Logan Stanley – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Brayden Point’s injury shakes up the Lightning, the Bruins are getting production from Fraser Minten and Viktor Arvidsson, the Devils have a Dougie Hamilton situation, and so much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:28:56 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, Brayden Point’s injury shakes up the Lightning, the Bruins are getting production from Fraser Minten and Viktor Arvidsson, the Devils have a Dougie Hamilton situation, and so much more!

#1 The Tampa Bay Lighnting lost No. 1 centre Brayden Point to a lower-body injury that will keep him out on a week-to-week basis. As part of Team Canada, Point will certainly be incentivized to get healthy by early February, but that does mean that there could be more opportunities for others in the Lightning lineup. Case in point: Nick Paul has moved up the depth chart to skate between Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentel on the top line. Paul has just three points (2 G, 1 A) and nine shots on goal in his past eight games, but the opportunity to play with Kucherov and Guentzel gives him potential appeal in deeper formats.

#2 Boston Bruins rookie centre Fraser Minten is starting to hit his stride, earning more ice time and delivering more production for the Bruins. He has eight points (5 G, 3 A) and 18 shots on goal in his past eight games. He’s skating between Alexander Steeves and Morgan Geekie at even strength and getting second-unit power play time, which has boosted his ice time near 16 minutes per game over that stretch. With 21 points (11 G, 10 A) in 48 games, Minten is tied for sixth in rookie scoring.

#3 Bruins veteran winger Viktor Arvidsson is also picking up his production lately. The high energy winger has contributed nine points (3 G, 6 A) and 25 shots on goal in his past eight games. That shot rate is elevated by Tuesday’s win over Detroit when he recorded a whopping 10 shots on goal. He is up to 24 points (9 G, 15 A) in 36 games for the season and that is quality secondary scoring for a Bruins team that is hanging around the playoff bubble.

#4 The New Jersey Devils have run into a situation on the blueline. With Johnathan Kovacevic returning to the lineup, the Devils made Dougie Hamilton a healthy scratch. Hamilton returned to the lineup after his one-game hiatus and put up three assists in two games. He does have a 10-team no-trade list, but it looks like a trade could be a possibility, especially if the Devils can’t get back into the playoff picture. In the meantime, though, Luke Hughes is the Devils defenceman tasked with quarterbacking New Jersey’s first power play.

#5 Connor McMichael of the Washington Capitals is off the 57-point pace that he had across 82 games last season, but he is starting to improve his production. Since New Years Eve, McMichael has recorded nine points (2 G, 7 A) and 22 shots on goal in nine games. With injuries taking out some Capitals forwards, including Pierre-Luc Dubois and, more recently, Tom Wilson, there is quality ice time available for McMichael. He has played more than 20 minutes per game in that nine-game span and is currently skating between wingers Aliaksei Protas and Ryan Leonard, so it’s a skilled enough line that McMichael should continue to deliver more offence.

#6 A sprained ankle suffered in the final game of the preseason put Winnipeg Jets winger Cole Perfetti behind the 8-ball this season and he struggled to generate offence upon his return. It’s starting to come around, however, as Perfetti has six points (1 G, 5 A) with 10 shots on goal in his past six games. His ice time is down a bit from last season and Perfetti is skating on a line with Jonathan Toews and Gabriel Vilardi at even strength.

#7 As the Buffalo Sabres have roared back into playoff contention, their top players have been a big part of the team’s success, but they are also getting contributions from the supporting cast. Centre Ryan McLeod has seven points (3 G, 4 A) with six shots on goal in his past six games. Obviously, that shot rate is not super encouraging but, with Josh Norris injured again, there is going to be a more significant role at least in the short term and, given Norris’ injury history, it probably won’t be the last time that McLeod needs to fill role in Buffalo’s top six.

#8 While the buzz around the San Jose Sharks rightfully focuses on their young talent, it should not go unrecognized that veteran Tyler Toffoli continues to be a reliable source of scoring. In his past five games, Toffoli has six points (3 G, 3 A) and 20 shots on goal. In addition to first-unit power play time, Toffoli is skating with Alexander Wennberg and Pavol Regenda at even strength, though the Sharks could be looking at lineup shuffle with the pending return of sophomore winger Will Smith.

#9 It should not come as a surprise, given that he has four straight seasons with more than 55 points, but Utah Mammoth centre Nick Schmaltz is a reliable offensive threat, and still available in quite a few leagues. Since Christmas, Schmaltz has 11 points points (5 G, 6 A) and 25 shots on goal in nine games and not only is Schmaltz’s shot rate a positive sign, but he’s averaged 21:30 of ice time per game in that span while anchoring the Mammoth’s top line.

#10 At 34 years old, Hurricanes left winger Taylor Hall is some distance away from his best years in the NHL, but he is still a valuable contributor in a secondary role. He’s averaging less than 15 minutes of ice time per game and yet, in his past seven games, Hall has six points (2 G, 4 A) and 14 shots on goal. He is skating on a line with young forwards Logan Stankoven an Jackson Blake at even strength while getting second unit power play time.

#11 New Jersey Devils left winger Timo Meier is mired in a slump, with just two points (1 G, 1 A) in his past 13 games, but there is some reason to consider him as a buy-low candidate; that is, if he hasn’t landed on the fantasy waiver wire yet. In those 13 games, Meier has put 53 shots on goal, which is more than four shots on goal per game, really an elite level of shot generation. While Meier has tended to be more of a volume shooter, rather than a high-percentage finisher, he has scored on just 8.5 percent of his shots on goal this season, and that would be his lowest rate since 2020-2021. He’s also skating on the Devils’ top line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, so that should be enough to shake Meier out of this funk.

#12 One of the great stories of the first half of the season, Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie has hit a slump. Through the first 36 games of the season, Geekie had 39 points (25 G, 14 A) with 90 shots on goal. He had scored on 27.8 percent of his shots on goal. Since then, regression has come for Geekie like it comes for everyone eventually. In the past 11 games, Geekie has zero goals, three assists and 21 shots on goal so even as the Bruins are playing competitive hockey as a team lately, they are doing it with minimal contribution from their leading goal scorer.

#13 2026 has brought some lean times for Nashville Predators left winger Filip Forsberg, who has one assist and just 10 shots on goal in seven games this month. He’s on the first line with Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Evangelista and getting first unit power play time, so this should turn around, but it is well worth keeping a close eye on Forsberg – who has surpassed 60 points six times in his career – to see if he is going to snap out of this slump. The first order of business should be to generate more shots.

#14 St. Louis Blues centre Robert Thomas will be out at least two weeks with a lower-body injury, leaving a significant hole in the Blues’ lineup as he is the team’s leading scorer with 33 points (11 G, 22 A) in 42 games. In the short term, it looks like centres Brayden Schenn and rookie Dalibor Dvorsky will bump up the depth chart. Since Christmas, Schenn has five points (3 G, 2 A) and 13 shots on goal and Dvorsky has three points (1 G, 2 A) and nine shots on goal in nine games, so it is a buy-low opportunity for anyone wishing to take a chance on them to fill in for some of the lost offense in St. Louis. The other possibility, which is very real, is that the Blues’ scoring dries up without their top playmaker.

#15 A collision with Utah’s JJ Peterka has landed New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin on the injured list, putting the Rangers in a precarious position. They are outside the playoff mix, last place in the Eastern Conference with 46 points in 48 games, and they are left with Jonathan Quick and Spencer Martin between the pipes without Shesterkin. Quick has struggled, with a .776 save percentage in four starts since Shesterkin was hurt.

#16 Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Erik Karlsson has landed on the injured list with a lower-body injury, which should keep him out for a couple of weeks. Fortunately, the Penguins do have a right-shot veteran defenceman at the ready to handle first unit power play time in Kris Letang. In his past dozen games, so starting well before Karlsson’s injury, Letang produced eight points (1 G, 7 A) with 22 shots on goal, while averaging 23:58 of ice time per game.

#17 With injuries knocking out Neal Pionk, Colin Miller, and Haydn Fleury, the Winnipeg Jets are giving a surprising goal-scorer time on the second power play unit. Defenceman Logan Stanley, who had only ever scored one goal per season in his NHL career, has now scored eight goals through 45 games. His eight goals on 48 shots (16.7 SH%) is obviously not sustainable, but it’s at least worth tracking him to see if he gets any benefits from time on the power play.

#18 Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar left Wednesday’s loss at Pittsburgh, and that’s a big loss for the Flyers. He is having the best season of his career, with a .905 save percentage and the drop off to Samuel Ersson, who has a miserable .853 save percentage, is a big deal for a Flyers team still competing for a playoff spot. The severity of Vladar’s injury is not known, but every game he’s out could be costly for the team’s playoff hopes.

#19 For fantasy managers that might need goaltending help because of these injuries, maybe give some consideration to Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Stuart Skinner. His first three starts for the Penguins weren’t great, but in his past five starts, Skinner is 4-1 with a .942 save percentage. His track record is reason enough to be cautious, but if you’re looking for goaltending help at this stage of the season, it’s not like flawless options are just waiting to be plucked from the waiver wire, so Skinner might just do the trick, even as a short-term fill-in option.

#20 Toronto Maple Leafs right winger William Nylander left Thursday’s loss at Vegas with a lower-body injury after delivering a goal and an assist in just 2:16 of ice time against the Golden Knights. It’s too soon to know how significant his injury is, but a long-term Nylander injury could be devastating for Toronto. He has 12 points (6 G, 6 A) and 11 shots on goal in his past six games. After Nylander’s injury, the Leafs moved Matthew Knies to play with John Tavares and Matias Maccelli on the second line.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – NHL Player Profiles

Scott Cullen – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 22:27:36 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) stickhandles across the blue line during the Winnipeg Jets versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on January 18, 2022 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Mark Scheifele

Winnipeg’s No.1 center has questionable defensive impacts, and that might be the kind way to put it, but he is also an elite point producer, scoring at least one point per game in each of the past six seasons. Scheifele has played more than 20 minutes per game for six straight seasons as well and even if his defensive play is not ideal, the Jets have outscored opponents by 29 goals with Scheifele on the ice during 5-on-5 play over the past six seasons, though Scheifele was outscored last season at 5-on-5 for the first time in his career. He is a high percentage finisher, scoring on 18.3% of his shots in the past six seasons, the fifth highest shooting percentage in the league among players that have appeared in at least 100 games over that time. Considering how consistently Scheifele has surpassed a point per game, that is a fair expectation for him this season. Maybe he won’t play in every game, but 75 points would be a sensible target.

Kyle Connor

One of the premier goal-scoring wingers in the league, Connor had 47 goals last season and he generated more than four shots on goal per game last season for the first time in his career. A quick and creative winger, Connor can either drift into soft spots in the zone to find openings from which to unleash a quick wrist shot, or he can dart into open space and score in transition. He is an equal opportunity finisher. In the past five seasons, Connor has accrued 176 goals, which ranks sixth in the league, so he has established that he is an elite goal-scorer. The trouble is that his offensive contributions get mitigated by subpar defensive results. For all of the goals that Connor scores, the last time the Jets outscored the opposition at 5-on-5 with Connor on the ice was in 2017-2018. Although he is lean and not physically imposing, Connor’s defensive play could be improved with better focus and commitment to positioning. He did win the Lady Byng Trophy last season, recording just four penalty minutes in 79 games. There are defensive issues when it comes to evaluating his game as a whole, but Connor is a game-breaking offensive performer, a reasonable bet to score 40 goals and 80 points this season.

Nikolaj Ehlers

A spectacular skater who drives play like few other wingers in the league, Ehlers has surpassed 20 goals for six straight seasons, and the Jets have outshot and outscored the opposition every year of Ehlers’ career. He generated a career-high 3.95 shots per game last season and while his scoring totals are not tops on the team, Ehlers is the most dangerous player on the Jets and does not pad his numbers on the power play. He scored 46 of his 55 points last season at even strength and has never had more than 13 power play points in a season. But Ehlers is dominant at evens. There are 218 forwards that have played at least 2000 5-on-5 minutes in the past three seasons. From that group, only the Boston Bruins duo of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand have a better relative Corsi percentage than Ehlers’ +6.6 CFRel%. In addition to dominant possession numbers, Ehlers should be in the range of 30 goals and 60 points this season.

Pierre-Luc Dubois

While there was some drama in the offseason relating to Dubois’ future in Winnipeg, he is still with the Jets and that gives the team a chance to be competitive this season. He just scored 28 goals and 60 points with strong possession numbers. Dubois, who scored a total of four power play goals in the previous four seasons, tallied 15 goals with the man advantage in 2021-2022. He is an impact player and could produce even more considering that his 5-on-5 shooting percentage last season was 5.6%, easily the lowest mark of his career. A 6-foot-3 center who is a strong skater and enough of a physical presence to dominate along the boards when he is on top of his game, Dubois drew 50 penalties last season, tied with Connor McDavid for most in the league. He could push 60 points again and it would be another very successful season.

Blake Wheeler

Even at 35 years old, Wheeler continues to contribute offensively. The 6-foot-5 winger had 60 points in 65 games last season, but the Jets have not outscored the opposition during 5-on-5 play with Wheeler on the ice since 2017-2018. Since 2017-2018, Wheeler has 111 power play assists, which is tied with Jonathan Huberdeau for second among forwards, behind only Connor McDavid. The challenge for the Jets would seem to be managing Wheeler’s ice time, as he played 19:32 per game last season, a higher average time on ice than he had in the prior two seasons and a possible indictment of Winnipeg’s forward depth. While Wheeler is not the impact player that he was during his peak years, he remains a productive scorer, and has scored at least 60 points in eight of his past nine seasons, with the shortened 2020-2021 season the only exception, so Wheeler could still be expected to produce points at that level this season.

Adam Lowry

At 6-foot-5, Lowry is a physically imposing checking center, who has won 54.4% of his faceoffs in the past five seasons. He uses his size effectively and has gone over 200 hits four times in his career. Lowry’s offensive contributions are limited, however, as he has never scored 30 points in an NHL season, and it might even be optimistic for the 29-year-old to hit that mark. Limited scoring and big hit totals are the expectation for Lowry, and he knows his role, so that’s what he provides.

Mason Appleton

The Jets traded to get Appleton back from the Seattle Kraken after losing him in the expansion draft and the 26-year-old winger played more than 16 minutes per game after returning to Winnipeg, though he managed just four points in 19 games. While the production wasn’t there, it might be encouraging for Appleton’s role with the Jets that he was playing that much down the stretch last season. He is a checking winger who helps to drive play and has a positive goal differential despite starting more of his shifts in the defensive zone. Appleton has enough skill to contribute secondary offense and that could mean 12-15 goals and 25-30 points.

Dominic Toninato

A 28-year-old journeyman forward, Toninato appeared in a career-high 77 games for the Jets last season, contributing a career-high seven goals and 14 points. Among the 245 players to appear in at least 75 games last season, Toninato had the lowest average time on ice (8:24). Extremely one dimensional, Toninato can hold his own defensively but contributes so little offensively that he is a prime candidate to get replaced in the Jets lineup whenever a prospect is deemed ready for the job.

Jansen Harkins

Another checking winger who can fill a defensive role but with little offensive contribution, Harkins is a high-energy player who played a career-high 77 games last season but, like Toninato, is a candidate to get replaced in the lineup unless he finds a way to offer a greater contribution. Harkins has never been a big goal scorer but has had some moments of point production with a disproportionate number of assists. In the NHL, though, he is not going to get the opportunity to play with players that will notably increase his scoring totals.

DEFENSE

Josh Morrissey

After a down season in 2020-2021, Morrissey rebounded last season with the most productive season of his career, re-establishing his place atop Winnipeg’s defensive depth chart. He had a career high 12 goals and 37 points while registering a career high 150 hits and playing a career-high 23:40 per game. It was his fourth straight season logging more than 22 minutes per game on the Winnipeg blueline. His defensive results bounced back significantly from a 2020-2021 season in which he had the worst defensive impacts of his career. Given his role on the Jets power play, where he scored 15 points with the man advantage last season, Morrissey could still be counted on for 35 total points this season.

