Madison Bowey – McKeen's Hockey

OH, CANADA! – NHL Trade Deadline Edition

Jeff Veillette — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 14:57:40 +0000

Welcome back to “Oh, Canada” – a weekly journey across Canada’s temporary North Division, exploring stories that may have happened throughout the week. With the NHL’s Trade Deadline occurring on Monday Afternoon, this week’s issue will be a quick glance at each team’s transactions in the days and hours before the cutoff.

COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 10: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Nick Foligno (71) looks on during the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on February 10, 2020. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire)

Calgary Flames

April 11^th: Traded G David Rittich to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 3^rd Round Draft Pick in 2022
April 12^th: Traded F Sam Bennett and a 6^th Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Emil Heineman and a 2^nd Round Draft Pick in 2022

With the disappointing season that the Flames have had, it wasn’t a big shock to see them look more towards selling than buying. Nothing short of a miracle will get them into the playoffs at this point, so it stands to reason that the team would look towards refilling the cupboard a bit.

Which pieces would go, though, was the bigger question. Rittich’s departure makes sense given his upcoming free agent status and the long-term commitment the team has with Jacob Markstrom, but Bennett was a bit surprising. After all, we were only days removed from him telling the world that he was no longer interested in being traded! But, when a haul like the Flames received – a second-round pick and Heineman, a recent second-round pick himself – becomes available, the equation changes and you’re suddenly okay with moving a bottom six forward.

I think there is still a little more the Flames could’ve possibly done here. Derek Ryan, for example, feels like the sort of player they would have likely gotten phone calls on but chose not to move. But with so much of their core locked up to term and a lot of uncertainty around the league at the moment, it makes sense that they didn’t want to go into a snap fire sale at the highest level. What they did get done should be considered a particularly good effort.

Edmonton Oilers

April 12^th: Traded a Conditional 4^th Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the New Jersey Devils for D Dmitry Kulikov

The Oilers didn’t do a heck of a lot to add, and with the team in the position that they are, that decision seems like a confusing one. Ken Holland talked about a look towards next year as a spending year, telling reporters “I don’t know that you can be all-in every year. I think you pick and choose.”

To Holland’s credit, the Oilers could find themselves in a very flexible position next year, with a bevy of contracts coming off the books to supply them with $27 million in cap space. On the other hand, some of those names (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson, Tyson Barrie, Kailer Yamamoto, Mike Smith) will take up a decent chunk of money to either re-sign or replace, and there’s no guarantee – especially in Smith’s case – that they put up the same results next year.

Not to mention a few other factors at play here like, I don’t know, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl producing at career-high rates, and while Toronto seems to be a formidable potential opponent, they’ll still have Vegas to deal with when the divisions go back to normal next year. It seems to me that while the team aren’t sure-fire favourites, they’re good enough to have a shot, and so long as you have a generational talent in his prime available, you push forward. Instead, all that happened is a minor pick for depth transaction – Kulikov is a body who can play games and minutes and that’s important to any playoff team, but he’s not going to be breaking any games.

Montreal Canadiens

April 12^th: Lost D Victor Mete on Waivers to the Ottawa Senators
April 12^th: Traded a 7^th Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the Philadelphia Flyers for D Erik Gustafsson

The Canadiens have a bit more of an excuse for a quiet deadline, given that that they had lost four of five going into the deadline and seem to mostly be playoff-secure right now due to the Flames’ failures, rather than their own success. It’s very reminiscent of last year’s team – perhaps the sign of a core that is decent, but still not ready to be in the contender conversation for a little bit.

They also already made their splash in acquiring Eric Staal on March 26^th, and with just one point to his name in the six games since (albeit an OT winner), that may have given Marc Bergevin some pause on attempting another. They did make an intriguing attempt at a buy-low, though, in acquiring Flyers’ defenceman Erik Gustafsson, who probably has the most shocking-to-stumble-upon 60-point season of any active NHLer (2018/19 with Chicago).

I don’t think Montreal is expecting to get a repeat of that out of him, and with an expiring contract, they likely don’t have time to find out. But he’s a perfectly capable defenceman who can contribute in the defensive zone, even if he appears to be a shell of his former self offensively. Given the loss of Victor Mete to waivers earlier in the day, the low-cost bet appears to be sound.

Ottawa Senators

April 11^th: Traded D Mike Reilly to the Boston Bruins for a 3^rd Round Draft Pick in 2022
April 12^th: Claimed D Victor Mete on Waivers from Montreal Canadiens
April 12^th: Traded D Erik Gudbranson to the Nashville Predators for Brandon Fortunato and a 7^th Round Draft Pick in 2023
April 12^th: Traded D Braydon Coburn to the New York Islanders for a 7^th Round Draft Pick in 2022

Victor Mete

It should come to no surprise that the Senators would be sellers in a clear rebuild year, but after the way Erik Gudbranson and Brayden Coburn were talked about as invaluable members of the team by DJ Smith in the weeks prior, there was some wonder whether he was asset-pumping or sure that they’d stick around.

It seems the answer is neither, as both have moved on and neither fetched much – 7^th round picks in later years, and a warm-body contract in Fortunato. It stands to reason for the Senators to take what they could get there, though, and as the market for big, defence first, non-play driving defencemen fades year after year, what they could get just wasn’t much.

Redemption came in their other two transactions. Getting a 22-year-old Victor Mete for free from the Canadiens via waivers, presumably with lots of ice time now available to him, was a great free wallet. Even if he doesn’t amount to his previous hype, he still at least seems to be a young, capable NHLer, so the potential on the acquisition is nearly all upside. Mike Reilly would be a tough loss to a team in a more competitive position but given that he will be out of his prime by the time the Senators are ready, getting a third round pick in a buyer’s market is a solid alternative.

Toronto Maple Leafs

April 9^th: Traded a Conditional 7^th Round Draft Pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for F Riley Nash
April 11^th: Traded a 1^st Round Draft Pick in 2021 and a 4^th Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and 4^th Round Draft Pick in 2021, for F Nick Foligno (two salary retentions) and F Stefan Noesen
April 11^th: Traded a 3^rd Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the Calgary Flames for G David Rittich
April 12^th: Traded F Alexander Barabanov to the San Jose Sharks for F Antti Suomela
April 12^th: Traded a 5^th Round Pick in 2022 to the Anaheim Ducks for D Ben Hutton

Few, if any teams were more active in trying to check all possible boxes than the Maple Leafs in their deadline week. Nash brings them a fourth line, absence-of-event defensive forward, and acquiring him first gave Toronto some LTIR flexibility as he recovers from a sprained knee. Rittich gives them a fourth goalie to play regular season games while they figure out which of Jack Campbell, Frederik Andersen, and Michael Hutchinson are healthy and/or good. Ben Hutton has played games throughout the season and will be a warmer option should a depth defenceman be required. Over in San Jose, the Leafs get to do a favour to a European signing who didn’t work out and find him another spot to try to make a name for himself, while getting back a player who can play centre if their depth severely lessens.

