Laurent Dauphin – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – ARIZONA COYOTES – NHL Player Profiles

Scott Cullen - Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 20:48:55 +0000

FORWARDS

SAN JOSE, CA - May 8: Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller (9) carries the puck during the San Jose Sharks game versus the Arizona Coyotes on May 8, 2021, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

Clayton Keller

Although the 24-year-old winger suffered a broken leg that ended his season prematurely, Keller recorded 63 points, including a career high 28 goals, in 67 games. Keller is a slick and confident playmaker who operates with a lot of confidence when he has the puck. After scoring 65 points as a rookie in 2017-2018, Keller’s production was uneven for the next three seasons before rounding into form last season. From January 15 through March 19, Keller tallied 31 points in 22 games, remarkable production for a team that was consistently getting outshot and outscored last season. That situation figures to repeat itself, and maybe to an even greater degree, so Keller faces the challenge of trying to produce offensively even though it is unlikely to have a material effect on the team’s results. A lack of supporting cast talent could make for a challenging season, but Keller ought to find a way to generate 60 points to lead the Coyotes’ attack.

Nick Schmaltz

The 26-year-old playmaking forward has shown flashes of high-end setup skill and that includes a stretch from the beginning of March through nearly mid-April when he scored 27 points in 20 games, on his way to a career high 59 points in 63 games last season. The Coyotes have consistently had better results with Schmaltz on the ice in the past three seasons but that is as much a reflection of the team’s lack of quality depth as it is an accomplishment of Schmaltz’s. Even so, for a Coyotes team that sorely lacks dynamic offensive players, Schmaltz and Keller are a couple that offer some small reason for optimism. If Schmaltz could put up 55-60 points that would have to be considered a success under the circumstances.

Lawson Crouse

While he might not live up to some of the hype leading up to the 2015 Draft, Crouse has turned into a solid pro winger. He scored a career-high 20 goals and 34 points in 65 games last season, and he has recorded more than 2.5 hits per game in each of the past four seasons. A 6-foot-4 winger who has the size to play a physical game, Crouse moves well and plays a sound defensive game, which makes him a valuable contributor, though one that can get overlooked when he is on a team that is getting buried in the standings. If Crouse puts up 30 points and 200 hits, that will still offer deeper league value in leagues that reward physical play.

Travis Boyd

After bouncing around as an over-qualified fourth liner for several teams, the 28-year-old pivot secured a regular role for the Coyotes and produced a career-high 17 goals and 35 points. While Boyd was always more skilled than a typical fourth liner, he is also not necessarily equipped to play a prime scoring role in the NHL either. Given the Coyotes’ lack of established talent down the middle of the ice, though, Boyd is likely to play a significant role for the team in 2022-2023. If that means that he could duplicate last season’s production, 35 points, that’s a fair baseline for expectations. Boyd might be able to score more if he is a first-or-second line center but it’s hard to bank on that considering that last season was the first time he ever had that kind of role for a full season in the NHL. The path to more points for Boyd is on the power play. Of his 35 points last season, 31 came at even strength, the same number of even-strength points as Teuvo Teravainen, David Perron, and Tim Stutzle, believe it or not.

Nick Ritchie

After washing out with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ritchie responded well to his move to the desert, scoring 10 goals in 24 games for the Coyotes. When he is on his game, Ritchie is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound winger who can have a physical impact, especially as a forechecker, but also as a complementary scorer. He does not create the chances on his own but is capable of finishing if linemates can transport the puck into the offensive zone. In the past two seasons, Ritchie has scored 27 goals in 113 games and last season was the third time in his career that Ritchie was credited with more than 150 hits. He might be looking at a bigger role with the Coyotes, mostly due to Arizona’s lack of legitimate NHL talent, but he has also had trouble playing a full schedule of games, missing at least 20 games in three of his past four seasons. That puts a limit on his upside, so Ritchie could contribute 25-30 points with big hit totals, which makes him not quite as valuable as Crouse.

Barrett Hayton

The fifth pick in the 2018 Draft, Hayton has struggled to get a foothold in the National Hockey League, but the 22-year-old did produce a career high 24 points in 60 games last season and, maybe more importantly, provided sound defensive play, which is not to be taken for granted from such a young player. The rebuilding Coyotes should have plans to play Hayton in a big role this season, in the hopes that his defensive play remains strong and, ideally, he could add more to his offensive repertoire. In addition to having difficulty producing in the NHL, Hayton has 16 points in 36 AHL games, so it’s fair to wonder if he is going to score like he did in his last season of junior, when he tallied 66 points in 39 games and looked like he would reward the Coyotes for taking a chance on him with such an early pick. On this team, opportunity should be screaming out for Hayton to step into a scoring role. Contributing 30 points for the first time would be a good starting point but there is more upside for Hayton depending on his role.

Nick Bjugstad

A towering 6-foot-6 forward who plays more on the wing at this stage of his career, Bjugstad contributed a modest 13 points in 57 games for the Minnesota Wild last season, but his overall contributions were solid enough in a fourth-line role. There was a time that it looked like Bjugstad could turn into something more – he scored 49 points in 2017-2018 – but it didn’t stick and was traded after a slow start the following season. He creates just enough offensively and is serviceable enough defensively to fill a role in the NHL but there is little upside to be found in a 30-year-old who has missed at least a dozen games in six of his past seven seasons. Taking his health into consideration, it would be asking a lot for Bjugstad to produce more than 20 points.

