Olli Juolevi – McKeen's Hockey

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: VANCOUVER CANUCKS- RANK: #27 – TIER V

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:14:09 +0000

Vancouver Canucks

#27 Vancouver - Too many low upside picks limit the overall upside of the Vancouver system.

PLANO, TX USA - APRIL 27: Belarus's Danila Klimovich #20 controls the puck against Switzerland's Lilian Garessus #22 in preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Children’s Health StarCenter on April 27, 2021 in Plano, TX USA. (Photo by Ryan McCullough/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Vasili Podkolzin

Podkolzin had a rather uneven season last year, as he was not able to fully convince his KHL coaches that he could be a key player for the team and therefore was given a rather limited role and opportunity. He was a true leader and captain of the U20 Team Russia at the World Juniors though; however, it would be fair to say that his offensive production underwhelmed in the same way that it did in the KHL. In general, the season showed that he is still undergoing some "growing pains" and has some deficits in his attacking game, making people question his overall upside as a skill-based player.

Next season will be an interesting one for him as he begins his journey in North America with the Canucks, after signing his ELC. With some unanswered questions about his potential, he will look to earn the trust of the coaches in training camp to earn a roster spot with the Canucks to further his development at the NHL level. However, he may have to start in the AHL. Given his high energy level and strong two-way abilities, Podkolzin should have little difficulty transitioning. However, just how much he produces offensively remains to be seen. At this point, Podkolzin is beginning to look more like a high end third line center than a top six forward, but this year will tell us more. - VF

Jack Rathbone

A scouting find for the Canucks, Rathbone was a pre-school wunderkind who actually stayed at school for an extra year after being drafted, before finally moving on to Harvard. While Ivy League schools usually keep their players on campus for at least three, if not four years before they turn pro, Rathbone left after only two seasons, partially because the school wouldn’t be playing hockey this year anyway, in light of the pandemic, and partially because he had little left to learn by playing against collegians. He was very good as a freshman, but as a sophomore, Rathbone was a First-Team All-Star among his conference peers, finishing the season with over one point per game as a defender.

His rookie pro season was a little up-and-down, but the downs only meant that he spent the first chunk of the abbreviated campaign on Vancouver’s taxi squad, not seeing game action until he was sent down to the AHL in late February. He was immediately too good for the AHL and by May, he was in the NHL. Rahtbone’s speed and dynamic puck game are reminiscent of another young Vancouver defender, Quinn Hughes, although it is hard to assume that kind of upside for anyone. The additions of Ekman-Larsson, Schenn, and Poolman will have eased the pressure on Rathbone to make the NHL roster right away, but he just might get there anyway. - RW

Michael DiPietro

It was a very weird year for DiPietro’s development in 2020/21. He spent the majority of the year on Vancouver’s taxi squad, rather than getting in games with Utica to aid in his development. This brought forward a lot of criticism towards Vancouver’s development model. The reality is that the pandemic situation (coupled with the US/Canada border issue) forced the Canucks’ hand as they needed a third goalie up with them and could not risk the quarantine policy in place given possible emergency situations. What effect playing four games in his second year as a pro has on his development remains to be seen.

When he did play with Utica towards the end of the year, DiPietro performed well. His performance even earned him a spot on Team Canada at the World Championships, where he was the third goalie. Always lauded for his athleticism and professionalism, DiPietro has the work ethic and the talent to be an NHL netminder and is one of the top goalie prospects on the planet for a reason. With the Canucks’ AHL team moving North to Abbotsford this season, he will get in another full year as a starter at that level and will be ready to contribute in the NHL should Demko or Halak get injured. - BO

Jett Woo

It was a year of transition for Woo, who embarked on his pro career with a shortened season for the AHL’s Utica Comets, posting five points in 28 games. It was a solid start for the young blueliner, who brought his physical brand of hockey to the pro level and finally began to see some secondary powerplay duties towards the end of the season.

A throwback style defenseman, Woo is known most for his aggressive, physical style that gets in the face of opponents. He is an excellent skater who can move the puck effectively and likes to jump into the rush. He has good instincts offensively but needs to continue to improve positioning without the puck and gain a better understanding of when to go for the big hit. In junior, he was able to recover from these situations due to his great mobility, but the pro level doesn’t afford those mistakes to the same degree. Additionally, his shot is accurate but lacks velocity from the point. Woo projects to be a solid #4-5 at the NHL level if he can continue to develop his game in the next couple of seasons. A full AHL campaign awaits. - AS

Olli Juolevi

It is hard to believe that Juolevi still has prospect eligibility as it feels like the 23-year-old former fifth overall selection has been around forever already. However, injuries have really derailed his development. Last year, Juolevi did spend the whole year with the Canucks, but was in and out of the lineup (as a scratch). In 23 games, he played relatively sparingly as part of Vancouver’s third pairing.

A competent two-way defender, the key for Juolevi is finding that niche at the NHL level. He skates well. He shows promise as a puck mover. He can be an effective player in the defensive end with his four-way mobility and transitional strengths. However, his decision making needs to tighten up and he needs to increase his physical intensity level. A long shot to be the kind of impact player normally expected of fifth overall selections, Juolevi still has a chance to develop into a serviceable #4-5 defender for Vancouver. However, he needs to stay healthy, and he needs to re-discover his confidence as a puck mover. There is an opportunity for him to grab an everyday lineup spot this season, but without significant progression, he runs the risk of being passed by others like Jack Rathbone and Jett Woo soon. - BO

Danila Klimovich

After tearing up the Belarussian junior league last season, Klimovich went to the World U18 Championships and put himself firmly on the draft radar, with six goals in five games. An offensive machine, both his shot and puck skills stand out as high-end. While the rest of his game is raw and in need of development, his strengths are strong enough to work with him to get his weaknesses mitigated enough to play. That is why the Canucks made him an early second round pick in 2021.

Like many players with his obvious offensive tools, Klimovich’s play off the puck needs some work. He will work hard in his own zone, but he is too often in the wrong spot to be really effective. He is very much a shoot-first forward, so his decision making with the puck is also at times lacking. Playing with a more uniformly higher quality of teammate and against a more uniformly higher quality of opponent will be necessary for him to begin to eliminate those bad habits. Despite the flaws in his game, Klimovich’s upside is rare, with easy top six potential. Vancouver will need to be patient, but the payoff is possibly immense. He was drafted in the CHL Import Draft last year by Rouyn-Noranda, but the pandemic prevented most imports from coming over for the 2020-21 season. Playing in the Q is an option this year, but he does look to be playing in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Jonah Gadjovich

The Vancouver Canucks have to be really happy with the way Gadjovich has steadily improved in each of his first three pro seasons in the organization. His goals per game mark have steadily risen each season (0.09, to 0.34, to 0.79). The big power forward finally looks like he is ready for an NHL role this upcoming season, where he will compete for a bottom six role in training camp.

The key to Gadjovich’s improvement on the ice has been directly tied to his ability to become quicker. A big power forward, Gadjovich has always found his way to the net and brought a physical element, however with improvements to his explosiveness and agility, he has become a consistent scoring threat. Armed with an extremely heavy shot and great scoring instincts, the next test will come at the NHL level. Can Gadjovich keep up? Just how much has his skating improved? Vancouver will have a tough choice to make, as Gadjovich is out of options and will need to be rostered in order to avoid waivers. The hope is that he can play a consistent fourth line role this upcoming season and then slowly become more involved offensively as he gains confidence. His high-end upside is that of a middle six scoring winger and powerplay threat. - BO

Will Lockwood

With the possible exception of his junior year in Ann Arbor, Lockwood has always shown himself to be an energy winger with just enough skill to allow teams to hope for more than bottom line production at his best. The junior year was an exception (maybe), as it was the only season since his U16 days in which he even approached point-per-game production. Lockwood’s senior season with Michigan saw his numbers regress back to his normal range (23 points in 33 games) and his rookie professional season last year was even lower, although the smaller sample size may have prevented him from showing adjustments, and in fairness, he did end the year on a three-game point streak.

At the end of the day, though, Vancouver will not be looking to Lockwood for more than moderate, supporting offense. They would be happy for him to be effective as a disruptor and agitator on a bottom six line, possibly supporting the penalty kill while he’s at it. He is a solid skater, plays a ‘hit first, ask questions later’ style game, and has just enough skill with the puck that the opposition can’t take him for granted. Given the Canucks’ lack of forward depth, he will likely have a chance to open the season in the NHL, but his general lack of professional experience indicates that more AHL time would be ideal. - RW

Jacob Truscott

Going from a depth role with a strong USNTDP to a depth role in a ridiculous Michigan program, Truscott has seen his chances to show what he can do limited of late. Our belief in him stems from the variety of things he showed as capable during his pre-draft year, indicative of a player with a broad skill set, if not the deepest skill set, and the creativity and quickness of thought to always be capable of surprising.

Watching him in his bottom pairing job last year, we saw a defender who was playing somewhat tentatively, overly carefully, trying to earn the trust of his coaching staff, and by extension, a greater role in the following seasons. He avoided overt displays of rugged physicality, seemingly to avoid spending time in the penalty box. To his credit, Truscott held his own in his own end, earning some regular penalty killing duties in the process, and hopefully setting the stage for an expanded role there next year. And every now and then, if you watched closely, he demonstrated that his offensive tools could work at this new level. Continued progress would mean the removal of his shackles – whether they were put on himself or placed upon him by the coaching staff – and working to expand his comfort zone. We will know more about his ultimate projection once we see him play more comfortably in college. - RW

Carson Focht

Carson Focht seemingly plateaued over his WHL career. He never reached a point per game pace even in his last season. However, Focht is a hard nose player that brings a bit of grit and sandpaper to your line up. He seems destined for a bottom-line role where he can be an effective agitator and good sized player who can lean on opponents and patrol the center of the ice. He is a pretty sound player in his own end and plays a simple and effective game. His speed is fine, and he is willing to throw his body around, especially on the forecheck. His hands are average, but he doesn’t flash high end skill when he has the puck on his stick.

Certainly, his effort and attention to details away from the puck give him a shot at carving out a bottom six role. His production in his first AHL season while not spectacular was enough to show he can translate his game to a bottom six pro style role. He will return to the AHL this year, now with the newly minted Abbotsford Canucks and will look to improve his offensive production, while also becoming an elite level shutdown forward. - VG

Karel Plasek

Drafted in 2019, the Canucks are still looking for Plasek to find greater consistency in his game. He has all the tools to become a solid middle six winger, but his performance in the Czech men’s leagues has been underwhelming thus far. He will finally make the trek to North America to play in the AHL next season and Canucks’ fans are incredibly interested to see how he performs.

Joni Jurmo

A third-round selection in 2020, Jurmo combines size and mobility on the back end and was drafted because of his projectable skill set. Most certainly a project, Jurmo will look to play full time at the Liiga level this coming season, joining the Jukurit organization.

Dmitri Zlodeyev

Injuries were a bit of a problem for the competitive two-way center this past season, but he still managed to win an MHL Championship with MHK Dynamo Moskva. Next season, the Canucks will be looking for Zlodeyev to finally get some experience at the KHL level, in addition to making the Russian World Junior’s roster.

Aidan McDonough

The first two seasons at Northeastern have gone swimmingly for McDonough as he has become a go-to offensive weapon for the program. A big winger with a goal scorer’s touch, McDonough is deadly in tight. As he returns to college for his junior season, the Canucks will be looking for him to take that next step and become one of the better offensive players in the Hockey East.

Arvid Costmar

A strong two-way forward, Costmar has performed exceptionally well at the J20 level in Sweden since being drafted. However, his offensive production at the SHL level has been underwhelming. Costmar will attempt to breakthrough this season with Linkoping and take that next step to prove to Vancouver management that he is deserving of an NHL ELC.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Vancouver Canucks Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 22:39:00 +0000

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

Vasili Podkolzin, RW (10^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Podkolzin is a dynamic winger with a lot of good assets in his toolbox. He is a strong skater with terrific balance and is technically solid. He can get to top speed within a few strides. He is exceptionally good at puck protection and has a creative hockey mind. He works hard and plays a physical game. He still lacks a bit of consistency in his production, but he has been a teenager playing against men and he gets pushed out physically when he tries to create. He is not a typical transition player; he likes to play tight to the body and create from down low which makes a lack of physical strength a natural problem. Podkolzin also sometimes tries to be too creative instead of just making the easy play. He will always aid his team’s puck possession with elite skills and do good things with that possession. Although he did not score many points, his underlying numbers were good, and it is expected that he will receive a bigger role in the KHL this season. He has one more year with St Petersburg after which he could compete for a top six role with the Canucks. - JH

Nils Hoglander, LW (40^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

WJC star Hoglander plays intensively and is particularly strong in the corners and around the net. He will set up a power play or drive the play all over the ice. His passes to the slot were more frequent during the WJC than in the SHL as he was constantly trying to create. He is small and is not to able to break away from his opponents in the corners in the same way at the senior level as he did at the World Juniors, and that could be a concern as he prepares to transition to North America and the NHL, as his game prevails through stick handling, covering the puck and making quick turns and creative plays. That type of game will be tough for him in the NHL and he will need to vary his game. Hoglander was supposed to start the 2020-21 season with the Canucks organization, trying to earn a spot in the NHL; While he waits for the NHL to start, he has returned to the SHL, where his offensive game has begun to take off. - JH

Olli Juolevi, D (5^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

After playing his first nearly full season as a professional with AHL Utica, Juolevi seemed to be playing back to the same high level as made him the fifth overall pick in 2016. He brings a high hockey IQ and composure to any situation and as he grew more comfortable facilitating more scoring chances as well. He is a good skater, a good puck handler, and the type of player you forget is on the ice until he helps out in scoring or putting the puck in the net himself. He should certainly be making his long-awaited debut with the Canucks’ bottom pairing in 2020-21, where he will stay until he has mastered the NHL game enough to move up the lineup. Juolevi will simply have to be more physical to differentiate himself and to earn added trust from the coaching staff, learning to protect himself better in an organization that is not known for their grit. - SC

Jett Woo, D (37^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Woo has the potential to play on a second pairing but lacks the offensive toolkit that many were expecting after his eye-popping seasons in Moose Jaw. He is an effective, physical, in-your-face defender who skates well and competes hard for every inch of ice. He is tenacious in his own zone using big hits, stick checks, good reads and aggression to minimize the opponent’s ability to get to his net. His gap control is good, and opponents know he will step up if they bobble the puck or show any hesitation in the neutral zone. He is a fine passer, capable of making good plays to start the transition, however his decision making in the offensive zone is concerning. His vision is good, but he frequently tries to do too much and turns over the puck at inopportune times. While Woo is capable of recovering better than most, he is more the complementary defender than the one the dictates the offense. He plays the game the right way and has an edge and abrasiveness in handling himself. He is willing to jump into the rush and has the speed to get himself into the play as a trailer. - VG

Jack Rathbone, D (95^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

From the moment Rathbone stepped on the ice at Harvard, even as a freshman, he made an impact. While there is usually an adjustment period for rookies when transitioning to college hockey, especially for those who come straight from prep school as he did, some, like Rathbone, are exceptions. An offensive defenseman, last year he ranked fourth on the team in scoring, leading all Crimson defenders. His shot is characterized by a quick release. He appeared on the team’s second penalty kill unit and the first power play unit. He was possibly the team’s best puck mover on the power play. He is excellent at running the unit from the point. Defensively, he has a very active and quick stick and is able to poke check effectively, minimizing the negative impact of his smaller stature. Rahtbone’s offensive capabilities as well as his solid defensive skills give him a legitimate chance at making the NHL in a top half of roster role, a journey which will move to the professional ranks next season. - JS

Will Lockwood, RW (64^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

On the small side, but incredibly feisty, Lockwood spent the full four seasons at the University of Michigan, before finally signing an ELC with the Canucks shortly after COVID-19 paused play the world over. The former USNTDP grinder had an up-and-down collegiate career with the Wolverines, but his best two seasons were certainly his last two. He is a strong skater who can flash creativity with the puck in the offensive zone, can tend to play too deliberately as well, negating his inherent skill set. When he plays decisively, Lockwood has been a disruptive presence at the collegiate level. He plays a physical game, especially when he plays angry and relishes open ice checking. He is the type of player who could be ready for the NHL within one season of turning pro, but whose reasonable upside is never more than a bottom six winger, who could frustrate with the hints of more, but who can’t show it consistently enough for the possibility to be reasonable. - RW

Michael DiPietro, G (64^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

DiPietro brings a new definition to the word ‘focus’ with an ultra-dialed-in and intense personality. He performs reliably well every game and gives maximum effort, no matter the opponent. He has a good track record for performing well under pressure and for keeping a good attitude, going above and beyond when it comes to athleticism, which he must due to his smaller size. He reads plays well and does well in one on one situations however he will have to battle harder to get to his position in net scrambles, as he works towards a permanent NHL role. The future is bright for DiPietro, who is so naturally gifted with the right instincts, attitude, and athleticism needed to be a top level goaltender, look for him to have a go at an NHL job within the next season should he start off the upcoming season the same way with Utica. - SC

Zack MacEwen, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 3, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

MacEwen is not a cookie cutter smooth-skating type. Instead he is the hard working, crash and bang guy that brings a lot of energy to a roster. He is not the most graceful of skaters and does not stand out for skill either, but he does well at completing the little things. He is a steady net front presence, forces turnovers, and plays the body at the right times. A little clumsy at times, he has learned to be a good backchecker and defend well in his own zone, however he still needs to work on his passing in order to avoid turnovers and better contribute to the breakout. It is no surprise that MacEwen has earned a spot on the Vancouver Canucks 2020 playoff roster as he brings the right energy and can get the job done in a way that the other players cannot, which is why he is an asset to their bottom six, and should continue to play at the highest level as long as his cap hit remains low. – SC

Jacob Truscott, D (144^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

In every game with the USNDTP, there will be one or two moments where Truscott authors a play that makes you take notice. And each of those moments were substantially different. Those good plays would not be at all possible if he were not an above average skater, with impressive acceleration, very good edges and pivots and top speed, and mostly incredible backwards skating. The package plays into his heads-up game. He reads and processes the game fast and is very decisive when the situation calls for action. He can react correctly to a broken play. He can also excel in driving the play, as he can set and alternately vary the pace. He plays with mature composure. On the other hand, Truscott lacks flash. He has a decent wrist shot from the point, but not a power play quarterback rocket. He can skate with the puck but doesn’t often execute high level trickery. He can time the odd big hit but lacks the big frame to play that style with regularity. At the end of the day, he can leverage what he has into a long and successful career on a good team’s second pairing. – RW

Joni Jurmo, D (82^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking NA)

Jurmo is a big-risk/big-reward player. The physical tools are impossible to miss. He skates beautifully, with a fast and powerful stride. His edges are solid and his has four-way mobility, and the speed is remarkable. His carries out of his own end are thrilling. On the other hand, he is still incredibly raw. He has not often shown the ability to slow the game down, regroup and let the play come to him. He has shown significant improvement in his own zone work this year, to his credit, reading the play better and forcing opposing forwards to the outside, but he still has a way to go in this regard. There could also be some concern that he lacks experience at high levels, or at prestigious age-group tournaments. Jurmo recently moved from the Jokerit system to JyP, where he is expected to play in Liiga this season. If Vancouver can be patient, he represents a potential play on a future top four defender with dynamic qualities. He has come a long way in the last two seasons and still has room for added development. He might not get there, but it was a gamble worth taking. – RW

Kole Lind, RW (33^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Lind has finally had the breakout confidence-replenishing year that staff and writers were hoping for. He is a good shooter and good at making quick plays and reacting to what is going on around him. He can be relied upon to play special teams, however he is not the smoothest of skaters, but he makes up for it in the way he gets to the net and his work ethic on the forecheck. Lind will certainly have to get faster and more agile on his blades, but his hands and his passing are good and lead him oftentimes to contributing to good scoring opportunities or assisting on plays. He will most likely earn his chance to crack the Canucks lineup this coming season as a potential third liner alternating in the bottom six if he finds another gear for his skating and on ice agility while continuing to work on his two way play. - SC

Brogan Rafferty, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 1, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

After leading the AHL Utica Comets in points for defensemen it is safe to say that Rafferty is a strong and dependable defenseman in the Vancouver pipeline. All of his skills are good, and his positioning and hockey IQ are what lead him to stand out, earning points in nearly every game. He will need to get a bit tougher when it comes to physicality and taking the body, but aside from that there is nothing of concern. He brings a great two-way game and is nearly always in the right position which could be an asset for the Canucks looking into next season, despite this past season only being Rafferty’s rookie year. A late bloomer, his potential may be surprisingly high because of the progression he has had so far, however when he gets the call up look to see him as part of the bottom four to start proving himself. - SC

Aidan McDonough, LW (195^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 12)

McDonough’s value may turn out to be higher than his seventh-round draft pick status. After graduating from prep school at Thayer Academy, McDonough spent one season in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders before entering the collegiate ranks. As a freshman, he was one of the highest-scoring players for Northeastern and the highest-scoring freshman by a mile and earned the team’s rookie of the year award. He has a big frame but could be stronger on the puck, although he is not afraid to engage in puck battles. While he needs to pump his legs on his strides, he is very hard to contain in the offensive zone as he glides around. McDonough is a sharp passer and can score from multiple spots but buzzes frequently around the net. While he certainly held his own as a freshman, he is still raw and needs to refine his game more before turning pro. - JS

