Kole Sherwood – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Columbus Blue Jackets Top 20 Prospects

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 12:54:28 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Columbus Blue Jackets 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.

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

The focal point of Foudy’s game is his skating ability. A former track star, he shows an explosiveness that would put him into the upper echelon of NHL players. This year he learned to use that speed to be effective without the puck. He works hard to recover dump-ins, force turnovers on the forecheck, and apply pressure on the backcheck, making him a complete two-way player. Offensively, there may still be some limitations. His shot remains average. While his ability to maintain possession through cuts at top speed has improved, his vision and decision making can leave some to be desired. Turnovers can be a part of his game when he tries to force his way into the offensive zone or to the net. While these issues may ultimately limit his NHL potential to that of middle six forward, he still projects as a very valuable player who can provide versatility. He should be able to play as a top penalty killer, and work to open up ice for his linemates. His pace of play will be a major asset in today’s NHL. - BO

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

One of the top young forwards in Russia, Marchenko is coming off a strong season. At 6-2”, he has the size and skill package which all NHL teams are looking for from potential top six wingers. As an offensive player, he is the complete package. He skates well, especially when it comes to using his edgework to create shooting opportunities. He has the skill and creativity to play through traffic and be consistently dangerous. His shot is high end. He sees the ice well as a playmaker. When the puck is not on his stick, that is where Marchenko’s game will need to grow before he can become an impact NHL player. Improving his engagement level in all three zones, and improving his awareness defensively will be key to his development and it will be interesting to see if he can round out his game in the KHL over the next few seasons. He recently signed an extension in the KHL with SKA that will keep him in the KHL until after the 2021-22 season. - BO

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Peeke is a big bodied blueliner capable of playing both a strong offensive game and a good defensive game. Although not completely offensively minded, he knows when to pinch low or when to jump in on a play which is what makes him fit in perfectly with the way Columbus’ defensive system is structured. He can shoot and has a good eye for making lead passes and back door plays allowing him to both start a rush and finish one as well. Peeke can play it a little too safe at times, preferring to stay in one spot on the blueline instead of keeping mobile, which could help his vision and give him more passing options. Keeping his feet moving and straying away from one horizontal line will be his go-to improvement project and once he acts on it he should be able to gain more confidence and up his assists column a little. Peeke is an asset on the blueline, with size, a shot, and a good head on his shoulders. - SC

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

A big-bodied center, Voronkov plays a solid two-way game. He moves surprisingly well given his frame, especially in a straight line. He is a powerful skater and tough to stop when he accelerates with the puck. He has a long reach and uses his body well to protect the puck, not only along the boards and in the corners, but also when taking pucks towards the net. It is difficult to take the puck away from him when he is skating at full speed. He provides excellent net front presence and scores many of his goals from point blank range. He also finishes his checks with regularity. He is purposeful and gets to the areas that matter. He plays an active game away from the puck and takes away time and space from opponents. Offensively he keeps his game rather simple and does not try to complicate things. He is not particularly creative or flashy, but he has skill to make plays and contribute. Voronkov’s style of play seems perfectly suited for North American rinks. - MB

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Fix-Wolansky may be small, but he packs quite the punch when it comes to carrying the puck and finding open space. He has made the adjustments to his offensive game in order to know what works for him when with the puck or without. He skates well, has good hands, and has the hockey sense to make him a threat and keep him safe when on the forecheck. He is also capable of scoring equally as much as creating scoring chances for his teammates, which is part of what makes him so fun to watch. Fix-Wolansky needed time last season to adjust to the speed at which offensive plays are made. He will need to keep his feet moving and stay sharper in his own end in order to improve his overall game and production. He is a testament to the fact that successful players do not all embody one mold, and that skill and hockey sense play a much bigger role than size in the modern game. - SC

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Tarasov had a decent season with Ässät in the Liiga. He came to Finland with high expectations and made strides as the season progressed. There were some games where he was excellent, but on the other hand, he also had mediocre performances. He didn’t make a whole lot of timely saves that could have changed the outcome of games. But when he is on his game, it is extremely difficult to score on him. Tarasov is an athletic goalie who relies a lot on his quick reflexes. He has quick legs and moves well across the crease but needs to develop the technical side of his game. When the play is more at the other end of the ice and there are fewer shots, he occasionally allows some soft goals. Tarasov has a lot of ability and potential, but he will need a strong goalie coach who puts in the work to help him improve upon his weaknesses. - MB

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

As a backup goaltender in the AHL, Kivlieniks did well in a part-time role, interestingly, his early-season crease-mate was one of the only other Latvian players and goalies in the NHL system. Kivlieniks is not the biggest goaltender size-wise but he knows how to cover his net and has a good head on his shoulders when it comes to positioning and being able to anticipate plays. He remains calm and collected in high stress situations and is capable of keeping a relatively level head after a bad goal or bad play. He will have to work a little on playing the puck and getting across the crease faster in terms of his pushing and strength. However, he still has a bright future ahead of him and tough competition as a rising goaltender in Columbus’ system, so much so that his play has elicited rumors that the organization could deal away one of their NHL netminders to give Kivlienks a bigger chance. With his determination and focus he can certainly become a starting goalie at some point, opportunity-permitting. – SC

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Our highest ranked undrafted player from our 2019 guide – by far – Chinakhov responded to the snub by laying the Russian junior league to waste, finishing fifth in the league scoring race. He has also bulked up allowing his plus puck skills to play up and to get into better positions for his fine wrist shot. He didn’t stop there, though, as he took advantage of the Russian league’s status as first to restart and parlayed a highly impressive KHL debut into first round pick status by the iconoclastic scouts of Columbus. We still have some concerns about his skating ability, in addition to his stature limiting his ability to play an inside game at the highest levels, but the remainder of his offensive tools all project as above average. Even with his warts, he plays a heady enough game to take advantage of the things he does well while minimizing his weaknesses. He should be able to contribute offensively once he comes over to North America but will need to prove that he will not require sheltering. - RW

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

For a younger goaltender, and one who’s rookie North American professional season was only last year, Vehvilainen’s development and composure were everything that Columbus could have hoped for. From the Finnish Liiga, he brought with him a calm sense of stability, focus, and athleticism. He sees the ice well and is across the net already anticipating plays before they happen, since his timing is good. A weak point is Vehilainen’s reliance on his lateral movement, meaning that he sometimes finds himself already down in the butterfly position before a shot has even hit him. He will need to rely on his experience and be more patient as to not jump on too many plays or over-compensate in any way. As the Cleveland Monsters starter last season, Vehvilainen has all the tools and had ice time he needs to grow into a starting goaltender for Columbus in the future as well. - SC

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

The first thing to be said about Thurkauf is the fact that, yes, he still has prospect eligibility even though he does not currently have a contract with the Blue Jackets and has decided to go back home to his birth country Switzerland to play in the NLA with EV Zug. That being said, it is unsure with the way hockey and the world is now if he will find his way back to Columbus or Cleveland for that matter. Thurkauf is a big forward whose ability to get to the net and find passing or shooting lanes is what makes him stand out. He needs to round out his game a bit more and find leverage in being more creative in his own end but overall, he offers enough to a team for there to be no complaints. That being said, Thurkauf could definitely find himself called up as a member of the Columbus bottom six and hold his own should the team re-assert its contractual rights to the hulking forward and bring him back in a post-pandemic world. - SC

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

It was certainly a bit of a rollercoaster of a season for Angle. For certain stretches of the season, he played at an elite level, but had trouble sustaining that week to week. However, for a seventh-round selection, the season had to be considered a success given some nice forward steps taken. Angle provides a high energy level and is always looking to lead the attack over the blueline, pushing the pace and driving the middle. He excels with the puck on his stick and looked much quicker this season, both in terms of quickness and processing ability. With greater confidence, he was able to be the focal point for Windsor’s attack on a lot of nights. His creativity and puck skill is high and he keeps his feet moving without the puck, always hunting down scoring chances. For Angle, and the entire Windsor roster for that matter, it is simply about sustaining production and effectiveness over longer stretches. Going into his overage season, Angle’s production should increase again as he continues to get stronger, quicker, and more confident. His projection remains as a middle six playmaker. - BO

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Next season will be the year for MacInnis, who is coming up on aging out of prospect eligibility and running short on time, to make an impact enough to earn an NHL roster spot. This past season, he finally made an impact and was pushed hard enough by management to produce for the Cleveland Monsters and prove to the Columbus staff that he deserved a chance. He finished second in team points for Cleveland and earned time on both special teams’ units, predominantly their powerplay, where his playmaking ability was on full display. Although not the fastest or most skillful player to watch, MacInnis is a big body and a hard forward to stop when he has the puck. He is a good two-way player and contributes well in all areas of the ice. That being said he would do well to put the finishing touches on his potential to earn a bottom six spot with the Blue Jackets. - SC

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Yet another late round pick trending in the right direction for Columbus. Berni had already both appeared in one WJC and had some experience playing against men when he was drafted, spending most of his U18 year in Switzerland’s second highest men’s league. Since then, he has spent two seasons up in the NLA, and appeared in two more WJCs for Switzerland, playing bigger roles – and more successfully – at each level, year-over-year. A heads up puck mover with strong skating ability, Berni lacks the dynamic skill set to be much more than a decent #5 at the NHL level, and his point shot all but precludes usage on the power play, but he plays a mature enough game that he could be trusted to eat his share of minutes and not need to be shielded against tougher competition. He should also be tested on the PK, where he played regularly for the Swiss WJC team and where he could provide more value to his team. - RW

