Nicolas Petan – McKeen's Hockey

DADOUN: THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – January 8th to 14th, 2024 – Race for Hart Trophy a tight one at halfway point + Teams and players to target this week

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 16:28:17 +0000

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire)

We’re approaching the halfway point of the season and if I had to pick who will win the Hart Trophy at this stage, I would have a hard time doing so. There are several major candidates in the running.

Nikita Kucherov was an afterthought in last year’s voting despite finishing with 113 points in 82 contests, but he’s making a strong pitch this season with 27 goals and 64 points through 39 games. Although Tampa Bay has several other stars, Kucherov has also been instrumental to the Lightning’s offense, leading the team’s scoring race by 24 points. However, Tampa Bay with its 18-16-5 record is also not a safe bet to make the playoffs and voters tend to penalize players on teams that fall short of the postseason, so that might end up holding Kucherov back.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) Photo by Andrew Bershaw /Icon_Sportswire)

Instead, Nathan MacKinnon, who has 22 goals and 64 points in 39 appearances, is likely the favorite. MacKinnon is also the hotter of the two with 14 goals and 33 points over his last 15 contests. The 28-year-old has been a Hart Trophy finalist three times before (2018, 2020, 2021) and finished fifth in voting last campaign. After so many close calls, this might finally be his year.

However, the reigning Hart Trophy winner, Connor McDavid, might still challenge him. McDavid’s totals of 14 goals and 53 points in 33 games are a step behind Kucherov and MacKinnon, but the Oilers superstar was held back by a slow, injury-riddled start to the campaign. From Nov. 13 onward, McDavid has 12 goals and 43 points in 22 appearances, so he might still be able to close the gap. Voters might also give him extra credit for the Oilers’ revival following their 2-9-1 start to the campaign, provided Edmonton can keep climbing and make the playoffs.

Auston Matthews might also stay in the conversation. He just has 45 points through 35 games, but he has scored a league-leading 30 goals. His 60 goals in 2021-22 was enough to earn him the Hart Trophy that year and Matthews is a contender to reach that milestone again this year.

One final longer-shot contender is Quinn Hughes. The defenseman has 10 goals and 46 points through 38 contests. He ranks 10th in the scoring race, which is pretty good for a blueliner, but he’d probably need to do even better if he wants to claim the Hart Trophy. Blueliners rarely win the award -- the last was Chris Pronger in 2000.

Dallas Stars – MON @ MIN, WED VS MIN, FRI VS NSH, SAT @ CHI (BTB)

Dallas has a home-and-home series in Minnesota on Monday and versus the Wild on Wednesday. Minnesota had a strong run from Nov. 28-Dec. 27 with an 11-3-0 record, but the Wild have run into injury issues, which has led to them faltering, so Dallas has a chance here to take both contests. Afterward, Dallas will host the Predators on Friday before traveling to face the lowly Blackhawks on Saturday.

Jake Oettinger hasn’t played since Dec. 15 because of a lower-body injury, which has led to the Stars leaning heavily on Scott Wedgewood with mixed results. Wedgewood is 6-2-2 with a 3.01 GAA and an .891 save percentage in 10 contests since Oettinger got hurt. Oettinger is day-to-day, so he might return by the start of the week. If that’s the case, then he’ll likely get into three of Dallas’ four matches with Wedgewood picking up either Friday’s game versus Nashville or Saturday against Chicago.

The status of Miro Heiskanen is murkier. He suffered a lower-body injury Thursday after running into Wedgewood and there was no update on his status at the time of writing. The 24-year-old defenseman averages 25:03 of ice time, including 3:10 with the man advantage, so to say he’s an important part of the Stars’ blue line would be an understatement.

If Heiskanen misses time, then Nils Lundkvist will likely play regularly after being a healthy scratch in five of Dallas’ last eight contests. Lundkvist would likely only be on the third pairing, but he should also see time on the second power-play unit, so he might make some offensive contributions. The 23-year-old defenseman has 10 assists in 27 appearances in 2023-24.

Thomas Harley would likely also see a boost in ice time and might even fill in for Heiskanen on the top power-play unit. Harley has been solid offensively this year with nine goals and 17 points in 34 contests this season.

Regardless of what happens with Heiskanen’s injury, Dallas should continue to stay competitive thanks to its strong forward corps. Lately, Mason Marchment has highlighted that group with three goals and eight points over his last three contests, bringing him up to 13 goals and 29 points in 37 outings.

Minnesota Wild – MON VS DAL, WED @ DAL, FRI VS PHI, SAT VS ARI (BTB)

As noted above, Minnesota will start the week with a game in Dallas on Monday and then versus the Stars on Wednesday. That will likely be a tough series for the Wild, but afterward, they have two home games against more middling adversaries in the Flyers on Friday and the Coyotes on Saturday. It’s still not an easy set for the Wild, but with it being four contests in one week, it’s good enough to highlight.

Dallas’ injury issues are minor in comparison to Minnesota’s. The Wild are missing starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson, a pair of top-four defensemen in Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon and top-six forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. To make matters worse, it wouldn’t be surprising if none of them returned next week.

Marc-Andre Fleury will probably be relied upon in goal, but if Gustavsson doesn’t return in time for the back-to-back set on Friday and Saturday, then Zane McIntyre will likely get into one of those contests. McIntyre has a 3.54 GAA and an .884 save percentage in 12 games with AHL Iowa this season, though, so it’s probably better to avoid him, even if you need extra starts.

A better short-term pickup from Minnesota would be Nicolas Petan, who has two assists in three games since being recalled from Iowa on Sunday. With the Wild missing key players, Petan is serving in a middle-six capacity and seeing some power-play ice time. Although the 28-year-old isn’t likely to remain with Minnesota after the team starts getting its forwards back, Petan is a decent offensive force when given the opportunity, and he’s excelled in the minors with 10 goals and 28 points in 26 contests this campaign.

Montreal Canadiens – WED @ PHI, THU VS SJS (BTB), SAT VS EDM

Montreal will play just three games next week, but they’ll start against the slumping Flyers in Philadelphia on Wednesday and then host the lowly Sharks on Thursday. The Canadiens will conclude the week by hosting the Oilers.

The Canadiens have dropped four of their last five games, but not everyone on the team is struggling. Nick Suzuki has continued to excel, providing two goals and four points over his last four appearances, elevating him to 12 goals and 34 points in 38 contests this season. The 24-year-old hasn’t developed into a superstar, but he’s a solid top-line forward who is likely to surpass the 60-point mark for the third straight season.

