Jesper Boqvist – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Fantasy playoffs are upon us, the Blackhawks bring in another top prospect, Marco Rossi, Anthony Cirelli, and Quinton Byfield are producing in the middle of the ice as Troy Terry and Zach Benson are working the wings.

Scott Cullen — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:27:53 +0000

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 24: Vancouver Canucks center Marco Rossi (93) vies for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. (Photo by Ethan Cairns/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, as fantasy playoffs are upon us, the Blackhawks bring in another top prospect, Marco Rossi, Anthony Cirelli, and Quinton Byfield are producing in the middle of the ice as Troy Terry and Zach Benson are working the wings.

#1 While it has been another tough season for the Chicago Blackhawks, they are getting a nice boost late in the season with the arrival of Anton Frondell, the third pick in last summer’s draft, who tallied 20 goals and eight assists for 28 points in 43 games for Djurgardens in the SHL. Frondell has arrived in Chicago, registered two assists in his first three NHL games, and is skating on the top line with Connor Bedard and Ryan Greene in addition to getting first unit power play time. He’s 18, so expectations need to be kept in check, but he’s also getting enough of an opportunity to make him immediately interesting for those in deep leagues.

#2 There may be some fantasy value to be found in players that are playing for teams out of the playoff picture. For example, it’s easy enough to dismiss the Vancouver Canucks as they have endured a brutal season, but centre Marco Rossi has produced 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in his past eight games, is getting first unit power play time and is thriving with linemates Liam Ohgren and Brock Boeser.

#3 With an established reputation as a strong two-way player, Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli is getting a shot at an expanded offensive role, skating on the top line between Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel. In his past 12 games, Cirelli has produced 14 points (5 G, 9 A) and 21 shots on goal, with 13 of those 14 points coming at even strength. With 2.51 points per 60 minutes during five-on-five play this season, Cirelli ranks 22nd in the league. Not bad for a checking centre.

#4 He has missed some time with injuries, but Anaheim Ducks right winger Troy Terry has been on a good run since Christmas, producing 17 points (7 G, 10 A) with 29 shots on goal in 15 games. He is scoring better than a point per game this season, a feat he has not been able to accomplish in a full season. He was scratched from Thursday’s game at Calgary, so his reliability remains an issue but his productivity makes him a valuable player whenever he is in the lineup.

#5 There are so many great stories on the Buffalo Sabres this season, as the team is poised to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2010-2011 season, and one of those great stories is the play of 20-year-old winger Zach Benson. In his past six games, Benson has seven points (3 G, 4 A) with seven shots on goal. That shot rate needs improvement, but Benson is thriving on a line with Josh Norris and Josh Doan. When Benson is on the ice at five-on-five, the Sabres are outscoring opponents 39-22.

#6 As the Los Angeles Kings push for a playoff spot, centre Quinton Byfield has stepped up his game, with nine points (5 G, 4 A) and 20 shots on goal in his past seven contests. Consistency has been elusive for Byfield, as he had five points (4 G, 1 A) in the previous 17 games, but when he’s going, Byfield can be a physical force. He is currently skating on a line with Trevor Moore and Alex Laferriere while getting second-unit power play time.

#7 The Ottawa Senators are in a competitive battle for a playoff spot but they are dealing with serious injuries on the blueline. Jake Sanderson was already out of the lineup with an upper-body injury when Thomas Chabot suffered a broken arm that will keep him out for 4-to-8 weeks. Add in injuries to Nick Jensen and Dennis Gilbert and the Sens were forced to make changes, which included calling up 2024 first-round pick Carter Yakeumchuk from Belleville of the American Hockey League, where he had 36 points (10 G, 26 A) in 50 games. Yakemchuk has two points (1 G, 1 A) with four shots on goal in his first three NHL games and the injuries on Ottawa’s blueline may prompt the Sens to keep Yakemchuk and his offensive skills in the lineup. Some D to consider from the waiver wire: Damon Severson, who has 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in 14 games this month, Rasmus Sandin, who has five points (2 G, 3 A) in his past seven games, and even Sens defenders Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence, who have combined for 12 points in the past eight games.

#8 In the past month, New Jersey Devils right winger Connor Brown has been moved into a more offensive role and has delivered 14 points (4 G, 10 A) and 24 shots on goal in 13 games. He has been a reliable middle six winger in his NHL career, but he’s skating on a line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, while also getting top-unit power play time. He is up to 36 points (14 G, 22 A) on the season, within striking distance of his career high of 43 points, set during the 2019-2020 season when he was with the Ottawa Senators.

#9 It has not been an easy season for Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault, but he has recorded 10 assists in his past 11 games, a veritable surge in production for a player who has just 28 points (11 G, 17 A) in 53 games. The veteran winger is playing on PP1 for the Predators and is skating on a line with Matthew Wood and Filip Forsberg, so he’s in a decent situation to produce late in the season.

#10 It’s been a similar situation for Anaheim Ducks veteran winger Alex Killorn, who has eight points (4 G, 4 A) with 17 shots on goal in his past 10 games, which is a significant improvement for a player who had 20 points in 63 games before that. The 36-year-old winger is skating on a line with veteran pivot Mikael Granlund and rookie right winger Bennett Sennecke, which is a strong enough situation to consider Killorn for some late-season value.

#11 As the Seattle Kraken try to stay in the playoff hunt, captain Jordan Eberle has contributed seven points (1 G, 6 A) in his past seven games. He is up to 23 goals on the season, which is his most in a season since 2017-2018, when he scored 25, so he is within range of that total. He has consistently been playing on Seattle’s top line with Matty Beniers at centre and there have been several wingers rotating through. Right now, it’s rookie Berkly Catton getting a shot on the left side.

#12 Staying in Seattle, right winger Kaapo Kakko is delivering quality results late in the season. In his past seven games, Kakko has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) with seven shots on goal. That shot rate is not enough to sustain that level of offensive production, but he provides useful secondary scoring, skating on a line with Chandler Stephenson and Bobby McMann.

#13 Early this season, the Utah Grizzlies winger Lawson Crouse was not playing a big part and his production was modest, managing nine points (4 G, 5 A) through his first 26 games. It’s gotten better throughout the season, and in his past seven games, he has six points (4 G, 2 A) and 24 hits, which is really where Crouse brings his most reliable value for fantasy managers. He has scored 20 goals for the fourth time in his career and it’s the fifth time in his career that he has recorded at least 190 hits. If you have a need on the wing at this point in the fantasy season, you could do worse than adding Crouse.

#14 There have been reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs are not inclined to give a qualifying offer to right winger Matias Maccelli this summer, but Maccelli has been one of the few Maple Leafs contributing consistently. Since the beginning of February, Maccelli has 16 points (7 G, 9 A) with 33 shots on goal in 20 games. He is tied with John Tavares for second on the team in scoring over that span, three points behind William Nylander and one point ahead of Matthew Knies. Most recently, he’s been skating on a line with Dakota Joshua and Bo Groulx, but that hasn’t deterred him.

#15 Although the wins aren’t coming easily, Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll has been playing well late in the season while facing a heavy workload. In his past eight starts, Woll has a 2-4-2 record, but he has a .910 save percentage while facing an average of around 35 shots per game. The Leafs’ lack of success doesn’t help Woll’s value, but it is part of the reason that he’s still available in a decent percentage of leagues and he’s playing well enough that he could help a fantasy manager who needs a late-season upgrade between the pipes.

#16 While we’re considering goaltenders on teams that are out of the playoff race, look at St. Louis Blues netminder Joel Hofer, who has been unbeatable since the Olympic break. In nine games since the break, Hofer has a 7-0-2 record with a .955 save percentage! He has a .911 save percentage on the season and has recently overtaken Jordan Binnington in terms of starts, with Hofer at 36 and Binnington at 35. Perhaps this is the changing of the guard for the Blues, as Hofer has 13.44 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) and Binnington has -20.01 (GSAx), a stark difference in performance.

#17 There was some suspicion around the Olympic break that the Florida Panthers could be on the verge of shutting down a bunch of players with injuries because the playoffs were looking less and less likely, so there was not as much incentive for players to play through the injuries that they might when the team is mounting a Stanley Cup run. Aleksander Barkov has been out all season of course, but Brad Marchand is out, Anton Lundell will miss 2-6 weeks with an upper body injury, Evan Rodrigues is out 4-6 weeks with a broken finger, and Mackie Samoskevich is due to return soon, but he’s still out. That leaves forwards like Jesper Boqvist and Tomas Nosek playing bigger roles than would typically be expected of them.

#18 Philadelphia Flyers centre Christian Dvorak has six points (2 G, 4 A) and 15 shots on goal in his past seven games, and he really has the trust of Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet. In the past 22 games, Dvorak has played more than 20 minutes 12 times, including a season-high 25:32 last week at San Jose. He is now averaging 18:28 of ice time per game, a career high, and his 44 points (15 G, 29 A) is also the high-water mark for his career. All of this is to suggest that, in a pinch, Dvorak could have late-season value for fantasy managers.

#19 It’s a little troubling for the Vegas Golden Knights, as they scramble for a playoff spot, that star centre Jack Eichel has hit a slump. They are hoping he has broken out of it with a three-point game last night against Washington. In his previous seven games, Eichel has generated 22 shots on goal while averaging more than 21 minutes of ice time per game, and yet he has managed just one assist. It would be a tad aggressive to go cutting Eichel at this stage of the season, especially when he’s generating shots at this rate, but it’s also possible that he doesn’t need to be in your fantasy lineup automatically. It’s not much better for Golden Knights right winger Mitch Marner, who has two assists and 19 shots on goal in the past eight games.

#20 Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier is tied for the league lead with 11 goals in March, tied with Pavel Zacha. Gauthier ranks second in expected goals with 7.61 ixG, barely trailing Brady Tkachuk at 7.69. Other forwards that have been around the net, rounding out the top ten when it comes to individual expected goals: Zach Hyman (7.09), Brock Nelson (6.98), Alex DeBrincat (6.93). Beckett Sennecke (6.85), Bryan Rust (6.68), Rickard Rakell (6.60), Alexis Lafreniere (6.49), and Timo Meier (6.49).

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – A look at the rookie race at mid-season – Favourable schedules and player to target

Ryan Dadoun — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:20:08 +0000

I haven’t spent any time talking about the rookie race this campaign. Macklin Celebrini did miss 12 games early on due to a lower-body injury, which mitigated the early attention he might have otherwise had, but he’s been healthy for a while and has looked fantastic, providing 13 goals and 28 points through 32 appearances.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

At this stage, though, the reason why I haven’t dipped into the Calder Trophy race is because there’s not a lot to chew on there. Celebrini does have direct competition with Matvei Michkov, but Michkov is just one point ahead of Celebrini despite having played in eight more outings, so barring a change in the second half of the campaign, Celebrini seems like the clear favorite between them. Beyond that, the main competitors are defenseman Lane Hutson, who has three goals and 31 points in 41 outings, and goaltender Dustin Wolf, who is 13-6-2 with a 2.60 GAA and a .914 save percentage in 21 starts.

Comparing Celebrini, Hutson and Wolf is mostly subjective because they bring completely different things, so while a judgment call can and will be made by the end of the season which of them -- or Michkov if he does surprise me -- should get the trophy, comparing them in an article setting feels like evaluating apples and oranges.

Still, we might be able to glean something by evaluating how each of them compares to previous rookies at this stage of their careers. For Celebrini, we’ll compare his start against other forwards, and Hutson will be evaluated against defensemen. I’ll simplify things a little by making the comparisons based on games played (in other words, Connor Bedard’s first 32 games played will be measured against the Sharks rookie) to factor out Celebrini’s injury.

In the case of Wolf, I’m not going to break it down because the odds of him winning the Calder Trophy seem slim. While I think he deserves to be in the conversation to become one of the finalists, the last goaltender to take the trophy was Steve Mason back in 2008-09, and he was unreal that campaign with a 33-20-7 record, 2.29 GAA and .916 save percentage along with 10 shutouts. To put that into the context of that campaign, Mason also finished second in Vezina Trophy voting and fourth in the Hart race. With all due respect to Wolf, he’s not doing anything that measures up to that -- at least, he hasn’t yet.

With that in mind, let’s look at Celebrini’s recent comparables:

Alex Ovechkin, 2005-06, 19-19-38

Connor McDavid, 2016-17, 13-21-34

Sidney Crosby, 2005-06, 13-19-32

Patrick Kane, 2007-08, 8-23-31

Connor Bedard, 2023-24, 12-17-29

Macklin Celebrini, 2024-25, 13-15-28

Auston Matthews, 2016-17, 16-9-25

Paul Stastny, 2006-07, 8-14-22

You can see that his pace is a step below that of Ovechkin, McDavid, Crosby and Kane (note that McDavid missed roughly half of his rookie season and consequently missed out on the Calder), but he’s doing about as well as Bedard did last year.

Matthews and Stastny are there to remind us that we need to take these numbers with a grain of salt. Matthews is an amazing goal scorer who began his career with a four-goal game, but he had an extended quiet period from Oct. 27-Nov. 22 (0-3-3 in 13 games) during his rookie campaign, which diminished his early returns. In the case of Stastny, he finished with 28 goals and 78 points in 82 appearances in his first campaign, but he got off to a slow start.

These are ultimately still small sample sizes, but it does at least show that Celebrini is off to a respectable start when measured against the biggest stars of the salary cap era.

Still, Hutson looks even better:

Cale Makar*, 2019-20, 11-26-37

Shayne Gostisbehere*, 2015-16, 12-22-34

Lane Hutson*, 2024-25, 3-28-31

Quinn Hughes*, 2019-20, 4-26-30

Moritz Seider, 2021-22, 3-23-26

Zach Werenski, 2016-17, 6-20-26

Luke Hughes*, 2023-24, 7-16-23

Tyler Myers, 2009-10, 3-19-22

Brock Faber*, 2023-24, 2-18-20

You’ll notice a number of defensemen on this list with asterisks, which indicates that I took the first 41 games of their Calder season, not their first 41 games overall. For example, I didn’t count Makar’s 10 playoff appearances before 2019-20 or Quinn Hughes’ five regular-season outings in 2018-19. Hutson’s two appearances in 2023-24 weren’t factored in either, not that it would have hurt him -- he finished last season with a pair of assists.

That aside, Hutson is off to a remarkable start compared to other defensemen of the salary cap era. Faber did well enough to finish second in Calder Trophy voting last campaign with 47 points, and Hutson is well ahead of him. Moritz Seider is the last blueliner to win the award, and Hutson is outpacing the Red Wings defenseman as well.

Hutson is behind Makar and Gostisbehere, but Makar logged just 57 games as a rookie, consequently finishing with 50 points, and Gostisbehere didn’t play a full campaign either, finishing with 46 points in 66 outings. Hutson is currently on a 62-point pace. That would surpass Nicklas Lidstrom’s 60 points in 1991-92 and be the most since Brian Leetch’s 71 points in 1988-89.

Again, it’s apples and oranges between Celebrini and Hutson, but if you’re just talking about who is on track to leave the bigger mark on history for a rookie in their position, then so far that’s clearly Hutson.

Columbus Blue Jackets (Tue vs PHI, Thu vs SJS, Sat @ NYR)

At this point, it seems very likely Buffalo’s playoff drought, which dates back to 2011, will continue, but another franchise’s bid to re-enter the postseason might be successful. The Blue Jackets are in the mix for a Wild Card spot with some favorable games ahead of them. They’ll play in home against Philadelphia and San Jose on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, before visiting the Rangers on Saturday. At the time of writing, none of those three adversaries have a winning record.

