Marian Studenic – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – DALLAS STARS – NHL Player Profiles

Corey Sznajder – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:35:25 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 30: Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) skates with the puck during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, held on March 30, 2021, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Jason Robertson

There aren’t enough stats to show how great Jason Robertson’s sophomore season was. He followed up a runner-up Calder campaign with a season that put him in the MVP conversation, scoring 41 goals and producing scoring chances at a rate that was among the league’s best. He was the triggerman on his line with Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski, but all three were interchangeable with how well they worked together. Robertson just had the golden touch, converting on almost 19% of his shots and he created chances at a higher rate than any player not named Auston Matthews. He is one of the more unique young stars in the game, not having the breakaway speed or an abundance of highlight reel goals. He just excelled at making plays under pressure, knowing where to go with the puck before he received it and finding creative ways to give himself room to shoot. Part of that is the chemistry with his linemates and knowing their tendencies. The other part is his skill, he was a fantastic goal-scorer in the OHL with skating as his only major “flaw.” It hasn’t been an issue in the NHL because he hasn’t needed to break away from defenders to give himself space to shoot. Instead, he can trail Hintz entering the zone or curl away from a defender to give himself just enough time to get the shot he wants. It’s a skill we don’t get to see much of with how fast the game moves now, but players like Robertson can make it happen. Some regression might be expected next year, very few players shoot at almost 20%, but his floor should stay very high with the volume of offense he produces.

Roope Hintz

While Robertson was the moneymaker for Dallas, Hintz was the burner. It’s tough to breakdown Dallas’ top line individually because they all had similar impacts but go about their business in different ways. As the de facto center, Hintz adds some element of speed to the trio and does most of the work in the neutral zone, facilitating most of their rush offense and creating space for both Robertson and Pavelski. He had most of the highlight reel goals from the group, both at 5v5 and on the penalty kill. Hintz converted on a high percentage of his shots for the third year in a row, showing a good nose for the net and being a problem for goaltenders with some of his breakaway moves. He could also score from distance with his wrister, but most of his success came around the blue paint, both off rebounds and deflections. The Dallas top line was firing on all cylinders on such a level that they could play any style they wanted and Hintz’s work off the rush gave them another dynamic element. Hintz was one of the few Dallas prospects who let his skill show in Dallas’ forecheck-heavy system and he has since emerged as one of the league’s best centers.

Joe Pavelski

It says a lot when the one guy on the Stars top line who didn’t have a sky-high shooting percentage still had a career year. At the ripe age of 37, Pavelski set a career high in points with 81, getting the full benefit of Robertson and Hintz’ outstanding finishing but the veteran had a great year independent of that. Still one of the better two-way players in the league, Pavelski is the prime example of “less is more” and adapting to your surroundings. He excels at making plays in tight spaces, reading off his linemates and winning box-outs against defenders. It’s probably why he’s been able to debunk the aging curve, which is an understatement when you look at what he has given the Stars the past two seasons. A decline in boxcar stats should be expected, but he’s never been the fastest skater or the most physically gifted player, so it’s been easier for him to stay an effective player despite whatever curveball father time throws his way. Not too different from his Joe counterpart in San Jose. Signed for one more year at $5.5 million, he will continue to be the glue on the Stars top line.

Tyler Seguin

Seguin getting back to the 20-goal mark was a feel-good story for the Stars. A couple years removed from “losing his entire quad” it has been a long road back from the former second overall pick. Most of his value came from scoring, as the speed of the game looked too much for him at time and he didn’t produce the level of offense we’re used to seeing from him. Instead, you saw more goals off deflections or broken plays in front of the net, which is what you have to do when most of your explosiveness is gone. What they got from him last year is fine (49 points from a middle-six winger is nothing to scoff at), but for the contract the Stars have him signed to, it’s a bit of an albatross. They can only hope that time helps him regain some of his old form, even if the history of players coming off labral tears isn’t promising. He showed glimpses of his old self in stretches, but it’s tough to say if his body can keep up with the rigors of a full NHL season anymore.

Jamie Benn

The past few years of Jamie Benn paint a decent picture of what the back half of a long-term contract looks like for a power forward. Benn in particular has seen his offense dry up, coming off an 18-goal season where only nine came during five-on-five play. It’s a far cry from the player who could bullrush his way to the net. Not all the offense has left him, as he’s still good with winning pucks along the wall and getting to the scoring areas. Most of the high-end skill, however, hasn’t shown up on a consistent basis. Some of that is from poor finishing luck, his shooting percentage has been stuck in the mud for years now, and the other is him becoming more one-dimensional in the offensive zone. Stuck in more of a net-front role, most of your value is going to be based on how many plays you finish off and it’s been the major drawback of Benn’s game. Having Tyler Seguin replace Jason Dickinson as his regular linemate also impacted this, as he was tasked with providing more offense instead of only focusing on checking. His contract is what it is ($9.5 mil for three more years) so Benn just needs to do what he can to be effective. If that means being on the positive side of the goals and scoring chance battle, Dallas will live with it even if his offense continues to decline.

Mason Marchment

Only two players in the entire league produced at a higher rate during five-on-five play than Marchment. He showed some remarkable chemistry with Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart with Florida, similar to what Dallas had in a smaller role. Marchment was the muscle of the line, being a pest on the forecheck doing most of the dirty work below the goal line. His skill seemed to catch teams off-guard because he has the body of a lanky, hard-hitting defenseman and skates with a really choppy stride. You wouldn’t expect him to nail so many one-timers or make so many between-the-legs passes as he does. He rode the wave with the rest of Florida’s historic offense, so the question is how it will translate to Dallas. Lundell and Reinhart were a great complement to him, with those two doing most of the puck-handling. Marchment plays such a strong defensive game that he should help any line he is on. His point production, however, might take a hit. Marchment was in a great situation last year, playing in an offense focused system with linemates who did most of the puck-handling, giving plenty of room to create scoring chances. Dallas isn’t blessed with that type of forward talent so the most they can hope for is for Marchment’s strong play-driving presence can revive Seguin or Benn’s games and make them a productive second line.

Radek Faksa

One of ex-head coach Rick Bowness’ favorite players, Faksa was the most relied on defensive center for Dallas, starting most of his shifts in the shadow of his own goalie and receiving heavy penalty killing duty. Every season his minutes have gone up while his offense has declined, stuck with a single-digit goal total for the second year in a row. Formerly a 15-17 goal guy, Faksa could be an interesting player to watch under the new coaching staff. It was rare for him to even step foot over the opposing blue line with the role he played. It’s something that could change under Peter DeBoer, if only because Dallas is still very thin at forward and they have another defense-first center option in Luke Glendening. Faksa has shown some goal-scoring touch in the past while still playing a checking role before, so that’s the one hope for Faksa to get back to the 15-goal mark. That or have some of his defensive stats rebound with a less taxing role.

Denis Gurianov

Once a touted goal-scorer, Gurianov found himself in depth forward purgatory heading into this season. He is still a shoot-first player but hasn’t converted on many of those shots. He was Seguin and Benn’s wingman for most of the year, which unfortunately meant having to drive the line on his own some nights, which he struggled to do. Most of his points came off broken plays or a rebound of his own shot. He couldn’t be unleashed on the power play, as he was stuck on the second unit and most teams knew his shot from the right circle was coming. Still, he had flashes. In the games where the top line had an off-night, Gurianov could pick up the slack with his penchant for creating off the rush. It’s something that turned a few games around for Dallas and makes him a valuable player even if his overall stats leave you wanting more. He will be given a fresh start with the new coaching staff but finding linemates who can set him up will be a challenge unless the top line gets broken up.

DEFENSE

Miro Heiskanen

Will this be the year Heiskanen emerges as a Norris front-runner? It’s only his fifth year in the league and he excels at so many things that even the best defensemen in the league struggle with. Whether it’s killing plays along the wall, defending one-on-one or skating away from pressure, Heiskanen does it better than almost anyone else in the league. It’s fair to ask if he even needs to have the gaudy point totals to get Norris talk. Unfortunately, it’s just the nature of the beast and it could see a shift this year with John Klingberg’s spot on the top power play unit up for grabs. Heiskanen has a lot of tools that could make him Dallas’ version of Roman Josi. He skates so effortlessly and is great at commanding the offensive zone, so it’s easy to see him having a similar impact with better finishing from the guys in front of him. It’s the one area of his game where the skill hasn’t translated to results and while some of it is out of his control, most who follow the Stars have been waiting for this type of breakout since his rookie season. Things are lining up for him to have that offensive explosion. He is already among the league’s top blue-liners at creating scoring chances, needs to pick up some of John Klingberg’s slack and is now playing for a coach who oversaw career offensive seasons from Brent Burns, Shea Theodore and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Will Miro be next in line?

Ryan Suter

Few players fit the “quietly goes about their business’ description better than Ryan Suter. It’s tough to recall any highlights from his first season with the Stars but in the big picture, he played in the top-three all season and held the fort down. He isn’t the automatic breakout or shadow in the defensive zone that he used to be, so his impact is a little more neutral now than a dominant presence. It’s a little concerning because the Klingberg departure and the decision to replace him from within could force Suter back into the 25–27-minute range, especially if he is Heiskanen’s partner again. Suter will always have the cardio to play those minutes, but the decision-making and ability to keep forwards to the outside is where his game has slowed down. He will usually patrol the front of the net instead of skating forwards into a corner and doesn’t have the same accuracy when going for the long stretch pass. DeBoer could make things easier for him, as he did with Alec Martinez in Vegas, but it’s still a lot to ask for someone who is about to turn 38 and has a lot of miles on his tires. Thomas Harley emerging as a top-four guy could help Suter in the long run.

Esa Lindell

Lindell has one of the most thankless jobs in the league, playing 20+ minutes and spending most of it either blocking shots or killing penalties. He will occasionally break for offense, producing like a middle-pair defenseman for most of his career, but he is usually focused on preventing damage. That means throwing a lot of hits and standing up at the blue line to try to prevent entries. He has always been great at this role, it’s just a question of how much longer he can play it before his body starts to breakdown. That and this is the first year where he won’t have Klingberg by his side, which could mean more responsibility for him to move the puck instead of just clearing it out of the zone. He has shown some upside here in the past, scoring 11 goals back in 2018-19 with some modest power play production sprinkled in. It is very tough to transition to a completely different mindset when you’ve been in the same role forever, but Dallas’ has a lack of mobility on their blue line, which could force Lindell to play in more offensive situations. Whether or not he can handle that remains to be seen.

Colin Miller

Colin Miller’s stint in Buffalo is proof of how tough it is to make the jump to the top-pair for even the most talented defensemen. The Sabres were hoping he could be a running-mate for Dahlin after he dominated territorial play on Vegas’ third pair. Instead, they got three years of him shuffled around the lineup, including a handful of healthy scratches, and him struggling to translate his impressive physical traits into game situations. Miller isn’t the only Sabres defenseman who struggled to keep his head above water, so he gets to have a fresh start on a Dallas team with more structure. It shouldn’t be too hard for him to find a niche under DeBoer. He’s a lanky, mobile defenseman with a big shot, boasting a similar profile to guys DeBoer got good miles out of in Vegas, even if it’s in a depth role. With Miller having a track record as a great third-pair guy, he should get a chance to turn his career around in Dallas. There also might be a chance to move up in the lineup with Jani Hakanpaa currently slotting in on the Stars second pair.

GOALTENDING

Jake Oettinger

There was a big asterisk next to Jake Oettinger’s name for the majority of the off-season, with the Stars coming down to the eleventh hour on contract negotiations with the restricted free agent before inking him to a three-year deal worth $4 million each season.

Now that he’s signed, though, there’s little that the Stars need to worry about with Oettinger at the helm. The team has dealt with a few too many bad calls in signing experienced veteran netminders over the last decade, so Oettinger truly checks all their boxes in a way fans haven’t seen in years. He’ll turn 24 mid-season, giving him plenty of mileage left in the tank; add in two seasons of impressive NHL numbers as an option in their rotating goaltending carousel, and this might be the first safe and consistent bet Dallas has deployed since the Marty Turco era. They brought in a more reliable number two for Oettinger as well, acquiring Scott Wedgewood not to compete for starts, but to supplement their heir apparent. From a technical standpoint, there’s little about Oettinger’s game that still needs significant clean-up, either – he seems to love catching shooters by surprise and throwing in a few dramatic stops here and there, but also keeps a consistent baseline to his game’s foundation that emphasizes conservative movement within the blue paint and a front-facing stance. In other words, fans might watch him throw himself to the ice a time or two, but he won’t often get caught facing the pipes and spun in circles trying to track the puck; it makes him fun to watch without the element of stress that some of Dallas’ more colorful past backstops have brought to the table.

Projected starts: 60-65

AHL 2019-20 Preview: Eastern Division

Shaiyena Cote — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:24:06 +0000

LAVAL, QC - MARCH 06: Toronto Marlies right wing Jeremy Bracco (27) tries to maintain control of the puck while under pressure from Laval Rocket center Hayden Verbeek (17) during the Toronto Marlies versus the Laval Rocket game on March 06, 2019, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

The 2019-20 AHL season marks the start of the professional careers for many of the top prospects representing each of the 31 NHL teams.

Although some of the AHL teams are located in smaller cities or far from their parent clubs (for example Utica and Vancouver) the start of the AHL season marks the start of a game of chess and musical chairs for NHL and AHL clubs and their internal player dealings as they work with their prospects and shift lines around to allow for injuries and call ups throughout the season.

Below is a brief segment on every team in the East as well as a glimpse at their three top prospects. Team run down is presented alphabetically by division and not as a prediction for the upcoming 2019-2020 AHL season.

Note: All quotes have been taken from the 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook.

Atlantic Division

The AHL’s Atlantic Division plays host to teams all over the eastern US coastline from Rhode Island to North Carolina. The Atlantic encompasses eight teams, some states play host to multiple teams such as Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Last season the Charlotte Checkers were able to bring the Calder Cup back to the Atlantic and this season the same will presumably be expected.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders)

Even though Bridgeport was able to clinch a playoff spot last season, they were no match for the defending Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers. Bridgeport finished second in the Atlantic division and second also in penalty minutes. Despite having a mass of talent on Bridgeport, they did not play as a group and therefore could not achieve the desired playoff goal.

The Islanders organization are not as progressive with getting their prospects in the NHL lineup as say the Montreal Canadiens or New York Rangers. Losing Michael Dal Colle and Oliver Wahlstrom to the Islanders this season may have lessened Bridgeport’s offence somewhat but with Sebastian Aho back down and coming off a career year last season their defence is stronger than ever and may be just what Bridgeport needs to “bridge” their offensive gap.

Players to Watch

Sebastian Aho

“The Swedish born Aho is a smooth skating and smart playing defenseman. Although not known for his shooting ability, he is accurate and his shots from the point are of quality. He is a strong passer and a creative playmaker which was notable in his second AHL season.”

Otto Koivula

“Koivula is a massive forward and a very handy player to have in front of the net as his positioning is generally very good in all areas of the ice. He sees the play very well and has a good eye for making difficult passes in tight spots and from behind the net. Overall, he is a very clean and skilled player.”

Kieffer Bellows

“Bellows is a strong, dominant force on the ice with physical prowess and a highly competitive attitude. He plays to win and with an impressive amount of passion to compliment his natural scoring ability and skill set. He will need to have better control of his game next season and step up his play a bit to earn a spot at the next level.”

Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)

Charlotte is the Southern-most team in the Atlantic division and boasts some of the hottest weather for an Atlantic division team. The defending 2019 Calder Cup Champion Checkers who posted a record of 51-17-7-1 last season and had an impressive playoff run to say the least, but have not had the best start to the 2019-20 season. Upon losing their two top forwards with Aleksi Saarela being traded (to Chicago, since moved to Florida) and Martin Necas graduating to the Hurricanes, Charlotte has had to rebuild their offensive core one draft pick at a time and with many of their high end prospects still playing major junior or overseas, the Checkers will have to devise a plan to do so.

Just over ten games into the season Charlotte is sitting second from the bottom and with not a lot of goals scored. Many of their shots last year came from guys like Saarela and Necas but now without them, they’ll be turning to the players who flew under the radar last season such as Morgan Geekie and Eetu Luostarinen to create offensive opportunities in hopes of repeating Charlotte’s Calder Cup success.

Players to Watch

Morgan Geekie

“He has plus size, moves well for a big man and has quietly effective offensive instincts which help him to outproduce his tools. He has the strength to protect the puck, and the quickness of hands to capitalize on a broken play and make something happen.”

Eetu Luostarinen

“His skating was fairly good in his draft year but he has since added explosiveness, quickness, and improved his endurance. Moreover, he has added power to his game, not only strength-wise but his shot is also more powerful than it used to be. Luostarinen is dependable without the puck and can play in a more defensive role if needed.”

Jake Bean

“He has a very high panic threshold, allowing him to remain calm with the puck in the face of opposing pressure. He can walk the blueline nicely, but his best work comes in his ability to exit his own zone with total control. Whether he skates the puck out or finds a passing option, he can be relied on to kickstart the transition to offense.”

Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers)Now to move on to from one of the bottom placed teams with the Charlotte Checkers to the top team in the Atlantic; the Hartford Wolfpack feeder team to the original six New York Rangers have gotten off to an electric start this season. So far Hartford has spun things around 180 degrees on the poor outcome the Wolf Pack had last season with only 29 wins and no real chance at qualifying for the playoffs. Their disappointing 2018-19 was a bi-product of their ever-changing rosters as the Rangers frequently called players up and as a result Hartford’s lines were constantly changing and their play was inconsistent and messy. They also boasted the highest goals against number and the lowest goals for on the season.

