Milos Roman – McKeen's Hockey

WHL 2019-2020 Season Preview – Western Conference

Vince Gibbons — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 15:58:20 +0000

One of the joys of junior hockey is that the age limitations force roster turnover of top teams in 3-4-year cycles creating a new league every couple of seasons. This ensures that no team stays at the top of the league for too long. The class of the league last season was the Prince Albert Raiders. Wire to wire the top team in the WHL with three lines of scoring, three defenders with over 40 points each, and an NHL-drafted goalie prospect in Ian Scott, they ticked all the boxes of a team that was able to dominate the league.

This year they will be without three graduated top overage forwards in Dante Hannoun, Noah Gregor, and Sean Montgomery, who combined for an impressive 101 goals. Top scorer from last year Brett Leason is still in pro camp and could play in the AHL this season if he continues to show well. If he does that is another 36 goals no longer with the roster. Does this leave the door open to another team in the WHL to dominate the 2019-2020 regular season? Does Prince Albert have the staying power to remain at the top? These articles will try to answer those questions months in advance. (Teams are listed in their projected divisional rankings). Today we look at the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference article can be found here:

Nolan Foote #29 of the Kelowna Rockets (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze

B.C. Division

Vancouver Giants (1^st)

Having come within an overtime goal of a trip to the Memorial Cup, the Giants are fortunate to return some outstanding players including top defender Bowen Byram (Colorado, 1^st 2019). He can handle all the minutes he is given and is able to generate offense as well as anyone from the back end. Tristen Nielsen and Milos Roman (Calgary, 4^th 2018) give them experienced center play while draft eligible Justin Sourdif has picked up where he left off last season and might be their most productive forward this season. Another 2020 potential draft pick is Lukas Svejkovsky, a talented right shot winger with very good playmaking skills. That balance of youthful skill and solid veterans can be seen across their lineup and is a big part of why they are favorites to win the division this season. Returning 20 year old David Tendeck (Arizona 6^th, 2018), along with the younger Trent Miner (Colorado, 7^th 2019) certainly helps their cause as a team looking to come out of the West.

Kelowna Rockets (2^nd)

Hosting the Memorial Cup comes with enormous pressure to have an outstanding season. Both Regina and Red Deer have been good but not the elite teams in the league in their respective host years and Kelowna will be trying to break the WHL curse of late at the Memorial Cup. Defensively, the roster is pretty strong with Kaedan Korczak (Vegas, 2^nd 2019) and Jake Lee leading the way. Up front they have a couple of elite wingers in Nolan Foote (Tampa Bay, 1^st 2019), and Dillon Hamaliuk (San Jose, 2^nd 2019) that play a bruising power forward style of game. Draft eligible Pavel Novak showed great hands in the preseason but will have to continue that play once the games start to matter to hear his name mentioned at this season’s draft. A lot of their offense is going to come from overage players Kyle Topping and Leif Mattson, both of whom were near the 1 point per game pace last season and both look like they can shoulder even more of the heavy lifting in the early part of this season.

Kamloops Blazers (3^rd)

Last season the Blazers made the playoffs without winning half their regular season games. This year’s team has a load of potential but are likely one more season away from challenging for the top of the division. Not many teams are able to return the top three scorers from last season but the Blazers are able to do so this year. Offensively, this team has Zane Franklin who has nearly doubled his point production season over season each of the past three seasons. That steady improvement bodes well for the 20 year old who will lead a team with a number of young dynamic offensive players. Connor Zary was over one point per game last season but as a late 2001 was not eligible for last season’s NHL Entry draft. expect him to be even more prolific this year. Orrin Centazzo was the third member of that trio with 51 points last year. Add in ’03 born Logan Stankoven and Kamloops is developing some excellent forward depth that should sustain them the next couple of seasons. Defensively they possess a number of puck movers although none really appear to have the dynamic quality of a number one defender. Dylan Garand had a strong season last year and the starting job is his to lose. There is a lot of quality within this roster and they could surprise this season but it may be one year too early. Look for them to emerge as a strong contender over the next few seasons.

Victoria Royals (4^th)

The Royals have seen years of stable playoff hockey and this year looks to be a bit of a struggle. They have been battling with Vancouver the past few seasons at the top of the division but it will be tough for them to compete against the top teams now. They have less scoring than last season and a review of their roster doesn’t breed a ton of confidence. Keanu Derungs, their recent import selection, will be relied upon to generate offense playing on the wing with established center Kaid Oliver upon the latter’s return from injury. The rest of the Victoria roster is really made up of depth players that will struggle against top lines across the league. There is a lot of experience in the crease for this team with 120 WHL games between Brock Gould and Shane Farkas, which should keep the team competitive but likely is not enough to ensure them a playoff spot.

Prince George Cougars (5^th)

The Cougars have struggled the past couple of seasons and don’t look like a team that will be turning the corner this year either. Josh Maser led the team in goals last season with 30 and will be counted on as their top producing forward. Goal scoring will be an issue again for them as import player Matej Toman has not found his offensive game since coming over from the Czech Republic. Tyson Upper is the top draft eligible forward on the roster but the best draft prospect might be Rhett Rhinehart who is a towering 6-4” defender with a bit of an old school ruggedness to his game. Taylor Gauthier has the pedigree of a top goalie but with the team in front of him has put up pretty pedestrian numbers. With goalie of the future Tyler Brennan on the roster expect this to be a 1A and 1B scenario unless they are able to move Gauthier to a contender as the season moves along.

Ty Smith

U.S. Division

Portland Winterhawks (1^st)

Portland has to be the model franchise in terms of drafting players, developing them and producing the highest quality product on the ice. This year again speaks volumes about the organization. Both of the import players selected provide instant offensive talent to help replace the losses of Cody Glass, Joachim Blichfeld up front, and Jared Freadrich on the back end. This year Simon Knak and Jonas Brondberg (both 2020 draft eligible) step in and have both shown they are excellent playmakers. Cross Hanas looks ready to take a step up in responsibility after playing in the bottom six for most of last season. This year he plays the wing for Seth Jarvis who is also working his way up draft boards early. John Ludvig (Florida, 3^rd 2019) sets the tone in the defensive zone with his physical, no non-sense approach to defending. This team consistently rebuilds on the fly and look to have successfully backfilled roles with a combination of internal progression and astute import draft selections. The crease is held down by Joel Hofer (St. Louis, 4^th 2018), a behemoth of a man at 6-5” brought in last year to solidify the only perceived weakness on the roster. He may start 60 games this year and should finally start piling up some wins after his first 70 starts in the league.

Spokane Chiefs (2^nd)

In a division where goaltending dictates so much, the addition of import Lukas Parik (Los Angeles, 3^rd 2019) could be enough to push Spokane to a clear top two finish in the division but more importantly, it provides a chance to get out of the US division in the playoffs. In front of him they have a strong group of defenders led by Filip Kral (Toronto, 5^th 2018). He has a good shot and has more offensive potential than most late round picks. Up front, scoring will be by committee but Adam Beckman (Minnesota, 3^rd 2019) will be counted on to improve his 32 goal season from a year ago. Somewhat surprisingly undrafted winger Luke Toporowski has something to prove this season and will be a big part of any team success that Spokane has. Jack Finley had solid numbers in a depth role last season but the 2020 draft eligible player should be able to carve out a top six role this season. Spokane’s biggest “X” factor comes from diminutive defender Ty Smith (New Jersey, 1^st 2018) and how he responds to not making the Devils’ opening day roster. At his best, he is a dynamic puck mover and playmaker that can dictate the pace of play like few others can in this league.

Everett Silvertips (3^rd)

Defensively, Everett is consistently a top team in terms of goals against. Since 2016 they have given up the fewest goals and it hasn’t even been close. In 2016-17, they led in that department by 29 goals, by 46 in 2017-18, and by 26 in 2018-19. That is domination. It is also coaching. Dennis Williams has consistently brought something to the league that other coaches have struggled to contend with and that is a tenacious, physical team defense. It hasn’t hurt that the crease has been held down very well by Carter Hart (Philadelphia, 2^nd 2016), and now Dustin Wolf (Calgary, 7^th 2019). Everett relies on overage and import scoring talent and Bryce Kindopp and Michal Gut will be looking to provide that this season.

Seattle Thunderbirds (4^th)

Five of the top dozen teams in the entire WHL usually come from this division and it is entirely possible that all five of these teams again make the playoffs. Top scorer from last year Matthew Wedman (Florida, 7^th 2019) is back in the fold targeting another career year after reaching 40 goals last season. He will have to do so with new linemates this year. Henrik Rybinski (Florida, 5^th 2019), Payton Mount, and Michael Horon will all take more prominent roles within the offense this season which should give NHL scouts plenty to ponder. Defensively they will be anchored by Simon Kubicek a late ’01 who is much more than a big frame on the back end. Between the pipes they have Roddy Ross (Philadelphia, 6^th 2019) perhaps the best named player in the league. He has the pro frame that NHL teams covet and has been solid in his first 25 WHL games.

Tri-City Americans (5^th)

Tri-City is a difficult team to bet against. Each year they seem to find a way to be more than the sum of their parts. Sasha Mutala (Colorado 5^th, 2019) has grown up in this organization and carries the expectations forward with this younger roster. He and Samuel Huo will lead the next generation of Tri-City players through the 2019-20 season. The difference may come in the form of Beck Warm, a 20 year old netminder who played a league high 61 games last year with a well earned 2.94 GAA and a .916 save percentage. He led the league in shots and saves last year and that will have to continue along that path if Tri-Cities are expected to compete for the Wild Card.

***

This year the US division is again the most competitive in the WHL with the possibility of all five teams making the playoffs. Out East, the rebranded Winnipeg ICE have done a lot to reinvent the club after several struggling seasons in Cranbrook and have started strong. Saskatchewan has two teams in Saskatoon and Prince Albert that met in 2^nd round of last season’s playoffs and it could easily play out that way again this season. The Central Division boils down to a Battle of Highway 2, as both Calgary and Edmonton have mature and deep rosters that can match up against anyone. There are always a few surprises as the season chugs along and it could be a Medicine Hat or an Everett who ride top end goaltending right through the playoffs. Perhaps an upstart Kamloops team is ready to compete this year. Regardless of how it all plays out, it is an exciting time to get into the local barns and watch these young players develop into future pros. Below is a top 10 of draft eligible players

Top 10 (Alphabetical Order)

Braden Schneider, Brandon

Connor McClennon, Winnipeg

Connor Zary, Kamloops

Jake Neighbours, Edmonton

Justin Sourdif, Vancouver

Kaiden Guhle, Prince Albert

Kyle Crnkovic, Saskatoon

Kasper Puutio, Swift Current

Seth Jarvis, Portland

Honorable Mentions:

Ben King, Swift Current

Carter Savoie, Sherwood Park (AJHL)

Christoffer Sedoff, Red Deer

Cross Hanas, Portland

Michael Benning, Sherwood Park (AJHL)

Pavel Novak, Kelowna

Ridly Greig, Brandon

Simon Knak, Portland

Calgary Flames 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 10:21:40 +0000

Even the worst systems in the league have players of note. Before I rip too much in to the Calgary Flames prospect pipeline, I should give them some credit and note that they come by their current poor state honestly. By that I mean that they draft reasonably well (when they have picks at all), but they have graduated a good number of their top prospects to the NHL of late, leaving the cupboard relatively barren.

From our previous two lists, high ranking prospects including Mark Jankowski, Oliver Kylington, Rasmus Andersson, Andrew Mangiapane, and Brett Kulak have all graduated to the NHL. Others, like Adam Fox, have been moved out of the organization in trade.

But the state of the system is not solely due to graduations. Graduations are to be celebrated. But we look to the Flames’ system today with dismay. Unless the two Russian free agent signings of this offseason both pan out completely, there is a big drop off after the top three of Juuso Valimaki, Jakob Pelletier, and Dillon Dube.

More than graduations, the current state of the Calgary system is largely due to the team neglecting the draft, slowing the influx of new talent to the system to a trickle. In each of the previous three drafts, the Flames only added five players annually. While those 15 players include the top two in the system, the fact that the Calgary 2018 draft class didn’t start until the fourth round stings today, and will continue to sting until far into the future. In fact, it is important to point out that those top two were the only players selected prior to the third round since 2016.

Looking for a bit longer at the three classes from 2016-2018 (it is way too soon to pass judgement on the class of 2019, very few players have developed at a pace that exceeds expectations from their draft pedigree. We have former sixth overall pick Matthew Tkachuk, who went directly to the NHL. We already mentioned Adam Fox, who was a steal un the third round, but was shipped to Carolina in the big Dougie Hamilton-Elias Lindholm deal and is now one of the better defensive prospects in the game. We also mentioned Dube, who would not have been eligible for this list had he played in five more games last year.

Other than those, we can commend Matthew Phillips, Mathias Emilio Pettersen and Dmitri Zavgorodny for progressing nicely. All too many of their picks have failed to develop at all, and the Flames have actually cut bait with some of them despite having a shallow system. Looking just at the five picks from 2017, Calgary has already walked away from two in forwards Zach Fischer and D’Artagnan Joly.

I am reminded of the old joke about a bad restaurant that is overpriced and the food is distasteful. And the punchline, “and such small portions!” The Flames need to draft better, but if I have learned anything in my years analyzing prospects and organizational development, it is that the draft is a crap shoot. The Flames need to draft more often to have viable NHLers on entry level deals as their current NHL core grows both older and more expensive.

-Ryan Wagman

Calgary Flames Left Wing Dillon Dube (29). (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire)

1 Juuso Valimaki, D (16^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) Calgary’s top prospect for the third straight season, Valimaki’s unique combination of size, skill, and offensive vision is worthy of such hype and honor. The Finnish-born blueliner grades out as above-average in every facet of the game, and is capable of changing the pace and outcome of the game on any given shift. Though he struggled to take control of competition in the NHL (just three points in 24 games), his AHL campaign was a display of future top-pair potential in the big league. He took on heavy, physical minutes defensively, while commanding the power play unit and leading transitional efforts with AHL Stockton for a big chunk of the 2018-19 season. With a solid defensive core, Calgary has time to wait on their top pupil, but they will need to see more assertiveness and consistency out of the 2017 first-rounder. – TD

Editor’s note – the above was written before news hit of Valimaki’s torn ACL. The injury is very unfortunate, but should not affect him long-term and does not change his ranking here.

2 Jakob Pelletier, LW (26^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) While Pelletier is small in size, he plays huge in spirit. He will hunt in the corners or in front of the net and use his quick hands and feet to his advantage. Pelletier’s biggest attribute is his smarts, but his second-biggest attribute will bring the fans to their feet: his effort. Pelletier never takes a shift off, and has taken a leadership role with the Moncton Wildcats from the moment he put on the jersey. Not to be understated, Pelletier had 89 points last season, and he’s a great playmaker. He scores a lot off rebounds thanks to his instincts around the net. He will have an adjustment to get used to bigger defenders, but he is well on his way to being a point-a-game energy forward on the top lines who can play in all situations with enthusiasm. - MS

3 Dillon Dube, C (56^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2) Though he had trouble adjusting to the NHL’s higher competition level, Dube dominated the AHL with Stockton in 2018-19, and showed just why he is one of the most heralded prospects in the Flames system. Shifty and quick on his feet, the former captain of Team Canada at the World Junior Championship exhibited plus value as a playmaking passer while also playing as a forceful, self-assured shooting option. His undersized frame is not a hindrance to his high-end rough-and-tumble, forechecking game, as his play in the cycle is where he really shines as a passer and in-tight puck-handler. Originally thought of as a middle-six energy guy, Dube’s offensive evolution gives him top-six capability at the wing and at center. - TD

4 Artyom Zagudulin, G (Undrafted free agent, signed Apr. 9, 2019. Last Year: IE) The 24-years-old goalie came almost out of the blue to become one of the most interesting young netminders in Russia. However, his name was on the notes for most perceptive observers and he was relatively unknown mostly because of his lack of international exposure. He posted very good numbers in the previous three seasons, but he made a significant jump forward last year, gaining attention from the National Team system. He had a very strong 2018-19 campaign with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, and certainly his efforts didn’t go unnoticed overseas either. Just as with many other Russian goalies, he is a great athlete, with perhaps not the biggest frame, but who plays a good butterfly and can exhibit fast post-to-post moves. At this point he may not be ready for the NHL yet – he wasn’t a starter in the KHL – but with one year of seasoning in the AHL he has the potential to become a regular goalie in the NHL. - ASR

5 Alexander Yelesin, D (Undrafted free agent, signed May 10, 2019. Last Year: IE) A little bit like Zagidulin, Yelesin is a sort of late bloomer who made a name for himself mostly in the latest couple of seasons after previously travelling under the radars. In this period, he developed into a solid two-way defenseman with a good shot and an NHL body. He is a very tough player who likes to hit and play aggressive and his style of play should fit very well the more-demanding North American game, in particular if he manages to stay away from chasing the play or getting caught out of position seeking a big hit. Yelesin now needs to work on himself to become even stronger on his skates and gain the necessary experience both on and off the North American ice to fully fulfil his potential as an NHL prospect. Being a later boomer, he amassed less experience than other Russian prospects of his age. - ASR

