Joe Hicketts – McKeen's Hockey

AHL Calder Cup Playoff Preview – Western Conference

Tom Dorsa — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 14:07:47 +0000

The Calder Cup Playoffs are upon us again, and in the Western Conference, we are seeing a lot of changes from the picture painted last season. The defending conference champions, the Texas Stars, failed to make the playoffs to defend their 2018 West title as one of five teams that competed in last season's Western Conference bracket that couldn't repeat as postseason teams.

Those teams are the Stars, Manitoba Moose, Rockford IceHogs, Tucson Roadrunners, and Ontario Reign. But with old teams and players out, new teams and players come in, setting up to shine under the bright lights of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Iowa Wild, Milwaukee Admirals, San Diego Gulls, and Colorado Eagles (in their first season as an AHL team) are seeking to wreak havoc on the American Hockey League after missing out on a chance last season.

And in the case of Iowa and Colorado, this is their first postseason appearance in the history of the franchise's current setup. Fans in Des Moines and Loveland will get to see enthralling playoff hockey for the first time in the AHL.

Let's take a look at the first-round matchups in the Western Conference, as well as what to expect from the two teams in action. The playoffs begin on Wednesday, April 17.

Central Division:

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 22: Milwaukee Admirals forward Eeli Tolvanen (11) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Milwaukee Admirals and Cleveland Monsters on February 22, 2019, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Chicago Wolves (44-22-6-4) vs 4. Grand Rapids Griffins (38-27-7-4)

The Wolves have the identity of a prototypical postseason club: they are a physical and experienced unit with good goaltending and even better coaching. It helps when they also have speed, skill, and depth, with four players (Daniel Carr, T.J. Tynan, Brooks Macek, and Tomas Hyka) on the active roster registering more than 0.9 points per game.

They led the Western Conference in goals for (250) and were second in fewest goals against (199). Head coach Rocky Thompson has done a marvelous job for the Vegas Golden Knights' affiliate since taking the job in the summer of 2017, after leading the Windsor Spitfires to the Memorial Cup title.

While the Wolves have some size on their blueline with Nic Hague (4th-ranked Vegas prospect), Jake Bischoff (5th) and Griffin Reinhart (16th), they lost the bulk of their offensive contribution from their rearguards when Erik Brannstrom departed for the Senators organization in the Mark Stone trade.

Grand Rapids comes in with their own set of issues, the most notable of which is their freezing cold home stretch during which the Griffins lost their last nine games of the regular season (eight in regulation). There was no real reason for this besides a plain late-season struggle, as most of their two-way players are still with the club, and there is no lack of talent.

Regardless, the Griffins have proven twice during their seven-year stretch of playoff appearances that there is a potential championship run within them. The 2013 and 2017 Calder Cup champions have the experience and depth to make a run regardless of the poor final stretch.

The Griffins will have to limit penalties due to their division-worst 78.5% penalty kill percentage, while also playing well at five-on-five, on account of their power-play being mostly ineffective during the regular season (14.2%).

Prospects to Watch:

CHI: C Cody Glass (1st): Glass has perhaps the highest hockey IQ of any 2017 NHL Draft picks, and scored twice (with a game-high six shots on goal) in his professional debut on Friday, April 5.

CHI: G Oskar Dansk (14th): The netminder had a superb regular season (26-9-4, 2.47, .911) and looks to be the goalie of choice for Thompson and crew heading into the 2019 postseason.

GRG: RW, Filip Zadina (1st): The sixth-overall pick in last June's draft made an ambitious jump to the AHL this season, and at 18, performed well (59-16-19-35). His speed and shooting will be a big part of any possible turnaround for the Griffins this postseason.

GRG: D Joe Hicketts (11th): He isn't as noticeable as other prospects on the Grand Rapids blueline, but Hicketts had a solid 2018-19 campaign (64-3-24-27). The undersized defenseman packs a punch for the Griffins and is very patient with the puck.

Prediction: Wolves in four games.

Milwaukee Admirals (36-24-14-2) vs 3. Iowa Wild (37-26-8-5)

After missing the postseason last year, the Admirals are back with a vengeance and are looking for their first Calder Cup since 2004. The Nashville Predators' primary affiliate has done most of their winning this season on the back of youthful and speedy prospects, which is often times a key to success in the playoffs.

Four of their top-five regular season scorers were on a team's top 20 prospects list in our preseason farm system rankings (Adam Helewka, Anthony Richard, Alexandre Carrier, Eeli Tolvanen). The Admirals are spearheaded by youth and electric forechecking assertiveness, which can be a lethal combination in the playoff hockey atmosphere.

It helps when you come into the first round on a red hot winning streak. In a tight Central Division postseason race, Milwaukee went 11-0-2-1 to end their season, fighting from seventh in the Central to second-place and home-ice advantage in round one.

The Wild, on the other hand, have been carried by some savvy and experienced veterans like Cal O'Reilly, Gerald Mayhew, and Kyle Rau, as well as a dynamic goaltending duo of All-Star Kaapo Kahkonen and AHL Player of the Week Andrew Hammond. But they won't have to lean on goaltending and experience all postseason long.

Head coach Tim Army has emphasized speed and hard work in the neutral zone all year long, and systemically, the Wild seem ready for the test. In addition, the Minnesota Wild re-assigned forwards Ryan Donato, Jordan Greenway, and Luke Kunin down to Iowa after the NHL season ended in St. Paul. The trio will assist in generating that speed and scoring from the top lines, pushing nominal top six forwards into middle six roles and thus providing great depth to the offensive attack.

The most intriguing matchup to watch in this first-round series is special teams, specifically the Iowa power-play versus the Milwaukee penalty kill. The Wild posted the second-best power play percentage in the league (23.8%) in the regular season, but will line up against an Admirals' penalty kill unit that erased a Western Conference-high 85% of penalties. Army and fellow first-year head coach Karl Taylor will have their hands full of each other's high-end special teams groups in this one.

Prospects to Watch:

MIL: RW Eeli Tolvanen (1st): Though the Finn didn't have the year expected from the Nashville top prospect, Tolvanen was great down the stretch. His timely scoring and playmaking will no doubt be a factor in the playoffs.

MIL: D Alexandre Carrier (8th): His offensive output has always been there, but in his third full AHL year, the 5-11" playmaker evolved as a complete d-man. His gaps and stick-quickness have taken major strides, and in a top-four role, will be essential to any long playoff run in Milwaukee.

IA: G Kaapo Kahkonen (7th): Kahkonen has had himself a splendid first season in the North American pros, and depending on his role in the playoffs (keep Hammond in mind), he could be playing for a spot with the NHL club next season.

IA: LW Jordan Greenway (3rd): Coming off a full season with Minnesota, Greenway's presence post re-assignment has already been felt (5-3-3-6) down the stretch. A massive and skilled forward, the 22-year-old plays a playoff style of hockey.

Prediction: Admirals in five games.

Pacific Division:

Bakersfield Condors (42-21-3-2) vs 4. Colorado Eagles (36-27-4-1)

The Condors made history midway through the 2018-19 season when they stormed through a 17-game winning streak, the second-longest undefeated run in the history of the AHL. They were lifted to the summit of the Pacific Division after being outside of a postseason spot before the streak, which speaks to their depth and attitude.

First-year Condors Tyler Benson (4th) and Cooper Marody (5th) have carried the club for the better part of the season, and the two leading Bakersfield scorers are extremely dangerous on the power play, where 43 of their combined 130 points have come, helping the Condors' man-advantage operate at a division-best 20.5% clip.

The Condors will have to lean on the aforementioned duo, as what they have in top-end skill, they lack in scoring depth. Bakersfield's next-leading point scorer after Benson (66) and Marody (64) is Joe Gambardella, who is 16 points shy of the top two. Along with Josh Currie, these four are the only ones on the roster with more than 40 points this season.

The Eagles, on the other hand, needed final-weekend drama and help to clinch a postseason spot. They won their final regular season game over San Jose and saw division rival Tucson lose an hour later to grab the fourth spot in the Pacific by one point.

