Mitchell Gibson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WASHINGTON CAPITALS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 22:50:31 +0000

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre (29) during the pre-season National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals on October 4, 2021 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Hendrix Lapierre C

Hendrix Lapierre is a pure playmaker drafted 22^nd overall by the Washington Capitals at the 2020 NHL Draft. Some executives mentioned back then that they would not have taken Lapierre in the first round due to his concussion problems. However, the Caps did not have the same line of thought. Lapierre, at some point during the beginning of his junior career, would always never shoot the puck: he was always looking for a pass. However, he did round out his game recently as he had 21 goals and 30 assists last season with the Acadie-Bathurst Titans. On top of that, He’s an extremely gifted stickhandler that can weave his way through an entire team. It was his high skill level that caught the attention of the Capitals as they gave him an early season six game audition this past season (that saw Lapierre score his first career NHL goal). Now aged out of the QMJHL, Lapierre will attempt to crack the Capitals full time this season. More than likely, he will need some additional seasoning in the AHL to help him round out his game as a more complete player. However, there is no doubting Lapierre’s upside as a future top six player for Washington. - EB

2 - Ivan Miroshnichenko LW

Miroshnichenko was the 20th selection by the Washington Capitals in the 2022 draft. The Capitals are confident that this is the kind of player who can become the team’s future goal scoring leader following in the footsteps of countryman Alex Ovechkin. There were high expectations for Miroshnichenko in the 2021-22 season, as he was expected to be one of the top players available heading into the draft year. Despite the fact that the previous season was not outstanding for Miroshnichenko, he was able to show the world his warrior character by overcoming all difficulties, particularly his battle with cancer. Although the decision to select Miroshnichenko in the first round may have been a risky decision, the club sees great promise in Miroshnichenko and believes in his talent. Miroshnichenko is a technically skilled sniper. He played last season in the VHL (2nd men’s league in Russia) and finished among his team’s top five scorers. He possesses excellent technical skating as he is a wide and fast skater. Miroschnichenko also has great stick-handling ability, which he pairs with a very good wrist shot and excellent slap shot. He uses his shooting arsenal correctly. A physical player, he's got a mature game and will play through contact to make a play. Consistency is an issue he will look to correct, and his defensive play does need to improve as he has a tendency to chase and lose his man. A potential future top six scorer, Miroshnichenko is expected to be able to play in the NHL as early as the 2023-24 season at the end of his current contract in Russia. - DB

3 - Ryan Chesley D

Ryan Chesley was a divisive prospect during the 2022 draft cycle, with many debates being heard about the true nature of his NHL upside. Chesley’s offensive production at the U.S. National Team Development Program was underwhelming, and many have wondered if that’s an indication that he just doesn’t have the skill level to be more than a defensive specialist at the next level. But while his abilities in one zone are the subject of fierce debate, Chesley’s value in the other two zones generates more consensus. Starting with the defensive zone, Chesley’s value is more readily apparent. He’s a mobile defenseman, able to close on pucks and incoming defenders in a timely fashion. He’s a physical player who willingly engages in board battles and has unleashed some rattling hits. He’s not a massive defenseman but standing at six feet tall he has enough size to play the sort of defensive style he prefers. In the neutral zone, Chesley’s abilities puck skills combined with his skating give him definite transition value, and while some might mistakenly typecast him as a stay-at-home, throwback defender Chesley is absolutely a fit for what the modern NHL expects from its blueliners. The issue with Chesley lies in the way he sees the game. Too often, Chesley’s ability to make the right reads at the right times betrays him, and that has kept him from achieving the sort of heights as a prospect his tools would indicate he can reach. With the proper development, he could become a valuable two-way defenseman in a team’s top-four, but he needs some work to get there. - EH

4 - Aliaksei Protas C

In his first full season with the Capitals organization, Protas managed to suit up for 33 games, performing admirably. The 6’6”, 225-pound mammoth certainly has size, but his maturity and ability to responsibly play a lower line role paid out in spades for the 2019 3^rd round draft pick. His strong start with Hershey of the AHL moved him up the list of call-ups very quickly in a year where the Capitals introduced more rookies to the line-up than had in years. This shouldn’t be surprising for Protas after he broke out with the WHL Prince Albert Raiders in 19-20 and then followed that up with considerable step in development in the 20-21 season. He potted 10 goals in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk, which tied him for first among U20 players in Russia’s top league That was followed by a 16-game stint with Hershey in which he accumulated another seven points. As his size and ever-increasing weight would indicate, Protas can be an absolute handful down low, and this was evident even at the NHL level this year. His movement to the net combined with a propensity for cycling in the corners makes him difficult to defend against. He also uses his body very well to protect the puck. Just how far he goes will be determined by his progress in the skating department. He is already at a point where he can swim at the NHL level. A gig with the Capitals is not a guarantee heading into this season. – CL

5 - Alexander Alexeyev D

The road to an NHL spot has been a bumpy one for Washington’s 2018 first rounder. After spending the majority of the 20-21 season on loan to KHL Salavat, putting up 17 points in 64 total games, he concluded that season on a high note with nine points and a +11 in 12 games with AHL Hershey. An extremely solid player who presents a fine balance between his responsibilities on the defensive side and his acumen in supporting the attack, Alexeyev spent nearly the entire 21-22 season in the AHL. Much had been expected last season, but he barely doubled his AHL season over season despite playing over five times as many games. Even though he was considered a defensively oriented defenseman, his accumulation of exactly one goal presented quite the letdown in light of the steps he had taken in prior seasons. Thought to be on the cusp of an NHL spot this time last year, Alexeyev heads into the 22-23 season facing great competition in taking the next step. Internal competitor Martin Fehervary appears to have earned himself a spot in the line-up moving forward and Washington made several veteran depth signings while also adding former first rounder Gabriel Carlsson this summer. With this in mind, Alexeyev heads into camp needing to push Washington’s hand or Hershey will be his destination once again for his third and final season of his ELC. – CL

6 - Bogdan Trineyev

Trineyev is easy to notice with his mobility and big frame, along with effortless puck control and a strong shot from the right-hand side, all making it easy to see why Washington has made a bet on his upside. On the other hand, he is coming off a very uneven season, as after a good start and earning decent minutes in the KHL he suffered a broken thumb, which sidelined him for a lengthy stretch. After recovering from that he found himself back in junior hockey, where he looked good, but he also left the impression that he didn’t want to be there. After the season ended, Trineyev signed an entry-level deal with the Capitals and even managed to play couple of AHL games on a tryout agreement with Hershey. It might still be too early in his development to succeed in North American hockey, as he needs to add maturity and well-roundedness to his game, and he also needs to further fill his frame. It was no big surprise when it was announced that Trineyev would be loaned back to Dynamo Moscow for the 2022-23 season, to better prepare him for his hopefully brighter future. It would be a safe bet to see the big winger come back to North America after the KHL season ends in April, to see how the added time at home better prepared him for life in the AHL. The NHL is still a very realistic future goal. - VF

7 - Jake Karabela C

The 149th selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Jake Karabela didn’t have many expectations coming into the season, but he quickly made an impression and was able to become a utility knife for the Storm. He adapted to different roles, played with different teammates up and down the lineup, and was able to play both on the wing and centre when needed and was effective consistently wherever he played. Karabela plays a pretty simple game, but he’s very effective at what he does. He makes smart decisions with and without the puck consistently and has great awareness, finding open space to make it easier on teammates. He’s able to play a strong 200ft game and compete hard every shift. Like others, Karabela missed the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid-19 shutdown. In the 2021-2022 season, Karabela finished with 45 points (12G,33A) in 68 games, which was 7th in the league for assists by a rookie and 4th on the team in points. Karabela’s best assets are his puck handling and competitiveness. He’s able to beat opponents one-on-one with deception and quick hands and has the ability to protect the puck and drive through traffic, being able to get many chances in the slot and near the net. Karabela has a motor that never quits on a play, showing great determination to finish a play. He displays great energy along the boards and gives himself a chance to win every puck battle. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Karabela will look to increase his point totals and become a lock in the top six. - DK

8 - Alexander Suzdalev LW

Suzdalev was recently selected 70^th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL draft. He is known mainly for his playmaking ability. His hands are silky with the puck, which allows him to make last second plays in tight. He also has a good combination of size (6’2”) and speed. He is able to generate speed through his skating stride, however he has also proven his ability to slow the game down when necessary. This past season, Suzdalev had polar opposite play between his time with HV71 in the J20 league and his international play. In the J20, he showed his polished playmaking ability by finishing with 36 assists and 51 points in 45 games. That was enough for Suzdalev to finish in the top 10 in scoring for the J20. On the other hand, he struggled in international play, especially at the U18 tournament in April, where he looked sloppy and was held pointless. Ultimately for someone his size, he could benefit from attacking the middle of the ice more, rather than always playing along the boards. He also would benefit from adding strength to his current frame. This could improve his puck protection and his ability to generate speed through his first stride. Next season, there is a strong chance he plays in the WHL for the Regina Pats. This could be an extreme plus for Suzdalev as he is known for his playmaking ability and may have the chance to play with the expected 1^st overall pick in 2023, the prolific goal scorer Connor Bedard. - ZS

9 - Brent Johnson D

Brent Johnson hasn’t had the easiest transition to college hockey since being drafted 80th overall by the Capitals at the 2021 NHL draft. The five-foot-eleven Johnson had surgery before his freshman year that impacted his readiness and ability to play at 100% for the University of North Dakota last season. As a result, Johnson’s role was limited last season and his effectiveness was limited as well. Johnson’s best tool is his skating, and he can absolutely move around the ice quite well. Johnson’s mobility gives him upside on both ends of the ice, especially as someone who can help his team exit the defensive zone and enter the offensive zone. On the rush, his speed also allows him to maintain proper gap control With that being said, the strength of his skating isn’t backed up by major strengths in other areas of his game. Johnson’s decision-making can be lacking at times, and his overall defensive impact was quite poor last season, despite his skating. It’s not that he’s simply being overwhelmed and is unable to handle the responsibilities of being a defenseman in the NCAA, it’s more that Johnson’s attempts to make sound defensive plays weren’t often successful and his lack of size and strength left him ill-equipped to handle larger forwards. Johnson’s season in the USHL was promising, though, and he’s a project. If he can make tangible steps to improve other areas of his game in college, his mobility can be the tool that makes him a notable pro prospect. But he has work to do. His progress will definitely be something to watch for those who follow Capitals prospects. - EH

10 - Joaquim Lemay D

Joaquim Lemay had only played fifteen games at the Junior A level in his draft season, but that didn’t stop the Washington Capitals from using a fourth-round pick to nab Lemay at the 2021 NHL draft. Their scouts obviously saw something in Lemay that most others didn’t, as he barely registered in media rankings and was ranked 224th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting for the 2021 draft. After Lemay’s debut USHL season, it’s become a lot clearer why the Capitals felt confident enough to select him despite Lemay receiving very little outside attention. Lemay was an instant-impact two-way defenseman for the Lincoln Stars, flashing talent on both ends of the ice. Like fellow Capitals prospect Brent Johnson, Lemay’s best attribute is his skating talent. He’s an incredibly mobile defenseman, and his skating ability is the foundation of his game that he builds the rest of his habits on. Lemay is more than just his feet, too. He is a facilitator when he’s in the offensive zone and should contribute on the power play at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. As one would expect, Lemay’s defensive game is more about zone exits, closing out on pucks quickly, and using his speed to cover ground and get into passing lanes as they develop. The bottom line with Lemay is that his skating is good enough to make him a legitimate NHL prospect, and if he can build off of that tool at the college level and become an offensive difference-maker, he could rise quickly in the Capitals’ prospect rankings. - EH

11 - Vincent Iorio

Iorio’s calling card at the next level might be in the defensive end, but the WHL defender is coming off of a strong offensive season. A strong skating right shot defender with size, Iorio is likely to start playing in the AHL this year, however he could also be sent back to the WHL for an overage year.

12 - Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

The speedy winger stands out most in a high energy role and as a penalty killer. He has a chance to make the Capitals full time this season in that exact role.

13 - Lucas Johansen

Injuries have derailed the former first round pick’s development thus far. But Johansen was finally healthy last season and responded with a strong season for Hershey. He could be a sneaky candidate for a roster spot this season.

14 - David Gucciardi

Gucciardi’s freshman season at Michigan State was a success, making him a draft selection of Washington in 2022. An excellent powerplay QB because of his mobility, Gucciardi still needs to work on his decision making at both ends.

15 - Fabian Wagner

An intriguing athlete, Wagner’s draft season was mired in inconsistency. His upside may be a little clearer after this coming season in the Linkoping program.

16 - Mitchell Gibson

Gibson, the starting netminder at Harvard, will return for another season with the Ivy league program. He has been solid so far and will look to become one of the better goaltenders in the NCAA this season to increase his stock in the system.

17 - Chase Clark

The big netminder ended last season on a high note with Muskegon in the USHL and will now try to secure consistent playing time at Quinnipiac as a freshman this season.

18 - Clay Stevenson

A free agent signing out of Darthmouth after a single NCAA season, the Capitals are intrigued by Stevenson’s combination of size and athleticism in the crease. It will be interesting to see what the team’s goaltending development coaches can do with him.

19 - Garrett Pilon

This is a make-or-break season in the Capitals system for Pilon. The son of former NHL’er Rich Pilon is a competitive power forward, but his lack of pace has held him back thus far.

20 - Ludwig Persson

A 2022 draft pick by Washington, Persson had a disappointing draft year after being thought of as one of Sweden’s top players in the draft class previously. He has speed to burn but his offensive capabilities may be more limited than previously thought.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WASHINGTON CAPITALS – RANK: #28 – TIER VI

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:20:36 +0000

Washington Capitals

#28 Washington - Washington has been trying to add some higher end players of late, but not enough of them. There may not be ten real future NHLers in this system.

Connor McMichael

Connor McMichael

It was an excellent development year for McMichael, especially given the circumstances surrounding his first pro season (thrust into the AHL as a 19-year-old because of the OHL’s cancellation). McMichael finished the season as Hershey’s leading scorer and was subsequently named to the AHL’s All-Rookie team. The 2019 first round selection has put himself firmly in competition for NHL playing time as early as this upcoming season.

The former London Knights star has the potential to be an extremely versatile player. He can play any forward position. He has the intelligence level to play in any situation. And he is a more than competent finisher, due to a great wrist shot and scoring instincts. While he may not project as a first line all-star at the NHL level, he does have a chance of becoming a consistent 20-goal scorer and someone who can play a middle six role for Washington in the near and distant future. Look for him to split the year between the AHL and NHL this upcoming season, likely serving as the Capitals’ top injury call-up. In that situation, he should establish himself as an NHL regular by the time the 2022/23 season comes along. - BO

Hendrix Lapierre

How good it feels to see a healthy Hendrix Lapierre! This past season Lapierre finally managed to distance himself from his previous injuries. Visually, he appeared much better equipped to play a more physically engaged brand of hockey. He was sturdier, stronger and he looked like he had added serious lower body power. It had been a difficult season for everyone last year (COVID-19), but especially so for Lapierre. He earned the nickname "King of Quarantines" after spending 63 days in administrative quarantine during the season, split between the camp for Junior Team Canada, the pro camp in Washington and a return to Chicoutimi with his junior team.

