Libor Hajek – McKeen's Hockey

New York Rangers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:37:58 +0000

Around 18 months ago, New York Rangers President Glen Sather, along with team GM Jeff Gorton sent a much publicized letter to season-ticket holders to announce that they would be rebuilding. Unqualified rebuilding. Of course, they didn’t use the term “rebuild” in their letter. Instead, they noted that “As we approach the trade deadline later this month and into the summer, we will be focused on adding young, competitive players that combine speed, skill and character. This may mean we lose some familiar faces, guys we all care about and respect. While this is part of the game, it’s never easy. Our promise to you is that our plans will be guided by our singular commitment: ensuring we are building the foundation for our next Stanley Cup contender.”

It didn’t take a literature professor to read between the lines. Some teams, while aiming for the stars, find themselves in the gutters for years. I won’t name names. Other teams somehow always find a way to stay in the hunt. I won’t name names here either, but the Rangers were one such team for a prolonged stretch. Playing well in the regular season, signing expensive free agents, trading picks – including more than a few first round picks – to keep their run going. Before that letter, the Rangers had made the playoffs for seven straight seasons, making the Stanley Cup finals once and bowing out in the Eastern Conference Finals twice.

Outside of the King, Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers traded pretty much all veterans for whom they received a halfway decent offer, loaded up on first round picks and as soon as last season, they had a system that we had dubbed the best in the league. As I write there words, we have yet to analyze all of the systems for a ranking, but the Rangers have only made their system stronger. In addition to wining the second pick in the draft through the lottery, which they used to select a future star in big winger Kaapo Kakko, five other members of their top twenty were only added to the system this season, bumping a number of otherwise talented players off.

But more importantly, the rebuild is over. The Rangers are ready to compete again. There was no way it was every going to be an Edmonton style decade long crawl. Instead, after two years in the lottery classes, the Rangers spent a second first rounder (acquired from a previous sell off, to acquire the rights to RFA defender Jacob Trouba, who they shortly thereafter signed to a large seven year deal. And then on July 1, while the opening bells of the free agency period were still ringing, they inked the top available talent in forward Artemi Panarin to a big seven year deal of his own. Between those two additions, Kakko and the likely additions of offensive defenseman Adam Fox, whose rights they traded for before coaxing away from a fourth season at Harvard, and Russian winger Vitali Kravtsov, who also signed his ELC, the Rangers will be much stronger in 2019-20 then they were in either of the last two seasons. I don’t think they are ready to compete for a berth in the Final Four again, but they are better than either of the previous two seasons. The Rangers are back on the rise.

-Ryan Wagman

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 21: Kaapo Kakko poses for a photo onstage after being selected second overall by the New York Rangers during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

1 Kappo Kakko, RW (2^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The second overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft is ready to cross the pond for the next challenge of his career in the NHL. Not only does Kakko have plenty of skill and high hockey IQ, he has also demonstrated the willingness to battle without the puck and regain possession for his team. He works hard on both sides of the puck and understands the little details, making him already a complete winger at a such young age. When protecting the puck he is often a lot for defenders to handle, but once he bulks up and gets stronger in his lower body, the task of limiting his time and space will become even more difficult. He has the complete offensive toolbox and the physical attributes to play in the NHL next season. He has the potential to be a star and a first line player for the Rangers for years to come. - MB

2 K’Andre Miller, D (22^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) From a young, hyper-athletic forward to a still young, hyperathletic blueliner, K’Andre Miller is near the end of his metamorphosis. Based purely on skill, he should be ready to move on to the professional ranks, but after losing the end of his freshman year due to a leg injury, Miller has decided to spend one more year on campus. With the Rangers now climbing out of their rebuild, it probably is better for his development to not be in the spotlight just yet, but to come up after the new core as more firmly established themselves on Broadway. For much of his freshman season, Miller was the top draw with the Badgers, combining fantastic skating with top shelf hockey IQ and easy to ignore physicality. His offensive game is still raw, but he does things few other blueliners would consider. Going back to school also all but guarantees that Miller will get another chance to impress at the WJC as those six games were his least impressive of the year. His upside is still that of a first pairing defender, but he isn’t quite there yet. - RW

3 Vitali Kravtsov, RW (9^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 4) After two years of solid growth in the KHL, Kravtsov is crossing the ocean. The Russian forward showed great technique and good poise, but also a lack of consistency. Considering his age though, it’s normal to have some droughts while playing in a men’s league. Kravtsov is highly ranked for good reason, with an excellent shot, smooth hands, and a great view of the ice. His hockey IQ is well developed and it shows mostly in his great ability to sniff the net and try to get into the best position for a dangerous shot. Kravtsov is also a good passer, but he’ll bring a shoot-first mentality to the Rangers. His 6-4” frame definitely needs some bulking but considering his height, chances are good for the Chelyabinsk native to become more imposing and dangerous with some proper conditioning practices. All in all, a dangerous player with first-line potential who can potentially benefit from Panarin’s creativity and passes in the future after an initial unavoidable adaptation period. - ASR

4 Adam Fox, D (66^th overall, 2016 [Calgary]. Last Year: 5 [Carolina]) Adam Fox is that prototypical, fast skating, offensive, smart defenseman with the USA Hockey background, including gold medals, a background that we are seeing with increasing frequency. His time in Harvard under the tutelage of Ted Donato really helped his mental game while offering him the time to build up his body. After three seasons with Harvard, he was had nothing left to prove. He was a Hobey Baker Finalist in 2018-19 as well as an East First-Team All-American in two consecutive seasons as well as the ECAC Player of the Year. He finished his collegiate career with 21 goals and 116 points (+45) in 97 games. His 48 points in 2018-19 were a school record. He has to work on his strength and pushback that he will need to survive at the NHL level. The player you see today will start his first pro season on the New York Rangers, probably on the third pairing. He could settle in as a second pairing defenseman for a very long time. - RC

5 Igor Shestyorkin, G (118^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 5) The 23-year old goalie has accumulated enough experience in the KHL and on the international stage and is more ready than your average rookie netminder. Shestyorkin is an agile goaltender, a bit on the small side for today’s trends, but won’t going to suffer from it. The main concern on him is that he has never played the equivalent of a full NHL season, no matter how good his numbers have been. He needs more experience in dealing with the load tied with being a starting goalkeeper in pro hockey. The Rangers are in a situation where they have three good goalies, and it will be interesting to see where Shestyorkin fits. There are no doubts that he’s good enough to play in the NHL, but at this point he’s probably only the third goalie there after Lundqvist and Georgiyev. One season in the AHL could do good to him, but will he accept that? – ASR

6 Nils Lundkvist, D (28^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 8) After a fast progression in his draft year, the progression slowed down last season. Lundkvist struggled to get top four minutes for Lulea last season and was only 7th in icetime on the team. He is a smart puck-moving defenseman, but his offensive edge from the blue line isn’t elite. I can still see him becoming a second pair NHL defenseman with time as his hockey sense still looks very good. He reads the play well and makes veteran decisions even though he was a teenager in a men’s league. He needs to become stronger without the puck and play a bit more aggressive at times. Hopefully he can seize a bigger role this upcoming season and become at least the second choice on the power play behind veteran Erik Gustafsson and be an anchor for the Swedish WJC team. - JH

7 Matthew Robertson, D (49^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Robertson is a very steady defender who seems a lock to be a number four defender in the NHL one day. He moves the puck well from his own zone and through the neutral zone while playing a low risk game. He is a very good skater for his size and he really excels controlling his gaps and managing play out of his own zone. He reads the play and makes the correct choice between stick and body check, rarely being caught out, and is rarely overmatched. His offensive game is solid at the WHL level but might not translate as effectively to the pro game. He has the potential to be a first unit penalty killer who supports play but does not lead it. - VG

8 Libor Hajek, D (37^th overall, 2016 [Tampa Bay]. Last Year: 7) A smooth skating defenseman, Hajek had a relatively slow start with the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL picking up only 5 points through 58 games. However unlike his AHL performance, Hajek had a strong showing with the Rangers when he spent 5 games up with them, even scoring his first NHL goal. Although strong in his own end, he plays an aggressive game in the neutral zone, creating turnovers and firing quick passes to start the ball rolling or walking in from the point for a shot on net. There is no doubt that Hajek is NHL ready, but what’s debatable is exactly what pairing he will play on. Due to his skillset, his adaptability is an asset and the chance to learn from older, more experienced defencemen is key to his development. Expect to see him bounce around for a bit before potentially joining the Rangers’ third pairing. - SC

9 Karl Henriksson, C (58^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) There was some debate last season about whether Henriksson carried his own game or if his success had come from playing with Lucas Raymond (and Alexander Holtz internationally) since he doesn’t have the same superstar look when he plays. Looking closer at his contributions you could see a hard-working 200 ft game but also that he has a fast stick and a fast thinking hockey brain. He makes good decisions and he works hard and has the skills to make stuff happen with the tools that he has. You could say that the superstar talents he played with benefited from playing with him as well. The main concern I am left with is that he is an undersized forward with only average skating ability. It is still early as he hasn’t played senior hockey yet, but a future middle six center isn’t a bad projection at this point. - JH

