Kyle Keyser – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Ethan Hetu, Arlo Schulz, Dylan Krill, Zack Szweras — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 14:56:12 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 24: Boston Bruins center Jack Studnicka (23) carries the puck during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 24, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Fabian Lysell RW

It was a successful transition to North American hockey for Lysell, who came across the pond to play for the WHL’s Giants in 2021-22 after being drafted in the first round by the Bruins. Lysell didn’t disappoint, posting 62 points in 53 games as he adjusted to the smaller ice surface. Where he shined though, was in the playoffs, breaking out for 21 points in just 12 games as the underdog Giants barely grabbed the final playoff spot but proceeded to shock the top-seeded Everett Silvertips in the first round and then put up a six-game fight against the Kamloops Blazers, largely on the back of a strong power play that featured Lysell’s distributing abilities. A great playmaker, Lysell is known mostly for his skating abilities, drawing comparisons to Pavel Bure and Connor McDavid with his first step and ability to change directions or switch lanes to find open ice. He sees the ice well and is adept at creating passing lanes. A weapon on the rush with his puck handling, Lysell is also strong on the cycle and adapted to the North American game well. He is a weapon on the powerplay working off the half wall, and his defensive game is surprisingly advanced for his age. It’s easy to see why the Bruins made Lysell unavailable in trade talks last year, as he possesses all the skills to be a top-line winger in the NHL. Lysell’s shot is underrated but he could stand to use it more, and he needs to add strength as he still gets pushed off the puck too easily at times. He’s likely headed back to the WHL for one more season. - AS

2 - Mason Lohrei D

The Boston Bruins aren’t flush with talented prospects, and part of the reason their system is growing a bit thin is the lack of high-end picks GM Don Sweeney has been able to make. The side-effect of the team’s chase of a second Stanley Cup in the 21st century has been the team’s scouts have often been without many of their high picks, and as a result, the team’s farm is lacking in truly dynamic talents who set themselves apart from the pack. They do have a few players who fit that billing, though, and Mason Lohrei is definitely one of them. The 21-year-old blueliner was the Bruins’ top pick at the 2020 draft, getting selected 58th overall. As an overage pick, many wondered if Lohrei was the most prudent pick for a team badly in need of slam-dunk quality prospects. Speaking now after his freshman season as an Ohio State Buckeye, it seems clear that the Bruins’ selection of Lohrei, who was ranked outside of the top 125 by NHL Central Scouting, was smarter than it initially seemed to be. Lohrei was one of the best first-year defensemen in the NCAA, flashing incredible amounts of raw offensive talent. You can put Lohrei’s skill with the puck on his stick up against any other NCAA blueliner. He is a legitimate offensive generator out of the back end, and that’s not exactly common. With that being said, though, there are real questions about Lohrei’s game that cause concern. First and foremost, the major question to Lohrei’s profile is if his impressive size (six-foot-four) is a benefit or detriment to his game. His size gives him more ways to provide value, and more tools to work with in case he needs to adjust his game. But on the other hand, one wonders if Lohrei’s size contributes to his lackluster mobility, and if his style is better suited for a different body type. Lohrei has enough talent to become an impactful NHL defenseman, but his game and his tools will need to evolve if he wants to be the same defenseman he is in college when he turns pro. - EH

3 - Jack Studnicka C

The reality is that this upcoming season will be the most critical of Studnicka’s young career. The former OHL’er and highly touted second round selection was an AHL All Star and a member of the All-Rookie team in 2020. Since then, his development has plateaued as he has been unable to get over the hump to become a full time NHL player. The difference this year is that he will require waivers to be sent down to Providence, potentially exposing him to other NHL teams should he not crack the Bruins roster out of training camp. The problem is, the Bruins brought back David Krejci and additionally brought in Pavel Zacha to an already crowded forward group. That means Studnicka is going to need to beat out the likes of Tomas Nosek, Trent Frederic, and fellow prospect Oskar Steen for a spot. At his best at center, would Studnicka be able to handle a transition to wing at times? The heady two-way pivot is not a dynamic offensive player. However, he is versatile, excels as a playmaker down low, and is a strong defensive presence. The key for him has always been whether he can improve his skating enough to play that high energy role at the NHL level. There is still a chance that Studnicka develops into a dependable third line center for the Bruins; it is too early to give up on him. However, time is off the essence. - BO

4 - Matthew Poitras C

The 54^th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Matthew Poitras was apart of a young Guelph Storm team last year and will be ready to take a step forward as a leader of the group. Poitras was the 12^th overall selection in the 2020 OHL Draft, but due to the Covid-19 shutdown, was forced to miss his first OHL year. Fortunately for Poitras, he didn’t lose his game and quickly adapted to the OHL in his first season. Poitras finished the OHL season with 50 points (21G,29A) in 68 games for third in points on his team, and also four points (1G,3A) in five playoff games, tied for first on his team. Poitras has a style of game that fits the Bruins very well. A highly competitive forward who makes smart decisions with and without the puck consistently and also has the tools to contribute offensively. Already being a driving force for his team, Poitras will have the ability to once again have a big year and take a step forward in his development. Poitras’ best assets are his competitiveness and his hockey sense, more specifically his positional awareness. He has the understanding of where and when to be at all times in all three zones, being a step or two before his opponents, being very effective for his team to contain puck possession. Going into the next season, Poitras will be one of the top players on the Storm and will be looking to push farther in the playoffs than previously. You could expect Poitras to have a jump in point production and still remain an effective 200-foot player. - DK

5 - Georgii Merkulov C

Georgii Merkulov went undrafted, and he’s a name many might not recognize on a list of top prospects. He had only a single season of college hockey under his belt before he signed with the Bruins, and he has just nine professional games to his name. He simply hasn’t had the chance to get in front of many hockey fans, especially the ones who don’t follow Big Ten hockey or the USHL very closely. But if there’s one thing to say about Merkulov as a prospect, it’s that those who haven’t been paying attention have been missing out. Merkulov, who led the Ohio State Buckeyes in scoring last season, is an extremely gifted offensive prospect. He has all the skill you want to see from a player in his role. Merkulov has puck skills galore and can make difficult passes look easy. Looking at those parts of his game, Merkulov looks to have clear top-six upside. But looking at just the positives would give an incomplete picture of Merkulov’s game. He possesses a great degree of offensive talent, that much is undeniable, but it’s largely unrefined offensive talent. The best creators of offense in the NHL are the ones who have found ways to remain positive contributors to an attack both with and without the puck. Merkulov can contribute to an offense in spades, but he wants to do it on his terms. He can create space for himself with the puck on his stick but is far too passive when his linemate is the one attracting attention. Overall, Merkulov’s game when he isn’t handling the puck is simply passive, and while that can work at lower levels it’s likely to infuriate NHL coaches. If Merkulov’s time in the AHL can get him to develop a more refined, balanced offensive approach, he can be a strong NHL forward, but if he continues to simply rely on his skill alone, he’ll have trouble breaking through. - EH

