Nicolas Meloche – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CALGARY FLAMES – NHL Player Profiles

Corey Sznajder – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 21:53:02 +0000

CALGARY, AB - MAY 20: Calgary Flames Goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) stretches in his crease during the third period of game 2 of the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers on May 20, 2022, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Jonathan Huberdeau

Calgary made the most out of a bad situation by acquiring Huberdeau as part of the Tkachuk trade, replacing some of the elite talent they lost in the summer. Huberdeau is about as close to a Johnny Gaudreau replacement as they could find. Teetering in “great but not elite” territory for most of his career, the winger shattered that mold the last two years, finishing third in the league in points last season and solidifying himself as one of the league’s top playmakers. After turning names like Alex Wennberg, Sam Bennett and Anthony Duclair into bonafide top sixers in Florida, doing the same with Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli should be very easy for him. There are some new challenges for Huberdeau in Calgary, it’s his first time as “the guy” and he will be the main focus for every team now that Barkov isn’t on the main top line. Calgary’s going to build their entire team around him with a supporting cast that isn’t as deep as it was in Florida. It’s a chance for him to prove that he belongs in the conversation with the Matthews and MacKinnon’s of the world instead of just a guy who had a few great years. He’s not a difficult guy to build around, as he can create offense in all situations, including the penalty kill, and doesn’t need a special linemate to take advantage of his skillset. The concern is that his level of play last year was absurd even for his standards and tough for even the best players to repeat. It will be interesting to see where he levels out at.

Nazem Kadri

The stars aligned for Kadri in a contract year. He had an unbelievable season, scoring at a 100-point pace and capped it off with a great playoff run enroute to his first Stanley Cup. Due for a significant pay raise that was going to be too rich for the Avs, he settled on a new home in Calgary, signing a seven-year contract. He was a perfect fit in Colorado, matching the speed and intensity that the rest of the team played with, and everything just seemed to break right last year. He can play the north-south game, forecheck hard and developed some great chemistry with their talented defensemen. Translating this to a new team will be interesting. Kadri plays the type of game that can fit into any system and while he might not be an 87-point player, he should give Calgary’s second line a solid floor. He plays with a lot of speed and his passing has come a long way since his days in Toronto. Sliding in between Andrew Mangiapane and Blake Coleman makes a lot of sense on paper, as all three can play that high-intensity game Kadri brings but will they score enough to justify Kadri’s $7 mil. cap hit? It’s a skill downgrade from what he had in Andre Burakovsky and Val Nichushkin, but not to the point where you’d expect Kadri to become a 30-40 player who you can’t trust in bad matchups. As long as Kadri’s legs stay healthy, he’s going to be a player who can tilt the ice to some degree and gives the Flames some stability with a possible scoring upside.

Elias Lindholm

Elias Lindholm was living his best life centering Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, playing the high forward role perfectly enroute to a 42-goal season. The young Swede has been a lethal passing target for Gaudreau, improving as a goal-scorer every year and getting plenty of chances to show the skill that made him a top-five draft pick. The Flames top line was so dominant last year that it was easy for Lindholm to find soft spots in the defense, with Gaudreau doing most of the puck-handling and Tkachuk doing the work along the boards. Lindholm’s always thought the game well and him applying that to the offensive side of the game made Calgary’s top line one of the best in hockey. It will be interesting how he gels with Jonathan Huberdeau, who brings some Gaudreau-like qualities to the table and can set Lindholm up for plenty of scoring chances. Huberdeau usually has to turn players into great finishers rather than being paired with one himself, which makes him and Lindholm being matched together very exiting on paper. Some regression should be expected, as it was such a three-way street on Calgary’s top line last year that you’re going to see a drop-off while three new players learn to work together. That said, Lindholm is only a year removed from having a productive season away from Calgary’s top line and his shot is always a threat regardless of who is setting him up. It just might not be the same magic he had with Gaudreau and Tkachuk.

Mikael Backlund

A mainstay on Calgary’s second line for nine years now, Backlund is a model of consistency for Calgary. His skating and tenacious playing style make his line a tough matchup even if they don’t always get rewarded for it on the scoresheet. Last year was business as usual for them, tilting the ice most nights with newcomer Blake Coleman and Andrew Mangiapane giving Backlund some great speed on the wings. They were one of the more productive shutdown lines in hockey early in the season, with Backlund doing most of the work with getting the puck out of the zone and giving Mangiapane some breakaway opportunities. They played like every shift was a penalty kill where they were pushing for rush chances. It both helped and hurt Backlund because while his line was great, his own boxcar stats took a hit. He posted his lowest point total in a full season since 2014 and has scored on less than 10% of his shots for the past two years now. It’s a by-product of his role and his own limitations offensively, being more of a straight-line player than someone who will look for an extra pass. It’s something the Flames will have to monitor but it’s not their primary concern if his line keeps winning their matchups.

Tyler Toffoli

One week into his Calgary tenure, Toffoli looked like one of the best mid-season trades of the year. He got off to a hot start with five goals in his first eight games as a Flame and followed it by scoring only six more in his next 29 games. It doesn’t sound that bad, but when you consider that only four of his 11 goals with the Flames came at five-on-five and three of his goals were empty netters, he had a very frustrating stint in Calgary. This includes a stretch in the playoffs where he was woefully snake-bitten with two goals in 12 games. It’s not that surprising, all scorers are streaky and Toffoli isn’t exactly Steven Stamkos in terms of finishing. What was disappointing was how much he struggled to fit in with the Flames system. He would create chances, but one-dimensional in that he could only do it off the rush, which is a problem when your center is Sean Monahan and you’re expected to do the bulk of the work with carrying and recovering the puck. Not even a trip to Mikael Backlund’s wing could get him going, as he was one of a few players on Calgary who posted a negative on-ice goal and scoring chance differential, which says a lot when you consider how good Calgary was as a team. The silver lining for Calgary being that Toffoli was still generating chances on his own and not converting as much as he can. Play-driving is a concern because he’s not great at playing with speed, but he will get a chance to start fresh with Lindholm’s right wing spot up for grabs.

Andrew Mangiapane

Watch the highlights of Mangiapane’s 30-goal season and you’ll notice that he could probably read the goaltender’s mask art on all of them. He scored at every level he played at and carried it over to the NHL, with ice-time being the only thing keeping him from having a true “breakout” season. That changed this year, as he made the jump to the top-six and was a terror for teams with poor net-front defense. It was easy to see why he was leading the league in shooting percentage, with most of his goals coming off breakaways, deflections and rebounds in front of the net. Mangiapane is also one of the better play-drivers in the league, with his speed an uncanny ability to beat defenders to the inside making Calgary’s second line a matchup nightmare for other teams. The goal-scoring outburst was just a bonus when you factor in everything else he brings to the table. He could be in the mix for a spot on the top line, as he brings some similar qualities to Tkachuk with how well he plays in front of the net. Making the jump to a top-line player will be important for Calgary to repeat their success from last year. He might not get the same number of lay-up goals, but he should continue to be a key driver of whatever line Darryl Sutter puts him on.

Dillon Dube

Possessing good wheels and a great shot, Dube finally started to put some of it together in what was his fourth NHL season, scoring a career high 18 goals. He brought a quick-strike threat to the Flames third line with Sean Monahan and Milan Lucic, quarterbacking most of the offense on this unit. It played to his strengths in a way, as he’s a bit of a puck-hog and it makes the Flames play at a quicker pace. The drawback was that sometimes the rest of the line couldn’t keep up with him, which led to a lot of one-and-done chances and mediocre on-ice metrics for a group. They were a neutral in terms of goal differential and didn’t tilt the ice as much as much as you’d want a depth group with weaker matchups to do. Dube is kind of an all-or-nothing type of player. With the puck he uses his speed well to create chances and get a decent looks off the rush. Recovering pucks, forechecking and looking for the extra play, however, were a different story. This is why his line went through prolonged scoring droughts despite Dube himself having a decent season goal-scoring wise. That said, he has settled into a nice role as a middle-six winger and while the Flames will be looking for more offense 80+ goals to replace, they have some other options they can turn to before Dube.

Blake Coleman

The Flames got what they expected out of Coleman in the first season of his six-year contract. An excellent forechecker and support player on breakouts, he was a key cog on the second line with Mikael Backlund. His speed and general aggressive playing style made the move to Calgary an easy transition for him. Goal-scoring was a secondary concern because his line created so much in volume and his line always drove play for Calgary. Same goes for his limited puck skills, namely with making plays in the offensive zone. While Coleman is good at connecting the dots with getting the puck up ice and exiting the zone, making east-west plays isn’t exactly in his arsenal and he’s more likely to take the puck to the net or try to score from distance once he gets any space. It’s what makes him a very useful player for Calgary, but not so much in fantasy pools, as he usually piles up more penalty minutes and hits than assists. An audition on the top line with Huberdeau is possible. His speed and sandpaper would add a different element, but he is so effective in a checking role with Backlund that Calgary might not want to mess with something that isn’t broken. He is also one of the better penalty killers in the league and could see some extra offense there with how often he tries to attack shorthanded.

