounds. - Liiga

Always known as a mobile and agile skater, Suomi was a known commodity (although a good bit smaller) in his draft year, when he put up four assists at the U18 Worlds. He followed that with 32 games and six points in Liiga play in his DY+1. Over the years, he kept gaining experience and after two straight seasons of regular deployment in Finland’s best pro league, he enjoyed a bit of a breakthrough this season with 11 goals, 31 points, and a +13 in 53 games. Suomi has a shot and has a real knack of avoiding the rough stuff when players come hunting for him. If he doesn’t make his way to North America, the feeling is we’ll see him in the SHL next season.

Jiri Tichacek (CZE) - LHD - 23 - 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. - Liiga

Yes, there’s a bit of a size issue here. We always knew that no matter what he achieved, that size wasn’t what you ideally want to use a draft pick on. He could be another Jared Spurgeon, but teams don’t make a habit of selecting that in advance. Still, Tichacek keeps arousing interest. He made the Czech Olympic team (alas, only getting ca. 10 minutes of ice time all tourney long) but more importantly, he took his gig to Finland after an impressive 24-25 season in the Czech Republic and actually took a little step in the process. Like in 24-25, he accumulated 31 points, doing so in two fewer games than the year before. He also improved by seven points in the +/- department. The question is if there’s a team out there who can hand him the power play blueliner job at the AHL level next season? If there is, there could be grounds for finding out if Tichacek could just be another Spurgeon.

Yegor Vinogradov (RUS) - C/RW - 22 - 6-foot-3, 203 pounds - KHL

The well-built forward who hasn’t exactly been fleet-of-foot in recent years took the next step in a major way this season. After three seasons of subtle KHL introduction to the tune of 17, 13, and 16 points, Yegor received a whole new role while suddenly displaying an almost newfound will to succeed, chiming in with 23-31-54 and +6 totals in 67 regular season games while having since chipped in 3 points in his team’s 4-1 first round playoff victory over Cherepovets. The author of a number of smooth moves and slick passes throughout the season, he did indicate a breakout might be coming when he played part of last season in Russia’s second tier pro league, the VHL, putting 23 points in 21 games and adding another 18 in 19 playoff games, 10 of which were goals. Whereas a team could worry about how much this season was a one-and-done productionwise, it was his 4th season of KHL play and a look at the production itself would indicate that he’s only just begun to realize what he’s capable of. Should his next contract be a KHL contract, rest assured that it’ll be a long one, so now would be the time to strike if you believe in his possibilities.

IS THE TIME FINALLY RIPE?

Boris Blank (GER) - LW/C - 24 - 6-foot-0, 187 pounds. - DEL

Already having completed six full seasons of DEL play, the former WJC participant was a draft topic for several years but simply didn’t display the overall speed to compensate for other holes in his game. This season, he has exploded onto the scene with 19-28-47 numbers in 52 games, becoming a clear-cut go-to offensive player. Plenty in the scene feel it’s time for him to get a WC call as well for Germany, but that is still up in the air. What is clear is that he has shown flashes for years now, but his skating has gotten to a point where it shouldn’t prohibit an international career. The question now is if a team sees him as a player who is simply a year of AHL play away from being an NHL option. His stats certainly trump other U25 players who’ve signed ELCs in recent years and he made a very mature impression this year, taking the bull by the horns for a club that needed him to score.

Max Franzreb (GER) - G - 29 - 6-foot-0, 198 pounds. - DEL

Actually smaller than he appears on the ice, Franzreb has been a goalie who has looked mentally stronger than most you’ll see around Europe for a number of years now, often scratching the surface of what seems to be untapped potential. This winter, he took over the reins as the 1A in net for yearly contender Adler Mannheim and has put in his best ever season, not only putting up a 23-11 record, but finishing third in GAA (2.04) and SV% (.921). He was also on the Olympic team and faced the US in a game where he put up a valiant effort for the first and final 20 minutes of play. He’s definitely a bit old to be an NHL option, but a strong playoff push (4-1 record in a first round victory) might be the cherry on top for a team looking to add a sneaky 3rd option for its goalie rotation next fall. His current coach and GM is former NHL official Dallas Eakins.

Leon Hüttl (GER) - RHD - 25 - 6-foot-0, 180 pounds. - DEL

Another player who has been seen at the men’s WC in recent years, Hüttl was a strong candidate for the Olympic team but the coaching staff went in another direction. His playoffs are about to begin and we’re thinking last spring’s decent WC performance should see him there again this year, but what we don’t have any doubt about is his mobility, hockey IQ, and overall understanding of how to push the game forward up the ice. He’s got another 25+ points (28 to date) but his +24 ties a career high and has him 7th overall in the league. He’s not the biggest player around and not a speed demon either, but he’s a Brian Rafalski of sorts by DEL standards and we’ve wondered what an NHL organization could make of him, considering he has a pure winner’s attitude and is a highly respected competitor in the DEL.

Yaroslav Likhachyov (RUS) - 24 - LW - 5-foot-11, 174 pounds. - KHL

He played three seasons of hockey in the QMJHL and was never drafted, with his final season coming during the pandemic. After two years of decent youngster production in the KHL, he kind of fell off the map last season with just 10 goals and 14 points. Little was expected this season, but in the final year of his KHL contract, he went out and blew away all previous highs with 22 goals and 39 points in 59 games. He was always a good player on the move with some solid hands and now it’s come to fruition. What is unclear is his exact contractual status as he played on loan with an option this season. If he feels he’s on the cusp of some big KHL numbers heading into next season, it may be worth it to ink a one-year KHL deal and see what next spring brings. But if Lokomotiv is his only option for next season should he stay in Russia, where he was stunted in the 24-25 season, he may feel the time is right to give North America another go.

Nick Olesen (DEN) - C/W - 30 - 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. - CZE

For sure, you’ll rarely see a player this old listed in this or any list of possible European free agents, but Olesen has something cooking recently that some team out there definitely has on its radar. Long a player who simply made noise in his native Denmark or in Sweden’s lower leagues, Olesen eventually made it to the SHL and played a minimal middle six role for 3 seasons, once even potting 13 goals. Then he took his act to the Czech Republic, where he had his best season as a pro and something went “click”. Last spring, a Team Denmark featuring Nikolaj Ehlers as its sole NHL player had a magical run in a tournament it hosted. A key in that run was Olesen, who whipped up 12 points in 10 games. He then blew all previous highs out of the water this season with 45 points in 51 regular season games for Ceske Budjevice, also participating in the Olympics along the way, where he led Denmark in scoring with 4-1-5 in four games. Quite clever around the net and in making use of time and space, while also fleet of foot, one has to wonder if he’s just the good old fashioned case of a very, very late bloomer. In any case, his most recent stats in conjunction with his above-average international performances have raised eyebrows and one should never underestimate how hungry a player from a smaller hockey nation like Denmark could be if the opportunity comes along.

Eugen Rabcan (SVK) - G - 24 - 6-foot-3, 196 pounds. - SVK

In his third season of regular top league play in Slovakia, Rabcan became an absolute minute-muncher for a run of the mill team that is in the midst of an interesting playoff battle at this time, one Rabcan has a 3-3 record in. All in all, Rabcan started 40 regular season games and put up a 20-20 record with a 2.52 GAA and strong .921 save percentage. There is talk of Rabcan having a good shot at being part of the country’s WC outfit (2-0 with a 1.49 GAA in several international outings this winter) and seeing as how he’s represented by an agency with a heavy emphasis on North America, Rabcan’s path to an NHL organization could be just a few contractual autographs away.

Colin Ugbekile (GER) - LHD - 26 - 6-foot-2, 198 pounds. - DEL

There were some who felt Ugbekile should have been on the Olympic team. It didn’t happen and we’ll be curious to see if he is one of the final cuts for the men’s WC or keeps strutting his stuff in Switzerland. Fact is, it’s likely now or never for the former USHLer who has clearly established himself as one of the top two-way defensemen and power play quarterbacks in the DEL, coming off a career season with nine goals, 43 points, and a +10 rating for a team that once again came up short of the playoffs. He’s got the size and wheels to give the AHL the good ol’ college try, and his game is definitely one that can thrive in a program that emphasizes the transition. But it’s easy to think that if an NHL contract isn’t offered this summer, that might be all she wrote for a player who’d spend the next 10 years likely being one of the DEL top five German defensemen on a yearly basis.

Libor Zabransky (CZE) - RHD - 25 - 6-foot-0, 203 pounds. - CZE

You look at Zabransky’s size and shot, and his plethora of WHL experience as well as his regular appearance for his native Czech Republic on the international stage (albeit, without any WC performances), and you have to wonder how come no-one has taken a flyer on him to see what he can do at the pro level in North America. Let there be no doubt that there have always been warts in his game, but he’s tickled scouts’ fancy here and there to keep his name in the notebooks. Now, after six seasons of pro play, with four of them having been in a bottom four role in the Finnish Liiga, Zabransky has cashed in his maturity cheque and set Czech league bluelines on fire to the tune of 18 goals this season. Considering he had never had more than seven in any given season, and that was five years ago, teams will have to determine if it’s just one-off or if Zabransky has reached the potential he once long hinted at.

YOU DON’T KNOW HIM, BUT DON’T BE SURPRISED IF HE GETS SIGNED

Ruslan Abrosimov (RUS) - C - 24 - 5-foot-10, 181 pounds. - KHL

A former MHL captain and top scorer, Abrosimov put in three straight seasons of KHL play and improvement before exploding this season to the tune of 24 goals, 48 points, and a +15 in 62 games, wearing an “A” on his chest while at it. If there are any NHL aspirations, the timing is just right for a player whose game is all about production. Slightly below average size doesn’t have to be an issue here as Abrosimov is adept at avoiding physical contact.

Vasily Atanosov (RUS) - RW/C - 23 - 5-foot-11, 160 pounds. - KHL

A strong identifier of opportunities and a player who knows how to read the room on the rush, Atanosov has done nothing but produce in recent years. Although he came in shy of the 40 points he had for Torpedo in their strong 23-24 season, Atanosov has deposited 21 shots in the net this year (36 points) and is finally a contractual free agent. There’s skill and vision here, and you never know how long the next KHL contract will be. He has consistently scored in the KHL for three straight seasons, so teams know what he is, but also that he’s quite a lightweight.

Tim Barkemo (SWE) - LHD - 21 - 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. - HockeyAllsvenskan

We’ll preface this by mentioning that you rarely see a Swedish UFA sign an ELC coming out of the second tier HockeyAllsvenskan. Then again, Barkemo had several solid U20 league seasons in the Skelleftea organization, even suiting up 13 times for the regular SHL contender. Last season was then his first full introduction to pro play, and he turned himself into a regular. This season, he turned himself into a top two defenseman who a number of SHL clubs are on the hunt for, with Skelleftea likely having the best cards. His 5-17-22 and +21 statline over 50 games is quite impressive for a player his age in a conservative league (scoring wise), but he put up six points in his team’s first round playoff sweep. Most importantly, he regularly sees upwards of 22 minutes of TOI per game. In his most recent playoff contest, he gobbled up 31:13 of ice time. We’re talking about a player that an NHL franchise could really mold quite directly as of next season. Otherwise, he’s clearly SHL-bound.

Maxim Fedotov (RUS) - RHD - 24 - 5-foot-10, 172 pounds. - KHL

That last name should ring a bell because Maxim is indeed Red Wings legend Sergei’s eldest son. The undersized righty shot defender actually had his best KHL season for Torpedo back in the 22-23 season, capped off by seven points in 10 playoff games. After finding lower line roles in the KHL in recent years, he was back in a top four role again this year, which he capped off with 24 points in 52 games, serving as his team’s best all-round defender after Artyom Serikov, who will hit the UFA market next summer. Fedotov now has loads of KHL experience, mostly with bottom-feeders, but without a KHL contract under his belt, the option is there to test his luck in North America and a certain someone may even be able to open a door or two to that opportunity.

Anton Kosolapov (RUS) - LW - 24 - 6-foot-1, 190 pounds. - KHL

Once a player with some good junior numbers, Kosolapov stood out mostly as a bit of a tenacious forechecker who liked to bang bodies. His VHL stats in recent years never really popped and until this season, it looked like he might just end up a minor leaguer in Russia for the long run. Then he got a shot with a new organization (Sibir Novosibirsk) and proceeded to go 17-21-38 and + 7 in 38 games. He’s still playing playoff hockey right now, but he’ll be a KHL free agent this offseason. It won’t be for long though as he’ll have a number of suitors and heck, he might be best served sticking with Sibir. But if an NHL team has seen something it likes, and Kosolapov put some wares on display, now is the time to bring him in, even if the plan would be to give him a year of AHL hockey and hope for the best.

Lucas Lagerberg Hoen (SWE) - LHD - 21 - 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. - SHL

For the draft gurus among us, you’ll recognize this last name and wonder what’s going on. No worries though, Lucas is just the older brother of Jonas, who is draft eligible this summer. But while Jonas unfortunately missed much of his draft season, Lucas was able to use this season to officially put his name on the map. It wasn’t a fairy tale ride though as Lagerberg Hoen spent some nights getting just 1-2 minutes of ice time and others with 19+, so there was a good bit of up and down in his role. But when all was said and done, he had eight points in 43 games and established himself as a physically adept youngster who skated and competed like an older player. This season came on the heels of two prior years in the HockeyAllsvenskan where he was often entrusted with a healthy dose of ice time. There’s a package here to build on and Lagerberg Hoen looks like the kind of player teams that haven’t drafted much in recent years would be interested in.

Danjo Leonhardt - LW - 23 - 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. - DEL

The stats won’t blow anyone away although his 29 points and +13 in 45 regular season games are career highs for a player who looks to explode in the DEL in coming years, but Leonhardt has long been on our watchlist and checks a number of boxes for teams that appreciate what the Ondrej Palats of the world can offer to an organization. He gets his nose dirty and does a lot of the little things right, making high value decisions all over the ice and being particularly effective around the opponent’s net. He’s been incrementally earning himself a closer look in recent years and it feels bound to come, next summer if not this one.