Marc Michaelis, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 19, 2020. Previous ranking: 13)

The NCAA’s top scorer over the past four seasons, Michaelis was a First Team WCHA All American through each of his four seasons at Minnesota State. The slight German winger already had a lengthy history of high-level international play, including two appearances at the World Championships for his homeland before signing as a free agent with Vancouver a few days into the COVID-19 lockdown. Michaelis makes himself seen through high end skating ability, which allowed him to skate laps around the WCHA competition, as well as very interesting playmaking potential, with vision and creativity. The skating will have to be his ticket to the NHL though, as his playmaking ability has been more a function of brains than pure skill, leaving in question how much those brains will allow him to play up as a pro. If Michaelis makes the adjustment to the pro pace and continues to make his presence felt in the offensive end, he could push himself up to the highest level for a lengthy stay. – RW

Dmitri Zlodeyev, C (175^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Zlodeyev is a strong two-way center who shows extremely well off the puck. He uses his strong skating to apply pressure on the forecheck and was one of the anchors of Russia’s penalty killing unit at the U18 level. Additionally, he excels at the faceoff dot. As an offensive player, he is at his best working the half wall, where he can use his quick feet to elude checks and create lanes to attack. He is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer but is willing to drive the net and can finish from in tight with a quick release. The remaining question is his upside. Zlodeyev is a skill player, but it is not clearly enough yet to project to a scoring line role in North America, and without the strength to play in a bottom six role, he may be stuck as a tweener. His early work this year in the VHL (Russia’s second men’s league) is promising enough that he might just make it work, even if he is only in the early stages of his journey. – BO

Linus Karlsson, C (Trade: Feb. 25, 2019. Originally: 87^thoverall, 2018 [San Jose]. Previous ranking: 14)

A big center with nice hands who was acquired in a pure Swedish prospect trade, as Jonathan Dahlen was sent the other way to San Jose. Karlsson is not as a big name in Sweden as Dahlen is but Karlsson is a decent prospect in his own right, and he scored 40 points in Allsvenskan as a 20-year-old. He is an offensive minded center with an above average shot and above average hands. He is not elite an any way but a decent depth prospect, and if everything goes well, he could be a good third line option in the future. He needs to work on his skating and play at a faster pace to reach the highest level. He will have a couple more years of development before he can be ready to compete for a spot. I would be surprised if he has a long NHL career, but I can definitely see him being a good SHL player in near future. – JH

Guillaume Brisebois, D (66^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

The last three seasons with the Utica Comets for Brisebois have not gone as originally hoped since his near fifty-point final season in the QMJHL. Brisebois has struggled to produce a similar offensive output and anywhere near the success he had in major junior. He plays with grit and passion and brings a focus to every game that is admirable as he is always ready to make a play. The downside to his game is the fact that he has not been able to find the same confidence as he once had, and he has struggled to even get his passing game going. The hope is that next season Brisebois will finally find the extra gear he once seemed to have and reach his potential before it is too late. He will most likely be able to qualify for one more crack at a roster spot on the Canucks, hoping to find a home at the bottom of the defensive rotation. - SC

Arvid Costmar, C (215^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

The 215th pick in 2019 took good steps during the season. He was a steady top line center for the junior team and played big minutes. His production went up and he doubled his goal total last season despite playing 15 games less than the year before. He received some cups of tea at the senior level as well, but without success. In Allsvenskan he had a more diminished role when he played. His skating speed needs to improve but is a skilled offensive-minded player with good hands. His puck skills excel well on the power play as he likes to set up the play. He is also skilled one-on-one and can make nice dekes. For next season, I would like to see him earn a top six role on an Allsvenskan team and compete for a WJC roster spot. To do so he will need to work on his all-around game and play at a higher pace. – JH

Petrus Palmu, LW/RW (181^st overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 16)

One of the smallest drafted prospects around, Palmu tore up the OHL as an Import player, but has spent the bulk of the past three seasons back in Finland. At every stop, he has left little doubt but that he is a dynamic, productive offensive player, with only the mild exception of his 12-game stint in the AHL in 2018-19. Just from a tools perspective, he isn’t the most impressive. He skates well, but questionably whether he is fleet enough to overcome his size concern. He has fast hands, and reads the game well, but neither approaching elite. He is not a sniper. But somehow, he has made it all work well together to give him an overall package that has been greater than the sum of his parts. Like all players of his stature, even ones who play with his courage, Palmu will need to prove himself anew at every new level, and next up is the AHL, to which he is expected to play this year. - RW

Carson Focht, C (133^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 17)

Drafted as a moderately offensive second year eligible, Focht’s post draft performance was somewhat disappointing, as he failed to take his game to another level in the WHL. Not meeting expectations is not new for Focht, the one-time seventh overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft. This is not to imply that his professional prospects are dead, as his game has elements that could fit in a bottom six role. He has decent size, and he can play with some grit up and down the ice. When his team has possession, he some smooth hands and the wherewithal to keep the play moving in the right direction. On the right day, he can even look like a sniper, with a very quick release on his snapshot. He just doesn’t do it all at once, or consistently. Still unsigned, it is unclear where he will play this year, as he turns 21 in early February. - RW

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:09:56 +0000

These are our final prospect ranking prior to the start of the season. As a subscriber you can download the list in an excel chart and can link to the player pages in the chart found here. As always, the rankings you see below are based on our 20-80 scouting system looking at five categories for skaters (Skating, Shot, Puck Skills, Hockey Smarts, Physicality) and six for netminders (Athleticism/Quickness/Speed, Compete/Temperament, Vision/Play Reading, Technique/Style, Rebound Control, Puck Handling). Our prospect team spent large portions of their last few months pre-COVID in the rinks, watching the players below and many others, and further work on video (Instat Hockey has been a terrific resource in recent days) before passing judgement on their future projections.

The 20-80 scouting system is meant to allow players from different leagues in different parts of the world to be compared to one another, such that grades on a player in the OHL can be directly compared to grades from an AHL player, and to grades of someone playing in the MHL.

PROSPECT CRITERIA

Players under 26 years of age as of the September 15th prior (Sep. 15, 1994) to the season in question who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in any one season – or 25 last year (20 for goalies, 15 last season) are considered prospects

RANK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	ACQUIRED
1	Alexis Lafreniere	NYR	LW	19	6-1/195	`20(1st)
2	Tim Stutzle	Ott	C	18	6-1/185	`20(3rd)
3	Quinton Byfield	LA	C	18	6-4/215	`20(2nd)
4	Trevor Zegras	Ana	C	19	6-0/170	`19(9th)
5	Kirill Kaprizov	Min	LW	23	5-10/200	`15(135th)
6	Lucas Raymond	Det	LW	18	5-11/170	`20(4th)
7	Dylan Cozens	Buf	C	19	6-3/185	`19(7th)
8	Bowen Byram	Col	D	19	6-0/195	`19(4th)
9	Peyton Krebs	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`19(17th)
10	Jake Sanderson	Ott	D	18	6-1/185	`20(5th)
11	Moritz Seider	Det	D	19	6-3/185	`19(6th)
12	Jamie Drysdale	Ana	D	18	5-11/175	`20(6th)
13	Igor Shesterkin	NYR	G	25	6-1/190	`14(118th)
14	Alexander Holtz	NJ	RW	18	6-0/190	`20(7th)
15	Cole Perfetti	Wpg	LW	19	5-10/180	`20(10th)
16	Marco Rossi	Min	C	19	5-9/185	`20(9th)
17	Vasili Podkolzin	Van	RW	19	6-1/190	`19(10th)
18	Victor Soderstrom	Ari	D	19	5-11/180	`19(11th)
19	Nick Robertson	Tor	LW	19	5-9/160	`19(53rd)
20	Cole Caufield	Mtl	RW	19	5-7/165	`19(15th)
21	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	18	6-3/175	`20(11th)
22	Spencer Knight	Fla	G	19	6-3/195	`19(13th)
23	Philip Broberg	Edm	D	19	6-3/200	`19(8th)
24	Jack Quinn	Buf	RW	19	6-0/180	`20(8th)
25	Matthew Boldy	Min	LW	19	6-1/190	`19(12th)
26	Nils Lundkvist	NYR	D	20	5-11/180	`18(28th)
27	Seth Jarvis	Car	RW	18	5-10/175	`20(13th)
28	Ty Smith	NJ	D	20	5-10/180	`18(17th)
29	Grigori Denisenko	Fla	LW	20	5-11/185	`18(15th)
30	Barrett Hayton	Ari	C	20	6-1/190	`18(5th)
31	Alex Newhook	Col	C	19	5-10/195	`19(16th)
32	Thomas Harley	Dal	D	19	6-3/190	`19(18th)
33	Alex Turcotte	LA	C	19	5-11/185	`19(5th)
34	Vitali Kravtsov	NYR	RW	21	6-3/185	`18(9th)
35	Philip Tomasino	Nsh	C	19	5-11/180	`19(24th)
36	Connor McMichael	Wsh	C	19	5-11/175	`19(25th)
37	Dawson Mercer	NJ	C	19	6-0/180	`20(18th)
38	Ilya Sorokin	NYI	G	25	6-2/180	`14(78th)
39	Gabriel Vilardi	LA	RW	21	6-3/200	`17(11th)
40	Ryan Merkley	SJ	D	20	5-11/170	`18(21st)
41	Alexander Romanov	Mtl	D	20	5-11/185	`18(38th)
42	Kaiden Guhle	Mtl	D	18	6-2/190	`20(16th)
43	Samuel Poulin	Pit	LW	19	6-1/205	`19(21st)
44	K'Andre Miller	NYR	D	20	6-3/205	`18(22nd)
45	Scott Perunovich	StL	D	22	5-10/175	`18(45th)
46	Evan Bouchard	Edm	D	21	6-2/195	`18(10th)
47	Braden Schneider	NYR	D	19	6-2/200	`20(19th)
48	Juuso Valimaki	Cgy	D	22	6-2/205	`17(16th)
49	Cam York	Phi	D	19	5-11/175	`19(14th)
50	Anton Lundell	Fla	C	19	6-1/185	`20(12th)
51	Morgan Frost	Phi	C	21	5-11/180	`17(27th)
52	Owen Tippett	Fla	RW	21	6-1/200	`17(10th)
53	Albert Johansson	Det	D	19	5-11/165	`19(60th)
54	Liam Foudy	CBJ	C	20	6-0/175	`18(18th)
55	Kieffer Bellows	NYI	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(19th)
56	Arthur Kaliyev	LA	RW	19	6-2/190	`19(33rd)
57	Oliver Wahlstrom	NYI	RW	20	6-1/205	`18(11th)
58	Nils Hoglander	Van	RW	20	5-9/185	`19(40th)
59	Matias Maccelli	Ari	LW	20	5-11/170	`19(98th)
60	Tobias Bjornfot	LA	D	19	6-0/200	`19(22nd)
61	Jacob Bernard-Docker	Ott	D	20	6-0/180	`18(26th)
62	Connor Zary	Cgy	C	19	6-0/180	`20(24th)
63	Dominik Bokk	Car	RW	20	6-1/180	T(StL-9/19)
64	Ryan Suzuki	Car	C	19	6-0/180	`19(28th)
65	Dylan Samberg	Wpg	D	21	6-3/190	`17(43rd)
66	Jake Bean	Car	D	22	6-1/175	`16(13th)
67	Josh Norris	Ott	C	21	6-1/195	T(SJ-9/18)
68	Rasmus Kupari	LA	C	20	6-1/185	`18(20th)
69	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	19	5-9/165	`19(26th)
70	Drake Batherson	Ott	RW	22	6-1/190	`17(121st)
71	Jan Jenik	Ari	RW	20	6-1/180	`18(65th)
72	John-Jason Peterka	Buf	LW	18	5-11/190	`20(34th)
73	Kirill Marchenko	CBJ	LW	20	6-3/190	`18(49th)
74	Bode Wilde	NYI	D	20	6-2/195	`18(41st)
75	John Beecher	Bos	C	19	6-3/210	`19(30th)
76	Tyler Madden	LA	C	21	5-10/155	T(Van-2/20)
77	Jack Studnicka	Bos	C	21	6-1/170	`17(53rd)
78	Jake Oettinger	Dal	G	22	6-4/210	`17(26th)
79	Alex Formenton	Ott	LW	21	6-2/165	`17(47th)
80	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	19	6-3/200	`19(49th)
81	Calen Addison	Min	D	20	5-10/180	T(Pit-2/20)
82	Ty Dellandrea	Dal	C	20	6-0/185	`18(13th)
83	Akil Thomas	LA	C	20	5-11/170	`18(51st)
84	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	18	5-10/180	`20(30th)
85	Ian Mitchell	Chi	D	21	5-11/175	`17(57th)
86	Jason Robertson	Dal	LW	21	6-2/195	`17(39th)
87	Hendrix Lapierre	Wsh	C	18	5-11/180	`20(22nd)
88	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`20(29th)
89	Theodor Niederbach	Det	C	18	5-11/175	`20(51st)
90	Zac Jones	NYR	D	20	5-10/175	`19(68th)
91	Robert Mastrosimone	Det	LW	19	5-10/160	`19(54th)
92	Joe Veleno	Det	C	20	6-1/195	`18(30th)
93	Rodion Amirov	Tor	LW	19	6-0/170	`20(15th)
94	Jake Neighbours	StL	LW	18	5-11/195	`20(26th)
95	Julien Gauthier	NYR	RW	23	6-4/225	T(Car-2/20)
96	Justus Annunen	Col	G	20	6-4/215	`18(64th)
97	Egor Zamula	Phi	D	20	6-4/175	FA(9/18)
98	Shane Pinto	Ott	C	20	6-2/190	`19(32nd)
99	Noel Gunler	Car	RW	19	6-2/175	`20(41st)
100	Ridly Greig	Ott	C	18	5-11/165	`20(28th)
101	Jesse Ylonen	Mtl	RW	21	6-1/185	`18(35th)
102	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	20	6-0/195	`19(50th)
103	Mattias Norlinder	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`19(64th)
104	Olli Juolevi	Van	D	22	6-3/200	`16(5th)
105	Kristian Vesalainen	Wpg	LW	21	6-3/205	`17(24th)
106	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	20	6-4/195	`19(38th)
107	Jan Mysak	Mtl	C	18	5-11/180	`20(49th)
108	Cayden Primeau	Mtl	G	21	6-3/180	`17(199th)
109	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	LW	20	6-1/170	`19(79th)
110	Morgan Barron	NYR	C	22	6-2/200	`17(174th)
111	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	19	5-11/180	`19(20th)
112	Dylan Holloway	Edm	C	19	6-0/205	`20(14th)
113	Jack Dugan	VGK	RW	22	6-2/185	`17(142nd)
114	Alexander Khovanov	Min	C	20	5-11/195	`18(86th)
115	Jacob Perreault	Ana	RW	18	5-11/195	`20(27th)
116	Jake Evans	Mtl	C	24	6-0/185	`14(207th)
117	Adam Beckman	Min	LW	19	6-1/170	`19(75th)
118	Jett Woo	Van	D	20	6-0/205	`18(37th)
119	Nolan Foote	NJ	LW	20	6-3/190	T(TB-2/20)
120	Logan Brown	Ott	C	22	6-6/220	`16(11th)
121	Martin Kaut	Col	RW	21	6-1/175	`18(16th)
122	Jack Rathbone	Van	D	21	5-10/175	`17(95th)
123	Ozzy Wiesblatt	SJ	RW	18	5-10/185	`20(31st)
124	Ryan O'Rourke	Min	D	18	6-0/180	`20(39th)
125	Lukas Reichel	Chi	LW	18	6-0/170	`20(17th)
126	Jordan Harris	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`18(71st)
127	Lukas Dostal	Ana	G	20	6-1/170	`18(85th)
128	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/205	`19(45th)
129	Conor Timmins	Col	D	22	6-1/185	`17(32nd)
130	Lassi Thomson	Ott	D	20	6-0/190	`19(19th)
131	Eeli Tolvanen	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/175	`17(30th)
132	Kasper Simontaival	LA	RW	18	5-9/180	`20(66th)
133	Roni Hirvonen	Tor	C	18	5-9/165	`20(59th)
134	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	18	5-9/180	`20(38th)
135	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	Ana	C	20	6-1/195	`18(54th)
136	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	18	6-4/200	`20(44th)
137	Tyson Foerster	Phi	C	18	6-1/195	`20(23rd)
138	Helge Grans	LA	D	18	6-2/205	`20(35th)
139	Jonathan Dahlen	SJ	LW	23	5-11/185	T(Van-2/19)
140	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	18	5-11/175	`20(37th)
141	Alexander Alexeyev	Wsh	D	21	6-3/200	`18(31st)
142	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	Pit	D	21	6-2/170	`17(23rd)
143	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	18	5-10/160	`20(64th)
144	Oskari Laaksonen	Buf	D	21	6-2/165	`17(89th)
145	Filip Hallander	Tor	LW	20	6-1/185	T(Pit-8/20)
146	Serron Noel	Fla	RW	20	6-5/205	`18(34th)
147	Martin Chromiak	LA	LW	18	6-0/185	`20(128th)
148	Shakir Mukhamadullin	NJ	D	18	6-3/180	`20(20th)
149	Mattias Samuelsson	Buf	D	20	6-3/215	`18(32nd)
150	Janne Kuokkanen	NJ	LW	22	6-1/190	T(Car-2/20)
151	Ryan Johnson	Buf	D	19	6-0/175	`19(31st)
152	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	19	5-8/175	`20(124th)
153	Martin Fehervary	Wsh	D	21	6-1/190	`18(46th)
154	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	Buf	G	21	6-4/195	`17(54th)
155	Will Lockwood	Van	RW	22	5-11/175	`16(64th)
156	Isac Lundestrom	Ana	C	21	6-0/185	`18(23rd)
157	Michael DiPietro	Van	G	21	6-0/195	`17(64th)
158	Jonatan Berggren	Det	RW	20	5-10/185	`18(33rd)
159	Kevin Bahl	NJ	D	20	6-6/230	T(Ari-12/19)
160	Aliaksei Protas	Wsh	C	19	6-5/205	`19(91st)
161	Reilly Walsh	NJ	D	21	5-11/180	`17(81st)
162	Nick Abruzzese	Tor	C	21	5-9/160	`19(124th)
163	Tyler Tucker	StL	D	20	6-1/205	`18(200th)
164	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	19	5-10/170	`19(129th)
165	Klim Kostin	StL	C	21	6-3/195	`17(31st)
166	Brayden Tracey	Ana	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(29th)
167	Joel Hofer	StL	G	20	6-3/160	`18(107th)
168	Joey Anderson	Tor	RW	22	6-0/195	T(NJ-10/20)
169	Yegor Spiridonov	SJ	C	19	6-2/195	`19(108th)
170	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	19	6-1/205	`20(36th)
171	Joey Keane	Car	D	21	6-0/185	T(NYR-2/20)
172	Jared McIsaac	Det	D	20	6-1/195	`18(36th)
173	Jamieson Rees	Car	C	19	5-10/175	`19(44th)
174	Ivan Morozov	VGK	C	20	6-1/180	`18(61st)
175	Rem Pitlick	Nsh	C	23	5-11/200	`16(76th)
176	Tyce Thompson	NJ	RW	21	6-0/170	`19(96th)
177	Michael McLeod	NJ	C	22	6-2/195	`16(12th)
178	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	LA	C	21	5-11/190	`17(41st)
179	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	19	6-0/165	`19(214th)
180	Antti Tuomisto	Det	D	19	6-4/190	`19(35th)
181	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	18	5-9/155	`20(134th)
182	Luke Evangelista	Nsh	RW	18	5-11/170	`20(42nd)
183	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	18	6-1/180	`20(52nd)
184	Joni Ikonen	Mtl	C	21	5-10/170	`17(58th)
185	Olivier Rodrigue	Edm	G	20	6-1/165	`18(62nd)
186	Lucas Elvenes	VGK	RW	21	6-0/175	`17(127th)
187	Anthony Angello	Pit	RW	24	6-5/205	`14(145th)
188	Tuukka Tieksola	Car	RW	19	5-10/160	`19(121st)
189	Declan Chisholm	Wpg	D	20	6-1/190	`18(150th)
190	Cole Koepke	TB	LW	22	6-1/195	`18(183rd)
191	Valtteri Puustinen	Pit	RW	21	5-9/185	`19(203rd)
192	Ty Smilanic	Fla	C	18	6-1/175	`20(74th)
193	Patrik Puistola	Car	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(73rd)
194	Justin Barron	Col	D	19	6-2/190	`20(25th)
195	Andrew Peeke	CBJ	D	22	6-3/210	`16(34th)
196	Michael Vukojevic	NJ	D	19	6-3/210	`19(82nd)
197	Alec Regula	Chi	D	20	6-3/200	T(Det-10/19)
198	Connor Corcoran	VGK	D	20	6-1/185	`18(154th)
199	Jeremy Swayman	Bos	G	22	6-1/190	`17(111th)
200	Pyotr Kochetkov	Car	G	21	6-1/175	`19(36th)
201	Mikey Anderson	LA	D	21	6-0/195	`17(103rd)
202	Carter Savoie	Edm	LW	18	5-9/190	`20(100th)
203	Samuel Walker	TB	C	21	5-11/160	`17(200th)
204	William Wallinder	Det	D	18	6-4/190	`20(32nd)
205	Jack Drury	Car	C	20	5-11/180	`18(42nd)
206	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	18	5-9/185	`20(54th)
207	Cal Petersen	LA	G	26	6-3/190	FA(7/17)
208	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	18	6-0/200	`20(72nd)
209	Tarmo Reunanen	NYR	D	22	6-0/180	`16(98th)
210	Simon Holmstrom	NYI	RW	19	6-1/185	`19(23rd)
211	Aleksi Saarela	Fla	RW	23	5-11/200	T(Chi-10/19)
212	Anton Johannesson	Wpg	D	18	5-9/155	`20(133rd)
213	Lauri Pajuniemi	NYR	RW	21	6-0/185	`18(132nd)
214	Morgan Geekie	Car	C	22	6-2/180	`17(67th)
215	Shane Bowers	Col	C	21	6-2/190	T(Ott-11/17)
216	Sasha Chmelevski	SJ	C	21	5-11/190	`17(185th)
217	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	20	5-8/155	`18(43rd)
218	Cole Schwindt	Fla	RW	19	6-2/185	`19(81st)
219	Hugo Alnefelt	TB	G	19	6-3/195	`19(71st)
220	Nikita Okhotyuk	NJ	D	20	6-1/195	`19(61st)
221	Sampo Ranta	Col	LW	20	6-2/205	`18(78th)
222	Alexander Volkov	TB	LW	23	6-1/190	`17(48th)
223	Alexander True	SJ	C	23	6-5/205	FA(7/18)
224	John Leonard	SJ	C	22	5-11/190	`18(182nd)
225	Carl Grundstrom	LA	LW	23	6-0/195	T(Tor-1/19)
226	Dmitri Semykin	TB	D	20	6-3/200	`18(90th)
227	Cal Foote	TB	D	22	6-4/215	`17(14th)
228	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	18	5-11/175	`20(75th)
229	Alex Barre-Boulet	TB	C	23	5-10/165	FA(3/18)
230	Tristen Robins	SJ	RW	19	5-10/175	`20(56th)
231	Max Gildon	Fla	D	21	6-3/190	`17(66th)
232	Nikita Alexandrov	StL	C	20	6-0/180	`19(62nd)
233	Michael Benning	Fla	D	18	5-9/180	`20(95th)
234	Justin Sourdif	Fla	RW	18	5-11/175	`20(87th)
235	Tanner Laczynski	Phi	C	23	6-1/200	`16(169th)
236	Eamon Powell	TB	D	18	5-11/165	`20(116th)
237	Kaedan Korczak	VGK	D	19	6-3/190	`19(41st)
238	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	18	6-1/180	`20(47th)
239	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	21	5-10/175	`18(171st)
240	Pius Suter	Chi	C	24	5-11/170	FA(7/20)
241	Wade Allison	Phi	RW	23	6-2/205	`16(52nd)
242	Bobby Brink	Phi	RW	19	5-10/165	`19(34th)
243	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	18	5-10/180	`20(68th)
244	David Farrance	Nsh	D	21	5-11/190	`17(92nd)
245	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	18	6-2/185	`20(33rd)
246	Dmitri Voronkov	CBJ	LW	20	6-4/190	`19(114th)
247	German Rubtsov	Phi	C	22	6-2/190	`16(22nd)
248	Vitaly Abramov	Ott	RW	22	5-9/175	T(CBJ-2/19)
249	Alex Laferriere	LA	RW	19	6-0/175	`20(83rd)
250	Trey Fix-Wolansky	CBJ	RW	21	5-8/185	`18(204th)
251	Isaac Ratcliffe	Phi	LW	21	6-5/200	`17(35th)
252	Kale Clague	LA	D	22	6-0/180	`16(51st)
253	Landon Slaggert	Chi	LW	18	5-11/180	`20(79th)
254	Wyatt Kalynuk	Chi	D	23	6-1/180	FA(7/20)
255	Mikko Kokkonen	Tor	D	19	5-11/200	`19(84th)
256	Kevin Mandolese	Ott	G	20	6-4/180	`18(157th)
257	Daniil Tarasov	CBJ	G	21	6-5/185	`17(86th)
258	Evan Barratt	Chi	C	21	6-0/190	`17(90th)
259	Tyler Benson	Edm	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(32nd)
260	Yegor Korshkov	Tor	RW	24	6-4/215	`16(31st)
261	Hunter Skinner	NYR	D	19	6-2/175	`19(112th)
262	Riley Damiani	Dal	C	20	5-9/165	`18(137th)
263	Ryan McLeod	Edm	C	21	6-2/205	`18(40th)
264	Ilya Konovalov	Edm	G	22	6-0/195	`19(85th)
265	Will Cuylle	NYR	LW	18	6-3/205	`20(60th)
266	Evan Vierling	NYR	C	18	6-0/165	`20(127th)
267	Emil Heineman	Fla	LW	19	6-0/180	`20(43rd)
268	Zayde Wisdom	Phi	RW	18	5-10/195	`20(94th)
269	Hunter Jones	Min	G	20	6-4/195	`19(59th)
270	Ty Tullio	Edm	RW	18	5-10/165	`20(126th)
271	Jordan Spence	LA	D	19	5-10/165	`19(95th)
272	Dmitri Zavgorodny	Cgy	LW	20	5-9/175	`18(198th)
273	Alex Beaucage	Col	RW	19	6-1/195	`19(78th)
274	Matiss Kivlenieks	CBJ	G	24	6-2/190	FA(5/17)
275	Artyom Zub	Ott	D	25	6-2/200	FA(5/20)
276	Urho Vaakanainen	Bos	D	22	6-0/185	`17(18th)
277	Dmitri Samorukov	Edm	D	21	6-2/180	`17(84th)
278	Michal Teply	Chi	LW	19	6-3/185	`19(105th)
279	Colby Ambrosio	Col	C	18	5-8/170	`20(118th)
280	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	20	6-7/195	`19(37th)
281	Jeremy Lauzon	Bos	D	23	6-3/205	`15(52nd)
282	Dennis Gilbert	Col	D	24	6-2/200	T(Chi-10/20)
283	Trent Frederic	Bos	C	22	6-4/215	`16(29th)
284	Lucas Carlsson	Chi	D	23	6-0/190	`16(110th)
285	Zack Macewen	Van	RW	24	6-3/205	FA(3/17)
286	Brandon Hagel	Chi	LW	22	6-1/175	FA(10/18)
287	Vasily Ponomarev	Car	C	18	5-10/180	`20(53rd)
288	Jakub Zboril	Bos	D	23	6-1/200	`15(13th)
289	Garrett Pilon	Wsh	RW	22	5-11/190	`16(87th)
290	Jeremy Bracco	Car	RW	23	5-9/180	FA(10/20)
291	Dylan Sikura	VGK	RW	25	6-0/170	T(Chi-9/20)
292	Kyle Capobianco	Ari	D	23	6-1/180	`15(63rd)
293	Sami Niku	Wpg	D	24	6-0/175	`15(198th)
294	John Farinacci	Ari	C	19	5-11/185	`19(76th)
295	Jackson Lacombe	Ana	D	19	6-1/170	`19(39th)
296	David Cotton	Car	LW	23	6-3/205	`15(169th)
297	Erik Portillo	Buf	G	20	6-6/210	`19(67th)
298	Jacob Truscott	Van	D	18	6-1/170	`20(144th)
299	Mikhail Berdin	Wpg	G	22	6-2/165	`16(157th)
300	Cam Hillis	Mtl	C	20	5-10/170	`18(66th)