Zack Kassian

A 31-year-old winger who was acquired in a salary dump from the Edmonton Oilers, Kassian does have a pair of 15-goal seasons to his credit and can be a useful depth forward who bangs bodies and causes havoc on the forecheck. Trouble is, Kassian’s performance tends to come and go and when he is not asserting himself physically, he does not bring enough to the table otherwise. He should get an opportunity to play a decent role for the Coyotes, but without the potential superstar boost that he would get at times in Edmonton when he would land on Connor McDavid’s wing. Kassian has missed more than 60 games over the past three seasons, so he is probably going to miss games this season, too. If he ends up with 20 points and 150 hits, that will meet expectations.

Christian Fischer

Since scoring 33 points as a rookie in 2017-2018, the 25-year-old winger has just seen his production fade away, and he managed just 10 points in 53 games for the Coyotes last season. He will play the body, especially when forechecking, but the lack of production really has him hanging on the edge of the NHL at this point in his career. This season could be a last gasp for him as he tries to hold onto his NHL career. As such, it is hard to project him into any kind of scoring role. He has 30 points in 161 games across the past three seasons so double-digit points is a modest, but deserved, expectation.

DEFENSE

Jakob Chychrun

A 24-year-old defenseman who has played more than 23 minutes per game for the past two seasons, Chychrun had a career season in 2020-2021, scoring 18 goals and 41 points in 56 games, on his way to finishing 10^th in Norris Trophy voting. The percentages flipped on him last season however, and instead of scoring on 10.2% of his shots, he scored on 5.0% of his shots, finishing with seven goals and 21 points in 47 games. Chychrun has generated more than three shots per game in the past two seasons, one of three defensemen to hit that threshold – Roman Josie and Dougie Hamilton are the others – and Chychrun is more active as a shooter rather than a playmaker, which might not be an ideal path to generating offense from the blueline. He has landed in trade rumors recently and would presumably bring a significant haul of assets as a top-pair defenseman in his prime on a team-friendly contract. Depending on his health, Chychrun could score 15 goals and 40 points. If he gets traded to a better team, which is virtually guaranteed, there would potentially be an opportunity for more assists and therefore a higher ceiling on his point totals.

Shayne Gostisbehere

After falling out of favor in Philadelphia, to the point that he was a healthy scratch, Gostisbehere showed that he is still a very capable NHL defenseman. The 29-year-old scored 14 goals and 51 points for the Coyotes last season, resurrecting his NHL career with the second highest goal and point totals of his career. While Gostisbehere is not the most rugged player and does come with some defensive deficiencies, his ability to skate, jump into the attack, and distribute the puck surely outweighs the negative impacts related to the things that he does not do well. Gostisbehere is likely to play a major role for the Coyotes this season, at least until he gets traded before the deadline. It would be impressive if he could match his production from last season, but even 40-45 points would still be a strong season for the veteran blueliner.

Troy Stecher

An undersized right-shot defenseman, Stecher brings tenacity to the game and has more puck skills than might be expected from a player who had just three points in 29 games for the Red Wings and Kings last season. Stecher has good mobility, battles hard for loose pucks, and should be an asset to the Coyotes defense corps, though an asset that is not likely to score a ton of points, something in the mid-teens is reasonable. From Stecher’s perspective, this should be an opportunity to re-establish his credentials as an NHL defenseman.

Dysin Mayo

A 25-year-old who was a rookie last season, Mayo burst onto the scene and played nearly 21 minutes per game for the Coyotes. However, his results were mostly miserable, with Arizona getting outshot and outscored by large margins with Mayo on the ice. There were 213 defensemen that played at least 500 5-on-5 minutes last season and Mayo ranked dead last from that group when it came to his on-ice expected goals percentage of 38.6% and his on-ice Corsi of 39.6%. Say this for him, Mayo is active as he was one of 20 defensemen to record at least 125 hits and 125 blocked shots last season. If he scores 15-20 points but provides value in those peripheral categories, he might have some appeal in the deepest of fantasy leagues. Whether that translates to value for the Coyotes is still to be determined.

GOALTENDING

Karel Vejmelka

Few goaltenders surprised viewers more last season than Czech prospect Karel Vejmelka, who arrived with the Arizona Coyotes as a first year North American goaltender and took on a surprise role as the team’s starter with zero complaint. He struggled to perform up to league-average standards, but he did better than most goaltenders likely would have behind a stripped-down rebuilding club in a year where they likely would have been better suited to a season of adjustment in the AHL; he picked up on shot timing and communication with his teammates well enough to hold his own in a surprising number of games, and strung together some truly surprising stretches by failing to fall into slumps when the team deployed him in clear no-win situations.

The biggest learning curve that Vejmelka seemed to face came down to his depth management and decision-making on when to challenge shots outside the blue paint and when to remain more patient and wait out his opponents; he went through a fairly extensive amount of trial and error trying to suss out the best balance of his natural high-speed game based on rhythms and reactions and a more controlled game based on positioning and tracking. His performance for the Czech Republic at the World Championships in May, though, offered Coyotes fans some promising data to parse through; while he then struggled with opening his game play back up and utilizing the more open-ice format the the World Championships offered, he showcased some real improvements behind the higher-end defensive structure of his country’s best players. And to Arizona’s credit, they seemed willing to let Vejmelka make his mistakes and learn as he went along; if they’re able to keep that mentality into the new season, he should remain a reliable and fun option, if not one that fans can bank on statistically outclassing his opponents every night.

Projected starts: 40-45

Jon Gillies

It’s honestly a little hard to figure out just what Arizona is trying to do here by adding Jon Gillies as their number two; while they’re far from the only team that made a seemingly inexplicable choice with the tandem they’re heading into the season boasting (looking directly at Chicago as their direct competitor in the Disastrous Goaltending Tandem Sweepstakes), they seem to be the team that can least afford to lose fan interest in the process.

