Nick Malik – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: 2026 European Free Agent Frenzy – 47 Players you may see with an NHL franchise next season

Chapin Landvogt — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:17:08 +0000

There was a time when almost every spring brought with it a free agent name or two out of Europe that created a bit of a bidding war among interested NHL teams. This aspect of springtime business has calmed down in recent years as the rate of regular NHLers to be found has also cooled down, perhaps considerably. The Panarins of the world have been few and far between, even if KHLers usually head the list of desirables. The New York Islanders gobbled up two respective top names coming out of that league in the offseasons of 2024 and 2025, with the results having been less than satisfactory to date.

2024 target Maxim Tsyplakov put in a fairly solid 10-25-35 statline in his first NHL season but had just one point in 25 outings for the Islanders this season before being unceremoniously traded to the New Jersey Devils in what was part of an Ondrej Palat salary dump, only to find himself waived by the Devils about a dozen games later. An undersized Maxim Shabanov was the most heavily targeted prize last spring and ultimately made his way to Long Island but has found himself scratched of late more often than not, even if his 4-12-16 statline over 42 games did include some plays of brilliance that indicated there’s probably more in the tank.

Interestingly, the Tampa Bay Lightning went free agent hunting in Europe last spring and made several signings, with current defenseman Charle-Édouard D’Astous having become the most successful of last year’s crop. He not only has 27 points this season but has regularly chalked up over 18 minutes of TOI throughout the season, serving as the prime example of what teams hope to get when they go this route. Two years ago, the Dallas Stars added 22-year old forward Arttu Hyry to their program, who went on to have a 49-point rookie AHL season and has gotten into 13 NHL games this season as lower line depth.

Each are an attest to what many teams hope to find when they chance it on a low-key signing of a player enjoying success in Europe’s top leagues.

What we’re seeing this spring is that the various European leagues are lacking in big must-have free agent names but are well represented in providing players whom a number of teams would appear interested in adding to their farm systems. Furthermore, a number of available KHL players are not only in their mid-20s but just happen to be free agents in Russia as well, a concern that always precludes some of the statistically most successful players from being market grabs each spring. No less than five forwards have excelled this season and find themselves open to go to whoever they see the best opportunity with, be it in North America or the KHL.

Likewise, leagues such as the SHL, Liiga, NL, and DEL just happen to have the odd U25 player or two available who very much look like worthy ELC candidates, even if none appears close to being an immediate homerun swing of any sort.

With this in mind, we have little doubt that a number of the following players - many of whom were draft topics at one point or have come out of nowhere in recent years - will land themselves a contract with an NHL team and their chances of doing so will be considerably better if they are open to multiyear two-way contracts for next season. As always, the NHL season is a long one with injuries always playing a role, so there’s plenty of reasons for players to pine for the kinds of opportunities that, for example, fell into Pavol Regenda’s lap this past season.

MOST LIKELY TO BE SIGNED THIS SPRING OR OFFSEASON

Vitali Pinchuk (BLR) - C - 24 - 6-foot-3, 203 pounds. - KHL

The well-built former Kingston Frontenac is the cream of the crop for this spring’s European free agents. There were things scouts liked back in the 19-20 season, but it never led to a drafting, and he was quick to return to Belarus (granted, it was the pandemic), where he got a lick of the KHL the next season. Now he’s wrapping up his fourth straight season of KHL play and what a season it’s been, seeing him finish sixth overall in league scoring (66 points) and third overall in goals scored (31). He also put up a +21 rating. Already last season, his 43 points raised a good number of eyebrows and had teams very curious about this season, knowing he was scheduled to become a free agent this spring. He’s in full playoff mode now with three points in an initial round sweep of Dynamo Moscow. It is felt that he should be NHL-ready right off the bat, capable of a heavy game and nifty stickwork. There was a bit more hoopla about Tsyplakov and Shabanov in recent years, but Pinchuk may have the kind of overall game that’ll make him a more versatile NHL option.

Danil Aimurzin (RUS) - C - 23 - 6-foot-0, 180 pounds. - KHL

Not the biggest, fastest, or slickest player out there, Aimurzin nonetheless is very solid on his skates, makes a husky impression, and, well, constantly brings the puck to the goal. And if he’s not doing it, he’s heading to the net to make himself a pass option or pounce on rebounds. There’s a solid offensive orientation to his game, featuring strong patience with the puck, and he plays in a manner that makes it feel like he doesn’t sense stress. Although very different in the highlights department from a player like Maxim Shabanov the year before, Aimurzin is still fairly young and has a puck-protection style that is easily imaginable on North American ice. Truth be told, he’s coming off his worst regular season (14-29-43 and -7) in several years but is only now truly a free agent topic due to his current contract concluding this spring. His 57 points last season (including 31 goals) would have made him a likely signing last summer, so teams that were interested then are surely going to continue being in the hunt. For what it’s worth, his Cherepovets team features two draft picks from both Carolina and Pittsburgh.

260108 Skellefteås Pontus Johansson under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Skellefteå och HV71 den 8 januari 2026 i Skellefteå.
Foto: Johan Löf / BILDBYRÅN / COP 230 / JH0083

Pontus Johansson (SWE) - LHD - 24 - 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. - SHL

A slick, mobile defenseman whose deep knee crouch and long, straight back are reminiscent of former Blackhawk and Coyote Niklas Hjalmarsson, Johansson is currently suiting up for playoff hockey in his fifth season of SHL hockey, having literally exploded onto the scene this season after four relatively anonymous seasons of SHL play. His six goals in 51 games are as many as the past four seasons combined while his 25 points and +15 far outweigh anything he’s done before. That he’s often chewed up over 20 minutes of TOI per game only goes to show how much his role has grown for an absolute championship contender this year, not surprising in light of Skelleftea’s regular ability to develop future NHL talent. Pontus’ age is just right to take the next step, and his all-round play should be making him an attractive target for teams looking for a wide variety of defensive depth options.

Nick Malik

Nick Malik (CZE) - G - 23 - 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. - CZE

It wasn’t too long ago that the US-born Czech goaltender was a Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick selected as a 20-year-old after a strong season as a starter for Kookoo of the Finnish Liiga. He continued to be a starter there in the years thereafter, but always with a losing record and numerical statistics that didn’t inspire Tampa to sign him on time to retain his rights. In the past two years, he’s taken his act back home to Plzen, where he’s served as the starter for a regular playoff contestant, putting up topflight stats in that league each year. At the moment, his team looks poised to easily get to the second round of the playoffs, naturally with Malik in net, so a signing will have to wait a few weeks. Alas, when a goaltender of this age in a pro league carries his team to the tune of a 25-14 record with six shutouts, a 1.65 GAA, and a .929 save percentage in a whopping 41 starts, he can become a hot topic for NHL teams seeking viable goaltending depth.

Daniil Gutik (RUS) - LW - 24 - 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. - KHL

Had Gutik been available last offseason, it’s hard to imagine that he’d not have been gobbled up. He was 23 and coming off a total of 28 goals and 57 points. He has size, can aptly get from point A to B, and has actually been more noticeable as a playmaker to that point, until he started putting pucks in the net with regularity. This season didn’t kick off as promising with an Admiral Vladivostok team that never really competed, but a midseason trade to Spartak Moscow saw him pick things up again, collecting 19 points in 21 games and now having scored two goals in three playoff games to date. All in all, he finished 20-27-47 in 65 games and has a total package that should lead to a couple of suitors, again fully aware of his current contractual status as an unrestricted KHL free agent. The assumption will be that he’d need some time in the AHL to gain his bearings in North America.

Skellefteås Rickard Hugg
Foto: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN

Rickard Hugg (SWE) - C/W - 27 - 5-foot-10, 190 pounds. - SHL

After captaining the Kitchener Rangers in the 18-19 season and scoring at over a PPG pace that year, some were surprised that Hugg didn’t latch on to an NHL organization. In light of his skating style and average size, it shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise. He then immediately headed back to his home region in Sweden and went pro with Skelleftea, playing two decent seasons on a lower line before becoming a top six mainstay. Over his last four seasons, he’s managed to put up between 40-50 points every year, playoffs included. However, as this year’s playoffs get underway, Hugg is coming off a career best 56 regular season points and a +13 rating, having established himself as a serious threat in every game and seen in the SHL as one of the top 5-10 forwards whatsoever. He’s simply hard to get the puck from and combines a hounding playing style with some very nifty mitts and a strong wrister. The feeling is that he can immediately jump onto an NHL roster and contend for a third line spot, especially in light of his cycling abilities and net-area instincts.

Simon Johansson (SWE) - RHD - 26 - 6-foot-2, 194 pounds. - Liiga

Johansson is a known commodity who, as a 2018 5th rounder, joined the Wild organization for two solid, but unspectacular AHL seasons not too long ago and actually has a contract for Kloten of the NL in the bag for next season. However, he’s coming off a monster season in the Finnish Liiga in which he accounted for 19-32-51 and a +16 over 58 games, regularly logging app. 20 minutes of ice time every night. This not only meant he was the league’s top scoring defenseman but 14th overall in league scoring. If there’s any hope on his behalf of giving the NHL another shot, now wouldn’t be the worst time. He has never been a defensive beast but has savvy transitional skills and comes with strong bloodlines (cousin to Alex Winnberg and brother to Anton and Victor, both drafted). Perhaps accompanying one of the pups to their respective AHL club next season would make for a good storyline.

SHOT IN NORTH AMERICA BECKONS!?

Matyas Filip (CZE) - 25 - C - 5-foot-11, 187 pounds. - CZE

Filip is just the type of unassuming player who could see himself in a Radek Faksa or Zemgus Girgensons role at the NHL level within a few years’ time if he plays his cards right. Having shown steady play as a lower line center for years now, Filip took a step towards being one of the Czech league’s most important two-way players. With 13 goals, 26 points, and a +11 in 46 regular season games as well as another 3 points and +4 in 7 playoff games, he’s assuming the middle six forward role to a tee for his Plzen club in this career year, but the stats only tell part of the story for a player who thinks team-first and is a go-to must when the defensive chips are on the line. Skating and average size is there for a player who could very well be a solid lower line option after a season of AHL preparation.

Tobias Normann (NOR) - 24 - G - 6-foot-1, 187 pounds. - SHL

Normann spent last season, his first in the SHL, as famed Frölunda’s 1B starter. This season, he made his way to being the team’s 1A. Ultimately, his season ended on April 2nd against Lulea with a 2-3 record and a sparkling 1.33 GAA and .921 save percentage, something his stacked club couldn’t make use of. Alas, Normann’s regular season saw a number of fantastic performances including three shutouts in 24 appearances. Furthermore, his 1.68 GAA and .923 save percentage led the entire SHL in both categories, even if his 14-10 record was good, but pedestrian for a club that had heavy title ambitions. Originally from Norway, Normann has extensive pro experience from teenage years back home and used a strong 23-24 season in the HockeyAllsvenskan to jump up to the SHL last year. He also stood in goal for Team Norway three times at the Men’s WC last spring, pitching a shutout and 2.63 GAA along the way. We expect him in net in Switzerland this spring as well, likely as his nation’s starter. The time is ripe for him to take a next step if he should have any NHL ambitions, even if Frölunda would love to see him finish off his contract there, which first expires after the 28/29 season.

Patrik Puistola (FIN) - 25 - RW/LW - 6-foot-0, 181 pounds. - SHL

It’s hard to say if the former Carolina Hurricanes draft pick could one day be a true NHL option, but it is clear that he’s not only overcome a few skating issues from his earlier years but has spent the past four seasons establishing himself as a top producer in both the SHL and Liiga, meaning there’s little doubt he’d at least contribute to an AHL line-up right off the bat. Anyone seeing him the past two seasons has noticed a player who is very keen on generating high octane opportunities and even found more of a playmaker gene than initially thought, seeing as how he was originally drafted as a gunner off the wing, thanks greatly to being a Mestis-league goalscorer in his draft year and then a bit of a sniper at ensuing U18 Worlds and WJC tournaments. Agile and slick with his turns in the corner, Puistola is not a speedster and certainly not one to be found deeply involved in rough stuff. It definitely feels like a team playing with house money would best be served by bringing him in and seeing how much of an option he turns himself into after he gets a bit of AHL play under his belt.

Theo Rochette (SUI/CAN) - 24 - C/LW - 5-foot-11, 172 pounds. - Swiss NL

A former Memorial Cup winner, Rochette first turned 24 in February and has taken his steady development to a new level this season, serving as perhaps the NL’s top U25 player whatsoever. After regular seasons of 30 and then 31 points the past two years, he jumped to 22 goals and 43 points this past season and just exited the playoffs in an exciting seven-game series, pitching in with seven points along the way. The author of 317 points in 271 career QMJHL games, it was felt Rochette may sign a contract last summer after a spring to remember featuring 11 goals and 17 points in 19 playoff games. When one combines his continued growth as a point collector with what’s been an uncanny ability to play meaningful hockey every spring - and constantly fantastic +/- stats to boot -, it should be a foregone conclusion that an NHL team will look to give him a shot as soon as this summer.

Sandro Schmid (SUI) - C/RW - 25 - 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. - Swiss NL

No relation to Swiss NHL goaltender Akira Schmid, the former Malmö Redhawk junior player is coming off his seventh straight NL season, and it has been his finest by a country mile, turning into a top league playmaker with a career year of 10-28-38 over 52 games. Actually, it’s been a longer stretch of fine play for Schmid who was not only a part of Switzerland’s silver-medal-winning WC squad last spring but contributed a 3-4-7 statline in the process. All this also led to him being at this winter’s Olympics where he provided a strong Swiss club with some feisty 3rd line play and intelligent corner work. And this is where it gets interesting because he’s always been capable of providing energy and conducting yeoman work but now it’s turning into more dangerous creation of offensive opportunities off the forecheck. This development would indicate there’s sound logic in believing he can step right onto an NHL checking line without missing a beat. Another strong WC performance this spring - a tournament taking place in his native Switzerland - might be all we need to see before he signs an ELC.

Axel Sundberg (SWE) - RW/LW - 27 - 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. - SHL

Last year, we identified Sundberg as a heavy-built winger who had come out of nowhere to put himself on the map of system depth options. With skating deficiencies that nonetheless look like they’d be little problem on smaller ice surfaces, Sundberg went from being a lower level nobody to a 2nd line SHLer last season. Now somewhat fully developed, he’s taken it all a bit further this spring, jumping from 25 to 34 points and engraving himself on the left face-off circle of the power play. There’s a physical dimension to his game and he uses his body adeptly to not only protect the puck, but ward off oncoming attackers. Sure, he’s come a long way in a short period of time while quickly heading towards his late 20s but it’s very easy to picture him wreaking some havoc on a North American ice surface. We’ll soon find out if an NHL team feels the same way.

JUST GETTING OUT OF THEIR DIAPERS

Hugo Fransson (SWE) - LHD - 21 - 6-foot-0, 176 pounds. - SHL

If he were one year younger, we’d have little doubt that Fransson would be an overage draftee this summer. Despite two straight seasons of SHL play with at least 27 contests per season, rounded out by some decent HockeyAllsvenskan play, no-one foresaw the kind of breakout season he enjoyed this year, albeit for an SHL team that needed to punch its SHL ticket for a 3rd straight year in the relegation round series. Finishing off with 11-16-27 numbers over 56 games, Fransson has been the discovery of the season in the SHL and everyone’s curious to see if that’ll pocket him an ELC, especially in light of how many smaller, mobile defensemen have made their way to the NHL in recent years. At his age, it would be akin to a team signing a draft pick.