Neal Pionk

The right-shot defenseman was surprisingly effective in his first two years with the Jets but struggled last season, his game seemingly slipping after an early December game against Toronto when Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza caught him in the head with a knee. Pionk had 16 points in 24 points at that stage of the season and then managed three assists in his next 20 games. Overall, Pionk still finished with 34 points, but his possession numbers were easily the worst of his three seasons in Winnipeg. While he is not big, listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, Pionk plays a robust physical game, registering more than 130 hits in four consecutive seasons, including the shortened 2020-2021 campaign. If Pionk can re-group, he can still be a productive part of the Winnipeg blueline, as he has proven he can handle a significant role and a 40-point season could still be within reach for the 27-year-old blueliner.

Nate Schmidt

For the fifth straight season, Schmidt logged more than 20 minutes per game and finished with 32 points, the fourth time in the past five seasons that he scored at least 30 points. He has been moving around in recent seasons, with stops in Vegas, Vancouver, and Winnipeg after starting his career in Washington. Schmidt is very well mannered on the ice, never having exceeded 16 penalty minutes in any of his nine NHL seasons. He saw a spike in offensive zone starts with the move to Winnipeg, with 56.2% offensive zone starts for the Jets after 35.2% offensive zone starts in Vancouver the year before. That deployment naturally worked in his favor and his possession results improved even if Schmidt’s 5-on-5 goal differential (-13) was the worst of his career. The 31-year-old is a strong skater who can move the puck and, even if he has some defensive deficiencies, Schmidt should contribute 30 points this season.

Brenden Dillon

A thumper on the Jets blueline, Dillon recorded 20 points for the third time in his career, but the 6-foot-4 31-year-old defender also delivered a career-high 212 hits. That physical presence, combined with good mobility for his size makes Dillon a solid contributor on the Jets blueline. Dillon’s track record as a defender is excellent but his first season in Winnipeg brought relatively mediocre defensive results. He barely gets involved offensively – his 1.08 shots on goal per game last season was his highest per-game rate since 2017-2018 – so those defensive results need to be better, but the Jets should give Dillon a chance to bounce back and if he provides 20 points along with better defensive results, that would be of serious value to a Jets team that is still seeking stability on the blueline.

GOALTENDING

Connor Hellebuyck

The Winnipeg Jets paid a lot of lip service to the premise of a tandem in net over the first half of starter Connor Hellebuyck’s career. But with each passing year, they’ve abandoned the idea more – and by the 2021-22 season, the 29-year old Michigan native was one of the most heavily-deployed goaltenders in the entire NHL.

Part of that is a casualty of the team’s decline on paper; they’ve gone from looking like a legitimate threat to a team that doesn’t seem to be much of a surefire guarantee to make the playoffs at all, and their need to grind out points in as many games as they can has left them desperate to utilize Hellebuyck’s game-changing style as often as they possibly can. But the toll certainly seems to show up the more often the Jets rely upon Hellebuyck without giving him time to recover, and his numbers last year reflected that. For the first time since the 2016-17 season, Hellebuyck failed to finish last year among the league’s most successful performers; for just the third time since becoming a full-time NHL starter, he didn’t receive a single Vezina vote. It sees all too apparent that he plays his best when he’s able to give each game his all; he thrives on being able to utilize his unique physical build to reach shots that other goaltenders wouldn’t be able to, particularly when his defense misses the mark in front of him, and that becomes significantly more of a challenge when he’s even a beat slower or forced to play even a hair more conservatively. It still speaks volumes about him that even his ‘bad’ seasons are ones that a number of other teams around the league would covet, and his ‘bad’ games are most often the fault of the defense in front of him rather than his own unforced errors. But even so, the Jets have built their team around his game – and with an inconsistent David RIttich as his new backup for the upcoming year, it appears that Jets fans will have to hope that the off-season was long enough to give Hellebuyck a chance to get himself back to one hundred percent.

Projected starts: 65-70

NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs – Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets – Long, Deep History between Canadian Teams

Jeff Veillette — Sun, 16 May 2021 19:57:19 +0000

The Stanley Cup playoffs are officially underway! Well, at least they are in the United States. In Canada, we’re still waiting for the closing act to finish – that is, the three makeup games between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames, to secure draft lottery odds, fulfill TV deals, and deliver on the promise of a season without missed games.

With that in mind, Wednesday feels forever away. But once the final buzzer sounds on the North Division’s regular season in Calgary, we’ll almost immediately be jumping into two fantastic series featuring four compelling teams.

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 12: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) tracks the play during the Toronto Maple Leafs versus the Montreal Canadiens game on April 12, 2021, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Toronto (1) vs. Montreal (4)

Maybe the single best byproduct of the divisional alignments, for a long-time fan of the sport, comes from this series. For the first time since 1978/79, the two oldest franchises in the league, hockey’s original rivalry, will turn into a playoff series. Be it league alignment or dissimilar trajectories, the two teams have repeatedly come close but not quite in bringing their magic to the post-season, but a new generation will now get to tell stories of their own.

At the start of the year, these two teams were the ones most frequently brought up as potential division leaders, though Toronto ended up pulling a whole 18 points ahead when all was said and done. The Habs did put up a pretty strong warning shot at the beginning of their season, opening the season 7-1-2 in their first 10 games, though they close it on a five-game losing streak, with just two regulation wins in their final 11 games and just five in their final 23.

None of those win/loss records matter in the post-season though, as a very similar Canadiens team showed in the bubble last year. After a similar run of two regulation wins in 14 games to close their regular season, Montreal stunned the hockey world by zooming past the Pittsburgh Penguins in the play-ins, on the back of three one-goal (excluding empty netters) victories in a best-of-five. This came largely on the back of Carey Price, who turned back the clock with a Game 4 shutout and a 0.947 save percentage on the series.

That’s one of the biggest factors the Canadiens are hoping will work for them – they have a tandem of goaltenders in Price and Jake Allen who have had extremely pedestrian, if not below average regular seasons, but have previously had stretches of greatness. Price did miss time down the stretch with a concussion, but Dominique Ducharme and his team hope he’ll be ready to go. Toronto’s situation in between the pipes is the exact opposite – Jack Campbell has had a dominant second half of the season since taking over for Frederik Andersen but is unproven in the NHL playoffs and doesn’t have a long track record of sustained performance. Rather than betting on a bounce-back, Toronto is betting on a lack of regression.

Up front, both teams play a high-possession game and enjoy putting pucks to the net. The difference in quality is stark, though – Toronto’s game breakers (Rocket Richard winner Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, and even short-minute wizard Jason Spezza) are much more adept at not just moving the puck into the net-front but capitalizing on their opportunities. The Canadiens have Tyler Toffoli, arguably the offseason’s best free-agent acquisition, and his 28 goals to rely upon, but find themselves lacking up and down the lineup. Cole Caufield could be an injection of finishing talent for the team should they choose to use him, but early practice lines suggest that he might be a healthy scratch when Montreal’s core of injured players return.

Instead, it looks like the strategy for them will be to attempt to wear Toronto down. The Canadiens were the league’s most physical team this year, leading all clubs in hits, including 14 players who threw the body at least 70 times (Toronto, meanwhile, had two). Montreal out-hit Toronto in 8 of their 10 games against them, tying the 9^th and trailing by one in the 10^th, and they’ll be looking to employ similar results when the games are allowed to be even more physical.

It should be noted, though, that that more physical, defensive playstyle against the Leafs didn’t fare too well. Despite every attempt to suffocate them, the end result was a 7-3 record for Toronto in the season series, with none of Montreal’s wins coming by more than one non-empty net goal. The Leafs controlled the season series in just about every way – better finishing, better goaltending, more time with the puck, more shots in dangerous areas, and better special teams. So, while this stereotypically “playoff style” method of play could work in a small sample, it has yet to show its weight.

My Prediction: Toronto takes this series in five games. The competition in this one seems to rely too much on the underdog pulling the favourite down to its level, and while that’s not impossible, it will be very difficult with core players (Shea Weber, Philip Danault, Brendan Gallagher, and Carey Price, just to name a few) playing on half-injured bodies and young counter-attackers (Caufield, Jesperi Kotkaniemi) currently poised to sit in the press box. Toronto’s got some concerns in a cold powerplay, but comes into the playoffs with a deep, mostly healthy roster that should be able to keep their regular season momentum.

WINNIPEG, MB – April 17: Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) skates in on Winnipeg Jets defenseman Derek Forbort (24) during the regular season game between the Winnipeg Jets and the Edmonton Oilers on April 17, 2021 at the Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg MB. (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire)

Edmonton (2) vs Winnipeg (3)

Once again, we have a regional matchup with a lot of historical implications, though many come in another league and all come with a different organization operating under one of the names. But be it WHA or NHL, Jet-Coyotes or Thrasher-Jets, there has always been something about Edmonton and Winnipeg lining up for some post-season hockey. In fact, it seems to be the only path to success for these teams – while all versions of the Jets organization remain Stanley Cup-less, two of their three Avco Cups came through beating the Oilers. In Edmonton, all five of their Stanley Cups came through beating the original Jets along the way.

One thing that hasn’t changed along the way is their process of getting to this stage in the dance – offence pumped through star talent. For the Jets, it was once the Hot Line, followed by Dale Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen, Randy Carlyle, and their support core. For the Oilers, it was Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jarri Kurri, and Paul Coffey, among others.

Today, the Jets rely on their quadrant of Mark Scheifele (team leader with 63 points), Kyle Connor (goal leader at 26), Nikolaj Ehlers, and captain Blake Wheeler to give them scoring punch across the lineup. In Edmonton, it’s the two highest scoring players in the league driving the bus – last year’s MVP in Leon Draisaitl, and this year’s eventual MVP in Connor McDavid. McDavid, undeniably the game’s best player today and looking eager to chase the all-time greats at the peaks of Mount Rushmore, blew all of our minds by scoring 105 points in 56 games this season, just five points fewer than Scheifele and Connor combined.

With that in mind, this series is very similar to the one out east. While Winnipeg does have a group of gamebreakers, they will be tested by nagging injuries for Ehlers and Wheeler, and it’s certainly not up to the level of what McDavid and Draisaitl can bring. Shutting those two down will be the modus operandi, and that’s something easier said than done. That’s especially the case for a Winnipeg team that struggles to limit shot quality against itself. McDavid in particular has had no issues slicing and dicing through them, out chancing every Jets opponent he’s faced this year, outscoring all of them, and outmatching all but Andrew Copp in expected goal matchups, and all but Mason Appleton and Adam Lowry in shot attempt matchups.

The lack of a high-end defenceman for Winnipeg makes this challenge even tougher. Neal Pionk and Dylan DeMelo have been fine value pieces for the team, but still struggle to hold off the most game breaking of talents. Josh Morrissey hasn’t quite been the star they’ve been hoping for him to be. After that, things thin out very even faster for the team, with Derek Forbort, Logan Stanley, and Jordie Benn being far from stalwarts.

In fairness, the same can be said for the Oilers, who can play physical and gritty but don’t exactly have a list of Norris candidates either. Tyson Barrie has had a great year offensively but isn’t the most reliable in the defensive zone. Similar can be said for Darnell Nurse, and while Ethan Bear is looking like a very intriguing option on their blue line, Dave Tippett has kept his minutes on the lower end.

Where this series could shift away from expectation is between the pipes. Connor Hellebucyk has put up a season that’s down from last season statistically, but still ranks him among the league’s higher end in save percentage (0.916), goals saved above average (10.8) and shutouts (4). He’s also proven very capable of managing a heavy workload over the past five years, appearing in nearly 80% of Winnipeg’s games (289 of 372), which should help him stay steady as the schedule pace tightens. On the other end, Mike Smith has turned back the clock with an even better season than Hellebucyk (0.923 SV%, 13.7 GSAA, 3 shutouts), but has been less consistent in recent years, has had less experience with a heavy workload both this year and in the past several seasons, and at 39 years old, you wonder at times if this miracle run might come to a head. Mikko Koskinen has had moments of quality but has struggled this season, so if Smith falters, I’m not sure Edmonton has a reliable safety valve.

My Prediction: This will also likely be a five-game series, maybe six, but likely five, and it will go in favour of the Edmonton Oilers. The McDavid factor is just too hard to ignore against a team that isn’t deep defensively – the playoffs are where you can leverage your game breakers and while better depth in the bottom 6/9 of the forward core might help the Jets a little, I don’t know if it will matter if 97 & 29 get to take up the majority of the minutes. Ehlers’ injury, even if he does come back, was a big blow to the team and if he’s any less than 100% they’ll be in real trouble. Hellebucyk is the player who has the most potential to disrupt the scale, but I just don’t know if I see it happening.

SEATTLE KRAKEN EXPANSION DRAFT: Prospects to Target – Part One – Goaltenders and Defense

Brock Otten — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 16:02:06 +0000

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

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

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

GOALTENDERS

Daniel Vladar - Boston Bruins

A massive 6’5 netminder, Vladar has been terrific in the AHL since turning pro. The former third round pick led the AHL in save percentage and goals against average last season. Of course, his only NHL appearance came in last year’s bubble playoffs when he relieved Jaroslav Halak in a blowout loss to the Lightning.

Alex Nedeljkovic - Carolina Hurricanes

A former OHL Goaltender of the Year and AHL Goaltender of the Year, Nedeljkovic is a former highly touted prospect who has yet to break through as a consistent NHL goaltender, struggling in his spot starts for the Hurricanes. He passed through waivers unclaimed this year, to the surprise of many. With Petr Mrazek having thumb surgery recently, Nedeljkovic is getting another run as James Reimer’s back-up and it will serve as a great audition for him (perhaps a final one). He did recently post his first career NHL shutout against the defending Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Michael McNiven - Montreal Canadiens

McNiven, also a former OHL Goaltender of the Year, has been buried under the goaltending depth of the Canadiens the last few seasons. He was terrific in the ECHL last year and has shown glimpses of strong play in the AHL in previous seasons. This year, he will get a chance to truly showcase himself as the platoon partner of Cayden Primeau in Laval.

Filip Gustavsson - Ottawa Senators

Acquired as part of the package for Derrick Brassard, when he was traded to Pittsburgh three years ago, Gustavsson has struggled so far in the Senators organization. A former highly touted prospect, Gustavsson has yet to play this year as Ottawa has kept him on their taxi squad. Depending on if he bounces back this year (when he does play), he could be intriguing to the Kraken.

Joey Daccord - Ottawa Senators

A former seventh round selection, Daccord signed with Ottawa after a standout junior season with Arizona State, where he was a finalist for the Mike Richter Award (top NCAA goaltender). He had a strong rookie season in the AHL last year and will be looking to mimic that with Belleville again this season.

Vitek Vanecek - Washington Capitals

After five seasons in the AHL/ECHL, the former high draft selection is finally getting his chance to be an NHL netminder with the Capitals this season. Initially serving as Ilya Samsonov’s back-up, Vanecek has taken over the reigns as the starter with Samsonov’s lingering covid symptoms. Vanecek already has seven wins on the year. Given that the Capitals are sure to protect the younger Samsonov, Vanecek is likely to be available to Seattle.

Connor Ingram - Nashville Predators

An AHL all star the last two seasons, Ingram had emerged in the conversation as one of the better goaltending prospects in the league. However, the 2020/21 season has been very difficult for the former Kamloops Blazer. He was embroiled in controversy in Sweden earlier this year when he and his teammates were accused (but cleared) of match fixing. Now, he is in the NHL’s player assistance program and has not played this year. Hopefully the talented netminder gets the help he needs and is able to return at some point this season.

Josef Korenar - San Jose Sharks

Two years ago, Korenar burst onto the scene with a strong rookie performance in the AHL, putting himself on the prospect map. However, his sophomore campaign was not as impressive as he struggled with consistency. In his third pro season, Korenar has been part of the San Jose Sharks’ taxi squad thus far.

Ville Husso - St. Louis Blues

Husso has certainly been patient, awaiting his opportunity to play in the NHL. A former highly touted prospect, Husso already has four AHL seasons under his belt and is now finally getting his chance with the Blues as Jordan Binnington’s back-up. His play thus far has been underwhelming, but there is still plenty of season left.

Mikhail Berdin - Winnipeg Jets

Easily one of the league’s most underrated goaltending prospects, Berdin has been terrific in his first two AHL seasons with Manitoba. Blessed with size (6’2), athleticism, and composure, Berdin has what it takes to be an NHL netminder. With Connor Hellebuyck blocking him, his best chance to be an NHL Netminder could be with another organization like Seattle.

