Nathan Noel – McKeen's Hockey

NHL TRADE DEADLINE: 22 Traded Prospects Ranked – Addison the Biggest Prize in 2020

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 19:37:32 +0000

After bringing you brief introductions to virtually all of the prospects traded in this deadline season, we will now provide a definitive ranking of all prospects traded since January 1st, 2020. As a reminder of our criteria for defining a player as a prospect, he must have been 25 years old or younger as of September 15, 2019 (first day of the season) and have played less than 60 games over the course of his career (30 for goalies), and less than 35 games in a single season (20 for goalies).
22. Angus Redmond, G (Feb. 24 – Traded from Anaheim, along with a conditional 2022 7th round pick, to Edmonton in exchange for Joel Persson) – Honestly not much to say here. An ECHL goalie traded as a contract swap to allow Joel Persson to get a chance in the NHL as it wasn’t going to happen in Edmonton.

21. Andrew Sturtz, RW (Jan. 2-traded along with a 2021 5th round pick from Ottawa to Montreal in exchange for Mike Reilly)– Signed a two-year ELC after three years at Penn State. With the deal about to expire, Sturtz has been limited by injuries to only 41 games played and 14 points combined over two seasons between the AHL and the ECHL. OFP – 45

20. Nathan Noel, C (Feb. 24 – Traded from Chicago to Philadelphia in exchange for T.J. Brennan) – In his third year as a pro, the former fourth round pick has struggled to show that he can keep up at the AHL level and has spent all of this season in the ECHL. This trade smacks of being a favor to Brennan, an AHL veteran, who might get NHL time in Chicago, but not in Philly. Noel is unlikely to get an NHL contract after this season. OFP – 47

19. Aaron Luchuk, C (Feb. 19 – Traded from Toronto to Ottawa along with a conditional 6th round pick in 2021 for Max Veronneau; Feb. 24 – Traded from Ottawa along with a 2020 7th round pick to Montreal in exchange for Matthew Peca) – Since signing with Ottawa as an undrafted free agent out of the OHL two years ago, Luchuk has played 78 games in the ECHL and 31 in the AHL. He can score at the lower level but hasn’t yet shown he can contribute in the AHL, much less that he still has NHL upside. OFP – 48

18. David Quenneville, D (Feb. 16 – Traded along with a 2021 2nd round pick from the New York Islanders to New Jersey in exchange for Andy Greene) - After spending the entirety of his first professional season in the ECHL, Quenneville has split his sophomore campaign between the ECHL and the AHL. Short but a little stocky, he needs to produce big offensive numbers to get an NHL chance. OFP – 49

17. John Nyberg, D (Jan. 17 – Traded from Dallas to Pittsburgh in exchange for C Oula Palve) – Struggled in first North American season last year, but play has ticked up slightly this year. Rangy defender may have greater opportunity to reach the Show with the Penguins – 49

16. Jake Lucchini, LW (Feb. 20 – Traded from Pittsburgh along with Joseph Blandisi to Montreal in exchange for Riley Barber and Phil Varone) – Part of the 2019 crop of NCAA undrafted free agents, Lucchini has played a decent depth role in the AHL. He fits in among the other three players moved in this deal – all represent AHL talent with up-and-down NHL upside. OFP -49.75

15. Ryan Kuffner, LW (Feb. 24 – Traded from Detroit, along with Andreas Athanasiou to Edmonton, in exchange for Sam Gagner, and 2nd round picks in both 2020 and 2021) – A solid all-around forward at the collegiate level, Kuffner has been in a depth AHL role since signing with the Red Wings. He may get more of a chance to show what he can do in Bakersfield, which is less prospect heavy than Grand Rapids. OFP – 50

14. Slava Demin, D (Feb. 24 – Traded from Vegas, along with Malcolm Subban and a 2020 2nd round pick, to Chicago in exchange for Robin Lehner and Martins Dzierkals, with Toronto having sent the rights to Dzierkals in the trade and assuming a portion of Lehner’s remaining salary in exchange for a 2020 5th round pick) – Demin was a top performer as a junior in the BCHL but has played mostly third pairing minutes over two seasons at Denver, with very little special teams to show for it. He does enough well to expect better results when given the opportunity, which should arrive next year after Ian Mitchell leaves college for the pro ranks. OFP - 50

13. Max Veronneau, RW (Feb. 19 – Traded from Ottawa to Toronto in exchange for Aaron Luchuk and a conditional 2021 6th round pick) – Veronneau went straight from Princeton to the NHL late last season, even scoring twice for his hometown Senators. His first full season has been more of a slog in the AHL. Already 24, his window will only be open for a short while. OFP – 50.5

12. Danick Martel, LW (Feb. 20 – Traded from Tampa Bay in exchange for Anthony Greco) – Pint sized winger is a good offensive player at the AHL level, but injuries ruined what seemed like a good chance to make it with Tampa Bay last year. Talented, but would have more luck trying to build a career in Europe. OFP – 50.5

11. Mason Marchment, LW (Feb. 19 - Traded from Toronto to Florida for Denis Malgin) – A late blooming power forward who went from undrafted, to ECHL to AHL to NHL, Marchment is a feisty banger who has been developing his offensive game of late and could work his way into a lengthy career on a bottom line adding energy and snarl. OFP – 51.5

10. Martins Dzierkals, LW (Feb. 24 – Traded from Toronto to Vegas for a 2020 5th round pick and a portion of Robin Lehner’s salary, who Vegas had acquired in a separate trade with the Chicago Blackhawks) – Drafted out of the Latvian league in 2015, Dzierkals has since spent two seasons in the QMJHL, one in the ECHL, one in the KHL, and is currently playing in the Liiga with Jukurit. He is a fun player to watch but was clearly not in the Leafs’ future plans. Vegas, with less in the pipeline, might be able to entice him to come over to play in the AHL, but this trade was essentially about Toronto clearing a player from their reserve list and buying an extra fifth round pick for the $1.1 million (pro-rated) they have assumed from Lehner’s remaining cap hit. OFP – 52