6 Matthew Phillips, C (166^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 6) One of the WHL’s most feared players in his days of junior hockey, Phillips is still trying to find his groove at the pro ranks. The 2016 sixth-round selection has the tools to succeed in the AHL, but had little rhythm in his first full pro season (65-13-25-38), going through long stretches of scoreless play before reeling off some runs of consecutive multi-point games. Grading out as an above-average skater and shooter, the Calgary native can impact games with his slippery skating, tricky shot release, and plus vision to create lanes for his linemates. At just 5-7” and 155 pounds, his physical game obviously lags, but he can be effective enough at separating himself from opposing defenders against the boards. He has shown top-six upside as a scoring center, but looks more likely to be a depth offensive option with the Flames in due time. - TD

7 Adam Ruzicka, C/LW (109^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 13) Ruzicka is a big bodied center who is at his best when he is working hard below the hash marks and digging in to create his own scoring chances. This is also a criticism of Ruzicka’s game as the consistency of his engagement level has always wavered. However, he finished out his OHL career extremely strong in a playoff push with the Sudbury Wolves, where he played his best hockey to date. At the pro level, he is going to have to prove that he can skate and play a more up tempo attacking style, in addition to continuing to work on his play away from the puck. In a best case scenario, he develops into a solid middle six center in the Adam Lowry mold. But Flames fans may have to be patient with his development. - BO

8 Milos Roman, C (122^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 12) Roman posted 60 points in 59 games, helping lead the Vancouver Giants to both a BC Division title and Western Conference championship last season. He also had a nice showing at the World Juniors for Slovakia, scoring three times and adding an assist. He is a strong two-way player who controls and moves the puck very well. He is a good playmaker, and is often deemed a specialist, as he does most of his damage on the power play. Roman is strong on the puck, works well with open ice and can distribute it nicely to others. He projects to be a middle six forward, and being that he will be an overager in the WHL this year, should move up to Stockton to further his development. - KO

9 Ilya Nikolayev, C (88^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A fast skater with above-average top speed and strong feet, Nikolayev plays a solid two-way game without many offensive buzzes, but with an effective pragmatic, pass-first game. He showed glimpses of excellence last year, but he needs to be more consistent in the offensive zone and more often use the high IQ he shows from time to time as too often he prefers to keep it simple, sometimes staying too much in a safe zone rather than risking a possible higher-risk, but higher-reward play. That said, Nikolayev is a very competitive player with an interesting ceiling as a two-way center with middle-six potential in the NHL. At this point he is a project player and needs to work a lot on almost all the aspects of his game. He also needs to gather more experience as he is yet to play a single game in pro hockey. - ASR

10 Mathias Emilio Pettersen, C (167^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) A rare Norwegian hockey prospect, Pettersen has been in North America since his age 14 season, moving from high level 16U programs to a two year run in the USHL and now on to college. In his USHL days he would flash tantalizing play driving ability. He was inconsistent enough in his draft year that he was no sure thing to be selected, but the Flames took a chance on him in the sixth round and is his freshman season with Denver is an indication of what is to come, Calgary should be pleased here. Pettersen has a full complement of offensive tools, earning above average grades with his wheels his hands, and his vision. He lacks any physical impact to speak of and will never be a big scorer, but his playmaking chops suggest a potential middle six role in the future, although he is still raw enough that his projection has a lot of uncertainty. - RW

11 Jon Gillies, G (75^th overall, 2012. Last Year: 5) A former third-round pick with a high level of athleticism and a technically sound style, the Flames hope the potential Gillies has shown will offset his horrendous 2018-19 campaign with AHL Stockton, where he posted a 16-23-1 record with an .889 save percentage. His aggressive style, quick feet in the crease, and superb use of all of his tools will keep him around, but even at 25, he still has a lot of improvement left to do, especially in controlling rebounds and staying composed in the crease. With an abundance of good, young netminders in the prospect system, the former World Junior starter for Team USA has no more room for error and will need to bounce back big time in 2019-20. - TD

12 Dmitri Zavgorodny, C/LW (198^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 14) Zavgorodny is a prototypical new-age player – attack with speed and smarts. His speed catches defenses off guard, and it makes him an effective penalty kill forward defending the point men and forcing the issue. Size is his biggest knock, like a few others on this list, but Zavgorodny plays a lot like Calgary’s pint-sized superstar Johnny Gaudreau. His shot form is unorthodox: he shoots from the middle of his blade rather than near the toe, which sacrifices accuracy for less load time. It catches goalies off guard as he can lift in a hurry and makes it hard to read. Due to his size, Zavgorodny will not be a factor on the lower lines, so it is offensive roles only for the Russian winger, but he finds great chemistry with smart scorers.

13 Dustin Wolf, G (214^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The Flames selected one of the best junior goaltenders in Wolf, from the defensive minded Everett Silvertips, where he had been Carter Hart’s understudy, receiving mentoring and grooming from the current Philadelphia starter. Wolf was named the WHL Western Conference Goaltender of the Year, leading the league in wins, save percentage, goals against, minutes played, and was named to the First All Star Team to boot. Wolf’s numbers have in fact been very comparable to Hart’s, and the former is still getting better. The knock on him is his size, but he plays a strong positional game, has a high compete level, plays the puck well, and makes a lot of saves. The expectation now is another strong season of development. He has played well on the international stage, and should get his chance in the World Juniors for Team USA. - KO

14 Eetu Tuulola, RW (156^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not ranked) Tuulola developed into a more complete winger last season in the Liiga and made solid progress in many aspects of his game, including skating and endurance. While he still has some occasional balance issues and only decent acceleration, he is now able to play with a higher energy from shift to shift. He finishes his checks, goes to the net, and is difficult to move from there once he has established his position in the crease. His shot is accurate and very hard. That said, if he works on his release and learns to shoot ore effectively with limited space, his goal totals could begin to increase rapidly. He is not overly flashy and has decent puck handling skills. All things considered, Tuulola has a chance to develop into a middle-six power winger at the NHL level. - MB

15 Tyler Parsons, G (54^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) A highly athletic and competitive netminder, Parsons fought through injuries last season and never got into much of a groove as a prospect. The 21-year-old is extremely flexible, but perhaps that stretchiness led to the multiple upper-body injuries he sustained in the 2018-19 campaign, during which he was limited to just 20 AHL starts. A master scrambler, Parsons lacks technical refinement but more than makes up for it with competitiveness, play-tracking, and the reflexes to complement his all-out style of goaltending. The 2017 WJC gold medalist needs nothing more than a clean bill of health to continue his ascent up the ranks of NHL goaltending prospects, as the 2016 second-rounder projects to be a mid-tier NHL starter, but with more room to grow. - TD

16 Josh Nodler, C (150^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) After a lights-out performance for Team USA at the pre-season Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Nodler shot up watch lists going into his first full season in the USHL. With a mediocre Fargo team, he was fine, but never really rose above and his mid-season performance at the WJAC was no match for his Hlinka work. He is not a very toolsy player, but he is a very creative passer and that ability to create for others will be paramount to Nodler being able to reach his ceiling. He thinks the game well enough to be useful in many situations, and that might allow him to make it in a bottom six role after spending some time at Michigan State. Nodler’s upside is limited, but he has enough positive straits that he could carve out an NHL role for himself in time. - RW

17 Martin Pospisil, RW (105^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not Ranked) The third of three Slovakians on this list, Pospisil is also the most aggressive player in the Flames’ organization. Even after cutting his penalty minutes from his draft year to last year in half, he still finished 11^th in the USHL in penalty minutes. All the while, he demonstrated a much improved scoring touch, and he increased his offensive output from 37 points to 63. Those extra points would not have been accrued if he was stuck in the box for as much as previously. Pospisil has a decent shot and enough pace to keep up, to go along with his high end physical game, but his hands are still lacking, and his hockey sense/composure both still have a ways to go. On energy alone, he could work his way to a fourth line role one day. - RW

18 Glenn Gawdin, C (Free agent, signed Nov. 16, 2017. Originally: 116^th overall, 2015 [St. Louis]. Last Year: 9) Unsigned by his original draft team, the St. Louis Blues, Gawdin signed an entry-level contract with the Flames and exceeded expectations in his first pro year. Scouts knew the right-handed centerman could score, as he put up 125 points in his final WHL season, but his skills quietly transitioned well to the AHL ranks (64-11-27-38), where he earned top-six and power-play time as a rookie. A swift and pretty wrist shot is aided by his high-grade shot-readiness, and his solid technical skating skill allows his low top speed and acceleration level to play up. His two-way game is mature enough to eventually make a difference at the NHL level, and that discipline and versatility gives him a solid third-line center ceiling. - TD

19 Rinat Valiev, D (Trade: Oct. 1, 2018, Originally: 68^th overall, 2014 [Toronto]. Last Year: Not ranked [Montreal]) Though his game is very one-dimensional, the lefty defenseman is a fundamentally refined defensive defenseman with some NHL-esque qualities in his play behind his blueline. His gaps are tight and suffocating, his physical play around the boards can be highly effective, and his ability to separate the opposing player from the puck is solid. He is a serviceable skater and possesses a fine exit pass that can, at least spark an offensive drive going the other way. Valiev is not someone who contributes much, if any, to the scoresheet, and has not shown the skills to impact offensive play. At 24, he may never be a permanent NHL defenseman, but he has some potential to flourish in the right system. - TD

20 Carl-Johan Lerby, D (Undrafted free agent, signed May 7, 2019. Last Year: IE) A puckmoving two-way defenseman. 22 year-old Lerby is a late bloomer who was never drafted. He had a breakthrough season in SHL last season and was signed as free agent this summer. He ranked second in icetime with Malmo and was their most offensively productive defenseman. Lerby moves the puck well and plays his way up the ice. He also likes to join the attack and has a dangerous wrist shot. Although he has a fair amount of skill, he can also play a quiet, low risk game with a strong first pass and good zone exits, which could help him to reach a third pairing role in the NHL. Calgary has good depth on defense and Lerby will be loaned back to Malmo in SHL next season as the Flames keep an eye on him from afar. - JH

WHL Playoff Preview (Western Conference): Prince Albert dominates but Vancouver hot down the stretch

Kevin Olexson — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 18:12:49 +0000

After another exciting season in the Dub it took one final game to finalize this year’s playoffs. The Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers finish the season tied forcing a one-game playoff, the seventh in WHL history, to move on and play the Victoria Royals.

The Blazers made up a seven-point deficit in the last week and a half of the season, going 5-0-1 to tie Kelowna and earn a home tie-breaker game. They came in riding some momentum and sported a 6-3-1 record against the visiting Rockets this season. The Blazers were led by 16-year-old rookie goaltender Dylan Garand, who put aside 27 out of 28 shots, and forwards Connor Zary, Zane Franklin, Brody Stuart, and Captain Jermaine Loewen to earn their biggest win of the season. Next year’s Memorial Cup hosts have some work to do, as this is only the second time in the Rockets tenure that they have missed the playoffs.

The Prince Albert Raiders were far and away the top team in the Dub this year finishing with a 54-10-2-2 record for a league leading 112 points. The Vancouver Giants finished with the second-best record after going on a real tear in the last quarter of the season, as they surpassed the Everett Silvertips for the best record out of the BC and US divisions erasing a 16-point deficit. The Edmonton Oil Kings finished the season as the hottest team down the stretch winning their last 10 games to edge out the Lethbridge Hurricanes by two points for the division title.

As the quest to represent the WHL in this year’s MasterCard Memorial Cup begins, the Western Conference matchups look like this:

Western Conference

Kyle Olson, Tri-City Americans

Now, to the US division, which has really stepped up the past few years, as these clubs have much huge strides are now one of the best divisions in the WHL. Let’s start with the division leading Everett Silvertips, who finished with a record of 47-16-2-3, good for 99 points and another division win. They face off against the Tri-City Americans, who have been dismal down the stretch, going 1-6-3 to finish off the season.

Despite the 12-point differential between these two teams, and the rough finish by Tri-City, the Silvertips bested the Americans by winning five of the eight meetings against them in relatively close games. Everett is hoping that Washington Capitals pick Riley Sutter (14-27-41) will be ready to go for the playoff, after sustaining a lower body injury back in December, keeping him off the ice for most of the season. He has recently been skating on his own accord and getting ready. If he won’t be able to go, the Silvertips will be led by the Minnesota Wild draft pick Conor Dewar (36-45-81), who led the team in scoring and has been great all season for Everett. He will be helped out by Bryce Kindopp (39-34-73), Zack Andrusiak (38-26-64) who was acquired midway through the season from the Seattle Thunderbirds and had 25 points in 29 games, and Max Patterson (14-25-39) who was also picked up halfway through the season from the Swift Current Broncos.

Tri-City will rely on Parker AuCoin (42-42-84) who has been their offensive workhorse this season, along with Anaheim Ducks pick Kyle Olson (21-49-70), Nolan Yaremko (28-38-66), Riley Sawchuk (21-33-54) , and rookie Krystof Harabik (21-30-51) to crack the tough Silvertips defence and put some pucks in the net.

Defensively, the Silvertips are almost a blueprint or model for success, as they once again had the fewest goals against them. The blue line is bolstered by Philadelphia Flyers prospect Wyatte Wylie (11-36-47), Jake Christianson (12-32-44), and draft-eligible Gianni Fairbrother (10-26-36). Tri-City picked up Aaron Hyman (10-40-50) in a trade earlier this season with the Regina Pats, and he will log most of the minutes for them. Alongside of him will be rookie Samuel Stewart (0-18-18), and Domm Schmiemann (3-12-15) who will be relied upon to keep things organized in their own end.

We have a good matchup in goal between Dustin Wolf (41-15-2-2) of the Silvertips, and Beck Warm (32-23-5) of the Americans. Wolf replaced parting goaltender Carter Hart as he made his way to the Philadelphia Flyers, and in all honesty, has stepped in and has not missed a beat. The Silvertips have a really good system going, and the numbers that Wolf has put up, are equally impressive if not better than those of Hart. Wolf boast a fabulous 1.69 GAA, and a whopping save percentage of 0.936%, and adding seven shutouts to the process.

Warm on the other end, put up a goals against of 2.94 and a save percentage of 0.916%. Both goaltenders have played well against the other this season and were equally impressive. Wolf shutout the Americans twice in the last three games against Tri-City and allowed only one goal in the other game. While Warm has been more than shelled by the Silvertips this season, as he was peppered over and over the 8-game series against Everett, posting a 2.41 GAA and a smoking hot 0.941 save percentage.

This should be a low scoring series in which the goaltenders do battle to put their team over the top. The Silvertips should have their top centre back in the fold as Sutter gets closer and closer to a return. They also went out and added an abundance of experience, as they added Max Patterson, Sahvan Chair, Artyum Minulin, from last year’s WHL Championship Swift Current Broncos team, and Robbie Holmes of the Regina Pats, all who have played in last year’s Memorial Cup. The Silvertips are really working hard as they keep getting closer and closer to winning the WHL’s Ed Chynoweth Cup. Will this be the year? The Americans seem to have trouble putting the puck in the net against Everett and will have to overcome that to have a chance in this series as Everett is a stingy club who doesn't allow many goals.

Pick - Silvertips in 6

Joachin Blichfield of the Portland Winterhawks. Photo by Gary Peterson/Portland Winterhawks

We have one of the best matchups in this year’s playoffs as the Spokane Chiefs and Portland Winter Hawks square off in an evenly matched series, and the regular season proves just that. Spokane took the regular season series 3-2-0-1 outscoring the Hawks by a 29-27 margin. Spokane enters the playoffs on a 3-game win streak, and an 8-2 run at the end, while Portland lost their last two games, and went four and six down the stretch.

Spokane has more balanced scoring in their lineup as Riley Woods (29-46-75) led them. He will be joined up front by LA Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan (20-23-43), who only played in 32 games for the Chiefs. Eli Zummack (15-53-68), Jake McGrew (31-23-54), draft eligible Luke Toporowski (21-28-49), and rookie Adam Beckman (32-30-62) who has been more than impressive this season, will round out the attack for Spokane.

Portland has the dynamic duo of Joachim Blichfeld (53-61-114), and Cody Glass (15-54-69) to lead their charge. Blichfeld, who went undrafted but inked a deal with the San Jose Sharks, led the league in both scoring (with 114 points) and goals (53), as he tied Tristan Langan of the Moose Jaw Warriors for the goal lead. Vegas Golden Knights selection Glass, helped Blichfeld, as they were more than dominate this season when together, and dangerous every time they stepped on the ice. Glass has missed a substantial part of the season with an injury, and the Hawks hope that he will be back and ready to play as they are going to need him. Alongside of them, Jake Gricius (27-34-61), draft-eligible Reece Newkirk (23-36-59), and Josh Paterson (24-30-54), acquired in a trade with the Saskatoon Blades, will provide support and secondary scoring.

The Chiefs have the WHL’s top defensemen this season in Ty Smith (7-62-69) to lead them. Maple Leafs prospect Filip Kral (10-26-36), and Nolan Reid (17-34-51) will be counted on to keep Blichfeld and Glass in check. Jared Freadrich (15-33-48) was the top producing defencemen on this team this year, and draft eligible players in Clay Hanus (8-19-27) , and Brendan DeJong (7-20-27) playing well, this should be a close one.

