Nolan Allan – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 16:46:45 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 02: Connor Bedard #98 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche on April 2, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Despite being Connor Bedard’s second season in the NHL and the grand designs management had for taking a big step towards returning to the playoffs, the 2024-25 season couldn’t have been a bigger disappointment all-around for Chicago. The Blackhawks finished with 61 points, a nine-point improvement over 2023-2024, and had the second worst record in the league to San Jose for the second straight season. General manager Kyle Davidson’s plan to surround Bedard and the rest of their younger players with veterans fell flat and stunted their prospects’ growth in ways. Chicago had the league’s worst metrics at five-on-five regarding CorsiFor percentage (44.1) and expected goals for percentage (43.0) and they allowed the most goals (207). Oddly enough, they had the league’s seventh best power play and were middle of the road (14th) in penalty killing. The Blackhawks must show sizable progress this year or else management changes could be on the horizon at a vital time.

What’s Changed?

The Blackhawks will move ahead with new head coach Jeff Blashill. The former Red Wings bench boss comes in after he was an assistant for Jon Cooper in Tampa Bay for the past three seasons and with such a young team to work with, it’ll be up to him to guide Bedard and company into the next level. Changes were kept to a minimum on the ice, however. Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez retired. They brought back Sam Lafferty in a trade with Buffalo and added forward Andre Burakovsky from Seattle for Joseph Veleno to give their top six more speed and skill. In free agency, their biggest moves were retaining and locking up their own guys. Ryan Donato re-signed for four years, $16 million and they extended young star-to-be Frank Nazar for seven years, $46.13 million. What will make this team look different are their own prospects who will get more run. Forwards like Nazar, Oliver Moore and Lukas Reichel will get more play as will defencemen Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov.

What Would Success Look Like?

If things break right for Chicago, they’ll play fast and exciting hockey and allow their younger players to be creative. Blashill’s arrival as head coach comes with a history of developmental success with USA Hockey as well as the lessons learned from coaching in Detroit and assisting in Tampa Bay. If that translates into Bedard living up to his potential and becoming an elite No. 1 center, it’ll be worth the pain they dealt with last season. But it starts with Bedard and has to trickle down to the other young players to take big steps. From Korchinski to Levshunov to Nazar, all of them must improve noticeably and get Chicago out of the Central Division basement and into the wild card picture.

What Could Go Wrong?

The trouble with youth is that they don’t all break through at the same time and sometimes they don’t break through at all. Although last year’s team was built around veterans playing the role of guiding hands, this season will lean heavily on the cadre of top prospects they’ve added over the years. If we’ve learned anything from other teams going through the same thing in the past it’s that not everyone can keep up. If Bedard struggles again this season, it’ll be a crushing turn of events because everything is built around his eventual rise to the level of Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid-like ability. Other young guys can go through the motions, but Bedard cannot this season, especially with a big extension due to him soon.

Top Breakout Candidate

Last season, Frank Nazar had 26 points in 53 games upon being called up from the AHL where he had 24 points in 21 games in Rockford. What we saw out of him was a guy who could give some juice to Bedard and allowed Chicago to have a top line that could have some fun playing hockey. He’ll be counted upon to center his own line this season and if he has the same kind of jump to his game, it’ll make the new contract he signed look like a bargain in no time.

FORWARDS

Connor Bedard

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	35	50	85	1.04

The honeymoon phase is over for the former first overall pick. It’s hard to think of a lot of 19-year-olds with two 60+ point seasons in the NHL where the discussion around them is so negative, but the burden of expectations is weighing heavily on Bedard right now. Touted as a generational talent, it’s easy to see why the world is expected of him. He looks like a threat to score whenever he’s on the ice and has vision that even some of the most talented players in the world can only dream of. It just hasn’t resulted in elite results yet for him. His rookie season was promising enough, albeit derailed from a broken jaw, and the feeling was that he has stagnated since. He has a lethal wrist shot but hasn’t been able to score from distance like he did in junior, his defensive play is heavily scrutinized and he’s not a fast skater, so his flaws started to get noticed more. The one thing Bedard is elite at right now is gaining entry with possession, setting up rush chances for his teammates. This can get overlooked because he doesn’t always get on the scoresheet, but the elite skill is there. The Hawks also didn’t generate chances at an elite rate off Bedard’s entries, which is a combination of him not figuring out how to score from distance yet, knowing when to pass after gaining the line and maybe taking the puck to the net more. His defensive play is something that can get better as he gets older but figuring out how to stop leaving so much offence on the table from their star player should be the first priority for Chicago.

Teuvo Teravainen

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
78	16	37	53	0.68

Teravainen’s reunion with the Hawks went nicely, although maybe a little different than how they anticipated. They started the year with him as the primary linemate and setup guy for Connor Bedard and the two barely saw any time together at even strength after October. After the split, Teravainen spent most of his time on a more defensive-oriented line with Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. This played to his strengths, as Teravainen is one of the better two-way wingers in hockey with his awareness in the defensive zone and knack for breaking plays up at the last second. Even strength production is his one concern going forward, as almost half of his points came on the power play last season. This is something that could go either way this coming season because if Bedard and the Hawks power play improves, Teravainen will reap the benefits. He has been a power play mainstay for most of his career, acting as the quarterback from the right wall and that should continue into next season. Not needing a lot of puck touches to be effective makes Teravainen an easy player to move around the lineup, so he is going to be a key piece as the Hawks try to break out of what has been a brutal rebuilding period. His late season chemistry with youngster Frank Nazar was encouraging to see if you’re looking for something to build on for the upcoming season.

Ryan Donato

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	25	28	53	0.65

Having a shoot-first mentality has its benefits and Ryan Donato reaped the reward of it. The 31 goals he scored last season awas a career high at any level he has played at and the first time he has ever scored more than 20 in the NHL. He also more than doubled his career high in points. It’s hard to call it a breakout season since he’s 29 years old with almost 500 games under his belt, but you have to give credit where it's due. Donato has always been blessed with great hands and for years he only got to show it during shootouts or penalty shots. Last year things just fell into place for him, getting lots of ice-time with Bedard or other playmakers like Teravainen and consistently finding ways to get open. His own playmaking game also improved, excelling at the give-and-go game and finding the soft spots in the coverage. He might have been Bedard’s best friend by the end of the season because he gave him some form of linemate consistency after months of trial and error early in the season. The Hawks certainly valued it, opting to re-sign him instead of trading him during a career season. The shooting mindset has always been part of his game, having some moderate success with it during his brief stint with the Kraken, but his results last year were somewhat unprecedented. He’s never had a linemate as good as Bedard, with the closest thing possibly being Adam Fox back in his Harvard days. Repeating this now that teams might have more of a book on him is going to be the challenge.

Tyler Bertuzzi

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	24	21	45	0.55

Bringing in Tyler Bertuzzi made a lot of sense on paper. A tough, net-front player with some finesse is who most teams want to pair their stars with. The match didn’t go according to plan, mostly because Bertuzzi spent most of the first half of the season with Taylor Hall and an assortment of centers instead of Bedard. The duo only played together on the power play and even then, there wasn’t much chemistry with Bertuzzi playing a stationary role in front of the net and the Hawks having trouble creating any puck movement. He had scored only five goals in his first 21 games but began to turn a corner after the Hawks made a coaching switch. He started to get more regular minutes with Bedard and had a nice run in the middle of the season which helped Bertuzzi hit the 20-goal mark again. His fit with the Hawks outside of the offensive zone was a little awkward because he’s a smart player who knows where to be, but doesn’t skate or pass the puck well while the play is moving forward. It makes automatically putting him with Bedard a quandary because there might be better, less limited options there, but you also don’t want Bertuzzi to be a drag on your second line, as he was for most of the season. In the second year of a four-year contract, the Hawks have some time to figure this out.

Frank Nazar

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	24	32	56	0.73

If you watched any of Nazar’s games and timed his shifts in the AHL, he would be close to 23-25 minutes a night. The Hawks didn’t give him that level of leeway, but the youngster did get regular second line minutes along with time on both special teams units. Nazar showed a little of everything in his prolonged call-up stint. You saw some of the game-breaking skill, especially off the rush. The deception he showed with some of the goals he scored without a pass was impressive and as his playmaking continues to develop, he should be a great dual threat on the Hawks second line. He slowly got more comfortable in the NHL game as the season went on. He was primarily a rush threat early on and getting better at creating off second chances in the offensive zone. Stealing pucks was one of his trademarks both in college and the NHL and he’s still developing strength to do it effectively at the NHL level. He also protects the puck well in open ice, allowing him to create some dangerous shots in tight spaces, but he did have some plays die when defencemen played the body on him. There is a lot of tenacity in Nazar’s game, he’s always the first to loose pucks and wants the play to run through him. It bodes well for his future because he has a lot of skill and has the will to play more of a grinding game, now it’s all about getting stronger so he can do it more effectively against NHLers.

Andre Burakovsky

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	14	26	40	0.53

As the hunt for more scoring continues, the Hawks are taking a small risk by adding Burakovsky for the final two years of his contract. He was arguably the most disappointing of the Kraken’s free agent signings, struggling to stay healthy and produce during his time there. Last year was his first in which he was mostly healthy and he didn’t come close to what they were expecting out of him. Burakovsky’s calling card is his strength in transition, he’s excellent at creating offence off the rush and the challenge has been becoming less of a perimeter player. His skill level with the puck is borderline elite, as he can anticipate plays from the outside better than almost everyone. It’s what makes him lethal and also very frustrating to watch because he tries a lot of plays that are very difficult to execute, and it doesn’t always workout. He almost never drives play well enough to make up for it either, so it’s really up to the team to decide if the positives outweigh the negatives with him. His skillset in transition meshes well with the style the Hawks want to play, so this is a good spot for Burakovsky to turn his career around. He’s never been a top line guy, playing in the 15-16 minute range even during his best years with the Avalanche, so he might be more of what the Hawks already have if his struggles to find the back of the net continue.

Lukas Reichel

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
67	9	15	24	0.36

As the new prospects come in, old ones will be phased out and Reichel is dangerously close to the line there. Not producing much in his three NHL seasons, he’s been mostly seen as a disappointment as a former first round pick. Transitioning from being the best player on their AHL club for years to a complementary piece isn’t easy, as he’s used to having the puck on his stick all the time and having everything go through him. This could work for him in the NHL, but Reichel has yet to figure out how to score with any consistency or use his teammates well. The only thing he’s really excelled at is carrying the puck through the neutral zone, which is a good skill to have, but it becomes less of a factor when your defensive game isn’t great, and you aren’t scoring either. Last year was all about finding a role for him and the Hawks couldn’t seem to get him going no matter what they tried. He’s proven in international tournaments that he can be a complementary piece and play well away from the puck, but the NHL is a different animal. With a new wave of prospects coming in, this season is likely Reichel’s last chance to prove he can be part of the solution for the Hawks.

Nick Foligno

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	13	18	31	0.42

Shifting Foligno from Bedard’s linemate to more of a defensive role was the best move for both parties. The veteran enjoyed a small renaissance in his point production with the Hawks but feeding him power play time and minutes on the top line wasn’t working and he was more comfortable forming a checking duo with Jason Dickinson. He actually produced at a better rate at even strength this year than he did the previous season when he was featured on the top line. He was mainly acquired by the Hawks to fill a leadership role, but his ability to play any position is nice to have. You can move him up and down the lineup, but his days of playing on the top line are likely done. His legs aren’t what they used to be, and it has been a long time since he was a high-level offensive player. There isn’t a lot that he does in the offensive zone to help on a top line except retrieve pucks and be a netfront presence, which Chicago signed Bertuzzi for and it made Folgino redundant in that spot. There’s still a lot to like about the player. He did well in a checking role, providing a defensive presence on a forward corps that desperately needed it and showed some flash on the penalty kill with a couple shorthanded goals. Foligno still plays a lot for a defensive forward, especially at his age, so he could be moved higher in the lineup again if the Hawks are looking for a spark.