Aleksi Matinmikko (FIN) - RHD - 26 - 5-foot-11, 181 pounds. - Liiga

Some players just take a bit of time and Matinmikko is now one of those mid-20s European pros who is what he is, and you’ve got to wonder what a shot in North America might lead to. Having never played outside his native Finland, Matinmikko has been tasting Liiga waters since the 19-20 season, but it took a whopping 21-goal, 65-point season in the second tier Mestis to finally get the type of role he’s been auditioning for. Now he’s wrapping up his third year of full-time Liiga play and his 9-25-34 and +30 was clearly his best to date. His size is average and he isn’t the most mobile player around, but he has a bullet of a shot and has gotten incrementally better year after year for four seasons now.

Oleksii Myklukha (UKR) - C - 23 - 5-foot-10”, 176 pounds. - SVK

The former QMJHLer has never really given the scouting community the belief that he, at his size, had enough jam and enough tricks in the bag to become an NHL option. But in addition to last year’s playoffs, the agile Myklukha has exploded offensively in Slovakia’s top league. There’s a player here who creates time and space, then sets up the open players who can benefit from the newfound areas Myklukha has created, ringing up 18 goals and 55 points in 51 games this season. It’s clear that he’s ready to be playing in a higher profile league next season. Does an NHL team think that league should be the AHL?

Mikkel Oby-Olsen (NOR) - RW - 23 - 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. - HockeyAllsvenskan

Without a doubt, one of the slyest possibilities you’ll read about today. Despite playing almost a full season of HockeyAllsvenskan contests in the 22-23 season, he fell off a bit until latching on again last season to the tune of 25 points. That he’d push that production to 30 goals and 50 points in 54 games this season couldn’t have been expected. But it wasn’t just the numbers that made things special. It was the how. He’s been effective everywhere, controlling play as a puck-carrying trickster, making wonderful passes, and sniping from many spots, often on the power play. He was Almtuna’s all-purpose weapon and raised plenty of eyebrows this winter. The assist totals would have surely been more impressive if he had more talent to work with. We not only expect an SHL contact to be in the bag, but a spot on Norway’s next WC squad seems to be a given at this point. The question is if a team thinks it could find some unexpected gold by bringing over the Oby-Olsen train?

Jasper Patrikainen (FIN) - G - 25 - 6-foot-1, 176 pounds. - SVK

The smaller built battler had an eye-opening 22-23 season, when he pounced on an opportunity and put up a number of wins and some decent stats, but fell right back into more of a back-up role with time missed in each of the last two seasons of Liiga play. In fact, he was so disenchanted with where he was career wise, he jumped to Stavanger of the Norwegian league last season and went on an 8-1 tear in the playoffs. That landed him a gig in Slovakia and he’s been lights out this season, going 22-8 in the regular season with six shutouts. The 2.02 GAA and .930 save percentage haven’t been shabby either. In the middle of the playoffs, the question is if the size isn’t a deterrent, is he the dominating goalie we’ve seen in weaker leagues in Norway and Slovakia, or the player degraded after a strong season in the Finnish Liiga? Will an NHL team look to find out?

Eetu Randelin (FIN) - G - 24 - 5-foot-11, 187 pounds. - Liiga

Yet another smaller Finnish goalie, judging on size alone, you wouldn’t expect Randelin to be an NHL topic. But there’s a little engine that could aspect to his story, as he continues to beat the odds and work his way up the totem pole. Now he’s coming off his first season as a starter in Liiga action in which he put up a 21-9-6 record, steering his KooKoo club into the playoffs. He’s quick and agile, but most importantly, determined.

YEARLY SIDENOTE

As always, it bears mentioning every year that above and beyond the players listed above, the Swiss NL, SHL, and KHL - among others - are chock full of former NHLers, NHL draft picks, AHLers, Canadian juniors, and college hockey players, not to mention former European free agent signings of NHL teams that have since returned to Europe. These leagues also employ a large number of established pros who you’ll see dressing for their respective national teams. A prime example this year would be former Ranger and Golden Knight forward Oscar Lindberg, who exploded for 30 goals and 67 points in 52 regular season SHL games this season. Thus, these leagues also feature many players who were in the NHL in recent years or on the bubble to the NHL, usually as highly effective AHLers and as such, any number of these players could of course still be in the sightlines of NHL teams or maintain the connections that would see them return to a franchise in the coming months.

2024 NHL DRAFT: RE-ENTRY CANDIDATES – EUROPE

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:21:32 +0000

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

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

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

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

This is part three of the series, putting the spotlight on those re-entries available from leagues across Europe.

Finland

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - MAY 1: Finland's Jere Lassila #28 stick handles the puck away from Czechia's Jan Gaspar #26 during Bronze Medal game action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on April 30, 2022 in Landshut, Germany on May 1, 2022 (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Jesse Pulkkinen - Defense - JYP (Liiga)

Pulkkinen should be the first re-entry selected this season, the 6’6” defender has come leaps and bounds from last season where he put up only 4 assists in 43 games in Finland’s U20 junior league - this season he has 11 goals and 17 assists in 18 games in the same league. Safe to say his progression from last year has been significant. In the 29 Liiga games Pulkkinen has played this year, he hasn’t looked out of place and has screamed the word “potential” with his play. He has showcased his mobility at his size, and how he isn’t afraid of taking risks with the puck while activating from the blueline. He is quite aggressive defending and although his play can be inconsistent in the defensive end at times, his size and skating combo point to this being an area that he can improve on significantly post-draft. (Steven Graves)

Jere Lassila - Center - JYP (Liiga)

Team Finlands captian, and leading scorer at the 2024 World Juniors has enjoyed a fantastic season for JYP in Finland's best mens league where he has 26 points in 45 games. Twice passed over in the draft, 2024 will be the last year in which Lassila is eligible to be selected. Lassila is a very smart player who boasts great vision and work ethic on the ice. He is able to thread passes through multiple players with precision and accuracy. He has an incredible motor that just chugs along all game long - Lassila is proficient in winning his 50/50 puck battles even though his frame isn’t great. Lassila seems like a good bet to carve out a career as a bottom-6 energy guy in the NHL one day. (Steven Graves)

Benjamin Rautianen - Wing - Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

Rautianen, a 2005 born winger has been obliterating the Finnish U20 league this season. His 1.72 P/PG average ranks second in the league. He is very dangerous with the puck on his stick, able to weave through defenders, change directions quickly, and protect the puck at a high level. Rautianen is an offensive first player who is always trying to make something happen when the puck is on his stick. He could be worth the investment in the mid-late rounds of the draft if a team thinks he can continue to develop into a scoring winger at the NHL level. (Steven Graves)

Noa Vali - Goaltender - TPS (Liiga)

Vali is one of the more intriguing goaltending prospects in this year's class. He isn’t the biggest goalie standing at 6’1” but he is technically sound in how he positions himself for oncoming shots and is quite athletic in the net, never giving up on a play and always trying to make a save. Although his numbers don’t look amazing this season, for a goaltender his junior to get as many reps in the Liiga as he has - you can’t help but be impressed at what TPS has entrusted him with. Vali won’t be the first goalie off the board, but could definitely hear his name called in 2024, after being passed over completely in 2023. (Steven Graves)

Kasper Lundell - Center - HPK (Liiga)

Florida Panthers centreman Anton Lundell’s younger brother is in his second last year of draft eligibility in 2024. Kasper is a similar player to his older brother in that he is a strong two-way center that lacks foot speed. But what he lacks for in foot speed he makes up for with how he anticipates and reads plays at both ends of the rink. Kasper is great at putting himself into excellent positions at both ends of the rink, this allows him to nullify plays in the defensive zone and also be an important piece in transition as a trailing forward. The questions persist with Lundell as they always have, “what can he be at the NHL level?” And I don’t think we’re closer to that answer this year like in years past. (Steven Graves)

Janne Naukkarinen - Center/Wing - SaiPa (Liiga)

Naukkarinen has sort of come out of nowhere to become a productive player in the Liiga this season. The 6’1 forward has really impressed with his consistency, vision, smarts, skating ability and playmaking. While it’s unclear what kind of player he can develop into, he has an intriguing physical profile and set of skills to grab an NHL teams attention ahead of the 2024 draft. (Steven Graves)

Peetu Kiukas - Defense - SaiPa (Liiga)

Kiukas has enjoyed himself a stellar offensive season from the blueline this season and because of it he may have found himself on NHL team’s radars. Kiukas is a slick offensive blueliner that is able to facilitate offence in an efficient manner from the blueline. He is great at moving the puck, so naturally his first pass and puck retrievals are some of his best assets. He is a bit on the shorter side for a defender, standing at only 5’11” but he is a competent defender in the Liiga, even if he has his warts from time to time. (Steven Graves)

Nestor Noiva - Wing - Assat (Liiga)

Noiva is a fascinating prospect for this year's draft. He struggled to produce at a high rate in Finland’s under 20 league this season as one of the older players in the league but once he played against men he didn’t look out of place, at all. Noiva has, in his arsenal, a very good snapshot, and if given time and space will make you pay. He is also a hound around the goal mouth, not afraid to get his nose dirty to corral a rebound. He is a player I think teams are going to appreciate. I think in three years’ time he could continue to develop into a hard nose bottom six player in the NHL. (Steven Graves)

Santeri Huovila - Wing - JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

The leading scorer in Finland’s under 20 league has consistently shown flashes of offensive brilliance this season. But the question has to be asked if it is because he is developing, or if he is playing inferior competition? He has struggled to produce at Liiga level, although he just recently earned a contract extension with JYP and stands to earn more ice time next season. He is an aggressive offensive weapon who is always looking to score and create offense while on the ice. As a double overager for this draft, Huovila hopes he has shown enough offensive promise that an NHL team picks him in hopes he can harness that promise in the NHL one day. (Steven Graves)

Sweden

Luleås Isac Hedqvist under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Växjö och Luleå den 30 januari 2024 i Växjö.
Foto: Jonas Ljungdahl / BILDBYRÅN

Filip Sitar - Center/Wing - Malmo J20

After making the jump from AIK of the Allsvenskan to Malmo of the SHL, Sitar finds himself in a similar situation as last year. He has been piling on the points in the J20 but hasn’t had more than a cup of coffee with the senior team. He is still very intelligent and reads the ice exceptionally well. He still positions himself well off the puck and keeps an active defensive stick. The skating has even taken a step in the right direction, though there is still a way to go there. However, he is still being forced to the perimeter due to a lack of physical strength and intensity. His playmaking and passing ideas are quite good, yet there is a lack of precision on the execution. There is still a lot of room for growth, and betting on high IQ players gaining muscle and improving quickness isn’t completely ridiculous. However, teams must decide if the offensive upside is good enough to take a flyer on. (Felix Robbins)

Frans Haara - Defense - Skellfteå AIK (SHL)

While spending the year mostly a J20/SHL tweener, Haara got a nice long look in the top four of the senior squad filling in for an injured Axel Sandin-Pellika. He’s a mobile puck moving RHD who can skate it coast to coast and who looks comfortable jumping up as a 4th F on the rush as well. Straight line attacker lacks a bit of dimension/layers. A decent passer but wouldn’t say he’s much of a playmaker. He does have a booming shot, which he uses to generate a bit of offence. Haara seems to put a great deal of focus on play in his own zone at the SHL level, while showing much more offensive risk in the J20. He has the mobility to activate into play more than he does but chooses not to. I admire his commitment to playing a more well-rounded game. While his mobility is quite good and he’ll be a solid defender once he gets stronger, I wonder if he’s shown enough upside to entice NHL teams to take a flyer on him. However, right-shot defencemen are always coveted assets. Maybe he continues to build his 2-way game up from his strong skating and tops out as a bottom pair defensive puck mover – if he’s lucky. (Felix Robbins)

Svante Sjodin - Center - Orebro HK (SHL)

The youngest player eligible for the 2023 draft didn’t show enough to get drafted, but that may have been for the best. He was incredibly unrefined, but the straight-line skating and the work ethic was undeniable. This year, a clearer picture of what type of player Sjödin will be at higher levels has started to emerge. He’s added some delay to his skating patterns, so his rush attacks aren’t as predictable. He’s grown an inch and added a bit of muscle, helping him out-grind foes for possession along the wall and for prime netfront real estate. These promising steps have seen his point production in the J20 triple what it was last year. However, it was Sjödin’s contagious energy and his effort in the defensive zone that landed him a role with the senior club. With the steps he’s already taken this year combined with the fact that he’s got a ton of developmental runway left, I’m sure NHL teams are taking a good long look at Sjödin for a late round swing. (Felix Robbins)

Hugo Lejon - Wing - Vasterås IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)

Despite an impressive draft year campaign, the very skilled (but very raw) Hugo Lejon didn’t get his name called by any NHL clubs in 2023. He has bounced right back, putting up an obscene number of points in the J20 and earned an extended stay with the Västerås senior club. While the good parts of his tactical playmaking and deceptive on-puck game are still there, some positive growth has given more reason for optimism. His skating has taken a step, he’s showing more determination and a willingness to battle, and he’s getting more involved in play outside of the offensive zone - at least at the HockeyAllsvenskan level. He’s also developed some nice zing to his wrister, something that was missing from his offensive arsenal last year. Despite the encouraging signs, Lejon is still far from a finished product. His physical game still needs a good amount of work, and he could always get quicker. I think that with the improvement Lejon has shown this year, NHL teams would be wise to scoop him up before he becomes too hot of a commodity. (Felix Robbins)

David Granberg - Center - Luleå HF (SHL)