10 Joey Keane, D (88^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 17) An elite skater, Keane is built for the modern NHL age. With his mobility, he is incredibly difficult to pin deep in his own zone, because he takes such good routes to dump ins and is able to transition to offense in a flash. Keane also thinks the game very well in his own end and projects as a Bret Hedican type of defender in the NHL. His OHL season may not have gone according to plan and the same could be said about his development. A move to London saw him take on a lesser role and some bad habits, especially with the puck in transition, crept into his game. As he moves to the pro level, he will need to keep the game simple, using his mobility to aid in his learning curve. Even after a disappointing season, Keane should be considered a quality blueline prospect who could find himself a part of the Rangers within a few years. - Bo

11 Vinni Lettieri, C/RW (Undrafted free agent, signed Mar. 27, 2017. Last Year: 11) For a player who often flies under the radar on the ice but shines on the scoresheet, his time up with the New York Rangers last season was perhaps not what was expected from a 40+ point guy in the AHL. Often overlooked due to his stature, Lettieri’s speed and tenacity make up for any doubts his size may have caused. If given the chance, he could carry a role on the top penalty kill unit with his speed and overall forechecking knowledge. The difficult thing about his case is the fact that his overall game and puck movement is not yet NHL ready although his speed may prove ready, the other elements of his game could use a brush up. Expect Lettieri to stay down with Hartford for the first part of the season as part of the Wolfpack’s top six. Should he see NHL ice time again he would be a healthy fit as part of a strong bottom six. - SC

12 Sean Day, D (81^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 18) For a player who has a good natural skill set, Day has had some difficulty finding ways to showcase his puck handling ability and patience on the ice. Day has yet to find himself with a Rangers call up and was instead sent down to the ECHL Mariners last season for a 19 game stint. However, being sent down to the ECHL level may have been just the right way to push Day harder and have him ensure a starting spot back up with the Hartford Wolfpack where he will hopefully have a better season and a better start next season, expecting to bounce from second to third pairing. Day needs to find better ways of getting to the net and getting shots off from the point to up his offensive production should he want to earn his first call up to the NHL in the upcoming season. The talent is there, but it still needs to coalesce.- SC

13 Ryan Lindgren, D (49^th overall, 2016 [Boston]. Last Year: 12) To say that Lindgren is a gritty defenseman is an understatement and for a smaller defenseman he is everything a team could ask for defensively as he is a tremendous shot blocker with goalie protection as his first priority. Since coming from NCAA Minnesota he has had a tough time adjusting to the pace of the play at the professional level. Not to say that he is slow but simply a stride behind the competition. Lindgren has the smarts and the grit to handle himself with the Rangers as he has already played 5 games with them but he will be better suited to start with the AHL’s Wolfpack for another season until he builds up his confidence offensively and learns to play with more discipline. Lindgren has a high ceiling and a good work ethic and hopefully he will have a more permanent spot as a second or third pairing blueliner this coming season. - SC

14 Morgan Barron, C (174^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Barron is a 6-2”, 209 pivot who drives to the net with speed and force. He is a good skater who has a surprisingly good stick and puck control. Always a threat to score with wraparounds or shots from the middle, his puck possession is really good. He had 15 goals and 34 points in 39 games with improved consistency from the season before. He will be back with “Big Red” and should have a big role with them in 2019-20. The Rangers have a developing player here who could be a future 3C for the boys in blue. He looked bigger and stronger at prospect camp earlier this summer, and I expect him to have a bigger impact this year, as he is just starting to hit his stride as a player. - RC

15 Zac Jones, D (68^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A lightly regarded coming into his draft year, Jones turned a ton of heads in his USHL debut with Tri-City, as one of the top skaters on the best team in the league. More an offensive play driver who will always need some back up in his own end, he usually makes up for his deficiencies by his stellar puck playing ability. Undersized, Jones gets to a fine top speed in a hurry, and demonstrates great vision and instincts when carrying the puck. He doesn’t make many egregious errors in his own end, but he is more effective with a strong defender at his side. Heading to UMass (Amherst) next season, he will have the chance to take on a key role from the hop as a freshman, with top defensemen Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro both moving on to the pros early. He could reach a second pairing, PP role his best, but is a long ways from that level. - RW

16 Olof Lindbom, G (39^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 16) There seems to be no end to Lindbom’s bad luck with injuries. He played only eight regular season games and one playoff game last season. The year before he was also sidelined due to injury but seemed to step up when he played, especially internationally. His hockey sense in combination with good technique and size are his main strengths in net. His ability to adapt and overcome his struggles are also impressive at this point. Next season, he will be getting a chance to play in Allsvenskan. He still has a long way to go and first and foremost he will need to put up a full strong and healthy season before being ready to be the starter in a bigger league. - JH

17 Tarmo Reunanen, D (98^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not Ranked) Reunanen suffered a severe injury in his draft year which was a significant setback in his young career. However, last season he really started to show glimpses of his immense offensive potential. An agile skater with quick feet and good wheels, Reunanen is very active with the puck, especially in the offensive zone where he can be an asset for his team in possession. He has impressive passing skills, moving the puck with excellent precision and timing. He sees the ice well and he can be creative when he has the puck on his stick. He still needs to improve his defensive reliability and gain situational toughness in order to take the next step in becoming an NHL defenseman. He could be a solid third pairing blueliner, one who can help his team in offensive transitions and on the power play. - MB

18 Yegor Rykov, D (132^nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Last Year: 19) A solid two-way defenseman with an NHL body, Rykov has played in two WJCs and more than 200 pro hockey games, but he is not ready yet to play in the NHL even though he has all the tools to succeed. When he was playing for SKA, his time on ice was limited – he was also younger and playing for a stacked team. However, a trade to HC Sochi did wonders for him as he started playing on the top pair for former New York Ranger Sergei Zubov and was generally one of the best U21 defensemen in the KHL last year. Rykov showed talent and progressed at both ends of the ice. He has very good vision at both ends of the ice. He is also a good skater and his competitiveness makes him a player that coaches like to have. In spite of passing a bit under the radar last year, he is a very capable prospect with a high ceiling. - ASR

19 Leevi Aaltonen, RW (130^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The fast and explosive Aaltonen’s speed and acceleration have always stood out even against international competition. The winger has nifty hands, quality passing skills and he makes plays in the offensive zone He has an accurate wrist shot and can find the back of the net on the power play. As far as the physical game is concerned, he still has a ways to go. His board play could be much stronger and he lacks the willingness to battle hard on a consistent basis. He also tends to be invisible for overly long periods, thus his overall impact in the U20 league has often been more muted than his talent level would suggest. If Aaltonen makes it to the NHL, it will be in an offensive role where he would need to find ways to produce. - MB

20 Ville Meskanen, RW/LW (Undrafted free agent, signed May 3, 2018. Last Year: 20) Meskanen has the potential to surprise. After coming over from Ilves of the Liiga, he spent his first season in North America with the Hartford Wolfpack and fared well with the adjustment. He proved his adaptability as he started the year off slowly but soon ended up on the second line with a spot on both special teams. Meskanen is a good team player and good in the attacking zone, should he improve his two way play and minimize neutral zone turnovers he could earn his first call up. He has the skill to earn a few games in the NHL and the potential to eventually find a more permanent roster spot should he work on becoming a more complete player. Meskanen may seem like a long shot now but his work ethic may see him develop faster in the AHL than other players ranked ahead of him. Expect to see him as a top six forward with Hartford this year. - SC

Quinn-Tessential – New York Rangers 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:54:47 +0000

OVERVIEW/STATE OF PLAY - It has been a remarkable run for the franchise, but all things must pass. The Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. A run that included appearance in two conference finals and a Stanley Cup final through 2011-12 to 2014-15. From that peak signs of decline have been evident in recent seasons, but great goaltending and a competitive squad has kept them competitive with three 100-point seasons in a row up until 2017-18.

In February management released a statement announcing a transition to a younger group. Prior to the draft they reaffirmed they are planning a rebuild. They laid the foundation at the draft with three first round picks, following upon two first rounders in 2017 (promising Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil who almost made the team as an 18-year-old last year). Given the Rangers had not had a first round pick since 2012 it is a significant shift in direction for the team. In addition to the three first rounders they also had three picks over the second and third round significantly stocking the cupboard, notably adding six defensemen.

REBUILD UNDERWAY - The rebuild also began behind the bench with the hiring of David Quinn, who coached at Boston University, after parting ways with Alain Vigneault after five seasons. He will have a different mandate in molding a group of promising young prospects into a contender in three of four seasons. The market of New York has not been known for patience nor has management in the past but GM Jeff Gorton managed to resist temptation in free agency with almost $20 million dollars in cap space.

They began acquiring assets close the trade deadline trading Rick Nash and acquiring 20-year-old Ryan Lindgren, the Bruins first round pick and Ryan Spooner (26-years-old and an RFA this offseason). They also shipped defensive stalwart Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller to Tampa for Vladimir Namestnikov, prospects Libor Hajek and Brett Howden, both of whom could make the squad this year along with a first round pick (used to acquire defenseman Nils Lundqvist) and a conditional second for 2019.

Henrik Lundqvist

There is no doubt the decline of Henrik Lundqvist has accelerated the rebuild after a second subpar season. After posting a 0.910 save percentage in 2016-17, he climbed slightly back up to 0.915, but struggled from February on posting a 0.908 save percentage in the fourth quarter.

The core forward group has both Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes who fired 25 goals at center, the first time a pair of 25-year-olds have done that for the franchise in 17 years, and the first two centers since Gretzky and Messier did it for the club in 1996-97. Zibanejad was dominating through the first part of the season until sidelined by a concussion. They anchored the top two lines and were second and third behind 30-year-old Mats Zuccarello in team scoring. The undersized but remarkably consistent (five seasons between 49 and 61 points in a row), healthy and effective winger. He led the forward group in ice time. All signs point towards being moved for assets prior to the deadline.

