Kieffer Bellows – McKeen's Hockey

PROSPECTS: BELL – 20 Prospect Points – Gauthier, Firkus, Connelly, Hage and More

Josh Bell — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 13:54:58 +0000

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 06: Boston College Eagles forward Cutter Gauthier (19) skates with the puck during a Dunkin' Beanpot semifinal game between the Boston College Eagles and the Harvard Crimson on February 6, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)

Welcome to 20 Prospect Points, a bi-weekly column where I dive into the trending prospects - drafted and draft-eligible - from around the globe.

This edition dives into the biggest news in the prospect world as of late, Cutter Gauthier’s trade to the Anaheim Ducks, as well as the return of Canadians from the World Juniors, some standout netminders in the AHL, the impressive rise of Trevor Connelly, and much more.

Drafted Prospects

#1 Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the biggest recent prospect news is Cutter Gauthier being traded to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Jamie Drysdale. Reports have revealed that he didn’t want to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers, sparking the move. Gauthier joins a very exciting, young group in California with Trevor Zegras, Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Olen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintuykov. The future is looking extremely bright.

#2 Drafted 19th overall back in 2016 by the New York Islanders, it’s been a long, tough road for Kieffer Bellows. But could he finally be putting it all together? He joined the Toronto Marlies on a PTO and impressed with 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games. Now, he’s signed to an AHL deal with the team. Could the NHL be next? This is very much a story to keep an eye on.

#3 It seems that Seattle Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus took exception to not making the Team Canada World Juniors roster right out of the gate (he was added for two games filling in for injury). Back in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors, he’s been absolutely on fire, with 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in just four games. He’s up to 75 points (!) in 36 games with no signs of slowing down.

#4 Another Warrior and Team Canada returnee, Buffalo Sabres’ prospect Matt Savoie returned to the WHL to make his debut for Moose Jaw. You could say it went well, with Savoie racking up five points (two goals, three assists) after only collecting one assist throughout the World Juniors. Savoie is playing at a 2.42 point-per-game pace this season through just 12 games.

#5 Some disappointing news for Halifax Mooseheads superstar and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Jordan Dumais, who will be out for some extended time due to requiring double hip surgery and a sports hernia repair. It’s expected that he’ll miss about six weeks, which could put him back on the ice at the end of the regular season.

#6 Alright, one more Team Canada returnee to talk about - Oliver Bonk. It seems to be a pattern that some of these Canadians have returned to their regular teams with a chip on their shoulder after failing to medal at the World Juniors. The Flyers prospect has returned to the OHL’s London Knights and has been on absolute fire. The defender has put up 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in just five games back - his most productive stretch this season. Keep an eye on him moving forward.

#7 Once thought to be in the conversion for the top pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Winnipeg Jets’ called Brad Lambert’s name 30th overall. Making the jump to the AHL this season - the Jets absolutely made the right call and potentially got a steal in the young Finn. Lambert was named to the AHL All-Star Classic to represent the Manitoba Moose, after collecting 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 29 games. He may have slid down the draft board, but Lambert is proving to be the skilled player that many thought he could be.

#8 On to the goalies! One of the best goaltending prospects in the world, Nashville Predators’ prospect Yaroslav Askarov has been tremendous in the AHL for the Milwaukee Admirals, earning a call-up to the Preds where he was perfect in relief for 16:40 and then started a game, earning his first NHL win thanks to a .923 save percentage. It seems to have boosted his confidence in returning to the Admirals, where he’s won four straight including three shutouts. Get ready Preds’ fans - he’s coming.

#9 Speaking of excellent goaltending prospects, Minnesota Wild rearguard Jesper Wallstedt earned his first call-up and start in the NHL, granted he let in seven goals in a 7-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. He’s had a tough stretch in the AHL lately, but he still has impressive numbers through 20 games with a .917 save percentage. It won’t be long before he gets the promotion again.

#10 Askarov, Wallstedt… Damian Clara? The Italian netminder and Anaheim Ducks prospect has been tremendous in his first full season in the HockeyAllsvenskan for Brynas IF, going 15-3-0 and sporting a .907 save percentage. The 19-year-old is on a seven-game winning streak, including one shutout. The goaltender is an under-the-radar prospect despite being drafted 60th overall. Keep an eye on him.

Draft-Eligible Prospects

#11 One of the hottest draft-eligible prospects out there right now, Trevor Connelly seemingly can’t be stopped. After helping Team USA to a World Junior A Challenge bronze medal last month (and being named to the All-Star Team thanks to his 11 points in six games), he’s returned to the USHL’s Tri-City Storm on fire with nine points (three goals, six assists) in five games. He’s a player on the rise at the mid-point of the year.

#12 Speaking of prospects that are exploding right now, Zayne Parekh may need a permanent place on this list. The OHL’s Saginaw Spirit defender is seemingly unstoppable right now, on pace for the second-best OHL season for a draft-year eligible prospect all time. At this point, he’s a must-watch prospect and is almost sure to stand out in every game.

#13 Over in the WHL, a prospect that hasn’t been earning the discussion that he perhaps deserves, Clarke Caswell has been commanding attention as of late with points in nine of his last 10 games and is up to 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists) in 41 points. If you’re looking for prospects to watch in the back half of the season, be sure to check out Caswell.

#14 While he started off fairly slow (due to limited minutes in the KHL), Ivan Demidov is very much here. Now playing consistent minutes in the MHL with SKA-1946 St. Petersburg, he’s producing at an impressive rate. He has 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in his last nine games, playing over two points per game. Crazy what can happen if a player actually plays!

#15 Ondrej Becher was a standout performer at the World Juniors for Team Czechia, en route to a bronze medal for his team. He was instrumental in that bronze medal game, putting up five points (three goals, two assists) in the exciting final game. This should come as no surprise though given his season with the Prince George Cougars, as the Czech prospect has been excellent with 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) in 32 games.

#16 Another WHL prospect who has been excellent this season is Medicine Hat Tigers’ Cayden Lindstrom. Unfortunately, he’ll be on the sideline for four to six weeks following surgery for an upper-body injury. Lindstrom has 46 points (27 goals, 19 assists) in 32 games and should be back to the WHL playoffs and potentially the World Under 18 Championships. Don’t expect his draft stock to be hit because of this.

#17 Konsta Helenius didn’t have a great World Juniors tournament production-wise with just two points through seven games, but he’s now back in the Liiga with Jukurit and back to putting up the points with two assists in two games (ok, the two assists came in one game). While he wasn’t a standout at the World Juniors, his draft stock remains high and being the youngest player on Team Finland, the tournament shouldn’t impact his ranking.

#18 Another prospect that should have a regular spot on this list, Macklin Celebrini has returned to Boston University on a mission with four points through his two games back. He was arguably Canada’s top forward at the World Juniors, with eight points in five games, and has continued that production back in the NCAA. His No. 1 overall ranking remains extremely firm.

#19 Michael Hage is a prospect that is very much under the radar in this draft class. The 17-year-old is currently leading the USHL’s Chicago Steel in points with 31 (14 goals, 17 assists) in 28 games and was strong in the All-American Game. He’s a player who’s on the cusp of the first round in many public rankings but should be a solid first-rounder by the time the draft rolls around.

#20 We’re looking way out with this one. Gavin McKenna, eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft and the cousin of Connor Bedard, is absolutely dominating the WHL as a 16-year-old. His 1.40 points-per-game ranks sixth all-time for a U17 player in the league, with half of the season still to go. He’s up to 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 35 games and shows no signs of slowing down. It’s a long road to the 2026 NHL Draft, but it’s worth starting to follow the path of this young player.

BELL: 20 Prospect Points – Johnson, Michkov, Celebrini, Silayev + More

Josh Bell — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:20:57 +0000

Welcome to the inaugural 20 Prospect Points, a bi-weekly column where I dive into the trending prospects - drafted and draft-eligible - from around the globe.

This edition takes a look at Kent Johnson, Matvei Michkov, and Hunter Brzsutewicz are a few of the drafted prospects turning heads, while Macklin Celebrini, Konsta Helenius, and Anton Silayev are turning heads ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Drafted Prospects

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 29: Columbus Blue Jackets Left Wing Kent Johnson (13) looks on during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 29, 2022, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

#1 It was a little surprising to see Columbus Blue Jackets’ Kent Johnson sent down to the AHL this month, especially after putting up 40 points last season as a rookie. But it appears to be the right decision as the 2021 fifth-overall pick has been on fire, with 14 points (four goals, nine assists) through his first nine games - a 101-point pace through 65 games. Don’t expect him to stick around in the AHL for too long.

#2 At the start of last season, many rankings had Hunter Brzustewicz in their first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. By the end of the year, this wasn’t the case. He slid to the third round, 75th overall, where the Vancouver Canucks called his name. They have to be feeling pretty good about that decision now. He’s exploded out of the gate this year, putting up six goals (matching last year’s total) and 33 assists for 39 points in just 23 games. He’s on pace to smash last season’s total of 57 points. Not only is he leading all defenders in the OHL but he’s second overall in points in the league.

#3 It’s been a long road for Kieffer Bellows, being drafted back in 2016 by the New York Islanders 19th overall and never being able to break into the NHL. This season, he attended the Carolina Hurricanes training camp on a pro tryout before getting cut and signing a pro tryout with the Toronto Marlies. He’s been extremely impressive since then, putting up 12 points (six goals, six assists) in nine games with points in eight of those nine games. He’s done everything he can to earn himself a contract.

#4 At one point, there was discourse regarding Connor Bedard or Matvei Michkov for first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. Due to the contract situation and rumours of concerns surrounding him both on and off the ice, he slid to seventh overall and the waiting Philadelphia Flyers. After being loaned to HK Sochi, he’s absolutely on fire in the KHL with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 27 games. He’s on pace for 52 points right now and for what it’s worth, the U20 record in the KHL is Kirill Kaprizov’s 42 points in 2016-17.

#5 There’s been a lot of talk of Macklin Celebrini’s freshman season in the NCAA (we’ll get to that) and that’s been overshadowing another excellent rookie season - Gabe Perreault. Drafted by the New York Rangers 23rd overall in 2023 after a historic, record-setting 132 points in 63 games with the U.S. National U18 Team. He’s continued that office into his career with Boston College, already at 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 13 games. He’s currently on a nine-game point streak and shows no signs of slowing down.

#6 Another NCAA freshman that’s flying under the radar, Aiden Fink is commanding attention. Drafted 218th overall in 2013 by the Nashville Predators out of the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits (where he was league MVP), Fink is currently second in the NCAA in freshman points with 21 (nine goals, 12 assists), one behind Celebrini and four behind Massimo Rizzo for the league lead. The Predators have to be happy with their late-round pick.

#7 It’s been quite a year for Beau Akey, being drafted 56th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2023 NHL Draft and signing his NHL entry-level contract. There was a strong chance of him dressing for Canada at the 2024 World Juniors, but that’s no longer possible after undergoing shoulder surgery for a dislocated shoulder. One of the top prospects for the Oilers, he’s likely done for the season - a big blow to his development.

#8 Tough news for another player who was taking a step forward this season, Rutger McGroarty will miss the remainder of the first half of the season for the University of Michigan - at least. He was stretchered off the ice after taking a hit to the boards on November 17th. The Winnipeg Jets prospect was up to 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 13 games in his season, well on his way to passing his 39-point mark last season. This does put his spot at the World Juniors in a month in jeopardy, which would be an offensive blow to the team.

#9 Speaking of the World Juniors, it seems like we’ve seen the last of Seattle Kraken prospect Shane Wright on the WJC stage. Kraken general manager Ron Francis noted, “he's kind of been there done that.” Wright has participated in the World Juniors twice, although that includes the cancelled 2022 edition. But, he did captain the 2023 Canadian team to a gold medal. With his focus on carving out a permanent spot in the Kraken lineup, the decision makes sense.

#10 While we’re on the Kraken, they have to be happy with the massive step forward that Carson Rehkopf has taken this season. Drafted 50th overall in the latest draft, the Kitchener Rangers forward has been dominant this season in the OHL. He currently leads the league in goals (26) and points (45) through 25 games and is well on his way to double his draft year output of 59 points in 68 games.

Draft-Eligible Prospects

NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 1: NCAA men's hockey at Lawler Rink on December 1, 2023 in North Andover, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

#11 It’s safe to say that Macklin Celebrini is comfortable in the NCAA. The projected first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and the youngest player in the NCAA this season currently leads all freshmen with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in just 13 games. His 1.69 points-per-game pace this season puts him third all-time for a U18 player in the NCAA and he should only get better as the season goes on. He’s a must-watch player this season for any hockey fan.

#12 Another player looking more than comfortable in their draft year, Konsta Helenius has simply been getting better and better. He’s carved out a top-six role for himself with the Liiga’s Jurkurit and is running with it, with 17 (eight goals, nine assists) points in his last 16 Liiga games. That doesn’t even include his tournament-leading six points (two goals, four assists) in three games at the U20 5 Nations Cup.

#13 Speaking of the 5 Nations Cup, it’s worth highlighting another Finn who also led the tournament in scoring: Emil Hemming. The right winger, who’s been impressive himself in the Liiga so far, matched Helenius’ point total with six (two goals, four assists) in one extra game played.

#14 Another tournament recently wrapped up as well, the U18 5 Nations Cup saw the USA dominate most of the event, winning three of their four matches. Cole Hutson, the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens’ prospect Lane Hutson, was arguably the top defender in the tournament, putting up seven points (two goals, five assists). His creativity and elusiveness were on full display at the event.

#15 However, the true story of the U18 5 Nations Cup was 2025 NHL Draft-eligible James Hagens. An early contender for the first-overall pick, the centerman put up a tournament-leading 11 points (two goals, nine assists) for the Americans, and an impressive 14 shots in the USA’s only loss in the event, a 7-6 shootout versus Sweden. Get used to hearing Hagens’ name - you’ll likely start hearing it a lot more.

#16 Another player worth highlighting from the U18 5 Nations Cup, Swedish defender Leo Sahlin Wallenius seemed to get more and more comfortable as the tournament went on, finishing with one point in every game for a total of four (one goal, three assists). But the true story is since the tournament - he’s returned to the J20 Nationell on fire, with nine points (three goals, six assists) in his first five games back.

#17 In recent years, the Chicago Steel have been a dominant force in the USHL. That doesn’t appear to be the case this season as they sit two points from the bottom of the league so far. That’s part of the reason that we haven’t been hearing the name Michael Hage as much as we should be. The Canadian centreman missed most of his DY-1 season but has been excellent so far this year, with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in as many games with the struggling Steel. Keep an eye on him as the season rolls on.

#18 You’ve likely been hearing about the 6-foot-7 defender out of Russia that has shot up draft rankings early this season. Anton Silayev, while a polarizing prospect, has been the talk of the prospect world, having broken into the KHL, shattering the U18 point record for a defender, tying the U18 points record (any position), and tying the U19 record for a defender. He currently sits with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 34 games and is on pace to double that before the season ends. Silayev should remain a topic of conversation all season.