DEFENSE

Mackenzie Weegar

A strong Calgary defense corps got even better with the addition of Mackenzie Weegar. He did a lot of learning on the job in Florida, working his way up the depth chart and improving as he got more responsibility. It all culminated over the past two years when Aaron Ekblad missed significant time with injuries, giving Weegar the reins to the Florida blue line. He passed the test with flying colors, adding more wrinkles to his game and having two stellar years offensively. He doesn’t have a lot of traits that stick out in highlight reels, he’s just very good at everything and thinks the game at a high level, which makes up for his small-ish frame. Even with Ekblad out of the lineup, Weegar was responsible for Florida’s excellent transition game, starting most of their breakouts with good retrievals and avoiding turnovers. He wasn’t shy about joining the rush or taking risks in the offensive zone either, a part of his game that has taken huge steps since his rookie year. The more work you throw at him, the better he plays. Which can result in him trying to do too much and turning the puck over at times, but the good outweighs the bad with him. With the landscape changing in Calgary, it will be interesting to see where Weegar slides in. He can play both sides, is a better defender than Andersson but not the reliable bedrock Chris Tanev is on the right side. Weegar’s versatility makes him such a valuable player, so it will be interesting to see where he fits in with so many good veteran defensemen in the mix.

Noah Hanifin

Noah Hanifin’s skillset and results couldn’t be more different. On paper, he should be the best player on Calgary’s defense corps. He’s a big, effortless skater who can go coast-to-coast without breaking a sweat. He’s aggressive with how he defends his own blue line and has the offensive instincts to be a great top-pair guy. For most of his career, Hanifin was just a very good second-pair defender who brought a stabilizing presence but nothing game-breaking. The tides started to turn this year as he formed a great second-pair with Rasmus Andersson. He set a career high in points, most coming from secondary assists, looked closer to the free-wheeling player he was in Carolina with how often he would pinch in to create better chances. His improvements on the defensive side of the game were very encouraging. The turnovers weren’t happening as often and he looked more composed with taking risks, knowing when to challenge forwards while defending entries and when to back off. It was a reminder of how good he can be when he is on his game, which was looking like every night instead of once every couple of weeks. Then the playoffs happened, where Hanifin was on the ice for 14 goals against at five-on-five in only 12 games. Sometimes that happens and Connor McDavid will make a lot of good players look bad. Aside from that, it was a successful year for the former BC Eagle with some good development in the offensive side of the game.

Rasmus Andersson

As Calgary’s team defense goes so does Rasmus Andersson. Coming off a tough year, he looked a little more comfortable in a top-four role. He was reunited with Noah Hanifin and played a little more within his means. He is at his best when he is leading the rush and using his skating to create, which we didn’t see much of when he was playing a tough-minute role. Calgary was a better team in general last year, so Andersson got to be up in the play a little more and use some of his great skilset. He is the best playmaker on the Flames blue-line, both in transition and with threading the needle to a forward in the offensive zone. It made him and Hanifin a nice backstop to the Flames top line and the ridiculous number of chances they were creating every night. It was also a reminder that a defenseman’s results can depend on the situation he’s in more than his ability. Andersson was out of his depth in a shutdown role the previous year and looked like a completely different player once Calgary’s forwards improved. It makes it tough to project him next year, as he’s not the most assertive player with killing plays in the defensive zone and his strengths are more when the play is heading north. His great hands and vision are always going to keep his ceiling relatively high, though.

Oliver Kylington

Spending most of 2020-21 on the taxi squad, Kylington got a fresh start in Calgary as Chris Tanev’s partner. While he didn’t play the minutes as some of the other top guys, he had a key role with facilitating the Flames transition game. He can skate his way out of danger very easily and play at the pace required to keep up with Gaudreau. It was a nice addition to a defense corps that was already pretty strong and a great complement to Tanev’s more defensive presence. Kylington has an explosive first stride and is always looking to jump or move the play north. Even in a high-leverage role, he played the same way he did in the minors and established himself as a solid NHLer. He might return to more of a depth role this year, as he lost ice-time to bigger defensemen like Gudbranson and Zadorov in the playoffs and it’s hard to see him beating out Weegar for a top-four spot. The forwards in front of him will also change because presumably moving away from Tanev means less minutes with the Backlund line and the team could play less on the rush in general with Gaudreau departing. Kylington should be able to crush third-pair minutes, but there’s going to be a cap on point-production due to ice-time and playing behind depth lines. It will also be interesting to see if he can gel with an AHL call-up as well as he did with Tanev.

GOALTENDING

Jacob Markström

It took him a moment to get going in Calgary – but last season, it became fairly clear that Jacob Markström had been a good gamble for the Flames when they signed him during the 2020 free agency period. He was one of the best goaltenders in the NHL last year, finishing second in Vezina voting and posting the best numbers of his entire career – not just in save percentage, but in almost every discernible category. He elevated his consistency levels, topping the .600 quality start percentage for the first time in his 12-year NHL career, and his whopping nine shutouts bested the league entirely.

There’s always a bit of worry that a goaltender on the wrong side of 30 will see some regression when they post career highs, especially when playing for a more traditional coach who doesn’t spend much time cultivating a tandem culture. That was certainly the case for Markström under head coach Darryl Sutter, who rode his starter for 63 games during the 2021-22 season – a sharp uptick after seeing the Swedish netminder operate in a completely even split in each of his two seasons prior. But the way that Markström plays suits a Darryl Sutter style, which values structure and a defense-first system over all else, and that complementary element to Markström’s game combines with an easier workload behind a Sutter system to make this less of a concern than it might be elsewhere. And given some of the workload numbers witnessed in LA back when Sutter controlled the bench during Jonathan Quick’s earlier career years, this deployment of Markström is a far more progressive approach than some might have worried they’d see from Sutter – suggesting that even an old coach can learn new tricks and Markström should find himself better able to rely upon relief should he need it. Keep an eye on how his recovery game looks as the season progresses, though; while Markström’s game tends to rely upon offensive reads and patience on his skates more than a lot of movement from his knees, he does have a tendency to freeze up sometimes when struggling and leave holes open for long enough to give snipers extra space to work with. He’s cleaned up some of his decision-making skills in the last few years, particularly last year, and his angles in the blue paint look sharper than ever. But Calgary’s window is closing fast, and they lost some valuable offense during the off-season. Markström can’t afford to take much of a step back, and if fatigue starts to set in things could snowball quickly.

Projected starts: 55-60

Dan Vladar

Boston likely doesn’t regret pulling the trigger on their move to send prospect Dan Vladar to the Calgary Flames in the summer of 2021, particularly given the success that Jeremy Swayman met with last year. But for Calgary, the move seems to be working out perfectly as well. Vladar didn’t post Calder-worthy numbers, and he certainly paled in comparison to starter Jacob Markström’s Vezina-worthy performance. But on a team that likely wasn’t going to be deploying a true tandem under head coach Darryl Sutter, Vladar was exactly what the team needed him to be – a competent backup who didn’t wow the crowds, but performanced consistently just above average and with enough reliable technique to give his team a routine chance to win the games he played in.

Vladar’s game still lacks some of the finesse and patience he’ll need to reach a more consistently elite level, but he took tremendous strides last season from a control standpoint in the blue paint. The Flames saw the 24-year-old goaltender pull his game deeper and narrow his stance more, tucking his limbs closer into his body and closing some of the gaps he had shown in coverage in years prior. He still struggles to read oncoming offensive plays with enough confidence to hold his stance, which leaves him second-guessing his positioning just enough to keep him making adjustments until the puck has already left his opponent’s stick. He’ll need to clean that up this year to prevent teams from goading him out of position, which can create a snowball effect that pushes young goaltender development back at the NHL level. Luckily, though, he already showed improvements in that area this past year; while he still made constant minute adjustments to his stance and struggled to bait shooters into coming to him, he avoided oversliding and forcing himself to recover back into saves nearly as much as he did when he first hit North America. That makes it easy to have faith that he’ll continue to improve next year, especially if Markström continues to be Calgary’s clear number one.

Projected starts: 20-25

AHL Calder Cup Playoff Preview – Western Conference

Tom Dorsa — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 14:07:47 +0000

The Calder Cup Playoffs are upon us again, and in the Western Conference, we are seeing a lot of changes from the picture painted last season. The defending conference champions, the Texas Stars, failed to make the playoffs to defend their 2018 West title as one of five teams that competed in last season's Western Conference bracket that couldn't repeat as postseason teams.

Those teams are the Stars, Manitoba Moose, Rockford IceHogs, Tucson Roadrunners, and Ontario Reign. But with old teams and players out, new teams and players come in, setting up to shine under the bright lights of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Iowa Wild, Milwaukee Admirals, San Diego Gulls, and Colorado Eagles (in their first season as an AHL team) are seeking to wreak havoc on the American Hockey League after missing out on a chance last season.

And in the case of Iowa and Colorado, this is their first postseason appearance in the history of the franchise's current setup. Fans in Des Moines and Loveland will get to see enthralling playoff hockey for the first time in the AHL.

Let's take a look at the first-round matchups in the Western Conference, as well as what to expect from the two teams in action. The playoffs begin on Wednesday, April 17.

Central Division:

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 22: Milwaukee Admirals forward Eeli Tolvanen (11) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Milwaukee Admirals and Cleveland Monsters on February 22, 2019, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Chicago Wolves (44-22-6-4) vs 4. Grand Rapids Griffins (38-27-7-4)

The Wolves have the identity of a prototypical postseason club: they are a physical and experienced unit with good goaltending and even better coaching. It helps when they also have speed, skill, and depth, with four players (Daniel Carr, T.J. Tynan, Brooks Macek, and Tomas Hyka) on the active roster registering more than 0.9 points per game.

