Joe Connor – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #25 Tampa Bay Lightning – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:58:36 +0000

Sam O'Reilly of the London Knights. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images.

Prospect System Rank – 25th (Last Year - 29th)
GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018
COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013

The Tampa Bay Lightning operate with a philosophy shared by only a handful of NHL organizations. That's to identify the pieces needed to win now and find a way to put him on the roster no matter the cost. When a team has made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons and captured two Stanley Cups along the way, few are inclined to question the approach.

The Lightning remain driven by a familiar core that continues to produce at an elite level. With Nikita Kucherov (32), Victor Hedman (35), Brayden Point (29), Andrei Vasilevskiy (31), Jake Guentzel (31), Anthony Cirelli (28), and Brandon Hagel (27) still anchoring the roster, Tampa Bay is clearly intent on extending its championship window for as long as possible. True to form, general manager Julien BriseBois once again targeted a specific addition at the trade deadline, acquiring veteran forward Corey Perry for a 2028 second-round pick. While Tampa Bay still retains most of its selections in the 2026 draft — missing only a first- and fourth-round pick — the organization is on the verge of entering a fourth consecutive draft without a first-round selection.

Despite the lack of high-end draft capital, the Lightning still features four prospects within McKeen’s Top 200 rankings. Leading the group is Sam O’Reilly (62nd), acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in a 2025 trade. Now in his fourth and final season of junior hockey, the forward is producing at just over a point-per-game pace across his OHL career. He is joined by fellow OHL standouts Marco Mignosa and Ethan Czata, both of whom continue to show encouraging development with their respective clubs.

Perhaps the most intriguing name on the rise is 2025 fourth-round selection Benjamin Rautiainen (97th). The Finnish forward has broken out in Liiga this season, emerging as one of the league’s top offensive producers. Whether these prospects remain in the system long enough to make a lasting impact is always an open question in Tampa Bay. But if history is any indication, the Lightning will continue prioritizing contention and remain a factor in the playoff picture for a few more seasons.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
TB	1	Sam O'Reilly	C	20	6-1/190	Ldn-Kit (OHL)	56	29	42	71	22
TB	2	Benjamin Rautiainen	C	20	6-0/175	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	59	25	52	77	20
TB	3	Ethan Gauthier	RW	21	5-11/175	Syracuse (AHL)	56	12	15	27	10
TB	4	Dylan Duke	LW	23	5-10/180	Syracuse (AHL)	72	32	27	59	42
TB	4	Dylan Duke	LW	23	5-10/180	Tampa Bay (NHL)	1	0	0	0	0
TB	5	Ethan Czata	C	19	6-2/180	Niagara (OHL)	63	25	28	53	79
TB	5	Ethan Czata	C	19	6-2/180	Syracuse (AHL)	3	0	0	0	17
TB	6	Daniil Pylenkov	D	25	6-1/195	Dynamo Moskva (KHL)	64	9	45	54	22
TB	7	Jayson Shaugabay	RW	21	5-9/155	Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)	40	11	32	43	18
TB	8	Maxim Groshev	RW	24	6-2/195	Syracuse (AHL)	58	3	18	21	22
TB	8	Maxim Groshev	RW	24	6-2/195	Tampa Bay (NHL)	2	0	1	1	0
TB	9	Everett Baldwin	D	19	6-0/180	Saint John (QMJHL)	62	15	29	44	46
TB	10	Joe Connor	LW	21	5-10/175	Northeastern (NCAA)	36	13	14	27	20
TB	11	Jan Golicic	D	19	6-5/190	Gat-BLB (QMJHL)	57	5	39	44	38
TB	12	Noah Steen	LW	21	6-1/195	Orebro (SHL)	52	12	10	22	18
TB	12	Noah Steen	LW	21	6-1/195	Syracuse (AHL)	5	1	0	1	5
TB	13	Marco Mignosa	RW	21	6-0/170	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	65	35	54	89	33
TB	14	Ethan Samson	D	22	6-1/195	LV-Syr (AHL)	40	5	13	18	24
TB	15	Lucas Mercuri	C	24	6-3/190	Syracuse (AHL)	67	14	12	26	132

1. Sam O'Reilly, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Sam O’Reilly is going to need a bigger trophy case with two OHL Championships, one Memorial Cup, and a World Juniors bronze medal, plus a chance to earn more with a surging Rangers squad. Coming back from being one of Canada’s more productive forwards at the WJC, Sam was traded to London’s rival Kitchener, and he hasn’t missed a beat, going well over a point per game with his new team. O’Reilly is no stranger to being traded, as this past offseason, he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Isaac Howard. There is a lot to love with the potential fit with Jon Cooper for O’Reilly as a utility middle-six forward. He’s a very projectable player with good smarts and the ability to find loose pucks, earning him points wherever he goes. O’Reilly might be a rare player who doesn’t have a weakness in his game, finding success in all three zones, particularly in his own end. I could see the Bolts bringing him up to the NHL to start next season, over bringing a Sabourin or Curtis Douglas back, even if just on a rotational basis with an AHL conditioning stint mixed in.

2. Benjamin Rautiainen, C, Tappara (Liiga)

Benjamin Rautiainen has emerged as one of the most compelling late-bloomer stories in Finland this season. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning after going undrafted twice, Rautiainen has taken a significant step forward in his age-20 Liiga campaign. After posting 33 points in 50 games last year, he led the league scoring, and his 77 points broke the U21 scoring record set by Saku Koivu and the first 70-point season in almost 20 years. He earned Liiga MVP honours for his efforts. The growth in his game is tangible. Long criticized for perimeter habits and average explosiveness, Rautiainen now plays with far more pace and conviction. His edge work and agility have improved, allowing him to manipulate defenders off the rush and operate as a primary transition carrier. A natural playmaker, he controls entries, delays effectively, and attacks the middle with deception. While not overly physical, he protects pucks efficiently and competes more consistently away from them. Given Tampa Bay’s development track record, Rautiainen projects as a legitimate middle six NHL winger with offensive upside if his skating continues trending upward.

3. Ethan Gauthier, RW, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

Gauthier is enjoying a moderately successful season with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch as a pro hockey freshman. He's the youngest player on that team, and they're fairly deep at forward, but he's still finding ways to earn his minutes and chip in offensively. A former first overall pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft, his highly touted scoring abilities more or less came as advertised, playing a key role for the Canadian team that won gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and then leading Drummondville in playoff scoring as they captured the league title in 2024. And yet, it could simultaneously still be argued that he hasn’t fully lived up to his potential, as he will sometimes go quiet for long stretches. The quality of his shot is undeniable, but he can struggle to find enough time and space to properly utilize it, usually because of a mix of both effort and elusiveness. If Gauthier can smooth out the rough edges in his game that could clear the way for him to become a feared NHL goalscorer.

4. Dylan Duke, LW, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

It is impossible not to like and respect Duke with the way that he plays hockey. He is a mix between a buzzsaw and a bulldog, and he instantly becomes the hardest working player on the ice regardless of where or when he goes over the boards. He’s utterly fearless and relentless for a smaller forward, pinballing around the ice as he inserts himself into the play however he can. It also needs to be said, however, that there’s a certain kind of brilliance to how he gets inside and under opposing players to win battles, and he has a real sixth sense for getting to rebounds and loose pucks before anyone else does. He’s leading the Syracuse Crunch in goals this season, and it’s no surprise because he’s so in tune with himself and so hyperaware of what his strengths are. Will Duke’s success carry over to the NHL one day? Probably not to the same degree, because guys like him usually have a hard time sustaining it and surviving the grind. But bet against him at your own peril.

5. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

The Niagara Ice Dogs have been pretty mediocre through late January and February, but Czata has been a huge bright spot. His production has skyrocketed, scoring in a variety of ways from crashing the net to using his heavy wrister as well as retrieving pucks from down low to sustain play in the offensive zone. He’s progressed quite well since his debut OHL season and is looking like he’ll make the NHL in some sort of capacity. His consistency of reads with the puck and decrease in turnovers have been very noticeable from his earlier days with the Dogs. The Bolts have a sneaky good find at pick 56 in 2024 with Czata. At the next level, he’s a guy who can score in different ways and have an impact in front of the net even when not scoring. His big hits and smarts will help him fit in well in a gritty Tampa Bay bottom six.

6. Daniil Pylenkov, D, Dymano Moscow (KHL)

It's tough to find any major holes in Pylenkov’s game. The former seventh round draft pick has improved year over year and is thriving in his role as the number one defenceman for Dynamo Moskova. He lacks the flash and high-end skill to be a high-end player in the NHL, but his patience and intelligence allow him to be effective in all areas of the ice, in all situations. He facilitates well along the blue line, running the first power play unit, and can activate in the offensive zone playing as a fourth winger when called upon. His positioning is sound, shutting down plays in the neutral zone and keeping forwards to the outside. In the defensive end, he patrols the middle of the ice and battles hard in the corners and in front of the net. On breakouts, he is always in a supportive position and can snap passes up ice to start the rush. At 25 years old, his development is likely complete and if he does come over to North America, his game is probably good enough to slot into a bottom pair role. This past season, though, he signed a two-year extension, which likely prevents him from coming to North America before he turns 27, if he even planned on doing so.

7. Jayson Shaugabay, RW, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Shaugabay’s development over the last couple of seasons has pushed his name up the list of Tampa Bay Lightning prospects to watch. He has been on an upward trajectory each year since being drafted, culminating in his second NCAA season being his first point-per-game season since he played high school hockey in 2022-23. He has played with the Plante brothers with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, which brings into question whether he can lead his own line and pull his own weight, while maintaining his point-production. He’s certainly trending in the right direction towards becoming an NHL player for a Lightning organization that has consistently found such talents in the later rounds. Shaugabay is a playmaker with a high hockey IQ and excellent stickhandling chops to push the pace. He needs to continue improving his skating ability and bulking up in the NCAA to improve his odds at making the NHL level. If he can continue to do that, he projects as a third line scoring winger. However, he is right on that line when it comes to projecting him, as he could go on to be an AHL all-star who struggles to find a role in the NHL.

8. Maxim Groshev, D, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

Groshev is easily one of the most fascinating prospects in Tampa Bay’s system, primarily because he shifted from playing forward to playing defence at age 23, which is almost unheard of that far into a player’s career. What’s even more surprising is just how well the switch has gone for him, fitting into the Syracuse Crunch’s blueline almost seamlessly, and even holding his own for a couple of games up with the Lightning. He has a genuine knack for breaking pucks out of his own end, and he isn’t shy about taking calculated risks to do so. Maybe defence is the position that he was always destined to play, because he was often quite frustrating to watch as a forward, struggling to fully understand how best to use his size and athletic gifts to make a positive difference. Groshev is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and it would be an absolute shame if he and the Lightning didn’t agree to terms about bringing him back, if for no other reason than to see how his story unfolds from here, this close to the NHL.

9. Everett Baldwin, D, Saint John's Sea Dogs (QMJHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

After spending last season in the United States, playing mostly in the USHS prep circuit, Baldwin decided to commit to the QMJHL for the 2025–2026 season before ultimately joining Providence College in the NCAA the following year. It was a smart move for Baldwin, who presently plays around 20 minutes each game. The young defender finished with 44 points in 62 games, a solid production, finishing ninth in defensive scoring in the QMJHL. Baldwin is an agile skater, very mobile with and without the puck. He likes to lead the charge offensively, and he supports attacks well. He is not the most creative defender, but he shows great intelligence with the puck and does well to funnel pucks to the middle of the ice, using his mobility to his advantage to evade pressure. The physical side of the game is a work in progress, but the frame suggests that it could be there sooner than later. Since being drafted last year, Baldwin has improved a lot in all aspects of the game. Will it be enough for him to play in the NHL? His play at the NCAA level will give a better indication of that.

10. Joe Connor, LW, Northeastern University (NCAA)

Being a crafty, shoot-first winger who excels in transition, Joe Connor is putting together a solid resume at Northeastern University. His stick handling is used so well when he’s entering the zone, making him and any teammate that trails him, deadly off the rush. Connor also has his deadly shot as a weapon, specializing in set ups off the faceoff. He isn’t terribly fast, but he is fearless as his 5-foot-10 body has been tossed around by the Hockey East and Connor is right back on his feet after every hit. Connor is annoying to defencemen when he gets around them to receive an outlet pass, but can have a habit of flying up too early and becoming a non-factor in the defensive zone. Additionally, he can be a bit of a wild man when passing, needing to gain better vision and accuracy in the offensive zone. Though his game is chaotic, Joe Connor is an intriguing player who will at least play meaningfully in Syracuse, Tampa’s AHL squad, soon. He will receive even more promising development to eventually make the NHL. Just look at how many homegrown guys the Lightning have on their roster now.

11. Jan Golicic, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

The massive Slovenian defender has had another good year in the QMJHL, especially following a trade to the Armada. He brings physical play and improved confidence with the puck.

12. Noah Steen, LW, Örebro HK (SHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

Steen is having his best season to date in the SHL. The Norwegian winger is a hard worker who projects as a potential bottom six forward for Tampa.

13. Marco Mignosa, RW, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

Now in his overage OHL season with the Soo Greyhounds, Mignosa continues to improve his all-around game. Upgrading his speed and explosiveness got him drafted last year.

14. Ethan Samson, D, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

Recently acquired by Lightning, Samson is a former WHL standout whose development had stalled in the Flyers' system. He needs to play his way into Tampa’s long-term plans.

15. Lucas Murcuri, C, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

Mercuri's rights were acquired by the Lightning after Carolina had decided that they would not be signing him following his four years at UMass. The big power forward has found an immediate role in the AHL with Syracuse as a Tom Wilson lite, lending promise to a potential fourth line role with Tampa.

2024 NHL DRAFT: RE-ENTRY CANDIDATES – USA

Editor: Brock Otten - Contributors - Brock Otten, Mark Dube and Ethan Hetu — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 19:59:49 +0000

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

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

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

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

This is part two of the series, putting the spotlight on those re-entries available from leagues based out of the United States.

USHL

Austin Burnevik. Photo courtesy of the USHL.

Austin Burnevik - Wing - Madison Capitals

Burnevik was in my opinion a surprise to be passed up at the 2023 NHL Draft last year. It may have been due to the fact that Burnevik was demoted to the U17 team towards the end of the year and left off the IIHF U18 roster, but the tools were there for him to still be selected. Quiet offensively for a stacked NTDP team last year, posting 19 points in 43 games, Burnevik has found his scoring touch with the Madison Capitols in the USHL this year where he leads the team in points (59) and goals (36) as of this writing. He is a large-bodied forward, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 201 pounds. These types of players take more time to develop as they grow into their bodies, and we are seeing this trend with Burnevik. The St. Cloud commit has an NHL-caliber shot to go along with some decent vision and passing in his repertoire. The only concern with Burnevik’s development at this point is his skating, but with some growth and strength conditioning, he may be able to overcome that deficiency and make the next jump, especially when he begins to play at the NCAA level next season. There’s a pretty good chance a team will take a chance on him at this year’s draft. (Mark Dube)

Kaden Shahan - Wing - Sioux City Musketeers

Shahan has taken a big leap forward in his development this season while playing in Sioux City of the USHL. He currently sits second in goals (35) in the entire league and has amassed 49 points in 46 games in his second season. Shahan is currently ranked as a fifth-round projection according to the NHL Central Scouting Midterm list. He is committed to the University of Connecticut next season which should help with his progression and development, playing at a higher level against older players. Shahan possesses a great motor and is always engaging on the forecheck and works hard along the boards and is not afraid to get physical, all traits that are translatable at the NHL level, in a bottom-six checking type role. The fact that he has elevated his offensive output and demonstrated some scoring touch bodes well for a potential re-entry selection at the 2024 NHL Draft. (Mark Dube)

Charlie Cerrato - Center - Youngstown Phantoms

Cerrato re-enters the NHL draft after being part of the U18 NTDP team last season where he played a limited role and ultimately ended the season skating with the U17 crew (like the aforementioned Burnevik). He brings tenacity and a willingness to challenge players along the boards and in front of the net, but his skill set is still somewhat limited at this point, even if he is seeing some offensive success with the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL this season. Cerrato currently has 42 points in 35 games played and is committed to Penn State University next year where he will continue his development. He is ranked in the seventh round on the NHL Central Scouting Midterm list. (Mark Dube)

Blake Montgomery - Wing - Lincoln Stars

After spending his draft campaign playing U18 AAA hockey at Mount St. Charles Academy, Montgomery moved to the USHL for a season of preparation before he heads off to the University of Maine in the fall. While his production at Mount St. Charles (33 points in 52 games) made him a long shot to be selected in the 2023 class (he ultimately went undrafted) it’s the immense progress he’s shown in his time with USHL Lincoln that makes him a candidate to hear his name called at this summer’s draft. The core appeal of Montgomery as a prospect is his tools. The left winger stands six-foot-four and still has room to fill into that frame as he’s listed at just 175 pounds by the Stars. Montgomery’s skating is pretty good for someone his size, and he can be quite a lot to handle when he’s charging full steam ahead on the rush. His reach creates turnovers all over the ice and has been the catalyst for many a rush chance this season. For someone his size, Montgomery has quality puck skills. He’s not an out-of-this-world dangler, but he’s definitely capable of putting a highlight together here and there. That’s certainly the type of game he appears to want to play, and he’s done so with some success in the USHL. Montgomery’s tools have started to come together on a more consistent basis, and he’s been arguably the Stars’ best player this season. While there’s still a long runway ahead of him, Montgomery is an interesting prospect for a team to draft and then track as he develops at the University of Wisconsin. (Ethan Hetu)

Jake Fisher - Center - Fargo Force

A dominant high school player in his first year of draft eligibility, Fisher did not hear his name called in the 2023 draft in large part due to questions over how his game might translate at a higher level of hockey. It’s likely that teams were most likely looking to see how he’d fare playing against tougher competition in the USHL before deciding whether to invest a draft pick in him. In his draft year, Fisher’s limited USHL exposure didn’t exactly go well, as he played sparingly, didn’t make much of an impact when he did play, and Fargo won only four of twelve games with him in their lineup. This season, though, Fisher has found his way in the USHL. He’s at the moment slotted in as the Force’s second-line center (behind high-flying Penguins prospect Zam Plante) and is scoring at around a point-per-game rate. With a college career playing at the University of Denver on the horizon, Fisher could very well hear his name called at the 2024 draft by teams looking to see what one of the best coaches in college hockey (Denver’s David Carle) can do with him. Standing 6’2, 192 lbs, the main point of progress Fisher has made in morphing himself into a draft-able prospect is his physical development. He’s far better suited at the moment to survive the rigors of USHL hockey than he was a year ago, and it’s evident when comparing his shifts for Fargo last season compared to this year. He no longer looks overwhelmed and as a result is in a better position to show off his standout offensive tool, which is widely held to be his shot. Fisher is a player with whom it isn’t exactly difficult to imagine an NHL future. He works hard, brings some offense, and has all the physical tools teams look for. The question Fisher will need to answer is if he has enough dynamic quality, efficiency, or versatility to his game to be more than just an elite junior (and potentially NCAA) player. (Ethan Hetu)

Joe Connor - Center - Muskegon Lumberjacks

Although the presence of two top USHL products for the 2024 draft (Sacha Boisvert and Matvei Gridin) has drawn most of the attention among Muskegon Lumberjacks, Joe Connor’s progress is notable and has made him a prospect worthy of consideration for the 2024 draft. Like Fisher, the Avon Old Farms product only played in 12 USHL games last season, though he did keep his head above water to a degree Fisher was unable to manage. This season, Connor has emerged as one of Muskegon’s most reliable offensive producers outside of the big two in Gridin and Boisvert. While Connor was prolific playing high school hockey and wowed scouts with his work ethic and exceptional energy level, he simply was not playing against strong enough competition to confidently project how his game might translate at the pro level. Now with a full USHL campaign under his belt, Connor has put together a body of work that suggests a pro future is very much in the cards. Connor was a well-liked but ultimately undrafted prospect last season in large part due to his motor. This season, it’s how Connor has learned to better manage his motor that’s been the most significant improvement. Connor has shown the ability to moderate his energy level in order to provide more nuance and deceptive potential to his game. He’s no longer running at top speed all the time, and his ability to utilize his teammates to create offense has improved as a result. That core tool still remains, and it’s one that will carry him to Northeastern in the fall. The lack of high-end skill or true deceptive elements in Connor’s game likely means he doesn’t have a high-end ceiling at the pro level, but the easy-to-appreciate aspects of Connor’s profile such as his work rate and skating gives him legitimate potential to be a role player in the pros. (Ethan Hetu)

