Julian Lutz – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – UTAH MAMMOTH – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #5

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:41:49 +0000

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 21: Utah Hockey Club defenseman Maveric Lamoureux (10) waits in warm up before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Utah Hockey Club on November 21, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 5th (May 2025 - 8th)
GM: Bill Armstrong Hired: September 2020
COACH: André Tourigny Hired: July 2021

Fresh off their inaugural 2024-25 season, the freshly minted Utah Mammoth are already building a foundation for long term relevance.

A young NHL core—Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther, Josh Doan, Mikhail Sergachev, and Sean Durzi—gives them a competitive starting point, while a strong wave of prospects is set to push them forward.

On defense, two towering blue liners headline the next group. Maveric Lamoureux (6-foot-7) split last season between the NHL and AHL and looks poised for full-time duty in 2025-26. Dmitri Simashev, fresh from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL, brings shutdown ability and is expected to step right into Utah’s lineup. Up front, Daniil But also arrives from Lokomotiv after a breakout KHL season (28 points in 55 games) and could make an immediate impact.

In goal, Michael Hrabal continues to shine at the University of Massachusetts, posting a .924 save percentage in his sophomore season and cementing his status as Utah’s future franchise netminder.

The system also features high-upside forwards working their way toward the NHL. Tij Iginla, despite losing much of his draft-plus-one season to hip surgery, remains a key long term piece. Cole Beaudoin, the 24th-overall pick in 2024, offers a blend of skill and physicality suited for a future middle six role.

Utah’s prospect pool got another boost at the 2025 draft with the addition of fourth-overall pick Caleb Desnoyers. Though he’ll miss the start of 2025-26 following surgery, he projects as one of the franchise’s top players within a few years.

While they haven’t yet added extra selections for next year, the Mammoth still hold a staggering 26 picks over the next three drafts. With a competitive core in place and an injection of NHL-ready talent on the way, Utah’s climb toward playoff contention looks well underway.

Utah Mammoth Top-15 Prospects

1 - Caleb Desnoyers

Caleb Desnoyers was selected fourth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Utah Mammoth. Not only did he produce an impressive 84 points in 56 games, Desnoyers can do about anything you want in a top six center. The defensive involvement and intelligence is already elite. The physical game was sneakily one of the best in the entire draft. Desnoyers is also an offensive maestro, being able to lead and create offensive chances with his elite level of playmaking. He makes his teammates much better by simplifying their lives. Desnoyers has the hands to execute what he has in mind and can play the penalty kill and the power play as well. With his stat line of 30 points in 19 playoff games, the former first overall in the QMJHL draft has shown to be reliable when it matters the most. He is also one of the most decorated prospects, with gold medals at the U17, U18, and Hlinka-Gretzky, along with a QMJHL championship and playoff MVP. Recently, he underwent wrist surgery and will miss the NHL training camp. On the bright side, he will now almost certainly represent team Canada at the World Juniors to potentially earn another gold medal.

2 - Dmitri Simashev

Dmitri Simashev has emerged as one of the KHL’s top shutdown defenders, showing promise for a long NHL career. In his second full KHL season, he has refined his strengths—using size, footwork, and stickwork to control play on both ends. His agility makes him tough to beat, while improved timing and positioning allow for tighter control in all zones. Simashev’s game looks polished enough for an NHL role right now. His main weakness is on offence, where his numbers dropped this year due to a lack of aggressiveness. Despite having good puck-handling skills and a heavy shot, he needs more confidence to utilize them effectively. Once he gains that, he could become a more dangerous scoring threat. Simashev could fit into Utah’s top four this upcoming season and might be one of the biggest steals from his draft class. He will get a good look after signing with the Mammoth at the beginning of the summer.

3 - Tij Iginla

The Rockets must be devastated that Iginla was limited to just 21 games this season before undergoing hip surgery, because they probably would have been a playoff team if he had been healthy and consistently contributing to their lineup. Just how essential was he to their 2024-25 plans? Not long after it was announced that he was done for the year the team dealt away longtime stars Andrew Cristall and Caden Price, essentially punting on this season. Luckily for Iginla, however, he should be back to normal sometime in 2025-26, and Kelowna will be hosting the Memorial Cup that spring with him as their forefront star player. Tij, the oldest of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla's two sons, is a high-impact forward who can do everything and leaves his mark in a variety of different ways, all of which are fueled and enhanced by his excellent hockey IQ, competitiveness, and leadership abilities.

4 - Daniil But

Daniil But, Utah’s 2023 12th overall pick, made solid progress in his DY+2 season, scoring 28 points in 54 games while taking on a bigger role with Lokomotiv. After adding muscle to his lanky frame, his confidence and ability to compete in battles improved significantly. He now plays with more composure, staying in position and effectively shutting down chances. His biggest asset is net-front play, using his size to create space and capitalize on loose pucks. However, his decision making at the pro level needs more work as he often over handles the puck and forces plays. To secure a role in Utah, he must improve his battle game and become harder to play against. While he shows flashes of elite handling, some moves that work now may not succeed against NHL defenders. But projects as a middle six forward with good potential offensive upside if he continues to develop.

5 - Maveric Lamoureux

Since being a first-round selection by the Arizona/Utah franchise, Lamoureux has developed extremely well; truly a best-case scenario thus far. His offensive game gained confidence at the QMJHL and his overall decision making improved greatly. This helped to transform Lamoureux into a solid two-way defender leaving junior hockey. This past year, as a first-year pro, he was excellent, splitting time between the AHL and the NHL with Utah. His massive frame and solid mobility give him such immense upside as a defensive player. He’s shown absolutely no fear playing physically and taking on NHL forwards head on, a testament to his strength gains. While he may not have significant offensive upside as an NHL player, he should still end up being a quality top four defender and penalty killing anchor for Utah. This could happen as early as next year if the team decides to look for trades for some of their older defenders like Ian Cole.

6 - Michael Hrabal

Standing at 6-foot-6, Michael Hrabal is one of the tallest goalies there is period. Understandably so, he covers the net extremely well, giving him an advantage in a reverse vertical horizontal technique. Hrabal is an excellent goalie on his feet. He has tightened up his stance and gained more control over his body since being drafted. He anticipates passes well, tracks the puck quickly, has impressive athleticism for his size, and when he grabs ice well with his edges, can fly through the crease. The problem is that his edges aren’t always consistent, and he can sometimes just fail to get the needed power on a push. It’s an issue that is seen the most when transitioning to a butterfly slide, or any push made while down. While yes, he can look smooth, he can also look like he’s fighting the ice. He’s also shown a big weakness in his five hole, which has been a source of many goals against. His all-around good skill set gives him a high likelihood of being a solid starter in the NHL, but to be anything more, his edges will have to improve.

7 - Cole Beaudoin

Beaudoin hasn’t quite taken that next step forward offensively like you might expect from a recent first-round selection, but he remains a valuable prospect for the versatility he brings to the ice. One could probably argue that Utah drafted Beaudoin fully understanding that his offensive upside could be limited. Here is a player who plays both sides of the ice equally effectively. Who kills penalties and takes tough defensive assignments. Who works hard on the forecheck and who earns his touches. Who wins faceoffs but also has shown an ability to play the wing. Who blocks shots and competes to no end. Best of all, he’s competitive, but does not lack discipline. Bottom line, Beaudoin is a highly intelligent two-way player who should be able to develop into a high-end third line player for Utah in the near future. That said, Utah will want to see his skating and puck play take another step next season when he takes on a larger offensive role with Barrie (or another OHL club).

8 - Artyom Duda

What horrific adjective could we use to describe Duda’s development path? He basically missed an entire year of development after the NCAA refused to approve his scholarship with Maine due to his KHL time. When the case was finally settled, it left Duda without a place to finish the season, so he joined TMU of USports (Canadian University) for a dozen games. The good news? It doesn’t appear to have affected his development. Duda had a terrific rookie season in the AHL with Tucson that saw him lead the team in plus/minus, in addition to nearly hitting the 30-point mark. The strong skating, two-way rearguard looks like a potential top four option for Utah in the near future; the kind of player who can play in any situation and provide versatility to his coaches.

9 - Will Skahan

Will Skahan is in the process of adjusting to the college level, where the increased pace of play has impacted his consistency, particularly in puck play and making outlet passes. While his execution under pressure fluctuates, he has displayed strong defensive tools, utilizing an active stick and his length effectively to disrupt plays in his own zone. His ability to close gaps and break up plays has been a positive aspect of his game, showing his potential as a reliable defender. He has progressed well down the stretch of the college hockey season. As a two-way, defensive-minded player, Skahan was deployed in a depth role as a freshman. His ability to adapt to the speed and physicality of the college game will be crucial for his development. Continued improvement in his skating efficiency and decision making under pressure will determine his ability to take on greater responsibility. With time and experience, he has the potential to carve out a steady role as an NHL defenceman, particularly if he refines his transitions, passing, and overall poise with the puck.

10 - Max Psenicka

Psenicka is the type of prospect that scouts need to analyze more so on projection than actual results thus far. He didn't have a bad draft year by any means, playing games in the top pro league in Czechia before coming to North America and helping the Portland Winterhawks go on a deep playoff run as one of their go-to defencemen. But the reason why he was picked so high by Utah, even though he currently has some notable issues with his puck management and decision-making, is because he’s still far from a finished product, with a lot of development runway left for him to utilize. He’s a smooth skater with good mechanics, and some of his current balance issues should sort themselves out as he grows into his gangly body more. It’s a similar story with his strength too, as he shouldn’t be scrawny like this for much longer. With the foundation that Psenicka already has to work with the Mammoth could receive quite a return in the future if they’re smart and careful with their investment in him.

11 - Maks Szuber

Szuber is already two seasons into his North American pro career after making the jump from the DEL. Blessed with good size at his position, he can make the simple play with the puck and disrupt opposing chances with his stick. He will battle for NHL duty in camp this fall.

12 - Tomas Lavoie

A solid two-way defenceman with size, Lavoie saw a breakout season offensively in Cape Breton las year and will look to continue to build on that in his final season of major junior with the Eagles.

13 - Vadim Moroz

The aggressive, rangy forward had a breakout offensive season in the KHL last year and followed that up with a solid international showing for Belarus. Utah has not shied away from KHL players, and he could be another talent that could eventually prove them right. He’ll continue to ply his trade for Dinamo Minsk for the foreseeable future.

14 - Noel Nordh

Nordh racked up the frequent flier miles last season, competing for Sweden at the World Juniors, playing for Soo in the OHL, and then finishing off the season in the AHL. He had a strong offensive season in the OHL, finishing over a point per game. He’ll start next season in the AHL for Tucson.

15 - Julian Lutz

A forward with solid size and some playmaking, Lutz didn’t see the offensive numbers he would have liked in his AHL rookie season. However, his strong showing in the USHL the year prior suggests there’s more in the tank for his sophomore season.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #8 Utah Mammoth – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Fri, 30 May 2025 12:21:50 +0000

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

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Utah 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – UTAH HOCKEY CLUB – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #7

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:00:07 +0000

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

Prospect System Ranking – 7th (Previous Rank - 3rd)
GM: Bill Armstrong Hired: September 2020
COACH: André Tourigny Hired: July 2021

The Arizona Coyotes have officially relocated and rebranded as the Utah Hockey Club, and new owner Ryan Smith is eager and ready to bring fresh energy and direction to an otherwise disgruntled organization. The team wasted no time in bolstering its roster, both for the present and its future. In a draft podium blockbuster, Utah sent one of their top prospects (Conor Geekie) to Tampa Bay in exchange for Mikhail Sergachev. From there, they went on to inject a total of 11 new prospects into the pipeline.

Headlining that draft list is Tij Iginla, who instantly becomes the club’s top prospect, ranking 15th overall in McKeen’s rankings. Iginla, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, will not factor into the club’s immediate plans, but his potential as a future top six fixture in Utah is undeniable. Joining Iginla is Cole Beaudoin (156th), the team’s second first-rounder from 2024, who will return to the Barrie Colts to develop among the Junior system.

Ready to make an impact with the big club, however, is Josh Doan (67th), who already split his 2023-24 campaign between the Arizona Coyotes and the Tucson Roadrunners. After proving his ability at both levels, Doan is poised to take on a larger role. Meanwhile, towering defenceman Maveric Lamoureux (117th) will turn pro to kickstart his career in the AHL, though his size and right-handed shot could fast-track him to NHL games sooner rather than later.

