Nicolas Beaudin – McKeen's Hockey

TOP 15 PROSPECTS: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – RANK: #22 – TIER IV

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:54:11 +0000

Chicago Blackhawks

OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC - DECEMBER 28: Germany vs Czech Republic preliminary round action of the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship at Ostravar Arena on December 28, 2019 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Lukas Reichel - LW

The second German first rounder in 2020 after Ottawa’s Tim Stützle, Reichel enjoyed a fantastic 20-21 season, taking a huge step in not only his maturity and statistical development, but by going from a 2nd/3rd line winger in the 19-20 season to a first line center for DEL champion Eisbären Berlin. Teaming up with former NHL draft pick Marcel Noebels and Olympian Leo Pföderl, Reichel’s line proved to be the cream of the crop in the DEL and Reichel saw his production jump by eight points and +19 in just five more games than his already impressive draft year output. His winter - and Team Germany’s - may have even been better had a bout with Covid and the tourney regulations regarding respective Covid protocols not prevented him from participating in the WJC.

After winning the league championship, Reichel - the nephew of former NHLer Robert Reichel - found himself in a top six role for Team Germany at the men’s World Championships, putting up six points and a +5 in nine total games, although most of those points were collected in the first two games. A heavy check to the head in Game 3 against Kazakhstan ended his day but didn’t knock him out of the tournament. Still, he wasn’t quite the same player afterwards, gaining just one more point along the way. Reichel signed his ELC shortly thereafter and is expected to remain in Berlin for the 21-22 season. Another performance in a top line gig similar to last season could very well have him on the fast track to an NHL job with Chicago, although his NHL breakthrough may just have to come on the wing. - CL

Landon Slaggert - LW

Slaggert is a funny player. The son of one of Notre Dame’s assistant coaches (technically, an associate head coach), and a graduate of the USNTDP program, he gets most of his attention for being an agitator. Some play to score, but Slaggert loves to tussle. Physicality is the point. He will regularly go out of his way to make a hit and create a memory in the mind of the opposing player. And yet, almost unnoticed, he put up close to one point per game as a freshman on a pretty mediocre team, finishing third on the Fighting Irish in points, between only his older brother Graham, and Alex Steeves, who signed as a free agent with Toronto.

So, what is he really? In all honesty, once he turns pro, you can expect the agitating side of his game to be the focal point for his development. His elite energy level is perfectly suited for a bottom six role, neutralizing the opposition’s top scoring forwards at even strength and on the penalty kill. But even in a lower line role, he should be an impactful player for his team. He has quickness in his feet, and flashes above average hand-eye coordination, and the ability to execute the odd bit of magic with his stick. He doesn’t have Brad Marchand upside, but if he is put in a situation where he plays as the third wheel with two other skill guys, he will leave that impression on occasion. - RW

Wyatt Kalynuk - D

Already 20-years-old when he was drafted by Philadelphia, Kalynuk was not compelled to stay on campus for the full four years to become a free agent, instead walking away after a very strong junior campaign, signing with the Blackhawks as a free agent. It would then be an understatement to say that his professional debut exceeded expectations. An offensive-oriented puck moving skilled defender, he topped the point-per-game mark over eight games in the AHL and came four NHL games away from losing prospect eligibility status. In fairness, his ice time in the NHL was fairly sheltered, playing third pairing minutes, although his ice time did gradually increase as the season progressed, and he was the recipient of regular time on the power play.

This year’s Chicago roster will look very different from what he accustomed to as a first-year player, as the turnover on the blueline is especially acute. As good as Kalynuk looked last year, he cannot be said to be guaranteed the same role in 2021-22, even if he did more than hold his own. The top four seems fairly locked up between newcomers Seth Jones and Jake McCabe, along with holdovers Connor Murphy and Calvin De Haan, with five youngsters competing for the remaining three NHL jobs, including former top prospect Ian Mitchell, and the player immediately following Kalynuk on this list. The tools are there for Kalynuk to succeed, but to cement his spot, he will need to convince the coaching staff that he does not need to be limited in his deployment. - RW

Nicolas Beaudin - D

The 2020/21 season was an extremely successful one for the former first round pick out of Drummondville. He lit up the AHL in his sophomore season, earning an extended call up with the Blackhawks where he performed very admirably in a third pairing role, even seeing some powerplay time. He then closed out the season by helping Canada win gold at the World Championships, again in a third pairing role.

Beaudin’s skating ability has always been his calling card and the key to his success. Originally drafted as primarily an offensive defender, Beaudin has worked hard to be more consistently engaged in the defensive end. He is not the biggest defender, but he has added strength to help him win those battles near the crease and along the wall and he has learned how to use his mobility to be better at defending transitional attacks. It appeared that Beaudin would be a shoo-in to start the year with the Blackhawks, however management brought in Seth Jones, Jake McCabe, and Caleb Jones this offseason. That likely pushes Beaudin to the AHL yet again, where he would be one of the Hawks’ top call-up options. His upside is probably that of a #4-5 defender who can play the powerplay and this potential should be reached within the next two seasons. - BO

Alec Regula - D

While the offensive production certainly did not carry over from London in his first AHL season, Regula did draw strong reviews for his work in the defensive end, improving significantly over the course of his rookie year with Rockford. The hulking, right shot defender even earned a late season call up to Chicago, as a reward for his strong play.

Originally acquired in a trade from Detroit for Brendan Perlini, Regula had developed into a very versatile player in the OHL before turning pro. He was being utilized in the bumper position on the powerplay. He was anchoring the penalty kill. He could be on the ice in any situation. As a first year pro, Regula played it relatively safe offensively, working to make quicker decisions with the puck as he adjusted to the pace of play. As he gains confidence and adjusts, he still may become more involved as an offensive player. At face value, his size, physicality, and mobility make him an ideal defensive defender for the modern NHL. With a strong start to the next AHL season, Regula could position himself to be the first call up to Chicago should the Hawks suffer an injury to their d-core. Otherwise, they will likely opt to be patient with the big rearguard, hoping that he can develop into the dominant two-way defender that he was with the London Knights. - BO

Drew Commesso - G

Bearing in mind the small sample, Commesso was one of the better goalies in the Hockey East conference as a freshman last season. As a USNTDP grad, who got better and better as his draft year wore on, but given his abbreviated post-draft season, there isn’t much change to his scouting report, other than the fact that he still hasn’t proved – or been able to prove – that he can handle a starter’s workload. He has average size, solid athleticism, and keeps his feet moving over the course of the game. The area of his game in which he has shown the most potential is actually in his puck handling, as he has long enjoyed skating out of his crease to play the puck, and he does it quite well.

There are some who are very high on Commesso and some who are not yet convinced that he represents the best future bet for Chicago between the pipes. Given his playing time so far, both viewpoints are reasonable, especially considering his steady performances. Chicago seems to also be on the fence so far, as reports were out there connecting them to one of this year’s draft class’ two big goalie prospects (Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa), although those died down when they traded down as part of the Seth Jones deal. Commesso clearly has NHL starter upside, but we will need a full season of collegiate hockey to feel secure in that projection. - RW

Colton Dach - C

The younger brother to budding Chicago Blackhawks star Kirby Dach, Colton is following in his brother’s footsteps by playing with the Saskatoon Blades and by being selected by Chicago at the draft. Dach’s game improved significantly in his second year in the WHL as he averaged a point per game in a secondary scoring role for a very deep Blades team.

Like his brother, Colton’s offensive potential and projection are quite high because of his size (6’4, 205lbs) and skill combination. Dach has the ability to dominate shifts down low because of how well he protects the puck, and he is adept at finding soft spots in coverage without the puck. Scouts also like Dach’s versatility as he has shown an ability to successfully play the wing or center, adapting his game to suit the needs and requests of his team and coaching staff. However, at this point, Colton does not skate quite as well as his brother. There is room for improvement in his explosiveness and in the dynamics of his stride (East/West). This would allow him to be a more consistent offensive player and more successful when operating at a quicker pace. Colton could also stand to be a more consistent physical player, as he does not always use his size to the best of his advantage. Most definitely a project who will require patience, Dach does have extremely alluring potential. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Nolan Allan - D

As witnessed with a strong supporting performance at the Under 18’s for Canada, Nolan Allan has a chance to be a long time stay at home NHL defender. He combines good size and reach with excellent mobility and physical intensity, making him a very efficient and consistent defensive player. While he was a bit of a surprise first round selection, it is easy to see why the Blackhawks valued him so greatly.

Allan’s four-way mobility is excellent, as his stride, in addition to his pivots, are clean and efficient. This allows him to be very effective defending in transition, as he steps up quickly to address attackers, often forcing dump-ins because forwards are unable to get around him. Allan is also a physically aggressive player who picks his spots well to go for the big hit and who rarely misses an assignment near the crease; he can be suffocating. He is your classic modern day NHL stopper. However, Allan’s offensive potential appears to be limited due to his lack of innate puck skill. He can clear forecheckers with his feet but needs to be paired with a more confident puck handler to help initiate clean exits. Inside the offensive zone, Allan will often elect to dump pucks into the corner and rarely jumps up into the play to hold the line or keep pucks in, opting to play an extremely conservative brand of defense. Perhaps as he gains confidence, these tools will grow. As of right now, Allan likely projects as a quality third pairing defender who can anchor a penalty killing unit. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Ethan Del Mastro - D

The expectations for Del Mastro heading into this OHL season were pretty high after he showed such great progression in his rookie season, finishing the year as one of Mississauga’s best defenders. However, due to the OHL cancellation, the only game action Del Mastro saw this year was at the U18’s where he helped Canada win gold. While he started slowly in more of a third pairing role, he eventually earned the trust of the coaching staff and became a very valuable member of that gold medal winning squad.

The main allure of Del Mastro is that he skates significantly better than the average 6’4, 205 lbs, physically imposing defender. His long strides are both smooth and powerful, allowing him to pick up speed quickly. Del Mastro also relishes the opportunity to play the body and is extremely physically aggressive. This gets him into penalty trouble at times, but this is the trade-off for a player who prides himself in being difficult to match up against. While Del Mastro does show potential as a puck mover because of his linear power, his offensive skill set is currently most effective when kept simple. Just how high his offensive upside is remains to be seen. Does he have the vision, creativity, or hands to be a strong two-way force or is he more likely to become a stay-at-home defender at the NHL level? Del Mastro will be a leader for the Mississauga Steelheads this year and should see considerable ice time in all situations, aiding in his development as a two-way player. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Evan Barratt - C

A prospect who has been mostly under the radar since his time with the USNTDP, Barratt has slowly and gradually improved his overall game, but the pace of improvement has been so slow and gradual, that it has been barely perceptible. In his time with the program, he was overshadowed by the likes of Quinn Hughes, Brady Tkachuk and Josh Norris, even though Norris was the only one who outproduced him. Playing for Penn State may have continued to keep his expectations lowered, as the school still lacks the cache of the premier college programs, unlike conference rivals Notre Dame, Michigan, and Minnesota.

There was some mild buzz during and after his 43-point sophomore campaign, but Barratt’s inclusion with the American WJC entry had a diminishing impact on his standing, and his scoring regressed to around one point per game in his final season on campus. Barratt’s first pro campaign was again a quiet one, yet only two members of the IceHogs topped his output. You may have also noticed a trend here, in that Barratt consistently puts up solid numbers – not team leading, but close – yet the numbers themselves are not eye-popping, and the way he gets there isn’t exciting, so he is overlooked. Even if it’s boring, he has a good shot, and though he may seem plodding, he plays hard and gets his licks in. The upside is moderate, but he’ll earn it without fanfare. - RW

Michal Teply - LW

The 6’3 playmaking winger started his pro career last year, however he struggled with Rockford as he adjusted to the speed and strength of pro players. He will hope to be better in his sophomore campaign and will try to earn more offensive responsibility this season.

MacKenzie Entwistle G

Entwistle may not have the potential to be a top six player at the NHL level, but he has everything you want from an elite level bottom six player. The competitive two-way forward can play any position and is ready for a full-time role at the NHL level this season.

Wyatt Kaiser - D

A third-round selection in 2020 out of high school, Kaiser had a terrific freshman year for UMD last year, earning a spot on the NCHC all-rookie team. The smooth skating two-way blueliner is a prospect on the rise in the Blackhawks system.

Isaak Phillips - D

With the OHL on hiatus, Phillips was able to play in the AHL a year early and, perhaps surprisingly, he was extremely effective as a first-year pro. Blessed with high-end physical tools, Phillips showed great progression as an offensive player last year, to go with his already refined defensive approach. With a full AHL season on the horizon, Phillips is another Blackhawks prospect trending upwards.

Jakub Galvas - D

After spending two years in Liiga as an everyday player, the Czech defender will head to North America for the first time this year to play with Rockford in the AHL. Far from a flashy player, Galvas succeeds as a two-way defender because he keeps things simple.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Chicago Blackhawks Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 20:32:18 +0000

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

Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Mitchell is on the smaller side but is more solid and able to play hard against top opponents. He does not have the flash of some previous top Chicago prospects, but his upside is very high nonetheless and his floor is high as well. His tools all rate as average or better, but his hockey sense and instincts help everything play up, giving him a package that is greater than the sum of its parts. A right-handed shot, he can play on both sides of the point, something helped along by very strong lateral mobility. His defensive footwork is solid as well, and Mitchell generally finds himself in the right spot to nullify most chances against, allowing him to be trusted against much bigger players. He has even been known to drop the occasional opponent with a big hit, belying his compact stature. Mitchell still has the puck moving chops that saw the Blackhawks use a late second rounder on him out of the AJHL in 2017, but as he has greatly refined the rest of his game in college, he now looks like a potential #2/3 defender in short order. – RW

Lukas Reichel, LW (17^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Reichel was deemed worthy of a first-round selection because of his strong performance in the DEL last year, his high-end IQ as an offensive player, and his well-rounded approach to the game. His best asset is the way he thinks the game. He is excellent at finding space in the offensive zone, playing with resilience through traffic. He flashes play driving ability but appears much more comfortable as a strong complementary scoring winger. His pro-level goals have largely come from dirty areas, which makes it easy to see his game translating to the next level. Reichel also excels down low and when working the half wall as his agility is excellent, which makes him tough to pin. His board work has been outstanding, and he shows no worries in using his body to protect the puck, holding his own against extreme physical pressure from men despite his relatively light weight. His skill level is good but not elite. The same could be said for his speed and functional success in transition. - BO

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67^th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. Previous ranking: 2)

A hulking right shot defender; Regula possesses a unique skill set. He moves extremely well, possessing both power and fluidity in his stride. His ability to play in the buffer position on the power play gives Regula addition means of contributing. He uses quick hands to finish off plays in tight, with a forward’s touch. He is an incredible asset in his own end because of his reach. He was among the league leaders in takeaways per game last year and he suffocates attacking forwards because of that mobility and reach combination. One area that really improved for him was his decision making with the puck in the defensive end. His poise and patience improved and as such, he cut down on his giveaways and improved his ability to start the breakout effectively. The Hawks should be elated to have added Regula to their prospect stable, following a deal from Detroit. He projects as a second pairing, all situations defender who could move quickly through the system, so long as his processing ability holds up to the speed of the pro game. – BO

Drew Commesso, G (46^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Commesso’s specialty is not just allowing his own defenders to start a counterattack from the defensive faceoff dots, but he will regularly shove the puck past the blueline, on the tape to give the rush a major kickstart. Commesso’s numbers have been impressive, with save percentages of .917 and .920 at the different levels played by the USNTDP last year. He cannot be compared to his predecessor, Spencer Knight, but he is a good goaltender in his own right. He has decent size, is agile and plays an athletic game with quick limbs. He keeps his composure in tough situations and rarely lets a bad goal get him down. The Boston University commit has yet to face a heavy workload. There are also elements of his game that will need marked improvement, including his coverage of the posts, where he can leave too many holes, or his ability to control rebounds, preventing second and third chances. - RW

Pius Suter, C/LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jul. 16, 2020. Previous ranking: 3)

Following five years in the ZSC Lions program, Suter signed with Chicago after an NLA scoring title and MVP season. He is a relentless puck hound, pushing the pace and attacking. He does the majority of his damage within a few feet of the net. Of course, his finishing ability and shot are also strengths and it is what makes him a successful and consistent goal scorer. He is also a competitive two-way player who uses his strong skating ability to apply back pressure and force turnovers. These traits make Suter a terrific penalty killer. He still has to prove his slight frame will not hinder his play in the NHL. Even if the offensive skill set does not fully translate, there is certainly a good chance that Suter can become a valuable bottom six forward because of his speed and tenacity. Look for him to make an immediate impact (in some shape or form) for Chicago next year. – BO

