Justin Barron – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #7 Montreal Canadiens

Josh Bell — Tue, 23 May 2023 22:03:35 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 7^th (6^th last year)

After an almost ten-year reign by Marc Bergevin, former player agent Kent Hughes took over the controls as Montreal’s GM in January 2022. He inherited two foundation pieces in Nick Suzuki (23-years-old) and Cole Caulfield (22) to build around, along with some strong pieces in a deep pipeline. Hughes wasted no time getting busy and putting his stamp on the team, trading Tyler Toffoli for a first, fourth, fifth, plus Tyler Pitlick in February. In March he sent Ben Chiarot for a first, fourth and Ty Smilanic. He also traded Artturi Lehkonen for Justin Barron (Montreal’s 4^th ranked prospect) and a second. At the draft in July, he moved Alex Romanov for a first, 13^th overall, which he quickly dispatched for 22-year-old Kirby Dach. Later in the summer he took on Sean Monahan’s salary for a first-round pick. Monahan played well for the Canadiens and will have value on the trade market. When the dust had settled, the Habs find themselves with five first-round picks for the next three drafts. For 2022 they have 11 total picks. Likely packaged to move up or acquire roster players.

Hughes has put a premium on character in the players he acquires and is not afraid to move picks for the right player. How he deploys those assets is anyone’s guess. They made six picks in the first three rounds in 2022, including the number one overall pick in Juraj Slafkovsky. Second round pick Lane Hutson has been rocketing up most prospect rankings with a remarkable season, is #38 on our list and looking like a steal. It is still too early to draw a lot of conclusions on Hughes’ tenure, but early signs are positive and there is an energy about the franchise. He and President, Jeff Gorton, are putting resources into analytics as well as prospect development, a weakness for the team in the past. The returns remain to be seen but a bright outlook for now.

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 18: Boston University Terriers defenseman Lane Hutson (20) carries the puck during the Hockey East Championship game between the Boston University Terriers and the Merrimack College Warriors on March 18, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Lane Hutson

Standing at 5-foot-10, 161 pounds, there have been a large number of doubters when it comes to Lane Hutson. This was despite an over-point-per-game performance with the USNTDP as a defender in his draft year. Skip forward to this season, and what Hutson has done in the NCAA as a freshman is nothing short of remarkable. Scoring the most points for a defender at his age since Brian Leetch, Hutson was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award after collecting 48 points in his 38 games. He’s an extremely fun player to watch due to how well he sees the game and how light on his feet he is. He can dance along the blue line or storm up in transition, creating chances in the process. His defensive game seems to have improved from his draft year, with excellent positioning, quick attacks, and an active stick getting in lanes. With the path he’s on, the NHL is just a matter of time.

2. Joshua Roy

Coming into the QMJHL in 2019-20 as the first-overall pick in 2019, there was a ton of excitement around the young forward. He played well in his rookie season, setting the stage for a strong draft year. He was good in that season as well but didn’t take the step forward that was hoped. Still, the Canadiens bet on him, selecting him 150th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. He responded with a 119-point season, leading the league in points and getting a nod as a First-Team All-Star. He’s followed that up with another dominant QMJHL season this year. He’s an excellent possession player, protecting the puck well with quick, creative hands. His small-area game is excellent. He’s done very well at adjusting his game in the moment. He seems like a safe bet to be a top-nine contributor and is a candidate to make the jump next season.

3. Sean Farrell

It’s no longer a question of when Sean Farrell will make the jump to the NHL since the young prospect has already made that jump. After a strong season in the USHL, Farrell slid in the 2020 NHL Draft all the way to the Canadiens' 124th pick, which they didn’t hesitate on. He responded with a 101-point season with the Chicago Steel where he was named USHL and USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then made the jump to Harvard University, performing over a point per game in his freshman season. This year he took another big step forward and was named a Hobey Baker Award Finalist. The Habs rewarded him with an NHL contract, and he made the jump to the league. Farrell is a smaller player at 5-foot-9, 174-pounds, but his offensive intelligence shines every time he hits the ice. He’s well on his way to becoming a top-six offensive factor.

4. Justin Barron

A prospect that won’t be on this list for much longer, Justin Barron seems to already have carved a role out for himself with the Canadiens. He’s been just as strong in the NHL as he has been in the AHL this season. After missing significant time in his draft year due to a blood clot, Barron slid in the 2020 NHL Draft to the Colorado Avalanche at the 25th-overall spot. While he missed some time in the following season as well, the youngster has seemed to be more than back on track in his development since, jumping to the AHL in 2021-22. The Avs sent Barron to the Canadiens in exchange for Artturi Lehkonen, and Barron has been thriving in the new organization. He should stick as a bottom-four defender in the league thanks to his consistent defending, his above-average puck movement, and his intelligence on the ice.

5. Owen Beck

Selected in the most recent draft, 33rd overall, Owen Beck is one of the many OHLers the lost their entire 2020-21 season due to the pandemic. He came back in 2021-22 as an OHL rookie that lost a season and impressed, being named to the Second All-Rookie Team and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. He’s taken another step forward this season, thanks to his drives through the middle of the ice, his blazing speed, and his ability to dictate the pace of play. That resulted in a nod to Team Canada at the 2023 World Juniors where he won a gold medal and an emergency call-up to the NHL where he played one game with the Canadiens. Look for Beck to make the move to the AHL next season as he looks to carve his role out as a strong 3C in the NHL and a player that can play in any situation.

6. Filip Mesar

After selecting Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Canadiens continued to look to Slovakia in the first round and nabbed Filip Mesar at 26th overall. The winger already had two seasons of men’s hockey under his belt, playing with HK Poprad in the top-Slovak men’s league. He was immediately signed and came overseas, nearly made the NHL roster, nearly stuck in the AHL, but ultimately was sent to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers for the year. He’s a very strong skater that excels at getting off the wall and plays with a high level of confidence. He plays hard and fast, enough to help him succeed in the NHL. He might not be an overly offensive player in the NHL, but he’ll be a consistent contributor that impacts the game on every shift, likely in a middle-six role. He should jump to the AHL - at least - next season.

7. Logan Mailloux

There’s an asterisk next to Logan Mailloux’s name as a Canadiens prospect due to comments earlier this year from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. He noted that if and when the team wants to bring him to the NHL, they’ll review the situation. But he did leave the door open for “redemption and rehabilitation” so Mailloux’s future remains to be seen. The defender is a big body at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds that plays an extremely confident game. He’s always ready to carry the puck on his own or jump into the rush. He does need to work on his timing with this though, as he can get caught taking risks and making poor decisions. He has a very hard shot and isn’t afraid to get physical. If all things work out for Mailloux, he has the potential to be a second-line defender, but this story doesn’t seem to be over just yet.

8. Riley Kidney

Riley Kidney is a player that just seems to make consistent forward progress in his development. Ever since hitting the QMJHL in 2019-20, his stock has been rising, leading to back-to-back 100+ point seasons in the league. As is a theme with Canadiens prospects, they selected him 63rd-overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, just before his first 100-point explosion. While he’s shown he can bury the puck, it’s his playmaking ability that truly stands out, displaying excellent vision and a knack for creating chances. He continues to get better and better and creates opportunities for himself as well, getting to the middle of the ice regularly. He’s strong off the puck as well, as a competitive player who always looks to get the puck back. He likely fits as a strong, bottom-six forward that’s a candidate to move up when needed. His transition to the next level will be telling of how his game translates though.

9. Jesse Ylonen

It’s been a long, patient road for Jesse Ylonen, drafted back in 2018, 35th overall by the Canadiens. The forward was playing in the Mestis at that point, as a rookie and had a good year. After being drafted, he spent two seasons in the Liiga with the Pelicans, starting the 2020-21 season there as well on loan during the pandemic. Once the AHL and NHL seasons started up, Ylonen headed over seasons and has been bouncing between the leagues ever since. He’s going to be a graduate before this coming season’s end, but how he looks as an NHLer remains to be seen with all the young talent in the system. He’s a good skater that plays a hard, intelligent game. He’s floated around the top nine this season, but looking at all the pieces that should become part of the team in the next few seasons, he likely slots in as a strong bottom-six winger.

10. Jakub Dobes

Czech netminder Jakub Dobes has had an interesting path up to this point in his career. After starting his career in Czechia, he came over to the United States in 2017-18, playing 18U AAA. He moved up to the NAHL and USHL in 2019-20 and that was enough for the Canadiens who called his name 136th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. After one more year in the USHL, he moved to the NCAA where he seemed to take his game to the next level. In his first year with Ohio State University, he was named to the All-Rookie and First All-Star teams in the Big Ten division while being honoured as Rookie of the Year and Best Goalie as well. He has good size and his positioning in the crease is very strong. He recently signed his entry-level contract and will likely spend some time in the AHL before he gets a taste of NHL action.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 Prospect Rankings – Risers and Fallers

Brock Otten — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 20:51:54 +0000

As we release the 2022/23 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook, it is time to reflect back on the last calendar year to see which NHL prospects have raised their stock the most…and which have seen their stock fall.

If you recall, in last year’s yearbook our top rated prospect was Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras. He went on to finish second in Calder Trophy voting to our former sixth rated prospect, Moritz Seider. Our second rated prospect last year, Buffalo’s Owen Power, makes a return appearance on the list and is now our number one ranked prospect in hockey. Where will Power ultimately rank in Calder trophy voting at the end of the 2023 season?

First, let’s look at some of the prospects whose strong seasons propelled them up our top prospect’s list (organized by last year’s ranking):

You can access the full list by linking here.

Risers

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 05: Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) skates with the puck during the first period in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on October 5, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Jack Quinn - Buffalo Sabres

Movement: (37 to 11)

The 2022 AHL Rookie of the Year, Quinn emerged as one of the top forward prospects outside of the NHL last season; a bounce back campaign after an injury plagued rookie pro year. Quinn’s high IQ, terrific shot, and strong two-way acumen makes him not only a near shoe-in to be a top nine NHL forward, but also a strong Calder trophy candidate this season.

Xavier Bourgault - Edmonton Oilers

Movement: (60 to 27)

The 22nd overall selection in 2021, Bourgault had a terrific post draft season, helping to lead Shawinigan to a QMJHL Championship. The talented winger has worked hard to round out his offensive profile and will begin his pro career this season in the Oilers system.

Brennan Othmann - Flint Firebirds

Movement: (78 to 33)

The list of players who have scored 50 goals in their 19 year old post NHL draft OHL season is not extremely long. The competitive goal scorer can hammer the puck and his combination of tenaciousness and scoring ability is rare among prospects.

JJ Peterka - Buffalo Sabres

Movement: (80 to 22)

Peterka is coming off the best U20 season in the AHL in this millennium, beating Patrice Bergeron, who scored 61 points in 2005 and Mikko Rantanen, who scored 60 in 2016. That’s some impressive company. His speed and offensive awareness make him a potential star for the Sabres.

ABBOTSFORD, BC - SEPTEMBER 27: Calgary Flames Left Wing Jakob Pelletier (49) plays the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during their NHL preseason game at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre on September 27, 2021 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire)

Jakob Pelletier - Calgary Flames

Movement: (89 to 39)

Entering his first pro season with Stockton, the offensive upside of the smaller, but tenacious former first round pick was a bit of a mystery. However, he passed his first test with flying colours by averaging nearly a point per game with Stockton and now has positioned himself to earn a spot with Calgary this season.

Kirill Marchenko - Columbus Blue Jackets

Movement: (91 to 37)

The big Russian winger will finally make the trek to North America this season where he has a good shot of cracking Columbus’ top nine. Another solid goal scoring year in the KHL has him moving up our list.

Mavrik Bourque - Dallas Stars

Movement: (99 to 31)

Like Bourgault, Bourque captured a QMJHL Championship with Shawinigan last season. However, Bourque was the MVP of the playoffs and had a terrific Memorial Cup to boot. He is one of the smartest prospects outside of the NHL and has progressed extremely well since being drafted.

Scott Perunovich - St. Louis Blues

Movement: (102 to 43)

After an injury wiped out Perunovich’s first pro season, he was excellent in his “true” debut last year, split between the NHL and AHL. He looks like an offensive star in the making on the blueline and his NHL metrics were terrific in a limited role.

Logan Stankoven - Dallas Stars

Movement: (104 to 30)

Maybe Stankoven should have been drafted earlier in 2021? The early results have been spectacular for the undersized forward. He was the 2022 CHL Player of the Year and was a key player for Canada at the recent WJC’s during their race to a gold medal.

Olen Zellweger - Anaheim Ducks

Movement: (119 to 28)

Speaking of players who should have been selected higher, insert the dynamic Zellweger. Not only was Zellweger the WHL’s top defenseman this past season, but he was one of the best at the recent WJC’s, playing a top pairing role for Canada. He has already emerged as one of the top defensive prospects on the planet.

Brock Faber - Minnesota Wild

Movement: (142 to 72)

The major piece in the Kevin Fiala trade, Faber moved from the Kings to the hometown Wild. He will return to the University of Minnesota for his junior year but his work internationally for the United States has really turned heads in the scouting community.

Dustin Wolf - Calgary Flames

Movement: (154 to 45)

Never underestimate the smaller netminder. How Wolf would adjust to the AHL level was a bit of a mystery, coming off back to back WHL goaltender of the year awards. He passed the test with flying colours, capturing the AHL’s goaltender of the year award too. Is the next step the Vezina?

Wyatt Johnston - Dallas Stars

Movement: (158 to 16)

Easily one of the OHL’s most improved players last season, Johnston dominated the league on route to capturing a Red Tilson trophy as the league’s top player. He controls the play at both ends of the ice and will push for a roster spot in Dallas sooner, rather than later.

Luke Evangelista - Nashville Predators

Movement: (189 to 67)

Not only was Evangelista the OHL’s goal scoring leader last season, but he worked hard to improve his play without the puck and strength on it. By becoming a more consistently dangerous player, he has greatly improved his projection as an NHL player.

Bobby Brink - Philadelphia Flyers

Movement: (201 to 64)

A finalist for the Hobey Baker last season, Brink helped the University of Denver capture an NCAA title. There are still some concerns over his skating, but he’s just so skilled and intelligent. Unfortunately, Brink underwent hip surgery in late July and will miss a large majority of his first pro season.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) against the New York Rangers during Game 6 of round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs on May 28, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Pyotr Kochetkov - Carolina Hurricanes

Movement: (235 to 71)

The former high second round selection is coming off a season that saw him establish himself as one of the elite goaltending prospects in hockey. Ignore the challenges in the NHL playoffs after he was thrust into the role. Focus on how dominant he was at the AHL level and in the KHL before crossing the pond.

Jordan Spence - Los Angeles Kings

Movement: (249 to 62)

How can you not be impressed with what Spence was able to do in his first pro season? He dominated the AHL level and even looked right at home in the NHL across 24 games (barely keeping his Calder eligibility). There is no doubt that he processes the game well enough to provide an offensive spark from the blueline at the NHL level.

Devon Levi - Buffalo Sabres

Movement: (279 to 34)

The player who makes the largest jump in our rankings, Levi has been remarkable over the last twelve months, establishing himself as one of the top goaltending prospects on the planet. He was this past year’s Mike Richter award winner as the top goalie in the NCAA. His play tracking and positioning are elite.

Matthew Knies - Toronto Maple Leafs

Movement: (283 to 61)

A power winger coming off of a tremendous freshman season with the University of Minnesota, Knies is proving that he should have been drafted higher in 2021. He will return as a sophomore and expectations will be high.

Arseni Gritsyuk - New Jersey Devils

Movement: (NR to 63)

The KHL’s rookie of the year last season, Gritsyuk was remarkable for Avangard Omsk across the regular season and playoffs. He also helped Russia win a silver medal at the Olympics. The former fifth round pick has quickly gone from an under the radar mystery to one of the top young players in Europe.

Scott Morrow - Carolina Hurricanes

Movement: (NR to 74)

An enigma as a draft eligible player, Morrow was thought of as a high upside, but project selection in 2021. However, his performance as a freshman for UMass was terrific, finishing second in team scoring as a defender. The key moving forward will be his development as a defensive player, but the skating ability and skill level are dynamic.

Now let’s look at some of the prospects who fell down our list for various reasons. These are organized according to their rank in last year’s yearbook:

Fallers

Victor Soderstrom - Arizona Coyotes

Movement: (26 to 111)

The 11th overall pick in 2019, Soderstrom has yet to find his way to a full time NHL role, despite limited talent and depth in Arizona. His play in the AHL hasn’t been poor, but it hasn’t been eye opening either. A mobile, two-way defender, one has to wonder if his NHL upside is truly significant. He still looks like a future NHL defender, but it might be in more of a supporting role and not a lead one.

Chaz Lucius - Winnipeg Jets

Movement: (36 to 144)

Realistically, part of this fall comes from a likely overrank by us in last year’s yearbook. The other part comes from an average freshman year with the University of Minnesota that saw him battle injuries yet again. Now Lucius has left college after only one year, despite the fact that he might not be ready for the AHL. Does Winnipeg find a spot in the WHL for him to help him improve his quickness and strength, while also respecting his injury history?

Connor Zary - Calgary Flames

Movement: (45 to 266)

Heading into this season, his first as a pro, there was already some concern that Zary’s development had plateaued in the WHL. After a poor rookie year with Stockton, the concerns over his quickness and pace appear even more real. Is Zary going to be more than a potential third line center? This will be a big season for him.

Justin Barron - Montreal Canadiens

Movement: (64 to 164)

Now a member of the Montreal Canadiens after coming over from Colorado in the Lehkonen trade, Barron didn’t have a poor first pro season. However, at this point, what have injuries done to his development? He even missed the end of the past season with an ankle injury, preventing him from finishing out the year with Montreal in the NHL. The athletic tools are enticing, but he might end up settling into more of a supporting role as a pro without high end processing ability.

