Johnathan Kovacevic – McKeen's Hockey

NHL GLOBAL SERIES: New Jersey Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres – Casey and the Devils Stole the Show in Prague Opener – Impressions from Prague

Matej Deraj — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 18:16:35 +0000

The year Czech hockey has had so far couldn´t have been much better. First, the Central European country hosted a World Championship in May and won gold. Five months later, the NHL came to Prague. Fans from all of Europe, and not just Europe, gathered in the Czech capital to watch the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres to kick off the 2024-25 season.

A lot of fun activities were prepared for fans in the nearby Harfa mall, such as precision shooting, throwing hats on sticks, cornhole, or a PlayStation tournament. The participants collected stamps and at the end, they got a poster based on their preference. Based on the majority of black or red jerseys, you could imagine why there was a lot more Sabres posters still available. You could see a lot of Hughes brothers, Hischiers, Meiers or Tatars and Nemecs walking downtown Prague. On the other hand, Sabres stars Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka had a lot of supporters. Apart from them, there was a huge variety of jerseys at the O2 Arena, including Juraj Slafkovský (Montreal), Penguins, Stars, even Kraken jerseys and the sweaters of various Czech, Slovak and German teams.

Regarding the two teams who actually played, the Devils took two wins (4-1, 3-1) to get the first four points of the year. Not just on the ice, Jersey had the lead in the stands as well, despite the Czecho-Slovak Sabres Fan Club members doing their best. With Czech-born Patrik Eliáš being one of the biggest Devils legends and forward Ondřej Palát on the roster, they are definitely one of the most popular teams in the country. Slovak fans lined up in big numbers as well to watch the upcoming star defenseman Šimon Nemec. His countryman, forward Tomáš Tatar, was the most popular man on the ice, given the applause he received. But it wasn´t just about watching a few players. The fans were ecstatic to see the highest level of hockey and everything they love about the NHL first-hand.

There was no one in the building happier than Seamus Casey, though. The Devils young defensemen made his NHL debut in Prague and scored his first goal in the second game. A quick pull-back and a great shot that beat Devon Levi to tie the game 1-1.

“I don´t think you can score a nicer goal as your first. My wasn´t,” said Devils captain Nico Hischier. “My neither,” added Tomáš Tatar, laughing.

“This whole week has just been a blast. The guys have been great, welcoming me in. We talked about it before, it´s your normal first experience in the NHL, but it´s been super fun. To get two wins, it´s an awesome start,” said Casey.

The 20-year-old defenseman stole the show in Prague with his confident and fearless play. The Devils 2^nd rounder from the 2022 NHL Draft was paired with another youngster Šimon Nemec. “I talked about this with a few people, the way coach communicated things with us made things pretty seamless. I thought our transition through camp was awesome, although it took a while to get used to a new style. This weekend, I thought we played super simple at times, but with a lot of pace. When our skill came out, we were able to bury a few. Just simple hockey within our structure.”

The Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was pleased with his young undersized (5´10”) defenseman. He had a lot of trust in Casey and put him on the second powerplay unit instead of Nemec. Casey took the opportunity and was rewarded with a goal. “You need to be a competitor to play in this league, especially on defence and at his size. He has the qualities; he has shown that. He´s gotten better each day. The opportunity has presented itself here and he has taken advantage of it.”

The young American made his case to stay up clear, just like Johnathan Kovacevic, who scored in the first game. The Devils were missing Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce, both injured, but their absence wasn´t that noticeable. “I think everybody played well on the backend this weekend. You get contributions from everyone. The message from the Day 1 with our team is we never want to be defeated by circumstance in terms of our injuries. We don´t want those things to defeat our group mentally. You should be able to overcome it, or put up a fight at least.”

Two Czech and two Slovak players suited up for the games in Prague, however, only Slovaks played in both. The Devils forward Ondřej Palát starred in the most commercials before the game and talked to fans in Czech, but he only appeared in the first match. He missed the second one due to personal reasons, related to birth of his second child. “Last night, the time our game ended, there was a situation worth monitoring back in New Jersey. It was determined he was going to have to return home and be with his family,” explained Keefe.

The Sabres brought two Czech-born players to Prague, but Jiří Kulich was the only one to skate in a game. He played the second match, after Zach Benson and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel were both sidelined with injuries. “I was very happy to find out I was going to play tonight; I immediately texted my friends and family. It was beautiful, I´m glad I could be part of it. On the other hand, I was not satisfied with my performance. The second goal we conceded was on me,” said 20-year-old Kulich after the match.

The Sabres couldn´t be happy with the score nor their performance. The Devils, on the other hand, were all smiles. Tomáš Tatar summed it up for the whole group. “Obviously, the results make it so much better. We had a great time here in Prague, you know, the whole city is very beautiful. We had a teambuilding, we glued together. We wanted to focus on a game, both yesterday and today, and I think we did. Coming out of Prague with four points with the time we could spend together as a team is so valuable. We had a great time.”

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Player Profiles + Team Preview – Ryan Dadoun, Goaltending – Catherine Silverman — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:58:53 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 22: Cole Caufield (22) of the Montreal Canadiens waits for the puck during the first period of the NHL game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens on November 22, 2022, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Review: After posting a 22-49-11 record in 2021-22, the Canadiens were looking for incremental steps last year and that’s what they got. Nick Suzuki put forth his second straight 60-plus point campaign and is looking like a solid cornerstone of the Canadiens’ future. Cole Caufield was encouraging too with 26 goals and 36 points in 46 contests, though a shoulder injury complicated matters. Injuries were unfortunately a recurring theme for Montreal with forwards Kirby Dach, Jonathan Drouin, Sean Monahan and top defenseman Mike Matheson all missing significant chunks of time. Goaltender Sam Montembeault was able to stay healthy, but he had a miserable time, posting a 3.42 GAA and .901 save percentage in 40 contests. To be fair, Montreal ranked 30th in five-on-five expected goals against (203.85), so Montembeault wasn’t getting any support from those in front of him. With all that hardship, the Canadiens’ 31-45-6 record could be seen as the smallest of wins, especially given that it was a 13-point improvement compared to the prior campaign.

What’s Changed?Drouin walked as an unrestricted free agent, but Montreal was still able to bolster its promising young forward group with the acquisition of Alex Newhookfrom Colorado. The Canadiens also acquired Casey DeSmith from Pittsburgh, adding another veteran to their goaltending mix.

What would success look like? There’s so much potential here. If Monahan stays healthy and performs like he was in 2022-23 before getting hurt, then a bounce back to 50 points is possible. If Caufield also remains healthy then he might breach the 30-goal and 60-point marks for the first time. If head coach Martin St. Louis can guide Newhook like he has some of Montreal’s other young forwards, then the 22-year-old might be in line for a breakout year. If Slafkovsky, taken first overall in 2022, had a good summer and takes some of the lessons from his subpar rookie campaign, he could breakout too.

What could go wrong? If ifif. So much could break the Canadiens’ way, but Montreal is dealing with a lot of unknowns. By far the worst of it is this: Even if everything outlined above happens, the Canadiens could still miss the playoffs. The defense was horrendous last year and is likely to lag the growth of the offense. In goal there’s no clear solution, even after adding DeSmith, who struggled with Pittsburgh last year. Plus, the competition in the Atlantic Division is tough, making the margin for error slim.

Top Breakout Candidate:It’s got to be Caufield. After all, the 2022-23 campaign would have been his breakout season if not for injury. Of all the “ifs” outlined above, he’s the closest Montreal has to a sure thing. The talent is clearly there and even with all the ups, downs and injuries he’s gone through, Caufield still has accumulated 49 goals over the past two years. There should be a lot more scoring in his future.

Forwards

Nick Suzuki - C

Montreal is building a promising young core of forwards, and Suzuki is at the center of that movement. After becoming the 31st captain in Montreal’s storied history before the season began, the Canadien center showed why he’s the new face of the franchise by scoring 26 goals and 66 points in 82 contests. That gave him a staggering 28-point cushion over Kirby Dach, who finished second in the scoring race. Part of the reason Suzuki easily led the team in points was because Dach and Cole Caufield were held back by injuries, finishing with 58 and 46 games played, respectively, in 2022-23, but that also makes what Suzuki did more impressive. Under ideal circumstances, he would have played regularly with Dach and Caufield, but that trio only amounted to just 27.2% of Suzuki’s even-strength minutes. Suzuki ended up dealing with a revolving door of linemates, which was far from a good position for him, but he managed to perform regardless. A combination of injuries and the team still being in a rebuilding state also left Montreal 29th on the power play with just a 16.1% success rate. Suzuki was leaned on heavily with the man advantage and recorded a team-best 17 power-play points, but one must wonder how he might do if the Canadiens overall improved in that regard. The good news is the rest of the young core should start catching up to the 24-year-old, giving him more to work with. Coupled with Suzuki’s own continued development, there’s a fair chance he’ll reach the 70-point mark for the first time, if not higher.