With the positive start, the Wolf Pack sit atop the Atlantic Division rolling into the start of November and over the hump of new teams and settling into new line combinations. With key acquisitions and veteran experience added during the offseason, Hartford will be a hard opponent to knock off the top. Although heading into his last season of prospect status, Vinni Lettieri can offer just the right amount of knowledge and offensive talent to make up for the recent temporary loss of top Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov, who departed the Wolf Pack for a year long loan deal back to his KHL club Traktor Chelyabinsk.

Players to Watch

Vinni Lettieri

“Often overlooked due to his stature, Lettieri’s speed and tenacity make up for any doubts his size may have caused. If given the chance, he could carry a role on the top penalty kill unit with his speed and overall forechecking knowledge.”

Igor Shestyorkin

“The 23-year old goalie has accumulated enough experience in the KHL and on the international stage and is more ready than your average rookie netminder. Shestyorkin is an agile goaltender, a bit on the small side for today’s trends, but won’t going to suffer from it.”

Joey Keane

“An elite skater, Keane is built for the modern NHL age. With his mobility, he is incredibly difficult to pin deep in his own zone, because he takes such good routes to dump ins and is able to transition to offense in a flash. As he moves to the pro level, he will need to keep the game simple, using his mobility to aid in his learning curve.”

Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)

Despite Hershey Pennsylvania being the home of the Hershey Chocolate World, the Bears could certainly argue that the end of their 2018-19 season could have been a little sweeter. Not only did the Bears manage to end the season third from the bottom in goal production but they were also swept by Charlotte in the second round of playoffs.

With Hershey being the feeder team for the offensive powerhouse Washington Capitals it would seem the club has big shoes to fill. This season is looking somewhat different and the team is off to a better start offensively, already doubling the number of goals they had at the tail end of last season. Their back end is loaded with new talent, many of whom are responsible for quarterbacking their offensive play. With Jonas Siegenthaler now a permanent Capitals fixture the Bears look to have their rookie defensemen, namely; 2018 first rounder Alex Alexeyev and speedy 2^nd rounder Martin Fehervary, taking over in the back. Look for the Bears to be playoff hopefuls once again.

Prospects to Watch

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

“When he is at his best, Jonsson-Fjallby is a highly energetic and quick player to play with and tough to keep up when paired against. His speed makes him a force to be reckoned with and his hockey IQ has improved drastically in the last year. He has become a smart and reliable two way player, whereas once his defensive game was insubstantial.”

Martin Fehervary

“An aggressive import from Slovakia, Fehervary played full time in the SHL last season, in his last year qualifying for junior hockey. He played in his customary aggressive style, with quick skating, physicality, and good reach. He still has NHL potential, with the look of a third pairing blueliner. His skating, reach and aggressiveness will becoming a strong defensive defender.”

Alex Alexeyev

“Alexeyev is a very good player who has all the tools to be a top four defender in the NHL. He has good size, skates very well, and has more snarl in his game then most give him credit for. Couple all that with a defender who is an excellent passer both in his own zone as well as when quarterbacking a powerplay, and he shows real promise. He has been one of the top defenders in the WHL since his arrival from Russia.”

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)

Last season the Phantoms missed playoffs by two points, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division. For an AHL team that seems to fly under the radar and whose parent team of Philadelphia seems to be known more for their mascot antics than their play, so far their success in the opening part of the season has not gone unnoticed. With rookie Morgan Frost leading the way and riding a seven game point streak as of this writing and carrying the team with nine points through the opening ten games, Lehigh’s young blood has been off to a strong start.

However, one point streak is not enough to create a winning team and with the departures of defenceman Phillippe Meyers and goaltender Carter Hart to the Flyers, their offence will surely have to be a strong point. This year Lehigh Valley welcomes many new faces to their roster which could be a turning point in the Flyers system due to their struggles with team cohesiveness in the past. The Phantoms look to have a promising amount of offensive rookie talent, many of whom bring energy to a slow to start returning AHL group.

Players to Watch

Morgan Frost

“Frost is ready for the next challenge in his young career. The talented playmaking center has improved his skating and strength on the puck over his OHL career and those should allow for an easy transition to pro hockey. He generates well off the rush, using a variety of dif- ferent attacks which speaks volumes to his creativity with the puck.”

Isaac Ratcliffe

“Ratcliffe is a hulking power winger with massive goal scoring potential at the next level. He has an extremely powerful shot that sees him use his size well to shield defenders before releasing the puck quickly. His skating continues to improve, especially his ability to cut and maintain possession through to the net.”

German Rubtsov

“He is a fast skating, quick shooting, high tempo player who plays with a lot of intensity and drive. He is a promising forward with much offensive potential and enough speed that he can get back on the backcheck as well. Rubtsov has the hands, the shot and the speed to be a standout forward with Philadelphia in the future if he can stay healthy.”

Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)

One of the most controversial and most talked about clubs in the NHL is the Boston Bruins who seem to be Stanley Cup contenders every year, but can the same be said for the Bruins’ American Hockey league team? Last season the Providence Bruins managed to clinch the last playoff spot in the Atlantic division but were eliminated in the first round by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. With the third lowest goals against average in the league and many other stats ranking somewhere in the middle of the pack, for Providence they were the quintessential “average” team. They played a safe, controlled and structured breakout, regroup and forecheck game but there seemed to be a missing spark in their 2018-19 season.

The team has had a firecracker of a start and from the very first game it was evident that Providence would be a much faster and more skilled team than they were last year. With speedy rookies like Jack Studnicka and Oskar Steen added to the lineup, Providence’s offensive zone time has been rising. Should Providence stay healthy, they will be playoff contenders for sure.

Players to Watch

Urho Vaakanainen

“Vaakanainen is a smooth skating, dynamic defenseman who had
a good transition from SaiPa in the Liiga to the Providence Bruins. He is not known for any particular offensive abilities but his neutral zone play and puck movement are still amongst the top on this list. He makes precise passes and knows when to skate the puck and when to dump it.”

Trent Frederic

“He is a fine skater with enough puck skill and offensive instinct to earn middle six minutes at maturity. His grinder, to the net style also bodes well for that role. Boston will be looking for more consistent production before giving an NHL look.”

Jack Studnicka

“It could probably be argued that Studnicka is one of the more well-rounded forward prospects in hockey. There is no role that he cannot play on the ice for his team. Given how pro ready his game is, he could be much closer to making an impact in Boston than some think.”

Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida Panthers)

Although the Florida Panthers continue to struggle with their attendance, their feeder team in Springfield, MA seems to do fine and will continue to do so this season with a start as hot as the one they’re having now. The Thunderbirds have soared to second place in the Atlantic division after just over ten games played and currently lead in goals for.

With the recent additions of rookies Owen Tippett and Aleksi Heponiemi to the regular roster it is no wonder they are on the fast track to success. Tippett is a scoring machine and can shoot from anywhere on the ice while Heponiemi had unbeatable major junior years in the WHL as a playmaker and only continues to shine in the AHL. With young players like these only continuing to gain momentum, look for Springfield to maintain their top four Atlantic division status throughout the season.

Players to Watch

Owen Tippett

“While his ability to put the puck in the net will be his ticket to an NHL career, he has improved his play away from the puck and his patience with it to become a player who can make an impact even when he is not scoring. With good size and skating ability, Tippett is at his best when he is attacking North/South, hunting for opportunities to unleash his terrific wrist shot.”

Aleksi Heponiemi

“A nifty stickhandler with excellent vision and offensive awareness, he is a natural playmaker who can finish, too. His shot has improved quite a bit, he has the ability to pick his spots and be a dual threat in the final third. While not fast, Heponiemi is highly agile on his skates and can make shifty moves to evade defenders.”

Jonathan Ang

“A brilliant skater, Ang’s hands are almost as quick as his legs. The question he has always been asked about is his offensive ceiling. For as much as his speed allows hi to be one step ahead of the play and very difficult to contain, his numbers have never really stood out. He flashes the tools that got him drafted, but not consistently and he struggles to finish what he starts.”

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)

It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins are in trouble when it comes to their prospect system, however after just one draft that can be turned around and with a trade a team can be bolstered dramatically. Not to say that the Penguins prospect system needs a revamp but if they continue to draft the way they have, their feeder team in Wilkes-Barre will remain average, at best. For the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins momentum is hard to find, not only is the arena an older venue but there is just is not enough talent on the back end to drive offensive plays. To boot, the average age of Wilkes-Barre is 25 which means very few prospects are seeing ice time at the AHL level and the team lacks in youthful energy.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins the next few years will be a tipping point for their prospects and current players. That said, there is hope with defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph paving the way for a hardworking, play making defencemen, W-B/S may be able to generate enough offence to up their scoring chances. As the season progresses, look for forward Kasper Bjorkqvist to earn top mention and top minutes with the Baby Penguins on the front end.

Players to Watch

Pierre-Olivier Joseph

“Joseph’s best two assets are his work eth- ic and his hockey sense. He rarely makes a bad decision and, most importantly, knows his limitations. He is slight for the pro game at 168 pounds, but he is as adept at defending positionally as he is physically, and has figured out how to read many schemes with the puck to best attack from the back end.”

Jordy Bellerive

“Bellerive is a player who can play the game in any style. He is happy to drive the net and work hard to create his offense but he has a shot that can beat goalies cleanly from distance. He works his tail off in both zones and often generates additional chances from chasing down the play. He makes good passes both in transition and below the dots.”

Kasper Bjorkqvist

“He uses his solid size to play near the opposing crease and has a plan for the puck when he gets it, resulting in quick touches and quickly released shots. At his best, he has a nice shot an can play or pass the puck well, but he can go for prolonged stretches at less than his best, effectively becoming a non-factor in the play.”

North Division

The North Division is home to three out of the four Canadian teams in the AHL and some of the coldest climates, ranging from Binghamton, NY up to Laval, QC. Two seasons ago the Calder Cup was hoisted by the Toronto Marlies in dramatic fashion against the Texas Stars, and we should look to the North to be hungry for the Cup once again.

Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)

As one of the newest teams in the AHL with one of the smaller arenas, the Belleville Senators had a reasonable season last year but failed to qualify for the last playoff spot in the North Division. Belleville is still capable of packing an offensive punch and holding their own. Making up for the absence of Rudolfs Balcers who has earned a spot on Ottawa, will be rookie Josh Norris and Drake Batherson, the latter of whom earned the AHL All-Star MVP last season.

Although Belleville looks to be offensively equipped it will be interesting to see how they fare defensively this season after losing Erik Brannstrom and Christian Wolanin to Ottawa. Both were responsible for much of Belleville’s offensive play last season, particularly after Brannstrom joined the club in the Mark Stone trade from Vegas.

Prospects to Watch

Drake Batherson

“He is an elusive player that slips under the radar and is quiet on the ice until the puck is found in the net as a result of his strong playmaking ability. He is a highly adaptable and entertaining player to watch in both even strength and special team situations, his adjustment to the AHL level has been tremendous.”

Josh Norris

“A high IQ center with a standout two-way game, the former USNTDP standout is a strong play driver, with a fantastic shot and strong playmaking abilities. He was the hockey wherewith- al to play a bottom six role right away, but he projects as a clear top six center at his best.

Alex Formenton

“The foundation of Formenton’s game is his elite skating ability. He has an effortless, yet powerful stride that allows him to be such an effective high-energy winger. Additionally, Formen- ton is a physical player who is aggressive on the forecheck, making him a terrific penalty killer. As an offensive player, his best asset is a quick release.”

Binghamton Devils (New Jersey Devils)

Although the Binghamton Devils finished last in the North Division last season, their big sister club New Jersey made some key trades as well as draft acquisitions during the off season in hopes of deepening their system. Despite their place in the standings, that did not stop the Devils from having a successful development year for many of their prospects who received the chance to play up with New Jersey.

With a plethora of prospects to choose from Binghamton will be expected to move further up the ranks in the 2019-20 season standings. With additions like 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes and Swedish prospect Jesper Boqvist to New Jersey’s forward lineup, look to Michael McLeod, Joey Anderson, Nathan Bastian, Mikhail Maltsev and Marian Studenic to pad up Binghamton’s offence. There is an abundance of top level prospects in New Jersey’s system and after the 2019 draft, look to the Devils to potentially have one of the best systems on paper.

Prospects to Watch

Michael McLeod

“Although not the smoothest of skaters to watch, he is strong and good both with and without the puck. McLeod’s defensive game has grown a lot this season making him a better two way player. He is a talented and smart playmaker and with a good start in the AHL and given more confidence he will definitely be in the right shape again to be shipped back up to the Devils.”

Marian Studenic

“Studenic had a solid start to his professional career this year with Binghamton and his natural skill and skating ability helped him to stand out amongst fellow rookie forwards. He is a deadly player when he gets to the net and is quick to capitalize on turnovers.”

Mikhail Maltsev

“He is a two-way forward with excellent size and good physical abilities, smooth hands and a solid positional game. Maltsev is a great choice for the third or fourth line considering his mass, defensive skills, and great reading of the ice in any situation at both ends of the rink.”

Cleveland Monsters (Columbus Bluejackets)

With an average height of 6-2” the name “Monsters” fits the tallest team in the AHL perfectly. Ironically enough Cleveland’s parent club, the Columbus Bluejackets, is home to one of the shortest and most skilled forwards in the NHL in 5-8” Cam Atkinson. Last season, Cleveland got off to a good start but faded quickly after the January All-Star break, barely making the playoffs. This coming year Cleveland once again seems to be hugging the fourth place spot in the North Division but perhaps they are still acclimatizing and pacing themselves, especially after seeing Sonny Milano and Kole Sherwood move up to the parent club.

With offence hanging in the brink for Cleveland, look to their firecracker of a forward Trey Fix-Wolansky to fire things up offensively and to Kevin Stenlund to add a physical punch to the Monsters’ offence. With 2018 first round pick Liam Foudy not quite ready to make the jump to the AHL yet, the Monsters will also have to rely on good goaltending from Finnish product Veini Vehvilainen to keep them in the game. Expect a decent back half of the season playoff run from the Monsters once they get settled.

Players to Watch

Veini Vehvilainen

“He is a very quick goalie. His lateral quickness and post-to-post movement are both high end and he can recover loose pucks quickly. He is also highly athletic and flexible. He rarely allows a soft goal and if he does, he is able to bounce back quickly.”

Trey Fix-Wolansky

“Fix-Wolansky is a player that has really grown over the past couple of seasons. That has improved substantially in this regard as has his foot speed. His playmaking and shooting skills have always been there but now he has the pace and the drive to impact every play. He has a real shot at being a success story as his offensive tools are very good.”

Kevin Stenlund

“Stenlund plays a gritty and hard on the puck type of game, he wins battles and uses his size to his advantage. Stenlund may have used his size as an advantage but his size is also what made him stand out despite being one of the slower players on the ice. He is strong on the puck but it sometimes appears to be an effort for Stenlund to maneuver easily in tight spots.”

Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens)

There is only one team in the league who conducts most of their business in a language other than English and that would be the Montreal Canadiens who have been a staple original six team as well as a symbol of French Canadian culture for decades. Now fast forward to the Laval Rocket who play in one of the nicest arenas in the AHL, La Place Bell, which housed one of the poorest performing teams in the North Division last season. Laval had a less than desirable year finishing second last in the standings having managed to score only 195 times through the whole season while every other team in their division surpassing the 200 goal mark.

Montreal has had some major prospect developments and a few small turnarounds from where they were sitting last season with Nick Suzuki, Victor Mete and Ryan Poehling all pulling their weight in the big leagues. That being said, it’s an exciting time for the Canadiens who have prospect momentum heading into the next year year with NCAA product Jake Evans in his sophomore season with Laval and Noah Juulsen, an unexpected cut from Montreal, returning to the lineup. Laval will be a dark horse this season and only time will tell where they will finish in the standings.

Players to Watch

Jake Evans

“Evans is an elite level passer who can make crisp on-the-tape passes in the most difficult of situations. He is a really solid player and has good jump to his stride and energy to his game. Evans has the full package, and he just needs to muster up more grit and stay consistent with his play and he will be set to dawn a Canadiens jersey soon.”

Noah Juulsen

“For a smooth skating defenseman who can shoot from just about anywhere on the ice, Juulsen has not had the same amount of success in the pro ranks as he had during his major junior days with Everett in the WHL. He is not the most mobile defender and his actions seem even more stiff and mechanical when he begins to think too much.”

Otto Leskinen

“A mobile defenseman, he skates well both backwards and laterally. He is light on his skates and there is little wasted motion in his stride. Leskinen has the abilities to be an impactful player offensively. He can make a crisp first pass or carry the puck up into the zone. He has a hard slap shot and a wrister with a very quick release.”

Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

For the past few seasons the Buffalo Sabres have been the team that starts out strong and finishes in last place but the opposite can be said about their feeder team, the Rochester Americans. Last season, Rochester duked it out with the Syracuse Crunch all season long for top spot in the North Division with only a three point margin separating the two teams. Rochester was led by veteran defenceman Zach Redmond and rookie forward Victor Olofsson, the latter of whom has since moved up to clinch a well-deserved spot with the Sabres.