It was an emotional season for the young man from Aylmer, Quebec too. A heartbreaking cut at Team Canada junior selection camp, a surprise invitation to the Capitals camp, a trade after the season (In the QMJHL), etc. His periods of isolation (quarantine) had to be difficult, and it did prevent him from finding consistency early on. But he got better over the year, finally living up to some of his hype. A highly skilled player, Lapierre has the talent to be a top six forward for the Capitals in a few seasons. He will play this year with the AB Titan and should be among the leading scorers in the QMJHL. He just needs another year without injuries. - BB

Alexander Alexeyev

Despite Alexeyev being a first round pick back in 2019 and leaving a very good impression at every level where he has played so far, somehow, he continues to fly under the radar and is rarely mentioned in the conversation as an elite level prospect. Playing on loan to the KHL to start last season, Alexeyev was quick to adjust to the KHL game again after playing in North America the previous four seasons (WHL and AHL). Alexeyev showed that he doesn't have a lot of weaknesses and was very good at finding the balance between the defensive responsibilities and supporting the attack offensively. When the KHL season ended, Alexeyev returned to the AHL a more confident offensive player, which was converted to improved offensive production.

While the Capitals plans are unclear for their bottom pairing this upcoming season, Alexeyev will have to beat out NHL veteran Trevor Van Riemsdyk or fellow prospect Martin Fehevary for a role. He is likely ready to play on the third pairing right away after a very successful 2020/21 season. His potential probably lies on the Capital’s second pairing in the future, where he can play a variety of roles and be a steady presence on the blueline. - VF

Martin Fehervary

A former second round selection by the Capitals in 2018, Fehervary has progressed very well since. The former captain of the Slovak World Junior Team, Fehervary took an unconventional road by playing out of Sweden for the majority of his junior career. However, since signing and coming to play in North America two seasons ago, Fehervary has established himself as one of Washington’s top prospects. In his first pro year, he actually got into a couple NHL games, including a few in the playoffs for the Capitals. Last season, he played strictly in the AHL, but played very well, improving his offensive production, while remaining one of Hershey’s best defensive players.

The 6’2, 203lbs defender is a rock in the defensive end. His defensive instincts are sound. He brings a physical element. His high-end mobility makes him a suffocating presence and someone who should be able to at least fill a shutdown role at the NHL level. However, Fehervary’s confidence in using his plus skating ability to start the breakout and his confidence in his puck handling abilities have grown considerably in the last calendar year. He appears primed for an NHL role as early as this season, but he will need to beat out veterans like Trevor Van Riemsdyk and Matt Irwin for a spot on the third pairing. Fehervary projects as a second pairing defensive anchor and a long time NHL defender. - BO

Aliaksei Protas

A year after a breakout campaign with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL, hulking Belarussian forward Aliaksei Protas followed that up with a very strong performance in 2020/21. His 10 goals in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk were tied for the most by any U20 player in the top men’s league with Columbus first round pick Yegor Chinakhov. Following the KHL season, he joined Hershey of the AHL and performed admirably in a smaller sample size. Then to close out the year, he played for Belarus at the World Championships.

The 6’6, 215 lbs center is an absolute load to handle down low for opposing defenses, as he dominates the cycle game and works his way to the net. Not really your typical power forward, Protas relies more on his skill and puck protection ability to create in traffic. The key for him is to continue putting in the work to improve his skating ability. He will likely spend the entire upcoming season in the AHL, adjusting to the pace and strength of the pro game in North America. Protas projects as a middle six forward for Washington but will likely require several years of development before being ready for a full-time role. - BO

Garrett Pilon

Slow and steady wins the race. That saying certainly personifies Pilon’s professional development thus far in Washington’s system. The former WHL standout (and son to former NHL pugilist Rich Pilon) has slowly improved over the course of three seasons with Hershey of the AHL, finally breaking through as a top contributor last season. As a reward, Pilon was even given a small taste of NHL action. Now eligible for waivers this season, the Capitals will have a decision to make this training camp.

The highlight of Pilon’s game has always been the stocky center’s two-way play and awareness on the ice. A high-end playmaker, he has finally gained the confidence to be more creative at the AHL level and has learned how to control the pace from the middle, becoming a difficult player to separate from the puck. The finer points to his game, like his faceoff ability, strong neutral zone play, and positional versatility, make him a great candidate to earn a depth role on the Capitals this season. Given his progression, it seems unlikely that the Caps would risk sending him through waivers unless he really struggles at training camp. His upside may not be significant, but he does have the potential to be a high-end checking line player or depth option moving forward. - BO

Vincent Iorio

A 6’3, right shot defender, Iorio was a rock for a strong Brandon Wheat Kings team this past season. A late born ‘02, Iorio emerged as an all-situations, minute-cruncher for Brandon, anchoring the second pair behind New York Rangers first round pick Braden Schneider. Iorio is the modern day shut down defender, blending size, mobility, and physicality to stymie attackers. Using his strong four-way quickness, Iorio is aggressive in defending transitional attacks, stepping up early to angle attackers off, always minding a tight gap. Iorio is also a highly intelligent defender who makes a good outlet pass and possesses good awareness at both ends of the ice. This is what allows him to excel at the WHL level in all situations.

That said, Iorio’s game does appear to have some limitations. His even strength production was pretty limited, with the majority of his points coming on the powerplay. He is at his best when he keeps things simple because he does not possess the creativity or hands to be a topflight puck mover. The Capitals are likely hoping that Iorio’s offensive skill set can continue to blossom with Brandon and that he can eventually become a really solid #4 defender for them in the future. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Brent Johnson

Johnson is a toolsy defender, who even likes to play rough, despite his clear size disadvantage. He throws his body around, gets involved in scrums regularly, and often defends with an ornery edge. That said, Johnson’s best strengths come in the offensive end. His speed allows him to drive the transition, and he looks impressive carrying the puck up the ice. He isn’t the type to engage very deep in the offensive zone, but can control play rather well from the point, with quick and accurate puck movement from high to low, or a solid shot. Even though he comes across as an offensive-minded defender, he is not absent in his own zone, and played a regular shorthanded role for the Stampede of the USHL last year.

There is a valid question of how effective he can remain at higher levels against more uniformly bigger and stronger players, but Johnson has a dynamic element that is worth gambling on, especially if his lack of a high-level resume means he will have more to show in the coming years, which will include time playing collegiately for North Dakota. He will look to bounce back this year as a freshman after shoulder surgery ended his season in 2021. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Kody Clark

When the Capitals took Kody, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs legend Wendell Clark, in the second round in 2018, the hope was that he could develop into an elite power forward not all that dissimilar from their very own Tom Wilson. Unfortunately, the offensive side of things has been fairly slow to develop. Clark never reached the point per game mark in the OHL before graduating to the AHL and his first pro season was fairly underwhelming. However, Clark’s sophomore effort last year did show marked improvement from an offensive perspective, suggesting that there could be hope yet for him to become an NHL player.

An intense physical competitor, Clark is a human missile on the forecheck. He knows his role on the ice is to cause havoc by driving the net and by forcing turnovers on the opponent’s side of the ice. While Clark is not likely to be a Tom Wilson type, he could still be a serviceable checking line player for the Capitals in a couple of seasons. Washington will be looking for Clark to continue to show improvement offensively this season in the AHL before earning a look the following year (when he is waivers eligible in 2022/23). - BO

Brett Leason

It’s been quite the meteoric rise for Leason, who was passed over twice in the NHL draft before his skating caught up to the rest of his game and he exploded on the scene in 2018-19 with a monster season that included a point-per-game stint at the world junior under-20 tournament. This resulted in Leason hearing his name called in the second round of the draft by the Washington Capitals. Since then, while the pandemic has perhaps stalled the development of many other prospects around him, Leason has continued to blossom, with two successful seasons in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. Last year was another step forward, with 20 points in 33 games for the big winger.

Leason brings size, scoring punch and the motor of a player half a foot shorter. His skating continues to improve, and his hockey sense allows him to be effective with or without the puck. He uses his massive frame well and distributes the puck well, to go with an NHL-calibre shot. He could stand to be even more physical and continue to improve his first three steps. Already 22-years-old, it would be easy to discount Leason as a potential middle-six winger at best in the NHL, but he continues to make inroads and has beaten the odds thus far. With a fairly thin prospect cupboard in front of him, it’s not a stretch to think Leason could see a cup of coffee in the NHL this upcoming season, if the stars align. - AS

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

The upside may not be incredibly high, but Jonsson-Fjallby’s talents as a forechecker and penalty killer can be used at the NHL level. After parts of three seasons at the AHL level, the time is now for the Swedish spark plug to earn a fourth line role for the Capitals this season.

Mitchell Gibson

A former fourth round pick, Gibson had a solid freshman season for Harvard two seasons ago, establishing himself as the program’s starter. However, due to the pandemic, Harvard did not play last season, leaving Gibson with nowhere to play. He will look to get his development back on track this season as he re-assumes the starter’s role on what should be a strong Crimson team.

Garin Bjorklund

Bjorklund had an excellent post draft season with Medicine Hat (WHL) last year, as he emerged as one of the top netminders in Western Canada. Bjorklund has the skill set to be an NHL netminder and worked hard to correct some technical flaws to become a more consistent performer. He should be a contender for the WHL’s goaltender of the year this season.

Martin Has

The plan for Has was to have him play a full season in the OHL last year, after a partial year prior to that. But the pandemic had other plans and as such, Has played sparingly outside of a few international appearances for the Czech Republic (including the World Juniors). The stay-at-home defender can be an asset in the defensive end because of his strong transitional defensive ability, however his play with the puck needs to improve. His playing location this season remains a mystery, especially since he has not yet been signed by the Capitals.

Beck Malenstyn

The previous season was not a good one for the competitive and physical, former WHL winger. An achilles tear ended his season before it began and has even put the start of this season in jeopardy. Malenstyn will look to bounce back strong at some point with Hershey. He still possesses the potential to be an impact fourth liner for the Caps.

US COLLEGE: Ivy Leaguers Finding New Ice to Keep Fresh

Jashvina Shah — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 15:54:31 +0000

Last March, the Ivy League was the first to cancel in college hockey.

“No one really knew the scope of this whole thing,” Harvard goaltender and Capitals draft pick Mitchell Gibson said. “I didn't even take all my equipment home I still have equipment up in the locker room right now because I thought we'd be back in a few weeks, no big deal.”

For the 2020-21 season, the Ivy League were the only ones to announce as a block, in mid-November, that there would be no winter sports. The day the announcement was made Gibson, a superstitious goaltender, knew it would be bad news. After all, it was raining.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 03: Harvard University Crimson goaltender Mitchell Gibson (44) eyes a face off during a Beanpot semi-final between the Harvard Crimson and the Northeastern Huskies on February 3, 2020, at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

“I was watching some of my best friends play. Last night, Michigan, Ohio State the night before. And, you know, I'm here in my house, you know, doing schoolwork and just having no plan,” Gibson said. “I just was disappointed in the, in the amount of effort I think that some of the Ivy Leagues put forth, like they didn't really make any effort to try to put us in hotel rooms or even if they told us to try to get our own place to stay and that we'd go to a rink somewhere else and play other teams. I would have been fine with that, but it just seemed like they just cancelled it because it was the easier decision. Granted, the cases are spiking. I know it's not great so you have to respect their decision to not take any of the liability from the players getting it. But I mean I would have liked to have some sort of option available.”

Gibson was one of 12 drafted Ivy League players who had their season canceled. While safety is at the forefront, players don’t have much of an option to sit out the season - in a sport where everyone is fighting to get the “edge,” that becomes a setback for anyone who plans on playing after college. And while transferring is an option of sorts, it isn’t one some players want to take.

“The biggest thing is being a goalie right like I need more time to develop,” Gibson said. “I'm not anywhere in a position right now to go ahead and sign pro and be successful. So I'm looking at it like I’m going to have to be fully developed before I leave. I want to stay with Harvard for as long as I can, especially get the degree. That's one of the reasons why I came here. I saw the whole, the whole thing shift and a lot of kids leaving to sign pro, but I don't think any goalies did that, to be honest. I think a lot of them knew that they need to spend more time in college and develop.”

And if, like Gibson, you live in a state like Pennsylvania that has rinks and other venues shutting down, training at home provides few options.

“Throughout the summer it's just been super inconsistent in the Philadelphia area, at least with rinks closing,” Gibson said. “There might be an outbreak here or there. My gym has been fairly consistent, but it's still gone through points where you know you see cases spiking and then you want to try to stay home as much as you can just to protect my family. There were times where I drove over two hours, I would hear of a rink in, like, North Jersey that had an ice session or two. So I would go all throughout Central PA, North and South Jersey and Delaware even a few times just to find wherever there was ice to hop on with some guys. It was kind of nice (in the) beginning when there were a couple of NHLers around so I was on the ice with Tony DeAngelo quite a bit, Johnny Gaudreau once or twice. With all the college guys, the AHL and NHL guys that were still in the Philadelphia area, I would say, right around September, once training camp started to open up and a lot of college guys started to go back to campus, myself as the Ivy League player, we really got stuck to my own devices here with a limited amount of guys so I really don't know any other Ivy League players in my area, to be honest. There was no one else to really, you know, be in the same boat with. So I want to say once you know September came it really, really dried up with options.”

The ramifications for Ivy schools might be long lasting - the league itself already contends with some unique rules like starting late and playing fewer games. But his shut down could cause long term ramifications for recruiting.

The players had to wait until an official decision on the season was made. Then, they ran through their options. One of them included getting a house off campus in Boston, but the school shut down its facilities. Another option was to go to Plymouth, Mich., and play at the USA Hockey rink while living in Plymouth.

“It was logistically the hardest to go through the NCAA with training with the NTDP and that whole thing. I think it was also the most expensive option,” Gibson said.

The second one was in Fort Meyers, Florida, using Hertz Arena - the home of the ECHL Florida Everglades. But that package was a little too expensive.

Enter Brett Strott.

The former associate head coach of the U.S. women’s national team and the current owner of the USPHL’s Tampa Bay Juniors called Harvard captain Jack Donato with a proposition. He said they would be willing to accommodate their schedules and work with them for ice time, at the best price out of any of the other packages. Tampa Bay is the USPHL’s hub city, and is also hosting the PWHPA All-Stars. The Harvard players will also stay at the Saddlebrook Resort. The players will have their own separate section of the resort and their own entrance to the rink. They will undergo testing.

“We're not going to go out and do whatever, go to colleges and do the stupid things like that,” Gibson said. “We’re going to be mature and we all want to make this last for as long as we can. No one really wants to quarantine in the room for a week or so and miss some of the fun of being in Florida. So, I think it's really going to be, you know, sticking to our guys and try to limit our exposure as best we can. No, I mean it’s definitely nerve-wracking going down there when it starts to spike again, but I think if our guys just use caution and we stick to our little mini Harvard bubble, we should be okay.”

