Olof Lindbom – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #18 New York Rangers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:00:54 +0000

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 12: Boston College forward Gabe Perreault (34) eyes a face off during the Beanpot Consolation game between Boston College and Harvard on February 12, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

The Presidents Trophy winner with the best record in the NHL, the Rangers remain right in the heart of their window to win the cup. As of this writing the team has fallen to Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference final. After two seasons of being aggressive buyers at the deadline, Chris Drury decided to not mess with a winning formula. He added Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko in 2023, only to bow out in the first-round last year. Largely the same veteran cast is returned for the playoffs, and cap space will continue to be an issue. Therefore, the importance of moving prospects into the line-up becomes that much more important.

The Rangers have had some success in graduating prospects in recent years. This season Braden Schneider, William Cuylle and Zac Jones joined Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko from the last five drafts playing in the lineup. They have largely held onto the first-round picks over the years and nabbed another good one in Gabe Perreault at 19th overall last year. He is currently ranked 19th overall in McKeen’s top 200 list. He is followed closely by Brennan Othmann at 26th overall. While Perreault is still a year away or more, Othmann could be ready now. If a vet is traded for cap space, the infusion of low-priced young blood will help keep the window open a little longer. The emergence of the 2020 first overall pick, Alexis LaFreniere, as a top six threat was exactly what the Rangers needed. He is an RFA following this season, while Kakko is an RFA this year. Having had more muted success, he may look for bigger money down the road and bridge. The roster boasts an impressive balance of vets and emerging youth, which includes Filip Chytil (24-years old). The Rangers are hoping it is the recipe for success as soon as this year.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Gabe Perreault	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	`23(23rd)	36	19	41	60	29
2	Brennan Othmann	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	`21(16th)	67	21	28	49	65
3	Matthew Robertson	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	`19(49th)	68	4	17	21	49
4	Brett Berard	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	`20(134th)	71	25	23	48	62
5	Adam Sykora	RW	19	5-10/170	Hartford (AHL)	`22(63rd)	66	8	15	23	4
6	Bryce McConnell-Barker	C	19	6-1/195	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	`22(97th)	52	22	29	51	22
7	Dylan Garand	G	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	`20(103rd)	39	16	17	3.03	0.898
8	Drew Fortescue	D	19	6-1/175	Boston College (HE)	`23(90th)	40	4	4	8	36
9	Noah Laba	C	20	6-2/190	Colorado College (NCHC)	`22(111th)	36	20	17	37	27
10	Matthew Rempe	C	21	6-8/235	Hartford (AHL)	`20(165th)	43	8	4	12	96
					NY Rangers (NHL)	`20(165th)	17	1	1	2	71
11	Ryder Korczak	C	21	5-11/175	Hartford (AHL)	`21(75th)	67	9	11	20	28
12	Karl Henriksson	C	23	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	`19(58th)	64	11	12	23	12
13	Dylan Roobroeck	C	19	6-6/190	Oshawa (OHL)	`23(178th)	68	26	46	72	101
14	Brandon Scanlin	D	24	6-4/215	Hartford (AHL)	FA(3/22)	64	8	8	16	39
15	Olof Lindbom	G	23	6-2/185	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`18(39th)	29	10	15	3.56	0.884

1. Gabe Perreault, RW, Boston College (NCAA)

During the run of draft coverage last year, it felt like Gabe Perreault was being undervalued as some considered him a third wheel on the NTDP’s terrific first line including Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. As the three of them have carried their success over to the NCAA level with Boston College, it has become abundantly clear that Perreault should be considered a terrific NHL prospect in his own right. Not only was he one of the best players in college hockey this year, but he played a pivotal role for the United States in their gold medal victory at the WJC’s. He is just such a slick and intelligent offensive player. He elevates the play of those around him with how he can manipulate defensive coverage. He has also upgraded his strength and quickness to allow him to be more consistently dangerous, in addition to becoming a better player away from the puck. It would appear that the Rangers got a good one here.

2. Brennan Othmann, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

The Rangers have to be very happy with how Othmann’s first pro season went. He’s been one of Hartford’s leading scorers and best players right from puck drop this year and, as such, has earned a cup of coffee with the Rangers too. Not only has he been scoring, but his physical approach and strong work away from the puck have also transitioned seamlessly. Based on his versatile skill set, it would appear a virtual lock that he becomes an NHL player in some capacity. Facing a bit of a cap crunch thanks to some high profile RFA’s, one has to wonder if New York trades off a veteran forward or two in order to make room for Othmann as a top nine forward next season. He certainly looks ready and capable. From an upside perspective, the range of outcomes is wide. He could settle into more of a complementary middle six role, or he could end up becoming a high-end top six forward and point producer.

3. Matthew Robertson, D, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Matthew Robertson and the Rangers are about to arrive at a crossroads. At this point in his development, after three pro seasons, he is what he is. The offensive game was never going to be his calling card. However, he does excel in the defensive end as a physical, shut down type. Next season, it will require waivers to be sent to Hartford, yet after three AHL seasons, he has yet to play a single NHL game. Is he ready? That’s a question that will be answered at next season’s training camp where he will have a shot at a role on the team’s third pairing or as a seventh defender. Can he keep up with the pace of NHL forwards and not be a liability with the puck in the face of an NHL forecheck? As a former high pick who has played fairly well as a pro, he should remain fairly highly regarded; he is still a potentially solid #4 who can work well with a more offensively oriented rearguard.

4. Brett Berard, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Brett Berard has been a pleasant surprise for the Rangers this season. Much like Othmann, he has been terrific for Hartford as an AHL rookie. The difference being that Berard was entering his rookie season with lower expectations after his development at Providence College had appeared to have plateaued. Instead, he’s been among the AHL’s top rookie scorers, and he looks the part of a future middle six, high energy guy for New York. The diminutive forward (at 5’ 9”) plays a fearless game. He’s a very aggressive forechecker. He can kill penalties. He drives the net and battles for touches in high traffic areas. He’s not an easy player for defenders to pin down. Is the offensive upside as significant as Othmann? We would say no. However, he looks like a future fan favourite in the Big Apple who can provide a ton of versatility to the coaching staff. That could happen as early as next season if the Rangers are looking to save cap space.