Although Olofsson is no longer on the farm, his Swedish line mate Rasmus Asplund continues to gain momentum and acclimatize to North American play. Asplund is off to a much better start this season and his linemate C.J. Smith also looks to add to Rochester’s offensive depth. Netminder Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen remains a dark horse, soon set to return from rehab for surgery he had during the offseason. With Luukkonen, who is arguably one of the top goaltending prospects - and a future starting netminder in the NHL- joining Rochester it will be safe to say that should Rochester make playoffs their back end composure will be more than okay.

Players to Watch

Rasmus Asplund

“He is a smaller forward but a great forechecker working well to fill a spot as a grinder. Always keeping his feet moving, many of his 41 points this year came from rebounds and net scrambles. At times he is a little bit sloppy with his positioning which may be the reason why he has yet to earn a call up to the Sabres.”

Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen

“He is the complete package as a goaltender with his size and athleticism. Luukkonen moves so well in his crease, but with his size is able to square up to shooters still and take away all angles. He also reads and reacts to the play around him as he is rarely caught out of position. His composure in the crease this year was one of his more impressive features.”

C.J. Smith

“Smith is a great example of this as he is an entertaining player to watch and brings energy and drive to each game. His natural skill and scoring ability made him a stand out forward for the Americans last year, and are what will hopefully push him to work hard to gain a top six spot.

Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Recapping the post season for the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise in the 2018-2019 season is simply depressing, as not only did Tampa fail to impress in their playoffs despite running away with the regular season, but Syracuse followed the exact same pattern. The Crunch led the North Division all season long but were swept in the first round of playoffs by the fourth place Cleveland Monsters. Truly disappointing but nonetheless a wakeup call to a franchise that may have gotten a little overconfident.

After the humbling events of last season, Syracuse has started off in a very modest middle of the pack spot with the departure of Alexander Volkov and Erik Cernak from the Crunch to the Lightning. It has been up to many of the guys heading into their sophomore seasons like Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh and Cal Foote to make up for the absences on the blueline as well as on the offensive attack. Syracuse will have to work much harder with their young squad if they want to achieve the same results as they achieved in 2018-19.

Players to Watch

Cal Foote

“Foote’s ranking as Tampa Bay’s number one prospect is well deserved as he is the perfect mix of a skilled offensive blueliner with a highly physical and dependable defensive defenseman. He has exceptional awareness and his hockey IQ is what makes him a great player. He has size and plays a calm, aware positional game that makes him stand out as being the most mature and dynamic prospect on this list.”

Taylor Raddysh

“Raddysh is a natural goal scorer with a knack for getting to the net in even the most difficult of situations. He is a good skater and a strong shooter capable of getting shots off in tight situations. He is especially good with one timers and adapting to bad passes. Raddysh will have to work on being more creative and being stronger on the puck in open ice situations, his level of want for the puck will have to improve.”

Mitchell Stephens

“He is a very competitive player who likes to win and who brings such passion to the game. He wins draws, gets to the net, blocks shots and plays a strong physical game. The only thing missing is an extra gear, as he needs that extra speed to be able to make a solid impact at the next level.”

Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most iconic teams in the league, boasting some of the most loyal fans around. That being said, they are also one of the younger player systems in the NHL with a core group of high end young players, and theirs is not a system like Boston or Washington which are reliant on veteran talent. That also means that for the Toronto Marlies, the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, it may be harder to make the opening night lineup than ever with very few retiring and new talent being drafted every year- the only thing mixing things up being the cap hit. However, despite monetary constrictions and trades all around, the Marlies have managed to not only win a Calder Cup in 2018 but also qualify for playoffs again the following year.

This season seems a little different and so far with so many changes, the core group consisting of Jeremy Bracco, Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, Pierre Engvall and Adam Brooks have all adjusted well and have continued to put up a North Division leading 7-0-3 record through their first ten games of the season. Look to see the Marlies either on top of the divisional race or just below in second by the time the 2019-20 season draws to a close.

Players to Watch

Jeremy Bracco

“Bracco is a creative playmaker to say the least and every play holds different possibilities thanks to his level of hockey sense. He is a powerful and agile skater that can easily maneuver around opponents with his edgework, often opting to use his inside edges for turns rather than traditional crossovers.”

Rasmus Sandin

“Sandin is a versatile defenseman capable of leading rushes and quar- terbacking them as well. He is a skilled player with a good shot and great hockey sense. He sees the plays before they happen and stays one step ahead and remains focused while doing so.”

Yegor Korshkov

“He has a lot of good traits in his game that could translate well to the NHL, like the way he can cover the puck in the corners and create scoring chances from there. He has strong balance which will get stronger with more overall strength.”

Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)

Having played host to the 2019 World Juniors in Vancouver as well as the 2019 NHL Draft, Vancouver has been quite the hockey destination within the past months. However, for many fans who do not reside on the west coast, it may be easier to catch a Utica Comets game instead. Utica has had quite the roster turn around from last season offering a better start to the season as well.

With the addition of former Team Canada goaltender and top prospect Michael DiPietro, Utica now can rest assured that the net is covered as DiPietro moves like no other goaltender and possesses ultimate composure and focus while in the net. Another key addition is 2016 fifth overall pick Olli Juolevi who has come back from injury and is padding up the defensive end for the Comets. Utica is battling with Toronto back and forth for first spot in the North, which should be the race all season long should Utica not move any players. Note that former Canucks regular Nikolay Goldobin is still down with Utica and only adds to their offensive talent.

Players to Watch

Michael DiPietro

“He relies on his reads and his athleticism to make saves and he can be a real game changer because of it. At the pro level, there are often growing pains for these types of goaltenders because the game moves faster, the top part of the net becomes an easier target, and confidence can wane. But DiPietro remains a very solid pro prospect and should eventually develop into an asset.”

Olli Juolevi

He is a smart defenseman capable of reading the play and being one step ahead. He is a spot on passer and he can shoot from anywhere on the ice with speed and precision. His goal should be to keep his feet moving equally in all zones of the ice and to get back to playing a physical game.

Lukas Jasek

“An underdog type of player, Jasek has the ability to sneak past opponents and get into open ice without notice, giving him a leg up on his counterparts. He is a lightweight and a rather small looking player but his deceptiveness is scary when it comes to how aggressive he is on the puck. He plays with energy and passion and never gives up on a play.”

New Jersey Devils 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:22:54 +0000

Putting this list together, one of the immediately striking things to my mind was the similarities this year’s New Jersey top 20 bore to last year’s. Five of last year’s top six prospects were still in the top six now, and the one player who is missing from last year’s version is now a member of the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization (John Quenneville).

In fact, most of the players who were there last year and are not now are gone because they no longer qualify. They were either moved to a different organization, or they graduated with honors, losing prospect eligibility. In each case, the missing were replaced by new Devils’ prospects, as 10 of the team’s 11 picks made the top 20, so pour one out for netminder Cole Brady, the sole 2019 draftee who didn’t make the cut.

As interesting to me as those factoids are, you are reading this section for the same reason we are writing it. The Devils won the draft lottery for the second time in three years, and used their good fortune to add USNTDP superstar Jack Hughes to their mix. Barring a catastrophic injury in the next few months, this will be my last time to discuss Hughes as a prospect.

First, a thought on the choice made by Ray Shero and company to go with Hughes over the other heavily hyped and largely qualified prospect at the top of the draft in Kaapo Kakko. This was Shero’s fifth draft at the helm of the Devils. In the four previous drafts, they drafted two players out of Finland, neither before the sixth round. On the other hand, they drafted four players out of the USHL, including two who had passed through the USNTDP program. So they certainly had a lot of comfort with gauging Hughes’ performance against his USHL peers.

Another interesting aspect of the selection had to do with positional value. In a vacuum, a center is always more valuable than a winger. Ergo, if the organization felt that Hughes and Kakko were equals as NHL talents, the fact that Hughes is a natural center while Kakko is a right winger (notwithstanding the fact that he has some experience up the middle) gives Hughes the edge. If we extend that consideration to the talents otherwise populating the system, we see that Jersey has a deep pipeline of young talent coming on the wings, but is relatively barren up the middle. Of the 19 players we have listed after the top prospect in the sport, we have two other natural centers, and three others who are experienced up the middle. In contrast, the list features seven pure wingers. And let’s be honest with ourselves: the three partial centers are all more likely than not to reach their ceilings as wingers than as pivots.

In drafting Hughes, the Devils immediately shoot to the upper echelon of organizational rankings, with the clear expectation that their position is short lived. Hughes can help carry this team back to the postseason, lowering their draft position and, as mentioned above, his own contribution to the team’s organizational ranking will be short-lived.

Finally, a quick look back on Shero’s record of drafting from the USHL/USNTDP versus Finland. In his fifth draft for New Jersey, the Devils did not pick up any Finnish players, but added two additional USNTDP alums after inviting Hughes to the podium.

-Ryan Wagman

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes (86) (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

1 Jack Hughes, C (1^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Jack Hughes is a the son of two high level hockey players and the middle brother to two more. But Jack is more talented than the rest. He holds within his slight frame a set of elite level tools in his skating, his puck skills, and his hockey brain. He does not yet have the complete game of a Sidney Crosby, but like Crosby, he is able to internalize criticisms of his game and improve in-season. Take his shot. While he was always more of a playmaker than a goal scorer, he had real trouble putting the puck in the net in his draft year and the whispers had begun. In the second half, he made more of a point of taking the puck to the net and he started to light the lamp more often, too. He is a clear future number one center, although with former #1 Nico Hischier already in tow, the Devils might start him off in more of a sheltered, middle-six role. - RW

2 Ty Smith, D (17^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) Smith finished off a strong season by winning the CHL’s Defenseman of the year award. He captained the Spokane Chiefs last season, and put up 7 goals and 62 assists in 57 games. He was close to making the Devils out of camp last season, and after spending another season back in Spokane, has matured and continued to fill out his frame, and should make another push towards making the NHL. Smith is a fabulous skating defender, who is extremely smart, and is able to move the puck with great poise and ease. He plays the type of game that should make his lack of traditional size a non-issue. He projects to be a top pairing defender, a smooth puck mover, and a smart power play quarterback. - KO

3 Michael McLeod, C (12^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2) For a strong, offensive power forward such as McLeod, last season’s NHL debut was a little shaky. It seemed as though the move up from the AHL to the NHL was a bigger jump then he imagined, especially as his previous season was spent with OHL Mississauga. Although not the smoothest of skaters to watch, he is strong and good both with and without the puck. McLeod’s defensive game has grown a lot this season making him a better two way player. He is a talented and smart playmaker and with a good start in the AHL and given more confidence he will definitely be in the right shape again to be shipped back up to the Devils. This season however, he needs to clean up his game a little and work on being more patient if he wants to get to the next level and fit into a top six role, with fewer scrambles and more tape to tape plays. - SC

4 Jesper Boqvist, C/LW (36^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 3) A stand-out skater with nice hands. You can’t miss Boqvist if you see a game where he plays. As for skating with the puck, you could almost see style similarities with high elite talents like Jack Hughes or Connor McDavid. Boqvist doesn’t have their hockey sense or skillset, though. His senses and skills aren’t bad on the other hand and he is an interesting middle six forward prospect and has strong NHL potential for that role. He put up 35 points in 51 SHL games last year. He is a strong puck carrier and with zone entries. He still needs to work on his decision-making regarding when to carry or when play or dump the puck, which makes him inconsistent. Boqvist wants to create and to make stuff happen and that is a good trait. He will have a chance to make the Devils this season and if he doesn’t, he will be back for another year in SHL. - JH

5 Joey Anderson, RW (73^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Anderson is an energetic and hard-working forward who plays like he always has something to prove. His grit when on the puck is proof of his passion and his skillset only furthers his value. He is a reliable shooter and may be aggressive enough but he needs to up his strength to get to the next level in order to win more battles. Having played nearly a full season up with the Devils last season, his play has improved but his strength is still a weak spot and for a player of his size, he is already at a disadvantage. When at the peak of his game, Anderson has what it takes to scratch the top six but for now it would be best to aim for a more realistic bottom six spot instead. - SC

6 Reilly Walsh, D (81^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) Although he was a late cut in his first chance at making the American WJC squad, Walsh had a successful sophomore campaign with Harvard, coming this close to putting up one point per game and establishing his credentials as Adam Fox’s successor as the driver of the offense for the Crimson. He lacks any singular big time tools, and he is on the smaller side, but Walsh plays a dynamic game, and does everything at an above average level. He is even able to display an aggressive side at times, although he is far from spreading fear into the hearts of opponents. He can be an easy #1 at the college level and is still trending towards a solid #3/4 type at the highest level. - RW

7 Arseni Gritsyuk, LW (129^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Gritsyuk had a good season at home in Russia, also bearing in mind that he represented Russia at many international tournaments, including the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the WU18, posting good numbers at each. He is a diminutive but fast-skating winger who likes to play the puck. He is a very resilient and patient player, who can beat defensemen one on one with his agility and skills. Gritsyuk is a promising offensive player with a high ceiling in the offensive zone. He is the kind of player who can be a perfect fit for secondary scoring. He can be very useful on the forecheck and works hard, but all things considered, he is better off in a scoring line. The forward needs to start gathering experience at the pro level and he will most likely get some next year. - ASR

8 Nikola Pasic, RW (189^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A strong late pick in 2019, who we had ranked higher. Pasic is not a "sure-to-make-the-NHL"-player though. This season, in SuperElit, he played center on a line and helped the offensive game for a natural center who was pushed out to the wing. Pasic got the part because of his stronger skating and two-way game. He is a strong puck carrier, has nice hands and works with intensity. His foundation as a player comes from his skating abilities and puck control. He can also play the part of a strong winger with good puck support with others driving the play. A concern comes when he drives the offensive play, as he isn't good enough to effectively use his teammates and tries to do too much on his own. All in all, I see a potential top nice forward in Pasic. He will have his first real taste at senior hockey this season in Allsvenskan. - JH

9 Graeme Clarke, RW (80^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Clarke is an extremely creative offensive player whose hands and deftness with the puck have to be considered among the best in the OHL, even at his young age. He has successfully attempted the Michigan “Mike Legg” goal too many times to count. Clarke is also a great goal scorer who possesses a lightning quick release. His skating has already improved during his two year tenure in the OHL, but it will need to continue to improve to be an impact top six forward at the NHL level. His play away from the puck will also need to develop more consistency. But his potential is quite high and he should be a player who contends for an OHL scoring title before his junior eligibility is up. - BO

10 Aarne Talvitie, C (160^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 7) Talvitie was in the midst of a very impressive freshman season at Penn State and was a surprise ace for the Finnish WJC Gold Medal team, but it was during the latter event that he hurt his knee and was forced to the sidelines for the remainder of the season. Talvitie is the type of player whose whole is significantly greater than the sum of the parts. He has a stocky build and decent puck abilities, highlit by a fine wrist shot and nice playmaking abilities, but his ability to think the game quickly and make good reads helps it all play up. He can be used in a wide variety of roles and always leaves it all on the ice. If he can return from his injury none the worse for the wear, he profiles as a future middle six, all situations forward. - RW

11 Michael Vukojevic, D (82^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A hard-nosed, stay at home defender, Vukojevic is a very steady influence on the back end. He profiles as a penalty kill anchor and the type you can match up against the opposition’s best. There are not many flaws to his game from a defensive perspective, especially with the improvements that he has made to his skating. His play with the puck can be sporadic and his offensive potential will probably be limited at the pro level, thereby limiting his overall utility. That said, his confidence with the puck grew substantially in the second half of the past OHL season, suggesting the possibility of additional ceiling hiding inside. - BO

12 Patrick Moynihan, RW/C (158^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) On a team with Hughes, Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, and Joh Beecher – first rounders all – up the middle, Moynihan slid to the wing. Even relegated to bottom six minutes, he still managed to impress. He lacks the pace of the fearsome foursome, but the rest of his game holds signs of a top six talent. In fact, when the USNTDP class was being recruited, Moynihan was widely considered to be among the best of the bunch. He packs a punch for his smaller frame and can create offense with quick decision making and opportunism. Despite his lower lineup role with the Program, Moynihan could easily find himself playing higher in the lineup with Providence, and earning his earlier career accolades once more. While bottom six is most likely, he could surprise with newfound ceiling. - RW

13 Xavier Bernard, D (110^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 10) Bernard has great size to go along with very good overall skating. His size makes him a strong option down low in his own zone and in front of the net. His skating makes him a very good defender positionally, as he can match most skaters coming off the rush in a straight line or side-to-side, and can also throw the big hit. His offensive game is solid as well, if unspectacular – he has a very heavy shot, and is an even better passer, but his offensive game is limited in terms of his boxcar stats. He is more effective as an ice general, leading the rush from the back end and joining in as a trailer. He is a very safe, solid, no-nonsense defender with great size who does not make a lot of mistakes, all of which will give him a streamlined path to a top-four spot at the NHL level. - MS

14 Case McCarthy, D (118^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the more purely defensive defensemen in this year’s USNTDP class, McCarthy joins Hughes and Moynihan in the New Jersey draft class. The Boston University commit plays a very low flash game, but has a lot of solid elements to his game that give him the feel of a low risk prospect. He has a solid frame and plays with strength. His stick is well positioned in the neutral zone and he is a high panic threshold when under attack. He can help move the puck in the right direction, but his offensive game is largely a matter of making the safe, simple pass and using his patience to help lanes open up. He projects as a useful third pairing blueliner who can help out on the penalty kill, but will likely need at least three years on campus before turning pro. - RW