Landon Slaggert, C (92^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

His game is pure high energy grinder, but Slaggert also has sneaky skills in his mitts. You will first notice him when he bumps an opponent off the puck along the boards, but you should also note how he picked up the puck himself after forcing the turnover and proceeded to flip it stealthily to a linemate streaking up the opposite wing. Son of a coach, he is eminently coachable. Playing with higher end players, it is clear how Slaggert’s subtle skills can play at a higher level. That said, he will be better as a playmaker than a finisher thanks to his vision and reading. That ability to read the ice also helps him immensely on the other side of the puck, where he is an asset to his team. He is a fun player to watch and easier to appreciate than most prospects with his nondescript point totals. He is a swift skater who follows the play and never gives up on the puck. He is a future NHL’er who should be able to fit in wherever he is needed, up or down the lineup. – RW

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196^th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 4)

Not drafted until his third year of eligibility, Kalynuk did a lot well, but nothing spectacularly at the time. Three years at Wisconsin later, the last of which saw him wearing the “C”, the pick looks like a Ron Hextall era steal, even if the Flyers will never reap the rewards from that shrewd bit of scouting. As an overager, Kalynuk was eligible to leave school early and declare free agency, which he did this summer, finally signing with Chicago in July. The Blackhawks are getting a solid two-way defender with sneaky puck skills and a solid point shot, who uses stick and body positioning for defensive stops. He is a good enough skater to keep up with most, without being dynamic. Kalynuk reads the game well and tends to make the right decision to help extend possession for his team. The Blackhawks would be well-served to give him a half to a full season in the AHL to acclimatize to the speed of the professional game, but it should not be long until he is ready for a third pairing role in the NHL, with room for additional minutes on either or both of the special teams units. - RW

Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Barratt couples a heavy game with good hustle and a very strong, effective shot to help tilt the ice in his team’s favor. Nominally a center, he is most effective playing along the boards and behind the net, suggesting a future move to the wing. A top player in his age group with the national program before he was drafted, he got off to a slower start in college hockey, but picked things up as a sophomore, earning a spot on the American WJC team, and he maintained those gains as a junior. He has learned to better utilize his very strong wrist shot, even finding opportunities to shoot from a distance. Barratt follows his shots to the net, getting rebounds and making goalies uncomfortable. He mostly plays a North-South game, although he is not averse to circling back to create room or a different attack angle. Some time on the farm should allow him to get in work both at center and the wing, finding a spot that works best for him within the organizational structure. His versatility and energy would be a boon to the team as an affordable talent in a bottom six role. - RW

Michal Teply, LW (105^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Teply has become an enigmatic forward for the ICE. At times he controls the ice with his size, good speed, and flashes of elite level hands and shooting ability, while other nights he is a passenger on a team with a lot of good talent. Plus/minus isn’t a great stat but Teply was second worst on the team in that regard. It shows his play away from the puck still needs some work. When Teply is on his game he is on the forecheck pressuring opponents, establishing the cycle game and making skilled net drives. He is a volume shooter and has pretty good vision from the wall toward the middle of the ice. He isn’t an overtly physical player despite having dominant size and doesn’t always play with the intensity you would hope to see. He has all the physical tools and flashes moments where he puts it all together however they are too infrequent to project future NHL stardom just yet. - VG

Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Over the past two seasons, Carlsson has been Rockford’s number-one defenseman. He plays top-pair minutes coupled with time on both special teams’ units, putting up points and learning the intricacies of North American defensive play. This has helped the Swede go from fringe farmhand to a legitimate future NHLer. Aggressive with the puck but calm without it, the 23-year-old has a high stress threshold and never seems to panic defensively, waiting patiently for a chance to stick check, hit, or lock someone up against the boards at the right time. He is not particularly quick but plays with pace, carrying the puck through the neutral zone and making defenders miss with his edgework and fantastic hands. He loves to push the play forward and join the rush as a trailer but prefers to pass in most situations instead of using his below-average shot. His lack of skating speed is the only thing pushing him back from being an immediate NHL defenseman, and with the way he plays, his inability to close on top-end forwards might be an issue. For now, he has impressed his way up the depth chart and could possibly make the Chicago roster out of training camp next season. - TD

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Previous ranking: 9)

After ripping up the WHL for 102 points in his final year with Red Deer, Hagel made a quick adjustment to the pro ranks in his first full year in the AHL. His 19 goals led the Rockford roster and earned him a short NHL stint at just 21 years old, but don’t let those goal numbers fool you, as he is a dual-threat passer and scorer. Initially a Buffalo Sabres sixth rounder who went unsigned, Hagel has speed and shooting ability that makes him a playmaker and someone who has to be played tight and hard by defenders. While he is not a blazer, he skates well with his light and lanky frame to drive play. Without the puck, he competes for net-front position and has the poise to operate in that area against stronger players. A fine defensive player, he kills penalties for Rockford and can play deep in the zone at even strength. Without many flaws in his skillset, it was encouraging to see his offense really shine in his first AHL year. A long future as a checking line, depth-scoring winger who can match up against any other line seems inevitable after some more AHL time. - TD

Artur Kayumov, LW (50^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

A former second round selection, Kayumov has been developing slowly, but well, in Russia and recently finished his second full season in the KHL with Lokomotiv. Among U23 players, his 16 goals were second behind top NHL prospect Kirill Kaprizov in the league last year. The 5-11” winger is a dangerous goal scorer because of his quickness, skill level with the puck, and his powerful release. Currently unsigned by Chicago, Kayumov has a contract with Lokomotiv until the end of 2021-22, and if recent events have told us anything, it would appear likely that he plays out that contract before making the jump to the NHL for 2022-23. While this does seem pretty far down the road, Kayumov could be worth the wait and does project as a top six goal scorer and a high impact player, as his game is already practically devoid of any significant weaknesses. - BO

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

One of the QMJHL’s top defensemen in 2018-19, Beaudin was relied upon by Drummondville for basically everything. He played top pair minutes, including both special teams, and was a key factor in everything they did in the offensive zone with his 49 assists being second among all defenders in the Q. His transition to the AHL, playing the same style, was a struggle. He had difficulty putting up points at the higher level and did not seem to improve his pace of play with the puck, which is concerning for a more offensively oriented defenseman. The former first rounder showed why he was taken with such a high 2018 pick; his vision and maturity are both top notch. He sees the game exceptionally well and plays with ice in his veins. He is so good at maneuvering around the ice, waiting for lanes to open and finding his teammates. He defends well with his smarts, which keeps his gaps even and effective and his stick play is great. Patience is arguably his biggest strength, but that lack of assertiveness is worrying as he is a 5-11” defender who might top out as a tweener without more pace to his game. - TD

Jakub Galvas, D (150^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Galvas had a rather promising season with Jukurit in the Liiga. The Czech defenseman started really well which set expectations high, but ultimately, he was unable to maintain that level of play and faded somewhat as the season went on. The main issues were a lack of consistency and inability to win one-on-one battles on a regular basis. He must be more assertive and stronger in his own end. That said, he also brought many good elements to the team. He is a smooth-skating defenseman, light on his skates and has good four-way mobility. He moves effortlessly around the ice. Not only is his skating fluid, but he also handles the puck with ease, has swift hands and good puck control to operate in tight quarters. He displayed flashes of skill, but those occasions were few and far between in the past season. He has one year remaining on his contract with the Finnish club. - MB

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Another high draft selection out of Russia by the Blackhawks, Altybarmakyan, similarly aged to Kayumov, has actually signed with Chicago and appears ready to make the jump to North America after a strong KHL season with HK Sochi. The 5-11” winger plays a heavy game and does the majority of his work in tight by driving the net and playing in the slot. With a well-rounded toolkit, Altybarmakyan projects as a middle six winger who can use his speed and power to drive the pace and open up space. Given the state of the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding the AHL season, it appears there is a chance he stays in the KHL next year on a loan from Chicago, as his rights were recently traded to SKA. But he certainly seems much closer to making an impact in the NHL than Kayumov, if only due to contractual elements. – BO

Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 15)

A point-per-game player with Quebec of the QMJHL before graduating to the Chicago pro system, Kurashev’s game is one with insane offensive skills that can be inconsistent from shift-to-shift. For the Swiss World Junior team in 2019, he was one of the tournament’s best players and exhibited exactly what his game is in a nutshell, dynamic scoring potential but only in short flashes. He has puck-handling skill, decent speed, and a bullet shot that can beat goalies from distance. He is deadly with the puck on his stick on the power play and can pass better than he is given credit for. He will need to be better off the puck, as he can wander away from the play and fail to find open ice, and he is not much of a helper defensively. He is an undoubted boom or bust prospect, and with more consistency can be a top-six scoring winger, but with none, might not stick long-term at all. – TD

Niklas Nordgren, RW (74^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 18)

As a smaller winger without great skating ability, there is a great deal of risk with Nordgren, that if he isn’t putting up big numbers, he will not be able to contribute at the highest levels. He has a strong shot, but it isn’t elite. He is an impressive stick handler, but he lacks a real dynamic element with the puck. He reads the game well but is not a strong enough defender to project a shut-down role or heavy rotation on the penalty kill. Perhaps most concerning is that Nordgren, despite his solid collection of tools, has yet to really break out in men’s league hockey in Finland. He has been spending the bulk of the previous four seasons playing in Finland’s top U20 league, contributing well over one point per game, but has done barely anything in Liiga across 41 games. Still not signed to an NHL contract, Nordgren will need to take that next step sooner than later. - RW

Michael Krutil, D (110^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A big, right-handed defender, Krutil has yet to receive much playing experience outside of the Czech junior ranks. While he may not have the high-end potential of some other defenders ranked higher up Chicago’s organizational ladder, his size, physicality, and mobility make him an attractive stay at home defenseman option. He skates well enough to evade pressure in the defensive end with the puck and shows fluid four-way agility that allows him to stay ahead of attackers in transition. He also has good reach and makes life very difficult for skilled players in the corners and middle of the ice. He plays a very safe and simple game that fits within team structure and does not take chances with the puck. He has NHL potential as a PK anchor and third pairing defender. Drafted by Kelowna in the most recent CHL Import Draft, there is a chance he moves over to North America this year once play safely resumes. - BO

Isaak Phillips, D (141^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Another bigger blueline body from the 2020 draft class, Phillips is a 6-3” defender who possesses intriguing athletic tools. His mobility is an asset, especially when you combine it with his reach. He is very difficult to beat in transition because his gap control is excellent. He has the potential to develop into a high-quality defensive player at the next level. However, his game is also extremely raw. He is not as decisive with the puck as you would like to see. His physical intensity level wavers and he can get lost in his coverage assignments from time to time. He shows flashes of serviceability across all of his tools, but rarely shows more than that, other than his skating, although the steps forward he took in his draft year were promising. Patience will be required, but the pay-off could definitely be large if he can fully harness his athleticism. - BO

MacKenzie Entwistle, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 12, 2018. Originally: 69^th overall, 2017 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: UR)

While Entwistle is further along in his development – closer to reaching his ceiling – than at least the half dozen prospects immediately ahead of him on this list, we cannot rank him any higher as that ceiling is rather modest and there is less of a chance for Entwistle to exceed those projections than the younger players we have chosen ahead of him. He has plus-plus size, which he knows how to utilize, he is fleet of foot, and plays an effective and reliable two-way game. While he stepped forward a touch in his final year of junior hockey, and he was slightly more productive in his professional rookie season than anticipated, Entwistle’s ability to drive the play offensively has never been demonstrated for any lengthy stretch. His hands are OK, but he has struggled to finish too often. Even though he is more likely to play in the NHL than the next half dozen or more higher up this list, it is exceedingly difficult to see him as anything more than a versatile, fourth line energy forward. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 16

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:00:59 +0000

Chicago Blackhawks

On July 16, exactly one week before I sat down to write this section, the Blackhawks announced the signings of two free agents who still qualify as prospects according to our definition. You can read more about both players below, but one already has five years of high level professional experience in Switzerland to his credit, the last of which ended with him leading the league – a pretty good league, at that – in scoring. The other was the captain of a Big 10 hockey team who plays a relatively pro ready game and could very easily find his way into NHL action during the 2020-21 season.

While Pius Suter and Wyatt Kalynuk are not the only two players who will be (or could be) joining the Blackhawks next season, and not even the only two prospects, the choice to bring them both in now seems to serve as a clue as to how GM Stan Bowman and company view the immediate trend line for the club.

No matter. The Hawks won three Stanley Cups in six seasons, but it seems long ago now. The third championship was followed directly by two first round knockouts, and then two postseason misses. This year the team was welcome to compete in the play-in, but there are many who believe that the league only went to 24 teams in order to include the big market Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, who were around the last teams in for each conference. Either way, they were able to beat the Edmonton Oilers three games to one to avoid a third straight season outside of the real playoffs, ultimately losing four games to one to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Back to Suter and Kalynuk. I could also mention Czech Extraliga signee Matej Chalupa, who didn’t make this list, but has ready-now elements to his game and played a key role in helping his previous club win a European Champions League Final appearance last year. Between those three, and the decision to have 2019 first rounder Kirby Dach move right to the NHL last year as an 18-year-old (he was OK in a middle six role) speaks to a desire by Chicago to not prolong a necessary rebuild.

The team made waves throughout their championship years for their perpetual cap trouble and creative maneuvers for escaping it and retooling on the fly. Of course, those days are gone, notwithstanding the continued presence of the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Corey Crawford, and the apparently injured Brent Seabrook. Other than that core crew, the Blackhawks have largely turned over the roster in the past five years. The core of the next competitive Chicago roster is not yet in place, but with each ready-now player the team adds, the look of that next playoff roster becomes clearer.

There are Stanley cup winners with worse forwards on their third line and penalty kill than Suter is expected to be. Kalynuk should be able to hold his own on a third defensive pairing. Even the team’s top two prospects, Ian Mitchell (ready – or almost ready - now) and Alec Regula (still a few years away), have traits that should fit on a strong second defensive pair. Kirby Dach should soon be much more than a solid, if unspectacular, third liner center. There are others on the list below who will also find ways to contribute on that team over the horizon.

Considering Bowman’s tactic of trading for slow developing post-hype prospects (Dylan Strome, Alex Nylander), it is no surprise that he sees the next window of contention fast approaching. The Suter and Kalynuk signings reflect that, and we should expect the team to make moves next offseason to get the franchise back into the proper playoffs as soon as next year, for the start of another extended run. The future is not yet now, but it’s really close.

Alec Regula of the London Knights. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Entering college as an undersized puck moving defenseman, Mitchell leaves three years later as a do-everything minute muncher who is just as strong in his own end as he is offensively. He is still on the smaller side but is more solid and able to play hard against top opponents. He also joins the Blackhawks organization with a robust international resume to his name, including stints on Team Canada at the WJC, and the Spengler Cup during the past two seasons.

Captain of the Pioneers as a junior (he wore an “A” as a sophomore), Mitchell does not have the flash of previous top Chicago prospects Kirby Dach or Adam Boqvist, but his upside is very high nonetheless and considering what he has already accomplished, his floor is high as well. His tools all rate as average or better, but his hockey sense and instincts help everything play up, giving him a package that is greater than the sum of its parts.

A right-handed shot, he can play on both sides of the point, something helped along by very strong lateral mobility. His defensive footwork is solid as well, and Mitchell generally finds himself in the right spot to nullify most chances against, allowing him to be trusted against much bigger players. He has even been known to drop the occasional opponent with a big hit, belying his compact stature.

Mitchell still has the puck moving chops that saw the Blackhawks use a late second rounder on him out of the AJHL in 2017, but as he has greatly refined the rest of his game with a strong U. Denver team, he now looks like a potential #2/3 defender in short order. Playing regularly in the NHL as soon as next year would not surprise. - RW

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67^th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. 2019 Rank: 16 [Detroit)

A hulking right shot defender; Regula possesses a very unique skill set that makes him a very intriguing prospect who is ready for the challenge of pro hockey. Even taking size out of the equation, Regula moves extremely well, possessing both power and fluidity in his stride. This allows him to make a significant impact at both ends of the ice.

With 27 goals on the season, his goal scoring ability from the back end is extremely impressive. However, it should be noted that the majority of these goals (15 of them) came on the man advantage where he is used in the buffer position, net front. It is there that he uses his quick hands to finish off plays in tight, with the touch of a high scoring forward. Given his success playing that role the last two seasons, the Blackhawks would be smart to continue to utilize him in this way.

In his own end, Regula is an incredible asset because of his reach. He was among the league leaders in takeaways per game this year and he just suffocates attacking forwards because of that mobility and reach combination. One area that really improved for him was his decision making with the puck in the defensive end. His poise and patience improved and as such, he cut down on his turnovers and improved his ability to start the breakout effectively.

The Hawks should be elated to have added Regula to their prospect stable this year, following a deal from Detroit. He projects as a second pairing, all situations defender who could move quickly through the system, so long as his processing ability holds up to the speed of the pro game. - BO

Pius Suter, C/LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jul. 16, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

A one-time star and former Champion in the OHL with the Guelph Storm, Suter returned home to Switzerland after failing to earn an NHL contract. Spending five years in the ZSC Lions program, his dream finally came true after signing with Chicago following a 30-goal season, in which he led the NLA in goal scoring and points (and was subsequently named league MVP).

