Mattias Hävelid – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #9 San Jose Sharks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:00:52 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 28: San Jose Sharks draft choice William Smith is shown during the first round of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, held on June 28, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

Mike Grier has been in the General Managers chair less than two years and has just begun to put his stamp on the team. The 2023 NHL Draft was his first calling the shots and he delivered some exciting prospects. They include our number one ranked affiliated prospect, Will Smith, who led the nation in scoring in the NCAA and is a dazzling offensive weapon. Also, in the first round he chose Quentin Musty, who personifies a boom or bust prospect, with offensive instincts, but also plays a physical game. If he can fix the problematic areas of his game, he could be a gem at 26th overall at the draft. It is this year where the excitement begins to build with the franchise picking first overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, almost certain to be Macklin Celebrini from Boston College. Celebrini, Smith and graduated prospect William Eklund could be weaving magic as early as next season. Regardless they will give the Sharks fans something to be excited about for many years to come and base to build upon.

Grier has been active on the trade front, weaponizing cap space, and largely acquiring young players and prospects, along with picks. He has not been afraid of blockbusters with many moving parts, have moved both Tomas Hertl at the trade deadline this year, and Timo Meier last year. Those trades netted three of their top ten prospects in David Edstrom, plus a first-round pick for Hertl, and Shakir Mukhamadullin in a huge package for Meier with many parts, but also included a first-round pick that turned into Musty. He further weaponized his cap space in the Erik Karlsson trade to Pittsburgh to take on some troublesome contracts and was rewarded with Pittsburgh’s pick this year, which should net a quality prospect at 12th overall. Coach David Quinn was let go at the end of the season, and the search is on as of this writing.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	`23(4th)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Quentin Musty	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	`23(26th)	53	43	59	102	72
3	Shakir Mukhamadullin	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	T(NJ-2/23)	55	7	27	34	24
					San Jose (NHL)	T(NJ-2/23)	3	0	1	1	4
4	Thomas Bordeleau	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (AHL)	`20(38th)	35	11	14	25	26
					San Jose (NHL)	`20(38th)	27	6	5	11	18
5	Filip Bystedt	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	`22(27th)	47	8	9	17	2
					San Jose (AHL)	`22(27th)	8	4	3	7	8
6	David Edstrom	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	T(VGK-3/24)	44	7	12	19	8
7	Kasper Halttunen	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	`23(36th)	57	32	29	61	61
8	Danil Gushchin	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	`20(76th)	56	20	34	54	24
					San Jose (NHL)	`20(76th)	4	1	1	2	0
9	Tristen Robins	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	`20(56th)	42	7	11	18	12
10	Jack Thompson	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	T(TB-3/24)	62	6	35	41	16
					TB-SJ (NHL)	T(TB-3/24)	3	0	0	0	0
11	Mattias Havelid	D	20	5-9/170	Linkopings (SHL)	`22(45th)	43	2	10	12	8
12	Cameron Lund	RW	19	6-2/190	Northeastern (HE)	`22(34th)	35	11	19	30	22
13	Ethan Cardwell	RW	21	5-11/195	San Jose (AHL)	`21(121st)	71	23	20	43	52
14	Brandon Coe	RW	22	6-4/190	San Jose (AHL)	`20(98th)	57	12	5	17	43
15	Ozzy Wiesblatt	RW	22	5-10/185	SJ-Mil (AHL)	`20(31st)	50	4	13	17	55

1. Will Smith, C, Boston College (NCAA)

He's still just 19 years old, but it really seems like two things are going to be constants for Smith throughout the remainder of his career: scoring boatloads of points and winning big hockey games. His lethal offensive talents helped lead USA Hockey to back-to-back gold medals internationally, first at the 2023 IIHF U18s and then the 2024 World Juniors. He also came excruciatingly close to winning an NCAA title too, before ultimately getting denied when his Boston College team fell in the Frozen Four final to Denver, but he did end up leading the entire nation in scoring, which is an exceptional feat for a freshman to achieve. With elite hockey sense, puck skill and playmaking ability he's a dazzling superstar in the making, and also worth mentioning, he should be able to further elevate the talented wingers in San Jose’s system that he will likely play with.

2. Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

The Sudbury Wolves like to play loose, take chances, and push the attack without mercy, and that style certainly pairs well with Musty's mentality. His game is all about inflicting damage, which usually comes in the way of scoring chances, but can also come through his physical play as well. There is something impressively innate about how he sees the offensive zone and the way can manipulate the puck at his whim. It's like it just comes second nature to him somehow, or that his stick is an extension of his body. However, that is both a blessing and a curse. He's so used to things coming easily to him that certain habits are lacking, which causes glaring weaknesses in areas that he has neglected to work on, such as his skating and defensive play. Few other prospects out there are so boom or bust.

3. Shakir Mukhamadullin, D, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

Far more than just a fun name to say out loud, Mukhamadullin was the best defenseman for the Barricuda this season. He probably deserved more time with the Sharks based on merit, but the organization acted wisely and patiently, letting his development keep rolling in the AHL while keeping him mostly insulated from the chaos that besieged the parent club. His long reach and impressive mobility give him a huge range of influence every time he steps on the ice, and while he’s still prone to mistakes with his puck decisions and play tracking, he can recover and get back into position in the blink of an eye. And then there’s his shot, which is a bazooka from the blueline, and he’s not shy about flipping the safety off. One more year on the farm might be best for him, but after that it should be time to unleash him.

4. Thomas Bordeleau, C, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

Going from the prestigious USA Hockey National Team Development Program and then the explosive University of Michigan to the painstakingly rebuilding Sharks organization must have been a whiplash-like culture shock for Bordeleau. And yet, this dramatic shift at this particular time might end up being the best thing for his long-term career once it’s eventually looked back upon in hindsight, because there was a prior need in his game for more grit and a better understanding of how to be resilient through adversity. He’s always been both a wizard and a seer once the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone, but it’s not going to get there very often in the NHL unless you lean into doing the requisite dirty work. Luckily, Bordeleau is already making these necessary gains, and once the Sharks can eventually field a competitive young roster he’ll be better equipped to step up.

5. Filip Bystedt, C, Linkoping HC (SHL)

Bystedt didn’t garner a lot of fanfare or media attention during his draft year, so a lot of Sharks fans were confused when the team seemingly went off the board and picked him in the 1st round in the 2022 draft. It always needs to be said, however, that development is a marathon and not a sprint, and the signs were there that the Swedish center was going to start picking up a lot of steam in short order. And now, after two prosperous seasons in the SHL and a terrific but short-lived first stint in North America, those carefully watered seeds are beginning to bear fruit. He is impossible to miss at times, with his forceful, elegant skating and ability to make high-end plays with the puck in motion. With his high-end traits and balanced supporting tools it seems inevitable that he’ll become a valuable NHLer.

6. David Edstrom, C, Frolunda HC (SHL)

There probably isn't a hockey coach in the world who wouldn't fall in love with Edstrom almost immediately. He is about as consistent, versatile and low-maintenance as hockey players come, and there is a ton of plug-and-play value to him, especially as a center. He can play the game any way you like and fit anywhere in a team's lineup. He’s already so wise and mature as a hockey player, and as a teenager this season in the SHL he looked like someone who could have already been in the league for 10 years. He's reminiscent of another former Frolunda center in Lars Eller, in the sense that he'll likely never be a superstar, but it's easy to foresee him as someone who plays 1,000 games in the NHL and is always great to have on your roster come playoff time.

7. Kasper Halttunen, RW, London Knights (OHL)

Halttunen crossed the pond for the first time this season, leaving his homeland of Finland for London in the OHL, and that decision is paying major dividends so far. He crossed the 30-goal mark during the regular season and got to experience a playoff push on a great club while being surrounded by extremely talented teammates that he can learn from and grow alongside. The Knights are also already looking like they will be favourites to win the OHL next year, so that will be even more valuable experience that he will have access to. His best asset is undoubtedly his rocket of a one-timer, which he utilized to earn a tie for most powerplay goals in the league with 16. Look for him to be a leader for the Finns at next year's World Juniors as a returnee and top talent.

8. Daniil Gushchin, RW, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

It's already well-known and well-documented how rough of a season the Sharks organization had from top to bottom, so give full marks to Gushchin for how great of a job he did blocking out the noise. He kept up a point-per-game scoring pace from bow to stern, and also potted a goal and an assist in the four games where he was called up to the big club. His energy level is matched by few others and he loves to keep his motor revved high, and most of his offensive production comes as a direct result of his hustle, but he's no slouch either when it comes to setting up his teammates or finishing plays himself. One man's crisis is another's opportunity, and Gushchin is using the situation in San Jose to force his way into an NHL roster spot.

9. Tristen Robins, C, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

Making a living as a professional hockey player is an incredibly demanding job, and being successful usually involves striking a balance between the skill elements and the athletic elements. Knowing that, you have to feel for Robins a little, because he grades super highly with how he thinks the game, how he carries himself, how hard he competes, and what he can do with the puck, but he is inescapably limited in some ways because of the physical tools he was born with. He’s just not very big or naturally fast, and with the reach and mobility of modern defensemen he’s always going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to creating enough time and space for himself to work with. All that being said, his character is just so high that it will take him a long way. Don’t count him out completely.

10. Jack Thompson, D, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

The Lightning moved Thompson to the Sharks in the Anthony Duclair trade but it must have really stung them to do so, considering he was their best defense prospect and is already looking like a success story for their scouting and development system. The pecking order in San Jose is a whole lot more crowded compared to Tampa Bay's thin prospect pool, but if he keeps progressing like he has since he was a teenager then he'll be just fine, because teams will always find ways to make room for a right-shooting blueliner with workable mobility, a heavy slapshot, and a willingness to dig in and defend hard. There's a comfortable NHL projection with Thompson because he fits so well with so many different kinds of defense partners, and there’s still a realistic chance that he could play as high up a team’s lineup as the second defense pairing.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

2024 WORLD JUNIORS CHAMPIONSHIP – December 28th, 2024 – Game Reviews

Jamison Derksen — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 22:44:41 +0000

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - DECEMBER 28: Jimmy Snuggerud #81 of USA celebrates his first period goal against Switzerland with teammate Rutger Mcgroarty #2 in Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship at Frolundaborg on December 28, 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)

USA 11 - Switzerland 3

Will Smith opened the scoring just over a minute in, and Jimmy Snuggerud recorded a hat-trick to put the game out of reach while it was still in the first period in a game that six Americans recorded multipoint outings, led by a four-assist game by Frank Nazar. The Swiss were led offensively by Gregory Weber, who recorded a goal and an assist. The United States dominated, but Switzerland was able to generate some chances off the rush and the teams ended up playing a bit of a back and forth third period where each team scored twice.

Sweden 5 - Germany 0

Coming off one of the biggest wins in German world junior history yesterday against Finland, the Germans were able to keep Sweden off the scoreboard for most of the first period, but Otto Stenberg opened the scoring with a great shot off the rush. The second period was more of the same with Sweden outplaying the Germans but being unable to score until Mattias Hävelid converted with just over a minute left in the second to make it 2-0. The third period featured a few Swedish powerplays, and Otto Stenberg scored a couple to complete a hat trick. Noah Ostlund also got in on the scoring action, slipping one five-hole with 5:27 left.

Three Stars

#1 - Jimmy Snuggerud, USA

The first period of USA vs Switzerland was the Jimmy Snuggerud show, the St. Louis Blues prospect had five shots, and converted three times in the opening frame. Snuggerud showcased his ability to score in a variety of ways with a deadly wristshot from distance, but also being able to quickly grab rebounds and shovel them in. The American forward was also denied on a breakaway in the first period. He was held off the score sheet for the rest of the game, but it was already out of reach, which was largely due to the start that Snuggerud gave team USA. Snuggerud was a star in last year’s World Juniors, finishing third in tournament scoring with 13 points; he's up to five in two games so far this year.

#2 Zeev Buium, USA

On a roster littered with older, high-profile offensive defenceman like Lane Hutson and Seamus Casey, it was draft eligible blueliner Zeev Buium that stood out on Thursday. Not only did he contribute a goal and an assist, but he was executing and showcasing his creativity without turning the puck over. The opening goal for the United States was a fantastic individual effort by Buium followed by a perfectly places seam pass that was one-timed in. He led the team in ice time and was on the ice for seven American goals today. Buium has an excellent opportunity to raise his draft stock as the tournament progresses if he continues to impress.

#3 Otto Stenberg, Sweden

St. Louis Blues 2023 first rounder Otto Stenberg was a standout offensively today for team Sweden. He opened the scoring in the first period, and scored a big power-play goal midway through the third period with a one-timer from the bumper position to make it 3–0, then added a hat trick goal a couple minutes later. Stenberg, who plays for Frolunda, showed up in his home rink when Sweden needed goals in a game they were dominating, showcasing a dangerous shot and excellent puckhanding throughout the game. His three goals today match his season total with Frolunda so far this season.