9. Axel Andersson, D (Feb. 21 – Traded from Boston, along with a 2020 1st rounder and David Backes to Anaheim in exchange for Ondrej Kase) – If Ondrej Kase was worth a first rounder, then Andersson is the fee paid by the Bruins to sell the poison pill of the David Backes contract. Andersson is a two-way defender with a right handed shot who has #4/5 defender upside, but the fact that he was left off the Sweden WJC roster is eyebrow raising. OFP – 52.5

8. Julien Gauthier, RW (Feb. 18 – Traded from Carolina to the New York Rangers for Joey Keane) – Through three full seasons in the AHL, former first round pick Gauthier has only been given five games to show what he can do in the NHL. His AHL production has been pretty consistent, showing that he can score from the slot with regularity, but his other contributions can be limited. OFP – 53.5

7. Joey Keane, D (Feb. 18 – Traded from New York Rangers to Carolina for Julien Gauthier) – He was passed over in his first year of draft eligibility, but everything has been pointing upwards for Keane since then, and he made the AHL All Star Game as a rookie professional. Smooth pucker mover projects as a potential second pairing defender at his peak. OFP – 54

6. Chase Priskie, D (Feb. 24 – Traded from Carolina, along with Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark, and Eetu Luostarinen to Florida in exchange for Vincent Trocheck) -Some collegiate free agent signings struggle to adapt to the pro game, but Priskie has had no such difficulty. The power play quarterback skates well and has a nice shot and he was the number two-point producer from the Charlotte blueline at the time of the trade. A nice side benefit of this deal is that Priskie, one of the NHL’s small but growing contingent of Floridians, is going home. OFP – 54.5

5. Eetu Luostarinen, C (Feb. 24 – Traded from Carolina, along with Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark, and Chase Priskie to Florida in exchange for Vincent Trocheck) – Tall and rangy, Luostarinen was having a solid first season in North America before the trade. A finesse player with an abundance of skill and a promising off puck game, he should be close to the NHL. OFP – 54.5

4. Tyler Madden, C (Feb. 17 – Traded along with Tim Schaller, a 2020 2nd rounder and a conditional pick in 2022 from Vancouver to Los Angeles for Tyler Toffoli) – Drafted as a player very reminiscent of his father, Selke winner John Madden, Tyler has taken his game to new offensive heights over two years in Northeastern. Shut down defensive penalty killing center is still a floor, but now second line is a reasonable upside. OFP – 55

3. Nolan Foote, LW (Feb. 16 – Traded along with a 1st round pick in either 2020 or 2021 from Tampa Bay to New Jersey in exchange for Blake Coleman) – Less than a year after being selected in the first round, Foote is on the move. A big power forward with an NHL shot played a key role on Canada’s Gold Medal winning WJC team, but has scarcely played since, due to injury. Upside may be no higher than third line, but he is a pretty clear NHLer. OFP – 55

2. Janne Kuokkanen, LW/C (Feb. 24 – Traded from Carolina, along with Fredrik Claesson and a conditional 2020 4th round pick to New Jersey in exchange for Sami Vatanen) – A strong AHL performer who has only received 11 games in the NHL over his three years as a pro, he has all of the tools needed to play a middle six role in the NHL and could emerge as a key versatile middle six option on a young Devils’ team. OFP – 55.25

1. Calen Addison, D (Feb. 10 – Traded along with Alex Galchenyuk and a 2020 1st rounder from Pittsburgh to Minnesota for Jason Zucker) – Coming off a big WJC tournament for Gold Medal winning Canada, Addison is a power play quarterback who should make up with his offense what he gives back on D. Will turn pro next season. One of the best offensive defensemen in the CHL. OFP – 57

Chicago – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:40:03 +0000

The most consistently competitive team this decade, the Blackhawks have naturally not been afforded the opportunity to draft early much in recent years. That said, they still always make a point of drafting often. Since the draft dropped to seven rounds in 2005, Chicago has made at least seven selections each time. In those 13 years, they have made a total of 114 selections, an average of over 8.75 per.

Even though a number of the higher profile stars of the three championship Blackhawks’ teams were acquired from outside the organization, there were also a respectable number that were drafted and developed by Chicago – even several drafted in the middle and late rounds, including Marcus Kruger, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Ben Smith, Andrew Shaw, and others who they were able to trade for veteran help.

Looking at the four players above, one thing they all have in common is that none really profile as stars. They are contributors, some valuable contributors, but of the type that is easy to overlook. Which brings us back to the strategy the team is employing. By buying in bulk at the draft, and supplementing with undrafted free agents when they have an open contract spot, the Blackhawks are ensuring themselves of always having a full cupboard of homemade contributors just waiting to get their chance to shine.

The bulk strategy does not rely on one, two, or three players to become All Stars, which the Hawks admittedly have plenty of on the NHL roster, but just that a few players each year are good enough to play a part. So even when a first round pick (when they have one) does not pan out, like Kyle Beach or Mark McNeill, someone else from that draft class will provide a solid return on investment. So while Beach, taken 11th overall in 2008 never played in the NHL, sixth rounder Ben Smith played two full seasons with the team before being traded to San Jose for Andrew Desjardins, a low risk, low reward gift that keeps giving.

Mark McNeill was taken 18th overall in 2011 and only appeared in two games for Chicago before going to Dallas as part of the package for Johnny Oduya. Not good, but the 2011 draft class for Chicago was a smashing success, with four legit NHLers including Phillip Danault (1st round, 26th overall), Brandon Saad (2nd round), Klas Dahlbeck (3rd round), and Andrew Shaw (5th round). Second rounder Adam Clendening is not far from being a fifth and in all honesty, I would not completely write off McNeill’s chances to eventually have an NHL career either.

So when we look at the state of the Chicago system today, noting only one high-end prospect and only one other who profiles for the top half of a roster, we must remember that this is not a weak system by any stretch. They are just playing by different rules than their opponents. There was not much separating the bottom ten of this list from the next ten. For further proof of this long game strategy, note the overabundance of non-CHLers they draft, giving them an additional two years or more on each before needing to decide whether they are contract worthy.