The big fish here is obviously Foligno, who fetched the biggest return of any rental forward this week. Toronto is hoping that he can be the piece that brings it all together – someone who bolsters their sandpaper while contributing a solid two-way game. His familial relation to the city through his father Mike helps create an early bond with the fanbase.

From a traditional perspective, I think the Maple Leafs checked a lot of boxes. They sharpened their tools up front, on defence, and in goal. There are some arguments to be had about the costs, mostly on the Foligno trade, and whether a spend that steep could’ve been better put towards a higher-talent player. But in an interesting plot twist, Kyle Dubas has stuck with conventional wisdom, and we’ll see where it takes them.

Adam Gaudette

Vancouver Canucks

April 12^th: Traded F Adam Gaudette to the Chicago Blackhawks for F Matthew Highmore
April 12^th: Traded a 4^th Round Draft Pick in 2021 to the Chicago Blackhawks for D Madison Bowey and a 5^th Round Draft Pick in 2021
April 12^th: Traded D Jordie Benn to the Winnipeg Jets for a 6^th Round Draft Pick in 2021

Traditionally, this is one of the best weeks in the year to wonder what exactly the Vancouver Canucks are thinking, as this is right about the time where this management group has frequently let sharper minds in the fanbase down. Usually, this is the time where you expect the Canucks to sell and replenish their pick capital, only for them to case a bunch of pre-prime aged reclamation projects in hopes that what Jim Benning once liked about them can be found again.

Now, looking at the above list, it’s easy to say that they’ve literally done just that once again. They extended Tanner Pearson instead of trading him, they kept Brandon Sutter, they kept Travis Hamonic, they kept Alex Edler, they didn’t move out anyone with term, and they come out of this all with only a couple low picks and two 25-year-old longshots. But I’d argue, for once, that they can take a pass on this one.

With the Canucks in a completely unenviable spot due to their COVID-19 outbreak, I understand the interest in doing right by the players and avoiding moving them whenever possible this week. Most reports seem to suggest that Gaudette preferred to move, and given his position as potential patient zero, I can see why they made it work for him. Benn was unlikely to return next year and moving him to a Canadian team to minimize disruption was likely something he was happy with. I’m kind of into the Madison Bowey play as well – his NHL career hasn’t been great to date, but he’s at the very least a solid tweener, and the average value gap between a 4^th and 5^th rounder isn’t significant.

In normal circumstances, I’d be all over dunking on this deadline. This time? We’ll give them a pass. It’s fine given how up against the wall they were.

Winnipeg Jets

April 12^th: Traded a 6^th Round Draft Pick in 2021 to the Vancouver Canucks for D Jordie Benn

So, on the note of Benn, Winnipeg was where he landed, as the Jets’ only move of significance this week. In him, they get a veteran who has seen his way around the league, making stops in Dallas, Montreal, and obviously, Vancouver on his way to his new home. He’s best known as a physical, shot blocking defenceman who can put up a limited, but existent rate of production, and has some comfort on the penalty kill. Most underlying metrics aren’t super high on him, though the popular Evolving Hockey Goals Above Replacement model has him as Vancouver’s second most positively impactful player this year.

Suffice to say, while he’s not a slam dunk acquisition, he’s the kind that a team can make for a sixth-round pick and be satisfied. That’s especially true if you’re the Winnipeg Jets, who for all of their scoring talent and their elite goaltending, simply do not have a strong defence core. As it stands, we’re talking about a team where Neal Pionk seems to clearly be their top defenceman, with no one, even the high-priced Josh Morrissey, really stepping up to declare themselves as a well above-average piece, let alone be a star.

The big question here is – could they have done more? As mentioned last week, there was talk of Mattias Ekholm, but Nashville’s price got excessive quickly. David Savard may have been an interesting add, though he ultimately landed in Tampa Bay. Not outbidding Boston on Mike Reilly is the one that really confuses me, as the cost of a third-round pick was little to nothing for a player like him. The Jets are in a great position to go for it this year, and while Benn helps, I’m just not sure it’s enough of a leap forward in that position. Then again, when you have one of the best goalies in the world at your disposal, maybe you don’t have to do much defending.

Capital One – Washington Capitals 2018-19 Season Preview

Ryan Dadoun — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 14:32:25 +0000

REVIEW / STATE OF PLAY – Throughout the Alex Ovechkin era, the Washington Capitals have fielded strong teams that have fallen apart in the playoffs. Washington exceeded 100 points six times over the span of nine seasons from 2008-09 through 2016-17 and didn’t make it past the second round once. They even secured back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies in 2015-16 and 2016-17 only to be eliminated in the playoffs by the Pittsburgh Penguins each time.

Expectations were a little lower for Washington in 2017-18 after their cap situation led to the Capitals giving up Marcus Johansson, Justin Williams, Daniel Winnik, and Karl Alzner in the summer of 2017 while Nate Schmidt went over to Vegas in the expansion draft and Kevin Shattenkirk left Washington after being a midseason acquisition for the Capitals’ 2017 playoff push. With all that talent lost, the Capitals did take a bit of a step back in the regular season with a still impressive 49-26-7 record, but their core of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, and Braden Holtby clicked in the playoffs to lead Washington to its first Stanley Cup championship.

NO EXODUS – While Washington is a team up against the cap, its core will still be around to defend the championship. Re-signing John Carlson was their biggest task after he scored 15 goals and 68 points in 82 games last season while averaging 24:47 minutes per game. Washington was ultimately able to secure him to an eight-year, $64 million contract. To make that work, the Capitals unloaded the final season of Brooks Orpik’s five-year, $27.5 million contract to the Colorado Avalanche in a trade that also involved Washington trading Philipp Grubauer, who was a restricted free agent and had become overqualified for the backup gig he was stuck with in Washington.

Colorado then bought out Orpik’s contract, which eventually led to Washington bringing back the veteran defenseman on a one-year, $1 million contract that contains another $500,000 in potential performance bonuses.

Braden Holtby

Thanks to that maneuvering, the Capitals’ 2018-19 roster will be almost exactly the same as it was in 2017-18, minus Grubauer and Jay Beagle, who signed with Vancouver after scoring seven goals and 22 points in 79 games last season. The loss of their backup goaltender isn’t inconsequential though, especially given that Holtby struggled at times in 2017-18 and posted a 2.99 GAA and .907 save percentage in 54 regular season starts, which would have been a major talking point if not for his strong play in the postseason.