TALENTED YOUTH CHALLENGE ON WING - Hayes may find his spot in the top six challenged by either Filip Chytil or Lias Andersson, both first round draft picks from 2017. They were both on the roster to end the season after spending time in the AHL and will make their case in camp.

On the wing Chris Kreider brings size and speed and after a breakout 2016-17 and he started 2017-18 with a solid first half before being diagnosed with blood clots in his arm and forced to miss two months, returning 15 pounds lighter and needing time to adjust. Signs of a full return to form came when he had an outstanding tournament for Team USA at the World Championships.

The Rangers have been patient with Pavel Buchnevich and he will be provided with every opportunity to break out this season. After scoring at a point a game as a rookie, he endured an up and down sophomore season, not unusual and providing some learning. He has exciting upside and dynamic skills so joining the top line with Kreider and Zibanejad would provide a potentially explosive line all over 6’2”.

The defence is anchored by already mentioned Shattenkirk, Staal and Smith. Staal and Smith pose a challenge for the incoming coach to turn their game around and provide veteran presence on the blueline. Vigneault had lost confidence in Brendan Smith and was clearly not part of his plans.

Brady Skej brings 6’3” with a large wingspan, owns exceptional mobility and situational awareness. Very strong defensively he is also a superb skater. He posted 39 points in his rookie season and took a step back last season, but all the tools and opportunity are there to excel. Led the Rangers in ice time last season. He signed a six-year extension at $5.25 million AAV in July cementing his role as part of the future of the Rangers.

Neal Pionk was signed out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth before the season and played most of the year in the AHL, but when he joined the big club he averaged 22:23 minutes per game, behind only Ryan McDonagh on the team and slightly ahead of Skej. He added 14 point in 28 games and appeared to play his way on to the roster.

OUTLOOK – Red lights flashing warning include a defense that allowed 3.27 goals against per game for 28^th in the league, and the worst Corsi For percentage with 45.9. They had decent special teams with a 12^th ranked power play (21.2%) and a 10^th ranked penalty kill (81.4%). A return to form for their veteran defenders will make a difference and if Lundqvist has another season in him but little was done to address this need.

While in a rebuild they already have a core roster of relatively young skaters so could transition quickly. No dominant stars but they can compete but won’t run the corner this season.

New York Rangers Prospect System Overview

Brock Otten — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:53:06 +0000

Rebuild. A word associated with evil for most hockey fans. Several years of pain in order to achieve long term gain. The patience of fans will be tested as the team accumulates unproven, young talent; talent that requires research to create expectations for.

But, it is an inevitable event in the cap era and the New York Rangers have done things correctly so far. This was a prospect pool badly in need of fresh blood and it has been invigorated with a breadth of new talent. Nearly half the players on this list were acquired in some way connected to trades.

It all started in 2017 with the Derek Stepan deal to Arizona that netted them the 7th overall selection; an asset they used on Lias Andersson. Andersson is now one of the team´s top prospects and a building block down the middle. The team also acquired additional first round picks in 2018 that helped them secure K´Andre Miller and Nils Lundkvist, two building blocks on the blueline. And while the team only has one first round pick set for 2019, it should be a very early one. The team will also have some talent to deal off at some point this year. Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello are pending UFAs who will most certainly be dealt if the team struggles. Veterans like Chris Kreider, Kevin Shattenkirk, Marc Staal and perhaps even Henrik Lundqvist, could also be hot commodities on the trade market.

However, draft picks are not the only assets that the Rangers have received. The likes of Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, Ryan Lindgren, and Yegor Rykov were all brought in last year via trade and have added terrific depth to the farm system. All four appear in McKeen’s Rangers Top 20 prospects list. And as mentioned, veterans will continue to be shipped out for prospects this year and beyond which will further New York’s rebuild attempt and make them stronger for the future.

Rebuilding is not just about acquiring assets through trading and the draft. The scouting team takes on a massive responsibility for finding “free” assets; undrafted free agents. The NHL teams who rebuild properly utilize this better than anyone. And thus far, the New York Rangers have done an absolutely fantastic job of bringing in talent through free agency. In fact, five players in New York’s current top 20 were brought into the organization as free agent signings. This includes two players (Pionk and Georgiyev) who should already be major contributors this coming NHL season and three players (Lettieri, Lindqvist, and Meskanen) who could be quality NHL forwards down the road; or even role players this year. This is an avenue that New York will need to continue to explore over the next few years.

Lastly, any rebuilding franchise has one desire and that is to end up picking inside the top 3 (or even 5) of the NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers have not done this since 1999, when they unfortunately selected Pavel Brendl 4th overall. It was a great run, but New York needs to be bad this year so that they can accelerate their rebuild by acquiring a premium talent; a franchise player that can be the face of the franchise moving forward. Look at the best teams in the NHL today and almost all were built around a top 5 selection. This could not be more true for New York considering that the team went from 2013-2016 without even having a first round pick at the draft.

While the next year or two may represent a dark period for the fan base, it is necessary for the growth of the Rangers’ franchise. General Manager Jeff Gorton and Director of Scouting Kevin Maxwell have their hands full, but they have done a terrific job so far at getting this once storied team back in the right direction. Expect this team’s prospect list to continue to grow and remain near the top of the organizational rankings.

Filip Chytil

1 Filip Chytil, C (21^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 3^rd) It was a busy year for the Rangers top prospect in his first year in North America. Chytil saw action in the AHL, NHL, at the U20s and at the World Championships for the Czech Republic. As a 19 year old, his production in the AHL has to be considered elite, right up there with the seasons of Kevin Fiala, William Nylander, and Jesse Puljujarvi in recent years. The talented two-way center has the potential to be a mainstay in New York’s top 6 for years to come. His size, skill, and skating ability makes him a perfect fit for today’s NHL. His arrival will come as early as this season too, as he may earn the shot to be the team’s 2nd line center behind Mika Zibanejad.

2 Lias Andersson, C (7^th overall, 2017. Last Year:1^st) Like Chytil, Andersson was another Rangers’ top prospect who made his NHL debut last year. While Andersson may not possess the elite athleticism that Chytil does, he is a safe bet to carve out a long NHL career because of his hockey IQ and understanding of the game in all three zones. The 5-11”, 200lbs center captained the Swedish entry at the World Juniors, earning a silver medal (and famously launching it into the stands). But that competitive nature is what will endear him to the New York fan base, likely as early as this year as he will have every opportunity to assume the team’s 3rd or 4th line center role.

3 K'Andre Miller, D (22^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A product of the U.S. Development Program, Miller was one of three first rounders taken by the Rangers in 2018. The Wisconsin commit is lauded for his athletic ability, including his powerful skating ability despite being 6-4” and 200lbs. At the very least, he projects as a modern day shutdown defender who can use his size and mobility to dominate the defensive end. That all said, scouts have suggested that his game possesses offensive upside despite his skill set being somewhat raw. He will likely spend a few years at the College level before turning pro, but should make a solid pro with a not insignificant chance at being a true impact blueliner down the road.

Vitali Kravtsov

4 Vitali Kravtsov, LW, (9^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Kravtsov, the 9th overall selection in 2018, was one of the draft’s biggest risers late into May and June. This was thanks in part to a terrific playoff performance in the KHL with Traktor, where he had 6 goals and 5 assists in 16 games. Statistically speaking, that was the best performance of an U19 player in KHL posteason history. At 6-4”, with speed and skill on the wing, Kravtsov projects as a future top six goal scoring forward. His ability to drive the wing, or set up shop at the dot could make him a lethal powerplay option in the future. Perhaps a future winger for Filip Chytil, too.

5 Igor Shestyorkin, G (118^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 2^nd) Without a doubt, Shestyorkin has emerged as one of the top goaltending prospects on the planet. The soon to be 23 year old has starred in the KHL the past two seasons, earning an All Star nod and finishing in the top five for save percentage both years for SKA St. Petersburg. Scouts rave about Shestyorkin’s athleticism and game stealing ability. His game is built for today’s NHL thanks to his solid size and agility. At this point, it is just a waiting game as the Rangers wait for his KHL contract to expire at the end of this upcoming season. Assuming that New York can convince him to cross the ocean, they may very well have found their heir apparent to King Henrik.

6 Brett Howden, C (Trade: Feb. 26, 2018 [Tampa Bay]. Last Year: 3^rd [Tampa Bay]) One of the main pieces coming back in the J.T. Miller/Ryan McDonagh trade, Howden had established himself as one of the top forwards in the WHL the past two seasons. A former first rounder by Tampa Bay, Howden starred as captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors and was a standout for Team Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships. A hard-nosed center, there is not much that he can’t do on the ice. He can thrive in any situation and is the type of player you want on the ice to help preserve a lead or gain one. He will be turning pro this season and will look to earn top six ice time in Hartford with an eye on earning a spot on the Rangers in the second half if they continue to sell off assets at this year’s trade deadline.

7 Libor Hajek, D (Trade: Feb. 26, 2018 [Tampa Bay]. Last Year: 10^th [Tampa Bay]) Another part of the Miller/McDonagh trade, Hajek is also graduating out of the WHL after spending nearly three years in Saskatoon (minus a move to Regina to close out last season). The hard-nosed Czech defender has good size at 6-2, 200lbs, but is also mobile and like K’Andre Miller above, projects to at least be a quality player in his own end. His offensive game really took a nice step forward this past season and that was certainly on display at the World Junior Championships in Buffalo. It does remain to be seen as to how much that part of his game will translate to the pro level. We will find out this coming season as he turns pro in Hartford.