DEFENSE

Jake Bean - Carolina Hurricanes

Last year’s AHL Defenseman of the Year, Bean is a legitimate NHL prospect and one of the best young players on this list. However, due to the depth of the Carolina Hurricanes, there is a chance that they won’t be able to protect him from Seattle. The former first round pick is currently in the midst of his rookie NHL season with Carolina and his confidence has been blossoming of late. Do the Canes leave Dougie Hamilton and/or Brady Skjei exposed in order to protect Bean? Do they work out a trade with Seattle to prevent them from selecting any of the high end players they will ultimately have to leave unprotected?

Riley Stillman - Florida Panthers

Stillman did a bang up job last year helping the Panthers cover for injuries, even if he wasn’t quite ready yet to be a fulltime NHL defender. This year, he is back in the AHL where he has gotten off to a strong start in his third pro season. A physically intense defender who can play in any situation, Stillman could be a top target for Seattle if they intend to build the kind of team Vegas did.

Cale Fleury - Montreal Canadiens

Much like Stillman, Fleury finds himself back in the AHL this season after playing much of last year in the NHL. The addition of Alex Romanov has pushed Fleury down the depth chart and it seems unlikely Montreal will be able to protect him at the expansion draft. A right shot defender with size, Fleury could definitely be coveted if he performs well with Laval.

Sebastian Aho - New York Islanders

No, no, not that Aho. This is the defender in the Islanders organization. Undersized, but extremely talented offensively, Aho has been an AHL All-star in all three of his professional seasons in North America. Now waiver eligible, Aho has been on the Isles roster to start this season but has not yet played a game. Would Seattle look at him as a potential powerplay QB for their roster?

Cal Foote - Tampa Bay Lightning

A former high first round pick, Foote has finally received his shot to be an NHL player after two seasons in the AHL. Playing sparingly on the third pair, Foote is proving himself a capable NHL defender thus far. However, the Lightning have an abundance of talented young players to protect and Foote could be a casualty there if Tampa feels that his upside as an NHL player is limited.

Josh Mahura - Anaheim Ducks

The former Regina Pat and Red Deer Rebel standout has bounced between the AHL and NHL during his first two pro seasons and is considered one of Anaheim’s better defensive prospects. There is still hope that he develops into a quality two-way NHL defender. However, like some other teams here, Anaheim has other young defenders they may elect to protect over him.

Ben Gleason - Dallas Stars

A free agent signing by the Stars out of the OHL, Gleason came out gangbusters in his first pro season, even getting in limited NHL action and earning his first NHL point. However, last season was a step backwards. Unlikely to be protected by Dallas due to their defensive depth, Gleason will have a shot to impress Seattle with a strong AHL season this year and he has started off hot with Texas.

Austin Strand - Los Angeles Kings

A free agent signing out of the WHL by the Kings, Strand has made the Kings this season, his third professionally. With a strong season for Los Angeles, he can certainly put himself in the conversation to be protected, but it likely comes down to him or Kale Clague and it seems unlikely that the Kings protect Strand over Clague.

Brogan Rafferty - Vancouver Canucks

Because of his age, the Canucks will have to protect Rafferty after just his second pro season after signing out of Quinnipiac. The slick skating defender was a standout in the AHL with Utica last year, where he was an all star. This season, he has been used sparingly by Vancouver, shuttling between the active roster and taxi squad. There is a chance that Vancouver elects to protect Rafferty over one of their more experienced, more expensive defenders (like Tyler Myers or Nate Schmidt), but at this point, Rafferty looks to be on the bubble.

Logan Stanley - Winnipeg Jets

Stanley, a former first round pick, has cracked the Winnipeg roster this season, playing on the team’s third pairing, and playing well. The behemoth blueliner (6’7, 230lbs) is a physical specimen and would look good as a piece on the Seattle blueline if the Jets are unable to protect him. It will probably come down to him or Dylan DeMelo, depending on how Stanley plays to finish out this NHL season.

Sami Niku - Winnipeg Jets

No longer waivers exempt, the Jets have kept the former AHL defenseman of the year on their roster all season, even if they haven’t played him a ton. Looking like the odd man out, it seems very unlikely that Niku is protected at this point and he could certainly be a target for the Kraken, hoping to unlock his upside as a top four defender.

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

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Winnipeg Jets Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 19:35:16 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Winnipeg Jets prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Cole Perfetti, C/LW (10^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Perfetti may not possess high end size or speed, but there are so many things to like about his game His best asset is his hockey sense. While he doesn’t possess game breaking speed, he can break down opposing defenses by being one step ahead of them. His preferred spot is the half wall, where he can survey the ice, quick hands and quick feet biding him time to make plays. He is a constant threat with the puck and turnovers are rare. He anticipates gaps, rebounds, and passes before they happen, and isn’t afraid to take a hit to make something happen. Perfetti possesses excellent edgework and lateral quickness. He is hard to contain due to his unpredictability. His wrist shot and release are terrific. He is creative in transition. There is doubt if he can stay down the middle at the next level. Perfetti also has steps to take as a two-way player, who can be relied upon in any situation. With his high-end hockey sense, he can likely improve some of his faults. He is a potential game breaking offensive forward who could one dayfind his way to the top of NHL scoring races. – BO

Dylan Samberg, D (43^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

The three years since Winnipeg used a second round pick on Samberg saw the big blueliner play a key role in two WJCs for Team USA, win two NCAA championships with Minnesota-Duluth and add 25 pounds to fill out his impressive frame, without any degradation in his quickness. He is a very good skater for his size, which is especially notable in his ability to recover after the puck goes the other way. While he can be physically imposing, playing the body against all manner of opponents, his off-the-puck game is much more than just a matter of brute force. He positions himself well and has a gigantic wingspan, allowing him to use that reach to break up rushes cleanly and legally. With the puck, he is functional enough to earn some second unit power play duties. He has a strong shot with a quick release. Moreover, he moves the puck well, without ever looking fancy. Samberg, more than anything else, makes the right play to put his team in an advantageous position. Finally signed to an ELC, Samberg could see NHL ice next season. - RW

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

At 6-4” and 228, Vesalainen can be an intimidating physical force, using his size to bust his way to the goal with pure momentum and strength. He is also an elite skater. Nimble and with impressive footwork, he achieves top speed quickly and is able to get separation on defenders when motoring through open ice. More of a shooter than a passer, he is deadly with his wrist shot anywhere from the faceoff dots in and is aware enough to open up passing lanes for teammates while looking shot. Despite his impressive raw package of skills, Vesalainen is perplexingly inconsistent and lacks assertiveness. Slow to adjust to the size of North American ice, he is prone to disappearing for a string of shifts and does not put up enough shots for a player as lethal with the puck as he is. 2019-20 was his first full season in N.A. competition and if he can figure out how to put his skillset together, he can be a top-line scoring winger; at worst, he is a rugged middle-six depth contributor. - TD

Ville Heinola, D (20^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Heinola showed promise in his eight-game NHL stint, but was eventually sent to the AHL before being returned to Finland. He plays with plenty of poise and makes sound decisions with the puck. He sees the ice really well and snaps accurate, crisp passes in all zones from simple outlets to longer passes up the rink. He has swift hands and picks pucks quickly off the wall to make plays. He also works well on the power play as his vision and passing skills are assets. He has an accurate shot from the point, whether it be a slap shot or wrister. He reads the game well defensively, has a quick stick and keeps tight gaps. However, Heinola could use his size more effectively in battles. He moves pretty well, but his skating is not high end, especially considering his size. He lacks explosive initial burst and could be quicker from a standstill and smooth out his forward stride. He makes up for the lack of quickness with his situational awareness. He has top pairing NHL potential, but the middle-pair is a more realistic projection. - MB

Declan Chisholm, D (150^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

One of the better skaters out of the OHL, Chisholm is aggressive in leading the attack out of the defensive zone, using first step quickness to create separation from forecheckers, and his speed and edgework to gain the opposing blueline. A competent powerplay QB, he creates lanes with agility and lateral quickness. Finally, his gap control defensively is solid as he stays ahead of incoming attackers and has learned to trust his mobility to play more aggressively to take away space. Increased strength and improved engagement elevated his effectiveness. This will be the area that Chisholm will need to continue to work on, as well as his decision making in transition. He will likely need some time to gain the confidence necessary to play aggressively as a pro. Previously, Chisholm had trouble with turnovers, but cleaned that up this past year, and gets a better feel for when to take a risk. He will likely need several years of seasoning at the pro level before he is ready for an NHL role, but he projects as a number 4-6 defender who can also quarterback the powerplay. The key will be just how much his defensive game progresses. – BO

Anton Johannesson, D (133^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Johannesson has missed a good chunk of the last two years to injury, which, when combined with his smaller frame, allowed the Jets to draft him in the fifth round. When healthy, he has showcased why he his high-end skills. A confident and competent mover, Johannesson excels in transition, using an effortless stride, strong agility, and quick hands to lead the attack. On the power play he is a very dangerous weapon because of how well he gets his shot through to the net and his ability to walk around defenders to create gaps in coverage. With the puck on his stick, it is rare to see him commit a turnover as his vision and decision making is sound. Needless to say, his upside as an offensive defender is very high. His size has held him back from being a consistently effective player in the defensive end. He isn’t strong in front of the net or along the boards and his overall awareness is raw. There is hope that as he fills out, he can become an adequate defensive player as his offensive skill set is definitely dynamic enough to play in the NHL. – BO

Sami Niku, D (198^thoverall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Three years removed from his dominant rookie AHL season, Niku has refined his craft and looks more like a future NHLer than a flash-in-the-pan. He impresses with splendid technical skating skill and inventiveness in moving the puck out and into the offensive zone. A superb puck-handler, he calls for the puck often and directs traffic through the neutral zone at even strength and the power play. His patience with the puck has improved significantly. Though he has improved defensively, he hasn’t looked entirely comfortable in his NHL stints, posting poor possession numbers and few points in transition while battling for ice time against veterans. Fighting through injuries -- including a preseason car accident with Vesalainen beside him -- Niku was not able to stamp himself into the NHL with regularity yet, with some hesitance and inconsistency in his play, but he very well could clinch a spot on their thinning blueline as soon as next season. As a seventh rounder, any NHL games played Niku registers is above market value for Winnipeg, but the 23-year-old’s story is only just beginning. - TD

Mikhail Berdin, G (157^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

One of the most entertaining players at any position in the AHL, Berdin’s talent level is matched only by his swagger. A hard-nosed and fierce competitor in the crease, the Russian held up exceptionally through backstopping a Manitoba team that sat at the bottom of the Central Division all season, posting a .910 save percentage and a record near .500 in spite of a weak defense in front of him. Athletic and creative in the blue paint, his anticipation and play-reading improved mightily from his 2018-19 rookie pro season, but he mostly relies on his reflexes and impressive foot quickness. While puck-handling is not the most important skill a goaltender can have, Berdin’s talent and confidence with the puck is Brodeur-esque and capable of forcing a team to abandon any forechecking or dump-and-chase style. His selection of his tools and aggression can hurt him at times, but he can make difficult saves look easy consistently with his high-energy style. A sixth rounder in 2016, Berdin is a legit NHL prospect who could even push an NHL like Connor Hellebuyck for starts in the future. - TD

Logan Stanley, D (18^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Time on ice is not a publicly available statistic in the AHL, but I have a feeling Logan Stanley is near the top of the boards. A 6-7”, 242lb behemoth capable of logging heavy minutes with consistency and presenting opposing forwards with long, impassable gaps and borderline unfair stick length, the 22-year-old is exactly what the Jets thought they were taking in the middle of the 2016 first round. His defensive game is one of the most polished out of any pro in his age group, but his offensive game has been fairly impressive as well, showing out during power-play deployments with his booming slap shot and improved technical skating ability -- he already moved around pretty well for a big man. What is frustrating in his game, though, are his inconsistent and confusing reads; he can pass the puck into a dangerous situation or sell out for a hit and give up inside position at times, and that will have to be coached out of him. Otherwise, Stanley plays such a simple stay-at-home game that I can’t imagine he would have much trouble playing in the NHL for a decade plus, perhaps starting with next season. – TD

Daniel Torgersson, LW (40^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A burgeoning power forward, Torgersson has shown an ability to complement skilled players extremely well in a top six role. He skates well enough to keep up with them in a straight line and has good explosiveness for his size. He can cover the puck and win battles with his reach and strength is hard to contain around the net and on the rush. A physical player, he shows well in all three zones, competing hard on the forecheck and along the wall in his own end. However, his skill set as an offensive player is only average, which suggests that his upside may be limited to the bottom six player at the NHL level, an assessment that his home club of Frolunda may agree with, as they have only sporadic time up with the senior side, regardless of his great production at the junior level. If he can improve his release and his ability to create with the puck at full speed, there may be more upside. – BO

David Gustafsson, C (60^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

It should go without saying that the Jets rushed Gustafsson to the NHL last season. Playing 22 games for Winnipeg at age 19, he had a Shot Attempt % of 29.9%, per NHL.com, worse than any forward who played in more than four games. Were it not for a fortuitous PDO, he likely would have seen the back of the NHL much sooner. To his credit, Gustafsson was much better in his 13 game stint in the AHL and was far more impressive playing on the top line for Sweden at the WJC, helping his homeland to a Bronze Medal. It should also be said that playing up a level or two is nothing new for the center, as he played two full seasons in the SHL as a teenager before coming to North America. Gustafsson is a large-framed center with a great track record on the draw. He is quicker than he is fast, plays a very reliable two-way game and is strong on his stick. Due to always playing above his age class, his offensive upside is still a mystery, but Gustafsson has enough in his bag to make it in a bottom six role assuming he lacks the skill set to play top six. - RW

Santeri Virtanen, C (105^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Virtanen plays a tenacious, purposeful two-way game. He manages well in the corners and along the boards – the physical attributes are there. He reads the game well and provides puck support. He is very strong at face-offs. More of a defensive forward, he can be utilized on the penalty kill due to his defensive reliability. He has pretty good puck handling skills and a fine shot as well. In order to be able to play in the NHL, his skating will have to improve. Not the most efficient skater, he often takes wide turns. His first few strides are clumsy. He could improve his endurance and be more agile as well. Virtanen had a very promising start to the 2019-20 season but couldn’t quite maintain that level of play for the remainder of the campaign. Next season will be very important as he will need to contribute more offensively. At this point in time, he projects as a depth forward at the NHL level. - MB

Nathan Smith, C (91^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Drafted as a 19-year-old, Smith has one of the more interesting, unique stories among all prospects in this book. In his first year of draft eligibility, Smith was playing high school hockey. That, in and of itself, is not that interesting. But he was not playing in Minnesota, or Massachusetts. No, Smith was playing high school hockey in Florida. The Tampa native was crushing all comers in the Sunshine State, but surprisingly more than held his own when he moved up a few notches to play with Cedar Rapids of the USHL. His skating was maybe a little unrefined, with more experience playing roller hockey than ice hockey growing up, but he was clever and showed a gift for playmaking. Smith is comfortable playing in the middle of the ice and has proven himself to be effectively creative with the puck after a successful freshman season at Minnesota State. His skating has also improved from what he showed in the USHL. We are still years away from knowing how Smith will turn out, but he has already come so far. - RW

Arvid Holm, G (167^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Holm is starting to look like a sneaky good pick by the Jets from 2017. He never had the big numbers playing on a bottom team in the junior league but was since picked up by Farjestad in the SHL which is a big organization with a strong program for goalies. Holm has since been a big surprise to many. He has the size that you want in a modern goalie, and he reads the play well with good vision. He now plays better positionally as well. Holm showed strong consistency and his team won 20 of his 30 starts. He is not a goalie with any standout tools, but the athleticism and his hockey sense both seem to be above average. He has recently signed with Winnipeg but will play the next season in the SHL. With the latest season in mind I would not rule out him to be a fringe starter/backup-goalie in the NHL in the future. - JH