Pheonix Copley is expected to get an opportunity to serve as the backup goaltender and while he might be adequate in that role, he’s not the strong fallback option that Philipp Grubauer was. So the Capitals are going into the season without much of a safety net in that regard.

THE TODD REIRDEN ERA – While the team on the ice is largely the same, the bench will look very different. Veteran head coach Barry Trotz decided to leave the Washington Capitals immediately after leading them to a championship in favor of signing with the New York Islanders. In his place, Todd Reirden, was elevated to the head coaching position.

Reirden had been a member of Washington’s coaching staff for the last four seasons and served as an associate coach for the last two, so he seemed like a natural successor under the circumstances. Rather than be tasked with shaking things up, as is often the case with a new head coach, the goal here is for Reirden to provide a seamless transition from the Trotz era to his reign.

He has the burden of expectations, but is also inheriting a golden opportunity given the talented group he’ll get to work with.

OUTLOOK – When everything is working out for the Capitals, they have some of the top offensive weapons in the league, a strong defense, and an elite goaltender. There are times when some of those elements seem to be absent and even when they are firing on all cylinders, there are a handful of teams that can potentially stand up to them. It’s also important to note that successfully defending a championship is incredibly hard in the NHL. Pittsburgh managed to do it, but before the Penguins, the last team with back-to-back championships were the Detroit Red Wings back in 1997 and 1998. Still, the Capitals’ championship group has been left almost entirely intact and they remain in their prime, so they have to be regarded as one of the league’s top teams.

Washington – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:10:04 +0000

Most teams scout in a variety of leagues to help replenish the minor league ranks with NHL-potential talent. Both historically and currently, the most popular destinations have been the three leagues of the CHL, the WHL, OHL and QMJHL. Looking at the various organizations around the league, the vast majority of teams had players to follow in all three leagues. There were a handful of teams that did not have a single player affiliated with a QMJHL season last year. There are also two teams that were barren in terms of WHL alumni in the system. And then there are the Washington Capitals. Not only are they the only system without players who spent last year in the OHL, but they also have not recently had a QMJHL affiliated player.

It is possible that their strong lean towards the WHL is a side effect of often having few picks to play with and often only late ones at that. Like the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are perennially contending, trading picks for players of present-day value, and thus putting an inordinate amount of faith in the their NCAA and NCAA feeder league scouts, so too might the Capitals be limiting their scouting exposure to the OHL, QMJHL, and apparently, Finland. Instead, they scout the WHL, Sweden, Switzerland, and to a lesser extent, the NAHL, very heavily, hoping that better depth in specific areas will improve their chances of successful outcomes.

To understand how deep this strategy of omission runs, the last player drafted by the Capitals out of the OHL was Tom Wilson in 2012. The last player they drafted out of the QMJHL was Stanislav Galiev in 2010. And 2004 was the last time they drafted a player out of the Finnish leagues, when they used picks on both Sami Lepisto and Pasi Salonen.

That is how the Capitals’ 2017 draft class, four players strong, included picks out of Fairbanks in the NAHL, EVZ Academy in the second Swiss league, MODO J20 in the Swedish junior leagues, and Almtuna J20, of a lower level Swedish junior league. It is also almost fair to note that the team augmented their system with a trio of college free agent signings from lower profile NCAA schools Alaska-Anchorage, Merrimack, and St. Lawrence.

From where we stand today, the depth over breadth approach to amateur scouting has not paid too many dividends. Although the team tends to be among the best in the league during the regular season, they have tended to flame out in the playoffs, at least in part due to a lack of firepower from the bottom half of the roster. Very few young players are breaking through from their (generally competitive) AHL affiliate in Hershey although the current depth chart suggests that two or three prospects may be ready for their big chance.

Without either a longer playoff run or a group of young prospects establishing themselves in short order with the NHL club, the Capitals will be forced to change their strategy or change the people executing on that strategy. Or both.

Ilya Samsonov

1 Ilya Samsonov – If the Capitals did not already have one of the best netminders in the NHL in his prime and locked up for another three seasons, they would be even more excited for having in their possession one of the clear-cut best goaltending prospects in the game. His numbers have been near the top in the KHL over the last two seasons while literally world beating at the WJC. He has exceptional athleticism for a goalie and rebounds immediately from the occasional stoppable goal allowed. When he is ready to leave Russia, the Capitals will find a way to make room for him on the NHL roster.

Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13)(Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire)

2 Jakub Vrana – In two partial seasons in the AHL, the offensively gifted former first round pick has put up very strong numbers for Hershey, there are open questions about how well his game will translate to the NHL. Not even looking at his first 21 games last year (three goals, three assists), his high end speed and puck handling skills risk being neutralized in the NHL by a general lack of urgency. If he proves that he can produce with fewer soft spots in coverage to exploit, he can be a top six winger. No guarantee, though.

Lucas Johansen of the Kelowa Rockets was selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

3 Lucas Johansen – To the naked eye, Johansen’s first post-draft year was marginally disappointing. Scouting the stat line shows offensive totals that had dropped somewhat, from 0.71 points per game in 2015-16, to 0.60 PPG last year. Moving past the stats, Ryan Johansen’s kid brother has been rounding out his game nicely. He has plus mobility and puck playing ability and is developing his defensive zone game marvelously. He still needs to bulk up, but has shutdown, possession ace ability.

4 Connor Hobbs – Hobbs, whose draft year got off to a very rough start, demanding a trade out of Medicine Hat, sojourning with Nipawin of the MJHL before being traded to Regina, is looking like a Grade A steal for the Capitals. He checks off all of the scouting boxes. Average or better as a skater, puck handling, shooter and strong hockey IQ to boot. He also has a solid frame and uses it well. The blueliner finished his WHL career with 109 points in 100 regular season plus playoff games. He is ready for the next level.

5 Madison Bowey – Bowey had a rough second season in the AHL, as sliced tendon in his ankle kept him out of action for nearly half the season. When he did play, his numbers were no better than they had been as a rookie pro. Further, he had a disturbing propensity to make unforced errors, pointing to poor decision making. On the other hand, he is an above average skater with intriguing puck skills and he flashes his physical tools fairly regularly. The next step is consistency.

6 Pheonix Copley – Had the Vegas Golden Knights selected Philipp Grubauer in the expansion draft instead of Nate Schmidt, Copley would be the odds-on favorite to land the backup goalie role in Washington for 2017-18. Signed by the Caps as a free agent out of Michigan Tech, Copley was traded to St. Louis two years ago and traded back this year at the deadline. A good athlete who does not quit on a puck, he has already proven his worth in the AHL. All that stands between him and the NHL is opportunity.