Suter is an absolutely relentless puck hound, who is always looking to push the pace and attack. This endless reserve of energy is what helps make him so successful in the offensive end, where he does the majority of his damage within a few feet of the net. Of course, his finishing ability and shot are also strengths and it is what makes him a successful and consistent goal scorer.

He is also a competitive two-way player who uses his strong skating ability to apply back pressure and force turnovers. As such, he is also a terrific penalty killer, a situation he should be able to excel in at the NHL level as well. Ultimately, the concern for Suter is whether his style of play will allow him to be as successful offensively at the NHL level. Given his lack of size, will he be as consistently dangerous near the crease against bigger and meaner NHL defenders?

Even if the offensive skill set does not translate the way that Chicago hopes it does, there is certainly a good chance that Suter can become a valuable bottom six forward because of his speed and tenacity. Look for him to make an immediate impact (in some shape or form) for Chicago next year, although maybe not to the extent of the last NLA scoring leader acquired by the Blackhawks. - BO

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196^th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. 2019 Rank: 13 [Philadelphia])

Not drafted until his third year of eligibility, Kalynuk was by then a third-year player in the USHL, who had seen his offensive production steadily increase from 15 points to 24 to finally 31 points. He did a lot well, but nothing spectacularly at the time, which helps to explain how he went undrafted for two years and was a mere 21 picks from a third time through before the Flyers took a flier on him late in 2017.

Through three years at Wisconsin, the last of which saw him wearing the “C”, the pick looks like a Ron Hextall era steal, even if the Flyers will never reap the rewards from that shrewd bit of scouting. As an overager, Kalynuk was eligible to leave school early and declare free agency, which he did this summer, finally signing with Chicago in July. The Blackhawks are getting a solid two-way defender with sneaky puck skills and a solid point shot, but who also his stick and body positioning well for defensive stops.

He is a good enough skater to keep up with most, although he can’t be considered dynamic in any way. Kalynuk reads the game well and tends to make the right decision to help extend possession for his team. The Blackhawks would be well-served to give him a half to a full season in the AHL to acclimatize to the speed of the professional game, but it should not be long until the Manitoban is ready for a third pairing role in the NHL, with room for additional minutes on either or both of the special teams units. - RW

Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 15)

Yet another collegian turning pro in the Chicago system, Barratt couples a heavy game with good hustle and a very strong, effective shot to help tilt the ice in his team’s favor. Although the USNTDP alum is listed a center, he is most effective playing along the boards and behind the net, suggesting a more likely future path to the NHL is on the wing. Not to mention a truly shoddy skill set at the faceoff dot, which saw him win only 44.2% of his draws in his final season at Penn State.

A top player in his age group with the national program before he was drafted, he got off to a slower start in college hockey, but picked things up as a sophomore, earning a spot on the American WJC team (fourth line, but that still got him a Silver Medal), and he maintained those gains as a junior. He has learned to better utilize his very strong wrist shot, even finding opportunities to let it rip from a distance. Barratt also is one to follow his shots to the net, getting rebounds and making goalies uncomfortable.

He mostly plays a North-South game, although he is not averse to circling back to create room or a different angle of attack. Chicago has no need to rush Barratt to the NHL, but some time on the farm should allow him to get in work both at center and the wing, finding a spot that works best for him within the organizational structure. His versatility and energy would be a boon to the team as an affordable talent in a bottom six role. - RW

Michal Teply, LW (105^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 8)

When Teply is on his game he is on the forecheck pressuring opponents, establishing the cycle game and making skilled net drives. He is a volume shooter and has pretty good vision from the wall toward the middle of the ice. He isn’t an overtly physical player despite having dominant size and doesn’t always play with the intensity you would hope to see. He has all the physical tools and flashes moments where he puts it all together however they are too infrequent to project future NHL stardom just yet. - VG

Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 19)

Aggressive with the puck but calm without it, the 23-year-old has a high stress threshold and never seems to panic defensively, waiting patiently for a chance to stick check, hit, or lock someone up against the boards at the right time. He is not particularly quick but plays with pace, carrying the puck through the neutral zone and making defenders miss with his edgework and fantastic hands. He loves to push the play forward and join the rush as a trailer but prefers to pass in most situations instead of using his below-average shot.

His lack of skating speed is the only thing pushing him back from being an immediate NHL defenseman, and with the way he plays, his inability to close on top-end forwards might be an issue. For now, he has impressed his way up the depth chart and could possibly make the Chicago roster out of training camp next season. - TD

Dennis Gilbert, D (91^st overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Gilbert is a throwback defender who stays back, hits, blocks shots, and imposes physical play on his opponents. He is also a wonderful skater who can push the puck up and out of his own zone with ease. He has been a solid defensive defenseman with his smart, tight gaps and physical tools at 6-2” and a solid 216lbs, locking up his opponents against the boards and stealing the puck with his length.

He can move the puck out of trouble on his own and is capable of moving through the neutral zone with the puck but lacks the puck-handling skill to beat defenders one-on-one. That is what is most frustrating about Gilbert’s game; there are offensive defensemen in this sport who would kill to skate the way the former Notre Dame d-man can, and yet Gilbert does very little with it, providing few points from the backend and showing little offensive confidence. It is not his game, but he plays a solid enough stay-at-home game to make himself useful regardless.

He played 21 games on Chicago’s bottom pair before going down with a wrist injury and that is where you can expect Gilbert to play going forward. - TD

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. 2019 Rank: 13)

Initially a Buffalo Sabres sixth rounder who went unsigned, Hagel has speed and shooting ability that makes him a playmaker and someone who has to be played tight and hard by defenders. While he is not a blazer, he skates well with his light and lanky frame to drive play. Without the puck, he competes for net-front position and has the poise to operate in that area against stronger players.

A fine defensive player, he kills penalties for Rockford and can play deep in the zone at even strength. Without many flaws in his skillset, it was encouraging to see his offense really shine in his first AHL year. A long future as a checking line, depth-scoring winger who can match up against any other line seems inevitable after some more AHL time. - TD

Artur Kayumov, LW (50^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Currently unsigned by Chicago, Kayumov has a contract with Lokomotiv until the end of 2021-22, and if recent events have told us anything, it would appear likely that he plays out that contract before making the jump to the NHL for 2022-23. While this does seem pretty far down the road, Kayumov could be worth the wait and does project as a top six goal scorer and a high impact player, as his game is already practically devoid of any significant weaknesses. - BO

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

His transition to the AHL, playing the same style, was a struggle. He had difficulty putting up points at the higher level and did not seem to improve his pace of play with the puck, which is concerning for a more offensively oriented defenseman.

The former first-rounder showed why he was taken with such a high 2018 pick; his vision and maturity are both top notch. He sees the game exceptionally well and plays with ice in his veins. He is so good at maneuvering around the ice, waiting for lanes to open and finding his teammates. He defends well with his smarts, which keeps his gaps even and effective and his stick play is great. Patience is arguably his biggest strength, but that lack of assertiveness is worrying as he is a 5-11” defender who might top out as a tweener without more pace to his game. - TD

Jakub Galvas, D (150^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

The main issues were a lack of consistency and inability to win one-on-one battles on a regular basis. He must be more assertive and stronger in his own end. That said, he also brought many good elements to the team. He is a smooth-skating defenseman, light on his skates and has good four-way mobility. He moves effortlessly around the ice.

Not only is his skating fluid, he also handles the puck with ease, has swift hands and good puck control to operate in tight quarters. He displayed flashes of skill, but those occasions were few and far between in the past season. He has one year remaining on his contract with the Finnish club. - MB

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 20)

The 5-11” winger plays a heavy game and does the majority of his work in tight by driving the net and playing in the slot. With a well-rounded toolkit, Altybarmakyan projects as a middle six winger who can use his speed and power to drive the pace and open up space.

Given the state of the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding the AHL season, it appears there is a chance he stays in the KHL next year on a loan from Chicago, as his rights were recently traded to SKA. But he certainly seems much closer to making an impact in the NHL than Kayumov, if only due to contractual elements. - BO

Dylan Sikura, C (178^thoverall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 6)

A sensational skater, Sikura remains one of the Blackhawks’ most dynamic and intriguing offensive prospects. A sixth-round pick from back in 2014, the Northeastern alum has been a consistently dangerous player in transition with AHL Rockford, leading them in points per game in each of the last two seasons.

His skating is a huge plus, as he can and will blow through the neutral zone against the walls or weave through the middle of the ice to begin an offensive chance. Passing off the rush and at full speed is a big asset of his as well, as he has some solid setup-man tools.

Small and ineffective away from the puck, Sikura looks to be a solely offensive prospect and an alarmingly snake-bitten one, with just one goal in 47 NHL games across three stints, and he is already 25 years of age. His forechecking and ability to win races for the puck as a depth player will have to shine if he has a chance at making it with a deep Chicago forward lineup in the future. - TD

Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 18)

He has puck-handling skill, decent speed, and a bullet shot that can beat goalies from distance. He is deadly with the puck on his stick on the power play and can pass better than he is given credit for. He will need to be better off the puck, as he can wander away from the play and fail to find open ice, and he is not much of a helper defensively.

He is an undoubted boom or bust prospect, and with more consistency can be a top-six scoring winger, but with none, might not stick long-term at all. - TD

Chicago Blackhawks 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 10:50:04 +0000

Around one month into last season, the Chicago Blackhawks, meandering through a slow start, fired their coach, future Hall of Famer Joel Quenneville. He was replaced by Jeremy Colliton, who had been the head coach of the Blackhawks’ AHL club in nearby Rockford. The new youngest coach in the NHL had only been behind the bench at any level for five years, the first four of which were in Sweden, with Mora, which he helped guide from the Allsvenskan to the SHL before taking the Rockford job.

The hiring was curious for more reasons than just Colliton’s general lack of experience. For another thing, hiring coaches from the AHL has recently fallen out of vogue, at least directly, with many GMs preferring coaching retreads, or, if they want a new face, looking to the college ranks, as was done in Dallas and Broadway, following Philadelphia a few years ago. (Note that exceptions are sometimes made when the incumbent coach is fired or leaves at an awkward time – see Colorado and the hiring of Jared Bednar) Promoting assistants to the top job has also been popular, as we see with the most recent Stanley Cup winner in Craig Berube, or with Ottawa plucking DJ Smith from the backbench of Provincial rival Toronto.

In any case, Colliton’s promotion from Rockford does give us a chance to study how he incorporated some of his old charges from the farm into the NHL lineup. There were a few 2017-18 IceHogs who received significant time in the Chicago lineup in 2018-19. Looking at our top 20 from last year, big blueliner Carl Dahlstrom lost his eligibility after playing in 38 games. Luke Johnson also got into 15 games, retaining his prospect eligibility (which he will try to lose this year as a member of the Minnesota Wild). Netminder Collin Delia got 16 games in net when Corey Crawford was hurt, and put up numbers that were better than ostensible backup Cam Ward’s (although still not that great). Other players having played under Colliton for both teams include Gustav Forsling, Andreas Martinsen, John Hayden, Dennis Gilbert, and Alexandre Fortin.

Notably, none of the players listed above had outsized roles with Collliton’s Blackhawks’ squad as he was able to tell the difference in quality between good AHL players and NHL talent. The Blackhawks nonetheless finished around the same under Colliton as they were with Quenneville. Based on the list below, we also don’t expect the Rockford connection to play a greater role next year, as of the five players listed who primarily played in the AHL last year, three came to the organization from other teams in the offseason, meaning they had never played under Colliton. The two that are holdovers include Dylan Sikura, who actually only played for Colliton in Chicago, and Lucas Carlsson, who was still in Sweden, playing for Brynas, when Colliton was in Rockford.

Even with the overall record not changing much between the two coaches, and the new coach not utilizing much in the way of familiar faces in his new job, the Blackhawks did at least feel more energized under the younger coach. And with one of the deepest systems in the game, there is the hope that Colliton will be better equipped to utilize the young talent entering the system than his predecessor had been.

-Ryan Wagman

Adam Boqvist (27) of the Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire)

1 Kirby Dach, C (3^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Dach is a true game-breaker down the middle of the ice. Few centers bring the combination of size, speed and skill that he provides. He has the ability to make plays in open ice, beat guys one on one or make a pass that cut open defenses. He carries the puck through the neutral zone well and always plays with his head up. He can protect the puck as well as anyone down low and can make passes from anywhere on the ice. He is a very good shooter, too, but his game revolves around his passing ability and ability to hold onto the puck. His defensive game is intriguing as well as he uses his long reach to strip pucks and on the back check can quickly turn the play around with his physical dominance. He needs to improve his consistency over a full season, but he projects as a number one center but could play the wing as early as this season in the NHL. - VG

2 Adam Boqvist, D (8^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) An elite offensive defender, Boqvist has the requisite tools to be a high scorer in the NHL. His skating stride is not only smooth, it is powerful, and it allows him to take risks by jumping up into the rush quite frequently. He also possesses fantastic scoring instincts for a defender, sliding down into the slot or using his agility to open up shooting lanes for himself at the blueline. While his offensive game could best be described as dynamic, his defensive game can be summarized as “developing.” Boqvist is a high risk, high reward player who may never be a defensive stalwart but his reads and physical assertiveness will need to improve for him to be a reliable even strength player. He will either play with Chicago, or in the AHL this season. A year of minor pro would likely greatly help his defensive game and make him more equipped to handle the rigors of the NHL. - BO

3 Alex Nylander, LW (8^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Last Year: 3 [Buffalo]) Nylander is a rather controversial and inconsistent player to watch. At his best, he is a gifted playmaker and passer with a great way of seeing the play and anticipating where to be on the ice, however he is rarely at his best. Instead he lacks physicality or any sort of aggressiveness in his game which sees him often times back down from being first to the puck and battles as he is weak on the puck. For a forward with size and a good shot, Nylander has to make sure to keep his feet moving at all times and be stronger so that he can get the opportunities he deserves. He has the skill to be a middle six forward but he will need to make major adjustments to his attitude and consistency in order to make the next level work. He will need to be more aggressive and his work ethic will have to be much better than in previous seasons. - SC

4 Aleksi Saarela, C (89^th overall, 2015 [New York Rangers]. Last Year: 3 [Carolina]) Saarela is a hard-working, dynamic player who wins battles and moves so efficiently that his energy stays high throughout the entirety of each game. He is a great shooter and his accuracy is impressive which makes him a tough opponent to stop. He is an all-around fun and creative player to watch and with his hockey sense and skill, he has the potential to be a top six forward and lead a team despite his size. He flies under the radar but will still need a year in the AHL to gain enough momentum and confidence to be the same type of player once he moves up to the NHL. That being said, should Saarela have another great year and work on being more accurate with his breakout and regroup passes, his transition to the next level will be much easier. He will also need to better his coverage at both ends of the ice. - SC

5 Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 4) Overshadowed in the AJHL in his draft year by Cale Makar, Mitchell is likewise a second fiddle defender in the Chicago pipeline behind Boqvist. That said, he has clearly been the top blueliner for Denver for two years running. He is a fine skater, with four directional ability, and his hands are just as quick. He can dangle and is a natural at walking the blueline and moving off of it to help his team create offense. As good as he is offensively, he is just as sharp in his own zone. He plays with a mature sense of calm and can be relied upon in the hairiest situations. Even with Boqvist in the picture, I would not put a first pairing future past Mitchell, although second pairing is more likely. - RW

Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Sikura (95) (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire)

6 Dylan Sikura, D (178^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 3) With great speed and incredible hockey vision, Sikura has turned into an absolute steal as a sixth round pick for the Blackhawks. A former OJHL star, he spent four years at Northeastern to ramp up his offensive game to the high level he sits at now. In his first full pro year, he posted a 45-17-18-35 stat line with AHL Rockford while adding eight assists in 33 NHL games. From the standpoint of raw skating, he was one of the best in the AHL and in this very deep farm system. His playmaking has long been his calling card, and he loves to make space for teammates with his speed only to pass it off. He is a smaller center, but does not shy away from doing the dirty work on both ends of the rink. His shot will never be a legitimate weapon, but he can hide his biggest flaw by playing a distributor role instead. He could be a top-six forward -- he routinely plays all three positions -- as soon as this season. - TD

7 Niklas Nordgren, RW (74^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 5) Nordgren was having a strong 2018-19 season until he was injured, which caused him to miss the World Juniors and limited his season to only 15 Liiga games. The 5-9" winger is not the fastest of skaters but has very good passing skills, offensive instincts and vision. He can execute an efficient and quick passing game both in the neutral and offensive zones. He is smart in possession and constantly plays with his head up while scanning his options. Nordgren has a quick and very accurate wrist shot, as well as a hard slap shot, both of which can beat goalies cleanly. He has a goal-scorer's touch around the net. A lack of explosiveness in his skating is concerning, but his top speed is quite good and still improving. He has middle-six upside as an offensive-minded winger. - MB