15 Daniil Misyul, D (70th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Misyul had a busy season in Russia last year, playing his first full-time season in the KHL with a significant role, playing more than 14 minutes a night and more than 15 in the playoffs. The defenseman is very strong physically and plays bigger than his size. He is gifted with an NHL body and a physical style that makes him an imposing player in his own zone. Offensively, Misyul can contribute with a good shot and a decent eye for offensive plays, but he is first and foremost a shutdown defenseman whose goal is to separate the opposition from the puck. He needs some seasoning at home before crossing the pond, but he is on his way to become a valuable player and a defenseman who can play a top-four role in modern day’s NHL. - ASR

16 Mikhail Maltsev, LW (102^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 11) A solid prospect who is capable of playing both wings and center, Maltsev had a positive season last year at home, lining up for 17 playoffs games with SKA. His name didn’t appear much on the scoresheet, but he played more than 11 minutes a night and didn’t look out of place. He is a two-way forward with excellent size and good physical abilities, smooth hands and a solid positional game. Maltsev is a great choice for the third or fourth line considering his mass, defensive skills, and great reading of the ice in any situation at both ends of the rink. He was a leader on his junior teams, and once he fully adapts, he can grow into a player who leads by example and hard work. He needs to gather more experience and a couple of years in the AHL under Sergei Brylin can help him become not only a full-time NHL player, but also a valuable one for his two-way abilities. - ASR

17 Fabian Zetterlund, RW/C (63^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 12) Zetterlund will leave Sweden to play in North America this upcoming season. He comes off a disappointing season which was ruined by injuries. He only played in 16 SHL games (4 points) and had a rough WJC tourney (0 points in 5 games) as well. The biggest concern in his game is whether he can overcome his average skating with skill. He is a strong player with a good shot and puck skills and is a natural scorer. When his skating isn’t at his best, his offensive game struggles. Last season he injured his knee (ACL) twice, so when he played it was fair to say that he wasn’t his best self. Next season, he will most probably play in the AHL and work up his confidence that way and to get his identity as a player on the smaller ice, which could prove to suit him better as it helps him play closer to the net. - JH

18 Nikita Okhotyuk, D (61^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) It was interesting to see the Devils draft both Vukojevic and Okhotyuk this year, as both have similar projections as stay at home defenders. Okhotyuk is the better skater and bigger hitter of the pair, on top of flashing a little more skill with the puck. On the other hand, he also plays a higher risk game that can lead to some mistakes. As a late 2000 born, he will play one more year in the OHL and then turn pro. His skill set is fairly pro ready and he could be someone who moves quickly through the system if he improves his decision making and consistency. - BO

19 Marian Studenic, RW (143^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 16) Studenic had a solid start to his professional career this year with Binghamton and his natural skill and skating ability helped him to stand out amongst fellow rookie forwards. He also made an appearance on the world stage as one of the youngest players with Slovakia at the World Championships, which allowed him to mature his game even more. He is a deadly player when he gets to the net and is quick to capitalize on turnovers. The concerning thing however, is that Studenic still falls behind the play at times and does not fight hard enough to get positioning in offensive situations. His development has been really good and he is naturally skilled with the ability to read the play and while he has few fundamental changes to make, he does have more gears to find. He will have to be more aggressive and fight for his positioning better if he wants to secure a future bottom six spot. - SC

20 Tyce Thompson, RW (96^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A late bloomer, Thompson underwhelmed in his first two seasons of draft eligibility, first in the New England prep ranks, and second with Dubuque of the USHL. As a 20-year old freshman with Providence, he found a new level. He scored at a top six rate, all the while displaying two-way tendencies that bode well for his future. More a playmaker than a scorer, Thompson actually owns a solid shot to go along with above average puck skills. He needs to add muscle to his thin frame and could stand to add a step to his stride as well, but there are the outlines of a decent bottom six contributor and he may not need more than one more season on campus to get a pro contract. - RW

New Jersey Devils Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:07:25 +0000

Prior to the 2016-17 season, Hockey Prospectus ranked the New Jersey system 16^th overall, basically middle of the pack. It was a system led by the team’s three most recent first rounders in Michael McLeod (2016), John Quenneville (2014), and Pavel Zacha (2015), respectively. Also in the top ten were a few other recent prospect graduates in Steven Santini, Jesper Bratt, and Miles Wood. There were no deep sleepers who have become New Jersey mainstays, although 20^th ranked Alexander Kerfoot has emerged as a solid player with Colorado after he declined to sign with the Devils once his NCAA eligibility expired.

Regardless of the strength at the time of the New Jersey, the NHL Devils suffered through a horrendous season in 2016-17, finishing 27^th out of 30 teams. There was a silver lining at the edge of that dark cloud though, as they bucked the odds to win the draft lottery, enabling them to take their pick of what was, in all honesty, a below average draft class.

New Jersey didn’t complain, though, using the top pick on Nico Hischier, an electrifying talent from Switzerland who had been playing in the QMJHL with Halifax. Not only was Hischier immediately the best player in the revitalized New Jersey system, but we had graded him out as the number two prospect in all of hockey in last year’s McKeen Annual guidebook.

The Devils did not rest after selecting Hischier, though. Far from it. They made 11 total selections in the 2017 draft, and we placed two additional picks, second rounder Jesper Boqvist, and fourth rounder Nikita Popugaev, in our top 250 list, at 120 and 150, respectively. Throw in the surprise signing of Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher, who, like Kerfoot, did not sign with the team that drafted him, and went to New Jersey instead. In a bit of irony, Butcher was a Colorado pick signing in New Jersey while Kerfoot was a Devils pick who signed with the Avalanche. An unofficial trade if you will. Four other 2017 draft picks were also listed in the New Jersey top 20.

With such a broad infusion of talent, it should come as no surprise that the New Jersey system shot up the organizational rankings from 16 to six.

One year later and the New Jersey system has fallen back down the other side of the rainbow, coming in 20^th at this time. How did they fall so soon, so quick, you might ask?

Some of it is for good reasons. The Devils rebounded as a team to return to the NHL postseason Hischier was a key driver of that success, playing in all 82 games, finishing seventh in the Calder Trophy race. The aforementioned Will Butcher, as well as Jesper Bratt, who had inexplicably fallen from a top ten talent to outside of the top 20, were the only other prospects to graduate.

A few other players left the organization through trade or free agency, but they were footnotes at the bottom of the list. What really hurt New Jersey the most, in terms of organizational ranking, was the simple fact that none of the players (Hischier/Butcher excluded) really reached a new level of performance or production, and many others, including the aforementioned Popugaev, top netminder Mackenzie Blackwood, Blake Speers, and others, saw their play fall off and new questions about their ultimate ceilings emerge.

Finally, the Devils went from a dynamic draft class of 11, to a muted class of six, three of whom make this year’s list. It remains to be seen whether the flagging system below the NHL level will continue to follow (or lead) the fortunes of the team at the highest level.

Ty Smith

1 Ty Smith, D (17^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) The number two scorer among all defenders in the WHL in his draft year, Ty Smith, two years removed from being the first overall selection in the WHL Bantam Draft, has undoubtable offensive skills. He is a fantastic skater with high end puck moving ability. He was unable to demonstrate those gifts to the full extent during a few high profile events last year, namely the CHL Top Prospects game, or the WU18, neither of which made his highlight reel, but even when he was off his game, he still was able to showcase other elements of his game that suggest he has top pairing potential. In other words, even on his off days, he still can be a high-impact defender. He tracks back well, showing 200 foot commitment to the game. He lacks size, but plays with strength, whether using his stick to break up plays, or maneuvering opponents into the boards to nullify threats. Not only is his upside rather high, but he projects to reach it sooner than some of the other guys who were taken in the picks before the Devils got him.

2 Michael McLeod, C (12^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2^nd) The OHL speedster had yet another successful yet mildly disappointing season in the OHL and representing Canada at the WJC and is ready to become fully immersed in the professional game. His skating is just shy of elite, he can flash a high end wrist shot from the circles on in, and earned a reputation for his hustle and work ethic on the PK for Mississauga over the years. He is not known as a playmaker, but has promising vision and passing ability. He has a lot of exciting tools, even though only his straight ahead speed truly exudes a dynamic vibe. He should earn a fair bit of NHL play this season, as his gameplay should be able to find a home up or down the lineup. That said, he would be well served with a few months of AHL action to whet his appetite before settling down in New Jersey. He has strong middle six upside.

3 Jesper Boqvist, C/LW (36^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 4^th) Don’t let his production fool you. Jesper Boqvist has the makings of a very good middle six forward, capable of putting up good numbers at maturity in the NHL. A fantastic skater with very impressive puck skills, the burgeoning playmaker took a big step forward last year, the bulk of which was spent in the SHL with Brynas. He surveys the ice very well, recognizing chance to move forward and advance the attack. He is also noted for a solid defensive zone game. The versatile forward’s biggest drawback is the complete lack of a physical side to his game. In 40 games last year, he accrued only six PIMs. This after eight PIMs in 54 games in his draft year and a whopping 20 minutes in 67 games in 2015-16. He is very high on the Devils’ radar and they are likely hoping to bring him overseas once his contract with Brynas expires after the coming season.

4 John Quenneville, C (30^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 3^rd) When he was selected at the tail end of the 2014 draft, the idea was that he would no longer be on lists like these four years later. Quenneville has a well-rounded game, highlit by a very good shot which is deadly from the hashmarks on in. He may have received more NHL time last year were it not for some injuries which hampered him in the AHL, notably a knee injury shortly after mid-season. He is not exactly old at 22, but he his offensive production has been (on a rate-basis) stable at 0.79 points per game for the past two seasons, and his ability to drive the possession game seemed to carry over to his brief NHL stints in both seasons. He has the game to step into a bottom six role at center or on the wing right now, and if he fails to break through again, it will be a black mark on his future outlook.

5 Joseph Anderson, RW (73^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 9^th) Wherever Joey Anderson goes, he wins. He is generally not the best player on that winning team, or even the second best player, but he is always a key contributor both in what can be measured and in the intangibles, such as leadership, grit, and hustle. He is a solid skater, with a hard wrist shot that can beat a goalie cleanly from mid-range and closer. He offers a very strong net front presence, with quick hands ready to pounce on loose pucks in the home plate area. He is not overly tall, but has good reach, assisted by plus upper-body strength. He is very intelligent, performing all sorts of easily over-looked, subtle acts to help his team regain, or maintain possession. After helping Minnesota-Duluth to an NCAA championship in the spring, Anderson inked an ELC with the Devils. He will have a good chance to make the club in a bottom six role right away, with New Jersey hoping his winning ways rub off on the rest of the team.

Reilly Walsh

6 Reilly Walsh, D (81^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 10^th) A New Hampshire prep star, Walsh proved that he could hang at a higher level with his intermittent play with the Chicago Steel of the USHL in his draft year. As a true freshman with Harvard, he proved his supporters right as one of the Crimson’s most play driving blueliners. He is small, but somewhat rugged and has the mobility that is sought by all talent evaluators in modern-age defenders. He is also imminently gifted from the offensive perspective. Both his point shot and his puck handling skills are high end. Unlike many defenders of his ilk, he is also competent and responsible in his own end. He is still a few years from being ready for the AHL, much less than NHL, but he looks for all the world like a top half of the roster blueliner.

7 Aarne Talvitie, C (160^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11^th) Still under the radar as he spent both his draft and post draft years in Finland’s junior ranks, Talvitie should be commended for finishing third in scoring in the Jr. A SM-liiga, winning the league’s MVP award in the process. The reason he has not graduated to Finnish senior is not due to lack of aptitude, but to maintain his NCAA eligibility. Lack Henrik Borgstrom, Talvitie is crossing the pond to go to college, in this case, to play for Penn State. He is a strong skater with finishing skills and impressive hockey IQ. He lacks size, but plays tough enough to survive. As the Nittany Lions have lost a few key forwards to graduation, Talvitie should receive an early opportunity to shine in his first taste of North American hockey.

8 Colby Sissons, D (UDFA: Oct. 3, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Overlooked in his draft year as a moderately productive second pairing defender with a poor Swift Current team in the WHL, Sissons nonetheless impressed the Devils so much in rookie camp that the team couldn’t get rid of him, finally signing him to an ELC as the season was getting underway. Two years later, after a stellar age 20 season helping to take the Broncos to a WHL title, the word has gotten around on Sissons. While not the greatest skater, he moves the puck with purpose and precision. He can walk the line like a pro on the power play, finding an open teammate down low, or picking up a seam to step through to fire a low slapshot on net. He has a mature all-around game from the back and plays a somehow understated, but very forceful, physical game. Next stop is the AHL and he should be in the consideration set as an injury replacement as soon as this year.

9 Mackenzie Blackwood, G (42^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 7^th) As a 16 year old with the OHL’s Barrie Colts, Blackwood seemed like the ideal goalie prospect, checking all of the boxes in the scouts’ lists. He was massive, coupled with solid athleticism, reasonably refined technique. He even did a good job of controlling second chances and could push the puck up the ice ably. Since those heady early days, Blackwood has been miss as much as hit. His OHL work never really improved from his first year. His first two years as a professional have been disconcerting, losing playing time to the likes of Kenny Appleby and Scott Wedgewood and even finding himself down in the ECHL for stretches last year. It is too early to give up on a 21 year old who can still flash the game of a possible starter in the NHL, but it is past time for Blackwood to produce where it counts and ensure that the Devils still see the future in him.

Xavier Bernard

10 Xavier Bernard, D (110^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) For a system that has largely eschewed scouting for size, Bernard is one of the few prospects of significance in the organization that bucks that trend. Listed at 6-3” and over 200 lbs, he is actually more of a mobile puck mover with smarts and skills than a bruiser. His offensive game took a big step up in his draft year, jumping from six to 35 points with Drummondville. There are still questions about his ultimate offensive upside, allowing him to drop to the fourth round in the draft, but he plays an efficient game on both sides of the puck. He has a big point shot, but is more effective as a passer from the blueline. Bernard’s development has a few possible routes available, but the majority of them point to a solid professional career.

11 Mikhail Maltsev, LW (102^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Without doubt, the biggest riser in the New Jersey over the 2017-18 season. From a production standpoint, Maltsev’s year was not much different from years’ past. He seemed to have finally graduated from the Russian junior league and spent the bulk of his domestic season split between the KHL and the VHL, with very promising VHL numbers, with the best points per game mark of any under 20 player to have played even 10 games at the level. His KHL and international production were more muted, but he did turn a number of heads at the WJAC. He has a big frame, is usable on both special teams units, playing a mature and intelligent game. His first few steps are strong and he has burgeoning puck skills to go along with it. He will be in Russia again this year, but may be ready, at least in theory to come to North America in the near future.

12 Fabian Zetterlund, RW/C (63^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 16^th) If the Devils can be said to have a type in the draft, it would look a lot like Fabian Zetterlund. That is to say a winger with a bit of skill and the type of grittiness to allow him to play bigger than his listed measurements. A solid offensive force in the Swedish junior ranks when he was drafted, the young forward spent this past season mostly playing against men. As is often the case with teenagers in the SHL and Allsvenskan, his production was nothing to write home about wit only 12 points in 43 combined games between the two levels. When he plays against his age-based peers, such as in the WJC, he can demonstrate a promising offensive package, including a shot and puck skills that both project out as above average attributes. Add in a feisty game in the neutral zone and comfort playing a physical game, and he could work his way up to a middle six role down the road.

13 Blake Speers, RW (67^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 6^th) Blake Speers has been somewhat of a frustrating prospect to track, as he has all of the tools you want to see. He is a very good skater, who gets to a fine top speed, with quick acceleration. He can flash a hard wrist shot that allowed to score a respectable 12 goals as an AHL rookie last year after he was a goal-scoring threat throughout his OHL career. He is not especially big, but is built solid. On the down side, while it is still early in his career and he can certainly change our minds going forward, he struggled with reads and decision making, preventing him from getting full bang for the buck on his tools. He has a fine motor and hustles, showing a promising work ethic, but the onus is on him, like many others in this system, to take his game to the next level.

14 Michael Kapla, D (UDFA: Mar 28, 2017. Last Year: 18^th) Turning 24 before the start of the coming season, Kapla, now only one year into his professional career, plays a mature, yet limited game from the blueline. The limitations are largely the result of not having a game heavy on skill. He is not slow, but nor is he exceptionally mobile. He can man the point at the AHL level, but lacks the vision or howitzer to project to that role in the NHL. He is somewhat broad around the shoulders, but he does not play a physical game. If the former UMass-Lowell captain will make more of an NHL impact than the five game bonus trial he received after signing as a free agent, it will be on the strength of his versatility, in the sense that he can be used in any situation, and his poise with the puck. He will not thrill the crowd, but he will also not be the cause of their displeasure either.

15 Jeremy Davies, D (192^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) Drafted as a seventh round flyer in his second year of eligibility after putting up some good numbers for a moribund Bloomington team in the USHL, Davies is proving himself to be a scouting find after two strong to very strong seasons manning the point for NCAA offensive powerhouse Northeastern. He finished second in blueline scoring as a freshman and led all NE defensemen in points by a wide margin as a sophomore. He is not a very toolsy player, which forces us to be cautious in projecting his future, but he handles the puck quite well and demonstrates the hockey smarts needed on the back end. He even plays strong despite being undersized. Another season like the last may force the Devils to try to pry him away from school before graduation.