6 - John Beecher C

John Beecher, the Bruins’ first-round pick at the 2019 draft, had a difficult time at the University of Michigan, never quite finding a way to be a go-to forward on Wolverines teams that were filled with top prospects during his three years there. Beecher’s freshman year was perhaps his most promising campaign as a Bruins prospect, as after that point he stagnated and saw his level of importance in the Michigan forward group decline. There are aspects to Beecher’s game that make it clear why he was a top pick at the 2019 draft. He has a combination of size and speed that NHL front offices typically trip over themselves to acquire. Beecher has a big six-foot-three frame that he’s filled out well, and he skates better than most players of that size and weight profile. When Beecher is engaged, he’s that rare prospect that can play a sort of throwback-style power forward game at a modern-day fast pace. But those moments of strong engagement where he flashes top prospect upside came too infrequently for him to solidify a place as a scoring forward at Michigan, and by the end of his collegiate career he had settled into more of a third-line shutdown role for the Wolverines. Beecher looked promising when he had an 11-game run with the AHL Providence Bruins, and he will likely return to Providence next season with the hope of becoming a top player there. Next season will go a long way towards determining if Beecher’s offensive struggles at Michigan were due to opportunity rather than ability, although, like with most things, the reality is probably somewhere in between. If he can have success at the AHL level, Beecher could become a useful middle-six player who offers a unique blend of size and speed. - EH

7 - Oskar Steen RW

A former selection of the Bruins in 2016, Steen has slowly progressed into an NHL prospect and, perhaps, even an NHL player. Patience is a virtue and the Bruins have been very patient with Steen. In 2019, Steen had a breakout performance in the SHL that prompted Boston to sign him to his ELC. Since then, across three AHL seasons, he has steadily improved as a North American pro. This culminated with a long look at the NHL level last year, where Steen scored his first two NHL goals and subsequently earned a two-year contract extension (on a surprising one-way deal). It is clear that the Bruins feel Steen can be a highly productive and useful member of their bottom six forward group for this upcoming season. The key to Steen’s success is his high work rate. He may not be tall (5’9), but he is built like a fridge. His strong skating ability and tenaciousness make him such a tough player to win one-on-one battles against. He competes for every puck in all three zones, supports his linemates by working the wall and retrieving pucks, and is a generally intelligent two-way player. The offensive upside is not significant. In all likelihood, Steen tops out as a third line hustler. However, that’s not bad for a former sixth round selection. - BO

8 - Marc McLaughlin C

One of the ways the Bruins have made up for the trades that have cost them many draft picks is through the aggressive recruitment of NCAA free agents. The Bruins, as the NHL’s lone franchise in Boston, are uniquely situated to evaluate and pluck from the college ranks, thanks to Boston being the home of quite a few of college hockey’s top programs. McLaughlin was one of the team’s marquee college signings last season, and his immediate jump to the Bruins’ NHL roster is evidence of that. McLaughlin, who was selected for the United States’ team at the Beijing Winter Olympics, plays the sort of game that looks tailor-made for NHL coaches. He’s responsible. As the former captain of the Boston College Eagles, he brings leadership and a strong work ethic. He’ll rarely take a shift off, and even more rarely find himself out of the lineup due to injury. He’s always available, and the play he puts forth is extremely consistent. The 23-year-old McLaughlin chips in on both ends of the ice, and his polished two-way game is what gives him the chance of sticking as a center in the NHL. He’s smart enough defensively to handle the immense burdens placed upon NHL pivots, and he could eventually see time as a penalty killer. Offensively, McLaughlin’s best tool is his shot. He was a 20-goal-scorer in his senior season in the NCAA and has a shot that could make him a secondary goal-scoring option in the NHL. If he can continue to grow and maintain the consistency he’s displayed so far as a pro, McLaughlin can have a long career as a third or fourth liner who coaches regularly rely on to play difficult minutes and keep the locker room together in the face of the inevitable challenges an NHL season presents. - EH

9 - Brett Harrison C

The 85th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Brett Harrison continues to show improvements year after year, finding ways to impact the game in anyway he can. The former 16th overall selection in the 2019 OHL Draft quickly adapted and was very effective in his rookie year, finishing with 37 points (21G,16A) in 58 games. During the 2020-2021 season while the OHL was shutdown due to Covid-19, Harrison made the trip to Europe like some others and played seven games in the U20 SM-sarja and 1 game in the Mestis, finishing with 9 points (4G,5A) in the seven U20 games. Harrison also got the opportunity to play in the U18 World Championship. During the 2021-2022 season, Harrison took another step forward and finished the year with 61 points (27G,34A) in 65 games, which was 2nd on the team for points, 2nd on the team for goals and 3rd on the team for assists. Harrison’s best assets are his competitiveness and hockey sense. He has the understanding of how to use his body and stick to consistently win puck battles, protecting to puck with his size and out-battle opponents with his high motor and active stick. Harrison is always in the play because he has great awareness and positioning, reading and anticipating plays in all three zones. He has the ability to be a great complementary player. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Harrison will look to have another big year in the OHL, being a leader on and off the ice for the Generals. You could expect an increase in points. - DK

10 - Oskar Jellvik LW

Jellvik was selected in the 5^th round, 149^th overall in the 2021 NHL draft by the Boston Bruins. Like many prospects, his opportunities for development in his draft year were significantly diminished by the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of J20 games were cancelled because of the pandemic, limiting Jellvik to 13 J20 games. In that time, he was able to show promising offensive skill with 6 goals and 12 points. He was also given a small chance in the SHL, with three games in a limited role. Although there was little information on him, the Bruins still took a flyer on him in the 5^th round. This past season, Jellvik showed good reason as to why the Bruins used draft capital on him after playing a full season in the J20 with Djurgårdens, with whom he posted 55 points in 41 games, finishing 7^th in points in the league. He continued his offensive performance with 9 points in 6 playoff games. Jellvik’s best attributes are his skating and puck handling abilities. His skating stride is close to textbook, with good extensions, crossovers and ankle flexion. He will be making the transition from Swedish hockey to North American hockey as he is committed to play the 2022-23 season with Boston College. As a Boston draft pick, this will allow the Bruins to keep a close eye on his performance as well as allow their development staff to work with him throughout the season. It will be intriguing to see how Jellvik fairs with this transition from the Swedish junior league to college hockey. - ZS

11 - Riley Duran

A strong skating and competitive forward, Duran was surprisingly excellent at Providence (NCAA) last year as a freshman. His performance at the recent World Junior Championships was very encouraging.

12 - Brandon Bussi

The Bruins signed the massive netminder out of Western Michigan University this offseason and he was immediately solid for Providence (AHL) after turning pro. Bussi could be a diamond in the rough for Boston as they build depth at the goaltending position post Tuukka Rask.

13 - Ryan Mast

The Sarnia Sting defender made positive strides in the OHL this past season, especially from an offensive perspective. The key for him will be to continue to improve his four-way mobility.

14 - Cole Spicer

A key depth piece on the U.S. NTDP this past season, Spicer is an intelligent playmaking pivot. He will attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth this coming year.

15 - Reid Dyck

One of our pre-draft favourites, Dyck is a highly athletic netminder with Swift Current of the WHL. He was excellent for Canada at the U18’s and should blossom as the Broncos become one of the CHL’s top teams over the next two seasons.

16 - Kai Wissmann

Fresh off an extremely impressive performance at the World Championships for Germany, the Bruins inked the 6’4, right shot defender to an NHL deal. His progression in the DEL the last few years has been rapid, and he could be one to watch.

17 - Trevor Kuntar

A competitive, power center, Kuntar had a better sophomore year with Boston College. The goal scoring center needs to continue to upgrade his quickness.

18 - Matias Mantykivi

A well rounded and intelligent playmaking forward, Mantykivi is coming off of a breakout campaign in Liiga on a strong Ilves team. If he can take another step forward this year, he will be a rapid riser in the Bruins’ system.

