[04-May-2026 15:31:54 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class 'WP_Widget' not found in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_news_feed_widget.php:3 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_news_feed_widget.php on line 3 [04-May-2026 15:31:55 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class 'WP_Widget' not found in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_sidebar_menu_widget.php:3 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_sidebar_menu_widget.php on line 3 [04-May-2026 15:31:45 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_editorials.php:22 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_editorials.php on line 22 [04-May-2026 15:31:46 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_tabs.php:50 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_tabs.php on line 50 [04-May-2026 15:31:47 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_heading.php:15 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_heading.php on line 15 Jonathan Castagna – McKeen's Hockey https://www.mckeenshockey.com The Essential Hockey Annual Thu, 29 May 2025 17:29:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #8 Utah Mammoth – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2025-nhl-prospects-report-8-utah-mammoth-top-15-nhl-affiliated-prospects/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2025-nhl-prospects-report-8-utah-mammoth-top-15-nhl-affiliated-prospects/#respond Fri, 30 May 2025 12:21:50 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=193406 Read More... from 2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #8 Utah Mammoth – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

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PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Tij Iginla is drafted by the Utah Hockey Club in the first round during the Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

Subscribers can download the PDF in subscriber downloads.

Please note you can scroll through the PDF document here as well

Utah 25 Prospects ]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2025-nhl-prospects-report-8-utah-mammoth-top-15-nhl-affiliated-prospects/feed/ 0 2023 NHL Combine: Part One – Fitness Testing Overview & Results https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-combine-fitness-testing-overview-results/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-combine-fitness-testing-overview-results/#respond Tue, 13 Jun 2023 22:07:17 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=181508 Read More... from 2023 NHL Combine: Part One – Fitness Testing Overview & Results

]]> Another NHL Combine has come and gone in Buffalo, NY this past week. For the 106 invited players, it was a week full of 1-on-1 interviews with NHL teams, interviews with the media, and a variety of fitness tests. The fitness testing results mean more to some NHL executives than they do to others, but nonetheless it is always fascinating to see who finished atop the leaderboards in the fitness testing categories. The Combine is also the final opportunity for players to submit their height and weight, which is always an intriguing progression to monitor. The NHL Combine is the perfect precursor to the NHL Draft. It is some of these player’s first times meeting their competitors on the draft board, and it allows for these players to meet their future management of the team that drafts them in Nashville in just a few weeks.

Standouts

Nick Lardis of the Hamilton Bulldogs placed 1st in four categories: Vertical Jump, Squat Jump, No Arm Jump, & Pull Ups (15). This standout performance puts more eyes on the late riser, who arrived in Hamilton and tore it up through the second half of the season putting up 46 points in 33 games. Lardis has skyrocketed on many draft boards, including McKeen’s, as he finished 32nd overall and snuck his way into the tail end of the first round. He is a player that has certainly benefited from being the “go-to” player on the Bulldogs, and his success will hopefully lead into next season as the team moves to Brantford.

Another player from the OHL, Brad Gardiner also performed exceptionally well in the fitness tests. The two-way centre from the Ottawa 67’s finished in the top 10 in five of the categories completed on the weekend of the Combine, as well as in the Grip Strength test completed earlier in the week. Gardiner likely drew some more attention with this performance, as he was one of the later ranked players out of the 106 at the Combine (McKeen’s has Brad Gardiner ranked at 163rd).

Leading the results in the consensus “most difficult” category, the VO2 MAX, was Seattle Thunderbirds forward Nico Myatovic. In their media availability, nearly every player stated that the VO2 MAX was the hardest fitness test of them all. The VO2 MAX is a gruelling test of oxygen utilized during maximum effort. By winning in this category, Myatovic has likely gained some respect points from teams and players.

The tallest player at the Combine measured up at 6 '6.75”, and that was Czech goaltender Michael Hrabal. Hrabal is one of the top ranked goaltenders heading into the NHL Draft, and he was one of seven goalies invited to the Combine. Hrabal’s size is definitely a draw for some teams, as we see NHL goaltenders getting taller and taller each year.

Fitness Testing Results (excluding Functional Movement Screen & Grip Strength)

Top 10 from each category;
VO2 Max
  1. Nico Myatovic
  2. Brad Gardiner
  3. Bradly Nadeau
  4. Beckett Hendrickson
  5. Noel Nordh
  6. Easton Cowan
  7. Aram Minnetian
  8. Paul Fischer
  9. Axel Sandin Pellikka
  10. Hunter Brzustewicz
Wingate Test
  1. Noah Dower Nlsson
  2. Danny Nelson
  3. Tom Willander
  4. Hunter Brzustewicz
  5. Cameron Allen
  6. David Edstrom
  7. Brayden Yager
  8. Tanner Molendyk
  9. Samuel Honzek
  10. Jonathan Castagna
Pull Ups
  1. Nick Lardis- 15
  2. Danny Nelson- 14
  3. Bradly Nadeau- 14
  4. Cameron Allen- 14
  5. Connor Bedard- 14
  6. Brad Gardiner- 13
  7. Jaden Lipinski- 13
  8. Nate Danielson- 13
  9. Oliver Moore- 13
  10. Denver Barkey- 12
Pro Agility (Right)
  1. Easton Cowan
  2. Jonathan Castagna
  3. Brady Cleveland
  4. Samuel Honzek
  5. Scott Ratzlaff
  6. Brandon Svoboda
  7. Brad Gardiner
  8. Beau Akey
  9. Andrew Gibson
  10. Hunter Brzustewicz
Pro Agility (Left)
  1. Easton Cowan
  2. Jonathan Castagna
  3. Oliver Moore
  4. Brandon Svoboda
  5. Jayden Perron
  6. Brad Gardiner
  7. Ethan Gauthier
  8. Beau Akey
  9. Andrew Gibson
  10. Bradly Nadeau
Bench Press (50% of Body Weight)
  1. Axel Sandin Pellikka
  2. Charlie Stramel
  3. Mathieu Cataford
  4. Lukas Dragicevic
  5. Ryan Leonard
  6. Cameron Allen
  7. Jonathan Castagna
  8. Bradly Nadeau
  9. Brad Gardiner
  10. Nate Danielson
Standing Long Jump
  1. Charlie Stramel- 118”
  2. Samuel Honzek- 117.5”
  3. Cameron Allen- 117”
  4. Tom Willander- 116.5”
  5. Beau Akey- 116”
  6. Nick Lardis- 114.5”
  7. Maxim Strbak- 112.8”
  8. David Reinbacher- 112”
  9. Nate Danielson- 111.5”
  10. Jayden Perron- 111”
Vertical Jump
  1. Nick Lardis
  2. Cameron Allen
  3. Colby Barlow
  4. Caden Price
  5. Charlie Stramel
  6. Nate Danielson
  7. Jesse Nurmi
  8. Beau Akey
  9. Oliver Moore
  10. Ethan Gauthier
No Arm Jump
  1. Nick Lardis
  2. Oliver Moore
  3. Samuel Honzek
  4. Jesse Nurmi
  5. Colby Barlow
  6. Cameron Allen
  7. Jayden Perron
  8. Jonathan Castagna
  9. Nate Danielson
  10. Charlie Stramel
Squat Jump
  1. Nick Lardis
  2. Jesse Nurmi
  3. Colby Barlow
  4. Nate Danielson
  5. Jonathan Castagna
  6. Cameron Allen
  7. Tanner Molendyk
  8. Noah Dower Nilsson
  9. Oliver Moore
  10. Tom Willander