Alex Debrincat of the Erie Otters was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

1 Alex DeBrincat – A rare three time five goal scorer in the OHL, DeBrincat would not have lasted to the second round in 2016 if he was 6-0”, or even 5-10” instead of 5-7”. An agile, slippery and very fast skater, his shot release makes life miserable for goaltenders. Used to playing on his off-wing, he can snipe from anywhere in the homeplate area of the offensive zone. Has great patience, not allowing bigger defensemen to dictate his pace. Will pass or shoot when he is ready. A good candidate to step right into the NHL.

Henri Jokiharju of the Portland Winterhawks

2 Henri Jokiharju – Mobile and a very skilled puck mover, Jokiharju plays a promising two-way game, combining solid offensive capabilities with a sound positional game in his own zone. The right-handed shot needs to add more muscle to his frame, which will help him take care of himself physically as well as add some heft to his point shot. His plus offensive vision and understanding of what the defense is trying to do allows him to create offense by skating and moving the puck into better positions.

3 John Hayden – A big, beefy goalscorer with Yale, Hayden finished his collegiate career strongly, before convincing the Blackhawks to let him play right in the NHL after signing late in the season. Has good puck skills with soft hands and is an impressive skater for his size. Was a very physical player at the NCAA level and his frame suggests that the increased heaviness of the pro game should not cause that to change. May get some AHL time before securing a full time NHL role.

4 Lucas Carlsson – Drafted in his second year of eligibility, Carlsson took a few steps forward in his development last year, making the Swedish WJC squad as a form of recognition to his progress. Judging on his work in the SHL, he grades out as projecting above average almost across the board, with good mobility and puck movement. His shot quality can come and go, but his two-way game is pretty steady and even plays relatively physical for his average at best size.

5 Dennis Gilbert – As a sophomore for Notre Dame, Gilbert begin to engage much more in the offensive zone, proving that his vision and puck skills can contribute at both ends of the ice. While he doesn’t lay out for hits often, he has a big body that gives the hits he does make significant impact. Despite the lack of goals, he has a nice wrist shot that leads to second chances for teammates playing closer to the crease. Has impressive speed for his size.

6 Laurent Dauphin – After taking big strides in his second AHL season in the Coyotes’ organization, Dauphin was traded to Chicago in the offseason as part of the return for Niklas Hjalmarsson. A decent skater with an improving shot, he plays enough of a two-way game to suggest that a career on a third line is not too far away. Plays with high energy and exuberance, which sometimes leads to penalty trouble.

Evan Barratt, USNTDP, photo by Rena Laverty

7 Evan Barratt – Not the most consistent forward in last year’s USNTDP class, Barratt nonetheless flashes very high end puck movement and passing skills, of a level that allows him to occasionally dominate shifts. The Penn State commit has a physical element to his game and demonstrates commendable commitment to the game away from the puck. Has plus passing vision and knows how to utilize his linemates to create offense.

8 Ian Mitchell – An excellent skater, Mitchell is very skilled at beginning the transition game from deep in his own zone. A good passer who can also carry the puck, he has a solid point shot, but is better beginning the cycle and playing the puck in deeper into the zone. Presently undersized, he will have plenty of time to pack on muscle as he joins defending NCAA champions Denver. Has potential 2nd pairing projection.

9 Luc Snuggerud – A blueline gambler, Snuggerud had a great junior season for Nebraska-Omaha before turning pro at year’s end. A strong puck mover, he provides very valuable offensive support from the blueline. Skilled at holding the line, he has great hand-eye coordination to stop clearing attempts and maintain the zone. Will also step up from the line to tee himself up for a very good wrist-shot. Although he tries to play physically, can be overpowered.

10 Graham Knott – A 200 foot player who skates right to the crease when his team gains the offensive zone, Knott will never be a team’s main offensive driver, but he has the ability to capitalize on the creativity of others. That entails decent skating and smart positioning as well as soft and quick hands. He also has a plus shot that can hit twine from middle range. The Blackhawks’ top pick from 2015, he is ready to begin his pro career.

11 Dylan Sikura – Drafted out of the OJHL, Sikura has come on leaps and bounds in three seasons at Northeastern and the Hawks were reported to have tried to convince him to forego his last year of collegiate eligibility to turn pro. His puck handling and shooting both grade out as above average and his hockey intelligence is asserting itself more. It will be interesting to see how much of last year’s production was due to Zach Aston-Reese, who has since signed with Pittsburgh.

12 Chad Krys – Having represented the USA at U17, U18 and U20 levels, the first sign that Krys’ game was down in his post draft season was that he was not chosen to return to the WJC for his country even though he was still eligible. He is a good skater, who is comfortable carrying the puck up the ice, but can get sloppy with the disc. Generally reads situations well and makes the correct decision more often than not, but his upside is limited to a third pairing role.

13 Alexandre Fortin – A revelation in Blackhawks’ rookie camp as an undrafted invite, Fortin got to return Rouyn-Noranda with a contract. More of a two-way player than an offensive force, he displays good patience with the puck and a high energy game away from the puck. Has improved year over year in a quiet, yet consistent way. His other tools do not jump out, but are solid across the board. Expected to play in the AHL this year.

14 Anton Forsberg – The first sign that Columbus may have prematurely given up on Forsberg was his sterling performance in the 2015-16 Calder Cup playoffs, where he stopped 94.9% of shots faced, with a GAA of 1.34 in 10 games. He followed that up with a great year as the starter in Cleveland, showing much improved ability to track the puck and minimizing second chances. Part of the big Saad/Panarin deal, he will compete for the NHL backup job this year.

15 Ville Pokka – After three years in the AHL with Rockford, the book is out on Pokka. He is a calm and intelligent blueliner that has good strength in his stocky frame. Executes all of the basic plays to keep the puck moving in the right direction. Plays in the deep slot during the powerplay and can be trusted to get the puck out of the defensive zone cleanly and crisply. Prefers passing the puck out to skating it up ice. Has moderate offensive tools but makes good use of them.

16 Nathan Noel – Drafted in his second year of eligibility, there was hope that his modest skill game could blossom. While his offensive production stagnated, even as his team became a powerhouse in the QMJHL, Noel has shown a great deal of hockey sense and a fun sort of physicality, full of big hits. He is a 200 foot player who can be relied upon to take defensive zone draws and enough speed and velocity in his wrist shot to hold down a bottom six role one day.