Benjamin Poitras - Wing - Green Bay Gamblers

While Poitras certainly had a solid USHL rookie season, his 37-point performance was not enough for him to hear his name called. As a five-foot-eleven forward with average-to-below-average physical tools, Poitras simply did not possess the kind of profile NHL teams are looking to invest in with their limited number of draft picks. Now with another season of USHL hockey under his belt, Poitras stands a better chance of hearing his name called at the 2024 draft, though his fate there is still very much up in the air. Poitras is a good skater, but not an elite one. He’s got enough zip to be an asset off the puck on the forecheck and hustling back in transition, and his speed is certainly something to build off of. Poitras also has a decent skill level, and the combination of those puck skills with his skating allows him to create a decent number of relatively clean carry-in zone entries for his team. That being said, his approach to offense can be very straightforward at times. While he works hard and has produced effectively this season, his game lacks the kind of deceptive elements that lead to offense at higher levels. It’s certainly something he can work on, but at the moment it’s hard to have a ton of confidence that he’ll pile up points against more difficult competition. Still, his skating, work rate, and basic skill level are enough to make him worth considering for the 2024 draft, especially since he’ll be at Northeastern next season which could be a strong place for him to continue his development. (Ethan Hetu)

Philippe Blais-Savoie - Defense - Tri-City Storm

Blais-Savoie’s statline certainly doesn’t stand out to the point where you’d assume he was a serious draft candidate. However, offense isn’t his game. He’s a lockdown, stay at home defender who is unquestionably one of the best defensive players in the USHL. This was also evident at the World Junior A Challenge, where he was named a tournament all star despite barely hitting the scoresheet. The issue is that Blais-Savoie doesn’t have the size/reach that you like to see from your typical stay at home types in the NHL; he’s a non-traditional defensive stalwart. However, with excellent mobility and strong defensive instincts, it’s clear that Blais-Savoie doesn’t need to be hulking to be highly effective at the junior level. Colorado College has rapidly turned into a premier program again under Kris Mayotte and scouts are bound to love that destination for Blais-Savoie. It wouldn’t shock me at all if he were a late round selection by a team who believes that his safe puck play and defensive acumen could make him a Zach Whitecloud type. (Brock Otten)

Ethan Gardula - Wing - Sioux City Musketeers

Not a dynamic player, but Gardula has been extremely effective for Sioux City this year in his first full season out of Cushing Academy. He builds in deception well by varying his pace and altering his approach offensively, reacting to what the defense gives him. More slippery than quick, Gardula is confident on his edges and can shake coverage by quickly pivoting or shifting his direction; utilizing stops and starts while maintaining possession. Gardula is also an active forechecker who plays a physical game, consistently applying pressure in retrieval opportunities. A high IQ player, NHL scouts are bound to hesitate regarding Gardula because the physical tools are currently lacking. There’s a need to improve his explosiveness and quickness, and with average size and skill, questions regarding his projection are realistic. A UConn commit, NHL teams may take a wait and see approach. (Brock Otten)

Erik Pahlsson - Center - Dubuque Fighting Saints

Pahlsson was ranked last year by us as a re-entry after a terrific season in the Swedish J20 league, but he ultimately went unselected. NHL scouts would be silly to make that mistake again after Pahlsson has been one of the best players in the USHL this year with Dubuque. The University of Minnesota commit’s pace of play may concern NHL scouts; he prefers to slow the game down and is at his best working East/West, versus North/South, however his vision, skill, and offensive zone anticipation are all impressive. He shows good speed in bursts and will use this to escape pressure initially, but his top speed would be classified as only average. Even though he’s an older draft prospect, he’s likely a longer term project still because there’s a need to add strength and improve his physical play in order to succeed at the higher levels with the way he likes to play. However, after three or four years at Minnesota, Pahlsson could be an excellent complementary offensive piece. (Brock Otten)

Jake Sondreal - Center/Wing - Dubuque Fighting Saints

One of the leading scorers in the USHL this year, Sondreal is a Boston College commit. He’s transformed himself from being a high energy, two-way support player to a go-to offensive player for Dubuque. His game is still fueled by his tenacious approach and speed, but he’s found a niche as a terrific offensive support player who gets himself in good scoring position and who shows good vision with the puck in transition and coming off the cycle. He’s not an overtly creative player with the puck and he’s probably best suited for the wing at the next level, but his game is tailored nicely to a middle six role at the pro level if he continues to develop. (Brock Otten)

Gavyn Thoreson - Wing - Waterloo Blackhawks

We ranked Thoreson 209th last year after a strong season split between the USHL and Minnesota High School hockey with Andover High. We liked his combination of competitiveness and skill, but worried about his lack of dynamic stride given his lack of size. Playing a full year in the USHL, it’s obvious that Thoreson has put in the work to improve his athleticism. He’s still not the most dynamic skater, but he’s more confident on his edges and has gained a step to make him more consistently dangerous on the counter attack. He’s still an impressive playmaker who can thread the needle, which in combination with his great work ethic and puck protection skills, make him one of the USHL’s premier set-up men. However, I’d put him as a draft long shot still, because of the same projection concerns teams would have likely had last year. (Brock Otten)

Noah Powell - Wing - Dubuque Fighting Saints

One of the most improved players in the USHL this year, Powell has been one of the USHL’s leading scorers in the second half of the season, emerging as an offensive juggernaut. The 6’0, 200lb power forward and Ohio State commit has learned how to leverage his size and skill advantage to become a dominant force at the junior level. He’s not the prettiest skater, but he builds up sufficient speed to play his North/South game. He’s extremely active in puck pursuit and he has great off puck instincts to help force turnovers, both with his stick and his body through heavy hits. Perhaps what has impressed me most this year is how strong his playmaking ability coming off the wall has been. He wins those battles, forces those turnovers, but is then able to quickly assess the ice in front of him to set up scoring chances. When he’s not looking to set up plays from behind the net or the half wall, he’s getting to the net front and has a clear understanding of how to be an effective power player. At this point, given his rapid progression, NHL teams would be silly to pass on him at this year’s NHL draft. (Brock Otten)

Brian Nicholas - Center - Sioux City Musketeers

A former highly touted player coming out of the New York area (and prep school scene), Nicholas’ first USHL season and initial NHL draft year did not go according to plan last year. He struggled with the adjustment and found himself buried in the Sioux City lineup. This year has been a different story. He finds himself just outside the top ten of assists in the entire USHL and Nicholas has been an offensive catalyst for Sioux City. The former Michigan, now Brown commit (he flipped his commitment early in the calendar year) has worked hard to improve his skating and that added extra speed has made him a more difficult cover in transition, especially when you factor in his strong puck protection skill. Nicholas is excellent in close quarters and does his best work in high traffic areas, utilizing his quick hands and strength on the puck to extend plays. If he could just find another level physically to improve his two-way outlook, many of his tendencies and skills could make him a solid pro. NHL scouts are sure to be familiar with Nicholas previously and it’s likely more than a few have been impressed by his improvement this season. (Brock Otten)

Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev - Goaltender - Muskegon Lumberjacks

Even if he has struggled a bit lately, Gadzhiev has done enough in a limited sample size this season to impress scouts. He came to Muskegon from the Slovak second league at the start of the calendar year and has emerged as the team’s starting netminder. He only has average size, but he’s clearly a strong athlete with the ability to cover post to post quickly and get in and out of the butterfly efficiently. He challenges shooters well and has a lot of potential technically because of his athleticism. He’s struggled a bit with his rebound control and positioning in the last little bit and teams have made adjustments on him, but his overall body of work has been solid enough. Where he goes from here remains to be seen (especially as a 2004 born). He could play in the USHL as an OA next year and try to search for an NCAA scholarship (if he’s deemed eligible despite playing in the Slovak second league). Depending on NHL interest, the avenues for his development are pretty vast. (Brock Otten)

NCAA

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 12: Northeastern defenseman Vinny Borgesi (22) turns up ice during the Beanpot Championship game between Boston University and Northeastern on February 12, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Vinny Borgesi - Defense - Northeastern

As a five-foot-eight blueliner, Vinny Borgesi was always going to face an uphill battle in terms of getting drafted by an NHL club. While his work in the USHL was solid (38pts in 57 GP with Tri-City in his draft campaign) he didn’t put forth an overwhelming, undeniably impressive statistical case to be drafted. He ultimately didn’t hear his name called at the 2022 draft in Montreal, nor was he selected in Nashville for the 2023 draft after his freshman season at Northeastern. Now, in the midst of a significantly improved year two with the Huskies, Borgesi has his last and best chance of being selected in an NHL draft. In some ways, Borgesi is the same defenseman he was in the USHL. He remains a confident, aggressive blueliner who always seeks to activate and involve himself in the play. He’s still a strong skater (both in terms of stop-start ability/work on his edges and straight-line speed) with quality puck skills and strong vision. But now that he has significant college experience under his belt, he’s become a far more well-rounded player and a stronger pro prospect. He’s added more deception to his game, and he’s more efficient in his approach to creating offense from the blueline. One of his favorite things to do is utilize his skating to dart into open space in the offensive zone, drawing the attention of opponents and thereby creating space/separation for teammates. That’s led to quite a few assists this season. Borgesi is now the Huskies’ most relied-upon defenseman and is driving far better results than he did a year ago when he sometimes looked overwhelmed as a freshman. Borgesi averages more minutes per game than any other Huskies player, and with the box score numbers to back up his very real on-ice improvements, the smooth-skating undersized blueliner could be an intriguing late-round option for an NHL team looking for a player a bit closer to being pro-ready. (Ethan Hetu)

Tanner Adams - Center/Wing - Providence

As one of the younger players who were eligible to be drafted for the first time in 2023, it shouldn’t come as a massive surprise that Adams went undrafted last season but now looks to be a near-lock to become a 2024 selection. He was solid across two seasons in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm, if not at all spectacular. But it’s his early performances as a first-year player for the Friars that have really caught scouts’ attention. Adams won’t turn 19 until early September and has been one of the more effective forwards at Providence this season despite his relative inexperience. A well-rounded, detailed player, Adams has a commitment to bringing value on both ends of the ice. On defense, he’s a hard-working player who leverages a strong motor and quality defensive instincts to help kill chances and transition the puck to the neutral and offensive zones. On offense, Adams has decent puck skills and a functional shot, though he doesn’t have separating talent in any one offensive area. He’s a smart player who knows how to make an impact on the game, and he’s far from a perimeter player. But his offensive game can lack deception at times, and there are moments where one would like to see his understanding of timing and spacing relative to his teammates in the offensive zone improve. There’s a lot to work with here given Adams is such a versatile, hard-working player. But there may not be the kind of tools to write home about that would warrant spending a draft pick on Adams earlier than the middle rounds. (Ethan Hetu)

Dylan Hryckowian - Wing - Northeastern

The second Hryckowian brother to play at Northeastern University, Dylan Hryckowian is in the midst of an impressive freshman campaign. Despite scoring at a solid clip for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL last year, Hryckowian did not hear his name called at the 2023 draft. Now it’s his work as a freshman with the Huskies that gives him a solid chance to be selected at the 2024 process. The name of the game for Hryckowian is speed and work rate. He’s a lot to handle as the F1 on the forecheck, and he can be highly disruptive. That carries over to his work in his own zone, where he’s a plus contributor defensively and an asset in helping transition pucks up the ice. Offensively, Hryckowian is more of a mixed bag. He’s an intelligent player, and one can certainly appreciate the details of his game. He has a solid understanding of how offense is created, and his work off the puck is very polished. But in terms of his actual skill level when the puck is on his stick, he’s missing the kind of separating skill that most scorers at the pro level have. He has a decent shot and his puck skills are far from a liability at the NCAA level, but when he transitions to the pro game he could very well have trouble creating time and space with the puck on his stick unless he relies on his skating exclusively. Given those questions as to how his offense might transition to the pro game, Hryckowian isn’t likely to be selected as high as his strong college production (23 points in 29 games at the time of writing) might suggest. But his high-end skating, high-energy style, and refined understanding of how to contribute offensively away from the puck make him a solid candidate to be a late-round draft selection. (Ethan Hetu)

Patrick Geary - Defense - Michigan State

Although Patrick Geary does not have the sort of statistical profile that merits an NHL draft selection, looking at just his box score numbers either from this season at Michigan State (28 GP 11pts) or last year with USHL Waterloo (60 GP 13pts) would not do justice to how effective a player Geary is. He’s a throwback stay-at-home defenseman, a steady, reliable blueliner who can limit the likelihood of his team surrendering a goal whenever he hops over the boards while also bringing an imposing physical element. Geary was a fast-rising player at Waterloo, and although his offensive numbers actually declined year-over-year in the USHL, it’s hard to argue he wasn’t a significantly improved player in his sophomore campaign there. Now as a first-year player on a top NCAA program, Geary has not played as big of a role but has been similarly effective as a defense-first defenseman who plays with an edge. In his final year of draft eligibility, Geary has shown he can excel defensively against stiff NCAA competition. He’s certainly made strides in other aspects of his game, though those areas are still a work in progress. It’s possible an NHL team decides to invest a draft pick in Geary this summer in order to be in a position to reap the benefits of Geary’s continued development as an all-around player, hoping that at the very least he offers the basic upside of a strong defensive defenseman. (Ethan Hetu)

Isaac Gordon - Wing - Michigan Tech

One of the top scoring freshmen in college hockey this year, Gordon is operating near the point per game mark for the Huskies. He has a lot going for him as a complementary winger. His release is terrific, and he has shown an ability to score in a variety of different ways this season. He’s one of those players who hunts open ice well and always is in a strong shooting position with his stick on the ice, ready for the one timer; he doesn’t need much room to operate. He also operates well as an F1 and invites and initiates contact to make a play, making him an excellent boards player. He’s intelligent, energetic, and he has enough offensive talent to be a goal scorer at the next level. Really the only thing missing from his game is high end skating ability, which is obviously cause for concern. However, you simply can’t argue with the success he’s had this year as Michigan Tech’s leading scorer. (Brock Otten)

Gavin O’Connell - Wing - Michigan State

On a team with several NHL draft picks (and a few future ones), O’Connell has fit right in as a freshman, sitting tied for second on the team in goals (as of writing this). He’s not driving the bus, but he’s certainly helping to navigate it. He plays a really honest North/South game and has worked hard to improve his skating from last year, which has made him a more effective player on and off the puck. Equal parts playmaker and goal scorer, O’Connell is a chameleon who does what is needed depending on what the situation calls for. He shows well as a goal scorer in tight with soft hands, but he’s probably at his best putting defenders on his back driving wide or working the wall. It’s cliche, but O’Connell plays a very pro style game, built around attacking traffic, protecting the puck, and making quick decisions. Based on his development and play this year, he should very much be on the draft radar of many teams. (Brock Otten)

Ben Robertson - Defense - Cornell

Part of a very strong freshmen class for the Big Red, Robertson has had an immediate impact, playing well over 20 minutes per night on a lot of occasions. On a blueline with three NHL drafted players, Robertson has been the most effective of that group and it should bode well for his chances of being selected this year in his final year of eligibility. He doesn’t have the most efficient linear stride, but he’s quite mobile and confident on his edges, part of what makes him such a competent powerplay quarterback. He’s playing with a ton of confidence offensively despite being a freshman and is constantly looking to attack by carrying up ice into the offensive zone. Defensively, he’s been better than expected and has fit into Cornell’s system really well. Being only 5’11, there will be question marks regarding his ability to defend at the pro level. There will also be question marks surrounding whether he’s creative or innately skilled enough to be a powerplay quarterback at the pro level. However, as a heads up puck mover who gets pucks through and who can use his mobility to his advantage in all three ones, Robertson has value. (Brock Otten)

Albin Boija - Goaltender - Maine

Got confirmation that standout freshman netminder for Maine, Albin Boija, is indeed eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, despite turning 21 this year while playing in NA. Same reasoning Lucas Edmonds and Andrei Buyalsky were eligible previously. Boija has come in and stolen the starter’s job away from senior and fellow Swede Victor Ostman, posting some of the most impressive numbers in the NCAA. Boija is only average sized at 6’1, but he’s very technically sound. He is ultra-aggressive in counting down angles and lives at the edge of the blue paint. His movements are calculated to ensure that he’s covering his angles, and his rebound control is quite refined. While his pads are quick and he competes hard to make second chance saves, there’s going to be a need for him to improve his lower body strength to get quicker post to post. At times he has to take a secondary push to go post to post and might not be as quick as NHL scouts might like given his average size. However, you can’t argue with his success this year and the upside he might possess. (Brock Otten)

NAHL

Stephen Peck - Goaltender - Bismarck Bobcats

We ranked Peck pretty aggressively last year (106th) after a terrific season with Avon Old Farms in the prep circuit, but he ended up going unselected. This year, Peck has taken his talents to the NAHL with Bismarck and his strong season has put himself back on the scouting map as a re-entry. What’s most impressive about Peck’s year is that he’s improved considerably since the start of the season. Things didn’t start great for him, but he’s been nearly unbeatable the last few months. The University of Michigan commit even got a cup of coffee in the USHL with Muskegon, winning his only appearance. Peck remains a calming presence in the crease because of his play tracking ability, strong positioning, and excellent rebound control. He limits second chance opportunities and always seems to be in great position to make the initial save when play moves North/South. However, it doesn’t appear that his quickness/agility has improved from last year and until that happens, his upside as a pro will be limited. He’s still susceptible to being caught out of position when the play moves quickly East/West and he struggles to get in and out of the butterfly to make second chance saves when needed, or when he has to react to a redirect or blocked shot. IMO, athleticism can be improved. And this is why I’d still advocate for Peck to be selected this year. He has a chance to be a long-term starter as part of a great program in Michigan (with Barczewski graduating and Peck/Korpi coming in) and he’s going to get the off ice development needed to improve the weaker points of his game. (Brock Otten)

BELL: 20 Prospect Points – Stankoven, McGroarty, Demidov, Greentree & More

Josh Bell — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:00:36 +0000

Michigan forward Rutger McGroarty (2) (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire)

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

This edition dives into the latest news around one of the biggest scouting events of the year, the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, the incredible rookie season that Logan Stankoven is having in the AHL, and the ridiculous output from draft-eligible Ivan Demidov.

The end of the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game?

#1 You read that right. The 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is reportedly the last one, according to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek. He also mentioned that a two-game series between the best prospects in the CHL and the best prospects in the US may replace it. CHL All-Stars versus USHL/NCAA All-Stars? Yes, please. This is the right direction.

Drafted Prospects

#2 What a rookie season for Dallas Stars’ prospect Logan Stankoven. The young forward has been on fire in the league, leading all players (not just rookies) in points with 50. His 20 goals sit fourth in the league and his 30 assists are third. Standing at 5-foot-8, 170 pounds, Stakoven continues to prove that size isn’t everything when it comes to being a productive and contributing hockey player.

#3 Rutger McGroarty has come back from the World Juniors on an absolute mission. The University of Michigan star has put up 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in his six games back in the NCAA and shows no signs of slowing down. It seems that gold looks good of the Winnipeg Jets’ star who has returned with an extra boost of confidence in his step. He leads the team and sits fifth in the NCAA in points.

#4 You can’t talk about the NCAA and not mention Massimo Rizzo right now. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect is sitting atop to NCAA in points with 42 (10 goals, 32 points). The prospect was also named to the Team Canada roster for the 2023 Spengler Cup, picking up two assists there in the men’s tournament. He’s a player on the rise after being drafted back in 2019, 216th overall. This has the makings of a scouting success story for the Flyers.