Heights & Weights

Name                    Height /Weight

Beau Akey                  6’0”/175

Cameron Allen            6’0”/192

Trey Augustine            6’1.25”/190

Denver Barkey            5’8.75”/155

Colby Barlow              6’0.5”/195

Connor Bedard           5’9.75”/185

Zach Benson               5’9.75”/170

Tristan Bertucci           6’1.75”/175

Carson Bjarnason       6’3.25”/190

Oliver Bonk                 6’1.5”/180

Gavin Brindley             5’8”/168

Hunter Brzustewicz     5’11.75”/190

Luca Cagnoni              5’9”/182

Jonathan Castagna     6’2.25” /195

Mathieu Cataford        5’11”/190

Alex Ciernik                 5’10.25”/174

Brady Cleveland         6’4.75”//210

Easton Cowan             5’10.5”/170

Andrew Cristall            5’9.5”/175

Nate Danielson           6’1.5”/186

Noah Dower Nilsson   5’11.75            “/185

Lukas Dragicevic        6’1”/194

Jakub Dvorak              6’5”/210

Dalibor Dvorsky          6’1”/200

David Edstrom            6’3”/185

Paul Fischer                6’1”/200

Drew Fortescue          6’1”/176

Adam Gajan                6’2.75”/180

Brad Gardiner             6’1”/184

Ethan Gauthier            5’11.5”/183

Andrew Gibson           6’2.75”/202

Terrell Goldsmith        6’4”/220

Kasper Halttunen        6’3.25”/215

Lenni Hameenaho      6’1”/185

Riley Heidt                  5’10.5”/180

Beckett Hendrickson   6’1.5”/174

Samuel Honzek          6’3.25”/195

Michael Hrabel            6’6.75”/215

Larry Keenan              6’3.25”/186

Jesse Kiiskinen           6’0.25”/190

Rasmus Kumpulainen 6’2.75”/190

Nick Lardis                  5’11”/168

Ryan Leonard             5’11.75            “/190

Kalan Lind                   6’0.5”/158

Theo Lindstein            6’0”/185

Jaden Lipinski             6’3.75”/210

Dylan MacKinnon        6’2”/190

Matteo Mann               6’5.5”/230

Gavin McCarthy          6’1.5”/186

Ethan Miedema           6’4”/208

Aram Minnetian           5’11”/195

Martin Misiak              6’1.5”/200

Tanner Molendyk         5’11”/181

Oscar Fisker Molgaard 5’11.75“/166

Oliver Moore               5’11”/195

Etienne Morin              6’0”/180

Carsen Musser           6’4”/212

Quentin Musty             6’1.5”/200

Nico Myatovic             6’2.5”/180

Sawyer Mynio             6’0.5”/163

Bradly  Nadeau           5’10.25”/160

Zach Nehring              6’2.75”/182

Danny  Nelson             6’3”/212

Felix Nilsson               6’0.5”/187

Noel Nordh                  6’1.5”/200

Jesse Nurmi                5’11”/168

Tyler Peddle                6’1”/204

Gabriel Perreault        5’10.75”/163

Jayden Perron            5’9”/166

Alex Pharand              6’2.5”/205

Emil Pieniniemi           6’2.25”/175

Luca Pinelli                 5’8.75”/167

Aaron Pionk                6’0.75”/173

Coulson Pitre              6’0.75”/170

Caden Price                6’0.5”/190

Scott Ratzlaff              6’0.5”/175

Carson Rehkopf          6’2.5”/195

David   Reinbacher      6’2.25”/194

Eduard Sale                6’1.75”/175

Axel Sandin-Pellikka   5’11”/180

Gracyn Sawchyn        5’10.75”/155

Zachary Schulz           6’1”/197

Jayson Shaugabay      5’9.25”/165

William Smith              5’11.75            “/180

Jakub Stancl               6’3”/202

Otto Stenberg             5’11”/185

Charlie Stramel            6’3”/222

Andrew Strathmann    5’10.75”/185

Maxim Strbak              6’1.25”/198

Aydar Suniev              6’1.5”/192

Brandon Svoboda       6’3.25”/209

Carey Terrance           6’0.25”/178

Jordan Tourigny          5’11.25”/165

Anton Wahlberg          6’3.25”/192

William Whitelaw        5’8.75”/175

Tom Willander             6’1”/180

Matthew Wood            6’4”/197

Brayden Yager            5’11”/170

Koehn  Ziemmer          6’0.25”/210

 

 