By contrast, Juraj Slafkovsky still has lots of growing to do. The 19-year-old has four goals and 14 points in 38 contests this season. On the one hand, that’s at least a mild improvement over his 10 points in 39 games in 2022-23, but that’s a smaller jump than you’d hope for from the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, especially given that he’s averaging 16:24 of ice time this season, up from 12:13 in 2022-23, so he doesn’t even have the excuse of limited opportunities.

However, Slafkovsky has shown life recently, providing two goals and six points over his last seven contests, so perhaps he’s setting the stage for a stronger second half. He’s worth gambling on next week if he’s available in your league, especially given the quality of Montreal’s upcoming competition.

New York Rangers – MON VS VAN, THU @STL, SAT @ WAS, SUN VS WAS (BTB)

The Rangers have a full four-game set next week. They’ll get what should be their toughest matchup out of the way first when they host the Canucks on Monday. Afterward, the Rangers have a two-game road trip with contests in St. Louis on Thursday and Washington on Saturday, and they’ll finish the week with a home game versus the Capitals.

New York has continued to be led by Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, who have 11 and 12 points, respectively, over the Rangers’ last eight games. Panarin is having an especially remarkable season with 24 goals and 53 points in 37 outings. For all the 32-year-old’s accomplishments, he’s never reached the century mark in a single season, but that’s set to change this year if he stays healthy.

Alexis Lafreniere is a less consistent contributor but has done well lately, providing two goals and seven points over his last eight contests. That’s pushed him up to 10 goals and 23 points in 37 appearances in 2023-24 as he also chases career highs -- albeit less impressive ones than Panarin. Lafreniere’s 39 points in 81 contests from 2022-23 presently stand as his personal best.

Fantasy managers should also keep an eye on Kaapo Kakko (lower body), who started practicing in a non-contact capacity Thursday. He might not return next week, but he’s making progress. It’ll be interesting to see how he performs once healthy. Kakko had a respectable 18 goals and 40 points in 82 contests last year. However, he was off to a rough start in 2023-24 with two goals and three points in 20 outings. While getting hurt is never a good thing, the silver lining is it will allow him to start fresh once he’s healthy.

Philadelphia Flyers – MON VS PIT, WED VS MTL, FRI @ MIN, SAT @ WPG (BTB)

Philadelphia will host the rival Penguins on Monday and remain at home for the Penguins on Wednesday. The Flyers will then travel to Minnesota on Friday and Winnipeg on Saturday. Of that set, the Jets are the only adversary occupying a playoff position.

Cam Atkinson and Morgan Frost were both healthy scratches Thursday. Atkinson is a particularly interesting case. He started the campaign with eight goals and 12 points in 15 appearances, but he has just six points (all assists) over his last 22 outings. Maybe having a game to reset is what he needs. Atkinson is likely to draw back into the lineup soon and will probably serve in a top-six capacity while also being on the first power-play unit.

One player who doesn’t need time off is Travis Konecny. The 26-year-old forward is on a six-game scoring streak in which he’s contributed four goals and nine points. Konecny is up to 20 goals and 35 points in 38 outings this year and that’s despite getting just three points with the man advantage. He has a spot on the top power-play unit, so his offense on special teams might increase in the second half of the year.

Toronto Maple Leafs – TUE VS SJS, THU @ NYI, SAT VS COL, SUN VS DET

The Maple Leafs will have three home games next week against the Sharks on Tuesday, the Avalanche on Saturday and the Red Wings on Sunday. They also have a one-game road trip against the Islanders on Thursday.

With Joseph Woll (ankle) still hurt and Ilya Samsonov struggling to the point where he’s been sent to AHL Toronto, 22-year-old rookie Dennis Hildeby is with the team. Rather than allow him to make his NHL debut Wednesday versus Anaheim, the Maple Leafs opted to use Martin Jones in both halves of their back-to-back. That paid off, though, with Jones saving 58 of 59 shots over those two outings.

Jones has been stunning with Toronto, posting a 6-3-0 record, 2.21 GAA and .930 save percentage in 10 contests. I’m hesitant to get too excited about him, though. Jones has had an interesting career, but it’s involved a lot of rough patches -- there's a reason he went unclaimed on waivers back in October, allowing him to start the season in the minors -- and what we’re seeing now might be more of a hot streak than a resurgence. Regardless, Jones is expected to continue to be leaned on heavily during Woll’s absence.

I would still expect Hildeby to make at least one start next week, likely against Colorado on Saturday or Detroit on Sunday. It seems like a waste to summon the prospect if all he’s going to do is practice with the team and warm the bench. If that was the extent of the assignment, the Maple Leafs could have brought up Keith Petruzzelli from the Marlies instead, allowing Hildeby to continue to get work uninterrupted.

That aside, this might be another good week for Max Domi, who has four assists over his last four games. He’s been a steady presence lately, supplying three goals and 11 points over his last 15 contests to provide the Maple Leafs with some scoring depth.

Vancouver Canucks – MON @ NYR, TUE @ NYI (BTB), THU @ PIT, SAT @ BUF

Vancouver arguably has the most borderline schedule to be highlighted on this list. On the one hand, the Canucks will play four games, which is always desirable for getting the most out of players in fantasy formats, but the downside is they’ll be traveling for the full duration with games against the Rangers on Monday, the Islanders on Tuesday, the Penguins on Thursday and the Sabres on Saturday.

If Pius Suter is still available in your league, he’s worthy of selection. The 27-year-old has just 11 points in 24 contests this season, but over his last seven appearances, he’s supplied four goals and seven points. He has a position on Vancouver’s second line and second power-play unit, so while he’s not going to continue to produce at a point per game in the long run, he might be good for 25-30 points over Vancouver’s final 45 contests if he maintains his current role.

Teddy Blueger is another red-hot member of the Canucks, providing three goals and 10 points over his last nine outings. I don’t expect the 29-year-old’s offensive run to last much longer, though. He’s never recorded more than 28 points in a single season and doesn’t have a stable role on the power play, so if you’ve been enjoying Blueger’s recent success, just be prepared to move on without much hesitation when he shows signs of faltering.

Similarly, I’m not confident the good times will last much longer for Dakota Joshua, who has five goals and nine points over his last nine contests. The silver lining with Joshua is he’s a great source of hits with 113 in 37 appearances this season, and he should continue to help in that regard even after his offense fizzles out.

Winnipeg Jets – TUE VS CBJ, THU VS CHI, SAT VS PHI

In contrast to Vancouver, the Jets will play in just three games, but they’re all home games and feature weak to middling adversaries. Winnipeg will host the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, the Blackhawks on Thursday and the Flyers on Saturday.