#5 It’s been a strange ride for German prospect Julien Lutz, from his injury-riddled time in the DEL to his move to North American hockey and the USHL. Well, it seems that things are starting to come together for the Arizona Coyotes prospect. Playing with the Green Bay Gamblers, Lutz is riding a nine-game points streak, sandwiching the World Juniors. He has 14 points over that time, bringing him to 34 (12 goals, 22 assists) in 25 games. There’s no question that his development has been impacted over the past two years, look for him to really come into his own now that he’s playing consistently.

#6 There was some hope that Calgary Flames’ prospect Topi Ronni would take a step forward in the Liiga this season, but with just two points in 19 games, that appears not to be the case. However, his play in the U20 SM-sarja has been excellent. In his last eight games, he’s racked up 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) and has been playing big minutes, skating over 26 minutes twice in that stretch. Seeing that he might have outgrown the U20 SM-sarja and he’s not quite ready for the Liiga, perhaps a change of scenery is coming in the 2024-25 season.

#7 Noah Ostlund, on the other hand, is doing just fine at the men’s level. The Buffalo Sabres’ prized prospect has taken his success from the World Juniors back to Vaxjo Lakers HC, where he’s potted 10 points (four goals, six assists) in eight games since returning. While he’s currently on pace to match last year’s total, it’s important to note that last year was in the HockeyAllsvenskan with Djurgardens and this year is in the SHL.

#8 Speaking of players that are hot lately, if you haven’t been keeping an eye on Quentin Musty - you need to. The San Jose Sharks prospect has been one of the most prospects in the world over the past two weeks with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in his last six games. He’s playing confidently, and finding success. While Team USA did win World Juniors gold, you can’t help but wonder what Musty would have looked like in the red, white, and blue.

#9 What a segue to another Team USA player! Oliver Moore, like McGroarty, has returned to the University of Minnesota and just continues to produce. He has a seven-game point streak currently, tallying 13 points (four goals, nine assists). He seems practically unstoppable at this point, playing at nearly a point per game as a rookie.

#10 Over in Russia, Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect Alexander Rykov is tearing up the VHL, playing at nearly a point-per-game pace. He’s up to 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 27 games, and has added another six goals and two assists in the KHL this year. In fact, he’s riding a three-game goal streak in the KHL, even though he played just 3:28 in one of those games. He’s under contract with Chelyabinsk for one more season. Could a North American move follow?

Draft-Eligible Prospects

#11 Another Russian prospect, this one has been absolutely dominating the public sphere discussion as of late. I’ve previously written about the emergence of Ivan Demidov since he was moved to the MHL for a consistent stint, and now? He’s dominant. He has points in his last 12 games, with multiple points in nine of those. That stretch has seen his point total rise by 32 points, bringing his season total to 45 (20 goals, 25 assists) in just 23 games. He even has 11 points in his past TWO games. Where does he fit on your draft board?

#12 I’m not sure that anyone is truly appreciating what Zeev Buium is doing in the NCAA right now. He’s producing at a 1.38 points-per-game rate - the highest rate for a U19 defender in about 40 years and higher than players such as Brian Leetch, Lane Hutson, and Adam Fox. According to Chace McCallum (@CMhockey66), he’s currently scoring at a rate that top-scoring NHL defenders hit in their age 20 season. Yeah, that seems good.

#13 Is Liam Greentree underappreciated? It’s quite possible. EliteProspects’ consolidated ranking puts him 15th overall. But the Windsor Spitfires captain is on pace for 100 points this season, already potting 64 (27 goals, 37 assists) in 41 games. His ability to produce was on full display on January 27th when he put up six points (three goals, three assists) against the Peterborough Petes. He’s worth a closer look.

#14 Jett Luchanko might just be another underappreciated OHLer available for this draft, but perhaps his on-ice testing for the Top Prospects Game will change that. He finished fourth in the 30m skate, third in the 30m skate with the puck, third in the 30m backwards skate with the puck, second in transition ability with the puck, third in reaction, first in reaction with the puck and ultimately, first overall. He’s quite deserving of some recognition.

#15 We keep coming back to players that have been strong since returning from the World Juniors and we’re doing it one last time. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has returned to Mora IK in the Hockey Allsvenskan with a newfound level of confidence, currently riding a six-game point streak, with seven points (four goals, three assists) over that time. He does appear to be dealing with an injury as well, so if he’s not held out for too long, perhaps the best is yet to come.

#16 Over in the WHL, Tij Iginla, one of the recent starts of the CHL Top Prospects Game, is a player that has just been on the tip of everyone’s tongue all season it seems. His 57 points (32 goals, 25 assists) in 42 games is absolutely impressive, sitting fourth among U18 players (his 32 goals are first), but it’s everything else that really draws you in. His competitiveness, his creativity, and his elusiveness all add up to an extremely promising prospect. He’ll be a candidate to be taken earlier than expected in my eyes.

#17 A name not often talked about in this draft class, Chase Wutzke is a goaltender that needs to be on your radar. The Red Deer Rebels netminder is currently on an eight-game winning streak, bringing his total to 15 on the season (15-2-1). He has a .922 save percentage, which sites this in the league. He’s been one of the strongest goalies in the league as of late, and arguably one of the best all season long.

#18 From the QMJHL, Raoul Boilard caught the attention of scouts at the CHL Top Prospects Game, scoring twice and adding an assist for Team Red in a 3-1 win over Team White. He was named the Player of the Game for his team. He’s been playing at nearly a point-per-game this season for Baie-Comeau Drakkar with 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) in 47 games. Likely a second-rounder, he’s one to keep an eye on on the second day of the draft.

#19 In the USHL, Joe Connor may be a slightly hidden gem in this draft class. The Muskegon Lumberjacks forward has been playing in the shadows of highly touted players Matvei Gridin and Sacha Boisvert, but Connor has been impressive as well with 31 points in 27 games this season. In fact, that point-per-game pace (1.15) is second on the team, just behind Gridin (1.19).

#20 Sticking in the USHL, goaltender Louka Cloutier started the season not-so-hot (losing his first four-straight and five of six) but has truly been coming into his own as of late. He’s taken over the starters job and has now rattled off five straight wins, including his first USHL shutout. The rookie’s numbers don’t stand out at 8-8-1 and a .898 save percentage, but with consistent playing time, and the Chicago Steel looking better in the second half of the season, he’s been impressive in net.

2024 NHL DRAFT: World Junior A Challenge Review – 26 Scouting Profiles with video

Brock Otten — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 15:24:04 +0000

For the first time in over a decade, the two Canadian teams faced off in the final of the World Junior A Challenge recently. The last time it happened was 2011 when, ironically, Canada West (led by Alex Kerfoot, Colton Parayko, and Troy Stecher) defeated Canada East (led by Devin Shore and Mackenzie Weegar), the same result of this year’s event. The gold medal victory is a huge coup for Canada West after last year’s disappointment, when they entered the medal round as the top seed before losing in both the semi finals and the bronze medal game.

For those unfamiliar with the tournament, the WJAC is an annual U20 event hosted by the CJHL (Canadian Junior Hockey League), in which Canada enters two teams of the country’s best tier two players; Canada West and Canada East. Canada West incorporates players from the AJHL, MJHL, and other Western junior leagues. Canada East incorporates players from the OJHL, GOJHL, CCHL, and other Maritime and Quebec leagues. Previously BCHL players participated as part of Canada West, but that has not been the case the last two inclinations after the BCHL left the CJHL to separate from Hockey Canada. The United States also sends a team composed of USHL stars, while the remaining teams are filled out by other countries, most recently Sweden and Slovakia (or Latvia in 2022).

The event is one of the most underrated scouting events on the calendar with many former NHL players taking part. In recent years, Cale Makar and Devon Levi rose to fame with their performances in the WJAC. Just last year, Tom Willander began his ascent up the draft rankings following a terrific performance for Sweden, helping them capture bronze.

Which potential NHL draft selections participated this year and how did they perform? Read on to find out.

Rylan Brown
(Photo by Chad Goddard)

Canada West

Rylan Brown - Defense

Brown, the son of former NHL defender Sean Brown, is a Michigan Tech commit who is in his second year of draft eligibility. He entered last year with a fair amount of hype after a terrific 17 year old season in the AJHL in 2021/22, but ultimately failed to meet those expectations and went undrafted. He returned to the AJHL this year and has been one of the league’s top defenders. Brown was one of Canada West’s most effective defenders at this event too. He helped quarterback the powerplay and his strong mobility and puck skill were on display. He has really quick feet and he can help initiate the breakout or keep pucks in at the line. Defensively, he’s certainly a different kind of defender than his father, but his mobility can be an asset when defending in transition. It’s definitely possible that he has put himself back on the map as a re-entry candidate this year.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rylan_brown_-_2nd_period_24_58_-_25_13.mp4

Logan Sawyer - Wing/Center

One of the higher profile first time draft eligible players on either Canada team at this event, Sawyer met high expectations by playing his best hockey in the medal round in helping Canada West capture gold. A Providence College commit, Sawyer has been excellent for the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) this season as one of the league’s leading scorers. Originally from Ontario (Sawyer played minor hockey with the Vaughan Kings and was teammates with OHL’ers Sam O’Reilly and Kaden Pitre), Sawyer decided to head out West for his NHL draft year. While he has played both wing and center this year for Brooks, his skill set does look destined for the wing, even if he did play mostly center at this event. I thought early on at this tournament, his game was too perimeter oriented and he mainly operated as a high volume shooter who simply looked to get pucks on net whenever he had possession. But as the tournament progressed, we saw him gain confidence and show more poise as a play creator who looked to drive the middle and use his size to prolong possession and play through contact. His shot definitely has zip and he also clearly has the skill to create his own chances, giving him solid upside as a goal scorer at the next level. The skating looks only average, but he does use his size to protect the puck well and can be a difference maker in transition because of this. Sawyer looked every part an NHL draft selection, perhaps even inside the Top 100.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/logan_sawyer_-_1st_period_11_24_-_11_46.mp4

Ryan Zaremba - Center

While I’m not necessarily convinced that Zaremba is a true draft candidate this year, he definitely was impressive for Canada West at this event. The undersized pivot is really quick and this makes him dynamic in transition as he consistently looks to push the pace. He blends skill and pace well and showed heart/determination by attacking the middle of the ice despite clearly lacking in size/strength. The Minnesota-Duluth commit has been excellent for Sherwood Park this year (AJHL) and looks like the type of player who could have a ton of success at the NCAA level with his speed and playmaking ability. I came into this event not knowing much about him, but found myself consistently taking note of positive plays he made with the puck to generate zone time or create scoring opportunities.

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Diego Johnson - Wing

Another Sherwood Park (AJHL) player, Johnson was one of the youngest players at this event (thanks to an early September 2006 birthday). While the Wisconsin commit did not hit the scoresheet very often, he was often noticeable for his play away from the puck and high energy approach. He forechecked hard. He backchecked hard. He battled near the crease and kept pucks alive down low. He was a consistent physical presence. He didn’t have a ton of opportunity to showcase his skill with the puck or overall offensive upside, but he did show enough to have my Western scouts circle back to him in the second half this year.

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Matthew Van Blaricom - Wing

One of the players who caught my eye the most at this tournament. Van Blaricom plays for the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL, who have had some players drafted into the NHL. A Michigan Tech commit, Van Blaricom plays under Canada West coach (and former Los Angeles King top prospect) Scott Barney. He’s well over a point per game for Humboldt this year as an ‘06 and showed that he deserves serious consideration for this year’s NHL draft. From start to finish at the WJAC, Van Blaricom was one of Canada West’s most effective players. He brought physicality. He led the team in goal scoring, including two in the gold medal game. He’s one of those guys that just has that “IT” factor. Van Blaricom is not the most individually skilled player on the ice. He’s not the quickest. But, he processes the game really well and brings a consistent energy level to get the most out of his skill set. After watching him at this event, I circled back to watch some of his action with Humboldt and his skill/creativity shows better in the SJHLl in comparison to the WJAC; he simply looks too good for that level. I could easily see Van Blaricom developing into a Michael Bunting type of player at the next level if his skating can continue to evolve.

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Canada East

Dawson Labre - Goaltender

Ignoring a disastrous gold medal game, Labre deserves a ton of credit for helping Canada East earn a silver medal. His performance in the round robin portion brought back memories of Devon Levi’s from a few years ago. I would have definitely selected him over Roest for the tournament’s top goaltender. A CCHL netminder (with Smith Falls) in his final year of NHL draft eligibility (as a 2004 born), Labre was not drafted into the QMJHL and does not have an NCAA commitment, but he definitely put scouts on notice at the WJAC’s. The 6’3 netminder was at his best when he was aggressive in challenging shooters to maximize his size, and at his worst when he got caught deep in his net (like several goals in the medal round). His rebound control definitely needs to improve too. However, he, largely, showed great play tracking and athleticism to help Canada East pull off some upsets at the tournament. Is he truly a draft candidate? I’m not sure. Realistically, he’d have to lead Smith Falls (who currently are in first place) to a Centennial Cup (CJHL Championship) to even be in the conversation. However, he definitely deserved to be mentioned in this piece.

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Jonathan Morello - Center

Like Logan Sawyer, Morello entered this event as Canada East’s top draft eligible player and he largely met those expectations. The St. Michael’s Buzzers forward and Clarkson commit showcased his excellent skating ability, ending the tournament with a point per game. He shows attention to detail away from the puck; his size and length (at 6’3) helps him to be a disruptive force on the forecheck and backcheck. NHL scouts are definitely going to be enamored with his size and speed combination, similar to Jonathan Castagna last year. I’ll definitely try to circle back to Morello later this year and try to catch a St. Michael’s game live in the second half (with my region being Ontario). What’s the offensive upside? Hard to tell at this point. But, the athletic tools are very intriguing.

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Carsen Lloyd - Defense

Lloyd is an interesting case. A late born 2005, Lloyd is actually OHL property of the Brantford Bulldogs. Originally a high selection of the London Knights, he was traded to Brantford as part of the Ryan Winterton trade last year. However, he failed to make the Bulldogs this year and eventually found his way to the OJHL with Georgetown, where he has been one of the best defenders in tier two in Ontario. Because he has played in the OHL, Lloyd is not eligible for the NCAA, meaning that he’ll have to continue to grind to make the OHL…perhaps with another OHL franchise if Brantford is not going to give him another chance. Lloyd’s bread and butter is his point shot and that was on display at the WJAC’s, where he scored three goals. He quarterbacked the powerplay, where his shot is obviously a big weapon. But he also moves the puck well and can hold the line effectively. Defensively, he was up and down. I wish he were a bit better skater given his lack of high end size. But, he’s definitely someone to watch moving forward to see what happens with his OHL rights.

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United States

Trevor Connelly - Wing

It was another great International performance for Connelly, who followed up his strong showing at the Hlinka/Gretzky in the summer with a strong showing at the WJAC. He capped off the tournament with a four goal game in the bronze medal game against Sweden, helping the United States capture bronze. Say what you will about his play away from the puck and occasional poor puck management, however he is a dynamic offensive player. The speed and skill combination gives him among the highest offensive upside of any player in the draft this year. He is the very definition of a quick strike player because of his first step quickness and ability to explode off his edges. Additionally, when you think you have him boxed in, his hands create space for himself. With Tri-City sitting firmly in the middle of the USHL standings, I’m really hoping that the U.S. decides to add Connelly to their U18 roster this year as a non NTDP player. Given how outstanding he has been Internationally this year, they would be crazy not to.

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Mac Swanson - Center

A returning player on this U.S. WJAC roster despite being a 2006 born, Swanson ended up leading the tournament in assists with nine. He’s such a crafty and intelligent playmaker. His vision with the puck and overall passing touch/sense/precision is among the best in this draft class. I also continue to admire his effort to try to work between the dots despite being so undersized. All that said, I do have major concerns about his ability to transition to the NHL level. He’s just so undersized (at 5’7) and the skating ability is far from dynamic. Even at this current moment, he’s at his best on the powerplay where he gets more room to operate and can survey the ice from the half wall without intense pressure. Due to the fact that he’s not an electric skater, his pace can be lacking too. I have no doubt that he will continue to produce offensively in college and that he can be a long term pro in some capacity. However, without significant improvements made to his skating, I don’t see him being a scoring line option in the NHL in the future.

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Joe Connor - Wing

One of our highest ranked players to go unselected last year, Connor has made the jump to the USHL full time this year with Muskegon (from Avon Old Farms) and the results have been terrific. Much like Cole Knuble did last year, Connor has used his performance at this tournament to bring attention to the fact that he deserves to be selected the second time through. Flat out, he was one of the best players at the WJAC. That said, I could still see some apprehension from NHL teams considering that his physical tools are only average. He’s one of those players who is the sum of their parts, lacking a true standout quality…much like the aforementioned Knuble. At the WJAC’s, Connor operated best as an offensive zone support player. He competes for touches and applies pressure in puck pursuit. He protects the puck well. He finds soft spots in coverage. I wouldn’t say he drove play at the WJAC, the way a guy like Connelly did, but makes a lot of subtly great plays with the puck to create chances or keep plays alive. A great example is the pass I have included as a clip below.

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James Reeder - Wing/Center

I didn’t know a ton about Reeder heading into this tournament, but came away very impressed by him. The third part of the Connelly/Swanson top line, Reeder was the perfect complement to those two because of his ability to find soft spots in coverage, his off puck competitiveness, and the fact that he showed great skill and finishing ability too. A late born 2005, Reeder is first time draft eligible this year and definitely looks the part of an NHL draft pick. A Denver commit, there’s just something that pops about his game, even though he’s also not the kind of dynamic skater that you like to see from a 5’9 forward. That said, I would classify him as a better and more explosive skater than Swanson and as such, he plays with a little more pace than his diminutive linemate at the tournament. Having gone back and watched some of Reeder’s action with Dubuque this year, in combination with this tournament (and the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup), I would say that I prefer Reeder to Swanson as a potential NHL draft selection.

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Will Felicio - Defense

A standout at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in the summer, Felicio hasn’t had the kind of USHL season to date that many expected he would. As such, we’ve really seen all hype on him completely die down. However, he had a pretty solid WJAC. Other than a poor pinch that led to a back breaking goal in the semifinals against Canada West, Felicio was actually pretty solid defensively. He made some good plays when defending the rush and he showed determination down low to battle for pucks, winning more battles than I’ve seen him win in the USHL this year. Offensively, he was his usual self. He creates inside the offensive zone with his ability to beat initial layers of pressure and get pucks on net. He holds the line well. I do wonder if he’s a good enough skater considering his lack of stature/reach, but it would be false to claim he had a poor tournament.

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Adam Kleber - Defense

Kleber is a massive (6’5) right shot defender who played big minutes for the U.S. at this tournament as an ‘06. He’s certainly not a high upside two-way guy. Having watched him at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and in the USHL this year, I feel pretty confident saying that. He’s mostly a rim the glass and out guy at this time, especially when he’s pressured. He can be coerced into defensive zone turnovers and can struggle to play pucks on his backhand. However, the physical approach is going to be attractive to teams who think he can develop into a third pairing, PK guy. While he still struggles with his agility and transitional skating, I do think that his skating has already improved a bit since the Hlinka/Gretzky. He’s starting to look more comfortable on his edges. The clip I’ve included here is probably the perfect example of Kleber. A couple bad clearing attempts mixed in with a devastating hit.