#19 In the WHL, the play of Cayden Lindstrom is commanding attention. The forward is up to 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers and is on pace to more than double his rookie-year output. Standing at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds with some of the softest hands around, Lindstrom is another prospect that has forced top-10 discussion.

#20 Another WHLer who is enjoying a breakout year, Terik Parascak has entered the season as a rookie for the Prince George Cougars and shocked at nearly a goal-per-game pace. He leads all draft-eligibles in the league in goals, with 21 in 23 games while adding 13 assists for 34 points. The winger is currently outpacing Connor Bedard’s draft year and while it’s likely he comes back down to earth at some point, it’s a remarkable start for the young prospect.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – NHL Player Profiles

Scott Cullen – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:23:05 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MAY 31: New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) plays a pass along the blue line on the power play during Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round between the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders on May 31, 2021, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Mathew Barzal

A dynamic skater who can be an electrifying presence on the ice, Barzal has not been able to duplicate his 85-point rookie season in 2017-2018 and last season he finished with 59 points in 73 games. Barzal is exceptional when it comes to transporting the puck from his defensive zone into the offensive zone – his skating ability allows him to dart and dodge his way through neutral ice. He is far and away the most dangerous offensive performer on the team, but his defensive work was suspect last season, so that limits the value of his overall impact. He also won a career-best 46.3% of his faceoffs last season, so there is still room to improve on the dot. Barzal is 25, so he is in his prime, and given his rare ability to carry the puck from one end of the ice to the other, he remains a valuable player. It’s up to the Islanders to find the right pieces that will fit around him. 65 points is an entirely reasonable forecast for Barzal, but it also feels like underselling him. There is potential for more, but he might not have the supporting cast to help him get back to scoring more than a point per game. Maybe a new coach behind the Islanders bench will help open things up for the Isles and if that is the case, Barzal could benefit as much as anyone.

Brock Nelson

Coming off a season in which he tallied a career-high 37 goals and 59 points, Nelson has been a productive second-line center who has surpassed 50 points three times in the past four seasons. A six-time 20-goal scorer who also scored 18 goals in 56 games during the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 season, Nelson has a track record of proven performance. With solid defensive play as part of his contribution, Nelson has been quite effective. He has been an above-average finisher throughout his career, owning a shooting percentage of 14.2%, but he will not likely duplicate last season when he scored on 21.6% of his shots. Even if 37 goals are an aberration, Nelson has shown that he can score, so 25-30 goals and 55 points is in line with Nelson’s past performance.

Anders Lee

The Islanders’ captain is a 6-foot-3, 235-pound power forward who returned from a torn ACL to score 28 goals last season, the sixth time in his career that he buried at least 20 goals. Since 2016-2017, Lee has scored 162 goals, ranking 22^nd in the league over that time. While his offensive production was back to typical levels, his defensive play was not as strong, so that is an area of some concern given that Lee is 32 years old and maybe not moving quite as well as he did during his peak years. Nevertheless, he is an established and proven scorer who has thrived on Barzal’s wing and that should continue in 2022-2023. That should bring Lee 25-plus goals and 45 points, which is fine, but may not necessarily elevate the attack enough in the way that the Islanders need.

Anthony Beauvillier

A 25-year-old winger who has flashed potential at various times through his six NHL seasons, Beauvillier is coming off what may be the worst season of his career. He finished the season with 12 goals and 34 points, his fewest goals since his rookie season. He has yet to hit 40 points in a single NHL season, so when his defensive play slipped last season, the overall results were poor. While some of those results would be better by simply scoring on his career shooting percentage, 11.9% of his shots instead of last season’s 7.8% shooting percentage, the play away from the puck needs to be improved if Beauvillier is going to remain secure in a top-six role. 15-20 goals and his first 40-point season is still an achievable target for Beauvillier.

Josh Bailey

Heading into his 15^th season with the Islanders, Bailey has been a capable second line forward that can contribute offensively, and last season was the fifth time in the past six seasons that he surpassed 40 points. He is a smart player and good passer but his ability to drive play has faded in recent seasons and Bailey is a reluctant shooter – his 1.18 shots on goal per game last season was his lowest rate since his rookie season. With his game in decline, it might be natural for the Islanders to elevate others ahead of him on the depth chart, but Bailey has been resilient and maintained a second line role. If he stays in that spot, another 45-point season should be expected.

Kyle Palmieri

A consistent scoring threat earlier in his career, which included five straight seasons with more than 20 goals, the 31-year-old winger has not had that kind of productivity for the Islanders and last season’s 15 goals and 33 points was his lowest in a full season since 2014-2015. Percentages play a part in that decreased production. While he is not generating shots at the same rate as he did during his peak seasons, Palmieri has scored on 9.1% of his shots in 86 games with the Islanders after scoring on 13.2% of his shots in 397 games for the New Jersey Devils. He has not been a major factor on the Islanders power play, which naturally hurts his overall numbers, but it is notable that even with lower scoring totals, Palmieri’s ability to drive play has been relatively strong with the Isles, which makes him a solid top-six winger, but maybe the production could return to a higher level with an increased power play role. With declining production in recent seasons, he might be a lot to ask for 20 goals or 40 points out of Palmieri, but that should still be in his sights if he can get a special teams boost.

Zach Parise

Now 38, Parise had a bit of a bounce-back season in 2021-2022, at least relative to the previous season in Minnesota. 15 goals and 35 points is a long way from Parise’s best production in the league, but he generated enough to be a competent middle six winger and getting that on a league-minimum contract is an obvious net positive for the Islanders. He also managed 1.68 shots on goal per game, his lowest since his rookie season in 2005-2006, so there are signs of decline that are to be expected for a player in his late thirties. How much Parise produces will be tied to ice time that could easily decline, but if he stays in a top-nine role for the Islanders, he should be able to contribute 30-35 points.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau

A reliable third line center, the 29-year-old played 17:40 per game last season, falling behind only Mathew Barzal (18:01 ATOI) and, just barely, Brock Nelson (17:41 ATOI), so the Islanders are comfortable with Pageau playing a significant role, though he is probably limited to some degree by the quality of his linemates. Nevertheless, Pageau is a solid contributor who had 39 points last season and has surpassed 40 points a couple of times in his career. He plays a sound defensive game, too, making him an enviable third line center. If he produces 40 points, that could offer some value. If he adds to that with another 170-hit season, Pageau would have very specific category appeal. He has also won 55.8% of his draws since joining the Islanders, so Pageau does have a knack for doing those little things that can help a team win.

Oliver Wahlstrom

A 22-year-old winger who can really fire the puck, Wahlstrom has been eased into his NHL role, logging 12 minutes per game for a couple of years, but he could be ready to handle more responsibility because not only can he shoot the puck, but Wahlstrom has been able to play a sound defensive game in his limited role. With more ice time and a shooting percentage likely to improve on last season’s 8.3%, there is a reasonable path to Wahlstrom scoring 20 goals in the near future, possibly even this season. Without knowing that he will have an increased role with more ice time, though, Wahlstrom should probably be looked at for 15 goals and 25-30 points. An opportunity waits with Barzal and Lee on the top line representing tempting upside but use caution where you pick him.

DEFENSE

Noah Dobson

Emerging as a first-rate puck-moving defenseman, the 22-year-old erupted for 51 points in his third NHL season. After playing a depth role in his first two seasons, Dobson saw his ice time spike to more than 21 minutes per game as he became the quarterback for the Islanders power play, scoring 22 of his 51 points with the man advantage, which was tied for eighth among defensemen. On a team with a lot of veteran talent, Dobson is still young enough to be on the ascent of his career, so if he can continue to develop, he could become a major factor on the Islanders blueline. Since Dobson’s percentages weren’t wildly inflated last season, looking for another 50-point season is not unreasonable. Maybe a bit optimistic, but he is a young player that is certainly trending up in his career.

Ryan Pulock

Earlier in his career, the 27-year-old looked like he would be a power play threat because of his booming shot, but that was not enough to really handle the job, and that’s okay. He has rounded into a steady top-four role, playing more than 21 minutes per game for four straight seasons. He has blocked more than 100 shots in four straight seasons and has registered more than 1.50 hits per game for each of the past five seasons, yet Pulock plays an exceptionally clean game. In the past two seasons, he has played that physical style for 112 games and has a total of 10 penalty minutes, the fewest of any defenseman to appear in at least 100 games over the past two seasons. It should not be overlooked how much value exists in a defenseman that does not take penalties. Pulock is still capable of producing 30 points, but his offensive ceiling is lowered because his power play contributions have been getting smaller.

Adam Pelech

A standout defensive performer, in the classical sense because Pelech finished with a career high 28 points last season, but he is a first-pairing beast who has excelled in a shutdown role. He is a strong skater and while he is 6-foot-3 and will get involved physically, Pelech is not a punishing hitter. He is smart and responsible and massively underrated by many because he does not have gaudy point totals. Nevertheless, Pelech is a dominant play-driving defenseman who not only handles the toughest matchups, but excels in those matchups, so he should not be some hidden gem of a player, rather he should be getting more Norris Trophy votes if the 28-year-old continues to play as well as he has in recent years. The Islanders have outscored opponents 106-75 with Pelech on the ice in 5-on-5 situations in the past two seasons, 25 points is a fair expectation for Pelech but it barely scratches the surface when trying to represent his value to the Islanders.

Alexander Romanov

Acquired from Montreal in a blockbuster draft day trade, Romanov showed some potential through his first two seasons with Montreal, especially as a physical presence last season when he recorded 227 hits. He was one of 11 defensemen to finish with more than 140 hits and 140 blocked shots last season. The question is whether the 22-year-old can develop and display more skill because his offensive contributions have been very limited while he has had more of an impact defensively. He does not have to turn into an offensive star, but some improvement over his first two seasons with the Canadiens could help Romanov establish his credentials as a top pair defenseman. If he could score 20 points this season that would be a win, but Romanov is also likely to record rare hit and blocked shot totals, enough that he might still have fantasy appeal despite his lack of scoring.

GOALTENDING

Ilya Sorokin

It’s almost a little unfair that Ilya Sorokin has come into the league at the same time as Igor Shesterkin; one might wonder what sort of buzz he’d be producing if he had been the first one to arrive in the NHL, and just how much better his finish would have been in Vezina voting in the process. As it stands, he finished his 2021-22 campaign with a .925 save percentage and a .712 quality start percentage, posting 37 quality starts and a whopping seven shutouts over his 52-game campaign for the New York Islanders. And despite that performance – which in some years would have been a clear-cut Vezina Finalist performance – he still finished sixth in voting for the league’s most prestigious goaltending award; he barely made buzz in comparison to the hype happening on the other side of the city for the rival New York team, which is hard to consider anything but disappointing.

Luckily, the Islanders are set to watch him succeed for a long time yet. Even though the team has been the butt of too many jokes this past summer thanks to an antiquated general manager and a disappointing lack of free agent signings, the team should still be set up to help Sorokin establish himself as one of the most powerful netminders in the Metropolitan Division. In an era when most teams are struggling to figure out who to tandem and when a replacement for the mid-2000’s goaltending giants will emerge from their prospect pools, Sorokin’s smooth skating – combined with a willingness to temper some of his energy and structure his positioning a bit more for the North American game – will keep him thriving in the league for as long as he wants to play.

Projected starts: 55-60

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Evgeni Malkin returns to action and Evander Kane might have a new team soon. Jared McCann, Nico Hischier, Clayton Keller, Trevor Moore and more

Scott Cullen — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 22:57:13 +0000

Each week I will 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, Evgeni Malkin returns to action and Evander Kane might have a new team soon. Jared McCann, Nico Hischier, Clayton Keller, Trevor Moore and more.

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 09: Pittsburgh Penguins Center Evgeni Malkin (71) handles the puck during the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers on March 9, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)

#1 The Pittsburgh Penguins have waited patiently and finally had Evgeni Malkin make his season debut this week after a long recovery from knee surgery. He has taken his place on Pittsburgh’s first power play unit and is centering Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen. While injuries have plagued Malkin throughout much of his career, he is still averaging 1.17 points per game since 2017-2018, the seventh highest rate in the league in that time.

#2 After the San Jose Sharks waived left winger Evander Kane for the purposes of terminating his contract, the door was open for Kane to sign with any team as a free agent. The Edmonton Oilers may be the landing spot most loudly rumored. That would obviously present a beneficial opportunity for Kane, who might even get to play with Connor McDavid. Alas, before the deal could even get signed, the league was reportedly investigating another potential COVID-19 protocol violation from Kane and that has put any signing on pause.

#3 If you can get past the off-ice issues, of which there are many, Kane has been a very productive player. In the three seasons prior to this one, Kane was tied for sixth among left wingers with 78 goals. He was tied with Tom Wilson for most penalty minutes among forwards (317) and his 405 hits ranked 13^th among left wingers. Kane’s 678 shots on goal in that span ranked third among left wingers. The shots and goals are difference makers in most fantasy leagues, the hits and penalty minutes are typically in the realm of banger-style leagues. Of course, he comes with more risk than the average player for a lot of reasons but, for fantasy purposes, he does have higher upside than the standard waiver wire addition.

#4 Seattle Kraken center Jared McCann had a breakthrough season for the Penguins last year, stepping into a bigger opportunity when Malkin was injured, and he has continued producing with the expansion Kraken. In his past five games, he has six points (3 G, 3 A) and 21 shots on goal and is up to 15 goals in 31 games. He has emerged as the No. 1 centre for the Kraken, which might even be better than was expected when he was selected in the expansion draft.

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) 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)

#5 Nico Hischier was limited to 21 games last season and the New Jersey Devils captain started slowly this season, but he has been rounding into form. In the past 23 games, Hischier has 19 points (6 G, 13 A) and 43 shots on goal. Pavel Zacha has been his most consistent linemate this season, though Jesper Bratt, Tomas Tatar, and Jimmy Vesey have skated with Hischier, too. With Jack Hughes picking up the scoring pace, the Devils are starting to see what could happen as their top two centers start to reach their offensive potential.

#6 Goals don’t come easily for the Arizona Coyotes. Their 2.15 goals per 60 minutes ranks 31^st, ahead of only the Montreal Canadiens (2.07), and yet Clayton Keller has really started to hit his stride offensively. In the past 18 games, Keller has 20 points (9 G, 11 A) and 61 shots on goal while averaging 20:49 of ice time per game. He is widely available in fantasy leagues and while the Coyotes are likely to shed some veteran talent before the trade deadline, Keller might just hang around and play big minutes on a bad team for the rest of the season.

#7 Point production has been inconsistent for Blake Coleman in his first season with the Calgary Flames, but the hard-driving winger does offer fantasy value in other categories, too. He had finished 2021 with one point in 14 games but in 2022 he has four points (2 G, 2 A) to go with 24 shots on goal and 15 hits in five games. As a player with multiple 20-goal and multiple 200-hit seasons, Coleman has sufficient fantasy upside.