Gillies comes to Arizona as a goaltender who seems unlikely to offer services as anything more than a stopgap to someone else; he has just 32 career NHL games to his name, and he has a whopping three-year gap between appearances in the league. At nearly 29-years old, he’s no longer considered a prospect that may just have bloomed late; at this point, he’s an AHL tweener who likely serves less to give Arizona a goaltender for their future and more to help them keep their rebuild on track. What he has going for him, though – and what should help Arizona regardless of the performance he puts up – is that he’s more likely to stay healthy through the year than a number of the other journeymen that were available on the market this summer. The team was burned last year by the long-term injury sustained by free agent signee Carter Hutton early on in the season, which left them forced to rush some of their younger goaltenders to the NHL during a year that was designed to help them draft well and rebuild their core. The addition of a younger stopgap who hasn’t started to show the signs of wear and tear that could leave them forced to throw their prospects to the wolves means that they’ll be better equipped to truly allow their young players to grow and develop at the minor league level, which gives them a better chance of success a few years down the line.

Projected starts: 30-35

Arizona Coyotes Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:33:26 +0000

Some consider the Arizona Coyotes to be a sleeper postseason team, and they have a stacked prospect core to thank for their potential berth into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. As a young team on the cusp of contending again, their rebuild is nearing its end, a rebuild that saw not only a change on the roster sheet, but in the front office, as the team switched presidents, owners, head coaches, and general managers all within the past few seasons.

Out of all of the changes, as is often the case, it has been the GM that has had the biggest cultural impact on the Coyotes, bar none. John Chayka, an NHL general manager in his 20s, is the first to fully incorporate analytics into a team-building approach. The Coyotes do not trade for a prospect, sign a free agent, or acquire a proven NHL player without first consulting their advanced metrics.

It is a method never before seen in the NHL, but one that could come to fruition with the prospects in the pool today. With the help of analytics and a lengthy run as a rebuilding club selling off NHLers for prospects and/or picks at every opportunity, the Coyotes have built their prospect core up to a very high level. It helps when you get lottery picks like Clayton Keller and Dylan Strome, but a good bulk of this top 20 countdown consists of players picked late into drafts or acquired via trade.

For an organization still being roughed into shape, it is integral to grab a solid mix between players with stout past production and those with lesser numbers but with great future projected statistics. For example, Christian Dvorak had crazy numbers in OHL play, and has continued that success into the NHL, earning a long-term contract this offseason; Kyle Capobianco projects to be a top-four offensive defenseman after less impressive junior stats.

It won't be long until Arizona is back to competing for division titles and postseason spots. The future has already arrived in one sense, with Keller, Dvorak, and crew, but they have even more dynamic supplemental additions on the way. The immediate and long-term future looks bright in Glendale.

Dylan Strome

1 Dylan Strome, C (3rd overall, 2015. Last year: 2nd) It's true that Dylan Strome has failed to live up to expectations, but his pure talent is a big reason to remain optimistic. After posting a 1.06 a point-per-game mark with AHL Tucson, Strome was impressive in a late season recall with the Coyotes, scoring six points in his final 10 NHL games. The big center has all the tools to be a game-changer, with his vision being one and his unbelievably fast 70-grade wrist shot being another. He has nasty hands, a lot of skating skill despite inefficient and relatively slow feet, and his unmatched hockey sense allows him to think the game through a different way. His pure foot speed will never be a selling point, but his unique combination of skill, size, and shooting screams impact NHL player. It is likely he'll make the Coyotes roster out of training camp this season.

2 Barrett Hayton, C (5th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Barrett Hayton is nothing if not incredibly versatile and reliable. The fifth-overall pick from last June's draft, Hayton comes from a stacked Sault Ste. Marie club that featured fellow first-rounders Rasmus Sandin and Morgan Frost, where he racked up an impressive 60 points in 63 games while fighting for top-six minutes. Hayton has great puck skills, particularly in protecting the puck with some elusive specialty moves and with his impressive body strength, as well as facilitating offensive plays and creating scoring chances from scratch. A natural center but one that can play the wing just as effectively, Hayton is an intelligent player with a great wrist shot. Otherwise, he does all the little things well and brings a certain spark of energy with him out onto the ice. Out of his draft class, he's one of the safest players to pick in terms of NHL ceiling, even if he doesn't have a single dynamic asset.

3 Nick Merkley, RW (30th overall, 2015. Last year: 3rd) Drafted as a skilled but undersized player at the end of 2015's first round, Nick Merkley had not yet reached the level seen in the WHL due mostly to a ACL injury in the 2015-16 season. It appeared that Merkley had rekindled the energetic speed and skill that the Coyotes liked when they drafted him in his first pro season, scoring at over a point-per-game rate in the AHL and earning league All-Star honors, but his season again ended prematurely with a knee injury. His lower-body health is a concern given his history, but when he's healthy, his agility, swift hands, and creativity with puck movement show consistent potential for success at the NHL level. His skating, in particular his edgework and acceleration, is also a plus skill. Of course, he's undersized and can't seem to stay healthy, but with offensive results like what he has produced at 100%, he remains an intriguing and valuable prospect.

4 Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D (23rd overall, 2017. Last year: 5th) Just like his older brother, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mathieu, Pierre-Olivier Joseph's game revolves around his high-end athleticism and his lanky frame. Both Joseph brothers have speed that comes from their lightweight body styles and quick footwork, skills that Pierre-Olivier used to become an offensive force in all situations for the Charlottetown Islanders. His 46 points with the QMJHL club last season was second on the team, while placing fourth in goals and first in helpers. His hockey IQ was on full display on the Islanders' power-play, where 21 of his points came. In addition to his great skating, Joseph has tremendous hands that allow him to play the puck smoothly in any situation and good defensive zone coverage that makes him as reliable on the ice as anyone at that level. The 19-year-old needs to add some muscle to his 6-2" frame, but otherwise looks to be a complete defenseman with a lot of potential for an NHL shutdown role.