Cole Caufield - LW

Montreal signed Caufield to an eight-year, $62.8 million contract over the summer. It is quite the commitment to make to a forward who has never recorded more than 43 points in a single season, but in this case, it could be a steal for the Canadiens. Caufield’s career has gotten off to a promising start, though there have also been major roadblocks. He struggled terribly under head coach Dominique Ducharme during the 2021-22 campaign, posting a goal and eight points in 30 outings, but once Ducharme was replaced by Martin St. Louis, Caufield underwent a complete reversal, scoring 22 goals and 35 points in 37 contests. Standing at 5’ 7”, Caufield’s size has been a point of concern for a while.Which is something St. Louis can relate to, having faced the same sort of questions during his playing days, so it seems appropriate that the new bench boss was able to get the most out of the creative winger. The 22-year-old’s success under St. Louis continued into the 2022-23 campaign with him scoring 26 goals and 36 points in 46 games through Jan. 19th before shoulder problems ended his season. He did show determination before that though, having separated his shoulder Dec. 23, he attempted to remain in the lineup after it was popped back in. However, after it happened again Jan. 3rd, the recommendation was made to undergo surgery. Even then, Caufield said he would have pushed through it if Montreal was in the running for a playoff spot. So long as he stays healthy, Caufield should easily set new career highs and maybe even flirt with the 40-goal milestone.

Josh Anderson - RW

Anderson is the type of player that teams always value and sometimes overvalue: the big forward who isn’t afraid to use his strength to make life miserable for the opposition while also not looking completely out of place with the puck on his stick. Anderson had 21 goals and 32 points in 69 contests last season, making it the sixth time in seven years he’s finished above 15 goals (the lone exception being 2019-20 when he was limited to 26 games) and the second time in his career he’s surpassed the 20-goal milestone. That’s an okay level of production, but it’s nowhere near enough to warrant his $5.5 million cap hit. It’s his gritty play – he recorded 72 PIM and 139 hits last season – that makes him come even close to justifying his pay. Unfortunately, Anderson’s aggressive style has come at a cost, with the 29-year-old missing 26 contests over the last two years. Injuries are going to continue to be a point of concern, especially after his 2022-23 campaign ended due to a high-ankle sprain sustained March 22nd. If he can stay healthy, then Anderson might earn an opportunity on the top line, creating space for 5’ 7” Cole Caufield and 5’ 11”Nick Suzuki. That role won’t lead to the towering forward being an offensive force in his own right, but his presence will be good news for his linemates.

Kirby Dach - RW

When the Blackhawks selected Dach with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, they were looking at a big center who could skate well and was tough to lodge the puck from once it was in his possession. He didn’t end up doing much with Chicago though, despite getting every opportunity, and after being limited to nine goals and 26 points in 70 contests in 2021-22, it was decided that a change of scenery might be in his best interests. The Canadiens clearly thought they could get the most out of Dach, sacrificing the 2022 No. 13 and No. 66 overall picks to get him and, so far, that bet has worked out. He set career highs with 14 goals and 38 points in 58 contests with the Canadiens last season despite playing just four games past Feb. 14th due to injury troubles. Montreal often had him shift to the wing to work alongside Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, complementing the smaller forwards with his size. Depending on who is healthy to open the campaign, Dach might find himself pushed off the top line in favor of fellow big man Josh Anderson, but even if that happens, the 22-year-old should still play big minutes, likely alongside Sean Monahan and Brendan Gallagher. Dach is also expected to stay on the top power-play unit regardless, which is important given that 16 of his 38 points last year came with the man advantage. There is reason for cautious optimism here and to hope that, provided Dach stays healthy, he’ll reach the 50-point milestone.

Christian Dvorak - C

Dvorak can be best described as fine. He had 10 goals and 28 points in 64 appearances last season, which is a bit below average for him, but not enough of a decline to be startling. He’s never reached the 40-point milestone, and the 27-year-old probably never will, especially if injuries keep getting in the way. He didn’t play past March 7th last season because of a knee issue that led to surgery and hasn’t participated in over 70 games in a single campaign since 2017-18. Still, when he is available, he’s okay defensively, helps kill penalties (finished fourth on Montreal with an average shorthanded ice time of 2:18) and is an asset on the draw (had a 52% faceoff success rate last season and is at 52.4% over his career). That’s not enough to get people excited about Dvorak, but at least it justifies using him to center the third or, when necessary, second line, despite his mediocre offensive output. It’s also sufficient to make his $4.45 million cap hit acceptable and potentially even make him a trade candidate if a contender is looking for depth up the middle at the deadline. Regardless of who he plays for though, Dvorak is likely to be fine, and nothing more.

Brendan Gallagher - RW

There was a time when Gallagher was a glue player for the Canadiens thanks to his work ethic and goal-scoring prowess, but his six-year, $39 million contract, which began with the 2021-22 campaign, is shaping up to be a disaster. After surpassing the 30-goal milestone in each of 2017-18 and 2018-19, followed by him contributing 22 goals and 43 points in 59 outings in 2019-20, the 31-year-old has failed to even record 25 points in any of the last three seasons. Last year was a new low for him, finishing with eight goals and 14 points in 37 contests. Ankle issues took a toll, but even when he was healthy, Gallagher wasn’t productive, with his 0.38 points per game being a career worst. Even on a rebuilding quad, Gallagher also saw his role diminish, from an average of 16:55 of ice time in 2019-20 to 14:17 last season. The silver lining is he’s healthy going into the 2023-24 campaign and feels upbeat about how his offseason training went. There’s also an opportunity for him to play a bigger role after Montreal parted ways with Mike Hoffman and Jonathan Drouin over the summer. Gallagher is still a big risk going into the season, but those at least provide some reasons to hope for a bounce back campaign.

Alex Newhook - LW

Opportunities have been hard to come by for Newhook. Taken by Colorado with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, he served primarily in a bottom-six role with the Avalanche, consequently providing just 27 goals and 63 points in 153 contests over the last two years. A change of scenery was warranted and, after Montreal’s acquisition of Kirby Dach worked out perfectly a year prior, the Canadiens decided to see if lightning would strike twice by trading for Newhook over the summer. However, while Dach was a nice fit for Montreal’s top-six, Newhook again might struggle to get an opportunity. Newhook is a natural center, but between Nick Suzuki occupying that slot on the first line, Dach or Sean Monahan likely taking the second unit position and Christian Dvorak being a natural fit for the third line, Newhook is probably going to have to shift to the wing. Even then, there’s no guarantee he’ll find a top-six spot and might instead serve on the third line. However, that scenario only works if everyone stays healthy. While Newhook has managed to be durable, several of Montreal’s skilled forwards haven’t been as reliable. Combine that with Newhook’s versatility to slot in as a winger or center, and he might be the first forward to move up to a top-six role if Montreal runs into injury issues. With that in mind, the 22-year-old will be someone to keep an eye on, because while at first glance he seems like a fair bet to record 30-40 points, circumstances might lead to this being a bigger season for him.

Sean Monahan - C

The 2022-23 campaign was one that offered a glimmer of hope for Monahan, but in some ways, it was also his most disheartening yet. After undergoing hip surgery in 2021 and then again in 2022, Calgary was ready to move on. He was far removed from his 82-point campaign in 2018-19, recording just eight goals and 23 points in 65 contests in 2021-22, making him a liability even when healthy. The rebuilding Canadiens were happy to accept Monahan along with a conditional 2025 first-round pick in exchange for covering the final season of his seven-year, $44.625 million contract. Montreal gave Monahan a chance to serve as a top-six forward, and he rewarded them by recording six goals and 17 points in 25 outings. In terms of points per game, it was his best showing since 2019-20, but he didn’t play past Dec. 5th due to a foot injury followed by season-ending groin surgery. Montreal still liked him enough to ink him to a one-year, $2 million contract over the summer, but the short-term nature of the deal underscores the risk he still comes with. Monahan is penciled in to start the season as the Canadiens’ second-line center, but will his body allow him to do that over the course of an 82-game campaign? After all, he’s now undergone three surgeries in as many years. Even if he does stay healthy, how productive will he be? He showed promise in 2022-23, but 25 games are hardly an ideal sample size. The 28-year-old (29 on Oct. 12) is at very least a comeback candidate, but a high-risk one.