Santeri Huovila (FIN) - LW - 21 - 6-foot-0, 172 pounds. - Liiga

After putting up a 9-33-42 statline in 49 games as a Liiga rookie last year, Huovila managed to tie that output this year with 5-37-42, yet he achieved that in all of 33 games! We understand if you need to blink twice seeing that stat. A 21-year-old undrafted player collecting more than one assist per game is something you quite frankly do not see in many established pro leagues, much less one featuring former NHLers and current NHL draftees. There is of course a reason for doubt, as he not only is a lightweight out on the ice but doesn’t have much of a second gear. However, there’s a radar in that head of his and if you’re open and in a scoring position, watch out! You will get the puck. He is incredibly adept at handling the biscuit and quickly distributing it. A team willing to invest in a physically underdeveloped player will add a skillset and player who has started looking underchallenged in the Finnish Liiga.

Adrian Klein (GER) - LHD - 22 - 6-foot-3, 212 pounds. - DEL

There was a time when Klein was just a 16-year-old gangly defenseman who managed to put up 11 points in Germany’s 3rd pro league circuit. It’s not something we see often, so the hope was that he’d make his way to being an NHL topic. Even though he progressed fairly evenly, bit by bit, getting 80 DEL games under his belt between the ages of 17-19, participating in a U18 Worlds and two WJCs, the size and experience combo just wasn’t enticing enough to overcome some mobility and hockey IQ issues and see him get drafted. What has happened since is that he’s become a DEL regular and after two seasons of being his team’s # 6/7 defenseman, he established himself as a clear-cut top four this past season, making incredible use of his size as a shot and pass blocker while regularly muscling out opponents along the boards and in front of the net. In addition, he put in a career year statistically with five goals, 16 points, and a+10 rating over 51 games heading into the playoffs. We’d love to see him play for Germany at the men’s WC and have to think there’s an NHL team out there that knows he’s ready for a bigger test - and may not want to wait to enter what would likely become a bidding war if he ups the ante once again next season.

Jere Lassila (FIN) - C - 22 - 5-foot-10, 176 pounds. - Liiga

There are those out there in the scouting community who wonder how players like Lassila slip through the cracks come draft day. Once the captain of Finland’s U18 entry (8 points in 6 games) and then two years later its WJC entry (8 points in 7 games), Lassila is basically a coach’s dream. He’s a hound out there who plays with intensity and simply understands where he needs to be and what he needs to be doing in situations in all three zones. He’s seen regular Liiga action for four straight years now, seeing his point production increase from 3 to 26 to 35 to now 58 points. Indeed, a 20-38-58 and +4 statline in 60 games for a non-playoff team is highly impressive for a player who just turned 22 at the end of March. Seeing as how his game is very much a two-way affair, it’s hard to imagine there won’t be an NHL team ready to bring him in and start shaping him for a future bottom nine role at the NHL level. There was a time when he was just felt to be downright small, but his actual size isn’t unheard of at the NHL level.

Vasili Machulin (RUS) - LHD - 23 - 6-foot-4, 201 pounds. - KHL

A no frills defenseman with great size, Machulin plays an unspectacular all-round game in which he has no hesitation to use his body in a variety of ways. Playing for a weaker Sochi team for several seasons now, Machulin racks up the TOI, often getting upwards of 21 minutes per contest, seeing use in just about every situation, save for the power play. There’s little risk in his game and yet it always looks like there’s a bit more that could be squeezed out under the right circumstances. He nonetheless has 19 and 14 points to show for himself the past two seasons. For teams that keep their eyes open for low-risk, physical additions such as an Artyom Zub or Ilya Lyubushkin, for example, Machulin could be right up their alley. He is well-schooled and now quite KHL-experienced for a player who hasn’t yet turned 24.

Janne Naukkarinen (FIN) - C/W - 22 - 6-foot-2, 192 pounds. - Liiga

The 23-24 season was Naukkarinen’s first full season of Liiga play (20 points) and also saw him get in some reps at the WJC where he collected two assists. This wasn’t enough to get drafted as an overager, but he continued to keep eyebrows raised with a decent 24-25 season that didn’t see any real progress pointwise (18 in total) yet a continued Liiga role as a third line center with five points over 21 playoff games to boot. This year saw him in a similar role but with a good bit more production, delivering 24 points and cutting down his penalty minutes. The skating is anything but polished yet he’s a big body with a solid slate of pro experience to date and an offensive game that keeps showing flashes of being deserving of more opportunity. Could that come in the AHL next year?

Nestor Noiva (FIN) - RW - 22 - 6-foot-0, 183 pounds. - Liiga

Despite strong U18 and U20 league stats, Noiva has only represented his nation in international friendly play and not at any of the major tournaments. However, he did work his way into a regular shift and 25 points last season as a Liiga rookie and there was no sophomore slump this year, as Noiva put up 12-24-36 and +5 regular season numbers, which he impressively improved on with 7 points in a 5-game first round playoff victory over Kiekoo-Espoo. His importance to his Assat team can’t be overstated as he regularly logs ca. 19 minutes of TOI per game and is coming off a recent 38-minute performance in a game that stretched over six periods. Should he get signed this offseason, we would say there’s good potential for Noiva to take the same kind of developmental path as recent Dallas Stars signing Arttu Hyry.

Veit Oswald (GER) - LW - 21 - 6-foot-2”, 179 pounds. - DEL

Where to start. After a quiet but interesting draft year with a sneaky good U18 Worlds performance, Oswald really made some noise in his DY+2 (both at the WJC and in DEL play) but didn’t get drafted and then fell off the planet a bit in conjunction with a disjointed Munich team in DY+3, despite having attended the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect camp the summer before. Still 21 right on up into August, Oswald has reset his clock this year, being the most effective U22 player in the DEL and serving as a multifaceted weapon for a Munich team with serious aspirations. Often playing with established ex-AHLers, Oswald has never looked out of place and set career highs of 12-14-26 and a +16 in 38 games before suffering an injury that has kept him out since mid-January. Chances are that his numbers would be even more appealing just now as his team found a bit of a groove right down the stretch. We’re convinced that a team ready to give him an ELC can throw him right into a top nine role in the AHL next season and think of him much like a drafted player with NHL upside moving forward.

Matvei Polyakov (RUS) - RW - 21 - 5-foot-10, 176 pounds. - KHL

Aside from strong MHL statistics the past two seasons for SKA St. Petersburg’s junior club, Polyakov hasn’t popped out as an overage Russian player you risk a pick on. That’s usually reserved for someone who is sticking out in the KHL. Now beyond draftability, the slightly undersized Polyakov decided to use the last year of his current contract to force his way onto St. Petersburg’s roster and simply become the veteran-laden squad’s sixth best scorer with a 16-13-29 statline. Likely a player St. Petersburg fully intends on retaining, signing him now would - age wise - be like investing in a recent European draft pick. Combine this season and the prior high-scoring junior years and well, Polyakov has clearly outplayed a number of Russian forwards who have been drafted this century.

Alexander Smolin (RUS) - G - 22 - 6-foot-2, 168 pounds. - KHL

One of the youngest goalies on the market, Smolin has seen an astronomic rise in his stock in a very short period of time. Only two seasons ago, he was splitting his time between the junior MHL, the second tier VHL, with a bit of KHL hockey sprinkled in between. Then he became a full-time back-up for Metallurg last season, generating all-round solid numbers and a 14-6-2 record. This season saw him split duties and take things to another level. A 23-8-2 record was accompanied by a 2.33 GAA and .915 save percentage, stats that are fine if not lights out in the KHL. He has kicked off the playoffs with three straight victories and a 1.00 GAA and .947 save percentage. There are Gagarin Cup ambitions here, so we’ll see where Smolin is at when all is said and done, but there’s no doubt the age/performance ratio is very enticing.

Jimi Suomi (FIN) - LHD - 23 - 5-foot-11, 174 pounds. - Liiga

Always known as a mobile and agile skater, Suomi was a known commodity (although a good bit smaller) in his draft year, when he put up four assists at the U18 Worlds. He followed that with 32 games and six points in Liiga play in his DY+1. Over the years, he kept gaining experience and after two straight seasons of regular deployment in Finland’s best pro league, he enjoyed a bit of a breakthrough this season with 11 goals, 31 points, and a +13 in 53 games. Suomi has a shot and has a real knack of avoiding the rough stuff when players come hunting for him. If he doesn’t make his way to North America, the feeling is we’ll see him in the SHL next season.

Jiri Tichacek (CZE) - LHD - 23 - 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. - Liiga

Yes, there’s a bit of a size issue here. We always knew that no matter what he achieved, that size wasn’t what you ideally want to use a draft pick on. He could be another Jared Spurgeon, but teams don’t make a habit of selecting that in advance. Still, Tichacek keeps arousing interest. He made the Czech Olympic team (alas, only getting ca. 10 minutes of ice time all tourney long) but more importantly, he took his gig to Finland after an impressive 24-25 season in the Czech Republic and actually took a little step in the process. Like in 24-25, he accumulated 31 points, doing so in two fewer games than the year before. He also improved by seven points in the +/- department. The question is if there’s a team out there who can hand him the power play blueliner job at the AHL level next season? If there is, there could be grounds for finding out if Tichacek could just be another Spurgeon.

Yegor Vinogradov (RUS) - C/RW - 22 - 6-foot-3, 203 pounds - KHL

The well-built forward who hasn’t exactly been fleet-of-foot in recent years took the next step in a major way this season. After three seasons of subtle KHL introduction to the tune of 17, 13, and 16 points, Yegor received a whole new role while suddenly displaying an almost newfound will to succeed, chiming in with 23-31-54 and +6 totals in 67 regular season games while having since chipped in 3 points in his team’s 4-1 first round playoff victory over Cherepovets. The author of a number of smooth moves and slick passes throughout the season, he did indicate a breakout might be coming when he played part of last season in Russia’s second tier pro league, the VHL, putting 23 points in 21 games and adding another 18 in 19 playoff games, 10 of which were goals. Whereas a team could worry about how much this season was a one-and-done productionwise, it was his 4th season of KHL play and a look at the production itself would indicate that he’s only just begun to realize what he’s capable of. Should his next contract be a KHL contract, rest assured that it’ll be a long one, so now would be the time to strike if you believe in his possibilities.

IS THE TIME FINALLY RIPE?

Boris Blank (GER) - LW/C - 24 - 6-foot-0, 187 pounds. - DEL

Already having completed six full seasons of DEL play, the former WJC participant was a draft topic for several years but simply didn’t display the overall speed to compensate for other holes in his game. This season, he has exploded onto the scene with 19-28-47 numbers in 52 games, becoming a clear-cut go-to offensive player. Plenty in the scene feel it’s time for him to get a WC call as well for Germany, but that is still up in the air. What is clear is that he has shown flashes for years now, but his skating has gotten to a point where it shouldn’t prohibit an international career. The question now is if a team sees him as a player who is simply a year of AHL play away from being an NHL option. His stats certainly trump other U25 players who’ve signed ELCs in recent years and he made a very mature impression this year, taking the bull by the horns for a club that needed him to score.

Max Franzreb (GER) - G - 29 - 6-foot-0, 198 pounds. - DEL

Actually smaller than he appears on the ice, Franzreb has been a goalie who has looked mentally stronger than most you’ll see around Europe for a number of years now, often scratching the surface of what seems to be untapped potential. This winter, he took over the reins as the 1A in net for yearly contender Adler Mannheim and has put in his best ever season, not only putting up a 23-11 record, but finishing third in GAA (2.04) and SV% (.921). He was also on the Olympic team and faced the US in a game where he put up a valiant effort for the first and final 20 minutes of play. He’s definitely a bit old to be an NHL option, but a strong playoff push (4-1 record in a first round victory) might be the cherry on top for a team looking to add a sneaky 3rd option for its goalie rotation next fall. His current coach and GM is former NHL official Dallas Eakins.

Leon Hüttl (GER) - RHD - 25 - 6-foot-0, 180 pounds. - DEL

Another player who has been seen at the men’s WC in recent years, Hüttl was a strong candidate for the Olympic team but the coaching staff went in another direction. His playoffs are about to begin and we’re thinking last spring’s decent WC performance should see him there again this year, but what we don’t have any doubt about is his mobility, hockey IQ, and overall understanding of how to push the game forward up the ice. He’s got another 25+ points (28 to date) but his +24 ties a career high and has him 7th overall in the league. He’s not the biggest player around and not a speed demon either, but he’s a Brian Rafalski of sorts by DEL standards and we’ve wondered what an NHL organization could make of him, considering he has a pure winner’s attitude and is a highly respected competitor in the DEL.

Yaroslav Likhachyov (RUS) - 24 - LW - 5-foot-11, 174 pounds. - KHL

He played three seasons of hockey in the QMJHL and was never drafted, with his final season coming during the pandemic. After two years of decent youngster production in the KHL, he kind of fell off the map last season with just 10 goals and 14 points. Little was expected this season, but in the final year of his KHL contract, he went out and blew away all previous highs with 22 goals and 39 points in 59 games. He was always a good player on the move with some solid hands and now it’s come to fruition. What is unclear is his exact contractual status as he played on loan with an option this season. If he feels he’s on the cusp of some big KHL numbers heading into next season, it may be worth it to ink a one-year KHL deal and see what next spring brings. But if Lokomotiv is his only option for next season should he stay in Russia, where he was stunted in the 24-25 season, he may feel the time is right to give North America another go.

Nick Olesen (DEN) - C/W - 30 - 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. - CZE

For sure, you’ll rarely see a player this old listed in this or any list of possible European free agents, but Olesen has something cooking recently that some team out there definitely has on its radar. Long a player who simply made noise in his native Denmark or in Sweden’s lower leagues, Olesen eventually made it to the SHL and played a minimal middle six role for 3 seasons, once even potting 13 goals. Then he took his act to the Czech Republic, where he had his best season as a pro and something went “click”. Last spring, a Team Denmark featuring Nikolaj Ehlers as its sole NHL player had a magical run in a tournament it hosted. A key in that run was Olesen, who whipped up 12 points in 10 games. He then blew all previous highs out of the water this season with 45 points in 51 regular season games for Ceske Budjevice, also participating in the Olympics along the way, where he led Denmark in scoring with 4-1-5 in four games. Quite clever around the net and in making use of time and space, while also fleet of foot, one has to wonder if he’s just the good old fashioned case of a very, very late bloomer. In any case, his most recent stats in conjunction with his above-average international performances have raised eyebrows and one should never underestimate how hungry a player from a smaller hockey nation like Denmark could be if the opportunity comes along.

Eugen Rabcan (SVK) - G - 24 - 6-foot-3, 196 pounds. - SVK

In his third season of regular top league play in Slovakia, Rabcan became an absolute minute-muncher for a run of the mill team that is in the midst of an interesting playoff battle at this time, one Rabcan has a 3-3 record in. All in all, Rabcan started 40 regular season games and put up a 20-20 record with a 2.52 GAA and strong .921 save percentage. There is talk of Rabcan having a good shot at being part of the country’s WC outfit (2-0 with a 1.49 GAA in several international outings this winter) and seeing as how he’s represented by an agency with a heavy emphasis on North America, Rabcan’s path to an NHL organization could be just a few contractual autographs away.

