Markus Phillips – McKeen's Hockey

Los Angeles Kings 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:42:29 +0000

Before Rob Blake took over as the General Manager of the Kings, the Deam Lombradi/Darryl Lombardi era Kings were known primarily for two things: defensive hockey played by big men, and winning Stanley Cups despite lacking in abundant skill. But by the time that Blake was put in charge, after he had been in place as an assistant GM for four seasons, the writing for that style of hockey was on the wall. Big and lumbering were out and speed and skill were in.

The Kings had a few players able to cross over from style to style, such as Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar, and of course the stylistic changes would not have had a huge impact on netminder Jonathan Quick, but most of the roster would need a refresh. That was partly due to the carry-over players lacking the elements that were beginning to define the game more and more, but it was also partially due to the inevitable toll that age and long Springs have. The game had moved on and the Kings would have to catch up.

Looking at the 20 players listed below, as well as a number of those who were strongly considered but ultimately did not make the final cut, we can see how complete the turnover has been at the organizational level. Start with the fact that a full 14 of the 20 named below were drafted or signed after Blake was named the GM. Of the remaining six, only one, Russian forward Nikolai Prokhorkin, predates Blake’s executive career in Los Angeles.

Part of the turnover was due not only to a simple changing of the guard, but that the Kings, in a down portion of the success cycle, stopped trading away picks (they had six and four respectively in the two drafts prior to Blake’s being named GM) and last year went in with extras, making nine picks in seven rounds, including two first rounders.

Another aspect to the turnaround has been that the Kings are emphasizing speed and skill in their draft picks. That is not to say that the team has avoided bigger players (not even considering goalies). For every 6-5” Andre Lee (2019, 7^th round), there is a 5-7” Aidan Dudas (4^th round, 2018). For every 6-2” Arthur Kaliyev (2^nd round, 2019), or Gabriel VIlardi (1^st round, 2017) there are an abundance of 5-11” dynamos, such as Jaret-Anderson Dolan (2^nd round, 2017), Akil Thomas (2^nd round, 2018) or this year’s draft prize, Alex Turcotte (1^st round, 2019). Whereas they would formerly augment their system with big players like 6-5” Kurtis MacDermid or 6-3” Matt Luff, they know bring in 5-10” Sheldon Rempal and 5-7” Blake Lizotte.

The tear down is now more or less complete in LA, but the buildup is only getting started. Blake and company have been taking a slow route so far, not rushing prospects. In fact, of the first two Blake draft classes, only one player, Anderson-Dolan, has even played a single game in the NHL, and even he only appeared in five contests. (Gabriel Vilardi made have doubled that count, were it not for a devastating back injury that curtailed his 2018-19 season). The Kings now have a pipeline full of players in Blake’s preferred mold. The next step is to put them on the ice at the NHL level and see who sticks and how it comes together.

-Ryan Wagman

Los Angeles Kings Left Wing Carl Grundstrom (38) (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

1 Alex Turcotte, C (5^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Despite missing a big chunk of the first half with a lower body injury, there was no doubt that Turcotte would be a top pick in this past June’s draft. The type of center whose success is partially attributed to near elite hockey IQ, he senses lanes of opportunity better, and more quickly than just about anyone in his age group. His puck skills are also at a very high level. He has a very sharp wrist shot with a lightning quick release and his hands are among the softest outside of the NHL, able to create havoc from in tight. Turcotte is a fantastically dynamic player when he rushes the net and, in fact, carries that dynamism with him for all assignments. He is a puck hound, constantly forcing turnovers and driving possession and scoring chance creation. He needs to beef up to help him increase his durability, but has first line center upside and should be ready as soon as 2020-21. - RW

2 Tobias Bjornfot, D (22^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Bjornfot has been looking great in the pre-season, both at the WJSS and in SHL pre-season games. He is expected to earn a full-time spot with one of the top SHL teams this year. He is an active, smart defenseman who can play both progressive as well as conservative when needed. His puck skills are strong and he rarely makes a bad play. His passing skills are also strong. He is physically strong for his age and moves well. He can push plays with his skating and be a dangerous fourth attacker. He can also shut down plays with strength and skating abilities. There aren’t any real flaws in his game. Bjornfot has a high probability top four potential and maybe even top pairing if his development curve will continue to be strong. The concern that could keep him from the top pair is that his offensive numbers probably won’t be that high. - JH

3 Rasmus Kupari, C (20^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 2) Kupari had a terrific season with Karpat in the Liiga and looks more than ready to leave Finland for North America. His greatest asset is, without doubt, his skating. Highly agile on his skates, he can make tight turns and cuts and he possesses strong edge control. He stops and starts well and has excellent top-end speed. He can maneuver with the puck in tight spaces and has a lot of puck skill as well. He improved his decision making last season, showing that his hockey sense is no longer as much of an issue as it used to be. He can be creative offensively and find his linemates with pinpoint passing. Kupari is defensively reliable and he uses his speed to close on opponents quickly. H has the potential to play on the Kings’ top two lines within a few years. - MB

4 Gabriel Vilardi, C (11^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) Vilardi played only four games for Ontario last year because of a lingering back injury that appears to be threatening his promising career. Still not cleared to return to the ice, he is currently in limbo. If you ignore the injury concerns, he is still a very promising prospect. He possesses a great size and skill package down the middle and is a terrific playmaker who thinks the game at a high level and really can dominate possession down low. He is just so strong and difficult to separate from the puck. On the other hand, his skating, especially his first few strides, really needed to improve and one would have to assume that this back injury has only decreased his skating ability further. Unfortunately, at this point, Vilardi’s career seems to be in serious jeopardy, giving Kings’ fans Scott Barney flashbacks. - BO

5 Arthur Kaliyev, LW (33^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the most polarizing prospects from the 2019 NHL Draft class, Kaliyev ended up sliding to the second round where the Kings selected him. Yes, there are some concerns over both his pace of play and his eagerness to involve himself physically and without the puck. That said, he is nearly the complete package on the offensive side of the puck. He possesses both a booming slapshot and a quick release wrist shot, which he can use while cutting in or driving wide. He operates best as a triggerman in the slot, but he can create his own chances. He is also an underrated playmaker whose poise and patience with the puck has improved greatly through his time in the OHL. There are warts, but there is also massive potential for Kaliyev to develop into a consistent 30 goal scorer in a top six role for the LA Kings. - BO

6 Akil Thomas, C (51^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 4) Recently named captain of the Niagara IceDogs for the upcoming 2019-20 season, Thomas is an elite playmaker. He uses both great hands and quick feet to exploit gaps in defenses, drawing defenders in before making a great pass to an open teammate for an easy goal. His vision is excellent. He is also a capable defensive player who shows hustle in all three zones. Where Thomas still struggles is in trying to play through traffic and driving the middle of the ice. He needs to get stronger on the puck and become more assertive to take his game to that next level. he profiles as a top six forward, likely as a winger and not a center where he currently plays, and he should be able to make an impact within a couple of years. - BO

7 Samuel Fagemo, LW (50^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Fagemo turned many heads last season when he went from being snubbed at the 2018 NHL draft to one of the best junior forwards in the SHL. He is an attacking forward with a knack for goal scoring. He is good at finding open space for himself, and has a strong wrist shot which is dangerous from various distances. The knock on him earlier was a lack of speed in combination of him creating his chances at junior level with speed as a weapon. His feet have gotten quicker and he will probably get an even bigger role this season in the SHL and the Swedish WJC team. His hockey sense and defensive game will be red flags, though. Fagemo tends to try do too much by himself, rather than to play the team game. That element has improved and he processes the offensive game quickly and is often available for a pass. - JH

8 Carl Grundstrom, RW (57^th overall, 2016 [Toronto]. Last Year: 4 [Toronto]) Grundstrom is a hard-working, physical player. He gets in deep and gets the job done which often results in good production offensively as he never takes a shift off. The downside to a straight-lines player like this is the fact that his skillset is not the best, which can impact him in different situations. For instance, with the Toronto Marlies last season, he was an impact penalty killer always getting the puck deep and forechecking hard, but on power play his lack of technical finesse stood out and would lead to turnovers once the play slowed down and more pressure was applied. He will need to learn to play better under pressure and be more patient, not everything being done at top speed. Grundstrom will start the season with the LA Kings as a bottom six forward and will most likely stay a bottom six forward considering his classic dump and chase forechecking style and his hard work. - SC

9 Kale Clague, D (51^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 3) An intelligent, mobile defenseman, Clague had an up-and-down first full year in the Kings’ pro system. He finished in the top-10 in rookie defensive scoring in the AHL, using his immense skill, deceptive skating, and high-end vision to make an impact in transition and in the offensive zone. What plagued him most as a prospect tearing up the WHL over the last few years was his inconsistent defensive zone play, which is just what made his debut season with AHL Ontario a challenging one. Pushed into a top-pair role, the left-hander struggled to acclimate himself with the speed of the pro game, and had a number of difficult nights on defense. He had improved on his defensive game a little before a broken foot ended his season in March, but not to the point of being an NHLer. Expect him to return to an AHL top-pair role this year, though his overall ceiling speaks top-four potential. - TD