In goal, Bailey Brkin (27-11-1) backstops the Chiefs with his 2.75 GAA and 0.914 save percentage, while it looks like Joel Hofer who went 9-8 for Portland with a 3.18 GAA and 0.911 save percentage will lead the Hawks.

This will be one of those series that can go either way, as these teams are evenly matched in most aspects. With only a one point difference in the standings, and the even record between them this season, you could almost flip a coin to see. Both teams can score, both have NHL quality players in Anderson-Dolan and Glass, both have a nice balanced scoring system, and whichever team can withstand the least amount penalties, should get the edge.

There are game breakers on both sides, but I expect Ty Smith to have a big impact on this series and help his team to the next round. If Playmaking centre Cody Glass can’t lace them up, that would be a big blow to his team, as he is a difference maker. If the Chiefs defence and goaltending can keep Blichfeld and Glass at bay, then the Chiefs should have no problems. Goaltending will be another key in this series, as will who wins the special teams battle.

Pick - Chiefs in 7

Bowen Byram

Down to the BC Division where we were graced with a tie breaking play in game to kick off the playoffs between Kamloops and Kelowna. But let’s start with the division leading Vancouver Giants, who went on a run in 2019 to erase a 16-point Silvertips lead to overtake them as the Western Conference Champions, finishing second overall in the WHL standings. They now get ready to face the Seattle Thunderbirds in their first-round matchup. The season series between these two teams looks fairly equal on paper and stats; 2-2 records, both teams scoring 11 goals, and everything that should set you up to believe there is an upset story in the making.

Seattle finished with a 7-1-1-1 record while riding a winning streak of three games. The Giants go in to this year’s playoffs with an 8-1-1 record to finish, while sporting a 3-0-1 streak. So yes, we look even again. The T-birds and Giants finished 9th and 11th respectively in goals scored, but that’s where things seem to end in similarities.

The Giants finished second overall and boast a very good hockey club. Their forward group is led by Davis Koch (28-50-78), Calgary Flames prospect Milos Roman (27-33-60), recent acquisition Jadon Joseph (22-31-53) who came over from Lethbridge and managed to carve out 28 points in 32 games, and rookie Justin Sourdif (23-23-46). Seattle’s forward group is led by Matthew Wedman (40-37-77), Noah Philp (26-49-75), Nolan Volcan (27-30-57), Andrej Kukuca (25-32-57), Henrik Rybinski (8-32-40) who came over from the Medicine Hat tigers and put up 35 points in 33 games.

Defensively, the Giants have a phenomenal blue line, led by arguably the best draft eligible defender for this year Byram Bowen (26-45-71) who scored 26 goals, and will be sure to see his name go early at this year’s draft right there in his back yard of Vancouver. Dylan Plouffe (8-27-35), and Washington Capitals prospect Alex Kannok Leipert (5-14-19) will help anchor up the blue line and support their tight system and goaltenders. Seattle also has some nice defenders, Montreal selection Jarrett Tyszka (8-22-30), draft eligible prospect Jake Lee (3-21-24), and rookie Simon Kubicek (9-19-28) will be by their goalies’ side.

In net, the Giants have arguably the best tandem going in David Tendeck (24-10-2-1), and Trent Miner (24-5-1-1). Both goalies finished near the top in most categories, and basically split games all season. Miner shows a GAA at 1.98 with a save percentage of 0.924% with three shutouts, while Tendeck has a 2.48 and a 0.911 save percentage. Seattle has two rookie goalies that they have been relying on. Roddy Ross (16-5-1-2) has a 2.76 GAA and a 0.919 save percentage, and his counterpart Cole Scweibius had a 3.89 GAA and 88.6 % save percentage.

The offence provided by both clubs are pretty close, but Vancouver has dominated with special teams, and seem to have much more depth than the T-Birds. Their defence and goaltending are outstanding, and they seem to have more difference makers. The Giants also lost twice to Seattle, both early in the season, and seemed to have turned it on after Christmas in which they defeated Seattle twice in that span, most recently a 5-1 drubbing near the end of the season. There is no reason to think that this dominance won’t continue, as the Giants seem primed and ready to roll.

Pick - Giants in 5

Finally……let’s get to the Victoria Royals and Kamloops Blazers, which should be another fun series to watch. These teams come in to this playoff matchup with Victoria taking the regular season series 5-3-0-1, with most of the games being close. That saying……the Blazers did play playoff hockey down the stretch as they battled their way in to the last playoff spot and just refused to be denied. The Royals have been in a comfortable spot for some time now, as they were well below the Giants yet far enough above Kelowna and Kamloops not to worry, so they have been in coast mode for a bit.

The Royals have been without some of their key players and leaders for a period of time now as they have missed leading scorer Kaid Oliver (27-22-49), and power forward Kody McDonald (20-22-42) who are both out indefinitely with upper body injuriesand would be welcome additions to the roster. Meanwhile, the Royals are led by D-Jay Jerome (23-19-42), import player Igor Martynov (11-31-42) to provide offence.

Kamloops has been carried by Zane Franklin (28-40-68), and Connor Zary (24-43-67). Orren Centazzo (18-33-51), and Dallas Stars prospect and Captain Jermaine Loewen (28-18-46) have also been contributing to help this club with its push. Scott Walford (9-38-47), Ralph Jarrett (6-9-15), Mitchell Prowse (3-18-21), and Jameson Murray (3-16-19) will all have to pitch in to make life easier for net minder Griffin Outhouse with the lack scoring up front the Royals. Rookie Quinn Schmeimann (5-23-28), Luke Zazula (3-24-27), and Montana Onyebuchi (5-15-20) will all be very active and get lots of play in this series.

In goal, Griffin Outhouse (27-16-1) has been great for the Royals, with a 2.81 GAA and a 0.913 save percentage. He has only played two-thirds of a season for the Royals, and they hope that he is well rested for they playoff push. He will have to come up big for them to move on especially without two of their leading scorers. Blazers starting goalie, and Vegas Golden Knights prospect Dylan Ferguson (17-24-4) has been out injured for much of this playoff run, but has received a clean bill of health to return. A tough decision will have to be made as the Blazers have ridden the coat tail of 16-year-old rookie (and Victoria native) goalie Dylan Garand (11-7-2-1), who has been lights out for them. Garand played down the stretch as a clutch performer going 6-0-1, with an excellent 1.93 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage.

This series will be close to the end and will ultimately comedown to a goaltending duel once again. Which goalie will get the nod for the Blazers? Will they ride the hot hand? Injuries will play a big part in this, especially if Victoria does not get their leaders back. The Blazers come in to this with confidence and swagger after finishing the season 5-0-1, and then defeating the Kelowna Rockets in the tie breaker game. They also defeated the Royals in the last three meetings they had, including 6-1 and 8-0 drubbings. They will come out with lots of energy, and really push the Royals, who come in to these playoffs going 4-5-1. Outhouse and the Royals defence will be pressed and will need a complete effort to withstand the push from the resilient Blazers, who are riding a wave of momentum.

Pick - Blazers in 6

LINK TO EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW HERE

WHL 2018-19 Season Preview

Kevin Olexson — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 13:22:04 +0000

Another exciting season is underway in the WHL, and 2018-19 should be a good one. The 2017-18 season ended with the WHL’s Regina Pats hosting the 2018 Memorial Cup, in which they were defeated 3-0 by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the final. This season, the Kelowna Rockets have been awarded the 2020 Memorial Cup, and as the host team, trying to retool and rebuild in transition, they have a bit of work to do before then.

The WHL had some great players move on, including prolific scorers, dynamic defenders, and some top goaltenders. Now the next draft class of players is developing into prominent roles with their respective clubs, and will see more of the spotlight and new opportunities as we head towards the 2019 draft in Vancouver.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks.

The WHL was dominated primarily by the US and Eastern Division, but there will be a change in the power and balance with all of the player turnover. The US division has established itself as the strongest division over the past few years and there is no reason to think that this season will be any different. It is likely that this division will boast five playoff teams as well. Along with the three seeded division teams, two other teams will battle for the conference wild card spots. The Portland Winterhawks and Spokane Chiefs should battle for the top spot in the division. The Hawks look poised to take the division, under the leadership of the Vegas Golden Knights first franchise pick Cody Glass, who will challenge for the WHL scoring title this season and be one of the best players to take the ice in the league. The Hawks lost two top defenders in Dennis Cholowski (Detroit) and Henri Jokiharju (Chicago), as well as forwards Skyler McKenzie (Winnipeg) and Kiefer Bellows (NYI). They have a solid supporting cast, and overage forward Joakim Blichfeld (SJ) and defender Brendan DeJong (Car) will flourish this season. They also boast two top draft prospects in defenders --Clay Hanus and John Ludvig who should produce on the back end.

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

The Chiefs are set to push for the division title with plenty of offense even after losing Edmonton prospect and team leader Kailer Yamamoto, and graduate Hudson Elynuik (Toronto Marlies). They will be led by LA Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan (who will surely be one to watch after he returns from the NHL), Sharks prospect Jake McGrew, a nice complement of 19-year-old players, and New Jersey Devils first round selection Ty Smith who will step up his game. This season the Chiefs will also show off prospect Luke Toporowski, who will contribute with a larger role for the club.

The Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri-City Americans, and Everett Silvertips will follow up jockeying for position. The T-Birds are building and are looking to improve after a big changeover in players. The load will be shouldered by Nolan Volcan and Zach Andrusiak, who will play as 20-year- olds this season and lead the team offensively. Jared Tyszka (Montreal) will lead the blue line, and help draft eligible prospect Jake Lee. Secondary scoring will come from Noah Philp, Matthew Wedman and eligible prospect Dillon Hamaliuk. Tri-City will be anxious to get back prospects Michael Rasmussen (Detroit), and defensemen Juuso Valimaki (Calgary), but it may take some time, if they return at all. Aside from that they will have a solid set of forwards led by Kyle Olson (Anaheim), Nolan Yaremko, and top draft eligible prospect Sasha Mutala. The defence is young and could be shaky, meaning that the offence and goaltending will both have to be better. The Everett Silvertips have had the biggest turnover, losing scoring leaders Patrick Bajkov (Florida) and Matt Fonteyne, as well as elite goaltender Carter Hart (Philadelphia). They will get back forwards Riley Sutter (Washington) and Connor Dewar (Minnesota) to lead the attack. Goaltender Dustin Wolf is a top prospect and played admirably behind Hart last season. He will have his chance to be in the spotlight and shine this year. Wyatte Wylie (Philadelphia) will lead the blueliners the depth of which is a strength of this team.

Milos Roman. Photo by Chris Relke/Vancouver Giants

The B.C. division took a step back, as the powerhouse teams have slipped. Now the Vancouver Giants seemed poised to sit atop the division along with the Victoria Royals. The Giants lost forwards Tyler Benson (Edmonton) and Ty Ronning (NYR), but have a great follow up with James Malm, Brayden Watts, and prospect Milos Roman (Calgary) to lead their offence. The Giants also have a great stable of defensemen, including Alex Kannok-Leipert (Washington), Dylan Plouffe, and a definite 2019 first round selection in Bowen Byram. The goaltending is also sound with the tandem of Arizona Coyotes pick David Tendeck and highly touted prospect Trent Miner who has put up great numbers with his play between the pipes.

The Victoria Royals will also challenge for the division title, as they have a good nucleus of players, solid goaltending, and great coaching. They lost a lot of firepower in Tyler Soy (San Diego Gulls) and Matthew Phillips (Calgary), but will be led by Dante Hannoun, Dino Kambeitz, and Kaid Oliver. The back end is good with Scott Walford (Montreal), Lane Zablocki (Detroit), and Ralph Jarrett. The Royals will be backstopped by one of the top goaltenders in the league in Griffin Outhouse who will help them with their push for another division title.

Kyle Topping of the Kelowna Rockets. Photo by Marissa Baecker/Kelowna Rockets

The Kelowna Rockets, Kamloops Blazers, and Prince George Cougars round out the division, as they will jockey for the third spot and possibly a wild card. The Rockets, after winning the bid to host the 2020 Memorial Cup will have to step things up, as this season looks a bit rough for them. They lost a good portion of their team, and top players Cal Foote (TBL), Dillon Dube (Calgary), Kole Lind (Vancouver), Carsen Twarynski (Philadelphia), have graduated and the team is in transition. They do however show five top rated prospects this season including Kyle Topping, who surprisingly went unselected in last year’s draft and will lead the team offensively this season. Top prospect and projected first rounder Nolan Foote will bear a larger role and be relied on to provide some much needed offence along with Leif Mattson. The Rockets are known for turning out defensemen, and they have top rated prospects in Kaden Korczak and Lassi Thomson in the works. In goal they have Roman Basran, another top prospect who pitched a shutout in his first ever WHL game, and will share backstop duties with James Porter.

The Kamloops Blazers are looking to take a step up after going through many changes last season. The Blazers seem like they are in rebuild mode, but they will be led by Jermaine Loewen returning from the Dallas Stars. The Blazers have some young players on their roster, and the back end will be anchored by Nolan Kneen, who should be in store for a big year. The Blazers could very well surprise a lot of teams, especially if returning goaltender Dylan Ferguson (Vegas) can put up solid numbers as he should be busy. The Cougars are also in the midst of a rebuild, as they unloaded many of their assets to finish at the bottom of the division. They have a young team without any returning NHL draftees on it, but will be led by defenders Joel Lakusta, Ryan Schoettler, Rhett Rhinehart, and forwards Ethan Browne and import Vladislav Mikhalchuk. They have a top rated goalie prospect in Taylor Gauthier between the pipes, and he looks to face a lot of shots behind a weak defence.

The battle of the Central Division should come down to the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers, followed by the Red Deer Rebels and Edmonton Oil Kings, leaving the Kootenay Ice and Calgary Hitmen battling for the wildcard positions.

Calen Addison. Photo by Robert Murray.

The Hurricanes seemed primed and ready, as they welcome back their leaders from other camps and tryouts. The offence will certainly be dynamic with Jordy Bellerive (Pittsburgh) returning, and prospect Dylan Cozens - who will definitely be an early first round pick in next year’s draft - leading the charge as they both push for the WHL scoring title as well. The secondary scoring will be in the hands of eligible prospect Logan Barlage, Taylor Ross, and Kelti Jeri-Leon. On the back end, Calen Addison (Pittsburgh) returns to beef up this blue line and contribute from the point. The goaltending looks solid with Reece Klassen, who should have a good nucleus of defence in front of him to help him put up good numbers. Medicine Hat should also be able to keep up with Lethbridge on the offensive side of things, as they also have some firepower up front. Ryan Chyzowski and Josh Williams are one of the top tandems in the league, and Williams is a likely first round selection in the upcoming draft. Captain James Hamblin will also provide some scoring punch, as they also show a very balanced group of forwards.

The Tigers lost offensive defensemen David Queneville (NYI), meaning defenders Linus Nassen (Florida) and Dylan Macpherson will have to step into bigger roles to help fill that void. The goaltending will be fine with Jordan Hollett (Ottawa) stopping pucks on the back end, but the defence is young. The Rebels also have some nice players returning, and coach Brett Sutter will be happy with Brandon Hagel and Jeff DeWit coming back to lead the forward group. The Rebels also welcome back Alexander Alexeyev (Washington) and Dawson Barteaux (Dallas) to the group, as they should both have very productive seasons. The Rebels have two players of note for draft hounds with import center Oleg Zaytsev and goaltender Ethan Anders, who should both improve this season with expanded roles.

The Edmonton Oil Kings have also been in a rebuild mode, and are looking to take the next step of their transition. They have a young team who will be led by Trey Fix-Wolansky (Columbus), along with veterans Quinn Benjafield and Vince Loschiavo to play along side of draft eligible prospects David Kope, Vladimir Alistrov, and Brett Kemp. On defence, a top prospect and projected first round selection Matthew Robertson leads the blue line with fellow draft-eligibles Jacson Alexander and Conner McDonald. The Oil Kings also have some young goaltenders in their net, and could help this team move up the ranks with some solid play.

Riley Stotts. Photo by Candice Ward/Calgary Hitmen.

Calgary will have forwards Jake Kryski and Riley Stotts (Toronto) back, along with defenseman Vladislav Yeryomenko (Nashville) who will all take larger roles and provide leadership for their maturing team. The Hitmen have a hulking defender on the radar as Jackson Van De Leest is a top draft-eligible prospect. The Kootenay Ice have been developing and rebuilding for a few years now, and they are showing a lot of youth, and a top end talent in Peyton Krebs (yet another definite first round selection). He will be joined by Brett Davis (Dallas) to lead the charge for the young ICE team. They will rely on Jonathan Smart to anchor and lead their group of defensemen as this team looks to improve and make a surge for a playoff spot.