Juraj Slafkovsky - LW

First overall picks are often expected to be ready to compete in the NHL right away and many are up for that challenge. At first glance, Slafkovsky, who was taken by Montreal with the top pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, appeared ready to step into the world’s best league. Not only did the 6’ 3”, 238-pound forward already possess NHL size, but he had experience playing with adults after scoring five goals and 10 points in 31 games with TPS Turku of the Finnish League in 2021-22. Slafkovsky also participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics, scoring seven goals in seven contests with Slovakia and contributed another three goals and nine points in eight outings during the 2022 World Championships. Despite that, he was limited to four goals and 10 points in 39 contests as a rookie with Montreal. To be fair, injuries, which prevented him from playing past Jan. 15th, contributed to his poor showing. Coach Martin St. Louis also attempted to ease him into the lineup, giving the Slovakian native an average of just 12:13 of ice time, which significantly reduced his offensive opportunities. There was a silver lining though, because while he wasn’t a big threat with the puck, Slafkovsky did utilize his size, recording 33 PIM and 53 hits. Unfortunately, in the short-term, he might continue to serve in a bottom-six role. Slafkovsky has the potential to eventually establish himself as a top liner, but it might be a few years before we see that side of him.

Joel Armia - RW

Although two seasons remain on Armia’s two-year, $13.6 million contract, he probably isn’t part of Montreal’s long-term plans. The 30-year-old is far removed from the Canadiens' rebuild-driven youth movement and while Armia is entering his sixth campaign with Montreal, it would be a stretch to call him a staple of the team. Injuries have played a role in that, with Armia failing to log more than 60 contests in any year with the Habs, but his relative lack of offensive contributions – he’s recorded just 20 goals and 42 points in 144 contests over the last three seasons – also make him easy to overlook. Still, the Finnish winger has his uses. He’s fine defensively and can be confidently plugged in on the penalty kill. He’s also got size at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds, and while he's not the most physical forward out there, he has dished out 6.58 hits per 60 minutes over the last three campaigns, which was good for sixth on Montreal in that span (min. 50 games). Looking ahead, Armia should be penciled in on the Canadiens’ third line, though their younger forwards might do enough to lodge him from that position. It wouldn’t be surprising if his average ice time in 2023-24 dipped below the 14:57 he saw last season, and he might even see some time as a healthy scratch.

Defense

Mike Matheson - D

Acquired by Montreal from Pittsburgh over the summer of 2022 as part of the Jeff Petry trade, Matheson was given a golden opportunity with the Canadiens. He averaged a respectable 18:48 of ice time in Pittsburgh while providing 11 goals and 31 points in 74 contests in 2021-22, but Montreal saw Matheson as its clear No. 1 defenseman. With that in mind, Matheson jumped to 24:27 per game last season, including an average of 3:11 with the man advantage. Injury troubles during the first half of the campaign prevented 2022-23 from being a true breakout season, but he was still incredible when healthy, contributing eight goals and 34 points (nine on the power play) in 48 outings. He also helped kill penalties, blocked 80 shots and, while plus/minus always needs to be taken with a grain of salt, finished with a plus-seven rating on a rebuilding squad. In other words, he was everything Montreal could have hoped for and then some. To make matters better, the Canadiens will get three more years of Matheson at a $4.875 million cap hit. His injury history is a concern – which is a recurring theme when evaluating Canadiens players – but if he can stay healthy, then it’s not unrealistic to believe he can finish with 50-60 points in 2023-24.

David Savard - D

Savard is 32 years old and will turn 33 on Oct. 22, so he might be in the twilight of his career by the time Montreal’s rebuild is in the rearview mirror. However, he deserves a lot of credit for doing the hard work now that might serve as the foundation of the team in the future. The Quebec native sacrificed himself last year, blocking a career-high 176 shots despite playing in just 62 contests, while also serving in a leading role on the penalty kill and acting as a mentor for the team’s young defenders. That culminated in him receiving Montreal’s Jacques Beauchamp Trophy, which goes to the player deemed most dominant without earning any other honor and can be seen as a way to highlight otherwise underappreciated players. One person who clearly didn’t underappreciate him was head coach Martin St. Louis, who asked Savard to average 22:23 of ice time. As younger defensemen like Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron start to come into their own, Savard could find himself being gradually phased out. The veteran blueliner is still likely to see good minutes this season, but he probably won’t find himself second to only Mike Matheson in average ice time again. Even if Savard’s role doesn’t decrease, he’s not much of an offensive threat and shouldn’t be counted on to meaningfully exceed his 2022-23 totals of three goals and 20 points.

Kaiden Guhle - D

Guhle is far from the Canadiens’ only young defenseman, but he might be theirmost promising one. He’s got size and knows how to get the most out of that advantage, both with his physical play and by competing in tough areas. Adored more for his defensive skills, he wasn’t seen as having a ton of offensive upside when he was selected with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, but that aspect of his game has developed nicely, making him a factor in all situations. With that skill set, rather than ease him into the lineup, Montreal asked Guhle to play an average of 20:31 of ice time in his rookie campaign, and he responded by recording four goals, 18 points, 27 PIM, 77 blocks and 84 hits in 44 outings last season. It was a strong showing, to the point where he might have even garnered a small amount of Calder Trophy consideration if injuries hadn’t gotten in the way. As it is, he’s primed to have a solid sophomore campaign. His power-play ice time was limited to 0:35 per game last season, but all Guhle’s offensive production as a rookie came at even-strength anyways, so it’s not unreasonable to believe he can flirt with the 30-point milestone even without being usedon the man advantage. The 21-year-old is also a good bet to surpass the 150 mark in each of blocks and hits provided he can stay healthy.

Goaltending

Samuel Montembeault - G

Even five years ago, no one would have believed it if someone had told them that the Montreal Canadiens would be spending the final half of goaltender Carey Price’s contract scrambling to figure out who on Earth to start each night in net – and even fewer would have believed that former Florida Panthers prospect Samuel Montembeault would be leading the charge for a rotating trio including himself, former St. Louis Blues starter Jake Allen, and former Pittsburgh Penguins backup Casey DeSmith.

But of all the options Montreal has to choose from, Montembeault may be their most reliable. Although the team has struggled and fallen firmly into rebuild territory, the 26-year-old backstop made the best of the situation. His raw numbers weren’t overly impressive, but his goals saved above expected put him in the conversation for goaltenders who made the most with the least league-wide; he was able to scrape together the best performance of anyone in Montreal over the last few years, despite being a mid-season pickup initially only brought on board to help the team weather the storm of too many injuries. He plays a fairly goal line-based game, preferring to utilize an impressive lower-body game and above-average flexibility to seal off the bottom of the net but staying on his feet on his goal line for longer to prevent holes from opening up at the top of the goal itself. And perhaps most importantly for Montreal, he does well preventing rebounds; while some goaltenders thrive spitting the puck back out into traffic, the somewhat disjointed structure in front of Montembeault and Allen last season made it difficult to have much faith in what might happen if the puck stayed in play after a first or second shot. That likely isn’t enough to push Montreal back out of the basement just yet, but it should be enough to keep them from entering free-fall – which might be all they’re asking for.

Projected starts: 55-60

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors –Chapin Landvogt, Ethan Hetu, Zack Szweras, Viktor Fomich, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 23:00:48 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Jets right wing Cole Perfetti (91) makes a pass from the point during the Winnipeg Jets versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on January 18, 2022 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Cole Perfetti LW

Perfetti was selected with the 10^th overall pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2020 NHL draft. He can play both centre and wing and provides immense skill and hockey sense. He has the unique ability to quickly problem-solve due to his reads of the ice, finding the soft areas. He is often able to scan the ice and find the holes and exploit them. While he may not be the fastest or strongest player, Perfetti’s IQ and puck skills more than make up for it, allowing him to stand out on the ice. While he will make the smart, simple play to advance possession, he also has the ability to make creative passes that have fans salivating. His shot is another weapon, particularly his lethal wrist shot, making it difficult for opponents to decide whether to play the pass or the shot when covering Perfetti. He has had scoring success in each level he has played in. In his rookie year in the OHL, he netted 37 goals and 74 points in 63 games for the Saginaw Spirit. He then improved on that in his draft year, producing 111 points in 61 games, finishing second in points in the OHL only to fellow first rounder, Marco Rossi. The Perfetti success story continued as he was forced to play in the AHL in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the OHL, and he was still able to produce with 26 points in 32 games. This past season he split time between the AHL and NHL, with 15 points in 17 games in the AHL, and 9 points in 18 NHL games. While Perfetti could benefit from refining his skating stride, there is no question that he should spend the entirety on next season in a top-six role in the NHL. - ZS