MCKEEN’S 2024 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – Team Sweden

Felix Robbins — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 13:18:29 +0000

After a disappointing 2022-2023 tournament showing by their standards, the medal-less Swedes are looking to return with a vengeance. Their roster is chock-full of high-end talent, opting to go with no draft year prospects. All but two players (Vancouvers Tom Willander and Ottawa’s Kevin Reidler) are playing in highly competitive men’s professional leagues. They have home ice advantage. To say the stage has been set for them to take a deep run at the gold would be putting it lightly. However, this is somewhat the same story we’ve heard for a while, save for the home ice advantage. The Tre Krona always feature highly skilled prospects on their team, yet never seem to play up to their potential. What’s going to be different this time?

The forward group consists of an imperious top 6, featuring lethal offensive talent in Noah Ostlund (Buffalo), Jonathan Lekkerimäki (Vancouver), Liam Öhgren (Minnesota), and Felix Unger Sorum (Carolina) among others. There are strong two-way players such as Filip Bystedt (San Jose), David Edstrom (Vegas), and Anton Wahlberg (Buffalo), as well as role players like Zeb Forsfjäll (Seattle) and Oskar Petterson (Ottawa) to fill out the bottom 6. I would expect an offensive-oriented top 9 with a checking bottom line.

Their defensive core is as solid as it could be, possibly one of the best and deepest in the tournament. A great combination of size, speed and skill, featuring the likes of Axel Sandin Pellikka (Detroit), Elias Salomonsson (Winnipeg), Tom Willander (Vancouver), and Matthias Hävelid (San Jose) to name a few. You can expect this D unit to make an impact in all three zones.

Perhaps the biggest question is in net, which features a completely new cast of players. Hugo Hävelid (2004) is the brother of D man Mattias, nephew of coach Magnus Hävelid, and has a proven track record in international tournaments. Melker Thelin (Arizona) has posted very respectable numbers in the HockeyAllsvenskan and HockeyEttan. Massive 6’6” Kevin Reidler (Ottawa) has struggled to start the year in the USHL, but has shown that he can bail out a team in the playoffs during his time in the Swedish J18 and J20. One of them must seize the starter’s job, and it will be very exciting to see who earns the spot.

With Canada and USA entering the tournaments as heavy favourites to win, the Swedes ought to have a pretty big chip on their shoulder. The potential for a gold medal winning team is there. It is up to them to prove that they aren’t just a good roster on paper, but on the ice as well.

Sweden’s first game of the round robin is against Latvia on the 26^th. They then play Germany on the 28^th, Canada on the 29^th, and finally the USA on the 31^st.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki of Sweden during a under-20 international friendly ice hockey game between Sweden and Switzerland on December 19, 2023 in Ängelholm.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / BILDBYRÅN / kod MT / MT0510

Ten to Watch

Jonathan Lekkerimäki – LW

It is often said that good things tend to come in threes. If you’re Jonathan Lekkerimäki, you hope that this continues to be the case. He is in his third pro season, where he has put up a formidable 10 G, 6 A in 24 GP with Örebro in the SHL. He is entering his third and final WJC at the U20 level with a chance for his third IIHF WJC medal - ideally a gold one. As the most tenured swede on the roster, Lekkerimäki is expected to be “the guy” and projected top scorer for the Tre Kronor. He has always been a shooter, but his physical strength and playmaking has taken a huge step. There are some questions about whether or not he has the drive to go inside or if he is content on the perimeter, but no question about his confidence in his abilities and his drive to improve. I expect that he’ll slot into the 1st line RW and 1st power play unit.

Noah Östlund - C

No matter how deep a team thinks they are down the middle, a top talent like Noah Östlund is going to push everyone down the depth chart. This is especially true internationally, where he has scored 14 points in 19 games played at the U20 level of play. Östlund is a speedy, intelligent, offensive dynamo who’s on the smaller side for a C. Despite a bit of mass amassing to do, he has the tools to deal with the physicality of the SHL and still be productive. He should be a lock for the top 6 and should be the 1st line center. However, I wonder if maybe he centers the 2nd line due to most of Sweden's more offensively talented players lacking a bit of size. No question he’s on the top power play unit as well. Östlund had a good showing last year at the WJC, but this year the expectation is for him to be an impact player for Sweden and someone who drives play whenever he’s on the ice.

Liam Öhgren – C/W

The last, but certainly not the least of the 2022 Draft’s “Djurgården 3” (Lekkerimäki, Östlund, Öhgren), Öhgren hasn’t made much of an impact at the WJC U20 yet despite heading into his 3rd tournament. For Sweden, this is the year he really needs to step up and step into the bigger role he’ll no doubt be expected to have. He’s lost a good portion of his SHL season to injury, so hopefully the tournament can serve as a springboard and propel him into the new year with a gold medal around his neck. Always a lethal scoring threat, Öhgren processes and plays the game at a high tempo. He has the ability to catch passes, make plays, and get his shot off in-stride - he doesn’t slow down for anyone. I imagine he’ll slot right into the top 6 - maybe even the 1st line, depending on how Sweden wants to spread the wealth of talent they have.

Axel Sandin Pellikka - D

If there's anyone on the Swedish team with a chip on his shoulder, it should be Axel Sandin Pellikka. He had a rough go of it last year at the WJC, both offensively and defensively. However, this year is going to be different. He has put up 9G, 4A in 25 games so far in his D+1 season, outscoring most forwards of his draft class in the very same league. If that is any indication of what’s coming to Goteborg in a couple days, look out! ASP is quite possibly one of, if not the best skaters at the tournament. He’s an offensive defenceman who you can’t take your eyes off of for a moment or give any space to whatsoever. He is an incredibly creative playmaker, reliable passer, and possesses a quick release to boot - a bonafide triple threat. He’s also a monster in transition - his rush patterns and mobility leaves forecheckers completely bewildered. He’s developed a more than competent defensive game, to top it off. He should be the undisputed 1D for Sweden and the PP1 QB.

Tom Willander – D

Unlike most Swedish players in their development journey, Tom Willander has taken the road less traveled and gone overseas to play college hockey. He’s acclimated nicely to North American ice, potting 8 points in 15 games in a key role with BU. Hopefully, this unorthodox D+1 has given him some sort of intel on how he needs to play against his North American counterparts, and gets him into the Canucks AHL affiliate sooner. Despite the tournament being on familiar turf, this will be Willander’s 1st tournament at the U20 level and only his 2nd time at a WJC event. Those unfamiliar with him can expect a smooth, efficient skater and a very active defender. He’s got an imposing physical edge as well, and he should be a strong two-way presence (leaning more defensively) on the backend for Sweden. Don’t be surprised if he assists a ton of Sweden's zone entries with his crisp passes as well. I expect him to log top 4 minutes and to be one of the teams most used PKers. There are going to be quite a few eyes on the 2023 11th overall pick (who some saw as a reach at the time), so hopefully he makes the moment count to dispel any narratives.

David Edstrom - C

Whatever the young Vegas draftee can do for his team, he will do. As a big, cerebral two-way center who plays solidly in all three zones, Edstrom will be relied upon to do a little bit of everything in his first WJC U20 tournament. He reads the ice well and pays close attention to detail - he’s probably one of the strongest off-puck forwards Sweden has. He’ll bring a ton of value offensively by getting his hands dirty on OZ retrievals and by floating to soft ice - a player profile that Sweden doesn’t have much of. Despite not being flashy, there isn't a doubt in my mind that Edstrom has the ability to anchor a line full of more dynamic talents with his intelligence and the completeness of his game. Sweden is so incredibly deep this year that a talent like David Edstrom will most likely end up centering the 3rd line. He’ll definitely play on the PK and perhaps even the PP as well, if needed.

Elias Salomonsson - D

After only seeing 3 games of international play last year, Elias Salomonsson is back with a vengeance. He’s really stepped up his game and carved out an identity for himself as a defense-first puck moving defenceman with Skelleftea AIK in the SHL, and that is what Sweden is hoping to get out of him here at the WJC. His excellent skating can be relied upon to shut down opponents, transport the puck, and join the rush. He doesn’t have the best hockey sense so he can’t make plays like his more offensive blueliners, but Salomonsson isn’t a black hole and should be able to provide some value with his above average passing and stickhandling ability. The Winnipeg Jets’ prospect should be a lock for a shutdown defenceman role with heavy usage on the penalty kill, but don’t be surprised if he surprises with stellar transitional play. Hopefully the unforced errors are kept to a minimum and he makes a quiet impact like the best defensive defensemen are known to do.

Mattias Hävelid – D

After missing the 2022 tournament due to injury, Hävelid is back in the yellow and blue and ready to make an impact. Hävelid has had a ton of international experience, and a productive experience at every level. So, while this is nothing new for the Sharks blueliner, he won’t be taking this opportunity lightly. Hävelid is an incredibly mobile offensive defenceman. Next to Axel Sandin Pellikka and Lane Hutson, his offensive toolkit may be the best among defencemen in the tournament. He’s got an absolute weapon of a shot and can let it go in so many ways. His passing game is mature and creative. He can handle the puck with flashy, yet dependable skill and can make the right play under pressure with ease. Hävelid will most likely be in the top 4 for Sweden, probably paired up with a defensive specialist like Elias Pettersson or Anton Johansson to make up for his weakness in his own end. The interesting question is in his PP deployment - I’ve pencilled Axel Sandin Pellikka into the 1st unit QB slot, but Hävelid may challenge him for that. No matter how you delegate the roles, opposing teams will have no quarter if they are undisciplined.

Otto Stenberg – LW

After a draft season with ups and downs and an explosion of points at the u18 worlds, Otto Stenberg is making his WJC U20 debut as a supremely talented winger struggling to find consistency in his game. With just 3 goals and 3 assists in 22 games in the SHL, the results aren’t anything to write home about. Despite the growing pains, Stenberg is a fierce competitor and has a history of always showing up for international bouts. Sweden is going to need the best version of him to win it all. Stenberg is a dynamic, perceptive playmaker with a great shot and silky-smooth mitts. He’s very manipulative with the puck on his stick and isn’t shy about attacking the middle. What he lacks in all-around game he makes up for in flashy skill, and he should be the perfect complement to a strong two-way center like, say, David Edstrom. I expect Stenberg to be a middle 6 wing and most likely see PP time - hopefully we see the young Blues prospect’s best version of himself.

Filip Bystedt - C

If Bysted could choose to have a repeat performance of last year, both in pro play and the WJC, I think he would. He had a phenomenal year with Linköping in the SHL last year as a D+1, but hasn’t quite taken that next next step this season. Still, one would hope that the 6’4 power center is looking at the tournament as a way to right the ship. The Sharks prospect is a great puck handler, likes to play with speed and knows how to take the puck to the net. He’s a solid playmaker and has a quick release. His skating is coming along nicely and he’s rounded out his game a bunch since his draft year. Adding to the sheer wealth of talent that Sweden has to offer, Bystedt will most likely find himself centering the 2nd line and playing in all situations. He is going to play a vital part in Sweden’s tournament ambitions, so let’s hope there’s some magic left over from 2022 in him.

Sleeper: Felix Unger Sörum – LW

When Carolina took Felix Unger Sörum at 62nd overall as one of the youngest players of the 2023 draft class, I don't think they expected him to last as long as he did in NHL camp and nearly seize a roster spot a few months later. The winger is a superb set up man. His passing and playmaking skills are his M.O., and he keeps defenders on their toes with his shifty body movement and stickhandles. He’s very intelligent and competitive, and his vision is borderline elite. He does lack size and unfortunately doesn’t have very strong skating to make up for that lack of size/physicality. However, his compete and playmaking ability is so good that it’s going to be impossible to take him out of the lineup. While he may initially end up getting pushed down the depth charts due to the talent on Sweden’s roster, Sörum will end up playing himself into a much bigger role with the team as the tournament goes on. Don’t sleep on Felix Unger Sörum - he is a sleeper in name alone.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – SAN JOSE SHARKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #12

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 18:09:08 +0000

Top 20 San Jose Shark Prospects

1. Shane Wright

To say that Wright had an eventful season would be an understatement. He went from the NHL to the AHL, then to the World Juniors, then back to the OHL, where he joined Windsor for the first time following the trading of his rights, and finally back to the AHL for Coachella Valley's playoff run. His results over that span were a very mixed bag. He didn't look NHL-ready in the fall but left a serious statement in his early AHL stint. He won a World Juniors gold as Canada's captain but didn't personally dominate during the tournament. He was great during the OHL regular season, but quiet as his team was swept in the opening round of the playoffs. Overall, it wasn't the performance that people expected out of a player who had been projected by many to go first overall in 2022, though you can't discount the possible impact of all the instability. Finding a steady environment for him next season will be paramount.

2. Eduard Sale

A slick trickster, Sale entered the last season looking like a possible top 10 pick in the 2023 draft, ultimately slipping to the Seattle Kraken at 20th overall. Coming off his first full season in the Czech Extraliga, where he led all rookies with 14 points and took home Rookie of the Year honors, Sale also made his presence known for his country at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, WJC, and U18 Worlds. In fact, it was at that last tournament, as an underager in 2022, where he really arrived on the scene as a top prospect, racking up 8 assists in 6 games while being the prime set-up master for top prospect Jiri Kulich. Sale’s movement stands out as a top trait, stemming from technically-sound skating mechanics. He’s able to accelerate quite quickly, reaching his top speed effortlessly while displaying strong edges that he utilizes to change direction on a dime. Deceptive with quick shoulder drops and head fakes, his puck-handling is another top-flight trait and is perhaps only topped by his instinctive passes. That he’s also strong in small-area battles will be a big plus, because he’s scheduled to join the OHL Barrie Colts for 2023-24, which should be a wonderful barometer for determining just how far he is in his development.