#8 All of the schedule changes this season have resulted in a dramatic difference in terms of games played, so a team like the New York Islanders figures to offer more appeal going forward. The Islanders have played just 29 games, 10 fewer than the teams with the most games played. Mathew Barzal is the obvious target on the Islanders but, in deeper leagues, consider Oliver Wahlstrom, who has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 24 shots on goal in the past nine games, and Kieffer Bellows, who has eight points (3 G, 5 A) in his past eight games.

#9 The Ottawa Senators are another team that has played fewer games, with game No. 30 coming Thursday night in Calgary. Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk are the more obvious targets for the Sens but consider winger Alex Formenton, whose role is increasing, and he has produced nine points (4 G, 5 A) and 24 shots on goal in his past 10 games.

#10 If the Islanders and Sens are teams to target because they are low on the games played list, it stands to reason that the team that have played more might come with a buyer beware tag. Those teams include the Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Beware Ducks veteran center Ryan Getzlaf, who had a productive start to the season but has four points (1 G, 3 A) and 15 shots on goal in his past 13 games.

#11 The Golden Knights appear to be a team on the rise but there is some reason to be cautious with them, too. Chandler Stephenson, for example, has 36 points (10 G, 26 A) in 38 games. That includes seven points (1 G, 6 A) and 12 shots on goal in the past 11 games but that is not the real reason to worry about Stephenson’s production the rest of the way. The bigger concern is what will happen to his ice time once Jack Eichel is ready to play next month. There may be other line shuffling opportunities for the Golden Knights but if Stephenson drops from the top line to make room for Eichel, that could obviously impact his offensive upside.

#12 Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei is experiencing an offensive surge, putting up eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 21 shots on goal in his past six games. That shot rate is very encouraging and Skjei has a chance to have his best offensive output since scoring 39 points as a rookie in 2016-2017.

#13 Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington had a breakthrough early in the season and was a hot commodity in fantasy circles but is available in more leagues now. He has seven points (1 G, 6 A) in his past 13 games but 33 shots on goal in that time is a decent indicator that Kylington’s production should continue at a reasonably high level.

#14 When Trevor Moore scored 23 points (10 G, 13 A) in 56 games last season, that counted as the best season of his career. The Los Angeles Kings winger then opened this season with zero points in 11 games. Time has brought about new opportunity, though, and Moore is now skating with Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson on the Kings’ second line and Moore has produced 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 23 shots on goal in the past seven games.

#15 Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas has long been a fantasy sleeper, but it bears repeating that his hit totals can be a major factor. Since the beginning of December, Gudas is averaging 4.2 hits per game, tops among defensemen that have played at least 10 games in that span. (Edmonton’s Markus Niemelainen had 5.1 hits per game in seven games.)

#16 Other defensemen bringing the boom, with the most hits per game since the start of December, include Montreal’s Alexander Romanov (4.1), Vancouver’s Luke Schenn (4.0), Nashville’s Mark Borowiecki (4.0), Columbus’ Andrew Peeke (3.4), and Seattle’s Jeremy Lauzon (3.4).

#17 A prime fantasy category for defensemen is blocked shots and given its nature as a peripheral type of statistic, sometimes it’s an area which might offer some undervalued players. Chicago’s Connor Murphy (3.0 blocks per game), St. Louis’ Colton Parayko (2.9), Vegas’ Brayden McNabb (2.8), and Montreal’s David Savard (2.8) are the per-game blocked shot leaders since the start of December. Savard and Murphy are both averaging more than 2.4 hits per game in that span, too.

#18 Sometimes it can be hard to find goaltending value at this stage of the fantasy season. Usually, the safe and reliable options are taken but short-term value can come from backup goaltenders getting a chance due to injuries. Some of the best backups this season include Anaheim’s Anthony Stolarz (.929 SV%) and Minnesota’s Kaapo Kahkonen (.915 SV%) who have had some opportunity to play a bit more recently.

#19 Dallas’ Jake Oettinger was not a starter at the beginning of the season, but it sure appears that is the path the Stars have now chosen. Oettinger has earned it, with a .923 save percentage in 17 games.

#20 If there is a backup goaltender who might get a shot at the starting role it is Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner. It is possible that the Oilers make a trade for a more established veteran but, if not, 23-year-old Skinner has a .916 save percentage in 10 appearances for the Oilers this season in addition to a .925 save percentage in eight AHL games. Given the struggles of Mikko Koskinen and injury woes plaguing Mike Smith, Skinner might have some potential to steal the starting job. It is at least enough to make him worth monitoring.

Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: NEW YORK ISLANDERS – RANK: #31 – TIER VII

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:30:08 +0000

New York Islanders

#31 NY Islanders - Too many failed picks or players who have been rushed to the NHL, losing prospect eligibility. For all of NYI's success at the NHL level, they need to draft better. Much better.

TRINEC, CZECH REPUBLIC - DECEMBER 29: Kazakhstan vs Finland preliminary round action at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship at Werk Arena on December 29, 2019 in Trinec, Czech Republic. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Aatu Raty

At this time last year, Aatu Raty was the front runner to be the first overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6’1, 181lbs center had a trying year that saw his production in Liiga (with Karpat) plateau and his spot on the Finnish WJC team disappear. Given the disappointing season he had, the Islanders were able to secure his rights in the back half of the second round. That said he has the skill to be a top line center in the NHL. Raty has some fairly dynamic elements and makes things happen with his individual play. His stickhandling ability is very good as he is capable of stickhandling through multiple opponents and making plays with limited time and space. He has quick hands, and he can catch defenders off guard by attacking to the middle from the wall. He also protects the puck well with his body and he is effective on the cycle.

There are definitely some areas of his game that Raty needs to improve to finally progress his game after hitting said plateau. He will need to improve his first step quickness, his shot selection, and the consistency of his physical engagement level. While Raty does still possess a high ceiling, even if he does not reach his full potential, he could still bring value to the Islanders. He could play in different roles and up and down the lineup due to his versatility and understanding of the game. Given his terrific performance at the recent World Junior Summer Showcase, Raty is a likely bounce back candidate who could have a terrific season in Liiga with Karpat. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Robin Salo

A second rounder in 2017, Salo has taken his sweet time in developing, especially for a defender who was drafted right off of a fairly full - and highly successful - season of Liiga play. But if last season was any indication, the time in the incubator is about to truly pay off. After a 19-20 season that saw him finally take a more positive step in development with 27 points split between Liiga and SHL action, the heady defenseman with a penchant for making smooth passes really exploded on the scene this past season. Overall, he was one of Örebro’s top three defenders and often eclipsed 20 minutes of play per night. A dancer on the blueline, and very active both with and without the puck, his 30 regular season points placed him 10th overall in scoring among SHL defenders while he was tied for 5th league-wide with a +17 rating.

The upcoming season will be spent in North America and although the general thought is that he’d be well-served spending the first year of his ELC in the AHL, the fact that the Islanders have moved Devon Toews and Nick Leddy in successive years, while not having replaced either through free agency (particularly the latter), should have Salo headed to the US staring at a job opening right on Long Island. Very mobile and strong in all four directions, it only seems a matter of time before he gets a prolonged NHL shot, especially for a team that’ll now be in good need of blueliners capable of a strong first pass and ready to rush the puck in transition. It would seem a safe bet that Salo will make his NHL debut at some point in the upcoming season, even if current Islanders leadership tends to work in rookies seldom and slowly at that. - CL

Samuel Bolduc

Coming out of the QMJHL, the former second round pick may not have had the hype of some other ‘Q” defenders, but a very strong first pro season has certainly raised some eyebrows. An AHL All-Star for Bridgeport last season, Bolduc proved that his offensive capabilities could translate to the pro level, while also providing a more stable defensive presence than many expected.

The 6’4, 210 lbs defender is not the type of player you would expect him to be. He is a smooth skating puck moving defender who can quarterback a powerplay with a booming point shot. His physical play and assertiveness in the defensive end have always been marked as a weakness. Additionally, his decision making with the puck had been, at best, inconsistent. However, reports suggest that both of those areas showed marked improvement as a pro with Bridgeport. At this point, Bolduc seems ticketed for another year in the AHL, however his strong performance has likely caused him to pass Bode Wilde as the Islanders’ top injury call up and as such, he could see action this year. His long-term projection is that of a second or third pairing defender who could possibly quarterback the Islanders’ powerplay. - BO

Bode Wilde

With Bode Wilde, it has always been about whether his elite physical tools could allow him to transform into a high-end NHL defender. Blessed with a combination of size, mobility, and skill, Wilde often previously did as he pleased in the OHL, dominating shifts at both ends of the ice. Yet, his decision making and awareness at both ends have always been criticized, leading some to believe that he would not be able to process the game well enough to be an NHL defender.

In his first full pro season with Bridgeport, Wilde continued to show flashes of his high-end potential. However, turnovers and poor reads continued to plague him, suggesting that the Islanders may need to continue to be patient with his development. Wilde will return to Bridgeport this coming season and will look to establish himself as one of the team’s top defenders. If he can make the necessary adjustments, he still stands a chance of being a future top four defender for the Islanders. If he does not, Wilde likely projects as more of a higher risk, third pairing defender who could see some powerplay time and sheltered minutes to try to limit his minutes in the defensive zone. Unquestionably, this is a big year for his development. - BO

Simon Holmstrom

For New York Islander fans, Holmstrom’s second season of organizational membership did little to suppress the feeling that their favorite team may not have made the wisest choice with its first-round selection in 2019. A creative puck-handler who is known to combine strong overall wherewithal and good hockey sense with sound 3-zone decisions, he surprisingly began his Islander career by appearing in 46 AHL games as an 18-year-old in the 19-20 season – to mixed reviews.

His 20-21 season kicked off with him playing for Vita Hästen in Sweden’s Allsvenskan. There, Holmstrom tallied just one goal and two points in 10 games, playing primarily in a lower line role and looking a little out of his depth. That impression continued somewhat at the WJC, where Holmstrom at times showed a slick pair of mitts while being one of Sweden’s best producers with five points in as many games but had a hard time dealing with physical play and often looking like little more than a perimeter player who could be rather easily separated from the puck. Upon returning to the AHL, he was basically force-fed top line minutes, suiting up for all of Bridgeport’s 24 games and getting a fair share of power play duties. Seeing as how his scoring pace was less than in his rookie year, one has to ask if he hasn’t ultimately been overwhelmed by coming to the AHL at such a young age, especially coming off a draft year cut short by a handful of injuries? For certain, a lot is on the line for Holmstrom in the 21-22 season, in which he’ll need to give some indication of what can be expected of him in the not-so-distant future. He is, after all, the only first rounder the team has had in the past three drafts. - CL

Kieffer Bellows

Only 23-years-old, it is still far too early to close the door on Bellows. But the door isn’t open as wide as it was when he was the deadliest scorer in his class, scoring 50 goals in his draft year with the USDP, many off passes from the likes of Clayton Keller and Adam Fox. His path to today has been circuitous, involving a one year stay at Boston University, where he struggled to have an impact at either end. From there, he moved for one year to Portland of the WHL, where he scored 41 goals playing with Cody Glass. Course seemingly corrected, Bellows turned pro and saw his career trajectory take another dip.

That rookie pro season was a real challenge, finishing with only 19 points in 73 games, and spending far too much time in the penalty box. While his enhanced physicality was not unwelcomed, the Islanders were looking to Bellows for offense. Some of that returned in 2019-20, as Bellows more than doubled his point per game rate and earned an eight game NHL stint, before COVID mucked everything up for all of us. He spent all of last year with the Islanders, but appeared in only 14 games, scoring three times. It could be that Bellows’ impulsiveness and occasional selfishness on the puck are simply not a good fit under coach Barry Trotz, but Bellows is running out of time to make the needed adjustments to his game to reach his ceiling of a top six scoring winger. - RW

Ruslan Iskhakov

Iskhakov, a former second-round pick by the Isles in 2018, has certainly taken the road less traveled. Drafted out of the MHL, he then played two seasons at the University of Connecticut (where he was relatively underwhelming), before spending last season in Liiga with TPS. TPS ended up finishing as the season finalists and Iskhakov played a large role in that, which would have likely made the Islanders very happy.

This coming season he is set to play in the DEL with Adler Mannheim, who are perennial powerhouses in Germany. At the conclusion of the season (June 1, 2022), the Islanders will finally have to make a decision on whether to sign Iskhakov or let his rights expire. A strong playmaking center, Iskhakov certainly is not large (5’8), but he competes hard and can play with pace. His defensive play improved greatly in Finland last season and the Islanders will likely be looking for him to continue to progress as a two-way player in Germany this season. He projects as a middle six center, however, is probably still a few years away from making an impact with the Islanders (if they elect to offer him a contract). - BO

Tristan Lennox

It had to have been tough on Lennox to not get the opportunity to show scouts his true colours this season due to the OHL’s pandemic cancellation. Last season was a rough one for Lennox. A late born ‘02, he got injured as the starter for Canada at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and it really derailed his entire year. He has the size and athleticism combination that scouts look for in goaltenders these days, but the technical components to his game just need to become more consistent, especially his rebound control and positioning.

Heading into the 2021/22 OHL season, the league’s return to normalcy, Lennox will once again be expected to start for Saginaw and emerge as one of the OHL’s elite netminders. With a strong showing he can put himself in contention for the World Juniors, and as a late born 2002, it also makes him a candidate to be signed by the Isles so that he can start his pro career the following season. Lennox does possess the potential to be an NHL netminder and a significant asset to the Isles, but he will need to stay healthy and find his confidence again. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Cameron Berg

Berg’s performance this year justified our belief in him, as he entered the 2021 draft as one of our highest ranked undrafted players in 2020. A hard hitting, goal scoring, power center, Berg exploded with Muskegon over a full season, finishing in the top 10 in USHL scoring. This led to his selection by the Islanders in the fourth round in 2021.

He could still stand to improve his skating so as to maintain speed over longer distances, but he is a pure sniper who can score anywhere from the dots and in, with underrated puck skills and a relish for laying into opponents with big hits. Berg is the type of player who can play in all situations, excelling at both ends of the ice. This versatility was no doubt intriguing to the Islanders scouting staff. His next stop will be the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he should be an immediate impact player for the Mavericks. His production as a freshman should give us a better indication of the type of NHL potential he possesses, but as of right now he looks like a middle six candidate after two or three seasons at the NCAA level. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Sebastian Aho

After three years of largely above-average play in the AHL, including several appearances in the AHL all-star game, the 20-21 season proved a very difficult one for Aho. A permanent member of the New York Islanders’ taxi squad, the clever puck-mover saw all of three games of action. From the outside, his two points in those three games speaks very well for a surely rusty player who was thrown into the fire in the middle of an important stretch. Alas, several defensive breakdowns, some outmuscling along the way, and a few instances where he was clearly slower than the competition saw Aho replaced by Thomas Hickey, who went on to play five games.

