Noah Rod – McKeen's Hockey

Central Europe: Noah Rod (Swiss – San Jose), Karel Vejmelka (Czech – Nashville)

Julius Dabrowksi — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 13:20:12 +0000

2014 NHL Draft pick Noah Rod has had a difficult season of adjustment compromised by injuries. Julius Dabrowksi looks at the San Jose Sharks prospect season and provides a scouting report. Nashville goaltending prospect Karel Vejmelka has had a very different start to the season with some promising play. Although in a deep Predators goaltending pool, Dabrowski sees much to like in his game early in the season, producing some sparkling numbers - albeit a small sample size. He explains 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.

Noah Rod	2014 Draft (53rd - San Jose)
Position: LW, Shoots L	H/W: 6-0", 190 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Geneve-Servette, NLA (5-0-0-0-2)

Switzerland's Noah Rod #26 plays the puck during preliminary round action at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Skating: He is a decent skater with good quickness in his first few strides but has about the Swiss league average top end speed. He has to work on his stride because it seems that he is moving his feet fast but the effort is not there. Rod uses his edges to keep his eye on the puck and shows good mobility. He could work on his balance to prevent being knocked over. Grade: 45

Shot: Rod plays in a more physical role on the third line and his current style of play clearly does not suit him. He rarely gets a shot on net but when he does it is usually a wrister with average velocity and accuracy. He does not position himself for good shooting positions. He will rather work along the boards on a cycle or stand in front of the net. Grade: 40

Skills: He has an average Swiss league skillset and there is no special flair or flashiness in his repertoire. His puck handling skills are OK and his passing accuracy is sometimes questionable leading to turnovers. Rod plays more of a dump and chase style and works hard during board battles. He does not display a lot of finesse or creativity but that might be a result of him focusing on the physical aspect of the game. Grade: 45

Smarts: Rod is a good option on the penalty kill unit. He keeps his defensive game fairly simple and positions himself correctly on the PK. His defensive awareness is decent and he does a good job as a back checker. He does not bring much offensively to the team’s game. He cruises around in the neutral and offensive zones and waits for the puck to find him rather than be a part of a structured play or create scoring chances. It seems he does not have the proper timing for his plays. He gets caught offside or delays dumping the puck and catches his teammates offside. In the offensive zone likes to plant himself in front of the net but due to his 6-0” posture he does not cause a lot of trouble for the opposing goaltender. Grade: 50

Physicality: Very physical and pesky, loves to finish his checks and not afraid of getting hit or blocking hard shots from the blue line. If there is a scrum after the whistle he will get inside that scrum and protect his teammates. He shows a good level of intensity and does not shy away from getting into dirty areas. His size does not go well with his aggressive style of play but he is doing whatever it takes to be a vital part in his team’s success. He needs to get stronger to be more effective in his game though. Grade: 55

Summary: Noah Rod is a hard working winger who has been struggling with injuries from almost the beginning of the year. Once he recovers he has not been able to stay healthy enough to get back to his game. This season he has played in only five games and did not have a point in any of them. He also did not create much with his dump and chase style of play. It seems as if he is trying to adjust to his new role but he is not succeeding. He lacks the size to be efficient in that role although he has the aggressive mentality in him. He needs to stay healthy and find a way to become a greater offensive threat. He will have to fight his way through the minors to get a shot in the NHL. He recently suffered an ankle injury which has further set him back in his development.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 45.5

Karel Vejmelka	2015 Draft (145th - Nashville)
Position: G, Catches: R	H/W: 6-3", 205 lbs
Stats to date (GP-GAA-Save %)	HC Kometa Brno, Czech (6-1.81-.937)
	HC Kometa Brno, Champions HL (3-2.25-.939)
	SK Horacka Slavia Trebic, Czech2 (5-1.98-.915)

Athleticism/Quickness/Speed: Vejmelka is a quite athletic goalie who moves fast in his crease. He moves quickly from post to post and covers the bottom of the net with ease. His shot reaction is very sharp and when he lets a rebound inside his crease he pounces on it fast and covers it. He positions his glove properly and any shots fired to his glove are caught cleanly. He shows great reflexes and agility while making highlight saves. He can stop cross ice one-timers with his athleticism and speed. He also has a strong leg push to move across his crease. Grade: 55