Colin Ugbekile (GER) - LHD - 26 - 6-foot-2, 198 pounds. - DEL

There were some who felt Ugbekile should have been on the Olympic team. It didn’t happen and we’ll be curious to see if he is one of the final cuts for the men’s WC or keeps strutting his stuff in Switzerland. Fact is, it’s likely now or never for the former USHLer who has clearly established himself as one of the top two-way defensemen and power play quarterbacks in the DEL, coming off a career season with nine goals, 43 points, and a +10 rating for a team that once again came up short of the playoffs. He’s got the size and wheels to give the AHL the good ol’ college try, and his game is definitely one that can thrive in a program that emphasizes the transition. But it’s easy to think that if an NHL contract isn’t offered this summer, that might be all she wrote for a player who’d spend the next 10 years likely being one of the DEL top five German defensemen on a yearly basis.

Libor Zabransky (CZE) - RHD - 25 - 6-foot-0, 203 pounds. - CZE

You look at Zabransky’s size and shot, and his plethora of WHL experience as well as his regular appearance for his native Czech Republic on the international stage (albeit, without any WC performances), and you have to wonder how come no-one has taken a flyer on him to see what he can do at the pro level in North America. Let there be no doubt that there have always been warts in his game, but he’s tickled scouts’ fancy here and there to keep his name in the notebooks. Now, after six seasons of pro play, with four of them having been in a bottom four role in the Finnish Liiga, Zabransky has cashed in his maturity cheque and set Czech league bluelines on fire to the tune of 18 goals this season. Considering he had never had more than seven in any given season, and that was five years ago, teams will have to determine if it’s just one-off or if Zabransky has reached the potential he once long hinted at.

YOU DON’T KNOW HIM, BUT DON’T BE SURPRISED IF HE GETS SIGNED

Ruslan Abrosimov (RUS) - C - 24 - 5-foot-10, 181 pounds. - KHL

A former MHL captain and top scorer, Abrosimov put in three straight seasons of KHL play and improvement before exploding this season to the tune of 24 goals, 48 points, and a +15 in 62 games, wearing an “A” on his chest while at it. If there are any NHL aspirations, the timing is just right for a player whose game is all about production. Slightly below average size doesn’t have to be an issue here as Abrosimov is adept at avoiding physical contact.

Vasily Atanosov (RUS) - RW/C - 23 - 5-foot-11, 160 pounds. - KHL

A strong identifier of opportunities and a player who knows how to read the room on the rush, Atanosov has done nothing but produce in recent years. Although he came in shy of the 40 points he had for Torpedo in their strong 23-24 season, Atanosov has deposited 21 shots in the net this year (36 points) and is finally a contractual free agent. There’s skill and vision here, and you never know how long the next KHL contract will be. He has consistently scored in the KHL for three straight seasons, so teams know what he is, but also that he’s quite a lightweight.

Tim Barkemo (SWE) - LHD - 21 - 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. - HockeyAllsvenskan

We’ll preface this by mentioning that you rarely see a Swedish UFA sign an ELC coming out of the second tier HockeyAllsvenskan. Then again, Barkemo had several solid U20 league seasons in the Skelleftea organization, even suiting up 13 times for the regular SHL contender. Last season was then his first full introduction to pro play, and he turned himself into a regular. This season, he turned himself into a top two defenseman who a number of SHL clubs are on the hunt for, with Skelleftea likely having the best cards. His 5-17-22 and +21 statline over 50 games is quite impressive for a player his age in a conservative league (scoring wise), but he put up six points in his team’s first round playoff sweep. Most importantly, he regularly sees upwards of 22 minutes of TOI per game. In his most recent playoff contest, he gobbled up 31:13 of ice time. We’re talking about a player that an NHL franchise could really mold quite directly as of next season. Otherwise, he’s clearly SHL-bound.

Maxim Fedotov (RUS) - RHD - 24 - 5-foot-10, 172 pounds. - KHL

That last name should ring a bell because Maxim is indeed Red Wings legend Sergei’s eldest son. The undersized righty shot defender actually had his best KHL season for Torpedo back in the 22-23 season, capped off by seven points in 10 playoff games. After finding lower line roles in the KHL in recent years, he was back in a top four role again this year, which he capped off with 24 points in 52 games, serving as his team’s best all-round defender after Artyom Serikov, who will hit the UFA market next summer. Fedotov now has loads of KHL experience, mostly with bottom-feeders, but without a KHL contract under his belt, the option is there to test his luck in North America and a certain someone may even be able to open a door or two to that opportunity.

Anton Kosolapov (RUS) - LW - 24 - 6-foot-1, 190 pounds. - KHL

Once a player with some good junior numbers, Kosolapov stood out mostly as a bit of a tenacious forechecker who liked to bang bodies. His VHL stats in recent years never really popped and until this season, it looked like he might just end up a minor leaguer in Russia for the long run. Then he got a shot with a new organization (Sibir Novosibirsk) and proceeded to go 17-21-38 and + 7 in 38 games. He’s still playing playoff hockey right now, but he’ll be a KHL free agent this offseason. It won’t be for long though as he’ll have a number of suitors and heck, he might be best served sticking with Sibir. But if an NHL team has seen something it likes, and Kosolapov put some wares on display, now is the time to bring him in, even if the plan would be to give him a year of AHL hockey and hope for the best.

Lucas Lagerberg Hoen (SWE) - LHD - 21 - 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. - SHL

For the draft gurus among us, you’ll recognize this last name and wonder what’s going on. No worries though, Lucas is just the older brother of Jonas, who is draft eligible this summer. But while Jonas unfortunately missed much of his draft season, Lucas was able to use this season to officially put his name on the map. It wasn’t a fairy tale ride though as Lagerberg Hoen spent some nights getting just 1-2 minutes of ice time and others with 19+, so there was a good bit of up and down in his role. But when all was said and done, he had eight points in 43 games and established himself as a physically adept youngster who skated and competed like an older player. This season came on the heels of two prior years in the HockeyAllsvenskan where he was often entrusted with a healthy dose of ice time. There’s a package here to build on and Lagerberg Hoen looks like the kind of player teams that haven’t drafted much in recent years would be interested in.

Danjo Leonhardt - LW - 23 - 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. - DEL

The stats won’t blow anyone away although his 29 points and +13 in 45 regular season games are career highs for a player who looks to explode in the DEL in coming years, but Leonhardt has long been on our watchlist and checks a number of boxes for teams that appreciate what the Ondrej Palats of the world can offer to an organization. He gets his nose dirty and does a lot of the little things right, making high value decisions all over the ice and being particularly effective around the opponent’s net. He’s been incrementally earning himself a closer look in recent years and it feels bound to come, next summer if not this one.

Aleksi Matinmikko (FIN) - RHD - 26 - 5-foot-11, 181 pounds. - Liiga

Some players just take a bit of time and Matinmikko is now one of those mid-20s European pros who is what he is, and you’ve got to wonder what a shot in North America might lead to. Having never played outside his native Finland, Matinmikko has been tasting Liiga waters since the 19-20 season, but it took a whopping 21-goal, 65-point season in the second tier Mestis to finally get the type of role he’s been auditioning for. Now he’s wrapping up his third year of full-time Liiga play and his 9-25-34 and +30 was clearly his best to date. His size is average and he isn’t the most mobile player around, but he has a bullet of a shot and has gotten incrementally better year after year for four seasons now.

Oleksii Myklukha (UKR) - C - 23 - 5-foot-10”, 176 pounds. - SVK

The former QMJHLer has never really given the scouting community the belief that he, at his size, had enough jam and enough tricks in the bag to become an NHL option. But in addition to last year’s playoffs, the agile Myklukha has exploded offensively in Slovakia’s top league. There’s a player here who creates time and space, then sets up the open players who can benefit from the newfound areas Myklukha has created, ringing up 18 goals and 55 points in 51 games this season. It’s clear that he’s ready to be playing in a higher profile league next season. Does an NHL team think that league should be the AHL?

Mikkel Oby-Olsen (NOR) - RW - 23 - 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. - HockeyAllsvenskan

Without a doubt, one of the slyest possibilities you’ll read about today. Despite playing almost a full season of HockeyAllsvenskan contests in the 22-23 season, he fell off a bit until latching on again last season to the tune of 25 points. That he’d push that production to 30 goals and 50 points in 54 games this season couldn’t have been expected. But it wasn’t just the numbers that made things special. It was the how. He’s been effective everywhere, controlling play as a puck-carrying trickster, making wonderful passes, and sniping from many spots, often on the power play. He was Almtuna’s all-purpose weapon and raised plenty of eyebrows this winter. The assist totals would have surely been more impressive if he had more talent to work with. We not only expect an SHL contact to be in the bag, but a spot on Norway’s next WC squad seems to be a given at this point. The question is if a team thinks it could find some unexpected gold by bringing over the Oby-Olsen train?

Jasper Patrikainen (FIN) - G - 25 - 6-foot-1, 176 pounds. - SVK

The smaller built battler had an eye-opening 22-23 season, when he pounced on an opportunity and put up a number of wins and some decent stats, but fell right back into more of a back-up role with time missed in each of the last two seasons of Liiga play. In fact, he was so disenchanted with where he was career wise, he jumped to Stavanger of the Norwegian league last season and went on an 8-1 tear in the playoffs. That landed him a gig in Slovakia and he’s been lights out this season, going 22-8 in the regular season with six shutouts. The 2.02 GAA and .930 save percentage haven’t been shabby either. In the middle of the playoffs, the question is if the size isn’t a deterrent, is he the dominating goalie we’ve seen in weaker leagues in Norway and Slovakia, or the player degraded after a strong season in the Finnish Liiga? Will an NHL team look to find out?

Eetu Randelin (FIN) - G - 24 - 5-foot-11, 187 pounds. - Liiga

Yet another smaller Finnish goalie, judging on size alone, you wouldn’t expect Randelin to be an NHL topic. But there’s a little engine that could aspect to his story, as he continues to beat the odds and work his way up the totem pole. Now he’s coming off his first season as a starter in Liiga action in which he put up a 21-9-6 record, steering his KooKoo club into the playoffs. He’s quick and agile, but most importantly, determined.

YEARLY SIDENOTE

As always, it bears mentioning every year that above and beyond the players listed above, the Swiss NL, SHL, and KHL - among others - are chock full of former NHLers, NHL draft picks, AHLers, Canadian juniors, and college hockey players, not to mention former European free agent signings of NHL teams that have since returned to Europe. These leagues also employ a large number of established pros who you’ll see dressing for their respective national teams. A prime example this year would be former Ranger and Golden Knight forward Oscar Lindberg, who exploded for 30 goals and 67 points in 52 regular season SHL games this season. Thus, these leagues also feature many players who were in the NHL in recent years or on the bubble to the NHL, usually as highly effective AHLers and as such, any number of these players could of course still be in the sightlines of NHL teams or maintain the connections that would see them return to a franchise in the coming months.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #32

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:59:22 +0000

Top 20 Tampa Bay Lightning Prospects

1. Isaac Howard

One of the more recent additions to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s prospect pool, Howard was drafted 31st overall in 2022, after putting up 82 points in 60 games with the USNTDP, as well as an impressive 11-point performance at U18s en route to a silver medal for Team USA. Last season, he moved on to the NCAA’s University of Minnesota-Duluth where he didn’t find that same offensive production and obviously wasn’t happy with his season as he has since transferred to Michigan State University for 2023-24. Howard is a speedy and creative playmaker who plays a strong small-area game. He can be a bit inconsistent in his effort level, but with the right coaching and development, he can reach his ceiling as a dependable second-line winger in the NHL. Lightning fans may need to be patient with him through his development as he works the kinks out.

2. Ethan Gauthier

After pumping in 6 goals and 7 points in 5 games for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, all eyes were on Gauthier’s QMJHL performance last season with the Sherbrooke Phoenix. Ultimately, the righty shot improved upon the 18 goals and 39 points of his freshman campaign into 30 goals and 69 points for his draft year, adding another 11 points in the playoffs and being named “Best Professional Prospect” in the Q for his efforts. A relentless pursuer of the puck who forces his opponents to make quick decisions, particularly on the forecheck, Gauthier possesses a smooth, mechanically-sound stride that utilizes sound crossovers and applies quick acceleration to create opportunities for his line. This is the fundamental strength and basis of his game that should allow for an NHL career in some capacity. Tampa Bay selected him 37th overall this summer with the hope that his keen understanding of how to apply his tools for generating offense will have him looking like a top-line support winger who plays a heavy game. His QMJHL rights were dealt to Drummondville, where the Lightning organization hopes he’ll enjoy a dominating offensive season before going pro.

3. Niko Huuhtanen

From being the last player selected in 2021 to the number three prospect in the Lightning system is a testament to both the development of Huuhtanen as well as an admission that he was drafted too low. The Finnish forward was selected after his second full season in the U20 SM-sarja, producing nearly a point-per-game. After being selected, he came overseas to the WHL’s Everett Silvertips where he impressed, leading all rookies in goals with 37 in just 65 games. He returned to Finland last season, but this time to the Liiga, where he again led all rookies in goals (17) as well as points (30). He has pro size and plays a hard, physical game while boasting a heavy shot. Huuhtanen is well on his way to slotting in as a bottom six contributor but could play up the lineup if called upon.

4. Jack Finley

It’s hard to miss Finley on the ice, standing at 6- 6” and 223 pounds. The Lightning took notice, selecting him 57th overall in 2020. He was coming off a strong sophomore season in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs but lost almost the entire 2020-21 season due to a torn labrum. He returned to the WHL for one final season, taking time to get back up to speed but looking strong down the stretch. He moved up to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch last season, again taking time to adjust but fitting in well as the season wore on. He’s likely not going to be a high-skill player but should bring strong possession ability and be a net-front presence. He needs to improve his skating and to learn how to use his size to his advantage, but he’s a raw, intriguing prospect. Finley could be a bottom-six forward when all is said and done.

5. Jack Thompson

Thompson was another product of the 2020 NHL Draft, 93rd overall, after doubling his scoring output in his second OHL season. He headed overseas to play in the HockeyEttan during the cancelled 2020-21 season, contributing a point-per-game as a defender. He came back to the OHL in 2021-22 as the captain of the Sudbury Wolves before a trade to the Soo. Thompson’s season including leading all OHL defenders in goals (21) and helping Canada to a World Juniors gold medal. He jumped to the AHL last season, looking extremely comfortable in the process. He’s capable of playing big minutes, thrives when getting involved offensively, and has shown steps forward on the defensive side of the puck as well. He’s a pretty well-rounded player without excelling in one specific area and has the potential to be a bottom-four, two-way presence, especially if he can maintain his offensive success at the pro levels.

6. Hugo Alnefelt

It feels as though Alnefelt has been on the cusp of the NHL ever since he was selected in the third round by the Lightning in 2019. The goaltender was coming off a good season in the J20 SuperElit, while standing out internationally in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, winning a silver medal, as well as in the U18s, winning a gold. The next two seasons were spent in the SHL while appearing in back-to-back World Juniors. Alnefelt moved to North America in 2021-22 and struggled in his first season, before looking more comfortable with the Crunch last season. When he’s on, he angles out shooters well and is quite agile in the net. He controls rebound well and has good athleticism. He’s been quite inconsistent thus far and can let in soft shots at times. He could become a reliable backup in the NHL and could make that move relatively soon.

7. Gage Goncalves

Goncalves has followed a steady trajectory in his development, showing some improving each season. After two seasons in the WHL, the Lightning took note, using the 62nd pick in 2020 to select him. Goncalves returned to the WHL for one more season in 2020-21, as the alternate captain, earning his first NHL contract and moving to the AHL in 2021-22. His professional transition was rather seamless and looked even better in his second go-round last season. As seems to be a theme with Lightning prospects, he’s a competitive forward who never quits on a play. He’s a strong playmaker with a knack for feeding the slot, plays a smart game, and rarely makes a mistake. Goncalves seems well on his way to an NHL roster where he should be able to secure a spot as a bottom six player who could play up if needed. The Lightning have definitely been looking for players of his specific type in recent years.