19 - Kyle Keyser

The former Oshawa Generals star finally broke through as a full time AHL player last season, his third as a pro. An excellent athlete in the crease, Keyser will look to show further improvement this season to stay in Boston’s long-term plans.

20 - Philip Svedeback

The Swedish netminder came to play in the USHL last year, performing well for Dubuque. Now he will take his talents to Providence (NCAA).

Boston Bruins 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:37:55 +0000

Despite missing the playoffs for two season in a row in 2014-15 and 2015-16, the Bruins have generally been among the best teams in the league going back over a decade. Since the 2007-08 season, a span in which those two misses were the only times the B’s missed out on the postseason, the four constants in Boston have been Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Tuukka Rask, and David Krejci.

In 2010-11 that core was expanded by the full time addition of Brad Marchand to the roster, while David Pastrnak emerged full formed out of the draft for the 2014-15 season. One could make plausible arguments for both Torey Krug and Charlie McAvoy as additions to that vaunted core, and I wouldn’t argue their inclusions, but whether the Bruins’ core includes five, six, or seven players, it is clear that the rest of the roster is not and cannot compete with their supremacy.

For the most part, the Bruins have focused their drafting efforts in the past 12 seasons towards augmenting their core, getting players who could support their super stars – on entry level, or second contract dollars – while the stars eat up the spotlight and the lion’s share of the salary cap.

A full accounting of the efficacy of such a strategy is best left for an essay with fewer limitations on size, but it certainly hasn’t hurt the Bruins. The strategy is helped greatly by finding good players through the draft – and occasionally through amateur free agency – that can fill those roles. And I don’t mean that they draft role players in the way that Edmonton used to draft role players – the Bruins have not been focusing on players who could not crack top sixes on their respective amateur teams.

Rather, the Bruins have long been on the hunt for players with skill, but whose style and skillsets are adaptable to the grind of bottom six life (and bottom pairing life, and backup goalie life) in the NHL.

The proof to their success in drafting can be observed by how many players they had selected have eventually played in the NHL, often for Boston. Of course not every player has evolved into a long-term NHLer, but when your fifth or sixth round pick plays even 20 games in the NHL, that is a successful draft pick.

Year	Number of picks	How many played in the NHL
2008	6	4
2009	5	4
2010	8	6
2011	6	4
2012	6	4
2013	6	2
2014	5	4
2015	10	6
2016	6	3

Through nine drafts (it is far too early to judge the 2017-18 drafts, the Bruins saw at least half of the players selected reach the NHL in all years except 2013, and if Ryan Fitzgerald or Wiley Sherman plays in the NHL (neither would surprise at all), it will be a full nine out of nine. Some of those players have played less than 50 games in the NHL thus far, but those numbers also include 13 players who have already played over 100 games in the Show. Only two of those players are even considered for the core designation discussed above. Whether or not the strategy can work for all teams, it certainly works for Boston.

-Ryan Wagman

Boston Bruins defenseman Urho Vaakanainen (58) (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1 John Beecher, C (30^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Although not at all correlated with this ranking, or his prospects for future success, I want to point out that John Beecher has hands like catcher’s mitts. I speak from experience. Not only are his paws gigantic, Beecher is a very big young man. He is also a splendid skater, not just for his size, but even in comparison to players six inches and thirty pounds smaller than he is. His draft year numbers may be underwhelming, but context helps put them into focus. As a member of the All Star USNTDP class, Beecher generally played in the bottom six. He isn’t as skilled as Jack Hughes, or Alex Turcotte, or Trevor Zegras. He spent very little time on the power play, with only two points on the man advantage throughout USHL play. He focused on defensive work, penalty killing and the like, but Beecher has skill, too. He has soft hands and can generate on his own, with his speed, physicality and creativity. I strongly suspect that he will play a far more offensive role with Michigan, and eventually, in the pros as well. - RW

2 Urho Vaakanainen, D (18^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) Vaakanainen is a smooth skating, dynamic defenseman who had a good transition from SaiPa in the Liiga to the Providence Bruins. He is not known for any particular offensive abilities but his neutral zone play and puck movement are still amongst the top on this list. He makes precise passes and knows when to skate the puck and when to dump it. For a blueliner who plays big, Vaakanainen still plays a rather naive physical game, and he will have to learn to be better in the dirty spots and make sure to win his physical battles, which includes one on ones. His hockey sense and awareness with and without the puck prove him to be NHL ready and his overall contribution to every shift make him a contender for a top line defensive spot in the future. - SC

3 Trent Frederic, C (29^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2) Even though his first full professional season was somewhat of a let down, Frederic’s outlook is still bright. His seasonal numbers were clearly underwhelming, but they look better when we split his year into halves, as he began to acclimatize himself to the AHL pace in the season’s second half, which included a hat trick in the regular season’s penultimate game. Even so, he certainly wasn’t ready for the NHL, looking out of place in his 15 game midseason stint. The two-way game that convinced the Bruins to select him in the first round are still with him. He is a fine skater with enough puck skill and offensive instinct to earn middle six minutes at maturity. His grinder, to the net style also bodes well for that role. Boston will be looking for more consistent production before giving an NHL look. - RW

4 Jack Studnicka, C (53^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 8) It could probably be argued that Studnicka is one of the more well-rounded forward prospects in hockey. There is no role that he cannot play on the ice for his team. Improvements to his skating stride over his OHL career have also really improved his outlook as an impact player. If his offensive skill set translates and he proves that he can skate and create in transition consistently, Boston could have a potential second line center. But if not, he still could develop into a nice checking line center who could be utilized in tough defensive matchups. Given how pro ready his game is, he could be much closer to making an impact in Boston than some think. - BO

5 Anders Bjork, LW (146^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 3) Even though he has already played in 50 NHL games, split over two seasons, Bjork still qualifies as a prospect by our criteria, as he came five games shy of graduating as a rookie, and is ten game short for his career. The problem, for the most part, has been health-related. In each of the last two seasons, his work was cut short due to serious shoulder injuries. The injuries should not impact his skating, which is still impactful. His instincts could have grown rusty with the long layoffs, although his previous work as a collegian suggests that he has the high end hockey IQ for him to be able to wear that rust off if he can stay on the ice. With this ranking, we are presuming a return to health, but the recurring nature of the injuries may have a potentially severely deleterious effect on his ascension to regular NHL status, such as we recently saw with St. Louis’ Robby Fabbri. - RW

6 Connor Clifton, D (133^rd overall, 2013 [Arizona]. Last Year: 13) Originally drafted by Arizona, the Coyotes sought to sign Clifton after his four years at Quinnipiac were up, but the hard hitting blueliner took his chances in free agency and was given an AHL deal by the Bruins’ organization. One strong season with Providence and the Bruins awarded him with an ELC. With the injuries suffered throughout the defense-corps last year, he got to showcase his stuff over 37 games combined in the regular season and the playoffs. Clifton is a good puck mover, but lacking in the flash to play in an NHL power play. His main strength is in his own zone, where his physicality makes him very tough to play against. He may also have more offense within, if he plays with the confidence to take more chances. That may be the difference between the 4/5 ceiling, and a more solid second pairing role at his peak. - RW

7 Jeremy Lauzon, D (52^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 9) A smooth, no-drama defender, the two-way upside that Lauzon demonstrated in the QMJHL has given way to a more stately, first pass type, as he still has not found much of an offensive game after two years as a pro. Now looking more like a decent potential third pairing blueliner at his peak, he plays a more cerebral game, with a high panic threshold and sound positional play. He has decent size and strength, but is not especially aggressive to play against. One concern that was brought up in his amateur days which seems to have followed him is his average at best foot-speed. Without the ability to recover in time if he pinches deep in the offensive zone, he ends u playing more conservatively. That limits mistakes, but also limits his upside. - RW