Compete/Temperament: Vejmelka is solid up to his first conceded goal. Once he lets in a goal he is more vulnerable to make a mistake although his game does not drop dramatically. He will try to make up for his mistakes by being consistent with his style of play. He will not try to play differently but do what he does best which is use his athleticism and not overthink plays. He focuses on each shot and will not let a bad bounce in after letting in a goal earlier. He tends to be more focused when things go south. He can show his frustration after he lets in five goals by smashing his stick against the post after the game. He can also be the hero and not let in a single goal. He is very competitive and brings everything to the game. Grade: 50

Vision/Play Reading: He might not be the greatest shot reader when the shots are coming through more than four players up front. If the shooter picks a corner on him, Vejmelka can get surprised with a partially screened shot. He is usually square to the puck shooter and adjusts the angles properly. He is also good at reading evolving plays and tracking pucks from a distance. When the opponent is about to take a shot he will skate outside his crease to confront him. Sometimes he will go out too far and have to cover up for his mistake but because he is very athletic and quick he usually gets away with that. He needs to stay inside his crease more when there is traffic in front of him. Grade: 45

Technique/Style: Even though he tends to stop shots by skating outside of his crease and challenging shooters he holds his position well. Facing shot attempts from the perimeter he protects the short side properly. His butterfly style combined with great stick work makes him a very entertaining goalie. He can poke check the puck off an attacker from up close and still be positionally sound. His side to side movement and mobility covers the bottom half of the net efficiently. He is a fast skater and can rush up the ice or along the boards to break up a potentially dangerous play. He will never give up on a play and uses his athletic ability to come up with a highlight desperation save. He is a good shootout goalie and does not get beat often on breakaways during the game. He backs up quickly if the opponent decides to make a move on him and makes a pad save. Grade: 50

Rebound Control: He handles shots fired from tight angles very well, knocking them to the corners or simply catching them. On some occasions he might mishandle the shot and leave a rebound somewhere near the low slot area. He seems to handle high shots better than lower shots in terms of rebound control. Clear shots from the point or from the top of the faceoff circles are handled well. Grade: 45

Puck Handling: He is not afraid to skate out of his goal crease and clear the puck when it is close to the hash marks. He will often stop the dumped puck and bang it off the glass outside of the defensive zone. Overall he is a very confident puck handler and reacts instinctively when deciding to handle the puck. He can also send a stretch pass and grab an assist on a breakaway goal. Grade: 55

Summary: Karel Vejmelka is making a name for himself in the Czech Pro league. The Nashville prospect is gaining more confidence with each game and his statistics are demonstrating that. He was loaned at the start of the season to the second league team Horacka Slavia Trebic and has shown good composure in his first few games of the season. Not long ago he has been called back to his first league team in Brno and is now competing for the starter position there. His numbers in the big league are very impressive but the sample size is not that huge. Even though the Predators have strong depth in the goalie department I can see Vejmelka earning some extra attention during training camp if keeps playing like this. He plays an aggressive style and shows great flexibility around his crease. With the six games played in the Czech league, he has already recorded two shutouts. A finisher, a fighter, and a fearless goaltender. That is Karel Vejmelka.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 49.75

San Jose – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:53:59 +0000

For teams that are consistently competitive and find themselves perennially entering trade deadline period as buyers, there are a few methods available to help ensure that they have a constant stock of talented younger and cheaper players ready. Some will be needed to supplement the regular roster in depth roles and some will be needed as trade bait when the parent club is trying to fortify the NHL roster for the stretch run.

Some teams focus their scouting on very specific regions, such as how the Washington Capitals dig deep into the WHL and Switzerland. Some teams simply trade draft picks hand over fist, often years into the future, as the Rangers did for years. There are other methods available as well that can be employed by smart teams looking for maximize their assets.

The so-called “moneypuck” approach suggests that teams try to find underappreciated types of assets that will gain in appreciation over time. There are a few avenues available to all teams but utilized by only a few and which still contain value. The Sharks seem to have attacked a few of them.

One avenue is to focus on players who have already been passed over and have shown later development. Looking at the prospects who entered the system as free agents – some drafted and never signed but most who were never drafted – as well as players drafted in their second or third years of draft eligibility, shows that the Sharks have been open to this approach. The top 20 list includes four prospects who were signed by the Sharks as free agents. Amateur free agent acquisitions rarely make big marks in the NHL, but some do and some merely make it as depth players. Considering the number of actually drafted players who never make it at all, gaining depth for free is still a victory and we intend to applaud it.