8 Nils Lundkvist, D (28th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) The third of three first round draft picks by taken by the Rangers in 2018, Lundkvist is most definitely the furthest away from making an impact on Broadway. The 5-11” defender is best described as raw. His mobility is an asset, but it is not yet known what the high end potential is. Scouts seem to be split as to whether he possesses the vision and skill level to be an impact offensive defender, although the early signs for those elements are certainly positive. As part of the Lulea program, he will remain overseas for at least another year to hone his skills on the big ice. Patience will be required here.

9 Neal Pionk, D (UDFA: May 1, 2017. Last Year: 10^th) What a nice surprise Pionk has turned out to be for the Rangers. A free agent signing out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth last offseason, he had a tremendous first professional season in 2017-18. Not only did he excel in limited action in the NHL, but he was also an integral part of a U.S. team at the World Championships that ended up winning bronze. With added bulk to his average frame, Pionk should be able to take greater advantage of his vision and puck moving ability. His mobility is a plus and he could be a top four defender for the Rangers as early as this upcoming season.

Ty Ronning

10 Ty Ronning, RW (201st Overall, 2016. Last Year: 20^th) No matter how you slice it, 61 goals is an impressive feat. That’s how many Ronning scored in the WHL last year with Vancouver. His lack of size may be an issue at the pro level. Furthermore, skeptics will point to the fact that he played last year as an overager. But scoring 60 goals in the WHL is no easy feat. He is only the 5th player since the turn of the century to accomplish that feat. Consistency has been a bit of an issue over his WHL career and he is going to have to prove that he can overcome his size deficit. But Ronning has the speed and tenacity that his father (Cliff) possessed and has to be considered a future option as a top six winger for the Rangers.

11 Vinni Lettieri, RW (UDFA: Mar. 27, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) Grandson of the legendary Lou Nanne, Lettieri was an offseason signing by the Rangers last year after completing his senior season at the University of Minnesota under Don Lucia. He ended up having a terrific rookie year in the AHL with Hartford, leading the team in goal scoring with 23. This, despite a 19 game cup of coffee with the Rangers. The right shot winger has goal scoring potential and the fact that he shoots from the right side will likely make him a more attractive option moving forward. It is expected that he continue to shuttle back and forth between Hartford and New York again, perhaps earning a full time role later in the 2018-19 season.

12 Ryan Lindgren, D (Trade: Feb. 25, 2018 [Boston]. Last Year: 14^th [Boston]) A component of the deal that saw Rick Nash head to Boston, Lindgren joins the pro ranks after two years at the University of Minnesota (where he was a teammate of Vinni Lettieri). The former Boston 2^nd rounder may not possess the size of a typical stay at home, shutdown defender (he is listed at 6-0”, 200lbs), but the skill set is there. His offensive potential may be limited, but his skating ability and physicality will make him a very valuable blueliner at some point. He figures to be a fixture on the Rangers’ penalty kill and fans will likely adore him for his penchant for the big hit. He will be a fixture in Hartford this year with a chance of being a full time NHL’er within a few years.

13 Alexandar Georgiyev, G (UDFA: July 17, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) At the time, little was made of the Georgiyev signing by the Rangers last offseason. He was coming off his first full season in Liiga (Finland) for TPS and not much was known about him or his potential as a future NHL netminder. But he ended up becoming a great find as the 22 year old emerged as Hartford’s starter and even got into 10 NHL games where he excelled with solid athleitcism and composure allowing his lack of size not to be exposed. While long term, Shestyorkin looks like the goalie of the future, short term, Georgiyev will get first crack at becoming a permanent NHL netminder as he backs-up Henrik Lundqvist this coming season.

14 Michael Lindqvist, RW (UDFA, May 2, 2018. Last Year: IE) After a breakout season in the SHL with Farjestad, the Rangers inked the 5-11” winger to an NHL deal. He was one of only five full time players to average over a point per game in the SHL last year and his 20 goals in 33 games gave him, by far, the best goals per game average in the league. While it is always a mystery as to how a soon to be 24 year old’s game will translate after moving from a European league, his signing has to be considered a success for New York because there is very little risk involved with him being on a one year contract. Best case scenario, his goal scoring ability and hockey sense translate well and he becomes a fixture. Worst case scenario, his game does not translate and he is off the books this offseason, returning to Sweden. At this point in time, he looks to be a serious candidate for a bottom six wing spot on the Rangers this year, perhaps battling Lettieri and Meskanen as a fellow right handed shots.

Nico Gross

15 Nico Gross, D (101^st Overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Gross, another 2018 organizational addition, is a mobile puck mover from Switzerland. He is coming off his first year with the Oshawa Generals, where he experienced some ups and downs. His skating ability is a major plus and is the first thing you notice about him. He can really push the pace of attack. You also have to admire his physicality in the defensive end. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. His decision making leaves a lot to be desired though. And you have to question his lack of offensive production (14 points) given his skill set. But the upside is there for him to develop into a quality two-way defender if he can settle his game down and perhaps further acclimatize to the North American game.

16 Olof Lindbom, G (39^th Overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A product of the Djurgardens program, Lindbom was a surprise as the first goalie off the board in 2018 near the top of the second round. He was not a standout in the SuperElit (U20) league this past year, but he was sensational for Sweden on the international stage. This included backstopping the Tre Kronor to a bronze medal at the U18’s, where he was named top goaltender at the event. Lindbom is lauded for his strong positional play and his calm demeanor in the net. Athletically, there is room for improvement, and will be a focus moving forward. But with pro ready goaltenders like Shestyorkin and Georgiyev already ahead of him in the system, the Rangers can afford to be patient with him.

17 Joey Keane, D (88^th Overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) 2016-17 was a disastrous year for Keane and the Barrie Colts. The first year blueliner was a -28 and really lacked the confidence to be a contributor for a last place team. Fast forward a year and the story could not have been more different. He emerged as a #1 on one of the better teams in the OHL’s Eastern Conference and ended the year as a finalist for the Max Kaminsky Award as the league’s top defender. His +45 was a league best. This led to Keane being a third round selection as a re-entry candidate. He is a potential impact player at both ends who excels defensively (he was also named as one of the top defensive defenders in the OHL coaches poll this year), and as a puck mover. His skating ability is high end and bodes well for his future NHL prospects.

18 Sean Day, D (81st Overall, 2016. Last Year: 5^th) It is obvious what the Rangers prioritize on the back-end; skating. Yet another defensive prospect who can really wheel, Day’s skating ability has long been talked about as a strength. This is especially impressive when you combine it with his wide frame at 6-2”, 225lbs. While the former exceptional status grantee (given early acceptance into the OHL draft as a major bantam aged player) failed to make the impact many expected he would in the OHL, that does not mean that he is not an NHL prospect. His decision making at both ends can still leave some to be desired, but the physical gifts are still present. After a very solid year with Kingston that saw him set a career high in points, Day is finally ready to take that next step as a professional.

19 Yegor Rykov, D (Trade: Feb. 23, 2018 [New Jersey]. Last Year: 12^th [New Jersey]) Rykov was the prospect that the Rangers received from New Jersey in the Michael Grabner deal (along with a 2nd round pick that New York packaged to move up to select K’Andre Miller). The Russian defender is a product of the SKA St. Petersburg system and he has played the majority of the last two years in the KHL. He will spend a third year there in 2018-19 with an eye on coming to North America the following year. At 6-2, 200lbs, he has good size and projects as a potential two-way defender who can be a solid #4-6 blueliner and eat up valuable defensive minutes while helping to push the puck in the right direction.

20 Ville Meskanen, RW (UDFA: May 3, 2018. Last Year: IE) Like Lindqvist, Meskanen was a free agent signing out of Europe this offseason and presents very little risk for the organization on a two year deal. He is coming off a breakthrough offensive season with Ilves of the SM-Liiga where his 24 goals were 3rd in the league. At 6-1”, he also has a bit more size than Lindqvist while possessing that same coveted right handed shot. Between Lettieri, Lindqvist, and Meskanen, one would have to assume that the Rangers end up with at least one quality and consistent goal scorer who can play a top nine role in the near future, and all as free talent pickups, no less. The three are also gearing up to battle for a roster spot on the bottom line this year.

2018 WJC in Review: The Czech Republic

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 22:04:35 +0000

It was whispered in some quarters (hint: here ß https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/wjc-2018-team-preview-czech-republic/) that the Czechs might be on the upswing. In hindsight, it should not have been hard to spot. Even though the nation had not been able to escape the quarterfinals of the year-end WU18 tournament since 2013-14 (and all of those players have since aged out of junior level hockey) the nation did medal in four of the past five Ivan Hlinka tourneys, including a 2016 gold.

That gold medal squad was well represented on this iteration of the Czech U20, including stars Martin Necas, Filip Chytil and supporting players Jakub Skarek, Jakub Galvas, Filip Kral, Radim Salda, Martin Kaut, Ostap Safin, and Filip Zadina.

With the more “proven” players listed above being offensively talented forwards, it should have come as no real surprise that the team had a very potent offense. Their 18 goals in the preliminary round was second only to Sweden in Group B, and fourth among all competing nations.