8 Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, C (45^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 5) Although Forsbacka Karlsson will be heading back to play with Vaxjo in the SHL for a year, he is not to be counted out of the top prospect list for the Bruins. He is a well-rounded player offering skill and good speed to any forward line. He is a better passer than he is a shooter and can pass from all areas and both sides of the blade equally well. He will have to work on his consistency however, as he can be very good some games and not so good in others. As a centerman he is good at winning draws and is a good two-way player capable of playing a good defensive roll and playing on both power play and penalty kill. Presuming an eventual return to North America and the NHL, JFK would make a decent bottom six forward and a dynamic centerman. - SC

9 Kyle Keyser, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Oct. 3, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Keyser is an athletic netminder who can steal games for his team when he is dialed in. He moves post to post with great power, tracking the play and demonstrating the ability to make those highlight reel stretch saves. Over his OHL career, he really improved his mental focus, allowing him to be more consistent and to bounce back from tough goals or poor performances. Like any netminder who relies primarily on athleticism, there will be a transition period as Keyser will need to adjust his reads and become less of a stopper and more of a goaltender. There is no reason to suggest that with some AHL seasoning, that he could not be an NHL netminder within three years. - BO

10 Oskar Steen, C (165^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 17) A small-sized forward with nice offensive tools who plays with a lot of energy and with some edge as well. 21-year-old Steen took a big step last season increasing his offensive output to 37 points from six points in the prior year. He played a bigger role on a strong team and took it. He has a quick and hard shot. He can use both a one-time slap shot, as well as a quick released wrist shot to score. His overall hockey sense and offensive game isn’t elite and success comes mostly from playing a fast-paced game and working hard. His compete level fits well with the Bruins’ identity. He will probably start next season with Providence, but I can see him making the NHL as a high intense skating and skilled bottom six player who also can produce some points in that role. - JH

11 Karson Kuhlman, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 10, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Although he was never a gamebreaker over his four year career at Minneaota-Duluth, or beforehand, Kuhlman had the best year of his life as a first year pro, scoring at a respectable clip in the AHL and impressing enough in an NHL stint that he earned playoff shifts for the B’s. He is on the small side, and his pure skill set is average on a good day, but between his hockey IQ and his gritty style, he makes the most of what he has. He is a reliable penalty killer and his foot speed can make him dangerous if he gets a clean break. Kuhlman has a lower ceiling than anyone else on this list, but more certainty of reaching it than most. He could easily earn a fourth line NHL roe out of camp and stick in the NHL for as long as he is willing to play for a salary near the minimum. - RW

12 Jakub Lauko, C/LW (77^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 10) A European in the Bruins’ mold, Lauko brings great straight-line speed and a strong work ethic. He struggled a bit with injuries but was a great factor in the playoffs, leading all rookies in scoring with 13 points in 19 games, and added an impressive eight points in the Memorial Cup. His speed off the rush makes him dangerous and it is where he is most comfortable, but he is also a contributor without the puck. He is a confident sniper with a great shot, and he knows it; he fires with authority from all around the zone. His hockey sense makes him a threat to take the puck and go north from any spot on the ice, while his speed makes him tough to catch. He has all the tools to be a sniper off the wing at the NHL level. - MS

13 Axel Andersson, D (57^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 11) A puck skilled right-handed defenseman who skates well. Andersson has both good puck control as well as mature decision-making. He has NHL potential, as a third pairing or maybe even second pairing role. He is not a typical shutdown defender but protects the blue line well. He is best used as a quietly effective defenseman with the puck who has some offensive blue line skills as well. He has shown great promise playing in the junior league in Sweden, but often got sidelined in the international events due to tough internal competition for ice-time. Last season, he got a chance to play senior hockey full time as an 18-year-old in Allsvenskan. He had an okay season but wasn’t able to earn big minutes there either. Next season, Andersson will be heading to North America. He is probably not ready for NHL, so it’ll be Providence (AHL) or Moncton (QMJHL) for now. - JH

14 Jakub Zboril, D (13^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 7) The first player Boston selected as part of their infamous three-in-a-row first round run in 2015, Zboril has seen his pro career stagnate through two seasons in Providence. He was considered a safe prospect at the time, but that moniker is always cringe-worthy and while he will expand his NHL resume beyond his current two games of experience, the likelihood of him having an impact beyond the third pairing is shrinking. His offensive tools are passable, but he has struggled with bringing them to the fore more than occasionally. As a former first rounder, the Bruins will not be too quick to dismiss him as a prospect, and he has enough in his game to play, but more is needed. - RW

15 Roman Bychkov, D (154^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A talented defenseman, Bychkov is coming off a strong season in the Lokomotiv system, winning the MHL title. Earlier in the season he helped Team Russia earn a Bronze Medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, to which he contributed a goal. He is a potential top-four, two-way defenseman with interesting puck skills and a solid defensive game. He has a good set of hands that allows him to carry the puck up the ice or making a good first pass, but he may play more in the offensive zone, and sometimes he prefers to play a simple game even though he has the skills to take risks in creating a scoring chance. He absolutely needs to bulk up and further fine-tune his game before thinking about a move overseas. He is under contract in Russia for two more seasons and he still needs another year or two of seasoning and growing. - ASR

16 Zachary Senyshyn, RW (15^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 6) On the pro side of the ledger, Senyshyn is still a fantastic skater. His end-to-end speed is dynamic and played a large part in the Bruins using the 15^th overall pick on him four years ago. Another positive is his shot. When he gets positioning and time, he can rip the puck. On the other side of the ledger is everything else. He cannot think the game at the speed of his legs and has not been able to adjust to the pace of the pro game, even though he is faster than most of his teammates as well as opponents. He can get himself – momentarily – into scoring opportunities, but all too often fails to act in time to make good on them. His wheels will keep hm on the radar for another two or three years, but will not prevent others from passing him on the depth charts. He needs to find a new level. - RW

17 Peter Cehlarik, LW (90^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 16) Cehlarik is, in a way, the polar opposite to Senyshyn above. Senyshyn can fly, but rarely produces. Cehlarik produces at a strong level for the AHL, but his pace is plodding. The Slovakian import is equally effective as a scorer and a playmaker, but his lack of pace has always been a concern, and NHL stints in each of the last three seasons have done nothing to negate those concerns. He has enough size and has demonstrated repeatedly that he has the ability to find holes in coverage from which to strike, but scoring in the AHL is not always a precursor to scoring in the NHL and until Cehlarik proves he can do it, that question will always hang over his helmet. In the meantime, Boston will be happy to go year-by-year contractually with him. - RW

18 Pavel Shen, C (212^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 20) In spite of his successful WJC campaign, Shen had a tough season in 2018-19. Pressure was high on him and on his team in the second half, and he failed to deliver despite being given a chance. Left without many options at home, he decided to move overseas. The move seems to be a bit too fast, and perhaps it would have been better for him to find himself another KHL team for a couple of seasons as right now he is very raw, albeit talented. Shen skates well and has a good eye for the game, but the other side of the coin is that he doesn’t defend hard and he prefers playing on the perimeter or in open ice. If he manages to find a niche in North America, he can develop into a smooth-skating forward with a good knack for secondary scoring, but at this point his move seems premature. The next season will be key for his development. - ASR