Second year eligible also feature prominently in this list, as Dylan Gambrell was not drafted until his third time around, just like Adam Helewka. Joakim Ryan was drafted in his second year of eligibility.

Another avenue to drafting undervalued players is to target certain paths to the pros. While San Jose does not shun the CHL by any stretch, they have lately made a habit of finding undervalued players whose path will run through the NCAA ranks. Including players drafted this June, the Sharks have 10 prospects who spent last in the CHL. Looking at players currently in college or in a league that leads to the NCAA, the Sharks have 15. That includes both high picks (including their first three picks this year and their top selection last year) as well as players lower down the organizational pecking order such as four of the final five players they drafted in 2015.

Of course, for any strategy that cuts against traditional approaches, the proof is in the results. The Sharks have maintained their competitive edge at the NHL level, but there has not been a huge influx of prospect talent to supplement the veterans. With Patrick Marleau leaving for Toronto, perhaps one young winger will get the chance this year.

San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28). (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire)

1 Timo Meier – The Sharks highest pick since drafting Logan Couture in 2007, Meier split his first pro season pretty evenly between the AHL and NHL and came one NHL game short of losing prospect eligibility. Of average height, he is very broad and can be physically dominant when on his game. He has great puck control, combining speed and strength. His acceleration helps his skating play up. Owns a great shot, but was prone to looking for passes too much. May be ready for top six NHL duties.

Josh Norris

2 Josh Norris – A player without a clear weakness to his game, Norris is also a physical specimen. He has special playmaking skills, hiding his intentions and continuously able to surprise opponents with his passes, weighted just so to hit a teammate in stride. He is also a plus-plus defensive player, skilled at regaining possession and pushing the puck in the right direction. While he scored plenty for the USNTDP, his shot is his least impressive attribute. Has top six potential.

3 Danny O'Regan – A great example of a value pick, O’Regan was a fifth rounder playing mostly New England high school hockey in his draft year. He was a top end offensive producer at BU for four years and continued that work with a stellar rookie showing in the AHL, winning the league’s Rookie of the Year award. A solid skater, he has great offensive vision and hands. Will make a lot of highlight reel passes. Also able to finish thanks to a strong wrist shot. Defensively reliable as well.

4 Dylan Gambrell – Aa late bloomer, Gambrell’s game really only took off once he got to Denver and was placed on a great first line with Danton Heinan and Trevor Moore. With both linemates turned pro, Gambrell fit in smoothly with other high end players as a sophomore, and was instrumental in getting the Pioneers a title. Reliable in his own end, Gambrell shines when playing the puck. Has fantastic puck protection skills, plus top speed and shows great snap on his shot from middle range and in.

5 Jeremy Roy – His last two QMJHL seasons were decimated by injuries especially this last season, when he was limited to 10 games for Blainville-Boisbriand. If his knee is recovered the Sharks will have a smooth-skating two-way blueliner with their AHL team. When healthy, can do a little of everything, as helpful to the penalty kill as to the power play. More agile than fast, he is a good passer and flashes high end puck work. His odds have decreased, but it is not yet time to write Roy off.

6 Maxim Letunov – It is uncommon for many players to be traded before they sign ELCs. It is even more rare for a prospect to be dealt twice. Such is the case for Letunov, who was drafted by St. Louis, traded to Arizona and then moved again, to San Jose. An average skater with a well above average offensive skill set, Letunov needs only some internal chemistry (i.e. better offensive reads and reactions) to become a leading NCAA scorer, instead of just a good one.

7 Radim Simek – Signed as a free agent following an impressive performance for the Czech Republic at this year’s World Championships, Simek is a strong, steady skater with above-average awareness in his own zone and an aggressive stick. He profiles as a decent #4/5 defender who can move the puck and plays with a little bit befitting his shorter, yet stocky frame. A top goal scorer from the blueline in the Czech leagues, it is an open question as to how his offensive game will translate in the AHL.

8 Marcus Sorensen – A 2010 draft pick of Ottawa’s, Sorensen did not come to terms with the Senators and stayed in Sweden, slowly and steadily improving offensively until the Sharks brought him over last year. He was a bit overmatched in an NHL cameo, but was a strong AHL producer from the get-go. Although undersized, he is active on the forecheck. Can show some flash and has plus offensive tools in general. Is in line to win a bottom six winger job with San Jose this year.