Complicating Aho’s situation was that the Islanders spent a large majority of the season playing with the same six defenders and hardly anyone else got into any action on that blueline. In fact, four of the defensemen played all 56 games and another got into 55. With Nick Leddy having been moved this offseason, Aho may appear to some to be a logical candidate to fill that void in light of his being an offensively oriented left-side defender, but few in the business can see him being entrusted with anything close to a top six role. The most likely scenario for Sebastian as long as he’s an Islander is that he’ll continue to serve solely as organizational depth until injuries set in and he perhaps excels in a more prolonged shot or finds himself suiting up for another franchise, either being traded or perhaps plucked from waivers should the Islanders look to reassign him to the AHL. - CL

William Dufour

A big power winger with soft hands, Dufour loves to put defenders on his back and drive the net. He has improved each year in the QMJHL and will play next season with Saint John, his fourth team in as many years. Improving his explosiveness is a must.

Reece Newkirk

After three very successful seasons with the Portland Winterhawks (WHL), Newkirk will turn pro this year and play with Bridgeport in the AHL. The tenacious playmaking center must show that his offensive skill set can translate to the next level.

Alex Jefferies

A fourth-round selection in 2020 out of The Gunnery prep school, Jefferies had a very good (albeit abbreviated) freshman year for Merrimack last season. The hockey program shut down early due to covid, but the strong skating and creative winger will look to be even better this year as a sophomore. A hidden gem in the Isles system?

Otto Koivula

A big, power winger, Koivula has not yet been able to have that breakthrough moment as a pro after three seasons in the AHL. His development appears to have stagnated, although he may get another shot this training camp to earn a fourth line role for the Islanders.

Alexander Ljungkrantz

The Islanders third round selection in 2020, Ljungkrantz is an intelligent, two-way forward who is still trying to establish himself as an SHL forward in Sweden. The hope is that he can find a consistent place in Brynas’ lineup this coming season and take that next step as an offensive player that the Islanders are looking for.

SEATTLE KRAKEN EXPANSION DRAFT: Prospects to Target – Part Two – Forwards

Brock Otten — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 20:49:20 +0000

It has been four years since the Vegas Golden Knights joined the National Hockey League through expansion. Through the expansion draft process, the Golden Knights balanced their initial lineup by selecting both veterans and youth, with a focus on team speed and competitiveness. Masterfully constructed, Vegas ended up winning the Pacific division and reaching the Stanley Cup finals in their inaugural season (2017-18).

Later this year, the Seattle Kraken will officially become the 32nd NHL franchise when they select their team through their expansion draft. July 17 is the date set for NHL teams to submit their protected lists (with Vegas being exempt) and July 21 is the date set for the expansion draft itself. Of course, these dates could change depending on how the NHL season finishes up in the midst of a global pandemic. However, as of right now, that is when we will find out who will be wearing that Kraken jersey to start the 2021-22 season.

Naturally, Seattle general manager Ron Francis, assistant general manager Jason Botterill, and director of player personnel Norm Maciver will be aiming to replicate the success that Vegas had (and has continued to have). They have to reach the salary floor with their selections, so they will be choosing some veterans (or trading for/signing some) to lead this group. However, much like Vegas, they will be looking to swing for the fences with some selections, by opting for a few young, unestablished players. This article aims to highlight some of the prospects who could be (and are likely to be) left unprotected by their NHL teams come July. The focus is on players who have yet to truly establish themselves as NHL players. The list will be organized by position and published in two parts. This is the second feature on the forwards. Part one can be found by linking here.

FORWARDS

Rasmus Asplund - Buffalo Sabres

A strong two-way center, Asplund has had a hard time breaking through with the Sabres to become a full time NHL player. Even this year, he has seen time on the Sabres roster, on the taxi squad, and in the AHL with Rochester. He could certainly be a potential bottom six center target for the Kraken.

Morgan Geekie - Carolina Hurricanes

A big forward, Geekie has broken through as a full time NHL player to start the 2021 season after a successful cup of coffee last year. Playing on the fourth line and the powerplay, Geekie has yet to hit the score sheet this year. However, given Carolina’s forward depth, it seems unlikely that they will be able to protect him.

Kevin Stenlund - Columbus Blue Jackets

If there is one forward on this list that I see possibly being protected, it is Stenlund. He has proven himself to be a quality NHL forward after a half a season last year and a hot start this year. The question is, if Stenlund is protected, it means someone like Max Domi, Boone Jenner, or the injured Gustav Nyquist will not be. Columbus could also try to work out a deal with Seattle to make sure that they leave Stenlund be.

Henrik Borgstrom - Florida Panthers

At this point, Borgstrom is probably a candidate for a change of scenery. The former University of Denver star got off to a good start in his pro career, but he has been unable to take that next step, with last year being a clear step backwards. As such, the Panthers loaned him to HIFK for the year. A talented playmaker, Borgstrom could be a great candidate for Seattle to select in hopes of unlocking his offensive potential.

Nathan Bastian - New Jersey Devils

A heavy winger, Bastian has improved every year as a pro thus far, finally making the Devils this season. He has played extremely well in a third line role and as a penalty killer. However, the Devils have a heck of a decision ahead of them for the expansion draft. Do they sacrifice Pavel Zacha in order to protect someone like Bastian or the others on this list?

Yegor Sharangovich - New Jersey Devils

Sharangovich got off to a hot start to the NHL season playing alongside Jack Hughes. While the offensive production hasn’t been consistent, he has certainly impressed in his first NHL season after starting the year in the KHL. An explosive goal scorer, the Devils may be reluctant to let him go given the energy and pace he plays with.

Janne Kuokkanen - New Jersey Devils

Like Bastian, Kuokkanen has emerged as a legitimate NHL player in his fourth pro season, excelling in the bottom six. The former London Knights standout and the key acquisition in the Sami Vatanen deal to Carolina, Kuokkanen is certainly someone who could draw the interest of Seattle.

Nick Merkley - New Jersey Devils

Merkley, an intelligent and hard working playmaker, seems to be behind Bastian, Sharangovich, Kuokkanen, and Mikey McLeod (who I assumed the Devils would be protecting) in the pecking order. However, that does not mean that he lacks talent or NHL potential. Look for the Devils to try to rotate the above players in and out of the lineup in order to truly evaluate who they could be willing to lose.

Kieffer Bellows - New York Islanders

Keiffer, the son of former NHL’er Brian Bellows, is a former high NHL draft pick whose high end goal scoring ability has yet to truly translate to terrific results at the pro level. Playing on the fourth line this year for the Isles, Bellows has yet to score this season. Given the forward depth that the Islanders have, it seems unlikely that Bellows will be able to be protected. If New York truly believes in his potential, they may try to look at a way to convince Seattle not to select him.

Julien Gauthier - New York Rangers

In the rare one for one prospect trade, the Rangers shipped Joey Keane to Carolina for Gauthier last season. The big, quick, physical winger has been a fixture on the Rangers’ fourth line to start this season, however it seems unlikely that he gets protected given the others New York must protect. One of Brendan Lemieux, Brett Howden, or Gauthier will likely get the nod with the other two being unprotected. How they finish the year will dictate who that is.

Vitaly Abramov - Ottawa Senators

A dynamic offensive player, Abramov had a breakout season in Belleville last year that really gave management hope that his skill set could translate to the NHL level. However, it seems unlikely that Ottawa will be able to protect him and how he plays in the AHL this season will dictate whether Seattle has interest in him.

Filip Chlapik - Ottawa Senators

Chlapik split last season between Ottawa and Belleville, performing only adequately in a depth role. This season, he has bounced between the main roster, the taxi squad, and the AHL. A good sized playmaking center, Chlapik may not get his chance in Ottawa, but he could be a target of Seattle.

Logan Brown - Ottawa Senators

It is certainly possible that the Senators protect Brown. The former 11th overall pick has performed admirably in the AHL, but his play at the NHL level has been uninspiring thus far. A hulking center at 6’6, Brown needs to play more between the dots and use his size; a criticism dating back to his draft year.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel - Philadelphia Flyers

A competitive and feisty forward, Aube-Kubel is a versatile player for the Flyers with the ability to play in any situation and any forward position. He has been in the Flyers system forever and is finally getting a chance to be a full time NHL player this season. However, it is unlikely that the Flyers will be able to protect him. He could be the perfect bottom six player for Seattle.

Alex Barre Boulet - Tampa Bay Lightning

The first two seasons of Barre-Boulet’s pro career probably couldn’t have gone better considering he was an undrafted free agent acquisition by Tampa. He was the AHL rookie of the year two years ago and an AHL all star last year. But due to Tampa’s depth he remains buried in the minors again this year (where he has continued his torrid pace). The dilemma for Tampa Bay will be, do they protect a player who...as of now, has not shown an ability to translate his offensive skill set to the NHL?

Alex Volkov - Tampa Bay Lightning

Ahead of Barre-Boulet on the Tampa depth chart currently and the recipient of a roster spot thanks to the Kucherov injury, Volkov is a skilled winger that the Lightning have high hopes for. However, like many young players in their system, it is unlikely that they will be able to protect him.

Mitchell Stephens - Tampa Bay Lightning

A former high selection by the Lightning, Stephens was set to play full time this year as the Lightning’s fourth line center. However, he suffered a lower body injury early on and is sidelined for a few months. No longer waiver eligible, he likely will continue to have a spot when he returns but will it be enough for him to earn one of those valuable protection spots?

Mathieu Joseph - Tampa Bay Lightning

A high energy winger, Joseph was a standout as a rookie for the Lightning in 2018/19, however the acquisitions of players like Goodrow and Coleman pushed him to the minors for a large chunk of last season. Fast forward to this year and he has his place back in the Tampa lineup and is playing fantastic hockey. Does Tampa protect a younger player like Joseph (or others on this list) and risk a higher salaried player like Yanni Gourde, Alex Killorn, or Blake Coleman being selected?

Boris Katchouk - Tampa Bay Lightning

A star in the OHL, Katchouk’s game has not translated to the AHL level as well as Tampa would have hoped thus far. Now in his third pro season, Katchouk will have to show that he can take that next step in his development as an offensive player before the Lightning consider him for a checking line role. He is definitely a potential candidate to be lost in the expansion draft and is also waivers eligible next year.

Taylor Raddysh - Tampa Bay Lightning

Another former OHL star, Raddysh has had similar difficulties translating his game to the AHL level. He has not been terrible, but the average offensive production hasn’t yet warranted a callup for the former Erie Otter. Ultimately, his lack of dynamic skating ability may hold him back from becoming a quality NHL player. However, if he plays well in his third AHL season this year, he could certainly attract attention from Seattle.

Joey Anderson - Toronto Maple Leafs

Acquired from the New Jersey Devils last year in exchange for Andreas Johnsson, Anderson has bounced back and forth between the NHL and the AHL the last three seasons. The former U.S. captain at the World Juniors, Anderson is a high energy, two-way forward who could definitely be an attractive, cheap target for Seattle as it is unlikely that Toronto protects him.

Isac Lundestrom - Anaheim Ducks

Already in his third pro season in North America despite being only 21 years old, the former first round selection has finally cracked the Anaheim Ducks roster full time this season. The two-way forward excels in defensive situations and on the penalty kill and could be a quality checking line option for the Kraken, with a chance to still improve offensively. William Karlsson part deux anyone?

Matthew Phillips - Calgary Flames

His lack of size (5’7) is certainly a deterrent (even if the game has changed to accommodate smaller players), but Phillips is most definitely a talented offensive player. He was an AHL all star last season in his second AHL campaign. This year, he returns to the AHL with Stockton and should be among the league’s scoring leaders.

Adam Mascherin - Dallas Stars

A terrific goal scorer and former OHL standout, Mascherin is entering his third AHL season, undoubtedly a huge one for his development. Thus far, the results have been great as he is among the league’s scoring leaders. At some point this year, it is likely that Dallas gives him a look if he continues to play well, as not only do they have to decide on who to protect for the expansion draft, but Mascherin is waiver eligible next year too.

Tyler Benson - Edmonton Oilers

The former first overall selection in the WHL bantam draft by the Vancouver Giants, Benson has come a long way since then. With two strong AHL seasons under his belt, Benson enters his third year with the hope that he can play well enough to earn a longer look at the NHL level in the event of an Oilers’ injury. It does seem unlikely that the Oilers will protect him from Seattle though.

Rem Pitlick - Nashville Predators

A competitive, goal scoring center and the son of former NHL’er Lance Pitlick, Rem is expansion draft eligible even though he is only in his second professional season. This is due to the Predators burning a year of his ELC in 2019 when he signed out of Minnesota. He has started out the AHL season well and could earn a look from the Predators at some point this year to see if they will want to protect him.

Jonathan Dahlen - San Jose Sharks

Dahlen is a very interesting case. Acquired from Vancouver, Dahlen spent one year in the AHL before returning to Sweden where he has torched the Allsvenskan the last two seasons. The opinions vary about his standing as an NHL prospect, given he plays in the Swedish second league and not the SHL. Where he stands in the Sharks organization remains a mystery, but they will have to protect him from Seattle.

Alexander True - San Jose Sharks

A free agent signing by the Sharks out of the WHL, True has played well in the AHL over the last three years. The Danish forward has seen some limited action in the NHL with mixed results, however his start to this AHL season has been terrific. It seems unlikely that San Jose protects him, but would Seattle consider him as a high upside pick?

Maxim Letunov - San Jose Sharks

Widely considered as one of San Jose’s top forward prospects, Letunov is a huge center (6’4) and a former second round selection. He played very well in the AHL last season and has been on the San Jose taxi squad so far this season. At some point this year, San Jose is going to have to give him more than the three games they gave him last year, especially given their struggles as a team.

Rudolfs Balcers - San Jose Sharks

One of the players traded to Ottawa in the Erik Karlsson trade, Balcers was reacquired by the Sharks earlier this season off waivers. He has proven to be a capable offensive player in the AHL during his career but has not yet taken that step forward to become an NHL player. San Jose is going to give him a serious look this year, along with some other young forwards. It seems likely that Seattle could have more interest in the other Sharks on this list, but who knows how Balcers finishes the season.

Kole Lind - Vancouver Canucks

A former high selection of the Canucks, Lind has steadily improved in each of his AHL seasons thus far. The big, physical winger currently is among the AHL’s leading goal scorers this year and will likely earn a look from Vancouver at some point this season if he continues to play well. Do the Canucks protect him over disappointing talents like Jake Virtanen or Adam Gaudette?