]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-combine-fitness-testing-overview-results/feed/ 0 MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/#respond Sun, 28 May 2023 16:20:45 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=181245 Read More... from MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RANK PLAYER POS HT/WT DOB NATION TEAM GP-G-A-PTS
1 Connor Bedard C 5-10/185 17-Jul-05 Canada Regina (WHL) 57-71-72-143
2 Adam Fantilli C 6-2/195 12-Oct-04 Canada Michigan (B1G) 36-30-35-65
3 Leo Carlsson C 6-3/200 26-Dec-04 Sweden Orebro (SHL) 44-10-15-25
4 Will Smith C 6-0/175 17-Mar-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 59-51-75-126
5 Matvei Michkov RW 5-10/170 9-Dec-04 Russia SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL) 30-9-11-20
6 Zach Benson LW 5-9/160 12-May-05 Canada Winnipeg (WHL) 60-36-62-98
7 Dalibor Dvorsky C 6-1/200 15-Jun-05 Slovakia AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan) 38-6-8-14
8 Ryan Leonard RW 5-11/190 21-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 56-50-43-93
9 Dmitri Simashev D 6-4/200 4-Feb-05 Russia Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL) 33-1-11-12
10 Matthew Wood RW 6-3/195 6-Feb-05 Canada Connecticut (HE) 35-11-23-34
11 Oliver Moore C 5-11/185 22-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 60-31-43-74
12 Colby Barlow LW 6-0/195 14-Feb-05 Canada Owen Sound (OHL) 59-46-33-79
13 Nate Danielson C 6-1/185 27-Sep-04 Canada Brandon (WHL) 68-33-45-78
14 Axel Sandin Pellikka D 5-11/180 11-Mar-05 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 31-16-20-36
15 Daniil But LW 6-5/200 15-Feb-05 Russia Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL) 32-18-14-32
16 David Reinbacher D 6-2/185 25-Oct-04 Austria Kloten (Sui-NL) 46-3-19-22
17 Eduard Sale LW 6-1/170 10-Mar-05 Czech HC Kometa Brno (Czechia) 43-7-7-14
18 Samuel Honzek LW 6-3/185 12-Nov-04 Slovakia Vancouver (WHL) 43-23-33-56
19 Mikhail Gulyayev D 5-11/170 26-Apr-05 Russia Omskie Yastreby (MHL) 22-2-23-25
20 Lukas Dragicevic D 6-1/190 25-Apr-05 Canada Tri-City (WHL) 68-15-60-75
21 Gabe Perreault RW 5-11/165 7-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 62-53-79-132
22 Otto Stenberg C 5-11/180 29-May-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 29-11-15-26
23 Tom Willander D 6-1/180 9-Feb-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 39-4-21-25
24 Calum Ritchie C 6-2/185 21-Jan-05 Canada Oshawa (OHL) 59-24-35-59
25 Andrew Cristall LW 5-9/165 4-Feb-05 Canada Kelowna (WHL) 54-39-56-95
26 Gavin Brindley C 5-8/165 5-Oct-04 USA Michigan (B1G) 41-12-26-38
27 Bradly Nadeau LW 5-10/165 5-May-05 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 54-45-68-113
28 Anton Wahlberg C 6-3/195 4-Jul-05 Sweden Malmo (Swe J20) 32-14-13-27
29 Riley Heidt C 5-10/180 25-Mar-05 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-25-72-97
30 Brayden Yager C 5-11/165 3-Jan-05 Canada Moose Jaw (WHL) 67-28-50-78
31 David Edstrom C 6-3/185 18-Feb-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 28-15-13-28
32 Nick Lardis LW 5-10/165 8-Jul-05 Canada Pbo-Ham (OHL) 69-37-28-65
33 Kasper Halttunen RW 6-3/205 7-Jun-05 Finland HIFK (Fin-Liiga) 27-0-1-1
34 Jayden Perron RW 5-9/165 11-Jan-05 Canada Chicago (USHL) 61-24-48-72
35 Oliver Bonk D 6-2/175 9-Jan-05 Canada London (OHL) 67-10-30-40
36 Quentin Musty LW 6-2/200 6-Jul-05 USA Sudbury (OHL) 53-26-52-78
37 Trey Augustine G 6-1/185 23-Feb-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 28-1, 2.14, 0.925
38 Tanner Molendyk D 5-11/185 3-Feb-05 Canada Saskatoon (WHL) 67-9-28-37
39 William Whitelaw RW 5-9/170 5-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 62-36-25-61
40 Ethan Gauthier RW 5-11/175 26-Jan-05 Canada Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 66-30-39-69
41 Gracyn Sawchyn C 5-11/160 19-Jan-05 USA Seattle (WHL) 58-18-40-58
42 Carson Bjarnason G 6-3/185 30-Jun-05 Canada Brandon (WHL) 21-19, 3.08, 0.900
43 Aram Minnetian D 5-11/190 19-Mar-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-7-24-31
44 Michael Hrabal G 6-6/210 20-Jan-05 Czech Omaha (USHL) 9-13, 2.86, 0.908
45 Jacob Fowler G 6-1/215 24-Nov-04 USA Youngstown (USHL) 27-9, 2.28, 0.921
46 Oscar Fisker Molgaard C 6-0/165 18-Feb-05 Denmark HV 71 (SHL) 41-4-3-7
47 Carson Rehkopf LW 6-1/195 7-Jan-05 Canada Kitchener (OHL) 68-30-29-59
48 Beau Akey D 5-11/170 11-Feb-05 Canada Barrie (OHL) 66-11-36-47
49 Danny Nelson C 6-3/200 3-Aug-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-20-26-46
50 Etienne Morin D 6-0/180 9-Mar-05 Canada Moncton (QMJHL) 67-21-51-72
51 Felix Nilsson C 6-0/175 22-Jun-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 36-19-22-41
52 Maxim Strbak D 6-1/205 13-Apr-05 Slovakia Sioux Falls (USHL) 46-5-13-18
53 Jakub Dvorak D 6-5/205 25-May-05 Czech Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia) 24-0-2-2
54 Carey Terrance C 6-0/175 10-May-05 USA Erie (OHL) 67-30-17-47
55 Jesse Kiiskinen RW 5-11/180 23-Aug-05 Finland Pelicans (Fin-U20) 31-20-23-43
56 Mathieu Cataford C 5-11/185 1-Mar-05 Canada Halifax (QMJHL) 68-31-44-75
57 Roman Kantserov RW 5-9/175 20-Sep-04 Russia Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL) 45-27-27-54
58 Tristan Bertucci D 6-1/170 12-Jul-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 63-11-39-50
59 Andrew Gibson D 6-3/195 13-Feb-05 Canada Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 45-7-14-21
60 Caden Price D 6-0/185 24-Aug-05 Canada Kelowna (WHL) 65-5-35-40
61 Charlie Stramel C 6-3/215 15-Oct-04 USA Wisconsin (B1G) 33-5-7-12
62 Coulson Pitre RW 6-0/170 13-Dec-04 Canada Flint (OHL) 59-25-35-60