The quality of Winnipeg’s opponents might allow Morgan Barron to continue his hot stretch after providing three goals and five points over his last five contests. Just keep in mind that Barron is serving primarily as a fourth liner, so he’s worth considering only as a short-term pickup.

Vladislav Namestnikov has a substantially bigger role with the Jets, averaging 15:10 of ice time, including 1:24 with the man advantage. He’s up to four goals and 20 points in 34 contests this season and has been especially effective recently, supplying a goal and five points over his last four outings.

Of course, the Jets’ MVP is still goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. He’s won his last three starts while saving 93 of 98 shots (.949 save percentage), giving him a 19-6-3 record, 2.28 GAA and .921 save percentage in 28 outings this year. Hellebuyck might start in all three games this week, and he should continue to excel.

Canada set to debut final roster against Sweden

Scott Wheeler — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:45:22 +0000

The first look at Team Canada’s final roster comes today against Team Sweden in the second of three pre-competition games before the 2015 tournament kicks off on Boxing Day.

With the roster finalized, the game will serve as another step in the evaluation process as those who have made the team compete for roles.

With 12 regular spots available up front and six spots to compete for on the backend, the 20 remaining skaters will try to avoid falling into a role as the team’s twelfth forward or seventh defensemen. To start, Brayden Point and Dillon Heatherington will draw into those roles, respectively.

Team Canada's morning skate. Photo by Scott Wheeler.

Making their pre-competition debuts will be Ottawa Senators forward Curtis Lazar, top-ranked 2015 NHL Draft prospect Connor McDavid, undrafted Detroit Red Wings prospect Joe Hicketts and a pair of Winnipeg Jets second round prospects, forward Nic Petan and goaltender Eric Comrie.

McDavid said he's just happy to be back after suffering an injury in a fight earlier this year.

For Lazar, the chance to play with McDavid is something he said he's looked forward to since he heard he was joining the team.

"I'm just going to try and get open," Lazar said following the morning skate, laughing.

Head coach Benoit Groulx expects the new line, which sees Nick Ritchie on the left wing, to be a difference maker. The game is a chance for them to gel.

"We look for chemistry, we want to give them a chance," Groulx said. "We have to be patient and see how it goes."

After a dominant performance against Team Russia only to suffer a 2-1 loss at the hands of 52-save effort by Russian goalie and New York Islanders prospect Ilya Sorokin, Canada faces another tough challenge.

Team Sweden's morning skate. Photo by Scott Wheeler.

Team Sweden, led by returnees Robert Hagg (PHI), Robin Norell (CHI), Jacob de a Rose (MTL), Anton Karlsson (ARI) and Lucas Wallmark (CAR), plays an up-tempo, controlled game.

Other core players include Adrian Kempe (LAK), William Nylander (TOR) and Oliver Kylington, a smooth-skating draft eligible defender.

The game will be the only time the two teams meet, barring an elimination round matchup. Team Sweden will play their preliminary round games in Group B, in Toronto, while Team Canada will start in Montreal’s Group A.

The game, an instalment in RBC’s Road to the World Juniors, will be live on TSN2 at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Team Canada's line combinations:

Domi - Reinhart - Duclair
Ritchie - McDavid - Lazar
Petan - Paul - Fabbri
Crouse - Gauthier - Virtanen
Point

Nurse - Theodore
Morrissey - Bowey
Morin - Hicketts
Heatherington

Note: Stay tuned for updates throughout the day (including full line combinations) from the teams’ morning skates and immediately following the game for post-game reactions. You can follow here and on Twitter @scottcwheeler.

2014 IIHF World Juniors Fantasy Hockey Future Watch: Canada

Peter Harling — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 16:28:21 +0000

After failing to medal in 2013 Canada will look to reclaim hockey supremacy at the World Juniors. Canada had an impressive run of five straight Gold Medals from 2005 to 2009 and a 14 year streak of a medal that ended last year.

A perennial contender, Canada will be led by Tampa Bay Lightning 2012 first round (third overall) pick Jonathan Drouin and 2015 NHL draft eligible Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters in the OHL. Last year Drouin was part of a lethal combination with former teammate Nathan MacKinnon with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Together the duo won the Quebec League Championship and the Memorial Cup, but Drouin has some unfinished business at the World Juniors.

Connor McDavid has fantasy owners planning on tanking next year so they can draft the next Sidney Crosby. McDavid is being labeled by NHL scouts as a generational talent and TSN’s Bob McKenzie said that Scouts have said if McDavid were eligible for NHL entry draft as a 15 year old, he would have gone first overall ahead of Nathan MacKinnon. There is no question he will go first overall in 2015. McDavid was granted exceptional status as a 15 year old and early acceptance to the OHL where he was drafted first by the Erie Otters. After leading the league in rookie scoring, he is among league overall leaders in his sophomore season with 50 points in 31 games. Traditionally the World Juniors are dominated by 19 year olds, but look for McDavid to use this tournament as his breakout performance. Everyone has heard of McDavid, but now on the worlds stage everyone will be watching and he will be the topic of discussion at the water cooler over the next few weeks as everyone sees what all the hype is about. The last Canadian player to play for Canada as a 16 year old was Sidney Crosby.

Anthony Mantha will be counted on to score some big goals. Perhaps the most natural goal scorer for Canada since Jordan Eberle, Mantha scored 50 goals last season in the QMJHL and already has 35 goals in 32 games this season. Mantha was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 draft in the first round with the 20^th pick. His future fantasy upside is tremendous, but the Red Wings have a tendency to be patient with prospects and take their time developing them in junior and the minors for several seasons. Nicolas Petan is another highly skilled offensive player who was drafted in the second round in 2013 by the Winnipeg Jets. Petan is a playmaker but his diminutive size is a concern for his NHL fantasy upside. If Petan can add some size and muscle to his slight 5’9” 165 pound frame he could have significant upside

Sam Reinhart is draft eligible for the upcoming 2014 NHL entry draft and is projected to picked first overall by McKeens. Reinhart is an experienced member of Canada’s National team as he captained the U18 team as an underage as well as the 2012 Ivan Hlinka where Canada won Gold.

Scott Laughton was the consensus choice as team Captain who is a solid two-way talent selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2012 draft. He is a future NHL captain. Bo Horvat is another excellent two-way talent that Coach Sutter will love as he plays a Sutter style of hockey. Horvat was drafted in 2013 by the Vancouver Canucks with the first round pick acquired in the Corey Schneider trade. Curtis Lazar is a high energy, fore-checking two-way forward who challenged to make the NHL this season with an impressive training camp with the Ottawa Senators. Lazar has a bright NHL future as he plays a Shane Doan style of game.