The Blue Jackets are no strangers to injuries this campaign, but they are facing arguably their biggest challenge on that front with Sean Monahan on the injured reserve list due to a wrist issue. It’s not clear how long he’ll be out for, but he was placed on IR rather quickly after sustaining the injury Tuesday, which probably isn’t a great sign.

Before the injury, Monahan had 14 goals and 41 points through 41 appearances in 2024-25 while playing primarily on the Blue Jackets’ top line and first power-play unit. His loss will be felt, but if there is any silver lining at all, it’s that Columbus had a promising young forward waiting in the minors for his opportunity.

Luca Del Bel Belluz has excelled with AHL Cleveland in 2024-25, providing 17 goals and 37 points in 34 outings. The 21-year-old was summoned due to Monahan’s absence and was a standout performer in Thursday’s 6-2 victory over Seattle, collecting a goal and an assist in 11:16 of ice time. It’s reasonable to believe that his playing time will increase as he settles in, and he seems like a nice short-term grab to me -- short term because he might return to the minors once Monahan recovers.

Adam Fantilli is likely to be another player leaned on during Monahan’s absence. He logged 18:41, including 1:42 with the man advantage, Thursday and registered an assist to extend his scoring streak to four games. The 20-year-old’s nine goals and 20 points in 42 appearances in 2024-25 is nothing to write home about, but the 2023 No. 3 overall pick has tremendous upside that makes him worth keeping a very close eye on.

Dallas Stars (Tue @ TOR, Thu vs MTL, Sat @ COL, Sun vs DET)

Dallas has won its past six games, pushing its record to 26-13-1 in 2024-25. Although the Stars are having an incredible season, they’re still not in position to have the home-ice advantage in the first round because of the tough division they play in. Consequently, the Stars need every point they can get. They’ll try to stay strong in Toronto on Tuesday before hosting Montreal on Thursday. Dallas then has a back-to-back set over the weekend, playing in Colorado on Saturday and at home against Detroit on Sunday.

Jason Robertson’s resurgence has been a major part of the Stars’ winning streak. He was playing well below his potential early in the campaign, recording four goals and eight points across his opening 17 outings. Since then, he hasn’t been held off the scoresheet in consecutive games and has been especially effective recently, supplying three goals and 11 points over his past six outings. To put that into perspective, he leads all players in scoring from Dec. 29-Jan. 9 -- Zach Werenski and Mitch Marner are tied for second with nine points each.

Matt Duchene has also been on a roll. Although he’s having a strong campaign overall, Duchene had a slow stretch from Dec. 4-27 in which he was limited to a goal and an assist over 10 contests. He’s since rebounded with three goals and eight points across his past six outings.

The best part for Dallas is Duchene and Robertson typically play on separate lines, so this isn’t a case of one player’s hot streak simply feeding into the other’s, they’re both gelling at the same time independent of each other, which helps spread out the offense. That said, Duchene’s linemates Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn are looking good as well with eight and seven points, respectively, across Dallas’ past six games. Robertson’s linemates Evgenii Dadonov and Roope Hintz are also enjoying strong stretches with six and five points, respectively, over the same span.

The only downside is Logan Stankoven, who serves on the third line, hasn’t been doing much. He has the most offensive potential among the forwards outside of the top six, but the 21-year-old has been a mixed bag this campaign with four goals and 19 points in 38 outings, and that’s despite an amazing start of the season in which he had four goals and 14 points over his opening 15 games. He’s worth monitoring to see if he gets hot again, but he’s too streaky to be an everyday option in fantasy.

Florida Panthers (Mon @ PHI, Tue @NJD, Thu vs DET, Sat vs ANA)

The Panthers have a real shot of reaching the 100-point mark for the third time in four seasons -- and they played at a 100-point pace in the shortened 2021 campaign (37-14-5) -- but they’ve been going through something of a rough patch with a 3-4-0 record from Dec. 23-Jan. 8. Florida will attempt to correct course on the road against the Flyers on Monday and the Devils on Tuesday. The Panthers will then return home to host Detroit on Thursday and Anaheim on Saturday.

Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart typically drive Florida’s offense, but none of them have been especially noteworthy lately -- each of them has no more than one goal and three points across Florida’s past five outings. Instead, Jesper Boqvist has been the unlikely leader recently, collecting four goals and six points over that five-game span.

This won’t last -- the 26-year-old has never recorded more than 23 points in a single campaign -- but you can enjoy this while it lasts. If nothing else, the timing of it has taken a touch of pressure off the Panthers’ major forwards during one of their quieter stretches.

One forward who might be feeling the pressure regardless, though, is Sam Bennett. He was amazing at the start of the campaign, supplying 13 goals and 26 points across his opening 27 appearances, which made it look like he might earn a big payday in the final season of his four-year, $17.7 million contract. Some decline was likely inevitable, but rather than slow, he’s collapsed, recording just one assist over his past 13 outings.

If there is a silver lining, Bennett is still firing the puck at a decent rate, accounting for 25 shots in his past eight outings, and his role with the team alongside Tkachuk and Verhaeghe seems largely intact. It seems just a matter of time before he breaks out of his recent slump, but he probably won’t have another stretch like he did in the early portion of 2024-25.

Montreal Canadiens (Tue @ UTA, Thu @ DAL, Sat vs TOR, Sun vs NYR)

Montreal wasn’t terribly impressive early in the campaign, owning an 11-16-3 record through Dec. 14, but the Canadiens have gone on a 9-2-0 run since. That’s put them into the mix for a playoff spot going into next week’s action. Montreal will begin on the road with games in Utah on TuesdayJack Hughes, and Dallas on Thursday. The Canadiens will then host the Maple Leafs on Saturday and the Rangers on Sunday.

A key factor in Montreal’s recent success has been its offense. The Canadiens have averaged 3.82 goals per game across their past 11 contests, which is a huge spike from their 2.70 goals per game over their first 30 outings.

Interestingly, there’s very little overlap with Patrik Laine’s success after returning from a knee injury and Montreal’s run. He did have an incredible eight goals and nine points in nine outings, but that was from Dec. 3-21, so mostly before Montreal took off. He then had no goals and an assist in four appearances from Dec. 23-31 and has missed the Canadiens’ last four outings due to an illness. You could absolutely make an argument that his hot return helped get the ball rolling, but he’s not what’s sustained it.

Cole Caufield has been an offensive leader over that stretch with six goals and 13 points through 11 outings, but that’s nothing new for him -- he has 23 goals and 40 points in 41 games overall -- so while he’s an important part of the Canadiens’ offense, he’s not what changed. The same goes for Nick Suzuki, who has two goals and 12 points across his past 11 appearances, giving him 13 goals and 42 points in 2024-25.

If you want the secret sauce, it’s been depth players stepping up. Joel Armia, Juraj Slafkovsky, Emil Heineman and Jake Evans have each had 15 points or fewer over Montreal’s first 30 outings, but those four have each collected seven or more points over the past 11 games.

Meanwhile, we’ve seen some promise from Jakub Dobes. He’s made three starts so far and is 3-0-0 with a GAA and a save percentage of 0.97 and .959, respectively. Granted, that’s a small sample size, but those matches were against Florida, Colorado and Washington -- all on the road -- so the Canadiens have given him tough competition, and he’s risen to the occasion.

Sam Montembeault has been largely hit-and-miss this campaign, including from Dec. 17 onward. He does have a 6-2-0 record over that stretch, but he also has a 2.78 GAA and an .890 save percentage. With that in mind, there’s a chance Dobes could see his workload begin to increase.

New Jersey Devils (Tue vs FLA, Thu @ TOR, Sat vs PHI, Sun vs OTT)

The Devils recent mediocre play has been due to a cold spell offensively. New Jersey has been strong overall, ranking 11th in goals per game with 3.16 goals per game, but the Devils have averaged just 2 goals per game across their past seven outings.

Forwards Jack Hughes (two goals, six points), Jesper Bratt (one goal, five points) and Ondrej Palat (three goals, four points), as well as defenseman Dougie Hamilton (five assists), are the only players who have made notable contributions on offense during that seven-game stretch. Timo Meier (one goal, two points) and especially Nico Hischier (one goal, two points) stand out as having been unusually cold in that span.

It's just a matter of time before the Devils start scoring again, though, so I wouldn’t be overly worried. It’s also worth remembering that six of New Jersey’s past seven outings have been on the road, so perhaps that worked against the Devils.

For his part, Markstrom hasn’t been amazing recently, but he also hasn’t been the issue. He’s limited the competition to two or three goals in each of his past five starts, which would be good enough under normal circumstances. He’s also still putting up strong numbers overall with a 21-8-3 record, 2.19 GAA and .911 save percentage across his past 32 appearances.

So, if you have New Jersey players on your team, my recommendation would be to hold firm and anticipate better times ahead.

Ottawa Senators (Tue @ NYI, Thu vs WAS, Sat vs BOS, Sun @ NJD)

Ottawa is going through a four-game schedule in the week of Jan. 6-12, and it has another full slate ahead. The Senators will begin next week with a road matchup against the Islanders before hosting Washington and Boston on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. The Senators will then conclude the week in New Jersey on Sunday. With those final two games, the Senators will have played in five back-to-back sets, totaling 10 matches, in the span of 12 contests.

Ottawa has suffered four straight defeats to start January and is 1-5-1 across its past seven outings. With Montreal and Detroit both trending in the right direction, the Senators are in danger of slipping to seventh in the Atlantic Division and seeing their playoff chances fade further.

Brady Tkachuk, who is 25 and in his seventh NHL campaign without making his postseason debut, is doing his best to keep the Senators afloat, recording two goals, five points, 21 PIM and 20 hits over that seven-game span. He’s been Ottawa’s top offensive power during that stretch, but the other forwards the Senators typically rely on for offense -- Claude Giroux, Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson -- have each recorded two or fewer points over that stretch.

Though, perhaps it’s inaccurate to say that the Senators are relying on Giroux for offense, or at least they shouldn’t be at this point. Giroux was still a strong top-line scoring threat when he joined the Senators in 2022, but he seems to have declined substantially at the age of 36, supplying nine goals and 24 points through 40 appearances this campaign. Clearly, he still has something to offer, but those are numbers that would be more in line with a third line forward on a strong team.

Perhaps there’s a strong team out there that would want him in such a role. Giroux is in the final campaign of his three-year, $19.5 million contract, and if the Senators don’t rebuild soon, it would make sense for them to shop the veteran forward. He does have a no-movement clause, so Giroux has complete control over that situation, but his career is winding down, and he hasn’t won the Cup yet, so if presented with the opportunity to play for a serious contender, he’d likely take it.

He'd easily be the Senators’ biggest trade chip if it came to that. Travis Hamonic would also likely have appeal as a third-pairing blueliner, while Nick Cousins and Adam Gaudette might be grabbed to provide playoff-bound teams with forward depth, but if you’re a Senators fan and the team doesn’t turn things around soon, then Giroux rumors are the ones you’ll want to pay attention to.

Philadelphia Flyers (Mon vs FLA, Tue @ CBJ, Thu @ NYI, Sat @ NJD)

The Flyers endured a tough road stretch from Dec. 23-Jan. 5 in which they went 2-3-1. They’re back at home now, but rather than reverse the trend, they’ve dropped their past two games. Their home stint will conclude Monday against the Panthers. After that, they’ll go on a three-game trip involving games against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, the Islanders on Thursday and the Devils on Saturday. Philadelphia will look to do better in that stretch while attempting to make up ground in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.

Like Ottawa, Philadelphia’s recent struggles has caused its playoff hopes to drastically diminish, but with half the season left, a comeback can’t be ruled out. It’s unfair to put this on the rookie, but a stronger showing out of Matvei Michkov would go a long way toward making that happen.

I noted Michkov’s overall success this season up top, but what I didn’t mention is how cold he’s been recently, recording a goal, an assist and a minus-17 rating across his past 13 appearances. Plus/minus is always a stat that needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but his minus-17 rating from Dec. 14-Jan. 9 is by far the worst in the NHL. The next worst in the NHL during that time period are Brandon Montour and Mikhail Sergachev, who are tied at minus-12. Jamie Drysdale is the next worst member of the Flyers at minus-11 while the next worst Flyers forward is Morgan Frost at minus-9.

Michkov was a healthy scratch for two games from Nov. 7-9 and followed that with an amazing stretch from Nov. 11-Dec. 10 in which he had seven goals, 17 points and a plus-13 rating across 14 outings. I do wonder if maybe another scratch is in Michkov’s future to give him a chance to regroup. Either way, he’s a talented rookie, and it’s not uncommon for rookies to grow through stretches like this -- for one of countless examples, you might recall the Auston Matthews rookie slump I highlighted earlier -- so there’s not much cause for concern about Michkov’s future. In the long run, he should grow from this.

In contrast to his cold spell, Tyson Foerster had an incredible run of six goals and nine points in nine outings from Dec. 18-Jan. 5, but he was held off the scoresheet in Philadelphia’s past two games, so the good times might be over. He’s more of a streaming option given his streaky nature and middle-of-the-road stats (12 goals and 19 points in 41 games). For that reason, it’s best to move on when he shows signs of cooling.

If you’re looking for a hot member of the team, that’s Travis Konecny. He’s having an amazing campaign overall too with 20 goals and 46 points in 42 outings, but he’s been especially productive on the goal front recently with four markers across his last five appearances. His shooting percentage of 19.0 is well above his career average of 13.0, which is a potential warning sign, but that’s been skewed upwards by his power-play goals (a career-high eight). His 5-on-5 shooting percentage of 9.8 is actually a bit low for him (he finished with a 5-on-5 shooting percentage in the double digits in five of his previous seven campaigns), so there might still be some upside in that regard.

Utah HC (Tue vs MTL, Thu vs NYR, Sat vs STL)

Utah is having a streaky season, and lately, the squad has been trending in the wrong direction, going 2-6-2 from Dec. 22-Jan. 10. Fortunately, next week, the team will be at home against adversaries that presently don’t occupy a playoff position. Utah HC will face the Canadiens on Tuesday, the Rangers on Thursday and the Blues on Saturday.

Utah got Connor Ingram back from an upper-body injury, but at the time of writing, he hasn’t drawn into a game since returning, and it’s likely he’ll be used sparing. He didn’t impress before the injury, posting a 6-4-3 record, 3.61 GAA and .871 save percentage in 13 outings. Perhaps the time off has given him a chance to reset, but given Karel Vejmelka’s success -- although he has a 10-11-3 record, he’s stellar in terms of GAA (2.38) and save percentage (.916) -- so there isn’t much motivation to use Ingram except when Vejmelka could use a breather. Then again, the winds with this duo have changed before, so nothing is certain. Vejmelka was the starter in 2022-23, but that role was taken by Ingram last season. Ingram also entered 2024-25 with the No. 1 gig that now belongs to Vejmelka.

Neither has a track record of success long enough to be called a safe bet. The closest thing to that in Utah is Clayton Keller. The 26-year-old forward has been remarkably consistent this campaign, being held off the scoresheet in consecutive games just once in 2024-25 (Oct. 22-24). That steady stream of offense has resulted in him recording 14 goals and 41 points through 40 appearances, putting him well on his way toward reaching the 75-point mark for the third straight campaign.