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Tory Pitner - Defense

The best word to describe Pitner is…”solid.” He’s a right shot defender who I’ve been really impressed with in the defensive zone at both the Hlinka/Gretzky and now at the WJAC’s. He shows good gap control. Has good scanning habits. Plays physical and plays aggressively. I know the word on him coming into the year was that his hockey sense and decision making were questionable, but I haven’t really seen that. I see someone who starts the breakout well and who is a calming presence in the defensive end. What I have yet to see from him at either international event is high offensive upside. I need to circle back to watch more of him in the USHL because he has been producing with Youngstown. But, I have seen a player who can struggle at times with the puck when pressured because he lacks the skill/hands/creativity to escape cleanly. I guess my question regarding Pitner is…what is he at the next level? He’s a good skater, but not a great one. He’s got good size, but not great size. He seems to be at his best against high end competition when he keeps things simple. I like him, but I do wonder how NHL scouts feel about him (we’ll have to get our U.S. scouts on that), especially considering NHL Central Scouting only gave him a “W” rating.

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Sweden

Alexander Zetterberg - Center/Wing

Say what you want about Zetterberg’s lack of size (at 5’9 and pushing 160lbs), all he has done is produce at the international level this year. He was one of Sweden’s best at the summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, again at the U18 Nations tournament and now again at the WJAC’s. I know his play at the U20 level in Sweden has been a little erratic, but you definitely can’t claim that about his play for Sweden. Zetterberg’s goal scoring ability is among his best traits. He has a lightning quick release on his wrister and can one time pucks cleanly too, allowing him to beat goaltenders from a distance. However, what I am consistently impressed with is his competitive edge and desire to work between the dots, despite his lack of size. He battles near the crease and gets himself in good scoring position in the slot, even if it means jousting for position against bigger defenders. There’s a lot of Alex Debrincat in his game. He’s a similar kind of skater too. Not the prettiest stride for a smaller player, but it’s efficient at this level and his edgework/agility stand out as a positive. At what point do we say (as part of the scouting community) that you just can’t argue with success? Is it when Zetterberg has a great IIHF U18’s too?

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Melvin Fernstrom - Wing

I felt Fernstrom was a little snake bitten at this event. He played better than the below average stat line would indicate. He’s a guy who just looks like a future NHL player in some capacity. He plays a mature, North/South game. He’s not the most creative or dynamic, but he is the perfect complementary winger who can work the wall, protect the puck well and who can drive the net. The skating ability is already solid, particularly his explosiveness which helps him to be quick to loose pucks and retrievals. The shot is only average, but he does a good job of anticipating play in the offensive zone and he does a good job working the half wall on the powerplay. In particular, I thought Fernstrom played well in his two games against the United States in this tournament. While I’m not sure the NHL upside is incredibly high, he’s definitely the kind of player I see an NHL team taking inside the Top 50 this year (even if we had him ranked just outside of that range in our recent draft rankings).

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Lucas Pettersson - Center

The more I watch this Swedish U18 crop, the more Pettersson becomes one of my favourites of this class out of Europe. He’s a player that I don’t really perceive to have a significant weakness. His game is so well rounded and versatile. He’s on the ice whether his team is down a goal or up one, one of the many reasons that he’s been wearing a letter for the Swedish U18 team this year. Pettersson skates well. He’s middle of the ice focused. He competes hard in all three zones and has excellent anticipation/awareness away from the puck. He has the skill to operate as a strong playmaking pivot. At the WJAC, he largely centered a line with Zetterberg and Fernstrom and they were a very successful unit. At this point, I’d probably have Pettersson as the top forward prospect from Sweden this year (by birth, excluding Michael Brandsegg-Nygard).

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Alfons Freij - Defense

Last year the WJAC’s served as the Tom Willander coming out party. This year, I think the same thing happened with Freij, who was fantastic for the Swedes. While Sahlin Wallenius was unquestionably the more flashy, Freij was the more consistently effective at both ends. I was consistently impressed with his decision making in his own end, even under pressure. His footwork is excellent and it makes him a breakout machine, similar to the way that Willander impressed last year. Offensively, I think Freij has more to offer too. He does a good job getting point shots through and he has a heavy point shot that can beat goaltenders clean or generate second chance opportunities. As a defensive player, he’s definitely more of a stick on puck guy, but again his footwork stands out as a positive and his possession and anticipation are strong suits. As he gets stronger, he’ll win those board battles more consistently, but all in all, I was more impressed overall by Freij here.

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Leo Sahlin Wallenius - Defense

It’s so easy to see why Wallenius is a favourite of the amateur scouting community; he’s a dynamic player. He consistently gains the offensive blueline with ease thanks to his combination of quickness and skill, along with his aggressive offensive approach. The offensive upside here is significant. I was also impressed with his physical approach in the defensive end, perhaps more than I had seen from him previously. That said, some of the warts in his game, like decision making and defensive engagement were present in this tournament. Neutral zone and offensive zone turnovers were a bit of an issue, as was puck watching in the defensive end. Without high end depth on the blueline this year, the Swedes need Freij and Wallenius to play on separate pairings to anchor them. Not having someone like Gabe Eliasson to pair with Sahlin Wallenius, hurt them overall at this event.

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Jack Berglund - Center

Came into this event knowing very little about Berglund. He wasn’t on the Swedish Hlinka/Gretzky team last summer, didn’t make a huge impression at the recent Nations tournament, and he isn’t someone our Swedish scouts have spoken about thus far. However, I consistently found myself taking note of Berglund at the WJAC’s. The son of former New Jersey Devil Christian Berglund, Jack plays a similar heavy game. He scored his first SHL goal in late November and has had a very solid year in the J20 loop. Throughout the WJAC’s, Berglund was a physical threat, making his presence felt on the forecheck, in puck pursuit, and on net drives. He’s not a bad skater for a big guy who plays such a heavy game too. There’s some explosiveness to his stride and he can play with pace. The skill level…it’s hit and miss. He does seem to struggle maintaining possession at full speed occasionally. The finishing ability is equally hit and miss. But I couldn’t help but be impressed by the physical tools. Anyone who knows me, knows I love players like Berglund.

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Anton Frondell - Wing/Center

I know, I said I would only discuss draft eligible players in this piece, but I just had to mention one of my favourites for the 2025 draft in Anton Frondell (a 2007 born playing up in this tournament). I was really impressed by Frondell at the Under 17’s, so I was excited to see that Sweden had taken him for this event. That proved to be a smart thing to do as he was consistently one of their best players. Without question, he deserves to be on the U18 team to close the year. Frondell is quietly throwing his name in the ring to compete with James Hagens for early first overall favourite in 2025. He’s the complete package. He has skill. He has finishing ability. He skates very well. He applies himself physically and looks to drive the center lane. This is a five tool player and someone I believe should be talked about more.

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Slovakia

Daniel Alexander Jencko - Center/Wing

Alexander Jencko is a very interesting prospect. He was relatively hyped at a young age, leaving Slovakia to join the Malmo program. A 2005 born, he underwhelmed in his draft year and went unselected last year. However, he returned to Malmo on a mission this year and became one of the U20 team’s top players, even earning a look at the SHL level. Interestingly enough, following the U20 Five Nations in November, he decided to leave Sweden and head to North America to play with Youngstown of the USHL. The USHL is a league that has more overage players selected each year than any other league or region, so I suppose the hope here is that this draws more attention to him and the improvements he’s made. The early returns have been good as he has been playing well. As for this tournament, well he was unquestionably the best player on a Slovak team that was largely overmatched at this event. His speed was on display and he showed a solid work ethic away from the puck to earn touches, competing physically and using his quickness to be an impactful player in all three zones. It will be interesting to monitor his play with Youngstown in the second half.

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Ondrej Maruna - Wing

A massive winger who normally plays with Charlottetown (QMJHL), Maruna was a bit of a disappointment at this event. He was held scoreless and largely failed to make a significant impact, often finding himself behind the play due to his clunky skating stride and heavy feet. Once he gets going, he can be a load to handle with the puck; he did have a few impressive rushes over the course of the tournament. However, shift to shift, he largely struggled, much like the rest of his teammates…to be fair. Given Charlottetown’s poor position in the QMJHL standings, Maruna will likely have a chance to play at the U18’s this season and that will be another opportunity for him to impress scouts, along with his continued play in the QMJHL.

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2023 NHL DRAFT: Round by round review – Brock Otten’s favourite picks and questionable selections.

Brock Otten — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:19:13 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 28: An NHL microphone setup for press conferences during the Upper Deck NHL Draft, June 28, 2023 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire)

The 2023 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone. I was fortunate enough to be in Nashville for the event, representing McKeen’s. Covering the draft is always such a whirlwind, as you try to balance conversations and social media analysis, while paying attention to each and every selection. Every year, when I reflect back on the draft, especially day two, it seems like I come across a few players that make me say, “wait…they got drafted!”

The draft itself also represents the conclusion of a season’s worth of hard work. It’s not just the draft guide. It’s all the coverage leading up to that; live viewings, video work, reports, notes, etc. This year, 99 out of McKeen’s Hockey’s Top 100 were drafted. While the accuracy of an independent scouting organization’s coverage is not truly assessed until five or ten years down the line (in comparison to actual NHL draft position), the immediate feedback given by that sort of parallel (with the opinion of NHL scouts) is encouraging and fulfilling.

So, let’s talk about my review of the draft. Chase Rochon, who was with me in Nashville, has written a comprehensive article that ranks and grades the performance of each team through his lens. I’m going to be doing something a little different. For each round, I’m going to highlight my two favourite picks and the pick that I have the most questions about. I’m also going to highlight five of my favourite players who went unselected this year.

Round One

Favourite Selection - Oliver Moore, 19th to Chicago

The opinions on Moore’s offensive upside vary. But at 19th, even if he only ends up as an Andrew Cogliano type role player, the value is great. But, if he does end up as a Dylan Larkin type, it suddenly becomes one of the best, if not the best pick in the first round. The best skater in the draft and one of the better defensive forwards in the draft, Moore was a personal favourite of ours at McKeen’s.

Favourite Selection - Ryan Leonard, 8th to Washington

Simply put, I would have taken Leonard earlier than this and preferred him to a few of the players who went ahead of him. Every year we look around the NHL playoffs and see teams finding success because of players like Leonard. This is someone who can have a similar impact in the league to the Tkachuk brothers. Leonard can really do it all on the ice; his game is so mature and consistent. This is the perfect selection for a team who wants to keep their competitive window open. Leonard may only need one year in the NCAA with Boston College.

Questionable Selection - Charlie Stramel, 21st to Minnesota

I know that his season in Wisconsin didn’t go according to plan, but why were NHL scouts so willing to give him a pass for poor play when they weren’t willing to do the same for the likes of Cam Allen or Caden Price. Because he’s a big, athletic pivot? So is a guy like David Edstrom and he went later in the first, despite showing a much steeper development curve than Stramel. If I was the Wild, I would be doing everything in my power to get him out of Wisconsin next year and into the WHL, where his power game would be highly appreciated.

Round Two

Favourite Selection - Lukas Dragicevic, 57th to Seattle

I’m far from a Dragicevic hype man. I think his game is flawed and I didn’t think he deserved to be a first-round pick (unlike others on the McKeen’s team). However, in the late second round? The upside is well worth the risk outside of the top 50. Seattle is a team that has drafted extremely well, and they could afford to bank on Dragicevic’s insanely high offensive potential. They drafted Ty Nelson last year and his defensive game made great strides this year. Dragicevic can do the same.

Favourite Selection - Danny Nelson, 49th to New York Islanders

Nelson was one of the most improved players in the second half of the draft year after switching to pivot full time and emerging at the U.S. shutdown center on the U18 team. He’s got size. He’s athletic. His on puck play and scoring ability improved greatly over the year. Is he someone that is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential? Did playing behind two unreal centers in Smith and Moore hide his abilities?

Questionable Selection - Brady Cleveland, 47th to Detroit

Quite frankly, I just feel that there were better defenders on the board still at this pick. I don’t see the upside with Cleveland. I think he can be an NHL defender in some capacity. He is a physical rock in the defensive end. But I don’t see the mobility or skill that would lead to him playing a significant role for Detroit in the future. This is especially true since I believe Detroit drafted a better shut down type in Andrew Gibson only a few picks earlier.

Jacob Fowler

Round Three

Favourite Selection - Nick Lardis, 67th to Chicago

We ranked Lardis 32nd fully knowing that he would end up falling a bit in the draft. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with it. Lardis was one of the OHL’s best players in the second half and in the first round of the playoffs. His speed is electric, and his shot will play. Other parts of his game will need to improve, but the upside is quite high. He could be a great linemate to Connor Bedard in the future.

Favourite Selection - Jacob Fowler, 69th to Montreal

I’ve said many times on social media and in work for McKeen’s, that Fowler is my favourite netminder in the class. He’s like DJ Khaled, all he does is win. He was terrific in the USHL this year. He was terrific at the WJAC’s. He is so composed and focused in the crease. Sure, there is a need for him to improve his quickness and agility, but that can happen in the NCAA with Boston College, where he could start for a great team and be a Mike Richter contender as a freshman.

Questionable Selection - Emil Pieniniemi, 91st to Pittsburgh

Simply put, we didn’t see the upside with Pieniniemi. We ranked him 191st for a reason. The profile grades out about average across the board and that screams projection concerns. What is he at the next level? I may have been able to put all of Pittsburgh’s selections in my questionable selection spot, if I’m being honest.

Round Four

Favourite Selection - Larry Keenan, 117th to Detroit

In reality, the third or fourth round was probably the right spot for Keenan to go. He’s a major long-term project. However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t love the pick. A similar player in Sam Rinzel went in the first-round last year. Keenan combines size, mobility, and skill together to give him outstanding upside if everything hits. I also love that he is heading to Penticton and then UMass, two outstanding programs. His development will be in good hands.

Favourite Selection - Luca Pinelli, 114th to Columbus

I wasn’t as high on Pinelli as some of my contemporaries who cover the OHL, but even I can admit that this was terrific value for Pinelli. If his quickness improves, he could be a really good middle six player at the NHL level; someone who can bring serious versatility to a coach in the future. His motor never quits and his vision/sense in the offensive end is high end.

Questionable Selection - Konnor Smith, 97th to Anaheim

The allure of Smith is that he’s a mammoth defender who plays an ultra-aggressive defensive game. He’s a real throwback to yesteryears. But the mobility, puck skill, and puck management will all need to improve drastically in order for him to be an NHL player. Other similar defenders have been taken out of the CHL in recent years and many have not even been signed. Inside the top 100, I would have had many other preferences…especially if the target was a potential shut down type.

Round Five

Favourite Selection - Cam Allen, 136th to Washington

Allen did not have a great year, there’s no denying that. But he was arguably the top defender available heading into this season. He still has upside, even if his decision making leaves a lot to be desired. Hopefully an offseason reset, in combination with consultation from NHL coaches at development, helps to get him back on the right track. In the fifth round, you won’t find better value.

Favourite Selection - Eric Pohlkamp, 132nd to San Jose

The USHL defenseman of the year award is a pretty prestigious one to win. Guys like Owen Power, Neal Pionk, Brandon Montour, and Jeff Petry have won it in recent years. Pohlkamp is a very interesting player. His game does need a fair amount of refinement; it can be very erratic. However, he also has some very good tools, including mobility, a mammoth point shot, and a physically aggressive approach. He’ll be able to take on an immediate top four role in Bemidji State next year and we should get an idea pretty quickly as to how well his game translates to the NCAA level.

Questionable Selection - Melvin Strahl, 156th to Columbus

Strahl is a goaltender who wasn’t on our radar this year. In fact, I don’t think he was really on the radar of any independent scouting organization. For good reason it would appear too, as he struggled in the J20 this season, even getting demoted to the J18 level. I would have definitely preferred a handful of other netminders at this spot, if goaltending was the target.

Jeremy Hanzel. Photo by Brian Liesse.

Round Six

Favourite Selection - Jeremy Hanzel, 187th to Colorado

Our Western scouts at McKeen’s loved Hanzel as one of the top re-entry guys available this year. He was outstanding for Seattle through the season and into the playoffs/Memorial Cup. On a Thunderbirds team that was stacked with NHL talent, Hanzel was often the team’s best defender. I would be shocked if he returns to the WHL for his overage season. He could have an immediate pro impact similar to Ryker Evans.

Favourite Selection - Filip Eriksson, 165th to Montreal

Kind of a random one here as there were a bunch of great value picks in the sixth round. We actually didn’t even have Eriksson ranked, but I would have had him ranked on my own list. He didn’t play a ton this year due to injury, but he was good at the J20 level and even looked comfortable in the SHL in a cup of coffee. The athletic tools need to improve, but the IQ will play. Can the speed and strength improve as he plays more? These are the types of players you take in the later rounds.

Questionable Selection - Yegor Yegorov, 176th to Calgary

Another questionable goaltending selection if you ask me. The stats weren’t terrific by MHL standards (to give you an idea, a .915 save percentage placed him 42nd among MHL goalies this year). He also was part of a three headed goalie platoon this year, posting the weakest stats of the three. Stats aren’t everything of course, but I love our Russian scouts and Yegorov really wasn’t someone who was brought to our attention by them. Again, give me Stephen Peck, Alexander Hellnemo, or Noah Erliden here over Yegorov.

Round Seven

Favourite Selection - Aiden Fink, 218th to Nashville

Fink piled up the accolades this year in the AJHL. He was the league’s MVP. He won the Centennial Cup. He was one of the best players at the WJAC’s. He’s small and he’s not a dynamic skater. That recipe was sure to make him fall. But in the seventh? That’s outstanding value for Fink, who has terrific offensive potential. Penn State will be a great spot for him too.

Favourite Selection - Tyler Peddle, 224th to Columbus

Mr. Irrelevant! Peddle took quite the mighty tumble thanks to a pretty indifferent season in the QMJHL this year on a middling Drummondville team. But he still has great power forward potential, particularly as a goal scorer. The athletic profile is interesting and at the back of the seventh round that could end up being a great pick for the Blue Jackets. The next Josh Anderson?

Questionable Selection - Sebastian Bradshaw, 221st to Dallas

Hard to truly argue against a seventh-round selection. They’re all longer shots. But Bradshaw is an interesting one. He’s a big kid, but he only played in the AYHL this year with Elite Hockey Academy, a school in Connecticut. He wasn’t the leading scorer on his team, and he didn’t exactly light up Ontario U16 and U18 before making the move south of the border. A London Knights U18 draft pick, Bradshaw seems headed to play for Brooks of the AJHL next year. A solid destination, no doubt, but I would have wanted to see him play at a higher level first. Especially given some of the players still on the board

Best of the Unselected

1. Francesco Dell’Elce - Defense, St. Andrew’s College, CISAA

This one shocked me. I knew that some scouts were concerned about his slight frame and defensive IQ, but I didn’t think that he’d go completely undrafted. His offensive potential from the blueline is through the roof and I think that alone was worth a late selection. He’ll have a great chance of being selected in the coming years. He’s going to play with BCHL powerhouse Penticton next year and then head to UMass after that. Strong play at either of those spots could put him on the re-entry radar over the next few drafts.

2. Stephen Peck - Goaltender, Avon Old Farms, USHS Prep

Another one that shocked me considering that both Slukynsky and Guimond were selected. Peck helped Avon Old Farms capture the New England Prep Championship this year and he was one of my favourite goaltenders eligible this year. Tracks the play really well and is incredibly composed in his crease. He’s got a scholarship to Michigan in his back pocket, but likely suits up in the USHL or NAHL next year.

3. Joe Connor - Center, Avon Old Farms, USHS Prep

Speaking of Prep champion Avon Old Farms, insert their leading scorer Joe Connor, who had a really good year for a Prep level player. He was good for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in the summer. He played great in the prep circuit and was also solid in a cup of coffee in the USHL. Do I wish he were a more dynamic skater given his lack of size? Absolutely. But he competes hard in all areas of the ice, and I really like his odds of becoming a quality NCAA player for Northeastern in the future.

4. Hannes Hellberg - Wing, Leksands IF J20, J20 Nationell

In my opinion, Hellberg was one of the top re-entry guys available this year after he was named the J20’s top forward this year and led the J20 circuit in playoff scoring. Hellberg also only missed being first time draft eligible this year by a few weeks, with an early September birth date. He’s a big winger with a great goal scoring touch. I know that Hellberg already signed with HockeyAllsvenskan for next year, but I would have loved to see him come to the CHL to find success like Lucas Edmonds.