5. Adam Sykora, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

One of the few U20 players in the AHL this season, Sykora has played a checking line role for Hartford, showing flashes of NHL potential. He was drafted with the mantra of being a real “lunch pail” type of player; someone who could do the dirty work on a scoring line and who could be a solid complementary piece in the middle six. Known for his physicality as a draft eligible player in Slovakia, he just wasn’t strong enough or quick enough yet to be just that in the AHL this season. One has to wonder if he would have been better off playing in the CHL as a 20-year-old to help him gain confidence in his offensive abilities. All that said, it’s important to note his age when analyzing his offensive production and overall confidence level in the AHL. He’s still a ways away from being an NHL player, but he also still possesses great upside as a high end third line player who can develop into a terrific two-way forward.

6. Bryce McConnell-Barker, C, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

The Soo Greyhounds had a really strong season in the OHL this year. You would have figured that would have correlated with BMB (as he’s affectionately known) having a great year individually. That wasn’t really the case as we saw other Greyhounds step up and overtake him in terms of making a consistent impact. McConnell-Barker is still a solid NHL prospect because of his shot/scoring potential, solid skating base, and developing two-way instincts. However, there is concern that his development has plateaued a bit after he failed to crack the point per game mark as a 20-year-old in the CHL, often times the kiss of death for a player’s NHL upside. He still needs to develop that killer instinct that would take his game to another level. His physical intensity can waver and in order to be an impact pro, that will need to improve. He will turn pro next year with Hartford and will likely be brought along slowly given their depth.

7. Dylan Garand, G, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

In 2022, Dylan Garand was on top of the world. He helped Canada capture a gold medal at the WJC and he was the CHL’s goaltender of the year. Last season, there were bumps along the road in his first pro season with Hartford, but optimism remained high. This year, it would be tough to argue that Garand was that much better as a sophomore. Stagnation is never a great sign. He is a great play tracker and very technically sound, but is he athletic enough to be a true difference at the pro level given his lack of size? When you look at the smaller netminders excelling today like Juuse Saros, Dustin Wolf, and Devon Levi, they are all exceptional athletes. At this point, Garand needs to do a better job of fighting through traffic to make saves and challenging shooters more aggressively to help him overcome his size deficit. He’s still the team’s top option in net for the future, but the 2024-25 season will be a big one for his development.

8. Drew Fortescue, D, Boston College (NCAA)

It ended up being a terrific post draft year for Drew Fortescue, following former NTDP teammate Gabe Perreault to Boston College. Fortescue ended up playing a key defensive role for BC as a freshman, also helping the U.S. capture gold at the World Junior Championships. The strong skating, 6’ 2” defender plays a steady, mature game in the defensive zone. His transitional defense is excellent because of his footwork, and he’s worked hard to bulk up to make himself more difficult to play against. At times, his play with the puck and overall decision making can leave something to be desired. He’s going to need to work on his exits and his ability to handle the forecheck, but should that happen, Fortescue has the skill set to become a dependable #4-5 defender for the Rangers in the future. Just don’t expect him any time soon, as he likely spends another couple years in college to help him improve his two-way game and confidence.

9. Noah Laba, C, Colorado College (NCAA)

Laba was one of the most improved players in the Rangers’ system this year after earning a Hobey Baker nomination with Colorado College. He was good as a freshman two years ago, but this year he carried Colorado College to 20 wins and a top ranking. They ended up barely missing out on earning a spot in the Frozen Four tournament, but the season was a massive success as CC finished with a winning record for the first time in over a decade. Laba is your prototypical, hardworking, two-way center. He has good size and length. He skates well. He brings a physical element. He shows great awareness in all three zones. It would appear that Laba will return to Colorado College for his junior year, and this is a great thing for his development. The Rangers will be looking for another jump in production from him as the talent around him improves. He looks like a future middle six candidate.

10. Matthew Rempe, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Is there an NHL prospect who has made more headlines this year than Matt Rempe? The big winger has taken the NHL by storm thanks to his physicality and pugilistic activities. Now in his second year of pro hockey after a junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Rempe will never be known for his offensive abilities. His skill set is limited to work near the net, although he has the potential to be a near immovable object from that area with his 6’ 8”, 240 lbs frame. However, he has impressed at times with his energy and work off the puck as part of New York’s fourth line since a call up. Is his play sustainable or is he a flash in the pan because of how often he has been fighting? That remains to be seen. At the very least, he has shown himself to be an intriguing prospect who could have a long career in a depth role, on top of being a fan favourite in the Big Apple.

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

New York Rangers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:37:58 +0000

Around 18 months ago, New York Rangers President Glen Sather, along with team GM Jeff Gorton sent a much publicized letter to season-ticket holders to announce that they would be rebuilding. Unqualified rebuilding. Of course, they didn’t use the term “rebuild” in their letter. Instead, they noted that “As we approach the trade deadline later this month and into the summer, we will be focused on adding young, competitive players that combine speed, skill and character. This may mean we lose some familiar faces, guys we all care about and respect. While this is part of the game, it’s never easy. Our promise to you is that our plans will be guided by our singular commitment: ensuring we are building the foundation for our next Stanley Cup contender.”

It didn’t take a literature professor to read between the lines. Some teams, while aiming for the stars, find themselves in the gutters for years. I won’t name names. Other teams somehow always find a way to stay in the hunt. I won’t name names here either, but the Rangers were one such team for a prolonged stretch. Playing well in the regular season, signing expensive free agents, trading picks – including more than a few first round picks – to keep their run going. Before that letter, the Rangers had made the playoffs for seven straight seasons, making the Stanley Cup finals once and bowing out in the Eastern Conference Finals twice.

Outside of the King, Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers traded pretty much all veterans for whom they received a halfway decent offer, loaded up on first round picks and as soon as last season, they had a system that we had dubbed the best in the league. As I write there words, we have yet to analyze all of the systems for a ranking, but the Rangers have only made their system stronger. In addition to wining the second pick in the draft through the lottery, which they used to select a future star in big winger Kaapo Kakko, five other members of their top twenty were only added to the system this season, bumping a number of otherwise talented players off.