It's just a shame that the forward corps around him is nothing special. Logan Cooley (11 goals, 35 points), Dylan Guenther (16 goals, 34 points) and Nick Schmaltz (seven goals, 30 points) have all been fine, but no other member of the squad has even reached the 20-point mark. In the long run, Utah does have Tij Iginla, Cole Beaudoin and Daniil But, who could make a significant impact in a couple of years, but none of those young forwards are in a position to help now.

Josh Doan is much closer, but after the 22-year-old turned heads by providing five goals and nine points in 11 games with Arizona in 2023-24, he was quiet during an NHL stint from Oct. 8-26 this campaign, supplying a goal and an assist across nine outings before being sent to AHL Tucson. He did seem to find his way in Tucson, though, contributing eight goals and 21 points over 25 contests, and was recalled Friday as a result. He had three shots in 14:18 of ice time during Utah’s 2-1 win over San Jose.

As already noted, Utah isn’t swimming in offensive depth, so with Keller, Cooley and Schmaltz sharing a line and Dylan Guenther (lower body) out indefinitely, Doan doesn’t have great linemates to play off. He’s at least worth keeping an eye on, but I wouldn’t jump to take him yet.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Rossi stepping up, Kane thriving on the power play, Fantilli gets new opportunity, Knies back on track now that Mattews has returned and much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:06:16 +0000

Minnesota Wild Center Marco Rossi (23). (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, Marco Rossi has stepped up in his second season, Patrick Kane is thriving on the power play, Adam Fantilli gets a new opportunity in Columbus, Matthew Knies is back on track now that Auston Mattews has returned and much more!

Here is this week’s edition of 20 Fantasy Points:

#1 Although his role as a top line centre in Minnesota has more value when Kirill Kaprizov is healthy, Marco Rossi is enjoying an excellent second season in the National Hockey League. Across his past 20 games, Rossi has delivered 20 points (9 G, 11 A) with 37 shots on goal and even with Kaprizov out, Rossi still has Matt Boldy and Mats Zuccarello skating on his wings, so there is sufficient skill on his flanks to keep the points coming.

#2 It’s not like Showtime Patrick Kane flies under the radar, but after a slow start to the season, the veteran right winger had tended to fall out of favour with fantasy managers. Since the Red Wings changed coaches however, going from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan, Kane has produced eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 17 shots on goal in six games. Five of those eight points have come on the power play, which has dramatically improved since the coaching change.

#3 Second year Blue Jackets centre Adam Fantilli has struggled to find his footing this season, making his return from a calf laceration that ended his 2023-2024 season prematurely. Fantilli does have five points (2 G, 3 A) during a four-game point streak and with Sean Monahan out of the lineup due to an upper-body injury, Fantilli is getting first crack at centering Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov on Columbus’ top line.

#4 Toronto Maple Leafs sophomore left winger Matthew Knies had just one assist in his past eight games when Auston Matthews returned from injury. Since Matthews’ return, Knies has produced eight points (5 G, 3 A) during a four-game point streak. He has also hit extremes on the plus-minus front just in that four-game span, going +6 in a win over Boston and -5 in a loss at Carolina. With 16 goals, Knies ranks third on the Maple Leafs and his 22 even-strength points is tied for 63rd in the entire league. Skating on a line with Matthews and Mitch Marner is certainly a prime position for Knies to generate more offence

#5 Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn plays more of a supporting role at this stage of his career, but the 35-year-old left winger continues to deliver. In his past 19 games, Benn has produced 18 points (7 G, 11 A) with 43 shots on goal. With 57 hits in 40 games, Benn continues to provide value for fantasy managers. He is not the dominant force that he was during his peak years but remains a valuable commodity when he is scoring like he has over the past couple of months.

#6 Some lineup shuffling in Dallas has resulted in right winger Evgeni Dadonov moving up the depth chart to skate alongside Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz on the Stars’ top line. In his past 10 games, Dadonov has contributed 10 points (4 G, 6 A) with 20 shots on goal. He is a four-time 20-goal scorer, so Dadonov has shown that he is a legitimate scoring winger, but at 35 years old, it’s fair to wonder whether his recent uptick in production can continue over the long run. As long as he is playing with Robertson and Hintz, Dadonov should generate interest from fantasy managers.

#7 After managing just 40 points in 82 games for the Kings last season, Pierre-Luc Dubois needed a big bounce-back season and his arrival in Washington has provided him with a fresh start. In his past 18 games, Dubois has 19 points (5 G, 14 A) with 39 shots on goal. Dubois is thriving on a line between Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson, though Dubois has also had success with Aliaksei Protas in McMichael’s place, too.

#8 Injuries tend to be part of the package for Colorado Avalanche left winger Jonathan Drouin, but he is productive when healthy and had a career-high 56 points (19 G, 37 A) in 79 games last season. Since returning from injury this season, he has put up six points (1 G, 5 A) in five games, giving him 10 points in 10 games this season. Drouin has landed on the Avs’ top line, with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, which is one of the premier opportunities afforded to any point-producing forward.

#9 With a hat trick against Toronto on Thursday, Carolina Hurricanes centre Jordan Staal is up to 12 points (5 G, 7 A) and 26 shots on goal in his past 13 games. Staal is an elite checking centre, who has been criminally underrated in Selke Trophy voting, though he was runner-up last season and fourth the year before. Nevertheless, the 36-year-old pivot is on pace for more than 40 points, which would be the first time since 2017-2018 that he surpassed that threshold. He has had a couple of seasons in that time in which he scored at a higher per-game rate but missed time due to injury (2018-2019) and a shortened season (2020-2021).

#10 Staal’s teammate Eric Robinson is not really one for fantasy managers except in the deepest of leagues, but the 29-year-old winger also scored against Toronto, and he has 21 points (10 G, 11 A) in 42 games, moving him to within six points of his career high of 27 points. Robinson is lunch-box-and-hard-hat type of player who gives an honest effort and plays a physical game. He had some modest success in Columbus but could not settle into a consistent role in Buffalo last season. His move to Carolina this season has brought a fresh start and improved production. Robinson does not play a lot – about 12 minutes per game – but has recently moved up the depth chart to join Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Martin Necas on Carolina’s second line.

#11 Veteran Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Strome has started to pick up his production after a slow start to the campaign. He has eight points (2 G, 6 A) in his past seven games, and while it’s not unusual that he has Frank Vatrano skating on his left side, the veteran duo had rookie Sam Colangelo on the right wing for Tuesday’s game against Calgary. However, that was due to Troy Terry missing the game for the birth of his child, so when Terry returns, that is an established and proven trio of forwards that can help steer the Ducks in the right direction.

#12 It would be fair to characterize Erik Karlsson’s tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins as underwhelming, but it should still be noted that he can deliver points. In his past 11 games, he has a dozen points (2 G, 10 A) and is averaging 23:43 of ice time per game. He is back on Pittsburgh’s top power play unit and, considering his pedigree, Karlsson might be a decent buy-low candidate for fantasy managers because there just aren’t that many defencemen who have 100-point seasons in their history.

#13 Penguins left winger Michael Bunting has become a reliable contributor. He has been on a point-per-game pace over his past 18 games, with 18 points (9 G, 9 A), including 10 points on the power play. Bunting has recorded 48 percent of his points on the power play this season, the same as Steven Stamkos. Among players with at least 20 points, these are the only players with a higher percentage of points on the power play: Shayne Gostisbehere (66.7 percent), Jake Sanderson (63.6 percent), Kevin Fiala (50 percent), Teuvo Teravainen (50 percent), Drake Batherson (50 percent), Gabriel Vilardi (48.7 percent), and Chandler Stephenson (48.1 percent),

#14 The Washington Capitals have been one of the great surprises in the NHL this season and part of the reason is their addition of defenceman Jakob Chychrun, who has always been a capable scorer, but injuries have prevented him from maximizing his potential. This season, though, he has stayed healthy and is piling up points. In the past 21 games, Chychrun has 20 points (6 G, 14 A). Among defencemen, since 2019-2020, only Cale Makar (99) and Roman Josi (96) have scored more goals than Chychrun’s 71 goals.

#15 With Jared Spurgeon and Brock Faber injured, Minnesota Wild defenceman Jonas Brodin has become an unexpected offensive contributor. In his past seven games, Brodin has seven points (2 G, 5 A) while playing a whopping 26:35 per game. Brodin scored a career-high 30 points in 2021-2022 but has largely been a standout defensive presence in his career. With 16 points in 31 games this season, Brodin could set a new career high for points, but the moment that Faber and Spurgeon return, Brodin will likely return to his defensive focus.

#16 An unlikely source of offence lately, Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist has eight points (5 G, 3 A) in his past eight games. He has been skating at right wing on the third line with Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe, which does offer some upside. He doesn’t play enough to have wide fantasy appeal, averaging 12:38 time on ice per game in the past eight, but as a short-term fix, Boqvist might have a little bit of unexpected value.

#17 When the San Jose Sharks traded for goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, acquiring him from the Nashville Predators, it was easy to view him as the Sharks’ goaltender of the future. He has played seven games for the Sharks this season, posting a .923 save percentage, and the 22-year-old has done nothing to dispel the notion that he will not only be the Sharks’ starting goaltender, but he might be a very good one, at that. In the short term, Askarov may not play enough to have huge fantasy value, but that day is coming.

#18 Ottawa Senators centre Tim Stutzle has been enjoying a bounce-back season and has 41 points in 40 games, but he has it a dry spell lately, managing one assist in his past five games. While a small sample of games like that should not hold great sway on his fantasy value but it is at least a little concerning that of the six games that Stutzle has failed to record a shot this season, three of them have come in the past five games. He is skating with Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson at evens, certainly a skilled enough line to put up some points, but it will be worth keeping an eye on the Sens’ rising star.

#19 Philadelpia Flyers rookie right winger Matvei Michkov got off to a blazing start in his first NHL season, scoring 27 points (11 G, 16 A) in his first 27 games. In the past month, though, he has just two points (1 G, 1 A) in 13 games. He does have 33 shots on goal in that time, so it’s not like he isn’t getting chances, but this slump has been carrying on for quite a while. Right now, he is skating on a line with Scott Laughton and Morgan Frost, and is on Philadelphia’s second power play unit, which isn’t exactly going to drag him back into a more productive place. He might be a buy-low target at this point.

#20 It has not been an easy season for the Boston Bruins, as they are clinging to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, after typically battling for the best record year after year. The Bruins are winless in six straight games and team captain Brad Marchand has no goals and two assists in his past seven games. If there is reason to be hopeful about Marchand, it is that the has generated 26 shots on goal in those seven games and has been a high percentage finisher throughout his career, scoring n 15.1 percent of his shots for his whole career, but what would be a career low of 11.4 percent this season. Marchand is playing with Elias Lindholm and Charlie Coyle right now, but if the winless streak continues, there could be more line shuffling in Boston.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW JERSEY DEVILS – NHL Player Profiles

Scott Cullen – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:15:27 +0000

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 15: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) looks up ice during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on March 15, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Jack Hughes

A rising star, the first pick in the 2019 Draft, has been rapidly improving and busted out for 56 points in 49 games last season. Hughes had started generating chances but could not finish early in his career and as his shot improved, the point production followed. Extraordinary confidence is part of what makes Hughes special and is what should drive him to greater heights, but he also needs to get more durable as he matures. A dislocated shoulder and a knee injury contributed to Hughes missing 33 games last season, but the 21-year-old came out of the Christmas break and produced 48 points in his last 36 games. If the Devils are going to be a competitive team, some of that will come from riding Hughes’ development to stardom. A point-per-game over a full season is an entirely reasonable expectation and Hughes if one of the rare players who has 100-point upside.

Jesper Bratt

A 24-year-old who has provided phenomenal value as a sixth-round pick, busting out offensively last season for 73 points in 76 games. Bratt is a consistent offensive threat, and his results last season were outstanding – his 2.90 points per 60 minutes ranked 17^th and his 1.22 goals per 60 minutes ranked 39^th. This production does not come by accident. Bratt has excellent anticipation and is strong on the puck in the offensive zone, equally adept at setting up plays or burying the puck in the back of the net. Bratt’s shooting percentage has varied significantly (13.0%, 8.8.%, 15.8%, 6.9%, 13.2% in his five NHL seasons) so that will play a role in setting expectations for his 2022-2023 season. The trend would be for it to fall this season so 60 points would be a reasonable low-end but a point per game over a full season is not out of range, either.

Nico Hischier

The Devils’ 23-year-old captain broke through for a career high 60 points last season, but he is known as much for his strong two-way play and that reliability makes him a strong complement to Hughes down the middle of the ice. Hischier could be more aggressive as a shooter, but his overall skill and defensive conscience makes him more valuable than might be widely known and his confidence with the puck is growing, which allows him to control the puck more effectively in traffic. That defensive conscience means that Hischier will get more difficult checking assignments and start more shifts in the defensive zone, so he is not deployed as favorably as Hughes, but that makes sense. Hughes has the higher offensive ceiling and Hischier can play the 200-foot game. Staying healthy has been an issue for Hischier, as he has missed at least a dozen games in each of the past four seasons. He might be able to match or surpass last season’s 60 points but that will be dependent on whether he can stay in the lineup.

Ondrej Palat

Consistent and dependable throughout his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, which included playing a prominent role on two Stanley Cup champions, the 31-year-old winger has finished with at least 40 points in seven of his nine NHL seasons. As a proven performer who has played tough minutes, Palat will be a big help to the Devils’ young forward core. He won’t be fazed by any high-pressure situations and if he plays with Hughes, a 50-point season would be within Palat’s grasp, maybe a little lower if he skates on Hischier’s wing. While Palat was overshadowed at times by the stars in Tampa Bay, he also rose to the occasion in the playoffs, scoring 27 goals in 71 playoff games over the past three seasons. If the Devils can get to the postseason, it would be nice to have someone like Palat, who knows what to do when they get there.

Dawson Mercer

A promising rookie season ended with Mercer tallying 42 points in 82 games, though he managed just one goal in the last 11 games of the season. Mercer played a good portion of his rookie season at center, and won just 35.4% of his faceoffs, but moved to the wing and, despite his late-season slump, that should allow him more offensive freedom because he has good vision and should thrive with skilled linemates. If that means skating on Jack Hughes’ wing, that’s a pretty good place for a second year forward looking to break out offensively. As a young player, Mercer offers a higher degree of potential variance when forecasting his point totals for this season. Some improvement on his rookie season, maybe to around 50 points, would be a quality step forward, but if he is a really good fit in that spot, maybe he could score even more.

Yegor Sharangovich

After a strong finish to his rookie season and a quality sophomore campaign, the 23-year-old winger has put up 31 goals in his past 90 games, and his 1.11 goals per 60 minutes of even-strength ice time last season had him scoring at the same rate as Evgeni Malkin and Tomas Hertl. Sharangovich has a quick release and goes hard to the net, so his opportunities to score are based on positioning, anticipation, and then linemates that do a good job feeding him the puck in scoring position. Sharangovich deserves credit for putting himself in good positions to score and the 24-year-old should be expected to contribute 25 goals and 45-50 points.

Tomas Tatar

A heady veteran winger, Tatar struggled in his first season with the Devils, producing 30 points in 76 games, the lowest per-game scoring rate of his career, thanks in part to an 11-game scoreless drought in the middle of the season. The 31-year-old is still a solid play driving winger, and that can’t be ignored, but for a Devils team that sorely needed contributions from skilled wingers, Tatar’s performance was disappointing. He can still fill a complementary role and the opportunity should still be there for him to produce, maybe not like his best years in Montreal, but better than last season. Taking into account that Tatar has recorded three seasons with more than 55 points, counting on more than 40 points this season would appear to be entirely reasonable.