Marian Studenic

16 Marian Studenic, RW (143^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 15^th) While he has never broken out as an offensive force, notably being shut out for two straight years in the WJC for his native Slovakia, the former fifth round pick still demonstrates a well-rounded game that suggests a potential bottom six future awaits. He is a strong skater, with good size, if not a physical game. He can play up and down the lineup thanks to his hustle and has a lot of experience as a penalty killer. The reason for his moderate offensive impact is largely down to a lack of creativity or vision with the puck. He has a quick shot which he can hesitate with the release to add an element of trickery, but he is largely a two way, North-South player.

17 Brandon Gignac, C (80^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14^th) Being limited to only 21 games, in which he put up only three points, clearly qualifies Gignac’s rookie pro season as a severe disappointment. Injuries can do that. Considering the year as a practical write-off, we will instead use this space to serve as a reminder of why the Devils saw fit to use a third round pick on him two years ago. He is small, undersized and lacking in functional strength. Of course those factors did not convince New Jersey to draft him that high, but we can state with confidence that they kept him from going higher. What Gignac still can do, and why the Devils are still believers is primarily his incredible top gear. He has just enough puck skills to be a real threat on a breakaway. He also shows good vision and has a history of creating respectable secondary offense. Now let’s see what he can do with a full, healthy season in the AHL.

18 Cam Johnson, G (UDFA: Mar. 24 2018. Last Year: IE) Unheralded to a large extent in his first draft season, playing for Little Caeser’s U18, Johnson earned his way a role in the USH over the next two seasons as a walk-on. Good enough to graduate to a role with a big time collegiate program in North Dakota, he went from a barely used freshman (two games) to a surprise starter as a sophomore, leading his team to an NCAA championship. A bit undersized by modern standards, Johnson is fairly athletic and calm under duress. He is confident with the puck, although his technique is raw – particularly his footwork - and he is prone to surrendering juicy rebounds. He could never re-capture the success of his sophomore season, but his body of work was enough to convince New Jersey to offer him a contract and replace for free agent signing Kenny Appleby on the depth chart.

19 Mitchell Hoelscher, C (172^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Another player on this list with underwhelming numbers in the OHL, Hoelscher at least can fall back on the reasoning that he joined the league relatively late, getting in only six games with the Ottawa 67s before his draft year began. Joining a mediocre team in transition did not help his numbers play up either. To his credit, he has a fine enough collection of tools to suggest that there is more in his near future, even though he was not a top scorer in his pre-OHL days either. He gets up to a fine top speed. He plays a fine physical game despite lacking in size or stature. He also plays with maturity, suggestive of comfort playing down the lineup as needed.

20 Yegor Zaitsev, D (205^th overall, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) If these grades only focused on skills, Zaitsev may not have made the cut. His point shot is sub-par and his mobility and ability to move the puck are average at best. He is small and lacks much of a physical presence, as well. But we talk about him because he has legitimate shut down defender qualities. He is very good positionally in his own zone, uses his stick very well to cut into gaps, even if he does not close them down with the body. He does a smart job of moving rushers to the outside and removing danger. If you needed any proof of his ability to play above his tools, consider that Russian legacy team Dynamo Moscow had him playing in the KHL in his age 18 season.

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Brock Otten — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:51:07 +0000

The 2018 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off this week after the regular season wrapped up this past weekend. Heading into the playoffs, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are the clear favorites to come out of the OHL and represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Regina. They have spent the vast majority of the season as the top ranked team in the CHL, one of only two teams to chart the entire season (along with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL). But competition is always fierce and there are no sure bets in the OHL. Let us now take a look at each first round match-up.

Eastern Conference

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

Season Series: Hamilton leads 5-0

Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: The Conference Champion Bulldogs face off against the 67’s after the Steelheads won on the final Sunday, securing the number 7 seed. Hamilton has been the cream of the crop of the Eastern Conference for the vast majority of the season. They have been extremely active in trades this year to give them the best chance of coming out of the East. The Bulldogs added Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Riley Stillman (Florida), Nic Caamano (Dallas), Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen (Toronto) to an already stacked lineup, giving Ottawa an extremely daunting challenge in round one. This team rolls three powerhouse offensive lines with Matthew Strome (Philadelphia), Will Bitten (Montreal), Mackenzie Entwistle (Arizona), Marian Studenic (New Jersey), and Brandon Saigeon being other top options. Forward Arthur Kaliyev (2019) is another name to watch. He is the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the OHL since Alex Galchenyuk and he is a potential lottery pick next year as a power winger. In net, the Bulldogs boast one of the OHL’s most improved players this year in Kaden Fulcher (Detroit).

Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ottawa, on the other hand, is a very young team. In a few years’ time, they could be Memorial Cup contenders. They could have five players drafted in the first three rounds this year (Kody Clark, Mitchell Hoelscher, Merrick Rippon, Kevin Bahl, and Carter Robertson). Offensively, they are paced by Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose), Travis Barron (Colorado), Austen Keating (2018) and Tye Felhaber. Chmelevski was a much hyped prospect who fell hard at last year’s draft (all the way to the 6th), but he has returned much stronger this season. His play away from the puck has greatly improved and it has taken his game to another level. But for all their talent offensively, the 67’s have had a very difficult time keeping the puck out of their own net this year. Overager Olivier Tremblay has not provided the stability that the team had hoped for when they brought him in early this year.

This one has all the makings of a quick series. This Ottawa team, as talented as they are young, is not yet ready for this type of challenge. The Bulldogs are one of the deepest teams in the OHL and their offensive firepower is likely to overwhelm an inexperienced defense and inconsistent netminder. One particular thing worth watching is the 67’s struggling penalty kill going up against one of the league’s best powerplay units from Hamilton. This has to be troubling for Ottawa because they also happen to be one of the league’s most undisciplined teams. And while Ottawa does have some great young offensive talent, the Bulldogs have one of the oldest defensive units in the league and are likely to limit the offensive chances of the 67’s. I look for Robert Thomas to have a big series here (and a big playoff performance overall). His points per game has taken a big dip since joining the Bulldogs, but I think he explodes this postseason.

Prediction: This Hamilton team is just too experienced and too talented for the 67’s. They have the advantage in nearly every area and should dominate. If Ottawa was getting better goaltending, I would say that they might be able to steal a game or two, but I do not even see that happening. Hamilton in 4.

#2 - Barrie Colts vs. #7 - Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: Mississauga leads 4-2

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: If I was a betting man, I would bet that this is the match-up that Barrie wanted to avoid in the opening round. In fact, it was probably the match-up every team wanted to avoid in the first round. Mississauga has underachieved all season long, but they have shown some signs of finally coming to life the last month or so. Offensive talent is not to be questioned. Their first two lines include names like Michael McLeod (New Jersey), Ryan McLeod (2018), Owen Tippett (Florida), Trent Fox, Albert Michnac (2018), and Mathieu Foget. This group of six matches up well against any top six in the Eastern Conference and it helps to explain why the Steelheads are the third highest scoring team in the Conference. And this excludes their leading scorer, defenseman Nic Hague (Vegas), who was the first OHL defender to score 30+ since Allan Rourke. But keeping the puck out has been a challenge at times. Swedish import and defensive stalwart Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles) has been injured and that has really challenged their younger defensive players to play more minutes than they are ready for. Furthermore, young netminder Jacob Ingham (2018) has had an awful sophomore season that has seen him essentially lose the starting job to Emanuel Vella.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This is potentially trouble because Barrie is the highest scoring team in the Conference and the 3rd highest scoring in the OHL. Their first line of Andrei Svechnikov (2018), Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa), and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota) has been absolutely shredding teams of late. The supporting offensive cast includes guys like Ryan Suzuki (2019), Jason Willms (2018), and Zach Magwood who work extremely hard in all three zones and bring energy that exhausts the opposition so that the first line can go to work. The Colts do not have any stars on the blueline, but they are a tight knit unit who work well with Barrie’s forwards to play a terrific team defense. In net, overager Leo Lazerev starts and while he does not necessarily win any games outright for the Colts, he is a mostly reliable presence. It should be noted that he has yet to win an OHL playoff series in his career and probably goes into this match-up with just as many question marks as Mississauga’s tenders.

There is no question that this is not your average #2 versus #7 seed match-up. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Mississauga largely dominated the season series, winning all three games in the new year by a combined score of 18-10. For whatever reason, the speed of Mississauga’s forwards gives the defense of Barrie a tough time and Lazerev has an .840 save percentage against the Fish this season. This is complicated even more by the fact that Andrei Svechnikov has been suspended for the first four games of the series for a head check. But I admit, I have a tough time picking Mississauga to win this series. I do not trust their defense to be able to handle Barrie’s depth up front. And if these games go to an offensive shootout like they did in the regular season, I think Barrie ends up coming out on top this time. Mississauga’s Mathieu Foget has also been suspended for the first four games of the series and his loss might actually be felt more because of Mississauga’s lack of depth. His acquisition really triggered the turnaround for the team. Barrie also needs to stay out of the box. In the regular season, they gave Mississauga almost double the amount of powerplays that they received and it cost them dearly with the Steelheads clicking at over 30% with the man advantage. If they can stay out of the box, and Lazerev can make a few saves, I still like Barrie to come out on top.

Prediction: The result of this series would not surprise me either way, even with the difference in seeding. But depth is critical in the playoffs and Barrie has the advantage there. I am excited to see how the Svechnikov/Luchuk/Sokolov unit handles the pressure of the playoffs. Svechnikov, in particular, can really cement himself as the #2 prospect available in the draft with a strong postseason performance once he returns from suspension (as long as Barrie does not get swept). Barrie in 7.

#3 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. #6 - North Bay Battalion

Season Series: Kingston leads 3-1

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: This is an intriguing match-up because of how differently these two teams approached the OHL season. Kingston brought in Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), Cliff Pu (Buffalo), Sean Day (New York Rangers), and Mitchell Byrne at the deadline to bolster an already solid line-up and make them contenders to come out of the East. While they failed to secure a division banner, the results post deadline have been mostly extremely positive. A healthy and re-invigorated Vilardi has provided the biggest boost, as his 1.87 points per game in Kingston is second to only Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis) in the OHL. His strength, on and off the puck, makes him a dominant force in all three zones and the type of player who works to tire and grind out opposing defenses.

Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson /OHL Images,

The North Bay Battalion were sellers at the deadline this year, shipping out veterans Cam Dineen (Arizona), and Brett McKenzie (Vancouver). Those moves only worked to light a fire under the Battalion roster and the team actually improved their record in the New Year thanks to the play of new acquisitions Matthew Struthers (2018), and Jake Henderson, as well as veterans Justin Brazeau (2018), and Adam Thilander (2018). Brazeau, in particular, is a player to watch. The 6-5” winger finished just inside the Top 20 of league scoring and was named as the East’s most underrated player in the recent coaches poll that was released.

If we are measuring up these two teams, we need to give the edge to Kingston in nearly every area. The Fronts lead the season series 3-1, winning the three most recent games (February on). The biggest advantage Kingston has is in net with Jeremy Helvig (Carolina) manning the crease. The overager and veteran netminder has 19 OHL playoff games under his belt and is unquestionably one of the league’s top netminders. Meanwhile, the Battalion will rely on either Christian Propp (2018) or Julian Sime, who have a combined zero OHL playoff appearances. Kingston also has a heavy advantage on special teams, with their powerplay and penalty killing units operating at a higher level. With Robertson and Vilardi operating down low on the powerplay, North Bay is going to need to stay out of the box to have any chance in this series. One wild card to keep an eye on is the health of Max Jones. Jones has been out since the end of January after undergoing surgery on a broken finger. It is likely he returns at some point in these playoffs and he can be a major x-factor.

Prediction: Ultimately, Kingston’s experience and leadership should carry them to a relatively easy victory in this match-up. Gabe Vilardi and Sean Day won a Memorial Cup together last year. Mitchell Byrne won an OHL Championship last year. And Cliff Pu and Max Jones won an OHL Title and Memorial Cup in 2016. Kingston in 5.

#4 - Niagara IceDogs vs. #5 - Oshawa Generals

Season Series: Tied at 1 game apiece

Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: Two teams that do not see a ton of each other match-up in round one. Niagara and Oshawa also happen to be two of the hotter teams in the OHL heading into the playoffs. The IceDogs are a team that rely on speed and energy to play an up tempo and offensively oriented style of game. They get after it on the forecheck and have a powerplay that has been much improved since the acquisition of overager Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh) from London. On top of Miletic, Niagara has a trio of offensive weapons that they rely on in Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Akil Thomas (2018), and Ben Jones (Vegas).

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Oshawa, on the other hand, prefers to slow things down and grind it out in the offensive end. Their fearless leader is Jack Studnicka (Boston), an excellent two-way center who makes an impact in so many different ways. A pair of first time draft eligible forwards support Studnicka; Serron Noel (2018), and Allan McShane (2018). Defenseman Matt Brassard (Vancouver) is also critical to their offensive success. He was one of the highest scoring defenders in the league in the second half and finished the year 7th in defensive scoring.

If we are truly comparing these two teams, it is difficult to determine who has a clear advantage. In goal, the nod should be given to Oshawa and their starter Kyle Keyser (Boston). Keyser has been a stable presence in net this year, definitely more so than Stephen Dhillon who has struggled for Niagara this year, or the inexperienced Colton Incze. Up front, I give the slight edge to Niagara because of their explosiveness and depth. On defense, the two teams boast slightly inexperienced units who are mobile, but can be mistake prone. Ultimately, I see two things possibly tipping the favor in Niagara’s direction. The first is special teams play. As mentioned, Niagara’s powerplay has been performing at a high level lately and Oshawa has one of the league’s worst penalty killing units. The second is home ice advantage, which Niagara owns after finishing the regular season on a 7 game winning streak.

Prediction: With home ice advantage, better special teams play, and a slightly more explosive offense, I like Niagara to win this series. Their goaltending concerns me slightly, but between Dhillon or Incze, they should be able to make enough big saves to at least get the IceDogs into the second round. But this one will be close. Niagara in 7.

Western Conference

#1 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #8 - Saginaw Spirit

Season Series: SSM leads 7-1

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson

Analysis: The juggernaut Greyhounds kick off their Memorial Cup push against the Saginaw Spirit, whose five game losing streak to end the season forced them down the standings and into this first round match-up. Sault Ste. Marie has nine NHL draft picks on their roster and two more potential first rounders for 2018. Up front, Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay), Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay), Jack Kopacka (Anaheim), Tim Gettinger (New York Rangers), Barrett Hayton (2018), and the underrated Hayden Verbeek pace the attack. But the real star is OHL 2nd leading scorer Morgan Frost (Philadelphia), one of the breakout stars of this season. On the backend, the Hounds are equally strong, led by Conor Timmins (Colorado), and Rasmus Sandin (2018). Neither seem to make a mistake with the puck and both are just as good in their own end as they are offensively. In net, Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) has been a steady presence who makes the saves when he needs to.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Saginaw’s strength actually starts in net where overager Evan Cormier (New Jersey) keeps the Spirit in a lot of games that they do not deserve to be in. This is important because the Spirit struggle to score goals. They were only one of three teams in the OHL to not score 200 goals on the season and the other two finished dead last in their conferences (Flint and Sudbury). Furthermore, their powerplay was a league worst 14.7%. There is definitely some offensive talent on this team, but the team’s best days are ahead of them as guys like Blade Jenkins (2018), Nicholas Porco (2019), Ryan Stepien (2020), Aidan Prueter (2020), and Damien Giroux (2018) gain experience. In fact, the team’s only NHL drafted forward, Brady Gilmour (Detroit) finished 9th in team scoring.

In all honesty, this series should not be close and is not likely to be close. The Spirit have a talented young roster, but they are not currently an equal to the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie has the advantage in nearly every area except maybe goaltending. Even then, Evan Cormier can only do so much. Heck, we might see the Greyhounds score more shorthanded goals than the Spirit score powerplay goals in the series.

Prediction: I want to say that Evan Cormier can do enough to steal a game for the Spirit in this series, but I cannot even see the Spirit winning a game. The Greyhounds are just too strong. SSM in 4.

#2 - Kitchener Rangers vs. #7 - Guelph Storm

Season Series: Kitchener leads 5-3

Logan Brown of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: This is an interesting first round match-up between two teams that did not end the regular season the way they wanted to. Kitchener, a strong team all season, struggled down the stretch, although managed to hang on to their Division crown. Meanwhile, the Guelph Storm were one of the league’s worst teams in the last few months that saw them lose their grip on the #6 spot in the West. Kitchener loaded up at the deadline by bringing in Logan Brown (Ottawa), Givani Smith (Detroit), Mario Culina, and Austin McEneny. I think it would be fair to say that Kitchener is still waiting to see the best out of three of those four, with Culina playing well so far as a starter. It has been the guys around all season like Adam Mascherin (Florida), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Joseph Gareffa, Logan Stanley (Winnipeg), and Riley Damiani (2018) that have been driving the team’s success. Moving into the playoffs, it will be about whether the newer faces can finally find chemistry or not. The health of defensive stalwart Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) could also impact the series.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Guelph, as mentioned, has also struggled down the stretch, especially when it comes to preventing goals. Goaltender Anthony Popovich (2018) appeared to tire of late after seeing a huge jump in workload this season. The defensive group, led by Ryan Merkley (2018), and Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton) also struggled, to the point where Merkley was a healthy scratch at times down the stretch. The Storm do have a hard working forward group who is capable of icing multiple scoring lines. The offensive leaders are unquestionably Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia) and Cam Hillis (2018), who along with Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis) form a quality first line.