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

When Karlberg played with U20 national team last July and August he was flying on the ice and looked great. He did not earn a spot on the SHL roster though and had a weird season playing another year in junior although being overqualified. Leksand was the dominant team in SuperElit even without him. The SHL team, on the other hand, was a bottom team with pressured coaches who preferred playing veterans. Karlberg was loaned out to Allsvenskan, but to by far worst team in Allsvenskan and had a tough time there as well. He was also cut for the Swedish WJC roster. Karlberg has nice hands and speed. He plays a bit too much on the outside but is a good playmaker and he has a good shot. I don’t see top six forward potential but with good work ethic I can see being a good third line winger and penalty killer with his speed. He has an SHL contract in place for next season. - JH

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Hjorth came pretty much as advertised in his first OHL season with Sarnia. The big, 6-3” defender has some projectable skills (big point shot, improving mobility, creativity and skill), however he remains a work in progress as he learns to harness and utilize his skill set effectively. In particular, his decision making will need to improve at both ends of the ice. While Sarnia struggled as a team defensively, Hjorth looked uncertain at times and coverage issues and turnovers were too prominent. However, it is important to remember that he was coming off a lost season due to injuries and was thrown into the fire on a weaker team. It will be very interesting to see how much his game can progress next season as he is now fully healthy and should have a greater confidence level due to his familiarity with the league and his teammates. Given the raw nature of his game, he is a long ways away from making an impact in the NHL, but as mentioned, he possesses the potential to be a second or third pairing defender somewhere down the line if his game continues to improve and evolve. - BO

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Christansen requires some caution when looking at his eye-popping numbers this past season. As a 20-year-old with a relatively small sample size of just 38 games, his production rates need to be viewed with some skepticism. That isn’t to say he is not a solid contributor but rather his offensive outburst needs to be tempered. The positives are his impressive shot rate at just over five shots per game, his continuous improvement in all metrics: goals/game, assist/game, points/game, and minutes/game across each season, showing a steady growth pattern throughout his junior career. He does not have a dynamic aspect to his game. He plays a good brand of physical hockey; he is a decent play maker and has a pretty good shot. He is a project that will need to round out his overall game with a few seasons in the minors before the NHL becomes a possibility. – VG

Kole Sherwood, RW (Undrafted Free Agent: Jul. 7, 2015. Previous ranking: 17)

The first Columbus area native to be signed by the Blue Jackets, Sherwood has developed enough to find himself regularly under consideration whenever the NHL team needs an injury replacement. Even though his second professional season saw his already low offensive contributions take a tumble, he still managed to appear in three games. He has a solid figure, and all of his tools project to at least average potential, but nothing really seems like it can eclipse that low ceiling. He is aggressive and plays with his heart on his sleeve, which can be endearing, even if he is unlikely to ever receive a long-term NHL contract. Having been loaned out to KHL side Kunlun Red Star for the duration of the pandemic pause, Sherwood should be in line to once again receive NHL action this year. To start to see more regular time in the NHL, he will need to begin showing more than just grit in the AHL. - RW

Samuel Johannesson, D (176^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ignored in his first season of draft eligibility, Johannesson moved up from the Swedish junior ranks to the SHL partway through last season and more than held his own, even if he could not replicate his big partial season offensive numbers from the SuperElit. The right-handed blueliner is on the smaller side, but is a fine skater, and plays a very mature game. His reads are beyond his years and he is a skilled puck mover. His hockey IQ allows him to remain calm when the going gets rough and be trusted in numerous situations. Unfortunately, Johannesson has not been given as frequent an opportunity to prove himself in the SHL so far this year, as his ice time over three minutes per game through his first 11 matches. He does not have a top four ceiling, but his combination of attributes, especially the skating, puck moving and brains, make a depth defenseman outcome reasonable, which is as much as anyone could hope for out of the sixth round. - RW

Samuel Knazko, D (78^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A long-time stalwart for Slovakia’s age-based national teams, Knazko is now in his third season of development in Finland’s top junior league, ignoring the siren song of the CHL, where he has been a first round pick in the Import Draft for two years running – his CHL rights are currently held by the Seattle Thunderbirds. As solid as he has been in the Finnish juniors, his overall game presents questions as to what type of player he could become, making his selection in the third round by the Blue Jackets, perhaps even more head scratching than their first round pick of Yegor Chinakhov. Outside of his ability to read the game, none of his tools really sticks out. Even though he was given a big role for Slovakia at the most recent WJC (in addition to other big tournaments) the step up in competition hampered his effectiveness. One would like to see him either move to the CHL, or push his way into the Liiga, as his continued development seems to require a better level of opponent. - RW

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A big Norwegian with two years of North American hockey under his belt, Bjorgvik Holm made the jump from 16U Tier I hockey in Colorado to the OHL, with only two games in the USHL to ease the transition. Prior to that, he was still playing in Norway, and taking on similar importance to their national programs as Knazko did for Slovakia’s. It was easy to see how raw he was last year, prone to rushing pucks wildly out of the defensive zone with only marginal applied pressure. He skates quite well for his size, and knows how to use his size, while showing just enough flashes of adequacy with the puck to be hopeful of more with added higher-level experience. To that effect, he has returned to Norway for the duration of the pandemic, and through the first roughly ten games of the men’s league season, was among the top scoring blueliners in the nation. Take that with however much salt you need, but it isn’t bad. - RW

Columbus Blue Jackets 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:04:14 +0000

On the one hand, the Blue Jackets have a respectable top eight to their prospect core. Those eight players represent the full spectrum of positions needed to ice a team, with a pair of goalies, a pair of blueliners, and four forwards. On the other hand, the rest of the system is incredibly shallow, with very little value-wise to differentiate the ninth ranked prospect with the 21^st ranked prospect.

As we all know by now, the Blue Jackets went all in last season. Not that were concerned (likely not internally either) as legit Stanley Cup contenders, but the top two players on the NHL roster were both pending unrestricted free agents and neither seemed likely to re-sign. So they doubled down, trading more prospects and picks to Ottawa to pick up another two pending UFAs in Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel.

All of those moves were just enough to get Columbus into the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, setting up the infamous first round tilt against the best team in the regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning. I’ll spare you the umpteenth recap of what happened there, but I will note that for GM Jarmo Kekalainen and every other executive in the organization, winning the franchise’s first ever playoff round far outweighs the large step back taken by the prospect pipeline.

The funny thing is that the system was not that deep to begin with. Matt Duchene cost Columbus Vitali Abramov, Jonathan Davidsson, and their 2019 first round pick. The two prospects has ranked second and tenth in the system respectively last year, while the first rounder would have ranked in the team top 10 this year. Dzingel came at the cost of two future second round picks and bottom six NHLer.

On draft day, the Blue Jackets could have skipped the even altogether for as much as they were active. They made only three picks throughout, one of which was acquired in trade at the draft, to give the team scouts something more to gloat about.

An additional problem connected to their lack of depth as well as the lack of new blood to the system, was the fact that very few of their holdover prospects made positive strides last year. Trey-Fix Wolansky and Veini Vehvilainen both had impressive seasons, and Emil Bemstrom broke out, but the rest of the core merely held serve. On the other hand, a lot of their more seasoned prospects, players who should be in line for NHL recalls, stagnated, or took steps backwards.

With the lack of players in the prospect pool, I had been expecting Columbus to be active among undrafted free agents, including CHL, European and NCAA talent. I had even earmarked Ohio State star forward Mason Jobst as a key target who would not have to even move to join his new team. Alas, Jobst signed with the New York Islanders, and as of the time I sat down to write these words, the Blue Jackets had not signed a single free agent prospect to an NHL contract.

First round playoff victories don’t come with pennants to raise to the rafters, but it might have to suffice for the next few years as the Blue Jackets look like the next team primed to tear it all down for a painful rebuild.

-Ryan Wagman

Columbus Blue Jackets Center Alexandre Texier (42) (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

1 Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) A former high school hurdles champion, Foudy is an electric athlete on the ice. He is electric when operating off of the rush because of how quick and explosive he is. He also possesses good hands and can make moves while at his top speed. Where his game is still growing is in his ability to attack and work the middle of the ice, in addition to improving his shot. At best, Foudy can develop into a second line playmaker who can push the pace with his speed and open up the ice for his linemates. At worst, his offensive skill set fails to develop and he settles into a 4th line and penalty killing role. Either way, it seems unlikely at this point that Foudy does not become an NHL player in some capacity. - BO

2 Alexandre Texier, C (45^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 3) Texier had a terrific season on an otherwise poor KalPa team in the Liiga and impressed during a late-season stint in the AHL and NHL. He had a slow start but really improved and produced at a high level towards the end of the Liiga season as well. Texier is a talented goal-scorer with a quick release on both his wrist snap shots. Thanks to the high velocity and accuracy on his shot, he can score from further out and beat goalies cleanly. He has very good puck skills and nifty hands which help him make plays in traffic and tight quarters. His skating and strength have been areas for improvement, however he has improved greatly in both aspects of the game lately. He has the potential to be an effective middle-six winger with scoring ability. - MB

3 Vladislav Gavrikov, D (159^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 4) It is hard to consider Gavrikov as a real prospect, considering that he already skated at three IIHF World Championships and won an Olympic Games gold medal in 2018. He has also already skated in two NHL playoffs games. Gavrikov has excellent skills at both ends of the ice, but he is more of a shutdown defenseman. His game is rock-solid, and he uses his excellent skating and strong legs to actively chase puck carriers, block passing lines, and make forwards feel his body along the boards. He can be very dangerous when he joins the rush as he reads the game very well and has good touch with the puck, but it happens rarely. In the NHL, he will need to shoot more and participate more to the offensive side of the game. He has all the tools to develop into a first-pair, shutdown defenseman who can be iced in key situations for his defensive awareness and responsibility. - ASR