10 Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C (165^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Anderson-Dolan had a tough season last year battling injuries, but managed to finish the season strong. After impressing at camp, he started the season playing five games for the Kings in which he managed a single assist. He was returned to Spokane where he was expected to dominate and put up some huge numbers. In only his second game back though, he suffered a broken wrist, putting him out for close to two months, affecting his play and status for Canada at the World Juniors. He managed to play through the tournament, but didn't have the impact that he would have otherwise. He finished the season by putting up 20 goals and 43 points in 32 games for the Chiefs, and 15 in 13 games in the playoffs, demonstrating that his multi-tool impact was still there. Anderson-Dolan will make another push for the Kings this year, and has a legit shot, although playing in the AHL is probably more realistic. - KO

11 Cal Petersen, G (129^th overall, 2013 [Buffalo]. Last Year: 6) It is hard to blame him entirely for a poor season, but Petersen’s stats tailed off big time from 2017-18 to last season, posting a 13-22-1 record with a GAA over four in the AHL. Ontario was horrid, winning fewer games (25) than any other team in the league, and all things considered, the 24-year-old netminder actually held up well. His athleticism, raw movement, and wild style was on display, and his mental side was tested but he did not crack often. His use of his hulking size and ability to read plays looked improved, even on a bad team. Petersen has fared well since signing with Los Angeles, but has been surpassed on the depth chart by the resurgent Jack Campbell. He will need to make a major splash soon to be considered for a long-term NHL tenure with LA, but he has the tools to be a lower-tier starter or high-end reserve goalie. - TD

12 Nikolai Prokhorkin, LW (121^st overall, 2012. Last Year: 17) After a career year in SKA, Prokhorkin decided to move to North America as he signed a one-year deal in California. A member of the Gold Medal winning team in 2018, he was trusted with top-line minutes in St. Petersburg and he delivered with 41 points in 41 regular-season games, posting career highs for both goals and assists. He is now much more mature compared with his first attempt in North America back in 2012 and shouldn’t have many problems in fitting into the Kings’ lineup considering his skills and skating abilities. He has a very good shot with a fast release, sees the ice well and doesn’t shy away from contact even if he is not a physical player. Considering the Kings’ last season, bringing Prokhorkin into the fold may have been a very good move for the franchise to rebound back after a bad 2018-19. - ASR

13 Mikey Eyssimont, C (142^ndoverall, 2016. Last Year: 7) Though his first full pro year did not go as anyone planned, Eyssimont showed just why he could pan out to be a potential fifth-round steal of a draft pick in the near future. The 20 points (10G, 10A) he scored in 63 games looks unimpressive, but he showed out well in a depth role with AHL Ontario, controlling possession with his blazing speed, sick hands, and developing wrist shot. His acceleration and balance are high-end, but his stick-handling is his biggest strength, as the 22-year-old exhibits incredible rhythm and deceptive stick language with the puck on his blade. His defensive game is not as mature as one would like it to be, especially for someone with three years of NCAA experience, but it is slowly coming along. He has solid energy line/depth scorer potential and could reach that ceiling soon. - TD

14 Mikey Anderson, D (103^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 11) After a phenomenally decorated amateur career, including two NCAA championships with Minnesota-Duluth and accompanied by two runs with the American WJC squad, Anderson is joining older brother Joey as a professional. He is a consummate two way blueliner, equally comfortable pinching deep in the offensive zone as he is boxing out opposing forwards in front of his own goalie. He is not a blazer, but has good feet and will win his share of races for iced pucks. He lacks first power play unit upside offensively, but he protects the puck well at the offensive blueline and is skilled at passing the puck in deep to a teammate in a better position to create a scoring chance. His own zone smarts give him a chance to be a viable penalty kill option. He could use one to two seasons in the AHL to round off his game, but his upside is as a solid #4/5 defender at the highest level. - RW

15 Sean Durzi, D (52^nd overall, 2018 [Toronto]. Last Year: 9 [Toronto]) At the heart of Durzi’s game is his elite mobility. One of the key returns from the Jake Muzzin trade, he is a major asset offensively because of how well he can start the breakout. He is tough to pin down in his own end and can really create time and space with his feet. He is also a terrific powerplay QB who has great vision at the point and who is very adept at using that mobility to attack and open up lanes. Defensively, Durzi’s game will need to improve. He battled a shoulder injury this past year, but will need to get stronger to handle pro sized forwards down low and near the crease. He will have to learn to be more assertive if he wants to receive consistent 5 on 5 ice time. While he may be a few years away, Durzi could develop into a Torey Krug kind of player for the Kings. - BO

16 Aidan Dudas, C (113^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 8) A heart and soul offensive player, Dudas is an aggressive North/South attacker who also possesses a great release that gives him a lot of potential as a goal scorer. His skating has improved since being drafted, especially his top gear. His production was not terrific this past season, but he should be a breakout candidate this year given his skill set. Dudas profiles as a middle six scoring winger who will need to continue to improve his skating – especially considering his diminutive stature - improve his strength on the puck, and become more consistent playing through the middle of the ice in order to reach his potential. - BO

17 Markus Phillips, D (118^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 10) Even though his offensive game never truly developed the way that many had anticipated it would, Phillips is still a valuable prospect who could develop into a steady, third pairing NHL defender. He won an OHL championship with Guelph last year, playing a key role in helping to shut down the opposition’s best. He doesn’t have great reach with his stocky build, but he possesses great four way mobility and terrific defensive instincts that rarely sees him beat one on one or caught out of position. Phillips is also solid with the puck and is skilled enough to evade the forecheck and start the breakout, even if he is not aggressive in attacking the offensive zone. The upside is not high, but he looks like a safe bet to play an NHL role sometime down the road. -BO

18 Sheldon Rempal, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 30, 2018. Last Year: 12) With a lack of size or shooting skill, Rempal’s game has become one of the most refined and well-engineered in the Kings’ system. He knows what works for him, and he has all but mastered his own player-specific gameplay style; speed, tenacity, and scintillating hands being the front-end traits of that game. The undrafted forward out of Clarkson University had a solid first pro year, totaling 15 goals and 25 assists in 59 games in the AHL, though he was held scoreless in seven NHL contests. He is a dynamic playmaker with great vision, and a slippery skater who has impressive balance and body strength. His defensive inconsistencies will need major improvements, while his inability to carry his own line so far in pro hockey has hindered his development as well. Otherwise, he was a bright spot on a dim Reign club and might have a shot at the Kings bottom six out of training camp this season. - TD

19 Matt Roy, D (194^th overall, 2015. Last Year: Not ranked) A right-shot defenseman with a quiet but effective game, Roy is panning out as a steal of an overaged seventh-round pick in 2015. His 2018-19 season with AHL Ontario was great, displaying a high hockey IQ, narrow gaps, and a level of toughness against the boards not seen elsewhere on the Reign blueline, earning a recall to Los Angeles where he more than held his own in 25 NHL games. While not the most mobile or agile of skaters, Roy more than makes up for it in smarts and physicality, which has made him into a solid shutdown depth defenseman. He could contend for a spot on an open Kings blueline this season. - TD

20 Matt Luff, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 23, 2016. Last Year: Not ranked) With the Kings in a downward spiral last season, Luff was one of several depth forwards given an opportunity to succeed in the NHL, and he earned it. The shot-heavy winger was one of Ontario’s best last season (36-11-20-31) and added eight NHL goals with L.A. despite minimal ice time. Possessing a weighty wrist shot with a quick release and a lot of spin, Luff is a bit of a volume shooter for a depth, energy line forward. The right-hander has some untapped puck skills and decent speed, as well as formidable rink senses that make him a serviceable defensive player. He is tough with the puck, but he will need to grow further into his 6-3” frame to truly be an impactful offensive player, as he can and will be bumped off balance pretty easily. Expect him to spend some time with Los Angeles again next season. - TD

OHL Playoff Preview: Western Conference – Trade deadline talent arms race makes for a wide open battle

Brock Otten — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 16:21:53 +0000

This week the 2019 OHL playoffs will kick off with first round action getting under way on Thursday. More so than any year that I can remember, the field is wide open. There are favorites to take home the J.Ross Robertson Cup, sure, but the sheer number of candidates to make it to the end is greater than previous years because of how many teams loaded up with talent at this year’s trade deadline. As difficult as it is, I will make my predictions. Just do not place any large bets or wagers based upon it.

