Josh Brook – McKeen's Hockey

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: MONTREAL CANADIENS – RANK: #19 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 23:34:00 +0000

Montreal Canadiens

#19 Montreal - Cole Caufield is one of the top prospects in the sport, but with the possible exception of Kaiden Guhle, the rest of the system will be hard pressed to project to the top half of an NHL lineup.

MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 07: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (22) during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs second round game 4 between the Winnipeg Jets versus the Montreal Canadiens on June 07, 2021, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Cole Caufield

Caufield has been overlooked for most of his life due to his small stature. Many NHL clubs couldn’t fathom using a first round pick on a 5-7” winger who didn’t have elite speed to boot. But let’s be honest with ourselves. If he could score like he does, he would have been worth a higher pick than the 15^th overall choice Montreal used on him even if he was 4-7”. His performance in the two years since he was drafted plays into the narrative that he wanted to prove wrong all of those who passed on him among the first 14 choices.

He has demonstrated over and over that he can score in any manner of ways, with a shot that is near the best in the NHL for its power, accuracy, and the quickness of its release. What he started showing once he joined the Canadiens, after the end of his sophomore season with Wisconsin, was that we shouldn’t sleep on him as a playmaker, either. Additionally, he quieted some whispers that he couldn’t perform in the clutch, feelings born from two relatively quiet performances at the WJC, even though he had crushed the WU18s before his day at the draft and succeeded enough in the second WJC to win a Gold Medal. That last concern was put to bed by his ability to jump right into the lineup and play a central role in Montreal reaching the Stanley Cup finals. Caufield will be a top three finisher in this year’s Calder Race. Book it. - RW

Kaiden Guhle

Kaiden Guhle is a defender that oozes NHL top four potential. He may never develop the full offensive game, but he has every other quality that you want. He has an intensity to his game that forces opponents to take note when he is on the ice. He has size to deliver some big-time hits, stop cycles and control the board play in his own zone. He has excellent footwork and speed for a big man enabling him to help out in the transition game and be an effective puck carrier in the neutral zone. He uses his size so effectively to push players wider than they want to go, stepping up on those who expect him to back off, and using his long reach to change what attackers are trying to do. Often, he forces them out of dangerous areas by angling them off.

With the puck Guhle is a solid puck mover because he makes quick decisions and has some puck handling ability. His offensive potential has always been a bit of a mystery, but the skills are there for him to have more of an offensive game as he matures. There is a lot to like about his overall game even if his offensive numbers won’t pop in his first couple of seasons. Look for him to be one of the best defensemen in the WHL this year, in addition to a possible captain for Canada at the World Juniors. - VG

Mattias Norlinder

A real standout in his first SHL season, Norlinder looked better and better as the year went on; he finished the play-offs with five points (3+2) from seven games. The 20-year-old defensemen was Frölunda´s leading scorer in the postseason. There have been a lot of talks about him; how well the drafted-as-an-overager Swedish defenseman looked and whether he is already ready for the NHL. It is still unclear if the Canadiens want Norlinder to stay in Sweden for one more year, or if he is guaranteed a spot in the organization. The only sure thing is the fact he will attend the Habs´ rookie camp, which might indicate he will stay in Canada afterwards.

Norlinder´s stats do not exactly tell he's an offensive defenseman who has elite potential. In spite of the great play-offs, he managed to score 10 regular season points with Frölunda in 37 matches. Despite the limited production, the Swedish 20-year-old has a lot of skills that might help him to get to the NHL even in the next season. He is fast, has great vision, and is an elite passer and puck mover. He should benefit from playing with an experienced, older defenseman to improve even more. If he maintains the sky-rocket progress from the last season, Norlinder could look at a top-four, even top-two role in the NHL in the future. - MD

Cayden Primeau

Two seasons removed from leaving college as perhaps the most decorated goaltender at that level, holder of one Mike Richter Award and two nods as First Team All Star goalie in the powerhouse Hockey East Conference, expectations have been duly dampened. While his rookie pro campaign was very promising, including a stellar two game cameo in the NHL, he took a marginal step back in his follow-up season. Primeau’s AHL numbers stayed remarkably steady (.908 SV% in 2019-20, .909 SV% in 2020-21), but his NHL cameo numbers plunged into the abyss, as he put up a 4.16 GAA and an ugly .849 SV% in four games.

Perhaps Montreal already had an inkling that his ceiling was not as the heir apparent to Carey Price, and next in line for the Canadiens long, storied history of all-time great goalies. After all, even after his pro debut season, they went out and signed veteran Jake Allen to a pretty big money contract for what was ostensibly supposed to be a backup netminder. That said, Montreal should not be seen as giving up on Primeau. They did sign him to a one-year extension this offseason, expecting him to perform better in the likely case (Price is coming off offseason surgery) that he is called upon for third string duties. He has ideal size, above average athleticism, and is generally a steady hand between the pipes. We can give up on our lofty dreams of yesterday and still appreciate a great outcome from a 7^th round draft pick. - RW

Jesse Ylonen

Even though the production in Finland (in Liiga with Pelicans) was probably under where the Canadiens would have liked, Ylonen’s first partial season in North America probably surpassed expectations. The speedy forward was a consistent and reliable offensive weapon for Laval, posting his highest point per game average since the 2016/17 season in the U20 Sm-Liiga. Ylonen has always been more than the sum of his parts. He has performed incredibly well internationally for Finland, winning a silver at the U18’s and a gold at the U20’s, but as mentioned, the Liiga production fell a little flat.

Ylonen’s game is built around his ability to generate offensive chances with his quickness. An aggressive transitional attacker, he excels when playing with pace, but has the hands and processing ability to produce in the slot area too. Ylonen’s future projection is probably similar to that of his father’s, former Phoenix Coyotes forward Juha Ylonen. Jesse probably tops out as a high end third line forward for the Canadiens who can play a multitude of roles and find success doing so. He probably spends the majority of the year with Laval again to build offensive confidence before making the jump full time the year after. - BO

Jordan Harris

While his physical tools have never gained him too much attention, Harris has simply played a game that was greater than the sum of his parts from draft day to the present day. Relatively small by NHL defender standards, observers would be hard pressed to find severe flaws in his game, but on the other hand, they would also struggle to state what he does best. Perhaps we can just point out that he plays hockey well. As a third round pick whose highest level of hockey exposure before the draft was a five-game stint with Youngstown of the USHL, his selection was certainly a risk.

After he ascended directly from high school to Northeastern, his freshman season was OK, but did not allay any concerns too much. He was reliable defensively, but brought little to the offensive game, with a 0.33 points-per-game average. In the two subsequent seasons, his production rate has trended steadily upwards, to 0.64 points-per-game as a sophomore – a season which also saw Harris named to the American WJC squad – and then reach one point per game, on the nose, last year. His game is still more mature than toolsy, although his mobility is a point in his favor. Harris’ path to the NHL lies in maintaining that composure and sense of all-zones reliability. As of this writing, he was planning on returning to Northeastern for his senior season, wearing the ‘C’ on his chest. - RW

Jayden Struble

In several respects, Struble’s story looks a lot like Jordan Harris’, described in the preceding profile. He was a surprisingly high draft pick out of a New England prep school, with no real high-level experience to speak of at the time of his drafting. Struble then joined Harris at Northeastern, after the latter had already completed his freshman season at the institution. Once we get past their similar origin stories, we can look at Struble for what he is, instead of how he compares to another. Through two years with the Huskies, Struble hasn’t shown much growth in the offensive game, nor has he shown the same tendencies to take on workhorse minutes. He is a strong skater and plays with competence – at least – with the puck, but it would be irresponsible of us to expect more than incidental offensive production at his peak.

What Struble does at a much higher level than Harris – if not the majority of defensive prospects altogether – is play a physical game. Harris is ready to take a hit to make a play. Struble is too, but he much prefers making a hit to kill a play. He is a real pain to play against, and that trait will win him fans at any level. Struble’s ceiling isn’t too high, but he is the type who will be the beneficiary of multiple opportunities to stake a permanent position in the defensive rotation simply on the strength of his physical game. - RW

Jan Mysak

It was quite the whirlwind of a year for Mysak, as he split time between playing for the Czech Republic internationally (he captained the WJC team), HC Litvinov of the Czech extraligue, and Laval of the AHL. Like many others mentioned in this yearbook, Mysak was able to play in the AHL because the OHL season was canceled. While his offensive production this year did not meet expectations, it is way too early to write off this recent second round selection.

Mysak is at his best when driving the net and playing with pace. His quick hands and strong puck skill allow him to be a quality finisher in tight to the crease. While the offensive production with Laval was overall disappointing, Mysak did show well in flashes. The Canadiens organization has to hope that Mysak can take what he has learned this year and apply it to next season to be a more consistent contributor. Mysak will likely be given the chance to return to Laval if Montreal chooses (despite his age), however they could also elect to send him back to Hamilton of the OHL to get first line minutes. His projection remains that of a middle six goal scorer. - BO

Sean Farrell

USA Hockey’s Junior player of the year this past year (Dave Tyler Award), Farrell earned a ton of accolades thanks to his dominant play with the Chicago Steel. The USNTDP grad, expecting to attend Harvard last year as a freshman, had to delay those plans when all Ivy League schools cancelled sports due to the pandemic. So, Farrell returned for a second season in Chicago, and a fourth in the USHL, and went about setting new records. He led the league in assists and points, the latter figure the best the league had seen since Kevin Roy in 2011-12, and on a points-per-game ratio, the best the league had seen in a season of more than 30 games since 1994-95, when it was a very different league.

In fairness, Farrell was far too advanced for the league, and the team he was on, featuring two other drafted players, plus seven additional players who were drafted this year, was the class of the league. So, we should take Farrell’s raw production with a few grains of salt. But even with those extrinsic advantages, Farrell has a lot to offer. His puck skills are sublime, and his vision of the play to be made consistently kept him a few steps ahead of the competition. Farrell’s lack of size will force him to continue proving himself at every level, but he is more than ready for the next level now. Expect him to be an impact player at Harvard immediately. - RW

Logan Mailloux

Unquestionably one of the most controversial selections in the history of the NHL Draft, Mailloux likely needs no introduction. The Montreal Canadiens came under heavy scrutiny for his selection in the first round in 2021, and as they should have. This is a young man who has to show growth off the ice before he deserves the chance to don the Canadiens jersey, and that is why Montreal is not allowing him to attend training camp (or rookie camp) this offseason.

A 6’3, right shot defender, Mailloux is not without talent. He has a cannon of a shot and great scoring instincts from the back end. He has a penchant for the big hit and likes to assert himself physically. And he skates well in all four directions. However, Mailloux has yet to truly be tested at a high level, having only played a handful of OHL games thus far (and a season in the Swedish third tier on a really poor team). The London Knights appear to be supportive of Mailloux as he looks to mature as a person and hockey player. Whether the OHL (as a league entity) steps in (with a potential suspension) remains to be seen. However, in London, Mailloux has the talent to be a top four defender on a strong Knights team and has the potential to be a top four defender in the future, so long as he earns the opportunity through the right channels and through the right personal reflection and maturation. - BO

Oliver Kapanen

A late second round pick by Montreal in 2021, Oliver is cousin of NHL’er Kasperi Kapanen and the nephew of former NHL’er Sami Kapanen. Much like his relatives, Oliver’s skating ability is a strength. He will look to establish himself in Liiga full time this year KaIPa.

Riley Kidney

A highly intelligent pivot, Kidney was also a second-round selection by Montreal in 2021. He finished the previous QMJHL season on a high note and will look to be among the QMJHL’s leading scorers this season. Improving his physical tools (strength and speed specifically) will be the key to unlocking his potential.

Cam Hillis

Cam Hillis’ first professional season with Laval did not exactly go according to plan, with Hillis registering only a single point in 18 games. A competitive playmaker, Hillis is a responsible two-way pivot. Hopefully he can rebound well this season with more responsibility.

Josh Brook

After leading the WHL in defenseman scoring a few seasons ago, Brook’s development as a pro has been a little slower than anticipated. However, the right shot defender has shown growth each of the last two years, especially defensively. His upside may not be as high as previously thought.