On the other hand, what proved to be their downfall was also relatively easy to spot. They surrendered 15 goals in those same four games, ranking seventh out of ten teams, ahead of only one squad that finished out of the relegation round. Their netminding was so unsteady that head coach Filip Pesan called for his backup in four of their seven overall games.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 5: The Czech Republic's Jakub Skarek #1 looks on during bronze medal game action against the U.S. at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

On the other hand, that type of quick trigger finger may have hurt as much as it helped, with both main goalies, the aforementioned Skarek – perhaps the top netminding prospect for the 2018 NHL draft – and Josef Korenar - signed as an undrafted free agent to an ELC by the San Jose Sharks after a solitary strong season with Lincoln of the USHL – anticipating a spot on the bench every time the opposition gained the zone with numbers. Skarek had moments were he looked like the real deal, especially early in the tournament. He moves around the crease very well, and is able to cover the net from post to post. But he fought the puck all too often. Korenar showed some scramble ability and comfort moving to get to second chances, but traffic was a bugbear and there were simply too many second chances for anyone’s comfort. Skarek will get another chance to redeem himself on the world’s greatest U20 stage next year in Vancouver.

The blueline also did its part in lighting fires. Despite having a broad range of NHL-affiliated young defensemen to play with, they could rarely keep their opponents from threatening the Czech netminder. Even relegated Belarus scored five of their 10 total goals in a thrilling game against the Czech side. Outside of clear number one blueliner Libor Hajek, a Tampa Bay second rounder, each member of their rearguard stumbled more than one. Hajek was awesome. A workhorse, he played a minimum of 20:22 in every game, including a staggering 30:46 in the quarterfinal upset win over Finland. He was a key cog at both ends, using positioning and a good stick to help sweep away danger in the defensive end and swiftly carrying the puck up the ice to help in the quick strike attack that was so effective at times for the Czechs.

Buffalo prospect Vojtech Budik, generally Hajek’s partner on the first pairing, did some nice things when he had the puck, but all too often avoided confrontation when defending, giving his opponent too much room in which to maneuver. Chicago prospect Jakub Galvas was reliable, but prone to own zone giveaways that saw him relegated to third pairing duties more often than not. Dallas prospect Ondrej Vala rarely did enough to escape the third pairing and was more often than not invisible, despite finishing second among Czech blueliners with 10 shots on goal. If there was a second defender after Hajek who escaped the tournament with passing grades it was draft eligible Filip Kral, now in his first North American season playing in the WHL with Spokane. Although he needs to add bulk, he impressed with his positional play and high panic threshold. His decent shot and above average puck moving ability should see him hear his name called on draft day this year.

If I wanted to nitpick the Czech attack, I would point out that I expected more from Rangers first rounder Filip Chytil. He was fine, scoring twice, and every now and then having a dominant shift highlighting his quick feet and hands. He even showed some toughness, playing with a broken nose. But I am selfish and wanted more. So for more I could turn to Martin Necas, who tied for the overall tournament lead in scoring with USA’s Casey Mittlestadt with 11 points, or Filip Zadina, one of the top prospects for the upcoming draft, who consistently demonstrated every type of offensive skill one could want in a forward prospect. His skating, shot, and puck skills all grade out as high end. He could stand to improve on his recognition and decision making in his own zone, but nothing about his game suggests that he is merely a one-way player. Zadina has superstar potential (Necas already is a superstar for this age-level) and is not far from reaching those heights. Among all players in the tournament, only American Kieffer Bellows took more than Zadina’s 37 shots on net.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: The Czech Republic's Martin Kaut #16 skates with the puck while Sweden's Jacob Moverare #27 chases him down during preliminary round action at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

The next three most effective Czech forwards in the tournament were all as yet undrafted, although one has not yet been eligible for those honors. The youngest of the second trio was Martin Kaut, who will challenge Skarek for the title of highest drafted player in 2018 playing in the Czech Republic. Although lean, he plays a heavy game, making his presence felt in a physical way game in and game out. He plays a strong possession game, and shows solid passing skills. He finished the tournament with seven points in seven games. Radovan Pavlik and Kristian Reichel have both already been passed over in the draft twice each, but their respective performances in Buffalo might push their luck to change in their third go-round. It was the undersized Pavlik’s first appearance in the WJC and he made the wait worth it, with six points in the seven games. He is a nice skater with good edges, has good offensive vision and works hard for rebounds. He will have to improve his Czech league production to maintain his WJC momentum through draft day, but the last few weeks are certainly a mark in his favor. Kristian Reichel, whose father Robert had a long NHL career in the 90s, has been acclimatizing to the NHL game with a poor Red Deer squad and seemed to get better as the WJC progressed. A dogged player, he featured heavily on both Czech special teams’ units. He is an above average skater, which plays up due to his great hustle, can dangle with the puck and can score with both a slap shot and a wrist shot. His frame looks wide enough to carry more weight as he matures. I expect him to be drafted if his WHL play keeps up.

Of the players mentioned above, only Reichel, Pavlik, Hajek, Budik, Vala, and Korenar will have aged out by next year. If at least two of Zadina, Necas, and Chytil are not in the NHL and are thus available to represent their country once more, the Czech squad could be even stronger in 2019. Then again, with as talented as those three are, I would not bet on it. Still, even without them, there was enough production from the 18 year old cohort this year to expect the Czech Republic to show well again next year.

WJC 2018 – Team Preview – Czech Republic

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 19:13:45 +0000

Since winning the tournament in back to back years in 2000 and 2001, the Czechs have had only two other opportunities to medal, and none since winning the Bronze in 2005. The small nation always seems to have one or two players of note, regularly pumping out NHLers, but rarely has enough at once to allow them to compete with the big five. In fact, since that last bronze medal, they have only once even finished second in the preliminary round robin portion of the tournament.

To reach that level again, this year’s roster will have to equal the relatively muted accomplishments of the team led by David Pastrnak, Jakub Vrana, and Pavel Zacha, among others. Thankfully, this team has the potential to make things interesting this year. Among the players profiled below, Filip Chytil and Martin Necas both are looking like steals for their respective NHL teams and carry breakout potential into Buffalo. Beyond those, and the others discussed at greater length below, this team has admirable depth, suggestive of a resurgence of development of the game in Central Europe.

In fact, even after noting that two of their five players to watch are draft eligible, there are four or five more who could join them on draft day, such as Albert Michnac, Filip Kral, Kristian Reichel, Marek Zachar, Krystof Hrabik, and Martin Kaut. So as intriguing as the Czechs are this year, they could be even better in 2019.

Five to Watch

POPRAD, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 20: Czech Republic's Filip Chytil #20 bodychecks Finland's Aleksi Anttalainen #4 during quarterfinal round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Filip Chytil, C/LW

Most of the punditry, ourselves included, saw Chytil as a second round pick last June. He was clearly talented, but as one of the youngest players in the draft, he was very under-developed physically and was playing sparse minutes for HC Zlin, in the Czech Extraliga, that nation’s top competition. The New York Rangers focused on the talent and the age and saw a player with more room for development than most. It is still very early, but it looks like we can score this one for the Broadway braintrust. The young forward was so impressive in training camp that not only did they sign him to an ELC posthaste, but he even managed to spend a short period of time in the Show, suiting up for two games with the Rangers. He has since been sent down to develop in the AHL, as one of the youngest in the North American pro ranks and has put up a remarkable 12 points in 15 games. He has a great shot release, with a preternatural ability to read the goaltender. His vision and playmaking skills still suggest a potential top six NHL center. If all of that was not enough, he has even started to fill out his frame. There is more to come, but all signs point to stud for now.

Libor Hajek, D

Drafted as a smooth skating, “safe” blueliner with a promising combination of size and snarl, Hajek was mired on a lackluster Saskatoon team in the WHL, where his brand of hockey was unable to reach the spotlight. A somewhat surprising omission from last year’s Czech WJC entry, he made sure to not escape notice this time around, exploding through the first half of the season for the Blades. The 24 points he brings to the WJC are only two shy of what he produced in a full season last year, powered by a point shot that has been hitting its target for more often than ever before and improved skating giving him the confidence to join the rush more often. In fact, only six defenders across the league have lit the lamp more often thus far. With Saskatoon still out of a playoff spot, we cannot really claim that his newfound offensive acumen is the result of anything other than his own development. As one of the Czech team’s biggest defenders, as well as its most offensively inclined, the former second rounder will likely be leaned on for heavy minutes in all situations. His ultimate projection may now be as high as the second pairing.

MONTREAL, CANADA - DECEMBER 27: The Czech Republic's Martin Necas #8 looks on during preliminary round action against Switzerland at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Martin Necas, C/RW

Like Chytil above, Martin Necas was so good in camp with Carolina that the Hurricanes felt comfortable starting the regular season with the recent first rounder in the NHL lineup. Necas got into one game before being reassigned back to HC Kometa Brno, on a season-long loan. One of the small handful of 19 and under players playing in the Czech Extraliga this year, Necas has been thus far limited to 12 games due to injury. When he has played, he has been electrifying. He plays with intensity and energy, seemingly always generating scoring chances for his team. His skating is particularly dynamic, able to break away with seemingly no effort. He demonstrates great vision and patience with the puck, not willing to force a play that is not there. He even impresses for his commitment to defense, a trait not always seen in teenaged players with his level of offensive talent. Although he has goalscoring ability, his natural style s more that of the playmaker and he is likely to team on the Czech first line with a purer shooter like Chytil. Not a physically overpowering player, he can at least withstand physical play and should be one of the shining lights for the Czechs.