Scott Reedy of the USNTDP. Photo by Rena Laverty

9 Scott Reedy – Had Reedy performed with the US U18 squad like he did at the U17 level, he would have been drafted significantly higher than the mid-fourth round slot he eventually settled into. Like many USNTDP grads, he has plus hockey IQ, and excels in a supportive role, capable of producing offensively at a middle six level and doing his part to keep the opposition off the boards. As he has matured physically, his once blazing speed has been subdued, but he is still very fast at top speed.

10 Sasha Chmelevski – A somewhat divisive player from the 2017 draft class, Chmelevski is a beguiling puck handler with a strong wrist shot, both of which give him exciting offensive potential. Where the division comes in is in some of the traits that are more indirect in terms of production. His skating lacks that extra step needed to gain clearance from opponents, although it is partially mitigated by strong edges. Secondly, he plays soft. Can be a liability off the puck and struggles against physical defenders.

11 Noah Rod – A preternaturaly mature player who has been playing grown-ups in Switzerland since he was 18, Rod has lately developed into a player who could also be counted on to produce offensively. An agitator at heart, his aggressiveness has contributed to a checkered injury history. A trusted backchecker and forechecker, he is always pressuring his opponent, no matter which side of the puck he is on. His ceiling is as a good skating energy line player. Will play in the AHL this year.

12 Karlis Cukste – Drafted out of Latvia, Cukste has made the transition to the game in North America pretty smoothly, first with a strong season with Chicago in the USHL and followed by a promising freshman campaign with Quinnipiac. He was also Latvia’s most consistent threat on an otherwise overmatched WJC team. A very physical defender, he is strongest in his own end with good gap control and positional play, but is also more than competent with the puck.

13 Noah Gregor – Although injuries ultimately held him back, Gregor was showing promising development in his first post-draft season. A versatile forward with a good engine, he plays with his head up allowing his plus offensive vision to be realized. More a playmaker than a shooter when he was drafted, he has become more skilled at finishing this year as well. Has average size and could stand to be a bit more physical.

14 Filip Sandberg – Although not a big point producer in the SHL, Sandberg was highly touted as a two-way, extremely versatile forward with Swedish champions HV71. Undersized, but strong and aggressive, he skates hard and shows a good shot along with useful puck skills. Quick to loose pucks he was a trusted penalty killer and will have a chance to play right away in a bottom six role for the Sharks.

15 Adam Helewka – A late-bloomer, Helewka exploded offensively in his age 20 season for Spokane, convincing the Sharks to use a fourth round pick on him in the process. Although his first pro year started off slowly, by year’s end, he was showing ability to drive possession thanks to solid vision and patience. He also showed some of his skating chops and it looked like a moderate amount of goal scoring ability as well. He has bottom six potential.

16 Rourke Chartier – A good two-way center, Chartier had a positive first pro season. He was able to demonstrate that his hockey IQ was still an above average trait and his pace of play was up to snuff. Like many high scoring CHL forwards, he used his first AHL foray to grow accustomed to playing further down the depth chart. Given that first step, he will have a chance to play in a more offensively-driven role this year, to see where his ceiling lies.

17 Julius Bergman – Although he has received positive accolades for smooth play for years, Bergman may be the most overrated player in the San Jose system. He is a nice passer and has certainly improved his off the puck play since his OHL days, but this is ultimately a player with few truly above average tools. His skating and shot are both OK, and he holds his own physically, but none of those traits can be considered dangerous. He has yet to prove that he deserves a longer look.

18 Ivan Chekhovich – The Sharks were very lucky to draft Chekhovich as one of the final picks of the draft. By all accounts, he should have gone off the board three or four rounds earlier after following up a strong first season in North America with a dominant performance for Russia at the WU18. Although not physical, he plays bigger than his size and works well near the net. His offensive tools all grade out well with his hands working especially well to set him up for scoring chances.

19 Mario Ferraro – An exciting offensive blueliner with some dynamic qualities, Ferraro emerged last year from relative obscurity to finish second among all USHL defensemen in scoring. Quick with strong puckhandling skills, he plays much bigger than his listed height and weight would suggest. So even though he looks very good rushing the puck up the ice, and works hard on D, he will have to prove himself anew next year playing for UMass-Amherst.