But more importantly, the rebuild is over. The Rangers are ready to compete again. There was no way it was every going to be an Edmonton style decade long crawl. Instead, after two years in the lottery classes, the Rangers spent a second first rounder (acquired from a previous sell off, to acquire the rights to RFA defender Jacob Trouba, who they shortly thereafter signed to a large seven year deal. And then on July 1, while the opening bells of the free agency period were still ringing, they inked the top available talent in forward Artemi Panarin to a big seven year deal of his own. Between those two additions, Kakko and the likely additions of offensive defenseman Adam Fox, whose rights they traded for before coaxing away from a fourth season at Harvard, and Russian winger Vitali Kravtsov, who also signed his ELC, the Rangers will be much stronger in 2019-20 then they were in either of the last two seasons. I don’t think they are ready to compete for a berth in the Final Four again, but they are better than either of the previous two seasons. The Rangers are back on the rise.

-Ryan Wagman

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 21: Kaapo Kakko poses for a photo onstage after being selected second overall by the New York Rangers 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)

1 Kappo Kakko, RW (2^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The second overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft is ready to cross the pond for the next challenge of his career in the NHL. Not only does Kakko have plenty of skill and high hockey IQ, he has also demonstrated the willingness to battle without the puck and regain possession for his team. He works hard on both sides of the puck and understands the little details, making him already a complete winger at a such young age. When protecting the puck he is often a lot for defenders to handle, but once he bulks up and gets stronger in his lower body, the task of limiting his time and space will become even more difficult. He has the complete offensive toolbox and the physical attributes to play in the NHL next season. He has the potential to be a star and a first line player for the Rangers for years to come. - MB

2 K’Andre Miller, D (22^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) From a young, hyper-athletic forward to a still young, hyperathletic blueliner, K’Andre Miller is near the end of his metamorphosis. Based purely on skill, he should be ready to move on to the professional ranks, but after losing the end of his freshman year due to a leg injury, Miller has decided to spend one more year on campus. With the Rangers now climbing out of their rebuild, it probably is better for his development to not be in the spotlight just yet, but to come up after the new core as more firmly established themselves on Broadway. For much of his freshman season, Miller was the top draw with the Badgers, combining fantastic skating with top shelf hockey IQ and easy to ignore physicality. His offensive game is still raw, but he does things few other blueliners would consider. Going back to school also all but guarantees that Miller will get another chance to impress at the WJC as those six games were his least impressive of the year. His upside is still that of a first pairing defender, but he isn’t quite there yet. - RW

3 Vitali Kravtsov, RW (9^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 4) After two years of solid growth in the KHL, Kravtsov is crossing the ocean. The Russian forward showed great technique and good poise, but also a lack of consistency. Considering his age though, it’s normal to have some droughts while playing in a men’s league. Kravtsov is highly ranked for good reason, with an excellent shot, smooth hands, and a great view of the ice. His hockey IQ is well developed and it shows mostly in his great ability to sniff the net and try to get into the best position for a dangerous shot. Kravtsov is also a good passer, but he’ll bring a shoot-first mentality to the Rangers. His 6-4” frame definitely needs some bulking but considering his height, chances are good for the Chelyabinsk native to become more imposing and dangerous with some proper conditioning practices. All in all, a dangerous player with first-line potential who can potentially benefit from Panarin’s creativity and passes in the future after an initial unavoidable adaptation period. - ASR

4 Adam Fox, D (66^th overall, 2016 [Calgary]. Last Year: 5 [Carolina]) Adam Fox is that prototypical, fast skating, offensive, smart defenseman with the USA Hockey background, including gold medals, a background that we are seeing with increasing frequency. His time in Harvard under the tutelage of Ted Donato really helped his mental game while offering him the time to build up his body. After three seasons with Harvard, he was had nothing left to prove. He was a Hobey Baker Finalist in 2018-19 as well as an East First-Team All-American in two consecutive seasons as well as the ECAC Player of the Year. He finished his collegiate career with 21 goals and 116 points (+45) in 97 games. His 48 points in 2018-19 were a school record. He has to work on his strength and pushback that he will need to survive at the NHL level. The player you see today will start his first pro season on the New York Rangers, probably on the third pairing. He could settle in as a second pairing defenseman for a very long time. - RC

5 Igor Shestyorkin, G (118^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 5) 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. The main concern on him is that he has never played the equivalent of a full NHL season, no matter how good his numbers have been. He needs more experience in dealing with the load tied with being a starting goalkeeper in pro hockey. The Rangers are in a situation where they have three good goalies, and it will be interesting to see where Shestyorkin fits. There are no doubts that he’s good enough to play in the NHL, but at this point he’s probably only the third goalie there after Lundqvist and Georgiyev. One season in the AHL could do good to him, but will he accept that? – ASR

6 Nils Lundkvist, D (28^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 8) After a fast progression in his draft year, the progression slowed down last season. Lundkvist struggled to get top four minutes for Lulea last season and was only 7th in icetime on the team. He is a smart puck-moving defenseman, but his offensive edge from the blue line isn’t elite. I can still see him becoming a second pair NHL defenseman with time as his hockey sense still looks very good. He reads the play well and makes veteran decisions even though he was a teenager in a men’s league. He needs to become stronger without the puck and play a bit more aggressive at times. Hopefully he can seize a bigger role this upcoming season and become at least the second choice on the power play behind veteran Erik Gustafsson and be an anchor for the Swedish WJC team. - JH

7 Matthew Robertson, D (49^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Robertson is a very steady defender who seems a lock to be a number four defender in the NHL one day. He moves the puck well from his own zone and through the neutral zone while playing a low risk game. He is a very good skater for his size and he really excels controlling his gaps and managing play out of his own zone. He reads the play and makes the correct choice between stick and body check, rarely being caught out, and is rarely overmatched. His offensive game is solid at the WHL level but might not translate as effectively to the pro game. He has the potential to be a first unit penalty killer who supports play but does not lead it. - VG