2 - Brad Lambert C

Drafted 30^th overall this past summer, Lambert was selected much lower than anticipated earlier in the year, much like Finnish predecessor Aatu Räty in 2021. Lambert entered the season looking like a top three pick, but had a disappointing year in Finnish Liiga, unable to repeat his prior statistical exploits while giving the scouting community plenty of reason to doubt his upside. Even a mid-season switch in teams couldn’t change his scoring fortunes. Furthermore, this summer’s WJC did nothing to dissuade existing doubts, as he wasn’t even dressed for the final playoff games against Sweden and Canada. In all, he had but one goal and a -2 in five games for a team that took silver. This performance was a far cry from his goal, five points, and +6 in the two winter WJC contests in December before that event was cancelled. There is no denying how incredible a skater Lambert is and that his hands and shot are possibly enough to allow him to become a regular NHLer, if not a star, at his peak. The speedster had already spent the entire 20-21 season in the Finnish Liiga (15 points), contributed four points in seven WJC games, and was a PPG player at the U18 Worlds. Unfortunately, the kinks he had as a 16/17-year-old playing pro are still clear. Was the pressure of his high draft stock too much for him? Lambert has time and several exceptional tools. He also has bloodlines; his uncle Lane will be the head coach of the New York Islanders this season. It is currently uncertain where the mercurial Lambert will spend the upcoming season. – CL

3 - Rutger McGroarty LW

Rutger McGroarty, at least at first glance, might not look like the prototypical top-fifteen prospect for a modern NHL draft. But the fact that he was selected that high by the Winnipeg Jets at the 2022 draft didn’t surprise many, especially those who have been around McGroarty. Most prospects are best known for their on-ice talent, the things they bring to the table after the puck is dropped. The thing that most separates McGroarty, the captain of the USNTDP, the USA’s U18 World Championships side, and a potential future captain of the Michigan Wolverines, has been how his character influences his overall profile. McGroarty is an ultra-competitive, fiery winger who approaches every shift with the sort of passion that’s sure to instantly endear him to both coaches and fans. He lives in the dirty areas of the ice, consistently looking to overwhelm opponents ill-equipped to handle his physicality. He drives the net, plays in the corners, and his overall offensive game shows a lot of pro-ready habits. His raw offensive talent won’t be mistaken for being elite, but he shows an understanding of how to deceive defenders and use his speed and timing to manipulate defenses that some might not expect from him. There’s real NHL upside to his offensive game, but his overall projection rests on him addressing the biggest issue in his game: his skating. McGroarty’s stride needs some work, and he’s not efficient at maximizing the distance he covers with the energy he expends. He’s not a slow player, by any means, but his skating could be what holds his impressive production as a prospect from translating to the pro game. He has a chance to become a top-six power forward, but the likeliest outcome is as a middle-six player who quickly becomes part of the leadership core of his NHL franchise. - EH

4 - Ville Heinola D

Judging by how long Heinola has been in (and out) of Winnipeg’s plans in recent years, it’s hard to believe that he was drafted 19th overall as recently as 2019. After suiting up for eight games right after being drafted (five points, +3), he ultimately spent the season with Lukko of Liiga and was a key player on Finland’s WJC team. He got into another five NHL games a season later, with far less success, but had 13 points in 19 Liiga games and then another 11 in 19 AHL games, outings that sandwiched another fine WJC showing for his native country. This understandably left Jets fans with the belief that Heinola was on the brink of a full-time NHL job. The 21-22 season saw him suit up for more NHL action than ever, but despite five points in 12 games, the competition on the Jets’ blueline was too much to crack. His AHL production was the best of his career and was topped by five points in five playoff games. Average-sized, Heinola has long looked a tick less mobile and lacking in explosiveness than many of modern defensemen, but his skating has definitely advanced to a point where it’s no longer an impediment, but a strength. Upper body strength will continue to require improvement, but his offensive instincts and his prowess on the blueline look ready for a prolonged NHL stint. An overload on the left side of the Jets’ blueline means he may still have to wait. – CL

5 - Nikita Chibrikov RW

Nikita Chibrikov is coming off a remarkable season, producing at over one point-per-game at the age of 19 and playing against pros in the VHL, both very rare in Russian hockey. We have clear indications that he has outgrown the lower levels in Russia, and he needs to play in the KHL, yet the depth of his KHL organization means it wasn’t likely to happen still. That is, until one of the biggest blockbusters of the Russian offseason saw Chibrikov traded to Spartak Moscow. This move should be greatly beneficial to the young forward, as Spartak needs more attacking skill and Chibrikov has plenty of it. Now his goal is clearer: he needs to grab onto a KHL roster spot and show that he can hack at the top level in Russia. Although easier said than done, especially considering Chibrikov’s youth and lack of size, the glass is more than half full. Whether or not he seizes a scoring role for Spartak, this is Chibrikov’s final year of his KHL contract, and even bigger changes might follow if he isn’t given a big chance to shine this year, even if he is not yet ready for a move to North America. - VF

6 - David Gustafsson C

Gustafsson may lack in flash and excitement, but the 2018 2^nd rounder has become an effective pivot who coaches can trust for a third line role. While Winnipeg cycled through numerous fringe NHLers in that spot last season, Gustafsson quietly went about collecting 30 points over 47 AHL games, honing his craft in all situations. Much has changed since he suited up for the Jets 22 times in the 19-20 season. An impressive 17 points in 16 games for Tingsryd of the HockeyAllsvenskan in 20-21 were followed up by 19 points in 22 games with Manitoba, better production than the organization was expecting. Now 22, the 6’2” Gustafsson has a strong build and can handle himself on the ice. His play often hints at his intelligence and how well he reads plays. It feels like more can be tickled out of him and that he is the type to hold back a bit so as to play within himself and his role. That could be exactly what Winnipeg needs as of this season. Just re-signed to a two-year contract, Gustafsson isn’t necessarily getting any younger and his maturity is at a level where he would be a logical candidate as one of the two extras that remain with the big club to kick off the season, even if the team has an abundance of natural centers already on the roster. – CL

7 - Chaz Lucius C

Chaz Lucius was an interesting case at the 2021 NHL draft, as many had him projected around the top-10 prospects, including McKeen’s who had him ranked #9 overall in his class. Lucius ended up falling to 18th overall, where the Jets nabbed him. Lucius spent last season at the University of Minnesota and played well. He wasn’t the sort of overwhelming freshman talent that immediately makes waves, like Luke Hughes was at Michigan, for example, but he was an impact player on an extremely strong team and looked to be on the right path until injury issues derailed the second half of his campaign. Surprisingly, though, Lucius signed his entry-level deal this spring, and therefore won’t be eligible to continue his development in the NCAA. On the ice, there’s a lot to like about Lucius’ game. He’s a creative playmaker who has the puck skills, vision, and timing to be a strong driver of play. He’s also more tenacious than many give him credit for, and he utilizes the inside of the ice more effectively than many of his more perimeter-oriented peers. That being said, Lucius’ skating lacks the separation gear that allows many playmakers to thrive at a higher level, and he isn’t strong enough as a puck protector to create space consistently with his body. As a result, Lucius will need to find a way, either through his strength or his legs, to create space at more difficult levels of hockey. If he can develop that sort of skill, he can become a top-six player. If he can’t, he might struggle to translate his offense to the professional game. - EH

8 - Declan Chisholm D

Chisholm was selected 150^th by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2018 NHL draft. At selection, he was considered a two-way defenceman who saw the ice well, made good reads and could close gaps well. Since then, he has elevated his playmaking and continues to show solid gap control and physical pressure in his own end. On the other hand, he was seen as a limited offensive upside defenceman after only producing 20 points in 47 games. He has since improved those numbers over the next two seasons for the Peterborough Petes, finishing the 2019-20 season with 43 assists and 48 points in 67 games showing his improvement on reading plays and executing passes. He then took it to the next level the following season, putting up 69 points in 59 games. After that season came to an end due to the pandemic, his next steps were replicating his game in a tougher AHL league. In his first season as a professional, he played in 28 games, producing 13 points. Last season, it was evident that Chisholm was getting more confident and comfortable in the AHL, and he was able to scan the ice more and identify the open man. He finished the season with 30 points in 53 AHL games, enough to reward him with 2 games in the NHL. While there is nothing dynamic about Chisholm’s game, there is enough to see him carve a bottom-pairing role in the NHL one day. - ZS