In the pipeline, Russian prospects Dmitri Simashev (23rd) and Daniil But (31st) continue to develop as teammates with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL. Fellow Russian Artyom Duda, who spent his 2023-24 among the USport circuit, is expected to transition to the professional ranks with Tucson. In net, Michael Hrabal (129th) continues to showcase a solid ceiling as a University of Massachusetts standout.

The hope is that a fresh rebrand and a revitalized fanbase in Salt Lake City will jumpstart the franchise, which has seen just one playoff appearance in the last 12 years. With a young core featuring Clayton Keller (26), Barrett Hayton (24), Matias Maccelli (23), Mikhail Sergachev (26), Sean Durzi (25), and recent graduates Logan Cooley (20) and Dylan Guenther (21), the organization is eager to seek success to showcase their brand to the people of Salt Lake.

Utah Hockey Club Top-15 Prospects

1. Tij Iginla

The son of NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, Tij surged up draft boards all throughout the 2023-24 season before finally, and deservedly, ending up as the 6th overall selection. Much like his dad, he is confident and determined, has an incredible knack for putting the puck in the net, and oozes leadership traits. He's played mostly on the wing so far in his WHL tenure, but he'll start getting more looks at center this season, and there's a chance that his NHL future could be at that position because he’s so responsible, smart, well-balanced, hard-working, and can make his linemates better. Iginla is a big-game performer who has already become a huge fan favourite in Kelowna after just one season there, so the NHL's newest organization is surely thrilled to have a player like that as one of their first faces of the franchise.

2. Dmitri Simashev

Some Coyotes fans were surprised when their team picked Simashev with the 6th overall pick in 2023, but his play this season as a full-time defenceman in the KHL helped showcase precisely why the organization is so excited about him. With his size and exceptional skating ability he is already able to comfortably defend at a professional level, and if everything goes right in his development, he could become one of the best shutdown blueliners in the entire NHL, someone who is able to stick like glue to speedy superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. That’s significantly more important in defending these days than pure brawn. And while his offensive tools were only noticeable last year when you watched him closely enough and saw the right games, he's also made important progress at actually converting them to points for his stat line.

3. Daniil But

Like his Yaroslavl Lokomotiv teammate Simashev, But became a KHL regular this season and didn't look out of place at all against that level of competition. He's a very tantalizing prospect because of his overflowing toolbox, which includes the size, reach and puck control to maintain possession in the cycle, the speed and explosiveness to open up space on the rush, and the scoring and playmaking ability to generate goals in either style. While his point totals aren't eye-popping yet, the KHL is the best league in the world outside of the NHL, and huge and lanky guys like him usually need extra time to grow into their bodies. What’s most important to remember with But is that the foundation is in place to eventually build up to a uniquely high ceiling. It’s just going to be a little while before anyone gets to see the finished product.

4. Josh Doan

There weren’t a lot of feel-good stories coming out of the desert, even before news of the team’s move to Utah was confirmed, but Doan’s rapid development and immediate impact upon being called up to the NHL certainly count as one. Shane Doan was the face of that franchise for a long time, and despite some lofty expectations, his son has turned out to be the prince who was promised. It’s obvious, and quite impressive, how much he embraced the situation he was in. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit and leadership, and there is little question where he gets those attributes from. Regardless of his team’s new home, he’ll be a huge part of the organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations as a core roster player, and also as someone who can help instill a culture and identity.

5. Maveric Lamoureux

Injuries have robbed Lamoureux of a lot of games played over the past two seasons, so there’s something to be said about just how good he’s looked when he’s actually been in the lineup. It’s so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and he can easily gobble up mountains of minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders do when moving around the ice. This style of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skill, and luckily for Utah, Lamoureux has already made a lot of progress in this regard. His upside is a little murky to project right now, especially if the injury issues stick around, but the organization will happily be patient with him for as long as they can just to see what the final product looks like.

6. Michael Hrabal

The gargantuan Hrabal continues to trend in the right direction, albeit with some fits and spurts along the way. He won the starting job with UMass-Amherst this past season over another drafted goalie who was four years his senior, and put forth some stellar individual performances throughout the year. However, he struggled and faltered at bad times for Czechia at the World Juniors, letting in too many weak goals. He covers so much net naturally and without effort, but on the downside, and much like others just like him, still has issues at this age with pucks squeaking through under his arms and between his legs. Goalies his size usually need extra time to build enough strength to keep moving so much mass around their crease and to get everything about their play fine-tuned, and Hrabal is still on course to get there eventually.

7. Cole Beaudoin

Despite being 17 years old for almost all of his draft-eligible season, Beaudoin often looked like a man among boys when he stepped on the ice. Not only does he have a large and stocky frame to work with, he's a gym rat who is exceptionally strong and fit. He's a workhorse who possesses the ability to bully his way around the puck, along with the resilience to do so shift over shift. He turned a lot of heads at the IIHF U18s in the spring, steadily forcing his way up Canada's lineup and playing a leading role in their tournament-winning outcome, including playing a ton of minutes in the championship game. His NHL ceiling might be limited to more of a defensive role due to average levels of natural skill, but he has the potential to become one of the very best shutdown and matchup centers in the sport.

8. Aku Raty

Raty continues to make steady, upwards progress in his development. His stats in the 2023-24 regular season were almost identical to what they were last year, but they are more impressive when you remember that producing points in the AHL is more difficult than doing it in the Liiga or most other European leagues. His success wasn’t quite enough to say that he is clearly ready for permanent NHL duty, but at the rate he keeps getting better and better, that seems like it’s not far out. He’s a well-rounded winger who is impressively smooth, both in the way he moves and the way he moves the puck, and he doesn’t sacrifice his defensive responsibilities to make magic happen offensively. He projects more as a complementary player than the primary driver of a line, but there is value in the NHL for forwards who know how to thrive in that kind of role.

9. Will Skahan

Skahan's game will never be about generating offense or producing points, but that's OK, because he excels instead as an off-puck defender. He has the necessary tools and temperament to go toe-to-toe with the best forwards on opposing teams, and that's not an easy job to do or one that all blueliners are capable of handling. His dad was the strength and conditioning coach for Anaheim for 13 years, which surely provided him with some advantageous experiences and resources not available to other young players. There's really only one development path worth pursuing for Skahan, which is as a stay-at-home defender and penalty killer, but that role will always have a place in the NHL. He's incredibly effective in the way that he plays and he should be able to maintain his success as he continues to move up levels.

10. Julian Lutz

A major change of scenery, going from the top German pro league to Green Bay in the USHL, has turned out to be exactly what Lutz needed after a couple of seasons that were significantly hampered by injuries and limited ice time. He scored a hat trick in just his third game in his new environment and then he never looked back from there, quickly establishing himself as one of the most singularly dangerous players in the entire league. He’s embracing an identity as a power forward, relying on his big shot and soft hands around the net to rack up points, while also using his size and strength to bring a physical presence. He’s turning pro and will be heading to the AHL next season, but both he and his club will need to tread carefully about that, after all the missed games and moving around. He needs stability and consistency.

11. Justin Kipkie

The Victoria Royals took a step forward this season, and Kipkie has been a key part of their ongoing turnaround. He plays a lot of minutes right now, and they're not easy minutes, either. He leaves an outsized impact offensively and defensively, and few defenders his age have as hard of a shot as he does. There is a tactful maturity to how he uses his size and strength, though he'll inflict punishment, too, if challenged.

12. Sam Lipkin

Speaking bluntly, Lipkin didn't look particularly noticeable in his draft year. He was, however, playing for the Chicago Steel, which is one of the best organizations in the world at nurturing young hockey talent. Unsurprisingly, his performance immediately began to skyrocket the next season, which he then carried over into two more great campaigns with Quinnipiac, including an NCAA title in 2023. He is an impressive athlete who continues to find new ways to round out his game.

13. Artem Duda

Duda's development took an unusual turn last year, when his NCAA eligibility was denied due to prior games played in the KHL, and he opted instead to play at the U Sports level, which is unheard of for a high draft pick his age. Once a well-regarded two-way defender, it will be interesting to see if his development is still on the same pace after a handful of games against relatively weaker competition.

14. Miko Matikka

While Matikka has always been a prospect with intriguing tools, his application of them has been inconsistent. But a 20-goal season in the NCAA last year is no small feat, so the hope is that a new page has been turned. He's a lanky, loose winger who can do damage around the net with both his strength and feel for the puck, and he could become a forceful player if his development breaks just right.

15. Maks Szuber

Hockey in Germany is growing nicely, and Szuber is shaping up to be another example of how well the nation can produce hockey players. His transition to North America this season was so smooth, thanks to all the pro hockey that he played back home, that he earned a callup for his NHL debut. Once seen as a limited defensive defenseman at best, his offensive contributions are improving as he continues to gain experience and confidence.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Utah – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 18:00:12 +0000

TEMPE, AZ - MARCH 30: Arizona Coyotes Right Wing Josh Doan (91) follows the play during an NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and New York Rangers on March 30, 2024, at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

The desert dogs are finally on the move after a tumultuous time in Arizona. The word leaked out the franchise was moving to Utah after the season ended to a surprised hockey world, and the Coyotes players themselves. The state of Utah inherits the third overall prospect pool in the NHL with some prime pieces to build a winner out of. They have graduated two first rounders in Dylan Guenther (9th overall – 2021) and Logan Cooley (3rd – 2022). They own three prospects in the top 20 of McKeen’s prospect ranking including Russian teammates Dimitri Simashev (16th overall), and Daniil But (20th). They are joined by 18th ranked Conor Geekie, who could make the team next season. The fourth prospect at 55th overall is Josh Doan, one of the fastest rising prospects on this list. He has already made a strong impression in scoring nine points in 11 games in an NHL callup. He will also likely graduate next season.

GM Bill Armstrong has largely focused on acquiring picks and prospects in trades over his four years at the helm. He has amassed 14 picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, including seven in the first three rounds. He also has seven picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, also in the first three rounds. With new ownership comes a new boss. There was a level of dysfunction in the organization and bringing that to an end will be a benefit. It is an extremely young roster anchored by 25-year-old Clayton Keller. The high draft picks mentioned above are still a couple of years away. It is too early to determine if the philosophy has changed and how impatient the new ownership is to make an impression in Utah. The team has improved in recent seasons, and there are the chips to play if it wants to add more support around the kids.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Dmitri Simashev	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`23(6th)	63	4	6	10	18
2	Conor Geekie	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	`22(11th)	55	43	56	99	66
3	Daniil But	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`23(12th)	55	10	11	21	10
4	Josh Doan	RW	22	6-1/183	Tucson (AHL)	`21(37th)	62	26	20	46	32
					Arizona (NHL)	`21(37th)	11	5	4	9	0
5	Maveric Lamoureux	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	`22(29th)	39	9	24	33	53
6	Michael Hrabal	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	`23(38th)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
7	Aku Raty	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	`19(151st)	55	15	29	44	22
8	Julian Lutz	LW	20	6-1/185	Green Bay (USHL)	`22(43rd)	50	24	44	68	71
9	Justin Kipkie	D	18	6-3/195	Victoria (WHL)	`23(160th)	67	16	36	52	35
10	Sam Lipkin	LW	21	6-2/190	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`21(223rd)	39	15	20	35	37
11	Artyom Duda	D	20	6-1/187	Toronto Metro Univ. (Usports)	`22(36th)	12	2	5	7	10
12	Miko Matikka	RW	20	6-3/200	Denver (NCHC)	`22(67th)	43	20	13	33	41
13	Maksymilian Szuber	D	21	6-3/190	Arizona (NHL)	`22(163rd)	1	0	0	0	2
14	Matt Villalta	G	24	6-3/190	Tucson (AHL)	FA(7/23)	51	31	17	2.54	0.911
15	Nathan Smith	C	25	6-0/177	Tucson (AHL)	T(Wpg-3/22)	60	12	19	31	38

1. Dmitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Some Coyotes fans were surprised when their team picked Simashev with the 6th overall pick in 2023, but his play this season as a full-time defenseman in the KHL helped showcase precisely why the organization is so excited about him. With his size and exceptional skating ability he is already able to comfortably defend at a professional level, and if everything goes right in his development he could become one of the best shutdown blueliners in the entire NHL, someone who is able to stick like glue to speedy superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. That’s significantly more important in defending these days than pure brawn. And while his offensive tools were only noticeable last year when you watched him closely enough and saw the right games, he's also made important progress at actually converting them to points for his stat line.

2. Conor Geekie, C, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

It would be hard to overstate just how great of a season Geekie had, especially following his midseason trade to Swift Current. A finalist for WHL Player Of The Year, he was an utterly dominant force since opening night, and provided such a spark for his new Broncos club that they went into the playoffs with red-hot momentum behind them. His puck skills, hands and shot are all high end, and he continues to make essential improvements with his skating ability and how he uses his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time he is incredible to watch. While some time in the AHL might be the best thing for him long-term, it will be very, very hard for the Coyotes to keep him off their roster straight out of training camp.

3. Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Like his Yaroslavl Lokomotiv teammate Simashev, But became a KHL regular this season and didn't look out of place at all against that level of competition. He's a very tantalizing prospect because of his overflowing toolbox, which includes the size, reach and puck control to maintain possession in the cycle, the speed and explosiveness to open up space on the rush, and the scoring and playmaking ability to generate goals in either style. While his point totals aren't eye-popping yet, the KHL is the best league in the world outside of the NHL, and huge and lanky guys like him usually need extra time to grow into their bodies. What’s most important to remember with But is that the foundation is in place to eventually build up to a uniquely high ceiling, it’s just going to be a little while before anyone gets to see the finished product.

4. Josh Doan, RW, Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

5. Maveric Lamoureux, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Injuries have robbed Lamoureux of a lot of games played over the past two seasons, so there’s something to be said about just how good he has looked when he’s actually been in the lineup. It’s so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and he can easily gobble up mountains of minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders do when moving around the ice. This style of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skill, and luckily Utah, Lamoureux has already made a lot of progress in this regard. His upside is a little murky to project right now, especially if the injury issues stick around, but the organization will happily be patient with him for as long as they can just to see what the final product looks like.

6. Michael Hrabal, G, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

The gargantuan Hrabal continues to trend in the right direction, albeit with some fits and spurts along the way. He won the starting job with UMass-Amherst this past season over another drafted goalie who was four years his senior and put forth some stellar individual performances throughout the year. However, he did struggle and falter at bad times for Czechia at the World Juniors, letting in too many weak goals. He covers so much net naturally and without effort, but on the downside and much like others just like him, still has issues at this age with pucks squeaking through under his arms and between his legs. Goalies his size usually need extra time to build enough strength to keep moving so much mass around their crease and to get everything about their play fine-tuned, and Hrabal is still on course to get there eventually.

7. Aku Raty, RW, Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

8. Julian Lutz, LW, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

A major change of scenery, going from the top German pro league to Green Bay in the USHL, has turned out to be exactly what Lutz needed after a couple of seasons that were significantly hampered by injuries and reduced ice time. He scored a hat trick in just his third game in his new environment and then he never looked back from there, quickly establishing himself as one of the most singularly dangerous players in the entire league. He’s embracing an identity as a power forward, relying on his big shot and soft hands around the net to rack up points, while also using his size and strength to bring a physical presence. There is a lot to like about him, so he and the new Utah team will need to be careful when figuring out what is the best level for him to play at next season.

9. Justin Kipkie, D, Victoria Royals (WHL)

The Victoria Royals took a nice step forward this season after three straight finishes at the bottom of their division, and Kipkie is a key part of their ongoing turnaround. He plays a lot of minutes on that roster, and they're not exactly easy minutes, either, considering how young that roster is and how frequently they’re playing under siege. He leaves an outsized impact offensively and defensively, and few defenders his age have as hard of a shot as he does, which he is more than happy to utilize. There is a tactful maturity to how he uses his size and strength, though he'll get emotional and inflict punishment, too, if challenged. His performance faded down the stretch, in lockstep with the rest of his team, but if the Royals are playing meaningful hockey next spring you can expect Kipkie to be a heart-and-soul leader for them.

10. Sam Lipkin, LW, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Speaking bluntly but fairly, Lipkin didn't look particularly noticeable or stand out in any major ways in his draft year. He was, however, playing for the Chicago Steel, which is regularly one of the best organizations in the world at nurturing young hockey talent, evidenced in part by them winning the 2021 USHL championship. As such, the now-Utah scouts knew confidently that his growth was in good hands. Quite unsurprisingly, given the environment he was in and the staff he was working with, his performance immediately began to skyrocket the very next season, which he then carried over into two great campaigns with Quinnipiac as well, including an NCAA title in 2023. He is an impressive natural athlete who continues to find new ways to round out and elevate his game, which helps open up different NHL pathways for him.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

2024 WORLD JUNIORS CHAMPIONSHIP – December 31st, 2023 Game Recaps + Three Stars

Mark Dubreuil — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 17:05:28 +0000

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - DECEMBER 31: Rutger Mcgroarty #2 of USA battles for position against Peter Repcik #21 of Slovakia in Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship at Frolundaborg on December 31, 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)

USA 10, Slovakia 2

The two undefeated teams in Group B faced off for the first game of New Year’s Eve and it didn’t turn out to be the nail biter that was expected. The USA squad asserted their dominance by beating the Slovaks 10-2 in this lopsided game, although Slovakia’s top goaltender Adam Gajan did not dress in order to rest for their quarter final matchup on January 2^nd, 2024. Slovakia outshot the Americans 20-11 in the second period, but the US side tamed the onslaught with some great goaltending by Trey Augustine who finished the game allowing only 2GA with while facing 40 SOG. USA clinches first place with the win ahead of Sweden in the preliminary round. Rutger McGroarty earned himself a hat trick, leading the way for the Americans on the scoresheet. USA will meet up with Latvia in the quarterfinals and Slovakia will face off against Finland on January 2^nd, 2024.

Sweden 4, Finland 5 (SO)

The Swedes secured first place in Group A, even with the shootout loss to Finland in the final game of the preliminary rounds. The Finns forechecked hard all game and didn’t allow team Sweden to gain any momentum throughout the entire 60 minutes of relegation play. The Finnish side pulled their goalie early with 2:35 left in the third period and the team responded with a nice goal from Jani Nyman who scored with only 92 seconds left in the game to secure the tie and force the game into overtime. Nothing was settled in OT, so the game would be determined by a shootout. Nyman would also come up big in the shootout by scoring on the last attempt to secure the win for Finland. Sweden will now face Switzerland in the quarterfinals next game.

Czechia 4, Switzerland 2

The game between Czechia and Switzerland started out lopsided with the Czechs outshooting the Swiss 14-5 in the first period, and were only able to get one shot by Swiss goaltender Alessio Beglieri from a power play goal from Matyas Sapovaliv. The Swiss side stuck around all game, but the Czech side iced it in the third period when team Captain Jiri Kulich buried his fourth goal of the tournament into a wide open net after a great individual effort and pass from 2024 NHL Draft prospect Tomas Galvas. With the win, Czechia ended up in third place in Group B, while the loss secures them fourth place. Czechia will now play against Canada in the quarterfinals.

Canada 6, Germany 3

Canada, coming off a 2-0 loss to Sweden two days prior needed to rebound in order to place themselves in a good playoff position. Team Canada started the game on their heels when Conor Geekie was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for a hit to the head only 11 seconds into the game. The Germans managed to capitalize during the five minute power play and scored a goal at 2:57 from Arizona Coyotes 2022 draft choice Julian Lutz. For most of the game the Germans stuck around until the third period when Jordan Dumais broke a 3-3 tie with a power play to help Canada move on to a 6-3 win over Germany. Macklin Celebrini again looked very good on the Canadian side and notched two goals to help Canada secure second place in Group A. The loss forces Germany into a relegation match against Norway on January 4^th, 2024.

Three Stars of the Day

#1 – Rutger McGroarty – Forward – USA

The 14^th overall Winnipeg Jets draft choice in the 2022 NHL Draft was buzzing all game and was rewarded capturing a hat trick against the Slovak side. McGroarty opened the scoring with a nice wrap around goal at 6:21 of the first period. He added another goal near the end of the second to help the American side go up 5-2. McGroarty completed the hat trick at the beginning of the third period which helped seal the win.

#2 – Jani Nyman – Forward – Finland

Nyman was the difference for the Finnish side by coming up big when his team needed it. The second round selection of the Seattle Kraken in 2022 has been red hot in the Liiga posting 22 points in 28 games. Nyman showed off his offensive prowess in this game by scoring the tying goal with the empty net, then followed that up with an impressive deke in the shootout to secure the win for Finland.

#3 – Macklin Celebrini – Forward – Canada

The potential first overall prospect of the 2024 NHL Draft displayed his skill yet again at this tournament potting two goals to help Canada win an important game after a loss against Sweden the game prior. The young Boston University forward was the best player on the Canadian side and came up big when the game was on the line, especially early on. He got behind the German defense to set himself up for a breakaway and buried it on the backhand to tie the game in the first period. He followed it up with some nice hustle to beat the opposing goaltender to a loose puck and bury one into an empty from an impossible angle. The win helped Canada secure second place in Group A.

MCKEENS 2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – Team Germany plus an interview with Norwin Panocha

Chapin Landvogt — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 14:38:30 +0000

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - DECEMBER 28: Germany's Roman Kechter #24 celebrates at the bench with teammates after scoring a first period goal against Canada during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 28, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

Suddenly a regular in the quarterfinals after 3 straight appearances, Team Germany entered last year’s event as the biggest underdog on paper save for Team Austria. Long gone were the entries with names such as Tim Stützle and JJ Peterka, or even Maks Szuber and Benett Rossmy, and the staff was well aware of the uphill battle at hand as they made their way to Maritimes. With relegation once again part of the whole kit and caboodle, both Austria and Germany entered tourney action with December 30th encompassed by big red circles in their calendars. As preliminary round opponents, each knew to reckon with the victor of that game most likely avoiding relegation round play. Fortunately for Team Germany, despite spending the third period doing everything it could to grab defeat from the jaws of victory, a 4-2 triumph meant that the class had been maintained. The ensuing 8-1 loss to Czechia and 11-1 thrashing in the quarterfinal match-up against the US meant little in deterring from the achievement of earning a return ticket.

Germany is now entering this year’s event with some good vibes after strong summer showings and a recent 3-game bout against a group of selects from Finland, losing each contest by just one goal, with one game having gone to overtime. Granted, key returnees Rayan Bettahar (broken jaw) and Phillip Krening (having missed the entire season due to an undisclosed injury) aren’t going to be part of the fray, but Coach Abstreiter will be able to welcome four North American legionnaires to the line-up, with Arizona’s 2022 2nd rounder Julian Lutz being the most prominent of them. In addition, a line featuring former OHLer Moritz Elias, captain Roman Kechter, and current Detroit Red Wings 5th rounder Kevin Bicker went bonkers against Finland in the aforementioned test games, each accumulating between 6-8 points. All three are taking regular shifts in the DEL and will be joined up front in that capacity by Veit Oswald and Eric Hördler, with Oswald currently the DEL’s shooting “youngstar”. In fact, of the roster nominees playing in Germany, all of the forwards are gaining experience at the pro level this season.

Which brings us to the blueline, where we regret to inform you that there are no Mortiz Seiders to wonder at. In fact, the only returnee from last winter’s squad looks to be Philipp Sinn, a Red Bull Juniors regular who made highlight reels last winter with mindboggling defensive miscues. Spearheading the defensive efforts should be Buffalo Sabres 7th rounder Norwin Panocha and DEL youngster Lua Niehus, both of whom were go-to players for the U18 squad, which - we must mention - was unceremoniously relegated last spring. The scouting community would love to see 2024 prospect Paul Mayer, who has gained plenty of DEL experience this season (despite minimal minutes), in action, but he’s not even a lock to be in the top 6. Jakob Weber has been a DEL surprise this year, suiting up 20 times for reigning champ Red Bull Munich, while 6’2” Niklas Hübner brings not only DEL and DEL2 experience, but also spent 23 games in Finland’s top U20 circuit last season. Don’t be surprised to see Michael Reich or Samuel Schindler in the equation as the two program faves have been playing pro hockey all season, with the latter actually making a good bit of music as an Oberliga producer from the blueline.

What is as clear now as with last winter’s squad, is that any German goaltender seeing ice time simply has to reckon with more shots against than his peer on the other side of the ice. Probably far more. Had you asked us this time last year, we’d have said 6’3” Simon Wolf was the given #1 goaltender and he still should be, but his outings for Germany’s U20 squad simply haven’t been impressive this year. Phillip Dietl has been a bright light in Germany’s junior scene but is coming in with precious little pro playing time to date this season. He’s even splitting goaltending duties on his junior team. Third stringer Matthias Bittner has also spent most of his time in goal this season at the junior level but does have a 2-2 record and decent stats in 5 DEL2 outings.