63 Adam Gajan G 6-2/165 6-May-04 Slovakia Chippewa Steel (NAHL) 19-12, 2.57, 0.917
64 Hoyt Stanley D 6-2/185 4-Feb-05 Canada Victoria (BCHL) 53-4-34-38
65 Andrew Strathmann D 5-10/190 27-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 56-3-35-38
66 Hunter Brzustewicz D 5-11/185 29-Nov-04 USA Kitchener (OHL) 68-6-51-57
67 Luca Pinelli C 5-8/165 5-Apr-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 67-29-34-63
68 Cam Allen D 6-0/195 7-Jan-05 Canada Guelph (OHL) 62-5-20-25
69 Tanner Ludtke C 6-0/185 27-Nov-04 USA Lincoln (USHL) 57-32-34-66
70 Theo Lindstein D 6-0/180 5-Jan-05 Sweden Brynas (SHL) 32-1-1-2
71 Koehn Ziemmer RW 6-0/205 8-Dec-04 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-41-48-89
72 Carter Sotheran D 6-3/195 26-Jun-05 Canada Portland (WHL) 68-4-19-23
73 Arttu Karki D 6-1/175 8-Dec-04 Finland Tappara (Fin-U20) 36-13-26-39
74 Albert Wikman D 6-0/190 10-Mar-05 Sweden Farjestads (Swe J20) 43-2-10-12
75 Quinton Burns D 6-1/180 14-Apr-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 54-2-27-29
76 Nico Myatovic LW 6-2/180 1-Dec-04 Canada Seattle (WHL) 68-30-30-60
77 Jeremy Hanzel D 6-0/190 27-Feb-03 Canada Seattle (WHL) 66-13-35-48
78 Easton Cowan RW 5-10/170 20-May-05 Canada London (OHL) 68-20-33-53
79 Juraj Pekarcik LW 6-2/185 12-Sep-05 Slovakia HK Nitra (Slovakia) 30-0-3-3
80 Denver Barkey C 5-8/160 27-Apr-05 Canada London (OHL) 61-22-37-59
81 Martin Misiak RW 6-2/195 30-Sep-04 Slovakia HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia) 29-1-9-10
82 Drew Fortescue D 6-1/175 28-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-1-25-26
83 Felix Unger Sorum RW 5-11/170 14-Sep-05 Sweden Leksands (Swe J20) 42-10-36-46
84 Lenni Hameenaho RW 6-0/175 7-Nov-04 Finland Assat (Fin-Liiga) 51-9-12-21
85 Kalan Lind LW 6-0/160 25-Jan-05 Canada Red Deer (WHL) 43-16-28-44
86 Rasmus Kumpulainen C 6-2/190 8-Aug-05 Finland Pelicans (Fin-U20) 41-11-23-34
87 Alex Ciernik LW 5-11/175 8-Oct-04 Slovakia Sodertalje-Vasterviks (HockeyAllsvenskan) 25-3-9-12
88 Alexander Rykov RW 6-0/175 14-Jul-05 Russia Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL) 20-4-7-11
89 Scott Ratzlaff G 6-0/175 9-Mar-05 Canada Seattle (WHL) 25-8, 2.15, 0.918
90 Yegor Rimashevsky RW 6-3/200 1-Feb-05 Belarus MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 29-13-13-26
91 Jesse Nurmi LW 5-10/165 7-Mar-05 Finland KooKoo (Fin-U20) 41-21-29-50
92 Kaden Hammell D 6-1/175 12-Mar-05 Canada Kam-Evt (WHL) 67-8-18-26
93 Jayson Shaugabay RW 5-9/155 4-May-05 USA Warroad (USHS-MN) 31-33-63-96
94 Noel Nordh RW 6-2/195 25-Jan-05 Sweden Brynas (Swe J20) 38-13-14-27
95 Gavin McCarthy D 6-1/180 2-Jun-05 USA Muskegon (USHL) 42-8-19-27
96 Tyler Peddle LW 6-0/195 28-Jan-05 Canada Drummondville (QMJHL) 64-24-17-41
97 Francesco Dell'Elce D 6-0/165 23-Jun-05 Canada St. Andrew's (CHS-O) 51-20-42-62
98 Timur Mukhanov LW 5-8/170 17-Jun-05 Russia Omskie Krylia (VHL) 31-4-4-8
99 Larry Keenan D 6-3/185 15-Mar-05 Russia Culver Academy (USHS-IN) 49-11-26-37
100 Emil Jarventie LW 5-9/165 4-Apr-05 Finland Ilves (Fin-U20) 21-8-11-19
101 Matthew Mania D 6-1/180 11-Jan-05 USA Sudbury (OHL) 67-10-28-38
102 Juha Jatkola G 6-1/175 12-Sep-02 Finland KalPa (Fin-Liiga) 20-11, 2.16, 0.903
103 Zach Nehring RW 6-3/180 7-Mar-05 USA Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN) 48-34-40-74
104 Austin Roest C 5-9/175 22-Jan-04 Canada Everett (WHL) 60-32-46-78
105 Hedqvist, Isac C 5-10/165 22-Mar-05 Sweden Lulea (Swe J20) 41-14-20-34
106 Stephen Peck G 6-2/170 18-Jan-05 USA Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT) 28GP, 1.26, 0.948
107 Yegor Klimovich RW 5-9/160 14-May-05 Russia Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL) 36-19-30-49
108 Nikita Susuyev RW 6-0/170 6-Feb-05 Russia MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL) 38-11-17-28
109 Ethan Miedema LW 6-4/205 22-Mar-05 Canada Wsr-Kgn (OHL) 68-20-32-52
110 Luca Cagnoni D 5-9/180 21-Dec-04 Canada Portland (WHL) 67-17-47-64
111 Jakub Stancl LW 6-3/200 10-Apr-05 Czech Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20) 35-11-6-17
112 Aydar Suniev LW 6-1/200 16-Nov-04 Russia Penticton (BCHL) 50-45-45-90
113 Ty Henricks LW 6-4/205 28-Jun-05 USA Fgo-Mus (USHL) 47-9-10-19
114 Yegor Vinogradov C 6-2/180 17-Apr-03 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 53-7-10-17
115 Yegor Sidorov RW 5-11/180 18-Jun-04 Belarus Saskatoon (WHL) 53-40-36-76
116 Will Vote RW 5-8/155 22-Feb-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 60-16-29-45
117 Brandon Svoboda C 6-3/210 4-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 59-16-10-26
118 Axel Landen D 6-1/185 29-Mar-05 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 44-10-6-16
119 Alexander Hellnemo G 6-2/180 5-Jan-04 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 15-8, 2.32, 0.916
120 Nikita Nedopyokin C 5-10/185 22-Mar-05 Russia SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) 37-14-18-32
121 Brady Cleveland D 6-5/210 1-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 54-0-6-6
122 Ondrej Molnar LW 5-10/170 8-Feb-05 Slovakia Erie (OHL) 34-4-15-19
123 Noah Dower Nilsson LW 6-0/175 25-Apr-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 37-26-28-54
124 Jordan Tourigny D 5-10/165 28-Feb-05 Canada Shawinigan (QMJHL) 67-6-35-41
125 Cole Knuble C 5-11/175 1-Jul-04 USA Fargo (USHL) 57-30-36-66
126 Erik Pahlsson C 6-0/170 9-Apr-04 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 46-26-37-63
127 Eric Pohlkamp D 5-10/200 23-Mar-04 USA Cedar Rapids (USHL) 59-16-35-51
128 Dylan MacKinnon D 6-1/185 12-Jan-05 Canada Halifax (QMJHL) 61-6-17-23
129 German Tochilkin LW 6-2/180 24-Sep-03 Russia Kunlun Red Star (KHL) 21-4-2-6