Oskar Olausson - Colorado Avalanche

Movement: (67 to 245)

Expectations were very high for Olausson as he signed on to play in the OHL a year ago. However, his OHL season was not an impressive one, split between Barrie and Oshawa. He struggled with decision making and shot selection, which makes one wonder about the likelihood of him reaching his middle six upside as a pro.

Ozzy Wiesblatt - San Jose Sharks

Movement: (68 to 216)

Granted, Prince Albert (WHL) was a pretty low scoring team this year, but any time a 20-year CHL player takes a step backwards offensively, it rings alarm bells. This is especially true considering Wiesblatt has always been considered more of a high energy, middle six type. Now, his projection looks like more of a high energy, bottom six type.

Jacob Bernard Docker - Ottawa Senators

Movement: (92 to Honorable Mention)

The offensive production and confidence have not translated to the pro level since JBD has turned pro. He’s still a solid presence in the defensive zone, but he is also in danger of being passed by others on the depth chart. At this point, is JBD more than a potential bottom six defender?

John Beecher - Boston Bruins

Movement: (109 to 234)

Beecher, unquestionably, still looks like a future NHL center. The combination of size, physicality, and quickness is still likely to make him a contributor in some way. However, the offensive game just never developed at Michigan, and he now turns pro. He could move quickly through Boston’s system, but the upside is likely quite limited.

Noel Gunler - Carolina Hurricanes

Movement: (113 to 242)

The big winger is actually coming off his best season to date in the SHL and showed glimpses of greatness at the end of the year in the AHL. However, consistency remains a big issue for him, the same as it was when he was drafted early in the second round in 2020. At this point, we just aren’t as comfortable ranking him highly and prefer others in that top 200 range.

William Stromgren - Calgary Flames

Movement: (116 to Honorable Mention)

It is way too early to give up on Stromgen considering he was only recently drafted by Calgary, but they have to be somewhat discouraged by his post draft year where he failed to reach the point per game mark in the Swedish J20 league and failed to secure a more permanent role in the SHL. The speedy sniper will look to take the next step this year, however, he remains a long-term project.

David Farrance - NHL Free Agent

Movement: (134 to Not Ranked)

The former Boston University standout did not get a qualifying offer from Nashville and remains an NHL free agent after signing an AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves. The former Hobey Baker finalist’s first pro season was not an impressive one and he will now have to fight an uphill battle to become prospect relevant again.

Michael Dipietro - Vancouver Canucks

Movement: (144 to Honorable Mention)

Dipietro’s development path has been less than traditional thus far. The Canucks’ decision to keep him on the pandemic taxi squad, rather than have him get consistent starts in the AHL, remains a head scratcher. The relationship between him and Canucks management seems strained too. Dipietro still has NHL potential, but he needs to show that he can be a quality and consistent AHL netminder first.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 19:11:53 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - JULY 07: Montreal Canadiens pick Juraj Slafkovsky stands between management during the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on July 07, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Juraj Slafkovsky LW

What a year it has been for the 2022 1^st overall pick. A big, powerful skater who has already proven himself at the men’s level like no other player in his draft, Slafkovsky is believed by many to be ready to step straight into Montreal’s line-up. His incredibly long 21-22 season saw Slafkovsky kick things off with nine points in seven Hlinka Gretzky Cup on his way to a silver medal. The powerful winger then spent the season with Finnish Liiga club TPS, where he put up seven goals and 17 points in 49 total games. In the middle of all that, he enjoyed a transformative Olympics to remember, where he represented his bronze-medal winning country by leading the whole tournament with seven goals in 7 games. His season concluded in the quarterfinals of the men’s World Championship, where he contributed an astounding three goals and nine points in eight games. In between, he represented his country in qualifying for the Olympics and at the cancelled WJC this past winter. Measuring 6’4” and 220 pounds, Slafkovsky is a multifaceted physical specimen who has the size and physical demeanor most teams only dream of, which he combines with some of the best skill and goal-scoring prowess this draft class had to offer. Charming, amicable, and brimming with confidence, Slafkovsky has all the makings of a fan favorite and has immediately become the symbol of hope for a well-informed and very demanding Canadians fanbase. With expectations sky high, look for him to begin making an NHL impact already this season. – CL

2 - Kaiden Guhle D

Guhle won a WHL title with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2020 as a 16-year-old rookie, playing mostly in a depth role. That experience surely came in handy for him in 2022, as he joined the Edmonton Oil Kings midseason, immediately became their top defenseman and helped lead them to a league championship. In addition to his second WHL title, he was also named playoff MVP, showcasing just how much of an impact he had. It doesn't take much time watching Guhle to see how he leaves his mark or why the Canadiens selected him 16th overall in 2020. He is an excellent skater who blends speed, agility and power to carry himself around the ice, and he is fiercely dedicated to using his skating to help his team. There are few blueliners who can defend off the puck as well as he can, as he utilizes tight gaps, physical snarl, laser focus, and an unending reserve of competitiveness to stifle opposing chances. He has all the tools that a team would want in a modern-day shutdown defender, and he should become an elite penalty killer by the time he is fully developed. He does run into some trouble when he has to actually transport and distribute the puck himself, but he is effective enough when he keeps things simple, and he is able to chip in points mainly because he gets himself involved in the play so regularly. Guhle is now entering the pro ranks, and don't be surprised if he manages to make the Canadiens out of training camp and skips the AHL altogether. - DN

3 - Filip Mesar C

Mešár joined his childhood friend Juraj Slafkovský in the Canadiens´ prospect pool after being the third Slovak selected in the first round of the last NHL Draft. The Spišská Belá native made a name for himself at prospect camp in Montréal, but he still remains in shadows of the #1 overall pick. It is yet unclear where Mešár will spend the upcoming season; the AHL and the OHL are the primary candidates as of this writing. Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes said that Mešár could earn a spot with the AHL Laval Rocket, however the junior path seems a bit more reasonable for now. Mešár is a smallish, offensive winger with several notable skills. He is an excellent skater who plays the game at a high speed. His hockey IQ stands out, as he is a very smart player with great vision. He also has a sneaky good shot and skilled hands. His main weaknesses are his size and lack of physical play. Mešár was a bit of a risky pick, but his upside is enormous. He can easily become a top-six winger or center in the NHL if he can improve his upon physicality and translate his game to the North American ice. The Kitchener Rangers of the OHL control his CHL rights, where adaption to the North American game should be easier. - MD

4 - Sean Farrell C

Five-foot-nine winger Sean Farrell looked like a solid, fair-value selection in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL draft, getting picked 124th overall after a solid above-point-per-game season on an absolutely stacked USHL Chicago Steel team. Some may have believed that Farrell’s success came in large part thanks to the talent level of his teammates, but he proved that wasn’t the case almost immediately after stepping onto the ice for his second USHL season, also showing the fourth-round investment to be a shrewd bit of business by the Canadiens’ scouting staff. Farrell was extremely prolific in his second USHL season, leading the league with 101 points in 53 games. Alongside 2021 first-round pick Matt Coronato, Farrell took the USHL by storm, having his way with defenses that often looked powerless to stop the Steel’s overwhelming offensive attack. After that successful USHL season, Farrell began his collegiate career with Harvard University, and he had a great year, scoring at above a point-per-game rate and even registering six points in four games while representing his country at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Farrell is a small winger who plays with great creativity and offensive aggression. He’s always looking to have the puck on his stick and find ways to expose weaknesses in defenses. He’ll fire stretch passes through the neutral zone, use his superb skating and strong puck skills to deceive and manipulate defenders in the offensive zone, and be a line-driving offensive creator who can be the centerpiece of a scoring line. Farrell may need to round out his 200-foot game and refine his offensive habits in order to fully translate his game to professional hockey, but even with that in mind, Farrell has the potential to be a deadly top-six winger if he can continue his development. - EH

5 - Jordan Harris D

Jordan Harris is one of the last members of the Canadiens’ 11-player 2018 draft class, and his development over the course of his four-year NCAA career at Northeastern University has been largely positive. Harris entered his collegiate career as a freshly minted third-round pick who had largely played at the high school level, with a short five-game cup of tea with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms under his belt as well. Harris ended his collegiate career as Northeastern’s captain, a World Junior Championships selection, and one of the Canadiens’ top defensive prospects. He stepped right into the NHL after finishing his career as a Husky, and although the Canadiens in general struggled Harris himself showed he was close to, if not already at the point of NHL readiness. Harris is an extremely well-rounded defenseman, and while he’s definitely not perfect there isn’t really any glaring flaw in his game that would keep him from being an NHL defenseman. On offense, he uses his smooth skating to help his team move the puck up the ice, and as a passer, he’s shown the ability to facilitate puck movement within the offensive zone and fire stretch passes through the neutral zone. Defensively, Harris is detail-oriented, using his skating to quickly close out on pucks and his strong awareness to quickly neutralize plays as they’re developing and help his team exit the zone. Harris might not pile on points, but he could definitely help on a secondary power-play unit and not look out of place if pressed into an increased offensive role. The flip side to Harris’ detail-oriented, well-rounded style is there isn’t a lot of risk-taking or flash to his game, the sort of flash that many fans want to see from their modern defensemen. But that’s more of a style preference that some would impose on Harris rather than an inherent flaw to his game, and his overall package of tools makes him safely project as an NHL defenseman, either on a bottom-pairing or on a second pairing if he really excels. - EH

6 - Cayden Primeau G

For the former Mike Richter award winner (given to the NCAA’s top netminder), consistency has been an issue at the pro level thus far. He has shown flashes of brilliance, even sustained over longer stretches, however those have often been followed up by other stretches where he struggles mightily to make routine saves. This is especially true of his play at the NHL level, where he has largely struggled (albeit playing behind a rebuilding team). Look no further than his performance to close out last year, leading Laval to the Calder Cup finals in a dominant performance during the playoffs. Was this the turning point in his career? The 6’3 netminder, son of former NHL’er Keith Primeau, has the skill set to be an NHL starter. He’s athletic. He tracks pucks well. He has shown an ability to steal games at every level but the NHL. The Montreal Canadiens current goaltending situation is best described as complicated. Carey Price likely heads to the LTIR. Jake Allen is apparently on the trade block. Samuel Montembeault was a former waiver claim that is not guaranteed a spot. In other words, Primeau could absolutely steal a spot in training camp if he proves that he is finally ready. Montreal still sees him as their goaltender of the future and at some point, in the near future, he is going to have to take that next step. - BO

7 - Owen Beck C

The 33^rd overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Owen Beck was one of the top eligible players from the OHL this year because of his strong 200ft game and skating ability. He plays a pro-style game already, making smart decisions with and without the puck consistently, bringing great energy and physicality when needed. The Mississauga Steelheads centre was drafted 29^th overall in the 2020 OHL Draft but has emerged as one of the best from the draft. After missing the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid-19 shutdown, Beck took advantage of the time away from the ice and his skating improved dramatically. Going into the 2021-2022 season, Beck made the adjustment easily because of his added strength and strong two-way game, quickly becoming the Steelheads 2^nd line centre. Despite not getting first line minutes, Beck was able to finish the season with 51 points (21G,30A) in 68 games, which was 3^rd on the team in points. Although his points were inconsistent at times, so were his teammates, getting paired with different linemates throughout the season, but Beck adjusted well and was able to be effective with anyone. Beck’s best assets are his skating and competitiveness. Beck is an elite skater who was able to keep up with anyone in the OHL last season. As he continues to improve, Beck will be very effective with his speed, especially in transition. Beck’s competitiveness is on display every shift as he is always seen battling hard for every puck. He was also one of the most successful centres in the faceoff circle, winning 60.6% in the regular season. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Beck will once again be one of the most responsible players in the league and will likely see an increase in points. - DK

8 - Lane Hutson D

Lane Hutson was the 2022 winner of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, which is an award that, given annually, is presented to the NHL Draft-eligible player who “best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism.” If there was ever a prospect deserving of winning that award, it’s Hutson. Standing at just five-foot-eight inches and weighing around 150 pounds, the odds, at least on paper, are stacked against Hutson having a long, impactful NHL career as a blueliner. The sobering reality of the barrier his size plays on his NHL projection became clear at the NHL draft, where Hutson fell all the way to the back of the second round, getting chosen 62nd overall by the Montreal Canadiens. Lane Hutson’s on-ice profile and NHL projection are essentially shaping up as a case study for just how much size matters in building an NHL defenseman. Because in the aspects of the game Hutson himself can control, he’s extremely talented. Hutson is the sort of defenseman that wants to take over a shift, he’ll take the puck at the offensive blueline and fake his way around defenders, using his strong edgework to create separation from opposing players. Hutson is an incredible passer, matching both great vision with an ability to make the sort of difficult passes many of his peer defenders cannot make. There’s a lot of manipulation and deception to his offensive game, the sort of “I’m going to be the one to force the issue” style that isn’t often seen from young defensemen. And defensively, Hutson’s issues aren’t due to any lack of effort. He’ll hound puck carriers, relentlessly attacking them in order to interrupt their possession. His skating allows him to, at the very least, keep pace with incoming forwards, and despite his size, he’s no stranger to the physical side of the game. But unfortunately, his size makes surviving Hutson’s defensive pressure all too possible for opposing players, and that limits his defensive upside sharply. Additionally, Hutson’s skating, while good in the sense of his edges and stop-start ability, lacks the top-end speed you’d want to see out of a defenseman his size, which, next to his size, could be the greatest threat to his NHL projection. But even with those issues laid out, Hutson is an extremely difficult prospect to bet against, and he’ll bring his fire and his flash to Boston University next season with the goal of continuing to chart a path to the NHL for similarly sized defensemen in future NHL drafts. - EH

9 - Justin Barron D

Barron was recently acquired by Montreal as part of the Artturi Lehkonen to Colorado trade. The former first round pick by the Avalanche hasn’t had the easiest road the past few years. He missed significant time while a member of the Halifax Mooseheads due to blood clots, which certainly hindered his development. Just when you thought he was able to stay healthy this past season, he suffered a season ending ankle injury shortly after being acquired by Montreal. The 6’2, right shot defender has the potential to be a top four NHL defender, he just needs to stay healthy. Without question, Barron’s best quality is his skating ability. An effortless mover, his game is built around his mobility. He excels as a puck transporter because of his ability to carve up the neutral zone, often gaining the offensive blue line with ease. He also defends well in transition with his ability to mind gaps and stay ahead of attackers. In his five-game stint with Montreal before his injury, Barron looked good at both ends of the ice and appeared ready for a permanent NHL gig. Looking at Montreal’s depth on the blueline, it would appear that only another injury will keep Barron out of their lineup. There is lots of ice time up for grabs and he may even be given significant powerplay responsibility, as he was during his brief audition last year. - BO

10 - Joshua Roy RW

Picked in the 5^th round of the 2021 draft by the Montreal Canadiens, Roy completely exploded this season with monstrous offensive numbers: 119 points in 66 games. Roy has been, since debuting in the QMJHL, a very polarizing player amongst scouts. The St-Georges-de-Beauce native has always possessed significant talent and has long been hyped in the Quebec minor hockey scene. This led to him being picked 1^st overall in his QMJHL draft year. However, his work ethic has been put into question a lot. This season, however, Roy took a big step forward in nearly all areas and it has really helped elevate his stock as a prospect. Joshua was mainly a sniper in his draft season, but he diversified his game and now is a much more versatile player as he’s been creating a lot of passing plays and showed improvement in his work ethic and motor. Can he become a top six player in the NHL? The jury is still out. He will need to continue to improve his athletic tools, such as his explosiveness and strength on the puck. Roy will return to Sherbrooke again this season and will look to repeat as the QMJHL’s scoring leader. He should also serve as a primary offensive player on the Canadian WJC team after already playing a strong supporting role on the gold medal winning 2002 team this past summer. - EB

11 - Mattias Norlinder

Norlinder’s first season in North America ended up being a relative failure last year, as he struggled with both Montreal and Laval before being assigned back to the SHL. He will attempt to play in the AHL yet again this year, likely ticketed for a full season in the minors to help him develop his confidence.

12 - Logan Mailloux

The highly debated first round selection missed most of last year due to his suspension and a season ending shoulder injury. The big blueliner continues to ooze athletic talent but will also need to continue to make strides on and off the ice.

13 - Jakub Dobes

There were not many goaltenders better than Dobes in the NCAA last season, his first at Ohio State. The big netminder could push his way to the top of goaltending prospect rankings with another dominant performance as a sophomore.

14 - Jesse Ylonen

Montreal has had to be very patient with Ylonen’s development so far. The former second rounder appears to have finally come into his own after a strong pro year split between Montreal and Laval. Likely has a career path similar to Kasperi Kapanen.

15 - Arber Xhekaj

The former free agent signing out of Hamilton in the OHL, Xhekaj has emerged as a legitimate prospect for Canadiens. He is one of the meanest defensive prospects on the planet and his skating has improved considerably in recent years. Decision making will need to be cleaned up, but he could move quickly through the system.

16 - Jayden Struble

With Struble electing to return to Northeastern for his senior year, there has been lots of chatter about whether he intends to sign in Montreal. Struble is a highly athletic, but physically aggressive defender who should take steps forward offensively this season.

17 - Riley Kidney

After a breakout draft +1 season in the QMJHL, Montreal fans should be excited about Kidney. His IQ and awareness are off the charts. He just needs to continue to get stronger and quicker to help strengthen his pro potential.

18 - Oliver Kapanen

A potentially impactful two-way center, Kapanen has a relatively safe projection as an NHL player. Montreal just wants to see him become a little more consistent offensively playing against men after a mediocre year.

19 - Emil Heineman

Acquired in the Tyler Toffoli to Calgary deal, Heineman is a big winger with great wheels and scoring potential. He has signed and will be playing in Laval this coming season.

20 - Rafael Harvey-Pinard

The former QMJHL standout and Memorial Cup champion has put together two strong seasons in the AHL consecutively. He may not be huge, but he competes and has skill. Is he an underrated prospect in the system with a real chance of being a quality middle six option for Montreal?

