Jonathan Ang – McKeen's Hockey

AHL 2019-20 Preview: Eastern Division

Shaiyena Cote — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:24:06 +0000

LAVAL, QC - MARCH 06: Toronto Marlies right wing Jeremy Bracco (27) tries to maintain control of the puck while under pressure from Laval Rocket center Hayden Verbeek (17) during the Toronto Marlies versus the Laval Rocket game on March 06, 2019, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

The 2019-20 AHL season marks the start of the professional careers for many of the top prospects representing each of the 31 NHL teams.

Although some of the AHL teams are located in smaller cities or far from their parent clubs (for example Utica and Vancouver) the start of the AHL season marks the start of a game of chess and musical chairs for NHL and AHL clubs and their internal player dealings as they work with their prospects and shift lines around to allow for injuries and call ups throughout the season.

Below is a brief segment on every team in the East as well as a glimpse at their three top prospects. Team run down is presented alphabetically by division and not as a prediction for the upcoming 2019-2020 AHL season.

Note: All quotes have been taken from the 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook.

Atlantic Division

The AHL’s Atlantic Division plays host to teams all over the eastern US coastline from Rhode Island to North Carolina. The Atlantic encompasses eight teams, some states play host to multiple teams such as Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Last season the Charlotte Checkers were able to bring the Calder Cup back to the Atlantic and this season the same will presumably be expected.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders)

Even though Bridgeport was able to clinch a playoff spot last season, they were no match for the defending Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers. Bridgeport finished second in the Atlantic division and second also in penalty minutes. Despite having a mass of talent on Bridgeport, they did not play as a group and therefore could not achieve the desired playoff goal.

The Islanders organization are not as progressive with getting their prospects in the NHL lineup as say the Montreal Canadiens or New York Rangers. Losing Michael Dal Colle and Oliver Wahlstrom to the Islanders this season may have lessened Bridgeport’s offence somewhat but with Sebastian Aho back down and coming off a career year last season their defence is stronger than ever and may be just what Bridgeport needs to “bridge” their offensive gap.

Players to Watch

Sebastian Aho

“The Swedish born Aho is a smooth skating and smart playing defenseman. Although not known for his shooting ability, he is accurate and his shots from the point are of quality. He is a strong passer and a creative playmaker which was notable in his second AHL season.”

Otto Koivula

“Koivula is a massive forward and a very handy player to have in front of the net as his positioning is generally very good in all areas of the ice. He sees the play very well and has a good eye for making difficult passes in tight spots and from behind the net. Overall, he is a very clean and skilled player.”

Kieffer Bellows

“Bellows is a strong, dominant force on the ice with physical prowess and a highly competitive attitude. He plays to win and with an impressive amount of passion to compliment his natural scoring ability and skill set. He will need to have better control of his game next season and step up his play a bit to earn a spot at the next level.”

Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)

Charlotte is the Southern-most team in the Atlantic division and boasts some of the hottest weather for an Atlantic division team. The defending 2019 Calder Cup Champion Checkers who posted a record of 51-17-7-1 last season and had an impressive playoff run to say the least, but have not had the best start to the 2019-20 season. Upon losing their two top forwards with Aleksi Saarela being traded (to Chicago, since moved to Florida) and Martin Necas graduating to the Hurricanes, Charlotte has had to rebuild their offensive core one draft pick at a time and with many of their high end prospects still playing major junior or overseas, the Checkers will have to devise a plan to do so.

Just over ten games into the season Charlotte is sitting second from the bottom and with not a lot of goals scored. Many of their shots last year came from guys like Saarela and Necas but now without them, they’ll be turning to the players who flew under the radar last season such as Morgan Geekie and Eetu Luostarinen to create offensive opportunities in hopes of repeating Charlotte’s Calder Cup success.

Players to Watch

Morgan Geekie

“He has plus size, moves well for a big man and has quietly effective offensive instincts which help him to outproduce his tools. He has the strength to protect the puck, and the quickness of hands to capitalize on a broken play and make something happen.”

Eetu Luostarinen

“His skating was fairly good in his draft year but he has since added explosiveness, quickness, and improved his endurance. Moreover, he has added power to his game, not only strength-wise but his shot is also more powerful than it used to be. Luostarinen is dependable without the puck and can play in a more defensive role if needed.”

Jake Bean

“He has a very high panic threshold, allowing him to remain calm with the puck in the face of opposing pressure. He can walk the blueline nicely, but his best work comes in his ability to exit his own zone with total control. Whether he skates the puck out or finds a passing option, he can be relied on to kickstart the transition to offense.”

Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers)Now to move on to from one of the bottom placed teams with the Charlotte Checkers to the top team in the Atlantic; the Hartford Wolfpack feeder team to the original six New York Rangers have gotten off to an electric start this season. So far Hartford has spun things around 180 degrees on the poor outcome the Wolf Pack had last season with only 29 wins and no real chance at qualifying for the playoffs. Their disappointing 2018-19 was a bi-product of their ever-changing rosters as the Rangers frequently called players up and as a result Hartford’s lines were constantly changing and their play was inconsistent and messy. They also boasted the highest goals against number and the lowest goals for on the season.

With the positive start, the Wolf Pack sit atop the Atlantic Division rolling into the start of November and over the hump of new teams and settling into new line combinations. With key acquisitions and veteran experience added during the offseason, Hartford will be a hard opponent to knock off the top. Although heading into his last season of prospect status, Vinni Lettieri can offer just the right amount of knowledge and offensive talent to make up for the recent temporary loss of top Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov, who departed the Wolf Pack for a year long loan deal back to his KHL club Traktor Chelyabinsk.

Players to Watch

Vinni Lettieri

“Often overlooked due to his stature, Lettieri’s speed and tenacity make up for any doubts his size may have caused. If given the chance, he could carry a role on the top penalty kill unit with his speed and overall forechecking knowledge.”

Igor Shestyorkin

“The 23-year old goalie has accumulated enough experience in the KHL and on the international stage and is more ready than your average rookie netminder. Shestyorkin is an agile goaltender, a bit on the small side for today’s trends, but won’t going to suffer from it.”

Joey Keane

“An elite skater, Keane is built for the modern NHL age. With his mobility, he is incredibly difficult to pin deep in his own zone, because he takes such good routes to dump ins and is able to transition to offense in a flash. As he moves to the pro level, he will need to keep the game simple, using his mobility to aid in his learning curve.”

Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)

Despite Hershey Pennsylvania being the home of the Hershey Chocolate World, the Bears could certainly argue that the end of their 2018-19 season could have been a little sweeter. Not only did the Bears manage to end the season third from the bottom in goal production but they were also swept by Charlotte in the second round of playoffs.

With Hershey being the feeder team for the offensive powerhouse Washington Capitals it would seem the club has big shoes to fill. This season is looking somewhat different and the team is off to a better start offensively, already doubling the number of goals they had at the tail end of last season. Their back end is loaded with new talent, many of whom are responsible for quarterbacking their offensive play. With Jonas Siegenthaler now a permanent Capitals fixture the Bears look to have their rookie defensemen, namely; 2018 first rounder Alex Alexeyev and speedy 2^nd rounder Martin Fehervary, taking over in the back. Look for the Bears to be playoff hopefuls once again.

Prospects to Watch

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

“When he is at his best, Jonsson-Fjallby is a highly energetic and quick player to play with and tough to keep up when paired against. His speed makes him a force to be reckoned with and his hockey IQ has improved drastically in the last year. He has become a smart and reliable two way player, whereas once his defensive game was insubstantial.”

Martin Fehervary

“An aggressive import from Slovakia, Fehervary played full time in the SHL last season, in his last year qualifying for junior hockey. He played in his customary aggressive style, with quick skating, physicality, and good reach. He still has NHL potential, with the look of a third pairing blueliner. His skating, reach and aggressiveness will becoming a strong defensive defender.”

Alex Alexeyev

“Alexeyev is a very good player who has all the tools to be a top four defender in the NHL. He has good size, skates very well, and has more snarl in his game then most give him credit for. Couple all that with a defender who is an excellent passer both in his own zone as well as when quarterbacking a powerplay, and he shows real promise. He has been one of the top defenders in the WHL since his arrival from Russia.”

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)

Last season the Phantoms missed playoffs by two points, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division. For an AHL team that seems to fly under the radar and whose parent team of Philadelphia seems to be known more for their mascot antics than their play, so far their success in the opening part of the season has not gone unnoticed. With rookie Morgan Frost leading the way and riding a seven game point streak as of this writing and carrying the team with nine points through the opening ten games, Lehigh’s young blood has been off to a strong start.

However, one point streak is not enough to create a winning team and with the departures of defenceman Phillippe Meyers and goaltender Carter Hart to the Flyers, their offence will surely have to be a strong point. This year Lehigh Valley welcomes many new faces to their roster which could be a turning point in the Flyers system due to their struggles with team cohesiveness in the past. The Phantoms look to have a promising amount of offensive rookie talent, many of whom bring energy to a slow to start returning AHL group.

Players to Watch

Morgan Frost

“Frost is ready for the next challenge in his young career. The talented playmaking center has improved his skating and strength on the puck over his OHL career and those should allow for an easy transition to pro hockey. He generates well off the rush, using a variety of dif- ferent attacks which speaks volumes to his creativity with the puck.”

Isaac Ratcliffe

“Ratcliffe is a hulking power winger with massive goal scoring potential at the next level. He has an extremely powerful shot that sees him use his size well to shield defenders before releasing the puck quickly. His skating continues to improve, especially his ability to cut and maintain possession through to the net.”

German Rubtsov

“He is a fast skating, quick shooting, high tempo player who plays with a lot of intensity and drive. He is a promising forward with much offensive potential and enough speed that he can get back on the backcheck as well. Rubtsov has the hands, the shot and the speed to be a standout forward with Philadelphia in the future if he can stay healthy.”

Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)

One of the most controversial and most talked about clubs in the NHL is the Boston Bruins who seem to be Stanley Cup contenders every year, but can the same be said for the Bruins’ American Hockey league team? Last season the Providence Bruins managed to clinch the last playoff spot in the Atlantic division but were eliminated in the first round by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. With the third lowest goals against average in the league and many other stats ranking somewhere in the middle of the pack, for Providence they were the quintessential “average” team. They played a safe, controlled and structured breakout, regroup and forecheck game but there seemed to be a missing spark in their 2018-19 season.

The team has had a firecracker of a start and from the very first game it was evident that Providence would be a much faster and more skilled team than they were last year. With speedy rookies like Jack Studnicka and Oskar Steen added to the lineup, Providence’s offensive zone time has been rising. Should Providence stay healthy, they will be playoff contenders for sure.

Players to Watch

Urho Vaakanainen

“Vaakanainen is a smooth skating, dynamic defenseman who had
a good transition from SaiPa in the Liiga to the Providence Bruins. He is not known for any particular offensive abilities but his neutral zone play and puck movement are still amongst the top on this list. He makes precise passes and knows when to skate the puck and when to dump it.”

Trent Frederic

“He is a fine skater with enough puck skill and offensive instinct to earn middle six minutes at maturity. His grinder, to the net style also bodes well for that role. Boston will be looking for more consistent production before giving an NHL look.”

Jack Studnicka

“It could probably be argued that Studnicka is one of the more well-rounded forward prospects in hockey. There is no role that he cannot play on the ice for his team. Given how pro ready his game is, he could be much closer to making an impact in Boston than some think.”

Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida Panthers)

Although the Florida Panthers continue to struggle with their attendance, their feeder team in Springfield, MA seems to do fine and will continue to do so this season with a start as hot as the one they’re having now. The Thunderbirds have soared to second place in the Atlantic division after just over ten games played and currently lead in goals for.