9 - Morgan Barron LW

The 174^th overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft, Barron has worked his way from a late round selection to an NHL contributor. A massive centre standing at 6’4”, 220 Ibs who uses his large frame to protect the puck, Barron has a solid wrist shot that deceives goaltenders. When he was selected by the New York Rangers, he was coming off a season playing Canadian high school hockey, a rare path for NHL hopefuls. In his draft year, Barron was named captain of his team before netting 50 points in 46 games. The year after he was selected by the Rangers, Barron played at Cornell, where he produced 18 points in 33 games. He then improved his point totals over the following two seasons on campus, producing 34 points in 36 games as a sophomore, followed by 32 points in 29 games in his final season, during which he was team captain. He then signed his entry level contract with the Rangers and played the majority of the 2020-21 season for the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. In his first AHL season, Barron produced a point per game with 21 points in 21 games. This impressed the Rangers enough to give him a five game NHL cameo, where he was able to net his first NHL point. He carried his success into this past season, split between the AHL and the NHL. Barron had been producing in Hartford with 15 points in 25 games before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets in the deal that brought Andrew Copp to the Rangers. Barron was given more of a role in the NHL for the Jets playing in 14 games, contributing 4 points. Going into next season, Barron looks to solidify a role on the Jets bottom-six. - ZS

10 - Dylan Samberg D

Samberg was selected 43^rd overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2017 NHL draft. A big defenceman, standing at 6’4”, 216 Ibs, he has good speed given his size. Samberg has always been considered more for his defensive game than his offensive abilities. He has good gap control, physicality, and strong ability to win puck battles in the corner. Offensively, Samberg’s game started to elevate when he played in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He produced roughly 20 points in each of the two seasons he played for the Bulldogs while playing a top-four role defensively. After two seasons in college, Samberg signed his entry level contract with the Jets and played the entirety of the 2020-21 season in the AHL. His point production regressed, as expected, with seven points in 31 games, however his defence was still solid. This led to Samberg having an increased role in the AHL and playing some NHL games last season, which he finished with 12 points in 32 AHL games as well as five points over 15 NHL games. His transition game has seen improvement with more confidence in his ability to scan the ice and carry the puck through the neutral zone. Samberg will look to carve out a full-time role with the Jets in the upcoming season. - ZS

11 - Leon Gawanke

After a solid AHL season, the German two-way defender has put himself in the mix for a spot on the Jets this season and should, at the very least, be in line for an injury call up at some point.

12 - Danny Zhilkin

Zhilkin is a strong skating two-way center who can attack the net and play a variety of different roles. Winnipeg will be looking for him to improve his decision making with the puck and become a more consistent offensive player with Guelph this season.

13 - Elias Salomonsson

At one point, Salomonsson was thought to be the best 2004 born defender on the planet, but a poor draft year pushed him way down draft boards. The strong skating offensive blueliner will try to get his development back on track this year.

14 - Daniel Torgersson

A big, physical winger, Torgersson is a human torpedo on the ice, especially as he engages in puck pursuit. Just how much offensive upside he possesses will be determined over the next few years in the AHL. He will play with Manitoba this year.

15 - Dmitry Rashevsky

It was quite the breakout season for Rashevsky as he became one of the highest scoring young players in the KHL. He has one more year left on his KHL deal and should cross the pond after that.

16 -Dmitri Kuzmin

A highly skilled, puck moving defender, Kuzmin was a standout for a strong Flint team this season in the OHL. The Belarussian rearguard will return to the OHL this season.

17 - Wyatt Bongiovanni

An intelligent two-way center, Bongiovanni was solid over four seasons for Quinnipiac before signing with Winnipeg late last year. He may not be flashy or possess significant upside, but he could be a solid bottom six player for the Jets in the future.

18 - Mikhail Berdin

This could be a make-or-break year for Berdin in the Jets system. He will compete for playing time in Manitoba and needs to take a step forward to be considered the top goaltending call-up option.

19 - Arvid Holm

The big Swedish netminder was disappointing in his first pro season with Manitoba last year, so he will look to rebound nicely this year.

20 - Johnathan Kovacevic

The big, right shot former Merrimack College defender is coming off his best AHL season to date. However, age is catching up to him and the time is now for him to break through a crowded blueline and prove that he can play in the NHL.

Winnipeg – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:14:37 +0000

The goaltender paradox is one of the last and most difficult-to-overcome issues remaining in hockey. On the one hand, some of the best goaltenders of all time were lightly regarded as amateurs – or not regarded at all – while many netminders that were highly touted as amateurs, never establish themselves in the NHL. On the other hand, an NHL team could be talented and deep from first line to fourth, first pairing to third, and be sunk by mediocre goaltending while some mediocre teams are lifted to great heights by a talented netminder playing at the top of his game at the right time.

The modern-era Winnipeg Jets understand that before they moved back to Winnipeg, in their time as the Atlanta Thrashers, the organization used the second-overall pick of the 2002 draft on a big, athletic netminder from Finland named Kari Lehtonen. Lehtonen was – and still is – not a horrible goalie by NHL standards, but hindsight tells us that they would have been better off selecting Jay Bouwmeester (who went third).

*In fairness to Lehtonen, 2002 was a poor draft year in retrospect. As at times frustrating is his career has been, the number of players selected in 2002 after him who were clearly more valuable over their careers can be counted on one hand – Bouwmeester, Duncan Keith, Alex Steen, Valtteri Filpulla, Frans Nielsen.

Since that time, the combined Thrashers/Jets franchise has been much more conservative with the goaltending position at the draft. In 15 subsequent drafts, they have twice used second round picks on goalies, and never higher. Of course, that does not mean that they have solved goaltending. Like the rest of us, they have long known the pain of inconsistency between the pipes. To understand that pain, it is sufficient to know that the only goaltender in franchise history with more starts than Lehtonen has been Ondrej Pavelec, who finally played his last eight games in a Jets uniform last season.

Moving back to the premise of the first paragraph above, the Jets have tended to draft very well. Two years ago, Hockey Prospectus ranked their system as the best in hockey and last year, they still ranked sixth. They rarely are in contention for high-end free agents and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff tends to be very shy when it comes to trades, so their roster is largely home grown.

Thankfully, the roster is good. Very good. Forwards like Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Patrik Laine are legit superstars. The next wave, featuring Nikolaj Ehlers, Bryan Little, and Matheiu Perrault, is similarly inspiring. On the blueline, they feature diverse talents like Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, and Josh Morrissey. And the Jets currently have an abundance of very talented young players ready to reinforce what is already on-hand. There are good arguments for four of the top five listed below to spend this coming season in the NHL.

Not the perfect roster, but they have been good. They took more shots at even strength than their opponents in two of the last three years. Yet only once in that span did they make the playoffs, a minimalist appearance in which they were swept in the first round by Anaheim. And for all of that, their success will be predicated on the work of the goalies. They have not been able to develop front end goalies, and unless Steve Mason proves the answer, that mystery will continue to haunt this franchise.

Jets Kyle Connor (81) (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire)

1 Kyle Connor – One of the best players in NCAA as a freshman, Connor was not physically ready for the NHL even if his skill set was (and remains) high end. He struggled over 20 games with the Jets, but after going back to the AHL, emerged as one of the best players in the circuit by year’s end. Owns an incredibly quick release which scarcely needs one touch before firing. Will never be a physically dominant player, but cannot fault his effort. Should form a great 1-2 scoring punch with Patrik Laine for years to come.

2 Jack Roslovic – The top under-20 scorer in the AHL last season, Roslovic justified the decision to leave Miami (Ohio) after only one season. The former first round pick (taken the same year as Connor) plays a very mature game with great vision and puck skills. A solid-average skater, his offensive output is more meat-and-potatoes than creative, but still very effective. Plays with a very high work rate and is strong for his size. Has second line upside.

Jack Roslovic

Kristian Vesalainen (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

3 Kristian Vesalainen – Shuffled between teams in SHL, Liiga and SuperElit, it should be little wonder that Vesalainen struggled to produce offense with any consistency during the regular season. Finally playing amongst his peers at the WU18 tournament, he took off, with 13 points in seven games for the Silver medal winners. He is a big power forward with an excellent shot and a mature all-around game. Should be able to use his size to his advantage against men next year.

4 Logan Stanley – Drafted as a gamble on elite height with good hockey intelligence, Stanley’s post draft season was blighted by injuries, but when he played, he was beginning to show some of the promise that the Jets saw in him when they used the 18th overall selection in 2016 on him. An incredible skater for his height, he is extremely difficult to skate around. He is very strong on the puck and has a cannon for a point shot. Given better health, his point totals should take off.