In order to keep this experience NCAA compliant, no Harvard coaches were involved and the players will pay for everything on their own, provide their own equipment, and play with and against other collegiate players.

“The difference here is that we're paying for it and it’s our own decision,” Gibson said.

Throughout this process, Gibson kept in touch with the Capitals goaltending coaches Scott Murray and Alex Westlund. They went over video and kept tabs on him and news of the season. Gibson called them as soon as the season was officially canceled.

“It's tricky because they can't offer me ice,” Gibson said. “I can't go down there to D.C. and stay with them or live with them, right, like I'm still an amateur so it's just been a lot of phone calls saying if I need something you know they'll be there for me."

They helped him with goalie-specific work, kept him mentally involved and sent him at-home workouts after the initial lockdown

“I understand I can't go down to DC and be on the ice with Ovie [Alex Ovechkin] or any of those guys,” Gibson said. “It's got to be within boundaries. It’s tricky, it is. But like I said, they’ve been helpful.”

Gibson also knew he was a long-term project who would stay in college longer to develop, and he hopes Florida will give him time to get better.

“This will be a little bit of a, of a mock season for us trying to get scrimmages in, trying to keep the pace, the intensity high before going into the next season. Trying to do a little bit every day, stay in shape. I don't think many colleges besides like the NCHC, which has 30 games schedule and I mean the ECAC is only going to play 20 games, so it sounds like we’re not missing that much. As much as I would like to be playing games, I think if we get down to Florida and are able to get a good sort of setup there and take it seriously, we'll be able to replicate some [games] a little bit to get some development in.”

One of Gibson's Harvard teammates he played with in Pennsylvania during the offseason, John Farinacci, left the Crimson and returned to the USHL. He wasn't the only drafted Ivy League player to depart. Among others, two more Harvard players (Henry Thrun and Austin Wong) left for the USHL as well. Both Reilly Walsh and Jack Rathbone left school early (a rarity among Ivy Leaguers) signed professional contracts in the offseason, Jack Badini graduated early to sign an ELC with Anaheim while Jack Drury turned pro in the Swedish Hockey League. Yale's Jack St. Ivany and Cornell's Matt Cairns transferred to Boston College and Minnesota-Duluth, respectively. Cornell's Jack Malone and Matthew Stienburg went back to junior hockey, the former returning to the USHL and the latter agreeing to play in the BCHL (although he hasn’t suited up yet).

The plans of Nick Abruzzese, Curtis Hall, Liam Gorman, and Andong (Misha) Song are not known as of this time. Abruzzese reportedly underwent a minor surgical procedure a few months ago, which may have been moved up because of the COVID-based postponements. Hall was in discussion to return to the USHL, to team up with Jack Malone on Youngstown, but that has seemingly feel through.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Washington Capitals Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 22:30:38 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Washington Capitals prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Few 2019 draft selections progressed as well as McMichael did this past season with London, where he went from a strong complimentary piece to the lifeblood through which the offense flowed. A strong skater, he showed much more confidence when carrying the puck, allowing him to dominate touches. He can beat you in transition because of his speed and he can beat you down low because of how well he protects the puck and how sound his decision making is. We also saw a huge improvement in his shot, especially his powerful wrist shot, and he uses different shooting angles to deceive goaltenders. McMichael also showed improved strength away from the puck, and paired with his high-end IQ, is now a strong two-way presence. Originally projecting as a winger in the NHL, he has shown enough to alter this belief. He is a very versatile player. Given the improvements he made last year, it is not impossible to see him playing in the NHL next year with the Capitals. He already skates well enough for the NHL. At this point, his projection is that of a two-way, goal scoring forward who can play inside the first two lines. – BO

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Lapierre battled consistency and injury issues all season, but of his high-end IQ and skill combination make him a potential steal. Originally thought to a concussion victim, it was later found to be a cervical spine issue. He has a very dynamic skill level and can make the spectacular look easy. He is smooth with the puck in transition and is a precise, pass-first center. He is a strong skater, who gets separation through excellent acceleration. He can work well along the wall and behind the net, with crisp turns, making him elusive in coverage. Lapierre is also a terrific two-way player who excels in all three zones because of his high-end hockey IQ. He uses anticipation and a quick stick to force turnovers on the backcheck, which he excels at transitioning the other way. He needs to take a step forward as a goal scorer. His game can be too predictable at times and to keep the opposition on their toes, he could stand to become a more well-rounded offensive player, shooting more often. Even despite a poor year, his potential remains high as a two-way, all situations center who can make his teammates better players. – BO

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Alexeyev brings size (6-4”) and hockey IQ to the Washington organization. Making the jump from the WHL, he managed to make it through his first professional season with no serious injuries despite his shaky health track record. He struggled early in the beginning of the season to adjust to the pace of the AHL, but as the season went along his confidence grew and the skills that got him drafted began to show themselves, particularly in the form of his passing ability and offensive zone positioning. Alexeyev will need to demonstrate better conditioning when the next season gets underway to remain consistent throughout the full 60 minutes and he will need to find another gear to add more speed to his game. Numerous times last season opponents blew past him when driving the net and he will need to improve at keeping them to the outside. As he continues to develop and his game matures, there is little doubt that he has the overall ability to become a top pairing defenseman at the NHL level, it is simply a matter of opportunity and Alexeyev staying healthy, as he cannot sustain another serious injury without suffering major career setbacks. – SC

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Tight competition between Fehervary and fellow Hershey Bears roommate and first round pick Alexander Alexeyev has been good for Fehervary’s development, pushing him hard in order to see results. The results of that developmental push have been evident as the lanky Slovakian has managed to impress in his rookie North American professional season, often using his tremendous skating to sail past opponents and earn scoring opportunities. He is the complete package as a future NHL defenseman; he plays a physical and rough game, can skate, carry the puck, and his defensive zone coverage is good. The only downsides come in the form of patience, passing, and decision making with the puck. He is not as well known for his passing abilities as he is for his skating and skill level and at times it was evident this past season with turnovers and missed important passes that oftentimes led to icings or offsides. Fehervary will need to tighten up his passing and work on how he moves the puck as well as when he moves it in order to be able to make the right choices in the NHL. - SC

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Protas has a very solid offensive toolkit. His unique size and frame enable him to be an elite puck protector. He can pace the game to his level and allow plays to develop. He is able to shed defenders and maintain control just a half step longer than most which dovetails perfectly with his playmaking and passing. He has excellent vision and can play the half-wall or behind the net equally comfortably. He has a deft touch and can make highlight reel passes due to his soft hands and a great ability to hit teammates in stride. His shot is above average and enables him to always be a dual threat to defend. His willingness to shoot the puck has helped his offensive game blossom. The knock on Protas was always his cumbersome footwork and lack of pace, but he has made some serious strides in that part of his game as well. He still needs to work on his overall defensive commitment and has struggled in the faceoff dot but those have improved with coaching. He is still a long-term project but the potential upside here is much higher than most expected in his draft year. - VG

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Standing out in the NHL will always be hard due to Pilon’s style of play. A hard-working grinder who can skate and who keeps his feet moving at all times, there is nothing particular that stands out about the way that he plays. To get too the next level, he will have to broaden his play, bettering his offensive production and puck possession skills next season. A top penalty killer using speed and determination, Pilon works hard every shift but at the next level it is about putting all of those things together and he will have to have a better, more cohesive and consistent game to earn a bottom six spot on the NHL club. He is a passionate player, and he will also need to keep his temper and frustration in check to avoid spending more time in the box than on the ice. He will be a big-league asset soon enough should he continue to put his overall game together and mature. - SC

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Pinho is the flashy forward with good puckhandling skills that every team has or needs. For a sixth-round selection, he has taken the long route for his development, finally coming into his own this past season, finishing top in prospect points. For his performance with the Hershey Bears, Pinho earned a spot on the Washington Capitals playoff roster and managed to also make his debut suiting up for two playoff games. Throughout the season, he was a clutch player for Hershey, often earning overtime marker and tying goals. He dominates in the offensive zone and often times earns breakaways on turnovers and long passes. That being said, he needs to work on bringing that competitive level to every game and on further developing his defensive play. With the recent call up to the Capitals, Pinho may have earned his chance at next season’s roster as a member of the bottom six. - SC

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

After a decent season with the OHL Ottawa 67’s, Clark swung his talents over to the AHL’s Hershey Bears for his rookie professional season. He quickly realized that the next level would not be as smooth sailing as major junior and he was a scratch for majority of the first half of the season. Following in father Wendel’s footsteps, Clark brings the grit and offensive prowess to a mildly physical Hershey roster, but that is where his talents stop until he finds a way to keep up at the AHL pace. He is a strong skater but his puck possession was simply not there last season and he will have to find a way to get to the net if he wants to even be considered as a top priority call up option. Serving more time in the penalty box than often necessary, Clark will have to prove himself as a skilled player first more than anything in terms of next season and working his way towards a call up. He has the potential and skill to play as a bottom six forward in the NHL, but he still has a lot of learning to go before that will happen. - SC

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

For a player who was passed over two years in a row in the draft, Leason has managed to defeat the odds, becoming a second-round pick for the Capitals. He has the size to play and to stay safe at the next level, proving so during his rookie season with AHL Hershey, however speed and skill is another thing. This is where the Washington offensive prospect structure starts to thin out and with Hershey last season, Leason failed to mark more than five goals, a disappointing drop from the 36 goals he scored in major junior the year before to being a healthy scratch for Hershey towards the season’s end. Leason will have to find another gear and start playing up at a professional level, as right now he is simply not fast enough to cut it and if he cannot find another gear it will be uncertain if he will ever be given a chance with the Washington Capitals as a bottom six. - SC

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

With an expired contract and only nine games played this past season, it is unsure as to where Johansen will be playing next season. It is assumed the Capitals will re-sign him; however he has not had the best of progressions in the organization as his play has gotten worse over the course of his three seasons with the Hershey Bears. As a first-round pick, Johansen needs to perform better, he has offered little in the way of point production and the quantity of turnovers he gives up is just bad. Having missed the bulk of the season with a leg injury, Johansen will need to show that he spent the time off well to come back better than ever to prove to Capitals management that he is deserving of a call up at least. As the time goes by, the Capitals are drafting more and more high-quality defensemen and Johansen’s name is getting further and further down their organizational depth list. It is now or never to prove that his passing, hockey IQ, and composure with the puck are good enough for a bottom four spot in Washington’s lineup. - SC

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

For a Washington Capitals organization which may be missing a goaltender next season with the expiring contract of incumbent starter Braden Holtby, it means that the young prospects in the system are getting their much-awaited shot. Although the current future may be Ilya Samsonov, recent backup and first call up Vitek Vanecek has the talent and hockey IQ to read NHL speed plays and the focus to get him to the next level. With a tight goaltender race, Vanecek will have to show his composure every time he gets a chance to be up with the Capitals. His quick reflexes and athleticism in the net are what set him apart from his counterparts as he is very active and aggressive in his crease, he fights for positioning well, and sees plays with good vision. His rebound control could use a little work and his timing when playing the puck can sometimes be a worrisome issue, however the Capitals look to have a promising goaltender tandem for the future as Vanecek could manage the starting role just as well as Samsonov. - SC

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Despite starting his North American professional career off a little shaky, including a return trip to Sweden to finish the season, Jonsson-Fjallby has redeemed himself this past season, completing the full season in North America, finishing with 23 points. It is clear to see that the winger has the speed and the offensive hockey ability to make an impact at the next level when it comes to getting to the net and putting forth the necessary individual effort. That being said, he lacks instincts as a two-way player and in the defensive end, and there is little else to be said about his giveaways and ill-advised passes in the neutral zone and on breakouts. Jonsson-Fjallby is a difficult prospect to talk about because he has NHL-level skills, but his hockey sense is poor and hard to overlook. With any luck, he will find himself in a Capitals jersey within the next season as a first choice call up to a bottom six position. - SC

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

While some in the hockey world have dismissed Switzerland as a nation worth heavily scouting, the Capitals have always been believers. Look at NHLer Jonas Siegenthaler, their second-round pick in 2015, now an established NHLer. Look at Tobias Geisser, their first selection in 2017, albeit in the 4^th round. And look at Riat, taking in between the two blueliners, who signed an entry level deal with the Capitals in March after five successful seasons in the NLA. A speedy winger with intriguing puck skills, he has been the top scorer in his age cohort ever since being overshadowed by a young Auston Matthews in 2015-16, until finally being overtaken again last year. For an organization that rarely drafts out of Europe, Riat has a chance to convince the Capitals to change their scouting direction once more if he adapts well to the North American game this year. - RW

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A top scorer as a youth, Magnusson took off in his second season in SuperElit, finishing second in the league in scoring among all U18 players, behind only Carolina draft pick Zion Nybeck. Magnusson has a fine collection of offensive tools and can contribute as both a finisher as well as a playmaker. He has good instincts for the game and reads the play well, helping him to maximize his physical tools. On the other hand, he is very physically underdeveloped, and his skating is average at best. He is actually fairly explosive on his feet, but his strides are short, causing him to burn out too much energy too quickly. He earned a four game call up to Malmo’s senior side last year and is expected to have a chance to compete for a regular SHL role this season. Before even thinking of a move to North America, he will have to prove that his offense-first game can succeed against men at home in Sweden. – RW

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

At 5-9” Nardella is certainly undersized as defenseman go in professional hockey, however, do not be fooled as this crafty and highly offensive defenseman is a threat no matter where he is on the ice. He finished seventh on the Bears in points and tops for defenseman this past season, his rookie professional campaign. Having been trusted for a role on the Bears’ top powerplay unit, Nardella clearly shows his maturity and that he is focused enough to manage high pressure situations and smart enough to make the right plays. He also has the skill as a top-level skater and puckhandler to get to the net for scoring opportunities which can make him an asset in today’s game. The major downside is size and if the Capitals can get past that, rest assured that Nardella has the potential to be a top four pairing defenseman. The delay in cracking the Washington lineup simply comes from defensive depth and prospect hierarchy politics, because as a player Nardella offers nothing but good things to a team. - SC

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

A late arrival to the OHL made Has a bit of a mystery and a difficult player to evaluate. Some may wonder about why he only played a single game for the North Bay Battalion before being moved to Guelph. The answer is because the OHL has a rule that imports cannot be traded until they play at least one game for the drafting team. In Guelph, Has was eased into a top four role for the Storm, playing as a stay at home defender with partner Daniil Chayka (a top 2021 eligible player). At 6-4”, he certainly has good length and exhibits good gap control when containing the transition game of the opposition. As an offensive player, we saw Has struggle at times with his decision making and the pace of play in the OHL. It remains to be seen just how much potential he has as an NHL prospect moving forward. Next year he will return to Guelph and will likely resume his partnership with Chayka. As he becomes more comfortable, we should get a better idea of the type of player he is and can become. – BO