The Eastern Division standings will look different. This division has been hit the hardest as the top teams from last season have had major overhauls, and return depleted rosters. After being defeated in the Memorial Cup Final, the Pats have lost forwards Sam Steel (Anaheim), Cameron Hebig (Edmonton), and Matt Bradley from their impressive lineup of scorers. They will be led this year by Jake Leshyshyn (Vegas), Nick Henry (Colorado), Austin Pratt, and eligible prospect Koby Morrisseau to carry the load. On defence, losing Josh Mahura (Anaheim), Cale Fleury (Montreal), and Libor Hajek (TBL) opens the door for Aaron Hyman to take a leadership role, and allow eligible prospects Nikita Sedov and Jonas Harkins to play larger parts and flourish on an experienced team. In goal, they have Max Paddock, who should get some consideration, as he backstopped the Pats to the Memorial Cup final as a rookie netminder and looked good in the process.

Cole Fonstad

It looks like the Prince Albert Raiders are ready to take a major leap and push for the division crown. The Raiders are loaded up front with players to watch in Cole Fonstad (Montreal), Noah Gregor (SJ), undrafted Brett Leason, and returnee Kody McDonald leading the way. They have an experienced blue line with Sergei Sapego, Max Martin, and Brayden Pachal ready to deliver in larger roles. Goaltender Ian Scott (Toronto) is ready to be one of the top tenders in the DUB this season and lead this team. They will battle with the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Saskatoon Blades for the division crown in what should be an exciting division to follow. The Wheat Kings will also boast a stellar offence and solid goaltending. With last seasons leading scorer Ty Lewis (Colorado) eligible to return, which would add even more scoring punch to this already impressive lineup of forwards.

Ty Smith

Stelio Mattheos (Carolina), Connor Gutenberg, Cole Reinhart, and draft eligible Luka Burzan will lead the charge for the Wheat Kings. The defence will be led by Schael Higson and Chase Hartje, with youngsters Braden Schneider and Jonny Lambos getting increased minutes. Las Vegas prospect Jiri Patera will handle duties in net, and looks to be very solid for the Wheaties, which will also help push them to the top of the division. The Saskatoon Blades have also made enormous strides this year, and will take a step up as well. They have some great prospects on the roster that will make their way to the draft this spring. They also have a forward group that can fill the nets with Max Gerlach, Eric Florchuk, and Josh Paterson returning to support Kirby Dach. Dach will be a prolific scorer and early first round pick at the draft. He will be joined by import defensemen and fellow top prospect Emil Malysjev who will settle in to a prominent role by playing with the likes of Dawson Davidson and Jackson Caller. The Blades also feature a top goaltending tandem with top prospect Nolan Maier who will carry the load this season after a stellar rookie season, and Dorrin Luding, who has looked very impressive in his appearances.

Jett Woo

The Moose Jaw Warriors will find themselves in the mix as well with Justin Almeida (Pittsburgh) back in the fold, and leading the way as one of the top players in the Dub. Almeida will take the reigns of the offence after the loss of Jayden Halbgewachs (SJ), Brayden Burke (Arizona), and Brett Howden (NYR). He will be joined by Ryan Peckford, who looked promising last year despite being passed over in the draft. He will look to make amends for that with a good showing this year with an increased role on this club. He will be joined with fellow prospect Brayden Tracey and veteran forward Tristan Langan. The back end will miss top defender Kale Clague (LAK), but will be in good shape with a strong core as Josh Brook (Montreal) and Jett Woo (Vancouver) are back there. In net, the Warriors have Adam Evanoff who was great in a limited role in his rookie season, and will get to display his skills this year in a main role. He will share time with ex-Kelowna Rocket Broden Salmond who will add some experience.

Last but not least, last seasons WHL Champion Swift Current Broncos will be hit the hardest of all teams. They have lost most of their scoring, and are in a definite rebuilding mode. Gone are the likes of Glen Gawdin (Calgary), Aleksi Heponiemi (Florida), Giorgio Estephan (Buffalo), Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn (Washington), and their leader in Tyler Steenbergen (Arizona). The defence was also depleted by losing Colby Sissons (NJ), and surprisingly undrafted Artyom Minulin (who will miss lots of time with offseason surgery). This team will be led by Max Patterson, Alec Zawatsky, and defender Connor Horning. The Broncos are young, and will be in development mode for the next few seasons. Goaltender Joel Hofer (St. Louis) is the only player that has NHL labelling, and will be extremely busy throughout the year and will face a whole lot rubber. He will have to hone his skills and stop a lot of pucks, but is unlikely to steal many games for this team.

Calgary Flames Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:26:35 +0000

With the trade that sent Dougie Hamilton and Michael Ferland to Carolina, the retirement of fan-favorite Jarome Iginla, and the departure of Adam Fox -- the second-ranked prospect on the McKeen's list last season -- the offseason was equal parts difficult and eventful for fans of the Calgary Flames. Luckily enough, the aforementioned Hamilton trade executed at the NHL Draft proved to supporters that management is ready to win, which is a welcome sight in the prime talent window of league superstars Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.

Signing top-six winger James Neal was another step in the right direction. But, as other franchises have proved, trying with all your might to win in a selected time frame can drain the depth of your farm system just like that. With late-round draft picks moved away and the inevitable trades of prospects for deadline rentals, farm system depth can dwindle in the blink of an eye.

Regardless, the Flames have -- especially from the blueline back -- a stout core of NHL-ready prospects prepared to make a difference in Calgary. If the goal in Cowtown is to compete for a Stanley Cup right now, it's clear the incoming farmhands will be able to provide support for their stars. The Flames are kind of unorthodox in their drafting methods, choosing high ceiling defenders and goaltenders over serviceable forwards.

Most teams, especially in the size-dominated Pacific Division, will build their team from the forwards down, hoping to use heavy forwards to dominate offensively and not have to worry much about preventing goals. Calgary may have caught lightning in a bottle in their defensive prospect core (Juuso Valimaki, Rasmus Andersson, Oliver Kylington) and also have two potential number-one goaltenders (Jon Gillies, Tyler Parsons) cooking in the minors. Not many other franchises can say the same, especially inside of Calgary's division.

What is really impressive about the Calgary farm system is its Western Hockey League presence. With Valimaki, Dillon Dube, Matthew Phillips, Glenn Gawdin, and others, it shows that the Flames know the importance of good scouting even in, essentially, their own backyard. Nabbing guys comfortable with the environment and the regional culture will help mightily in reaching the postseason again.

Juuso Valimaki

1 Juuso Valimaki, D (16th overall, 2017. Last year: 1st) Calgary's 2017 first-rounder was taken primarily because of his size and defensive-zone play. After his last two seasons in the WHL, the point-per-game two-way defender has evidently rounded his game out to new degrees. Possessing otherworldly pure skill and NHL-ready rink senses, it was only a matter of time before the top Flames prospect reached his potential. He's a strong skater who doesn't shy away from physicality at every opportunity, and has already proven that he's ready to take the next step.

2 Dillon Dube, C (56th overall, 2016. Last year: 7th) Seen before his electric 2017-18 season as mostly a third-line, rough-and-tumble guy, Dillon Dube lit the Kelowna Rockets roster up with offensive capabilities that he had not previously shown. The captain of Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, Dube plays with an infectious energy and hustle but also has impressive offensive refinement, including great puck senses, tremendous acceleration, and an ever-improving variety of shot tools. His rink vision and use of his linemates still needs improvement, but the undersized forward is improving in that regard.

3 Andrew Mangiapane, LW (166th overall, 2015. Last year: 11th) Andrew Mangiapane was a no-risk, potentially high-reward player out of the OHL in 2015, and now the Flames are getting a massive return on their investment. An offensive catalyst at Barrie, Mangiapane has carried that same production into the AHL, but he's doing it differently. His skating lags, and therefore his finesse game is where his value sprouts; Mangiapane is an intense and versatile player with plus vision and a rapid shot. He could be a solid, above-average bottom-six winger in the NHL, and do it now.

4 Rasmus Andersson, D (53rd overall, 2015. Last year: 9th) From the same draft and from the same junior team as Mangiapane, Rasmus Andersson is part of that Grade A defensive prospect core we mentioned in the intro. Andersson is a puck-moving dynamo, and the AHL All-Star uses his uber-fast hands and exceptional vision to play that way, coupling his puck play with a splendid shot. Andersson is relatively short, but packs a punch in his checking and can take a beating to make a play. He could be a much better skater given his agility and quick feet, but his stockiness holds him back.

Jon Gillies

5 Jon Gillies, G (75th overall, 2012. Last year: 6th) They say it takes goaltenders a little longer to develop. Jon Gillies, a 24-year-old drafted back in 2012, is a good example of that, and why it can be worth it in the end. At 6-6", Gillies is able to use his length and big frame to leave shooters little to aim at. He always stays square to shooters and has a very reflexive, athletic style for someone his size. His short NHL stint last season left a lot to be desired, but he's been dynamite at the AHL level for a franchise that really needs a goalie to take the reigns.

6 Matthew Phillips, C (166th overall, 2016. Last year: 17th) Standing at 5-7", Matthew Phillips will always be a player who has to prove he belongs, regardless of where or how he's performing. Luckily for the prolific scoring center, this is the club that made Johnny Gaudreau a superstar. Philllips is a wonderful skater, has a blazing shot with more weight behind it than someone his size would normally be able to generate, and possesses remarkable vision for playmaking. After a 112-point season in the WHL, Phillips is proving -- as someone heavily overlooked in his draft year -- that he's a pro-caliber player and will make the jump this season.

7 Spencer Foo, RW (UDFA: Jul. 1. 2017. Last year: 4th) An undrafted college winger, Spencer Foo chose to turn pro with the Flames organization and instantly made an impact at the AHL level with Stockton. Foo's great speed and creativity with the puck makes him difficult to defend when he enters the offensive zone, and his plus strength and puck-shielding abilities for his size make him hard to take off the puck. He's got a natural knack for compiling points, but needs to work on his defensive game. Otherwise, he's mature enough to compete in the NHL right now.

8 Tyler Parsons, G (54th overall, 2016. Last year: 5th) One of the top goaltending prospects in hockey, Tyler Parsons is insanely athletic, a naturally intense competitor, and has smarts that go beyond his years. The 2017 WJC Gold Medalist is not a fundamentally refined netminder, but that's the beauty of his game; he's a master scrambler with Dominik Hasek-like freeranging reflexes. His size is below average and his gameplay style doesn't help him appear bigger, but his speed, reflexes, and play-reading capabilities are enough to compensate for the exciting young gun.

9 Glenn Gawdin, C (UFA: Nov. 16, 2017. Last year: IE) After Gawdin's draft team, the Blues, left the dynamic WHL pivot unsigned, the Flames found a diamond in the rough when they invited the Swift Current Bronco to development camp and later inked him to an Entry Level contract. What they get is a silky smooth offensive center with skating agility, a fantastic shot, and a gift for making plays happen from scratch. The only concern is if his point totals are natural or inflated due to talent on his line (Tyler Steenbergen and Aleksi Heponiemi), but we'll find out with a top-six AHL role coming in 2018-19.

Oliver Kylington

10 Oliver Kylington, D (60th overall, 2015. Last year: 8th) A smooth-skating offensive defenseman, Oliver Kylington fell on draft boards in 2015 and landed with the Flames. In a system rich with defensemen, he has been just fine, finishing his third year with AHL Stockton and now looking primed to compete for a job in Calgary this season. He skates supremely well, shows flashes of puck-moving brilliance and is generally reliable in that facet of the game. He also has a wicked shot that seemingly always ends up on goal. He needs to put the "defense" in "defenseman," though, but has gotten increasingly better off the puck over his AHL career.

11 Yasin Ehliz, RW (UDFA: Jun. 11, 2018. Last year: IE) A star on Germany's silver medal team from the Pyeongchang Olympics, Ehliz signed with the Flames this offseason for his first taste of North American hockey. The 25-year-old is a relatively unknown prospect on this side of the Atlantic, but combines solid rink senses, a good shot, and a tricky separation gear with a pretty strong upper-body for his size (5-10", 165 lbs). His size is against him, and adjusting to the smaller ice size in the U.S. and Canada could be a challenge without an imposing physical stance, but the Flames -- and Stockton, his likely destination -- are excited to see him play. His versatility will also help him to find a role in the North American game.

12 Milos Roman, C (122nd overall, 2018. Last year: IE) One of three fourth-round picks from June's NHL Draft, Milos Romas has perhaps the biggest upside. He is a strong skater with great technical refinement and a very responsible player defensively, but his greatest asset is his immense playmaking skillset; his vision is insane and his passes are always on the money. He is not overly fast or physical, making him lack in the most dynamic facets of the game, but he projects to be a bottom-six forward with playmaking upside. His NHL potential is likely contingent on upping his game in one of those two areas.

13 Adam Ruzicka, C (109th overall, 2017. Last year: 14th) Adam Ruzicka's most glaring issue last season, which caused his draft stock to plummet to the fourth round, was a lack of consistency. He's always had game, but in 2017-18, it appears he found the balance that had previously eluded him. His size makes him difficult to defend one-on-one and around the corners, but his blazing power skating is even more impressive given his 6-4" frame. He can snipe with his quick wrist shot release and use his disparity in size to shield the puck off in possession efforts. There's a lot to like about his game, and it seems like he's putting it all together.

14 Dmitri Zavgorodny, LW (198th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Dmitri Zavgorodny is 5-9" and extremely inconsistent, and neither fact helped his draft case last June. When he's on his game, though, his scoring ability and speed are on full display and can make an impact for any club. Zavgorodny can play all three forward spots effectively, has solid skating speed, is very crafty and resourceful with the puck, and has a nice wrist shot. He is a player with a lot of room to grow in a Flames system that has made something out of nothing quite often. In any case, it is more likely for a player to develop into consistency than it is to suddenly sprout high end skills.

Linus Lindstrom

15 Linus Lindstrom, C (96th overall, 2016. Last year: 20th) Revered for his smarts and instincts, Lindstrom is a very responsible two-way center who plays a bunch of shorthanded minutes in Sweden, sacrifices his body for gameplay advantages, and hustles for loose pucks while never giving up on a play. Lindstrom has only produced 10 points in 91 games in the SHL despite promising puck skills however, and his technical skills lag severely. Perhaps he could play a lockdown fourth-line center role similar to fellow Swede Marcus Kruger in the pro ranks. There are still rough tools lurking within the former fourth rounder, but it is time for him to make them count in play.

16 Morgan Klimchuk, LW (28th overall, 2013. Last year: 16th) The book on Morgan Klimchuk is still not out. Maybe he isn't first-round material after all, but his game has taken major strides down in Stockton and he'll make a difference with the Flames soon enough. At his core, he is a lethal shooter with good vision for his teammates in the offensive zone, he plays with a lot of effort, and has power-play triggerman capabilities. The 2013 draftee's game is about as rounded out to its ceiling as it is likely to get, and if Calgary management is confident enough in his development, the winger could be a full-time Flame this season even if his ceiling is not what they had once thought.

17 Kerby Rychel, LW/RW (Trade: Aug. 20, 2018 [Montreal]. Last year: 13^th [Toronto]) A former first round pick with Columbus in 2013, Rychel was considered a potentially impactful power forward who could bring some of the toughness from his father Warren’s game along with good hands and offensive instincts. A scaled up Max Domi, if you will. In the five seasons since he went 19^th overall, his star has dimmed considerably, and Rychel is now a prospect journeyman, having passed through the Columbus, Toronto and Montreal organizations on his way to Calgary for another disappointing former first rounder. Rychel still has a power game, and has been relatively productive at the AHL level, but attitude questions, and sludgy startup speed, he has only appeared in four NHL games in the past two seasons. Calgary might be his last big chance.

18 Josh Healey, D (UDFA: Mar. 25, 2017. Last year: 19th) Where Kylington is a risky defenseman with a very high potential ceiling, Josh Healey is an extremely safe option. He has close to no offensive skill in the context of the professional game, but does a lot of little things in his own zone, stays very calm with and without the puck, and became a staple on the Stockton Heat penalty skill this season. He maintains great gaps, works hard to keep his man to the outside, and has good enough wheels to avoid getting burnt by speedier forwards. He is a low-ceiling defenseman in a system with better options, but he is reliable and mature, traits which could help him leap past more talented rivals for NHL jobs.

19 Zach Fischer, RW (140th overall, 2017. Last year: Unranked) Drafted as an overager in 2017, Fischer was a no-risk, decent potential pick out of the WHL solely based on his size and toughness. He has room to grow around that 6-2", 207 lbs frame and has shown flashes of physical brilliance in protecting the puck with his body, using finesse moves to get past defenders, and nailing opposing skaters with open ice hits. He takes far too many silly penalties for any pro coach to trust him as he is, but his heavy wrist shot and physical skillset in a system with no solid RW depth has those around the Flames left with raised eyebrows.

20 D'Artagnan Joly, RW (171st overall, 2017. Last year: Unranked) Coming off a career-best season the QMJHL with a pretty mediocre Baie-Comeau squad, D'Artagnan Joly is like Fischer in that, despite being a long-term project, you have to keep an eye on him as a natural RW in a system with few dynamic ones. Joly boasts an interesting mix between a finesse and a hustle/speed game, given his lanky body, and can assert himself physically in a number of ways. He has a hard wrist shot but more of a pass-first mentality, and his passes are crisp but his vision is slow. As he continues to grow, the Flames will keep themselves posted.

2018 NHL Draft Review: Pacific Division

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 12:13:32 +0000

The draft is over and 217 young players are newly affiliated with 31 different NHL organizations. Outside of three to six of those players, who could jump right into NHL lineups in the fall, we will not know whether the vast majority of those players are draft successes for two, three, four, or five years.