Erik Haula

Getting traded to New Jersey lands Haula with the seventh team of his career and comes after he scored 18 goals and 44 points for the Bruins last season, both the second highest totals of his career. He had a strong finish to the season, with 10 goals and 19 points in his last 19 games. Haula also recorded a career-high 129 hits, and the ability to provide secondary scoring as well as play with a bit of an edge makes him a nice fit in a third-line center role for the Devils. Last season was one of Haula’s best seasons so it would be optimistic to count on that production again. If he stays healthy, though, 35 points would be an achievable target for the veteran forward.

Andreas Johnsson

Although the 27-year-old winger contributed 35 points last season and it seems like he is still going to be battling for ice tme, Johnsson has enough speed and skill to play a complementary role on a scoring line. His instincts are decent but his play without the puck needs improvement and that could prevent him from handling a bigger role, especially now that the Devils have improved forward depth. That uncertainty over Johnsson’s role on the team tempers any expectations for his production, so a total around the 35 points that he produced last season should be a fair baseline for expectations, with room for variance in either direction.

DEFENSE

Dougie Hamilton

A prized free agent signing a year ago, Hamilton is a rare talent, a smooth skating 6-foot-6 right shot defenseman. Although he had just nine goals last season, Hamilton averaged more than three shots on goal per game for the fifth straight season. He gets hammered by accusations of being soft and it doesn’t help matters if his defensive performance slips, as it did in his first season with the Devils, but Hamilton is typically an elite offensive defenseman whose puck-moving ability tends to offset anything that he gives back on the defensive end. Injuries have caught up to Hamilton in two of the past three seasons, but he was very durable before that, so if he is relatively healthy this season, he should be relied upon to score at least a dozen goals and 45-50 points, with potential to go significantly higher. In his last two seasons with Carolina, for example, Hamilton put up 82 points in 102 games.

Damon Severson

A 28-year-old right shot defenseman who just put up a career-high 46 points last season, Severson is a potential free agent in the summer of 2023. The Devils typically get better results with Severson on the ice, at least in terms of shots, but he has yet to have a season in the NHL in which his team outscores the opposition during 5-on-5 play. Severson has been very durable, and in a contract year should be poised for significant production, in the range of 40 points, maybe a little more.

Ryan Graves

Even though Graves is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, he is not an especially physical option on the blueline, but he is a steady top-four defenseman and that matters a lot for a team that is seeking a path to credibility. His ice time has climbed steadily since he arrived in the league, reaching a career-high 20:43 time on ice per game last season. Graves recorded a career-high 28 points last season and with 135 hits, he did fill the stat sheet a little bit. Scoring is not necessarily going to drive Graves’ value, but he ought to be capable of 25 points and then add to that with hits and blocked shots to make him worth considering in deep leagues.

John Marino

Acquired in a trade that sent Ty Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Marino is a strong skater and capable puck handler who gets the breakout started with a quality first pass but is not much of a factor in terms of physical play. At the same time, he is particularly adept at defending the blueline, and that reliability should make him a valuable contributor in New Jersey. Unless he seizes a bigger role than anticipated, Marino will likely produce 25-30 points this season and without significant peripheral stats, that will serve to limit his fantasy appeal.

GOALTENDING

Mackenzie Blackwood

The New Jersey Devils are growing dangerously close to turning Mackenzie Blackwood into the next John Gibson; after debuting at the NHL level with an impressive game and an admirable confidence level, he’s struggled more and more behind the lottery-dwelling New Jersey lineup each season. This past year was perhaps the worst of all; plagued by a lingering heel injury that left him ginger in the crease and slow to move, Blackwood was limited to just 25 games all year and spent months at a stretch on the team’s long-term injured reserve list.

The club gave very little information regarding what exactly was nagging at Blackwood, so it’s hard to get a read on just what kind of a timetable he’ll need to return to full form. With everything from calcaneal fractures to achilles damage and plantar fasciitis up for grabs as possible problems the goaltender could have faced, the Devils could have Blackwood back at his best as soon as the year begins, or they could be looking at a lengthy return-to-form timeline for the formerly-established number one. The good news is that the team brought Vitek Vanecek in to ease the workload, offering both a younger source of reinforcement (therefore one less likely to get hampered by wear and tear issues) and a goaltender who has more promise to remain a legitimate tandem option than some of the major-minor tweeners the team has tried to deploy in the last few years. There’s less pressure for Blackwood to play through health-related troubles with Vanecek sitting on the bench than there was with backups like Keith Kinkaid and Jon Gillies, which should hopefully ease some of the pressure he faced and allow him to perform at peak capacity. That’s good news for fans – because when he was at full strength, Blackwood’s game forced shooters to show their hands and come to him in a way that made him hard to trick and overthrow.

Projected starts: 55-60

Vitek Vanecek

Washington fans likely hadn’t predicted that they’d spend their 2021-22 season hotly debating whether the team was in better hands with heir apparent Ilya Samsonov or fellow draft-and-developee Vitek Vanecek. And worse, they likely hadn’t predicted that they’d be debating it so hotly not because both goaltenders were doing so well, but because both were continuing to struggle so consistently.

The lukewarm outcome of their year left the Capitals opting to cut ties with both of their starters this summer, though, and New Jersey was one of the two teams that decided to step in and offer their services to attempt a reclamation project. They’ll enter their 2022-23 campaign hoping that Vanecek, who fell shy of recording quality starts in over half his games last year, can bounce back and offer some consistent support behind MacKenzie Blackwood. There’s a hope that the addition of some experience in Blackwood will give Vanecek some direction, and that taking some of the pressure off should enable him to take a step back and tighten back up some of his game moving forward. But it’s hard to really figure out just how much of Vanecek’s game was growing pains, and how much was struggles to read the plays happening in front of him; while he didn’t get quite as goaded into oversliding and shifting out of the net as Samsonov did behind the Washington defense, his issues in coverage had more to do with missed positioning and inconsistent work with his hands. His missed goals came in inches, which make it harder to discern how many were mistakes and how many were simply the result of getting set and positioned off-angle from where he really needed to be.

Projected starts: 25-30

AHL: Eastern Conference Team by Team Update

Shaiyena Cote — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 12:33:34 +0000

LAVAL, QC - FEBRUARY 05: Laval Rocket center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (45) waits for a faceoff during the Utica Comets versus the Laval Rocket game on February 05, 2020, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

After the All-Star Break and past the halfway point in the 2019-20 season, all 16 teams in the AHL’s Eastern Conference have begun the race for a playoff spot. Out of 16 teams only half will make the cut, four in the North division and four in the Atlantic division. Every team has prospects and each team has one who has made an impact thus far. Here is a run down on those particular prospects’ from the AHL East.

NORTH DIVISION

Belleville Senators (Ottawa)

Despite the Ottawa Senators occupying the basement in the NHL’s Atlantic Division, their AHL feeder team Belleville are off to a strong second half of the season. Belleville currently sits atop the North Division. They also lead the way in rookie talent with two in the top five for rookie scoring and two top prospects in the top five for scoring across the entire league. Ottawa has an underrated prospect system and the Baby Sens have really stepped up this season as a hard act to follow for any other teams welcoming rookie talent.

Currently Belleville’s top five point leaders all fall under the age of 22 with many of them on a teeter totter of call ups and demotions from the big club. Rookie Josh Norris leads the way in the prospect pool, not by points but with his overall playing ability. Norris has made a tremendous transition from NCAA to the AHL with both his puck skills and passing ability enabling him to stand out. His two way play has developed tremendously over the first half of the season which has helped him to adapt to the pro level and will enable him to make the necessary adjustments to playing with Ottawa.

Binghamton Devils (New Jersey)

A struggling yet young club, Binghamton has had a shaky start to the second half of the season. With frequent roster moves both the parent club in New Jersey and Binghamton themselves, the AHL club has been feeling the pressure considering both clubs sit at the bottom in their standings. Binghamton has yet to find their groove in special team play and their offensive attack struggles in terms of getting the puck deep.

With New Jersey loaning forwards Jesper Boqvist and Joey Anderson back to Binghamton things may improve on the offensive end with a boost from the likes of these two. However things looking up for prospect Nathan Bastian who continues to steadily improve his play as a right winger on the farm. His full potential is still untapped and with his size and skill his future looks bright as long as he keeps exploring his creativity while driving to the net.

Cleveland Monsters (Columbus)

The Monsters are not seeming so scary this season with more losses than wins, and they will need a drastic turn around if they even want to consider a playoff run. Cleveland has simply been having a difficult time formulating plays and getting the puck deep. After losing several key forwards to trades and call ups to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cleveland has been struggling ever since.

There is one bright spot however, in their youngest player, Trey Fix-Wolansky, who may also be one of the smallest players in the league. Despite his size, Fix-Wolansky was a force to be reckoned with last season as a point leader in the WHL and now brings his high intensity drive and skill to the AHL in his rookie season.

Laval Rocket (Montreal)

Montreal’s prospect system seems to be rolling out high-end, offensive prospects such as Ryan Poehling as well as composed, hard hitting defenseman such as the likes of Cale Fleury. Although not the prettiest of teams to watch, the Rocket de Laval have proven able to get the job done efficiently enough in even strength play. Laval could do with improving their power play as shots do not come easily for them, as they have much circulation of the puck but not enough quality shots, if any. Poehling moving up and down to Montreal frequently is showing that the Habs consider him worthy of getting the first shot at any forward call ups.

On the contrary, 2018 third overall pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been struggling to find a place in Montreal’s improved lineup and has been having an equally hard time adjusting to the minors, with average even strength ice time and special team play limited to the power play only. Currently tied for fourth place in the North division, Laval will have to work on better capitalizing on the man advantage if they want the last playoff spot.

Rochester Americans (Buffalo)

With the accumulated experience that Rochester has on their roster it comes as little surprise to find them in second place in the North. The Americans have few players that still fall into the prospect category which could be either good or bad for their big club in Buffalo. The good thing for now is that due to the leadership on Rochester, the Amerks have a strong team structure which is evident on the ice in special team situations. They do well at killing penalties and have the lowest goals against in the North division, coupled with the fact that they have two rookie goaltenders sharing the position between the pipes.

With Buffalo Sabres’ goaltender Linus Ullmark injured and Jonas Johansson up, more pressure has been placed on rookie goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to start. Luukkonen fills the net with his size and does well at staying composed. Having played at a professional level already in the Finnish Liiga, he has adjusted well to the shot quality and remains calm. Although there is still much for Luukkonen to learn, he appears to have what it takes for a promising future ahead of him as a starting goaltender.

Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay)

Despite being off to a moderately good start the Tamp Bay affiliate Syracuse Crunch sit at a disappointing 6th spot in the standings compared to their top ranking last season. To say that goaltending has been a little lackluster is an understatement with the most goals against in the entire AHL East. It is safe to say that the Crunch will have to find a way to improve their defensive performance.

The Crunch have a good balance of defensive and offensive prospect talent, which with a big sister club such as the Lightning, will prove to be crucial in the coming years should Tampa Bay want to keep up their league dominance. An underrated story comes from prospect Alex Barré-Boulet, having already picked up 44 points through the first half of the season and an AHL All-Star nod, he has proven himself as a top forward and a skilled, fast skating playmaker.

Toronto Marlies (Toronto)

With many developments in the Maple Leafs’ system and player movement across all levels including their ECHL affiliate, from the Newfoundland Growlers to the AHL Marlies to the Maple Leafs, it’s easy to see that Toronto takes full advantage of their prospect system. Due to these changes (both the NHL and AHL teams changed coaches in-season) however, it has been hard for the Marlies to keep their lineup cohesive and their lines working alongside their mid-season shift in bench staff.

With prospect Timothy Liljegren bouncing back and forth between the Leafs and the Marlies, it’s safe to say that his days in the AHL are numbered for good as well as his time as a top prospect. Instead look to Yegor Korshkov to take the lead prospect role. Although still new to the North American game, Korshkov has quickly learned how to get to the net. He uses his size well, plays an even 200 foot game and is capable of putting the puck in the net. With tight cap space he may be just what the Maple Leafs are looking for in a young forward.

Utica Comets (Vancouver)

The Utica Comets, AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, soared to the top spot early on with a strong start on the back of what seemed like an unstoppable winning streak, however things slowed as the other teams caught up and a race for first spot transpired. The Comets now sit in third in the North division and with an energetic lineup it is no surprise that even after slowing down before the holidays they are still expected to make playoffs.

They generate a lot of chances from the outside and breakout efficiently. These breakouts are often led by defensive prospect Olli Juolevi who has come back from injury better than ever. Juolevi, who was labelled as a dud before the start of the season, now has quite the comeback story to follow and a point to prove to all his doubters. His passing ability, along with his overall skill, prove deadly and he reads the play well. He has the maturity to move up to Vancouver should he stay healthy.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NY Islanders)

To say that Bridgeport has had a shaky year is an understatement. With a barely 110 goals for, the New York Islanders’ affiliate are in last place in the entire AHL in offense. An embarrassing statistic that can only be matched with poor special team execution and inexperience from a younger squad. With ‘01 Simon Holmstrom and ‘00 Oliver Walhstrom up front, the Sound Tigers have a few of the youngest forwards in the AHL East in their lineup.

With movement up and down from Wahlstrom and former Sound Tiger Kieffer Bellows looking to make a more permanent jump to the Isles, there is room to shine light on Otto Koivula, who is making the most out of a low scoring team. Koivula has a lot of potential if he can find a way to produce in the same fashion as he did last season. It is rare to find a 6-4” forward who moves the way Koivula does and with hands to match. His hockey IQ is high and he plays a physically mature enough game to manage with the Islanders at some point. The remainder of the season for Bridgeport however, has to be better on all fronts.

Charlotte Checkers (Carolina)

The defending Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers started off slowly but that did not phase the Checkers in the least. With one of the top ranking power plays in the league it is easy to see that once Charlotte clicked as a team they were quickly on the move from there. Moving a solid four spots in a month going into the December break, the Checkers went from a comfortable 8th spot into 4th following a spate of victories.

The Carolina Hurricanes are known for their Finnish players and their affiliate are no exception to that rule with prospects Janne Kuokkanen and Eetu Luostarinen leading the way. Kuokkanen, in particular, has had a standout first half with a team leading 39 points. He is dynamic, quick and plays with a determination that makes him hard to shake. He is utilized in all situations and plays a good two way game, he has a few small adjustments to make but overall should be a strong consideration for a call up in the near future.

Hartford Wolf Pack (NY Rangers)

Along with the New York Rangers, their AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack have an equally young team, as the Rangers have a blueline that currently averages 24 years of age with three 21-year-olds having already made the jump or working on making a more permanent jump to NHL style play. Hartford was one of the teams in the Eastern conference to get off to a flying start, leading the pack out of the gate until recently when rival Hershey stole the lead from them.

After going back to the KHL in Russia for a 14 game stint, forward Vitali Kravtsov came back with better focus and more commitment than ever, proving that he is deserving of his status as a former top ten pick. A real shining star for Hartford has been defensive prospect and first year rookie Joey Keane, who has been solid and reliable during the first half. He can shoot, skate and collects himself well enough to play a mature game. With his patience and know-how, he plays as though he is a seasoned veteran which is what got him the invite to the 2020 AHL All-Star Showcase. Respect goes to Keane for his quick adaption to the fast pace of the AHL and the way he has stepped up to the plate to play a role in all situations.