Garin Bjorklund, G (179^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Playing as art of a platoon with Ottawa draft pick Mads Sogaard, Bjorklund didn’t have the kind of year that scouts hoped of him, as consistency issues plagued him in his intermittent starts. Part of that may have come from not playing consistently as part of a routine. He still has the size (6-2”) and quickness to be an NHL netminder and the potential to turn it around given more regular time between the pipes. To his credit, he tracks the play well and seems to have a solid grasp of the technical nuances of the position. A former first round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, even in his struggles, he showed flashes of pro caliber ability, but was done in too often by juicy rebounds, and seeming to lose his composure after surrendering a bad goal. Reports of his commitment to the game are promising, and, even though he was outperformed last year on the whole by the Danish second round pick, more often than not, there was little to separate the two performance-wise, and there may be a lot of room for growth in this profile. – BO

Mitchell Gibson, G (124^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

If we want to search for rays of hope with Bjorklund (#17), we need look no further than Gibson, who struggled badly in his first post draft season making the adjustment from the NAHL to the USHL. Moving on to Harvard, his performance improved by several grades. Given the chance to play regularly, he took the bulk of a time-share from senior Cameron Gornet and kept the Crimson in pretty much every game, something he could not say for his time with Central Illinois. Gibson is on the smaller side for a modern netminder but moves well and fights for every puck. He did a good job at limiting second chances and has a knack for puck play as well. Where concerns remain are in his ability to track the play through traffic, where his height works against him, as well as his propensity to lose the finer details of his technique in the crease. A second season like the last one with Harvard and he will rise up this list. - RW

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Re-read everything written above about Garrett Pilon and just make him a winger instead of a center, and then lower the ceiling a fair bit. Considering how low we stated the ceiling was for Pilon, we are basically stating that Malenstyn projects as a replacement level player. His hands have promise, and he plays a hard and tough style of game, but it is hard to see him as more than an injury replacement callup. The simple fact is that his offensive contributions are meagre. Even in the WHL, he was a secondary scorer. Through two seasons in the AHL, he hasn’t exceeded 16 points, although, to be fair, he could have cracked 20 if last season wasn’t ended early due to the pandemic. He could have been a regular in the 1980s, but it is hard for players of his ilk to establish themselves in the NHL anymore, and we don’t see why Malenstyn will break that mold. - RW

Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)

One of the few of the next generation of the Sutter family to still retain NHL hopes, Riley Sutter’s projection was stunted over the previous two injury-plagued seasons. He has always carried the grit and smarts of his father’s generation, but the knock on him, from the time of his draft year, has been his heavy feet. Now, with only 63 combined games played in the last two years, split between the WHL and AHL, his chances have taken a hit with the missed development time. We can give him a mulligan for his poor numbers in his abbreviated rookie pro season, as he has solid puck skills and reads the opposition well, but he can scarcely afford a repeat of the last two seasons. A return to health and improved performance will help Sutter re-ascend this list. Continued injuries can end his NHL hopes. He has the size and strength to play a bottom six role in the future, but he has a ways to go to achieve that goal. - RW

NCAA East Region 2019-20 Season Preview: Hockey East and ECAC

Jashvina Shah — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 13:58:42 +0000

NCAA East Region Preview

While Hockey East and the ECAC are different leagues with different tendencies, both conferences see a gap between the top-tier teams and the bottom ones. The factors that separates the elite from the not-so elite are either excellent coaching or top-end talent. Primarily, teams need excellent coaching. Because you need a lot of top-end talent if you’re going to win on talent. As Herb Brooks said, “you don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone!”

There shouldn’t be too many surprises in the east this year, and teams that succeeded last year will mostly repeat this year.

MANCHESTER, NH - MARCH 29: Clarkson University Golden Knights forward Haralds Egle (18) breaks in on Notre Dame Fighting Irish goaltender Cale Morris (32) during a Northeast Regional semi-final between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Clarkson Golden Knights on March 29, 2019, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

ECAC

Brown: The Bears have hovered in the ECAC basement of a while now. They finished eighth in the regular season but got hot in the playoffs, beating Princeton and then knocking off top-seeded Quinnipiac in the quarterfinals. Brown fell to Cornell in the ECAC semifinals 6-0, but that was a case of them being bested by the better team. A trip to the ECAC tournament marked it a wildly successful season for Brown. The roster is more or less the same, ensuring a similar regular-season finish.

Clarkson: The Golden Knights were one of the strongest teams in the ECAC thanks to balanced offense and defense. It helped Clarkson take the short trip to Lake Placid, where it won the ECAC championship in overtime. The Golden Knights lost two key pieces in Nico Sturm, who potted 45 points, and Jake Kielly, who posted a .929 save percentage. Clarkson should be able to replace Sturm’s scoring output, especially with 40-point scorer Haralds Egle returning. While goaltending will be a question mark, the Golden Knights will still be one of the strongest teams in the league.

Drafted players: Nick Campoli (VGK), Dustyn McFaul (BOS), Kris Oldham (TBL), Anthony Romano (ARI)

Colgate: The Raiders slipped last season, their win total decreasing from 17 to 10. They finished 10th in the league and were swept by Union in the first round of the playoffs. The good news is, Colgate returns nearly the entire roster, and the experience should benefit them. The bad news is, the Raiders don’t have much to build on.

Cornell: The Big Red dropped the ECAC championship game in overtime after the referees failed to blow the whistle when the net dropped on goaltender Matthew Galajda. He was injured, so Austin McGrath took over for the rest of the game and throughout the postseason. McGrath helped Cornell to a regional win over Northeastern. Aside from losing a couple seniors, the Big Red will return their leading scorer, Morgan Barron, along with Galadja, making them one of the league favorites.

Drafted players: Matt Cairns (EDM), Matthew Stienburg (COL), Alex Green (TBL), Morgan Barron (NYR), Jack Malone (VAN), Misha Song (NYI)

Dartmouth: After finishing T-5th last year, the Big Green knocked off 12th-place St. Lawrence in the first round of the playoffs. With much of their roster returning, the Big Green should finish in roughly the same place, especially if Adrian Clark can build off his .910 save percentage from at last season.

Harvard: Adam Fox’s departure is unfortunate for the Crimson, since he not only led the team with 48 points but was also one of the best defensemen in the country. Harvard still has its offensive leaders, including Reilly Walsh and Casey Dornbach. Goaltender Michael Lackey also graduated, but he missed some of last season with an injury, opening up the net for Cameron Gornet. Gornet filled in well, and can put the Crimson in a prime spot for another top-four ECAC finish.

Drafted players: Jack Drury (CAR), Jack Badini (ANA), John Farinacci (ARI), Reilly Walsh (NJD), Nick Abruzzese (TOR), Mitchell Gibson (WSH), Jack Rathbone (VAN), Henry Thrun (ANA), Austin Wong (WPG)

Princeton: Just one season after winning the ECAC tournament, the Tigers struggled to repeat their success. Princeton’s top line of Ryan Kuffner, Max Veronneau and Alex Riche -- which combined for 107 points last season -- couldn’t bring the team past its lackluster goaltending hurdle. The trio, along with top defenseman Josh Teves, graduated, making the Tigers much weaker on both ends of the ice. Princeton’s success, or lack thereof, lies solely on goaltending. But most likely the Tigers will finish in the bottom half of the league.

Drafted players: Liam Gorman (PIT)

Quinnipiac: The Bobcats usually finish in the top half of the league and usually make the ECAC tournament. They finished first last year but were upset in the playoffs by Brown. Chase Priskie, another one of the top defensemen in the league, is gone. So is Andrew Shortridge and his .940 save percentage. The Bobcats are well-coached, though, and Odeen Tufto, who put up 42 points, will be back.

Drafted players: Keith Petruzzelli (DET), Karlis Cukste (SJS), Skylar Brind’Amour (EDM), Peter DiLiberatore (VGK)

RPI: The Engineers finished in 11th, just ahead of St. Lawrence and two points behind Princeton. RPI has struggled over the last few seasons, and most likely will this year as well. The team’s top five scorers are returning, although they didn’t score much to begin with. The goaltenders who played the most, Owen Savory and Linden Marshall, are also returning.

Drafted players: Todd Burgess (OTT), Simon Kjellberg (NYR), Will Reilly (PIT)

St. Lawrence: The Saints have struggled since Greg Carvel left for UMass. After earning just six overall wins and three conference wins, the school parted ways with Mark Morris and hired Brent Brekke. With a new coach, lack of elite talent and just a program-wide mess (the rink renovations are not finished, so the Saints are shifting their first few home games to a different rink.) Unless Brekke has magic powers, it seems likely the Saints will stay in the basement for the third-straight year.

Union: Union’s top two scorers graduated and the third, Liam Morgan, left after his sophomore season. Just one of the team’s top seven scorers is returning. On the other hand, Darion Hanson did have a .919 save percentage last season and, if he can replicate that, should keep Union in the middle third of the league.

Drafted players: Parker Foo (CHI), Jack Adams (DET)

Yale: Yale’s biggest loss was Joe Snively, who had 36 points last season, double that of the team’s second-place scorer. Corbin Kaczperski is the team’s sole returning goaltender. Like Quinnipiac, the Bulldogs are well coached and don’t often finish in the bottom third.

Drafted players: Curtis Hall (BOS), Jack St. Ivany (PHI), Luke Stevens (CAR), Phil Kemp (EDM)

Five Undrafted Free Agents to Watch from the ECAC

Haralds Egle, Clarkson
Odeen Tufto, Quinnipiac
Matthew Galajda, Cornell
Casey Dornbach, Harvard
Devin Brosseau, Clarkson

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 22: Massachusetts Minutemen forward Mitchell Chaffee (21) tries to put the puck past Boston College Eagles goaltender Joseph Woll (31). During the University of Massachusetts Minutemen game against the Boston College Eagles on March 22, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire)

Hockey East:

Boston College: Despite winning just 10 conference games and finishing seventh in Hockey East, the Eagles surged late last season for a trip to the Hockey East tournament. Now the Eagles have that momentum plus an excellent incoming class that includes Spencer Knight, who’s expected to become a top goaltender. Alex Newhook and Matt Boldy will also be joining the team. It’s hard to predict how any freshman goaltender will fare, but Knight has the potential to boost BC back to the top.

Drafted players: Matt Boldy (MIN), Spencer Knight (FLA), Alex Newhook (COL), Drew Helleson (COL), Logan Hutsko (FLA), Jack McBain (MIN), Michael Karow (ARI), Graham McPhee (EDM), David Cotton (CAR), Aapeli Rasanen (EDM), Marshall Warren (MIN), Ben Finkelstein (FLA)

Boston University: Despite struggling last year the Terriers still managed to finish 5th in the league, but they will probably drop from that place. BU has struggled since David Quinn left for the NHL, and now they’ll be facing several additional critical departures including goaltender Jake Oettinger and the team’s leading scorers, Joel Farabee and Dante Fabbro. BU’s success, or lack thereof, will depend mostly on coaching, and then on contributions from the incoming freshman class and someone shining in net.

Drafted players: Trevor Zegras (ANA), Robert Mastrosimone (DET), Alex Vlasic (CHI), Cam Crotty (ARI), David Farrance (NSH), Domenick Fensore (CAR), Kasper Kotkansalo (DET), Jake Wise (CHI), Case McCarthy (NJD), Ethan Phillips (DET), Patrick Harper (NSH), Logan Cockerill (NYI)

Connecticut: Since joining Hockey East, the Huskies have fluctuated in the standings, taking advantage of years when the league has been weak. Though they finished ninth last year, they will benefit from having two of their top three scorers returning. Goaltender Tomas Vomacka, who took over the net with a .922 save percentage, will also be back.

Drafted players: Vladislav Firstov (MIN), Ruslan Iskhakov (NYI), Carter Berger (FLA), Jachym Kondelik (NSH), Kale Howarth (CLB), Tomas Vomacka (NSH)

Maine: Maine, far from its former glory, was able to finish sixth in the league. It is returning Mitchell Fossier, the leading scorer from last year with 36 points. But the Black Bears had a slew of early departures - including sophomore defensemen Alexis Binner and Brady Keeper. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who posted a respectable .919 save percentage, will be back, though.

Drafted players: JD Greenway (TOR), Jeremy Swayman (BOS), Patrick Shea (FLA), Matthew Thiessen (VAN)

UMass-Lowell: The River Hawks have been one of Hockey East’s most consistent teams in the last decade or so, and they finished fourth last year. UMass-Lowell’s offense lost its top two scorers, but the back end has usually been the team’s strength. Goaltender Tyler Wall, who is returning, carries a .921 save percentage into the season.

Drafted players: Seth Barton (DET), Logan Neaton (WPG), Tyler Wall (NYR), Andre Lee (LAK)

Massachusetts: After its most successful season in program history and a national championship appearance, the Minutemen were extremely lucky to only lose Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro early. Those are big names, but usually teams with surprising successful runs lose more players in the offseason. Yet UMass retained Mitchell Chaffee and John Leonard, who combined for 82 points. They also still have Marc Del Gaizo, who was the leading freshman defenseman in scoring with 29 points. That said, goaltender Filip Lindberg is the player to watch. His play was key in edging out Denver in the national semifinal and he limited Minnesota-Duluth to three goals, which is an accomplishment. If he repeats his .934 save percentage performance, the Minutemen should take a top spot in Hockey East.

Drafted players: Zac Jones (NYR), Marc Del Gaizo (NSH), John Leonard (SJS), Filip Lindberg (MIN)

Merrimack: With 16 freshman, Merrimack will have the largest rookie class in the country. The Warriors won just seven games last year, but it was Scott Borek’s first season in charge and it typically takes coaches around three-four years to settle in, start their own systems and recruit their own players.. The incoming class signals a roster changeover, so this will be one of those “rebuilding” years.

Drafted players: Patrick Holway (DET)

New Hampshire: It’s Mike Souza’s second year as head coach of the Wildcats, who are still transitioning to life without Dick Umile. They didn’t lose much and have two of their leading scorers as well as goaltender Mike Robinson, who posted a .913 save percentage, returning. While it isn’t fair to say the Wildcats are rebuilding, they’re stuck in stasis.

Drafted players: Max Gildon (FLA), Mike Robinson (SJS), Angus Crookshank (OTT), Benton Mass (WSH), Ty Tailor (TBL)

Northeastern: The Huskies have surged at times over the past five seasons. Last year they took advantage of BU and BC’s struggles, finishing second in the conference with 15 wins. But part of Northeastern’s success came from good defense and goaltending, which will suffer with the early departures by Jeremy Davies and goaltender Cayden Primeau. Since Primeau was a big part of Northeastern’s rise, it’s tough to see the Huskies repeating last year’s success.