130 Jake Fisher C 6-1/180 27-Mar-05 USA Cretin-Durham Hall (USHS-MN) 29-34-29-63
131 Damian Clara G 6-6/215 13-Jan-05 Italy Farjestads (Swe J20) 17-17, 2.79, 0.903
132 Aiden Fink RW 5-9/155 24-Nov-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 54-41-56-97
133 Bogdan Konyushkov D 5-11/175 20-Dec-02 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 64-2-23-25
134 Yegor Zavragin G 6-2/185 23-Aug-05 Russia Mamonty Yugry (MHL) 11-6, 2.49, 0.920
135 Ty Halaburda C 5-11/175 22-Apr-05 Canada Vancouver (WHL) 66-21-16-37
136 Cole Burbidge LW 6-1/160 26-Aug-05 Canada Saint John (QMJHL) 68-19-31-50
137 Daniil Karpovich D 6-3/210 6-Dec-04 Belarus Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 47-10-25-35
138 Andrei Loshko C 6-1/175 7-Oct-04 Belarus Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 67-22-48-70
139 Beckett Hendrickson C 6-1/175 24-Jun-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 51-13-21-34
140 Alex Pharand C 6-3/205 1-May-05 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 67-18-21-39
141 Zeb Forsfjall C 5-9/170 16-Jan-05 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 34-8-14-22
142 Joe Connor C 5-9/170 31-Mar-05 USA Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT) 28-21-23-44
143 Samuel Urban G 6-1/195 1-May-05 Slovakia Team Slovakia U18 (Svk2) 1-13, 4.51, 0.897
144 Mazden Leslie D 6-0/195 15-Apr-05 Canada Vancouver (WHL) 66-12-38-50
145 Maxim Fedotov D 5-10/170 22-Jan-02 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 64-9-17-26
146 Joey Willis C 5-10/170 14-Mar-05 USA Saginaw (OHL) 68-15-29-44
147 Artyom Kashtanov C 6-6/190 9-Dec-04 Russia Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 43-15-25-40
148 Angus MacDonell C 5-9/180 11-May-05 Canada Sar-Mis (OHL) 64-29-12-41
149 Konstantin Volochko D 6-0/170 19-Jun-05 Belarus Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL) 46-8-12-20
150 Hannes Hellberg LW 6-0/175 19-Jun-05 Sweden Leksands (Swe J20) 42-34-23-57
151 Carsen Musser G 6-4/215 19-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 14-6, 3.07, 0.890
152 Yaroslav Tsulygin D 6-0/160 19-May-05 Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) 44-0-2-2
153 Thomas Milic G 6-0/180 14-Apr-03 Canada Seattle (WHL) 27-3, 2.08, 0.928
154 Arno Tiefensee G 6-4/190 1-May-02 Germany Adler Mannheim (DEL) 13-10, 2.43, 0.910
155 Quinn Mantei D 5-11/180 23-Apr-05 Canada Brandon (WHL) 67-2-23-25
156 Matthew Soto RW 5-10/180 31-Aug-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 54-15-27-42
157 Matt Copponi C 5-10/165 3-Jun-03 USA Merrimack (HE) 37-14-15-29
158 Vojtech Port D 6-2/170 3-Aug-05 Czech RD-Edm (WHL) 48-4-13-17
159 Michael DeAngelo LW 5-11/180 19-Nov-04 USA Green Bay (USHL) 52-11-24-35
160 Matteo Mann D 6-5/225 31-Dec-04 Canada Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 45-0-5-5
161 Paul Fischer D 6-1/190 30-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 55-4-17-21
162 Hudson Malinoski C 6-0/175 19-May-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 44-16-53-69
163 Brad Gardiner C 6-0/180 6-Mar-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 68-19-20-39
164 Zaccharya Wisdom RW 6-0/175 29-Apr-04 Canada Cedar Rapids (USHL) 59-28-20-48
165 Jonathan Castagna C 6-1/185 20-Apr-05 Canada St. Andrew's (CHS-O) 50-29-43-72
166 Tanner Adams RW 5-11/185 2-Sep-05 USA Tri-City (USHL) 49-12-21-33
167 Grayden Siepmann D 5-10/185 26-May-04 Canada Calgary (WHL) 61-9-34-43
168 Axel Hurtig D 6-3/200 10-Jun-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 34-2-6-8
169 Ian Scherzer C 6-0/180 3-Jul-05 Austria Rogle (Swe J20) 30-3-4-7
170 Ryan Conmy RW 5-9/190 23-Oct-04 USA Sioux City (USHL) 60-33-29-62
171 Ethan Hay C 6-1/190 15-Jan-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 64-17-11-28
172 Rodwin Dionicio D 6-2/205 30-Mar-04 Switzerland Nia-Wsr (OHL) 50-15-35-50
173 Josh Van Mulligen D 6-2/180 26-Jul-05 Canada Medicine Hat (WHL) 68-1-8-9
174 Nikita Ishimnikov D 6-3/195 21-Apr-05 Russia Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 41-11-7-18
175 Justin Kipkie D 6-4/190 28-Jul-05 Canada Victoria (WHL) 67-8-25-33
176 Sawyer Mynio D 6-1/175 30-Apr-05 Canada Seattle (WHL) 68-5-26-31
177 Brady Stonehouse RW 5-9/180 6-Aug-04 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 68-37-20-57
178 Hunter Anderson LW 5-9/175 28-Apr-05 USA Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN) 48-52-47-99
179 Spencer Sova D 6-0/185 10-Jan-04 Canada Erie (OHL) 68-16-23-39
180 Oliver Tulk C 5-7/170 19-Jan-05 Canada Calgary (WHL) 68-24-36-60
181 Isac Born C 5-11/165 7-Jul-04 Sweden Frolunda (SHL) 36-2-3-5
182 Beau Jelsma C 5-9/175 28-Apr-04 Canada Barrie (OHL) 67-31-30-61
183 Carmelo Crandell RW 5-11/170 2-Mar-05 Canada Sherwood Park (AJHL) 49-17-37-54
184 Stanislav Yarovoy LW 6-2/195 26-Aug-03 Russia Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL) 45-9-7-16
185 Elliot Stahlberg LW 6-0/185 29-Mar-05 Sweden Farjestads (Swe J20) 35-9-12-21
186 Ivan Anoshko C 5-11/170 7-Oct-04 Belarus Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL) 53-21-32-53
187 Jake Livanavage D 5-10/175 6-May-04 USA Chicago (USHL) 48-6-30-36
188 Adrian Carnebo D 6-2/185 1-May-04 Sweden Djurgardens (Swe J20) 43-7-28-35
189 Jaden Lipinski C 6-3/205 2-Dec-04 USA Vancouver (WHL) 66-19-32-51
190 Ian Blomquist G 6-2/185 29-Mar-03 Sweden Vasteras (HockeyAllsvenskan) 4-11, 2.97, 0.904
191 Emil Pieniniemi D 6-2/170 2-Mar-05 Finland Karpat (Fin-U20) 31-1-12-13
192 Oskar Asplund D 5-11/175 18-Nov-03 Sweden Almtuna (HockeyAllsvenskan) 49-6-24-30
193 Daniil Davydov C 5-11/165 6-Mar-04 Russia MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL) 47-11-35-46