5 Tucker Poolman – Dynamic and intelligent, Poolman can do a little bit of everything on the ice. Strong in his own zone, he rarely made the wrong decision in his collegiate career. Likes to pinch in with the knowledge that his skating prowess will allow him to get to his own zone in plenty of time. Has a strong, lanky body and will occasionally lay out bigger bodies with thunderous checks. Has a decent point shot, but is more effective at moving the puck smartly to teammates.

6 Santeri Virtanen – After spending the vast majority of his draft season injured, Virtanen exploded in the last five games of the season for TPS U20 and was one of the top players on Finland’s U18 team. He is a high end skater who has a rare extra gear. A very dangerous penalty killer. Plays with bravery, getting into lanes late to block shots or using his aggressive stick to create turnovers. Very high hockey IQ. Excited to see what he can do when fully healthy.

7 Jansen Harkins – A highly intelligent two-way forward, his offense in the WHL had stalled at plus, but not dominant levels. More a playmaker than a shooter, he exhibits very good vision and passing chops. He has a good frame for the pro game, but is not an overly physical player, relying on positioning and anticipation more than intimidation in his own end. Projecting as a middle six center, he is the type of player for whom his AHL stay could be brief.

8 Dylan Samberg – Raw, but incredibly toolsy, Samberg was a smart, calculated gamble in the second round this year. He combines plus size with great mobility and a strong point shot. Likes to pinch in deep, he is able to get back in time if the offensive charge does not go as planned. Patient with the puck and capable of executing long passes, he will not likely dazzle with his carrying ability. His strength is functional, but projects for more. Off to Minnesota-Duluth this year.

9 Sami Niku – A slightly undersized offensive defenseman, Niku will be making his North American debut this year. He is a smooth skater who hits top speed quickly and has an accurate, if not very hard, point shot. His real strength is his high end puck play. He can deliver crisp, long passes, that are easy to handle by his teammates. Also strong carrying the puck with speed up the ice. He will not be a quick AHL study, but has eventual top four upside.

10 Mason Appleton – Another example of the Jets drafting talented, skilled players in the late rounds, Appleton was by far the best player on a moribund Michigan State squad last year, and arguably as a freshman as well. The Jets seemed to agree, coaxing him out of school with an ELC this offseason. Strong on the half-wall, he plays the puck with patience and great vision. Not the fastest, but very agile. Responsible in his own end. Hands are quicker than his feet.

11 Erik Foley – An athletic winger with plus wheels, Foley can both produce offense at a respectable clip, while looking like a passenger, led along by better players. He has finishing ability and good net drive, featuring plus acceleration, but his hands often look stiff. He can protect the puck, leveraging his core strength and positioning against the wall, but struggles more when trying to stickhandle in tight. Can succeed if he plays a physical, power game.

12 Eric Comrie – Currently the top goaltending prospect in the Jets’ system, through two seasons in the AHL, Comrie has proven that he can handle a pro workload but not that he can be better than average between the pipes. He is athletic and minimizes second chances, but is prone to the snowballing effect, where one bad goal quickly leads to another. Small by modern netminding standards, he relies on lateral agility and scrambling to cover the net.

13 Michael Spacek – A strong scorer at both the international and junior levels, Spacek has all of the offensive tools, including skating prowess, a hard arsenal of shots, and slick hands that allow him to project as a potential middle six contributor at the highest level. Although he is a hard worker, and puts forth a commendable effort at backchecking and taking care of things in his own end, his lack of size or strength will hamper his speed of ascent.

14 Luke Green – An above average skater, Green has struggled to keep his career on the path he seemed to be on when Saint John made him the number one choice in the 2014 QMJHL Entry draft. He has the talent, and the all-zones awareness to project onto a future second pairing, but has also shown a disappointing propensity to wilt as the pressure mounts. Forced his way out of Saint John last year as he was being asked to play more at forward in deference to Thomas Chabot and Jakub Zboril. Has a chance to end his junior career on a high note.

15 Pavel Kraskovsky – The tall and lanky Russian pivot took a big step forward this season, his second full season in the KHL. A two-way player, he has good hands and playmaking instincts in the offensive zone, and is positionally mature in his own zone. More of a support player than one who can lead a top six line, he is currently on a one year deal with his hometown Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Another year of progress like last year and the Jets should be working to entice him to cross the pond.

16 Chase De Leo – Pesky, undersized De Leo took a step back offensively in his second go-round in the AHL. Partially, it was a function of regression in his percentages and partially from being less involved offensively. He has enough slippery skating ability and quickness in his hands to be able to provide offense from a bottom six role in the NHL in the near future. He could probably contribute this season without embarrassing himself if the opportunity arose.

17 JC Lipon – AHL vet Lipon plays a physical game that is much bigger than his average size. After scoring at a nice clip in 2015-16, his offensive game fell off last year, while he still continued to rack up loyalty rewards for frequent use of the penalty box. A strong two-way forward, he might be more highly considered by Jets’ brass if he could only reign in his aggression on the ice. Could produce more offense with his shot and surprisingly nimble hands if he could stay out of the box.

18 Johnathan Kovacevic – Drafted this year in his third year of eligibility, Kovacevic exploded onto the prospect map this year, his freshman season with Merrimack. He is a big, calm puckmoving defenseman. A good skater for his size, he generally opts for the safe, simple play instead of risking something more flashy. Has great reach and leverages his large frame well at both ends. Already 20 years old and as big as he will get, the question is how much more development is in there?

19 Brendan Lemieux – The son of super-agitating Claude Lemieux, as a junior, Brendan Lemieux was the spitting image of his old man. He could contribute second line offensive numbers and was hell to play against. As a first year pro, only the latter half of that equation remained in place. He is a good skater with nice puck playing ability, but he got so caught up in the agitation, that he rarely had time to contribute to the offense. Also, spending that much time in the penalty box is no longer fashionable.

20 Nelson Nogier – Literally as unexciting as a prospect can be while still being a prospect, Nogier had a quietly steady first full pro season, spent mostly in the AHL, but also including 10 games up with the Jets. A modern-day defensive defenseman, he specializes in retrieving the puck in his own end and getting it moving again towards the offensive. Once the puck is out, he has little involvement although he is a good skater, and his point shot, when he takes one, is hard enough.

With many young players already starring in the NHL, the Jets system is not as strong as it recently was, but through continuing their approach of drafting high end skill whenever possible – ensuring that a high proportion of their picks have at least one skill that grades out as well above average – they are in a position to continue filling out the NHL roster from within. They recognize the inherent limitations they face from a player procurement perspective and continue to maximize the routes open to them.

McKeen’s 2017 NHL Draft Rankings (Subscribers) – Top 125 – May 31st, 2017

Iain Morrell — Wed, 31 May 2017 14:16:51 +0000

MCKEEN'S 2017 NHL DRAFT GUIDE - Learn more here!

Nico Hischier will make National Hockey League history as the first name called in Chicago at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

The New Jersey Devils hold the first overall selection having won the draft lottery, and will be looking at three prospects in particular who have risen to the top of the 2017 draft class.

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

Hischier is a very attractive choice having 'checked all the boxes' during an outstanding North American debut with the Halifax Mooseheads. The native of Naters, Switzerland led all rookie scorers in the QMJHL and finished 10th in league scoring, while delivering strong performances for his country at both the U20 and U18 World Junior Championships (WJC).

A fast and dynamic skater with high-end puck skills, Hischier distinguished himself for his two-way diligence and his ability to contribute in every area of the ice and - by extension - the game. He possesses a high hockey IQ and is a very creative player combining both structure and innovation.

It will be an agonizing decision if New Jersey opts to pass on Hischier in favour of the other prime attraction - Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Winnipeg native entered the 2016-17 season as the consensus top choice after a standout season in which he tied for the league playoff scoring lead with 30 points in 21 games (13-17-30) and earned WHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Photo by Tim Smith/Brandon Sun

Patrick was injured during that playoff run however and underwent sports hernia surgery last July. His groin/abdominal problems would re-surface after playing in Brandon's opening five games, and sideline him for 34 games and force him to miss the U20 WJC.

Returning in January, Patrick still managed to finish fifth on the Wheat Kings in scoring with 20 goals and 46 points despite playing in just 33 games.

However he suffered another health setback late in the regular season - an unspecified upper-body injury - and missed the WHL playoffs.