8 Michal Teply, LW (105^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Teply has been a key player for the Czech youth national teams at the international level. The Blackhawks' third round pick is a very smart winger with no shortage of skill, either. Even when having limited time and space, he can deliver quality passes and stay poised under pressure. He makes quick decisions with the puck and reads the game at a high level. He has good shooting technique and mechanics, making for an accurate, high-velocity wrist shot. He is an agile and fluid skater with good coordination. He can carry the puck into the zone with relative ease, but he would be even more dangerous with improved acceleration, especially from a standstill. Teply projects as a middle-six winger at the NHL level. He will play for WHL's Winnipeg Ice this season. - MB

9 Alex Vlasic, D (43^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A Chicago-area native, Vlasic gains notice as soon as eyes are laid upon him, considering his towering 6-6” size. His skating needs to be cleaned up, but he gets to a decent top speed, especially considering his frame. Vlasic is still incredibly raw and learning what he can and cannot do against advanced competition, especially as it pertains to his ability to read the play. He has surprisingly good hands and is capable of executing highlight reel passes. His long reach helps him overcome some of his defensive zone foibles, but he flashes enough to suggest that he can grow into competence there. Coupling in the fear factor, as he is not afraid to run guys over, and we have here a blueliner with outsized potential once he decides on the type of player he should be. - RW

10 MacKenzie Entwistle, C/RW (69^th overall, 2017 [Arizona]. Last Year: Not ranked) Like a Swiss army knife, there are many facets to Entwistle’s game. He has size. He skates well. He is a very intelligent player away from the puck and is effective in all three zones. He asserts himself physically and is an excellent forechecker. He can play all three forward positions and slide up and down a lineup depending on need. He provides leadership and is coming off back to back Championships with two different OHL teams. While Entwistle does not possess elite offensive tools, he is the type of player that the coaching staff in Chicago will absolutely love. And, as already alluded to, he is the type of player you win Championships with. His projection is likely of a bottom six forward who can anchor a penalty kill and he should move quickly through Chicago’s system, even if the offensive production is only mediocre. - BO

11 Dominik Kubalik, LW (191^st overall, 2013 [Los Angeles]. Last Year: Not ranked [Los Angeles]) Kubalik put together a breakout season with Ambri-Potta on the Swiss NLA. He was one of the top players for the Czech national tea, throughout the season as well, earning a spot on the team for the World Championships, where he recorded 12 points in 10 games. A skilled a sizeable winger who can score goals, he has a strong shot selection which features a quick release wrist shot and an accurate one-timer. Scoring goals comes naturally to him, especially from the circles. He also has the vision and passing skills to create offensive opportunities for others in the final third. Kubalik is a decent skater. His quickness used to be somewhat of an issue, but he has shown improvements in agility and foot speed. He has versatility and physicality to boot, allowing him to be used up and down an NHL lineup. - MB

12 Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) While Beaudin’s offensive numbers were down a bit from the previous season, he still showed his amazing passing ability. He can hit any teammate anywhere on the ice, putting them in an optimal scoring position. He adds to his great passing with excellent hockey sense, and 56 points from the blueline is nothing to sneeze at. He can read plays as well as anyone in the QMJHL. What still holds him back is his size and his acceleration. He is an undersized blueliner who does not play physical. While his movement and agility is excellent, his speed is just okay. His acceleration is what hurts his skating the most, although his edgework is great. He can overcompensate on both ends of the puck for this, but he can also make great breakouts and succeed in the offensive zone. He is a very talented offensive defender who can quarterback a power play at the NHL level. - MS

13 Brandon Hagel, LW (159^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Last Year: Not ranked [not affiliated]) Hagel is a previously drafted but unsigned player that had to recommit himself in his 20 year old season to get a shot at a pro career. He excels with the puck on his stick, has very good vision and was a top five scorer in the WHL last season. His shot isn’t blow you away quick but he picks corners incredibly well which makes him a dual threat as a shooter and a passer. He played both special teams units and he is an excellent agitator which enables him to draw a lot of penalties. He needs to improve on his discipline as he can run a little hot and take himself out of his game with foolish penalties. Hagel has a chance to be a very good third line player who can be matched up against anyone and can contribute offense from a depth role but will take a couple seasons in the AHL before he sees any NHL ice time. - VG

14 John Quenneville, C (30^th overall, 2014 [New Jersey]. Last Year: 4 [New Jersey]) It is no secret that Quenneville’s path to success has been somewhat delayed and a little rocky. Last season with Binghamton in the AHL was good but saw him also spend a fair bit of time in the penalty box. He has the hands and natural skill to no doubt be playing in the NHL but where he will end up exactly is up to him. He will need to push himself harder to stay focused and stay caught up with the pace of the NHL game if he wants to be anything higher than a third liner. At his best, Quenneville is a dynamic, aggressive power forward who is hard to stop but this next season is a make or break year and it will be up to him to see if he can secure a full time spot in the lineup with the Blackhawks, an organization that prides itself on its forward development. - SC

15 Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 12) After struggling through an occasionally trying freshman campaign, Barratt hit a new level with Penn State last season. He is a strong skater with good playmaking instincts. He reads opposing defenses very well and has a knack for finding linemates in motion. While his offensive game is solid, he doesn’t seem to have enough skill to play in a top six, but thankfully he more than makes up for it with strong defensive zone work. He is a trusted penalty killer and generally has his stick in the right place to break up plays and regain possession. He is also a willing combatant, happy to get his nose dirty and generally not fun to play against. Heading back for his junior season, I expect Barratt to sign next spring and work his way to a third line role. - RW

16 Jakub Galvas, D (150^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) The top scoring teenager in the Czech Extraliga last year, Galvas increased his offensive output by around 25% despite playing in two fewer games and once again having his season interrupted by the WJC. Despite lacking size, he is an all-situations defender, who uses his stick well in his own zone while also having a knack for filling in shooting and passing lanes with his body. He has very quick feet, which enable him to join or lead the rush and get back quickly if needed, which, on some occasions, is due to his own turnovers. The former fifth round pick is developing steadily and is readying himself for a big step up in competition as he will be playing in the Liiga for Jukurit this season. He still has much to iron out in his game, but between his skating and puck skills, he has a solid shot at a third pairing spot down the road. - RW

17 Alexis Gravel, G (162^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) Gravel is a big goalie who plays an efficient game. He had a big year last year when he needed to; Halifax was reliant on his game to get them to the big stage, and he was needed at times for a deep Mooseheads playoff run into May. While he carries a lot of muscle at 218 pounds, he can move around the crease quickly and puts himself in good position to make the second and third save when needed. In fact, he makes some tough saves look routine with his great puck tracking and anticipation. Gravel might have gained too much weight too quickly and sapped some quickness a year ago but showed this year that the added weight was not an issue. He has starter potential as he gets quicker and continues to progress. - MS

18 Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 16) Kurashev is a well-rounded and refined offensive player. For the second year in a row, he scored over one point-per-game, and also for the second year in a row, he impressed at the WJC, with seven points in seven games for Team Switzerland last holiday season while being the centerpiece of his team. In Quebec, he also had to deal with the extra attention of being the top center on his team, and thrived with a defensively-responsible offensive game as a player who can play a ton of minutes. Kurashev wrapped up his season with three games in the AHL with Rockford and finally four points over eight games with Switzerland at the world championships playing against men. He needs to improve his skating speed a bit, but he has the makings of a top-nine contributor at the NHL level. - MS

19 Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) A highly aggressive and entertaining defenseman, Carlsson had a very solid 2018-19 campaign, his first in the North American pro ranks. He paced all of Rockford’s defensemen in most offensive categories on their top defensive pair. His speed and shot are average at best, but his fierce and enthusiastic drive in all three zones is what makes him an intriguing prospect. His stretch passes are tight and quick, but he is capable of weaving through the neutral zone with the hands and edgework that make him a fine two-way blueliner. He loves to join the rush as a trailer and let off a wrister, although his shot is average at best. Defensively, he is never hesitant to pressure an opposing forward with a hit against the boards or a sweep check at the line. He is still a while away from being an NHLer, and his play-tracking on defense will have to improve until then, but I would not be surprised to see him on the Blackhawks’ third pair in the near future. - TD

20 Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 20) A gifted player and a fast skater, Altybarmakyan has already accumulated significative pro experience in the last few seasons and is now a full-time KHL player after moving to HC Sochi from SKA. The move panned out well for him as he found more time on ice and a former NHL superstar on the bench in Sergei Zubov. A dangerous player when the ice opens up, Altybarmakyan needs to improve his defensive game, his consistency, and his intensity before trying to move overseas. In the NHL it is hard to rely on talent alone, and at this point, he is nothing more than a project player. However, he has intriguing offensive potential and next year will be key to understanding what his real ceiling is. - ASR

QMJHL Trade Deadline: Want to improve your QMJHL team this season? Pay up!

Michael Sanderson — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:43:55 +0000

The QMJHL’s silly season is upon us.

The league’s trading period opens up Sunday, and several trades are already in the books, some of which were consummated before the opening bell was officially opened. The period closes up on January 6. One thing to be expected this season: contenders will have to pay to make their teams better heading into the second half.

All eyes are on the Halifax Mooseheads this season as the Memorial Cup hosts in May. Because of this, the team has some extra pressure to build a contender. On paper, they are one of the strongest teams in the entirety of the Canadian Hockey League, but they have struggled a little bit with consistency. The team is noticing some potential issues that may need solving for the tourney, adding to their depth.

Now, if newspaper quotes are to be believed, Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell is not all that interested in blowing up the future for the present, as he observes that his team could be even better next season as presently constructed. However, this year is a guaranteed Memorial Cup berth, whereas future years are earned solely by hard work from August-to-May. The sure thing dictates that this declaration is just posturing, as a Memorial Cup host can expect a heightened market for any assets.

Further, this Mooseheads squad could use some tinkering. Edmonton Oiler forward Ostap Safin, acquired from Saint John at the start of the season, has been in and out of the lineup due to ongoing hip issues. Overager Jordan Maher has simply not been the best fit with the team with just four goals so far, despite his best efforts. Anaheim Ducks prospect Antoine Morand’s game has been as expected, but the numbers are not quite where they should be, with 28 points in 29 games. Potential first rounder Raphaël Lavoie has hit a bit of a snag this season, not looking like himself from last season; he is scoring less and seeing his focus wane at times this season. The offence, a strong suit in prior years, is sixth-best in the league right now, with a few blowouts augmenting the numbers.

New Jersey Devils defender Jocktan Chainey has seen his ice time drop and Chicago Blackhawks blueliner Jake Ryczek has seen his rise, but behind Jared McIsaac and Justin Barron, who have been solid, there is no big third defender option. Despite that, the team has solid defending numbers, tied for second-best in goals against.

To his credit, goaltender Alexis Gravel has been maybe the team’s most valuable player so far this season, but his backup option is Cole MacLaren, a decent choice but not a goalie you want starting against the OHL and WHL champions.

To that end, Halifax will be in on a defenceman this trading period, and potentially a second goaltender as well. If the price is right, they may also look to add to the forward group to try and jumpstart the offence.

Noah Dobson

Thankfully for the Mooseheads, the two biggest names available in the trading period are both defencemen. New York Islanders prospect Noah Dobson is the biggest fish in the pond, and right behind him is Arizona Coyotes draft pick Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

The price for Dobson will set the market, as he is the prize all teams are competing for. Dobson is a game-changer on defence, capable of controlling a game from the back-end, and has championship experience on the biggest stage. Joseph is a very solid consolation prize, as teams who find the price for Dobson too high may rather try to acquire one of the league’s hardest workers and smartest players. The Islanders also have very useful players to add into a Joseph trade to help a win-now team, such as Keith Getson or Anaheim Ducks prospect Hunter Drew, but it’s believed that Jim Hulton is not looking for far-off picks, preferring players that can help as early as next season in exchange for his assets. Having said that, the Islanders are in a contending position, and could choose either to stand pat or add to their team.

What is interesting in the Dobson speculation is that it is rumoured that any deal involving him will have to go through the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, as part of conditions of a prior deal for Bathurst last season. The Sags would rather the assets that Dobson would provide rather than use him this season, as Chicoutimi is a middling team with no real title aspirations this season. The suspense will run into the new year, as Dobson cannot officially be traded until his term with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships are over.

There are some top-level defender and forwards beyond those two, but in goal, most contenders seem to be set with one or two good goaltenders. There are many options for a team to buy for a playoff run – Minnesota Wild prospect Dereck Baribeau from Quebec, Pittsburgh Penguin signee Alex D’Orio in Saint John and fellow Penguin camp attendee Tristan Côté-Cazenave, to name three – but most of the top teams are set in net.

The changed playoff format this season could also have an effect on the trading period, due to the imbalance of talent between the Eastern and the Western Conferences. Starting this year, to prevent so many easy matchups in the first round and to cut down on potential travel, the league decided to drop the 1-vs-16 format and form two conferences of two divisions each. The Maritime teams and the Eastern-most Quebec teams form the 10-team East, and the rest create the eight-team West. There is the potential for wildcards to allow the top 16 teams to make the playoffs, but the weakness of this playoff format is best demonstrated by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. At the time of writing, the Eagles would hold home ice in the old playoff format, sitting in eighth spot in the league. Because of the new conference format, though, Cape Breton would be sixth in the East, drawing a tough, contending Baie-Comeau team, on the road no less, in the opening round, rather than 11th-place Quebec. That format change could influence some teams in terms of whether to buy, sell or stand pat this season.

Two definite contenders outside of Halifax that dominate the list of other potential buyers are the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Rouyn-Noranda are a very strong team built from within and coached and managed by last year’s Memorial Cup winner, Mario Pouliot. They are hard-working, very deep in net and on defence, and just one player on the entire roster has played for another Q team. Their wildcard is the potential return of injured Pittsburgh Penguin prospect Zachary Lauzon. His return would put the Huskies in limbo with their overagers, and they would have to make a decision on their 20-year-olds.

Joe Veleno

The Voltigeurs are maybe the league’s deepest team, led by Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxime Comtois and Detroit Red Wings first rounder Joe Veleno up front, Chicago Blackhawks first rounder Nicolas Beaudin and New Jersey Devils prospect Xavier Bernard on defence, along with Edmonton Oilers prospect Olivier Rodrigue in goal. Comtois’s return to the Q is maybe the biggest acquisition any team could have made this season. They are a rumoured team for Dobson, and adding Dobson to Beaudin and Bernard defensively would make Drummondville a very tough team to face in the playoffs with that three-headed monster on the back end.

One team that is certainly making some changes is the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. General Manager Steve Ahern has promised that several trades will be announced Sunday. They are heavily linked to the above-mentioned D’Orio.

Further with the Drakkar, Calgary Flames pick D’Artignan Joly has left the team on his own accord, awaiting a trade. Joly and the team have had a bumpy 2018, with player wanting to be more creative and team wishing he was more engaged and aggressive. Joly can absolutely score at this level, but he is an artist more than he is a worker.

Editor’s note – prior to publication, it was announced that Joly had been dealt to Victoriaville

The Rimouski Oceanic were a contender for the league title on paper this season, but they look up at the Drakkar at this point in the year and are facing a decision – do they go for it or hold back and go for it next year. According to bench boss Serge Beausoleil, they will be tentative, but not sell off players who won’t return, including captain Charles-Edouard D’Astous, who drew some interest from the Ottawa Senators in the summer. The Oceanic are the proud team of phenom Alexis Lafrenière, who will return to the league next season, and Rimouski could set themselves up to be an even better team next season.

The Moncton Wildcats may opt to do the same, as they have a high-flying offence, but many players also set to return for next season, namely potential first rounder Jakob Pelletier and Minnesota Wild pick Alex Khovanov, despite some issues on the defensive end. Unlike the Oceanic, though, players not returning next season or otherwise not in the plans for next season could be available for trade.

Among the anticipated sellers, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan have also had a move announced ahead of Sunday’s opening day for the mid-season trading period. They will acquire forward Anderson MacDonald from the Wildcats for a pair of picks. MacDonald has not had the bounce-back season either he or the Wildcats were hoping after he was surprisingly undrafted in last June’s NHL Entry Draft. MacDonald has battled injuries all year, and has played in only four games, largely on the fourth line, before being shuffled out of Moncton to the north of New Brunswick.

The Titan have also all but moved Dobson, fellow blueliner Keenan MacIsaac and forward Ethan Crossman, and will continue to take calls on defender Michal Ivan. The foursome all played key roles for the Memorial Cup winning Titan squad last year, as they look to set themselves up for a rebuild.

Editor’s note – Prior to publication, both Crossman and MacIsaac were dealt to Baie-Comeau

One can add the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to the list of potential sellers, as they may look into cashing in on the remaining assets from three straight strong playoff runs. Montreal Canadiens prospect Joël Teasdale is a name that would garner lots of interest, and they have many useful veterans they do not need this season – Rémy Anglehart, Alex Katerinakis, Luke Henman, Thomas Ethier and Charles-Antoine Giguère come to mind. The Armada could recoup a lot of assets for their collection of forwards.