4 Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 5) After moving to SKA St. Petersburg, Marchenko didn’t have the best season, having outgrown junior hockey but not getting enough icetime in a stacked system. In the end he lined up for four different teams, and if we exclude his trip to the WJC, the season wasn’t really great for him. That being said, the second-rounder will receive more chances this year as the system is less stacked and he now has some experience under his belt. Marchenko is a very good player around the net, who can finalize his chances and create opportunities for his partners with his ability to read the ice. Next year, he will need to play more, bulk up, and further hone his offensive skills, which are abundant. He is a very dangerous offensive player when the ice opens up or he can be a finisher for positional-based offensive plays. - ASR

5 Emil Bemstrom, C/RW (117^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) A left circle right-handed goal scoring specialist. Bemstrom had a strong uptick in his development last season, and was the best junior playing in Sweden. In his first SHL season, he scored 23 goals in 45 games. To be fair, 10 of his goals came on the power play and his 25% shooting percentage is something he almost certainly won’t be able to duplicate. His shot is a strong weapon though and he will most likely be a high percentage shooter in his career. Bemstrom also plays a shifty offensive game and has good playmaking and deking skills as well. His puck control and offensive smarts have NHL written over them. He will try to take a spot on the Columbus roster this fall, and he will have a good chance of playing in the NHL this upcoming season, with middle six upside. - JH

6 Elvis Merzlikins, G (76^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 7) Merzlikins impressed while playing for HC Lugano in the Swiss NLA for several years. He has also been the cornerstone in net for the Latvian national team at the World Championship tournaments. His athleticism stands out, and he is capable of making acrobatic and athletic saves. His net coverage is good, he covers the upper corners of the net particularly well, and he consistently squares himself to the shooters. He is highly competitive, he always competes hard regardless of the score, and shows a lot of drive. Despite his young age, he has shown the ability to perform at a high level in big games. Merzlikins will move to North America for this season and has the makings of the future starter for the Blue Jackets. - MB

7 Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 16) Vehviläinen had two excellent seasons for Kärpät in the Liiga, earning the Urpo Ylönen Award for the best goalie in both seasons and winning the championship in 2018. He now looks more than ready to play in the AHL this upcoming season. He is a very quick goalie. His lateral quickness and post-to-post movement are both high end and he can recover loose pucks quickly. He is also highly athletic and flexible. During the last two years, Vehviläinen has become much more mentally stronger. He rarely allows a soft goal and if he does, he is able to bounce back quickly. His consistency and play in pressure situations have also improved a lot. He has what it takes to be a number one NHL goalie one day. - MB

8 Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) A solid stay-at-home defensemen through his time in the USHL and as an underclassman at Notre Dame, Peeke looked like a nice, bottom-half of blueline piece. During his junior – and final – season with the Fighting Irish, he turned things on and raised his projected ceiling. Much of the change was added assertiveness in the offensive zone, as he would jump up from the point with regularity as he grew more comfortable reading defenses and reacting accordingly. His defensive work did not suffer one iota from his new habits, as he still kept tight gaps, excelled in his positioning and stick work and was mobile enough to keep up with most attackers. Peeke is moving on to the professional ranks with reasonable hopes for a future second pairing defender. - RW

9 Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 19) Fix-Wolansky is a player that has really grown over the past couple of seasons. Despite being productive early he looked overmatched and lacking in intensity to keep in the play. That has improved substantially in this regard as has his foot speed. His playmaking and shooting skills have always been there but now he has the pace and the drive to impact every play. He has a real shot at being a success story as his offensive tools are very good. His path will be long as he will need to prove that his offensive game will translate at the AHL level before he ever gets a chance, but he has top six potential with power play minutes if he keeps on his current development path. - VG

10 Kevin Stenlund, C (58^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 6) Stenlund plays a gritty and hard on the puck type of game, he wins battles and uses his size to his advantage. Although Cleveland struggled this year, he stood out as a solid and hard-working forward. With experience in the Swedish Hockey League he came to North America with several years of pro already under his belt which made his adjustment to the North American professional game smoother. Stenlund may have used his size as an advantage but his size is also what made him stand out despite being one of the slower players on the ice. He is strong on the puck but it sometimes appears to be an effort for Stenlund to maneuver easily in tight spots. He will need to work on his stability and edgework much more to play at the next level. He has the potential to be a bottom six center as he is skilled enough but his skating will certainly need to improve before moving on. - SC

11 Paul Bittner, LW (38^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 13) If there is one thing to be said about Cleveland this past season is that they lived up to their “Monsters” name as many of their players had good size, Bittner being one of them. He is a good forechecker and uses his size to help him find space and gain position in front of the net with ease. He has a tremendous shot despite only finding the back of the net nine times in the past two seasons. The main problem is his lack of shot productivity and missed opportunities. Bittner finds good position but then has difficulty on the execution of quality shots, a shame for a player with a shot as powerful and accurate as he has. He has the means to make it as a bottom six winger at the next level but offensively he will need to push himself harder to get that far. - SC

12 Kole Sherwood, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jul. 7, 2015. Last Year: 9) Sherwood has had a tougher go at it than other prospects on this list with bouncing from the AHL and ECHL last season. After netting 16 goals last season it is safe to say that he is a natural goal scorer with a good shot and the ability to get to the net. The rest of his play however needs polishing and cleaning up especially in neutral zone and defensive end. Sherwood spends a lot of time chasing the puck when he should have outgrown the bad habit of drive-bys. He needs to better his awareness on the ice and work on having a better presence during breakouts and regroups. Despite his struggles, his work ethic and drive have improved and may be just enough to get him a bottom six spot especially if he works on his timing and reading the play better, which will make his potential much more visible. - SC

13 Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Still only 19 years old, Berni might have more potential upside than anyone else in the back half of Columbus’ top 20. He already has two full seasons playing against men in his native Switzerland and he was named one of the top three players on Switzerland’s WJC entry last year, his second go-round at the tournament. He is patient with the puck and is a commanding figure from the blueline. Berni also has a high panic threshold when it comes to guarding his own end. He gaps well, has a knack for forcing turnovers, and can use his body when necessary. If he can show more confidence playing the puck he could find himself a potential second pairing defender down the road. - RW

14 Eric Robinson, LW (Undrafted free agent, signed Mar. 26, 2018. Last Year: 12) Robinson’s performance last season could have been better. For a naturally skilled player with a good set of hands and good hockey IQ he seemed somewhat hesitant with the puck. He will need to work on gaining back his confidence in the coming season in order to be looked at as a bottom six contender for the Blue Jackets. Robinson is yet another forward with the luxury of size to easily protect the puck which he does a good job at, however he then struggles to make confident and more daring plays with the puck. His creativity has been masked by his lack of overall confidence and the best players have some form of unpredictability, therefore if Robinson wants to succeed he will need to play with more confidence to be able to open up the same bag of tricks he used during his college days with Princeton. - SC

15 Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Karlberg is a fast skater with good puck skills. He is a good playmaker and has a dangerous shot. He is small (5-8”) in size which prevents him from being the same productive player in senior hockey as he has been as a junior. Karlberg uses his speed as his biggest offensive weapon but plays a lot on the outside of his opponents and fails to be dangerous on the inside when his skating isn’t strong enough to give him room. He hasn’t found a way to use his skills at various pace either. Karlberg is still a teenager and has one season in Allsvenskan under his belt and will play in SHL this upcoming season. He works hard and plays with intensity and can contribute defensively as well. With his skating and tenacity, he is a good penalty killer. He is a long-term prospect. - JH

16 Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Angle is a hard-working playmaker who excels below the hash marks and along the wall, despite not being the largest player on the ice. He consistently keeps his feet moving and his non-stop motor really helps to open up the ice for his linemates. What Angle is not, is the most dynamic offensive player and that may make him a long shot to be more than a 4th line option at the NHL level. His skating and hands will need to improve, and as a late 2000-born, he will get two years in the OHL (including an overage season) to progress as a player before Columbus will need to decide on his future. - BO

17 Doyle Somerby, D (125^th overall, 2012 [New York Islanders]. Last Year: Not ranked) A massive defenseman with a strong shot and a good edge to his game, Somerby has definite NHL potential. He is an equally smart player, with a good sense of timing. He is a skilled passer and can make tape to tape stretch passes efficiently which makes him an asset. At times however, his patience can get him into trouble as he can tend to wait a little too long to move the puck which can lead to turnovers. He will have to stay aware and work on moving the puck faster if he wants to be a bottom four defenseman and in Somerby’s case, less thinking and more doing would be a motto he should be keen to play by. His natural skill speaks for itself but his hockey smarts will need to be refined and his straightforward game will need an additional dusting of creativity in the future. - SC

18 Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Last year, goalie Tarasov was in a situation somewhat similar to what Marchenko found in St. Petersburg. He didn’t have much space in the system, and as a result, he didn’t play a significant number of games in the season. Perhaps the reason behind his below-average performance at the WJC was a lack of game practice. He absolutely needs to gather experience – also due to his past injuries that limited his chances of playing in previous seasons, thus his move to the Finnish league can be a positive one for his career, since in Russia he would hardly receive much game time due to the situation of his current team. He is a very athletic goalie, calm between the pipes, but he needs some good conditioning, practice and, as said, more game experience. Tarasov’s worth will be gauged with more precision after his stint in Finland. - ASR

19 Gabriel Carlsson, D (29^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 17) Carlsson is a very smooth skater and capable of skating with the puck and creating space for himself unlike any of the other defensemen on this list. He covers his ice well and is a smart passer who can quarterback a breakout with ease. He can make plays under pressure and does not get easily swayed as he always seems so composed. That said, Carlsson needs to up his physical game and avoid standing still too much. He will have to be more aggressive and handle the players in front of his net better if he wants a chance at grappling for a bottom four spot with the Blue Jackets. With his skating and passing ability at his size, he has what it takes to be a dependable defenseman in the NHL, but he needs to get out of the rut he found himself in last season. He will need to find another gear and become more aggressive to prove he wants a spot. - SC

20 Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Columbus went off the board in picking Hjorth with their first pick in the draft this summer. Okay, they didn’t have their first pick until the fourth round, so it wasn’t completely off the board. Hjorth is a big (6-3”) right-handed defenseman with good vision and puck skills. He plays with his head up and has good puck control. He was injured almost the whole of last season and played in only four games. At the J18 level he put up an impressive six points in three games. There is still much uncertainty with Hjorth due to the limited viewings so far. For the upcoming season, he will play for the Sarnia Sting in the OHL and we will get more evidence of what he can become as a player. - JH

Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 19:06:01 +0000

With some teams, it is pretty easy to come up with a theme for the short essay that begins the journey through their prospect depth. It might be a fascination with players from a certain geographic region. A reliance on undrafted free agents to make up for picks traded away or failed. A love of size, or speed, or hockey IQ, or an overabundance of centers.