194 Victor Sjoholm D 5-9/175 8-Jul-03 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 37-2-8-10
195 Aron Jessli LW 5-11/185 29-Oct-04 Norway Pickering (OJHL) 52-25-43-68
196 Adam Dybal G 6-1/165 2-Sep-05 Czech Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20) 29-15, 1.85, 0.942
197 Jonathan Fauchon C 5-10/170 13-Jan-04 Canada Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) 53-25-40-65
198 Luke Mittelstadt D 5-11/175 22-Jan-03 USA Minnesota (B1G) 38-5-16-21
199 Owen Beckner C 6-1/175 27-Feb-05 Canada Salmon Arm (BCHL) 53-17-33-50
200 Ilya Kanarsky G 6-2/165 6-Dec-04 Russia AKM-Junior Tula Region (MHL) 4-19, 3.59, 0.919
201 Braeden Bowman RW 6-1/205 26-Jun-03 Canada Guelph (OHL) 54-33-39-72
202 Luke Coughlin D 5-9/170 11-Apr-05 Canada Rimouski (QMJHL) 37-5-14-19
203 Norwin Panocha D 6-1/185 24-Feb-05 Germany Eisbaren Juniors Berlin (DNL U20) 34-6-16-22
204 Cole Brown LW 6-2/180 27-Apr-05 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 60-17-25-42
205 Tomas Suchanek G 6-0/180 30-Apr-03 Czech Tri-City (WHL) 27-14, 3.05, 0.912
206 Vadim Moroz RW 6-2/185 20-Nov-03 Belarus Dinamo Minsk (KHL) 39-5-9-14
207 Davis Burnside RW 5-11/175 22-Sep-03 USA Ohio State (B1G) 40-14-7-21
208 Maros Jedlicka C 6-1/185 23-Oct-02 Slovakia HKM Zvolen (Slovakia) 39-17-18-35
209 Gavyn Thoreson RW 5-8/180 30-Oct-04 USA Andover High (USHS-MN) 31-41-56-97
210 Austin Burnevik RW 6-3/200 3-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 43-6-13-19
211 Elmeri Laakso D 6-1/185 19-Jul-04 Finland SaiPa (Fin-Liiga) 32-4-7-11
212 Frantisek Dej C 6-4/200 28-Feb-05 Slovakia HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2) 24-8-13-21
213 Matvei Maximov C 6-0/175 18-Jan-05 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 48-18-19-37
214 Connor Levis RW 6-1/190 5-Oct-04 Canada Kamloops (WHL) 68-27-40-67
215 Teddy Townsend C 5-10/160 2-Sep-05 USA Eden Prairie (USHS-MN) 27-14-25-39
216 Petter Vesterheim C 5-11/165 30-Sep-04 Norway Mora (Swe J20) 41-12-27-39
217 Justin Gill C 6-1/190 27-Jan-03 Canada Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 68-44-49-93
218 Alex Weiermair C 6-0/190 10-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 55-11-15-26
219 Jan Sprynar RW 6-1/175 26-Feb-05 Czech Rimouski (QMJHL) 60-23-17-40
220 Ty Higgins D 6-0/185 26-Sep-04 Canada Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) 68-13-28-41
221 Tom Leppa C 6-0/175 31-Jul-05 Finland Jokerit (Fin-U20) 45-19-12-31
222 Aaron Pionk D 6-1/175 16-Jan-03 USA Waterloo (USHL) 60-12-24-36
223 Hampton Slukynsky G 6-1/180 2-Jul-05 USA Warroad (USHS-MN) 28-1, 1.47, 0.941
224 Noah Erliden G 5-10/170 9-Sep-05 Sweden HV71 (Swe J20) 10-8, 2.93, 0.912
HM Matthew Andonovski D 6-1/200 14-Mar-05 Canada Kitchener (OHL) 67-0-16-16
HM Gleb Artsatbanov G 6-2/170 2-Mar-04 Ukraine Sparta Praha (Czechia U20) 13-10, 1.95, 0.938
HM Cale Ashcroft D 5-10/200 5-Aug-04 Canada Tri-City (USHL) 62-8-29-37
HM Alex Assadourian LW 5-8/170 24-Jul-05 Canada Sby-Nia (OHL) 66-12-29-41
HM Arvid Bergstrom D 5-11/160 12-Jun-05 Sweden Djurgardens (Swe J20) 41-2-21-23
HM Kevin Bicker LW 6-0/175 29-Jan-05 Germany Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20) 20-10-11-21
HM Philippe Blais-Savoie D 6-0/185 10-Jun-05 USA Tri-City (USHL) 61-2-9-11
HM Linus Brandl C 5-11/185 1-Apr-05 Germany Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20) 32-25-22-47
HM Finn Brink LW 5-9/180 6-Apr-05 USA Maple Grove (USHS-MN) 31-31-38-69
HM Yaroslav Busygin D 6-3/185 14-Feb-03 Russia Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL) 42-1-2-3
HM Kalle Carlsson C 6-0/175 2-Mar-05 Sweden Orebro (Swe J20) 44-11-24-35
HM Adam Cedzo RW 5-10/165 23-Feb-05 Slovakia HC Ocelari Trinec (Czechia U20) 39-23-23-46
HM Aiden Celebrini D 6-1/185 26-Oct-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 47-5-16-21
HM Andon Cerbone C 5-8/150 13-Apr-04 USA Oma-Yng (USHL) 64-24-39-63
HM Chase Cheslock D 6-3/210 25-Oct-04 USA Rogers High (USHS-MN) 28-4-27-31
HM Sam Court D 5-10/180 7-Jan-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 52-13-59-72
HM Adam Csabi LW 5-10/160 17-Feb-05 Czech SaiPa (Fin-U18) 28-16-15-31
HM Nathaniel Davis D 6-1/185 15-Nov-04 Canada Burlington (OJHL) 45-10-26-36
HM Nathan Day G 6-2/180 4-Feb-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 17-10, 3.91, 0.874
HM Kocha Delic C 5-10/185 11-Mar-04 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 46-22-30-52
HM Tyler Duke D 5-8/180 19-Jul-04 USA Ohio State (B1G) 40-4-8-12
HM Filip Eriksson C 6-0/170 5-Nov-04 Sweden Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20) 11-5-5-10
HM Jiri Felcman C 6-4/190 17-Apr-05 Czech Langnau U20 (Sui-U20-Elit) 40-10-21-31
HM Samuel Fiala C 6-1/170 9-Apr-05 Czech Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia U20) 44-19-9-28
HM Mans Forsfjall D 6-0/180 30-Jul-02 Sweden Skelleftea (SHL) 52-2-12-14
HM Cooper Foster C 5-11/170 4-Jun-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 63-19-17-36
HM Salvatore Guzzo RW 6-0/185 17-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 58-17-11-28
HM Michael Hagens D 5-11/170 18-Feb-05 USA Chicago (USHL) 60-9-17-26
HM Sam Harris LW 5-11/190 14-Oct-03 USA Sioux Falls (USHL) 56-30-26-56
HM Jack Harvey C 5-10/175 31-Mar-03 USA Chicago (USHL) 62-40-34-74
HM Bogdans Hodass D 6-2/200 13-Apr-03 Latvia Medicine Hat (WHL) 56-11-24-35
HM Ryan Hopkins D 6-1/180 15-Apr-04 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 48-10-39-49
HM Ewan Huet G 6-0/170 8-Feb-05 Switzerland Lausanne (Sui U20-Elit) 14-12, 2.73  
HM Gustaf Kangas C 6-0/175 27-Jul-05 Sweden Vasteras (Swe J20) 27-7-13-20