After a paltry draft year splitting time across multiple levels of play, Granberg took on a great deal more responsibility this year and has looked solid all the way. He’s worn the “C” for the Luleå J20 squad (scoring over a point per game doing so), done a stint with Piteå HC in the HockeyEttan, and had a taste of SHL action. The most consistent aspect of young Granberg’s play across multiple levels of hockey this season has been his strong commitment to his defensive game. He plays low, helping out his defensemen battle for retrievals and to provide a relief outlet to get breakouts started. He positions himself smartly away from the puck, reading play alertly and reacting appropriately. However, his offensive zone off-puck movement and willingness to drive to the net, which lead to so much of his production at the J20, hasn’t shown up at higher levels. He lacks the quickness and the strength to create space for himself. He lacks the hands, the creativity and the deception to do so for others. Granberg is an intelligent player with good physical habits and strong defensive instincts, but I worry that he may not have the offensive upside that NHL teams are looking for. If he can find some sort of space creator for himself in the SHL or learn how to be a more effective garbage collector, he may be worth taking a flyer on. (Felix Robbins)

Isac Hedqvist - Wing - Luleå HF (SHL)

It became very apparent very quickly that Isac Hedqvist was a standout prospect in an already deep Swedish prospect pool in 2023, yet he wasn’t selected by an NHL team. This year, Hedqvist has made those same teams look very foolish by bulldozing competition in the juniors and seizing an everyday spot on Luleå’s senior squad. His excellent motor is still running. He’s still quick on his feet. He’s still inside driven. He’s still tenacious in possession battles and never shies away from physical confrontation. His playmaking has taken a big jump. He sees passing lanes open up at their earliest and executes with precision. I love his involvement in all three zones, and he’s so dang feisty and competitive. I wouldn’t worry about his point totals in the SHL - His offensive contribution will come alongside physical maturation. Plus, he hit his previous year’s J20 point total in 20 less games. He could, however, stand to add some zing to his shot. Otherwise, I have nothing but praises to sing about Hedqvist. He is a stud of a prospect and really should have been drafted the 1st time. Hopefully NHL teams come to their senses and don’t make the same mistake twice. (Felix Robbins)

Isac Born - Center/Wing - Frolunda HC (SHL)

In his 3rd year of eligibility and enjoying his first full year with the Frolunda senior club, we have a pretty good idea of who Isac Born is. He brings a ton of energy to the lineup. He is a very strong skater who plays with a lot of pace. He gets his feet moving and keeps an active stick to mount pressure on puck carriers on the forecheck and in the defensive zone. He can generate some offence by carrying the puck in transition, slipping past defenders and funneling pucks to the net. Despite his excellent skating, he has a hard time moving off puck to get open, both in transition and on offence. As a result, he doesn’t get hit with many passes - most of his offensive possession time comes from grinding for pucks along the wall. At this point, it’s hard to see a path to North America for Born. He’s topping out as a bottom six energy forward with limited offensive production in the SHL, which doesn’t bode well for his NHL upside. You’ve got to really believe in his skating and work ethic to have him on your list for the upcoming draft. (Felix Robbins)

Lucas Nordstrom - Defense - Leksands IF J20

For a kid who didn’t play in the J20 at all in his draft year, Nordstrom has got a clean handle on the level of play. He’s an incredibly smooth skater with solid 4-way mobility. He’s calm, self-aware, and reads plays well. He looks very comfortable skating the puck out of his zone in transition and activating into play below the blue line. He keeps a clean gap and has a good, active stick. He definitely needs to pack on some pounds, as he’s ineffective at clearing the crease and physically knocking guys off the puck. He does have a willingness to battle, though. For someone who should profile as an offensive puck mover, the offence is limited. He tends to keep his passes short and simple, not showing much risk or creativity to his playmaking. He doesn’t show much deception or manipulation, and his hands are quite average. It’s rare to see a defensive puck mover make it in the NHL at his size, but the skating, the smarts and the physical/board play habits give reason for optimism. Nordstrom is an intriguing prospect, but he’s also still quite raw. NHL teams considering drafting him must be patient, as he’ll have a long developmental road ahead of him. (Felix Robbins)

Hugo Fransson - Defense - HV71 (SHL)

After a pair of rather disappointing years of draft eligibility, Fransson has finally had a stellar one his 3rd time around. He’s been playing pro all year long, splitting time between Nybro Vikings of the HockeyAllsvenskan, where he’s been very productive (4G, 13A in 26 GP), and HV71 of the SHL, where he’s been focused on his defensive and transitional play. Fransson is a smooth skating, mobile, offensive defenceman with solid defensive habits. He does a great job keeping his feet moving and instigating physically when engaging his man. When he’s not the first one in on retrievals, he makes sure to support his partner by staying close and open for a pass. Fransson has great vision. More than a few of his points this season have come from hard passes from his end to spring a streaking teammate for a breakaway. He’s also more than comfortable pinching and activating into play below the blue line, thanks to his excellent hands and agility. Fransson has shown he can be a very confident and dangerous playmaker who could probably distribute some pucks on a 2nd PP unit. Fransson isn’t perfect, however. He still needs to add a bit of mass to his fairly average frame, and sometimes the decision making after he’s retrieved pucks in his own end isn’t always great. Still, the pros outweigh the cons. Fransson is a very exciting offensive defenceman who is far from a liability in his own end. He can impact play in all 3 zones, and probably score a bunch of points while doing so. I think he’d be an incredibly intriguing option in the later rounds for NHL teams who need close-to-ready defensive depth with some offensive upside. (Felix Robbins)

Simon Carlsson - Goaltender - AIK J20

Carlsson gives his team a chance to win every night, and it shows in his numbers with AIK’s J20 squad. Watching him play tells more of the story. Stellar rebound control. Pucks shot at the chest and glove are swallowed up and never to be seen again. Kept a tight crease, no wild movements or adventures. Stays composed overall but can look a bit antsy when moving from the top of his crease and backwards. Could use a bit more agility, his lateral strides were consistently short and lacked power. He was able to mitigate that with some good athleticism/flexibility. Reads play very well, even through traffic. Goalies are voodoo, but Carlsson shows good habits and has a cool temperament. NHL teams could take a chance on him in the later rounds and let him marinate in Sweden - he might be something after a few years of pro hockey experience. (Felix Robbins)

Kalle Carlsson - Center - Örebro HK J20

Another year, another very productive season in the J20 for Carlsson. Will it be enough to get selected this time around? He has great vision and some interesting and creative playmaking ideas. I like the way he moves around the offensive zone, always on the hunt for some soft ice. He’s got nice hands that he uses to dance the puck around defenders sticks and come away with possession. Not sure it’ll ever be a separation tool, but he displays good patience and manipulation skills. His skating quickness is still not where it needs to be to be in the driver’s seat when on-puck, or to keep up with play off-puck. Instead, he relies on his hockey sense to read play and anticipate where the puck will end up, and paths accordingly. Same story on defence - he positions himself smartly in anticipation of incoming passes or skaters and uses a good stick to intercept the puck. While that is a nice workaround in many static situations, it renders him rather invisible in transition, limiting his impact on play as a whole. He’s also got to pack some more meat on his bones, as some pure strength would be a difference maker in forechecking and defensive situations. I think Carlsson’s intelligence, creativity and playmaking ability are standout traits of his that should have scouts mulling over whether or not it’s worth taking a risk on him. However, the skating may simply not be good enough to warrant a pick. (Felix Robbins)

Hannes Hellberg - Wing - Vasterås IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)

In his first full professional season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Hellberg has established himself as an offensive threat. He’s quite skilled on puck - he can chain moves together to open up passing lanes or to undress a goalie for a tap in goal. His wrister is a dangerous weapon for him up close and from a distance, and his release is quick. He doesn’t always see every potential play or pass option available to him, but there is still a decent amount of vision and awareness there. He’s got quick feet which helps his rush attack, though a tad more agility would really aid his ability to get around defenders. Despite his success on the offensive side of the puck, I didn’t find Hellberg’s involvement on defence or in transition too inspiring. He tends to let his teammates do most of the work along the wall, and he tends to cheat for offence along the opposing blue line too much for my liking. Compete and intensity is just as important as fine skill to team AND individual success. If he can figure out how to put even 20% more effort into his play in all three zones, I think Hellberg would be a very interesting option for teams looking for a skilled forward prospect in the later rounds. (Felix Robbins)

Russia

Pavel Moysevich - Goaltender - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

The big Belarussian netminder (6’5) has been a revelation in the KHL this year, emerging as a potential star. He set the new save percentage record (.942) by a U20 player, beating Ilya Samsonov’s previous record of .936. NHL stars like Andrei Vasilevsky and Ilya Sorokin also find themselves on that list, putting Moysevich in some pretty impressive company. His size is so impressive. When he’s aggressive at the top of the blue paint, he gives shooters pretty much nothing, and when he collapses deep, he has great posture to remain upright, again, eating up space and making himself difficult to beat. He has quick pads for a bigger netminder and his rebound control is pretty refined for someone who is getting his first taste of the professional level. Being so slight, it’s obvious that he’ll need to improve his lower body strength to become more powerful in his pushes. He’s not the quickest post to post, relying on his sheer leg and wing span to make saves laterally. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of watching Matt Murray in his OHL draft year because of that. The upside here is tremendous and he should be ranked accordingly. (Brock Otten)

Ilya Ivantsov - Center - Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

A player in his final year of draft eligibility, Ivantsov has taken that next step as a KHL player this season. His 35 points were fourth among U21 players and Ivantsov was the only player in the top six yet to be drafted. He shines defensively with exceptional awareness and positioning. His high hockey IQ allows him to anticipate plays and win puck battles despite his smaller stature. He utilizes impressive stickwork to disrupt plays and excels on the penalty kill. Offensively, he has some projectable talent with strong drives to the net and playmaking ability. However, inconsistency has been an issue, leading to hesitation with the puck and a lack of assertiveness. Further development in offensive confidence and physicality could unlock his full potential as a valuable two-way forward in a bottom-six role. (Josh Bell)

Nikita Telegin - Center - Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL)

One of the MHL’s most improved players this year, Telegin offers a blend of finesse and physicality, making him a fairly versatile center. He’s a skilled puckhandler and an aggressive forechecker, impacting the game in all situations. He excels in faceoffs and provides a reliable, dependable presence on the ice. While not flashy offensively, Telegin has solid passing abilities and a surprising shot. He maintains excellent awareness, scanning for passing lanes, and pressuring opponents without the puck. However, his defensive game could benefit from bringing that forechecking pressure and improved lane coverage. Despite average skating, Telegin keeps pace with the play in most situations. His reliability and well-rounded skill set make him a potential candidate for bottom-six or depth roles. (Josh Bell)

Nikita Surayev - Wing - SKA (MHL)

When he was passed over last year, Surayev was one of the youngest players eligible (born September 12th). As one of the highest scoring players in the MHL this year, he’s put himself back on the draft radar. Surayev impresses with a dynamic blend of speed and skill. His puckhandling abilities, especially at high speeds, are noteworthy. His strong hockey IQ allows him to capitalize on scoring opportunities and excel in transition play. He does bring an impressive ability to put the puck in the net. Surayev does lack physical strength and needs to work on his defensive awareness and overall commitment though. If he can address these weaknesses, Surayev's offensive potential is promising, making him a prospect with NHL-depth upside. (Josh Bell)

Ilya Nabokov - Goaltender - Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Another 2003 born player in his final year of draft eligibility, Nabokov has been a revelation in the KHL this season. Despite being slightly ‘undersized’ for a goaltender (6-foot, 179 pounds), Nabokov compensates with exceptional agility and athleticism. His strong positional awareness and anticipation skills are complemented by a quick glove hand and solid rebound control, limiting second chances. He has excelled in the KHL this season as a rookie and his impressive .930 save percentage is quite promising. His track record thus far leads me to believe that this isn’t a one-off season and the Russian netminder could very well be the real deal. Nabokov's raw talent and proven results in the KHL make him an intriguing goaltending prospect for a patient NHL team, despite going previously undrafted. (Josh Bell)

Dmitri Gamzin - Goaltender - CSKA Moskva (KHL)

Yup, you guessed it, another 2003 born player who has turned some heads this year. Gamzin shows off strong agility, reflexes, and anticipation skills, allowing him to make key saves and maintain a solid defensive stance. His technically sound game is complemented by impressive puck handling under pressure as well. He put up impressive statistics in the VHL (.922 SV%) and KHL (.937 SV%) this season, although I’d like to see him play with a heavier workload to really test how well he would translate to the NHL. His technical skills and athleticism make him a promising goalie, and he could be a late-round gamble for a team looking for some goalie prospect depth. (Josh Bell)

Mikhail Grass - Center - Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

In a matter of a year, Grass has gone from being an MHL support player to being one of the top young centers in the KHL, earning a three-year contract extension from Metallurg. That kind of progression is impressive, especially when you factor in that Grass is a 6’4, 200lbs center. It’s clear that his game is still very raw, but what’s he going to look like in three years when his KHL contract expires? The skating is still a work in progress. He builds to a solid top speed for a big man and actually has good edgework, but the first few steps are lumbering and lack power. He also can struggle to corral pucks or maintain possession at full speed, which makes one wonder about the skill upside. However, he’s already a competitive two-way player. He is dangerous in the slot and near the crease. He flashes a very heavy shot (even if his release needs some work), that gives him excellent scoring potential. While he’s probably a draft longshot, don’t count out NHL teams from being enamored with his size and two-way upside. (Brock Otten)

Vladimir Mikhalyov - Wing - Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL)

Mikhalyov was on a few draft lists last year after a good year in the MHL, but he’s been even more impressive this year, splitting time between the KHL and MHL. He’s flashed high end creativity and puck skill at the KHL level, even scoring a highlight reel between the legs goal. He’s also a very intelligent off puck player who times cuts well and who succeeds in high traffic areas despite having only average size/strength. Additionally, his skating looks to have taken a nice step forward this year, improving his projection and upside. The MHL stats won’t blow you away, but context is important; his team is low scoring. What is also important is how well he’s played in the KHL as a 19-year-old with limited ice time. If he’s not on the radar of NHL teams, he definitely should be. (Brock Otten)

Makar Khanin - Wing - Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL)