With the Blue Jackets, it was not so easy. There is no such easy to spot trend in their accumulation of prospects. It was widely thought after the team hired Jarmo Kekalainen as the first General Manager from Europe in NHL History would blanket his native Finland and give his organization a Suomi flavor.

That has not been the case. The Blue Jackets have drafted slightly more European than other teams, but nothing egregious and he has in fact largely avoided Finnish players, with only AHLer Markus Hannikainen, an undrafted free agent signed at 22 years of age, Veeti Vainio, a 2015 fifth round pick, and Veini Vehvilainen a netminder taken in the sixth round last year in his fourth season of draft eligibility, having Finnish roots. 2017 second rounder Alexandre Texier is currently playing in Finland, but he was drafted out of France, so that doesn’t really count.

Further, the Blue Jackets’ prospect pool is currently extremely uninspiring. To their credit, each of their top three prospects from last year’s list, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Sonny Milano, have graduated. But what is left lacks the impact potential that you want to see coming up.

Looking back at the team’s Finnish players, a trend hit me. While players are first eligible to be drafted or signed in their age 18 season (specifically, they need to turn 18 no later than September 15 of the year they are drafted), Columbus, more than most, acquires players who are later in their prospectdom.

In addition to the aforementioned Hannikainen and Vehvilainen, of the 35 prospects in the organization for whom Columbus was their first team, fully 16 of them were drafted or signed by the team in their age 19 season or later. If we throw in Kole Sherwood, who was signed as a free agent out of training camp as an 18 year old, essentially half of the system is players who were not deemed worthy of being drafted in their first year of eligibility.

The draft is when teams find (or try to) upside for future front lines. The Blue Jackets are no exception. Six of their top eight prospects were drafted by the team in this first year of eligibility. But instead of taking risks with similarly young, unpolished talent in the latter stages of the draft, the Blue Jackets have targeted (the trend is so heavy, they must be targeting) older players, who trade in potential upside and its inherent risk, with the safety that comes from knowing what the player will be as he is closer to his peak.

This approach can be helpful if the top half of your roster is established and settled and you are mostly concerned with filling out the bottom end. In the Blue Jackets’ case, with star Artemi Panarin already having expressed a desire to explore free agency after the 2018-19 season, they are more in need of upside to replenish the roster. This approach isn’t helping.

Liam Foudy

1 Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Until the second half of his draft season, Foudy was more athlete than hockey player. A depth player on usually strong London Knights, he took on a more prominent role after a series of veteran players were shipped out mid-season and to say he flourished would be an understatement. Foudy is a brilliant skater, one of the best in the 2018 draft class, and he may just be scratching the surface of what he can do with and to a puck. He will develop more as he spends more time playing in a top six role, and he is strong, if not heavy, but he has the ability to make a Morgan Frost type step up in his first post draft year. He already came on more than almost any 2018 draft prospect in the past six months.

2 Vitali Abramov, RW (65^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th) The preeminent offensive threat in the QMJHL over the last three years, there will be no “Russian Factor” with Abramov. If there were, he would have returned to Russia last year after not making the Blue Jackets out of camp, instead returning to the Q to try to defend his scoring title. While he finished second, considering his time missed to participation in the WJC, he did alright. More agile than fast, he can carry the puck around defenders largely thanks to magical puck skills. Those hands also make him particularly deadly on breakaways. While he is on the small side, he plays with the swagger of a bigger person. He is probably best off spending some time in the AHL first, but his puck skills and offensive IQ give him star potential.

3 Alexandre Texier, C (45^th overall, 2017, Last Year: 10^th) The ultimate risk-reward pick when the Blue Jackets used a second rounder on him in 2017, Texier left his native France for Finland, passing on an opportunity to play in the QMJHL with Baie-Comeau. While the step up in competition from France to Liiga is large, Texier acquitted himself rather well, especially after taking into account that he did what he did as an 18 year old, finishing fourth in the league in points by an U19 player, behind only a trio of NHL first rounders. More important than the production, the year was an opportunity to gauge his skills against better players, and Texier again did well. His hands and vision especially stood out as potentially dynamic traits, while his skating, shooting ability and ability to process the game all still project as above average traits.

4 Vladislav Gavrikov, D (159^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 6^th) Vladislav Gavrikov is not strictly an offensive defenseman in the mold of a Werenski, or a Seth Jones, but that’s OK, as the Blue Jackets already have a couple of those guys. Instead, he is a big all-around defender who can do a bit of everything. He has a big, strong frame that he uses for impact, skates very well, and processes the game like a ten year pro. His offensive impact will be better than minimal, but not quite the feature of his game. He can skate with the puck, makes crisp, accurate passes and helps keep the puck moving in the right direction, without doing too much that leads directly to points. The Olympic Gold Medalist has one more year on his contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL, but the Blue Jackets should already be preparing a locker for him.

Kirill Marchenko

5 Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) As we continue to step through the Columbus system, we will see that this organization has long had a fascination with big forwards (and defensemen) who combine size with athleticism. Marchenko is the latest f that type to find his way to the Blue Jackets. While he has not always displayed all of his tools so consistently in MHL play, he has been an international standout for Russia, showing above average projections almost across the board, especially if you expect him to play a more physically forceful game as he matures. His stick handling is particularly impressive and he can create highlight reel plays on his own. He is a long way from the NHL, but his offseason move to Russian powerhouse SKA-St. Petersburg (or their junior affiliate) is a sign of how he is thought of back home.

6 Kevin Stenlund, C (58^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 8^th) After the Blue Jackets signed Stenlund to and entry level deal on the heels of his playing a key role in HV71’s capturing of an SHL championship, he was returned on loan to the Swedish side to continue his development near the comforts of home. Although the numbers are not eye catching, trading some goals for assists, there is a lot to like in his game. He is a big, power center with a strong skating stride, advanced hockey IQ, a big shot and the ability to use his body for the good. His challenge upon coming over to play in the AHL is to bring all of the parts of his game to the ice more consistently as he tries to work his way into a potential middle six role.

7 Elvis Merzlikins, G (76^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 11^th) Sometimes, the waiting is the hardest part. Four years removed from being selected in the third round, Merzlikins keep racking up hardware thanks to his work stopping pucks. Unfortunately for Columbus, the hardware is the NLA Jacques Plante Trophy, and it is the second time in the past three years that the Latvian netminder was honored as the top goalie in Switzerland. He is excellent in his lateral movements, and has a tireless work-ethic, but needs to be more mindful of how far he pushes off, so he is able to recover his position. The World Championships regular has one more year on his contract with Lugano and he might be able to come to central Ohio in time for incumbent start Sergei Bobrovsky to leave.

8 Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 7^th) It is not easy to tell from his statistical record, but Peeke took some key steps in his development as a sophomore with Notre Dame last season. While he will never be an offensive powerhouse, he was more willing to get engaged in the offensive zone, as his quick feet and large frame allowed him to create some disruption without fear of getting back to his position in time. He is still very strong in his own end. He uses his strength well to keep opposing forwards away from his goalie and was a staple on the Penalty Kill for the Irish. He also played a notable role with Team USA at the WJC, showing that he could hang with the best in his age group. Expect Columbus to try to get him under contract after his junior season.

9 Kole Sherwood, RW (UDFA: Jul. 7, 2015. Last Year: 16^th) The first local player to play in the Columbus organization, Sherwood was a virtual unknown playing local Tier I hockey when he received an invite to a rookie camp in 2015. He had not been on the draft radar, but by the end of camp, he was clearly on the Blue Jackets’ radar by the end, earning himself and ELC and the new found prominence that provided. Three seasons later, he has seen his game steadily grow between stints with London and Kitchener of the OHL. Sherwood still has a long way to go before earning an NHL look, but he plays with solid pace, works to disrupt the opponents with an aggressive physical game, and has a very deadly shot from the middle on in.

10 Jonathan Davidsson, RW (170^th overall, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) In the introduction to this team’s system, we discussed the downsides of drafting overagers. Jonathan Davidsson is the upside. Drafted in his third year of eligibility, as he finally graduated from Swedish junior hockey to the men’s leagues, he had a very strong first full season in the SHL with Djurgardens. A strong skater with good puck skills and above average hockey intelligence, his acclimatization to the step up in competition was revelatory. His size will remain a stumbling block in his journey, and he can be a little contact-shy, but Columbus has already inked him to an ELC and will expect him to work on his physical game next year, which will be spent back with Djurgardens, on loan.

Markus Hannikainen

11 Markus Hannikainen, LW (UDFA: Apr. 20, 2015. Last Year: 17^th) After receiving small cups of coffee with the Blue Jackets in his first two seasons in North America, he seemingly made it last year, playing 33 of his 41 games in the NHL. Not enough to officially graduate from our lists, but that will come in the first month or so of the upcoming season. He is not a dynamic, or particularly skilled player, but he can protect the puck very well with his strong and large frame, moves it well enough, and is trustworthy in defensively dangerous situations. He may only be a fourth line winger with a short shelf life, but he is ready for that role now and that has some value.