19 Cameron Hughes, C (165^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 14) For a first year pro, Hughes held his own last year, contributing a decent amount of secondary offense to a middling Providence squad. In an interesting change from his days at the University of Wisconsin (some alongside Trent Frederic), he has shown more finishing skill than previously thought, while his playmaking, previously a strength of his game, took a backseat in the AHL. Even though he has added muscle from his days on campus, he is still undersized and plays in accordance with his lack of strength. The main concern at this point is Hughes is that he lacks a natural role. He has great hands, but they are not enough to secure a top six role in the NHL – and barely so in the AHL. Yet he also lacks the style of game traditionally seen in a bottom six role. Contrast with Karson Kuhlman above, who has lesser skills than Hughes, but whose game is much better suited to a bottom six role. - RW

20 Ryan Fitzgerald, C (120^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 12) After contributing 37 points in each of his first two full pro seasons, it would seem, at a glance, that we know what Fitzgerald can bring to the table. But looking deeper, we can see that the shape of his production has varied greatly year over year. A finisher as a debutant, he skewed much more towards playmaking as a follow up. He had fluctuated similarly over his four year run at Boston College, adding to the confusion. Fitzgerald plays a skill game, and is stronger in the offensive and neutral zones than in his own zone, where he can struggle to hold his assignment. He lacks size and can be neutralized physically, although he is smart enough to find a way often enough. Like Hughes above, he has a bit of the tweener in him, and will need his IQ to convince the decision makers to give him a prolonged opportunity. - RW

OHL Playoff Preview: Eastern Conference – Trade deadline talent arms race makes for a wide open battle

Brock Otten — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 16:22:01 +0000

This week the 2019 OHL playoffs will kick off with first round action getting under way on Thursday. More so than any year that I can remember, the field is wide open. There are favorites to take home the J.Ross Robertson Cup, sure, but the sheer number of candidates to make it to the end is greater than previous years because of how many teams loaded up with talent at this year’s trade deadline. As difficult as it is, I will make my predictions. Just do not place any large bets or wagers based upon it.

Eastern Conference First Round

Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67s. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

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

Season Series: 5-0 for Ottawa

Analysis: A rematch of last year’s 1 versus 8 match-up in the Eastern Conference, only this time the roles are reversed. The rebuilding Bulldogs match up against the top team in the OHL in Ottawa. Hamilton has done exceptionally well as the only team from last year’s Memorial Cup to make the playoffs in their respective leagues (with nearly as many wins as Regina, Swift Current, and Acadie-Bathurst combined). Arthur Kaliyev has emerged as a star in his NHL draft year, hitting the 50 goal mark and the team did a great job of trading away valuable assets but also keeping some veteran leaders around like Matthew Strome to keep order. All that said, they do not stand much of a chance against Ottawa. The 67’s are three lines deep that can score at any time. They have a physically imposing defense that can also move the puck. And either Michael Dipietro or Cedrick Andree will likely provide top notch goaltending, even if Dipietro’s health is a question mark after being forced to leave a game recently after a high shot stung him. I do have some question marks as to how they hold up later in the playoffs, but this first round victory should be a relatively easy one, no offense meant to Hamilton.

Prediction: Ottawa in 4

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Sasha Chmelevski (SJ): While he may not lead the 67’s in scoring, I feel that he is the most integral part of Ottawa’s offensive attack. When he is on, the 67’s are firing on all cylinders. He may not have had the year that I expected of him prior to the start of the year, but he remains one of the OHL’s elite offensive players because of his individual puck skill and shot generation. If Ottawa wants to take home the Eastern Conference crown, he will need to be a consistent leader.

Marco Rossi (2020): A late 2001 birthday, Rossi missed being eligible for this year’s draft by just over a week. The slick Austrian forward has been an absolute revelation as a first year Import and has met or exceeded all the expectations placed on him. His skill level is very high, but most impressive to me is his tenaciousness away from the puck. This youngster is a real puck hound who makes his presence felt in many different ways on the ice. His game is built for success in the playoffs, even if he is young. A strong performance could help solidify him as a potential top 10 selection heading into 2020 Draft season.

Jan Jenik (ARI): I could have easily mentioned Kaliyev here for Hamilton. But Jenik has been extremely noticeable since arriving at midseason. He is another player whose game is built for success in the playoffs. He plays an ‘in your face’ kind of style and is way more aggressive physically than I would have imagined. Pair that with terrific hands and a natural ability to gain the blueline with his speed and puck control and you’ve got a fierce offensive competitor who is fun to watch.

Forward #17 Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

#2. Niagara IceDogs vs. #7. North Bay Battalion

Season Series: 4-2 for Niagara

Analysis: No offense meant to North Bay. I have a great respect for legendary head coach Stan Butler. But I see this as being one of the most one-sided first round matchups. North Bay relies heavily on their first line of Justin Brazeau, Matthew Struthers, and Brad Chenier, but just do not have the depth to keep up with Niagara’s firepower up front. And while North Bay can often surprise teams in the postseason with their team commitment to defense, Niagara’s forward group may be one of the better two-way groups in the league themselves with guys like Jack Studnicka and Ben Jones anchoring the middle. In net, overager Stephen Dhillon gives Niagara an advantage too, especially with how good he was in last year’s playoffs and the experience he can take from that. The IceDogs and Battalion played a pretty lopsided final game of the regular season this past weekend and unfortunately I could see most of the games looking like that one did.

Prediction: Niagara in 4

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Jason Robertson (DAL): The winner of the Eddie Powers Trophy this year as the OHL’s top scorer, Robertson has been an unstoppable force since arriving in Niagara. With the IceDogs he has averaged over two points per game. While Robertson will never be a speedster, he is so good at controlling the puck in the offensive zone and slowing down the pace to open up lanes for his linemates. This makes him such an efficient player on the powerplay because he often requires two defenders to separate him from the puck. After last year’s disappointingly abrupt run with Kingston in the playoffs, Robertson will look to take that next step with Niagara and help them reach the Eastern finals.

Jack Studnicka (BOS): Another player brought in by Niagara who has had a remarkable impact, up near the two point per game mark. Studnicka is so valuable because he excels in all situations. He is on the ice when you are a goal down or a goal up late in the third period. He is going to need to be a huge part of Niagara’s penalty killing unit, which struggled at times during the regular season. A potential OHL playoffs MVP candidate.

Justin Brazeau (UFA): Sure, he has some warts. His stride is not the prettiest. He needs work on his play away from the puck and in his own end. But you cannot ignore the fact that he is a 6-6”, 60 goal scorer in the OHL, a feat that does not occur very often. With a strong first round performance (likely to be his only chance as North Bay does not have a good chance of advancing) in a playoff atmosphere with tighter checking, perhaps he can prove to NHL scouts that he deserves an NHL contract (if he has not done enough already).

Brandon Saigeon of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#3. Oshawa Generals vs. #6. Peterborough Petes

Season Series: 6-2 for Oshawa

Analysis: The Generals have owned the Petes in the season series, especially in the four games post trade deadline. In those four games, Oshawa has scored 30 goals. While Peterborough has played better of late, I just do not believe that they have the defensive chops to hang with the Generals. Oshawa rolls three very competitive scoring lines. They bring speed. They bring grit. They play in all three zones. There are some inexperienced players in their core group, but veterans like Brandon Saigeon and Nic Mattinen are battled tested after last year’s Championship victory. For as well as Hunter Jones has played this year (save for a dry spell post deadline), Kyle Keyser has been even better and should be able to turn aside the majority of Peterborough’s chances. I think Peterborough is still a year away from being a truly competitive playoff team.