First Round

Jean-Luc Foudy of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#1. London Knights vs. #8. Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: 5-1 for London

Analysis: The Spitfires limped into the playoffs with only one regulation win in their final ten games. Their punishment? A date with London, who narrowly held off Saginaw to take the #1 seed in the West. Even if I don’t expect this to be a close series, it will be a terrific experience for the Spitfires and their talented, young roster. Young players like Jean Luc Foudy and Will Cuylle will get a taste of the playoffs to know what is required of them when Windsor becomes a powerhouse again in a few years’ time. The Knights hold the clear advantage in nearly every area here. The team’s #5 defender, Joey Keane, would be Windsor’s #1. They outscore them by over a goal per game. And even if discipline issues creep up (London is the most penalized team in the Western Conference), their top-rated penalty kill is efficient enough to limit Windsor’s chances of getting back in games. Look for Evan Bouchard to have a big performance after last year’s poor showing in the first round that saw London get swept by Owen Sound.

Prediction: London in 4.

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Evan Bouchard (EDM): As mentioned, Bouchard did not have a good first round performance in last year’s playoffs, something that may have led to his slide to the 10th spot last June. To be honest, I wasn’t enamored with his performance this year either with his offensive production taking a step back and his defensive engagement continuing to be a concern. That said, the best players elevate their game when it matters most and I’ll be looking for Bouchard to do that this playoffs. As deep as London is on the blueline, they need him to be a dominant force at both ends if they want to go for the championship.

Liam Foudy (CBJ): Foudy was another player who looked overmatched in last year’s playoffs against Owen Sound. After a slow start to this year, Foudy finished the season well and ended up second in goals for the Knights. The Knights know that they will be getting production from Formenton and Hancock up front, but again, if they want to go far, they will need the speedy Foudy to be an impact player; someone who can use his speed and puck skills to create consistent scoring chances for himself and his linemates.

Jean-Luc Foudy (2020): It is a Foudy vs. Foudy match-up with Liam going against his younger brother Jean-Luc. Like Liam, Jean-Luc is an absolute lightning bolt on skates. He has shown a penchant for using his speed to be one of the OHL’s elite young playmakers, leading all OHL rookies in assists this year. He is a prime time prospect for the 2020 NHL Draft and it will be interesting to see if he is able to better his brother’s initial playoff performance.

Ryan McLeod of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#2. Saginaw Spirit vs. #7. Sarnia Sting

Season Series: 3-3 TIE

Analysis: The Sting have played the West Division champion Spirit extremely tight this year, including a recent 7-6 shootout victory in late February. Sarnia has a team of workhorses that just never give up on a play and that tenacity always plays well in the postseason. They have seven different players who had over 15 goals on the year, and that’s not including Jamieson Rees who would have hit that mark easily had he played all year. But Saginaw is a CHL ranked team for a reason. Lately one of the main reasons for their success has been goaltender Ivan Prosvetov, who has only two regulation losses in his last 16 and who finished in the top 5 of nearly every statistical category this year. Rookie winger Cole Perfetti has also been a remarkable story as the first U17 player since Taylor Hall, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares to score more than 35 goals in a season. He is aided by the likes of Owen Tippett, Bode Wilde, Ryan McLeod, and Cole Coskey on a deep and balanced roster. I expect the Sting to give the Spirit a bit of a scare and be in most games. But the Spirit are rolling on too much of a high and have too much firepower to fall victim to an upset.

Prediction: Saginaw in 6

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Ryan McLeod (EDM): While his production for Saginaw since the trade from Mississauga has been a little underwhelming, McLeod has been a proven playoff performer so far in his OHL career. He was a huge part of Mississauga’s deep run in 2017 and I would expect him to bring himself back to that point per game production. His playmaking ability will be much needed if the Spirit want to eventually come out on top in the Western Conference.

Bode Wilde (NYI): Wilde has been sensational in his first OHL season after coming over from the USHL. No question he is in the conversation for the Max Kaminsky as the league’s top defender. His size and skating combination make him a lethal operator off the rush and very difficult to stop as he cuts through the neutral zone like butter. Defensively, there have been some ups and downs and now he will be getting into his first playoff action. I am very intrigued to see how he responds and looks to take over and control the play at both ends.

Ryan McGregor (TOR): A 2017 draft pick by the Leafs, McGregor is still without an NHL contract. He has had a very good season, establishing himself as one of the OHL’s elite two-way forwards. But a strong playoff series performance for Sarnia here, even if it is in a losing cause, would go a long way to proving to Toronto’s management that he deserves a place in their future plans.

Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Grehounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#3. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #6. Owen Sound Attack

Season Series: 2-0 for Sault Ste. Marie

Analysis: Two things are bad news for the Attack. The first, Morgan Frost avoided a longer suspension for cross checking and will be available for the entire first round. The second, Barrett Hayton is back and healthy, showing no rust whatsoever with four goals in two games to close out the year. That means that the ‘Hounds will be operating at full speed offensively and that does not bode well for the Attack, a team that has struggled to keep the puck out of their net this year thanks to inconsistent goaltending. Owen Sound also only has two 20 goal scorers in their lineup and no one operating at over the point per game mark. With a healthy lineup, the Greyhounds have the advantage here in nearly every facet. While I do worry about their depth and supporting cast as the rounds progress, I am confident that they should be able to get past a rebuilding Attack team pretty easily.

Prediction: Sault Ste. Marie in 4

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Barrett Hayton (ARI): Had to be a difficult year for Hayton to settle in and find a groove. Start the year in the NHL. Back to the OHL. Then off to the World Juniors. Then get injured. Through it all, his production has been fantastic with one of the highest point-pergame averages in the league. His game is tailored perfectly for the playoffs because of his high intensity level and how well he plays through traffic in the offensive end. He had a very successful playoffs last year for the Soo as a support player, now let us see how he does as a focal point.

Mac Hollowell (TOR): The front runner for OHL defender of the year was recently rewarded with a much deserved NHL contract from Toronto. Hollowell is an elite offensive defender who is great at using his above average mobility to jump up in the attack. He is also a major weapon on the powerplay, something that any team needs operating at a high level to make a deep run in the playoffs. This guy competes so hard and is easily one of the most underrated players to have played in the OHL in recent years.

Mack Guzda (2019): If Owen Sound hopes to stay in this series, they will need top shelf goaltending and that will have to come from Guzda. He came into the year very highly touted but consistency issues have continued to plague him as they did in his rookie year. He has the size and athleticism that NHL scouts are looking for, but he needs to show that he possess the mental makeup too. Not only will NHL scouts be looking closely at him here, but so will Hockey Canada for the 2019 U18 roster. He can’t afford to be a sieve and look overmatched.

Nick Suzuki of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#4. Guelph Storm vs. #5. Kitchener Rangers

Season Series: 4-4 TIE

Analysis: With the way the Guelph Storm loaded up at this year’s trade deadline, bringing in Nick Suzuki, Markus Phillips, Sean Durzi, and Mackenzie Entwistle, one would have to consider them the heavy favorite here. And they have been playing some great hockey lately. But so have the Kitchener Rangers; a team that I do not believe can be completely written off. They have five 30 goal scorers, something that matches Guelph and their firepower. Guelph’s Anthony Popovich has struggled down the stretch and is being threatened by Nico Daws for the starting role, so I am slightly concerned about Guelph’s netminding. However, I believe the thing that sways this in Guelph’s favor is their veteran defense. Dmitri Samorukov has been playing out of his mind lately and along with Durzi, Gordeev, Phillips, Hanley, and Lalonde, make up one of the strongest and veteran-heavy defensive units in the OHL. Contrast that with Kitchener, which relies on youngsters like Mike Vukojevic and Donovan Sebrango to play key roles. The Rangers will push the Storm, but ultimately come up short.

Prediction: Guelph in 6

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Nick Suzuki (MTL): Took him a bit of time to really acclimate himself with his new surroundings in Guelph, but he has been on a tear lately and really seems to have settled in. In his last 11 games, he has 5 games with 3 points or more. Suzuki is such a good distributor, but he is at his best when he is active without the puck, forcing turnovers and putting pressure on the opposition in all three zones. He has traditionally performed very well in the playoffs in his career and I would expect nothing less from him here as Guelph gears up for a long run.

Dmitri Samorukov (EDM): Speaking of a tear, few defenders in the OHL have been as hot as Samorukov in the second half. Whether it was the confidence he gained from the World Juniors, or the increased role he received from the trade of Ryan Merkley, Samorukov has blossomed at the right time. He has become extremely aggressive offensively, using his skating ability to create off the rush. He still remains a physically aggressive stalwart in his own end; a true two-way force.

Riley Damiani (DAL): Earlier I spoke of underrated OHL players and few fit that category more than Damiani. Among 2000 born players in the OHL, only Akil Thomas and Barrett Hayton had greater point per game averages as he jumped from 37 points last year to 85 in 2018/19. He has an infectious energy about him on the ice and his dynamic playmaking ability and vision are one of the main reasons why Kitchener’s powerplay has been one of the league’s best this year.