Late-season grinds like that can inspire a team, though, and Colorado has a solid mix of veterans and young guns to generate momentum with in its first year as an AHL franchise. AHL ringers like forward Andrew Agozzino and defenseman David Warsofsky have been leaders at their respective positions and have alleviated the pressure on the Martin Kaut and Nicolas Meloche types for high-stakes moments like this: the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

They have an elite penalty kill (84.1%), accrued after a lot of practice, as they also accumulated a Western Conference-high 1,114 penalty minutes in the regular season. The club will have to remain disciplined to have a shot in the first round, as they can ill afford to line the Condors up with power play opportunities.

Prospects to Watch:

BAK: D Caleb Jones (14th): After a frustrating rookie season in 2017-18, Jones has established himself as a top-pair fixture with much-improved two-way reliability, and still has his offensive chops ready to go.

BAK: LW Tyler Benson (4th): Plagued by injuries for much of his young career, Benson has finally stayed healthy for an extended period of time and is showing everyone just how good he is this season.

COL: RW Martin Kaut (4th): Another 19-year-old in the AHL, Kaut is highly intelligent and is due to start scoring goals after an unsustainably unlucky 9.7 shooting percentage during the season. He has been solid in all three zones this season, but the Eagles might need him to take another step up.

COL: LW A.J. Greer (18th): The former second-round draft selection had the best year of his pro career after inconsistencies before 2018-19, and his combination of physicality and smarts are a sight to behold.

Prediction: Condors in four games.

San Jose Barracuda (39-22-3-4) vs 3. San Diego Gulls (36-27-4-1)

The Barracuda have a set of advantages and disadvantages coming into their matchup with their rivals down Interstate-5 in California. One pro is their higher place in seeding, which grants home-ice rights, but a major disadvantage is their NHL parent club, the San Jose Sharks, being tied up in a playoff race.

At any time, some of the Barracuda's most important contributors can be recalled and leave the AHL team flat, such as occurred with Monday's promotion of Dylan Gambrell, the Sharks' third-ranked prospect and the 'Cuda's fourth-leading scorer. However, this club is still very skilled, especially from the blue line going forward. Nick DeSimone is one of the finest offensive defensemen in the league, and Kyle Wood is a rock in his own zone.

Unheralded forward prospects like Alexander True and Francis Perron have jumped into the spotlight this season and can provide plus value as the team's top two scorers in the regular season.

After missing the playoffs on the last night of the 2017-18 season, the Gulls cleared the playoff bubble and secured a return appearance to the postseason this spring. The club has been led by several once-valued prospects that were given up on by their previous franchises (Sam Carrick, Chase De Leo, Justin Kloos), as well as emerging home-grown prospects like Sam Steel and Troy Terry.

Either way, this team is pretty young and just as exciting. Though Terry is done for the season (non-displaced leg fracture), Steel and other top prospects like Kalle Kossila and Max Jones will have to carry the water of a rather juvenile club.

The Gulls scored the second-most goals in the division (239), are solid on special teams (20.3 PP%, 80.9 PK%), and have solid veteran goaltending with Kevin Boyle and Jeff Glass in net. This is a team without a clear, deadly weakness. They also have the same amount of wins at home as they do away from San Diego (18) which will pay off when the series shifts to Northern California.

Prospects to Watch:

SJ: LW Francis Perron (not ranked): Packaged as part of the Erik Karlsson trade, the forward has been another reason as to why the Sharks won the September transaction. On the Barracuda top line, the 22-year-old has been better than ever in the regular season.

SJ: C/LW Jayden Halbgewachs (12th): The leading scorer in the WHL last season had a major test jumping into the pros, and it all pertained to whether he will be able to score at will in the AHL, as he did in junior. While he didn't have the best regular season on offense, a big playoff run in the San Jose top-six can help his case.

SD: C Sam Steel (1st): Though Steel has not had an ideal season after making the big-league club out of training camp, he still posted solid numbers as a 21-year-old in the AHL (53-20-21-41). He can impact the game with or without the puck with his great rink sense and beautiful shot.

SD: D Josh Mahura (6th): Mahura has made monumental leaps to his defensive game after being mostly an offensive specialist in the WHL, and should pencil into the bottom-four of the San Diego postseason lineup.

Prediction: Gulls in four games.

How the Rest of the West Playoffs Will Unfold:

Western Conference Semifinals: Milwaukee Admirals over Chicago Wolves, 4-2.

Bakersfield Condors over San Diego Gulls, 4-1.

Western Conference Finals: Bakersfield Condors over Milwaukee Admirals, 4-3

AHL Notebook: Central Division

Tom Dorsa — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 13:45:38 +0000

December is a big month for young prospects. The World Junior brings opportunities for the world's best under-20 hockey pupils, while those who don't get the nod to compete internationally can earn a recall to the NHL -- or an expanded role in the AHL -- to fill the absence of those who do.

Now in the middle part of the season, coaches around the AHL have solidified their lineups for the long haul and have committed to deploying their organization's best prospects in the ways that suit their game best. The first couple of months of the season are a feeling-out period, but once the youngsters in the locker room have made their mark, they are given the space and time they need to develop.

This is a familiar case in the AHL's Central Division, where a wide assortment of the game's top prospects are spending their development days and being given an increased role with their respective teams.

In this notebook article, we will take a look at the Central Division of the world's top minor league and highlight the month of some prospects playing in the eight-team classification.

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

Things must be pretty easy when you're 10-0-1-0 in your last 11 games and the top-ranked team in the Western Conference.

SAN JOSE, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Erik Brannstrom (12) enters the zone during the San Jose Sharks game versus the Vegas Golden Knights on September 22, 2018, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

For anyone that might have taken in a Team Sweden game at the World Junior Championships, yes, Erik Brannstrom is for real. As a rookie in the AHL, Brannstrom (3rd in Vegas preseason prospect rankings) leads the Wolves in points by a defensemen with four goals and 16 assists in 24 games.

The Swede is perhaps the best skater in the Golden Knights' organization -- at any position -- and is using his legs to wreak havoc for the first-place Wolves. Brannstrom plays a game that seemingly translates well to the NHL; fast-paced, smart, visionary, and speedy. He still has some work to do on the defensive side of the game.

Alongside him on the Chicago blueline are two other heralded prospects, Nic Hague (4th) and Zach Whitecloud (12th), who have each had stellar debut seasons in the AHL. Hague, a prolific two-way defenseman during his time in the OHL, has demonstrated what made him dangerous in junior by using his 6-6" frame to dislodge opponents and immediately go forward with the puck.

Hague (9-8-17 in 33 games) has an absolute laser of a shot, but could stand to improve his passing skills just a bit. Whitecloud (4-12-16 in 31 games) has been a mature, steady force on an otherwise very young defense, and the free agent signing out of the NCAA is perhaps the best defensive defenseman out of the three mentioned here, and possesses quick hands to boot.

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

Minnesota's second-ranked prospect got the recall to the NHL this month as Luke Kunin (8-7-15 in 21 AHL games) was plucked out of the minors. As someone who can impact the game through skating and energy, Kunin has not been all that impressive in the NHL this season (0-1-1 in eight games). Still, with the room to grow, Kunin can be a key player, and I wouldn't be surprised if he has already played his last AHL game of the season.

Another prospect who has had some growing pains is Louis Belpedio (5th). The NCAA-made defenseman contributed much to the Miami Ohio offensive attack before turning pro, but has not made the transition the AHL very easily. Belpedio (3-7-10 in 32 games) has, however, impressed as a two-way force, as he moves the puck well and is as mobile as anyone else playing in Des Moines. As a right-hander, Minnesota would be smart to scoop him up at any time.

Speaking of World Junior prowess, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen -- a gold medalist as the backstop of the 2016 Finland squad -- has had a pretty solid month on top of a strong first North American pro season. Kahkonen (7th) is 8-4-4 with a 2.50 GAA and .917 Sv% this season, and both of those rate stats are good for top ten in the whole league.