Leon Gawanke, D (136^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

From an emerging but still, to this point, under-scouted hockey culture in Germany, Gawanke was top-ten in points and assists among rookie defensemen in the AHL in 2019-20 with Manitoba, a team starved of offense. This is an encouraging sign of things to come from a highly entertaining, risk-taking 21-year-old with little pro experience under his belt. Demonstrating a veteran-like ability to cut passes through traffic and walk the blueline on the power play, he is a very dangerous offensive defenseman, especially with his powerful slap shot. Never afraid to activate himself in transition, his powerful strides and quick acceleration allows him to jump into things with ease. Of course, he can get into trouble this way and will need to polish his anticipation and aggression, but he is still only 21 and has less than 50 pro games under his belt. With time, he can be a middle-pair puck-rusher with power play deployment. - TD

Simon Lundmark, D (51^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Smooth skating defensive prospect. Picked in the second round in 2019, Lundmark now looks more to be a depth prospect, as he did not take any big steps developmentally last season. If Lundmark reaches the NHL, it is most likely a bottom pair/7th defenseman role. He lacks the tools to be an offensively productive defenseman and is not that strong in defending his own end either. He moves the puck and his feet well and can be a solid breakout passer. He has played a bottom pair in SHL for two seasons now and will need to take a step forward in his team hierarchy to come closer to the NHL. For him to do that he will need to be more than a solid breakout passer. He sometimes complicates things and can get into trouble if he is under pressure from forecheckers. He will also need to be a stronger player in his own end when his team does not have the puck. If he does that, I can see value in a puck-moving defenseman in a third pairing role. - JH

Kristian Reichel, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jun. 15, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Undrafted out of the WHL, Reichel earned a two-year, two-way contract as one of the few bright spots on a dim Moose team in 2019-20. Signed as a fill-in depth player, the 22-year-old worked hard until earning a permanent top-six role alongside other Europeans such as Vesalainen and Gustafsson before the season was paused and eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A sneaky and selective goal scorer, the Czech shoots hard and at a high percentage, thanks to an uncanny ability to locate dead spots in the ice, and he is ready for a shot before the defense can mark him. He is not much of a passer but can carry the puck low into the zone. Fast and intelligent, he can play a solid defensive game as well as flexibly play all three forward positions. Reichel proved he is a legitimate prospect after coming back from an injury early last season. Now he needs to show what his ultimate ceiling could be. – TD

Eric Comrie, G (Waivers: Dec. 19, 2019. Originally: 59^th overall, 2013 [Winnipeg]. Previous ranking: UR)

Always some team’s idea of a great third goaltender, someone you are comfortable subbing in for an injured regular for a month, but he now has 211 games of professional experience under his belt already and he still hasn’t definitively stamped out a claim for a regular NHL job. Comrie is a well-coached, technically competent netminder. His physical tools are only adequate though, which tells me that he is fairly likely to be maximizing his potential. If he can prove that wrong, he wouldn’t be the first goalie to bloom in his mid-20’s or later, but it doesn’t look likely. He can be a little stiff, with chunky movements, but the aforementioned technical ability along with a composed demeanor and never-quit approach, helps Comrie not get any less than his maximum. He doesn’t have any one obvious weakness, but likewise there is little to suggest he is ready for a bigger role. – RW

Pavel Kraskovsky, C (164^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 16)

Just as Kraskovsky seems to have lost a step from the peak of his prospectdom, he is taking a step forward as an offensive force in Russia. He was always correctly viewed as a defensive specialist, considering his career high through five full seasons in the KHL, where his career high was 18 points. Perhaps his first few months this year are portending of his turning a corner, but it isn’t likely. He has soft hands and plays the puck well, but his feel for finishing – not to mention his lengthy track record in that domain – is usually well below par. As he recently signed a two year extension with his lifelong club, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, this will be the last we report on Kraskovsky in this space, but even if he does one day come to North America, his ceiling would be as a low offense fourth liner who might be able to help out on the penalty kill. It’s not nothing, but it likely will be nothing for Winnipeg. – RW

Henri Nikkanen, C (113^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 18)

Another big, European center with a questionable offensive skill, there is a greater chance that Nikkanen has a greater ceiling than Kraskovsky, but also a greater chance that he never even reaches what Kraskovsky is capable of. Nikkanen put up impressive numbers in the Finnish junior ranks, but he doesn’t really have any big tools that provide confidence that he can continue to produce against men, when the game gets quicker. His skill with the puck, controlling in confined spaces, does give him a chance to get some action on a fourth line, with the caveat that despite his impressive size, he is not an aggressive player, which is to say that he is less likely to be supplement those bottom line minutes with time on the penalty kill. He also needs to show that he can keep up with the quicker pace physically, as his feet can seem heavy at times. What Nikkanen has working in his favor is his young age, giving him time to gain comfort in his physique. - RW

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – WINNIPEG JETS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 28

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 11:08:44 +0000

Winnipeg Jets

How the mighty have fallen. A few short years ago, the Winnipeg Jets were crowned as having the best system in hockey. Not only that, in 2015, the Hockey news went so far as to predict the Jets winning the 2019 Stanley Cup on the strength of that incredible prospect pool. This was a team that, in the previous three draft classes, had used first round picks on the likes of Josh Morrissey, Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, and Jack Roslovic. Jacob Trouba and Mark Scheifele were young NHLers looking like solid contributors and the team was well on the way to positioning themselves for another high pick (they took Patrik Laine second overall in the 2016 draft).

The Jets have made the playoffs three times in the last five years – reaching the Conference finals in 2018, but that Hockey News prediction did not come to fruition, indeed losing to Calgary in four games in the play-in portion of these very unique NHL playoffs. Netminder Connor Hellebuyck could not make a big enough difference, after a regular season with many considering him a Vezina favorite this summer.

Unfortunately, the probability of being competitive will only shrink from here on out. Those great draft picks from the mid 10’s are now deep into their second contracts, making it that much more difficult to supplement the roster with complementary talent to carry the Jets over the top. After this offseason, the young trio of Roslovic, Sami Niku, and Mason Appleton, will all be RFAs looking at second contracts. The aforementioned Trouba was already traded away, last offseason, to the Rangers for a package including a 2019 first round pick (Ville Heinola) and blueliner Neil Pionk.

If all of the previous paragraph were not enough, the Jets now find themselves with one of the shallowest prospect classes in the NHL and in the bottom five by any measure. How did we get here?

Trading away picks: The Jets did not have a first round pick in 2018, and had only 11 picks in total over the past two drafts
They missed on too many early and middle-round picks. 2016 first rounder Logan Stanley has been very slow to develop (although many might reasonably note that a slow ascension was always in the cards for the gigantic blueliner). 2017 third rounder Johnathan Kovacevic looked really rough in his AHL rookie season. Last year’s draft class, almost to a man, did not take the sought-after steps forward in their D+1 season.
The team has not supplemented its draft spoils with free agent talent. Their signing of Kristian Reichel – who had already been with the AHL Manitoba Moose for two full seasons – to an NHL Entry Level Contract in June gives the organization two prospects who joined as undrafted free agents.
The prospect pool is exceptionally heavy on the blueline, to the detriment of the players up front.

Let’s take a minute to discuss that last point. Of the 15 players we have seen fit to highlight here, seven are defenders, including four of the top five and five of the top seven (for what it’s worth, all of the defenders in the top seven are left-handed shots). Defensemen are generally tougher to scout than forwards, as their off-puck responsibilities usually take longer to learn thoroughly. That longer development time also tends to lead to more room for the player to fall short of a given developmental benchmark, and either fail to meet expectations, or flame out altogether.

This could all change again very quickly, but Winnipeg would do well to start re-stocking the shelves with skilled forwards very soon.

WINNIPEG, MB - SEPTEMBER 13: Dylan Samberg #88 of the Winnipeg Jets. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dylan Samberg, D (43^rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

When the Jets selected Samberg in the second round of the 2017 draft, it looked like an overdraft. He was clearly physically gifted but had spent the bulk of his draft year playing high school hockey for Hermantown. High schoolers are inherently riskier than players from pretty much every other development track, as they are usually playing opponents who are younger, smaller, and less talented. Three years later, Samberg as a second rounder looks like a steal. Those three seasons saw him play a key role in two WJCs for Team USA, win two NCAA championships with Minnesota-Duluth and add 25 pounds to fill out his impressive frame, without any degradation in his quickness.

Samberg is a very good skater for his size, which is especially notable in his ability to recover after the puck goes the other way. While he can be physically imposing, playing the body against all manner of opponents, no matter their size, his off-the-puck game is much more than just a matter of using brute force to succeed. He positions himself well and has a gigantic wingspan, allowing him to use that reach to break up rushes cleanly and legally.

With the puck, he is functional enough to earn some second unit power play duties. He has a strong shot, with a quick release, although he could not match the seven goals scored as a sophomore. Moreover, he moves the puck well, without ever looking fancy. Samberg, more than anything else, makes the right play to put his team in an advantageous position. Finally signed to an ELC, Samberg is not on the list of eligible players for Winnipeg’s 2020 playoff run, but with five UFA’s on the blueline, could see NHL ice next season. - RW

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 1)

Vesalainen tore up the Finnish Liiga as an 18-year-old against grown men in his draft-plus-one year, scoring 39 points in 44 games in one of the world’s top pro leagues. His transition to the North American style of hockey has been slow, but you can feel what Winnipeg sees in the Helsinki native. At 6-4” and 228, the big Finn can be an intimidating physical force, using his size to bust his way to the goal with pure momentum and strength. But for someone that large, Vesalainen is also an elite skater. Nimble and with impressive footwork, he achieves top speed quickly and is able to get separation on defenders when motoring through open ice.

More of a shooter than a passer, the 21-year-old is deadly with his wrist shot anywhere from the faceoff dots in and is aware enough to open up pass lanes for teammates while looking shot. While few prospects in the Western Conference have the raw package of skills that Vesalainen boasts, he is a perplexingly inconsistent and lacks assertiveness. Slow to adjust to the size of North American ice, which many in hockey believes hurts more skilled players, Vesalainen is prone to disappearing for a string of shifts and does not put up enough shots for a player as lethal with the puck as he is.

2019-20 was his first full season in N.A. competition and if he can figure out how to put his skillset together, he can be a top-line scoring winger; at worst, he is a rugged middle-six depth contributor. A monster year in the AHL would help him out mentally. - TD

WINNIPEG, MB - SEPTEMBER 12: Ville Heinola #36 of the Winnipeg Jets (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ville Heinola, D (20^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Heinola played in three different leagues in 2019-20. He surprised many people by making the Jets roster out of training camp. He showed promise in his eight-game stint but was sent to the AHL. Eventually, he spent most of the season with Lukko in Finland. He had a surprisingly slow start to the Liiga season, but he was able to elevate his game and played very well at times.

He plays with plenty of poise and makes sound decisions with the puck. He sees the ice really well and snaps accurate, crisp passes all over the ice – can make a simple outlet or longer passes up the ice. He has swift hands and picks pucks quickly off the wall to make a play. He also works well on the power play as his vision and passing skills are assets. He has an accurate shot from the point, whether it be a slap shot or wrister.

He reads the game well defensively, has a quick stick and keeps tight gaps. However, Heinola could use his size more effectively in battles. He moves pretty well, but his skating is not high end, especially considering his size. He lacks explosive initial burst and could be quicker from a standstill. He could also smooth out his forward stride. He makes up for the lack of quickness with his situational awareness.

Overall, Heinola is an excellent playmaker and puck mover whose poise stands out. He has top pairing NHL potential, but I think he will more realistically end up as a middle-pairing defenseman. He will return to North America to try to make the NHL roster again next season. - MB

Declan Chisholm, D (150^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

The Jets left it to the last minute to sign Chisholm, a talented offensive defender out of the OHL. One of the better skating OHL defenders, he uses this mobility to influence the game in a lot of different ways.

He is aggressive in leading the attack out of the offensive zone, using his first step quickness to create separation from forecheckers, and using his speed and edgework to gain the opposing blueline. Chisholm also is a competent powerplay QB, who creates lanes with his agility and lateral quickness. Excluding Alec Regula (who plays the net front on the powerplay), only Ryan Merkley was more efficient with the man advantage this past season. Finally, his gap control defensively is solid as he stays ahead of incoming attackers and has learned to trust his mobility to play more aggressively to take away space.

Defensively, Chisholm really took some nice steps forward with the Petes in his final OHL season. He had previously struggled to win challenges consistently along the wall and in front of the net due to being too passive. However, increased strength and improved desire to engage elevated his effectiveness. Moving forward, this will be the area that Chisholm will need to continue to work on. He will likely need some time to gain the confidence necessary to play aggressively as a pro.

Another area that he will likely need to hone in on at the pro level will be his decision making in transition. Previously, Chisholm had trouble with turnovers, but cleaned that up this past year. With the speed increasing at the pro level, his effectiveness as a puck mover may be masked initially until he gains the confidence necessary to take chances. He will likely need several years of seasoning at the pro level before he is ready for an NHL role, but he projects as a number 4-6 defender who can also quarterback the powerplay. The key will be just how much his defensive game progresses. - BO

WINNIPEG, MB - SEPTEMBER 12: Sami Niku #8 of the Winnipeg Jets. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Sami Niku, D (198^thoverall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 5)

Now three years removed from one of the most dominant rookie seasons by a defenseman in the history of the AHL, Niku has refined his craft and looks more like a future NHLer than the flash-in-the-pan seventh-rounder he was once seen as. In 2017-18, he took home the Eddie Shore award as the AHL’s top defenseman as well as spots on the first All-Star team and all-rookie team with his offensive brilliance (74-16-38-54), dazzling onlookers with his splendid technical skating skill and his inventiveness in moving the puck out and into the offensive zone.

A superb puck-handler, the Finnish blueliner calls for the puck often and directs traffic through the center zone at even strength and on the power play. The most notable thing he has improved upon is his patience with the puck, rushing fewer passes and plays as the situation calls for it, and his periodic tastes of the NHL has likely helped him accomplish that. Though he has improved defensively, he hasn’t looked entirely comfortable in his aforementioned NHL stints, posting poor possession numbers and few points in transition while battling for ice time against some veterans.

Fighting through injuries -- including a preseason car accident with Vesalainen beside him -- Niku was not able to stamp himself onto this Jets season but could clinch a spot on their thinning blueline as soon as next season. As a seventh-rounder, any NHL games played Niku registers is above market value for Winnipeg, but the 23-year-old’s story is only just beginning. - TD

Mikhail Berdin, G (157^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 18)

Athletic and creative in the blue paint, his anticipation and play-reading improved mightily from his 2018-19 rookie pro season, but he mostly relies on his reflexes and impressive foot quickness. While puck-handling is not the most important skill a goaltender can have, Berdin’s talent and confidence with the puck is Brodeur-esque and capable of forcing a team to abandon any forechecking or dump-and-chase style. His selection of his tools and aggression can hurt him at times, but he can make difficult saves look easy consistently with his high-energy style. A sixth-rounder in 2016, Berdin is a legit NHL prospect who could even push an NHL like Connor Hellebuyck for starts in the future. - TD

Logan Stanley, D (18^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

His defensive game is one of the most polished out of any pro in his age group, but his offensive game has been fairly impressive as well, showing out during power-play deployments with his booming slap shot and improved technical skating ability -- he already moved around pretty well for a big man.

What is frustrating in his game, though, are his inconsistent and confusing reads; he can pass the puck into a dangerous situation or sell out for a hit and give up inside position at times, and that will have to be coached out of him. Otherwise, Stanley plays such a simple stay-at-home game that I can’t imagine he would have much trouble playing in the NHL for a decade plus, perhaps starting with next season. - TD

David Gustafsson, C (60^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

It should also be said that playing up a level or two is nothing new for the center, as he played two full seasons in the SHL as a teenager before coming to North America. Gustafsson is a large-framed center with a great track record on the draw. He is quicker than he is fast, plays a very reliable two-way game and is strong on his stick. Due to always playing above his age class, his offensive upside is still a mystery, but Gustafsson has enough in his bag to make it in a bottom six role assuming he lacks the skill set to play top six. - RW

Santeri Virtanen, C (105^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

In order to be able to play in the NHL, his skating will have to improve. Not the most efficient skater, he often takes wide turns. His first few strides are clumsy. He could improve his endurance and be more agile as well. Virtanen had a very promising start to the 2019-20 season but couldn’t quite maintain that level of play for the remainder of the campaign. Next season will be very important as he will need to contribute more offensively. At this point in time, he projects as a depth forward at the NHL level. - MB

Nathan Smith, C (91^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

His skating was maybe a little unrefined, with more experience playing roller hockey than ice hockey growing up, but he was clever and showed a gift for playmaking. Smith is comfortable playing in the middle of the ice and has proven himself to be effectively creative with the puck after a successful freshman season at Minnesota State. His skating has also improved from what he showed in the USHL. We are still years away from knowing how Smith will turn out, but he has already come so far. - RW

Michael Spacek, C (108^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 10)

2019-20 was supposed to be a season of positive transition and progress for Spacek, but it was everything else. After posting 41 points in 2018-19, good for third on the Moose in scoring, the 23-year-old Czech played himself into a role as the first-man-up for the Jets, even getting a quick promotion in November, but went downhill from that point on, including spending time as a healthy scratch and being reassigned to the Ontario Reign on loan.