With the recent additions of rookies Owen Tippett and Aleksi Heponiemi to the regular roster it is no wonder they are on the fast track to success. Tippett is a scoring machine and can shoot from anywhere on the ice while Heponiemi had unbeatable major junior years in the WHL as a playmaker and only continues to shine in the AHL. With young players like these only continuing to gain momentum, look for Springfield to maintain their top four Atlantic division status throughout the season.

Players to Watch

Owen Tippett

“While his ability to put the puck in the net will be his ticket to an NHL career, he has improved his play away from the puck and his patience with it to become a player who can make an impact even when he is not scoring. With good size and skating ability, Tippett is at his best when he is attacking North/South, hunting for opportunities to unleash his terrific wrist shot.”

Aleksi Heponiemi

“A nifty stickhandler with excellent vision and offensive awareness, he is a natural playmaker who can finish, too. His shot has improved quite a bit, he has the ability to pick his spots and be a dual threat in the final third. While not fast, Heponiemi is highly agile on his skates and can make shifty moves to evade defenders.”

Jonathan Ang

“A brilliant skater, Ang’s hands are almost as quick as his legs. The question he has always been asked about is his offensive ceiling. For as much as his speed allows hi to be one step ahead of the play and very difficult to contain, his numbers have never really stood out. He flashes the tools that got him drafted, but not consistently and he struggles to finish what he starts.”

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)

It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins are in trouble when it comes to their prospect system, however after just one draft that can be turned around and with a trade a team can be bolstered dramatically. Not to say that the Penguins prospect system needs a revamp but if they continue to draft the way they have, their feeder team in Wilkes-Barre will remain average, at best. For the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins momentum is hard to find, not only is the arena an older venue but there is just is not enough talent on the back end to drive offensive plays. To boot, the average age of Wilkes-Barre is 25 which means very few prospects are seeing ice time at the AHL level and the team lacks in youthful energy.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins the next few years will be a tipping point for their prospects and current players. That said, there is hope with defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph paving the way for a hardworking, play making defencemen, W-B/S may be able to generate enough offence to up their scoring chances. As the season progresses, look for forward Kasper Bjorkqvist to earn top mention and top minutes with the Baby Penguins on the front end.

Players to Watch

Pierre-Olivier Joseph

“Joseph’s best two assets are his work eth- ic and his hockey sense. He rarely makes a bad decision and, most importantly, knows his limitations. He is slight for the pro game at 168 pounds, but he is as adept at defending positionally as he is physically, and has figured out how to read many schemes with the puck to best attack from the back end.”

Jordy Bellerive

“Bellerive is a player who can play the game in any style. He is happy to drive the net and work hard to create his offense but he has a shot that can beat goalies cleanly from distance. He works his tail off in both zones and often generates additional chances from chasing down the play. He makes good passes both in transition and below the dots.”

Kasper Bjorkqvist

“He uses his solid size to play near the opposing crease and has a plan for the puck when he gets it, resulting in quick touches and quickly released shots. At his best, he has a nice shot an can play or pass the puck well, but he can go for prolonged stretches at less than his best, effectively becoming a non-factor in the play.”

North Division

The North Division is home to three out of the four Canadian teams in the AHL and some of the coldest climates, ranging from Binghamton, NY up to Laval, QC. Two seasons ago the Calder Cup was hoisted by the Toronto Marlies in dramatic fashion against the Texas Stars, and we should look to the North to be hungry for the Cup once again.

Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)

As one of the newest teams in the AHL with one of the smaller arenas, the Belleville Senators had a reasonable season last year but failed to qualify for the last playoff spot in the North Division. Belleville is still capable of packing an offensive punch and holding their own. Making up for the absence of Rudolfs Balcers who has earned a spot on Ottawa, will be rookie Josh Norris and Drake Batherson, the latter of whom earned the AHL All-Star MVP last season.

Although Belleville looks to be offensively equipped it will be interesting to see how they fare defensively this season after losing Erik Brannstrom and Christian Wolanin to Ottawa. Both were responsible for much of Belleville’s offensive play last season, particularly after Brannstrom joined the club in the Mark Stone trade from Vegas.

Prospects to Watch

Drake Batherson

“He is an elusive player that slips under the radar and is quiet on the ice until the puck is found in the net as a result of his strong playmaking ability. He is a highly adaptable and entertaining player to watch in both even strength and special team situations, his adjustment to the AHL level has been tremendous.”

Josh Norris

“A high IQ center with a standout two-way game, the former USNTDP standout is a strong play driver, with a fantastic shot and strong playmaking abilities. He was the hockey wherewith- al to play a bottom six role right away, but he projects as a clear top six center at his best.

Alex Formenton

“The foundation of Formenton’s game is his elite skating ability. He has an effortless, yet powerful stride that allows him to be such an effective high-energy winger. Additionally, Formen- ton is a physical player who is aggressive on the forecheck, making him a terrific penalty killer. As an offensive player, his best asset is a quick release.”

Binghamton Devils (New Jersey Devils)

Although the Binghamton Devils finished last in the North Division last season, their big sister club New Jersey made some key trades as well as draft acquisitions during the off season in hopes of deepening their system. Despite their place in the standings, that did not stop the Devils from having a successful development year for many of their prospects who received the chance to play up with New Jersey.

With a plethora of prospects to choose from Binghamton will be expected to move further up the ranks in the 2019-20 season standings. With additions like 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes and Swedish prospect Jesper Boqvist to New Jersey’s forward lineup, look to Michael McLeod, Joey Anderson, Nathan Bastian, Mikhail Maltsev and Marian Studenic to pad up Binghamton’s offence. There is an abundance of top level prospects in New Jersey’s system and after the 2019 draft, look to the Devils to potentially have one of the best systems on paper.

Prospects to Watch

Michael McLeod

“Although not the smoothest of skaters to watch, he is strong and good both with and without the puck. McLeod’s defensive game has grown a lot this season making him a better two way player. He is a talented and smart playmaker and with a good start in the AHL and given more confidence he will definitely be in the right shape again to be shipped back up to the Devils.”

Marian Studenic

“Studenic had a solid start to his professional career this year with Binghamton and his natural skill and skating ability helped him to stand out amongst fellow rookie forwards. He is a deadly player when he gets to the net and is quick to capitalize on turnovers.”

Mikhail Maltsev

“He is a two-way forward with excellent size and good physical abilities, smooth hands and a solid positional game. Maltsev is a great choice for the third or fourth line considering his mass, defensive skills, and great reading of the ice in any situation at both ends of the rink.”

Cleveland Monsters (Columbus Bluejackets)

With an average height of 6-2” the name “Monsters” fits the tallest team in the AHL perfectly. Ironically enough Cleveland’s parent club, the Columbus Bluejackets, is home to one of the shortest and most skilled forwards in the NHL in 5-8” Cam Atkinson. Last season, Cleveland got off to a good start but faded quickly after the January All-Star break, barely making the playoffs. This coming year Cleveland once again seems to be hugging the fourth place spot in the North Division but perhaps they are still acclimatizing and pacing themselves, especially after seeing Sonny Milano and Kole Sherwood move up to the parent club.

With offence hanging in the brink for Cleveland, look to their firecracker of a forward Trey Fix-Wolansky to fire things up offensively and to Kevin Stenlund to add a physical punch to the Monsters’ offence. With 2018 first round pick Liam Foudy not quite ready to make the jump to the AHL yet, the Monsters will also have to rely on good goaltending from Finnish product Veini Vehvilainen to keep them in the game. Expect a decent back half of the season playoff run from the Monsters once they get settled.

Players to Watch

Veini Vehvilainen

“He is a very quick goalie. His lateral quickness and post-to-post movement are both high end and he can recover loose pucks quickly. He is also highly athletic and flexible. He rarely allows a soft goal and if he does, he is able to bounce back quickly.”

Trey Fix-Wolansky

“Fix-Wolansky is a player that has really grown over the past couple of seasons. That has improved substantially in this regard as has his foot speed. His playmaking and shooting skills have always been there but now he has the pace and the drive to impact every play. He has a real shot at being a success story as his offensive tools are very good.”

Kevin Stenlund

“Stenlund plays a gritty and hard on the puck type of game, he wins battles and uses his size to his advantage. Stenlund may have used his size as an advantage but his size is also what made him stand out despite being one of the slower players on the ice. He is strong on the puck but it sometimes appears to be an effort for Stenlund to maneuver easily in tight spots.”

Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens)

There is only one team in the league who conducts most of their business in a language other than English and that would be the Montreal Canadiens who have been a staple original six team as well as a symbol of French Canadian culture for decades. Now fast forward to the Laval Rocket who play in one of the nicest arenas in the AHL, La Place Bell, which housed one of the poorest performing teams in the North Division last season. Laval had a less than desirable year finishing second last in the standings having managed to score only 195 times through the whole season while every other team in their division surpassing the 200 goal mark.

Montreal has had some major prospect developments and a few small turnarounds from where they were sitting last season with Nick Suzuki, Victor Mete and Ryan Poehling all pulling their weight in the big leagues. That being said, it’s an exciting time for the Canadiens who have prospect momentum heading into the next year year with NCAA product Jake Evans in his sophomore season with Laval and Noah Juulsen, an unexpected cut from Montreal, returning to the lineup. Laval will be a dark horse this season and only time will tell where they will finish in the standings.

Players to Watch

Jake Evans

“Evans is an elite level passer who can make crisp on-the-tape passes in the most difficult of situations. He is a really solid player and has good jump to his stride and energy to his game. Evans has the full package, and he just needs to muster up more grit and stay consistent with his play and he will be set to dawn a Canadiens jersey soon.”

Noah Juulsen

“For a smooth skating defenseman who can shoot from just about anywhere on the ice, Juulsen has not had the same amount of success in the pro ranks as he had during his major junior days with Everett in the WHL. He is not the most mobile defender and his actions seem even more stiff and mechanical when he begins to think too much.”

Otto Leskinen

“A mobile defenseman, he skates well both backwards and laterally. He is light on his skates and there is little wasted motion in his stride. Leskinen has the abilities to be an impactful player offensively. He can make a crisp first pass or carry the puck up into the zone. He has a hard slap shot and a wrister with a very quick release.”

Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

For the past few seasons the Buffalo Sabres have been the team that starts out strong and finishes in last place but the opposite can be said about their feeder team, the Rochester Americans. Last season, Rochester duked it out with the Syracuse Crunch all season long for top spot in the North Division with only a three point margin separating the two teams. Rochester was led by veteran defenceman Zach Redmond and rookie forward Victor Olofsson, the latter of whom has since moved up to clinch a well-deserved spot with the Sabres.

Although Olofsson is no longer on the farm, his Swedish line mate Rasmus Asplund continues to gain momentum and acclimatize to North American play. Asplund is off to a much better start this season and his linemate C.J. Smith also looks to add to Rochester’s offensive depth. Netminder Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen remains a dark horse, soon set to return from rehab for surgery he had during the offseason. With Luukkonen, who is arguably one of the top goaltending prospects - and a future starting netminder in the NHL- joining Rochester it will be safe to say that should Rochester make playoffs their back end composure will be more than okay.

Players to Watch

Rasmus Asplund

“He is a smaller forward but a great forechecker working well to fill a spot as a grinder. Always keeping his feet moving, many of his 41 points this year came from rebounds and net scrambles. At times he is a little bit sloppy with his positioning which may be the reason why he has yet to earn a call up to the Sabres.”

Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen

“He is the complete package as a goaltender with his size and athleticism. Luukkonen moves so well in his crease, but with his size is able to square up to shooters still and take away all angles. He also reads and reacts to the play around him as he is rarely caught out of position. His composure in the crease this year was one of his more impressive features.”

