Jeremy Lauzon – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NASHVILLE PREDATORS – NHL Player Profiles

Corey Sznajder – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:09:35 +0000

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 05: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) skates during a timeout during the NHL game between the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators on March 5, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Filip Forsberg

It might surprise some folks that last year was only the third time Filip Forsberg eclipsed the 30-goal mark and the only season where he was a point-per-game player. Widely considered one of the league’s stars, it was always a struggle for him to have the point production that matched his talent. That changed in 2021. Forsberg had the golden touch, scoring on almost 20% of his shots, benefitting from Nashville playing more off the rush than in past years. For years, the Preds were a team that created off long, sustained possessions with Forsberg pulling the puck off the wall, using his great hands to create chances with minimal space. This was still part of Nashville’s game, but there was more of a direct approach with Forsberg this year. He attacked the net more frequently after entering the zone, taking more shots instead of looking and being selective. It made a lethal combination with Matt Duchene, as the two frequently set each other up on give-and-go plays. Forsberg is such a gifted player that he can play any style and be effective, but the rush-based approach did a lot for making him more of a game-breaker, giving Nashville a huge spark in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. His playmaking also came a long way, ranking as one of the best players in the league in assists on scoring chances. With goal-scoring on the rise, Forsberg is set to have another good year. Will it be the heights he reached last year when everything went right, or will he settle back into being the 25-30 goal guy he’s been for most of his career?

Nino Niederreiter

A player like Niederreiter is always going to be useful because even if he’s in a scoring drought, he is going to do something to help his line. He has the top-six skill with a fourth line mentality. He’s very smart with how he forechecks and disrupts plays without taking penalties and can keep pucks pinned below the goal-line for an entire shift. It made him a vital member of Carolina’s shutdown line with Jordan Staal last year, as he was the “skill guy” on the line, creating looks off the rush and being the first one on pucks to wear down defenders. The interesting thing about him is that while he’s productive, a lot of the goals he scores are of the “odd” variety. You’ll see a lot of bank shots off the goaltender or goals from impossible angles. Not many players will have back-to-back 20-goal seasons scoring goals like this, but that’s been the case for him. There’s a lot of different things Nashville can do with him. He would fit right in with Tanner Jeannot on the checking line, but he was moved around in Carolina before settling in on Staal’s wing, so he brings some versatility there. Special teams’ ice-time is the one thing to look for with him, as he produced with limited usage on the Carolina power play and didn’t kill penalties either. He could be more of a fixture on both in Nashville.

Matt Duchene

One year removed from being available in the expansion draft, Matt Duchene had the type of season Nashville fans were waiting for. It was his most productive season in his long NHL career and the first time he reached the 40-goal mark. Nashville changing their approach to more of a transition team and pairing him with Filip Forsberg was the main cause. He always created a lot of shots but would often find himself too close to the goaltender or at too weird of an angle to make any moves or use his great shot. Most of that is from the Preds expecting Duchene to drive his own line with other checkers instead of pairing him with another elite talent like Forsberg. Skill works with skill and the duo were unstoppable for the Preds, Duchene getting the full benefit of playing more off the rush and using his speed as a weapon more. He created less offense in volume, but the chance quality was at another level because of how much time and space he would have to shoot. This also applies to the power play because while he still played the net-front role, the Preds set him up with more diagonal passing plays, giving him space for one-timers at the side of the net instead of looking for rebounds and deflections. There is some concern on if Duchene can produce without Forsberg by his side, but the Preds likely won’t mess with a duo that gave them such great results last year. They figured out how to cater to their best players strengths, which is an encouraging sign for the team going forward.

Ryan Johansen

Johansen was another player who had a renaissance season in Nashville, reaching the 20-goal mark for the first time since his Columbus days, although his rebound season wasn’t talked about as much. His game isn’t as flashy as it used to be. Hips surgeries have impacted how much power he can get behind his stride and while his strength is still there, he isn’t the same player who can setup shop in the offensive zone like in the heyday of the JOFA Line. His hands, however, are still as strong as ever and you saw that with how great he was as a goal-scorer. Nashville set him up in a lot of ways from the bumper position on the power play, he might have been Josi’s favorite passing target with his precision on tip plays and how he could get himself open for one-timers. It’s a different look from his old days of quarterbacking the power play from the wall, but goal-scoring is where he was the most effective and it caught some teams off-guard. He still had more of a pass-first mindset, especially after getting bumped up to the Forsberg line, it just wasn’t as extreme as it was in previous season, and it was rare for him to be the one driving a line. Someone else had to set the table for Johansen to get into the zone or create a chance and it was up to him to make the final play. It worked last year, but it’s clear that he is more of a specialist than he was in previous years. Most players have to adapt and change their games as they get older, and Johansen is going through that right now.

Tanner Jeannot

It’s hard not to love watching Tanner Jeannot play. He is very easy to notice anytime Nashville is on because of how aggressive he is anytime the puck is in the offensive zone. He’s always the first one to deliver a big hit or get in on the forecheck, which is always going to be part of Nashville’s DNA. His 24 goals were a bonus with everything else he brought to the table, leading all rookies in that department. He scored a lot of “dirty” goals off deflections and rebounds where the puck took an odd bounce, or he found himself behind the defense. Jeannot had some very good offensive seasons in Moose Jaw, but not many had him pegged as a 20+ goal-scorer, especially in the role Nashville had him in. His line with Colton Sissons and Yakov Trenin played in more high-leverage situations as the season went on and Jeannot’s penchant for going to the net for tip plays made them more of a dual threat than just a line that forechecks. Repeating that next year might be tough, as his line didn’t create a lot of shots unless it was coming off Trenin’s stick and Jeannot was more of an opportunistic scorer than someone who drove play. Although Nashville will be happy if they got even half of what Jeannot produced last year with how good he is at being an agitator.

Mikael Granlund

Granlund is one of the tougher players to project on Nashville’s roster. He plays a lot of important minutes, which includes killing penalties and centering Forsberg/Duchene, but when you look at what he does on his own, it’s not much. He had another good season in terms of points, with 25% of them coming off secondary assists and was a mainstay on their top power play unit. It’s just that he’s more of a support player now and his production will mirror whoever his linemates are. If that’s Forsberg and Duchene again, he’s in for a good season. If he’s centering another line, he might go back to the 40–45-point player he was before. That’s not to say he’s a bad player, because he wears a lot of hats for Nashville and helps facilitate the rush offense for Duchene and Forsberg by doing most of the work away from the puck. His endurance and lower body strength make him a key part of the Preds but he kind of struggled against quicker opponents and made him more of a power play specialist than in years past. That said, he should be the 1C for Nashville unless someone else dethrones him.

Phillip Tomasino

The young winger had a solid rookie season in Nashville despite not having a clear role. His linemates were inconsistent with Nashville not trusting him on the second line just yet and the Jeannot line playing more third line minutes. Tomasino ended up getting the leftovers and he did surprisingly well with a rotating cast of linemates, producing more primary assists per 60 minutes than any other Nashville forward. He has the tools to make the jump to a top-six role, as he’s more of a shoot-first player despite the boxcar stats and has a deceptive release. He’s also a smooth skater and showed some ability to create off the rush, although it didn’t lead to many goals. Tomasino was pigeon-holed into more of a shoot-first role last year because of who his linemates were (Johansen, Cousins, Novak) and while he did fine, he was better as a playmaker in junior and the long stick he uses made it awkward for him to get the shot he wanted even if he was in good position. His passing was still a threat, but Nashville has a lot of similar forwards that they needed a finisher on his line. This will likely be the next step in his development. He had a good season with limited minutes and should be in line for a bigger role next year.

Eeli Tolvanen

While Tolvanen has struggled to be the force he was in junior, he has found a niche as a defensive-forward for Nashville, although it’s not always obvious when watching him play. He still has the bomb of a one-timer and shows flashes of high-end skill, but it’s been tough for him to produce at the NHL level even with decent minutes. However, he made himself an everyday NHLer by finding other ways to be productive. He was an excellent forechecker and was very good at using his stick to force turnovers, setting the table for the Jeannot line to follow it up with offensive zone shifts. Sometimes this is what you have to do if you’re skill isn’t producing results like you’d hope, and it showed some maturity in Tolvanen’s game. It could make him a nice fit with Nino Niederreiter in the middle-six or on the penalty kill if they want to use him there. That said, Nashville is hoping for more offense out of him if they’re going to continue to give him power play time. We’ve seen how good of a shooter he is in spurts and making his shot more of a threat is one thing the Preds can do to take Tolvanen’s game to the next level.

Yakov Trenin

You can take one look at the monstrous Yakov Trenin and have a good idea of how he plays. He is there to crash bodies, shoot the puck and be a general pain to play against. He was the catalyst of Nashville’s “Herd Line” with Jeannot and Sissons, usually the one taking most of the shots or hitting Jeannot for a deflection. It’s easy to forget that Trenin was a good goal-scorer at other levels, including fairly recently in the AHL, so his 17 goals weren’t totally out of left field. He shoots from everywhere in the offensive zone and isn’t a one-trick pony with taking empty calorie shots off the rush. He will go to the net and is skilled with getting deflections off point shots. It was just a perfect marriage of playing styles with him and Jeannot, as the duo spent a lot of time in the offensive zone and Trenin could play to his strengths more with playing a straight-line game and getting ga lot of shots on goal. He is the most likely member of The Herd Line to repeat his production from the past season.

DEFENSE

Roman Josi

The biggest catalyst of Nashville’s newfound offense was their best player, Roman Josi. The Norris runner-up was a few goalposts and mishits from being the first defenseman to reach 100 points since Brian Leetch. Better scoring from the forwards was part of it, but something else was a change in approach in how they used their star. Nashville tried to keep Josi out of the defensive zone as much as possible, sending him on the ice off opposing line-changes and having his partners retrieve the puck more, allowing Josi to get up in the play and create off the rush without expending as much energy. It also allowed him to play longer shifts in the offensive zone, which already catered to his strengths. He could treat five-on-five play like a power play and attack off the rush on more “re-load” type of plays against tired defenders rather than going the full-200 feet. Nashville already knows what they have in Josi, now they wanted to maximize how gifted he is with the puck rather than have him carry the entire defense on his back. Safe to say they got the result they wanted. It didn’t matter which forwards he was paired with because he can make anyone dangerous with how much attention he draws from defenders. Someone usually gets open and Josi is one of the best passing defensemen in the league. It was showcased even more on the power play, where he set career highs with 37 points and scored 11 goals, more than he has had in the past three years combined. Josi will get his offense, but it will be tough to replicate the gaudy point total he had this year, as so few defensemen have been able to replicate the type of season he had.

Mattias Ekholm

The workhorse of the Preds defense, Ekholm played more of a pure shutdown role than he ever has before. He started the bulk of his shifts in the defensive zone against top lines and did a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to limiting damage. There were few defensemen in the league who had more successful puck retrievals in the defensive zone, both to kickstart breakouts and to clear the zone. It was a bit of a thankless role, as Ekholm didn’t get to be up in the play much at all and his offense took a small hit. They were also very taxing minutes, and he doesn’t get enough credit for avoiding as many hits as he does because he’s so quick to make the first play after going back to get the puck. Killing other team’s forechecks is an underrated skill for a shutdown defenseman, as most are concerned with blocking shots and delivering hits. He fits the mold of a modern defenseman but doesn’t have the flashy plays that a Jaccob Slavin or Devon Toews, so he gets overlooked in that discussion. It also shouldn’t be overlooked that he took on these minutes alongside a rookie partner in Alex Carrier, who slowly picked up on some of Ekholm’s traits with protecting the puck from forecheckers to move it out of the zone. The downside is that this type of workload eventually catches up. Always playing on your heels, clearing pucks and swimming upstream has a trickle-down effect on the rest of your shifts if you’re not creating any offense. Ekholm managed to do well but it’s a tough role to play every year.

Dante Fabbro

Ending the previous year as a healthy scratch in the playoffs, Fabbro got his career back on track by solidifying himself as Roman Josi’s right-hand man. He had the less desirable job of the duo, going back to get most of the pucks and being the safety value while Josi did his usual roaming in the offensive zone. It had its perks. Fabbro got to play a little more on offense, utilizing the more skilled part of his game we saw at Boston U. Before then, he looked like a player who could eat a lot of minutes but not really do anything to shift the tides of the game. While that’s still somewhat true, Fabbro did show he can hang with the stars on the team, being a productive member of their top defense pair isn’t anything to scoff at. Especially since you’re going to deal with a lot of unpredictability with Josi as your partner. The most encouraging thing is that Fabbro translated some of his skills to the defensive side of the game, using some of his finesse to help start breakouts and using his skating to help get back to cover for Josi or defend entries. It’s exactly the type of thing you want to see with your young defensemen. Can he do it with a partner that isn’t a Norris runner-up? That remains to be seen.

GOALTENDING

Juuse Saros

In a perfect world, it’s hard to believe that the Nashville Predators would want to leave starter Juuse Saros to shoulder such a large chunk of the workload during the regular season. But thanks to the covid-19 league-wide hiccups and a slew of start-and-stops that left some of the league’s most storied veterans struggling to get themselves into top game shape, the 2022-23 season features a few too many open spots for tandem jobs and a few too many established names to fill them – which has left teams like Nashville to take gambles on available reclamation projects while hoping that starters like Saros can handle heavier volumes of work without fizzling out around the postseason.

The good news for Nashville is that Saros has been exactly what they hoped he would be, without suffering much in the way of growing pains as he adjusted to life without mentor Pekka Rinne sharing his crease. A structurally precise goaltender who tricks teams with his smaller stature and keeps them on their toes with surprisingly fast footwork and good pad reach, Saros has kept Nashville from plummeting once their giants hit a decline and left them facing down a likely-closed Stanley Cup window. What they might need to worry about, though, is just how healthy Saros can remain when holding down the fort every night – especially with a fairly unknown quantity behind him in fellow Finnish netminder Kevin Lankinen, who arrives fresh off a tumultuous handful of years with the Chicago Blackhawks. Lankinen’s speed and enthusiasm don’t necessarily compensate fully for the technical gaps in his game, particularly when it comes to his ability to adapt his play hinging out from the blue line – and Chicago’s complete lack of defensive structure left him with few good examples in the way of effective reading and reacting in the way of blue line systems. He has a lot of promise to his game, but a lot of bad habits that he’ll need to unlearn if Nashville hopes to utilize him as a quality backup option to tandem with Saros beyond this year.

Projected starts: 60-65

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Evgeni Malkin returns to action and Evander Kane might have a new team soon. Jared McCann, Nico Hischier, Clayton Keller, Trevor Moore and more

Scott Cullen — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 22:57:13 +0000

Each week I will dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

In this week’s edition of 20 Fantasy Points, Evgeni Malkin returns to action and Evander Kane might have a new team soon. Jared McCann, Nico Hischier, Clayton Keller, Trevor Moore and more.

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 09: Pittsburgh Penguins Center Evgeni Malkin (71) handles the puck during the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers on March 9, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)

#1 The Pittsburgh Penguins have waited patiently and finally had Evgeni Malkin make his season debut this week after a long recovery from knee surgery. He has taken his place on Pittsburgh’s first power play unit and is centering Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen. While injuries have plagued Malkin throughout much of his career, he is still averaging 1.17 points per game since 2017-2018, the seventh highest rate in the league in that time.

#2 After the San Jose Sharks waived left winger Evander Kane for the purposes of terminating his contract, the door was open for Kane to sign with any team as a free agent. The Edmonton Oilers may be the landing spot most loudly rumored. That would obviously present a beneficial opportunity for Kane, who might even get to play with Connor McDavid. Alas, before the deal could even get signed, the league was reportedly investigating another potential COVID-19 protocol violation from Kane and that has put any signing on pause.

#3 If you can get past the off-ice issues, of which there are many, Kane has been a very productive player. In the three seasons prior to this one, Kane was tied for sixth among left wingers with 78 goals. He was tied with Tom Wilson for most penalty minutes among forwards (317) and his 405 hits ranked 13^th among left wingers. Kane’s 678 shots on goal in that span ranked third among left wingers. The shots and goals are difference makers in most fantasy leagues, the hits and penalty minutes are typically in the realm of banger-style leagues. Of course, he comes with more risk than the average player for a lot of reasons but, for fantasy purposes, he does have higher upside than the standard waiver wire addition.

#4 Seattle Kraken center Jared McCann had a breakthrough season for the Penguins last year, stepping into a bigger opportunity when Malkin was injured, and he has continued producing with the expansion Kraken. In his past five games, he has six points (3 G, 3 A) and 21 shots on goal and is up to 15 goals in 31 games. He has emerged as the No. 1 centre for the Kraken, which might even be better than was expected when he was selected in the expansion draft.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) skates during the first period of the pre-season National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals on October 4, 2021 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

#5 Nico Hischier was limited to 21 games last season and the New Jersey Devils captain started slowly this season, but he has been rounding into form. In the past 23 games, Hischier has 19 points (6 G, 13 A) and 43 shots on goal. Pavel Zacha has been his most consistent linemate this season, though Jesper Bratt, Tomas Tatar, and Jimmy Vesey have skated with Hischier, too. With Jack Hughes picking up the scoring pace, the Devils are starting to see what could happen as their top two centers start to reach their offensive potential.

#6 Goals don’t come easily for the Arizona Coyotes. Their 2.15 goals per 60 minutes ranks 31^st, ahead of only the Montreal Canadiens (2.07), and yet Clayton Keller has really started to hit his stride offensively. In the past 18 games, Keller has 20 points (9 G, 11 A) and 61 shots on goal while averaging 20:49 of ice time per game. He is widely available in fantasy leagues and while the Coyotes are likely to shed some veteran talent before the trade deadline, Keller might just hang around and play big minutes on a bad team for the rest of the season.

#7 Point production has been inconsistent for Blake Coleman in his first season with the Calgary Flames, but the hard-driving winger does offer fantasy value in other categories, too. He had finished 2021 with one point in 14 games but in 2022 he has four points (2 G, 2 A) to go with 24 shots on goal and 15 hits in five games. As a player with multiple 20-goal and multiple 200-hit seasons, Coleman has sufficient fantasy upside.

#8 All of the schedule changes this season have resulted in a dramatic difference in terms of games played, so a team like the New York Islanders figures to offer more appeal going forward. The Islanders have played just 29 games, 10 fewer than the teams with the most games played. Mathew Barzal is the obvious target on the Islanders but, in deeper leagues, consider Oliver Wahlstrom, who has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 24 shots on goal in the past nine games, and Kieffer Bellows, who has eight points (3 G, 5 A) in his past eight games.

#9 The Ottawa Senators are another team that has played fewer games, with game No. 30 coming Thursday night in Calgary. Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk are the more obvious targets for the Sens but consider winger Alex Formenton, whose role is increasing, and he has produced nine points (4 G, 5 A) and 24 shots on goal in his past 10 games.

#10 If the Islanders and Sens are teams to target because they are low on the games played list, it stands to reason that the team that have played more might come with a buyer beware tag. Those teams include the Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Beware Ducks veteran center Ryan Getzlaf, who had a productive start to the season but has four points (1 G, 3 A) and 15 shots on goal in his past 13 games.

#11 The Golden Knights appear to be a team on the rise but there is some reason to be cautious with them, too. Chandler Stephenson, for example, has 36 points (10 G, 26 A) in 38 games. That includes seven points (1 G, 6 A) and 12 shots on goal in the past 11 games but that is not the real reason to worry about Stephenson’s production the rest of the way. The bigger concern is what will happen to his ice time once Jack Eichel is ready to play next month. There may be other line shuffling opportunities for the Golden Knights but if Stephenson drops from the top line to make room for Eichel, that could obviously impact his offensive upside.