HM Sean Keohane D 6-3/180 4-Nov-04 USA Dexter Southfield(USHS-MA) 32-4-12-16
HM Oiva Keskinen C 6-0/175 28-Feb-04 Finland Tappara (Fin-U20) 38-20-21-41
HM Ruslan Khazheyev G 6-4/200 20-Nov-04 Russia Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) 8-8, 2.38, 0.923
HM Matteo Koci D 6-0/165 7-Jun-05 Czech HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20) 36-7-13-20
HM Ryan Koering D 6-3/185 11-Feb-05 USA Eden Prairie (USHS-MN) 27-6-10-16
HM Cameron Korpi G 6-2/150 26-May-04 USA Tri-City (USHL) 13-4, 2.52, 0.911
HM Sergei Kosovets D 6-5/250 17-Jul-02 Russia HK Sochi (KHL) 26-2-2-4
HM Artyom Kudashov D 6-0/160 10-Jan-05 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 42-2-7-9
HM Roman Kukumberg LW 6-0/185 21-Mar-05 Slovakia HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2) 33-5-6-11
HM Emil Kuusla LW 5-9/165 11-Jan-05 Finland Jokerit (Fin-U20) 36-18-17-35
HM Jani Lampinen G 6-2/185 14-Feb-03 Finland Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-Mestis) 15-6, 2.35, 0.902
HM Charles-Alexis Legault D 6-3/205 5-Sep-03 Canada Quinnipiac (ECAC) 40-2-7-9
HM Aiden Long LW 6-3/190 13-Mar-05 Canada Whitecourt (AJHL) 50-19-27-46
HM Connor MacPherson RW 6-0/170 2-Mar-05 Canada Leamington (GOJHL) 43-28-35-63
HM Matthew Mayich D 6-2/185 21-Dec-04 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 64-5-17-22
HM Donovan McCoy D 6-0/200 11-Oct-04 Canada Peterborough (OHL) 65-2-11-13
HM Cole Miller C 6-4/175 4-Feb-05 Canada Edmonton (WHL) 61-10-9-19
HM Lucas Moore D 5-9/180 7-Jun-05 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 65-3-25-28
HM Josh Nadeau RW 5-7/145 22-Oct-03 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 54-44-66-110
HM Alexei Noskov G 6-2/205 13-Nov-04 Russia Taifun Primorsky Krai (MHL) 7-26, 3.86, 0.905
HM Owen Outwater LW 6-2/160 4-Jan-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 62-16-25-41
HM Joe Palodichuk D 6-0/165 26-Feb-03 USA Fargo (USHL) 44-8-21-29
HM Petr Pavelec LW 6-0/200 10-Feb-05 Czech HC Vitkovice (Czechia U20) 46-8-5-13
HM Oliver Peer RW 6-0/165 9-Mar-03 Canada Windsor (OHL) 63-22-45-67
HM Chris Pelosi C 6-1/180 6-Mar-05 USA Sioux Falls (USHL) 43-13-6-19
HM Matthew Perkins LW 5-11/175 21-Jan-04 Canada Youngstown (USHL) 60-15-29-44
HM Nico Pertuch G 6-2/200 29-Jul-05 Germany EV Landshut (DNL U20) 15GP, 3.57  
HM Dominik Petr C 6-2/165 30-Apr-05 Czech Lukko (Fin-U20) 18-1-0-1
HM Chase Pietila D 6-1/180 3-Mar-04 USA Youngstown (USHL) 60-7-29-36
HM Chase Pirtle RW 6-2/185 8-Mar-05 USA Mount St. Charles 18U AAA (USHS-RI) 47-20-24-44
HM Benjamin Poitras C 5-10/175 18-Jul-05 Canada Sioux City (USHL) 61-14-24-38
HM Connor Punnett D 6-1/200 16-Jun-03 Canada Barrie (OHL) 66-14-34-48
HM Ivan Remezovsky D 6-1/165 8-Feb-05 Russia SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) 45-0-13-13
HM Charlie Robertson G 6-3/165 2-Apr-05 Canada North Bay (OHL) 12-6, 3.17, 0.892
HM Pier-Olivier Roy D 5-9/175 5-Mar-04 Canada Victoriaville (QMJHL) 68-6-62-68
HM Rainers Rullers C 6-4/195 11-Dec-04 Latvia Zemgale (Fin-Mestis) 46-4-6-10
HM Bennett Schimek RW 5-11/180 15-Apr-03 USA Providence (HE) 37-11-9-20
HM Zach Schulz D 6-1/195 14-Jun-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 51-1-9-10
HM Magomed Sharakanov D 6-1/200 11-Oct-04 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 44-7-25-32
HM Cam Squires RW 5-11/165 11-Apr-05 Canada Cape Breton (QMJHL) 67-30-34-64
HM Julius Sumpf C 6-1/175 11-Jan-05 Germany RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL) 23-9-9-18
HM Alexander Suvorov RW 5-9/160 30-Nov-02 Belarus Severstal Cherepovets (KHL) 47-13-11-24
HM Gabriel Szturc C 5-11/185 24-Sep-03 Czech Kelowna (WHL) 56-24-55-79
HM Nikita Telegin C 6-1/155 21-Jun-05 Russia Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) 22-6-4-10
HM Patrick Thomas C 5-11/160 21-Aug-04 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 66-17-39-56
HM Hudson Thornton D 5-11/180 4-Nov-03 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-23-51-74
HM Jiri Tichacek D 5-9/170 30-Jan-03 Czech Rytiri Kladno (Czechia) 39-0-6-6
HM Djibril Toure D 6-6/200 5-Jun-03 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 57-5-11-16
HM Tuomas Uronen RW 5-11/180 19-Mar-05 Finland HIFK (Fin-U20) 39-20-23-43
HM Noa Vali G 6-0/160 19-Apr-05 Finland TPS (Fin-U20) 17-8, 2.38, 0.912
HM Nicholas Vantassell RW 6-4/195 18-Apr-04 USA Green Bay (USHL) 62-19-18-37
HM Visa Vedenpaa G 6-2/170 11-May-05 Finland Karpat (Fin-U20) 31GP, 0.886
HM Evgeny Volokhin G 6-3/170 6-Apr-05 Russia Mamonty Yugry (MHL) 20-6, 2.12, 0.927
HM Declan Waddick C 5-10/170 24-Jan-05 Canada Niagara (OHL) 64-28-21-49
HM Saige Weinstein D 6-0/180 30-May-05 Canada Spokane (WHL) 57-4-14-18
HM Ethan Whitcomb LW 6-4/190 13-May-04 Canada Muskegon (USHL) 53-24-24-48
HM Raul Yakupov RW 6-1/180 21-Jun-04 Russia Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (MHL) 49-32-29-61
]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/feed/ 0 2023 NHL DRAFT: Top “Tier 2” players available for the draft this year (AJHL, BCHL, CAHS, CJHL, OJHL, USHS) with video – Part One – Forwards https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-draft-top-tier-2-players-draft-year-ajhl-bchl-cahs-cjhl-ojhl-ushs-video/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-draft-top-tier-2-players-draft-year-ajhl-bchl-cahs-cjhl-ojhl-ushs-video/#respond Sat, 25 Mar 2023 15:10:46 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=180556 Read More... from 2023 NHL DRAFT: Top “Tier 2” players available for the draft this year (AJHL, BCHL, CAHS, CJHL, OJHL, USHS) with video – Part One – Forwards