Looking at this series a little more under the microscope, it is probably closer than people are making it out to be. The special teams match-up pretty well. Neither team has a dominant goaltender that one would qualify as a game-changer (no offense meant to Culina or Popovich). Both teams struggled down the stretch with team chemistry issues. The tipping point for me is experience. The Rangers have the clear advantage there, especially on the defensive end. Guys like Logan Stanley and Austin McEneny, who won a Memorial Cup together with Windsor last year, should really help to stabilize things, even without Connor Hall. I also look for longtime Rangers like Mascherin or Connor Bunnaman (Philadelphia) to really step up offensively to get this team over the first round hump.

Prediction: As mentioned, I feel like Kitchener’s experience advantage will help them come out on top in this series. I also feel that they have a much better team defense approach that likely plays out better for success in the playoffs. Guelph has talent, but they play a very high risk game that, without a ton of playoff experience, could be their undoing. It will be close, but Kitchener in 6.

#3 - Sarnia Sting vs. #6 - Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: Sarnia leads 5-1

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

Analysis: No offense meant to the rest of the Windsor Spitfires, but this match-up is about two things. The Sarnia offense (2nd best in the OHL) versus the goaltending of Michael DiPietro (Vancouver). The dynamic DiPietro is one of the few goaltenders in the OHL who is capable of stealing a series victory for his team. The Spitfires rebuilt, dealing off the majority of their veterans held over from their Memorial Cup victory last year, but decided to hang on to their star netminder for this reason. They battle hard in the offensive end behind the likes of Curtis Douglas (2018), Cole Purboo (2018), Cody Morgan (2019), Luke Boka, and Matthew MacDougall (2018). And they play smart in their own end thanks to Connor Corcoran (2018), Nathan Staios (2019), Grayson Ladd (2019), and Zach Shankar. But this team has zero NHL drafted players outside of DiPietro and are incredibly inexperienced.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Sting, conversely, were one of the biggest buyers throughout this OHL season, bringing in talented veterans like Cam Dineen (Arizona), Jonathan Ang (Florida), and Michael Pezzetta (Montreal). The lifeblood of the team is Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), the league’s leader in points per game this year and possibly the best offensive player in the OHL. He is currently zero for three in first round appearances and is likely to do everything in his power to finally reach the second round (and beyond). You could likely argue that overager Justin Fazio is the team’s second most important player in the series, especially considering that he has to match-up against DiPietro. The margin for error is slim.

One of Sarnia’s biggest strengths is on the powerplay where Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka (Calgary), and Drake Rymsha (Los Angeles) have a combined 34 powerplay goals this year. Problem is, Windsor takes among the least amount of penalties in the OHL so as long as Windsor can continue to stay out of the box, Sarnia is going to need to beat DiPietro 5 on 5. The question I have is, how will Windsor manage to score goals, at least enough goals to win this 7 game series? It will not be with the man advantage either (likely) as the Sting have the league’s top penalty killing unit. I am slightly worried about Sarnia’s inexperienced defense though, but that concern is more directed towards round two or three (if the Sting advance that far). Sarnia will need big guys like Ruzicka, Pezzetta, Jordan Ernst, and Hugo Leufvenius (2018) to crowd DiPietro’s space as much as possible and really make him uncomfortable. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Windsor fans can tell you, sometimes the best way to beat Michael DiPietro is through sheer luck and bad bounces.

Prediction: As much as I want to predict a Windsor victory, I do not see it in the cards. DiPietro will steal a few games and he will make Sarnia sweat. But the offensive firepower of Sarnia, combined with the inexperience of Windsor’s defense is likely to give the Sting too many scoring chances for the Spitfires’ star netminder to handle. Sarnia in 6.

#4 - Owen Sound Attack vs. #5 - London Knights

Season Series: London leads 4-2

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Analysis: As is usually the case, the 4/5 matchup in the Western Conference looks to be the closest match-up of the first round, and subsequently the most difficult to prognosticate. London traded off the vast majority of their big guns to retool to fight another day. Instead, the team played inspired hockey down the stretch led by a host of younger players eager to make their mark. When talking about London, we have to start with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2018), the lifeblood of the Knights. His 87 points are the highest by a blueliner since Ryan Ellis hit the 100 point mark in 2011. The speedy Alex Formenton (Ottawa) is also playing the best hockey of his OHL career thus far with 12 goals in 14 games to close out the regular season. And you cannot talk about London without mentioning how good the “kid” line of Liam Foudy (2018), Billy Moskal (2018), and Nathan Dunkley (2018) has been since the trade deadline. This trio was challenged to step up their games with increased ice time and they all responded accordingly.

Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Sound, on the other hand, was expected to be one of the top teams in the OHL this year but struggled to keep their star players healthy all year and subsequently struggled to perform consistently. That is, until the last few months when they have been, arguably, the OHL’s best. This team is scary good when healthy and they are now finally healthy. They roll three outstanding scoring lines, including a top unit of Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver), Kevin Hancock (2018), and Nick Suzuki (Vegas) that has been one of the OHL’s best over the last two seasons. They also have one of the OHL’s top offensive blueliners in Sean Durzi (2018), who if he did not get injured, likely could have challenged Bouchard for the defenceman scoring title. It is in net where Owen Sound has struggled this season as Olivier Lafreniere and Mack Guzda (2019) have battled to find consistency. No question, Owen Sound has to have their offense rolling to win because they are not going to win many 2-1 games.

So who has the advantage going into this match-up? Experience wise, the nod has to be given to Owen Sound...and by a wide margin. The Attack are returning the vast majority of a roster that lost in the Conference finals last season. The Knights are an extremely well coached team, but they are relying on a lot of rookies and sophomores in key roles and that can often prove to be a recipe for disaster in the postseason. The deciding factor in this series probably comes down to the goaltending. So long as Owen Sound can get at least adequate goaltending from one of Lafreniere or Guzda, they should win this series. But if their goaltending struggles and team is forced to constantly play catch-up, the series tips in London’s favor, a team with nothing to lose.

Prediction: I have to give the nod to Owen Sound here because now that they are fully healthy, they look like a tough team to stop. This is especially true for a team as inexperienced as London; even if they are extremely talented. The Attack can get the saves they need to win this one, even if London pushes them and makes them sweat. Owen Sound in 6

OHL Finals Prediction

When the field is finally narrowed down to two teams who battle it out for OHL supremacy, I expect those two teams to be the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

From the East I like Kingston for a couple reasons. The first is experience. As I already alluded to, they have a lot of players on that roster who have already won a Memorial Cup or OHL Championship (or both). That type of leadership goes a long way in the playoffs. The second is special teams play. The great Scotty Bowman always said combined special teams play was a great indicator of postseason success. Well the Fronts have the best powerplay in the league and the second best penalty kill. The third is goaltending. Jeremy Helvig is a veteran netminder who is about as consistent as they come. I have a ton of confidence in his ability to make saves when he needs to.

From the West, I like the Soo Greyhounds as they have looked about as dominant as anyone in the OHL has over the last few years. Their 116 points is the most since Barrie put up 116 in 2010. This team has it all. Special teams success. Good goaltending. Speed. Physicality. But most of all...depth. Drew Bannister’s players rarely seem to take a shift off and they rarely make mistakes with the puck. That composure at both ends of the ice makes them the favorite.

For the OHL Title, I am taking the Soo Greyhounds to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since they won back to back championships in the early 90ś.

2018 WJC in Review: Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark and Belarus

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:04:57 +0000

They came in with low expectations, and with one quasi-exception, they met those expectations marvelously. Between these four nations, there are four WJC medals throughout the history of the tournament. Switzerland, led from the back by netminder David Aebischer, took the bronze in 1998, after two consecutive years of being saved in relegation. Slovakia took home the bronze in 1999 and again in 2015. The former team had Ladislav Nagy and Marian Gaborik, while the latter unit was led by Habs forgotten prospect Martin Reway, and the goalie stylings of Denis Godla.

Although Slovakia actually played respectably throughout this year’s tournament, the other three were clearly the bottom feeders of the event and as a quartet, they made up the bottom two slots in both groupings.

Slovakia

After being predictably destroyed by Canada in the opener, Slovakia engineered the upset of the tournament, defeating the host American squad 3-2, on the back of a brilliant individual effort from Samuel Bucek.

The team, largely consisting of members of the domestic Slovakia U20 team, which plays in the Slovakian men’s league, played solid defensively through the two weeks, surrendering a respectable 14 goals in four matches in the preliminary round, eight in the final three games. The team brought only two drafted players to Buffalo, both forwards, and what held the nation back was that neither really contributed much to their offensive attack. Adam Ruzicka (Calgary) picked up two assists, while occasionally showing the power forward game that has long intrigued scouts, while more often showing the disappearing act that has brought those same scouts endless consternation. Marian Studenic (New Jersey) looked better, showing great flashes of speed, but did not garner a single point in the event, leaving with many questions about his creativity and vision. Outside of Bucek, who would already have been drafted if he were a little faster, the most interesting performance from the Slovakians was from blueliner Martin Bodak, a 19 year old playing with Kootenay of the WHL, who played with respectable hustle and showcased a nice wrist shot from the point, and he scored both Slovakian goals in the quarterfinal loss to Sweden which was not as close as the 3-2 final score. Also of note, netminder Roan Durny left the Team Slovakia U20 domestic league team immediately following the WJC for Des Moines in the USHL. Although slightly undersized by modern standards, his positioning, athleticism and composure could see a team take a flier on him at the draft.

Switzerland

What can we say in fairness about Switzerland? They hung on bravely to defeat Belarus by a 3-2 score in their opener and then never won again, surrendering 26 goals over the final four games. They came to the event with one drafted player on their roster in Washington fourth rounder Tobias Geisser. He is a big bodied defensive defenseman who can get the puck to safety, but not much else. Others may have tuned in to the Swiss games to scout 2018 draft eligible Nando Eggenberger. An 18 year old already in his second full season (more or less) in the NLA, Switzerland’s top men’s league, Nando was a bit of a let-down. He can skate, has a nice, whippy wrist shot and showed the ability to thread a seam to hit a teammate with a difficult pass, but he never did all of that in the same game, much less the same shift. He was one of Switzerland’s more prolific shooters, but he failed to show up on the score sheet at all.

For my money, their best performer was Guillame Maillard, a 19 year old who has been splitting his season between the NLA and the Swiss junior ranks. He tied for the team lead with four points, providing some dirtbag presence, and good puck skills. The runner up was Valentin Nussbaumer, who will not be draft eligible until 2019. He is a very good skater with a mature puck game. It will be interesting to watch to see whether his physical development over the next 18 months impacts his skating prowess as he is currently painfully thin.

Denmark

They were bad. Like, really, really bad. In the four games of the preliminary round, they scored two goals, and never allowed fewer than four. Yes, they beat Belarus twice in the relegation round, but it felt like their performance in the round robin did not deserve such a reprieve – especially after the plucky way the Belarussians played, but more on them in the next section. With 11 members of their roster currently playing in the Danish league, the step up in quality of opposition was simply too much for most of the team.

The Danes can thank their survival in the top flight of U20 hockey to the emergence from slumber of two of their drafted players in the relegation round, Jonas Rondbjerg (Vegas) and Joachim Blichfeld (San Jose). Rondbjerg especially, with a solid 200 foot game, projects as a decent pro within a few years. He should be back next year, along with Red Wings’ prospect Malte Setkov, a towering defender who is exceptionally raw, but has the rough ingredients to be a decent one as well. The best I can say about Denmark in Buffalo is that they got lucky and they will play in Vancouver next year.

Belarus

They deserved better. True, they never won a game, but four of their six losses were by a single goal. They were only truly outclassed in preliminary round games against Sweden and Russia. Their 6-5 loss to the Czech Republic was one of the most captivating games of the tournament.

Their only drafted player, Maxim Sushko (Philadelphia), put up eight points in the event. A heart and soul player, he has speed, good passing ability and a calm approach. KHL player Yegor Sharangovich also impressed with his puck possession game. The leading shot taker on the team, he showed the ability to ebat goalies with both a wrist shot and a one-timed slapper. He will receive consideration at the draft this year. A few other draft eligible players who showed well at the WJC for Belarus include WHL defender Vladislav Yeryomenko, who played very heavy minutes and showed that he could move the puck at a nice clip and generally made solid decisions. Fellow WHL player Igor Martynov played with nice hustle and showed some finishing ability while Viktor Bovbel, who transferred from the Belarussian league to the USHL shortly after Belarus was relegated, proved that he could skate and play a two way game, impacting the flow at both ends. He will be fun to track over the rest of the season with Dubuque.

Replacing Belarus next year in the top level will be Kazakhstan, who came out as champions of this year’s Division I Group A tournament which took place in France, besting Latvia, Germany, France, Austria, and Hungary.

WJC 2018 – Team Preview – Team Slovakia

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:57:39 +0000

COLOGNE, GERMANY - MAY 9: Slovakian bench and fans celebrate after a third period goal against Denmark during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Since the dissolution of the former Czechoslovakia, the newish nation of Slovakia has been able tot establish itself as pretty safely belonging to the second tier of hockey nations, but with only very rare instances, have they threatened the historical upper echelon.

At the under 20 level, they started in 1993 in division C, were easily promoted to Division B and then the top flight in back-to-back years and are now in their 23^rd straight season at the top. That all said, they had to fight off the relegation round nine times (including four in a row and six in seven years between 2005-2011), while only having three opportunities to play for a medal, twice coming away with a bronze.

That most recent bronze, in 2015 provides a good template for success for Slovakia this time around. That team had a few NHL draft picks, including Erik Cernak (LA, since trade to TB), Christian Jaros (Ott), Radovan Bondra (Chi), Peter Cehlarik (Bos), Martin Reway (Mtl), and Matej Paulovic (Dal), but none who were considered to be top tier prospects. Indeed, none of the above have yet to firmly establish themselves as bonafide NHLers. Instead, that team was largely carried by superlative play from their undersized and unheralded netminder, Denis Godla, now playing for KalPa in the Liiga. For this year’s Slovakian squad to challenge for a medal, a similar formula will have to coalesce. They will have to merge as a teamwide shutown squad while finding ways to score just enough to squeak past the more favored nations.

Five to Watch

Michal Ivan, D

Most prospect hounds looking at the Slovakian roster will settle their eyes on the forwards, with a couple of skaters already drafted and two or three more with reasonable to strong chances to join them this June. Neither the defense-corps nor the goalie rotation has a single member who has heard his name called by an NHL team, although Ivan may be a dark-horse to be selected. Selected in the first round of the CHL Import Draft by Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL, he has proven to be a fairly quick study to the North American game. A smooth skater with a strong transition game, he has a promising two-way game as well as some power play utility. His frame is slight, so he relies on positioning and stickwork for most of his defensive plays. He is usually defensively solid, although at this stage of his career, is better off being utilized in a support role, such as his use on the second pairing with the Titan, rather than being given the heavy minutes.

Adam Liska, LW

Selected in the CHL Import Draft just a few picks ahead of Slovakia teammate Ivan, Liska has begun to recover from a slow start with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers to become a regular offensive contributor. Coming off a big performance at the WU18 last year, he shows especially well along the boards, and always visibly gives his all. His draft hopes rest on his play off the puck showing enough to make up for a lack of dynamicism in his feet. He has some stickhandling chops and is willing to play in the rough areas of the ice, but is somewhat slender and can be thrown off his normal game after losing out to a bigger, more powerful opponent. Of course, if his recent offensive exploits turn out to be a new level of play, the rest may not matter as much. For now, Liska is likely to be utilized in a middle six role where he will be best positioned to bring secondary scoring as well as some energy.

Milos Roman, C

Generally thought by many to be Slovakia’s top draft eligible prospect this year, Roman is a somewhat undersized, but offensively dynamic scorer who has a nose for the puck. Drafted sixth overall in the CHL import draft by the moribund Vancouver Giants, his immediate offensive output as a North American rookie has gone a long way to placing his team in the playoff picture after several years on the outside looking in. More of a playmaking pivot than a shooter, he had already spent most of a season playing against men in the Czech Republic’s second division, and featured on Slovakia’s U18 and U20 teams last season, interestingly producing more against the older age group. His success on the smaller ice surfaces of North America suggest that he could provide depth to Slovakia’s attack on the second line, giving a boost to his draft stock. He currently looks like a third or fourth rounder, but there is still plenty of hockey to come before draft day.

TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 31: Slovakia's Adam Ruzicka #20 skates with the puck during preliminary round action against Russia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Adam Ruzicka, C/LW

Without a doubt the highest profile prospect suiting up for Slovakia this year, Ruzicka would have been a first round pick if he played liked he looks. In other words, he looks like a scout’s dream of power forwards come alive, with a 6-4” frame filled with beef. On his good days, he can skate, shoot, handle the puck and crash and bang. He can even demonstrate some instincts for the game. On his bad days, he simply looks disinterested. Last year, he had a few good days at the WU18, but had mostly bad days at the WJC. His rookie season in the OHL was mixed at best. Instead of coming off the board on day one of the draft, he lasted until the middle of the fourth round, when the Flames took what was in essence, a flyer that he irons out his consistency issues over time. This year he has been having many more good days. He has been using his size more often, driving the net with vigor and showcasing his plus shot and playmaking ability far more. Sarnia has been the beneficiary thus far, but if he is truly emerging from his shell, he could orchestrate an upset or two on his own.