Prediction: Oshawa in 5

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Brandon Saigeon (COL): 18 goals in 21 playoff games for the Hamilton Bulldogs last year in helping them win an OHL Championship. What does Saigeon have in store for us this year? One of the most lethal powerplay players in the OHL because of his shot and ability to get in scoring position. Saigeon will need to be a leader on and off the ice for a younger Oshawa team that, at its core, does not have a ton of playoff experience.

Serron Noel (FLA): Really struggled in the OHL playoffs last year during his draft year, but no question that Noel is a different player now. There are not many players in the league like him with his size, speed, and skill combination. He is just so strong on the puck, especially along the wall. In the playoffs, establishing the cycle game to tire out the opposition's best defenders is such a key component and Noel can do that in his sleep. This could be a real breakout opportunity for him to hit the mainstream spotlight.

Ryan Merkley (SJ): Without question, Merkley is one of the most individually skilled players in the OHL. His ability to create offensive scoring chances from the back-end because of his skating ability and vision are nearly unrivaled. The issue is nearly everything else. A midseason trade to Peterborough and a fresh start has not done much to squash concerns as he has found himself in the doghouse with his new club on a few occasions already. If Peterborough wants to progress past the first round, they will need a motivated Merkley at both ends of the ice.

Quinton Byfield on the Sudbury Wolves. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

#4. Sudbury Wolves vs. #5. Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: 4-2 for Sudbury

Analysis: These division rivals have not met in the playoffs since 2011; the year that Mississauga captured the Eastern Conference and hosted the Memorial Cup. That was a second round sweep for the Majors (yes, it was before they were renamed the Steelheads). This time around, I expect Sudbury to come out on top, but it could be a close one. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been sensational this year and should hypothetically give the Wolves an advantage in net, but you just never know when Jacob Ingham is going to turn in a remarkable performance. Defensively, I think these teams are fairly similar in ability. Mississauga generates more offense from their back-end. Sudbury’s defense is better in their own end. On the other hand, I do worry about Mississauga’s speed giving Sudbury’s defense some issues. That brings us to the offensive side of things. I ultimately think Sudbury has more game breakers in their line-up with the likes of Quinton Byfield and Adam Ruzicka. This could be closer than people are going to predict. Sudbury’s powerplay will need to be way better than it was in the regular season (a league worst), as teams do not go far in the playoffs without scoring on the man advantage.

Prediction: Sudbury in 6

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF): Hands down the Goaltender of the Year this year in the OHL. No offense meant to Kyle Keyser or Michael Dipietro, but this is an easy decision. Luukkonen might even be the most valuable player in the league, if such an award existed (the Red Tilson is for Most Outstanding Player, not Valuable). I have been so impressed with Luukkonen’s composure in the crease. His ability to read the play is outstanding and because of his size and athleticism, he always seems to get himself in the right position to make key saves. He is a prime time goaltending prospect.

Quinton Byfield (2020): I have been completely captivated by Byfield when I have seen him play this year. Such a fantastic and explosive skater for a big guy. I truly feel that if his game continues to progress, he could challenge for first overall in 2020. For now, it will be interesting to see how he performs in his first playoffs in the OHL. Regardless of the outcome, the experience it provides him will only make him better in the long run, which will make the Wolves better too (at least for next year anyway).

Thomas Harley (2019): All eyes will be on this potential first round pick in the first round to see how he handles the physicality of the playoffs. As skilled as he is as an offensive defenseman, a lack of defensive intensity has been one of the most discussed weak spots. Scouts will be looking to see how he defends in the corners and in front of his net, and his overall response to being up against a more powerful offensive squad and having to play more in his own end.

Continued Eastern Conference Predictions

Conference Semi Finals

#1. Ottawa vs. #4. Sudbury

#2. Niagara vs. #3. Oshawa

I am taking Ottawa and Niagara here. While I do have some concerns over Ottawa’s special teams play and their defense’s ability to handle the forecheck and move the puck, I think Sudbury is the best matchup for them. Niagara and Oshawa is a toss-up. Kyle Keyser could shut the door, especially with a big defense in front of him. But, like Guelph, I just really like the make-up of Niagara’s team. Their team speed. Their powerplay. Their core veteran group, especially up front. And Stephen Dhillon is not chopped liver.

Eastern Conference Final

#1. Ottawa vs. #2. Niagara

Like Guelph, I am all in on Niagara in the Eastern Conference. Jason Robertson, Jack Studnicka, and Akil Thomas are all nearly unstoppable right now. Plus their blueline does such a good job skating the puck out of trouble, it is difficult to pin them in their own zone, which means that you are always playing on the defensive against them.

SEE OHL PREVIEW: WESTERN CONFERENCE- LINK HERE

OHL Championship Series

Niagara IceDogs vs. Guelph Storm

Another toss up for me. Ask me tomorrow and I may just choose someone different. Both of their regular season matchups were decided by a single goal. Honestly, this comes down to goaltending. I give Niagara the advantage at forward. I give Guelph the advantage on defense. But in net, I think you have to tip your hat in Stephen Dhillon’s direction. Especially considering that there is no guarantee that Anthony Popovich finishes the postseason as Guelph’s starter. So...I am selecting the Niagara IceDogs as this year’s OHL Champions!

2019 IIHF World Junior Tournament Review: USA

Tom Dorsa — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 16:03:53 +0000

Though the late breakdown and subsequent loss in the gold medal game against Finland still stings for the players and a lot of American hockey fans, there was a lot to like out of Team USA's performance in the 2019 World Junior Championship. After we projected the Americans to fall in the semifinals, they once again exceeded expectations, collecting a medal for the fourth straight time at the annual tournament.

Within a goal of winning the gold for the second time in three years, it's hard to argue that Team USA could have -- or should have -- done anything different in the team's selection process. The only real notable snub from the club is Matthew Boldy, but at just 17-years-old and Team USA never being a squad that takes many chances on draft-eligible players, it is understandable why they went a different route.

For example, only forward Jack Hughes (the consensus the pick in the 2019 NHL Draft) and goaltender Spencer Knight (who didn't play a minute for the Americans in the tournament) were draft eligibles who made the roster. Besides, the squad had tons of chemistry and team-wide success, with forward lines that -- for better or worse -- stayed basically the same throughout the tournament because of the way they all meshed together well.

Head coach Mike Hastings, of Minnesota State-Mankato fame, is always one to choose experience over exuberance, and he did a fine job (save for maybe playing the younger Hughes on the fourth line).

Hastings' squad scored the second-most goals in the tournament with 25, behind only Russia and their electric forward corps. The Americans threw shots on goal at will, with 264 tries, 16 more than the next-best team.

A lot of pundits point to the goal-scoring talent atop the Team USA lineup as the reason why, with Tyler Madden, Josh Norris, and Ryan Poehling all in the top five in shots for the tournament. But a potent, mobile defensive core looked to be the generator of the high-powered American offense in Vancouver, with Quinn Hughes, Mikey Anderson, and K'Andre Miller all being frequent and active contributors to the offensive attack.

There was individual success for Team USA as well, headlined by (ironically) a pair of Montreal Canadiens prospects. The Habs' second-ranked prospect (McKeen’s preseason ranking) Ryan Poehling took home tournament MVP honors with five goals and three assists in seven games, while ninth-ranked Cayden Primeau backstopped the team to a 4-1-0 record with a 1.61 goals against average and .937 save percentage in five starts.