20 Joakim Ryan – A mobile blueliner from Cornell, Ryan has proven that he can contribute offensively from the blueline since finally signing. Last year, he also proved that he could score from the blueline with a solid point shot. What keeps him from ranking higher on this list is a lack of vision. He can handle the puck, but tends to wildness when pressed to pass it off. Also, he struggles transitioning back to defensive work. Finally, at 24, he has limited room left to develop.

Although the Sharks’ system is not the most exciting in the game, it is among the deepest. Drafting heavily from the college-bound ranks, also has typically meant needing patience as their prospects developed, at times slowly. This allows the team to focus on the big picture, letting them be more deliberate with their choices when it is time to promote from within.

Scouting Reports: Czech, Swiss – Radim Salda, Jakub Galvas, Damien Riat, Noah Rod, Raphael Prassl

Dennis Schellenberg — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 14:42:36 +0000

The Czech Republic at The 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament including Radim Salda and Jakub Galvas featured below.

Radim Salda	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: D, Shoots L	H/W: 6-1", 180 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	HC Hradec Kralove U20, Czech U20 (35-7-8-15-50)

Skating: Salda is a smooth-skating defenceman. He is agile on his skates, shows nice pivots and edgework. He possesses decent top speed and is able to move in all directions with ease. He is also a good backward skater. Grade: 55

Shot: Salda possesses decent shot power and accuracy and can beat goaltenders cleanly. He is not a guy that just shoots with every open lane he sees but rather waits for the right moment to fire the puck. He uses all of his shot arsenal. Grade: 55

Skills: An offensive-minded defenceman who looks for an offensive spark in many of his shifts, Salda often thinks the game offensively when carrying the puck. He is able to play long outlet passes that open up room and help to transition his team’s game quickly. He can also handle the puck carefully. Sometimes, he slips int a tendency of making too many complicated passes and would need to simplify his game with the puck a bit. Grade: 55

Smarts: Salda plays aggressively along the boards and does not give puck carriers time or room to make plays. He uses his active stick to do so and tries to put pressure on puck carriers, especially in the corners. He reads passing lanes well and goes down to his knees to cut off lanes. Often uses all of his body to interfere passes and makes himself as big as possible. He has a good nose for puck interceptions and anticipates stealing the puck. As mentioned above, he likes to join rushes, however sometimes over commits and gets caught leaning in too far offensively, leaving his team susceptible to quick counter attacks. Grade: 50

Physicality: Although he is not an overly physical player nor all that big and heavy in size, Salda competes hard in battles and does not back off in corners. He is capable of playing a gritty game and goes hard after puck carriers, without laying out big hits. Grade: 55

Summary: Radim Salda is an offensive-minded defenseman who likes to think the game offensively. He possesses decent hands and does not show issues when handling the puck. I like his aggressiveness on puck carriers and the active stick he uses to interfere plays. Especially as he is not overly big in size, but he does all those gritty things to make puck carriers feel uncomfortable. He definitely needs to work on his positioning game, especially when he joins rushes and plays over aggressively, he loses his position and commits space and open ice to opponents. Salda has the tools to become a two-way defender at NHL-level, but needs to mature his game. He looks to me like a mid-round pick.

Jakub Galvas	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: D, Shoots L	H/W: 5-11", 165 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	HC Olomouc, Czech Extraliga (36-1-5-6-14)

Skating: Galvas’ skating is not an issue as it gets him where he needs to be. Mobility and speed-wise he is around average, however he does not possess very explosive first strides which make him look a bit slow from time to time, creating a false impression of his overall skating ability. Grade: 50

Shot: Not being a pure offensive-minded defenseman, Galvas typically shows some issues when firing the puck with aim. His shots lack both power and accuracy. Grade: 40

Skills: Galvas plays it very safe in the defensive zone and does not commit a lot of mistakes as he carries the puck with care and does not go for dangerous passes. Most of his passes are accurate although there are essentially safety-first passes, not going for long opening passes too much. Grade: 45

Smarts: Jakub Galvas possesses great timing when using his active stick to create turnovers and steal the puck, using his stick to separate opposing forwards from the puck successfully. He also possesses good timing when closing the gap along the boards. He is a smart defenseman who understands the game well defensively; this is where he definitely excels best as he is a very dependable stay-at-home defender. Grade: 55