Editor’s note – Giguère was traded to Moncton prior to publication

The Gatineau Olympiques could also cash in on a few of their players for the future, namely Minnesota Wild prospect Shawn Boudrias and overager Gabriel Bilodeau, who could put up points on a contender looking to upgrade their powerplay. So could Val-d’Or’s David Noel, a St. Louis Blues pick, who is 19, but is currently on the shelf with an eye injury.

The composition of the QMJHL’s top teams will look different between now and January, and despite the high prices, expect a lot of player movement this time around.

QMJHL 2018-19 Preview: Voltigeurs, Oceanic early favourites to join Mooseheads at Memorial Cup

Michael Sanderson — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 11:59:22 +0000

There is one certainty in the 2018-19 QMJHL season: the Halifax Mooseheads have already punched their ticket to the 2019 Memorial Cup.

They printed the tickets, in fact.

Halifax is the host for the CHL’s holy grail tournament in May, and the question is, what team joins them at the big dance?

Two teams have revealed themselves to be the cream of the crop, at least on paper at the onset of the season: the Drummondville Voltigeurs and the Rimouski Oceanic.

Benoit Olivier-Groulx

But Halifax may be the best of them all, with a deep lineup throughout, led by forwards Antoine Morand, Benoît-Olivier Groulx, Jordan Maher and draft-eligibles Raphaël Lavoie and Xavier Parent. They only lack a minute-eater on defence, depending on the progression of blueliners Jared McIsaac, a Detroit pick, and Justin Barron, and a consistent starting netminder, though Chicago pick Alexis Gravel has the potential to steal games. The acquisitions of Ostap Safin and Samuel Asselin only further bolster a strong offensive attack for head coach Eric Veilleux’s group.

Drummondville’s true potential will depend on the potential return of forward Maxime Comtois. The bruising two-way forward has turned a great showing at Anaheim’s camp, and some luck with an injury to Corey Perry, into a chance at some real live NHL games that count this season, and if he were to stick in the pros, it would be a big blow to the Volts’ title hopes. The team is deep beyond him, boasting Joe Veleno and Pavel Koltygin up front, NHL-draftees Xavier Bernard and first-rounder Nicolas Beaudin on the back end, and the league’s best goaltender in Olivier Rodrigue defending the cage. Top to bottom, Drummondville is Halifax’s biggest challenger on paper.

Rimouski has the league’s biggest name in Alexis Lafrenière, who still can’t be picked until the 2020 NHL Draft. Lafrenière has already made a name for himself on the international stage, and will be looking to improve on his 80 points from last season. The Oceanic finished third in the league last year, and holding onto that spot is the least of their expectations. Rimouski was upset in the first round last March, and will look to improve on that and go on a deep run. Adding Jimmy Huntington, Cédric Paré and Olivier Garneau to the fold up front provides strong depth to an already formidable group.

Beyond the big three, there are several clubs that could surprise, including offensive juggernauts in Baie-Comeau and Moncton, and wildcard teams like Charlottetown, Cape Breton and Quebec.

Ivan Chekhovich

The Drakkar started very hot out the gate with strong offensive play, including San Jose’s Ivan Chekhovich and Tampa Bay’s Gabriel Fortier among the top scorers. Undrafted forward Yaroslav Alexeyev, acquired from Sherbrooke in the summer, has already made an impact. Xavier Bouchard leads a middling defense corps, and Kyle Jessiman joins Justin Blanchette in a bit of a loaded crease.

The Wildcats have the horses up front to do damage as well. Last season’s shot leader Jeremy McKenna returns along with Mika Cyr, while undrafted forward Anderson MacDonald, tries to show teams he deserved to be picked last June. They shipped netminder Mark Grametbauer to Bathurst, opting instead to go forward with former Drakkar and Armada goalie Francis Leclerc. Their defence needs work, but stalwarts Jonathan Aspirot and Gabriel Sylvestre head the group.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph of the Charlottetown Islanders. Photo courtesy of the QMJHL.

Charlottetown was slept on a lot at the start of last season, but they surprised and made it to the third round, where they were finally knocked out in seven games by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. They hope to build momentum from final four finishes the last two seasons, but if they get off to a cold start, they have two of the best players available for trade at Christmas: Arizona first rounder Pierre-Olivier Joseph and netminder Matt Welsh.

Cape Breton is hungry for a winner, and they acquired 40-goal man Mitchell Balmas and defender Antoine Crête-Belzile to jump to contending status. Ottawa goalkeeper Kevin Mandolese looks to grow this season as the clear number one goalie as Jessiman was traded to Baie-Comeau.

Quebec returns with the biggest wild card in the whole league: new/old head coach and general manager Patrick Roy. Patrick is either loved or hated by every QMJHL hockey fan, but there is no denying he brings excitement and intensity to the product. He adds a few wins to any team he coaches, and will do so here. While Roy’s development record isn’t the strongest in the Quebec league, he is responsible for players like Jonathan Marchessault and Logan Shaw. Potential Minnesota signee Dereck Baribeau and Chicago pick Philipp Kurashev, too.

The league has adjusted their divisions and playoff format this season. Instead of three divisions, there are four. The Maritime Division has six teams, while the 12 remaining squads are split up into three four-team groupings.

Playoffs will be conference based with a 1-plays-8 format, but the 16 best teams will make the playoffs – the conferences will be shuffled so the top 16 will be in the post-season no matter what. This method avoids the top seeds breezing through the first round of the playoffs, and it prevents some of the more extreme travel in the early rounds. However, this format can prevent some monumental upsets, much like 14-seed Moncton defeating third-seed Rimouski last year.

Acadie-Bathurst’s storybook season last year resulted in a Memorial Cup championship, but it’s now time to pay the piper for the party. The Titan acquired netminder Mark Grametbauer to provide some stability in goal but have traded away much of the core from last season’s winning squad.

Noah Dobson on Acadie-Bathurst. Photo courtesy of the QMJHL.

One player to watch is still in a Titan uniform – Islanders first rounder Noah Dobson. The performance of the team in the first two months of the season will depend if the watch is on his talent or his future destination at Christmas time. Teams will be lining up for his services when the mid-season trading period opens up, and there aren’t many teams in the league that would refuse the best defenseman in the QMJHL on their roster for a playoff push.

Tough seasons will be ahead for Chicoutimi and Saint John, but those teams have names to look out for in future drafts – namely Josh Lawrence, William Villeneuve and Jeremie Poirier of the Sea Dogs and Hendrix Lapierre and Théo Rochette of the Saguenéens. They are all up for grabs in 2020 or later.

While there is much time between now and June on the Rogers Arena stage in Vancouver, the first name called from the QMJHL is expected to be Halifax’s Raphaël Lavoie. The Chambly, QC, right winger has great size, speed and hands to succeed at a top-line level in the professional game. He potted 30 goals last season, including a remarkable 10 game winners, and added 33 assists in the full slate of 68 games, and added five points in nine playoff contests.

He does an excellent job of using his 6-4” frame to his advantage as leverage in puck protection, and the long reach to keep the puck away from defenders. With added bulk and physical maturity, he already has the fundamentals to be a strong power forward, puck protector and possession player. He also is adept at firing a strong wrist shot off the rush on the left wing, where he can fire on his off-hand side. At his size, it’s no surprise he is a force in front of the net, either.

While he does have some center potential at the next level, he is an early favourite to receive passes on the right, or left, flank from Antoine Morand, who can most definitely dish with the best in the league. Expect those goal numbers to rise, and the attention with it, by the time the weather heats up in 2019.

Other early favourites to be first rounders include forwards Maxim Cajkovic of the Saint John Sea Dogs, Samuel Poulin of the Sherbrooke Phoenix, Jakob Pelletier of the Moncton Wildcats, Valentin Nussbaumer of the Shawinigan Cataractes, and defender Artemi Knyazev of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

All but Nussbaumer featured for their respective national teams at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton in August, though Pelletier fractured his wrist at the tourney and missed the first week of the QMJHL season.

Cajkovic is a power forward waiting to blossom. He has tremendous confidence in the offensive zone to let go his big shot, one of the best available in the draft, and the speed and soft hands to give him the space needed to get it off. His speed separates him from the pack, as well. He is a leader on the ice for a young Sea Dogs team and can inspire his team with a big hit or a big goal.

Poulin is the son of former NHLer Patrick Poulin. He has had a hot start to the season with the trigger finger, and he is just as strong making plays as scoring. He already has a pro size at 6-1” and 204 pounds, and is strong along the boards. He plays much like his father; strong along the boards, in the offensive zone, and defensively where his speed and anticipation make him deadly on the backcheck or on the penalty kill.

Pelletier has a motor that doesn’t quit and a nose for the net, even with his currently small frame. He has been an emotional leader for the Moncton Wildcats since his first shift in the league, and he always works hard to the final whistle. His hockey sense is off-the-charts, as well. He is a strong playmaker and a great passer, and finds his way into traffic to shoot his shot.

Nussbaumer holds two advantages over his league-mates in his quest to get drafted – he can play all three forward positions, and he has already played against men in his native Switzerland. He had a 26-game cup of coffee with his hometown team, Biel-Bienne, last season, with five goals and six points. He is a late September birthday, which also gives him an edge in performance, though he would have been a very good 2018 pick if he was eleven days older.

Knyazev is an offensively talented defenseman who can move the puck crisply. He is also strong in his own end. He isn’t the biggest defender but can handle the speed of oncoming forwards very well and steer them where they need to go. His transition game is an instant offensive tool, and he doesn’t give up on plays.

The Halifax Mooseheads also owns the rights to Victoria Grizzlies forward and potential first rounder Alex Newhook, but even the enticement of the Memorial Cup was not enough to convince the St. John’s, Newfoundland, native to make the jump to the QMJHL. He is committed to Boston College for next season.

Chicago Blackhawks Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:20:04 +0000

After years of Stanley Cup contention, including what NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman termed a “dynasty” for the capturing of three Stanley Cups across a six-year period, the Blackhawks’ system had been somewhat fallow. As we all know, part of winning is picking low in the early rounds of the draft, and often it means that high picks are traded away for more immediate help.

That said, the Hawks did not follow the route of most winners of sitting out large chunks of the draft. After their first cup win in 2010, the organization made 10 selections in the draft. They made eight picks after winning in 2013, and then selected seven new players after their third Cup win in 2015. In fact, of those three drafts, 2015 was the only one in which Chicago had traded away their first-round pick.

In essence then, the Hawks systematic weaknesses were due to picking late, and some flubs, more than they were due to an absence of draft picks. Looking at the system today, the team has done an admirable job of replenishing itself with the approach of quantity. Over the last three drafts, the Hawks have made 26 picks, five more than the regularly allotted 21. Half of those players are listed in the system’s top 20 prospects. They will not all pan out, but their approach is putting the team in a position to return to contention, if not quite another championship run.

Another negative consequence of winning is often the abundance of veteran players on heavy contracts, making the team’s cap situation perilous. How many teams combat that problem is by loading the roster with as many players on minimal salary contracts as possible. Last year, top prospect Alex DeBrincat made the roster as a rookie, and scored a team-high 28 goals, without missing a game.

While the system may currently have a player or two in place who could have a similar impact down the road, the ones most likely to help right away have somewhat lower ceilings, and do not project to be as close to them now as DeBrincat was 12 months ago. Furthermore, the system has enough depth in it now that we could feasibly have talked about the top 30 prospects, as the differences between the players ranked from 15-20 and those in the next five to ten are minimal.

Before diving into the top 20, one more item of note has been the team’s strategy of drafting college bound players. There were 14 players scattered throughout the NCAA last year who had been drafted by Chicago. Between those and three others drafted this year who are planning to follow that path, seven in the top 20 have collegiate roots. One advantage of pursuing collegians heavily is that late bloomers will arrive in the NHL readier to take on big roles than late round CHL-ers often are. The Blackhawks’ current number three prospect will attempt to prove that point in the coming months.

Adam Boqvist

1 Adam Boqvist, D (8^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) With their highest draft pick since selecting Patrick Kane first overall in 2007, the Blackhawks added Boqvist, an electrifying skater and puck mover, to their future blue line. While the young Swedish rearguard still needs to grow physically and increase his involvement in the play off the puck, his offensive attributes add a dimension rarely seen. His skating, shot, and puck skills, all grade out as near elite, and his hockey IQ, particularly in terms of creating offense, is also high end. After spending the majority of last season in the Swedish junior ranks, Boqvist is coming to North America, likely to play with the London Knights of the OHL.

2 Henri Jokiharju, D (29^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 2^nd) With a big step forward in production in his second year in North America with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, Chicago’s 2017 first rounder is beginning to justify his selection. Not only did his production increase, but he raised his ceiling with improved skating, a stronger shot, and improved understanding of the game. Although still filling out his body, Jokiharju has an untapped physical element to his game and will likely have the chance to play for the Blackhawks this season. The right shooting point man has clear top four upside but could be eased into NHL life with a bottom pairing role for now.

3 Dylan Sikura, C (178^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 11^th) Sikura is the reason why more and more teams are turning to players on the collegiate path after the first few rounds of the draft. One of the better playmakers in the OJHL when the Blackhawks used a late sixth round pick on him in 2014, Sikura went to Northeastern and took his time ramping up his game. By his sophomore year, he grew into an offensive role mostly thanks to his skating ability and decent hands. But over the last two seasons, his 111 points in 73 games for the Huskies were the most in the nation. He will never be big, but his talent is undeniable, and he has never shirked his duties in the defensive end. Sikura will compete for a top six role in the NHL this year.

4 Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8^th) Another modern, undersized blueliner, Ian Mitchell transitioned seamlessly last year from the AJHL to high level NCAA hockey with Denver. A tremendous skater with an advanced understanding of the game and his role in it, he plays with poise, skill, and confidence. Although his shot is somewhat lacking to project for a role on the power play, Mitchell moves the puck very well. Away from the puck, he makes up for his lack of size with doggedness and great stick placement. He needs another two years with the Pioneers before the Blackhawks should start thinking about a contract, but he still projects as a probable second pairing blueliner at the highest level.

Niklas Nordgren

5 Niklas Nordgren, RW (74^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) He is small, and his skating stride is choppy and inefficient, but Niklas Nordgren knows how to put the puck in the net at a very high level. And when he is not able to find a shooting lane for himself, Nordgren knows very well how to pick out a teammate to do it instead. He is unflappable and has preternatural vision on the ice. He plays with 360-degree awareness and understands the flow of the game both on and off the puck. The Blackhawks will not be worried about his size (or lack thereof), but they will look to see him improve his footspeed before coming to North America. A generous evaluator can project average skating in his future, while Chicago will want to see that caveat removed.

6 Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Even though he was selected 47 spots higher than the player ranked directly ahead here, we rank Beaudin below Nordgren as he has some of the same shortcomings as Nordgren (weak startup speed), while also lacking the size to be effective in the physical components of the game. Furthermore, while Nordgren was on the younger half of draft eligible, Beaudin had a late birthday (Oct. 99) giving him seven months fewer room for growth. All of that said, he is a very advanced puck mover, capable of pinpoint passes, and owning high end vision. He loves to move around and get in deep in the offensive end and the Blackhawks will again be betting that his skating improves to the point where it will not be a liability in coverage.

7 Victor Ejdsell, LW (Trade: Feb. 26, 2018 – Nashville. Last Year: 15^th – Nashville) Acquired along with a late 2018 first round pick (see the player above) at the 2018 trade deadline in exchange for former first rounder Ryan Hartman, Ejdsell has come a long way fast. Signed as an undrafted free agent just over one year ago shortly before his 22^nd birthday, he went one to score 20 goals in 50 games in his first taste of the SHL and then came to North America t finish the season with an extended and successful run in the AHL playoffs with Rockford. While not the best skater, he is solid for his size and has very good hands. He knows how to get himself into position to score and can capitalize once there. His upside may be no more than third line, but he is ready for it now.

8 Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th) Although overlooked in is first year of draft eligibility, Carlsson caught the eyes of NHL scouts with a strong partial-season in the SHL at age 19, prompting the Blackhawks to use a fourth rounder on him. The undersized blueliner (sense a trend yet?) has continued to trend upward with his play in the two ensuing years, including a stint with Sweden’s WJC squad in 2017. Carlsson receives plus grades more or less across the board and projects as a solid two-way defender who can play in the modern style. The Hawks signed him to an ELC in May and he is expected to spend next season in Rockford.

9 Jake Wise, C (69^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Although he missed the early portion of his draft year to injury, once Wise was back to full health, he was one of the strongest offensive threats in the latest rendition of the USNTDP. A strong skater with plus puck skills and a high IQ, the Florida native is an undersized (there’s that word again) playmaker, who plays an effective two-way game. He can be – and has been – used on both special teams, and is active, if not physically aggressive, away from the puck. Headed to Boston University next season, where he will suit up with a player a little further down this list, where he will have several skilled players available to receive his passes.