Josh Morrissey will anchor the offense from the blue line for Canada. The offensive defenceman was a first round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2013. With Tobias Enstrom, Dustin Byfuglien, Zach Bogosian and Jacob Trouba ahead of Morrissey, his NHL debut may be a year or two away, but he will have a fantasy impact when he arrives.

Aaron Ekblad is another 2014 draft eligible player who is projected to be drafted second overall by McKeens. Ekblad was also granted exceptional status to join the OHL as a 15 year old. He is a 17 year old man in every sense as his size, skill and smarts are all mature beyond his years. He even sported the best playoff beard in Barrie’s playoff drive in last year’s OHL playoffs where the Colts fell short to London. His fantasy upside may be limited as his offense is not his forte. He is a smart, solid all-around defender who can log big minutes.

Griffin Reinhart is the only returning player for Canada on the blue line this year. He joins his brother Sam to form the first brother due for Canada since Freddie and Dougie Hamilton. Reinhart will miss the first three games due to a carryover suspension from the 2013 tournament. Reinhart is a New York Islanders first round pick from 2012 who is similar to Ekblad but perhaps with slightly better offensive upside and fantasy value. Adam Pelech is another 2012 Islanders draft pick who has had his stock rise this season on a vastly improved Erie Otters. Pelech anchors their blue line and logs big minutes in every situation. He is another all-around type who plays a strong physical game adding extra value in multi-category stat leagues.

Zach Fucale and Jake Paterson will vie for the starting goalie position. Fucale was part of last years dominant Halifax team winning the QMJHL Championship as well as the memorial Cup, and a Gold for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Fucale was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 draft and has the potential to be a future NHL starting goalie. Paterson started the first two games for Canada and gave way to Fucale for game three. Look for Fucale to get the start for the remainder of the tournament.

Canada’s Gold Medal hopes will rely on the offensive contributions from Drouin, McDavid and Mantha as well as the hard hitting Canadian Sutter brand of hockey from Laughton, Horvat and Lazar. The new look Defense will need to be better than last years and Fucale will have to be clutch to win the only missing trophy from his cabinet so far in his career.

CHL 2014 IIHF WJHC Participants On-Ice Stats

Gus Katsaros — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 20:22:56 +0000

A short post with the focus on participating players dressing for their respective countries in the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships and their member clubs in the CHL playing overseas in Sweden.

I broke away from the traditional goals-assists-points statistics and focused on the breakdown of ON-ICE even strength goals for/against as well as on the percentage basis for their respective teams. The legend is located just before the table.

Some additional details break down the draft year, team that drafted the player (none of these players have been traded to another NHL team). There are very few undrafted players as this tournament is drafted prospect heavy, but there are many European exceptions – along with some draft-eligible players for 2014 (and two notable 2015 draft eligible players in Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel – as a late birthday).

ESGF - Even Strength Goals For (On-Ice)

ESGA - Even Strength Goals Against (On-Ice)

%TmESGF - Percentage of On-Ice Even Strength Goals For

%TmESGA - Percentage of On-Ice Even Strength Goals Against

Draft Team - Team that drafted this player

Draft Yr - Draft Year

DOB - Date of Birth

Country	Team	Pos	ESGF	ESGA	%Tm ESGF	%Tm ESGA	Draft Team	Draft Yr	DOB
Canada
Josh Anderson	London Knights	C	29	13	20.28	25.00	CBJ	2012	1994/05/07
Chris Bigras	Owen Sound Attack	D	26	30	27.08	27.78	Col	2013	1995/02/22
Jonathan Drouin	Halifax Mooseheads	C	36	19	25.71	19.00	TBL	2013	1995/03/28
Aaron Ekblad	Barrie Colts	D	25	24	22.12	25.53	--	--	1996/02/07
Zachary Fucale	Halifax Mooseheads	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	MTL	2013	1995/05/28
Frederik Gauthier	Rimouski Oceanic	C	25	24	22.12	60.00	Tor	2013	1995/04/26
Bo Horvat	London Knights	LW	37	19	25.87	36.54	Van	2013	1995/04/05
Charles Hudon	Chicoutimi Sagueneens	LW	27	29	26.21	26.36	MTL	2012	1994/06/23
Scott Laughton	Oshawa Generals	C	36	27	30.00	33.75	Phi	2012	1994/05/30
Curtis Lazar	Edmonton Oil Kings	C	41	18	32.80	30.00	Ott	2013	1995/02/02
Taylor Leier	Portland Winterhawks	LW	39	20	23.93	18.02	Phi	2012	1994/02/15
Anthony Mantha	Val-d’Or Foreurs	LW	50	33	29.07	37.50	DET	2013	1994/09/16
Connor McDavid	Erie Otters	C	42	20	24.85	42.55	--	--	1997/01/13
Josh Morrissey	Prince Albert Raiders	C	40	29	34.48	42.65	Wpg	2013	1995/03/28
Jake Paterson	Saginaw Spirit	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	Det	2012	1994/05/03
Adam Pelech	Erie Otters	D	44	21	26.04	44.68	NYI	2012	1994/08/16
Nicolas Petan	Portland Winterhawks	C	52	27	31.90	24.32	WPG	2013	1995/03/22
Derrick Pouliot	Portland Winterhawks	D	51	37	31.29	33.33	Pit	2012	1994/01/16
Griffin Reinhart	Edmonton Oil Kings	D	15	11	12.00	18.33	NYI	2012	1994/01/24
Sam Reinhart	Kootenay Ice	C	32	28	31.37	31.82	--	--	1995/11/06
Kerby Rychel	Guelph Storm/Windsor Spitfires	LW	32	19	26.67	19.19	CBJ	2013	1994/10/07
Czech Republic
Radek Faksa	Kitchener Rangers	C	23	33	24.21	28.70	Dal	2012	1994/01/09
Jan Kostalek	Rimouski Oceanic	D	24	26	21.24	65.00	Wpg	2013	1995/02/17
Marek Langhamer	Medicine Hat Tigers	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	PHX	2012	1994/07/22
David Nemecek	Saskatoon Blades	D	23	28	21.30	20.00	--	--	1995/06/29
Michal Plutnar	Tri-City Americans	D	6	11	6.67	11.58	--	--	1994/02/21
Petr Sidlik	Victoriaville Tigres	D	24	32	24.24	25.20	--	--	1994/01/18
Dominik Volek	Red Deer Rebels	RW	23	20	23.47	26.32	--	--	1994/01/12
Patrik Zdrahal	Rimouski Oceanic	RW	12	16	15.00	30.19	--	--	1995/04/09
Finland
Julius Honka	Swift Current Broncos	D	42	33	35.59	32.04	--	--	1995/12/03
Henri Ikonen	Kingston Frontenacs	LW	40	25	32.00	21.93	TB	2013	1994/04/17
Mikko Vainonen	Kingston Frontenacs	D	36	22	28.80	19.30	Nsh	2012	1994/04/11
Germany
Tim Bender	London Knights	C	16	4	11.19	7.69	--	--	--
Marvin Cupper	Shawinigan Cataractes	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	--	--	--
Leon Draisaitl	Prince Albert Raiders	C	31	30	26.72	44.12	--	--	1995/10/27
Markus Eisenschmid	Medicine Hat Tigers	C	13	20	11.50	21.05	--	--	1995/01/22
Dominik Kahun	Sudbury Wolves	C	10	15	7.94	12.10	--	--	1995/07/02
Maximilian Kammerer	Regina Pats	C	1	5	0.91	6.41	--	--	--
Norway
Jorgen Karterud	SSM Greyhounds	RW	14	16	10.22	31.37	--	--	1994/05/06
Russia
Ivan Barbashev	Moncton Wildcats	C	31	33	30.39	34.74	--	--	1995/12/14
Nikita Zadorov	London Knights	C	12	4	8.39	7.69	Buf	2013	1995/04/16
Valentin Zykov	Baie-Comeau Drakkar	RW	22	9	16.30	10.11	LAK	2013	1995/05/15
Slovakia
Martin Reway	Gatineau Olympiques	LW	31	21	27.93	18.75	Mtl	2013	1995/01/24
Sweden
Andre Burakovsky	Erie Otters	LW	35	16	20.71	34.04	WSH	2013	1995/02/09
Oscar Dansk	Erie Otters	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	CBJ	2012	1994/02/28
Nick Sorensen	Quebec Remparts	RW	22	12	18.49	13.79	Ana	2013	1994/10/23
Switzerland
Phil Baltisberger	Guelph Storm	D	34	15	20.12	28.30	--	--	1995/11/13
Jason Fuchs	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	LW	23	20	16.79	30.77	--	--	1995/09/14
Fabrice Herzog	Quebec Remparts	RW	30	28	25.21	32.18	TOR	2013	1994/12/09
Mirco Mueller	Everett Silvertips	D	21	20	19.09	27.03	SJ	2013	1995/03/21
Vincent Praplan	North Bay Battalion	LW	22	21	24.44	60.00	--	--	1994/06/10
Yannick Rathgeb	Plymouth Whalers	D	19	27	22.89	27.55	--	--	1995/10/24
United States
Adam Erne	Quebec Remparts	LW	30	27	25.21	31.03	TBL	2013	1995/04/20
Ryan Hartman	Plymouth Whalers	C	21	37	25.30	37.76	Chi	2013	1994/09/20
Anthony Stolarz	London Knights	G	--	--	--	--	Phi	2012	1994/01/20