Drafted players: Jayden Struble (MTL), Matt Filipe (CAR), Jordan Harris (MTL), Tyler Madden (VAN), Ryan Shea (CHI), Mike Kesselring (EDM), Riley Hughes (NYR), Aidan McDonough (VAN)

Providence: Following its second Frozen Four appearance in four years, the Friars also got hit with key offseason departures. Kasper Bjorkqvist, Jacob Bryson, Brandon Duhaime and Josh Wilkins all left early. Additionally, Hayden Hawkey, who posted a .920 save percentage, graduated. But Providence is always a well-coached, tough defensive team to play against, and the Friars will finish at the top of the league again.

Drafted players: Ben Mirageas (NYI), Max Crozier (TBL), Tyce Thompson (NJD), Michael Callahan (ARI), Jack Dugan (VGK), Patrick Moynihan (NJD), Jake Kucharski (CAR)

Vermont: The Catamounts finished 10th last year and probably won’t rise, unless goaltender Stefanos Lekkas can put up more than his .930 save percentage from last season, but that’s a lot to ask of a goaltender. Vermont saw a couple departures with Jake Massie and Liam Coughlin, but most of its players are returning.

Drafted players: Bryce Misley (MIN)

Five Undrafted Free Agents to Watch from Hockey East

Mitchell Chaffee, Massachusetts
Stephanos Lekkas, Vermont
Spenser Young, Providence
Mitchell Fossier, Maine
Patrick Curry, Boston University

USHL Fall Classic Review and Season Preview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 12:19:06 +0000

Last weekend, with my wife’s blessing, I packed a small suitcase and drove close to eight hours from our home outside of Chicago to Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, to watch some hockey in the arena generally used by the Pittsburgh Penguins as a practice facility.

Of course, I didn’t make the 15 hour-plus round-trip to watch Sidney Crosby do a bag skate. Instead, I made the journey to watch the opening of the 2018-19 USHL season. The league, which stretches from Youngstown, Ohio in the East to Kearney, Nebraska in the west, had all gathered in the Pittsburgh suburb to play a series of games, such that each club in the circuit would play two regular season contests between Thursday and Sunday.

I only arrived on Friday evening, but was able to watch seven and a half games, seeing at least one full game from 12 of the 17 teams in the league. 12 of 18 if you consider the USNTDP U17 and USNTDP U18 squads as different teams, which the league standings do not. Besides, the U17s weren’t there.

When I do the math and note that I drove around two hours per game, the investment was pretty good. Factor in the ability to purchase two hard drinks after the games for a grand total of $8 (US), and let’s just say I’d do it again.

The only downsides to the weekend were an arena announcer who struggled, mightily in some cases, to pronounce player names, and sightlines that were not ideal, with netting that extends to the ceiling throughout the side of the ice on which there were stands.

While these were regular season games, as is the case with any league, a team’s first few games of any campaign are bound to be on the sloppy side. Players are still getting accustomed to their line mates. Not everyone can ramp out their focus and intensity level at the same pace. Also, while the Youngstown Phantoms were pretty close to home, around 50 minutes’ drive west of Cranberry Township up the I-76, none of the teams were playing home games.

In an event like this, where all games are regular season games, and there is no tournament feel, there are no winners and losers, although Team USA, Muskegon, Des Moines and Tri-City each won both of their games, while Youngstown, Madison, and Omaha returned home without any points in the standings.

Instead, in a scout-heavy affair, a large number of undrafted players, mostly those entering their first year of eligibility but also a few second and third timers, put out notice that they all deserve to be watched very closely by NHL scouts and people like me over the next six months or so. For a few lesser prospects, the event helped more than a few receive offers for NCAA scholarships.

For the sake of transparency, I will start the season preview portion of this article with a few words about the teams that I have not yet watched more than half a game of hockey.

The defending champion Fargo Force split the weekend, with a win and a loss. Four of their top five scorers from last season have moved on to college, but there are some players of note who have begun to audition for the 2019 draft. Michael Mancinelli, was a smaller, skilled forward who impressed me in viewings last year. A few others who have gained some notice include Swiss-American defender Cedric Fiedler, and forwards Kyle Bettens, Aaron Huglen, and Josh Nodler. The latter spent some time last year with the U17 team, but will spend this year with the Force. He also drew the most positive feedback when I discussed the team with others who were able to see them.

The Des Moines Buccaneers scored 15 goals in their 2 games, including 10 in a game that I saw a portion of against Chicago. Both of the team’s goalies have been drafted by NHL clubs and Roman Durny (Anaheim) was impressive, although Jake Kucharski (Carolina) was not. There are also a pair of affiliated players on the blueline with Michael Kesselring (Edmonton) and Arvid Henrikson (Montreal) both getting their first tastes of the league. Both are physically imposing players who move well for their size. Their most impressive player was probably 18 year old TJ Walsh, who will always be small, but is moving better than he did in previous viewings. Draft eligible to watch include blueliner Kirby Proctor, who showed good vision, and forwards Brady Meyer and Kaden Bohlsen. All three have plus size.

The Madison Capitals lack drafted players, first time draft eligible of note, and points in the standings. When I asked around, the only player who was even mentioned was defender Christian Berger, whose three older bothers all play, or have played, at the NCAA level.

The Central Illinois Flying Aces have a drafted goaltender in Mitchell Gibson (Washington) who had a rough first game at this level. After a few years as an also-ran, they look like a team worth watching this year. Winger Trevor Janicke played with the USNTDP last year, but as a late 2000 birthdate, he has aged out of the program without yet being eligible for the draft. Lynden Breen is another forward of note with the Aces. Brehdan Engum (how is this guy not playing in the WHL?) is in his second year of draft eligibility, but turned some heads after spending most of his draft season playing Minnesota high school hockey.

The Chicago Steel always draft well and while defender Casey Staum was once drafted by Montreal, the fact that he has yet to start a collegiate career means that his draft rights have expired. The team has a few sons-of and brothers-of on the roster, including draft-eligible forward Jake Schmaltz, brother of Nick and Jordan, and Matthew Barnaby, son of…also Matthew Barnaby. They also have a really interesting 2021 draft eligible in Owen Power, a preternaturally large defenseman who has game. But when scouts go to see the Steel this year, they will be going to watch Robert Mastrosimone, who is small, but plays with some snarl and thinks the game a step or two ahead of most of his peers. He may be the top prospect in the league who is not in the USNTDP.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders seem to have emerged from a few rough years in the wilderness, and their current roster is led by Winnipeg draft pick Nathan Smith. You may have noted that we were not very high on Smith in our draft previews and reviews last year. He has promising puck skills, but I am still not convinced that his feet work well enough, which may not be surprising considering he is still somewhat new to ice hockey, having grown up as a roller hockey player. He is also penalty prone. Of note for the 2019 draft, defender William Francis needs to work on his pivots, but has a big point shot. I am more interested in winger Grant Silianoff, who has patience with the puck and is very comfortable playing in the dirty areas despite his small frame. He could be a big point producer for the Rough Riders.

Moving on to the Lincoln Stars, we have a team with more than a little bit of NHL representation with Chicago picks Josiah Slavin and Wouter Peeters, as well as Carolina pick Ville Rasanen patrolling the blueline. Slavin is a hard working winger who has quick hands but still has to answer questions about his skill level. Peeters has a big frame in the crease, covers his posts well, but made a few questionable decisions. More regular time in net will surely help define his future prospects. Rasanen is tall and thin and never produced much in the Finnish junior ranks. He is still a bit of a wild card. The team also has some draft eligible players of note in defenders Declan Carlile and Jordan Power and forwards Josh Lopina and Shane Pinto. Lopina showed me a promising energy game, replete with strength and size and a shot with potential. Power impressed me most from this roster. He is a very good skater, enabling him to prowl with confidence. He also has a decent defensive game, standing up opponents who try to enter his zone on his side of the ice. This is a plyer I want to see more of.

Anaheim pick Jackson Perbix is the most skilled player on the Green Bay Gamblers roster. A very good skater who shows 200-foot commitment and has some skill, he is worth a follow. Looking to the future, there are a pair of late 2000s on the blueline in Christopher Giroday and Ethan Frisch. Both played with an offensive bent before joining the USHL, while the latter showed a gritty side that will serve him well as he attempts to move up the ranks. There is another smaller, skilled forward to note in Nicholas Zabaneh, himself a USHL rookie. He is the type of player who adds enough away from the puck, that he is still worth rostering even on his off days. For a sleeper, I will keep an eye on netminder Evan Fear, a 1999 to be sure, but he was among the top netminders in the NAHL last year and looked very sharp in the game I saw of him.

The Dubuque Fighting Saints have an older, more experienced roster. There are a few players who have a couple of years of NCAA experience under their respective belts already but are taking a year to refresh, including Toronto draft pick JD Greenway. Jordan’s younger brother has great size and strength, can skate and has really good puck skills for a blueliner. His decision making is questionable. Also patrolling the Dubuque blueline is Rangers pick Simon Kjellberg. For as raw as Greenway is, Kjellberg makes him look refined. The American-born Swede is big and skates reasonable well, but lacks puck skills and can be ineffective in his own zone. As his North American career has only just begun, I am willing to withhold judgement for the moment. Netminder Matthew Thiessen (Vancouver) is also moving his development forward after being drafted last year out of the MJHL. He looked much better in his second game than in his first. He keeps his glove up, has decent athleticism and absolutely loves playing the puck up the ice. There is one first year eligible of note in winger Matias Maccelli. Although very small, he has nice hands, can create plays for his teammates, and has good edges. In short, a fun player to watch. One last player to follow this year on the Fighting Saints is second year eligible blueliner Jacob Semik. A smooth skater and puck mover, he plays a fearless yet quiet game, is a trusted penalty killer and can play in all situations. What he lacks in flash, he makes up for in smarts. I suspect that over the length of the season, this here is the team to beat.

The Sioux Falls Stampede have a few interesting draft eligible players to pay attention to this year. Defenseman Ryan Johnson is trying to follow in the footsteps of fellow Southern California product Jack St. Ivany, who went from the USHL to the NHL draft. Big, versatile forward Andre Lee started hot after being overlooked in his first draft eligible season as a Swedish junior. Rangy blueliner Anthony Follmer is a St. Louis area product who impressed with his reads and decision making. Winger Anthony Romano is one to watch closely as he has a great deal of skill, offensive instincts and skating as well as a decent amount of physicality. That said, the most impressive player on the Stampede for my money was Finnish import Jami Krannila. The Sioux Falls offense runs through him as his puck skills are high end. He lacks size and needs to get stronger but his game will take him places.

The Waterloo Black Hawks are always a contending team in the USHL. Netminder Jared Moe was drafted by Winnipeg last year and had an up and down weekend, showing good movements at his best, and a lack of focus at his worst. Czech winger Matej Blumel was better in international play than league play last year, and was thus passed over in the draft. If he brings more of the offense to the USHL, he could get back on the radar this time. Among first time eligibles, big Texan winger Ryan Drkulec is an effective 200-ft player. Center Austen Swankler has enough speed to be dangerous if the rest of his game catches up. Their most intriguing prospect looks like Russian forward Vladislav Firstov, who has a nice blend of offensive tools and needs only to gain strength to be a real impact player.

The Omaha Lancers had a rough weekend and they similarly lack any drafted prospects or high end 2001 borns. A few second or third year eligible will have to suffice. Winger Tyler Carpenter may be ready to take a step forward. He plays a two-way game, with patience and poise on the puck. Defender Travis Mitchell is big and mean and uses his stick well to break up opposing rushes. Finally, netminder Vinnie Purpura plays a composed goal. He skates well for a goalie and is not afraid to come way out to play a puck. He single-handedly kept his team in one of their games and is expected to play the bulk of the games this year for the Lancers before going to Boston University.

The Sioux City Musketeers have a pipeline for talented Finnish forwards. Two years ago, it was Eeli Tolvanen drawing the scouts. Last season, the man was Sampo Ranto. This year, his name is Marcus Kallionkieli. An opportunistic winger with size and strength, he has a good first few steps and pair of plus shots to his name. His name is a mouthful, but at some point soon we will need to learn to pronounce it. Undersized winger Bobby Brink received some attention last year from the national program thanks to his plus skating and work rate, but needs to show better puck control skills. Tommy Pasanen is a gigantic defender from Germany. He plays with a huge stick and is a beast in the corners but his play with the puck can be rough. His mobility is very impressive for his size and he can pass well enough despite hard hands. Finally, Flames pick Martin Pospisil has a very good shot if he can stay on the right side of the rulebook. It is a fine line between being heavy on the forecheck and heavy in the penalty box.

The Muskegon Lunberjacks, recently the proving grounds for one Andrei Svechnikov, have another 16 year Russian wunderkind to enjoy this year in Daniil Gushchin. He is incredibly talented, but who knows where he will be playing in his draft year. Although he did not play on the weekend, netminder Keegan Karki is one more year removed from the troubles that saw him leave the USNTDP and seemingly prevented him from being drafted last year. If he keeps his nose clean, he has a number of fans among USHL scouts. Hunter Skinner is a big-bodied stay-at-home blueliner who has never scored at any level. If he can show a modicum of ability to contribute to the offensive game, he might have a chance. As far as the 2019 draft goes, Gushchin’s countrymate Egor Afanasyev is the player to watch. He played a smaller role last year, but showcased some very impressive puck skills on the weekend, scoring four times, including one beauty off a spinorama.

After close to two seasons at Penn State, Buffalo draft pick Brett Murray needed a reset and returned to the USHL with the Youngtown Phantoms. He is a very big boy, with a decent first few steps, but subpar top speed. He should be an impact player at this level and once he returns to the collegiate game, but needs better wheels to have professional impact. Winger Jack Malone plays a solid two-way game, but has yet to show the dynamic skills that would cause an NHL team to sit up and take notice. The player I expect to see take a step forward is right winger Trevor Kuntar. He is skilled with the puck, able to create room for himself to shoot and has a quick release on a hard snap shot.

USNTDP Fall Classic, photo by Hickling Images.

Finally, we come to the USNTDP. I will not mention every 2019 eligible player on the roster, but suffice it to say that the majority of them will be in scouting crosshairs all season. Everyone knows of Jack Hughes. He has eyes in the back of his head and sticking out from his ears as well. He is a supremely talented playmaker and can dominate shifts on his own. He doesn’t shy away from the physical stuff either. He is the odds-on favorite to be selected first overall next June. I will leave the comparisons with other recent top picks for later in the season. Another first round talent on this squad is Matthew Boldy. A big winger with a big, big shot, he is in the mold of recent USNTDP graduates Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom. He can be more of factor in getting the puck back, but he is deadly in the offensive zone. Competing with Hughes in the fun quotient is tiny winger Cole Caufield. Think Alex DeBrincat with this one. He has amazing offensive instincts, speed and acceleration. Someone will overlook his size deficiencies and take him in the first round. Blueliner Cam York played with the U18s last year and the maturity in his puck moving game is apparent. His puck skills are also high end for a blueliner. Alex Vlasic has ideal size at 6-6”, and a good boomer from the point to boot. His skating is fine at his size as well. He needs to improve his overall decision making, but the tools are there. Spencer Knight is the early favorite to be the first netminder selected next summer. He is composed, does not overcommit and responds impressively to broken plays. He is comfortable playing the puck and keeps second chances to a minimum. Marshall Warren really opened my eyes before being removed from competition with a suspected concussion. He has excellent puck control, plays with great poise, and is superb at defending his line from entry attempts. The last player from this veritable All Star squad I want to call out is tiny blueliner Domenick Fensore. Despite looking up to Cole Caufield, he is exceptionally dynamic from the back end. He is exciting with the puck, waiting out the Omaha defense in the second game to score the winner with 10 seconds remaining. He can even play a physical game, raising his arms into a hit to blow the opponent up. Players his size – especially defenders – are few and far between. Scouts will be asking themselves all year if the size of his skillset is big enough to overlook the size of his skates.