Luke Tuch

The younger brother of Vegas forward Alex Tuch, Luke is coming off of a solid freshman season at Boston University. The former second round pick may not have elite upside, but his combination of size and skill could make him a valuable middle six forward, so long as he continues to improve his skating

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Montreal Canadiens Top 20 Prospects

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 11:47:51 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Montreal Canadiens prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Despite standing only 5-7”, 163, Caufield is built stocky and is very strong for his size, pound-for-pound and inch-for-inch. Some would say that he has an additional black mark – besides his frame - to his prospect status now, despite leading the Big 10 in scoring as a freshman. He had a disappointingly flat performance for Team USA at last year’s WJC, with only two points as the US bowed out early. Caufield was pretty nondescript at the tournament, and his stats were not the result of poor luck. On the other hand, that tournament represented a two-week slice of a fantastic season that showed he was still the world class sniper that Montreal drafted. He times his release to perfection and can place the puck exactly where he wants. More than a one-trick pony, Caufield is a fine skater, with sharp cutting ability and he can play the puck at his top speed as well. He plays almost fearless, although he doesn’t go out of his way to take unnecessary risks. He will be spending next year back in Madison but will likely be ready to go straight to Montreal at the completion of his sophomore season. - RW

Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Romanov is strong as an ox and plays a physical brand of hockey. He hits with authority and punishes opponents with every chance. He puts pressure on quickly and uses his stick well to break up plays. He battles hard in the corners and along the boards. He is alert, focused and very responsible in the defensive zone. He makes a very good first pass out of the zone and sends precise bank passes off the boards. He does not make many plays with the puck that would jump off the page, but he is highly reliable and highly consistent. He has a hard, accurate slap shot from the point and he keeps it low to create rebounds. Romanov is a powerful skater with good balance and footwork. He moves well in all directions and trusts his skating when defending opposing rushes. He will occasionally join the rush to create additional options for his team. He looks NHL ready physically and has a lot of upside as he is terrific in his own end and smart in possession. I think he has a chance to develop into a strong middle-pairing NHL defenseman who contributes in a variety of ways. – MB

Kaiden Guhle, D (16^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

At 6-3”, blessed with strong mobility, and a desire to assert himself physically, Guhle is projected to provide elite level play in the defensive end. In open ice he looks to close his gap and finish plays with a big open ice hit as opponents approach the blue line. He is assertive along the wall, initiating contact and pins effectively to separate players from the puck. He is also a strong mover, which allows him to be more aggressive as he is able to recover. Offensively, he uses his first step quickness to evade forecheckers, start the breakout and push the pace of play moving forward. He uses his size and reach to protect the puck through the neutral zone. Guhle is also effective running the point, with a powerful point shot. He is a good passer and overall facilitator, but not a great one. He has good hands, but he occasionally looks uncomfortable handling the puck under duress. While he is not likely to be a number one powerplay quarterback, his ability and offensive IQ, combined with his defensive prowess, make him a potential minute eater and should be able to help balance out a future top four. – BO

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Ylonen is a highly talented winger whose skating and puck skills are near elite. He has quick hands, and his first touch is excellent: he can corral difficult passes smoothly and get the puck under control quickly. His wrist shot features an accurate and quick release. Scoring goals seems to come naturally to him, yet he is also a good set-up guy with playmaking skill. He moves and skates with his head up to scan the ice and shows awareness with the puck. His offensive numbers declined in the past Liiga season, however he made progress defensively. Ylonen's backchecking has greatly improved, as he uses his strong acceleration to catch opponents. He has shown signs of becoming a more complete player and he has adapted well to the pro game in the last two seasons. He has learned to use his offensive skill set and skating to his advantage, he uses his teammates for passing options and he does not make nearly as many careless decisions as he used to. Therefore, I am confident that he will adapt to the North American game as well and develop into a strong, productive NHL winger. - MB

Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Norlinder is both fast and elusive on his skates. He travels with ease and is very smooth. He also has strong puck skills and control of the puck. He passes the puck well and has some nice dekes where he goes to his backhand close to his feet and then travels around opponents. He is also a good goal scorer. While he doesn’t possess a dangerous bomb from blueline, he has a quick wrist shot and likes to join the attack and skate across the slot before shooting. Norlinder has been a late developer and is still growing physically. He signed a two-year deal with Frolunda but I he might be able to step over and compete for a spot in North America after the first year. As he can combine his skating with good puck handling, he does not need to play top pair minutes to be effective. His weaknesses are in the defensive zone and he won’t be a shutdown defenseman or a strong penalty killer but could still be an effective second or third pair defenseman as he is a strong possession player and his zone exits are as strong as his entries. – JH

Jan Mysak, C (48^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

While Mysak’s international performances last year left some to be desired, he was a standout in the Extraliga and in the OHL. He was an impact player from day one in Hamilton, playing a near 40-goal pace. He excels playing North-South; is extremely aggressive in taking the puck wide, looking to drive the net. His stride is choppy, but he generates enough separation to make him dangerous. He plays much bigger than his size, protecting the puck through traffic as he looks to drive the middle. When driving wide, consistently gets by defenders, putting them on his back as he cuts back in near the crease, possessing the hands and finishing ability to score on a large majority of these self-generated scoring chances. Mysak is versatile, able to play both center and wing, kill penalties and hold his own defensively, while taking on any power play role. He is a very well rounded player but is better at creating his own scoring chances than creating for his teammates and may profile better as a winger at the NHL level. Engaging more consistently and focusing on supporting linemates would help his development as a playmaker. – BO

Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

At 6-3”, Primeau stands at a good height for modern goaltenders and his in-net composure is better than even some veteran netminders. He may be a little too calm in the crease, but he keeps making saves. Starting for the Laval Rocket the majority of last season, he has been able to better adapt to faster shots and puck movement coming from both AHL and NHL shooters. He will need continued work on rebound control and activation on certain plays off of long shots and net-front scrambles in order to compete better at the highest level. However, until then his focus remains unbreakable and his positioning is strong, he sees the puck and fights well to track the play. He still needs to improve his agility and in playing the puck, both of which he can brush up next season. For a young goaltender it is so important that he get stronger in his lower half which would allow him to push harder to get across the net quicker. With Carey Price still paving the way for the Canadiens, expect Primeau to get some time up as a backup goaltender first before he can challenge for a greater role. - SC

Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 6)

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired a lot of good forward prospects within the past few seasons and Jake Evans is one of them. He is a smooth skating and skilled forward capable of playing in all situations. The seventh rounder has overcome huge odds and as a player with little to lose, his development within the Montreal organization has been smooth sailing. After leading the Laval Rocket for points this past season, Evans earned a brief call up to the Canadiens and should see more time up in the NHL if he gets off to the same strong start he did last season. He sees the ice well and always keeps his feet moving. He is quick enough and dominant enough on the ice to be depended on to play powerplay and penalty kill. He needs to still work on playing a tough game if he wants to be able to win battles at the next level but the pace at which he plays and skates both with and without the puck will be enough for him to find his way onto Montreal’s roster sometime in the near future as part of a rotating top nine. - SC

Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Jordan Harris is one of two Northeastern defensemen in Montreal’s pipeline. He shined during his three years of prep hockey at Kimball Union Academy, impressing as one of the better defensemen in the league and was named to the USHS All-USA Hockey First Team in 2017-18. As a third-round draft pick, Harris is a promising prospect as an offensive defenseman. After joining Northeastern as a true freshman, he has since finished his second year with the Huskies and was named to USA’s World Junior team. A staple on the first power play unit, Harris has a very calm demeanor. He sees the ice well, enabling him to get the puck quickly out of dangerous areas. His quick hands allow for quick takeaways. One of Harris’ most impressive attributes is his skating - his strides are smooth and fluid. He’s still young, leaving even more room for improvement. – JS

Sean Farrell, LW (124^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A depth player in the great USNTDP class of 2019, Farrell took advantage of the chance to play a central role in the league, and blossomed with 17 multi-point games on perhaps the most dominant line in junior hockey, proving that his skill set is of top six strength. The high point of his game is his wrist shot, which is very heavy and accurate and features a tricky release. He reads the game well, allowing him to find gaps in the goalie’s positioning. Farrell carries the puck with speed and skill. He can protect the biscuit in traffic and uses his edges and quick passes to escape pressure, often creating scoring chances. Farrell is quick and agile, playing at a good pace without being a truly dynamic skater. The main drawback he will always carry as a prospect is his size, although he is at least on the stocky side and has a low center of gravity, which aids in puck possession, but he will have to prove that he can hold his own against more physically mature players. – RW

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Ikonen's last two seasons have been hampered badly by injuries. In 2018-19, he played only 13 games with KalPa in the Liiga and he then missed the entire 2019-20 regular season due to an injury which occurred in a preseason game. That said, Ikonen has many attributes that could eventually help him succeed in North America. He is a good goal-scorer with a precise wrist shot, his offensive vision is high-end, and he is slick with the puck. Moreover, he is tenacious with a high compete level. He hunts down pucks and does many things that do not show on the scoresheet. He clearly wants to be a difference maker every time he steps on the ice, one way or another. He will move to Ilves for the upcoming season. Ilves is a rising team with many skilled, young players and thus should provide a great environment and opportunity for Ikonen to take his game to the next level. – MB

Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Hillis had an excellent bounce back season for the Guelph Storm after an injury plagued campaign a year ago. It was expected that the Storm would rebuild after winning the OHL Championship in 2019, however thanks to the progression of players like Hillis, they were able to maintain a strong standing. Especially impressive was the fact that Hillis finished second in the OHL in primary even strength assists with 28 (ahead of Marco Rossi, Quinton Byfield, Akil Thomas, and many others). He excels as a playmaker because of how well he protects the puck down low, and because he never gives up on a play. Hillis’ skating took a step forward last year too, allowing him to be more active as a facilitator in transition. Currently unsigned, Hillis seems likely to be signed, but is not a slam dunk. If he can continue to improve his skating and bulk up to withstand injury, he projects as a middle six playmaking center who can provide versatility to a coaching staff. - BO

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Fairbrother is a solid all-around defender. He is a strong, powerful player that controls the boards, as well as his net front, with aggression and skill. He plays the body well but also can use more subtle plays with his feet, or poke checking to create turnovers. He is a great blue line shooter as he can handle either side of the point and is not just a one-timer guy back there. His wrist shot has great accuracy and he is a guy that consistently gets his shot past the first defender. He isn’t an amazing puck handler, but he has pretty good vision and can make passes during the transition and in the offensive zone. There is an edge to his game, but it doesn’t really define his style. He is a capable, sound defensive player with good vision and a shot. If he can find another gear, he will have a real shot at contributing to an NHL team one day. - VG

Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

The second Northeastern defensive prospect in Montreal’s system, Struble is a young and promising candidate. The former second-round draft pick is a big, physical defenseman who can still skate well with smooth strides, both forwards and backwards. While playing prep hockey at St. Sebastian’s, he was named to the 18-19 USHA All-USA Hockey Second Team. He entered Northeastern as a true freshman last season and was impressive but unfortunately missed the last nine games due to an injury. Even so, he proved his ability as an offensive defenseman. He has a quick shot that often finds the net from the point. Struble sees the ice well and puts power behind his passes, which helps on the rush. He also possesses quick hands with good puck handling skills. Struble is still very young and he has time to mature his game. - JS

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 12)

When thinking about forward prospects for the Canadiens, Vejdemo is not usually the one that comes to mind first. He is a rather underrated player in the Montreal system as he plays a somewhat quiet game. Not overly physical or terribly aggressive, Vejdemo makes an impact in the way he reads the play and carries the puck. He is a good passer and very good at reading neutral zone plays and forechecking to anticipate interceptions, which makes him a valuable asset to have on the penalty kill. The downside to his play is the fact that he plays a physically small game, meaning that he looks like a smaller player than he is and often loses puck battles. He will most certainly have to get stronger in order to make a safe appearance in the NHL. His hands and skating are definitely assets in his play and make him the good player that he is but he needs to be more physical and aggressive in order to earn a call up as a bottom six forward. – SC

Luke Tuch, LW (47^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A heavy player who plays a heavy game, Tuch’s style is very similar to that of his older brother Alex, who also came up through the USNTDP program. Luke doesn’t quite have his brother’s hands, but they are soft enough for him to be a viable weapon around the crease. To his credit, the younger Tuch manages to play a heavy game without spending much time in the penalty box as he is physical without being dirty. He knows how to maximize the leverage his strength provides, and is very tough to strip the puck from, or to beat in a puck battle along the boards. The Boston University commit can play with skill players, making space with his forechecking, and carrying his share of the load defensively, but is most likely a bottom six contributor at higher levels, as his feet are on the heavier side and he lacks dynamic offensive skills. – RW

Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Where Josh Brook was a strong and dominant defenseman in the WHL who led rushes and often skated the puck, his AHL career has been quite different. He now plays a more cautious passing game, he no longer has the time he had in major junior to set up plays and skate, which has been a minor setback in his career as he has changed his playing style a lot. In order to get his footing back and find more success next season, Brook will have to find a way to elevate his competition level and find the confidence to start rushing the puck again. As a player who was drafted due to his points and his eye for offensive plays, he will need to find a way to get to the net, be more present in rushes and in the offensive end in establishing plays if he wants a chance at a prolonged call up. Brook has the potential to scratch out a bottom four role with the Canadiens but it will not be until he can find a higher and more aggressive offensive gear to play the game that got him drafted in the first place. - SC

Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

It is no secret that many think that Noah Juulsen is classic first round bust, however going by points and stats to evaluate him is simply not enough. Juulsen is not a point-producing defenseman, as he plays a great defensive game, but his mindset and playing style is that of a cautious, occasionally offensive blueliner capable of rushing the puck but who prefers to pass it instead. Juulsen has had some bad games with the Montreal Canadiens and has made some bad errors, however his skill is that of an NHL quality defender. He is a smooth and powerful skater, a good passer and a physical force. The only important aspect of his game that remains unpolished is his decision making. Unfortunately, for Juulsen making repeated bad decisions and bad plays has placed him at the bottom of the list for call ups and he will have to be next to perfect with the AHL’s Laval in order to get another chance at cracking the bottom four with Montreal. - SC

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Harvey-Pinard has seen his stock rise significantly thanks to his hard work and ability to put points on the board. He will be rewarded as an AHL regular next season, as the farm club in Laval inked him to a one-year deal. While he is undersized for the pro game, he is a smart player, and has shown a willingness to find the dirty areas to score. A strong playoff run in a Memorial Cup championship last season in Rouyn-Noranda and a second one in the making for his hometown Chicoutimi squad would have iced the cake for his amateur career. He was the captain of both teams, which shows his great leadership skills. While Harvey-Pinard might be a long-shot, he is willing to do anything to make it. Alex Belzile just made his NHL debut at 28 in a similar fashion, and Harvey-Pinard has the same desire and work ethic. – MS

Alexandre Alain, C/LW (UFA: Apr. 24, 2017. Previous ranking: 17)

Like Harvey-Pinard, Alain was a oft-overlooked offensive force in the QMJHL, who didn’t really hit his stride until his final, over-aged season in the league, which culminated in shooting out the lights in the postseason, finally earning an NHL contract. He has played more of a supporting role in his two seasons in the AHL since, but he has at least demonstrated some traits that would allow him to fit in the NHL, albeit in a depth role at best. He skates quite well and has shown the ability to read the game at a pro pace, giving him some projection to fit on the penalty kill. He has also flashed solid puck skills, although nothing truly dynamic. On the downside, Alain did not show much progress from his rookie season at Laval to last season and the Canadiens will want to see more in the final season of his ELC before bestowing an extension on him. Without additional assertiveness, his next step could be overseas. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – MONTREAL CANADIANS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 8

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 14:35:05 +0000

Montreal Canadiens

With our compiled grades for all systems now complete, Montreal finds itself comfortably within the top ten prospect systems. It is quite an accomplishment, given that the Habs were ranked 12^th in our 2019 Ranking prior to last season, and then some of their best prospects graduated, according to our standards.