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

McKeens Hockey; Article by Ryan Wagman — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:50:55 +0000

I write these words less than 24 hours after the Dallas Stars took game one of the Stanley Cup Finals against the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning. Unlike most seasons wherein the end of the Stanley Cup marks the beginning of off-season player movement, this year teams have taken an early start to the transactional Ferris wheel as many expect the upcoming offseason (from the awarding of the Cup, through to the draft in the first week of October to the start of the 2020-21 season perhaps as soon as early December, pending COVID trends in North America) to be especially turbulent.

We have seen a few trades of NHL pieces, one deal which impacted this guidebook, as Toronto sent Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh and Swedish winger Filip Hallander was among those coming back to Toronto. Hallander was our selection for the second-best prospect in the Penguins system and now holds that title for the Maple Leafs. That trade knocked the Penguins down a few slots on our organizational rankings and allowed Toronto to go the other way accordingly.

Of course, with the draft roughly 17 days away, and with it a complete re-shuffling of the organizational rankings, this is just a snapshot in time of how every team’s system shakes up. We will re-run this list, incorporating the drafted players, in our pre-season fantasy guide, where we will expand the lists up to 20.

What you are about to dive into is a comprehensive list of all prospect eligible players on all 31 teams. To hold prospect eligibility, a player needs to 25 or younger, as of September 15, 2020. All skaters need to have played less than 60 career games, with no more than 35 of those games coming in a single season (or 25 for this past shortened season). For goalies, the age criteria remain the same, but the games played benchmark drops to 30 career games and 20 in a given season (or 15 last year). Any cutoff that does not hew exactly to the Calder Trophy award criteria is, by nature, arbitrary, but we aim to be inclusive for all players who have not yet cemented NHL jobs and/or have not had a prolonged chance to prove himself capable – or incapable.

We rank 15 per team, as depth is as important as the high end. Our goal is to identify players who could – if they have an advocate for them within the team’s braintrust – play a role in the NHL. These players were identified through our thorough vetting of each prospect across the globe, assigning scores, or grades, to five areas for skaters (skating, shot, puck skills, smarts, physicality) and six for netminders (athleticism/speed/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, positioning/technique, rebound control, and puck handling). Depending on the position, the grades are run through an algorithm to come up with an overall future projection (OFP).

The OFP, if the scout is being honest, measures the future role we anticipate the prospect being able to hold. A 50 score is the lower threshold to be a regular 4^th line forward, or bottom pairing defender. Grades over 56 are potential top line/pairing skaters. The grades in between, obviously project to the middle of the lineup.

As we are reminded every year, development is not linear. Some players take unexpected sudden leaps forward (see Marino, John), and others stagnate (see Ho-Sang, Josh), and many do exactly what we expect of them when they are given the chance. As much as I trust the analysts in our team, I can also tell you that this exercise is always humbling. There will be at least one player who we rate highly who bombs. There will be at least one player who did not feature on his team’s top 15 who becomes an NHL regular next year. We accept those errors in judgment and promise you, our faithful subscriber, that we will learn from them and refine our work for next year, as we learn just as NHL teams learn.