8. Lucas Edmonds

Originally eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, Lucas Edmonds finally heard his name called in the 2022, 86th overall. After playing in Sweden in his first two draft eligible seasons, mainly in the J20 SuperElit, he split time between the HockeyAllsvenskan and HockeyEttan in 2020-21 and decided a change was needed, moving to the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs in 2021-22, where he put up 113 points in just 68 games, leading the league in assists (79). The Lightning bit, immediately signing him to an entry-level deal, and bringing him to the AHL. Edmonds played well last season, employing an intelligent, well-rounded game. A playmaker who knows how to create offense, his path has been an interesting one, but he likely tops out as an AHLer and call-up option. That said, there is a reasonable chance that he finds a regular role as a bottom-line winger as well, considering his quick adjustment to the AHL.

9. Dylan Duke

High energy, highly competitive prospects give themselves a better chance to make it and the Lightning are betting on just that with Duke. He was selected 126th overall in 2021 after a point-per-game season with the USNTDP, which included being named a top-three player in the U18s. He moved on to the NCAA with the University of Michigan in 2021-22, falling victim to a lack of ice time on a deep Wolverines team, and seeing his production dip in the process. He took on a bigger role last season, increasing in offense and earning the call to Team USA at the World Juniors, winning bronze. Duke is a tenacious winger with only one gear – high! He battles hard, always working to get the puck back on his team’s sticks. If everything pans out, he could be a very entertaining middle-six winger.

10. Jayson Shaugabay

Shaugabay is a shifty and highly deceptive playmaking winger with significant offensive upside. When playing in the Minnesota high school loop, he was the best player in the State, earning the coveted Mr. Hockey award for the season. He also started and finished the year with USHL Green Bay and was a standout for the Gamblers too, with one of the highest point per game averages on the team, albeit in a smaller sample size of games played. Shaugabay was one of the most skilled and creative players with the puck from the 2023 draft class. He routinely creates extra time and space for himself by beating the first and second layers of pressure, turning would-be defenders into pylons. That said, there are a lot of areas to his game that will need work for him to reach his high ceiling, particularly his skating and strength on the puck, especially given his size. Minnesota-Duluth should be a great place for him, a program that tends to draw players who are more polished off the puck and incorporate power into their game, which could help his creative style flourish while transforming him into a more well-rounded player.

11. Declan Carlilie

There is a very quiet effectiveness to Carlile’s game. Efficient at both ends, he can start the breakout or squash the opposition’s. After a very solid first full year in the AHL, the former Merrimack defender has put himself in contention for a roster spot with Tampa Bay.

12. Daniil Pylenkov

Pylenkov is quickly becoming one of the better young defenders in Russia after a strong KHL season. A standout in the defensive end, he could probably play a third pairing role already. However, he still has two years remaining on his KHL deal and there are questions as to whether he’s actually interested in coming over.

13. Cole Koepke

A goal scoring winger with some jam to his game, Koepke has yet to live up to the high expectations that the Lightning had for him through two pro seasons. He struggled in a cup of coffee with Tampa last season, but there’s still some hope that he can be a quality third line option, even though he’s already 25.

14. Nick Malik

It was a step backwards for Malik last year after he lost his starting role with KooKoo due to inconsistent play. The son of former NHL defender Marek Malik, Nick is a tremendous athlete, but he is still working to refine his approach in the crease.

15. Roman Schmidt

Schmidt is a massive defender who also happens to be fairly mobile for his size. After a few seasons in the OHL with Kitchener, he will turn pro this year. His focus will be on improving his puck management.

16. Gabriel Fortier

The offensive upside is not significant, but Fortier will likely be an NHL player in some capacity in the future due to his tenaciousness and the energy he brings in whatever role that is asked of him. He could be a full time fourth liner this upcoming season.

17. Max Crozier

Even with some decent offensive production at Providence, Crozier’s future in the NHL will probably be in more of a defensive role similar to the way Nick Perbix quickly rose through the system. The right shot defender moves well and brings a physical element. He will play with Syracuse this year.

18. Connor Kurth

A former USHL standout, Kurth is a very talented offensive player. However, his freshman production was pretty pedestrian as he got buried in the Gophers lineup. Tampa Bay is hoping that he can earn a larger role as a sophomore.

19. Waltteri Merela

Signed out of Finland this offseason, Merela is a big winger with strong puck protection skills. He helped Tappara capture Liiga and Champions League titles last year and could easily make the Lightning lineup out of camp.

20. Jack Harvey

Taken by Tampa in his final year of draft eligibility, Harvey will head to Boston University this fall after a few good seasons with Chicago of the USHL. His off-puck play improved a lot this year, prompting his selection.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #32 – TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Josh Bell — Thu, 11 May 2023 23:08:10 +0000

Prospect System Rank – 32nd

Two Stanley Cups and a final appearance last season was well worth spending future assets for current needs. The Lightning has consistently emptied the prospect cupboard each season successfully in search of championships. They are one of two teams who have not graduated any drafted prospects from the last five drafts as a result. This season was no different as they cleared whatever they had left in the tank to acquire 25-year-old Tanner Jeannot for Cal Foote, 2023 3rd round pick, 2023 4th round pick, 2023 5th round pick, 2024 2nd round pick, 2025 1st round pick (Top 10 protected). A rich haul for a restricted free agent at season’s end. He is presumably part of their plans going forward. They enter the current draft with only a 6^th and 7^th round pick.

Their current group of prospects do not offer any immediate help as they are still focused on winning for the next few seasons. The highest ranked prospect is Isaac Howard who is #119 overall (their only 1^st round pick since 2019 – Nolan Foote who has been subsequently traded and they have only two in the top 200 (Niko Huuhtanen #189). They have been known for their development and have had success filling from within without high picks. Cole Koepke is the best bet to add something from their depth but look for Lightning to continue to look for veteran depth adds at the expense of youth. They do not have many chips left to play with regards to picks.

Isaac Howard

One of the more recent additions to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s prospect pool, Isaac Howard was drafted 31st overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. This was after putting up 82 points in 60 games with the USNTDP, and an impressive 11-point performance at U18s en route to a silver medal for Team USA. This season, he’s moved on to the NCAA’s University of Minnesota-Duluth where he didn’t find that same offensive production and obviously wasn’t happy with his season as he’s transferring to Michigan State University for 2023-24. Howard is a speedy, creative, playmaker that plays a strong small-area game. He can be a bit inconsistent in his effort level at times, but with the right coaching and development, he can become a dependable second-line winger in the NHL. Lightning fans may need to be patient with him though as he develops and works the kinks out.

2. Niko Huuhtanen

From being the last player selected in the 2021 NHL Draft to the number two prospect in the Lightning system is a testament to both the development of Niko Huuhtanen as well as the fact that the forward was probably drafted too low. The Finnish forward was selected after his second full season in the U20 SM-sarja, playing at nearly a point-per-game clip. After being selected, he came overseas to the WHL’s Everett Silverstips where he impressed, leading all rookies in goals with 37 in just 65 games. He’s returned to Finland this season but to the Liiga, where he led all rookies in goals (17) and points (30). He has pro size and plays a hard, physical game while boasting a heavy shot. He’s well on his way to slotting in as a bottom six contributor but could play up the lineup if called upon.

3. Jack Finley

It’s hard to miss Jack Finley on the ice, standing at 6-foot-6 and 223 pounds. The Lightning took notice, selecting him 57th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. He was coming off a strong sophomore season with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL but lost almost the entire 2020-21 season with a torn labrum. He returned to the WHL for one last season, taking some time to get back up to speed but looking strong down the stretch. He moved up to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch this season, again taking some time to adjust but fitting in well. He’s likely not going to be a high-skill player but should be a player that can bring strong possession and be a net-front presence. He needs to improve his skating and he needs to learn how to use his size to his advantage, but he’s a raw, intriguing prospect. He could be a bottom six forward when all is said and done.

4. Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson was also selected in the 2020 NHL Draft, 93rd overall after doubling his output in his second OHL season. He headed overseas to play in the HockeyEttan during the cancelled 2020-21 season, going a point-per-game as a defender. He came back to the OHL in 2021-22 as the captain of the Sudbury Wolves before getting traded to the Soo Greyhounds. He led all defenders in goals (21) and helped Canada to a World Juniors gold medal in the process. He’s jumped to the AHL this season, looking extremely comfortable in the process. He’s capable of playing big minutes, thrives at getting involved offensively, and has shown steps forward on the defensive side of the puck. He’s a pretty well-rounded player without excelling in one specific area. He has the potential to be a bottom-four, two-way presence, especially if he can maintain his offensive success at the pro levels.

5. Hugo Alnefelt

It’s felt as though Hugo Alnefelt has been on the cusp of the NHL ever since he was selected by the Lightning in 2019, 71st overall. The goaltender was coming off a good season in the J20 SuperElit, while standing out internationally in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, winning a silver medal, and in the U18s, winning a gold. The next two seasons were spent in the SHL while appearing in back-to-back World Juniors. He moved to North America in 2021-22 and struggled in the AHL before settling in this season with the Crunch. When he’s on, he angles out shooters well and is quite agile in the net. He controls rebound well and has good athleticism. He’s been quite inconsistent though and can let in some soft shots at times. He could become a reliable backup in the NHL and could make that move relatively soon.

6. Dylan Duke

Prospects that play a high energy, highly competitive game tend to make it and the Lightning are betting on just that in Dylan Duke. They selected him 126th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft after a point-per-game season with the USNTDP and being named a top-three player in the U18s. He moved on to the NCAA and the University of Michigan in 2021-22, falling victim to playing on a deep Wolverines team and seeing his production dip. He took on a bigger role this season, seeing a noticeable increase in offense and getting the call to Team USA at the World Juniors, winning bronze. He’s a tenacious winger that only has one gear - go. He battles hard, always working to get the puck back on his team’s sticks. If everything pans out, he could be a very entertaining middle-six winger which is great value for where they drafted him.

7. Cole Koepke

It’s been a long road for Cole Koepke, drafted way back in 2018, 183rd overall. But the Lightning have stuck with him, keeping him in the system. They selected him out of the USHL, taking a flier on him later in the draft. He moved on to the NCAA’s University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he spent three seasons, winning a National Championship in his rookie year. The Lightning liked what they saw, signing him to his entry-level deal and moving him to the AHL in 2021-22 where he had a strong season, arguably looking better than he did in college. His production has dipped this season, but he’s earned time in the NHL as well, already proving to be a success considering where he was drafted. He’s likely in his role now as a call-up option but could carve out a bottom six spot for himself at some point.

8. Gage Goncalves

Gage Goncalves has followed a steady trajectory in his development, steadily improving each season. After two seasons in the WHL, the Lightning saw this, using the 62nd overall pick in 2020 to call his name. He returned to the WHL for one more season as the alternate captain, earning his first NHL contract and moving to the AHL in 2021-22. He stepped right into the league without skipping a step and has looked even better this season. As seems to be a theme with Lightning prospects, he’s a competitive forward that never quits on a play. He’s a strong playmaker with a knack for feeding the slot. He plays a smart game and rarely makes a mistake. He seems well on his way to an NHL roster where he should be able to steal a spot as a bottom six player that could play up if needed. The Lightning have definitely been looking for a specific type of player in recent years.

9. Daniil Pylenkov

Yet another late draft pick, the Lightning selected Daniil Pylenkov 196th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft as an overager. At that time, he had already completed his second full season in the KHL, where he’s been stuck ever since. He had a strong season this year, especially after being traded from SKA St. Petersburg to Severstal Cherepovets and seeing his minutes increase dramatically. He’s a physical defender that keeps an active stick and isn’t afraid to dive in front of a shot. He has some sneaky offensive ability too, mainly through his playmaking. But in the NHL, it’s his defensive game that shines. He’s developed well since being selected and looks poised to earn his entry-level deal. Expect him to spend some time in the AHL first, but he should be a call-up option fairly quickly and could slot in as a bottom-pairing defender.

10. Lucas Edmonds

Originally eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, Lucas Edmond finally heard his name called in the 2022 NHL Draft, 86th overall. After playing in Sweden in his draft year, mainly in the J20 SuperElit, and then again in 2019-20, he split time between the HockeyAllsvenskan and HockeyEttan in 2020-21 and decided a change was needed. He moved to the OHL’s Kingston Frontencas in 2021-22, putting up 113 points in just 68 games, leading the league in assists (79). The Lighting bit, immediately signing him to an entry-level deal and bringing him to the AHL. He’s played well this season, playing an intelligent, well-rounded game. He’s a playmaker that knows how to create offense. His path is an interesting one, but he likely remains an AHLer that could be a call-up option throughout his career. However, he could be a bottom-line winger as well, based on how well he’s adjusted in the AHL.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 21:30:56 +0000

1 - Isaac Howard LW

Isaac Howard is an interesting prospect, as, just looking at it on paper, his selection near the back of the first round of the NHL draft is a bit confusing. His production is there, as he scored at a far-above point-per-game rate at the U.S. National Team Development Program. Howard also plays with the skill level of a top-end offensive prospect, with the playmaking skill, puckhandling, and skating ability. The tools are all there with Howard. But the concerns with his profile, and the factors that likely contributed to his selection late in the first round, are largely based on his style. Howard’s offensive tools are strong, but the way he uses them can be, at times, inefficient. The best offensive prospects in hockey are the ones who are able to reach a different level of thinking when it comes to each shift. Shane Wright, for example, is exceptional at leveraging his space on the ice without the puck to create space for his teammates. Kent Johnson, as another example, has, like Howard, a high skill level, but he deploys that skill level with such ingenuity, creativity, and unpredictability that he’ll find ways to remain productive even against talented NHL defensemen. Howard’s skill level rivals the best prospects in his age group, but he’s a bit behind on how he actually utilizes his wide array of talents. He’s relentless and willing to attack the difficult middle of the ice, but he doesn’t deceive his opponents or manipulate play the way other prospects can. Howard can create a significant number of chances for himself and his linemates, but one wonders how effective he’ll be at higher levels of hockey when he needs to find a way to remain productive with two or three chances a game, rather than ten. Thankfully, though, Howard will head to college where he’ll have a long runway to refine his offensive approach and make it more translatable to the pro game. He has all the tools to become an NHL scorer, he just needs to improve his toolbox. - EH

2 - Jack Thompson D

The 93rd overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, Jack Thompson had a great season in the OHL split between two teams, being an impact player on both sides of the puck. The former 30th overall selection in the 2018 OHL Draft had a good rookie year, finishing with 16 points (6G,10A) in 52 games. During the 2019-2020 season, Thompson took a step in his development and became a very effective defenseman for the Wolves, leading the teams’ blue line in points with 32 (13G,19A) in 63 games while still being solid defensively. During the 2020-2021 season while the OHL was shutdown due to Covid-19, Thompson made the decision like others to go play in Europe. Thompson played in the HockeyEttan and was very productive, finishing with 18 points (9G,9A) in 18 games. Thompson also got the opportunity like some others to play in the AHL, which was an exception made because of the OHL being shutdown. In the 2021-2022 season, Thompson had a great year, being a top producing defenseman on both the Wolves and the Greyhounds. Altogether between both teams he finished with 57 points (21G,36A) in 65 games, which was 7th in the league for points by a defenseman, tied for 1st in the league for goals by a defenseman and 4th on the team in points. Thompson’s best assets are his shot and hockey sense. Thompson is an offensive threat, especially on the power play with his cannon of a shot. He has a great shot, and he understands how to use it, getting shots through traffic and on net consistently. He has great awareness in all three zones and displays smart decision making on each shift, staying very responsible. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Thompson should make a jump into the AHL and be an effective asset, especially on the power play. - DK