5 Filip Westerlund, D (44th overall, 2017. Last year: 9th) Filip Westerlund is an extremely interesting player to watch. A defenseman with wondrous speed and nifty hands that allow him to routinely exit his zone with relative ease, Westerlund doesn't compile points the way a blueliner with that skillset should. Instead, he's more of a passive defenseman with a poor, hesitant shot and a lack of playmaking skills despite a pretty high hockey IQ. When you have the good gap control and willingness to be physical in spite of an undersized frame, however, you can still provide plus value to a team, and Westerlund gives it his all in that regard. It also doesn't hurt to be a fixture on the blueline with Frolunda, perhaps the best hockey team in Europe. With the Coyotes being so analytically-influenced, Westerlund fits the mold of a future top-four defenseman that puts up high-quality numbers in advanced metrics and does his job, even if he doesn't pass the initial eye test.

Ty Emberson

6 Ty Emberson, D (73rd overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Ty Emberson is the prototypical hit or miss prospect. A very physical, tough defenseman that emulates a style better suited for the NHL as it was 20 years ago, Emberson is willing to check in open ice, along the boards, and just about anywhere in between, and staying disciplined and mostly penalty-free in the process. However, the U.S. National Team Development alum doesn't have a very refined offensive game; other than a speedy shot that can generate a lot of rebounds, Emberson's play with the puck is unimpressive. His patience lacks, his passing skills are subpar, and he's better feeding a teammate for a breakout than skating the puck out himself. He has good enough pure footwork to become an improved offensive defenseman over time, but for now, he's a solid defensive d-man with near elite physicality, good gap control, and smarts within his own zone.

7 Kyle Capobianco, D (63rd overall, 2015. Last year: 12th) In his first full pro season, Kyle Capobianco showed off an impressive skillset that made him the best offensive defenseman in the system with AHL Tucson. His 30 points led all Roadrunners defensemen in 2017-18, while his 28 assists were second on the club behind just top prospect Dylan Strome. His skating is graceful, as he's very quick to get up to speed, with fantastic edgework as well. Capobianco is a playmaker by every definition, as his vision and hockey sense are both strengths in his game, but he doesn't risk position and defensive responsibility to create scoring chances; the opportunities the left-hander generates are always from scratch as he develops his defensive game. He has an underwhelming physical game and a substandard point shot, but the 21-year-old has the tools to be a quality top-four guy with the Coyotes in the near future.

8 Adin Hill, G (76th overall, 2015. Last year: 11th) Goaltenders generally take longer to come to fruition than position-playing prospects, but Adin Hill, the unofficially denoted Coyotes goaltender of the future, is 22 and has already made major splashes at pro levels. With his NHL debut already in the bag, Hill held down the starting job with Tucson, posting a 19-11-0 record with a 2.28 goals against average in his second full pro year after an impressive tenure with Portland of the WHL. Hill is a very calm netminder who limits second chances well and uses his next-level size (6-6", 206 lbs) to close down any holes that would ail a smaller goalie. He is unfazed by a heavy workload or a lot of traffic around him, and has efficient foot movement in the crease that allows him to move from side to side well. He is not the best at reading plays as they develop, and could use some more seasoning with the Roadrunners.

9 Tyler Steenbergen, C (128th overall, 2017. Last year: 20th) Put on an international stage with the game-winning goal in the World Juniors final, Tyler Steenbergen is more than just a Canadian hero, he is a solid prospect with a couple of high-end skills that bring his NHL potential way up. Jumping from 20th to ninth in the prospect rankings, he ranked sixth in goals (47) and points (102) in the WHL this past season and inked his entry-level contract with the Coyotes in March. Drafted as a 19-year-old overager, Steenbergen's production in junior was hard to ignore, and that production comes from good overall skating, a splendid shot with a swift and heavy release, and effective puck distribution – he has also improved his two-way game mightily over the past season. The question for the undersized center is whether he just a good point-producer junior player or a more complete package with skills to succeed in the pros.

Kevin Bahl

10 Kevin Bahl, D (55th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) In today's world of pro hockey, Kevin Bahl is a bit of an anomaly, mostly because of his unique combination of incredible size for an 18-year-old (6-6", 231lbs) and blistering speed for a guy of that stature. With a monstrous frame, he is a terrifying physical presence in his own zone, and has the athleticism and the wheels to skate the puck out and through the neutral zone. However, his offensive game has absolutely no other impact asset as of now, and his OHL performance with Ottawa has been not been striking from an offensive perspective. Nonetheless, he's smart, makes good reads, and has a strong first pass out of his zone. If his ceiling, a big defensive-defenseman who can skate well enough to become a part of the offensive attack, is what Bahl reaches in the future, then Arizona should be pleased.

11 Cam Dineen, D (68th overall, 2016. Last year: 14th) Though health has been a recurring issue for Cam Dineen, the young lefthander has too much offensive upside to forget yet. The 2016 draftee was at near a point-per-game scoring rate with the North Bay Battalion and Sarnia Sting last season, and yet, it was suspected that Dineen wasn't ever fully healthy; imagine what he can do at 100%. Dineen has above-average lateral mobility and agility, making him a refined technical skater with some good top speed to boot, and exhibits strong puck skills such as his fast hands and nifty passing abilities. He has a high hockey IQ and plays an intelligent two-way game with a knack for anticipating and cutting down passes. Dineen, who has signed an ELC and will play with AHL Tucson, just needs to stay healthy and work on his consistency to further develop.