8 Libor Hajek, D (37^th overall, 2016 [Tampa Bay]. Last Year: 7) A smooth skating defenseman, Hajek had a relatively slow start with the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL picking up only 5 points through 58 games. However unlike his AHL performance, Hajek had a strong showing with the Rangers when he spent 5 games up with them, even scoring his first NHL goal. Although strong in his own end, he plays an aggressive game in the neutral zone, creating turnovers and firing quick passes to start the ball rolling or walking in from the point for a shot on net. There is no doubt that Hajek is NHL ready, but what’s debatable is exactly what pairing he will play on. Due to his skillset, his adaptability is an asset and the chance to learn from older, more experienced defencemen is key to his development. Expect to see him bounce around for a bit before potentially joining the Rangers’ third pairing. - SC

9 Karl Henriksson, C (58^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) There was some debate last season about whether Henriksson carried his own game or if his success had come from playing with Lucas Raymond (and Alexander Holtz internationally) since he doesn’t have the same superstar look when he plays. Looking closer at his contributions you could see a hard-working 200 ft game but also that he has a fast stick and a fast thinking hockey brain. He makes good decisions and he works hard and has the skills to make stuff happen with the tools that he has. You could say that the superstar talents he played with benefited from playing with him as well. The main concern I am left with is that he is an undersized forward with only average skating ability. It is still early as he hasn’t played senior hockey yet, but a future middle six center isn’t a bad projection at this point. - JH

10 Joey Keane, D (88^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 17) 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. Keane also thinks the game very well in his own end and projects as a Bret Hedican type of defender in the NHL. His OHL season may not have gone according to plan and the same could be said about his development. A move to London saw him take on a lesser role and some bad habits, especially with the puck in transition, crept into his game. As he moves to the pro level, he will need to keep the game simple, using his mobility to aid in his learning curve. Even after a disappointing season, Keane should be considered a quality blueline prospect who could find himself a part of the Rangers within a few years. - Bo

11 Vinni Lettieri, C/RW (Undrafted free agent, signed Mar. 27, 2017. Last Year: 11) For a player who often flies under the radar on the ice but shines on the scoresheet, his time up with the New York Rangers last season was perhaps not what was expected from a 40+ point guy in the AHL. 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. The difficult thing about his case is the fact that his overall game and puck movement is not yet NHL ready although his speed may prove ready, the other elements of his game could use a brush up. Expect Lettieri to stay down with Hartford for the first part of the season as part of the Wolfpack’s top six. Should he see NHL ice time again he would be a healthy fit as part of a strong bottom six. - SC

12 Sean Day, D (81^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 18) For a player who has a good natural skill set, Day has had some difficulty finding ways to showcase his puck handling ability and patience on the ice. Day has yet to find himself with a Rangers call up and was instead sent down to the ECHL Mariners last season for a 19 game stint. However, being sent down to the ECHL level may have been just the right way to push Day harder and have him ensure a starting spot back up with the Hartford Wolfpack where he will hopefully have a better season and a better start next season, expecting to bounce from second to third pairing. Day needs to find better ways of getting to the net and getting shots off from the point to up his offensive production should he want to earn his first call up to the NHL in the upcoming season. The talent is there, but it still needs to coalesce.- SC

13 Ryan Lindgren, D (49^th overall, 2016 [Boston]. Last Year: 12) To say that Lindgren is a gritty defenseman is an understatement and for a smaller defenseman he is everything a team could ask for defensively as he is a tremendous shot blocker with goalie protection as his first priority. Since coming from NCAA Minnesota he has had a tough time adjusting to the pace of the play at the professional level. Not to say that he is slow but simply a stride behind the competition. Lindgren has the smarts and the grit to handle himself with the Rangers as he has already played 5 games with them but he will be better suited to start with the AHL’s Wolfpack for another season until he builds up his confidence offensively and learns to play with more discipline. Lindgren has a high ceiling and a good work ethic and hopefully he will have a more permanent spot as a second or third pairing blueliner this coming season. - SC

14 Morgan Barron, C (174^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Barron is a 6-2”, 209 pivot who drives to the net with speed and force. He is a good skater who has a surprisingly good stick and puck control. Always a threat to score with wraparounds or shots from the middle, his puck possession is really good. He had 15 goals and 34 points in 39 games with improved consistency from the season before. He will be back with “Big Red” and should have a big role with them in 2019-20. The Rangers have a developing player here who could be a future 3C for the boys in blue. He looked bigger and stronger at prospect camp earlier this summer, and I expect him to have a bigger impact this year, as he is just starting to hit his stride as a player. - RC

15 Zac Jones, D (68^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A lightly regarded coming into his draft year, Jones turned a ton of heads in his USHL debut with Tri-City, as one of the top skaters on the best team in the league. More an offensive play driver who will always need some back up in his own end, he usually makes up for his deficiencies by his stellar puck playing ability. Undersized, Jones gets to a fine top speed in a hurry, and demonstrates great vision and instincts when carrying the puck. He doesn’t make many egregious errors in his own end, but he is more effective with a strong defender at his side. Heading to UMass (Amherst) next season, he will have the chance to take on a key role from the hop as a freshman, with top defensemen Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro both moving on to the pros early. He could reach a second pairing, PP role his best, but is a long ways from that level. - RW

16 Olof Lindbom, G (39^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 16) There seems to be no end to Lindbom’s bad luck with injuries. He played only eight regular season games and one playoff game last season. The year before he was also sidelined due to injury but seemed to step up when he played, especially internationally. His hockey sense in combination with good technique and size are his main strengths in net. His ability to adapt and overcome his struggles are also impressive at this point. Next season, he will be getting a chance to play in Allsvenskan. He still has a long way to go and first and foremost he will need to put up a full strong and healthy season before being ready to be the starter in a bigger league. - JH