Ilya Mikheyev

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	14	18	32	0.42

Like most of the Hawks, Mikheyev started slow with only two goals in his first 20 games, yet finished the year with his second 20-goal season. It was somewhat surprising to see him get to that mark because the speedy forward had no problem generating chances, he just couldn’t finish. This has been a recurring trend for him over his career, shooting below 10% in his lone full NHL season, but he debunked that trend as the season went on and finished strong. He was one of the Hawks more trusted players, used heavily on the penalty kill and he was one of the more active players in the league at creating shorthanded entries. While the lack of finish was part of his reputation, his defensive game was another. He anticipates plays well in the defensive zone, has a knack for picking off passes and turning them into breakaway opportunities the other way. His speed keeps defences honest even if his finishing has been inconsistent over the year. It’s why he’s played stretches on the top line if they need a spark or someone to stabilize things. A reliable veteran like Mikheyev is nice to have in the lineup and could be an interesting trade piece this season with some prospects knocking on the door for the Hawks.

DEFENCE

Connor Murphy

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	1	14	15	0.21

The one sign of consistency in what has been an abysmal era of hockey for Chicago is Connor Murphy. He is entering his ninth year with the Hawks and has been a steady top four player for almost his entire tenure. Murphy usually starts most of his shifts in the defensive zone and spends a lot of his minutes eating hits from opposing forecheckers. He’s solid enough with the puck to make the connecting plays out of the zone and join the attack if needed, but it’s mostly an afterthought with him. So much that last year he tied a career high in points with only 19. When he does jump in, though, he usually makes it count, as he doesn’t take a lot of empty calorie wristers from 60 feet away and usually waits until he has a good chance if he’s going to shoot. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s nice when your main shutdown D contributes like that. He’s also adjusted his game to fit the Hawks brand of firewagon hockey, learning how to disrupt plays after the entry rather than stepping up at the blue line. This coming year could be his biggest challenge yet with the departure of Seth Jones. Murphy’s always played top minutes, but he had Duncan Keith in front of him previously and then Seth Jones. He got a taste of it last year, but the Hawks opted top play some of their younger defencemen high in the lineup while keeping Murphy in the same role. We will see if new coach Jeff Blashill continues that trend.

Alex Vlasic

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	7	28	35	0.43

Vlasic’s emergence was a revelation to the Hawks blue line. He’s a tall, mobile defenceman that can handle the demands of playing on the top pair. Sometimes you have to let players sink or swim when you’re rebuilding and Vlasic was one of the few players who kept passing every test. Chicago hasn’t been an easy environment for a young defenceman to thrive in the past few years, and Vlasic’s been able to keep his head above water while logging big minutes. He can skate well for a player of his size and uses his long reach to kill plays. The biggest asset to his game is how good he is at retrieving pucks, killing two birds with one stone by nullifying the forecheck and getting the puck moving in the right direction quickly. The Hawks don’t get a lot of controlled breakouts because of the team’s poor defensive structure, but Vlasic is one of the few who can start them consistently. He can also break the puck out himself if he needs to, using those long strides to go coast-to-coast and flip possession. His offence has also come around nicely, especially for someone who starts so many shifts in his own zone. He was a fixture on the power play for most of the season and saw his minutes increase there after the Seth Jones trade. It’s not always the top picks that fill big roster spots when you’re rebuilding and Vlasic is proof of that.

Wyatt Kaiser

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	5	11	16	0.21

With so many young defencemen battling for roster spots, Kaiser’s seniority might give him an inside edge heading into training camp. He doesn’t have the raw skills that some of their other defencemen possess, but almost 100 games of NHL experience are worth something. He’s smaller but has a complementary skillset with some of their star forwards. He loves joining the attack and activating on the cycle, although he didn’t see much of a reward for it on the scoresheet. He was one of the team’s better defenders at killing the rush, using his low center of gravity well to deliver hits and attack forwards directly. He was also the Hawks best defenceman at carrying the puck into the zone, which is a supplementary skill for someone on the third pair, but something that could give him an edge over the other players competing for his spot. Kaiser’s done enough to warrant more of a look, it’s just a matter of whether the Hawks think they have better options within.

Nolan Allan

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
32	1	4	5	0.16

One of the plethora of high defencemen draft picks in Chicago, Allan got a long look in the NHL before getting sent back to Rockford and it’s tough to say where his future lies right now. He fits the mold of a mobile, defensive defenceman but doesn’t have any real standouts skills. He was good enough as a puck-mover with the Hawks but struggled mightily at defending the rush, playing deep in the zone and struggling to kill the play. He can skate well enough to recover but doing it against NHLers was a big learning curve for the young blue liner. It’s part of his game that he has to fine tune because Allan doesn’t contribute much offensively and it’s hard to see that part of his game changing, whereas he can iron out some of the details in how he defends. It’s going to be a crowded training camp in Chicago this fall, so Allen will need to find some sort of niche to start the year on the big club.

GOAL

Spencer Knight

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
48	16	25	4	1	.901	2.08

At the start of last season, Chicago looked ready to glide through their transition phase on the wings - or rather, the well-worn goalie pads - of veteran journeymen Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit. This time around, in the aftermath of a season-ending surgery for Brossoit last August and a mid-season departure for Petr Mrazek to Detroit (he's now soaking up the sun in Anaheim), Chicago is pawing at the ground in anticipation of finally kicking off the Spencer Knight era. If that's not where we all expected it to be, all's the better for Knight - especially with former USNTDP teammate and fellow American up-and-comer Drew Commesso waiting in the wings.

Knight, who was moved to Chicago in March, fared about as well on paper as any of the other netminders who attempted to stem the bleeding for the Blackhawks last year. No single goaltender finished the year with a .900 save percentage in all situations, including Knight - but hopefully, the fact that he was the only goaltender who managed to produce Quality Starts in more than half of his appearances will bode well for Chicago in the long run. He'll likely partner up with Arvid Söderblom for the time being, waiting for Commesso to fully mature and graduate to full-time NHL action, but all eyes will almost certainly be on Knight himself to see what the formerly unflappable prospect can string together. His ability to chameleon his game to match the defence in front of him had been a huge part of his appeal when he was drafted 13th overall in 2019; it will be intriguing to see if he's able to utilize that behind one of the league's most chaotic rebuilds.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #6

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:00:08 +0000

_{CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 14: Frank Nazar #91 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center on April 14, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 6th (Previous Rank - 6th)
GM: Kyle Davidson Hired: October 2021
COACH: Luke Richardson Hired: June 2022

It doesn’t take much to change the course of an organization; just ask the Chicago Blackhawks, who struck gold by winning the draft lottery and landing generational talent Connor Bedard. After his first full season in the NHL, Bedard is already making an unsurprising impact, revitalizing the franchise. The Blackhawks’ youth movement doesn’t stop there, as they have also seen several youngsters graduate to the big league recently, including Lukas Reichel, Alex Vlasic, and Kevin Korchinski.

That list of graduates may grow further next year, with 2024 second overall pick Artyom Levshunov (ranked 16th) pressing for a spot on the Hawks’ blueline out the gate. Although, recent additions to the backend that include Alec Martinez and T.J Brodie may hint at alternative plans.

On the cusp of turning pro is Frank Nazar (57th), who is fresh off a two-year NCAA stint where he contributed nearly a point-per-game (0.89). He joins current Rockford standouts such as Ethan Del Mastro (95th), Wyatt Kaiser, and goaltender Drew Commesso (118th) in the AHL.

Further down the pipeline, the Blackhawks boast a strong group of prospects developing in various walks of North America, including Oliver Moore (80th), Sacha Boisvert (111th), Marek Vanacker (147th), Sam Rinzel (125th) and Nick Lardis (152nd), who all sit comfortably within our top-200 list here at McKeen’s.

With eight picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (so far), including two first-rounders and two second-rounders, Chicago’s prospect pool is set to grow even further in the near future.

Contrary to the belief that the Blackhawks would take a step back for another season to await further reinforcements, the team has bolstered its lineup with veteran talent to complement Bedard. With additions such as Ilya Mikheyev, Pat Maroon, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teräväinen, they may be more competitive than originally predicted.

While the Blackhawks may still be years away from true Stanley Cup contention, the rebuild is progressing smoothly, and the landing is likely to be much softer than most full rebuilds typically endure.

Chicago Blackhawks Top-15 Prospects

1. Artyom Levshunov

Chicago wanted to add a franchise-changing defenceman after they were lucky enough to pick a franchise-changing forward in Connor Bedard last year, and they're hoping they found him in Levshunov this summer. He's a complete blueliner who does everything at a high level, albeit arguably one without a truly elite trait. Not only does he thrive in all the various situations throughout a game, he has the necessary conditioning and inner drive to handle the pressure and workload of being a top-pairing defender. Whether up a goal or down a goal at a key juncture in a game, he’s always ready to go over the boards and has what it takes to get the job done. Levshunov will be a foundational piece for the Blackhawks as they seek to transition out of their rebuild toward being a top Stanley Cup contender once again.

2. Frank Nazar

After being limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury, Nazar was clearly intent on rebounding in a big way this season, and boy did he ever. He scored at a point-per-game pace in the NCAA for Michigan and did the same at the World Juniors, helping the United States win the gold medal. And as if that wasn’t enough, he put a bow on the year by scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He plays the game at a breakneck pace and is able to slice through coverage like a hot knife through butter. He’s equally tenacious without the puck, as there aren’t many forwards out there who are better on the forecheck. Players with his short stature often have a tough time in the NHL, but Nazar just plays so fast and so focused that it’s hard to make contact and slow him down.

3. Oliver Moore

Moore is one of the fastest hockey players in the world, across all ages and leagues and levels, and him being that good in that specific area makes it easier to adjust to new situations, because he knows he always has that elite trait to lean on. That's the main reason why it took him no time at all to find his bearings in the NCAA, and he'll experience a similar luxury when he goes to the AHL. Well, that’s if he even stops there at all on his way to Chicago, which could very well happen. He's also quite smart about how he uses that speed to be a difference-maker for his team all over the ice, and the more his hands can keep catching up to his feet, the more maddening it's going to be for enemy defenders who are tasked with neutralizing him.

4. Ethan Del Mastro

The way that Del Mastro continues to constantly build more and more layers upon the foundation of his game is quite impressive and should not be undervalued. He is making huge strides in his development every year, and his secret is knowing his strengths and steadfastly perfecting them. Mature and poised beyond his years, he sees the ice in front of him with expert awareness and always knows exactly where he needs to be and what his next move is, whether that’s driving play forward or looking to win the puck back. He keeps things simple and no-frills, but that’s a perfectly fine strategy for him to focus on since every decision he makes is usually the correct one. He’s the type of defencemen who could conceivably accumulate more than 1,000 games in the NHL because coaches will always be able to rely on him as a two-way difference-maker.

5. Sacha Boisvert

Boisvert is the kind of top prospect who has more potential than his stats alone would suggest. He's a powerful forward who is strong on the puck and leans more as a shooter than a playmaker, which is a little uncommon for centers, but he makes it work. There are currently some issues with his skating ability and pacing, but what's important to recognize and appeals to scouts is that both of those weaknesses look fixable down the road with the right training and development, and since he's going the college route he'll have plenty of time to work on them. In a different organization there might be more concerns about his eventual effectiveness, especially if he had to do a lot of heavy lifting by himself, but on paper he should fit in very well with Chicago's other forward prospects, who will complement Boisvert's game and help elevate it.

6. Drew Commesso

Commesso’s development to this point could accurately be described as “slow and steady,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to goaltenders. At no point in his three years in the NCAA was he ever within the upper echelon of college goalies, but he was always very good, winning more games than he lost while also helping Boston University win a Hockey East title in 2023. His first year in the AHL was very much in the same mold: good, steady performances from start to finish and respectable statistics overall, even though he never exactly established himself as one of the best netminding prospects in the league. Nevertheless, Stanley Cups have been won before with goalies who are Steady Eddies who didn’t need to steal games single-handedly, so long as they made the right saves at the right times.

7. Sam Rinzel

Rinzel has always been seen as a bit of a long-term project, and Chicago’s expectations were undoubtedly centered around reasonable year-over-year growth. He hasn’t needed to be a major difference-maker yet, so long as he kept getting closer and closer to the projected ceiling of him becoming that kind of player one day. So far, so good. This past season was easily his most impressive one yet, finishing with more points than any other defender on his team, while also guarding his own zone admirably well as a college freshman. He’s the type of big, rangy, right-shooting blueliner that all teams highly covet these days, which is why the Blackhawks used a 1st-round draft pick to acquire him even though he was still a long way away from the NHL at the time. Their patience should pay off eventually so long as they are content to stay the course.