10 Dennis Gilbert, D (91^st overall, 2015. Last Year: 5^th) A strong skater with a big, wide body, Gilbert is unlike the other defensemen higher up this list. While he has shown some puck moving flair in the past, that part of his game is somewhat inconsistent, and his point totals over the last three seasons at Notre Dame were 10-22-10. That said, even when he is not putting points on the board, he has a way of helping his team. He is strong in both zones, playing a heavy style and is hard to strip of the puck. His stick work is heavy, and he gets it, and his body, in the way of opponents. Gilbert signed his ELC in the offseason and is expected to make his professional debut with Rockford this year.

Chad Krys

11 Chad Krys, D (45^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 12^th) After struggling through a lackluster freshman season at BU, Chad Krys turned things around in a big way as a sophomore, finishing third in points among all blueliners in Hockey East. A fantastic skater, the former second rounder is also skilled with the puck. Some struggles off the puck may be to blame for his somewhat surprising exclusion from the American WJC squad in each of the last two years, after suiting up at the high-profile event as an 18-year-old. Expected to wear an A on his chest at BU this year, Krys will need to demonstrate more leadership qualities and the Hawks will also want to see an improvement in his two-way game.

12 Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 7^th) The third of three USNTDP grads in the Chicago top 20, Barratt had an up and down freshman year for Penn State. He showed enough hockey IQ – a common trait among USNTDP grads – to earn significant time on the PSU PK and his shot was strong enough to earn the respect of Big10 netminders. This will be a big season for Barratt, as Penn State lost several higher profile upper classmen, opening up a spot for the former third rounder in a top six role. He will need to work on his puck skills, though, as he seemed more tentative with the disc last year than he did in the USHL.

13 Alexis Gravel, G (162^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Although only a sixth rounder in this year’s draft, we feel that Gravel has nearly as much upside as player taken two or three rounds higher. Like many young QMJHL goalies, Gravel’s numbers do not stand out, but many of his attributes as a player portend to bigger things in his future. As the son of a long-time pro netminder, Gravel has a number of technical components to his game that are very mature for his age and experience. He particularly excels at limiting second chances. He went through down stretches in the regular season for Halifax and had a dreadful showing at the CHL Top Prospects Game but finished strong in the QMJHL postseason and has the best upside among all netminders in the Chicago system.

14 Matthew Highmore, C (UFA: Mar. 2, 2017. Last Year: unranked) Although never drafted, Matthew Highmore parlayed a strong two-way game with a powerhouse Saint John squad in the QMJHL into an NHL entry level deal with Chicago. He kicked his game up another level after putting pen to paper, playing a lead role in the Sea Dogs’ QMJHL championship and kept it going with a strong first pro season in Rockford. Highmore is an energetic player, who doesn’t mind getting dirty to make a play. He lacks the pure skills to play a top six role in the NHL but has the smarts and style to fit nicely in a bottom six capacity.

Carl Dahlstrom

15 Carl Dahlstrom, D (51^st overall, 2013. Last Year: 20^th) A big rangy defender, Dahlstrom took a huge step forward this year, his second in the AHL, earning an 11-game stint in the NHL in the process. He is not the most fleet of foot but moves well enough for his size. He sees the ice very well and is at his best when he is free to be assertive instead of deferring to his defensive partner. Dahlstrom’s puck skills are strong for the AHL, but perfunctory by NHL standards. He reads the ice very well and brings a strong physical component to his shifts. With the Blackhawks retooling, Dahlstrom is worth a long look for the third pairing this year.

16 Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) An effortless skater with soft hands and promising ability to read the ice, the Swiss-Russian Kurashev already had two seasons of successful hockey in the QMJHL with Quebec under his belt before the Blackhawks used a fourth rounder on him this June. Although lacking in size and stature, he plays with a measure of fearlessness and willingness to go to the net and get dirty. A center at the junior level, he has shown the most improvement in his faceoff ability in his draft year going from weak to playable. A third strong season with the Remparts and a more central role with Team Switzerland at the upcoming WJC would allow Kurashev to raise his prospect stock.

17 Maxim Shalunov, RW (109^th overall, 2011. Last Year: unranked) Consider this placement a final reminder about what Shalunov is and that the Blackhawks have not forgotten the one time fourth round pick. Shalunov followed up seasons of 30 and 37 points with Sibir Novosibirsk by tying for the team lead with CSKA Moscow with 40 points. Shalunov is a skilled puck handler with high hockey IQ and a tremendous shot. Although he had a miserable time in his first (and thus far only) season in North America, spending most of 2013-14 with Toledo in the ECHL, the big winger has taken enough steps to be worth another look once his contract expires.

18 Tim Soderlund, C/LW (112^th overall, 2017. Last Year: unranked) A small sparkplug of a winger, Soderlund flashes all of the skills that could give him a long career in the NHL. Only 20 years old he has already logged two mostly full seasons in the SHL with Skelleftea, showing significantly more impact potential in his second season, which was bisected by a star turn with team Sweden in the WJC. The Hawks do not seem to be in a rush to bring him Stateside, but his intense game should translate well to the smaller ice surface when he does come over. In the meantime, he will move on to Frolunda next season.

19 Luke Johnson, C (134^th overall, 2013. Last Year: unranked) At this point in the rankings, upside is in short supply. Where Johnson stands out from the rest with his pace, high hockey intelligence, two-way play and more than a touch of physicality. The fact that he improved his offensive output with Rockford from 17 points to 30 in his second season as a pro is mostly a bonus. The upside is a fourth line center who hustles and can kill penalties. Those are pretty important. His offensive contributions will mostly come from going hard to the crease and his ability to find open space in the offensive zone.

20 Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. Last Year: unranked) And under the radar Russian junior level player when drafted n his second year of eligibility, Altybarmakyan gained more notoriety last season, playing mostly in the Russian second men’s league, and playing a key role for the Russian WJC squad. Although a bit undersized, he plays an aggressive game, and showed enough in both the WJC and the preceding Junior Super Series against the three CHL leagues that he might be able to translate his game from Russia to North America. He is still a ways away from crossing the pond for good, but has shown enough to remain a prospect of note in this organization.

2018 NHL Draft Review: Central Division

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 14:37:30 +0000

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

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

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

Here is the Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks
1 (8) Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas J20 (SuperElit) - ranked 9th
1 (27) Nicolas Beaudin, D, Drummondville (QMJHL) - ranked 55th
3 (69) Jake Wise, C, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 62nd
3 (74) Niklas Nordgren, RW, HIFK U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) - ranked 49th
4 (120) Philipp Kurashev, LW/C, Quebec (QMJHL) - ranked 80th
5 (139) Mikael Hakkarainen, C, Muskegon (USHL) - unranked
6 (162) Alexis Gravel, G, Halifax (QMJHL) - ranked 67th
7 (193) Josiah Slavin, LW, Lincoln (USHL) - unranked

With one difference of opinion, I have a lot of time for the Chicago Blackhawks draft class this year. That they selected six players in our top 100 (top 80, actually), reflects a lot of convergence in our respective scouting opinions. Doing it without a second rounder to play makes the feat even more impressive. With a rare top ten pick, the Hawks selected young Swedish dynamo Adam Boqvist eighth overall. While the pick raised the eyebrows a smidge, considering the availability of Evan Bouchard and Noah Dobson, two better-rounded, potential top pairing blueliners, the gap between the three of them was minute and more down to preference than actual expected value. Boqvist is a little rawer than the other two, but his upside is truly immense.

Where the eyebrows truly shot up was when the Blackhawks selected Drummondville blueliner Nicolas Beaudin with the second first rounder. First, because between Boqvist and their first two picks in the 2017 draft (Henri Jokiharju and Ian Mitchell), they seemed to now have a pretty good core of young blueliners to plan around. Secondly, and more important, how could Beaudin be the first Voltigeur off the board with Joe Veleno still available? Beaudin has high end vision, and moves the puck fairly well, but his skating is a sore point, particularly his first few steps and his reverse. He can get up to a decent top speed, but as he so often falls behind, it is an absolute necessity. Third, as Beaudin is a marauding sort, who likes to engage deep in the offensive end, there must be the worry that his game is too similar in style to Boqvist’s.

As much as I did not like the second first rounder, I loved the Hawks’ two third rounders. Jake Wise is a very good skater who can perform some nice tricks with the puck yet can be trusted in all situations. Were it not for an early season injury that had him miss a good long stretch, he would have gone at least 30 picks higher. Five picks later, Chicago took another offensively gifted forward in Finnish winger Niklas Nordgren, who scored eight times in seven games at the WU18, but has historically been a stronger playmaker than finisher. He needs to add muscle mass and improve his explosiveness, but he can produce. Chicago took another offensively talented forward in the fifth, reminding us all that successful teams do not just grab bottom six types in the later rounds, but continue to draft for talent. Swiss import Philipp Kurashev has shown improvement year over year in his two seasons with Quebec in the Q. He reads the play well in both zones and has very soft hands. Although he lacks bulk, he is not a peripheral player.

They continued to hunt for point producers as the draft petered out, as seen with sixth rounder Mikael Hakkarainen who had 46 points in 36 games with Muskegon this year. Even after accounting for the fact that the Finnish USHL import was in his third year of draft eligibility, he has scored at every level in which he has played. He missed a chunk of the year to injury, but when he played, he was creating chances left and right. A few solid seasons with Providence, and he could be a real late round gem. Chicago was wise to snatch up a promising, if very raw, netminder in the sixth round in Alexis Gravel, both as his tools rate very highly, even if his results were sub-par in his draft year with Halifax, but also as the net is a weak spot organizationally for the Hawks and will have a chance to make an impact in time. If he can play more like he has in the postseason for the Mooseheads than he did in the regular season, more than a few teams will be kicking themselves for passing up on him for five full rounds. As for the seventh rounder, Josiah Slavin, the younger brother of Hurricanes’ blueliner Jaccob Slavin, the Blackhawks did finally take a low ceiling player who maxes out as a fourth liner, if he even gets there. He has good size and is a decent skater, but has never been a scorer all the way bac to Bantam hockey. Even though I don’t agree with every pick, the Blackhawks’ strategy of largely selecting players with aa history of offensive production and continuing to draft talent even in the middle and (most of the) later rounds, is a winning strategy.

OFP – 53.25

Colorado Avalanche
1 (16) Martin Kaut, RW, Dynamo Pardubice (Czech) - ranked 20th
3 (64) Justus Annunen, G, Karpat U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) - ranked 98th
3 (78) Sampo Ranta, LW, Sioux City (USHL) - ranked 54th
4 (109) Tyler Weiss, LW/C, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 59th
5 (140) Brandon Saigeon, C, Hamilton (OHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
5 (146) Danila Zhuravlyov, D, Irbis Kazan (MHL) - ranked 131st
6 (171) Nikolai Kovalenko, RW, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) - ranked 159th
7 (202) Shamil Shamakov, G, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL) - unranked

The Colorado Avalanche have never been the type of team to heavily scout the CHL, but to have only one pick from their seven come from the hotbed of Canadian junior hockey is a surprise even for them. Even when accounting for the fact that two additional picks were playing in the USHL, one of those was actually a Finnish import. In short, the Avalanche went the full anti-Don Cherry in their 2018 draft class, with five of seven picks coming from Europe. There was some speculation of whether their first round pick, Martin Kaut, would drop down draft boards after a disputed heart issue was discovered during medical testing at the draft combine. Thankfully, he rushed back to the Czech Republic and had the matter taken care of immediately, and received a clean bill of health before draft day. Kaut does everything at an above average level, and if the early successes of Martin Necas and Filip Chytil last year are any indication, the Czech Republic is back to being a hockey hotbed. Kaut is expected to move to the AHL next season.

In the three of the previous four drafts, the Avalanche selected a netminder from Europe, and they continued that trend with the second pick of the third round, taking Finnish WU18 hero Justus Annunen. Far from a flash in the pan, he was named the top goalie in the Finnish junior league and has the size every team covets in net, as well as above average athleticism. Half a round later, the Avs selected an early season sensation in the USHL, in Finnish import winger Sampo Ranta, who naturally elicited comparisons to former Sioux City sniper Eeli Tolvanen. Ranta is no Tolvanen, and is prone to a few bone-head reads, but he has a fine collection of offensive tools, projecting to top six potential across the board, and is going to a good program at Wisconsin starting next season.

Staying in the USHL, the first North American product Colorado drafted was North Carolina native Tyler Weiss from the USNTDP. The program often relegates talented players to a bottom six role because they are both not as good as the first line players, and they play high energy games. Both are true of Weiss. He plays with great energy and he is not as good as the top line trio of Jack Hughes, Oliver Wahlstrom, or Joel Farabee. Of course, that latter point is a very high bar for comparison. Weiss is very talented, and like a few previous USNTDP grads, I expect his offensive game to flourish in a more fluid role at Nebraska-Omaha. He is a great skater with shifty hands and great puck control. With his inherent grit, I think he is looked upon as a steal in short order.

Fifth rounder Brandon Saigeon was long written off as a disappointment in the OHL, as the former fourth overall OHL Draft pick took four seasons to really break out. Finally, in his third and final year of NHL draft eligibility, he took off with a strong Bulldogs team, at least reaching the point per game mark in the regular season, OHL playoffs, and Memorial Cup. He is eligible to go back to Hamilton for one more year, or join Kaut next year in the AHL. His future success hinges on his shot continuing to sneak past netminders.

After drafting their one and only CHL player, the Avalanche finished their draft with three picks from the Russian junior league. Defender Danila Zhuravlyov is a promising two way player with a good set of tools who needs to refine his game away from the puck. Winger Nikolai Kovalenko, is actually an Avalanche legacy pick, as his father Andrei played with the Nordiques and the Avalanche between 1992-96. Ironically enough, like Tyler Weiss, Kovalenko was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, although Kovalenko moved back to Russia as a youth. He has very high hockey intelligence and grades out very well for both skating and puck skills. If he gets more attention on the international stage, he will be looked at as a late round steal in short order. Finally, for their last selection, Colorado drafted the player with the best name in the draft, in Shamil Shmakov. In his second year of draft eligibility, the towering (6-6”) Russian netminder was a workhorse for his MHL team. He is athletic for his size and reads the play well. Between the Russians and the college bound players, the Avalanche’s 2018 draft class may take four or more years before it can be adequately judged. That said, with the talent selected, they should be optimistic.

OFP – 53.75

Dallas Stars
1 (13) Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL) - ranked 32nd
2 (44) Albin Eriksson, RW/LW, Skelleftea J20 (SuperElit) - ranked 121st
3 (75) Oskar Back, C/RW, Frolunda J20 (SuperElit) - ranked 75th
4 (100) Adam Mascherin, LW, Kitchener (OHL) - ranked 64th
4 (106) Curtis Douglas, C, Windsor (OHL) - ranked 95th
5 (137) Riley Damiani, C, Kitchener (OHL) - ranked 107th
6 (168) Dawson Barteaux, D, Red Deer (WHL) - ranked 206th
7 (199) Jermaine Loewen, RW/LW, Kamloops (WHL) - unranked

Like some teams, the Stars have geographical hot spots that they tend to return to again and again when to comes to drafting. They love the OHL, the WHL, Sweden and Finland. They have sometimes strayed from those areas, most notably for some first rounders from Russia (Valeri Nichushkin, and Denis Guryanov) and Minnesota prep (Riley Tufte) and the NCAA (Jake Oettinger), but the majority of their picks over the years come from the four areas listed above. And low and behold, they stayed true to form this year, drafting entirely from the OHL, WHL and Sweden. Hosting the draft, no matter who they selected would be bound to receive hearty applause and the fans did not disappoint in that regard.

Even though they went off the board with their first rounder, Ty Dellandrea, the Flint center has a few factors that suggest an upside just as high as those who had been ranked in that range of the draft class. He is very young for this draft class, he put up decent numbers despite playing for a tire fire of an OHL organization. He stepped up his game in the high profile events of the CHL Top Prospects Game and the WU18 tournament. He is a great skater with a very high hockey IQ, gets top marks for intangibles and has nice hands. I cannot truly fault Dallas for making this pick. I am less bullish on their second rounder, large Swedish winger Albin Eriksson. He has soft hands for his size and has certainly scored plenty in the SuperElit, but there are questions about his skating and his overall ability to process the game. He was held off the Swedish WU18 team as the national braintrust did not see a fit for him as a top six player, and did not think his game would translate to a bottom six role. I see a lot of risk-reward in this pick.