7 Jonas Siegenthaler – Sieganthaler has a very wide frame, uses his body to good effect, skates well for his bulk and is dependable in his own end. He has an active stick, muffles shooting and passing lanes well and keeps tight gaps. On their own, those traits should be enough for the young Swiss blueliner to play in the NHL. Which is good, because he brings little to the table with the puck. He makes a decent first pass in his own zone and nothing else. His shot is poor and his puck carrying is middling.

8 Chandler Stephenson – Although not a serious offensive threat, Stephenson is an easy player to root for. An exceptionally smart two-way forward, the former third rounder is also blessed with a strong set of wheels. While not fancy with the puck, his decisions tend to be the right ones, such as deciding when to hold it or when to lay it off for a teammate. His shot also holds some potential.

9 Shane Gersich – Additional playing with the reigning NCAA champions in North Dakota have led to vastly superior results for Gersich, a talented forward. His stickhandling is his strong-suit, as he has plus hands, good vision and a flair for opportunism. He is also trusted to kill penalties and plays a tenacious brand of hockey that belies his somewhat small frame, crashing the net and not shying from the tough areas.

10 Damien Riat – On the one hand, Riat’s production in his second season of high-level Swiss hockey with Geneve-Servette dropped considerably. On the other, he was once again a force at the World Juniors for his native Switzerland. He pays a sound two-way game, combining a powerful and speedy skating stride with a hard and accurate wrist shot and attention to detail in his own zone. He will be back in the NLA for a third season next year.

11 Travis Boyd – In many ways, Travis Boyd has a lot of the same prospect attributes as Jakub Vrana, profiled above. He is a very good puck handler, understands his role in all three zones and knows how to fire the puck in anger. The main differences between the two are that while Vrana is a very good skater, Boyd is only in the range of average, and Boyd is around 2.5 years older than Vrana, giving him less room for improvement. He has earned an NHL opportunity.

12 Beck Malenstyn – A big-bodied grinder, Malenstyn may be a future success story of the Capitals’ depth approach to scouting discussed at length above. In his first post-draft season, he bumped his goals from eight to 32 and his points from 25 to 56, on a team in a down year. He is unselfish with the puck and can take a hit without being removed from the play. He is also a strong skater who flashes some emerging puck skills. Definitely one who could rise on this list in future seasons.

13 Christian Djoos – Another late round pick who has proven to be an above average AHL player, Djoos’ strongest tool is without doubt his puck moving ability. He exudes confidence with the puck on his stick and generally makes strong decisions, deftly weighing risk and reward. He is also a solid skater. The main question is whether the aforementioned attributes are enough to overcome his slight frame (6-0”, 165). He may have done enough for Washington to try to find out.

14 Vitek Vanecek – Although recently a second round pick, Vanecek has not done enough yet to cement himself in Washington’s future plans. He had a strong rookie North American pro season in the ECHL but was below average in the AHL last year, prompting the team to re-acquire Pheonix Copley. An agile, butterfly-style netminder who is aggressive in his crease. This may be his last chance to stake his claim to a future in DC before Samsonov comes to America.

15 Riley Barber – Another AHL scorer, Barber has a long history of championships under his belt. He has won a Clark Cup with Dubuque, earned Gold Medals in both WU18 (2011-12) and WJC (2012-13) play and led Miami (Ohio) to an NCHC title as a junior in 2014-15. His offensive play is still ahead of his defensive play. He also has a tendency to take extraneous offensive risks. Healthy after missing close to half of last year with a hand injury, he will get more time in the NHL this year.

16 Tobias Geisser – Selected this year at the end of the fourth round, Geisser was the first pick made by the Caps, as they returned to one of their favorite scouting haunts, in Switzerland. He is remarkably mobile for his plus frame with a strong start up. He is also very calm with the puck and is strong on his stick when digging for loose pucks. He more than held his own in his first experience with high level men’s hockey in Switzerland’s second league and is a likely WJC participant this year.

17 Garrett Pilon – Despite a strong post draft season with Kamloops, improving to nearly one point per game, Pilon is still primarily a defensive forward prospect. Most of his game screams “average!”, particularly his ability to push play in the offensive zone. The son of longtime NHLer Rich Pilon still has one more season to leave a mark in the WHL.

18 Brian Pinho – Pinho’s first two post draft seasons were very successful from a team perspective, as he first won a Clark Cup with Indiana, and followed that up with an NCAA championship as a freshman at Providence. Since then, he has steadily improved his ability to produce at the NCAA level. He is a decent skater with solid puck skills combined with offensive zone vision. Quick hands make him dangerous.

19 Hampus Gustafsson – One of three college free agents signed by Washington this offseason, Gustafsson was a decent offensive producer in his last three seasons with Merrimack, trailing only Devils pick Brett Seney in points each year. Other than a partial season in Midget hockey after first coming over from Sweden to North America, he has never produced dominant numbers. What allows him to stand out is his strong 6-4” frame.

20 Chase Priskie – A strong offensive defenseman from Quinnipiac, Priskie brings decent top end speed and confident puck play to the ice. The Florida native still turns off some observers due to risk taking and a propensity for being caught up-ice after a stalled rush. Also most points are finished by his teammates as his point shot is average at best.

The Capitals have a relatively deep system in terms of players who could play roles in the NHL, especially if AHL production is as reasonable a gauge as it usually is. The concern is that after Samsonov, it is hard to state with any certainty that too many guys will mature into players capable of being types that a team can integrate into a part of a winning core. Even those with that potential have clear flaws. It is time for some of these players to be given extended looks in the NHL.

NHL Prospect Watch: Washington Capitals

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 22:29:34 +0000

For all of the relative success that the Capitals have experienced in the Ovechkin era (2005-06-present), they have continuously managed to keep the system replenished despite generally not picking until the latter half of the first round. With few exceptions, this has been due to valuing tangible skills over intangibles. Even Tom Wilson, the one clear exception to this rule, has at least emerged as a bonafide (if limited) NHLer in short order. The Capitals have done a tremendous job mixing their scouting throughout the hockey world. They have been more open to Europeans – particularly Russians – than much of the hockey world, a trait that may have been helped by the Ovechkin-sized recruiting tool at their disposal. Outside of Europe, they have also not shown any particular bias towards either CHL or American junior ranks. They simply find talent.

28 September 2014: Michael Bournival #49 of the Montreal Canadiens challenges Nathan Walker #79 of the Washington Capitals during the NHL match at the Bell Centre in Montreal Quebec, Canada. The Capitals defeated the Canadiens 2-0.