**********

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McKeen’s Hockey releases final rankings for the 2013 NHL Draft.

McKeen's Staff — Thu, 30 May 2013 13:54:18 +0000

We have posted below an excerpt from a press release we sent out on Tuesday. Since we sent it out, we should have expected Patrick Roy to make it interesting in his first press conference, by throwing his first overall pick into the rumour mill. Welcome to the NHL, Patrick, and adding a great twist to a draft with a number of story lines developing with a month to go.

We will be finishing the Draft Guide up over the weekend and expect to publish very soon.

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“For Immediate Release: May 28, 2013

McKeen’s Hockey releases final rankings for the 2013 NHL Draft.

Following an entertaining Memorial Cup featuring eight potential first-round draft picks, we at McKeen’s Hockey are pleased to release our final ranking for the 2013 NHL Draft. The scouting profiles are available by subscription to the online edition of the draft guide, found at www.mckeenshockey.com.

We will be releasing the McKeen’s 2013 NHL Draft Guide later this week, featuring the top 120 scouting profiles, sleepers and honourable mentions, as well as the top 30 for the 2014 draft, the top 10 for 2015 and the top four in 2016.

The 2013 draft promises to be one of the deepest in many years, with three potential franchise players Jones, MacKinnon and Drouin producing memorable performances all year, including the Memorial Cup.

Beyond the big three, there are some exciting, talented prospects well into the second-round, such as Nicolas Petan from the Portland Winterhawks ranked at #46. Petan scored 10 points in five games to finish third in scoring at the Memorial Cup, after tying for the scoring lead in the WHL and playoffs in a remarkable season. He is only one example of a player that would likely be a first-round pick in most draft years.

The NHL Draft on June 30^th, 2013 in New Jersey promises to be interesting as always, with Craig McTavish actively speculating on trading the Oilers 7^th pick, and Columbus and Calgary both with three first round picks.

McKeen’s team of scouts across North America and Europe has watched these players develop all season and bring deep insight into their playing style, strengths and weaknesses and their character.

Iain Morrell, publisher of McKeen’s, comments “I have been covering the Draft almost 20 years, and this is truly an intriguing group of players. It reminds me of 2003, when Nashville was able to draft Ryan Suter in the first round and Shea Weber well into the second at 49th. An astute franchise at this draft could be laying a foundation for future championships.”

David Burstyn, Director of Scouting and former NHL scout, adds “It has been an engaging season from the Ivan Hlinka tournament through to the Memorial Cup. This will be a formidable group in the NHL in three years.””

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I will spare you the boilerplates and contact information and share a few more thoughts on Nicolas Petan along with his scouting profile.

photo courtesy of the WHL

The season is long for high end draft eligible players still playing in the Memorial Cup starting with the Ivan Hlinka tournament in August through to the end of May. For the top prospects, it is a pressured fill season under a spotlight, and can mean playing in excess of 100 games, barring injuries. It is a tough grind, that tests them physically and mentally, and one of the reasons many scouts have made many decisions prior to the Memorial Cup. This can be particularly true for smaller players who are still filling in their frames at seventeen years old. These reasons make Nicolas Petan’s Memorial Cup and season that much more remarkable. Just turning 18 during the tournament he is well over a hundred games, having played 96 with Portland alone this season, which included the Ivan Hlinka, and the U18 World Juniors. Petan scored ten points in 5 games in the Memorial Cup to put an exclamation point on an extraordinary season. He scored 120 points versus 35 in his rookie season, while contributing an incredible plus 68. He has answered any concerns about durability and shown leadership and competitiveness that will be hard to ignore on draft day. He will be giving teams pause for thought before the first round is done.