Continued Western Conference Predictions

Conference Semi Finals

#1. London vs. #4. Guelph

#2. Saginaw vs. #3. Sault Ste. Marie

I am taking Guelph and Sault Ste. Marie here. I just was not crazy about what I saw from London in the last month of the year. They are relying on too many younger forwards to create offense and I think they lack a premier playmaker. And on defense, I think they lack the jam necessary to slow down an offensive juggernaut like Guelph. As for the Soo, I like them over Saginaw because I feel that their veteran leadership group consisting of Morgan Frost, Barrett Hayton, Mac Hollowell, Jordan Sambrook, and Keeghan Howdeshell can help to elevate the play of some of their younger support players. I think their abrasive style of play bodes better for playoff success, even though I see potential for Prosvetov to stand on his head. That is a true coin flip, but I am sticking with the Greyhounds.

Western Conference Final

#3. Sault Ste. Marie vs. #4. Guelph

I am all in on Guelph this year to take home the Western Conference title. I feel like they have been constructed the right way and have really found chemistry and hit their stride at the right time. Goaltending is a mild concern for sure, but in the West, I think everyone has similar concerns to a certain degree.

SEE OHL PREVIEW: EASTERN CONFERENCE- LINK HERE

OHL Championship Series

Niagara IceDogs vs. Guelph Storm

Another toss up for me. Ask me tomorrow and I may just choose someone different. Both of their regular season matchups were decided by a single goal. Honestly, this comes down to goaltending. I give Niagara the advantage at forward. I give Guelph the advantage on defense. But in net, I think you have to tip your hat in Stephen Dhillon’s direction. Especially considering that there is no guarantee that Anthony Popovich finishes the postseason as Guelph’s starter. So...I am selecting the Niagara IceDogs as this year’s OHL Champions!

Los Angeles Kings Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:22:44 +0000

The Los Angeles Kings enter the 2018-19 season with a chip on their shoulder. Having won just one postseason game since their last Stanley Cup championship, including being swept by the Western Conference-winning Vegas Golden Knights last season, L.A. has a lot to improve upon at the NHL level. What those disappointing results in SoCal can do, however, is quickly rebuild a farm system that had been drained in order to win the two Cups the Kings captured in the last decade.

Los Angeles has lucked into some high-quality guys via the NHL Draft in that elusive 10-20 spot in the draft order as a direct result of either narrowly missing the postseason or being eliminated early. They have not had to undergo a full-blown rebuild but remain competitive by drafting smarter than ever.

Remember, this is a new Kings team. General manager Rob Blake and head coach John Stevens are one year into their tenure at the helm of the 2012 and 2014 Cup champs, and in an evolving NHL, they know they can't win the same way they did under previous GM Dean Lombardi and former coach Darryl Sutter. They are beginning to take faster, higher-ceiling players with the tools to succeed in 2018's NHL -- rather than 2008's -- and the benefits will be obvious.

It's a beneficial blueprint especially with the core of aging stars locked up by the Kings in the long term, including Norris winner Drew Doughty, Hart finalist Anze Kopitar, and guys like Jonathan Quick, Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Carter, and Dustin Brown. To have NHL-ready, impactful, cheap prospects to use on a team chock-full of guys exiting their primes will help extend a Kings championship window that's starting to close.

Much like the Blackhawks, a side effect to winning is having to pony up egregious amounts of money to guys in their late 20s and early 30s, which causes unavoidable salary cap problems. If the Kings' top prospects can pan out to their projected ceilings, the support given to the Doughtys and Kopitars of the world could be enough to spark another Western Conference title.

Gabriel Vilardi

1 Gabriel Vilardi, C (11th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1st) If you closed your eyes and thought of the prototypical Kings player from their rough-and-tough Cup-winning teams, Gabriel Vilardi would be the exact vision you get. The power forward has been an offensive force in the OHL for years, using his bulky 6-3", 203lb frame to wear opponents down and get to tricky positions with relative ease. Vilardi's finesse game is coupled with a set of quick hands that make him a difficult player to defend in one-on-one situations, and in addition to his dangerous offensive capabilities, he is a smart and strong two-way player. His skating, the flaw that dropped him on the board from as high as number-three all the way to 11th overall, has improved mightily since draft day in 2017, but it's clear a lack of speed could hinder his ability to rack up points in the NHL. The big righty will almost certainly be a King in 2018-19.

2 Rasmus Kupari, C (20th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Rasmus Kupari didn't exactly burn SM-Liiga up as a 17 and 18-year-old on a championship-winning Karpat squad, but his blistering speed, 65-grade edgework, and separation gear put him near the top of the Kings prospect rankings. The speedy center has an ever-improving sense of confidence and a willingness to experiment offensively, knowing he can always count on his wheels to bail him out. Though his wrist shot and rink senses need improvement for him to be an impact player at the NHL level, Kupari has the tools and the room to grow that justified Los Angeles using a first-round pick on the Finn. He can groom himself into a role as a fast third-liner with penalty skill potential, but with even the slightest step up in play-reading abilities, the right-hander can be much more. He will return to Karpat in 2018-19.

3 Kale Clague, D (51st overall, 2016. Last Year: 3rd) An offensive defenseman at heart, Kale Clague has been steadily improving the one thing that has ailed the former Brandon Wheat King and Moose Jaw Warrior; his defensive zone play. As soon as that area is at an NHL-ready level, the offensively-spectacular young gun can be an impact player with the Kings. Clague, who will fit perfectly in the offense-oriented John Stevens system, is a very smooth-skating, pass-first defenseman whose offensive skillset is unmatched at the WHL level. Clague took home the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the WHL's top defenseman in 2017-18, an honor given to guys like Ivan Provorov, Shea Theodore, and Tyson Barrie in the past. He's a very quick-thinking defenseman with great rink awareness and pro-like maturity. Clague will be under serious consideration for a spot on the Kings blueline this upcoming season.

4 Akil Thomas, C (51st overall, 2017. Last Year: IE) When we wrote that the Kings have lucked into some high-quality prospects, Akil Thomas was part of why that was necessary to say. Projected by many as a first-round draft pick, the elite playmaking center fell to the Kings at 51st overall, and L.A. made no mistake taking him. Thomas is an assist machine in any system with any linemates, as his vision, play-reading abilities, and overall hockey IQ allow him to slow the game down to his liking and create scoring chances from scratch. He was a penalty kill regular with Niagara last season and still had the second most (behind only Andrei Svechnikov) points per game in the OHL last year. It would help Thomas to be more creative and to improve off the puck, but the undersized righty plays such a smart and calm game that the Kings can trust him to grow through the junior ranks, to where he'll return in 2018-19.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan

5 Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C (41st overall, 2018. Last Year: 5th) Jaret Anderson-Dolan is a can't-miss prospect in an NHL trending faster and smaller. The undersized centerman has immense offensive capabilities and plays a highly-intelligent, versatile game, always processing the game well and competing to the highest possible level. He's capable of playing well with and without the puck, effectively sniffing out the puck and getting to quiet areas of the ice to keep chances flowing. After another successful year in the WHL with Spokane, Anderson-Dolan made a cameo with the AHL's Ontario Reign, and though there's not a huge chance he makes the Kings roster out of 2018-19 training camp, optimism that the left-hander will soon reach the NHL is still high. With a lot of defensive zone improvement still left to be done, it wouldn't hurt the 18-year-old to hold down the fort in Spokane for now.

6 Cal Petersen, G (Free Agent Signing: Jul. 1, 2017. Last Year: 8th) Cal Petersen's pure, raw skill and special dynamics scream future NHL goaltender. The former Notre Dame standout had a highly successful first year as a pro after signing with the Kings as a college free agent, stealing the Reign starting job and playing lights out hockey for the playoff-qualifying AHL club. Though his game is not as technically and fundamentally refined as that of other goaltenders his age, Petersen is freakishly athletic and mentally mature enough to improve over time. He gets into the right positions, read plays well, and competes with a tenacious, infectious snarl. With Quick and Campbell at the NHL level, Petersen has a high bar to clear, but can get there with time.

7 Mikey Eyssimont, F (142nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 14th) Fifth-round draft picks are supposed to be low-risk, potentially high-reward players with decent enough ceilings to give reason for a throw-away selection. Mikey Eyssimont, a point-per-game player this past season for St. Cloud State, is climbing up the Kings’ prospect rankings as someone that fits that description. A tremendous possession player who controls every part of the game when he has the puck, Eyssimont is smart, intense, and plays much bigger than his 6-0" frame. The lefty has a great wrist shot, is extremely creative, and has silky hands, making him a possible late-round steal if he pans out. He'll be playing with Ontario in 2018-19.

8 Aidan Dudas, C (113th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) With his 5-7", 165lb frame a major concern on draft day in Dallas, Dudas -- projected by McKeen's at 52nd overall -- fell over 60 spots down into the Kings' lap at 113. If you can look past his lack of size, Dudas is a steal. His offensive skill isn't Johnny Gaudreau-like, but those flashes of creativity and agility from Dudas last season at Owen Sound were almost Gaudreau-like. Never giving up on a play, he is able to generate scoring chances in a variety of ways, while displaying the multi-faceted gameplay style that allowed the Attack to play him on the PK and PP. He will likely stay at the OHL level for 2018-19.