8. Marek Vanacker

Vanacker had a standout sophomore season in the OHL, and what made it extra interesting is that he didn't have a lot of support around him and often had to make his success single-handedly. He's an athletic and assertive winger who builds up huge amounts of power and speed skating in a straight line, and it's difficult to contain him because he can still handle and protect the puck when he's driving play forward in his top gear. These tools also help him excel as a penalty killer who can clear his zone and then push for shorthanded opportunities in the other direction. He might not quite have enough vision, creativity, or pure skill to be a major offensive threat at the NHL level, but if he eventually reaches his ceiling he'll be one of the best middle six wingers in the sport.

9. Nick Lardis

Lardis was a late riser for the 2023 draft and was on such a steep upward trajectory down that stretch, so it's a real shame that his 2023-24 season was sliced in half due to injury. Regardless, he still looked great when he was in the lineup, and then led his team in playoff scoring, albeit in a six-game losing effort in the opening round. He is a blazingly fast skater who is always dangerous on the rush, both on breakaways and in odd-man situations, with quick hands that can open up goalies in different ways. He's also a lethal finisher from the circles when he gets clean shooting looks. His offensive game might never quite be well-rounded enough to become a top six mainstay for an NHL team, but if not, he still has a great shot at becoming a speedy middle six option.

10. Ryan Greene

Greene is a rock-solid, no-frills center who plays an impressively complete game. What he might lack in flash and excitement he more than makes up for with reliability and versatility, the kind of forward that a coach never feels nervous about sending over the boards. Think about the specific type of heavy, strong value that players like Charlie Coyle, Andrew Copp, and J.T. Compher provide, and that will give you a rough idea of what the Blackhawks are hoping to have on their hands one day with Greene once he reaches his peak. While he didn't get as much fanfare as teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, he was also an essential piece of the Boston University squad that made the Frozen Four this spring, and he'll have an even bigger role on the team next season because Celebrini will undoubtedly be in the NHL.

11. Adam Gajan

Goaltenders are more difficult to analyze compared to skaters, and Gajan exemplifies this more than most. He was simply stellar at the past two World Juniors, but far less consistent and reliable in the USHL, despite the stakes being much lower. The good news is that the Slovakian import still has untapped potential, with ideal size and a great blend of quickness, reflexes, and flexibility. He's heading to college next and will have plenty of time to refine things.

12. Nolan Allan

13. Colton Dach

It must be frustrating to be Dach lately, as COVID forced him to miss most of his draft year and then injuries limited his ice time for the past two seasons. At least he was able to be part of a gold medal-winning Canadian roster at the World Juniors and the 2023 WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds, both of which provided beneficial experience. His brand of big-body, puck-possession hockey is working for him in the AHL, when he’s been healthy enough to showcase it.

14. Roman Kantserov

Kantserov’s first full season in the KHL was an eventful one, dressing for all of his team’s playoff games and playing on top lines as they won the league championship. And he did all of that while playing through an injury that required summer surgery. For his efforts he was also a finalist for the KHL’s rookie of the year. He sees the ice well and has a killer instinct when the puck hits his stick.

15. Gavin Hayes

Hayes clearly relished his change of scenery going from the struggling Firebirds to the sturdier Greyhounds, exploding in the playoffs. That big leap forward followed a good track record of steady incremental progress before it. He displays respectable amounts of both power and skill, and he doesn't skip out on his defensive duties. There is stiff competition among forwards within Chicago's prospect pipeline, but Hayes is smart and versatile enough that he should be able to plug into their roster somewhere.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Chicago Blackhawks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:00:55 +0000

ALLENTOWN, PA - MARCH 26: Michigan Wolverines Forward Frank Nazar III (91) prior to the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Final between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on March 26, 2023, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Lottery ball luck changed the course of the franchise with the arrival of Connor Bedard last season. They were once again rewarded for cleaning the house in recent years with the number two overall pick. That should net them another elite young player to join an enviable group of prospects that will grow together and be formidable before very long. They have had five first round picks in the last two NHL drafts. They dropped from 19th to third in organizational depth because of the graduations of Connor Bedard (1st overall, 2023), Kevin Korchinski (7th 2022), and Lukas Reichel (17th2020). Oliver Moore (19th, 2023) and Frank Nazar (13th, 2022) own high-end offensive upside and are ranked 43rd and 60th respectively by McKeens on their overall prospect ranking. Sam Rinzel (25th, 2022) is a longer-term project, but has progressed more rapidly than expected.

The Hawks own four first round picks in the next two drafts. In this year’s draft the team have seven picks in the first three rounds. In 2025, they have seven picks in the first four rounds. Following the draft in June of last year Davidson did get busy adding veterans to surround his youngsters in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Josh Bailey and Corey Perry. Foligno is the only one remaining and you can expect the team to spend some of the draft capital they have accumulated to date. Connor Bedard is only turning 19 this season but is not your typical teenager and is ready to be a dominant player very soon. Davidson would be wise to give the future young stars room to succeed by upgrading the supporting cast. He certainly has the tools in cap space and in picks to add some more core younger players and character veterans to teach the kids how to win.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Frank Nazar	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	`22(13th)	41	17	24	41	18
2	Oliver Moore	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	`23(19th)	39	9	24	33	8
3	Ethan Del Mastro	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	`21(105th)	69	7	30	37	54
4	Drew Commesso	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	`20(47th)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
5	Sam Rinzel	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	`22(25th)	39	2	26	28	20
6	Nick Lardis	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	`23(67th)	37	29	21	50	12
7	Ryan Greene	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	`22(57th)	40	12	24	36	6
8	Adam Gajan	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	`23(35th)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
9	Nolan Allan	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	`21(32nd)	60	5	12	17	47
10	Colton Dach	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	`21(62nd)	48	11	15	26	39
11	Gavin Hayes	RW	19	6-1/175	Fln-Soo (OHL)	`22(66th)	55	37	39	76	20
12	Roman Kantserov	RW	19	5-9/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`23(44th)	53	8	7	15	10
13	Paul Ludwinski	C	20	5-11/185	Kingston (OHL)	`22(39th)	60	23	46	69	27
14	Landon Slaggert	LW	21	6-0/180	Notre Dame (B1G)	`20(79th)	36	20	11	31	10
					Chicago (NHL)	`20(79th)	16	1	3	4	4
15	Aidan Thompson	C	22	5-11/180	Denver (NCHC)	`22(90th)	44	11	19	30	35

1. Frank Nazar, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

After being limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury Nazar was clearly intent on rebounding in a big way this season, and boy did he ever. He scored at a point-per-game pace in the NCAA for Michigan and also did the same at the World Juniors, helping the United States win the gold medal. And as if that wasn’t enough, he put a bow on the year by scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He plays the game at a breakneck pace and is able to slice through coverage like a hot knife through butter. He’s equally tenacious without the puck, as there aren’t many forwards out there who are better on the forecheck. Players with his short stature often have a tough time in the NHL, but Nazar just plays so fast and so focused that it’s hard to make contact and slow him down.

2. Oliver Moore, C, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

3. Ethan Del Mastro, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

The way that Del Mastro continues to constantly build more and more layers upon the foundation of his game is quite impressive and should not be undervalued. He is making huge strides in his development every year, and his secret is knowing his strengths and steadfastly perfecting them. Mature and poised beyond his years, he sees the ice in front of him with expert awareness and always knows exactly where he needs to be and what his next move is, whether that’s driving play forward or looking to win the puck back. He keeps things simple and no-frills, but that’s a perfectly fine strategy for him to focus on since every decision he makes is usually the correct one. He’s the type of defensemen who could conceivably accumulate more than 1,000 games in the NHL because coaches will always be able to rely on him as a two-way difference-maker.

4. Drew Commesso, G, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Commesso’s development to this point could accurately be described as “slow and steady,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to goaltenders. At no point in his three years in the NCAA was he ever within the upper echelon of college goalies, but he was always very good, winning more games than he lost while also helping Boston University win a Hockey East title in 2023. His first year in the AHL was very much in the same mold: good, steady performances from start to finish and respectable statistics overall, even though he never exactly established himself as one of the best netminding prospects in the league. Nevertheless, Stanley Cups have been won before with goalies who are steady eddies who didn’t need to steal games single-handedly, so long as they made the right saves at the right times.

5. Sam Rinzel, D, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

6. Nick Lardis, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Lardis was a late riser for the 2023 draft and was on such a steep upward trajectory down that stretch, so it's a real shame that his 2023-24 season was sliced in half due to injury. Regardless, he still looked great when he was in the lineup, and then led his team in playoff scoring, albeit in a six-game losing effort in the opening round. He is a blazingly fast skater who is always dangerous on the rush, both on breakaways and in odd-man situations, with quick hands that can open up goalies in different ways. He's also a lethal finisher from the circles when he gets clean shooting looks. His offensive game might never quite be well-rounded enough to become a Top 6 mainstay for an NHL team, but if not, he has a great shot at becoming a speedy Middle 6 option.

7. Ryan Greene, C, Boston University (NCAA)

Greene is a rock-solid, no-frills center who plays an impressively complete game. What he might lack in flash and excitement he more than makes up for with reliability and versatility, the kind of forward that a coach never feels nervous about sending over the boards. Think about the specific type of heavy, strong value that players like Charlie Coyle, Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher provide, and that will give you a rough idea of what the Blackhawks are hoping to have on their hands one day with Greene once he reaches his peak. While he didn't get as much fanfare as teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, he was also an essential piece of the Boston University squad that made the Frozen Four this spring, and he'll have an even bigger role on the team next season because Celebrini will undoubtedly be in the NHL.

8. Adam Gajan, G, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Goaltenders are historically more enigmatic and difficult to analyze compared to players at other positions, and Gajan exemplifies this more than most of his peers right now. He has put up some stellar performances against elite competition at the past two World Juniors tournaments, but for some reason has been far less consistent and reliable between the pipes for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers, despite the stakes being much lower. The good news is that the Slovakian import still appears to have a lot of untapped potential, with ideal NHL size and a great blend of quickness, reflexes and flexibility. He's heading to the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall and will have plenty of time while there to refine his technique, dial in his mental acuity, and cut down the number of weak goals that he currently has a tendency to allow.

9. Nolan Allan, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

It’s undeniable that the sport of hockey is getting faster and more purely skilled. However, there will always still be an element of physicality, and that’s where Allan comes in. He’s strong and he’s sturdy, and he’s more than happy to focus on the nitty gritty aspects of the sport, while leaving the more flashy and exciting stuff to others. That said, smarts are more important than violence for modern shutdown defensemen, and he understands this evolution well. His game is more about blocking shots and keeping opposing forwards away from his own net by boxing them out or pinning them to the boards, as opposed to dropping the gloves or chasing thunderous hits. The work he does is still vitally important for team success, especially in the postseason, and there aren’t a lot of other blueliners in his age group who are as good in this particular role.

10. Colton Dach, C, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

It must be quite frustrating to have been Dach lately, as COVID forced him to miss most of his draft season and then injuries have limited his number of games played for the past two consecutive seasons. It must also be frustrating for the Blackhawks, who have only gotten to see small portions of dominating play from one of their prized forward prospects, and who surely worry that all of this missed time during such an important period of his development could be hindering his chances of reaching his full potential. At least he’s been able to be part of a gold medal-winning Canadian roster at the World Juniors and helped the Seattle Thunderbirds win the 2023 WHL title, both of which provided beneficial experience for him, and his brand of big-body, puck-possession hockey has already been working for him in the AHL when he’s been healthy enough to showcase it.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #1

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:17:29 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 10: Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel (27) looks on during a game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Top 2o Chicago Blackhawks Prospects

1. Connor Bedard - C

What more can even be said about Bedard at this point that hasn't been said already? In much the same way that Connor McDavid could skate at a level that no prospect before him ever had, Bedard's shot is unlike anything ever seen before. Not just its unparalleled accuracy and velocity, but also his proficiency with all shot styles, his ability to shoot off either foot, how well he disguises his release, his perfect toe drags to move the puck into better shooting lanes, and his unnatural knack for knowing where, when, and how to shoot. He's also unfairly lethal as a playmaker for many of the same reasons, and the harder opponents try to take away his shot, the easier it is for him to pass the puck over to a wide-open teammate. He's still on the smaller side, and always will be. That said, he is elusive with his skating, which reduces the number of times he has to physically engage, and he reads the play at such an advanced level that he can reliably get a step ahead of opponents mentally when otherwise it might be a close race in terms of footspeed alone. The next NHL superstar has arrived.