Here is Nicolas Petan’s final scouting profile from McKeen’s 2013 NHL Draft Guide.

McKeen’s Draft Guide – May, 2013

Grabbed the wheel last fall following some key graduations and steered a powerhouse Portland team (57-12-3) to a WHL championship .. tied for the league scoring title with teammate Brendan Leipsic, more than tripling his rookie totals from `11-12 .. led the league with 74 assists and a dizzying plus-68 rating – yet it was his emergence as a goal scorer that drew the most attention .. tied for fourth in the league with 46 goals – three back of Leipsic’s league-leading 49 .. won gold with British Columbia at the 2011 Canada Winter Games (6-4-8-12) ..

SCOUTING REPORT .. clever, highly-skilled playmaker with high-end vision and imagination .. plays a bold and gutsy style given his diminutive stature – his courage level helping offset the obvious size deficiency .. gifted puckhandler – equipped with a keen sense for pressure .. adept at drawing checkers in and creating space for others .. springy, sneaky-quick skater on a wide base – driven by flexible legs that are long relative to body size .. comfortable operating with legs spread wide – which brings his hands and stick closer to the ice, thereby enhancing control .. exhibits great presence of mind in possession – head up – deploying brief bursts of activity followed by pauses where he slows the game down and assesses options .. squirmy 1-on-1 – makes nifty little shifts and lateral cuts, and will hold the puck an extra second to get outside defenders and free up a shooting lane .. can cut at sharp angles with the puck and unload a quick, accurate wristshot at full speed .. responsible and diligent defensively – competes hard in his zone, but still labours to contain bigger opponents down low .. continued the assault in the WHL playoffs, ranking second in overall scoring (21-9-19-28), though gradually began to wear down late in an extended campaign .. a first-round talent in every way – except one.

Portland’s Nic Petan making large waves

Randy Gorman — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:16:16 +0000

If only for another 3-4 inches and Nicolas Petan of the Portland Winterhawks might be a high first-round pick at the 2013 NHL Draft.

That certainly wasn't the thinking coming into this draft season.

In spite of a vast skill-set and uncanny instincts, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound pivot would still have to conjure up something pretty extraordinary to convince the NHL that he could ply his craft and survive NHL warfare.

Petan has done all that and more during a phenomenal breakout second year in the WHL.

The Delta, B.C. native has been a driving creative force behind Portland's juggernaut campaign that blazed a 51-9-3 trail until stumbling recently, dropping their last three games including a 4-2 loss to the Everett Silvertips Saturday night.

The Winterhawks still hold an 8-point lead in the overall league standings - and have a chance to finish 1-2-3 in the individual scoring race in both goals and points.

Currently, Petan and teammate Brandon Leipsic share the overall goal-scoring lead with 44, while the third member of Portland's attack, Ty Rattie, is next with 42 goals, tied with Curtis Valk of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Leipsic (111 pts), Petan (109), and Rattie (99) also sit first, second, and fourth, respectively, in the scoring race - with Colin Smith of the Kamloops Blazers in third with 100 points.

Petan also leads the WHL in plus-minus at a dizzying plus-61 - with the Winterhawks holding down four of the top five spots - and seven in the top 16 including top-rated draft prospect Seth Jones (plus-37) and Danish winger Oliver Bjorkstrand (plus-35).

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Nic Petan (C/LW, 2013), Portland

Diminutive 5-foot-8, 165-pound center has developed into an exciting and dynamic player to watch .. speedy with a short, powerful part-choppy stride .. hard to knock off the puck due to his low center of gravity .. keeps his balance remarkably well through traffic .. among the most gifted in the league in terms of natural puck and hand skills .. boasts exceptional puckhandling control, for which he has drawn comparisons to former NHL great Joe Sakic, only a smaller version .. his vision is first-rate - sees the ice extremely well .. excels at drawing defenders in and opening up space for teammates .. displays sublime patience with the puck - can pull the puck back for a split second to open up a passing lane and hit his man with a saucer pass - or a touch pass in one motion that doesn’t allow a defenseman to react .. his shot is also a weapon as it explodes off his blade and has uncanny accuracy .. his quickness and ability to match his foot and hand speed to make plays at a heightened pace makes him very difficult to defend .. gritty and determined - not afraid to finish a check or work the boards down low .. comes backs hard and backchecks with enthusiasm .. doesn’t back down when the game gets tougher and can inspire and motivate teammates with his physical injections and through the consistency of his play from shift to shift .. intriguing prospect given his natural skills coupled with a strong compete level .. in the Jordan Eberle manner, where a lack of size appears to be only deficiency.

Q & A with Morgan Klimchuk – Regina Pats

Randy Gorman — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:44:30 +0000

Morgan Klimchuk aims to be 'the hardest working guy on the ice' - and this drive and tenacity have been on display throughout a solid sophomore WHL season.

The Calgary native has also shown off his speed and goal-scoring abilities, and steadily enhanced his stock for the upcoming 2013 NHL Draft.

His career-high 31 goals are an impressive feat given his Regina Pats are among the league's lowest-scoring teams.

In fact, of the 24 WHLers to crack 30 goals so far this season, only two players have scored a greater percentage of their team's goals than Klimchuk.

Winnipeg Jets third-rounder Adam Lowry has accounted for a whopping 23.1 percent of Swift Current's goals (40 of 173), while Klimchuk currently ranks third among the 30-goal club having scored 19.5 percent of Regina's 159 goals. Pats' teammate Lane Scheidl is second at 20.7 percent (33 of 159).

Coincidentally, league goal-scoring leader Brendan Leipsic is at 15.1 percent (44 of 292) with Nicolas Petan and his 43 goals right behind at 14.7 percent.

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McKeen’s: Where did you play your minor hockey?

Klimchuk (MK): I played all my minor hockey in Calgary, first with the Shaw Metal’s Lightning right up until I reached bantam, and from there I played for the Calgary Buffaloes.

McKeen’s: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make coming from minor hockey, to playing in the WHL for the Regina Pats?

MK: Well the speed, and of course the strength of the guys in this league are tough to handle and you have to get stronger in order to keep up with that. I had to work a little extra on both my skating and my off-ice weight training to get stronger in both areas.

McKeen’s: Did you set any personal or team goals at the beginning of the season ?

MK: I try not to focus on the personal goals too much, team wise, it’s really big for us to make the playoffs this season, and that’s really what I’m focused on.