C.J. Smith

“Smith is a great example of this as he is an entertaining player to watch and brings energy and drive to each game. His natural skill and scoring ability made him a stand out forward for the Americans last year, and are what will hopefully push him to work hard to gain a top six spot.

Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Recapping the post season for the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise in the 2018-2019 season is simply depressing, as not only did Tampa fail to impress in their playoffs despite running away with the regular season, but Syracuse followed the exact same pattern. The Crunch led the North Division all season long but were swept in the first round of playoffs by the fourth place Cleveland Monsters. Truly disappointing but nonetheless a wakeup call to a franchise that may have gotten a little overconfident.

After the humbling events of last season, Syracuse has started off in a very modest middle of the pack spot with the departure of Alexander Volkov and Erik Cernak from the Crunch to the Lightning. It has been up to many of the guys heading into their sophomore seasons like Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh and Cal Foote to make up for the absences on the blueline as well as on the offensive attack. Syracuse will have to work much harder with their young squad if they want to achieve the same results as they achieved in 2018-19.

Players to Watch

Cal Foote

“Foote’s ranking as Tampa Bay’s number one prospect is well deserved as he is the perfect mix of a skilled offensive blueliner with a highly physical and dependable defensive defenseman. He has exceptional awareness and his hockey IQ is what makes him a great player. He has size and plays a calm, aware positional game that makes him stand out as being the most mature and dynamic prospect on this list.”

Taylor Raddysh

“Raddysh is a natural goal scorer with a knack for getting to the net in even the most difficult of situations. He is a good skater and a strong shooter capable of getting shots off in tight situations. He is especially good with one timers and adapting to bad passes. Raddysh will have to work on being more creative and being stronger on the puck in open ice situations, his level of want for the puck will have to improve.”

Mitchell Stephens

“He is a very competitive player who likes to win and who brings such passion to the game. He wins draws, gets to the net, blocks shots and plays a strong physical game. The only thing missing is an extra gear, as he needs that extra speed to be able to make a solid impact at the next level.”

Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most iconic teams in the league, boasting some of the most loyal fans around. That being said, they are also one of the younger player systems in the NHL with a core group of high end young players, and theirs is not a system like Boston or Washington which are reliant on veteran talent. That also means that for the Toronto Marlies, the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, it may be harder to make the opening night lineup than ever with very few retiring and new talent being drafted every year- the only thing mixing things up being the cap hit. However, despite monetary constrictions and trades all around, the Marlies have managed to not only win a Calder Cup in 2018 but also qualify for playoffs again the following year.

This season seems a little different and so far with so many changes, the core group consisting of Jeremy Bracco, Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, Pierre Engvall and Adam Brooks have all adjusted well and have continued to put up a North Division leading 7-0-3 record through their first ten games of the season. Look to see the Marlies either on top of the divisional race or just below in second by the time the 2019-20 season draws to a close.

Players to Watch

Jeremy Bracco

“Bracco is a creative playmaker to say the least and every play holds different possibilities thanks to his level of hockey sense. He is a powerful and agile skater that can easily maneuver around opponents with his edgework, often opting to use his inside edges for turns rather than traditional crossovers.”

Rasmus Sandin

“Sandin is a versatile defenseman capable of leading rushes and quar- terbacking them as well. He is a skilled player with a good shot and great hockey sense. He sees the plays before they happen and stays one step ahead and remains focused while doing so.”

Yegor Korshkov

“He has a lot of good traits in his game that could translate well to the NHL, like the way he can cover the puck in the corners and create scoring chances from there. He has strong balance which will get stronger with more overall strength.”

Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)

Having played host to the 2019 World Juniors in Vancouver as well as the 2019 NHL Draft, Vancouver has been quite the hockey destination within the past months. However, for many fans who do not reside on the west coast, it may be easier to catch a Utica Comets game instead. Utica has had quite the roster turn around from last season offering a better start to the season as well.

With the addition of former Team Canada goaltender and top prospect Michael DiPietro, Utica now can rest assured that the net is covered as DiPietro moves like no other goaltender and possesses ultimate composure and focus while in the net. Another key addition is 2016 fifth overall pick Olli Juolevi who has come back from injury and is padding up the defensive end for the Comets. Utica is battling with Toronto back and forth for first spot in the North, which should be the race all season long should Utica not move any players. Note that former Canucks regular Nikolay Goldobin is still down with Utica and only adds to their offensive talent.

Players to Watch

Michael DiPietro

“He relies on his reads and his athleticism to make saves and he can be a real game changer because of it. At the pro level, there are often growing pains for these types of goaltenders because the game moves faster, the top part of the net becomes an easier target, and confidence can wane. But DiPietro remains a very solid pro prospect and should eventually develop into an asset.”

Olli Juolevi

He is a smart defenseman capable of reading the play and being one step ahead. He is a spot on passer and he can shoot from anywhere on the ice with speed and precision. His goal should be to keep his feet moving equally in all zones of the ice and to get back to playing a physical game.

Lukas Jasek

“An underdog type of player, Jasek has the ability to sneak past opponents and get into open ice without notice, giving him a leg up on his counterparts. He is a lightweight and a rather small looking player but his deceptiveness is scary when it comes to how aggressive he is on the puck. He plays with energy and passion and never gives up on a play.”

Florida Panthers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:33:07 +0000

In looking through the Florida system, we were struck by how the system has a clear top three and a second clear tier with the players ranked four through six below. After that, we had around 20 players to choose from and myriad orders which we could have used to line them up.

That, in and of itself, is not that unique. Most teams have a top rung and second rung (sometimes a third) before the muddy middle. When I continued to look at those top Panthers, I further noticed that the top three consisted of the team’s three most recent first rounders. Their next three consisted of the team’s three most recent second rounders. The muddy third tier was from all over the place, including later round picks, undrafted free agents, and players of an older vintage.

It is often said about drafts that a team can win a draft with their late round picks, but an early round bust can definitely lose the draft for the team. For all intents and purposes, it seems that the Panthers have not lost any of their recent drafts, but it is equally questionable if they have won them either.

In fact, I would argue that they have not yet won a draft in the Dale Tallon era. The last late round pick to have any appreciable impact on the NHL roster was MacKenzie Weegar, who rose from a seventh round overage flier to a competent #6/7 NHL defender. So kudos to Florida for taking the plunge on Weegar, but they will need a few of those hits to build the organizational depth that they have long needed as they have sought to establish themselves as perennial contenders.

If there is anything that help that aspect it is that a lot of the third tier of prospects in the system are already experienced AHLers. There may not be any top half of roster players among the lot, but netminder Samuel Montembeault (#8) has already spent a few games with the Panthers, and blueliner Riley Stillman (#13) also had a brief cameo.

If the Panthers aim to get back into the postseason, they will also need entry level salary players to fill up the bottom six forward group and the bottom defensive pairing. That might mean more time in the show for Stillman, or for fellow blueliner Thomas Schemitsch (#10), or perhaps one of Jonathan Ang (#11) or Cliff Pu (#16) take a big step forward in their respective second pro seasons. A more likely player to make the jump would be one of Dryden Hunt (#7) or Rodrigo Abols (#18), both of whom were free agent signings. Hunt was a high scoring WHLer who signed directly out of junior hockey three years ago, while Abols signed this offseason as a free agent out of Sweden.

The Panthers have made plenty of big waves this offseason with the hiring of new head coach Joel Quenneville and free agent signings headlined by star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky (which makes it odd that three of their top 20, including their recent first round pick are netminders), defender Anton Stralman and winger Brett Connolly, with no shortage of others to back them up. But this is the NHL and the NHL is a cap league and without viable players on cheap salaries, the aforementioned free agents will be left without the support needed to win consistently.

-Ryan Wagman

Florida Panthers right wing Owen Tippett (74) (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

1 Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) Denisenko had a stellar performance at the latest WJC, leading the whole tournament with nine points – tied with his potentially future teammate Aleksi Heponiemi. The former first-round pick is a very gifted player with excellent skating and smooth hands – qualities that allow him to control the play in the offensive zone. He also has an excellent, hard shot and overall excellent puck skills. He is very dangerous in open ice as he can either pass the puck or bury the chances with his great nose for the net. He is not a physical player nor is his defensive game his forte, thus he is strictly a top six player and his success will mostly depend on how he develops his game in the offensive zone. He already said that he intends to move to NHL at the end of the coming season, but all things considered, it may be better for him to postpone his plans for a further year or two. - ASR

2 Owen Tippett, LW/RW (10^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 2) Once considered a relatively one dimensional goal scoring winger, Tippett has done a good job of rounding out his game in the OHL the last few seasons. While his ability to put the puck in the net will be his ticket to an NHL career, he has improved his play away from the puck and his patience with it to become a player who can make an impact even when he is not scoring. With good size and skating ability, Tippett is at his best when he is attacking North/South, hunting for opportunities to unleash his terrific wrist shot. He can have a tendency to float in the offensive zone and needs to be more willing to attack between the dots. He will look to show off a better two way game in hopes of cracking Florida’s roster this year. Long term, he has the skill set to be a top six, goal scoring winger and powerplay threat. - BO

3 Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) As a general rule, I am opposed to using first round picks on netminders. The bust rate is simply too high and the development timeline is simply too long. In judging the strength of Knight as a prospect, we should note that we are not considering the Panthers’ decision to lock up free agent goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a big money, seven year contract around one week after using their first rounder on Knight. By any measurement, Knight has been an elite goalie for his age group. He is a phenomenal athlete, plays a mature, refined technical game, and delights in playing the puck up the boards. His play seems to pick up a notch when the action is toughest although he can slack when getting ready for a shot off a zone entry, and he has never carried a full starting netminder’s workload. He has the tools to be a high end NHL starter, but only time will tell if he can reach it. With Bobrovsky in tow, the Panthers will give him plenty of time. - RW

4 Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 4) Noel is a unique prospect because of his combination of size, power, and athleticism. He loves to push the pace, using his explosive skating stride to enter the offensive zone and attack the net. He is so strong and as such, he is also difficult to stop when working the cycle. His hands, shot, and vision with the puck all continue to evolve too, making him a potentially dominant force offensively and physically at the OHL level. While his stride possesses a ton of power, he can still struggle with his balance and his cuts. His ability to receive passes at full stride and make moves East/West with the puck on his stick are also areas requiring growth. Noel is a potential future power forward top six winger for the Panthers who should have an excellent final year in the OHL upcoming. No doubt he is a project, but with patience, he could be a very good NHL player. - BO

5 Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 5) Heponiemi had a fantastic season with Karpat in the Liiga an was nominated for the circuit’s Rookie of the Year Award. A nifty stickhandler with excellent vision and offensive awareness, he is a natural playmaker who can finish, too. His shot has improved quite a bit, he has the ability to pick his spots and be a dual threat in the final third. While not fast, Heponiemi is highly agile on his skates and can make shifty moves to evade defenders. He needs to start using his size to his advantage more often and become tougher to play against as far as the physical game is concerned. However, I see big offensive potential and game-breaking abilities in Heponiemi’s skill set. If he can adjust his game to the NHL, he could be a first or second line player for the Panthers. - MB

6 Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Kolyachonok is noted first for his mobility, which should be considered well above average. His four way mobility and his explosiveness are major assets both offensively and defensively. The second thing he is noted for is his work ethic, on and off the ice. A mature player, he is committed and focused and should improve upon his weaknesses with time, such as his decision making with the puck. He can currently be baited into turnovers and does not utilize his skating ability well enough to escape forechecks. What Kolyachonok’s offensive ceiling is remains to be seen. A better idea of that should be given this coming season, his second in the OHL. More comfortable and with an improved roster around him, Kolyachonok should emerge as a quality powerplay QB and offensive defender to go with being a staunch defender of his own end. Long term, he profiles as an all situations second pairing defender who can eat up large minutes on the penalty kill. - BO