12 Eric Robinson, LW (UDFA: Mar. 26, 2018. Last Year: IE) Buddy Robinson’s younger and littler brother, Eric Robinson captained a surprisingly competitive Princeton squad as a senior. He plays a hard, energetic two-way game, to which he supplements a strong shot. The New Jersey looks like a late bloomer, as he had not shown much offensive upside in his original draft eligible year in Tier 1, or after that in the USHL. His first three years with Princeton were also underwhelming, but he did steadily grow more imposing in the offensive end. Despite the improvements in his numbers, he lacks ay truly dynamic elements to his game, and his best chance at success will come from a power/IQ game, throwing his weight around and earning the trust of coaches to play defensive shifts.

13 Paul Bittner, LW (38^th overall, 2015. Last Year: not ranked) It has been a challenging few years for Paul Bittner since the Blue Jackets selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft. He has been bombarded by injuries, most notably a hip injury requiring surgery, limiting him to a combined 58 games in his first two post draft seasons. Further, his performance showed signs of degradation when he was able to suit up. With improved health, Bittner appeared in 52 games last year for Cleveland, and showed flashes of the power forward that Columbus drafted. He skates well for his size and flashes soft hands when he gets into an offensive situation. Still only 21, he has time to fully regain his teenaged luster, but he needs to built on what he hinted at last year.

14 Alex Broadhurst, C (Trade: Jun. 30, 2015 [Chicago]. Last Year: not ranked]) Once upon a time a seventh round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, the former Green Bay Gambler and London Knight has now spent most of five seasons in the AHL and finally made his NHL debut last year, getting in a pair of late season games for Columbus, playing a touch over 20 minutes combined. Broadhurst is slight, but moves well, has a moderate amount of playmaking ability and has proven the ability to play on both special teams units in the AHL. He should be in line for additional NHL opportunities this year, potentially as the team’s 13^th forward.

Maxime Fortier

15 Maxime Fortier, RW (UDFA: Nov. 4, 2017. Last Year: IE) Despite two years of high end scoring for Halifax in the QMJHL, Fortier was consistently overlooked on draft day, largely due to his small frame and general lack of strength. Although not strong, he plays a fearless game. Although not big, so what? The game is changing. Clearly, the Blue Jackets realized that his ability to process the game gives him a chance to succeed, and offered him an ELC last November, after which he put up a third consecutive strong season, putting him third among all Quebec leaguers in points over the last three years. He has strong balance and is a fine skater. Most of his offensive prowess comes from good hands in tight and his aggressive offensive style. He will have to continue to prove himself, but time is on his side.

16 Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) In today’s NHL, there is more acceptance for smaller skaters, but dwindling openness to netminders under 6-2” or so. Listed variously at 6-0”, or 6-1”, Vehvilainen felt that diminished attention span for around four years until he put together a run of play so dominating that a team finally said “OK”. In his third year in Liiga, all of which were good, he lost his father this year and then caught fire, leading Karpat to a title with a .933 save percentage throughout the postseason. His athleticism is above average for a goalie and he reads the game, but it is advanced technical skills which make him so hard to beat in Liiga. He will have to continue proving himself, but he is a worthwhile addition to this system.

17 Gabriel Carlsson, D (29^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 9^th) A few months after selecting stay-at-home blueliner Gabriel Carlsson in the late first round, the Blue Jackets hired a head coach who has adopted the motto that “safe is death.” Carlsson is the embodiment of that expression. His puck skills are, at best, basic. He can make a decent first pass. He is very large, although still lean, and gets to a decent top speed, although his reactions look sluggish, which may be more related to his ability to read and react than his feet. He does have an impressive physical game, using his body to lean on opponents and box them out, but his game is, on the whole, limited. He is safe in that he can fill a hole in the case of injury replacement, but more than that is throwing away good money after bad.

18 Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14^th) Another bigger than average power forward in the Columbus system, Thurkauf did not have a smooth landing in his first season as a pro, but had enough moments of success that all hope is not lost either. Not incredible fast, he skates well enough for his size, but it is not a real strength of his game. His future NHL hopes rest largely on his powerful wrist shot which can be deadly from middle distance and his ability to play a power game at the highest levels. The Swiss native will return to Cleveland for a sophomore campaign in the AHL where the objective will be to see him be more of an imposing presence in the offensive end.

19 Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Short and stout, I would like to suggest his nickname be “The Teapot”. Ignored after a solid first year of eligibility, his production last year with a horrid Edmonton team in the WHL made him impossible to overlook, no matter how rough his skating can seem. Fix-Wolansky is an offensive minded player, but responsible and hard working enough to play on the PK for his junior team. He is also more than willing to crash and bang in the pursuit of pucks. His propensity to shoot can make him a little predictable, but he has shown the ability to diversify his offensive game if he chooses. He is a sleeper to watch.

20 Veeti Vainio, D (141^st overall, 2015. Last Year: 15^th) Last year, in this space, we called Vainio an “injury prone speedster.” This year, all Vainio did was prove us right. Loaned from Liiga side KooKoo to second tier Kiekko-Vantaa, in his age 20 season, he was limited to 11 games all year for the Mestis squad, after appearing in only 12 years at multiple levels the year before and a relatively robust 43 games the year prior. He is a breathtaking skater when he is healthy enough to play and has a knack for creating with his puck movement, but has so, so much to figure out in the rest of his game. Listed at 6-2”, 181, he looks frailer than that. There are some things here to get excited about, but if he can’t play hockey, he certainly can’t play in the NHL.

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Brock Otten — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:51:07 +0000

The 2018 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off this week after the regular season wrapped up this past weekend. Heading into the playoffs, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are the clear favorites to come out of the OHL and represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Regina. They have spent the vast majority of the season as the top ranked team in the CHL, one of only two teams to chart the entire season (along with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL). But competition is always fierce and there are no sure bets in the OHL. Let us now take a look at each first round match-up.

Eastern Conference

#1 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. #8 - Ottawa 67’s

Season Series: Hamilton leads 5-0

Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: The Conference Champion Bulldogs face off against the 67’s after the Steelheads won on the final Sunday, securing the number 7 seed. Hamilton has been the cream of the crop of the Eastern Conference for the vast majority of the season. They have been extremely active in trades this year to give them the best chance of coming out of the East. The Bulldogs added Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Riley Stillman (Florida), Nic Caamano (Dallas), Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen (Toronto) to an already stacked lineup, giving Ottawa an extremely daunting challenge in round one. This team rolls three powerhouse offensive lines with Matthew Strome (Philadelphia), Will Bitten (Montreal), Mackenzie Entwistle (Arizona), Marian Studenic (New Jersey), and Brandon Saigeon being other top options. Forward Arthur Kaliyev (2019) is another name to watch. He is the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the OHL since Alex Galchenyuk and he is a potential lottery pick next year as a power winger. In net, the Bulldogs boast one of the OHL’s most improved players this year in Kaden Fulcher (Detroit).

Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ottawa, on the other hand, is a very young team. In a few years’ time, they could be Memorial Cup contenders. They could have five players drafted in the first three rounds this year (Kody Clark, Mitchell Hoelscher, Merrick Rippon, Kevin Bahl, and Carter Robertson). Offensively, they are paced by Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose), Travis Barron (Colorado), Austen Keating (2018) and Tye Felhaber. Chmelevski was a much hyped prospect who fell hard at last year’s draft (all the way to the 6th), but he has returned much stronger this season. His play away from the puck has greatly improved and it has taken his game to another level. But for all their talent offensively, the 67’s have had a very difficult time keeping the puck out of their own net this year. Overager Olivier Tremblay has not provided the stability that the team had hoped for when they brought him in early this year.

This one has all the makings of a quick series. This Ottawa team, as talented as they are young, is not yet ready for this type of challenge. The Bulldogs are one of the deepest teams in the OHL and their offensive firepower is likely to overwhelm an inexperienced defense and inconsistent netminder. One particular thing worth watching is the 67’s struggling penalty kill going up against one of the league’s best powerplay units from Hamilton. This has to be troubling for Ottawa because they also happen to be one of the league’s most undisciplined teams. And while Ottawa does have some great young offensive talent, the Bulldogs have one of the oldest defensive units in the league and are likely to limit the offensive chances of the 67’s. I look for Robert Thomas to have a big series here (and a big playoff performance overall). His points per game has taken a big dip since joining the Bulldogs, but I think he explodes this postseason.

Prediction: This Hamilton team is just too experienced and too talented for the 67’s. They have the advantage in nearly every area and should dominate. If Ottawa was getting better goaltending, I would say that they might be able to steal a game or two, but I do not even see that happening. Hamilton in 4.

#2 - Barrie Colts vs. #7 - Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: Mississauga leads 4-2

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: If I was a betting man, I would bet that this is the match-up that Barrie wanted to avoid in the opening round. In fact, it was probably the match-up every team wanted to avoid in the first round. Mississauga has underachieved all season long, but they have shown some signs of finally coming to life the last month or so. Offensive talent is not to be questioned. Their first two lines include names like Michael McLeod (New Jersey), Ryan McLeod (2018), Owen Tippett (Florida), Trent Fox, Albert Michnac (2018), and Mathieu Foget. This group of six matches up well against any top six in the Eastern Conference and it helps to explain why the Steelheads are the third highest scoring team in the Conference. And this excludes their leading scorer, defenseman Nic Hague (Vegas), who was the first OHL defender to score 30+ since Allan Rourke. But keeping the puck out has been a challenge at times. Swedish import and defensive stalwart Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles) has been injured and that has really challenged their younger defensive players to play more minutes than they are ready for. Furthermore, young netminder Jacob Ingham (2018) has had an awful sophomore season that has seen him essentially lose the starting job to Emanuel Vella.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This is potentially trouble because Barrie is the highest scoring team in the Conference and the 3rd highest scoring in the OHL. Their first line of Andrei Svechnikov (2018), Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa), and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota) has been absolutely shredding teams of late. The supporting offensive cast includes guys like Ryan Suzuki (2019), Jason Willms (2018), and Zach Magwood who work extremely hard in all three zones and bring energy that exhausts the opposition so that the first line can go to work. The Colts do not have any stars on the blueline, but they are a tight knit unit who work well with Barrie’s forwards to play a terrific team defense. In net, overager Leo Lazerev starts and while he does not necessarily win any games outright for the Colts, he is a mostly reliable presence. It should be noted that he has yet to win an OHL playoff series in his career and probably goes into this match-up with just as many question marks as Mississauga’s tenders.