Nick Suzuki (#2) played every game and was fifth in team scoring when the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season. Neither Ryan Poehling (#3) nor Cale Fleury (#15) were as impactful as rookies, but each also played enough in the NHL to lose prospect eligibility. Development stagnation dulled the glow of some other prospects who had once shined more brightly, such as 2015 first rounder Noah Juulsen (#8), who played only 13 games for AHL Laval, after injuries also limited him to 24 combined games in 2018-19. Former second rounder Jacob Olofsson (#17) was likewise limited to 24 games for Skelleftea in the SHL and failed to make the Swedish WJC roster as a 19-year-old after playing at the prestige tournament the prior year.

Even with those organizational depth hits, the system remains strong. I haven’t even mentioned that Montreal hasn’t even dipped their toes into the prospect free agency pool yet this season.

A lot of the regard in which I hold the Montreal system goes into the positive trajectories many of their prospects have found themselves this season. For every prospect who backslid (more could have been expected during the AHL rookie campaigns Cayden Primeau and Otto Leskinen), at least other Montreal hopefuls exceeded expectations and improved their projected future roles (see the three Europeans near the top of the list below in Romanov, Ylonen, and Norlinder, who all increased their respective projected OFPs between the start and the sudden end of the current season.

A few other players basically held serve, but on the whole the Montreal system saw a lot more success stories in the past season than not. Whereas with a team like the Minnesota Wild, who had the opposite experience, we could pinpoint the weak spot in their development chain to the way players developed once they hit the AHL affiliate, with Montreal the answer is more scattered.

Their AHL affiliate, in nearby Laval, Quebec, was not always seen as a strength, with more than a few AHL veterans badmouthing the coaching staff after walking away from the team. Either way, the recent work by the AHL coaching staff has been fine, with prospects assigned to the level doing more or less what has been expected from them.

The players who have taken notable positive steps this year have been everywhere. When a select group of young prospects from the corners of the hockey playing globe, from Russia, Sweden, Finland, the NCAA, the QMJHL and other stations, all improve in a short period and their only obvious connection is the team that drafted them, the most reasonable answer is that the Canadiens have been scouting and drafting very well, recognizing players with room for growth and a path to achieving it. I, for one, will be paying closer than usual attention to the players the Habs select in the 2020 draft. - RW

BROSSARD, QC - JUNE 26: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (36) during the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp on June 26, 2019, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Going into last year’s draft, Cole Caufield had one significant black mark next to his name, his size. That was overblown then and it is still overblown now. The Canadiens were fortunate to steal him with the 15^th pick in last year’s draft. He is no bigger now after a year with the Wisconsin Badgers than he was coming out of the USNTDP, but it should never have been a real concern. There was no similarly skilled player in last year’s draft – or really going a number of drafts back – who also had a traditionally solid NHL frame. Despite standing only 5-7”, 163, Caufield is built stocky and is very strong for his size, pound-for-pound and inch-for-inch.

Some would say that he has an additional black mark to his prospect status now, despite leading the Big 10 in scoring as a freshman. At mid-season Caufield was selected to represent Team USA at the Word Juniors and he had a disappointingly flat performance, with only a single goal and one helper as the US bowed out early. It’s a fair criticism. Caufield was pretty nondescript at the tournament. On the other hand, that tournament represented a two-week slice of a fantastic season that showed he was still the world class sniper that Montreal drafted.

He times his release to perfection and can place the puck exactly where he wants. More than a one-trick pony, though, Caufield is a fine skater, with sharp cutting ability and he can play the top at his top speed as well. He plays almost fearless, although he doesn’t go out of his way to take unnecessary risks. He will be spending next year back in Madison but will likely be ready to go straight to Montreal at the completion of his sophomore season. - RW

Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Romanov is strong as an ox and plays a physical brand of hockey. He hits with authority to defend and punishes opponents with every chance. He does not give forwards much room to operate as he puts pressure on quickly. He uses his stick well to poke pucks away and break up plays. He battles hard in the corners and along the boards and shows the willingness to win pucks.

He is alert, focused and very responsible in the defensive zone. He makes a very good first pass out of the zone and sends precise bank passes off the boards. He does not make many plays with the puck that would jump off the page, but he is highly reliable and highly consistent, both of which are important attributes for a defenseman.

He has a hard, accurate slap shot from the point and he keeps it low to create rebounds. Romanov is a powerful skater with good balance and footwork. He moves well in all directions and trusts his skating when defending opposing rushes. He will occasionally join the rush to create additional options for his team.

The 20-year-old blueliner has the makings of an excellent second round pick for the Canadiens. He looks NHL ready as far as his physicality is concerned. He has a lot of upside as he is terrific in his own end and smart in possession. I think he has a chance to develop into a strong middle-pairing NHL defenseman who contributes in a variety of ways. - MB

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Ylonen is a highly talented winger whose skating and puck skills are near elite. He has quick hands and his first touch is excellent: he can corral difficult passes smoothly and get the puck under control quickly. His wrist shot features an accurate and quick release. Scoring goals seems to come naturally to him, yet he is also a good set-up guy with playmaking skill.

He moves and skates with his head up to scan the ice and shows awareness with the puck. His offensive numbers declined in the past Liiga season, however he did make progress defensively. Ylonen's backchecking has greatly improved, as he uses his strong acceleration to catch opponents. When discussing his point totals, it must be remembered that Pelicans was not a very strong team in 2019-20. They eventually missed the playoffs by a fair margin after selling many of their top players late in the season.

Ylonen has shown signs of becoming a more complete player and I think he has adapted well to the pro game in the last two seasons. He has come a long way from where he was in the U18 league at one point. He has learned to use his offensive skill set and skating to his advantage, he uses his teammates for passing options and he does not make nearly as many careless decisions as he used to. Therefore, I am confident that Ylonen will adapt to North American game as well and ultimately develop into a strong, productive NHL winger. - MB

Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 10)

One of the best skaters in Swedish hockey. Norlinder is both fast and elusive on his skates. He travels with ease and is very smooth. He can use his skating to his advantage in all situations. He also has strong puck skills and control of the puck. He passes the puck well and has some nice deking moves where he goes to his backhand close to his feet and uses his mobility to travel around opponents.

Norlinder is also quite a good goal scorer. While he does not possess a dangerous bomb from blueline, he likes to join the attack where has a quick release wrist shot. Even in goal scoring the skating helps him as he likes to skate across the slot before shooting.

He played in Allsvenskan this season and had 18 points in 34 games. He had some injury issues and also had a short slump after the WJC, a tournament where he only played in a disappointingly limited role. Norlinder has been a late developer and is still growing physically. He signed a two-year deal with Frolunda but I think he could be able to step over and compete for a spot after the first year.

As he can combine his skating with good puck handling, he does not need to play top pair minutes to be effective. His weaknesses are in the defensive zone and he won’t be a shutdown defenseman or a strong penalty killer but could still be an effective second or third pair defenseman as he is a such a strong possession player and his zone exits are as strong as his entries. – JH

Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

As it stands right now, Cayden Primeau is the future for goaltending in the Montreal Canadiens organization and that is a good thing. At 6-3”, Primeau stands at a good height where modern goaltenders are concerned, and his in-net composure is something that even some veteran netminders have not yet mastered. Some may say he is a little too calm in the crease but as long as he keeps making saves there are few complaints.

Starting for the Laval Rocket the majority of this season and even earning two starts with Montreal, Primeau has been able to better adapt to faster shots and puck movement coming from the AHL and NHL shooters. He will need to continue working on his rebound control and activation on certain plays off of long shots and net-front scrambles in order to compete better in the NHL. However, until then his focus remains unbreakable and his positioning is strong, he sees the puck and fights well for vision.

He has pretty large shoes to fill in Montreal when it comes to agility and playing the puck, both of which he can also brush up heading into next season. For a young goaltender it is so important that he get stronger when it comes to his legs and being able to push harder to get across the net quicker. With Carey Price still paving the way for the Canadiens, expect Primeau to get some time up as a backup goaltender first before stepping into the starter role eventually. - SC

Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

After leading the Laval Rocket for points this past season, Evans earned a brief call up to the Canadiens and should see more time up in the NHL if he gets off to the same strong start he did last season. He sees the ice well and always keeps his feet moving. He is quick enough and dominant enough on the ice to be depended on to play powerplay and penalty kill.

He needs to still work on playing a tough game if he wants to be able to win battles at the next level but the pace at which he plays and skates both with and without the puck will be enough for him to find his way onto Montreal’s roster sometime in the near future as part of a rotating top nine. - SC

Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

A staple on the first power play unit, Harris has a very calm demeanor. He sees the ice well, enabling him to get the puck quickly out of dangerous areas. His quick hands allow for quick takeaways. One of Harris’ most impressive attributes is his skating - his strides are smooth and fluid. He’s still young, leaving even more room for improvement. - JS

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

He is a good goal-scorer with a precise wrist shot, his offensive vision is high-end, and he is slick with the puck. Moreover, he is tenacious with a high compete level. He hunts down pucks and does many things that do not show on the scoresheet. He clearly wants to be a difference maker every time he steps on the ice, one way or another.

He will move to Ilves for the upcoming season. Ilves is a rising team with many skilled, young players and thus should provide a great environment and opportunity for Ikonen to take his game to the next level. - MB

Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Especially impressive was the fact that Hillis finished second in the OHL in primary even strength assists with 28 (ahead of Marco Rossi, Quinton Byfield, Akil Thomas, and many others). He excels as a playmaker because of how well he protects the puck down low, and because he never gives up on a play.

Hillis’ skating took a step forward this year too, allowing him to be more active as a facilitator in transition. Currently unsigned, Hillis seems likely to be signed, but is not a slam dunk. If he can continue to improve his skating and bulk up to withstand injury, he projects as a middle six playmaking center who can provide versatility to a coaching staff. - BO

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

He is a great blue line shooter as he can handle either side of the point and is not just a one-timer guy back there. His wrist shot has great accuracy and he is a guy that consistently gets his shot past the first defender. He isn’t an amazing puck handler, but he has pretty good vision and can make passes during the transition and in the offensive zone.

There is an edge to his game, but it doesn’t really define his style. He is a capable, sound defensive player with good vision and a shot. If he can find another gear, he will have a real shot at contributing to an NHL team one day. - VG

Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

While playing prep hockey at St. Sebastian’s, he was named to the 18-19 USHA All-USA Hockey Second Team. He entered Northeastern as a true freshman last season and was impressive but unfortunately missed the last nine games due to an injury. Even so, he proved his ability as an offensive defenseman. He has a quick shot that often finds the net from the point. Struble sees the ice well and puts power behind his passes, which helps on the rush. He also possesses quick hands with good puck handling skills. Struble is still very young and he has time to mature his game. - JS

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

He is a good passer and very good at reading neutral zone plays and forechecking to anticipate interceptions, which makes him a valuable asset to have on the penalty kill. The downside to his play is the fact that he plays a physically small game, meaning that he looks like a smaller player than he is and often loses puck battles. He will most certainly have to get stronger in order to make a safe appearance in the NHL.

His hands and skating are definitely assets in his play and make him the good player that he is but he needs to be more physical and aggressive in order to earn a call up as a bottom six forward. - SC

Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 7)

In order to get his footing back and find more success next season, Brook will have to find a way to elevate his competition level and find the confidence to start rushing the puck again. As a player who was drafted due to his points and his eye for offensive plays, he will need to find a way to get to the net, be more present in rushes and in the offensive end in establishing plays if he wants a chance at a prolonged call up.

Brook has the potential to scratch out a bottom four role with the Canadiens but it will not be until he can find a higher and more aggressive offensive gear to play the game that got him drafted in the first place. - SC

Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 8)

He is a smooth and powerful skater, a good passer and a physical force. The only important aspect of his game that remains unpolished is his decision making. Unfortunately, for Juulsen making repeated bad decisions and bad plays has placed him at the bottom of the list for call ups and he will have to be next to perfect with the AHL’s Laval in order to get another chance at cracking the bottom four with Montreal. - SC

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Harvey-Pinard has seen his stock rise significantly thanks to his hard work and ability to put points on the board. He will be rewarded as an AHL regular next season, as the farm club in Laval inked him to a one-year deal.

While he is undersized for the pro game, he is a smart player, and has shown a willingness to find the dirty areas to score. A strong playoff run in a Memorial Cup championship last season in Rouyn-Noranda and a second one in the making for his hometown Chicoutimi squad would have iced the cake for his amateur career. He was the captain of both teams, which shows his great leadership skills.

While Harvey-Pinard might be a long-shot, he is willing to do anything to make it. Alex Belzile just made his NHL debut at 28 in a similar fashion, and Harvey-Pinard has the same desire and work ethic. - MS

Montreal Canadiens 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:04:55 +0000

In Marc Bergevin’s first year as the General Manager of the Canadiens, he was taking over an organization in disarray and in desperate need of a refresh. They were less than two months away from a draft that was expected to pivotal in the club’s future, what with having the third overall pick.

Given only six weeks or so to prepare, institutional knowledge would be pivotal and that first Bergevin draft class skewed conservative. That top pick was used on a mercurial talent by the name of Alexander Galchenyuk, who has since had a tumultuous career, but is still young and talented as he moves to his third NHL team this year in Pittsburgh. Of the other six picks made by the Habs, only fifth rounder Charles Hudon has played in the NHL. He has had his moments, but has yet to really establish himself in any significant way.

It was in his third draft that a Bergevin trait first emerged. That is, the Habs, perhaps more than any other team, are willing to draft players from far off the beaten path. By “the beaten path”, I refer to the CHL leagues, the USHL/USNTDP, the NCAA and leagues in Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Some would argue for the inclusion of Switzerland and the Czech Republic among beaten path sources of amateur talent, but Montreal hasn’t drafted a single player from those hockey federations since Bergevin took the helm, so I will stay on the fence about that.