2. Lukas Reichel - LW

Everything that Reichel does out on the ice just seems so natural to him. Even as a yet-to-be-drafted teenager playing against men in Germany's top professional league, he looked confident, comfortable, and mature well beyond his years, already like a seasoned veteran. That same aura followed him to the AHL and now NHL, and the Blackhawks have to be hoping that he will be a leader as they slowly and methodically attempt to build their next Cup-contending team. He always seems to be thinking the play ahead of everyone else, always knows what his next move should be, and almost always executes his intentions successfully. He might not have the skating, shot, or playmaking to become one of the very top point producers in the league, but you can expect him to be in the 50-70 point range pretty consistently, and for those seasons to start happening soon.

3. Kevin Korchinski - D

One of the best offensive defensemen in all of junior hockey, Korchinski racked up a ridiculous point total last season, with 73. However, what's important to remember about him is that there is still an enormous amount of growth potential within his game. He's still skinny and slight within his tall frame and could really increase his strength and power if he commits hard to his gym habits. There also remains a lot of work to be done with his reads, decision-making, and overall puck management, as a lot of possessions for the Thunderbirds ended when coming off his stick. On one hand, those existing issues are concerning. On the other hand, if you look at how effective and successful he already is despite these flaws it suggests a salivating potential for just how high his ceiling might reach. The sky's the limit.

4. Frank Nazar

Nazar finally returned to action late in the season last year after a long injury layoff, and there was an undeniable amount of rust for him to shake off before he could really showcase why he was picked by the Blackhawks at 13th overall. Luckily for him, his Michigan team made it all the way to the Frozen Four semifinals, so he was granted a few extra opportunities to get back into the swing of things. He is an electrifying prospect because his feet are always moving, he can manipulate the puck with the best of them, and he can see the ice very well at high speeds, which includes lanes for him to attack the net himself, as well as opportunities to set up a teammate for a better look. He is a little on the smaller side, but he should be able to overcome that with his drive and tenacity.

5. Oliver Moore

Without a doubt, Moore was one of the most, if not the most, dynamic skaters in the 2023 draft class. It is his quickness and his ability to lead the counterattack with pace that makes him such a dangerous offensive player. The anchor of the USNTDP’s second line this season, Moore saw a ton of different linemates on his flanks in order to try to give the U18 team better secondary scoring. While his production may not have been consistent, his two-way effort and engagement always were. There may be some limitations to his ability to blend his quickness and skill and that could prevent him from being a premier playmaker at the next level. It seems extremely likely that Moore will become a very useful NHL player in some capacity, but after a few years at the University of Minnesota, will he end up as a Dylan Larkin type or more of an Andrew Cogliano type?

6. Sam Rinzel

The Blackhawks never expected anything truly elite out of Rinzel right away, so they won't be concerned at all that his 2022-23 season was solid, without being spectacular. And they certainly won't regret taking him as high as 25th overall. The focus has always been on his tantalizing tools, and being patient as he learns to master those tools while moving from high school hockey to the more competitive USHL, and then on to a very good University of Minnesota program next year. Rangy, mobile, right-shooting defensemen hold immense value in the NHL, and teams have to pay a premium to add them or accept playing the long game in their development. However, the signs of growth are showing, such as how Rinzel helped USA win gold at the World Junior A Challenge. If Rinzel pops it won't be right away, but the wait will have been worth it.

7. Drew Commesso

Goaltending prospects don't come much more steady and consistent than Commesso does, as evidenced by his save percentage numbers of the past four seasons. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, as his numbers are consistently pretty good. He's a well-rounded, technically sound netminder who neither has any standout traits, nor any real notable weaknesses. Everything about his game is solid, albeit not spectacular: his play-tracking, his technique, his reflexes, his positioning, and so on. Even his size and natural net coverage is pretty average. That said, sometimes that's all you need out of a goalie to win a championship. He helped his Boston University team reach the Frozen Four, only to be undone in the semifinals against Minnesota, the top-ranked team in the nation. He projects as becoming at least an NHL backup, with a starter's job not out of the question.

8. Nick Lardis

A midseason trade to Hamilton lit a fire under Lardis, transforming him into one of the more dynamic offensive players in the OHL. The key for him will be maintaining that high level of play into this season with the Bulldogs, proving that the conclusion to last season wasn’t an anomaly. Lardis’ combination of quickness and goal scoring ability will make him a very intriguing option for the Blackhawks in the future. With a consistent motor, skill, speed, and scoring ability, he projects as a top six complementary player along the lines of a Jake Guentzel at the next level. However, other areas of his game still require further growth; he is a bit of a long-term project in that regard and that is why he fell to the third round compared to where we had him ranked (32nd) going into the draft. There is a need to expand his game with the puck beyond simply being a North/South attacker, varying his approach. Additionally, he will need to be better in puck protection scenarios and improve his strength away from the puck in the other zones. Even with some inconsistencies, his offensive ceiling is quite high.

9. Ethan Del Mastro

Del Mastro has won gold medals playing internationally for Canada in three straight years, first at the IIHF U18s in 2021 and then the World Juniors in both 2022 and 2023. He played 20 total games across those three tournaments, and over that span he scored exactly zero goals. That's not his whole story as a prospect, but it is a good reflection of it. Del Mastro is a big, responsible defender who is well-suited to a modern shutdown role, with competent skating and puck-handling abilities. He can still go old school and dish out some punishment too. And don't look now, but his offensive game is also coming along, scoring at a point-per-game pace with both of his teams last year in Mississauga and later Sarnia. There might not be a prospect in Chicago's pipeline who has a safer NHL floor than Del Mastro, and a top-four ceiling is a realistic possibility.

10. Ilya Safonov

Safonov is a fantastic example of the value that teams can find by scouting and drafting re-entry prospects. Passed over in both 2019 and 2020, the Blackhawks took a flyer on the hulking Russian centre in the sixth round, 172nd overall, in 2021 and right now that pick is looking incredibly shrewd. He has since grown into a capable, difference-making two-way power forward in the KHL. Perhaps most impressively, he was named the captain of his team at just 21 years of age, the youngest in franchise history. He's so strong, athletic, gritty, and competitive that he is a lot to handle physically, even at the hands of veteran Russian pros and former NHLers. He can chip in points as a net-front presence, though his real value comes from how well he defends and matches up against opposing lines. Chicago will do their damnedest to get him to North America as soon as possible.

11. Colton Dach

Injuries really plagued Dach last year, including a high-profile shoulder injury at the WJC’s. But he was able to return for the WHL playoffs and helped Seattle capture a title. The power forward will try to stay healthy as he turns pro this season and could move quickly through the system if he adjusts to the pace well.

12. Alex Vlasic

Defence is the name of the game for Vlasic, who is a unique player because of his combination of size (6’6”) and mobility. Coming off a solid rookie year in the AHL after turning pro, Vlasic has put himself in contention for a roster spot this year.

13. Adam Gajan

The first goalie taken in the 2023 Draft, Gajan is quite the story. He’s gone from having to make his own recruitment videos to being a top NHL prospect thanks to a tremendous World Juniors for Slovakia. The hyper athletic netminder will be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth this year.

14. Nolan Allen

A WHL champion this year with Seattle (along with fellow Blackhawks prospects Colton Dach and Kevin Korchinski), Allen is a steady, stay at home defender. His upside at the NHL level is likely capped, but he could move quickly through the system thanks to a refined game.

15. Roman Kantserov

The 2023 second round pick offers intriguing offensive upside because of his ability to impact the transition game and play with pace. He will be given time to develop slowly in Russia with the hopes that he can improve his play off the puck.

16. Gavin Hayes

An underrated player in both the OHL and in the Blackhawks’ system, Hayes is coming off of a great year with Flint that saw him hit the 40-goal plateau. A tenacious power winger, he will have his sights set on cracking 50 this year.

17. Ryan Greene

Greene is an athletic pivot who had a very good freshman season with Boston University last year. His quickness and tenaciousness make him a potential middle six, two-way center for the Blackhawks in the future.

18. Cole Guttman

The surprise of the 2022-23 season as Guttman was an immediate impact player at both the AHL and NHL levels after turning pro out of Denver. Intelligent and quick, is he a sneaky Calder candidate for the upcoming year?

19. Wyatt Kaiser

Kaiser jumped immediately to the NHL level after signing out of UMD late last year, playing out the stretch run with the Hawks. The highly mobile defender has a shot at a roster spot this year too, but Chicago may opt to give him time at Rockford first to allow him more significant ice time.

20. Paul Ludwinski

Another Hawks prospect who had injury problems last season, Ludwinski did not have the kind of season with Kingston of the OHL that many people expected. This coming season will serve as a restart for him as he looks to emerge as an offensive leader for a young and improving Frontenacs team.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Chicago Blackhawks

Josh Bell — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:04:38 +0000

If tanking doesn’t exist in the NHL, nobody told Chicago. Kyle Davidson took over as GM in October 2021 after Stan Bowman was suspended. He has been actively emptying the roster since, moving veterans and even younger players such as Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat for draft picks. Patrick Kane finally moved on for yet more picks. It worked. The depleted roster gave it their best, but still lost a lot of games and won the Connor Bedard sweepstakes. Once the next draft is complete, they will have a robust and deep pipeline of talent to build around. They currently have eight picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 draft. They have six first round picks, and a whopping 21 picks in the first three rounds, over the next three drafts through 2025.

In his first draft, Davidson eight picks in the first three rounds, including three firsts which he used to add Kevin Korchinksi (ranked #23 by McKeen’s), Frank Nazar (#29), and Sam Rinzel (#85). They represent the 2^nd through fourth ranked Chicago prospects on our list. The #14 ranked prospect, Lukas Reichel, produced 15 points in 23 games in his NHL call up and looks to have earned a roster spot for next season. The most likely scenario is to continue to accumulate young talent. In addition to the first overall pick, they also have the #19, #35, #44, #51 and #55 picks in the first two rounds alone. They have the opportunity to package some picks to move in the order and add another premium prospect. The addition of Bedard immediately changes the trajectory of the timeline and Davidson may want to use those pieces to add younger roster players.

Lukas Reichel

Everything that Reichel does out on the ice just seems so natural to him. Even as a yet-to-be-drafted teenager playing against men in Germany's top professional league he looked confident, comfortable, and mature well beyond his years, like he was already a seasoned veteran. That same aura followed him to the AHL and now NHL, and Chicago has to be hoping that he will be a leader as they slowly and methodically attempt to build their next Cup-contending team. He always seems to be thinking the play ahead of everyone else, always knows what his next move should be, and almost always executes his intentions successfully. He might not have the skating, shot or playmaking to become one of the very top point producers in the league, but you can expect him to be in the 50-70 point range pretty consistently, and for those seasons to start happening soon.

2. Kevin Korchinski

One of the best offensive defensemen in all junior hockey, Korchinski racked up a ridiculous amount of points this season, and isn't slowing down. However, what's important to remember about him is that there is still an enormous amount of growth potential within his game. He's still skinny and slight within his tall frame and could really increase his strength and power if he commits hard to his gym habits. There also remains a lot of work to be done with his reads, decision-making and overall puck management, as a lot of possessions for Seattle end when coming off of his stick. On one hand, those existing issues are concerning. On the other hand, though, if you look at how effective and successful he already is despite these flaws it suggests a salivating potential for just how high his ceiling might reach. The sky is the limit.

3. Frank Nazar

Nazar finally returned to action late in the season after a long injury layoff, and there was an undeniable amount of rust for him to shake off before he could really showcase why he was picked by the Blackhawks at 13th overall. Luckily for him, his Michigan team made it all the way to the Frozen Four semifinals, so he was granted a few extra opportunities to get back into the swing of things. He is an electrifying prospect because his feet are always moving, he can manipulate the puck with the best of them, and he can see the ice very well at high speeds, which includes lanes for him to attack the net himself, or opportunities to set up a teammate for a better look. He is a little on the smaller side, but he should be able to overcome that with his drive and tenacity.