7 Dryden Hunt, LW (Undrafted free agent, signed Mar. 2, 2016, Last Year: 7) A late bloomer, was passed over in the draft twice, even though he was well above one point per game in his second go-round. In his overage season in the WHL with Moose Jaw, he absolutely exploded, leading the league in goals and winning the league Player of the Year award, which he capped off by signing an Entry Level deal with the Panthers. Since turning pro, Hunt has improved his relative weakness, his skating, to the point that he is around average. His offensive tools all play up thanks to his well honed instincts and sense of positioning. He has adapted well to the pro game and did not look too out of place in the NHL over as prolonged run last year. There is a new coach in town now, but he should have a chance to fight for a bottom six role. - RW

8 Samuel Montembeault, G (77^thoverall, 2015. Last Year: 9) An agile netminder who has steadily improved his performance in each season since he was drafted, Montembeault has generally been the kind of goalie who looks better than his numbers. That said, he held his own in a challenging circumstance taking over the net for a foundering Panthers squad late last year. He tracks the puck well and exudes a mature sense of calmness in between the pipes, but gives up more second chances than you would like to see in your starter. Once seen as the goalie of the future in Florida, the big money, big dollar signing of Sergei Bobrovsky, coupled with the use of a mid-first round pick on top goalie prospect Knight means that Montembeault will never again have a great opportunity to win an NHL job than he does right now, as Bobrovsky’s backup. - RW

9 Cole Schwindt, C/RW (81^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A rangy pivot, Schwindt is a very committed two-way player who uses his length to be very disruptive in the neutral zone and in the defensive end. This makes him a very effective penalty killer. With a wide skating base, Schwindt also can be difficult to separate from the puck below the hash marks as he puts defenders on his back. He was a point per game player down the stretch following the trades of Owen Tippett and Ryan McLeod out of Mississauga, but how much offensive upside he possesses is unknown. His overall skating power, his ability to create in transition, and his composure/creativity with the puck all rate out average at this current time. He will still have a few years to improve these areas and will be a focal point of Mississauga’s offense during that time. - BO

10 Thomas Schemitsch, D (88^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 20) Schemitsch has steadily improved his game and his production over the three years of his entry level deal, a period which started with him barely able to get out of the ECHL. He is a big man who moves around relatively well for his size. He also packs a big shot from the point. Where his growth has been most notable has been in his ability to read the game, as he now shows commendable awareness in all three zones, allowing to use space to his advantage with frequency. Despite his size advantage he is not an overly physical defender and he could still stand to play a more consistent game. The Panthers believe in him enough to keep him around, but it is up to Schemitsch to take that next step and force his way onto the NHL roster, where he could provide value on the third pairing. - RW

11 Jonathan Ang, C (94^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 6) A brilliant skater, Ang’s hands are almost as quick as his legs. The question he has always been asked about is his offensive ceiling. For as much as his speed allows hi to be one step ahead of the play and very difficult to contain, his numbers have never really stood out. He finally surpassed the point-per-game mark in his final season in junior, but not by a whole lot. His first taste of professional hockey was a return to that sense of frustration. He flashes the tools that got him drafted, but not consistently and he struggles to finish what he starts. Another aspect of his development that Ang needs to work on is his overall physique. He is not tall and he is very lean, which allows him to get outmuscled when he tries to play in tighter spaces. The speed will keep him on the radar as a potential bottom six player, but he has a ways to go to get there. - RW

12 Greg Meireles, C (168^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Meireles used a very strong second half to his OHL season to get drafted in his final year of eligibility. He profiles best as a jack of all trades kind of forward who can be utilized in a variety of different situations. His speed and tenaciousness make him an effective forechecker and penalty killer. His vision and hands make him an effective playmaker who loves to set up shop behind the net and near the half wall, where he can use his strong balance and lower body to keep plays alive and tire out opposing defenses until holes open up. It can often be difficult to predict how the skill sets of these older breakout CHL players translate to the pro level, but as of right now, Meireles does look like someone who could potentially be a 3rd or 4th line forward for Florida within the next couple of years. - BO

13 Riley Stillman, D (114^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 15) Son of longtime NHLer Cory Stillman, Riley’s professional rookie season was somewhat nondescript, although it ended with the young blueliner making his NHL debut. He has roughly average size, but plays a strong, physically imposing game. He has never had much presence in the offensive end – even in the OHL – but he is an accurate and sharp passer. His ultimate ceiling will depend on him proving that he can continue to excel in his own end, against better and better competition. He is the type of player that would have been more valued 10-20 years ago, when defensive defensemen were highly valued. That said, he is in an organization that may be more in line with the old school approach under GM Dale Tallon than many others and he might still have a chance to prove that he is worthy of a regular role on the third pairing by 2020-21. - RW

14 Ryan Bednard, G (206^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 17) Drafted out of the NAHL four years ago, Bednard has seen his game on a steadily upward trajectory since becoming a part of the Florida Panthers’ extended family. After one year with Youngstown of the USH and three seasons at Bowling Green State, the big netminder is turning pro. Big and hard-nosed, Bednard is an impressive athlete for his size, and is capable of filling up the net admirably. His save percentage improved continuously with BGSU, from .882 as a freshman, to .916 as a sophomore and ended up at .927 during his final, junior, year on campus. Unlike the younger Knight above, Bednard still has a few rough parts of his game that need to be ironed out. He needs to make better decisions about when and how to play the puck, while also improve his rebound control. The Florida crease may be crowded, but he should be ready to compete for the backup slot in the NHL within about two seasons. That may also be his ceiling. - RW

15 Santtu Kinnunen, D (207^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Kinnunen is an intriguing right-shot defenseman who plays with a lot of poise He has a high-panic threshold and moves the puck really well from the backend. His offensive vision and ability to consistently move the puck into good spots makes him an efficient player. He also makes smart decisions with possession in the offensive zone. He is mobile and has improved his skating, especially his first few strides have become quicker. He uses a good stick to break up plays before moving the puck in transition. He is physically raw an needs to get much stronger. All things considered, Kinnunen was a smart late round gamble for the Panthers in 2018 because his development has clearly been on an upward trajectory over the past few seasons and he has not yet reached his peak. - MB

16 Cliff Pu, RW (69^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Last Year: 14 [Carolina]) It isn’t often that you get a player traded twice before his 21^st birthday, but here we are. Pu moved from Buffalo to Carolina before his professional debut as part of the return for Jeff Skinner. His time in the Carolina system was, to be blunt, rancid and the Hurricanes sent him to Florida at the trade deadline for future considerations. He only appeared in 14 more games on the year, split between the ECHL and the AHL. Despite his debut struggles, Pu is an incredibly quick skater and can be very effective on the rush. What held him back last year was his awareness of game situations, putting himself into unfavorable positions and not being able to capitalize on his natural speed. It is too early to give up on him, but he needs to do better. He could scarcely do much worse. - RW

17 Owen Lindmark, C (137^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the lesser heralded members of the star-studded 2018-19 USNTDP class, Lindmark joined teammate Spencer Knight as a future Florida Panther when the South Florida team made him a fifth round pick. The Oklahoma native played a bottom six role for the most part with the program, earning his spot through forechecking and backchecking heavily and helping out on both special teams’ units. He is a fine skater who also shows some passing touch with the puck, but Lindmark has never given any indication that he should be relied upon one day as an offensive force. Headed to the University of Wisconsin, as part of another much ballyhooed recruiting class, he remains unlikely to get much time in an offensive role, but his safe, smart game, coupled with solid physical tools, should make it easy for him to reach his NHL ceiling, even if that ceiling is only on the fourth line. - RW

18 Rodrigo Abols, C (184^th overall, 2016 [Vancouver]. Last Year: Not ranked [not affiliated]) A big center who combines skills with a powerful style. Abols works hard and is really strong close around the net. He showed early promise in Latvia and had okay production in the CHL which got him drafted as a 20-year-old in 2016. He needed some time to adjust to the SHL but had a strong overall season with 18 goals in 45 games. He scores goals almost exclusively from close range. He plays an intense, energetic game and uses his size and hands to win loose pucks and to capitalize on rebounds. He is helped by his agile skating as well. He doesn’t have the tools to be a top six center in the NHL has enough to be a good scorer on a lower line. Next season, he will play for Springfield in the AHL. - JH

19 Benjamin Finkelstein, D (195^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 18) After flying under the radar for two years at St. Lawrence, Finkelstein took a step back to spend half a season with Waterloo of the USHL, winning the league’s Defenseman of the Year award in a scintillating 23 game performance. He returned to the collegiate ranks last year with Boston College, and performed reasonably well despite missing around half the year to injury. He is an exciting puck mover with some playmaking abilities, but also looks after things in his own zone, despite being significantly undersized. He is especially notable defensively as a shot blocker. He will be returning to campus for his senior season this year, giving Florida officials one last look before they have to decide whether he can be developed as a bottom half of the lineup defender despite his physical shortcomings. - RW

20 Linus Nassen, D (89^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14) Nassen had his most offensive season to date although his offense isn’t going to be what gets him into the NHL. He is a solid defender who breaks up plays well despite not being over physically. He is very good with his stick and does well defending against the rush. With a goalie that made the first save so frequently in Ottawa draft pick Mad Sogaard, he was highly successful at retrieving the puck and making the first play to initiate a sound breakout. He could be an effective 5/6 who helps keep the puck out of his own net but doesn’t generate a much beyond his own blue line. Nassen’s next steps will be back in Sweden for SHL team Vaxjo.- VG

Florida Panthers Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:32:48 +0000

So as not to bury the lede, I will note within the opening sentence of this overview of the Florida Panthers’ system that it is simply not overly impressive. There are some truly high end talents at the top, but the quality of their talent drops sharply after the first three players, and then drops even more precipitously after the next next two. The rest of the top 20 prospects here are OK, but all essentially qualify as system depth.

When the brief, bright rule of analytics was deposed in Florida, it was supposed to mark a return to first principles, namely GM Dale Tallon’s experienced scouting eye. After all, he was widely heralded as the architect of the mini-dynasty in Chicago. He was the Blackhawks’ Director of Player Personnel from 1998-2002. He was an Assistant General Manager for the following three seasons and the GM for four, finally leaving the organization after spending the 2009-10 season – their first as Cup winners - as a Senior Advisor.

Of course, Tallon was not responsible for every draft pick over the 1998-2009 period, but he certainly had a big say in the manner. So how good was his track record at scouting amateurs?

The Hawks’ first two drafts with Tallon as Director of Player Personnel were pretty bleak. The only two players to exceed 100 NHL games were Steve McCarthy and Michael Leighton. 2001 yielded Tuomo Ruutu and Craig Anderson, while 2002 brought in Anton Babchuk, Duncan Keith, James Wisniewski, and Adam Burish.

At that point, if we are to credit Tallon for the players taken, additional credit must also be given for finding talented players in the later rounds. To that light, in his three seasons as an AGM, the Hawks drafted better in the later rounds than in the first. Their three first rounders in that era were Brent Seabrook, Cam Barker, and Jack Skille. One outright success, one outright failure, and a relative disappointment. Thankfully, in that same time period, later round picks included Corey Crawford, Dustin Byfuglien, Dave Bolland. Bryan Bickell, Troy Brouwer, and Niklas Hjalmarsson, among the many other players who have already largely been forgotten.

As the head honcho, he famously drafted Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane at the top of the draft in consecutive years, but also selected Kyle Beach and Dylan Olsen with first rounders. The only players after the first round to reach 100 NHL games in those four draft classes were Ben Smith, Brandon Pirri, Byron Froese, and Marcus Kruger.