Long story short, none of these guys is a Nikita Quapp, but as with years past, the team likely needs just one preliminary round victory to avoid the relegation round. That win will most likely have to come against Team Latvia, because odds are that group opponents Canada, Finland, and hometown favorite Sweden are simply a number too big. Weighing heavy for Germany could be the fact that Latvia has not only done extremely well against German U20 and U18 outfits over the past decade but is also bringing perhaps its most solid U20 team ever to Gothenburg later this month. While contemplating how Germany fell to Norway at the U18 Worlds last spring, we can’t help but think that Germany may have no choice but to try and return the favor early this January in the relegation round. Or will the cross-program shellshock vis-a-vis the Norwegians be too much to overcome? Without wanting to paint the Norwegians as a lock for the relegation round, you might want to plan with Team Germany being a relegation round participant if the squad doesn’t have any surprises up its sleeve in the preliminary round.

10 to Watch plus a Sleeper

Julian Lutz F

As a 2022 2nd rounder of the Arizona Coyotes, Lutz comes in as Germany’s clearcut go-to player. Truth be told, he’s finally giving his NHL organization a reason to experience a collective sigh of relief. After all, last season was anything but promising and gave reason for concern as he once again dealt with undisclosed injury issues while only producing very modestly with little sustained ice time at the DEL level. His 2 assists in last year’s WJC did little to inspire confidence as well. Now he’s in North America playing for the Green Bay Gamblers and seems to have a new lease on life, already registering 23 points in 19 games. As nice as that is, it’s nothing off the charts for a 19-year-old in a league geared towards producing NCAA players. For sure, Lutz has the power, skating, and offensive wherewithal to be a cog if this German team is going to push its way into a quarterfinal spot. But for that to happen, we’re going to pretty much need to see the best version of Julian Lutz we’ve seen to date.

Roman Kechter C

When Kechter was 16, he jumped down from Swedish juniors to spend the bulk of the pandemic-impacted DEL season with the Nuremberg Ice Tigers, looking like a terribly exciting prospect along the way. He hasn’t been able to build upon that since, despite renewed time with the Rögle organization, a U18 Worlds, and 3 points in 5 games at last winter’s WJC. Now 19, he’s entering this tournament as the team’s captain and he’s, well, red hot. With 15 points in 5 U20 test games this fall, his international play is only confirming his strong DEL showing, where he’s been a 3rd line catalyst for Nuremberg, collecting 5 goals and 12 points in 26 games. Put simply, Kechter is arriving as a serious pro player and he’s exactly what Team Germany needs in Sweden, where he’ll be lining up against a number of players he’s competed against in years past. There’s little talk about Kechter as an overage draftee option, but that could change real quick if he can spearhead an unexpectedly successful tourney for this underdog.

Luca Hauf C/LW

Similar in build and style to Kechter, Hauf is joining Team Germany all the way from Seattle, where he plays for the Thunderbirds of the WHL. It’s his second season in the WHL, having chipped in 21 points in 45 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings last year. He’s upped the ante a tick this season with 10 goals and 16 points in 25 games, but for this German squad, he’s going to need to play bigger. Already a heavy Oberliga contributor as a 16/17-year-old, Hauf has been looked to by the German program to assume a productive role up front, something he did well at the U18 Worlds (3 goals in 4 games) and not so well at this tournament last winter (only 1 assist). But there’s no time like the present for him to make more of his tools and simply be a hard player to defend against. His experience will surely be key, especially as a player who has often been lined up with Lutz in past international events. A first line role is there to be had.

Julius Sumpf C

Half Canadian, Sumpf comes in as Germany’s top overall playmaker and one of the few German players in recent years to have had such a successful transition to CHL hockey.

Currently 5th in scoring for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL with 28 points and +12 in 30 games, Sumpf has been pivoting one of the top two lines since preseason action. For Germany, he was one of the few noticeable players at last spring’s disappointing U18 Worlds, serving as the team’s topscorer with 2 goals and 4 points in 6 games. What he won’t have in Gothenburg are linemates he’s all that familiar with, although he’s a lock for the top 6 and likely scheduled to line up next to Julian Lutz and Luca Hauf as a trio of North American legionnaires. We’re inclined to think that a strong WJC followed by a big second half push with a solid Moncton team could see Sumpf hear his name taken in next summer’s draft. He’ll have to show his true colors a few times in Sweden for Germany to have any real shot at avoiding relegation.

Norwin Panocha D

Without a doubt, Panocha was the fastest rising talent in Germany last winter. Featuring skating mechanics that may remind a few of Phil Housley, Panocha’s combination of mobility, puckhandling, and strong on-ice awareness allowed him to be a dominant figure in Germany’s junior league while sticking out as one of few German defensemen of international class throughout the season. The Buffalo Sabres snagged him last summer at the top of the 7th round and within weeks, he was scheduled to head to Chicoutimi of the QMJHL, where he’s taken on a regular role and collected 11 assists in 30 games. Granted, only two of those points have come in the last 10 games as Panocha has settled into more of bottom-3 style defensemen after an eye-opening preseason camp with the Sabres and a strong offensive showing in Chicoutimi’s preseason games. At this tournament, Coach Abstreiter will surely have a top 4 role in store for Panocha, even if Abstreiter generally looks to lean on his older players with bigger minutes. Thinkable is that Panocha will man the point on one of the powerplay units, something precious few of his blueline colleagues have been doing this winter.

Kevin Bicker LW

We won’t blame you for being surprised to see Bicker’s name in last summer’s draft, much less as a 5th round pick of the Detroit Red Wings and the first of 3 German players selected. Some may even think that whatever sold the Red Wings on Bicker, they saw it at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Bicker had his speed and strong offensive skills on display with 4 points in 4 games for a heavily undermanned German side. His 22-23 season wasn’t all that bad, but definitely marred by injury, and featured a single game of pro play outside the DNL, where he did clip at over a point per game. His drafting was followed by a surprising DEL contract with Frankfurt, with whom he’s managed to suit up 24 times this season, despite just a single goal. Internationally though, Bicker has always contributed and is currently on a 3-game international U20 heater, collecting 8 points along the way. He’s here to outskate the opposition and ideally, continue to gel with Kechter and Moritz Elias in an offensive capacity. Enjoy what you see because Bicker can really turn on the turbo when heading up ice.

Veit Oswald RW

Oswald is a bit of a curiosity because all he’s done to date is excel at every step of the way. During his draft year, he was the German DNL’s topscorer and followed that with a solid U18 Worlds performance (3 points in 4 games) in his native Landshut. The next season saw him get into 23 DEL games while looking very comfortable in a secondary scoring role in the nation’s 3rd pro circuit. Now still just 19, he’s been a regular for Red Bull Munich all season long, delighting fans with 5 goals and 7 points in 24 games. More importantly, he’s a joker who has shown himself to be full of intangibles, something that has led to the coaching staff feeling very comfortable about putting him on the ice in all situations. We can expect Coach Abstreiter to lean on this attribute as well with serious top 9 minutes at this tournament. Oswald remains undrafted but there’s little doubt that he’s in the notebooks of scouts throughout the NHL. Will this tourney push him into “surefire overager” territory?

Simon Wolf G

Wolf is a big man who covers a lot of net. He can look hauntingly stoic only to be surprisingly quick on his feet while smothering pucks. Unfortunately, there are times when that puck-smothering turns into rebound city. There are also questions about his ability to read attacks through traffic. Either trend could lead to some ugly results at a WJC. After seeing Arno Tiefensee be drafted as a double overager last summer, Wolf definitely has some incentive in using this tournament to throw his name in the hat this time around. Unlike Tiefensee, he’s not spending this season splitting duties in a DEL net, but rather with Austrian Thomas Pfarrmaier for the Red Bull Juniors. There, Wolf has played 13 of 23 games including 4 of the last 5, putting up an 8-5 record with a 2.52 GAA and 9.15 SV%. He also got into two games a league higher for Salzburg, standing tall with a 1.92 GAA and .933 SV% in those outings. Alas, Wolf has been part of the program for several years now, even being the starter at the 2022 U18 Worlds, but it hasn’t been good. In fact, he hasn’t sported better than a 5.00 GAA in the past 4 years. Ouch!

Moritz Elias RW

A member of the Saskatoon Blades to kick off the 21-22 season (8 points and -8 in 28 games), Elias packed his tent and headed home by the holidays that season, proceeding to collect 15 points over 71 DEL2 games in two seasons before getting picked up last summer by expected DEL bottom-feeder Augsburg. Now officially one of the biggest junior surprises of the DEL season, the 5’8”, 172-pounder has already put up 9 points in 26 games in a lower line capacity, displaying savvy and confidence every step of the way. More importantly, the strong-skating battler has found a niche on the U20 squad together with captain Roman Kechter and Detroit 2023 5th rounder Kevin Bicker, having put up 7 points in 4 test games this fall. Elias will have to be a quiet generator in the background for Team Germany if a playoff spot is going to be a realizable goal.

Paul Mayer D

One of very few German defensemen currently considered to be of draft interest next summer (Edwin Tropmann being the other), Mayer was basically force-fed into DEL play this season by a Mannheim Adler team that has been losing many of its junior talents in recent summers. Only getting a handful of minutes at a time, he then spent 10 games with the team’s DEL2 partner in Bietigheim where he got plenty of action for a struggling team. Two more games with Mannheim, including a showing with almost 15 minutes of ice time, were put on the resume before joining the U20 squad in Gothenburg. For Mayer, this tournament will be less about excelling and more about showing that he can do a lot more swimming than sinking. Despite gobs of size, he just turned 18 three months ago and will see peer competition he’s seldom been exposed to. Germany’s blueline has precious little to offer, so it’d be telling if he isn’t taking a regular shift.

Sleeper

Lia Niehus D

Understandably passed over in the draft last summer, Niehus is a player insiders have been watching closely, and favorably, the past few years. After a fantastic DY-1, he failed to deliver with another step in progress in his draft year, even doing precious little in preventing Germany’s U18 team from relegation last spring. The surprise was rather large around ice hockey Germany when Niehus nonetheless received a DEL contract from regional rival Frankfurt, for whom he’s now suited up 15 times while also getting in 5 games of Oberliga play with farm team Stuttgart. What he’s shown though is that he’s an incredibly confident and shifty defenseman with strong overall mobility and a keen ability of getting pucks to the net. In two recent test games against Switzerland, Niehus was seen manning the point on the power play and jumping out as one of the top overall skaters on the ice. If he doesn’t end up being the sleeper on this club, then 6’3” forward Eric Hördler will be.

***

PORRENTRUY, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 29: Norway's Stian Solberg #10 gets tripped up by a stick while Germany's Norwin Panocha #6 and Linus Brandl #23 look on during Relegation Round action at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Raiffeisen Arena on April 29, 2023 in Porrentruy, Switzerland. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)

Q&A with defenseman Norwin Panocha

Here at McKeen’s Hockey, we were thrilled to watch mobile defender Norwin Panocha go from relative anonymity to a player deemed draftable by the NHL within a season’s time. Poise and maturity were regularly put on display in a junior league not quite on par with most of the circuits out there from which players are drafted, but we saw enough to know that what he was doing was above and beyond the norm. Ultimately ranking him 203rd overall in our draft guide, Panocha was selected 205th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in Nashville and proceeded to display his finest traits in the organization’s camp last fall, even getting to suit up for the NHL team for a preseason game in which he went +1.

Expected to be a cog on Germany’s blueline at the WJC, we conducted a short Q&A to get his thoughts on a variety of pertinent topics.

McKeen’s Hockey: Norwin, you find yourself in Sweden where you will be participating in your first ever WJC as a member of Team Germany. When you think about this opportunity to represent your country at this renowned tournament, what goes through your mind?

Norwin Panocha: It’s always a great honor to get to represent your county in any tournament and I’m now all that much more excited to get to do just that at this incredibly important event where we’ll be testing our metal against the best players in the world at this level. I’m also really excited about playing in this tournament with the class players ahead of me - those born in 2004 - and facing the challenges ahead with them.

MH: Your Group A opponents are Canada, Finland, Latvia, and hometown Sweden. It’s a group where no opponent can be taken lightly. Quite the opposite, in fact. What should spectators expect to see from Team Germany over the next 10 days?

NP: A strong team that is very unpleasant to play against. We’ve got a lot of character in this locker room and no matter who the opponent is, they’re going to have to battle hard for every inch out there.

MH: What are you looking forward to the most in the days to come in Gothenburg?

NP: I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to spend the Christmas holidays with my teammates. We’ve got a fantastic group of guys here and I can’t wait to go to war with them and put in a strong performance at this tournament.

MH: This past year has been anything but quiet for you personally. You developed in leaps and bounds with the Eisbären Berlin organization back home. Then you played at the U18 Worlds in Switzerland. Then you got drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and took part in their rookie camp. Now you’re playing for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL, a league that regularly produces NHL stars. How have you grown as a player and person over this period of time?