17 Tarmo Reunanen, D (98^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not Ranked) Reunanen suffered a severe injury in his draft year which was a significant setback in his young career. However, last season he really started to show glimpses of his immense offensive potential. An agile skater with quick feet and good wheels, Reunanen is very active with the puck, especially in the offensive zone where he can be an asset for his team in possession. He has impressive passing skills, moving the puck with excellent precision and timing. He sees the ice well and he can be creative when he has the puck on his stick. He still needs to improve his defensive reliability and gain situational toughness in order to take the next step in becoming an NHL defenseman. He could be a solid third pairing blueliner, one who can help his team in offensive transitions and on the power play. - MB

18 Yegor Rykov, D (132^nd overall, 2016 [New Jersey]. Last Year: 19) A solid two-way defenseman with an NHL body, Rykov has played in two WJCs and more than 200 pro hockey games, but he is not ready yet to play in the NHL even though he has all the tools to succeed. When he was playing for SKA, his time on ice was limited – he was also younger and playing for a stacked team. However, a trade to HC Sochi did wonders for him as he started playing on the top pair for former New York Ranger Sergei Zubov and was generally one of the best U21 defensemen in the KHL last year. Rykov showed talent and progressed at both ends of the ice. He has very good vision at both ends of the ice. He is also a good skater and his competitiveness makes him a player that coaches like to have. In spite of passing a bit under the radar last year, he is a very capable prospect with a high ceiling. - ASR

19 Leevi Aaltonen, RW (130^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The fast and explosive Aaltonen’s speed and acceleration have always stood out even against international competition. The winger has nifty hands, quality passing skills and he makes plays in the offensive zone He has an accurate wrist shot and can find the back of the net on the power play. As far as the physical game is concerned, he still has a ways to go. His board play could be much stronger and he lacks the willingness to battle hard on a consistent basis. He also tends to be invisible for overly long periods, thus his overall impact in the U20 league has often been more muted than his talent level would suggest. If Aaltonen makes it to the NHL, it will be in an offensive role where he would need to find ways to produce. - MB

20 Ville Meskanen, RW/LW (Undrafted free agent, signed May 3, 2018. Last Year: 20) Meskanen has the potential to surprise. After coming over from Ilves of the Liiga, he spent his first season in North America with the Hartford Wolfpack and fared well with the adjustment. He proved his adaptability as he started the year off slowly but soon ended up on the second line with a spot on both special teams. Meskanen is a good team player and good in the attacking zone, should he improve his two way play and minimize neutral zone turnovers he could earn his first call up. He has the skill to earn a few games in the NHL and the potential to eventually find a more permanent roster spot should he work on becoming a more complete player. Meskanen may seem like a long shot now but his work ethic may see him develop faster in the AHL than other players ranked ahead of him. Expect to see him as a top six forward with Hartford this year. - SC

New York Rangers Prospect System Overview

Brock Otten — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:53:06 +0000

Rebuild. A word associated with evil for most hockey fans. Several years of pain in order to achieve long term gain. The patience of fans will be tested as the team accumulates unproven, young talent; talent that requires research to create expectations for.

But, it is an inevitable event in the cap era and the New York Rangers have done things correctly so far. This was a prospect pool badly in need of fresh blood and it has been invigorated with a breadth of new talent. Nearly half the players on this list were acquired in some way connected to trades.

It all started in 2017 with the Derek Stepan deal to Arizona that netted them the 7th overall selection; an asset they used on Lias Andersson. Andersson is now one of the team´s top prospects and a building block down the middle. The team also acquired additional first round picks in 2018 that helped them secure K´Andre Miller and Nils Lundkvist, two building blocks on the blueline. And while the team only has one first round pick set for 2019, it should be a very early one. The team will also have some talent to deal off at some point this year. Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello are pending UFAs who will most certainly be dealt if the team struggles. Veterans like Chris Kreider, Kevin Shattenkirk, Marc Staal and perhaps even Henrik Lundqvist, could also be hot commodities on the trade market.

However, draft picks are not the only assets that the Rangers have received. The likes of Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, Ryan Lindgren, and Yegor Rykov were all brought in last year via trade and have added terrific depth to the farm system. All four appear in McKeen’s Rangers Top 20 prospects list. And as mentioned, veterans will continue to be shipped out for prospects this year and beyond which will further New York’s rebuild attempt and make them stronger for the future.

Rebuilding is not just about acquiring assets through trading and the draft. The scouting team takes on a massive responsibility for finding “free” assets; undrafted free agents. The NHL teams who rebuild properly utilize this better than anyone. And thus far, the New York Rangers have done an absolutely fantastic job of bringing in talent through free agency. In fact, five players in New York’s current top 20 were brought into the organization as free agent signings. This includes two players (Pionk and Georgiyev) who should already be major contributors this coming NHL season and three players (Lettieri, Lindqvist, and Meskanen) who could be quality NHL forwards down the road; or even role players this year. This is an avenue that New York will need to continue to explore over the next few years.

Lastly, any rebuilding franchise has one desire and that is to end up picking inside the top 3 (or even 5) of the NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers have not done this since 1999, when they unfortunately selected Pavel Brendl 4th overall. It was a great run, but New York needs to be bad this year so that they can accelerate their rebuild by acquiring a premium talent; a franchise player that can be the face of the franchise moving forward. Look at the best teams in the NHL today and almost all were built around a top 5 selection. This could not be more true for New York considering that the team went from 2013-2016 without even having a first round pick at the draft.

While the next year or two may represent a dark period for the fan base, it is necessary for the growth of the Rangers’ franchise. General Manager Jeff Gorton and Director of Scouting Kevin Maxwell have their hands full, but they have done a terrific job so far at getting this once storied team back in the right direction. Expect this team’s prospect list to continue to grow and remain near the top of the organizational rankings.

Filip Chytil

1 Filip Chytil, C (21^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 3^rd) It was a busy year for the Rangers top prospect in his first year in North America. Chytil saw action in the AHL, NHL, at the U20s and at the World Championships for the Czech Republic. As a 19 year old, his production in the AHL has to be considered elite, right up there with the seasons of Kevin Fiala, William Nylander, and Jesse Puljujarvi in recent years. The talented two-way center has the potential to be a mainstay in New York’s top 6 for years to come. His size, skill, and skating ability makes him a perfect fit for today’s NHL. His arrival will come as early as this season too, as he may earn the shot to be the team’s 2nd line center behind Mika Zibanejad.