Spacek is a playmaker on offense who excels at opening up space for his teammates and driving play with his surprising strength for a 5-11” centerman, and while he can do too much at times, he is a fairly responsible defensive player who played penalty kill for the Moose and held his own.

Spacek is now one of several players, amid the NHL/AHL seasons being delayed, who have signed overseas contracts that include out-clauses, allowing them to return to North America; a restricted free agent at the end of this season, the 2015 fourth-rounder might have already played his final game in the Jets system. - TD

Arvid Holm, G (167^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Holm showed strong consistency and his team won 20 of his 30 starts. He is not a goalie with any standout tools, but the athleticism and his hockey sense both seem to be above average. He has recently signed with Winnipeg but will play the next season in the SHL. With the latest season in mind I would not rule out him to be a fringe starter/backup-goalie in the NHL in the future. - JH

Leon Gawanke, D (136^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 19)

Demonstrating a veteran-like ability to cut passes through traffic and walk the blueline on the power play, he is a very dangerous offensive defenseman, especially with his powerful slap shot. Never afraid to activate himself in transition, his powerful strides and quick acceleration allows him to jump into things with ease. Of course, he can get into trouble this way and will need to polish his anticipation and aggression, but he is still only 21 and has less than 50 pro games under his belt. With time, he can be a middle-pair puck-rusher with power play deployment. - TD

Simon Lundmark, D (51^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

He moves the puck and his feet well and can be a solid breakout passer. He has played a bottom pair in SHL for two seasons now and will need to take a step forward in his team hierarchy to come closer to the NHL. For him to do that he will need to be more than a solid breakout passer. He sometimes complicates things and can get into trouble if he is under pressure from forecheckers. He will also need to be a stronger player in his own end when his team does not have the puck. If he does that, I can see value in a puck-moving defenseman in a third pairing role. - JH

Kristian Reichel, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jun. 15, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

A sneaky and selective goal scorer, the Czech shoots hard and at a high percentage, thanks to an uncanny ability to locate dead spots in the ice, and he is ready for a shot before the defense can mark him. He is not much of a passer but can carry the puck low into the zone. Fast and intelligent, he can play a solid defensive game as well as flexibly play all three forward positions. Reichel proved he is a legitimate prospect after coming back from an injury early last season. Now he needs to show what his ultimate ceiling could be. - TD

AHL: Central Division Prospect Report, December 2019

Tom Dorsa — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 18:05:13 +0000

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 04: Texas Stars forward Jason Robertson looks for the puck during game against the Tucson Roadrunners on October 04, 2019 on October 04, 2019, at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire)

November is always an interesting month of play in the American Hockey League. You start to see which of the teams that started October red hot are contenders, and which are pretenders, and we begin to see the rebirth of talented teams that kicked off the season near the bottom of the standings.

This normalization of team results extends to players, as well. The shrewd veterans brought in to help develop prospects finally get going, while some incredible young players slow down after a scorching start and improve upon their flaws without the early butterflies and pressure to succeed.

Coaches begin to understand how to balance their two primary objectives; winning and prospect development, while lineup deployment comes together and everyone finds a way to contribute to the club as the season turns to December.

Speaking of prospect development, we are going to take a look at some of the promising pupils competing in the AHL’s Central Division. Checking in on the clubs from the American Midwest, the state of Texas, and Manitoba, you will find some useful information on notable prospects as well as some news and notes from around the division.

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

Record:20-4-3-2, 45 points, .776% points percentage

The Admirals might be the best team in the AHL, and if not the best, they are absolutely the scariest. After winning 13 in a row, the club sits first in the league in points (45) and points percentage (.776) with an absurd 20-4-3-2 record.

Milwaukee has scored more goals (103) than any team in the AHL, while allowing fewer goals (69) than all but three other teams. A lot has been made of how dangerous this team is from a cohesive standpoint, as the roster boasts some high-end prospects and sought-after veterans, but their success boils down to individual players as well.

Milwaukee forward Yakov Trenin was named the AHL’s Player of the Week, while Tommy Novak was given the Rookie of the Month Award in November. The two are part of a core of ten Admirals players with double-digit points through the first two months of the season. Head coach Karl Taylor and his club look better than ever before and should be just as lethal down the road.

Jeremy Davies, 6th in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Predators farm system (28-2-11-13): One of the pieces that came back to Nashville in the P.K. Subban trade that occurred at the last NHL Draft, Davies was a remarkably underrated asset for the Predators to acquire, as he posted just under a point-per-game in his last two years at Northeastern. That point-scoring prowess came from his ability to skate with the best of them, with and without the puck, and helping to transition the play in the neutral zone. His shot from the point is accurate, albeit a little soft, but is adept at generating rebounds for forwards. Physically, he gives up size (5-11”, 187 lbs) for his uncanny strength and tenacity, having not looked out of place in his short pro career. The Predators have a logjam of Grade A defensemen in their system, with Davies being just another one of them, but he carries a second-pairing potential with him so long as he can progress in his play-reading capabilities, which would make the former seventh-rounder an absolute steal.

Anthony Richard, 9th (28-7-2-9): Richard is off to an uncharacteristically slow start to the 2019-20 campaign. Generally a versatile playmaking forward with lots of energy and an up-ice demeanor, the 2015 fourth-rounder has been stagnant in what was supposed to be a big developmental year for the young forward. After scoring three points in the first two games of the season, Richard -- last year’s team leader in scoring -- has just five in his last 23, mostly due to a lack of assertiveness and drive. Now demoted to the Ads’ third line, Richard is due for a breakout, and his smarts, peskiness, and somewhat-improved skating can assist in that. His deployment on both the power play and penalty kill is promising in that he can contribute even without scoring, but you would like much more offensive production from the struggling winger.

Alexandre Carrier, 13th (29-4-15-19): Last season, Carrier impressed me by developing his offensive game; the skills were always there, but a certain passivity kept him from truly exploding until last campaign, where he used his skating, puck-handling, and vision to become a menacing puck-rusher for Milwaukee. With that squared away, our eyes turned to his flawed defensive game, which has since been bolstered by an increased willingness to engage physically and trust in his legs to get the puck out of the zone. Deployed on the Admirals’ first defensive pair as of late, he has burst onto the scene as a complete d-man with loads of offensive potential, currently sitting at fifth in AHL defensemen scoring.

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

Record: 13-10-2-2, 30 points, .556% points percentage

As their parent club continue on an improbable ascent up the Central Division standings, with points in 14 of their last 15 games, Iowa is sitting pretty at second in the AHL’s Central classification with help from veterans acquired this past offseason as well as some emerging prospects.

Iowa set a franchise record (since their move to Des Moines from Houston before the 2013-14 season) with 37 wins last season, culminating in their first postseason appearance in the Hawkeye State. The Wild are on pace to beat that mark with a 41-win pace through 22 games this season.

It’s a remarkable job by Tim Army, who has done an excellent job mixing lines and has his club playing a solid two-way game.

Connor Dewar, 3rd in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Wild farm system (16-3-1-4): Dewar came to the Minnesota system in an unusual way. Undrafted in his first year of eligibility, the WHL stalwart was picked up in the third round of the 2018 draft by the Wild with a draft selection that was not initially theirs; a Vegas draft pick that was dealt to Minnesota in exchange for Alex Tuch, during the Golden Knights’ pre-expansion draft maneuvering. Now playing in his debut pro season, Dewar has been shaky, but at times, brilliant. His wrist shot is blazing fast and well-located, and his skating, though sloppy at times, is quick and upstart. After being stapled to the bottom-line with certified goons like Mike Liambas to start the season, the 20-year-old is playing top-six center minutes thanks to his reliable, disciplined playing style down the middle. I would like to see him use his shot more instead of his default idea of ill-advised passes.

Louie Belpedio, 11th (27-1-7-8): Belpedio has not had an easy start to his second full year in the pro ranks, but there are some grounds for optimism in his developing defensive game. The right-shot, puck-moving blueliner has long been an impactful guy in transition and physically, but his play-reading and stick-readiness have improved in a more reserved role this season. Deployed in a depth role with veteran Matt Register, Belpedio has done a lot to get back onto Minnesota’s radar for a spot with the NHL club. However, it seems as though Brennan Menell (and deservedly so) has supplanted him on the depth chart, so the former American World Junior participant will have to do more to get back to the big league.

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

Record:14-10-0-1, 29 points, .580% points percentage

Looking to bounce back after an poor 2018-19 season, the IceHogs got younger, faster, and more energetic compared to their prior season’s roster, which sputtered to a seventh-place finish in the Central Division.

Led by a pair of brothers, Dylan and Tyler Sikura, the IceHogs are helping accelerate the ongoing rebuild of their parent club. Winners of six out of their last ten, the IceHogs have fought valiantly after a slow start to get back into playoff contention.

Rockford’s roster features several of Chicago’s best and most intriguing prospects, including Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin, and MacKenzie Entwistle. Even if the Blackhawks (12-15-6, 30 points, last in NHL Central Division) lack entertainment value, Chicago fans can always drive just an hour and a half west to Rockford.

Adam Boqvist, 2nd in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Blackhawks’ farm system (15-1-5-6): The 2018 first rounder has found an offensive touch in his first North American professional season after being re-assigned from the Blackhawks, whose roster he made out of training camp, early this season. Inventive and creative with the puck on his stick, Boqvist boasts the deceptive skating speed and beautiful hands to produce offensively from the neutral zone in, as well as the shooting prowess and positional awareness to be a sneaky high goal-scorer. With that said, his defensive game is still incomplete; most notably his tracking of developing plays and his lack of physicality against the boards and behind the goal.

Kevin Lankinen, Unranked (6-3-1, 2.58 GAA, .927 Sv%): What Lankinen has done to even get himself on the radar of an NHL team is nothing short of incredible, but the highly entertaining Finnish netminder is nowhere close to done. In a crowded crease featuring Collin Delia and Matt Tomkins, the 24-year-old free agent signee has starred, leading the club with a 0.927 Sv%, which is top-20 in the AHL. A pure competitor in every way, Lankinen employs a high-energy, high-octane style of netminding that lacks mental composure but oozes athletic ability. Moves from side to side well and can catch up to anything he might not initially get, using his quick feet in a low-to-the-ice style that minimizes rebounds. Lankinen’s patience and shot tracking will need to improve for the goalie to succeed in the top-flight league.

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

Record: 10-10-5-3, 28 points, .500% points percentage

After years of bouncing from parent club to parent club, even hosting two NHL teams at once, the San Antonio Rampage finally have two things that have plagued them over the past few seasons: organizational consistency and veteran support.

The Blues made efforts to bulk up their AHL affiliate with veteran guys with Mike Vecchione, Nathan Walker, and Derrick Pouliot, who are their three leading scorers thus far this season. The Rampage, who have finished last in their division four years running, are reaping the benefits.

A revival of a club that has not won a playoff game in eight years, the fans in the Alamo City deserve this. The postseason is not guaranteed, but to even be in the running is a nice change of pace.

Jordan Kyrou, 1st in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Blues farm system (16-9-6-15): I’ll contend that Kyrou is one of the best players in the AHL right now, and his NHL future is both certain and near, with a recall on December 9. The top-ranked prospect in a revamped St. Louis system, the 2016 third-round selection dazzled with San Antonio thanks to his speed, footwork, and improved wrist shot/shot selection. His fiery speed has always been there, but his increased aggressiveness in using his shot (he is averaging over three shots on goal per game with the Rampage this season) is a major step up to me. The fact that he can play all three forward spots, with center being his best position, is also a great positive and means that it is possible he has already played his last AHL game.

Mitch Reinke, 9th (15-2-8-10): After a 13-game absence from the San Antonio lineup due to an upper-body injury, Reinke jumped in and immediately produced two assists from the blue line in his first game back on the ice. That performance more or less exemplifies what Reinke can bring to the Blues in the near future, and as he did with San Antonio last season, earning AHL All-Rookie honors with a 76-12-33-45 season stat line. A right-handed, puck-moving, smooth-skating defenseman that went undrafted is such an absurd thought that he has to have some flaws, right? Well, his initial blue line defense is flawed, with a lack of stick activity and a too passive style defending one-on-one to make an impact in a depth NHL role. Otherwise, the 23-year-old is one of the most NHL-ready prospects in the Blues system.

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

Record: 14-15-0-0, 28 points, .483% points percentage

After a 1-7-0-0 start, the Moose ripped off nine wins in their next ten games. Since then, however, they have found consistency and steadiness within a lineup that features several of Winnipeg’s most heralded prospects.

Jansen Harkins (11th) is the AHL’s third-leading scorer as he continues blossoming into the second-rounder he was drafted as in 2015, while defensemen Logan Stanley and Sami Niku (though currently battling an injury) progress into NHL-caliber two-way talents and forward Kristian Vesalainen (1st) has started to implement his skill into the game.

Head coach Pascal Vincent has done a magisterial job in properly mixing his roster combinations of veterans and young guns, and the team is showing it out on the ice.

Logan Stanley, 4th in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Jets farm system (15-1-4-5): Coming back in late November to play his first game since October 18, Stanley did not look rusty at all in his return to AHL action. The towering defenseman’s calm and easy-going playing style benefited him after a long absence, as he was able to re-insert himself into the lineup and play his game without making adjustments. His defensive game is stout and incredibly mature, with his length and physical size making him difficult to get inside position on while his smarts give him the ability to move the puck out to middle-ice with relative ease. His booming slapshot makes him a lethal power-play option as well, though I would like to see him use his shot more. His journey to the NHL has been hindered by his slow skating and sloppy puck-handling at times, but the 2016 first-rounder is still only 21 and has time to make it all up.

Sami Niku, 5th (16-3-9-12): Niku is one of the most confusing and enigmatic prospects in professional hockey. One day he will look like a surefire top-four NHL defenseman, the next, he can play like the seventh-round draft pick and NHL longshot he was supposed to be. The defenseman will be on the shelf for the next 2-4 weeks with an upper-body injury, but beforehand, was playing with that up-and-down style he has been noted for. If he can only find consistency, his combination of elite skating, heads-up vision, and puck-moving skills can make him a go-to option for a Jets team that needs offense from the blue line.

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

Record: 12-15-2-0, 26 points, .448% points percentage

The Wolves’ sudden fall from the reigning conference champion to back half of the division table has been a kick in the gut for the club and for AHL fans in the Windy City. 4-5-1-0 in their last ten games, Chicago has bled goals and has not found the offensive output to compensate.

However, help has come in an unorthodox way, in the form of Valentin Zykov, after the Vegas forward failed a drug test, was suspended 20 games, and then waived and assigned to the AHL club. The 2013 second-round pick is a proven AHL scorer (33 goals in 2017-18 with Charlotte) and has already chipped in two assists in as many games.

Brandon Pirri also recently joined the fray, but nevertheless, this club will need to see the emergence of some younger players like Lucas Elvenes to have any chance at making a charge back into a postseason spot. Losing as many veterans as they did from last season (Daniel Carr, T.J. Tynan, Brooks Macek, etc) has depleted Rocky Thompson’s bench, but the season is still far from over.