Physicality: Galvas is not overly big in size but possesses good strength and balance. He is able to play physically along the boards and can lay out big hits if needed. He is definitely not afraid to lay the body and takes a hit to make a play if needed. Grade: 60

Summary: I would describe Jakub Galvas more as a stay-at-home defenseman, someone you can pair with an offensive-minded player to keep a good balance. His offensive skills are somewhat limited, but defensively he plays a very reliable game and does not commit many mistakes. He also brings a solid physical game to the table which will make him a nice addition in one of the middle rounds. Galvas spent the majority of the season in the highest Czech league which made him defend against older and stronger players, something that should help to prepare him for the pro game in North America.

TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 28: Switzerland's Noah Rod #26 plays the puck while Russia's Alexander Bryntsev #12 chases him down during preliminary round action at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Noah Rod	2014 Draft (53rd - San Jose Sharks)
Position: RW, Shoots L	H/W: 6-0", 190 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Geneve-Servette, NLA (27-5-9-14-22)

Skating: Noah Rod is an agile skater and shows no issues with mobility. He possesses good top speed and quickness in his first steps. Overall, he is a strong skater and is quick on his feet. Grade: 55

Shot: Like with many of Rod’s attributes, his shot is decent but not outstanding. He can fire the puck with solid quickness and shot power, however he needs to work on his shot accuracy a bit. Grade: 50

Skills: Rod possesses good hands and can move the puck with impressive quickness. He can also stickhandle fairly well and shows some nice puck moves. That said, he might not possess high-end scoring skills. He is also prone to unnecessary turnovers. Grade: 50

Smarts: Rod will do all he can to make his team better. He is very well aware of his defensive responsibilities and backchecks, always trying to cover his man. He likes to go to the dirty areas and create havoc, does not shy away from crashing the net with or without the puck. He positions himself effectively in front of net. He is a good forechecker and knows how to put pressure on opposing defenders. One thing that is for sure is that Rod brings lots of energy and competitiveness to ice. Grade: 55

Physicality: His physical game is a bit conflicting as on one side he is a feisty player who gets under opponents' skin. He likes to intimidate players physically and finishes checks when forechecking. He plays a tough physical game and likes to get his nose dirty in after whistle scrums. On the other hand, Rod needs to gain more strength to compete against bigger and stronger players and the lacks size and strength to play the type of game he would like to play. Although I would like to give him a better rating, his lack of strength and injury history prevents me from doing so. Grade: 50

Summary: Since being drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the 2014-draft, Noah Rod has had trouble staying healthy in the Swiss league and has only played in 27 games this season. Next season is crucial for Rod and the Sharks as they really need him to stay healthy through the season, otherwise his dream of playing in the NHL could take a setback. He might never be the most talented or skilled player on his team but he is a guy that carries his heart on his sleeve and who does all he can to help his team win. He shows great work ethic and possesses decent puck skills. Compliments aside, I personally don’t think he can ever live up to the expectations of a second round pick.

Damien Riat	2016 Draft (117th - Washington)
Position: LW, Shoots R	H/W: 6-0", 165 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Geneve-Servette, NLA (46-7-7-14-36)
	Switzerland U20, WJC (5-1-5-6-8)

Skating: Damien Riat is a powerful and speedy overall skater. He possesses quiet powerful strides and a decent to good top speed. To reach that top speed, he uses only few powerful strides to accelerate. He also shows decent quickness in his feet. Overall, his skating is slightly above-average, without being an outstanding skater. Grade: 55

Shot: Generally speaking, Riat possesses a good shot and can use his shooting tools as a weapon. His wrist shot is hard and accurate and can elevate the puck with good velocity. He does not use his slap shot too much and prefers to use his wrister instead. Grade: 55

Skills: Riat dishes out the puck with good accuracy and can execute crisp passes. He likes to play powerful and long passes, mostly over multiple lines, to transition the game quickly and for quick counter attacks. His puckhandling skills are decent and good enough to rate it as average, although he is not a guy with flashy hands or who shows fancy moves or dekes. Grade: 50

Smarts: Riat goes to the front of net to create havoc and does not shy away from getting his nose dirty. He also likes to go into the high-traffic areas and screen goaltenders. He plays a sound two-way game and is very well aware of his defensive zone responsibilities. He plays most of his shifts with a good energy level and rarely takes shifts off, mostly works very hard and keeps his feet moving during shifts. He also supports his defensive group and knows when he needs to contribute in his own zone and when he can join rushes. Riat can also be used killing penalties and played big minutes on his team’s shorthanded unit. Grade: 55