Another 2005 born Russian forward who has taken huge steps forward this year. He’s gone from being an MHL depth player to being the highest scoring U20 player in the VHL, ahead of some NHL drafted players. He’s a high-end skill guy who is both creative and confident with the puck on his stick. More slippery than quick, he can keep the puck on a string to help him escape pressure in the offensive end. For an average sized guy, he’s not an extremely quick or dynamic skater. He’s also a pretty one-dimensional player at this point. But, that one dimension is pretty impressive. Khanin’s offensive upside is pretty significant and the rapid progression he has shown this year is bound to have drawn some eyeballs. (Brock Otten)

Amir Nugmanov - Wing - Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)

A longshot to be drafted because he’s undersized and not a dynamic skater, but Nugmanov deserves mention for his progression this year. One of the youngest players eligible last year, Nugmanov struggled to be an impact player at the MHL level and was never really on the draft radar. This year? He’s become a standout in the MHL and even earned a call up to the KHL level where he performed admirably. He makes up for a lack of elite size/strength/quickness by being tenacious. A tremendous forechecker, Nugmanov is quite the pest. He consistently forces turnovers with his energy and physicality, and he has the skill to capitalize on them. He also possesses a great wrist shot and a quick release, making him a quick strike player. Nugmanov is someone worth monitoring in the future. (Brock Otten)

Switzerland

Simone Terraneo - Defense - Ambrì Piotta - NL

One of the most appealing aspects of the Swiss NL is that it is chock full of former NHLers, even featuring players coming straight over from the NHL each and every season. And beyond that, the league attracts many of Europe’s top scorers every summer, plenty of whom are members of their respective national teams. Outside of the NHL, there may not be a league on the planet featuring this many pro athletes that were, at some point, an NHL property. So, when a young Swissman 21 or younger finds himself taking a regular shift in this league, it usually indicates that he’s someone NHL scouts have good reason to be watching. Enter Simone Terraneo, a defenseman in his DY+2 season who will nonetheless first turn 20 a day after the 2024 Draft concludes. When we first started taking notice of the 5’11”, 190-pound blueliner, he was captaining a disappointing Swiss U18 Worlds outfit in which he jumped out at us as the most competitive and overall effective player for his nation. There was little about his U20 league play that season that had us thinking he could perform at this level, but that’s exactly what he did in Kaufbeuren, Germany. And this had us very curious about his DY+1 season, which ended up being a resounding success. Terraneo proved far too good for the U20 circuit (22 points in 16 games) and suited up 35 times second leagueist Ticino Rockets, for whom he racked up 21 points. This pretty impressive performance, done entirely as an 18-year-old, did not lead to him being drafted, but it did secure an NL contract and he hasn’t looked back since. Mobile, physical, smart, and competitive, Terraneo has quietly put up 5 points and +3 in 34 games for a sub-.500 club while averaging a bit over 10 minutes of ice time per night. His 3 points and +3 at the WJC weren’t too shabby either. Seeing as how it took JJ Moser 3 years of eligibility to get drafted, we can see Terraneo sliding through once again, but he’s given the scouting world plenty of reason to give him a good hard look. (Chapin Landvogt)

Kevin Pasche - Goaltender - Lausanne - NL

At just 5’10”, 170-pounds, Pasche provides nothing in the way of ideal goaltending measurements, especially in a day and age where it’s commonplace to see 6’3” giants in goal, often even at the junior level. Instead, Pasche makes a living in the net with flashy hands and incredibly quick movements and slides. His legwork and balance, not only in stopping pucks, but batting them to the side boards, are often so lightning quick that you don’t notice he was actually down in the splits making a save because he’s right back up on his feet again in no time flat. His recovery time is simply fascinating. And when you’re his size, there aren’t many advantages to spending too much time on your knees, so he’s clearly made “recovery” a key component of his make-up. His numbers in two WJCs and an U18 Worlds won’t jump out at you in a particularly positive sense, but that he garnered the kind of trust from the program that saw him getting at least 3 outings in each of these three tournaments should. Now, before we get into the nitty gritty of why the scouting community simply can’t look past him at this point, it’s important to know that he’s playing his first pro season after two straight seasons with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. For a small Swiss netminder, that is a path less traveled. Heading into this season, it was felt he’d primarily be a second-league SL goaltender, likely platooning with fellow 21-year old Noah Patenaude, who spent three seasons in the QMJHL not long ago. Welp, a 9-4 record with a 1.76 GAA, 3 shutouts, and a .942 SV% quickly put an end to that. Joining NL club Lausanne at the end of October, Pasche has gone on to become the team’s 1A goaltender and almost hasn’t missed a beat, what with a 11-4-2 with a 2.10 GAA, 2 shutouts, and a .923 SV%. This makes him not only the top U25 goaltender in the league, but 5th overall in GAA and 6th overall in save percentage. The size will surely spook off a number of teams, if not a majority, but if Pasche were say 6’2”, it’s hard to imagine he’d slip through 7 rounds without hearing his name called. (Chapin Landvogt)

Tommaso de Luca - Center - Ambri-Piotta - NL

Italian U20 national team program center de Luca spent his draft year playing for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL and truth be told, his 49 points in 65 games were not only good for 3rd in team scoring but were also clearly one of the better first year appearances a Swiss-trained player has had in Canadian juniors in recent years. There were voices out there who felt he was worthy of a late-round pick in last summer’s draft, even if we at McKeen’s were not one of them. There was then some surprise when de Luca decided not to remain in the WHL for another crack at it, especially in light of the continued opportunity to play with a talent like Berkly Catton. Seeing what’s become of import forwards Rasmus Ekström and Lukas Kral, we imagine Spokane surely wishes he had. But the call of pro-league payment in Switzerland can be a tempting one and de Luca has proven worthy of it, ultimately becoming one of the absolute few U20 players in the NL to find himself taking a regular shift. In fact, he’s now gotten into 35 games, having seen between 10-15 minutes of ice in 25 of them. He even collected a hat-trick in a recent outing. All in all, the former WHL playmaker now has nine goals and 16 points to go with a +1 for a team in the bottom third of the standings. If anything, de Luca’s performance has proven that he’s not only pro-ready, but capable of taking on responsibility. He’d have likely played more NL games this season, but represented Italy at the D1B WJC, where his 10 points in 5 games were good for 2nd on the team, tying him for 3rd in the tournament. Italy will host the D1A Men’s World Championships this spring and it’s hard to imagine that the decision makers would leave the most successful Italian scorer in the Swiss NL off the roster. (Chapin Landvogt)

Germany

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - DECEMBER 28: Germany's Roman Kechter #24 celebrates at the bench with teammates after scoring a first period goal against Canada during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 28, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

Veit Oswald - Wing - Red Bull Munich - DEL

This is one of those seasons where someone who’s piqued our curiosity for several years now just simply arrives on the scene to make a convincing statement about what he’s all about. Now, we’ve talked about Veit Oswald in the past and were already feeling really good about him last fall, but this season has continued to unravel like a fairy tale ever since. And it’s one the 6’2” winger continues to be authoring with one feat after another. His climb from a solid lower line role last October and November, in which the youngster has gone from seeing between 8-12 to 15+ minutes of DEL ice time, has seen him pitted in all sorts of roles no-one could have possibly expected before the season, including some shifts here and there on the powerplay as well as in the waning moments of a tight lead. If anyone can be called the DEL’s shooting star, it’s Oswald! What has also made this season all that much more impressive is that he finally arrived on the scene internationally, serving as a key contributor to Germany’s successful effort to retain the class thanks to 3 goals, 5 points, 27 penalty minutes, and +1 in 4 contests, including several of the tournament’s absolute highlight reel goals. Before that, his name was surely just scribbled in the odd notebook here and there when his first year of draft eligibility saw him lead the German DNL in scoring and then earn a spot on the U18 team for a World’s tourney held right in his hometown of Landshut. His 3 points in 4 games there tied him for second in team scoring. He then entered the pro ranks the season thereafter, where he was solid in the country’s 3rd pro circuit, getting into 25 under-the-radar contests with Munich in the DEL (3 assists). That was accompanied by last winter’s WJC appearance, in which he had 2 points for a terribly low-scoring German side. Since coming home from Sweden in January, he’s taken his game to the next level. Four goals and 7 points in 10 games have accompanied a +5 rating, giving him 9 goals, 14 points, and a +4 in 38 total games to date. He was also selected to be part of a special Team Germany U25 outfit that looked mighty promising in several test games against the Slovakian national team earlier this month. Full of flair, possessing a strong motor, and constantly finding himself in the right place, it’s all but certain that Oswald will hear his name called at this summer’s draft, which will be a DY+2 affair for him. Despite that, a nice treat on top is that he first turns 20 on August 31st. We won’t be surprised if it’s with a DEL championship in his pocket. (Chapin Landvogt)

Roman Kechter - Wing/Center - Nuremberg Ice Tigers - DEL

Roman Kechter is a player we first talked about when he was 16 and found himself suiting up for 21 DEL games in the league’s pandemic-shortened 20-21 season, one in which admittedly many U21 players found themselves playing as cost-saving measures, if nothing else. Still, this made him one of the youngest players the league had ever seen. Also, he was coming in from his junior play with Rögle in Sweden, so he was certainly already understood as an above-average German talent. As normality returned, he and many other youngsters found themselves back in juniors and Kechter’s progress seemed to stall in Sweden. He improved, certainly, but the expectations after his DEL outing were obviously unrealistic and his decent, but by no means outstanding, showing with Rögle’s U20 outfit went largely unnoticed. A captaincy at the U18 Worlds couldn’t boost his draft chances. He then found himself in another 21 DEL games as well as 29 3rd league games (17 points) in his DY+1 season, which was accompanied by a solid WJC performance, but it was all too unspectacular for the 5’11”, 185-pounder to gain any notoriety. Having now just turned 20 in mid-February, Kechter has spent this season displaying a much different and more mature version of his abilities. Sure, his 17 points in 38 games are already a career high while his +2 rating sees him as one of only 5 players on his team without a negative rating, but he’s playing like a seasoned vet and making sound decisions across the board. His work outside of the offensive zone pops up as much as anything else. He also had himself a solid WJC, doing much of his team’s yeoman work in keeping an undermanned unit from getting relegated. Before that, he had formed a powerful line with Kevin Bicker and Moritz Elias in pre-tourney competition, one with which he put up 15 points in 5 preparation games. It only takes one team to like what they’ve seen to make the 3rd time around the charm for this budding forward talent, one who’s been reaping praise throughout the DEL this season. (Chapin Landvogt)

Adrian Klein - Defense - Straubing Tigers - DEL

Much like Kechter, Klein found himself in the DEL as a 16-year-old during the pandemic-shortened season. He actually got into 31 games at the time, scoring his first goal along the way. That was accompanied by another 9 pro games spread out among the 2nd and 3rd pro leagues as well as a U18 Worlds outing in Texas. Pretty nice experience for a player still a year removed from his draft, which came and went without much fanfare. The DEL time decreased in his draft year and even though the quality minutes increased in his DEL2, growing into what is now a 6’3”, 212-pound body had its growing pains and there was a lot of less-than-impressive hockey along the way. Or just the normal learning curve of an up-and-coming defenseman? A WJC appearance was in the cards as well that year, but it was especially clear at that event that he was still a good bit removed from his international peers. His DY+1 felt like a repeat of his draft year, admittedly getting in more DEL action while also experiencing a bit of a step back at both the DEL2 level and WJC. This brings us to this season where the best bet would be to assume more of the same, but he’s changed all that. Right from Day 1 of training camp, Klein played with a purpose and made it clear that he’s a capable DEL defenseman with upside. He’s even been paired the bulk of the season with former NHLer Justin Braun or DEL shooting star Nicolas Mattinen. With 2 goals, 7 points, and a +1 in all 48 games thus far, it’s clearly a career year to date, but what we like is that his 4-way ability has picked up considerably. His feet are moving. He’s got more urgency in his game. He catches and then launches pucks in almost one single motion. He’s heady. He’s aware. He blocks shots and battles out there. We’re seeing a level of confidence not yet seen from him. Whereas a drafting this summer is still highly unlikely, he should become a free agent topic in the coming years if he can continue blooming at the rate displayed this season. (Chapin Landvogt)

Czechia

Jiří Ticháček - Defense - Rytíři Kladno

Ticháček is a small (5'9") yet dynamic offensive defenseman who hasn't been selected in the last three drafts and now it's his last chance. He has taken a significant leap forward compared to last year. Although Ticháček plays for the worst team in the Czech Extraliga, he has a key role and even set a club record for points scored by a defenseman. Ticháček is limited by his height, which is probably the reason he hasn't been picked yet, but after a record-breaking season, he should at least have a chance to make the move to North America. He has exceptional puck-handling skills, remarkable agility and keen ice awareness. He's skilled at stealing the puck from opponents, but it's evident his weaker physical abilities hold him back a bit when it comes to defense. It's questionable whether he will ever make it to the NHL, but Ticháček's record-breaking season should not go unnoticed. (Matej Deraj)

NHL DRAFT: Five undrafted prospects who made an impression at The World Juniors

Jared Brown — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:40:02 +0000

Goaltender Hugo Hävelid of Sweden and Will Smith of USA during a under-20 international friendly ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2023 in Ängelholm.
Photo: Maxim Thore / BILDBYRÅN

While a lot of focus goes to the first-year draft-eligible prospects playing at the World Juniors. There have been many undrafted players who leave a last impression for NHL scouts to consider taking them in the upcoming NHL Draft as reentry draftees. At the 2023 World Juniors, Marcel Marcel from Czechia, Luke Mittelstadt from USA, and Thomas Milic from Canada are just a few examples of players who left their mark, which will certainly help them hear their names get called at the 2023 NHL Draft. Most famously was Slovakia goaltender Adam Gajan who put on a show last year. Voted as the tournament's best netminder, he ended up being the first goalie off the board in last year’s draft at 35th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks. I wonder if Connor Bedard had any say in that after what he witnessed playing against him in that thrilling quarterfinal matchup. Now with that all being said, here are five players who stood out to me, and we start with a goalie once again!