Jakub Skarek, G

The early front runner to be the first goaltender selected in the NHL draft next June, this will not be Skarek’s first WJC, as he took over the reins in net for the Czechs last year as well. After helping Dukla Jihlava earn promotion to the top domestic Czech league last year, he is performing admirably again as their starter this year in Extraliga. In fact, he is the only regular starter under age 20 this year. He is an outstanding athlete with particularly impressive lateral movement and flexibility. He can be prone to lapses in concentration, or of trying for the highlight reel save, when a simpler move will do, which can lead to inopportune rebounds, but he has all of the physical skills you want to see in a starter including prototype size. He has already shown that he would not be phased by the WJC spotlight, and if he can remain composed throughout the tournament in Buffalo, he will be that much harder to catch in the goalie draft rankings. If Skarek performs up to his capabilities, the Czechs could have their best finish in a decade or more.

Filip Zadina, LW

One of the top prospects in the upcoming draft, Zadina was taken 11^th overall in the CHL import draft by Halifax last summer and immediately went about proving that slot to be pitifully low in light of his talents and abilities. If anything, teams picking earlier may have been gun-shy after Zadina did not report to the Vancouver Giants who selected him with the fourth overall pick in the previous version of that draft. As left the Mooseheads for the WJC, he sat second overall in the QMJHL scoring race. His offense comes from tremendous offensive awareness and strong skating combined with elite agility. Although he has more goals than assists thus far (24 goals, 22 assists), Zadina’s playmaking game is his stronger suit thanks to his great vision. That said, he is a volume shooter, so he is more than capable to creating his own offense. Also notable is that a relatively small percentage of his production has come on the power play and he sits atop the Q in even strength points with 36. Far from being a one-way player, he remains involved when the opposition has the puck, rushing back to backcheck instead of waiting for a teammate to regain the possession. He is a very cerebral player and has clearly proven that the transition from European hockey to North America was well within his grasp.

Tampa Bay – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 11:51:37 +0000

I have long advocated for teams drafting the best talent available on draft day. With all but two to five prospects in any given year needing to go back to amateur hockey in the upcoming year, it does not make much sense to draft for current need. To that rule, I have appended an exception in the case of netminders. Namely, that there is a maximum number of goalies a team should have.

At any given time, there will be room for two young netminders to play in the AHL and usually another promising one can be assigned to the ECHL. If a team has more than that who are past the age junior/college hockey, there will be no place to play and develop them. This is why it is so rare for one team to draft two goalies in one year. And until Vegas left draft weekend with three netminders, more than two was unheard of.

The goalie problem is not one faced by Tampa. The opposite, in fact, as there are only two netminders with prospect eligibility in the organization. This topic is significant for Tampa, because they are stretching the boundaries of the best player available rule by drafting an abundance of players that fit within a fairly narrow profile.

During the draft, Tampa is generally a team that stockpiles draft picks. They rarely have less than their full allotment of picks, and often substantially more, including nine picks in 2015 and ten in 2016. When we look at the types of players they draft, we can see clear patterns.

For starters, they like their defensemen to be…well…defensive. Out of 15 blueliners in the system, nine are clearly defensive defensemen. Four more are two way defenders and only two could be counted as offensive defensemen. This topic came up when we were putting the system’s top 20 together. There are very good arguments to be made for a number of the defensemen in the system to make the top 20, but when so many of them have near-identical profiles, there are fewer paths for them to reach the NHL.

Most NHL teams, even possession-conscious teams like the Lightning, will have no more than three, and more likely two, defensive spots for blueliners who are limited in how much they can provide in the offensive end of the ice. So as talented as players like Erik Cernak, Libor Hajek, Slater Koekkoek, Matt Spencer, Dominik Masin and others are, it is hard to see a path where more than two of them establish themselves in Tampa. After two do, the others become trade bait. Only really Cal Foote and Mikhail Sergachev are versatile enough in their approaches to the game to fit in any type of role.

The Lightning have a similar, if not identical, story with their forwards. The majority, if not all, of their better forward prospects are secondary offensive contributors, providing as much if not more, energy than talent to their teams. With more forward spots on all teams than defensive ones, this is less of a problem, but it sure seems like Tampa scouts have a type that they prefer to hunt.

1 Mikhail Sergachev – One half of one of the most interesting trades of this offseason, Sergachev was traded straight up from Montreal to Tampa for Jonathan Drouin almost one year to the day of being selected ninth overall in the draft. A high end skater who excels at both ends, he can afford to pinch in deep as he is well able to recover. Plays with great maturity and patience on the puck, able to outlast an opponent and create a better lane for passing, or pushing the puck forward by himself. He should be ready for the NHL and has first pairing upside.

Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

2 Taylor Raddysh – Although he has scored at superstar levels for the last two seasons, next season will be a real test for Raddysh, who will finally be the featured player on the Otters after the graduations of Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome. Standing in his favor are his excellent combination of shot and puck skills. The former is sniper level, and he is extremely dangerous from the mid-slot and in. The latter rears its head when he does not have a clear shot on goal. Very skilled at finding an open man through his vision and creativity.

3 Brett Howden – A two-way center with plus playmaking skills, Howden had a great offensive year for Moose Jaw, even without accounting for the 15 or so games he missed due to injury. Aggressive in his own zone, he is not afraid to block shots and has a knack for retrieving the puck and getting it into a position to move back up the ice. More quick and nimble than fast, he has enough speed to hold his own and play his game. Plays a chippier game than many with his passing acumen.

4 Anthony Cirelli – A big game specialist, Cirelli burst onto the prospect radar in his last game before he was drafted. It was a Memorial Cup final and he scored both Oshawa goals, including the overtime winner, to claim the title. Traded to Erie this year, he hit another level in the playoffs and again in a second Memorial Cup. All this after starring for Team Canada at the WJC. Supremely intelligent player who has great patience on the puck and an easy to underrate snap shot.

Mathieu Joseph

5 Mathieu Joseph – Drafted as a quick two way forward two years ago, the former fourth round pick has since emerged as a clinical finisher in QMJHL play with underrated playmaking ability that shone at the last WJC. Has a very strong neutral zone game, forcing turnovers through relentless pressure on the puck carrier. A good, if not exceptionally fast skater, his first two steps give him a clear advantage. Plays with great energy and has an overall skillset that can fit on any line.

6 Cal Foote – Foot speed is currently the only real impediment standing between Foote, whose father Adam played over 1,100 games in the NHL, and a projected first pairing ceiling. A competitive shut-down defenseman, he has near elite size and strength and puts those attributes to good use nightly. He inherited more of his father’s hockey IQ than his snarl, although he is a tough customer to boot. Reads the play very well and, although he is a pass-first player, has a cannon from the point.

7 Slater Koekkoek – Although the career for the former tenth overall NHL draft pick has been a disappointment thus far, it is far too early to count Koekkoek out. A fine skater with above average puck skills, he quadrupled his previous career high in NHL games played. A big minute muncher for Syracuse, he is rarely caught out of position and makes smart decisions when moving the puck. Seems to be past the injury issues that plagued his junior career.

8 Mitchell Stephens – Tampa’s top pick in the 2015 draft, Stephens is a high-energy, heart-and-soul forward capable of filling any role, up and down the lineup. A hard working player, he understands his role on a line works as part of a unit, rarely trying to play for himself. Strong and aggressive, he projects best as a puck retriever playing with two higher skilled linemates. Very effective when he skates to the crease. Ready for pro hockey.

9 Erik Cernak – Originally a second round pick of the LA Kings, Cernak was traded to Tampa as part of the return for a few months of Ben Bishop. Big and rock steady on the back, the Slovakian native has limited offensive upside, although his shot is strong enough to be a threat if he used it more often. Does not use his body aggressively, but keeps opponents at bay with strong positioning. Plays a quiet game, but is integral in getting the puck moving in the right direction.

10 Libor Hajek – One of the few lights shining on an otherwise abysmal Saskatoon team over the last two years, which makes him difficult to scout, Hajek has the right mix of size, mobility and snarl to keep the Lightning confident in his future projection as another shutdown defender. They are also hoping that he can show more offensive upside, regardless of the lack of support. They also expect him to finally be named to the Czech squad for the WJC.

11 Dennis Yan – An American-born, Russian national, Yan was one of the best shooters in the QMJHL last season. Combined with his plus skating ability, he was consistently able to get to soft spots in coverage before his opponents and from there to threaten the goalie. Further, his anticipatory skills have allowed him to play an important role in the penalty kill. May be brought on slowly this year in the AHL, but has top six upside.

12 Dominik Masin – Although his rookie pro season went smoothly, Masin seems to have left his offensive game in Peterborough. After putting up 66 points in 105 games across two years in the OHL, he was limited to a mere six points for Syracuse last year. He has a big body and skates well. Can play a heavy game, if not a violently aggressive one. He seems comfortable carrying the puck up the ice, but is mostly a defensive minded player at this stage of his development.

13 Connor Ingram – With Vasilevski now the incumbent NHL starter and the Kristers Gudlevskis era over, Ingram is now the only netminder in the Tampa system who has NHL upside. Drafted in his second year of eligibility after taking massive steps forward with Kamloops, Ingram was even better last year in the WHL, although he was very shaky in WJC play. On the small side, but very athletic, he is also a strong puck player. The workhorse should receive the lion’s share of work in Syracuse this year.