3. Ryker Evans

Seattle made a bold move when they selected Evans with the 35th overall pick in 2021, going way outside the consensus of publicly published draft lists to nab the overager. That decision is looking better and better as time passes. Coachella Valley was one of the best teams in the AHL in 2022-23, and despite being a rookie he was already one of their best players. He is a dynamic difference-maker from the back end, able to break pucks out of his own zone, move them safely up the ice, and contribute to getting them in the opposing net. He makes a big impact at both even strength and on the powerplay. He defends pretty well too, by focusing on his gaps and getting sticks on pucks precisely. Evans was a number one defenseman in his days with WHL Regina, and if he stays on his current trajectory, he should become top half of the lineup kind of player for the Kraken, too.

4. Jagger Firkus

There is a certain ’X factor‘ to Firkus that is difficult to describe, but anyone who has watched him a lot can attest to its presence. There are times where it looks like he just inherently knows that he's going to beat you offensively, and in those moments, there is absolutely nothing that you can do to stop him. If it weren't for some other WHLer named Connor Bedard, Fircus’ goal-scoring prowess would get a lot more attention. Not only can his shot find any bit of space that a goalie is careless enough to offer up, but his ability to sneak into dangerous ice in the offensive zone is almost supernatural. A scout's common sense might note that small, scrawny players with questionable skating ability don't usually pan out in the NHL. Then again, Firkus is anything but common.

5. Jani Nyman

There are still games where Nyman blends into the scenery a little too much, but when he's really on his game he is one of the best players on the ice, even against older competition. He's a hulking winger who can work a cycle, score from in tight or distance, find teammates with high-danger passes at the right times, and move up and down the ice with momentum. Even more exciting is his continued progress in all these different areas, and if that continues, the end result could see him become an exhausting nightmare to contain or defend against at the highest levels, very similar to someone like Alex Tuch in Buffalo. If Seattle is smart, they will patiently let Nyman lay as much groundwork as necessary and then take his time building upon it to ensure he eventually reaches his highest possible ceiling.

6. David Goyette

Goyette is one of the smoothest skaters that you'll ever see at the junior level. He's just so fast, agile, and nimble, which allows him to create separation in all directions. He's also an impressively clean puck handler in motion, so it won't come as a surprise then that he is a go-to player in transition or that he is at his most effective offensively off the rush. When he does get in tight, he can deke goalies into paralysis. His lack of strength is a weakness, and it looks unlikely that he will ever be able to bulk up much, but you can't hit what you can't catch, so he should be able to remain successful so long as he doesn't lose a step with his skating. Goyette is a true leader in Sudbury and was instrumental in pulling them out of the OHL's basement and back into the playoffs last season.

7. Ty Nelson

Heading into the 2022 NHL Draft weekend there was talk that Nelson could sneak into the first round, but he ultimately fell a lot further than that, all the way down to the third round. Seattle certainly isn't complaining now, because they selected a player who suddenly had a chip on his shoulder, determined to prove the doubter wrongs, which is exactly what happened. The first overall pick in the 2020 OHL draft cemented himself as one of the best defensemen in the league, logging a mountain of minutes and leading the blueline for a Battalion team that finished second during the regular season. For a small guy he has a big personality, an elite compete level, and a cannon of a shot. Nelson could become a special player if he can continue harnessing his energy into explosive play without being too reckless.

8. Lukas Dragicevic

When it comes to offensive defensemen, there simply aren't many others who are as dangerous as Dragicevic from the offensive blueline onward. He possesses elusive footwork and slick hands, which he can use in tandem to dance around and embarrass anyone who tries to recklessly pressure him. He has a bomb of a slapshot that he loves to uncork, but he also has a hard, accurate wrister that he can use to try to beat goalies clean or send in for a deflection. As good as he is on the attacking line, he's also not shy about getting closer to the net to generate offense. Unsurprisingly, he's a monster on the powerplay. Dragicevic is additionally a major factor at driving the play up the ice. However, as easily as he can pull you out of your seat when h has the puck, he can just as easily make you pull out your hair with his mistakes and inconsistency. His decision-making is downright baffling at times, with frequent unforced turnovers. He can get lost in his own end, and worse yet, will often completely shut off his effort. He will need the right shutdown-minded partner on his left side who can cover for his risk-taking.

9. Carson Rehkopf

Rehkopf’s strong athletic profile made him a very intriguing player for scouts this year, even with concerns over the variance in his engagement level. His skating explosiveness is a strength, and it makes him a great quick strike player who can consistently beat defenders to spots or pucks. Additionally, his shot was one of the heaviest in the 2023 draft class. When he’s on, Rehkopf is dialled in physically and flashes the tools to be a very good two-way player and potential shutdown type. When he’s off, he tends to disappear and makes little impact. Are the issues with consistency related to conditioning, mindset, confidence, or all three? We’ll find out the answer in the next few years, but for now, Seattle will need to be patient with Rehkopf as he figures out what kind of player he wants to be. With OHL Kitchener rebuilding this year, he’ll get all the ice time that he can handle, barring a trade to a more stacked club.

10. Oscar Fisker Molgaard

One has to wonder if there’s any such thing as a coincidence when a team hires one of the few former Danish NHLers (namely Frans Nielsen) and a few months later selects the only Danish player of note in the following draft. Regardless of any external motivations, Seattle has added a player to its suddenly burgeoning prospect bin who was one of this season’s biggest surprises in the Swedish SHL. Coming seemingly out of nowhere, Molgaard suited up for 41 SHL games, with his +6 for a struggling club being perhaps the most noticeable outcome of his play. A fleet-footed lightweight who has shown himself to be a playmaker at the junior level, he approaches the game with maturity and a strong understanding of play both with and without the puck. Tricky and creative with the puck, Molgaard is very adept at finding shooting lanes and displaying slick mitts around the goalmouth area. His forte in an offensive sense nonetheless remains the carrying and distribution of pucks. Translating those abilities to SHL play turned heads in the scouting community last season. With time on his side, he’s scheduled to continue his development with HV71 this season.

11. Caden Price

A recent draft pick of the Kraken, Price had a disappointing draft year on a poor Kelowna team. There’s a lot of hope that his play will pick up as the team around him improves. Decision making can be an issue, but Price has the potential to be an impact defender at both ends.

12. Tye Kartye

Talk about a great story. Kartye has gone from obscure OHL free agent signing to scoring big goals in the NHL playoffs for the Kraken within a single season. Kartye is so good away from the puck, a testament to the way he thinks the game. He could be a longtime fixture on Seattle’s third line.

13. Ryan Winterton

Winterton just needs to stay healthy. That’s it, that’s all. When he’s on the ice, like last season’s OHL playoffs, he’s an impact player. But the injuries remain a lingering issue, especially given the power forward style that he likes to play. He’ll turn pro this year and fingers crossed that he has put the injuries behind him.

14. Tucker Robertson

Robertson is such an easy player to cheer for given his tenacious style of play. His engine never stops. He was a pillar of strength for Peterborough in their OHL title run last year and it will be interesting to see how his offensive game translates to the pro level this year. The keys are continuing to improve his speed and quickness.

15. Jacob Melanson

The improvement over his QMJHL career was outstanding, with Melanson ending his time in the Q scoring 50 goals last season. Better yet, he brings value outside of scoring with his physicality. Another player to watch as he turns pro this year.

16 Niklas Kokko

A second-round selection in 2022, Kokko had a promising season, split between Liiga and the Finnish second tier. Signed by the Kraken, where Kokko plays this year remains a bit of a mystery, but at this point he appears to be the top goaltending prospect in the system.

17. Semyon Vyazovoi

Evaluating Russian goaltenders pre-KHL can be difficult. But Vyazovoi has been lights out in the MHL and was even impressive in the Russian second league (VHL) last year. Seattle is hoping that he can get some time in the KHL as a 20-year-old this season.

18. Ville Ottavainen

Offense will never be a big part of Ottavainen’s game, but he shows a lot of promise in the defensive end with his combination of length, mobility, and physicality. After two good seasons in Finland, he’ll be playing in Coachella Valley this year.

19. Tyson Jugnauth

Not a lot of players had good years on Wisconsin last year, but Jugnauth was one of the few. His freshman season showed a ton of promise, especially in the offensive end. He’s likely to be a three- or four-year college project, but the upside is big.

20. Logan Morrison

When Morrison finally signed an NHL deal towards the end of the OHL season, those who follow the OHL closely rejoiced. No one deserved it more. Yes, there are concerns over his skating and projection, but the IQ and playmaking ability are high end.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #12 San Jose Sharks

Josh Bell — Sun, 21 May 2023 12:59:01 +0000

It has been a year since Doug Wilson turned over the GM reigns after missing the playoffs for three straight years, following an impressive 19 years of sustained success. He was ultimately replaced by Mike Grier in July following the draft. This year will be Grier’s first opportunity to put his imprint on the organization. His first big move was the trading of Timo Meier for a package of prospects including the fourth ranked on the Sharks, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and 23-year-old Fabian Zetterlund, who graduated this year, plus a first, second and seventh round pick along with other pieces. They surprisingly did not move Erik Karlsson at the deadline but will have more opportunity this summer to add to their stockpile of draft picks and prospects. Kevin Labanc has been in the rumour mill as well. Tomas Hertl has a no movement clause so will be in control of his destiny.

The current group of prospects moves up to 12^th overall from 24^th, led by William Eklund, who is NHL ready, but San Jose wisely let him get another year of development in. The first overall pick last season (27^th overall) in Filip Bystedt had an outstanding season with a jump in his offensive play and an excellent World Junior tournament for Sweden. Mukhamadullin was brought over to North America soon after being acquired. In addition to New Jersey’s pick, they also have the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft and should be able to add a foundational piece in a deep draft. It is the beginning of a new era for a perennially successful franchise. Wins may be hard to come by next year, but on a path forward.

SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 09: San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72) carries the puck during the San Jose Sharks game versus the Vegas Golden Knights on October 9, 2021, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

William Eklund

Nobody would have been surprised if the rebuilding Sharks let their best prospect play in the NHL all season, especially considering he spent the majority of the past three playing professionally in Sweden. But give them credit for doing the right thing with Eklund's development and letting him cook mostly in the AHL instead. That extra marinating was the right call, as he started his full-time transition to North America a little slowly before finding another level after the midway point. His game is built around controlling possession, as he is a tenacious forechecker when trying to get the puck, and when he does have it, he blends high-end skating ability, high-end hands and a killer instinct to open up offensive opportunities. He leans more as a playmaker than a shooter, but he can punish defender if they give him too much time and space. Eklund will be a full-time NHLer next season for sure and should be a contender for the Calder Trophy.

2. Thomas Bordeleau

There are few prospects in the sport right now who have better offensive vision than Bordeleau. He is such a crafty, creative player in the offensive zone, and is also a premier stick-handler and playmaker. He will make defenders pay dearly if they give him too much time and space, which makes him an obvious choice to use a lot with the man advantage. He does rely on his cerebral advantages a little too often, though. He will let his pace lag, he doesn't battle hard for interior ice, and he sometimes looks flat-out disinterested in defending. But then the puck will find its way to him, and he will turn it into a scoring chance nobody else saw, so you can never be too down on him. Bordeleau could become a very special player with the right tweaks to his approach.

3. Filip Bystedt

One of the most publicly underrated prospects from the 2022 draft class, the Sharks knew exactly what they were doing when they picked Bystedt 27th overall. The blend of size, powerful and fluid skating ability, and full-speed puck magic was highly desirable, even though it hadn't yet led to much scoring in the SHL. Fast forward one year and he is already rewarding them for their trust and investment, with a huge uptick in points for Linkopings HC and an excellent showing at the World Juniors on behalf of Sweden. Even more impressive, he produced a lot for his club team despite averaging just 12:49 per game, which ranked just 10th among their forwards. Bystedt is trending sharply in the right direction, and it's thrilling to think of just how good he could be once he reaches his prime playing years and has mastered all of his tools.

4. Shakir Mukhamadullin

The scouting appeal with Mukhamadullin has always been around his stellar physical tools and athleticism, but there was no denying that a lot of refinement had to be made with his awareness and decision-making. Now 21 years old and with more than 150 KHL games under his belt, it's fair to say that a lot of progress has been made. With his immense reach and clean 360-degree mobility he can be a suffocating defensive presence. He still gets caught out of position at times, but his ability to recover back into place is effortless. Has a heavy shot from the point and puts a ton of zip into his passes. Not a guy you want handling the puck too much, but the right partner can solve that issue. Mukhamadullin was a part of the Timo Meier return and the Sharks got him to America right afterwards, so they must be excited about his long-term upside.

5. Henry Thrun

Thrun was originally drafted by Anaheim, and the Ducks must have been incredibly disappointed when he informed them that he didn't want to sign there. They did acquire a 3rd-rounder from the Sharks for his rights, which will be a higher pick than the 4th-rounder they had originally used, but good luck drafting a prospect equally as good. The Massachusetts native moved from one coast to the other and immediately started working, scoring two points in his NHL debut and then sticking around for the remainder of the regular season. His hockey sense is outstanding, being Harvard's captain exemplified his astute leadership abilities, and there are no discernible weaknesses anywhere in his game. Its rare to find defensemen this age who are already so polished. Thrun has a long career ahead of him and should be a foundational piece of San Jose's long-term rebuild.