They led the Western Conference in goals for (250) and were second in fewest goals against (199). Head coach Rocky Thompson has done a marvelous job for the Vegas Golden Knights' affiliate since taking the job in the summer of 2017, after leading the Windsor Spitfires to the Memorial Cup title.

While the Wolves have some size on their blueline with Nic Hague (4th-ranked Vegas prospect), Jake Bischoff (5th) and Griffin Reinhart (16th), they lost the bulk of their offensive contribution from their rearguards when Erik Brannstrom departed for the Senators organization in the Mark Stone trade.

Grand Rapids comes in with their own set of issues, the most notable of which is their freezing cold home stretch during which the Griffins lost their last nine games of the regular season (eight in regulation). There was no real reason for this besides a plain late-season struggle, as most of their two-way players are still with the club, and there is no lack of talent.

Regardless, the Griffins have proven twice during their seven-year stretch of playoff appearances that there is a potential championship run within them. The 2013 and 2017 Calder Cup champions have the experience and depth to make a run regardless of the poor final stretch.

The Griffins will have to limit penalties due to their division-worst 78.5% penalty kill percentage, while also playing well at five-on-five, on account of their power-play being mostly ineffective during the regular season (14.2%).

Prospects to Watch:

CHI: C Cody Glass (1st): Glass has perhaps the highest hockey IQ of any 2017 NHL Draft picks, and scored twice (with a game-high six shots on goal) in his professional debut on Friday, April 5.

CHI: G Oskar Dansk (14th): The netminder had a superb regular season (26-9-4, 2.47, .911) and looks to be the goalie of choice for Thompson and crew heading into the 2019 postseason.

GRG: RW, Filip Zadina (1st): The sixth-overall pick in last June's draft made an ambitious jump to the AHL this season, and at 18, performed well (59-16-19-35). His speed and shooting will be a big part of any possible turnaround for the Griffins this postseason.

GRG: D Joe Hicketts (11th): He isn't as noticeable as other prospects on the Grand Rapids blueline, but Hicketts had a solid 2018-19 campaign (64-3-24-27). The undersized defenseman packs a punch for the Griffins and is very patient with the puck.

Prediction: Wolves in four games.

Milwaukee Admirals (36-24-14-2) vs 3. Iowa Wild (37-26-8-5)

After missing the postseason last year, the Admirals are back with a vengeance and are looking for their first Calder Cup since 2004. The Nashville Predators' primary affiliate has done most of their winning this season on the back of youthful and speedy prospects, which is often times a key to success in the playoffs.

Four of their top-five regular season scorers were on a team's top 20 prospects list in our preseason farm system rankings (Adam Helewka, Anthony Richard, Alexandre Carrier, Eeli Tolvanen). The Admirals are spearheaded by youth and electric forechecking assertiveness, which can be a lethal combination in the playoff hockey atmosphere.

It helps when you come into the first round on a red hot winning streak. In a tight Central Division postseason race, Milwaukee went 11-0-2-1 to end their season, fighting from seventh in the Central to second-place and home-ice advantage in round one.

The Wild, on the other hand, have been carried by some savvy and experienced veterans like Cal O'Reilly, Gerald Mayhew, and Kyle Rau, as well as a dynamic goaltending duo of All-Star Kaapo Kahkonen and AHL Player of the Week Andrew Hammond. But they won't have to lean on goaltending and experience all postseason long.

Head coach Tim Army has emphasized speed and hard work in the neutral zone all year long, and systemically, the Wild seem ready for the test. In addition, the Minnesota Wild re-assigned forwards Ryan Donato, Jordan Greenway, and Luke Kunin down to Iowa after the NHL season ended in St. Paul. The trio will assist in generating that speed and scoring from the top lines, pushing nominal top six forwards into middle six roles and thus providing great depth to the offensive attack.

The most intriguing matchup to watch in this first-round series is special teams, specifically the Iowa power-play versus the Milwaukee penalty kill. The Wild posted the second-best power play percentage in the league (23.8%) in the regular season, but will line up against an Admirals' penalty kill unit that erased a Western Conference-high 85% of penalties. Army and fellow first-year head coach Karl Taylor will have their hands full of each other's high-end special teams groups in this one.

Prospects to Watch:

MIL: RW Eeli Tolvanen (1st): Though the Finn didn't have the year expected from the Nashville top prospect, Tolvanen was great down the stretch. His timely scoring and playmaking will no doubt be a factor in the playoffs.

MIL: D Alexandre Carrier (8th): His offensive output has always been there, but in his third full AHL year, the 5-11" playmaker evolved as a complete d-man. His gaps and stick-quickness have taken major strides, and in a top-four role, will be essential to any long playoff run in Milwaukee.

IA: G Kaapo Kahkonen (7th): Kahkonen has had himself a splendid first season in the North American pros, and depending on his role in the playoffs (keep Hammond in mind), he could be playing for a spot with the NHL club next season.

IA: LW Jordan Greenway (3rd): Coming off a full season with Minnesota, Greenway's presence post re-assignment has already been felt (5-3-3-6) down the stretch. A massive and skilled forward, the 22-year-old plays a playoff style of hockey.

Prediction: Admirals in five games.

Pacific Division:

Bakersfield Condors (42-21-3-2) vs 4. Colorado Eagles (36-27-4-1)

The Condors made history midway through the 2018-19 season when they stormed through a 17-game winning streak, the second-longest undefeated run in the history of the AHL. They were lifted to the summit of the Pacific Division after being outside of a postseason spot before the streak, which speaks to their depth and attitude.

First-year Condors Tyler Benson (4th) and Cooper Marody (5th) have carried the club for the better part of the season, and the two leading Bakersfield scorers are extremely dangerous on the power play, where 43 of their combined 130 points have come, helping the Condors' man-advantage operate at a division-best 20.5% clip.

The Condors will have to lean on the aforementioned duo, as what they have in top-end skill, they lack in scoring depth. Bakersfield's next-leading point scorer after Benson (66) and Marody (64) is Joe Gambardella, who is 16 points shy of the top two. Along with Josh Currie, these four are the only ones on the roster with more than 40 points this season.

The Eagles, on the other hand, needed final-weekend drama and help to clinch a postseason spot. They won their final regular season game over San Jose and saw division rival Tucson lose an hour later to grab the fourth spot in the Pacific by one point.

Late-season grinds like that can inspire a team, though, and Colorado has a solid mix of veterans and young guns to generate momentum with in its first year as an AHL franchise. AHL ringers like forward Andrew Agozzino and defenseman David Warsofsky have been leaders at their respective positions and have alleviated the pressure on the Martin Kaut and Nicolas Meloche types for high-stakes moments like this: the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

They have an elite penalty kill (84.1%), accrued after a lot of practice, as they also accumulated a Western Conference-high 1,114 penalty minutes in the regular season. The club will have to remain disciplined to have a shot in the first round, as they can ill afford to line the Condors up with power play opportunities.

Prospects to Watch:

BAK: D Caleb Jones (14th): After a frustrating rookie season in 2017-18, Jones has established himself as a top-pair fixture with much-improved two-way reliability, and still has his offensive chops ready to go.

BAK: LW Tyler Benson (4th): Plagued by injuries for much of his young career, Benson has finally stayed healthy for an extended period of time and is showing everyone just how good he is this season.

COL: RW Martin Kaut (4th): Another 19-year-old in the AHL, Kaut is highly intelligent and is due to start scoring goals after an unsustainably unlucky 9.7 shooting percentage during the season. He has been solid in all three zones this season, but the Eagles might need him to take another step up.

COL: LW A.J. Greer (18th): The former second-round draft selection had the best year of his pro career after inconsistencies before 2018-19, and his combination of physicality and smarts are a sight to behold.

Prediction: Condors in four games.

San Jose Barracuda (39-22-3-4) vs 3. San Diego Gulls (36-27-4-1)

The Barracuda have a set of advantages and disadvantages coming into their matchup with their rivals down Interstate-5 in California. One pro is their higher place in seeding, which grants home-ice rights, but a major disadvantage is their NHL parent club, the San Jose Sharks, being tied up in a playoff race.

At any time, some of the Barracuda's most important contributors can be recalled and leave the AHL team flat, such as occurred with Monday's promotion of Dylan Gambrell, the Sharks' third-ranked prospect and the 'Cuda's fourth-leading scorer. However, this club is still very skilled, especially from the blue line going forward. Nick DeSimone is one of the finest offensive defensemen in the league, and Kyle Wood is a rock in his own zone.

Unheralded forward prospects like Alexander True and Francis Perron have jumped into the spotlight this season and can provide plus value as the team's top two scorers in the regular season.

After missing the playoffs on the last night of the 2017-18 season, the Gulls cleared the playoff bubble and secured a return appearance to the postseason this spring. The club has been led by several once-valued prospects that were given up on by their previous franchises (Sam Carrick, Chase De Leo, Justin Kloos), as well as emerging home-grown prospects like Sam Steel and Troy Terry.

Either way, this team is pretty young and just as exciting. Though Terry is done for the season (non-displaced leg fracture), Steel and other top prospects like Kalle Kossila and Max Jones will have to carry the water of a rather juvenile club.

The Gulls scored the second-most goals in the division (239), are solid on special teams (20.3 PP%, 80.9 PK%), and have solid veteran goaltending with Kevin Boyle and Jeff Glass in net. This is a team without a clear, deadly weakness. They also have the same amount of wins at home as they do away from San Diego (18) which will pay off when the series shifts to Northern California.