12 Ilya Lyubushkin, D (Free Agent Signing: May 23, 2018. Last year: IE) A rock solid defensive defenseman, Ilya Lyubushkin was on the radar of many NHL teams this season and signed with the Coyotes after five seasons with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the KHL. With the Russian club, Lyubushkin tallied 36 points in 257 games over the past five years, exhibiting a hesitance to get involved offensively, but mainly because that is the opposite of what makes the 24-year-old an effective presence. A classic, old-school stay-at-home defenseman, Lyubushkin has a tendency to play physical at all times, which helps limit high-danger inside scoring chances. He is also a relatively smart defenseman who makes good reads and likes to cut off passes and shots. His signing represents a gamble, especially in a system with more NHL-ready defensemen than big-league roster spots, but if he can stay calm and play his game, his defensive upside should be enough to fight for a spot on the Coyotes.

13 Jan Jenik, RW (65th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Jan Jenik was the youngest player in the 2018 draft, eligible for the summer draft season by just 24 hours given his September 15, 2000 birthday. On that account, it is difficult to project how the 17-year-old will come to be in the future against what he has shown scouts so far. What he does have is a very lanky, narrow body frame (6-1", 161lbs) that has the potential to be an effective power forward asset, a good wrist shot, and very quick hands. He is dangerous in one-on-one situations and can blow by defenders to get right to the net, where the Czech youngster is just as lethal thanks to his elusive specialty moves. However, he has played just six games at any major-league level, and at 17, there's no way of telling if these skills will hold up in higher levels. For an early third-round pick, though, Jenik has a high ceiling.

14 Laurent Dauphin, C (Trade: Jan. 10, 2018 [Chicago]. Last year: 6th [Chicago]) Now 23 years old and in his second stint with the Coyotes organization before solidifying any real NHL roster spot, Laurent Dauphin could still have some underlying value hidden in him. A Coyotes draft pick, traded to Chicago in the Niklas Hjalmarsson deal and then back to Arizona in the Anthony Duclair trade, Dauphin has been mostly an afterthought in his short NHL playing time, with just four points in 34 games to his name. Still, he skates pretty well, has a good wrist shot release, and plays a serviceable two-way game that suggests the ability to squeak out a job on an NHL fourth line and play well enough to stick. He is a high-energy guy who could score more often if given an extended chance at the major-league level.

15 Ivan Prosvetov, G (114th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Drafted in his second eligible year, Prosvetov stole the show for the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms in 2017-18, outplaying former Blackhawks draft pick Wouter Peeters and leading Youngstown to the league finals. With a 19-9-1 record, 2.90 goals against average, and .913 save percentage, Prosvetov passes the statistical test, but his eye test results are even more impressive; the big, 6-4" goaltender is surprisingly athletic and light for his size, an advanced rebound controller, and very consistent in his work. The Russian could stand to use his lanky body to challenge shooters better, but utilization of size is something goalies generally learn on the fly as time goes by. Moving to the OHL to play with Saginaw next season, he has a lot of tools to inspire confidence in the Coyotes brass.

Hudson Fasching

16 Hudson Fasching, RW (Trade: Jun. 14, 2018 [Buffalo]. Last year: 6th [Buffalo]) At this juncture in the career of Hudson Fasching, it's hard to tell where he is heading as a prospect. If he could rekindle some of the excellence he displayed at the NCAA level in the pro ranks, he would be an NHL bottom-six anchor, but his foray into the AHL and NHL has not been an easy one. He was a gifted scoring winger who played a fabulous mix between power forward and playmaker at Minnesota, showing a knack for creating scoring opportunities from the boards by using his body to prolong his team's puck possession. He also drove right to the goal with the puck pretty often and showed sone neat hands in tight. In a new organization, the 23-year-old will have a chance to battle for an NHL spot instantly, trying to impress the Coyotes with some recovered college skills.

17 Adam Helewka, LW (Trade: Jun. 12, 2018 [San Jose]. Last year: 15th [San Jose]) An obscurity in the WHL until his age-20 season during which he scored 44 goals for Spokane, Adam Helewka was drafted in his third eligible season in 2015. Arizona acquired the now third-year pro in a trade with Pacific Division rivals San Jose and inherit an intriguing, albeit inconsistent prospect with some bottom-six potential. Helewka placed second on the postseason-qualifying San Jose Barracuda with 38 points last season, tallying 29 helpers by driving possession with his superb vision and patience. He has goal-scoring chops and good positioning away from the puck, but is mostly a facilitator that plays a decent two-way game. His skating is a major issue, and at 23, he doesn't have much more room to grow, but a two-way, bottom-six NHL role is plausible for the hard-working Canadian.

18 Conor Garland, RW (123rd overall, 2015. Last year: 10th) Conor Garland is a prime example of why NHL teams drafting tools over stats is important. Twice the leading scorer in the Canadian junior system, Garland's point-scoring has not translated to the pros in the slightest of ways; his 129-point final QMJHL campaign has been followed only by a 27-point AHL season last year. Not to say the 21-year-old is a finished product, though, as the best version of him is still enough to keep him around. When he is on his game, the undersized forward is an absolute pest on the puck, and capable of both facilitating plays with great passing and hockey sense as well as scoring from distance and from in tight. He dropped eight spots in the Arizona prospect rankings from last year, but his determination and playmaking makes him someone to keep an eye on.