#12 Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei is experiencing an offensive surge, putting up eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 21 shots on goal in his past six games. That shot rate is very encouraging and Skjei has a chance to have his best offensive output since scoring 39 points as a rookie in 2016-2017.

#13 Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington had a breakthrough early in the season and was a hot commodity in fantasy circles but is available in more leagues now. He has seven points (1 G, 6 A) in his past 13 games but 33 shots on goal in that time is a decent indicator that Kylington’s production should continue at a reasonably high level.

#14 When Trevor Moore scored 23 points (10 G, 13 A) in 56 games last season, that counted as the best season of his career. The Los Angeles Kings winger then opened this season with zero points in 11 games. Time has brought about new opportunity, though, and Moore is now skating with Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson on the Kings’ second line and Moore has produced 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 23 shots on goal in the past seven games.

#15 Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas has long been a fantasy sleeper, but it bears repeating that his hit totals can be a major factor. Since the beginning of December, Gudas is averaging 4.2 hits per game, tops among defensemen that have played at least 10 games in that span. (Edmonton’s Markus Niemelainen had 5.1 hits per game in seven games.)

#16 Other defensemen bringing the boom, with the most hits per game since the start of December, include Montreal’s Alexander Romanov (4.1), Vancouver’s Luke Schenn (4.0), Nashville’s Mark Borowiecki (4.0), Columbus’ Andrew Peeke (3.4), and Seattle’s Jeremy Lauzon (3.4).

#17 A prime fantasy category for defensemen is blocked shots and given its nature as a peripheral type of statistic, sometimes it’s an area which might offer some undervalued players. Chicago’s Connor Murphy (3.0 blocks per game), St. Louis’ Colton Parayko (2.9), Vegas’ Brayden McNabb (2.8), and Montreal’s David Savard (2.8) are the per-game blocked shot leaders since the start of December. Savard and Murphy are both averaging more than 2.4 hits per game in that span, too.

#18 Sometimes it can be hard to find goaltending value at this stage of the fantasy season. Usually, the safe and reliable options are taken but short-term value can come from backup goaltenders getting a chance due to injuries. Some of the best backups this season include Anaheim’s Anthony Stolarz (.929 SV%) and Minnesota’s Kaapo Kahkonen (.915 SV%) who have had some opportunity to play a bit more recently.

#19 Dallas’ Jake Oettinger was not a starter at the beginning of the season, but it sure appears that is the path the Stars have now chosen. Oettinger has earned it, with a .923 save percentage in 17 games.

#20 If there is a backup goaltender who might get a shot at the starting role it is Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner. It is possible that the Oilers make a trade for a more established veteran but, if not, 23-year-old Skinner has a .916 save percentage in 10 appearances for the Oilers this season in addition to a .925 save percentage in eight AHL games. Given the struggles of Mikko Koskinen and injury woes plaguing Mike Smith, Skinner might have some potential to steal the starting job. It is at least enough to make him worth monitoring.

Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:09:56 +0000

These are our final prospect ranking prior to the start of the season. As a subscriber you can download the list in an excel chart and can link to the player pages in the chart found here. As always, the rankings you see below are based on our 20-80 scouting system looking at five categories for skaters (Skating, Shot, Puck Skills, Hockey Smarts, Physicality) and six for netminders (Athleticism/Quickness/Speed, Compete/Temperament, Vision/Play Reading, Technique/Style, Rebound Control, Puck Handling). Our prospect team spent large portions of their last few months pre-COVID in the rinks, watching the players below and many others, and further work on video (Instat Hockey has been a terrific resource in recent days) before passing judgement on their future projections.

The 20-80 scouting system is meant to allow players from different leagues in different parts of the world to be compared to one another, such that grades on a player in the OHL can be directly compared to grades from an AHL player, and to grades of someone playing in the MHL.

PROSPECT CRITERIA

Players under 26 years of age as of the September 15th prior (Sep. 15, 1994) to the season in question who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in any one season – or 25 last year (20 for goalies, 15 last season) are considered prospects

RANK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	ACQUIRED
1	Alexis Lafreniere	NYR	LW	19	6-1/195	`20(1st)
2	Tim Stutzle	Ott	C	18	6-1/185	`20(3rd)
3	Quinton Byfield	LA	C	18	6-4/215	`20(2nd)
4	Trevor Zegras	Ana	C	19	6-0/170	`19(9th)
5	Kirill Kaprizov	Min	LW	23	5-10/200	`15(135th)
6	Lucas Raymond	Det	LW	18	5-11/170	`20(4th)
7	Dylan Cozens	Buf	C	19	6-3/185	`19(7th)
8	Bowen Byram	Col	D	19	6-0/195	`19(4th)
9	Peyton Krebs	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`19(17th)
10	Jake Sanderson	Ott	D	18	6-1/185	`20(5th)
11	Moritz Seider	Det	D	19	6-3/185	`19(6th)
12	Jamie Drysdale	Ana	D	18	5-11/175	`20(6th)
13	Igor Shesterkin	NYR	G	25	6-1/190	`14(118th)
14	Alexander Holtz	NJ	RW	18	6-0/190	`20(7th)
15	Cole Perfetti	Wpg	LW	19	5-10/180	`20(10th)
16	Marco Rossi	Min	C	19	5-9/185	`20(9th)
17	Vasili Podkolzin	Van	RW	19	6-1/190	`19(10th)
18	Victor Soderstrom	Ari	D	19	5-11/180	`19(11th)
19	Nick Robertson	Tor	LW	19	5-9/160	`19(53rd)
20	Cole Caufield	Mtl	RW	19	5-7/165	`19(15th)
21	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	18	6-3/175	`20(11th)
22	Spencer Knight	Fla	G	19	6-3/195	`19(13th)
23	Philip Broberg	Edm	D	19	6-3/200	`19(8th)
24	Jack Quinn	Buf	RW	19	6-0/180	`20(8th)
25	Matthew Boldy	Min	LW	19	6-1/190	`19(12th)
26	Nils Lundkvist	NYR	D	20	5-11/180	`18(28th)
27	Seth Jarvis	Car	RW	18	5-10/175	`20(13th)
28	Ty Smith	NJ	D	20	5-10/180	`18(17th)
29	Grigori Denisenko	Fla	LW	20	5-11/185	`18(15th)
30	Barrett Hayton	Ari	C	20	6-1/190	`18(5th)
31	Alex Newhook	Col	C	19	5-10/195	`19(16th)
32	Thomas Harley	Dal	D	19	6-3/190	`19(18th)
33	Alex Turcotte	LA	C	19	5-11/185	`19(5th)
34	Vitali Kravtsov	NYR	RW	21	6-3/185	`18(9th)
35	Philip Tomasino	Nsh	C	19	5-11/180	`19(24th)
36	Connor McMichael	Wsh	C	19	5-11/175	`19(25th)
37	Dawson Mercer	NJ	C	19	6-0/180	`20(18th)
38	Ilya Sorokin	NYI	G	25	6-2/180	`14(78th)
39	Gabriel Vilardi	LA	RW	21	6-3/200	`17(11th)
40	Ryan Merkley	SJ	D	20	5-11/170	`18(21st)
41	Alexander Romanov	Mtl	D	20	5-11/185	`18(38th)
42	Kaiden Guhle	Mtl	D	18	6-2/190	`20(16th)
43	Samuel Poulin	Pit	LW	19	6-1/205	`19(21st)
44	K'Andre Miller	NYR	D	20	6-3/205	`18(22nd)
45	Scott Perunovich	StL	D	22	5-10/175	`18(45th)
46	Evan Bouchard	Edm	D	21	6-2/195	`18(10th)
47	Braden Schneider	NYR	D	19	6-2/200	`20(19th)
48	Juuso Valimaki	Cgy	D	22	6-2/205	`17(16th)
49	Cam York	Phi	D	19	5-11/175	`19(14th)
50	Anton Lundell	Fla	C	19	6-1/185	`20(12th)
51	Morgan Frost	Phi	C	21	5-11/180	`17(27th)
52	Owen Tippett	Fla	RW	21	6-1/200	`17(10th)
53	Albert Johansson	Det	D	19	5-11/165	`19(60th)
54	Liam Foudy	CBJ	C	20	6-0/175	`18(18th)
55	Kieffer Bellows	NYI	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(19th)
56	Arthur Kaliyev	LA	RW	19	6-2/190	`19(33rd)
57	Oliver Wahlstrom	NYI	RW	20	6-1/205	`18(11th)
58	Nils Hoglander	Van	RW	20	5-9/185	`19(40th)
59	Matias Maccelli	Ari	LW	20	5-11/170	`19(98th)
60	Tobias Bjornfot	LA	D	19	6-0/200	`19(22nd)
61	Jacob Bernard-Docker	Ott	D	20	6-0/180	`18(26th)
62	Connor Zary	Cgy	C	19	6-0/180	`20(24th)
63	Dominik Bokk	Car	RW	20	6-1/180	T(StL-9/19)
64	Ryan Suzuki	Car	C	19	6-0/180	`19(28th)
65	Dylan Samberg	Wpg	D	21	6-3/190	`17(43rd)
66	Jake Bean	Car	D	22	6-1/175	`16(13th)
67	Josh Norris	Ott	C	21	6-1/195	T(SJ-9/18)
68	Rasmus Kupari	LA	C	20	6-1/185	`18(20th)
69	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	19	5-9/165	`19(26th)
70	Drake Batherson	Ott	RW	22	6-1/190	`17(121st)
71	Jan Jenik	Ari	RW	20	6-1/180	`18(65th)
72	John-Jason Peterka	Buf	LW	18	5-11/190	`20(34th)
73	Kirill Marchenko	CBJ	LW	20	6-3/190	`18(49th)
74	Bode Wilde	NYI	D	20	6-2/195	`18(41st)
75	John Beecher	Bos	C	19	6-3/210	`19(30th)
76	Tyler Madden	LA	C	21	5-10/155	T(Van-2/20)
77	Jack Studnicka	Bos	C	21	6-1/170	`17(53rd)
78	Jake Oettinger	Dal	G	22	6-4/210	`17(26th)
79	Alex Formenton	Ott	LW	21	6-2/165	`17(47th)
80	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	19	6-3/200	`19(49th)
81	Calen Addison	Min	D	20	5-10/180	T(Pit-2/20)
82	Ty Dellandrea	Dal	C	20	6-0/185	`18(13th)
83	Akil Thomas	LA	C	20	5-11/170	`18(51st)
84	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	18	5-10/180	`20(30th)
85	Ian Mitchell	Chi	D	21	5-11/175	`17(57th)
86	Jason Robertson	Dal	LW	21	6-2/195	`17(39th)
87	Hendrix Lapierre	Wsh	C	18	5-11/180	`20(22nd)
88	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`20(29th)
89	Theodor Niederbach	Det	C	18	5-11/175	`20(51st)
90	Zac Jones	NYR	D	20	5-10/175	`19(68th)
91	Robert Mastrosimone	Det	LW	19	5-10/160	`19(54th)
92	Joe Veleno	Det	C	20	6-1/195	`18(30th)
93	Rodion Amirov	Tor	LW	19	6-0/170	`20(15th)
94	Jake Neighbours	StL	LW	18	5-11/195	`20(26th)
95	Julien Gauthier	NYR	RW	23	6-4/225	T(Car-2/20)
96	Justus Annunen	Col	G	20	6-4/215	`18(64th)
97	Egor Zamula	Phi	D	20	6-4/175	FA(9/18)
98	Shane Pinto	Ott	C	20	6-2/190	`19(32nd)
99	Noel Gunler	Car	RW	19	6-2/175	`20(41st)
100	Ridly Greig	Ott	C	18	5-11/165	`20(28th)
101	Jesse Ylonen	Mtl	RW	21	6-1/185	`18(35th)
102	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	20	6-0/195	`19(50th)
103	Mattias Norlinder	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`19(64th)
104	Olli Juolevi	Van	D	22	6-3/200	`16(5th)
105	Kristian Vesalainen	Wpg	LW	21	6-3/205	`17(24th)
106	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	20	6-4/195	`19(38th)
107	Jan Mysak	Mtl	C	18	5-11/180	`20(49th)
108	Cayden Primeau	Mtl	G	21	6-3/180	`17(199th)
109	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	LW	20	6-1/170	`19(79th)
110	Morgan Barron	NYR	C	22	6-2/200	`17(174th)
111	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	19	5-11/180	`19(20th)
112	Dylan Holloway	Edm	C	19	6-0/205	`20(14th)
113	Jack Dugan	VGK	RW	22	6-2/185	`17(142nd)
114	Alexander Khovanov	Min	C	20	5-11/195	`18(86th)
115	Jacob Perreault	Ana	RW	18	5-11/195	`20(27th)
116	Jake Evans	Mtl	C	24	6-0/185	`14(207th)
117	Adam Beckman	Min	LW	19	6-1/170	`19(75th)
118	Jett Woo	Van	D	20	6-0/205	`18(37th)
119	Nolan Foote	NJ	LW	20	6-3/190	T(TB-2/20)
120	Logan Brown	Ott	C	22	6-6/220	`16(11th)
121	Martin Kaut	Col	RW	21	6-1/175	`18(16th)
122	Jack Rathbone	Van	D	21	5-10/175	`17(95th)
123	Ozzy Wiesblatt	SJ	RW	18	5-10/185	`20(31st)
124	Ryan O'Rourke	Min	D	18	6-0/180	`20(39th)
125	Lukas Reichel	Chi	LW	18	6-0/170	`20(17th)
126	Jordan Harris	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`18(71st)
127	Lukas Dostal	Ana	G	20	6-1/170	`18(85th)
128	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/205	`19(45th)
129	Conor Timmins	Col	D	22	6-1/185	`17(32nd)
130	Lassi Thomson	Ott	D	20	6-0/190	`19(19th)
131	Eeli Tolvanen	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/175	`17(30th)
132	Kasper Simontaival	LA	RW	18	5-9/180	`20(66th)
133	Roni Hirvonen	Tor	C	18	5-9/165	`20(59th)
134	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	18	5-9/180	`20(38th)
135	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	Ana	C	20	6-1/195	`18(54th)
136	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	18	6-4/200	`20(44th)
137	Tyson Foerster	Phi	C	18	6-1/195	`20(23rd)
138	Helge Grans	LA	D	18	6-2/205	`20(35th)
139	Jonathan Dahlen	SJ	LW	23	5-11/185	T(Van-2/19)
140	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	18	5-11/175	`20(37th)
141	Alexander Alexeyev	Wsh	D	21	6-3/200	`18(31st)
142	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	Pit	D	21	6-2/170	`17(23rd)
143	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	18	5-10/160	`20(64th)
144	Oskari Laaksonen	Buf	D	21	6-2/165	`17(89th)
145	Filip Hallander	Tor	LW	20	6-1/185	T(Pit-8/20)
146	Serron Noel	Fla	RW	20	6-5/205	`18(34th)
147	Martin Chromiak	LA	LW	18	6-0/185	`20(128th)
148	Shakir Mukhamadullin	NJ	D	18	6-3/180	`20(20th)
149	Mattias Samuelsson	Buf	D	20	6-3/215	`18(32nd)
150	Janne Kuokkanen	NJ	LW	22	6-1/190	T(Car-2/20)
151	Ryan Johnson	Buf	D	19	6-0/175	`19(31st)
152	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	19	5-8/175	`20(124th)
153	Martin Fehervary	Wsh	D	21	6-1/190	`18(46th)
154	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	Buf	G	21	6-4/195	`17(54th)
155	Will Lockwood	Van	RW	22	5-11/175	`16(64th)
156	Isac Lundestrom	Ana	C	21	6-0/185	`18(23rd)
157	Michael DiPietro	Van	G	21	6-0/195	`17(64th)
158	Jonatan Berggren	Det	RW	20	5-10/185	`18(33rd)
159	Kevin Bahl	NJ	D	20	6-6/230	T(Ari-12/19)
160	Aliaksei Protas	Wsh	C	19	6-5/205	`19(91st)
161	Reilly Walsh	NJ	D	21	5-11/180	`17(81st)
162	Nick Abruzzese	Tor	C	21	5-9/160	`19(124th)
163	Tyler Tucker	StL	D	20	6-1/205	`18(200th)
164	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	19	5-10/170	`19(129th)
165	Klim Kostin	StL	C	21	6-3/195	`17(31st)
166	Brayden Tracey	Ana	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(29th)
167	Joel Hofer	StL	G	20	6-3/160	`18(107th)
168	Joey Anderson	Tor	RW	22	6-0/195	T(NJ-10/20)
169	Yegor Spiridonov	SJ	C	19	6-2/195	`19(108th)
170	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	19	6-1/205	`20(36th)
171	Joey Keane	Car	D	21	6-0/185	T(NYR-2/20)
172	Jared McIsaac	Det	D	20	6-1/195	`18(36th)
173	Jamieson Rees	Car	C	19	5-10/175	`19(44th)
174	Ivan Morozov	VGK	C	20	6-1/180	`18(61st)
175	Rem Pitlick	Nsh	C	23	5-11/200	`16(76th)
176	Tyce Thompson	NJ	RW	21	6-0/170	`19(96th)
177	Michael McLeod	NJ	C	22	6-2/195	`16(12th)
178	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	LA	C	21	5-11/190	`17(41st)
179	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	19	6-0/165	`19(214th)
180	Antti Tuomisto	Det	D	19	6-4/190	`19(35th)
181	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	18	5-9/155	`20(134th)
182	Luke Evangelista	Nsh	RW	18	5-11/170	`20(42nd)
183	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	18	6-1/180	`20(52nd)
184	Joni Ikonen	Mtl	C	21	5-10/170	`17(58th)
185	Olivier Rodrigue	Edm	G	20	6-1/165	`18(62nd)
186	Lucas Elvenes	VGK	RW	21	6-0/175	`17(127th)
187	Anthony Angello	Pit	RW	24	6-5/205	`14(145th)
188	Tuukka Tieksola	Car	RW	19	5-10/160	`19(121st)
189	Declan Chisholm	Wpg	D	20	6-1/190	`18(150th)
190	Cole Koepke	TB	LW	22	6-1/195	`18(183rd)
191	Valtteri Puustinen	Pit	RW	21	5-9/185	`19(203rd)
192	Ty Smilanic	Fla	C	18	6-1/175	`20(74th)
193	Patrik Puistola	Car	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(73rd)
194	Justin Barron	Col	D	19	6-2/190	`20(25th)
195	Andrew Peeke	CBJ	D	22	6-3/210	`16(34th)
196	Michael Vukojevic	NJ	D	19	6-3/210	`19(82nd)
197	Alec Regula	Chi	D	20	6-3/200	T(Det-10/19)
198	Connor Corcoran	VGK	D	20	6-1/185	`18(154th)
199	Jeremy Swayman	Bos	G	22	6-1/190	`17(111th)
200	Pyotr Kochetkov	Car	G	21	6-1/175	`19(36th)
201	Mikey Anderson	LA	D	21	6-0/195	`17(103rd)
202	Carter Savoie	Edm	LW	18	5-9/190	`20(100th)
203	Samuel Walker	TB	C	21	5-11/160	`17(200th)
204	William Wallinder	Det	D	18	6-4/190	`20(32nd)
205	Jack Drury	Car	C	20	5-11/180	`18(42nd)
206	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	18	5-9/185	`20(54th)
207	Cal Petersen	LA	G	26	6-3/190	FA(7/17)
208	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	18	6-0/200	`20(72nd)
209	Tarmo Reunanen	NYR	D	22	6-0/180	`16(98th)
210	Simon Holmstrom	NYI	RW	19	6-1/185	`19(23rd)
211	Aleksi Saarela	Fla	RW	23	5-11/200	T(Chi-10/19)
212	Anton Johannesson	Wpg	D	18	5-9/155	`20(133rd)
213	Lauri Pajuniemi	NYR	RW	21	6-0/185	`18(132nd)
214	Morgan Geekie	Car	C	22	6-2/180	`17(67th)
215	Shane Bowers	Col	C	21	6-2/190	T(Ott-11/17)
216	Sasha Chmelevski	SJ	C	21	5-11/190	`17(185th)
217	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	20	5-8/155	`18(43rd)
218	Cole Schwindt	Fla	RW	19	6-2/185	`19(81st)
219	Hugo Alnefelt	TB	G	19	6-3/195	`19(71st)
220	Nikita Okhotyuk	NJ	D	20	6-1/195	`19(61st)
221	Sampo Ranta	Col	LW	20	6-2/205	`18(78th)
222	Alexander Volkov	TB	LW	23	6-1/190	`17(48th)
223	Alexander True	SJ	C	23	6-5/205	FA(7/18)
224	John Leonard	SJ	C	22	5-11/190	`18(182nd)
225	Carl Grundstrom	LA	LW	23	6-0/195	T(Tor-1/19)
226	Dmitri Semykin	TB	D	20	6-3/200	`18(90th)
227	Cal Foote	TB	D	22	6-4/215	`17(14th)
228	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	18	5-11/175	`20(75th)
229	Alex Barre-Boulet	TB	C	23	5-10/165	FA(3/18)
230	Tristen Robins	SJ	RW	19	5-10/175	`20(56th)
231	Max Gildon	Fla	D	21	6-3/190	`17(66th)
232	Nikita Alexandrov	StL	C	20	6-0/180	`19(62nd)
233	Michael Benning	Fla	D	18	5-9/180	`20(95th)
234	Justin Sourdif	Fla	RW	18	5-11/175	`20(87th)
235	Tanner Laczynski	Phi	C	23	6-1/200	`16(169th)
236	Eamon Powell	TB	D	18	5-11/165	`20(116th)
237	Kaedan Korczak	VGK	D	19	6-3/190	`19(41st)
238	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	18	6-1/180	`20(47th)
239	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	21	5-10/175	`18(171st)
240	Pius Suter	Chi	C	24	5-11/170	FA(7/20)
241	Wade Allison	Phi	RW	23	6-2/205	`16(52nd)
242	Bobby Brink	Phi	RW	19	5-10/165	`19(34th)
243	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	18	5-10/180	`20(68th)
244	David Farrance	Nsh	D	21	5-11/190	`17(92nd)
245	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	18	6-2/185	`20(33rd)
246	Dmitri Voronkov	CBJ	LW	20	6-4/190	`19(114th)
247	German Rubtsov	Phi	C	22	6-2/190	`16(22nd)
248	Vitaly Abramov	Ott	RW	22	5-9/175	T(CBJ-2/19)
249	Alex Laferriere	LA	RW	19	6-0/175	`20(83rd)
250	Trey Fix-Wolansky	CBJ	RW	21	5-8/185	`18(204th)
251	Isaac Ratcliffe	Phi	LW	21	6-5/200	`17(35th)
252	Kale Clague	LA	D	22	6-0/180	`16(51st)
253	Landon Slaggert	Chi	LW	18	5-11/180	`20(79th)
254	Wyatt Kalynuk	Chi	D	23	6-1/180	FA(7/20)
255	Mikko Kokkonen	Tor	D	19	5-11/200	`19(84th)
256	Kevin Mandolese	Ott	G	20	6-4/180	`18(157th)
257	Daniil Tarasov	CBJ	G	21	6-5/185	`17(86th)
258	Evan Barratt	Chi	C	21	6-0/190	`17(90th)
259	Tyler Benson	Edm	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(32nd)
260	Yegor Korshkov	Tor	RW	24	6-4/215	`16(31st)
261	Hunter Skinner	NYR	D	19	6-2/175	`19(112th)
262	Riley Damiani	Dal	C	20	5-9/165	`18(137th)
263	Ryan McLeod	Edm	C	21	6-2/205	`18(40th)
264	Ilya Konovalov	Edm	G	22	6-0/195	`19(85th)
265	Will Cuylle	NYR	LW	18	6-3/205	`20(60th)
266	Evan Vierling	NYR	C	18	6-0/165	`20(127th)
267	Emil Heineman	Fla	LW	19	6-0/180	`20(43rd)
268	Zayde Wisdom	Phi	RW	18	5-10/195	`20(94th)
269	Hunter Jones	Min	G	20	6-4/195	`19(59th)
270	Ty Tullio	Edm	RW	18	5-10/165	`20(126th)
271	Jordan Spence	LA	D	19	5-10/165	`19(95th)
272	Dmitri Zavgorodny	Cgy	LW	20	5-9/175	`18(198th)
273	Alex Beaucage	Col	RW	19	6-1/195	`19(78th)
274	Matiss Kivlenieks	CBJ	G	24	6-2/190	FA(5/17)
275	Artyom Zub	Ott	D	25	6-2/200	FA(5/20)
276	Urho Vaakanainen	Bos	D	22	6-0/185	`17(18th)
277	Dmitri Samorukov	Edm	D	21	6-2/180	`17(84th)
278	Michal Teply	Chi	LW	19	6-3/185	`19(105th)
279	Colby Ambrosio	Col	C	18	5-8/170	`20(118th)
280	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	20	6-7/195	`19(37th)
281	Jeremy Lauzon	Bos	D	23	6-3/205	`15(52nd)
282	Dennis Gilbert	Col	D	24	6-2/200	T(Chi-10/20)
283	Trent Frederic	Bos	C	22	6-4/215	`16(29th)
284	Lucas Carlsson	Chi	D	23	6-0/190	`16(110th)
285	Zack Macewen	Van	RW	24	6-3/205	FA(3/17)
286	Brandon Hagel	Chi	LW	22	6-1/175	FA(10/18)
287	Vasily Ponomarev	Car	C	18	5-10/180	`20(53rd)
288	Jakub Zboril	Bos	D	23	6-1/200	`15(13th)
289	Garrett Pilon	Wsh	RW	22	5-11/190	`16(87th)
290	Jeremy Bracco	Car	RW	23	5-9/180	FA(10/20)
291	Dylan Sikura	VGK	RW	25	6-0/170	T(Chi-9/20)
292	Kyle Capobianco	Ari	D	23	6-1/180	`15(63rd)
293	Sami Niku	Wpg	D	24	6-0/175	`15(198th)
294	John Farinacci	Ari	C	19	5-11/185	`19(76th)
295	Jackson Lacombe	Ana	D	19	6-1/170	`19(39th)
296	David Cotton	Car	LW	23	6-3/205	`15(169th)
297	Erik Portillo	Buf	G	20	6-6/210	`19(67th)
298	Jacob Truscott	Van	D	18	6-1/170	`20(144th)
299	Mikhail Berdin	Wpg	G	22	6-2/165	`16(157th)
300	Cam Hillis	Mtl	C	20	5-10/170	`18(66th)