2 Lias Andersson, C (7^th overall, 2017. Last Year:1^st) Like Chytil, Andersson was another Rangers’ top prospect who made his NHL debut last year. While Andersson may not possess the elite athleticism that Chytil does, he is a safe bet to carve out a long NHL career because of his hockey IQ and understanding of the game in all three zones. The 5-11”, 200lbs center captained the Swedish entry at the World Juniors, earning a silver medal (and famously launching it into the stands). But that competitive nature is what will endear him to the New York fan base, likely as early as this year as he will have every opportunity to assume the team’s 3rd or 4th line center role.

3 K'Andre Miller, D (22^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A product of the U.S. Development Program, Miller was one of three first rounders taken by the Rangers in 2018. The Wisconsin commit is lauded for his athletic ability, including his powerful skating ability despite being 6-4” and 200lbs. At the very least, he projects as a modern day shutdown defender who can use his size and mobility to dominate the defensive end. That all said, scouts have suggested that his game possesses offensive upside despite his skill set being somewhat raw. He will likely spend a few years at the College level before turning pro, but should make a solid pro with a not insignificant chance at being a true impact blueliner down the road.

Vitali Kravtsov

4 Vitali Kravtsov, LW, (9^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Kravtsov, the 9th overall selection in 2018, was one of the draft’s biggest risers late into May and June. This was thanks in part to a terrific playoff performance in the KHL with Traktor, where he had 6 goals and 5 assists in 16 games. Statistically speaking, that was the best performance of an U19 player in KHL posteason history. At 6-4”, with speed and skill on the wing, Kravtsov projects as a future top six goal scoring forward. His ability to drive the wing, or set up shop at the dot could make him a lethal powerplay option in the future. Perhaps a future winger for Filip Chytil, too.

5 Igor Shestyorkin, G (118^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 2^nd) Without a doubt, Shestyorkin has emerged as one of the top goaltending prospects on the planet. The soon to be 23 year old has starred in the KHL the past two seasons, earning an All Star nod and finishing in the top five for save percentage both years for SKA St. Petersburg. Scouts rave about Shestyorkin’s athleticism and game stealing ability. His game is built for today’s NHL thanks to his solid size and agility. At this point, it is just a waiting game as the Rangers wait for his KHL contract to expire at the end of this upcoming season. Assuming that New York can convince him to cross the ocean, they may very well have found their heir apparent to King Henrik.

6 Brett Howden, C (Trade: Feb. 26, 2018 [Tampa Bay]. Last Year: 3^rd [Tampa Bay]) One of the main pieces coming back in the J.T. Miller/Ryan McDonagh trade, Howden had established himself as one of the top forwards in the WHL the past two seasons. A former first rounder by Tampa Bay, Howden starred as captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors and was a standout for Team Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships. A hard-nosed center, there is not much that he can’t do on the ice. He can thrive in any situation and is the type of player you want on the ice to help preserve a lead or gain one. He will be turning pro this season and will look to earn top six ice time in Hartford with an eye on earning a spot on the Rangers in the second half if they continue to sell off assets at this year’s trade deadline.

7 Libor Hajek, D (Trade: Feb. 26, 2018 [Tampa Bay]. Last Year: 10^th [Tampa Bay]) Another part of the Miller/McDonagh trade, Hajek is also graduating out of the WHL after spending nearly three years in Saskatoon (minus a move to Regina to close out last season). The hard-nosed Czech defender has good size at 6-2, 200lbs, but is also mobile and like K’Andre Miller above, projects to at least be a quality player in his own end. His offensive game really took a nice step forward this past season and that was certainly on display at the World Junior Championships in Buffalo. It does remain to be seen as to how much that part of his game will translate to the pro level. We will find out this coming season as he turns pro in Hartford.

8 Nils Lundkvist, D (28th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) The third of three first round draft picks by taken by the Rangers in 2018, Lundkvist is most definitely the furthest away from making an impact on Broadway. The 5-11” defender is best described as raw. His mobility is an asset, but it is not yet known what the high end potential is. Scouts seem to be split as to whether he possesses the vision and skill level to be an impact offensive defender, although the early signs for those elements are certainly positive. As part of the Lulea program, he will remain overseas for at least another year to hone his skills on the big ice. Patience will be required here.

9 Neal Pionk, D (UDFA: May 1, 2017. Last Year: 10^th) What a nice surprise Pionk has turned out to be for the Rangers. A free agent signing out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth last offseason, he had a tremendous first professional season in 2017-18. Not only did he excel in limited action in the NHL, but he was also an integral part of a U.S. team at the World Championships that ended up winning bronze. With added bulk to his average frame, Pionk should be able to take greater advantage of his vision and puck moving ability. His mobility is a plus and he could be a top four defender for the Rangers as early as this upcoming season.

Ty Ronning

10 Ty Ronning, RW (201st Overall, 2016. Last Year: 20^th) No matter how you slice it, 61 goals is an impressive feat. That’s how many Ronning scored in the WHL last year with Vancouver. His lack of size may be an issue at the pro level. Furthermore, skeptics will point to the fact that he played last year as an overager. But scoring 60 goals in the WHL is no easy feat. He is only the 5th player since the turn of the century to accomplish that feat. Consistency has been a bit of an issue over his WHL career and he is going to have to prove that he can overcome his size deficit. But Ronning has the speed and tenacity that his father (Cliff) possessed and has to be considered a future option as a top six winger for the Rangers.

11 Vinni Lettieri, RW (UDFA: Mar. 27, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) Grandson of the legendary Lou Nanne, Lettieri was an offseason signing by the Rangers last year after completing his senior season at the University of Minnesota under Don Lucia. He ended up having a terrific rookie year in the AHL with Hartford, leading the team in goal scoring with 23. This, despite a 19 game cup of coffee with the Rangers. The right shot winger has goal scoring potential and the fact that he shoots from the right side will likely make him a more attractive option moving forward. It is expected that he continue to shuttle back and forth between Hartford and New York again, perhaps earning a full time role later in the 2018-19 season.