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – NHL Player Profiles

Ryan Dadoun – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 19:49:16 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - JULY 02: Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) gets ready to shoot the puck during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Final game 3 between the Tampa Bay Lightning versus the Montreal Canadiens on July 02, 2021, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Nick Suzuki

To say the Montreal Canadiens had a rough 2021-22 campaign would be putting it lightly, but there were silver linings and Suzuki was one of the big ones. He set career-highs with 21 goals and 61 points in 82 games while averaging 20:31 minutes. The 23-year-old has established himself as a strong two-way center who can be deployed in all situations. He even averaged 1:30 shorthanded minutes last season, up from 0:45 minutes per game in 2020-21. At 5-foot-11, 201 pounds, he also has a physical aspect of his game, finishing fourth among Canadiens forwards with 89 hits. As good as he was overall though, it’s worth noting that like the team overall, he did significantly better after Martin St. Louis took over as the head coach. Under bench boss Dominique Ducharme, Suzuki had nine goals and 27 points in 45 games. It was good enough to lead the Canadiens in scoring, but it’s still a far cry from the 12 goals and 34 points in 37 contests he recorded under St. Louis. The new head coach did a great job of activating the team’s forwards and Suzuki should benefit from playing a major role during St. Louis’ first full season as a bench boss. Suzuki is set to begin an eight-year, $63 million contract this season. If he continues to mature as he has been, that should be a good deal for the Canadiens.

Brendan Gallagher

For much of Gallagher’s career, he’s been the type of player who you’d much rather have with you than against you. While his physical play doesn’t translate to a ton of hits, he nevertheless plays a gritty game. He’ll push to the front of the net and that’s his place of business when it comes to scoring goals. He also excels at getting under opponents’ skin and tends to draw penalties as a result. In 2021-22, he finished 15th in the league for penalties drawn/60 minutes (1.93) among those who played a minimum of 30 games. All that is particularly impressive coming from a player who lacks a size advantage. Gallagher is 5-foot-9, 184 pounds, which makes him among the smaller players in the league. His style of play has unquestionably has its benefits. At his best, he’s a fantastic winger, who surpassed the 30-goal milestone in back-to-back seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The downside though has been the injuries he's suffered along the way and while he’s only now entering his 30s, there’s concerns that his game might lead to him aging faster than others. Perhaps we saw the first signs of that last season when he was limited to seven goals and 24 points in 56 games. However, it’s worth noting that he had an uncharacteristically low 4.9 shooting percentage, lacked consistent linemates, and was playing on a struggling team. So, it could have been a combination of bad luck and unfavorable circumstances that held him back in 2021-22 rather than him truly declining. Canadiens fans can be forgiven for feeling some anxiety when it comes to Gallagher given that he’s only through one season of the six-year, $39 million commitment Montreal made to him, but he is a bounce back candidate.

Josh Anderson

At the age of 28, it seems fair to believe that Anderson simply is what he’s shown himself to be. That’s not an entirely bad thing. He’s a big forward, standing at 6-foot-3, 226-pounds and will lean on that size advantage as evidenced by his 153 hits and 65 penalty minutes last season. He also can be a significant contributor offensively – at least some of the time. The trouble is, it doesn’t happen as often as some would hope, especially given that he’ll come with a $5.5 million cap hit through 2026-27. Anderson scored 27 goals and 47 points in 82 games with Columbus in 2018-19 and that remains his only 20-goal season. He’s come close in other campaigns and probably would have reached that mark in 2021-22 if he stayed healthy, but he’s no stranger to injuries and counting on him to have another 82-game season or something close to that might be hoping for too much. Another drawback is his inconsistency when he is healthy. He had pretty quiet stretches last season and unlike some other forwards, swapping head coach Dominique Ducharme for Martin St. Louis didn’t spark him. Anderson had nine goals and 16 points in 34 games prior to the coaching change versus 10 goals and 16 points in 35 contests after it. Ultimately, this is probably what Anderson is. He’s a power forward who is a good, but not great scoring threat. Even if he ends up consistently playing on the first line and stays healthy, he's not a sure thing to reach the 50-point milestone and those are ideal circumstances.

Evgenii Dadonov

It’s hard not to think of the trade that never was when dwelling on Dadonov. In an instance of extreme oddness, Vegas dealt Dadonov to Anaheim, only not really because it turned out that it violated the terms of his no-trade clause. The icing on that weird story was the fact that Dadonov went on a tear for Vegas after refusing the trade, scoring five goals and 16 points in 16 games the rest of the way, including a pair of game winners. That didn’t stop the Golden Knights from trading Dadonov – for real this time – to Montreal on June 16 in exchange for the contract of Shea Weber. Given that Weber won’t play again, Montreal essentially got him for nothing. Vegas desperately needed cap space, so they were motivated sellers, but it’s also fair to note that Dadonov hasn’t quite lived up to his present $5 million cap hit. Even with his strong finish to 2021-22, he recorded an okay, but not special 20 goals and 43 points in 78 games. In recent years, he’s simply been a middle-six winger and secondary scorer. He did have 65 and 70 points in 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively while playing primarily with Aleksander Barkov back in his Florida days, so it’s hard not to wonder if there’s a world in which Dadonov finds some of that former glory while playing alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Keep in mind though that he’s 33-years-old and those campaigns were the only two examples of him even reaching the 50-point milestone. Certainly, keep an eye on him. He’s a skilled forward who has a real opportunity in Montreal and some added motivation given that he’s in the final season of his contract. Good things could happen here. Just don’t expect the world from him.

Mike Hoffman

From 2015-16 through 2019-20, Hoffman scored over 20 goals and 50 points every season, thanks in no small part to his success on the power play. At his height in 2018-19, he tied for fourth in the NHL with 17 power-play goals and tied for sixth with 35 power-play points. He missed those 20-goal and 50-point marks in 2020-21, but of course it was a shortened season. With 17 goals and 36 points in 52 contests, he was still on the right pace and his bread-and-butter remained the power-play. So when Montreal signed him to a three-year, $13.5 million contract in the summer of 2021, they were doing so with the justifiable belief that he’d be an important part of their offense. That didn’t end up being the case. Despite getting a healthy 17:03 minutes per game and a major role on the power play, he was limited to 15 goals and 35 points in 67 games. In terms of goals-per-game and points-per-game, 2021-22 was his worst season since 2013-14. That decline was largely a result of him taking a step back on the power play. He was limited to four goals and 13 points with the advantage. To be fair, Montreal as a team was abysmal on the power play, so it wasn’t a specifically Hoffman problem. It’s also worth noting that he’s one of the players who benefited from the coaching change. He had seven goals and 14 points in 30 games under head coach Dominique Ducharme then eight goals and 21 points in 37 contests with Martin St. Louis. While there might be a temptation to assume Hoffman’s down campaign is the start of his decline with age, there were mitigating factors and him bouncing back this season wouldn’t be shocking.

Christian Dvorak

When Montreal sent a 2022 first-round pick and a 2024 second rounder to Arizona on Sept. 4, 2021, in exchange for Christian Dvorak, they were hoping to get a solid two-way center who could slot into their second line. Dvorak had made strides with Arizona in 2020-21 and he was still young enough to have some potential upside. At the end of the day though, Dvorak had a mixed season with Montreal. He had 11 goals and 33 points in 56 contests, which is a new personal best for him in terms of points-per-game, but it was thanks to an extremely hot finish. From April 7 onward, he scored two goals and 13 points in 12 contests. Before that, the 2021-22 campaign was shaping up to be a disappointing one for him. He’s no stranger to having one or two hot streaks help define his season. In 2020-21 he started the season on a tear, scoring seven goals and 13 points in 12 contests before following it up with a stretch of just two goals and four points in 21 games. Those kinds of extremes can be frustrating, and the hope is that the 26-year-old will start to find consistency to his game. He’ll need to if he’s going to stay in a top-six role because newcomer Kirby Dach is projected to fight with him throughout the season for the second-line center slot. Overall, there’s plenty to like about Dvorak’s game. He’s great on the faceoff, responsible at his own end, and can even help kill penalties. If he can be the offensive force he’s shown flashes of on top of that, then he’ll be a steal at his current $4.45 million cap hit. That’s a big if though.

Rem Pitlick

Sometimes the right opportunity at the right time can make all the difference, just ask Pitlick. Going into the 2021-22, Pitlick had tastes of the NHL during his time with Nashville, but he could never earn a spot with the team. He joined the Minnesota Wild and was doing his part, scoring six goals and 11 points in 20 games even while averaging just 9:42 minutes. He couldn’t find an opening with the Wild though and they ultimately waived him on Jan. 11. Montreal, with nothing really to lose at that point, decided to take a chance on Pitlick and went all-in, giving him an average of 17:17 minutes per game. He responded well, scoring nine goals and 26 points in 46 contests. Montreal proved to be a good fit, but expectations for him going forward should be tempered. For one thing, he’s already 25-years-old, so he’s not a prospect and his upside is limited. At 5-foot-11, 196-pounds, he’s also not the biggest of forwards and he doesn’t play a physical game. His puck possession numbers last season left plenty to be desired too, with him finishing with a 43.5% and 43.3% 5v5 Corsi and Fenwick respectively and his relative Corsi/Fenwick were well in the negatives during his tenure with Montreal, suggesting that the team did better from a puck possession perspective when he wasn’t on the ice. It’s also important to note that he had a 23.1 shooting percentage, which seems unsustainable. There’s a lot of risk here and Montreal was wise to mitigate their commitment by signing him to a conversative two-year, $2.2 million contract.

Cole Caufield

Going into the 2021-22 campaign, the Montreal Canadiens knew they had a potential gem in Caufield. While he’s small by NHL standards at 5-foot-9, 162 pounds and doesn’t have much of a physical game, he has an amazing shot, and is a great skater. His offensive upside and in particular his goal scoring ability are close to top tier. He already had a taste of the NHL too, scoring four goals and five points in 10 regular season games in 2020-21 followed by eight goals and 12 points in 20 playoff contests. He consequently entered the season as a serious candidate for the Calder Trophy, but nothing went right early on. He recorded just one goal and eight points in 30 games under head coach Dominique Ducharme. When Martin St. Louis took over as the bench boss though, the transformation was instantaneous. He scored in his first game under St. Louis and ended up scoring 22 goals and 35 points in 37 contests with the new head coach. St. Louis said in May that the difference wasn’t the advice he gave Caufield, it was more about putting him in situations suited to his style of play. Perhaps it also helped that St. Louis was an incredibly successful undersized forward during his playing days, so he has a lot of insight into Caufield’s unique set of strengths and challenges. Regardless of the reason, Caufield clearly worked well under St. Louis and given that the two are set to start their first full season together, there’s a lot to be hopeful for. He has the potential to be a great top line forward for Montreal for years to come.

Jonathan Drouin

When it comes to Drouin, his health has become a big sticking point. He had two wrist surgeries over the last two years with the more recent one coming in April and that’s contributed to him playing just 105 games over the last three campaigns. Whether his wrist troubles are fully behind him and how much undergoing multiple wrist surgeries will potentially affect his game even if he does stay healthy are significant X-Factors. Prior to this though, he was a solid top-six forward and given that he’s 27-years-old, he’s certainly young enough to come back from this. He had six goals and 20 points in 34 games last season and almost all those games were under former bench boss Dominique Ducharme before the team made offensive strides with head coach Martin St. Louis. The coaching swap is both a potential boon and yet another X-Factor. On the one hand, most forwards have performed well under St. Louis and Drouin could prove to be yet another example of that, but we also don’t know too much yet about how Drouin will be deployed under the new coach. It at least helps that Drouin’s versatile. He’s primarily a winger and that’s his likely role this year, but he can also serve as a center in a pinch, so St. Louis has options here. The last time Drouin had a truly normal season was back in 2018-19 when he scored 18 goals and 53 points in 81 contests. Even with all the question marks surrounding him, the potential remains for him to get back to that level.

Kirby Dach

Taken by Chicago with the third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Dach never worked out with the Blackhawks. Standing at 6-foot-4, Dach is a big center who skates well, can protect the puck, and is willing to play in front of the net. There’s a lot to like here, but he hasn’t performed as hoped. In 2021-22, he had nine goals and 26 points in 70 contests despite averaging 18:03 minutes. It gets worse than him just not performing offensively though. Dach is awful on the draw. Among players who took at least 200 faceoffs last season, Dach finished last with a 32.8% success rate. He struggled on the draw in his first two NHL seasons too and that raises questions about the viability of continuing to deploy him as a center. It’s also worth noting that while he does use his size to his advantage in some respects like positioning and puck protection, he’s not someone who throws his body around much. He had an unremarkable 49 hits last season, so while he has the size of a power forward, that’s not really what he is. And yet despite those downsides, he does have a promising offensive tool set. The Montreal Canadiens clearly see that there’s still potential here because on July 7 they sent the 13th and 66th overall picks to Chicago in exchange for Dach. There is an argument to be made that Chicago asked Dach to do too much, too quickly, and was matching him up against top competition before he was ready. If Montreal can ease him in a bit more, then that might be for the best in the long run. With that in mind, Dach might not have a breakout season in 2022-23, but we could see him take a meaningful incremental step forward.

DEFENSE

Mike Matheson

The Canadiens finally fulfilled Jeff Petry’s trade request over the summer when they traded him to Pittsburgh, but Habs fans should like the main player they got in return, Matheson. For one thing, Matheson’s a local boy who grew up cheering for the Canadiens, so he already has roots in the city. Beyond that though, he’s a similar type of defenseman to Petry, so he can fill in for a lot of what the Canadiens are losing. Matheson is a strong two-way defenseman with speed and is coming off a great campaign where he set career-highs with 11 goals and 31 points in 74 games while averaging 18:48 minutes. He also had a 53.8% and 54.5% 5v5 Corsi and Fenwick respectively, which is better than how the Penguins did without him, so he was an asset from a puck possession perspective. That said, he’s not everything Petry was. Petry was someone who could help kill penalties, but Matheson averaged just 0:14 minutes shorthanded last season. Both have height, but even at 6-foot-2, Matheson isn’t an especially physical defenseman. His 97 hits last season was a career high while Petry has recorded at least 140 in five of his last six seasons. We also don’t know if Matheson’s offensive highs will ever reach Petry’s, who hit the 40-point milestone in four straight campaigns from 2017-18 through 2020-21. So, in a one-to-one comparison, it’s not a perfect match, but Matheson is also in his prime at the age of 28 while Petry is already 34. Matheson matches the Canadiens’ timetable to compete better and if he can continue to play like he did last season, he’ll serve Montreal well. He’ll receive every opportunity on a think Canadiens blueline.

David Savard

Savard scored 11 goals and 36 points in 82 games in 2014-15. To this day that’s easily his top season in terms of offensive production and that will likely always be the case. Even the three goals and 17 points in 62 games he generated last season with Montreal is a bit more than is safe to hope for going forward. Fortunately, the Canadiens didn’t sign him to a four-year, $14 million contract back in July 2021 because of his work with the puck. Savard’s value lies at his own end of the ice. He’s defensively responsible as well as a penalty killer. He’s also got size, standing at 6-foot-2, 233-pounds, and he’s happy to employ it. He accumulated 134 hits along with 36 penalty minutes last season and those numbers are par for the course for him. He’ll sacrifice himself too, ranking second on Montreal in blocked shots last season with 127. He’s the type of hard working, gritty defenseman that can inspire his teammates with his tough style of play. He’s also a nice veteran presence for the Canadiens to have as they rebuild. It helps that he saw what it takes to win as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2020-21 Stanley Cup-winning squad. He won’t make headlines, but he’ll play a role with the Canadiens this season.

Joel Edmundson

The 2021-22 campaign was largely a write off for Edmundson. He didn’t even make his season debut until March 12 due to a back injury. The silver lining is that he settled back into his regular role for what was left of the season, averaging 19:35 minutes, including 2:26 shorthanded minutes. Unfortunately, injuries are nothing new for Edmundson. He hadn’t had an extended absence like that before, but the 29-year-old has also never logged 70 games in a single season. To an extent, that goes hand-in-hand with the kind of game he plays. The 6-foot-4, 227-pound blueline is a physical player and he’ll block a good deal of shots too. Even after missing most of the campaign with his back issue, he still recorded 45 blocks and 61 hits in 24 games. He tends also get into trouble with the refs a fair amount, which can be a bit of an issue given that he’s supposed to help kill penalties, but it’s been part of who he is throughout his career and it’s not likely to change now. The trade-off is that he helps protect his teammates and on occasion he’ll even drop his gloves. With some young defensemen such as Jordan Harris and Justin Barron potentially getting full-time roles with the Canadiens next season, Edmundson could end up as a mentor and something of a protector for them on the ice. Just don’t look for Edmundson to get many points along the way. He set a career-high in 2019-20 with 20 points in 68 contests and he shouldn’t be expected to do any better this season.

GOALTENDING

Jake Allen

The Montreal Canadiens fell mightily after their impressive Stanley Cup Final run just a few years ago; with Carey Price forced to miss the majority of the season for personal and injury-related reasons, the Original Six club once again learned just how hard it can be to thrive without a goaltender capable of legitimately carrying them into contention. Unfortunately, that’s the task that Jake Allen will once again find himself saddled with; while he was originally acquired as a perfect tandem 1B to complement Price, he’s now responsible for ensuring that the team is able to hold their own against the myriad of goaltending talent scattered throughout the Atlantic and the Metropolitan Divisions.

The problem with Jake Allen remains his confidence; when he plays well he’s got incredible instincts and talent, but when he plays poorly he second-guesses his own positioning and ends up struggling to make reads and accurately swallow pucks. He thrives when he’s able to settle into a rhythm, which is both a strength and a weakness for the now-32-year old goaltender – because when he can’t quite find his pacing, he’s unable to utilize the agility and flexibility that helps him snag high-danger redirects and rebounded second shots. The good news, though, is that the Canadiens seemed to see their defensive systems settle into a better flow under head coach Martin St. Louis, who was appointed late in the 2021-22 season and will be at the helm from day one this year.