The lack of clear foresight aside, we should still be able to judge draft classes at least in terms of expected value. In some cases, we can look at strategy as well, although the way the board shakes out based on the picks that came before, we can rarely truly discern what a club was trying to do, but only what they were able to do.

I had hoped that we would be able to provide an average Overall Future Projection of the various draft classes, but there are a few picks from the high school ranks, the NAHL and a few European junior leagues for whom we lack enough information to give a full grade, so we will focus on where we had players ranked as we assess the draft haul of each team, as we run division-by-division through the NHL.

Here is the Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim Ducks
1 (23) Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea (SHL) - ranked 19
2 (54) Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C, Halifax (QMJHL) - ranked 38th
3 (79) Blake McLaughlin, LW, Chicago (USHL) - ranked 40th
3 (85) Lukas Dostal, G, Slavia Trebic (Czech 2) - ranked 63rd
4 (116) Jackson Perbix, RW, Elk River HS (USHS - MN) - ranked 150th
5 (147) Roman Durny, G, Des Moines (USHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (178) Hunter Drew, D, Charlottetown (QMJHL) - unranked

Two Euros, two from the Q, and three who spent a significant portion of their draft year in the USHL. One thing that we can say without hesitation is that the Ducks did not go out of their way to draft blueliners, nor did they make a point of reaching on younger, more projectable players. In fact, the opposite is true on the latter point. Lundestrom, their first rounder, has a late ’99 birthdate, while their last two selections were both born in 1998.

With only three netminders under the age of 26 in the system prior to draft day, one of whom is seemingly stalling out in the NCAA ranks, it makes sense that the team would seek to fortify that area. Goaltenders are notoriously tough to forecast, but we certainly liked Dostal, ranking him tops among all netminders eligible for the 2018 draft. Durny was more of a wildcard, spending the first half of his year with the Slovakia U20 team and coming over to play for Des Moines in the USHL after a promising showing at the WJC. He remained strong with the Buccaneers after coming stateside.

With their first two picks, the Ducks went with 200 foot centers with mature games. While neither projects as a first liner in the future, both could grow up to fill the middle six pivot roles. Blake McLaughlin is a personal favorite. In his first full USHL season, he was fantastic with the Steel in the early going, before hitting a rut around the same time that his team underwent a coaching change near mid-season. His playmaking chops are very impressive. Jackson Perbix, whose older brother Nick is a Colorado pick, was one of the younger players eligible and excelled with his high school team before struggling to make an impact in the USHL with Green Bay. He is raw, but is a good skater and has promising puck skills. After ignoring defensemen with their first six picks, the Ducks selected Hunter Drew, a second year eligible blueliners from the Charlottetown Islanders in the sixth round. He has a decent shot and plays a physical brand of hockey, but his selection raised eyebrows. Overall, the Ducks got strong value with their first four picks, with three potential top nine forwards and getting one of the better goalies in the draft class. As we can endorse two of the last three picks as worthwhile gambles makes this a strong all-around influx to the Anaheim organization.

OFP – 53.25

Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes
1 (5) Barrett Hayton, C, Sault Ste Marie (OHL) - ranked 11th
2 (55) Kevin Bahl, D, Ottawa (OHL) - ranked 58th
3 (65) Jan Jenik, RW, Benatky and Jizerou (Czech 2) - ranked 72nd
3 (73) Ty Emberson, D, USNTDP (UDHL) - ranked 45th
4 (114) Ivan Prosvetov, G, Youngstown (USHL) - ranked 103rd
5 (142) Michael Callahan, D, Youngstown (USHL) - ranked 194th
5 (145) Dennis Busby, D, Flint (OHL) - ranked 188th
6 (158) David Tendeck, G, Vancouver (WHL) - unranked
7 (189) Liam Kirk, LW, Sheffield (EIHL) - ranked 177th

Like Anaheim, the Arizona Coyotes added two netminders to the team in the 2018 draft. Unlike the Ducks, the Coyotes came away with greater positional balance in their draft haul. On top of their two new netminders, Arizona drafted four defenders, one center, one left winger and one right winger. Perhaps coincidentally, Coyotes draft picks skewed towards the younger end of the class, at least among position players. Six of the seven skaters were born in 2000 (both goalies had ’99 birthdates) and Jan Jenik was born on the last day of eligibility for the 2018 draft class. It is feasible to assume that the more projectable players somewhat offsets the fact that the team did not draft anyone who was widely considered to have any elite characteristics among their essential scouting attributes. Even fifth overall pick Barrett Hayton was largely thought of as offering better value in the 10-15 range than as a top five player. He is certainly skilled and his upside may have been masked somewhat by playing a third line role for much of the season with the powerhouse Greyhounds. He does everything at an above average level, but did not consistently show anything truly high end. Those who really like him see a second line player, but clearly Arizona sees some first line potential.

Looking at the other forwards, Jenik was sometimes overmatched playing with adults in the second Czech league. He has good hands, and showed promising playmaking touch at the WU18s, but needs to show more ability to drive the offense to truly profile as having top six potential. Their last forward taken, Liam Kirk, is one of the big wild card of the draft, as one of the only players drafted out of the British league in NHL draft history. Both he and Jenik are posed to move to the OHL next year, to Peterborough and Flint, respectively. The four defensemen selected by Arizona are also lacking in ceiling, although second rounder Kevin Bahl is so tall, it is too ironic to consider a low ceiling player. To have taken him as high as they did, the Coyotes must believe his showings in the Top Prospect Game and the WU18s are more indicative of what he might become than his regular season production with the 67s was.

Ty Emberson lacks great offensive game, but is one of the bigger hitters in the draft class. Michael Callahan is pretty much a stay at home, first pass defender. Like Liam Kirk, the last blueliner taken by Arizona, Dennis Busby, is a wild card. As injuries limited him to a mere two games this season, they are banking on previous displays carrying through to his return to health. Of the two goalies selected, Ivan Prosvetov was a second year eligible netminder, who had some big games for Youngstown in the USHL as he carried the club to the Clark Cup finals. Davide Tendeck was one of the few first time eligible goalies to see regular action in the WHL and was consistently strong for Vancouver. On the whole, the Coyotes picked up a lot of solid prospects, but they mostly look like role players going forward. On the heels of last year’s defense-heavy class, including Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Michael Karow, Filip Westerlund, and others, I sense a trend. Hayton could clearly be much better than that, but taking him fifth overall, considerably higher than expectations, means that the Coyotes are staking their scouting reputation on his hidden upside and that all eyes will be on his development.

OFP – 52.75

Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames
4 (105) Martin Pospisil, RW, Sioux City (USHL) - unranked
4 (108) Demetrios Koumontzis, LW, Edina HS (MN HS) - ranked Honorable Mention
4 (122) Milos Roman, C, Vancouver (WHL) - ranked 70th
6 (167) Mathias Emilio Pettersen, C, Muskegon (USHL) - ranked 198th
7 (198) Dmitri Zavgorodny, C/LW, Rimouski (QMJHL) - ranked 94th

Five forwards. None that you would want to write about to your mother in a postcard from Dallas. Calgary surrendered its first two picks to the Islanders in the Travis Hamonic trade while the third rounder moved to Arizona as part of the Mike Smith package. They did not pick until the fourth round, the 30^th of 31 teams to get to test their microphones in anger. In fairness to the Calgary scouting staff, after 100 picks are off the board, you can only get what you can. The differences between players at that point is relatively minimal. That said, to use that first pick on a player like Martin Pospisil is head-scratching, to be polite. With a player like that, one would think Brian Burke’s truculent ideal was still the order of the day. Pospisil is nothing if not a dirty player. His 253 penalty minutes for Sioux City led the USHL by 77 over the runner up. Demetrious Koumontzis is an intriguing player, who flashed nice offensive tools in the Minnesota high ranks but has only appeared in one game at a higher level. He will be tested with Arizona State next season.

Milos Roman generated interest in the first half with Vancouver and had his moments with Slovakia at the WJC, but missed much of the second half with a high ankle sprain. A healthy season could make this pick look like a value find down the road. Mathias Emilio Pettersen was the only player of Norwegian origin selected this year. He was a good middle six player at the USHL level, so his ceiling is suitably limited, but he is not without his merits. Finally, the Flames saved their home run swing for the end, taking the prototypical enigmatic Russian in Dmitri Zavgorodny. He was stellar at the Ivan Hlinka (10 points in five games) but struggled for long stretches during the regular season in the ‘Q’. If there is an interesting note about the Flames’ picks this year is that they went hard on players taking the college route after largely ignoring that class in recent years. Also, and this last point must be a coincidence, even though all five forwards were selected from North American programs, four of them crossed the pond as import players, with only the high schooler Koumontzos being North American by birth. There is not much upside in this draft class, nor much variety.

OFP - 50.25

Edmonton Oilers

Los Angeles Kings
1 (20) Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (Liiga) - ranked 21st
2 (51) Akil Thomas, C, Niagara (OHL) - ranked 26th
3 (82) Bulat Shafigullin, LW/C, Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (MHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
4 (113) Aidan Dudas, C, Owen Sound (OHL) - ranked 52nd
5 (144) David Hrenak, G, St. Cloud State (NCHC) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (165) Johan Sodergran, C/LW, Linkoping J20 (SuperElit) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (175) Jacob Ingham, G, Mississauga (OHL) - ranked 126th

Like their provincial rivals in Calgary, the Oilers only made five selections on draft day. Unlike the Flames, the Oilers made them count. That is the difference between not picking until the fourth round and making three selections in the first two rounds. After being heavily rumored to be trying to trade up, when certain picks in the top ten played out as they did (I’m looking at you, Arizona), Edmonton stuck with their appointed tenth overall pick and snapped up Evan Bouchard, a natural puck moving defenseman who more than makes up in puck skills and IQ what he lacks in skating (he doesn’t really lack skating, although his wheels are not dynamic). He is perhaps one more season dominating the OHL away from claiming a spot on the Edmonton blueliner. The Oilers were opportunistic again in the second round, with Ryan McLeod falling into their laps even as many saw him as a probably first rounder going into the season and throughout his draft season. Like his older brother, New Jersey prospect Mikey, Ryan McLeod is a fantastic skater with a strong hockey mind, but may not be the most creative.

Later in the second, the Oilers added to their growing collection of talented young puck stoppers with Drummondville’s Olivier Rodrigue the second ranked goalie by our projections. He is mildly undersized by modern netminding standards, but has proven his ability to be a workhorse and succeed. After sitting out for three rounds and change, the Oilers took a flyer on New Hampshire prepster Michael Kesselring, a lanky blueliner who defends well and seems to be able to move the puck. He is expected to spend this coming season in the USHL with Des Moines, before attending Merrimack. They ended their draft class with a foray into Europe, taking winger Patrik Siikanen from the Junior ranks. Although he has limited international experience, Siikanen’s boosters appreciate his offensive tools, seeing an above average shot and strong puck skills. He needs to improve his skating to have a chance in North America. With only five picks, the Oilers seem to have done well to get three players with high end upside. Even their two flyers have reasons for optimism.

OFP – 53.75

Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles Kings
1 (20) Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (Liiga) - ranked 21st
2 (51) Akil Thomas, C, Niagara (OHL) - ranked 26th
3 (82) Bulat Shafigullin, LW/C, Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (MHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
4 (113) Aidan Dudas, C, Owen Sound (OHL) - ranked 52nd
5 (144) David Hrenak, G, St. Cloud State (NCHC) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (165) Johan Sodergran, C/LW, Linkoping J20 (SuperElit) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (175) Jacob Ingham, G, Mississauga (OHL) - ranked 126th

Who needs wingers? Who needs defensemen? Apparently, the LA Kings did not, at least not on draft day. Of their seen selections, two are netminders (another odd trend so far in the Pacific Division) and the other five all are listed at least dually as centers. Unlike some teams, who we feel may have reached to draft centers where they did, the Kings got some pretty good value in getting both Rasmus Kupari and Akil Thomas where they did. We had both players ranked as first round talents, with Kupari bringing near-elite skating speed to the game along with tools that grade out as average to above elsewhere across the board. Thomas is a very good skater, too (although not as blinding as Kupari) and plays a more cerebral, playmaking, responsible game. His style, which has the optics of lacking in intensity, may have allowed him to drop as far as he did. We were not as high on Shafigullin as some, but his production in the Russian junior leagues was undeniably impressive and his tool collection can shine. His decision making may hold him back for a while, but there is home run potential, provided patience. That said, if we could quibble about that pick, we wholeheartedly support the taking of the undersized Aidan Dudas in the fourth round. A 5-7”, 165 offensive force, he may not be Alex DeBrincat redux, but he is as close as we are going to get in this draft class. He also serves as another point of evidence that the Kings under Rob Blake are different that the Kings under Dean Lombardi.

The final forward selected, Johan Sodergran, has the biggest frame of any of their skating picks and his physical game is his most advanced characteristic, but his production in the Swedish top junior league (SuperElit) was impressive enough and Linkoping played him for a good chunk of the season in the SHL as well. His upside is lowest among their forwards selected, but he has a reasonable floor to bank on. Moving to the goalies, the first one chosen, David Hrenak, has a fair bit of international experience under his belt with Slovakia and spent last year – his second of draft eligibility – playing with the Kings’ favorite NCAA program, at St. Cloud State. Other prospects, current and recent in the Kings’ organization who spent their college years playing for the Huskies include Jonny Brodzinski, Mikey Eyssimont, Kevin Gravel, and Nic Dowd. Hrenak is an even-keeled netminder who does a good job of limiting second chances. The final goalie selected, Jacob Ingham, saw his stock drop precipitously over his draft year, as his save percentage dropped from .907 in 2016-17 to a very disappointing .880 this year. On the other hand, he is very big and has all the tools, so while he is a gamble, in a major sense, all goalies are. We could knock the Kings a touch for eschewing defensemen altogether in their draft class, but would prefer to applaud their approach in drafting for upside. I am not completely on board with taking two netminders, but there was a clear organizational lack going into the draft, and as both were late round picks, the risk is at least mitigated.

OFP – 53.75

San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks
1 (21) Ryan Merkley, D, Guelph (OHL) - ranked 31st
3 (87) Linus Karlsson, C, Karlskrona J20 (SuperElit) - ranked 125th
4 (102) Jasper Weatherby, C, Wenatchee (BCHL) - unranked
6 (176) Zacharie Emond, G, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) - unranked
6 (182) John Leonard, LW, U. Mass-Amherst (Hockey East) - unranked

To mix metaphors horribly here, the San Jose Sharks swung for the fences on day one of the 2018 draft, ultimately hitting a double, and then spent day two trying to bunt the baserunner over. As far as skilled are concerned, Ryan Merkley is much better than his slot in either our rankings (31) or even where he was selected by the Sharks (21). He is a fantastic skater and puck mover, the epitome of the modern defensive quarterback. His game away from the puck is raw enough that he might not project as a first pairing blueliner, but he could be a strong #3 if paired up with a more responsible type. He could also manage the power play. The reason he was ranked where he was and was drafted where he was, was due to persistent questions about his maturity and commitment to playing a team game. Late interviews with Merkley, including one with our own Scott Crawford (embed link here: https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-scouting-combine-2018-notes-results/), indicate that he understands the concern and is eager to put in the effort to put it in the past. The Sharks believe that he can.

After sitting out the second round, the Sharks took a bet on the two way game of Swedish teenager Linus Karlsson, who despite putting up fantastic numbers in the SuperElit, projects as a middle six, 200 foot center at maturity. Fourth rounder Jasper Weatherby is an intriguing late bloomer. In his first year of draft eligibility, the Oregon native was playing AAA 18U hockey in the Omaha area. In his second year of eligibility, the big forward moved to the BCHL and held his own with Wenatchee in a depth role. In his third year of eligibility, he committed to North Dakota, led the BCHL in scoring, helped the Wild to the BCHL and RBC Cup championships and heard his name called in the fourth round by San Jose. Zacharie Emond was the backup goalie for Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL and struggled throughout the season. He has good size and hints at technique, but we remain skeptical. Finally, the Sharks drafted another third year eligible forward in John Leonard of the Mass-Amherst Minutemen. Leonard was a solid (not standout) player in two years with Green Bay in the USHL, but seemed to blossom as a freshman, leading his team in scoring. He has a solid shot. If Merkley pans out, it will not matter at all how the other four do. If Merkley cannot find the maturity, on and off the ice, that he needs, the Sharks might find themselves shut out from this draft class.