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

While Filip Zadina is gone representing the Czech Republic at the World Juniors, someone has to fill the void for the Griffins. Unfortunately for the Red Wings brass, most of Grand Rapids' top players this season have been seasoned veterans with no chance to help in a rebuild, like Chris Terry, Carter Camper, and Matt Puempel.

Detroit's reality is that a lot of their top prospects are either playing in the NHL or are too far away from turning pro right now. Michael Rasmussen (3rd), Dennis Cholowski (7th), and Filip Hronek (8th) are all playing with the Red Wings as I write this down.

Zadina (1st) has been a solid offensive force (8-9-17 in 27 games), but other than that, it's been a mixed bag. Dominic Turgeon (19th) has shown what his ceiling is in his time with Grand Rapids this season (3-8-11 in 34 games), just a fourth-line NHL center or extra body on a good top-tier team, while defenseman Joe Hicketts (11th) has improved since his underwhelming sophomore season with a stat sheet that shows his ceiling (1-8-9 in 25 games).

Hicketts can be a good third-pair defenseman if he can work to overcome his dismal physical game, at 5-8", 180lbs. His positioning away from the puck is getting better, as is his play low in the zone and against the boards.

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

Gavin Bayreuther returned to action with the Texas Stars for two games at the end of the month after spending a month and a half with Dallas. A hot commodity out of college, Bayreuther (13th), in his second pro season, has developed into a servicable two-way defenseman who has improved his blueline defense and overall reading of the ice.

In a goaltending system stacked with NCAA stars (former and current), unsigned free agent Landon Bow (unranked) has stolen the show with Texas. Bow had dominated what was supposed to be a shared crease between him and Hobey Baker nominee Colton Point, with 23 starts in Texas' first 31 games. Bow's combination between size (6-5") and composure gives him an NHL starter ceiling.

Denis Gurianov (8th) and Roope Hintz (9th) have bounced back and forth between Dallas and Texas this season, with each performing exceptionally in the AHL. Gurianov (9-19-28 in 23 games) and Hintz (8-11-19 in 17 games) are both playing at over a point-per-game pace, mostly playing on a Stars forward line together.

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Nashville Predators right wing Eeli Tolvanen. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)

While not the highest-profile prospect in the Predators system, Anthony Richard has been one of the most impressive over the last season and a half. Richard (9th) leads the team in goals and points (12-9-21 in 31 games) by playing the same way he played in his heyday in the QMJHL; fast, pesky, and energetic.

If the Predators weren't as stacked as they are at forward, Richard could be an instant recall. He has a hard shot, has played all three forward positions, and plays both sides of special teams.

Eeli Tolvanen (1st) has earned himself a promotion to Nashville before the Predators loaned him to the Finnish WJC team. Tolvanen's creativity, vision, and electric shot were the main spark of a somewhat potent Admirals lineup, as he had posted four goals and eight assists in 24 games before the recall.

The 24-year-old Emil Pettersson (13th) has put himself on the Predators radar late into his prospective development, as the versatile and intelligent center has seven goals and 13 assists in 34 games. His smarts have always been the main draw to him, but his offensive touch and foot speed have improved and now, he seems like a legitimate NHL prospect, rather than just Elias Pettersson's brother.

Defenseman Fredric Allard (14th) has contributed much to the offensive attack, in a way that Nashville fans are accustomed to out of blueliners. Allard is a physically smaller defenseman, but one who makes up for it with skating speed, smarts, and consistency (sounds a lot like Ryan Ellis, P.K. Subban, and Roman Josi, hmm?). His 18 points (3-15) lead all Admirals blueliners.

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

Derek King absorbing the Rockford head coaching job after Jeremy Colliton replaced Joel Quenneville at the helm for the Blackhawks is just one of many trickle-down effects of the Blackhawks' ongoing re-tooling. The IceHogs have been impacted by many of those effects, with the coaching shuffle being the biggest.

Rockford has dropped from third to sixth in the division since Colliton's promotion, and that's a bummer for fans in Winnebago County, Illinois, but the prospects playing with the club are still performing well.

Dylan Sikura (3rd) has earned a recall to Chicago, but had torn AHL defenses up with his speed, hands, and flashiness before. Sikura (9-9-18 in 26 games) was a main cog in the Rockford lineup from the minute he stepped onto the ice at the BMO Harris Bank Center, but he is likely finished playing in the AHL. That's how talented he is.

Victor Ejdsell (7th) has been decent for a very cold IceHogs offense, chipping in four goals and nine assists in 27 games. The power forward plays a game typical of players his size (6-5", 214lbs) and seems like a guy who could headman a good third line in the NHL. As the return in the Ryan Hartman trade, Ejdsell has some pretty big shoes to fill.

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

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

After a standout performance in last year's World Junior Championship, the Blues sent Klim Kostin to Vancouver for the 2019 WJC in hopes of it revitalizing his troublesome 2018-19 campaign with San Antonio.

Kostin (2nd) has all the tools to make crazy stuff happen on every shift, headlined by a big power forward-esque frame, a splendid shot, and great technical skating. However, Kostin has just five goals and six assists in 28 AHL games this season, as the Blues' 2017 first-rounder has struggled with positioning away from the puck. He isn't getting into the greasy areas offensively and letting his body create chances for him.

One heralded St. Louis prospect that has done exceptionally well this season is forward Jordan Kyrou (3rd), who paces the Rampage in goals (nine) and points (22) despite having played fewer games (21) than about anyone else on the roster.

The once electric OHL scoring machine is doing exactly what made him lethal with Sarnia, in letting his smooth skating and lanky, long reach set the tone for him and his line. Given that he can play all three forward positions and has the speed that few in the Blues organization have, Kyrou is a must-watch guy.

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

After the Jets sent top-ranked Kristian Vesalainen back to Europe for more seasoning, fellow impact prospect Mason Appleton took over the spotlight. The Michigan State alum has been incredible in his second AHL season after scoring 66 points in 76 games last season, which finished fourth in scoring.

Though he has bounced up and down between the Moose and Winnipeg Jets, Appleton (3rd) has been a consistent and lethal offensive force in the AHL when he has been present. With eight goals and 10 assists in 19 games, the right winger has been as effective shooting the puck as distributing it, despite having a reputation as a pass-first guy. His skating was severely flawed in his draft year but is now a strong suit, as his pivoting and acceleration are NHL-level.

Rookie defenseman Logan Stanley (6th) has not had as easy of a transition from juniors to the pros. The 6-7" behemoth is noticeably -- and understandably -- slow in adjusting to the AHL and hasn't been able to contribute in many ways (2-3-5 in 27 games).

A seventh-round draft pick in 2015, defenseman Sami Niku bursted onto the scene as one of the best d-men in the AHL during his rookie season last year. Niku is the prototypical modern defenseman, as his puck-moving skills and skating ability are as good as any defenseman -- at any level -- in the Winnipeg organization. This year with Manitoba, Niku (4th) has reinforced that belief, chipping in 2-8-10 in 17 games.

Detroit Red Wings Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:57:52 +0000

In 2016-17, the Red Wings missed the postseason for the first time in a quarter century. They missed again, more emphatically, last year, with their 73 points on the season falling 26 points shy of the final wild card spot.

While the team was seemingly clinging to their postseason hopes through at least mid-season in 2016-17, there was no question that they were not “going for it” last year. They did not quite tank, but they self-identified as sellers as the trade deadline neared and their most prominent off-season acquisition heading into 2017-18 was the one and only Luke Witkowski.

Now that they are a full season past the denial stage of mourning/rebuilding, we can see how the organization is planning to return the Red Wings to a place of prominence in the NHL. On the one hand, they were able to leverage some diminishing assets in 2016-17 to acquire additional draft picks, selecting 11 times in total. On the other hand, all of their extra selections came after the top two rounds. Picking four times in the third round is nice, but having extra picks in the first and/or second is better.

So while Detroit only had 10 draft picks this year, the extra picks were far more significant. In 2017, the Wings second pick was 38^th overall. This year, they selected four times by the time the 38^th pick was taken. They made seven of the first 84 picks. Not only that, but the drafting strategy the Wings took on this year was more centered on skill than on players who fit a certain role. They chose for upside instead of safety.