McKeen’s: How much international experience have you had with Team Canada at the under-17 or under-16 tournaments?

MK: Yes, I had the honor in both the U-16’s and U-17’s, and it was a great learning experience to play against the best international players for your country. I have taken what I’ve learned from these experiences into major junior here with the Pats.

McKeen’s: What are the major differences for playing at the International level, compared with the WHL club level in major junior?

MK: For sure, at the International level, the arena's are much bigger and you have more room out there, so it’s that much faster and a lot more skilled players you have to worry about. In the WHL, it’s fast, but much more physically demanding and defensive minded.

McKeen’s: You are a top 10 WHL draft-eligible prospect, and a top prospect for the NHL draft. How does that make you feel to be considered in that group?

MK: It’s an honor, I mean this will be another great draft year in the WHL, and just to have my name in there being compared to the other great players is very special, and I just look forward to how things will end up in June.

McKeen’s: Does it bother you that several NHL scouts will be watching and analyzing your game night after night?

MK: No, not really I try to be consistent and play the game the same every night. It’s good to know they are there, but I put it at the back of my mind.

McKeen’s: How important is off-ice training in the weight room and more specifically the development of core strength, to help battle bigger players by getting stronger in key areas of your body?

MK: That’s huge, I take my off-ice training very seriously. I train in the off season during the summer 5 days a week, along with yoga, which helps with balance, and the extra strength in the core will help when facing bigger players.

McKeen’s: What’s the strongest part of your game, and what are the things you want to work on?

MK: The strongest part of my game is my tenacity and work ethic. I’m always battling for pucks and I never want to give up on a play, and I just want to be the hardest working guy on the ice. The things I want to work on is my skating, especially my first four steps. It’s something that I have been working on over the past summer. I know coming into this year that I needed to improve on that if I’m going to play at the next level.

McKeen’s: I’ve observed that you have good hands to finish around the net, and also a great quick release shot. Do you constantly work on this with coaching staff and your linemates in practice?

MK: Yes, for sure, you don’t get a lot of time and space in this league to move the puck, and you have to let it go when you have the chance or an opening. And yes, I do work a lot with the coaches and my teammates to maneuver myself to get in position to get my shot away quick and accurate.

McKeen’s: Who has the greatest impact on your hockey career to date?

MK: I would have to say coach Pat Conacher, he taught me how to play defense. And how to round out my game, and he has been able to teach and show me what to expect for what it will be like at the pro level.

McKeen’s: What is it like to play for a team that is steeped in tradition like the Regina Pats?

MK: It’s huge, we take pride in the jersey we put on every night, and the legacy and tradition that goes along with that. We are playing for the Regina Pats, it’s one of the most cherished franchises in junior hockey, so you have to show up each night so as you're not embarrassing the team and yourself.

McKeen’s: How important is it to learn and play defense in order to become a complete player, and to go on and play at the pro level?

MK: Coach Conacher really stresses this, when I came into the league last year I needed to work on that. He made it simple for me and told me that he knew I could score goals, but playing at both ends of the ice is what it will take to play at the next level, and that I would have to do that here in order to earn ice time. It has worked out well for me, and I credit Pat for stressing how important that part of the game is, in order to play at the next level.

McKeen’s: Was there any player that you watched growing up that you admired and wanted to pattern your game after?

MK: I love the way Jonathan Toews plays, and the leadership role that he brings to his team each and every game. Just how he competes every game, he was one of the youngest captains to win a Stanley Cup, so I really admire his style of play.

McKeen’s: How important is play away from the puck, especially in the neutral ice area?

MK: You have to find open seams and holes throughout the neutral zone and look for passes from your teammates, as well as being responsible in that part of the ice defensively, to prevent odd man rushes.

McKeen’s: Do you pay much attention to the various rankings from scouting services throughout the season or do you just look ahead to draft day in June?

MK: You really can’t look too far ahead - or at the rankings at any given time. It’s a 72-game season , so things will likely change throughout the season. I take things day to day, obviously, you hear other players talking about it, but I try to focus on other things.

McKeen’s: Is there any other sports or things you like to do in the off season?

MK: In my spare time, I like to get away to play a little paintball for some fun. But I really just try to focus on hockey for much of my time.

2013 Draft Notebook: Up And Adam

McKeen's Staff — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:33:05 +0000

Everything is coming together for Quebec winger Adam Erne.

The industry and creativity never stops from the hard-working New Haven, C.T. native - among the biggest risers on our December list - moving solidly into the top 15.

Erne's truncated skating stride has been identified as a shortcoming in the past, however his quickness and top speed have improved significantly over the past year.

Another of this month's chartbusters is Baie-Comeau winger and Russian import Valentin Zykov. Although taking a Russian with your first-round pick is sometimes akin to writing your own pink slip, Zykov has been too good to dismiss any longer.

Strength and skill in a compact, subtly-dynamic package, Zykov possesses remarkable power for his size and age thanks to a well-developed body. Opponents are just bouncing off the St. Petersburg native, whose ability to hold off checkers, protect the puck, and create plays to the net - makes him a tantalizing NHL prospect.

Solid two-way defenseman Linus Arnesson also turned heads for Sweden at the U-20 4-Nations last month, and has moved into the top-40 discussions - bolstering what is going to be an exceptional second round. If this were a regular NHL season, general managers would be valuing second-round holdings as first-round commodities.

PETAN-ICAL GROWTH

Out west, Seth Jones' Portland teammate Nicolas Petan has been 'lights out' over the past two months, delivering goals at a clip that is making it easier to overlook his diminutive stature.

Already blessed with top-drawer playmaking vision and skill, the Delta, B.C. native has an eye-popping 16 goals in his past 20 games, blowing by his 14 goals as a rookie in `11-12.

Some will see Petan and his tiny 5-foot-8, 165-pound frame as a non-starter, that he simply isn't big enough to replicate his game against meaty NHL opponents. Other 'glass-half-full' thinkers could project a brighter NHL future based on his innate talent and impressive development.

Petan, like Arnesson, is another fast-developing prospect entering the top-40 fray upon starting the year pencilled into the third round or thereabouts.

Add another from the Portland hockey factory in Oliver Bjorkstrand to the mix, as the Danish winger has impressed in every viewing and is one to watch over the second half of the WHL season. Bjorkstrand is tricky and slippery - and looks taller than his 5-foot-10 listing. There's a bit of Kris Versteeg in the Dane's skill set - which is highlighted by a wicked wristshot.