OFP – 49.75

Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks
1 (7) Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan (Big 10) - ranked 6th
2 (37) Jett Woo, D, Moose Jaw (WHL) - ranked 41st
3 (68) Tyler Madden, C, Tri-City (USHL) - ranked 60th
5 (130) Toni Utunen, D, LeKi (Mestis) - ranked 145th
6 (186) Artyom Manukyan, RW, Avangard Omsk (KHL) - unranked
7 (192) Matthew Thiessen, G, Steinbach (MJHL) - ranked 119th

The Vancouver Canucks would be wise to allow Quinn Hughes one more ear to develop with the Michigan Wolverines, but they have just drafted a future first pairing defending with immense offensive upside and an overall dynamic game. He is a pleasure to watch skate and manage the puck. From the WJC to the end of the season, Hughes improved his game as much as any draft eligible prospect. He will never be a big, muscular defender, but he has enough strength and understanding of positioning to make do. With their second rounder, the Canucks took a player whose skillset is nearly an exact inverse to that of Hughes, at least style-wise. Where Hughes is the epitome of the modern day defender, Woo is a throw-back. While he can handle the puck well enough, he sticks out for his physical style away from the puck. A little Yin, a little Yang. He might have been a first rounder had he not dealt with some long term injuries this season. In third rounder Tyler Madden, the Canucks get another player who is as valuable off the puck as he is on. Unlike Woo, though, Madden is a forward, like his father, Selke Winner John Madden. He is small and slight, but skates well and has a very advanced hockey mind.

In the fifth and sixth rounds, the Canucks continued to eschew size. Utunen, from Finland, is listed at 5-11”, 170, and Russian forward Manukyan is listed at 5-7”, 139. Utunen lacks anything above average in the way of his skills, but reads the game very well and makes up for his shortcomings with high hockey IQ. Manukyan, as noted, is tiny, but he is shifty, and spent half of this season, his third of draft eligibility, playing in the KHL. Looking at the five skaters as a group, Woo, listed at 6-0”, 201 is the only skater from the Vancouver draft class whose height starts with a “6” or whose weight starts with a “2”. For an organization with a reputation for building for toughness at the NHL level, it is interesting to see them going with skill over size with their amateur scouts. Finally, the Canucks tabbed netminder Matthew Thiessen with their last pick, after a very impressive showing with Steinbach at the RBC Cup. He is a relatively athletic goaltender, he reads the play well and plays a composed game. He will move to Dubuque of the USHL next season before attending the University of Maine beginning in the 2019-20 season. All told, the Canucks added a lot of strong pieces to their organization. Their emphasis on skill bodes well for the future of the team.

OFP – 53.5

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights
2 (61) Ivan D. Morozov, C, Mamonty Yugry (MHL) - ranked 76th
4 (99) Stanislav Demin, D, Wenatchee (BCHL) - ranked 86th
4 (115) Paul Cotter, C, Lincoln (USHL) - ranked 184th
5 (135) Brandon Kruse, LW, Bowling Green State (WCHA) - unranked
5 (154) Connor Corcoran, D, Windsor (OHL) - ranked 202nd
6 (180) Peter Diliberatore, D, Salisbury School (USHS - CT) - unranked
6 (185) Xavier Bouchard, D, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) - ranked 129th
7 (208) Jordan Kooy, G, London (OHL) - ranked Honorable Mention

With both their first and third round draft picks sent to Detroit in the Tomas Tatar trade, the expansion Golden Knights (this should be the last time they are referred to as an “expansion” team) had only one pick in the first three rounds. As a direct consequence, they were severely limited in the upside of the players available to them in Dallas. Accordingly, they struck upon a tactic of drafting less from the CHL then they had in their first draft. After taking six players from the Canadian Junior ranks last year, only three of the Golden Knights’ eight picks this year were CHLers. That would usually mean a European heavy sled, but in Vegas’ case this year, they went heavy on the NCAA route, selecting one current collegian and three who should get there within a year or two. All told, the Golden Knights will have three or more years to decide on most of their 2018 draft class, and that is not a bad thing.

Their first pick, Ivan Morozov, had a strong season with the Mamonty Yugry junior team in the MHL, and is the type of player who lacks weaknesses, but also lacks any one standout area to his game. In May he was dealt to the powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg organization and we are a few years away from learning if he has upside potential beyond decent middle six forward. While their next pick, Slava Demin, also has a Russian name and heritage, Demin was actually born and raised in California, and spent the last two years developing with Wenatchee in the BCHL. He has a strong point shot and plays a relatively physical game. The level of competition he will see at the University of Denver will be a good test for him. Keeping it collegiate, both of their next two picks will also be in the NCAA next season. Paul Cotter is a high energy scoring type who will be moving from Lincoln in the USHL to Western Michigan where he might have to prove he can contribute to his team even if he is not playing a top six role, while Brandon Kruse is returning to Bowling Green State for his sophomore season. He did not garner much attention in his first year of eligibility playing in the NAHL, but he earned a selection as an all-rookie player in the WCHA thanks to his playmaking acumen and may be a late bloomer, even if he has yet to fill out his smallish frame.

The Golden Knights finally went to the CHL with their late fifth round pick, taking a low ceiling blueliner in Connor Corcoran, a player who watched the Windsor Spitfires win the Memorial Cup from the press box, but took on a regular role this year and is a plus skater, if none of his other attributes grade out more than average. With an August 2000 birth date, he may yet have untapped upside. Of their two sixth rounders, New England prep school blueliner Peter Diliberatore was not really on our radar, but the undersized Quinnipiac commit has great nickname potential with that last name. Their other sixth rounder was squarely on our radar and is the top value selection made by Vegas in this draft class. Xavier Bouchard will never play on the power play as a pro, but between his high hockey IQ, plus size, and his strong physical game, he has an NHL ceiling, which is pretty good in and of itself in this sixth round. To wrap up their second draft class, the Golden Knights added a netminder (after coming away with three in their inaugural draft). Jordan Kooy was the backup for the London Knights last year, but may have the inside track on the starting job for 2018-19. He has solid athleticism and his technical game is relatively mature. Although there are no high end players in this draft class along the lines of the Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki, Erik Brannstrom trio from last year, the Golden Knights should be satisfied that they left Dallas with a lot of player who have NHL upside.

OFP – 51.5

WHL: Milos Roman (2018 Draft Eligible)

Kevin Olexson — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 20:02:08 +0000

Milos Roman was ranked toward the end of the third round of the NHL Draft in our most recent rankings. Kevin Olexson sees potential in the two-way forward and possibly going higher in June. He provides a detailed report and reasons why below.

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

Milos Roman. Photo by Chris Relke/Vancouver Giants

Milos Roman	2018 Draft Eligible
Position: C, Shoots L	H/W: 6-0", 190 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Vancouver Giants, WHL (39-10-22-32-10)
	Slovakia U20, WJC (5-2-0-2-0)

Skating: Roman is a smooth skating center who is extremely strong and powerful on his skates. He does not possess top flight speed, but has decent speed to get to all of the areas that he needs to. He makes it look effortless as he glides through the zone, always being able to slide into open areas of the ice and by defenders. He has good balance and agility, in which he takes small steps to accelerate, and looks to glide up the ice. He is not usually the first guy up the ice or leading the rush, but he follows the play nicely and usually sees scoring opportunities as a result. He keeps a wide base, and can power through defenders. Grade: 50

Shot: Roman has a very good shot with lots of power. He has a good release on his wrist shot, and good power and velocity on his slap shot or one timer. Although he seems to be a pass first player, he shoots with accuracy and purpose. He scores a lot from in the slot, and can get the puck off quickly and pick corners as he pleases. Grade: 55

Skills: Roman is extremely talented and skilled with the puck on his stick. He has very good puck skills, and can definitely make things happen. He has good hand eye co-ordination, has a nice reach, and likes to play a possession style game. He can control the puck nicely, shift and stickhandle around players, and take the puck to the net with a smooth power move. He likes to pass and set up line mates, and will continually feed them in scoring areas. Whether it is a tip pass, back hand pass, or crisp pass out of the zone, he will deliver it to his team mate despite the circumstance. Grade: 55

Smarts: Roman is a smart player who transcends his game by playing well in all areas and zones on the ice. He keeps his head up, is good at reading plays and anticipating it as it develops, helping him to react and defend accordingly. He has very good vision, and as a result of seeing and thinking the game, is able to be creative with his play. He shows up every shift, works hard on the ice, and causes turnovers and take-aways with his strong and aggressive forecheck. His coaches are comfortable playing him in all situations, as they can depend on him to do the right things while out there. Grade: 55

Physicality: I did not notice a big physical element to his game. He does not shy away from hits, and will take them in order to make a play. He does not battle hard in the corners, but will go to those areas in front of the net, as well as drive to the net and overpower defenders. Grade: 45

Summary: Milos Roman is solid two-way center who has a nice scoring element to his game. He will not blow you away with speed, but rather with his puck skills and scoring abilities. He is extremely talented with the puck on his stick, but will shy away from the physical part of the game. He is the kind of player who can help raise the play of his line mates, and provide secondary scoring. I see him being a middle six to bottom six forward at the higher level. He does not possess the speed, but does have the will and skills to be effective. I would project Milos going in the mid second round.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 53

McKeen’s 2018 NHL Draft Ranking – April 2018 – Top 125

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 14:25:48 +0000

With the CHL leagues now into the second round of their respective playoffs, the NCAA season completed (congrats to new champions Minnesota-Duluth!), European leagues beginning to wrap up and the USHL with only one more weekend remaining in their regular season, it is time for the penultimate McKeens Hockey Draft List. This list once again runs 125 players deep, with a few more names tacked on at the end to keep in mind.

Our final list will run deeper – and be more definitive – but know that the names you see below are the fruit of the combined labor of the full McKeens scouting team. Covering all of the leagues touched on in the first paragraph above, we have watched them all and players in most cases were also cross-checked by multiple team members.

While the size of our list has not changed from the previous iteration, much else is different. Yes, Rasmus Dahlin still heads the ranking (hint: barring a career-threatening tragedy in the next 10 weeks, he will lead our final list as well), but the next player who maintains the same position as last time is Joel Farabee, still sitting in 12^th. Alexander Alexeyev, at 29^th, is the only other player in the top 31 who is ranked the same today as he was in February.

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

Looking at the top ten, the changes begin in the two/three slots, as we saw fit to bump Russian import Andrei Svechnikov past Czech import Filip Zadina. The latter has been strong all season long, but the two keys for us were a) he plateaued to an extent in the dying days of the regular season while Svechnikov has taken his production to a new level down the stretch. On a point per game measure, Svechnikov’s 1.64 points per game outshine Zadina’s 1.44, and the latter’s extra ten games played cannot explain away the discrepancy. The first round of the playoffs have seen this trend continue. Zadina has been very good. Svechnikov has been stellar. b) Svechnikov is four months younger than Zadina. In the grand scheme of things, that is not much. In a draft class, that is a full third of the way from one year of eligibility to the next. There is just that much greater likelihood that Svechnikov has more development potential. This factor is not destiny, but cannot be overlooked.

ANN ARBOR, MI - MARCH 03: Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) passes the puck during the Michigan Wolverines game versus the Wisconsin Badgers in the BIG10 Hockey Tournament on March 3, 2018. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

Quinn Hughes and Adam Boqvist, both undersized (by traditional standards, if not by modern ones) and very mobile defenders have almost switched places. Hughes, whose game grew by leaps and bounds since playing a supporting role for the US Bronze winning WJC entry ended his season in the Frozen Four. He was the youngest player in the NCAA this year and tied for 16^th among all defensemen in scoring. Only one of the blueliners with more points is within even one year of his age. Through the second half of the year, he was consistently the best player on the ice whenever he stepped over the boards. He leaps from 9^th last time, to 4^th now. Boqvist, who dropped from 5^th to 8^th, is still an electrifying skater whose speed brings an extra dimension to his game. He is still highly coveted, but there is at least a hint of a red flag due to his dearth of production at the senior level in Sweden. He scored nearly one point per game in the SuperElit league, but has only one assist in 18 regular and post-season SHL games. The skill set is obvious, but his struggles against men highlight the greater gap between what he is and what he should become.

The one change to the previous top ten sees Spokane defender Ty Smith fall from 10 to 16. His offensive production in the WHL has been fantastic all the way through the Chiefs’ first round playoff exit. There have been some questions about his play off the puck, which were highlighted by a rough showing earlier in the year at the CHL Top Prospects Game. He should have another chance to boost his stock in the coming weeks as part of Canada’s entry to the World Under 18 Championships.

Joe Veleno (#90), player of Drummondville Voltigeurs, season 2017-18 of the QMJHL. Drummondville, Que., Dec. 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Ghyslain Bergeron

Taking Smith’s place in the top ten is former Exceptional Status player Joe Veleno. Huge things were expected of Veleno this year, not only due to his unique entry point into the QMJHL, but a three goal showing for Saint John at last year’s Memorial Cup certainly whetted the appetite for a huge draft season. Unfortunately, his previous team, the Saint John Sea Dogs were gutted by graduation and trades, and Veleno started off slowly, amid reports that he was taking the team’s struggles too much on his own shoulders. He scored only six goals in his 31 games in the Maritimes. A mid-season trade to Drummondville has allowed him to take off in a more competitive atmosphere, finishing the year with 48 points in 33 games for the Voltigeurs. He is also having another strong post-season, helping his team into the second round. In short, Smith has seen questions added about his projection, while Veleno has answered more of his, helping him jump up from 11^th to 9^th.

Without laboring over each change in the list, let us meditate briefly on the four subtractions (and four additions) to the top 31. Dropping into our second round are Jett Woo, B-O Groulx, Jack McBain, and Martin Kaut. Like Ty Smith above, none of these players necessarily did anything to harm their own standing, but were simply surpassed by some players who managed to end on a strong note. For each of the four, it can legitimately be said that there are open questions about their offensive upsides. Woo, Groulx, and Kaut may lack top half of the roster upside, while McBain did not score as much as his talent would suggest he should have in the OJHL. Like Smith, he is expected to play for Canada at the WU18 and his performance with CHLers should speak volumes about his draft standing.

Rasmus Sandin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Replacing those four are a trio of small defensemen who have finished strong in Rasmus Sandin, Nils Lundkvist, and Calen Addison, and one ultra-talented German forward developing in Sweden in Dominik Bokk. These four players all carry a dynamic element to their games that the four players falling to the second round do not look to have.

The next six weeks, including the completion of the North American junior playoffs as well as the WU18 competition will see several more reputations made and others tarnished, as happens every year. We try to see the whole picture, and promise not to inordinately elevate the ranking of any player simply for getting hot at the right time. Our final list will reflect not just good or bad production at the right time, but the skill sets of the best draft-eligible talent in the hockey world, leavened by their ability and success rates of those skills in actualizing as performance.

We welcome your feedback on this list and look forward to seeing our draft list through to its completion in Dallas in late June.