Not that anything was wrong with the selection of Michael Rasmussen ninth overall last year. Everyone loves 6-6” centers who are mobile and dangerous from the dots on down. On the other hand, he has long dealt with recurring injuries and an outsized portion of his production has come on the power play. He just might not be Eric Lindros.

Their next two highest picks of their 2017 draft class were blueliners who are more notable for IQ and two way play than any sort of dynamism. Systems need those players, and NHL teams need them too, but they are not the types of prospects on whom you can plan a rebuild.

With their first four picks of the 2018 draft, the Red Wings added players who all could have easily fit in the first round and do project as players who could be central to the next playoff team in Detroit.

Detroit looks to have another season of selling in store in 2018-19, but with the ascent of some of the products of the last two draft classes looking to be ready to contribute by 2019-20, as well as the maturation of previous draft hauls, such as Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, and Tyler Bertuzzi, they can now focus on building a team that will not just be competitive, but with some luck, could be an elite franchise again. The path back to greatness will not be linear, but at least they can now envision it.

Filip Zadina

1 Filip Zadina, LW (6^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) While we can understand the motives of Montreal, Ottawa, and Arizona in taking Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Brady Tkachuk, and Barrett Hayton with the third, fourth and fifth picks of the draft, respectively, we remain convinced that Zadina was the third best player in the 2018 draft class, closer to Andrei Svechnikov at number 2 than might be believed. He grades at a very high level as a skater, shooter, puck handler and for his hockey IQ. He plays with grit, energy, and a true nose for the net. Even if Zadina plateaued after two thirds of the QMJHL season with Halifax, the level he had been playing at for months is one that few ever achieve at any level. The fact that he upped his output when the lights were brightest suggests he could make good on the chance to make the NHL roster right away. Zadina is a building block.

2 Joe Veleno, C (30^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) The first and thus far only player granted “Exceptional Player” status by the QMJHL, Veleno played a mature game with Saint John, filling a middle six role up the middle as the Sea Dogs won the QMJHL title in 2017. Unfortunately, he slumped badly to kick off his draft year, as the only player of note left on a team in the beginning of a tear-down. He particularly struggled putting the puck in the net. After a midseason trade to Drummondville, with the pressure of being The Man off his shoulders, his season took off again and he more than doubled his goalscoring while improving his rate of helpers as well. Detroit was surprised to see him available at the end of the first round, and his high end skating, playmaking, and hockey IQ all suggest that he could one day be a number one center, with the second line as his floor.

3 Michael Rasmussen, C (9^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1^st) While it was fair to consider Rasmussen an overdraft at ninth overall in 2017, there is no question but that he profiles as an impact center in the NHL. If there were doubters, his performance in the WHL playoffs last season, with a ridiculous 33 points in 14 games, put such concerns to rest. He is an average skater, even considering his size, which might prevent him from being a true fist line center, but he is an incredible sniper and can be impossible to strip of the puck. That his strength comes with soft hands is a bonus. The Red Wings are expected to give him every chance to make the NHL out of camp this year. He will probably need to be eased into life in the NHL with sheltered shifts, but he should be a top six staple within two seasons.

4 Jared McIsaac, D (36^th overall. Last Year: IE) After being fortunate to nab Zadina at sixth overall in the first round, Detroit returned to Halifax with their second second rounder, taking all around blueliner Jared McIsaac. A fantastic skater who does everything at an above average level, he has already represented Canada at the WU18 tournament twice. It was not too long ago that McIsaac was considered the best offensive defenseman in the QMJHL (ahead of Noah Dobson). With Halifax expected to ramp up as they prepare to host next year’s Memorial Cup, expect McIsaac to put up a copious amount of points and gain even experience in the spotlight. If there is a future first pairing defender in this system, this is it.

Jonatan Berggren

5 Jonatan Berggren, LW/RW (33^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) One of the better skating forwards in the 2018 draft class, Berggren put up crazy numbers in the Swedish junior ranks and was one of the breakout stars of the WU18 tournament, but lasted to the second pick of the second round due to a lack of muscle and a lack of experience at the senior level. In his 10 games in the SHL, he failed to get his name on the scoresheet. He should see more time with Skelleftea’s senior team this year, and his skating and puck skills both graded very highly and will be his tickets to the NHL. His other attributes around average, but he shows flashes of a strong shot and enough vision to suggest a top six projection within a few years.

6 Dennis Cholowski, D (20^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th overall) Before leaving St. Cloud St. after his freshman season to sign an ELC with Detroit and proceed to play in the WHL with prince George and then Portland, Cholowski was easy to overlook, whether it was due to playing in the BCHL in his draft year, or due to minimal offensive production in college. That changed when he left for Major Junior. Nearly reaching one point per game in the rough WHL will do that. Cholowski is a highly skilled puck mover, with very high hockey IQ and the ability to play any number of roles at the highest level. He lacks a thundering shot, which may keep him from the first power play unit, but between his ability to read the game, move the puck in the right direction and play at a high pace, he could do most other things.

7 Filip Hronek D (53^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 6^th) Were it not for an amazing draft class, Hronek could easily have been ranked among the top three in this system. Drafted in the second round after struggling to make an impact as an 18 year old in the Czech men’s league, Hronek came to the OHL and had zero adjustment period to the North American game. One year later, his transition from the OHL to the AHL went just as smoothly. He is a very good puck rushing blueliner who could stand to recognize danger a little better. He has also been sheltered, so his ability to play tough minutes is still a question. Those warts aside, he plays a very mature game with the puck and is not very far at all from the NHL.

8 Evgeni Svechnikov, LW (19^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 2^nd) Most players who performed as Svechnikov did last year in the AHL would be hard pressed to appear in a top 20 at all, much less in the top ten of a system as deep as Detroit’s. But even as his point per game average fell from 0.69 to 0.4 in AHL action, he still has a full set of tools, along with youth, to allow him to project into a top six at the NHL level with greater consistency and compete level. To his credit, he did not look completely out of place in a 14 game trial in the NHL, during which he scored his first two goals. He is very talented with the puck on his stick, with a long reach and strong hands and has a quick shot release. He is not bad away from the puck either. All the tools are there, he just needs to show the want to put them together.

9 David Pope, LW (109^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 19^th) The longest tenured prospect in the top 20, David Pope is the epitome of a late bloomer, who truly blossomed over his final two season at Nebraska-Omaha, with 72 points over those 69 games and a Hobey Baker nomination as a senior. Pope has a big frame, and is no more than an average skater, but he packs a very strong shot and above average puck handling skills as well as a sharp hockey mind. Late bloomer or not, he is already 23 and will have to prove himself soon. If he cannot do it within a full AHL campaign, it might never happen, but with some trade assets at LW in the NHL who could be moved by the deadline, we are optimistic.

10 Ryan O’Reilly, C/RW (98^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) To get a steal at the draft, you have to be willing to bet on a player’s upside overcoming his red flags. There are many players out there who are OK at a lot of things, but great at nothing, but only a few who can demonstrate high end tools, even if it is packaged with some subpar ones. O’Reilly, a Texas native, fits that mold. At is best, he has an NHL caliber shot, along with above average skating and puck handling. On the other hand, he can shy away from the game away from the puck and his effort level can waver. His instincts can also hurt him at times. With another year in the USHL in store before attending the U of Denver, Detroit will have a lot of time to let O’Reilly hone his game.

Joe Hicketts

11 Joe Hicketts, D (UDFA: Sep. 24, 2014. Last Year: 9^th) Little Joe Hicketts, packs a big punch despite being one of the smallest blueliners in pro hockey at 5-8”, 180. While his sophomore campaign in the AHL was not as statistically impressive as his rookie season was, he still profiles as a pretty safe third pairing blueliner who is very close to NHL ready. He plays a surprisingly physical game, is strong on his stick, and positions himself well to disrupt opponent attacks. Although he lacks a big shot from the point, he is patient and poised with the puck and is quick on his feet. He will be in consideration for the #6/7 role in Detroit this season.