There is no question that this is not your average #2 versus #7 seed match-up. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Mississauga largely dominated the season series, winning all three games in the new year by a combined score of 18-10. For whatever reason, the speed of Mississauga’s forwards gives the defense of Barrie a tough time and Lazerev has an .840 save percentage against the Fish this season. This is complicated even more by the fact that Andrei Svechnikov has been suspended for the first four games of the series for a head check. But I admit, I have a tough time picking Mississauga to win this series. I do not trust their defense to be able to handle Barrie’s depth up front. And if these games go to an offensive shootout like they did in the regular season, I think Barrie ends up coming out on top this time. Mississauga’s Mathieu Foget has also been suspended for the first four games of the series and his loss might actually be felt more because of Mississauga’s lack of depth. His acquisition really triggered the turnaround for the team. Barrie also needs to stay out of the box. In the regular season, they gave Mississauga almost double the amount of powerplays that they received and it cost them dearly with the Steelheads clicking at over 30% with the man advantage. If they can stay out of the box, and Lazerev can make a few saves, I still like Barrie to come out on top.

Prediction: The result of this series would not surprise me either way, even with the difference in seeding. But depth is critical in the playoffs and Barrie has the advantage there. I am excited to see how the Svechnikov/Luchuk/Sokolov unit handles the pressure of the playoffs. Svechnikov, in particular, can really cement himself as the #2 prospect available in the draft with a strong postseason performance once he returns from suspension (as long as Barrie does not get swept). Barrie in 7.

#3 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. #6 - North Bay Battalion

Season Series: Kingston leads 3-1

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: This is an intriguing match-up because of how differently these two teams approached the OHL season. Kingston brought in Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), Cliff Pu (Buffalo), Sean Day (New York Rangers), and Mitchell Byrne at the deadline to bolster an already solid line-up and make them contenders to come out of the East. While they failed to secure a division banner, the results post deadline have been mostly extremely positive. A healthy and re-invigorated Vilardi has provided the biggest boost, as his 1.87 points per game in Kingston is second to only Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis) in the OHL. His strength, on and off the puck, makes him a dominant force in all three zones and the type of player who works to tire and grind out opposing defenses.

Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson /OHL Images,

The North Bay Battalion were sellers at the deadline this year, shipping out veterans Cam Dineen (Arizona), and Brett McKenzie (Vancouver). Those moves only worked to light a fire under the Battalion roster and the team actually improved their record in the New Year thanks to the play of new acquisitions Matthew Struthers (2018), and Jake Henderson, as well as veterans Justin Brazeau (2018), and Adam Thilander (2018). Brazeau, in particular, is a player to watch. The 6-5” winger finished just inside the Top 20 of league scoring and was named as the East’s most underrated player in the recent coaches poll that was released.

If we are measuring up these two teams, we need to give the edge to Kingston in nearly every area. The Fronts lead the season series 3-1, winning the three most recent games (February on). The biggest advantage Kingston has is in net with Jeremy Helvig (Carolina) manning the crease. The overager and veteran netminder has 19 OHL playoff games under his belt and is unquestionably one of the league’s top netminders. Meanwhile, the Battalion will rely on either Christian Propp (2018) or Julian Sime, who have a combined zero OHL playoff appearances. Kingston also has a heavy advantage on special teams, with their powerplay and penalty killing units operating at a higher level. With Robertson and Vilardi operating down low on the powerplay, North Bay is going to need to stay out of the box to have any chance in this series. One wild card to keep an eye on is the health of Max Jones. Jones has been out since the end of January after undergoing surgery on a broken finger. It is likely he returns at some point in these playoffs and he can be a major x-factor.

Prediction: Ultimately, Kingston’s experience and leadership should carry them to a relatively easy victory in this match-up. Gabe Vilardi and Sean Day won a Memorial Cup together last year. Mitchell Byrne won an OHL Championship last year. And Cliff Pu and Max Jones won an OHL Title and Memorial Cup in 2016. Kingston in 5.

#4 - Niagara IceDogs vs. #5 - Oshawa Generals

Season Series: Tied at 1 game apiece

Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: Two teams that do not see a ton of each other match-up in round one. Niagara and Oshawa also happen to be two of the hotter teams in the OHL heading into the playoffs. The IceDogs are a team that rely on speed and energy to play an up tempo and offensively oriented style of game. They get after it on the forecheck and have a powerplay that has been much improved since the acquisition of overager Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh) from London. On top of Miletic, Niagara has a trio of offensive weapons that they rely on in Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Akil Thomas (2018), and Ben Jones (Vegas).

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Oshawa, on the other hand, prefers to slow things down and grind it out in the offensive end. Their fearless leader is Jack Studnicka (Boston), an excellent two-way center who makes an impact in so many different ways. A pair of first time draft eligible forwards support Studnicka; Serron Noel (2018), and Allan McShane (2018). Defenseman Matt Brassard (Vancouver) is also critical to their offensive success. He was one of the highest scoring defenders in the league in the second half and finished the year 7th in defensive scoring.

If we are truly comparing these two teams, it is difficult to determine who has a clear advantage. In goal, the nod should be given to Oshawa and their starter Kyle Keyser (Boston). Keyser has been a stable presence in net this year, definitely more so than Stephen Dhillon who has struggled for Niagara this year, or the inexperienced Colton Incze. Up front, I give the slight edge to Niagara because of their explosiveness and depth. On defense, the two teams boast slightly inexperienced units who are mobile, but can be mistake prone. Ultimately, I see two things possibly tipping the favor in Niagara’s direction. The first is special teams play. As mentioned, Niagara’s powerplay has been performing at a high level lately and Oshawa has one of the league’s worst penalty killing units. The second is home ice advantage, which Niagara owns after finishing the regular season on a 7 game winning streak.

Prediction: With home ice advantage, better special teams play, and a slightly more explosive offense, I like Niagara to win this series. Their goaltending concerns me slightly, but between Dhillon or Incze, they should be able to make enough big saves to at least get the IceDogs into the second round. But this one will be close. Niagara in 7.

Western Conference

#1 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #8 - Saginaw Spirit

Season Series: SSM leads 7-1

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson

Analysis: The juggernaut Greyhounds kick off their Memorial Cup push against the Saginaw Spirit, whose five game losing streak to end the season forced them down the standings and into this first round match-up. Sault Ste. Marie has nine NHL draft picks on their roster and two more potential first rounders for 2018. Up front, Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay), Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay), Jack Kopacka (Anaheim), Tim Gettinger (New York Rangers), Barrett Hayton (2018), and the underrated Hayden Verbeek pace the attack. But the real star is OHL 2nd leading scorer Morgan Frost (Philadelphia), one of the breakout stars of this season. On the backend, the Hounds are equally strong, led by Conor Timmins (Colorado), and Rasmus Sandin (2018). Neither seem to make a mistake with the puck and both are just as good in their own end as they are offensively. In net, Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) has been a steady presence who makes the saves when he needs to.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Saginaw’s strength actually starts in net where overager Evan Cormier (New Jersey) keeps the Spirit in a lot of games that they do not deserve to be in. This is important because the Spirit struggle to score goals. They were only one of three teams in the OHL to not score 200 goals on the season and the other two finished dead last in their conferences (Flint and Sudbury). Furthermore, their powerplay was a league worst 14.7%. There is definitely some offensive talent on this team, but the team’s best days are ahead of them as guys like Blade Jenkins (2018), Nicholas Porco (2019), Ryan Stepien (2020), Aidan Prueter (2020), and Damien Giroux (2018) gain experience. In fact, the team’s only NHL drafted forward, Brady Gilmour (Detroit) finished 9th in team scoring.

In all honesty, this series should not be close and is not likely to be close. The Spirit have a talented young roster, but they are not currently an equal to the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie has the advantage in nearly every area except maybe goaltending. Even then, Evan Cormier can only do so much. Heck, we might see the Greyhounds score more shorthanded goals than the Spirit score powerplay goals in the series.

Prediction: I want to say that Evan Cormier can do enough to steal a game for the Spirit in this series, but I cannot even see the Spirit winning a game. The Greyhounds are just too strong. SSM in 4.

#2 - Kitchener Rangers vs. #7 - Guelph Storm

Season Series: Kitchener leads 5-3

Logan Brown of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: This is an interesting first round match-up between two teams that did not end the regular season the way they wanted to. Kitchener, a strong team all season, struggled down the stretch, although managed to hang on to their Division crown. Meanwhile, the Guelph Storm were one of the league’s worst teams in the last few months that saw them lose their grip on the #6 spot in the West. Kitchener loaded up at the deadline by bringing in Logan Brown (Ottawa), Givani Smith (Detroit), Mario Culina, and Austin McEneny. I think it would be fair to say that Kitchener is still waiting to see the best out of three of those four, with Culina playing well so far as a starter. It has been the guys around all season like Adam Mascherin (Florida), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Joseph Gareffa, Logan Stanley (Winnipeg), and Riley Damiani (2018) that have been driving the team’s success. Moving into the playoffs, it will be about whether the newer faces can finally find chemistry or not. The health of defensive stalwart Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) could also impact the series.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Guelph, as mentioned, has also struggled down the stretch, especially when it comes to preventing goals. Goaltender Anthony Popovich (2018) appeared to tire of late after seeing a huge jump in workload this season. The defensive group, led by Ryan Merkley (2018), and Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton) also struggled, to the point where Merkley was a healthy scratch at times down the stretch. The Storm do have a hard working forward group who is capable of icing multiple scoring lines. The offensive leaders are unquestionably Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia) and Cam Hillis (2018), who along with Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis) form a quality first line.