3 - Nick Perbix D

A sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2017 NHL draft, Perbix has taken the long road to pro hockey. He spent the year after he was drafted in the USHL before beginning a four-year collegiate career at St. Cloud State, a career that would end with him graduating and signing an entry-level contract with the Lightning. Impressively, Perbix stepped into the AHL and looked the part almost immediately. Despite having spent most of his season in college, Perbix ended up playing a major role for the Crunch as they solidified their place in the AHL playoffs. Head coach Benoit Groulx trusted Perbix to play top-four minutes, significant power play time, and even time on the penalty kill, an indication of just how pro-ready Perbix was right after he left college. Now 24 years old and entering his first full professional season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the six-foot-four Perbix exit training camp having beaten out teammates Darren Raddysh and Sean Day as the Lighting’s eighth defenseman on their depth chart. Perbix isn’t a finished product, but he knows what he’s good at and knows when he needs to not be noticed. Despite his impressive size, Perbix may not have a future handling the toughest defensive minutes. Instead, he could thrive in a role as a depth defenseman who offers value in transition, pace-pushing play, and doesn’t look out of place in his own zone. - EH

4 - Maxim Groshev RW

Maxim Groshev is a mobile, hard-working forward with solid finishing ability, yet his upside looks rather limited, and the best-case projection would be a bottom-six NHL winger, so he is a prospect of note without being intriguing. Even so, he is the type of player who is really valuable for the postseason and thus a good fit for the Lightning organization. Last season was disappointing for Groshev, as he failed to earn a regular role with his KHL team and only got the ice time he needs to develop after he was demoted to play in the VHL. On the other hand, he is still only 20 years old, and he did look legit at the VHL level, so the year wasn’t too disappointing. As of this writing, he has been producing very well in the KHL preseason, and there are still more than enough reasons to remain positive about his future. We absolutely expect Groshev to break through with a fulltime KHL role this year. It should also be mentioned that this is the last year of his current KHL contract and with the way things are going, there is a solid possibility that both the Lightning and Groshev will agree that the best way to further his development might be playing for the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL with the hopes using that opportunity to springboard an NHL career. - VF

5 - Jack Finley C

A massive pivot, and the son of former NHL defender Jeff Finley, Jack was a second-round selection of Tampa in 2020. Finley can flat out dominate down low and when working the cycle with how difficult he is to separate from the puck. Below the goal line is his office and he works feverishly to prolong possession and to tire out opposing defenders. He has good, but not great hands, however, he does have good vision when working below the goal line to spot open teammates. Finley is also an intelligent two-way player who uses his size and reach effectively in the defensive zone to be disruptive. The key for him moving forward is to continue to improve his quickness and overall skating ability. It did improve some as a WHL player, but not to the point where it needs to be for him to be a quality pro. Additionally, there has to be some concern that Finley never hit the point per game mark as a WHL player over four seasons (even if he basically lost one due to the pandemic). His offensive upside might be fairly limited moving forward as a pro, with the best-case scenario being that Finley develops into an Adam Lowry type of player for the Lightning in the future. - BO

6 - Hugo Alnefelt G

After the 20-21 season – which saw Tampa Bay’s 2019 3^rd rounder lose the starting job on a club facing relegation out of SHL – put a damper on his prospect status, Alnefelt’s 21-22 AHL season once again left much to be desired. His record wasn’t necessarily anything to worry about, but his GAA and save percentage both fell short. In addition, he gained plenty of competition from Tampa’s Russian 2020 6^th rounder, Amir Miftakhov, for the back-up spot to veteran Max Lagacé, who was clearly AHL Syracuse’s go-to goaltender. The lack of playing time for the 6’3” hulk saw him get several (ultimately winless) outings with Orlando of the ECHL, putting up even worse GAA and save percentage statistics. Several years ago, Alnefelt’s star was quite bright, and it was felt that he was close to being the organization’s top prospect. That has since changed drastically and although he is still regarded as a solid goaltending prospect who will simply need playing time, the organization added Nick Malik this past summer, a 20-year-old who is internationally experienced and excelled for KooKoo of the Finnish Liiga last season. With ideal size, Alnefelt is scheduled to be the full-time back-up, or 1B, for Syracuse this winter as Miftakhov has signed on with Kazan, so there is a chance for redemption. With Andrei Vasilevsky still considered among perhaps the top three goaltenders on the planet and ageless veteran Brian Elliot still trucking along in the back-up role, Alnefelt continues to have plenty of time to live up to the organization’s hopes. – CL

7 - Declan Carlile D

The Lightning have traded many picks and prospects in recent years as part of their chase of Stanley Cup rings, a chase that has been highly successful thus far. The result of these trades has been the Lightning need to use other avenues to add prospects to their system, and one way they’ve added some young talent has been through college free agency. An undrafted player, Carlile signed with the lightning last spring after finishing his season with Hockey East’s Merrimack College. At Merrimack, Carlile was a top-of-the-lineup defenseman who matched defensive prowess with offensive competence. Now with AHL Syracuse, Carlile’s game will likely be a bit more one-dimensional. Carlile is a six-foot-two defenseman who is at his best in his own zone. He’ll do anything to keep a puck from ending up at the back of his net, and he can at times be a ferocious physical presence. Carlile saw time on the Crunch’s penalty kill in his limited action last season and should have an expanded role there this coming year. Carlile’s defensive game is his calling card, and it should be good enough to allow him to be a trusted defensive defenseman for the Crunch next season. If he can find a way to squeeze some production out of his limited offensive toolbox, maybe he can become something more. Otherwise, his defensive game should be good enough to help him hold down an AHL job and maybe get some NHL games as a safe call-up option for the Lightning. - EH

8 - Gabriel Fortier C

Is Gabriel Fortier the next in a line of smaller, but impactful homegrown talents for the Lightning? Signs might be pointing to yes. Not only did Fortier earn a ten game callup last season in his first full pro year, but he proved to be an extremely impactful role player at the AHL level with Syracuse too. Tampa is always looking at ways to lower their cap number and that means banking on young players to step forward in checking line roles. Fortier’s game is tailored to do that. He is an animal on the forecheck, wreaking havoc with his speed and his tenaciousness. Fortier never seems to quit on a play and is already a competent two-way player who can handle penalty killing duties. How much offensive potential does Fortier have? He is not likely to be more than a quality third line player. There are some skill limitations at work here. The majority of his offensive chances are created through speed, hustle, and sound instincts. However, he should be able to carve out a nice career in that role. It would not be surprising to see him breaking camp with the Lightning this coming season and quickly earning the trust of Jon Cooper and his staff. At the very least, he should split the year between the NHL and AHL. - BO

9 - Gage Goncalves C

A late bloomer out of the Everett Silvertips program, there is a lot of hope internally that Goncalves can develop into the Lightning’s next lockdown third liner. His first pro season in Syracuse was a success as he finished fourth in goal scoring on the Crunch, while receiving significant powerplay time. The reason why the Crunch featured him on the man advantage so consistently has to do with his booming one timer and ability to control the half wall. However, he is more than just a pure shooter. He is a competitor at both ends and he has great instincts as a defensive player. As he becomes stronger, he should also become a physical standout in the defensive end who can be used in that aforementioned shutdown role. At this point, he looks like a more natural fit on the wing, but there is a chance they could shift him back to center for the upcoming year. He is versatile. This coming season Goncalves will return to the Crunch and the Lightning will be looking for him to take a step forward at both ends as a pro. If he does, he could position himself as a possible injury call up with an eye on a full-time role in 2023-24. - BO

10 - Cole Koepke LW

Already 24 years old, the Lightning have been very patient with Koepke’s development. He spent three years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth before finally turning pro last year. The goal scoring power winger turned in an impressive rookie AHL season, too. His 20 goals were good for third on the Crunch and he proved that his goal scoring ability from the collegiate level could translate well to the pro level. Armed with a heavy shot and a willingness to use his size physically, Koepke is a potential middle six, complementary goal scorer in the NHL. The key will be improving his speed and quickness. Although it should also be stated that Jon Cooper and the Lightning have found ways to use competitive forwards with footspeed issues, so long as they have other talents. Tampa Bay does not have a strong farm system at the moment, so Koepke will, undoubtedly be given a chance to be an NHL player at some point. Given his advanced age, that could occur as early as this season at some point. Otherwise, he can position himself with a chance the following year, so long as he continues to progress at the AHL level. - BO

11 - Simon Ryfors

There was definitely an adjustment period for Ryfors after signing last offseason from the SHL. He struggled to adapt to the AHL initially but was much better in the second half. Ryfors plays a high energy game and is strong away from the puck. Can he show more offensively in his second AHL season?

12 - Niko Huuhtanen

After a terrific WHL season with Everett, Huuhtanen has returned to Finland this year. The big ice will be great for him to continue to improve his quickness and overall skating ability. The big power forward owns a booming shot.

13 - Lucas Edmonds

Edmonds is a great success story from the OHL this past season. The late bloomer left Sweden and joined Kingston as an overager, becoming one of the league’s best and most consistent offensive players. His hands and offensive IQ are top notch, but he will need to continue to get quicker to transfer his production to the pro level.

14 - Roman Schmidt

The big defender has intriguing potential as an NHL blueliner. He is physical. His mobility is improving. He has a big point shot. He will return to Kitchener this year of the OHL and will look to become one of the league’s top two-way defenders.

15 - Daniil Pylenkov

The steady two-way defender is not flashy, but he is efficient at moving the puck and sound defensively. He has established himself as a KHL regular the last two years and could cross the pond in the near future if he shows continued growth.

16 - Nick Malik

Malik has slowly emerged as a quality goaltending prospect after finding ways to better harness his athleticism. He was one of Liiga’s top netminders last year and has firmly put a disastrous initial draft season behind him.

17 - Ilya Usau

The Lightning signed Usau as a free agent this offseason after a strong showing for Dinamo in the KHL and for Belarus internationally. The sturdy pivot is tough to separate from the puck and he is an adept passer. He’ll suit up in the AHL this season.

18 - Max Crozier

The talented powerplay quarterback is a mobile blueliner who is entering his senior season at Providence. The Lightning will be looking for him to take a step forward to become an elite NCAA, two-way blueliner this season.

19 - Dylan Duke

A skilled pivot and former U.S. NTDP’er, Duke was solid for Michigan in his freshman year. His upside remains high, but he will need to continue to focus his development on improving his quickness and strength on the puck.

20 - Eamon Powell

Thus far at the NCAA level, Powell’s development has been underwhelming and unspectacular. His feet are good, but he still hasn’t found the confidence to be a truly impactful two-way defender. Powell will return to Boston College for his junior season.

2022 NHL DRAFT: SECOND CHANCES, PART 2 – NHL Draft Re-Entry Candidates from Europe

Wed, 25 May 2022 13:59:09 +0000

In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year high end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind does. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).

This year, it feels like we are playing catch-up because of how disjointed last year was in the scouting community. The OHL did not play. Other leagues played only partially. How much was development stunted? Better yet, how many players have surprised this year with their progression given that they were not able to show said progression last year (such as the OHL players). Will we see an extraordinary number of “re-entry” players selected this year as NHL scouting teams gobble up all of these players who slipped through the cracks of the pandemic scouting year?

North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th, will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st, will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. Recently, NHL scouts have increased the rate with which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European based players especially attractive. However, these players have had a lot of success in recent years too. Look around the league and you see these players everywhere. For example, Florida Panthers standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Standout Arizona Coyotes rookie Janis Moser was one last year.

Speaking of last year, ten “re-entry” candidates went in the Top 100; Ryker Evans, Josh Doan, Janis Moser, Carter Mazur, Alexei Kolosov, Taige Harding, Andrei Buyalsky, Josh Lopina, Ville Ottavainen, and Jakub Malek In our “second chances” article last year (Part 1:) (Part 2: )( Part 3) we wrote about eight of these ten. In total there were 34 taken, actually below the trend of over 40 being selected in other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected). Additionally, of those 34, we identified and wrote about 17 (half of them) in our aforementioned second chances series. Just like in previous editions of this annual report, we aim to identify more.

In 2022, we have some very interesting candidates. Lucas Edmonds of the Kingston Frontenacs was near the top of OHL scoring all season. Stephen Halliday of Dubuque had one of the best statistical seasons in the history of the USHL. Dmitri Buchelnikov completely obliterated the MHL, a year after being passed over as one of the youngest eligible players in 2021. This article intends to highlight them and many other candidates who could be part of that 20% (if the average is restored) this year.

Finland

Jimi Suomi - Defense - TPS (Liiga)

Ranked #201 by us for last year’s draft, Suomi has had a solid rookie year in Liiga, breaking through as a near everyday player for TPS. The undersized, but fleet of foot defender is a standout with the puck and had a strong performance for TPS in Champions League play this season.

“I was absolutely not a fan of Jimi Suomi last season, and I certainly see the same issues I was seeing last season this year. There’s no doubt that Suomi’s defensive rush play is far from ideal, and his defensive play to close out cycles is still a major work in progress, but the guy can simply fly with the puck. An excellent puck transporter, and skilled offensive creator, Suomi is a player that has glaring weaknesses, but gifts that help him overcome those weaknesses unlocked with his feet. He’s on my watchlist and may not be a player I think about until later in the draft, but you can always bet on and develop skating, and Suomi is a great example of how mobility and raw agility can help defenders push play in the right direction.” - Will Scouch

Petteri Nurmi - Defense - HPK (Liiga)

Not only did Nurmi establish himself as a Liiga regular this year, but he also made team Finland for the abruptly ended World Junior Championships. Destined for a second pairing role, it would have been a great showcase for Nurmi to prove that he should be selected this year. The numbers in Liiga this season certainly don’t stand out, but that’s not really Nurmi’s game. He did play over 20 minutes per game on many occasions this year and his steady puck management skills and two-way acumen could be attractive to NHL teams this July.

“Two years ago, Nurmi was still playing Finnish U18 hockey. Now, after just a single year of U20 in between, he’s a full time Liiga defenceman at twenty. He doesn’t pack much offensive punch, and didn’t even in his junior career, but Nurmi’s smart, efficient passes in transition seem to have endeared him to HPK’s coaching staff as he averages over sixteen minutes a game as a rookie defender. Nurmi is well-suited to Liiga hockey, preferring a slow build-up in the transition game. He is poised, happy to take all the time he is given, and has very good vision up into the neutral zone. His outlet pass is a good one; he can connect with moving forwards in the neutral zone with long passes from around the net on a consistent basis.

Of course, the NHL is a much quicker and more aggressive league than the Liiga, and Nurmi’s ability to make plays under tough forechecking pressure is difficult to discern in a Liiga environment. He’s not the quickest nor the most skilled defenceman, so his distribution skills could falter in the North American game, where teams are less content to sit back in a neutral zone trap. Regardless, his intelligence and successful season as a Liiga rookie should warrant some attention from NHL clubs.” - Sam Happi

Ruben Rafkin - Defense - TPS (Liiga)

This is not Rafkin’s first appearance on this list, but he deserves to repeat after another strong season in Liiga. The highly competitive former Windsor Spitfire defender is one of the most aggressive physical defenders in Europe, and his play in the defensive end really took a positive step forward this season. Fun fact, Rafkin was one of only three players in Liiga to garner over 100 penalty minutes on the year.