2020-21 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook: Boston Bruins Top 20 Prospects

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 12:14:38 +0000

Boston Bruins

McKeen's Top 20 Boston Bruin prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

John Beecher, C (30^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

In Beecher, the Bruins see a player with all of the components to his game, and the physical tools, to grow into a world class third line center. Starting with the physical gifts, he is a bear of a young man, standing a burly 6-3”, and he skates like the wind. He is remarkably graceful for his stature, and when he goes to the net (which he does regularly) he has been near impossible to stop at the collegiate or WJC levels. Despite his moderate numbers, there is still reason to expect more to come. He played a more central role as a freshman with Michigan, where he was the fourth most productive forward, than he did with the USNTDP. His hands are quick and capable of the occasional surprising deke. He uses his elite reach well on both sides of the puck and has demonstrated a knack for creatively setting up his linemates for scoring chances. Beecher also takes full advantage of his imposing size, and at his best, can dominate any given shift. He just needs to start doing it more often. - RW

Jack Studnicka, C (53^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

It comes as absolutely no surprise that Studnicka should be around the top of this list. After making his NHL playoff debut this past season with the Bruins, he seemed to hardly be phased by the level and speed of the game and instead rose up to the challenge. Studnicka is a highly adaptable, fast, and naturally gifted hockey player. His ceiling is very high, and he has not come close to peaking yet. His biggest asset is his speed, both with and without the puck, although he is still a little lightweight and weak on the puck. His goal for next season will be added strength to help him win physical battles more often. After leading AHL Providence in points, Studnicka is ready to take on fulltime duty with Boston. Of course he will need to adapt, but even at his worst he makes things happen on the ice and therefore it would be unwise for the Bruins to sleep on such a good offensive talent and overall playmaker and goal scorer. - SC

Jeremy Swayman, G (111^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Goalies are often difficult to project, but as a fourth-round pick, Swayman is looking like a solid investment. He performed well in his time in the USHL, but he didn’t really showcase his skills until he came to Maine, where he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team and won a bronze medal at the WJC, both in his freshman year. He had an okay sophomore year but really broke out during his junior year, ranking second nationally in save percentage, and winning a full trophy case full of awards. It is no surprise he signed with the Bruins after the season ended. Swayman is a calm goaltender who isn’t afraid of playing the puck. He doesn’t often make flashy saves — a good indication of solid technical skills — but occasionally makes flashy glove saves. He has quick reflexes and a quick stick. He moves well laterally and often stays in the crease. His speed is impressive, and his reflexes are sharp, but it also helps that he is 6-3” and fills the net nicely. His size will no doubt be an asset at the next level. - JS

Urho Vaakanainen, D (18^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

With all of Vaakanainen’s high level experience in the past few years, including time in both the AHL and NHL for the last two years, it is hard to remember that he is still only 21 years of age. The AHL training has been good for Vaakanainen, who has been playing heavy minutes, including time on both the penalty kill and powerplay units. He is a good skater with a good overall skill set, but what stands out is his calmness under pressure, making good decisions quickly with the puck. His hockey IQ is high and he has matured so much as a player over the course of two seasons that he is mentally tough and composed, although his speed and overall play is lacking a certain element for now. More urgency and intensity need to be inserted into his game and he needs to move the puck up faster to keep up with the NHL pace. He still has a high ceiling, and he continues to develop at a good rate leading him to most likely be called up again next season as he works towards a permanent bottom four role. - SC

Jeremy Lauzon, D (52^nd overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Lauzon has found himself on the precipice of a full time role with the Bruins thanks to his tenacity and ability to rise up to the physical and mental challenges of the NHL. He is not known for his offensive contributions, but his style of play works for him and the Bruins. He plays a more defensive role and often lends his passing and skating abilities to breakouts and special teams situations. Lauzon is such a calm player that even in two-on-one defensive situations he takes the time to read the play and properly reacts. He is simply a smart player. He has a good head on his shoulders and Boston needs more stay-at-home defensemen to balance things, which is why Lauzon has lucked out with his calm play being an asset. It would really come as little surprise to see him finally hit his stride and secure a full time roster spot with Boston next season as part of a bottom four pairing, considering the way he played in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. - SC

Trent Frederic, C (29^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Frederic has changed a lot in the way he plays since his days in the USNTDP and University of Wisconsin, meaning that he has developed quite the mean streak, if only not out of the need to be more aggressive at the next level, but also due to frustration. Frederic is a well-rounded forward who can skate, shoot, move the puck, and stick handle all with ease, but in the Boston system as an average forward, he needs to make things happen in order to stand out and that is where he has been having trouble. He needs to dial in and focus on contributing to the stat sheet in a positive way, making his contributions hit the back of the net, rather than the penalty box especially when up with the Bruins as part of their bottom six. For a player as talented as he is at getting to the net, he needs to find ways to perform at the next level and become an offensive threat in a skilled way as Boston already has plenty of grit in their main roster. - SC

Jakub Zboril, D (13^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 7)

It is not that Zboril has been overlooked or not given a proper chance in the NHL yet, it is simply that for such a complete player, the Bruins want to ensure that he is completely ready to make a permanent jump to the next level rather than earning brief stints here or there. Zboril is probably one of the more well-rounded prospects in the system. He can skate, shoot, and pass all with top level accuracy and performance. He is not necessarily anything spectacular in terms of being a flashy, standout type of guy but he contributes in getting the little things he does right, which spurs bigger things downstream. As he continues to get more comfortable and confident in the AHL, his chances of making the NHL are growing along with his maturity. Zboril simply needs to continue on his development path and at some point next season, he may see himself up with Boston. - SC

Jack Ahcan, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 27, 2020. Previous ranking: 8)

One of the prize collegiate free agents this season, Ahcan was a surprise member of the Team USA at the 2017 WJC, helping the Americans to a Gold Medal, and has since racked up four 20+ point seasons for the perennially competitive St. Cloud State Huskies, and making the All-NCHC second team during both of is last two seasons. The undersized blueliner is a classic power play specialist, although he was used in all situations in college. He is very mobile and likes to activate in the offensive zone. He reads the play well and generally makes the smart play to extend possession. As with any player of this size Ahcan will have to prove himself at every level before moving out, but in a best-case scenario, he makes it easier for the Bruins to walk away from Matt Grzelcyk when the latter becomes a UFA after the 2021-22 season. - RW

Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

In his rookie AHL season last year with Providence, Lauko stood out for his speed, which is his best asset, as well as for his tenacity when forechecking. Unfortunately, he sustained a severe leg injury at the WJC, which ended the rest of his season far too early. That said, with the pandemic that ended everyone’s season too early, he has had much time to heal and rehab which which will only aid in his recovery to full speed. Lauko will need to work on getting up to the AHL pace when moving the puck and knowing when to hold onto it, while his efforts in his own end are already commendable. He is yet another speedy, quick forward that Boston could use in their lineup at some point in the near-term future and he fits the mold for what the Bruins looks for in their forward prospects quite well. For now, he has been loaned back out to his home country to play in the Czech league for a little bit, hoping that when he comes back he will be ready for his first NHL test as part of Boston’s bottom six. - SC

Daniel Vladar, G (75^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 10)

Vladar made his NHL debut as the unconventional backup for the Bruins in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a situation made possible by Tuukka Rask’s decision to leave the tournament. For a young goaltender with ECHL and AHL experience, Vladar did well despite being thrown in the midst of things unprepared, and he should be proud of his efforts. He stands 6-5” and has an eye for finding the puck in scrambles and fights well for positioning behind screens. He stays square to the puck and cuts down angles really well. Confidence when playing the puck will come with time, and so will playing against one on one situations better. If he works on remaining calm and not biting too early, his progression towards earning Boston’s number one spot will only get better. Overall, much of Vladar’s play should improve in the coming seasons and by the next time he finds himself in a Boston jersey he should be ready to start. - SC

Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

Of course, nearly everyone reading this list is waiting for the day when Senyshyn makes it. So far, he has not been terribly good for the 2015 first round pick, and he has yet to pass the 30 point mark in a season in the AHL for Providence. His transitional game, as well as his puck movement need to be faster and this next year will most likely be the last year to prove himself and try to find another gear when it comes to his overall game. Senyshyn’s skills are all up to standard for the type of offensive player he is, but he will need to do better and be more dominant in the AHL first in order to earn a full time spot whether with the Bruins, or on a different team. It has now become a mental game and it is up to only him to determine whether he still wants to do what it takes for a chance at the NHL or not. - SC

Trevor Kuntar, C (89^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

In his second year of eligibility, Kuntar stepped up his game last year as an assertive, physical, scoring center. A volume shooter, he took more shots on net than all but one other player in the entire USHL. The Boston College commit reads the game well and plays in a style that leaves little room for subtlety, mostly playing in straight North-South lines. He is a strong skater who prefers to play at his top speed and his strong frame and balance makes him hard to knock him off his stride. Always the top player on his Youngstown team, he will have to adapt his game to a lesser role at the next level, but his no-nonsense style, coupled with capable offensive tools leaves open the possibility that he can assert himself in a middle six role at the highest level. At worst, he can find a fit as an agitating presence will find a depth spot to call his own over time. - RW

Roman Bychkov, D (154^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Bychkov is a skilled puck moving defenseman who plays a mature, detailed game. He keeps his game quite simple in his own end and makes the correct reads and decisions. He has the ability to make plays in the offensive zone and can run the power play very well at the junior level in Russia. Has soft hands for giving and receiving passes. His shot is decent with a quick release but doesn’t pose much of a threat from the point. He plays with his head on a swivel and shows strong awareness of his surroundings. He is quick to collect loose pucks and take them out of danger in front of the net. Bychkov is a good skater with quick feet and agility. I think his explosiveness and speed will improve once he gains lower-body strength. Despite a current lack of physicality, he looks ready to make the jump to pro hockey. - MB

Curtis Hall, C (119^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 14)

Hall is extremely noticeable on the ice, partly because he is a rangy 6-3” forward. Drafted by Boston in the fourth round, he had played hockey in his native Ohio before spending two years in the USHL with Youngstown. He was named to the USHL All-Rookie Second Team in his first year with the Phantoms. This past year, Hall earned a spot on the U.S. World Junior Championship team. Hall led the Bulldogs, a historically low-scoring team, in points as well. Hall isn’t flashy but he is a fairly solid player and is an offensive asset who likes to score. His game is still raw but at 20 years of age, there is time and room left for him to improve. He is very physical. Hall ins’t incredibly fast but he is an aggressive backchecker, who makes his presence felt off the puck. He has also fared well in the face-off circle, winning over half of his draws. He may yet be a four year college player before turning pro. – JS

Oskar Steen, C (165^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

As a smaller forward, Steen does well at getting to the net and is oftentimes fearless in getting to the puck first and staying persistent on the forecheck. This past season with AHL Providence, he was a rather dominant two-way player who was heavily relied upon in penalty kill situations especially due to his speed. Steen is a quick thinker and works best in tight situations down low where he can work the puck and find ways to get to the net. He simply has to keep up at the same high tempo pace as last season and land the same strong hits in order to earn his first NHL stint with Boston. He brings a good skill set and speed along with a strong degree of smarts, the struggle simply comes with his size and consistency, and those will be the main tests when it comes to the next level. Steen should be able to earn his first call up next season in a bottom six role, with a shot at the second penalty kill unit as well. – SC

Peter Cehlarik, LW (90^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 16)

One of a few players on this list in their last years of prospect eligibility (age-related), Cehlarik has a second concern in that he was still unsigned as of early November 2020. That said, he is still an organizational asset for the Bruins, and his early season production for Leksands in SHL (oner one point per game) is not hurting his cause either. Cehlarik has already received 40 games of experience in the NHL for Boston. While he showed some ability to generate offense at the NHL level, his AHL scoring rates were unsustainable at the highest level, and he is further held back by his occasionally plodding foot speed and his propensity to play a soft, perimeter game, even though he has impressive size and strength. At this stage of his career, it is unlikely that Cehlarik ever grows higher than his current status as system depth, but even with those low expectations, he has value as he can hold his own for stretches thanks to his strong shot and solid puck skills, without pulling his team down. - RW

Anton Blidh, LW (180^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 17)