Poehling was a scorer of big goals and the center who played arguably the biggest two-way role and excelled at it. He worked up and down the lineup at times and played well with everybody on his side and in all situations.

Primeau showed flashes of brilliance for the Americans as a long-term prospective project for Montreal. The 199th pick in 2017 draft has a long way to go, but this was a good start. He was composed, quiet in his crease, and made great reads all throughout the tournament, the same thing he has done with Northeastern (where he is 10-3-1 with a .931 Sv%) thus far this winter.

The other two Team USA players that posted a point-per-game were San Jose Sharks prospect Alexander Chmelevski (4-3-7) and Dallas Stars prospect Jason Robertson (1-6-7). Chmelevski would have been my choice for tournament MVP over Poehling, as his vision, elusiveness on his skates, and heavy wrist shot were on the display all tournament long. For my money, he was the strongest Team USA forward in terms of creating chaos for the opposition, although he didn't face competition as tough as Poehling did.

Robertson looked passive at times and didn't have the assertive goal-scoring power that has made him a constant threat in the OHL, but he looked increasingly dangerous as the tournament proceeded. He became a challenging player to defend with how much momentum and power his skating strides create (even if he isn't all that fast), and would work down in the zone and in the cycle beautifully. I would have liked to see the 2017 second-rounder utilize his wicked shot more but given that his biggest issues coming into the season were passing and skating, I am glad to see him working on it all.

I would have liked to see more of Oliver Wahlstrom. The 19-year-old has not had the best season at Boston College, but as the 11th overall pick in 2018's draft, I wanted to see him play more than just the auxiliary role he appeared in. Wahlstrom was effective with his time, contributing two goals and two assists in middle-six deployment, but he looked dangerous with the puck every time he got it.

Joel Farabee and fellow NCAA star Tyler Madden both fared well in top-six roles in the tournament. Both 2018 draftees, Farabee played a hefty number of minutes as the top-line left wing and totaled three goals and two assists, showing off his near-elite hockey IQ and great technical skating ability. Madden tested opposing goaltenders with every chance he got, finishing fourth in the WJC despite playing mostly a middle-six role. Madden has an undersized frame, but he gets into the tough positions and lets shots go like someone 40 pounds heavier.

On defense, Mikey Anderson was the best player on a pretty strong blueline. Anderson was the only defenseman who ranked top ten on the team in scoring (2-3-5, 6th) while quarterbacking a Team USA power play with a lot of movement and a lot of pure shooters. He was steady in his own zone as well, taking on the opponent's top line most of the time and exhibiting his pro-like gap control and stick-readiness. For the most part, the 19-year-old carried defense partner and fellow Minnesota-Duluth staple Dylan Samberg.

Quinn Hughes was exactly what Team USA fans expected, and in a cool way, the WJC audience in Vancouver got to see the city’s future defensive superstar as the Canucks’ prospect dazzled onlookers. Hughes put his sublime speed and skillful deception to work in garnering two assists in seven games, and probably would have scored more if not for his deployment with less mobile shutdown guy Phil Kemp.

Another Minnesota-Duluth regular to make an impact for the silver medalists was Noah Cates, who saw some limited top-six time in some tournament games and chipped in one goal and two assists. Cates is a grinder with some untapped skill and the Flyers prospect made a great impression after being overlooked for all of his young career. A first-round pick in 2018 by the same Philadelphia franchise, Jay O'Brien fared somewhat well for someone who embraced the unofficial 13th man role, playing in all seven games and showing grit and determination.

Another Flyers prospect, Jack St. Ivany, was impressive as a solid stay-at-home defenseman, a role which the big and bulky blueliner played in all seven Team USA games. St. Ivany's partner on the Americans' blueline was Mattias Samuelsson, the son of a former Flyer, himself a Sabres prospect after Buffalo used the first pick of day two of the 2018 Draft on the 18-year-old. Samuelsson and St. Ivany made up the third pair of the USA blueline, and both players went scoreless in seven games of action.

Samuelsson almost certainly has the higher ceiling of the two, and he showed exactly what he is in the WJC. A pest in the corners of the defensive zone with his bullish 6-4" frame, the Buffalo prospect forced speedier forwards to the outside to shut them off and limited a lot of inside chances against the Team USA goalies. Intelligent and strong, he was a perfect depth defenseman on a good team, like he will be with Buffalo sooner or later.

Evan Barratt was good but not great with a lone goal in seven games, an underwhelming mark when considering his 29 points in 17 games at Penn State this season. He had his time to work on the USA power play and often the second line, but he just didn't click in this tournament. The Blackhawks prospect has a good wrist shot and high hockey IQ upon which to build going forward.

Backup netminder Kyle Keyser made two appearances and went 1-1 with a goals against average of 2.95 and a save percentage below .900. The Bruins prospect struggled with the speed of the opposition (he played against Slovakia and Sweden, both dangerously quick teams) and failed to effectively make reads and cut down shooting lanes, but you could see the potential Team USA staffers saw out of him with his top-notch athleticism and compete level.

Bottom-six forwards Jack Drury and Logan Cockerill were mostly non-factors, while defenseman Phil Kemp saw time with Quinn Hughes on the Team USA blueline and held his own but was otherwise pretty invisible.

If Jack Hughes comes back for next year's World Junior Championship, it'll probably be as the most recent number-one overall pick, although considering how most number ones go straight to the NHL, a return engagement is relatively unlikely. Spencer Knight, on the other hand, himself a projected 2019 first-rounder, will look to lock down the starting role in 2020 WJC in the Czech Republic after filling in as the third goalie for this club. Team USA is never one to let the young ones fly, and therefore there is seemingly always a pipeline of returning players looking to make their mark on international hockey.

OHL 2018-19 Season Preview

Brock Otten — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 18:24:24 +0000

The 2018/19 OHL season is underway but it is still early enough to preview the league and converse about some potential season highlights. Who are the contenders? Who are the pretenders? Who are some of the top NHL prospects to keep an eye on? And who are the top NHL draft prospects for 2019?

The Contenders

London Knights

Liam Foudy

Currently the top ranked team in the OHL in the weekly CHL rankings, the Knights also happen to be the top preseason favorite of most in the media. This team has it all; top end scoring talent; a strong defense; quality goaltending. After getting Adam Boqvist (Chicago) from Blackhawks camp, London is still waiting on a few other stars to be assigned; Evan Bouchard (Edmonton), Alex Formenton (Ottawa), and Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa). All three seem likely to start the year in the NHL and late October is probably a more likely arrival date, if it happens at all. A safe assumption would be that London gets at least one of the above. Until then, stars like Liam Foudy (Columbus), Alec Regula (Detroit), and Boqvist will need to pace the offense. In net, overager veteran Joseph Raaymakers and Jordan Kooy (Vegas) should combine to provide quality goaltending. As with any London team, depth is a serious strength. Once the situation surrounding their top players has been given closure, look for the Knights to use their depth to acquire a few big fish to put them over the top.

Oshawa Generals

This is a veteran squad that should be considered among the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Team defense and goaltending are major strengths. At 6-1”, Nico Gross (NY Rangers) is the smallest defender who sees regular playing time, and Kyle Keyser (Boston) is a top contender for goaltender of the year. Up front, Jack Studnicka (Boston) is a serious candidate for the Red Tilson and the scoring title now that he has returned from a long stay at Bruins camp. Swiss import Nando Eggenberger (2019) is another player everyone has their eye on. Overager Matt Brassard (Vancouver) returned this past weekend too, and he should be one of the top defenseman in the OHL this season. The Generals are just a well balanced squad.