Hugo Havelid - Goaltender - Sweden

2004-01-01, HT: 5’10” WT: 170

Add Hugo Havelid to the list of goalie prospects who have been passed up on due to their size. Hugo was voted the best goaltender of the tournament. He stopped 41/41 shots in his first two games but unfortunately didn’t have the best game in the gold medal game against Team USA. Still, outside of his obvious lack of size in the crease, he’s a composed, technically sound goalie with above-average reflexes. When I watch what kind of goalies have success at the pro level, they all have one very similar quality in their game. That is having full control of their movements and the ability to get set early. Havelid has both those skills. He’s great at keeping his hands set while moving side-to-side and staying square to the puck carrier. His rebound control is another strength in his game. He calmly swallows up shots in his glove or into his chest or steers away low shots towards the corners with his stick. If you want more reasoning as to why Havelid should get a look from an NHL team, just go to his EliteProspects page, scroll down to his career highlights, and look at the accolades he’s already accumulated in his young career. I’ve watched Hugo since his draft year, and I honestly thought he was the best goalie prospect in the 2022 NHL Draft (it was a weak goalie crop to be fair). The only real weakness I see in his game is his size and even if an NHL team isn’t going to take a shot at him, I believe he’ll have a successful pro career in Europe.

Matyas Melovsky - Centre - Czechia

2004-05-25, HT: 6’0” WT: 183

Melovsky, quietly, had a terrific tournament finishing third in points and tied for first in assists. It would appear that NHLCS took notice of his performance as he was just ranked 82nd amongst North American skaters. He registered a point in six out of seven games and maybe saved his best game for last as he tallied three primary assists to help Czechia beat Finland 8-5 in the bronze medal match. He’s a skilled centre whose passing and playmaking ability is his biggest trademark offensively. Showcased to be a catalyst on the powerplay for Czechia operating inside the left faceoff circle on his off side. He picked apart Finland's penalty kill with his terrific delay game to open up the seam pass over to Jiri Kulich. He uses his vision to find the open man and execute skilled passes that other players in this tournament couldn’t make consistently. His ability to find passing lanes is terrific. Primarily looked to be a pass-first player and didn’t impose as a shooter/scoring threat really at any point. A fluid skater with smooth hands in transition but isn’t blazing fast. He was utilized on the penalty kill for Czechia, but his defensive zone compete could’ve been better. He’s got a quick stick to where he can fish picks out from board battles

but lacks physical engagement in his game. He did look to get chippy with Finland after whistles in the bronze medal game, however. Melovsky possesses the offensive skill to create chances and as long as a team can unlock a bit more off-puck work ethic out of him, then I think you got a future pro.

Jere Lassila - Centre - Finland

2004-03-08, HT: 5’10” WT: 176

I’ve always been a fan of Lassila’s game and his work ethic. He’s led his country on the international stage at numerous events. Captained Team Finland at this year’s World Juniors, he played hero scoring the OT winner in their quarterfinal matchup against Slovakia and led his team in scoring with eight points in seven games. Lassila doesn’t have a high ceiling, but he brings a consistent effort on every shift and is positionally reliable without the puck. He takes intelligent off-puck routes and worked overlapping plays with his teammates in the offensive zone nicely. I liked his puck facilitation from along the boards and using his edges to quickly stop up to alleviate pressure. He also looked stronger protecting the puck and as he continues to add more muscle, his puck protection in battles will continue to improve. Lassila has the puck-carrying speed in transition to drive through the middle and back defenders off their blueline. He doesn’t have the smoothest of hands (he’s a choppy stickhandler) but he’s effective at controlling the puck far out from his body (also uses a long stick for his size). Lassila could be worth taking a further look at down the stretch in JYP and potentially using a late-round pick in the draft. His skating, playmaking, and ability to read off his teammates have me optimistic he’ll have a successful pro career. We’ll see if an NHL team sees the same.

Dominik Rymon - Left Wing - Czechia

2004-05-29, HT: 5’10” WT: 154

Coming into the tournament, Rymon wasn’t seen as a focal point for Czechia’s offence. Still, he managed to register a point in six out of seven games (as Melovsky did) and quietly had a very solid tournament as a depth forward for his team. The consistency in his play from game to game was excellent. He’s a fast North/South player with a two to three stride acceleration to separate himself from opposing players. His skating allows him to bring an up-tempo, fast-paced playstyle approach to his puck pursuit along with his quick stops and starts. Rymon is quickly in motion when he picks up the puck. He showcased some quick hands while moving the puck through the middle of the ice off the rush. His puck skills are a bit underrated. Rymon may be undersized, but he has the willingness to go to the dirty areas and battle like a grinder. His puck retrievals are only going to get better (even though he already understands how to use his blazing speed to his advantage). He clearly still has lots of room to put on more muscle and further physical maturation will improve his effectiveness of stealing pucks on the forecheck and then fending off checks better in the corners. Rymon has had a strong start to his second season in North America, playing in the WHL for Everett. Putting together a solid tournament performance should’ve only increased his chances of hearing his name called in June even more. His speed and competitiveness are top-notch qualities.

Owen Allard - Winger - Canada

2004-01-13, HT: 6’2” WT: 190

It’s not often you’ll see a player make Team Canada who has been passed upon in the draft. Allard missed the majority of last year. He didn’t suit up for his first game until late February. However, Hockey Canada clearly took notice of Allard’s skillset to perform in a checking, depth role for Canada, and he did

just that. He was a perfect fit alongside Owen Beck and Nate Danielson, playing a straight-line power forward game that provided energy and a physical presence. He skates with powerful long strides to propel himself around the ice and tends to be the first man on the forecheck. He works tirelessly at both ends of the ice to recover pucks. Allard has the size for the pro level to maintain this play style and be effective with it. He’s engaged defensively, is an effective penalty killer, and plays a reliable, 200-foot game that will go a long way in his career. With the puck, he’s going to make simple plays and doesn’t have the creativity to be a persistent threat offensively. He’ll go hard to the net and crash and bang his way en route to goals in and around the crease. Allard was ranked 109th amongst North American skaters in NHLCS recent rankings list and I can understand why an NHL team would entertain using a mid-late round draft pick on him. It’s not impossible to think Allard could become one of those unsung heroes for a team in a third line checking role, providing the physicality, responsible play, and energy a team needs from their bottom six players in the playoffs.

BELL: 20 Prospect Points – 2024 World Juniors Edition

Josh Bell — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:48:31 +0000

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - JANUARY 2: Filip Mesar #10 of Slovakia celebrates his third period goal against Finland in Quarterfinal Round action at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship at Frolundaborg on January 2, 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)

Welcome to 20 Prospect Points, a bi-weekly column where I dive into the trending prospects - drafted and draft-eligible - from around the globe.

This edition focuses on the biggest event going on right now - the 2024 World Junior Championships. I look at 20 prospects that have been standing out throughout the preliminary round or have captured headlines.

Drafted Prospects

#1 Arguably the biggest story out of the World Juniors preliminary round, Servac Petrovsky was dominant. He led the tournament in points through Slovakia’s first four games, with nine points (five goals, four assists). At the start of the event, I noted that he was a player to watch and he very much delivered. His excellent shot was on full display as was his overall offensive ability. He did well to raise his stock at this event.

#2 Sticking with Slovakia, they were so strong throughout the round-robin portion of the tournament, outside of a 10-2 loss to the USA. A large reason for that, other than Petrovsky, was Montreal Canadiens’ prospect Filip Mesar. The centreman finished with seven points (one goal, six assists) before the elimination round. It was known that he’d be a significant factor for the Slovaks and he delivered.

#3 One final drafted Slovak that I want to mention here is Maxim Strbak. The Buffalo Sabres’ prospect tied for the points lead by a defenseman with six points (one goal, five assists). He was one of the team’s top players throughout the tournament and has earned some consideration for the Top Defender honour. He was unquestionably the top defender for the team, playing significant minutes and making his presence felt. With some confidence coming out of the tournament, look for a big second half of the year from him back with the NCAA’s Michigan State University.

#4 Tied with Strbak for the defensive point’s lead through the prelims was Swedish defender Theo Lindstein. He also had one goal and five assists, matching Strbak’s output while playing about four minutes less per game. With defenders like Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Elias Salomonsson, and Tom Willander on the Swede’s roster, Lindstein’s performance is all the more impressive. The St. Louis Blues’ prospect and recent first rounder always stands out at international competitions and the 2024 World Juniors have been no different. He also tied for the points lead on the team through their first four games.

#5 Part of the reason Sweden has been so strong in this year’s World Juniors is their depth. All four lines are producing offense and contributing. With a star-studded roster, it’s all the more impressive that Otto Stenberg has been one of the brightest spots for this team. He stood out every game for me, putting up six points (three goals, three assists) along the way, tied for the team lead. Another Blues’ prospect, he should continue to be a factor as the team searches for a gold medal.

#6 After standing out in last year’s World Juniors, it’s no surprise that Jiri Kulich has once again been impressive for Czechia. With seven points (four goals, three assists) in his team’s first four games, he’s helped the team to the medal round where they look to take home hardware for the second straight year. The Sabres’ prospect is officially Czechia’s all-time goalscoring leader at the World Juniors and will look to build on that with the team’s remaining games.

#7 Another standout for Czechia has been goaltender Michael Hrabal, who has to be in the conversation for goaltender of the tournament. The Arizona Coyotes’ prospect has played in every game for the Czechs, and while there have been some goals he’ll want back, he’s been the backbone of this team and kept them in every game. He’s one of only two netminders to have played every game for their team and will be leaned on heavily en route to the medal games.

#8 Team USA came into this event looking very much like the favourite to win it all and they haven’t disappointed so far. Leading the charge has been Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect Gavin Brindley, who led the round-robin with six goals in his four games, adding two assists for eight points. He plays hard on every shift and it’s been paying off in this event. He’ll be a huge factor in the elimination round.

#9 Brindley’s centreman throughout the tournament, Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect Frank Nazar, has been right there with him, with the two regularly connecting. Nazar led the tournament in assists through the first four games with eight - accounting for all of his points. The two, along with teammate Isaac Howard, have arguably been the best line in this tournament and should continue that moving forward.

#10 The third American with two points per game through the preliminary round, Philadelphia Flyers’ prospect Cutter Gauthier came into the tournament expecting to be a catalyst for the USA and he’s been just that, helping the team to an undefeated record. He finished the prelims with one goal and seven assists and will expand on that moving forward.

Draft-Eligible Prospects

#11 The biggest story surrounding draft-eligible prospects has to be the injury to Adam Jiricek. After suffering an injury in the opening game of the World Juniors, Jiricek was ruled out for the tournament. It has since been announced that he’s done for the remainder of the season - a significant blow for the potential first-rounder. He’s been a bit of a polarizing prospect this season, with some considering him a top-15 or even a top-10 pick and others questioning whether he even belongs in the first round. There was some hope for a strong second half of his season to prove himself, but he’ll be a slightly risky selection in June.

#12 While Canada lacked the star power that they typically have at the World Juniors, they once again had a draft-eligible prospect that carried the way for them. Macklin Celebrini was as advertised, the top skater for the Canadians in arguably every game. He led Canada in points with eight (four goals, four assists) and saw his ice time increase every game. He’s eligible to return next year - if he’s not already in the NHL.

#13 Another draft-eligible that stood out for Canada was goaltender Mathis Rousseau, an overager who dressed for Canada for the first time in his young career. Rousseau has backstopped the Canadians in every single game, going 3-1 and recording one shutout. He had a .923 save percentage and was one of the top netminders in the event. If he wasn’t on the draft radar before, he should be now.

#14 While we’re talking about netminders, another worth mentioning here is Swedish goalie Hugo Havelid. While he played just two games, he didn’t let in a single goal in either one, facing off against Latvia and Canada. The overager was especially impressive against the Canadians and should be the guy for Sweden down the stretch, granted Melker Thelin has been strong as well.

#15 On a high-powered Team USA roster, the role that Zeev Buium played in this event was a question mark coming in. But the potential top-15 selection has been strong, going a point-per-game through the preliminary game with four points (two goals, two assists). He was behind only Lane Hutson for points from a defender on the back end and should take over the No. 1 spot next year. His strong season continued into this event and should down the stretch to the draft as well.

#16 Coming into the tournament, it was expected that Konsta Helenius would be the guy for Team Finland. That wasn’t the case for the potential top-five pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, who failed to register a point in the prelims. The hope was that he would lead this team and be relied on heavily to provide offense, but he’s been extremely quiet throughout this tournament. He’s eligible to be back next year, but this year’s performance has been slightly disappointing. He should still have some chances to prove himself in the medal rounds though.

#17 While Helenius has been in the background, team captain and overage prospect Jere Lassila has been on full display, tying for the team lead in points with five (two goals, three assists). He does seem to be dominant in international competition when the stakes are high, which could be intriguing for an NHL team in the later rounds. Lassila has been one of the best overagers in this event and should continue to show why when the games matter even more.

#18 Every time I see Peter Repcik play; I leave impressed. The undrafted prospect has been quite strong in the QMJHL this season and carried that into the World Juniors for the Slovaks. He has points in every game in the rebound robin, finishing with six points (three goals, three assists) in four games. This is his third World Juniors event, and I’d bet it’s not the last time we see him don Slovak colours.

#19 While the expectations for Norway weren’t very high coming into the World Juniors, the anticipation for Michael Brandsegg-Nygard was extremely high. He didn’t disappoint, looking like the top player for the Norweigan’s throughout the tournament. He tied for the lead in points on the team with three (two goals, one assist) in the four games played. If Norway can avoid relegation, you can bet that the potential top-15 pick will be a big reason why.

#20 Brandsegg-Nygard hasn’t been the only Norweigan draft-eligible to stand out though. Tied with him for the team point lead was Petter Vesterheim, an overager who was a big reason Norway was promoted last year. He was named the Top Player for Norway when they won the D1A U20 tournament last year. Expect him to do everything he can to maintain his country’s place in the top U20 division.