6. Tristen Robins

Robins isn't the biggest, fastest, or most naturally athletic of players, but he overcomes those limitations with sharp hockey sense and an exceptional mental edge. It's impossible to not root for him because he plays with such poise, confidence and fearlessness, and he has a magical knack for making big plays at big times. He is always around the puck because he anticipates the play so well and knows how to find open ice. There might not be another prospect in the sport who is more unassumingly lethal as a goal-scorer, but WHL goalies eventually learned that the hard way, and AHL ones have started as well. It's unlikely that Robins will ever be a first line forward in the NHL like he was in Saskatoon, but he'll be a guy that coaches make sure to keep in their lineups.

7. Artemi Knyazev

Kniazev hasn't really changed a whole lot since his draft year, which can be both a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. He is a true play-driving defenseman who operates at a high pace and wants to be a possession conduit for his team. He jumps at every opportunity to join the rush and is always ready to follow it all the way up to prime scoring territory. There is an aggressive confidence to him, which is a mentality that can be very efficacious. Problems arise, though, when he plays with that kind of fire a little too frequently. It would also be nice to see him expand his game to additional dimensions. However, even if Kniazev remains a fairly one-dimensional, pigeonholed kind of player he could be a true specialist as a play driver as he continues to master his craft.

8. Cameron Lund

Lund is another one of those prospects who just can't properly be analyzed by solely looking at his stats or the win-loss records of the teams he has played on. Does he have the individual skills and profile that could lead to increased production down the road? Absolutely. He protects pucks well down low, is a handful to box out of the crease, and brings power and accuracy to both his shots and passes. However, even if gaudy point production never becomes a go-to part of his game there's a very comfortable floor as a bottom six center that he could settle into. He wins 50-50 battles with his strength and grit, and already displays the conditioning and resilience to be someone who can survive the grind of long seasons playing that way. If Lunds spends a full four years in college, he could be a dramatically different player by the time he enters the pro ranks.

9. Ozzy Wiesblatt

The three seasons since getting picked in the 1st round by the Sharks have not gone kindly for Wiesblatt. Not only has he been stuck on bad teams with both the WHL's Raiders and the AHL's Barracuda, but he’s also had to battle through injury troubles and the accompanying rust. However, anyone who is very familiar with him knows that it would be beyond foolish to write him off just yet. He is a tenacious forward who loves to stomp his foot on the gas pedal and attack enemies head-on with his speed and stick tricks. It's a risky approach that gets him into trouble at times right now, but once he crosses a certain point with his physical development, the impact he leaves could be very different. Slowing things down more often and leaning further into his playmaking acumen wouldn't hurt, either.

10. Sasha Chmelevski

Chmelevski transferred his talents from his sunny home state of California to the cold expanse of Russia for the 2022-23 season, and he must have found the change beneficial because he agreed to stay there for at least another year. A forward who has always leaned heavily on his goal scoring to get by, he did light the lamp a team-leading 26 times for Ufa in the KHL, which was double his total output from the year prior and a good sign for him overall. San Jose still holds Chmelevski's NHL rights, so it will be very interesting to see what happens when — or if — he decides to play hockey stateside again, because there will be roster spots ripe for the taking on a young Sharks team that will likely be in major need of scoring support.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – SAN JOSE SHARKS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Ethan Hetu, Dylan Krill, Zack Szweras, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 21:04:46 +0000

1 - William Eklund LW

Eklund was selected with the 7^th overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft by the San Jose Sharks. He got a taste of the NHL last season playing in nine games with the Sharks at the start of the season. Eklund looked comfortable in the best league in the world, producing four points. After that short stint, the Sharks decided it was best for the organization to loan him back to Djurgårdens in the SHL to allow for his entry level contract to slide. Eklund exploded on the scene as a draft eligible with his ridiculous start to the 2020-21 season where he was dominating play in the SHL as an 18-year-old. As the season went on, Eklund had a battle with COVID and could not get back to the same form as at the start of the season. He finished that year with 23 points in 40 games on route to being selected by the Sharks. In his return to the SHL this year, he played top minutes for a poor Djurgårdens team that was relegated to Sweden’s second league Allsvenskan. Eklund produced one goal and 14 points in 29 games for Djurgårdens last season. His game is a combination of puck skills and speed. He has a unique ability to weave through the ice, navigating through the opposition. He is capable of contributing in all three zones, often being relied on in the defensive end to make a play to transition the puck. Eklund has a good set of hands which he uses to win battles in tight. On top of that, he also has a powerful shot which can be a threat from in tight and mid-range. While there are some conversations about Eklund staying down the middle in the NHL, his game is better suited for the wing, which allows him to burst up the boards and deke into the middle of the ice. No matter what position he plays, Eklund is expected to have a role with the Sharks to start next season. - ZS

2 - Thomas Bordeleau C

Thomas Bordeleau was a second-round pick at the 2020 NHL draft, but he’d likely find his way into the first-round if the draft were re-done today. After his time at the U.S. National Team Development Program, Bordeleau went to the University of Michigan, where he authored a brilliant freshman season, leading a stacked Wolverines team in scoring with 30 points in just 24 games. Bordeleau’s next season was similarly good, and he made strides in his overall game, earning him a selection to the USA’s Winter Olympic team. With a brilliant World Junior Championships under his belt and a solid eight-game run at the NHL level, Bordeleau looks poised to face the tests of his NHL rookie season. Bordeleau is an undersized center, but that doesn’t stop him from being an effective driver of play. He approaches his role as a scoring-line center like a basketball point guard, always looking to be the focal point of play, the premier passer, and the place where his line’s offensive chances are first generated. He’s got exceptional hands and his overall offensive toolbox is where it needs to be for a player with his style. Bordeleau’s skating is what allows him to create time and space with the puck as well, and his skill level regularly solves the problems he faces on the ice. But the flip side of that reality is that some would knock Bordeleau for too often relying on his skill to solve problems, and if he struggles to score at the NHL level it’ll likely be because he hasn’t been able to adjust his more perimeter-oriented style he played in college to the NHL level, where effective scorers need to utilize the middle of the ice. Additionally, it’s fair to wonder if he can stick at center and weather all the pressures placed on NHL pivots. But even with those two drawbacks taken into account, Bordeleau is a promising prospect who offers skill that’s difficult to find. He could be an effective top-six player if he learns to how to effectively translate his talent to the NHL game. - EH

3 - Mattias Havelid D

Havelid was selected 45^th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2022 NHL draft. He was the second Swedish player selected by the Sharks in this draft, following Linköping teammate and best friend Filip Bystedt. Havelid is an offensively skilled, undersized defenceman, who makes up for his lack of size with strong gap control and body balance even when pressured physically. Offensively, he has a wicked wrist shot which he loves to shoot from the point. To complement his shot, he is also an effective passer, he is calm under pressure and surveys the ice for open teammates before crisply sending the puck their way. His decision making is another area that stands out, as he rarely gets flustered and usually makes the right decision. Havelid had a strong season in the J20 league for Linköping scoring 10 goals and 19 points in 29 games. He also contributed 10 points in 8 playoff games. He also made an impact internationally, as Sweden’s assistant captain during the April U18 tournament, where he dominated the tournament with 12 points in six games, helping lead Sweden to a gold medal over the powerhouse US. Havelid’s 12 points not only led all defenceman in the tournament, but he was second overall in points behind only teammate Jonathan Lekkerimaki. If Havelid continues to play with confidence and adds more strength to his frame, he could be poised for a long NHL career. He is expected to begin next season with Linköping hopefully in a top-six role in the SHL. - ZS

4 - Benjamin Gaudreau G

Don’t let the average stats fool you, Gaudreau is one of the best goaltenders in the Ontario Hockey League. The reality is that since entering the OHL, the defense in front of him with the Sarnia Sting has been inexperienced and porous. That leads to Gaudreau being left hung out to dry on a lot of odd man rushes and high danger scoring chances against. Yet he consistently finds a way to keep the Sting in games. His technical abilities are very sound. He tracks the play extremely well and always seems to be in the correct position. Additionally, his movements in the crease are refined, allowing him to remain square. His athletic abilities, composure, and rebound control are all above average as well. This coming season should be a breakout one for Gaudreau to establish himself as one of the best goaltending prospects outside of the pro level. The Sting should be a top team in the OHL’s Western Conference and Gaudreau is the leading candidate to be the starting netminder for Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championships. He should also be a leading candidate for the Jim Rutherford trophy, awarded to the OHL’s top netminder. - BO

5 - Tristen Robins RW

In a somewhat surprising move, the Sharks sent Robins back to the WHL for his overage year this past season. Many expected the talented pivot to start the year in the AHL, but San Jose felt it would be best for his development to play another year with Saskatoon. Truthfully, from a production standpoint, his year was only mediocre. More was probably expected of him. Does that change his future outlook? Probably not, but it would have been great to have seen Robins dominate the way that he is capable of. Robins’ game is very well rounded. He is at his best when he can attack the offensive zone with speed, catching defenders flat footed. However, he is also tenacious and will fight through checks to make plays. Equal parts playmaker and shooter, his offensive zone awareness is also a standout quality. Moving to the pro level finally this year, it will be interesting to see how Robins performs. A potential middle six forward for San Jose in the future, he should have little trouble adjusting at the AHL level. However, his only average overage season this past year has cast a tiny bit of doubt about whether he can transcend above a depth piece. - BO

6 - Ozzy Wiesblatt RW

It was a tough year for Wiesblatt on a lot of fronts. For one, the former first round selection struggled with injuries and ended up being shut down for the year with a shoulder injury. For two, he scored only ten goals and was kept under the point per game mark for the first time since his U17 season. Now, granted, Prince Albert was a lower scoring team and that needs to be taken into consideration. However, expectations were no doubt higher for Wiesblatt in his final WHL season. A tenacious, high-energy attacker, Wiesblatt never stops moving his feet and is constantly engaged in the play. He can use his speed to apply pressure, but is also physical and fearless, finding a way to win many of the battles he engages in. At the very least, Wiesblatt does look like someone who could play a bottom six role for the Sharks and excel on the penalty kill. Whether he plays higher in the lineup depends on the further development of his offensive skill set, in particular his finishing ability and ability to make skilled plays with the puck at full speed. Assuming his shoulder is fully healed, Wiesblatt will start the year in the AHL with the Barracuda. The true nature of his upside likely won’t be determined for a few years at that level. - BO

7 - Filip Bystedt C

Bystedt was recently selected 27^th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2022 NHL draft. He is a big-bodied centre who uses a combination of size and speed to advance play. Standing at 6’4”, 205 Ibs, he uses his large frame to protect the puck when attacking. On top of puck protection, he generates power through his skating stride. Bystedt often has long, powerful strides and a quick first step allowing him to generate speed efficiently. Offensively, he is a good playmaker, often protecting the puck, waiting for a passing lane to open up before crisply sending the puck to his linemates. On top of his playmaking ability, Bystedt also has a quick release on his shot, making it an additional threat. This past season, he excelled in the J20 league for Linköping contributing 33 assists and 49 points in 40 games. He also saw action in the SHL in a limited role finishing with 2 points in 15 games. At the U18 tournament in April, he had more of a quiet performance for Sweden’s gold medal run with only 3 points in 6 games. Bystedt has looked different at each level he performed at last season. Next season, he should look to further establish his identity and play to his strengths of speed, puck protection, and playmaking. Bystedt is expected to split time between the J20 and SHL with Linköping. - ZS

8 - Cameron Lund RW

As one of the top picks in the second round of the 2022 draft, Cameron Lund might disappoint those who simply look at his box score numbers. Lund’s 50 points in 62 games is hardly the dominating production one would expect from a top-of-the-line USHL prospect. But like with most players, looking at just Lund’s box score statistics doesn’t tell the full story of what kind of player he is. Lund was one of the faster-rising prospects of last year’s draft cycle, improving with each and every passing USHL game. By the end of the year, Lund looked exponentially more sure of himself and confident in his abilities on both ends of the ice. A six-foot-two center, Lund uses his size to protect the puck and create space for himself and his teammates in order to generate offensive chances. Since Lund isn’t a great skater and doesn’t have the sort of straight-line speed or edgework to create space with his feet, whether Lund’s strength and poise with the puck will continue to allow him to be a strong puck protector at the next level will go a long way to determining just how high his offensive upside is. If Lund can actually make some adjustments to how he skates and find a new gear to his game, then at that point a whole new level of NHL upside would be possible. But at this moment, Lund’s skating looks like it could hold him back. There’s still enough in his game to give confidence that he can make the NHL despite his less-than-ideal feet, and he already has enough pro-style qualities in his game to make one think that he’ll find a way to carve out a role in the NHL if he can’t quite cut it as a scorer. - EH