12 Ryan Lindgren, D (Trade: Feb. 25, 2018 [Boston]. Last Year: 14^th [Boston]) A component of the deal that saw Rick Nash head to Boston, Lindgren joins the pro ranks after two years at the University of Minnesota (where he was a teammate of Vinni Lettieri). The former Boston 2^nd rounder may not possess the size of a typical stay at home, shutdown defender (he is listed at 6-0”, 200lbs), but the skill set is there. His offensive potential may be limited, but his skating ability and physicality will make him a very valuable blueliner at some point. He figures to be a fixture on the Rangers’ penalty kill and fans will likely adore him for his penchant for the big hit. He will be a fixture in Hartford this year with a chance of being a full time NHL’er within a few years.

13 Alexandar Georgiyev, G (UDFA: July 17, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) At the time, little was made of the Georgiyev signing by the Rangers last offseason. He was coming off his first full season in Liiga (Finland) for TPS and not much was known about him or his potential as a future NHL netminder. But he ended up becoming a great find as the 22 year old emerged as Hartford’s starter and even got into 10 NHL games where he excelled with solid athleitcism and composure allowing his lack of size not to be exposed. While long term, Shestyorkin looks like the goalie of the future, short term, Georgiyev will get first crack at becoming a permanent NHL netminder as he backs-up Henrik Lundqvist this coming season.

14 Michael Lindqvist, RW (UDFA, May 2, 2018. Last Year: IE) After a breakout season in the SHL with Farjestad, the Rangers inked the 5-11” winger to an NHL deal. He was one of only five full time players to average over a point per game in the SHL last year and his 20 goals in 33 games gave him, by far, the best goals per game average in the league. While it is always a mystery as to how a soon to be 24 year old’s game will translate after moving from a European league, his signing has to be considered a success for New York because there is very little risk involved with him being on a one year contract. Best case scenario, his goal scoring ability and hockey sense translate well and he becomes a fixture. Worst case scenario, his game does not translate and he is off the books this offseason, returning to Sweden. At this point in time, he looks to be a serious candidate for a bottom six wing spot on the Rangers this year, perhaps battling Lettieri and Meskanen as a fellow right handed shots.

Nico Gross

15 Nico Gross, D (101^st Overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Gross, another 2018 organizational addition, is a mobile puck mover from Switzerland. He is coming off his first year with the Oshawa Generals, where he experienced some ups and downs. His skating ability is a major plus and is the first thing you notice about him. He can really push the pace of attack. You also have to admire his physicality in the defensive end. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. His decision making leaves a lot to be desired though. And you have to question his lack of offensive production (14 points) given his skill set. But the upside is there for him to develop into a quality two-way defender if he can settle his game down and perhaps further acclimatize to the North American game.

16 Olof Lindbom, G (39^th Overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A product of the Djurgardens program, Lindbom was a surprise as the first goalie off the board in 2018 near the top of the second round. He was not a standout in the SuperElit (U20) league this past year, but he was sensational for Sweden on the international stage. This included backstopping the Tre Kronor to a bronze medal at the U18’s, where he was named top goaltender at the event. Lindbom is lauded for his strong positional play and his calm demeanor in the net. Athletically, there is room for improvement, and will be a focus moving forward. But with pro ready goaltenders like Shestyorkin and Georgiyev already ahead of him in the system, the Rangers can afford to be patient with him.

17 Joey Keane, D (88^th Overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) 2016-17 was a disastrous year for Keane and the Barrie Colts. The first year blueliner was a -28 and really lacked the confidence to be a contributor for a last place team. Fast forward a year and the story could not have been more different. He emerged as a #1 on one of the better teams in the OHL’s Eastern Conference and ended the year as a finalist for the Max Kaminsky Award as the league’s top defender. His +45 was a league best. This led to Keane being a third round selection as a re-entry candidate. He is a potential impact player at both ends who excels defensively (he was also named as one of the top defensive defenders in the OHL coaches poll this year), and as a puck mover. His skating ability is high end and bodes well for his future NHL prospects.

18 Sean Day, D (81st Overall, 2016. Last Year: 5^th) It is obvious what the Rangers prioritize on the back-end; skating. Yet another defensive prospect who can really wheel, Day’s skating ability has long been talked about as a strength. This is especially impressive when you combine it with his wide frame at 6-2”, 225lbs. While the former exceptional status grantee (given early acceptance into the OHL draft as a major bantam aged player) failed to make the impact many expected he would in the OHL, that does not mean that he is not an NHL prospect. His decision making at both ends can still leave some to be desired, but the physical gifts are still present. After a very solid year with Kingston that saw him set a career high in points, Day is finally ready to take that next step as a professional.

19 Yegor Rykov, D (Trade: Feb. 23, 2018 [New Jersey]. Last Year: 12^th [New Jersey]) Rykov was the prospect that the Rangers received from New Jersey in the Michael Grabner deal (along with a 2nd round pick that New York packaged to move up to select K’Andre Miller). The Russian defender is a product of the SKA St. Petersburg system and he has played the majority of the last two years in the KHL. He will spend a third year there in 2018-19 with an eye on coming to North America the following year. At 6-2, 200lbs, he has good size and projects as a potential two-way defender who can be a solid #4-6 blueliner and eat up valuable defensive minutes while helping to push the puck in the right direction.

20 Ville Meskanen, RW (UDFA: May 3, 2018. Last Year: IE) Like Lindqvist, Meskanen was a free agent signing out of Europe this offseason and presents very little risk for the organization on a two year deal. He is coming off a breakthrough offensive season with Ilves of the SM-Liiga where his 24 goals were 3rd in the league. At 6-1”, he also has a bit more size than Lindqvist while possessing that same coveted right handed shot. Between Lettieri, Lindqvist, and Meskanen, one would have to assume that the Rangers end up with at least one quality and consistent goal scorer who can play a top nine role in the near future, and all as free talent pickups, no less. The three are also gearing up to battle for a roster spot on the bottom line this year.