A great example of that ethos is current AHL player Nathan Walker, a left winger they selected in the third round in 2014. Walker, an overager, was the first Australian player ever selected in the entry draft. Walker played most of his amateur hockey in the Czech Republic and also spent one season in the USHL and one as a rare amateur in the AHL. This past season, the undersized winger took his game to a new level with Hershey, in his third season at the level. An explosive player, he demonstrated great skating as well as real puck skills, more than doubling his previous career marks in goals and assists. Although small, he plays with remarkable tenacity, playing with an edge at both ends of the ice. IF there was a dark lining to his season, it was in the postseason, where his scoring touch dried up as the 17 goal scorer in the regular season saw his production drop to two goals and five points in 20 games as Hershey went on an extended run to the Calder Cup finals.

While short, it is not entirely accurate to call Walker small, as his 5-8” frame is relatively filled out at a solid 185 lbs. He brings his all out game to all three zones and has enough offensive skill, between the puckhandling, shooting, and skating ability to be a solid supporting cast player on a decent second line. The Capitals have good depth throughout the organization at left wing, so there is not likely to be an NHL role open for him this season, but another season of growth and development in the AHL will give him a pretty good chance to make his mark in 2017-18, with the contracts of both Daniel Winnick and Brad Malone set to expire after this coming season.

Jakub Vrana, LW, Hershey (AHL) (13^th overall, 2014)

Drafted 76 picks before Walker, Vrana was a more traditional scouting selection. Unlike Walker, an Australian who played amateur hockey in the Czech Republic, Vrana a native Czech player, did his early development in Sweden. In Vrana’s first “full” season in the AHL, he produced at a clip just shy of one point per game. This level of contribution is all the more impressive after considering that he missed much of the first half of the season after undergoing wrist surgery. While, like his Australian teammate, his scoring rate fell in the playoffs, Vrana’s was not as severe, still offering 14 points in 21 games. So he has produced more than Walker and has a much more impressive pedigree – Vrana is even three inches taller! And yet, this author thinks Walker has a better chance of having a long NHL career.

When it comes to offensive skills – skating, shooting, puckhandling and vision, they are roughly equivalent. Vrana produced more, but much, if not all, of that is due to receiving more favourable playing time with generally more talented linemates. His slapshot has juice and he has a knack for finding soft spots in coverage either for himself to occupy or to dish to a teammate. He plays with confidence when he has the puck, not afraid to attempt trickery to get past defenders. Unfortunately, those positive traits do not carry over to the other side of the puck. Some of his offensive success stems from playing on the perimeter, a perimeter which tends to be bigger, and closer to the net, in the AHL than it is in the NHL. In his own zone, he is a neutral observer as often as he is directly involved in trying to regain possession of the puck. He shies away from physical play. Should a fully healthy season from Vrana prove these last observations to be transient and should Walker fail to show more offensive development, these relative values will prove to be wrong. But three years removed from draft day is more than enough time for first rounders to disappoint and mid-rounders to emerge as sleepers. Even if this assessment is correct, Vrana could still be a solid middle six winger, with the versatility to play on either side, but he looks now to be less than his projections were on draft day.

Riley Barber, RW, Hershey (AHL) (167^th overall, 2012)

After three strong seasons with Miami University, and two star turns from Team USA at the WJC, Riley Barber finally got the chance to prove himself as a professional last season. With 55 points in 74 games, he proved that he can hold his own, although a slump that lasted through the postseason (four points in 17 games) showed that he needs more work – and needs to become better acclimated to the longer professional seasons.

Barber, despite having a lesser pedigree than either Walker or Vrana, he is right there with them both at the moment in terms of future projected NHL upside. The Pittsburgh native has high end skill, but suffers in his own zone. Further, while he has proven to be very creative, he can sometimes try to do too much, and can struggle to execute. His reads were still raw for the AHL level, although he was able to produce points throughout the regular season (26 goals and 29 assists in 74 games). The production as an AHL rookie is heartening for, although he always scored well with the RedHawks, his scoring rates barely budged between his freshman and junior seasons. With more attention to detail in his own zone, Barber still profiles as a potential middle six winger with strong offensive potential.

Travis Boyd, C, Hershey (AHL) (177^th overall, 2011)

The Capitals did not have a pick in any of the first three rounds on the 2011 draft, as the earlier selections had been traded away for Troy Brouwer, Joe Corvo, and Dennis Wideman, respectively. Their fourth and fifth rounders, Steffen Soberg and Patrick Koudys, both failed to develop and were never offered contracts, and the seventh rounder, Garrett Haar, only ever earned an AHL deal. Travis Boyd, a sixth round pick from the USNTDP, who went on to play at the University of Minnesota for four full seasons, is Washington’s only hope for NHL impact from the 2011 draft. Thankfully, the undersized center is trending towards the NHL. In truth, he was looking like another washout after his first two seasons with the Golden Gophers, in which he accumulated only 23 points in 75 games combined. He more than doubled that total in his junior season and finished his collegiate career on fire, with 41 points in 32 games as a senior. Last year, his first in the AHL, Boyd contributed 53 points in 76 games for the Bears.

The Minnesota native is a heads up player who consistently demonstrates plus vision, particularly in the offensive zone and has strong puck skills, whether stickhandling or making touch passes to teammates. His skating is also a positive attribute with his strong edgework allowing him to weave through traffic. His physical presence is rather empty, but his hockey IQ is high enough that he can overcome that natural handicap with adequate positional play. Further helping his chances at an NHL career beginning in the near future is the relative paucity of centers in the Washington system. The only one of note in the AHL is Chandler Stephenson, a decent defensive center whose offensive ceiling is nowhere near that of Boyd. Boyd should be the first center recalled in the case of injury to any of the anticipated top four and projects as a solid third line type who can add scoring breadth to his team within the next 12-24 months.

Madison Bowey, D, Hershey (AHL) (53^rd overall, 2013)

Hershey is deeper in future NHL forwards, but the best prospect to grace the Bears’ roster last season was blueliner Bowey, a graduate of the defence factory in Kelowna. Selected after Andre Burakovsky in the 2013 draft, Bowey made his AHL debut after a season in which he helped lead the Rockets to the Memorial Cup final after being part of a deep D-corps on a Gold Medal winning Canadian squad in the WJC. A point producer from the back in the WHL, Bowey still put up solid offensive numbers for Hershey, but not to the near point-per-game level he had in junior. Then again, he led all Bears’ blueliners in points with 29 in 70 games.

The Winnipeg native is a dynamic player, with high end skating and puck carrying ability. He enjoys jumping into the offensive attack, but rarely does so at the expense of his defensive responsibilities. His shot is strong, but not accurate enough to be a serious goal-scoring weapon at the highest level. In his own end, he has proven to be a fearless shot blocker. Another year of professional acclimation in the AHL would certainly not do him any harm, he projects as a fairly certain top four blueliner fit for the modern game in relatively short order, with some time as a #2 also not out of the question.