9 - Artemi Knyazev D

Knyazev is a former standout in the QMJHL who is coming off his first pro season in the AHL. On a struggling San Jose Barracuda team, he certainly got his minutes and that was great for his development. However, it also proved that he still has a long way to go before becoming an NHL defender. Knyazev is intriguing because of his athletic tools on the blueline. He is a terrific mover who is both fluid and explosive. This allows him to play a higher risk game as an offensive player because he has the speed to recover his positioning. He also likes to play a physical game and is aggressive in seeking out big hits. However, his decision making at both ends and his overall defensive awareness are a big work in progress. He has a tendency to chase the play and his risky rushes were not always well timed as a pro. A longer-term project, Knyazev has the potential to be an NHL defender. He is skilled and he has the mobility to be an asset in today’s game. It will be up to San Jose’s coaching staff and development team to refine his approach and bring out the best in his skill set. He will return to the Barracuda this year and should continue to see a ton of ice time in a variety of different situations. - BO

10 - Brandon Coe RW

The 98th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, Brandon Coe had a breakout season with the Battalion and looks like great mid-round pick for Sharks. The former 3rd overall selection in the 2017 OHL Draft adapted well in his rookie season and finished with 23 points (10G,13A) in 63 games. In the 2018-2019 season, Coe finished with 37 points (17G,20A) in 65 games. During the 2019-2020 season, Coe took a step forward and finished with 57 points (25G,32A) in 60 games, which was 2nd on the team in points. In the 2020-2021 season, Coe got the opportunity like some others to play in the AHL, which was an exception made because of the OHL being shutdown. He was able to adapt well with his size and finished with five points (1G,4A) in 17 games. During the 2021-2022 season, Coe made the return to the OHL and had a breakout season, finishing with 101 points (34G,67A) in 62 games, which was 5th in the league for points, 4th in the league for assists and 1st on the team in both assists and points. Coe’s best assets are his hockey sense and physicality. He understands how to utilize his size while driving play, being able to protect the puck very effectively and contain possession for his team. He fights his way into space easily and shows no difficulty controlling the puck in traffic, making offensive zone entries consistently. He’s also very strong defensively, actively using his stick and body to breakup plays. Coe plays with a bite and knows how to use his physicality to wear down opponents and win puck battles consistently. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Coe will make his return to the AHL and look to bring his confidence from last year with him. - DK

11 - Danil Gushchin

The highly skilled winger is not given enough credit for his competitiveness off the puck, an area of his game that has improved since being drafted. How his game translates to the AHL level remains to be seen, but his upside is undeniable.

12 - Nick Cicek

After a strong season in the AHL with San Jose, the Sharks signed the former Portland Winterhawk (WHL) captain to an ELC. The big defender projects as a strong and physical two-way presence and has emerged as one of the top defensive prospects in the system.

13 - Eetu Makiniemi

Acquired in the recent Brent Burns to Carolina deal, Makiniemi enters a San Jose system loaded with goaltending depth, but lacking in a true future heir apparent in net. He was great in limited games last season with Charlotte and should play more this year.

14 - Michael Fisher

Drafted out of the Massachustettes prep scene, Fisher is a highly athletic defender who oozes potential at both ends. He likely plays in the USHL this season before heading to Northeastern.

15 - Gannon Laroque

One of the breakout stars of the WHL last season, the 6’2, right shot defender emerged as a confident puck mover to go with his staunch defensive player. He has already been named Victoria’s captain for this season and should be one of the WHL’s best defenders.

16 - Strauss Mann

Mann’s development path has not been traditional thus far. After starring for the University of Michigan, he bet on himself by going to the SHL after graduation. He turned a strong performance with Skellefteå into an ELC.

17 - Sasha Chmelevski

The Sharks will retain the rights to the former OHL star after he decided to sign in the KHL this season. It is odd timing considering that he had a great chance to crack San Jose full time this year.

18 - Santeri Hatakka

The Finnish defender showed some positive things in his first pro NA season last year with the Barracuda. The strong skating, defense first rearguard looks like a potential #4-6 defender for San Jose in the future.

19 - Mason Beaupit

The key to Beaupit’s development will be his ability to harness his athleticism to play a more technically refined game in the crease. The Spokane Chiefs (WHL) netminder has intriguing tools and could be a diamond in the rough among the team’s many goaltending prospects.

20 - Magnus Chrona

The 6’6 netminder won a National championship with Denver this past season. Acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning a year ago, he will return for his senior season and may prove to be a difficult sign for the Sharks.

2022 NHL DRAFT REVIEW: WESTERN DIVISION – SCOUT’S FAVOURITES

Brock Otten, Will Scouch and Sam McGilligan — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 18:19:51 +0000

The 2022 NHL Draft has come and gone. Montreal was a gracious host to not only NHL organizations and selected players, but also to McKeens' very own Brock Otten, Will Scouch, and Sam McGilligan. The three were in Montreal and in the thick of the action last week. To recap the draft, the three have highlighted their favourite selections for both Conferences. Additionally, we have provided a listing of each team's selections, coinciding with where the McKeen's scouting team had them ranked

Brock Otten’s Favourite Selections

-In no particular order

Pavel Mintyukov of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

1. Pavel Mintyukov (ANA, #10)

I have said this a bunch on social media, on podcasts/radio hits, and in written work at McKeen’s; I truly believe that Mintyukov has the highest upside of any defender available this year. He is so innately skilled, and I think a lot of the issues he had defensively this year stemmed from team related usage issues (Saginaw just wasn’t great and struggled with injuries, forcing Mintyukov to play a ton).

Sam Rinzel (CHI, #25)

Speaking of upside, I also believe that Rinzel could be among the best defenders in this class in five years. He is a very raw talent, however what he can do offensively when he jumps up into the play is impressive. I think there is Brent Burns kind of potential here. He needs to learn how to use his size and mobility to be more consistent in the defensive zone, but that’s what College is for.

Ivan Zhigalov (COL, #225)

We ranked Zhigalov as one of the best goaltenders available this year and getting him with the final pick of the draft, when the Avs had only two picks this year, is outstanding. Look, Zhigalov is not perfect. But no goaltender in this class is. He has the athleticism and size to be an impact player on a night-to-night basis. Really curious to see how he does in the OHL next year with Kingston.

George Fegaras (DAL, #83)

I have made my like for Fegaras known in a bunch of different pieces this year and it is why we ranked him inside our Top 100 for the draft. He is a major long-term project. USHL next year, Cornell the next. He’s three or four years away from even truly showing what his high-end upside could be. However, there are some really interesting pieces to his game like his big point shot, penchant for the big hit, and his improving mobility from the right side.

Servac Petrovsky (MIN, #185)

The fact that Petrovsky fell this far is a head scratcher to me. He was a consistent performer for Owen Sound as a first year OHL player and was impactful in many different forms of usage. He is extremely versatile. His offensive upside may not be extremely high, but he does look great in transition and flashes the kind of creativity that suggests he may not have shown us what he is truly capable of with the puck on his stick.

Adam Ingram (NSH, #82)

Ingram may be a late birthday 2003, but he is one of the most physically immature players in this draft class. This helps to explain why he faded down the stretch in his first USHL season, which was his first year playing at a truly high level. He has a high-level shot, great instincts at both ends, and I think his skating ability will improve a lot over his collegiate career. This is a potential all situations top six forward.

David Goyette (SEA, #61)

I kind of figured that Goyette would end up being selected later than we had him ranked, but slipping this low was shocking. Kind of reminds me of when scouts let Jordan Kyrou slip out of the first too. Those two had similar strengths and similar concerns as draft eligible players. As the Wolves become a dominant team in the OHL, Goyette should be smack dab in the middle of it.

Tucker Robertson (SEA, #123)

Robertson was my favourite re-entry available this year. He was one of the highest scoring 2003 born players in the OHL this year, progressing better than many already NHL drafted players. He does so many things well. I think that he will eventually become one of the OHL’s best and most complete forwards and that Seattle will be very happy with his projection as a middle six contributor.

Daimon Gardner (VAN, #112)

This is very much a long-term project. What high school prospect isn’t? However, finding big centers with skill and decent skating are hard to find and you usually have to draft them a lot higher than this. He will play next year in the BCHL with Chilliwack before heading to Clarkson. At Clarkson, he will get a chance to play big minutes and could be the next face of that program.

Matyas Sapovaliv (VGS, #48)

Sapovaliv wasn’t always the most consistent in Saginaw this year, but he showed some really intriguing qualities and that made him one of my favourites from the OHL. I really like his on and off the puck intelligence/vision. I’m really curious to see how his game develops as his movement capabilities do.

Will Scouch’s Favourite Selections

Shane Wright (SEA, #4)

I don’t think Seattle really minds how this went down in Montreal. They get a player who could become one of the better transition centres in the draft and one of the most threatening offensive centres as well in Shane Wright. He slipped further than I thought he would, but Seattle now has my last two top rated players in the draft and between Wright and Beniers, they have an extremely strong foundation down the middle to work around.

Brad Lambert (WPG, #30)

It’d be dangerously off brand for me not to include Lambert in here somewhere. Look, I get the concerns, but I watched a lot of hockey, and Lambert going after some of the names that went as high as 15 or 20 picks higher left me a little bewildered. I really, really hope that Winnipeg knows what they may have with Lambert and look forward to him getting the reset he needs and starting a new journey.

Mattias Havelid (SJS, #45)

There are certainly concerns with Havelid’s likelihood of huge NHL success. He needs to diversify his offensive game, certainly improve his defensive coverage and physical strength, and he relies far too much on his admittedly good release on his shot to generate chances offensively. However, his skill, mobility on his feet and yes, his shot quality is awesome in combination. He’s a swing, but a fun one.

Jagger Firkus (SEA, #35)

I really thought that through everything, Jagger Firkus would have been taken somewhere in the first round. Some teams fell back on old habits avoiding the undersized scoring wizard, but Seattle took the plunge early on day 2. Firkus is skilled, agile, and has a great scoring release with a playmaker’s streak off the boards, doing so under pressure at times. He’s going to need to build a bit more of an escape gear and certainly get stronger, but he’s got huge offensive tools and could be a great supplement for someone like Shane Wright in the future.

Jordan Gustafson (VGK, #79)

Jordan Gustafson feels like a player where if his ability to generate speed and use the space he creates for himself, he could be a massive get at 79. He’s smart, adapts to pressure well, uses linemates effectively with a good sense of timing on the puck, and drove very good transition results in my tracking.

Adam Zlnka (ARZ, 204)

Honestly, outside of Logan Cooley at 3, the Arizona Coyotes’ most interesting pick came near the end of the draft. Zlnka scored at a huge rate in Slovakia, better than Adam Sykora as a teammate last year before joining the Sioux Falls Stampede. Unfortunately, an ACL injury put him out for the remainder of the season right when he seemed to be adjusting to the USHL, but he’s a highly skilled, offensive minded winger. I’ve seen this guy do spin-o-ramas on zone entries for crying out loud. He’s a ton of fun and I hope he works out over time now that he’s back playing at Arizona’s rookie camp.

Ty Nelson (SEA, #68)

I wasn’t shocked to see Nelson fall to 68, but when he’s the sixth player you draft, I think that’s great value. He’s a flawed defender with somewhat limited mobility to apply pressure and close gaps, but the tools are clearly there. He shoots like few other defenders, just shoots far too often. He’s a gifted puck carrier but controlling transitions through his passing was abysmal on paper. I’d love to see Nelson hit another gear and think that he’s a great buy low pick in the early third round.

Fabian Wagner (WPG, #175)

Wagner is probably the best example of a guy who once in a while has “holy moly” moments, then disappears for a while. There’s great skill and creativity with Wagner, and as much as he fell down my board as I watched him, 175 felt extremely late for him to go. Winnipeg is swinging for upside with Wagner, and I’ll have a keen eye on him.

Samuel Savoie (CHI, #81)

I have a lot of admiration for how Savoie plays. I think he was drafted really high for what he’s capable of, but he’s energetic, quick, and plays with a ton of pace. Controlling pucks at that pace and creating offense in possession isn’t quite there yet, but with time and development, there could be a neat pick up here for Chicago, even if it was a little high in my view.

Ryan Healey (MIN, #121)

I’ve watched Healey for two years and have always wondered how he hasn’t produced more. I love the skill, agility and fluid footwork, as well as the confidence Healey has to step into space and try to make plays. A player I had in my back pocket for a potential late round pick, Judd Brackett of course had to go out and pick him at the early ranges of where I’d consider taking a flyer on him. I’m a fan of his upside with the right encouragement and development.

Sam McGilligan’s Favourite Selections

(No order)

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 26: Finland vs Germany preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 26, 2021 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

1: Brad Lambert (WPG, #30)

Surprise, surprise. Turns out Brad Lambert did fall after all. For the Jets, this is easily the best pick they could have made and it's not even close if you ask me. Regardless of what you think about his "hockey IQ" (it's really good by the way), the talent level is so far above every other player in this range that swinging on him here is the easiest decision one can make. He may arguably be the best skater outside of the NHL right now, and he has a set of hands that fully complement this mobility with zero wasted movement. There is legitimate 1C upside here and a third line floor on most teams. Best pick of the draft, easily.

2: Shane Wright (SEA, #4)

I mean, duh, right? Shane Wright being available at four felt like an impossibility moments before the draft started. It was likely the easiest pick any team had to make in the draft, but nonetheless, Seattle deserves credit for not overthinking things and taking the clear-cut best player available. Wright is extremely likely to be a top six center and the safest best to be a high-end player as the 2022 class can offer.