Projected starts: 55-60

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK: Fantasy Prospect Rankings – 30 Forwards, 20 Defenseman, 10 Goalies

Peter Harling — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:19:43 +0000

When preparing for a fantasy draft or evaluating prospects for a trade in your fantasy league you need to understand the difference between rankings, and fantasy rankings.

The difference can be subtle, or significant depending on your leagues scoring and format. Generally speaking, fantasy rankings are based on projected point production. I have found that the vast majority of readers that read and follow my work are in dynasty keeper leagues with peripheral stats, or bangers leagues.

The following rankings are based on projected point production and include added value to players that can contribute other stats, such as hits, blocks, PIM’s and faceoff wins.

In fantasy hockey, we have a limited number of prospect roster spots and as such I put higher value on prospects that have a quicker ETA to the NHL or have superstar upside.

This will help you identify the top 30 forwards, 20 defencemen and ten goalies to target in your fantasy leagues.

To be considered a prospect, skaters must be under 26-years-old, and have played in under 60 career games, or less than 35 in a single season. For goalies, less than 30 games played, or 15 in a single season.

Forward Rankings

VANCOUVER, BC - APRIL 26: Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers (10) skates up ice during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on April 26, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Matty Beniers, C – Seattle Kraken

The Kraken are poised to get an offensive boost this coming season with the additions of Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Those two new wingers will be centered by the Krakens first ever draft pick Matty Beniers, who finishing the season in the NHL scoring nine points in the final ten games. Beniers is a Calder favorite.

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

I projected Rossi to make the Wild after his draft in 2020, but he lost a year of development to COVID. He returned last year in the AHL and is now poised to crack a top six with the Wild. Another Calder favorite.

Cole Perfetti, C/LW – Winnipeg Jets

Thanks to the pandemic, Perfetti now has two seasons of pro development, and the 20-year-old is NHL ready to take a top six role with the Jets. “Goal” Perfetti could develop into a 40-goal scorer.

Mason McTavish, C – Anaheim Ducks

The power forward played nine games to start the season with the Ducks before returning to junior to lead Hamilton to an OHL championship. In multi-cat leagues, McTavish will check all the boxes, points, PP points, hits, FOW, he will do it all.

Kent Johnson, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnson may start on the wing, and may not offer much in peripheral stats, but he will rack up points early and often in his career. If Johnson can lock down a top six center role, he will have either or both Patrick Laine and Johnny Gaudreau on his wing.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: New Jersey Devils right wing Alexander Holtz (10) skates during the first period of the pre-season National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals on October 4, 2021 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Alexander Holtz, RW – New Jersey Devils

The Swedish sniper scored 26 goals and 51 points in the AHL as a rookie. He only had two points in nine NHL games, but he is poised to secure a top six role with the Devils. He is a future 30 goal scorer.

Quinton Byfield, C – LA Kings

Bigger players can take a little longer to develop and the Kings are taking their time with Byfield. The big, smooth skating center can evolve into a dominant NHL first line center, and a dominant multi-cat fantasy asset as well. This one may take a few years yet, but he will be well worth the wait.

Jack Quinn, RW – Buffalo Sabres

I was very critical of the Sabres selecting Quinn ahead of Rossi in the 2020 draft. I still am, but Quinn has been excellent since then dominating the AHL. The gap between the two may be indistinguishable when all is said and done. Quinn is a blue-chip prospect.

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

The projected number one prospect in the 2022 Draft fell to fourth. It lit a fire in him and falling to Seattle may be the best thing for him as he has less competition to make the roster. Wright could make Montreal regret passing him by.

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

Eklund nearly made the Sharks out of his draft but was sent back to the SHL for one more year of development. Eklund will make the team this year and be a top six winger with Calder aspirations.

RED DEER, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 27: Juraj Slafkovsky #20 of Slovakia protects the puck from Isak Rosen #23 of Sweden during the second period in preliminary round action a the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at WP Centrium on December 27, 2021 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Juraj Slafkovsky, LW – Montreal Canadiens

The first overall pick in the 2022 draft may start in the NHL, but will need Mike Hoffman and Jonathan Drouin to falter to allow an opportunity for Slafkovsky to step in. As he showed in the World Championship and Olympics, he is up for the task.

Nick Robertson, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Injuries limited him to just 28 AHL games last year, but he managed 28 points. The Leafs need cap friendly roster players and Robertson could step into a top six role on the high-octane offensive Leafs roster out of training camp.

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

Guenther torched the WHL with a 91-point season and has one more year of junior eligibility to play. Their will be some more wait time before he is lighting NHL goal lamps, but his upside is tremendous.

Shane Pinto, C – Ottawa Senators

Pinto looked to be a lock for 2C, but injuries ended his season after just five games. If he can stay healthy, he would be third line centre at worst providing points, hits, and FOW.

Lukas Reichel, LW – Chicago Blackhawks

The German winger was excellent as a rookie in the AHL and showed he is NHL ready. The Hawks are rebuilding, and he is a part of their future. Reichel will see ice time in the NHL and as the Hawks continue to ship out veterans for futures, his role will increase.

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

The third overall pick in the 2022 Entry Draft could have the highest offensive upside from his draft class. He has committed to play in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota where he may play two seasons

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

With roster spots opening in Calgary, the time is nigh for Pelletier to play his way in to the Flames top six. He checks all the boxes, has carried his dominant offense to the pro level, has character and leadership. He will help Flames fans get over the loss of Johnny hockey and Tkachuk.

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars

In his final junior campaign Bourque led Shawinigan to a QMJHL Championship and laid claim to the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the Playoffs MVP. He already has a cup of coffee in the AHL and may not be long for the NHL

Jake Neighbours, LW – St. Louis Blues

Neighbours is graduating to the pro level, and while he may not have elite offensive upside, he brings a heavy physical game and could be the Blues next David Backes.

Brendan Brisson, C – Vegas Golden Knights

Brisson was a key and underrated player for Michigan on their march to the frozen four. He destroyed the AHL with Henderson in the final seven games posting eight points. Vegas will need players on ELC deals o round out their roster and Brisson could have a ripe opportunity.

Thomas Bordeleau, C – San Jose Sharks

Bordeleau posted a point pr game with Michigan before playing eight NHL games with the Sharks and another eight games for USA at the World Championships. Surpassing veterans Nick Bonino and Nico Sturm on the Sharks roster shouldn’t be to difficult for Bordeleau.

Jonatan Berggren, W/C – Detroit Red Wings

The 22-year-old kicked in the front door of the AHL in his debut in North America to the tune of 64 points in 70 games with the Griffins. He will be a big part of the Yzer-Plan and will try to make a similar splash in the NHL this year.

Dylan Holloway, LW/C – Edmonton Oilers

The 20-year-old has two years of NCAA development and had a successful AHL rookie campaign in Bakersfield. At 6-1 and 203 pounds he brings a good blend of offensive punch and hits.

Wyatt Johnston, C – Dallas Stars

Drafted 23^rd overall after missing the entire season, the Stars have been rewarded for the faith in Johnston as he torched the OHL with a 124-point season. He still has another year of junior eligibility to play but his upside is tremendous.

Brennan Othmann, LW – New York Rangers

Othmann wore the captain’s “C” for the Flint Firebirds last year and posted a 50-goal season and 97 points. The power winger has another year of OHL to play before he turns pro.

Bobby Brink, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

Brink posted 57 points in 41 games in his junior year at the University of Denver before finishing the year in the NHL with ten games in Philadelphia. As the Flyers rebuild or retool Brink will be a big part of the future.

Matthew Knies, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Knies was a force both physically and offensively for the Golden Gophers. His play warned him a roster spot with USA at the Olympics where he produced two points in four games. He looks NHL ready now but returned for a sophomore season, look for him t finish the year with the Leafs.

J. J. Peterka, RW – Buffalo Sabres

The feisty German had a banner rookie campaign in the AHL with 68 points in 70 regular season games and had another 12 points in 10 playoff matches. He is NHL ready and will also provide some peripheral stats to boot.

Xavier Bourgault, C – Edmonton Oilers

Bourgault averaged over a PPG in his WHL career finishing with a 75-point season in only 43 games, with 22 points in 16 playoff games. He is ready to bring his offense to the pro level and will play a year in Bakersfield. If his production carries over to the pro level, he will be dynamite!

Matias Maccelli, LW – Arizona Coyotes

After two strong seasons of pro hockey in the Liiga, Maccelli made a splash in his AHL rookie season posting 57 points in 47 games and playing his way into 23 NHL games with the Coyotes. He lacks draft pedigree and is a sleeper but has the upside to be a Calder candidate and a fantasy darling.

Defense Rankings

Owen Power, Buffalo Sabers

The first overall pick in the 2021 Draft returned to Michigan for more development. His season ended in the NHL but not before he also represented Canada at the Olympics. His ten game NHL preview was promising with three points, ten shots and nine blocks.

ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 22: St. Louis Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich (48) during a NHL game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the St. Louis Blues on November 22, 2021, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire),

Scott Perunovich, St. Louis Blues

After missing an entire season to injury, his pro debut was delayed a year, but he rebounded in spectacular fashion with 22 points n 17 games in the AHL. His dominant play earned him an NHL recall, but again injuries limited his play to 19 games. His upside is elite, but the injuries are a concern.

Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils

Hughes will play another season in the NCAA with Michigan to refine his defensive game. Offensively he is already dominant having scored 17 goals with the Wolverines, and four points in 10 World Championship games with USA. The wait may be a little longer on Hughes, but the upside is tremendous.

Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators

After posting over a point per game in his sophomore season, Sanderson will begin his pro career. There may be some AHL development time in the near future, but the long-term fantasy upside in multi-cat leagues is very high.

Calen Addison, Minnesota Wild

In his second pro campaign Addison posted 34 points and 70 PIMS in 43 games in the AHL. His strong play earned him four different NHL recalls totalling in 15 games and four points. He is ready for the NHL now and will be a top pairing D in short order.

Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings

Can the Wings boast back-to-back Norris Trophy winning defencemen? It’s very possible! Edvinsson comes to North America with two seasons of SHL development under his belt. He will go from playing for Sweden at the WJC to the Red Wings camp to win a roster spot in the NHL.

Olen Zellweger, Anaheim Ducks

Zellweger fantasy stock is rising like a rocket. He exploded for 78 points in 55 games with Everett in the WHL. He still has a year of junior eligibility remaining, but don’t be surprised if he graduates and plays with the Ducks this year. Even if you must stash him in your minors for a year, he is a keeper.

Jack Rathbone, Vancouver Canucks

The 2017 fourth round pick is under a lot of people’s radar, but with two seasons of pro development he has 49 points in 47 AHL games and has dressed for 17 NHL games. Cracking the Canucks blueline shouldn’t be too difficult.

Cam York, Philadelphia Flyers

York barely qualifies for this list as he played in 30 NHL games last year, but he does, and he will be a full time NHL player going forward. The addition of Tony DeAngelo could hurt his PP time immediately, but he will get prime deployment in time.

Brandt Clarke, LA Kings

The Captain of the Barrie Colts scored 59 points in 55 games and will be back in the OHL for another year of dominance. It’s a mystery how he is not on the Canadian WJC roster as he is an elite all-around defender.

Kaiden Guhle, Montreal Canadiens

The big, mobile 6-2 defender helped propel the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Memorial Cup after a mid-season trade. His pro career is about to begin, and the Canadiens blue line is a barren wasteland, just waiting for him to assume the throne. The wait will be short

Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils

Selected second overall, the Devils passed on both Logan Cooley and Shane Wright to select the right shot defenseman. Nemec could take some time to become a fantasy relevant producer, but it will happen.

David Jiricek, Columbus Blue Jackets

Jiricek is the Jackets top defensive prospect, but their blue line is a crowded one and it may take a little time for the 18-year-old to break into the lineup.

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 12: Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence (53) carries the puck during the NHL game between the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings on March 12, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

Jordan Spence, LA Kings

Don’t sleep on Spence, since being a fourth-round pick in 2019 he has won the QMJHL Defenseman of the Year Award, played his way onto Team Canada at the WJC and scored 42 points in 46 games as an AHL rookie, and made his NHL debut playing in 24 games. He is ready for full time NHL duty.

Lukas Cormier, Vegas Golden Knights

Cormier is using the WJC in August as a primer for his petition to bypass the AHL and play for the Golden Knights. His 207 career points in 208 QMJHL will be on any fantasy radar, but he also hits, despite being 5-10

Justin Barron, Montreal Canadiens

Barron played most of his rookie pro season in the AHL with 20 points in 43 games for the Eagles, but he also played in seven NHL games for the Avalanche and Canadiens.

Denton Mateychuk, Columbus Blue Jackets3

Mateychuk may have the highest offensive ceiling from defensemen in the 2022 Draft class. He has another year of development ahead in the WHL and then some AHL time, but his ceiling is very high.

Philip Broberg, Edmonton Oilers

Broberg has arrived in Edmonton as a top four. Can he win some power play time away from Tyson Barrie, Darnell Nurse, and Evan Bouchard?

Nils Lundkvist, New York Rangers

The 2018 first round pick finally came to North America, splitting time between the AHL and the NHL. He likely sees a similar time share this season as the Rangers have a formidable back end.

Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars

If Harley played one more game, he would not have been eligible as a prospect, but he played 34 games for the Stars and is poised to be a full-time player going forward.

Goaltending Ranking

Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

The Wild’s future starting goalie is the whole package. He has size, athleticism, tracks the puck and is positionally sound. Fleury signing a two-year deal may delay his inevitable reign as an elite starting goalie.

Yaroslav Askarov, Nashville Predators

This coming season will be a key development period for the Russian. After playing a limited number of games in Russia, he will make his North American debut in the AHL with Milwaukee. With Saros in place for the foreseeable future, Askarov can take a year or two in the AHL to refine his game.

Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes

Kochetkov made an impressive debut in North America to end the season. He posted a 13-1-2 record in the AHL and even made his NHL debut starting in three games, winning all three. With both Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta on expiring deals, Kochetkov could be the Canes starter sooner than later.

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

After posting stellar numbers in Everett the question was could he do it in the pros? His rookie season was outstanding posting a 33-9-5 record. Wolf has staring goalie upside, but with Jacob Markstrom in place through 2026, its not happening soon.

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres

After coming out of nowhere to back stop team Canada to a WJC Silver Medal and being named Best Goalie in the Tournament, he took his breakout to another level in the NCAA. As a freshman goalie he posted a 21-10-1 record with 10 shutouts to lead Northeaster to a Hockey East Championship. Levi won the Mike Richter award as NCAA Top Goaltender and was a Hobey Baker finalist. He is the Sabres best goaltending prospect.

Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings

The 6-6 netminder back stopped the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Memorial Cup. The Yzer-plan is starting to take form and Cossa could be in place to tend the crease when the Red Wings are a contender again.

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

Dostal has two AHL seasons development to his credit and is looking ready for prime time. His future looks like split time between the NHL and AHL for a year before he settles into a tandem situation in Anaheim.

Daniil Tarasov, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tarasov was playing his way into the Blue Jackets roster before a hip injury prematurely ended his season. He will be back in November and should pick up where he left off.

Cayden Primeau, Montreal Canadiens

Montreal has enjoyed premium goaltending for decades. Carey Price, Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden. As the Canadiens top goalie prospect, Primeau has a lot to live up to.

Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks

Heading for his junior season as a Boston Terrier, Commesso drew into two games for USA at the Olympics, winning both and posting a shutout. The Hawks are biding their time with stop gap goalies while they rebuild, and the long-term solution is Commesso.

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Early returns from the trade deadline, as Andrew Copp, Mathieu Joseph, Claude Giroux, and Frank Vatrano are among the players making a difference with their new teams

Scott Cullen — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:33:22 +0000

20 FANTASY POINTS

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

In this week’s edition of 20 Fantasy Points, Ryan Getzlaf is calling it a career plus early returns from the trade deadline, as Andrew Copp, Mathieu Joseph, Claude Giroux, and Frank Vatrano are among the players making a difference with their new teams.

#1 Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season. The 36-year-old has been a massively productive player. On his way to 1,013 career points, Getzlaf had nine seasons with at least 60 points, peaking at 91 points in 2008-2009. Additionally, Getzlaf had a dozen seasons in which he recorded more than 90 hits, so he could contribute more than merely points.

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 22: New York Rangers center Andrew Copp (18) shoots during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on March 22, 2022 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

#2 When it comes to the players that moved at the trade deadline, the New York Rangers have to be very happy with their acquisition of Andrew Copp from the Winnipeg Jets. Copp has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 23 shots on goal in nine games and adds stability to a line with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome. Copp was going to be a sought-after free agent in the summer anyway, but this strong finish with the Rangers is only going to drive his price even higher.

#3 When the Tampa Bay Lightning made a trade to acquire Nick Paul from the Ottawa Senators, they sent right winger Mathieu Joseph to Canada’s capital. Normally a checking winger, Joseph has found himself skating on the Sens’ top line, alongside Brady Tkachuk and Josh Norris. In the past four games, Joseph has erupted for 10 points (4 G, 6 A) and 13 shots on goal, suddenly becoming a scoring threat.

#4 For his part, Nick Paul has been a quality contributor for the Lightning, too. His ice time is way down, from 17:22 per game in Ottawa to 12:37 per game for Tampa Bay, and yet Paul has six points (2 G, 4 A), 18 shots on goal, and 23 hits in nine games. He is skating on a line with Anthony Cirelli and Alex Killorn, a unit that has more of an offensive role than what might have been expected when Paul was first acquired.