Ilya Samsonov, G, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) (22^nd overall, 2015)

In the introduction to this essay, I made a point of complimenting the Capitals on their recent drafting record, and its focus on skill players. I mentioned a clear exception in the person of grinder Tom Wilson, taken 16^th overall in 2011, but I could have also included Samsonov as an exception to that rule, for the simple reason that it is almost never a good idea to draft a goaltender in the first round. This is not to say that Samsonov is not a good goalie prospect, as he most assuredly is, but more a polemic on the state of goaltending itself.

For his part, the Russian netminder is incredibly athletic and displays plus anticipation and recovery skills as well as body control and is generally very square to the puck. According to Hockey Prospectus’ Russian correspondent Alessandro Seren Rosso, however, these traits are not enough to lift Samsonov to the level of other recent young goaltending phenoms from Russia, as Seren Rosso has preferred both Andrei Vasilevsky and Ilya Sorokin among the current generation. Samsonov played a raw game, and while skilled, his skill set did not stand him out above other young goaltenders enough to be worth so high a selection.

Zach Sanford, LW, Boston College (NCAA) (61^st overall, 2013)

Zach Sanford left Boston College to begin his professional career after only two years with the Eagles. While never a gifted scorer, Sanford demonstrates a number of attributes that earmark him as a strong two-way player at the next level. Tall and with room to add to his listed 185 pounds, he plays a physical game. He does most of his work between the hashmarks, which suggests that he could be a good foil for one of the above-mentioned offensive players who are undersized and/or tending to play the perimeters, such as Vrana, Walker and Boyd.

In spite of mediocre offensive output in college, Sanford does show glimpses of emerging skills that suggest that his offensive game could be more late-blooming. He is a solid puck handler with plus offensive vision. While is skating is not high end, he has good edgework. He also has the versatility to play as a center. He projects as a bottom six forward, but potentially a good one.

Thomas Di Pauli, C, Notre Dame (NCAA) (100^th overall, 2012)

Born in Italy and raised in the US, Di Pauli is a very mobile skater who is very comfortable playing the puck. Although undersized, he is willing to engage physically and sometimes plays with a chip on his shoulder. After producing a mere 17 points in his first two seasons with the Fightin’ Irish, he combined for 61 in his final two seasons as his offensive skills matured. He still needs work in his own zone and needs to learn to go with the simple play more often instead of trying to force a fancy move, but he has a skill set that could work in a depth role. As of this writing (August 7, 2016), the Capitals have eight days to get him under contract, or the college grad will become a free agent. Reports indicate that Di Pauli will not sign, though, which is backed up by his absence from Washington’s recent development camps. In other words, this final note in the Washington Capitals article is about a player who really isn’t a future Capital at all.

2015-16 Yearbook: Top 30 Calder candidates

Grant McCagg — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:45:50 +0000

McKeen's Head Scout Grant McCagg ranks the Calder Cup candidates for the coming season. Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel were linked all season as two franchise players available at the 2015 NHL Draft, and will continue to be compared throughout their career, begin with their inaugural campaign. Grant's rankings and notes are below:

RANK	PLAYER	NOTES
1	Connor McDavid, C, Edm	Generational talents play right away as a rule, and McDavid should be no exception. Scored at 15 in the OHL...he'll score at 18 in the NHL.
2	Jack Eichel, C, Buf	Provides the size/skill/strength/maturity to step right into a top-two center role and produce offence from the first game of the season.
3	Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Wpg	Danish roadrunner expected to crack Winnipeg's opening lineup - likely in a sheltered role. Too young for the AHL - will play in Switzerland otherwise.
4	Sam Bennett, LW, Cgy	Enjoyed a solid NHL playoff run after being recalled from Kingston. Second-year pro should snare a second-line wing position beside Backlund.
5	Max Domi, LW, Ari	His explosive offensive skills will be a welcome addition to a club starving for offence. May line up beside Strome and Duclair on a dynamic Kid Line.
6	Dylan Larkin, C, Det	Detroit GM Ken Holland expects Larkin to step into Detroit's lineup following his terrific freshman season at Michigan. Played on US WHC team at 18.
7	Mike Reilly, D, Min	The prize catch of the college free agent pool will be given every chance to succeed on a Minnesota blueline that could use another powerplay option.

8	Darnell Nurse, D, Edm	Already possesses NHL size, speed and strength - traits Edmonton's defence has not been noted for in recent years. A top-four position awaits.
9	Noah Hanifin, D, Car	Stepped into a top-four role seamlessly as an NCAA freshman last season...no reason why he can't repeat the feat on an NHL bottom feeder.
10	Dylan Strome, C, Ari	A team that employed Kyle Chipchura as a number one-center at one point last season should welcome the OHL scoring champion eagerly to the fold.
11	Sam Reinhart, C, Buf	A top-two pick rarely enters the league with a lack of hype and pressure, but Reinhart may be in that unique position with Eichel's arrival.
12	Artemi Panarin, LW, Chi	Outscored more ballyhooed teammate Kovalchuk in the KHL last season. Should step into a key role after Chicago's offseason exodus of top nine forwards.
13	Pavel Zacha, C, NJ	Another year of junior wouldn't hinder his development, however the Devils sorely lack offensive talent at center. If he sticks, he should see plenty of ice.
14	Madison Bowey, D, Wsh	Memorial Cup runner-up has the ability to replace most of Mike Green's offence while providing better defence. May take him half a season to adjust.
15	Joonas Donskoi, RW, SJ	Teamed up with Boston newcomer Joonas Kemppainen - to terrorize Finnish league playoffs. Creative catalyst may be just what San Jose mix needs.
16	Kevin Fiala, LW, Nsh	He may have trouble cracking Nashville's top six initially, but if Hodgson bounces back the third line should be quite productive and pushing for bigger minutes.
17	Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, CBJ	Almost reached the 100-goal plateau last season by the end of the WHL playoffs, which should earn him a shot at a top-six spot in training camp.
18	Robby Fabbri, C, StL	Berglund injury affords Fabbri the opportunity to step into a third-line center role right out of junior. Got a taste of pro hockey last spring in Worcester.
19	Mikko Rantanen, RW, Col	Finnish winger has the size, skills, and defensive mindset to step directly into NHL. Will get long look at camp - skating being the main concern.
20	Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Phi	Flyers deep in high-end blueline prospects with the former NCAA star likely nearest to contributing. Lost season to injury could delay promotion.
21	William Nylander, C, Tor	Will benefit from full season in the AHL to learn the defensive side of being a centerman. Trades on the big club could open the door earlier.
22	Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TB	Set to challenge starter Ben Bishop - with 30-plus games a possibility. Plans will change after late-summer surgery to repair a blood clot.
23	Jordan Weal, C, LA	The departure of Stoll and Richards opens up a chance for the proven AHLer to show he can handle the NHL game from a physical standpoint.
24	Sergei Plotnikov, LW, Pit	Russian newcomer slips under the age limit for NHL rookie status. Also arrives in an advantageous spot - possibly lining up with Malkin & Kessel.
25	Ty Rattie, RW, StL	Fired 52 goals combined over past two AHL seasons and injects some speed into the St. Louis forward mix. One-way player will need to crack the top six.
26	Connor Hellebuyck, G, Wpg	A revelation at the World Championships for Team USA, he showed all season long that he could handle pro shots, leading the AHL in goalie wins.
27	Esa Lindell, D, Dal	Finnish defender made incredible strides last season - culminating in a strong showing at the senior Worlds. May follow John Klingberg's swift NHL path.
28	Malcolm Subban, G, Bos	Would be a spectacular story to win the Calder given his lack of experience - his only NHL appearance being a rather forgettable one.
29	Lawson Crouse, LW, Fla	Already plays a two-way, pro-style game with his size, sense and skating ability. Florida has openings on the top two lines on the wing.
30	Emile Poirier, RW, Cgy	No need to rush talented winger given well-stocked forward ranks on Calgary. May force the NHL door open earlier with a hot AHL start.