NP: Oh yes, this past year has been an unbelievable ride and a ton of fun. I’ve met so many new, interesting, and admirable people, all of whom I’ve been able to watch and learn something from.I’m truly thankful for everything I’ve been able to experience, both on and off the ice. I think it’s all helped me a lot in becoming a more mature and responsible player in every facet of the game.

MH: Looking back at the U18 Worlds, a tournament where a lot happens in a short period of time, what does a player go through when his team is relegated at such an event?

NP: It was a very disappointing and frustrating experience in a lot of ways, but especially in knowing that the next generation is now going to have to battle its way back up out of the D1A group. It’s not going to get show what it can do against the best at the highest level. Personally, and perhaps also due in part to the outcome, the U18 tournament in Switzerland was a very positive experience that taught me quite a bit moving forward. Also in preparation for this tournament.

MH: This season, you’re playing for Chicoutimi in the QMJHL. How’s it been going with the transition to a new league and life in a francophone region of Canada?

NP: It was admittedly quite an adjustment at the beginning. In comparison to the junior league I know and am familiar with back home, the game here is much faster and harder, it’s more aggressive, and the competition is generally much larger in size. However, I think I’ve slowly started to arrive in the league and figure everything out.

My life off the ice is running smoothly. My billet family and the people in the organization are wonderful. And I’m at a point where the language isn’t a problem anymore.

MH: With a good 30 games under your belt, what are you expecting from yourself and your team in the second half of the QMJHL season?

NP: I now know what to expect when I head back for the rest of the season. I’m actively trying to improve myself and develop from game to game and shift to shift. Our team is very young but is getting better from game to game as well, and we keep getting more close-knit. It’s all coming together just in time to put in a good playoff push. The experience of this WJC will help me as well moving forward.

MH: What kind of feedback have you received to date from the Buffalo Sabres?

NP: Most particularly after the main camp, but also during the regular season since then, I’ve been hearing from them and getting very positive feedback.

MH: We’re curious. What did you hear from current Buffalo Sabre and German national team member JJ Peterka, perhaps in the days following the draft?

NP: Yes, I got to know JJ at camp with the Sabres. He’s one of my big role models and I can't emphasize enough how cool it was that he promptly congratulated me on getting drafted and offered me his help and support with everything I’ll be encountering in this new environment. That means the world to me.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – ARIZONA COYOTES – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #4

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:00:22 +0000

Top 20 Arizona Coyotes Prospects

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 15: Arizona Coyotes right wing Dylan Guenther (11) made his NHL debut during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Arizona Coyotes on October 15, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1. Logan Cooley - C

Cooley grew up in Pittsburgh during the peak of Sidney Crosby's career, and it's almost uncanny how much the former's game has been clearly influenced by the latter. While the former University of Minnesota center doesn't project to become a generational player like Sid has been, Cooley’s game is built around a very similar foundation: ample lower body strength and balance, excellent hockey sense, tenacious competitiveness, sublime puck skill, commitment in all three zones, and an advanced maturity for how he conducts himself. There were some scouts in the industry who argued for him to be the first prospect picked in the 2022 draft, and that argument is even stronger now. Arizona is trying to build things from the ground up (figuratively and literally), and Cooley is about as good as it gets as a foundational piece to build around.

2. Dylan Guenther - RW

Guenther started his 2022-23 season in the NHL and looked right at home, scoring at a nice clip. When Arizona let him go to the World Juniors and then back to the WHL afterwards it wasn't as a punishment — it was to let him stretch his legs a little more, add a gold medal that he didn't already have, maybe get a healthy crack at the Memorial Cup after injuries held him out during the previous year, and finally come back to the NHL as an even better player in 2023-24. It must feel like a punishment to all the junior-aged players he has gone up against though, because he was basically too good for that level already. He lit up the WHL playoffs in Seattle and barely looked like he was breaking a sweat while doing so. He should enjoy the moment, because once he's back in the NHL he won't be leaving again.

3. Dmitri Simashev - D

Simashev is a unicorn of a player, with a tantalizing amount of raw skill contained within a menacing physical package. He is a truly remarkable skater for such a gigantic defenseman. Not only is he explosive in a straight line, with long, flawless strides, but his crossovers and edge work are both essentially perfect. The way that he can pick the puck up behind his own net, reach his top gear within a few steps and then blow down the entire length of the ice without breaking a sweat is simply jaw-dropping. He can also gap up on opponents with ease, and good luck ever dumping the puck into his corner, because he's going to get to it first, quickly pivot, and then use his frame to help him shield the puck. His low point totals might suggest that he's not much of an offensive contributor, but he helps his team enter the attacking zone and set up, and if he sees an opportunity to take the puck all the way to the opposing net himself, he will do so. He also uses his elusive footwork well to control the offensive blueline. All that being said, he probably won't ever be a big point-scorer.

4. Daniil But - LW

When you have a 6’ 5” forward who can skate, shoot, handle the puck, and make plays how do you even begin to describe him? There might not actually be one single trait that But has that is elite, however his overflowing toolbox of very good traits makes him special. It's nearly impossible to miss someone that big during his shifts, yet he makes it even easier to notice him because he covers so much ice all the time with his skyscraper legs and how he works to get them churning to build momentum. He can also create with his hands, whether that's with a long sweeping move to get around a defender or some quick manoeuvring in traffic to maintain possession. He is a major threat on both the rush and in the cycle because he's just so powerful and hard to contain. Sometimes he plays with clever nuance, while at other times he is a bull in a china shop. He's pretty uncoordinated and clumsy right now, although it's obvious that he is still filling out his frame after a big teenage growth spurt. It's almost scary to think of how good But could potentially be when he's done developing.

5. Conor Geekie - C

Geekie did not seem to progress very much last season compared to his draft year, which is concerning when you consider the incredibly favourable situation he has been in, playing on a dominant Winnipeg Ice team. With talented linemates to work with, and opposing defense spread thin with too much to handle, it should have been a feast for a prospect with such an overflowing toolbox. Instead, he blended into the scenery more often than he stood out. Luckily for the Coyotes though, there is still a ton here for their development staff to work with. His puck skills, hands, and shot are all high end, and he should be able to make improvements with his skating ability while using his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time, Geekie is one of the scariest prospects in the country, and getting that to happen more frequently is the long-term focus.

6. Victor Soderstrom - D

After three seasons in North America, Soderstrom has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHLer, and questions are beginning to arise about where things are going to go with his career next. It's never a good sign when a player hits a plateau season over season in his early 20s. His mobility and hands are both still assets, but he is having trouble utilizing them in ways that make a positive difference. The offensive production isn't really coming along, and he's struggling with defending and moving pucks out of trouble. At the same time, the whole organization is going through growing pains, so further patience is needed to fully analyse the situation. The Coyotes want Soderstrom to be a key piece on their roster and will likely give him more chances to prove that he can be one.

7. Josh Doan - RW

Doan finds himself in a truly unique situation, not just as the son of a former NHLer who was drafted by the same organization that his father starred for, but also because he is already playing in the same state that his dad helped bring hockey to for the first time. If the built-in expectations and scrutiny created any unwanted pressure, the younger Doan certainly hasn't show that he’s been frightened by its effects. If anything, he seems to relish being a future face of hockey in Arizona. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit, and leadership, and there is little question as to where he gets that from. He'll be a huge part of this organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations, but also as someone that can help instil a positive culture and identity in the locker room.

8. Jan Jenik - C

It's a real shame that Jenik battled through injury issues last season, because if he had stayed healthy, he was on course to have a big breakout season in the NHL. He is one of the most well-rounded and complete players in the Coyotes organization, and it's hard to find any real faults in his game. Coaches love to send him over the boards in various situations because he's always around the puck or involved in the play, battling or thinking his way into earning copious puck touches. When he gets to work in the offensive zone, he is very hard to contain thanks to his size, puck skill, and offensive versatility. Everything about his game just screams long-term professional. Expect him to see a lot of NHL minutes this season if he is healthy.

9. Michael Hrabal - G

Coming up as a dominant, borderline generational netminder in his home country of Czechia, Hrabal is no stranger to expectations. Standing at 6’6”, it doesn’t take much for him to cover the net, even from his knees. His frame covers the twine so well when he’s down in a butterfly that his pads take away the entire bottom of the net. Despite this size, his mobility and footwork are also both big strengths of his. He navigates the crease well, going post-to-post with ease. His feet are very quick, kicking away stray pucks as needed. He has quick hands to match, especially his glove hand. Given his size, he tends to play back in his net too far, so he will need to learn to challenge a bit more to really cut down the amount of net he leaves open, especially when facing better shooters at higher levels. Goaltenders always take a longer path, and he will be no exception. That's not a concern though, as he has all of the tools in place to become a starting netminder in the NHL one day, or at least a likely reliable backup.

10. Maveric Lamoureux - D

Lamoureux missed the first half of last season due to injury, and once he was healthy joined a Voltigeurs team that struggled to climb out of the basement of the league. But what matters most about his profile is that when he was playing, it was in an important role, because he is very much a long-term project who needs as much ice time as possible if he's going to reach his full potential. It's so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and that kind of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skills for success. The hope is that his reach and range will help him eventually grow into a space-dominating player who can log top-four minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders moving around the ice.

11. Artyom Duda - D

In a strange twist of events, Duda has left Russia to pursue a scholarship at the University of Maine. Due to him having played at the KHL level already, there are hurdles to jump through regarding his eligibility, but this move should be great for his development. A smooth skating, two-way defender, Duda was a very high pick in 2022.

12. Julian Lutz - LW

For Lutz, the battle to stay healthy remains his largest hurdle. He has had issues with injuries the last two seasons, and this has prevented him from playing a significant role at the DEL level in Germany. The talent is there. Perhaps a move to North America (like say in the OHL) would be best for his development.

13. Aku Raty - RW

Raty was fantastic in Liiga action last year, finishing among the leading scorers on a strong Ilves team. Now the hard working, complementary winger will be coming to North America to get his first taste of action across the pond. If he has a good camp and performs well in the AHL, he could move through the system quickly.

14. Vladislav Kolyachonok - D

2022-23 was a positive year for Kolyachonok’s development as he emerged as one of Tuscon’s top defensive players. The key to his success remains his strong skating ability and he has a chance to crack the Arizona blueline full time soon.

15. Nathan Smith - C

After starting so well in the NHL after signing at the end of the 2021-22 season, Smith’s first full season in the AHL was a disappointment last year. His upside at the NHL level may be capped, but he needs to become a go-to offensive player with Tuscon first.

16. Sam Lipkin - LW

A former standout with the Chicago Steel, Lipkin had a remarkable freshman year with Quinnipiac. Not only did he capture an NCAA championship, but he was named ECAC rookie of the year. Lipkin is returning to college to continue to improve his skating, but the skill components of his game are progressing nicely.

17. Miko Matikka - RW

Matikka is a big, skilled winger with significant offensive upside. He played in the USHL last year but will be attending the University of Denver this year in hopes of earning a top six role immediately. The question is whether Matikka can improve his off-puck play.

18. Michael Kesselring - D

Acquired from the Oilers in exchange for Nick Bjugstad, Kesselring is a big defender with a surprisingly smooth stride. He saw some time with the big club last year and could be a contender for a permanent roster spot this year.

19. Ilya Fedotov - LW

A competitive winger with skill and upside who finally broke through as a KHL contributor last year. Fedotov has since moved to the SKA organization for next year and is still in Arizona’s long-term plans.

20. Maksymilian Szuber - D

The big German defender improved a lot last year in the DEL, impressing enough to earn both a WC invite and an ELC from the Coyotes. He’ll be loaned back to EHC Munchen again though, where it is hoped that he continues with his rapid progression.

2023 World Junior Championship: Group A Round-Robin Recap

Josh Bell — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:42:06 +0000

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - DECEMBER 29: Canada's Connor Bedard #16 backhands the puck while Austria's Tim Geifes #21 defends during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 29, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

2023 World Juniors: Group A Round-Robin Roundup

Part of the excitement of the World Junior Championships is that there are always going to be surprises and upsets. Group A, consisting of Austria, Canada, Czechia, Germany, and Sweden, wasted no time in that aspect, with Czechia upsetting Canada 5-2 on the first day of the tournament. The Czechs went on to win the pool thanks to their offense clicking, standout defenders, and one of the best goaltenders in the tournament. Their team top-down has arguably played the best all-around tournament of any team in the pool so far. Their only loss came against Team Sweden, 3-2, the lone overtime game in Group A.