#5 The biggest acquisition, at least as a scoring forward, at the deadline was the Florida Panthers getting Claude Giroux from the Philadelphia Flyers. It is no surprise that Giroux has been able to produce points upon joining the league’s highest scoring team and he does have nine points (1 G, 8 A) in eight games with the Panthers, but it is notable that he has 25 shots on goal in just eight games but has managed just one goal, scoring on just 4.0% of his shots. He is now on the right wing with Jonathan Huberdeau and Sam Bennett, a pairing that has been highly productive since the Panthers added Bennett last season.

#6 Even though the Vegas Golden Knights attempted to unload Evgeny Dadonov at the trade deadline, once the deal was quashed, Dadonov returned to Vegas and has become a vital part of the Golden Knights’ playoff push. Dadonov has seven points (2 G, 5 A) and 13 shots on goal in six games since “returning” to Vegas and has settled on the top line with Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson. Still available in many fantasy leagues, Stephenson has contributed nine points (2 G, 7 A) in six games since the deadline.

#7 Acquired by the New York Rangers from the Florida Panthers, where he could not get consistent playing time, Frank Vatrano has responded well to his bigger role. He is averaging 15:36 per game with the Blueshirts, after getting 12:12 of ice time per game with the Panthers, and Vatrano has eight points (6 G, 2 A) and 29 shots on goal in 12 games. Vatrano has always been able to get shots but has not always received the opportunity to make the most of that skill. Since 2018-2019, Vatrano is averaging 10.41 shots on goal per 60 minutes of 5v5 play, which ranks 24^th in the league among players to have skated at least 1000 5v5 minutes, just ahead of Jack Eichel and behind Kirill Kaprizov and Justin Williams.

#8 Getting a chance to play on a playoff team has helped defenseman Nick Leddy, who has five points (1 G, 4 A) in nine games since joining the St. Louis Blues. He has been getting a chance to quarterback the first power play unit so there is a decent chance of Leddy providing enough offense to matter for fantasy managers down the stretch.

#9 Rickard Rakell has been a solid addition to the Pittsburgh Penguins, often skating on Evgeni Malkin’s wing, but there has not been a big spike in his production compared to the start of the season in Anaheim. Rakell has five points (3 G, 2 A) and 20 shots on goal in nine games but after playing 18:21 per game for the Ducks, he has averaged 16:16 per game for the Penguins.

#10 Part of the package going to Philadelphia in the Claude Giroux deal, Owen Tippett is getting a better opportunity to play with the Flyers, but the results have not hit yet. In 10 games with Philadelphia, Tippett has three points (2 G, 1 A), but he does have 24 shots on goal. It is probably too soon to be optimistic about Tippett’s chances to be productive this season but his finish to the 2021-2022 season should give a decent indication about whether Tippett can fulfill his potential as a scoring winger.

#11 Veteran defenseman Michael Del Zotto was banished to the American Hockey League, but he went to Belleville and put up 27 points (10 G, 17 A) in 26 games. After the trade deadline, with the Senators needing more bodies on the NHL blueline, Del Zotto was recalled and he has four assists and 14 shots on goal in eight games, playing more than 18 minutes per game for Ottawa.

#12 The Florida Panthers paid a steep price to land defenseman Ben Chiarot from the Montreal Canadiens, but Chiarot has contributed four points (1 G, 3 A) and 25 shots on goal in eight games since joining the Panthers. The points are nice, but the shot rate stands out, as Chiarot was averaging 1.78 shots on goal per game with Montreal and that is up to 3.13 per game in Florida, even though his ice time has dropped by more than two minutes per game. Such is the value of joining the league’s highest-octane attack.

#13 Although he was hurt in Boston’s last game, defenseman Hampus Lindholm has had a positive impact since joining the Bruins. He has four assists, 11 hits, 12 blocked shots, and 16 shots on goal since arriving in Boston and steadying the top pairing alongside Charlie McAvoy. Lindholm does not typically put up big offensive numbers, which tends to limit his fantasy appeal, but if he could continue to chip in offensively while averaging more than 1.5 hits and blocked shots per game, as well as two-plus shots per game, then Lindholm would still hold fantasy appeal.

#14 While three points (1 G, 2 A) in eight games for the Toronto Maple Leafs is relatively consistent with his Seattle Kraken production, defenseman Mark Giordano has managed just seven shots on goal in those eight games, which is a notable decrease, and he is playing 19:15 per game for the Maple Leafs. 2008-2009 was the last season in which Giordano averaged fewer than 20 minutes of ice time per game.

#15 Max Domi was a scoring forward of dubious fantasy value with Columbus this season, scoring 32 points (9 G, 23 A) in 55 games, but that is better than what he has been able to provide in Carolina, managing zero goals and three assists with seven shots on goal in eight games for the Hurricanes. He wasn’t playing a lot for Columbus, averaging 13:25 of ice time per game, but he is down almost two minutes per game from that mark in Carolina.

#16 The points have not been there yet for defenseman Jake Walman, who has two assists in nine games since he was acquired by the Detroit Red Wings as part of the Nick Leddy deal. What is interesting about Walman is that, after playing less than 12 minutes per game for the Blues this season, he is getting nearly 18 minutes of ice time per game for Detroit and has put 22 shots on goal in nine games with the Red Wings.

#17 One of the priciest acquisitions prior to the trade deadline, left winger Brandon Hagel had been riding a high shooting percentage on his way to scoring 21 goals in 55 games for the Blackhawks before he was added by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The high shooting percentage remains, as Hagel has two goals on 10 shots for the Lightning, but those are his only points in Tampa Bay and his ice time has gone from 17:28 per game in Chicago to 12:24 per game in Tampa Bay.

#18 One of the benefits of being a rebuilding team like the Montreal Canadiens is that the team can offer a more substantial role to a prospect that might have the same opportunity with their previous club. Defenseman Justin Barron got into a couple of games with the Colorado Avalanche earlier in the season, averaging 12:35 of ice time per game. In five games since joining the Canadiens, Barron is playing more than 19 minutes per game, and he has two points (1 G, 1 A) along with 13 shots on goal. Montreal’s defense is going to be changing and the 2020 first-round pick is likely to be a big part of it.

#19 Going the other way in that trade, winger Artturi Lehkonen only has one goal in four games for the Avalanche but there are encouraging signs, too. For one thing, Lehkonen has seen his ice time go up by nearly two minutes per game, which is not typical for a player going from a bottom feeder to a Stanley Cup contender, and Lehkonen does have 13 shots on goal in those four games. He may not be a huge scorer but there is a good chance that Lehkonen will contribute for the Avs for the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.

#20 The Seattle Kraken don’t score a lot so there is limited fantasy upside to most of their players, but it is notable that Ryan Donato has been playing a first line role for them. Since the deadline, Donato has six points (1 G, 5 A) in eight games and is getting an extra minute per game of ice time.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey.

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Fallout from the NHL trade deadline, not just from the players that moved, like Claude Giroux, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mark Giordano, and Max Domi, but also those that remain with potentially new opportunities

Scott Cullen — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 13:30:46 +0000

20 FANTASY POINTS

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

In this week’s edition of 20 Fantasy Points, fallout from the NHL trade deadline, not just from the players that moved, like Claude Giroux, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mark Giordano, and Max Domi, but also those that remain with potentially new opportunities for the rest of the season.

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 24: Florida Panthers right wing Claude Giroux (28) plays the puck during the Florida Panthers versus the Montreal Canadiens game on March 24, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

#1 The big ticket forward to move prior to the deadline was Claude Giroux, who has been a premier scorer in Philadelphia for a long time, surpassing 1,000 games with the Flyers just last week. Giroux is going to score. Since 2010-2011, there are three players with more points than Giroux’s 828 points (in 875 games): Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, and Alex Ovechkin. He has moved to the right wing on Philadelphia’s top line, skating with Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe, a good opportunity to keep the points flowing. Owen Tippett went to Philadelphia in this deal, and it should give him a better opportunity to play regularly as he auditions this season for a spot with next year’s team. Tippett had 33 points (14 G, 19 A) in 94 games for Florida, averaging less than 12 minutes of ice time per game. In three games with Philadephia, Tippett has averaged 17 minutes per game.

#2 With Giroux gone to Florida and Sean Couturier out for the season with a back injury, Kevin Hayes is the No. 1 center in Philadelphia. He has nine points (4 G, 5 A) and 15 shots on goal in the past six games and has played more than 20 minutes in three of his past four games.

#3 The Toronto Maple Leafs turned to Seattle for veteran defenseman Mark Giordano and right winger Colin Blackwell. Giordano had 23 points in 55 games for the Kraken, but that included a team-leading eight power play assists. Vince Dunn, who leads Seattle defensemen with 27 points (7 G, 20 A), is the top candidate for more power play time on the point in Seattle. In Toronto, Giordano started playing with Timothy Liljegren but there is always the potential of Giordano getting reunited with T.J. Brodie, with whom he was frequently partnered when both were with the Calgary Flames. As for Blackwell, he was not playing a lot in Seattle and started on the fourth line in Toronto, but he is a depth forward with some upside. He ranked sixth among Seattle forwards with 1.70 points per 60 minutes of 5v5 play this season and had shown in spurts with the Rangers last season that he can contribute offensively.

#4 There was some doubt about whether goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury would even want to move but he gave the green light for his trade from Chicago to Minnesota and that does make Fleury more appealing than he was with a Blackhawks team that was not winning a whole lot. In Minnesota, Fleury gets to play behind a stronger team and the wins should come more easily. Fleury’s arrival in Minnesota does put a limit on the appeal of Cam Talbot, who had been the Wild starter in net but then he effectively slumped his way out of the job. Talbot will likely play more than a run-of-the-mill backup but also probably less than a standard starting goaltender, which could sewer his fantasy value. With Fleury leaving the Windy City, Kevin Lankinen should get most of the starts for Chicago the rest of the way but that’s not going to be a big help to the Blackhawks. Lankinen had a .931 save percentage in his first dozen games for Chicago last season and in 43 games since then, his save percentage is .896.

#6 With the Wild shuffling goaltenders, that left Kaapo Kahkonen as the odd man out and he was dealt to San Jose for defenseman Jacob Middleton. Kahkonen had a .907 save percentage in 54 games for the Wild across the past three seasons, but the 25-year-old might have a chance to earn a long-term role in San Jose. Veteran James Reimer is still San Jose’s starter but with Adin Hill injured, Kahkonen can establish himself and maybe get a leg up on a competition for the starting job next season, especially if Reimer gets moved.

#7 The Carolina Hurricanes brought in Max Domi from Columbus and while the idea is that he might be able to offer some secondary scoring, he started his time with the Hurricanes skating alongside Derek Stepan and Jesperi Kotkaniemi on Carolina’s fourth line. Not ideal for his fantasy value. With Domi gone, there might be more of an opportunity for wingers Yegor Chinakov and Emil Bemstrom, as well as Alexandre Texier when he returns from a finger injury.

#8 Having lost their entire third line in the offseason, the Tampa Bay Lightning were not afraid to pay a big price at the deadline to shore up those holes in the lineup. Tampa Bay made a trade with Chicago for Brandon Hagel and with Ottawa for Nick Paul. Although Paul scored in his Lightning debut and has a career-high 12 goals this season, he is not likely to have much fantasy appeal. Hagel is more interesting. The 23-year-old has erupted for 21 goals in 57 games in his second NHL season, but that goal total should come with a massive grain of salt. Hagel has scored on 22.1% of his shots this season and that is unlikely to last for even the greatest snipers and, with all due respect, Hagel is not one of the all-time greatest snipers.

#9 The wingers going to Chicago in the Hagel trade, Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk, will get a chance to prove that they are NHLers. Raddysh is a 24-year-old power forward who had 12 points (5 G, 7 A) in 53 games for the Lightning but has scored four points (2 G, 2 A) in his first three games with the Blackhawks. Katchouk was a part-time player for Tampa Bay, contributing six points (3 G, 3 A) in 38 games. He is still battling for a regular spot in the lineup, but that opportunity is better for him in Chicago than it was in Tampa Bay.

#10 A proven shot generator whose shooting percentage finally started to come around this season, Rickard Rakell is a major addition to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup. Since 2017-2018, Rakell has averaged 2.83 shots on goal per game, which ranks 44^th in the league. In the past three seasons, though, Rakell had trouble converting, scoring on just 8.0% of his shots, before percentages turned back in his favor this season and he had 16 goals in 51 games for the Ducks, scoring on 11.8% of his shots. The expectation is that he will ultimately have a chance to skate alongside Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins’ second line, but in his first couple of games with the Penguins, Rakell has played more with Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen, also seeing some time on Sidney Crosby’s wing. In a depleted Ducks lineup, after Rakell’s departure, Derek Grant and Dominik Simon were skating on Trevor Zegras’ wings while Zach Aston-Reese and Gerry Mayhew were on the flanks of Adam Henrique. None of those wingers are particularly appealing for fantasy purposes, even with suddenly bigger roles.

#11 The Ducks were busy, also dealing defenseman Hampus Lindholm to the Boston Bruins. Lindholm had 22 points (5 G, 17 A) in 61 games for the Ducks, and his career high was 34 points in the 2014-2015 season, he still played a major role on the Anaheim blueline and those minutes will have to get absorbed, so Simon Benoit and Brendan Guhle are candidates for more playing time. In Boston, Lindholm has joined Charlie McAvoy on the Bruins’ top pair.

#12 The Washington Capitals dipped into their past, acquiring Marcus Johansson from the Seattle Kraken. Johansson started his career in Washington, from 2010-2011 through 2016-2017 but he has played for five more teams since. Johansson had 23 points (6 G, 17 A) in 51 games for Seattle this season but with T.J. Oshie out of the Washington lineup, Johansson landed on the right wing with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznestov. That might not last but, in the short term, it’s a pretty good place to be.

#13 With Johansson one of several departures from Seattle, there will be chances for players to prove their value as NHLers. Daniel Sprong was part of the deal going to Seattle and he has flashed talent, on his way to 41 goals in 187 career games. He scored in his first game for Seattle, recording five shots on goal in just 11:24 of ice time. Karson Kuhlman, Kole Lind, and Morgan Geekie are other Seattle forwards that should see an uptick in ice time down the stretch.

#14 Enjoying a strong season in Montreal, Artturi Lehkonen was an attractive trade candidate, and the Colorado Avalanche were willing to pay for his services, expecting Lehkonen to solidify their middle six forwards. With 29 points (13 G, 16 A) in 58 games for the Canadiens, Lehkonen is just two points off of his career high, set in 2018-2019. With Lehkonen departing there is more room for a veteran forward like Paul Byron to fit into the Montreal lineup but that does not offer much fantasy appeal.

#15 Montreal did secure the services of defenseman Justin Barron from the Avalanche in the Lehkonen trade. A first-round pick in 2020, Barron appeared in two games for the Avs earlier in the season and had 20 points (5 G, 15 A) in 43 AHL games. Barron will have a chance to become a big part of the Montreal blueline.

#16 One of the most sought-after pending free agent forwards was acquired by the New York Rangers, as they picked up Andrew Copp from the Winnipeg Jets. Copp’s offensive game started to break through last season when he put up a career-high 39 points in 55 games, but he had 35 points (13 G, 22 A) in 56 games for the Jets before the trade and then he had a couple of assists in his Rangers debut. Copp started his Rangers career on a line with Filip Chytil and Dryden Hunt but finished that first game on right wing with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers also acquired energy winger Tyler Motte from Vancouver and while Motte does not score enough to generate a bunch of fantasy interest, but he does have a very specific fantasy value tied to his hit totals, averaging 2.80 hits per game across the past four seasons.

#17 Even though the Jets decided to trade Copp, they did not give up on their playoff push, however unlikely it might be. The Jets brought back right winger Mason Appleton who was claimed by Seattle in the expansion draft, and the Jets also acquired Zach Sanford from the Ottawa Senators. Neither of these players is as valuable as Copp, but the two wingers are established NHL talent that can play in Winnipeg’s top nine.

#18 Veteran forward Derick Brassard was a low-key addition by the Edmonton Oilers from the Philadelphia Flyers. He had a modest 16 points (6 G, 10 A) in 31 games for the Flyers but might have a little more offensive upside in Edmonton as he started his Oilers career on a line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jesse Puljujarvi.

#19 The St. Louis Blues were looking to shore up their blueline and landed veteran puck mover Nick Leddy from Detroit, sending Oskar Sundqvist and Jake Walman to the Red Wings. Leddy can quarterback a power play, if necessary, and it might be necessary for the Blues as Torey Krug is injured. If Krug is out long-term, that might give Leddy an opening into a bigger role for the Blues. Sundqvist and Walman may not be stars but they are entirely capable of filling regular roles for the Red Wings.

#20 One more Detroit deal. The Red Wings sent versatile forward Vladislav Namestnikov to Dallas. Namestnikov is still going to have to battle for ice time with the Stars, but his departure does help open up ice time for younger options in the Detroit lineup. Joseph Veleno, Michael Rasmussen, and the recently promoted Taro Hirose are some candidates for bigger roles in Detroit.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: COLORADO AVALANCHE – RANK: #13 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:37:49 +0000

Colorado Avalanche

#13 Colorado - More like Arizona than Philadelphia, Colorado's system has a great high end, featuring two elite-level prospects in Byram and Newhook, but the talent level drops off from there, and drops even harder after 11.

ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 31: Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Bowen Byram (4) skates with the puck during an NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche on January 31, 2021, at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Bowen Byram - D

Byram captained the Canadian WJC team to silver in December, before making his NHL debut with the Avalanche, getting into 19 games. He acquitted himself well at the pro level, posting just two points but with solid underlying numbers on a deep Colorado lineup, despite nagging injuries along the way.