Looking at this series a little more under the microscope, it is probably closer than people are making it out to be. The special teams match-up pretty well. Neither team has a dominant goaltender that one would qualify as a game-changer (no offense meant to Culina or Popovich). Both teams struggled down the stretch with team chemistry issues. The tipping point for me is experience. The Rangers have the clear advantage there, especially on the defensive end. Guys like Logan Stanley and Austin McEneny, who won a Memorial Cup together with Windsor last year, should really help to stabilize things, even without Connor Hall. I also look for longtime Rangers like Mascherin or Connor Bunnaman (Philadelphia) to really step up offensively to get this team over the first round hump.

Prediction: As mentioned, I feel like Kitchener’s experience advantage will help them come out on top in this series. I also feel that they have a much better team defense approach that likely plays out better for success in the playoffs. Guelph has talent, but they play a very high risk game that, without a ton of playoff experience, could be their undoing. It will be close, but Kitchener in 6.

#3 - Sarnia Sting vs. #6 - Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: Sarnia leads 5-1

Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: No offense meant to the rest of the Windsor Spitfires, but this match-up is about two things. The Sarnia offense (2nd best in the OHL) versus the goaltending of Michael DiPietro (Vancouver). The dynamic DiPietro is one of the few goaltenders in the OHL who is capable of stealing a series victory for his team. The Spitfires rebuilt, dealing off the majority of their veterans held over from their Memorial Cup victory last year, but decided to hang on to their star netminder for this reason. They battle hard in the offensive end behind the likes of Curtis Douglas (2018), Cole Purboo (2018), Cody Morgan (2019), Luke Boka, and Matthew MacDougall (2018). And they play smart in their own end thanks to Connor Corcoran (2018), Nathan Staios (2019), Grayson Ladd (2019), and Zach Shankar. But this team has zero NHL drafted players outside of DiPietro and are incredibly inexperienced.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Sting, conversely, were one of the biggest buyers throughout this OHL season, bringing in talented veterans like Cam Dineen (Arizona), Jonathan Ang (Florida), and Michael Pezzetta (Montreal). The lifeblood of the team is Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), the league’s leader in points per game this year and possibly the best offensive player in the OHL. He is currently zero for three in first round appearances and is likely to do everything in his power to finally reach the second round (and beyond). You could likely argue that overager Justin Fazio is the team’s second most important player in the series, especially considering that he has to match-up against DiPietro. The margin for error is slim.

One of Sarnia’s biggest strengths is on the powerplay where Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka (Calgary), and Drake Rymsha (Los Angeles) have a combined 34 powerplay goals this year. Problem is, Windsor takes among the least amount of penalties in the OHL so as long as Windsor can continue to stay out of the box, Sarnia is going to need to beat DiPietro 5 on 5. The question I have is, how will Windsor manage to score goals, at least enough goals to win this 7 game series? It will not be with the man advantage either (likely) as the Sting have the league’s top penalty killing unit. I am slightly worried about Sarnia’s inexperienced defense though, but that concern is more directed towards round two or three (if the Sting advance that far). Sarnia will need big guys like Ruzicka, Pezzetta, Jordan Ernst, and Hugo Leufvenius (2018) to crowd DiPietro’s space as much as possible and really make him uncomfortable. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Windsor fans can tell you, sometimes the best way to beat Michael DiPietro is through sheer luck and bad bounces.

Prediction: As much as I want to predict a Windsor victory, I do not see it in the cards. DiPietro will steal a few games and he will make Sarnia sweat. But the offensive firepower of Sarnia, combined with the inexperience of Windsor’s defense is likely to give the Sting too many scoring chances for the Spitfires’ star netminder to handle. Sarnia in 6.

#4 - Owen Sound Attack vs. #5 - London Knights

Season Series: London leads 4-2

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Analysis: As is usually the case, the 4/5 matchup in the Western Conference looks to be the closest match-up of the first round, and subsequently the most difficult to prognosticate. London traded off the vast majority of their big guns to retool to fight another day. Instead, the team played inspired hockey down the stretch led by a host of younger players eager to make their mark. When talking about London, we have to start with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2018), the lifeblood of the Knights. His 87 points are the highest by a blueliner since Ryan Ellis hit the 100 point mark in 2011. The speedy Alex Formenton (Ottawa) is also playing the best hockey of his OHL career thus far with 12 goals in 14 games to close out the regular season. And you cannot talk about London without mentioning how good the “kid” line of Liam Foudy (2018), Billy Moskal (2018), and Nathan Dunkley (2018) has been since the trade deadline. This trio was challenged to step up their games with increased ice time and they all responded accordingly.

Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Sound, on the other hand, was expected to be one of the top teams in the OHL this year but struggled to keep their star players healthy all year and subsequently struggled to perform consistently. That is, until the last few months when they have been, arguably, the OHL’s best. This team is scary good when healthy and they are now finally healthy. They roll three outstanding scoring lines, including a top unit of Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver), Kevin Hancock (2018), and Nick Suzuki (Vegas) that has been one of the OHL’s best over the last two seasons. They also have one of the OHL’s top offensive blueliners in Sean Durzi (2018), who if he did not get injured, likely could have challenged Bouchard for the defenceman scoring title. It is in net where Owen Sound has struggled this season as Olivier Lafreniere and Mack Guzda (2019) have battled to find consistency. No question, Owen Sound has to have their offense rolling to win because they are not going to win many 2-1 games.

So who has the advantage going into this match-up? Experience wise, the nod has to be given to Owen Sound...and by a wide margin. The Attack are returning the vast majority of a roster that lost in the Conference finals last season. The Knights are an extremely well coached team, but they are relying on a lot of rookies and sophomores in key roles and that can often prove to be a recipe for disaster in the postseason. The deciding factor in this series probably comes down to the goaltending. So long as Owen Sound can get at least adequate goaltending from one of Lafreniere or Guzda, they should win this series. But if their goaltending struggles and team is forced to constantly play catch-up, the series tips in London’s favor, a team with nothing to lose.

Prediction: I have to give the nod to Owen Sound here because now that they are fully healthy, they look like a tough team to stop. This is especially true for a team as inexperienced as London; even if they are extremely talented. The Attack can get the saves they need to win this one, even if London pushes them and makes them sweat. Owen Sound in 6

OHL Finals Prediction

When the field is finally narrowed down to two teams who battle it out for OHL supremacy, I expect those two teams to be the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

From the East I like Kingston for a couple reasons. The first is experience. As I already alluded to, they have a lot of players on that roster who have already won a Memorial Cup or OHL Championship (or both). That type of leadership goes a long way in the playoffs. The second is special teams play. The great Scotty Bowman always said combined special teams play was a great indicator of postseason success. Well the Fronts have the best powerplay in the league and the second best penalty kill. The third is goaltending. Jeremy Helvig is a veteran netminder who is about as consistent as they come. I have a ton of confidence in his ability to make saves when he needs to.

From the West, I like the Soo Greyhounds as they have looked about as dominant as anyone in the OHL has over the last few years. Their 116 points is the most since Barrie put up 116 in 2010. This team has it all. Special teams success. Good goaltending. Speed. Physicality. But most of all...depth. Drew Bannister’s players rarely seem to take a shift off and they rarely make mistakes with the puck. That composure at both ends of the ice makes them the favorite.

For the OHL Title, I am taking the Soo Greyhounds to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since they won back to back championships in the early 90ś.

Columbus – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:56:39 +0000

How important is it to have a strong, competitive AHL farm club? The Columbus Blue Jackets may be a great case study in answering that question. In 2015-16, in their ninth year of existence, the Lake Erie Monsters (since renamed as the Cleveland Monsters) finished second in the Central Division in the regular season and got hot in the playoffs, finishing the AHL season by raising the Calder Cup.

The Monsters lineup was a mix of AHL veterans like Michael Chaput, Trent Vogelhuber and Ryan Craig, with legitimate prospects including Sonny Milano, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Josh Anderson, Kerby Rychel, Zach Werenski, and Lukas Sedlak.

It may not be a fluke that four of the latter group of players all played prominent roles with Columbus this year, helping lead the Blue Jackets into the postseason for only the second time in their brief history. In addition to Anderson, Bjorkstrand, Werenski and Sedlak, part time netminder Joonas Korpisalo also spent much of the season in the NHL. Meanwhile Rychel and Dillon Heatherington were used in trades to bring in other players who played NHL roles.

An interesting comparison would be with the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s farm club, who took the regular season division title over Lake Erie, but were swept in the first round by Grand Rapids (Detroit). The leading scorer of that team was Kevin Fiala, a former first rounder who seemed to cement himself as an NHLer last year. Part time goalie Juuse Saros also spent most of this past season in the NHL. Frederick Gaudreau and Pontus Aberg were a few more who made an NHL dent this year. A few others who spent the early part of 2015-16 in Milwaukee but had already moved on to the NHL well before the AHL playoffs had begun include Colton Sissons and Viktor Arvidsson. Other legit prospect who were part of the excellent regular season team but have still yet to get much NHL ice time include Vladislav Kamenev and Trevor Murphy.

Looking back to 2014-15, the Calder Cup was won by the Manchester Monarchs (LA), a franchise that immediately relocated to Ontario, California. The only key contributors from that club who became regular NHLers the next year were Colin Miller and Nick Shore.