Hershey Bears (Washington)

The first place Hershey Bears have been a steady, consistent team over the first half and have adapted well to losing their top forward Mike Sgarbossa early in January. With a less than impressive power play and a mediocre penalty kill it is safe to say that Hershey is simply a tough even strength team. Often finding themselves with a one goal margin separating them from their opponents, it has been a challenging season so far and perhaps requiring more work than might have been necessary, with only 22 regulation wins, and many games being unnecessarily forced into overtime because of poor lead protection.

With a packed Washington Capitals system and inconsistent play from much of the young talent it seems as though there is a distinct separation between veteran production and rookie production in Hershey. Hidden in the shadows of high picks, undrafted defensive prospect Bobby Nardella is shining on the power play, and with almost a point per game record, he is one of the most consistent offensive defensemen for the Bears with shots in every game. Despite his small stature, his composure and ability to read the play easily surpasses those of his cohorts. Nardella has the skill, skating ability and IQ to attempt a shot at the Capitals but his size may still be of concern.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia)

The first half of the season for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms was up and down from a good start to a slippery slope and the Phantoms now sit second from the bottom. Lehigh started strong with prospects Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost dominating at the AHL level but both have since been shipped out to Philadelphia. Lehigh Valley is another team that deals with many transactions throughout the season as Philadelphia does well at utilizing their prospects. Regardless, their defensive play needs work and turnover control is lacking.

With their two top prospects up with the big club, additional responsibilities have been given to players like Maxim Sushko, who in his first professional season carries a +11 rating despite being on a team that has more goals against than goals for. Sushko has learned to use his speed in all situations and has become a good enough two way player to earn a call up to Philadelphia at some point. However, Lehigh cannot only rely on their young forward talent if they expect to grind out enough points to qualify for a wild card playoff spot.

Providence Bruins (Boston)

The Boston Bruins are known for their playoff showings and the star veteran names dotting their roster, however with the outrageously fast pace of their prospects coming up it comes as little surprise that their AHL affiliate in Providence sits in the top four of the Atlantic division. Providence is not the biggest, nor the best puck moving team but they have skaters and energy which combine to make them deadly in even strength play.

With an average age of a hair over 24 years of age, the Baby Bruins are one of the youngest teams in the division. Rookie forward Jack Studnicka leads the entire league for short-handed goals with six. Studnicka can fly, with hands to match, and the only aspects of his game still needing some development are timing and awareness. At times he tries to do too much but after a season under his belt at the professional level he will be trusted to play more than just penalty kill. Capable of winning puck races, his physical play will need to be a bit better when he makes the jump to Boston so he can win puck battles and not just races.

Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida)

The Springfield Thunderbirds have been on unstable ground for a few weeks now, as in early December they had successfully made up ground and briefly managed to reach third spot in the Division but with mediocre special team play and sloppy zone entries, they have been spending more time in their own zone than they would like. With solid offensive lines, the problem seems to be on the defensive end, as breakouts are getting intercepted with too much frequency and pucks are being turned over with regularity. It is not for a lack of talent, and in fact Springfield has more than enough of that to produce but they need to work on bettering all forms of execution.

For 2017 first round pick Owen Tippett, the adjustment to the professional ranks has gone well. The winger currently leads the Thunderbirds in points with 40 and sits third in rookie scoring and 15th across the entire league for points. Should the Florida Panthers call him up however, it will be a the blow for Springfield which so heavily relies on his skills and playmaking ability. With size, patience, good hockey sense and the right amount of confidence paired with a top level shot, Tippett is ready to move up to the NHL, and it is only a matter of time before he makes the move.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh)

With the Pittsburgh Penguins struggling on and off with injuries, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL have been forced to adapt along with the loss of players on the parent club. W-B/S is currently tied with Providence for fourth spot in the Atlantic despite having been in first place at the start of the season. With few prospect eligible players in the lineup, the Baby Pens lean on their many seasoned players for support and know how.

W-B/S keeps turnovers low in the neutral zone and their breakouts are good. On the other hand, their play in the offensive end is simply average. At times it even appears as though they are not putting forth maximum effort when attacking which is perhaps why Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is known as a defensive team. Rookie defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph adds skill to the team’s defensive play, as he is a good skater with composure, and he has been playing it safe rather than getting into more of the offensive action so far this season. In the QMJHL, Joseph was known as a shooter and a strong passer, and he will have to show more of what had him drafted in the first round if he wants a chance at a call up. Confidence will come for the rookie pro, but his work ethic will need to intensify heading into the back half of the season.

New Jersey Devils 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:22:54 +0000

Putting this list together, one of the immediately striking things to my mind was the similarities this year’s New Jersey top 20 bore to last year’s. Five of last year’s top six prospects were still in the top six now, and the one player who is missing from last year’s version is now a member of the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization (John Quenneville).

In fact, most of the players who were there last year and are not now are gone because they no longer qualify. They were either moved to a different organization, or they graduated with honors, losing prospect eligibility. In each case, the missing were replaced by new Devils’ prospects, as 10 of the team’s 11 picks made the top 20, so pour one out for netminder Cole Brady, the sole 2019 draftee who didn’t make the cut.

As interesting to me as those factoids are, you are reading this section for the same reason we are writing it. The Devils won the draft lottery for the second time in three years, and used their good fortune to add USNTDP superstar Jack Hughes to their mix. Barring a catastrophic injury in the next few months, this will be my last time to discuss Hughes as a prospect.

First, a thought on the choice made by Ray Shero and company to go with Hughes over the other heavily hyped and largely qualified prospect at the top of the draft in Kaapo Kakko. This was Shero’s fifth draft at the helm of the Devils. In the four previous drafts, they drafted two players out of Finland, neither before the sixth round. On the other hand, they drafted four players out of the USHL, including two who had passed through the USNTDP program. So they certainly had a lot of comfort with gauging Hughes’ performance against his USHL peers.

Another interesting aspect of the selection had to do with positional value. In a vacuum, a center is always more valuable than a winger. Ergo, if the organization felt that Hughes and Kakko were equals as NHL talents, the fact that Hughes is a natural center while Kakko is a right winger (notwithstanding the fact that he has some experience up the middle) gives Hughes the edge. If we extend that consideration to the talents otherwise populating the system, we see that Jersey has a deep pipeline of young talent coming on the wings, but is relatively barren up the middle. Of the 19 players we have listed after the top prospect in the sport, we have two other natural centers, and three others who are experienced up the middle. In contrast, the list features seven pure wingers. And let’s be honest with ourselves: the three partial centers are all more likely than not to reach their ceilings as wingers than as pivots.

In drafting Hughes, the Devils immediately shoot to the upper echelon of organizational rankings, with the clear expectation that their position is short lived. Hughes can help carry this team back to the postseason, lowering their draft position and, as mentioned above, his own contribution to the team’s organizational ranking will be short-lived.

Finally, a quick look back on Shero’s record of drafting from the USHL/USNTDP versus Finland. In his fifth draft for New Jersey, the Devils did not pick up any Finnish players, but added two additional USNTDP alums after inviting Hughes to the podium.

-Ryan Wagman

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes (86) (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

1 Jack Hughes, C (1^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Jack Hughes is a the son of two high level hockey players and the middle brother to two more. But Jack is more talented than the rest. He holds within his slight frame a set of elite level tools in his skating, his puck skills, and his hockey brain. He does not yet have the complete game of a Sidney Crosby, but like Crosby, he is able to internalize criticisms of his game and improve in-season. Take his shot. While he was always more of a playmaker than a goal scorer, he had real trouble putting the puck in the net in his draft year and the whispers had begun. In the second half, he made more of a point of taking the puck to the net and he started to light the lamp more often, too. He is a clear future number one center, although with former #1 Nico Hischier already in tow, the Devils might start him off in more of a sheltered, middle-six role. - RW

2 Ty Smith, D (17^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) Smith finished off a strong season by winning the CHL’s Defenseman of the year award. He captained the Spokane Chiefs last season, and put up 7 goals and 62 assists in 57 games. He was close to making the Devils out of camp last season, and after spending another season back in Spokane, has matured and continued to fill out his frame, and should make another push towards making the NHL. Smith is a fabulous skating defender, who is extremely smart, and is able to move the puck with great poise and ease. He plays the type of game that should make his lack of traditional size a non-issue. He projects to be a top pairing defender, a smooth puck mover, and a smart power play quarterback. - KO

3 Michael McLeod, C (12^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2) For a strong, offensive power forward such as McLeod, last season’s NHL debut was a little shaky. It seemed as though the move up from the AHL to the NHL was a bigger jump then he imagined, especially as his previous season was spent with OHL Mississauga. Although not the smoothest of skaters to watch, he is strong and good both with and without the puck. McLeod’s defensive game has grown a lot this season making him a better two way player. He is a talented and smart playmaker and with a good start in the AHL and given more confidence he will definitely be in the right shape again to be shipped back up to the Devils. This season however, he needs to clean up his game a little and work on being more patient if he wants to get to the next level and fit into a top six role, with fewer scrambles and more tape to tape plays. - SC

4 Jesper Boqvist, C/LW (36^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 3) A stand-out skater with nice hands. You can’t miss Boqvist if you see a game where he plays. As for skating with the puck, you could almost see style similarities with high elite talents like Jack Hughes or Connor McDavid. Boqvist doesn’t have their hockey sense or skillset, though. His senses and skills aren’t bad on the other hand and he is an interesting middle six forward prospect and has strong NHL potential for that role. He put up 35 points in 51 SHL games last year. He is a strong puck carrier and with zone entries. He still needs to work on his decision-making regarding when to carry or when play or dump the puck, which makes him inconsistent. Boqvist wants to create and to make stuff happen and that is a good trait. He will have a chance to make the Devils this season and if he doesn’t, he will be back for another year in SHL. - JH

5 Joey Anderson, RW (73^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Anderson is an energetic and hard-working forward who plays like he always has something to prove. His grit when on the puck is proof of his passion and his skillset only furthers his value. He is a reliable shooter and may be aggressive enough but he needs to up his strength to get to the next level in order to win more battles. Having played nearly a full season up with the Devils last season, his play has improved but his strength is still a weak spot and for a player of his size, he is already at a disadvantage. When at the peak of his game, Anderson has what it takes to scratch the top six but for now it would be best to aim for a more realistic bottom six spot instead. - SC

6 Reilly Walsh, D (81^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) Although he was a late cut in his first chance at making the American WJC squad, Walsh had a successful sophomore campaign with Harvard, coming this close to putting up one point per game and establishing his credentials as Adam Fox’s successor as the driver of the offense for the Crimson. He lacks any singular big time tools, and he is on the smaller side, but Walsh plays a dynamic game, and does everything at an above average level. He is even able to display an aggressive side at times, although he is far from spreading fear into the hearts of opponents. He can be an easy #1 at the college level and is still trending towards a solid #3/4 type at the highest level. - RW

7 Arseni Gritsyuk, LW (129^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Gritsyuk had a good season at home in Russia, also bearing in mind that he represented Russia at many international tournaments, including the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the WU18, posting good numbers at each. He is a diminutive but fast-skating winger who likes to play the puck. He is a very resilient and patient player, who can beat defensemen one on one with his agility and skills. Gritsyuk is a promising offensive player with a high ceiling in the offensive zone. He is the kind of player who can be a perfect fit for secondary scoring. He can be very useful on the forecheck and works hard, but all things considered, he is better off in a scoring line. The forward needs to start gathering experience at the pro level and he will most likely get some next year. - ASR

8 Nikola Pasic, RW (189^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A strong late pick in 2019, who we had ranked higher. Pasic is not a "sure-to-make-the-NHL"-player though. This season, in SuperElit, he played center on a line and helped the offensive game for a natural center who was pushed out to the wing. Pasic got the part because of his stronger skating and two-way game. He is a strong puck carrier, has nice hands and works with intensity. His foundation as a player comes from his skating abilities and puck control. He can also play the part of a strong winger with good puck support with others driving the play. A concern comes when he drives the offensive play, as he isn't good enough to effectively use his teammates and tries to do too much on his own. All in all, I see a potential top nice forward in Pasic. He will have his first real taste at senior hockey this season in Allsvenskan. - JH

9 Graeme Clarke, RW (80^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Clarke is an extremely creative offensive player whose hands and deftness with the puck have to be considered among the best in the OHL, even at his young age. He has successfully attempted the Michigan “Mike Legg” goal too many times to count. Clarke is also a great goal scorer who possesses a lightning quick release. His skating has already improved during his two year tenure in the OHL, but it will need to continue to improve to be an impact top six forward at the NHL level. His play away from the puck will also need to develop more consistency. But his potential is quite high and he should be a player who contends for an OHL scoring title before his junior eligibility is up. - BO

10 Aarne Talvitie, C (160^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 7) Talvitie was in the midst of a very impressive freshman season at Penn State and was a surprise ace for the Finnish WJC Gold Medal team, but it was during the latter event that he hurt his knee and was forced to the sidelines for the remainder of the season. Talvitie is the type of player whose whole is significantly greater than the sum of the parts. He has a stocky build and decent puck abilities, highlit by a fine wrist shot and nice playmaking abilities, but his ability to think the game quickly and make good reads helps it all play up. He can be used in a wide variety of roles and always leaves it all on the ice. If he can return from his injury none the worse for the wear, he profiles as a future middle six, all situations forward. - RW

11 Michael Vukojevic, D (82^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A hard-nosed, stay at home defender, Vukojevic is a very steady influence on the back end. He profiles as a penalty kill anchor and the type you can match up against the opposition’s best. There are not many flaws to his game from a defensive perspective, especially with the improvements that he has made to his skating. His play with the puck can be sporadic and his offensive potential will probably be limited at the pro level, thereby limiting his overall utility. That said, his confidence with the puck grew substantially in the second half of the past OHL season, suggesting the possibility of additional ceiling hiding inside. - BO

12 Patrick Moynihan, RW/C (158^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) On a team with Hughes, Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, and Joh Beecher – first rounders all – up the middle, Moynihan slid to the wing. Even relegated to bottom six minutes, he still managed to impress. He lacks the pace of the fearsome foursome, but the rest of his game holds signs of a top six talent. In fact, when the USNTDP class was being recruited, Moynihan was widely considered to be among the best of the bunch. He packs a punch for his smaller frame and can create offense with quick decision making and opportunism. Despite his lower lineup role with the Program, Moynihan could easily find himself playing higher in the lineup with Providence, and earning his earlier career accolades once more. While bottom six is most likely, he could surprise with newfound ceiling. - RW

13 Xavier Bernard, D (110^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 10) Bernard has great size to go along with very good overall skating. His size makes him a strong option down low in his own zone and in front of the net. His skating makes him a very good defender positionally, as he can match most skaters coming off the rush in a straight line or side-to-side, and can also throw the big hit. His offensive game is solid as well, if unspectacular – he has a very heavy shot, and is an even better passer, but his offensive game is limited in terms of his boxcar stats. He is more effective as an ice general, leading the rush from the back end and joining in as a trailer. He is a very safe, solid, no-nonsense defender with great size who does not make a lot of mistakes, all of which will give him a streamlined path to a top-four spot at the NHL level. - MS

14 Case McCarthy, D (118^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the more purely defensive defensemen in this year’s USNTDP class, McCarthy joins Hughes and Moynihan in the New Jersey draft class. The Boston University commit plays a very low flash game, but has a lot of solid elements to his game that give him the feel of a low risk prospect. He has a solid frame and plays with strength. His stick is well positioned in the neutral zone and he is a high panic threshold when under attack. He can help move the puck in the right direction, but his offensive game is largely a matter of making the safe, simple pass and using his patience to help lanes open up. He projects as a useful third pairing blueliner who can help out on the penalty kill, but will likely need at least three years on campus before turning pro. - RW