3: Liam Öhgren (MIN, #19)

Liam Öhgren being the last of the Djurgårdens' forwards to be drafted is not what I had envisioned prior to the draft. He's such a safe projection to an NHL team's middle six within just a few years that I thought he'd go higher just on that fact alone. Fortunately for Minnesota fans, Öhgren has upside far higher than just the middle six. He's brilliant, can play comfortably in both perimeter and middle ice, can manipulate to create both passing and shooting lanes and is highly competent in his own zone. His playstyle is so adaptable that he can fit alongside any offensive play drivers, regardless of their personal approach to the game. This was a very easy selection to make, and it's not surprising that the Wild nailed yet another draft pick.

4: Jack Hughes (LA, #52)

I am kind of surprised Jack Hughes was still available for LA to select in the first place. He's a highly mobile and active forward who showed he can adapt to higher pace hockey with ease. The toolkit and approach to the game are currently at a bit of a war with each other, as the toolkit boasts the upside of a top six guy but the actual implementation of it is currently being used in a bottom six fashion. But that's par for the course when you're this young making an adjustment to play in the NCAA, and I'm not sure it fully describes what he can be five years down the line. Either way, I think this was a great selection for a team without a first-round pick.

5: Joakim Kemell (NSH, #17)

This feels a bit funny to write because I believed Joakim Kemell was overvalued by many for a significant portion of the year; however, that only is a problem if Kemell goes top ten. Getting to draft Kemell at 17th overall? That's a huge win, and the Predators should be very happy with their new off-puck scorer. Kemell has a great sense for how play in the OZ will unfold, as well as great timing for knowing when to be in the right spot at the right time. He's an adaptable goal scorer who offers precision on his shot from awkward body positions. He's also quite the energetic forechecker as well. I don't think there's enough passing upside to warrant a selection higher than this, but 17 is a great spot for this type of player.

6: Jagger Firkus (SEA, #35)

No player rose up my final board more than Jagger Firkus did. Firkus possesses some of the best puck skills in the draft, demonstrating ridiculous levels of control starting at the very moment his stick makes contact with the puck upon reception. He's also one of the draft's best shooters, and has the mobility required to blend these two traits together to consistently gain access to middle ice to shoot and distribute. His smaller stature is the only reason he wasn't a day one pick, and I think a few teams are going to regret passing on him.

7: Ty Nelson (SEA, #68)

This shorter defender has the physicality, skating and skill to overcome his size deficit and become a truly dynamic PMD at the NHL level. Unfortunately, he isn't in a team environment right now where he gets to utilize these skills in such a way, and it makes it harder to project him to the NHL because his strengths aren't being fully realized. However, when you're picking in the third round, it's a risk worth taking when you're potentially getting a mobile top four guy. He also broke a puck in half so.. there's that.

8: Mattias Havelid (SJ, #45)

Mattias Havelid carries risk, but in the mid second that's more than okay. His defensive game needs to go up at least a few tiers in order to cleanly project, but there's enough there fundamentally that it isn't a ridiculous idea. Offensively, Havelid overly relies on a few patterns where almost all of them end in generating a shot lane for himself. His game is far from what it needs to be in the NHL, but at this point in the draft that can be said of most players. Not many offer the same upside he does.

9: David Goyette (SEA, #61)

I am kind of floored that Goyette fell this late in the draft? The bulk of his results come from clearly understanding how hockey is played within a team structure. He's the type of center that glues his line together through quick decision making and precise off-puck routing. Add a little bit more speed, physical durability and skill with the puck and I think Goyette projects rather cleanly as a third line center.

10: Christian Kyrou (DAL, #50)

Kyrou is as hilariously creative as one can find in a CHL defender this year, and it does not surprise me one bit that it was the Dallas Stars who decided to take a swing on him. His defensive game is far from consistent, let alone NHL worthy, and that might just be too large a hurdle for him to overcome in development… but if he does figure it out then Kyrou has serious top 4, PP potential.

2022 NHL DRAFT
Anaheim Ducks
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Pavel Mintyukov	D	10	11
Nathan Gaucher	C	22	43
Noah Warren	D	42	38
Tristan Luneau	D	53	29
Ben King	C	107	155
Connor Hvidston	C/W	139	HM
Michael Callow	W	154	HM
Vyacheslav Buteyets	G	174	NR

Arizona Coyotes
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Logan Cooley	C	3	2
Conor Geekie	C	11	14
Maveric Lamoureux	D	29	58
Artem Duda	D	36	57
Julian Lutz	W	43	52
Miko Matikka	W	67	176
Jeremy Langlois	D	94	135
Matthew Morden	D	131	211
Maksymilian Szuber	D	163	HM
Adam Zlnka	W	204	NR

Calgary Flames
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Topi Ronni	C	59	85
Parker Bell	W	155	186
Cade Littler	C	219	HM

Chicago Blackhawks
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Kevin Korchinski	D	7	18
Frank Nazar	C	13	12
Sam Rinzel	D	25	28
Paul Ludwinski	C/W	39	50
Ryan Greene	C	57	93
Gavin Hayes	W	66	59
Samuel Savoie	W	81	133
Aidan Thompson	C	90	NR
Dominic James	C	173	223
Nils Juntorp	W	188	NR
Riku Tohila	C	199	NR

Colorado Avalanche
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Chris Romaine	D	193	NR
Ivan Zhigalov	G	225	125
Dallas Stars
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Lian Bichsel	D	18	41
Christian Kyrou	D	50	86
George Fegaras	D	83	100
Gavin White	D	115	188
Maxim Mayorov	G	147	157
Matthew Seminoff	W	170	62

Edmonton Oilers
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Reid Schaefer	W	32	64
Samuel Jonsson	G	158	NR
Nikita Yevseyev	D	190	175
Joel Maatta	C	222	NR

Los Angeles Kings
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Jack Hughes	C	52	51
Kenny Connors	C	103	HM
Angus Booth	D	116	113
Otto Salin	D	148	67
Jared Wright	W	169	NR
Jack Sparkes	D	180	HM
Kaleb Lawrence	C	215	NR

Minnesota Wild
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Liam Ohgren	W	19	21
Danila Yurov	C/W	24	10
Hunter Haight	C	47	70
Rieger Lorenz	W	56	77
Mikey Milne	W	89	87
Ryan Healey	D	121	HM
David Spacek	D	153	92
Servac Petrovsky	C/W	185	117

Nashville Predators
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Joakim Kemell	W	17	7
Adam Ingram	C/W	82	49
Kasper Kulonummi	D	84	55
Cole O'Hara	W	114	NR
Graham Sward	D	146	222
Ben Strinden	C	210	NR

San Jose Sharks
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Filip Bystedt	C/W	27	60
Cameron Lund	C	34	65
Mattias Havelid	D	45	42
Michael Fisher	D	76	89
Mason Beaupit	G	109	160
Jake Furlong	D	140	154
Joey Muldowney	W	172	NR
Eli Barnett	D	195	NR
Reese Laubach	C	217	NR

Seattle Kraken
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Shane Wright	C	4	1
Jagger Firkus	W	35	20
Jani Nyman	W	49	47
Niklas Kokko	G	58	NR
David Goyette	C	61	27
Ty Nelson	D	68	46
Ben Macdonald	C	91	HM
Tyson Jugnauth	D	100	146
Tucker Robertson	C	123	120
Barrett Hall	C	164	NR
Kyle Jackson	C	196	HM

St. Louis Blues
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Jimmy Snuggerud	W	23	31
Aleksanteri Kaskimaki	W	73	74
Michael Buchinger	D	88	94
Arseni Koromyslov	D	120	79
Marc-Andre Gaudet	D	152	HM
Landon Sim	W	184	NR

Vancouver Canucks
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Jonathan Lekkerimaki	W	15	9
Elias Pettersson	D	80	152
Daimon Gardner	C	112	145
Ty Young	G	144	NR
Jackson Dorrington	D	176	150
Kirill Kudryavtsev	D	208	218

Vegas Golden Knights
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Matyas Sapovaliv	C	48	44
Jordan Gustafson	C	79	80
Cameron Whitehead	G	128	201
Patrick Guay	C	145	NR
Ben Hemmerling	W	177	107
Abram Wiebe	D	209	NR

Winnipeg Jets
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Rutger McGroarty	W	14	36
Brad Lambert	C	30	8
Elias Salomonsson	D	55	56
Danil Zhilkin	C	77	54
Garrett Brown	D	99	NR
Fabian Wagner	C/W	175	159
Domenic Divincentiis	G	207	NR

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Update – May 1st – Sweden and U.S. advance to Gold Medal game

Zack Szweras — Sun, 01 May 2022 12:04:04 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - APRIL 30: USA’s Logan Cooley #18 and Czech Republic's Michael Schnattinger #1 look on during Semifinal Round action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on April 30, 2022 in Landshut, Germany. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

US 6-1 Czechia

In the first semi-final match of the day, it was a rematch between the top two teams of Group A. The first match started off close after Czechia took the 1-0 lead off a Jiri Kulich penalty shot, however they let up five unanswered on their way to a 6-2 loss to the US. The United States had been rolling in this tournament, as the only undefeated team left coming into today’s match. Czechia on the other hand had been riding high on confidence ever since defeating Canada in overtime to capture second place in Group A. They continued their momentum with a dominant win over Switzerland 8-0 in the quarter finals.

This game started off fairly even with scoring chances both ways. It was the special teams that made a large impact in the first period. US got the first powerplay of the night and had many opportunities to score, but Czechia goaltender Michael Schnattinger made some ridiculous saves to keep the game tied. With momentum swung in their favour, Czechia drew two penalties on the same play for a lengthy 5-on-3 powerplay. It was none other than top goal scorer in this tournament Jiri Kulich who ripped one off a beautiful feed from 2023 draft eligible prospect Eduard Sale to give Czechia a 1-0 lead. This goal marked the ninth of the tournament for Kulich and continued his streak of scoring at least one goal in each game this tournament. Czechia was looking to continue to carry this momentum into the second period against the dominant US team.

It didn’t take long for the United States to strike back, as Cruz Lucius intercepted a pass, walked into the offensive end and sniped the puck top corner to tie the game up at one apiece four minutes into the second period. That was just the start as US scored four more unanswered all from 2022 draft eligibles, Cutter Gauthier, Frank Nazar, Isaac Howard and Jimmy Snuggerud bringing their lead to 5-1 at the end of the second period. There were a lot of similarities with this game and the first match between these teams, as they both started with Czechia leading 1-0 after the first and US scoring five unanswered to kill all momentum Czechia had. Czechia was able to continue to battle in the third period holding the juggernaut United States team to only one more goal scored by Jimmy Snuggerud for his second of the game. At first, it seemed US finally met their match and would be challenged by Czechia, but as we have seen throughout this tournament, nothing can stop this US team. They are now only one win away from finishing this tournament undefeated and with a gold medal hanging from their neck.

An incredible shot for Jiri Kulich goes in and Czechia leads 1-0 on the PP.

Ninth goal of the tournament for him. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/2u833pn2qi

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) April 30, 2022

Frank Nazar from Gavin Brindley and Isaac Howard makes it 3-1 USA. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/SIoI7JZUaI

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) April 30, 2022

Sweden 2-1 Finland

Just like the first game, this game was also a rematch of the top two teams, but this time from Group B. Their first match was a nail biter right until the end, with the result of that match determining which team would finish first in Group B, Sweden narrowly beat Finland 4-3 in that game. Finland, however had more momentum after coming back against an always strong Canadian team in the quarter finals, winning 6-5 in overtime. Sweden on the other hand, dominated Germany with great play by twin brothers Mattias and Hugo Havelid, as well as top 2022 draft prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki. It was evident that this game would be another closely knit match between the two.

It didn’t take long to set the tone in this game as fifteen seconds in Swedish defenceman Jakob Noren laid a massive hit on Finnish star Jokiam Kemell. Shortly after the hit, Sweden turned the puck over giving Kemell a wide-open shot, which was saved by Hugo Havelid. Neither team was able to score in the first period in large part thanks to strong goaltending from both teams in 2022 draft eligible prospects Hugo Havelid and Topias Leinonen. Less than four minutes into the second period, 16-year-old Finish defenceman Aron Kiviharju made a costly turnover in his own zone allowing Oskar Pettersson to fling the puck on net, where 2023 draft eligible Otto Stenberg was able to find and tap the puck in to give Sweden the 1-0 lead. Sweden was able to take that lead into the third period.

Finland, while down, was controlling time of possession and winning in the shot category, up 22-17 through the first two periods. If it wasn’t for the amazing performance of Hugo Havelid, Finland would have been up big time, rather than being in a desperate position. It wasn’t until under five minutes left in the game when Finland was able to get on the scoresheet. Off an Elmeri Laakso point shot, Jani Nyman was able to grab the rebound, make a nifty move past Otto Stenberg before sniping the puck top shelf on Hugo Havelid to tie the game up 1-1. With the game looking like it would need overtime to determine a winner, Finland took a costly penalty with 2:23 left in the third period putting the dangerous Swedish powerplay in action. As the clock was dwindling down, top 2022 prospects, Liam Ohgren and Noah Ostlund took matters in their own hands, passing the puck between each other, before eventually feeding fellow top 2022 prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki with a cross-ice pass, which he one timed off a weird bounce and past Leinonen to take a 2-1 lead with 34.3 seconds remaining in the game. That goal turned out to be the difference maker as Sweden for the second time this tournament defeated Finland.