9 Daniel Brickley, D (Free Agent Signing, Mar. 29, 2018. Last Year: IE) Daniel Brickley is one of several shrewd college free agent signings made by general manager Rob Blake in his brief tenure at the helm for the Kings. Brickley's excellence at Minnesota-Mankato earned him a contract last March, as his puck poise, patience, and smarts allowed him to total 35 points in 40 games last season and impress NHL teams. That calm demeanor is coupled with plus lateral movement and average hands. Although prone to the occasional defensive zone turnover, his offensive potential outweighs any mistakes he makes. Expected to play with Ontario in 2018-19 but could give the Kings roster a push out of training camp.

Markus Phillips

10 Markus Phillips, D (118th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11th) Markus Phillips' mental maturity shows on and off the ice. The fourth-rounder captained Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial in 2016-17 and showed his smarts as a dynamic two-way defenseman for Owen Sound for the past two seasons. He's not all brains, as he is an excellent skater with 60-grade lateral mobility, great edgework, and fabulous two-step acceleration. He won't be a franchise changer at the NHL level, but the stocky left-hander could play top-four and contribute to a power play and hold his own. He can get too aggressive and overly confident in his positioning at times, but his few flaws are teachable things.

11 Mikey Anderson, D (103rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 16th) Mikey Anderson is a textbook long-term project, but one worth taking the time on. The left-handed defenseman an excellent player in his own zone, with great gap control and stick-readiness that looks pro-like at just 19 years old. Anderson is calm and quick to get rid of the puck under pressure and has shown through the USHL and the NCAA levels that he's a very fast learner. He's not an explosive skater or a very lethal offensive defenseman despite being small and agile like a prototypical offensive blueliner but could be a good penalty killer and defense-first d-man at the pro ranks.

12 Sheldon Rempal, F (Free Agent Signing: Mar. 29, 2018. Last Year: IE) After attending several NHL development camps over his time at Clarkson University, scoring forward Sheldon Rempal signed with L.A. this past Spring. He's an offensive catalyst at the college ranks; despite his extremely light size (5-10", 165 lbs), he loves to take defenders one-on-one with the puck and head straight to the crease without it. His one-timer and wrist shot are electric, and he could turn out to be a power play triggerman in the future. A good skater, Rempal often bails on defense and relies far too much on his wheels to catch back up plays, something that will have to improve. The 23-year-old signed his ELC and will likely play in the AHL this season.

13 Bulat Shafigullan, F (82nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Shafigullan didn't tear the KHL up in 2017-18, but terrorized opponents in the Russian minor leagues with his agility and gift of a wrist shot. He's a tremendous offensive player with skill to burn, reading plays exceptionally well, anticipating where defenders will be, and exploiting the defensive scheme of the opposing team better than most 18-year-olds should be able to. With limited time in the KHL (under five minutes per game) and few appearances internationally, many scouts were skeptical of the Shafigullan pick, but the skills are there. He could stand to further grow into his 6-0" frame but should do well enough at the KHL ranks next year despite having a subpar physical game.

14 Chaz Reddekopp, D (187th overall, 2015. Last Year: 13th) Aiming to be the rare seventh-round draft pick to become a Kings staple, Chaz Reddekopp has the necessary skillset and a set of serviceable wheels to play a variety of roles on the Kings' blueline. A massive d-man in stature, he moves well for his size, adding to an increasingly effective offensive game. He's smart with the puck and responsible without it, using his frame to make a difference physically and keep opposing forwards at bay. It wouldn't kill him to shoot harder, especially with the pure strength he possesses, but his unteachable qualities stand out. After playing his final WHL game this past Spring, it's likely Reddekopp -- on an entry-level contract -- will play with the Reign in 2018-19.

Matt Villalta

15 Matt Villalta, G (72nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 17th) With Matt Villalta in the system, Cal Petersen's transition into the Kings' goaltender of the future won't be a walk in the park. Villalta's easy-going demeanor stands out, as the former third-rounder can never be bested mentally; he'll always stay calm in the crease and work on improving himself constantly. His athleticism is a subpar for a goalie as light as he is, but his vision is tremendous, and his competitiveness continues to increase in intensity. Consider how far he has come since not being drafted at the OHL level, to winning the starting job for a power house Sault Ste. Marie squad and earning the acclaim of NHL scouts, he is the perfect guy to potentially light a fire under Petersen and do even more at that.

16 Alex Lintuniemi, D (60th overall, 2014. Last Year: unranked) Alex Lintuniemi is an extremely raw, skilled player with creativity, agile skates for a big man, and good hands that have impressed scouts since his 2014 draft year. The Reign defenseman recently re-upped with the Kings organization, indicating that he's still a part of their future plans. He could use some simplification to his game, including taking fewer risks with the puck and being easier to play alongside in his own zone, but the pure talent is there, and a more defensive defenseman with strong puck-moving capabilities is a reasonable NHL ceiling as he fills out.

17 Nikolay Prokhorkin, LW (121th overall, 2012. Last Year: unranked) Prokhorkin has not played stateside since the 2012-13 season and at 24 is the oldest player in the Kings’ top 20. Nonetheless, the otherwise forgotten forward has the skills that necessitate a further look. His shot is powerful, he's a fine skater, and is game is mature enough to make an immediate NHL impact given that he's older than the majority of prospects in the league. He would have to sign a new contract to play with the Kings organization again, however he's signed for one more year with SKA of the KHL.

18 Drake Rymsha, C (138th overall, 2017. Last Year: unranked) Drake Rymsha has the gameplay assets of a guy who could have been drafted two rounds earlier in 2017, but the Kings swiped the Sarnia Sting center in the fifth round. He has great vision, good speed, and a competitive element that's always looking for more. His shot has improved, and his goal-scoring is an indicator of that, chipping in 31 goals to a Sarnia team with the revered Jordan Kyrou. Rymsha needs to cut down turnovers, become better at protecting the puck with his body, and take fewer penalties, but the potential to be another late-round steal is there. Rymsha could be headed to the Reign this season.

19 Austin Strand, D (Free Agent Signing: Nov. 27, 2017. Last Year: IE) Directly after signing a free agent deal with the Kings, Strand exploded into a magisterial offensive defenseman whose point production increased with the snap of his fingers. He possesses the ideal Los Angeles Kings size (6-4", 216 pounds), but can skate like someone much smaller, and has simplified his game around his mobility and two-way excellence, putting up 64 points in 69 games last season. Strand, who is set to join Ontario next season, just needs to be more consistent, but his NHL future is more of a "when" than an "if."

20 Sean Walker, D (Free Agent Signing: Jul. 3, 2018. Last Year: IE) Walker, another free agent NHL contract signing, played with the Reign last season after making the squad on an AHL contract. He's a hard-nosed defenseman with a blazing slap shot that found its purpose on the power play this past season, but also has a decent pair of feet with the quickness to evade pressure in his own zone. Walker has a sturdy frame despite his unimpressive 5-10" height and can protect the puck against the boards well. It's not likely he makes the Kings roster out of camp, but he's got some skill to build upon.

Los Angeles – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:19:26 +0000

In the last six years, the Los Angeles Kings have both won two Stanley Cups and twice finished out of the postseason picture altogether. These two conflicting results are not altogether unconnected.

Although there is major disagreement between statistical analysts and more traditional pundits, it should be fair to state that the first championship was unexpected. In 2012, the Kings were the eighth seed in the Western Conference, despite having championship caliber possession rates. They played a heavy, physical stifling game, making it very difficult for opponents to get anything going.

Although their approach only worked marginally well in the regular season, it was invincible in the postseason. Despite the shock of the title, the Kings have since been caught in the cycle of trying to recreate that approach, even as the key players who made it all work have aged and/or left the organization.

To keep the dream alive – and in fairness, the dream came true once again in 2014 – the Kings have traded away many young players and drafted more of a type that they presumed would fit in with the twice successful blueprint. As strong as the short term results of that strategy were (2014 Stanley Cup champs!), Los Angeles is now left with a shallow system, with too much uniformity among the prospect assets they still have.

As the organization let former GM Dean Lombardi and former coach Darryl Sutter go after the conclusion of this season, it is not likely fair to pre-judge their 2017 draft haul. But it is fair to note that they seemed to draft a different breed of player than they had been of late. More offensive skill and upside, less stress on size and ruggedness. In fact, none of the players they drafted is taller than 6-2”. Further, none of the 2017 draft class is a defensive specialist. Previous drafts generally had an abundance of those two player types.

This approach also ignored the fact that the Kings two championships were not the result of a team of grinders, but rather of a small set of stars who played within a strong system, that were supplemented by grinders on cheap salaries. As the stars (Kopitar, Doughty, Quick, Carter) grew more and more expensive, the need to have the second tier of the team come cheap grew. As discussed in the essay on another team, drafting grinders is not a sound strategy. Players who are already grinders as juniors are generally not skilled enough to play offensive roles (there are exceptions).