2018 NHL Draft Review: Metropolitan Division

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:09:35 +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 Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes
1 (2) Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL) - ranked 2nd
2 (42) Jack Drury, C, Waterloo (USHL) - ranked 66th
4 (96) Luke Henman, C, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) - ranked 156th
4 (104) Lenni Killinen, RW, Blues U20 (Jr. A SM-Liiga) - ranked 137th
6 (166) Jesper Sellgren, D, Modo (Allsvenskan) - ranked 207th
7 (197) Jacob Kucharski, G, Des Moines (USHL) - not ranked

For starters, a heartfelt congratulations are in order to the Carolina Hurricanes, their employees and their fans, as they did not overthink the #2 selection in the draft and walked away with the best forward money couldn’t buy in Andrei Svechnikov. In his first year in North America, he scored 1.2 points per game for Muskegon of the USHL in his age 16-17 season. After that, he moved up to the OHL and put up over 1.6 points per game for the Barrie Colts, despite missing time to the WJC and assorted injuries and suspensions. I am not saying we can expect two points per game as a rookie next season for the Hurricanes, but I am saying that he will be a rookie next season for the Hurricanes, and 20 goals is my minimal projection. He can play at both ends, but I expect him to be somewhat sheltered as a rookie. He is going to be very good for a long time. Moving on to the rest of the draft class.

After Svechnikov, the Hurricanes selected three more forwards, one blueliner and a goalie. Considering that the strength of the organization is on the blueline and most of their defenders are still rather young, that was a good strategy to take. Unfortunately, while I can say good things about the rest of the players that were drafted by Carolina, I cannot say that they selected the best player on the board at any other slot. Jack Drury is a good player with deep NHL bloodlines. He does a lot of things well. The points he put up for Waterloo were spectacular. On the other hand, way too many of those points were second assists and/or power play points. He is generally not the engine that makes the offense run. Just looking at the USHL, I would have taken either Blake McLaughlin or Sampo Ranta at that spot.

The Hurricanes did not have a third round pick, but selected twice in the fourth. The first pick there was used on Luke Henman, an athletic center from Blainville-Boisbriand in the QMJHL. He is an undersized playmaker, who performed well enough as a rookie in the Q this year and then upped his stock with a very good showing at multiple stations at the Draft Combine. Staying just with forwards from the Q, I would have preferred Dmitri Zavgorodny or Anderson MacDonald. But for those last two picks, it seems like the Hurricanes, with a management team that has not yet spent much time together, heavily weighted combine performance. With their second fourth rounder, the Canes finally took a non-combine player, grabbing Lenni Killinen from their usual stomping grounds in Finland. An explosive skater with promising offensive tools, Killinen put up respectable point totals in the Finnish junior ranks, but we would have preferred one of Ville Petman, Arttu Nevasaari, or Kristian Tanus, among young Finnish forwards.

Jesper Sellgren makes for a nice story as their sixth round pick. In his third year of eligibility, he was named to the Swedish team for the WJC. He is a very good skater and exhibits very good hockey sense, but his ceiling is limited. A reasonable pick in the sixth round, no doubt, but among Swedish netminders, fellow ’98 birthdate Henrik Malmstrom, would have been our pick there. Finally, in the seventh round, the Hurricanes added another netminder to their stable. Jake Kucharski has a lot of tools and can look very good at times, such as his performance in the USHL Top Prospects Game. But he could not keep the job in Des Moines, which brought in Roman Durny from Slovakia after the WJC. Kucharski scarcely played from there on out. This was a down year for netminder in the USHL, but I would have been inclined to gamble on one of Keegan Karki or Vincent Purpura instead. Your mileage may vary. In total, I cannot truly fault the Hurricanes for their draft picks. I don’t love it, but they did under circumstances (new management group) that do not often allow for exemplary draft planning.

OFP - 53

Columbus Blue Jackets
1 (18) Liam Foudy, C, London (OHL) - ranked 25th
2 (49) Kirill Marchenko, LW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL) - ranked 34th
3 (80) Marcus Kallberg, RW/LW, Leksands IF J20 (SuperElit) - unranked
6 (159) Tim Berni, D, GC Kusnacht Lions (NLB) - unranked
6 (173) Veini Vehvilainen, G, Karpat (Liiga) - unranked
7 (204) Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW, Edmonton (OHL) - ranked Honorable Mention

As a testament to the Blue Jackets history of going away from the so-called “consensus”, the example always brought up is when they selected Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall in 2016 instead of Jesse Puljujarvi, who was ranked third by literally everyone else. It is still early, but that pick looks pretty good so far for GM Jarmo Kekalainen. That, and the relative success of other recent unheralded prospect acquisitions by Columbus such as Markus Nutivaara (7^th round, 2015) or Markus Hannikainen (UDFA, 2015), suggest that we reserve judgement after the Jackets only selected two players we had ranked in our top 217, and only one more who made our top 300. The third round pick, Marcus Karlberg, was the biggest head scratcher of the lot. He put up great numbers in the SuperElit, but he is tiny, and outside of his hockey IQ, lacks tools that project to above average.

Their first sixth rounder, Tim Berni, is an accomplished young defender from Switzerland, who did not look completely overwhelmed at the last WJC, but similarly did not show much to suggest a surefire NHL upside is within. There is some promise there, but I would want to see him do something at the top flight in Switzerland. All of his success thus far has come in the junior ranks, or in the second tier. The other sixth rounder, a rare Finnish pick by Kekalainen, is someone I can get on board with. To be completely honest, we have had Vehvilainen ranked in previous drafts, but left him out this year, his fourth of draft eligibility. Mostly, we figured if his amazing run at the WJC in 2017 was not enough to get him noticed, what else could he do. He is borderline undersized by modern netminding standards, but he dominated in the top men’s league in Finland and then led Karpat to the Liiga championship while still mourning the death of his father. He was also named the top goaltender in Liiga. Not every goalie with that hardware makes it in the NHL, but some (Tim Thomas, Kari Lehtonen, Antti Raanta, Miikka Kiprusoff, etc.) do. Trey Fix-Wolansky, the Columbus draftee we listed as an honorable mention selection, does not look like a good player, as he is short and stocky, and he is not the greatest skater, but he is very strong on the puck and has finished first or second in scoring for the woeful Edmonton Oil Kings in each of the last two seasons. So those are the picks that are off our boards. Despite not having the full-throated backing of the McKeens scouting staff, we can see good reasons for liking each of them (OK, maybe not Karlberg).

Thankfully, we really like their first two picks. Liam Foudy was a classic late riser. He began the season in a bottom six role with the London Knights, but when the perennial powerhouse decided that this was not going to be their year, a few veterans were traded away and Foudy ascended way up the depth chart. And he excelled. Over the second half of the season, he was one of the more electric players in the OHL, and backed it up with strong performances in the CHL Top Prospects Game as well as at the WU18s. He also has a strong case to be proclaimed the best athlete in the draft class. Kirill Marchenko was someone who drew mixed reviews from our Russian-based scouts, but raised his play for international events. He has a great skill set and fantastic size and could project to nearly any role down the road. The Blue Jackets are certainly an enigmatic team when it comes to scouting, but they are correct more than their fair share of the time. I wouldn’t put it past them to surprise again.

OFP – 52.25

New Jersey Devils
1 (17) Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL) - ranked 15th
4 (110) Xavier Bernard, D, Drummondville (QMJHL) - ranked 71st
5 (136) Akira Schmid, G, Langnau U20 (Elite Jr. A) - ranked Honorable Mention
5 (151) Yegor Sharangovich, C, Dynamo Minsk (KHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (172) Mitchell Hoelscher, C, Ottawa (OHL) - ranked 134th
7 (203) Eetu Pakkila, LW, Karpat U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) - unranked

One year after injecting a boat load of talent into the organization thanks not only to owning the number one pick in the draft, but making 11 total selections, this year, the Devils exhibited a magnificent turnaround and ended up trading away both their second and third round picks, as part of packages for Michael Grabner, and Sami Vatanen. Considering that the team still has the young core drafted in 2017 as well as a surprise playoff berth in their recent past, it’s a pretty good trade off. And even picking 17^th this year, in a deep draft for defenders, the Devils were able to add another high end talent to their system, a player who many had projected to be taken in the top ten. Ty Smith, while small, is an excellent puck mover and plays an advanced positional game in his own end. In league play, he has been very effective at winning the puck back for his team, although he has had his bumps in the CHL Top Prospects Game as well as at the WU18s. Still, between his skating, puck skills, and high, high hockey IQ, there is potential for a future first pairing defender.

When they finally selected a second player, 93 picks later, the Devils were fortunate to get late Xavier Bernard, a player who looks much different than Smith, but has similar attributes. He is a smooth skater, can make the basic passes, and exhibits promising hockey IQ. On the other hand, Bernard is not a natural puck mover, but has much more impressive size and knows how to utilize it. New Jersey went to Europe with both of their fifth round picks, both times taking players from smaller hockey nations who have plenty of international experience. Akira Schmid started his draft off with a bang, thanks to a stellar showing at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. He was then one of the top goalies in the Swiss junior ranks, but struggled at the WU18s to end the year. He has enough size and athleticism to be a decent gamble. Yegor Sharangovich was in his third year of eligibility and has three WJCs (one in the second tier) under his belt for his native Belarus. He played a depth role for the Dynamo Minsk KHL team this year, but has flashed impressive goal scoring ability in the past.

Sixth rounder Mitchell Hoelscher is slight, but wiry strong. His production with the Ottawa 67s was not much in his first full season in the OHL, but he is a good skater, and plays an intelligent brand of hockey. He has energy line upside. With their final 2018 selection, the Devils popped Finnish winger Eetu Pakkila, a winger with great feet and a good shot. Despite decent numbers for Karpat’s U20 team, Pakkila slipped under the radar due to rarely being considered for international duty for any age group in Finland. While one could quibble about the upside about their late round selections, with the exception of Hoelscher, the Devils did a nice job of drafting players with a history of production in their local leagues. And without exception, each player has at least one attribute that suggest NHL upside.

OFP – 52.5

New York Islanders
1 (11) Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 5th
1 (12) Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) - ranked 8th
2 (41) Bode Wilde, D, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 17th
2 (43) Ruslan Iskhakov, RW, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) - ranked 68th
3 (72) Jakub Skarek, G, Dukla Jihlava (Czech) - ranked 93rd
4 (103) Jacob Pivonka, C, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 182nd
5 (134) Blade Jenkins, C, Saginaw (OHL) - ranked 69th
7 (196) Christian Krygier, D, Lincoln (USHL) - unranked

Two years ago, the Islanders drafted Kieffer Bellows from the USNTDP and seem to be pretty happy with their choice. Of course, Lou Lamoriello was not there when that draft went down. He was in Toronto. His Maple Leafs drafted Auston Matthews, another (indirect) USNTDP alum, and a couple of other program graduates in the middle rounds. Prior to his time in Toronto, Lamoriello spent many years in New Jersey and his draft record there is also dotted with players who had come from the program. That history aside, it is still at least somewhat surprising that the Islanders ended up with three players from this year’s stacked USNTDP graduating class. Two of those players, right winger Oliver Wahlstrom and defensemen Bode Wilde, were widely not expected to be available at picks 11 and 41 respectively. Wahlstrom is one of the best natural goal scorers in the draft class. He is a near elite sniper, a fantastic puck player and a very strong skater as well. He can float for some stretches, but his talent suggested he should have gone up to five picks earlier were the other teams not so focused on drafting centers at the top. Wilde elicited some rumors that his stock had fallen before the draft, partially due to a poor showing at the WU18s and partly due to de-committing from Michigan. He is not the most intense defender, but looks downright pretty carrying the puck up the ice. He is a high end skater and puck handler and mostly needs refinements to his game away from the puck to be an impact player.

The third USNTDP player drafted by the Islanders this year, Jacob Pivonka is more of a grinding role player with decent hands, but plays a 200 foot game, and has NHL bloodlines, as father Michal played over 800 games in the NHL. Outside of those three, the Islanders drafted two others with USNTDP ties, although they were not in the program in their draft year. Fifth rounder Blade Jenkins left the program for Saginaw of the OHL prior to this past season. He plays a gritty game and is a gifted skater, although the latter trait does not always show up at game time. He has very good sleeper potential. In the seventh round the Islanders selected Christian Krygier, the more physical of the Krygier twins who spent this season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. Krygier has very marginal puck skills, but he skates well and plays hard.

Not every pick made by the Islanders this year was American. In fact, immediately after drafting Wahlstrom, Lamoriello and company returned to their table for a couple of minutes to work the phones (reportedly to trade the pick for immediate NHL help) but then returned to the podium and selected Noah Dobson, another player thought by some to be a potential top five pick and leading the Titan to both QMJHL and Memorial Cup championships, eating up a ton of minutes on the journey. Dobson looks like nothing so much as a future first pairing blueliner, between the wheels, the smarts, and the ability to put that bulk to work. His shot and puck playing ability also grade out as above average. He might be only twelve months from playing in the NHL. Two picks after nabbing Wilde, the Isles made an upside play in drafting pint-sized Russian winger Ruslan Iskhakov, who while not as quick as other players of his stature, has amazing hands and has been hard to catch. He has performed well both in Russian junior league play as well as on the international stage.

Finally, nothing rounds out a diverse draft class like a promising goalie. Along with four forwards and three blueliners, the Islanders selected Jakub Skarek, a highly accomplished netminder from the Czech Republic, in the third round. Although he looked bad at the most recent WJC (his second go round in the high profile tournament), he is very athletic, has prototypical size and reads the play well. He will get to test himself against more advanced competition this year as he leaves his homeland to play for Pelicans in Finland’s top circuit, Liiga. While I would have preferred them drafting the other Krygier with their seventh round pick, this is almost the perfect draft class. Two players ranked in our top ten, another ranked as a first round talent, and three more in our top 100. There are players who will be ready for professional hockey within one or two seasons, and players who will need (and due to where they were drafted from) and will receive three or four years before forcing the Islanders’ hands. Along with Mathew Barzal, Wahlstrom and Dobson should make up a big part of the team’s core for years to come.