Nolan Patrick would be the first Manitoban selected first overall in the NHL draft - with Nico Hischier set to become the first-ever Swiss-born player.

A third option emerged for New Jersey this spring at the U18 WJC where defenceman Miro Heiskanen turned in a commanding performance for Finland and effectively threw his hat into the ring.

Finland's Miro Heiskanen #2 lets a shot go during relegation round action against Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

It makes some sense for the Devils to consider adding a potential building block on the blueline given the loss of Adam Larsson in last summer's Taylor Hall deal.

Heiskanen would be the first Finnish-born player to go first overall.

CENTRE STAGE

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires sits at No. 4 on the McKeen's Top 125 - ranking the best prospects available for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward led Windsor with 29 goals and 61 points - in just 49 games - and then played a central role in helping the Spitfires win the Memorial Cup, highlighted by a four-assist performance in a win over the top-ranked Erie Otters.

Big, highly-skilled, and ultra competitive, Vilardi brings plenty of meat to the plate - but the skating has raised concerns about how impactful an NHLer he can be. Described as a 'knock kneed' skater, he will have to continue upgrading his quickness and explosiveness.

The Kingston, Ontario native can play on the wing but showcased at the Top Prospects Game in January that he is very effective playing in the middle.

The fifth-ranked prospect is Casey Mittelstadt, the top American-born player.

Mittelstadt ripped apart the high school circuit averaging 2.56 points per game (64 points in 25 games) and earning Minnesota’s distinguished Mr. Hockey award as the state’s top senior skater. He fell short though of leading his hometown Eden Prairie to a state championship, falling in the semi-finals.

Mittelstadt was questioned about returning for his senior year amid concerns that his development could be stunted. However, he helped allay some of those concerns with impressive stints in the USHL, wrapped around his high school season, recording 30 points in 24 games - for a 1.25 points-per-game average which was tops in the league.

Sharp-shooting winger Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads is next at No. 6.

The Peterborough, Ontario native infuriated with his inconsistent (and incomplete) defensive work habits but, at the end of the day, may be the best goal-scoring prospect in this draft class.

He finished fifth in the OHL with 44 goals and added another 10 goals in 20 playoff games.

Slick-skating defenceman Cale Makar of the Brooks Bandits is ranked seventh.

The Calgary, Alberta native was among this season's biggest risers - shooting up the draft chart and dazzling with his skating and skills while leading Brooks to the RBC Cup final.

Makar still has plenty of growing to do in terms of learning how to harness and deploy his exceptional talents. His education will be in good hands for his upcoming freshman season at the University of Massachusetts. Makar may benefit most by staying on the NCAA collegiate route for at least two years, though the lure of the NHL is all powerful.

Sorting out the rest of the top 10 has been a convoluted journey since the initial rankings were published last fall. That's not unusual - but this season the rankings seemed to be in a larger state of flux. There's not much to separate the next dozen or so players - all of whom could conceivably land a top 10 spot.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks was another big riser, moving up from 24th - in the preliminary ranking - to grab the No. 8 position.

A cerebral two-way pivot with good size and skill, the Winnipeg native led Portland and tied for seventh in WHL scoring during a spectacular breakout season - in which he more than tripled his rookie numbers from 2015-16.

Glass begins a run of centremen with seven of the next ten players being pivots; Michael Rasmussen (10th), Elias Pettersson (11th), Martin Necas (12th), Robert Thomas (15th), Nick Suzuki (16th), and Lias Andersson (17th).

KLIM PICKINGS

The wildcards for this year's draft will begin with swift-skating Swedish defenceman Timothy Liljegren

The native of Kristianstad, Sweden has been a prime name for 2017 since he was 16 years old - and was ranked No. 4 on our preliminary list. However, he was sidelined early by a bout of mononucleosis and struggled to find his game after returning.

There's no denying the physical gifts as he is a strong, fast skater with a good skill set featuring a heavy wristshot.

Klim Kostin

However, his hockey sense and overall decision making have continually come into question as the scrutiny on his game intensified. He doesn't seem to possess an innate feel for pressure and can be prone to stickchecks and turning pucks over on outlets. Can this part of his make-up develop and mature? Perhaps. It's a risk NHL teams must weigh before considering him as a top selection.

Another 'hot potato' pick will be Dynamo Moscow forward Klim Kostin who began the season at No. 5 in the rankings following a solid showing at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. The Penza native captained Russia and led his team in scoring (5-4-3-7) while flashing an intriguing mix of size, skill and creativity.

He also put in a decent showing at the Canada-Russia series in November, albeit not enough for World Junior team coach Valeri Bragin to include him on the U20 roster. However, Kostin underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January and missed an opportunity to further convince NHL scouts at the U18 WJC in April.

Strong and skilled with the puck, Kostin can create openings with his stickhandling and 1-on-1 abilities, but must work on his skating and consistency.

Eeli Tolvanen

Eeli Tolvanen also watched his stock soften as the season progressed after beginning as a top 10 pick (8th).

The native of Vihti, Finland tied for third in the USHL with 30 goals and then helped Sioux City reach the Clark Cup Finals. Tolvanen possesses sharp offensive instincts and a lethal shot, yet there are concerns about how his slight frame and dimensional game will translate to higher levels.

No player fell further in the rankings this season than towering Russian winger Nikita Popugaev.

The Moscow native fired 19 goals in his first 25 games with Moose Jaw, however his play tailed off in December and he was dealt a month later to Prince George where he continued to sputter.

Popugaev brings great size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds as well as a strong shooting arsenal. His skating needs to come along though, particularly his footwork and overall agility.

But the bigger concern is how badly he wants it - as his work ethic and defensive play regressed to alarming levels over the second half.

PLENTY OF FINNISH

Finland gave advance warning that they would be a big factor at the 2017 NHL Draft when they captured gold at the 2016 U18 WJC.

It was Finland's first gold medal at the event since winning the first two tournaments in 1999 and 2000 - and was accomplished with a predominantly underage blueline.

They followed up this year at the U18's with a silver medal, led by the splendid duo of Miro Heiskanen and Urho Vaakanainen.

Heiskanen's exploits were well chronicled, however Vaakanainen's play may have turned just as many NHL heads. His smooth skating, subtle skills, and innate feel for the game were on full display throughout.

Vaakanainen could turn out to be one of the best players from this draft.

Expect the Finns to be high profile at this draft - as they could place up to seven players in the opening round plus another half dozen in the second.

In all, there are 16 Finnish-born players in the McKeen's Top 125 including a number of potential sleepers such as Joni Ikonen (59th), Aleksi Heponiemi (65th), Emil Oksanen (76th) and U18 WJC captain Aarne Talvitie (77th).

Finland's Santeri Virtanen #22 carries the puck during semifinal round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Gritty two-way centre Santeri Virtanen threw his name into the ring with an impressive showing at the U18 WJC after missing most of the season to injury.