Marian Studenic, RW

After a so-so first season in North America with a mediocre Hamilton team, Studenic showed just enough to be drafted in the later rounds, he has taken significant steps forward in his return engagement with the Bulldogs. He has already equalized his offensive output from last season in barely more than half the games played (30 points in 58 games last year, 30 points in 32 games thus far in 2017-18). A hard-working puck possession player, he tends to drive possession for his OHL team, getting the puck into the offensive end. A slick skater he has also improved his play away from the puck and has been given a key penalty killing role to boot. In the offensive end, he is generally more of a supporting contributor than one who can create scoring chances on his own, but Slovakia will likely have to rely on him on their first line. The New Jersey fifth rounder was shut out of the scoresheet at last year’s WJC, so if he is placed up the lineup, he will definitely need to add more to keep his nation in the game.

New Jersey – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:15:27 +0000

Two short years ago, the New Jersey Devils had one of the weaker system in the game. John Quenneville was a decent prospect, and Steve Santini seemed like a sure-fire NHLer, if not a top tier one. All in all, there was very little there before Ray Shero took over as GM on May 4, 2015, blessed with a top ten pick in the upcoming draft.

Although the Devils only had five choices in the 2015 draft, they made the most of them, with Pavel Zacha emerging as their new top prospect and supplementing the system with talented youth such as netminder MacKenzie Blackwood, versatile forward Blake Speers and two-way defenseman Colton White. But a five man draft class can only do so much for any organization.

Shero had more time to implement his plan of beefing up the system in 2016 and with nine more draft picks, did just that. Among those nine players, five rank among their top twenty today and a few more were contenders to sneak on to the list as well. Even with those nine players, though, the Devils system was still middling. After so many years of focusing on the here and now, to diminishing results, left a correspondingly diminished system with few players projecting as top half of roster talents and a paucity of players who could even be expected to contribute in a bottom half manner.

The best talents, other than the aforementioned Zacha and Miles Wood, were still a few years away, and even with the acquisition of former first overall pick Taylor Hall from Edmonton, the Devils were still in a poor place. Sometimes, however, with short term pain, comes long term gain. Some of that pain was literal. Hall missed ten games to injury. Mike Cammalleri missed 20 due to various causes. Star netminder Corey Schneider battled leg injuries in the second half. Without exaggeration, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, and Adam Henrique were the only regulars not to miss significant action on the season. After March began, the Devils could only pick up seven points in the standings in 20 games.

As for the gain, their late tumble down the standings dropped them to 27th in the league standings. And wouldn’t you know it, but that slot lined up perfectly with the bouncing balls of the draft lottery. For the first time ever, the Devils would have the first overall pick. As much as some pundits moaned about the lack of top end talent in this year’s class, there was still talent a-plenty and the Devils would have their way with it.

After selecting the dynamic Nico Hischier first overall, the Devils had ten more opportunities to man their man. In addition to quantity, the Devils got a ton of quality. In the top twenty list to follow, fully seven players were products of their most recent draft class, a class that should mark the transition of this team from tear down, to re-build.

Nico Hischier

1 Nico Hischier – Although we ranked him second among draft prospects this year, we still expected the Devils to draft Hischier, a dynamic player who fits the Ray Shero approach of extreme talent. On any given night, he can display near elite skating, shooting ability or puck-handling skills. Sometimes all three. What cements his place in the Devils lineup right away is his unflagging commitment to the play away from the puck as well. He can be trusted in all zones, in all situations. A superstar to build around.

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

2 Michael McLeod – McLeod got off to an unexplained slow start this year in Mississauga, after threatening to go straight to the NHL as the 12th overall pick in 2016. As the year moved on, he picked things up, although his inclusion in Canada’s WJC entry may have been based on reputation and tools over production. He has tremendous speed, decent hands and plays a high IQ game. By the OHL playoffs, McLeod was back to being the dominant player the Devils drafted.

3 John Quenneville - A somewhat unexpected first rounder, Quenneville started his professional career as the best player for AHL Albany, leading the team in scoring by seven points despite only playing in 58 games. He is very effective on the cycle, and loves shooting the puck. While not usually flashy, he has some highlight reel tricks up his sleeve. A versatile forward who can play both center or on the wing, he might be ready for a full time NHL job after a briefer debut last year.

4 Jesper Boqvist – The Devils second round pick this year, Boqvist split his year fairly evenly between Swedish junior and the top two men’s leagues. He was effective at all three. He has standout quickness, with matching agility and demonstrates excellent puck movement abilities even at high speed. A creative play driver, he needs more time to develop in a consistent system before reaching his potential. Should be a front-runner to make the Swedish WJC squad.

5 Will Butcher – The 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner, Butcher opted not to sign with Colorado, which drafted him in 2013. Short, but stocky, he has very advanced puck moving skills. A good skater with soft hands, he is a clear danger from the point, able to both whip in a strong wrist shot, or walk the line until a better passing option opens up. Positioning and anticipation make up for his relative dearth of a physical game. Likely to step right into the NHL on the third pairing.

6 Blake Speers – Although the Devils have a few prospects in the system with higher offensive upside, Speers has a high end combination of speed and hockey IQ that ensure he will not be overlooked. A strong performance with the Silver medal winning Team Canada WJC team gave a preview of how Speers’ career should play out. A versatile bottom six forward who can handle tough shifts and shorthanded situations.

Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

7 MacKenzie Blackwood – Although his professional career did not get off to the same dominant start with which he began his OHL career, there is still an awful lot to like about Blackwood’s future projections. He has a huge frame that covers a lot of net, with he combines with above-average athleticism, and play-reading ability. With Schneider in complete control with the Devils, there is no rush but Blackwood needs to improve his game-to-game consistency before taking the next step.

8 Nikita Popugaev – In many ways the inverse of the above-listed forwards, Popugaev has incredible size and a pretty full toolbox, but he has never put it all together over a full season. His production fell off the map after a mid-season trade from mid-market Moose Jaw to prime Prince George. He may have been a first rounder without the nearly half-season long slump. He has a high end shot, but plays largely a perimeter game, which largely negates his size advantages.

9 Joey Anderson – USNTDP alumnus Anderson has always excelled as a support player for more talented teammates, a trait that followed him from the hothouse program, through a stint with the American WJC championship team and through his freshman season with Minnesota-Duluth, where he came one game away from a second title. A stocky player who plays a power, puck digger game, he has solid puck skills, but knows his role as a supporting mule and plays it well.

10 Reilly Walsh – A dynamic blueliner who fell a bit under the radar in his draft year flitting back and forth between Chicago in the USHL and Proctor Academy in the New England prep ranks. A Harvard commit, he missed all of Chicago’s championship run in order to graduate. Somewhat undersized, Walsh makes up for it with plus speed, and aggressive defending, particularly with how he uses his stick to break up plays. Similarly aggressive with the puck on his stick, he is one to follow with the Crimson.

11 Aarne Talvitie – The Devils drafting Talvitie in the sixth round this year qualifies as one of the best value picks in the entire 2017 draft class. The captain of Finland’s Silver medal winning WU18 entry, his best features are his big, hard wrist shot, his competitive style and his ability to read the play in all situations. Looking to attend Penn State, he is expected to come to North America this year to play for Sioux Falls in the USHL.

12 Yegor Rykov – Although his first full season in the KHL was at times underwhelming, Rykov’s performance against his peers in the WJC for Team Russia should have the Devils pleased with the development of their 2016 5th round pick. He has a booming slapshot and impressive puck moving ability. He could be more mobile and he will need to show more consistent league play in a return engagement with SKA St. Petersburg, but with two more years on his KHL contract, he has time.

13 Nathan Bastian – Like Nikita Popugaev, but with fewer and duller tools. Bastian is very big, has a strong understanding of the game, and has an understated skill set. His lack of production, even while playing often on a line with Michael McLeod, raises questions, as does his subpar skating. Expected to move up to the AHL this year, he will need to prove that he can produce on his own to avoid being consigned to a bottom line projection.

14 Brandon Gignac – A moderate offensive threat, Gignac likewise carries with him a moderate skill set, featuring above average skating ability, puck skills and an impressive hockey IQ. He can reach an extra gear and looks dangerous shooting from the half-wall. He is undersized and generally not a very aggressive player, but he generally earns strong reviews for his play in his own zone.

15 Marian Studenic – A projection pick in the fifth round this year, Studenic was inconsistent, but promising in his first season in North America with Hamilton of the OHL. He has a strong shot and should be able to increase his goal scoring output with additional experience, but his play away from the puck was disappointing and he was practically a non-entity for Slovakia at the WU18 tournament.

16 Fabian Zetterlund – A solid scorer for Farjestad’s junior team and one of Sweden’s top contributor’s for their WU18 squad, Zetterlund is a creative offensive driver, but suffers due to a skating deficiency. With a little more zip to his stride, he could project as a solid middle six winger down the line, but this is something he will need to see improve to get there. To his credit, he has some agility at least, and plays a ragged style, willing to take a hit to make a play.

17 Colton White – A solid mid-round pick, White has been a steady contributor for four season with Sault Ste. Marie. He combines above average skating and puck moving ability with impressive play defending his own zone. His OHL play seems to have plateaued over his last two seasons, leading to fears that he may have regressed. He will be tested in the AHL, but it is too early to assume he cannot be a solid #5 down the road.

18 Michael Kapla – A second team All-American as a senior at UMass-Lowell, Kapla, who captained the squad for each of his final two seasons is an intelligent defender with plus acceleration. He is willing to take a hit to make a play, although he is not a physical force. He specializes in pushing forward the transition. Although he is in contention for one of the final blueline spots in New Jersey this year, a year or so developing in Binghamton is the wiser play.

19 Yaroslav Dyblenko – Never a big offensive producer over four plus seasons in the KHL, the Devils signed Dyblenko to a two-year entry level contract this offseason with the expectation that he will compete for a spot on the NHL blueline. He is roughly average with or without the puck, but should be able to bring plus physicality to the ice, as he had a reputation as a big hitter in Russia.

20 Viktor Loov – Loov is a similar style player to Dyblenko. His skating is flawed, without being slow, his puck play is fairly basic and he has never been a big producer at any level. On the other hand, he hits people and hits people and hits people. And the hits are very hard. His near-elite physical game can cross the line too often, though and he needs to do a better job of recognizing the limitations to avoid being a liability.

The rise from a bottom feeding system to a top quartile one has been fairly quick for New Jersey, a welcome change after years of neglect to drafting and prospect development. The system is now very forward heavy, as most of the better defenders have lower ceilings and/or are further away from contributing. With a few of the above listed players expected to challenge for NHL jobs right away – improving the team’s on-ice success, the team will have to be more judicious going forward with their draft plans.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Metropolitan Division – New Jersey Devils

Ryan Wagman — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 12:29:28 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favours to regional scouts, among other reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM	PIM (Sv%)
1	1	2-N	2	Nico HISCHIER	C	18	6-1/175	Halifax (QMJHL)	69
2	36	10-E	35	Jesper BOQVIST	C	18	6-0/180	Timra (Swe 2)
2	61	24-N	36	Grant MISMASH	LW	18	6-0/185	USA (NTDP-18)	46
3	63	40-E	hm	Fabian ZETTERLUND	LW	18	5-11/195	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	16
3	81	60-N	78	Reilly WALSH	D	18	5-11/180	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	14
4	98	28-N	43	Nikita POPUGAEV	LW	18	6-6/220	MJ-PG (WHL)
5	129	NR		Gilles SENN	G	21	6-5/195	Davos (Sui)
5	143	101-N	104	Marian STUDENIC	RW	18	6-0/165	Hamilton (OHL)
6	160	58-E	77	Aarne TALVITIE	C	18	5-10/200	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)
7	191	126-N	hm	Jocktan CHAINEY	D	18	6-0/200	Halifax (QMJHL)
7	205	NR		Yegor ZAITSEV	D	19	6-0/180	Dynamo Bsh Balashikha (Rus 2)
7	214	NR		Matt HELLICKSON	D	19	6-0/190	Sioux City (USHL)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	1	Nico HISCHIER	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	57	38	48	86	24
2	36	Jesper BOQVIST	C	Timra (Swe 2)	19	3	9	12	0
2	36			Brynas (Swe)	16	0	6	6	2
2	36			Brynas (Swe Jr)	15	10	5	15	6
2	61	Grant MISMASH	LW	USA (NTDP-18)	65	26	35	61	104
3	63	Fabian ZETTERLUND	LW	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	40	16	20	36	18
3	63			Farjestads (Swe)	14	0	0	0	2
3	81	Reilly WALSH	D	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	30	30	39	69
3	81			Chicago (USHL)	24	2	8	10	12
4	98	Nikita POPUGAEV	LW	MJ-PG (WHL)	71	29	40	69	29
5	129	Gilles SENN	G	Davos (Sui)	34GP			2.64	0.911
5	143	Marian STUDENIC	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	58	18	12	30	23
6	160	Aarne TALVITIE	C	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)	46	13	24	37	36
7	191	Jocktan CHAINEY	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	55	4	20	24	44
7	205	Yegor ZAITSEV	D	Dynamo Bsh Balashikha (Rus 2)	24	2	4	6	44
7	205			Dynamo Moscow (KHL)	19	0	1	1	10
7	205			HC MVD (MHL)	2	0	1	1	4
7	214	Matt HELLICKSON	D	Sioux City (USHL)	52	6	22	28	30

New Jersey Devils – Draft Grade: 65

MONTREAL, CANADA - DECEMBER 27: Switzerland's Nico Hischier #18 leans in for the face-off during preliminary round action against the Czech Republic at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

We have seen drafts with quantity and drafts with quality, but few with both. The New Jersey Devils draft class of 2017 featured the best of both worlds. Of course, anytime you own the first overall pick, you should be assured of receiving quality. As that pick was only the first of 11 players drafted by the Devils last weekend, the quantity is also in the bag. Also, the quality did not stop with Swiss dynamo Nico Hischier, the first Swiss born (although not the first Swiss trained) prospect to lead off the draft. Although we ranked Hischier second in the overall draft rankings, the gap between him and Patrick was small and we had long thought that Hischier is the most likely first overall pick, considering his extremely dynamic set of skills. His puck skills are sublime, he is a plus skater, has superb offensive instincts and does not neglect the defensive side of the game. He is everything you want in a top prospect and the ride to taking over the Devils first line center job should be relatively short.

161029 Brynäs Jesper Boqvist under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan HV71 och Leksand den 29 oktober 2016 i Jönköping.
Foto: Stefan Persson / BILDBYRÅN / Cop 107

Second rounder Jesper Boqvist was another player who some had marked as a potential first round pick, with plus speed and intriguing puck skills. Fourth round pick Nikita Popugaev could be a steal if his late season swoon after being traded from Moose Jaw to Prince George proves to be a one-time thing. He has ideal size and promising offensive skills. Reilly Walsh is another favorite of mine. He split his year between Chicago of the USHL and Proctor Academy, a New Hampshire prep school. The Harvard commit has a very dynamic element to his game and a high-rev motor. He is a joy to watch.

POPRAD, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 15: Finland's Aarne Talvitie #25 races Switzerland's Davyd Barandun #2 for the puck during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Best value: Aarne Talvitie, C, Blues U20 (6/160): A strong two-way player with a plus shot, Talvitie turned heads with a strong performance as the captain of this year’s Finland entry at the WU18 tournament. Like Panthers’ 2016 first rounder Henrik Borgstrom, Talvitie has stuck with the Junior ranks in Finland so as to maintain NCAA eligibility. He will be moving to the US next year to play with Sioux Falls of the USHL before moving on to Penn State.

Biggest head-scratcher: Fabian Zetterlund, C/RW, Farjestad J20 (3/63): Although his numbers at the U20 level in Sweden were respectable, Zetterlund’s subpar skating may prevent his above average shot and puck skills from fully emerging. Not a bad player by any stretch, but from a value perspective, the riskiest made by the Devils.

McKeen’s 2017 NHL Draft Rankings (Subscribers) – Top 125 – May 31st, 2017

Iain Morrell — Wed, 31 May 2017 14:16:51 +0000

MCKEEN'S 2017 NHL DRAFT GUIDE - Learn more here!

Nico Hischier will make National Hockey League history as the first name called in Chicago at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

The New Jersey Devils hold the first overall selection having won the draft lottery, and will be looking at three prospects in particular who have risen to the top of the 2017 draft class.

Switzerland's Nico Hischier #18 leans in for the face-off during preliminary round action against the Czech Republic at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Hischier is a very attractive choice having 'checked all the boxes' during an outstanding North American debut with the Halifax Mooseheads. The native of Naters, Switzerland led all rookie scorers in the QMJHL and finished 10th in league scoring, while delivering strong performances for his country at both the U20 and U18 World Junior Championships (WJC).

A fast and dynamic skater with high-end puck skills, Hischier distinguished himself for his two-way diligence and his ability to contribute in every area of the ice and - by extension - the game. He possesses a high hockey IQ and is a very creative player combining both structure and innovation.

It will be an agonizing decision if New Jersey opts to pass on Hischier in favour of the other prime attraction - Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Winnipeg native entered the 2016-17 season as the consensus top choice after a standout season in which he tied for the league playoff scoring lead with 30 points in 21 games (13-17-30) and earned WHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Photo by Tim Smith/Brandon Sun

Patrick was injured during that playoff run however and underwent sports hernia surgery last July. His groin/abdominal problems would re-surface after playing in Brandon's opening five games, and sideline him for 34 games and force him to miss the U20 WJC.