A shifty skater with great feet mechanics, Byram changes direction well and is a threat rushing the puck up ice, in addition to being difficult to beat one-on-one due to a good understanding of gaps and excellent closing speed. He thinks and anticipates the game well, exuding the calm demeanor of a player that never seems to be in trouble regardless of the situation. Unafraid of jumping up in the offensive zone, Byram can even be found around or behind the opposition net as the opportunity presents itself, but he doesn’t take unnecessary risks and does well to get his shot through traffic, making the safe play when the shooting lane isn’t there. His offensive game may develop slower in the NHL as the Avalanche have Cale Makar and Devon Toews carrying the mail in that category, and powerplay time could be hard to come by for Byram. His offseason training focused on improving his skating even further, and 2021-22 could be another big step forward in development for the former 4^th overall pick. - AS

Alex Newhook - C

Among the most NHL-ready prospects in the sport, Newhook simply keeps getting better, no matter where he plays. He was spectacular in a short season with Boston College. He was awesome for Team Canada at the WJC. After his collegiate season ended, he signed a pro contract and proved that he was already too good for the AHL, with nine points in eight games at the level. And then he moved up to the NHL, where he more than held his own in the NHL, playing 10-15 minutes per game at the end of the regular season, before being reduced to six-nine minutes per game in the postseason for the Avs.

A fantastic skater with both the edgework and the speed to make defenders miss, his hands are just as fast, picking up any slack when his feet alone aren’t enough. And both of those tools play up thanks to his ability to read the defenses, allowing him to find their weak spots, not relying only on his physical tools. For all intents and purposes, Newhook looks like a top six lock in the near future. If there is any concern at all in his profile, it is his lack of a physical impact minimizing his options for contributing if he isn’t creating or finishing scoring chances. Newhook is ready for the NHL. - RW

3. Justin Barron - D

Barron returned to Halifax this season with the title of captain. He had a terrific season with the Mooseheads, progressing extremely well as an NHL prospect. There was a confidence and a calmness to his game (especially with the puck) that he had not previously shown consistently. He also had a short run in the AHL with seven regular season games (one goal and four assists) and two playoff games where he finished with one goal and two assists.

He continues to base his game on his strengths, including his excellent skating and mobility. He remains a player who excels in transition and carrying the puck. Due to the steps forward that he has taken, the Avalanche have to have more and more confidence that he will become a great defenseman in the NHL. His game is adapted for current NHL hockey. After adding Ryan Murray to the fold on the main Colorado roster, the Avalanche top six appears set heading into the year. That means Barron is destined to play this season in the AHL, which will allow him to build up confidence in his offensive game at the pro level. - BB

Oskar Olausson - RW

As with many of this year’s better Swedish prospects, Olausson was given limited minutes playing in men’s hockey, especially after Sweden shut down all junior leagues. Before then, the rangy winger was absolutely crushing it for HV 71’s U20 team, outproducing all draft eligible players in the league, with only Detroit prospect Theodor Neiderbach outproducing him on a per-game basis. He did not receive nearly as much ice time the rest of the way, whether he was playing for HV 71’s men’ team in the SHL, Sodertalje, in the Swedish second men’s tier (HockeyAllsvenskan) or in a depth role for Sweden at the WJC. That said, even without that many opportunities, he still managed to score three goals at each men’s level, showing what kind of role he is comfortable playing right now, and hinting at what his collection of abilities portends for his near-time and long-term future.

The three strengths to Olausson’s game are his skating ability, shooting ability, and his off-puck play. He possesses excellent top speed that puts a lot of pressure on defenders. His wrist shot can find twine from anywhere in the home plate area. He releases it very quickly, with a lot of power and strong placement. He is also a committed two-way player who uses his size and speed to his advantage. Ultimately, the concern is just how strong his creativity and puck skill are, which could, of course, hinder his potential. Olausson has signed with Colorado already and intends to play in North America this year with Barrie of the OHL. His 2021 season should give us a better indication of his high-end offensive upside. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Justus Annunen - G

For the second straight season Annunen split time with former Red Wings prospect Patrik Rybar in Karpat, only this past season saw a real dip in his performance. The 2019/20 season was a breakout one for the Finnish netminder. He posted the best save percentage in Liiga and he performed well for Finland at the World Juniors as a starter. However, this past season he was badly outplayed by Rybar and took a step backwards in his development.

Scheduled to play full time in the AHL this season, his first full year in North America, Annunen will look to get his game back on track. One bad season should not be enough to cancel out the impressive ones previously. The 6’4, 210 lbs netminder is great at finding pucks through traffic and he can play a little more aggressively than your average larger goaltender because he also possesses plus athleticism. Annunen simply needs to focus on tracking the play better East/West and to refine some of his more technical movements to become more consistent. The Avalanche do have a bit of a logjam at the pro level right now in net, but they will obviously find playing time with the Eagles for their potential star prospect. - BO

Sampo Ranta - LW

Not many players make their NHL debuts in the postseason like Ranta did last season. Cale Makar was one notable recent example. Ranta is not likely to follow in those exemplary footsteps, however he is worth paying attention to. If you like wingers who can play at an incredibly high pace and put the puck in the net at a healthy clip as well, this is the player for you. If those two elements weren’t enough, then further note that he has plus size, is reliable off the puck at even strength as well as on the PK and can demonstrate some razzle dazzle with the puck as well.

On the other hand, Ranta isn’t a perfect prospect. If he was, he would rank higher here. At his best, he flashes elite ability, and you wonder how he is ever stopped. The rest of the time, you are wondering where he is. This inconsistency has plagued him going back to his pre-draft seasons with Sioux City in the USHL. Hopefully he can straighten this out as a pro so that he does not consistently rely on his teammates to pick up the slack when he is going through dry spells. Another season in the AHL won’t do him any harm. - RW

Martin Kaut - RW

The development of former first round selection (in 2018) Martin Kaut has probably been slower than the Avalanche organization would have liked or anticipated. The Czech forward jumped right to the AHL after being drafted, playing in the AHL as an 18/19-year-old. While his production at that age was adequate, his lack of improvement in his sophomore year was somewhat concerning, even if it did include him scoring his first NHL goal. Last season, Kaut bounced between four different teams because of the pandemic, however, did manage to finally inch closer to the point per game mark in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles.

Still exempt from waivers (despite three pro seasons) due to the young age that he signed at (and played at the AHL level at), Kaut is still not a lock to make the Avalanche roster this season. His two-way approach and strong complementary skill set does make him a versatile winger. He can find his way to the net, supports well along the wall, and makes reliable decisions with the puck. However, his speed and skating ability have never developed past being average and it would appear that will limit his NHL potential to being more of a quality third line winger. - BO

Shane Bowers - C

The ticking of the clock on Bowers’ potential as a future NHL’er is getting louder and louder. The former first round pick of the Ottawa Senators, traded to the Avs as part of the return for Matt Duchene, Bowers spent only two years developing with Boston University before turning pro, and it is looking more and more like he (and Colorado) jumped the gun on his professional career before he was ready. Even in his draft year, his upside was seen as a middle six center, perhaps with the ability to kill penalties. This projection was based on his big, strong frame, smooth skating that allowed him to eat up the ice in a few strokes, and a style that fit a North-South game. Without ever blowing up the scoresheets, he still looked like an NHL’er.

There was hope that more offense would come, but four years have passed, and we have less reason to keep waiting. His production over two years in college was fine, albeit unspectacular. His first AHL campaign was more of the same, but last season, admittedly an abbreviated one, his production fell off a cliff, with only nine points in 28 games. With one year remaining on his entry level deal, the time is now for Bowers to force his way into Colorado’s future plans. The team has solid depth down the middle, and more of the same from Bowers won’t earn him an NHL debut. There are still some raw tools lurking within, but it is time for them to come out and play. - RW

Jean-Luc Foudy - C

Foudy was among the OHL players granted the exemption to play in the AHL due to the cancelled OHL season. Playing a full season, he managed to finish with 14 points in 34 games, while contributing on the power play. He had moments where he displayed great skill and flash, scoring two highlight goals. Foudy used his elite skating to his advantage many times, creating space and separation from opponents. He’s able to move so quickly and make such agile turns on his edges that he rarely loses speed, being able to draw penalties. He used his vision efficiently to find teammates in traffic to keep plays alive, but there were some consistency issues, where at times, simple passes just weren’t connecting. As such, he will need to continue working on his passing accuracy. Also, there were moments where he would over-handle the puck, lose possession or even find his way skating into danger.

Throughout the season, Foudy showed glimpses of great confidence with the puck, being able to break out in transition and control offensive zone entries, but he will need to continue to become more consistent. He projects as a useful middle six center, who can use his great speed and skating ability each shift. With Foudy playing over 20 games in the AHL he has the exemption to play in the league again next year, but it seems more likely that the best path for Foudy would be to return to the OHL for his confidence, playing top minutes on a competitive Spitfires team. - DK

Drew Helleson - D

A big blueliner with a right-handed shot, until this year Helleson was seen as more of a low-upside, stay-at-home type, better at breaking plays up than creating them. No longer. The switch began with his performance for Team USA at the WJC, where his four points were at least three more than were expected given his historical track record of production. Helleson skates very well for his size, and that showed this year in his new-found willingness to jump up into the rush, giving the opposing defenses something extra to think about. His offensive tools are just OK, but he seemed to show a knack for timing his ‘on-switch’ well, catching the defenses by surprise and maximizing the impact of his approach.

The offensive dalliances continued after he returned to Boston College as well, with production levels 250% greater than his freshman production. That said, the offensive impact did not come at the expense of his defensive game, for which he was named the top defensive defenseman in Hockey East last year. If what Helleson showed last year was for real, and not merely a flash in the pan, his projection will not only rise from the #4/5 he looked like with the USNTDP, but the Avalanche defensive pipeline will go from an organizational strength to a juggernaut. More will be known after his junior season. - RW

Sean Behrens - D

A standout with the U.S. U18 team last season, Behrens was a second-round pick by the Avs in 2021. The stocky blueliner has great mobility and a nonstop motor. He will likely take on a large role with the University of Denver this year as a freshman.

Alex Beaucage - RW

2020/21 was a very successful season for Beaucage, a 2019 third round selection. After a deadline move to Victoriaville, Beaucage led the QMJHL postseason in scoring and led the Tigres to a championship. He will turn pro this year and play in the AHL.

Nikolai Kovalenko - RW

The son of former NHL’er Andrei, Nikolai is a bull on his skates and blends power and skill despite being only 5’10. After a bit of a step back in the KHL this past season, Nikolai has moved to Ak Bars Kazan for this year, where he can hopefully get more playing time this season.

Danila Zhuravlyov - D

Already with Ak Bars, Zhuravlyov will be a teammate of Kovalenko next year. The two-way defender is coming off of his best KHL season yet and will continue his development in Russia again next year.

Colby Ambrosio - C

A fourth-round pick by Colorado in 2020, Ambrosio is coming off of a decent freshman season with Boston College last season. Ambrosio is extremely dangerous in transition with his puck skill and speed; however, he will need to continue to round out other parts of his game to be an impact player at the next level.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:09:56 +0000

These are our final prospect ranking prior to the start of the season. As a subscriber you can download the list in an excel chart and can link to the player pages in the chart found here. As always, the rankings you see below are based on our 20-80 scouting system looking at five categories for skaters (Skating, Shot, Puck Skills, Hockey Smarts, Physicality) and six for netminders (Athleticism/Quickness/Speed, Compete/Temperament, Vision/Play Reading, Technique/Style, Rebound Control, Puck Handling). Our prospect team spent large portions of their last few months pre-COVID in the rinks, watching the players below and many others, and further work on video (Instat Hockey has been a terrific resource in recent days) before passing judgement on their future projections.

The 20-80 scouting system is meant to allow players from different leagues in different parts of the world to be compared to one another, such that grades on a player in the OHL can be directly compared to grades from an AHL player, and to grades of someone playing in the MHL.

PROSPECT CRITERIA

Players under 26 years of age as of the September 15th prior (Sep. 15, 1994) to the season in question who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in any one season – or 25 last year (20 for goalies, 15 last season) are considered prospects