These grinders have not been good enough to make the NHL roster and give the Kings young, fresh legs to provide new supplements to the core. The only exception to this rule – in fact, the only Kings’ draftee to emerge as a legit NHLer from their last six draft classes, has been Tanner Pearson, drafted in the first round a few weeks after that first parade. Others will eventually join Pearson with the Kings, but their approach over a five year span, as an overall strategy, has been a failure and has set the team back in their current quest to regain their previous status as championship contenders.

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

1 Gabriel Vilardi – Held back by injuries in his draft year, Vilardi was one of the most surprising fallers on draft day, shockingly lasting to the Kings’ pick at #11. A phenomenal playmaker, with a big, stocky frame, he resembles Ryan Getzlaf more than a little bit. As he led Windsor tot the Memorial Cup, he seemed to create jaw dropping assists at least once per game. There are some concerns about his skating speed, but he is no worse than average there. His hockey smarts and heads up play will allow him to overcome that mild handicap.

May 21, 2015: Manchester Monarchs left wing Adrian Kempe (9).

2 Adrian Kempe – An electrifying skater, Kempe has scuffled a bit in his first two season in North America, but seems likely to make the Kings in a middle six role this year. A creative puck carrier, he can be very dangerous when given room to roam. He has a nice wrist shot and can reach a fifth gear when needed. Decision making issues have kept him from maximizing his natural tools, but he has been pushed at a young age. Turning 21 in September, he will get as many chances as he needs.

Kale Clague

3 Kale Clague – A smooth skating, offensively inclined blueliner, Clague, the Kings’ top pick in the 2016 draft, is still rounding out the rough edges he sometimes displays in his own zone. More a passer than a shooter, he controls the blueline well on the powerplay and is a good fit for the modern mold of the puck moving defender. Some expect him to be given serious consideration for the Kings roster this year, but he is more likely to go back to Brandon for one more season.

4 Jonny Brodzinski – A high end puck player, Brodzinski is the type of player most teams are hoping for when they take a late round flier on a collegiate, or college-bound player. He took big steps forward in his second AHL campaign, learning to use his shot with more frequency as well as more deadliness. He is an above average skater and has grown more comfortable with the physicality of the pro game, although his own style is quite clean. Has a chance to make the Kings out of camp.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, photo by Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

5 Jaret Anderson-Dolan – A plus skater with an excellent shot, Anderson-Dolan is an atypical Kings’ prospect in that he is physically undersized and was drafted almost solely for his offensive abilities. He processes the game quickly and has a high compete level. Impressive in how he can adjust his playing style to suit the game at hand. Needs to work on his defensive positioning and responsibilities as well as learn to create more on his own, but there is a lot to like here.

6 Paul LaDue – A former NCAA champ, LaDue was a great value for the Kings as a sixth round pick. He has developed tremendously on both sides of the puck since being drafted five years ago and was so strong in his first pro season, that he spent roughly one third of it in the NHL and is expected to make the NHL club out of camp in the third pairing. While his offensive tools (puck moving, shot, and skating) are all above average, his hockey IQ is a separator.

7 Austin Wagner – Likely the best skater in the Kings’ system, Wagner has not developed offensively as had been the expectation when he was drafted, but he plays an advanced two-way game and is an ace penalty killer. He is alert off the puck and tough on it. A better shooter than playmaker, he also plays the type of physical game that the Kings have long admired. His blend of skills, IQ and skating have the door open for him to develop into either a middle six or bottom six future role.

Cal Petersen

8 Cal Petersen – If not for an uncharacteristically bad performance in the Frozen Four semifinals, Petersen would have turned pro with the distinction of having improved his save percentage six years in a row, spanning elite U18 hockey, the NAHL, USHL and NCAA. He has a fantastic glove hand and plus agility. His play reading is generally very accurate allowing him to react correctly to opposition scoring chances. The Kings best goalie prospect since before Jonathan Quick made the NHL.

9 Alex Iafallo – After three solid seasons with Minnesota-Duluth, Iafallo exploded as a senior, leading the Bulldogs to a Frozen Four final. A high IQ forward, the Kings signed him as a free agent shortly after his final collegiate game. Although his top speed is only around average, his first few steps give him an edge in short races. He can cycle and curl with the puck and is comfortable rushing the net and sticking around to cause discomfort to opposing netminder and defensemen.

10 Mike Amadio – A top playmaker and goal scorer for North Bay in the OHL, Amadio adjusted well in his rookie AHL season showing no degradation to his offensive vision and general on-ice awareness. Both his shot and his puck skills grade out as above average and he makes up for average-at-best skating with his hockey smarts, as he wastes little effort going to pockets of the ice of little practical consequence. More willingness to use his strong shot could have him on the cusp of an NHL debut.

11 Markus Phillips – A fantastic skater, Phillips plays a 200-foot game and kicked his overall game into overdrive in his draft eligible season. Formerly a top ten pick in the OHL Entry draft, he has a high velocity wrist shot and very strong puck moving skills. His hockey IQ sometimes betrays him though, as he can get lost in his own end, or cough up the puck when under heavy fore-checking pressure. With minor refinements, he could be a good one.

12 Oscar Fantenberg – Born only three weeks after our cutoff for aged-based prospect eligibility, the Kings signed Fantenberg as a free agent this offseason. A veteran of six seasons of high level hokey in Sweden and one in the KHL, he plays a solid two way game, with understated puck moving skills. A solid skater with a high hockey IQ, he does not do any one thing exceptionally well, but likewise there are no negative traits that will drag him down. Likely to move right to the NHL in a depth role.

13 Chaz Reddekopp – This 2015 seventh round pick was drafting in the then Kings mold of plus-sized, defensive defenseman, but has since developed a strong offensive bent that gives him higher upside than many other prospects of this type. He has decent wheels for a big man, can play the puck or shoot it. He has grown more comfortable in all aspects of the game, indicative of his intelligence. He also is still a physical force, but now spends less time in the penalty box.

14 Mikey Eyssimont – A strong possession player, Eyssimont can carry the puck up the ice, control the game from the cycle, and uses long reach to either maintain, or re-establish possession. He has very soft hands and a sniper’s wrist shot. Would like to see him score more for St. Cloud State, but it is hard to complain about a player who led his team in both goals and points. Positions himself well to be available when one of his teammates is handling the puck.

15 Spencer Watson – The penultimate selection of the 2014 draft, Watson is an undersized point producer with an impressive track record in the OHL. His offensive tools are all above average with the ability to dangle, a strong shot and impressive top speed. His complete lack of a physical game may have been what kept him in the OHL for a fifth year, and he is now as ready as he ever will be for the challenge of the AHL.

16 Mikey Anderson – Younger brother of New Jersey prospect Joey Anderson, Mikey is a sneaky fast skater with good vision and a strong understanding of the game and his role within it. He does not have any one top end trait, but does everything well enough to find a role and be productive in it. Although slightly undersized, he plays a physical brand of hockey, but lacks the explosive force to be very effective at it.

17 Matt Villalta – Fresh off a very promising OHL rookie campaign, the Kings snatched Villalta as a third round pick, giving Petersen a challenger for the goalie of the future mantle. A decent athlete with above average competitiveness and play reading ability, he can remain calm and collected even under heavy pressure. He has come a long way in a short time span and there may be even more potential there with additional OHL experience.

18 Kurtis MacDermid – Passed over at the draft in his first year of eligibility, MacDermid did not need to try again, as the Kings gave him an ELC before his next OHL season could get cracking. While his puck skills are OK, any chance he has to make an NHL impact will come from his defensive zone play and high end physicality. He plays every inch of his 6-5”, 210 frame. Also spends way too much time in the penalty box. Better balance between aggression and recklessness could see him emerge as a third pairing guy.

19 Michael Mersch – Slow of foot and hand, Mersch nonetheless has been a strong offensive producer over the past three years in the AHL by dint of plus hockey IQ. He has a very big body and plays a big man’s game, crashing the net with abandon and thriving in the corners and near the crease. In addition to his skating deficit holding him back, he has been bitten by the injury bug the past two years. He may not have too many more chances to make his mark in the NHL.

20 Matt Roy – The literal definition of a two-way player, Roy played both left wing and defense as an amateur, but will be developed by the Kings on the blueline. Reliable in all facets of the game, he relies on positioning more than physicality in his own zone and smart puck play to contribute to the offense. Has no above average tools, but his impressive hockey IQ helps it all play up. Low ceiling, but a decent prospect.