Of course, we don’t really know how much credit or blame goes to any one person when it comes to the draft. For all we know, the team could have been hoping to draft Hugh Jessiman in 2003, but fell back on Seabrook after Jessiman went two picks earlier to the Rangers. Along a similar hypothetical, they could have been hoping that Marcus Johansson slipped to them at 28 in 2009, before he was taken off the board at 24 by Washington leaving the Hawks with a Plan B of Dylan Olson.

Bringing this back to the Panthers, who have employed Tallon as GM for seven of the past nine years. Florida has had very little success after the first round in Tallon’s time, with only Vincent Trocheck, Logan Shaw, and Iiro Pakarinen reaching 100 games so far, and only one of those in the Sunshine State. While he experienced some successes in his time in Chicago, his Panthers’ successes have been more faltering. Others will join them, but I am not yet convinced that the tea would not have been better off with the so-called Computer Boys.

Henrik Borgstrom

1 Henrik Borgstrom, C (23^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 1^st) A mild surprise when Florida selected Borgstrom is the first round in 2016 in his second year of eligibility, the only surprise now is how he went undrafted in his first go-round. Sure, he was gangly, but over one assist per game in the Finnish U18 league was telling. Since being drafted, he has been a two-time NCAA (West) All-American, finishing his two-year collegiate career at Denver with one championship and one finalist slot in the Hobey Baker voting. Borgstrom is a superstar in the making. He is still slight and not strong in the corners, but every other aspect of his game grades out as high end, if not near elite. His offensive instincts are in the absolute upper echelon of all drafted prospects.

2 Owen Tippett, LW/RW (10^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 2^nd) Owen Tippett began last year with the Panthers, but the 18-year-old wasn’t really ready and was returned to the OHL after seven games, in which he scored once. Outside of inexplicably not making Canada’s WJC squad, his post-draft year was as expected. Tippett brought his dynamic offensive game to the Mississauga Steelheads, finishing three points off the team lead despite missing 17 games. He is a fantastic skater with a high end shot and mesmerizing puck skills. He is not as strong off the puck as he is on it, but that part of his game is improving. While he is not a forceful player in the physical sense, he is stocky and strong enough to withstand pressure at the highest levels. He will get another chance to make the Panthers out of camp as the alternative is still a return trip to the OHL.

3 Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Another exquisite puck handler in the Florida system, Denisenko is more abrasive than the two players ranked higher, but also further away from contributing in the NHL. With limited experience internationally (14 games at the U18 level – although he did not play at the WU18s) or in the KHL (only four postseason games), his high-speed puck handling, full of silky dangles and accurate passing ability, suggest that the style of game will translate over time to higher levels of competition. He is also a fine skater, owning an explosive first few steps, a smooth stride, and agility. Where there are still questions about Denisenko’s game, involve his seeming lack of interest away from the puck, and his ability to play physical while toeing the disciplinary line.

4 Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Whereas the three players listed above are all notable for their offensive gifts, Serron Noel is more of a throw-back player in that the most notable things about him is his size, as the player who just turned 18 stands a menacing 6-5”, 205. Noel is more than just a big power winger, as his hands are quite soft for his size (or any size, to be honest) and the same can be said about his ability to motor around the ice. He plays very well without the puck and exhibits good vision in all situations. He plays a physical game without being reckless or looking to punish indiscriminately. As part of his growth curve, he needs to be more selfish, as he will often pass up a scoring chance to give the puck to a teammate, but the collection of tools suggests a strong future.

Aleksi Heponiemi

5 Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 9^th) A playmaker extraordinaire, Heponiemi was drafted by the Panthers after leading all WHL rookies in points. He followed it up with an even more impressive showing, leading the WHL in assists in both the regular season and playoffs. His success is partly puck skills and partly creativity. Physically, he is the antithesis of Noel above, as Heponiemi is both short (5-10”) and slight (under 150 pounds). He moves well enough, although not exceptionally and he can finish, although that has never been his game. Shortly after the conclusion of his season, he signed a two-year pact with Karpat, in Finland’s Liiga, and the bigger ice may better suit his development, giving him more time to fill out before taking on the North American pros.

6 Jonathan Ang, C (94^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8^th) The first player on this list to be drafted after the first two rounds, Ang has slowly, yet steadily improved in the two seasons since Florida selected him in the fourth round. That improvement was more notable in the first half of last season, as he was often the only offensive generator on a struggling Peterborough squad. A high-end skater who is just as talented as a scorer as he is creating for others, he can contribute up and down the ice, suggesting his game is not necessarily locked in as a top six or bust player. Still developing from a physical perspective, Ang has more bite than his frame might suggest, although that will not be the focus of his game going forward.

7 Dryden Hunt, LW (UDFA: Mar. 2, 2016. Last Year: 15^th) Indicative of the lack of drafting success outside of the elite range in the last few years, the top prospect in the Florida system who has already spent significant time with the organization’s AHL affiliate was acquired as an undrafted free agent. Hunt was a bit of a late bloomer, but peaked in his last year in the WHL, being named the Top Player in the league and earning an ELC from the Panthers. He since made tangible strides in his two years in the AHL, nearly doubling his scoring rate year over year. While he is not the greatest skater, he does everything else at an average or better level. While he didn’t do much in his first AHL call up last year, he is likely to receive another chance this year, and I would expect to see more.

8 Maxim Mamin, LW/RW (175^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 12^th) Taken in the sixth round two years ago as a 21-year-old, Mamin came over to the AHL after one more year in Russia and acclimated immediately. In fact, he was so impressive with Springfield – scoring at a better clip than he had since his final season in the MHL - that he ended up playing 26 games in the NHL in his first season over in North America. As he did not produce this much offense in Russia, it is likely that his production would have dipped in a larger sample, but his skating prowess, coupled with his inherent puck skills are strong enough that he would not look out of place in a bottom six role right now. He can contribute secondary scoring as well as a moderate physical presence.

Samuel Montembeault

9 Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 3^rd) As the top goalie prospect in the Panthers’ system again, Montembeault continues to pass the so-called “eye-test” but comes up wanting in the performance test. He has plus athleticism, and seems to track the play well, but was far more prone to allowing more pucks past him then his partners. In other words, his .896 save percentage this year with Springfield pales in comparison to Harri Sateri’s .927 mark. The individual components of his game, bar puck handling, all grade out well, so it could just be a matter of time for acclimatizing to the better releases of the AHL compared to the QMJHL. More will definitely be expected of him this year.

10 Patrick Bajkov, RW/LW (UDFA: Mar. 9, 2018: Last Year: IE) After going undrafted twice, the Panthers inked Bajkov to an ELC last March as he neared the end of what ended up as a 100-point season, followed by a run to the WHL finals. While he is a fine skater with solid puck skills, Bajkov has achieved what he has thanks to very impressive hockey IQ. Under the tutelage of defense-oriented coach Kevin Constantine, he has earned trust through both his offensive results and his reliability in all zones. Think of Dryden Hunt above, but a touch less in the offensive side of his game, replaced by greater impact off the puck.

11 Anthony Greco, LW/RW (Nov. 21, 2017. Last Year: IE) Not all paths to prospectdom are the same. There are the high-end draft picks like Tippett and Denisenko, above. The more modest picks like Ang, and Montembeault. The guys who took longer to get there, like Borgstrom, drafted in his second year of eligibility. There are guys like Hunt and Bajkov, who are not drafted at all, but sign as free talents at age 20. And then there’s Anthony Greco. After four years at Ohio State, he got a try-out with one AHL club and then was signed to an AHL deal with Springfield. One year turned to two, and sensing that he was finally learning how to weaponize his shot and that his puck skills were approaching a real strength, the Panthers extended an ELC his way, a few months after his 24^th birthday. Greco will never be a superstar, but he might be a decent player. Not many saw that coming.

12 Jayce Hawryluk, RW (32^nd overall, 2014. Last Year: 6^th) The Panthers’ 2014 draft class started off strong, as they took Aaron Ekblad with the first overall pick. No one else from that class has yet seen the NHL. Hawryluk is the only other one who even merits a top 20 prospect slot. A fine skater who plays with a large chip on his shoulders, it is apparent that the offensive heights he reached as a junior have not made their way to the pro game. He has a nose for the puck and can contribute in a secondary form, but he lacks the dynamism to play in a top six role. With more focus on his defensive responsibilities, a fourth line role on the wing o even in the middle may yet be attainable.

13 Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 7^th) If you were paying attention, you may have noticed that the first 12 players on this list included 11 forwards, one netminder and zero blueliners. Max Gildon is the best in the Florida system. He is a big skater, with a booming point shot. He can also flash plus with his other tools, including puck skills and skating ability to boot. His flashes of hockey smarts are rarer, though. Born and raised in Texas, he may simply need more time at a new level to acclimate. The second half of his draft year with the USNTDP was much better than the first after all. Perhaps a second season with the University of New Hampshire will see him take a step forward. If not, many in this organization will be frustrated.

14 Linus Nassen, D (89^th overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Before moving to the WHL, Nassen spent part of his first post draft year in the SHL with Lulea, where, as is typical for teenagers in Sweden’s tip league, he didn’t do all that much. While injuries hampered his first season in North America, when healthy, the slight blueliner showcased strong skating ability, good puck skills and impressive hockey IQ. Consistent with his lack of muscle, his point shot failed to impress, and he could not show power in the corners, but there is a hope that Nassen could develop into a decent, puck moving, transitional defender. At press time, it was still unclear where he would be playing in 2018-19, but both AHL and SHL are possibilities.

Riley Stillman

15 Riley Stillman, D (114^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14^th) With a father who played over 1,000 games in the NHL, Stillman has a good model to follow. He showed glimpses of that ability in the last few years, but his performance in the OHL playoffs with Hamilton last year, helping take the team to a championship and Memorial Cup appearance, indicated that he was ready for the next step. A good skater who plays a steady physical game, the rest of his tools grade out around average, but work in tandem to form a solid likely bottom pairing blueliner who can sometimes play up. If the pace of the AHL does not overwhelm him, he may be a quick study.

16 Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) At this stage in his career, Logan Hutsko’s back story is far more well-known than what type of player he is. He missed time in his age 16-17 season with a broken neck and missed most of his first draft eligible year with a broken kneecap and various complications in the healing process. Finally healthy, he led Boston College in scoring as a freshman, getting himself squarely back on the prospect radar. His skating is fine, but the rest of his tools are currently closer to OK than anything else. He is a great story but needs to keep performing to be more than that.

17 Ryan Bednard, G (206^th overall, 2015. Last Year: not ranked) A very athletic goaltender who excels at minimizing second chances, Bednard took over the crease at Bowling Green Sate as a sophomore and did a fine job of keeping pucks from getting behind him. He has near ideal size and the agility in his lower body will give him a chance to continue to receive chances as he moves up the ladder. He guards the line well but has tended to let things snowball on bad days. One particular area in which he needs improvement is his decision making when it comes to playing the puck. He can get it up the wall to a teammate, but all too often misjudges the available time.

18 Benjamin Finkelstein, D (195^th overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) In his prep days, Benjamin Finkelstein was a world-beater for Kimball Union. But he was tiny and nearly 200 other names were called out before the Panthers spoke his. He was very impressive at St. Lawrence University as a freshman but left the school mid-way through his sophomore year due to unstated personal reasons., spending the second half of last year with Waterloo of the USHL, where he was so overwhelming from the perspective of the scoresheet, he was named Defender of the Year for the league. He has great vision and passing skills, well suited for quarterbacking the powerplay, but there are enough open questions about his mobility at his size for me to want to see his production hold up after he gets to Boston College, and later, the pro game.