Niagara IceDogs

Along with Oshawa, the IceDogs are a preseason favorite to take home the Eastern title. Niagara has a very strong nucleus at forward with Akil Thomas (Los Angeles), Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Ben Jones (Vegas), and Ivan Lodnia (Minnesota), which should help them score a ton of goals. They also have a very mobile blueline, which may lack size, but makes up for it with speed, puck skill, and heart. Billy Constantinou (2019) is a player to watch here as one of the most dynamic young defenders in the OHL.

Saginaw Spirit

The Spirit received a bevy of media attention this off-season due to their recruiting efforts. The team brought in Bode Wilde (NY Islanders), Ivan Prosvetov (Arizona), and Cole Perfetti (2020). This was after they were able to bring Blade Jenkins (NY Islanders) into the fold last year. This team has a lot of depth and fans should be excited about the fact that this team is the favorite to take home the West Division. Cole Coskey (2019) is a player to watch as one of the most underrated players in the OHL. Perfetti is an electrifying offensive player and one of the top players in his age group in Ontario, as well as a potential lottery pick in 2020.

Ottawa 67’s

Sasha Chmelevski of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Maybe a year early to talk about the 67’s as a potential Memorial Cup contender, but make no mistake, this team is insanely talented. Not only do they have five NHL draft picks already, but they have several top prospects for the 2019 and 2020 drafts as well. Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose) is a top contender for the Red Tilson this year after a breakout last season. The progression he has shown as a prospect has been extremely encouraging. Austrian Import Marco Rossi (2020) is another name to watch. The recent import selection is currently touted as a potential top 5 pick in 2020 and he could have a Nico Hischier type impact for the 67’s. The only thing that this team is missing is a top flight goaltender. Look for them to go out and find one at some point. Worth noting that the 67’s currently have 12 second round picks over the next four OHL priority selections. That is some serious trade ammunition.

The Pretenders

Kingston Frontenacs

The Frontenacs loaded up last year to make a run at an OHL title that ultimately fell short. The cyclical nature of the CHL means that this team could struggle this year due to numerous high end graduations. Star Jason Robertson (Dallas) is still around, but he will be a top trade target at some point. The future of injured playmaker Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles) also hangs in the balance as Kingston waits to see if they will get him back once he is healthy. But depth is an issue, as is goaltending. Kingston has to capitalize on a few solid trade assets to recoup what was lost previously.

Erie Otters

After an impressive four year run that saw the Otters compete for and win an OHL Championship, the time has come for this team to rebuild. There are still some solid veteran pieces in place that could keep the team afloat, like star overager Kyle Maksimovich. But this team does not have a single NHL affiliated player and that hurts. Hayden Fowler (2020), and Petr Cajka (2019) do give this team hope for the future.

Mississauga Steelheads

Another team that now lacks serious depth after some serious runs the previous years. Graduations and failed draft picks (like Jack Hughes) have left this team pretty sparse in a lot of areas heading into the year. They do have Owen Tippett (Florida) and Ryan McLeod (Edmonton) back in the fold and they should both be among the best players in the league this year. However, just how long they remain Steelheads remains to be seen.

North Bay Battalion

Like Erie, North Bay does not have a single NHL affiliated player. There is some solid firepower up front with overager Justin Brazeau, Brandon Coe (2020), and Matthew Struthers (2019), but depth is an issue. This is especially true on the back-end. The lack of experience on the blueline could mean that this North Bay team gives up a ton of goals. No Stan Butler coached Battalion team has ever given up 280+ goals against, but this year’s edition may be the first. And speaking of Butler, he is currently taking a leave of absence from behind the bench and that may be bad news for Battalion fans.

Flint Firebirds

Disastrous start to the year for the Firebirds. As of the creation of this article, Flint has yet to win and has given up an ugly 24 goals in 4 games. This team has talent, like Ty Dellandrea (Dallas), Fedor Gordeev (Toronto), and Dennis Busby (Arizona). But missing on the 6th overall Import selection this year (Jan Jenik) is a big black mark and the team just cannot seem to separate itself from the drama of their ownership under Rolf Nilsen.

Five Candidates for the Red Tilson

Nick Suzuki

Fresh off being the centerpiece of the Max Pacioretty deal, the new Montreal Canadiens prospect returns to the OHL and will look to the hit the 100 point plateau for the second year in a row. He is bound to miss some time for the WJC, but Suzuki only needs 92 points to pass Bobby Ryan as the Attack franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Morgan Frost

Highest returning scorer from last year, the Flyers’ prospect should be a shoe-in for a spot in the top 5 in scoring. There were some who felt that Frost should have been the Red Tilson winner last year so maybe this is the year he takes it home. The Hounds offense has lost some talent to graduation, but there is enough remaining to give Frost the supporting pieces he needs.

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

Michael DiPietro

Reigning OHL Goaltender of the year, the Canucks prospect returns to Windsor to help a young team improve. DiPietro will likely be Canada’s starter at this year’s WJC. He is also a likely trade candidate, unless Windsor is pushing for the division. The talented netminder is one of the few gamebreakers at the position in the league.

Jack Studnicka

Nearly earned the 3rd line center spot in Boston with a strong training camp performance, but the Generals captain returns for a final OHL season and should be one of the league’s elite offensive catalysts. If the Generals are as good as many think they will be, he will be a top candidate for player of the year. His strong two-way play allows him to impact the game on so many different levels.

Sasha Chmelevski

It seems like so long ago that Chmelevski fell at the draft after a very poor draft year showing. He bounced back in a big way last year, re-inventing his game under new head coach Andre Tourigny. Now a committed player away from the puck, Chmelevski will look to lead a young Ottawa team to a championship, perhaps a year ahead of schedule.

Five Draft Eligibles to Monitor

Ryan Suzuki of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ryan Suzuki (Barrie Colts)

After a strong Hlinka performance, Suzuki is off to a blazing hot start as one of the early leaders in OHL scoring. Suzuki, brother of Nick, is an exceptionally talented playmaker whose vision and puck skill are game breaking qualities. As of right now, Ryan looks like the lone potential candidate for the top 10 from the OHL.

Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Another of the early scoring leaders is also a draft eligible forward. Kaliyev had one of the best 16 year old seasons in recent memory after scoring 30+ goals last year. He looks to round out the rest of his game in Hamilton, improving his playmaking ability and play away from the puck to match his strength on the puck and NHL quality shot.

Matvey Guskov (London Knights)

An import selection by the Knights this year, Guskov has matched the high expectations thus far, averaging over a point per game. Guskov was one of only three OHL players mentioned on Bob McKenzie’s preseason draft ranking and the playmaking Russian forward looks like a serious first round candidate come June.

Blake Murray (Sudbury Wolves)

A big, power center who is being overshadowed a bit due to the arrival of top 2020 prospect Quinton Byfield. Murray possesses all the qualities that NHL teams look for in centers these days, with size, skating, and finishing ability. Murray has the potential to be that complete package.

Michael Vukojevic (Kitchener Rangers)

Vukojevic may not be the sexiest of defenders at this point. He is not yet a truly dynamic player, but he is as steady as they come and plays the game with the composure of a five year OHL veteran. His defensive acumen projects him to be, at the very least, a terrific stay at home top four defender at the NHL level. The question is, just how much offensive ability does he possess?