OFP – 55

New York Rangers
1 (9) Vitali Kravtsov, RW, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) - ranked 16th
1 (22) K'Andre Miller, D, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 14th
1 (28) Nils Lundkvist, D, Lulea (SHL) - ranked 37th
2 (39) Olof Lindbom, G, Djurgardens J20 (SuperElit) - ranked 91st
3 (70) Jakob Ragnarsson, D, Almtuna (Allesvenskan) - ranked 152nd
3 (88) Joey Keane, D, Barrie (OHL) - ranked 99th
4 (101) Nico Gross, D, Oshawa (OHL) - ranked 82nd
5 (132) Lauri Pajuniemi, RW, TPS (Liiga) - unranked
6 (163) Simon Kjellberg, D, Rogle J20 (SuperElit) - unranked
7 (216) Riley Hughes, RW, St. Sebastian's School (USHS - MA) - ranked 208th

With three first round picks, including the drafting of my personal favorite player from the 2018 draft class, I want to be able to say nice things about the Rangers’ large draft haul. Unfortunately, I am underwhelmed. Of course, with 10 players taken, they have definitely given their organizational depth, for years an afterthought, a serious injection of talent. Further, considering the imbalance of their draft class, with six blueliners taken among the 10 picks, I know that they did not go for balance, but drafted the top player on their board. Further, with the early success of their two 2017 first rounders (Lias Andersson, and Filip Chytil), both of whom were thought to be reaches at the time, I cannot assume to know more than they do. I can note the six player drafted out of Europe, and how four of those six were already playing in men’s leagues, meaning their lead time to being ready will be shorter than others. That’s definitely a positive. Again though, I wanted to see more upside.

Starting in the first round, they took two Europeans who have already experienced impressive performances in the top leagues in their respective countries. Ninth overall pick Vitali Kravtsov had one of, if not the, best performances ever by a teenager in the KHL playoffs. He earned plus-plus grades for his skating, puck skills and shot. He might be able to come to North America after one more season with Chelyabinsk. If there is a concern here, it is due to having so little international experience, we do not have a great feel for how he would do on the smaller North American ice surface. At pick 22, the Rangers selected my personal favorite in K’Andre Miller. He is a tremendous athlete, has prototype build for a defenseman, is a terrific skater and plays with brawn and skill. If there is a downside, it is how raw he is as a defender, having only converted from forward three seasons ago. He could be a legit number one defender, but will need at least three years in college before he is ready. With the 28^th pick of the first round, the Rangers selected late rising Swedish blueliner Nils Lundkvist. He is undersized, but incredibly skilled with the puck and demonstrates very impressive hockey intelligence. He was excellent in the Swedish junior ranks, but struggled some in roughly half a season in the SHL and underwhelmed at the WU18s. There is also the question of whether he is a good enough skater to mitigate his size issues. All three first rounders could work, but none is without questions.

Similar to their second rounder, Olof Lindbom, the first netminder selected in 2018. He is a good goalie prospect, as far as that class goes, was a world beater at the WU18s, and receives especially high grades for his ability to read the play and his technique, but he is a goalie after all. He is also slightly undersized by modern goaltending standards, listed at only 6-1”. Of their remaining six picks the Rangers selected four defensemen. Jakob Ragnarsson and Simon Kjellberg were both drafted out of Sweden, and Joey Keane and Nico Gross were both selected out of the OHL. Keane is interesting as a second year eligible prospect who took big steps in his second season with the Barrie Colts. He is a very good skater, with a decent all around game. Ragnarsson’s father Marcus played for the Sharks and the Flyers around the turn of the century. He is more of a defense-first defender, who makes a sharp first pass. He has never been tested outside of Sweden’s domestic leagues.

Simon Kjellberg is another bloodlines player, as his father Patric spent time with Montreal, Nashville, and Anaheim. The younger Kjellberg has good size, and plays a muscular game, but his skating is currently very rough. He will need to improve that aspect of his game significantly to have a chance at playing in the NHL. Of the four mid round defenders, I have the most time for Nico Gross, a Swiss national who has already played at two WJCs and three WU18s. He is a solid skater, who plays with poise and energy. While not often an offensive force, he has shown enough flashes there to project for more growth in that side of his game. Of the two late round forwards, Lauri Pajuniemi could surprise. He has high end puck handling ability and held his own in his first year in Liiga. As for seventh rounder Riley Hughes, he is not bad as far as prep products go, but there is a reason why more and more future collegians are electing to play in the USHL instead of staying home. He has never really been tested against high end competition. He is likely to spend next year in the USHL (Sioux Falls has his rights) before attending Northeastern in 2019. I have no doubt but that one or two of the players drafted by the Rangers this year will exceed my expectations, but I would have been happier if I did not have to make this kind of mitigating remark.

OFP – 53.25

Philadelphia Flyers
1 (14) Joel Farabee, LW, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 12th
1 (19) Jay O'Brien, C, Thayer Academy (USHS-MA) - ranked 48th
2 (50) Adam Ginning, D, Linkoping (SHL) - ranked 42nd
4 (112) Jack St. Ivany, D, Sioux Falls (USHL) - ranked 108th
5 (127) Wyatte Wylie, D, Everett (WHL) - ranked 139th
5 (143) Samuel Ersson, G, Bryan J20 (SuperElit) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (174) Gavin Hain, C, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
7 (205) Marcus Westfalt, C/LW, Brynas IF (SHL) - ranked 162nd

As with the Rangers above, I expected to like the Flyers’ draft class more than I did. Again, this has nothing to do with the players taken. Fine talents, all of them. The Flyers have been strong with USHL prospects over the past few years and dug deep in the top NCAA-feeder league once again, with three selections, plus another who will head to college from the pre ranks. They have also scouted Sweden heavily in recent years and took three more Swedish prospects this year. And continuing the theme of visiting familiar territory, the final Flyers’ pick not yet accounted for came from the same Everett program in the WHL where they would have been comfortable in light of top prospect Carter Hart calling it home. I like the Flyers drafting from areas where they are comfortable that they can project out. I like that the Flyers selected players of different positions, with two centers, two wingers, three defensemen and a goaltender (it wouldn’t be a Flyers draft without at least one goalie). And, as stated above, I like the players. I just see this draft class and the draft slots that the Flyers owned, and do not see many high value picks. Some players drafted roughly where they should have been selected, some taken earlier than I would have advised, and one notably higher than we believed was reasonable.

They kicked things off in fine fashion, with winger Joel Farabee, one of two players they selected out of the USNTDP system. Farabee can play up or down the lineup. He has experience in the middle, but is more natural on the wing. He is a true 200 foot player with skill, grit and heavy on the intangibles. He will need to bulk up at Boston University, but his potential is top six, both special teams and a team leader. Five picks later, Ron Hextall and friends stepped to the podium again and dropped jaws across the hockey world. Jay O’Brien is a confident young man, brash even, and he shows some high end attributes, with a fine shot and slick puck handling skills. He plays tough and he has been well coached, but he has very rarely been tested against other high caliber prospects. He was the big man on campus at Thayer, scoring closing to three points per game than two. But in 12 games of experience in Tier I hockey over the last two years, he had only three points. All draft picks are risky, but high picks out of the high school ranks are riskier than most.

Philadelphia’s first three picks on day two were all blueliners, each with good size. Adam Ginning is the stay-at-home type of the trio. Although he contributed offense at a decent clip for Sweden at the WU18s, his game is about positioning and making the first pass to clear the zone. Low upside, but high floor. After sitting out the third round, the Flyers used their fourth rounder on second year eligible Jack St. Ivany of Sioux Falls in the USHL. He was very young in his first year of eligibility and only one year removed from playing U16 hockey in the Los Angeles area. He took a few big steps forward this year for the Stampede and shows some two-way ability. I’m a fan. The Flyers rounded out their blueline haul with Wyatte Wylie, an alliterative late 99 birthdate player who not only played with Carter Hart in Everett, but is actually from Everett. He is not bursting with skill but plays hard.

Later in the fifth round, Philadelphia drafted the obligatory goalie, picking up Swede Samuel Ersson, who has been overshadowed in his homeland by Olof Lindbom and others, but was an absolute workhorse for Brynas’ U20 team and some of the best numbers in the SuperElit. He is a technically proficient goalie with a good frame. Speaking of overlooked, sixth rounder Gavin Hain was often relegated to the bottom six with the USNTDP, below players like Farabee and others, but he is not without a modicum of hockey skill and is responsible in all three zones. I haven’t seen anything to suggest he has hidden talent, but he is not a bad way to use a sixth round pick. Finally, the Flyers used their seventh rounder on big Swedish winger Marcus Westfalt. His skill set is moderate, but he uses his big frame well to create havoc in front of the net. If Jay O’Brien works out, the Flyers will be laughing for ages. If not, Farabee is safe enough that the draft class will not be a write-off, but will be looked at as a relative disappointment.

OFP – 52.5

Pittsburgh Penguins
2 (53) Calen Addison, D, Lethbridge (WHL) - ranked 30th
2 (58) Filip Hallander, C, Timra (Allsvenskan) - ranked 47th
5 (129) Justin Almeida, C/LW, Moose Jaw (WHL) - ranked 173rd
6 (177) Liam Gorman, C, St. Sebastian's School (USHS - MA) - unranked

Only four picks, but the Penguins made them count. Well, most of them anyway. Actually, they would have had a fifth pick, but traded up into the late second round when they saw value on the board. Despite not picking until 53^rd overall, the Penguins walked away with two players who had reasonable arguments to go in the first round. Their first pick, Lethbridge defender Calen Addison is a modern style blueliner, making up in speed and daring what he lacks in size or the ability to play physically. He needs a lot of work off the puck, but he proved both in the Ivan Hlinka tournament and the WHL postseason that he can step up his production in the spotlight.

The player they gave up two later picks to nab towards the close of the second was Swedish center Filip Hallander, who had a very strong draft year in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second highest men’s league. The fact that he was as productive as he was (20 points in 40 games) while dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of the WU18s. He is very physical while still playing clean, and grades out above average as a skater, shooter, and for his hockey intelligence. With Timra now in the top flight SHL, and Hallander presumably healthy, Hallander’s stock could leap forward next year. The Penguins went with production over physical maturity when they finally selected again late in the fifth round, selecting Moose Jaw’s second year eligible center, Justin Almeida. After scoring only 28 points between the Warriors and Prince George in his first year of draft eligibility, he was an afterthought entering the year, but with 43 goals and 98 points for the powerhouse Warriors, he could not be overlooked again. He is a strong skater and gifted with the puck on his stick. Finally, they took Massachusetts prepster Liam Gorman, with their final pick. Gorman was not really on our radar, and in fact was only the number three scorer with St. Sebastian’s, behind fellow draft pick Riley Hughes. He has plus size though, and is likely to spend next season in the USHL. The 2018 draft class will not alter the trajectory of the Penguins’ fortunes, but they should be pleased with the type of quality they came away with.

OFP – 52.25

Washington Capitals
1 (31) Alexander Alexeyev, D, Red Deer (WHL) - ranked 35th
2 (46) Martin Fehervary, D, Oskarshamn (Allsvenskan) - ranked 78th
2 (47) Kody Clark, RW, Ottawa (OHL) - ranked 138th
3 (93) Riley Sutter, RW, Everett (WHL) - ranked 87th
4 (124) Mitchell Gibson, G, Lone Star (NAHL) - unranked
6 (161) Alex Kannok-Leipert, D, Vancouver (WHL) - unranked
7 (217) Eric Florchuk, C, Saskatoon (WHL) - ranked 168th

If there is a team for which the draft is a serious afterthought, it would be the team that is still hungover from the release of winning their first Stanley Cup championship. That is not to imply that the Capitals did not draft some good prospects, but that they would not be focused from the top down on these players at the moment. True to the Washington drafting rulebook, they went heavy on the WHL (four players), avoided the QMJHL and Finland, and took a player from a lower level of hockey (NAHL goalie Mitchell Gibson). With three forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, they balanced themselves positionally.

Their first round pick, Alexander Alexeyev, could have been taken higher, but suffered through a trying draft year, most notably dealing with the unexpected passing of his mother in the days before the CHL Top Prospects game. He is a very big player who skates beautifully, handles the puck very well and processes the game wisely. Given a full, healthy season, he could take off. Washington buttressed the blueline with their first of two consecutive picks in the middle of the second round, taking Slovakian Martin Fehervary, who has been playing in Sweden for the last four seasons. A veteran of two WJCs and two WU18s, Fehervary is a great skater and a physical player, but has minimal offensive upside. While we think Fehervary was a slight reach at 46, the selection of Kody Clark (son of Wendel) at 47 was a massive overreach. Like Alexeyev (and his own father) Clark has been injury prone in his two OHL seasons, but has no real standout tool. His skating and shooting abilities are fine, but he looked like a better candidate for the middle rounds than the second round. Also, this is the first time the Capitals have selected a player out of the OHL since drafting Tom Wilson in the first round in 2012.

A more appropriate pick was their use of a fourth rounder on another bloodline player in Riley Sutter, the son of Ron from the famous clan. A big, beefy player, Sutter will never be mistaken for an elite skater, but he plays a responsible, heavy game and can finish. Goalie Mitchell Gibson was not very prominent on our radar, but the NAHL has a knack for producing one or two goalies of note every year, and Gibson was obviously the one for 2018. He was named the top netminder in the league and will likely spend next year in the USHL before moving on to Harvard. The Capitals will give him plenty of time.

The Capitals ended their draft with two more players from the WHL in Vancouver blueliner Alex Kannok-Leipert and Saskatoon center Eric Florchuk. Kannok-Leipert is undersized and does not have a standout attribute, although he is a decent skater and is surprisingly physical. Florchuk, on the other hand, 2018’s Mr. Irrelevant, is quote good value for the end of the draft. His trade at midseason from the competing Victoria Royals to the moribund Saskatoon Chiefs, might have pushed him off the radar for some scouts, but he scored a decent clip for both clubs. He is a fine skater and a gifted puck handler. Although the Capitals selected some interesting players here, the leap to draft safe early will hurt them within a few years when they need to integrate low salaried youth into an aging roster.

OFP – 51.5

2018 NHL Draft: For One Weekend, Dallas Was The Center of the Hockey World

Tom Dorsa — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 16:52:27 +0000

DALLAS, Texas -- The Stars franchise moved to the state of Texas in 1993 after low attendance in Bloomington, Minnesota forced club ownership to send the club to the Lone Star State. In their 25 seasons in Dallas, they have lifted the Stanley Cup once, won the Western Conference twice, and have been blessed with Hockey Hall of Fame players like Mike Modano, Brett Hull, and Ed Belfour to send fans in green and black into elation regularly.

Dallas is not received as a traditional hockey market. Outside of the fanfare for the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area has never been the most potent and passionate sports town, so how does hockey work in a city where the average daily temperature is 97 degrees Fahrenheit in July?

Don’t answer. The only correct response to that question is to absorb what happened last weekend in the ninth-biggest city in the United States, as the 2018 National Hockey League Draft roared through American Airlines Center in Dallas’s West End.