19 Tyler Inamoto, D (133^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 13^th) A teammate of Max Gildon’s with the UNSTDP, Inamoto was a physical bomber where Gildon was a wild stallion. Inamoto struggled at time as a freshman at Wisconsin as he stilled relied on a big physical game, leading to poor positioning and reads. He has never shown the hands or instincts to be a big offensive producer from the blueline, but at lower levels, his physical game was intimidating enough to create a genuine fear factor in opponents. He will have to adjust to the college level, with stronger, more mature opponents, and show some modicum of skill to continue progressing, but it is too early to close the book on him.

20 Thomas Schemitsch, D (88^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 19^th) A former third round pick, Schemitsch’s career has not progressed as hoped, but to his credit, the 21-year-old defender did take a big step forward last year, his second as a pro. His 10 goals scored from the blueline were his highest total since his draft year. He also demonstrated that he could mentally keep up with the pace of the AHL, after being relegated to the ECHL for half of his first season as a professional. Entering the final season of his ELC, the Panthers will be wanting to see Schemitsch take another step forward. His physical presence and relative youth suggest there may be more to come but the onus is on him to access whatever latent skills he has.

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Brock Otten — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:51:07 +0000

The 2018 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off this week after the regular season wrapped up this past weekend. Heading into the playoffs, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are the clear favorites to come out of the OHL and represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Regina. They have spent the vast majority of the season as the top ranked team in the CHL, one of only two teams to chart the entire season (along with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL). But competition is always fierce and there are no sure bets in the OHL. Let us now take a look at each first round match-up.

Eastern Conference

#1 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. #8 - Ottawa 67’s

Season Series: Hamilton leads 5-0

Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: The Conference Champion Bulldogs face off against the 67’s after the Steelheads won on the final Sunday, securing the number 7 seed. Hamilton has been the cream of the crop of the Eastern Conference for the vast majority of the season. They have been extremely active in trades this year to give them the best chance of coming out of the East. The Bulldogs added Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Riley Stillman (Florida), Nic Caamano (Dallas), Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen (Toronto) to an already stacked lineup, giving Ottawa an extremely daunting challenge in round one. This team rolls three powerhouse offensive lines with Matthew Strome (Philadelphia), Will Bitten (Montreal), Mackenzie Entwistle (Arizona), Marian Studenic (New Jersey), and Brandon Saigeon being other top options. Forward Arthur Kaliyev (2019) is another name to watch. He is the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the OHL since Alex Galchenyuk and he is a potential lottery pick next year as a power winger. In net, the Bulldogs boast one of the OHL’s most improved players this year in Kaden Fulcher (Detroit).

Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ottawa, on the other hand, is a very young team. In a few years’ time, they could be Memorial Cup contenders. They could have five players drafted in the first three rounds this year (Kody Clark, Mitchell Hoelscher, Merrick Rippon, Kevin Bahl, and Carter Robertson). Offensively, they are paced by Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose), Travis Barron (Colorado), Austen Keating (2018) and Tye Felhaber. Chmelevski was a much hyped prospect who fell hard at last year’s draft (all the way to the 6th), but he has returned much stronger this season. His play away from the puck has greatly improved and it has taken his game to another level. But for all their talent offensively, the 67’s have had a very difficult time keeping the puck out of their own net this year. Overager Olivier Tremblay has not provided the stability that the team had hoped for when they brought him in early this year.

This one has all the makings of a quick series. This Ottawa team, as talented as they are young, is not yet ready for this type of challenge. The Bulldogs are one of the deepest teams in the OHL and their offensive firepower is likely to overwhelm an inexperienced defense and inconsistent netminder. One particular thing worth watching is the 67’s struggling penalty kill going up against one of the league’s best powerplay units from Hamilton. This has to be troubling for Ottawa because they also happen to be one of the league’s most undisciplined teams. And while Ottawa does have some great young offensive talent, the Bulldogs have one of the oldest defensive units in the league and are likely to limit the offensive chances of the 67’s. I look for Robert Thomas to have a big series here (and a big playoff performance overall). His points per game has taken a big dip since joining the Bulldogs, but I think he explodes this postseason.

Prediction: This Hamilton team is just too experienced and too talented for the 67’s. They have the advantage in nearly every area and should dominate. If Ottawa was getting better goaltending, I would say that they might be able to steal a game or two, but I do not even see that happening. Hamilton in 4.

#2 - Barrie Colts vs. #7 - Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: Mississauga leads 4-2

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

Analysis: If I was a betting man, I would bet that this is the match-up that Barrie wanted to avoid in the opening round. In fact, it was probably the match-up every team wanted to avoid in the first round. Mississauga has underachieved all season long, but they have shown some signs of finally coming to life the last month or so. Offensive talent is not to be questioned. Their first two lines include names like Michael McLeod (New Jersey), Ryan McLeod (2018), Owen Tippett (Florida), Trent Fox, Albert Michnac (2018), and Mathieu Foget. This group of six matches up well against any top six in the Eastern Conference and it helps to explain why the Steelheads are the third highest scoring team in the Conference. And this excludes their leading scorer, defenseman Nic Hague (Vegas), who was the first OHL defender to score 30+ since Allan Rourke. But keeping the puck out has been a challenge at times. Swedish import and defensive stalwart Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles) has been injured and that has really challenged their younger defensive players to play more minutes than they are ready for. Furthermore, young netminder Jacob Ingham (2018) has had an awful sophomore season that has seen him essentially lose the starting job to Emanuel Vella.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This is potentially trouble because Barrie is the highest scoring team in the Conference and the 3rd highest scoring in the OHL. Their first line of Andrei Svechnikov (2018), Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa), and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota) has been absolutely shredding teams of late. The supporting offensive cast includes guys like Ryan Suzuki (2019), Jason Willms (2018), and Zach Magwood who work extremely hard in all three zones and bring energy that exhausts the opposition so that the first line can go to work. The Colts do not have any stars on the blueline, but they are a tight knit unit who work well with Barrie’s forwards to play a terrific team defense. In net, overager Leo Lazerev starts and while he does not necessarily win any games outright for the Colts, he is a mostly reliable presence. It should be noted that he has yet to win an OHL playoff series in his career and probably goes into this match-up with just as many question marks as Mississauga’s tenders.

There is no question that this is not your average #2 versus #7 seed match-up. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Mississauga largely dominated the season series, winning all three games in the new year by a combined score of 18-10. For whatever reason, the speed of Mississauga’s forwards gives the defense of Barrie a tough time and Lazerev has an .840 save percentage against the Fish this season. This is complicated even more by the fact that Andrei Svechnikov has been suspended for the first four games of the series for a head check. But I admit, I have a tough time picking Mississauga to win this series. I do not trust their defense to be able to handle Barrie’s depth up front. And if these games go to an offensive shootout like they did in the regular season, I think Barrie ends up coming out on top this time. Mississauga’s Mathieu Foget has also been suspended for the first four games of the series and his loss might actually be felt more because of Mississauga’s lack of depth. His acquisition really triggered the turnaround for the team. Barrie also needs to stay out of the box. In the regular season, they gave Mississauga almost double the amount of powerplays that they received and it cost them dearly with the Steelheads clicking at over 30% with the man advantage. If they can stay out of the box, and Lazerev can make a few saves, I still like Barrie to come out on top.

Prediction: The result of this series would not surprise me either way, even with the difference in seeding. But depth is critical in the playoffs and Barrie has the advantage there. I am excited to see how the Svechnikov/Luchuk/Sokolov unit handles the pressure of the playoffs. Svechnikov, in particular, can really cement himself as the #2 prospect available in the draft with a strong postseason performance once he returns from suspension (as long as Barrie does not get swept). Barrie in 7.

#3 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. #6 - North Bay Battalion

Season Series: Kingston leads 3-1

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: This is an intriguing match-up because of how differently these two teams approached the OHL season. Kingston brought in Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), Cliff Pu (Buffalo), Sean Day (New York Rangers), and Mitchell Byrne at the deadline to bolster an already solid line-up and make them contenders to come out of the East. While they failed to secure a division banner, the results post deadline have been mostly extremely positive. A healthy and re-invigorated Vilardi has provided the biggest boost, as his 1.87 points per game in Kingston is second to only Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis) in the OHL. His strength, on and off the puck, makes him a dominant force in all three zones and the type of player who works to tire and grind out opposing defenses.

Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson /OHL Images,

The North Bay Battalion were sellers at the deadline this year, shipping out veterans Cam Dineen (Arizona), and Brett McKenzie (Vancouver). Those moves only worked to light a fire under the Battalion roster and the team actually improved their record in the New Year thanks to the play of new acquisitions Matthew Struthers (2018), and Jake Henderson, as well as veterans Justin Brazeau (2018), and Adam Thilander (2018). Brazeau, in particular, is a player to watch. The 6-5” winger finished just inside the Top 20 of league scoring and was named as the East’s most underrated player in the recent coaches poll that was released.

If we are measuring up these two teams, we need to give the edge to Kingston in nearly every area. The Fronts lead the season series 3-1, winning the three most recent games (February on). The biggest advantage Kingston has is in net with Jeremy Helvig (Carolina) manning the crease. The overager and veteran netminder has 19 OHL playoff games under his belt and is unquestionably one of the league’s top netminders. Meanwhile, the Battalion will rely on either Christian Propp (2018) or Julian Sime, who have a combined zero OHL playoff appearances. Kingston also has a heavy advantage on special teams, with their powerplay and penalty killing units operating at a higher level. With Robertson and Vilardi operating down low on the powerplay, North Bay is going to need to stay out of the box to have any chance in this series. One wild card to keep an eye on is the health of Max Jones. Jones has been out since the end of January after undergoing surgery on a broken finger. It is likely he returns at some point in these playoffs and he can be a major x-factor.

Prediction: Ultimately, Kingston’s experience and leadership should carry them to a relatively easy victory in this match-up. Gabe Vilardi and Sean Day won a Memorial Cup together last year. Mitchell Byrne won an OHL Championship last year. And Cliff Pu and Max Jones won an OHL Title and Memorial Cup in 2016. Kingston in 5.

#4 - Niagara IceDogs vs. #5 - Oshawa Generals

Season Series: Tied at 1 game apiece

Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: Two teams that do not see a ton of each other match-up in round one. Niagara and Oshawa also happen to be two of the hotter teams in the OHL heading into the playoffs. The IceDogs are a team that rely on speed and energy to play an up tempo and offensively oriented style of game. They get after it on the forecheck and have a powerplay that has been much improved since the acquisition of overager Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh) from London. On top of Miletic, Niagara has a trio of offensive weapons that they rely on in Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Akil Thomas (2018), and Ben Jones (Vegas).

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Oshawa, on the other hand, prefers to slow things down and grind it out in the offensive end. Their fearless leader is Jack Studnicka (Boston), an excellent two-way center who makes an impact in so many different ways. A pair of first time draft eligible forwards support Studnicka; Serron Noel (2018), and Allan McShane (2018). Defenseman Matt Brassard (Vancouver) is also critical to their offensive success. He was one of the highest scoring defenders in the league in the second half and finished the year 7th in defensive scoring.

If we are truly comparing these two teams, it is difficult to determine who has a clear advantage. In goal, the nod should be given to Oshawa and their starter Kyle Keyser (Boston). Keyser has been a stable presence in net this year, definitely more so than Stephen Dhillon who has struggled for Niagara this year, or the inexperienced Colton Incze. Up front, I give the slight edge to Niagara because of their explosiveness and depth. On defense, the two teams boast slightly inexperienced units who are mobile, but can be mistake prone. Ultimately, I see two things possibly tipping the favor in Niagara’s direction. The first is special teams play. As mentioned, Niagara’s powerplay has been performing at a high level lately and Oshawa has one of the league’s worst penalty killing units. The second is home ice advantage, which Niagara owns after finishing the regular season on a 7 game winning streak.