Of course, Bergevin and the Canadiens do draft from the beaten path sources plenty. In fact, their first picks since 2014 have come from (sequentially): WHL, WHL, OHL, NCAA, Finland, and USNTDP. But he has also been sure to appease his notoriously hard working scouts who search far and wide for talent.

In 2014, out of six picks, Montreal selected a player from the AJHL in the fifth round, and the OJHL in the seventh round. The former looks like a ECHLer at best, but the latter, Jake Evans, just missed the top ten below. In 2015, with only five picks, Montreal stayed pretty traditional, with four players from the CHL leagues, and one from Sweden. The top two picks are both listed below and the latter three picks are no longer Montreal property.

Bergevin dipped back into the scouting wilds in 2016 , drafting Casey Staum from Hill-Murray high school in Minnesota. Staum spent the past three years in the USHL, failing to live up to his high school hype and the Habs’ rights to him expired. After an orthodox 2017 draft haul, Bergevin went off the deep in 2018. With 11 picks, Montreal used two middle rounders on high schoolers, including Jordan Harris (listed below) from New Hampshire, and Jack Gorniak from Wisconsin. They also drafted Brett Stapley from the BCHL with their last pick.

That was only a prelude to their most recent draft class, featuring four deep cuts. The high schoolers are already a bit old hat, but both prepsters are listed below anyway. It was the other two picks that really proved Montreal’s commitment to leave no stone unturned. In the fifth round, they selected goalie Frederik Dichow from the Danish second tier league. Players are rarely drafted out of Denmark, but it happens. The kicker came with Montreal’s last pick. Hulking defenseman Kieran Ruscheinski was drafted out of the Alberta Midget Hockey League, a AAA league that had never had a player drafted directly from its ranks before. I have no idea how Ruscheinski will develop (next stop, the BCHL), but I applaud the Canadiens for their efforts.

-Ryan Wagman

Montreal Canadiens center Ryan Poehling (25) (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

1 Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The comparison to Alex DeBrincat is obvious, but also pretty apt. Like the aforementioned, Caufield is mite-sized and has put the puck in the net at every stage of his development, including an awe-inspiring 72 times in 64 games for the USNTDP last year. He may be small, but he is built solid, with his leg strength serving as a springboard for the rest of his game. He can score from anywhere in the offensive zone and on a wide variety of shot types. He skates well, too, getting to a nice top speed and enabling him to sneak up on defenses. He has exceptionally soft hands for receiving passes and making them work and he reads opponents like my father reads the obits: figuring out at a glance if he has somewhere to go. Not every short goalscorer will be the next DeBrincat. Caufield might be better. - RW

2 Nick Suzuki, C (13^th overall, 2017 [Vegas]. Last Year: 2 [Vegas]) Suzuki went out on top in his final year of junior eligibility, helping the Guelph Storm capture an OHL championship. He is a crafty playmaker who can really keep the puck on a string in the offensive end. He is not the biggest, but he can put defenders on his back as he cuts to the net and with his processing speed, he rarely forces plays or commits turnovers. His shot is another underrated component to his game, which helps to keep defenders honest and makes him a multi-faceted offensive weapon. He is likely to see some action with Montreal at some point this coming year but may still need a year of development in the AHL first. The big question is whether Suzuki sticks down the middle as a pro or shifts to the wing. That will likely depend on how much further he can improve his skating and whether his intensity level without the puck increases. He is a potential building block for Montreal in the very near future. - BO

3 Ryan Poehling, C (25^th overall, 2019. Last Year: 2) There are two sides to Poehling’s game. The first side is seen most frequently; he is a high IQ, two-way center. This Poehling makes all of the little plays that lead to possession dominance. He gets the puck out of danger without fuss. He wins faceoffs. He kills penalties. He wins puck battles. Once in a while, he flashes slick stickhandling to help generate a scoring chance, but more of his points come from plays that won’t make the evening sports recap. The other Poehling comes out when the spotlight shines brightest. Witness his eight-point performance at the WJC last year, which included a performance for the ages against Sweden. Or look at his NHL debut in the final game of the year against Toronto. He only scored a hat trick before pitting the shootout winner. Which Poehling will Montreal get. Probably the former, but that still makes for a great middle six center. - RW

4 Jesse Ylönen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 5) Ylönen is an agile and fast skater with terrific acceleration. He has great quickness in his first three strides and generates speed through quick crossovers. A finesse player, he has quick hands, impressive stick skills, and a wide range of dekes in his repertoire. He can be deceptive, creative, and unpredictable with the puck. Ylönen is a precision shooter with an accurate, quick wrist shot and a goal-scorers blade. He has added lower-body strength and improved his board play since his draft year. He still must become more committed and tenacious defensively, as well as improve his defensive zone coverage, but the ceiling is high here and he could end up being a high-scoring winger in the NHL. - MB

5 Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 9) Prior to reaching Northeastern, Primeau was a big, talented, but terribly inconsistent netminder in the USHL. In two years with the Huskies, his save percentage was above .930 and he won the Mike Richter Award of the top collegiate goalie as a sophomore last year. A smart netminder who anticipates at a high level, he is comfortable playing above the paint and has a mature sense of positioning in the crease, helping him to limit rebounds and second chances. His legs are very strong, giving him great post-to-post coverage, while also being able to close the five-hole in a snap. A workhorse at the lower level, Keith Primeau’s son is going to be groomed for an NHL role behind Carey Price. He has the tools to be an NHL starter, but that upside is as much about opportunity and timing as skill. - RW

6 Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 17) Born to a hockey family, Romanov is a rock-solid defenseman with exciting two-way abilities who was awarded Best Defenseman honors at the last WJC despite being an underaged participant. He spent the whole season with Gagarin Cup champions CSKA Moscow, and even scored his first KHL goal. He is an adept defensive player, but he needs to be less passive offensively and be less scared of erring with the puck. He doesn’t have the strongest shot, but he has good instincts and can pass the puck well. At this point, he is a blue-chip prospect for the Habs, but he needs to bulk up and be more involved in the offensive part of his game. Romanov has top-pairing potential, but as with many other Russian prospects, he will need a bit more seasoning before crossing the Atlantic to join his NHL organization. - ASR

7 Josh Brook, D (56^thoverall, 2017. Last Year: 11) Brook had one of the more productive seasons for a blueliner in recent memory. He more than doubled his point production with an impressive 16 goals and 59 assists in just 59 games while playing top pairing minutes against many of the top lines in the WHL. He has a very nice offensive tool kit with a good hard slap shot, excellent passing skill and vision, and a collection of feigns and dekes that enable him to open up defenses from his position. He can take the puck down low and drive the net, and skates well enough that he is dangerous when joining the rush. He is an intelligent player who manages the puck well, particularly under pressure at the offensive blue line, where he makes smart reads on pinching and play along the wall. There has been enough development in his offensive game to think he can be an effective power play quarterback while also playing effective top four minutes in the NHL. - VG

8 Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 7) 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 has struggled to adjust to making the right plays at the professional level and often tries to do too much when he is without the puck, which makes him easy prey as he sometimes bites too quickly. He is not the most mobile defender and his actions seem even more stiff and mechanical when he begins to think too much. He will have to work on trusting himself with and without the puck and working on his timing a bit more. Juulsen has the skill to be a bottom four defenseman in the NHL but right now his game will just need to mature a bit more before returning back to the Canadiens. - SC

9 Otto Leskinen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 7, 2019. Last Year: IE) Leskinen put together an excellent season with KalPa in the Liiga and even got to represent the Finnish national team over the course of the season. 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. He is a purposeful shooter and can pick his spots well from the point. His main remaining issues are his overall defensive game and a lack of physical presence and toughness. However, he is a skilled, modern defenseman whose style of play suits today's NHL well. - MB

10 Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Norlinder’s chances of becoming a regular NHL defenseman are good, in fact very good for a third-round pick. He isn’t elite with the puck but makes nice plays. He reads the game well and has shown himself able to adapt to higher levels rather easily. His biggest tool is exceptionally strong skating. He skates fast and with ease. He can carry the puck quickly out of danger and create offensive attacks for his team. He came up late in Allsvenskan and impressed highly. He chose to stay in Allsvenskan for the full season this year, which could be a smart move. He will receive big minutes on one the best teams in the league and has a good shot to make Sweden’s WJC team. Norlinder’s potential stretches to that of a third or second pair NHL defenseman. - JH

11 Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 4) 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 a good jump to his stride and energy to his game. In his professional debut after completing a full four years at Notre Dame, he managed a good season, tallying 45 points in 67 games. The way he sees the ice is unique and a player of his caliber will certainly go far and could be considered a contender for a top nine spot in Montreal’s organization in the future. 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. Getting more shots off would also help him to better prove his usefulness in offensive situations instead of always resorting to passing. - SC

12 Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 10) Ikonen is a skilled and tenacious forward who can play both center and the wing. He can be a dual threat in the final third but is more of a shooter than a playmaker. He will take puck to the net and can score flashy goals. He has fantastic puck handling skills, offensive instincts, and can take advantage of any extra space and room that is given to him. He plays an intense and energetic game, hunts pucks and competes in every shift. On the downside, he is on the smaller side and has occasional troubles against bigger and stronger opponents, especially along the boards. Considering everything, Ikonen is an intriguing prospect with the skills and the will to be a difference maker in North America. - MB

13 Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Last season was a comeback season for Fairbrother, as he battled his way back from a separated shoulder to have an impressive season with Everett. He is a solid two-way defender who logs a lot of minutes and plays in all situations. He skates really well, has a good shot, and moves the puck nicely. Aside from that, he has decent size, plays with an edge, and has a strong physical presence. He has been brought up in a strong, structured defensive system, and that is a real prominent element in his game. He plays a safe and steady game and seems to do all of the little things right. He projects to be a mid-range defender with the potential to move up. - KO

14 Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The first prepster drafted in 2019, Struble saw his stock rise drastically after a dominating performance at the Draft Combine. He brings a magnificent mix of two-way smarts and a booming shot from the blueline to the Montreal system. Taken out of St. Sebastian’s High School in Massachusetts, the left-hander displayed an exceptional all-around package in his senior year, noted by his insane vision and explosive playmaking skills. He is also as smart defensively as he is on offense, exhibiting tight gaps in zone entries and incredible timing and anticipation in one-on-one defense. He is a solid skater, and he could stand to use his muscular and stocky build more against the boards. As he transitions to NCAA hockey with Northeastern, he will begin to prune out his skilled but still very raw game. - TD

15 Cale Fleury, D (87^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8) Fleury is solid defenseman whose offence takes much of the spotlight from his defensive play. He can shoot and pass with ease and has made a good transition to the positional play needed at the professional level, always seeming to be in good shooting position. Speed is lacking in his game as is his ability to adapt to changing pace, and often times he can be one of the last ones back due to his lack of awareness which can lead to odd man rushes. When pressured, he can make rushed passes to relieve himself of the puck- many of which he misses on. He will need to work on making better passes instead of throwing the puck away even if that means taking a hit to do so. Fleury has the offensive skill and shot to be a bottom four defenseman with Montreal, but he will have to cover his ice better and work on maintaining focus throughout the whole game. - SC

16 Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Currently considered a top candidate to play for Team USA at the 2020 WJC, Harris is a fast skating, understated puck moving defenseman who spent the last season helping to keep the crease clear for Cayden Primeau. His defensive game is very advanced despite last year being his first playing high level hockey, having come to campus directly from a New Hampshire prep school. He shows flashes of offensive ability, but it has been rare enough to lead to questions about his upside. Those who like him think he will take over a bigger offensive role this year, after Jeremy Davies turned pro (Nashville). Those who are more bearish see a third pairing defender at best who might be hard pressed to establish himself in the NHL at his peak. This season will be telling. - RW

17 Jacob Olofsson, C (56^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) Olofsson took a step in his overall speed last season, but that was about all he improved. He played top six minutes in SHL but wasn’t able to impose himself on the game. He is a good puck transporter all the way up to the offensive blue line but he doesn’t seem to have the tools to create good things after the entry. He often loses control of the puck and doesn’t use his size to protect it. He is physically soft in a way that it hinders his overall game. At the WJC last year he was used as a winger and it became even more obvious that he had a hard time winning puck duels. Olofsson’s foundation as a player is good, but he will need to take big steps in many aspects to remain an interesting NHL prospect. He will play on a better SHL team this season and hopefully that will help him take the next step. - JH

18 Allan McShane, C (97^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 12) McShane is actually a very similar player to Suzuki. He excels as a playmaker down low because of how well he sees the ice and because his hands can create space for himself. He anticipates play in the offensive zone without the puck very well, again, pointing to his top-notch hockey sense. On the downside, the physical tools are rather limited at the moment. His skating will need to continue to improve and he still needs to be more aggressive playing through the middle of the ice and attacking traffic. He does not likely have the toolbox to be a bottom six player, so he will need to be a top six player in the NHL in order to carve out a career. - BO

19 Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) Hillis is coming off of a tough season that saw him battle through injuries and miss Guelph’s lengthy playoff run. Even so, the Guelph Storm have already named him Captain for the 2019-20 season, which speaks volumes about his character. Like McShane, Hillis lacks top physical tools, such as high-end skating ability, size, and athleticism. Then again, he plays the game with his heart on his sleeve and excels as a playmaker because of his tenacity on and off the puck. As he gets stronger, his offensive production should jump greatly. With improvements to his skating, Hillis could develop into a quality third line center for Montreal, although not in the near future. - BO

20 Rhett Pitlick, LW (131^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) An undersized scoring winger, Pitlick is another example of the Canadiens opting to draft skilled long-shot players over their safer, lower-ceiling counterparts in recent seasons. He comes from a family rich in NHL talent and is primed to continue the tradition. An absolutely dominant skater, he is capable of blowing past defenders by merely gliding on his edges, while his acceleration does not lag at all, as his short legs generate a lot of quick power and stride speed. Though he can be outmuscled, he will never be outworked, as his determination is matched only by his scintillating puck skill and elusiveness. His only game-breaking flaw is his riskiness with the puck, but an imminent jump to the NCAA level with the University of Minnesota will help immensely and assist him in approaching his middle-six playmaking forward potential. - TD

WHL Playoff Preview (Eastern Conference): Prince Albert dominates but Vancouver hot down the stretch

Kevin Olexson — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 18:12:54 +0000

After another exciting season in the Dub it took one final game to finalize this year’s playoffs. The Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers finish the season tied forcing a one-game playoff, the seventh in WHL history, to move on and play the Victoria Royals.