RANK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	ACQUIRED
1	Alexis Lafreniere	NYR	LW	19	6-1/195	`20(1st)
2	Tim Stutzle	Ott	C	18	6-1/185	`20(3rd)
3	Quinton Byfield	LA	C	18	6-4/215	`20(2nd)
4	Trevor Zegras	Ana	C	19	6-0/170	`19(9th)
5	Kirill Kaprizov	Min	LW	23	5-10/200	`15(135th)
6	Lucas Raymond	Det	LW	18	5-11/170	`20(4th)
7	Dylan Cozens	Buf	C	19	6-3/185	`19(7th)
8	Bowen Byram	Col	D	19	6-0/195	`19(4th)
9	Peyton Krebs	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`19(17th)
10	Jake Sanderson	Ott	D	18	6-1/185	`20(5th)
11	Moritz Seider	Det	D	19	6-3/185	`19(6th)
12	Jamie Drysdale	Ana	D	18	5-11/175	`20(6th)
13	Igor Shesterkin	NYR	G	25	6-1/190	`14(118th)
14	Alexander Holtz	NJ	RW	18	6-0/190	`20(7th)
15	Cole Perfetti	Wpg	LW	19	5-10/180	`20(10th)
16	Marco Rossi	Min	C	19	5-9/185	`20(9th)
17	Vasili Podkolzin	Van	RW	19	6-1/190	`19(10th)
18	Victor Soderstrom	Ari	D	19	5-11/180	`19(11th)
19	Nick Robertson	Tor	LW	19	5-9/160	`19(53rd)
20	Cole Caufield	Mtl	RW	19	5-7/165	`19(15th)
21	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	18	6-3/175	`20(11th)
22	Spencer Knight	Fla	G	19	6-3/195	`19(13th)
23	Philip Broberg	Edm	D	19	6-3/200	`19(8th)
24	Jack Quinn	Buf	RW	19	6-0/180	`20(8th)
25	Matthew Boldy	Min	LW	19	6-1/190	`19(12th)
26	Nils Lundkvist	NYR	D	20	5-11/180	`18(28th)
27	Seth Jarvis	Car	RW	18	5-10/175	`20(13th)
28	Ty Smith	NJ	D	20	5-10/180	`18(17th)
29	Grigori Denisenko	Fla	LW	20	5-11/185	`18(15th)
30	Barrett Hayton	Ari	C	20	6-1/190	`18(5th)
31	Alex Newhook	Col	C	19	5-10/195	`19(16th)
32	Thomas Harley	Dal	D	19	6-3/190	`19(18th)
33	Alex Turcotte	LA	C	19	5-11/185	`19(5th)
34	Vitali Kravtsov	NYR	RW	21	6-3/185	`18(9th)
35	Philip Tomasino	Nsh	C	19	5-11/180	`19(24th)
36	Connor McMichael	Wsh	C	19	5-11/175	`19(25th)
37	Dawson Mercer	NJ	C	19	6-0/180	`20(18th)
38	Ilya Sorokin	NYI	G	25	6-2/180	`14(78th)
39	Gabriel Vilardi	LA	RW	21	6-3/200	`17(11th)
40	Ryan Merkley	SJ	D	20	5-11/170	`18(21st)
41	Alexander Romanov	Mtl	D	20	5-11/185	`18(38th)
42	Kaiden Guhle	Mtl	D	18	6-2/190	`20(16th)
43	Samuel Poulin	Pit	LW	19	6-1/205	`19(21st)
44	K'Andre Miller	NYR	D	20	6-3/205	`18(22nd)
45	Scott Perunovich	StL	D	22	5-10/175	`18(45th)
46	Evan Bouchard	Edm	D	21	6-2/195	`18(10th)
47	Braden Schneider	NYR	D	19	6-2/200	`20(19th)
48	Juuso Valimaki	Cgy	D	22	6-2/205	`17(16th)
49	Cam York	Phi	D	19	5-11/175	`19(14th)
50	Anton Lundell	Fla	C	19	6-1/185	`20(12th)
51	Morgan Frost	Phi	C	21	5-11/180	`17(27th)
52	Owen Tippett	Fla	RW	21	6-1/200	`17(10th)
53	Albert Johansson	Det	D	19	5-11/165	`19(60th)
54	Liam Foudy	CBJ	C	20	6-0/175	`18(18th)
55	Kieffer Bellows	NYI	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(19th)
56	Arthur Kaliyev	LA	RW	19	6-2/190	`19(33rd)
57	Oliver Wahlstrom	NYI	RW	20	6-1/205	`18(11th)
58	Nils Hoglander	Van	RW	20	5-9/185	`19(40th)
59	Matias Maccelli	Ari	LW	20	5-11/170	`19(98th)
60	Tobias Bjornfot	LA	D	19	6-0/200	`19(22nd)
61	Jacob Bernard-Docker	Ott	D	20	6-0/180	`18(26th)
62	Connor Zary	Cgy	C	19	6-0/180	`20(24th)
63	Dominik Bokk	Car	RW	20	6-1/180	T(StL-9/19)
64	Ryan Suzuki	Car	C	19	6-0/180	`19(28th)
65	Dylan Samberg	Wpg	D	21	6-3/190	`17(43rd)
66	Jake Bean	Car	D	22	6-1/175	`16(13th)
67	Josh Norris	Ott	C	21	6-1/195	T(SJ-9/18)
68	Rasmus Kupari	LA	C	20	6-1/185	`18(20th)
69	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	19	5-9/165	`19(26th)
70	Drake Batherson	Ott	RW	22	6-1/190	`17(121st)
71	Jan Jenik	Ari	RW	20	6-1/180	`18(65th)
72	John-Jason Peterka	Buf	LW	18	5-11/190	`20(34th)
73	Kirill Marchenko	CBJ	LW	20	6-3/190	`18(49th)
74	Bode Wilde	NYI	D	20	6-2/195	`18(41st)
75	John Beecher	Bos	C	19	6-3/210	`19(30th)
76	Tyler Madden	LA	C	21	5-10/155	T(Van-2/20)
77	Jack Studnicka	Bos	C	21	6-1/170	`17(53rd)
78	Jake Oettinger	Dal	G	22	6-4/210	`17(26th)
79	Alex Formenton	Ott	LW	21	6-2/165	`17(47th)
80	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	19	6-3/200	`19(49th)
81	Calen Addison	Min	D	20	5-10/180	T(Pit-2/20)
82	Ty Dellandrea	Dal	C	20	6-0/185	`18(13th)
83	Akil Thomas	LA	C	20	5-11/170	`18(51st)
84	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	18	5-10/180	`20(30th)
85	Ian Mitchell	Chi	D	21	5-11/175	`17(57th)
86	Jason Robertson	Dal	LW	21	6-2/195	`17(39th)
87	Hendrix Lapierre	Wsh	C	18	5-11/180	`20(22nd)
88	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`20(29th)
89	Theodor Niederbach	Det	C	18	5-11/175	`20(51st)
90	Zac Jones	NYR	D	20	5-10/175	`19(68th)
91	Robert Mastrosimone	Det	LW	19	5-10/160	`19(54th)
92	Joe Veleno	Det	C	20	6-1/195	`18(30th)
93	Rodion Amirov	Tor	LW	19	6-0/170	`20(15th)
94	Jake Neighbours	StL	LW	18	5-11/195	`20(26th)
95	Julien Gauthier	NYR	RW	23	6-4/225	T(Car-2/20)
96	Justus Annunen	Col	G	20	6-4/215	`18(64th)
97	Egor Zamula	Phi	D	20	6-4/175	FA(9/18)
98	Shane Pinto	Ott	C	20	6-2/190	`19(32nd)
99	Noel Gunler	Car	RW	19	6-2/175	`20(41st)
100	Ridly Greig	Ott	C	18	5-11/165	`20(28th)
101	Jesse Ylonen	Mtl	RW	21	6-1/185	`18(35th)
102	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	20	6-0/195	`19(50th)
103	Mattias Norlinder	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`19(64th)
104	Olli Juolevi	Van	D	22	6-3/200	`16(5th)
105	Kristian Vesalainen	Wpg	LW	21	6-3/205	`17(24th)
106	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	20	6-4/195	`19(38th)
107	Jan Mysak	Mtl	C	18	5-11/180	`20(49th)
108	Cayden Primeau	Mtl	G	21	6-3/180	`17(199th)
109	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	LW	20	6-1/170	`19(79th)
110	Morgan Barron	NYR	C	22	6-2/200	`17(174th)
111	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	19	5-11/180	`19(20th)
112	Dylan Holloway	Edm	C	19	6-0/205	`20(14th)
113	Jack Dugan	VGK	RW	22	6-2/185	`17(142nd)
114	Alexander Khovanov	Min	C	20	5-11/195	`18(86th)
115	Jacob Perreault	Ana	RW	18	5-11/195	`20(27th)
116	Jake Evans	Mtl	C	24	6-0/185	`14(207th)
117	Adam Beckman	Min	LW	19	6-1/170	`19(75th)
118	Jett Woo	Van	D	20	6-0/205	`18(37th)
119	Nolan Foote	NJ	LW	20	6-3/190	T(TB-2/20)
120	Logan Brown	Ott	C	22	6-6/220	`16(11th)
121	Martin Kaut	Col	RW	21	6-1/175	`18(16th)
122	Jack Rathbone	Van	D	21	5-10/175	`17(95th)
123	Ozzy Wiesblatt	SJ	RW	18	5-10/185	`20(31st)
124	Ryan O'Rourke	Min	D	18	6-0/180	`20(39th)
125	Lukas Reichel	Chi	LW	18	6-0/170	`20(17th)
126	Jordan Harris	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`18(71st)
127	Lukas Dostal	Ana	G	20	6-1/170	`18(85th)
128	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/205	`19(45th)
129	Conor Timmins	Col	D	22	6-1/185	`17(32nd)
130	Lassi Thomson	Ott	D	20	6-0/190	`19(19th)
131	Eeli Tolvanen	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/175	`17(30th)
132	Kasper Simontaival	LA	RW	18	5-9/180	`20(66th)
133	Roni Hirvonen	Tor	C	18	5-9/165	`20(59th)
134	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	18	5-9/180	`20(38th)
135	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	Ana	C	20	6-1/195	`18(54th)
136	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	18	6-4/200	`20(44th)
137	Tyson Foerster	Phi	C	18	6-1/195	`20(23rd)
138	Helge Grans	LA	D	18	6-2/205	`20(35th)
139	Jonathan Dahlen	SJ	LW	23	5-11/185	T(Van-2/19)
140	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	18	5-11/175	`20(37th)
141	Alexander Alexeyev	Wsh	D	21	6-3/200	`18(31st)
142	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	Pit	D	21	6-2/170	`17(23rd)
143	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	18	5-10/160	`20(64th)
144	Oskari Laaksonen	Buf	D	21	6-2/165	`17(89th)
145	Filip Hallander	Tor	LW	20	6-1/185	T(Pit-8/20)
146	Serron Noel	Fla	RW	20	6-5/205	`18(34th)
147	Martin Chromiak	LA	LW	18	6-0/185	`20(128th)
148	Shakir Mukhamadullin	NJ	D	18	6-3/180	`20(20th)
149	Mattias Samuelsson	Buf	D	20	6-3/215	`18(32nd)
150	Janne Kuokkanen	NJ	LW	22	6-1/190	T(Car-2/20)
151	Ryan Johnson	Buf	D	19	6-0/175	`19(31st)
152	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	19	5-8/175	`20(124th)
153	Martin Fehervary	Wsh	D	21	6-1/190	`18(46th)
154	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	Buf	G	21	6-4/195	`17(54th)
155	Will Lockwood	Van	RW	22	5-11/175	`16(64th)
156	Isac Lundestrom	Ana	C	21	6-0/185	`18(23rd)
157	Michael DiPietro	Van	G	21	6-0/195	`17(64th)
158	Jonatan Berggren	Det	RW	20	5-10/185	`18(33rd)
159	Kevin Bahl	NJ	D	20	6-6/230	T(Ari-12/19)
160	Aliaksei Protas	Wsh	C	19	6-5/205	`19(91st)
161	Reilly Walsh	NJ	D	21	5-11/180	`17(81st)
162	Nick Abruzzese	Tor	C	21	5-9/160	`19(124th)
163	Tyler Tucker	StL	D	20	6-1/205	`18(200th)
164	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	19	5-10/170	`19(129th)
165	Klim Kostin	StL	C	21	6-3/195	`17(31st)
166	Brayden Tracey	Ana	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(29th)
167	Joel Hofer	StL	G	20	6-3/160	`18(107th)
168	Joey Anderson	Tor	RW	22	6-0/195	T(NJ-10/20)
169	Yegor Spiridonov	SJ	C	19	6-2/195	`19(108th)
170	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	19	6-1/205	`20(36th)
171	Joey Keane	Car	D	21	6-0/185	T(NYR-2/20)
172	Jared McIsaac	Det	D	20	6-1/195	`18(36th)
173	Jamieson Rees	Car	C	19	5-10/175	`19(44th)
174	Ivan Morozov	VGK	C	20	6-1/180	`18(61st)
175	Rem Pitlick	Nsh	C	23	5-11/200	`16(76th)
176	Tyce Thompson	NJ	RW	21	6-0/170	`19(96th)
177	Michael McLeod	NJ	C	22	6-2/195	`16(12th)
178	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	LA	C	21	5-11/190	`17(41st)
179	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	19	6-0/165	`19(214th)
180	Antti Tuomisto	Det	D	19	6-4/190	`19(35th)
181	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	18	5-9/155	`20(134th)
182	Luke Evangelista	Nsh	RW	18	5-11/170	`20(42nd)
183	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	18	6-1/180	`20(52nd)
184	Joni Ikonen	Mtl	C	21	5-10/170	`17(58th)
185	Olivier Rodrigue	Edm	G	20	6-1/165	`18(62nd)
186	Lucas Elvenes	VGK	RW	21	6-0/175	`17(127th)
187	Anthony Angello	Pit	RW	24	6-5/205	`14(145th)
188	Tuukka Tieksola	Car	RW	19	5-10/160	`19(121st)
189	Declan Chisholm	Wpg	D	20	6-1/190	`18(150th)
190	Cole Koepke	TB	LW	22	6-1/195	`18(183rd)
191	Valtteri Puustinen	Pit	RW	21	5-9/185	`19(203rd)
192	Ty Smilanic	Fla	C	18	6-1/175	`20(74th)
193	Patrik Puistola	Car	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(73rd)
194	Justin Barron	Col	D	19	6-2/190	`20(25th)
195	Andrew Peeke	CBJ	D	22	6-3/210	`16(34th)
196	Michael Vukojevic	NJ	D	19	6-3/210	`19(82nd)
197	Alec Regula	Chi	D	20	6-3/200	T(Det-10/19)
198	Connor Corcoran	VGK	D	20	6-1/185	`18(154th)
199	Jeremy Swayman	Bos	G	22	6-1/190	`17(111th)
200	Pyotr Kochetkov	Car	G	21	6-1/175	`19(36th)
201	Mikey Anderson	LA	D	21	6-0/195	`17(103rd)
202	Carter Savoie	Edm	LW	18	5-9/190	`20(100th)
203	Samuel Walker	TB	C	21	5-11/160	`17(200th)
204	William Wallinder	Det	D	18	6-4/190	`20(32nd)
205	Jack Drury	Car	C	20	5-11/180	`18(42nd)
206	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	18	5-9/185	`20(54th)
207	Cal Petersen	LA	G	26	6-3/190	FA(7/17)
208	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	18	6-0/200	`20(72nd)
209	Tarmo Reunanen	NYR	D	22	6-0/180	`16(98th)
210	Simon Holmstrom	NYI	RW	19	6-1/185	`19(23rd)
211	Aleksi Saarela	Fla	RW	23	5-11/200	T(Chi-10/19)
212	Anton Johannesson	Wpg	D	18	5-9/155	`20(133rd)
213	Lauri Pajuniemi	NYR	RW	21	6-0/185	`18(132nd)
214	Morgan Geekie	Car	C	22	6-2/180	`17(67th)
215	Shane Bowers	Col	C	21	6-2/190	T(Ott-11/17)
216	Sasha Chmelevski	SJ	C	21	5-11/190	`17(185th)
217	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	20	5-8/155	`18(43rd)
218	Cole Schwindt	Fla	RW	19	6-2/185	`19(81st)
219	Hugo Alnefelt	TB	G	19	6-3/195	`19(71st)
220	Nikita Okhotyuk	NJ	D	20	6-1/195	`19(61st)
221	Sampo Ranta	Col	LW	20	6-2/205	`18(78th)
222	Alexander Volkov	TB	LW	23	6-1/190	`17(48th)
223	Alexander True	SJ	C	23	6-5/205	FA(7/18)
224	John Leonard	SJ	C	22	5-11/190	`18(182nd)
225	Carl Grundstrom	LA	LW	23	6-0/195	T(Tor-1/19)
226	Dmitri Semykin	TB	D	20	6-3/200	`18(90th)
227	Cal Foote	TB	D	22	6-4/215	`17(14th)
228	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	18	5-11/175	`20(75th)
229	Alex Barre-Boulet	TB	C	23	5-10/165	FA(3/18)
230	Tristen Robins	SJ	RW	19	5-10/175	`20(56th)
231	Max Gildon	Fla	D	21	6-3/190	`17(66th)
232	Nikita Alexandrov	StL	C	20	6-0/180	`19(62nd)
233	Michael Benning	Fla	D	18	5-9/180	`20(95th)
234	Justin Sourdif	Fla	RW	18	5-11/175	`20(87th)
235	Tanner Laczynski	Phi	C	23	6-1/200	`16(169th)
236	Eamon Powell	TB	D	18	5-11/165	`20(116th)
237	Kaedan Korczak	VGK	D	19	6-3/190	`19(41st)
238	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	18	6-1/180	`20(47th)
239	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	21	5-10/175	`18(171st)
240	Pius Suter	Chi	C	24	5-11/170	FA(7/20)
241	Wade Allison	Phi	RW	23	6-2/205	`16(52nd)
242	Bobby Brink	Phi	RW	19	5-10/165	`19(34th)
243	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	18	5-10/180	`20(68th)
244	David Farrance	Nsh	D	21	5-11/190	`17(92nd)
245	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	18	6-2/185	`20(33rd)
246	Dmitri Voronkov	CBJ	LW	20	6-4/190	`19(114th)
247	German Rubtsov	Phi	C	22	6-2/190	`16(22nd)
248	Vitaly Abramov	Ott	RW	22	5-9/175	T(CBJ-2/19)
249	Alex Laferriere	LA	RW	19	6-0/175	`20(83rd)
250	Trey Fix-Wolansky	CBJ	RW	21	5-8/185	`18(204th)
251	Isaac Ratcliffe	Phi	LW	21	6-5/200	`17(35th)
252	Kale Clague	LA	D	22	6-0/180	`16(51st)
253	Landon Slaggert	Chi	LW	18	5-11/180	`20(79th)
254	Wyatt Kalynuk	Chi	D	23	6-1/180	FA(7/20)
255	Mikko Kokkonen	Tor	D	19	5-11/200	`19(84th)
256	Kevin Mandolese	Ott	G	20	6-4/180	`18(157th)
257	Daniil Tarasov	CBJ	G	21	6-5/185	`17(86th)
258	Evan Barratt	Chi	C	21	6-0/190	`17(90th)
259	Tyler Benson	Edm	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(32nd)
260	Yegor Korshkov	Tor	RW	24	6-4/215	`16(31st)
261	Hunter Skinner	NYR	D	19	6-2/175	`19(112th)
262	Riley Damiani	Dal	C	20	5-9/165	`18(137th)
263	Ryan McLeod	Edm	C	21	6-2/205	`18(40th)
264	Ilya Konovalov	Edm	G	22	6-0/195	`19(85th)
265	Will Cuylle	NYR	LW	18	6-3/205	`20(60th)
266	Evan Vierling	NYR	C	18	6-0/165	`20(127th)
267	Emil Heineman	Fla	LW	19	6-0/180	`20(43rd)
268	Zayde Wisdom	Phi	RW	18	5-10/195	`20(94th)
269	Hunter Jones	Min	G	20	6-4/195	`19(59th)
270	Ty Tullio	Edm	RW	18	5-10/165	`20(126th)
271	Jordan Spence	LA	D	19	5-10/165	`19(95th)
272	Dmitri Zavgorodny	Cgy	LW	20	5-9/175	`18(198th)
273	Alex Beaucage	Col	RW	19	6-1/195	`19(78th)
274	Matiss Kivlenieks	CBJ	G	24	6-2/190	FA(5/17)
275	Artyom Zub	Ott	D	25	6-2/200	FA(5/20)
276	Urho Vaakanainen	Bos	D	22	6-0/185	`17(18th)
277	Dmitri Samorukov	Edm	D	21	6-2/180	`17(84th)
278	Michal Teply	Chi	LW	19	6-3/185	`19(105th)
279	Colby Ambrosio	Col	C	18	5-8/170	`20(118th)
280	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	20	6-7/195	`19(37th)
281	Jeremy Lauzon	Bos	D	23	6-3/205	`15(52nd)
282	Dennis Gilbert	Col	D	24	6-2/200	T(Chi-10/20)
283	Trent Frederic	Bos	C	22	6-4/215	`16(29th)
284	Lucas Carlsson	Chi	D	23	6-0/190	`16(110th)
285	Zack Macewen	Van	RW	24	6-3/205	FA(3/17)
286	Brandon Hagel	Chi	LW	22	6-1/175	FA(10/18)
287	Vasily Ponomarev	Car	C	18	5-10/180	`20(53rd)
288	Jakub Zboril	Bos	D	23	6-1/200	`15(13th)
289	Garrett Pilon	Wsh	RW	22	5-11/190	`16(87th)
290	Jeremy Bracco	Car	RW	23	5-9/180	FA(10/20)
291	Dylan Sikura	VGK	RW	25	6-0/170	T(Chi-9/20)
292	Kyle Capobianco	Ari	D	23	6-1/180	`15(63rd)
293	Sami Niku	Wpg	D	24	6-0/175	`15(198th)
294	John Farinacci	Ari	C	19	5-11/185	`19(76th)
295	Jackson Lacombe	Ana	D	19	6-1/170	`19(39th)
296	David Cotton	Car	LW	23	6-3/205	`15(169th)
297	Erik Portillo	Buf	G	20	6-6/210	`19(67th)
298	Jacob Truscott	Van	D	18	6-1/170	`20(144th)
299	Mikhail Berdin	Wpg	G	22	6-2/165	`16(157th)
300	Cam Hillis	Mtl	C	20	5-10/170	`18(66th)

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Colorado Avalanche Top 20 Prospects

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 12:50:07 +0000

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

Bowen Byram, D (4^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Skating makes Byram an up-tempo offensive dynamo who can carry the puck from end to end. He can shoot with the best of them, has an effective one-timer, a half slap shot, a good wrist shot when he leans into one, but also has an effective throw-it-at-the-net shot that beats the first forward. He also has excellent vision and passing skills to carve open defenses that overcommit to shutting him down. He is an excellent defender transitioning from the offensive blueline into a more attacking position in the slot. His edges, speed and fluidity make him hard to defend in open space at the top of the blue line which enables him to beat guys one on one. He sees the play unfolding in front of him, he can hit a homerun pass, skate himself out of trouble and make smart simple plays with the puck. He can create his own space and can drive the net. His defensive game has shown some modest improvements, particularly in his gaps and his recovering ability. Byram has all the tools to develop into a top pairing offensive weapon who will quarterback a powerplay at the next level. - VG