The Stars went right back to the SuperElit with their third rounder, for versatile forward Oskar Back. Back is not as big as Eriksson, but has more than enough size-wise. He is also a better skater, plays a more effective physical brand of hockey and showed the ability to play a variety of roles at the WU18. Dallas returned to the OHL for their two fourth round picks and their fifth rounder, bookending two picks from the Kitchener Rangers program (Adam Mascherin and Riley Damiani) with the gigantic Windsor center Curtis Douglas. Mascherin was this year’s only redraft player, as the former Florida second rounder never came to terms with the Panthers and took his chances with the league this year. He is a shorter, stockier player, lacking much explosion in his legs, but has been a prime sniper in the OHL for years (at least 35 goals in each of the last three seasons) and is ready for the AHL. His OHL teammate Damiani was selected by Dallas 37 picks later. Rather small, and not overly toolsy, he makes his hay thanks to high end hockey IQ. He has enough in the wheels department to be useful on the penalty kill as well, although he is not likely to ever be a big scorer.

In between those two picks, the Stars drafted the most physical specimen of the entire draft class in 6-8”, 247 pound behemoth center Curtis Douglas. Douglas is very strong, with unbeatable reach, but is not aggressive so much as he is imposing. He is a decent skater for his size and has reasonably fluid hands. Sixth rounder Dawson Barteaux was once a first round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, but could not eke out a regular role in the WHL until this year, where he emerged as a reliable puck mover for Red Deer. His upside is not tremendous, but he can skate and get the puck out of his own end and could provide reasonable future value for this stage of the draft.

The Stars ended their draft with the first Jamaican born player ever selected in Kamloops’ hulking power winger Jermaine Loewen. In his third year of eligibility, Loewen went from being a bottom line bruiser to someone who could contribute in a top six role at the WHL level. His NHL prospects’ depend on being able to combine the attribute of both areas. Like Mascherin, he could jump right into the AHL next year. Generally speaking, I do not applaud drafting for size, which the Stars were clearly targeting, taking four players who are at least 6-3”, 205, but with one exception, I have no fault in where those big guys were drafted. They took enough in terms of skill and IQ that the organization should see good results from their 2018 haul, even if they are bunched among forwards.

OFP – 52.5

Minnesota Wild
1 (24) Filip Johansson, D, Leksand J20 (SuperElit) - ranked 46th
3 (63) Jack McBain, C, Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) - ranked 51st
3 (86) Alexander Khovanov, C, Moncton (QMJHL) - ranked 61st
3 (92) Connor Dewar, LW, Everett (WHL) - ranked 153rd
5 (148) Simon Johansson, D, Djurgardens J20 (SuperElit) - unranked
5 (155) Damien Giroux, C, Saginaw (OHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (179) Shawn Boudrias, RW, Gatineau (QMJHL) - unranked
7 (210) Sam Hentges, C, Tri-City (USHL) - unranked

For many years, new Minnesota GM Paul Fenton was lauded as a key driving force behind Nashville’s consistent success at the draft table, where he served as assistant GM since 2006-07 and was involved in other roles with the club since 1998-99 (i.e. Day One). In his first crack at being the final voice on all personnel decisions, the eight players added to the Minnesota organization are very underwhelming. And with four of the eight picks being in their second year of draft eligibility, potential untapped upside is also lacking. In fairness to Fenton, he only took over the franchise with about one month before draft day. With a lack of clarity over how much he could have brought to the scouting meetings, I will reserve judgement on Fenton until the 2019 draft.

They had one pick on day one and used it on a low upside, high IQ defender in Swede Filip Johansson. The right shooting blueliner plays a poised game, keeping his crease clear and featuring heavily in PK rotations. While right handed defenders are always a desired commodity, without the ability to score from the point, that value is diminished. I have a hard time seeing Johansson ever playing much of a role on the power play in the NHL. He projects more as a #4/5 defender at his peak.

The best value picks made by Minnesota this year both came in the third round. With the first pick of the round, they nabbed Jack McBain, a big center who moves well for his size and has been crushing the OJHL since he arrived there two years ago. He was a first round OHL pick too, but preferred the college route. He has very good hands and a hard shot and will be tested by a big step up in competition when he joins Boston College next season. Another high upside pick was made later in the round when the Wild selected Moncton center Alexander Khovanov, who many thought could be a top half of the first round player when the Wildcats selected him very early in last year’s CHL Import Draft. Unfortunately, much of his draft year was wiped out due to a bout with Hepatitis A. When he returned after mid-season, he still showed flashes of puck magic, but his strength and stamina had yet to fully recover by year’s end. A full offseason to return to his previous form could see him take off in a big way and there is a good chance that he ends up as the Wild’s top return from this draft class.

Their third third rounder, Connor Dewar, is more of a late bloomer than the other two, as he really took a few steps forward this year, in his second year of draft eligibility. He has a big motor and can finish. Dewar lacks the upside of McBain, or Khovanov, but it is easy to see a bottom six winger at the highest level in his future. Minnesota went right back to low upside after that point, such as with the pick of Simon Johansson (no relation to Filip, although he is a cousin of Columbus center Alexander Wennberg). Simon Johnasson put up very good numbers from the blueline in his second year of eligibility in the SuperElit, mostly thanks to a strong point shot and good distribution skills. Unfortunately, his skating is rather rough, and he is not nearly as strong away from the puck.

The second fifth rounder taken by Minnesota may have some “diamond in the rough” qualities, as Damien Giroux was one of the top players on a moribund Saginaw team in the OHL. He is very undersized, but he has a good set of offensive tools and could be a solid player in the coming years. There is decent upside in Minnesota’s sixth rounder as well. Although Shawn Boudrias was in his second year of eligibility, had he been born two days later, he would have been in his first year of eligibility. He led Gatineau in scoring by 20 points, and has great size, although he lacks any true standout tools. Minnesota ended their draft with another second year eligible player in Sam Hentges, of Tri-City in the USHL. Hentges put up decent numbers when he was healthy enough to play, although injuries kept him off the ice for much of the second half. The native Minnesotan is going to St. Cloud State next season. With a very low ceiling, medium floor draft haul. Minnesota did very little to move the needle for the organization.

OFP – 51.25

Nashville Predators
4 (111) Jachym Kondelik, C, Muskegon (USHL) - ranked 110th
5 (131) Spencer Stastney, D, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 151st
5 (151) Vladislav Yeryomenko, D, Calgary (WHL) - ranked 196th
7 (213) Milan Kloucek, G, Dynamo Pardubicec (Czech) - unranked

With only four picks to be made, there is not much point in searching for trends in Nashville’s2018 draft class. With their first pick, they went with a tree in USHL center Jachym Kondelik. The 6-6” Czech pivot battled injuries this year with Muskegon, but has decent hands, enough mobility for his size, and shows the ability to play in a defensive role. If he could add more intensity to his game, he could be a real force down the line. He will take his next steps at the University of Connecticut.

With their next pick, the Predators took USNTDP blueliner Spencer Stastney, another player who had some injury trouble early in the year. Stastney is a smart, undersized puck mover, who has shown that he can play in a variety of roles and situations. He has a lot of tools and a generally high hockey IQ, but is overly prone to bonehead plays. If Notre Dame’s coaching staff can iron those out, he has pretty good upside. Later in the fifth round, the Predators drafted Belorussian blueliner Vladislav Yeryomenko, a second year eligible who has been playing in the WHL with Calgary for two seasons, putting up good numbers from the blueline all the while. He turned more heads with a strong WJC for Belarus, showing the ability to withstand a massive workload on a generally overmatched team. He has good hands and in another high IQ player for Nashville’s system.

The Predators completed their draft class with Czech netminder Milan Kloucek, drafted in his third year of eligibility. He performed well in a 10 game run in the men’s league with Dynamo Pardubice, but between never having played in a major international tournament, and moving around a lot between the top two Czech leagues and the junior ranks, he was not really on our radar. Despite not having a big presence in the draft this year, the Predators came away with three skaters who have enough upside to project as potential middle of the roster NHL contributors.

OFP – 50.75

St. Louis Blues
1 (25) Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo J20 (SuperElit)
2 (45) Scott Perunovich, D, Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
4 (107) Joel Hofer, G, Swift Current (WHL)
5 (138) Hugh McGing, C, Western Michigan (NCHC)
6 (169) Mathias Laferriere, C, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
7 (200) Tyler Tucker, D, Barrie (OHL)

Four guys with youth and physical upside, and two guys who are older and smaller, but with more proof of success at higher levels. Positional balancing. The Blues’ own first round pick was traded to Philadelphia in the Brayden Schenn trade, but they got a first rounder back from Winnipeg in the Paul Stastny trade. The Blues, sensing an opportunity to get their guy, traded away a third rounder to move up a few spots and select German talent Dominik Bokk at 25^th overall. After tearing up the German U19 league as a 16 year old, Bokk moved to Sweden last year and laid the SuperElit to waste as well. He was less successful in limited time in the SHL, but he did enough last year to prove that he is far more than just a big fish in a small pond. He is a fine skater with high end offensive tools. He should get a much longer leash in the SHL next year in order to be ready to move to North America in 2019-20.

With their second rounder, the Blues went for American WJC hero, the third time eligible blueliner Scott Perunovich. He was too small and wild to be drafted in his first year of eligibility out of Hibbing/Chisholm high school in Minnesota. In his second year of eligibility, he performed alright with Cedar Rapids of the USHL, but still struggled in his own end. This year, he went to Minnesota-Duluth and was the leading scorer on the eventual NCAA champions. In the middle, he took time off to play for his country at the WJC and was electrifying with his puck rushes. He will never be a force in his own zone, but he is a very good skater and capable of brilliance with the puck.

The Blues did not get any big upside plays after that, but each of their final four picks had something to recommend themselves to scouts. Fourth rounder Joel Hofer was a backup netminder with WHL champs Swift Current. He put up the best numbers of any draft eligible netminder in the WHL and has the ideal frame for modern netminders. With Stuart Skinner graduating, he is the likely starter for the Broncos next year. In the fifth round, the Blues selected Hugh McGing, another third time eligible player, who had come off a strong sophomore campaign at Western Michigan and almost joined Perunovich on Team USA at the WJC. The undersized McGing is a playmaker and skates just well enough to evade being a target.

Of all of St. Louis picks, sixth rounder Mathias Laferriere has the least upside. He is young and has decent size, but has not lived up to his advance billing as the seventh overall pic in the QMJHL Entry draft in 2016. None of his attributes project to above average. The Blues’ final 2018 selection came in the form of Barrie blueliner Tyler Tucker. Like Laferriere, Tucker was a high pick going into junior who has been little more than OK in his time in the CHL thus far. He has an adequate game with the puck and plays with a mean streak, but needs to improve his skating in order to make it. While I would have liked to see St. Louis go for more upside in the back half of their draft class, the dynamism of their first two picks could be very impactful to the NHL roster in the near future.

OFP - 51

Winnipeg Jets
2 (60) David Gustafsson, C, HV71 (SHL) - ranked 50th
3 (91) Nathan Smith, C, Cedar Rapids (USHL) - unranked
5 (150) Declan Chisholm, D, Peterborough (OHL) - ranked 141st
5 (153) Giovanni Vallati, D, Kitchener (OHL) - ranked 79th
6 (184) Jared Moe, G, Waterloo (USHL) - ranked 192nd
7 (215) Austin Wong, C, Okotoks (AJHL) - unranked

I often consider the Winnipeg Jets among the more astute drafting teams in the league. That is why it is now hard for me to express how much I dislike their 2018 draft class. I believe that when a team trades away their first round pick, it is all the more of an imperative that they aim for upside with their next few picks, as with expectations already lowered, they can only gain. There is very little upside in this class, and relatively little value in the picks they made. This does not mean that I hate the picks or cannot see a path to the NHL for any of the players whose names they called out, but as a group, I don’t see it. If anything, they targeted physicality over skill, a tactic I have a hard time getting behind.

Second rounder David Gustafsson is a decent pick at that spot. He is not the best skater, but he is strong on the puck, demonstrates a high hockey IQ and is big and effectively powerful. He spent the bulk of his draft year in the SHL and plays a mature game. He projects to third line upside. Their next pick, Nathan Smith of Cedar Rapids, was a real head scratcher, though. A second year eligible with a late birthday, Smith is a decent playmaker who plays a somewhat gritty game, but is a mediocre skater whose reads need a lot of work. To be fair, it was only the first year the Tampa native spent outside of Florida, so he may have more upside than his performance suggests, but I have never seen it.

After sitting out the fourth round, the Jets picked up two decent blueline prospects in the fifth round in Declan Chisholm and Giovanni Vallati, both OHL products. Chisholm, from Peterborough, is a good skater and has some puck moving acumen, but was held back by injury and a poor Petes team this year. Kitchener’s Vallati is an even better skater, who flashes high end IQ and a more physical game. For my money, the Vallati pick was the best value the Jets got in Dallas. I might have been more forgiving of their draft class had they selected Vallati with their third rounder and Nathan Smith with the late fifth rounder. Both Chisholm and Vallati have decent third pairing projections. In the sixth round, Winnipeg selected second time eligible Jared Moe, a big netminder who split the crease in Waterloo with Philadelphia prospect Matej Tomek, who he outperformed. Like Nathan Smith, this was Moe’s first season out of the high school ranks. Moe should have the crease in Waterloo to himself next year before going to Minnesota.

The Jets saved their toughest pick for the end, drafting Okotoks pugilist Austin Wong. Wong had decent, but not eye-catching offensive numbers for the AJHL, but one look at the PIM column lets you know wat kind of player the Jets are adding. He is one of, if not the most, physical player in the entire draft class. Of course, there are drawbacks to that style, often leaving his team shorthanded. If he can tone it down just a bit and work on his skating, he could be OK, but he seems more like a 1980s throwback as is. After drafting high end skill for a number of years, the Jets might have taken a step in the wrong direction with these picks, even if some of them hit their best-case projections.

OFP – 50.5

2018 NHL Draft First Round Recap

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 12:22:21 +0000

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Everything started much as was expected, with Buffalo taking Rasmus Dahlin with the first pick and then Carolina keeping their pick and selecting Andrei Svechnikov.

Then came the third pick. Montreal was the first big question mark. Would they trade? Were the Kotkaniemi rumors true? Would they take Tkachuk? Zadina? Hughes? The mystery behind door C? No trades. The rumors on the big center from Finland were true. Montreal drafted a player they expect to be their first line center in Jesperi Kotkaniemi. There are parts of his game that suggest first line potential, but we had him slotted around ten spots later, mostly as a reflection of his relative lack of foot speed. While it was not what we would have done, it was not surprising or unexpected.

Nor was it especially surprising that Ottawa kept the number four pick, thereby consigning their 2019 first rounder to Colorado – even if it is the first overall pick. With Filip Zadina on the board, they shunned the natural goal scorer and took the muscle, a player we had connected them to in the official McKeens mock draft, in Brady Tkachuk. To their credit, he could contribute in the NHL right away, increasing the likelihood that the pick going to Colorado is not a lottery selection.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

So surely the analytically inclined Arizona Coyotes would take Zadina, right? He scores goals and they like players who can score goals? Perhaps the trade for Galchenyuk led them to looking for a more complimentary, versatile talent? Perhaps they have their own rankings? The obviously have their own scouts, and their own rankings. Arizona gave us the first big surprise of the day, selecting Sault Ste. Marie center Barrett Hayton, a player whose numbers were deflated due to playing on the most talent-laden team in the CHL. Due to the plethora of NHL-drafted talent on the Greyhounds, he mostly played third line minutes showing some signs of high end offensive talent as well as playing a strong 200 foot game with very impressive hockey IQ. For all the talk about Arizona and analytics, they also trust the looks of their scouting staff, projecting what the player will do given a bigger role.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Detroit then were the lucky team that allowed the draft to come to them and snatched Filip Zadina, one of the best scorers in the draft class with the third pick, getting a player who could play in the NHL right away if Detroit were the type of team that would play an 18 year old. Generally speaking, they are not. But he could and that is what counts in this assessment. Skipping ahead 24 picks and a few hours, they would do the same thing again, but we will tackle that as it comes. In any case, the Red Wings started their 2018 draft class on the right foot.

We had been connecting Vancouver with Acadie-Bathurst blueliner Noah Dobson, dreaming of a future first pairing of Olli Juolevi on the left and Dobson on the right. But with the dynamic and similarly trending upwards Quinn Hughes still on the board, they have added a supremely talented player who, like Juolevi, plays on the left. Kudos for not following the herd with strict adherence to handedness, although there was no wrong answer between the two.

But maybe there was with Chicago’s pick at eight. Between the four defenders after Dahlin (Hughes, Dobson, Bouchard, Boqvist), Boqvist had been trending down, with some concerned about his strength, some about a late-season concussion, some about his lack of interest in playing away from the puck. Chicago did not share those concerns, and drafted Boqvist with Bouchard and Dobson both on the board. If it works out, Stan Bowman and friends will be rightly applauded. If it doesn’t, the Hawks are in trouble.