Although the sample size looked at was very small, it is certainly not clear that AHL postseason success breeds immediate success in the NHL level. Werenski was a part of that Monsters squad out of convenience. He decided to leave Michigan after their season (his sophomore year) ended. Instead of moving up to Columbus, the Jackets convinced him to remain on the farm for the remainder of the schedule, as much to delay the start of his ELC as anything. He only appeared in seven regular season AHL games before exploding in the playoffs.

Sedlak can likely thank his burgeoning NHL career on that sparkling playoff run. A depth player for Lake Erie in the regular season, he become a go-to offensive demon in the playoffs. His regular season NHL production looks more like his AHL work did. Not that there is anything wrong with seeing your AHL club succeed, but having strong young talent at the AHL level is a good thing in and of itself. The team-wide AHL success is a nice bonus.

Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

1 Pierre-Luc Dubois – Notably when he was first returned to the QMJHL as a roster cut, Dubois did not really pick up his pace until the WJC where he was a plus playmaker using his size and strength to positive impact in all zones. He was much more effective in the second half and the QMJHL playoffs. Very intelligent and versatile forward can play in a middle six role now, with potential for more down the road. Will get a much longer look at NHL camp this year.

2 Oliver Bjorkstrand – A high volume shooter, Bjorkstrand found it much easier to hit the back of the next in his second go round in the AHL, scoring nearly as much in 37 games as he did in 51 the year prior. He also showed the ability to provide offense at the NHL level, becoming a lineup regular by the end of the season. Owns great hands, and puts in the work to get to pucks and make something happen with them. Although he prefers sh

Oliver Bjorkstrand Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

ooting, he knows how to share. Very slight, will need to play with some heavier players to help create space.

3 Sonny Milano – A former first round pick, Milano began to produce offense at a top six rate in his second full AHL campaign. A masterful puck handler, he shows flashes of absolute brilliance, and at other times, is limited to simply having great composure and patience. Has very good vision and can be very creative in his puck maneuverings, whether his own handling or in passes to teammates. Also showed a lot of growth in his two-way game. Not far from the NHL.

4 Vitali Abramov – An offensive dynamo stolen in the third round in 2016, Abramov followed up his draft year by leading the QMJHL in scoring. A slippery finesse player, he has elite edge work and great top speed. His puck handling is delightful and he knows how to finish his own chances. Despite his size deficiency, he is reliable in his own end, and was regularly used to kill penalties with Gatineau. Too good for the Q, but not ready for the NHL.

5 Tyler Motte – The former Hobey Baker finalist was not ready for the NHL when the Chicago Blackhawks had him begin the season in the Show. Two games short of losing his prospect eligibility, they sent Motte back to the AHL. By years’ end, he was the best player for their Rockford affiliate. Acquired by Columbus in the Saad/Panarin trade, he plays a feisty, talented game not too dissimilar to that of Brendan Gallagher. That is the upside. Should be NHL ready this year.

6 Vladislav Gavrikov – A big, mobile, defensive zone specialist, Gavrikov is the best defensive prospect currently in the Blue Jackets’ system. Began to contribute more offensively as last season wore on, finishing with breakout performances in the KHL postseason and then the World Championships. Even if his offensive gains do not carry over, his hockey smarts and physicality both grade out as high end. Still an open question when he comes to North America.

7 Andrew Peeke – Big bodied defenseman had a strong freshman season with Notre Dame. Peeke has quick hands and a decent point shot. While he could be more aggressive with his stick, closing gaps and pressuring puck carriers before they can create danger, he is steady once the puck is in his zone, clogging lanes, clearing his crease and putting opponents on the ice with heavy hits. More a passer than a puck carrier, he has shutdown potential.

8 Kevin Stenlund – Seen as a bit of a surprise when he was taken in the second round in 2015, Stenlund was never highly considered by the Swedish powers that be, never being selected to represent the Tre Kronor in any internationally sanctioned tournament. While he scored well in junior hockey, he could not match that in the SHL until this year when he played a critical role for SHL champs HV71. A strong skater with a good shot, he profiles as a middle six forward.

9 Gabriel Carlsson – A plodding skater with a weak point shot, Carlsson literally does everything else very well to make up for those two deficiencies and still be a viable prospect. His decisions with the puck are generally right. He reads defensive zone coverage well, allowing him to support the offensive attack through solid puck movement. In his own zone, he does well at closing passing and shooting lanes. Will never be a scorer, but can contribute as a bottom pairing blueliner.

10 Alexandre Texier – An incredibly fast skater with intriguing puck skills, Texier made waves as a legitimate draft prospect not only from France, but playing in France. He has done well at every level he has ever played at, although the competition at those levels (French league, WJC Division 1A) pales in comparison to everyone else on all of the team lists. Off to play in Liiga next year, he will be tested. Will be most interesting to see how he acclimates to the pace of play.

11 Elvis Merzlikins – Now four years running as one of the top netminders in Switzerland’s top league, the Latvian Merzlikins is a very athletic goalie who loves to come out of the crease aggressively to challenge the shooter. Very quick from post to post, he does not let occasional lapses or bad goals get to him. In case, he reads the play quite well and bad goals are rare. He should be ready for the challenge of AHL play, but will be in Switzerland again this year.

12 Scott Harrington – Columbus’ seventh defenseman last season, Harrington spent the majority of his season in the press box. Originally drafted by Pittsburgh and traded to Toronto in the Phil Kessel deal, he became Columbus property in a trade for former first rounder Kerby Rychel. His puck play is on the iffy side, but he is a very good skater and takes care of things in his own end. A ready-now NHLer, but with a ceiling no higher than the third pairing.

13 Ryan Collins – Through his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Golden Gophers, Collins struggled mightily to live up to his billing as a second round draft pick. As a junior, his overall game started to come together. Always a solid skater for his plus size, he grew more comfortable playing the puck, while improving his decision making at both ends of the ice. He enters the pro game with the ability to be relied upon for tough situations and with reason to believe there is more offense in the tank.

14 Calvin Thurkauf – Big and physical, Thurkauf is also a strong skater for his size. Drafted in his second year of eligibility as a big forward with a good energy game, he took an increased offensive role with Kelowna last season, getting the room to work on his shot and puck handling skills. He prefers playing near the opposing crease and has the hands to score from in tight. Good performances in the WHL postseason as well as the WJC portend well for his AHL future.

15 Veeti Vainio – An injury prone speedster, Vainio is an excellent skater with great poise and confidence when he plays. He certainly has his red flags. In addition to his growing injury history, he can play soft and show a clear lack of intensity at times. The injuries – he was limited to nine regular season games last year and is out indefinitely now – have prevented him from working on those issues, but his speed cannot be taught.

16 Kole Sherwood – The first of five consecutive prospects brought to the organization as an undrafted free agent, Sherwood also has the distinction of being the first player from the Columbus area signed by the Blue Jackets. A good skater with a hard shot, he is an all-out workhorse whose offensive game has taken several steps forward since signing and moving to the OHL to develop, especially once he was given an offensive role with Flint. Ready for the AHL.

17 Markus Hannikainen – Signed as a 22 year old coming off a solid offensive showing in Liiga with JYP, Hannikainen is a good skater with hockey smarts and jam, although his offensive upside is ultimately limited. Physical without being a hard hitter, he also uses his body well to protect the puck. Plays a dogged style. His first few NHL cameos did not lead to much, but the Blue Jackets like him and gave him another two years to shoot for a full time NHL job.

18 Justin Scott – An average-sized forward with a big man’s game, Scott has surprisingly soft hands and touch. A reliable player in all three zones, he made a fairly smooth transition from an OHL career with Barrie to the AHL grind. A very heads-up player, he can bring energy and awareness to the game in all three zones. He profiles as an energy line winger, although his skating needs improvement, especially in his first few steps, to get there.

19 Sam Vigneault – A big center who gave up the final year of his collegiate eligibility at Clarkson, Vigneault plays a power forward game. Likes to take up space in front of the net and was immediately showcasing his strength against more experienced defenders in the AHL at the tail end of last season. Possesses high hockey IQ and good hands. Has bottom six upside with special teams possibilities as well. Not the most aggressive.

20 Matiss Kivlenieks – He is not the biggest, not the most athletic, nor the most technically proficient goaltender in the world. Not even in the organization. But Kivlenieks stops pucks. Always has. He had been committed to play for Minnesota State Mankato, but when Columbus offered him an ELC after leading Sioux City to the Clark Cup finals, the Latvian netminder turned pro. Demonstrated exquisite poise throughout his USHL run.

While the Blue Jackets system lacks an abundance of high end talent, it is chock full of players who are close to ready to contributing. Some like Bjorkstrand, Dubois and maybe Motte and/or Milano should play significant roles with the team this year. Others like Gavrikov and Merzlikins might be ready skills-wise, but are still paying in Europe. A few others like Collins and Carlsson are around one year of AHL development away from being ready. Added up, and it looks like the Blue Jackets surprising success last season was only the first in what should be the organization’s best yet run of contention.

Kole Sherwood – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Columbus Blue Jackets Top 20 Prospects

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Kole Sherwood, RW (Undrafted Free Agent: Jul. 7, 2015. Previous ranking: 17)

Samuel Johannesson, D (176^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Knazko, D (78^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Columbus Blue Jackets 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect System Overview

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Columbus – System Overview

Kole Sherwood – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Columbus Blue Jackets Top 20 Prospects

Liam Foudy, C (18th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Andrew Peeke, D (34th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Angle, C (212th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Tim Berni, D (159th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Eric Hjorth, D (104th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Kole Sherwood, RW (Undrafted Free Agent: Jul. 7, 2015. Previous ranking: 17)

Samuel Johannesson, D (176th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Knazko, D (78th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Columbus Blue Jackets 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect System Overview

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Columbus – System Overview

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Samuel Johannesson, D (176^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Knazko, D (78^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)