15 Daniil Misyul, D (70th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Misyul had a busy season in Russia last year, playing his first full-time season in the KHL with a significant role, playing more than 14 minutes a night and more than 15 in the playoffs. The defenseman is very strong physically and plays bigger than his size. He is gifted with an NHL body and a physical style that makes him an imposing player in his own zone. Offensively, Misyul can contribute with a good shot and a decent eye for offensive plays, but he is first and foremost a shutdown defenseman whose goal is to separate the opposition from the puck. He needs some seasoning at home before crossing the pond, but he is on his way to become a valuable player and a defenseman who can play a top-four role in modern day’s NHL. - ASR

16 Mikhail Maltsev, LW (102^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 11) A solid prospect who is capable of playing both wings and center, Maltsev had a positive season last year at home, lining up for 17 playoffs games with SKA. His name didn’t appear much on the scoresheet, but he played more than 11 minutes a night and didn’t look out of place. He is a two-way forward with excellent size and good physical abilities, smooth hands and a solid positional game. Maltsev is a great choice for the third or fourth line considering his mass, defensive skills, and great reading of the ice in any situation at both ends of the rink. He was a leader on his junior teams, and once he fully adapts, he can grow into a player who leads by example and hard work. He needs to gather more experience and a couple of years in the AHL under Sergei Brylin can help him become not only a full-time NHL player, but also a valuable one for his two-way abilities. - ASR

17 Fabian Zetterlund, RW/C (63^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 12) Zetterlund will leave Sweden to play in North America this upcoming season. He comes off a disappointing season which was ruined by injuries. He only played in 16 SHL games (4 points) and had a rough WJC tourney (0 points in 5 games) as well. The biggest concern in his game is whether he can overcome his average skating with skill. He is a strong player with a good shot and puck skills and is a natural scorer. When his skating isn’t at his best, his offensive game struggles. Last season he injured his knee (ACL) twice, so when he played it was fair to say that he wasn’t his best self. Next season, he will most probably play in the AHL and work up his confidence that way and to get his identity as a player on the smaller ice, which could prove to suit him better as it helps him play closer to the net. - JH

18 Nikita Okhotyuk, D (61^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) It was interesting to see the Devils draft both Vukojevic and Okhotyuk this year, as both have similar projections as stay at home defenders. Okhotyuk is the better skater and bigger hitter of the pair, on top of flashing a little more skill with the puck. On the other hand, he also plays a higher risk game that can lead to some mistakes. As a late 2000 born, he will play one more year in the OHL and then turn pro. His skill set is fairly pro ready and he could be someone who moves quickly through the system if he improves his decision making and consistency. - BO

19 Marian Studenic, RW (143^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 16) Studenic had a solid start to his professional career this year with Binghamton and his natural skill and skating ability helped him to stand out amongst fellow rookie forwards. He also made an appearance on the world stage as one of the youngest players with Slovakia at the World Championships, which allowed him to mature his game even more. He is a deadly player when he gets to the net and is quick to capitalize on turnovers. The concerning thing however, is that Studenic still falls behind the play at times and does not fight hard enough to get positioning in offensive situations. His development has been really good and he is naturally skilled with the ability to read the play and while he has few fundamental changes to make, he does have more gears to find. He will have to be more aggressive and fight for his positioning better if he wants to secure a future bottom six spot. - SC

20 Tyce Thompson, RW (96^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A late bloomer, Thompson underwhelmed in his first two seasons of draft eligibility, first in the New England prep ranks, and second with Dubuque of the USHL. As a 20-year old freshman with Providence, he found a new level. He scored at a top six rate, all the while displaying two-way tendencies that bode well for his future. More a playmaker than a scorer, Thompson actually owns a solid shot to go along with above average puck skills. He needs to add muscle to his thin frame and could stand to add a step to his stride as well, but there are the outlines of a decent bottom six contributor and he may not need more than one more season on campus to get a pro contract. - RW

New Jersey Devils Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:07:25 +0000

Prior to the 2016-17 season, Hockey Prospectus ranked the New Jersey system 16^th overall, basically middle of the pack. It was a system led by the team’s three most recent first rounders in Michael McLeod (2016), John Quenneville (2014), and Pavel Zacha (2015), respectively. Also in the top ten were a few other recent prospect graduates in Steven Santini, Jesper Bratt, and Miles Wood. There were no deep sleepers who have become New Jersey mainstays, although 20^th ranked Alexander Kerfoot has emerged as a solid player with Colorado after he declined to sign with the Devils once his NCAA eligibility expired.

Regardless of the strength at the time of the New Jersey, the NHL Devils suffered through a horrendous season in 2016-17, finishing 27^th out of 30 teams. There was a silver lining at the edge of that dark cloud though, as they bucked the odds to win the draft lottery, enabling them to take their pick of what was, in all honesty, a below average draft class.

New Jersey didn’t complain, though, using the top pick on Nico Hischier, an electrifying talent from Switzerland who had been playing in the QMJHL with Halifax. Not only was Hischier immediately the best player in the revitalized New Jersey system, but we had graded him out as the number two prospect in all of hockey in last year’s McKeen Annual guidebook.

The Devils did not rest after selecting Hischier, though. Far from it. They made 11 total selections in the 2017 draft, and we placed two additional picks, second rounder Jesper Boqvist, and fourth rounder Nikita Popugaev, in our top 250 list, at 120 and 150, respectively. Throw in the surprise signing of Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher, who, like Kerfoot, did not sign with the team that drafted him, and went to New Jersey instead. In a bit of irony, Butcher was a Colorado pick signing in New Jersey while Kerfoot was a Devils pick who signed with the Avalanche. An unofficial trade if you will. Four other 2017 draft picks were also listed in the New Jersey top 20.

With such a broad infusion of talent, it should come as no surprise that the New Jersey system shot up the organizational rankings from 16 to six.

One year later and the New Jersey system has fallen back down the other side of the rainbow, coming in 20^th at this time. How did they fall so soon, so quick, you might ask?

Some of it is for good reasons. The Devils rebounded as a team to return to the NHL postseason Hischier was a key driver of that success, playing in all 82 games, finishing seventh in the Calder Trophy race. The aforementioned Will Butcher, as well as Jesper Bratt, who had inexplicably fallen from a top ten talent to outside of the top 20, were the only other prospects to graduate.

A few other players left the organization through trade or free agency, but they were footnotes at the bottom of the list. What really hurt New Jersey the most, in terms of organizational ranking, was the simple fact that none of the players (Hischier/Butcher excluded) really reached a new level of performance or production, and many others, including the aforementioned Popugaev, top netminder Mackenzie Blackwood, Blake Speers, and others, saw their play fall off and new questions about their ultimate ceilings emerge.

Finally, the Devils went from a dynamic draft class of 11, to a muted class of six, three of whom make this year’s list. It remains to be seen whether the flagging system below the NHL level will continue to follow (or lead) the fortunes of the team at the highest level.

Ty Smith

1 Ty Smith, D (17^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) The number two scorer among all defenders in the WHL in his draft year, Ty Smith, two years removed from being the first overall selection in the WHL Bantam Draft, has undoubtable offensive skills. He is a fantastic skater with high end puck moving ability. He was unable to demonstrate those gifts to the full extent during a few high profile events last year, namely the CHL Top Prospects game, or the WU18, neither of which made his highlight reel, but even when he was off his game, he still was able to showcase other elements of his game that suggest he has top pairing potential. In other words, even on his off days, he still can be a high-impact defender. He tracks back well, showing 200 foot commitment to the game. He lacks size, but plays with strength, whether using his stick to break up plays, or maneuvering opponents into the boards to nullify threats. Not only is his upside rather high, but he projects to reach it sooner than some of the other guys who were taken in the picks before the Devils got him.

2 Michael McLeod, C (12^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2^nd) The OHL speedster had yet another successful yet mildly disappointing season in the OHL and representing Canada at the WJC and is ready to become fully immersed in the professional game. His skating is just shy of elite, he can flash a high end wrist shot from the circles on in, and earned a reputation for his hustle and work ethic on the PK for Mississauga over the years. He is not known as a playmaker, but has promising vision and passing ability. He has a lot of exciting tools, even though only his straight ahead speed truly exudes a dynamic vibe. He should earn a fair bit of NHL play this season, as his gameplay should be able to find a home up or down the lineup. That said, he would be well served with a few months of AHL action to whet his appetite before settling down in New Jersey. He has strong middle six upside.

3 Jesper Boqvist, C/LW (36^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 4^th) Don’t let his production fool you. Jesper Boqvist has the makings of a very good middle six forward, capable of putting up good numbers at maturity in the NHL. A fantastic skater with very impressive puck skills, the burgeoning playmaker took a big step forward last year, the bulk of which was spent in the SHL with Brynas. He surveys the ice very well, recognizing chance to move forward and advance the attack. He is also noted for a solid defensive zone game. The versatile forward’s biggest drawback is the complete lack of a physical side to his game. In 40 games last year, he accrued only six PIMs. This after eight PIMs in 54 games in his draft year and a whopping 20 minutes in 67 games in 2015-16. He is very high on the Devils’ radar and they are likely hoping to bring him overseas once his contract with Brynas expires after the coming season.

4 John Quenneville, C (30^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 3^rd) When he was selected at the tail end of the 2014 draft, the idea was that he would no longer be on lists like these four years later. Quenneville has a well-rounded game, highlit by a very good shot which is deadly from the hashmarks on in. He may have received more NHL time last year were it not for some injuries which hampered him in the AHL, notably a knee injury shortly after mid-season. He is not exactly old at 22, but he his offensive production has been (on a rate-basis) stable at 0.79 points per game for the past two seasons, and his ability to drive the possession game seemed to carry over to his brief NHL stints in both seasons. He has the game to step into a bottom six role at center or on the wing right now, and if he fails to break through again, it will be a black mark on his future outlook.

5 Joseph Anderson, RW (73^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 9^th) Wherever Joey Anderson goes, he wins. He is generally not the best player on that winning team, or even the second best player, but he is always a key contributor both in what can be measured and in the intangibles, such as leadership, grit, and hustle. He is a solid skater, with a hard wrist shot that can beat a goalie cleanly from mid-range and closer. He offers a very strong net front presence, with quick hands ready to pounce on loose pucks in the home plate area. He is not overly tall, but has good reach, assisted by plus upper-body strength. He is very intelligent, performing all sorts of easily over-looked, subtle acts to help his team regain, or maintain possession. After helping Minnesota-Duluth to an NCAA championship in the spring, Anderson inked an ELC with the Devils. He will have a good chance to make the club in a bottom six role right away, with New Jersey hoping his winning ways rub off on the rest of the team.

Reilly Walsh

6 Reilly Walsh, D (81^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 10^th) A New Hampshire prep star, Walsh proved that he could hang at a higher level with his intermittent play with the Chicago Steel of the USHL in his draft year. As a true freshman with Harvard, he proved his supporters right as one of the Crimson’s most play driving blueliners. He is small, but somewhat rugged and has the mobility that is sought by all talent evaluators in modern-age defenders. He is also imminently gifted from the offensive perspective. Both his point shot and his puck handling skills are high end. Unlike many defenders of his ilk, he is also competent and responsible in his own end. He is still a few years from being ready for the AHL, much less than NHL, but he looks for all the world like a top half of the roster blueliner.

7 Aarne Talvitie, C (160^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11^th) Still under the radar as he spent both his draft and post draft years in Finland’s junior ranks, Talvitie should be commended for finishing third in scoring in the Jr. A SM-liiga, winning the league’s MVP award in the process. The reason he has not graduated to Finnish senior is not due to lack of aptitude, but to maintain his NCAA eligibility. Lack Henrik Borgstrom, Talvitie is crossing the pond to go to college, in this case, to play for Penn State. He is a strong skater with finishing skills and impressive hockey IQ. He lacks size, but plays tough enough to survive. As the Nittany Lions have lost a few key forwards to graduation, Talvitie should receive an early opportunity to shine in his first taste of North American hockey.

8 Colby Sissons, D (UDFA: Oct. 3, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Overlooked in his draft year as a moderately productive second pairing defender with a poor Swift Current team in the WHL, Sissons nonetheless impressed the Devils so much in rookie camp that the team couldn’t get rid of him, finally signing him to an ELC as the season was getting underway. Two years later, after a stellar age 20 season helping to take the Broncos to a WHL title, the word has gotten around on Sissons. While not the greatest skater, he moves the puck with purpose and precision. He can walk the line like a pro on the power play, finding an open teammate down low, or picking up a seam to step through to fire a low slapshot on net. He has a mature all-around game from the back and plays a somehow understated, but very forceful, physical game. Next stop is the AHL and he should be in the consideration set as an injury replacement as soon as this year.

9 Mackenzie Blackwood, G (42^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 7^th) As a 16 year old with the OHL’s Barrie Colts, Blackwood seemed like the ideal goalie prospect, checking all of the boxes in the scouts’ lists. He was massive, coupled with solid athleticism, reasonably refined technique. He even did a good job of controlling second chances and could push the puck up the ice ably. Since those heady early days, Blackwood has been miss as much as hit. His OHL work never really improved from his first year. His first two years as a professional have been disconcerting, losing playing time to the likes of Kenny Appleby and Scott Wedgewood and even finding himself down in the ECHL for stretches last year. It is too early to give up on a 21 year old who can still flash the game of a possible starter in the NHL, but it is past time for Blackwood to produce where it counts and ensure that the Devils still see the future in him.

Xavier Bernard

10 Xavier Bernard, D (110^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) For a system that has largely eschewed scouting for size, Bernard is one of the few prospects of significance in the organization that bucks that trend. Listed at 6-3” and over 200 lbs, he is actually more of a mobile puck mover with smarts and skills than a bruiser. His offensive game took a big step up in his draft year, jumping from six to 35 points with Drummondville. There are still questions about his ultimate offensive upside, allowing him to drop to the fourth round in the draft, but he plays an efficient game on both sides of the puck. He has a big point shot, but is more effective as a passer from the blueline. Bernard’s development has a few possible routes available, but the majority of them point to a solid professional career.

11 Mikhail Maltsev, LW (102^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Without doubt, the biggest riser in the New Jersey over the 2017-18 season. From a production standpoint, Maltsev’s year was not much different from years’ past. He seemed to have finally graduated from the Russian junior league and spent the bulk of his domestic season split between the KHL and the VHL, with very promising VHL numbers, with the best points per game mark of any under 20 player to have played even 10 games at the level. His KHL and international production were more muted, but he did turn a number of heads at the WJAC. He has a big frame, is usable on both special teams units, playing a mature and intelligent game. His first few steps are strong and he has burgeoning puck skills to go along with it. He will be in Russia again this year, but may be ready, at least in theory to come to North America in the near future.

12 Fabian Zetterlund, RW/C (63^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 16^th) If the Devils can be said to have a type in the draft, it would look a lot like Fabian Zetterlund. That is to say a winger with a bit of skill and the type of grittiness to allow him to play bigger than his listed measurements. A solid offensive force in the Swedish junior ranks when he was drafted, the young forward spent this past season mostly playing against men. As is often the case with teenagers in the SHL and Allsvenskan, his production was nothing to write home about wit only 12 points in 43 combined games between the two levels. When he plays against his age-based peers, such as in the WJC, he can demonstrate a promising offensive package, including a shot and puck skills that both project out as above average attributes. Add in a feisty game in the neutral zone and comfort playing a physical game, and he could work his way up to a middle six role down the road.