Prospects to Watch:

SJ: LW Francis Perron (not ranked): Packaged as part of the Erik Karlsson trade, the forward has been another reason as to why the Sharks won the September transaction. On the Barracuda top line, the 22-year-old has been better than ever in the regular season.

SJ: C/LW Jayden Halbgewachs (12th): The leading scorer in the WHL last season had a major test jumping into the pros, and it all pertained to whether he will be able to score at will in the AHL, as he did in junior. While he didn't have the best regular season on offense, a big playoff run in the San Jose top-six can help his case.

SD: C Sam Steel (1st): Though Steel has not had an ideal season after making the big-league club out of training camp, he still posted solid numbers as a 21-year-old in the AHL (53-20-21-41). He can impact the game with or without the puck with his great rink sense and beautiful shot.

SD: D Josh Mahura (6th): Mahura has made monumental leaps to his defensive game after being mostly an offensive specialist in the WHL, and should pencil into the bottom-four of the San Diego postseason lineup.

Prediction: Gulls in four games.

How the Rest of the West Playoffs Will Unfold:

Western Conference Semifinals: Milwaukee Admirals over Chicago Wolves, 4-2.

Bakersfield Condors over San Diego Gulls, 4-1.

Western Conference Finals: Bakersfield Condors over Milwaukee Admirals, 4-3

AHL Pacific Report: Disparity rules, Benson and Marody explode in winning streak, trade deadline additions Dahlen, Kloos, and Petterson make impact

Tom Dorsa — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 12:43:02 +0000

The Pacific Division is the hardest division in the American Hockey League to come to conclusions upon. Out of the league's four sub-classes, the Pacific Division consists of the fewest teams, with seven, rather than the customary eight, they play the fewest games (68), and have different travel guidelines and restrictions that limit the array of teams to schedule games against.

In addition, the division features perhaps the largest disparity between the talent level of the clubs. You have a team like Bakersfield that will casually reel off a 17-game winning streak, and teams like Ontario, who have already effectively been eliminated from postseason contention with more than a dozen games left on the calendar. 26 points separate the Condors and the Reign in the standings.

However, the prospects involved still have the same job to do, and in a sense, their efforts are amplified because of the frequency of common opponents and the aspect of there being fewer games from which to impress your organization. With that, let's take a look at the Pacific Division's brightest young guns from February.

Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)

VANCOUVER, BC - SEPTEMBER 18: Edmonton Oilers center Cooper Marody (65) skates up ice during their NHL preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on September 18, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Edmonton won 4-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

The Condors are a killing machine, a club that has won 19 out of their last 21 games and are being led by a couple of top Edmonton Oilers prospects. Tyler Benson (4th in Oilers' preseason prospect rankings) and Cooper Marody (5th) are the team's two leading scorers and have been absolute dynamite over a historically hot streak.

Benson's (9-37-46) first pro season has been an exhibition on what he can do when his health cooperates, as the play-making left wing's creativity, hockey IQ, and discipline have all been on full display. The 20-year-old drives play and carries his own line with his intellect and vision and looks like a surefire middle-six NHL assist machine, even if he severely lacks a finishing touch to his team-leading shot totals (141, 6.3%).

Marody (13-30-43), since coming over from the Philadelphia Flyers last year, has had an equally impressive rookie pro season. The stocky, muscular centerman has displayed his wicked wrist shot -- while improving his hands down low in the zone and his specialty moves in one-on-one situations -- in the process of earning a short, albeit scoreless, recall to Edmonton.

The two have similar ceilings, as versatile middle-sixers. However, if I were an Oilers fan, I would be a little worried about the front office's supposed plan to let their top prospects become "overripe" in the AHL, which might stunt the development of these two forwards. They look like NHL-ready players already, especially in Marody's case, because he is already 22 years old.

San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks)

As a first-year pro who needed to prove himself capable of scoring in the pros -- something he did at will in the WHL -- Jayden Halbgewachs has to be pretty satisfied with himself this season. Despite a pretty concrete third-line role with less power play time than he probably should be getting, Halbgewachs (12th) has shown flashes of offensive brilliance at times in 2018-19.

With 26 points (10-16-26), the former Moose Jaw Warriors star has proved to be a worthy free agent signing for the Sharks organization, who inked the undrafted Halbgewachs to a contract in December of 2017. He exhibits quick hands whether passing or stickhandling, and is a very fast decision-maker, which translates well to the NHL. Though he is undersized and is not the fastest skater, his agility and technical skating skill plays up his otherwise average skating.

San Jose got a very intriguing prospect at the trade deadline in 21-year-old Swede Jonathan Dahlen, who entered his third farm system in as many years in the deal that sent him from Vancouver to the Sharks organization. Dahlen (5th in Canucks' preseason prospect rankings) has been a solid addition to the Barracuda top-six, totaling four assists in four games since the trade.

Dahlen possesses silky-smooth hands and a top-tier hockey IQ, while his improved skating speed has made him a dangerous offensive player. He could stand to shoot more, especially on the rush, but coaches love pass-first wingers who can carry their own line like this. Also, of interest, Dahlen told hockeynews.se that his offensive game was being stifled while playing for the Utica Comets, the Canucks' AHL affiliate. A change of scenery will likely suit the left-hander well going forward.

San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks)

The Gulls received some help via trade for the last fourth of the AHL schedule, in the form of former Iowa Wild forward Justin Kloos, an undrafted 25-year-old with some quiet NHL potential. What the future holds for Kloos remains to be seen, but for short-term assistance in the AHL, the Ducks got a steal.

Kloos (16th in Minnesota's preseason prospect rankings) is a hard-working middle-six checking forward with the touch and offensive senses of a depth scorer. His shot is a legitimate weapon in the attacking zone, and something he is very willing to let loose, but he also possesses solid vision and stick skills. His presence has already made a difference for the San Diego offense (1-7-8 in 11 games).

In a tight postseason race, the addition of Kloos comes at the right time, due to the absences of Sam Steel (1st), Isac Lundestrom (2nd), Troy Terry (3rd) and Max Jones (8th), all of whom made a massive mark on the Gulls' offense earlier this season. Steel, Terry, and Jones are kicking it with the lowly Ducks in the NHL, while Lundestrom plays out his assignment in Sweden.

Gulls faithful will hope Kalle Kossila (15th) can step up, as the 25-year-old center has been a near point-per-game player in the AHL this season and has what it takes to carry a line and a team, at least at the AHL level. Though his stints in the NHL to this point have been less than promising, Kossila (13-17-30) is a mature, skilled playmaker who consistently gets everyone involved in plays.

Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)

The Eagles remain a very intriguing team with their depth in scoring, and a sizable amount of that depth scoring is coming from an interesting bunch of prospects in the Avalanche system. The impressively resurgent A.J. Greer (18th) and solid rookie, 2018 first-rounder Martin Kaut (4th) are a start, but it extends beyond those two.

Defenseman Nicolas Meloche (15th), a former high second-rounder whose development path to this point has been very rocky, is back on the right track. The 6-3", 205 lb rearguard is leveraging his great size more, using his bulk to pester opposing forwards down low in his zone, and pinching more against the boards in the offensive zone.

What Meloche (6-14-20) needs to work on more is his willingness to shoot, rather than over pass (which is his fallback move). His shot can be a weapon at even strength and on the power play, and to use it more consistently and more frequently should be a point of emphasis for the 21-year-old right-hander. He isn't the most fleet-of-foot skater, though he is pretty quick for a big man, and will need to find a way to contribute offensively somehow.

Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona Coyotes)

Tucson's lineup got a facelift with the addition of former Milwaukee Admirals forward Emil Pettersson, who was acquired via trade with the Nashville Predators organization. Pettersson (13th in Nashville rankings) might be past his realistic NHL chances, but can provide a boost to a stagnant offense.

Pettersson (0-5-5 since the trade) is a smart and reliable two-way center whose hustle and competitiveness can be infectious, and a decently skilled offensive threat who appears on the power play. With the Coyotes in the thick of the playoff race in the NHL's Western Conference, it won't be now that they give the Swede a try, but his play this season could earn him a recall and an NHL debut eventually.

An under-the-radar guy with NHL specs is Michael Bunting, who is seemingly getting better by the game. Though the AHL All-Star, not ranked in our preseason Coyotes prospect rankings, lacks any skill that ranks above the average tier, he is a consistent producer and plays with a physical edge on the Roadrunners' top two lines. Bunting (11-17-28), a fourth-round selection in 2014, made his NHL debut this season, and has since played with the competitive drive and leadership qualities of a future major-league star.

Tucson's other league All-Star, Kyle Capobianco (7th), will be out for the remainder of the season with a leg injury suffered shortly after a well-deserved promotion to the NHL. The Roadrunners will miss his smooth skating, passing skills, and three-zone awareness, things that they really can't replace. Capobianco (7-25-32) had been the team's leading scorer for a good portion of the season.

Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)

This season, the Heat have been a team of redemption for a lot of players. Once high-profile prospects who flamed out under their initial draft teams, like Alan Quine (ineligible), Kerby Rychel (17th), and Curtis Lazar (ineligible) have taken refuge in the Stockton locker room, providing a veteran boost to an otherwise pretty young team.

The Flames system doesn't quite benefit from the presence of this type of player, though. For example, Lazar was summoned by the parent club in mid-February but has yet to appear in a game. Calgary and Stockton alike must see contributions from their top prospects before anyone else.