2024 WORLD JUNIORS CHAMPIONSHIP – January 2nd, 2024 – Game Recaps + Three Stars

Brock Otten — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:26:06 +0000

Goaltender Michael Hrabal of Czech Republic during the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship quarter final between Canada and Czech Republic on January 2, 2024 in Gothenburg.
Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN

Slovakia 3, Finland 4

What a hockey game this was, filled with non-stop action and several momentum swings. Just when one side looked to be taking hold of the game, the pendulum swung. The best example of that was late in the third period when Aleksanteri Kaskimaki one timed the puck past Adam Gajan to give Finland a 3-2 lead with under two minutes to go. Not even a minute later, with Gajan pulled, the Slovaks tied it on a wobbling wrister to send the game to overtime. It certainly seemed like the Slovaks would have all the momentum heading into overtime, but not even 30 seconds into the extra frame, Jere Lassila burst in alone and buried one past Gajan to send Finland to the semifinals. It was quite a remarkable turnaround for the Finns, who were a loss away in the round robin from hitting the relegation round, but now find themselves facing the United States in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Canada, 2, Czechia 3

Would you even consider this to be an upset? I know I wouldn’t, and several of our scouts predicted this exact outcome for Canada in our WJC pre-tournament guide. Additionally, several of our scouts predicted a strong tournament performance for the Czechs. The Canadians looked completely overwhelmed by the speed of the Czechs in the opening frame and Mathis Rousseau let in two goals he’d probably like to have back: his first real moment of shakiness in this tournament. The second and third were largely dominated by Canada as they managed to flip the script, hemming the Czechs in their own zone for large stretches. But kudos to the Czechs, who largely weathered the storm by remaining disciplined (not taking a single penalty in the game) and clogging up shooting lanes, all while receiving great goaltending from Michael Hrabal. It seemed like this game was headed to overtime, but some sloppy puck management in the defensive end by Canada led to the game winner by Czechia with 11 seconds to go. Sure, you can identify it as puck luck, as Jakub Stancl’s shot bounced off Oliver Bonk and in, but the Czechs had improved drastically over the course of this tournament and deserved to move on.

United States 7, Latvia 2

In the only non-competitive game of the quarterfinals, the United States squashed Latvia; although to Latvia’s credit they kept competing right to the final whistle, even scoring the final goal of the game. The forecheck and speed in transition, in combination with the greater skill and creativity of the Americans was just too much for Latvia on this day. The lineup tinkering by the United States, with Oliver Moore moving on to the first line, pushing Jimmy Snuggerud to the fourth line, proved to be successful as that line generated a couple of goals and Snuggerud was more successful with Danny Nelson and Quinn Finley. It was also the best game of the tournament for Seamus Casey as he was a standout from the back end. The United States now prepares for Finland in the semifinals, an opponent who will obviously not be taken lightly.

Sweden 3, Switzerland 2

The final game of quarterfinal day gave us a way better and closer matchup than anticipated. After the first period, it seemed like this one was destined to be a blowout like the U.S./Latvia one before it. But the Swiss clamped down and frustrated the heck out of Sweden in the second and third periods, sending this game to an overtime frame. In the OT period, Rodwin Dionicio got called for a questionable hooking penalty, sending Sweden to a powerplay which they converted on to push them through to the semi-finals. Axel Sandin Pellikka walked in and snapped a wrist shot past Alessio Beglieri, serving as the OT hero. This was a tough pill to swallow for Dionicio, who had been one of the better defenders in the tournament thus far, as he snapped his stick and handed it to the official. The hometown Swedes will now take on a Czech team that has beaten Canada and pushed the United States to the brink in recent games. Without question, they will need to be sharper on Thursday to beat Czechia.

Three Stars of the Day

#1 Michael Hrabal - Goaltender - Czechia

One could probably make the case that Hrabal’s defenders deserved this more than him with how many shots they blocked in the third period, but he was just so poised and solid in today’s win over Canada. He stopped 28 of 30 and really limited second chance opportunities in the second and third period when Canada was pressing. His size and athleticism have such a profound impact on the mentality of shooters as it was clear that the Canadian players were trying to be perfectly precise with their shots to try to beat him, thus the amount fired wide today. It’s been a bit of an up and down/inconsistent tournament for Hrabal, but top prospects are supposed to be at their best when it matters most and Hrabal was just that today. Does he have another big game in him on Thursday against Sweden?

#2 Seamus Casey - Defense - United States

Another player who has had an up and down tournament, Casey’s inconsistent play seems to have stemmed from the illness he picked up that caused him to miss a round robin game. However, judging by today’s performance against Latvia, he is finally healthy. Casey was all over the ice, excelling at both ends. He finished the game with three assists and was a +4 overall. Casey’s poise in the offensive end was on display today as he did a great job of getting pucks to the net, two of which directly resulted in U.S. goals. He was also a standout defensively with his ability to shut down the transition game thanks to his high-end skating ability. Puck management has been a bit of an issue for the U.S.’ defense in this tournament and if Casey can replicate this performance moving forward, it would greatly improve this team’s chances of capturing gold.

#3 Jere Lassila - Center - Finland

The overtime hero for Finland today in their victory over Slovakia, Lassila had an excellent overall game finishing with a goal and an assist. The assist was off a great play in puck pursuit as he won a battle behind the net then centered it to the slot for Lenni Hameenaho, who put Finland up 2-1 at the time. Then he finished things off in overtime by exploding into the offensive zone, splitting the defense and beating Adam Gajan to play hero. Overall, it’s been a great tournament for Lassila, a previously undrafted pivot. The Finnish captain has always performed well for Finland internationally, but his lack of size, combined with a lack of explosiveness has previously kept him from drawing NHL interest. That may not be the case anymore as Lassila looks to have improved his skating and has had a great year in Liiga with JYP, where he is third among U20 players in the league with 10 assists.

2024 WORLD JUNIORS CHAMPIONSHIP – December 29th, 2024 Game Recaps

Adam Tate — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 15:15:15 +0000

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - DECEMBER 29: Juraj Pekarcik #19 of Slovakia celebrates his first period goal against Norway with teammates, Dalibor Dvorsky #15, Alex Ciernik #22, Milan Pisoja #3 and Luka Radivojevic #11 in Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship at Frolundaborg on December 29, 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)

Slovakia 8, Norway 4

With a day off yesterday after beating Switzerland 3-0, Slovakia came into today’s game ready to play. From the drop of the puck, it was clear that they had a speed and skill advantage over Norway. Slovakia was down early with Norway’s Michael Brandsegg-Nygard scoring just over three minutes into the first period. They tied the game up about 10 minutes later with Samuel Honzek evening the score with a power play goal. Juraj Pekarcik would score for Slovakia less than a minute later and they would never look back. They broke the game open in the second period with five goals. Dalibor Dvorsky had a very strong game with four points (two goals and two assists). The aforementioned Brandsegg-Nygard (2024 NHL Draft eligible) had a three-point game (2 goals and one assist) and was Norway’s Player of the Game. Norway would need both their goaltenders in this game. They didn’t dress Markus Stensrud, choosing to save him for tomorrow’s game against Switzerland, as that could be a relegation game.

Finland 4, Latvia 0

Finland needed a better result today after having lost to Germany on Wednesday to avoid any potential relegation scenarios. They got the job done in a must-win game against Latvia. Finland’s Captain, Jere Lassila factored in on all of their goals with a goal and three assists. He wasn’t going to let Finland continue to slide down the standings in Group A. Konsta Helenius, the hyped 2024 NHL Draft eligible player, had another quiet game, only hitting the scoresheet with a penalty in the third period. Latvia’s scoring struggles continued this game and they haven’t scored in any of their three games in the tournament so far. Even combining their two drafted players, forwards Dans Locmelis and Sandis Vilmanis, they still struggled to find consistent offense. Their goaltender, Deivs Rolovs, was the Player of the Game for Latvia despite giving up four goals as he stopped 39 of 43 shots. Without Rolovs, this game would’ve been much worse for Latvia.

USA 4, Czechia 3 (Shootout Win)

The closest game in terms of score today, USA edged Czechia in a shootout to win their game 4-3. Isaac Howard would start the scoring with the first goal of the game, and he ended the game with the Shootout winner in the 7th round. The goals were equal in each period but the play was not. USA had the run of play in the 1st, outshooting Czechia 15-5 and looking more dangerous overall, including a couple of good shorthanded chances. The game favored Czechia more in the 2nd period as they held the shot advantage (12-9) and had the only power play of the period. The 3rd and overtime settled nothing, though USA had the most chances in OT, so the game went to a shootout. USA must win their game against Slovakia in order to win Group B as they only collect 2 points for the win today.

Sweden 2, Canada 0

This was the marquee matchup of the day and it did not disappoint. Sweden and Canada played an intense back and forth game with both teams wanting to show the fans in attendance that they were the best team in Group A. Both goaltenders, Hugo Havelid for Sweden, and Mathis Rousseau for Canada, made tremendous high danger saves. The forward groups showed a lot of skill and speed. The defence for both teams were tenacious and hard hitting. It was the kind of game you hope to see from this tournament.

Swedish defenceman Tom Willander opened the scoring in the second period with a nice rush up the ice and used a Canadian defenceman as a screen to score. Noah Ostlund would score on a rebound from a Jonathan Lekkerimaki shot from the blue line. Canada would have a couple of power play opportunities after those goals, but Havelid shut the door. Rousseau played his best game for Canada so far with some outstanding saves. Sweden has yet to be scored on in the tournament through three games.

Three Stars of the Day

#1 - Dalibor Dvorsky - Forward - Slovakia

The 10th overall selection by the St. Louis Blues in the 2023 NHL Draft finally factored into Slovakia’s scoring with four points today (2 goals, 2 assists). He was a play driver for his line and pushed Norway to their limit. His first goal to make it 3-1 was a rush to the net on the power play where he turned the defenceman and made a move across the crease to open up the goaltender. His second goal was a rush down the middle of the ice with a nice wrist shot after he crossed Norway’s blue line, using the defenceman as a screen. Anytime Dvorsky was on the ice he was beating Norway with speed and strength, and they had no answer for him.

Honorable Mention goes to Servac Petrovsky who also had a four-point game and is now leading the tournament in scoring.

#2 - Jere Lassila - Forward - Finland

Nguyen has been invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp and looks to showcase his talent. He will be playing another season with Portland Winterhawks, this time hopefully in a larger role to display his speed and goal scoring ability. Nguyen has an August birthday, meaning he was one of the youngest prospects in this draft. A larger sample size and another year of development could be enough for a team to take a flyer on Nguyen in next year’s entry draft.

Beau Jelsma of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Beau Jelsma, F

McKeen's Hockey Rank for 2022: 112

Scouting Report:

Jelsma is a high energy forward who is always on the attack. He uses his strong skating ability to apply pressure on the forecheck and the backcheck, in addition to pushing the pace with the puck on his stick in transition. He has a good shot and profiles as a solid, pesky, complementary goal scorer. A lack of size and strength prevented him from being more consistent this year for an underwhelming Barrie Colts team.

What's Next?

Jelsma will attend the Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp as a camp invitee. He will then return to Barrie of the OHL next season and will receive top six ice time. This should give him a shot to seriously improve his production and put himself back on the draft radar.

Brayden Schuurman, F

McKeen's Hockey Rank for 2022: 115

Scouting Report:

Schuurman is another undersized scoring forward, who finished with 54 points in 68 games for a struggling Victoria Royals team. Schuurman’s game is reliant on his ability to anticipate play in the offensive zone and use his offensive awareness to find the soft area of the ice. He is a strong shooting threat in high-danger areas both in the slot and around the crease. His hockey intelligence allows him to compete in all three zones, projecting him as a middle-six scorer if he can overcome his lack of size.

What’s next?

Schuurman was invited to join the Edmonton Oilers’ development camp. The hope is for Schuurman to continue to lead a young Royals team and aim for a playoff spot this year. Schuurman will have a large role cut out for him and should help his draft stock next year.

Ilya Kvochko, F

McKeen's Hockey Rank for 2022: 118

Scouting Report:

Kvochko, while undersized, is an energetic, creative and smart two-way centre. Kvochko has a good motor and never takes a shift off. His edgework is refined and he has good linear speed to help push the pace of play. His intelligence allows him to read the ice well and position himself to alter momentum in his team’s favour. Like almost every undersized forward, Kvochko could use some growth in his strength.

What’s next?

The Russian factor this year has really harmed Russian players’ chances of being selected in the NHL entry draft. It does not help that Russians are currently banned from being selected in the CHL Import draft as it would have been beneficial for Kvochko to come over to North America and develop. The Russian factor brings an uncertainty as to whether Kvochko will be selected, however if he is not selected in the following years, he could be an interesting UDFA down the line.

Maxim Arefyev, G

McKeen's Hockey Rank for 2022: 121

Zack Zsweras — Mon, 02 May 2022 18:49:45 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - MAY 1: Sweden's Jonathan Lekkerimaki #23 holds the World championship trophy with teammates behind him at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena in Landshut, Germany on May 1, 2022 (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Sweden 6-4 US

The gold medal match was set between the two teams who finished at the top of their respective Groups, United States the leader of Group A and Sweden the leader of Group B. Heading into the match, the United States were the only undefeated team, winning each of their games by at least four goals. Sweden on the other hand, started the tournament off with a shocking 3-2 loss to Latvia, however, ever since they have been on a tear getting consistent scoring from their top prospects as well as amazing goaltending from Hugo Havelid.

It didn’t take long for the United States to grab the early 1-0 lead, as Devin Kaplan made a crisp cross-ice pass to 2023 draft eligible Ryan Leonard who buried it past Hugo Havelid. The United States was looking to build off that momentum as they were dominating possession and shots on net. It wasn’t until seven minutes were remaining in the first, where Sweden was able to answer back, Oskar Pettersson received a feed in the neutral zone from Calle Odelius and ripped the puck on net beating Kenneth Augustine to tie the game. Shortly after their first goal, Noah Ostlund came flying into the offensive zone, bobbled the puck and with incredible hand-eye coordination batted the puck past Augustine to give Sweden their first lead of the night 2-1. Just when Sweden thought they had the momentum, US was able to strike right back. The play started with an outstanding defensive stop by Ryan Chesley, swinging possession in the US favour, where the puck was pushed up the ice by Frank Nazar who burst into the offensive zone went wide and squeaked the puck by Havelid to tie the game up a two apiece. Kenneth Augustine finished the first period allowing two goals on three shots, it was evident that the rest of the US team was going to have to play near perfect if they wanted to take home gold.