Reeling from the loss to Czechia, Canada bounced back in a big way on the back of Connor Bedard, who’s re-writing the Canadian history books at the World Juniors. After scoring just twice in the first game, the team put up 11 against both the Germans and Austrians, closing out the Preliminary round with another five against Team Sweden to secure second place heading into the Quarterfinals.

The loss was Sweden’s only one in the tournament but due to their overtime win over Czechia, they finished the round-robin in third place. Goaltender Carl Lindbom and defender Ludvig Jansson have been the biggest bright spots for the Swedes and will be relied upon heavily if the team is going to challenge for a medal.

Goaltender Nikita Quapp stood on his head for Team Germany while they earned the fourth and final Quarterfinal spot, thanks to a 4-2 win over Austria. Austria on the other hand will be heading to the relegation game after going winless in the tournament, failing to score a goal in their first three games.

Group A Standings (W-OTW-OTL-L)

Czechia - 3-0-1-0
Canada - 3-0-0-1
Sweden - 2-1-0-1
Germany - 1-0-0-3
Austria - 0-0-0-4

Czechia

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

Stanislav Svozil - 1-5-6
David Spacek - 3-3-6
Matyas Sapovaliv - 0-5-5
Jaroslav Chmelar - 3-2-5
Gabriel Szturc - 3-2-5

Top Three Performers

Stanislav Svozil

While Stanislav Svozil has always been a solid defender, he wasn’t expected to be a top defender at the World Juniors. Even on his own team, the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect was believed to be the second-best d-man behind David Jiricek. But Svozil surprised, looks to be a strong contender for Top Defender in this event and could even earn some MVP consideration. On top of leading his team in points, the defender played big minutes, including 21:50 in the Czechia shocking win over Canada - a game where he had a goal and an assist. Svozil’s play offensively and his ability to not only break up plays in his end but suppress shots against have been truly dominant throughout the tournament so far. His play will need to continue if the Czechs are going to earn a medal.

Tomas Suchanek

One of only three goaltenders in the tournament to play all four of their team’s Preliminary games, Tomas Suchanek was huge for Czechia. Starting off the tournament against the juggernaut Canadians, the netminder started his tournament with a statement game, stopping 36 shots for a .947 save percentage (SV%). He finished the preliminary round with a .933 SV%. He kept his team in every single game, coming up with huge saves night in and night out. There’s absolutely something to be said for the confidence a team can have when their goaltender plays as he has so far. Eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft as a double overager, Suchanek also impressed in the tournament for his playmaking, picking up three assists - a World Juniors record. Like Svozil, if Czechia wins a medal, it will likely be on the back of Suchanek.

David Jiricek

While it’s been Svozil stealing the show so far on the Czech blue line, Jiricek is right behind him, and not by much. A fellow Blue Jackets prospect, Jiricek has been so reliable with the puck, rarely making a mistake. Picking up an assist in each of the first two games, he truly turned it on in the third game against Sweden, recording a goal and an assist, nearly adding a couple of other goals on truly impressive individual efforts. When he’s on his game and determined, he’s practically unstoppable and that’s shown throughout the round-robin. While there are some solid forwards for the Czechia group in this event that have been having great tournaments, the play of Svozil, Suchanek, and Jiricek is a huge reason for their upset over Canada and the team’s success heading into the medal rounds.

Biggest Surprise

Eduard Sale

While there have been several bright spots on this team, Jiri Kulich deserves a mention on top of the three above and the dominant win over Canada, the biggest surprise has been the play of Eduard Sale. Coming into the season, Sale was a top-10 prospect in this class. He’s been dominant in international events, so the same was expected here. Yet he’s been fairly quiet (three assists) and has seen his minutes dwindle from over 20 minutes in the game against Canada to just 3:47 in the final game where he didn’t hit the ice through the first two periods Sale has the skill to be a top prospect, but his defensive game and his competitiveness without the puck have been less than desired. It will be worth keeping an eye on him in the elimination rounds to see if he can turn it around.

Canada

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

Connor Bedard - 6-12-18
2. Logan Stankoven - 2-6-8
3. Dylan Guenther - 4-2-6
4. Shane Wright - 3-3-6
5. Joshua Roy - 3-3-6

Top Three Performers

Connor Bedard

Expectations were high coming into the tournament for Connor Bedard, after putting up eight points in his first time in the event last year. He’s been exceeding those expectations through the first four games though, collecting 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in that time. He has 10 points over the next-highest total in the tournament (Logan Stankoven) and has simply been on another level in terms of both talent and production. He’s entering the elimination rounds ready to put his name on top of the history books for Canada, as he’s already tied Jordan Eberle for goals by a Canadian in the event (14) and in the final game, tied Eric Lindros for most points (31), tied Jaromir Jagr for most points for a U18 player, and tied the single-tournament record for a Canadian. With potentially three more games to play, is Peter Forsberg’s 31-point single tournament record within reach?

Logan Stankoven

Outside of Bedard, it’s been Logan Stankoven standing out the most on the Canadian roster. The Dallas Stars prospect is the only player in the tournament (again, outside of Bedard) with at least two points per game, and he’s done that thanks to his relentless motor and competitiveness. He never takes his foot off the gas and has the skill to put up points as well. Playing with Bedard has certainly helped Stankoven and frankly put him in quite the shadow, but Stakoven has been standing out all on his own as well. On top of his tenacious play, he’s been dominant in the faceoff circle, leading the tournament in faceoff percentage. His passing and awareness have been remarkable. Every time he hits the ice, his presence has been felt. As the pressure of the games grows, expect Stankoven to only get better and better.

Dylan Guenther

Many players could be in this third spot, including Joshua Roy, Olen Zellweger, Brandt Clarke, and Thomas Milic. But Dylan Guenther has been excellent for the Canadians. He’s played with Bedard and with Shane Wright and Brennan Othmann, being a play-driver or a supporter depending on what the situation calls for. He’s tied in second in the tournament in goals (four) with USA’s Jimmy Snuggerud. His finishing has been stellar for the Canadians, often capitalizing on the team’s impressive passing. He’s also shown off some great playmaking though, gaining a couple of assists through the event as well. Guenther has been playing in the NHL this season and looks very much like a man among boys at times. He’ll be depended on as a leader down the stretch.

Biggest Surprise

Canada upset in opener by Czechia

There are lots of positives to look at for this Canadian team, but it didn’t start that way. In the opening game of the event against Czechia, the team was too focused on individual efforts and struggled defensively, resulting in them getting shut down by the Czechs. Goaltender Benjamin Gaudreau struggled, letting in five goals in just under half of the game. For the Czechs, Tomas Suchanek stood on his head, putting together a standout performance to hold the Canadians to their lowest goal total of the tournament. Even Bedard was held to just one goal and point in the game - his next lowest total was four points. The Canadians figured it out as the tournament rolled on, putting their best performance together against Sweden in the final Preliminary game. But that game versus Czechia put the team up against a hot goaltender and the Slovaks in the Quarterfinals, instead of the Swiss.

Sweden

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

Ludvig Jansson - 3-3-6
2. Filip Bystedt - 2-3-5
3. Fabian Wagner - 2-2-4
4. Isak Rosen - 2-2-4
5. Adam Engstrom - 1-2-3

Top Three Performers

Ludvig Jansson

The World Juniors often have some surprises throughout the tournament every year, but this year the biggest may be the play of Ludvig Jansson. In the last World Juniors, he played four games, failing to record a point. In 25 HockeyAllsvenskan games this season, he has six points. In this tournament’s four games, he’s matched that total with three goals and three assists. The Florida Panthers prospect is leading the team in points and is tied for the lead in points by a defenseman. Jansson’s come up big when he needs to as well, highlighted by his performance in the game versus Czechia. In that game, he potted a regulation goal and ended the match in overtime with an excellent drive to the net and a nifty backhand. He’s been one of the best players in the tournament so far, let alone on Team Sweden.

Carl Lindbom

Arguably the top player for Sweden so far, goaltender Carl Lindom came into the tournament as the likely Top Goaltender winner and hasn’t disappointed. The Vegas Golden Knights netminder has played all four of Sweden’s games, repping a very impressive .942 SV%. He started the tournament off with back-to-back shutouts versus Austria and Germany, making 28 saves in the latter, a tight 1-0 win for Sweden. In the game against the Czechs, he made another 33 saves followed by 39 in the loss to the Canadians. Even in that lone loss though, he still played well, being left out to dry on multiple occasions by his defenders. He’s very much in consideration for the best goaltender of the tournament still but will need to bounce back from the five goals let in against Canada.

Filip Bystedt

Through the Preliminary round, Filip Bystedt has been the top forward for the Swedes. The San Jose Sharks prospect has shown off tremendous skating and puck control throughout the Preliminary round, from going coast to coast to driving the net. He’s leading the team’s forwards in points, largely thanks to his scoring chance generation. He’s been peppering goaltenders with shots and should have more goals than his total shows. He’s been robbed on multiple occasions, and you can bet heading into the elimination rounds he’ll be looking to change that. He’s shown some impressive two-way ability at times as well, stealing pucks and being reliable in his own zone. Unless some other forwards step up, he’ll be relied on heavily moving forward.

Biggest Surprise

Ludvig Jansson outproducing big-name forwards

Jansson’s performance deserves more attention. The Swedes are always a contender in this event, thanks to their highly offensive forwards. On a roster with Bystedt, Isak Rosen, Fabian Lysell, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Simon Robertsson, Noah Ostlund, Leo Carlsson, and Liam Ohgren, there wouldn’t be a single person that would have bet on Jansson leading the team in points at this point in the tournament. So, while Jansson’s play has stood out, the lack of offensive production (outside of the 11-0 win over Austria) from some of the big names is alarming heading into the Quarterfinals. Lysell is still looking for his first point in the tournament, Ohgren has just one point, while Robertsson, Carlsson, and Ostlund together have as many points as Jansson. They’ll need some bounces to go their way moving forward.

Germany

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

Roman Kechter - 2-1-3
2. Phillipp Krening - 1-2-3
3. Phillip Sinn - 1-2-3
4. Julian Lutz - 0-2-2
5. Quirin Bader - 0-2-2

Top Three Performers

Nikita Quapp

He may have only played two and a half games in the Preliminary round, but Nikita Quapp has been the star for Team Germany. A top-three player on the World Junior team last year as well, the Carolina Hurricanes prospect has stepped his game up in a big way. His first game came against the strong Swedish lineup, where he made 43 saves, only letting one goal in, for a .977 SV%. He followed that up with his first and only win so far versus Austria, before playing just half that game against Team Czechia where he let in two of the eight total goals against. He finished with a .952 SV%, one of the best stats in the tournament. His technique has been on point throughout the tournament, standing on his head at times to give his team a fighting chance. Expect more of that through the elimination rounds.

Julian Lutz

To be honest, after Quapp, there’s a big gap with the rest of the team in terms of stand-out performances throughout the tournament. Julian Lutz is in that second tier of standouts though. There are times when he shows off his high level of skill that can see him walk through a team, and there are other times when he seems to fade into the background. If he can gain some consistency in the medal rounds, then watch out. The Arizona Coyotes prospect has proven to be the most skilled player on the German team, showing off remarkable hands and an ability to create space for himself en route to the opposing net. He may not have found the back of the net yet in the tournament, but he’s been extremely close at times. It looks like he’s getting closer, which should bode well for the Germans heading into the Quarterfinals.

Philipp Krening

There are a number of players that could probably fill in this third spot, but Phillipp Krening’s performance versus Austria gives him the edge. Not only was his performance one of the best of the game, but of the day at the World Juniors. He was creating chances, was excellent in possession, and contributed well in his own end. His goal was a rebound to open the scoring in the game versus Austria, adding a great assist on the fourth goal in the game as well. His other assist came in the game against Canada on a German power play, the team’s second goal of the game. Even when his team was down, Krening never gave up in a game, always looking to keep the spark alive for his team.

Biggest Surprise

Nikita Quapp and Germany’s performance versus Sweden

While the pool was always going to be a three-horse race with Canada, Czechia, and Sweden, no one seemed to tell Quapp and the Germans that. Their performance versus Sweden was truly remarkable, with Quapp the saving grace to keep the game close. Of his 43 saves in the game, many of them came in quick bunches. He remained sharp throughout the match, with his impressive technique never seeming to waiver. There were many times when the game could have gotten out of hand, but Quapp stood tall. While he just has one win and two and a half games played, he’s looked like one of the best netminders in the event to this point. He has a tough Quarterfinal matchup against Team USA but look for Quapp to keep it close for his team.