17 Matt Iacopelli – Signed to an ELC after a strong sophomore season at Western Michigan, Iacopelli is a big-bodied two-way forward with a moderate skill set. He has always had good hands and the propensity to play tough, but took steps this year showing better finishing ability and a willingness to experiment offensively. Also showed improved instincts on his ice, alleviating concerns that had been present about his hockey IQ.

18 Mathias From – A 19 year old Danish national playing in Sweden, From was not physically ready for the rigors of playing against men in the SHL, but excelled against his age cohort in SuperElit with Rogle’s top junior club and had a strong, if abbreviated showing at the WJC. He sees the ice well, showing plus vision both with and without the puck. A high-risk player, he demonstrates great hands, plus speed and finishing ability. Fun, but a long ways away.

19 Ivan Nalimov – A big goalie with great size, Nalimov had a down year in his third year of KHL duties, failing to live up to the standards he had set over the previous two years with Admiral Vladivostok. He has plus athleticism for his large frame and is known as a good competitor, not one to let a bad goal get in his head or to wither in the face of traffic. Does an admirable job in preventing second chances as well. Unknown whether he will leave Russia after his contract expires next year.

20 Carl Dahlstrom – A rarity as a big, finesse defender, Dahlstrom finally came over to North America last year, three years after the Hawks took him in the second round. He brings little offensive value to the game, and is a below average skater – likely a function of his size – but has a strong game in his own end. While not a bruiser, he uses his strength and a great understanding of defensive positioning to make up for his other flaws.

Even lacking in much in the way of superstar talent, the Blackhawks are ready to graduate two or three viable prospects on an annual basis. This year the best bet is DeBrincat, but Hayden, Forsberg, Dauphin and Pokka will also force Chicago to think long and hard. Eventually, as Hawks’ stars begin to age out of their prime years, the team will have to look to add more elite talent to its ranks, but in the meantime, their approach will ensure the team remains competitive and able to fit the stars under the salary cap.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Chicago Blackhawks

Grant McCagg — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 12:55:57 +0000

Alex Debrincat of the Erie Otters was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

It’s not often a team gets to draft a 50-goal CHL draft-eligible prospect in the second round, but Alex DeBrincat’s 5-7 stature allowed the Hawks to pick up one of the best pure goal scorers in recent drafts. The other reason he dropped was because his production ebbed in the second half, but if he’s afforded an opportunity to play with talented linemates, especially on the power play, he’ll produce at the NHL level too. Chad Krys had a disappointing season where turnovers and poor decisions became a regular occurrence…add in his lack of size and he seems like a reach at 45.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
2	39	37	Alex DeBrincat	RW	USA	5-7/165	Erie (OHL)
2	45	94	Chad Krys	D	USA	5-11/185	NTDP (USA)
2	50	91	Artur Kayumov	LW	RUS	5-11/175	Team Russia U18 (Rus)
3	83	NR	Wouter Peeters	G	BLG	6-4/205	Salzburg (Aus)
4	110	97	Lucas Carlsson	D	SWE	6-0/190	Brynas (Swe)
4	113	NR	Nathan Noel	C	CAN	5-10/180	Saint John (QMJHL)
5	143	116	Mathias From	LW	AUS	6-1/190	Rogle (Swe)
6	173	NR	Blake Hillman	D	USA	6-1/170	Dubuque (USHL)
7	203	NR	Jake Ryczek	D	USA	5-10/180	Sioux City (USHL)

Chad Krys, USA NTDP, Photo by Tom Sorensen

Kayumov gave the Hawks a third-straight skilled, yet undersized, selection…perhaps a reaction to losing Teravainen in the Bickell salary dump. Belgian-born Wouter Peeters shot up Central Scouting’s goalie rankings to finish sixth after a solid season in Germany…described by one scout as raw but talented. Carlsson was an interesting pick in the fourth round who was overlooked in last year’s draft despite lots of exposure on Sweden’s U-18 team..he stepped up his play even more this season and was worth a mid-round gamble. Noel was in the same boat…thought by many to be a mid-round pick last draft, only to slip through seven rounds. He worked on his competitiveness this season and displayed a better all-around game. Mathias From was a solid pick in the fifth round based on his overall skill level…may be the true darkhorse in the Hawks draft. Undersized blueliner Jake Ryczek put up good numbers in the USHL.

Grade C+: The lack of a first-round pick and overreaching with Krys and Kayumov in the top 50 hurt their ranking…which was saved by some intriguing mid-round picks.

2015 NHL Draft Guide – A draft to remember for QMJHL

Scott Wheeler — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:03:09 +0000

2015 NHL Draft one to remember for QMJHL

As the 2014 NHL Entry Draft came to a close at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia last summer, there was a notable lack of talent from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

The draft was so thin in QMJHL-bred players that just one prospect, Halifax’s Nikolaj Ehlers, was selected in the first round when he was taken ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets.

For the Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) other two leagues, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL), the 2014 NHL Draft was a strong one.

A total of 10 OHL players were selected in the first round, as well as nine WHL products.

A year later though, the QMJHL is proving its lack of NHL draftees isn’t going to be a recurring theme.

Sometimes, everything just seems to fall neatly into place. This June, in Sunrise at the home of the Florida Panthers, it appears the stars have aligned for the QMJHL.

As many as a dozen QMJHL prospects could realistically be taken inside this draft’s first round, while only six OHL (Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome, Mitchell Marner, Travis Konecny, Lawson Crouse and Pavel Zacha) and six WHL players (Mathew Barzal, Ivan Provorov, Nick Merkley, Jansen Harkins, Jake DeBrusk and Paul Bittner) have played their way into surefire first round contention.

And while it’s unlikely we see a QMJHL player taken inside the top 10, the sheer breadth and depth of the talent in this year’s QMJHL-developed class is unmatched by the other junior hockey programs.

For the QMJHL, the group is not strictly Eastern Canadian-born players either, and the draft represents a strong recruiting process that brought in some of the CHL’s best imports.

It has been years since the QMJHL saw such strength in their graduates.