5. Ondrej Molnar - Wing, Erie Otters, OHL

Look, I understand why Molnar wasn’t selected. An undersized winger who had trouble getting inside the dots at the OHL level this year while playing for a bad team. Additionally, that floorball incident in Slovakia hangs over his head, forcing the move to the OHL and preventing him from competing internationally. Yet, this is also a player who came into the season as a first-round candidate because of his skill and ability to impact the game in transition. The offensive potential is still sky high.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions

McKeen's Scouting Team - Director of Scouting, Brock Otten — Sun, 28 May 2023 16:20:45 +0000

It’s that time! The McKeen’s scouting staff has finalized our final rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft ahead of the release of our draft guide in a few weeks. As per usual, our list runs 224 players deep to match the number of selections in the draft, but we have included over 300 players when you include our Honorable Mentions.

Much to the surprise of no one, Connor Bedard remains our top ranked player, as he has been all season long. In fact, our top three remains unchanged from our midseason rankings with Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson holding down the second and third spots, respectively. There has been one change in our top five with Will Smith leapfrogging Matvei Michkov into the fourth position following his dominant second half and U18’s.

Russian defender Dmitry Simashev remains our top ranked blueliner but has now moved into the top ten. His combination of size, mobility, physicality, and improving offensive skill set is going to be alluring to NHL teams and we feel that his upside is the highest in a weaker crop for defenders.

A trio of Swedish players are among our biggest risers from our midseason list, with Tom Willander, Anton Wahlberg, and David Edstrom all jumping up into the first round. All three were excellent in the second half of the season, which culminated with strong performances at the U18’s. Willander, in particular, has a huge fan in our Director of Scouting, Brock Otten. “If you were to ask me who my favourite defender in the draft class is, I’d probably say Willander. He rarely makes a poor play and I believe that we are underappreciating his potential as an NHL defender because of how efficient and safe his game can be. I would be shocked if he does not become a quality second pairing guy at the NHL level and I don’t think the other defenders ranked in the first have that same assurance,” said Otten.

Another massive jumper in our list is Hamilton Bulldogs winger Nick Lardis. 98th on our midseason list, Lardis now finds himself ranked just inside of our first round. His play with Hamilton, following a trade from Peterborough has vaulted him up draft boards, including ours. His combination of quickness and scoring ability gives him a solid projection at the NHL level.

Despite having two goaltenders inside of our first round at midseason (Carson Bjarnason and Michael Hrabal), we ended the year with none. Trey Augustine is now our top ranked netminder, ranked in the mid second round. However, Augustine, Bjarnason, Hrabal, and USHL Clark Cup MVP Jacob Fowler are all closely ranked in that range.

Look for the release of our 2023 Draft Guide in the next couple weeks. It will include all of our rankings and reports, a mock draft, a preview of the 2024 NHL Draft, and much more.