4. Sam Rinzel

The Blackhawks never expected anything truly elite out of Rinzel right away, so they won't be concerned at all that his 2022-23 season was solid, though not spectacular. And they certainly won't regret taking him as high as 25^th overall. The focus has always been on his tantalizing tools, and being patient as he learns to master those tools while moving from high school hockey to the more competitive USHL, and then to a very good University of Minnesota program next year. Rangy, mobile, right-shooting defensemen hold immense value in the NHL, and teams have to pay a premium to add them or accept playing the long game in developing them. However, the signs of growth are showing, such as helping the USA win gold at the World Junior A Challenge. If Rinzel pops it won't be right away, but the wait will have been worth it.

5. Drew Commesso

Goaltending prospects don't come much steadier and more consistent than Commesso does, as evidenced by his save percentage numbers of the past four seasons. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, as his numbers are consistently pretty good. He's a well-rounded, technically sound netminder who has neither any standout traits, nor any real notable weaknesses. Everything about his game is solid, albeit not spectacular: his play-tracking, his technique, his reflexes, his positioning, and so on. Even his size and natural net coverage is pretty average That said, sometimes that's all you need out of a goalie to win a championship. He helped his Boston University team reach the Frozen Four, only to be undone in the semifinals against Minnesota, the top-ranked team in the nation. He projects as becoming at least an NHL backup, with a starter's job not out of the question.

6. Ethan Del Mastro

Del Mastro has won gold medals playing internationally for Canada in three straight years, first at the IIHF U18s in 2021, and then the World Juniors in both 2022 and 2023. He played 20 total games across those three tournaments, and over than span he scored exactly zero goals. That's not his whole story as a prospect, but it is a good reflection of it. He's a big, responsible defender who is well-suited to a modern shutdown role, with competent skating and puck-handling abilities. He can still go old school and dish out some punishment too, though. And don't look now, but his offensive game is also coming along, scoring at a point-per-game pace with both of his teams this year, Mississauga, and Sarnia. There might not be a prospect in Chicago's pipeline who has a safer NHL floor than Del Mastro, and a top four ceiling is a realistic possibility.

7. Ilya Safonov

Safonov is a fantastic example of the value that teams can find by scouting and drafting re-entry prospects. Passed over in both 2019 and 2020, the Blackhawks took a flyer on the hulking Russian center in the 6^th round, 172^nd overall, in 2021, and right now that pick is looking incredibly shrewd. He really grew into a capable, difference-making two-way power forward in the KHL, and perhaps most impressively, he was named the captain of his team at just 21 years of age, the youngest in franchise history. He's so strong, athletic, gritty and competitive that he is a lot to handle physically, even at the hands of veteran Russian pros and former NHLers. He can chip in points as a net-front presence, though his real value comes from how well he defends and matches up against opposing lines. Chicago will do their damnedest to get him to North America as soon as they can.

8. Colton Dach

Just how good is Dach, really? It's a difficult question to answer. As a big center with plus hands and an older brother, Kirby, who is succeeding in the NHL, the profile is very exciting. However, COVID precautions limited his games in 2020-21, his Kelowna Rockets were eliminated in the opening postseason round in 2021-22, and injuries have sidelined his current season, including knocking him out of the World Juniors just three games in. He's back on the ice now, going deep into the playoffs with Seattle, but he doesn't look 100% yet and his team is deep enough and talented enough at forward to not need to rush him. Chicago might be a little concerned about whether or not all those missed games, and resultant opportunities for growth in such crucial years of his development, will hinder his long-term potential.

9. Alex Vlasic

Vlasic jumped straight into the NHL after leaving Boston University and turning pro in the spring of 2022, dressing for 15 games for a Blackhawks team that was out of the playoff hunt and wanted a closer look at one of their top prospects. While he wasn't necessarily bad in that tryout, and even scored his first career NHL goal, Chicago elected to take the safe route with his development and let him refine his game down in the AHL for most of this year, which made total sense. As expected, he used his gargantuan reach and fleet feet to provide a stout defensive presence, while also getting to work on his offensive contributions a bit, or at least more than he would have in the NHL. Whether in 2023-24 or later, Vlasic will almost certainly end up on the Hawks as a shutdown defender.

10. Nolan Allan

It should be clear by now that the Blackhawks put a premium on defensive defensemen, and Allan is the one they paid the highest price for, using the last pick of the first round in 2021 to go a little off the board and secure his rights. They undoubtedly would have had high expectations for him to grow his game in the proceeding years, though the gains so far are relatively modest. Sure, Hockey Canada brought him along for the World Juniors, and the powerhouse Seattle Thunderbirds paid a pretty penny to bring him in for their full-throttle quest for a WHL title, but he hasn't fully reached a point yet where he has been a truly top-tier player. His skating and puck movement remain a little limited, and he could stand to be more of a physical presence. That said, growth in those areas is still achievable.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:10:02 +0000

1 - Lukas Reichel LW

Like his fellow countryman and top prospect J.J. Peterka, Reichel was a standout in his first pro season in North America last year. He averaged over a point per game for Rockford of the AHL and earned a short stint in the NHL. Granted, there were some struggles at the NHL level, especially from a strength perspective, but Reichel should now understand what it takes to be a consistent offensive player at the top level. In reality, a lack of strength is the only thing holding him back from being a quality top six NHL contributor. He is skilled. He is intelligent. He skates well and continues to improve his ability to push pace and attack. He is improving his reads in all three zones and projects as a well-rounded two-way player. Like his uncle Robert, Lukas should have a long and prosperous NHL career. The Blackhawks have not made their intentions this year a secret. It is clear that they have entered full rebuild mode and will be giving Reichel every opportunity to secure a full-time role in Chicago out of training camp. If he performs well, he could get an opportunity to play with someone like Patrick Kane (as long as Kane isn’t traded) at even strength and on the powerplay. As such, Reichel is certainly a preseason Calder candidate. Long term, he has the potential to be a first line winger as part of a new generation of Blackhawks being ushered in. - BO

2 - Frank Nazar C

The Chicago Blackhawks traded a lot for the right to draft Nazar 13th overall at the 2022 NHL draft, sending former top center prospect Kirby Dach to the Montreal Canadiens in order to secure that draft pick. With his selection, Nazar instantly became the Blackhawks’ new top center prospect, and he heads to the University of Michigan next season with the expectation of being an instant impact scorer. Nazar spent his draft year at the U.S. National Team Development Program, and he had a solid year, scoring above a point-per-game rate. Nazar’s speed proved too much to handle for many USHL defenders. Nazar’s skating is his best tool overall. He’s a genuine burner, with the ability to beat defenders with his pace alone. Nazar complements his straight-line speed with strong edgework, and he has an ability to manipulate defenses with his skating that’s more advanced than his peers. Nazar’s stride looks effortless, and despite often operating at high speeds he rarely burns out and finds himself at the end of shifts without enough energy to properly compete. Nazar relies more on his feet than his hands to create offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates, but that’s not to say he has any deficiencies with the puck on his stick. He’s a quality stickhandler and his puck skills are strong enough to keep up with the pace of the game that he plays at. But while there is genuinely quite a bit of upside to Nazar’s overall profile, there is also some risk. Nazar lacks the prototypical size many scouts want to see from their NHL centers, and Nazar may need to alter some of his habits in order to thrive at the professional level. At lower levels, Nazar’s speed alone can be enough to beat defenders, but when he reaches higher levels of hockey, he’ll need to expand his overall arsenal. It’s an open question as to whether Nazar has enough of a complete game to stick at center, but what’s not up for debate is the raw potential in his game. He has a chance to become a dynamic, top-of-the-lineup offensive player, although he’s no guarantee to realize that potential. - EH

3 - Kevin Korchinski D

What a year it was for Korchinski, who started the season off fairly slowly, drawing concerns from scouts about his on-ice decision-making. After Christmas Korchinski exploded, piling up the points as the T-Birds embarked on a memorable post-season run that saw them erase series deficits to beat the favored Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers in game 7s on the road, before falling in the WHL finals in a series whose scheduling conflicts forced them to play an extra road game. Korchinski had much to do with that run, finishing the season at a near-PPG pace. His draft stock shot up and he was ultimately selected 7^th overall by the Blackhawks. A powerful skater with a long, efficient stride, Korchinski can reach full flight quickly and is adept at walking the blueline, making him a dangerous threat on the powerplay. He carries the puck with ease and confidence and is passing is crisp, although his reads can be questionable at times. Korchinski’s biggest improvement as the year progressed, was becoming more decisive with the puck and thinking the game at a quicker pace. Improvement on his wrist shot and getting it through traffic would also help Korchinski become more of a dual threat from up top on the powerplay. Like all young players, he needs to become stronger and fill out his lean frame, in order to play defense at the next level. Korchinski will almost certainly be returned to junior for his draft+1 season, although the possibility of a 9-game tryout to start the year remains. - AS

4 - Sam Rinzel D

The Chicago Blackhawks have made the direction of their franchise no secret. GM Kyle Davidson is playing the long game, beginning to stockpile draft picks and acquire high-upside players that might require more time and patience than other NHL franchises could typically afford to give them. Their selection of Sam Rinzel 25th overall at the 2022 draft raised eyebrows from some, as Rinzel was a divisive prospect who did not receive universal first-round acclaim. But taking rankings out of the equation, Rinzel is the exact sort of prospect who fits the Blackhawks’ plans. Rinzel, who spent most of his draft season playing at the high school level in Minnesota, is a raw prospect who offers a tantalizing package of tools. Rinzel is big and skates quite well for someone his size. Rinzel is an aggressive defenseman, and he has shown flashes of game-breaking ability from the blueline. But with the upside Rinzel presents comes significant red flags and question marks in his game. First and foremost, Rinzel is extremely talented but also quite raw — he’ll need a lot of work to get to a point where he’s pro-ready — and he’s also not shown a level of defensive competence that gives any confidence in his ability to sustain his aggressive style of play in more demanding and competitive hockey settings. Rinzel will need to find a way to make the proper adjustments to his game to make him a viable two-way defenseman while also maintaining the sort of uber-aggressive, uber-creative style that’s set him apart so far. Simply maintaining the identity of his game, the identity that has made him a top prospect in the first place could be challenging given the demands of college and professional coaches. But Rinzel, who will spend another year in the USHL before playing college hockey as a Minnesota Gopher, has a lot of time to improve. He’s a true boom-or-bust prospect, and it’s far too early to reasonably project his NHL future. All we can do at this point is eagerly observe how he handles higher levels of hockey and how his game changes, if at all when faced with additional adversity. - EH

5 - Drew Commesso G

While Russian phenom Yaroslav Askarov got most of the attention (by far) of the 2021 draft’s goalie class, Drew Commesso led a second tier of goalie prospects that saw five netminders go in the second and third rounds of the draft. Commesso himself was selected 46th overall by the Blackhawks, and upon his selection, he instantly became the Blackhawks’ most promising drafted goalie prospect. Commesso is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, and he’s spent the past two seasons stopping pucks for the Boston University Terriers. Commesso isn’t a big goalie, but at six-foot-two he stands tall enough where size won’t be a concern for his ability to play in the NHL. Like many young goalies, Commesso has been a bit inconsistent, and he’s had brilliant games for the Terriers as well as games he’d like to move on from. His performance was enough for him to earn a spot with the United States Beijing Winter Olympics squad. Commesso is a poised goalie who rarely panics in the crease, carefully taking the time to square up to shooters and challenge incoming rushes. He moves very well in the crease, and his athleticism serves him well when his technique isn’t enough. Commesso will need to put together a more consistent college season before he’s ready to turn pro, and even if he does as soon as next season, he’s still likely a decent way away from the NHL. Ultimately, Commesso has a chance to become a starting goalie in the NHL if things break right. - EH