To link to a player page, use the tags at the bottom of the page, or from our McKeen's Draft Ranking found here It is also downloadable to an excel file.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/185	13-Apr-00	41-7-13-20
2	Andrei Svechnikov	RW	Barrie (OHL)	6-2/185	26-Mar-00	44-40-32-72
3	Filip Zadina	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/195	27-Nov-99	57-44-38-82
4	Quinn Hughes	D	Michigan (B1G)	5-10/175	14-Oct-99	37-5-24-29
5	Brady Tkachuk	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-3/195	16-Sep-99	40-8-23-31
6	Evan Bouchard	D	London (OHL)	6-2/195	20-Oct-99	67-25-62-87
7	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	NTDP (USHL)	6-1/205	13-Jun-00	54-40-43-83
8	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas (Swe Jr)	5-11/170	15-Aug-00	25-14-10-24
9	Joe Veleno	C	SNB-Dru (QMJHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-00	64-22-57-79
10	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-3/180	7-Jan-00	67-17-52-69
11	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea (Swe)	6-0/185	6-Nov-99	42-6-9-15
12	Joel Farabee	LW	NTDP (USHL)	5-11/165	25-Feb-00	54-27-37-64
13	Barrett Hayton	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/190	9-Jun-00	63-21-39-60
14	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori (Fin)	6-1/190	6-Jul-00	57-10-19-29
15	Bode Wilde	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-2/195	24-Jan-00	53-11-25-36
16	Ty Smith	D	Spokane (WHL)	5-10/180	24-Mar-00	69-14-59-73
17	K'Andre Miller	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-3/205	21-Jan-00	50-7-17-24
18	Akil Thomas	C	Niagara (OHL)	5-11/170	2-Jan-00	68-22-59-81
19	Jared McIsaac	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	27-Mar-00	65-9-38-47
20	Grigori Denisenko	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	5-11/175	24-Jun-00	31-9-13-22
21	Serron Noel	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-5/200	8-Aug-00	62-28-25-53
22	Rasmus Kupari	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-1/185	15-Mar-00	39-6-8-14
23	Ryan McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/200	21-Sep-99	68-26-44-70
24	Ryan Merkley	D	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/170	14-Aug-00	63-13-54-67
25	Mattias Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-3/215	14-Mar-00	50-9-19-28
26	Rasmus Sandin	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/185	7-Mar-00	51-12-33-45
27	Nils Lundkvist	D	Lulea (Swe)	5-11/180	27-Jul-00	28-2-3-5
28	Alexander Alexeyev	D	Red Deer (WHL)	6-3/200	15-Nov-99	45-7-30-37
29	Calen Addison	D	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/180	11-Apr-00	68-11-54-65
30	Jacob Olofsson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/190	8-Feb-00	43-10-11-21
31	Dominik Bokk	LW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-1/180	3-Feb-00	35-14-27-41
32	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)	6-2/170	23-Dec-99	35-4-3-7
33	Martin Kaut	RW	Dynamo Pardubice (Cze)	6-1/175	2-Oct-99	38-9-7-16
34	Jett Woo	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-0/205	27-Jul-00	44-9-16-25
35	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	6-Feb-00	68-28-27-55
36	Jesse Ylonen	RW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-0/165	3-Oct-99	48-14-13-27
37	Nicolas Beaudin	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	5-11/175	7-Oct-99	68-12-57-69
38	Adam Ginning	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-3/195	13-Jan-00	28-1-1-2
39	Jack McBain	C	Tor. Jr Canadiens (OJHL)	6-3/195	6-Jan-00	48-21-37-58
40	Jonny Tychonick	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/175	3-Mar-00	48-9-38-47
41	Ty Emberson	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-0/195	24-May-00	53-4-18-22
42	Ty Dellandrea	C	Flint (OHL)	6-0/190	21-Jul-00	67-27-32-59
43	Allan McShane	C	Oshawa (OHL)	5-11/190	14-Feb-00	67-20-45-65
44	Blake McLaughlin	LW	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/165	14-Feb-00	52-23-28-51
45	Gabriel Fortier	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/170	6-Feb-00	66-26-33-59
46	Kevin Bahl	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-6/230	27-Jun-00	58-1-17-18
47	Sampo Ranta	LW	Sioux City (USHL)	6-1/195	31-May-00	53-23-14-37
48	Filip Hallander	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-1/185	29-Jun-00	40-9-11-20
49	Jay O'Brien	C	Thayer Acad. (USHS-MA)	5-10/185	4-Nov-99	30-43-37-80
50	David Gustafsson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	6-2/195	11-Apr-00	45-6-6-12
51	Liam Foudy	C	London (OHL)	6-0/185	4-Feb-00	65-24-16-40
52	Filip Johansson	D	Leksands (Swe Jr)	6-1/175	23-Mar-00	29-4-5-9
53	Niklas Nordgren	RW	HIFK (Fin Jr)	5-9/170	4-May-00	18-8-18-26
54	Aidan Dudas	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-8/170	15-Jun-00	68-31-34-65
55	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	Okotoks (AJHL)	6-0/180	30-Jun-00	49-20-21-41
56	Xavier Bernard	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-2/210	6-Jan-00	66-11-24-35
57	Martin Fehervary	D	Oskarshamn (Swe 2)	6-1/190	6-Oct-99	42-1-6-7
58	Jonatan Berggren	RW	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	6-Jul-00	38-18-39-57
59	Alexis Gravel	G	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-2/225	21-Mar-00	20-11(3.38).890
60	Cole Fonstad	C	Prince Albert (WHL)	5-10/160	24-Apr-00	72-21-52-73
61	Xavier Bouchard	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-3/190	28-Feb-00	65-3-18-21
62	Cam Hillis	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-10/170	24-Jun-00	60-20-39-59
63	Marcus Westfalt	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-3/205	12-Mar-00	31-1-3-4
64	Pavel Gogolev	RW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-0/175	19-Feb-00	66-30-17-47
65	Alexander Khovanov	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-11/195	12-Apr-00	29-9-19-28
66	Scott Perunovich	D	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	5-10/170	18-Aug-98	42-11-25-36
67	Giovanni Vallati	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-1/180	21-Feb-00	65-3-23-26
68	Olivier Rodrigue	G	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-0/160	6-Jul-00	31-16(2.54).903
69	Oskar Back	C	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/195	12-Mar-00	38-10-22-32
70	Riley Sutter	RW	Everett (WHL)	6-3/205	25-Oct-99	68-25-28-53
71	Stanislav Demin	D	Wenatchee (BCHL)	6-1/190	4-Apr-00	57-9-36-45
72	Lenni Killinen	RW	Blues (Fin Jr)	6-2/180	15-Jun-00	38-13-28-41
73	Tyler Weiss	LW	NTDP (USHL)	5-10/160	3-Jan-00	50-10-17-27
74	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	Krasnaya Armiya (MHL)	5-8/155	22-Jul-00	33-6-24-30
75	Kody Clark	RW	Ottawa (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Oct-99	56-18-21-39
76	Patrick Giles	RW	NTDP (USHL)	6-4/205	3-Jan-00	54-10-9-19
77	Anderson MacDonald	LW	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/205	16-May-00	58-27-18-45
78	Jake Wise	C	NTDP (USHL)	5-10/190	28-Feb-00	30-9-27-36
79	Jakub Lauko	C	Pirati Chomutov (Cze)	6-0/175	28-Mar-00	42-3-6-9
80	Adam Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USHL)	6-6/240	21-Jun-00	54-4-20-24
81	Philipp Kurashev	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-0/190	12-Oct-99	59-19-41-60
82	Sean Durzi	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/195	21-Oct-98	40-15-34-49
83	Kirill Marchenko	RW	Mamonty Yugry (MHL)	6-3/190	21-Jul-00	31-8-8-16
84	Jakub Skarek	G	Dukla Jihlava (Cze)	6-3/200	10-Nov-99	21GP(2.41).913
85	Milos Roman	C	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/190	6-Nov-99	39-10-22-32
86	Blade Jenkins	LW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Aug-00	68-20-24-44
87	Danila Galenyuk	D	St. Petersburg (MHL)	6-1/200	10-Feb-00	20-1-5-6
88	Kyle Topping	C	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/185	18-Nov-99	66-22-43-65
89	Tyler Madden	C	CIL-TC (USHL)	5-10/155	9-Nov-99	50-15-19-34
90	Jack Drury	C	Waterloo (USHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-00	54-23-40-63
91	Alec Regula	D	London (OHL)	6-3/200	6-Aug-00	67-7-18-25
92	Ivan Morozov	C	Mamonty Yugry (MHL)	6-1/180	5-May-00	30-11-12-23
93	Jachym Kondelik	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-6/225	21-Dec-99	43-16-16-32
94	Riley Damiani	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-9/165	20-Mar-00	64-19-18-37
95	Samuel Fagemo	RW	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/195	14-Mar-00	37-19-11-30
96	Jack St. Ivany	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-2/200	22-Jul-99	51-6-30-36
97	David Lilja	C	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	5-11/175	23-Jan-00	37-3-5-8
98	Curtis Douglas	C	Bar-Wsr (OHL)	6-8/235	6-Mar-00	66-22-24-46
99	Luka Burzan	C	MJ-Bdn (WHL)	6-0/185	7-Jan-00	72-15-25-40
100	Linus Karlsson	C	Karlskrona (Swe Jr)	6-1/180	16-Nov-99	42-27-25-52
101	Kristian Reichel	C	Red Deer (WHL)	6-1/170	11-Jun-98	63-34-23-57
102	Toni Utunen	D	LeKi (Fin 2)	5-11/175	27-Apr-00	28-2-10-12
103	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	Rimouski (QMJHL)	5-9/175	11-Aug-00	62-26-21-47
104	Samuel Bucek	LW	Chicago (USHL)	6-1/215	19-Dec-98	47-19-23-42
105	Nathan Dunkley	C	Kgn-Ldn (OHL)	5-11/195	3-May-00	60-21-36-57
106	Carter Robertson	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-2/180	15-Jan-00	57-5-13-18
107	Albin Eriksson	RW	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	6-4/205	20-Jul-00	38-22-18-40
108	Ryan O'Reilly	RW	Madison (USHL)	6-2/200	21-Mar-00	42-20-12-32
109	Nando Eggenberger	LW	Davos (Sui)	6-2/185	7-Oct-99	36-3-2-5
110	Tyler Tucker	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-1/205	1-Mar-00	59-3-20-23
111	Axel Andersson	D	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	6-0/180	10-Feb-00	42-6-25-31
112	Alexey Polodyan	LW	St. Petersburg (MHL)	5-11/165	30-Jul-98	21-5-6-11
113	Jack Perbix	RW	Elk River (USHS-MN)	6-1/175	13-Sep-00	25-19-42-61
114	Nico Gross	D	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/185	26-Jan-00	58-4-10-14
115	Declan Chisholm	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/185	12-Jan-00	47-3-17-20
116	Ivan Prosvetov	G	Youngstown (USHL)	6-4/175	5-Mar-99	18-9(2.87).913
117	Kevin Mandolese	G	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-3/180	22-Aug-00	15-13(3.46).884
118	Vladislav Kotkov	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/205	8-Jan-00	61-21-28-49
119	Jonathan Gruden	C	NTDP (USHL)	5-11/175	4-May-00	53-25-26-51
120	Anthony Del Gaizo	C	Muskegon (USHL)	5-11/195	31-Jan-98	58-39-32-71
121	Justus Annunen	G	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	6-4/215	11-Mar-00	26GP(2.31).907
122	Olof Lindbom	G	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	6-2/185	23-Jul-00	20GP(3.10).897
123	Matthew Struthers	C	OS-NB (OHL)	6-2/210	26-Dec-99	62-23-22-45
124	Alex Steeves	C	Dubuque (USHL)	5-11/185	10-Dec-99	53-18-36-54
125	Ben Copeland	C	Waterloo (USHL)	5-10/180	27-Apr-99	58-17-42-59

OTHER DRAFT CANDIDATES
Jett Alexander	G	North York (OJHL)	6-4/190	8-Nov-99
Yaroslav Alexeyev	LW	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	5-9/160	17-Jan-99
Justin Almeida	C	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-9/160	6-Feb-99
Seth Barton	D	Trail (BCHL)	6-2/175	18-Aug-99
Justin Bergeron	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-0/180	14-Sep-00
Erik Betzold	RW	Koln (Ger)	5-11/165	18-Jan-00
Brandon Biro	RW	Penn State (B1G)	5-11/165	11-Mar-98
Mikhail Bitsadze	C	Dynamo Moscow (Rus)	5-11/170	18-Nov-99
Shawn Boudrias	RW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-4/195	14-Sep-99
Jakob Brahaney	D	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/185	26-Mar-99
Justin Brazeau	RW	North Bay (OHL)	6-5/220	2-Feb-98
Dennis Busby	D	Flint (OHL)	5-10/190	6-Jan-00
Michael Callahan	D	Central Illinois (USHL)	6-2/195	23-Sep-99
Ryan Chyzowski	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-0/190	14-May-00
Powell Connor	D	Chilliwack (BCHL)	6-1/175	4-May-00
Connor Corcoran	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-1/185	7-Aug-00
Paul Cotter	C	Lincoln (USHL)	6-0/190	16-Nov-99
Angus Crookshank	LW	Langley (BCHL)	5-11/185	2-Oct-99
Max Crozier	D	Nanaimo (BCHL)	6-1/185	19-Apr-00
Ethan de Jong	RW	Prince George (BCHL)	5-10/170	12-Jul-99
Jack DeBoer	C	NTDP (USA)	6-2/190	17-Aug-00
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev	C	Peterborough (OHL)	5-10/160	15-Sep-00
Lukas Dostal	G	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-1/165	22-Jun-00
Grigori Dronov	D	Magnitogorsk (Rus)	6-2/205	10-Jan-98
Justin Ducharme	LW	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	5-11/180	22-Feb-00
Daniel Dvorak	G	Hradec Kralove (Cze)	6-3/160	9-Jan-00
Jesper Eliasson	G	Troja/Ljungby (Swe)	6-3/200	21-Mar-00
Caleb Everett	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/185	20-Jan-00
Christian Felton	D	Kimball Union (USHS-NH)	6-0/190	4-Feb-00
Trey Fix-Wolansky	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	5-8/185	26-May-99
Eric Florchuk	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-1/175	10-Jan-00
Carson Focht	C	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/180	4-Feb-00
Adam Gajarsky	RW	Kometa Brno (Cze)	5-10/175	4-Mar-00
Jeremi Gerber	RW	Bern (Sui)	6-1/185	1-Mar-00
Damien Giroux	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-10/175	3-Mar-00
Jack Gorniak	LW	West Salem High (USHS-WI)	5-11/180	15-Sep-99
Matthew Grouchy	RW	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-1/190	19-Nov-99
Glenn Gustafsson	C	Orebro (Swe)	5-10/200	4-Sep-98
Curtis Hall	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-2/195	26-Apr-00
Kevin Hancock	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	2-Mar-98
Jordan Harris	D	Kimball Union (USHS-NH)	5-11/180	7-Jul-00
Reece Harsch	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-3/195	7-Jan-99
Brady Hinz	C	Peterborough (OHL)	5-9/150	3-May-00
Mitchell Hoelscher	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-11/160	27-Jan-00
Mac Hollowell	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-9/170	26-Sep-98
Krystof Hrabik	C	Bili Tygri Liberec (Cze)	6-4/210	24-Sep-99
David Hrenak	G	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	6-2/190	5-May-98
Riley Hughes	RW	St. Sebastian's (USHS-MA)	6-1/175	27-Jun-00
Jere Huhtamaa	G	Blues (Fin)	6-2/190	10-Apr-00
Logan Hutsko	RW	Boston College (HE)	5-10/175	11-Feb-99
Jacob Ingham	G	Mississauga (OHL)	6-3/185	10-Jun-00
Jere Innala	LW	HPK (Fin)	5-9/175	17-Mar-98
Michal Ivan	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-1/185	18-Nov-99
Georgi Ivanov	C	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Rus)	6-0/190	25-Sep-98
Jan Jenik	RW	Benatky nad Jizerou (Cze)	6-1/165	15-Sep-00
Jack Jensen	C	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	6-0/195	31-Aug-00
Joey Keane	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-0/185	2-Jul-99
Brett Kemp	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6-0/165	23-Mar-00
Michael Kesselring	D	New Hampton School (USHS-NH)	6-4/185	13-Jan-00
Juuso Ketola	D	Assat Pori (Fin)	5-11/210	18-Mar-00
Patrick Khodorenko	C	Michigan State (B1G)	6-0/205	13-Oct-98
Liam Kirk	C	Sheffield (EIHL)	6-2/160	3-Jan-00
Semyon Kizimov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-0/175	19-Jan-00
Jordan Kooy	G	London (OHL)	6-2/185	30-Apr-00
Ivan Kosorenkov	RW	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	5-10/185	22-Jan-98
Demetrios Koumontzis	LW	Edina (USHS-MN)	5-10/185	24-Mar-00
Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Rus)	5-10/175	17-Oct-99
Filip Kral	D	Spokane (WHL)	6-1/170	20-Oct-99
Renars Krastenbergs	LW	Oshawa (OHL)	5-11/185	16-Dec-98
Cole Krygier	D	Lincoln (USHL)	6-3/195	5-May-00
Daniel Kurovsky	LW	Vitkovice (Cze)	6-4/215	4-Mar-98
Michal Kvasnica	RW	Frydek-Mistek (Cze)	6-1/190	7-Apr-00
Owen Lalonde	D	Guelph (OHL)	6-0/180	1-Feb-00
Jackson Leppard	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/200	18-Jan-00
David Levin	C	Sudbury (OHL)	5-10/180	16-Sep-99
Mitchell Lewandowski	RW	Michigan State (B1G)	5-9/175	17-Apr-98
Adam Liska	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/185	14-Oct-99
John Ludvig	D	Portland (WHL)	6-0/185	2-Aug-00
Brady Lyle	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-1/205	6-Jun-99
Guillaume Maillard	C	Geneve-Servette (Sui)	6-0/200	11-Oct-98
James Malm	C	Vancouver (WHL)	5-9/180	25-Jun-99
Anton Malyshev	D	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Rus)	6-0/180	27-Feb-00
Riley McCourt	D	Flint (OHL)	5-11/170	26-Jun-00
Aidan McDonough	LW	Thayer Academy (USHS-MA)	6-1/175	6-Nov-99
Nolan McElhaney	D	Cushing Academy (USHS-MA)	6-3/175	22-Apr-99
Jeremy McKenna	RW	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-10/175	20-Apr-99
Albert Michnac	LW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	18-Oct-98
Amir Miftakhov	G	Irbis Kazan (Rus)	6-0/160	26-Apr-00
Artyom Minulin	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-2/200	1-Oct-98
Travis Mitchell	D	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/195	25-Nov-99
Billy Moskal	C	London (OHL)	6-0/185	22-Mar-00
Nolan Moyle	RW	Green Bay (USHL)	6-1/185	13-Apr-99
Arttu Nevasaari	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/180	23-Jan-00
Tristen Nielsen	C	Calgary (WHL)	5-9/180	23-Feb-00
Kirill Nizhnikov	RW	Sudbury (OHL)	6-2/190	29-Mar-00
Linus Nyman	RW	Kingston (OHL)	5-9/160	11-Jul-99
Andrei Pavlenko	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-1/175	4-Apr-00
Radovan Pavlik	RW	Hradec Kralove (Cze)	5-9/175	18-Feb-98
Ryan Peckford	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-0/190	4-Mar-99
Matej Pekar	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/170	10-Feb-00
Ville Petman	C	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	5-10/180	18-Jan-00
Mathias Emilio Pettersen	C	Muskegon (USHL)	5-10/170	3-Apr-00
Jacob Pivonka	C	NTDP (USA)	5-11/200	28-Feb-00
Karel Plasek	RW	Kometa Brno (Cze)	5-10/155	28-Jul-00
Dylan Plouffe	D	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/195	27-Apr-99
Martin Pospisil	C	Sioux City (USHL)	6-2/180	19-Nov-99
Josh Prokop	C	Vernon (BCHL)	5-10/175	30-Jan-00
Cole Purboo	RW	Windsor (OHL)	6-3/205	18-Jun-99
Vincent Purpura	G	Omaha (USHL)	6-3/195	29-Oct-98
Jacob Ragnarsson	D	Almtuna (Swe)	5-11/170	23-Sep-99
Jack Randl	LW	Omaha (USHL)	5-11/180	7-May-00
Connor Roberts	C	Flint (OHL)	6-4/210	22-Feb-00
Alexander Romanov	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Rus)	5-11/185	6-Jan-00
Nikita Rtishchev	RW	CSKA Moscow (Rus)	6-1/195	23-May-00
Merrick Rippon	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	27-Apr-00
Radim Salda	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/185	18-Feb-99
Santeri Salmela	D	KOOKOO (Fin)	6-1/195	10-Jun-00
Akira Schmid	G	Langnau (Sui)	6-4/165	12-May-00
Phillip Schultz	C	Rodovre (Den)	6-0/195	24-Jul-00
Zdenek Sedlak	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-2/205	23-Mar-00
Peetro Seppala	D	KOOKOO (Fin)	6-1/175	17-Aug-00
Bulat Shafigullin	LW	Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (Rus)	6-1/165	29-Dec-99
Yegor Sharangovich	C	Dinamo Minsk (Rus)	6-2/195	6-Jun-98
Alexander Shepelev	D	Chelyabinsk (Rus)	6-2/185	17-Mar-98
Marsel Sholokhov	RW	Chelyabinsk (Rus)	5-10/170	12-Jan-98
Graham Slaggert	C	NTDP (USA)	5-11/185	6-Apr-99
Egor Sokolov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-3/225	7-Jun-00
Zach Solow	RW	Northeastern (HE)	5-9/185	6-Nov-98
Riley Stotts	C	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	5-Jan-00
Vladislav Syomin	D	SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-3/215	17-Feb-98
Matt Thiessen	G	Steinbach (MJHL)	6-2/190	9-Jun-00
Michael Vorlicky	D	Edina (USHS-MN)	6-1/165	17-Jul-00
Pavel Vorobey	D	Kunlun Red Star (Rus)	6-3/195	10-Sep-97
Lukas Wernblom	C	MoDo (Swe)	5-9/170	22-Jul-00
Chase Wouters	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	5-11/180	8-Feb-00
Wyatte Wylie	D	Everett (WHL)	6-0/190	2-Nov-99
Vladislav Yeryomenko	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/185	23-Apr-99
Libor Zabransky	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/190	26-May-00
Egor Zamula	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/170	30-Mar-00
Danila Zhuravlyov	D	Irbis Kazan (Rus)	6-0/165	8-Apr-00