“Rafkin is a highly physical defenceman who might be best known to some as the player who got a game misconduct for kneeing Brett Berard in Finland’s WJC pre-tournament game against the United States. It is rather surprising that no team has yet drafted Rafkin, who flashed some impressive puck-moving ability for Windsor of the OHL in his first year of eligibility and then followed that up with a solid rookie season in the professional-level Liiga. He successfully employs an aggressive style of neutral zone defence, looking to force attackers wide and then put them into the boards. Often, this results in uncontrolled or failed entries.

Rafkin is also very effective in physical confrontations along the boards, using his strength to easily push most forwards off the puck. He also skates quite well, able to evade most forecheckers who attempt to chase him around the net. On occasion, he’ll bring the puck all the way forwards into the offensive zone but doesn’t boast much offensive skill with which to continue his attack effectively. His outlet pass is decent, but not great: he can make basic plays, but will often revert to banking the puck out or playing it to a teammate in pressure when a forechecker successfully pressures him. Still, his mobility and very effective physical game may make him one of the stronger bets to carve out an NHL role of this draft’s overage prospects.” - Sam Happi

Nick Malik - Goaltender - KooKoo (Liiga)

The road back to relevance for Malik has been long and winding. The son of former NHL defender Marek Malik, Nick was once a highly thought of prospect. However, he struggled mightily in his NHL draft year, including a stop with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. Fighting through injuries and inconsistency, Malik had a remarkable season in Liiga with KooKoo (including a terrific playoffs) and it has him back on the map as a draft prospect. Not only did he finish top five in save percentage, but his performance as a U20 player compares favorably with the likes of other top goaltending prospects in recent years like Juuse Saros, Ville Husso, and Lukas Dostal.

“What Malik has accomplished this year in Liiga is extremely impressive. I saw a lot of him when he played for the Greyhounds in his half OHL season, and his game has improved remarkably. Always a terrific athlete, Malik has worked hard to improve the technical components of his game. His pushes are more controlled, and he is covering his angles more consistently. There are still some scrambling tendencies to his game, but he is doing a better job of tracking pucks through traffic and staying up when he needs to. Historically, his season compares well with other top young netminders who have played in Liiga in recent years. Given how weak this year’s goaltending crop is for the draft, Malik has to be a slam dunk to be selected this time around. At least, you would have to think so.” - Brock Otten

Sweden

Elias Ekstrom - Wing - Orebro (SHL)

Ekstrom, an undersized winger, finally broke through as an SHL regular this season, his sixth in the Orebro organization. Among U21 players in the SHL, Ekstrom’s 11 assists put him sixth. And of the forwards ranked in the top ten of scoring at his age, only Ekstrom remains undrafted.

“Ekstrom has demonstrated consistent year-after-year growth, culminating in a full-time role in the Swedish Hockey League at age 20. He seems to have found a niche in Orebro’s lineup, playing a limited role at even-strength but making up for it with a steady diet of powerplay time. The little bit of extra time that Ekstrom has on the man advantage seems to unlock his offensive games as he’s made some terrific plays in a variety of roles. He most often mans the half-wall on his off wing, where he isn’t a major one-time threat but rather prefers to receive the puck, take a few steps towards the net, and then shoot out of a toe drag. His shot is strong and accurate, and he can beat goaltenders from that area. More impressive is Ekstrom’s distribution from that spot: he’ll draw penalty killers to him, then feed down low where his teammates can take advantage of the now-exaggerated numerical advantage. Ekstrom’s well-rounded offensive skill set shrinks a little at even-strength, where he largely reverts to simple passes and tries to pop open in the slot for quick shots. Considering Ekstrom’s unspectacular skating and puck skills, that is to be expected; he thrives when he has time to make plays on the powerplay but doesn’t have the skills to navigate traffic effectively at even-strength. To eventually find a niche in the NHL, Ekstrom will want to embrace a well-rounded bottom-six role at evens and continue to refine his offensive flashes on the powerplay.” - Sam Happi

Södertälje's Leon Wallner during the ice hockey match in the Hockeyallsvenskan between Almtuna and Södertälje on December 8, 2021. In Uppsala. Photo: Emma Wallskog / BILDBYRÅN

Leon Wallner - Wing - Södertälje SK (SHL)

An Austrian playing out of Sweden (Wallner left top Austrian program Red Bull Academy at 16 years of age), Wallner was one of the highest scoring players in the Swedish J20 league this past season. Among those who played over 25 games, Wallner’s 1.32 points per game was eight in the league. This helped him earn a promotion to Södertälje’s parent club in the Allsvenskan.

“Wallner received a well-earned promotion to Sodertalje’s professional team in Sweden’s second division after an excellent U20 season. His clever offensive game proved too effective for junior competition, as Wallner piled up both goals and assists. He is adept at drawing pressure before moving the puck to space and shows impressive composition under pressure, able to find open teammates in the offensive zone even with a defender draped around him. Wallner was a very capable scorer too, which is interesting because he doesn’t have a whole lot of power on his shot. He compensates with accuracy, often shooting low and looking to tuck the puck just above the goaltender’s pad.

With the professional team, Wallner’s skills are less evident. His skating, good but not great, is no longer enough to pose a significant rush threat, and Wallner has yet to score a professional goal with his strategy of accuracy over power. However, the Austrian’s intelligence remains a feature of his game. Several of his assists have resulted from some apt plays: a beautiful one-touch pass in the neutral zone after a stretch pass, a spinning backhand pass into the slot, and cleverly shooting to create a rebound off the pad, to name a few. Wallner’s intelligence and playmaking are his greatest strengths, and we may see the rest of his offensive toolkit emerge with increased pro experience and skill development.” - Sam Happi

Ian Blomquist - Goaltender - Vasteras IK J20 (J20 Nationell)

One of the top goaltenders in the Swedish J20 circuit this year, Blomquist has put himself in contention to be drafted this year after going unselected last year (as a 2003 born). He also posted very respectable numbers in a limited sample with the Vasteras IK men’s club in the Allsvenskan. Given Hugo Havelid’s lack of size, there’s a very real chance that Blomquist is Sweden’s first goaltender drafted this year.

“Blomquist has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in Sweden’s top U20 circuit after playing U18 hockey last year, which was his first opportunity to be drafted. He’s 6’2” and takes away a lot of the net, making him a difficult goalie to beat cleanly from distance. As you might expect from a player in his first season of top-level junior hockey, he does seem to be fairly raw as a prospect at this point: his rebound control can be hit or miss, and his positioning can fail against opposing attacks that move the puck around effectively. When forced to move side-to-side, his first move is powerful and effective, getting him across the net quickly enough to deny most one-timer opportunities, but his movement isn’t particularly well-controlled and so he has little ability to recover quickly if a second push off is required. His puck-tracking also seems to be in need of some refinement: Blomquist experiences more than his fair share of awkward-looking goals against where the puck eventually sneaks right past him after bouncing around a bit in the slot, simply because he’s lost awareness of where the puck is. There’s work to be done, but Blomquist doesn’t have a lot of experience at high levels yet and his size and first-save ability could signal some potential to be uncovered here. He has a real chance to be drafted this time around.” - Sam Happi

Marcus Limpar Lantz - Center - Orebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell)

Limpar Lantz didn’t play last season, his initial draft year, due to injuries and the covid shutdown of the J20 and J18 leagues in Sweden. The former highly touted Swedish center was once a fixture on the Swedish national team for his age and was considered a likely selection at a younger age. However, he returned to action this year and looked good in J20 action. No doubt, scouts will have taken notice of this.

“Limpar Lantz put together an impressive season for himself largely on the back of a newfound scoring ability. He doesn’t have a great shot but found a niche playing the slot on Orebro’s powerplay, where he was able to find soft pockets of space in the prime scoring area. You don’t need a great shot to beat goaltenders from that area. He has a solid finesse scoring game, able to elevate pucks past goaltenders from in tight and effectively collecting rebounds around the net. He’s also a pretty good skater, which allowed him to occasionally beat defenders with speed and go in at the net, where his finishing took over.

His playmaking doesn’t seem to be as much of an asset for him as his scoring. He put up good assist numbers, but largely due to the fact that his slot presence meant he was often involved in promising offensive plays by simple location. His teammates would score off his rebounds, or he would make bumper passes out of the slot which eventually became second assists. He did demonstrate the ability to make some good passes out of pressure when swarmed, but his passing does not appear to be consistently strong enough to be something that could be impactful for him at the NHL level one day.” - Sam Happi

Milton Oscarson - Center/Wing - Orebro (SHL)

A gigantic, but versatile forward, Oscarson was a standout at the J20 level this year, earning a split season with the men’s club in the SHL with Orebro. He also earned himself a look on a few Swedish national team entries. At 6’6, NHL scouts are likely to be very intrigued by the massive offensive improvement that Oscarson showed this season compared to last.

“Oscarson is 6’6” and over 200 pounds, making him an absolute giant of a forward. That size is presumably the reason why last season, as a first-time draft eligible in his first season of U20 hockey, Oscarson got into a few SHL games for Orebro’s pro club. He wasn’t particularly impactful at any level last season, but Oscarson has leapt forward with his play in both leagues this season: not only did he record more than a point per game at the junior level, but he also became a fairly regular SHL player with more than twenty games under his belt. Oscarson is a decent skater. His skating doesn’t create opportunities for him, but he doesn’t look slow against SHL competition and doesn’t fall behind the play. He’s a little lighter on his skates than you’d expect considering his size, a product of his lankiness.

As a hitter, Oscarson certainly has the physical capabilities to pack quite a punch but doesn’t have the body control or hitting technique to lay heavy hits on a consistent basis. Offensively, Oscarson tends to hang around the slot, where he’ll use his size and reach to screen goaltenders, collect rebounds or passes, and throw shots on net. He’s not a particularly advanced offensive player but could potentially find a net front niche at higher levels like he did with his junior team this past season. Oscarson’s size and decent toolkit could eventually make him an option for a bottom-six role in the NHL.” - Sam Happi

Linus Sjodin - Center/Wing - Rogle (SHL)

Sjodin is a 2002 born forward who played a decent role in helping Rogle capture a Champion’s League title this year. His overall performance in the SHL this year was strong too. Among U20 players, his 11 points were sixth best, ahead of many NHL drafted forwards. On a Rogle team with some quality drafted and draft eligible forwards, there’s no doubt NHL scouts would have seen Sjodin’s progression this season.

“Sjodin’s junior record doesn’t seem like that of a player who might become a high-level offensive contributor at the pro level, but his 11 points in 49 games in his first full season of SHL hockey is a solid mark. He flashed some impressive skills this season, making a number of sweet plays that led to goals or excellent chances. The headliner was a beauty of a goal in which Sjodin dangled into a defender’s skates, pulled the puck out, then roofed it on his backhand just before falling.

In addition to his puck skills, Sjodin is a pretty good passer, able to find teammates slicing into the slot from the wall. Sjodin doesn’t have a strong shot, struggling to beat goaltenders cleanly from anywhere outside of the immediate slot, but scored five SHL goals this season due to his ability to pounce on rebounds around the crease. His skating isn’t much of an asset either– he isn’t slow but isn’t a threat to beat any defenders. Sjodin has some real offensive skill, particularly as a puckhandler and as a passer, which he used to build a very solid 19-year-old season in a pro league. He’ll look to build upon that next year in Sweden and could possibly make the jump to North American hockey at some point if an NHL team shows interest.” - Sam Happi

Tim Lindfors - Wing - Malmo J20 (J20 Nationell)

A good-sized winger, Lindfors has been a quality scorer at nearly every level he has played at. This includes the J20 this year, where his 0.82 goals per game was among the best in the league, behind top draft prospect Liam Ohgren, who was over a goal per game.

“Lindfors is very much a goalscorer, having potted 23 goals in 28 games in U20 play this past season. He’s quite dominant at the junior level but failed to crack Malmo’s SHL club for any more than a one game audition, which meant he ended up playing part of his season in the HockeyEttan, the third division of Swedish professional hockey. He played fairly well there, continuing to use his instincts to find opportunities around the net and score five goals in 22 games. The interesting thing about Lindfors’ scoring profile is that he doesn’t seem to be much of a sniper: he does well to find space around the net and winds up more than his fair share of grade-A chances but doesn’t have the great shot required to threaten from further out. Lindfors doesn’t have much ability to create for himself– his skating and hands are decent, but not particularly strong, and he’s not much of a playmaker– so his offensive game will be quite dependent on whether or not he can continue to find those opportunities around the net. His scoring success so far could make him worthy of a shot, but it isn’t until he breaks into higher levels of pro hockey that we will see how translatable his skillset really is.” - Sam Happi

Russia

Maxim Arefyev - Goaltender - Sakhalinskiye Akuly (MHL)

A late bloomer playing in his first year in the MHL, Arefyev was a standout on a very poor team. While his team did not win many games, he did his best to keep them in the majority of them. His .916 save percentage was over 20 points higher than the next closest netminder on his team. For that reason, the 6’4, athletic netminder has drawn the intrigue of NHL scouts.

“A bit of a Cinderella story in 19-year-old Maxim Arefyev’s case (even though some might say that it is hard to associate a 6’4'' hockey goalie with such an image), as just last season he was buried at the Russian U18 level and now he is listed among the top goalies of this year’s draft. However, it might be slightly confusing for the people, who look at his stats, as he isn’t among the MHL top goalies stat wise, yet the stats should always be looked at in context: his team is among the weakest in the MHL and Arefyev is one of the rare reasons they are winning any games at all. That makes those stats more than solid for this situation. Arefyev is a big goalie, a bit raw in terms of technique (which makes him more of a longshot), yet with good reflexes and having a solid puck handling skill. With all that being said I’m more impressed with his psychological toughness and by that, I mean his ability to be extremely consistent both short and long-term even though the defense in front of him would frequently let him down, not to mention being pretty much always overloaded with a lot of shots, so that’s why I’d say there can be something good out of this kid.” - Viktor Fomich

Dmitri Buchelnikov - Wing - SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)

Buchelnikov was barely eligible for the 2021 NHL draft, born at the beginning of September. Immature physically, he was not able to properly showcase his offensive talents. Now a little stronger, and certainly more confident, Buchelnikov exploded in the MHL this season, finishing second in league scoring. He also followed that up with a strong playoff performance, recording a goal per game in the postseason for SKA.

“Every year there are prospects, who are going undrafted because while they have the required skills, something is still missing to get those altogether and convert them into solid and consistent production. A small right-handed winger Dmitry Buchelnikov was exactly one of these cases last year, but he clearly got it all together this year and it resulted in a dominating performance on the MHL level. Buchelnikov is skilled and dynamic, always aimed at the goal and has an excellent shot, which is of particular interest, as it is just great in terms of release and precision, not to mention his almost automatic one-timer from the left circle. Some concerns still remain though in his case, such as being undersized and lacking much of experience outside of the MHL juniors, yet his attacking skill set clearly indicates a notable offensive upside.” - Viktor Fomich

Danil Alalykin - Center/Wing - Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)

In his final year of draft eligibility, Alalykin is a late bloomer who seems to improve every year in the KHL, finally establishing himself as a regular this past season. Playing for a strong Ufa team, Alalykin is utilized as a role player in the bottom six, but when he does finally receive more ice time, he is a serious breakout candidate.