Nick Merkley ignites perfect start for Kelowna Rockets

Andy Levangie — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 05:07:34 +0000

Despite losing their top three scorers to graduation, including New Jersey rookie sensation Damon Severson, the Kelowna Rockets haven't missed a beat. They sit atop the Western Hockey League with a sparkling 14-1-1 record, having started the season with 10 consecutive wins. Blueliner Madison Bowey, a Washington Captitals second-rounder, has taken his game to new levels this season while up front the attack has been stoked by second-year forward Nick Merkley. The Calgary native leads the WHL with 27 points including 22 assists - also league leading. Here is a scouting breakdown on Merkley - plus a YouTube highlight pack from a recent game against a strong Brandon opponent that shows quite a few of the aspects that I touch upon in my report.

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Nick Merkley (@merkdaddy4), C/RW, Kelowna Rockets-WHL

Height: 5’10.5 ... Weight: 190 lbs ... Shoots: Right ... DOB: 1997-05-23

Stats: 16GP - 5G - 22A - 27PTS - +10 - 12PIM

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Speed

- Strong bursting acceleration with quick opening strides Merkley is easily one of the quickest skates on a very fast Kelowna Rockets Team, and well above average with his top end speed, defenders often attempt to close quickly on him to remove his time and space… Elusive with strong lateral movements, side steps and bursts by defenders with or without the puck... Stops and starts are quick and unpredictable, speed consistently drives Merkley’s offensive game

Skills

- In the arsenal of Merkley’s offensive weapons, his passing ability is already at an elite level, telegraphs nothing when looking to step up teammates and often passes the puck through very small seams, (6 multi-assist games already & leads the WHL in assists). Quickly stalls his movement to draw defenders in, opening even the smallest lanes, elite vision finds openings, precision passing locates teammates, especially cross-ice… Works the perimeter very well, flourishes as a dynamic play-making winger especially in the 1-3-1 powerplay set up… Consistently puck carries from half-board around the back of the net, continuous movement draw defenders out of position… Stick handling eludes them… Shot is quick and accurate, but not used enough as Merkley first option is as a set-up man… Controls the puck with very good stick handling ability, tight movements in small areas… Puck Handling combined with skill aids in zone entries and increased possession time, pushing the puck in the offensive direction he is a major catalyst for Kelowna’s offence… Merkley’s ability on the half boards is easy to see, however to round out his game at the next level he will have to show stronger consistency for driving the net to refrain from becoming one dimensional and easy to defend.

Smarts

- Intelligence with or without the puck is evident when watching Merkley work in the offensive zone, an elusive and slippery player who isn’t afraid of contact… To observe him work in his comfort-zone one would see a player who generally starts on the perimeter of the ice for calculated offensive set up… Despite his size (or perceived lack there of) the physical nature of the WHL has not slowed Merkley, his skating aids in being very effective as slippery player who rarely takes direct physical contact, frustrating defenders as they miss full body contact… Hockey sense is very high, thinks the game at level that puts him a step ahead of the play, understands what teammates abilities are and works plays to make things easier for linemates… A great sense for developing plays… Merkley’s heads up play and game awareness will bode well for him at the NHL level, his quick movements and high end puck skills should allow his game to translate and remain a slippery offensive producer against bigger and faster players.

Skating

- Difficult to pick a single part of Merkley’s game as a strong point, his ability to use the blades under his feet is certainly a top aspect to his game, elite level balance and edging constantly keep him on his feet and rarely out of the play… Talents to make high end offensive plays from any body or skate position, either off the rush, working from the half boards or from behind the net… Constantly watching the angle of his skates change with little to no loss of momentum, his movements are incredible smooth and very difficult to telegraph… Mobility is some of the best in the WHL, shiftiness, balance & bursting acceleration make Merkley one of the best all around skaters in the upcoming draft... Keeps his body open to the play and his head up, works on his skates in a heal-to-heal stance maintaining momentum and increasing angles and options at which to make plays.

Thanks for reading

Andy Levangie thehockeyuniverse@gmail.com

@AndyLevang

Dillon Heatherington in WHL blueline bounty

Matt Bugg — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:37:44 +0000

Sometimes, the true gems slip through the cracks.

Such will always be the challenge for scouts attempting to 'fill in' the future of a 17-year-old hockey player.

There will be growth spurts, injuries, off-ice issues, any number of 'life' events that serve to detour the best-laid plans - or forecasts.

Then there's that one special case when a player develops way beyond anyone's wildest imaginations - like Shea Weber.

Roll back a decade to the 2003 NHL Draft and Weber was scooped 49th overall, astonishingly the 13th defenseman taken - and sixth overall among Western Hockey Leaguers. Four WHL blueliners were selected in the opening round that year - Braydon Coburn (8th), Dion Phaneuf (9th), Brent Seabrook (14th), and Shawn Belle (30th).

Similarly, the 2013 NHL Draft also promises to be top heavy in western blueline beef.

Top-ranked Seth Jones (Portland) along with Ryan Pulock (Brandon), Mirco Mueller (Everett), and Josh Morrissey (Prince Albert) - currently hold down top 30 spots in the McKeen's rankings - with others such as Shea Theodore (Seattle), and Madison Bowey (Kelowna) knocking on the door.

This might indeed be a year that a treasure goes buried - especially considering there are 16 defensemen ranked among the top 21 WHL skaters by Central Scouting.