The second period was intensely close, neither team gave an inch. US had plenty of chances, but yet again Hugo Havelid kept the door shut, including on a breakaway from US captain Rutger McGroarty. It was the other captain who was the first person in the second period to find the back of the net in Liam Ohgren. Sweden, on the powerplay moved the puck around the outside, finishing it off with a goal through the five-hole by Ohgren to give Sweden the 3-2 lead. Sweden built off that momentum, drawing two more penalties giving them a minute 5-on-3 powerplay, where top 2022 draft eligible Noah Ostlund buried his second of the game extending the Swedish lead to 4-2. It didn’t take long for the United States to answer back, with 16 seconds of 4-on-4 Logan Cooley stick fought off a Swedish defender before feeding captain Rutger McGroarty who sniped the puck past Havelid ending the second period 4-3.

It was a close battle in the third before Jonathan Lekkerimaki created a 2-1 off a turnover, ultimately feeding Liam Ohgren who deked around Augustine to score his second of the night giving Sweden a two-goal lead with ten minutes left in the third period. As the third period winded down, US found themselves on a powerplay thanks to Logan Cooley drawing a slashing penalty. On that powerplay, Isaac howard made a perfectly timed pass to captain Rutger Mcgroarty who beat Hugo Havelid for his second of the night bringing the Swedish lead to one with three minutes remaining in the third period. US with all the momentum had many chances to tie the game up, pulled their goalie with just under two minutes left. However strong defence by Sweden and a late empty net goal by Jonathan Lekkerimaki killed all momentum and hope for the United States. Sweden took the lead to 6-4 with 30 seconds remaining on their way to win gold medal against the US team that everyone expected to dominate this game. The biggest difference in this game was goaltending. Hugo Havelid was able to continue his ridiculous play stopping 47 shots, compared to Augustine who was only tested 14 times, letting in 5 of them.

Noah Ostlund just scored a beautiful goal to give Sweden the 2-1 lead. What a few minutes for Sweden. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/9b5TjM0SGU

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Frank Nazar from a tough angle ties it up. 2-2 with four minutes to go in the first. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/e9WblORQbC

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Noah Ostlund has two goals with a power-play goal. That's four goals on 10 shots. 4-2 Sweden. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/UIUvmqaeXE

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Finland 4-1 Czechia

The first game of the day, the bronze medal match was an exciting one as it held tournament MVP Jiri Kulich and potential top 10 selection in the upcoming draft, Joakim Kemell. Coming into the game today, Finland was looking to bounce back from a devastating 2-1 loss to Sweden. Czechia on the other hand was looking to win a medal for the first time in this tournament since 2014 where they lost to the United States in the finals to capture silver.

This game started off well for Czechia as Adam Bares and Ondrej Becher were on a 2-on-1, with Bares feeding Becher who rifled the puck past Topias Leninonen giving Czechia the early 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, it was Finland’s turn to respond as a laser point shot from 16-year-old defenceman Aron Kiviharju was tipped past Czechia goalie Michael Schnattinger by none other than Joakim Kemell, tying the game up at one. That concluded all of the scoring in the first period as both teams played a closely-knit match. The tie was broken late in the second period as Joakim Kemell created a turnover, something which he has done many times throughout this tournament, giving Finland a 3-on-1. On the 3-on-1, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki fed Jere Lassila right in front of the net, but the shot was originally stopped by Schnattinger before Kaskimaki tapped the rebound right to Jokiam Kemell for his second of the night, giving Finland their first lead at 2-1.

It was more of the same for Finland as they added two more unanswered, both from captain Jere Lassila to finish the game 4-1 and capture the bronze medal. With this game finishing 4-1, it marked the first time this tournament that Jiri Kulich did not score at least one goal in a game. While Czechia is going home without a medal, their performance at this tournament will not be forgotten and is something that should encourage the future of hockey in Czechia.

Daily Top Performers:

Best Forward: SWE, Jonathan Lekkerimaki (1G, 3A, 4P)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki had an outstanding tournament, finishing at the top of the scoring leaderboard with 5 goals, 10 assists for a total of 15 points in only six games. While many may say that it was Noah Ostlund or Liam Ohgren who made the largest impact as a forward on this Swedish team, it has quietly been Lekkerimaki. He has used his brain, skill and patience to find the open passing lanes and exploit them putting his teammates in prime spots to score. While many already had Lekkerimaki as a top prospect for the draft, it is certain that he has justified being that high on people’s boards with his performance in this tournament and the gold medal game.

Liam Ohgren makes it 5-3 for Sweden on this breakaway. Just over 10 minutes to go in the finale. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/osPMOdksr1

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Best Defenceman: SWE, Mattias Havelid (0G, 3A, 3P)

This marks the third time Mattias Havelid has been chosen as the best defenceman in our daily top performer section and it is because of the amazing work he has done this tournament on the back end for Sweden. Whether it is at even strength or on the powerplay, Havelid is always finding his teammates and advancing the puck up ice. While many expected Havelid’s teammates Calle Odelius and Elias Salomonsson to be large forces on the backend, it was ultimately Havelid who took the majority of the brunt force. It goes without saying that if Mattias Havelid was not on a scout’s radar before this tournament, he most definitely is now. It will be interesting to see where a team will take a gamble on Havelid in the upcoming draft.

Best Goaltender: SWE, Hugo Havelid (47SV, 4.00 GAA, .922 SV%)

For the third straight day Hugo Havelid has captured the best goaltender award and should be considered team Sweden’s MVP. If it wasn’t for Havelid’s play in net Sweden would not have made it out of the quarter finals. Havelid has been heavily relied on, especially the past two games making consecutive 40+ saves on route to securing Sweden’s gold medal win over US. After a shaky start to the tournament losing to Latvia and letting in three goals, Havelid bounced back and was an anchor in net. In a draft year with very few high-end goaltenders, it is obvious that Havelid has worked himself into many scouts’ eyes as the best goaltender in the upcoming draft.

Hugo Havelid with an absolutely mega save here late. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/DND34ASm1a

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

What an effort by the Americans, but not enough here. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/HgGqTS9UVL

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

With the tournament at its end, here is the All-star team and MVP as voted by the media, compared to the All-Star team and MVP that I have chosen:

My All-Star Team

Forwards: SWE Jonathan Lekkerimaki – CZE Jiri Kulich – US Isaac Howard

Defence: US Ryan Chesley – CZE Mattias Havelid

Goalie: SWE Hugo Havelid

My MVP: CZE Jiri Kulich

Media All-Star Team

Forwards: SWE Jonathan Lekkerimaki – US Logan Cooley – CZE Jiri Kulich

Defence: US Lane Hutson – CZE Tomas Hamara

Goalie: SWE Hugo Havelid

MVP: CZE Jiri Kulich

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Notes and Quotes – Finland vs. Sweden – Havelid solid in net, heartbreaking loss for Finland

Chapin Landvogt — Sun, 01 May 2022 16:33:39 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - APRIL 30: Sweden’s Jonathan Lekkerimaki #23 celebrates with Liam Ohgren #20 and Noah Ostlund #11 after scoring a third period goal against Finland during Semifinal Round action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on April 30, 2022 in Landshut, Germany. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Notes & Quotes – FIN vs SWE

NOTES:

Hitting, hitting, hitting: Like in previous games, most especially against Canada, the Finns came out of the gate ready to put the hurt on and play physically. They are well aware of who the Swedes are and that the Finns have a fairly clear size advantage in this tournament. The throwing of weight around makes it clear that it's an integral part of the gameplan. Several big hits right off the bat set the tone.

Get the puck to the net: Another clear goal for Finland must have been to get the puck to the net. Over and over again. Hugo Havelid was tested solidly several times early and it continued right on through the third. More on that soon.

Big and mobile: Filip Bystedt came to play. For all that size, viewers may wonder why he isn’t throwing the body around more. They shouldn’t. He moves really well for a player his size. Really well. And he loves to have the puck and make his way around defenders, which that size of his makes very possible. He puts his shoulder into it and uses his leg to ward off offenders and their sticks. He had strong edges and of course his own reach. So corralling the puck and moving around defenders is something he’s turned into a regular occurrence today and in this tournament. How much production is there is another story. He does shoot and he does dish the puck off, so it’s understandable why some feel the numbers will eventually come.

Always in the thick of things: Finnish captain Jere Lassila is all of 5’10” and 175 pounds, but he looks even smaller on the ice. In addition, his speed can’t be classified as anything but average. But this young man is involved all over the place. Very sound, very solid with the basics, and always on the ice when things matter most, it’s been very noticeable that the coaching staff trusts him immensely. Still, – have to talk about him. All over the place. In the middle of everything, he played all of 25 games this past winter, so this tournament has given some important insight on one of Finland’s prime go-to guys.

Confidence boost: As much as the game has been a chess match throughout the first few periods, the Finnish team has played like a team with incredible confidence. It may be their most engaged 3-zone effort yet. Almost looks like defeating Canada was just the confidence boost this team needed.

Tall allrounder up for grabs: It’s easy to see why Topi Ronni (2022) has his appreciators. There’s good size, solid skating, confident moves, and involvement. He’s simply been a heady player all game long and very ready to make life as difficult as possible for the Swedes.

Filling in on the blueline: Swedish defender Elias Salomonsson was suspended for this contest after a poorly chosen hit from behind against Germany in the quarterfinals. Getting his spot in the line-up has been Theo Lindstein (2023), an underager who has played all tournament, but really showed up today, having to deal with a lot of physical play against some big boys on Team Finland. And he has been run at several times. There’s no backing down and he must be endearing himself to those making notes for the 2023 draft.

Filling in on the blueline part deux: Just six foot, 185 pounds, first line defender Calle Odelius (2022) has been playing what may be his best game yet. The decisions have been solid, and he’s been throwing checks as almost a one-man answer to Finland’s aggressive play. If we didn’t know better, you’d think he’s three inches taller based on how much he’s been ready to answer the call. If you like classic defensemen who don’t stick out too much because they just aren’t doing much wrong, while seemingly always recognizing when they have to do what to be effective, then this young man is one you’ll want to watch. Good reason to think he’ll be an important player for an organization when he's got his man weight.

Looking forward to what will be: He continues to be spoon-fed ice time, which tells you all you need to know about Aron Kiviharju and why he’s already a hot topic for the 2024 draft. The skating won’t yet knock you off your socks, but it looks more like a strength issue than anything else. He’s young. But in the way his teammates incorporate him on the attack and get the puck back to him to have him to lead the breakout. He’s gotten plenty of ice time in every game and been out there the whole time in this contest too.

Listen to me: Whenever the puck was in Sweden’s end, you could hear the yapping. Initially, you’d have to think it was the refs telling the players to move the puck or move away from each other, but in this case, it ended up being goalie Hugo Havelid talking to his teammates. It quickly became clear that it’s a way of life for him. When you see how focused he is, you know it’s part of the routine.

Give that man an award: Today has only come to verify that is there was an award for fluidity in one’s game, you’d have to give it to Swedish center Noah Ostlund. Time and time and time again, he moves with the puck in clear, fluid motion and time and time again, he moves the puck to teammates with rhyme and reason. On top of it all, he’s on the ice for most all situations, especially on the PK unit, and always found in the face-off circle. That the young man only weighs 163 pounds is evident and you sometimes wonder how he seems to move freely on the ice without paying a physical price, but his understanding of the game has made him one of the main players, and it’s clear why.

Heartbreaking: Finland tied the game at one late and then made a push. A real hard push. They had the momentum, and it was clear they could feel that 2-1 goal on their stick. Then it happened. An offensive zone penalty. In a game where it looked like the refs had put their whistles away for the third. In the last two minutes of the game. And it wasn’t just anybody, it was team leader Joakim Kemell (2022). On the forecheck, his stickwork on a Swedish defender led him right to the penalty box. Irate, he let the ref know how unfathomable it was at that phase of the game. And yet there it was – Sweden finishing off a 1-1 game on the power play.

Practice makes perfect: Team Sweden had a ton of power play time against Germany, scoring five power play goals. Then the special team’s unit went to work in the waning moments of the game. And as if all of time and space had designed this scenario, Ostlund made another perfect pass over to sniper Jere Lekkerimaki, whose father is Finnish, and he hammered the puck from the left circle as he has done so many times before. But instead of seeing an amazing bullet of a shot hit the back of the net or an incredible save by Topias Leinonen, who was clearly dialed in, the puck was partially blocked by the Finnish defenseman and slipped by in an almost inexplicable manner. The universe had taken its quirky course once again.

Player of the game for Finland: G Topias Leinonen

Player of the game for Sweden: G Hugo Havelid

For Finland, the following three players were named the players of the tournament: F Joakim Kemell (2022), F Kasper Halttunen (2023), D Aron Kiviharju (2023)

For Sweden, the following three players were named the players of the tournament: D Mathias Havelid (2022), C Noah Ostlund (2022), G5 Hugo Havelid (2022)

QUOTES:

Press conference FIN vs SWE

Finnish goaltender Topias Leinonen and forward Topi Ronni

On being so solid only to have to such a goal go in as the game-winner…

Leinonen: It’s really just so difficult to analyze the game at this moment. We’re still digesting this.

On playing so physically and setting the tone for so long against this rival…

Ronni: Yes, we tried to play our game. It worked quite well for a long while. But we couldn’t score, and I don’t know. Can’t really describe what happened. I don’t think the better team won today. There’s nothing we can do now.

On taking this loss in, but getting ready for a medal game not a whole day later…

Ronni: We just have to get prepared. We have to find focus and be ready. We need to prepare just as we have all tournament long. That’s what we have to do.

On helping Kemell digest the late penalty he took that lead to the game-winner…

Ronni: Oh, well, we had a chance to decide this game and then the ref makes the call. That’s it. I don’t know. Honestly, I can’t really answer that question.