The Blazers made up a seven-point deficit in the last week and a half of the season, going 5-0-1 to tie Kelowna and earn a home tie-breaker game. They came in riding some momentum and sported a 6-3-1 record against the visiting Rockets this season. The Blazers were led by 16-year-old rookie goaltender Dylan Garand, who put aside 27 out of 28 shots, and forwards Connor Zary, Zane Franklin, Brody Stuart, and Captain Jermaine Loewen to earn their biggest win of the season. Next year’s Memorial Cup hosts have some work to do, as this is only the second time in the Rockets tenure that they have missed the playoffs.

The Prince Albert Raiders were far and away the top team in the Dub this year finishing with a 54-10-2-2 record for a league leading 112 points. The Vancouver Giants finished with the second-best record after going on a real tear in the last quarter of the season, as they surpassed the Everett Silvertips for the best record out of the BC and US divisions erasing a 16-point deficit. The Edmonton Oil Kings finished the season as the hottest team down the stretch winning their last 10 games to edge out the Lethbridge Hurricanes by two points for the division title.

As the quest to represent the WHL in this year’s MasterCard Memorial Cup begins, the Eastern Conference matchups look like this:

Eastern Conference

Brett Leason. Photo by Robert Murray/WHL.

The top seeded Prince Albert Raiders open their playoff series against the Red Deer Rebels boasting the best overall record, and head in to the postseason with a 7-2-1 record, where the Rebels stumbled in with a 4-5-1 record down the stretch finishing with 33 wins and 72 points. These teams played four times this season, with the Raiders taking three of the four games, losing only their first meeting of the season in Red Deer. All four games were decided by one goal, including a 2-1 shootout win by the Raiders in their most recent game played in Prince Albert.

The Raiders led the league in goals scored and finished the season with the second-best goals against. They are loaded up front with Brett Leason (36-53-89), San Jose prospect Noah Gregor (43-45-88), Montreal prospect Cole Fonstad (29-44-73), Ottawa prospect Kelly Parker (35-32-67), and Dante Hounen (29-38-67) who was acquired from the Victoria Royals and put up 31 points in 28 games with the Raiders.

The Rebels are led by Buffalo pick Brandon Hagel (41-61-102), Reece Johnson (27-26-53), and a couple of acquisitions in Cameron Hausinger (21-33-54) who put 37 points in 40 games, and Dallas pick Brett Davis (20-30-50) who produced 31 points in 41 games. On the back end, the Raiders are more than solid with Brayden Pachal (15-36-51) with 51 sporting an amazing +76, his partner Zach Hayes (3-24-27) with an equally impressive +71, Sergei Sapego (10-33-43) with a +42, and Max Martin (6-35-41) showing a +45. They have Washington Capitals 2018 first round selection Alexei Alexeyev with 43 points in 49 games, who is dealing with something but should be available, and Dawson Barteaux (7-27-34) to work their blue line.

In goal, Ian Scott has had a stellar season for the Raiders, going 38-8-1-2 with a 1.83 GAA, and a save percentage of 0.932 posting eight shutouts. The Rebels are back stopped by Ethan Anders 28-22-4-1 with a 3.09 GAA and a save percentage of 0.907 and two shutouts.

The Raiders seem to have the edge in most of the categories, but every game has been extremely close, and Red Deer was a top team last year, and anything can happen in the playoffs.

Pick - Raiders in 5

Kirby Dach

The Saskatoon Blades and Moose Jaw Warriors are set to meet as the second and third seeds in the East. The Blades have dominated the Warriors this year going 5-1 against them, including a 5-3 win near the end of the season. These are two good teams meeting, with lots of talent and players to watch.

At forward the Blades are led by top prospect Kirby Dach (25-48-73) who is slated to be a top five pick in this year’s draft, Max Gerlach (42-32-74), Washington prospect Eric Florchuk (21-29-50), and acquisitions Ryan Hughes (30-39-69) who had 29 points in 25 games, and Gary Haden (31-35-66) who scored 62 points in 55 games. The Warriors are led by line mates Tristan Langan (53-60-113) who topped 50 goals and sports a +43, and Justin Almeida (33-78-111), finishing second and third respectively in league scoring. Rookie Brayden Tracey scored 36 goals and put up 81 points in his first season with the Warriors.

On defense, both clubs have some nice features, as the Blades boast Dawson Davidson (13-62-75) and Nolan Kneen (6-39-45) with 25 points in 33 games since being acquired. One of the Warriors strengths is in their D-line, with Montreal prospect Josh Brook who scored 75 points in only 59 games, and Vancouver Canucks draftee Jet Woo (12-54-66).

In goal, Nolan Maier (36-10-6) backstops the Blades with a 2.64 GAA, a 0.910 save percentage, and four shutouts. The Warriors have used more of a committee approach as goalies Adam Evanoff (19-10-2-1) with a 2.62 GAA and a 0.916 save percentage, and Brodan Salmond (21-10-4-1) with a 2.73 GAA and 0.906 save percentage have shared the crease duties all season.

This should be a very good series to watch, and these teams are similar and should put forth an entertaining series. The Blades have dominated the regular season series, and have been the better club, and are headed in to the playoffs on an 8-2 run, but the Warriors enter on a three-game winning streak and will give them trouble, and make them earn it.

Pick - Blades in 6

Matthew Roberston, Edmonton Oil Kings

The central division winning Edmonton Oil Kings will host the Medicine Hat Tigers in the next matchup, and really seem to have the edge after going 5-0-1 against the Tigers this year, although all the games were relatively close except for one game which was a 5-0 final.

The Oil Kings Trey Fix-Wolansky (37-65-102), a Columbus Blue Jackets pick has led the charge all season and is definitely a player to watch. He is supported by Vince Loschiavo (37-25-62), Quinn Benjafield (15-39-54), and then 2019 draft prospects in Josh Williams, Vladimir Alistrov, and Jake Neighbours who will carry the load. The Tigers will rely on James Hamblin (33-44-77), Ryan Jevne (32-36-68), former Edmonton player Brett Kemp (33-27-60) who scored 21 points in 24 games for MH, and Ryan Chyzowski (27-28-55) to provide the scoring.

The Oil Kings defence is led by Conner McDonald (19-31-50), and Matthew Robertson (7-26-33) who is eligible for this year’s draft. The Tigers defence is led by Florida Panthers pick Linus Nassen (7-39-46) who will log a lot of minutes in this one. In goal, the Oil Kings have Dylan Miskew (28-11-2-3) between the pipes, who finished the season strong with his 2.53 GAA and 0.914 save percentage. He will battle the Tigers rookie Mads Sogard (19-8-2-2) with a 2.64 GAA and a 0.921 save percentage.

Even with the Oil Kings dominance throughout the regular season against the Tigers, it has been a close series and pretty equally matched. The Oil Kings ride an 11-game winning streak into the playoffs and look they have gotten hot at the right time. I like the forward depth for the Tigers and the defensive edge for the Oil Kings, and with two strong goaltenders this should be a close series. I feel it has upset potential, and despite the regular season series results, I think that Sogard can make a big difference and possibly steal this one.

Pick - Tigers in 7

Dylan Cozens

The last of the Eastern series is a central division matchup, with the Lethbridge Hurricanes playing the Calgary Hitmen. Once again, the Hurricanes dominated the season series by a 5-1 mark and scored handily as they averaged six goals a game in the series. Lethbridge has an abundance of offence, with five players who scored over 80 points, and will be a handful for the Hitmen.

The Hurricanes acquired forward Nick Henry (29-65-94) from Regina earlier this season, and the Colorado Avalanche prospect rolled on to lead the club in scoring as he put up 54 points in 44 games. Alongside of Henry, the Hurricanes also acquired Jake Leschyshyn of the Golden Knights (40-41-81) from the Pats, and he stepped in nicely as he had 49 points in 44 games. Top prospect Dylan Cozens (34-50-84), who is expected to go very early in this year’s draft, and Hurricanes Captain and Pittsburgh Penguins property Jordy Bellerive (33-50-83) filled the net regularly against the Hitmen, as Cozens had nine points in six games, and Bellerive had 13 in six. Joining them is Jake Elmer (39-42-81), who also had a very nice season and was able to knock 10 points in 6 games against the Hitmen.

As for Calgary, they have some offence as well, with line mates Mark Kastelic (47-30-77) and James Malm (34-43-77) leading the way. Malm, acquired from the Vancouver Giants put up a point a game against Lethbridge, while Kastelic scored nine points. They will be joined by Carson Focht (26-38-64), Kaden Elder (27-33-60) who was picked up from last year’s WHL champion Swift Current Broncos, Riley Stotts (19-38-57) , and Jake Kryski (19-27-46) to try keep pace with the Hurricanes.

On defense, the Hurricanes are led by Cale Addison (11-54-65), the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect will play a major role in this series and should have a good showing. He will be joined by hulking Ukranian defender Igor Merezheko (4-31-35) who will be responsible to shut down the Hitmen forwards. For Calgary, Russian defenseman Yegor Zamula (10-46-56), who was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers, and Belarussian Vladislav Yereomenko (7-26-33) will work with Dakota Krebs (4-21-25), as they have their work cut out to try and keep the Hurricanes forwards at bay, and hopefully keep the scoring to a minimum.

This will be an even more interesting series in the net, as both teams have rookie goaltenders that will duel against one another. Both goalies have been rather impressive thus far. Carl Tetachuk of Lethbridge put up a record of 24-9-1-1, with a GAA of 2.88 and a save percentage of 0.909 and two shutouts. His counterpart in Calgary, Jack McNaughton, went 25-14-3, with a GAA of 3.25 and a save percentage of 0.888, while posting two shutouts.

The Hurricanes finished the season going 9-1 down the stretch, while Calgary comes in with a 6-4 record to finish. The strong offence and forward depth of the Hurricanes should propel them to win the series, but the real story will be which 17-year-old goaltender will outplay the other, and even though McNaughton has played well down the stretch, his numbers against Lethbridge have not been good, going 1-2 against them, with a GAA of 5.16 and a save percentage of 0.838.

If the Hitmen can keep it close, and their special teams play, which was much better than the Hurricanes this year, seem to click, then they could make a good series out of this. The Hurricanes do have the experience after losing the Eastern Conference Championship two years in a row and should be extra motivated to get going for another chance.

Pick - Hurricanes in 6

LINK TO WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW HERE

WHL 2018-19 Season Preview

Kevin Olexson — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 13:22:04 +0000

Another exciting season is underway in the WHL, and 2018-19 should be a good one. The 2017-18 season ended with the WHL’s Regina Pats hosting the 2018 Memorial Cup, in which they were defeated 3-0 by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the final. This season, the Kelowna Rockets have been awarded the 2020 Memorial Cup, and as the host team, trying to retool and rebuild in transition, they have a bit of work to do before then.

The WHL had some great players move on, including prolific scorers, dynamic defenders, and some top goaltenders. Now the next draft class of players is developing into prominent roles with their respective clubs, and will see more of the spotlight and new opportunities as we head towards the 2019 draft in Vancouver.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks.

The WHL was dominated primarily by the US and Eastern Division, but there will be a change in the power and balance with all of the player turnover. The US division has established itself as the strongest division over the past few years and there is no reason to think that this season will be any different. It is likely that this division will boast five playoff teams as well. Along with the three seeded division teams, two other teams will battle for the conference wild card spots. The Portland Winterhawks and Spokane Chiefs should battle for the top spot in the division. The Hawks look poised to take the division, under the leadership of the Vegas Golden Knights first franchise pick Cody Glass, who will challenge for the WHL scoring title this season and be one of the best players to take the ice in the league. The Hawks lost two top defenders in Dennis Cholowski (Detroit) and Henri Jokiharju (Chicago), as well as forwards Skyler McKenzie (Winnipeg) and Kiefer Bellows (NYI). They have a solid supporting cast, and overage forward Joakim Blichfeld (SJ) and defender Brendan DeJong (Car) will flourish this season. They also boast two top draft prospects in defenders --Clay Hanus and John Ludvig who should produce on the back end.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, photo by Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

The Chiefs are set to push for the division title with plenty of offense even after losing Edmonton prospect and team leader Kailer Yamamoto, and graduate Hudson Elynuik (Toronto Marlies). They will be led by LA Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan (who will surely be one to watch after he returns from the NHL), Sharks prospect Jake McGrew, a nice complement of 19-year-old players, and New Jersey Devils first round selection Ty Smith who will step up his game. This season the Chiefs will also show off prospect Luke Toporowski, who will contribute with a larger role for the club.

The Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri-City Americans, and Everett Silvertips will follow up jockeying for position. The T-Birds are building and are looking to improve after a big changeover in players. The load will be shouldered by Nolan Volcan and Zach Andrusiak, who will play as 20-year- olds this season and lead the team offensively. Jared Tyszka (Montreal) will lead the blue line, and help draft eligible prospect Jake Lee. Secondary scoring will come from Noah Philp, Matthew Wedman and eligible prospect Dillon Hamaliuk. Tri-City will be anxious to get back prospects Michael Rasmussen (Detroit), and defensemen Juuso Valimaki (Calgary), but it may take some time, if they return at all. Aside from that they will have a solid set of forwards led by Kyle Olson (Anaheim), Nolan Yaremko, and top draft eligible prospect Sasha Mutala. The defence is young and could be shaky, meaning that the offence and goaltending will both have to be better. The Everett Silvertips have had the biggest turnover, losing scoring leaders Patrick Bajkov (Florida) and Matt Fonteyne, as well as elite goaltender Carter Hart (Philadelphia). They will get back forwards Riley Sutter (Washington) and Connor Dewar (Minnesota) to lead the attack. Goaltender Dustin Wolf is a top prospect and played admirably behind Hart last season. He will have his chance to be in the spotlight and shine this year. Wyatte Wylie (Philadelphia) will lead the blueliners the depth of which is a strength of this team.