14 Ben Thomas – One of the surprise performers with Syracuse last year, Thomas showed the ability to push play from the point in a way that was not expected based on his WHL output. He has a solid first few steps and is very comfortable moving the puck up ice. Quietly dependable in his own zone, he does not play a very physical game, but uses his stick more and solid positioning. His point shot is strong enough to earn him some power play time.

15 Adam Erne – A power winger with a good top gear in his feet, Erne has steadily improved his offensive output over his first two years of professional hockey. Although he struggled to produce offense in his lengthy NHL stint last year, he did at least tend to move the puck in the right direction, without being protected to any extreme, a good indication for his future. Needs to be more consistently involved in the play before moving to the NHL full time.

16 Yanni Gourde – Gourde’s long and winding road up the professional ladder may finally be leading him to the NHL. Undrafted out of Victoriaville, he spent two years in the San Jose system on AHL deals before Tampa offered him an ELC. He has been consistently one of their top offensive performers in the AHL since. Feisty and with a strong nose for the puck and a playmaker’s instincts, he could play on an energy line in the NHL right now.

17 Matthew Spencer – Once the third overall pick of the OHL entry draft, Spencer has had a solid, if unspectacular career with Peterborough. A very good passer with advanced hockey intelligence, he plays a quiet game, limiting mistakes. He is an average skater and is unlikely to ever develop into a significant offensive threat, but is reliable enough in all zones to play in a depth role. Has a solid pro frame and began to leverage that more often last year.

18 Ross Colton – After exploding for 35 goals in his third season of draft eligibility with Cedar Rapids of the USHL, Colton was a revelation in his freshman season with Vermont. He has quick wheels, and nearly as quick hands. Plays a responsible game and his speed can be leveraged well on the penalty kill. He can absolutely fly with the puck through the neutral zone. His snap shot is a weapon. Needs to show that he can succeed in the dirty areas of the ice.

19 Boris Katchouk – A big power forward who combines a quick skating stride with a very strong shot, Katchouk took a few steps forward last year in his finishing ability, becoming a go-to guy for Sault Ste. Marie. Still justly lauded for his refined hockey smarts, if his scoring rates hold up, we can up his projections from that of a potential bottom six forward to someone with middle six potential. Great compete rate.

20 Alexei Lipanov – A two-way center with strong puck skills who plays with great energy, Lipanov can be a force when lined up next to a top finisher. The type of forward who plays on the point on the man advantage to leverage his great vision and passing touch. Very lean and not yet filled out, he will get a taste of the North American brand of hockey as he comes over to play with Barrie of the OHL this year. Very agile skater.

Despite their proclivity for certain types of players, the sheer amount of talent in the Tampa Bay system gives the Lightning one of the deepest organizations in the league. At the very least the big trade of Drouin for Sergachev proves that GM Steve Yzerman recognizes that he needed another two-way dynamic presence on the blueline as well as showing the ability to go out and get it through trade. That suggests that some of the others on the list above may be viewed as assets for other, future trades.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Tampa Bay Lightning

Grant McCagg — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 13:08:26 +0000

Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Tampa Bay did a solid job of replenishing their forward depth with three of McKeen’s top 44 prospects joining the fold including 6-2 center Brett Howden, who solidified his standing as a first-round prospect with a commendable performance for Canada at the U-18’s. Howden displayed a scoring touch, stellar puck protection skills and vision in the competition…if he can bring a consistent intensity to each game he’ll be among Tampa’s top three centermen once he’s physically ready for the NHL. Boris Katchouk was Howden’s teammate at the U-18’s, but he really solidified his draft status with a phenomenal effort in the Soo’s first-round upset of the Sarnia Sting.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	27	26	Brett Howden	C	CAN	6-2/195	Moose Jaw (WHL)
2	37	31	Libor Hajek	D	CAN	6-2/195	Saskatoon (WHL)
2	44	32	Boris Katchouk	LW	CAN	6-1/190	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)
2	58	44	Taylor Raddysh	RW	CAN	6-2/205	Erie (OHL)
3	88	NR	Connor Ingram	G	CAN	6-0/210	Kamloops (WHL)
4	118	138	Ross Colton	C	USA	6-0/190	Cedar Rapids (USHL)
5	148	NR	Chris Paquette	C	CAN	6-1/205	Niagara (OHL)
6	178	NR	Oleg Sosunov	D	RUS	6-8/230	Yaroslavl (Rus)
7	206	110	Otto Somppi	C	FIN	6-0/180	Halifax (QMJHL)
7	208	NR	Ryan Lohin	C	USA	5-11/195	Madison (USHL)

Boris Katchouk at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

One of the most competitive players in the draft, Katchouk is not without some puck skills and offensive creativity...he’ll vie for a top nine spot in the NHL once his skating is up to snuff. Taylor Raddysh showed he could play on Erie’s top line this past season, demonstrating good hockey sense and offensive tools for his size…if his foot speed improves significantly he may be a force at the NHL level. The other top 60 selection was Libor Hajek, one of the steadiest defenders in the draft and a strong candidate to be atop-four defenceman in the NHL due mainly to his excellent mobility and strength.

Taylor Raddysh at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Connor Ingram rose on Tampa’s draft board after a stellar WHL playoff performance in which his underdog Kamloops squad extended defending WHL champion Kelowna to seven games. Ross Colton, twice passed over in the draft, grabbed NHL scouts’ attention this time around with a 35-goal, 71-point USHL campaign, in addition to a solid effort at the WJAC. Not content with having 6-6 Hedman and 6-7 Sustr on the blueline, Tampa went “one” better and drafted 6-8 blueliner Oleg Sosunov, who was predominantly drafted because of his size…to say he’s rough around the edges would be an understatement.

Otto Somppi at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Otto Sommpi was considered a top-60 prospect on a lot of lists last summer…the closer his game was studied, however, legitimate concerns cropped up with his skating and aggressiveness.

Grade – A-: The Lightning joined Philadelphia as the only clubs to draft four players ranked in McKeen’s top 45…after that, however, the quality of their picks leveled off, which kept them from receiving an ‘A’.

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Mar-2016)

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:56:34 +0000

History is about to repeat itself at this summer's NHL Draft.

Every six years, as it goes, there has been a heated neck-and-neck race between the top two prospects to grab the coveted first-overall spot.

At the 2010 NHL Draft, it was the Taylor-Tyler derby (Hall-Seguin) which went right down to the wire.

Roll back six years prior to the Russian invasion of 2004 with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin - the '1A / 1B' year.

The race of 1998 pitted QMJHL star Vincent Lecavalier against young American hotshot David Legwand whom, as an aside, I recall delivering a scorching performance down at the old St. Mike's Arena in `97 en route to a 54-goal, 105-point rookie season for the Plymouth Whalers. Lecavalier was the consensus choice that year, however Legwand's performance at least made it a race.

The phenomenon continues this year with two teenage sensations in Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine waging a fierce battle to reach the finish line ahead. The contest has been nothing short of breathtaking to watch this season as the pair have jockeyed back and forth at the top of the McKeen's ranking board.

It could ultimately come down to a toss-up decision by the time June rolls around, with the best 'litmus test' being the World Senior Championships in May.

Auston Matthews has dazzled with Zurich of the Swiss NLA; his combination of elite hands and skating ability fully on display in what has turned out to be the 'ideal' platform for him. He can wheel and deal and pick apart a league which is light on physical play, full of open space, and all too accommodating.

It's not a knock against Matthews but instead a situation that may perhaps lead to developing some 'bad habits'. His defensive play and intensity away from the puck has been noticeable in between the sparkling moments. Like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel this season, he will have to make certain adjustments upon arriving in the NHL next fall.

Matthews is a 'clear-cut' No. 1 pick is many circles, however the staff here at McKeen's feel that the rocket-like development of Patrik Laine this season has muddied the waters.

Laine made a number of new NHL believers playing recently in his international debut with the senior Finnish national team. "He was exceptional with the national team last week. Plays very well with good players," said one top NHL scout.

Upon watching Laine's masterful showing at the U20 World Juniors, another head scout suggested that Laine "reminded him of a young Mario."

Those fortunate enough to have experienced the NHL career of Magnificant Mario Lemieux will no doubt see certain similarities in the style of Laine. His ability to dangle the puck anywhere within his body range, front, back, and side - combined with an innate sense for where the puck can be protected - is a bit eerily reminiscent of Lemieux.

The following video - his first hat trick in the SM-liiga - is a small peek into Laine's incredible talents (#29/White):

Another video featuring Laine's stickhandling wizardry :

This year's race is much closer than it might seem - and we likely won't know the outcome until the Edmonton Oilers (cough!!) reach the podium in June and announce the No. 1 selection - again.

Let's hope not.

THE REST OF THE FIRST ROUND

Among the other participants in the field, Matthew Tkachuk (London), Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton) Clayton Keller (USA), and Luke Kunin (Wisconsin) were among the big movers on the list.

The composition of the top 26 players remained intact this month as there is a group of players clustered quite tightly in the 25-to-45 range, which projects for another intriguing second round this summer.

Three players debut in the top 30 this month, that being Everett goalie Carter Hart (No. 27), strong-skating Saint John blueliner Luke Green (29), and Kelowna rearguard Lucas Johansen holding down the final place - for now. Johansen, the younger brother of Nashville Predators' forward Ryan Johansen, is gradually winning over NHL scouts with his steady growth this season.

SO WHY ISN'T LOGAN STANLEY IN THE TOP 30?