Physicality: Although he is not big in size, Riat plays a gritty style of game and likes to mix things up after the whistle. He plays most shifts with a physical edge and finishes checks while forechecking, where he does not give puck carriers an easy time. He is not a guy that lays out big hits, but does not shy away from any battle. Grade: 50

Summary: Damien Riat has been a steady contributor for his team in his third season back from North America. He saw a slight drop in points, even though he played similarly to how he played last year. He is a hard-working two-way forward who possesses some offensive upside, if, however limited. Riat likes to get physical and can also be used on shorthanded shifts, where he was a constant contributor this season. He was an important part of the Swiss WJC team and could step up to a more offensive role as he does not see big minutes with Servette-Geneve in the Swiss men's league. I am looking forward to next season, where I expect Riat to take the next step, contributing offensively in a more dominant way.

Raphael Prassl	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: C/RW, Shoots L	H/W: 6-0", 175 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	GC Kusnacht Lions, NLB (36-5-11-16-24)
	Switzerland U20, WJC (5-0-1-1-4)

Skating: Raphael Prassl is an agile skater, possessing powerful first strides and with decent top speed. He is smooth and fluid on his skates, but does not have the burner tag, does not play with a high-energy level and is more of a “floater”. Although his first steps are powerful, they could be more explosive. Playing at the WJC against players from his age group showed that he can be a dominant skater if he plays with a higher energy level. Grade: 50

Shot: To be clear, Prassl is definitely not an finisher, but is a pass-first guy. Therefore, it is not the easiest task to mention something about his shot as he often prefers to pass to a better positioned player. With that being said, I would like to add that especially at the U20-level he is more comfortable shooting the puck. His shot power on his wrister is actually pretty decent and I would definitely like to see him shooting the puck more often at the pro level. Grade: 45

Skills: Prassl possesses good hands and shows solid puckhandling skills, especially in tight, where he remains calm and makes plays. He is able to carry the puck up the ice through the neutral zone and enter the zone smoothly. His passes are accurate and he can play a dominant offensive game setting up scoring chances. Prassl is often the leader on the powerplay with players giving him the puck and the responsibility to set up plays. Grade: 50

Smarts: Prassl is a really smart player who uses all of his Hockey IQ to make good decisions. He has great vision and sees open ice very well. Combined with his good passing skills, this makes him a dangerous set up guy. His overall game awareness is above-average. When not possessing the puck, he shows solid understanding of positioning and backchecks well. He is aware of his defensive responsibilities. He can be used in all game situations with his skill set and smarts. Uses an active stick to prevent players from shooting the puck to the net and is an effective poke-checker, and is good at intercepting passes. He likes to circle in the offensive zone and shows good patience and calmness with the puck as he awaits the perfect moment for setting up scoring chances. Grade: 55

Physicality: Although not smallish in size, unfortunately Raphael Prassl does not make use of his body too much in the physical department. He does not go into board battles and often uses his good active stick to make poke checks instead of using his body to gain puck control. That said, he is exceptionally good at protecting the puck using his long reach to keep it away from opponents. Grade: 40

Summary: I have always liked watching Raphael Prassl play hockey because of his smarts. His vision and Hockey IQ are both above-average and that automatically makes him an interesting player to watch. He also plays a sound two-way game and can be used in many game situations. He will re-enter the draft this year and his biggest issue is still his lack of physical game and his poor energy-level. Too often he just floats around the ice and I would like to see him playing with more grit and more energy. He has spent most of his year in the second highest pro league in Switzerland and was again an important contributor for his team this season. I do not see him getting much playing time with his orginial team, the ZSC Lions of the NLA, and he will probably need to move to another organization to receive a legitimate opportunity at high level playing time. I see him as a valuable team player at a smaller organization, where he could take over a bigger role. He played dominantly in his games at U20-level and showed that he has some leadership qualities.