13 Blake Speers, RW (67^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 6^th) Blake Speers has been somewhat of a frustrating prospect to track, as he has all of the tools you want to see. He is a very good skater, who gets to a fine top speed, with quick acceleration. He can flash a hard wrist shot that allowed to score a respectable 12 goals as an AHL rookie last year after he was a goal-scoring threat throughout his OHL career. He is not especially big, but is built solid. On the down side, while it is still early in his career and he can certainly change our minds going forward, he struggled with reads and decision making, preventing him from getting full bang for the buck on his tools. He has a fine motor and hustles, showing a promising work ethic, but the onus is on him, like many others in this system, to take his game to the next level.

14 Michael Kapla, D (UDFA: Mar 28, 2017. Last Year: 18^th) Turning 24 before the start of the coming season, Kapla, now only one year into his professional career, plays a mature, yet limited game from the blueline. The limitations are largely the result of not having a game heavy on skill. He is not slow, but nor is he exceptionally mobile. He can man the point at the AHL level, but lacks the vision or howitzer to project to that role in the NHL. He is somewhat broad around the shoulders, but he does not play a physical game. If the former UMass-Lowell captain will make more of an NHL impact than the five game bonus trial he received after signing as a free agent, it will be on the strength of his versatility, in the sense that he can be used in any situation, and his poise with the puck. He will not thrill the crowd, but he will also not be the cause of their displeasure either.

15 Jeremy Davies, D (192^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Drafted as a seventh round flyer in his second year of eligibility after putting up some good numbers for a moribund Bloomington team in the USHL, Davies is proving himself to be a scouting find after two strong to very strong seasons manning the point for NCAA offensive powerhouse Northeastern. He finished second in blueline scoring as a freshman and led all NE defensemen in points by a wide margin as a sophomore. He is not a very toolsy player, which forces us to be cautious in projecting his future, but he handles the puck quite well and demonstrates the hockey smarts needed on the back end. He even plays strong despite being undersized. Another season like the last may force the Devils to try to pry him away from school before graduation.

Marian Studenic

16 Marian Studenic, RW (143^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 15^th) While he has never broken out as an offensive force, notably being shut out for two straight years in the WJC for his native Slovakia, the former fifth round pick still demonstrates a well-rounded game that suggests a potential bottom six future awaits. He is a strong skater, with good size, if not a physical game. He can play up and down the lineup thanks to his hustle and has a lot of experience as a penalty killer. The reason for his moderate offensive impact is largely down to a lack of creativity or vision with the puck. He has a quick shot which he can hesitate with the release to add an element of trickery, but he is largely a two way, North-South player.

17 Brandon Gignac, C (80^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14^th) Being limited to only 21 games, in which he put up only three points, clearly qualifies Gignac’s rookie pro season as a severe disappointment. Injuries can do that. Considering the year as a practical write-off, we will instead use this space to serve as a reminder of why the Devils saw fit to use a third round pick on him two years ago. He is small, undersized and lacking in functional strength. Of course those factors did not convince New Jersey to draft him that high, but we can state with confidence that they kept him from going higher. What Gignac still can do, and why the Devils are still believers is primarily his incredible top gear. He has just enough puck skills to be a real threat on a breakaway. He also shows good vision and has a history of creating respectable secondary offense. Now let’s see what he can do with a full, healthy season in the AHL.

18 Cam Johnson, G (UDFA: Mar. 24 2018. Last Year: IE) Unheralded to a large extent in his first draft season, playing for Little Caeser’s U18, Johnson earned his way a role in the USH over the next two seasons as a walk-on. Good enough to graduate to a role with a big time collegiate program in North Dakota, he went from a barely used freshman (two games) to a surprise starter as a sophomore, leading his team to an NCAA championship. A bit undersized by modern standards, Johnson is fairly athletic and calm under duress. He is confident with the puck, although his technique is raw – particularly his footwork - and he is prone to surrendering juicy rebounds. He could never re-capture the success of his sophomore season, but his body of work was enough to convince New Jersey to offer him a contract and replace for free agent signing Kenny Appleby on the depth chart.

19 Mitchell Hoelscher, C (172^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Another player on this list with underwhelming numbers in the OHL, Hoelscher at least can fall back on the reasoning that he joined the league relatively late, getting in only six games with the Ottawa 67s before his draft year began. Joining a mediocre team in transition did not help his numbers play up either. To his credit, he has a fine enough collection of tools to suggest that there is more in his near future, even though he was not a top scorer in his pre-OHL days either. He gets up to a fine top speed. He plays a fine physical game despite lacking in size or stature. He also plays with maturity, suggestive of comfort playing down the lineup as needed.

20 Yegor Zaitsev, D (205^th overall, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) If these grades only focused on skills, Zaitsev may not have made the cut. His point shot is sub-par and his mobility and ability to move the puck are average at best. He is small and lacks much of a physical presence, as well. But we talk about him because he has legitimate shut down defender qualities. He is very good positionally in his own zone, uses his stick very well to cut into gaps, even if he does not close them down with the body. He does a smart job of moving rushers to the outside and removing danger. If you needed any proof of his ability to play above his tools, consider that Russian legacy team Dynamo Moscow had him playing in the KHL in his age 18 season.

WJC 2018 – Team Preview – Sweden

Jimmy Hamrin — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 19:48:28 +0000

The Swedish team this year is young, but talented. Outside from Switzerland, Sweden has the youngest roster heading into the tournament. The preliminary roster has ten underaged players with seven 99-born players and three millennials. Many of the underaged players are key players to the team as well, especially on defense.

It seems to be the same story every year nowadays with the Swedish roster, that the deepest talent pool, position wise, are the defensemen. This year is no different, with a lot of high end talent from the backend. More and more in modern hockey a power play uses four forwards and only one defenseman. This Swedish team will buck that trend with players like Rasmus Dahlin, Timothy Liljegren and Erik Brännström each having enough talent and skill to play on the first power play unit that one could almost start to consider playing three defensemen on the power play rather than four forwards.

The power play is going to be an especially big key for Sweden’s success this year. The potential is huge with the offensive core of the defensemen as well as with shooter/playmaker Elias Pettersson on the team. Pettersson is leading the SHL in scoring heading into the tournament by putting up numbers (35 points, 17 on the power play, in 26 games) that are practically unheard of for a junior in SHL and have not been seen for decades.

Sweden is always a contender at the WJC but rarely wins the gold and now has three 4^th place finishes in a row. The challenge for Sweden this year is to get these big offensive players scoring at the same level on the smaller ice during big games that their talent level suggests they can. If they get good goaltending and the power play dominates, they will once again be one of the biggest contenders for the gold.

Ten to Watch

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA - APRIL 15: Sweden's Elias Pettersson #21 skates with the puck while LatviaÕs Vlads Vulkanovs #13 defends during preliminary round action at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Lias Andersson, C
He had an emotional start to this season. First of all, he played with the Rangers for almost the entire preseason and got back to Sweden late, after the season had already started. In Sweden he has been playing on a new team, the same team where his father is a legend and where his jersey number was retired this past October. With all that going on, Andersson’s game struggled early. He did not put up a point in seven of his first eight games in the SHL. After that, he has picked up pace and has 12 points in 14 games and is playing his strong driving game. He will be a big leader for this Swedish team. He plays aggressively and with skill. He never shies from taking action and trying to make things happen. His puck skills are good and brings to mind a bit of Jonathan Toews in style. Not super skilled but owning a good shot, good puck control, good vision, strong physical play, great drive and leadership on the ice. He will be playing on a top line for this tournament.

Jesper Boqvist, C/LW
Boqvist has just returned from a wrist fracture suffered in the preseason so it is hard to say where he stands as a player for this tournament. That said, he has already put up two points in four SHL games. Boqvist is a player who brings speed and skill to the table. He is always in motion and has great vision. He is hard to contain as he skates and controls the puck well in every direction, north to south, east to west. Sometimes he gets a bit too creative, but he has his head up and does not do anything without a plan. He developed greatly throughout last season and he was strong over the second half earning a spot on an SHL team that made it all the way to a game seven championship game. For this tournament he will probably be used on a scoring line and is one of the players that Sweden needs to be producing if they are to be successful.

Erik Brannstrom (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Erik Brännström, D
A tremendous puck mover with high end skills and strong skating abilities. In the 2017 U18 WJC Brännström was probably Sweden’s best offensive player with strong puck possession stats as well as shot metrics. Last season he came up as a breath of fresh air to the best team in the SHL but was sent down when the playoffs started. This season he has been a regular on the team but has seen his ice time diminish a bit lately. He is still in a learning process and his play at senior level is progressing at a normal pace for a top talent. Brännström will contribute to this Swedish team with puck possession as he is strong at retrieving pucks in his own end and at starting attacks. He is not big in size but is strong with his lower body balance and can hold off big checking forward with control of the puck. On the power play he has a dangerous and accurate wrist shot and moves smoothly across the blueline. Although being one year younger at this tournament he is one of Sweden’s most skilled players for this tournament and he will most likely see a lot of power play minutes.

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 5: Sweden's Rasmus Dahlin #8 skates during bronze medal game action against Russia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Rasmus Dahlin, D
Sweden’s best defenseman for this tournament is a U18 player who is coming back for his second U20 WJC. He has already also played for the national men’s team and has a good shot of making the Swedish Olympic team later this season. Next summer he will most likely get picked first overall in the NHL entry draft. Dahlin has already been one of the most exciting players to watch in the SHL and is incredibly dynamic in his skillset. He is big in size, he plays physical, has great hockey sense both offensively and defensively and he has the puck skills of an elite forward talent. Dahlin’s agility on his skates and strong puck control and creativity makes him probably the most exciting player for this whole tournament. He still makes mistakes and those mistakes often have more visible impact than mistakes made by a forward. All in all, he brings puck possession, offensive skills that are hard to contain and defensive stability to this Swedish team. There will be a lot of media attention on his game and off the ice for this tournament and it will be a challenge for him to focus and to deliver what everyone expects of this 17-year-old.

Marcus Davidsson, C/LW
Quick player, both with his feet and in his mind. Davidsson is a smart two-way player that can be used in many different roles. He could be used as a role changing forward on a top line and produce as expected or as the fourth line center and produce in that role on this Swedish team. Not an elite offensive talent but he has had a good start to this season and is taking steps forward in his development. With somewhat limited icetime (12 min/g) he has produced nine points through 23 games. He is playing on a strong young line in the SHL that plays with a lot of speed. Although Davidsson may not be clocked as the fastest player, his smarts hep to keep the pace up for his linemates playing the puck at the right time and with quick decision making. Defensively he takes good responsibility and detects danger and reads the play well. He will be an important balance player for Sweden in whatever roles he takes.

Lukas Elvenes, C/RW
A skilled playmaker that has had a strong first senior season. Elvenes was sent down to play in Allsvenskan but was recalled after putting up a point per game performance during the first 22 games. He is a quick thinker and creative with quick hands. He is reads play well in the offensive end and has always been a strong point producer. He has gotten faster and on his skates this season. He has always been able to skate fast over short distances with his quick feet, but the long stride technique had been a flaw in his game. This season he can contain his speed a little better and in Allsvenskan his skills in the offensive zone have shown as very strong, although he should use his quick shot more often. His development surely has surprised the Swedish coach as well, since he had not been picked for any of the earlier tournaments used to help pick the WJC roster. For Sweden in this tournament, Elvenes will be a good option for a power play and a top nine role.

Filip Gustavsson, G
Gustavsson was named best goalie in 2016 U18 WJC and was a big part of the Swedish team that won a silver medal and defeated Canada in the semifinal. He is big in size and reads the game great. He plays with calm and consistency. For this tournament though, there are some concerns. He is the expected number one goalie for the team but has not had a particularly strong season so far. He has been struggling in the SHL and is the backup on his team for the second season in a row. He has not had strong numbers with the national junior team of late either. To get games and to get on a better role for this tournament he has been sent down to the junior league at times where he has played great. Gustavsson received WJC experience as a backup playing one game last year and has the potential to be a top goalie in this tournament. He has shown that he can step up in big games before and if he does so again he can be a medal winning difference for Sweden.

Timothy Liljegren

Timothy Liljegren, D
Picked as the 17^th player in last year’s draft, Liljegren felt like a steal by the Maple Leafs. He had dropped from being a potential top two pick after not having had a good draft season. The effects of mononucleosis effected his play that whole season. Many scouts saw the raw potential but had concerns with his decision making as the percentage of mistakes in his game were too high. After a summer of training, he showed up at the U20 showcase and was probably the best player on the Swedish team, with few signs of lacking hockey sense. He has been playing in the AHL this season and has put up good numbers. Liljegren is a strong and skilled offensive defenseman with elite high-end talent. He will help Sweden on the power play with heavy and accurate shooting. In even-strength he will contribute with good puck possession. He takes control of the game and starts the attacks for his team. He is exciting to watch and has the potential to be one of the best defensemen in the tournament.

Isac Lundeström, C/LW
A late 99 born prospect that is playing center full time in the SHL in one of the top three lines and looks like a potential first round draft pick for next season. He is a smart player that takes responsibility and has good puck skills. His puck control and playmaking abilities are strong. He can travel with the puck and set up his teammates well. He has a good shot and should shoot the puck more often as there are some concerns of him being a perimeter player seeking passes too much. He has strong skating abilities with exceptionally good balance and that helps him cover the puck and to hit his opponents Forsberg-style when he has the puck. I would like to see him play center (on the top nine) on this team as his assets can be put to better use in the middle. He is the type of player that needs to have the puck a lot to be involved in the games. When he plays on the wing, he sometimes ca disappear during games. He is both creative and effective with the puck and rarely makes mistakes.

Alexander Nylander, RW/LW
With already 21 points across two WJCs, Nylander is a great addition for Sweden and for the tournament as a whole. The skilled forward will once again be a top line player and an important piece on the power play. He is an offensive dynamo with a dangerous wrist shot, good vision and puck skills. He has great puck control when he skates with the puck and can zig-zag through the defense. His game is all about skill and offense and he is exciting to watch. In junior hockey he has been dominant throughout his entire career but has not yet translated that game to senior hockey. In the AHL his numbers are not as good as his level of talent suggests he should produce. That said, his shot to break into the NHL is still very good. He has had a rough start to this season with an injury keeping him of out of the game for the start of the season. Playing in the Sabres organization it will be an important tournament for him playing in their hometown, which will also add some extra pressure on his performance.

Elias Pettersson, C/RW
Wow! What a season Pettersson is having in the SHL! 41 points in Allsvenskan last season upgraded him to SHL were he is now leading the scoring race with 35 points through only 26 games. He had a tough WJC point wise last year and did not seem to get his game going in the North American rinks. There also were some question marks about his strength for the draft. He is still skinny but growing. He has gotten stronger and consistently smarter but most of all he has developed his shot. When on the power play, he stands in the right circle much like Kucherov does for Tampa. He fires one-time slap shots and dangerous wrist shots combined with smart cross-ice passes setting someone else up for a scoring chance. All in all, he is mesmerizing to watch with his elite puck skills and elite hockey sense. He should be considered as one of the favorites to become the top scorer in this tournament and he has the potential to become the best player of his draft class. He is also being discussed as a potential Olympic player for Sweden this season.