6 - Wyatt Kaiser D

Wyatt Kaiser’s game isn’t exactly a difficult one to get a handle on. What he does well is relatively easy to see, and he doesn’t go to any particularly great lengths to hide the things he needs to improve. The thing that sticks most about Kaiser is his skating. Kaiser moves exceptionally well. His skating checks all the boxes. He accelerates well, has the edgework to make quick turns, and remain an elusive presence when shuttling pucks through the neutral zone. He’s not an overwhelmingly deceptive skater, but he the shifts where he gives opposing skaters fits as they attempt to interrupt him are common enough to give confidence in his offensive projection. Kaiser also spent nearly as much time killing penalties as he did on the power play, and his speed allows him to get around the defensive zone quickly and get to loose pucks before heavier-footed opposing attackers. While Kaiser isn’t an overwhelming physical presence, he also isn’t shy about that side of the game and will get his hands dirty when he needs to. But just as Kaiser’s qualities as a skater are immediately evident, as are the shortcomings in his other offensive tools. Kaiser’s playmaking is fine, but he relies far more on his feet to create separation and chances than he does his abilities as a reader of the play and a facilitator of his teammates. The result of Kaiser’s less impressive other offensive tools is that his projection on that side of the ice as a pro is limited. Still, there’s enough to Kaiser’s game to give him NHL upside, and he could be a nice, well-rounded bottom-pairing piece if he continues to show he can weather difficult minutes and if he can find more ways to create offense beyond just using his excellent skating. - EH

7 - Alec Regula D

A hulking, right shot defender, Regula, much like the team’s other top pro prospects, is well positioned to become a full time NHL defender this coming season. He played in 15 games to close out last season and became fairly battle tested as the Hawks coaching staff had him playing over 20 minutes per game in all situations. Does that give him a leg up heading into the year? It does seem likely. The 6’4, former London Knights standout, combines his great length with great four-way mobility. For a defender of his size his skating ability is very impressive, and this can make him an asset at both ends of the ice. His offensive potential may be somewhat limited at the NHL level (unless Chicago opts to use him in the bumper role on the powerplay like London coach Dale Hunter used to), due to average transporting and passing skills, however his defensive potential is quite high. Regula has great instincts as a shot blocker and his reach is extremely disruptive when protecting the slot and the net front area. As he gains confidence, look for the physical side of his game to become relatively dominant too. A potential top four defender, Regula could reach that potential as early as this season on a rebuilding Chicago team. - BO

8 - Ethan Del Mastro D

The 105th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Ethan Del Mastro had a great season as the captain of the Steelheads, displaying strength on both sides of the puck consistently. The former 12th overall selection in the 2019 OHL Draft had a good rookie season, finishing with seven points (7A) in 57 games. Unfortunately for Del Mastro, he was forced to miss the 2020-2021 season due to Covid-19. Fortunately for Del Mastro, he got the opportunity to play in the U18 World Championship. During the 2021-2022, Del Mastro had a breakout season, finishing with 48 points (7A,41A) in 68 games, which was 14th in the league for points by a defenseman, 10th in the league for assists by a defenseman, 2nd on the team for assists and 4th on the team for points. Del Mastro also got the opportunity to play in the U20 World Junior Championship. Del Mastro’s best assets are his competitiveness and physicality. Del Mastro is a strong defender who utilizes his size and reach to make it difficult on opponents trying to enter the offensive zone or find space in the slot. He’s consistently in the play and has the motor to out-battle opponents for the puck. He plays an aggressive style that forces opponents to second think about going into the corners because he’s so physical. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Del Mastro will once again be looked to be a leader for the Steelheads and be one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, and also one that every team will not look forward to play against. - DK

9 - Paul Ludwinski C

The 39^th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Paul Ludwinski is the type of player that any fan gets excited for when they’re on the ice. He brings such great energy each shift and seems to have a motor that never quits. Ludwinski was the 5th overall selection in the 2020 OHL Draft after a successful season as the captain of the Toronto Marlboros. He has always played a strong responsible game and displays great leadership. Unfortunately for Ludwinski, him and others were unable to play during the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid-19 shutdown. Ludwinski was able to adjust quickly to the OHL because of his hockey sense and responsible play. His role was limited due to being on a talented Frontenacs team, but he was still able to be effective and make the most of his minutes. When he was given to chance in the top-6 due to injuries, he never disappointed and looked like he belonged. Finishing the season with 43 points (16G,27A) in 67 games, Ludwinski was 6^th on his team in points, and also tied for first in goals in the playoffs with seven, also adding five assists as well in 11 games. Ludwinski’s best assets are his competitiveness and hockey sense, especially his play away from the puck. Each shift Ludwinski is on the ice, you know. You could argue that on the majority of his shifts, he is the hardest working player on the ice. He battles hard in the corners and never backs down from any opponents. Ludwinski is so effective because he does so much without the puck. He finds open space quickly and understands where to be at all times in all three zones. Making it easy for teammates to play with. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Ludwinski will look to take a step forward as he continues to grow as a strong 200ft player. - DK

10 - Arvid Soderblom G

Among AHL rookie netminders last season, Soderblom was a major standout. His .919 save percentage was second best behind AHL Goaltender of the Year Dustin Wolf among first year goalies. Needless to say, it was a very successful North American debut for the big Swedish netminder. As such, the Hawks actually cut ties with pretty much all other goalies previously in the pro system: a massive vote of confidence for Soderblom. With Drew Commesso likely still a few years away, he will have a solid chance to prove that he can be Chicago’s goaltender of the future. The former free agent signing out of Sweden takes away the bottom of the net so well with quick pads and strong lateral movement. He definitely has that combination of size and athleticism you want from the position today. Coming into his first pro season in North America, there were some concerns about his play tracking ability, positioning, and rebound control; essentially the technical elements, however all of these attributes proved to be further along in development than anticipated. As such, the Hawks find themselves with perhaps an NHL ready netminder. With only Alex Stalock and the injury prone Petr Mrazek in his way at the pro level, it seems inevitable that Soderblom gets more than a handful of games at the NHL level this coming season. However, there is also prevailing thought that suggests Chicago does not want to throw Soderblom to the wolves this season, given how poor the Blackhawks likely end up being. There is no need to rush him, especially given the strong potential he has thus far shown. - BO

11 - Isaak Phillips

The Hawks have high hopes for Phillips, a highly athletic defender with intriguing upside at both ends. He is probably more suited to a defensive role in the future, but he has improved considerably in recent seasons.

12 - Colton Dach

After trading older brother Kirby, the Hawks still have the younger Colton, who they drafted in 2021. His skating took a nice step forward this year and he may end up being one of the better forwards in the WHL this season.

13 - Nolan Allan

A surprise first rounder in 2021, Allan has a safe projection as an NHL defender because of his combination of size, mobility, and physicality. The hope is that his offensive game can continue to improve.

14 - Gavin Hayes

Hayes is a power winger with a big shot. He improved with each passing month in the OHL last season and could be a breakout candidate this year with consistent ice time and responsibility.

15 - Alex Vlasic

A similar prospect to Nolan Allan, Vlasic is also a big defender with mobility who has a chance to be a shutdown type for the Hawks. He jumped from Boston U straight to the NHL last season but may require some AHL time this year.

16 - Ryan Greene

Chicago’s second round selection this year, Greene is a skilled center with a strong skating stride. He will play for Boston University this season as a freshman.

17 - Landon Slaggert

The University of Notre Dame winger has a game tailored to be a standout bottom six winger in today’s NHL. He competes hard at both ends, skates well enough, and has strong off puck awareness.

18 - Josiah Slavin

The younger brother of NHL defender Jaccob, Josiah is a big winger who had a solid first full pro season after turning pro from Colorado College. He might be a full time NHL player this season.

19 - Michal Teply

A skilled playmaking winger, Teply is coming off his first full pro season in North America after playing a middle six role for Rockford. He will look to take on more responsibility and earn an NHL call up this season.

20 - Jaxson Stauber

The Hawks signed Stauber, a standout at Providence, as a free agent this offseason. The 6’3 netminder will likely back-up Soderblom in Rockford this season.

2021 NHL DRAFT: CENTRAL DIVISION REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:33:40 +0000

2021 NHL Draft Review

Time to review the draft, in depth. As I have done in previous seasons, this review will cover the league one division at a time. For each team, we will offer a quick summary of their draft class, a deeper look at their first pick/first rounder(s), and then a look at what we think to be the best value pick of their draft class, and a final look at their worst value pick. Once the divisions have all been covered, a final article will go over some other miscellaneous trends of the draft that was (odds & ends), and the annual McKeens shadow draft class. Let’s dig in.

Central Division

Dylan Guenther. Photo by Andy Devlin

Arizona Coyotes

1 (9) Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

2 (37) Josh Doan, RW, Chicago (USHL)

2 (43) Ilya Fedotov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)

2 (60) Janis Jerome Moser, D, EHC Biel-Bienne (NL)

4 (107) Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, D, Sparta Sarpsborg (Norway)

4 (122) Rasmus Korhonen, G, Assat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

5 (139) Manix Landry, C, Gatineau (QMJHL)

6 (171) Cal Thomas, D, Maple Grove HS (USHS-MN)

7 (223) Sam Lipkin, LW, Chicago (USHL)

New General Manager Bill Armstrong’s first draft for the Coyotes (he was GM at the 2020 draft, but per the terms of his contract, was not allowed to participate in the draft) was a curious one. Looking at not being involved on Day One, he pulled off a morning of the draft blockbuster, sending Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland to Vancouver for a package including three overpriced veterans each on their final year under contract, and three draft picks, including a top ten pick in this draft, a second rounder next year, and a seventh rounders in 2023. This trade followed a similar deal made a few days prior, where Arizona picked up the dying contract of Andrew Ladd from the Islanders for a second-round selection, and picks in future drafts. The last trade on the draft floor (so to speak) saw the Coyotes leverage their extra picks in later years by sending a 2022 seventh rounder to Montreal for a late seventh rounder this year.

What made the Arizona draft curious though, were not the trades, but many the players they selected. The first pick was a chalk selection, as Dylan Guenther was a top ten talent for anyone, in any draft class. After taking that WHL star, the Coyotes focused almost exclusively on Europeans and college-bound players, with one exception in the fifth round. Furthermore, almost without exception, the players they selected after Guenther were drafted higher than expected, often by a long distance. That one QMJHL player was also the only pick they made of a player standing under 6-0” tall. The final note here goes to their first of three second rounders, Josh Doan, son of Coyotes’ legend Shane Doan, who was invited to announce the pick. A second-year eligible player, the younger Doan may be seen as a nepotism pick by some, but those people will not be familiar with the player. One of the most improved players in the USHL this year, Doan at pick 37 is maybe a touch high, but that is within range of where he belonged, if on the high end of that range. He is advanced enough to be paying dividends to the Coyotes sooner than later.

First round pick – Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), 9^th overall

One of the biggest, purely offensive weapons in the draft class, there was no guarantee that Guenther would be available at pick nine, as he grades out as plus almost across the board. He has a big shot, is a talented puck handler, skates very well, and reads the game very well without shirking duties in his own end. He has the size, and the strength should come, although he is not naturally physically aggressive. That said, he is not shy and will play in the greasy areas and take punishment to make something good happen for his team. After a few years of drafting players for their maturity and two-way sensibilities, Guenther is a nice change of pace as a projected top line scoring winger.

Best value pick(s) –Manix Landry, C, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), 139^th overall

As mentioned above, Landry was the only player selected by Arizona this year who stands under 6-0” tall. Not by much, by 5-11” isn’t 6-0”. Already the Gatineau captain in his draft year, he doesn’t have top six projection, and none of his physical tools really sticks out, but he has always been able to maximize what he has with the hockey IQ expected of the son of an NHLer (Father Eric played briefly with Montreal and Calgary and for many years in Europe afterwards). The younger Landry also plays gritty enough and with enough energy and positive intangible qualities to be a bottom six option in a few years. Not an exciting pick, but very good value for the fifth round.

Worst value pick – Ilya Fedotov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL), 43^rd overall

There were other options for this slot, but they were later rounders. Seventh rounder Sam Lipkin didn’t look like an NHL draft pick in my many viewings of him with Chicago. Sixth rounder Cal Thomas was maybe the third best NHL prospect on his high school team and the second-best defender after the undrafted Henry Nelson. Fourth rounder Emil Martinsen Lilleberg was playing in Norway and was in his third year of eligibility, but in fairness, Swedish teams had already taken notice and he will be in the SHL next year. So Fedotov gets the nod here as the Russian winger was taken in the middle of the second round and we don’t know that he does anything at a level high enough to profile to a top six or middle six slot. His production also doesn’t suggest a player who produces above his tools. He is a lanky young man who skates well and has some decent playmaking ability but is overly mistake prone and reactive. Arizona scouts clearly disagree but we think they could have nabbed him far later if they would have waited.