Finnish coach Mikka Marttila

On the late penalty after there had been so many questionable non-calls throughout the last half of the game…

Marttila: It’s very difficult to think about that in the aftermath. One of our chief goals in this game was not to take penalties. We knew about the Swedish power play efficiency in this tournament. Now it has happened. The ref blew the whistle. The call went against us. That’s it.

On getting ready for the bronze medal game so short after such a difficult loss…

Marttila: There will be no problem with motivation tomorrow. We’re going to have a meeting today and we’re going blow this bad feeling away. We’ll be ready for the game tomorrow because it’s a very rare opportunity to play for a medal and win something at a world championship.

On Finland’s game in general, aside from those fatal last two minutes…

Marttila: Our third periods have been very good in this tournament. The first game against Sweden and then the tilt against Canada, we had great third periods. Today, both teams respected each other and knew each other. It was a typical one-goal game at the end of the day.

On the play of underagers Aron Kiviharju and Kasper Halttunen during the tournament…

Marttila: Kiviharju is very smart. He’s very skillful. He will have a bright future in the NHL. Halttunen is a big, physical guy with a good shot. He’s been one of our top players in this tournament.

Swedish goaltender Hugo Havelid and right wing Jere Lekkerimaki

On handling the over 40 shots thrown his way by Finland…

Havelid: It’s always fun when you’re the goalie to see a lot of rubber. Not always as fun when your team is always in the offensive zone. We handled everything well and there was good synergy between the defensemen and the forwards. We had to work a lot in the defensive zone and we did well today.

On his game-winning goal and noticing that the puck had been deflected…

Lekkerimaki: I got a great pass. I shot the puck. It went in. It’s just an amazing feeling. Yes, it did take a second for me to see that I had scored because the defenseman got a piece of the shot. But once it was in, it was amazing.

On his tendency to talk a lot with his teammates on the ice….

Havelid: I like to be involved in the game. When I’m talking a lot, it also allows me to focus. It keeps me concentrated. I like to think it helps the defenseman a lot with things like letting them know how much time they have. It’s good to know if they have an extra second and pick up their head for opportunities. I’ve been doing this almost my whole career, back in Sweden too. It’s never been seen as bad by the others, so I keep doing it.

On the difficulty of facing rival Finland in a playoff game…

Havelid: We’ve played against them a lot and it’s never been easy. There’s an extra level of happiness when we beat them. If we beat a team like the Czech Republic, we’re happy, but it’s a whole new level with Finland.

On the refs allowing a lot of rough stuff…

Havelid: Maybe a little bit, but you know what, I like games that have flow better than having the ref blow the whistle all the time and dishing out penalties. I like it that way. I can’t complain.

On his Finnish last name, Finnish connections and what makes this rivalry even more special for him…

Lekkerimaki: Yes, it’s a Finnish name and my father is from Finland. Playing them is always very special. It’s a special rivalry and I like it. And sure, there’s some trash talk on the ice coming from me, but a whole lot of it coming from them too.

On the progression of Sweden’s team since the loss against Latvia to open things up…

Havelid: I think we’ve played better and better every game. We’re going to keep trying to do that. I think we’re going to play our best game yet tomorrow.

On playing the USA for the final…

Havelid: We had a test game against them before the tournament and it was a tough game. Real hard to play. I think they’re considered the favorite for gold tomorrow, so I think we gotta go out and win it. Can’t complain about the underdog role.

Swedish coach Magnus Havelid

On the irony of having so much power play time against Germany and then using that power play to win late against Finland…

Havelid: We had a timeout before that goal. We hadn’t had our edge on the prior power plays. So we took the timeout, got the guys together and told them to feel comfortable. To trust each other. Don’t force anything with the shots and the passes. When you’ve got guys like Lekkerimaki, Ostlund, and Mathias Havelid, we know that we can score goals. So yes, I think those five goals against Germany helped us today. When you believe in it, you can make it happen.

On the difficulty of facing the Finns again in the tournament and getting ready for that match-up…

Havelid: The teams know each other, but you know what, it’s the semifinal and we know what the next step is. I mean there was more physical play than before. That definitely picked up since Kaufbeuren. But it’s the semifinal. We have to step it up and handle that situation. And I think we did. We had really, really steady goaltending and it’s a bit about their type of hockey and our type of hockey. Sometimes, I as the coach tell the guys we have to speed things up. We have to increase the puck-moving tempo. Stuff like that. Sometimes we give the puck away too easy and that’s something we’ll have to be better at tomorrow.

On how the three players of the tournament for Sweden took the reigns and stepped up from the first day to the last…

Havelid: Well, they are my three key players. You know going into a game that this is not going to be, say, a 5-1 affair. It’s going to be tight. You know that these guys have to step up. They did it tonight again and I hope they’ll do it once again tomorrow.

On the importance of Noah Ostlund, who got plenty of ice time…

Havelid: We had three centers today. He’s my best face-off guy. He got a lot of ice time, especially on the PK unit. He’s a playmaker, but he also works so hard. He can do so much to help us out in the defensive zone. He’s simply a very, very important player for this team.

On facing the USA for gold…

Havelid: Well, you know, they’re the big favorite because of the program they have. Those boys play together for two years. But that’s a great challenge for my team. We played against them before the tournament. They are a bit better. But now we have to be better for a night. We have to be really strong defensively but continue to play and go for it. I’m really looking forward to this.

On the often scrutinizing hockey media in Sweden and how they’ll view Sweden’s achievement here…

Havelid: Yes, I think they will. This game was broadcast back in Sweden, and this is good. You know, I know about Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz. When we won back in Sweden a few years back, we had tremendous media coverage and positive PR for the program. Now we have Lekkerimaki, and he was big in U20 play this year and got into the SHL as way, so he’s a big name for the younger kids out there watching. He’s now being compared to Holtz and Raymond. We’ve often been criticized for not having true goal scorers. So I told them about these guys and how Raymond and Holtz and Lekkerimaki are now there to fill that hole and be the role models for the next generation. It’s great that we’re in the final and that will be seen positively, but it’s also just wonderful to see what it means to the kids coming up.

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Update – Latvia shocks Sweden, Howard steals spotlight in fast paced 8-3 win over Canada, Kulich leads Czechia comeback over Germany

Zack Szweras — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 13:23:57 +0000

Finland 6-2 Switzerland

The very first game of the 2022 Under-18 Tournament featured one of Group B favourite’s, Finland, and an exciting, inexperienced Switzerland. Overall, this was a very undisciplined game for both teams, resulting in ten penalties given out. This led to more of a special teams game for both, and usually this benefits the team with more talent, which is Finland in this case. Already making a large impact for Finland’s U18 team was 2024 top prospect defenceman, Aron Kiviharju. Not only did he perform well, but he was handed a large role off the bat, playing top-pair minutes as well as time on the second power play. Finland got the majority of their scoring from 2022 draft eligible players Jere Lassila, Jokiam Kemell, Jani Nyman and Topi Ronni. All four beat the Swiss goaltender for goals. Kemell and Nyman were able to score powerplay goals within a couple minutes of each other. Overall, Finland, as expected, dominated the majority of the game and will look to continue their success against the Latvian team that shocked the hockey world yesterday.

Czechia 4-2 Germany

With this tournament taking place in Germany, it was only right to see the German team take the lead to start their tournament. It was top 2022 draft eligible German prospect Julien Lutz who started the play off with a rapid shot from the right faceoff dot only to be squeezed by the goalie and stopped on the goal line. Luckily, teammate Roman Kechter was hovering around the net and was able to tap the puck in, to give the host team the lead. After a hot start, Germany was sitting in a good position up 2-1 in the middle of the second before Czechia’s first line took the game over. Czechia’s first line consisted of projected top round 2022 draft eligible Jiri Kulich and two top 2023 draft eligible players in Eduard Sale and Dominik Petr. Jiri Kulich led the comeback scoring two goals, including the equalizer, to lead the Czechia team to a victory over Germany. In addition to Kulich’s goals, the first line combined for a total of seven points in the match. There is a good chance that this Czechia team will be able to keep the momentum and ride it through the qualifiers into the playoffs.

Jiri Kilich with the snipe!@narodnitym evens the score against @deb_teams #U18Worlds #CZEGER pic.twitter.com/vbgjyxuQx7

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 23, 2022

Latvia 3-2 Sweden

What many believed to be an easy first game for Sweden, against a lackluster Latvian team, ended up being a tight match. Throughout the game, Sweden looked disorganized and unprepared for their tournament opener. This led to a couple uncharacteristic penalties in the first period. Latvia made no mistake and capitalized on one with a goal from 2022 draft eligible prospect Rainers Darzins. It was not until the jam-packed second period where Sweden was able to get on the board, thanks to another 2022 draft eligible prospect, Noah Ostlund, who scored on the power play. However, Latvia was able to respond quickly with a slick pass from Martins Kruklitis through the crease to Erasts Nazarenko who buried it home to take back the lead. Later in the period, Sweden was able to score another on the power play, this time from fellow 2022 draft eligible Filip Bystedt, to tie the game up 2-2. While the score was close, it was clear to all that the Swedish effort wasn’t there against a determined Latvian team. The effort and determination were shown one more time when 16-year-old Latvian Eriks Mateiko scored the GWG and brought Latvia to a 3-2 lead. Unable to answer in the third period, Sweden was shockingly upset. After a poor performance from a Swedish team expected to be one of the top teams in Group B, there are many questions that this team will need to answer and they must do it quickly.

US 8-3 Canada

This is the game that everyone had circled to start the tournament, the United States against defending gold medallists Canada. This game featured a ton of top 2022 and 2023 draft eligible players. Team Canada is highlighted by 16-year-old phenom Connor Bedard and fellow 2023 top prospect Adam Fantilli. While Canada may possess some great players, the United States team has the overall advantage as the majority of the team consists of members of the U-18 US National Development Team Program. The US team has played the last two seasons together (in the USHL), spending valuable time gaining chemistry with one another and growing together as a team. It is safe to say that this game did not disappoint. The pace of both the Canadian and American teams was much quicker than any of the previous games mentioned above. While it was fun seeing a glimpse of the talent Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli have, the show was stolen by none other than US top 2022 prospect Isaac Howard, as he found the back of the net four times on the way to an 8-3 victory over Canada. Although 8-3 may seem like a lopsided game, it probably would have been much worse if it was not for the amazing effort of Canada’s starting goaltender Reid Dyck. His incredible saves in the first two periods were the reason Canada was able to stay close up until the third period. On top of Howard’s performance, team USA had fantastic help on the blueline from 2022 draft eligible players Ryan Chesley and Lane Hutson. Both of these defencemen excelled at starting the breakout and moving the puck in transition. The effort by them did not go unnoticed as they ended up contributing on the scoresheet as well. While the majority of the game was dominated by the play of the entire US team, it would be a mistake not to talk about the play of Connor Bedard. Even at 16 years of age, in an under 18 tournament, it is almost impossible not to notice him when he is on the ice. Team Canada clearly has the talent up front, but needs to get more consistency from their depth forwards and their defencemen if they plan on challenging for gold. The Canadian defense had zero structure and were chasing the puck, leaving massive gaps in coverage. Coming out of this game, the U.S. look like the clear favourites.

Connor Bedard giving us some solid Connor McDavid vibes.#U18Worlds @HockeyCanada @WHLPats pic.twitter.com/eybq3AKrQb

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 24, 2022

Isaac Howard. Photo by Rena Laverty/USA Hockey

Daily Top Performers

Best Forward: US, LW Isaac Howard (4G, 1A, 5P)

The decision for best forward was between Isaac Howard and Czechia’s Jiri Kulich, but it is nearly impossible to not pick Howard after putting up four goals against the reigning gold medalists. While some of the credit can be given to playing with linemates, like the talented Frank Nazar and top 2023 prospect Gavin Brindley, it was the finishing ability of Howard that was able to get the job done. On his second of four goals, Howard was able to get two dangerous shot attempts, after the first one was saved by Dyck, the rebound came back to him in the slot where he made no mistake and zipped it by Dyck for the goal. Coming into this tournament, Howard has been viewed as a fringe 1^st-2^nd round prospect for the upcoming 2022 NHL draft. There is no doubt that this has already had a positive effect on his draft stock and will likely make scouts go watch earlier games of Howard to get the full picture of the prospect he will be.

ISAAC HOWARD BACK TO BACK! @usahockey goes up 2-0 over @HockeyCanada as Howard picks up the rebound for the goal. #U18Worlds #CANUSA pic.twitter.com/9PtUlrBZs7

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 23, 2022

Best Defenceman: US, D Ryan Chesley (1G, 1A, 2P)

This was a tough choice between two United States defencemen, Ryan Chesley and Lane Hutson. Both of these defenseman played top-pair minutes, excelling at both ends of the ice. Ultimately, I decided to go with the defenceman who scored the goal to break the momentum team Canada was building off of the Bedard Goal. Chesley had an outstanding game covering his gaps, recognizing and exploiting the open passing and shooting lanes. Part of Chesley’s task as a top defenceman was keeping both Adam Fantilli and Connor Bedard’s lines in check. He held the dynamic duo to a total of two points (both by Bedard). If Chesley can keep up his play throughout the tournament, it can very well open some scouts’ eyes as the 2022 draft in July inches closer.

Only a little room to work with, but it was no problem for @ryanchesley_'s first!#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/Def5SODORi

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) April 23, 2022

Best Goaltender: LAT, G Deivs Rolovs (2.00 GAA, .925 SV%)

Hands up if you thought that it would be the Latvian goaltender winning any best goaltender award, let alone against Sweden? While Sweden definitely was not on their ‘A’ game today, the team still consists of top 2022 and 2023 draft eligible talent. The most impressive part of Rolovs’ performance was that the two goals he let in were when the Latvian team was shorthanded, meaning he was able to shut out team Sweden at even strength. If Latvia continues to get solid goaltending from Rolovs the rest of the tournament, maybe this one game surprise can become a dark horse team to medal.