19 Cameron Crotty, D (82nd overall, 2017. Last year: Unranked) As a Junior-A player with little press around him, Cameron Crotty was seen as a potential sleeper pick before the 2017 draft kicked off, and his unique skillset could allow him to come to fruition as such. His skating mobility and playmaking acumen make him a dangerous player to try and defend in the neutral zone and beyond, and his size (6-3", 183 lbs) gives him a big advantage over his peers in the defensive zone. The Boston University talent, similar to Filip Westerlund, projects to be a defensive-defenseman that plays with a mobile, agile approach, like Chris Tanev or Colton Parayko; he will not put up eye-popping numbers, but his advanced metrics will be good and he will pass the eye test with ease. He is a long-term project with some holes in his game (the way he uses his reach, his vision, etc), but his upside is high.

20 Merrick Madsen, G (Trade: Jun. 16, 2017 [Philadelphia]. Last year: 18th) Brought in from the Philadelphia system as a challenger to the notion of Adin Hill having the goalie-of-the-future spot in the bag, Merrick Madsen has been a quality presence in the blue paint for Harvard University over the past three years. Now, with an ELC inked, Madsen looks to contend with Hill in Tucson this season. A very tall, very physically lean goaltender, Madsen has the size to compete in his crease, while using his above-average play reading abilities and ample body strength to stay strong in the paint. His technical game could use some work, as could his focus, but the pro game should help remedy those flaws.

Chicago – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:40:03 +0000

The most consistently competitive team this decade, the Blackhawks have naturally not been afforded the opportunity to draft early much in recent years. That said, they still always make a point of drafting often. Since the draft dropped to seven rounds in 2005, Chicago has made at least seven selections each time. In those 13 years, they have made a total of 114 selections, an average of over 8.75 per.

Even though a number of the higher profile stars of the three championship Blackhawks’ teams were acquired from outside the organization, there were also a respectable number that were drafted and developed by Chicago – even several drafted in the middle and late rounds, including Marcus Kruger, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Ben Smith, Andrew Shaw, and others who they were able to trade for veteran help.

Looking at the four players above, one thing they all have in common is that none really profile as stars. They are contributors, some valuable contributors, but of the type that is easy to overlook. Which brings us back to the strategy the team is employing. By buying in bulk at the draft, and supplementing with undrafted free agents when they have an open contract spot, the Blackhawks are ensuring themselves of always having a full cupboard of homemade contributors just waiting to get their chance to shine.

The bulk strategy does not rely on one, two, or three players to become All Stars, which the Hawks admittedly have plenty of on the NHL roster, but just that a few players each year are good enough to play a part. So even when a first round pick (when they have one) does not pan out, like Kyle Beach or Mark McNeill, someone else from that draft class will provide a solid return on investment. So while Beach, taken 11th overall in 2008 never played in the NHL, sixth rounder Ben Smith played two full seasons with the team before being traded to San Jose for Andrew Desjardins, a low risk, low reward gift that keeps giving.

Mark McNeill was taken 18th overall in 2011 and only appeared in two games for Chicago before going to Dallas as part of the package for Johnny Oduya. Not good, but the 2011 draft class for Chicago was a smashing success, with four legit NHLers including Phillip Danault (1st round, 26th overall), Brandon Saad (2nd round), Klas Dahlbeck (3rd round), and Andrew Shaw (5th round). Second rounder Adam Clendening is not far from being a fifth and in all honesty, I would not completely write off McNeill’s chances to eventually have an NHL career either.

So when we look at the state of the Chicago system today, noting only one high-end prospect and only one other who profiles for the top half of a roster, we must remember that this is not a weak system by any stretch. They are just playing by different rules than their opponents. There was not much separating the bottom ten of this list from the next ten. For further proof of this long game strategy, note the overabundance of non-CHLers they draft, giving them an additional two years or more on each before needing to decide whether they are contract worthy.

Alex Debrincat of the Erie Otters was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

1 Alex DeBrincat – A rare three time five goal scorer in the OHL, DeBrincat would not have lasted to the second round in 2016 if he was 6-0”, or even 5-10” instead of 5-7”. An agile, slippery and very fast skater, his shot release makes life miserable for goaltenders. Used to playing on his off-wing, he can snipe from anywhere in the homeplate area of the offensive zone. Has great patience, not allowing bigger defensemen to dictate his pace. Will pass or shoot when he is ready. A good candidate to step right into the NHL.

Henri Jokiharju of the Portland Winterhawks

2 Henri Jokiharju – Mobile and a very skilled puck mover, Jokiharju plays a promising two-way game, combining solid offensive capabilities with a sound positional game in his own zone. The right-handed shot needs to add more muscle to his frame, which will help him take care of himself physically as well as add some heft to his point shot. His plus offensive vision and understanding of what the defense is trying to do allows him to create offense by skating and moving the puck into better positions.

3 John Hayden – A big, beefy goalscorer with Yale, Hayden finished his collegiate career strongly, before convincing the Blackhawks to let him play right in the NHL after signing late in the season. Has good puck skills with soft hands and is an impressive skater for his size. Was a very physical player at the NCAA level and his frame suggests that the increased heaviness of the pro game should not cause that to change. May get some AHL time before securing a full time NHL role.

4 Lucas Carlsson – Drafted in his second year of eligibility, Carlsson took a few steps forward in his development last year, making the Swedish WJC squad as a form of recognition to his progress. Judging on his work in the SHL, he grades out as projecting above average almost across the board, with good mobility and puck movement. His shot quality can come and go, but his two-way game is pretty steady and even plays relatively physical for his average at best size.