Guys such as Dillon Dube, for instance. Dube (2nd) has been dynamite for the Heat since being assigned by the Flames after being held to just five points in 23 NHL games. The two-time World Junior Championship competitor for Canada has improving rink sense that are helping him round out an otherwise electric offensive game that features above average ranks in shot tools, energy/hustle, puck skills, and acceleration/footwork.

Matthew Phillips (6th) has proven, despite his 5-7" size and how he fell to the sixth round of the 2016 draft, that he can be a pro-caliber player with the right opportunity. Having torn up the WHL with Victoria for four seasons, his last a 112-point campaign, his offensive skills are obvious.

He is a quick, head-down skater with lightning-like top speed and sick hands, especially in tight. His shot is as fast as that of someone six inches taller and has been used on the power play as a legitimate weapon in the slot. Phillips (11-18-29) is an absolute pest on and off the puck in all three zones, as well. He will probably need another year to develop, but his size and skillset, from a style standpoint, make him kind of like a Diet Johnny Gaudreau.

Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)

A quick stick tap for defenseman Matt Roy. The first time I took his game in, I didn't think anything of him, but he kept improving and become a leader -- on and off the ice -- of a thin Ontario team, and earned a recall to Los Angeles, where he has spent the last ten games. Roy (not ranked), a right-handed Michigan Tech alum, is a true shutdown defenseman whose stick positioning, physicality down low, and shot-blocking, make him a penalty kill staple anywhere he goes.

The 24-year-old started the season behind guys like Alex Lintuniemi (16th) and Sean Walker (20th) on the depth chart, as well as on the pecking order for potential NHL promotion/staying power. Roy (8-21-29) has arguably surpassed both of them.

Another person who has impressed greatly in spite of the circumstances is rookie winger Carl Grundstrom, who was acquired by the Kings in a late-January trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs that sent Jake Muzzin to The Six. Grundstrom (4th in Toronto's preseason prospect rankings) is a rugged but speedy forward with excellent hands and purposeful passing, earning a recent recall to the NHL with that versatile skillset and overall creativity.

Grundstrom (3-7-10) is only 21 and will assist the rebuilding Kings in getting back to the top of the mountain. L.A.'s farm system was ranked 16th out of 31 in our preseason farm system rankings, and the middling prospect core became significantly better with the presence of Grundstrom.

Colorado Avalanche Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:15:11 +0000

The Colorado Avalanche are in a pretty unusual position right now. They do not possess the depth of scoring and blue line talent to make consistent postseason runs, but their surprising qualification for the 2018 playoffs, behind former Calder Trophy winner and league-MVP finalist Nathan MacKinnon, indicates that Colorado has the young talent necessary for contention.

A look at their prospect system says otherwise. With their former top prospects such as MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen already up and contributing greatly to the NHL club, the system does not have the same depth as it should. Combine that with some boneheaded trades (to be fair, some really good ones, we'll get to that) like throwing prospects away for late-season rentals, as well as poor late-round drafting, and no prospect pool will remain deep for long.

What the Avalanche have is one top-pair defense prospect with superstar potential, that being Cale Makar, then a massive crop of guys with role-player ceilings, then a complete bag of unknowns following up. It might be a positive to not have many Grade A stars on the club for financial reasons, but for pure talent and success reasons, it's a flat tire.

Luckily for the Avalanche, general manager Joe Sakic can act with impunity as a fan favorite, making trades and signings at his liking. Sometimes these deals work out very well, such as the Sven Andrighetto and Samuel Girard acquisitions, the Tyson Jost draft pick, or the Alex Kerfoot signing, transactions that made instant impacts on the club. Sakic has some experience in completely turning the franchise around and looks to do the same here.

Another thing that will help mightily is the expansion of the American Hockey League from 30 teams to 31, meaning the Avs return to manning their own farm affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, rather than sharing the San Antonio Rampage roster with St. Louis.

Though Makar, their top prospect, is still outside of the pro system for now, guys like second-ranked Conor Timmins and third-ranked Vladislav Kamenev will not have to worry about ice time or coaching disputes as Colorado receives the AHL expansion franchise. The development of guys like A.J. Greer and Nicolas Meloche were directly affected by the shared franchise in San Antonio.

If the Avalanche want to prove that 2017-18 was no fluke, and that they are ready to be regular postseason contenders, these are the guys that will have to help.

Cale Makar

1 Cale Makar, D (4th overall, 2017. Last year: 1st) Some scouts say Cale Makar could have gone first overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, and with his skillset, it is difficult to disagree. He made headlines a few month ago by electing to remain with UMASS-Amherst as a sophomore this season, rather than joining the Avalanche pro ranks, but fans in Denver will keep an eye on the highly-coveted defenseman nonetheless. Combining blazing wheels, insane vision, and a right-handed shot will make for an instant NHL-caliber blueliner, but Makar is much more, and has been the most purely skilled player on every team, and at every level, he has played on. He is a shifty, elusive skater with unbelievable raw skating power, coupling his mobility with dynamic offensive skills such as his swift, deceptive hands, nifty stutter-steps and dekes, and the occasional fake pass or shot that sends opposing defenders skating in circles. There really isn't much for him to improve upon, and he could hold his own in the NHL right now. He is a smart player who allows plays to develop with his ever-improving hockey sense and does not often force bad puck plays going up the ice, and is surprisingly physical for a 5-11" defender.

2 Conor Timmins, D (32nd overall, 2017. Last year: 3rd) He does not possess the same superstar ceiling as Makar, but the next best prospect defenseman in the Avs’ system is arguably a safer bet to be a consistent NHL contributor. The first pick in 2017's second round, Timmins outplayed 2018 first-rounder Rasmus Sandin on the blueline of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, posting a 0.87 points per game mark (36 in 41 games). For a player drafted so high on account of his sturdiness and responsibility, his offensive output is pretty solid. A very versatile defenseman, Timmins skates well with his athleticism being a driving force, has solid vision that makes for good first stretch passes, and has sneakily great shooting abilities; he can bomb them from the blueline, but also slide down into the play to find an open lane and score. His only issue at this juncture is patience and decisiveness with the puck, but at 19-years-old, he is about as complete as any defensive prospect in hockey. He is set to make the transition to the AHL this season.

3 Vladislav Kamenev, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017 [Nashville]. Last year: 3rd [Nashville]) The Matt Duchene trade continues to look better for Colorado as time elapses. Though Vladislav Kamenev has had a rough go at it in his short NHL time, including a broken arm in his Avalanche debut, his potential is another part of a clear winning trade for Joe Sakic and crew. After putting up near a point per game in his third AHL season, this one with Milwaukee (NSH) and San Antonio (COL), Kamenev cracked the Avs lineup sortly after the trade, indicating a sense of confidence from the coaching staff. A very smart, reliable center, the Russian former second-rounder is often used to protect late leads and kill penalties, something his skillset could allow him to do regularly at the NHL level. He is a solid skater with above average speed and good balance, and has the puck skills to generate scoring chances even when he can't beat a defender with his wheels. With good pure size (6-2", 194 lbs), it is more than likely that he will become a better player with the puck as he gets more NHL time. He is expected to compete for a roster spot in training camp.

4 Martin Kaut, RW (16th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Martin Kaut is a very intriguing prospect. Without looking at his gameplay traits, he can impress just on account of the fact that he played alongside first-rounders Martin Necas and Filip Zadina at the WJC and was constantly developing plays and setting those two up, which is not easy to do at that level. He was also playing at the highest level of Czech hockey at 17 and 18 years old, impressing many along the way, racking up nine goals and seven assists in 38 games there last season. It is on account of that proven performance level that the Avalanche used their first-round pick on the young winger, as his maturity and hockey IQ are unmatched when considering his age and competition level. He is not a very good skater, though he is technically sound and has enough quickness to his feet to keep up with faster skaters. His biggest asset is the mental side of his game, as he processes things at a lightning fast pace and rarely makes a bad decision, coupling that with his effort on defense, where his promise really comes to light in coverage and on the backcheck. He may not be the most dynamic player, but there is a lot to like about Kaut, whose smarts project him as a middle-six winger at the highest level.

Shane Bowers

5 Shane Bowers, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017 [Ottawa]. Last year: 4th [Ottawa]) A power forward acquired from the trade that netted Duchene and Kamanev, Shane Bowers saw no drop in productivity this season as he made the jump from the USHL to the NCAA, scoring 17 goals and adding 15 assists with Boston University as a freshman. A former late first-rounder was one of a few impact prospects acquired from the Duchene trade, he might have the highest ceiling of the pack if he can round his game out. A strong and powerful skater despite of average size (6-0", 178 lbs), Bowers heads right to the net with the puck on his stick, and displays deft balance when making his way to the goal which makes him a handful for opponents. He has some intriguing, wonderful creativity and the hockey IQ to light a match on it all, making scintillating puck plays with ease. He is also dependable in his own end, and very physical when the task calls for it, but plays mostly a clean game (14 PIM in 41 games last season). There is a lot of risk/reward with Bowers, such as how his power forward game will translate to the bigger, faster NHL and how he can produce with a merely average shooting ability, but his ceiling makes him one of the most interesting prospects in the system.

6 Sampo Ranta, RW (78th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) The Sioux City Musketeers triggerman racked up 23 goals and 14 assists in as a second-year player in the USHL, finishing second in points on a team thin on dynamic talent. An easy comparison for Ranta would be Nashville prospect Eeli Tolvanen, given their shared native land and USHL club, but stylistically, there are not far off, as Ranta raises eyebrows with his shot and skating over anything else. Used as a power-play shooter, he showed off the blazing slap shot he possesses often with the Musketeers, although he was not solely a shooter, as his agility, edgework, and speedy momentum allowed him to weave through traffic and find open teammates for scoring chances. He is also a fairly reliable two-way player, one whose effort on backchecks and defensive zone coverage is pretty impressive. Ranta has pure skills, but whether he is a good, NHL-caliber player or just the best player on a bad junior team is the biggest question going forward.