His late rise wasn't a total surprise as he had initially been slotted as a potential 50-70 pick after a good showing at the Ivan Hlinka last fall.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	Nation
1	Nolan Patrick	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/200	19-Sep-98	Canada
2	Nico Hischier	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/175	4-Jan-99	Switzerland
3	Miro Heiskanen	D	HIFK Helsinki (Fin)	6-0/170	18-Jul-99	Finland
4	Gabriel Vilardi	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-3/200	16-Aug-99	Canada
5	Casey Mittelstadt	C	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	6-1/200	22-Nov-98	USA
6	Owen Tippett	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/200	16-Feb-99	Canada
7	Cale Makar	D	Brooks (AJHL)	5-11/180	30-Oct-98	Canada
8	Cody Glass	C	Portland (WHL)	6-2/180	1-Apr-99	Canada
9	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	Frolunda (Swe)	6-3/205	1-Jun-99	Finland
10	Michael Rasmussen	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-6/215	17-Apr-99	Canada
11	Elias Pettersson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/165	12-Nov-98	Sweden
12	Martin Necas	C	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-0/170	15-Jan-99	Czech
13	Urho Vaakanainen	D	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-0/185	1-Jan-99	Finland
14	Juuso Valimaki	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/205	6-Oct-98	Finland
15	Robert Thomas	C	London (OHL)	6-0/190	2-Jul-99	Canada
16	Nick Suzuki	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	10-Sep-99	Canada
17	Lias Andersson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	5-11/200	13-Oct-98	Sweden
18	Isaac Ratcliffe	LW	Guelph (OHL)	6-5/200	15-Feb-99	Canada
19	Erik Brannstrom	D	HV 71 (Swe)	5-10/175	2-Sep-99	Sweden
20	Timothy Liljegren	D	Rogle (Swe)	6-0/190	30-Apr-99	Sweden
21	Klim Kostin	C	Dynamo Moscow (Rus)	6-3/195	5-May-99	Russia
22	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	Sioux City (USHL)	5-10/175	22-Apr-99	Finland
23	Conor Timmins	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	18-Sep-98	Canada
24	Kailer Yamamoto	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-8/160	29-Sep-98	Canada
25	Jason Robertson	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-2/195	22-Jul-99	USA
26	Ryan Poehling	C	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	6-2/195	3-Jan-99	USA
27	Nicolas Hague	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-6/215	5-Dec-98	Canada
28	Josh Norris	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	5-May-99	USA
29	Shane Bowers	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-1/185	30-Jul-99	Canada
30	Cal Foote	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-4/215	13-Dec-98	USA
31	Henri Jokiharju	D	Portland (WHL)	6-0/180	17-Jun-99	Finland
32	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	HPK (Fin)	6-4/195	9-Mar-99	Finland
33	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Sep-99	Canada
34	Kole Lind	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/180	16-Oct-98	Canada
35	Jesper Boqvist	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	30-Oct-98	Sweden
36	Grant Mismash	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	19-Feb-99	USA
37	Keith Petruzzelli	G	Muskegon (USHL)	6-5/180	9-Feb-99	USA
38	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-2/165	1-Jul-99	Canada
39	Maxime Comtois	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-2/200	8-Jan-99	Canada
40	Adam Ruzicka	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-4/205	11-May-99	Slovakia
41	Morgan Frost	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/170	14-May-99	Canada
42	Filip Chytil	C	Zlin (Cze)	6-0/180	5-Sep-99	Czech
43	Nikita Popugaev	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-6/220	20-Nov-98	Russia
44	Jake Oettinger	G	Boston University (HE)	6-4/210	18-Dec-98	USA
45	Josh Brook	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-1/185	15-Jun-99	Canada
46	Santeri Virtanen	C	TPS Turku (Fin Jr)	6-2/195	11-May-99	Finland
47	Kyle Olson	C	Tri-City (WHL)	5-11/165	22-Mar-99	Canada
48	Evan Barratt	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	18-Feb-99	USA
49	Max Gildon	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/190	17-May-99	USA
50	MacKenzie Entwistle	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-3/180	14-Jul-99	Canada
51	Stelio Mattheos	RW	Brandon (WHL)	6-1/195	14-Jun-99	Canada
52	Marcus Davidsson	C	Djurgardens (Swe)	6-0/190	18-Nov-98	Sweden
53	Michael DiPietro	G	Windsor (OHL)	6-0/195	9-Jun-99	Canada
54	David Farrance	D	NTDP (USA)	5-11/190	23-Jun-99	USA
55	Stuart Skinner	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	6-3/210	1-Nov-98	Canada
56	Matthew Strome	LW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-4/210	6-Jan-99	Canada
57	Alex Formenton	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/165	13-Sep-99	Canada
58	Eemeli Rasanen	D	Kingston (OHL)	6-7/215	6-Mar-99	Finland
59	Joni Ikonen	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-10/170	14-Apr-99	Finland
60	Scott Reedy	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	4-Apr-99	USA
61	Sasha Chmelevski	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-11/190	9-Jun-99	USA
62	Filip Westerlund	D	Frolunda (Swe)	5-11/180	17-Apr-99	Sweden
63	Ian Mitchell	D	Spruce Grove (AJHL)	5-11/175	18-Jan-99	Canada
64	Maxim Zhukov	G	Green Bay (USHL)	6-3/190	22-Jul-99	Russia
65	Aleksi Heponiemi	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/150	9-Jan-99	Finland
66	Ostap Safin	LW	Sparta Praha (Cze Jr)	6-4/200	11-Feb-99	Czech
67	Jack Studnicka	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/170	18-Feb-99	Canada
68	Nick Henry	RW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/190	4-Jul-99	Canada
69	Markus Phillips	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/200	21-Mar-99	Canada
70	Jarret Tyszka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/190	15-Mar-99	Canada
71	Kirill Maksimov	RW	Niagara (OHL)	6-2/195	1-Jun-99	Russia
72	Jake Leschyshyn	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/185	10-Mar-99	Canada
73	Alexei Toropchenko	RW	MVD Balashikha (Rus Jr)	6-3/190	25-Jun-99	Russia
74	Kirill Slepets	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-10/165	6-Apr-99	Russia
75	Olle Eriksson Ek	G	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/185	22-Jun-99	Sweden
76	Emil Oksanen	LW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-1/190	25-Sep-98	Finland
77	Aarne Talvitie	C	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)	5-10/200	11-Feb-99	Finland
78	Reilly Walsh	D	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	5-11/180	21-Apr-99	USA
79	Ivan Lodnia	RW	Erie (OHL)	5-10/180	31-Aug-99	USA
80	Jonah Gadjovich	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-2/210	12-Oct-98	Canada
81	Ben Mirageas	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-1/180	8-May-99	USA
82	Dylan Samberg	D	Hermantown (USHS-MN)	6-3/190	24-Jan-99	USA
83	Antoine Morand	C	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	5-10/180	18-Feb-99	Canada
84	Morgan Geekie	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/180	20-Jul-98	Canada
85	Alexei Lipanov	C	MVD Balashikha (Rus 2)	6-0/165	17-Aug-99	Russia
86	Jack Badini	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/200	19-Jan-98	USA
87	Brady Lyle	D	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/205	6-Jun-99	Canada
88	Lucas Elvenes	C	Rogle (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	18-Aug-99	Sweden
89	Zach Gallant	C	Peterborough (OHL)	6-2/190	6-Mar-99	Canada
90	Lane Zablocki	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	5-11/190	27-Dec-98	Canada
91	Kevin Hancock	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	2-Mar-98	Canada
92	Alexandre Texier	C	Grenoble (Fra)	6-0/190	13-Sep-99	France
93	Noel Hoefenmayer	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	6-Jan-99	Canada
94	Nate Schnarr	C	Guelph (OHL)	6-3/180	15-Jun-99	Canada
95	Jonas Rondbjerg	RW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	31-Mar-99	Denmark
96	Ivan Chekhovich	LW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/180	14-Jan-99	Russia
97	Robin Salo	D	Sport (Fin)	6-1/190	13-Oct-98	Finland
98	Luke Martin	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-4/215	20-Sep-98	USA
99	Cale Fleury	D	Kootenay (WHL)	6-1/205	19-Nov-98	Canada
100	Mikey Anderson	D	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-May-99	USA
101	Mason Shaw	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-9/180	3-Nov-98	Canada
102	Linus Nyman	RW	Kingston (OHL)	5-9/160	11-Jul-99	Finland
103	Gustav Lindstrom	D	Almtuna (Swe 2)	6-2/190	20-Oct-98	Sweden
104	Marian Studenic	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-0/165	28-Oct-98	Slovakia
105	Jack Rathbone	D	Dexter (USHS-MA)	5-10/175	20-May-99	USA
106	Artyom Minulin	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-2/200	1-Oct-98	Russia
107	Kalle Miketinac	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/190	2-Apr-99	Sweden
108	Dmitri Samorukov	D	Guelph (OHL)	6-2/180	16-Jun-99	Russia
109	Ian Scott	G	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-3/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
110	Austen Keating	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/170	7-May-99	Canada
111	Maksim Sushko	RW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/185	10-Feb-99	Belarus
112	Tyler Inamoto	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/195	6-May-99	USA
113	Ty Lewis	LW	Brandon (WHL)	5-11/180	5-Mar-98	Canada
114	Drake Batherson	C	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-1/190	27-Apr-98	Canada
115	Rickard Hugg	C	Leksands (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	18-Jan-99	Sweden
116	Scott Walford	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-1/195	12-Jan-99	Canada
117	Jordy Bellerive	C	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/195	2-May-99	Canada
118	Matthew Kellenberger	D	Oakville (OJHL)	6-0/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
119	Johnathan Kovacevic	D	Merrimack (HE)	6-4/215	2-Jul-97	Canada
120	Nick Campoli	C	North York (OJHL)	5-11/190	16-Feb-99	Canada
121	Mario Ferraro	D	Des Moines (USHL)	5-11/185	17-Sep-98	Canada
122	Michael Pastujov	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	23-Aug-99	USA
123	Tyler Steenbergen	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/190	7-Jan-98	Canada
124	Mark Rubinchik	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-0/180	21-Mar-99	Russia
125	Kasper Kotkansalo	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-2/200	16-Nov-98	Finland