12 Keith Petruzzelli, G (88^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8^th) By all accounts, Petruzzelli struggled in his first year with Quinnipiac. The anointed starter as a freshman for the Bobcats, a handful of poor performances caused him to lose the job to Andrew Shortridge. Perhaps we temper our previous enthusiasm a touch, but we still believe in Petruzzelli, particularly as his play ticked back up in the second half of the season. A lanky 6-6”, he has above average athleticism and played a competitive game in the net. The funny thing about goalies is that one extra save every two games can be the difference between fantastic and subpar. One save per game is the difference between sub and superstar. The heat will be on higher this year, but Petruzzelli has the tools to make it work.

13 Gustav Lindstrom, D (38^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 13^th) Drafted by the Red Wings in the second round in 2017 as a mature beyond his years defender who spent his draft year playing with men in Allsvenskan, he showed enough development in his first post-draft year to maintain that projection. He has very good puck control and a dangerous wrist shot, even if his involvement in the offense has been somewhat muted thus far. Although he needs to get stronger, he also showed some more hints of the ability to play a more physical game this year. The Wings have already signed him to an ELC, although Lindstrom is expected to spend next season playing in the SHL, with Frolunda.

Alec Regula

14 Alec Regula, D (67^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) At one time a USHL player committed to the University of Michigan, Alec Regula left the Chicago Steel after playing a supporting run in their Clark Cup Championship and spent his draft year in the OHL, with the London Knights. Seeing as how his offensive game blossomed while retaining his reputation for strong play in his own zone, it looks to have been a wise career choice. Although he lacks any specific impact tools, his overall collection, tied together by an advanced hockey mind, make the whole greater than the sum of the individual parts. He has ideal size, plus mobility and is strong on the puck. He might stay below the radar, but he has NHL upside.

15 Filip Larsson, G (167^th overall, 2016. Last Year: unranked) The Red Wings took a flyer on Larsson despite rather poor numbers in his draft year in the SuperElit and at the WU18s. Actually, his numbers were horrific in the latter. Since then, however, Larsson’s stock has taken off. He improved his save percentage with Djurgarden’s U20 team from .872 to .925 and was named the top goaltender in the USHL after a .941 save percentage in 30 games for Tri-City, which earned him a spot on Sweden’s WJC squad. He has average size, but moves around his crease at a solid level and does not give up on a play. He will have every chance to claim the starting job next year at the University of Denver.

16 Malte Setkov, D (100^th overall, 2017. Last Year: unranked) The towering Setkov left his native Denmark to improve his hockey fortunes with Malmo in Sweden at the age of 15. 6-6” and lanky, he is nonetheless a fairly strong skater and shows signs of upside in terms of puck skills and hockey IQ. When he keeps his game simple, he can be a very effective defender, able to get the puck out of his own zone and begin the transition, while making life difficult for opponents through a heavy game. At his worst, he seems uncoordinated and overthinks things, leading to bad decisions with the puck, or falling out of position. After spending most of last year in the Swedish second division, he will have a bigger opportunity to spend time in the SHL.

17 Libor Sulak, D (UDFA: May 24, 2017. Last Year: unranked) Undrafted despite solid performances growing up in the Czech hockey system, even spending his first draft eligible season in the Russian junior ranks, Sulak caught the eyes of Red Wings scouts in his age 22 season, his second season in the pan Central Europe EBEL. A fantastic skating blueliner, the Wings loaned him to Pelicans, in Finland’s top men’s league to continue his path. A very impressive season in Liiga followed, with 32 points in 42 games, eighth among all league defenders, and second among them in points per game. He even contributed a pair of assists in his two game cameo in the AHL with Grand Rapids. He needs to make some adjustments to his game off the puck, but he should be ready to spend the full season in North America.

18 Givani Smith, RW (46^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 5^th) Givani Smith, whose older brother Gemel had his first full year in the NHL last year with Dallas, is the embodiment of the trend in drafting to avoid limited skill power players in the early rounds. A former second round pick, the younger Smith has a near elite physical game, but lacks any other attributes that project as more than average. Outside of a star turn in the postseason last year with Kitchener, he has never reached 0.7 points-per-game in his OHL career. Between his size and his strength, he will continue to get chances, and there are some power forwards who simply take longer to realize their ceilings, but it is currently hard to see more than a bottom six grinder in Smith right now.

19 Dominic Turgeon, C (63^rd overall, 2014. Last Year: unranked) Unlike many of the other players on this list, Turgeon is not a big upside guy. He is a middle six center in the AHL who projects as a likely fourth liner in the NHL. Son of former first overall pick and landmark Hall of Very Good player Pierre Turgeon, Dominic is not so much a chip off the old block, but he has enough mobility and hockey IQ to play a definite NHL role as soon as this season. He received his first five game sin the NHL last season, and should be in line for a fair bit more next season. He has just enough offensive ability to stick.

20 Otto Kivenmaki, C (191^st overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) It is easy to go under the radar when you are only 5-8”, 150, or when you have never appeared for your country in a prominent international tournament. Missing much of the second half to injury and then signing a three year contract with Assat between the end of the season and the draft also likely nicked Kivenmaki’s draft stock. But despite the red flags, Kivenmaki is a very fast, very skilled center who plays with a fearlessness belying his stature. He scored at a point per game pace in the Jr. A SM-liiga (Finland’s top U20 league) and should move on to the senior Liiga this year.

Detroit – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:14:04 +0000

For years, the Detroit Red Wings deservedly held the reputation of being among the most astute drafters in the game. The rosters of those teams that famously went to 25 consecutive playoffs were littered with not only players that were developed in-house, but many of whom were mid and late round draft picks. Notable players drafted by the Red Wings after the second round include Vladimir Konstantinov (11th round, 1989), Sergei Fedorov (4th round, 1989), Niklas Lidstrom (3rd round, 1989), Slava Kozlov (3rd round, 1990), Mike Knuble (4th round, 1991), Tomas Holmstrom (10th round, 1994), Pavel Datsyuk (6th round, 1998), Henrik Zetterberg (7th round, 1999), Jonathan Ericsson (9th round, 2002), Valtteri Filppula (3rd round, 2002), Johan Franzen (3rd round, 2004), and Gustav Nyquist (4th round, 2008).

In addition to the remarkable run of middle and late round success experienced by the organization, notable about the above players is that, for all but Knuble, they were drafted out of Europe, particularly Sweden and Russia. The folks responsible for those selections deserve as much applause as we can give. But for all of their success drafting Europeans late, the Wings, like all other franchises, drafted many players in the later rounds who never panned out, including players from Europe as well as North America. Witness the 2011 draft class, whose top impact player (Dmitri Bykov) spent one season in the NHL before returning to Russia. Or 1996. The Red Wings got 49 games out of first rounder Jesse Wallin, and a grand total of zero out of the remaining eight players drafted.

Looking at their past few draft classes, the ones whose products are largely featured in this space, we can see that the Wings have continued to invest heavily in Europeans in the 3-7 rounds. Between 2011-2016, the Red Wings made 31 total selections in those rounds. 16 of the players taken were Europeans. I am no Don Cherry, bemoaning the growing wave of Europeans taking up spots from good old Canadian boys, but in Detroit’s case, there seems to have been the feeling that what worked in the past will continue to work in perpetuity. That had a magic touch with Europeans.

What they missed was that an undervalued edge that they once had was no longer undervalued across the NHL. High-end European players were no longer there for the taking. Russians were no longer so unwilling to come over to North America. The Europeans available after the second round were generally no better than the North Americans available at that point and could not promise any special value. And so we see that, despite such a heavy lean into Europeans in recent drafts, only three of the top 20 were actually drafted out of European leagues. With nine selections between the third and seventh rounds this year, the Red Wings may have learned that lesson. The sample is very small, but with only one of the nine drafted from a European league, the Red Wings seem to be ready to draft for talent, wherever it may be found.