*Special thanks to the capfriendly expansion draft tool which helped to identify those players who are eligible to be selected.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: New York Islanders Top 20 Prospects

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:53:03 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 New York Islanders 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. https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2020-nhl-draft-team-reviews-metropolitan-reviews/

Ilya Sorokin, G (78^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 1)

Sorokin required patience as he spent six years honing his game in the KHL, winning one Gagarin Cup, one Olympic Gold Medal, and three World Championship bronzes. On the smaller side, he makes up for it with high end athleticism and a complete unwillingness to give up on any puck. He likes to challenge shooters but is calm in his crease and does not overcommit his positioning. If he has any kryptonite, it is on shots over his right (blocker) shoulder, where he stopped only 67% of shots last year, per InStatScout; generally when he gets too low in his crouch when the play is too close to the crease. All other potential holes were covered up at least 86% of the time. The only part of his game which does not project to easily above average at the NHL level is his puck handling, which is at a fine level for European goalies, but not notable in North America. The only significant question about Sorokin’s projection revolves around whether he can sustain his elite level of play in a lengthy NHL season, as the 25-year-old has never played more than 40 league games in any one year. - RW

Kieffer Bellows, LW (19^st overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 2)

Bellows is on the cusp for making the permanent break into the NHL. The power forward has outsized expectations to meet when it comes to his ceiling as a player. He is strong, physical, capable of winning battles, and hard on the puck, all of which makes him difficult to play against. This past season, he made his NHL debut, putting up three points in eight games. He has recently shown improvements in his discipline and has been able to find a better groove last season. With any luck he can keep developing, thinking quicker, and learning to move the puck faster in order to prove that he deserves a top six spot. He still needs to work on keeping his feet moving throughout his shifts, and finding that extra gear more often, as well as his two-way play in order to be a complete player. Consistency is key and if Bellows can maintain the same level of focus and intensity each game it will be hard to deny him. - SC

Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

A product of the USNTDP, Wahlstrom plays a good forechecking game and has an impressive overall skill set. That said, he has yet to live up to his first-round billing. He was not ready for the NHL last season, as he needs more experience to increase his production, build his confidence, and quicken his general pace. Wahlstrom is a mature player with respect to his age and often stood out at the U20 national team level in terms of how he carried the puck and got to the net, however playing at the NHL level has had him more frustrated than confident when the puck is on his stick. In the AHL, he has fared well, but was still not standing out as much as he should or could. With the rate at which he has been developing, if he does not put up a strong season this year, working on staying ahead of the play, he will be at risk of falling onto the trade block. He will need to focus on his two-way play without losing any of the skilled power forward traits that made him so exciting at the draft to earn another NHL opportunity. - SC

Bode Wilde, D (41^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

After starting the year in the AHL, but with very limited ice time, the Islanders sent Wilde back to the OHL to get appropriate minutes, but that, too, was cut short due to the pandemic. When he was able to play, he showed that his decision making still needs to improve and will likely be the key to him reaching his potential. He is still a risk taker who generates significant offense from the back end, but who also gives up his share of chances because of turnovers or lackluster coverage in transition. The increased pace of the AHL only exacerbated those flaws. On the other hand, Wilde retains a very high upside because of the raw tool set he possesses. He skates at a high level. He handles the puck at a high level. He has a terrific shot and scoring instincts from the back end. He flashes physical presence in the defensive end. At the top of his game, he can be a real difference maker, but the Islanders may have to be patient with him, as he gradually adapts his game to the pros. – BO

Simon Holmstrom, RW (23^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Holmstrom made the jump immediately from the draft to the AHL, where he did not look out of place as the season rolled along. He has a good work ethic and adapts well, which was evident in his growing confidence throughout the season. Holmstrom has the right mindset and maturity to make his NHL debut sooner than later, however he will still need to get a little stronger on the puck and more creative when trying to find open space. He already has the skating and puck handling ability to operate at the next level and these are small adjustments to be made considering right composure and attitude. Look to see him earn more special teams time as well next season. Should that happen, he will have more opportunities to carry the puck in game situations and get a better feel for setting up plays with the man advantage on the smaller, North American ice. He looks like a bottom six forward now, but that will only rise with more experience. – SC

Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (43^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Ruslan Iskhakov was a gem of a find for the UConn coaching staff, who plucked him from Russia. That same year, Iskhakov was drafted in the second round, 43rd overall, by the Islanders. Before coming to UConn, he also spent a season and change playing in Slovakia as well as one season in the MHL, Russia’s top U20 league. He also represented Russia at the U-18 World Junior Championship. His defining characteristic is his speed – he is one of the fastest players in the East. However, his speed is still raw and could use some refining. At 5-8”, he is on the smaller side, but that is no longer a deal breaker in pro hockey. Despite his size, he is still aggressive and not afraid of playing a physical style. There is room in his game to mature and the speed of his hands to catch up with the speed of his feet. He is moving on from UConn to spend next season in Finland, with TPS. - JS

Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 7)

In a weird and controversial turn of events, Ho-Sang was loaned out last season club after requesting a trade when he was left off the opening night roster. He was not loaned to another league but rather a different NHL organization and affiliate with the San Antonio Rampage of the St. Louis Blues. Ho-Sang played just six games with the Rampage before being returned to the Islanders’ regular AHL club, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. It is no secret that Ho-Sang and management do not get along but for the talented and smooth skating forward next season is a make or break year. Due to his attitude on and off the ice it seems that the only way that Ho-Sang will be given any realistic chance is if he earns it, putting up a record year. He is not short on talent or offensive ability but the game is not played in one direction only and he will need significant work on his two way game before being given a shot at cracking the Islanders top six, that is if he doesn’t get traded first. - SC

Sebastian Aho, D (139^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

For a defenseman, (“the other”) Sebastian Aho finished second in points for AHL Bridgeport this past season, sitting only one point behind Kieffer Bellows. He is a tremendously composed defender who carries the puck well and likes to set up plays. Aho makes carrying the puck look easy and his hockey IQ is very high which has him oftentimes setting up both breakouts and attacks making him an asset as a two-way player. Having not had a call up in over a season, the Islanders are making sure that he is better developed for the NHL game and this coming season should be a promising one for Aho who has proved to Bridgeport that he is up for a more challenging role with the NHL club. Aho has the potential now to be tried anywhere from the top pairing to the third as he is versatile and capable of playing well in all situations. - SC

Otto Koivula, LW (120^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Koivula is a big, bodied forward who moves well despite his size, possesses top quality hands, and a good shot. He finished with the Islanders last season, however with zero points to show after 12 games up in the NHL, there is a strong chance that he is likely to start back out in Bridgeport with the AHL’s Sound Tigers for the 2020-21 season. There is little that needs to be improved with Koivula in terms of skill but he will need to move the puck faster and learn to keep his feet moving better at the next level or else he runs the risk of falling behind the play again, instead of leading with his hands and strength. Koivula has a high ceiling if he can manage to put all the pieces to his game together and dial in to hit that extra gear next season should he get called back up to fill in on the Islanders’ bottom six. - SC

Anatoli Golyshev, LW (95^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

A small winger, who nonetheless shows no fear in playing in front of the net, Golyshev’s place on this list is both a farewell and a reminder to Islanders brass that they still control the rights of a gifted offensive talent in Russia, who has provided more than respectable numbers over the last three seasons in the KHL, but has not yet signed an Entry Level deal at 25 years old. He is fleet of foot and likes to cut across the slot, creating passing lanes for his linemates to find him with. Golyshev plays with a surprising amount of jam for a player of his small stature, somewhat reminiscent of a player like Tyler Ennis. He has soft hands and impressive puck control and can be a solid half-wall quarterback on the power play, given his vision and accurate passing. Again, somewhat reminiscent of Tyler Ennis. Golyshev signed a four-year deal with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg last year, so he won’t be coming anytime soon. A small, but notable waste of a resource. – RW

William Dufour, RW (152^nd overall, 2020. previous ranking: NA)

Following a trade to Drummondville at midseason last year, Dufour’s game took off, making him one of the higher scoring QMJHL draft eligibles in the second half. In his final 15 games, he had 26 points (15 goals). He is a powerful winger with upside who combines strength, good hockey sense, a plus shot. The progression in his game from month to month has been extremely impressive, although skating is not a strength. He drives the net, and his shot is heavy and deceptive, allowing him to score from anywhere. It is also notable that he grew a full 10 inches in the space of two years, suggesting that he is still learning how to work within his maturing body and making one wonder what his game will be like when he fully adjusts to an evolving skill set. There might be more to see in Dufour than we have yet been able to witness. He has more sleeper potential than anyone else in this system. – Brock Otten

Alexander Ljungkrantz, LW (90^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Tall and rangy, Ljungkrantz was a depth player for Sweden’s entry in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last year and parlayed that experience into a top six role on a (relatively) experienced Brynas junior squad, scoring 15 goas in his first experience at that level and even earning a call up to the senior side, where he scored his first SHL goal during his three game stint. Ljungkrantz projects as a power forward project who is still waiting for the power element to develop. He skates well and has finishing skills, making him a solid net front presence. A top scorer at the U16 level, there is still hope that more will come at the senior level, and he will receive a lengthier opportunity to show what he can do against men this year after a very strong start to his return engagement at the U20 level. The main improvement that could turn him from a project to a player is the development and refinement of his instincts, which have given his game a tentative feel so far. – RW

Robin Salo, D (46^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Salo was the top defenseman for SaiPa in 2019-20 before being loaned to the SHL’s Örebro in the later part of the season. He logged big minutes and played with a lot of confidence with the puck. The improvement he made over the course of the season was quite impressive. He is now a well-rounded defenseman who plays an effective, mature game at both ends. He moves the puck well in transition, has good vision and shows offensive imagination. He has a precise wrist shot which he can unleash on the net through traffic. He reads the game really well without the puck, especially in the defensive zone. He uses strong positioning and a quick stick to maintain tight gap control. Skating is still not among his best attributes. The biggest issue is his stride which is clumsy and affects his mobility. He could be more explosive as well. Salo does not have one dominant trait, but he does many things well and his ability to read and anticipate the play are assets. - MB

Samuel Bolduc, D (57^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 12)

Bolduc is a tantalizing defenseman when you watch him at the point. He has a devastating slapshot that he fires with authority several times per game, and he skates well. He moves the puck well in the offensive zone and can distribute. He has excellent size for the pro game and looks to get even bigger as he fills out. However, while the size is a positive, he sometimes forgets that he is 6-4” and over 200 pounds, because he is not a physical defender. If he figures that out, he would be able to get off the bottom pair in terms of his potential, because he would use his solid raw power all over the ice to his advantage. His passing is inconsistent outside of the powerplay, and at times he struggles to recover from unforced errors, but all-around he has solid pro potential, as long as he learns to use his frame. He is signed to an entry-level deal and will start in the AHL next year. - MS

Reece Newkirk, C (147^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Newkirk’s competitiveness shines through in all he does on the ice. He is a hard forechecking, hard backchecking, meat-and-potatoes type of player that brings a consistent effort. As seen with his play last season he is able to play with skill players and carved out a role on a top line with Seth Jarvis most nights. Newkirk has improved across the board although his offensive talents will not be how he carves out a pro career. He isn’t a massive player, but he plays a heavy game for his size. He has solid vision and passing skills, that when added to his strong head for the game, make him a decent offensive player. He also reads open ice well, both finding it himself or taking it away defensively, reads breakouts well, and gets himself into places where he can be effective. He is a very effective players without the puck which helps him to generate more than his fair share of turnovers. – VG

Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82^nd overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

After playing a solid 70 game season in 2018-19, it was unfortunate that Vande Sompel spent the entirety of the 2019-20 season out with a serious arm injury. Despite being injured, he still remains on the prospect list as one of the Islanders top offensive defensemen outside of the NHL, capable of skating with the puck, passing, and getting into good shooting position. He has improved his defensive zone coverage a lot since his professional debut in the AHL and has turned into a more mature two-way player, especially compared to his offensively focused days in major junior. Next season, should Vande Sompel be healthy enough, will be a make or break year for him as he will need to prove that the smaller defender can withstand the rigors of the professional game, and is good enough to be called up and good enough to earn a bottom four spot in the NHL. - SC

Collin Adams, LW (170^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

An undersized late bloomer, Adams needed an extra year in the USHL (which typically doesn’t play many already drafted players) before moving on to North Dakota. After struggling mightily as an underclassman, Adams took a huge step forward in both responsibility and production as a junior last year, nearly doubling his combined point total from the previous two campaigns. The former sixth round pick may never be more than a bottom line energy player at the highest level, he plays with a respectable combination of puck skills, playmaking chops, two-way responsibility and grit to earn some fans among decision makers. Before he can make his mark professionally, he will need to continue to demonstrate improvements in his game as a senior, and if he can’t add on any additional muscle to his lean frame, perhaps he can add an extra gear to wheels that are currently known more for edges than speed. – RW

Parker Wotherspoon, D (112^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 16)

More than any other player in this system, Wotherspoon fits the profile of the type that works his way through the minor leagues and finds a perch in the NHL. There is very little flash to his game, yet he gets results. He doesn’t have any real weaknesses, but on the other hand, nothing about his play really jumps out. He is dependable at both ends. He tends to make good decisions and moves the puck well enough and yet, here he is, three years after turning pro without a single NHL game to his credit. The Islanders still like him enough to have given him a two-year contract extension this offseason, making him a likely candidate to be dangled in the upcoming expansion draft. Perhaps the trade of Devon Toews to Colorado will open the door for Wotherspoon to finally make his NHL debut because his game isn’t changing much, one way or the other, at Bridgeport. - RW

Grant Hutton, D (Undrafted Free Agent. Signed Mar. 21, 2019. Previous ranking: 18)

The best way to look at Hutton is in comparison to Wotherspoon. Hutton is a bit bigger, but not exceptionally so. Both are roughly average skaters. Both are two-way blueliners with well-rounded, if unexceptional skill sets. Both were recently given two-year contract extensions. Both have produced at the AHL level, but neither has put up eye-opening numbers that would force their way up to the NHL. While Wotherspoon shoots from the left side, Hutton is a right-handed shot. And we rank Wotherspoon above Hutton mostly because the former is still 23 while the latter is 25, having spent the full four seasons playing collegiately for Miami (Ohio) before signing as a free agent with the Islanders. Neither blueliner projects as much more than a third pairing defender, and either could reasonably step up and step into the lineup in limited minutes right now. Neither is exciting, but both can play, and it stands to reason that at least one of them will get NHL time this year, if not both of them. - RW

J. Greer, LW (Trade: Oct. 11, 2020. Originally: 39^thoverall, 2015 [Colorado]. Previous ranking: 14 [Colorado])

A scrappy, all-situations forward who just completed his fourth season at the AHL level, Greer possesses a unique combination of size, shooting dexterity, and underrated offensive skill. Always game to push the pace from shift to shift, the 2015 second-rounder is adept at making soft plays with his hands for a big man and has enough physical tools to be useful off the puck, especially on offense, where he can operate down low as a cycle option or a net-front presence. Defensively he is reliable, as the 23-year-old can pin down forwards against the boards and effectively cut off defensemen from pinching against the wall. Without much skating speed aside from his average acceleration and decent topflight pace, or any standout attributes that make him a unique prospect, I don’t know how he would fit into an NHL roster. But then again, he is still only 23 and can make for a useful fourth-line player in the future for the cap strapped Islanders, who acquired him in the offseason from Colorado in exchange for AHL defender Kyle Burroughs. - TD

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)

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

McKeens Hockey; Article by Ryan Wagman — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:50:55 +0000

I write these words less than 24 hours after the Dallas Stars took game one of the Stanley Cup Finals against the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning. Unlike most seasons wherein the end of the Stanley Cup marks the beginning of off-season player movement, this year teams have taken an early start to the transactional Ferris wheel as many expect the upcoming offseason (from the awarding of the Cup, through to the draft in the first week of October to the start of the 2020-21 season perhaps as soon as early December, pending COVID trends in North America) to be especially turbulent.