Until then, please enjoy this snapshot view of the future of the beautiful, frozen game. Putting this together has provided at least some sense of normalcy during this crazy summer.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired
Ana	1	Trevor Zegras	C	19	6-0/170	Boston University (HE)	`19(9th)
Min	2	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	23	5-10/200	CSKA (KHL)	`15(135th)
Col	3	Bowen Byram	D	19	6-0/195	Vancouver (WHL)	`19(4th)
Buf	4	Dylan Cozens	C	19	6-3/185	Lethbridge (WHL)	`19(7th)
Fla	5	Spencer Knight	G	19	6-3/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(13th)
VGK	6	Peyton Krebs	C	19	5-11/180	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(17th)
Ari	7	Victor Soderstrom	D	19	5-11/180	Brynas (Swe)	`19(11th)
Mtl	8	Cole Caufield	RW	19	5-7/165	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(15th)
Van	9	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	19	6-1/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`19(10th)
Edm	10	Philip Broberg	D	19	6-3/200	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`19(8th)
Tor	11	Nick Robertson	LW	19	5-9/160	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(53rd)
Col	12	Alex Newhook	C	19	5-10/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(16th)
Det	13	Moritz Seider	D	19	6-3/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`19(6th)
Fla	14	Grigori Denisenko	LW	20	5-11/185	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(15th)
Min	15	Matthew Boldy	LW	19	6-1/190	Boston College (HE)	`19(12th)
NJ	16	Ty Smith	D	20	5-10/180	Spokane (WHL)	`18(17th)
LA	17	Alex Turcotte	C	19	5-11/185	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(5th)
Nsh	18	Philip Tomasino	C	19	5-11/180	Nia-Osh (OHL)	`19(24th)
Pit	19	Samuel Poulin	LW	19	6-1/205	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	`19(21st)
Wsh	20	Connor McMichael	C	19	5-11/175	London (OHL)	`19(25th)
LA	21	Gabriel Vilardi	RW	21	6-3/200	Ontario (AHL)	`17(11th)
NYR	22	Igor Shesterkin	G	24	6-1/190	Hartford (AHL)	`14(118th)
Dal	23	Thomas Harley	D	19	6-3/190	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(18th)
Ari	24	Barrett Hayton	C	20	6-1/190	Arizona (NHL)	`18(5th)
NYR	25	Nils Lundkvist	D	20	5-11/180	Lulea (Swe)	`18(28th)
LA	26	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	19	6-2/190	Hamilton (OHL)	`19(33rd)
Cgy	27	Juuso Valimaki	D	21	6-2/205	DNP - Injured	`17(16th)
Det	28	Jared McIsaac	D	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(36th)
NYR	29	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	20	6-3/185	Hartford (AHL)	`18(9th)
Edm	30	Evan Bouchard	D	20	6-2/195	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(10th)
NYR	31	K'Andre Miller	D	20	6-3/205	Wisconsin (B1G)	`18(22nd)
Edm	32	Raphael Lavoie	RW	19	6-4/195	Hal-Chi (QMJHL)	`19(38th)
NYI	33	Ilya Sorokin	G	25	6-2/180	CSKA (KHL)	`14(78th)
Det	34	Albert Johansson	D	19	5-11/165	Farjestads (Swe)	`19(60th)
Ari	35	Matias Maccelli	LW	19	5-11/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(98th)
Van	36	Nils Hoglander	RW	19	5-9/185	Rogle (Swe)	`19(40th)
Ari	37	Jan Jenik	RW	20	6-1/180	Hamilton (OHL)	`18(65th)
Phi	38	Cam York	D	19	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`19(14th)
Phi	39	Morgan Frost	C	21	5-11/180	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`17(27th)
Ana	40	Lukas Dostal	G	20	6-1/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`18(85th)
LA	41	Tobias Bjornfot	D	19	6-0/200	Ontario (AHL)	`19(22nd)
SJ	42	Ryan Merkley	D	20	5-11/170	London (OHL)	`18(21st)
NYI	43	Kieffer Bellows	LW	22	6-0/200	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(19th)
NYI	44	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	20	6-1/205	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(11th)
LA	45	Rasmus Kupari	C	20	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	`18(20th)
CBJ	46	Liam Foudy	C	20	6-0/175	London (OHL)	`18(18th)
LA	47	Tyler Madden	C	20	5-10/155	Northeastern (HE)	T(Van-2/20)
Mtl	48	Alexander Romanov	D	20	5-11/185	CSKA (KHL)	`18(38th)
NYI	49	Bode Wilde	D	20	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(41st)
Ott	50	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCHC)	`18(26th)
Cgy	51	Jakob Pelletier	LW	19	5-9/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(26th)
LA	52	Akil Thomas	C	20	5-11/170	Nia-Pbo (OHL)	`18(51st)
Wpg	53	Dylan Samberg	D	21	6-3/190	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`17(43rd)
Chi	54	Ian Mitchell	D	21	5-11/175	Denver (NCHC)	`17(57th)
Ott	55	Josh Norris	C	21	6-1/195	Belleville (AHL)	T(SJ-9/18)
NYR	56	Matthew Robertson	D	19	6-3/200	Edmonton (WHL)	`19(49th)
VGK	57	Pavel Dorofeyev	LW	19	6-1/170	Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`19(79th)
Dal	58	Jake Oettinger	G	21	6-4/210	Texas (AHL)	`17(26th)
Ott	59	Drake Batherson	RW	22	6-1/190	Belleville (AHL)	`17(121st)
LA	60	Samuel Fagemo	RW	20	6-0/195	Frolunda (Swe)	`19(50th)
Col	61	Justus Annunen	G	20	6-4/215	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`18(64th)
Bos	62	John Beecher	C	19	6-3/210	Michigan (B1G)	`19(30th)
Phi	63	Egor Zamula	D	20	6-4/175	Calgary (WHL)	FA(9/18)
NYR	64	Zac Jones	D	19	5-10/175	Massachusetts (HE)	`19(68th)
CBJ	65	Kirill Marchenko	LW	20	6-3/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(49th)
VGK	66	Jack Dugan	RW	22	6-2/185	Providence (HE)	`17(142nd)
StL	67	Scott Perunovich	D	22	5-10/175	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(45th)
Bos	68	Jack Studnicka	C	21	6-1/170	Providence (AHL)	`17(53rd)
Dal	69	Ty Dellandrea	C	20	6-0/185	Flint (OHL)	`18(13th)
Min	70	Calen Addison	D	20	5-10/180	Lethbridge (WHL)	T(Pit-2/20)
NYR	71	Julien Gauthier	RW	22	6-4/225	Charlotte (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Van	72	Olli Juolevi	D	22	6-3/200	Utica (AHL)	`16(5th)
NJ	73	Nolan Foote	LW	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	T(TB-2/20)
NJ	74	Janne Kuokkanen	LW	22	6-1/190	Cha-Bng (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Ott	75	Alex Formenton	LW	21	6-2/165	Belleville (AHL)	`17(47th)
Det	76	Robert Mastrosimone	LW	19	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	`19(54th)
NYR	77	Morgan Barron	C	21	6-2/200	Cornell (ECAC)	`17(174th)
Mtl	78	Jesse Ylonen	RW	20	6-1/185	Pelicans (Fin)	`18(35th)
Car	79	Dominik Bokk	RW	20	6-1/180	Rogle (Swe)	T(StL-9/19)
Nsh	80	Egor Afanasyev	RW	19	6-3/205	Windsor (OHL)	`19(45th)
Ana	81	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(54th)
Min	82	Alexander Khovanov	C	20	5-11/195	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(86th)
Det	83	Joe Veleno	C	20	6-1/195	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`18(30th)
NJ	84	Kevin Bahl	D	20	6-6/230	Ottawa (OHL)	T(Ari-12/19)
Car	85	Ryan Suzuki	C	19	6-0/180	Bar-Sag (OHL)	`19(28th)
Van	86	Jett Woo	D	20	6-0/205	Calgary (WHL)	`18(37th)
Mtl	87	Mattias Norlinder	D	20	5-11/180	MODO (Swe 2)	`19(64th)
Min	88	Adam Beckman	LW	19	6-1/170	Spokane (WHL)	`19(75th)
Bos	89	Jeremy Swayman	G	21	6-1/190	Maine (HE)	`17(111th)
Wpg	90	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	21	6-3/205	Manitoba (AHL)	`17(24th)
Tor	91	Filip Hallander	LW	20	6-1/185	Lulea (Swe)	T(Pit-8/20)
Fla	92	Owen Tippett	RW	21	6-1/200	Springfield (AHL)	`17(10th)
Car	93	Jake Bean	D	22	6-1/175	Charlotte (AHL)	`16(13th)
Ott	94	Shane Pinto	C	19	6-2/190	North Dakota (NCHC)	`19(32nd)
Col	95	Martin Kaut	RW	20	6-1/175	Colorado (AHL)	`18(16th)
Van	96	Jack Rathbone	D	21	5-10/175	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(95th)
Tor	97	Nick Abruzzese	C	21	5-9/160	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(124th)
Bos	98	Urho Vaakanainen	D	21	6-0/185	Providence (AHL)	`17(18th)
Wsh	99	Alexander Alexeyev	D	20	6-3/200	Hershey (AHL)	`18(31st)
NYI	100	Simon Holmstrom	RW	19	6-1/185	Bridgeport (AHL)	`19(23rd)
LA	101	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	21	5-11/190	Ontario (AHL)	`17(41st)
Car	102	Joey Keane	D	21	6-0/185	Hfd-Cha (AHL)	T(NYR-2/20)
Wsh	103	Martin Fehervary	D	20	6-1/190	Hershey (AHL)	`18(46th)
StL	104	Tyler Tucker	D	20	6-1/205	Bar-Fnt (OHL)	`18(200th)
SJ	105	Yegor Spiridonov	C	19	6-2/195	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)	`19(108th)
NJ	106	Joey Anderson	RW	22	6-0/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(73rd)
Col	107	Conor Timmins	D	21	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	`17(32nd)
StL	108	Klim Kostin	C	21	6-3/195	San Antonio (AHL)	`17(31st)
Mtl	109	Cayden Primeau	G	21	6-3/180	Laval (AHL)	`17(199th)
SJ	110	Jonathan Dahlen	LW	22	5-11/185	Timra IK (Swe 2)	T(Van-2/19)
NJ	111	Reilly Walsh	D	21	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(81st)
Buf	112	Oskari Laaksonen	D	21	6-2/165	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`17(89th)
NJ	113	Arseni Gritsyuk	RW	19	5-10/170	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	`19(129th)
Wsh	114	Aliaksei Protas	C	19	6-5/205	Prince Albert (WHL)	`19(91st)
Cgy	115	Dustin Wolf	G	19	6-0/165	Everett (WHL)	`19(214th)
StL	116	Joel Hofer	G	20	6-3/160	Portland (WHL)	`18(107th)
VGK	117	Ivan Morozov	C	20	6-1/180	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(61st)
Mtl	118	Jake Evans	C	24	6-0/185	Laval (AHL)	`14(207th)
Nsh	119	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	21	5-10/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	`17(30th)
Wpg	120	Ville Heinola	D	19	5-11/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`19(20th)
VGK	121	Lucas Elvenes	RW	21	6-0/175	Chicago (AHL)	`17(127th)
TB	122	Cole Koepke	LW	22	6-1/195	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(183rd)
Ana	123	Isac Lundestrom	C	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	`18(23rd)
NYR	124	Tarmo Reunanen	D	22	6-0/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`16(98th)
Mtl	125	Jordan Harris	D	20	5-11/180	Northeastern (HE)	`18(71st)
Ana	126	Brayden Tracey	LW	19	6-0/175	MJ-Vic (WHL)	`19(29th)
Phi	127	Tanner Laczynski	C	23	6-1/200	Ohio State (B1G)	`16(169th)
Chi	128	Alec Regula	D	20	6-3/200	London (OHL)	T(Det-10/19)
Buf	129	Mattias Samuelsson	D	20	6-3/215	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(32nd)
Car	130	Jamieson Rees	C	19	5-10/175	Sarnia (OHL)	`19(44th)
Edm	131	Olivier Rodrigue	G	20	6-1/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(62nd)
Fla	132	Serron Noel	RW	20	6-5/205	Osh-Kit (OHL)	`18(34th)
Det	133	Antti Tuomisto	D	19	6-4/190	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	`19(35th)
Dal	134	Jason Robertson	LW	21	6-2/195	Texas (AHL)	`17(39th)
Mtl	135	Joni Ikonen	C	21	5-10/170	DNP - Injured	`17(58th)
Nsh	136	Rem Pitlick	C	23	5-11/200	Milwaukee (AHL)	`16(76th)
Ott	137	Logan Brown	C	22	6-6/220	Belleville (AHL)	`16(11th)
TB	138	Samuel Walker	C	21	5-11/160	Minnesota (B1G)	`17(200th)
Phi	139	Wade Allison	RW	22	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`16(52nd)
Wpg	140	Declan Chisholm	D	20	6-1/190	Peterborough (OHL)	`18(150th)
NJ	141	Tyce Thompson	RW	21	6-1/180	Providence (HE)	`19(96th)
VGK	142	Connor Corcoran	D	20	6-1/185	Windsor (OHL)	`18(154th)
Ana	143	Jackson Lacombe	D	19	6-1/170	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(39th)
NYR	144	Lauri Pajuniemi	RW	21	6-0/185	TPS Turku (Fin)	`18(132nd)
Car	145	Tuukka Tieksola	RW	19	5-10/160	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	`19(121st)
CBJ	146	Andrew Peeke	D	22	6-3/210	Cleveland (AHL)	`16(34th)
Ana	147	Axel Andersson	D	20	6-0/180	Moncton (QMJHL)	T(Bos-2/20)
Car	148	Patrik Puistola	LW	19	6-0/175	Tap-Juk-Koo (Fin)	`19(73rd)
NJ	149	Michael McLeod	C	22	6-2/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(12th)
Car	150	Pyotr Kochetkov	G	21	6-1/175	SKA-VIT (KHL)	`19(36th)
NJ	151	Michael Vukojevic	D	19	6-3/210	Kitchener (OHL)	`19(82nd)
NYI	152	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	20	5-8/155	UConn (HE)	`18(43rd)
Wpg	153	Sami Niku	D	23	6-0/175	Manitoba (AHL)	`15(198th)
TB	154	Hugo Alnefelt	G	19	6-3/195	HV 71 (Swe)	`19(71st)
NJ	155	Nikita Okhotyuk	D	19	6-1/195	Ottawa (OHL)	`19(61st)
NYR	156	Hunter Skinner	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	`19(112th)
LA	157	Mikey Anderson	D	21	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	`17(103rd)
Col	158	Shane Bowers	C	21	6-2/190	Colorado (AHL)	T(Ott-11/17)
NYI	159	Joshua Ho-Sang	RW	24	6-0/175	Bri-SA (AHL)	`14(28th)
LA	160	Cal Petersen	G	25	6-3/190	Ontario (AHL)	FA(7/17)
Col	161	Sampo Ranta	LW	20	6-2/205	Minnesota (B1G)	`18(78th)
Wpg	162	Mikhail Berdin	G	22	6-2/165	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(157th)
Bos	163	Jeremy Lauzon	D	23	6-3/205	Providence (AHL)	`15(52nd)
Nsh	164	David Farrance	D	21	5-11/190	Boston University (HE)	`17(92nd)
Van	165	Will Lockwood	RW	22	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`16(64th)
NYI	166	Sebastian Aho	D	24	5-10/175	Bridgeport (AHL)	`17(139th)
Wpg	167	Logan Stanley	D	22	6-7/225	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(18th)
Buf	168	Ryan Johnson	D	19	6-0/175	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(31st)
Van	169	Michael DiPietro	G	21	6-0/195	Utica (AHL)	`17(64th)
VGK	170	Kaedan Korczak	D	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	`19(41st)
Car	171	Jack Drury	C	20	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`18(42nd)
StL	172	Nikita Alexandrov	C	19	6-0/180	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	`19(62nd)
Col	173	Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	20	5-10/175	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(171st)
Nsh	174	Juuso Parssinen	C	19	6-2/205	TPS Turku (Fin)	`19(210th)
Chi	175	Pius Suter	C	24	5-11/170	ZSC Lions (NLA)	FA(7/20)
Fla	176	Aleksi Saarela	RW	23	5-11/200	Rfd-Spr (AHL)	T(Chi-10/19)
Bos	177	Trent Frederic	C	22	6-4/215	Providence (AHL)	`16(29th)
CBJ	178	Dmitri Voronkov	LW	20	6-4/190	Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)	`19(114th)
Ott	179	Lassi Thomson	D	19	6-0/190	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(19th)
Car	180	Morgan Geekie	C	22	6-2/180	Charlotte (AHL)	`17(67th)
CBJ	181	Trey Fix-Wolansky	RW	21	5-8/185	Cleveland (AHL)	`18(204th)
Ott	182	Vitaly Abramov	RW	22	5-9/175	Belleville (AHL)	T(CBJ-2/19)
TB	183	Alexander Volkov	LW	23	6-1/190	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(48th)
Tor	184	Mikko Kokkonen	D	19	5-11/200	Jukurit (Fin)	`19(84th)
Ott	185	Kevin Mandolese	G	20	6-4/180	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	`18(157th)
CBJ	186	Daniil Tarasov	G	21	6-5/185	Assat Pori (Fin)	`17(86th)
LA	187	Carl Grundstrom	LW	22	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	T(Tor-1/19)
LA	188	Kale Clague	D	22	6-0/180	Ontario (AHL)	`16(51st)
Ott	189	Artyom Zub	D	24	6-2/200	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	FA(5/20)
Edm	190	Tyler Benson	LW	22	6-0/200	Bakersfield (AHL)	`16(32nd)
Det	191	Jonatan Berggren	RW	20	5-10/185	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`18(33rd)
Tor	192	Yegor Korshkov	RW	24	6-4/215	Toronto (AHL)	`16(31st)
Dal	193	Riley Damiani	C	20	5-9/165	Kitchener (OHL)	`18(137th)
VGK	194	Zach Whitecloud	D	23	6-2/210	Chicago (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Buf	195	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	21	6-4/195	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`17(54th)
Car	196	David Cotton	LW	23	6-3/205	Boston College (HE)	`15(169th)
Chi	197	Wyatt Kalynuk	D	23	6-1/180	Wisconsin (B1G)	FA(7/20)
Min	198	Hunter Jones	G	19	6-4/195	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(59th)
LA	199	Jordan Spence	D	19	5-10/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(95th)
Cgy	200	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	20	5-9/175	Rimouski (QMJHL)	`18(198th)
Col	201	Alex Beaucage	RW	19	6-1/195	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	`19(78th)
TB	202	Dmitri Semykin	D	20	6-3/200	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	`18(90th)
CBJ	203	Matiss Kivlenieks	G	24	6-2/190	Cleveland (AHL)	FA(5/17)
StL	204	Ville Husso	G	25	6-3/205	San Antonio (AHL)	`14(94th)
Phi	205	Bobby Brink	RW	19	5-10/165	Denver (NCHC)	`19(34th)
NYI	206	Otto Koivula	C	22	6-4/220	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(120th)
Car	207	Eetu Makiniemi	G	21	6-2/180	KOOVEE (Fin 2)	`17(104th)
NYI	208	Anatoli Golyshev	RW	25	5-8/180	Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)	`16(95th)
Chi	209	Evan Barratt	C	21	6-0/190	Penn State (B1G)	`17(90th)
Buf	210	Erik Portillo	G	20	6-6/210	Dubuque (USHL)	`19(67th)
Fla	211	Cole Schwindt	RW	19	6-2/185	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(81st)
Chi	212	Michal Teply	LW	19	6-3/185	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(105th)
Ott	213	Mads Sogaard	G	19	6-7/195	Medicine Hat (WHL)	`19(37th)
Buf	214	Jonas Johansson	G	24	6-4/205	Rochester (AHL)	`14(61st)
TB	215	Cal Foote	D	21	6-4/215	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(14th)
StL	216	Niko Mikkola	D	24	6-5/200	San Antonio (AHL)	`15(127th)
NYI	217	Robin Salo	D	21	6-1/190	SaiPa (Fin)	`17(46th)
Bos	218	Jakub Zboril	D	23	6-1/200	Providence (AHL)	`15(13th)
Buf	219	Will Borgen	D	23	6-2/200	Rochester (AHL)	`15(92nd)
Pit	220	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	21	6-2/170	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`17(23rd)
SJ	221	Sasha Chmelevski	C	21	5-11/190	San Jose (AHL)	`17(185th)
Ari	222	Kyle Capobianco	D	23	6-1/180	Tucson (AHL)	`15(63rd)
Det	223	Keith Petruzzelli	G	21	6-5/180	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`17(88th)
Wsh	224	Garrett Pilon	RW	22	5-11/190	Hershey (AHL)	`16(87th)
NJ	225	Nikola Pasic	RW	19	5-10/185	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	`19(189th)
TB	226	Alex Barre-Boulet	C	23	5-10/165	Syracuse (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Edm	227	Ryan McLeod	C	20	6-2/205	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(40th)
NYI	228	Samuel Bolduc	D	19	6-3/210	BLB-She (QMJHL)	`19(57th)
Ott	229	Joey Daccord	G	24	6-2/195	Belleville (AHL)	`15(199th)
StL	230	Hugh McGing	C	22	5-9/180	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(138th)
Edm	231	Cooper Marody	C	23	6-0/180	Bakersfield (AHL)	T(Phi-3/18)
Tor	232	Jeremy Bracco	RW	23	5-9/180	Toronto (AHL)	`15(61st)
Phi	233	German Rubtsov	C	22	6-2/190	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`16(22nd)
Wsh	234	Brian Pinho	C	25	6-1/195	Hershey (AHL)	`13(174th)
Col	235	Logan O'Connor	RW	24	6-0/170	Colorado (AHL)	FA(7/18)
Buf	236	Casey Fitzgerald	D	23	5-11/190	Rochester (AHL)	`16(86th)
NJ	237	Daniil Misyul	D	19	6-3/180	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`19(70th)
Ari	238	John Farinacci	C	19	5-11/185	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(76th)
Edm	239	Aapeli Rasanen	C	22	6-0/195	Boston College (HE)	`16(153rd)
Pit	240	Anthony Angello	RW	24	6-5/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`14(145th)
Mtl	241	Cam Hillis	C	20	5-10/170	Guelph (OHL)	`18(66th)
Cgy	242	Mathias Emilio Pettersen	RW	20	5-9/170	Denver (NCHC)	`18(167th)
SJ	243	Alexander True	C	23	6-5/205	San Jose (AHL)	FA(7/18)
NYI	244	Reece Newkirk	C	19	5-11/175	Portland (WHL)	`19(147th)
Dal	245	Dawson Barteaux	D	20	6-0/180	RD-Wpg (WHL)	`18(168th)
Bos	246	Jack Ahcan	D	23	5-8/185	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	FA(3/20)
Det	247	Seth Barton	D	21	6-2/175	Mass-Lowell (HE)	`18(81st)
Fla	248	Max Gildon	D	21	6-3/190	New Hampshire (HE)	`17(66th)
Ari	249	Aku Raty	RW	19	6-0/175	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`19(151st)
Wpg	250	David Gustafsson	C	20	6-1/195	Winnipeg (NHL)	`18(60th)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – VANCOUVER CANUCKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 13

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 13:01:28 +0000

Vancouver Canucks

As of the day of this writing (Jul. 10, 2020), there have been three truly notable occurrences in the world of Vancouver Hockey. From most recent to earliest:

Reports surfaced of the Canucks exploring a possible trade of Brock Boeser, possibly related to their desire to re-sign mid-season trade pickup Tyler Toffoli
Vancouver was seemingly a strong consideration to be named as one of the NHL’s hub cities, as the league sought to complete it season. Eventually, Vancouver fell short with Edmonton named Hub host for the Western Conference and Toronto handling the duties for the Eastern Conference
The Vancouver Canucks parted ways somewhat acrimoniously with their highly touted Director of Amateur Scouting (and a McKeens Hockey alum!) Judd Brackett.

You might have been able to guess that this space will focus on the third item in the above list, and not because of Brackett’s ties to our humble enterprise.

Brackett had been with Vancouver since 2008-09, starting as an Amateur Scout, and rising to the role of Director of Amateur Scouting in 2015-16. Brackett worked in the USHL before moving to the Canucks organization, and as a onetime collegiate player himself, was never averse to selecting players on the NCAA route. That started with his first ever pick, the aforementioned Boeser, at the time lighting it up for the Waterloo Black Hawks, and spent two strong seasons at the University of North Dakota before turning pro.

Boeser was the first of eight college-bound players drafted in Brackett’s five drafts. While it is too early to pass judgement on many of those, every single one of them is trending in the right direction and looking like they will provide great value for where they were drafted. Think Adam Gaudette and Quinn Hughes, in addition to Boeser, in the NHL, Tyler Madden who was the bait in the Toffoli trade, and top 15 prospects Will Lockwood, Jack Rathbone, and Aidan McDonough.

Brackett’s tenure was most notable for its draft day focus on players of skill, as opposed to size. Of the collegians, only Boeser and McDonough had average or better size. His five first round picks averaged a hair under 6-1”, and 185 pounds. Not small, but not bangers either. In fact, the Canuks were just as likely to look for grit as free agents, such as the signings of the unsigned CHL’ers Zack MacEwen and Jalen Chatfield. The former is on this list and spent 17 games up with the Canucks this season to boot.

If you can acquire good depth later on, why spend valuable assets at the draft on those same types who could end up as free talent acquisitions down the road? If anything, Brackett’s Canucks would seek players long on brains and intangibles (leadership types, gritty despite moderate size) in the later rounds, after the high skill players had already been taken off the board. Those types include the likes of the aforementioned Lockwood and Madden, but also Guillaume Brisebois, Kole Lind, Toni Utunen, etc.).

Based on comments from Vancouver GM Jim Benning, the replacement Director of Amateur Scouting in Vancouver will require more synergy with the rest of the Hockey Operations Department, particularly the GM himself. This doesn’t tell us how the Canucks will draft this October (presumably) but that second or third round pick might look less like Nils Hoglander, and more like Nikita Tryamkin or Cole Cassels. These were the last two third rounders selected by Vancouver before Brackett’s regime began. Vancouver’s loss will be Minnesota’s gain – the Wild just recently hired him to take on the same position he held with Vancouver – and the incoming Director of Amateur Scouting will lack the benefit of a first round pick to really give us a sense of what’s coming.

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 21: Vasily Podkolzin puts on a hat after being selected tenth overall by the Vancouver Canucks during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Vasili Podkolzin, RW (10^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

An elite NHL prospect who, as a teenager, plays on one the big clubs in the KHL, St Petersburg, where he had a limited role, playing less than nine minutes per game last season. Podkolzin is a dynamic winger with a lot of good assets in his toolbox. He is a strong skater with terrific balance and is technically solid. He can get to top speed with ease within a few strides. He is exceptionally good at puck protection and has a creative hockey mind. He works hard and plays a physical game.

He still lacks a bit of consistency in his production, and I can see two explanations for that. One is that he still is a teenager physically playing against men and he gets pushed out physically when he tries to create. He is not a typical transition player; he likes to play tight to the body and create from down low which makes a lack of physical strength a natural problem. When he gets stronger his style of play will fit well with the modern NHL game.

The other explanation is that he tries to be too creative and lacks instincts to just make the easy play, especially when his game is struggling, and he is lacking confidence. Podkolzin will always aid his team’s puck possession with elite skills and do good things with that possession. Although he did not score many points, his underlying numbers were good, and it is expected that he will receive a bigger role in the KHL this upcoming season. He has one more year with St Petersburg but after that I can see him competing for a top six role with the Canucks. - JH

Nils Hoglander, LW (40^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

Hoglander is exciting to watch and is an expert on the lacrosse-goal move, which he has used with success in both the SHL and the WJC. At the WJC he was excellent on the top line with and was one of the most productive players in the tournament. His production at the SHL level was not as impressive, at least not in line with the reputation of a soon to be NHLer.

Hoglander plays intensively and is particularly strong in the corners and around the net. He will set up a power play or drive the play all over the ice. At the WJC he showcased some nice playmaking ability and a fast thinking mind deep into the offensive zone. His passes to the slot were more frequent than in the SHL as he was constantly trying to create.

One obvious answer to the question why he was more dangerous at the WJC is his role. In the SHL he rarely played more than 12 minutes per game. Another issue is that he is small and is not to able to break away from his opponents in the corners in the same way at the senior level and that could be a concern as his game prevails through stick handling, covering the puck and making quick turns and creative plays. That type of game will be tough for him in the NHL and he will need to vary his approach.

Hoglander was supposed to start next season with the Canucks trying to earn a spot in the NHL; Now he will start in the SHL while he waits for the NHL to start. I don’t think he is ready to play in the NHL right away and when he makes it, I am not yet sure if he is dynamic enough for a top six role. - JH

Olli Juolevi, D (5^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

In the last year or so, Juolevi had been highly associated with injury and speculation as to if he would – or could - ever make a comeback befitting a top five pick. After playing his first nearly full season as a professional with the AHL Utica Comets, earning 25 points in 45 games, he seemed to be playing back to the same high level as he was before.

Juolevi brings a high hockey IQ and composure to any situation and as he became more comfortable throughout the season, he ended up facilitating more scoring chances as well. He is a good skater, a good puck handler, and the type of player you forget is on the ice until he helps out in scoring or putting the puck in the net himself. With the Vancouver organization the potential is there for Juolevi to become a top two defenseman at some point, but the worry is simply that he struggles to remain healthy enough to do so in the future.

By next season he should certainly be making his long-awaited debut with the Canucks’ bottom pairing, where he will stay until he has mastered the NHL game enough to be moved up the lineup. Juolevi will simply have to be more physical to differentiate himself and to earn added trust from the coaching staff, meaning that he does not have to go out and kill his opponents but he will need to protect himself better in an organization that is not known for their grit. - SC

Jett Woo, D (37^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Woo regressed a bit this year production-wise and that has left expectations at a more realistic level as he starts his pro career. He has the potential to play on a second pairing but does not have the offensive toolkit that many were expecting after his eye-popping seasons in Moose Jaw.

He is an effective, physical in-your-face defender who skates well and competes hard for every inch of ice. He is tenacious in his own zone using a combination of big hits, stick checks, good reads and aggression to minimize the opponent’s ability to get to his net. His gap control is good, and opponents know he will step up if they bobble the puck or show any hesitation in the neutral zone.

He is a fine passer, capable of making good plays that start the transition, however his decision making in the offensive zone is concerning. His vision is good in that he sees the ice well, but he frequently tries to do too much and turns over the puck at inopportune times. While Woo is capable of recovering better than most, he is more the complementary defender on a pairing rather than the one that dictates the offense.

He plays the game the right way and has a real edge and abrasiveness to how he handles himself. Offensively he has some skills, his puck handling is pretty good, and he moves down the wall offensively well but his decision making when under pressure is a concern. He is willing to jump into the rush and has the speed to get himself into the play as a trailer where he is most effective generating offense. His even strength points were less than half of his production this year which is a bit concerning for anyone expecting him to be an offensively dynamic blueliner at the pro level. - VG

Jack Rathbone, D (95^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

A fourth-round draft pick, Rathbone has improved well even in just two years at Harvard. The Massachusetts native was a captain at his prep school for two years. He entered college hockey as a freshman with nothing more than four games at the USHL level as far as high-level competition under his belt.

While in high school, he was named to the All-USA Hockey First Team in 2016-17 and the All-USA Hockey Second Team in 2017-18. As a freshman at Harvard, he was named to the ECAC All-Rookie team. As a sophomore, Rathbone was named to the ECAC First All-Star Team, the All-Ivy League First Team and the NCAA First All-American Team.

From the moment Rathbone stepped in, even as a freshman, he made an impact. While there is usually an adjustment period for rookies when transitioning to college hockey, especially for those who come straight from prep school, that didn’t hinder Rathbone. An offensive defenseman, he ranked fourth on the team in scoring and led all Crimson defenders. His shot is characterized by a quick release. He appeared on the team’s second penalty kill unit and the first power play unit. Rathbone was possibly the team’s best puck mover on the power play. He is excellent at running the unit from the point.