Jake Bischoff, 8th in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Golden Knights farm system (22-0-3-3): There are calls from Vegas fans to replace Deryk Engelland, an older and immobile defenseman, with Bischoff, an AHL regular who played well in a short stint with the Knights. While I have little familiarity with the Vegas coaching systems and what they value out of their defensemen, Bischoff could stick with the NHL club right now with little adjustment necessary. Originally a 2012 seventh-round pick of the New York Islanders, the Minnesotan has blossomed into the rugged, defensively solid blueliner the Knights envisioned when they acquired him in a swap near the 2017 expansion draft. He is a good skater for a big guy and has a rocket of a shot. Patient and observant with and without the puck, he displays intelligence in all three zones, but especially behind his own blue line, where he loves to take the body and is skilled at stealing the puck. He is probably a better defensive option than Engelland, but I don’t make the lineup decisions.

Jimmy Schuldt, 15th (28-4-9-13): After being a near point-per-game player at St. Cloud State, the undrafted defenseman was a highly sought-after prospect who ended up signing with Vegas in April of 2019. Since making his pro debut at the end of last season (a one-game cameo with the Golden Knights), Schuldt has had some on-and-off glimpses of why he was so revered coming out of college. He is exciting to watch with the puck, as he makes creativity reads, crisp passes, and has great footwork despite below-average top speed. His size (6-1”, 205 lbs) allows him to be effective in his own zone, showing some nastiness around the boards and the willingness to make open-ice hits at times. However, for all of his raw talent, he is prone to some turnovers and can have a few defensive errors. All in all, I think he can be a solid middle-pair defender, but with time.

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

Record: 11-14-1-2, 25 points, .446% points percentage

For fans of prospect development, the Griffins are one of the most fun teams to watch in all of pro hockey. The Red Wings, through their organizational rebuild of recent years, have more or less instituted a highly-aggressive, short-schedule development path for top prospects that places them in the AHL immediately and forces them to compete against grown men from the outset of their career.

The results have varied, from the struggles of Filip Zadina to the emergence of Moritz Seider as a future star, but nonetheless, Grand Rapids is home to one of the most entertaining teams in the league.

Three seasons removed from the Calder Cup title run of 2017, the Griffins will need a good next couple of months to get back into position to potentially charge up for another run at the hardware.

Filip Larsson, 13th in McKeen’s yearbook preseason rankings of Red Wings farm system (2-5-0-0, 4.01 GAA, .843 Sv%): Larsson has gotten both sides of what can plague a goaltender’s early development. Step one, being arguably too inexperienced to jump directly into pro hockey, and step two, being hung out to dry by a very young defense in front of him. After elite performances in the USHL and NCAA in seasons past, Larsson has looked mentally lost in his five starts, allowing at least four goals in all of them, which have been mixed in with some ECHL re-assignments. At just 21, it is both reasonable and not completely unexpected for the Swede to struggle in the AHL, but his potential is still promising. His balance is elite and fueled by his high-end athleticism, which also allows him to move laterally with ease and flash quick glove and blocker hands. With time, he should figure it out.

Dominic Turgeon, 18th (27-6-7-13): As the Griffins roster becomes younger and increasingly prospect oriented, prospects with some level of experience have been turned to for top-six minutes on the struggling club. One of those guys is the 23-year-old fourth-year AHLer Turgeon, who has been commanding top-six minutes since puck drop on the season after mostly playing in a depth role throughout his first few seasons. He has done well with the increase in time, turning his offensive game from utterly useless to somewhat respectable, which could help the Red Wings see him as a future NHL player. Offense is not really his thing, and he has become one of the best defensive forwards in the league because of it; he plays a very safe, disciplined game down the middle and loves to help out in the defensive zone, directing traffic and stepping in front of shots. If he ever becomes an NHL regular, it will be because of that 200-foot game.

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

Record: 11-14-1-2, 25 points, .446% points percentage

The monkey has finally been lifted off of the Texas Stars’ collective back. The Stars endured a franchise-record 12-game losing streak before winning a 7-6 shootout thriller against Rockford on home ice recently. The feeling in and around the Texas locker room was as though they had won the Calder Cup.

The club was destined for some growing pains, as the roster includes as many as a dozen first-year North American pros. The 12-game losing streak put the club, Western Conference champions two seasons ago, at the bottom of the AHL standings.

Sometimes a lack of pressure can be beneficial for the development of young prospects. Being able to play your game and work on your flaws without the worries of dropping matches in the process can be a blessing in disguise. That is certainly what the Dallas Stars are hoping will occur in Cedar Park for the remainder of what looks to be a lost season, even after the move of former head coach Derek Laxdal up to the NHL club after the surprise firing of Dallas head coach Jim Montgomery.

Jason Robertson, 3rd in McKeen’s yearbook preseason ranking of Stars farm system (28-11-10-21): Robertson’s trouble as a skater was destined to plague the first few months of his pro career, and anyone who watched his domination of the OHL last season (115 points in 62 games) acknowledged it. The Michigan native has managed well as a scorer on his AHL Texas roster, leading the team in goals and being tied for the highest point total in the locker room. However, his skating has absolutely hindered his development into an NHL caliber player, as his sluggish foot quickness and relatively low top speed have given him some struggles. On the flip side, he is a first-year pro who boasts a physically-commanding package of power forward tools, such as supreme balance, gorgeous hands (especially in tight areas), and a blistering wrist shot that has gotten him power-play time since the outset of the season. The reigning AHL Player of the Week will need to make his simple skating stride at least respectable, and be more reliable on the defensive end, to become the surefire NHLer scorer he can be.

Riley Tufte, 8th (25-0-4-4): Since being drafted out of the USHL before attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Tufte has had the “bust” label thrown at him many times, and in fairness to the fact that he is a first-year pro on a struggling AHL club (last in the league in points), he is not doing much to subdue the bust talk. Still seeking his first pro goal after 16 games, the two-time NCAA men’s national champion has received mostly third-line minutes and has been unimpressive in that time with the Stars this season. A big man with some quick heels for his size, he has demonstrated some glimpses of promise, using his physical advantages to set up teammates and his maturity and discipline to play very solid defensive hockey. Overall, he has gone missing for shifts -- and games -- at a time and has not played up to his first-round hype this season at all.

AHL Western Conference 2019-20 Season Preview

Tom Dorsa — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:20:02 +0000

The new hockey season is finally upon us, and with it, comes the return of the American Hockey League, which serves as the primary development league of all 31 National Hockey League franchises.

As the AHL’s 31 teams prepare to clash over the long winter stretch, hoping to lift the Calder Cup in June, their NHL parent clubs are bulking up their farm team’s rosters with some of their best and brightest prospects.

With the NHL season up and running, the rosters for the AHL teams in each organization are coming to fruition. The solid mix of veterans with familiar faces alongside some exciting, exuberant youthful prospects of many teams are giving fans in the AHL’s member cities hope for the present and the future, while giving NHL fans faces to look for as potential replacements for the parent clubs, if and when the need arises.

Let’s take a team-by-team look at the competitors in the AHL’s Western Conference, beginning with last season’s conference champions.

(Team rundown is listed by 2018-19 point totals, and are not a projection of 2019-20 conference standings.)

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

The Wolves, who paced the Western Conference with a 44-22-6-4 record in the regular season, lost their two leading scorers from last season over the summer. Daniel Carr, whose 71 points in 52 games led the AHL in points per game (1.37) last season, departed for the Nashville Predators system, while T.J. Tynan (led the league with 59 assists) joined the Colorado Avalanche organization.

Head coach Rocky Thompson might have trouble finding the same scoring, but will not have any issue on the blue line, with a defensive corps headlined by some top prospects like Nic Hague (4th in McKeen’s Vegas farm system rankings), Zach Whitecloud (6th), and Jake Bischoff (8th) all manning the defensive zone. Hague and Bischoff are presently up with Vegas, but both should spend significant time on the farm this year.

Chicago should maintain a spot near the summit of the Central Division standings, bolstered by all-world defense and solid goaltending.

Prospects to watch (quotes from the 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Nicolas Hague

“[T]he 2017 second-rounder has can’t-miss shutdown potential in a two-way package. His lanky, 6-6” frame makes him nearly unbeatable at the blueline, as his length and mobility give him a package that can compete with any AHL forward for space in the defensive zone.”

Lucas Elvenes

“[A] smooth skater with soft hands. He has skill, and his inconsistent scoring is a product of him being more of a perimeter player, as he likes to create from the outside and that play isn’t always there and his creativity isn’t enough in those instances.”

Dylan Coghlan

“[A]n impactful offensive-defenseman by virtue of his skating, his atomic bomb of a slapshot, and his vision and playmaking, which allow him to quarterback a power play unit. His ceiling is as a middle-pair puck-rusher, but we will have to see how he does with an increase in tougher minutes on a depleted AHL Chicago this season.”

Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)

The Condors made American Hockey League history last season with a stretch of 17 consecutive wins between January 12 and March 1. The win streak is tied for the second-longest in the 83-year history of the AHL, and allowed the Condors to soar (pun intended) to the Pacific Division regular season title.

Though they fell to the San Diego Gulls in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, Bakersfield enjoyed its most successful season since the Oilers moved its primary development affiliate from Oklahoma City to Kern County, California, scoring more goals (242) and allowing fewer (182) than ever before.

With a solid group of top prospects from a deep Edmonton farm system, the Condors can be expected to contend alongside their California rivals for another Pacific Division crown.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Tyler Benson

“A speedy and creative forward, the former second-rounder’s natural playmaking ability — driven by top-notch vision, decision-making, and very crisp and accurate passes — can carry play from both the left wing and from the center position.”

Kailer Yamamoto

“A highly creative, smooth-skating winger, the former first-rounder creates plays out of thin air and is intense on the puck at all times. The quick-handed forward possesses strong hockey sense and the ability to drive play and carry a line from his position with his speed and vision.”

Cameron Hebig

“The undersized center plays a solid 200-foot game, exhibits mature offensive anticipation, has lightning-fast hands, and possesses a pro-level wrist shot, albeit a criminally underused one.”

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

After failing to make the playoffs in 2017-18, the Admirals returned to the postseason scene, losing to the Iowa Wild 3-2 in a five-game set. Riding a 14-game point streak through a hard Spring schedule, the Admirals made an improbable climb from seventh to second in the Central Division to end the season.

Milwaukee, celebrating their 50th season in the North American pro scene, look to rebound with an influx of solid Nashville prospects. Though AHL staples Adam Helewka and Dustin Siemens departed in the offseason, the introduction of prospects Rem Pitlick and Jeremy Davies (a New Jersey prospect traded in the P.K. Subban deal) will boost the offense.

Goaltender Troy Grosenick, one of the AHL’s best, will be back in the Admirals crease with a deeper team in front of him and head coach Karl Taylor.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Eeli Tolvanen

“His shot is mesmerizing, with speed, a wicked and deceptive release, and insane accuracy, while his skating has improved to compliment has lethal shooting. His excellent touch for the puck gives him an underrated playmaking game as well, as his hands can create space for himself and teammates while his elite stick skills enable him to dish passes over with ease.”

Rem Pitlick

“As solid as his shot is, Pitlick is also a clever playmaker, with good vision as he flies down the wing towards the net. While he will take risks to create offense, he is responsible in his own end, and has been a trusted penalty college for the University of Minnesota.”

Frederic Allard

“A former point-per-game blueliner in the QMJHL, his speed, shot, and offensive vision all grade out as average or better. He sees the ice and anticipates plays at a very mature level, and he has legitimate top-four potential if he can work on his defensive game, with his puck-moving and skating playing big roles in his projected big-league value.”

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

For the first time since the team formerly known as the Houston Aeros moved to Iowa, fans in Des Moines were treated to postseason hockey from an Iowa Wild team that won more games (37) and scored more goals (242) than in any past season.

The offense was paced by usual suspects like team captain Cal O’Reilly, but goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen carried the defensive efforts of the club with poise and consistency. First-year head coach Tim Army’s group knocked off Milwaukee in the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Although the AHL club made few big-name acquisitions in the offseason, their returning players should keep them afloat in their search for a postseason spot in the Spring of 2020.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Nico Sturm

“He has great size and skates very well, with intriguing puck skills to boot. He is close to ready and has a third line ceiling.”

Kaapo Kahkonen

“His calm, composed mentality in the crease bodes well for his highly-athletic, technically-refined butterfly style, and his maturity as a young netminder was on display for all of last season in Des Moines. From a talent standpoint, he projects to be a midtier NHL starter in the near future.”

Louie Belpedio

“A right-handed, puck-moving defenseman is an untouchable prospective asset to any organization, but throw in some offensive upside and a veteran level of composure, and you have a surefire future NHLer. His smarts are top notch, and his speedy skating and vision make his mission of exiting the zone as fast as possible an easy one most times.”

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

The Griffins are a team that benefits mightily from the Red Wings’ aggressive style of prospect development. A year after the debut of Filip Zadina -- the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft -- Grand Rapids will say hello to Joe Veleno and Moritz Sieder, two more first-round picks.

Add in Michael Rasmussen and Evgeny Svechnikov, you can argue that the Griffins have the most young, raw talent in the game, and head coach Ben Simon is prepared to put it all to use. Only three years removed from a Calder Cup championship (2016-17), the Griffins look primed for another run at the AHL equivalent of the Stanley Cup.

The Griffins fell victim to Chicago, the eventual conference champions, in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Filip Zadina

“His intense skating speed, technical footwork skill, and elite shooting prowess [are] capable of changing the game on every shift. Furthermore, even if the numbers don’t pop, the fact that he did it all as a teenager is incredibly impressive.”

Moritz Sieder

“Big, mobile right-shot defenseman who oozes confidence and has great hockey sense. He has the quickness to join the rush and he does so in a timely manner. The German blueliner is very gifted offensively, possessing high-level passing skills and a strong shot selection.”

Evgeny Svechnikov

“He is a beast with the puck, able to get inside position on anyone and his control and balance are incredible for his size. He doesn’t shy from playing hard defensively. We will have to see if his injuries continue to hold him back when he returns this season, but if his health holds -- and his consistency improves -- he can be a middle-six scoring wing in the NHL.”

San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks)

In their four years at SAP Center (after formerly playing in Worcester, MA), the Barracuda have never missed the playoffs. A beacon of consistency in the minor leagues in spite of an NHL club that is a perennial contender, there is no reason San Jose shouldn’t be hosting postseason games next Spring.

With the additions of Noah Gregor, Sasha Chmelevski, and Ivan Chekhovich -- along with a formidable returning core of players -- the Sharks boast a reinvigorated prospect pool ready to make things happen at the AHL level.

The Barracuda led the Pacific Division for much of the season before the Condors went on an incredible 17-game winning streak; San Jose finished second, four points behind Bakersfield. San Jose fell three games to one to San Diego in the first round of the playoffs.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Joachim Blichfeld

“[I]s a natural scorer with very good offensive instincts, has a great shot, and plays a pretty good all round game. He should be able to translate his game to a higher level of play. He will start as a bottom six forward, and could move up to a top six role if he settles in and produces even a portion of his WHL production.”

Sasha Chmelevski

“He is the type of forward who can excel in any situation and this versatility will make him an NHL player sooner rather than later. His best asset might be his shot release, which is lightning quick. But he is more than just a goal scorer, as he processes the game very well and is especially dangerous in transition with his ability to make quick decisions with the puck.”

Antti Suomela

“He still has the potential to be a top-six forward; a lethal skater and often deadly setup man, Suomela can contribute in many ways, even without the puck, as his anticipation for where the play is flowing is unreal. He still has the potential to be a top-six forward; a lethal skater and often deadly setup man, Suomela can contribute in many ways, even without the puck, as his anticipation for where the play is flowing is unreal.”

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

In their four years in Winnipeg, the Moose have played in the playoffs just once, missing the postseason last year with a very young and inexperienced team. With some of their younger players expected to make a leap this season, the Moose should be much improved.

Getting Sami Niku back to the AHL club is a major boost. Last season, Niku made the Jets roster but was a healthy scratch for the majority of the NHL campaign, and instead the mobile, smart defender will get some valuable reps instead of wasting away in the press box.

Youthful goalie Mikhail Berdin is anticipated as the club’s number-one goalie, and seems capable of the job after success in a somewhat-limited role last year. Head coach Pascal Vincent, the winner of the 2018 Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding coach, is back behind the bench of the Jets’ affiliate.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Logan Stanley

“The physical beast is one of the tallest prospects (or player of any level) in hockey, and his high-end defensive game leans heavily on his near-incomparable length. With his long and impassable gaps, active stick, and ability to take any opposing forward off the puck, his defensive game is one that seems NHL ready at just 20 years old.”