Milos Roman. Photo by Chris Relke/Vancouver Giants

The B.C. division took a step back, as the powerhouse teams have slipped. Now the Vancouver Giants seemed poised to sit atop the division along with the Victoria Royals. The Giants lost forwards Tyler Benson (Edmonton) and Ty Ronning (NYR), but have a great follow up with James Malm, Brayden Watts, and prospect Milos Roman (Calgary) to lead their offence. The Giants also have a great stable of defensemen, including Alex Kannok-Leipert (Washington), Dylan Plouffe, and a definite 2019 first round selection in Bowen Byram. The goaltending is also sound with the tandem of Arizona Coyotes pick David Tendeck and highly touted prospect Trent Miner who has put up great numbers with his play between the pipes.

The Victoria Royals will also challenge for the division title, as they have a good nucleus of players, solid goaltending, and great coaching. They lost a lot of firepower in Tyler Soy (San Diego Gulls) and Matthew Phillips (Calgary), but will be led by Dante Hannoun, Dino Kambeitz, and Kaid Oliver. The back end is good with Scott Walford (Montreal), Lane Zablocki (Detroit), and Ralph Jarrett. The Royals will be backstopped by one of the top goaltenders in the league in Griffin Outhouse who will help them with their push for another division title.

Kyle Topping of the Kelowna Rockets. Photo by Marissa Baecker/Kelowna Rockets

The Kelowna Rockets, Kamloops Blazers, and Prince George Cougars round out the division, as they will jockey for the third spot and possibly a wild card. The Rockets, after winning the bid to host the 2020 Memorial Cup will have to step things up, as this season looks a bit rough for them. They lost a good portion of their team, and top players Cal Foote (TBL), Dillon Dube (Calgary), Kole Lind (Vancouver), Carsen Twarynski (Philadelphia), have graduated and the team is in transition. They do however show five top rated prospects this season including Kyle Topping, who surprisingly went unselected in last year’s draft and will lead the team offensively this season. Top prospect and projected first rounder Nolan Foote will bear a larger role and be relied on to provide some much needed offence along with Leif Mattson. The Rockets are known for turning out defensemen, and they have top rated prospects in Kaden Korczak and Lassi Thomson in the works. In goal they have Roman Basran, another top prospect who pitched a shutout in his first ever WHL game, and will share backstop duties with James Porter.

The Kamloops Blazers are looking to take a step up after going through many changes last season. The Blazers seem like they are in rebuild mode, but they will be led by Jermaine Loewen returning from the Dallas Stars. The Blazers have some young players on their roster, and the back end will be anchored by Nolan Kneen, who should be in store for a big year. The Blazers could very well surprise a lot of teams, especially if returning goaltender Dylan Ferguson (Vegas) can put up solid numbers as he should be busy. The Cougars are also in the midst of a rebuild, as they unloaded many of their assets to finish at the bottom of the division. They have a young team without any returning NHL draftees on it, but will be led by defenders Joel Lakusta, Ryan Schoettler, Rhett Rhinehart, and forwards Ethan Browne and import Vladislav Mikhalchuk. They have a top rated goalie prospect in Taylor Gauthier between the pipes, and he looks to face a lot of shots behind a weak defence.

The battle of the Central Division should come down to the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers, followed by the Red Deer Rebels and Edmonton Oil Kings, leaving the Kootenay Ice and Calgary Hitmen battling for the wildcard positions.

Calen Addison. Photo by Robert Murray.

The Hurricanes seemed primed and ready, as they welcome back their leaders from other camps and tryouts. The offence will certainly be dynamic with Jordy Bellerive (Pittsburgh) returning, and prospect Dylan Cozens - who will definitely be an early first round pick in next year’s draft - leading the charge as they both push for the WHL scoring title as well. The secondary scoring will be in the hands of eligible prospect Logan Barlage, Taylor Ross, and Kelti Jeri-Leon. On the back end, Calen Addison (Pittsburgh) returns to beef up this blue line and contribute from the point. The goaltending looks solid with Reece Klassen, who should have a good nucleus of defence in front of him to help him put up good numbers. Medicine Hat should also be able to keep up with Lethbridge on the offensive side of things, as they also have some firepower up front. Ryan Chyzowski and Josh Williams are one of the top tandems in the league, and Williams is a likely first round selection in the upcoming draft. Captain James Hamblin will also provide some scoring punch, as they also show a very balanced group of forwards.

The Tigers lost offensive defensemen David Queneville (NYI), meaning defenders Linus Nassen (Florida) and Dylan Macpherson will have to step into bigger roles to help fill that void. The goaltending will be fine with Jordan Hollett (Ottawa) stopping pucks on the back end, but the defence is young. The Rebels also have some nice players returning, and coach Brett Sutter will be happy with Brandon Hagel and Jeff DeWit coming back to lead the forward group. The Rebels also welcome back Alexander Alexeyev (Washington) and Dawson Barteaux (Dallas) to the group, as they should both have very productive seasons. The Rebels have two players of note for draft hounds with import center Oleg Zaytsev and goaltender Ethan Anders, who should both improve this season with expanded roles.

The Edmonton Oil Kings have also been in a rebuild mode, and are looking to take the next step of their transition. They have a young team who will be led by Trey Fix-Wolansky (Columbus), along with veterans Quinn Benjafield and Vince Loschiavo to play along side of draft eligible prospects David Kope, Vladimir Alistrov, and Brett Kemp. On defence, a top prospect and projected first round selection Matthew Robertson leads the blue line with fellow draft-eligibles Jacson Alexander and Conner McDonald. The Oil Kings also have some young goaltenders in their net, and could help this team move up the ranks with some solid play.

Riley Stotts. Photo by Candice Ward/Calgary Hitmen.

Calgary will have forwards Jake Kryski and Riley Stotts (Toronto) back, along with defenseman Vladislav Yeryomenko (Nashville) who will all take larger roles and provide leadership for their maturing team. The Hitmen have a hulking defender on the radar as Jackson Van De Leest is a top draft-eligible prospect. The Kootenay Ice have been developing and rebuilding for a few years now, and they are showing a lot of youth, and a top end talent in Peyton Krebs (yet another definite first round selection). He will be joined by Brett Davis (Dallas) to lead the charge for the young ICE team. They will rely on Jonathan Smart to anchor and lead their group of defensemen as this team looks to improve and make a surge for a playoff spot.

The Eastern Division standings will look different. This division has been hit the hardest as the top teams from last season have had major overhauls, and return depleted rosters. After being defeated in the Memorial Cup Final, the Pats have lost forwards Sam Steel (Anaheim), Cameron Hebig (Edmonton), and Matt Bradley from their impressive lineup of scorers. They will be led this year by Jake Leshyshyn (Vegas), Nick Henry (Colorado), Austin Pratt, and eligible prospect Koby Morrisseau to carry the load. On defence, losing Josh Mahura (Anaheim), Cale Fleury (Montreal), and Libor Hajek (TBL) opens the door for Aaron Hyman to take a leadership role, and allow eligible prospects Nikita Sedov and Jonas Harkins to play larger parts and flourish on an experienced team. In goal, they have Max Paddock, who should get some consideration, as he backstopped the Pats to the Memorial Cup final as a rookie netminder and looked good in the process.

Cole Fonstad

It looks like the Prince Albert Raiders are ready to take a major leap and push for the division crown. The Raiders are loaded up front with players to watch in Cole Fonstad (Montreal), Noah Gregor (SJ), undrafted Brett Leason, and returnee Kody McDonald leading the way. They have an experienced blue line with Sergei Sapego, Max Martin, and Brayden Pachal ready to deliver in larger roles. Goaltender Ian Scott (Toronto) is ready to be one of the top tenders in the DUB this season and lead this team. They will battle with the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Saskatoon Blades for the division crown in what should be an exciting division to follow. The Wheat Kings will also boast a stellar offence and solid goaltending. With last seasons leading scorer Ty Lewis (Colorado) eligible to return, which would add even more scoring punch to this already impressive lineup of forwards.

Ty Smith

Stelio Mattheos (Carolina), Connor Gutenberg, Cole Reinhart, and draft eligible Luka Burzan will lead the charge for the Wheat Kings. The defence will be led by Schael Higson and Chase Hartje, with youngsters Braden Schneider and Jonny Lambos getting increased minutes. Las Vegas prospect Jiri Patera will handle duties in net, and looks to be very solid for the Wheaties, which will also help push them to the top of the division. The Saskatoon Blades have also made enormous strides this year, and will take a step up as well. They have some great prospects on the roster that will make their way to the draft this spring. They also have a forward group that can fill the nets with Max Gerlach, Eric Florchuk, and Josh Paterson returning to support Kirby Dach. Dach will be a prolific scorer and early first round pick at the draft. He will be joined by import defensemen and fellow top prospect Emil Malysjev who will settle in to a prominent role by playing with the likes of Dawson Davidson and Jackson Caller. The Blades also feature a top goaltending tandem with top prospect Nolan Maier who will carry the load this season after a stellar rookie season, and Dorrin Luding, who has looked very impressive in his appearances.

Jett Woo

The Moose Jaw Warriors will find themselves in the mix as well with Justin Almeida (Pittsburgh) back in the fold, and leading the way as one of the top players in the Dub. Almeida will take the reigns of the offence after the loss of Jayden Halbgewachs (SJ), Brayden Burke (Arizona), and Brett Howden (NYR). He will be joined by Ryan Peckford, who looked promising last year despite being passed over in the draft. He will look to make amends for that with a good showing this year with an increased role on this club. He will be joined with fellow prospect Brayden Tracey and veteran forward Tristan Langan. The back end will miss top defender Kale Clague (LAK), but will be in good shape with a strong core as Josh Brook (Montreal) and Jett Woo (Vancouver) are back there. In net, the Warriors have Adam Evanoff who was great in a limited role in his rookie season, and will get to display his skills this year in a main role. He will share time with ex-Kelowna Rocket Broden Salmond who will add some experience.

Last but not least, last seasons WHL Champion Swift Current Broncos will be hit the hardest of all teams. They have lost most of their scoring, and are in a definite rebuilding mode. Gone are the likes of Glen Gawdin (Calgary), Aleksi Heponiemi (Florida), Giorgio Estephan (Buffalo), Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn (Washington), and their leader in Tyler Steenbergen (Arizona). The defence was also depleted by losing Colby Sissons (NJ), and surprisingly undrafted Artyom Minulin (who will miss lots of time with offseason surgery). This team will be led by Max Patterson, Alec Zawatsky, and defender Connor Horning. The Broncos are young, and will be in development mode for the next few seasons. Goaltender Joel Hofer (St. Louis) is the only player that has NHL labelling, and will be extremely busy throughout the year and will face a whole lot rubber. He will have to hone his skills and stop a lot of pucks, but is unlikely to steal many games for this team.

Montreal Canadiens Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:12:12 +0000

If you have been reading my work for any length of time, whether here at McKeen's, or previously with Hockey Prospectus, you will know that one of my common refrains when it comes to the draft, right after “don’t draft goalies in the first round”, is to not draft for positional need.

Between trades, free agency, and the non-linear development paths taken by the vast majority of prospects, it is impossible to say what your NHL team will need once the players drafted today are ready for the NHL.

As only three to six players in any given draft class are ready to move directly to the NHL, it is beyond folly to presume what your weaknesses will be once they are ready. Include in the facts that most prospects never make it at all and that even the good ones generally need two or three more years of development after being drafted to have a handle on how they are trending, and the concept of drafting for need looks more and more ridiculous.

So here come the Montreal Canadiens, sour at having missed the postseason for the second time in three years, a feat of ignominy the franchise has not seen since the 2001-2003 stretch. Beyond the injuries to Carey Price (yes, he was taken with a high first round pick, and on balance, he has worked out), which prevented them from stopping goals, the team and the local media had long been harping on their lack of centers, both high end and depth, and their lack of size.

Thanks to their favorable results in the NHL Draft Lottery, the team was slated to draft third overall this past June. Everyone who had ever laced up skates knew that Rasmus Dahlin would go first overall, while everyone who had held a hockey stick in anger had pegged big Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov to go second. Pundits and other know-it-alls figured that Czech winger Filip Zadina would be the third pick, with a reasonable chance that the newest Tkachuk, Brady, could slip into the bronze spot.

Then again, rumors leading into the draft had connected Montreal with big Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who had impressed playing as a 17 year old in Liiga and then dominated at the WU18s, a talented player without doubt, albeit one with flaws. Canadiens’ brass was known to be enamored with the player who provided a solution to both of the club’s clearest weaknesses.

On the other hand, they also seemed to acknowledge that Kotkaniemi was not the best player likely to be available at third overall, as other whispers had them trying to trade down, hoping to gauge how low they could go with their favorite draft eligible player still on the board. I guess they never got a satisfactory answer, as we all know by know that the Habs kept the pick and drafted Kotkaniemi, who was signed to an ELC less than two weeks later.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi meets a need on the current Montreal roster. He is also talented enough, and physically mature enough, to have a strong case to spend the entire 2018-19 season in the NHL, likely in a third line role at least to start. By the time he hits his peak, however, the Canadiens will have different needs, and they may see other centers emerge that would make Kotkaniemi, if not superfluous, at least lead to questions about what if they had taken Zadina, or Tkachuk, or whoever is behind door #3.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

1 Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C (3^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Between his excellent hands, fantastic ability to protect the puck and advanced hockey sense, the Canadiens see their presumptive fist line center for the foreseeable future. If they are right, he will quiet all doubts about their selection of the big Finn with the third overall pick. The other side of the coin is the unmitigated concern about his lack of foot speed. While his first few steps are powerful, his top speed is around average. As the game gets faster and faster, that deficiency could bite into his overall effectiveness. OK speed can be mitigated if all of a player’s other attributes are high end, and, to his credit, Kotkaniemi is close in that regard. He performed exceptionally against men in Liiga and was dominant for Finland at the WU18s. He is an accomplished penalty killer and has a plus physical frame and game. If the sating issue gets in his way, there is still no reason why he could not end up a very good second line center.