An early judgement of the first post-Lombardi draft suggests that the Kings are taking a new tack to prospect acquisition, wisely looking for talent over a more pure focus on defensive play and physicality, as had previously been the case. In light of the years spent pursuing a repeat of their earlier successes, they are still two drafts away from re-establishing a pipeline worth envying.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Pacific Division – Los Angeles Kings

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:37:21 +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
1	11	4-N	4	Gabriel VILARDI	C	18	6-3/200	Windsor (OHL)
2	41	21-N	33	Jaret ANDERSON-DOLAN	C	18	5-11/190	Spokane (WHL)
3	72	16-NG		Matt VILLALTA	G	18	6-2/165	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)
4	103	51-N	100	Mikey ANDERSON	D	18	6-0/195	Waterloo (USHL)
4	118	50-N	69	Markus PHILLIPS	D	18	6-0/200	Owen Sound (OHL)
5	134	NR		Cole HULTS	D	19	6-0/190	Madison (USHL)
5	138	118-N		Drake RYMSHA	C	19	6-0/190	Ott-Sar (OHL)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	HT/WT	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	11	Gabriel VILARDI	C	6-3/200	Windsor (OHL)	49	29	32	61	12
2	41	Jaret ANDERSON-DOLAN	C	5-11/190	Spokane (WHL)	72	39	37	76	22
3	72	Matt VILLALTA	G	6-2/165	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	25	3	0	2.41	0.918
4	103	Mikey ANDERSON	D	6-0/195	Waterloo (USHL)	54	5	29	34	52
4	118	Markus PHILLIPS	D	6-0/200	Owen Sound (OHL)	66	13	30	43	44
5	134	Cole HULTS	D	6-0/190	Madison (USHL)	59	6	26	32	112
5	138	Drake RYMSHA	C	6-0/190	Ott-Sar (OHL)	65	35	27	62	80

Los Angeles Kings – Draft Grade: 60

On Day One, with the eleventh overall selection, the Kings were truly blessed to see Memorial Cup hero Gabriel Vilardi still available. A gifted playmaker with size, and phenomenal vision, he has a chance to see the NHL this year, but should reasonably be ready by the 2018-19 season. He could easily have been a top three selection.

LA used each of its six picks in Day Two on North American based players, including three more from the OHL, long a source of Kings’ draft picks, two from the USHL and one from the WHL.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, photo by Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

Their second rounder was another talented forward, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, a quick skater with a hard shot who projects as a middle six candidate. Between picks 103-134, they drafted three puck moving defensemen in Waterloo’s Mikey Anderson, Owen Sound’s Markus Phillips, and Madison’s Cole Hults. None have much in the way of size, but all are decent skaters and have been at least proficient in all three zones thus far in their young careers. Hults also offers some jam in his game.

Best value: Gabriel Vilardi, C, Windsor (1/11): As hard as it can be to get value at pick 11, we ranked Vilardi as the fourth best player in this draft class. His offensive vision and passing touch are close to elite and between those and his size and physical play, he resembles a young Ryan Getzlaf. For a team that needs offense outside of its top six, Vilardi will receive ample consideration to make the roster this year.

Biggest head-scratcher: Matthew Villalta, G, Sault Ste. Marie (3/72): Villalta is a decent young goalie who was the soft half of a timeshare with the Greyhounds although his numbers are far superior to his crease partner. My concern with Villalta here is that he was the fourth goalie taken while higher upside netminders like Stuart Skinner and Keith Petruzzelli were still on the board.

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

Scouting Reports – OHL: Alex Formenton, Markus Phillips, Ivan Lodnia

Scott Crawford — Sat, 20 May 2017 12:00:56 +0000

Scott Crawford profiles 2017 NHL Draft eligibles from the OHL expected to go in the middle rounds. Alex Formenton of the London Knights projects as a mid-second rounder with some work to do.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Alex Forementon of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Alex Formenton	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: C, Shoots L	H/W: 6-2", 165 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	London Knights, OHL (65-16-18-34-50)

Skating: Skating is Formenton's calling card. Whenever a dump and chase play is set he is usually the go-to player to forecheck because of his speed. His forward stride is what helps him take off from the start and move down the ice. He has both short and long strides to help him in close corners or move up the ice. His C cuts help him turn around better when his team has the puck. Being a winger, he skates up faster in the neutral zone and opens himself up better to receive a pass in the middle or along the side walls in the neutral zone when his teammates launches a first pass to him from the defensive zone. Grade: 60

Shot: Features a habit of being inconsistent with his shot ratio during games. In one game, he will manage to release 2-3 shots on goal, while in another game he will disappear. When he does shoot he usually uses a wrist shot that he lets off from the deep slot area. He will also shoot from the hash marks and has a decent release from his wrist shot. He depends on his teammates to pass him the puck and he des not move around too much when he shoots. Grade: 50

Skills: An average puck handler at best, Formenton does not possess the fast hands to move the puck around the ice or even up the middle. There were times where he could move around players with the puck, but he generally relied on his body to protect the puck and move around in the offensive zone. There are times when he can retrieve the puck in the corners and get back to the point or move around the net and make a play behind the net. He needs to work more on his backhand to forehand movement if he is hoping to build his offensive output for next year. He has shown he has the potential to be creative with the puck, but he needs to show that more in all three zones. Grade: 50

Smarts: His hockey smarts are evident in one game and then disappear in the next. He is smart in his own end in the sense that away from the puck he knows where to be in front of the net when two defenders double team one of his teammates who the puck, thereby providing his teammate with a good outlet. He knows how to make the little plays work such as being in a scrum, getting the puck and shooting it up the boards for a pass to an open teammate. The drawback to his hockey IQ is he overthinks plays in the defensive zone, such as missing hits along the side boards, letting skilled defenseman into his area after he bites on a fake shot, and not winning the 50/50 battles. These seem to be rookie mistakes that can be corrected with additional experience. Grade: 50

Physicality: Formenton is a pest that a lot of players hate playing against. He will play an annoying physical game like Ryan Kesler (although not as big) and get away with it. He may have a small frame, but he knows how to use it to his advantage. There are times when he makes mistakes such as not anticipating hits on time and drawing a boarding call as a result. Grade: 50

Summary: Alex Formenton projects as a 2nd round draft pick, but at the end of the season and during the playoffs those predictions were put into question. He has shown to be a capable skater at the OHL level and it is his best skill. He is less of an offensive threat because he does not have the puck handling skills to go against sizeable opponents. While his tall frame helps him move the puck, when he faces bigger and stronger defenders he is too easy to knock off the puck. If he can improve his puck skills and focus on his nutrition and weight training to build his body, he will be able to improve his possession game. His hockey IQ needs improvement as he showed inconsistency throughout the season. He was a raw rookie in the OHL and showed signs of improvement throughout the year, but failing to score no goals in 14 playoff games this year is a sign that he has a lot of work to do before he can be considered a as a potential future offensive producer at the highest levels.

Markus Phillips	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: D, Shoots L	H/W: 6-2", 200 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Owen Sound Attack, OHL (66-13-30-43-44)

Markus Phillips of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Skating: Another defenseman that has phenomenal skating ability while playing a 200-foot game, Phillips also has the capability of playing a North-South style as well. He is fast to get back into transition thanks to a quick cross over to back pedaling and he is still able to challenge forwards coming his way. If a player tries to cross over Phillips he will simply follow with them until they run out of room to skate. Grade: 60

Shot: Phillips has a wicked wrist shot that he can shoot from the blue line. He makes his mark because of the velocity at which he releases the puck. There were times when goaltenders would be caught off guard with how fast the puck was moving. Phillips can shoot while moving with the puck, which works to his benefit when he moves the puck up ice on an offensive rush or moves it around the offensive zone to create an open shot opportunity. Grade: 55

Skills: Phillips' puck moving skills during the regular season were highly consistent and he was more mobile with the puck at that time than he was in the playoffs. With the additional neutral zone traps in the postseason, Philips was inefficient with his puck movement when entering the offensive zone. Players would give him less space and he was incapable of moving forward without skating into traffic. In the offensive zone, he faced the same struggle when he was cycling the puck, as defenders would be in his face and he was unable to deal with the pressure. Grade: 55

Smarts: Phillips has questionable hockey IQ at times. Most often he can identify smart scenarios in which he can apply his skills, such as drawing forwards away from the open lanes with his stick and moving them to the boards with his body when they are entering his zone. He is a remarkably sound defenseman against a rush. Other times he looks like he is lost such as when he is protecting his own net, as he will sometimes move away and leave an open spot in front of the net for an opponent to use. He is usually a player to rely on for creating offensive chances, but in the playoffs, he struggled to use his teammates in the offensive zone. He is a marvelous player with good character and his teammates rely on his confidence to get through tough times. He was the captain of the Canadian entry to Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament and was leaned on for his two-way game to help contribute to the Team Canada’s style of play. Grade: 50

Physicality: A physically overbearing player that only stands at 6-0", but weighs in at over 200 pounds. He uses that frame in the defensive zone to battle for loose pucks and tends to comes out on top. He will throw good body checks along the boards with good positioning causing the puck to come loose while the puck possessor is either trapped along the boards or flat on the ice. Grade: 55

Summary: Markus Phillips is an intriguing player entering the draft. He has played in almost every major junior event to showcase his skill set including both the CHL Top Prospects game and the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament. He was not a standout, but he showed that he can play a simple game without causing too many mistakes in high pressure situations. This past season he showed up offensively to become a true two-way defenseman at the OHL level, proving that he was more than just a defensive player. He relies on his fast skating and good puck moving skills to help create offensive chances, but in the playoffs, they were neutralized under a neutral zone trap and tight one-on-one man coverage in the offensive zone. His hockey IQ is decent, but he showed that he still needs to work on recognizing his surroundings and where the puck is being played in the defensive zone. Once he has a better understanding of his playing style and how to adjust to different playing styles on the ice, he has a chance to be a dynamic two player at the highest level.