Michael Spacek

“As one of the finest defensive players in the Winnipeg system, Spacek has a clear NHL future due solely to his hard work and intensity in all three zones, but he can be better than a defensive specialist. The Czech native’s high-end two-way game has translated well from the WHL to pro hockey, as his shot, passing skill, and of course, his maturity and responsibility as a defender has impressed in the Winnipeg system.”

Mikhail Berdin

“Extremely athletic and hard-nosed, Berdin plays a fundamentally refined game that minimizes high-danger chances. He also possesses the last-resort agility to shut down anything that he can’t immediately get to.”

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

A year removed from winning the Western Conference and coming just a game away from taking home the franchise’s second Calder Cup, the Stars missed the postseason last year amid injuries and recalls toward the end of the season.

In addition, Texas has bid farewell to their two longest tenured players this offseason. Travis Morin, the 2014 AHL Most Valuable Player, retired from pro hockey while Justin Dowling, the team’s captain last season, made the Dallas roster out of training camp and seems primed to stick in the NHL.

With that transition brings youth and excitement into head coach Derek Laxdal’s lineup, as 11 first-year pros will compete in their rookie season with the Stars, including goaltender Jake Oettinger and forward Riley Tufte, both former first-round picks.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Jason Robertson

“At his best, Robertson is a monster in possession who prolongs offensive zone time because of how well he protects the puck. He also possesses terrific instincts, a great release, and a high skill level with the puck that makes him a very complete offensive player.”

Jake Oettinger

“Not only is Oettinger one of the top prospects in the Dallas system, the 20-year-old is firmly among the elite goaltending prospects in the sport. He is a 6-5” behemoth in the crease, but with the mental composure of a veteran and the agility of an NHL starter, boasting one of the most impressive packages of netminding skill in the game today.”

Joel L’Esperance

“The 6-2” center plays a high-energy game in all three zones, forechecks hard, and has some solid technical skating skill for a big man. He has a splendid wrist shot and a hockey IQ that is as high as his experience from the college ranks would suggest.”

San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks)

After a somewhat surprising run to the Western Conference Finals that ended with a loss to Chicago, head coach Dallas Eakins was given a promotion to the Anaheim Ducks and now serves as the bench boss of the Gull’s NHL parent club.

What that means is, like with Texas, a lot of transition and a lot of unknown. Kevin Dineen was hired as the head coach in the offseason and now oversees a team with a lot of turnover from the year prior. Prospects like Hunter Drew and Andrew Morand will lead the club from the side of youth, while AHL scoring phenom Andrew Poturalski joins the fray after a Calder Cup championship with Charlotte.

The 2019-20 Ducks sure look like the 2018-19 Gulls, and San Diego will have to rediscover an identity to be in contention for a postseason spot as the winter turns to spring again.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Joshua Mahura

“A crisp, accurate, and heads-up passer, the 2016 third-rounder is a beast in transitional play, and is never afraid to start -- or join -- an offensive rush. Solid vision of up-ice development is aided by his tight gaps, which can force turnovers at the blue line and spark a chance the other way.”

Antoine Morand

“Knows where to be on the ice. He is a creator who distributes very well and can run an offense. He is a solid skater with great agility and strong edgework, but his size is a question mark going forward. Morand will have to bulk up to have extended success at the NHL level.”

Andrew Poturalski

“A decisive, speedy playmaker with quick hands and high-end vision, the 25-year-old possesses a ceiling of a depth scoring forward with potential to have a ton of success on the power play.”

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

The IceHogs failed to qualify for the postseason in a transformative 2018-19 campaign that saw their NHL parent club make many internal moves that trickled down to Rockford. Most notably, Jeremy Colliton getting a midseason promotion from AHL bench boss to NHL headman, leaving Derek King and crew without much time to implement their voices on the room.

Now, King will get a full season as head coach and an influx of well-regarded prospects at his disposal. Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin, two 2018 first-round picks, will man the blue line, while returning goaltenders Collin Delia and IIHF World Championships winner Kevin Lankinen can hold down the fort in the crease.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Aleksi Saarela

“Saarela is a hard-working, dynamic player who wins battles and moves so efficiently that his energy stays high throughout the entirety of each game. He is a great shooter and his accuracy is impressive which makes him a tough opponent to stop. He is an all-around fun and creative player to watch and with his hockey sense and skill, he has the potential to be a top six forward and lead a team despite his size.”

Adam Boqvist

“An elite offensive defender, Boqvist has the requisite tools to be a high scorer in the NHL. His skating stride is not only smooth, it is powerful, and it allows him to take risks by jumping up into the rush quite frequently. He also possesses fantastic scoring instincts for a defender, sliding down into the slot or using his agility to open up shooting lanes for himself at the blueline.”

Dylan Sikura

“From the standpoint of raw skating, he was one of the best in the AHL and in this very deep farm system. His playmaking has long been his calling card, and he loves to make space for teammates with his speed only to pass it off. He is a smaller center, but does not shy away from doing the dirty work on both ends of the rink.”

Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)

After winning two straight Kelly Cups in their final two years of action in the ECHL, the Eagles wasted no time bringing Calder Cup playoff action to Loveland, Colorado in their first season of AHL play. Finishing fourth in the Pacific Division before losing to Bakersfield in round one, it was a terrific start for an AHL expansion team.

Eagles head coach Greg Cronin has arguably a deeper team in the dressing room this season, and the Eagles can be expected to not only reach the postseason again, but perhaps go even deeper. Losing top scorer Andrew Agozzino and starting goaltender Pavel Francouz is a pain, but the addition of veterans T.J. Tynan and Erik Condra, as well as prospect Calle Rosen and the health of Conor Timmins bring balance to the club.

Like the Avalanche above them, they’re a team that preaches chaos and excitement over anything else. They’re incredibly fun.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Martin Kaut

“Although his offensive game was stagnant, his defensive game -- where his value is most apparent -- needed no adjustment from Europe to the North American style. His incredible rink sense make him a pest on the puck, and his willingness to play deep in the defensive zone is an unteachable, immeasurable talent.”

Shane Bowers

“Bowers is the type of player that specializes in performing the little things, doing the grunt work while his linemates hog the glory. He can accelerate the cycle game, bringing the puck in from the perimeter and putting a scoring chance in motion. He plays with energy and can be used in all situations.”

Logan O’Connor

“He is a wonderful skater with the acceleration of a top-line scorer, and possesses the smarts and discipline to consistently make a major impact in all three zones. His versatility is his strongest weapon, as he can play all three forward spots -- up and down the lineup -- with surprising effectiveness.”

Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona Coyotes)

Injuries bit the Roadrunners hard near the end of the 2018-19 season, and the team narrowly missed the playoffs directly because of it. In particular, the losses of defenseman Kyle Capobianco and forwards Michael Bunting and Nick Merkley all hit head coach Jay Varady hard, but the team is full of depth and excitement if their health cooperates.

This team won the Pacific Division title in 2018, with several of those players still suiting up in Tucson brick red and black. In their fourth year in Arizona, they should be expected to contend for the Pacific crown once again, so long as heavily-revered goaltending prospect Adin Hill can play up to his level.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Nick Merkley

“Agile and athletic, he has the edgework and plus acceleration to make up for his small, albeit stocky, stature. His creativity with the puck is fueled by his elite hands, and his shot is an ever-evolving weapon. It is difficult to tell what kind of player Merkley is going to be, but if he can finally stay healthy, the 22-year-old has the skill and potential to be a future top-six winger.”

Adin Hill

“At 6-6”, Hill’s size is the first thing that jumps out about the 2015 third-rounder, but his incredible technical refinement and immeasurable mental composure are major bright spots in the development of the Coyotes’ goaltender of the future. With both AHL Tucson and the NHL club, Hill displayed his excellent total package as a near-term big-leaguer.”

Tyler Steenbergen

“His 200-foot game, defensive responsibility, and effectiveness as a bottom-six, penalty-killing guy who can play all three forward spots reliably gives him something many players of his ilk have not: a surefire NHL ceiling.”

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

While no St. Louis Blues fan will trade their first and only Stanley Cup last season for a better prospect pool, the Blues are certainly lacking in terms of a competitive AHL team. Their 2018-19 season started about as poorly as their parent club’s, and the Rampage never got above a .500 winning percentage at any point of the season.

But a new year always brings promise and hope. Prospect winger Klim Kostin, a 2017 first-round pick, had a solid preseason with St. Louis and brings to his third season in the AHL a quest to be more disciplined and consistent, while goaltender Ville Husso looks for redemption after a disastrous season in 2018-19.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Ville Husso

“Husso had a horrendous season that further damaged his falling prospect stock. After a strong 2017-18 campaign, the Finn went 6-18-0 with a 3.67 GAA and .871 Sv% in 2018-19, eventually losing the clear-cut starting job to a slew of random cast-offs that featured Binnington and Jared Coreau. Husso still has the raw skill to make a name for himself, including his athleticism, size (and more importantly, the way he uses it), and his ability to read plays as they develop and position himself accordingly.”

Klim Kostin

“Though he went through another underwhelming AHL season, the 6-3”, 212lbs 20-year-old impressed scouts with his body control, momentum on his skates, and his physical, power-forward game. A fast shot and nifty puck-protection skills make Kostin a fun player to watch when he gets to enter the zone with momentum, though his lack of speed and assertiveness can hold him back.”

Mitch Reinke

“His speed allows him to frequently exit the defensive zone, while his vision and hockey sense give him the instincts to put the puck in the right place. He can jump into the play and let off his strong, accurate wrist shot, but he is more of a facilitator than anything.”

Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)

Since moving to Stockton from Glens Fall, New York, the Flames have not won a single playoff series. With their NHL parent club in a “win now” window, it has obviously been difficult for Stockton to establish a consistent winner in the AHL.

And with Calgary bulking up the big-league club for another potential run at the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, Stockton head coach Cail MacLean has his work cut out for him again. Especially without Jusso Valimaki, who tore his ACL in offseason training and is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season, several others with the AHL Flames will need to step their games up this year.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Dillon Dube

“Shifty and quick on his feet, the former captain of Team Canada at the World Junior Championship exhibited plus value as a playmaking passer while also playing as a forceful, self-assured shooting option. His undersized frame is not a hindrance to his highend rough-and-tumble, forechecking game, as his play in the cycle is where he really shines as a passer and in-tight puck-handler.”

Matthew Phillips

“Grading out as an above-average skater and shooter, the Calgary native can impact games with his slippery skating, tricky shot release, and plus vision to create lanes for his linemates. At just 5-7” and 155 pounds, his physical game obviously lags, but he can be effective enough at separating himself from opposing defenders against the boards.”

Tyler Parsons

“A master scrambler, Parsons lacks technical refinement but more than makes up for it with competitiveness, play-tracking, and the reflexes to complement his all-out style of goaltending. The 2017 WJC gold medalist needs nothing more than a clean bill of health to continue his ascent up the ranks of NHL goaltending prospects, as the 2016 second-rounder projects to be a mid-tier NHL starter, but with more room to grow.”

Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)

The Reign suffered through a dreadful 2018-19 season, one that became increasingly hard as the campaign continued, with the Kings recalling many Ontario’s best players.

Matt Luff, Carl Grundstrom, and Austin Wagner joined L.A.’s forward group, Sean Walker and Matt Roy saw time on the blue line, and Cal Petersen played in the crease at some points in the year. Using a core of inexperienced defensemen, ineffective forwards, and whoever else the Reign could snag from ECHL Manchester was not a recipe for success.

New additions Jaret Anderson-Dolan (2017 second-rounder) and Rasmus Kupari (2018 first-rounder) hope to turn the tide, to say nothing of the possible return to help of 2017 first rounder Gabriel Vilardi, bringing excitement to San Bernardino county. The Reign could be a sneaky playoff team, or just die out early like last season, but unpredictability can be entertaining, at least.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Rasmus Kupari

“His greatest asset is, without doubt, his skating. Highly agile on his skates, he can make tight turns and cuts and he possesses strong edge control. He stops and starts well and has excellent top-end speed. He can maneuver with the puck in tight spaces and has a lot of puck skill as well.”

Gabriel Vilardi

“He possesses a great size and skill package down the middle and is a terrific playmaker who thinks the game at a high level and really can dominate possession down low. He is just so strong and difficult to separate from the puck. Vilardi played only four games for Ontario last year because of a lingering back injury that appears to be threatening his promising career.”

Jaret Anderson-Dolan

“Anderson-Dolan had a tough season last year battling injuries, but managed to finish the season strong. He finished the season by putting up 20 goals and 43 points in 32 games for the [Spokane] Chiefs, and 15 in 13 games in the playoffs, demonstrating that his multi-tool impact was still there.”

Winnipeg Jets 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:36:35 +0000

Having sat at the helm of the Winnipeg Jets since a few weeks before the 2011 Entry Draft – in other words, since the team left Atlanta - Kevin Cheveldayoff is now one of the longest tenured GMs in the sport. The length and stability of his tenure, as the team rose from an absolute also-ran into one often considered among the second tier of Stanley Cup candidates is a testament to the patient team building espoused by the man known as “Chevy” and the True North Sports and Entertainment Limited ownership group.

Considering Winnipeg’s reputation as a frigid outpost with very limited entertainment options, the team had to grow organically, through the draft and player development. It was easy to build with key pieces when the team was struggling. They were not trading their picks and they tended to pick high. In Chevy’s first draft, the Jets nabbed Mark Schiefele seventh overall. In his second go round, Jacob Trouba was selected with the ninth overall pick.

It wasn’t until 2015 when they finally had to wait through the first half of the draft before making a selection, but that worked out well, too, as the Jets picked twice in round one, selecting Kyle Connor and Jack Roslovic. It was really only in 2018 that the plan began to change in Manitoba.

The team had made the postseason only once in its first six seasons as the Winnipeg Jets, and had turned things on, with young Patrik Laine sniping without end and 2012 draft pick Connor Hellebuyck emerging as a high-end workhorse in net. They were suddenly one of the best teams in the league. As top teams do – but as Cheveldayoff had never had to do before – they went about supplementing that largely home grown core through trade, sending their 2018 first round pick (and a few other pieces) to St. Louis for center Paul Stastny. The Jets made it to the Western Conference Finals before bowing out.

For a team that was used to picking twice in the first round, it must have felt like years before they got to call out a name at the end of the second round.

Last season was another strong one for the Jets, although not as consistently so. Regardless, they once again traded away their first-round pick, this time sending it to the New York Rangers (again, along with some stocking stuffers) for big center Kevin Hayes, a pending free agent. It should be noted here that Stastny was also a pending free agent at the time of the 2018 trade and he had signed with Vegas in the offseason, despite Winnipeg trying to retain him. Back to the present, the Jets were knocked out in the first round this time. Hayes did not perform well.

The Jets were now looking at two years outside of the first round and knowing Hayes would not be resigned, they had nothing to show for it. So, they sent the rights of RFA Trouba (my, how time has passed) to the Rangers to get their original pick back. They had a first-round pick, but that was one of only five picks they got to make in Vancouver.

While the Winnipeg Jets lack hardware to show from the last two seasons, they proved that they could reach close to the NHL pinnacle with a pure draft and development philosophy. There are still some nice pieces in the pipeline, but the system now lacks depth. Their drafted and developed players are moving on to second and third contracts and are getting very expensive. Can they turn the trick again?