Beyond the singular Nikolaj Ehlers pick in 2014, the previous five drafts had also shown that while the QMJHL boasted strength, it wasn’t going to produce the most prospects in any draft.

The 2013 NHL Draft, the QMJHL’s strongest in recent memory, saw six players taken inside the first round, highlighted by the first and third overall selections. But once again, the OHL stood strong, with eight selections in the first round. In year’s prior, 2012 saw just Mikhail Grigorenko selected, while 2011 and 2010 saw five and two players taken in the first thirty picks respectively.

The following is a list of 14 QMJHL players who should feature prominently in the 2015 NHL Draft.

The First Round Locks

Jeremy Roy (Sherbrooke)

Roy is a stud defensemen who can do it all, and while he lacks the size of some of the class’ top defensemen, his versatility and strong year-end performance with Canada’s U18 team make him a surefire first rounder.

Timo Meier (Halifax)

Like Drouin with MacKinnon and Ehlers with Drouin, Meier has been forced to live in the shadow of his high-flight teammate, now Ehlers. In his own right though, Meier has the blend of size and skill that’s impossible pass up in the first round.

Jakub Zboril (Saint John)

Don’t take Zboril’s omission from the disappointing Czech Republic World Juniors squad as any indication that the NHL’s best and brightest scouts will make the same mistake. Zboril’s two-way presence and heavy shot make him an easy first round selection. He was taken fifth overall in the QMJHL import draft for a reason.

Evgeni Svechnikov (Cape Breton)

Svechnikov’s production matched his near-towering size and undoubted skill this season, and it makes him one of the class’ most dynamic, NHL-ready wingers. Every team wants big, top-six wingers with some snarl. Lots to work with and gifted enough that if he falls, it won’t be out of the first round. Named as the QMJHL Rookie All-Star Team’s right wing.

Thomas Chabot (Saint John)

Chabot is one of 2015’s most reliable prospects. He’s not as flashy as some of the other best defensemen in this year’s draft, but he makes smart, calculated decisions both with and without the puck. He plays in all situations and is capable of logging big minutes. The type of top-four defensemen every coach wants on his side.

The Wild Card

Daniel Sprong (Charlottetown)

There aren’t 30 more talented players in the 2015 NHL Draft. There might not even be 10. But despite oozing raw, gifted talent, Sprong has become a polarizing figure among scouts, a forward knocked for being streaky or weak defensively. Still, in the first round, when a team is looking for a star that might unwarrantedly fall, Sprong’s that guy. Sprong’s a risk worth taking.

The Strong Possibilities

Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan)

Some players are small and that size works against them. Others use their diminutive stature to their advantage. And while Beauvillier appears small, his low centre of gravity gives him deceptive strength to match his first round talent. His size doesn’t prohibit him in the faceoff circle either, where he excels. Named to the league’s Second All-Star Team for a reason.

Dennis Yan (Shawinigan)

Another import, Yan’s body of work is limited to just one season in the QMJHL. That inexperience shouldn’t prohibit him, as he’s thrived internationally with the United States and was Shawinigan’s deadliest scorer down the stretch. Yan’s an extremely talented winger who grew to provide the Cataractes with another scoring threat beyond Beauvillier.

Filip Chlapik (Charlottetown)

Like Zboril, Chlapik was mysteriously left off the Czech national team at the World Juniors. Not to worry though, his performance this season spoke for itself. Burdened by the same labels of inconsistency as his teammate Sprong, Chlapik earned his Rookie All-Star Team selection.

The Longshots

Nicholas Meloche (Baie-Comeau)

Size. Strength. Reliability. If that’s what a team with a first round pick is looking for on draft day, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Meloche as their guy. Unlikely to be a first round pick but Meloche’s standout playoff performance certainly helps.

Nathan Noel (Saint John)

Noel’s a two-way centre who projects more as a middle-six forward than a top-six one but his complete game may be of interest to a team with one of the first round’s final picks. More than likely a second round selection but Noel’s an interesting package who may have been held back by a low-scoring team.

Dmytro Timashov (Quebec)

Not only was Timashov named the QMJHL Rookie All-Star Team’s left wing, he was also awarded the league’s Rookie of the Year honour. While the draft’s depth will more than likely push the Quebec Remparts breakout star into the second round, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see a team take a chance on him.

Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi)

Heralded as the QMJHL’s next big (in more than one way) star when he was taken first overall in 2013, Roy hasn’t lived up to the billing. Despite possessing the size most teams drool over, it’s probable Roy falls out of the first round. If he’s taken inside the first 30 picks, it will be out of an intriguing, developing, untapped potential.

2015 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Top 120 Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:17:44 +0000

Ilya Samsonov made the most of his opportunity in front of NHL scouts last month in the Czech Republic.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound native of Magnitogorsk helped lead Russia to victory at the Five Nations Tournament.

Samsonov showcased a full package of skill and smarts while upsetting Team USA in a 5-4 overtime win - being outshot 51-to-16 - and then shutting down Sweden 5-1 in the final game.

He played this season in the MHL with Stalnye Lisy, Magnitogorsk's junior team, and will get another chance to bolster his draft stock at the U18 World Championships next month in Switzerland.

A number of Samsonov's U18 teammates could draw some draft interest with strong showings in Zug and Lucerne, the two host cities for the U18 Worlds.

Big, strong-shooting winger Denis Gurianov of Lada Togliatti is rated in the second round - 40th overall - on the McKeen's Top 120 rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Mikhail Vorobyev (Salavat Ufa) is rated 78th overall and is a smart, well-structured pivot in the classic old Russian style, while diminutive winger Kirill Kaprizov (Novokuznetsk) is listed as a late third-rounder - 89th overall. Just 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Kaprizov was a creative force throughout the Five Nations and demonstrated that he has the courage and work ethic to help overcome the size factor.

Samsonov is the top-rated goaltender in the McKeen's rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft - debuting in the first round in the 29th spot.

Drafting goalies in the opening round has becoming increasingly less common. In fact, only six goaltenders have been selected in the first round over the past eight drafts (2007 to 2014). That compares to the five-year period from 2002 to 2006 in which a total of 14 goalies were first-round picks.