As a subscriber, link to our full ranking with links to the player pages here - McKeen's Draft Rankings - You can download the ranking as an excel file as well.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	HT/WT	DOB	NATION	TEAM	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Connor Bedard	C	5-10/185	17-Jul-05	Canada	Regina (WHL)	57-71-72-143
2	Adam Fantilli	C	6-2/195	12-Oct-04	Canada	Michigan (B1G)	36-30-35-65
3	Leo Carlsson	C	6-3/200	26-Dec-04	Sweden	Orebro (SHL)	44-10-15-25
4	Will Smith	C	6-0/175	17-Mar-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	59-51-75-126
5	Matvei Michkov	RW	5-10/170	9-Dec-04	Russia	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	30-9-11-20
6	Zach Benson	LW	5-9/160	12-May-05	Canada	Winnipeg (WHL)	60-36-62-98
7	Dalibor Dvorsky	C	6-1/200	15-Jun-05	Slovakia	AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)	38-6-8-14
8	Ryan Leonard	RW	5-11/190	21-Jan-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	56-50-43-93
9	Dmitri Simashev	D	6-4/200	4-Feb-05	Russia	Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)	33-1-11-12
10	Matthew Wood	RW	6-3/195	6-Feb-05	Canada	Connecticut (HE)	35-11-23-34
11	Oliver Moore	C	5-11/185	22-Jan-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	60-31-43-74
12	Colby Barlow	LW	6-0/195	14-Feb-05	Canada	Owen Sound (OHL)	59-46-33-79
13	Nate Danielson	C	6-1/185	27-Sep-04	Canada	Brandon (WHL)	68-33-45-78
14	Axel Sandin Pellikka	D	5-11/180	11-Mar-05	Sweden	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	31-16-20-36
15	Daniil But	LW	6-5/200	15-Feb-05	Russia	Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL)	32-18-14-32
16	David Reinbacher	D	6-2/185	25-Oct-04	Austria	Kloten (Sui-NL)	46-3-19-22
17	Eduard Sale	LW	6-1/170	10-Mar-05	Czech	HC Kometa Brno (Czechia)	43-7-7-14
18	Samuel Honzek	LW	6-3/185	12-Nov-04	Slovakia	Vancouver (WHL)	43-23-33-56
19	Mikhail Gulyayev	D	5-11/170	26-Apr-05	Russia	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	22-2-23-25
20	Lukas Dragicevic	D	6-1/190	25-Apr-05	Canada	Tri-City (WHL)	68-15-60-75
21	Gabe Perreault	RW	5-11/165	7-May-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	62-53-79-132
22	Otto Stenberg	C	5-11/180	29-May-05	Sweden	Frolunda (Swe J20)	29-11-15-26
23	Tom Willander	D	6-1/180	9-Feb-05	Sweden	Rogle (Swe J20)	39-4-21-25
24	Calum Ritchie	C	6-2/185	21-Jan-05	Canada	Oshawa (OHL)	59-24-35-59
25	Andrew Cristall	LW	5-9/165	4-Feb-05	Canada	Kelowna (WHL)	54-39-56-95
26	Gavin Brindley	C	5-8/165	5-Oct-04	USA	Michigan (B1G)	41-12-26-38
27	Bradly Nadeau	LW	5-10/165	5-May-05	Canada	Penticton (BCHL)	54-45-68-113
28	Anton Wahlberg	C	6-3/195	4-Jul-05	Sweden	Malmo (Swe J20)	32-14-13-27
29	Riley Heidt	C	5-10/180	25-Mar-05	Canada	Prince George (WHL)	68-25-72-97
30	Brayden Yager	C	5-11/165	3-Jan-05	Canada	Moose Jaw (WHL)	67-28-50-78
31	David Edstrom	C	6-3/185	18-Feb-05	Sweden	Frolunda (Swe J20)	28-15-13-28
32	Nick Lardis	LW	5-10/165	8-Jul-05	Canada	Pbo-Ham (OHL)	69-37-28-65
33	Kasper Halttunen	RW	6-3/205	7-Jun-05	Finland	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	27-0-1-1
34	Jayden Perron	RW	5-9/165	11-Jan-05	Canada	Chicago (USHL)	61-24-48-72
35	Oliver Bonk	D	6-2/175	9-Jan-05	Canada	London (OHL)	67-10-30-40
36	Quentin Musty	LW	6-2/200	6-Jul-05	USA	Sudbury (OHL)	53-26-52-78
37	Trey Augustine	G	6-1/185	23-Feb-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	28-1, 2.14, 0.925
38	Tanner Molendyk	D	5-11/185	3-Feb-05	Canada	Saskatoon (WHL)	67-9-28-37
39	William Whitelaw	RW	5-9/170	5-Feb-05	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	62-36-25-61
40	Ethan Gauthier	RW	5-11/175	26-Jan-05	Canada	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	66-30-39-69
41	Gracyn Sawchyn	C	5-11/160	19-Jan-05	USA	Seattle (WHL)	58-18-40-58
42	Carson Bjarnason	G	6-3/185	30-Jun-05	Canada	Brandon (WHL)	21-19, 3.08, 0.900
43	Aram Minnetian	D	5-11/190	19-Mar-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	61-7-24-31
44	Michael Hrabal	G	6-6/210	20-Jan-05	Czech	Omaha (USHL)	9-13, 2.86, 0.908
45	Jacob Fowler	G	6-1/215	24-Nov-04	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	27-9, 2.28, 0.921
46	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	C	6-0/165	18-Feb-05	Denmark	HV 71 (SHL)	41-4-3-7
47	Carson Rehkopf	LW	6-1/195	7-Jan-05	Canada	Kitchener (OHL)	68-30-29-59
48	Beau Akey	D	5-11/170	11-Feb-05	Canada	Barrie (OHL)	66-11-36-47
49	Danny Nelson	C	6-3/200	3-Aug-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	61-20-26-46
50	Etienne Morin	D	6-0/180	9-Mar-05	Canada	Moncton (QMJHL)	67-21-51-72
51	Felix Nilsson	C	6-0/175	22-Jun-05	Sweden	Rogle (Swe J20)	36-19-22-41
52	Maxim Strbak	D	6-1/205	13-Apr-05	Slovakia	Sioux Falls (USHL)	46-5-13-18
53	Jakub Dvorak	D	6-5/205	25-May-05	Czech	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	24-0-2-2
54	Carey Terrance	C	6-0/175	10-May-05	USA	Erie (OHL)	67-30-17-47
55	Jesse Kiiskinen	RW	5-11/180	23-Aug-05	Finland	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	31-20-23-43
56	Mathieu Cataford	C	5-11/185	1-Mar-05	Canada	Halifax (QMJHL)	68-31-44-75
57	Roman Kantserov	RW	5-9/175	20-Sep-04	Russia	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)	45-27-27-54
58	Tristan Bertucci	D	6-1/170	12-Jul-05	Canada	Flint (OHL)	63-11-39-50
59	Andrew Gibson	D	6-3/195	13-Feb-05	Canada	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	45-7-14-21
60	Caden Price	D	6-0/185	24-Aug-05	Canada	Kelowna (WHL)	65-5-35-40
61	Charlie Stramel	C	6-3/215	15-Oct-04	USA	Wisconsin (B1G)	33-5-7-12
62	Coulson Pitre	RW	6-0/170	13-Dec-04	Canada	Flint (OHL)	59-25-35-60
63	Adam Gajan	G	6-2/165	6-May-04	Slovakia	Chippewa Steel (NAHL)	19-12, 2.57, 0.917
64	Hoyt Stanley	D	6-2/185	4-Feb-05	Canada	Victoria (BCHL)	53-4-34-38
65	Andrew Strathmann	D	5-10/190	27-Feb-05	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	56-3-35-38
66	Hunter Brzustewicz	D	5-11/185	29-Nov-04	USA	Kitchener (OHL)	68-6-51-57
67	Luca Pinelli	C	5-8/165	5-Apr-05	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	67-29-34-63
68	Cam Allen	D	6-0/195	7-Jan-05	Canada	Guelph (OHL)	62-5-20-25
69	Tanner Ludtke	C	6-0/185	27-Nov-04	USA	Lincoln (USHL)	57-32-34-66
70	Theo Lindstein	D	6-0/180	5-Jan-05	Sweden	Brynas (SHL)	32-1-1-2
71	Koehn Ziemmer	RW	6-0/205	8-Dec-04	Canada	Prince George (WHL)	68-41-48-89
72	Carter Sotheran	D	6-3/195	26-Jun-05	Canada	Portland (WHL)	68-4-19-23
73	Arttu Karki	D	6-1/175	8-Dec-04	Finland	Tappara (Fin-U20)	36-13-26-39
74	Albert Wikman	D	6-0/190	10-Mar-05	Sweden	Farjestads (Swe J20)	43-2-10-12
75	Quinton Burns	D	6-1/180	14-Apr-05	Canada	Kingston (OHL)	54-2-27-29
76	Nico Myatovic	LW	6-2/180	1-Dec-04	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	68-30-30-60
77	Jeremy Hanzel	D	6-0/190	27-Feb-03	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	66-13-35-48
78	Easton Cowan	RW	5-10/170	20-May-05	Canada	London (OHL)	68-20-33-53
79	Juraj Pekarcik	LW	6-2/185	12-Sep-05	Slovakia	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	30-0-3-3
80	Denver Barkey	C	5-8/160	27-Apr-05	Canada	London (OHL)	61-22-37-59
81	Martin Misiak	RW	6-2/195	30-Sep-04	Slovakia	HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia)	29-1-9-10
82	Drew Fortescue	D	6-1/175	28-Apr-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	61-1-25-26
83	Felix Unger Sorum	RW	5-11/170	14-Sep-05	Sweden	Leksands (Swe J20)	42-10-36-46
84	Lenni Hameenaho	RW	6-0/175	7-Nov-04	Finland	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	51-9-12-21
85	Kalan Lind	LW	6-0/160	25-Jan-05	Canada	Red Deer (WHL)	43-16-28-44
86	Rasmus Kumpulainen	C	6-2/190	8-Aug-05	Finland	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	41-11-23-34
87	Alex Ciernik	LW	5-11/175	8-Oct-04	Slovakia	Sodertalje-Vasterviks (HockeyAllsvenskan)	25-3-9-12
88	Alexander Rykov	RW	6-0/175	14-Jul-05	Russia	Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL)	20-4-7-11
89	Scott Ratzlaff	G	6-0/175	9-Mar-05	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	25-8, 2.15, 0.918
90	Yegor Rimashevsky	RW	6-3/200	1-Feb-05	Belarus	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	29-13-13-26
91	Jesse Nurmi	LW	5-10/165	7-Mar-05	Finland	KooKoo (Fin-U20)	41-21-29-50
92	Kaden Hammell	D	6-1/175	12-Mar-05	Canada	Kam-Evt (WHL)	67-8-18-26
93	Jayson Shaugabay	RW	5-9/155	4-May-05	USA	Warroad (USHS-MN)	31-33-63-96
94	Noel Nordh	RW	6-2/195	25-Jan-05	Sweden	Brynas (Swe J20)	38-13-14-27
95	Gavin McCarthy	D	6-1/180	2-Jun-05	USA	Muskegon (USHL)	42-8-19-27
96	Tyler Peddle	LW	6-0/195	28-Jan-05	Canada	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64-24-17-41
97	Francesco Dell'Elce	D	6-0/165	23-Jun-05	Canada	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	51-20-42-62
98	Timur Mukhanov	LW	5-8/170	17-Jun-05	Russia	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	31-4-4-8
99	Larry Keenan	D	6-3/185	15-Mar-05	Russia	Culver Academy (USHS-IN)	49-11-26-37
100	Emil Jarventie	LW	5-9/165	4-Apr-05	Finland	Ilves (Fin-U20)	21-8-11-19
101	Matthew Mania	D	6-1/180	11-Jan-05	USA	Sudbury (OHL)	67-10-28-38
102	Juha Jatkola	G	6-1/175	12-Sep-02	Finland	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	20-11, 2.16, 0.903
103	Zach Nehring	RW	6-3/180	7-Mar-05	USA	Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN)	48-34-40-74
104	Austin Roest	C	5-9/175	22-Jan-04	Canada	Everett (WHL)	60-32-46-78
105	Hedqvist, Isac	C	5-10/165	22-Mar-05	Sweden	Lulea (Swe J20)	41-14-20-34
106	Stephen Peck	G	6-2/170	18-Jan-05	USA	Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT)	28GP, 1.26, 0.948
107	Yegor Klimovich	RW	5-9/160	14-May-05	Russia	Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL)	36-19-30-49
108	Nikita Susuyev	RW	6-0/170	6-Feb-05	Russia	MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL)	38-11-17-28
109	Ethan Miedema	LW	6-4/205	22-Mar-05	Canada	Wsr-Kgn (OHL)	68-20-32-52
110	Luca Cagnoni	D	5-9/180	21-Dec-04	Canada	Portland (WHL)	67-17-47-64
111	Jakub Stancl	LW	6-3/200	10-Apr-05	Czech	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	35-11-6-17
112	Aydar Suniev	LW	6-1/200	16-Nov-04	Russia	Penticton (BCHL)	50-45-45-90
113	Ty Henricks	LW	6-4/205	28-Jun-05	USA	Fgo-Mus (USHL)	47-9-10-19
114	Yegor Vinogradov	C	6-2/180	17-Apr-03	Russia	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	53-7-10-17
115	Yegor Sidorov	RW	5-11/180	18-Jun-04	Belarus	Saskatoon (WHL)	53-40-36-76
116	Will Vote	RW	5-8/155	22-Feb-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	60-16-29-45
117	Brandon Svoboda	C	6-3/210	4-Feb-05	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	59-16-10-26
118	Axel Landen	D	6-1/185	29-Mar-05	Sweden	HV 71 (Swe J20)	44-10-6-16
119	Alexander Hellnemo	G	6-2/180	5-Jan-04	Sweden	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	15-8, 2.32, 0.916
120	Nikita Nedopyokin	C	5-10/185	22-Mar-05	Russia	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	37-14-18-32
121	Brady Cleveland	D	6-5/210	1-Apr-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	54-0-6-6
122	Ondrej Molnar	LW	5-10/170	8-Feb-05	Slovakia	Erie (OHL)	34-4-15-19
123	Noah Dower Nilsson	LW	6-0/175	25-Apr-05	Sweden	Frolunda (Swe J20)	37-26-28-54
124	Jordan Tourigny	D	5-10/165	28-Feb-05	Canada	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	67-6-35-41
125	Cole Knuble	C	5-11/175	1-Jul-04	USA	Fargo (USHL)	57-30-36-66
126	Erik Pahlsson	C	6-0/170	9-Apr-04	Sweden	HV 71 (Swe J20)	46-26-37-63
127	Eric Pohlkamp	D	5-10/200	23-Mar-04	USA	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	59-16-35-51
128	Dylan MacKinnon	D	6-1/185	12-Jan-05	Canada	Halifax (QMJHL)	61-6-17-23
129	German Tochilkin	LW	6-2/180	24-Sep-03	Russia	Kunlun Red Star (KHL)	21-4-2-6
130	Jake Fisher	C	6-1/180	27-Mar-05	USA	Cretin-Durham Hall (USHS-MN)	29-34-29-63
131	Damian Clara	G	6-6/215	13-Jan-05	Italy	Farjestads (Swe J20)	17-17, 2.79, 0.903
132	Aiden Fink	RW	5-9/155	24-Nov-04	Canada	Brooks (AJHL)	54-41-56-97
133	Bogdan Konyushkov	D	5-11/175	20-Dec-02	Russia	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	64-2-23-25
134	Yegor Zavragin	G	6-2/185	23-Aug-05	Russia	Mamonty Yugry (MHL)	11-6, 2.49, 0.920
135	Ty Halaburda	C	5-11/175	22-Apr-05	Canada	Vancouver (WHL)	66-21-16-37
136	Cole Burbidge	LW	6-1/160	26-Aug-05	Canada	Saint John (QMJHL)	68-19-31-50
137	Daniil Karpovich	D	6-3/210	6-Dec-04	Belarus	Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)	47-10-25-35
138	Andrei Loshko	C	6-1/175	7-Oct-04	Belarus	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	67-22-48-70
139	Beckett Hendrickson	C	6-1/175	24-Jun-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	51-13-21-34
140	Alex Pharand	C	6-3/205	1-May-05	Canada	Sudbury (OHL)	67-18-21-39
141	Zeb Forsfjall	C	5-9/170	16-Jan-05	Sweden	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	34-8-14-22
142	Joe Connor	C	5-9/170	31-Mar-05	USA	Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT)	28-21-23-44
143	Samuel Urban	G	6-1/195	1-May-05	Slovakia	Team Slovakia U18 (Svk2)	1-13, 4.51, 0.897
144	Mazden Leslie	D	6-0/195	15-Apr-05	Canada	Vancouver (WHL)	66-12-38-50
145	Maxim Fedotov	D	5-10/170	22-Jan-02	Russia	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	64-9-17-26
146	Joey Willis	C	5-10/170	14-Mar-05	USA	Saginaw (OHL)	68-15-29-44
147	Artyom Kashtanov	C	6-6/190	9-Dec-04	Russia	Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)	43-15-25-40
148	Angus MacDonell	C	5-9/180	11-May-05	Canada	Sar-Mis (OHL)	64-29-12-41
149	Konstantin Volochko	D	6-0/170	19-Jun-05	Belarus	Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL)	46-8-12-20
150	Hannes Hellberg	LW	6-0/175	19-Jun-05	Sweden	Leksands (Swe J20)	42-34-23-57
151	Carsen Musser	G	6-4/215	19-May-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	14-6, 3.07, 0.890
152	Yaroslav Tsulygin	D	6-0/160	19-May-05	Russia	Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)	44-0-2-2
153	Thomas Milic	G	6-0/180	14-Apr-03	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	27-3, 2.08, 0.928
154	Arno Tiefensee	G	6-4/190	1-May-02	Germany	Adler Mannheim (DEL)	13-10, 2.43, 0.910
155	Quinn Mantei	D	5-11/180	23-Apr-05	Canada	Brandon (WHL)	67-2-23-25
156	Matthew Soto	RW	5-10/180	31-Aug-05	Canada	Kingston (OHL)	54-15-27-42
157	Matt Copponi	C	5-10/165	3-Jun-03	USA	Merrimack (HE)	37-14-15-29
158	Vojtech Port	D	6-2/170	3-Aug-05	Czech	RD-Edm (WHL)	48-4-13-17
159	Michael DeAngelo	LW	5-11/180	19-Nov-04	USA	Green Bay (USHL)	52-11-24-35
160	Matteo Mann	D	6-5/225	31-Dec-04	Canada	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	45-0-5-5
161	Paul Fischer	D	6-1/190	30-Jan-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	55-4-17-21
162	Hudson Malinoski	C	6-0/175	19-May-04	Canada	Brooks (AJHL)	44-16-53-69
163	Brad Gardiner	C	6-0/180	6-Mar-05	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	68-19-20-39
164	Zaccharya Wisdom	RW	6-0/175	29-Apr-04	Canada	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	59-28-20-48
165	Jonathan Castagna	C	6-1/185	20-Apr-05	Canada	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	50-29-43-72
166	Tanner Adams	RW	5-11/185	2-Sep-05	USA	Tri-City (USHL)	49-12-21-33
167	Grayden Siepmann	D	5-10/185	26-May-04	Canada	Calgary (WHL)	61-9-34-43
168	Axel Hurtig	D	6-3/200	10-Jun-05	Sweden	Rogle (Swe J20)	34-2-6-8
169	Ian Scherzer	C	6-0/180	3-Jul-05	Austria	Rogle (Swe J20)	30-3-4-7
170	Ryan Conmy	RW	5-9/190	23-Oct-04	USA	Sioux City (USHL)	60-33-29-62
171	Ethan Hay	C	6-1/190	15-Jan-05	Canada	Flint (OHL)	64-17-11-28
172	Rodwin Dionicio	D	6-2/205	30-Mar-04	Switzerland	Nia-Wsr (OHL)	50-15-35-50
173	Josh Van Mulligen	D	6-2/180	26-Jul-05	Canada	Medicine Hat (WHL)	68-1-8-9
174	Nikita Ishimnikov	D	6-3/195	21-Apr-05	Russia	Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)	41-11-7-18
175	Justin Kipkie	D	6-4/190	28-Jul-05	Canada	Victoria (WHL)	67-8-25-33
176	Sawyer Mynio	D	6-1/175	30-Apr-05	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	68-5-26-31
177	Brady Stonehouse	RW	5-9/180	6-Aug-04	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	68-37-20-57
178	Hunter Anderson	LW	5-9/175	28-Apr-05	USA	Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN)	48-52-47-99
179	Spencer Sova	D	6-0/185	10-Jan-04	Canada	Erie (OHL)	68-16-23-39
180	Oliver Tulk	C	5-7/170	19-Jan-05	Canada	Calgary (WHL)	68-24-36-60
181	Isac Born	C	5-11/165	7-Jul-04	Sweden	Frolunda (SHL)	36-2-3-5
182	Beau Jelsma	C	5-9/175	28-Apr-04	Canada	Barrie (OHL)	67-31-30-61
183	Carmelo Crandell	RW	5-11/170	2-Mar-05	Canada	Sherwood Park (AJHL)	49-17-37-54
184	Stanislav Yarovoy	LW	6-2/195	26-Aug-03	Russia	Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL)	45-9-7-16
185	Elliot Stahlberg	LW	6-0/185	29-Mar-05	Sweden	Farjestads (Swe J20)	35-9-12-21
186	Ivan Anoshko	C	5-11/170	7-Oct-04	Belarus	Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL)	53-21-32-53
187	Jake Livanavage	D	5-10/175	6-May-04	USA	Chicago (USHL)	48-6-30-36
188	Adrian Carnebo	D	6-2/185	1-May-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	43-7-28-35
189	Jaden Lipinski	C	6-3/205	2-Dec-04	USA	Vancouver (WHL)	66-19-32-51
190	Ian Blomquist	G	6-2/185	29-Mar-03	Sweden	Vasteras (HockeyAllsvenskan)	4-11, 2.97, 0.904
191	Emil Pieniniemi	D	6-2/170	2-Mar-05	Finland	Karpat (Fin-U20)	31-1-12-13
192	Oskar Asplund	D	5-11/175	18-Nov-03	Sweden	Almtuna (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49-6-24-30
193	Daniil Davydov	C	5-11/165	6-Mar-04	Russia	MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)	47-11-35-46
194	Victor Sjoholm	D	5-9/175	8-Jul-03	Sweden	HV 71 (Swe J20)	37-2-8-10
195	Aron Jessli	LW	5-11/185	29-Oct-04	Norway	Pickering (OJHL)	52-25-43-68
196	Adam Dybal	G	6-1/165	2-Sep-05	Czech	Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20)	29-15, 1.85, 0.942
197	Jonathan Fauchon	C	5-10/170	13-Jan-04	Canada	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	53-25-40-65
198	Luke Mittelstadt	D	5-11/175	22-Jan-03	USA	Minnesota (B1G)	38-5-16-21
199	Owen Beckner	C	6-1/175	27-Feb-05	Canada	Salmon Arm (BCHL)	53-17-33-50
200	Ilya Kanarsky	G	6-2/165	6-Dec-04	Russia	AKM-Junior Tula Region (MHL)	4-19, 3.59, 0.919
201	Braeden Bowman	RW	6-1/205	26-Jun-03	Canada	Guelph (OHL)	54-33-39-72
202	Luke Coughlin	D	5-9/170	11-Apr-05	Canada	Rimouski (QMJHL)	37-5-14-19
203	Norwin Panocha	D	6-1/185	24-Feb-05	Germany	Eisbaren Juniors Berlin (DNL U20)	34-6-16-22
204	Cole Brown	LW	6-2/180	27-Apr-05	Canada	Hamilton (OHL)	60-17-25-42
205	Tomas Suchanek	G	6-0/180	30-Apr-03	Czech	Tri-City (WHL)	27-14, 3.05, 0.912
206	Vadim Moroz	RW	6-2/185	20-Nov-03	Belarus	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	39-5-9-14
207	Davis Burnside	RW	5-11/175	22-Sep-03	USA	Ohio State (B1G)	40-14-7-21
208	Maros Jedlicka	C	6-1/185	23-Oct-02	Slovakia	HKM Zvolen (Slovakia)	39-17-18-35
209	Gavyn Thoreson	RW	5-8/180	30-Oct-04	USA	Andover High (USHS-MN)	31-41-56-97
210	Austin Burnevik	RW	6-3/200	3-Jan-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	43-6-13-19
211	Elmeri Laakso	D	6-1/185	19-Jul-04	Finland	SaiPa (Fin-Liiga)	32-4-7-11
212	Frantisek Dej	C	6-4/200	28-Feb-05	Slovakia	HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2)	24-8-13-21
213	Matvei Maximov	C	6-0/175	18-Jan-05	Russia	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	48-18-19-37
214	Connor Levis	RW	6-1/190	5-Oct-04	Canada	Kamloops (WHL)	68-27-40-67
215	Teddy Townsend	C	5-10/160	2-Sep-05	USA	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	27-14-25-39
216	Petter Vesterheim	C	5-11/165	30-Sep-04	Norway	Mora (Swe J20)	41-12-27-39
217	Justin Gill	C	6-1/190	27-Jan-03	Canada	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	68-44-49-93
218	Alex Weiermair	C	6-0/190	10-May-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	55-11-15-26
219	Jan Sprynar	RW	6-1/175	26-Feb-05	Czech	Rimouski (QMJHL)	60-23-17-40
220	Ty Higgins	D	6-0/185	26-Sep-04	Canada	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	68-13-28-41
221	Tom Leppa	C	6-0/175	31-Jul-05	Finland	Jokerit (Fin-U20)	45-19-12-31
222	Aaron Pionk	D	6-1/175	16-Jan-03	USA	Waterloo (USHL)	60-12-24-36
223	Hampton Slukynsky	G	6-1/180	2-Jul-05	USA	Warroad (USHS-MN)	28-1, 1.47, 0.941
224	Noah Erliden	G	5-10/170	9-Sep-05	Sweden	HV71 (Swe J20)	10-8, 2.93, 0.912
HM	Matthew Andonovski	D	6-1/200	14-Mar-05	Canada	Kitchener (OHL)	67-0-16-16
HM	Gleb Artsatbanov	G	6-2/170	2-Mar-04	Ukraine	Sparta Praha (Czechia U20)	13-10, 1.95, 0.938
HM	Cale Ashcroft	D	5-10/200	5-Aug-04	Canada	Tri-City (USHL)	62-8-29-37
HM	Alex Assadourian	LW	5-8/170	24-Jul-05	Canada	Sby-Nia (OHL)	66-12-29-41
HM	Arvid Bergstrom	D	5-11/160	12-Jun-05	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	41-2-21-23
HM	Kevin Bicker	LW	6-0/175	29-Jan-05	Germany	Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20)	20-10-11-21
HM	Philippe Blais-Savoie	D	6-0/185	10-Jun-05	USA	Tri-City (USHL)	61-2-9-11
HM	Linus Brandl	C	5-11/185	1-Apr-05	Germany	Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20)	32-25-22-47
HM	Finn Brink	LW	5-9/180	6-Apr-05	USA	Maple Grove (USHS-MN)	31-31-38-69
HM	Yaroslav Busygin	D	6-3/185	14-Feb-03	Russia	Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL)	42-1-2-3
HM	Kalle Carlsson	C	6-0/175	2-Mar-05	Sweden	Orebro (Swe J20)	44-11-24-35
HM	Adam Cedzo	RW	5-10/165	23-Feb-05	Slovakia	HC Ocelari Trinec (Czechia U20)	39-23-23-46
HM	Aiden Celebrini	D	6-1/185	26-Oct-04	Canada	Brooks (AJHL)	47-5-16-21
HM	Andon Cerbone	C	5-8/150	13-Apr-04	USA	Oma-Yng (USHL)	64-24-39-63
HM	Chase Cheslock	D	6-3/210	25-Oct-04	USA	Rogers High (USHS-MN)	28-4-27-31
HM	Sam Court	D	5-10/180	7-Jan-04	Canada	Brooks (AJHL)	52-13-59-72
HM	Adam Csabi	LW	5-10/160	17-Feb-05	Czech	SaiPa (Fin-U18)	28-16-15-31
HM	Nathaniel Davis	D	6-1/185	15-Nov-04	Canada	Burlington (OJHL)	45-10-26-36
HM	Nathan Day	G	6-2/180	4-Feb-05	Canada	Flint (OHL)	17-10, 3.91, 0.874
HM	Kocha Delic	C	5-10/185	11-Mar-04	Canada	Sudbury (OHL)	46-22-30-52
HM	Tyler Duke	D	5-8/180	19-Jul-04	USA	Ohio State (B1G)	40-4-8-12
HM	Filip Eriksson	C	6-0/170	5-Nov-04	Sweden	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	11-5-5-10
HM	Jiri Felcman	C	6-4/190	17-Apr-05	Czech	Langnau U20 (Sui-U20-Elit)	40-10-21-31
HM	Samuel Fiala	C	6-1/170	9-Apr-05	Czech	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia U20)	44-19-9-28
HM	Mans Forsfjall	D	6-0/180	30-Jul-02	Sweden	Skelleftea (SHL)	52-2-12-14
HM	Cooper Foster	C	5-11/170	4-Jun-05	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	63-19-17-36
HM	Salvatore Guzzo	RW	6-0/185	17-Apr-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	58-17-11-28
HM	Michael Hagens	D	5-11/170	18-Feb-05	USA	Chicago (USHL)	60-9-17-26
HM	Sam Harris	LW	5-11/190	14-Oct-03	USA	Sioux Falls (USHL)	56-30-26-56
HM	Jack Harvey	C	5-10/175	31-Mar-03	USA	Chicago (USHL)	62-40-34-74
HM	Bogdans Hodass	D	6-2/200	13-Apr-03	Latvia	Medicine Hat (WHL)	56-11-24-35
HM	Ryan Hopkins	D	6-1/180	15-Apr-04	Canada	Penticton (BCHL)	48-10-39-49
HM	Ewan Huet	G	6-0/170	8-Feb-05	Switzerland	Lausanne (Sui U20-Elit)	14-12, 2.73
HM	Gustaf Kangas	C	6-0/175	27-Jul-05	Sweden	Vasteras (Swe J20)	27-7-13-20
HM	Sean Keohane	D	6-3/180	4-Nov-04	USA	Dexter Southfield(USHS-MA)	32-4-12-16
HM	Oiva Keskinen	C	6-0/175	28-Feb-04	Finland	Tappara (Fin-U20)	38-20-21-41
HM	Ruslan Khazheyev	G	6-4/200	20-Nov-04	Russia	Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL)	8-8, 2.38, 0.923
HM	Matteo Koci	D	6-0/165	7-Jun-05	Czech	HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20)	36-7-13-20
HM	Ryan Koering	D	6-3/185	11-Feb-05	USA	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	27-6-10-16
HM	Cameron Korpi	G	6-2/150	26-May-04	USA	Tri-City (USHL)	13-4, 2.52, 0.911
HM	Sergei Kosovets	D	6-5/250	17-Jul-02	Russia	HK Sochi (KHL)	26-2-2-4
HM	Artyom Kudashov	D	6-0/160	10-Jan-05	Russia	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	42-2-7-9
HM	Roman Kukumberg	LW	6-0/185	21-Mar-05	Slovakia	HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2)	33-5-6-11
HM	Emil Kuusla	LW	5-9/165	11-Jan-05	Finland	Jokerit (Fin-U20)	36-18-17-35
HM	Jani Lampinen	G	6-2/185	14-Feb-03	Finland	Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-Mestis)	15-6, 2.35, 0.902
HM	Charles-Alexis Legault	D	6-3/205	5-Sep-03	Canada	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	40-2-7-9
HM	Aiden Long	LW	6-3/190	13-Mar-05	Canada	Whitecourt (AJHL)	50-19-27-46
HM	Connor MacPherson	RW	6-0/170	2-Mar-05	Canada	Leamington (GOJHL)	43-28-35-63
HM	Matthew Mayich	D	6-2/185	21-Dec-04	Canada	Ottawa (OHL)	64-5-17-22
HM	Donovan McCoy	D	6-0/200	11-Oct-04	Canada	Peterborough (OHL)	65-2-11-13
HM	Cole Miller	C	6-4/175	4-Feb-05	Canada	Edmonton (WHL)	61-10-9-19
HM	Lucas Moore	D	5-9/180	7-Jun-05	Canada	Hamilton (OHL)	65-3-25-28
HM	Josh Nadeau	RW	5-7/145	22-Oct-03	Canada	Penticton (BCHL)	54-44-66-110
HM	Alexei Noskov	G	6-2/205	13-Nov-04	Russia	Taifun Primorsky Krai (MHL)	7-26, 3.86, 0.905
HM	Owen Outwater	LW	6-2/160	4-Jan-05	Canada	Kingston (OHL)	62-16-25-41
HM	Joe Palodichuk	D	6-0/165	26-Feb-03	USA	Fargo (USHL)	44-8-21-29
HM	Petr Pavelec	LW	6-0/200	10-Feb-05	Czech	HC Vitkovice (Czechia U20)	46-8-5-13
HM	Oliver Peer	RW	6-0/165	9-Mar-03	Canada	Windsor (OHL)	63-22-45-67
HM	Chris Pelosi	C	6-1/180	6-Mar-05	USA	Sioux Falls (USHL)	43-13-6-19
HM	Matthew Perkins	LW	5-11/175	21-Jan-04	Canada	Youngstown (USHL)	60-15-29-44
HM	Nico Pertuch	G	6-2/200	29-Jul-05	Germany	EV Landshut (DNL U20)	15GP, 3.57
HM	Dominik Petr	C	6-2/165	30-Apr-05	Czech	Lukko (Fin-U20)	18-1-0-1
HM	Chase Pietila	D	6-1/180	3-Mar-04	USA	Youngstown (USHL)	60-7-29-36
HM	Chase Pirtle	RW	6-2/185	8-Mar-05	USA	Mount St. Charles 18U AAA (USHS-RI)	47-20-24-44
HM	Benjamin Poitras	C	5-10/175	18-Jul-05	Canada	Sioux City (USHL)	61-14-24-38
HM	Connor Punnett	D	6-1/200	16-Jun-03	Canada	Barrie (OHL)	66-14-34-48
HM	Ivan Remezovsky	D	6-1/165	8-Feb-05	Russia	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	45-0-13-13
HM	Charlie Robertson	G	6-3/165	2-Apr-05	Canada	North Bay (OHL)	12-6, 3.17, 0.892
HM	Pier-Olivier Roy	D	5-9/175	5-Mar-04	Canada	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	68-6-62-68
HM	Rainers Rullers	C	6-4/195	11-Dec-04	Latvia	Zemgale (Fin-Mestis)	46-4-6-10
HM	Bennett Schimek	RW	5-11/180	15-Apr-03	USA	Providence (HE)	37-11-9-20
HM	Zach Schulz	D	6-1/195	14-Jun-05	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	51-1-9-10
HM	Magomed Sharakanov	D	6-1/200	11-Oct-04	Russia	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	44-7-25-32
HM	Cam Squires	RW	5-11/165	11-Apr-05	Canada	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	67-30-34-64
HM	Julius Sumpf	C	6-1/175	11-Jan-05	Germany	RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL)	23-9-9-18
HM	Alexander Suvorov	RW	5-9/160	30-Nov-02	Belarus	Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)	47-13-11-24
HM	Gabriel Szturc	C	5-11/185	24-Sep-03	Czech	Kelowna (WHL)	56-24-55-79
HM	Nikita Telegin	C	6-1/155	21-Jun-05	Russia	Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL)	22-6-4-10
HM	Patrick Thomas	C	5-11/160	21-Aug-04	Canada	Hamilton (OHL)	66-17-39-56
HM	Hudson Thornton	D	5-11/180	4-Nov-03	Canada	Prince George (WHL)	68-23-51-74
HM	Jiri Tichacek	D	5-9/170	30-Jan-03	Czech	Rytiri Kladno (Czechia)	39-0-6-6
HM	Djibril Toure	D	6-6/200	5-Jun-03	Canada	Sudbury (OHL)	57-5-11-16
HM	Tuomas Uronen	RW	5-11/180	19-Mar-05	Finland	HIFK (Fin-U20)	39-20-23-43
HM	Noa Vali	G	6-0/160	19-Apr-05	Finland	TPS (Fin-U20)	17-8, 2.38, 0.912
HM	Nicholas Vantassell	RW	6-4/195	18-Apr-04	USA	Green Bay (USHL)	62-19-18-37
HM	Visa Vedenpaa	G	6-2/170	11-May-05	Finland	Karpat (Fin-U20)	31GP, 0.886
HM	Evgeny Volokhin	G	6-3/170	6-Apr-05	Russia	Mamonty Yugry (MHL)	20-6, 2.12, 0.927
HM	Declan Waddick	C	5-10/170	24-Jan-05	Canada	Niagara (OHL)	64-28-21-49
HM	Saige Weinstein	D	6-0/180	30-May-05	Canada	Spokane (WHL)	57-4-14-18
HM	Ethan Whitcomb	LW	6-4/190	13-May-04	Canada	Muskegon (USHL)	53-24-24-48
HM	Raul Yakupov	RW	6-1/180	21-Jun-04	Russia	Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (MHL)	49-32-29-61

2023 NHL DRAFT: Top “Tier 2” players available for the draft this year (AJHL, BCHL, CAHS, CJHL, OJHL, USHS) with video – Part One – Forwards

Brock Otten — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 15:10:46 +0000

McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, provides a close examination of all the top "Tier 2" players available for the draft this year (USHS, CJHL, etc). The first part in the series highlights the forwards.