-Ryan Wagman

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Sami Niku (83) (Photo by Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire)

1 Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) Vesalainen is a strong skater with very good speed to achieve separation from defensemen. He has good quickness in his first few strides and shows quite nimble footwork for a player of his size. Much more of a shooter than a playmaker, he has a highly accurate wrist shot with a quick release. He can also score with a slap shot or one-timer. He has decent passing skills and offensive instincts. He likes to drive the net and can gain the inside position around the net. On the downside, he can be invisible for overly long periods, mainly at 5-on-5. He needs to be more involved in the game and also show some more intensity with greater consistency. Vesalainen has the potential to develop into a solid, versatile middle-six winger who can provide offensive punch. - MB

2 Dylan Samberg, D (43^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 5) A raw high schooler when the Jets used a second-round pick on Samberg, he has done nothing except collect hardware in the two years since. Actually, that isn’t true. He has also ground down some of the rougher edges of his game to the point where he is one of the better two-way defenders in college hockey and perhaps the best of the traditional, big-man defensive prospects in the game. He reads the ice like a 10-year pro and anticipates opposing forays, allowing him to get his stick on seemingly everything. He has also developed his offensive game nicely. He moves the puck well on the power play, finding teammates down low with sharp diagonal passes against the run of play. He has a hard shot too, suggesting he can continue playing on the man advantage when he finally turns pro. I’m not saying he is the next Brent Burns/Shea Weber, but he is built in that mold and has top pairing upside. - RW

3 Ville Heinola, D (20^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Heinola is a smooth skating, offensively gifted defenseman with terrific hockey sense. He has very good offensive vision and displays remarkable poise with the puck. He has already proven that he can run the power play in the Liiga like a seasoned veteran. He gets his shots through and moves the puck with crisp passes. He is effective at carrying the puck up ice, yet also has good playmaking skills from the back end. He is calm under pressure and has swift hands to control the puck well I tight spaces. He makes plays in all areas of the ice. He is not very physical but has good gap control and understands the principles of defending. Heinola has a high ceiling and projects as a firs or second pairing NHL defenseman. - MB

4 Logan Stanley, D (18^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 6) Standing at 6-7” tall, Stanley is a difficult guy to miss when he is out on the ice. The physical beast is one of the tallest prospects (or player of any level) in hockey, and his high-end defensive game leans heavily on his near-incomparable length. With his long and impassable gaps, active stick, and ability to take any opposing forward off the puck, his defensive game is one that seems NHL ready at just 20 years old. The former first rounder has a developing offensive game, using his booming slap shot, hockey sense, and passing skill to make something happen consistently at the other end. The main issue displayed during his first pro year with AHL Manitoba is his lack of technical skating skill, which hinders his acceleration and momentum and limits his NHL potential even if he moves well for his size. There is reason to believe he can grow on it and reach his top-four ceiling, but it will take some time. - TD

5 Sami Niku, D (198^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 4) His struggles at the NHL level last season made an elephant in the room of Sami Niku’s development, but his prospect ceiling -- and floor -- remain high as a surprisingly talented former seventh-round pick. With Winnipeg in 2018-19, he failed to have any of the success he had in the AHL the season prior, but still displayed flashes of absolute brilliance as a depth two-way defender. A splendid skater with fantastic puck-moving skills and smarts, he fits the Jets’ up-and-down style well and looked increasingly comfortable with a regular role alongside Ben Chiarot. His offensive game is well versed, but his defensive game -- most notably his initial blue line defense and discipline with moving the puck out -- will have to improve. At worst, he is a third-pair defenseman with some power-play time in the future. - TD

6 David Gustafsson, C (60^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 8) Gustafsson has looked good in the early stages of this pre-season. He looks a bit faster and stronger and looks to earn a bigger role in the SHL while aiming to be the first line center for Sweden’s WJC run later in a few months. He is an average skater and his puck skills are similar, but he relies heavily on his high end compete level. With his size and strength, he can be a force to face. His NHL potential is more of a middle six or bottom six center than someone for the top six, but he has a good chance to reach that and will probably be an NHLer within two or three years. He scored 12 points in each of his two SHL season as but should be able to at least double that this upcoming season, his last as a teenager. - JH

7 Simon Lundmark, D (51^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A smooth skating, puck-moving defenseman. Lundmark has good size and reach but lacks elite skill and can be both sloppy and soft in his game. That said, he shows good vision and plays a calm game with poise. He played full time in the SHL over the second half of last season. He has top six NHL defenseman potential. He doesn’t really have any elite skills in his toolkit and looks more to be an effective in five-on-five play than a power play or penalty kill specialist. He needs to work on his shot to be a better point-producing defenseman and he also needs to get stronger and to compete more in the more physical aspect of the game. His skating, vision, and reach will help him be effective with his stick defensively. Next season, he is expected to play regularly in SHL from the start. - JH

8 Giovanni Vallati, D (153^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) Vallati progressed very well this year following an offseason trade from Kitchener to Oshawa. His size and mobility combination make him very effective at both ends of the ice. He is very difficult to beat to the outside because of his feet and reach, and he closes in on dump ins very quickly to get play started the other way. Vallati also possesses a good low point shot, which he uses to create second chance opportunities when operating the point. As an NHL prospect, his upside is that of an all situations second or third pairing defender. Without elite puck skill, there may be some concerns as to how his offensive game translates, but his mobility and size should play in the defensive end. - BO

9 Harrison Blaisdell, C (134^thoverall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Blaisdell had a very good year for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL, with 33 goals and 58 points in 51 games, and added to that with an impressive showing in the World Junior A Challenge with four goals and five points in six games. The speedy center is a strong two-way player who plays an up-tempo style and a quick transition game. He has a solid frame, really quick hands, with a really good shot and rapid release. He has been successful at every level and will continue to do just that as he heads to the University of North Dakota next season. He has great leadership qualities, along with some versatility, and projects to be a bottom six forward at his peak. - KO

10 Michael Spacek, C (108^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 9) As one of the finest defensive players in the Winnipeg system, Spacek has a clear NHL future due solely to his hard work and intensity in all three zones, but he can be better than a defensive specialist. The Czech native’s high-end two-way game has translated well from the WHL to pro hockey, as his shot, passing skill, and of course, his maturity and responsibility as a defender has impressed in the Winnipeg system. He is a decent skater, has solid stick-quickness, and features a very quick wrist shot release with enough velocity to fool defenders. His issue right now comes down to consistency, as his shot is sorely underused, he does not do much offensively without the puck on his blade, and he can go missing for long stretches. He is a very reliable player and is sure to eventually get his shot in the big leagues, but he will first need a little more seasoning. - TD

11 Jansen Harkins, C (47^th overall, 2015. Last Year: Not ranked) After a slow start to his pro career, Harkins experienced his best season yet last year (70-15-16-31) and is starting to look like the second-rounder Winnipeg drafted in 2015. The gritty, intelligent center ended up in the ECHL for a brief moment last season, and looked like a certified bust, but his 2018-19 season was an impressive one that exhibited his three-zone excellence, his nifty puck-handling skills, and his smarts as a passer and cycle player. With good speed and discipline, he can and does play all three forward spots pretty frequently and is adaptable enough to move up and down the lineup. He is still a long-term project who needs to work on assertiveness and skating, but he has finally shown up as a prospect. - TD

12 Joona Luoto, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jun. 15, 2019. Last Year: IE) Luoto is a strong, physical winger who plays with high energy and competes hard in each and every shift. He is a puck hound who wins most of his board and corner battles and is tough to play against in that sense. He does not quit on plays and is very dependable. He scored a fair bit in juniors, but he was not a point producer for Tappara in the Liiga as he was mostly deployed on the third or fourth line, without many opportunities on the power play. That said, there were occasions when he displayed fine technical skills and a goal-scoring touch. He is not a speedster, but he has good hockey sense and moves into good spots. He has a chance to be a checking line winger in the NHL. - MB

13 Santeri Virtanen, C (105^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 10) Virtanen is a competitive and reliable center who has shown really well at the international stage. He plays a tenacious game without the puck, battles hard for pucks, and consistently provides puck support. He reads plays well, making himself available for passes and getting into position defensively. He is not the most skilled prospect but plays a straightforward game with the puck and can chip in offensively from time to time. Virtanen's skating is quite ordinary, and he needs to add agility, quickness and endurance. He is versatile, can play up and down the lineup and is a good penalty killer. He may not have a very high ceiling, but he could eventually develop into a third- or fourth-line center at the NHL level. - MB

14 Clinston Suess, LW (129^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 14) After tearing it up with Minnesota State-Mankato for four full seasons, Suess was expected to jump right into the AHL and carry that offensive firepower into the Manitoba Moose lineup. However, his season came to an early end when he got into a scramble in a mid-December game and he missed the rest of the season with an upper-body injury, finishing with just the 12 points (8G, 4A) he accrued before his injury. Though his health did not cooperate last season, he still brings with him a solid ceiling of depth power forward scorer, due to his high-end upper-body strength, nose for the net, and ability to sense developing plays well. At 25 and having never played a full pro season, Suess is still a question mark, but a very intriguing one. - TD

15 Declan Chisholm, D (150^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) A smooth skating offensive blueliner, Chisholm saw his production increase greatly in his first post-draft season in Peterborough. He starts the breakout very effectively by making a clean exit pass or by using his mobility to create rushing lanes that he can exploit. He has worked hard to cut down on his turnovers and improve his decision making. Defensively, he has improved his strength down low and is competing hard, but consistency is still an issue. There are still lapses of concentration. Additionally, he will need to improve his point shot if he wishes to be a powerplay QB at the NHL level. Chisholm projects as a third pairing puck mover who can line up alongside a more defensively oriented blueliner. - BO

16 Luke Green, D (79^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 17) The bad luck with injuries that Green has sustained in the last two seasons should not affect his best attribute – his skating. He is a very solid skater on his edges or in a straight line and it has been his best path to success in his career. However, a shoulder injury suffered in a prospect tournament in 2017 and a concussion last season restricted his availability to just 27 games over the last two seasons combined. Green has great hockey sense with and without the puck, a great puckhandler with an equally strong first pass; he just needs to see more of the ice to grow. He projects to be a jack-of-all-trades finesse two-way defender who can handle the middle-pair and powerplay minutes in the NHL, but he needs health and more time to marinade. - MS

17 Pavel Kraskovsky, C (164^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 19) After a promising youth career, Kraskovsky has struggled to reach the next level, and unfortunately injuries have played a significant role in this lack of development. He may have not missed the train yet although he may need to breath some new air after being part of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl system for his whole life. He is gifted with good size and excellent two-way abilities and he may become a solid bottom-six player for the Jets, but he needs to restart his development path and play a full, injury-free season. At this point, however, Kraskovsky is just a long shot to make the NHL. His contract with Lokomotiv runs out next year and it is likely that he will try to get to Winnipeg at that time. - ASR

18 Mikhail Berdin, G (157^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 18) A star at the USHL level with Sioux Falls, Berdin wasted no time getting adjusted to the higher competition of the pro-affiliated levels, posting outstanding numbers with both ECHL Jacksonville (16-8-2, .912 Sv%, 2.66 GAA) and AHL Manitoba (12-11-0, .927, 2.34) as a 21-year-old. Extremely athletic and hard-nosed, Berdin plays a fundamentally refined game that minimizes high-danger chances. He also possesses the last-resort agility to shut down anything that he can’t immediately get to. His puck-handling is incredible as well, as he can single-handedly force an opposing team to abandon a dump-and-chase scheme midway through games. He will need to improve his tool selection and anticipation, but the tools for a mid-tier NHL starter exists within the Russian stopper. - TD

19 Leon Gawanke, D (136^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Gawanke is a great result of drafting a determined player from a lesser-known international program and letting him take advantage of the international experience he is sure to get. He is expected to be a mainstay on the Team Germany blueline throughout his professional career, and has played in three world junior championships, albeit in Division 1A with his native country. Either way, that plethora of experience has paid off for Gawanke, who is more than just a booming shot. He is a risk-taking offensive defender who loves to skate with the puck and make plays. His defensive play needs work, but his raw offensive game will propel him in the pro ranks. He will need time with the Moose but could be a power play quarterback at the NHL level with his shot and his smarts. - MS

20 Henri Nikkanen, C (113^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Prior to last season, Nikkanen was considered a potential first or second round pick for the 2019 NHL Draft. Unfortunately for him – but fortunately for Winnipeg – after having a rough season and missing the WU18 championships, the skilled center fell all the way to the fourth round. He has shown flashes of high-end skill in the offensive zone, He can carry the puck into the zone displaying fast stickhandling and smooth hands. He is a decent skater with solid agility, though his top speed is average, and his balance could use some work. He plays a solid defensive game, takes away time and space from opponents and can cover his man in the defensive zone. Nikkanen has nice skill, but his game might be too bland for the NHL and there are also questions marks around his hockey sense for the time being. - MB

Logan Stanley – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Brayden Point’s injury shakes up the Lightning, the Bruins are getting production from Fraser Minten and Viktor Arvidsson, the Devils have a Dougie Hamilton situation, and so much more!

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – NHL Player Profiles

FORWARDS

DEFENSE

GOALTENDING

NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs – Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets – Long, Deep History between Canadian Teams

Toronto (1) vs. Montreal (4)

Edmonton (2) vs Winnipeg (3)

SEATTLE KRAKEN EXPANSION DRAFT: Prospects to Target – Part One – Goaltenders and Defense

Daniel Vladar - Boston Bruins

Alex Nedeljkovic - Carolina Hurricanes

Michael McNiven - Montreal Canadiens

Filip Gustavsson - Ottawa Senators

Joey Daccord - Ottawa Senators

Vitek Vanecek - Washington Capitals

Connor Ingram - Nashville Predators

Josef Korenar - San Jose Sharks

Ville Husso - St. Louis Blues

Mikhail Berdin - Winnipeg Jets

Jake Bean - Carolina Hurricanes

Riley Stillman - Florida Panthers

Cale Fleury - Montreal Canadiens

Sebastian Aho - New York Islanders

Cal Foote - Tampa Bay Lightning

Josh Mahura - Anaheim Ducks

Ben Gleason - Dallas Stars

Austin Strand - Los Angeles Kings

Brogan Rafferty - Vancouver Canucks

Logan Stanley - Winnipeg Jets

Sami Niku - Winnipeg Jets

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Winnipeg Jets Top 20 Prospects

Cole Perfetti, C/LW (10th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dylan Samberg, D (43rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

Ville Heinola, D (20th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Declan Chisholm, D (150th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Anton Johannesson, D (133rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Sami Niku, D (198th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Mikhail Berdin, G (157th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Logan Stanley, D (18th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Daniel Torgersson, LW (40th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

David Gustafsson, C (60th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Santeri Virtanen, C (105th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Nathan Smith, C (91st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Arvid Holm, G (167th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Leon Gawanke, D (136th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Simon Lundmark, D (51st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Kristian Reichel, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jun. 15, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Eric Comrie, G (Waivers: Dec. 19, 2019. Originally: 59th overall, 2013 [Winnipeg]. Previous ranking: UR)

Pavel Kraskovsky, C (164th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 16)

Henri Nikkanen, C (113th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 18)

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – WINNIPEG JETS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 28

Winnipeg Jets

Dylan Samberg, D (43rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 1)

Ville Heinola, D (20th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Declan Chisholm, D (150th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

Sami Niku, D (198th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 5)

Mikhail Berdin, G (157th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 18)

Logan Stanley, D (18th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

David Gustafsson, C (60th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Santeri Virtanen, C (105th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

Nathan Smith, C (91st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Michael Spacek, C (108th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 10)

Arvid Holm, G (167th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Leon Gawanke, D (136th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 19)

Simon Lundmark, D (51st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

Kristian Reichel, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jun. 15, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

AHL: Central Division Prospect Report, December 2019

AHL Western Conference 2019-20 Season Preview

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks)

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

Cole Perfetti, C/LW (10^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dylan Samberg, D (43^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

Ville Heinola, D (20^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Declan Chisholm, D (150^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Anton Johannesson, D (133^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Sami Niku, D (198^thoverall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Mikhail Berdin, G (157^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Logan Stanley, D (18^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Daniel Torgersson, LW (40^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

David Gustafsson, C (60^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Santeri Virtanen, C (105^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Nathan Smith, C (91^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Arvid Holm, G (167^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Leon Gawanke, D (136^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Simon Lundmark, D (51^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Eric Comrie, G (Waivers: Dec. 19, 2019. Originally: 59^th overall, 2013 [Winnipeg]. Previous ranking: UR)

Pavel Kraskovsky, C (164^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 16)

Henri Nikkanen, C (113^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 18)

Dylan Samberg, D (43^rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 1)

Ville Heinola, D (20^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Declan Chisholm, D (150^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

Sami Niku, D (198^thoverall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 5)

Mikhail Berdin, G (157^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 18)

Logan Stanley, D (18^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

David Gustafsson, C (60^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Santeri Virtanen, C (105^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

Nathan Smith, C (91^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Michael Spacek, C (108^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 10)

Arvid Holm, G (167^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Leon Gawanke, D (136^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 19)

Simon Lundmark, D (51^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)