We have seen a few trades of NHL pieces, one deal which impacted this guidebook, as Toronto sent Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh and Swedish winger Filip Hallander was among those coming back to Toronto. Hallander was our selection for the second-best prospect in the Penguins system and now holds that title for the Maple Leafs. That trade knocked the Penguins down a few slots on our organizational rankings and allowed Toronto to go the other way accordingly.

Of course, with the draft roughly 17 days away, and with it a complete re-shuffling of the organizational rankings, this is just a snapshot in time of how every team’s system shakes up. We will re-run this list, incorporating the drafted players, in our pre-season fantasy guide, where we will expand the lists up to 20.

What you are about to dive into is a comprehensive list of all prospect eligible players on all 31 teams. To hold prospect eligibility, a player needs to 25 or younger, as of September 15, 2020. All skaters need to have played less than 60 career games, with no more than 35 of those games coming in a single season (or 25 for this past shortened season). For goalies, the age criteria remain the same, but the games played benchmark drops to 30 career games and 20 in a given season (or 15 last year). Any cutoff that does not hew exactly to the Calder Trophy award criteria is, by nature, arbitrary, but we aim to be inclusive for all players who have not yet cemented NHL jobs and/or have not had a prolonged chance to prove himself capable – or incapable.

We rank 15 per team, as depth is as important as the high end. Our goal is to identify players who could – if they have an advocate for them within the team’s braintrust – play a role in the NHL. These players were identified through our thorough vetting of each prospect across the globe, assigning scores, or grades, to five areas for skaters (skating, shot, puck skills, smarts, physicality) and six for netminders (athleticism/speed/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, positioning/technique, rebound control, and puck handling). Depending on the position, the grades are run through an algorithm to come up with an overall future projection (OFP).

The OFP, if the scout is being honest, measures the future role we anticipate the prospect being able to hold. A 50 score is the lower threshold to be a regular 4^th line forward, or bottom pairing defender. Grades over 56 are potential top line/pairing skaters. The grades in between, obviously project to the middle of the lineup.

As we are reminded every year, development is not linear. Some players take unexpected sudden leaps forward (see Marino, John), and others stagnate (see Ho-Sang, Josh), and many do exactly what we expect of them when they are given the chance. As much as I trust the analysts in our team, I can also tell you that this exercise is always humbling. There will be at least one player who we rate highly who bombs. There will be at least one player who did not feature on his team’s top 15 who becomes an NHL regular next year. We accept those errors in judgment and promise you, our faithful subscriber, that we will learn from them and refine our work for next year, as we learn just as NHL teams learn.

Until then, please enjoy this snapshot view of the future of the beautiful, frozen game. Putting this together has provided at least some sense of normalcy during this crazy summer.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired
Ana	1	Trevor Zegras	C	19	6-0/170	Boston University (HE)	`19(9th)
Min	2	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	23	5-10/200	CSKA (KHL)	`15(135th)
Col	3	Bowen Byram	D	19	6-0/195	Vancouver (WHL)	`19(4th)
Buf	4	Dylan Cozens	C	19	6-3/185	Lethbridge (WHL)	`19(7th)
Fla	5	Spencer Knight	G	19	6-3/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(13th)
VGK	6	Peyton Krebs	C	19	5-11/180	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(17th)
Ari	7	Victor Soderstrom	D	19	5-11/180	Brynas (Swe)	`19(11th)
Mtl	8	Cole Caufield	RW	19	5-7/165	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(15th)
Van	9	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	19	6-1/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`19(10th)
Edm	10	Philip Broberg	D	19	6-3/200	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`19(8th)
Tor	11	Nick Robertson	LW	19	5-9/160	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(53rd)
Col	12	Alex Newhook	C	19	5-10/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(16th)
Det	13	Moritz Seider	D	19	6-3/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`19(6th)
Fla	14	Grigori Denisenko	LW	20	5-11/185	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(15th)
Min	15	Matthew Boldy	LW	19	6-1/190	Boston College (HE)	`19(12th)
NJ	16	Ty Smith	D	20	5-10/180	Spokane (WHL)	`18(17th)
LA	17	Alex Turcotte	C	19	5-11/185	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(5th)
Nsh	18	Philip Tomasino	C	19	5-11/180	Nia-Osh (OHL)	`19(24th)
Pit	19	Samuel Poulin	LW	19	6-1/205	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	`19(21st)
Wsh	20	Connor McMichael	C	19	5-11/175	London (OHL)	`19(25th)
LA	21	Gabriel Vilardi	RW	21	6-3/200	Ontario (AHL)	`17(11th)
NYR	22	Igor Shesterkin	G	24	6-1/190	Hartford (AHL)	`14(118th)
Dal	23	Thomas Harley	D	19	6-3/190	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(18th)
Ari	24	Barrett Hayton	C	20	6-1/190	Arizona (NHL)	`18(5th)
NYR	25	Nils Lundkvist	D	20	5-11/180	Lulea (Swe)	`18(28th)
LA	26	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	19	6-2/190	Hamilton (OHL)	`19(33rd)
Cgy	27	Juuso Valimaki	D	21	6-2/205	DNP - Injured	`17(16th)
Det	28	Jared McIsaac	D	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(36th)
NYR	29	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	20	6-3/185	Hartford (AHL)	`18(9th)
Edm	30	Evan Bouchard	D	20	6-2/195	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(10th)
NYR	31	K'Andre Miller	D	20	6-3/205	Wisconsin (B1G)	`18(22nd)
Edm	32	Raphael Lavoie	RW	19	6-4/195	Hal-Chi (QMJHL)	`19(38th)
NYI	33	Ilya Sorokin	G	25	6-2/180	CSKA (KHL)	`14(78th)
Det	34	Albert Johansson	D	19	5-11/165	Farjestads (Swe)	`19(60th)
Ari	35	Matias Maccelli	LW	19	5-11/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(98th)
Van	36	Nils Hoglander	RW	19	5-9/185	Rogle (Swe)	`19(40th)
Ari	37	Jan Jenik	RW	20	6-1/180	Hamilton (OHL)	`18(65th)
Phi	38	Cam York	D	19	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`19(14th)
Phi	39	Morgan Frost	C	21	5-11/180	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`17(27th)
Ana	40	Lukas Dostal	G	20	6-1/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`18(85th)
LA	41	Tobias Bjornfot	D	19	6-0/200	Ontario (AHL)	`19(22nd)
SJ	42	Ryan Merkley	D	20	5-11/170	London (OHL)	`18(21st)
NYI	43	Kieffer Bellows	LW	22	6-0/200	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(19th)
NYI	44	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	20	6-1/205	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(11th)
LA	45	Rasmus Kupari	C	20	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	`18(20th)
CBJ	46	Liam Foudy	C	20	6-0/175	London (OHL)	`18(18th)
LA	47	Tyler Madden	C	20	5-10/155	Northeastern (HE)	T(Van-2/20)
Mtl	48	Alexander Romanov	D	20	5-11/185	CSKA (KHL)	`18(38th)
NYI	49	Bode Wilde	D	20	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(41st)
Ott	50	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCHC)	`18(26th)
Cgy	51	Jakob Pelletier	LW	19	5-9/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(26th)
LA	52	Akil Thomas	C	20	5-11/170	Nia-Pbo (OHL)	`18(51st)
Wpg	53	Dylan Samberg	D	21	6-3/190	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`17(43rd)
Chi	54	Ian Mitchell	D	21	5-11/175	Denver (NCHC)	`17(57th)
Ott	55	Josh Norris	C	21	6-1/195	Belleville (AHL)	T(SJ-9/18)
NYR	56	Matthew Robertson	D	19	6-3/200	Edmonton (WHL)	`19(49th)
VGK	57	Pavel Dorofeyev	LW	19	6-1/170	Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`19(79th)
Dal	58	Jake Oettinger	G	21	6-4/210	Texas (AHL)	`17(26th)
Ott	59	Drake Batherson	RW	22	6-1/190	Belleville (AHL)	`17(121st)
LA	60	Samuel Fagemo	RW	20	6-0/195	Frolunda (Swe)	`19(50th)
Col	61	Justus Annunen	G	20	6-4/215	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`18(64th)
Bos	62	John Beecher	C	19	6-3/210	Michigan (B1G)	`19(30th)
Phi	63	Egor Zamula	D	20	6-4/175	Calgary (WHL)	FA(9/18)
NYR	64	Zac Jones	D	19	5-10/175	Massachusetts (HE)	`19(68th)
CBJ	65	Kirill Marchenko	LW	20	6-3/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(49th)
VGK	66	Jack Dugan	RW	22	6-2/185	Providence (HE)	`17(142nd)
StL	67	Scott Perunovich	D	22	5-10/175	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(45th)
Bos	68	Jack Studnicka	C	21	6-1/170	Providence (AHL)	`17(53rd)
Dal	69	Ty Dellandrea	C	20	6-0/185	Flint (OHL)	`18(13th)
Min	70	Calen Addison	D	20	5-10/180	Lethbridge (WHL)	T(Pit-2/20)
NYR	71	Julien Gauthier	RW	22	6-4/225	Charlotte (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Van	72	Olli Juolevi	D	22	6-3/200	Utica (AHL)	`16(5th)
NJ	73	Nolan Foote	LW	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	T(TB-2/20)
NJ	74	Janne Kuokkanen	LW	22	6-1/190	Cha-Bng (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Ott	75	Alex Formenton	LW	21	6-2/165	Belleville (AHL)	`17(47th)
Det	76	Robert Mastrosimone	LW	19	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	`19(54th)
NYR	77	Morgan Barron	C	21	6-2/200	Cornell (ECAC)	`17(174th)
Mtl	78	Jesse Ylonen	RW	20	6-1/185	Pelicans (Fin)	`18(35th)
Car	79	Dominik Bokk	RW	20	6-1/180	Rogle (Swe)	T(StL-9/19)
Nsh	80	Egor Afanasyev	RW	19	6-3/205	Windsor (OHL)	`19(45th)
Ana	81	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(54th)
Min	82	Alexander Khovanov	C	20	5-11/195	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(86th)
Det	83	Joe Veleno	C	20	6-1/195	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`18(30th)
NJ	84	Kevin Bahl	D	20	6-6/230	Ottawa (OHL)	T(Ari-12/19)
Car	85	Ryan Suzuki	C	19	6-0/180	Bar-Sag (OHL)	`19(28th)
Van	86	Jett Woo	D	20	6-0/205	Calgary (WHL)	`18(37th)
Mtl	87	Mattias Norlinder	D	20	5-11/180	MODO (Swe 2)	`19(64th)
Min	88	Adam Beckman	LW	19	6-1/170	Spokane (WHL)	`19(75th)
Bos	89	Jeremy Swayman	G	21	6-1/190	Maine (HE)	`17(111th)
Wpg	90	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	21	6-3/205	Manitoba (AHL)	`17(24th)
Tor	91	Filip Hallander	LW	20	6-1/185	Lulea (Swe)	T(Pit-8/20)
Fla	92	Owen Tippett	RW	21	6-1/200	Springfield (AHL)	`17(10th)
Car	93	Jake Bean	D	22	6-1/175	Charlotte (AHL)	`16(13th)
Ott	94	Shane Pinto	C	19	6-2/190	North Dakota (NCHC)	`19(32nd)
Col	95	Martin Kaut	RW	20	6-1/175	Colorado (AHL)	`18(16th)
Van	96	Jack Rathbone	D	21	5-10/175	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(95th)
Tor	97	Nick Abruzzese	C	21	5-9/160	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(124th)
Bos	98	Urho Vaakanainen	D	21	6-0/185	Providence (AHL)	`17(18th)
Wsh	99	Alexander Alexeyev	D	20	6-3/200	Hershey (AHL)	`18(31st)
NYI	100	Simon Holmstrom	RW	19	6-1/185	Bridgeport (AHL)	`19(23rd)
LA	101	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	21	5-11/190	Ontario (AHL)	`17(41st)
Car	102	Joey Keane	D	21	6-0/185	Hfd-Cha (AHL)	T(NYR-2/20)
Wsh	103	Martin Fehervary	D	20	6-1/190	Hershey (AHL)	`18(46th)
StL	104	Tyler Tucker	D	20	6-1/205	Bar-Fnt (OHL)	`18(200th)
SJ	105	Yegor Spiridonov	C	19	6-2/195	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)	`19(108th)
NJ	106	Joey Anderson	RW	22	6-0/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(73rd)
Col	107	Conor Timmins	D	21	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	`17(32nd)
StL	108	Klim Kostin	C	21	6-3/195	San Antonio (AHL)	`17(31st)
Mtl	109	Cayden Primeau	G	21	6-3/180	Laval (AHL)	`17(199th)
SJ	110	Jonathan Dahlen	LW	22	5-11/185	Timra IK (Swe 2)	T(Van-2/19)
NJ	111	Reilly Walsh	D	21	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(81st)
Buf	112	Oskari Laaksonen	D	21	6-2/165	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`17(89th)
NJ	113	Arseni Gritsyuk	RW	19	5-10/170	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	`19(129th)
Wsh	114	Aliaksei Protas	C	19	6-5/205	Prince Albert (WHL)	`19(91st)
Cgy	115	Dustin Wolf	G	19	6-0/165	Everett (WHL)	`19(214th)
StL	116	Joel Hofer	G	20	6-3/160	Portland (WHL)	`18(107th)
VGK	117	Ivan Morozov	C	20	6-1/180	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(61st)
Mtl	118	Jake Evans	C	24	6-0/185	Laval (AHL)	`14(207th)
Nsh	119	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	21	5-10/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	`17(30th)
Wpg	120	Ville Heinola	D	19	5-11/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`19(20th)
VGK	121	Lucas Elvenes	RW	21	6-0/175	Chicago (AHL)	`17(127th)
TB	122	Cole Koepke	LW	22	6-1/195	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(183rd)
Ana	123	Isac Lundestrom	C	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	`18(23rd)
NYR	124	Tarmo Reunanen	D	22	6-0/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`16(98th)
Mtl	125	Jordan Harris	D	20	5-11/180	Northeastern (HE)	`18(71st)
Ana	126	Brayden Tracey	LW	19	6-0/175	MJ-Vic (WHL)	`19(29th)
Phi	127	Tanner Laczynski	C	23	6-1/200	Ohio State (B1G)	`16(169th)
Chi	128	Alec Regula	D	20	6-3/200	London (OHL)	T(Det-10/19)
Buf	129	Mattias Samuelsson	D	20	6-3/215	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(32nd)
Car	130	Jamieson Rees	C	19	5-10/175	Sarnia (OHL)	`19(44th)
Edm	131	Olivier Rodrigue	G	20	6-1/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(62nd)
Fla	132	Serron Noel	RW	20	6-5/205	Osh-Kit (OHL)	`18(34th)
Det	133	Antti Tuomisto	D	19	6-4/190	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	`19(35th)
Dal	134	Jason Robertson	LW	21	6-2/195	Texas (AHL)	`17(39th)
Mtl	135	Joni Ikonen	C	21	5-10/170	DNP - Injured	`17(58th)
Nsh	136	Rem Pitlick	C	23	5-11/200	Milwaukee (AHL)	`16(76th)
Ott	137	Logan Brown	C	22	6-6/220	Belleville (AHL)	`16(11th)
TB	138	Samuel Walker	C	21	5-11/160	Minnesota (B1G)	`17(200th)
Phi	139	Wade Allison	RW	22	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`16(52nd)
Wpg	140	Declan Chisholm	D	20	6-1/190	Peterborough (OHL)	`18(150th)
NJ	141	Tyce Thompson	RW	21	6-1/180	Providence (HE)	`19(96th)
VGK	142	Connor Corcoran	D	20	6-1/185	Windsor (OHL)	`18(154th)
Ana	143	Jackson Lacombe	D	19	6-1/170	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(39th)
NYR	144	Lauri Pajuniemi	RW	21	6-0/185	TPS Turku (Fin)	`18(132nd)
Car	145	Tuukka Tieksola	RW	19	5-10/160	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	`19(121st)
CBJ	146	Andrew Peeke	D	22	6-3/210	Cleveland (AHL)	`16(34th)
Ana	147	Axel Andersson	D	20	6-0/180	Moncton (QMJHL)	T(Bos-2/20)
Car	148	Patrik Puistola	LW	19	6-0/175	Tap-Juk-Koo (Fin)	`19(73rd)
NJ	149	Michael McLeod	C	22	6-2/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(12th)
Car	150	Pyotr Kochetkov	G	21	6-1/175	SKA-VIT (KHL)	`19(36th)
NJ	151	Michael Vukojevic	D	19	6-3/210	Kitchener (OHL)	`19(82nd)
NYI	152	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	20	5-8/155	UConn (HE)	`18(43rd)
Wpg	153	Sami Niku	D	23	6-0/175	Manitoba (AHL)	`15(198th)
TB	154	Hugo Alnefelt	G	19	6-3/195	HV 71 (Swe)	`19(71st)
NJ	155	Nikita Okhotyuk	D	19	6-1/195	Ottawa (OHL)	`19(61st)
NYR	156	Hunter Skinner	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	`19(112th)
LA	157	Mikey Anderson	D	21	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	`17(103rd)
Col	158	Shane Bowers	C	21	6-2/190	Colorado (AHL)	T(Ott-11/17)
NYI	159	Joshua Ho-Sang	RW	24	6-0/175	Bri-SA (AHL)	`14(28th)
LA	160	Cal Petersen	G	25	6-3/190	Ontario (AHL)	FA(7/17)
Col	161	Sampo Ranta	LW	20	6-2/205	Minnesota (B1G)	`18(78th)
Wpg	162	Mikhail Berdin	G	22	6-2/165	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(157th)
Bos	163	Jeremy Lauzon	D	23	6-3/205	Providence (AHL)	`15(52nd)
Nsh	164	David Farrance	D	21	5-11/190	Boston University (HE)	`17(92nd)
Van	165	Will Lockwood	RW	22	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`16(64th)
NYI	166	Sebastian Aho	D	24	5-10/175	Bridgeport (AHL)	`17(139th)
Wpg	167	Logan Stanley	D	22	6-7/225	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(18th)
Buf	168	Ryan Johnson	D	19	6-0/175	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(31st)
Van	169	Michael DiPietro	G	21	6-0/195	Utica (AHL)	`17(64th)
VGK	170	Kaedan Korczak	D	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	`19(41st)
Car	171	Jack Drury	C	20	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`18(42nd)
StL	172	Nikita Alexandrov	C	19	6-0/180	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	`19(62nd)
Col	173	Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	20	5-10/175	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(171st)
Nsh	174	Juuso Parssinen	C	19	6-2/205	TPS Turku (Fin)	`19(210th)
Chi	175	Pius Suter	C	24	5-11/170	ZSC Lions (NLA)	FA(7/20)
Fla	176	Aleksi Saarela	RW	23	5-11/200	Rfd-Spr (AHL)	T(Chi-10/19)
Bos	177	Trent Frederic	C	22	6-4/215	Providence (AHL)	`16(29th)
CBJ	178	Dmitri Voronkov	LW	20	6-4/190	Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)	`19(114th)
Ott	179	Lassi Thomson	D	19	6-0/190	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(19th)
Car	180	Morgan Geekie	C	22	6-2/180	Charlotte (AHL)	`17(67th)
CBJ	181	Trey Fix-Wolansky	RW	21	5-8/185	Cleveland (AHL)	`18(204th)
Ott	182	Vitaly Abramov	RW	22	5-9/175	Belleville (AHL)	T(CBJ-2/19)
TB	183	Alexander Volkov	LW	23	6-1/190	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(48th)
Tor	184	Mikko Kokkonen	D	19	5-11/200	Jukurit (Fin)	`19(84th)
Ott	185	Kevin Mandolese	G	20	6-4/180	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	`18(157th)
CBJ	186	Daniil Tarasov	G	21	6-5/185	Assat Pori (Fin)	`17(86th)
LA	187	Carl Grundstrom	LW	22	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	T(Tor-1/19)
LA	188	Kale Clague	D	22	6-0/180	Ontario (AHL)	`16(51st)
Ott	189	Artyom Zub	D	24	6-2/200	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	FA(5/20)
Edm	190	Tyler Benson	LW	22	6-0/200	Bakersfield (AHL)	`16(32nd)
Det	191	Jonatan Berggren	RW	20	5-10/185	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`18(33rd)
Tor	192	Yegor Korshkov	RW	24	6-4/215	Toronto (AHL)	`16(31st)
Dal	193	Riley Damiani	C	20	5-9/165	Kitchener (OHL)	`18(137th)
VGK	194	Zach Whitecloud	D	23	6-2/210	Chicago (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Buf	195	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	21	6-4/195	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`17(54th)
Car	196	David Cotton	LW	23	6-3/205	Boston College (HE)	`15(169th)
Chi	197	Wyatt Kalynuk	D	23	6-1/180	Wisconsin (B1G)	FA(7/20)
Min	198	Hunter Jones	G	19	6-4/195	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(59th)
LA	199	Jordan Spence	D	19	5-10/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(95th)
Cgy	200	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	20	5-9/175	Rimouski (QMJHL)	`18(198th)
Col	201	Alex Beaucage	RW	19	6-1/195	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	`19(78th)
TB	202	Dmitri Semykin	D	20	6-3/200	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	`18(90th)
CBJ	203	Matiss Kivlenieks	G	24	6-2/190	Cleveland (AHL)	FA(5/17)
StL	204	Ville Husso	G	25	6-3/205	San Antonio (AHL)	`14(94th)
Phi	205	Bobby Brink	RW	19	5-10/165	Denver (NCHC)	`19(34th)
NYI	206	Otto Koivula	C	22	6-4/220	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(120th)
Car	207	Eetu Makiniemi	G	21	6-2/180	KOOVEE (Fin 2)	`17(104th)
NYI	208	Anatoli Golyshev	RW	25	5-8/180	Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)	`16(95th)
Chi	209	Evan Barratt	C	21	6-0/190	Penn State (B1G)	`17(90th)
Buf	210	Erik Portillo	G	20	6-6/210	Dubuque (USHL)	`19(67th)
Fla	211	Cole Schwindt	RW	19	6-2/185	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(81st)
Chi	212	Michal Teply	LW	19	6-3/185	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(105th)
Ott	213	Mads Sogaard	G	19	6-7/195	Medicine Hat (WHL)	`19(37th)
Buf	214	Jonas Johansson	G	24	6-4/205	Rochester (AHL)	`14(61st)
TB	215	Cal Foote	D	21	6-4/215	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(14th)
StL	216	Niko Mikkola	D	24	6-5/200	San Antonio (AHL)	`15(127th)
NYI	217	Robin Salo	D	21	6-1/190	SaiPa (Fin)	`17(46th)
Bos	218	Jakub Zboril	D	23	6-1/200	Providence (AHL)	`15(13th)
Buf	219	Will Borgen	D	23	6-2/200	Rochester (AHL)	`15(92nd)
Pit	220	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	21	6-2/170	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`17(23rd)
SJ	221	Sasha Chmelevski	C	21	5-11/190	San Jose (AHL)	`17(185th)
Ari	222	Kyle Capobianco	D	23	6-1/180	Tucson (AHL)	`15(63rd)
Det	223	Keith Petruzzelli	G	21	6-5/180	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`17(88th)
Wsh	224	Garrett Pilon	RW	22	5-11/190	Hershey (AHL)	`16(87th)
NJ	225	Nikola Pasic	RW	19	5-10/185	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	`19(189th)
TB	226	Alex Barre-Boulet	C	23	5-10/165	Syracuse (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Edm	227	Ryan McLeod	C	20	6-2/205	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(40th)
NYI	228	Samuel Bolduc	D	19	6-3/210	BLB-She (QMJHL)	`19(57th)
Ott	229	Joey Daccord	G	24	6-2/195	Belleville (AHL)	`15(199th)
StL	230	Hugh McGing	C	22	5-9/180	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(138th)
Edm	231	Cooper Marody	C	23	6-0/180	Bakersfield (AHL)	T(Phi-3/18)
Tor	232	Jeremy Bracco	RW	23	5-9/180	Toronto (AHL)	`15(61st)
Phi	233	German Rubtsov	C	22	6-2/190	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`16(22nd)
Wsh	234	Brian Pinho	C	25	6-1/195	Hershey (AHL)	`13(174th)
Col	235	Logan O'Connor	RW	24	6-0/170	Colorado (AHL)	FA(7/18)
Buf	236	Casey Fitzgerald	D	23	5-11/190	Rochester (AHL)	`16(86th)
NJ	237	Daniil Misyul	D	19	6-3/180	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`19(70th)
Ari	238	John Farinacci	C	19	5-11/185	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(76th)
Edm	239	Aapeli Rasanen	C	22	6-0/195	Boston College (HE)	`16(153rd)
Pit	240	Anthony Angello	RW	24	6-5/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`14(145th)
Mtl	241	Cam Hillis	C	20	5-10/170	Guelph (OHL)	`18(66th)
Cgy	242	Mathias Emilio Pettersen	RW	20	5-9/170	Denver (NCHC)	`18(167th)
SJ	243	Alexander True	C	23	6-5/205	San Jose (AHL)	FA(7/18)
NYI	244	Reece Newkirk	C	19	5-11/175	Portland (WHL)	`19(147th)
Dal	245	Dawson Barteaux	D	20	6-0/180	RD-Wpg (WHL)	`18(168th)
Bos	246	Jack Ahcan	D	23	5-8/185	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	FA(3/20)
Det	247	Seth Barton	D	21	6-2/175	Mass-Lowell (HE)	`18(81st)
Fla	248	Max Gildon	D	21	6-3/190	New Hampshire (HE)	`17(66th)
Ari	249	Aku Raty	RW	19	6-0/175	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`19(151st)
Wpg	250	David Gustafsson	C	20	6-1/195	Winnipeg (NHL)	`18(60th)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – New York Islanders – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 22