Like Cehlarik above, Blidh is about to age out of consideration for this list. Unlike Cehlarik, Blidh is still under contract with the Bruins. Moreover, Blidh is a different type of player. Less of a true goal scorer, he has swift legs, and is not averse to grinding. He can play with added physicality, forcing opponents to work. Blidh has not been able to provide much offensive punch since his days in the Swedish junior ranks, and even his AHL numbers have been very underwhelming. He may have been primed to break through with the Bruins last season but was limited to 11 combined games in the NHL (7) and AHL (4) due to a severe shoulder injury that required surgery. Presuming a return to good health, he could be in line to start the 2020-21 season up with Boston, at least as long as Brad Marchand remains out with his own injury. His ceiling is low, but he is NHL playable. - RW

Joona Koppanen, LW (135^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: UR)

This run of AHL left wingers extends to (and ends with) Koppanen, although his career may lead him to more time as a center than on the wing. Tall and gangly, he remains intriguing even if he has struggled to put up notable numbers in his two seasons in the AHL, both times finding himself relegated down to the ECHL for a stretch. To his credit, Koppanen has spent the last month or so making the most of his time back home in Finland, playing on loan first in the Finnish second men’s league, as well as in the top flight Liiga, putting up impressive numbers. He has good hands and seems to read the game fairly well, but he is not the swiftest of skaters, and he does not generally put his giant frame to good use. Like Blidh, Koppanen has a very low ceiling, but Koppanen is also younger enough that we may yet see him continue to develop and force his way up the organizational depth chart. - RW

Victor Berglund, D (195^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: UR)

Although he only signed his Entry Level Contract this past June, the former seventh round pick has already had a cup of coffee in the AHL, ending his 2018-19 season with Providence after the end of his 2018-19 season in Sweden. A right-handed blueliner, he has a pretty good point shot, giving him power play capabilities, but his other tools trend more towards average. Even without being toolsy, we have seen Berglund steadily continue to develop since his draft year, to the point where he can now state that all of his tools are at least average. His performance has similarly improved over two seasons in Sweden’s second league and that has continued in the early part of this season, as the Bruins have loaned him to Lulea in the SHL and he has looked pretty good. There are others in the Boston system who could fit in this part of the rankings, but we selected Berglund as he has at least hinted more that there is additional growth coming in his game. We’ll be watching. - RW

Mason Lohrei, D (58^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Outside of Columbus’ first rounder, Lohrei at the end of the second round was one of the most shocking picks of the 2020 draft. In his second year of draft eligibility, and his first full season playing in the USHL, the tall blueliner mixed production from the back end with a solid game in his own end. The numbers are great, but his size is his only real plus tool. We have not seen the upside to justify a second round selection, but his success in jumping from the high school ranks to the USHL – a jump which has caused many other talented players to fail – has impressed. He is expected to play in the USHL for one more season before taking the step up to the collegiate level with Ohio State. The Louisiana native is still very much a dark horse in terms of future NHL potential, but the Bruins clearly were impressed with what they have seen so far. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – BOSTON BRUINS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 7

Ryan Wagman, Profiles: Jashvina Shah, Shaiyena Cote, Marco Bombino, Ryan Wagman — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 17:37:34 +0000

Boston Bruins

It is often said – I often say so myself – that prospect development is rarely, if ever, linear. Some guys are ready for stardom before they are even draft eligible. Some seem that way but hit the height of their development too early and fizzle out. Some shine dimly at first and stay dim. Others seem to be on the path to journeyman status and suddenly hit a switch and take on a whole new trajectory.

The Bruins NHL roster is evidence of the variable paths prospects can take. Think of their big three forwards. High scoring David Pastrnak was a skilled playmaker in the Swedish junior ranks in his U18 season. He was good enough to be selected on merit in the first round, but his trajectory took a new upward course after he turned 18. He went right from the SuperElit, averaging two points every three games against the best teenagers in Sweden, to scoring over a point per game in the AHL and then holding his own as an 18-year-old in the NHL. He has never looked back.

Two-way extraordinaire Patrice Bergeron likewise flipped the switch as an 18-year-old, making the rare leap from the second round straight to the NHL. He was good right away, in a secondary scoring capacity, but turned it up even more after spending the lockout season in the AHL, returning as a 20-year-old capable of putting 70 point seasons on the board, in addition to his all world play off the puck.

Finally, we have the Nose, Brad Marchand. An undersized third round pick out of the QMJHL, he did not go straight from the draft to the pros, but spent two more years in junior hockey, putting up good numbers without exactly reaching a new level. Through his first two pro seasons, (ages 20-21), he had started to look like a good pick, even if his first 20 NHL games ended with only a single assist to his credit. He made the NHL for good at age 22, a solid middle six winger. It was only in his sixth full NHL campaign, at age 27, that he became more than a skilled pest and a true top six player. The following year he eclipsed the point-per-game mark for the first time, and has not fallen from that level since.

I could give more examples on this team alone, but I really want to switch gears here to talk about goalies. For netminders, we can take everything I wrote above about forwards flipping the switch at different times and amplify that ten-fold.

It is often said that scouting goalies is hard. Some say “voodoo.” Part of that is the sheer difficulty of separating a goalie’s performance from that of the defense in front of him. Part of that is judging athleticism. Some displays of athleticism in a netminder are a result of poor positioning or tracking forcing the goalie to scramble. Other displays are a breakdown of the defense forcing the goalie to scramble to save his teammates. And of course, it often takes goalies that much longer to reach their potential, with too many snuffed out due to a bad game or two at the wrong time, losing the confidence of their coach. Think of Bruins’ legend Tim Thomas, who didn’t break through to the NHL full time until he was 31.

This difficulty has long led many scouts and analysts to preach against drafting goalies early. Why is this relevant here? In the pre-season, we had one goalie, Kyle Keyser, in the Bruins’ top 20. After a season largely on the sidelines, he has been overtaken on the Boston depth chart by both Jeremy Swayman, who flipped the switch as a junior at Maine, winning the Mike Richter Award as the top goalie in the NCAA, and Dan Vladar, who seems to improve slightly every season without ever making the big leap. Goalies are indeed hard, but still essential. That’s why I have long advised drafting/signing one every year and not putting all the expectations on one prospect, no matter how talented he may be.

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 26: Look on Boston Bruins center Jack Studnicka (68) during the Boston Bruins versus the Montreal Canadiens game on November 26, 2019, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

John Beecher, C (30^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

More than who find themselves atop a team’s prospect list, Beecher is here on potential more than a previously established level of performance and production. The last of eight members of the 2019 class of the USNTDP to be selected in the 2019 first round, Beecher was actually a bottom six player in his draft season. While that is not a major concern considering that three other centers from that squad were drafted in the top nine, it cannot be ignored that eight other members of that roster had more points.

Clearly the Bruins didn’t use their first-round pick on him with the expectation that he would turn into the next coming of Patrice Bergeron. Instead, more like their selection of Trent Frederic in the late first in 2016, they saw a player with all of the components to his game, and the physical tools to grow into a world class third line center. That projection hasn’t yet worked out for Frederic (more on him shortly), but there is still hope for Beecher. Starting with the physical gifts, he is a bear of a young man, standing a burly 6-3”, and he skates like the wind. He is remarkably graceful for his stature, and when he goes to the net (which he does regularly) he has been near impossible to stop at the collegiate or WJC levels. Despite his moderate numbers, there is still reason to expect more to come.

He played a more central role as a freshman with Michigan, where he was the fourth most productive forward, than he did with the USNTDP. His hands are quick and capable of the occasional surprising deke. He uses his elite reach well on both sides of the puck and has demonstrated a knack for creatively setting up his linemates for scoring chances. Beecher also takes full advantage of his imposing size, and at his best, can dominate any given shift. He just needs to start doing it more often. - RW

Jack Studnicka, C (53^rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 4)

Studnicka is a highly adaptable, fast, and naturally gifted hockey player who as a second-round pick was a real diamond in the rough when Boston drafted him. He has all the makings of a future first liner in the NHL and his ceiling is very high as a prospect who still has not come close to peaking yet. His biggest asset is his speed, both with and without the puck, although he is still a little lightweight and weak on the puck. His goal for next season will to be stronger too help him win his physical battles more often to better pair with his speed.

After leading AHL Providence in points and finishing third in rookie points and thirteenth overall in the entire AHL, Studnicka is certainly ready to take on fulltime duty with Boston although the strangeness of this period in history could see him start with a few games back in Providence and then be up with Boston by February. Of course, he will need to adapt, but even at his worst he makes things happen on the ice and therefore it would be unwise for the Bruins to sleep on such a good offensive talent and overall playmaker and goal scorer. - SC

Jeremy Swayman, G (111^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Goalies are often difficult to project, but as a fourth-round pick, Swayman is looking like a solid investment. He put up a solid save percentage during his two seasons in the USHL but he didn’t really showcase his skills until he came to Maine, where he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team and won a bronze medal at the World Junior Championship, both in his freshman year. He played in just one game at the WJC but kept his net clean.

He had an okay sophomore year but really broke out during his junior year, ranking second nationally in save percentage. He was named the Hockey East Goaltender of the Year, the Hockey East Player of the Year, the Mike Richter Award winner for goaltending, the Walter Brown award for the top player in New England and a Hobey Baker finalist. It is no surprise he signed with the Bruins after the season ended.

Swayman is a calm goaltender who isn’t afraid of playing the puck. He doesn’t often make flashy saves — a good indication of solid technical skills — but occasionally makes flashy glove saves. He has quick reflexes and a quick stick. He moves well latterly and often stays in the crease. His speed is important, and his reflexes are important, but it also helps that Swayman is 6-3” and fills the net nicely. His size will no doubt be an asset at the next level. There is no question Swayman will be an NHL goaltender in relatively short order. - JS

Urho Vaakanainen, D (18^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

With all the international and men’s professional play Vaakanainen has played in the past few years, including bouncing between the AHL and NHL for the last two years, it is hard to keep in mind that he is still only 21 years of age. He managed five games up with Boston this past season and fared pretty well with a +2 rating, looking like a better fit than his brief stint up with Boston the year before.

The AHL training has been good for Vaakanainen, who clocks in with top ice time marks usually and spends time on both the penalty kill and powerplay units. He is a good skater with a good overall skill set, but what makes him stand out the most is his ability to be calm under pressure and make quick and good decisions with the puck. His hockey IQ is high and he has matured so much as a player over the course of two seasons that mentally he is tough and composed enough to play with the ever competitive Bruins; although his speed and play on the ice is lacking a certain element for now.

Due to the fact that Vaakainen is normally very calm, more urgency and intensity need to be inserted into his game for next season and he needs to get to the puck and move it up faster to keep up with the NHL pace. He still has a high ceiling and he continues to develop at a good rate leading him to most likely be called up again next season and he will see many more games with Boston as a bottom four defenseman. - SC

Jeremy Lauzon, D (52^nd overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 7)

Lauzon has found himself, after coming from a small town in Northern Quebec, now on the precipice of a full time role on the Bruins, over a journey of a few years, thanks to his tenacity and ability to rise up to the physical and mental challenges of the NHL and playing for one of the most notoriously feared original six teams.

Over the course of his professional career, he has not been known for his offensive contributions, but slightly adjusted his style of play to one that works for him and the Bruins. He plays a more defensive role and often lends his passing and skating abilities to breakouts and special teams’ situations. Lauzon is such a calm player that even in two-on-one defensive situations he takes the time to read the play and properly react which is what makes him able to not only play at the NHL level but also to be an asset to such an offensive minded group as the Bruins currently are constructed. He is simply a smart player and that really showed in his plus/minus this past season.

He has a good head on his shoulders and Boston needs more stay-at-home defensemen to balance things which is why Lauzon has lucked out with his calm play being an asset. It would really come as little surprise to see him finally hit his stride and secure a full time roster spot with Boston next season as part of a bottom four pairing, considering the way he played in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. - SC

Trent Frederic, C (29^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 3)

Frederic is a well-rounded forward who can skate, shoot, move the puck, and stick handle all with ease, but in the Boston system as an average forward, he needs to make things happen in order to stand out and that is where he has been having trouble. He needs to dial in and focus on contributing to the stat sheet in a positive way, making his contributions hit the back of the net, rather than the penalty box especially when up with the Bruins as part of their bottom six.

For a player as talented as he is at getting to the net, he needs to find ways to perform at the next level and become an offensive threat in a skilled way as Boston already has plenty of grit in their main roster. - SC

Jakub Zboril, D (13^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 14)

Zboril is probably one of the more well-rounded prospects in the system. He can skate, shoot, and pass all with top level accuracy and performance. He is not necessarily anything spectacular in terms of being a flashy, standout type of guy but he contributes in getting the little things he does right, which spurs bigger things downstream. A

s he continues to get more comfortable and confident in the AHL, his chances of making the NHL are growing along with his maturity. Zboril simply needs to continue on his development path and at some point next season, he may see himself up with Boston. - SC

Jack Ahcan, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 27, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

The undersized blueliner is a classic power play specialist, although he was used in all situations in college. He is very mobile and likes to activate in the offensive zone. He reads the play well and generally makes the smart play to extend possession. As with any player of this size Ahcan will have to prove himself at every level before moving out, but in a best-case scenario, he makes it easier for the Bruins to walk away from Matt Grzelcyk when the latter becomes a UFA after the 2021-22 season. - RW

Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

Lauko will need to work on getting up to the AHL pace when moving the puck and knowing when to hold onto it, while his efforts in his own end are already commendable. He is yet another speedy, quick forward that Boston could use in their lineup at some point in the near-term future and he fits the mold for what the Bruins looks for in their forward prospects quite well.

For now, he has been loaned back out to his home country to play in the Czech league for a little bit, hoping that when he comes back he will be ready for his first NHL test as part of Boston’s bottom six. - SC

Daniel Vladar, G (75^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

He stands 6-5” and has an eye for finding the puck in scrambles and fights well for positioning behind screens. He stays square to the puck and cuts down angles really well. Confidence when playing the puck will come with time, and so will playing against one on one situations better. If he works on remaining calm and not biting too early, his progression towards earning Boston’s number one spot will only get better. Overall, much of Vladar’s play should improve in the coming seasons and by the next time he finds himself in a Boston jersey he should be ready to start. - SC

Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 16)

His transitional game, as well as his puck movement need to be faster and this next year will most likely be the last year to prove himself and try to find another gear when it comes to his overall game. Senyshyn’s skills are all up to standard for the type of offensive player he is, but he will need to do better and be more dominant in the AHL first in order to earn a full time spot whether with the Bruins, or on a different team. It has now become a mental game and it is up to only him to determine whether he still wants to do what it takes for a chance at the NHL or not. - SC

Ryan Fitzgerald, C (120^th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: 20)

As it is Fitzgerald’s last year of prospect eligibility, now is the make or break time for him, as every year lowers the room for potential growth in his game. For the past three seasons, he has been a steady forward fixture on the AHL Providence Bruins, as a go-to point guy and versatile forward capable of playing in all situations.

He has skill but size is not in his corner. He makes up for that deficiency in his firmly rooted offensive mindset and natural scoring ability. That being said, Fitzgerald will need to make his defensive game better and be a better two way forward next season if he wants to finally get a call up to Boston. He has one more season to crack the big club’s bottom six and with as much maturity and leadership potential as a player like Fitzgerald has, a failure to take that step now could be the death knell of his NHL hopes. - SC

Roman Bychkov, D (154^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 15)

He owns soft hands for giving and receiving passes. His shot is decent with a quick release but doesn’t pose much of a threat from the point. He plays with his head on a swivel and shows strong awareness of his surroundings. He is quick to collect loose pucks and take them out of danger in front of the net.

Bychkov is a good skater with quick feet and agility. I think his explosiveness and speed will improve once he gains lower-body strength. Despite a current lack of physicality, he looks ready to make the jump to pro hockey. - MB

Curtis Hall, C (119^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

This past year, he earned a spot on the U.S. World Junior Championship team. Hall led the Bulldogs, a historically low-scoring team, in points as well. Hall isn’t flashy but he is a fairly solid player and is an offensive asset who likes to score.

His game is still raw but at 20 years of age, there is time and room left for him to improve. He is very physical. isn’t incredibly fast but he is an aggressive backchecker, who makes his presence felt off the puck. He has also fared well in the face-off circle, winning over half of his draws. He may yet be a four-year college player before turning pro. – JS

Oskar Steen, C (165^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)

Steen is a quick thinker and works best in tight situations down low where he can work the puck and find ways to get to the net. He simply has to keep up at the same high tempo pace as last season and land the same strong hits in order to earn his first NHL stint with Boston.

He brings a good skill set and speed along with a strong degree of smarts, the struggle simply comes with his size and consistency, and those will be the main tests when it comes to the next level. Steen should be able to earn his first call up next season in a bottom six role, with a shot at the second penalty kill unit as well. - SC

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

McKeens Hockey; Article by Ryan Wagman — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:50:55 +0000

I write these words less than 24 hours after the Dallas Stars took game one of the Stanley Cup Finals against the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning. Unlike most seasons wherein the end of the Stanley Cup marks the beginning of off-season player movement, this year teams have taken an early start to the transactional Ferris wheel as many expect the upcoming offseason (from the awarding of the Cup, through to the draft in the first week of October to the start of the 2020-21 season perhaps as soon as early December, pending COVID trends in North America) to be especially turbulent.

We have seen a few trades of NHL pieces, one deal which impacted this guidebook, as Toronto sent Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh and Swedish winger Filip Hallander was among those coming back to Toronto. Hallander was our selection for the second-best prospect in the Penguins system and now holds that title for the Maple Leafs. That trade knocked the Penguins down a few slots on our organizational rankings and allowed Toronto to go the other way accordingly.

Of course, with the draft roughly 17 days away, and with it a complete re-shuffling of the organizational rankings, this is just a snapshot in time of how every team’s system shakes up. We will re-run this list, incorporating the drafted players, in our pre-season fantasy guide, where we will expand the lists up to 20.

What you are about to dive into is a comprehensive list of all prospect eligible players on all 31 teams. To hold prospect eligibility, a player needs to 25 or younger, as of September 15, 2020. All skaters need to have played less than 60 career games, with no more than 35 of those games coming in a single season (or 25 for this past shortened season). For goalies, the age criteria remain the same, but the games played benchmark drops to 30 career games and 20 in a given season (or 15 last year). Any cutoff that does not hew exactly to the Calder Trophy award criteria is, by nature, arbitrary, but we aim to be inclusive for all players who have not yet cemented NHL jobs and/or have not had a prolonged chance to prove himself capable – or incapable.

We rank 15 per team, as depth is as important as the high end. Our goal is to identify players who could – if they have an advocate for them within the team’s braintrust – play a role in the NHL. These players were identified through our thorough vetting of each prospect across the globe, assigning scores, or grades, to five areas for skaters (skating, shot, puck skills, smarts, physicality) and six for netminders (athleticism/speed/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, positioning/technique, rebound control, and puck handling). Depending on the position, the grades are run through an algorithm to come up with an overall future projection (OFP).

The OFP, if the scout is being honest, measures the future role we anticipate the prospect being able to hold. A 50 score is the lower threshold to be a regular 4^th line forward, or bottom pairing defender. Grades over 56 are potential top line/pairing skaters. The grades in between, obviously project to the middle of the lineup.

As we are reminded every year, development is not linear. Some players take unexpected sudden leaps forward (see Marino, John), and others stagnate (see Ho-Sang, Josh), and many do exactly what we expect of them when they are given the chance. As much as I trust the analysts in our team, I can also tell you that this exercise is always humbling. There will be at least one player who we rate highly who bombs. There will be at least one player who did not feature on his team’s top 15 who becomes an NHL regular next year. We accept those errors in judgment and promise you, our faithful subscriber, that we will learn from them and refine our work for next year, as we learn just as NHL teams learn.