The Rangers let last impression rule the day with their first of three picks, taking Russian winger Vitali Kravtsov, who turned good reports into great ones with his playoff performance with Chelyabinsk in the KHL. He is expected to play at least one more season in the KHL, but he has all of the tools to be a top six winger on Broadway within a few years.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

The next three picks, belonging to Edmonton (10^th) and the New York Islanders (11^th and 12^th) helped to correct our board, with London defensive quarterback Evan Bouchard going to the Oilers and the Islanders cleaning house with Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson back-to-back. There was a pause between the Islanders’ two picks, and GM Lou Lamoriello discussed the fact that he was looking at trading one (or both?) for an NHL roster player, but did not get an offer that worked for him. The three players discussed in this paragraph all project as first line/first pairing players and incredible value in this range.

The hometown Dallas Stars had the next pick and the partisan Dallas audience transitioned seamlessly from lustily booing NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to passionately cheering hometown heroes Mike Modano and Jamie Benn, the latter of whom called out Flint center Ty Dellandrea after hamming it up with digs between him and Modano. In a draft called out for lacking high end centers, four were drafted in the first 13 picks. We had Dellandrea ranked 32^nd, but hindsight (not just where he was selected) suggests that we should have ranked him around 8-10 spots higher. He has shown off a dynamic offensive streak in high-profile events, including the CHL Top Prospects Game and the WU18s. The pick was on the high side, but within reason. It was not as ugly as our ranking of Dellandrea suggests.

In the spirit of tomorrow’s second through seventh rounds going faster than you can blink, the next few picks were all around where we had them ranked with Philadelphia drafting USNTDP winger Joel Farabee, Florida selecting Russian talent Grigori Denisenko, Colorado proving that the hockey world was not letting the heart condition identified at the combine from sinking Martin Kaut’s stock and the Devils drafting Ty Smith, the talented puck mover from Spokane. All four of those picks are good value for the draft slot and project as middle of the roster talent in the NHL with some potential for more.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

I would say the same about Liam Foudy, taken 18^th by Columbus. A late riser in the draft class, he was a depth player with London at the start of the season and then took off in an advanced role after midseason, when the Knights traded away much of their top six. Over the second half of the season, he was one of the more riveting players in the OHL and his athleticism is off the charts, which he demonstrated in testing both at the CHL prospect game (on-ice testing) and the NHL combine (off ice testing). Given a full year in a top six role next season, his numbers could explode much like Morgan Frost’s did this year in the Soo.

18 picks in, and there were a few weird moments. I could quibble with a few others, but Hayton at five and Dellandrea at 13 really stood out as being selected much higher than we had reason to believe. As we were soon to find out, that was just a small taste of the weirdness to come. For with the 19^th pick, the Flyers added to their prospect pool with another college bound player. Was it K’Andre Miller, who would have provided excellent upside and value? Maybe the safer Mattias Samuelsson? The sleeper Jake Wise? Nothing so obvious. They went to the high school ranks and selected Jay O’Brien. I, and many others, were shocked by the selection. O’Brien, asked for comment later in the evening was not. A confident young man, he absolutely believed that he would be going in the first round, in his head and his gut.

Before I get back to the weirdness. Let’s take a moment or two to mention some picks in the last dozen that fit roughly where we had them ranked. The Kings selected fast Finish center Rasmus Kupari with the 20^th pick, hoping the speed of his hands will catch up to his feet. If it doesn’t, he is still a fantastic skater. There is also Anaheim drafting Isac Lundestrom at pick 23. A jack of all trades forward, he can play up the middle, and if you are the optimistic type, you see a center with speed, good puck skills and the ability to process the game mentally.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

The Maple Leafs, seemingly keyed in on Sault Ste. Marie defender Rasmus Sandin early and, sensing he would last longer than their original pick at 25, traded down, giving the pick to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for pick 29 and a third rounder. They get a smart blueliner who can create offensive chances with his puck skills and needs to fill out more before playing professionally in North America. He is supposed to return to play in Sweden this year, but that might change.

With the third of three picks, the Rangers selected Swedish defender Nils Lundkvist, an offensive talent whose last name and destination suggests that his nickname must be “The Prince”. With the last pick of the round, the Capitals combined their love of the WHL and their extreme comfort with Russian players to select Alexander Alexeyev, who between family tragedy and a knee injury, had a strong season at Red Deer. His going in the first round allows him to put a sweet ending on a sour year. We had both Lundkvist and Alexeyev ranked just outside the top 31, but they both fit there.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

As for the rest, some players surprised by how far they have fallen while others shocked with how high they were taken. First though, Ryan Merkley. On talent alone, he could have been taken in the top ten. On the red flags related to his personality and off-ice maturity-centric concerns, more than a few teams would not have taken him in the first round. We gave more credit to his talent than his mental maturity, and assumed that a team with multiple picks would go for the home run towards the end of the draft. San Jose jumped the shark a little bit and took him 21^st overall. Considering that he has publicly shown some realization that his behavior must change, if he works out, that is a fantastic new prospect for the team. If he doesn’t grow up, he simply won’t make it.

Now for the other guys who really surprised a lot of onlookers, ourselves included:

First, note that we liked all of the next group of picks, but felt that they provided much better value in the middle or late second round than they did in the first round.

At 24, Minnesota selected Swedish defenseman Filip Johansson. He processes the game at a high level, but none of his physical tools grade out as more than a bit above average. I don’t mind the pick all that much, but it turned a lot of heads and seems to fit more the “safe” style espoused by Minnesota under Chuck Fletcher than the upside plays that new Wild GM Paul Fenton would have signed off on when he worked under David Poile in Nashville.

At 26, Ottawa made a speculative play to draft AJHL defender Jacob Bernard-Docker, from the Okotoks Oilers. JBD was fine in the AJHL, in fact he was their defenseman of the year, but is he better than Ian Mitchell was last year, who was taken in the second round? He does a lot of things well, but may not be more than a #4, and is at least three years from the professional game. I guess, to Ottawa’s credit, they also got an extra second round pick from the Rangers for the pleasure of trading down four spots to pick here. On the other hand, the player the Rangers selected at 22 is, for my money, more valuable than Bernard-Docker plus pick 48. So there’s that.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

The Blackhawks also continued their run of drafting defensemen very high by taking Drummondville blueliner Nicolas Beaudin. There were a number of rumors connecting the Hawks to Beaudin, but we thought he fit more close to 30 picks later. He moves the puck well, but his start up speed lacks to the point where it could hurt.

For every player who unexpectedly rises, there is one who drops just as surprisingly. Remember how I talked about the value of the player the Rangers took at 22. They traded up with the Senators to ensure that they could get to K’Andre Miller. New to the blueline, Miller improved every single week with the USNTDP and, assuming patience to let him get three years of development at Wisconsin, he could be an easy first liner down the road.

Another second half riser up the draft boards was German winger Dominik Bokk. Some consider his puck skills to be top 10 worthy. Perhaps due to limited high level hockey experience, he slipped until pick 25, where he was selected by St. Louis. He could return to continue his development in Sweden or come to North America. The Blues traded up from pick 29 to 25 – sending a third rounder this year for the privilege – to get him.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Finally, and most shockingly, there is the case of Joe Veleno. Once good enough to become the first player granted “exceptional status” by the QMJHL, a lackluster first half with Saint John before being traded to Drummondille, seemed to have scared people off. Even as other teams were reaching for centers, Veleno fell. He was not even the first Voltigeur drafted, as teammate Nicolas Beaudin went at 27. The Red Wings finally stopped Veleno’s fall with the 30^th pick in the draft, the pick they received from Vegas as part of the return for Tomas Tatar. Veleno is a high end skater with plenty of experience in the spotlight who immediately brings current Arizona Coyote Jakob Chychrun to mind. If teams focused on what he was instead of what he was not, he would have gone much earlier.

It is around four years too early to pick winners and losers, but I can state that I like the approaches taken by Detroit and the New York Islanders the best, while I question the selections made by Chicago and Ottawa. To a lesser extent, Philadelphia will be scrutinized – and fairly so – for the selection of O’Brien at 19. Among the teams who had only a single pick, Edmonton and New Jersey got great value, while Minnesota and Dallas were both more questionable in that regards.

Heading into the rapid fire round two, our top ten players still on the board, in order, are: Bode Wilde, Serron Noel, Jared McIsaac, Akil Thomas, Jonatan Berggren, Ryan McLeod, Calen Addison, Jacob Olofsson, Kirill Marchenko, and Jesse Ylonen.

PICK	TM	MCK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	BUF	1	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/185	13-Apr-00
2	CAR	2	Andrei Svechnikov	RW	Barrie (OHL)	6-2/190	26-Mar-00
3	MTL	13	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori (Fin)	6-1/190	6-Jul-00
4	OTT	4	Brady Tkachuk	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-3/195	16-Sep-99
5	ARI	11	Barrett Hayton	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/190	9-Jun-00
6	DET	3	Filip Zadina	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/195	27-Nov-99
7	VAN	6	Quinn Hughes	D	Michigan (B1G)	5-10/175	14-Oct-99
8	CHI	9	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas (Swe)	5-11/170	15-Aug-00
9	NYR	16	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	Traktor Chelyabinsk (Rus)	6-2/170	23-Dec-99
10	EDM	7	Evan Bouchard	D	London (OHL)	6-2/195	20-Oct-99
11	NYI	5	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	13-Jun-00
12	NYI	8	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-3/180	7-Jan-00
13	DAL	32	Ty Dellandrea	C	Flint (OHL)	6-0/185	21-Jul-00
14	PHI	12	Joel Farabee	LW	NTDP (USA)	5-11/165	25-Feb-00
15	FLA	27	Grigori Denisenko	LW	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Rus)	5-11/175	24-Jun-00
16	COL	20	Martin Kaut	RW	Pardubice (Cze)	6-1/175	2-Oct-99
17	NJD	15	Ty Smith	D	Spokane (WHL)	5-10/180	24-Mar-00
18	CBJ	25	Liam Foudy	C	London (OHL)	6-0/175	4-Feb-00
19	PHI	48	Jay O'Brien	C	Thayer Academy (USHS-MA)	5-10/185	4-Nov-99
20	LAK	21	Rasmus Kupari	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-1/185	15-Mar-00
21	SJS	31	Ryan Merkley	D	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/170	14-Aug-00
22	NYR	14	K'Andre Miller	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/205	21-Jan-00
23	ANA	19	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea (Swe)	6-0/185	6-Nov-99
24	MIN	46	Filip Johansson	D	Leksands (Swe)	6-0/175	23-Mar-00
25	STL	18	Dominik Bokk	RW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe)	6-1/180	3-Feb-00
26	OTT	56	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	Okotoks (AJHL)	6-0/180	30-Jun-00
27	CHI	55	Nicolas Beaudin	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	5-11/175	7-Oct-99
28	NYR	37	Nils Lundkvist	D	Lulea (Swe)	5-11/180	27-Jul-00
29	TOR	23	Rasmus Sandin	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/185	7-Mar-00
30	DET	10	Joe Veleno	C	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-00
31	WAS	35	Alexander Alexeyev	D	Red Deer (WHL)	6-3/200	15-Nov-99

QMJHL: Nicolas Beaudin (2018 Draft Eligible)

Michael Sanderson — Fri, 25 May 2018 14:55:33 +0000

Nicolas Beaudin tied for second in scoring for QMJHL defenders with 69 points in 68 games, McKeen's has him ranked in the late second round in our upcoming rankings. Michael Sanderson provides a detailed scouting report below.

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

Nicolas Beaudin	Eligible - 2018 NHL Draft
Position: D, Shoots L	H/W: 5-11", 175 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Drummondville, QMJHL, (68-12-57-69-47)

Skating: If Beaudin was an above-average skater, he would be a likely first-round pick. His top speed is average, his crossovers are very good, but he takes a while to get there. He does a good job of overcoming this in the defensive zone by always collapsing to the net in a foot race to play the defensive side of the puck, but his game would be much stronger if he were able to win some of those battles. His backwards skating is lacking, which makes it hard for him to stick with appropriate gaps on the rush. He overcompensates this by leaving too much room, due to his lack of footspeed, leaving oncoming forwards with plenty of space to work with. While he does have the tendency to pinch lower than most blueliners and get caught on occasion, his offensive game overcomes these skating issues, but work on explosiveness and quickness may be what could hold him back professionally. Grade: 45

Shot: While Beaudin is more of a passer than a shooter, he does have a great, quiet wrister from the point that he can catch defenders napping on if they play the pass and give him the lane to shoot. He can finish, as his 12 goals this season indicate. His wrister can also be used in tight, as Beaudin uses all 200 feet of the rink to create his offence. Of his 12 goals, five of them came up a man. Grade: 50

Skills: Beaudin is a pinpoint passer, on the breakout or from the point. His short passes are crisp and to the tape, and his long passes hit their targets fast. He can break out of his zone quickly off a turnover thanks to his ability to wait out passing lanes and then hit the targets as they develop. He is one of the best players in the QMJHL at hitting teammates in stride. He does not have many fancy maneuvers with the puck to get out of trouble; a smart use of the puck and simple plays keep him out of danger. He has a great use of his stick defensively to keep attackers at bay, overcoming some of his skating issues. Grade: 55

Smarts: Beaudin’s greatest asset as a hockey player is his ability to see the whole ice surface and react to it. His awareness is his greatest skill, especially offensively. He can read passing lanes off the rush with precision, and can spot a breakout pass quicker than most at the Q level, and maybe across the CHL. Beaudin is a natural powerplay quarterback because of his strong awareness and passing skills; he was the only defender trusted by Dominique Ducharme to run the top Drummondville powerplay unit. He shared that unit with likely first rounder Joe Veleno, and he was the lone blueliner on a strong powerplay unit in midget that featured Maxime Comtois and Antoine Morand, so he knows how to maximize the talent at his disposal from the point. He also is not afraid to jump in on the play and get in tight on offence, and usually pinches well to know when his point is covered. Rarely has a defender looked so much at home down low in the offensive zone as Beaudin on the prowl. Grade: 60

Physicality: Beaudin is undersized as a defender and it can have an effect on his game. He will need to grow into a stronger frame to maximize his talents in the pros. He is not much of a physical player, opting instead to give up position to collapse to the goal defensively, where he can better read the offence. Grade: 45

Summary: Nicolas Beaudin and his defending partner Xavier Bernard are one of the strongest young one-two punches on the blueline in the QMJHL with the Volts, and should both be picked among the first 93 picks in June in Dallas. Beaudin is the more offensively-oriented player, though he played more with teammate Jarrett Baker than Bernard, as much as Bernard would also be a natural pairing option. Though not a game-breaker, Beaudin would be a great option for a team looking for a fourth-forward-like defender to run a powerplay and potentially run the offence from the back end, but he will need to improve his footspeed to reach his potential.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 51.75

Nicolas Beaudin – McKeen's Hockey

TOP 15 PROSPECTS: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – RANK: #22 – TIER IV

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Chicago Blackhawks Top 20 Prospects

Ian Mitchell, D (57th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Lukas Reichel, LW (17th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. Previous ranking: 2)

Drew Commesso, G (46th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Pius Suter, C/LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jul. 16, 2020. Previous ranking: 3)

Landon Slaggert, C (92nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 4)

Evan Barratt, C (90th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Michal Teply, LW (105th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Lucas Carlsson, D (110th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Previous ranking: 9)

Artur Kayumov, LW (50th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

Jakub Galvas, D (150th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 15)

Niklas Nordgren, RW (74th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 18)

Michael Krutil, D (110th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Isaak Phillips, D (141st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

MacKenzie Entwistle, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 12, 2018. Originally: 69th overall, 2017 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: UR)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 16

Chicago Blackhawks

Ian Mitchell, D (57th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. 2019 Rank: 16 [Detroit)

Pius Suter, C/LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jul. 16, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. 2019 Rank: 13 [Philadelphia])

Evan Barratt, C (90th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 15)

Michal Teply, LW (105th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 8)

Lucas Carlsson, D (110th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 19)

Dennis Gilbert, D (91st overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. 2019 Rank: 13)

Artur Kayumov, LW (50th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

Jakub Galvas, D (150th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 20)

Dylan Sikura, C (178th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 6)

Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 18)

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2018 NHL Draft Review: Central Division

2018 NHL Draft First Round Recap

QMJHL: Nicolas Beaudin (2018 Draft Eligible)

Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Lukas Reichel, LW (17^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67^th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. Previous ranking: 2)

Drew Commesso, G (46^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Landon Slaggert, C (92^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196^th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 4)

Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Michal Teply, LW (105^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Previous ranking: 9)

Artur Kayumov, LW (50^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

Jakub Galvas, D (150^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 15)

Niklas Nordgren, RW (74^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 18)

Michael Krutil, D (110^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Isaak Phillips, D (141^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

MacKenzie Entwistle, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 12, 2018. Originally: 69^th overall, 2017 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: UR)

Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67^th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. 2019 Rank: 16 [Detroit)

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196^th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. 2019 Rank: 13 [Philadelphia])

Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 15)

Michal Teply, LW (105^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 8)

Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 19)

Dennis Gilbert, D (91^st overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. 2019 Rank: 13)

Artur Kayumov, LW (50^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

Jakub Galvas, D (150^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 20)

Dylan Sikura, C (178^thoverall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 6)

Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 18)