Sleek Val d'Or winger Anthony Mantha continues to vault up the rankings and terrorize QMJHL goalies with his spectacular shot. The Longueuil, Quebec native has 28 goals from 155 shots - second-most in the league. Though still a project defensively, Mantha has been a consistent force at the other end of the rink, recording at least two shots in all but one of his 34 games this season.

THE STRAIGHT SANTINI

Aside from Zykov, the other player that managed to dislodge an incumbent from the top 30 November rankings was hard-hitting NTDP blueliner Steven Santini of Mahopac, New York.

Santini has always been admired for an efficient, straight-forward style - and this season has shown steady progress in his puckmoving and skill development.

Dropping down this month are London Knights center Bo Horvat and Seattle Thunderbirds rearguard Shea Theodore, who drew a lofty No. 2 ranking from Central Scouting on the preliminary WHL list.

Horvat would make an ideal second rounder as his skill and hockey sense are at a first-round level, but can expect trouble keeping up at the NHL level unless his mobility improves. While Theodore, a skilled and offensively-inclined blueliner, will need to develop better defensive structure - and prove that he can defend capably against outside speed.

Among those knocking on the first-round door include slick Finnish winger Artturi Lehkonen, the top junior-aged rookie scorer in the Finnish SM-liiga. The Piikkio, Finland native sits third overall among newcomers behind veteran Steve Moses and 24-year-old former OHL star Justin Azevedo.

Regina winger Morgan Klimchuk had been coming on like gangbusters through November (14-10-16-26) after a subpar start, but fell off the radar again this month, recording just a pair of assists in his last seven games. The Calgary native is the type of prospect that NHL clubs will have plenty of time for on draft day - even overlooking some inherent flaws. He boasts excellent strength on the puck for his size which is complemented by an accurate shot and good offensive instincts. When the goals dry up though, Klimchuk doesn't provide the same defensive competency like a Curtis Lazar does.

The Everett Silvertips also have an intriguing package in Swiss-born blueliner Mirco Mueller, who was moving into first-round range prior to losing partner Ryan Murray, the second-overall pick last summer. The Winterthur native has regressed since Murray was lost for the season to a shoulder injury, and is not showing the same confidence in his physical play.

WHAT THE DICKINSON

On the flip side, the last month wasn't a great one for Guelph forward and Georgetown, Ontario native Jason Dickinson.

What appeared to be untapped upside in October - looked more like unfulfilled potential in November as Dickinson has failed to bulge the twine in 17 of the past 18 games, the exception being a hat trick against Mississauga.

Getting more involved and filling in the intensity gaps while be imperatives if he is to prevent further slides. His skill set coupled with an erratic compete level, compares somewhat to that of former Guelph player Peter Holland, who subsequently blossomed in the pros following an underachieving junior career.

Another player whose stock has softened over the past month is Prince Albert blueliner Josh Morrissey (Calgary, AB).

Despite being arguably the cream of this year's crop in terms of pure puckmoving savvy, Morrissey has raised plenty of red flags with his play in his own end. Nevertheless, he remains a legitimate top-ten candidate if he can tighten up the defensive efforts and bring a more consistent physical element.

As far as wildcards go, talented Russian winger Valeri Nichushkin is a classic.

Blessed with an enticing mix of size, speed, skill, and power, Nichushkin is capable of scoring NHL-caliber goals when motivated and playing a courageous game.

Yet there have always been questions about how well he reads and senses the game - concerns which remained unanswered based on his flashy - and fruitless - performance during the CHL Subway Series.

CREEPERS & SLEEPERS

Steadily sneaking up the list has been speedy and tenacious two-way winger Marc-Olivier Roy of the Blainville-Broisbriand Armada.

A former third-round pick of Montreal in the 2010 QMJHL Midget Draft, Roy has already matched his rookie totals from `11-12 and is attracting notice with his penalty totals (52) - and plus-rating rating which stands at a striking plus-51 over his 109-game QMJHL career including playoffs.

Chicago Steel rookie Thomas Ebbing may fit the bill in the department of smooth, versatile two-way centermen. The Troy, Michigan native and Bowling Green recruit has adapted quickly to the USHL and continues to show improvements with each game.

Scouts are keeping tabs on the Medicine Hat blueline where the Tigers feature a pair of intriguing wildcards in Kyle Becker and Spenser Jensen.

Both offer excellent size as well as some attractive attributes, with Becker an efficient, mobile puckmover who has put up an impressive 16 points as a rookie after going unclaimed in his draft year. The Langley, B.C. native fired 13 goals in `11-12 to lead all defensemen in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League, where he had been re-assigned by the Tigers following wrist surgery in August of 2011.

Conversely, Jensen is more a stay-at-home type with a physical dimension, and carries higher expectations having been the 14th overall pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.

A diligent and responsible defender who is tough to beat 1-on-1, the Airdrie, Alberta native has improved dramatically from his rookie season in which he played primarily at forward. Expect his stock to keep rising if the puckmoving and finesse skills can be upgraded.

AUGER'S WELL FOR FUTURE

Among the most improved players in the OHL this season has been 6-foot-7 Guelph winger Justin Auger (Waterloo, ON). Bypassed in the last draft, Auger has since taken a leap forward thanks to vastly improved skating. The new mobility is allowing him to make use of his gigantic reach and excellent compete level - and the by-product has been a more poised and confident puckhandler and playmaker.

Another towering prospect to entice NHL clubs will be 6-foot-6, 225-pound winger Tyler Hill, a Hagersville, Ontario native with dual citizen ship and playing at Hotchkiss High School following a brief USHL appearance with Chicago.

A former fifth-round OHL pick of the Ottawa 67's, Hill will be scrutinized this season as he is a classic Jekyll-and-Hyde type prone to coasting through games only to burst out with a flashy end-to-end rush and stickhandling clinic.

The quest for beef is drawing a crowd in Rimouski to see the intriguing duo of Frederik Gauthier and Samuel Morin.

Gauthier is 6-foot-5 and sits third among QMJHL rookie scorers, while Morin is the tallest player in the draft at 6-foot-7.

A native of St-Henri, Quebec and the seventh-overall pick in the 2011 QMJHL Priority Selection, Morin moves well for his size and is throwing his frame around with more authority this season - as reflected in his 78 penalty minutes - seventh-most in the league.

However, mark him a 'long term' project as there are gaps that contribute to a more difficult projection. Not a gifted puckhandler nor intuitive defender, Morin must continue to solidify his defensive decisions while developing as a suffocating defender that exploits his aggression and mammoth wingspan. His reactions and body language need to progress substantially.