Defensively, Rathbone has a very active and quick stick and is able to poke check effectively. Rahtbone’s offensive capabilities as well as his solid defensive skills give him a legitimate chance at making the NHL in a top half of roster role, a journey which will move to the professional ranks next season, as Vancouver recently signed him to an entry level contract. - JS

Will Lockwood, RW (64^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 5)

He is a strong skater who can flash creativity with the puck in the offensive zone, can tend to play too deliberately as well, negating his inherent skill set. When he plays decisively, Lockwood has been a disruptive presence at the collegiate level. He plays a physical game, especially when he plays angry and relishes open ice checking.

He is the type of player who could be ready for the NHL within one season of turning pro, but whose reasonable upside is never more than a bottom six winger, who could frustrate with the hints of more, but who can’t show it consistently enough for the possibility to be reasonable. - RW

Michael DiPietro, G (64^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 8)

The future is bright for DiPietro, who is so naturally gifted with the right instincts, attitude, and athleticism needed to be a top level goaltender, look for him to have a go at an NHL job within the next season should he start off the upcoming season the same way with Utica. - SC

Zack MacEwen, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 3, 2017. 2019 Rank: 15)

A little clumsy at times, he has learned to be a good backchecker and defend well in his own zone, however he still needs to work on his passing in order to avoid turnovers and better contribute to the breakout. It is no surprise that MacEwen has earned a spot on the Vancouver Canucks 2020 playoff roster as he brings the right energy and can get the job done in a way that the other players cannot, which is why he is an asset to their bottom six, and should continue to play at the highest level as long as his cap hit remains low. - SC

Kole Lind, RW (33^rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 11)

Lind will certainly have to get faster and more agile on his blades but his hands and his passing are good and lead him oftentimes to contributing to good scoring opportunities or assisting on plays. He will most likely earn his chance to crack the Canucks lineup this coming season as a potential third liner alternating in the bottom six if he finds another gear for his skating and on ice agility while continuing to work on his two way play. - SC

Brogan Rafferty, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 1, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

He brings a great two-way game and is nearly always in the right position which could be an asset for the Canucks looking into next season, despite this past season only being Rafferty’s rookie year. A late bloomer, his potential may be surprisingly high because of the progression he has had so far, however when he gets the call up look to see him as part of the bottom four to start proving himself. - SC

Guillaume Brisebois, D (66^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 12)

The downside to his game is the fact that he has not been able to find the same confidence as he once had, and he has struggled to even get his passing game going. The hope is that next season Brisebois will finally find the extra gear he once seemed to have and reach his potential before it is too late. He will most likely be able to qualify for one more crack at a roster spot on the Canucks, hoping to find a home at the bottom of the defensive rotation. - SC

Aidan McDonough, LW (195^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

He has a big frame but could be stronger on the puck, although he is not afraid to engage in puck battles. While he needs to pump his legs on his strides, he is very hard to contain in the offensive zone as he glides around. McDonough is a sharp passer and can score from multiple spots but buzzes frequently around the net. While he certainly held his own as a freshman, he is still raw and needs to refine his game more before turning pro. - JS

Marc Michaelis, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 19, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Michaelis makes himself seen through high end skating ability, which allowed him to skate laps around the WCHA competition, as well as very interesting playmaking potential, with vision and creativity. The skating will have to be his ticket to the NHL though, as his playmaking ability has been more a function of brains than pure skill, leaving in question how much those brains will allow him to play up as a pro. If Michaelis makes the adjustment to the pro pace and continues to make his presence felt in the offensive end, he could push himself up to the highest level for a lengthy stay. - RW

Linus Karlsson, C (Trade: Feb. 25, 2019. Originally: 87^thoverall, 2018 [San Jose]. 2019 Rank: UR)

He is an offensive minded center with an above average shot and above average hands. He is not elite in any way but a decent depth prospect, and if everything goes well, he could be a good third line option in the future. He needs to work on his skating and play at a faster pace to reach the highest level. He will have a couple more years of development before he can be ready to compete for a spot. I would be surprised if he has a long NHL career, but I can definitely see him being a good SHL player in near future. - JH

Arvid Costmar, C (215^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

In Allsvenskan he had a more diminished role when he played. His skating speed needs to improve but is a skilled offensive-minded player with good hands. His puck skills excel well on the power play as he likes to set up the play. He is also skilled one-on-one and can make nice dekes. For next season, I would like to see him earn a top six role on an Allsvenskan team and compete for a WJC roster spot. To do so he will need to work on his all-around game and play at a higher pace. - JH

AHL: Eastern Conference Team by Team Update

Shaiyena Cote — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 12:33:34 +0000

LAVAL, QC - FEBRUARY 05: Laval Rocket center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (45) waits for a faceoff during the Utica Comets versus the Laval Rocket game on February 05, 2020, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

After the All-Star Break and past the halfway point in the 2019-20 season, all 16 teams in the AHL’s Eastern Conference have begun the race for a playoff spot. Out of 16 teams only half will make the cut, four in the North division and four in the Atlantic division. Every team has prospects and each team has one who has made an impact thus far. Here is a run down on those particular prospects’ from the AHL East.

NORTH DIVISION

Belleville Senators (Ottawa)

Despite the Ottawa Senators occupying the basement in the NHL’s Atlantic Division, their AHL feeder team Belleville are off to a strong second half of the season. Belleville currently sits atop the North Division. They also lead the way in rookie talent with two in the top five for rookie scoring and two top prospects in the top five for scoring across the entire league. Ottawa has an underrated prospect system and the Baby Sens have really stepped up this season as a hard act to follow for any other teams welcoming rookie talent.

Currently Belleville’s top five point leaders all fall under the age of 22 with many of them on a teeter totter of call ups and demotions from the big club. Rookie Josh Norris leads the way in the prospect pool, not by points but with his overall playing ability. Norris has made a tremendous transition from NCAA to the AHL with both his puck skills and passing ability enabling him to stand out. His two way play has developed tremendously over the first half of the season which has helped him to adapt to the pro level and will enable him to make the necessary adjustments to playing with Ottawa.

Binghamton Devils (New Jersey)

A struggling yet young club, Binghamton has had a shaky start to the second half of the season. With frequent roster moves both the parent club in New Jersey and Binghamton themselves, the AHL club has been feeling the pressure considering both clubs sit at the bottom in their standings. Binghamton has yet to find their groove in special team play and their offensive attack struggles in terms of getting the puck deep.

With New Jersey loaning forwards Jesper Boqvist and Joey Anderson back to Binghamton things may improve on the offensive end with a boost from the likes of these two. However things looking up for prospect Nathan Bastian who continues to steadily improve his play as a right winger on the farm. His full potential is still untapped and with his size and skill his future looks bright as long as he keeps exploring his creativity while driving to the net.

Cleveland Monsters (Columbus)

The Monsters are not seeming so scary this season with more losses than wins, and they will need a drastic turn around if they even want to consider a playoff run. Cleveland has simply been having a difficult time formulating plays and getting the puck deep. After losing several key forwards to trades and call ups to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cleveland has been struggling ever since.

There is one bright spot however, in their youngest player, Trey Fix-Wolansky, who may also be one of the smallest players in the league. Despite his size, Fix-Wolansky was a force to be reckoned with last season as a point leader in the WHL and now brings his high intensity drive and skill to the AHL in his rookie season.

Laval Rocket (Montreal)

Montreal’s prospect system seems to be rolling out high-end, offensive prospects such as Ryan Poehling as well as composed, hard hitting defenseman such as the likes of Cale Fleury. Although not the prettiest of teams to watch, the Rocket de Laval have proven able to get the job done efficiently enough in even strength play. Laval could do with improving their power play as shots do not come easily for them, as they have much circulation of the puck but not enough quality shots, if any. Poehling moving up and down to Montreal frequently is showing that the Habs consider him worthy of getting the first shot at any forward call ups.

On the contrary, 2018 third overall pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been struggling to find a place in Montreal’s improved lineup and has been having an equally hard time adjusting to the minors, with average even strength ice time and special team play limited to the power play only. Currently tied for fourth place in the North division, Laval will have to work on better capitalizing on the man advantage if they want the last playoff spot.

Rochester Americans (Buffalo)

With the accumulated experience that Rochester has on their roster it comes as little surprise to find them in second place in the North. The Americans have few players that still fall into the prospect category which could be either good or bad for their big club in Buffalo. The good thing for now is that due to the leadership on Rochester, the Amerks have a strong team structure which is evident on the ice in special team situations. They do well at killing penalties and have the lowest goals against in the North division, coupled with the fact that they have two rookie goaltenders sharing the position between the pipes.

With Buffalo Sabres’ goaltender Linus Ullmark injured and Jonas Johansson up, more pressure has been placed on rookie goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to start. Luukkonen fills the net with his size and does well at staying composed. Having played at a professional level already in the Finnish Liiga, he has adjusted well to the shot quality and remains calm. Although there is still much for Luukkonen to learn, he appears to have what it takes for a promising future ahead of him as a starting goaltender.

Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay)

Despite being off to a moderately good start the Tamp Bay affiliate Syracuse Crunch sit at a disappointing 6th spot in the standings compared to their top ranking last season. To say that goaltending has been a little lackluster is an understatement with the most goals against in the entire AHL East. It is safe to say that the Crunch will have to find a way to improve their defensive performance.

The Crunch have a good balance of defensive and offensive prospect talent, which with a big sister club such as the Lightning, will prove to be crucial in the coming years should Tampa Bay want to keep up their league dominance. An underrated story comes from prospect Alex Barré-Boulet, having already picked up 44 points through the first half of the season and an AHL All-Star nod, he has proven himself as a top forward and a skilled, fast skating playmaker.

Toronto Marlies (Toronto)

With many developments in the Maple Leafs’ system and player movement across all levels including their ECHL affiliate, from the Newfoundland Growlers to the AHL Marlies to the Maple Leafs, it’s easy to see that Toronto takes full advantage of their prospect system. Due to these changes (both the NHL and AHL teams changed coaches in-season) however, it has been hard for the Marlies to keep their lineup cohesive and their lines working alongside their mid-season shift in bench staff.

With prospect Timothy Liljegren bouncing back and forth between the Leafs and the Marlies, it’s safe to say that his days in the AHL are numbered for good as well as his time as a top prospect. Instead look to Yegor Korshkov to take the lead prospect role. Although still new to the North American game, Korshkov has quickly learned how to get to the net. He uses his size well, plays an even 200 foot game and is capable of putting the puck in the net. With tight cap space he may be just what the Maple Leafs are looking for in a young forward.

Utica Comets (Vancouver)

The Utica Comets, AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, soared to the top spot early on with a strong start on the back of what seemed like an unstoppable winning streak, however things slowed as the other teams caught up and a race for first spot transpired. The Comets now sit in third in the North division and with an energetic lineup it is no surprise that even after slowing down before the holidays they are still expected to make playoffs.

They generate a lot of chances from the outside and breakout efficiently. These breakouts are often led by defensive prospect Olli Juolevi who has come back from injury better than ever. Juolevi, who was labelled as a dud before the start of the season, now has quite the comeback story to follow and a point to prove to all his doubters. His passing ability, along with his overall skill, prove deadly and he reads the play well. He has the maturity to move up to Vancouver should he stay healthy.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NY Islanders)

To say that Bridgeport has had a shaky year is an understatement. With a barely 110 goals for, the New York Islanders’ affiliate are in last place in the entire AHL in offense. An embarrassing statistic that can only be matched with poor special team execution and inexperience from a younger squad. With ‘01 Simon Holmstrom and ‘00 Oliver Walhstrom up front, the Sound Tigers have a few of the youngest forwards in the AHL East in their lineup.

With movement up and down from Wahlstrom and former Sound Tiger Kieffer Bellows looking to make a more permanent jump to the Isles, there is room to shine light on Otto Koivula, who is making the most out of a low scoring team. Koivula has a lot of potential if he can find a way to produce in the same fashion as he did last season. It is rare to find a 6-4” forward who moves the way Koivula does and with hands to match. His hockey IQ is high and he plays a physically mature enough game to manage with the Islanders at some point. The remainder of the season for Bridgeport however, has to be better on all fronts.

Charlotte Checkers (Carolina)

The defending Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers started off slowly but that did not phase the Checkers in the least. With one of the top ranking power plays in the league it is easy to see that once Charlotte clicked as a team they were quickly on the move from there. Moving a solid four spots in a month going into the December break, the Checkers went from a comfortable 8th spot into 4th following a spate of victories.

The Carolina Hurricanes are known for their Finnish players and their affiliate are no exception to that rule with prospects Janne Kuokkanen and Eetu Luostarinen leading the way. Kuokkanen, in particular, has had a standout first half with a team leading 39 points. He is dynamic, quick and plays with a determination that makes him hard to shake. He is utilized in all situations and plays a good two way game, he has a few small adjustments to make but overall should be a strong consideration for a call up in the near future.

Hartford Wolf Pack (NY Rangers)

Along with the New York Rangers, their AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack have an equally young team, as the Rangers have a blueline that currently averages 24 years of age with three 21-year-olds having already made the jump or working on making a more permanent jump to NHL style play. Hartford was one of the teams in the Eastern conference to get off to a flying start, leading the pack out of the gate until recently when rival Hershey stole the lead from them.

After going back to the KHL in Russia for a 14 game stint, forward Vitali Kravtsov came back with better focus and more commitment than ever, proving that he is deserving of his status as a former top ten pick. A real shining star for Hartford has been defensive prospect and first year rookie Joey Keane, who has been solid and reliable during the first half. He can shoot, skate and collects himself well enough to play a mature game. With his patience and know-how, he plays as though he is a seasoned veteran which is what got him the invite to the 2020 AHL All-Star Showcase. Respect goes to Keane for his quick adaption to the fast pace of the AHL and the way he has stepped up to the plate to play a role in all situations.

Hershey Bears (Washington)

The first place Hershey Bears have been a steady, consistent team over the first half and have adapted well to losing their top forward Mike Sgarbossa early in January. With a less than impressive power play and a mediocre penalty kill it is safe to say that Hershey is simply a tough even strength team. Often finding themselves with a one goal margin separating them from their opponents, it has been a challenging season so far and perhaps requiring more work than might have been necessary, with only 22 regulation wins, and many games being unnecessarily forced into overtime because of poor lead protection.

With a packed Washington Capitals system and inconsistent play from much of the young talent it seems as though there is a distinct separation between veteran production and rookie production in Hershey. Hidden in the shadows of high picks, undrafted defensive prospect Bobby Nardella is shining on the power play, and with almost a point per game record, he is one of the most consistent offensive defensemen for the Bears with shots in every game. Despite his small stature, his composure and ability to read the play easily surpasses those of his cohorts. Nardella has the skill, skating ability and IQ to attempt a shot at the Capitals but his size may still be of concern.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia)

The first half of the season for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms was up and down from a good start to a slippery slope and the Phantoms now sit second from the bottom. Lehigh started strong with prospects Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost dominating at the AHL level but both have since been shipped out to Philadelphia. Lehigh Valley is another team that deals with many transactions throughout the season as Philadelphia does well at utilizing their prospects. Regardless, their defensive play needs work and turnover control is lacking.

With their two top prospects up with the big club, additional responsibilities have been given to players like Maxim Sushko, who in his first professional season carries a +11 rating despite being on a team that has more goals against than goals for. Sushko has learned to use his speed in all situations and has become a good enough two way player to earn a call up to Philadelphia at some point. However, Lehigh cannot only rely on their young forward talent if they expect to grind out enough points to qualify for a wild card playoff spot.

Providence Bruins (Boston)

The Boston Bruins are known for their playoff showings and the star veteran names dotting their roster, however with the outrageously fast pace of their prospects coming up it comes as little surprise that their AHL affiliate in Providence sits in the top four of the Atlantic division. Providence is not the biggest, nor the best puck moving team but they have skaters and energy which combine to make them deadly in even strength play.

With an average age of a hair over 24 years of age, the Baby Bruins are one of the youngest teams in the division. Rookie forward Jack Studnicka leads the entire league for short-handed goals with six. Studnicka can fly, with hands to match, and the only aspects of his game still needing some development are timing and awareness. At times he tries to do too much but after a season under his belt at the professional level he will be trusted to play more than just penalty kill. Capable of winning puck races, his physical play will need to be a bit better when he makes the jump to Boston so he can win puck battles and not just races.

Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida)

The Springfield Thunderbirds have been on unstable ground for a few weeks now, as in early December they had successfully made up ground and briefly managed to reach third spot in the Division but with mediocre special team play and sloppy zone entries, they have been spending more time in their own zone than they would like. With solid offensive lines, the problem seems to be on the defensive end, as breakouts are getting intercepted with too much frequency and pucks are being turned over with regularity. It is not for a lack of talent, and in fact Springfield has more than enough of that to produce but they need to work on bettering all forms of execution.

For 2017 first round pick Owen Tippett, the adjustment to the professional ranks has gone well. The winger currently leads the Thunderbirds in points with 40 and sits third in rookie scoring and 15th across the entire league for points. Should the Florida Panthers call him up however, it will be a the blow for Springfield which so heavily relies on his skills and playmaking ability. With size, patience, good hockey sense and the right amount of confidence paired with a top level shot, Tippett is ready to move up to the NHL, and it is only a matter of time before he makes the move.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh)

With the Pittsburgh Penguins struggling on and off with injuries, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL have been forced to adapt along with the loss of players on the parent club. W-B/S is currently tied with Providence for fourth spot in the Atlantic despite having been in first place at the start of the season. With few prospect eligible players in the lineup, the Baby Pens lean on their many seasoned players for support and know how.

W-B/S keeps turnovers low in the neutral zone and their breakouts are good. On the other hand, their play in the offensive end is simply average. At times it even appears as though they are not putting forth maximum effort when attacking which is perhaps why Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is known as a defensive team. Rookie defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph adds skill to the team’s defensive play, as he is a good skater with composure, and he has been playing it safe rather than getting into more of the offensive action so far this season. In the QMJHL, Joseph was known as a shooter and a strong passer, and he will have to show more of what had him drafted in the first round if he wants a chance at a call up. Confidence will come for the rookie pro, but his work ethic will need to intensify heading into the back half of the season.

AHL 2019-20 Preview: Eastern Division

Shaiyena Cote — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:24:06 +0000

LAVAL, QC - MARCH 06: Toronto Marlies right wing Jeremy Bracco (27) tries to maintain control of the puck while under pressure from Laval Rocket center Hayden Verbeek (17) during the Toronto Marlies versus the Laval Rocket game on March 06, 2019, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

The 2019-20 AHL season marks the start of the professional careers for many of the top prospects representing each of the 31 NHL teams.

Although some of the AHL teams are located in smaller cities or far from their parent clubs (for example Utica and Vancouver) the start of the AHL season marks the start of a game of chess and musical chairs for NHL and AHL clubs and their internal player dealings as they work with their prospects and shift lines around to allow for injuries and call ups throughout the season.

Below is a brief segment on every team in the East as well as a glimpse at their three top prospects. Team run down is presented alphabetically by division and not as a prediction for the upcoming 2019-2020 AHL season.

Note: All quotes have been taken from the 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook.

Atlantic Division

The AHL’s Atlantic Division plays host to teams all over the eastern US coastline from Rhode Island to North Carolina. The Atlantic encompasses eight teams, some states play host to multiple teams such as Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Last season the Charlotte Checkers were able to bring the Calder Cup back to the Atlantic and this season the same will presumably be expected.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders)

Even though Bridgeport was able to clinch a playoff spot last season, they were no match for the defending Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers. Bridgeport finished second in the Atlantic division and second also in penalty minutes. Despite having a mass of talent on Bridgeport, they did not play as a group and therefore could not achieve the desired playoff goal.

The Islanders organization are not as progressive with getting their prospects in the NHL lineup as say the Montreal Canadiens or New York Rangers. Losing Michael Dal Colle and Oliver Wahlstrom to the Islanders this season may have lessened Bridgeport’s offence somewhat but with Sebastian Aho back down and coming off a career year last season their defence is stronger than ever and may be just what Bridgeport needs to “bridge” their offensive gap.

Players to Watch

Sebastian Aho

“The Swedish born Aho is a smooth skating and smart playing defenseman. Although not known for his shooting ability, he is accurate and his shots from the point are of quality. He is a strong passer and a creative playmaker which was notable in his second AHL season.”

Otto Koivula

“Koivula is a massive forward and a very handy player to have in front of the net as his positioning is generally very good in all areas of the ice. He sees the play very well and has a good eye for making difficult passes in tight spots and from behind the net. Overall, he is a very clean and skilled player.”

Kieffer Bellows

“Bellows is a strong, dominant force on the ice with physical prowess and a highly competitive attitude. He plays to win and with an impressive amount of passion to compliment his natural scoring ability and skill set. He will need to have better control of his game next season and step up his play a bit to earn a spot at the next level.”

Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)

Charlotte is the Southern-most team in the Atlantic division and boasts some of the hottest weather for an Atlantic division team. The defending 2019 Calder Cup Champion Checkers who posted a record of 51-17-7-1 last season and had an impressive playoff run to say the least, but have not had the best start to the 2019-20 season. Upon losing their two top forwards with Aleksi Saarela being traded (to Chicago, since moved to Florida) and Martin Necas graduating to the Hurricanes, Charlotte has had to rebuild their offensive core one draft pick at a time and with many of their high end prospects still playing major junior or overseas, the Checkers will have to devise a plan to do so.