2018 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Mid Season Rankings – Top 100 plus Honourable Mentions

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:00:33 +0000

One of the first lessons I learned when I began scouting a number of years ago was that draft eligible prospects generally start to make their marks after Christmas of their draft year.

Around two months ago (Dec. 8), we released a snapshot of the 2018 draft class, walking through the 62 strongest prospects at the time. Since then, all of the 62 have had plenty of chances to make their marks. In addition to the weeks and weeks of regular season action they all had, some were also afforded the showcase of appearing in the World Junior Championships, while others fought to be included in the CHL and USHL Top Prospect Games or the World Junior A Challenge.

Some of the WJC combatants were already considered to be at or around the top of the draft class, including each of the top four of our Mid-Season ranking. Others found themselves in the spotlight by virtue of holding nationalities that do not have the depth of talent in their age 19 class as we found with the Gold Medal winners from Canada, from which the entire roster consisted of previously drafted players.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 4: Sweden's Axel Fjallby Jonsson #22 and Isac Lundestrom #20 have words during semifinal round action against the U.S. at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

While an appearance at the WJC will only go so far for most of the prospects of Denmark, Switzerland, or Belarus, for players like the Czech Republic’s Martin Kaut (#31) and Kristian Reichel (#83), Slovakia’s Milos Roman (#57), Sweden’s Isac Lundestrom (#14), and others, players who came into the tournament with some expectations and managed to exceed them, they were able to ensure that they will be front of mind for scouting staffs through the end of the season. In fact, three of those players have seen their respective places in our rankings rise between December and now. The fourth, Milos Roman, did not fall all that much, and that can be explained largely with an injury that has limited him to a single game played since the tournament ended.

Speaking of movement in the lists, we can report that each member of the previous version of this list, which went 62 deep, is still in the mid-season top 100. Only four of those 62, Nando Eggenberger (#76), Olivier Rodrigue (#78), Marcus Westfalt (#86), and Adam Samuelsson (#95) are now lower than 75. Even though Eggenberger had a poor WJC and Rodrigue failed to impress in the CHL’s Top Prospect game, the midseason marquee event of Canadian Junior hockey, the current rankings of those four is more a reflection of other players making bigger moves than they have. All still profile as draftable prospects of note. If anything, they still have more to prove before late June in Dallas.

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

One of the two biggest jumps in the past two months belong to the aforementioned Kaut, who was fantastic at the WJC, showing a wide range of skills, plus hockey IQ and even a bit of a physical game to boot. He jumped up from 55 in December to 31 now and some in our scouting team felt that we may still be underrating him. Climbing only 21 spots, but more impressive as he started off at a higher level in December than Kaut is now, is London blueliner Evan Bouchard (#7). At the time, there were some concerns about his foot speed. Not only has he put those concerns to rest with steady displays of solid top end velocity, showing his ability to defend against rushes from some of the players long considered to be among the quickest in the OHL, but between his plus shot, advanced hockey brain and quarterbacking style, it is no real surprise that he is currently seven points clear as the highest scoring blueliner in the OHL.

The highest ranked newcomer to the list is Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkvist (#40), who had a scouting report from our own Jimmy Hamrin posted just last week. Although undersized, Lundkvist is mobile, moves the puck ably and has exceptional hockey IQ. Others debuting in the top 50 include Jakub Lauko (#44) a teammate of Kaut’s from the Czech WJC squad, Stanislav Demin (#45) a blueliner from the BCHL who impressed in the WJAC, and Niklas Nordgren (#49) an undersized, yet silky skilled winger who has been tearing up the Finnish junior ranks.

When I mentioned above that draft eligible prospects begin to make their marks after Christmas, that does not mean to suggest that we feel this present snapshot will be an accurate representation of how things ultimately shake out in June. There are some players who start the year hot and then slowly peter out. We may think we are viewing a rough mid-season patch and for some, they will never recover. Eggenberger is one. Xavier Bouchard (#62), who looked like a strong second tier draft prospect from the QMJHL two months ago, has contributed only two points since the calendar flipped to 2018. He is not an offensive blueliner, but more is expected.

Liam Foudy of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Other players started off very slowly and have been hot of late, getting themselves some mid-season recognition. One such player we debated at length was Liam Foudy (#82). When we released our December rankings, he had played 27 games and had put up a mere five points. Since then, in 23 games, he has 19 points, a period highlit by a strong showing at the CHL Top Prospect Game. In his case, it seems that London’s decision to sell off a large number of their regular top six forward options has given Foudy the chance to play in an offensive role and he has thus far flourished, to the extent that he was just named the OHL Player of the Week on the morning of this writing. He is a great skater and if he can keep this level of offensive production up for a few more weeks, showing that his recent play has not just been a flash in the pan, he will likely rocket up the list.

As we continue to scout the junior aged prospects of the world, this draft list will change again and again. In addition to extending our list to 100 as we pass the mid-season point for all leagues, we have also included a group of 25 others who had some fans about the McKeens scouting squad. As the intensity of the season rises with many teams and players jockeying for a post-season berth, some of the 125 players listed here will see their respective stocks go up and others will go down. Players who we may have skipped over in November and January will force us to pay attention in March and April. From now until draft weekend, we will continue to post scouting reports of the players you need to know about for the 2018 draft. We welcome your questions and comments and hope you enjoy the ride with us.

To link to a player page, use the tags at the bottom of the page, or from our McKeen's Draft Ranking found here It is also downloadable to an excel file.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/185	13-Apr-00
2	Filip Zadina	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/200	27-Nov-99
3	Andrei Svechnikov	RW	Barrie (OHL)	6-2/185	26-Mar-00
4	Brady Tkachuk	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-3/195	16-Sep-99
5	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas (Swe Jr)	5-11/170	15-Aug-00
6	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	13-Jun-00
7	Evan Bouchard	D	London (OHL)	6-2/195	20-Oct-99
8	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-3/180	7-Jan-00
9	Quinn Hughes	D	Michigan (B1G)	5-10/175	14-Oct-99
10	Ty Smith	D	Spokane (WHL)	5-10/180	24-Mar-00
11	Joe Veleno	C	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-00
12	Joel Farabee	LW	NTDP (USA)	5-11/165	25-Feb-00
13	Bode Wilde	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/195	24-Jan-00
14	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea (Swe)	6-0/185	6-Nov-99
15	Grigori Denisenko	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-11/165	24-Jun-00
16	K'Andre Miller	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/205	21-Jan-00
17	Barrett Hayton	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/190	9-Jun-00
18	Jared McIsaac	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	27-Mar-00
19	Akil Thomas	RW	Niagara (OHL)	5-11/170	2-Jan-00
20	Ryan McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/200	21-Sep-99
21	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori (Fin)	6-1/190	6-Jul-00
22	Serron Noel	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-5/200	8-Aug-00
23	Rasmus Kupari	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-1/185	15-Mar-00
24	Jacob Olofsson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/190	8-Feb-00
25	Ryan Merkley	D	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/170	14-Aug-00
26	Jett Woo	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-0/205	27-Jul-00
27	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/195	6-Feb-00
28	Alexander Alexeyev	D	Red Deer (WHL)	6-3/200	15-Nov-99
29	Mattias Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/215	14-Mar-00
30	Jack McBain	C	Toronto Jr Canadiens (OJHL)	6-3/195	6-Jan-00
31	Martin Kaut	RW	Pardubice (Cze)	6-1/175	2-Oct-99
32	Calen Addison	D	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/180	11-Apr-00
33	Jonny Tychonick	D	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/175	3-Mar-00
34	Jesse Ylonen	RW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-0/165	3-Oct-99
35	Dominik Bokk	LW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-1/180	3-Feb-00
36	Blake McLaughlin	LW	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/165	14-Feb-00
37	Kevin Bahl	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-6/230	27-Jun-00
38	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	Traktor Chelyabinsk (Rus)	6-2/170	23-Dec-99
39	Ty Dellandrea	C	Flint (OHL)	6-0/190	21-Jul-00
40	Nils Lundkvist	D	Lulea (Swe)	5-11/180	27-Jul-00
41	Rasmus Sandin	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/190	7-Mar-00
42	Adam Ginning	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-3/195	13-Jan-00
43	Allan McShane	C	Oshawa (OHL)	5-11/190	14-Feb-00
44	Jakub Lauko	C	Chomutov (Cze)	6-0/175	28-Mar-00
45	Stanislav Demin	D	Wenatchee (BCHL)	6-1/190	4-Apr-00
46	Filip Hallander	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-1/185	29-Jun-00
47	Xavier Bernard	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-2/210	6-Jan-00
48	Ty Emberson	D	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	24-May-00
49	Niklas Nordgren	RW	HIFK Helsinki (Fin Jr)	5-9/170	4-May-00
50	Sampo Ranta	LW	Sioux City (USHL)	6-1/195	31-May-00
51	Jay O'Brien	C	Thayer Academy (USHS-MA)	5-10/185	4-Nov-99
52	Jonatan Berggren	C	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	6-Jul-00
53	Kody Clark	RW	Ottawa (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Oct-99
54	David Gustafsson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	6-1/195	11-Apr-00
55	Nicolas Beaudin	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	5-11/175	7-Oct-99
56	Cam Hillis	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-10/170	24-Jun-00
57	Milos Roman	C	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/190	6-Nov-99
58	Gabriel Fortier	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/190	6-Feb-00
59	Riley Sutter	C	Everett (WHL)	6-3/205	25-Oct-99
60	Martin Fehervary	D	Oskarshamn (Swe 2)	6-1/190	6-Oct-99
61	Philipp Kurashev	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-0/190	12-Oct-99
62	Xavier Bouchard	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-3/190	28-Feb-00
63	Giovanni Vallati	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-00
64	Alexander Khovanov	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-11/190	12-Apr-00
65	Blade Jenkins	LW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Aug-00
66	Filip Johansson	D	Leksands (Swe 2)	6-1/185	23-Mar-00
67	Alec Regula	D	London (OHL)	6-3/200	6-Aug-00
68	Jakub Skarek	G	Dukla Jihlava (Cze)	6-3/200	10-Nov-99
69	Nico Gross	D	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/185	26-Jan-00
70	Anderson MacDonald	LW	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/205	16-May-00
71	Kyle Topping	C	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/185	18-Nov-99
72	Oskar Back	C	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/200	12-Mar-00
73	Nathan Dunkley	C	London (OHL)	5-11/195	3-May-00
74	Patrick Giles	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-4/205	3-Jan-00
75	Jake Wise	C	NTDP (USA)	5-10/190	28-Feb-00
76	Nando Eggenberger	LW	Davos (Sui)	6-2/185	7-Oct-99
77	Alexis Gravel	G	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-2/225	21-Mar-00
78	Olivier Rodrigue	G	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-0/160	6-Jul-00
79	Tyler Madden	C	Central Illinois (USHL)	5-10/155	9-Nov-99
80	Lenni Killinen	LW	Blues (Fin Jr)	6-2/185	15-Jun-00
81	Filip Kral	D	Spokane (WHL)	6-0/170	20-Oct-99
82	Liam Foudy	C	London (OHL)	6-1/185	4-Feb-00
83	Kristian Reichel	C	Red Deer (WHL)	6-1/170	11-Jun-98
84	Danila Galenyuk	D	Mamonty Yurgy (Rus Jr)	6-1/200	10-Feb-00
85	Aidan Dudas	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-8/170	15-Jun-00
86	Marcus Westfalt	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-3/205	12-Mar-00
87	Jachym Kondelik	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-6/225	21-Dec-99
88	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	Okotoks (AJHL)	6-0/180	30-Jun-00
89	Carter Robertson	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-2/180	15-Jan-00
90	Kevin Mandolese	G	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-3/180	22-Aug-00
91	Ryan O'Reilly (2000)	RW	Madison (USHL)	6-1/205	21-Mar-00
92	Merrick Rippon	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	27-Apr-00
93	David Lilja	C	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	5-11/175	23-Jan-00
94	Alex Steeves	C	Dubuque (USHL)	6-0/185	10-Dec-99
95	Adam Samuelsson	D	NTDP (USA)	6-6/240	21-Jun-00
96	Linus Karlsson	C	Karlskrona (Swe Jr)	6-1/180	16-Nov-99
97	Jack Drury	C	Waterloo (USHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-00
98	Albin Eriksson	LW	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	6-4/205	20-Jul-00
99	Sean Durzi	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/195	21-Oct-98
100	Jacob Ingham	G	Mississauga (OHL)	6-3/185	10-Jun-00
HM	Curtis Hall	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-2/195	26-Apr-00
HM	Toni Utunen	D	LeKi (Fin 2)	5-11/175	27-Apr-00
HM	Riley Damiani	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-10/165	20-Mar-00
HM	Cole Fonstad	C	Prince Albert (WHL)	5-10/160	24-Apr-00
HM	Pavel Gogolev	RW	Peterborough (OHL)	6-0/175	19-Feb-00
HM	Jan Jenik	RW	Benatky nad Jizerou (Cze 2)	6-1/165	15-Sep-00
HM	Daniel Kurovsky	LW	Vitkovice (Cze)	6-4/200	4-Mar-98
HM	Luka Burzan	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/185	7-Jan-00
HM	Eric Florchuk	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-1/175	10-Jan-00
HM	David Levin	C	Sudbury (OHL)	5-10/180	16-Sep-99
HM	Chase Wouters	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	5-11/180	8-Feb-00
HM	Justus Annunen	G	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	6-4/215	11-Mar-00
HM	Seth Barton	D	Trail (BCHL)	6-2/175	18-Aug-99
HM	Declan Chisholm	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/185	12-Jan-00
HM	Paul Cotter	C	Lincoln (USHL)	6-0/190	16-Nov-99
HM	Caleb Everett	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-2/185	20-Jan-00
HM	Johnny Gruden	C	NTDP (USA)	5-11/175	4-May-00
HM	Jordan Harris	D	Kimball Union (USHS-NH)	5-11/175	7-Jul-00
HM	Michael Kesselring	D	New Hampton School (USHS-NH)	6-4/185	13-Jan-00
HM	Juuso Ketola	D	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	5-11/210	18-Mar-00
HM	Jackson Leppard	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/200	18-Jan-00
HM	Scott Perunovich	D	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	5-10/170	18-Aug-98
HM	Ivan Prosvetov	G	Youngstown (USHL)	6-4/175	5-Mar-99
HM	Tyler Weiss	LW	NTDP (USA)	5-10/160	3-Jan-00
HM	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	Rimouski (QMJHL)	5-9/175	11-Aug-00

2018 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Mid-Season Rankings

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 15:53:52 +0000