Alex Newhook, C (16^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Newhook has been earning awards and scoring accolades since he was around 13 years old, something that he was able to maintain in his freshman season at Boston College, being named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, the Hockey East Rookie of the Year, the New England Rookie of the Year, and the NCAA Top Collegiate Rookie. He also ranked second nationally in scoring amongst freshmen. Newhook first lined up as a left winger last season, but then was moved to center to split up the scoring balance on the team. The move also helped him reach another level. Skating is probably his best asset – he is extremely fast, and he also moves well laterally. He can weave in and out effortlessly, cycles very well in the offensive zone, and is especially good on the power play. He has a good shot. He sees the ice well and knows how to be patient. He doesn’t have the biggest frame, but he is nevertheless good at protecting the puck. Newhook certainly has the size, skating and scoring ability to make it to the NHL, where he projects as a potential first liner. - JS

Justus Annunen, G (64^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Annunen reads the play really well, he is square to the puck and does not give shooters much room to shoot at. He seldom needs to make flashy, athletic saves, even though he is capable of them. He remains patient and does not commit to shooters too soon. At times he even uses anticipation to make saves on high-danger shots. He is confident in his abilities and his calm demeanor gives him an advantage in many situations. He moves well from post to post and has quick reactions and a fast glove hand with very good rebound control. Furthermore, he is vocal and communicates well with his defensemen. On the downside, the 6-4” netminder has only modest puck handling skills. When he handles the puck outside of the crease, he most often gives a simple, short pass, or rims the puck up the ice. He rarely attempts to make long-range passes, even if there is an opportunity to do so. This might be a matter of confidence because he seems hesitant when he has to play the puck. At the end of the day, Annunen has the tools to be a starting goalie in the NHL. - MB

Martin Kaut, RW (16^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

A highly regarded two-way winger, Kaut has sometimes struggled with a lack of offensive assertiveness, but he has more confidence in his shot in additional to improving speed of late. That boosted speed has made him more of an enticing prospect, now combining his great technical skating skill with more tempo when he has the puck. A pest on defense, his hockey IQ is superb and he plays deep and physical in his own zone, challenging opposing wingers against the wall with his 6-2” frame and essentially playing as a third defenseman, which includes his work on the penalty kill. Kaut’s quick, heavy wrist shot is difficult for goaltenders to handle, and his shot placement - oftentimes shooting to generate a rebound - is solid, especially on the rush. His ceiling is as a top-six two-way winger who can play an auxiliary role to a Nazem Kadri type, and with his maturity and adaptability being no issue, he should contend for a spot on the roster as soon as next season. - TD

Conor Timmins, D (32^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Considering how quickly Timmins acclimated himself to the pro ranks, it is easy to forget that he missed the entirety of the 2018-19 season while recovering from post-concussion syndrome. Thrown on the Eagles’ top defense pair his puck-moving prowess also showed out. With high-end hockey sense and responsibility, he played heavy penalty kill minutes and was particularly effective at battling opponents against the boards, using his size to win puck battles. Effective at creating plays with his hands and through passing, he also contributed during on the power play. He does not have dynamic speed or skill, but he has the technical skating ability that allows him to carry the puck out of the zone and push the offense the other way. His gaps are very tight, but he is prone to being beat on the outside with his lack of speed, which means he will have to improve his stick work at the blueline or play more passive defending. Timmins projects as a middle-pair shutdown guy who specializes in protecting leads or matching up with an opponent’s top line, but he will need another year or two in the AHL first. – TD

Justin Barron, D (25^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A blood clot wiped out a large portion of Barron’s draft year, and when he did play, he struggled on the bottom feeding Mooseheads. Reports were positive enough by the time the draft rolled around that Colorado was comfortable taking him in the first round. The right-shooting defender has good size and moves extremely well at that size. With his strong positioning, gap control, and ability to separate attackers from the puck, he projects as a high end defensive player in the NHL; perhaps better if he can increase his physical intensity to be more consistently menacing. Where the concern now lies is projecting Barron’s offensive game and his impact as a puck mover. While his mobility is a major asset and he flashes the ability to be a lead attacker in transition, his puck skill and game management are not dynamic. His decision making with the puck also appeared to take a step backward last year as he was asked to take on a leadership role. It is also possible that last year was a poor indication of his abilities, faced with the pressure of leading a rebuilding team and recuperating from a serious ailment. – BO

Shane Bowers, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017. Originally: 28^th overall, 2017 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 5)

In his first full pro season, Bowers showed why he was originally taken with a late first round pick by Ottawa, before being packaged in the Matt Duchene trade in 2017. Tempo and skill are what define the Boston University alum’s game, and his two-way domination of his opponents in 2019-20 was predicated upon exactly those features of his game. Hard on the forecheck and relentlessly physical on the penalty kill, Bowers is smart, attentive, and takes pride in helping his blueliners on defense. Offensively, he possesses great one-on-one skill and likes to pressure defenders by taking the puck deep in the zone and making plays from below the goal line, though he can be inconsistent with the puck and try to force plays that aren’t there. Playing with energy and pace, the Halifax native specializes in doing the grunt work and letting his more-skilled teammates shine, which makes his ceiling of a checking line, PK centerman one he can surely achieve soon. - TD

Sampo Ranta, LW (78^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

The pros and cons of Sampo Ranta have remained the same since his draft year with Sioux City of the USHL. Based on his raw tools alone, the Finnish winger is dynamic enough to rank in the top three or four of this system. He is a strong skater, with excellent edge work giving him great agility. He plays a high pace and constantly puts defenders on their heels. He reads the game well and makes decisions quickly at both ends of the ice. He has an NHL frame. He can play an assertive style and impose his will on the game. He even does so physically on occasion, throwing his weight around in the service of puck recovery. On the con side, Ranta’s production has never matched his skills. He couldn’t reach the point-per-game mark in his draft year in the USHL, and while his sophomore scoring for the Golden Gophers was a notch better than his work as a freshman, it can’t be considered more than secondary yet. Ranta may make that leap, with his outputs matching his inputs, and if he does, he could be a top six player. If that step never comes, there are enough ingredients here for a good bottom six forward at the highest level. – RW

Jean-Luc Foudy, C (75^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Speed is the name of the game here. Like his brother Liam, Jean-Luc Foudy is an elite level skater. He carves up open ice with his explosiveness and agility. Not only is he quick, but his lateral skating is equally good, allowing him to change direction smoothly even at top speed. Using his speed, he is a high-level playmaker when attacking the offensive zone. He backs up defenders and opens up scoring lanes for his linemates as he circles the offensive zone until he sees an opening. Where Foudy struggles is finding ways to consistently break through to the middle of the ice. He can be neutralized by patient defenders who keep him to the perimeter. Shooting is not a strength either, so his attacks can be predictable at times, leading to too many attacks that end in the corner, or trapped in the neutral zone. Between his high-end athleticism, skating ability, and playmaking potential, he projects as a potential impact forward as long as additional physical maturity leads to more confidence in his ability to play through traffic. – BO

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (171^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 19)

The son of former NHLer Andrei Kovalenko, Nikolai is coming off a breakout season in the KHL with Lokomotiv. His 21 points were the second most of any U21 player in the league. With terrific bloodlines, his best strength is his hockey sense. He is an active player without the puck, who keeps his feet moving in the offensive zone to seek out scoring chances, and a strong two-way player whose physicality makes him an all situations kind of player. Next year, Kovalenko will return to Lokomotiv and will look to improve his offensive numbers even further. However, his KHL contract is up after the 2020-21 season, which opens up the possibility that he makes the jump to North America after that. He projects as a middle six winger for the Avalanche and is not likely to put up the kind of offensive seasons that his father did with Edmonton and Quebec/Colorado, although he can still be a very valuable NHLer. - BO

Alex Beaucage, RW (78^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

Beaucage is an analytics darling and a player with hidden pro potential as a third-round pick. He has the size to terrorize and he has the scoring touch to be a threat from any location on the ice. He maintained his offensive flair this season as the number one option on his Huskies team, leading the team in scoring after winning the Memorial Cup last year. He has his warts, and the Monsters will have to “coach the junior out of him” when he arrives, but he shows potential to be an NHLer on a middle line. His skating is strong enough to work in the pros but could use some refinement, and his play without the puck, as with many junior scorers, could use some attention, but he is strong in puck pursuit on the backcheck, which is encouraging. He will take a little while to get there, but he has the chance to be a solid secondary scorer at the NHL level. – MS

Colby Ambrosio, C (118^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

While Ambrosio has scored more than he has created for his linemates, the highlight of his game is his immense skillset playing the puck made more impressive as he rarely overplays the puck. He generally plays a simple game, saving his best moves for troubling scenarios, where he can make defenders and netminders look silly. He has great hands in tight and a knack for making something good happen. The shot – particularly his hard wrister and his one-timer from the Ovechkin spot on the power play - is also an absolute weapon. Ambrosio is a volume shooter, who is liable to let one go from anywhere in the offensive zone. That propensity seems to be related to his hands, as he is fond of making sharp angle shots and will sometimes rush one off. There are some concerns with his size deficit as well as average-at-best skating, a troubling combination, although he is fairly agile. Furthermore, while he reads the play well, tends to make the right decision, and plays hard, but is not always the one to get the play into the heart of high-danger country. – RW

Dennis Gilbert, D (Trade: Oct. 10, 2020. Originally: 91^st overall, 2015 [Chicago]. Previous ranking: 8 [Chicago])

Gilbert is a throwback defender who stays back, hits, blocks shots, and imposes physical play on his opponents. He is also a wonderful skater who can push the puck up and out of his own zone with ease. He has been a solid defensive defenseman with his smart, tight gaps and physical tools, locking up his opponents against the boards and stealing the puck with his length. He can move the puck out of trouble on his own and is capable of moving through the neutral zone with the puck but lacks the puck-handling skill to beat defenders one-on-one. That is what is most frustrating about Gilbert’s game; there are offensive defensemen in this sport who would kill to skate the way the he can, and yet Gilbert does very little with it, providing few points from the backend and showing little offensive confidence. It is not his game, but he plays a solid enough stay-at-home game to make himself useful regardless. He played 21 games on Chicago’s bottom pair before going down with a wrist injury and that is where you can expect Gilbert to play going forward, albeit now as a member of the Avalanche organization. – TD

Ryder Rolston, RW (139^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A late birthday member of the 2019 USNTDP group, Rolston was expected to dominate in his draft year with Waterloo and there were stretches when he did just that (14 points in the final nine games of 2019). But he also had long fallow stretches (eight and five game stretches after New Year’s with a single point during each). Like his father, longtime New Jersey Devil Brian, Ryder is a fantastic skater, featuring an impressive first few steps to give him a quick advantage, with a heavy shot and a promising two-way game. His hands can play fast as well, but he doesn’t dazzle with puck skills so much as show promising ability to maintain possession under duress. He will need to add some East-West to his game at Notre Dame to be less predictable, and less prone to finding his rushes dying in the corners, taking better advantage of his plus agility, and let his tools play to their level, but the core pieces of a valuable player are there. – RW

Logan O’Connor, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 23, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

A former captain of the University of Denver men’s hockey team, whose rink sits just over six miles from the Avalanche’s arena in downtown Denver, O’Connor was a training camp invite who earned an ELC and promptly dominated the AHL in his 2018-19 rookie pro season. A very good skater who brings loads of energy to the ice, the native of well-known hockey hotbed Missouri City, Texas is creative with the puck and while he is not a dangler, he can beat defenders with speed and inventiveness. Capable of playing all three forward spots and up-and-down the lineup, his talent is matched only by his versatility, which makes him an easy player to recall and insert anywhere on the depth chart. Smart and on the Colorado Eagles penalty kill, the 24-year-old excels in operating at the top of the defensive zone and closing down passing lanes. It is hard to imagine him as a point-scorer at the NHL level (just two goals in 16 games in his stint with the Avs this season), but he is so well-versed and reliable that he can have a long career as a utility figure in Colorado’s deep forward lineup. - TD

Danila Zhuravlyov, D (146^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Zhuravlyov is a highly mobile defenseman with smooth pivots and strong edges. He has a powerful stride and good acceleration; the puck does not slow him down when he carries it up the ice. He is strong on his skates. He shows awareness both with and without the puck. He reads plays well and has a good eye for the game. He intercepts passes and clogs lanes in his own end. He maintains correct defensive side positioning and keeps opponents on the perimeter, protecting the middle of the ice efficiently. He is strong with his hands and wins stick battles. Offensively, he makes sound decisions with the puck and can move it quickly. He also distributes the puck well in the offensive zone and has a heavy shot. Zhuravlyov has a lot of tools: the skating ability, puck skills, smarts and athleticism. He is only going to get better as he gains more KHL experience and additional strength. - MB

Drew Helleson, D (47^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Helleson is a defensive defenseman. He might not contribute a lot offensively, but he is solid. After spending two years at Shattuck St. Mary’s, he joined the USNTDP. He also played for the U.S. in the U-17 World Hockey Classic and again in the U-18 World Junior Championship. While he is a stay at home defender, he moves very well - especially given his 6-2” frame. Helleson has a long reach that he uses well. He won’t wow you, but he is extremely solid. He protects the puck well and doesn’t make many mistakes. And at only 19 years of age, that is a good sign - especially for a freshman defender still adjusting to college hockey. Since Helleson isn’t much of an offensive contributor, speed will be his biggest asset in determining how he fares at the next level, as he will have to prove that he can keep up with faster opponents. - JS

Sasha Mutala, RW (140^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Mutala has a modest offensive arsenal but he makes the most of it. There is a nice blend of size, speed and grit that make him a pretty effective player in any game scenario. He has very good speed on the top and pretty good agility and footwork overall. He has good vision and passing skills and has an above average shot. None of his offensive tools are really eye catching but it doesn’t prevent him from being an effective player. He can play with a bit of sandpaper and work the down low game very effectively, using his size to protect the puck. He isn’t a huge physical presence on the ice but he is not intimidated by physical play. He isn’t a great puck handler, but his skills are fine for the style of game he plays. In the future he is likely to peak at a 3rd line winger who helps on the penalty kill, and is sound defensively, keeping his opponent honest everywhere on the ice. - VG

Luka Burzan, C (171^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Burzan has continued to grow and evolve since being drafted. He has a solid combination of speed and competitiveness that make him attractive as a potential bottom six player. He has a solid defensive game and is a capable of creating turnovers, getting in lanes and engaging physically in his own zone. He generates rush opportunities by keeping pressure on the puck and is very effective on the fore and back check because of his puck pursuit. He doesn’t wow with his hands or one on one skills, but he is a capable puck handler. His offensive game really is driven from two things: puck pressure and willingness to get to the net. Both of those features are predominant in his production. He has a good ability to find space around the crease, find the puck and find room to release it. 32 of his 37 goals last season were from below and between the dots (stats from Instatsport.com), so he is a player that will go to the net. Due to this I think his offense will translate a bit better than most guys projected for bottom six roles. – VG

Trent Miner, G (202^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

A smaller netminder by modern standards, Miner went from the heavy side of a goaltending platoon in his draft year, to the short end of the stick last season, losing time to the better performing David Tendeck, an Arizona prospect. We expect him to regain full control of the crease once the 2020-21 WHL season gets underway, giving him a chance to show that steady presence between the pipes, coupled with his ability to track play as well as his solid puck skills, will be worth an NHL contract with the Avalanche. Miner may be notably further away from an NHL career than Adam Werner (the other primary candidate for this slot), who also has much more impressive size, but Miner has also shown greater consistency and the ability to maintain a higher level of play over longer stretches in recent years than has Werner. If more consistent minutes allow Miner to play up to his potential, it will be hard for Colorado to avoid his potential as a future NHL backup and not award him with an ELC. - RW

Justin Barron – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #7 Montreal Canadiens

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 Prospect Rankings – Risers and Fallers

Risers

Fallers

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Top 20 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – NHL Player Profiles

FORWARDS

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK: Fantasy Prospect Rankings – 30 Forwards, 20 Defenseman, 10 Goalies

Forward Rankings

Defense Rankings

Goaltending Ranking

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Early returns from the trade deadline, as Andrew Copp, Mathieu Joseph, Claude Giroux, and Frank Vatrano are among the players making a difference with their new teams

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Fallout from the NHL trade deadline, not just from the players that moved, like Claude Giroux, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mark Giordano, and Max Domi, but also those that remain with potentially new opportunities

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: COLORADO AVALANCHE – RANK: #13 – TIER III

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Colorado Avalanche Top 20 Prospects

Bowen Byram, D (4th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Alex Newhook, C (16th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Justus Annunen, G (64th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Martin Kaut, RW (16th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Conor Timmins, D (32nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Justin Barron, D (25th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Shane Bowers, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017. Originally: 28th overall, 2017 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 5)

Sampo Ranta, LW (78th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Jean-Luc Foudy, C (75th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (171st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 19)

Alex Beaucage, RW (78th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

Colby Ambrosio, C (118th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dennis Gilbert, D (Trade: Oct. 10, 2020. Originally: 91st overall, 2015 [Chicago]. Previous ranking: 8 [Chicago])

Ryder Rolston, RW (139th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Logan O’Connor, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 23, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Danila Zhuravlyov, D (146th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Drew Helleson, D (47th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Sasha Mutala, RW (140th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Luka Burzan, C (171st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Trent Miner, G (202nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

Bowen Byram, D (4^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Alex Newhook, C (16^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Justus Annunen, G (64^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Martin Kaut, RW (16^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Conor Timmins, D (32^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Justin Barron, D (25^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Shane Bowers, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017. Originally: 28^th overall, 2017 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 5)

Sampo Ranta, LW (78^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Jean-Luc Foudy, C (75^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (171^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 19)

Alex Beaucage, RW (78^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

Colby Ambrosio, C (118^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dennis Gilbert, D (Trade: Oct. 10, 2020. Originally: 91^st overall, 2015 [Chicago]. Previous ranking: 8 [Chicago])

Ryder Rolston, RW (139^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Danila Zhuravlyov, D (146^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Drew Helleson, D (47^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Sasha Mutala, RW (140^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Luka Burzan, C (171^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Trent Miner, G (202^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)