Surprise player

Axel Jonsson Fjällby, LW
Speed, speed and speed. Jonsson Fjällby is a fun player to watch and one that you cannot miss in a game. He is a tremendous checking player with great speed, aggressiveness and drive. His skills are a bit limited, but he has a good wrist shot and has scored eight points in the SHL already this season. He is most dangerous in the transition game and almost no player can keep up with him chasing a loose puck over a long distance. He works hard and will be an important piece on this Swedish team with the ability to contribute secondary scoring making Sweden harder to play against.

New Jersey – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:15:27 +0000

Two short years ago, the New Jersey Devils had one of the weaker system in the game. John Quenneville was a decent prospect, and Steve Santini seemed like a sure-fire NHLer, if not a top tier one. All in all, there was very little there before Ray Shero took over as GM on May 4, 2015, blessed with a top ten pick in the upcoming draft.

Although the Devils only had five choices in the 2015 draft, they made the most of them, with Pavel Zacha emerging as their new top prospect and supplementing the system with talented youth such as netminder MacKenzie Blackwood, versatile forward Blake Speers and two-way defenseman Colton White. But a five man draft class can only do so much for any organization.

Shero had more time to implement his plan of beefing up the system in 2016 and with nine more draft picks, did just that. Among those nine players, five rank among their top twenty today and a few more were contenders to sneak on to the list as well. Even with those nine players, though, the Devils system was still middling. After so many years of focusing on the here and now, to diminishing results, left a correspondingly diminished system with few players projecting as top half of roster talents and a paucity of players who could even be expected to contribute in a bottom half manner.

The best talents, other than the aforementioned Zacha and Miles Wood, were still a few years away, and even with the acquisition of former first overall pick Taylor Hall from Edmonton, the Devils were still in a poor place. Sometimes, however, with short term pain, comes long term gain. Some of that pain was literal. Hall missed ten games to injury. Mike Cammalleri missed 20 due to various causes. Star netminder Corey Schneider battled leg injuries in the second half. Without exaggeration, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, and Adam Henrique were the only regulars not to miss significant action on the season. After March began, the Devils could only pick up seven points in the standings in 20 games.

As for the gain, their late tumble down the standings dropped them to 27th in the league standings. And wouldn’t you know it, but that slot lined up perfectly with the bouncing balls of the draft lottery. For the first time ever, the Devils would have the first overall pick. As much as some pundits moaned about the lack of top end talent in this year’s class, there was still talent a-plenty and the Devils would have their way with it.

After selecting the dynamic Nico Hischier first overall, the Devils had ten more opportunities to man their man. In addition to quantity, the Devils got a ton of quality. In the top twenty list to follow, fully seven players were products of their most recent draft class, a class that should mark the transition of this team from tear down, to re-build.

Nico Hischier

1 Nico Hischier – Although we ranked him second among draft prospects this year, we still expected the Devils to draft Hischier, a dynamic player who fits the Ray Shero approach of extreme talent. On any given night, he can display near elite skating, shooting ability or puck-handling skills. Sometimes all three. What cements his place in the Devils lineup right away is his unflagging commitment to the play away from the puck as well. He can be trusted in all zones, in all situations. A superstar to build around.

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

2 Michael McLeod – McLeod got off to an unexplained slow start this year in Mississauga, after threatening to go straight to the NHL as the 12th overall pick in 2016. As the year moved on, he picked things up, although his inclusion in Canada’s WJC entry may have been based on reputation and tools over production. He has tremendous speed, decent hands and plays a high IQ game. By the OHL playoffs, McLeod was back to being the dominant player the Devils drafted.

3 John Quenneville - A somewhat unexpected first rounder, Quenneville started his professional career as the best player for AHL Albany, leading the team in scoring by seven points despite only playing in 58 games. He is very effective on the cycle, and loves shooting the puck. While not usually flashy, he has some highlight reel tricks up his sleeve. A versatile forward who can play both center or on the wing, he might be ready for a full time NHL job after a briefer debut last year.

4 Jesper Boqvist – The Devils second round pick this year, Boqvist split his year fairly evenly between Swedish junior and the top two men’s leagues. He was effective at all three. He has standout quickness, with matching agility and demonstrates excellent puck movement abilities even at high speed. A creative play driver, he needs more time to develop in a consistent system before reaching his potential. Should be a front-runner to make the Swedish WJC squad.

5 Will Butcher – The 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner, Butcher opted not to sign with Colorado, which drafted him in 2013. Short, but stocky, he has very advanced puck moving skills. A good skater with soft hands, he is a clear danger from the point, able to both whip in a strong wrist shot, or walk the line until a better passing option opens up. Positioning and anticipation make up for his relative dearth of a physical game. Likely to step right into the NHL on the third pairing.

6 Blake Speers – Although the Devils have a few prospects in the system with higher offensive upside, Speers has a high end combination of speed and hockey IQ that ensure he will not be overlooked. A strong performance with the Silver medal winning Team Canada WJC team gave a preview of how Speers’ career should play out. A versatile bottom six forward who can handle tough shifts and shorthanded situations.

Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

7 MacKenzie Blackwood – Although his professional career did not get off to the same dominant start with which he began his OHL career, there is still an awful lot to like about Blackwood’s future projections. He has a huge frame that covers a lot of net, with he combines with above-average athleticism, and play-reading ability. With Schneider in complete control with the Devils, there is no rush but Blackwood needs to improve his game-to-game consistency before taking the next step.

8 Nikita Popugaev – In many ways the inverse of the above-listed forwards, Popugaev has incredible size and a pretty full toolbox, but he has never put it all together over a full season. His production fell off the map after a mid-season trade from mid-market Moose Jaw to prime Prince George. He may have been a first rounder without the nearly half-season long slump. He has a high end shot, but plays largely a perimeter game, which largely negates his size advantages.

9 Joey Anderson – USNTDP alumnus Anderson has always excelled as a support player for more talented teammates, a trait that followed him from the hothouse program, through a stint with the American WJC championship team and through his freshman season with Minnesota-Duluth, where he came one game away from a second title. A stocky player who plays a power, puck digger game, he has solid puck skills, but knows his role as a supporting mule and plays it well.

10 Reilly Walsh – A dynamic blueliner who fell a bit under the radar in his draft year flitting back and forth between Chicago in the USHL and Proctor Academy in the New England prep ranks. A Harvard commit, he missed all of Chicago’s championship run in order to graduate. Somewhat undersized, Walsh makes up for it with plus speed, and aggressive defending, particularly with how he uses his stick to break up plays. Similarly aggressive with the puck on his stick, he is one to follow with the Crimson.

11 Aarne Talvitie – The Devils drafting Talvitie in the sixth round this year qualifies as one of the best value picks in the entire 2017 draft class. The captain of Finland’s Silver medal winning WU18 entry, his best features are his big, hard wrist shot, his competitive style and his ability to read the play in all situations. Looking to attend Penn State, he is expected to come to North America this year to play for Sioux Falls in the USHL.

12 Yegor Rykov – Although his first full season in the KHL was at times underwhelming, Rykov’s performance against his peers in the WJC for Team Russia should have the Devils pleased with the development of their 2016 5th round pick. He has a booming slapshot and impressive puck moving ability. He could be more mobile and he will need to show more consistent league play in a return engagement with SKA St. Petersburg, but with two more years on his KHL contract, he has time.

13 Nathan Bastian – Like Nikita Popugaev, but with fewer and duller tools. Bastian is very big, has a strong understanding of the game, and has an understated skill set. His lack of production, even while playing often on a line with Michael McLeod, raises questions, as does his subpar skating. Expected to move up to the AHL this year, he will need to prove that he can produce on his own to avoid being consigned to a bottom line projection.

14 Brandon Gignac – A moderate offensive threat, Gignac likewise carries with him a moderate skill set, featuring above average skating ability, puck skills and an impressive hockey IQ. He can reach an extra gear and looks dangerous shooting from the half-wall. He is undersized and generally not a very aggressive player, but he generally earns strong reviews for his play in his own zone.

15 Marian Studenic – A projection pick in the fifth round this year, Studenic was inconsistent, but promising in his first season in North America with Hamilton of the OHL. He has a strong shot and should be able to increase his goal scoring output with additional experience, but his play away from the puck was disappointing and he was practically a non-entity for Slovakia at the WU18 tournament.

16 Fabian Zetterlund – A solid scorer for Farjestad’s junior team and one of Sweden’s top contributor’s for their WU18 squad, Zetterlund is a creative offensive driver, but suffers due to a skating deficiency. With a little more zip to his stride, he could project as a solid middle six winger down the line, but this is something he will need to see improve to get there. To his credit, he has some agility at least, and plays a ragged style, willing to take a hit to make a play.

17 Colton White – A solid mid-round pick, White has been a steady contributor for four season with Sault Ste. Marie. He combines above average skating and puck moving ability with impressive play defending his own zone. His OHL play seems to have plateaued over his last two seasons, leading to fears that he may have regressed. He will be tested in the AHL, but it is too early to assume he cannot be a solid #5 down the road.

18 Michael Kapla – A second team All-American as a senior at UMass-Lowell, Kapla, who captained the squad for each of his final two seasons is an intelligent defender with plus acceleration. He is willing to take a hit to make a play, although he is not a physical force. He specializes in pushing forward the transition. Although he is in contention for one of the final blueline spots in New Jersey this year, a year or so developing in Binghamton is the wiser play.

19 Yaroslav Dyblenko – Never a big offensive producer over four plus seasons in the KHL, the Devils signed Dyblenko to a two-year entry level contract this offseason with the expectation that he will compete for a spot on the NHL blueline. He is roughly average with or without the puck, but should be able to bring plus physicality to the ice, as he had a reputation as a big hitter in Russia.

20 Viktor Loov – Loov is a similar style player to Dyblenko. His skating is flawed, without being slow, his puck play is fairly basic and he has never been a big producer at any level. On the other hand, he hits people and hits people and hits people. And the hits are very hard. His near-elite physical game can cross the line too often, though and he needs to do a better job of recognizing the limitations to avoid being a liability.

The rise from a bottom feeding system to a top quartile one has been fairly quick for New Jersey, a welcome change after years of neglect to drafting and prospect development. The system is now very forward heavy, as most of the better defenders have lower ceilings and/or are further away from contributing. With a few of the above listed players expected to challenge for NHL jobs right away – improving the team’s on-ice success, the team will have to be more judicious going forward with their draft plans.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Metropolitan Division – New Jersey Devils

Ryan Wagman — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 12:29:28 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favours to regional scouts, among other reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM	PIM (Sv%)
1	1	2-N	2	Nico HISCHIER	C	18	6-1/175	Halifax (QMJHL)	69
2	36	10-E	35	Jesper BOQVIST	C	18	6-0/180	Timra (Swe 2)
2	61	24-N	36	Grant MISMASH	LW	18	6-0/185	USA (NTDP-18)	46
3	63	40-E	hm	Fabian ZETTERLUND	LW	18	5-11/195	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	16
3	81	60-N	78	Reilly WALSH	D	18	5-11/180	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	14
4	98	28-N	43	Nikita POPUGAEV	LW	18	6-6/220	MJ-PG (WHL)
5	129	NR		Gilles SENN	G	21	6-5/195	Davos (Sui)
5	143	101-N	104	Marian STUDENIC	RW	18	6-0/165	Hamilton (OHL)
6	160	58-E	77	Aarne TALVITIE	C	18	5-10/200	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)
7	191	126-N	hm	Jocktan CHAINEY	D	18	6-0/200	Halifax (QMJHL)
7	205	NR		Yegor ZAITSEV	D	19	6-0/180	Dynamo Bsh Balashikha (Rus 2)
7	214	NR		Matt HELLICKSON	D	19	6-0/190	Sioux City (USHL)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	1	Nico HISCHIER	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	57	38	48	86	24
2	36	Jesper BOQVIST	C	Timra (Swe 2)	19	3	9	12	0
2	36			Brynas (Swe)	16	0	6	6	2
2	36			Brynas (Swe Jr)	15	10	5	15	6
2	61	Grant MISMASH	LW	USA (NTDP-18)	65	26	35	61	104
3	63	Fabian ZETTERLUND	LW	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	40	16	20	36	18
3	63			Farjestads (Swe)	14	0	0	0	2
3	81	Reilly WALSH	D	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	30	30	39	69
3	81			Chicago (USHL)	24	2	8	10	12
4	98	Nikita POPUGAEV	LW	MJ-PG (WHL)	71	29	40	69	29
5	129	Gilles SENN	G	Davos (Sui)	34GP			2.64	0.911
5	143	Marian STUDENIC	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	58	18	12	30	23
6	160	Aarne TALVITIE	C	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)	46	13	24	37	36
7	191	Jocktan CHAINEY	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	55	4	20	24	44
7	205	Yegor ZAITSEV	D	Dynamo Bsh Balashikha (Rus 2)	24	2	4	6	44
7	205			Dynamo Moscow (KHL)	19	0	1	1	10
7	205			HC MVD (MHL)	2	0	1	1	4
7	214	Matt HELLICKSON	D	Sioux City (USHL)	52	6	22	28	30

New Jersey Devils – Draft Grade: 65

MONTREAL, CANADA - DECEMBER 27: Switzerland's Nico Hischier #18 leans in for the face-off during preliminary round action against the Czech Republic at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

We have seen drafts with quantity and drafts with quality, but few with both. The New Jersey Devils draft class of 2017 featured the best of both worlds. Of course, anytime you own the first overall pick, you should be assured of receiving quality. As that pick was only the first of 11 players drafted by the Devils last weekend, the quantity is also in the bag. Also, the quality did not stop with Swiss dynamo Nico Hischier, the first Swiss born (although not the first Swiss trained) prospect to lead off the draft. Although we ranked Hischier second in the overall draft rankings, the gap between him and Patrick was small and we had long thought that Hischier is the most likely first overall pick, considering his extremely dynamic set of skills. His puck skills are sublime, he is a plus skater, has superb offensive instincts and does not neglect the defensive side of the game. He is everything you want in a top prospect and the ride to taking over the Devils first line center job should be relatively short.

161029 Brynäs Jesper Boqvist under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan HV71 och Leksand den 29 oktober 2016 i Jönköping.
Foto: Stefan Persson / BILDBYRÅN / Cop 107

Second rounder Jesper Boqvist was another player who some had marked as a potential first round pick, with plus speed and intriguing puck skills. Fourth round pick Nikita Popugaev could be a steal if his late season swoon after being traded from Moose Jaw to Prince George proves to be a one-time thing. He has ideal size and promising offensive skills. Reilly Walsh is another favorite of mine. He split his year between Chicago of the USHL and Proctor Academy, a New Hampshire prep school. The Harvard commit has a very dynamic element to his game and a high-rev motor. He is a joy to watch.

POPRAD, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 15: Finland's Aarne Talvitie #25 races Switzerland's Davyd Barandun #2 for the puck during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Best value: Aarne Talvitie, C, Blues U20 (6/160): A strong two-way player with a plus shot, Talvitie turned heads with a strong performance as the captain of this year’s Finland entry at the WU18 tournament. Like Panthers’ 2016 first rounder Henrik Borgstrom, Talvitie has stuck with the Junior ranks in Finland so as to maintain NCAA eligibility. He will be moving to the US next year to play with Sioux Falls of the USHL before moving on to Penn State.

Biggest head-scratcher: Fabian Zetterlund, C/RW, Farjestad J20 (3/63): Although his numbers at the U20 level in Sweden were respectable, Zetterlund’s subpar skating may prevent his above average shot and puck skills from fully emerging. Not a bad player by any stretch, but from a value perspective, the riskiest made by the Devils.