Bradly Nadeau

Wing/Center - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

5’10, 63lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 60, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 55

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/bradly_nadeau_-_2nd_period_34_12_-_34_24.mp4

Notes: One of the elite shooters in this year’s draft class, Nadeau has torched the BCHL in 2023 along with his older brother Josh (more on him later). Bradley is a lethal off puck option with his ability to find open space and quick release. His offensive zone anticipation is terrific, but he also competes for open space and plays a lot larger than his 5’10, 163lbs frame would suggest. Nadeau consistently makes use of the space he is afforded too, thanks to a lightning quick release. Armed with a thunderous one timer and an explosive wrister, Nadeau routinely beats goaltenders cleanly…from a distance. An area of Nadeau’s game that probably doesn’t get enough credit is his tenaciousness. He is very active on the forecheck and in puck pursuit and really seems to derive energy from playing the body. He routinely plays through the opposition, rather than around them and as he gets stronger, this power component to his game is only likely to become more prevalent. However, Nadeau is a bit of a polarizing prospect this year because there are some concerns over projectability. His on-puck play can be inconsistent because his ability to blend skating and puck control is a work in progress. His use of linear crossovers does layer deception in his attacks and he has good balance, allowing him to take advantage of his shooting gifts. However, his stride length is inconsistent, causing his first step quickness to be lacking a bit for a smaller player. Additionally, Nadeau is not what you would call a magician with the puck. He handles well, but his game is predicated on quick decision making and use of space. As that space is taken away, he’s often not creative enough to work his way out of defensive pressure. These things can and should improve, especially as he heads to the NCAA (with Maine). However, it makes one wonder if Nadeau projects best as a high energy, complementary goal scorer at the NHL level who will need to play with a high-end playmaker to be successful. Obviously, that still has significant value, especially if he can become a Jake Guentzel type.

Aiden Fink

Wing - Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

5’9, 152lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 53.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/aiden_fink_-_2nd_period_21_19_-_21_31.mp4

Notes: Recently named the AJHL’s MVP (joining the likes of Cale Makar, Dylan Holloway, Mason Raymond, and Mike Comrie in the history books), Fink is a slippery, offensive wizard. His shot might be his best weapon. He can score in a multitude of ways. He sets up shop at the half wall near the dot and shows a consistent ability to one time pucks cleanly, especially on the powerplay. He can create space for himself in transition and shoot in full stride. He has a quick release in the slot and requires little time and space to generate velocity. Fink’s ability to blend agility with puck control is also impressive. He has excellent control on his edges and can stop/start on a dime. This allows him to consistently spin off checks and attack East/West, moving toward the slot with little hesitancy despite his size/strength deficits. His linear quickness needs work. He has difficulty sustaining speed and he doesn’t generate significant power in his pushes. Right now, his skating would probably best be assessed as a 50, but with a focus on elongating his stride and sometime in the weight room, his skating has a real chance to be above average thanks to his lateral quickness and agility. Thus, the 55 grade as a projection. The other impressive feature of Fink’s game is his ability to alter pace. He is impressive in transition but is just as effective when the game slows down because he is tenacious and competitive. His performance at the World Junior A Challenge was extremely impressive, especially in the game against the United States, versus players he will be competing against at the NCAA level with Wisconsin. That said, his lack of size and lack of explosiveness/quickness will be bound to scare off some scouts. When his feet and hands can’t create space, he can be easily pushed off the puck at this current time. Additionally, his defensive zone play does leave a lot to be desired. Ultimately, this is why Fink is heading to Wisconsin and not the WHL. This will give him a ton of time to work on his athletic tools in hopes that they catch up to his skill and creativity. He is well worth a look in the middle rounds as a high upside selection.

Aron Jessli

Wing - Pickering (OJHL)

6’1, 190lbs

Grades: Skating: 57.5, Shot: 50, Skills: 55, Smarts: 47.5, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 53.125

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1-aron_jessli_-_3rd_period_3_7_-_3_19.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2-aron_jessli_-_2nd_period_28_31_-_28_43.mp4

Notes: Jessli has to be considered one of the most fun and entertaining under the radar prospects available this year. A Norwegian, late 2004 born winger, he has been playing (mostly) in North America the last half decade, most recently with Pickering in the OJHL. Headed to Niagara University next year, Jessli offers up a really intriguing upside thanks to an intriguing blend of skill, speed, and power. As you might expect from someone who has over 100 penalty minutes on the year, Jessli is aggressive. He’s not a huge hitter, per say, but he is ultra tenacious and quite the pest. Discipline is an issue; lots of penalties taken out of frustration or from just poor decisions, but he’s definitely a tough guy to play against. The driving force behind Jessli’s game is his speed. Lightning quick, Jessli loves to play at a breakneck pace. The thing is, he’s also pretty skilled with the puck. He routinely turns defenders inside out off the rush and he blends his quickness and skill together really well. Once he gets a head of steam, he is a very tough player for Junior A defenders to stop. His playmaking ability shows well at times too. Sure, he can skate himself into trouble at times and he’s certainly confident in his ability to beat defenders one on one, but he does make some impressive passes and reads as he’s attacking. He’s got a pretty quick snap shot and he can one time pucks cleanly from the slot and the half wall, but overall he’s best in tight to the net as a scorer. Most of his shots from a distance fail to hit the mark or go right into the goaltender’s chest. The biggest challenge is assessing Jessli’s on ice IQ and awareness. As mentioned, he can make some impressive plays as a set-up man. But overall, his decision making does leave some to be desired. He’s at his best when attacking with speed, and as the game slows down, he can be less effective. Sometimes that means not making quick enough decisions with the puck on his stick. Sometimes that means not supporting his teammates off the puck, failing to identify opportunities to get to open space. His defensive play is certainly not as solid as his offensive play, with the majority of his physicality being served in pursuit of scoring chances in the offensive end. All that said, I find myself very, very intrigued by Jessli and it comes as no surprise to see that NHL Central Scouting has him as the highest ranked player in the OJHL this year; a league that routinely has multiple players selected. I can’t say for certain what type of player he will eventually develop into, but his combination of speed, size, skill, and tenaciousness gives him a chance, even if I wish he were headed to a better program (no offense meant to the fine folks at Niagara U).

Zach Nehring

Wing - Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep)

6’3, 180lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 53

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/zachary_nehring_-_1st_period_23_43_-_23_58.mp4

Notes: Nehring is an intriguing potential power forward that oozes athleticism. There’s room for improvement in his agility and edgework, but he’s a strong linear mover with big, long strides. This allows him to play a really solid North/South game, as he routinely beats defenders to the net on drives, with and without the puck. He has a real clear understanding already of how he should play given his skill set. He excels in the bumper position on the man advantage and takes up position near the blue paint at even strength, looking to screen, tip, or put home second chance opportunities. Nehring is also a consistent physical presence and is very active in puck pursuit on the forecheck and backcheck. While his defensive game is a bit inconsistent currently, he does show great potential to be a strong two-way forward with his power, length, and tenaciousness. Headed to Western Michigan, it will be interesting to see how the full complement of his skills comes together as he fills out his frame.

As an offensive player, Nehring is at his best when he keeps things simple. He actually has great offensive zone awareness. He fills space well, working give and go’s, and he has good vision coming off the wall. His anticipation and off puck movement are key to his offensive production. However, currently his offensive tools would best be classified as average. He can lead the charge North/South and has great puck protection tendencies (using his frame to shield the puck), but he’s not the type of player who is skilled enough to create when pressure collapses around him; he can get boxed in. Additionally, he does not always catch pucks cleanly when accepting passes or when trying to pick up speed through the neutral zone. He excels as a finisher in tight, but he does not have a high end shot that can beat goaltenders clean from a distance. Most of his work is done in tight. I actually like his playmaking ability and vision more. That said, as mentioned, Nehring is far from a polished, finished product. Lots of room for further development here and he has a chance to be a quality middle six, two-way power winger.

Jayson Shaugabay

Wing - Warroad High (USHS-MN)/Green Bay (USHL)

5’9, 155lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 62.5, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1-Jayson_shaugabay_-_2nd_period_24_31_-_24_51.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2-jayson_shaugabay_-_1st_period_1_25_-_1_42.mp4

Notes: Shaugabay is a shifty and highly deceptive playmaking winger with significant offensive upside. When playing in the Minnesota High School loop, he’s been arguably the best player in the State and was subsequently named Mr. Hockey for the season. He started the year with Green Bay of the USHL and was a standout for the Gamblers too, with one of the highest point per game averages on the team. Shaugabay should legitimately be considered one of the most skilled and creative players with the puck available this year. He routinely creates extra time and space for himself by beating the first and second layers of pressure, turning would be defenders into pylons. He is not a traditional burner, but he is extremely shifty because of how well he alters pace to build in deception. Quick stops and starts, in addition to fakes and delays make him a difficult cover in transition, especially when you consider his ability to blend skill and movement effortlessly; he can truly keep the puck on a string. He is really good at inviting pressure, before sliding pucks to open teammates for significant scoring chances because of how much attention he draws in the offensive zone. His passing precision is generally very impressive.

That said, there are a lot of areas to his game that will need work in order for him to reach his high ceiling. He’s undersized and his skating ability would best be classified as average. He doesn’t possess elite escapability with his feet alone. Additionally, his strength on the puck will need to improve considerably. Factoring in these two things, turnovers can be a major issue as he tries to navigate high traffic areas. At his best on the perimeter, is this translatable? Shaugabay’s off puck play is best described as inconsistent too. He can apply pressure on the forecheck, and he does have a good stick to help force turnovers, however his engagement isn’t always present, especially in the defensive zone. I actually really like that he’s going to Minnesota-Duluth, a program that tends to draw different players than Shaugabay; players who are more polished off the puck and incorporate power into their game. UMD should help him become a more well-rounded player and he’ll likely form an interesting one/two punch with Isaac Howard on the powerplay.

Aydar Suniev

Wing - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

6’2, 200lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/aydar_suniev_-_1st_period_34_14_-_34_26.mp4

Notes: Really the only thing missing from Suniev’s game is dynamic skating ability. He has a very wide, Wayne Simmonds’ esque, stride that limits his quickness and agility. Most often he is forced to delay or slow pace down to a crawl because he lacks the ability to beat defenders to the outside. He is very balanced and strong on his skates, which allows him to play through contact. Additionally, his puck protection habits and strength on the puck are excellent, meaning that he can play through the middle of the ice and drive the net at the BCHL level without above average quickness. But, how will this ability translate to the NHL level without upgrading his skating? A transplanted Russian, Suniev has been playing in North America for several seasons now, bouncing between programs such as the Yale Bulldogs, Hill Academy, St. Andrew’s College, and the Thorold Blackhawks of the GOJHL. Starring with Penticton this year, Suniev has earned a full ride to UMass, a route that will allow him time to upgrade his athleticism.

The rest of his game is very impressive. He has very quick hands and excels as a playmaker because of his ability to miss sticks and read/react to defensive pressure. He can be turnover prone at times, but these turnovers usually are as a result of his lack of explosiveness causing pressure to close in on him and not because of poor reads. Suniev also has a great shot and is a real threat on the powerplay with his one timer and quick release. Away from the puck, Suniev has great forechecking habits and routinely puts himself in position to apply pressure to puck carriers, even without strong closing speed. He uses his size effectively to separate players from the puck and he will battle along the wall to keep pucks alive. I wouldn’t go as far to call him a power forward, but he plays with a strong motor and brings energy regardless of whether he has the puck or not. Suniev’s development as an NHL prospect will be directly tied to his ability to improve his skating.

Hudson Malinoski

Center/Wing - Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

6’1, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/hudson_malinoski_-_1st_period_22_45_-_22_57.mp4

Notes: This is a great story. Back in 2017, Malinoski ended up with a torn vertebral artery after falling off his roof. After a successful experimental surgery, Malinoski was kept out of hockey for a year and had to work his way back up the hockey ladder. Passed over in his WHL draft and a late bloomer physically, Malinoski (2004 born) is now playing in his first year in the AJHL with Brooks and he’s been one of the best players in the league as a rookie. He also was a standout at the World Junior A Challenge for Canada West. Watching Malinoski, you can’t help but wonder if this is a player who is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. The athletic tools are very intriguing. He’s a dynamic linear attacker who generates significant power in his stride, which he uses to push into the offensive zone. He controls the puck well at full speed and uses his length to protect the puck, helping him gain the zone. There’s room for further development in his balance and edgework, but this can be improved. Malinoski also shows well as a playmaker. He runs the point of the Brooks powerplay and is great at drawing in pressure before finding passing lanes. He actually has a good shot but does not use it enough. A lot of his production this year has come with the man advantage, and the reason for that is that Malinoski has a lot of room to grow physically. He can be separated from the puck and can struggle to find the inside consistently at even strength. He shows a desire to work the wall and defend down low, but he often finds himself on the losing end of those battles. A Providence College commit, the upside here is really intriguing. Once Malinoski fills out and gains confidence, will his game reach another level? He has missed so much development time and he really hasn’t seen much time at the higher levels of hockey. A lot of parallels can be made between Malinoski and Adam Ingram last year and it seems likely that NHL teams are going to be very interested in him this draft in hopes that they can unlock his potential with a patient approach.

Jake Fisher

Center - Cretin-Derham Hall (USHS-MN)

6’2, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/jake_fisher_-_3rd_period_13_15_-_13_30.mp4

Notes: Fisher is a strong skating, power center who is a candidate for Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey award this year. A fluid skater with big, powerful strides, Fisher consistently has a positive impact as a puck carrier in transition, leading the charge across the opposing blueline. He’s not the most creative or skilled attacker, per say, but he is effective with his ability to use his frame to protect the puck, in combination with the power in his linear crossovers. He already understands how to alter pace too, using both delays and continued pace when entering the zone, showing an ability to survey the ice and select an appropriate carrying strategy. He’s far from a head down, North/South attacker. Fisher’s strong offensive production this year can be attributed to his excellent IQ and offensive zone awareness. Again, he’s not incredibly creative, but he is very effective off the puck, consistently sliding into gaps in coverage. He drives the net and will use his size to score the dirty goals near the crease. He is also an effective forechecker and three zone player who uses his size and quickness combination to force turnovers. Fisher is not necessarily an overtly physical player, but he does compete for pucks and space. He recently decommitted from Northern Michigan and is apparently deciding between Notre Dame and Denver for his official commitment at the NCAA level. Fisher’s offensive upside may be somewhat limited, but his athletic tools do give him an intriguing upside as a high energy, two-way center with a nose for the net at the higher levels.

Joe Connor

Wing - Avon Old Farms (USHS-Prep)/Muskegon (USHL)

5’10, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/joseph_connor_-_1st_period_15_46_-_15_59.mp4

Notes: It’s been quite the year for Avon Old Farms winger and Northeastern commit Joe Connor. It started with him suiting up for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. It ended with him recently helping Avon Old Farms capture the New England Elite 8 Championship (prep school playoffs), where he was named MVP. The first things you notice about Connor are his motor and competitiveness. He’s a great forechecker and he works hard in all three zones to earn touches/force turnovers. He’s certainly not big, but he plays bigger than his 5’10, 170lbs frame would indicate (as much as that is cliche). He’s also an intelligent off puck player. He consistently slips between coverage to earn scoring chances and his anticipation is a standout quality. He could stand to be a little more poised with the puck in the offensive zone (rushed passes, low volume shots), but as he gets stronger on the puck and becomes more comfortable protecting the puck and absorbing contact, I believe these issues should resolve themselves.

A high-volume shooter, Connor does have a good (but not great) shot. A snappy release helps him get pucks to the net quickly from the slot and he has good hands in tight to finish off plays under pressure. There are some limitations to his game that could prevent him from having a high ceiling. For one, he’s not a dynamic skater for a player of his size. From a mechanical point of view, his stride is not poor. He just doesn’t generate significant power. That does bode well for him eventually improving his speed and quickness as he gains strength over his NCAA tenure at Northeastern. Additionally, he’s not a high skill player. He can struggle to beat defenders one on one and one of the reasons why he can be pressured into rushed shots or passes is because he doesn’t have the hands or creativity to routinely escape said pressure. The key for Connor will be the improvement to his athleticism in order to make him a more dynamic player. There is a future that sees Connor develop into a Frank Vatrano type of player at the NHL level.

Hunter Anderson

Wing - Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep)/Des Moines (USHL)

5’9, 181lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/hunter_anderson_-_1st_period_15_22_-_15_34.mp4

Notes: Intelligent goal scoring winger who has been the straw that stirs the drink for Shattuck St. Mary’s this year. Excellent complementary player who is good at finding space to shoot, using excellent edgework and lateral quickness to push away from defenders into open space. Has a quick release on his wrist shot, but also one times pucks with authority, usually from his office on the right side of the net front. Anderson also finishes plays off well near the crease and will jockey for position near the blue paint in order to get deflection or second chance opportunities. Anderson shows good hands in tight spaces, using toe drags or inside/out moves to create extra time and space for himself, especially when he attacks the middle of the ice. Perhaps most impressive from Anderson is that he’s not just a high-volume shooter. He has good instincts and vision with the puck in the offensive zone. He will draw in defenders before dishing off, using the threat of his high-end shooting ability as a decoy; deception is certainly a layered component to his game. As a skater, as mentioned, Anderson has quick feet in the sense that he can evade checks with strong edgework, balance, and agility. However, his linear quickness and top end speed will need to be upgraded to find success at the next level, especially given his lack of ideal size. This has been very evident over the last two years when he has played in the USHL with Des Moines and has been unable to create his own scoring chances in transition or when driving wide. Additionally, while Anderson has a good compete level in the offensive end, his defensive play is a major work in progress. He can leave the zone early or be late to his backchecking assignment. He is far from being a physical player. Headed to the University of Denver, Anderson has a chance to develop into a quality complementary goal scorer, but the athletic tools will need to be upgraded over his NCAA career first.

Josh Nadeau

Wing - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

5’8, 160lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/josh_nadeau_-_3rd_period_12_34_-_12_49.mp4

Notes: Even with the production increase, one has to wonder…is Josh Nadeau really an improved player over last year when he went through the 2022 Draft unselected? He’s a more impressive player than his younger brother Bradly on the puck. He routinely evades pressure with his quick feet and quick hands, creating additional time and space for himself, both in transition and when delaying. Despite limited strength on the puck, he routinely escapes scrums with the puck on his stick thanks to his tenaciousness and skill blending ability. Like his brother, Josh also possesses an excellent shot and can beat goaltenders cleanly with a quick snapshot or wrister. Even though he’s small, he actually does the majority of his goal scoring dangerous from in tight by finishing off second chances, getting pucks on sticks, and getting himself clearance in the slot to use his release. Even though his physicality/compete grade is a 45, his compete level is extremely admirable. He’s like “the little engine that could” out there. He takes a beating, but he keeps on ticking. He will take the body. He is very middle of the ice centric. However, one has to wonder how effective he’ll be playing that particular style as he moves up a level or two. He gets hit a lot. Durability could be a concern for sure. Additionally, for such a smaller player, his lack of explosiveness is bound to be concerning to NHL scouts. He’s not a poor skater by any means, but his quick, small strides (almost like a sewing machine), don’t really generate a ton of power and this does not give him the escapability that he’s going to need in order to continue to be an offensive juggernaut. The hands, touch, and sense all certainly give him a chance. He’s a skilled and intelligent playmaker. But few players his size succeed without being truly elite movers. I’d probably feel more comfortable seeing how he performs at the NCAA level first (with Maine).