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

Bradly Nadeau
Bradly Nadeau

Wing/Center - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

5’10, 63lbs

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

OFP: 55

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

Aiden Fink

Wing - Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

5’9, 152lbs

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

OFP: 53.5

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

Aron Jessli

Wing - Pickering (OJHL)

6’1, 190lbs

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

OFP: 53.125

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

Zach Nehring

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

6’3, 180lbs

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

OFP: 53

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

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

Jayson Shaugabay

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

5’9, 155lbs

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

OFP: 52.75

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

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

Aydar Suniev

Wing - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

6’2, 200lbs

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

OFP: 52.5

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

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

Hudson Malinoski

Center/Wing - Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

6’1, 175lbs

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

OFP: 52.25

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

Jake Fisher

Center - Cretin-Derham Hall (USHS-MN)

6’2, 185lbs

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

OFP: 52.25

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

Joe Connor

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

5’10, 170lbs

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

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

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

Hunter Anderson

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

5’9, 181lbs

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

OFP: 52.25

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

Josh Nadeau

Wing - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

5’8, 160lbs

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

OFP: 52.25

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

Jonathan Castagna

Center - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

6’2, 185lbs

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

OFP: 51.75

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

Gavyn Thoreson

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

5’8, 185lbs

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

OFP: 51.75

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

Owen Beckner

Center - Salmon Arms Silverbacks (BCHL)

6’2, 181lbs

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

OFP: 51.625

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

Teddy Townsend

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

5’10, 165lbs

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

OFP: 51.625

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

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

Chase Pirtle

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

6’2, 185lbs

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

OFP: 51.25

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

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

Connor MacPherson

Wing - Leamington Flyers (GOJHL)

6’0, 176lbs

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

OFP: 51

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

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

Jack Ziliotto

Center/Wing - Mississauga (OJHL)

6’1, 175lbs

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

OFP: 51

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

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

Giacomo Martino

Wing - St. Michael’s (OJHL)

5’10, 160lbs

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

OFP: 50.75

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

A.J. Lacroix

Wing/Center - Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)

6’0, 195lbs

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

OFP: 50.75

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

Finn Brink

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

5’9, 180lbs

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

OFP: 50

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

 

 

 

 

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