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 16:58:00 +0000

New York Islanders

Just over two years ago, the Islanders hired Hall of Famer Lou Lamoriello to be the organization’s President of Hockey Operations and General Manager. Within days, he hired Barry Trotz, fresh off a Stanley Cup Championship with the Washington Capitals, to be the team’s new head Coach. And while I am sure there were changes made here and there in Hockey Ops, many of the key players filling key roles for the franchise have stayed in the same roles they had under previous GM Garth Snow. These include Director of Professional Scouting Ken Morrow (in the role since 1992-93!!!), Director of Amateur Scouting Trent Klatt (carried the role from 12-13 – 14-15, and re-ascended to the top with Lamoriello’s return), and Head Coach at AHL Bridgeport, Brent Thompson (since 14-15).

I am not here to suggest that anyone should lose their jobs. I am here to suggest that there is a disconnect between the type of player the Islanders have been drafting, especially with top picks, and the way those players are subsequently developed internally and sometimes even brought up to the NHL.

If there is a theme among the upper crust of this system’s prospects, it is the abundance of highly skilled forwards being drafted, and those same forwards not developing well once they get to the AHL.

Let’s examine players who have graduated from Bridgeport since Thompson, who had a long professional career as a defensive defenseman, took over as Head Coach.

Adam Pelech – Big defensive defenseman spent one full season and two partials learning from Thompson before securing a full time NHL gig.

Ryan Pulock – Big defenseman with a top shelf point shot. First rounder took most of three seasons on the farm to get the call

Devon Toews – Two-and-a-half seasons as an offensive defenseman in the AHL before he broke through. In fairness, a big injury in his second year may have held him back

Michael Dal Colle – Former fifth overall pick was a dynamic scorer in junior hockey yet was stagnant for his first two seasons before finally acquitting himself in his third AHL campaign. Now almost a reasonable fourth liner in the NHL.

So, in six seasons, we have seen two first rounders make it, and two other later picks exceed expectations. It is not a very promising record of development, especially up front. For further proof of that, look at last year’s Bridgeport team. The forward units had four former first rounders to play with in Bellows, Wahlstrom, Holmstrom, and Ho-Sang, and ended up as the worst scoring team in the AHL. All four players have trended downwards since they were drafted, and especially since turning pro.

Perhaps they were overrated as amateurs and would not have progressed anywhere. Perhaps the Islanders need more help with skill development on the farm to help the forwards understand which tools will work best in the NHL. Or perhaps the organization needs better lines of communication between the AHL, scouting and the farm, such that the team is drafting players who fit in Trotz’ mold, and they are then being developed to reach those levels. Whichever is the answer, something needs to change to avoid continuing to waste talent. This coming offseason will give us all a better idea of what Lamoriello perceives as the problem, assuming he recognizes it as a problem at all.

UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 06: New York Islanders Left Wing Kieffer Bellows (20) during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Islanders on February 6, 2020 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Ilya Sorokin, G (78^th overall, 2014. Pre-season: 4)

While neighboring Broadway is in the middle of the transition from Henrik to Igor, the team from Long Island/Brooklyn is approximately one year behind in their own transition, from a smorgasbord of goalies currently featuring Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Griess, to their own Russian phenom in Ilya Sorokin.

The 2014 third rounder required patience as he spent six years honing his game in the KHL, winning one Gagarin Cup, one Olympic Gold Medal, and three World Championship bronzes. His 2015-16 performance saw him put up the lowest GAA and second best save percentage of any KHL netminder in that six-year span.

At only 6-2” and a puck over 175 pounds, Sorokin is on the smaller side for a modern netminder, but he makes up for it with high end athleticism and a complete unwillingness to give up on any puck. Sorokin likes to challenge shooters, but he is calm in his crease and does not overcommit his positioning. If Super Sorokin has any kryptonite, it is on shots over his right (blocker) shoulder, where he stopped only 67% of shots this year, per InStatScout, generally when he gets too low in his crouch when the play is too close to the crease. All other potential holes were covered up at least 86% of the time.