Prediction: With home ice advantage, better special teams play, and a slightly more explosive offense, I like Niagara to win this series. Their goaltending concerns me slightly, but between Dhillon or Incze, they should be able to make enough big saves to at least get the IceDogs into the second round. But this one will be close. Niagara in 7.

Western Conference

#1 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #8 - Saginaw Spirit

Season Series: SSM leads 7-1

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson

Analysis: The juggernaut Greyhounds kick off their Memorial Cup push against the Saginaw Spirit, whose five game losing streak to end the season forced them down the standings and into this first round match-up. Sault Ste. Marie has nine NHL draft picks on their roster and two more potential first rounders for 2018. Up front, Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay), Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay), Jack Kopacka (Anaheim), Tim Gettinger (New York Rangers), Barrett Hayton (2018), and the underrated Hayden Verbeek pace the attack. But the real star is OHL 2nd leading scorer Morgan Frost (Philadelphia), one of the breakout stars of this season. On the backend, the Hounds are equally strong, led by Conor Timmins (Colorado), and Rasmus Sandin (2018). Neither seem to make a mistake with the puck and both are just as good in their own end as they are offensively. In net, Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) has been a steady presence who makes the saves when he needs to.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Saginaw’s strength actually starts in net where overager Evan Cormier (New Jersey) keeps the Spirit in a lot of games that they do not deserve to be in. This is important because the Spirit struggle to score goals. They were only one of three teams in the OHL to not score 200 goals on the season and the other two finished dead last in their conferences (Flint and Sudbury). Furthermore, their powerplay was a league worst 14.7%. There is definitely some offensive talent on this team, but the team’s best days are ahead of them as guys like Blade Jenkins (2018), Nicholas Porco (2019), Ryan Stepien (2020), Aidan Prueter (2020), and Damien Giroux (2018) gain experience. In fact, the team’s only NHL drafted forward, Brady Gilmour (Detroit) finished 9th in team scoring.

In all honesty, this series should not be close and is not likely to be close. The Spirit have a talented young roster, but they are not currently an equal to the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie has the advantage in nearly every area except maybe goaltending. Even then, Evan Cormier can only do so much. Heck, we might see the Greyhounds score more shorthanded goals than the Spirit score powerplay goals in the series.

Prediction: I want to say that Evan Cormier can do enough to steal a game for the Spirit in this series, but I cannot even see the Spirit winning a game. The Greyhounds are just too strong. SSM in 4.

#2 - Kitchener Rangers vs. #7 - Guelph Storm

Season Series: Kitchener leads 5-3

Logan Brown of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: This is an interesting first round match-up between two teams that did not end the regular season the way they wanted to. Kitchener, a strong team all season, struggled down the stretch, although managed to hang on to their Division crown. Meanwhile, the Guelph Storm were one of the league’s worst teams in the last few months that saw them lose their grip on the #6 spot in the West. Kitchener loaded up at the deadline by bringing in Logan Brown (Ottawa), Givani Smith (Detroit), Mario Culina, and Austin McEneny. I think it would be fair to say that Kitchener is still waiting to see the best out of three of those four, with Culina playing well so far as a starter. It has been the guys around all season like Adam Mascherin (Florida), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Joseph Gareffa, Logan Stanley (Winnipeg), and Riley Damiani (2018) that have been driving the team’s success. Moving into the playoffs, it will be about whether the newer faces can finally find chemistry or not. The health of defensive stalwart Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) could also impact the series.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Guelph, as mentioned, has also struggled down the stretch, especially when it comes to preventing goals. Goaltender Anthony Popovich (2018) appeared to tire of late after seeing a huge jump in workload this season. The defensive group, led by Ryan Merkley (2018), and Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton) also struggled, to the point where Merkley was a healthy scratch at times down the stretch. The Storm do have a hard working forward group who is capable of icing multiple scoring lines. The offensive leaders are unquestionably Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia) and Cam Hillis (2018), who along with Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis) form a quality first line.

Looking at this series a little more under the microscope, it is probably closer than people are making it out to be. The special teams match-up pretty well. Neither team has a dominant goaltender that one would qualify as a game-changer (no offense meant to Culina or Popovich). Both teams struggled down the stretch with team chemistry issues. The tipping point for me is experience. The Rangers have the clear advantage there, especially on the defensive end. Guys like Logan Stanley and Austin McEneny, who won a Memorial Cup together with Windsor last year, should really help to stabilize things, even without Connor Hall. I also look for longtime Rangers like Mascherin or Connor Bunnaman (Philadelphia) to really step up offensively to get this team over the first round hump.

Prediction: As mentioned, I feel like Kitchener’s experience advantage will help them come out on top in this series. I also feel that they have a much better team defense approach that likely plays out better for success in the playoffs. Guelph has talent, but they play a very high risk game that, without a ton of playoff experience, could be their undoing. It will be close, but Kitchener in 6.

#3 - Sarnia Sting vs. #6 - Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: Sarnia leads 5-1

Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: No offense meant to the rest of the Windsor Spitfires, but this match-up is about two things. The Sarnia offense (2nd best in the OHL) versus the goaltending of Michael DiPietro (Vancouver). The dynamic DiPietro is one of the few goaltenders in the OHL who is capable of stealing a series victory for his team. The Spitfires rebuilt, dealing off the majority of their veterans held over from their Memorial Cup victory last year, but decided to hang on to their star netminder for this reason. They battle hard in the offensive end behind the likes of Curtis Douglas (2018), Cole Purboo (2018), Cody Morgan (2019), Luke Boka, and Matthew MacDougall (2018). And they play smart in their own end thanks to Connor Corcoran (2018), Nathan Staios (2019), Grayson Ladd (2019), and Zach Shankar. But this team has zero NHL drafted players outside of DiPietro and are incredibly inexperienced.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Sting, conversely, were one of the biggest buyers throughout this OHL season, bringing in talented veterans like Cam Dineen (Arizona), Jonathan Ang (Florida), and Michael Pezzetta (Montreal). The lifeblood of the team is Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), the league’s leader in points per game this year and possibly the best offensive player in the OHL. He is currently zero for three in first round appearances and is likely to do everything in his power to finally reach the second round (and beyond). You could likely argue that overager Justin Fazio is the team’s second most important player in the series, especially considering that he has to match-up against DiPietro. The margin for error is slim.

One of Sarnia’s biggest strengths is on the powerplay where Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka (Calgary), and Drake Rymsha (Los Angeles) have a combined 34 powerplay goals this year. Problem is, Windsor takes among the least amount of penalties in the OHL so as long as Windsor can continue to stay out of the box, Sarnia is going to need to beat DiPietro 5 on 5. The question I have is, how will Windsor manage to score goals, at least enough goals to win this 7 game series? It will not be with the man advantage either (likely) as the Sting have the league’s top penalty killing unit. I am slightly worried about Sarnia’s inexperienced defense though, but that concern is more directed towards round two or three (if the Sting advance that far). Sarnia will need big guys like Ruzicka, Pezzetta, Jordan Ernst, and Hugo Leufvenius (2018) to crowd DiPietro’s space as much as possible and really make him uncomfortable. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Windsor fans can tell you, sometimes the best way to beat Michael DiPietro is through sheer luck and bad bounces.

Prediction: As much as I want to predict a Windsor victory, I do not see it in the cards. DiPietro will steal a few games and he will make Sarnia sweat. But the offensive firepower of Sarnia, combined with the inexperience of Windsor’s defense is likely to give the Sting too many scoring chances for the Spitfires’ star netminder to handle. Sarnia in 6.

#4 - Owen Sound Attack vs. #5 - London Knights

Season Series: London leads 4-2

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Analysis: As is usually the case, the 4/5 matchup in the Western Conference looks to be the closest match-up of the first round, and subsequently the most difficult to prognosticate. London traded off the vast majority of their big guns to retool to fight another day. Instead, the team played inspired hockey down the stretch led by a host of younger players eager to make their mark. When talking about London, we have to start with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2018), the lifeblood of the Knights. His 87 points are the highest by a blueliner since Ryan Ellis hit the 100 point mark in 2011. The speedy Alex Formenton (Ottawa) is also playing the best hockey of his OHL career thus far with 12 goals in 14 games to close out the regular season. And you cannot talk about London without mentioning how good the “kid” line of Liam Foudy (2018), Billy Moskal (2018), and Nathan Dunkley (2018) has been since the trade deadline. This trio was challenged to step up their games with increased ice time and they all responded accordingly.

Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Sound, on the other hand, was expected to be one of the top teams in the OHL this year but struggled to keep their star players healthy all year and subsequently struggled to perform consistently. That is, until the last few months when they have been, arguably, the OHL’s best. This team is scary good when healthy and they are now finally healthy. They roll three outstanding scoring lines, including a top unit of Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver), Kevin Hancock (2018), and Nick Suzuki (Vegas) that has been one of the OHL’s best over the last two seasons. They also have one of the OHL’s top offensive blueliners in Sean Durzi (2018), who if he did not get injured, likely could have challenged Bouchard for the defenceman scoring title. It is in net where Owen Sound has struggled this season as Olivier Lafreniere and Mack Guzda (2019) have battled to find consistency. No question, Owen Sound has to have their offense rolling to win because they are not going to win many 2-1 games.

So who has the advantage going into this match-up? Experience wise, the nod has to be given to Owen Sound...and by a wide margin. The Attack are returning the vast majority of a roster that lost in the Conference finals last season. The Knights are an extremely well coached team, but they are relying on a lot of rookies and sophomores in key roles and that can often prove to be a recipe for disaster in the postseason. The deciding factor in this series probably comes down to the goaltending. So long as Owen Sound can get at least adequate goaltending from one of Lafreniere or Guzda, they should win this series. But if their goaltending struggles and team is forced to constantly play catch-up, the series tips in London’s favor, a team with nothing to lose.

Prediction: I have to give the nod to Owen Sound here because now that they are fully healthy, they look like a tough team to stop. This is especially true for a team as inexperienced as London; even if they are extremely talented. The Attack can get the saves they need to win this one, even if London pushes them and makes them sweat. Owen Sound in 6

OHL Finals Prediction

When the field is finally narrowed down to two teams who battle it out for OHL supremacy, I expect those two teams to be the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

From the East I like Kingston for a couple reasons. The first is experience. As I already alluded to, they have a lot of players on that roster who have already won a Memorial Cup or OHL Championship (or both). That type of leadership goes a long way in the playoffs. The second is special teams play. The great Scotty Bowman always said combined special teams play was a great indicator of postseason success. Well the Fronts have the best powerplay in the league and the second best penalty kill. The third is goaltending. Jeremy Helvig is a veteran netminder who is about as consistent as they come. I have a ton of confidence in his ability to make saves when he needs to.

From the West, I like the Soo Greyhounds as they have looked about as dominant as anyone in the OHL has over the last few years. Their 116 points is the most since Barrie put up 116 in 2010. This team has it all. Special teams success. Good goaltending. Speed. Physicality. But most of all...depth. Drew Bannister’s players rarely seem to take a shift off and they rarely make mistakes with the puck. That composure at both ends of the ice makes them the favorite.

For the OHL Title, I am taking the Soo Greyhounds to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since they won back to back championships in the early 90ś.