Austria

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

Ian Scherzer - 1-0-1
2. Jonas Dobnig - 1-0-1
3. Vinzenz Rohrer - 0-1-1
4. Luca Auer - 0-1-1
5. Finn van Ee - 0-1-1

Top Three Performers

David Reinbacher

While the Austrian team struggled to get their footing in this event, the play of defenseman David Reinbacher was a true bright spot for the group. The 2023 NHL Draft-eligible stood out as the best player on this team every game, highlighted by a standout performance in the final match versus Germany, doing everything in his power to get his team to the Quarterfinal. The defender put the team on his back every time he was on the ice, producing scoring chances, leading the transition game, and shutting plays down defensively. He’s a big body that plays with a physical edge and has great mobility. He might be leaving the event without a point, but he’s still the top player for this Austrian team.

Ian Scherzer

After Reinbacher, the Austrian team did quite struggle in this event. However, in the fourth and final game of the Preliminary round, 2023 NHL Draft-eligible Ian Scherzer potted the first goal for Austria in the event, after being shut out in their first three games. It was a great shot where he took advantage of the space in front of him and fired it through the netminder. Scherzer was one of the more consistent players throughout the tournament for the team, despite being relied upon heavily as a younger player in this event. He was the team’s 1C and did well in the role, playing heavy minutes.

Vinzenz Rohrer

After missing the first game with an illness, Austrian captain Vinzenz Rohrer returned to the lineup and played the remaining games. While he didn’t collect a point until his primary assist on Scherzer’s goal in the fourth game, he was the heart and soul of this team. Every time he was on the ice, he never took his foot off the gas and battled hard to make something happen for his team. When it didn’t happen on the ice, the Montreal Canadiens prospect showed maturity and poise night in and night out as he faced the media after games. He was giving speeches to the team, trying to get them going, and never seemed to give up faith in himself or the team.

Biggest Surprise

The outstanding play of David Reinbacher

Coming into the tournament, Reinbacher already had first-round attention for the 2023 NHL Draft. However, on a team that was expected to be playing in the relegation game, expectations for the defender were low. But he stood out in every single game, impressing with his ability to stick with his man defensively, get in the lanes to break up plays, and use his feet and vision to lead the transition to the offensive zone. Especially in the final round-robin game versus Germany, where he played over 26 minutes, Reinbacher was a man on a mission and had one of the best performances from a defender in this event. While you can’t put too much stock in one event for the NHL Draft, this has definitely given him a bump further up the first round. He was absolutely one of the most impressive defensemen in the Preliminary round.

2023 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAM PREVIEW – GERMANY

Chapin Landvogt — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 17:28:36 +0000

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 9: Germany's Nikita Quapp #30 makes a glove save against USA in Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on August 9, 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Team Germany - Group A Preview

With Russia and Belarus still in exile, Germany is a team that is widely seen as “belonging” to the world’s top 10, if not top 8, in this age group. Things haven’t always been that way, but this little engine that could has been cementing itself as an up-and-comer for the past few years. The wave of players featuring Mo Seider (DET) and Dominik Bokk (CAR) got the team back into the elite class, then held it there. The wave featuring Stützle (OTT) and Peterka (BUF) put this club in the playoffs. This past summer, the group anchored by blueliners Maks Szuber (ARI) and Luca Münzenberger (EDM) then won the nation two preliminary first round games and launched it to the quarterfinals for the second time in a row - a first in Germany’s history.

For head coach Tobias Abstreiter, one would think there’s nowhere to go but up. However, with relegation once again joining the party, Germany is staring at its toughest task in a while and doing so without the key components of its most recent success. Goaltender Florian Bugl is no longer on board after 2.5 tourneys in which he went a combined 5-2 with a .932 save percentage and 1.99 GAA. The team’s most viable stalwarts on the blueline have now aged out, having done so without anyone coming close to their international and domestic showings in recent years on this winter’s club. Up front, there are no more Bokks or Stützles or Peterkas or even Alexander Blanks. Not a single forward in the group is making much noise in the domestic leagues, much less in the junior ranks of Scandinavia or North America. To top things off, Abstreiter has only had four months to not only accept and remedy this reality, but somehow whip up a new recipe that will keep this nation in the group most experts feel it should be.

What he does have are two goalies in Nikita Quapp and Simon Wolf who could each promptly step into Bugl’s shoes. The drafted Quapp would seem like the heir apparent from the outside looking in, but he’s missed most of the season, having only gotten into three DEL2 games. Wolf may be the go-to guy in Germany’s most “winnable” contests, as he’s been on fire and nearly undefeatable in 10 outings for the Red Bull Juniors in the AlpsHL.

The forward group may lack star power, but it is returning six players from the summer event and four of them already played key roles there, including top scorer Bennet Rossmy and Washington Capitals draft pick Haakon Hänelt. Joining this possible top six are also Arizona 2022 2nd rounder Julian Lutz - widely seen as the top pure forward talent out of Germany since Tim Stützle - and a plethora of options who have spent this season primarily in the DEL or for the RB Juniors in the AlpsHL, so the overall level of pro experience is something to lean on. There’s enough depth there for Ryan Del Monte (10 points in 15 games for the London Knights) and Yannick Proske (30 points for the Spokane Chiefs last season) to enter this event as likely bottom sixers.

This leaves us with the blueline, which is a bag full of question marks. Except for Rayan Bettahar, who recently left the WHL to join the Eisbären Berlin, not a single nominee has notable North American experience. In fact, Bettahar’s recent seven games with Berlin also puts him at the head of the list for blueliners with DEL experience, with the exception of Nils Elten, one of the few returnees from the summer event who has gotten into a handful of DEL contests in each of the last three seasons. Also notable is that with the exception of Philip Sinn of the RB Juniors, who is sporting a +20 rating in the AlpsHL, not a single option is part of his team’s regular power play units. Viewers shouldn’t be surprised if Germany makes use of four forwards on each of its extra man groupings. Five wouldn’t be out of the question, especially in light of Hänelt’s past experience on the blueline. On the bright side, each of the defensive nominees is taking a regular shift playing pro hockey and as a group, only allowed five goals against in a 3-game tournament last month.

Germany enters into group play with what are essentially warm-up games against traditional U20 power Sweden and host Canada, the reigning champion. Then it clashes against an archrival in Austria followed by a neighborly meet-up with a Team Czechia that it has experienced some astounding success against in recent years. For the Germans, that Game 3 against the top relegation candidate is the key to the entire tournament. A victory against an age-old foe would not only likely steer the Germans away from relegation waters, but also thrust them into their third straight quarterfinal appearance. And that’s the only place this team should find itself by the end of the preliminary round. If not, the current team doesn’t match well on paper with any of Latvia, Slovakia or Switzerland, so there’s more on the line for Germany in the preliminary round than just about any other participant.

10 to Watch

Nikita Quapp - G

One of the few NHL draft picks on this team, NHL scouts would love to see a healthy and fit Quapp take the bull by the horns and put his stamp on this tournament. Alas, there’s no telling where he’s at just now as he missed most of the fall with an injury and wasn’t necessarily expected to be back in time for this tournament. His stats the past few years have been less than inspiring, but his size and raw tools are what entice the most. Judging by Abstreiter’s handling of goalies in recent years, there’s a good chance we’ll see Quapp in net against the big boys. But that may be more about saving his ace for the important games.

Simon Wolf - G

Enter, the ace. A veteran of two U18 Worlds, you won’t see any numbers there that speak for the promise of this young man, but he’s been excellent in phases internationally and more importantly, he’s been dominant this season. Playing for an RB Juniors team consisting strictly of players 23 and younger, the 18-year-old has amassed a solid 2.37 GAA and .907 save percentage while compiling a 9-1 record. Chances are that Wolf will be in net for games felt to be winnable, if not crucial.

Rayan Bettahar - D

After a decent first full WHL season in Swift Current followed by a very active and physical showing at the U18 Worlds, it was felt Bettahar would take the next step this season. That didn’t happen in the WHL and instead, he’s brought his physical yeoman-style game to the DEL where he’s gotten off to a +2 start in 7 games. In light of his experience on North American ice, his warrior make-up, and his overall physical disposition, chances are that he’s going to be given every opportunity to establish himself as a top 4, go-to guy on this blueline, like he was for the U18 team last spring.

Nils Elten - D

Possibly the only righty shot on Germany’s blueline, Elten is a 6’2”, 196-pound two-way defender who already saw some action this summer and didn’t look out of place. Back home, he’s gotten into DEL games for Iserlohn each of the last three seasons, but plays primarily in Germany’s 3rd tier Oberliga, where he’s seen as a top 4 defender. We mention him here because if any of the blueliners can be expected to rise to the occasion and play “above his market value” in Halifax, it should be Elten. He has a bit of a cult following among prospect buffs in Germany, so it’s high time he shows the international community why.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 27: Germany vs Czech Republic preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 27, 2021 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Adrian Klein - D

Solidly built at 6’3” and 212 pounds, Klein was a top 5 defender this past summer and the defenseman with the most experience returning for Germany. He’s a three-year DEL veteran, although he’s spent this and last season splitting with the DEL2 affiliate of his club, the Straubing Tigers. He’s shown himself to be able to make a safe first pass and has no qualms in applying his size and brawn to his duties of defending. A quarterfinal appearance will require Klein to be a top 3 quality defender who hopefully functioned as a sponge this summer in seeing what the Szubers, Glötzls, and Münzenbergers of the world were doing so well.

Bennet Rossmy - C/LW

It’s always good to have your top scorer from a previous WJC back on board. It was five points for Rossmy this past summer and now he may even be staring at a No. 1 center job to open this tournament. Alas, Rossmy isn’t exactly having a season to write home about back in Germany. Although he has been playing DEL hockey all year, it’s mostly been as a 4th line forward for a reigning champ that has spent the majority of the season at the bottom of the standings. Surrounded by established international talent, Rossmy has just one goal and four points in 26 games. Rest assured that the 6’4” undrafted hustler will be looking to use this tournament to turn around his whole season.

Luca Hauf - RW/C

Hauf was a cog for the U18 team last spring but saw very little ice time at the WJC this past summer, being used in a limited manner in games where little was on the line. He then headed over to join the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, where he kicked things off with just two points in his first 14 games, both in his third contest. With things looking down for both Hauf and the Oil Kings, he proceeded to put up 13 points in his next 15 games. Thus, he’s heading to Western Canada on a bit of a hot streak and seems to understand what it takes to score on North American ice. The timing of this “click” couldn’t be better because that is exactly the shot in the arm this team is going to need. Expect him in a top six role and on the first power play unit.

Haakon Hänelt - C/LW

Hänelt has missed a lot of time in recent years. In addition to lost time in each of the past three seasons, he also missed the entire U18 Worlds in 2021, a tournament in which he was supposed to serve as the team’s captain. This past summer, he showed that he’s a top six forward for Team Germany. His intelligent and gutsy play, paired with some nifty mitts, allowed him to make a considerable impact in each of the team’s victories. He’ll be here to push the pace for Germany and help create a potent first line. Then again, his stats in the Q the past two seasons do not indicate that he’s going to be a threat in the goal-scoring department.

Julian Lutz - F

We continue to use the word “mercurial” when referring to Julian Lutz, who just hasn’t been able to explode in any sense of the word thus far. After missing most of last season and then jumping straight into DEL play, Lutz has gotten into 13 games of action this season and collected six assists. In a way, his slower pace in being broken into a role on this veteran-laden club is commemorative of how Munich and coach Don Jackson once went to work with JJ Peterka. But the lack of goals and a regular shift isn’t ideal. Now he’s going to bat for Germany internationally again and the last time we saw that, namely at the U18 Worlds in April, he spent most of the games placing too much pressure on himself and overcomplicating just about everything in trying to carry the team on his back. He doesn’t have to do that here, so hopefully he’ll find the space - and serenity - to be the high level impact player his tools say he can be.

Nikolaus Heigl - C/RW

Just an average 5’10” and 175 pounds, “Klausy” and his twin brother Thomas have been part of the German program for years now, constantly making teams ahead of names people thought would leave these guys in their dust. Such was the case at the WJC this past summer as well. Now Heigl enters this tournament as one of the most unrecognizable key players on any of the teams. He’s simply a jack of all trades and cherished by the coaching staff. In addition, he and brother join fellow forward Quirin Bader as a “fix” line, as the trio is currently the RB Juniors top unit in the AlpsHL where Heigl has missed some time to injury but has 26 points in 14 games. He’s also suited up eight times for Austrian champion Salzburg in the ICEHL this season and will surely have a vested interest in defeating the Austrians in Game 3.