Until then, please enjoy this snapshot view of the future of the beautiful, frozen game. Putting this together has provided at least some sense of normalcy during this crazy summer.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired
Ana	1	Trevor Zegras	C	19	6-0/170	Boston University (HE)	`19(9th)
Min	2	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	23	5-10/200	CSKA (KHL)	`15(135th)
Col	3	Bowen Byram	D	19	6-0/195	Vancouver (WHL)	`19(4th)
Buf	4	Dylan Cozens	C	19	6-3/185	Lethbridge (WHL)	`19(7th)
Fla	5	Spencer Knight	G	19	6-3/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(13th)
VGK	6	Peyton Krebs	C	19	5-11/180	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(17th)
Ari	7	Victor Soderstrom	D	19	5-11/180	Brynas (Swe)	`19(11th)
Mtl	8	Cole Caufield	RW	19	5-7/165	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(15th)
Van	9	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	19	6-1/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`19(10th)
Edm	10	Philip Broberg	D	19	6-3/200	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`19(8th)
Tor	11	Nick Robertson	LW	19	5-9/160	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(53rd)
Col	12	Alex Newhook	C	19	5-10/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(16th)
Det	13	Moritz Seider	D	19	6-3/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`19(6th)
Fla	14	Grigori Denisenko	LW	20	5-11/185	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(15th)
Min	15	Matthew Boldy	LW	19	6-1/190	Boston College (HE)	`19(12th)
NJ	16	Ty Smith	D	20	5-10/180	Spokane (WHL)	`18(17th)
LA	17	Alex Turcotte	C	19	5-11/185	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(5th)
Nsh	18	Philip Tomasino	C	19	5-11/180	Nia-Osh (OHL)	`19(24th)
Pit	19	Samuel Poulin	LW	19	6-1/205	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	`19(21st)
Wsh	20	Connor McMichael	C	19	5-11/175	London (OHL)	`19(25th)
LA	21	Gabriel Vilardi	RW	21	6-3/200	Ontario (AHL)	`17(11th)
NYR	22	Igor Shesterkin	G	24	6-1/190	Hartford (AHL)	`14(118th)
Dal	23	Thomas Harley	D	19	6-3/190	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(18th)
Ari	24	Barrett Hayton	C	20	6-1/190	Arizona (NHL)	`18(5th)
NYR	25	Nils Lundkvist	D	20	5-11/180	Lulea (Swe)	`18(28th)
LA	26	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	19	6-2/190	Hamilton (OHL)	`19(33rd)
Cgy	27	Juuso Valimaki	D	21	6-2/205	DNP - Injured	`17(16th)
Det	28	Jared McIsaac	D	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(36th)
NYR	29	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	20	6-3/185	Hartford (AHL)	`18(9th)
Edm	30	Evan Bouchard	D	20	6-2/195	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(10th)
NYR	31	K'Andre Miller	D	20	6-3/205	Wisconsin (B1G)	`18(22nd)
Edm	32	Raphael Lavoie	RW	19	6-4/195	Hal-Chi (QMJHL)	`19(38th)
NYI	33	Ilya Sorokin	G	25	6-2/180	CSKA (KHL)	`14(78th)
Det	34	Albert Johansson	D	19	5-11/165	Farjestads (Swe)	`19(60th)
Ari	35	Matias Maccelli	LW	19	5-11/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(98th)
Van	36	Nils Hoglander	RW	19	5-9/185	Rogle (Swe)	`19(40th)
Ari	37	Jan Jenik	RW	20	6-1/180	Hamilton (OHL)	`18(65th)
Phi	38	Cam York	D	19	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`19(14th)
Phi	39	Morgan Frost	C	21	5-11/180	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`17(27th)
Ana	40	Lukas Dostal	G	20	6-1/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`18(85th)
LA	41	Tobias Bjornfot	D	19	6-0/200	Ontario (AHL)	`19(22nd)
SJ	42	Ryan Merkley	D	20	5-11/170	London (OHL)	`18(21st)
NYI	43	Kieffer Bellows	LW	22	6-0/200	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(19th)
NYI	44	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	20	6-1/205	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(11th)
LA	45	Rasmus Kupari	C	20	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	`18(20th)
CBJ	46	Liam Foudy	C	20	6-0/175	London (OHL)	`18(18th)
LA	47	Tyler Madden	C	20	5-10/155	Northeastern (HE)	T(Van-2/20)
Mtl	48	Alexander Romanov	D	20	5-11/185	CSKA (KHL)	`18(38th)
NYI	49	Bode Wilde	D	20	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(41st)
Ott	50	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCHC)	`18(26th)
Cgy	51	Jakob Pelletier	LW	19	5-9/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(26th)
LA	52	Akil Thomas	C	20	5-11/170	Nia-Pbo (OHL)	`18(51st)
Wpg	53	Dylan Samberg	D	21	6-3/190	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`17(43rd)
Chi	54	Ian Mitchell	D	21	5-11/175	Denver (NCHC)	`17(57th)
Ott	55	Josh Norris	C	21	6-1/195	Belleville (AHL)	T(SJ-9/18)
NYR	56	Matthew Robertson	D	19	6-3/200	Edmonton (WHL)	`19(49th)
VGK	57	Pavel Dorofeyev	LW	19	6-1/170	Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`19(79th)
Dal	58	Jake Oettinger	G	21	6-4/210	Texas (AHL)	`17(26th)
Ott	59	Drake Batherson	RW	22	6-1/190	Belleville (AHL)	`17(121st)
LA	60	Samuel Fagemo	RW	20	6-0/195	Frolunda (Swe)	`19(50th)
Col	61	Justus Annunen	G	20	6-4/215	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`18(64th)
Bos	62	John Beecher	C	19	6-3/210	Michigan (B1G)	`19(30th)
Phi	63	Egor Zamula	D	20	6-4/175	Calgary (WHL)	FA(9/18)
NYR	64	Zac Jones	D	19	5-10/175	Massachusetts (HE)	`19(68th)
CBJ	65	Kirill Marchenko	LW	20	6-3/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(49th)
VGK	66	Jack Dugan	RW	22	6-2/185	Providence (HE)	`17(142nd)
StL	67	Scott Perunovich	D	22	5-10/175	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(45th)
Bos	68	Jack Studnicka	C	21	6-1/170	Providence (AHL)	`17(53rd)
Dal	69	Ty Dellandrea	C	20	6-0/185	Flint (OHL)	`18(13th)
Min	70	Calen Addison	D	20	5-10/180	Lethbridge (WHL)	T(Pit-2/20)
NYR	71	Julien Gauthier	RW	22	6-4/225	Charlotte (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Van	72	Olli Juolevi	D	22	6-3/200	Utica (AHL)	`16(5th)
NJ	73	Nolan Foote	LW	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	T(TB-2/20)
NJ	74	Janne Kuokkanen	LW	22	6-1/190	Cha-Bng (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Ott	75	Alex Formenton	LW	21	6-2/165	Belleville (AHL)	`17(47th)
Det	76	Robert Mastrosimone	LW	19	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	`19(54th)
NYR	77	Morgan Barron	C	21	6-2/200	Cornell (ECAC)	`17(174th)
Mtl	78	Jesse Ylonen	RW	20	6-1/185	Pelicans (Fin)	`18(35th)
Car	79	Dominik Bokk	RW	20	6-1/180	Rogle (Swe)	T(StL-9/19)
Nsh	80	Egor Afanasyev	RW	19	6-3/205	Windsor (OHL)	`19(45th)
Ana	81	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(54th)
Min	82	Alexander Khovanov	C	20	5-11/195	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(86th)
Det	83	Joe Veleno	C	20	6-1/195	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`18(30th)
NJ	84	Kevin Bahl	D	20	6-6/230	Ottawa (OHL)	T(Ari-12/19)
Car	85	Ryan Suzuki	C	19	6-0/180	Bar-Sag (OHL)	`19(28th)
Van	86	Jett Woo	D	20	6-0/205	Calgary (WHL)	`18(37th)
Mtl	87	Mattias Norlinder	D	20	5-11/180	MODO (Swe 2)	`19(64th)
Min	88	Adam Beckman	LW	19	6-1/170	Spokane (WHL)	`19(75th)
Bos	89	Jeremy Swayman	G	21	6-1/190	Maine (HE)	`17(111th)
Wpg	90	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	21	6-3/205	Manitoba (AHL)	`17(24th)
Tor	91	Filip Hallander	LW	20	6-1/185	Lulea (Swe)	T(Pit-8/20)
Fla	92	Owen Tippett	RW	21	6-1/200	Springfield (AHL)	`17(10th)
Car	93	Jake Bean	D	22	6-1/175	Charlotte (AHL)	`16(13th)
Ott	94	Shane Pinto	C	19	6-2/190	North Dakota (NCHC)	`19(32nd)
Col	95	Martin Kaut	RW	20	6-1/175	Colorado (AHL)	`18(16th)
Van	96	Jack Rathbone	D	21	5-10/175	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(95th)
Tor	97	Nick Abruzzese	C	21	5-9/160	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(124th)
Bos	98	Urho Vaakanainen	D	21	6-0/185	Providence (AHL)	`17(18th)
Wsh	99	Alexander Alexeyev	D	20	6-3/200	Hershey (AHL)	`18(31st)
NYI	100	Simon Holmstrom	RW	19	6-1/185	Bridgeport (AHL)	`19(23rd)
LA	101	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	21	5-11/190	Ontario (AHL)	`17(41st)
Car	102	Joey Keane	D	21	6-0/185	Hfd-Cha (AHL)	T(NYR-2/20)
Wsh	103	Martin Fehervary	D	20	6-1/190	Hershey (AHL)	`18(46th)
StL	104	Tyler Tucker	D	20	6-1/205	Bar-Fnt (OHL)	`18(200th)
SJ	105	Yegor Spiridonov	C	19	6-2/195	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)	`19(108th)
NJ	106	Joey Anderson	RW	22	6-0/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(73rd)
Col	107	Conor Timmins	D	21	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	`17(32nd)
StL	108	Klim Kostin	C	21	6-3/195	San Antonio (AHL)	`17(31st)
Mtl	109	Cayden Primeau	G	21	6-3/180	Laval (AHL)	`17(199th)
SJ	110	Jonathan Dahlen	LW	22	5-11/185	Timra IK (Swe 2)	T(Van-2/19)
NJ	111	Reilly Walsh	D	21	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(81st)
Buf	112	Oskari Laaksonen	D	21	6-2/165	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`17(89th)
NJ	113	Arseni Gritsyuk	RW	19	5-10/170	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	`19(129th)
Wsh	114	Aliaksei Protas	C	19	6-5/205	Prince Albert (WHL)	`19(91st)
Cgy	115	Dustin Wolf	G	19	6-0/165	Everett (WHL)	`19(214th)
StL	116	Joel Hofer	G	20	6-3/160	Portland (WHL)	`18(107th)
VGK	117	Ivan Morozov	C	20	6-1/180	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(61st)
Mtl	118	Jake Evans	C	24	6-0/185	Laval (AHL)	`14(207th)
Nsh	119	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	21	5-10/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	`17(30th)
Wpg	120	Ville Heinola	D	19	5-11/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`19(20th)
VGK	121	Lucas Elvenes	RW	21	6-0/175	Chicago (AHL)	`17(127th)
TB	122	Cole Koepke	LW	22	6-1/195	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(183rd)
Ana	123	Isac Lundestrom	C	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	`18(23rd)
NYR	124	Tarmo Reunanen	D	22	6-0/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`16(98th)
Mtl	125	Jordan Harris	D	20	5-11/180	Northeastern (HE)	`18(71st)
Ana	126	Brayden Tracey	LW	19	6-0/175	MJ-Vic (WHL)	`19(29th)
Phi	127	Tanner Laczynski	C	23	6-1/200	Ohio State (B1G)	`16(169th)
Chi	128	Alec Regula	D	20	6-3/200	London (OHL)	T(Det-10/19)
Buf	129	Mattias Samuelsson	D	20	6-3/215	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(32nd)
Car	130	Jamieson Rees	C	19	5-10/175	Sarnia (OHL)	`19(44th)
Edm	131	Olivier Rodrigue	G	20	6-1/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(62nd)
Fla	132	Serron Noel	RW	20	6-5/205	Osh-Kit (OHL)	`18(34th)
Det	133	Antti Tuomisto	D	19	6-4/190	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	`19(35th)
Dal	134	Jason Robertson	LW	21	6-2/195	Texas (AHL)	`17(39th)
Mtl	135	Joni Ikonen	C	21	5-10/170	DNP - Injured	`17(58th)
Nsh	136	Rem Pitlick	C	23	5-11/200	Milwaukee (AHL)	`16(76th)
Ott	137	Logan Brown	C	22	6-6/220	Belleville (AHL)	`16(11th)
TB	138	Samuel Walker	C	21	5-11/160	Minnesota (B1G)	`17(200th)
Phi	139	Wade Allison	RW	22	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`16(52nd)
Wpg	140	Declan Chisholm	D	20	6-1/190	Peterborough (OHL)	`18(150th)
NJ	141	Tyce Thompson	RW	21	6-1/180	Providence (HE)	`19(96th)
VGK	142	Connor Corcoran	D	20	6-1/185	Windsor (OHL)	`18(154th)
Ana	143	Jackson Lacombe	D	19	6-1/170	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(39th)
NYR	144	Lauri Pajuniemi	RW	21	6-0/185	TPS Turku (Fin)	`18(132nd)
Car	145	Tuukka Tieksola	RW	19	5-10/160	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	`19(121st)
CBJ	146	Andrew Peeke	D	22	6-3/210	Cleveland (AHL)	`16(34th)
Ana	147	Axel Andersson	D	20	6-0/180	Moncton (QMJHL)	T(Bos-2/20)
Car	148	Patrik Puistola	LW	19	6-0/175	Tap-Juk-Koo (Fin)	`19(73rd)
NJ	149	Michael McLeod	C	22	6-2/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(12th)
Car	150	Pyotr Kochetkov	G	21	6-1/175	SKA-VIT (KHL)	`19(36th)
NJ	151	Michael Vukojevic	D	19	6-3/210	Kitchener (OHL)	`19(82nd)
NYI	152	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	20	5-8/155	UConn (HE)	`18(43rd)
Wpg	153	Sami Niku	D	23	6-0/175	Manitoba (AHL)	`15(198th)
TB	154	Hugo Alnefelt	G	19	6-3/195	HV 71 (Swe)	`19(71st)
NJ	155	Nikita Okhotyuk	D	19	6-1/195	Ottawa (OHL)	`19(61st)
NYR	156	Hunter Skinner	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	`19(112th)
LA	157	Mikey Anderson	D	21	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	`17(103rd)
Col	158	Shane Bowers	C	21	6-2/190	Colorado (AHL)	T(Ott-11/17)
NYI	159	Joshua Ho-Sang	RW	24	6-0/175	Bri-SA (AHL)	`14(28th)
LA	160	Cal Petersen	G	25	6-3/190	Ontario (AHL)	FA(7/17)
Col	161	Sampo Ranta	LW	20	6-2/205	Minnesota (B1G)	`18(78th)
Wpg	162	Mikhail Berdin	G	22	6-2/165	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(157th)
Bos	163	Jeremy Lauzon	D	23	6-3/205	Providence (AHL)	`15(52nd)
Nsh	164	David Farrance	D	21	5-11/190	Boston University (HE)	`17(92nd)
Van	165	Will Lockwood	RW	22	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`16(64th)
NYI	166	Sebastian Aho	D	24	5-10/175	Bridgeport (AHL)	`17(139th)
Wpg	167	Logan Stanley	D	22	6-7/225	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(18th)
Buf	168	Ryan Johnson	D	19	6-0/175	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(31st)
Van	169	Michael DiPietro	G	21	6-0/195	Utica (AHL)	`17(64th)
VGK	170	Kaedan Korczak	D	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	`19(41st)
Car	171	Jack Drury	C	20	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`18(42nd)
StL	172	Nikita Alexandrov	C	19	6-0/180	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	`19(62nd)
Col	173	Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	20	5-10/175	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(171st)
Nsh	174	Juuso Parssinen	C	19	6-2/205	TPS Turku (Fin)	`19(210th)
Chi	175	Pius Suter	C	24	5-11/170	ZSC Lions (NLA)	FA(7/20)
Fla	176	Aleksi Saarela	RW	23	5-11/200	Rfd-Spr (AHL)	T(Chi-10/19)
Bos	177	Trent Frederic	C	22	6-4/215	Providence (AHL)	`16(29th)
CBJ	178	Dmitri Voronkov	LW	20	6-4/190	Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)	`19(114th)
Ott	179	Lassi Thomson	D	19	6-0/190	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(19th)
Car	180	Morgan Geekie	C	22	6-2/180	Charlotte (AHL)	`17(67th)
CBJ	181	Trey Fix-Wolansky	RW	21	5-8/185	Cleveland (AHL)	`18(204th)
Ott	182	Vitaly Abramov	RW	22	5-9/175	Belleville (AHL)	T(CBJ-2/19)
TB	183	Alexander Volkov	LW	23	6-1/190	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(48th)
Tor	184	Mikko Kokkonen	D	19	5-11/200	Jukurit (Fin)	`19(84th)
Ott	185	Kevin Mandolese	G	20	6-4/180	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	`18(157th)
CBJ	186	Daniil Tarasov	G	21	6-5/185	Assat Pori (Fin)	`17(86th)
LA	187	Carl Grundstrom	LW	22	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	T(Tor-1/19)
LA	188	Kale Clague	D	22	6-0/180	Ontario (AHL)	`16(51st)
Ott	189	Artyom Zub	D	24	6-2/200	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	FA(5/20)
Edm	190	Tyler Benson	LW	22	6-0/200	Bakersfield (AHL)	`16(32nd)
Det	191	Jonatan Berggren	RW	20	5-10/185	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`18(33rd)
Tor	192	Yegor Korshkov	RW	24	6-4/215	Toronto (AHL)	`16(31st)
Dal	193	Riley Damiani	C	20	5-9/165	Kitchener (OHL)	`18(137th)
VGK	194	Zach Whitecloud	D	23	6-2/210	Chicago (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Buf	195	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	21	6-4/195	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`17(54th)
Car	196	David Cotton	LW	23	6-3/205	Boston College (HE)	`15(169th)
Chi	197	Wyatt Kalynuk	D	23	6-1/180	Wisconsin (B1G)	FA(7/20)
Min	198	Hunter Jones	G	19	6-4/195	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(59th)
LA	199	Jordan Spence	D	19	5-10/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(95th)
Cgy	200	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	20	5-9/175	Rimouski (QMJHL)	`18(198th)
Col	201	Alex Beaucage	RW	19	6-1/195	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	`19(78th)
TB	202	Dmitri Semykin	D	20	6-3/200	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	`18(90th)
CBJ	203	Matiss Kivlenieks	G	24	6-2/190	Cleveland (AHL)	FA(5/17)
StL	204	Ville Husso	G	25	6-3/205	San Antonio (AHL)	`14(94th)
Phi	205	Bobby Brink	RW	19	5-10/165	Denver (NCHC)	`19(34th)
NYI	206	Otto Koivula	C	22	6-4/220	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(120th)
Car	207	Eetu Makiniemi	G	21	6-2/180	KOOVEE (Fin 2)	`17(104th)
NYI	208	Anatoli Golyshev	RW	25	5-8/180	Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)	`16(95th)
Chi	209	Evan Barratt	C	21	6-0/190	Penn State (B1G)	`17(90th)
Buf	210	Erik Portillo	G	20	6-6/210	Dubuque (USHL)	`19(67th)
Fla	211	Cole Schwindt	RW	19	6-2/185	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(81st)
Chi	212	Michal Teply	LW	19	6-3/185	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(105th)
Ott	213	Mads Sogaard	G	19	6-7/195	Medicine Hat (WHL)	`19(37th)
Buf	214	Jonas Johansson	G	24	6-4/205	Rochester (AHL)	`14(61st)
TB	215	Cal Foote	D	21	6-4/215	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(14th)
StL	216	Niko Mikkola	D	24	6-5/200	San Antonio (AHL)	`15(127th)
NYI	217	Robin Salo	D	21	6-1/190	SaiPa (Fin)	`17(46th)
Bos	218	Jakub Zboril	D	23	6-1/200	Providence (AHL)	`15(13th)
Buf	219	Will Borgen	D	23	6-2/200	Rochester (AHL)	`15(92nd)
Pit	220	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	21	6-2/170	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`17(23rd)
SJ	221	Sasha Chmelevski	C	21	5-11/190	San Jose (AHL)	`17(185th)
Ari	222	Kyle Capobianco	D	23	6-1/180	Tucson (AHL)	`15(63rd)
Det	223	Keith Petruzzelli	G	21	6-5/180	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`17(88th)
Wsh	224	Garrett Pilon	RW	22	5-11/190	Hershey (AHL)	`16(87th)
NJ	225	Nikola Pasic	RW	19	5-10/185	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	`19(189th)
TB	226	Alex Barre-Boulet	C	23	5-10/165	Syracuse (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Edm	227	Ryan McLeod	C	20	6-2/205	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(40th)
NYI	228	Samuel Bolduc	D	19	6-3/210	BLB-She (QMJHL)	`19(57th)
Ott	229	Joey Daccord	G	24	6-2/195	Belleville (AHL)	`15(199th)
StL	230	Hugh McGing	C	22	5-9/180	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(138th)
Edm	231	Cooper Marody	C	23	6-0/180	Bakersfield (AHL)	T(Phi-3/18)
Tor	232	Jeremy Bracco	RW	23	5-9/180	Toronto (AHL)	`15(61st)
Phi	233	German Rubtsov	C	22	6-2/190	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`16(22nd)
Wsh	234	Brian Pinho	C	25	6-1/195	Hershey (AHL)	`13(174th)
Col	235	Logan O'Connor	RW	24	6-0/170	Colorado (AHL)	FA(7/18)
Buf	236	Casey Fitzgerald	D	23	5-11/190	Rochester (AHL)	`16(86th)
NJ	237	Daniil Misyul	D	19	6-3/180	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`19(70th)
Ari	238	John Farinacci	C	19	5-11/185	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(76th)
Edm	239	Aapeli Rasanen	C	22	6-0/195	Boston College (HE)	`16(153rd)
Pit	240	Anthony Angello	RW	24	6-5/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`14(145th)
Mtl	241	Cam Hillis	C	20	5-10/170	Guelph (OHL)	`18(66th)
Cgy	242	Mathias Emilio Pettersen	RW	20	5-9/170	Denver (NCHC)	`18(167th)
SJ	243	Alexander True	C	23	6-5/205	San Jose (AHL)	FA(7/18)
NYI	244	Reece Newkirk	C	19	5-11/175	Portland (WHL)	`19(147th)
Dal	245	Dawson Barteaux	D	20	6-0/180	RD-Wpg (WHL)	`18(168th)
Bos	246	Jack Ahcan	D	23	5-8/185	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	FA(3/20)
Det	247	Seth Barton	D	21	6-2/175	Mass-Lowell (HE)	`18(81st)
Fla	248	Max Gildon	D	21	6-3/190	New Hampshire (HE)	`17(66th)
Ari	249	Aku Raty	RW	19	6-0/175	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`19(151st)
Wpg	250	David Gustafsson	C	20	6-1/195	Winnipeg (NHL)	`18(60th)