“I. Just. Can’t. Understand. Why. He. Still. Isn’t. Drafted. Ok, let’s put emotions aside, but I really can’t understand that, as Danil Alalykin is an extremely smart and hard-working forward, who sees the ice well and understands where and when he should be for a positional attack to be executed. No issues in the skill or skating departments, although it should be noted that Alalykin is slightly lightweight, yet it is hard to look at that as any kind of a red flag, considering 6’0” height and still having more than enough time to add some muscle. Another issue is exposure, as Alalykin’s KHL team is a strong one (both in terms of team’s strength and physicality of the players there) and he is still in process of earning a big role there. Yet, I think he has been extremely effective in his limited ice time this season, which makes me optimistic about things to come. It is his last year of draft availability and I’m not sure if Alalykin will be drafted. If a team does decide to, it will be an extremely smart pick in many ways, so here I just hope that common sense will prevail, as I think NHL Top 9 forward potential is there.” - Viktor Fomich

Ilya Ivantsov - Center - SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)

A previously highly touted prospect, Ivantsov went undrafted last year despite a solid performance at the U18’s, where he helped Russia earn a silver medal while wearing an “A.” This year he made his debut in the Russian second men’s league, the VHL, and it was a terrific debut. He led the league in U20 scoring ahead of the likes of Nikita Chibrikov and Fyodor Svechkov, two high NHL draft picks the same age as Ivantsov.

“Ilya Ivantsov being undrafted is quite an understandable case though, as despite all of his renown talent, his skating has always been at least questionable. On the other hand, Ivantsov has natural playmaking talent at the level that is unteachable, because the elite playmaking ability requires a player to have an excellent vision, feel the timing and tempo of the game at the instinctive level, not to mention needing to have a pretty good pair of hands. So quite a borderline case here in terms of the draft potential, but there’s a factor in Ivantsov’s favor: not only he has debuted against pros in the VHL and spent the full season there, but also became his team’s top point producer while being just 19, which seems like a clear sign that at least there’s nothing to worry about in terms of his transition from the juniors.” - Viktor Fomich

Czechia

Jiri Tichacek - Defense - Rytíři Kladno (Czechia)

Our video scouting team loved Tichacek last year and as such we ranked him quite high in 2021 (77th overall). Ultimately, the undersized defender was not selected and now makes an appearance on this list as nominated by…our video scouting team. The reality is that Tichacek’s mobility is NHL caliber, and he is coming off a season that saw him play over 40 games in the Czech men's league. Only potential top five pick David Jiricek (also an ‘03) produced more offensively and took on a larger role.

“I can’t just ignore one of my top re-entry players undrafted in 2021. Jiri Tichacek has stepped right into the Czech Extraliga and helped his team avoid relegation back to the Chance Liga through his strong mobility, excellent stick-first defending, and a great shot from the point. Tichacek may be small, but he fits a role that I certainly think is an unexplored potential area of value. Hypermobile turnover generators that provide more pros than cons, even if the cons can be less than ideal. Tichacek drove great results defensively and while he shows some issues moving pucks up the ice with his passing, he’s a gifted skater that I believe will only improve with time. His World Junior showing was largely positive in my view, and he may be a longshot, but one that I’d still be willing to take.” - Will Scouch

Slovakia

Maros Jedlicka - Wing - HKM Zvolen (Slovakia)

The 19-year-old, 6’1 winger absolutely exploded in his first full year playing against men in the Slovak top league, averaging nearly a point per game. Among U20 players, his 38 points were far and away the best, ahead of draft eligible prospects Simon Nemec, Adam Sykora, and Filip Mesar. Historically, his performance stands up with one of the better players to come from Slovakia, Michal Handzus.

“Jedlička has had a true breakout season in the Slovak top tier league. Having only scored four points in the last season, he was surprisingly promoted to Zvolen's top line this year and earned his minutes well. Jedlička finished the regular season as the team's leader in points (38 PTS in 44 GP) and pointwise, he had the 6th most successful season from a U20 player in the Slovak league's history. Jedlička is basically a jack of all trades. He is able to play at all forward positions, he's a capable bottom-six, penalty killer, but can also generate offense in the top-six and be successful at power plays. He plays a fast, physical kind of hockey; he moves well and has a solid size. He likes to get under the opponents' skin and doesn't shy away from escalating conflicts.

Unfortunately, his season ended with a knee injury, but there is a lot to like about Jedlička. He doesn't have any major weaknesses in his game; maybe the upside is a little lower than one would prefer, but his game is still nicely translatable to the North American ice. Jedlička projects as a future power forward with middle-six upside; he skates well and complements more skilled players who he can create space for. He is not afraid to get his nose dirty and scores from tough areas. All in all, a fast and physical winger who can play well at every position you put him into. He is a first year overager but could make a nice middle-to-late round pick.” - Matej Deraj

Switzerland

EDMONTON, AB CANADA - DECEMBER 25: Switzerland vs Slovakia preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 25, 2020 in Edmonton, AB Canada. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Dario Allenspach - Center/Wing - EV Zug (NL)

We wrote about Allenspach last year in this piece after a breakout season in the SL, Switzerland’s second men’s division. He reappears this year after a strong rookie season in the NL, the top men’s league. A fixture on the international scene, Allenspach would have played at this year’s World Junior Championships and been one of Switzerland’s go to players. We will almost assuredly see him in the summer when the tournament starts again. A strong overall player, Allenspach could be a longshot to be drafted, but is a name to keep in mind moving forward.

“Allenspach has grown a bit in the past year, now measuring in at 6 foot, roughly 170 pounds. Also having grown has been his role in the NL, where he was able to take a regular shift for EV Zug, which finds itself in the playoffs just now. His year may have been even more spectacular had the WJC not been called off, as it was a tournament he was thoroughly intending to use to make a lasting impression on NHL teams after having collected three assists in four games the winter before. First turning 20 less than two months after the draft this summer, it’ll be Allenspach’s third go-around at the draft and the question is whether his body of work to date has led NHL people to feel he’s worth adding now. Busy establishing himself as a two-way player, Allenspach has only put up four goals and nine points in 48 games this season. He’s also dressed nine times in the SL for the club’s farm team, but only to the tune of four points. When you’re this size and still not sticking out in offensive capacity, a team really needs to like something else about your game. Maybe one does?” - Chapin Landvogt

Joshua Fahrni - Center - SC Bern (NL)

Another top rookie in the NL this year, Fahrni has long taken on a leadership role within his age group internationally. He wore an “A” for Switzerland at the abruptly ended World Junior Championships. The energetic, two-way pivot has really blossomed this year after being passed over last year. The late born 2002 was the highest scoring U20 player in the NL this season.

“A player who motors around the ice in a crouched stance, constantly reading the play, Fahrni has come a long way in a short period of time. Basically, a non-topic in his first year of eligibility, Fahrni’s 21-22 season has seen him not only become a regular for SC Bern in the NL, but also contribute 13 points over the course of 49 games in a bottom six role. His team was a veteran-laden club that failed to live up to expectations despite healthy contributions from former NHLers such as Dominik Kahun, Kaspars Daugavins, and Cory Conacher, among others, but Fahrni proved to be one of the bright spots in the line-up, contributing a healthy dose of youthful enthusiasm and quickly becoming a fan favorite.

His fantastic season also saw him wear an “A” on his jersey for Switzerland at the WJC, where he centered the team’s first line, collecting an assist and +1 against Russia. A righty shot with a compact, strong build (194 lbs. at just 5’11”) and strong 3-zone instincts, the question is going to be whether a team can envision him turning out to be a poor man’s JG Pageau, who once seemed to have much of the same attributes and wasn’t a guarantee for the NHL until he worked his way into what has become a successful niche.” - Chapin Landvogt

Noah Meier - Defense - Küsnacht (SL)

Meier is a former highly touted defense prospect who had a chance to be drafted last year, after splitting time between the NL and SL. We ranked him at #202 for 2021. However, the lack of progress in his development the last few years obviously scared off NHL teams. This season he actually played less in the NL, but did perform extremely well in the SL, finishing top five in defenseman scoring. The World Juniors this year would have been a great event for him to showcase possible improvements, but that sadly did not happen.

“The WJC participant has continued to grow and establish himself as a young pro after what was a very solid 1st year of eligibility and a subsequent snub at the draft. That could be different this summer, even if he hasn’t blown last season out of the water. In essence, the smooth all-rounder who still only measures in at 5’11”, 170 lbs., took his game at the SL level to, well, another level, going from 20 points in 35 games to 30 points in 40. He’s suited up for fewer NL games this winter (10 as opposed to the 18 the winter before) and there’s no junior play to look at, but those watching should be able to use his considerable role in the SL as a solid measuring stick of where he’ll be in a few years’ time, albeit it’s unsettling that this offensively oriented defenseman doesn’t have a point in 28 career NL games. He’ll be at the WJC this summer, so one couldn’t be faulted for believing teams may be inclined to perhaps wait on his 3rd year of draft eligibility, when they’ll have a much greater book on his play against his peers at the highest international level. In fact, he may very well just be in line for the Janis Moser treatment on the draft front. Still, he’s clearly one of his nation’s most promising U20 players and continues to build on what’s a cerebral game.” - Chapin Landvogt

Norway

Eskild Bakke Olsen - Wing - Storhamar (Norway)

It seems like Norwegian players are being drafted into the NHL at a great rate of late. Four of the last five years, players from Norway have been selected by NHL teams, including the last two. Can Olsen make it three years straight? He would appear to have the best shot. He continues to improve his production in the Norwegian men’s league and helped Norway to a bronze medal at the Division 1 U20 World Juniors.

“We’ll kick things off by stating that if a Norwegian kid has his sights on an NHL future, he is very likely in North America or Sweden by the time he’s 15, with the latter being the most common destination. Not only is there nary a language barrier, but the top clubs in Sweden are regularly looking to pluck talents from Norway (among others) at a young age, should their talent indicate the necessity. Bakke Olsen has never even been recruited by a Swedish club, much less looked to latch onto one. He’s born and raised in Storhamar and that’s who he sweats and bleeds for. Like his former pro, high scoring father before him. And like his younger brother, who is currently tearing up the U18 D1A tournament with Norway. And oh, the kid brother is draft-eligible for the first time this year.

Interestingly, the recently turned 20-year-old Eskilde has been playing for the pro team for three seasons now, each one better than the prior - statistically. In essence, the husky 6-foot, 185-pounder has an underrated and underused shot. His one-timer is lethal. He has very strong instincts around the net, also with respect to finding open teammates. He can take and give hits and drives the offensive play. He’s an upright, stiff skater, but in the way a Ryan Getzlaf or Jason Spezza are stiff skaters, meaning also strong on his edges. Now, Bakke Olsen has two straight seasons of over a PPG. For fans of the Norwegian scene, Bakke Olsen is considered the country’s top U21 player. Period. But is that enough to entice an NHL team to take a flier on him? One did for the overager Emil Martinsen Lilleberg just last summer.” - Chapin Landvogt

Germany

Maks Szuber - Defense - EHC Munchen (DEL)

A 6’3, left shot defender, Szuber established himself as a DEL regular this season, his first after leaving the storied Red Bull program in Austria. Szuber also wore an ‘A’ for Germany at the abruptly ended World Junior Championships.

“This winter’s WJC was supposed to be Szuber’s coming out party at the international level. Blessed with a 6’3”, 190-pound package, Szuber was a top defender for the Red Bull Academy of the AlpsHL last season and surprisingly stuck with the Red Bull in the DEL this season, initially thought to be simply a result of some heavy waves of COVID-19 leaving the line-up decimated at times. However, he continues to take a regular shift with all bodies on board and was the top scorer of a pre-WJC 4 Nations Tournament in Norway with 6 points in 5 games.

Thought of as power play blueliner number one at the WJC, Szuber actually enjoys a reputation as a very studious and intelligent defenseman who doesn’t sacrifice his duties on the defensive end to get more involved up front. Turning 20 on August 25th, he’s put up 7 points in 32 games and averages roughly 15 minutes of ice time per game, having several times seen over 18 minutes a night. His role and performance in the upcoming playoffs could be decisive in whether a team decides to make use of a late rounder to take a chance on a kid who brings many attributes of an NHL defenseman to the table. If we had to select one overager out of Germany, Szuber would be the guy.” - Chapin Landvogt

Alexander Blank - Center/Wing - Krefeld (DEL)

We wrote about Blank last year in this very article, after he was one of the top rookies in the DEL last year. This year, Blank’s stats were pretty similar, yet his skill set should still make him a potential draft option. He looked very strong at the World Juniors before they were halted, something that might have caught the attention of a few scouts.

“The 5’11”, 180-pound Blank officially arrived on the prospect scene last season by putting up five goals and 27 points (!) in just 16 games in Germany’s 3rd pro circuit, before joining the DEL club for good, contributing six goals and 13 points in 37 games for the league’s worst team. He has gone on to boost that reputation in the DEL this year, taking on a bigger DEL role for a team that has been unsuccessfully fighting to avoid relegation for most of 2022. Points have been hard to come by at times and he’s managed “just” 5-11-16 in 46 total games. More importantly though is that he was used in all situations. Just average in size, Blank has found himself on the ice for every imaginable scenario this season.

What is solidifying him as perhaps Germany’s second most likely draft pick this summer, even as a 3rd year overager, is his three-point, +2 WJC performance, having scored both goals in a thrilling 2-1 overtime upset of the Czech Republic. The scouting community had seen him in the DEL, but now they can gauge his progress a bit in comparison to his peers. He had already looked perfectly comfortable in the team’s first game against Finland. He’s currently in camp with Team Germany in preparation for the men’s WC. Remember his name when the later rounds of the draft swing around.” - Chapin Landvogt

Bennet Rossmy. Photo by Dan Hickling, Hickling Images

Bennet Rossmy - Wing - Eisbaren (DEL)

The captain of last year’s German U18 team, there was some thought that Rossmy could be selected in 2021. We ranked him as an honorable mention in our draft guide. That was obviously not the case. This year, he has cracked the DEL part time and performed even better at the DEL2 level. He also happens to have an August birthday, which made him one of the youngest players eligible last year, when he went unselected. The 6’3 winger possesses some raw athletic tools that do appear to be improving.

“The captain of Germany’s entry at last spring’s U18 Worlds, the 6’3”, 195-pounder was thought to have a solid shot at being drafted last summer after having been a regular with strong numbers in the DEL2 as a 17-year-old. First turning 19 on August 1st, you’d think the draft snubbing would have Rossmy entering this season with a real chip on his shoulder, but things just didn’t want to go his way. Although he ultimately made the WJC squad in a top six capacity, he not only couldn’t make a dent on the scoresheet in the DEL, but also wasn’t putting up nearly the kind of numbers he had the year before in the DEL2. Ultimately, he’d go on to finish the DEL season with two points (both goals) in 27 games and the DEL2 season with seven goals and 14 points in 29 games.

But then something happened in the DEL2 playdowns. His team was busy staving off relegation, and he decided to basically do it all on his own by putting up four goals, 11 points, and a +8 in five games. What will it mean for teams that were just not convinced enough last summer? Unfortunately, the most important factor in his being drafted as an overager was going to be his WJC performance. Hard to see him getting drafted with that tournament having fallen through, but the size/pro experience ratio is very appealing for an overager who’ll be just 18 right on through the draft.” - Chapin Landvogt

Florian Bugl - Goaltender - Red Bull (AlpsHL)

The German starter at the last two WJC’s, Bugl is an average sized, but athletic netminder who has been playing with the Red Bull Academy in Austria for the last six years. He improved upon his stats after repeating the AlpsHL level this season. His .916 save percentage was 12th best in the league.