You see, Dallas has never had the honor of representing the game of hockey on its biggest stage. Close to every team staff thanked Stars general manager Jim Nill, the city, and the team for the hospitality over the Draft weekend, and it felt like something new -- because to many of us, it was.

AAC played host to NHL All-Star Weekend in 2007, but the game was on a Wednesday and Dallas had just two players selected to the West All-Star squad. One was Marty Turco, famous for holding the single-season goals against average record for a goalie with a starter’s numbers (55 games, 1.72 GAA), but the other was Philippe Boucher -- unless you’re Philippe himself or a long-time Stars fan, you have likely not thought of him in ages, if you have heard of him at all.

Dallas has never hosted an outdoor game. Dallas had never received the Entry Draft until 2018. In conclusion, to have the hockey world revolve around one city is normal, but in Dallas, it is a completely new experience. The future of the sport and some of its top young talents hinging on the city’s impressively growing hockey fanbase, and a chance to show the rest of the league -- and the rest of North America’s 30 NHL cities and surrounding markets -- that we belong.

Dallas made no mistake. That place was loud.

6:00am, Thursday, June 21st. I had rolled out of bed just about 10 minutes prior to the top of the hour, finishing the packing of bags begun the night before. I won’t see my Austin area residence for three days as I travel to a one-of-a-kind experience up north.

I make my customary stops up Interstate 35 along the path -- by the way, for those that aren’t familiar, Austin is about three and a half hours out of Dallas -- Buc-ee’s in Temple, Czech Stop in West, QuikTrip in Duncanville. This is a familiar trip, having attended Dallas Stars games close to my entire life, but with a certain intriguing uniqueness to it.

Traveling up north to Plano, a Dallas sister city, I encounter a major problem. US Route 75 going northbound is closed in all four lanes, with a fuel truck having tipped over during the overnight hours, leaving the freeway derelict. That’s cool, I’ll take a detour, it’s close enough to Dallas that there are a variety of smaller, slower side streets to get where you’re headed.

To one side of me on Greenville Avenue is Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, a Plano native and emerging Norris Trophy contender. To the other, NHL.com’s Dan Rosen, a longtime Draft aficionado in town. That’s… not normal, and this particular surreal quality to it all made it weirder. These are people I look up to in numerous ways and for numerous reasons, just driving alongside me, like typical dudes with typical lives.

That is a feeling we embraced over the weekend, but Thursday was a big beginning, a coming-out party so to speak. These big name presences weren’t in town for nothing.

Going downtown from my hotel, littered with hockey jerseys of all kinds was the DART light rail train. Generally on game days, you’ll look at a sea of victory green, the Stars’ home colors. On Thursday, fans and representatives from all over filled public transit providing local fans with a hint on what the weekend might be like. But, it was Dallas fans that stole the show.

Live Puck Soup event at the 2018 NHL Draft. Greg Wyshynski and Dave Lozo with special guest Stephen Johns. Photo by Tom Dorsa.

When I write “stole the show,” I am being literal. Puck Soup, a podcast hosted by ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski and Dave Lozo of VICE Sports, with special guest Stephen Johns had to change buildings last minute for a live show in downtown Dallas. Stars fans were loading the original venue up to a point where a larger facility was needed.

A town not seen as a strong hockey market forced two national hockey writers to change their podcast’s venue at the last minute because fans wanted to hear three guys talk about pucks and sticks. Puck Soup is a whole lot more than that, but it’s a hockey show for true hockey fans -- a demographic of which Dallas, Texas evidently has a lot.

Friday, June 23rd, 3:30pm. The fan fest on the AAC plaza began at noon, and a line of sweaty, suffering fans swarm the entry gate anyway. The Stanley Cup is there, Jamie Benn and crew are signing autographs, there are fun games to play around the building, that kind of thing.

It’s about 3:30pm with the doors for the arena opening in a half hour. A line hundreds of feet long has already formed and is only getting lengthier, with an estimated 1,100 people (a very rough estimate taken from a friend working with the promotions staff) gathering around the arena for the pre-Draft festivities. Dallas has gone into full NHL Draft superfan mode.

With that comes booing the absolute hell out of Gary Bettman. I couldn’t even hear the commissioner speak over the boos filling the arena from terrace level to draft floor. Bettman thrives off of it, but Stars fans get the last laugh -- after all, Bettman deprived Dallas of another year of the Modano/Jere Lehtinen/Sergei Zubov Stars, and he deserves this.

But even then, the situation required a step back. Gary Bettman was standing on a stage in our arena, being berated by a victory green wave of rabid fans of our team, smirking at the podium against the noise in our city. We had seen it on television, and some of us in this massive state have traveled elsewhere to be a paid part of it, but never before has this happened this way.

2018 NHL Draft floor. Photo by Tom Dorsa

Those boos became cheers, applause, and appreciation rather quickly, as Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, who saved the franchise from bankruptcy, stepped up. Let’s back up a bit so we can get a sense of the full impact of Gaglardi and the love affair for the Canadian businessman.

The Stars were once the highest-grossing team in the NHL, having won two straight Western Conference titles and selling out 238 games in a row in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Then owner Tom Hicks - a private equity investor from Texas who took over the team in 1995 from the Norm Green-led crew that moved them from Minnesota to Big D - was estimated to be worth over $1 billion.

2010 came. In April 2010, Hicks' company defaulted on $525 million in bank loans backed by the Stars. Attendance had cratered with the losses of Modano, Zubov, and others, and Hicks was bleeding money. The franchise once considered to be the best example of why the Southern relocation and expansion efforts of the 90s were good ideas was the worst-run club in the sport.

17 months later, lenders voted to agree to have the Stars file for bankruptcy and auctioned off to the highest bidder, and just eight weeks after, Tom Gaglardi’s bid was approved. Gaglardi is a lifelong hockey diehard who made his coin in hotels and bars, wanting so bad to be a part of the NHL that he proposed purchasing the Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Thrashers, and actually did buy a part of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.

Gaglardi brought in former, and now current team president Jim Lites as his first move as owner, ushered in a new era in the team’s identity by introducing new, more modern jerseys, and hired the aforementioned GM Jim Nill, the man responsible for the acquisitions of fan-favorites Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, and Ben Bishop as well as savvy signings like Alexander Radulov. Any positive thing this team can be viewed as, Gaglardi has been at the helm for.

He got the standing ovation he deserved with the entire league watching. The man who saved the franchise embracing the Dallas faithful on, literally, the biggest stage. Goosebumps.

Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin went number-one overall to Buffalo. Andrei Svechnikov, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Brady Tkachuk, and Barrett Hayton followed, with Filip Zadina, Quinn Hughes, Adam Boqvist, Vitali Kravtsov, and Evan Bouchard coming shortly after. The New York Islanders have the next two picks at #11 and #12, but a tense anticipation is growing for the hometown Stars are #13.

Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson, the top two players remaining on the McKeen’s rankings, became Islanders. Dallas was on the clock.

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: The Dallas Stars draft Ty Dellandrea in the first round of the 2018 NHL draft on June 22, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Jamie Benn and Mike Modano walk to the podium. The year 2018 superstar of the current Stars teams alongside the Hockey Hall of Famer and former number-one overall pick. It was a 25-year run in the DFW Metroplex coming to some sort of climax, the culmination of years past and present joining forces to introduce the future. The Stars nabbed center Ty Dellandrea from the OHL’s Flint Firebirds in what many describe as an off the board pick, one that Benn, an Art Ross Trophy winner and Hart finalist, announced.

(This article isn’t about Dellandrea, but Radek Faksa was also considered to be a stretch of a pick. Have faith).

For a market with one postseason series win in ten years, we need interesting. And fans in Dallas made Dellandrea the talk of the town. Riding the light rail back to my hotel, I heard “Ty Dellandrea” here and “Ty Dellandrea” there.

Whether fans liked the pick or not, it was enough to exude a variety of emotions from the city’s faithful. When Modano was drafted by the North Stars in 1988, he probably never imagined he would send fans in Texas into equal parts elation, confusion, and dismay by helping announce a draft pick. But that pure flash of endorphins over a guy saying a name and a player slipping a jersey on is priceless, and more or less proves that we, as a state of hockey fans, belong here

Saturday, June 23rd, 7:15 am. With round one in the books and as many as 250 teenagers in town hoping to hear their names be called, Dallas played host to an early morning treat on Saturday for rounds two through seven.

I awoke at 6:30am, headed directly to the arena, and got there at 7:15am. Rounds two through seven begin at 10:00am, with doors not even opening until 8:00am. I figured I would be the first one there.

I wasn’t even close. The fanfest outside was already packed, despite the 92 degree (F) heat (before the clock reached 8:00am) that caused the chewing gum in my pocket to melt. Though not as special and unique as Friday’s affair, the fans in Dallas showed up in force for day two.

The Stars don’t make their second selection of the Draft until 13th in the second round, or 44th overall. The wait would be further delayed, but rightfully so, as the entire league pays their respects to longtime NHL executive and Central Scouting stalwart Jim Gregory, an 82-year-old director in the league’s hockey ops department conducting his final NHL Draft.

A lot of good names remain on the “best available” board. Mattias Samuelsson goes first, with Jonathan Berggren, Serron Noel, and Jesse Ylonen following. The Detroit Red Wings would snatch Jared McIssac, while Jett Woo, Alexander Romanov, Olof Lindbom, Ryan McLeod, Bode Wilde, Jack Drury, and Ruslan Iskhakov went elsewhere.

Gregory said, slowly, almost to fire up the hometown fans: “Next in the order of selection, Dallas.” Albin Eriksson was the 44th overall pick, and though he wasn’t present for the Draft, he will forever be linked to the event in North Texas.

In the third round, the Montreal Canadiens picked center Cameron Hillis, of Guelph Storm fame. Why is this noteworthy? Well, I got to experience something that would have eluded me entirely had I not been there -- and even being present for this pick is a testament to how great of a hockey market Dallas has become.

I sat three seats away from Hillis in section 116 of American Airlines Center when the Habs called him down. He scooted past me on his way down the aisle to the draft floor, and slipped on a Montreal jersey downstairs. Arena personnel took his suit jacket and climbed back up, seeking to return it to his family, and instead gave it to me.

I stood there for a few seconds, confused, imagining what the clerk thought. To her, was I Cameron Hillis’ brother or something? We look nothing alike. Was I his OHL teammate, perhaps? I gave it his mother, too pumped and giddy to even know what I was handing her, and explained, “this is his jacket.”

A round later, Dallas area native Ryan O’Reilly, from Southlake, Texas to be exact, was drafted at 98th overall by the Red Wings. He isn’t the first Texan to be drafted, but a lifelong Stars fan being picked in the arena he spent much of his childhood watching his hockey heroes play, induced goosebumps. For all young hockey lovers from the area, you can see yourself in O’Reilly.

Another area star, this one from Pennsylvania but playing for the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas — located in nearby North Richland Hills — was scooped up by the Washington Capitals at #124th. That young man is Mitchell Gibson, a goaltender with a 26-7-4 record, a goals against average of 1.59, and a save percentage of .935 in the 2017-18 junior season. To say he’s impressive would be an understatement to both Gibson and the hockey world of Dallas.

After nearly seven rounds and 216 picks, Eric Florchuk was the 217th and final selection of the NHL Draft. The lights glare, the applause rains from a crowd still strong after 217 picks, and Gregory signs off. The end.

2018 NHL Draft floor at the end of the 7th round. Photo by Tom Dorsa

Saturday, June 23rd, 2:30pm. It’s over. The NHL Entry Draft will be in Vancouver, British Columbia in June of 2019. We don’t know which team will pick at number-one overall, we don’t know which team the 30 others will congratulate at the podium for their Stanley Cup run. What we do know, however, is that it won’t be the same as Dallas’s weekend.

Vancouver has hosted the Stanley Cup Final this decade, has recently had the NHL Heritage Classic, and saw the 1998 All-Star game -- which was played on a Sunday and held an added sense of importance with the Nagano winter Olympics upcoming. Long story short, Vancouver has been in the league’s, and the hockey world’s, eye before. Dallas really had not until this Draft.

It will be a blast in Vancouver, but in Dallas, it was special. It was just as we imagined it would be, but Norm Green, Mike Modano, Jim Lites, Gary Bettman, Roger Staubach (no, seriously, Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach) and anyone who had anything to do with bringing hockey to Dallas could have never envisioned this.

Lites stood at the podium on Friday night and provided some numbers on the transformation of Dallas from afterthought to NHL mecca. He said Dallas had two full-sized ice rinks when the Stars relocated here, and just a few hockey players registered with USA Hockey. Now, the Metroplex has over 7,000 registered hockey players and more registered figure skaters than any major metropolitan area in North America.

On top of that, this NHL Draft was maybe the most diverse ever. Jermaine Loewen, a Jamaican-born player, along with guys like Liam Kirk from England and African-American first-rounder K’Andre Miller, made history in getting drafted where and when they did. In the case of Loewen and Kirk, they were their native country’s very first Draft selection. Dallas, the fourth-most racially diverse city in the U.S., embodies that diverse culture in its own soul.

217 Draft picks have a bright future ahead of them, 31 NHL clubs have core players around whom to build, and over 15,000 people in attendance over the weekend had a new, wonderful experience under their belt. It couldn’t have happened this way elsewhere.

2018 NHL Draft, downtown Dallas. Photo by Tom Dorsa

Mitchell Gibson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WASHINGTON CAPITALS – Top 20 Prospects

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WASHINGTON CAPITALS – RANK: #28 – TIER VI

US COLLEGE: Ivy Leaguers Finding New Ice to Keep Fresh

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Washington Capitals Top 20 Prospects

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Garin Bjorklund, G (179^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Mitchell Gibson, G (124^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)

NCAA East Region 2019-20 Season Preview: Hockey East and ECAC

NCAA East Region Preview

ECAC

Hockey East:

USHL Fall Classic Review and Season Preview

2018 NHL Draft Review: Metropolitan Division

2018 NHL Draft: For One Weekend, Dallas Was The Center of the Hockey World

Mitchell Gibson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WASHINGTON CAPITALS – Top 20 Prospects

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WASHINGTON CAPITALS – RANK: #28 – TIER VI

US COLLEGE: Ivy Leaguers Finding New Ice to Keep Fresh

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Washington Capitals Top 20 Prospects

Connor McMichael, C (25th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Martin Fehervary, D (46th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Garrett Pilon, C (87th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Brian Pinho, C (174th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Kody Clark, RW (47th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Brett Leason, RW (56th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Lucas Johansen, D (28th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Damien Riat, LW (117th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Garin Bjorklund, G (179th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Mitchell Gibson, G (124th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Riley Sutter, RW (93rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)

NCAA East Region 2019-20 Season Preview: Hockey East and ECAC

NCAA East Region Preview

ECAC

Hockey East:

USHL Fall Classic Review and Season Preview

2018 NHL Draft Review: Metropolitan Division

2018 NHL Draft: For One Weekend, Dallas Was The Center of the Hockey World

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Garin Bjorklund, G (179^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Mitchell Gibson, G (124^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)