2 Ryan Poehling, C (25^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1^st) As a freshman, Poehling’s lack of offensive impact for St. Cloud State could be brushed away by his youth, as he was one of the youngest players in NCAA at the time. That was no longer the case as a sophomore, but he didn’t need any excuses anyway, as he was one of the offensive drivers for one of the best programs in the country. He is a very strong skater, with hands that can keep up with his feet for quickness. His two-way game was already advanced when he was drafted and has continued to impress as he can play a shutdown game in his own zone. His offensive game is not dynamic, but strong enough to be a factor and earn some power play time going forward. He projects as a middle six center on a very good team.

3 Nikita Scherbak, RW (26^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 4^th) In his third AHL season, Nikita Scherbak, Montreal’s forgotten first rounder from 2014, took a few significant steps forward in his game, proving for once and for all, that he has nothing left to gain in the minor leagues. The question remains how much he can produce in the NHL and how soon he can do it. He has good size and skates well. He has a strong shot and his puck skills show high level top end in the AHL, although he has not been as assertive in the NHL. He also plays a smart, composed game, which suggests that he will step up if given consistent ice time at the top level. Scherbak won’t be gifted a roster spot, but he has the tools to stick if he shows enough in camp.

4 Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 8^th) In Notre Dame’s long history on ice, the have appeared in the Frozen Four four times. The last two of those have come in Evans’ junior and senior seasons. He ends his collegiate career ranked third in scoring since the turn of the century. He will never be a dynamic skater, but has improved his pace significantly during his collegiate career. Good edgework helps his skating play up. The strength of his game is as a playmaker. The puck has a way of finding his stick and he has a way of setting up linemates with prime scoring chances with pinpoint accuracy. He has great anticipation, indicative of his ability to read what opponents are trying to do in all three zones. Almost without fail, he then makes it more difficult for them to execute. Evans might have to spend some time in Laval first, especially depending on his recovery from an offseason hernia surgery, but he has top six upside.

Jesse Ylonen

5 Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) With a late 1999 birthdate, Ylonen’s chance to shine internationally was in the 2017 WU18 tournament. And he shone, with nine points in seven games on the way to a Silver Medal for Finland. Born in Arizona when father Juha was playing with the Coyotes, the young Jesse spent is first season playing against men last year, and was one of the only teenagers to accomplish anything at all in Mestis, Finland’s second league. A dynamic, smooth skater with magnificent puck skills, work well together to make him a constant threat when his team is on the offensive attack. One of his bigger development sin the last 12 months has been his willingness to play in a team structure and utilize his linemates more in the attack. He still has a ways to go physically, and will be moving on up to play in Liiga, with Pelicans, as his next stop.

6 Jacob Olofsson, C (56^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) All the steak, half the sizzle. Olofsson is a mature young center drafted as part of Montreal’s concerted effort to beef up the system down the middle. A solid skater who plays with an impressive motor, he lacks dynamic puck skills, but is able to protect it from the sticks of defenders as he drives the net. Like Ylonen in Finland, Olofsson produced at a fine level in Sweden’s second division, the Allsvenskan before showing well at the WU18s. He features a tricky release on his wrist shot that allows him to generate scoring chances from the rush. As with most 17 year-olds playing senior hockey, one of his most impressive traits is his hockey sense. He reads the game very well and sticks to the team structure, with generally proper positioning in the defensive zone. With his team being promoted to the SHL, he is ready for a new challenge against better competition.

7 Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 2^nd) If only due to the 23 games he played at the NHL level last year, Juulsen is the most likely player from this list to graduate from consideration in the 2018-19 season. In his first professional season, he did not show any dynamic traits of the type that made him a first rounder and reliable source of offense from the blueline in his time n the WHL, but he was a steady presence on otherwise poor rosters in both Laval and Montreal. Juulsen is a strong skater, who has improved markedly in his game away from the puck since his draft year to the point that he could comfortably be used in defensive situations in the NHL. He still needs to fill out his frame, but he leans on his checks effectively. At this point, expectations for an offensive weapon from the blueline are diminished, but he should still be serviceable as a fourth or fifth defender.

8 Cale Fleury, D (87^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 14^th) As many had anticipated in his draft year, Fleury’s skills were being muted by playing for a bottom-feeding Kootenay club. The Ice traded their captain to Regine around mis-season and, with skilled forwards to get the puck to, his assist rate soared. He can survey the ice very well from the point, and is able to execute on passes of surprising difficulty. Fleury also has a mature frame and plays with an impressive amount of bite. He has above average mobility and it is fair to say that his horrid +/- numbers with Kootenay were more on the team than him, as that number went heavily the other way after the trade. Of the four blueliners selected by Montreal in the middle rounds in 2017, Fleury has the greatest likelihood of growing into more than a third pairing contributor.

9 Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) A goaltending project when drafted towards the end of the 2017 draft, Primeau had struggled to keep the starting job with Lincoln of the USHL, but raised eyebrows with a stellar performance at the World Junior A’s. He won a lot of believers when he stole the starting job with Hockey East side Northeastern from incumbent Ryan Ruck and proceeded to post the fourth best save percentage in the nation among starters. He stands out for his athleticism and composure and flashes high end potential in his ability to stick with the shooter. He likes to play the puck. One element he needs to show improvement in is tracking when the play is behind his net, to avoid needlessly opening up holes.

Joni Ikonen

10 Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 7^th) A Finnish player drafted out of the Swedish leagues, Ikonen returned to his native land last year and finished sixth in Liiga among all U19 players. He also played a strong role for Finland at the WJC. Unfortunately, it seems highly unlikely that he will return to the WJC this year, as a knee injury suffered in a team-related practice session after the conclusion of the season is expected to keep him out of commission until December. Ikonen’s game is predicated on slipperiness with the puck on his stick, and a commitment to stay with the play across all three zones. He is strong for his size and respected for his speed, which tracks to an above average level, presuming the trait returns with health.

11 Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 6^th) It can be difficult to judge players on powerhouse teams, and their own contributions can be subsumed by those of their teammates. That said, it certainly does look like Brook took a step forward in his development last season, playing a smart, two-way game with a physical yet disciplined edge. He also continued to make the case that he is a very good puck distributor. After all, who is to say that Moose Jaw would have scored that much if Brook was not so adept at getting the puck to his teammates. Between his offensive production and the facets of his game that stand out well, the reason he is not ranked higher is that his mobility is middling on a good day. There is still the sense that his foot speed can be exploited at higher levels unless he adds some quickness.

12 Allan McShane, C (97^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) One of several smaller centers selected by Montreal in the 2018 draft after taking their big center at the top, McShane lacks much I the way of physical tools, but more than makes up for it with high end playmaking and a gift for processing the game. He is a sluggish skater, lacking in his first few steps and not able to get to a promising top speed. That said, his is fairy agile and has a knack for sidestepping past defenders who don’t see it coming. While not a big shooter, he does like his wrap-around attempts, and generates a good number of rebounds that way. Thanks to his understanding of game play situations, he can be used in a variety of roles. He does need to gain another half step, but his vision and style lend themselves to maintain value further up the developmental ladder.

13 Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Somewhat of a late bloomer, the undersized Hillis waited until he was 17 to debut in the OHL and came in swinging, with nearly one point per game in his rookie year at the level. Between his production and his superb skating, making him a threat in one-on-one situations, he earned the attention of Team Canada, eventually suiting up for his homeland at the WU18. He is also committed to the team structure in his own zone and is an impressive playmaker. He can try to overextend himself with the puck, leading to too many turnovers. If he learns to play more within himself, including the recognition of the limitations of his stature, he could be a decent middle six forward, with the ability to contribute on special teams.

14 William Bitten, C (70^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 11^th) Although Bitten never produced the offensive numbers in the OHL that his skillset suggested he could, he has continued to improve year-over-year and he moves to the professional game as a promising two-way threat. The son of two badminton Olympians, flashes very high end abilities with the puck and skates at an above average level. Just as often as he impresses with the puck, his game away from the puck is consistently worthy of acclaim. There is an open question whether a player with his clear size deficit can establish himself in an energy role as a pro, but with a little more assertiveness on offense, Bitten can open up a selection of paths to the NHL.

Cole Fonstad

15 Cole Fonstad, C/LW (128^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Skilled without being dynamic, Fonstad earned a spot on Canada’s WU18 roster thanks to a very good season with a middling Prince Albert team which he helped return to the playoffs. A fine skater with elusive puck skills and a promising two way game, his main drawback is his complete lack of size and strength. He forechecks strong and generally plays with admirable hustle, there is reasonable doubt that his style of play will be possible at higher levels. With much of the Prince Albert roster having turned over, Fonstad will be relied upon to fill a more leadership role with the Raiders this year. It will be interesting to note how, if at all, that impacts his game.

16 Scott Walford, D (68^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 15^th) Although injuries may have played a role – he missed both rounds of Victoria’s postseason run – it is fair to call Scott Walford’s first post-draft season a disappointment. He is a smooth skater who shows a keen understanding for the nuances of the game and is reliable away from the puck. He can make the basic passes and plays with the puck, but he is not a primary puck carrier or a genuine weapon from the blueline. He has decent size and while not a physical force, is not a pushover either. In sum, Walford is a quiet, competent blueliner who could probably play at the next level, but has yet to really show why he should play over other similarly skilled players.

17 Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) In a draft full of surprise picks, perhaps no pick was as out of left field as Montreal selecting Romanov early in the second round. An undersized defenseman from the Russian junior leagues, those who like him see a teenager who is fleet of foot, who keeps a tight gap when facing a zone entry against, and packs a nice slap shot from the point. They even see a player who punches above his weight class in terms of the physical game. The difference between those who like and those who don’t is not that substantial, but to prove a point about why his selection was surprising, all of those tools mentioned above, instead of being somewhat impressive, are somewhat meh. Like Kotkaniemi, his WU18 tournament helped his draft stock, but unlike Kotkaniemi, his pre-tournament performance was not really notable at all.

18 Charlie Lindgren, G (UDFA: Mar. 30, 2016. Last Year: 17^th) With superstar Carey Price on the roster, for now and evermore, the Canadiens have de-emphasized the drafting of netminders over the past few years. In fact, since the Price pick, they have only taken five goalies in 13 draft classes. To keep padded people between the pipes at the lower levels, the organization has taken to signing free talent at the position. Lindgren has been the best such free agent find. Signed out of St. Cloud State in 2016, he has worked his way into NHL appearances in each season since, including 14 games while Price was out last season. He is highly competitive and athletic with a strong puck handling game for a netminder. On the down side, he is a bit too prone to the juicy rebound to be more than a solid backup. If Antti Niemi’s bubble bursts again, he is primed to be the permanent backup in the NHL.

19 Matthew Peca, C (UFA: Jul. 1, 2018. Last Year: not ranked [Tampa Bay]) A clever playmaker who was too small even for Tampa, Peca, a former seventh round pick, was signed as a free agent with Montreal this offseason after appearing in 20 games total for the Lightning over the past two seasons. He is a skilled offense creator, playing with pace and getting his linemates into nice scoring chances. While those traits have not yet come to fruition in the NHL, the Habs have given him a two year contract and seem committed to giving Peca his chance in the sun. He has the speed and skillset that could make him a useful bottom six forward given limited and protected minutes, but the investment in him was not so great as to prevent the team from cutting bait if he can’t manage to produce points.

20 Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 18^th) A tremendous skater, Vejdemo rebounded from a down year in 2016-17 to post his best season yet in the SHL, convincing both the Canadiens and himself that it was time to come play in North America. Outside of his skating, the rest of his tools grade out around average, but the left handed center gets around fast enough to perhaps help those attributes play up. He has good size too, which would probably be of use to him in the AHL, especially considering the lack thereof of some of his probable future teammates. By this point, it is unlikely that he can grow into anything above a decent fourth liner, but considering the weakness of Laval last year, he should have plenty of chances to try to prove us wrong.

Montréal – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:37:57 +0000

Although lacking in knock-out superstar prospects, especially since trading their 2016 first rounder Mikhail Sergachev to Tampa Bay in exchange for young winger Jonathan Drouin, himself not long removed from prospectdom, the Habs have a very deep system chockful of viable players.

Watching the Montreal system evolve, it was clear that they were ready for a changing of the guard. Not only did they trade their top defensive prospect in the offseason, but they also moved out a number of other young blueliners, many of whom still retained prospect eligibility. Nathan Beaulieu, a first rounder from 2011, was traded in the days leading up to the draft to Buffalo for a third round pick. One month prior, the team inked Jakub Jerabek, a Czech rearguard who put up great numbers in the KHL last year.

The day before the draft, the team acquired David Schlemko from the expansion Vegas, for a 2019 fifth rounder. They walked away from longtime quarterback Andrei Markov and brought in Mark Streit to take the role of veteran presence. The cherry on top, considering only the NHL roster, was the free agent signing of Karl Alzner as a shutdown option, and rounded out their July 1 with bringing in backline depth in Matt Taormina and Joe Morrow.

All of the above has little to do with prospects, but it leads, although not likely directly connected to, Montreal’s strategy over the last two draft classes. In 2016, four of the Canadiens’ six draft picks were blueliners. After grabbing Sergachev with the ninth overall pick, they selected undersized and mobile Victor Mete in the fourth round, Minnesota high schooler Casey Staum in the fifth and big Victor Arvidsson in the seventh. While Sergachev was dealt for Drouin and the latter two have not yet established themselves as draft day steals, Mete had a strong post-draft year in between injuries.