“The 19-year-old will turn 20 next month and has been out of commission for a good month now after his Red Bull Juniors were eliminated in the pre-playoffs of the AlpsHL. This will be his third year of eligibility. With the exception of one very catastrophic pre-playoff game, which saw Bugl swallow six goals against on just 33 shots against, he had a very strong second season in the AlpsHL going 13-7 with a 2.27 GAA, .916 SV%, and four shutouts along the way. After being Germany’s key to success at the 2021 WJC, standing in goal for both victories and then the 2-1 loss to Russia, he looked like he could be THE difference for Germany at this past WJC. And with a 0.98 GAA and .975 SV% in his one game in Alberta this winter, it sure looked like he was ready to take the bugle, uh, bull by the horns. At 6-foot, 187 pounds, Bugl is below average in size for modern goalies and has precious little experience to offer on the international stage against the best other countries have to offer, although that little bit of experience has been outstanding. He’s a free agent at the moment and it’s felt he’ll be signing with a DEL team for next season. He’s also a certainty to be part of this summer’s WJC team.” - Chapin Landvogt

2021 World Junior Championship: Czech Republic Training Camp Roster Preview

Derek O'Brien — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:42:22 +0000

National junior head coach Karel Mlejnek named the Czech Republic’s preliminary 45-man roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at a press conference on Wednesday (Dec. 2, 2020). As expected, the list includes 10 returnees from last season’s team and nine players who have been drafted by NHL teams.

In a group that includes Russia, Sweden, the USA and Austria, the Czechs are projected to finish fourth and advance to the quarter-finals. Whatever they achieve beyond that would be a pleasant surprise.

With the unusual circumstances that have affected all teams in the tournament to varying degrees, the Czech Republic was hit hard by a second wave of COVID-19 in the autumn, resulting in a shutdown of all organized sports for much of October and November. Furthermore, many teams have been forced to quarantine for additional time due to localized positive tests. While all of the team’s CHL-based players have returned home, some have been limited to only a handful of games.

While the Czech national junior team hasn’t played this season, save for a three-game series with Slovakia back in July, 10 junior-aged players were named to the Czech senior men’s team that competed at the Karjala Cup in Finland in November.

The last two years, the Czechs were led by Anaheim Ducks prospect Lukas Dostal in goal, but he’s too old this year. Last season, Dostal missed a couple of games due to injury, which gave Lukas Parik and Nick Malik an opportunity to get into some game action. The three goalies on the roster this time will be Parik, Malik and Jan Bednar, but the starting job is wide open.

Last year’s young defence corps will be this year’s gain, with four returning defencemen – Martin Has, Karel Klikora, Simon Kubicek, and Radek Kucerik. But the most interesting names on defence from a scouting perspective are 17-year-olds Stanislav Svozil and David Jiricek. Both were born in 2003 but their birthdays mean Svozil will be eligible to be drafted in 2021 and Jiricek in 2022. Additionally, both played at the Karjala Cup and Mlejnek indicated they both have a good shot at making the team.

“Based to their play so far, their chances are very high,” Mlejnek said at the press conference. “I don’t think they seemed out of place at all at the Karjala by being so young. They adjusted to the opportunities they were given and played with confidence. We believe that they will continue to prove that throughout December.”

Up front, the consensus top two lines based on Mlejnek’s lines in July and at the Karjala Cup in November consist of Jan Mysak centering Pavel Novak and Adam Raska and Jaromir Pytlik between Michal Teply and Filip Koffer. Novak – a 2002-born Minnesota Wild prospect – and Koffer will be playing in their first WJC while the other four all return from last year. After the top six, the talent up front drops off significantly. Marcel Barinka, who spent the past two seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads, had a solid shot at being the third-line center but declined the invitation to camp, having just signed with German club Kolner Haie and wanting to have a good camp there in anticipation of a December 17 opening to the DEL season.

Jan Mysak during the ice hockey quarter final game in The IIHF U18 World Championship between Sweden and The Czech Republic
Photo: Jonas Forsberg / BILDBYRÅN

Lukas Parik, G

While it’s not totally clear who the Czechs’ starting goalie will be, national team general manager Filip Pesan may have tipped his hand when he named Parik to the Karjala Cup roster. He played in one game there and stopped 27 of 30 shots against a Russian team that consisted exclusively of junior-aged players and will largely be the same squad that the Czechs will face in Group B in Edmonton. The other two goalies in contention are Nick Malik and Jan Bednar, who are both a year younger. At 6-4”, Parik is a big goalie who relies on his size and positioning to stop pucks, in contrast to the equally big but more acrobatic Bednar.

Martin Has, D

Has has only played in a couple games this season for second-division HC Benatky nad Jizerou, making this the first time he has played for a club in his home country since he was 16. The Washington Capitals‘ draft pick has spent two seasons with Tappara Tampere‘s junior squad in Finland, where his mobility and hockey sense were occasional issues. Has played last season in the OHL with the Guelph Storm. The right-shot defenseman is an intriguing blueliner with a promising tool set, but he looks very raw at the moment. At his first WJC he had a solid tournament with three points in six games, and will be heavily relied upon this time around.

Simon Kubicek, D

Kubicek is a very well-rounded two-way defender who plays physical and is tough to compete against in the defensive zone, although it has been noted that his speed needs to improve if he wants to make it to the next level, which may be why he was passed over in the 2020 Draft. The late-born 2001 has been a standout the last two years for Seattle and played well at the World Juniors for the Czechs, and they will count on him to be even better this season. So far he has spent this season with HC Stadion Litomerice in the Czech second division, where he has played on the team’s top defensive pair.

Stanislav Svozil, D

A potential first-round pick for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Svozil debuted in the Extraliga last season as a 16-year-old and didn’t look out of place in the pros, tallying five points in 41 games. This year, he has become a regular on the Kometa Brno defense and made his senior national team debut at the Karjala Cup, although that hasn’t translated into offensive production. While not particularly big for a defenseman at 6-1” and 172lbs, he is known for his speed, allowing him to contribute offensively without sacrificing anything on the back end. Being 10 months older than fellow 17-year-old Jiricek, Svozil probably has a slightly better chance of making the team.

Jan Mysak, C

A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in this year’s NHL Draft, 2002-born Mysak will be expected to carry the offensive load for the Czechs in his second World Junior Championship. After scoring at better than a point-per-game clip last season for Hamilton in the OHL, he is back home in Litvinov this season but has been held pointless in his first nine games of the season, averaging about 14 minutes per game on the Extraliga’s lowest-scoring team. Internationally he has shown a scoring touch, with four points in three games for the U20 national team back in July, and an assist in two games for the senior men’s team in November. In these games, he has mostly been centering a line with speedy, undersized wingers Pavel Novak and Adam Raska.

Michal Teply, LW

Teply is another player who has seen limited action back home in the Czech Republic after playing last season in the CHL, coming from the Winnipeg Ice to Mlada Boleslav and Litomerice, where he has played only a handful of games so far. He is a skilled and instinctive offensive-minded player whose passing skills and vision are his biggest strengths. He makes the right choices with the puck and his overall skill level is very high. He has a good, accurate wrist shot and the potential to be a good goal-scorer at the pro level. At 6-3” and 192lbs, he is one of the biggest forwards on this Czech team. In pre-tournament games, Teply has been playing the left side with Jaromir Pytlik and Filip Koffer.

Jaromir Pytlik, C

A member of the Soo Greyhounds now playing for HC Litomerice in the Czech second division, Pytlik is another returning player and top-six forward on this team. Last season, he began the tournament on a line with Jan Jenik but that lasted all of 15 seconds before the team’s star forward went down with a knee injury. After that, the Czech forward lines were a mess and Pytlik played a depth role. He is a mature two-way forward who plays a very heavy, pro-ready game. The versatile New Jersey Devils prospect excels playing through traffic, prolonging possession along the wall, and finishing off plays tight to the crease. He competes hard at both ends and shows high-end anticipation as a defensive forward and penalty killer.

Adam Raska, RW

After spending last season with the Rimouski Oceanic, tallying 21 points and 37 penalty minutes in just 35 games and then getting drafted by the San Jose Sharks, Raska has returned to the club that developed him, split this season so far between Trinec in the Extraliga and second-league affiliate Frydek-Mistek. Raska was a depth forward at last year’s WJC but will be a top-six forward this year, lining up on Mysak’s right side, where he should get a chance to display his goal-scoring touch. While somewhat undersized at 5-10” and 168lbs, he plays bigger than his size, not shying away from the physical play, which should only improve as he bulks up.

Goaltenders:
Lukáš Pařík (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Karlovy Vary), Nick Malík, Tomáš Suchánek (both Frýdek-Místek), Šimon Zajíček (Litvínov).

Defencemen:
Karel Klikorka (Mladá Boleslav), Martin Hugo Haš (Benátky nad Jizerou), Michal Hrádek (Pardubice), Stanislav Svozil (Kometa Brno), Adam Rutar (Olomouc), David Jiříček, Vladimír Kremláček (both Plzeň), Ondřej Baláž, Michael Krutil, Šimon Kubíček, Jan Mlčák, Daniel Poizl (all Litoměřice), Radek Kučeřík (Přerov), Jiří Suhrada (Zlín).

Forwards:
Adam Najman, Jakub Rychlovský (both Liberec), Michal Gut (Sokolov), Martin Beránek (České Budějovice), Jonáš Peterek, Adam Raška (both Frýdek-Místek), Jakub Brabenec (Kometa Brno), Sebastián Malát (Plzeň), David Vitouch (Sparta Praha), David Jindra, Filip Koffer, Martin Lang, Pavel Novák, Filip Přikryl, Jaromír Pytlík, Michal Teplý, Matěj Toman (all Litoměřice), Jan Myšák (Litvínov), Ivan Ivan (Vítkovice), Martin Ryšavý (Přerov), Radek Mužík (Lulea, Sweden), Theodor Pištěk (Örebro, S), Ondřej Pšenička (Waterloo, USHL).

OHL: Nick Malik, G, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Brock Otten — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:57:58 +0000

With his athleticism, size, and competitive nature, Nick Malik has the makings of an NHL netminder. However at this point, he is very much a stopper and not a true goaltender. His scrambling tendencies often leave him exposed. However, these technical issues can be improved with the right goaltending instruction. Malik resembles current Carolina Hurricanes netminder Petr Mrazek, when thinking back to what his game looked like in his draft year with the Ottawa 67’s. Mrazek was able to harness his athletic ability to become a quality NHL netminder and Malik has the potential to do the same.

Nick Malik	2020 NHL Draft Eligible
Position: G, Catches: L	H/W: 6-2", 174lbs
Stats to Date: (GP-GAA-SV%)	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL (16-3.77-.886)
	HC Ocelari Trinec, Czech (2-6.23-.795)
	HC Frydek-Mistek, Czech 2 (19-2.46-.927)
	Czech Republic U20, WJC (1-3.96-.864)

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 02: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Goalie Nick Malik (31) prepares to make a save during Ontario Hockey League action between the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Ottawa 67's on February 2, 2020, at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

Athleticism/Quickness/Speed: Malik is an extremely athletic netminder who is powerful in his pushes cross crease and as such, is able to make many highlight reel saves going post to post. He plays an ultra aggressive style, knowing that he can recover with his quickness. He has quick pads that help him make saves on deflections and his glove hand is very strong and consistent. Grade: 60

Compete/Temperament: Without question, Malik is a competitor in the crease. He is aggressive in fighting for his spot in the blue paint and works hard to fight through screens to make saves. His statline in Sault Ste. Marie has not been as good as one might hope, but the Greyhounds’ defense plays a very high tempo, high risk style. That means that he faces a lot of high danger scoring chances and odd man rushes. And while he can be prone to some bad goals due to faults in his positioning, he usually bounces back to make the next big save required of him. Grade: 55

Vision/Play Reading: As mentioned, Malik makes a lot of highlight worthy saves by going post to post. His anticipation and reads are usually quite strong. He tracks the play well, which allows him to make saves in recovery as he has a tendency to over-commit in his pushes. Malik will come out aggressively to challenge shooters and is able to track the puck through traffic. Grade: 55

Technique/Style: This is the area of Malik’s game that is most raw. He relies heavily on his athleticism and aggressiveness to make saves, but is not yet technically sound. Malik has a tendency to drop down to the butterfly too early, giving up the top part of the net or taking himself out of the play. He also over-commits on his pushes when challenging shooters, which makes it difficult to for him to cover the far side (be it blocker or glove), or to recover when teams make that extra pass. He can be prone to bad goals by not covering his post well enough, or cutting down the angle properly. With a strong goaltending coach, this can be corrected. Grade: 50

Rebound Control: This is another area that Malik will need to improve in. His glove hand is very strong and he rarely gives up second chances when he has an opportunity to glove a puck down. In general, he does a good job of swallowing up pucks and preventing second chances on most high shots. But on lower shots, he has a tendency to kick pucks back out into the slot and can have a difficult time covering up loose pucks on point shots. Gaining more control over his movement should also help him control his pads more effectively. Grade: 50

Puck Handling: Without being too dramatic, Malik is one of the weakest puck handlers that I have seen. In every game that I have seen of Malik’s this season, he has committed multiple turnovers when venturing out of his crease. He has a tendency to overplay the puck, rather than make a quick decision and this gets him in trouble with forecheckers. Malik will either have to improve his puck handling ability, or decide to stay in his crease, allowing his defenders to make plays. Grade: 40

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 53

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

IIHF 2019 U18 World Championship Preview – Czech Republic

Marco Bombino — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:40:16 +0000

CHELYABINSK, RUSSIA - APRIL 29: The Czech Republic's Michal Teply #25 celebrates after scoring a second period goal against Sweden during bronze medal game action at the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

The Czech Republic will have two returning players from last year: forward Michal Teply and defenseman Hugo Has. They will bring four forwards from North America (Marcel Barinka, Martin Lang, Filip Prikryl and Michal Toman), as well as defenseman Simon Kubicek from the WHL. Kubicek is expected to be play a key role on the backend alongside Has. Lukas Parik will likely be the starting goalie, with either Jan Skorpik or 2002 born Jan Bednar being the backup.

Two surprising cuts were made before the start of the tournament, with underage goalie Nick Malik and forward Jaromir Pytlik being left off the roster. Since the Czechs do not have too much depth on the roster, it makes these decisions somewhat odd, especially in Pytlik's case. The center has been one of the top Czech players in some of the international tournaments prior the World Championship.

Despite all of this, the Czechs will have a potent offense. The defensemen may not contribute a ton on the offensive side of things which could be an issue, but if the goalies will bring their A-game, they have a chance to reach the medal round.

Here are three players to watch:

Michal Teply, LW

Teply is the player to keep a close eye on from the Czech team. He's a skilled and instinctive player with impressive passing skills and vision. His overall skill level is very high – quick hands and soft touch on the puck. Has a precise wrist shot, good shooting technique and mechanics. What's more, Teply is an agile skater with good mobility and coordination at 6'3” and 187 lbs.

Hugo Has, D

Has is a towering 6'4" defenseman who looks very raw right now, but could develop into a solid player when all is said and done. The right-shot blueliner has a great point shot and gets a lot of power behind his slap shot and wrister. His mobility is okay, and puck skills need some work as well. There might be some untapped potential if he can work on his above-mentioned weaknesses and elevate his offensive game. Could be a decent mid-round pick in the draft.

Adam Najman, C

A smallish center with an intriguing offensive skill set. Najman sees the ice and his options very well and finds his teammates with pinpoint passing in the final third. Stylistically, I think he's more of a playmaker than scorer, but he has found the back of the net regularly with the national team, scoring eight goals this season. His strides are a bit short, not allowing to generate a whole lot of power. However, he thinks the game well and has a lot of skill.