The only part of his game which does not project to easily above average at the NHL level is his puck handling, which is at a fine level for European goalies, but not notable in North America. The only significant question about Sorokin’s projection revolves around whether he can sustain his elite level of play in a lengthy NHL season, as the 25-year-old has never played more than 40 league games in any one year. We will begin to find out the answer in 2020-21 as Sorokin is finally under NHL contract. - RW

Kieffer Bellows, LW (19^st overall, 2016. Pre-season: 8)

As the scoring leader for the AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers this past season, Bellows is on the cusp for making the permanent break into the New York Islanders lineup. As a former first round pick and potential power forward, Bellows has big shoes to fill when it comes to his overall ceiling as a player.

He is strong, physical, capable of winning battles, and hard on the puck, all of which makes him a difficult opponent to play against. This past season, he made his NHL debut for a stint of eight games, putting up three points, which was good but the Islanders need to see more from him before making a full time commitment. Bellows will need to prove himself in camp in order to make the starting roster or else expect him to start back down with Bridgeport in 2020-21.

He has recently shown improvements in his discipline and has been able to find a better groove than last season. With any luck he can keep developing, thinking quicker, and learning to move the puck faster in order to be ready to fill one of the top six spots on the Islanders roster within the next two seasons. He still needs to work on keeping his feet moving and finding that extra gear more often, as well as his two way play in order to be considered a complete player. Consistency is key and if Bellows can maintain the exact same level of focus and intensity each game it will be hard to deny him a chance at becoming a prime asset in the NHL. - SC

EAST MEADOW, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 5: Oliver Wahlstrom of the New York Islanders (Photo by Bruce Bennett/NHL via Getty Images)

Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 2)

As a former USNTDP product, Oliver Wahlstrom plays a good forechecking game and is highly talented in the skill department. Despite having a brief stint in the NHL with the Islanders this past season, he failed to perform up to his first-round standard and did little to up his stats during that time. When the Islanders first brought him up it seemed as though his play was still a little too immature to match up with such a competitive group but with another season at the professional level it should help him to improve his production, build his confidence, and quicken the pace at which he moves the puck.

Wahlstrom is a mature player in terms of his own age group and often stood out at the U20 national team level for how he carries the puck and gets to the net, however playing at the NHL level has had him more frustrated than confident when the puck is on his stick. In the AHL with Bridgeport he has fared well but was still not standing out as much as he should or could be.

With the rate at that Wahlstrom is developing, if he does not put up a strong season this year and work on staying ahead of the play, he will be at risk of falling into prime trading territory. He will need to focus on his two-way play and prove to staff that he is the same highly skilled power forward they drafted in 2018 if he wants a chance at cracking the bottom six on Long Island. - SC

Bode Wilde, D (41^st overall, 2018. Pre-season: 5)

It was a bit of a tough season to evaluate Wilde’s development. He started the year in the AHL with Bridgeport but struggled in limited ice time. So, the Islanders sent him back to the OHL to play so that he could help Saginaw with a long run towards a Memorial Cup. After 11 games, the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, what have we learned about Wilde? For one, his decision making still needs to improve and will likely be the key to him reaching his potential as an NHL defender. He is still a high-risk taker who generates significant offense from the back-end, but who also can give up his share of chances the other way because of turnovers or lackluster coverage in transition. From all accounts, this was what he struggled with most at the AHL level, especially given the increase in pace.

On the other hand, Wilde remains a defensive prospect with a very high upside because of the raw tool set he possesses. He skates at a high level. He handles the puck at a high level. He has a terrific shot and scoring instincts from the back end. He shows flashes of being a physical presence in the defensive end. When he is playing at the top of his game, he can be a real difference maker.

Ultimately, the Islanders may have to be patient with Wilde. He will not be able to beat pro players with his athleticism the way that he does OHL players. It would be best to ease him into a role, allowing him to adjust to the pace until his decision-making approach adapts. – BO

Simon Holmstrom, RW (23^rd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

Entering the North American professional system the same year as being drafted is uncommon when talking about European players who often settle for a year at home, playing in their respective leagues, or for Russian players often playing out KHL contracts first before coming over, however that was not the case for Sweden-born Simon Holmstrom, who was the Islanders first round pick in 2019. He made the jump immediately to the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers where he did not look out of place as the season rolled along.

He has a good work ethic and adapts well, which was evident in his growing confidence throughout the season. Holmstrom has the right mindset and maturity to make his NHL debut as soon as next season, however he will still need to get a little stronger on the puck and more creative when trying to find open space. He already has the skating and puck handling ability to operate at the next level and these are small adjustments to be made for a player with the right composure and attitude.

Look to see him earn more special teams time as well next season. Should that happen, he will have more opportunities to work on carrying the puck and getting a feel for setting up plays in power play situations on the smaller, North American ice. Look for Holmstrom at some point this coming season to hit the ice for the Islanders as part of a bottom six winger pairing. - SC

Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (43^rd overall, 2018. Pre-season: 11)

His defining characteristic is his speed – he is one of the fastest players in the East. However, his speed is still raw and could use some refining. At 5-8”, he is on the smaller side, but that is no longer a deal breaker in pro hockey. Despite his size, he is still aggressive and not afraid of playing a physical style. There is room in his game to mature and the speed of his hands to catch up with the speed of his feet. He is moving on from UConn to spend next season in Finland, with TPS. - JS

Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28^th overall, 2014. Pre-season: 7)

In a weird and controversial turn of events, Ho-Sang was loaned out last season to a club after requesting a trade when he was left off the opening night roster. He was not loaned to another league but rather a different NHL organization and affiliate with the San Antonio Rampage of the St. Louis Blues. Ho-Sang played just six games with the Rampage before being returned to the Islanders’ regular AHL club, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

It is no secret that Ho-Sang and management do not get along but for the talented and smooth skating forward next season is a make or break year. Due to his attitude on and off the ice it seems that the only way that Ho-Sang will be given any realistic chance is if he earns it, putting up a record year. He is not short on talent or offensive ability but the game is not played in one direction only and he will need significant work on his two way game before being given a shot at cracking the Islanders top six, that is if he doesn’t get traded first. - SC

Sebastian Aho, D (139^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 10)

Having not had a call up in over a season, the Islanders are making sure that he is better developed for the NHL game and this coming season should be a promising one for Aho who has proved to Bridgeport that he is up for a more challenging role with the NHL club. Aho has the potential now to be tried anywhere from the top pairing to the third as he is versatile and capable of playing well in all situations. - SC

Otto Koivula, LW (120^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 16)

Koivula is a big bodied forward who moves well despite his size, possesses top quality hands, and a good shot. He finished with the Islanders last season, however with zero points to show after 12 games up in the NHL, there is a strong chance that he is likely to start back out in Bridgeport with the AHL’s Sound Tigers for the 2020-21 season.

There is little that needs to be improved with Koivula in terms of skill but he will need to move the puck faster and learn to keep his feet moving better at the next level or else he runs the risk of falling behind the play again, instead of leading with his hands and strength. Koivula has a high ceiling if he can manage to put all the pieces to his game together and dial in to hit that extra gear next season should he get called back up to fill in on the Islanders’ bottom six. - SC

Anatoli Golyshev, LW (95^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 9)

He is fleet of foot and likes to cut across the slot, creating passing lanes for his linemates to find him with. Golyshev plays with a surprising amount of jam for a player of his small stature, somewhat reminiscent of a player like Tyler Ennis. He has soft hands and impressive puck control and can be a solid half-wall quarterback on the power play, given his vision and accurate passing. Again, somewhat reminiscent of Tyler Ennis. Golyshev signed a four-year deal with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg last year, so he won’t be coming anytime soon. A small, but notable waste of a resource. - RW

Robin Salo, D (46^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank UR)

He moves the puck well in transition, has good vision and shows offensive imagination. He has a precise wrist shot which he can unleash on the net through traffic. He reads the game really well without the puck, especially in the defensive zone. He uses strong positioning and a quick stick to maintain tight gap control. Skating is still not among his best attributes. The biggest issue is his stride which is clumsy and affects his mobility. He could be more explosive as well. Salo does not have one dominant trait, but he does many things well and his ability to read and anticipate the play are assets. - MB

Samuel Bolduc, D (57^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 18)

However, while the size is a positive, he sometimes forgets that he is 6-4” and over 200 pounds, because he is not a physical defender. If he figures that out, he would be able to get off the bottom pair in terms of his potential, because he would use his solid raw power all over the ice to his advantage. His passing is inconsistent outside of the powerplay, and at times he struggles to recover from unforced errors, but all-around he has solid pro potential, as long as he learns to use his frame. He is signed to an entry-level deal and will start in the AHL next year. - MS

Reece Newkirk, C (147^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 17)

He isn’t a massive player, but he plays a heavy game for his size. He has solid vision and passing skills, that when added to his strong head for the game, make him a decent offensive player. He also reads open ice well, both finding it himself or taking it away defensively, reads breakouts well, and gets himself into places where he can be effective. He is a very effective players without the puck which helps him to generate more than his fair share of turnovers. - VG

Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82^nd overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 14)

After playing a solid 70-game season in 2018-19, it was unfortunate that Vande Sompel spent the entirety of the 2019-20 season out with a serious arm injury. Despite being injured, he still remains on the prospect list as one of the Islanders top offensive defensemen outside of the NHL, capable of skating with the puck, passing, and getting into good shooting position.

He has improved his defensive zone coverage a lot since his professional debut in the AHL and has turned into a more mature two-way player, especially compared to his offensively focused days in major junior. Next season, should Vande Sompel be healthy enough, will be a make or break year for him as he will need to prove that the smaller defender can withstand the rigors of the professional game, and is good enough to be called up and good enough to earn a bottom four spot in the NHL. - SC

Collin Adams, LW (170^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

The former sixth round pick may never be more than a bottom-line energy player at the highest level, he plays with a respectable combination of puck skills, playmaking chops, two-way responsibility and grit to earn some fans among decision makers. Before he can make his mark professionally, he will need to continue to demonstrate improvements in his game as a senior, and if he can’t add on any additional muscle to his lean frame, perhaps he can add an extra gear to wheels that are currently known more for edges than speed. - RW

Kieffer Bellows – McKeen's Hockey

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MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – NHL Player Profiles

FORWARDS

DEFENSE

GOALTENDING

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Evgeni Malkin returns to action and Evander Kane might have a new team soon. Jared McCann, Nico Hischier, Clayton Keller, Trevor Moore and more

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: NEW YORK ISLANDERS – RANK: #31 – TIER VII

SEATTLE KRAKEN EXPANSION DRAFT: Prospects to Target – Part Two – Forwards

Rasmus Asplund - Buffalo Sabres

Morgan Geekie - Carolina Hurricanes

Kevin Stenlund - Columbus Blue Jackets

Henrik Borgstrom - Florida Panthers

Nathan Bastian - New Jersey Devils

Yegor Sharangovich - New Jersey Devils

Janne Kuokkanen - New Jersey Devils

Nick Merkley - New Jersey Devils

Kieffer Bellows - New York Islanders

Julien Gauthier - New York Rangers

Vitaly Abramov - Ottawa Senators

Filip Chlapik - Ottawa Senators

Logan Brown - Ottawa Senators

Nicolas Aube-Kubel - Philadelphia Flyers

Alex Barre Boulet - Tampa Bay Lightning

Alex Volkov - Tampa Bay Lightning

Mitchell Stephens - Tampa Bay Lightning

Mathieu Joseph - Tampa Bay Lightning

Boris Katchouk - Tampa Bay Lightning

Taylor Raddysh - Tampa Bay Lightning

Joey Anderson - Toronto Maple Leafs

Isac Lundestrom - Anaheim Ducks

Matthew Phillips - Calgary Flames

Adam Mascherin - Dallas Stars

Tyler Benson - Edmonton Oilers

Rem Pitlick - Nashville Predators

Jonathan Dahlen - San Jose Sharks

Alexander True - San Jose Sharks

Maxim Letunov - San Jose Sharks

Rudolfs Balcers - San Jose Sharks

Kole Lind - Vancouver Canucks

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: New York Islanders Top 20 Prospects

Ilya Sorokin, G (78th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 1)

Kieffer Bellows, LW (19st overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 2)

Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Bode Wilde, D (41st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Simon Holmstrom, RW (23rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (43rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 7)

Sebastian Aho, D (139th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Otto Koivula, LW (120th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Anatoli Golyshev, LW (95th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

William Dufour, RW (152nd overall, 2020. previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Ljungkrantz, LW (90th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Robin Salo, D (46th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Samuel Bolduc, D (57th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 12)

Reece Newkirk, C (147th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82nd overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

Collin Adams, LW (170th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

Parker Wotherspoon, D (112th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 16)

Grant Hutton, D (Undrafted Free Agent. Signed Mar. 21, 2019. Previous ranking: 18)

J. Greer, LW (Trade: Oct. 11, 2020. Originally: 39th overall, 2015 [Colorado]. Previous ranking: 14 [Colorado])

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

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – New York Islanders – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 22

New York Islanders

Ilya Sorokin, G (78th overall, 2014. Pre-season: 4)

Kieffer Bellows, LW (19st overall, 2016. Pre-season: 8)

Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 2)

Bode Wilde, D (41st overall, 2018. Pre-season: 5)

Simon Holmstrom, RW (23rd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (43rd overall, 2018. Pre-season: 11)

Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28th overall, 2014. Pre-season: 7)

Sebastian Aho, D (139th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 10)

Otto Koivula, LW (120th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 16)

Anatoli Golyshev, LW (95th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 9)

Ilya Sorokin, G (78^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 1)

Kieffer Bellows, LW (19^st overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 2)

Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Bode Wilde, D (41^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Simon Holmstrom, RW (23^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (43^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 7)

Sebastian Aho, D (139^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Otto Koivula, LW (120^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Anatoli Golyshev, LW (95^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

William Dufour, RW (152^nd overall, 2020. previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Ljungkrantz, LW (90^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Robin Salo, D (46^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Samuel Bolduc, D (57^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 12)

Reece Newkirk, C (147^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82^nd overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

Collin Adams, LW (170^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 15)

Parker Wotherspoon, D (112^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 16)

J. Greer, LW (Trade: Oct. 11, 2020. Originally: 39^thoverall, 2015 [Colorado]. Previous ranking: 14 [Colorado])

Ilya Sorokin, G (78^th overall, 2014. Pre-season: 4)

Kieffer Bellows, LW (19^st overall, 2016. Pre-season: 8)

Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 2)

Bode Wilde, D (41^st overall, 2018. Pre-season: 5)

Simon Holmstrom, RW (23^rd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (43^rd overall, 2018. Pre-season: 11)

Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28^th overall, 2014. Pre-season: 7)

Sebastian Aho, D (139^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 10)

Otto Koivula, LW (120^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 16)

Anatoli Golyshev, LW (95^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 9)

Robin Salo, D (46^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank* UR*)

Samuel Bolduc, D (57^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 18)

Reece Newkirk, C (147^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 17)

Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82^nd overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 14)

Collin Adams, LW (170^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)