Samsonov is one of 11 goaltenders to earn spots in the McKeen's Top 120 rankings.

Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts is next on the goalie list - ranked as an early second-rounder at 33rd overall - while a pair of QMJHL goalies hold down the next two spots - Callum Booth of Halifax at 61st and Samuel Montembeault of Blainville-Boisbriand in the No. 68 spot.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
6	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
7	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
9	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
11	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
12	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
13	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
14	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
16	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
17	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
18	Joel Ek Eriksson	C	Farjestads (Swe)	6-2/180	29-Jan-97
19	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
20	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
21	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
22	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
23	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
24	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
25	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97
26	Jonas Siegenthaler	D	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-2/220	6-May-97
27	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
28	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
29	Ilya Samsonov	G	Magnitogorsk (Rus)	6-3/200	22-Feb-97
30	Jack Roslovic	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	29-Jan-97

31	Erik Cernak	D	Kosice (Svk)	6-3/200	28-May-97
32	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
33	Mackenzie Blackwood	G	Barrie (OHL)	6-4/215	9-Dec-96
34	Tom Novak	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/180	28-Apr-97
35	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
36	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
37	Blake Speers	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/180	2-Jan-97
38	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
39	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
40	Denis Gurianov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-2/185	7-Jun-97
41	Noah Juulsen	D	Everett (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Apr-97
42	Jordan Greenway	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-5/225	16-Feb-97
43	Alexander Dergachyov	RW	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-4/200	27-Sep-96
44	Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson	C	Omaha (USHL)	6-1/195	31-Oct-96
45	Jeremy Bracco	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-9/175	17-Mar-97
46	Zachary Senyshyn	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/195	30-Mar-97
47	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
48	Ryan Gropp	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/185	16-Sep-96
49	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
50	Jens Looke	RW	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	11-Apr-97
51	Robin Kovacs	RW	AIK (Swe)	6-0/170	16-Nov-96
52	Glenn Gawdin	C	Swift Current (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Mar-97
53	Nikita Korostelev	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/195	8-Feb-97
54	Travis Dermott	D	Erie (OHL)	5-11/195	22-Dec-96
55	Gabriel Carlsson	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-4/185	2-Jan-97
56	Adam Musil	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	6-2/200	26-Mar-97
57	Mitchell Vande Sompel	D	Oshawa (OHL)	5-10/180	11-Feb-97
58	Christian Fischer	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/215	15-Apr-97
59	Brendan Guhle	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-1/185	29-Jul-97
60	Dennis Gilbert	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/200	30-Oct-96

61	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
62	Sebastian Aho	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/175	26-Jul-97
63	Ryan Pilon	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/210	10-Oct-96
64	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
65	Austin Wagner	LW	Regina (WHL)	6-1/180	23-Jun-97
66	Graham Knott	LW	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/195	13-Jan-97
67	Michael Spacek	C	Pardubice (Cze)	5-11/190	9-Apr-97
68	Samuel Montembeault	G	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-2/165	30-Oct-96
69	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
70	Daniel Vladar	G	Kladno (Cze)	6-5/185	20-Aug-97
71	Kyle Capobianco	D	Sudbury (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Aug-97
72	David Kase	C	Chomutov (Cze)	5-11/170	28-Jan-97
73	Bailey Webster	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-3/210	8-Sep-97
74	Felix Sandstrom	G	Brynas (Swe)	6-2/190	12-Jan-97
75	Jesper Lindgren	D	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/160	19-May-97
76	Keegan Kolesar	RW	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/215	8-Apr-97
77	Kevin Davis	D	Everett (WHL)	6-0/185	14-Mar-97
78	Mikhail Vorobyev	C	Salavat Ufa (Rus)	6-2/195	5-Jan-97
79	Vince Dunn	D	Niagara (OHL)	6-0/185	29-Oct-96
80	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
81	Gustav Bouramman	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/185	24-Jan-97
82	Matej Tomek	G	Topeka (NAHL)	6-2/180	24-May-97
83	Lukas Jasek	RW	Trinec (Cze)	5-11/165	28-Aug-97
84	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
85	Roope Hintz	LW	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	6-2/185	17-Nov-96
86	Mitchell Stephens	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/185	5-Feb-97
87	Jean-Christophe Beaudin	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/185	27-Mar-97
88	Filip Ahl	LW	HV 71 (Swe)	6-3/210	12-Jun-97
89	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	Novokuznetsk (Rus)	5-9/185	26-Apr-97
90	John Marino	D	South Shore (USPHL)	6-0/175	21-May-97

91	Chaz Reddekopp	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-3/220	1-Jan-97
92	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
93	Parker Wotherspoon	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/170	24-Aug-97
94	Loik Leveille	D	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	5-11/220	25-Sep-96
95	Adam Gaudette	C	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	6-1/175	3-Oct-96
96	Justin Lemcke	D	Belleville (OHL)	6-2/200	13-Feb-97
97	Gabriel Gagne	RW	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-5/190	11-Nov-96
98	Thomas Schemitsch	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-3/205	26-Oct-96
99	Jesse Gabrielle	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/205	17-Jun-97
100	Jonne Tammela	LW	KalPa (Fin)	5-10/180	5-Aug-97
101	Christian Jaros	D	Lulea (Swe)	6-3/200	2-Apr-96
102	Ales Stezka	G	Liberec (Cze)	6-3/180	6-Jan-97
103	Ethan Bear	D	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/200	26-Jun-97
104	Mathieu Joseph	RW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	9-Feb-97
105	Jeremiah Addison	LW	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	21-Oct-96
106	Devante Stephens	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Jan-97
107	Michael McNiven	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/205	9-Jul-97
108	Jeremy Lauzon	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-2/195	28-Apr-97
109	Luke Opilka	G	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	27-Feb-97
110	Philippe Myers	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-5/195	25-Jan-97
111	Adam Werner	G	Farjestads (Swe)	6-5/185	2-May-97
112	Brendan Warren	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	7-May-97
113	Julius Nattinen	C	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-2/190	14-Jan-97
114	Colton White	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	3-May-97
115	Samuel Dove-McFalls	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-2/205	10-Apr-97
116	Veeti Vainio	D	Blues (Fin)	6-2/170	16-Jun-97
117	Matt Bradley	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-11/185	22-Jan-97
118	Tyler Soy	C	Victoria (WHL)	5-11/170	10-Feb-97
119	Dmytro Timashov	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/190	1-Oct-96
120	A.J. Greer	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-2/205	14-Dec-96

2015 NHL Draft – Top 20 QMJHL Prospects

McKeen's Hockey — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:13:10 +0000

Saint John defenceman Thomas Chabot and Halifax forward Timo Meier have followed similar paths this season.