Ivan Lodnia	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: RW, Shoots R	H/W: 5-10", 180 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Erie Otters, OHL (66-24-33-57-24)

Ivan Lodnia of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Skating: Lodnia is a legitimate skating threat wherever he is on the ice. He can pick up speed from the boards and up the walls, adjust his speed entering the offensive zone, and even make mini strides to the boards to challenge for the puck. He has adapted his foot work by putting extra effort to the little things in his skating and it has helped him play better with his teammates. His mohawk turns can be a threat on the powerplay as he can skate anywhere even while being chased. His agility gives opponents extra worry when he is planning an offensive attack. Grade: 60

Shot: Shooting is not a problem for Lodnia as he tends to focus a lot of time to his aim. When he receives the puck, he spends about 3-5 seconds preparing his shot, unfortunately giving his defender more time to get in position to block a shot. He uses a wrist shot with a fast release that on many occasions can beat goaltenders from the bottom of the circles. He is patient with his shot selection though his shots fail to get through traffic all too often. In the playoffs that was a huge factor as he was limited to two goals during the Erie Otters' long playoff run. Grade: 50

Skills: A patient and skilled puck mover, Lodnia does not hesitate to move the puck up ice and does not often turn the puck over when he is entering the offensive zone. His quick decision making helps him be creative whether it is cross-ice passes, behind the net plays, or even making drop passes after he enters the offensive zone. What makes him a reliable puck possessor is his ability to move his stick with the puck when he is faced with pressure from behind or in front of him. He can move the puck closer to him or use his back hand to fend opponents away or better yet draw a penalty. Grade: 60

Smarts: Lodnia is an incredibly smart player that knows how play well without the puck. His IQ is noticeable on the ice when he is preventing opponents from moving around in his own zone or using his stick properly to stick check opponents to the corners instead of shooting when they are on a rush. He knows how to be in the right spot at the right time. He plays with passion, and is one of those players that coaches can rely on to make an impact play in his own zone. One thing he needs to improve on is his ability to take hits along the boards as he had a tendency to lose the puck along the boards because he was not in proper position to guard it. Grade: 55

Physicality: Despite his lack of preparation when facing hits and his undersized frame, Lodnia brings fire to his game when he is playing in the dirty areas. One area that he does not back down from is 50/50 battles as he does a good job of positioning his body against his opponents to protect the puck and wait for his skate to kick the puck away or for a teammate to snatch the puck away from the battle. Grade: 50

Summary: Ivan Lodnia is an extremely talented and underrated player in this year’s draft. He possesses a good array of talent and hockey IQ to possibly break out into the NHL within a few years. His skating is the best part about his game as he can play a 200-foot game without jeopardizing any of his team’s plays. He is one of the smarter players on the ice and is very dangerous with the puck on his stick. His shot selection needs improvement as he only possesses a good wrist shot and he needs to be faster on his release. He is one of the more visibly passionate players available in this year's draft class. When he gets more minutes of playing time next year he will be an offensive force to be reckon with. He is smart enough to already see the opportunities in front of him.

Ivan Hlinka Report: Team Canada

Grant McCagg — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 16:29:18 +0000

Expectations are always high for Team Canada especially having won eight consecutive gold medals at the Ivan Hlinka - and looking for a 20th overall title in the event's 25-year history.

At the start of the tournament I felt there may be six or seven solid first-round forwards, but as the tournament went on Canada looked more and more underwhelming... most didn't produce or stand out.

As for the blueline, this was perhaps the least impressive group of defencemen Canada has ever sent to the IH. Is there a top 60 prospect among them? Maybe not. Not sure any one player stood out above any of the others - all being pretty close in vanilla-ness... with average size and skills at best.

FORWARDS

Jordy Bellerive (2017), C, Lethbridge (WHL) - Least impressive forward... didnt play much, wasn't very noticeable. (4-0-0-0, GP-G-A-PTS)

Shane Bowers (2017), C, Waterloo (USHL) - Responsible..worked okay..more of a puck manager than an offensive guy...decent puck protection and okay on the cycle..not sure about his creativity. He produces in the USHL, then could go late first or 2nd. (4-1-0-1)

Maxime Comtois

Maxime Comtois (2017), LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL) - Needs a half step - but very smart, competitive. Looked real good. He played hard...he looked tired at the end, but make plays and can finish.. good puck skill Has a shot at the top ten. (4-4-1-5)

Mackenzie Entwhistle

MacKenzie Entwistle (2017), RW, Hamilton (OHL) - Skating is good north south, plenty of speed for his size, need work on his agility... Not much offensive potential shown. Physical dimensions are there, work ethic was fine. 25-40 potential if he can show some offence. (4-0-1-1)

Stelio Mattheos (2017), C, Brandon (WHL) - Played his role...scouts like that he stuck to it. Work ethic is there..finishes checks. Would like to have seen him in a more offensive role, but did what was asked of him. Let's see if he scores. (4-1-0-1)

Ryan McLeod (2018), C, Mississauga (OHL) - He didn't have a noteworthy performance at the Hlinka... but he'll have another 18 months to reach his enormous potential. (4-0-0-0)

Greg Meireles (2017), RW, Kitchener (OHL) - Limited skill..bottom line role. Competed okay. (4-0-0-0)

Michael Rasmussen

Michael Rasmussen (2017), C, Tri-City (WHL) - He went to the net...a bit more jam than Entwistle when comparing two similar sized-guys. Decent two-way center, has some playmaking abilities and puck skills..still needs to work on his quickness. 10-20 range most likely. (4-1-3-4)

Matthew Strome

Matthew Strome (2017), LW, Hamilton (OHL) - Needs work on his skating, inconsistent...like to see him compete harder, good skill and shot for his size. 1st round talent...likely top 15. (4-1-0-1)

Jack Studnicka (2017), C, Oshawa (OHL) - Didn't get a whole lot from him. Big kid, keep an eye on him. (4-0-0-0)

Nick Suzuki (2017), C, Owen Sound (OHL) - A responsible player, made some plays later in the tournament, smart, competes pretty well, size is the main drawback. Came in to center Comtois as the tournament went on and performed well. (4-1-2-3).

Owen Tippett (2017), RW, Mississauga (OHL) - He's got it all except perhaps vision...does not look for teammates as often as one would like. A good cycler, strong, can skate, good shot..needs to pass more. May be a top ten but looked 10-20. Will need to step up his team play. (4-1-1-2)

Joe Veleno (2018), C, Saint John (QMJHL) - Started to see some of the talent that made him an exceptional status player a couple of years ago...he'll be a dangerous offensive player by the end of next season. (4-0-4-4)

DEFENCE

Evan Bouchard (2018), D, London (OHL) - Lots of refining needed still on his defensive game..showed some indications that he may be capable puck rusher with decent size and skills. (4-0-0-0)

Josh Brook (2017), D, Moose Jaw (WHL) - Didnt play very much...one of those guys where suddenly he does something and you look down at the roster to see who he is as most of the tournament he was invisible. (4-0-0-0)

Antoine Crete-Belzile (2017), D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) - Not very big, not great offensively or defensively. He'll get lots of opportunity in BLB, but doesn't bring a lot of dimensions...best attribute is his mobility..but not very big or physical, didn't see any offence. 50-70 perhaps because he can skate and has some poise. (4-0-1-1)

Ian Mitchell (2017), D, Spruce Grove (AJHL) - He had one good game where he scored a couple of goals, defensively he was in and out. Worth keeping an eye on...has some off. skills. Maybe a 3rd rounder? Worth viewing. (4-2-1-3)

Markus Phillips (2017), D, Owen Sound (OHL) - Very average skater, average mobility. Smart, competes okay. Got beat one-on-one too often. Overrated by Hockey Canada, IMO. (4-0-1-1)

Elijah Roberts (2017), D, Kitchener (OHL) - Small...thinks he's a rover. Can carry the puck, tries...that's about it. Not a draft. (4-0-1-1)

Jonathan Smart (2017), D, Kelowna (WHL) - Not very smart. At times he looked okay..other times he had some struggles...some poor puck decisions at times. (4-0-1-1)

Michael DiPietro (2017), G, Windsor (OHL) - Okay junior goalie..inconsistent..small. (3GP, 2.01, .923)

Ian Scott (2017), G, Prince Albert (WHL) - Don't know about him yet, didn't play enough. Fulfills the size requisite. (1GP, 1.88, .920)