From veteran OHL watchers to NHL scouts, not many are buying into the Logan Stanley hype that the towering Windsor defenceman is a sure-fire first-rounder. Undeniably, Stanley has made impressive strides this season, yet the scouts are wary of his skating and specifically his pivots, agility, and backwards mobility. (Check out OHL expert David Burstyn's scouting take on Stanley published earlier this week).

The evolution of NHL blueliners is not trending in his favour. As one NHL scout put it, "we need to be careful, there will never be a 'next Chara' - the game is changing."

McKeen's Chief of Draft Scouting Grant McCagg adds, "how are the mammoth first round d-men picked in the past few drafts doing? Oleksiak, Tinordi, McIlrath, Morin, Cowen... the evidence is piling."

Let's not forget there is still plenty of hockey to be played before the final lists are compiled in May. Plenty of opportunity for Stanley and other first-round hopefuls to entice NHL teams with a strong stretch run and playoff performance.

Final impressions count.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	36-24-22-46
2	Patrik Laine	LW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	43-17-16-33
3	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-4/205	7-May-98	49-12-15-27
4	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	50-19-37-56
5	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	48-7-27-34
6	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	48-23-70-93
7	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	57-10-35-45
8	Alexander Nylander	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	52-28-46-72
9	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	24-Jun-98	57-37-50-87
10	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	61-22-37-59
11	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	59-14-33-47
12	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	32-3-16-19
13	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	46-40-13-53
14	Clayton Keller	C	NTDP (USA)	5-9/170	29-Jul-98	46-28-54-82
15	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	48-42-62-104
16	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	54-22-20-42
17	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	51-16-46-62
18	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	47-39-25-64
19	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	29-15-11-26
20	Riley Tufte	LW	Blaine (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	10-Apr-98	25-47-31-78
21	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	60-3-22-25
22	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	45-14-53-67
23	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (Rus)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	28-12-14-26
24	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	34-13-18-31
25	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	43-4-8-12
26	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-98	64-22-42-64
27	Carter Hart	G	Everett (WHL)	6-0/180	13-Aug-98	34W, 2.12, .919
28	Carl Grundstrom	RW	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/195	1-Dec-97	46-7-9-16
29	Luke Green	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/190	12-Jan-98	53-9-23-32
30	Lucas Johansen	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/175	16-Nov-97	60-9-32-41

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Jan-2016)

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 23:56:18 +0000

McKeen's top ranked prospect isn't the "consensus" number one for the 2016 NHL draft, a distinction that has been bestowed upon Auston Matthews for the past year or more, yet Finland's Patrik Laine has served notice to the scouting world that the decision on who goes first overall will not be an easy one, and that he is in the discussion.

"He's the first prospect that reminds me of Mario (Lemieux) since Mario," noted one senior NHL scout who was blown away by Laine's performance at the WJC over the holidays, where the 6-4 left winger compiled seven goals and six assists in seven games while leading Finland to a Gold Medal victory at home.

"It's ballsy to have him rated number one, but can't say I disagree... he could be a home run."

Laine is six months younger, three inches taller, and has outscored Matthews 29 goals to 19 in international play over the past three years. Up until now, Matthews had been considered the better prospect, but that wasn't the case at the WJC, where Laine quite simply was the dominant offensive force from tournament start to finish along with linemate and fellow draft prospect Jesse Puljujarvi (ranked third overall).

His size, strength, puck skills, shot and smarts were evident in every game, and as the world juniors went on Laine became more willing to throw his body around as well.

"He competed hard in the big games," noted one scout. "His point totals slowed down, but his willingness to compete defensively grew as they got closer to winning."

Matthews, much like fellow American Jack Eichel last season, would be a sterling consolation prize if he went second overall thanks to his first-line center potential.

"He's a can't-miss prospect...he does everything well," said one scout. "Size, puck skills, vision, skating..if he doesn't go number one, he'll be the next guy chosen. He'll play in the NHL next season."

Puljujarvi didn't hurt his draft status at the WJC either after leading the WJC in scoring and being named the tournament MVP. The two Finnish forwards moved ahead of Michael McLeod in the rankings in large part because of their eye opening offensive performance at the WJC.

"Puljujarvi may be the more complete of the two Finns at this time," said one scout. "He's certainly not afraid to go in the corners and muck it up."

The player whose stock rose the most at the tournament was Finnish defenceman Olli Juolevi due mainly to his steady, all-around game, natural skating ability and tremendous hockey smarts. He chipped in nine assists and made the all tournament team for the Gold Medal champions while playing in all situations.

"He was wonderful in that tournament...he may have been the best defenceman" said one scout. "His hockey sense and poise are tremendous."

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Patrik Laine	RW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	26-8-9-17
2	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	25-18-12-30
3	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-4/205	7-May-98	34-6-8-14
4	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	40-17-29-46
5	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	30-4-20-24
6	Alexander Nylander	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	35-23-28-51
7	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	37-6-19-25
8	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	32-15-47-62
9	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	42-11-18-29
10	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	20-1-11-12
11	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	34-26-41-67
12	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	43-15-25-40
13	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	24-Jun-98	41-26-35-61
14	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	34-6-30-36
15	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	31-30-8-38
16	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (Rus)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	20-9-11-20
17	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	34-26-18-44
18	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	36-19-17-36
19	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	44-3-15-18
20	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	22-9-9-18
21	Clayton Keller	C	NTDP (USA)	5-9/170	29-Jul-98	33-21-43-64
22	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	30-10-36-46
23	Riley Tufte	LW	Blaine (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	10-Apr-98	12-22-15-37
24	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-98	45-15-27-42
25	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	29-4-2-6
26	William Bitten	C	Flint (OHL)	5-10/170	10-Jul-98	41-20-23-43
27	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	19-8-9-17
28	Tyler Benson	LW	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/200	15-Mar-98	28-8-18-26
29	Markus Niemelainen	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-5/190	8-Jun-98	41-1-21-22
30	Carl Grundstrom	RW	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/195	1-Dec-97	30-3-5-8

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Dec-2015)

McKeen's Hockey — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 21:39:45 +0000

Ontario-based amateur scouts are getting typer's cramp writing reports on the abundance of high-end prospects toiling in the OHL this fall.

"The OHL is loaded," said one crossover scout who has scouted all three CHL leagues. "Not much in the QMJHL after the top four or five guys, and it's pretty weak out west."

Six of the top ten prospects in McKeen's December rankings hail from the OHL, as well as nine of the top 20, including the second- and third-ranked prospects in Mississauga center Michael McLeod and Sarnia defenceman Jakob Chychrun.

McLeod has wowed scouts with his non-stop engine and all-around play since the first game of the season.

"He just keeps coming at you" noted one scout. "Defencemen have to really back off because of his speed. He brings it every shift... sees the ice well plays well defensively... he's strong, big, physical, smart, has good skill... there are no weaknesses in his game."

McLeod's powerful skating stride has drawn comparison to Nathan MacKinnon and Taylor Hall, while his all-around game elicits thoughts of Jonathan Toews.

"I don't see how you go wrong drafting this guy" said one scout who likes him first overall. "He checks off all of the boxes. He is going to help you win playoff games."

Chychrun is one of the more heralded draft eligible defencemen in recent years, being the first non-exceptional status player ever named to Team Ontario’s U17 program as an underage skater in 2013.

Last year the former first overall pick burst onto the OHL scene with 16 goals in just 42 games on the Sting blueline, and has long been considered one of the top two prospects for the 2016 draft along with Auston Matthews.

"He isn't off to the same start offensively this season," said one scout. "There are some game where you don't see elite offensive upside...but he's still just 17. There's a lot to like."

Matthews heads up a strong American presence in the top 30 (eight of the top 20) despite being seen by few North American scouts so far this season."

"That's one prospect who could rest on his laurels until the world juniors," said one scout who saw plenty of his dominant performance at the U-18 and U-20 level as an underager.

Matthews missed close to a month with a back injury before making his return last week for the Zurich Lions, yet remained top 6 in goals, and first overall in goals per game with ten through 14 games.

"Some say that he would have been in the running for first overall last season if he was two days older" said one scout. "That gives you an idea of his talent level."

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	16-10-6-16
2	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	28-10-22-32
3	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	25-4-12-16
4	Patrik Laine	RW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	20-8-5-13
5	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-3/205	7-May-98	27-5-6-11
6	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	13-1-5-6
7	Alexander Nylander	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	28-17-22-39
8	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	27-7-9-16
9	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	24-12-36-48
10	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	24-3-17-20
11	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	27-23-8-31
12	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	9-Apr-98	30-19-24-43
13	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	19-5-19-24
14	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	23-18-12-30
15	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	28-23-34-57
16	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	26-11-12-23
17	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	20-10-7-17
18	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (MHL)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	17-9-11-20
19	Alex DeBrincat	RW	Erie (OHL)	5-7/165	18-Dec-97	25-31-21-52
20	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	25-3-11-14
21	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	2-Feb-98	25-7-17-24
22	William Bitten	C	Flint (OHL)	5-10/170	10-Jul-98	25-14-21-35
23	Tyler Benson	LW	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/200	15-Mar-98	16-5-6-11
24	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	22-7-30-37
25	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	13-4-5-9
26	Dillon Dube	C	Kelowna (WHL)	5-10/180	20-Jul-98	19-10-14-24
27	Kale Clague	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/180	5-Jun-98	25-1-7-8
28	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	12-4-5-9
29	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	23-3-1-4
30	Taylor Raddysh	RW	Erie (OHL)	6-2/205	18-Feb-98	26-12-28-40