Both were initially tabbed as early second-round projections - and have soared up the rankings throughout the campaign.

The pair are the top players from the QMJHL in the McKeen's rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft - Meier ranked 13th overall with Chabot at No. 15 - and Saint John teammate and blueline partner Jakub Zboril right behind in 16th place.

Chabot's progress has been particularly impressive considering a shaky start which included being a healthy scratch for an early game.

The native of Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, Quebec grew in confidence as a puckmover and offensive catalyst, taking advantage of his outstanding skating mobility.

He found a complementary partner in Zboril, whose steady all-around game brought a sense of stability to a Sea Dogs team that raced to a 20-9-5 record by Christmas.

Saint John came back to earth over the second half, however, due in part to a knee injury to Zboril that cost the Czech import 19 games.

Zboril's absence did present a silver lining though as unheralded blueliner Bailey Webster stepped into a bigger role and has thrived.

Saint John have five players ranked in the top 20 for the QMJHL - and a sixth just outside in fast-rising winger Mathieu Joseph - currently sitting 23rd on the Q list - 104th overall.

QMJHL	ALL	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	13	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
2	15	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
3	16	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
4	22	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
5	23	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
6	32	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
7	36	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
8	38	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
9	47	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
10	49	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
11	61	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
12	64	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
13	68	Samuel Montembeault	G	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-2/165	30-Oct-96
14	69	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
15	73	Bailey Webster	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-3/210	8-Sep-97
16	80	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
17	84	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
18	87	Jean-Christophe Beaudin	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/185	27-Mar-97
19	92	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
20	94	Loik Leveille	D	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	5-11/220	25-Sep-96

McKeen’s 2015 NHL Top 75 Draft Rankings (Jan-2015)

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:24:53 +0000

A quick demographic breakdown of the McKeen's Top 75 rankings suggests the 2015 NHL Draft is shaping up to have not only good depth but also balance.

The five primary regions are represented fairly equally with the QMJHL leading the way with 17 prospects ranked - followed closely by the OHL (16), Europe/International (16), the WHL (15), and the U.S. (11).

RANK	PREV	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	6	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	5	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
6	7	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
7	11	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	22	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
9	4	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	9	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
11	18	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
12	10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
13	17	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
14	8	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	26	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
16	13	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
17	14	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
18	12	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
19	16	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
20	NR	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
21	15	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
22	20	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
23	30	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
24	NR	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
25	19	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
26	28	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
27	24	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
28	NR	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
29	NR	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
30	NR	Jens Looke	RW	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	11-Apr-97
31	NR	Mackenzie Blackwood	G	Barrie (OHL)	6-4/215	9-Dec-96
32	21	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97
33	25	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
34	NR	Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson	C	Omaha (USHL)	6-1/195	31-Oct-96
35	NR	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
36	NR	Jonas Siegenthaler	D	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-2/220	6-May-97
37	29	Tom Novak	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/180	28-Apr-97
38	NR	Blake Speers	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/180	2-Jan-97
39	NR	Alexander Dergachyov	RW	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-4/200	27-Sep-96
40	NR	Nikita Korostelev	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/195	8-Feb-97
41	NR	Sebastian Aho	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/175	26-Jul-97
42	23	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
43	NR	David Kase	C	Chomutov (Cze)	5-11/170	28-Jan-97
44	NR	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
45	NR	Gabriel Carlsson	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-4/185	2-Jan-97
46	NR	Filip Ahl	LW	HV 71 (Swe)	6-3/210	12-Jun-97
47	NR	Glenn Gawdin	C	Swift Current (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Mar-97
48	NR	Adam Musil	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	6-2/200	26-Mar-97
49	NR	Jeremy Bracco	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-9/175	17-Mar-97
50	NR	Ryan Pilon	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/210	10-Oct-96
51	NR	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
52	NR	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
53	NR	Graham Knott	LW	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/195	13-Jan-97
54	NR	Daniel Vladar	G	Kladno (Cze)	6-5/185	20-Aug-97
55	27	Jordan Greenway	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-5/225	16-Feb-97
56	NR	Michael Spacek	C	Pardubice (Cze)	5-11/190	9-Apr-97
57	NR	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
58	NR	Ryan Gropp	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/185	16-Sep-96
59	NR	Felix Sandstrom	G	Brynas (Swe)	6-2/190	12-Jan-97
60	NR	Parker Wotherspoon	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/170	24-Aug-97
61	NR	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
62	NR	Roope Hintz	LW	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	6-2/185	17-Nov-96
63	NR	Noah Juulsen	D	Everett (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Apr-97
64	NR	Zachary Senyshyn	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/195	30-Mar-97
65	NR	Erik Cernak	D	Kosice (Svk)	6-3/200	28-May-97
66	NR	Brendan Guhle	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/180	29-Jul-97
67	NR	Mitchell Stephens	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/185	5-Feb-97
68	NR	Mitchell Vande Sompel	D	Oshawa (OHL)	5-10/180	11-Feb-97
69	NR	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
70	NR	Jesse Gabrielle	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/205	17-Jun-97
71	NR	Denis Gurianov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-2/185	7-Jun-97
72	NR	Rasmus Andersson	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-0/215	27-Oct-96
73	NR	Dmytro Timashov	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/190	1-Oct-96
74	NR	Justin Lemcke	D	Belleville (OHL)	6-2/200	13-Feb-97
75	NR	Matej Tomek	G	Topeka (NAHL)	6-2/180	24-May-97

Ten QMJHL prospects to keep an eye on for the 2015 NHL Draft

Scott Wheeler — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 15:20:23 +0000

The 2015 NHL Draft is shaping up to be dominated by high-end prospects out of the OHL or the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, including a couple of players making early jumps to the NCAA in Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin.