Just over ten games into the season Charlotte is sitting second from the bottom and with not a lot of goals scored. Many of their shots last year came from guys like Saarela and Necas but now without them, they’ll be turning to the players who flew under the radar last season such as Morgan Geekie and Eetu Luostarinen to create offensive opportunities in hopes of repeating Charlotte’s Calder Cup success.

Players to Watch

Morgan Geekie

“He has plus size, moves well for a big man and has quietly effective offensive instincts which help him to outproduce his tools. He has the strength to protect the puck, and the quickness of hands to capitalize on a broken play and make something happen.”

Eetu Luostarinen

“His skating was fairly good in his draft year but he has since added explosiveness, quickness, and improved his endurance. Moreover, he has added power to his game, not only strength-wise but his shot is also more powerful than it used to be. Luostarinen is dependable without the puck and can play in a more defensive role if needed.”

Jake Bean

“He has a very high panic threshold, allowing him to remain calm with the puck in the face of opposing pressure. He can walk the blueline nicely, but his best work comes in his ability to exit his own zone with total control. Whether he skates the puck out or finds a passing option, he can be relied on to kickstart the transition to offense.”

Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers)Now to move on to from one of the bottom placed teams with the Charlotte Checkers to the top team in the Atlantic; the Hartford Wolfpack feeder team to the original six New York Rangers have gotten off to an electric start this season. So far Hartford has spun things around 180 degrees on the poor outcome the Wolf Pack had last season with only 29 wins and no real chance at qualifying for the playoffs. Their disappointing 2018-19 was a bi-product of their ever-changing rosters as the Rangers frequently called players up and as a result Hartford’s lines were constantly changing and their play was inconsistent and messy. They also boasted the highest goals against number and the lowest goals for on the season.

With the positive start, the Wolf Pack sit atop the Atlantic Division rolling into the start of November and over the hump of new teams and settling into new line combinations. With key acquisitions and veteran experience added during the offseason, Hartford will be a hard opponent to knock off the top. Although heading into his last season of prospect status, Vinni Lettieri can offer just the right amount of knowledge and offensive talent to make up for the recent temporary loss of top Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov, who departed the Wolf Pack for a year long loan deal back to his KHL club Traktor Chelyabinsk.

Players to Watch

Vinni Lettieri

“Often overlooked due to his stature, Lettieri’s speed and tenacity make up for any doubts his size may have caused. If given the chance, he could carry a role on the top penalty kill unit with his speed and overall forechecking knowledge.”

Igor Shestyorkin

“The 23-year old goalie has accumulated enough experience in the KHL and on the international stage and is more ready than your average rookie netminder. Shestyorkin is an agile goaltender, a bit on the small side for today’s trends, but won’t going to suffer from it.”

Joey Keane

“An elite skater, Keane is built for the modern NHL age. With his mobility, he is incredibly difficult to pin deep in his own zone, because he takes such good routes to dump ins and is able to transition to offense in a flash. As he moves to the pro level, he will need to keep the game simple, using his mobility to aid in his learning curve.”

Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)

Despite Hershey Pennsylvania being the home of the Hershey Chocolate World, the Bears could certainly argue that the end of their 2018-19 season could have been a little sweeter. Not only did the Bears manage to end the season third from the bottom in goal production but they were also swept by Charlotte in the second round of playoffs.

With Hershey being the feeder team for the offensive powerhouse Washington Capitals it would seem the club has big shoes to fill. This season is looking somewhat different and the team is off to a better start offensively, already doubling the number of goals they had at the tail end of last season. Their back end is loaded with new talent, many of whom are responsible for quarterbacking their offensive play. With Jonas Siegenthaler now a permanent Capitals fixture the Bears look to have their rookie defensemen, namely; 2018 first rounder Alex Alexeyev and speedy 2^nd rounder Martin Fehervary, taking over in the back. Look for the Bears to be playoff hopefuls once again.

Prospects to Watch

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

“When he is at his best, Jonsson-Fjallby is a highly energetic and quick player to play with and tough to keep up when paired against. His speed makes him a force to be reckoned with and his hockey IQ has improved drastically in the last year. He has become a smart and reliable two way player, whereas once his defensive game was insubstantial.”

Martin Fehervary

“An aggressive import from Slovakia, Fehervary played full time in the SHL last season, in his last year qualifying for junior hockey. He played in his customary aggressive style, with quick skating, physicality, and good reach. He still has NHL potential, with the look of a third pairing blueliner. His skating, reach and aggressiveness will becoming a strong defensive defender.”

Alex Alexeyev

“Alexeyev is a very good player who has all the tools to be a top four defender in the NHL. He has good size, skates very well, and has more snarl in his game then most give him credit for. Couple all that with a defender who is an excellent passer both in his own zone as well as when quarterbacking a powerplay, and he shows real promise. He has been one of the top defenders in the WHL since his arrival from Russia.”

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)

Last season the Phantoms missed playoffs by two points, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division. For an AHL team that seems to fly under the radar and whose parent team of Philadelphia seems to be known more for their mascot antics than their play, so far their success in the opening part of the season has not gone unnoticed. With rookie Morgan Frost leading the way and riding a seven game point streak as of this writing and carrying the team with nine points through the opening ten games, Lehigh’s young blood has been off to a strong start.

However, one point streak is not enough to create a winning team and with the departures of defenceman Phillippe Meyers and goaltender Carter Hart to the Flyers, their offence will surely have to be a strong point. This year Lehigh Valley welcomes many new faces to their roster which could be a turning point in the Flyers system due to their struggles with team cohesiveness in the past. The Phantoms look to have a promising amount of offensive rookie talent, many of whom bring energy to a slow to start returning AHL group.

Players to Watch

Morgan Frost

“Frost is ready for the next challenge in his young career. The talented playmaking center has improved his skating and strength on the puck over his OHL career and those should allow for an easy transition to pro hockey. He generates well off the rush, using a variety of dif- ferent attacks which speaks volumes to his creativity with the puck.”

Isaac Ratcliffe

“Ratcliffe is a hulking power winger with massive goal scoring potential at the next level. He has an extremely powerful shot that sees him use his size well to shield defenders before releasing the puck quickly. His skating continues to improve, especially his ability to cut and maintain possession through to the net.”

German Rubtsov

“He is a fast skating, quick shooting, high tempo player who plays with a lot of intensity and drive. He is a promising forward with much offensive potential and enough speed that he can get back on the backcheck as well. Rubtsov has the hands, the shot and the speed to be a standout forward with Philadelphia in the future if he can stay healthy.”

Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)

One of the most controversial and most talked about clubs in the NHL is the Boston Bruins who seem to be Stanley Cup contenders every year, but can the same be said for the Bruins’ American Hockey league team? Last season the Providence Bruins managed to clinch the last playoff spot in the Atlantic division but were eliminated in the first round by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. With the third lowest goals against average in the league and many other stats ranking somewhere in the middle of the pack, for Providence they were the quintessential “average” team. They played a safe, controlled and structured breakout, regroup and forecheck game but there seemed to be a missing spark in their 2018-19 season.

The team has had a firecracker of a start and from the very first game it was evident that Providence would be a much faster and more skilled team than they were last year. With speedy rookies like Jack Studnicka and Oskar Steen added to the lineup, Providence’s offensive zone time has been rising. Should Providence stay healthy, they will be playoff contenders for sure.

Players to Watch

Urho Vaakanainen

“Vaakanainen is a smooth skating, dynamic defenseman who had
a good transition from SaiPa in the Liiga to the Providence Bruins. He is not known for any particular offensive abilities but his neutral zone play and puck movement are still amongst the top on this list. He makes precise passes and knows when to skate the puck and when to dump it.”

Trent Frederic

“He is a fine skater with enough puck skill and offensive instinct to earn middle six minutes at maturity. His grinder, to the net style also bodes well for that role. Boston will be looking for more consistent production before giving an NHL look.”

Jack Studnicka

“It could probably be argued that Studnicka is one of the more well-rounded forward prospects in hockey. There is no role that he cannot play on the ice for his team. Given how pro ready his game is, he could be much closer to making an impact in Boston than some think.”

Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida Panthers)

Although the Florida Panthers continue to struggle with their attendance, their feeder team in Springfield, MA seems to do fine and will continue to do so this season with a start as hot as the one they’re having now. The Thunderbirds have soared to second place in the Atlantic division after just over ten games played and currently lead in goals for.

With the recent additions of rookies Owen Tippett and Aleksi Heponiemi to the regular roster it is no wonder they are on the fast track to success. Tippett is a scoring machine and can shoot from anywhere on the ice while Heponiemi had unbeatable major junior years in the WHL as a playmaker and only continues to shine in the AHL. With young players like these only continuing to gain momentum, look for Springfield to maintain their top four Atlantic division status throughout the season.

Players to Watch

Owen Tippett

“While his ability to put the puck in the net will be his ticket to an NHL career, he has improved his play away from the puck and his patience with it to become a player who can make an impact even when he is not scoring. With good size and skating ability, Tippett is at his best when he is attacking North/South, hunting for opportunities to unleash his terrific wrist shot.”

Aleksi Heponiemi

“A nifty stickhandler with excellent vision and offensive awareness, he is a natural playmaker who can finish, too. His shot has improved quite a bit, he has the ability to pick his spots and be a dual threat in the final third. While not fast, Heponiemi is highly agile on his skates and can make shifty moves to evade defenders.”

Jonathan Ang

“A brilliant skater, Ang’s hands are almost as quick as his legs. The question he has always been asked about is his offensive ceiling. For as much as his speed allows hi to be one step ahead of the play and very difficult to contain, his numbers have never really stood out. He flashes the tools that got him drafted, but not consistently and he struggles to finish what he starts.”

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)

It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins are in trouble when it comes to their prospect system, however after just one draft that can be turned around and with a trade a team can be bolstered dramatically. Not to say that the Penguins prospect system needs a revamp but if they continue to draft the way they have, their feeder team in Wilkes-Barre will remain average, at best. For the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins momentum is hard to find, not only is the arena an older venue but there is just is not enough talent on the back end to drive offensive plays. To boot, the average age of Wilkes-Barre is 25 which means very few prospects are seeing ice time at the AHL level and the team lacks in youthful energy.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins the next few years will be a tipping point for their prospects and current players. That said, there is hope with defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph paving the way for a hardworking, play making defencemen, W-B/S may be able to generate enough offence to up their scoring chances. As the season progresses, look for forward Kasper Bjorkqvist to earn top mention and top minutes with the Baby Penguins on the front end.

Players to Watch

Pierre-Olivier Joseph

“Joseph’s best two assets are his work eth- ic and his hockey sense. He rarely makes a bad decision and, most importantly, knows his limitations. He is slight for the pro game at 168 pounds, but he is as adept at defending positionally as he is physically, and has figured out how to read many schemes with the puck to best attack from the back end.”

Jordy Bellerive

“Bellerive is a player who can play the game in any style. He is happy to drive the net and work hard to create his offense but he has a shot that can beat goalies cleanly from distance. He works his tail off in both zones and often generates additional chances from chasing down the play. He makes good passes both in transition and below the dots.”

Kasper Bjorkqvist

“He uses his solid size to play near the opposing crease and has a plan for the puck when he gets it, resulting in quick touches and quickly released shots. At his best, he has a nice shot an can play or pass the puck well, but he can go for prolonged stretches at less than his best, effectively becoming a non-factor in the play.”

North Division

The North Division is home to three out of the four Canadian teams in the AHL and some of the coldest climates, ranging from Binghamton, NY up to Laval, QC. Two seasons ago the Calder Cup was hoisted by the Toronto Marlies in dramatic fashion against the Texas Stars, and we should look to the North to be hungry for the Cup once again.

Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)

As one of the newest teams in the AHL with one of the smaller arenas, the Belleville Senators had a reasonable season last year but failed to qualify for the last playoff spot in the North Division. Belleville is still capable of packing an offensive punch and holding their own. Making up for the absence of Rudolfs Balcers who has earned a spot on Ottawa, will be rookie Josh Norris and Drake Batherson, the latter of whom earned the AHL All-Star MVP last season.

Although Belleville looks to be offensively equipped it will be interesting to see how they fare defensively this season after losing Erik Brannstrom and Christian Wolanin to Ottawa. Both were responsible for much of Belleville’s offensive play last season, particularly after Brannstrom joined the club in the Mark Stone trade from Vegas.

Prospects to Watch

Drake Batherson

“He is an elusive player that slips under the radar and is quiet on the ice until the puck is found in the net as a result of his strong playmaking ability. He is a highly adaptable and entertaining player to watch in both even strength and special team situations, his adjustment to the AHL level has been tremendous.”

Josh Norris

“A high IQ center with a standout two-way game, the former USNTDP standout is a strong play driver, with a fantastic shot and strong playmaking abilities. He was the hockey wherewith- al to play a bottom six role right away, but he projects as a clear top six center at his best.

Alex Formenton

“The foundation of Formenton’s game is his elite skating ability. He has an effortless, yet powerful stride that allows him to be such an effective high-energy winger. Additionally, Formen- ton is a physical player who is aggressive on the forecheck, making him a terrific penalty killer. As an offensive player, his best asset is a quick release.”

Binghamton Devils (New Jersey Devils)

Although the Binghamton Devils finished last in the North Division last season, their big sister club New Jersey made some key trades as well as draft acquisitions during the off season in hopes of deepening their system. Despite their place in the standings, that did not stop the Devils from having a successful development year for many of their prospects who received the chance to play up with New Jersey.

With a plethora of prospects to choose from Binghamton will be expected to move further up the ranks in the 2019-20 season standings. With additions like 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes and Swedish prospect Jesper Boqvist to New Jersey’s forward lineup, look to Michael McLeod, Joey Anderson, Nathan Bastian, Mikhail Maltsev and Marian Studenic to pad up Binghamton’s offence. There is an abundance of top level prospects in New Jersey’s system and after the 2019 draft, look to the Devils to potentially have one of the best systems on paper.

Prospects to Watch

Michael McLeod

“Although not the smoothest of skaters to watch, he is strong and good both with and without the puck. McLeod’s defensive game has grown a lot this season making him a better two way player. He is a talented and smart playmaker and with a good start in the AHL and given more confidence he will definitely be in the right shape again to be shipped back up to the Devils.”

Marian Studenic

“Studenic had a solid start to his professional career this year with Binghamton and his natural skill and skating ability helped him to stand out amongst fellow rookie forwards. He is a deadly player when he gets to the net and is quick to capitalize on turnovers.”

Mikhail Maltsev

“He is a two-way forward with excellent size and good physical abilities, smooth hands and a solid positional game. Maltsev is a great choice for the third or fourth line considering his mass, defensive skills, and great reading of the ice in any situation at both ends of the rink.”

Cleveland Monsters (Columbus Bluejackets)

With an average height of 6-2” the name “Monsters” fits the tallest team in the AHL perfectly. Ironically enough Cleveland’s parent club, the Columbus Bluejackets, is home to one of the shortest and most skilled forwards in the NHL in 5-8” Cam Atkinson. Last season, Cleveland got off to a good start but faded quickly after the January All-Star break, barely making the playoffs. This coming year Cleveland once again seems to be hugging the fourth place spot in the North Division but perhaps they are still acclimatizing and pacing themselves, especially after seeing Sonny Milano and Kole Sherwood move up to the parent club.

With offence hanging in the brink for Cleveland, look to their firecracker of a forward Trey Fix-Wolansky to fire things up offensively and to Kevin Stenlund to add a physical punch to the Monsters’ offence. With 2018 first round pick Liam Foudy not quite ready to make the jump to the AHL yet, the Monsters will also have to rely on good goaltending from Finnish product Veini Vehvilainen to keep them in the game. Expect a decent back half of the season playoff run from the Monsters once they get settled.

Players to Watch

Veini Vehvilainen

“He is a very quick goalie. His lateral quickness and post-to-post movement are both high end and he can recover loose pucks quickly. He is also highly athletic and flexible. He rarely allows a soft goal and if he does, he is able to bounce back quickly.”

Trey Fix-Wolansky

“Fix-Wolansky is a player that has really grown over the past couple of seasons. That has improved substantially in this regard as has his foot speed. His playmaking and shooting skills have always been there but now he has the pace and the drive to impact every play. He has a real shot at being a success story as his offensive tools are very good.”

Kevin Stenlund

“Stenlund plays a gritty and hard on the puck type of game, he wins battles and uses his size to his advantage. Stenlund may have used his size as an advantage but his size is also what made him stand out despite being one of the slower players on the ice. He is strong on the puck but it sometimes appears to be an effort for Stenlund to maneuver easily in tight spots.”

Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens)

There is only one team in the league who conducts most of their business in a language other than English and that would be the Montreal Canadiens who have been a staple original six team as well as a symbol of French Canadian culture for decades. Now fast forward to the Laval Rocket who play in one of the nicest arenas in the AHL, La Place Bell, which housed one of the poorest performing teams in the North Division last season. Laval had a less than desirable year finishing second last in the standings having managed to score only 195 times through the whole season while every other team in their division surpassing the 200 goal mark.

Montreal has had some major prospect developments and a few small turnarounds from where they were sitting last season with Nick Suzuki, Victor Mete and Ryan Poehling all pulling their weight in the big leagues. That being said, it’s an exciting time for the Canadiens who have prospect momentum heading into the next year year with NCAA product Jake Evans in his sophomore season with Laval and Noah Juulsen, an unexpected cut from Montreal, returning to the lineup. Laval will be a dark horse this season and only time will tell where they will finish in the standings.

Players to Watch

Jake Evans

“Evans is an elite level passer who can make crisp on-the-tape passes in the most difficult of situations. He is a really solid player and has good jump to his stride and energy to his game. Evans has the full package, and he just needs to muster up more grit and stay consistent with his play and he will be set to dawn a Canadiens jersey soon.”

Noah Juulsen

“For a smooth skating defenseman who can shoot from just about anywhere on the ice, Juulsen has not had the same amount of success in the pro ranks as he had during his major junior days with Everett in the WHL. He is not the most mobile defender and his actions seem even more stiff and mechanical when he begins to think too much.”

Otto Leskinen

“A mobile defenseman, he skates well both backwards and laterally. He is light on his skates and there is little wasted motion in his stride. Leskinen has the abilities to be an impactful player offensively. He can make a crisp first pass or carry the puck up into the zone. He has a hard slap shot and a wrister with a very quick release.”

Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

For the past few seasons the Buffalo Sabres have been the team that starts out strong and finishes in last place but the opposite can be said about their feeder team, the Rochester Americans. Last season, Rochester duked it out with the Syracuse Crunch all season long for top spot in the North Division with only a three point margin separating the two teams. Rochester was led by veteran defenceman Zach Redmond and rookie forward Victor Olofsson, the latter of whom has since moved up to clinch a well-deserved spot with the Sabres.

Although Olofsson is no longer on the farm, his Swedish line mate Rasmus Asplund continues to gain momentum and acclimatize to North American play. Asplund is off to a much better start this season and his linemate C.J. Smith also looks to add to Rochester’s offensive depth. Netminder Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen remains a dark horse, soon set to return from rehab for surgery he had during the offseason. With Luukkonen, who is arguably one of the top goaltending prospects - and a future starting netminder in the NHL- joining Rochester it will be safe to say that should Rochester make playoffs their back end composure will be more than okay.

Players to Watch

Rasmus Asplund

“He is a smaller forward but a great forechecker working well to fill a spot as a grinder. Always keeping his feet moving, many of his 41 points this year came from rebounds and net scrambles. At times he is a little bit sloppy with his positioning which may be the reason why he has yet to earn a call up to the Sabres.”

Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen

“He is the complete package as a goaltender with his size and athleticism. Luukkonen moves so well in his crease, but with his size is able to square up to shooters still and take away all angles. He also reads and reacts to the play around him as he is rarely caught out of position. His composure in the crease this year was one of his more impressive features.”

C.J. Smith

“Smith is a great example of this as he is an entertaining player to watch and brings energy and drive to each game. His natural skill and scoring ability made him a stand out forward for the Americans last year, and are what will hopefully push him to work hard to gain a top six spot.

Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Recapping the post season for the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise in the 2018-2019 season is simply depressing, as not only did Tampa fail to impress in their playoffs despite running away with the regular season, but Syracuse followed the exact same pattern. The Crunch led the North Division all season long but were swept in the first round of playoffs by the fourth place Cleveland Monsters. Truly disappointing but nonetheless a wakeup call to a franchise that may have gotten a little overconfident.

After the humbling events of last season, Syracuse has started off in a very modest middle of the pack spot with the departure of Alexander Volkov and Erik Cernak from the Crunch to the Lightning. It has been up to many of the guys heading into their sophomore seasons like Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh and Cal Foote to make up for the absences on the blueline as well as on the offensive attack. Syracuse will have to work much harder with their young squad if they want to achieve the same results as they achieved in 2018-19.

Players to Watch

Cal Foote

“Foote’s ranking as Tampa Bay’s number one prospect is well deserved as he is the perfect mix of a skilled offensive blueliner with a highly physical and dependable defensive defenseman. He has exceptional awareness and his hockey IQ is what makes him a great player. He has size and plays a calm, aware positional game that makes him stand out as being the most mature and dynamic prospect on this list.”