Montreal repeated that strategy again in the most recent draft, using four of seven picks on blueliners, starting with second rounder Josh Brook. Between the third and fifth rounds, they also selected Scott Walford, Cale Fleury, and Jarret Tyszka. All four of their new defensemen were selected from the WHL, which may have been a coincidence, but surely made one of their scouts feel special. Beyond that coincidence, all four were considered to be great value where they were selected.

If we take all of the blueliners added to the organization in the last two years, add on Noah Juulsen (first round) and Simon Bourque (sixth round) from 2015 and Brett Lernout (third round) from 2014, what we get is a team that is preparing to turn over their defensive corps. Seven of their top 20 prospects are blueliners and while not all will succeed, by buying in bulk, the Canadiens expect to have at least a few percolate up to the top.

As long as the team is willing to trust minutes at the NHL level to young players, this is a strategy that can pay big long-term dividends. If even two can become part of the core rotation in the next two years, Montreal will be able to balance the hefty defense dollars paid to Shea Weber, Jeff Petry and Karl Alzner with minimum contracts, giving them more resources to allocate to the forwards.

Ryan Poehling, 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Photo by IIHF/Csaba Domotor

1 Ryan Poehling – One of the youngest players to play NCAA hockey last year, Poehling’s number with St. Cloud State need to be taken with a grain of salt. He rarely played assertively with the puck and as a result, his point totals were mediocre. He showed flashes of puck skills and high hockey IQ, but once he pulled on the red, white and blue at the WU18 tournament, he exploded and was often the best American on the ice. Expect big things from Poehling in his sophomore season.

2 Noah Juulsen – After struggling in his first post-draft season to replicate the offensive production of his draft year, Juulsen rebounded in a big way last year with 34 points in 49 games for the defensively stifling Everett Silvertips. He also made Team Canada for the first time, showcasing his plus puck moving skills as well as a very impressive physical game at the marquee event. He will be given as much time as he needs to develop on the farm, but he projects as a good number three in his prime.

Michael McCarron

3 Mike McCarron – First the obvious, positive and negative. To McCarron’s credit, he is massive, 6-5”, and stocky. On the downside, his feet are slow. He moves better than he used to, though, and has the hockey IQ and smooth hands to negate some of his inherent handicap. While his AHL production has been somewhat stagnant, he has always demonstrated plus vision with the puck and the instincts of a playmaker. With a touch more aggression, he can still be an impact middle six center.

Nikita Scherbak

4 Nikita Scherbak – Scherbak, Montreal’s 2014 first round pick, took pleasing strides forward in his offensive game in his second season in the AHL. He is active in all three zones and displays solid puck skills on a regular basis. Although slight, he drives the net with power. His offensive potential suggests a future on a second line, but he needs to show more creativity to evade closer checks and figure out how to more regularly maintain possession of the puck after entering the zone.

5 Charles Hudon – On a list topped with four former first round picks, Hudon is the first later round selection who has already exceeded projections. In three seasons in the AHL, he has overcome questions about his size and strength to post 162 points in 207 games. He is not even that fast, but earns plaudits for his hands. His pucks skills are well above average. He is patient on the puck and sees things developing that many others cannot. He has earned his first extended NHL audition.

6 Josh Brook – The first of four defencemen drafted by Montreal this year, Brook does everything well, but nothing exceptionally. He is generally a defense first blueliner who owns a solid skill set in addition to very strong positional play. He controls his gaps, clears the defensive zone well and can be placed in a shutdown role. If his offensive game does not develop, he can still project as a decent #4/5 defender. Any more development would put the #3 in his sights.

7 Joni Ikonen – A Finnish forward developing in Sweden, the slight Ikonen has an electric offensive game, grading out as plus as a skater, shooter and puck handler. He skates well with the puck, showing great creativity and the ability to get himself into and out of trouble at will. After a strong showing at the WU18 tournament with Finland, Ikonen will be returning to his native land to play this season with KalPa in Liiga, passing up the chance to play for Hamilton in the OHL. The Habs are very high on him.

8 Jake Evans – A seventh round sleeper from the 2014 draft, Evans has spent the past three seasons with Notre Dame, where his offensive production has gone up every year, surpassing one point per game for the first time last year. He has very high hockey IQ and is a natural playmaker. He is always near the puck, pushing it in the right direction on offense, or fighting to get it back in the defensive and neutral zones. An all-situations player.

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

9 Victor Mete – Undersized but aggressive, Mete is among the smarter defensemen in the OHL. Already showing offensive talents when drafted, his production increased this year, despite injuries limiting him to 50 games, before he slowed down in the postseason. He is mobile, with above average puck skills and a point shot that demands respect.

10 Michael McNiven – Not as tall as many modern day goaltenders, McNiven was passed over on draft day despite strong numbers in a backup role with Owen Sound. Montreal signed him after impressing in rookie camp, signing him to an ELC as a free agent. Two years on, and McNiven will begin his pro career after a season in which he was named the OHL Goaltender of the Year. Plays deep in his crease and is a plus athlete.

11 Will Bitten – Moving from one poor OHL team in Flint for another in Hamilton, Bitten saw his numbers plateau in his first post-draft season. He has a high compete level and plays a responsible, 200-foot game, but can disappear at times. With Hamilton expected to be better with its young players now more experienced, expect Bitten’s above average puck skills to shine more often this year.

12 Brett Lernout – Although the depth added by the Canadiens this offseason makes it more likely that Lernout will spend most of a third full season in the AHL, he is a quietly very effective blueliner. He skates well, can play a physical game and is a steady hand for beginning the transition from defense to offense. His upside is not overly high, but he should be one of the first names considered this year when Montreal is short a defenseman.

13 Simon Bourque – Another example of a late round pick who has exceeded his expected value, Bourque put a cap on a strong junior career with a near point-per-game performance split between Rimouski and Saint John, with whom Bourque won the QMJHL title and played in the Memorial Cup for the second time. He is a solid puck mover who can lead the rush or sit back and slow the game down.

14 Cale Fleury – One of the top scorers with one of the worst teams in the CHL, Fleury, whose older brother Haydn was a top draft pick of Carolina, has a quick, hard and accurate shot and plays an aggressive game. It can be hard to scout a player whose team is often overmatched, but Fleury shows competence in his own zone as well as offensively, with an active stick, and a knack for breaking plays up.

15 Scott Walford – A smooth skater who displays solid instincts off the puck, Walford had an up and down year for an up and down Victoria Royals squad. He has good size, but plays a clean game. More a puck mover than shooter, he does not have the upside of Fleury, Brook or Tyszka, but there is enough raw material to work with here to suggest a third pairing upside is possible.

16 Daniel Carr – Had Carr played in two more games this year in Montreal, he would not have been eligible for this list. Despite the six goals he scored in his first NHL action in 2015-16, his overall game will be limited by his skating deficiencies and the fact that, already 25 years old, the former NCAA champ is already as good as he will ever be. That should be enough to play regularly for Montreal this year on the bottom six.

17 Charlie Lindgren – Another undrafted free agent making his way through the Montreal system, Lindgren had a strong first pro season in the AHL, enhanced by two strong starts against Florida and Detroit late in the year. Lindgren is a very aggressive netminder and really loves playing the puck, sometimes to his own detriment. Will have to fight to hold off McNiven for the role of Carey Price’s future backup.

18 Lukas Vejdemo – Drafted with high expectations as a third rounder after tearing up the Swedish junior ranks, Vejdemo has struggled with only 25 points across his first two campaigns in the SHL. Despite his struggles, speed doesn’t lie and he still shows flashes of enticing puck skills. He needs to take a step forward this year to remain on the radar.

19 Martin Reway – Montreal drafted the tiny, high scoring winger after a strong season as a solid offensive import in the QMJHL. He went back to Europe and put up big numbers in two seasons split between the Czech and Swiss leagues, but missed all of last year due to a heart ailment that required surgery. Reports are that he is ready to get back on the ice this year. That, in itself, is a victory.

20 Jeremiah Addison – Although his offensive abilities are rather limited, Addison is a high energy grinder with just enough in the way of skills to avoid being ignored. He ended his junior career on the highest of high notes, potting a surprising number of goals on the way to captaining the Windsor Spitfires to a Memorial Cup championship.

Having moved their AHL affiliate from St John’s to Laval, Quebec, a leisurely drive from the Bell Centre, expect to see Montreal use their AHL talent liberally. Thankfully, due to strong drafting from the first round through the seventh round, there are enough promising players that should be available on the farm to make that strategic advantage truly fruitful.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Atlantic Division – Montreal Canadiens

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 17:21:00 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favors to regional scouts, and a myriad of other reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM
1	25	13-N	26	Ryan POEHLING	C	18	6-2/195	St. Cloud State (NCHC)
2	56	49-N	45	Josh BROOK	D	18	6-1/185	Moose Jaw (WHL)
2	58	17-E	59	Joni IKONEN	C	18	5-10/170	Frolunda (Swe Jr)
3	68	90-N	116	Scott WALFORD	D	18	6-1/195	Victoria (WHL)
3	87	62-N	99	Cale FLEURY	D	18	6-1/205	Kootenay (WHL)
5	149	41-N	70	Jarret TYSZKA	D	18	6-2/190	Seattle (WHL)
7	199	7-NG	hm	Cayden PRIMEAU	G	18	6-3/180	Lincoln (USHL)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	25	Ryan POEHLING	C	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	35	7	6	13	12
1	25			USA (NTDP-18)	9	4	2	6	4
2	56	Josh BROOK	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	69	8	32	40	61
2	58	Joni IKONEN	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	40	22	19	41	42
2	58			Frolunda (Swe)	10	0	0	0	0
2	58			Frolunda (Swe Jr 18)	4	2	3	5	0
3	68	Scott WALFORD	D	Victoria (WHL)	60	6	24	30	36
3	87	Cale FLEURY	D	Kootenay (WHL)	70	11	27	38	67
5	149	Jarret TYSZKA	D	Seattle (WHL)	54	6	19	25	28
7	199	Cayden PRIMEAU	G	Lincoln (USHL)	14	11	2	3.16	0.895

Montreal Canadiens – Draft Grade: 55

Josh Brook

I like draft classes that have identifiable themes. For that reason alone (but also for more than that), I like Montreal’s daft class. The theme here is easy. Flawed, but intriguing WHL defensemen. The Habs took four of them. Their Western Canada scouts must have been quite pleased flying out of Chicago after the weekend. Four of the team’s picks fit that definition. They took Josh Brook of Moose Jaw in the second round, Scott Walford of Victoria and Cale Fleury of Kootenay in the third and ended this run with Jarret Tyszka of Seattle in the fifth. All four have two-way potential and go a long way towards replenishing Montreal’s depleted blueline stock, which lost Alexei Emelin and Nathan Beaulieu on the NHL side and top prospect Mikhail Sergachev among the up-and-comers. While none of the four project as top pairing guys, any or all could wind up in the 4-6 slots.

Ryan Poehling, 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Photo by IIHF/Csaba Domotor

I have a similar projection for the team’s first round pick, Ryan Poehling, one of the youngest payers in NCAA last year. He showed in the WU18 tournament that he still has untapped offensive upside. He projects as a second line center in a few years. Also holding offensive promise is second rounder Joni Ikonen, a Finnish forward playing in Sweden. While he has yet to play much against grown men, he has always scored profusely against junior aged players.

Jarret Tyszka

Best value: Jarret Tyszka, D, Seattle (5/149): Looking at his play in the WHL regular season and playoffs, Tyszka should have gone off the boards as early as the late second round. Unfortunately for him, Seattle won the WHL championship, earning a berth in the Memorial Cup. It was only three games, but they were not good ones for Tyszka, allowing him to fall to Montreal in the fifth round.

Biggest head-scratcher: Scott Walford, D, Victoria (3/68): Walford is a decent player, but he does not have the carrying attribute that suggested the top half of the draft. He is OK, but the Habs could have found more upside at that slot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CENTRE STAGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks

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

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

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

KLIM PICKINGS

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

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

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

Klim Kostin

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

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

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

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

Eeli Tolvanen

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLENTY OF FINNISH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Josh Brook – McKeen's Hockey

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: MONTREAL CANADIENS – RANK: #19 – TIER III

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Montreal Canadiens Top 20 Prospects

Cole Caufield, RW (15th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Alexander Romanov, D (38th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Kaiden Guhle, D (16th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Mattias Norlinder, D (64th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Jan Mysak, C (48th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Cayden Primeau, G (199th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Jake Evans, C (207th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 6)

Jordan Harris, D (71st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Sean Farrell, LW (124th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Cam Hillis, C (66th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Jayden Struble, D (46th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 12)

Luke Tuch, LW (47th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Josh Brook, D (56th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Noah Juulsen, D (26th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Alexandre Alain, C/LW (UFA: Apr. 24, 2017. Previous ranking: 17)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – MONTREAL CANADIANS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 8

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield, RW (15th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Alexander Romanov, D (38th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Mattias Norlinder, D (64th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 10)

Cayden Primeau, G (199th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Jake Evans, C (207th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Jordan Harris, D (71st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

Cam Hillis, C (66th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

Jayden Struble, D (46th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Josh Brook, D (56th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 7)

Noah Juulsen, D (26th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 8)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Harvey-Pinard has seen his stock rise significantly thanks to his hard work and ability to put points on the board. He will be rewarded as an AHL regular next season, as the farm club in Laval inked him to a one-year deal.

Montreal Canadiens 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

WHL Playoff Preview (Eastern Conference): Prince Albert dominates but Vancouver hot down the stretch

WHL 2018-19 Season Preview

Montreal Canadiens Prospect System Overview

Montréal – System Overview

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Atlantic Division – Montreal Canadiens

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

Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Kaiden Guhle, D (16^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Jan Mysak, C (48^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 6)

Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Sean Farrell, LW (124^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 12)

Luke Tuch, LW (47^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 10)

Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 7)

Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 8)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)