Boston Bruins 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:37:55 +0000

Despite missing the playoffs for two season in a row in 2014-15 and 2015-16, the Bruins have generally been among the best teams in the league going back over a decade. Since the 2007-08 season, a span in which those two misses were the only times the B’s missed out on the postseason, the four constants in Boston have been Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Tuukka Rask, and David Krejci.

In 2010-11 that core was expanded by the full time addition of Brad Marchand to the roster, while David Pastrnak emerged full formed out of the draft for the 2014-15 season. One could make plausible arguments for both Torey Krug and Charlie McAvoy as additions to that vaunted core, and I wouldn’t argue their inclusions, but whether the Bruins’ core includes five, six, or seven players, it is clear that the rest of the roster is not and cannot compete with their supremacy.

For the most part, the Bruins have focused their drafting efforts in the past 12 seasons towards augmenting their core, getting players who could support their super stars – on entry level, or second contract dollars – while the stars eat up the spotlight and the lion’s share of the salary cap.

A full accounting of the efficacy of such a strategy is best left for an essay with fewer limitations on size, but it certainly hasn’t hurt the Bruins. The strategy is helped greatly by finding good players through the draft – and occasionally through amateur free agency – that can fill those roles. And I don’t mean that they draft role players in the way that Edmonton used to draft role players – the Bruins have not been focusing on players who could not crack top sixes on their respective amateur teams.

Rather, the Bruins have long been on the hunt for players with skill, but whose style and skillsets are adaptable to the grind of bottom six life (and bottom pairing life, and backup goalie life) in the NHL.

The proof to their success in drafting can be observed by how many players they had selected have eventually played in the NHL, often for Boston. Of course not every player has evolved into a long-term NHLer, but when your fifth or sixth round pick plays even 20 games in the NHL, that is a successful draft pick.

Year	Number of picks	How many played in the NHL
2008	6	4
2009	5	4
2010	8	6
2011	6	4
2012	6	4
2013	6	2
2014	5	4
2015	10	6
2016	6	3

Through nine drafts (it is far too early to judge the 2017-18 drafts, the Bruins saw at least half of the players selected reach the NHL in all years except 2013, and if Ryan Fitzgerald or Wiley Sherman plays in the NHL (neither would surprise at all), it will be a full nine out of nine. Some of those players have played less than 50 games in the NHL thus far, but those numbers also include 13 players who have already played over 100 games in the Show. Only two of those players are even considered for the core designation discussed above. Whether or not the strategy can work for all teams, it certainly works for Boston.

-Ryan Wagman

Boston Bruins defenseman Urho Vaakanainen (58) (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1 John Beecher, C (30^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Although not at all correlated with this ranking, or his prospects for future success, I want to point out that John Beecher has hands like catcher’s mitts. I speak from experience. Not only are his paws gigantic, Beecher is a very big young man. He is also a splendid skater, not just for his size, but even in comparison to players six inches and thirty pounds smaller than he is. His draft year numbers may be underwhelming, but context helps put them into focus. As a member of the All Star USNTDP class, Beecher generally played in the bottom six. He isn’t as skilled as Jack Hughes, or Alex Turcotte, or Trevor Zegras. He spent very little time on the power play, with only two points on the man advantage throughout USHL play. He focused on defensive work, penalty killing and the like, but Beecher has skill, too. He has soft hands and can generate on his own, with his speed, physicality and creativity. I strongly suspect that he will play a far more offensive role with Michigan, and eventually, in the pros as well. - RW

2 Urho Vaakanainen, D (18^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) Vaakanainen is a smooth skating, dynamic defenseman who had a good transition from SaiPa in the Liiga to the Providence Bruins. He is not known for any particular offensive abilities but his neutral zone play and puck movement are still amongst the top on this list. He makes precise passes and knows when to skate the puck and when to dump it. For a blueliner who plays big, Vaakanainen still plays a rather naive physical game, and he will have to learn to be better in the dirty spots and make sure to win his physical battles, which includes one on ones. His hockey sense and awareness with and without the puck prove him to be NHL ready and his overall contribution to every shift make him a contender for a top line defensive spot in the future. - SC

3 Trent Frederic, C (29^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2) Even though his first full professional season was somewhat of a let down, Frederic’s outlook is still bright. His seasonal numbers were clearly underwhelming, but they look better when we split his year into halves, as he began to acclimatize himself to the AHL pace in the season’s second half, which included a hat trick in the regular season’s penultimate game. Even so, he certainly wasn’t ready for the NHL, looking out of place in his 15 game midseason stint. The two-way game that convinced the Bruins to select him in the first round are still with him. He is a fine skater with enough puck skill and offensive instinct to earn middle six minutes at maturity. His grinder, to the net style also bodes well for that role. Boston will be looking for more consistent production before giving an NHL look. - RW

4 Jack Studnicka, C (53^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 8) It could probably be argued that Studnicka is one of the more well-rounded forward prospects in hockey. There is no role that he cannot play on the ice for his team. Improvements to his skating stride over his OHL career have also really improved his outlook as an impact player. If his offensive skill set translates and he proves that he can skate and create in transition consistently, Boston could have a potential second line center. But if not, he still could develop into a nice checking line center who could be utilized in tough defensive matchups. Given how pro ready his game is, he could be much closer to making an impact in Boston than some think. - BO

5 Anders Bjork, LW (146^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 3) Even though he has already played in 50 NHL games, split over two seasons, Bjork still qualifies as a prospect by our criteria, as he came five games shy of graduating as a rookie, and is ten game short for his career. The problem, for the most part, has been health-related. In each of the last two seasons, his work was cut short due to serious shoulder injuries. The injuries should not impact his skating, which is still impactful. His instincts could have grown rusty with the long layoffs, although his previous work as a collegian suggests that he has the high end hockey IQ for him to be able to wear that rust off if he can stay on the ice. With this ranking, we are presuming a return to health, but the recurring nature of the injuries may have a potentially severely deleterious effect on his ascension to regular NHL status, such as we recently saw with St. Louis’ Robby Fabbri. - RW

6 Connor Clifton, D (133^rd overall, 2013 [Arizona]. Last Year: 13) Originally drafted by Arizona, the Coyotes sought to sign Clifton after his four years at Quinnipiac were up, but the hard hitting blueliner took his chances in free agency and was given an AHL deal by the Bruins’ organization. One strong season with Providence and the Bruins awarded him with an ELC. With the injuries suffered throughout the defense-corps last year, he got to showcase his stuff over 37 games combined in the regular season and the playoffs. Clifton is a good puck mover, but lacking in the flash to play in an NHL power play. His main strength is in his own zone, where his physicality makes him very tough to play against. He may also have more offense within, if he plays with the confidence to take more chances. That may be the difference between the 4/5 ceiling, and a more solid second pairing role at his peak. - RW

7 Jeremy Lauzon, D (52^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 9) A smooth, no-drama defender, the two-way upside that Lauzon demonstrated in the QMJHL has given way to a more stately, first pass type, as he still has not found much of an offensive game after two years as a pro. Now looking more like a decent potential third pairing blueliner at his peak, he plays a more cerebral game, with a high panic threshold and sound positional play. He has decent size and strength, but is not especially aggressive to play against. One concern that was brought up in his amateur days which seems to have followed him is his average at best foot-speed. Without the ability to recover in time if he pinches deep in the offensive zone, he ends u playing more conservatively. That limits mistakes, but also limits his upside. - RW

8 Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, C (45^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 5) Although Forsbacka Karlsson will be heading back to play with Vaxjo in the SHL for a year, he is not to be counted out of the top prospect list for the Bruins. He is a well-rounded player offering skill and good speed to any forward line. He is a better passer than he is a shooter and can pass from all areas and both sides of the blade equally well. He will have to work on his consistency however, as he can be very good some games and not so good in others. As a centerman he is good at winning draws and is a good two-way player capable of playing a good defensive roll and playing on both power play and penalty kill. Presuming an eventual return to North America and the NHL, JFK would make a decent bottom six forward and a dynamic centerman. - SC

9 Kyle Keyser, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Oct. 3, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Keyser is an athletic netminder who can steal games for his team when he is dialed in. He moves post to post with great power, tracking the play and demonstrating the ability to make those highlight reel stretch saves. Over his OHL career, he really improved his mental focus, allowing him to be more consistent and to bounce back from tough goals or poor performances. Like any netminder who relies primarily on athleticism, there will be a transition period as Keyser will need to adjust his reads and become less of a stopper and more of a goaltender. There is no reason to suggest that with some AHL seasoning, that he could not be an NHL netminder within three years. - BO

10 Oskar Steen, C (165^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 17) A small-sized forward with nice offensive tools who plays with a lot of energy and with some edge as well. 21-year-old Steen took a big step last season increasing his offensive output to 37 points from six points in the prior year. He played a bigger role on a strong team and took it. He has a quick and hard shot. He can use both a one-time slap shot, as well as a quick released wrist shot to score. His overall hockey sense and offensive game isn’t elite and success comes mostly from playing a fast-paced game and working hard. His compete level fits well with the Bruins’ identity. He will probably start next season with Providence, but I can see him making the NHL as a high intense skating and skilled bottom six player who also can produce some points in that role. - JH

11 Karson Kuhlman, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 10, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Although he was never a gamebreaker over his four year career at Minneaota-Duluth, or beforehand, Kuhlman had the best year of his life as a first year pro, scoring at a respectable clip in the AHL and impressing enough in an NHL stint that he earned playoff shifts for the B’s. He is on the small side, and his pure skill set is average on a good day, but between his hockey IQ and his gritty style, he makes the most of what he has. He is a reliable penalty killer and his foot speed can make him dangerous if he gets a clean break. Kuhlman has a lower ceiling than anyone else on this list, but more certainty of reaching it than most. He could easily earn a fourth line NHL roe out of camp and stick in the NHL for as long as he is willing to play for a salary near the minimum. - RW

12 Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 10) A European in the Bruins’ mold, Lauko brings great straight-line speed and a strong work ethic. He struggled a bit with injuries but was a great factor in the playoffs, leading all rookies in scoring with 13 points in 19 games, and added an impressive eight points in the Memorial Cup. His speed off the rush makes him dangerous and it is where he is most comfortable, but he is also a contributor without the puck. He is a confident sniper with a great shot, and he knows it; he fires with authority from all around the zone. His hockey sense makes him a threat to take the puck and go north from any spot on the ice, while his speed makes him tough to catch. He has all the tools to be a sniper off the wing at the NHL level. - MS

13 Axel Andersson, D (57^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 11) A puck skilled right-handed defenseman who skates well. Andersson has both good puck control as well as mature decision-making. He has NHL potential, as a third pairing or maybe even second pairing role. He is not a typical shutdown defender but protects the blue line well. He is best used as a quietly effective defenseman with the puck who has some offensive blue line skills as well. He has shown great promise playing in the junior league in Sweden, but often got sidelined in the international events due to tough internal competition for ice-time. Last season, he got a chance to play senior hockey full time as an 18-year-old in Allsvenskan. He had an okay season but wasn’t able to earn big minutes there either. Next season, Andersson will be heading to North America. He is probably not ready for NHL, so it’ll be Providence (AHL) or Moncton (QMJHL) for now. - JH

14 Jakub Zboril, D (13^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 7) The first player Boston selected as part of their infamous three-in-a-row first round run in 2015, Zboril has seen his pro career stagnate through two seasons in Providence. He was considered a safe prospect at the time, but that moniker is always cringe-worthy and while he will expand his NHL resume beyond his current two games of experience, the likelihood of him having an impact beyond the third pairing is shrinking. His offensive tools are passable, but he has struggled with bringing them to the fore more than occasionally. As a former first rounder, the Bruins will not be too quick to dismiss him as a prospect, and he has enough in his game to play, but more is needed. - RW

15 Roman Bychkov, D (154^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A talented defenseman, Bychkov is coming off a strong season in the Lokomotiv system, winning the MHL title. Earlier in the season he helped Team Russia earn a Bronze Medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, to which he contributed a goal. He is a potential top-four, two-way defenseman with interesting puck skills and a solid defensive game. He has a good set of hands that allows him to carry the puck up the ice or making a good first pass, but he may play more in the offensive zone, and sometimes he prefers to play a simple game even though he has the skills to take risks in creating a scoring chance. He absolutely needs to bulk up and further fine-tune his game before thinking about a move overseas. He is under contract in Russia for two more seasons and he still needs another year or two of seasoning and growing. - ASR

16 Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 6) On the pro side of the ledger, Senyshyn is still a fantastic skater. His end-to-end speed is dynamic and played a large part in the Bruins using the 15^th overall pick on him four years ago. Another positive is his shot. When he gets positioning and time, he can rip the puck. On the other side of the ledger is everything else. He cannot think the game at the speed of his legs and has not been able to adjust to the pace of the pro game, even though he is faster than most of his teammates as well as opponents. He can get himself – momentarily – into scoring opportunities, but all too often fails to act in time to make good on them. His wheels will keep hm on the radar for another two or three years, but will not prevent others from passing him on the depth charts. He needs to find a new level. - RW

17 Peter Cehlarik, LW (90^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 16) Cehlarik is, in a way, the polar opposite to Senyshyn above. Senyshyn can fly, but rarely produces. Cehlarik produces at a strong level for the AHL, but his pace is plodding. The Slovakian import is equally effective as a scorer and a playmaker, but his lack of pace has always been a concern, and NHL stints in each of the last three seasons have done nothing to negate those concerns. He has enough size and has demonstrated repeatedly that he has the ability to find holes in coverage from which to strike, but scoring in the AHL is not always a precursor to scoring in the NHL and until Cehlarik proves he can do it, that question will always hang over his helmet. In the meantime, Boston will be happy to go year-by-year contractually with him. - RW

18 Pavel Shen, C (212^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 20) In spite of his successful WJC campaign, Shen had a tough season in 2018-19. Pressure was high on him and on his team in the second half, and he failed to deliver despite being given a chance. Left without many options at home, he decided to move overseas. The move seems to be a bit too fast, and perhaps it would have been better for him to find himself another KHL team for a couple of seasons as right now he is very raw, albeit talented. Shen skates well and has a good eye for the game, but the other side of the coin is that he doesn’t defend hard and he prefers playing on the perimeter or in open ice. If he manages to find a niche in North America, he can develop into a smooth-skating forward with a good knack for secondary scoring, but at this point his move seems premature. The next season will be key for his development. - ASR

19 Cameron Hughes, C (165^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 14) For a first year pro, Hughes held his own last year, contributing a decent amount of secondary offense to a middling Providence squad. In an interesting change from his days at the University of Wisconsin (some alongside Trent Frederic), he has shown more finishing skill than previously thought, while his playmaking, previously a strength of his game, took a backseat in the AHL. Even though he has added muscle from his days on campus, he is still undersized and plays in accordance with his lack of strength. The main concern at this point is Hughes is that he lacks a natural role. He has great hands, but they are not enough to secure a top six role in the NHL – and barely so in the AHL. Yet he also lacks the style of game traditionally seen in a bottom six role. Contrast with Karson Kuhlman above, who has lesser skills than Hughes, but whose game is much better suited to a bottom six role. - RW

20 Ryan Fitzgerald, C (120^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 12) After contributing 37 points in each of his first two full pro seasons, it would seem, at a glance, that we know what Fitzgerald can bring to the table. But looking deeper, we can see that the shape of his production has varied greatly year over year. A finisher as a debutant, he skewed much more towards playmaking as a follow up. He had fluctuated similarly over his four year run at Boston College, adding to the confusion. Fitzgerald plays a skill game, and is stronger in the offensive and neutral zones than in his own zone, where he can struggle to hold his assignment. He lacks size and can be neutralized physically, although he is smart enough to find a way often enough. Like Hughes above, he has a bit of the tweener in him, and will need his IQ to convince the decision makers to give him a prolonged opportunity. - RW

Boston Bruins Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:31:54 +0000

This is probably repetitive for Bruins fans, but it is once again time to relitigate the 2015 draft. You know the one. With three consecutive picks in the middle of the first round, Boston selected, in order, Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zach Senyshyn.