5 Dennis Gilbert – As a sophomore for Notre Dame, Gilbert begin to engage much more in the offensive zone, proving that his vision and puck skills can contribute at both ends of the ice. While he doesn’t lay out for hits often, he has a big body that gives the hits he does make significant impact. Despite the lack of goals, he has a nice wrist shot that leads to second chances for teammates playing closer to the crease. Has impressive speed for his size.

6 Laurent Dauphin – After taking big strides in his second AHL season in the Coyotes’ organization, Dauphin was traded to Chicago in the offseason as part of the return for Niklas Hjalmarsson. A decent skater with an improving shot, he plays enough of a two-way game to suggest that a career on a third line is not too far away. Plays with high energy and exuberance, which sometimes leads to penalty trouble.

Evan Barratt, USNTDP, photo by Rena Laverty

7 Evan Barratt – Not the most consistent forward in last year’s USNTDP class, Barratt nonetheless flashes very high end puck movement and passing skills, of a level that allows him to occasionally dominate shifts. The Penn State commit has a physical element to his game and demonstrates commendable commitment to the game away from the puck. Has plus passing vision and knows how to utilize his linemates to create offense.

8 Ian Mitchell – An excellent skater, Mitchell is very skilled at beginning the transition game from deep in his own zone. A good passer who can also carry the puck, he has a solid point shot, but is better beginning the cycle and playing the puck in deeper into the zone. Presently undersized, he will have plenty of time to pack on muscle as he joins defending NCAA champions Denver. Has potential 2nd pairing projection.

9 Luc Snuggerud – A blueline gambler, Snuggerud had a great junior season for Nebraska-Omaha before turning pro at year’s end. A strong puck mover, he provides very valuable offensive support from the blueline. Skilled at holding the line, he has great hand-eye coordination to stop clearing attempts and maintain the zone. Will also step up from the line to tee himself up for a very good wrist-shot. Although he tries to play physically, can be overpowered.

10 Graham Knott – A 200 foot player who skates right to the crease when his team gains the offensive zone, Knott will never be a team’s main offensive driver, but he has the ability to capitalize on the creativity of others. That entails decent skating and smart positioning as well as soft and quick hands. He also has a plus shot that can hit twine from middle range. The Blackhawks’ top pick from 2015, he is ready to begin his pro career.

11 Dylan Sikura – Drafted out of the OJHL, Sikura has come on leaps and bounds in three seasons at Northeastern and the Hawks were reported to have tried to convince him to forego his last year of collegiate eligibility to turn pro. His puck handling and shooting both grade out as above average and his hockey intelligence is asserting itself more. It will be interesting to see how much of last year’s production was due to Zach Aston-Reese, who has since signed with Pittsburgh.

12 Chad Krys – Having represented the USA at U17, U18 and U20 levels, the first sign that Krys’ game was down in his post draft season was that he was not chosen to return to the WJC for his country even though he was still eligible. He is a good skater, who is comfortable carrying the puck up the ice, but can get sloppy with the disc. Generally reads situations well and makes the correct decision more often than not, but his upside is limited to a third pairing role.

13 Alexandre Fortin – A revelation in Blackhawks’ rookie camp as an undrafted invite, Fortin got to return Rouyn-Noranda with a contract. More of a two-way player than an offensive force, he displays good patience with the puck and a high energy game away from the puck. Has improved year over year in a quiet, yet consistent way. His other tools do not jump out, but are solid across the board. Expected to play in the AHL this year.

14 Anton Forsberg – The first sign that Columbus may have prematurely given up on Forsberg was his sterling performance in the 2015-16 Calder Cup playoffs, where he stopped 94.9% of shots faced, with a GAA of 1.34 in 10 games. He followed that up with a great year as the starter in Cleveland, showing much improved ability to track the puck and minimizing second chances. Part of the big Saad/Panarin deal, he will compete for the NHL backup job this year.

15 Ville Pokka – After three years in the AHL with Rockford, the book is out on Pokka. He is a calm and intelligent blueliner that has good strength in his stocky frame. Executes all of the basic plays to keep the puck moving in the right direction. Plays in the deep slot during the powerplay and can be trusted to get the puck out of the defensive zone cleanly and crisply. Prefers passing the puck out to skating it up ice. Has moderate offensive tools but makes good use of them.

16 Nathan Noel – Drafted in his second year of eligibility, there was hope that his modest skill game could blossom. While his offensive production stagnated, even as his team became a powerhouse in the QMJHL, Noel has shown a great deal of hockey sense and a fun sort of physicality, full of big hits. He is a 200 foot player who can be relied upon to take defensive zone draws and enough speed and velocity in his wrist shot to hold down a bottom six role one day.

17 Matt Iacopelli – Signed to an ELC after a strong sophomore season at Western Michigan, Iacopelli is a big-bodied two-way forward with a moderate skill set. He has always had good hands and the propensity to play tough, but took steps this year showing better finishing ability and a willingness to experiment offensively. Also showed improved instincts on his ice, alleviating concerns that had been present about his hockey IQ.

18 Mathias From – A 19 year old Danish national playing in Sweden, From was not physically ready for the rigors of playing against men in the SHL, but excelled against his age cohort in SuperElit with Rogle’s top junior club and had a strong, if abbreviated showing at the WJC. He sees the ice well, showing plus vision both with and without the puck. A high-risk player, he demonstrates great hands, plus speed and finishing ability. Fun, but a long ways away.

19 Ivan Nalimov – A big goalie with great size, Nalimov had a down year in his third year of KHL duties, failing to live up to the standards he had set over the previous two years with Admiral Vladivostok. He has plus athleticism for his large frame and is known as a good competitor, not one to let a bad goal get in his head or to wither in the face of traffic. Does an admirable job in preventing second chances as well. Unknown whether he will leave Russia after his contract expires next year.