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: World Junior Scouting

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:42:04 +0000

This week the Waiver Wire takes a look at some already drafted prospects participating in the World Junior Championship for the fantasy General Managers in deep keeper and dynasty leagues. Typically the WJC is a 19 year old tournament, but this year it has been dominated by draft eligible players headlined by Auston Matthews of the USA who is the consensus top ranked prospect. Finland has their dynamic duo of Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrick Laine along with defenseman Olli Juolevi from the London Knights. These players will be snapped up in the early rounds of your fantasy draft in dynasty leagues, but here are some names of players you may be able to add to your prospect roster with a waiver wire pick up now as they are already drafted.

1. Denis Malgin, C/LW Switzerland – Florida

Malgin was a fourth round pick of the Panthers in 2015 and was the offensive driving force for team Switzerland who had another impressive tournament and are a rising international force in hockey. Malgin scored nine points in six games, but only had one goal.

2. Christian Dvorak, C/LW USA – Arizona

The London Knights were well represented in this year’s WJC with draft eligible Matt Tkachuk, Juolevi, Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dvorak. In his draft year, Dvorak suffered an injury which cost him much of his season allowing him to fall under the radar. He had a strong season last year playing with Max Domi and Mitch Marner and is lighting up the OHL again this year. He was offensively strong for USA scoring three goals and five assists in seven games leading USA to a Bronze. Dvorak has top six upside and could be reunited with Domi in Arizona as soon as next season.

3. Adrian Kempe, LW Sweden – Los Angeles

Kempe was a first round pick of the Kings in 2014 and has made his North American debut this season in the AHL where he has an impressive 16 points in 21 games as a rookie for the Ontario Reign. Last year at the WJC he impressed with eight points in six games for Sweden and was a key offensive player again this year with three goals and eight points in seven games. Don’t be surprised if Kempe gets a cup of coffee with the Kings before the season ends, and expect him to push for a roster spot next season.

4. Dmytro Timashov, LW/RW Sweden – Toronto

Timashov had a breakout season in his draft year exploding for 90 points in 66 games for the Quebec Ramparts in the QMJHL. His stock rose higher in the Memorial Cup where he scored three goals and had four points in five games. He was a standout prospect in the Leafs rookie camp and training camp and was one of Sweden’s more dangerous offensive players at this year’s WJC scoring two goals and five assists for seven points in seven games. Timashov is well under the radar as a fifth round pick by the Leafs in 2015 but the Leafs believe he may be their best prospect from the draft after Marner.

5. Sebastian Aho, C/W Finland – Carolina

After going undrafted in 2014, Carolina snapped up Aho in the second round of the 2015 draft. Aho plays in Liiga, the pro league in Finland for Karpat and is having an impressive season scoring 21 points in 26 games this season. He has been playing on a line with the two draft eligible superstars Puljujarvi and Laine for Finland who almost certainly both are top five picks in the 2016 NHL draft. Aho has not looked out of place on the Finish top line scoring two points per game in the tournament with 14 points in seven games.

6. Pavel Kraskovsky, C Russia – Winnipeg

The tall and lanky Russian centre had a strong WJC performance on one of Russia’s top lines. Although Kraskovsky did not have a dominant offensive performance in terms of stats, his play received wide praise and at times was a standout. I first took notice of Kraskovsky in last year’s Subway super series CHL challenge where he was a dominant player in the game I saw. At 6’4” and only 185 pounds, he needs time and bulk before he will be ready to contribute in the NHL and to your fantasy roster. If you have a deep prospect bench, and can be patient, Kraskovsky cold pay dividends for you down the road.

7. Alex Nedeljkovic, G USA – Carolina

Both goalies for the U.S. are worthy of consideration for this list. Nedeljkovic played in more games, and was the go to goalie in the Bronze Medal game. Nedeljkovic was solid posting an impressive 1.66 GAA in six games. New York Rangers prospect and heir apparent to Henrik Lundqvist, Brandon Halverson only played in two games but posted an outstanding 0.65 GAA and a .973 save%. Both could project as future starting goalies.

Honorable Mentions:

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Kasperi Kapanen entered the tournament with high expectations and pressure after a disappointing showing last year. He started the tournament slow, but finished strong and was a positive factor in the medal round for Finland scoring five points in seven games in the end, including the game winning Golden goal in overtime. San Jose Sharks prospect Noah Rod was a standout for the Swiss scoring six points in six games. Aleksi Saarela was a 2015 third round pick of the New York Rangers who is playing for Assat in the Liiga league and has 15 points in 27 games this season. He was impressive for the Host team scoring seven points in seven games.