Sleeper:

Philip Krening - C

After a nice 21-22 season with the RB Juniors in which an injury kept him sidelined longer than he’d have liked, the creative Krening was one of Germany’s better producers (three assists) at last spring’s U18 Worlds. Fully unexpected was his start in this season in which he suited up for Munich of the DEL for six games while several players were injured, collecting two points in the process. He has since been filling middle line duties for the RB Juniors again for whom he’s chipped in 10 points in 12 games. Krening is a smart and resourceful player who can complement more talented offensive options. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him alongside a few at this tournament.

EUROPEAN PROSPECT MUSINGS: 2022-23 European Leagues Underway with Notable Performances

Chapin Landvogt — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 18:24:17 +0000

European Prospect Musings - #1 for the 22-23 Season

The European leagues are all underway and most already played anywhere from six to 20 games this season, meaning a whole lot of names in the prospect world have started shining brightly. Or, well, brighter. A look across the major leagues continues to show continued use of U21 players in regular roles while some second league teams are sporting a bunch of young men worth watching, particularly those already drafted.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable players and situations thus far in this young season.

Sweden

Örebro's Leo Carlsson during the SHL ice hockey match between Örebro and Oskarshamn on September 24, 2022 in Örebro.
Photo: Fredrik Karlsson / BILDBYRÅN

For a league still widely considered the best pro European circuit west of the KHL, SHL teams opened up the season with rosters chock full of interest for NHL teams. One of the most watched teams this winter will be Örebro HK, because forward Leo Carlsson, who already collected nine points in 35 SHL games last season as a 16/17-year-old, is widely regarded as a top 15 prospect in next summer’s draft. He was part of Sweden’s U18 outfit that took gold last spring, but only got into two matches (2-1-3), so the scouting world didn’t get to gush over him in the same manner it did for the team’s big horses. More on that in a second.

For now, rest assured that Carlsson’s star is on the rise. In eight games thus far, he’s already put up seven points, including two goals, while seeing his fair share of top six minutes. That has him tied for 11th in league-wide scoring. That also has him firmly on top of the prospect charts in the SHL and also ahead of the next closest NHL property, Columbus’ Samuel Johannesson, whose six points in eight games isn’t all that shabby either, especially in light of his being a defenseman.

But now back to those big horses at the U18 tournament, four of whom are now dressing for Djurgarden of the Hockey Allsvenskan, the nation’s second highest tier of pro hockey. Built to gain quick promotion, each of Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Liam Ohgren, Noah Ostlund, and Calle Odelius, listed in the order they were drafted this past summer, is a regular thus far and all have gotten at least one point to date. The ever creative Ostlund leads the way with three assists. Vegas prospect Carl Lindbom builds part of the goaltending tandem to boot.

Coming into the season, we were looking to see big things from defenseman Theo Lindstein, who did seem to be likely to kick things off with Brynas of the SHL. Instead, he’s been a 17-year-old on the U20 team and has four points and a +7 in six contests. Also gaining note as a first time draft eligible currently in Sweden’s U20 circuit is forward Noah Dower Nilsson. Ah, that name will look familiar as he is the younger brother of Detroit’s 2021 5th rounder Liam, who is taking a regular shift for Frolunda (two assists in eight games just now). Fascinating here is that Liam had five goals in 16 U20 level games his draft year, but little brother Noah is raising eyebrows with 12 goals, 18 points, and a +7 in just 11 U20 games this season, making him the league’s second most deadly goal scorer. He continues to be one to watch all winter long.

One team that can be happy with its Swedish first rounder from this past summer is the San Jose Sharks. Having just concluded their European tour, the Sharks organization have seen young, hulking forward Filip Bystedt put up four points in eight SHL games. This can be seen as a bit of a relief because the upside of his production was really one of the biggest questions this past summer when assessing where exactly this technically sound forward should be drafted.

On the overager front, we’ll continue to be very interested in seeing what the undrafted Ake Stakkestad does this season. After a very noticeable WJC, the take-no-prisoners Stakkestad is a key part of the attack for Allsvenskan club Karlskoga. He’s put up five points in their first six games, something you love to see from a kid who clearly feels he’s been overlooked for several drafts now.

Finland

Across the Baltic Sea bay in Finland, a number of youngsters found themselves in the opening day line-ups of their respective Liiga teams, and even more for some of the Mestis clubs. Things have evened out as many have since found themselves back on the respective junior teams, but a few draftees have definitely raised an eyebrow or two. Eetu Liukas of the New York Islanders has gone from a successful 4th line role with Finland’s summer WJC club to a first line banger role for HPK. With six points and a +3 in 12 games, Liukas has surpassed expectations while his 37 penalty minutes indicate he’s doing just what’s to be expected from a guy who bangs and gets under opponents’ skin. Some in those parts feel there’s a real Esa Tikkanen aspect to this young man. But he’s bigger!

Seattle can also be happy with the progress of recent 2022 pick Jani Nyman, who started the season with Ilves U20 squad. But five goals and six points in two games quickly had him up and in the line-up for their Liiga team, with which he now has four goals and six points in seven games. At the same time, forwards Patrik Puistola (CAR), Joakim Kemell (NAS), Roni Hirvonen (TOR), Aku Raty (ARI), and Antti Saarela (CHI) are all scoring at just over 0.5 points per game. But to be clear, there’s no Leo Carlsson style prospect making his way through Liiga action at this point. Many hoped it would be 6’3, 207-pound Kasper Halttunen, who has suited up seven times for HIFK, but only has one assist. Of course, he’s got nine points in five games with the team’s U20 team and we’re talking about a big boy who won’t turn 18 until next June.

Of course, all eyes are on defenseman Aron Kiviharju. Yes, yes, we’re talking about a 16-year-old who is only 5’10” and 165 pounds, but after his top four minutes at the U18, including PP time, the scouting community has been waiting anxiously to see if this kid can already hold his own in Liiga play. A real maybe for Finland’s WJC team and an absolute certainty for their U18 team in Switzerland next spring, Kiviharju has six assists and a +7 in eight games for his club’s U20 team. Again, he’s just 16 and has gotten into four Liiga games, seeing 9-14 minutes per match.

Germany

As Germany’s season kicked off, Arizona draft picks Julian Lutz and Maks Szuber were part of the equation for Munich, but just two of many options the returning finalist has in a year where it is a heavy favorite. Each is playing a minimal role for the loaded favorite. More interesting thus far has been the play of former St. Louis Blues 1st rounder Dominik Bokk, now a property of the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s lacing up his skates for the newly promoted Frankfurt Lions after having won the championship with Berlin last season. But truth be told, his role with the champion last spring was rather minimal, as was his playoff production. His role now is much more critical for Frankfurt as the team needs Bokk to spearhead the offense, something he hasn’t been able to do for any of his clubs in recent years.

Et voila - enter the 22-23 season. No doubts thus far that he understands his expectations and what this season means to him moving forward! After nine games, he’s got eight goals, 12 points, and a +10 rating, making him the most lethal player in the league to date. It’s what you want to see for a guy who has looked as derailed as a prospect as he has.

Also of note in this short season is 5’10, 183-pound Nikita Krymskiy. You shouldn’t know him, but he was a part of Team Germany at last spring’s U18 Worlds, where he got into two games. He was actually coming off an interesting season where he had a half a point per game in Germany’s third pro circuit but was then surprisingly recruited by the Krefeld Penguins of the DEL2, a team widely expected to make its way back into the DEL next spring. Thus far, the still 18-year-old Krymskiy has four goals and six points in seven games, making him the highest scoring U21 player in the league and 4th best on a team filled with players featuring predominantly higher league experience.

Also a part of Team Germany’s U18 team last spring, forward Philipp Krening very quietly collected three assists in four games at that tourney after coming off an injury-plagued winter that only allowed him to get into 16 AlpsHL games for the Red Bull Juniors, in which he still put up 10 points. As such, it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise that he kicked off the year with Munich of the DEL, collecting two points in six games. Once a few players returned to the line-up, he was sent back to the juniors, where he put up four points in two contests and is now looking to take a regular shift for Red Bull Salzburg of the ICEHL, which is one step down from the DEL. Yes, it can all get a bit confusing, but Krening has debuted there strongly, already getting his first assist in Salzburg’s most recent CHL game. If he can keep this up, the setback during his initial draft year may end up only having been just that - a setback.

A very interesting development is taking place in Nuremberg, where a 21-year old Elis Hede has looked real good in his first two DEL games of the season (one game-winning goal). Of note is that the Finnish national was basically raised in Germany, where his father spent most of his career. If you recognize the name, it’s probably because after spending a good portion of his teens with the Red Bull Academy, he laced up his skates for the Chicago Steel of the USHL for the 19-20 season. After two complete seasons as a solid lower line option for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga, the Ice Tigers’ GM - former Washington Capital Stefan Ustorf - quickly snatched Hede off the market as the youngster believes he’s made for greater things offensively. And now he appears to be in just the right place to make that happen.

Russia

No season has been in progress longer thus far than Russia’s, and we don’t need to get into the clouds hanging heavily over Russia’s ice hockey scene in these worrying times.

One thing of note we’d quickly like to point out is that It took top 2023 draft prospect Mikhail Gulyayev just SIX games to pick up a point in all three major Russian hockey leagues (MHL, VHL, & KHL) this season. The 2023 draft eligible defenseman has spent the bulk of the season with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, for whom he has a single assist in 10 games. That has been notable.

But the KHL isn’t exactly chock full of youngsters playing key roles. Minnesota first rounder Danila Yurov kicked things off well with three points in the first four games, but now only has four total in 17 games. This is something that hasn’t been uncommon for players his age. The most effective young draftees have clearly been last year’s rising star, Winnipeg’s Dmitri Rashevsky (14 points in 18 games), and now Colorado’s Nikolai Kovalenko (10 points in nine games). These mid-round picks are making noise for their respective teams while Carolina defender Alexander Nikishin is one of the league’s top-scoring defenseman with 10 points in 17 games. A few others like Mikhail Vorobyov (PHI) and Zakhar Bardakov (NJD) are clipping at a pace of 0.5 points per game for the first 18 games of the season.

For the nation’s second tier league, VHL, we’ll be closely watching LA Kings’ draft pick Kirill Kirsanov. The well-built, high-flying defender has nine points in the first 10 games for St. Petersburg’s farm team and has added another five in four games for the U20 outfit. He’s having the type of season that should have him banging on the door to the KHL by Christmas. In better times, he’d surely be a topflight candidate for a WJC team.

FRISCO, TX USA - MAY 1: Russia's Matvei Michkov #17 skates to the bench after scoring a third period goal against the Czech Republic during preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on May 1, 2021 in Frisco, TX USA. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

In the nation’s MHL, top 2023 draft prospect Matei Michkov does have five points in four games but had been out a good while with an injury after a preseason check at the KHL level. His time to shine will surely come as the season progresses. Third in league scoring right now is 5’7” Yegor Klimovich, who is just 17 and has, well, 17 points in 13 games. It’s impressive at that age for a U21 league, size be damned. But the team that can perhaps be happiest with MHL output thus far is Detroit. We knew that Dmitri Buchelnikov was pretty amazing with his 41 goals and 75 points in 56 MHL contests last season, but the eight points in two games this year has him looking far too good for this league. He has eight KHL contests under his belt this season, with but one goal to show for them. It should be noted that there are dozens of players in this league who are currently above or hovering around a point-per-game pace.

Czech Republic

The most prospect-worthy news from the Czechia was and continues to be up-n-comers Eduard Sale and Jakub Dvorak. The left winger who was clearly one of the best players at last spring’s U18 tourney, Sale looked great again this summer and now has five points in eight top league games for Brno. Meanwhile, the 6’5”, 203-pound Dvorak has been plugging away in lower pairing minutes for Liberec, suiting up for all nine games and collecting an assist and +3 rating. More and more is indicating that we’ll be seeing both at this winter’s WJC and that each could be first rounders in next summer’s draft. That’s a surefire thing for Sale, with the only real question being how much he can make himself a topic for the top 10?

There are plenty out there who see this young man having a very productive NHL career and we’re among them.

PECULIAR::

In one of the odder prospect stories, Seattle Kraken springtime free agent signee Sam Bucek, a 23-year old former member of the USHL’s Chicago Steel and QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes who scored 54 goals in 69 top league games in Slovakia last season, broke off his engagement with Seattle this summer in order to sign with Neftekhimik of the KHL. One can only imagine in today’s heated international climate that this odd move was surely financially motivated. Well, his time in the KHL has already come to an end after six scoreless games. He is once again a free agent for the highest bidder, should there now be such a thing.