20 Carl Dahlstrom – A rarity as a big, finesse defender, Dahlstrom finally came over to North America last year, three years after the Hawks took him in the second round. He brings little offensive value to the game, and is a below average skater – likely a function of his size – but has a strong game in his own end. While not a bruiser, he uses his strength and a great understanding of defensive positioning to make up for his other flaws.

Even lacking in much in the way of superstar talent, the Blackhawks are ready to graduate two or three viable prospects on an annual basis. This year the best bet is DeBrincat, but Hayden, Forsberg, Dauphin and Pokka will also force Chicago to think long and hard. Eventually, as Hawks’ stars begin to age out of their prime years, the team will have to look to add more elite talent to its ranks, but in the meantime, their approach will ensure the team remains competitive and able to fit the stars under the salary cap.

Connor McDavid steals spotlight, Team Canada and Team USA U18 reports

David Burstyn — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:02:59 +0000

Connor McDavid is blowing the hype out of the water.

The 1997-born forward dominated competition that were mostly two years his senior. McDavid not only led the tournament in scoring, but was named MVP and Best Forward following his exceptional play.

McDavid helped lead Canada back to prominence with a gold medal. It was the first time the Americans didn’t capture gold in the past five tournaments.

Several players increased their draft stock with solid tournament performances. Here’s a look at some of the players from Team Canada and Team USA that left a lasting impression in Sochi, Russia.

Team Canada

Connor McDavid (C, 2015)

Named tournament MVP after producing 6-8-6-14 totals, setting a new Team Canada point total .. recorded back-to-back hat tricks in round robin play against Sweden and Switzerland .. electrifying talent with the puck as he was able to generate offense out of innocent-looking plays .. double under-ager used this tournament to put himself on the hockey world map .. the most heralded prospect to come out of the CHL since Sidney Crosby.

Morgan Klimchuk (RW, 2013)

Tied for 7^th in tournament scoring riding shotgun with McDavid on Team Canada’s first line .. highly involved in the offensive zone due to his ability to stay with plays and makes incredible use of his shot selection .. a permanent fixture for head coach Don Hay in PP situations where Klimchuk delivered the offensive goods.

Nicholas Baptiste (RW, 2013)

Recorded two key assists in the gold medal game, including the GWG .. was used in all situations and played a simple, yet effective game showcasing his above-average skill-set .. took advantage of his ice-time and played in all situations, including the dying minutes of both the gold medal and semi-final game to help Team Canada preserve its lead.

Laurent Dauphin (LW, 2013)

Showed up when it mattered most with his best performance in the gold-medal game where he scored a goal and an assist in the gold-medal final .. a fearless and hard-nosed competitor who would always fight his way into the slot or go hard to the net .. skating was exposed at times but made up for it with keen attention to detail and uncompromising work ethic.

Samuel Morin (D, 2013)

Cool, calm and collected, he logged a ton of minutes and was very practical in terms of his decision-making .. simplistic in his approach, he utilized his speed advantageously and kept forwards to the outside with his long reach .. played with a heightened intensity .. his draft stock soared after this tournament as he has great size and is only scratching the tip of his potential.

Dillon Heatherington (D, 2013)

Consummate two-way tower of power, he was always involved along the boards and winning loose puck battles .. showed a keen sense of anticipation and was never out of position .. staunch defensive efforts coupled with the ability to make a play with the puck made him highly-serviceable.

Philippe Desrosiers (G, 2013)

Only undefeated goalie in the entire tournament went 6-0 while only allowing six goals against all tournament .. recorded back-to-back shutouts, including final game of round robin against Sweden as well as the quarterfinal game against Czechs .. never fell behind in one game this tournament as he always played with the lead .. aggressive in his reads and handling the puck, plays a determined butterfly style and was very diligent with his rebounds .. upped his draft stock considerably with stand-out performance.

Team USA

Steven Santini (D, 2013)

Named the tournament’s best defenseman .. Santini’s no nonsense approach, coupled with his physical brand of play, kept the opposition not only in check but off the scoreboard .. one of the most physically-imposing defensemen at the tournament despite going pointless, he recorded the highest +/- for his team (+8) second-highest in the tournament.

Tommy Vannelli (D, 2013)

Hard to imagine that he only joined the Program a few weeks before the start of the U18 World Championships as he took over the PP duties and was on the ice for the dying stages of the gold-medal game looking for the equalizer .. calculated and ultra-poised on the line to make a play .. showed good defensive awareness to complement his maturing offensive game.

JT Compher (C, 2013)

Returned for his second consecutive U18 World Championship (won gold in 2012 as an under-ager), capturing a silver medal in 2013 for his efforts .. heart and soul player went to the wall each and every game with gutsy performances, including the shootout winner in semi-final game against Team Russia .. team captain averaged a point a game and was relied upon by Coach Granato to score goals and kill penalties .. a jack of all trades.

Tyler Motte (C, 2013)

Recorded the highest amount of goals for Team USA with five while providing clutch scoring .. a dual-threat due to his work ethic, Motte was always in motion and could make plays by quickly charging up ice .. great in transition, he would often catch the opposition off guard with timely stick raises.

Michael McCarron (RW, 2013)

Biggest player up front in the entire tournament came slightly unraveled against Team Sweden with undisciplined penalties but rebounded nicely in both the semi-final and gold-medal game .. imposed his will and was extremely effective down low when charging the net .. caught up ice on a handful of occasions as he struggled with the big ice surface but showed good patience and offensive prowess.