7 Tyler Weiss, LW (109th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) An extremely lightweight winger, Tyler Weiss fell to round four of the most recent draft with concerns about his physical stature and whether he has the inherent skills to overcome it. The Raleigh, North Carolina native has one thing that skill or physicality cannot match, that being pure determination and drive, an attribute that helps him constantly improve in ways that keep turning heads. With the U.S. National Team Development Program, he chipped in 12 goals, 19 assists, and 31 points in mostly a bottom-six role, and now he goes to a system that has made use out of smaller, lighter guys like Samuel Girard and Sven Andrighetto. Weiss is a very quick skater with loads of agility and a certain elusiveness that comes with undersized forwards, using his quick acceleration and short, rapid strides to weave through defenders and enter the offensive zone without a challenge. He does not have much weight behind his shot, but carries more playmaking skills than goal-scoring attributes anyway. He plays with a very scrappy, push-and-shove game away from the puck, and brings an infectious energy to the bench. Colorado can see how his game, despite his diminutive stature, can translate to more physical levels as he plays with Nebraska-Omaha this season.

8 Justus Annunen, G (64th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Easily the top goaltender in the Finnish junior ranks last season, Justus Annunen shot up draft boards with his mix of size, athleticism, and foot movement, hearing his name called in the early third round in June. At 6-4" and 215 lbs, he utilized his big frame to put up a 2.31 GAA, .907 Sv%, and even better numbers in 14 postseason games (1.83, .935%). In addition, he backstopped the gold medal-winning Finland squad at the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka tournament, and joins Liiga powerhouse Karpat next season at just 18 years old. His lateral movement is that of a goaltender four inches shorter, and that combination of size and agility in the blue paint is lethal for the young netminder. He has good play-reading abilities and maintains a solid post-to-post presence, with the most additional work needed being cutting down tricky angles and reading cross-ice passes with more urgency. Annunen enters a system with some underwhelming goaltending prospects and has a chance to solidify himself as the Avalanche's goalie of the future.

9 Cameron Morrison, LW (40th overall, 2016. Last year: 8th) Formerly named the USHL Rookie of the Year, Cameron Morrison has had an inconsistent, but at times promising, transition to the competition level and pace of NCAA hockey. He was over a point-per-game for a below-average Youngstown team in 2015-16, but has yet to eclipse 25 points in either of his two seasons at Notre Dame. With that being said, it is clear that Morrison is getting increasingly comfortable with making plays happen with his immense skill, working hard to do what he does best: getting inside position on opposing defenders and driving to the net. His speed and mechanics are not up to speed, but with scary size (6-3", 212 lbs), he can execute a power forward game from the wing and generate chances with his adept ability to shield the puck from defenders. A decently agile winger, he is effective on the forecheck and can help defensively at times, but defense is not a strength. The former second-rounder needs to be more consistent in creating offense to become an NHL-caliber player, but as with most college players, he remains a long-term project who is still relatively early in his development.

Nick Henry

10 Nick Henry, RW (94th overall, 2017. Last year: 11th) At first glance, one scary thought about Nick Henry is that his offensive numbers in his draft year came as a byproduct of a stacked Regina Pats team that dominated the WHL. This year was more a struggle, as he tallied only 29 points in 53 games. However, in fairness, he was recovering from a shoulder surgery conducted the prior summer, and simply started out slow; as soon as he felt 100%, he rocketed up again, scoring a hat trick in the playoffs against the eventual league champs from Swift Current. Henry possesses raw skill, headlined by a heavy, quick-release wrist shot capable of routinely fooling opposing goaltenders. With average skating speed, he does not carry the puck up much (not uncommon for any linemate of the great Sam Steel), but exhibits splendid hand-eye coordination, offensive creativity, and good hands when he does. The true test for Henry's real, sustainable game will be an eventual foray into the pro ranks, but as he only cost Colorado a fourth-round pick, they have time to wait.

11 Ryan Graves, D (Trade: Feb. 26, 2017 [New York Rangers]. Last year: 6th [New York Rangers]) Unfortunately for Ryan Graves, a very serviceable defender in his own right, Avalanche executives and fans will view him as the consolation for trading the disappointing Chris Bigras, a former high second-rounder whose development in the pros floundered and necessitated a trade away. Nonetheless, Graves offers a reason to remain optimistic, because at 6-4" and 225, there are quality aspects of his game around which to build. He is not a fast skater, but adapted to a playing style in the AHL that masks his flaws and allows him to be effective everywhere else, most notably in physical battles around the boards, stretch passes up the ice, and thunderous slap shots from the point. If any NHL success is to be achieved, the Avalanche will have to pair him with a more mobile, agile defenseman, but it is possible he finds a way to contribute in a supplemental, third-pair role.

12 Spencer Martin, G (63rd overall, 2013. Last year: 16th) Spencer Martin's 2017-18 season was less than ideal, but not exactly his fault. Colorado's AHL affiliate was actually a shared enterprise, with AHL expansion trailing the NHL’s version by 12 months, forcing the Avs and Blues to coexist as San Antonio's NHL parent clubs. With this, Martin got considerably less time than a denoted "goaltender of the future" should, battling with Blues' prospect Ville Husso for time in net. He did decently for a non-playoff team, nonetheless, but not NHL-caliber goalie numbers, going 14-15-0 with a 3.10 GAA and .893 Sv%. He has raw talent boasts extreme calmness under pressure that allows him to make easy -- and difficult -- saves at all times and in all positions. Fairly aggressive in his crease, playing up his big frame by challenging shooters into harder shot angles. Martin projects to be a backup at the NHL level, but still a useful one.

13 Denis Smirnov, RW (156th overall, 2017. Last year: 17th) Drafted as a 19-year-old overager in 2017, Denis Smirnov impressed the Avalanche brass into a draft position by racking up 47 points in 39 games as a freshman at Penn State. Smirnov, a Russian who has played in North American since his age-14 season, was a sneakily skilled scorer at the USHL ranks with Fargo before transitioning to the NCAA, putting to good use an advantage that many prospects from overseas do not have: a preexisting acclimation to smaller North American ice. He produces a lot of offense from the boards and the perimeter of the zone, using his slick hands to escape defenders and pass or exhibiting great assertiveness to fire a confident shot away from some distance. However, he is not a very fast skater at top speed and seems to be a non-factor when he isn't on his game offensively.

14 Ty Lewis, LW (Free Agent Signing: Oct. 3, 2017. Last year: IE) An undrafted, unsigned invite to Avalanche training camp before the 2017-18 season, Ty Lewis showed up ready to compete, and quickly earned himself an ELC with the team. In hindsight, it looks to be a stellar stealth signing from Sakic and company, as the 20-year-old led WHL Brandon in points last season as one of only nine WHLers to reach the 100-point plateau (44 goals, 56 assists). With a dangerous mix of speed, skill, and a nose for the net, he was a pivotal weapon both on and off the puck. When he carried the rubber, he showed his innate ability to either find the open man and drive to the goal to be fed a net-front return or create his own chance. Off the puck, his positioning led to an assortment of easy tap-ins. With the AHL team, Lewis will need to prove his game can transition to the pros, while working on his flawed two-way game.

Nicolas Meloche

15 Nicolas Meloche, D (40th overall, 2015. Last year: 6th) Nicolas Meloche dropped nine spots from last year's prospect rankings to this year's, an indictment of the slow pace of his development. He was generally a liability on the Rampage blueline in what was his first pro year, one supposed to be a highly-anticipated transition to the professional leagues. Instead, he suffered the occasional mid-game benching, healthy scratch, and even an ECHL assignment. Meloche had trouble adjusting to the pace and skill of the AHL, a fact you can blame somewhat on a team thin on the blueline. He still has some raw talent and fine upside as a 6-3", right-handed defenseman who can skate, with superb mobility, a fast, hard shot, and a cool, calm demeanor. An efficient two-way defenseman in the QMJHL ranks, that remains his NHL ceiling, and his late-season performances (five points in final eight games, top-four minutes, power-play time) inspire confidence going down the road.

16 Igor Shvyrev, C (125th overall, 2017. Last year: 15th) Igor Shvyrev is an international man of mystery, but every NHL prospect system needs a resident enigma. Shvyrev embodies that role perfectly; a versatile, extraordinarily-skilled centerman whose numbers in the Russian minor leagues scream future NHL stalwart at times, with 70 points (21 goals, 49 assists) in just 40 games in 2016-17, but he has not been able to stick in the KHL, having just one goal in 42 games at the higher level. So why would the Avs sign the Russian center to an ELC? The simple fact that Shvyrev was playing center in the KHL at 18 and 19, reliably so in the bottom lines for Metallurg Magnitogorsk, is a good sign. Elsewhere, he has a dynamic skillset headlined by swift hands, great vision, a responsible defensive game, and a heavy shot; with some seasoning in the AHL, the 20-year-old could be NHL ready in short order.