The common knowledge at the time, regardless of who else was still available, was that DeBrusk was decent value in that slot, Zboril was a slight overdraft, and Senyshyn was a huge reach.

No one drafts in a vacuum though, and we must remind ourselves that the next three players off the board were Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Thomas Chabot. Other individuals who have already surpassed the Boston trio’s combined 70 games in the NHL (all by DeBrusk, by the way), include Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Boeser, Travis Konecny, and Anthony Beauvilier. And that is just the first round. There were also three second rounders, one fourth rounder(!) and one seventh rounder (!!!) who have also passed the 70 games mark in the NHL. To the credit of Boston scouts, one of those second rounders was Brandon Carlo, a Bruins’ pick, too.

As the years pass, Boston has managed to maintain a top 15 farm system by stockpiling young players in both quality in quantity. They possess that upper-half farm system even after trading away pieces and picks in last season’s futile attempt to make a deep playoff push and some of their other ultimately misguided decisions, such as them passing up on 2017-18 Calder Trophy winner Barzal and other dynamic talents. Ultimately those missteps will be lost to time and the constant roster churn that is part and parcel of the hockey world.

We can also take a few moments to note that the 2015 draft class was not a failure on Boston’s part. Hindsight also allows for more clarity than we have in the moment, and if we are to spend years vilifying Don Sweeney and company for not taking A, B, or C, we can also reasonably do the same to Florida, who drafted Lawson Crouse, or Dallas, for taking Denis Guryanov, both ahead of the Boston trio. We can even scoff at New Jersey, who selected a decent young center in Pavel Zacha at sixth overall, but passed up on dynamic defenders in Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski, who went with the next two picks. There are similar what-of stories every year.

So how was 2015 not a failure for Boston? As we have already covered, two regular NHLers have already emerged from their picks in DeBrusk and Carlo. Of the system’s current top 20 prospects, five were from that draft, including three of the top seven. A few others who did not make the top 20, were late cuts, including third rounder Dan Vladar, and fourth rounder Jesse Gabrielle. They are all still only in their age 21-22 seasons, so those players’ futures have not yet been written. I can’t say that I am a fan of their seventh round pick in Jack Becker, but the 2015 draft is stamped all over this system, and not in a bad way. We can talk about missed opportunities until Barzal is elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2038, but it is time to focus on what that draft class brought to the organization, instead of what it did not.

Urho Vaakanainen

1 Urho Vaakanainen, D (18^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 2^nd) Only 19 years old, Vaakanainen already has more than two full years of pro experience playing in Finland’s top league. More impressive, he has not been a bit player, but one of Liiga’s ice time leaders, when not commandeering the Finnish blueline for his age level. He is the type of player whose whole is far greater than the sum of his parts. He is quite mobile, without being a blazer. His point shot is strong when he can step into it. He makes all of the basic passes, although does not often attempt tricky plays. He has average size, and is not known for crashing or banging. All of that said, the overall package works. He will never be a flashy player, but he will play in all situations and will excel at keeping the puck moving in the right direction.

2 Trent Frederic, C (29^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th) Although the Bruins were lambasted for bragging that they saw a good third liner in Frederic after using a late first round pick on him, championships have been won with less talent manning the third line. Frederic is a player with near elite hockey smarts, allowing all of his other tools, solid in their own rights, to play up. Opportunistic in the offensive end and tenacious off the puck, he can play in all situations and provide an impact in all of them. His late season stint with Providence, after signing his ELC showed that he is ready for the pro game and could be a solid season away from claiming his draft right on the third line. In the meantime, he will be aiming to show that his offensive tools will be able to provide consistent offensive support in the AHL.

3 Anders Bjork, LW (146^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 3^rd) Bjork was well on his way from graduating from this section of the book last year when a late February crosscheck substantially damaged his left shoulder, leading to surgery to repair his labrum. He had experienced intermittent success prior to that point, driving play, albeit in sheltered minutes. Assuming a return to health, he should pick up where he left off. He is a wonderful skater, playing an instinctual game, flashes a true finisher’s wrist shot and demonstrates a lifetime of good coaching on every shift. Boston is deep enough up front to ease him back in, but he still projects as a middle six winger on a winning team.

Ryan Donato

4 Ryan Donato, C (56^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 11th) Four long years have passed since the Bruins made Donato a second round pick. There may have been some fear that they would have to wat a fifth year, as not too many Harvard players leave school early, but a junior season that included being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist as well as tying for the Olympic Games lead in goals, Boston managed to get Donato to sign on the dotted line. He is not the best skater, but has a fantastic shot and soft hands, hinting at a possible outcome as an occasionally dynamic middle six forward. There may be a learning curve to his play away from the puck, but nine points in 12 late season NHL games proved that he was ready.

5 Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, C (45^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 5^th) Although there was some speculation that Forsbacka-Karlsson could see some time in the NHL as a rookie, the Bruins were deep down the middle, both in the NHL and the AHL, leaving him to spend the year acclimating in Providence. JFK is a true five tool, two-way center. None of the tools are dynamic, per se, but all of the ones stressed in the modern game project as above average. He is a fine skater with a good shooting arsenal and playmaking ability. He has a high end hockey brain and it would be surprising is his production does not take a big step forward in year two in the AHL. That is, if he does not break camp in the NHL. He might top out as a third liner, but he could be a good one.

6 Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 7^th) When the Bruins surprised the hockey world by selecting Senyshyn in the middle of the first round, their thinking was that his blistering speed would eventually be matched by his other skills and allow him to be an impact player down the line. While he learned to score, seemingly at will, in the OHL, the going was a little rougher in his rookie professional season. The speed is still a plus-plus tool, and he flashes a very good shot. He also is still a versatile player, in that he can play in a defensive role, in addition to the penalty kill, thanks to we refined sense of responsibility. The hopes that he can be an impact player have definitely been muted, but he has a combination of attributes that still suggests an NHL future, and it is not out of the question that he continues to improve going forward.

7 Jakub Zboril, D (13^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 10^th) Zboril might never escape the ignominy of when he was drafted, but as a promising debut season in the AHL shows, he is still a prospect of note by his own accord. He has moderate offensive skills, in particularly his ability to pass the puck on a line across multiple zone to kickstart the offensive attack. He is a fine skater, although could stand to improve his change of direction before he turns pro. He is built solid, and while not a vicious player, more than holds his own when it comes to battling for position. His best attribute is his hockey smarts. He understands his role well, and like many good blueliners, is at his best when you don’t even notice him. He reads the game well, and as a result, plays with composure.

8 Jack Studnicka, C (53^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 15^th) One of a number of Boston prospects who best tool is his brain, Studnicka took a step forward in his first post draft year. He has a modicum of skills, and has shown the ability to create offensive chances for himself or others, but he will not be mistaken for a dynamic player. He is at his best when he is aggressive, which is most of the time. He is heavy on the forecheck, plays a heads-up game, with his stick well-positioned to disrupt. He is a fine skater, with decent hands, but he will need to add a fair bit of muscle before permanently moving to the pro game. Obviously, there is the risk that added heft negatively impacts his mobility, but his style of game will lose impact without additional strength.

9 Jeremy Lauzon, D (52^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 9^th) Jeremy Lauzon’s first year as a professional did not go as planned. Having missed substantial time to injuries in the previous two years, he again missed a chunk of the AHL season. While he did play, he showed some of what has had the Boston brass excited about him since he was drafted. There is the smooth, composed game he plays in his own zone, with a nice blend of physicality and positional sense. While he still coming to grips somewhat with the enhanced speed of the pro game, he is a solid skater with the physical tools to keep up with the pace. He also brings plenty of intangibles to the game, as the former Rouyn-Noranda captain wore an “A” on his chest as a rookie. He isn’t ready for the NHL just yet, but he is still trending in the right direction.

Jakub Lauko

10 Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) When the Bruins draft players out of Europe, they tend to prefer players who have spent considerable time in the senior men’s leagues of their home countries. Lauko fits that bill, with a season and a half of Czech men’s hockey before he was drafted. As with most teenagers playing amongst men, his impact on the scoreboard was muted, but given the chance to play among his peers, such as at the WU18, and to a lesser extent, at the WJC, his game stood out. He is an intense, high motor player who skates very well and loves to forecheck. He plays a physical brand, although his hits are not so much thunderous as they are a constant, irritating presence. His hands can’t match his feet, limiting his upside, but his kamikaze style will make him a fan favorite.

11 Axel Andersson, D (57^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Sometimes lost in the shuffle of a strong cohort of 2000-born defensemen in Sweden, Andersson sticks out with plus-plus puck skills. He reads the play very well and is an advanced puck distributor. He skates smoothly and added strength suggests he could see an uptick in his speed. His is more than a mere offensive defenseman however, as he shows the ability to read the forecheck as well as the backcheck and demonstrates a consistency of effort that bodes well for his future development. The Bruins gave him an ELC within weeks of being drafted, but immediately loaned him back to Djurgardens to continue his development with the comforts of home. With a skill set as broad as Andersson’s his game could project in any number of ways, but most of them suggest an NHL future.

12 Ryan Fitzgerald, C (120^th overall, 2013. Last Year: not ranked) After four long years at Boston College, Ryan Fitzgerald, part of the extended Fitzgerald/Tkachuk/Hayes hockey family, had a promising rookie professional season, scoring 21 goals at AHL Providence. Smaller than his father Tom, he will have to play a similar style game to make an NHL dent. He has a decent set of tools, with his skating, shot, puck skills and mind all showing signs of above average potential, but there is nothing in his game that screams dynamic, no matter how well he has performed thus far. He has a chance at a bottom six future. An NHL cameo this year is not out of the question either.

13 Connor Clifton, D (Mar. 3, 2017. Last Year: IE) Drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the fifth round of the 2013 draft, as a hard hitting, energetic blueliner with the USNTDP, Clifton went to Quinnipiac for a full four years, and was one of the defensive leaders on a team that went to the NCAA finals. Although it was reported that the Coyotes wanted to sign him after he completed his collegiate eligibility, he took an AHL deal with Providence instead. It was a good call. Clifton is still a plus skater, with advanced defensive IQ and hits like a truck, belying his small frame. The Bruins rewarded him with an ELC late in the season.

14 Cameron Hughes, C (165^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 16^th) A flawed, but fun player, Hughes signed with Boston after captaining the Wisconsin Badgers as a senior. His production throughout his college career were fairly steady, providing secondary scoring for a sometimes strong, sometimes weak team. On the positive side, he skates well, although more shifty than a true burner. His wrist shot is a weapon, even from far out. His hands are pretty special though. He is capable of the occasional highlight reel goal on the strength of how he can maneuver a puck. On the down side, he needs to show better commitment to his own zone for those days when the magic isn’t there. Also, he is incredibly lean and the AHL will test him physically.

Joona Koppanen

15 Joona Koppanen, LW (135^th overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) A gigantic winger who skates very impressively for his size, Koppanen took a step forward in his first year of men’s hockey at age 20. Sandwiching a head-turning performance for Finland at the WJC, he had a cameo with AHL Providence and spend most of his season on loan with Ilves in Liiga. He needs to learn to be more imposing with his bulk, which should start to come about as fills out his lanky 6-5” frame, and the Bruins hope that the added muscle will not affect his stride, particularly as his first few steps need more explosiveness. He shows commitment in all three zones and has been a handful to everyone he has lined up against. Expected to move to North America full time next year, he has a chance to rocket up future iterations of this list.

16 Peter Cehlarik, LW (90^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 17^th) While lacking in the way of appreciable hockey skills, Cehlarik has now racked up two very impressive seasons in the AHL due primarily to one muscle, that being the one between his ears. He has high end hockey sense that helps him overcome subpar foot speed and average at best offensive skills. There comes a point where production is more important than tools, but unfortunately for Cehlarik, his propensity to get hurt has prevented those numbers from racking up too high. If he can stay healthy for a full season and continue to produce, he could make a name for himself.

17 Oskar Steen, C (165^th overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Although his numbers fail to impress, as a teenager who already has over two full years of experience in the SHL, there are more than a few reasons to think that there is more in store for Steen. He has rarely been given the opportunity to play against peers, but when he did play for Sweden at the WJC last year, he impressed. He played an assertive game, driving the net hard despite his small frame, and showcasing a snipe of a wrist shot, capable of picking a shot while on the rush. He reads the game fairly well for his age, too. The Bruins would like to see him take on a more impactful role in Sweden before offering him an ELC.

18 Anton Blidh, LW (180^th overall, 2013. Last Year: not ranked) After three seasons in the AHL, the book on Blidh is more or less written. The tools and overall maturity of his game that he had in his days as a junior player have not translated to the professional game. He had trouble putting up points in two partial seasons in the SHL (10 points in 72 games) and last year’s 26 points in 71 games was his best. He retains a spot on this list thanks to above average hockey IQ, allowing him to project as a potential fourth line, defensive-oriented forward. Nothing else about his game is better than OK.

19 Jeremy Swayman, G (111^th overall, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) Somewhat of an afterthought pick in the fourth round in 2017, Swayman excelled in his first year at the University of Maine, costing Rob McGovern, the starter for the previous two seasons, his job. In fact, his freshman season save percentage of .921 was the seventh best total for a starter in the school’s history. From a scouting perspective, he is not the toolsiest of goalies, but fares well enough to continue keeping an eye on him. Perhaps the most impressive part of Swayman’s game is his calmness and composure. He is just big enough to not be undersized and does not look incredibly athletic, but he stops pucks, and that is the most important thing at the position.

20 Pavel Shen, C (212^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Passed over in his first year of draft eligibility, the only thing that changed for Shen in his second go-round was that he spent roughly half the season riding the bench in the KHL. Yet the Bruins were not the only team that was impressed, as Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk sold him to bigger club Salavat Yulaev Ufa after the season. Shen is a bit of a long shot prospect, but between his skating, puck skills, hockey IQ and strong frame, he is one the Bruins will track. A candidate for Russia’s 2019 WJC team, he could thrive under the spotlight and with an opportunity with a new team.

Boston – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 20:21:44 +0000

In May 2015, Don Sweeney was named as the new General Manager of the Boston Bruins, a promotion from his previous role as the Assistant General Manager under the recently fired Peter Chiarelli. Among his first acts was preparing for the upcoming NHL draft. Slated to pick 14th overall, he made a positive first impression, showing creativity by trading for both picks 13 and 15 on the day of the draft. There were rumors that Sweeney wanted to bundle those consecutive picks for one of the first handful of picks in what is already proving to be a stacked draft class, but in the end, he used all of those picks internally.

His second impression was immediately met with derision and scorn. Not able to trade up (assuming that was the plan) the Bruins used those picks on, respectively, Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zach Senyshyn. Solid prospects all, but many were shocked that that the team passed up on more highly touted prospects including Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Thomas Chabot, who, not coincidentally, were taken with the next three picks.

Two years later, Sweeney remains the butt of jokes for his draft maneuverings in 2015, and for good reason. While Zboril, DeBrusk, and Senyshyn are all fine as prospects, none have elevated themselves to elite status. A number of players taken later in that round have already established themselves in the NHL (Travis Konecny, Anthony Beauvilier) or have much higher prospect stock today, and have had from almost day one (Barzal, Connor, Chabot, Joel Eriksson Ek, Colin White, Ilya Samsonov, Brock Boeser, etc.). Ironically, there is a good case to be made that the Bruins made out better with their three 2015 second round picks (Brandon Carlo, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, and Jeremy Lauzon) than they did with the first round trio.

Despite the opprobrium, Sweeney has quietly drafted and signed enough prospects that the Bruins currently have one of the deepest and richest prospect pools in the league. The aforementioned Carlo is already a full-fledged NHLer, but the other five drafted in the first two rounds in 2015 are only part of a deep system with future contributors at every position. Although the Bruins have sputtered along at the NHL level since his promotion, with only one playoff appearance in three years, they have been added valuable assets, some of whom will be key contributors now (we expect at least to graduate to the NHL this year) and for the next truly competitive Bruins teams.

While it would be less than fair to judge Sweeney on the basis of his 2015 draft shenanigans alone, it would also be unfair to judge him solely on the system as it stands today. A number of the organization’s best prospects, including top names like Bjork and Heinan, predate his promotion. Further, the Bruins’ 2017 draft class appears light – especially after their first rounder - based on information currently available.

Charlie McAvoy (73) (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1 Charles McAvoy – Already an NCAA as a 17 year old, McAvoy only got better in his first post draft year. Not only was he a first team All-American for BU, but he was arguably the top player on the Gold Medal winning Team USA at the WJC. Signed to an ELC at the tail end of the season, he made his NHL debut in the playoffs and was immediately an impact player again. Very few defensemen, at any level, have his puck skills. He is simply a dynamic player who will have an impact with Boston on par with what Zach Werenski did last year with Columbus.

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA - APRIL 24: Finland's Urho Vaakanainen #7 celebrating with the championship trophy 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/HHOF-IIHF Images)

2 Urho Vaakanainen – A plus skater with an intriguing shot, Vaakanainen reminded the hockey world that he has more offensive potential that he let on during an understated Liiga season with a powerful performance in the WU18 tournament. A very mature player who has spent 1.5 season in the top Finnish league before he became eligible for the NHL draft, there are some who see a potential top pairing blueliner in the not-too-distant future. Expect an increased offensive role in his third Liiga season.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish right wing Anders Bjork (10) (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

3 Anders Bjork – A 5th round steal from 2014, Bjork had matured into one of the most exciting forwards in NCAA hockey by his junior season. It was no surprise that the Bruins worked hard to convince him to give up his final year of college eligibility to sign this offseason, which he began with a cameo for Team USA in the World Championships. He has dangerous speed, a hard shot and fantastic inner drive. Hearkening back to his USNTDP days, he is also extremely responsible in his own end. NHL ready.

4 Trent Frederic – Somewhat of a surprise selection at the tail end of the first round in 2016, Frederic, who was more of a two-way player for the USNTDP program, emerged as more of an offensive force as a freshman with Wisconsin. He reads plays very well, accurately judging when to use his teammates and when to go it alone. His hockey IQ on both sides of the puck is near elite. Puck skills are also high end, while his skating and shot are merely above average. He should be a shoe-in for Team USA at the 2017 WJC.

5 Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson – JFK showed a bit more goal scoring acumen in his sophomore season at BU. A very smart hockey player who has now spent four seasons playing in North America, he is always in the right place to generate a positive effect on the flow of the game. He can finish a net drive with deft stickhandling, a strong one-timer or a whippy wrist shot. He signed an ELC after BU’s season ended and should have a relatively brief AHL apprenticeship before seeing steady NHL ice time.

6 Jake DeBrusk – Former first rounder Jake DeBrusk, son of retired NHL policeman Louie DeBrusk, had a strong, if at times uneven, rookie pro season. A strong skater who is effective playing both an East-West as well as North-South game, he has above average top speed and very good agility and body control. When he enters the offensive zone with momentum, can be very dangerous, particularly when combined with his puckhandling skills. Could use another half season or more of AHL development time.