Another downside to their recent approach, whether due to geographical lean, or simply how things have shaken out, is that the Detroit system, while deep in prospects that have NHL upside, is virtually bereft of true high-end, dynamic players. Of course, they have also very rarely had high picks, what with their long-time playoff streak finally coming to an end this past season, but they rarely were able to grab players who have developed into more than they had seemed on draft day. At present, none of the following twenty players, the top twenty in the pipeline, project as more than second line/second defensive pairing players.

1 Michael Rasmussen – A big player with skill, Rasmussen has uncommon touch for a man of his size (6-6”, 215). He is especially effective in the cycle when he is able to get a shot off from the half-wall on in. The Red Wings used a top ten pick on him despite the questions about the wrist injury that shortened his season and the fact that an outsized portion of his draft year production came on the power play. Needs to prove he can be a force at 5-on-5.

2 Evgeni Svechnikov – To Svechnikov’s credit, his 51 point rookie pro season (fourth among AHL rookies) ensured that no one would forget the talents that are inherent in the player drafted 19th overall in 2015. He plays a heavy game, has a very strong shot and plus puck protection skills. Despite the skill set, watching him this year, there was a sense that he would take shifts and games off and his intensity would waiver noticeably. His next hurdle will be consistency.

3 Tyler Bertuzzi – Essentially, the inverse of Svechnikov. Bertuzzi plays a very intense brand of hockey, which he supplements with enough skill to profile as a highly productive pest. In spite of injuries limiting his time on ice in his second season with Grand Rapids, Bertuzzi’s point production increased and he was lights out in a Calder Cup run. Can play in all situations and should be ready for his first full NHL season.

Dennis Cholowski

4 Dennis Cholowski – After a single season with St. Cloud State, the Wings signed Cholowski away from college. He will need at least two seasons before he is ready for the NHL, but the former first rounder is mobile and very steady in the back. He already demonstrates plus ability to read game situations and should be the type of player who is far more valuable in real life than in fantasy hockey.

5 Givani Smith – Although his scoring has yet to take off, stuck as he has been on a moribund Guelph team in the OHL, Smith, the Wings’ 2016 second rounder, has a power forwards’ build and playing style. A strong skater for his size, he has untapped puck skills and has been reliable in all situations for the Storm. Penalty minutes are a problem, as his exuberance often spills over into belligerence, but the tools are there for added offensive output given better teammates. This could be a big year for Smith.

6 Filip Hronek – Drafted only a few picks after Smith in 2016, Hronek had a stellar first season in North America, playing with Saginaw of the OHL, scoring over one point per game. Generally on the right side of the puck, Hronek’s effectiveness is easy to underappreciate, as he shows many of the little things that should allow him to move quickly through the system. He has plus mobility and very good puck moving skills.

7 Axel Holmstrom – Not related to longtime Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom, Axel’s game will remind many Wing’s fan of their former hero. While injuries made this past season (his third in the SHL) a write-off, he came to North America before the year ended and should spend most of next season in Grand Rapids. Not a great skater and not a threat from a distance, he is effective because he is next to impossible to dislodge from the crease. Great reads and soft hands.

8 Keith Petruzzelli – Although none of the skaters in the system project as first line/first pair players, Petruzzelli has the potential to one day be a starting netminder. That day is far into the future, but the future Quinnipiac goalie has incredible size, plus athleticism and a high compete level. He needs to also prove that he can hold up under a big work-load, as his 37 games played this year were a career high.

9 Joe Hicketts – A rare high-profile undrafted free agent out of the CHL, Hicketts fails the eye test, standing only 5-8”, 174. But he makes those inches count. On the offensive side of the game, he is aggressive and effective, sensing openings and attacking them. Off the puck, he needs a responsible partner as he will pull himself out of position chasing a play, but he uses his stick well and plays bigger than his size.

10 Vili Saarijarvi – Undersized (not as much as Hicketts, but still quite small), Saarijarvi has put up points from the blueline wherever he has gone. His amateur career ended on a strong note, with 15 points in Mississauga’s run to the OHL finals. He can be soft off the puck, but his plus mobility and puck moving skills will give him a good chance to be an impact player.

11 Ryan Sproul – Had injuries not made last season a near write-off, Sproul would not likely be eligible for this list. After three full AHL seasons, he spent all of last year in the NHL, but only got into 27 games. His ceiling may be that of a third pairing NHL defender, but he is already there. Does not have any standout tools, but has enough of everything that he should not be a liability in a sheltered role.

12 Jordan Sambrook – Another blueliner who does a little bit of everything, Sambrook was an instrumental player in Erie’s run to the OHL championship and the Memorial Cup title game. A two-way defenseman who has been pivotal on both special teams units, he will have to prove this year that he can continue to produce offensively on a much depleted OHL team. Another good year will move him up this list more than a few spots.

13 Gustav Lindstrom – The Wings’ 2017 second round pick, Lindstrom has strong puck skills and a high hockey IQ, made more interesting by the fact that he has only been playing in a competitive league for three years. He was competent as a rookie teenager in the Allsvenskan and there is more room for growth with this prospect than with most of the others in this region on the list.

14 Martin Frk – Exposed to waivers last year, Frk, a former Wings’ second rounder was claimed by Carolina. He got into only two games with the Hurricanes before they, too, exposed him and the Red Wings re-claimed their man. He spent another season with Grand Rapids and continued to prove that he is ready for an NHL chance. He has an NHL shot, but the rest of his game fails to excite. His career will be dictated by the percentages.

15 Jared Coreau – In his fourth season as a pro, after signing as a free agent out of Northern Michigan, Coreau finally received an NHL opportunity, appearing in 14 games for the Red Wings, shutting out both Montreal and L.A. A big body who guards his posts well and does a respectable job controlling rebounds, he is limited by his lack of athleticism, which affects his lateral movements. The team likes him, and exposed Petr Mrazek in the expansion draft, confident in Coreau’s ability to take over the backup job. Vegas passed over Mrazek, though, and barring a trade, Coreau will spend another season on the farm.

16 Zach Gallant – With strong acceleration and a wide array of shots to choose from, Zach Gallant, a third round pick from this year’s draft is one to watch. He has a tendency to vary his effort level from period to period, but at his best, is a strong 200 foot player wo plays a physical game. Stronger at moving the puck up the ice than at executing offensive zone entries.

17 Kasper Kotkansalo – The first of four third round picks made by Detroit this year, Kotkansalo held his own as a tough minutes defenseman with a struggling Sioux Falls squad in the USHL. He has limited offensive tools, but has loads of hockey smarts and a pro-sized frame. He will be taking his mature, relatively mistake-free game to Boston University next season.

18 Lane Zablocki – The last of Detroit’s third rounders on this list, Zablocki was potent offensively for both Regina and Red Deer in his draft year. Despite his plus numbers with both teams, his tools do not suggest a high end scorer as a pro. If anything, his physical game is his most impressive attribute thus far in his young career.

19 David Pope – A sleeper pick whose offensive game finally show signs of life in his third season at Nebraska-Omaha. Although the offensive improvement is nice, his off-puck game is even more impressive. A good penalty killing winger and a disruptive forechecker.

20 Dylan Sadowy – After a lost rookie professional season, Sadowy will either be way higher on this list next year, or way off. A strong offensive producer with a plus shot at the OHL level, he deserves at least one full, healthy season in the AHL before writing him off.

There are several more players besides the twenty above who were considered for inclusion, including Chase Pearson, Dominic Turgeon, Robbie Russo and Malte Setkov. This is a deep system, with many players who could play roles on future Red Wigs’ teams. In a salary cap world, it is important to be able to fill out the bottom half of the roster with lower cost, preferably homegrown, players and the Wings are positioned to do just that. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, they lack in players who look to be future team leaders. Dylan Larkin, once considered a future centerpiece, took a step back in his sophomore campaign. Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou are still young but neither has yet staked a claim in the top six.

This system-wide shortage is a consequence of drafting to type. In addition to over-drafting Europeans for much of the past decade, the Wings seem to overvalue size and a power game with their forwards and quiet competence among defensemen. Neither are bad things, per se, but they need more variety to round out a competitive NHL roster going forward.