17 Scott Kosmachuk, RW (UFA: Jul. 2, 2018. Last year: IE) A third-round pick six years ago and an OHL champion four years prior, Kosmachuk has returned to prospect prominence. After a great season with the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, he was offered a two-way contract with the Avalanche and will bring with him to Colorado the offensive tools that first made him attractive to NHL teams as a teen. Scouted mostly as an industrious depth winger, Kosmachuk played as a first-liner and at times, completely shouldered the load for the Wolf Pack offense, using his net-front drive, high end shot, and tenacious physicality to become a pain in the neck for opposing defenses. He is a very dangerous at top speed, with tricky agility that is capable of dangling around defenders, despite not being an overly fast skater. If he produces with the Eagles like he did with the Wolf Pack, an NHL recall could be imminent.

18 A.J. Greer, RW (39th overall, 2015. Last year: 7th) Like Meloche, A.J. Greer is someone who dropped considerably from last season's rankings, mainly because of the same issue; inconsistency and the overall inability to reach their game's competitive ceiling. Greer does not have the same offensive chops as Meloche or his other peers, but the Rampage forward netted eight goals and five assists in 35 games with SA and earned the first somewhat long-term recall of his career, playing 17 games with the Avalanche. As a 21-year-old draftee of 2015, you can consider that development timeline normal and timely, but no actual development occurred because he plays such a simple, prototypical bottom-six game. He is effective when he hustles and is very physical on the forecheck, capable of securing loose pucks and scoring some tough, clutch goals thanks to rugged net-front tenacity, but very one-dimensional. He could compete for a roster spot with the Avs this season.

19 Danila Zhuravlyov, D (146th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Definitely a long-term project, but potentially a steal, young Russian defenseman Danila Zhuravlyov displayed a pretty promising two-way game for Russian minor-league club Irbis Kazan (nine goals, nine assists in 28 assists) and for Russia at the World Under-18s (five assists in five games). He is underdeveloped physically, but he has great straight-line speed and acceleration, using those skills to push the puck up ice with frequency. He is not afraid to let the puck fly from the point (his nine goals last season should tell you that) and has a good slap shot to boot. He is an effective defenseman in his own zone despite the lack of size, with tight gap control and attentive coverage within his zone.

20 Sheldon Dries, C (UDFA: Jul. 2, 2018. Last year: IE) After playing as an AHL-contracted rookie with the Texas Stars, Sheldon Dries inked an entry-level deal with the Avalanche in free agency, his first NHL contract. The undrafted center lit the Stars' AHL affiliate up with 19 goals and 11 assists in the regular season, followed by a team-high ten goals on their way to the Calder Cup Final. He is a high-energy guy, one that plays a middle-six role in the AHL while competing on the penalty kill, power play, and defending late leads. A Swiss army knife in Texas' lineup last season, Dries scored the bulk of his goals by driving into the offensive zone with his blazing skating speed and letting it rip with heavy, accurate wrist shots from the slot or around the faceoff circles, putting more power in his wrist shot than his 5-9" frame suggests is possible. Of course, that lack of height is what has held the center back before, but the 24 year-old can be considered a legitimate prospect on account of his maturity, experience, and versatility.

AHL: Nicolas Meloche (San Antonio – Colorado)

Tom Dorsa — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 11:23:07 +0000

A second round pick in the 2015 draft, Nicolas Meloche is a good skater at 6'3, 205 pounds, but defensive deficiencies hold back a promising game. Tom Dorsa 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 Meloche	2015 Draft (40th - Colorado Avalanche)
Position D, Shoots R	H/W: 6-3", 205 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-P-PIM)	San Antonio Rampage, AHL (45-4-6-10-48)
	Colorado Eagles, ECHL (5-1-0-1-0)

Skating: Meloche is a good skater for a guy his size. Very quick on his feet, two-step acceleration is sound, and fast top speed. Not the best backwards skater, but has improved since his time in the QMJHL at keeping his momentum up when shifting from forwards to backwards and back. Very tight turns as he is light on his feet for a 6-3" defenseman, he leans far and wide when he turns, which is generally a good sign for keeping momentum and speed when pivoting. Moves laterally well and has the wheels to catch up to forwards. Grade: 55.

Shot: Meloche possesses a very clean, accurate wrist shot. A quick delivery with little shot depth, as he tends to keep the puck right next to his feet or in front of him when he shoots wristers. His slap shot is impressive, as his condensed windup provides lots of velocity, and he can pick corners with it too. Likes to shot often, taking lots of one-timers with his solid, fast delivery. Not great at shooting through traffic, but good at changing the speed and angle of his shots. Will not be a power-play stop and pop guy, but has a serviceable shot. Grade: 50.

Skills: Meloche’s skills are obvious. Pretty quick hands and tons of sleight of hand moves get past opposing defenders with ease, and when he cannot move right past an opponent, he has a variety of sufficient passes on both sides of his stick. He is very crafty with the puck, finding moves and passes that other d-men on the Rampage cannot even think of doing. He needs to learn to protect the puck a little better, especially as an offensive, roaming defenseman, but overall, he is a highly-skilled blueliner that seems to generate more shots that he allows the other way when on the ice. Grade: 55

Smarts: Meloche is a very calm defenseman who makes simple plays when he needs, and uses his great offensive vision and instincts to effectively make more complex and risky plays. Uses his stick well to block shots, passes, and deter the momentum of opposing forwards on zone entries against. While he is gifted in terms of his offensive intelligence, his defensive game is nonchalant and below-average at best. His effort level in his own zone needs a lot of work, as he does not play his assignments tightly and his gap control lacks severely. A puck-watcher to every degree, he is often left flat-footed in his own zone. If he can use his offensive smarts and translate those to his defensive zone game, the Canadian will be a solid two-way force, but a lot of refinement in his defensive game is needed to be considered NHL caliber. Grade: 40.

Physicality: Meloche is a pretty physical player. He hits pretty often, as he likes to rely on his strength and size over anything else. He battles for position around and behind the net, and he usually wins puck battles by forcing his back and shoulders into the opponent. Establishes position near is goalie on the penalty kill well by shoving opposing forwards out of the crease, and pinches to keep pucks in the offensive zone well by pinning his lanky, straight body against the glass. All in all, Meloche is a big-bodied player who is not overwhelmingly physical, but he definitely uses his size to his advantage. Grade: 50.

Summary: Nicolas Meloche is the very definition of a "raw talent." His offensive instincts and skills are very promising, and his confident and serviceable shot, coupled with his good skating make for a unique offensive-defenseman weapon on the San Antonio roster. His only flaw is a glaring one, as Meloche is downright awful in his own zone, and has not shown any signs of improvement since his initial foray into the pros from the QMJHL. He needs to better assert himself behind his own blueline with tighter gaps, more defensive effort, better team-first decisions, and by keeping his feet moving rather than being flat-footed all the time. It is for this reason that Meloche, formerly a second-round pick who was gushed over for his potential, has found himself in the ECHL at times this year. If he can round out his game, he could be a 30-35 point defenseman for the Avalanche in the near future.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 49

Colorado – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:46:50 +0000

There are three primary reasons why some teams have weak systems. The best reason is that they had drafted so well that all of their good prospects have already made the NHL, or were traded for NHL talent. If we use our cutoff birthdate for prospect eligibility (Sep. 15, 1991), without regard for NHL experience, we can clearly see that the Avalanche fit this criteria. Regular young NHL contributors include Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Nieto, Mikko Rantanen, Sven Andrighetto, and Nail Yakupov. Most teams have a few young contributors, but the Avalanche crew is particularly deep and high end.

The other two reasons are not very complimentary, and unfortunately for the Avalanche, they meet those criteria as well. The more common of the two remaining criteria is that the team drafts poorly. Some might object to saying that the Avs have a rough history at the draft table, especially considering the names above, three of whom were Colorado first rounders. In fairness to Colorado, they have not missed on too many of their top picks. Outside of the aforementioned MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen, the top of their prospect list this year features their last two first rounders, Cale Makar and Tyson Jost, both of whom are exciting talents that would rest near the top of most team lists.

The problem for Colorado has been that once the first round has ended, they have not had very much success at all. Further, not all first rounders have turned out. To the former point, of the six players listed in the first paragraph, three were to ten picks by the Avalanche, and the other three were acquired through trade or free agency. Since the 2010 draft, the only player picked by Colorado after the first round who has a full 50 NHL games under his belt has been Joseph Blandisi. Embarrassingly for the franchise, they did not even sign Blandisi, a 2012 sixth rounder, who has made his NHL mark as a member of the New Jersey Devils. There are many non-first rounders in their top 20 now (which should be obvious), but very few of whom it could be said have improved their prospect stock measurably since being drafted.

To the latter point, I present to you one Duncan Siemens as Exhibit A, and Connor Bleackley as Exhibit B. Siemens, drafted 11th overall in 2011, has a mere four games of NHL experience. He s big, strong, and can skate a bit, but has zero offensive skill whatsoever and handles the puck as though he is allergic to it. He is lucky to make the top 20 here and would miss out altogether with most other franchises Bleackley was so disappointing to the Avs, that they did not even offer him a contract, trading his rights as part of the ill begotten Mikkel Boedker trade. He is now in the St. Louis system. If a few of the players ranked here pan out, we could begin to forget the team’s years in the scouting wilderness.

The final reason, one that is thankfully rare, is that the team fails to come to terms with a good prospect before losing his rights. There are often one or two examples of this every year. Think about Mike Reilly abandoning Columbus to sign with Minnesota, or Jimmy Vesey ignoring Nashville/Buffalo to sign with the Rangers. This year, the most prominent collegian who elected to walk away from the team that drafted him is Will Butcher, a 5th round pick from 2013 who has had a brilliant career with the University of Denver, winning both an NCAA championship and the prestigious Hobey Baker Award as a senior. A highly skilled puck moving blueliner, Butcher made it known in July that he would be exploring free agency once his player rights with Colorado expire on August 15. And for those wondering, (Kerfoot + Toninato) =/= Butcher.