Jonathan Castagna

Center - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

6’2, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/jonathan_castagna_-_3rd_period_18_12_-_18_24.mp4

Notes: Castagna is the prototypical Cornell University recruit. Just like previous successful forwards with the Big Red (like Riley Nash, Morgan Barron, Colin Greening, and currently Matthew Stienburg), Castagna is a competitive two-way player who likely projects as a potential bottom six player if everything goes according to plan regarding his development. The 6’2 pivot is an excellent skater who loves to lead the attack. He plays an aggressive North/South game and is very middle of the ice focused. He uses his speed well without the puck too, operating effectively on the forecheck, while also looking to crash the net looking for second chance opportunities. Castagna is aggressive physically in the defensive end and in the neutral zone, using his size and quickness to close quickly on puck carriers and to be a disruptive force defensively. As a skilled player, his upside remains somewhat questionable. He shows some nice skill when keeping plays alive along the wall, but most of his offensive chances at the prep level are created by his speed advantage. When he gets bottled up, he can be forced off the puck or commit turnovers. I wonder if he would be best served to move to the wing where his speed and physical aggressiveness would play well without the pressure of being the primary playmaker. The most difficult thing to assess would be Castagna’s IQ and smarts. This is simply due to the level that he’s playing at. As mentioned, Castagna often skates circles around prep level defenders and that means he’s not forced to problem solve high traffic situations all that consistently. He shows a good understanding of how to play without the puck. But what upside does his playmaking ability possess? At this point, Castagna is probably a slam dunk to be a draft selection as NHL team’s see a player with an intriguing floor as an energy player, but also some mystique surrounding his offensive ceiling.

Gavyn Thoreson

Wing/Center - Andover (USHS-MN)/Waterloo (USHL)

5’8, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/gavyn_thoreson_-_3rd_period_16_17_-_16_29.mp4

Notes: Thoreson, a late born 2004, has been one of the best forwards in the state as part of a dominant first line in Andover (along with Cooper Conway and Cayden Casey). He is an incredibly fun player to watch thanks to his combination of hustle, competitiveness, and skill. He may be small, but he’s not weak. Even at the USHL level this year, he was throwing the body and finding his way to the net, doing most of his damage from the middle of the ice and in high traffic areas. Thoreson’s best offensive attribute might be his shot. He has a lightning quick release, and he can pick corners from a distance. He also is a skilled handler who creates time and space for himself, something that is extremely important given his lack of truly dynamic skating ability. This is obviously the concerning thing as it pertains to his NHL draft chances. At 5’8, you really wish that he was a better skater. He has a decent top speed, but he takes time building up to it. Short, choppy strides prevent him from gaining separation, forcing him to rely on his hands and his brain to help him operate in transition. Additionally, he’s not the world’s most agile skater, with a lot of room for him to improve his lateral quickness and confidence on his edges. Starting the year with Waterloo of the USHL, Thoreson’s lack of quickness was evident as he failed to create off the rush the same way that he does with Andover. That said, he was still able to play at a point per game pace with the Blackhawks, a testament to his high skill level, offensive zone awareness, and tenaciousness. Headed to St. Cloud State, Thoreson is obviously a longshot to be an NHL player, but if he could just improve his skating, he could be an intriguing prospect. At the very least he should become a high-level NCAA player and draw interest as a free agent in the future.

Owen Beckner

Center - Salmon Arms Silverbacks (BCHL)

6’2, 181lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 50, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51.625

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/owen_beckner_-_3rd_period_23_40_-_23_52.mp4

Notes: Beckner would have fit in perfectly with the NTDP had he been an American born player. By that I mean, he has that mix of length, athleticism, and two-way competitiveness that the program has valued in their bottom six recently (with players like Devin Kaplan, John Beecher, Dylan Peterson, Andre Gasseau, and Alex Weiermair this year). I mean this completely as a compliment, even if it points to some upside limitations too. Beckner is an impressive mover, especially given his length. He has long, powerful strides that allow him to generate power and quickness easily. He uses this speed to play a North/South attacking style, often leading the charge across the blueline for the Silverbacks. He also uses it to be a defensive and three zone presence, consistently applying pressure on the backcheck. He is a physically assertive player, especially when supporting his defenders down low or on the half wall. Because of his speed, two-way awareness, and tenaciousness, Beckner has NHL upside as a third/fourth line center who can kill penalties and play a shutdown role. However, his offensive skill set will need to continue to improve in order to reach that level. He flashes puck skill in transition, but when he’s not able to beat defenders with speed to the outside, he can get bottled up. He’s not often able to problem solve out of intense layers of pressure and becomes way less of a factor when the game slows down. His shot is not currently much of a weapon, forcing him to operate primarily as a pass first kind of player. He often works the point of the Salmon Arms powerplay, a testament to his vision and passing ability. Heading to Colorado College, Beckner’s offensive production this year may not be all that impressive, but it is important to state that Salmon Arms are not an incredibly high scoring team and for much of this year, Beckner has led them in scoring. I could easily see an NHL team being interested in him in the later rounds this year given his athletic profile and size.

Teddy Townsend

Center - Eden Prairie High (USHS-MN)/Waterloo (USHL)

5’10, 165lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 47.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51.625

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Notes: Townsend came into the year with a significant amount of fanfare and high expectations. He was already one of the better players in Minnesota last year and looked good in a short call-up stint with the NTDP U17’s. However, this season his development seems to have plateaued a bit. It started with a disappointing performance at the U.S. Hlinka/Gretzky camp, where he was ultimately a surprise cut. Then he returned to Eden Prairie for another year of high school hockey, and while he’s been great and a team leader, his game hasn’t really taken another step forward either. Townsend is a well-rounded offensive player. He has a powerful linear stride and despite being only 5’10, 165lbs, he is very successful driving the net with a strong lower half. He is hard to knock off the puck in full stride and can put defenders on his back after pulling by them with his speed, keeping the puck in his hip pocket. He has a quick release and finds his way to the middle of the ice without the puck. He is also a precise passer and a creative playmaker who can elevate the play of his wingers.

Defensively, Townsend is a work in progress, especially if he wants to stick down the middle. Additionally, I’ve been disappointed in the growth of his game with the puck, especially his decision making. He is very much North/South in how he attacks and can burrow his way into turnovers with his head down. While the sample size is extremely small, he’s been highly ineffective at the USHL level and in a single game with the NTDP (against St. Thomas) because he’s not identifying passing lanes or making quick enough decisions. As alluded to, perhaps he is best suited to a move to the wing moving forward. Obviously, Townsend’s offensive upside is still significant. He’s one of the youngest players available this year (born in early September). He has runway to improve, especially physically. One has to think that he’ll play next year with Waterloo in the USHL full time before moving on to the University of Minnesota, whose incoming class is stacked. As far as mid to later round picks go, Townsend is extremely intriguing because he does have the potential to be an impact player. However, I would not be able to justify a higher ranking at this time.

Chase Pirtle

Wing - Mount St. Charles Academy (USHS-Prep)

6’2, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 55, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51.25

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Notes: I was already fairly familiar with Pirtle’s game dating back to his OHL draft year with the North Jersey Avalanche (playing alongside Quentin Musty, Matthew Mania and Nick Moldenhauer). His combination of size and skating ability is definitely going to intrigue NHL scouts; his athleticism is impressive. He routinely likes to play at a breakneck pace, often leading the charge in transition. He is an excellent transporter with his great top end speed, and he can control the puck well at full speed, using changes of pace or direction to evade pressure, often without significant speed loss. He shows good skill and creativity in small spaces, often evading the first layer of pressure with a quick move and can explode to the net coming off the wall. The rest of his game is definitely best described as a work in progress. For all his speed and skill, he can skate himself into trouble far too often. A lot of his impressive drives end up dying on his stick once inside the offensive zone, as he attempts to drive through defenders or makes an ill-timed pass. One has to wonder how his game would have looked had he gone the USHL route this year (his rights are now owned by Omaha) and played with more talented linemates (no offense meant to his Mount St. Charles teammates).

Additionally, Pirtle’s finishing ability is not a strength. He does not generate significant power on his wrist shot, often failing to elevate it quickly. He can struggle to hit the net at times or puts it straight into the goalie’s chest. He does earn good looks thanks to his quickness and power, but he can also struggle to finish in tight, sometimes failing to corral loose pucks. I’d also love to see Pirtle use his size and power more consistently off the puck. He could be a great forechecker and he could be quite the presence near the net front (especially at the prep level), but he can be too perimeter oriented. He flashes physicality, but it’s certainly not a huge part of his game. Armed with a scholarship to Cornell, is Pirtle a true NHL draft prospect? I would definitely say yes, even with his current shortcomings. His athleticism is impressive, and his upside is high. He can have a profound impact on the transition game and Cornell is a great spot for him to improve his off-puck play, given the program’s strong defensive acumen.

Connor MacPherson

Wing - Leamington Flyers (GOJHL)

6’0, 176lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51

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Notes: Only one player in the history of the NHL has been drafted out of the GOJHL (formerly junior B in Ontario); Daultan Leveille, 29th overall to Atlanta from the St. Catherines Falcons. MacPherson has a real chance to be the second. Along with his twin brother Ryan, Connor has been one of the best players in the league with Leamington and has a scholarship to New Hampshire in his back pocket. Connor is a cerebral winger who has many layers of deception built into his game. Not a quick or powerful skater, he prefers to slow the game down to a crawl, offering himself an opportunity to see the ice. His quick hands routinely afford him the extra time and space that his feet do not. He can keep the puck on a string as he stops, starts, and pivots to help him evade pressure and maintain possession. His vision with the puck is high end. His off-puck anticipation and reads are high end. He times his cuts perfectly and routinely finds himself with scoring chances in the slot and near the crease.

Connor is also a competitor who will get to the net or take a hit to make a play. Unquestionably, adding strength will be key for him as he moves forward as he can be pushed off the puck too easily at times. Obviously, his skating needs to be upgraded too, as does his confidence playing with pace. His shorter strides prevent him from gaining separation speed. MacPherson suited up for a GOJHL all-star team that captured the title at a U18 prep school showcase in late January, however he was a relative non-factor offensively at the event that was highly attended by NHL scouts. At this point, a lack of dynamic skating in combination with him playing in an, admittedly, lower-level league, would cause me to hesitate to recommend him as a draft selection at this time. I’d be more curious to see how he handles a move to a higher level next season, be it the NCAA or another feeder league.

Jack Ziliotto

Center/Wing - Mississauga (OJHL)

6’1, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51

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Notes: A power forward, Ziliotto was, at one time, considered one of the better forward prospects in Ontario during his minor hockey days. However, his development really plateaued in his U15-U16 years, and it led to him being a later round pick in the OHL. As such, Ziliotto took a long, hard look at the NCAA route and it’s been good for his development. Playing at the OJHL level, Ziliotto has improved incrementally over the last two years. This is especially true of the second half of this OJHL season where he put a weak Chargers team on his back and ended up leading the team in scoring by a significant margin, averaging almost two points per game down the stretch. Ziliotto has some intriguing components to his game. He shoots the puck well, owning a powerful, whip-like release on his wrister that can beat goalies clean from a distance. He also shows well as a playmaker deep in the offensive zone, spinning off checks to get pucks to the slot, or to drive the net. He definitely tries to play with power and is middle of the ice focused, often taking up residence near the crease when he’s not supporting his linemates in the cycle or carrying in transition.

Ziliotto also shows great potential as a two-way player. He has a really good stick and anticipation in the neutral zone and in the defensive end, helping him to force turnovers which he can use to counterattack. The key for him has always been and continues to be the need to improve his skating. He has a hunched over posture, inconsistent stride length, and is rather stiff when trying to play off his edges or alter his direction. I think this is preventing him from being a truly consistent two-way force. I’m also not confident about his ability to stick at center. The skating and skill limitations probably will force him to the wing, and I mean, he was also only 44% on the draw this year in the OJHL. I’d really like to see Ziliotto head to the USHL for a season before going to RPI. Not only will that give him another year to improve and build confidence, but it could also allow him to play with some more talented players…no offense meant to his teammates the last two seasons.

Giacomo Martino

Wing - St. Michael’s (OJHL)

5’10, 160lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 50.75

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Notes: Giacomo, the younger brother of Dallas Stars draft pick and Clarkson standout Ayrton Martino, came into the draft year with pretty high expectations after he was a point per game player in the OJHL as a U17 player. However, he hasn’t really taken that next step to become a dominant Junior A player, at least to the level where he would be considered a slam dunk draft pick. If you recall, Ayrton had one of the highest point per game averages in the OJHL and was a standout at the World Junior A Challenge as a U18 player. Whereas Giacomo has been good, but not outstanding with St. Mike’s, and was a relative non-factor at the World Junior A Challenge. Giacomo does have a well-rounded offensive profile. Good shot and shooting mechanics. Good offensive zone instincts. Solid skill with the puck. Has a similar stride to his brother in the sense that he is confident on his edges and is very agile. Solid top speed, but certainly not the type of dynamic skater that you’d like to see from a 5’10 forward. Martino does work hard in the offensive zone and is a quality forechecker. Adding strength is a necessity for him moving forward as he can be too easily pushed off the puck at the OJHL level. Martino’s defensive zone play needs work too. I’d really love to see him head to the USHL for a season, like his brother did, before heading to Northeastern. I guess my concern is that he’s an undersized winger who lacks dynamic skating ability and athleticism, in addition to having a fairly average offensive projection. Could definitely see a team using a later round pick on him if they are convinced that he will really blossom as he matures physically.

A.J. Lacroix

Wing/Center - Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)

6’0, 195lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 50.75

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Notes: Lacroix is a competitive and versatile forward playing out of the BCHL. He has dual citizenship and thus was a top nine forward on the U.S. Hlinka/Gretzky squad in the summer, where he had three assists in four games. A Michigan State commit, Lacroix’s best asset is his tenacity. He competes hard off the puck, applying himself physically in puck pursuit, consistently finds his way to the net front, and works hard in the defensive end to tie up opposing players and block shots. Because of this, he is an excellent penalty killer. As an offensive player, his ceiling likely has some limitations. He is an adequate skater, who does build in linear crossovers to help him build speed, however his wide stance also prevents him from being truly explosive or agile East/West. He has a fairly quick release on his shot and can operate as a goal scorer in tight, but he can struggle to cleanly catch passes at times too. A standard North/South attacker, he operates best in puck pursuit as a dump and chase player or forechecker, as he does not have the kind of high-end skill or creativity to consistently beat defenders one on one. His playmaking ability shows potential but is also inconsistent. Some shifts his passes and reads prove to be on the mark, as he creates after forcing turnovers or by attacking wide and delaying. However, other times, the precision on his passes is not strong and they miss the mark, resulting in turnovers. Lacroix’s positional versatility, competitiveness, and the potential to improve his athletic tools could interest NHL teams in the later rounds this year, but it would also not be shocking to see them pass on him to see how he performs at a higher level first (perhaps as a re-entry following a year in the USHL or in the NCAA).

Finn Brink

Wing - Maple Grove High (USHS-MN)/Madison (USHL)

5’9, 180lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 55, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 50

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Notes: Brink is a smaller, high IQ winger who is having a terrific offensive season this year between the Minnesota high school ranks (where he is a top Mr. Hockey candidate) and the USHL. He has terrific offensive instincts and is great at finding gaps in coverage. Armed with a quick release, Brink is able to consistently take advantage of the scoring chances that his anticipation and awareness afford him. At the high school level, Brink is able to work as a lead attacker with decent top end speed and puck skill, driving North/South to enter the zone. However, at the USHL level he is much more of a complementary piece with limitations due to a lack of explosiveness and overall agility. His initial short, choppy strides prevent him from building speed quickly and this makes him a step behind the play at the USHL level at times. One would have to believe that it would have even larger negative implications at the NCAA level and above, the primary reason that Brink was not ranked by NHL Central Scouting despite such a strong offensive season. Brink is also not a player you would consider to be a high-end physical presence or defensive player. The reality is that Brink does have some offensive potential due to that high IQ and skill. However, the physical tools need to be upgraded. Maybe an NHL team throws a later round selection at him in hopes of him developing slowly. However, it seems more likely that NHL teams put him on a watch list to see how areas of his game develop next year with a full USHL season or the following year in the NCAA with Wisconsin, before selecting him.

Joe Connor – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #25 Tampa Bay Lightning – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Rank – 25th (Last Year - 29th) GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018 COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013

1. Sam O'Reilly, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

2. Benjamin Rautiainen, C, Tappara (Liiga)

3. Ethan Gauthier, RW, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

4. Dylan Duke, LW, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

5. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

6. Daniil Pylenkov, D, Dymano Moscow (KHL)

7. Jayson Shaugabay, RW, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

8. Maxim Groshev, D, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

9. Everett Baldwin, D, Saint John's Sea Dogs (QMJHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

10. Joe Connor, LW, Northeastern University (NCAA)

11. Jan Golicic, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

12. Noah Steen, LW, Örebro HK (SHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

13. Marco Mignosa, RW, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

14. Ethan Samson, D, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

15. Lucas Murcuri, C, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

2024 NHL DRAFT: RE-ENTRY CANDIDATES – USA

Austin Burnevik - Wing - Madison Capitals

Kaden Shahan - Wing - Sioux City Musketeers

Charlie Cerrato - Center - Youngstown Phantoms

Blake Montgomery - Wing - Lincoln Stars

Jake Fisher - Center - Fargo Force

Joe Connor - Center - Muskegon Lumberjacks

Benjamin Poitras - Wing - Green Bay Gamblers

Philippe Blais-Savoie - Defense - Tri-City Storm

Ethan Gardula - Wing - Sioux City Musketeers

Erik Pahlsson - Center - Dubuque Fighting Saints

Jake Sondreal - Center/Wing - Dubuque Fighting Saints

Gavyn Thoreson - Wing - Waterloo Blackhawks

Noah Powell - Wing - Dubuque Fighting Saints

Brian Nicholas - Center - Sioux City Musketeers

Shikhabutdin Gadzhiev - Goaltender - Muskegon Lumberjacks

Vinny Borgesi - Defense - Northeastern

Tanner Adams - Center/Wing - Providence

Dylan Hryckowian - Wing - Northeastern

Patrick Geary - Defense - Michigan State

Isaac Gordon - Wing - Michigan Tech

Gavin O’Connell - Wing - Michigan State

Ben Robertson - Defense - Cornell

Albin Boija - Goaltender - Maine

NAHL

Stephen Peck - Goaltender - Bismarck Bobcats

BELL: 20 Prospect Points – Stankoven, McGroarty, Demidov, Greentree & More

The end of the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game?

Drafted Prospects

Draft-Eligible Prospects

2024 NHL DRAFT: World Junior A Challenge Review – 26 Scouting Profiles with video

Canada West

Rylan Brown - Defense

Logan Sawyer - Wing/Center

Ryan Zaremba - Center

Diego Johnson - Wing

Matthew Van Blaricom - Wing

Canada East

Dawson Labre - Goaltender

Jonathan Morello - Center

Carsen Lloyd - Defense

United States

Trevor Connelly - Wing

Mac Swanson - Center

Joe Connor - Wing

James Reeder - Wing/Center

Will Felicio - Defense

Adam Kleber - Defense

Tory Pitner - Defense

Sweden

Alexander Zetterberg - Center/Wing

Melvin Fernstrom - Wing

Lucas Pettersson - Center

Alfons Freij - Defense

Leo Sahlin Wallenius - Defense

Jack Berglund - Center

Anton Frondell - Wing/Center

Slovakia

Daniel Alexander Jencko - Center/Wing

Ondrej Maruna - Wing

2023 NHL DRAFT: Round by round review – Brock Otten’s favourite picks and questionable selections.

Round One

Prospect System Rank – 25th (Last Year - 29th)
GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018
COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013