Allan_Nolan (2) photo by Keith Hershmiller

Chicago Blackhawks

1 (32) Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

2 (62) Colton Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)

3 (91) Taige Harding, D, Fort McMurray (AJHL)

4 (105) Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga (OHL)

4 (108) Victor Stjernborg, C, Vaxjo HC (SHL)

6 (172) Ilya Safonov, C, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

7 (204) Connor Kelley, D, Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA/NCHC)

7 (216) Jalen Luypen, C, Edmonton (WHL)

Like a number of other teams this year, Chicago went big at the draft. By which, I mean that they went almost exclusively for big players. Their first four selections measure in at 6-2”, 6-4”, 6-7”, 6-4”. Among the back half are two more big guys, and two at 5-10”, but even one of that latter duo weights over 200 pounds. Considering the lack of scouting opportunities this year, size doesn’t need too many looks to assess. Other notable points about the Blackhawks’ draft class include the even split between centers and blueliners, as the team did not select any goalies or wingers, and that fact that fully half of their draft class came from Western Canada, none of whom appeared in more than 28 games last year. Finally, as you may have heard, the team used their second-round pick on Saskatoon center Colton Dach, younger brother on current Blackhawks’ rising center Kirby Dach, a pick made the day after they traded for Seth Jones, teaming him up with brother Caleb, the return from another offseason trade.

I do have to wonder how, if at all, Chicago’s draft class would have differed were they not able to come to an agree with Columbus on the eve of the draft to acquire Seth Jones and the last pick of round one, in exchange for Adam Boqvist and pick 12 (a few other picks went in each direction in this trade). What direction would Chicago have headed with pick 12? Would they have taken the most powerful player available at that time, found another way to trade to do so, or even taken one of the two top goalies? We can’t know for sure, but we do know that the draft had started to overweight size and strength by the time Chicago selected Nolan Allan to end day one and can only assume that their strategy changed after the domino effect put into motion by Ottawa’s selection of Tyler Boucher at #10 overall.

First round pick – Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL), 32^nd overall

Once upon a time a top three pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, Allan has since developed into a poised and reliable own zone defender. He makes the first pass to kickstart the transition. He can be relied upon to defend against the opposition’s best at the junior level. He played a similar role, including PK time, for Team Canada at the recent WU18s, helping his nation to a Gold. The offensive promise that he showed in AAA hockey in Saskatchewan has not yet shown up in the WHL. While not completely useless in the offensive zone, he is a fifth wheel of sorts. If Chicago is current about Allan, he is a number four in the mold of Nicklas Hjalmarsson. If not, he will be more of a number six along the lines of a different former Blackhawk, Slater Koekkoek.

Best value pick – Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL, 105^th overall

Think Nolan Allan, but two inches taller and 15 pounds heavier. Del Mastro is similarly a big, stay at home defender who was highly touted as a Bantam player, showed minimal offensive ability as a junior, although he has had far less time to prove himself at that level due to the OHL cancellation last year. He even played a similar role as Allan for Team Canada at the U18 championships, albeit Del Mastro was rustier with the puck. Del Mastro’s upside and downside are similar to those of Allan but getting the former in the fourth round makes it tremendous value.

Worst value pick – Taige Harding, D, Fort McMurray Oil Barons, AJHL, 91^st overall

A giant (6-7”, 236) in his second year of draft eligibility, Harding added a bit of offense from the blueline this year, going from six points in 46 games in his first draft year, to 13 in 16 games this year. The son of an old Hartford Whalers draft pick, the younger Harding learned to use his size to better establish positioning and succeeded as a 19-year-old in the AJHL. The problem with the pick, beyond the player not really having a clear NHL skillset, is that he likely could have been drafted far later than the third round, indicating that the Blackhawks overvalued him to a large degree.

Södertäljes Oskar Olausson under ishockeymatchen i Hockeyallsvenskan mellan Södertälje och AIK den 29 januari 2021 i Södertälje.
Foto: Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN

Colorado Avalanche

1 (20) Oskar Olausson, RW, HV 71 (SHL)

2 (47) Sean Behrens, D, USNTDP (USHL)

3 (92) Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque (USHL)

7 (220) Taylor Makar, C/LW, Brooks (AJHL)

Not much to say here. Three forwards with good size and one blueliner deciding lacking in size. Of the four picks, the last three will be moving on to college hockey next season, while the first-round pick, the one drafted out of Europe, will be coming to North America to play in the OHL. It is fair to point out that the Avalanche have generally stayed clear of the CHL over the last few drafts, and Olausson is likely to be the only player in the system playing Canadian Major-Junior next season.

If a trend can be spotted out of four picks, it is a complete disregard for drafting young, first-time eligibles. Second rounder Behrens is the only 2003 born player among the quartet. Olausson is a late-birthday 2002 player, while the other two picks are not only re-drafts, but multiple re-drafts. Buyalsky was in his fourth year of eligibility and Makar was in his third year.

First round pick – Oskar Olausson, RW, HV 71 (SHL), 28^th overall

Like all junior aged players in Sweden, Olausson was forced to join the SHL once the junior leagues were cancelled around mid-season due to the pandemic. That said, Olausson was in the process of forcing his way up to the SHL anyway, with 27 points in 16 games before a stint with the Swedish WJC team and a brief period in the second tier HockeyAllsvenskan. He brings a big frame, plus skating and stickhandling and a lack of ego enabling to take on a bottom six role as needed, with the willingness to do the unheralded dirty work in his own zone. He could develop into a decent middle six player with special teams utililty.

Best value pick – Sean Behrens, D, USNTDP (USHL), 47^th overall

While lacking in the size that seemed to be all the rage at the draft this year, Behrens plays a fearless style of hockey, and you rarely notice his dimensional disadvantage on the ice. His skill set is moderate, but he always wrings every ounce of it from his body, pushing the pace and setting his team up for success in all zones. Headed to the University of Denver, the Avalanche will be keeping a close eye on Behrens, whose overall game is not too dissimilar to that of former Pioneer stalwart Ian Mitchell. I believe that he will be able to fit into an Avalanche blueline that already features the likes of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Samuel Girard, acting as the more stable presence while the others play more dynamically.

Worst value pick – Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), 92^nd overall

To be clear, I don’t think that Buyalsky was a bad pick at all, but the other option was a late seventh rounder, and Taylor Makar’s selection was suspiciously close to the announcement that his older brother Cale had signed a long-term contract extension with the club. Was the drafting of Taylor a quiet stipulation of his agreement to terms? Maybe. Either way, Taylor is a big winger who has demonstrated good playmaking at the AJHL level, even if he is already 20 years old, and there is scarcely such thing as a risk in the seventh round. As for Buyalsky, he is even older than Makar, turning 21 a few weeks after the draft. A speedster from Kazakhstan, he came to North America last December to play in the USHL and immediately added an exciting element to Dubuque’s attack. He is painfully thin but has decent skill to go along with his wheels. The only real element of risk in his pick is his age, which indicates less room for growth. In a draft class with more than four players, Buyalsky would be very unlikely to be featured in this spot.

Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Dallas Stars

1 (23) Wyatt Johnson, RW, Windsor (OHL)

2 (47) Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops (WHL)

2 (48) Artyom Grushnikov, D, Hamilton (OHL)

3 (73) Ayrton Martino, LW, Omaha (USHL)

3 (79) Justin Ertel, LW, Western Capitals (MJAHL)

4 (111) Conner Roulette, LW, Seattle (WHL)

5 (138) Jack Bar, D, Chicago (USHL)

5 (143) Jacob Holmes, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

6 (175) Francesco Arcuri, C, Steel Wings Linz (AplsHL)/Kingston (OHL)

7 (207) Albert Sjoberg, LW, Sodertalje SK J20 (J20 Nationell)

The previous few Dallas drafts prior to 2020 were marked by an abundance of lower upside, “safer” picks. They had physical gifts, but skill was lacking (Miro Heiskanen was an exception). Even 2019, with Thomas Harley, an offensive defender, as their first rounder, saw the team draft for safety with their other picks. While that approach sometimes leads to a late rounder blooming into a bottom of the lineup player, more often than not it leads to a player who doesn’t even garner an Entry-Level Contract. The 2020 draft saw Dallas go in another direction, selecting three forwards with skills to dream on. Sure, they might bust, but those low upside guys also have bust as their respective floors. Anyway, when Dallas named two-way center Wyatt Johnston as their 2021 first rounder, I immediately thought of Ty Dellandrea, a player with a similar profile at the time he was drafted. More smarts than skills, and by a mile. A solid pick for the second round, but not so much on Day One.

More on Johnston soon, but Dallas did a 180 on Day Two, stocking the system with high upside prospect after high upside prospect, giving them, all things considered, one of the draft classes I am most optimistic about in the league. Overwhelmingly North American, only one of their ten players selected don’t have some pre-existing ties to a North American league. They stayed away from goalies, a position of relative strength in the system. And even shied away from defensemen, with only three of the ten players known to patrol the blueline. Unlike many other teams, they were not too concerned with size, and Dallas was the landing spot for a few smaller players who fell further than their respective talent levels would have dictated. The 2021 draft class has the strength to be organization defining for a generation.

First round pick – Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL), 23^rd overall

A tremendous forechecker, Johnston, despite his pedigree as a sixth overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection two years ago, has not shown much offensive punch. Due to the cancellation of the OHL last year, his only game action in the last 12 months was a bottom six role for Team Canada at the WU18s. He was a valuable member of that Gold Medal winning team, but even there he didn’t show as a probable first round pick. He will do the little things right, paying attention to detail, and playing hard in all three zones. His stick work is good enough for a bottom six role, and he has a grinder’s mentality, but will need to improve his skating to reach that ceiling.

Best value pick – Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 47^th overall

While Johnston was a role playing for Team Canada, Stankoven was the team’s third highest scoring draft eligible forward. He is a fantastic stick handler, playing courageous at both ends. He recognizes opportunities in an instant and has the skills to capitalize on them. His ability to put the puck in the net is up there with anyone drafted this summer. He is also a gifted skater, with great edges and four-way mobility. So why was he still available in the middle of the second round? Because he is 5-8”. The NHL, as a group, is still deciphering the lessons of Alex DeBrincat and Cole Caufield. Stankoven will join that duo and continue to change minds about the need for size in the NHL.

Without giving profiles of them here, Dallas had quite a few high value picks this year, and I should at least mention Ayrton Martino, Jack Bar, Francesco Arcuri, Conner Roulette, and Albert Sjoberg as steals where they were selected.

Worst value pick – Justin Ertel, LW, Summerside Western Capitals (MJAHL), 79^th overall

While I had some mild concerns about Artyom Grushnikov and Jacob Holmes, neither of whom played at all last season, they had decent pre-draft year pedigrees, and both were expected to be drafted and were drafted near those expectations. Ertel is a different case. He was planning to play for St. Andrew’s the prestigious Ontario prep school, as a stepping stone to NCAA hockey at Cornell, but hockey was cancelled all over Ontario, not just in the OHL, so Ertel went to the Maritimes to play in the relatively obscure MJAHL. He showed enough skill and hockey smarts to gain notice of draft-worthiness, but there is little reason to think that he wouldn’t have still been available two rounds later than the Stars made the move for him. With a draft class of this strength, it won’t hurt Dallas, but it was a bit of a head-scratcher.

210121 Luleås målvakt Jesper Wallstedt under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Luleå och Växjö den 21 januari 2021 i Luleå.
Foto: Simon Eliasson / BILDBYRÅN / COP 159 / SE0026

Minnesota Wild

1 (20) Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL)

1 (26) Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg (WHL)

2 (54) Jack Peart, D, Fargo (USHL)

3 (86) Caedan Bankier, C, Kamloops (WHL)

4 (118) Kyle Masters, D, Red Deer (WHL)

4 (127) Josh Pillar, C, Kamloops (WHL)

6 (182) Nate Benoit, D, Mount St. Charles HS (USHS-RI)

At the cost of a late third round pick, Minnesota traded up two spots in the first round, and snagged the goalie most pundits and scouts – including ourselves – rated as the top goaltender in the draft. We have historically been shy about ranking goalies as first rounders in the past, Wallstedt was an obvious first rounder, who is technically refined, experienced at high levels, and checks all of the boxes for a future NHL starter. More on him soon. The Wild had a second first rounder, and snagged a top defensive prospect in Carson Lambos, a player who might have been off the board much earlier if not for a medical concern that cropped up late in the season.