CHL Canada- Russia series: WHL prospects shine, providing some solid WJC auditions

Andy Levangie — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 17:59:41 +0000

Photo; Marissa Baeker

Team WHL started game one like they were shot from a cannon. Their speed was evident and their puck pursuit was tenacious. They were virtually uncontested in transition and through the neutral ice, making for easy entries and lots of offensive zone time for the WHL. It looked for two periods as though Russia didn’t have an answer, showing very little push back.

The way they were playing no one could tell that Russia had been on Canadian soil almost a week already, to combat there expected jet lag. After two periods and a goalie change, Russia had staked Team WHL a six goal lead, as the Dub looked to have game one under control. However, the Russian’s outscored Canada three to one in the third period and began laying the groundwork for a far more competitive game two.

As head coach Dave Lowry said:

“They played the third period how we expect them to start (the next) game… Let’s not take anything away from the way they started the third… At the end of the day you can’t not like the effort and the result”

The head coach was right, a win is a win, and pretty dominant one at that, but game two was a different story and the coach’s speculation for Kamloops was correct. Lowry shuffles his lines and rewarded two of his standout forwards from game 1 sliding Collin Shirley and Deven Sideroff on either side of Matthew Barzal on the “top line” for team WHL. Feeding off their home crowd they were one of the best lines in game two.

Skating to a relatively even first period Russia went toe to toe, keeping Team WHL to the outside, and making life much easier for Maxim Tretiak in goal. Proving to be far more stable in game two, Russia looked more confident from the crease out. Canada opened the scoring on a scramble around the crease that was banged home by some good hand-eye co-ordination from Jansen Harkins (#47 WPG 2015).

Two back-to-back defensive breakdowns right in front of the WHL net led to quick goals by Russia. Sideroff had a great individual effort to even up the score 2-2 by the end of the second. Team WHL would not be denied, outshooting Russia 12-5 and taking the lead with 3:13 left, on a great individual effort by an otherwise quiet Jayce Hawryluk (#32 FLA 2014). Choosing a great time step up and seal the game. Coach Lowry called it the day before, and echoed the sentiment after game two.

“We saw what we expected to see (from Russia), we stuck with it and got better as the game went on”

Goalies:

Some were surprised to see two draft eligible goalies out of the three chosen for the WHL leg of this series. Experienced or not, the selection was deserve given their WHL performance this season. Goaltending is wide open for the upcoming World Junior Tournament and the WHL contingent should strongly be considered.

Zach Sawchenko (2016):

Locked in from the get go with very few Russian chances occurring in the first half, handling most everything that was thrown his way with ease… Looks big in the net, challenges shooters well... A big reason for Moose Jaw’s resurgence.

Carter Hart (2016):

Coming in in relief is never easy when your team is rolling, and would likely want another chance at the 9 shots he faced, surrendering three goals… His season to date boasts a 1.93 GAA and .933 SV%, which are tops among non-over-age goalies in the WHL.

Adin Hill (ARI 2014 #76):

Lowry clearly showed confidence in Hill, and despite his teams struggles this year he boasts a more than respectable .926 SV% with three shutouts... His big frame fills the net, relying on position to block pucks… Covers the bottom of net well and doesn’t give up big holes…

Lowry liked what he saw:

“he was in a zone tonight and we didn’t want to get him out of rhythm… We left the door open(for a switch) but we had talked about through the evaluation process there was chance one guy was going to get a game, that was the case tonight.”

Defense:

Joe Hicketts (Signed DET):

Returning from last years team, his ice time and situational play (EV,PP,PK) at the WHL leg of the Super Series, proves he will be depended on this holiday season by his Victoria Royals head coach... Small in stature but plays an impressive physical game matching up against bigger opponents with a strong lower body… Sound positioning with good agility and four-way movement. A complete player with and without the puck… His Coach knows his game well, entrusting him to mentor the younger D on Team WHL in both games.

Brandon Guhle (#51 BUF 2015):

Makes a strong case for himself with slick skating. Displays less flash, but plays a really solid all around/two-way game. A dependable player any coach would love to have. Makes a good first pass and defends really well on the wall and down low… provides a shutdown presence, but questions arise about his ability to contribute in all areas of play.

Photo: Marissa Baeker

Haydn Fleury (#7 CAR 2014):

Could be considered the best defender over the two games, skates well and imposes his physical will on others… Keeps opposing offences to the perimeter and possesses a long and effective reach breaking up plays… Fires a quick and powerful point shot, working the line with good instincts and improving agility….

Noah Juulsen (#26 MTL 2015):

Brings a lot of the same qualities as Guhle, with some offensive upside… A quick and much improved decision maker who quells trouble with a few efficient skating strides… Thinks well in unison with his feet, stays fluid and creates play-making options… He sees the ice with above average IQ, plays quickly in transition starting the rush and leading sustained zone time… Could certainly be an asset on the hybrid international ice in Finland with some extra room to push the pace.

______________

There were a lot of options from a defensively strong WHL, an intriguing inclusion were some highly touted NHL draft prospects, Jake Bean & Kale Clague. These defensemen both split time with Hicketts and were thrust into important roles against a big Russian team with some varying results. With so many valuable options it would seem Hockey Canada was challenging these young men; look for them at the U18 in April.

Jake Bean (2016):

Showed offensive upside, an ability to break out on the rush and a knack for jumping into the play. Bean’s skating was a big asset, however at times he looked over-matched defending and had some issues with positioning and physical play down low... He should get his shot one-day, but in World Junior tournament full of 19-year-olds he looks to be a year or two away, until he rounds out defensively.

Kale Clague (2016):

Shows some really strong offensive instincts and releases pucks off his stick as fast and he receives them. Opened the scoring in game one by taking a cross ice pass, waiting a split second for his screen to line up, and snapping it. Defensively, Clague appeared well rounded and turned the puck over less than Bean. Strong two-way game and ability to rely on a system and less on individual play is an asset. He plays on a strong Brandon team, so showing success within a highly skilled lineup is not a surprise.

Forwards:

Brayden Point (#79 TBL 2014)

If there was any doubt about the lone returning forward from the WHL, he made an impression, elevating himself from the 13^th forward spot he occupied last year… Undersized as forwards go, his acceleration has improved… in this series he exhibited a separation gear and high speed instincts that gave him time and space to exhibit his crafty stick handling. Looked assertive on offence, driving down the wall and making timely cuts to the middle, opening space and turning defenders. Leaned on for leadership by wearing the C for the WHL. He has been tearing up the league this season, and should be a lock in a skilled top six on the World Junior team.

Matthew Barzal (#16 NYI 2015)

Flashed his usual crafty skills - lining up at the top centre spot for both games. The distributor is a strong candidate for an offensive role in December. His ability to find open wingers and tiny passing lanes can be invaluable as an offensive catalyst. High skill and offensive IQ could be especially valuable with more room to work with on the wider Finnish ice .. brings a good history of rising to the occasion when playing for Hockey Canada.

Collin Shirley (undrafted):

Lowry referenced injury replacements and their chance to make an impression to Team Canada brass. Shirley certainly gave scouts something to think about with a strong showing over two games, with one goal and four assists. He complemented the creativity of Barzal & Point really well. Although he’s a long shot to make the team, the ability to play with highly skilled players isn’t always easy (see Crosby and Kunitz in Sochi).

Deven Sideroff (#83 ANA 2015):

Shirley’s running mate in both games was none other than his Kamloops teammate. He hasn’t been blessed with the greatest teams throughout his WHL career, but he looks intelligent on the ice, a trait that bodes well on a team of highly skilled player. He fit in well in this structure and attacked the net with strong drive .. possesses a good shot and plays determined, especially in front of the net.