Florida – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:25:35 +0000

The Florida Panthers organization has a few bright lights to crow about, but taken as a whole, is a shallow system, reflecting both failures to identify talent over the past half-decade as well as failures for prospects to develop. An example of failure of talent to develop is the case of Steven Hodges. Drafted in the third round in 2012, he had once been a top ten WHL Bantam Draft selection. His draft year numbers were OK, although falling far short of the magic one point-per-game mark that generally indicates a top six NHL contributor down the road. His numbers never really improved over his final two junior seasons and he entered the pro ranks as a depleted stock. Between injuries and ineffectiveness, his pro career never took off either and following the closure of his initial ELC, he was not tendered a new contract and has reportedly retired.

Looking at the failure to identify talent, the Panthers currently own the rights to my favorite prospect punching bag, Joe Wegwerth, a massive winger currently skating for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The fourth round pick in 2014, Wegwerth was a role player with the USNTDP, with size being his only real skill. Despite a regular role with Notre Dame, he has only 15 points through his first two seasons of collegiate hockey. With the game moving more and more toward a speed and skill sport, there is no room left at the inn for players of Wegwerth’s ilk. Even in 2014, the game was trending in that direction. On the one hand, fourth round picks are not expected to make it more than half the time. On the other hand, Wegwerth should have been expected to never pan out.

To their credit, the Panthers have done relatively well with their first rounders, many of whom were high first rounders. Aaron Ekblad was taken first overall. Aleksander Barkov was a #2. Jonathan Huberdeau was a third overall pick. Lawson Crouse, a wedge-issue prospect made it quickly to the NHL, although his overall future impact potential is still not expected to be great. Michael Matheson, a later first round pick, had a promising rookie season. The problem has been that the team got very, very little after the first round. Since 2010, the only players drafted by the Panthers who have received more than token call ups have been Vincent Trocheck, Denis Malgin, Iiro Pakarinen, and Logan Shaw. The latter two have mostly made their marks with other organizations.

Thankfully, two years ago, the Panthers made waves through moving to the forefront of the analytical revolution, and even let the so-called “Computer Boys” handle their draft list in 2016. It is still far too early to judge their work but it is only fair to point out that fully ten of their current top twenty are products of those two drafts, including the top two, both expected to be high-impact players in the near future.

While it now looks like veteran “hockey man” Dale Tallon is back running the team’s scouting staff, we do not know how their approach will change (again) in coming seasons, but it is more than fair to say that what went on before the Computer Boys ascended was not working.

June 24, 2016: Henrik Borstrom looks on after being picked by the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

1 Henrik Borgstrom – A surprise first round pick as a second year eligible in 2016, Borgstrom moved from Finland to the University of Denver and was immediately one of the most exciting and talented offensive players in the NCAA. He scored over one point per game as a freshman, helping secure an NCAA championship for the Pioneers. He is a strong skater, with a very good shot and magic in his stick. His impressive patience brings all of his skills together. He could play in the NHL this year, but has decided to go back to Denver for another year first.

Owen Tippett

2 Owen Tippett – Although his detractors can fairly point to Tippett’s lack of commitment away from the puck, and his relatively soft style, not taking full advantage of a pro-sized frame, what Tippett does bring to his team more than makes up for the blemishes. He has plus acceleration, getting to top speed in two steps, allowing to skate clear of most defenders. Once he is clear, he has a near-elite shot. Tippett was easily among the best shooters in the 2017 draft class.

3 Samuel Montembeault – In the two years since being drafted in the third round, Montembeault’s save percentage was steadily rose. Last year’s .907 mark was third among starting netminders in the QMJHL. He is a fundamentally strong netminder, who excels at controlling rebounds and preventing second chances. Above average athleticism also helps his game play up. He is clearly the front-runner for goalie of the future status in the Panthers’ organization.

4 Ian McCoshen – A big, physical blueliner who has solid tools, but is not expected to ever be a big point producer. In his first year as a professional, McCoshen succeeded in taming his previously over-aggressive style. He has enough of a point shot to maintain hope of getting second unit power play duty, but will make his career on being reliable in his own zone. Won’t be a fantasy hockey stud, but is maybe one year away from starting a lengthy NHL career.

5 Henrik Haapala – Last year’s leading scoring in Liiga, Finland’s top league, Haapala signed as a free agent with the Panthers. He is a highly skilled forward who can handle the puck at top speed thanks to his great hands. His vision and acceleration are both high end. Although quite undersized, he does not shy away from physical play. He will have to prove he can withstand the increased physicality of the North American game, and is likely to get his chance in the NHL this year.

6 Jayce Hawryluk – Hawryluk fell off the radar somewhat in his first pro season, one that was delayed by injury and then took some time to get going in earnest. False start notwithstanding, this is still a player with plus vision in the offensive zone. He is a player that can dictate the flow of the game, create offense and find his way to the puck. Despite being somewhat undersized, he can play with a chip on his shoulder as well. Expect him to take a sizeable step forward this year.

Max Gildon

7 Max Gildon – A product of the burgeoning Texas hockey scene, Gildon came a long way over the course of his draft year in the USNTDP. While the tools were always there, as he combines strong skating with decent puck skills and cannon from the point, he could not always put it all together and was prone to embarrassing mental gaffes. By year’s end, he was more reliable in his own end and capable of big offensive contributions, such as his hat trick at the WU18 tournament.

8 Jonathan Ang – A speed demon with some goal scoring skills, Ang may never be a top six forward at the NHL level, but he has a strong enough all-around game that he should be able to carve out a steady roll on a third or fourth line. Has a decent shot and passable puck skills. He even plays a solid physical game despite being on the slighter side. He will need to pack on more muscle to be able to play his style of game at the higher levels.

9 Aleksi Heponiemi – Yet another undersized forward in the Panthers’ system, Heponiemi came over from Finland and was immediately one of the better playmakers in the WHL with Swift Current, finishing second in the league in assists among draft eligible players. He also has enough speed and agility to beat defenders on his own. On the downside, weighing only 150 pounds, he is physically a long ways from being ready for the pros.

Adam Mascherin of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

10 Adam Mascherin – Short but stocky, Mascherin very quietly reached 100 points this year for the Kitchener Rangers. With a developing two-way game, he should be limited to an offensive-role once he turns pro. In spite of his gaudy assist totals, Mascherin’s shot is more dangerous than his playmaking. His skating is also sneakily impressive. Although he shies from physical play, he is a hard worker.

11 MacKenzie Weegar – With another year like his last, Weegar can turn into the best Panthers’ late round pick since Filip Kuba. The late bloomer is solid in his own zone, closes gaps aggressively and looks good manning the point as well. He moves the puck around well and has a passable point shot. His success is a product of smarts and instincts more than tangible tools. The tools are good enough, but the mind allows them all to play up a notch.

12 Maxim Mamin – At this point in the system, upside starts to dwindle. With Mamin, we are looking at a hard-working grinding winger, who will fight for a bottom line role with the Panthers in his first season coming over from the KHL. He has solid passing skills, but is unlikely to ever be a big offensive producer.

13 Tyler Inamoto – Another player with limited offensive projections, Inamoto was the most punishingly physical defender in the US National program this year, earning himself a nod in the fifth round. He is a strong skater with at least rudimentary puck handling ability, but his future projections lie with his physical play away from the puck. The next step for him to take as he heads off to college is to cut down on unnecessary penalties.

14 Riley Stillman – A decent skater although better over distance than in small-space maneuvering, Stillman shows the type of hockey brain that is expected from one whose father (Cory) had a long NHL career. Has a modicum of offensive skill, but is stronger off the puck.

15 Dryden Hunt – A non-descript WHLer until his final season, when the undrafted winger earned an NHL contract on the strength of a 116 point campaign, Hunt found the going much tougher in his first pro season. He is a hard worker with a good enough shot that he should at least develop into a decent scorer at the AHL level. If he gets that far, he will also have earned an NHL opportunity or two.

16 Juho Lammikko – The jump from junior hockey to the pros is a daunting one, and Lammikko found the transition especially difficult last year. He has a good frame, and decent puck skills, but his points production never crested one point per game in the OHL, and was practically non-existent as an AHL apprentice. He is smart and reliable and the Panthers will not write him off just yet.

17 Mike Downing – Drafted out of the USHL as a promising offensive defenseman, Downing plateaued as a sophomore at Michigan, and struggled to get going as a rookie in the AHL. His instincts are stronger in the offensive zone than in his own end, but his puck skills and shot are underwhelming. For now, he is a tweener.

18 Sebastian Repo – A 21 year old drafted in the sixth round this year after two promising seasons in Liiga, Repo was given an ELC almost immediately after the draft. He played a depth role in Finland’s 2016 WJC title and spent half a season in the USHL before that, to middling results, but took a big step forward this year with Tappara. He is a bit of a mystery, but there are enough present signs to suggest an eye be kept on his progress.

19 Thomas Schemitsch – A promising two-way blueliner with great size and the ability to help the offense from the point, Schemitsch had a rough landing in his first full pro season, splitting the season between the AHL and ECHL. He was good enough in the latter league to have earned a longer AHL look this year.

20 Chase Balisy – At the end of the season, Balisy, who led Florida’s AHL affiliate in scoring, was not offered a qualified contract. The Panthers subsequently gave the former sixth rounder a one year deal. He has decent vision and some playmaking ability, but not enough to be an impact NHLer. There is enough there for him to get some chances filling in temporarily in a fourth line role.

If the Panthers show more commitment to drafting players with skill ad hockey IQ over brawn and grit, they could begin to populate their system with more than the filler that we have here past the top 12-15 players.

Then again, if the top two players listed here reach their potential, the lack of system depth may be glossed over, but that would be a mistake. Strong teams always have supplemental depth that is cost-controlled, allowing them to spend more on the premium players. The Panthers need to do a better job at drafting and development (how often was it mentioned above that a rookie pro struggled mightily) to get to that level.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Florida Panthers

Grant McCagg — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 13:06:32 +0000

June 24, 2016: Henrik Borstrom picked by the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

The selection of an undrafted 1997-born Swede who needs plenty of work on his strength and defensive game was the biggest surprise of the first round, with the possible exception of Frederic. Henrik Borgstrom is a lanky center with high-end puck skills and a decent skating burst…there have to be concerns that he’s still such a weak and raw prospect given that he’ll be 19 at training camp. Expect him to be a few years away.

Adam Mascherin was also an early pick at 39, if less surprising. His weight loss for the combine was a positive as it was one of the main concerns along with his size. He certainly has the shot and offensive skills to compete for an NHL job in a few years. Linus Nassen was picked higher than anticipated as well.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	23	79	Henrik Borgstrom	C	FIN	6-3/175	HIFK Helsinki (Fin)
2	38	58	Adam Mascherin	LW	CAN	5-9/205	Kitchener (OHL)
3	89	NR	Linus Nassen	D	SWE	6-0/170	Lulea (Swe)
4	94	65	Jonathan Ang	C	CAN	5-11/165	Peterborough (OHL)
4	114	99	Riley Stillman	D	CAN	6-0/180	Oshawa (OHL)
6	175	NR	Maxim Mamin	C	RUS	6-1/185	CSKA (Rus)
7	195	NR	Ben Finkelstein	D	USA	5-9/185	Kimball Union (USHS-NH)

Jonathan Ang of the Peterborough Petes was selected by the Florida Panthers at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

The two best value picks came in the fourth round when the Panthers snagged OHLers Jonathan Ang and Riley Stillman. Ang is undersized and not known for his willingness to get his nose dirty, however he’s one of the draft’s best skaters and has untapped offensive potential. Stillman rose on many team’s draft rankings in the last months of the season due to his steady play on the blueline. Maxim Mamim and Ben Finkelstein were not under any consideration for McKeen’s list.

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

Grade: D: A team with two top 40 picks should be able to leave the draft with at least one surefire NHL prospect – the Panthers may not get much return from this group. Mascherin looks like the best bet and he’s 5-9.