They will advance to the gold medal match against the dominating United States. While Sweden has been tested playing Finland twice, the US team has made each of their competition look like a play toy. It will be interesting to see if they can finally be the team to challenge the US team.

4:26 TO GO AND WE HAVE A TIE GAME! Jani Nyman doesn't let up and gets @leijonat back in it! #SWEFIN #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/mpUYr3CsD7

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 30, 2022

Daily Top Performers

Best Forward: US, C Logan Cooley (0G, 2A, 2P)

Logan Cooley entered the tournament as the top ranked prospect for the 2022 NHL draft playing in this tournament and he has led the United States to an impressive 5-0. When watching Cooley play it is clear that he is a complete hockey player with tons of skill to maneuver around oppositions. Cooley did exactly that, fooling everyone before sliding the puck to Cutter Gauthier to tap in the easy goal, which ended up being the game winning goal. While there was not much room for Cooley to move up in the eyes of many scouts, Cooley has proven why he deserves to be one of the first few names called for the upcoming draft.

USA leads 2-1. Cutter Gauthier from Logan Cooley. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/AxchV4xDvS

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) April 30, 2022

Best Defenceman: US, D Lane Hutson (0G, 2A, 2P)

While many expected Seamus Casey to anchor the blueline for the United States, it has actually been the defensive pair of Lane Hutson and Ryan Chesley that has held the fort down. Not only has Lane Hutson made strong defensive plays to stop fast break scoring chances for the opposition, but he also has taken the puck and transitioned it up the ice to the talented forwards on the US team. On the offensive side, Hutson has been a force, on his first assist of the night he showed immense patience with the puck, drawing in the Czechia defender before sliding the puck down to Jimmy Snuggerud who found Frank Nazar for the easy goal. This tournament has really shined a bright light on both Lane Hutson and Ryan Chesley, so it shouldn’t be surprising if either of them were taken earlier than expected in the upcoming draft.

Frank Nazar gets his second of the day to make it 6-1. Check out Lane Hutson's patience on the blueline. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/Dc02uKFwQ6

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) April 30, 2022

Best Goaltender: Hugo Havelid (41SV, 1.00 GAA, .976 SV%)

For the second day in a row, Hugo Havelid has deservedly taken home the best goaltender award. Facing a strong Finnish team for the second time this tournament, Sweden relied heavily on the strong play of Havelid and it paid off for them. Havelid only allowed one goal on 42 shots, 19 of which came in the third period alone. Sweden will look for Havelid to continue his strong tournament against the dangerous United States as they look to capture gold.

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Update – April 29th – Canada’s late collapse against strong Finns, US, Czechia and Sweden move on convincingly

Zack Szweras — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 16:48:23 +0000

KAUFBEUREN, GERMANY - APRIL 28: Sweden’s Hugo Havelid #35 makes a save against Germany during Quarterfinal Round action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Erdgas Schwaben Arena on April 28, 2022 in Kaufbeuren, Germany. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Finland 6-5 (OT) Canada

The first game of the quarter finals was the most even matchup coming into the day. While Canada finished third in their division, they are almost always a team you have to respect given the insane talent they have up front. On the other side, Finland started the tournament undefeated and would have finished that way if it wasn’t for a strong game from Sweden.

It was very important for both teams to score first and take the momentum. Luckily for Canada, four minutes into the game, Kocha Delic was able to bury the rebound off a Matthew Ward wrist shot to give Canada the early 1-0 lead. Penalties continued to be a problem for team Canada, who gave up five powerplay goals against Czechia in their last game. Half-way through the first, Connor Bedard took a lazy penalty, which Finland was able to capitalize off of with a snipe from projected top-10 pick in the upcoming draft Joakim Kemell. Canada was able to battle to get the lead back thanks to a beautiful backhander by 2022 draft eligible Connor Hvidston, his first of the tournament. Stop me if you have heard this before, Canada took another costly penalty, which Finland and star player Jokiam Kemell took advantage of, tying the game at 2-2 with another powerplay goal. This time it was Canada who took advantage of a powerplay getting a goal from Brayden Schuurman. Shortly after, Canada’s favourite duo, Adam Fantilli and Connor Bedard, connected for a spin-o-rama goal to extend the lead to 4-2. As Canada captured the momentum, they quickly gave it away off a costly line change, which gave Finland a 3-on-1, allowing Tommi Mannisto to walk in and snipe the puck past Reid Dyck cutting the Canadian lead to one.

A close battle in the third period left the first half of the period with no goals. Just under ten minutes left and Canada took another penalty putting Finland on the powerplay. Canada looking to solve their penalty kill struggles put Connor Bedard on the kill and it proved to be wise as Bedard took the puck down the ice and scored a short-handed goal from a ridiculous angle giving Canada a cushion, leading 5-3. However, you could never count Finland out, with another chance on the powerplay, they found the back of the net thanks to Aleksanteri Kaskimaki. The game went down to the wire as Canada took another late penalty in the third period. This time it was 2023 draft eligible Kasper Halttunen who roofed it past Reid Dyck to tie the game up at five apiece with under two minutes left in the third sending the game to overtime. It didn’t take long for this game to come to an end, a bad turnover by Canada led to a breakaway for Joakim Kemell who buried his third of the game to advance Finland onto the Semi Finals and end Canada’s hope for a medal. For the second game in a row, Canada lost in overtime after leading in the third period.

WHO ELSE?

Connor Bedard scores a shorthanded goal from a RIDICULOUS angle and then immediately goes to talk to the Finnish bench. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/gxxRKBjPYv

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2022

This game is feeling all too familiar for Canada...

Another PP goal against, scored by Kasper Halttunen, ties the game at 5-5 late in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/lyysn7iRlQ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2022

Czechia 8-0 Switzerland

Czechia came into the game today with a tremendous amount of confidence after taking down Canada in the final game of the preliminary round. Switzerland was also coming off a win, albeit against a lesser competition in Latvia. Both teams were hoping to carry that momentum into the game and take the early lead. It was Czechia who ultimately took advantage and the early lead, getting rare depth scoring from Marek Soukup. Czechia continued to pile on the goals scoring three more unanswered in the first, with goals from 2022 draft eligibles Matyas Sapovaliv, Ondrej Becher and Simon Slavicek. Czechia dominated Switzerland in the first period out shooting them 16-1. Czechia continued to dominate the second period, with Marek Soukup and Simon Slavicek each scoring their second of the game. Jiri Kulich continued his strong tournament with a goal in the second, scoring at least one goal in every game so far this tournament. Czechia held a 7-0 lead heading into the third period. At this point it would take a miracle for Switzerland to come back. The third period went as expected, Czechia only adding one more, another from star player Jiri Kulich, finishing the game with a dominant 8-0 win over Switzerland. Czechia will now advance to the semifinals to face the dangerous United States for a chance to win a medal for the first time since winning silver in 2014.

Šimon Slavíček with his second of the game, 5-0 CZE. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/RZj0O6pzBp

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) April 28, 2022

Jiří Kulich with his second of the game and eight of the tournament. #2022NHLDraft #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/dEl4JPTUJz

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) April 28, 2022

Sweden 7-1 Germany

After a shaky start to the tournament, Sweden has bounced back with wins in their last two games, one against Finland to capture first place in Group A. They looked to carry their momentum into this game against the only team without a win in this tournament in Germany. Sweden got off to a great start drawing a five-on-three powerplay within the first couple minutes of the game. Mattias Havelid was able to capitalize on the powerplay to give Sweden the early 1-0 lead. They continued to add to the lead in the first period with Isac Born scoring his first goal of the tournament off a nice feed from Calle Odelius, to increase the lead to two. Sweden added on one more on the powerplay with a goal from Tim Almgren, finishing the first period up 3-0 on Germany. Entering the second with all the momentum, Sweden slowed down from their first period pace allowing Germany to gain some confidence. Germany and Sweden traded goals in the second, the first by Sweden’s Liam Ohgren and the German goal by Luca Hauf. Sweden giving up the goal to Hauf gave Germany some momentum to carry into the third period. That momentum allowed for a competitive third period up until the five-minute mark in the third period when Sweden unloaded for three goals from Otto Stenberg, Jonathan Lekkerimaki and a second goal from Mattias Havelid. Sweden finished the game 7-1, advancing to the semifinals where they will face a rematch against Finland, hoping for the same result as the first.

Jiří Kulich with his second of the game and eight of the tournament. #2022NHLDraft #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/dEl4JPTUJz

— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) April 28, 2022

Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Noah Östlund, Mattias Hävelid #U18Worlds #Sverige #2022NHLDraft
SvenskHockey TV pic.twitter.com/5hjSoXDAzP

— SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) April 28, 2022

US 13-3 Latvia

Entering the quarter finals, the United States had been the most dominant team in the tournament, finishing as the only undefeated team in the preliminary round. Latvia had a strong start to the tournament defeating Sweden before coming back down to earth with loses to both Finland and Switzerland, placing them fourth in Group B and in this David vs. Goliath matchup against the US.

The United States wasted no time getting this game going scoring the first five goals unanswered. Their goals came from captain Rutger McGroarty (2), Charlie Stramel, Seamus Casey and capping it off with a Michigan goal from top 2022 draft eligible prospect Logan Cooley. Latvia, however, was able to get on the board in the first period, thanks to the great effort from 2022 draft eligible Sandis Vilmanis. Ryan Leonard joined the US scoring party to finish the first period 6-1 in favour of the US. The second period was more of the same dominance for US as they produced goals from 2022 projected first round selections Cutter Gauthier and Frank Nazar. 2023 draft eligible Ryan Leonard scored another goal ultimately bringing the US lead up to 9-1 to end the second period.

Something unique about this US team is they have so much talent that their nine goals have come from seven different players with fourteen total players recording a point. At this point in the game, it was unlikely Latvia was going to make a comeback. They were just hoping they could keep the US team to their nine goals. That task was too much for them to do as US scored four more goals finishing the game with 13 goals and 63 shots. Latvia didn’t go out without some fun though, putting up two extra in the third to cut the deficit to only ten. US will now move on to rematch Czechia in the semifinals on Saturday. They are now one step closer to going undefeated the entire tournament and winning the gold medal.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Noah Östlund, Mattias Hävelid #U18Worlds #Sverige #2022NHLDraft
SvenskHockey TV pic.twitter.com/5hjSoXDAzP

— SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) April 28, 2022

Daily Top Performers:

Best Forward: FIN, F Joakim Kemell (3G, 0A, 3P)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki made a strong push to take the best forward of the day with his five-point performance against Germany. However, it would be wrong not to give it to Kemell today who played in by far the hardest match of the day and scored a hat trick including the overtime winner to complete the comeback against Canada. Kemell started off the game by scoring two powerplay goals in the first, both to tie the game up after Canada took a 1-0 and a 2-1 lead. Joakim Kemell is a consensus 1^st round draft pick in the upcoming draft and if there is one thing that is certain about his skill, it is the fact that he can shoot the puck. His lethal shot and finishing ability is a strong reason why Finland was able to advance to the semifinals. Finland will be looking for Kemell to continue his scoring against a Swedish team that kept him off the scoreboard in their first matchup in the preliminary round.

Joakim Kemell completes the hat trick in overtime!

Canada is OUT of the #U18Worlds. pic.twitter.com/q9IEYtvQLR

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2022

Best Defenceman: SWE, D Mattias Havelid (2G, 2A, 4P)

For the second day in a row Mattias Havelid captures our best defenceman of the day award. Ever since their uncharacteristic poor start against Latvia, Sweden has been on a roll, with Havelid establishing himself as the number one defence option and a proven weapon in the offensive zone for Sweden. Just like yesterday, Havelid opened the game up with a goal in the first few minutes to give Sweden the early 1-0 lead. On top of that, Havelid played a large role in extending the lead in the third period, recording a point on each of the three goals scored in the third, with a goal and two assists. Sweden will continue to lean on the play of Havelid as they enter the Group B rematch against Finland in the semifinals.

Joakim Kemell completes the hat trick in overtime!

Canada is OUT of the #U18Worlds. pic.twitter.com/q9IEYtvQLR

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2022

Best Goaltender: SWE, G Hugo Havelid (28 SV, 1.00 GAA, .965 SV%)

It turned out to be a great day for the Havelid family, as both twins Hugo and Mattias are being recognized for their performance in the quarter finals. Other than the Canada-Finland matchup, this game had to be the most competitive matchup and could have been a close game if it wasn’t for the consistent play of Hugo Havelid. After a shaky start to the tournament giving up three goals in his lone loss to Latvia, Hugo has settled in to the net and has been a force between the pipes for Sweden and a large reason why they have been on a three-game win streak. Havelid will most likely have another big test on Saturday as Sweden will face Finland again in the semifinals. This tournament should help boost his draft stock in a draft with few goalies that are worth being selected.