Returning in January, Patrick still managed to finish fifth on the Wheat Kings in scoring with 20 goals and 46 points despite playing in just 33 games.

However he suffered another health setback late in the regular season - an unspecified upper-body injury - and missed the WHL playoffs.

Nolan Patrick would be the first Manitoban selected first overall in the NHL draft - with Nico Hischier set to become the first-ever Swiss-born player.

A third option emerged for New Jersey this spring at the U18 WJC where defenceman Miro Heiskanen turned in a commanding performance for Finland and effectively threw his hat into the ring.

Finland's Miro Heiskanen #2 lets a shot go during relegation round action against Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

It makes some sense for the Devils to consider adding a potential building block on the blueline given the loss of Adam Larsson in last summer's Taylor Hall deal.

Heiskanen would be the first Finnish-born player to go first overall.

CENTRE STAGE

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires sits at No. 4 on the McKeen's Top 125 - ranking the best prospects available for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward led Windsor with 29 goals and 61 points - in just 49 games - and then played a central role in helping the Spitfires win the Memorial Cup, highlighted by a four-assist performance in a win over the top-ranked Erie Otters.

Big, highly-skilled, and ultra competitive, Vilardi brings plenty of meat to the plate - but the skating has raised concerns about how impactful an NHLer he can be. Described as a 'knock kneed' skater, he will have to continue upgrading his quickness and explosiveness.

The Kingston, Ontario native can play on the wing but showcased at the Top Prospects Game in January that he is very effective playing in the middle.

The fifth-ranked prospect is Casey Mittelstadt, the top American-born player.

Mittelstadt ripped apart the high school circuit averaging 2.56 points per game (64 points in 25 games) and earning Minnesota’s distinguished Mr. Hockey award as the state’s top senior skater. He fell short though of leading his hometown Eden Prairie to a state championship, falling in the semi-finals.

Mittelstadt was questioned about returning for his senior year amid concerns that his development could be stunted. However, he helped allay some of those concerns with impressive stints in the USHL, wrapped around his high school season, recording 30 points in 24 games - for a 1.25 points-per-game average which was tops in the league.

Sharp-shooting winger Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads is next at No. 6.

The Peterborough, Ontario native infuriated with his inconsistent (and incomplete) defensive work habits but, at the end of the day, may be the best goal-scoring prospect in this draft class.

He finished fifth in the OHL with 44 goals and added another 10 goals in 20 playoff games.

Slick-skating defenceman Cale Makar of the Brooks Bandits is ranked seventh.

The Calgary, Alberta native was among this season's biggest risers - shooting up the draft chart and dazzling with his skating and skills while leading Brooks to the RBC Cup final.

Makar still has plenty of growing to do in terms of learning how to harness and deploy his exceptional talents. His education will be in good hands for his upcoming freshman season at the University of Massachusetts. Makar may benefit most by staying on the NCAA collegiate route for at least two years, though the lure of the NHL is all powerful.

Sorting out the rest of the top 10 has been a convoluted journey since the initial rankings were published last fall. That's not unusual - but this season the rankings seemed to be in a larger state of flux. There's not much to separate the next dozen or so players - all of whom could conceivably land a top 10 spot.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks was another big riser, moving up from 24th - in the preliminary ranking - to grab the No. 8 position.

A cerebral two-way pivot with good size and skill, the Winnipeg native led Portland and tied for seventh in WHL scoring during a spectacular breakout season - in which he more than tripled his rookie numbers from 2015-16.

Glass begins a run of centremen with seven of the next ten players being pivots; Michael Rasmussen (10th), Elias Pettersson (11th), Martin Necas (12th), Robert Thomas (15th), Nick Suzuki (16th), and Lias Andersson (17th).

KLIM PICKINGS

The wildcards for this year's draft will begin with swift-skating Swedish defenceman Timothy Liljegren

The native of Kristianstad, Sweden has been a prime name for 2017 since he was 16 years old - and was ranked No. 4 on our preliminary list. However, he was sidelined early by a bout of mononucleosis and struggled to find his game after returning.

There's no denying the physical gifts as he is a strong, fast skater with a good skill set featuring a heavy wristshot.

Klim Kostin

However, his hockey sense and overall decision making have continually come into question as the scrutiny on his game intensified. He doesn't seem to possess an innate feel for pressure and can be prone to stickchecks and turning pucks over on outlets. Can this part of his make-up develop and mature? Perhaps. It's a risk NHL teams must weigh before considering him as a top selection.

Another 'hot potato' pick will be Dynamo Moscow forward Klim Kostin who began the season at No. 5 in the rankings following a solid showing at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. The Penza native captained Russia and led his team in scoring (5-4-3-7) while flashing an intriguing mix of size, skill and creativity.

He also put in a decent showing at the Canada-Russia series in November, albeit not enough for World Junior team coach Valeri Bragin to include him on the U20 roster. However, Kostin underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January and missed an opportunity to further convince NHL scouts at the U18 WJC in April.

Strong and skilled with the puck, Kostin can create openings with his stickhandling and 1-on-1 abilities, but must work on his skating and consistency.

Eeli Tolvanen

Eeli Tolvanen also watched his stock soften as the season progressed after beginning as a top 10 pick (8th).

The native of Vihti, Finland tied for third in the USHL with 30 goals and then helped Sioux City reach the Clark Cup Finals. Tolvanen possesses sharp offensive instincts and a lethal shot, yet there are concerns about how his slight frame and dimensional game will translate to higher levels.

No player fell further in the rankings this season than towering Russian winger Nikita Popugaev.

The Moscow native fired 19 goals in his first 25 games with Moose Jaw, however his play tailed off in December and he was dealt a month later to Prince George where he continued to sputter.

Popugaev brings great size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds as well as a strong shooting arsenal. His skating needs to come along though, particularly his footwork and overall agility.

But the bigger concern is how badly he wants it - as his work ethic and defensive play regressed to alarming levels over the second half.

PLENTY OF FINNISH

Finland gave advance warning that they would be a big factor at the 2017 NHL Draft when they captured gold at the 2016 U18 WJC.

It was Finland's first gold medal at the event since winning the first two tournaments in 1999 and 2000 - and was accomplished with a predominantly underage blueline.

They followed up this year at the U18's with a silver medal, led by the splendid duo of Miro Heiskanen and Urho Vaakanainen.

Heiskanen's exploits were well chronicled, however Vaakanainen's play may have turned just as many NHL heads. His smooth skating, subtle skills, and innate feel for the game were on full display throughout.

Vaakanainen could turn out to be one of the best players from this draft.

Expect the Finns to be high profile at this draft - as they could place up to seven players in the opening round plus another half dozen in the second.

In all, there are 16 Finnish-born players in the McKeen's Top 125 including a number of potential sleepers such as Joni Ikonen (59th), Aleksi Heponiemi (65th), Emil Oksanen (76th) and U18 WJC captain Aarne Talvitie (77th).

Finland's Santeri Virtanen #22 carries the puck during semifinal round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Gritty two-way centre Santeri Virtanen threw his name into the ring with an impressive showing at the U18 WJC after missing most of the season to injury.

His late rise wasn't a total surprise as he had initially been slotted as a potential 50-70 pick after a good showing at the Ivan Hlinka last fall.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	Nation
1	Nolan Patrick	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/200	19-Sep-98	Canada
2	Nico Hischier	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/175	4-Jan-99	Switzerland
3	Miro Heiskanen	D	HIFK Helsinki (Fin)	6-0/170	18-Jul-99	Finland
4	Gabriel Vilardi	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-3/200	16-Aug-99	Canada
5	Casey Mittelstadt	C	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	6-1/200	22-Nov-98	USA
6	Owen Tippett	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/200	16-Feb-99	Canada
7	Cale Makar	D	Brooks (AJHL)	5-11/180	30-Oct-98	Canada
8	Cody Glass	C	Portland (WHL)	6-2/180	1-Apr-99	Canada
9	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	Frolunda (Swe)	6-3/205	1-Jun-99	Finland
10	Michael Rasmussen	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-6/215	17-Apr-99	Canada
11	Elias Pettersson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/165	12-Nov-98	Sweden
12	Martin Necas	C	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-0/170	15-Jan-99	Czech
13	Urho Vaakanainen	D	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-0/185	1-Jan-99	Finland
14	Juuso Valimaki	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/205	6-Oct-98	Finland
15	Robert Thomas	C	London (OHL)	6-0/190	2-Jul-99	Canada
16	Nick Suzuki	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	10-Sep-99	Canada
17	Lias Andersson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	5-11/200	13-Oct-98	Sweden
18	Isaac Ratcliffe	LW	Guelph (OHL)	6-5/200	15-Feb-99	Canada
19	Erik Brannstrom	D	HV 71 (Swe)	5-10/175	2-Sep-99	Sweden
20	Timothy Liljegren	D	Rogle (Swe)	6-0/190	30-Apr-99	Sweden
21	Klim Kostin	C	Dynamo Moscow (Rus)	6-3/195	5-May-99	Russia
22	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	Sioux City (USHL)	5-10/175	22-Apr-99	Finland
23	Conor Timmins	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	18-Sep-98	Canada
24	Kailer Yamamoto	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-8/160	29-Sep-98	Canada
25	Jason Robertson	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-2/195	22-Jul-99	USA
26	Ryan Poehling	C	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	6-2/195	3-Jan-99	USA
27	Nicolas Hague	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-6/215	5-Dec-98	Canada
28	Josh Norris	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	5-May-99	USA
29	Shane Bowers	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-1/185	30-Jul-99	Canada
30	Cal Foote	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-4/215	13-Dec-98	USA
31	Henri Jokiharju	D	Portland (WHL)	6-0/180	17-Jun-99	Finland
32	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	HPK (Fin)	6-4/195	9-Mar-99	Finland
33	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Sep-99	Canada
34	Kole Lind	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/180	16-Oct-98	Canada
35	Jesper Boqvist	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	30-Oct-98	Sweden
36	Grant Mismash	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	19-Feb-99	USA
37	Keith Petruzzelli	G	Muskegon (USHL)	6-5/180	9-Feb-99	USA
38	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-2/165	1-Jul-99	Canada
39	Maxime Comtois	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-2/200	8-Jan-99	Canada
40	Adam Ruzicka	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-4/205	11-May-99	Slovakia
41	Morgan Frost	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/170	14-May-99	Canada
42	Filip Chytil	C	Zlin (Cze)	6-0/180	5-Sep-99	Czech
43	Nikita Popugaev	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-6/220	20-Nov-98	Russia
44	Jake Oettinger	G	Boston University (HE)	6-4/210	18-Dec-98	USA
45	Josh Brook	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-1/185	15-Jun-99	Canada
46	Santeri Virtanen	C	TPS Turku (Fin Jr)	6-2/195	11-May-99	Finland
47	Kyle Olson	C	Tri-City (WHL)	5-11/165	22-Mar-99	Canada
48	Evan Barratt	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	18-Feb-99	USA
49	Max Gildon	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/190	17-May-99	USA
50	MacKenzie Entwistle	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-3/180	14-Jul-99	Canada
51	Stelio Mattheos	RW	Brandon (WHL)	6-1/195	14-Jun-99	Canada
52	Marcus Davidsson	C	Djurgardens (Swe)	6-0/190	18-Nov-98	Sweden
53	Michael DiPietro	G	Windsor (OHL)	6-0/195	9-Jun-99	Canada
54	David Farrance	D	NTDP (USA)	5-11/190	23-Jun-99	USA
55	Stuart Skinner	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	6-3/210	1-Nov-98	Canada
56	Matthew Strome	LW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-4/210	6-Jan-99	Canada
57	Alex Formenton	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/165	13-Sep-99	Canada
58	Eemeli Rasanen	D	Kingston (OHL)	6-7/215	6-Mar-99	Finland
59	Joni Ikonen	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-10/170	14-Apr-99	Finland
60	Scott Reedy	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	4-Apr-99	USA
61	Sasha Chmelevski	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-11/190	9-Jun-99	USA
62	Filip Westerlund	D	Frolunda (Swe)	5-11/180	17-Apr-99	Sweden
63	Ian Mitchell	D	Spruce Grove (AJHL)	5-11/175	18-Jan-99	Canada
64	Maxim Zhukov	G	Green Bay (USHL)	6-3/190	22-Jul-99	Russia
65	Aleksi Heponiemi	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/150	9-Jan-99	Finland
66	Ostap Safin	LW	Sparta Praha (Cze Jr)	6-4/200	11-Feb-99	Czech
67	Jack Studnicka	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/170	18-Feb-99	Canada
68	Nick Henry	RW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/190	4-Jul-99	Canada
69	Markus Phillips	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/200	21-Mar-99	Canada
70	Jarret Tyszka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/190	15-Mar-99	Canada
71	Kirill Maksimov	RW	Niagara (OHL)	6-2/195	1-Jun-99	Russia
72	Jake Leschyshyn	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/185	10-Mar-99	Canada
73	Alexei Toropchenko	RW	MVD Balashikha (Rus Jr)	6-3/190	25-Jun-99	Russia
74	Kirill Slepets	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-10/165	6-Apr-99	Russia
75	Olle Eriksson Ek	G	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/185	22-Jun-99	Sweden
76	Emil Oksanen	LW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-1/190	25-Sep-98	Finland
77	Aarne Talvitie	C	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)	5-10/200	11-Feb-99	Finland
78	Reilly Walsh	D	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	5-11/180	21-Apr-99	USA
79	Ivan Lodnia	RW	Erie (OHL)	5-10/180	31-Aug-99	USA
80	Jonah Gadjovich	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-2/210	12-Oct-98	Canada
81	Ben Mirageas	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-1/180	8-May-99	USA
82	Dylan Samberg	D	Hermantown (USHS-MN)	6-3/190	24-Jan-99	USA
83	Antoine Morand	C	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	5-10/180	18-Feb-99	Canada
84	Morgan Geekie	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/180	20-Jul-98	Canada
85	Alexei Lipanov	C	MVD Balashikha (Rus 2)	6-0/165	17-Aug-99	Russia
86	Jack Badini	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/200	19-Jan-98	USA
87	Brady Lyle	D	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/205	6-Jun-99	Canada
88	Lucas Elvenes	C	Rogle (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	18-Aug-99	Sweden
89	Zach Gallant	C	Peterborough (OHL)	6-2/190	6-Mar-99	Canada
90	Lane Zablocki	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	5-11/190	27-Dec-98	Canada
91	Kevin Hancock	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	2-Mar-98	Canada
92	Alexandre Texier	C	Grenoble (Fra)	6-0/190	13-Sep-99	France
93	Noel Hoefenmayer	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	6-Jan-99	Canada
94	Nate Schnarr	C	Guelph (OHL)	6-3/180	15-Jun-99	Canada
95	Jonas Rondbjerg	RW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	31-Mar-99	Denmark
96	Ivan Chekhovich	LW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/180	14-Jan-99	Russia
97	Robin Salo	D	Sport (Fin)	6-1/190	13-Oct-98	Finland
98	Luke Martin	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-4/215	20-Sep-98	USA
99	Cale Fleury	D	Kootenay (WHL)	6-1/205	19-Nov-98	Canada
100	Mikey Anderson	D	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-May-99	USA
101	Mason Shaw	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-9/180	3-Nov-98	Canada
102	Linus Nyman	RW	Kingston (OHL)	5-9/160	11-Jul-99	Finland
103	Gustav Lindstrom	D	Almtuna (Swe 2)	6-2/190	20-Oct-98	Sweden
104	Marian Studenic	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-0/165	28-Oct-98	Slovakia
105	Jack Rathbone	D	Dexter (USHS-MA)	5-10/175	20-May-99	USA
106	Artyom Minulin	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-2/200	1-Oct-98	Russia
107	Kalle Miketinac	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/190	2-Apr-99	Sweden
108	Dmitri Samorukov	D	Guelph (OHL)	6-2/180	16-Jun-99	Russia
109	Ian Scott	G	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-3/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
110	Austen Keating	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/170	7-May-99	Canada
111	Maksim Sushko	RW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/185	10-Feb-99	Belarus
112	Tyler Inamoto	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/195	6-May-99	USA
113	Ty Lewis	LW	Brandon (WHL)	5-11/180	5-Mar-98	Canada
114	Drake Batherson	C	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-1/190	27-Apr-98	Canada
115	Rickard Hugg	C	Leksands (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	18-Jan-99	Sweden
116	Scott Walford	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-1/195	12-Jan-99	Canada
117	Jordy Bellerive	C	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/195	2-May-99	Canada
118	Matthew Kellenberger	D	Oakville (OJHL)	6-0/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
119	Johnathan Kovacevic	D	Merrimack (HE)	6-4/215	2-Jul-97	Canada
120	Nick Campoli	C	North York (OJHL)	5-11/190	16-Feb-99	Canada
121	Mario Ferraro	D	Des Moines (USHL)	5-11/185	17-Sep-98	Canada
122	Michael Pastujov	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	23-Aug-99	USA
123	Tyler Steenbergen	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/190	7-Jan-98	Canada
124	Mark Rubinchik	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-0/180	21-Mar-99	Russia
125	Kasper Kotkansalo	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-2/200	16-Nov-98	Finland