7 Zachary Senyshyn – One of the fastest players in the OHL, Senyshyn, another product of Don Sweeney’s infamous 2015 first round, ended his OHL career with his highest points-per-game average yet. A gifted goal scorer, he can commonly be found blazing down the wing and cutting in towards the net. Needs to fill out his lanky frame to have similar success as a pro. He has decent hands, but rarely tries fancy puck play as his speed has been able to beat most OHL defenders on its own.

8 Danton Heinen – Heinen upped the ante after a strong AHL rookie season with a fantastic, point-per-game playoff run. Although his first, abbreviated, NHL run was non-descript, he is still a strong prospect. He owns a solid slap shot, but is even better as a playmaker. He shows good vision in the offensive zone when carrying the puck and makes sharp and clever passes to open teammates. One of several mid-round success stories from recent Boston drafts.

9 Jeremy Lauzon – Although his final junior year was marred by injury, Lauzon turned heads with a strong WJC performance and ended on a high-note with a very good postseason performance for Rouyn-Noranda. Has a solid point shot that can be dangerous whether slapped or wristed and packs a big force into his checks. Foot speed is not an area of strength, but he has enough to stay relevant. Overall, a very polished young defenseman.

10 Jakub Zboril – Finally turning pro after a solid QMJHL season with Saint John, Zboril will no longer have to hear that he is not as good as Thomas Chabot. Of course, in the pros, he will have other good players to be compared to. He is a physical player whose tools have not improved much since he was drafted in 2015. Too easily drawn out of position. Possesses a strong shot and can execute passes from the blueline all over the zone, but his hands are stiff and his offensive upside may be limited.

11 Ryan Donato – A skilled puck player, Donato, whose father Ted Donato played for a number of years with Boston and is currently coaching his son at Harvard, nearly doubled his point production as a sophomore. He plays an exciting offensive game, with tenacity on both sides of the puck. A solid skater and shooter, his best attribute is clearly his plus stickhandling. Still not done filling out.

12 Malcolm Subban – Now four years deep into an AHL career, the former first round pick has put up team leading save percentages in only two of those years, with last year’s average numbers falling well short of the work of crease-mate Zane McIntyre. Subban still gets the nod in this list largely due to his athleticism portending the ability to improve over time. He can make highlight reel saves due to his lateral agility, but he needs to get his happy feet under control.

13 Matt Grzelcyk – After a storied college career at BU, Grzelcyk got his pro career off on the right foot with Providence. He will need to prove himself at each step due to his diminutive stature (think Torey Krug), but his offensive gifts are evident. He has very good vision and a plus wrist shot. He does not hesitate to pinch in very deep in the opposing zone and gives solid effort away from the puck.

14 Ryan Lindgren – Despite being selected to represent the USA at last year’s WJC, Ryan Lindgren’s first post draft year served as a reminder that the jump up from USHL play to college hockey is sometimes very difficult. In addition to struggling getting his offensive game going, he committed a plethora of unforced errors and averaged over two penalty minutes per game for the Golden Gophers. He should be able to play hard without spending so much time in the penalty box.

15 Jack Studnicka – A high IQ forward, Studnicka can also contribute as a secondary offensive threat, thanks largely to his plus wrist shot and solid puck skills. He still has a lot of room for physical growth, but he plays an effective physical game at the OHL level. His production in the playoffs far surpassed his regular season scoring pace and he could see a big increase in his role as an offensive producer in his post draft season.

16 Cameron Hughes – The sixth round pick from 2015, at the time a little-used freshman with Wisconsin, has been a scouting find for the Bruins. He is still underappreciated in prospect circles, but his hands are among the best at the collegiate level. He is extremely creative and can create magic with the puck on his stick. He is not higher up this list as he cannot do it alone. He needs a playmaker to put him in the clear, giving the slight Hughes the space he needs to operate.

17 Peter Cehlarik – A Slovakian forward drafted out of Sweden in 2013, Cehlarik finally came over to North America last year and impressed in his first North American season. A natural goal scorer with above average puck play, he is best when he has a teammate who can set him up. He still needs to improve his quickness to continue to be able to find soft spots in coverage from which to capitalize, but if he is still prospect eligible next year, he will most likely be higher up this list.

18 Kenny Agostino – Once the key part of the return for Jarome Iginla, Agostino has matured into an absolute beast at the AHL level, winning the league’s MVP award as its top scorer. It is an open question whether he can translate some of his AHL prowess into the NHL, but the minor league free agent signing is a good skater with very quick hands and plus finishing skills. The Bruins will give him a chance.

19 Jesse Gabrielle – A very physical player with a heavy shot, Gabrielle has had a somewhat disappointing finish to an otherwise solid WHL career. Despite playing on a suddenly strong Prince George team, the former fourth rounder’s production stagnated. He is a decent enough skater with a battler’s mentality that may find life on a professional energy line perfectly suited to his skills and style.

20 Emil Johansson – Fitting to end this list with another late round pick making good. Johansson, a puck moving two-way defenseman, took big steps forward last season while playing big minutes with Djurgardens in SHL, establishing career highs in both goals and assists. A solid skater with a decent shot, he made Sweden’ national Men’s team at age 21 and was given an ELC during the off-season.

In addition to the twenty prospects listed above, the Bruins had a few more who would have fit in very nicely in the top twenty of other organizations. Players like Noel Acciari, Ryan Fitzgerald, Sean Kuraly, Zane McIntyre, Daniel Vladar, Joona Koppanen, and more. With this type of system depth, the Bruins should never need to use NHL free agency to fill out the back half of the roster.

NHL Prospect Watch: World Junior Preview – Canada

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 22:31:15 +0000

Next Monday is Boxing Day in Canada. Monday also marks the opening faceoff of the 2016-17 WJC – also in Canada, incidentally enough, with the tournament being shared by Montreal and Toronto. With Team Canada all squared away (notwithstanding the potential for last minute injuries), now marks as good a time as any to provide you with a taste of what the Canadians can do on home ice.

With tremendous help from Craig Smith (QMJHL), Scott Crawford (OHL) and Kevin Olexson (WHL), what follows is a non-comprehensive look at many of the players who will be wearing the red and white over the next few weeks.

Goaltenders

Carter Hart (Philadelphia, 2/48, 2016), G, Everett (WHL)

Connor Ingram (Tampa Bay, 3/88, 2016), G, Kamloops (WHL)

Carter Hart at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Carter Hart is likely the most exciting of Philadelphia’s 326 goaltenders currently in their pipeline. Now in his fourth year with Everett, his GAA was dropped every year (3.49 -> 2.29 -> 2.14 -> 1.85) while his save percentage has also steadily risen over that time (.893 -> .915 -> .918 -> .928). Largely expected to be Canada’s primary netminder, he is a butterfly netminder with impressive agility and positioning. He is patient, squares up very nicely to the shooters and does a commendable job cutting down angles. He tends to play low and is hard to beat from bottom part of the net. If shooter’s go high, Hart also has a quick glove to snuff out opportunities.

The expected backup is Tampa Bay (we’ll be reading that a lot here) prospect Connor Ingram. Not drafted in his first year of eligibility, even though he was already a starter, Ingram raised his save percentage from .904 to .922 and drew many scouts to Kamloops. Although Ingram’s numbers are not the equal of Hart’s his Kamloops team does not play as structured a defensive game as Everett does in front of Hart, leaving Ingram exposed for more shots. He is a very athletic netminder with excellent movements and great tenacity. As with Hart, Ingram is known for high end puck tracking, and plus agility allowing him to cover the lower part of the net. Whichever netminder Canada turns to on a given night, they should have a great chance of winning.

Defensemen

Jake Bean (Carolina, 1/13, 2016), D, Calgary (WHL)

Thomas Chabot (Ottawa, 1/18, 2015), D, Saint John (QMJHL)

Kale Clague (Los Angeles, 2/51, 2016), D, Brandon (WHL)

Dante Fabbro (Nashville, 1/17, 2016), D, Boston University (HE)

Noah Juulsen (Montreal, 1/26, 2015), D, Everett (WHL)

Jeremy Lauzon (Boston, 2/52, 2015), D, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

Philippe Myers (Philadelphia, UDFA/2015), D, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

The only returning WJC defender on Team Canada is Ottawa Senators’ first rounder Thomas Chabot, one of the better skaters you can find outside of an NHL arena. Nearly a point-per-game player last year with the Sea Dogs, Chabot has upped his game after a brief stay with Ottawa at the start of the year. He may only have gotten into one game with the Senators, but he returned to the Q a man possessed. Not only is he producing points at a ridiculous pace (20 points through 14 games), but he has also taken strides with his defensive game, and showing off a sneaky hip check that he utilizes to help break up zone entries. Physicality was his least effective trait last year. Chabot will wear an ‘A’ on his sweater for team Canada and is expected to be their top blueliner in this tournament.

Noah Juulsen, a teammate of netminder Hart with Everett, is also expected to take on a critical role in the red and white blueline. Another solid two-way defender, his offensive game seems to be rebounding nicely from what was a down year last year. He is a smooth skater, who moves the puck with confidence and poise. His point shot is hard and accurate, but his defensive play has been more impressive and he could take on a shut down role in the WJC.

The youngest blueliner on a stacked Boston University roster, and one of six with NHL draft pedigree, Dante Fabbro has been having a solid, if unspectacular freshman season with the Terriers. He plays a sound game and has outstanding potential as a puck mover. I expect Fabbro to be given a more sheltered role in the WJC as Canada is going with a relatively young blueline. He could take a regular third pairing role and perhaps help out on the penalty kill.

Jake Bean may be a bit of a wild card on the Canadian blueline, as he has missed much of the first half of the WHL season to injury. Although a leader with the Calgary Hitmen, I expect him to take more of a secondary role here, and be put in positions where his puck moving skills and great point shot and offensive instincts can stick out.

Kale Clague should also take part in the 5-6-7 rotation, as yet another 18 year old. Although his Brandon Wheat Kings are having a down year, Clague has stepped up his role on the team, trying to fill in the enormous shoes left over by Ivan Provorov. He plays a strong transition game and has plus passing skills. His strong play reading may allow him to take shifts against opponents top lines as well.

Philippe Myers is the only player on Team Canada who has never been drafted, but he does not need to be. After being passed over in his first year of eligibility, as 8 points in 60 games did not make up for his 6-5” frame and plus skating, especially considering his size. Nonetheless, he earned an invitation to Flyers’ rookie camp and impressed enough to earn an entry level contract. His point total jumped from eight to 45 in only three more games, which he followed up with a lead role in Rouyn-Noranda’s run to the Memorial Cup. So far this year, he is close to one point per game. Myers is a puck moving protection with phenomenal reach. His transition game is fantastic as he skated like a player six inches shorter. He may be the best prospect in the game acquired as an undrafted free agent. Expect Myers to take on a top four role.

Forwards

HELSINKI, FINLAND - DECEMBER 26: Canada's Dylan Strome #9 celebrates after scoring Team Canada's second goal of the game during preliminary round action at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Mathew Barzal (NY Islanders, 1/16, 2015), C, Seattle (WHL)

Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay, 3/72, 2015), C, Oshawa (OHL)

Dillon Dube (Calgary, 2/56, 2016), C, Kelowna (WHL)

Pierre-Luc Dubois (Columbus, 1/3, 2016), C/LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)

Julien Gauthier (Carolina, 1/21, 2016), RW, Val d’Or (QMJHL)

Mathieu Joseph (Tampa Bay, 4/120, 2015), RW, Saint John (QMJHL)

Tyson Jost (Colorado, 1/10, 2016), C, North Dakota (NCHC)

Michael McLeod (New Jersey, 1/12, 2016), C, Mississauga (OHL)

Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay, 2/58, 2016), RW, Erie (OHL)

Nicolas Roy (Carolina, 4/96, 2015), C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Blake Speers (New Jersey, 3/67, 2016), RW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Mitchell Stephens (Tampa Bay, 2/33, 2015), C, Saginaw (OHL)

Dylan Strome (Arizona, 1/3, 2015), C, Erie (OHL)

In Strome and Dubois, Team Canada has the two highest drafted players in the tournament, both of whom were selected third overall in their respective draft years. While Dubois was not expected to stick in the NHL this year – although he probably should have received more of a chance, many, myself included were shocked at how Strome was used by Arizona. He played in seven games for the Coyotes, but spent just as much time in the press box and was only sent back to Erie of the OHL in late November. Strome picked up right where he left off last year, with 16 points in his first seven OHL games, fitting for a player who led the CHL in points in his draft year. Dubois, on the other hand, has disappointed since being returned to junior hockey, scoring roughly 50% less this year than last season. He has recently been rumored to be on the trading block, with Blainville-Boisbriand looking to secure his services. Strome may never be more than average as a skater, but his hockey IQ, shot and puck skills are all at or near elite levels for a junior aged player. He scored four goals in last year’s WJC tournament and Canada is counting on more of the same this time. Dubois, in spite of his relatively low point totals this year with Cape Breton, is still showing the excellent vision that convinced the Blue Jackets to use the third overall pick on him last June. Unfortunately, his skills have not stuck out as much this year. Focusing only on his primary points (goals and first assists), his production has reverted of his age 16 season. He has the skills and overall game to be a big time contributor for Canada, and a good tournament may revitalize his season.

If Strome is not the offensive catalyst for this team, Seattle’s Mathew Barzal will be. One of the returnees from last year’s WJC entry, he has something to prove after being cut from the Islanders, used even less than Strome was in Arizona. A great skater who plays a high tempo game, Barzal has exceptional vision and puck skills and is perhaps the purest playmaker on the squad. While he has only scored two goals in 13 games since being returned to the WHL, his 17 assists speak volumes about how he can contribute. I expect a much bigger output from Barzal this year than the three points he added to last year’s team.

One of five Tampa Bay Lightning prospects to make the final roster, Mathieu Joseph was an intriguing flyer in his draft year. Since then, he has emerged as one of the deadliest and most consistent snipers in the QMJHL, where he is a teammate of Chabot’s in Saint John. He scored 33 goals last year in 58 games and already lit the lamps 25 times in 29 games this year for the Sea Dogs. Joseph s a big, strong winger with plus acceleration who loves to drive the net. He has improved his ability to create offense for himself such as by finding new ways to create space in the high danger areas of the ice. He has a fast release and does not give goalies much time to adjust to his shots.

Sticking with goal scoring teenagers in the Lightning pipeline, Taylor Raddysh, an Erie teammate of Strome’s as well, is the current OHL points leader. Known going into the draft as a sluggish skater, he is now faster, particularly in his first two strides. He plays an aggressive, shoot first game and generates a ton of rebounds. Raddysh provides Canada with much needed versatility as well, with his plus hockey IQ letting him play all over the ice.

Tampa has two other forwards on the team who are expected to provide more jam and hustle than flash in Mitchell Stephens and Anthony Cirelli. Stephens, the captain of the Saginaw Spirit, is a do-it-all player for his junior club and was a member of last year’s ill-fated Canada WJC squad. Although his size is roughly average, his physical game has improved and he can be a terror on the forecheck. His slap shot is also looking harder to handle than in the past. Although seemingly better suited to a bottom six role, Stephens could also make his presence felt as an agitator creating space in a higher line. Cirelli, who went undrafted as a bantam, walked on to the Oshawa Generals team and finished his rookie season by scoring both of his team’s goals in the Memorial Cup Final, including the overtime winner. One of the hardest working forwards in the OHL, he is both faster and stronger this year, especially as it pertains to his upper body. More of an East-West player than most of his ilk, he adds a heart-and-soul dimension to the team, with the type of leadership expected of a player in his second season captaining his junior squad.

Another player on the team who has missed a large chunk of the first half to injury is Dillon Dube, a Calgary draft pick with Kelowna of the WHL. A versatile and dynamic player, he can play at any forward spot and in any manpower situation. He engages physically, but can also beat you with speed, solid puck skills and a good shot. If he is able to add offense from the bottom six, things will be looking rosy for Canada.

Tyson Jost was a teammate of Dante Fabbro’s last season with Penticton of the BCHL and will be reacquainted with his childhood friend over the next few weeks. The University of North Dakota freshman has made quick work of the NCAA, scoring over one point per game as a freshman with the defending NCAA champs. His experience in the NCAA, playing with and against much older players should help him in this tournament. His combination of skating, puck skills and hockey sense fit the description of a front line player at any level. He should be penciled into the top six here.

Drafted two picks after Jost last June, Michael McLeod has perhaps been this season’s most disappointing prospect in the OHL. Drafted as a speed demon with a nose for the net, he returned to the OHL from a long run at cam with New Jersey with perhaps too much confidence and not enough attention to detail. He has made more egregious and more frequent mistakes, at both ends of the ice. Focusing only on his skills set, he could find a good role with this team, and is an accomplished penalty killer. But he will need to be better for Team Canada than he has been this year with the Steelheads to earn a steady shift.

Jeremy Lauzon – McKeen's Hockey

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Boston Bruins

John Beecher, C (30th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Jack Studnicka, C (53rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

Jeremy Swayman, G (111th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Urho Vaakanainen, D (18th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

Jeremy Lauzon, D (52nd overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Trent Frederic, C (29th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Jakub Zboril, D (13th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 7)

Jack Ahcan, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 27, 2020. Previous ranking: 8)

Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Daniel Vladar, G (75th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 10)

Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

Trevor Kuntar, C (89th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Roman Bychkov, D (154th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Curtis Hall, C (119th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 14)

Oskar Steen, C (165th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

Peter Cehlarik, LW (90th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 16)

Anton Blidh, LW (180th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 17)

Joona Koppanen, LW (135th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: UR)

Victor Berglund, D (195th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: UR)

Mason Lohrei, D (58th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

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Boston Bruins

John Beecher, C (30th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Jack Studnicka, C (53rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 4)

Jeremy Swayman, G (111th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Urho Vaakanainen, D (18th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

Jeremy Lauzon, D (52nd overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 7)

Trent Frederic, C (29th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 3)

Jakub Zboril, D (13th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 14)

Jack Ahcan, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 27, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

Daniel Vladar, G (75th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 16)

Ryan Fitzgerald, C (120th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: 20)

Roman Bychkov, D (154th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 15)

Curtis Hall, C (119th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Oskar Steen, C (165th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)

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Defensemen

Forwards

John Beecher, C (30^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Jack Studnicka, C (53^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

Jeremy Swayman, G (111^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Urho Vaakanainen, D (18^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

Jeremy Lauzon, D (52^nd overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Trent Frederic, C (29^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Jakub Zboril, D (13^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 7)

Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Daniel Vladar, G (75^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 10)

Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

Trevor Kuntar, C (89^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Roman Bychkov, D (154^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Curtis Hall, C (119^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 14)

Oskar Steen, C (165^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

Peter Cehlarik, LW (90^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 16)

Anton Blidh, LW (180^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 17)

Joona Koppanen, LW (135^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: UR)

Victor Berglund, D (195^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: UR)

Mason Lohrei, D (58^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

John Beecher, C (30^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Jack Studnicka, C (53^rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 4)

Jeremy Swayman, G (111^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Urho Vaakanainen, D (18^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

Jeremy Lauzon, D (52^nd overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 7)

Trent Frederic, C (29^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 3)

Jakub Zboril, D (13^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 14)

Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

Daniel Vladar, G (75^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 16)

Ryan Fitzgerald, C (120^th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: 20)

Roman Bychkov, D (154^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 15)

Curtis Hall, C (119^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Oskar Steen, C (165^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)