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Update – April 27th – Czechia exposes Canada’s D, Sweden rallies against Finland and the U.S. looks unstoppable

Zack Szweras — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:59:54 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Czech Republic's Jiri Kulich #25 celebrates after scoring a first period goal against USA during Preliminary Round Group A action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on April 24, 2022 in Landshut, Germany. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Switzerland 4-3 Latvia

The first game of the day featured the two teams many believed would end up at the bottom of Group B’s standings. However, coming into this game, Latvia had the chance to secure a top position in Group B with the win today over Switzerland and Sweden losing to Finland. Neither team waited long to get the scoring going as less than three minutes into the game there were goals for both teams. The first by young promising Latvian prospect Eriks Mateiko, then followed up by a goal for Switzerland from team captain Simone Terraneo. Later in the first, Latvia took advantage of a late powerplay with a goal from 2022 draft eligible Emils Veckaktins giving Latvia the lead 2-1 heading into the second period. Nearly five minutes into the second period and Switzerland swung the momentum in their favour with a nifty breakaway goal by Noah Greuter, followed up by a goal from Mattheo Reinhard to take their first lead of the game 3-2. Late second period heroics by 2023 draft eligible Davids Livsics tied the game at 3-3, which set up an intense the last period. With momentum swinging back and forth, it was Switzerland who took the lead halfway through the second off a goal by Cyril Pont. While Latvia brought pressure near the end with the net empty, it wasn’t enough as Switzerland was able to hold onto their one goal lead, getting their first win of the tournament.

@SwissIceHockey takes the lead! 4-3! #SUILAT #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/4pG8ZxwT2K

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 26, 2022

Czechia 6-5 (OT) Canada

Heading into this game both of these teams held a 1-1 record, each recording a win against Germany and a loss to the United States. With the United States already securing first place in Group A, this game was set to determine second and third place. Canada wasted no time getting the ball rolling as it was Adam Fantilli setting up Chicago Steel teammate Nicholas Moldenhauer, who scored his first of the tournament to take the lead 1-0. Shortly after, a powerplay tip from Adam Bares on a Thomas Hamara point shot tied the game up 1-1. Another day, another goal by 2022 draft eligible prospect Jiri Kulich who is heavily improving his draft stock in the public eye with his performance so far in this tournament. It was only a matter of time before Adam Fantilli found the back of the net this tournament and he did just that in the second to once again tie the game up 2-2.

Penalty trouble loomed over Canada in the second, taking three penalties in a row, setting up a lengthy 5-on-3 powerplay for Czechia. Czechia was only able to get one goal on that powerplay, thanks to Adam Bares who scored his second of the game to give them the lead 3-2. Czechia would have scored more on the powerplay if it wasn’t for the incredible play by Canadian goalie Reid Dyck. Canada was able to answer back with a slick give and go between 2022 draft eligible David Goyette and goal scorer 2023 draft eligible Lukas Dragicevic. However, another costly penalty for Canada gave Czechia the chance to score another powerplay goal and Jiri Kulich did exactly that. His second of the game and the fourth powerplay goal for Czechia gave them the lead 4-3 heading into the third period.

Adam Fantilli’s great day continued in the third as he drove the puck towards the net and created a rebound which yesterday’s best defenceman Grayden Siepmann was able to bury to tie the game up at four apiece. Building off the momentum, Canada was able to take the lead 5-4 after Kocha Delic buried his first of the tournament. With time running down it looked as if Canada was going to hold onto the lead before 2023 draft eligible prospect Eduard Sale capitalized on a turnover by David Goyette to tie the game at five and send it to overtime. Continuing the trend in overtime, Canada took their eighth penalty of the game putting Czechia yet again on the powerplay, where none other than Jiri Kulich scored his third of the game. Czechia defeated Canada 6-5 in overtime to secure second place in Group A.

With just a couple minutes to go, Czechia scores and we are tied once again! pic.twitter.com/KLey1IKPaU

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 26, 2022

Lukas Dragicevic has his first of the tournament, and we're all tied up 3-3! pic.twitter.com/P5GBsB5BIq

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 26, 2022

Sweden 4-3 Finland

The highly anticipated battle for Group B was set for the final day in hopes for the matchup to determine the winner of the group. All eyes were on Aron Kiviharju as he looked to break the record for most points by a 16-year-old defenceman in this tournament, which he was currently tied for with current CBJ prospect Samuel Knazko (3).

At the start of the game, Finland was keeping majority of the pressure in the Swedish end. It wasn’t until a good shift by Sweden’s top line where they capitalized getting the first lead of the game off of a goal by 2022 draft eligible Mattias Havelid. A little while after Finland was able to answer back with a strong shift from their second line resulting in a goal by Topi Ronni to tie it up at 1-1. Less than a couple minutes later Sweden took back the lead thanks to a beautiful move and feed from top prospect Noah Ostlund to Tim Almgren. Sweden continued to build off the momentum scoring two more unanswered, on by 2022 draft eligible Filip Bystedt and the other from Mattias Havelid, his second of the day. With hope dwindling for the Finnish team, Topi Ronni made a sweet dish to 2023 draft eligible prospect Lenni Hameenaho to cut the lead down to two to end the period 4-2 in favour of Sweden.

Quiet period for both teams to start the third period before 2023 draft eligibles Lenni Hameenaho and Tuomas Uronen combine to cut the Swedish lead to one with half left in the third period. While Finland brought pressure in that final half of the third period it wasn’t enough to beat Hugo Havelid and Sweden. Unfortunately, this means we must wait longer to see if Aron Kiviharju breaks the record. This win for Sweden created a tie at the top of Group B with both Sweden and Finland holding a record of 2-1 after the preliminary round. Fortunately for Sweden they secured first place in Group B with this win over Finland.

Drop pass to Tuomas Uronen makes it a 1-goal game!@leijonat #U18Worlds #SWEFIN pic.twitter.com/7y8rKgKKs8

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) April 26, 2022

Tim Almgren #U18Worlds #Sverige #2022NHLDraft
SvenskHockey tv pic.twitter.com/MG6WVEQtG5

— SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) April 26, 2022

US 10-2 Germany

While the result of this game wasn’t going to have an impact in the final standings, it was still important for the United States to keep their momentum going and Germany to find depth success as they are set to face the top team in Group A. Just as the game started, the US captain, Rutger McGroarty, left off where he finished day two, scoring the first goal of the game less than a minute in. While this was considered a trap game for the US team, they made sure to finish the preliminary round with the same momentum they started the tournament with. This led to seven more unanswered goals through the first two periods. The wealth was definitely spread out as US got goals from 2022 draft eligibles Devin Kaplan, Cutter Gauthier, Cole Spicer (2) and another from Rutger Mcgroarty. On top of those, 2023 draft eligible Will Smith and Charlie Stramel each scored to bring the score to 8-0 entering the third period. Germany, with little hope left drew many penalties in the third. The German team, trying to spark the home crowd made their mark on this game when Daniel Assavolyuk tipped home an Edwin Tropmann point shot to break the shutout. The United States ended up adding two more, one off a nice toe drag from defenceman Seamus Casey and the other from Will Smith for his second of the night. Germany was able to score one late in the game, but ultimately fell 10-2 against the only remaining undefeated team in this tournament, the United States.

Quarter Final Matchups:

With the preliminary round coming to an end, the quarter final matchups have been set. The quarter finals start Thursday, April 28^th with the following matchups:

Canada-Finland (8:30am EST)

Czechia-Switzerland (9:30am EST)

Sweden-Germany (12:30pm EST)

US-Latvia (1:30pm EST)

Daily Top Performers:

Best Forward: CZE, C Jiri Kulich (3G, 1A, 4P)

Jiri Kulich is quietly having the best tournament of any player on any team. The 2022 draft eligible knew he was going to be heavily relied on coming into this tournament and he has taken that role and flourished. Having to battle each of the first three games, Kulich has single handily made sure that Czechia is in every game scoring at least one goal in each of the three games. Coming into the game against Canada, Kulich knew he would have to score again in order to give Czechia the win and secure second place in Group A. Not only did he score once, but he scored three times including the game winning hat trick goal in overtime. This tournament has done wonders to Kulich’s draft stock, there shouldn’t be a single scout to come out of this tournament without having Kulich in their first round.

Make it four power-play goals for Czechia, Jiří Kulich buries his second of the game.

4 - 3 pic.twitter.com/FoMs0b7M8y

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 26, 2022

Czechia's Jiří Kulich completes the hat-trick to sink Canada in overtime! pic.twitter.com/aUwZxBFMqG

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 26, 2022

Best Defenceman: SWE, D Mattias Havelid (2G, 0A, 2P)

After the shocking loss to start the tournament against Latvia and almost losing to Switzerland on day two, this last game against Finland was for all the marbles. If Sweden was going to win they needed someone to step up and it so happened to be 2022 draft eligible Mattias Havelid. His two goals came at the most opportune time, the first was an absolute snipe from the point to give Sweden the lead 1-0. His second goal however was much more important as it was the fourth Swedish goal and the game winning goal. This performance of Mattias is the sole reason why Sweden finished atop of Group B, getting the favourable matchup against Germany rather than facing the ever-dangerous team Canada, which Finland must face after losing to Sweden.

Czechia's Jiří Kulich completes the hat-trick to sink Canada in overtime! pic.twitter.com/aUwZxBFMqG

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 26, 2022

Best Goaltender: CAN, Reid Dyck (46 SV, 5.78 GAA, .885 SV%)

I’m sure you are thinking how does a goalie, who gave up six goals in an overtime loss, get the award for best goaltender? Well, if it wasn’t for Reid Dyck, the game would’ve been completely lopsided in favour of Czechia. Canada’s defence has been a concern the whole tournament and once again left Dyck out to dry, forcing him to make highlight reel save after highlight reel save in order to keep Canada in the game. Out of the six goals that Dyck gave up, five of them happened while Canada was penalized and the only even strength goal came off of an atrocious turnover by David Goyette which set up Eduard Sale to tie the game up at 5-5 with three minutes left in regulation. If Canada places in this tournament, it is almost certain that Reid Dyck will play a massive role in it.

Czechia's Jiří Kulich completes the hat-trick to sink Canada in overtime! pic.twitter.com/aUwZxBFMqG

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 26, 2022

Mattias Hävelid – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #9 San Jose Sharks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Will Smith, C, Boston College (NCAA)

2. Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

3. Shakir Mukhamadullin, D, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

4. Thomas Bordeleau, C, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

5. Filip Bystedt, C, Linkoping HC (SHL)

6. David Edstrom, C, Frolunda HC (SHL)

7. Kasper Halttunen, RW, London Knights (OHL)

8. Daniil Gushchin, RW, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

9. Tristen Robins, C, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

10. Jack Thompson, D, San Jose Barracuda (AHL)

2024 WORLD JUNIORS CHAMPIONSHIP – December 28th, 2024 – Game Reviews

USA 11 - Switzerland 3

Sweden 5 - Germany 0

Three Stars

MCKEEN’S 2024 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – Team Sweden

Ten to Watch

Jonathan Lekkerimäki – LW

Noah Östlund - C

Liam Öhgren – C/W

Axel Sandin Pellikka - D

Tom Willander – D

David Edstrom - C

Elias Salomonsson - D

Mattias Hävelid – D

Otto Stenberg – LW

Filip Bystedt - C

Sleeper: Felix Unger Sörum – LW

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – SAN JOSE SHARKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #12

Top 20 San Jose Shark Prospects

1. Shane Wright

2. Eduard Sale

3. Ryker Evans

4. Jagger Firkus

5. Jani Nyman

6. David Goyette

7. Ty Nelson

8. Lukas Dragicevic

9. Carson Rehkopf

10. Oscar Fisker Molgaard

11. Caden Price

12. Tye Kartye

13. Ryan Winterton

14. Tucker Robertson

15. Jacob Melanson

16 Niklas Kokko

17. Semyon Vyazovoi

18. Ville Ottavainen

19. Tyson Jugnauth

20. Logan Morrison

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #12 San Jose Sharks

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – SAN JOSE SHARKS – Top 20 Prospects

2022 NHL DRAFT REVIEW: WESTERN DIVISION – SCOUT’S FAVOURITES

Brock Otten’s Favourite Selections

-In no particular order

1. Pavel Mintyukov (ANA, #10)

Sam Rinzel (CHI, #25)

Ivan Zhigalov (COL, #225)

George Fegaras (DAL, #83)

Servac Petrovsky (MIN, #185)

Adam Ingram (NSH, #82)

David Goyette (SEA, #61)

Tucker Robertson (SEA, #123)

Daimon Gardner (VAN, #112)

Matyas Sapovaliv (VGS, #48)

Will Scouch’s Favourite Selections

Shane Wright (SEA, #4)

Brad Lambert (WPG, #30)

Mattias Havelid (SJS, #45)

Jagger Firkus (SEA, #35)

Jordan Gustafson (VGK, #79)

Adam Zlnka (ARZ, 204)

Ty Nelson (SEA, #68)

Fabian Wagner (WPG, #175)

Samuel Savoie (CHI, #81)

Ryan Healey (MIN, #121)

Sam McGilligan’s Favourite Selections

1: Brad Lambert (WPG, #30)

2: Shane Wright (SEA, #4)