Taylor Raddysh

“Raddysh is a natural goal scorer with a knack for getting to the net in even the most difficult of situations. He is a good skater and a strong shooter capable of getting shots off in tight situations. He is especially good with one timers and adapting to bad passes. Raddysh will have to work on being more creative and being stronger on the puck in open ice situations, his level of want for the puck will have to improve.”

Mitchell Stephens

“He is a very competitive player who likes to win and who brings such passion to the game. He wins draws, gets to the net, blocks shots and plays a strong physical game. The only thing missing is an extra gear, as he needs that extra speed to be able to make a solid impact at the next level.”

Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most iconic teams in the league, boasting some of the most loyal fans around. That being said, they are also one of the younger player systems in the NHL with a core group of high end young players, and theirs is not a system like Boston or Washington which are reliant on veteran talent. That also means that for the Toronto Marlies, the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, it may be harder to make the opening night lineup than ever with very few retiring and new talent being drafted every year- the only thing mixing things up being the cap hit. However, despite monetary constrictions and trades all around, the Marlies have managed to not only win a Calder Cup in 2018 but also qualify for playoffs again the following year.

This season seems a little different and so far with so many changes, the core group consisting of Jeremy Bracco, Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, Pierre Engvall and Adam Brooks have all adjusted well and have continued to put up a North Division leading 7-0-3 record through their first ten games of the season. Look to see the Marlies either on top of the divisional race or just below in second by the time the 2019-20 season draws to a close.

Players to Watch

Jeremy Bracco

“Bracco is a creative playmaker to say the least and every play holds different possibilities thanks to his level of hockey sense. He is a powerful and agile skater that can easily maneuver around opponents with his edgework, often opting to use his inside edges for turns rather than traditional crossovers.”

Rasmus Sandin

“Sandin is a versatile defenseman capable of leading rushes and quar- terbacking them as well. He is a skilled player with a good shot and great hockey sense. He sees the plays before they happen and stays one step ahead and remains focused while doing so.”

Yegor Korshkov

“He has a lot of good traits in his game that could translate well to the NHL, like the way he can cover the puck in the corners and create scoring chances from there. He has strong balance which will get stronger with more overall strength.”

Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)

Having played host to the 2019 World Juniors in Vancouver as well as the 2019 NHL Draft, Vancouver has been quite the hockey destination within the past months. However, for many fans who do not reside on the west coast, it may be easier to catch a Utica Comets game instead. Utica has had quite the roster turn around from last season offering a better start to the season as well.

With the addition of former Team Canada goaltender and top prospect Michael DiPietro, Utica now can rest assured that the net is covered as DiPietro moves like no other goaltender and possesses ultimate composure and focus while in the net. Another key addition is 2016 fifth overall pick Olli Juolevi who has come back from injury and is padding up the defensive end for the Comets. Utica is battling with Toronto back and forth for first spot in the North, which should be the race all season long should Utica not move any players. Note that former Canucks regular Nikolay Goldobin is still down with Utica and only adds to their offensive talent.

Players to Watch

Michael DiPietro

“He relies on his reads and his athleticism to make saves and he can be a real game changer because of it. At the pro level, there are often growing pains for these types of goaltenders because the game moves faster, the top part of the net becomes an easier target, and confidence can wane. But DiPietro remains a very solid pro prospect and should eventually develop into an asset.”

Olli Juolevi

He is a smart defenseman capable of reading the play and being one step ahead. He is a spot on passer and he can shoot from anywhere on the ice with speed and precision. His goal should be to keep his feet moving equally in all zones of the ice and to get back to playing a physical game.

Lukas Jasek

“An underdog type of player, Jasek has the ability to sneak past opponents and get into open ice without notice, giving him a leg up on his counterparts. He is a lightweight and a rather small looking player but his deceptiveness is scary when it comes to how aggressive he is on the puck. He plays with energy and passion and never gives up on a play.”

Vancouver Canucks 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:21:23 +0000

For as much as the last four postseason-less seasons (and five of the last six) have been dismaying to Vancouver fans, there is currently a great deal of hope in the future. The rebuild has not been seamless, but a number of the high picks made by the franchise in the last few years are panning out.

2013 top ten pick Bo Horvat was given a letter to ear on his chest last year and took a step forward into being a star, if not quite a superstar, with a career high 61 points. 2015 first rounder Brock Boeser was the first gem of the current rebuild to emerge, giving the Canucks a probable 30+ goal machine after he had scored over 25 goals in each of his first two season, despite being limited to under 70 games played in each. He was followed last season by the explosive Elias Pettersson, a true game breaker who took the league by storm as a rookie, with 66 points in his way to capturing the Calder Trophy.

Other young players have also stepped forward in smaller roles, including netminder Thatcher Demko, who is healthy and ready to earn the backup job in the NHL . Beefy Jake Virtanen is also rounding out his game to be a dependable bottom six power forward, a useful player even if he never meets the expectations heaped on him as a former top ten draft pick. Later round find Adam Gaudette’s rookie season was more challenging, but his upside is still tantalizing.

Some of the players mentioned above will form the core of the next competitive Vancouver team. Others will fill in valuable, low cost roles. But if you have been paying attention, you will have noticed that something is missing from the above names. Specifically, five of the six are forwards and the other is a goalie. There were no defensemen named.

That’s about to change. Read on and you will note that eight of the Vancouver top 20 prospects are blueliners. Not only that, but there are three in the top six, including the top prospect in the system. Quinn Hughes, the aforementioned top prospect has had fans drooling ever since the Canucks called his name at the draft in Dallas. More on him below, but he got his feet wet over five games with the Canucks at the end of last season and is set to star for the team from day one this year. The number four prospect, Olli Juolevi. Was actual drafted higher in his year than Hughes. He was enjoying a great start to his North American professional career before a knee injury put an early end to his season. It might not take long for him to join Hughes in the NHL as a top four defender. Number six prospect Jett Woo is unlikely to play in the NHL this year (possible cameo notwithstanding), but he took a huge step forward with his offensive game last year and now projects as another possible top four defenseman.

The jump from these players may not be soon enough for some Vancouver fans, or those in the front office, especially after the team traded a first round pick in either 2020 or 2021 to Tampa Bay in a package for grinding/scoring winger JT Miller. Clearly, they want to be good enough very soon to avoid that pick being a lottery pick. The core is in place, but we do not yet know how long it will all take to gel.

-Ryan Wagman

Vancouver Canucks Defenceman Quinn Hughes (43) (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

1 Quinn Hughes, D (7^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 2) In a group with Cale Makar, Erik Brannstrom, and Bowen Byram as the best defensive prospects in hockey. Hughes is an electric skater and the ideal modern-day quarterback. His hands are as quick as his feet leading to dynamic play whenever he is on the ice. A great four-way skater, he also adds an element of unpredictability to the game, making him very tough to defend. Despite being undersized, he has learned to use his stick to come away with the puck from board battles. He will gamble occasionally when pressured at the point. Usually, thanks to his sublime skill level, he wins. When he loses, an odd-man rush will occur, although to his credit, he gets back very quickly. Hughes is ready for the NHL and can log heavy minutes and led the power play. He will have to prove that he can defend at the NHL level to avoid being protected, but he has star level talent. - RW

2 Vasili Podkolzin, RW (10^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Podkolzin had a busy season last year, playing in three leagues, two world championships, and he lined up for team Russia on more than 30 occasions. He showed phenomenal talent in most of these games, imposing his game on the opposition with his technique and skating, and of course, scoring a lot. He is a potential franchise player for the Canucks. He plays hard and with fierce determination, but at the same time he is a disciplined player who can be incredibly dangerous when the game opens up and he can use his explosive first three or four steps. A fantastic goal scorer and overall complete player, Podkolzin is expected to move overseas once his entry-level KHL deal runs out in April 2021. - ASR

3 Thatcher Demko, G (36^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 4) The former Boston College goaltender is a beast in the net and a future starting goalie with the Canucks. Demko sees the play very well and his form is structured but fluid enough to prove his agility and energetic nature in the net. At times he can tend to over push and force himself out of position but with more NHL games under his belt he will settle into the pace better. He stays focused and his tracking abilities lead him to control rebounds very well. There is not much to be said about his puck abilities as he is not a goaltender that actively strives to play the puck a lot, however Demko is very smart when he deflects pucks and can read the play very well. His composure in net and the way he faces every puck is indicative of his readiness to move up to the top level and he is set on the NHL for this season. - SC

4 Olli Juolevi, D (5^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 3) Although Juolevi has been battling injury, he is still considered to be one of Vancouver’s top prospects. He is a smart defenseman capable of reading the play and being one step ahead. He is a spot on passer and he can shoot from anywhere on the ice with speed and precision. Being back to one hundred percent will be big for Juolevi when he starts back with Utica this season. He will need to readjust to the pace of the breakouts and turnovers at the AHL pace so as to not fall behind or be dummied on any potential odd man rushes. His goal should be to keep his feet moving equally in all zones of the ice and to get back to playing a physical game. Having taken a slight detour, he still has the potential to be a top pairing blueliner with the Canucks once he is back to feeling confident and comfortable in the minor leagues. - SC

5 Will Lockwood, RW (64^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) Outside of the All-World skill players, Lockwood has long been one of my favorite prospects to watch, both as a junior and in college. Recovered from the injury that curtailed his sophomore campaign, he was much more involved in the offensive attack as a junior, without losing that sandpaper edge that had previously defined his game. He will barge in on the forecheck and make life very difficult for the defensemen and goalies who try to play the puck out. He has quick feet that allow him to get and maintain ideal positioning. Even though he has only recently become a top six scoring option, he is a skilled forward and has a knack for turning blasé possessions into legit scoring chances. While the Canucks were rumored to be trying to get Lockwood under contract he has elected to return to Ann Arbor for his senior year. He projects to a middle six role in the NHL within one to two years. - RW

6 Jett Woo, D (37^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 10) Woo has put the injury woes of his draft year behind him and turned in a very impressive offensive season. Scoring 66 points in 62 game has helped to stave off worry that he was destined to be a bottom pairing defender. He looks much more likely to take a top four role in the NHL someday. His physical play and compete level stand out as he battles for every loose puck, and every inch of ice in his own zone. He uses a nice combination of strength and quickness to control his own zone. Offensively, he moves the puck well and has a good shot. He isn’t scared to carry the puck in deep and trusts that his forwards will cover his position. His movement along the blue line opens up lanes to receive or send a pass through making him a valued part of the offense. - VG

7 Nils Hoglander, LW (40^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Hoglander’s puck skills, tenacity and strong balance are individual assets that had him ranked in the first round by some and a case can be made that the Canucks got a steal with him in the second round. We didn’t have him the first round and that’s more a case of his whole game. His hockey sense doesn’t suggest him to be a top six driver in the NHL. Individually, there is a lot to like with Hoglander but if we want someone to drive play for his teammates, make others better, controlling the pace, there are concerns. Even though he is small in size, he plays fearless physically and with some edge to his game. He is aggressive and intense and will always keep a defense occupied when on the ice. He will play another year in SHL, hopefully in a bigger role. - JH

8 Michael DiPietro, G (64^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 9) It was a season to forget for DiPietro, a talented netminder out of the OHL. He was ripped apart by the San Jose Sharks in an emergency recall start, (which never should have happened), and he suffered an ankle injury in the OHL playoffs just as he was regaining his confidence. He is mature and determined and should bounce back and eventually become an NHL netminder. It may take patience and time as there will be an adjustment period. He is highly athletic, but one who is undersized by today’s standards. He relies on his reads and his athleticism to make saves and he can be a real game changer because of it. At the pro level, there are often growing pains for these types of goaltenders because the game moves faster, the top part of the net becomes an easier target, and confidence can wane. But DiPietro remains a very solid pro prospect and should eventually develop into an asset. - BO

9 Tyler Madden, C (68^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) They are not common, but once in a while you cross a prospect who had skill but could not produce a great deal in his draft year and before, but then upon moving up a level, finds a new, more exciting level of offensive production. In most of these cases, the player in question had high hockey IQ, but was either playing with lesser talents, and/or being forced to play in a more defensive-oriented role. As McKeens is blessed with smart readers, I know you have figured out that Madden is one such player. The son of Selke winner John Madden, he is smart enough to read this site, too, but also to play in any situation for his team. He plays a skilled game, with good positioning in both zones and the ability to drive possession. He is on an upward trajectory and currently looks like a future middle six option. - RW

10 Lukas Jasek, RW (174^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 12) An underdog type of player, Jasek has the ability to sneak past opponents and get into open ice without notice, giving him a leg up on his counterparts. He is a lightweight and a rather small looking player but his deceptiveness is scary when it comes to how aggressive he is on the puck. He plays with energy and passion and never gives up on a play. Due to his energetic style of play however, he can sometimes seem scattered and out of position because his work ethic is so high and strives to do so much at once. He will need to spend another season adjusting to the ice size in North America as well as the pace of the game to better know how to use his energy and where to focus most on the ice. Jasek is a hard-working, developing player with the potential to join Vancouver in a bottom six role but he will have to get bigger and strive for a more focused game. - SC

11 Kole Lind, RW (33^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 6) For a player who had a lot of success in the WHL, Lind has had a difficult adjustment to the AHL pace with Utica. He is not the quickest nor the smoothest of skaters but works hard to keep up with the play. His shot is a rocket and his release is impressive but he lacks the ability to consistently get to the net which is a problem. He has matured a lot over the course of his first professional year and his positional play has likewise gotten a lot better. Should he continue to develop his positional game at this pace, he will be mature enough to be called up to Vancouver but his skating will still need to improve a lot in order to earn a full time bottom six NHL spot. Lind brings the right attitude and skill to his game but he will need to keep up with the play and drive the net harder to get into better scoring positions next season. - SC

12 Guillaume Brisebois, D (66^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 14) Brisebois is a dynamic and energetic defender who can easily maneuver his way down the ice or weave his way from the blueline down to the slot. He has great hands and can shoot the puck from all angles. However, his adjustment to the AHL level with Utica has been a little rocky as he does not have the time that he used to have with the puck that he had in the QMJHL. Although he still likes to play the outside he will need to work to up his confidence to walk the line a little more and create more space for himself. It will not be as easy for him to walk in and get quality scoring chances as a pro and he will have to find other ways to create chances for himself. Brisebois has the skill to be a bottom four defenseman but he will have to start thinking outside the box to generate more chances. - SC

13 Ethan Keppen, LW (122^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Keppen is a power winger with good vision in the offensive end, a rarity for junior aged players. While he can drive the net using his strength on the puck, he is most effective working the cycle deep in the offensive zone, prolonging possession time and opening up passing lanes with his motor and determination. He finished second in the OHL last year among draft eligible players in even strength primary assists. He also possesses a heavy shot and the confidence to use it, something that should see him develop into a very well rounded offensive player. As he improves his skating to become a little more explosive, and as his ability to make plays at a quicker pace improves, Keppen could become a very good prospect for Vancouver. His projection is that of a middle six winger, but one who is several years away from helping the big club. - BO

14 Toni Utunen, D (130^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 17) Utunen is a reliable defenseman whose biggest asset is definitely his hockey sense. He reads the game well. Maintains good gap control and is positionally sound. He can keep opposing forward to the outside. He moves the puck with short passes and gets pucks up the ice quickly. He possesses strong leadership qualities and does not hesitate to sacrifice his body as a shot blocker. Utunen is neither flashy nor creative, but he makes very few mistakes with the puck. His skating won’t wow you, but he has the foot speed, nobility, and backwards skating ability to hold his own in the Liiga. That said, there are questions about whether he has sufficient upside to develop into more than a third pairing NHL defenseman. - MB

15 Zach MacEwen, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 3, 2017. Last Year: 20) MacEwen is a great player to watch, a strong, gritty power forward who stops at nothing to put the puck in the net. He plays a simple game all over the ice, always making sure to keep his feet moving. He is not the smoothest of skaters but he has a good jump to his stride and can go from one zone to another in just a few strides. He is an efficient player but at times over-skates his forechecks and gets caught too deep or behind the play. For a bigger forward who plays with as much intensity as MacEwen does, he will have to make sure to be more careful with how he plays and pay better attention to how deep he gets caught on plays. His speed is at par but he will need to clean up his game and work on discipline next season to secure a bottom six forward spot at the highest level. - SC

16 Jack Rathbone, D (95^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) A wild stallion from the blueline in his draft year, Rathbone was difficult to adequately scout, playing for a Massachusetts area prep school, with four games with Youngstown as a change of pace. He took the rare step of returning to his school after being drafted, keeping him firmly under the radar. Now that he has finally spent a full season playing top level competition for Harvard, we can see what Rathbone really is. He is an undersized, offensive defenseman. He gets his feet moving quickly, although his top speed is less than I would like for a blueliner his size. He has good vision and likes to load up for a long bomb pass. Considering both size and play style, he cannot play effectively in the greasy areas. He still has a long way to go before the Canucks will know what they have, but last year was a step in the right direction. - RW

17 Jack Malone, RW (180^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) After a season in a depth role for Youngstown, Malone played with far greater assertiveness in his draft year finishing second on the Phantoms, and in the top 15 leaguewide in scoring. More a playmaker than a finisher, he does play enough around the crease area to get his share of goals from in tight, but he really shines when he executes cutting paces off the rush and with pace to a steaking linemate. His skating had also shown marked improvement as his draft year progressed, to the point where he can now blow past defenders with some regularity. Malone still has a lot to work on with his game, such as not forcing plays and tightening up his own zone work. He has talent, but not enough to play on a top six, making his ability to defend more important. - RW

18 Josh Teves, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 12, 2019. Last Year: IE) Teves has a gift of getting the puck up the ice. He is not the fastest skater, but he can find the seams for getting the puck onto the offensive zone. He makes a good first pass. He is also an excellent backwards skater. He can really freeze the puck in the corners in win puck battles with impressive strength, even at 6-0”, 170 lbs. With that size, he may be able to hang in the NHL for stretches, but not necessarily as a defenseman. He played some on the wing for Princeton as a test when they needed more offense, and it is possible that Vancouver might try using him like that if they are unsatisfied with his defensive coverage. In 2017-18, when the team was at its best, he put up 33 points in 31 games, with a hefty percentage of that on the man advantage. The next season will go a long way in seeing how the Canucks want to develop him. - RC

19 Jonah Gadjovich, LW (55^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11) Gadjovich is a difficult player to watch because his skating is so weak, but his strength on the puck, paired with his shooting ability, make up for his lack of movement. His hockey sense is good and he sees the play well from all areas of the ice. With Utica last year, many of his best shifts were spent on the powerplay in front of the net where his strength and hockey sense were best demonstrated. He is a bottom six forward at best in the NHL but his work ethic may take him further if he can improve his start up speed and work on his fluidity and being lighter and more comfortable on his skates. Gadjovich has a good attitude and work ethic and his redeeming qualities, such as his physicality and good hands, paired with his high hockey IQ, feed hope for his continued development, starting with a better season in 2019-20. - SC

20 Mitch Eliot, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Dec. 14, 2018. Last Year: IE) Eliot, a free agent signing out of Sarnia last season, is a very similar player to Jalen Chatfield, who Vancouver also signed out of the OHL a few years ago. He skates well and is a well-rounded defender who can play in all situations. Defensively, he takes away space with his mobility and his strength. Offensively, he can move the puck and attack the offensive zone, confidently handling the puck when leading the rush. The question is, can he do any of these things at an elite level? The answer would be no at this current time, but a few seasons in the AHL could elevate his skill set to the point where he could be a reliable two-way third pairing defender. - BO

MCKEEN’S 2019-20 YEARBOOK: The Late, Late Show – Players to look for deep in the draft

Scott Wheeler — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 20:17:01 +0000

The biggest available competitive advantage in a fantasy hockey league of any format exists in the draft’s later rounds.

It doesn’t matter if you play in a 10-team, standard-stat, non-keeper league where every player is once again up for grabs each year and your roster size is small enough to fill it with stars, or a 20-team, long-time keeper league where all of the NHL’s established talent is already accounted for and you’re basically picking from a group of players who’ve yet to make the leap.

At the end of the day, when the draft is over, the season is largely decided. You can be a sleuth with in-season trades or waiver-wire picks, but the strength of your team will be dictated not by the number of high-end players taken in the first three or four rounds (everybody gets those!) but by the players you found in the back half of the draft who end up having a season equivalent to those high-end guys, giving you that many more top-of-the-lineup players than your opponents.

Here are some players who could provide early-round value without requiring an early-round pick.

Ottawa Senators Right Wing Drake Batherson (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

Under-the-radar youngsters

If Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko and Cale Makar aren’t already accounted for in your league, they will be before you can blink in this year’s drafts. Look to target these incoming rookies a little later on instead.

Drake Batherson – Ottawa Senators

Due to a combination of market and the fact that he was a 121^st overall pick in 2017, Batherson doesn’t carry the cache of many of the rookies who will be entering the league this season. All of those things work in your favour though. He’s going to be given a prominent role with a Senators team that needs someone to help create offence and I don’t think 20-35-55 production is out of the realm of possibility. Batherson is more of a playmaker than a scorer but he just wrapped up one of the better rookie seasons in the AHL in recent memory and he’s got a chance to be an excellent top-six forward at the next level. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s in the Calder conversation next spring.