If the Minnesota draft was just those two first rounders, it would be cause for great optimism for the Wild and their fans. But they continued to pick up good upside, focusing on the blueline, where they used three of their remaining five picks, including one – second rounder Peart – who we had rated as having first round value. The other notable element of the Minnesota draft class was their clear lean towards the WHL, from where four of their seven picks emerged. Even if only Wallstedt lives up to his advanced billing, this draft will be monumental for the Wild. In that case, all other NHL contributions from the remainder of the draft class will be bonuses. And we think there will be more.

First first round pick – Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL), 20^th overall

We were not alone in ranking Wallstedt as the best goalie in the 2021 draft. In fact, the Detroit Red Wings may have been the only team that preferred Sebastian Cossa (probably not, but they were in the minority). Furthermore, we believe that Wallstedt is more advanced at this stage than either Yaroslav Askarov or Spencer Knight were in the past two years. His ability to read the play is especially impressive, helping him stay prepared for whatever the opposition is cooking up. His other tools all also grade out as above average and better. He has a year remaining on his SHL contract and should be competing for time in the Minnesota crease by 2022-23.

Second first round pick – Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg ICE (WHL)

A smooth, fast skater with a well-rounded tool kit through the rest of his game, Lambos already had a very impressive WHL rookie campaign under his belt before the pandemic threatened his follow-up. During the enforced layoff, he had the chance to keep playing in Finland, for the JYP organization, and he excelled in their junior ranks, making a seamless adjustment from the North American game. Lambos expected to return to the WHL at the end of his Finnish experience, but two games after he got back to Winnipeg, an undisclosed medical issue emerged that forced him off the ice again. His medicals are reportedly fine now, giving Minnesota a second first rounder drafted substantially later than was expected before the year began.

Best value pick – Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force (USHL), 54^th overall

To be honest, Minnesota’s best value picks were their two first rounders, but getting Jack Peart at #54 was a third coup for Bill Guerin and the Wild. After crushing in the Minnesota high school ranks at Grand Rapids HS, Peart went back to Fargo of the USHL where he showed zero issue adjusting to the vastly improved level of play. By the postseason, he was the Force’s number one defender, helping lead the team to the Clark Cup finals. Peart is not physically imposing, but his reads and decision making are both incredibly impressive, convincing us to give him a first round ranking in our draft guide. Peart is also the third Minnesota Mr. Hockey to have been drafted by the Wild

Worst value pick – Caiden Bankier, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 86^th overall

As much as we loved Minnesota’s first three picks, the remainder of their selections left us unmoved. None of the four was especially egregious, but third rounder Bankier was their first reach, so he gets the dreaded ‘Worst Value Pick’ spot here. He has good size and decent creativity with the puck, but nothing about his game suggests top size potential, and his style hasn’t fit bottom six characteristics either. In other words, he looks like a tweener. That’s totally fine in the fifth round or later but is gearing for disappointment as a third rounder.

Fyodor Svechkov. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Nashville Predators

1 (19) Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL)

1 (27) Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

3 (72) Anton Olsson, D, Malmo (SHL)

4 (115) Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago (USHL)

4 (124) Jack Matier, D, Ottawa (OHL)

6 (179) Simon Knak, RW, HC Davos (NL)

As the first round was proceeding, the Predators decided that they would rather have two first round picks than have one first and two seconds, and I can’t say that I disagree. The Carolina Hurricanes felt differently, and a trade was born, allowing Nashville to finish Day One with two new talented forwards to add to their prospect pool. To make up for the forward lean on Day One, they went heavily on defense on Day Two, using the first three of their remaining four picks on blueliners.

Curiously, the Predators returned to Carolina on Day Two for another trade up scenario, moving up 11 spots in Round Three by sacrificing their fifth-round pick. With two moves of this nature, it seems fairly clear that Nashville had specific prospects targeted and preferred to miss out on an extra lower probability player in order to secure the player they really wanted. In the end, they have added six new talents to their pool, all of whom have reasonable claims to a future in the NHL. A final, minor note, Nashville didn’t seem to get caught up in the size rush this year, with only one of their six picks measuring in with above-average size, in fourth round blueline Jack Matier.

First first round pick – Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL), 19^th overall

A well-rounded offensive force who plays with an exciting combination of pace and touch, Svechkov had a very strong regular season split between Russian juniors (MHL) and the nation’s second tier senior league (VHL). But he really shot into wider prominence with a thrilling performance at the WU18s, where his ability to move the puck in the offensive zone was mesmerizing. Nashville has never been shy about drafting Russian players at the top of their draft classes, and Svechkov is next in line. He could be ready for the NHL once his Russian league contract expires after the 2022-23 season.

Second first round pick – Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

The former third overall pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft, L’Heureux solidified his status as one of the top draft talents out of the Q with a well-rounded game that emphasizes a wicked shot and a prominent aggressive nature. That latter aspect turned off a few teams and prognosticators, as it led to a pair of suspensions for the winger last year, forcing him to miss time as his team competed for postseason standings. Notably, neither suspension occurred due to a normal, run-of-play type incident, but due to behavior that was, or at least should have been avoidable. Assuming that maturity could stem those types of behaviors in the future, he profiles as a force in a middle six role.

Best value pick – Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago Steel (USHL), 115^th overall & Jack Matier, D, Ottawa 67s (OHL), 124^th overall

These two are of a pair, both defenders being selected in the fourth round by Nashville, when both could easily have been off the board a full round or more earlier than when the Predators finally announced their names around half an hour apart. Although both blueliners are right-handed shots, the rest of their respective profiles couldn’t be more different. Ufko is small, but vicious, with a pronounced aggressive streak and a huge point shot. His skating needs a little work, but he is headed to a defensive factory at UMass and big things should be in his immediate future. Matier is huge, but skates well. He missed the year due to the OHL cancellation, but looked sharp at the WU18s, showing enough puck movement skills that he can profile to at least be viable in a third pairing role if paired with a more dynamic player. Either or both of Ufko and Matier could play a role in the NHL, which is more than can be said for many fourth rounders.

Worst value pick – Anton Olsson, D, Malmo Redhawks (SHL), 72^nd overall

We were probably lower on Olsson as a draft prospect than most other venues, but on its face, a third-round pick for the Swedish defender is not bad value. The only reason he ends up here is that Nashville traded up to get him, so his cost is both the #72 pick, as well as pick #147. Olsson can look good at times, but his feel for the game offensively can also be sorely lacking, leading to questions about his upside. If Olson in the third round is a team’s worst value pick, that team had a pretty good draft.

Zachary Bolduc. Photo courtesy of the QMJHL.

St. Louis Blues

1 (17) Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)

3 (71) Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

5 (145) Tyson Galloway, D, Calgary (WHL)

7 (198) Ivan Vorobyov, RW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)

One of the smallest draft classes this year, the Blues will benefit from also snapping up perhaps the best value pick in the entire draft. Not much else to state about their draft, as there was no other clear trend in their selections. The four players are all from different geographical locations and range from undersized (Vorobyov) to supersized (Galloway). If their top two picks pan out, this draft class will be deemed a success. If not, it will be a failure. With smaller draft classes, there is no room for error.

First round pick – Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL), 17^th overall

A playmaking, two-way center, Bolduc’s production in his draft year was a mild disappointment, with point-per-game rates very similar to what he put up in the previous season, albeit with a vastly different shape. Whereas he scored almost three goals for every assist in 2019-20, last year the ratio was practically flipped, with nearly two assists for every goal scored. At times, his play seemed passive, which could impact his effectiveness, but a touch of added confidence should help him grow in all three zones, into a solid middle six center projection.

Best value pick – Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea AIK (SHL), 71^st overall

Granted, we had Robertsson ranked too high for the draft. We focused too much on his discrete tools – which are all individually very impressive – and less on his overall game and how those tools all work together. The son of former NHL defender Bert Robertsson, young Simon split his draft year between the Swedish junior ranks, which he dominated before the league was cancelled half-way through, and the SHL, where his ice time and impact were both severely limited. He wore a letter for Sweden at the U18s, and performed fine, if not exceptionally. Robertsson has easy top six upside if he can put it all together, and bottom six value if he doesn’t. Getting that in the middle of the third round is a heist, and the Blues knew it, trading up with San Jose to get this pick, at the cost of a later third rounder and a sixth-round pick.

Worst value pick – Ivan Vorobyov, RW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL), 198^th overall

A seventh-round pick would rarely be chosen for this dishonor, but the Blues didn’t give us much to choose from. Their first three picks ranged from solid to exceptional vis-à-vis draft value. Vorobyov is a second time eligible winger who still hasn’t filled out a severely underdeveloped frame. He put up good numbers in the MHL last year (6^th leading scorer among the U19 set, with more stress on playmaking than finishing. Four games over the last two years in the VHL, Russia’s second men’s league constitute his sole experiences above junior hockey, and he has never been selected to represent Russia internationally, even for exhibition games. He is no more a gamble than any player picked in the seventh round, but for St. Louis, he is the biggest gamble of their 2021 draft class.

Chaz Lucius. Photo courtesy of USA Hockey/Rena Laverty

Winnipeg Jets

1 (18) Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL)

2 (50) Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)

3 (82) Dmitri Kuzmin, D, Dinamo Molodechno (Belarus)

5 (146) Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL)

I can simply repeat much of what was written in this section about the St. Louis draft class. Winnipeg drafted only four players, and at least three of them already look like great value selections. Also like the Blues, the Jets selected three forwards and one defender. If four is enough of a sample size to detect any trends (it usually isn’t), we can at least note that three of Winnipeg’s four picks were out of Russia/former Soviet Union states, although one of those players is expected to move to North America as soon as next season, with third rounder, defender Dmitri Kuzmin signing his Entry Level Contract. His most likely next destination is in the OHL, where Flint controls his CHL player rights.

The above paragraph notwithstanding, Winnipeg hasn’t drafted seven or more players in a single year since 2017, and they had not even drafted six players in a season since 2018. It is exceedingly difficult to maintain a competitive organization when your team has only four or five picks every year while other teams are selecting seven or more. It will be interesting to see if GM Kevin Cheveldayoff continues to trade picks for present help or finally starts to hold onto those assets.

First round pick – Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL), 18^th overall

Although his draft year was impacted at both beginning and end by injury, Lucius showed more than enough when he was healthy enough to take the ice that the first half projections placed on him previously were accurate. He was expected to go even higher in fact, but his foot speed was seemingly impacted by his pre-season knee surgery and that may have caused him to slide a few spots to Winnipeg. Skating aside, Lucius is a special offensive talent. His sense of timing and positioning lead to the bulk of his goals – helped along by a quick shot, of course – but he can also contribute as a playmaker thanks to his great ability to read the defense and exploit the smallest of gaps. He could explode with a fully healthy freshman season at Minnesota.

Best value pick – Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL), 50^th overall

Like St. Louis, Winnipeg managed to grab a player on Day Two who we had ranked as a first round talent. In this case, Chibrikov is small, but very feisty, and in possession of an exceptional offensive skill set. A creative player with high-energy, his development can go in a number of ways, and his ultimate projection will follow accordingly. Greater offensive consistency is all that stands in his way for a top six outcome, but the energy, reads, and overall mobility would also fit in a bottom six, disruptor role. A full year playing against men in Russia will go a ways towards unveiling his continued path.

Worst value pick – Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL), 146^th overall

This is once more not truly a low value pick. Rashevsky led the top Russian league, the MHL, in goals scored in 2019-20, his second year of draft eligibility, but went undrafted. Now 20 years old, and still exceptionally thin, he made his senior hockey debut last year and was pretty solid, especially in his time in the second tier VHL, where he put up 22 points in 30 games split between two teams. Rashevsky is not currently under contract in Russia, although there has yet to be any indication that Winnipeg wants to lock him in place just yet. If there is a low value element to this pick, it is the question of what is different about Rashevsky now than in the previous two years where he wasn’t selected? Even if there is no difference, perhaps the true answer is that he simply should have been drafted last year.

2021 NHL DRAFT: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 20:33:00 +0000