With these three strikes against them, what the Avalanche are left with heading into the 2017-18 season is a system with two true top prospects at the top, a steep dropoff to the next six players, all of whom have some promise, but lack clarity on what their eventual NHL upside might be. After that group of eight, there is another, even steeper drop to round out the top twenty. The last 12 players are those for whom we project either upsides as role players in the NHL, or are those with some intriguing upside, but so much uncertainty that we would not even guarantee an NHL career at all. That list looks like this:

Cale Makar for the Brooks Bandits. Photos byEmily Duncan / Brooks Bandits

1 Cale Makar – One of, if not the, preeminent offensive defenseman prospects in the game. Exploded with Brooks of the AJHL this year and was almost always the top player on the ice at every level he played (regular season, playoffs, RBC Cup, WJAC). Skating, shot and puck skills all rate as high end. His time with the UMass Minutemen should be brief. He has superstar potential.

Colorado Avalanche center Tyson Jost (27) (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire)

2 Tyson Jost – A top two center in the making, he acclimated seamlessly from the BCHL to NCAA’s defending champs with North Dakota. His hands are elite and his offensive instincts are tremendous. Came up to Colorado for a late season cameo, scoring his first NHL goal in six games. Was a key contributor on Canada’s Silver-medal winning WJC entry and was named to the NCAA All-Rookie first team.

Conor Timmins of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

3 Conor Timmins – Although Timmins lack the upside of Makar or Jost, the first pick of the 2017 second round has a little bit of everything. Only a few days too young to be a 2016 draft eligible player, he showed the ability to be a #1 at the OHL level, with enough in his puck moving and decision making that a second pairing role at the highest level is a reasonable outcome.

4 J.T. Compher – In his first year out of the University of Michigan, Compher’s ability to produce at a strong level stayed with him as a rookie pro. With a nice blend of skating, vision and physicality, he projects as a solid middle six forward with admirable versatility.

5 Chris Bigras – After falling four games short of graduating as a prospect in 2015-16, injuries prevented Bigras from continuing his NHL career last year. When healthy, he still looks like he has NHL potential, although the chances that he can settle in as more than a good #5 are dwindling. With the Colorado blueline weak, this may be his last big chance to solidify his standing with the organization.

6 Nicolas Meloche – A mean player with some offensive potential, but skating concerns, Meloche needs to improve his turning ability to reach his potential as a player who can take on tough shifts on the blueline.

7 A.J. Greer – Similar to Meloche, but as a forward. Effective when he hustles, his lack of creativity, or patience with the puck will limit his offensive potential, but he is smart and physical enough to carve out a bottom six role.

8 Cameron Morrison – Still early in his development, Morrison had a solid, if not overpowering, freshman season with Notre Dame last year. Struggled at times with the step up to NCAA competition, but still able to show offensive flashes.

9 Alexander Kerfoot – A late acquisition as an NCAA free agent, Kerfoot was originally a fifth round pick of New Jersey’s who, like former college teammate Jimmy Vesey, chose free agency. He has very good straight-ahead speed in addition to impressive agility. Although he found twine more often as a senior, he is primarily a playmaker, with soft hands and good offensive vision.

10 Jean-Christophe Beaudin – Ready to turn pro after three strong years with Rouyn-Noranda. Beaudin’s speed will be a limiting factor, but he has an otherwise well-rounded offensive game and plays with energy and guile. Needs at least two years in the AHL.

Nick Henry, photo by Keith Hershmiller

11 Nick Henry – A strong secondary scorer in his draft year with a powerhouse Regina team in the WHL, the overall skillset leaves a number of questions about how much of his impressive point production was his own doing and how much the work of more experienced teammates. At the price of a fourth round pick, it was worth Colorado’s time to find out.

12 Dominic Toninato – Signed by Colorado as a free agent after he could not come to terms with Toronto, Toninato brings a physical, intelligent, and responsible game to the Avalanche. Not the fastest skater, he nonetheless has close-area quickness and is very hard to handle along the boards. He is not far from a bottom six NHL role.

13 Anton Lindholm – Former fifth round pick made his NHL debut and will be in the hunt for a spot on the Colorado blueline this year. There is little exciting about his game, and is very undersized, but he has a tendency to put himself in the right spot to push play in the right direction. Very low upside, but near ready.

14 Andrei Mironov – A beefy defensive defenseman who will have more of an impact through his physical game than anything he does with the puck. Finally moving to North America after nearly 200 games in the KHL.

15 Igor Shvyrov – to quote our Russian analyst, Shvyrov has “violinist hands”. He can skate, has good size and his production in the Russian junior leagues was incredible last year, but he tends to avoid physical play and can disappear in his own zone. Expected to play in the KHL this year.

16 Spencer Martin – Has long been a workhorse starter, but never on a decent team, even in the OHL. How much of that is his doing? Very good puck player for a netminder. If he can maintain level of play with a more even timeshare, he could profile as a future NHL backup.

17 Denis Smirnov – Similar in some ways to Shvyrov, Smirnov has played in North America since he was 14 and scores everywhere he goes. Scored 47 points in 39 points as a freshman for Penn State. The main drawback is that his best work comes from the perimeter. Needs to show he can produce, despite a slight frame, against tighter defenses.

18 Felix Girard – A high energy defensive forward. His upside is a fourth line, penalty killing center in the NHL. His downside is a middle six forward in the AHL.

19 Duncan Siemens – Among the worst draft picks of the last ten years. Tough and does OK in his own end, both he and his teammates and coaches know that it would be to everyone’s benefit if the puck stays clear of his stick.

20 Josh Anderson – Big beefy defender who has 21 total points across three seasons patrolling the blueline for Prince George. The Avalanche seem to like this type of player, but they rarely pan out.

After spending so many non-first round draft picks on similar style players – big, offensively challenged defensemen and two-way forwards with limited production potential, it is heartening to see the Avalanche use more picks on players with an offensive bent to their game in the past two years, including Morrison, Smirnov, Shvyrov, and Henry. This assessment, of course, does not consider the expected near future contributions of Makar and Jost, both of whom are expected to be key pieces of the next competing Colorado team.

That said, if the few guys in the system who project as middle six forwards (Compher, Morrison, Beaudin) do not pan out, the team will have a very hard time producing offense outside of the top line players. Similarly, outside of Timmins and Makar there is no one in the system who projects as more than blueline depth, and not in the power-play specialist role either. Goaltending may be the weakest spot of all. Last year’s backup, Calvin Pickard, was lost in the expansion draft and starter Semyon Varlamov had an injury-plagued down year. Spencer Martin is the only goalie in the system who can reasonably be expected to play some in the NHL, but is most likely a backup. They have drafted a few additional netminders in the past two drafts (Adam Werner, Maximilian Prajpach and Petr Kvaca), but all are viewed as lottery tickets at this time.

If nothing else, this system is proof that hitting on your first rounders is never going to be enough to build a competitive NHL lineup.

2015 NHL Draft Guide: Top 5 Body Checkers

Grant McCagg — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:09:00 +0000

Best bodychecker

A 6-4 210-pound forward barreling down on OHL defencemen at an alarmingly fast rate to deliver a massive hit brings back visions of another OHL bone crusher from days gone by. "You are reminded of Lindros physically with that speed, size and ultimately, hitting ability," said one scout in describing Lawson Crouse. "He can be a physical force."

Meier is one of the stockiest players in the draft, and he uses that girth to run through people with or without the puck. Siegenthaler is no Swiss Miss...the big blueliner will step up to deliver the big hit when he sees the opportunities. Meloche was one of the more willing bodycheckers in the CHL as a 17-year-old. Provorov makes the big hits at the right times with great timing and core strength.

1. Lawson Crouse

2. Timo Meier

3. Jonas Siegenthaler

4. Nicolas Meloche

5. Ivan Provorov

2015 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Top 120 Rankings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2015 NHL Draft – Top 20 QMJHL Prospects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nicolas Meloche – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CALGARY FLAMES – NHL Player Profiles

FORWARDS

DEFENSE

GOALTENDING

AHL Calder Cup Playoff Preview – Western Conference

Central Division:

Chicago Wolves (44-22-6-4) vs 4. Grand Rapids Griffins (38-27-7-4)

Milwaukee Admirals (36-24-14-2) vs 3. Iowa Wild (37-26-8-5)

Pacific Division:

Bakersfield Condors (42-21-3-2) vs 4. Colorado Eagles (36-27-4-1)

San Jose Barracuda (39-22-3-4) vs 3. San Diego Gulls (36-27-4-1)

AHL Pacific Report: Disparity rules, Benson and Marody explode in winning streak, trade deadline additions Dahlen, Kloos, and Petterson make impact

Colorado Avalanche Prospect System Overview

AHL: Nicolas Meloche (San Antonio – Colorado)

Colorado – System Overview

2015 NHL Draft Guide: Top 5 Body Checkers

Best bodychecker

1. Lawson Crouse

2. Timo Meier

3. Jonas Siegenthaler

4. Nicolas Meloche

5. Ivan Provorov

2015 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Top 120 Rankings

2015 NHL Draft – Top 20 QMJHL Prospects

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