With a strong OHL crop, and some serious size and skill turning heads in the QMJHL I don’t expect a massive showing of WHL forwards on the upcoming World Junior team. While the WHL is historically known for its quality defenders, you could see names at all positions making this team. Not to mention the players who were selected for this team and had to withdraw due to injury (Rourke Chartier, Travis Sanheim, Dillon Dube, John Quenneville & Jake DeBrusk). If they are all healthy, it makes the Scouts and Coaches from Hockey Canada’s job that much more difficult. Looking forward to the coming weeks of hockey and finding out which players become household names when the puck drops in December in Finland.

Canada set to debut final roster against Sweden

Scott Wheeler — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:45:22 +0000

The first look at Team Canada’s final roster comes today against Team Sweden in the second of three pre-competition games before the 2015 tournament kicks off on Boxing Day.

With the roster finalized, the game will serve as another step in the evaluation process as those who have made the team compete for roles.

With 12 regular spots available up front and six spots to compete for on the backend, the 20 remaining skaters will try to avoid falling into a role as the team’s twelfth forward or seventh defensemen. To start, Brayden Point and Dillon Heatherington will draw into those roles, respectively.

Team Canada's morning skate. Photo by Scott Wheeler.

Making their pre-competition debuts will be Ottawa Senators forward Curtis Lazar, top-ranked 2015 NHL Draft prospect Connor McDavid, undrafted Detroit Red Wings prospect Joe Hicketts and a pair of Winnipeg Jets second round prospects, forward Nic Petan and goaltender Eric Comrie.

McDavid said he's just happy to be back after suffering an injury in a fight earlier this year.

For Lazar, the chance to play with McDavid is something he said he's looked forward to since he heard he was joining the team.

"I'm just going to try and get open," Lazar said following the morning skate, laughing.

Head coach Benoit Groulx expects the new line, which sees Nick Ritchie on the left wing, to be a difference maker. The game is a chance for them to gel.

"We look for chemistry, we want to give them a chance," Groulx said. "We have to be patient and see how it goes."

After a dominant performance against Team Russia only to suffer a 2-1 loss at the hands of 52-save effort by Russian goalie and New York Islanders prospect Ilya Sorokin, Canada faces another tough challenge.

Team Sweden's morning skate. Photo by Scott Wheeler.

Team Sweden, led by returnees Robert Hagg (PHI), Robin Norell (CHI), Jacob de a Rose (MTL), Anton Karlsson (ARI) and Lucas Wallmark (CAR), plays an up-tempo, controlled game.

Other core players include Adrian Kempe (LAK), William Nylander (TOR) and Oliver Kylington, a smooth-skating draft eligible defender.

The game will be the only time the two teams meet, barring an elimination round matchup. Team Sweden will play their preliminary round games in Group B, in Toronto, while Team Canada will start in Montreal’s Group A.

The game, an instalment in RBC’s Road to the World Juniors, will be live on TSN2 at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Team Canada's line combinations:

Domi - Reinhart - Duclair
Ritchie - McDavid - Lazar
Petan - Paul - Fabbri
Crouse - Gauthier - Virtanen
Point

Nurse - Theodore
Morrissey - Bowey
Morin - Hicketts
Heatherington

Note: Stay tuned for updates throughout the day (including full line combinations) from the teams’ morning skates and immediately following the game for post-game reactions. You can follow here and on Twitter @scottcwheeler.

Joe Hicketts heads wealth of draft-eligible Royals

Randy Gorman — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 05:56:33 +0000

Randy Gorman checks in with notes on players from the Victoria Royals, floating slightly over .500 with a 9-7-1 record, good enough for sixth in the Western Conference of the WHL.

Joe Hicketts (2014), D, Victoria

Jon Howe One Lion Photography

Mobile puck moving defenseman likes to jump into the play and contribute to the offensive attack .. the diminutive blueliner leads his team in scoring from the back end as a sophomore through the first month of the season with nine points including four goals .. makes a strong first pass out of his own zone - as he stays calm and does not panic when pressured .. finishes his checks and challenges opposing players who carry the puck .. angles opposing skaters to the outside with good gap space judgment .. he has excellent speed as a skater and utilizes his quickness when reading plays developing for positioning .. won't shy away from physical play, but needs to get a little stronger to play at the pro-level .. possesses a good shot with good control but could work a little on velocity.

Brandon Fushimi (2014), RW, Victoria

A good two-way forward who has played with a lot of energy and finesse .. boasts pretty good speed and prefers to carry the puck rather than dump it in to the opposing team's zone .. possesses solid puck skills and protects the puck well using good body position .. needs to make better decisions with the puck at times as he tends to hang onto it too long which can lead to turnovers .. defensively, he's very responsible on the back check when on transition, picking up his opposite number .. plays with a lot of energy but would like to see him battle harder for the puck .. does go hard to the net looking for rebound chances.

Luke Harrison (2014), RW, Victoria

Big power forward in the making, Harrison is still growing and creates scoring opportunities by his physical play .. he's not the fastest skater out there as he has a slower push off from his first two steps but can crank it up a grat once in full stride .. tenacious checker makes it hard for opposing players to play against him .. great shot in close with good zip and accuracy .. positions himself in front of the net and causes problems for opposing players .. defensively, he needs some work as he sometimes gets caught out of position in transition, but chalk that up to inexperience and he should get better .. he's one guy to watch through-out the season.

Jack Walker (2014), LW, Victoria

The Edina, Minnesota native has settled in on a checking role this season with the Royals .. He is oven out there as a shut down guy against opposing teams' top lines .. he's pesky and works hard at his defensive game .. he has a a pretty decent shot but must take better percentage shots when given the opportunity, instead of trying to shoot through blocked shooting lanes .. he is a very good skater with a a shorter skater stride and he has a good first two steps from a power push-off .. He finished his checks but must get stronger when working against the wall in puck battle situations with other players .. he will likely improve on his scoring totals over time because is gifted with good hands, but at this point that is not his role with the Royals.

Landon Welykholowa (2014), C, Victoria

He has had limited playing time this season .. Foot speed is a concern, something he must work at this season as his skating is average .. He reads plays well and reacts on defensive coverage .. he's not afraid to deliver a hit and can receive one as well .. must work on his shot with control and velocity needing to improve.

Ryan Gagnon (2014), D, Victoria

Gagnon is a work in progress and has some upside .. he's a stay-at-home type defenseman and plays very physical and is not afraid to drop the gloves on occasion .. delivers big body checks, and he has a nasty streak .. he needs to simplify his game, in so much as to not try to over compensate for simple ways to relieve pressure in his own zone by using the boards instead of blindly throwing the pick away up the middle .. this is just inexperience and I believe coaching and experience will turn this around .. he's willing to block shots and pay the price to take away opposing teams' scoring chances .. expect improvement as the season progresses.

Jake Kohlhauser (2014), D, Victoria

Kohlhauser came over in an early season trade with the Vancouver Giants due to the numbers game there .. he is also facing the same situation in Victoria as he has only played a handful of game .. a fluid skater with good speed and will add to the offense .. needs to have a better judgement reading at times with gap space control .. does make a good pass out of his own zone, but will carry it when given the opportunity .. can be a little more patient and wait for shooting lanes to clear before trying to force shots through from the point .. doesn't play that physical, and needs to get tougher.

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Follow the McKeen's team on Twitter:

@randygo1964
@KatsHockey
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Joe Hicketts – McKeen's Hockey

AHL Calder Cup Playoff Preview – Western Conference

Central Division:

Chicago Wolves (44-22-6-4) vs 4. Grand Rapids Griffins (38-27-7-4)

Milwaukee Admirals (36-24-14-2) vs 3. Iowa Wild (37-26-8-5)

Pacific Division:

Bakersfield Condors (42-21-3-2) vs 4. Colorado Eagles (36-27-4-1)

San Jose Barracuda (39-22-3-4) vs 3. San Diego Gulls (36-27-4-1)

AHL Notebook: Central Division

Detroit Red Wings Prospect System Overview

Detroit – System Overview

CHL Canada- Russia series: WHL prospects shine, providing some solid WJC auditions

Goalies:

Defense:

Forwards:

Canada set to debut final roster against Sweden

Joe Hicketts heads wealth of draft-eligible Royals