The bountiful crop factored into a number of interesting prospects not receiving invites to the CHL Top Prospects Game - such as Dillon Heatherington of the Swift Current Broncos.

The Calgary native is an intriguing prospect, according to McKeen's correspondent Matt Bugg, who contributes reports on three draft-eligible Broncos in Heatherington, pivot Colby Cave, and goaltender Landon Bow.

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Dillon Heatherington (D, 2013), Swift Current

It might be easy to make assumptions about the former 11th-overall pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft - at least based on his size (6-foot-4) and stat lines - five goals and 120 penalty minutes over two seasons combined .. Heatherington is more than the sum of his parts however .. surprises with his mobility and elusiveness in tight .. uses the net as a third defender when navigating the puck out of danger .. can make quick, sharp turns under fire in order to escape difficult situations .. overall, an intelligent and adroit defender .. understands how to position his body and stick so that the crease is clear - yet still leaving sight lines open for his goaltender .. steers opponents out of danger with ease, finishing forecheckers hard into the wall when able .. his biggest point of improvement this season has been on the offensive side of the puck .. now takes an extra step or second to let plays develop before dispensing a pass .. previously displayed a habit of dumping possession early, rather than risk a give-away .. aided in this aspect by an expansive stride that allows him to break the neutral zone with little effort .. slowly finding sense of point management to go along with north-south game .. again, taking extra care when unloading a crisp (but not especially overpowering) slapshot .. simply needs time to physically mature and fill in the blanks to his game .. a project - but an interesting one.

Colby Cave (C, 2013), Swift Current

Versatile forward bubbles with promise .. ability to play in a variety of situations and on any line boils down to high-grade anticipation .. acts as the quarterback on break-outs, with a reputation for long-distance outlet passes more customary for an offensive defenceman .. in addition to a fine sense for developing game situations, he also protects the puck adeptly with his shoulders and body .. can eat up valuable time and ice as teammates set up or change .. earned penalty-kill duty early in his WHL career due to this strength on the puck .. draws his fair share of penalties during solo drives to the net .. physically, he is a willing combatant in front of the net - and much stronger than his 6-foot-0, 185-pound frame might indicate .. found cause to drop the gloves on four occasions- at least once answering a call for a big hit he lowered on an unsuspecting opponent .. despite strong stretches - including a memorable run on Swift Current's top unit with Coda Gordon and Adam Lowry - there are still several opportunities for improvement .. appears heavy-footed due to a truncated stride .. feet in general have a tendency to stop moving .. lacks explosive quickness overall .. while not a problem on the rush, can labour back to his end when play shifts the other way .. despite a career-high 14 goals, will also need to expand his shot arsenal to truly be an offensive threat at the next level .. rarely elevates the puck, also requiring plenty of time and space to uncork a hard but easily-telegraphed snapshot .. with additional development, projects to be a sound middle-six power center or winger .. shades of WHL alum Troy Brouwer.

Landon Bow (G, 2013), Swift Current

Could easily be overlooked simply based on his unflattering numbers - namely a goals-against average over three and a save percentage under 0.900 .. nevertheless, he is a goaltender with the right mix of size and skill to be a legitimate NHL prospect .. his gifts start with an un-teachable 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame .. uses his own momentum expertly to glide from one post to the other in either the butterfly or stand-up position .. active in using his long reach and height to both track pucks and steer them out of danger in front .. capable of making the 'first save' in most situations, even when under heavy duress .. faces challenges when pucks start to move above his elbows .. although sharp in activating his frame to block, stop, and smother pucks - is too often guilty of guessing on glove-high shots .. also, for a goaltender of his size, collapses too quickly into a butterfly that is tight and stiff, leaving plenty of daylight .. however, he has proven to be a quick student of the game .. since earning more than mop-up duty in one-sided affairs, has posted a 5-3-0 record with a shutout and three total games under two goals apiece .. stands to earn greater accolades in the last quarter of the WHL season .. draft stock should rise even as the team in front of him continues to post inconsistent defensive performances.

Madison Bowey at home in Kelowna

Iain Morrell — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:34:19 +0000

The clash of the WHL titans is set for this coming weekend - and something has to give.

The Portland Winterhawks (43-7-1-2), the top-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League, head to Kelowna for games Friday and Saturday night against the fourth-ranked Rockets (40-10-3-1).

Kelowna enter the game riding a 23-game home winning streak - the third-longest in league history - in which they have scored a combined 122 goals while allowing just 38.

They need one win to tie the 1992-93 Tacoma Rockets (24 games) - and six to equal the record of 29 set by the 1993-94 Kamloops Blazers.

Meanwhile, Portland have won six straight including four shutouts heading into a home game Thursday against the Calgary Hitmen.

This weekend's tilt will also give NHL scouts a chance to see four probable top-60 picks in the 2013 NHL Draft, including a pair of thoroughbred blueliners in top-ranked Seth Jones (Portland) and Madison Bowey (Kelowna).

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bowey has made promising gains in his overall defensive play this season - and steadily moved into first-round contention.

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Madison Bowey (D, 2013),

A mobile, offense-minded blueliner with good size and strength potential .. should easily accommodate lots more weight and muscle on a 6-foot-1, 200-pound pro-type frame .. intense, energetic, and courageous .. plays with urgency and brings a steady physical presence, particularly beneath the goal line .. a dynamic skater propelled by quick, strong feet .. generates excellent acceleration speed from a powerful lower body and long stride extensions .. quick and strong on his edges .. possesses exceptional lateral agility and turning technique which feeds his transitional game .. negotiates traffic by exploiting his mobility - will amp up the footspeed and shorten his stride pattern to make a quick getaway .. his elusiveness is complemented by improving in-close puck control and stickhandling ability .. does experience control issues at times however .. surprises with his passing acumen and offensive vision .. can hit accurate long-range passes and deliver them with pace .. loves to rush the puck but is a wild, untamed puckslinger .. explodes out of the zone like a slingshot, instinctively attacking and supporting the offense .. makes strong athletic plays thanks to a flexible, rangy body accentuated by lengthy extensions - can really stretch his body out .. increasingly more effective in 1-on-1 battles as he is comfortable giving and absorbing contact while getting stick to puck .. ultra-aggressive pinching down the walls - to help sustain offensive drives .. gradually developing better poise and defensive postures .. still raw and immature in certain areas .. must work on being a more patient defender and not trying to do too much - which can cloud his decision making .. his responses to situations can be peculiar - like sprawling flat on his stomach to snuff out a 2-on-1 - yet the next time might stay and protect his lane effectively while leaving the shooter to the goalie .. doesn't manage the puck all that consistently yet .. makes curious decisions moving the puck, leading to glaring giveaways and errant clearances.