Jordan Kyrou – St. Louis Blues

Kyrou’s three points in 16 games during a brief stint in the NHL last season will probably scare off some prospective fantasy hockey managers in favour of more established names like Filip Zadina or Martin Necas, but his talent level is high-end and he’s already one of the best skaters on the planet, both of which should help him make the full-time transition this season. He might take a little longer, but if you’re prepared to be patient then there’s a real chance he gets hot at the midway point and doesn’t look back on his way to a strong NHL career.

Joel Farabee – Philadelphia Flyers

There are some openings in the Flyers roster this season and I’d bet on Farabee to earn one of those jobs out of camp (or quickly earn a promotion out of Lehigh Valley if he doesn’t). Farabee is just one of those players who makes everyone around him better and can play with a variety of linemates. That should make him a strong fit alongside likeminded, versatile centres like Sean Couturier, Kevin Hayes, and Nolan Patrick, who all play off of their linemates rather than requiring all of the attention.

Adam Fox – New York Rangers

In the same way Kyrou may land behind a few other names on the ‘young forwards with notoriety’ list, the same may play out for Fox, who has earned some well-deserved love but still doesn’t have the name value of an Erik Brannstrom in Ottawa or an Evan Bouchard in Edmonton. There’s some risk involved in taking Fox in a non-keeper format because he may end up behind Jacob Trouba and Anthony DeAngelo for power play time. But if the Rangers can give the NCAA’s reigning power play king an opportunity there, he could provide huge value.

Jake Bean – Carolina Hurricanes

A crowded Canes defence may steer some people away from taking the 21-year-old 13^th overall pick from 2016 but Bean is fresh off a season that landed him on the AHL’s All-Rookie Team, as well as a Calder Cup ring, and he looks poised to challenge Haydn Fleury and Gustav Forsling for a top-six role (a battle I think he will win in the short and long term). Bean’s immediate value may be a little muted relative to some of the other rookie class defencemen but there’s top-four power play upside in his game in the not-too-distant future.

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Mathieu Joseph (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)

Breakout candidates

Sometimes, the best time to take a player is after a disappointing season, or when they’ve taken so long to develop that people have forgotten about them and moved on to the shiny recent draftees. Here are some candidates who are either poised for big things, marinated at lower levels, or may slip further than they should after a tough run of luck.

Anthony Mantha – Detroit Red Wings

Mantha missed 15 games last season with a hand injury but he paced for a 59-point season across 82 games, was one of the best players at the world championships, and the Red Wings are one of those teams that you look at heading into October and think: “Somebody has to score!” It doesn’t hurt that he’s 6-foot-5 and has arguably the best release on his team. Look for the first of many 30-goal seasons out of Mantha in 2019-2020 – and maybe even a shot at close to 40. Though he’s not going to be around extremely late in a draft, Mantha could fall just far enough to have major value.

Mathieu Joseph – Tampa Bay Lightning

From the outside looking in, Joseph’s 26 points in 70 games last year were nothing to write home about for a 21-year-old rookie on a team with the offence of the Lightning. But unlike Mantha, he was in a situation where he was surrounded by so much talent that his opportunities in offensive situations (or even for ice-time) were severely limited. Below the surface, his production at 5-on-5 was outstanding. As he gets older and the Lightning’s cap situation grows even more challenging, his role will change. And that could happen as early as this year. The departure of J.T. Miller has potentially opened up a spot in Tampa’s top-six and Joseph will be among those who are most likely to get the opportunity to play alongside some of the best forwards on the planet. A big year could follow.

Nick Schmaltz – Arizona Coyotes

Injuries, a trade, and a landing spot with a bad team all contributed to Schmaltz following up a 21-goal, 52-point season, with an ugly plus-minus rating and a seven-goal, 25-point third NHL season. If that means he falls into the later rounds of your draft, don’t hesitate to take him. The Coyotes are going to be improved, Schmaltz is going to be surrounded by better linemates, and 60-plus points isn’t out of the question if all of those things come together.

Devon Toews – New York Islanders

Some players just take longer than others to make the jump. And if you were paying close attention to the Islanders playoff run, you probably noticed that Toews’ days in the AHL are over. Look for him to play all 82 for the Islanders this year and excel. The 25-year-old defenceman is one of the best-kept secrets in hockey. Take him near the end of your draft, you won’t regret it.

Viktor Olofsson – Buffalo Sabres

Speaking of players who take a little longer. Don’t let the fact that Olofsson was taken 181^st overall in 2014 and still hasn’t quote-unquote made it, fool you. After working his way into the SHL’s upper echelon, he was the Rochester Americans’ lone 30-goal scorer as an AHL rookie last season – and showed real signs of being more than a depth guy in his brief stint at the NHL level.

New York Islanders Right Wing Michael Dal Colle (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

Take the so-called bust

Nothing haunts a player more than the perception that he’s a bust among fans. These players often have huge value because nobody wants to be the manager who goes way off the board.

Last year, that player – the kid almost nobody thought would make it because he didn’t immediately live up to expectations – was Dylan Strome, who posted 51 points in 58 games with the Blackhawks after he’d been written off due to mediocre skating. Get into a habit of taking those players. If they don’t work out, you’ve given up almost nothing in their pursuit. But oftentimes they do work out and it’s added value.

Michael Dal Colle – New York Islanders

Dal Colle, a fifth overall pick in 2014, attracted a lot of attention when he posted just 24 points in 60 AHL games in 2017-2018. That may mean many managers didn’t bother paying attention to his trajectory last season, when he was a point per game player in the AHL. Despite some kinks, he’s still a 6-foot-3 winger with high-end finishing touch around the net. That has a chance of fitting in well on a team that didn’t have a single 30-goal scorer last season.

Alex Nylander – Chicago Blackhawks

There’s no denying it: Nylander’s trajectory has been disappointing for an eighth overall pick who showed so much promise before turning pro. He found out the hard way that despite having a similar skillset to his older brother than his lack of the same high-end speed meant that he couldn’t play the perimeter game he dominated with at lower levels. But at 21 and following a trade to a team that obviously covets him enough to deal a significant young defender, Nylander has a chance to really make waves in Chicago – just like Strome did.

Olli Juolevi – Vancouver Canucks

Should the Canucks have taken Juolevi fifth overall, ahead of Matthew Tkachuk and Clayton Keller? Hell no. Not then. Not now. But Juolevi had begun to show real promise as a rookie defenceman in the AHL with the Utica Comets before his 2018-2019 season was cut short by knee surgery. The long layoff may mean he starts the season back in the AHL but Juolevi still has the talent to be a second-pairing defenceman during the next chapter for the tumultuous Canucks.

Valeri Nichushkin – Colorado Avalanche

You would need a really deep league to probably justify a Nichushkin selection but the former 10^th overall pick knows that after a whirlwind six seasons in Dallas, that his one-year deal in Colorado is his last NHL chance. And last chances occasionally breed results for players as talented as Nichushkin. He might have travelled one of the weirdest active paths in the NHL. After a promising 34-point rookie season with the Stars as a teenager in 2013-2014, Nichuskin’s status in Dallas slowly began to waver and he left for a two-season stint in the KHL before returning last year to post zero goals and 10 points in 57 games of limited ice-time with the Stars. There are going to be some interesting battles for bottom-six ice-time with the Avs this fall and I wouldn’t be shocked if Nichushkin scratched his way onto the third line, or the net-front role on the second powerplay. Proceed with caution on this one though (or maybe even leave him on the waiver wire and pay close attention to the start of his season before taking the plunge).

Scott Wheeler is The Athletic’s national NHL Draft reporter. His work has also appeared in the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Sun, and the National Post.

Pacific Division Training Camp News

Ryan Dadoun — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:00:50 +0000

Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim Ducks. Injury. Those two went hand-in-hand last season and 2018-19 isn’t off to a particularly good start either. They’ve already lost Corey Perry for the next five months after he suffered a torn meniscus and underwent surgery to repair it. If there is any silver lining there, it’s that this presented Perry with an opportunity to repair pre-existing MCL damage. Apparently, he had been playing through the MCL injury for years now rather than undergo surgery, so once comes back from this, he should be in a much better position than he was at any point in recent years.

In the meantime, Ondrej Kase might end up playing alongside Ryan Getzlaf, though for what it’s worth, that’s not the direction the Ducks went in for Saturday’s preseason game. Instead, Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell were on a line with Troy Terry. Kase was on the third line with Andrew Cogliano and Sam Steel. Terry is someone to keep an eye on. Even if he doesn’t end up on the top line, the Perry injury does increase the chances that the 21-year-old rookie will see significant ice time. He excelled with the University of Denver last season, scoring 14 goals and 48 points in 39 games.

Ryan Kesler (hip) has been making progress but hasn’t been cleared for contact yet and probably won’t be ready at the start of the season. As noted above, Steel was on the third line for Saturday’s preseason game and Kesler’s likely unavailability has improved the chances that he will start with the team. Steel had 131 points in 66 WHL games in 2016-17 and 83 points in 54 WHL contests last season.

Arizona Coyotes

Clayton Keller

Arizona is a team that’s been pegged by a lot of people as a 2017-18 non-playoff team that might leap into the postseason this time. That still might happen, but they’ll have to endure a bit of a rough patch right off the bat. Alex Galchenyuk is week-to-week with what’s probably a groin injury while Christian Dvorak (lower body) is technically day-to-day, but he hasn’t practiced yet during training camp, so his return probably isn’t imminent. That leaves the Coyotes without their second and third-line centers.

Vinnie Hinostroza or Clayton Keller could potentially start the season playing up the middle to help plug that hole. Meanwhile, Dylan Strome might open the campaign as the third-line center. It’s a good opportunity for Strome, who was drafted third overall in 2015 amid very high expectations but hasn’t yet lived up to them. He’s only played in 28 games with Arizona so far, but he did excel in the AHL last season with 22 goals and 53 points in 50 contests.

The injuries might also have an impact on Lawson Crouse, who was originally projected to start on the fourth line but might play a more significant role. It helps that he’s looked good in the preseason. In 2017-18, he had 15 goals and 32 points in 56 AHL contests as well as a goal in 11 games with Arizona.

Calgary Flames

Going into the preseason, one of the big questions involving the Calgary Flames was the status of their top line. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan would compromise two-third of it – that much was obvious – but who would be the third member? The Flames signed James Neal and acquired then signed Elias Lindholm over the summer, creating the expectation that one of those two would take that top line job. As it turns out, they might share it.

Flames GM Brad Treliving recently raised the possibility that Neal and Lindholm will alternate on the top line depending on the situation. That might not last as the Flames might ultimately start to favor sending out one with Gaudreau and Monahan more often than the other, but it at least seems like we won’t get a more definitive answer by the end of training camp.

On the defensive side of things, Juuso Valimaki is a strong candidate to make the opening game roster. He scored 14 goals and 45 points in 43 WHL games last season after being taken with the 16th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He’s looked good in the preseason to push himself into this favorable position as we approach the deadline for the Flames to submit their roster. Dillon Dube has probably done enough to make the Flames as well. He’s been busy in the preseason with four goals and six points in six games. Dube, 20, had 38 goals and 84 points in 53 WHL contests.

Edmonton Oilers

Ty Rattie

Ty Rattie has 19 points in 49 career NHL games. In the 2018 preseason he’s scored seven goals and 11 points in four contests. That’s pretty crazy, but Oilers fans probably remember another player that excelled in exhibition games only to fizzle out just a year back. Kailer Yamamoto had five goals and seven points in six preseason games in 2017, which isn’t quite at Rattie’s level, but it was still exciting to see coming from a player that just turned 19-years-old and wasn’t expected to be NHL-ready yet. When it came to the regular season though, Yamamoto had three assists in nine games before being returned to the WHL.

There’s another similarity between them too. While Yamamoto didn’t consistently play alongside Connor McDavid, the superstar was Yamamoto’s most common linemate. Similarly, Rattie is now projected to play alongside McDavid and much of his recent production can be attributed to who he’s sharing the ice with. There’re differences too though. While Rattie doesn’t have an extensive NHL resume, the 25-year-old is certainly significantly more experienced and was already expected to make the team. More importantly though is the position each player is in. Plus, the Rattie experiment with McDavid has been going on longer than just the preseason. In Rattie’s 14 games with Edmonton in 2017-18, he spent a large majority of his 5-on-5 ice time alongside McDavid and Rattie recorded five goals and nine points as a result.

So, there is some reason to believe that the Rattie-McDavid experiment has staying power and while we’re not expecting anything like the superstar numbers we’ve seen out of Rattie in the preseason to continue, he should be a pretty solid contributor if he stays on that top line.

On a less upbeat note, Mikko Koskinen, who is slated to be the Edmonton Oilers’ backup goaltender after excelling in the KHL, has been a mixed bag in the preseason. That created some speculation that Al Montoya would earn the job over Koskinen, but ultimately Montoya was put on waivers while Koskinen is still with the team. It’s not too surprising of an outcome. Edmonton made a $2.5 million commitment to Koskinen, so they’re not going to change course before a single regular season game has even been played.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings didn’t make a lot of changes over the summer, but they did make one big move by signing Ilya Kovalchuk. He’s perhaps this season’s biggest X-Factor because he was one of the league’s best snipers when he left, but we’ll have to see what he’s like at the age of 35 and after five seasons in the KHL. For what little it’s worth, Kovalchuk has a goal and an assist in three preseason games.

There was talk of him rounding out the first line of Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, but that experiment didn’t last. Instead, it looks like the 2017-18 line of Kopitar, Brown, and Alex Iafallo will remain intact while Kovalchuk will play on the second line with Jeff Carter and Adrian Kempe.

As far as the bubble players go, it looks like Jaret Anderson-Dolan has managed to earn a spot on the squad. That’s pretty impressive for the 19-year-old whose pro career only consists of five AHL games thus far, but the reason why he’s being called a bubble player is because he will likely serve on the fourth line and might even end up as a healthy scratch on occasion. Also, even if he makes the team it could just be a temporary arrangement. He’s on an entry-level contract, so the nine-game trial rule applies, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he ends up back in the WHL before he gets to log that 10th game with Los Angeles.

San Jose Sharks

The big story for the San Jose Sharks is obvious: They acquired Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators. With that move, San Jose arguably now features the top two best offensive defensemen in the league between Karlsson and Brent Burns.

That duo are expected to play together on the top power-play unit, but not on even strength. Instead, it looks like Karlsson will play with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who is another amazing defenseman and while he’s not an elite offensive force, he’s no slouch in that regard either. Vlasic and Karlsson might prove to be the best pairing of the 2018-19 campaign. What about Burns? Joakim Ryan will probably be his partner. Ryan was Burns’ most common even-strength partner last season too, so there’s no real surprise there. That would leave them with a third pairing of Brenden Dillon and Justin Braun.

In terms of forwards, Antti Suomela has been a standout in training camp and it seems like he’s done enough to make the team. You can pencil him in as the third-line center at this point, perhaps alongside Joonas Donskoi and Kevin Labanc. Joe Thornton is also good to play after missing the second half of 2017-18 with a knee injury. Because of the injury, he’s only now getting a chance to play alongside trade deadline acquisition Evander Kane. They’re likely to be on the top line together with Joe Pavelski.

Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER, BC - SEPTEMBER 20: Vancouver Canucks centre Elias Pettersson (40) skates against the Los Angeles Kings in a NHL hockey game on September 20, 2018, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC. (Photo by Bob Frid/Icon Sportswire)

In 2017-18, Brock Boeser established himself as the face of the Vancouver Canucks’ rebuild, but he’s about to get some company. Elias Pettersson is aiming to break into the NHL directly from the Swedish league and so far, it’s looking like he’ll do just that. Every rookie comes with a degree of risk, but at least going into the season it’s reasonable to view Pettersson as a potential contender for the Calder Trophy, just as Boeser was last season.

Another very promising forward prospect, Adam Gaudette, has been sent to AHL Utica though after getting a long look in training camp. He dominated with Northeastern University last season, recording 60 points in 38 contests and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get called up at some point in 2018-19.

Defenseman Olli Juolevi will begin the season in the AHL as well. He spent the 2017-18 campaign in SM-liiga, but he also played in the OHL for two seasons, so he does have some experience in North America. Probably the bigger issue with Juolevi is that he underwent back surgery over the summer and consequently couldn’t start training until the middle of August, so it’s not surprising that he couldn’t force his way onto the lineup this time. In the long run though, he could be a significant part of the Canucks’ blueline.

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas has been nothing if not eventful over the last month. The first big story to break was a rather unpleasant one as Nate Schmidt received a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA's Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Schmidt’s agent did assert that his client’s actions were unintentional, but regardless of the circumstances, the bottom line is a defenseman who recorded 36 points and averaged 22:14 minutes last season will miss the first quarter of the campaign.

That naturally left the Golden Knights with an opening on defense. It did look like Erik Brannstrom might make the team as a result, but the 19-year-old will instead start the season in the AHL. That’s probably not a bad idea given that this is his first campaign in North America after coming over from Sweden. Instead, it looks like Jake Bischoff got the final spot on the Golden Knights’ blueline. He’s 24-years-old and had seven goals and 23 points in 69 AHL contests last season.

The next major event was Vegas acquiring Max Pacioretty from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a 2019 second round pick. Vegas gave up quite a bit to get Tatar from Detroit at the trade deadline, but he never really found a spot with the Golden Knights, so it’s not surprising to see him be dealt again, even if it arguably is at a significant loss compared to what Vegas paid. As for Suzuki, he’s a great prospect, but wouldn’t have been a factor this season, so at least in the near-term, this trade represents a big boost for Vegas.

Pacioretty and the summer signing of Paul Stastny gives the Golden Knights the makings of a really strong second line. The third member of that unit is up for debate, but Erik Haula and Alex Tuch appear to be the finalists for that gig.

Finally, RFA Shea Theodore agreed to a seven-year, $36.4 million contract on Sept. 25. He did miss part of training camp, but at least he signed with enough time to get back into the swing of things before the regular season starts. Having him on board is also particularly important right now given the absence of Schmidt and given that his cap hit looks pretty reasonable, this was a nice signing for Vegas.

Olli Juolevi – McKeen's Hockey

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: VANCOUVER CANUCKS- RANK: #27 – TIER V

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Vancouver Canucks Top 20 Prospects

Vasili Podkolzin, RW (10th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Nils Hoglander, LW (40th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Olli Juolevi, D (5th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Jett Woo, D (37th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Jack Rathbone, D (95th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Will Lockwood, RW (64th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Michael DiPietro, G (64th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Zack MacEwen, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 3, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Jacob Truscott, D (144th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joni Jurmo, D (82nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking NA)

Kole Lind, RW (33rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Brogan Rafferty, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 1, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Aidan McDonough, LW (195th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 12)

Marc Michaelis, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 19, 2020. Previous ranking: 13)

Dmitri Zlodeyev, C (175th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Linus Karlsson, C (Trade: Feb. 25, 2019. Originally: 87th overall, 2018 [San Jose]. Previous ranking: 14)

Guillaume Brisebois, D (66th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

Arvid Costmar, C (215th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Petrus Palmu, LW/RW (181st overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 16)

Carson Focht, C (133rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 17)

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – VANCOUVER CANUCKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 13

Vancouver Canucks

Vasili Podkolzin, RW (10th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

Nils Hoglander, LW (40th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

Olli Juolevi, D (5th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

Jett Woo, D (37th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Jack Rathbone, D (95th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Will Lockwood, RW (64th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 5)

Michael DiPietro, G (64th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 8)

Zack MacEwen, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 3, 2017. 2019 Rank: 15)

Kole Lind, RW (33rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 11)

Brogan Rafferty, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 1, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Guillaume Brisebois, D (66th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 12)

Aidan McDonough, LW (195th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Marc Michaelis, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 19, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Linus Karlsson, C (Trade: Feb. 25, 2019. Originally: 87th overall, 2018 [San Jose]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Arvid Costmar, C (215th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

AHL: Eastern Conference Team by Team Update

AHL 2019-20 Preview: Eastern Division

Vancouver Canucks 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

MCKEEN’S 2019-20 YEARBOOK: The Late, Late Show – Players to look for deep in the draft

Under-the-radar youngsters

Breakout candidates

Take the so-called bust

Pacific Division Training Camp News

Vasili Podkolzin, RW (10^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Nils Hoglander, LW (40^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Olli Juolevi, D (5^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Jett Woo, D (37^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Jack Rathbone, D (95^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Will Lockwood, RW (64^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Michael DiPietro, G (64^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Jacob Truscott, D (144^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joni Jurmo, D (82^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking NA)

Kole Lind, RW (33^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Aidan McDonough, LW (195^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 12)

Dmitri Zlodeyev, C (175^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Linus Karlsson, C (Trade: Feb. 25, 2019. Originally: 87^thoverall, 2018 [San Jose]. Previous ranking: 14)

Guillaume Brisebois, D (66^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

Arvid Costmar, C (215^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Petrus Palmu, LW/RW (181^st overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 16)

Carson Focht, C (133^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 17)

Vasili Podkolzin, RW (10^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

Nils Hoglander, LW (40^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

Olli Juolevi, D (5^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

Jett Woo, D (37^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Jack Rathbone, D (95^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Will Lockwood, RW (64^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 5)

Michael DiPietro, G (64^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 8)

Kole Lind, RW (33^rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 11)

Guillaume Brisebois, D (66^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 12)

Aidan McDonough, LW (195^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Linus Karlsson, C (Trade: Feb. 25, 2019. Originally: 87^thoverall, 2018 [San Jose]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Arvid Costmar, C (215^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)