OHL names like McDavid, Konecny, Strome, Zacha and Marner will also grab headlines as the year progresses and draft lottery odds begin to shape up for the non-playoff teams in the NHL.

In what is shaping up to be one of the strongest drafts in recent memory, there also exists a standout crop of QMJHL players with high-end talent, after just one QMJHL product was selected in the 2014 draft’s first round, Halifax’s Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets).

With early signs pointing to a shot at half a dozen QMJHL prospects going in the first round in 2015, there is considerable intrigue, setting the table for an excellent mid-to-late first round in Sunrise, Fla., in June.

Here are 10 QMJHL players to watch this season.

The cream of the crop:

Daniel Sprong: RW, Charlottetown Islanders

There are few players In the QMJHL capable of controlling play in the way Daniel Sprong can. Drafted small, Sprong has since grown into his frame, scoring nearly one in five of Charlottetown’s goals in 2013-2014.

Frequently referred to by head coach Gordie Dwyer as the team’s most dynamic forward, Sprong has a keen eye for the ice, strong hands and a heavy shot.

Sprong led all Islanders in scoring before registering five points in a four game sweep at the hands of the Halifax Mooseheads.

After spending his summer training in Toronto, Los Angeles and Kelowna, if Sprong can improve on his 68-point rookie season, he’s got a chance to be taken in the first half of the first round.

Evgeni Svechnikov: RW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

One of the premier Russian prospects of the 2015 draft, Svechnikov joined the Screaming Eagles after having been selected in the second round of the CHL Import Draft.

Elite offensive instincts, Svechnikov is fresh off a stint in the KHL as a 16-year-old after dominating with Bars Kazan in the Russian junior ranks.

A hot early start has the young winger attracting a lot of attention from opposing defensemen early on this year. There’s a chance his production actually grows as the season progresses and he adjusts to the game in the QMJHL. If he can show steady progression, he may climb into top-10 discussions.

Jeremy Roy: RD, Sherbrooke Phoenix

Jeremy Roy, simply put, is one of the strongest defensive prospects the QMJHL has produced in recent memory and there’s a strong chance he’s still taken outside the top 10.

A perfect example of the depth of the 2015 class, Jeremy has the tools to be a stronger prospect than Haydn Fleury, who was taken seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2014 draft.

Extremely intelligent, and mobile, Jeremy has the potential to put himself into conversations with the truly elite of the class. Don’t be surprised if he plays his way into talks for Canada’s right side at the World Juniors (on a deep team), or is the first QMJHL player taken in the 2015 draft.

Nicolas Roy: C/RW, Chicoutimi Saguenéens

After being selected first overall in the QMJHL Entry Draft by Cape Breton, and subsequently not reporting, Nicolas ended up with Chicoutimi, registering 41 points in 63 games as a rookie.

After a strong showing for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, Nicolas has gotten off to a comparatively slow start with a weak Chicoutimi team.

An enticing package at 6’4”, Nicolas plays a two-way game, controlling play with strength and good hands. If he can improve his skating, he’s got the tools to be a complete player.

Jakub Zboril: LD, Saint John Sea Dogs

A highly touted Czech prospect since a young age, Jakub Zboril has been selected in CHL, KHL, and USHL drafts, ultimately making his way to Saint John after they selected him 5^th overall in the import draft.

Zboril is eager to join the rush and has one of the heavier point shots in the class. After dominating Ivan Hlinka, Zboril will likely take on a prominent role at this year’s World Juniors on a pretty strong Czech team. If Zboril can come together with 2014 draftees Jakub Vrana, David Pastrnak and Vaclav Karabacek, and 2015 prospects Pavel Zacha and Filip Chlapik, the Czechs could surprise.

Potential risers:

Nathan Noel: C, Saint John Sea Dog

A teammate of Zboril’s, Noel isn’t the biggest or strongest centre in the draft, but he’s one of the more elusive pivots.

Extremely creative with the puck, Noel has high-end offensive upside and great speed. He’ll score in bunches and he’ll wow you with his ability to create at off the rush. Strength and the defensive side of his game could be concerns moving forward.

The Sea Dogs look to be turning a corner after an awful 2013-2014 season, and Noel could be at the forefront offensively. He’s worth keeping an eye on.

Guillaume Brisebois: LD, Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Less offensively gifted than his counterparts Zbroil and J. Roy, Brisebois is a heady two-way defensemen with a good first past and a smooth stride.

Brisebois is another member of Team Canada who impressed at Ivan Hlinka, playing reliable minutes on the second and third pairings. Brisebois is a low-risk player who will be counted on to take on a heavy workload for Acadie-Bathurst.

Filip Chlapik: C, Charlottetown Islanders

After registering 35 points in 38 games with HC Sparta Praha in the Czech U20 league, Chlapik has made his way to the CHL.

Chlapik looks to be the full package down the middle and could be a sleeper moving forward this year.

Big and strong with an excellent shot, solid vision and a knack for dominating on the defensive side of the puck as much as the offensive, Chlapik has the tools to be a dominant pivot at the junior level and is off to a strong early start, playing at a point-per-game pace early on this season.

Nicolas Meloche: RD, Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Another smart, heady defensemen, Meloche played in all situations as a rookie on a competitive Baie-Comeau team.

He’s not a strong skater and often has trouble controlling his gaps off the rush but he’s smart enough and strong enough to make up for it, at least at the junior level. If his skating can improve, his got the ability to be considered as a later pick in the first round.

Dennis Yan: LW, Shawinigan Cataractes

Arguably the most intriguing player to watch in the QMJHL, Yan was outstanding at this year’s Ivan Hlinka tournament for the United States. Known for icing their “B-Team” at Ivan Hlinka, Yan was given an opportunity to play big minutes and the result was eight points in five games, good for second in tournament scoring

A dual-citizen in Russia and the United States, Yan already has eight goals in 10 games with Shawinigan. He’s got the physicality and the skill to be one of 2015’s better left wings.