2018 NHL Draft Review: Metropolitan Division

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:09:35 +0000

The draft is over and 217 young players are newly affiliated with 31 different NHL organizations. Outside of three to six of those players, who could jump right into NHL lineups in the fall, we will not know whether the vast majority of those players are draft successes for two, three, four, or five years.

The lack of clear foresight aside, we should still be able to judge draft classes at least in terms of expected value. In some cases, we can look at strategy as well, although the way the board shakes out based on the picks that came before, we can rarely truly discern what a club was trying to do, but only what they were able to do.

I had hoped that we would be able to provide an average Overall Future Projection of the various draft classes, but there are a few picks from the high school ranks, the NAHL and a few European junior leagues for whom we lack enough information to give a full grade, so we will focus on where we had players ranked as we assess the draft haul of each team, as we run division-by-division through the NHL.

Here is the Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes
1 (2) Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL) - ranked 2nd
2 (42) Jack Drury, C, Waterloo (USHL) - ranked 66th
4 (96) Luke Henman, C, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) - ranked 156th
4 (104) Lenni Killinen, RW, Blues U20 (Jr. A SM-Liiga) - ranked 137th
6 (166) Jesper Sellgren, D, Modo (Allsvenskan) - ranked 207th
7 (197) Jacob Kucharski, G, Des Moines (USHL) - not ranked

For starters, a heartfelt congratulations are in order to the Carolina Hurricanes, their employees and their fans, as they did not overthink the #2 selection in the draft and walked away with the best forward money couldn’t buy in Andrei Svechnikov. In his first year in North America, he scored 1.2 points per game for Muskegon of the USHL in his age 16-17 season. After that, he moved up to the OHL and put up over 1.6 points per game for the Barrie Colts, despite missing time to the WJC and assorted injuries and suspensions. I am not saying we can expect two points per game as a rookie next season for the Hurricanes, but I am saying that he will be a rookie next season for the Hurricanes, and 20 goals is my minimal projection. He can play at both ends, but I expect him to be somewhat sheltered as a rookie. He is going to be very good for a long time. Moving on to the rest of the draft class.

After Svechnikov, the Hurricanes selected three more forwards, one blueliner and a goalie. Considering that the strength of the organization is on the blueline and most of their defenders are still rather young, that was a good strategy to take. Unfortunately, while I can say good things about the rest of the players that were drafted by Carolina, I cannot say that they selected the best player on the board at any other slot. Jack Drury is a good player with deep NHL bloodlines. He does a lot of things well. The points he put up for Waterloo were spectacular. On the other hand, way too many of those points were second assists and/or power play points. He is generally not the engine that makes the offense run. Just looking at the USHL, I would have taken either Blake McLaughlin or Sampo Ranta at that spot.

The Hurricanes did not have a third round pick, but selected twice in the fourth. The first pick there was used on Luke Henman, an athletic center from Blainville-Boisbriand in the QMJHL. He is an undersized playmaker, who performed well enough as a rookie in the Q this year and then upped his stock with a very good showing at multiple stations at the Draft Combine. Staying just with forwards from the Q, I would have preferred Dmitri Zavgorodny or Anderson MacDonald. But for those last two picks, it seems like the Hurricanes, with a management team that has not yet spent much time together, heavily weighted combine performance. With their second fourth rounder, the Canes finally took a non-combine player, grabbing Lenni Killinen from their usual stomping grounds in Finland. An explosive skater with promising offensive tools, Killinen put up respectable point totals in the Finnish junior ranks, but we would have preferred one of Ville Petman, Arttu Nevasaari, or Kristian Tanus, among young Finnish forwards.

Jesper Sellgren makes for a nice story as their sixth round pick. In his third year of eligibility, he was named to the Swedish team for the WJC. He is a very good skater and exhibits very good hockey sense, but his ceiling is limited. A reasonable pick in the sixth round, no doubt, but among Swedish netminders, fellow ’98 birthdate Henrik Malmstrom, would have been our pick there. Finally, in the seventh round, the Hurricanes added another netminder to their stable. Jake Kucharski has a lot of tools and can look very good at times, such as his performance in the USHL Top Prospects Game. But he could not keep the job in Des Moines, which brought in Roman Durny from Slovakia after the WJC. Kucharski scarcely played from there on out. This was a down year for netminder in the USHL, but I would have been inclined to gamble on one of Keegan Karki or Vincent Purpura instead. Your mileage may vary. In total, I cannot truly fault the Hurricanes for their draft picks. I don’t love it, but they did under circumstances (new management group) that do not often allow for exemplary draft planning.

OFP - 53

Columbus Blue Jackets
1 (18) Liam Foudy, C, London (OHL) - ranked 25th
2 (49) Kirill Marchenko, LW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL) - ranked 34th
3 (80) Marcus Kallberg, RW/LW, Leksands IF J20 (SuperElit) - unranked
6 (159) Tim Berni, D, GC Kusnacht Lions (NLB) - unranked
6 (173) Veini Vehvilainen, G, Karpat (Liiga) - unranked
7 (204) Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW, Edmonton (OHL) - ranked Honorable Mention

As a testament to the Blue Jackets history of going away from the so-called “consensus”, the example always brought up is when they selected Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall in 2016 instead of Jesse Puljujarvi, who was ranked third by literally everyone else. It is still early, but that pick looks pretty good so far for GM Jarmo Kekalainen. That, and the relative success of other recent unheralded prospect acquisitions by Columbus such as Markus Nutivaara (7^th round, 2015) or Markus Hannikainen (UDFA, 2015), suggest that we reserve judgement after the Jackets only selected two players we had ranked in our top 217, and only one more who made our top 300. The third round pick, Marcus Karlberg, was the biggest head scratcher of the lot. He put up great numbers in the SuperElit, but he is tiny, and outside of his hockey IQ, lacks tools that project to above average.

Their first sixth rounder, Tim Berni, is an accomplished young defender from Switzerland, who did not look completely overwhelmed at the last WJC, but similarly did not show much to suggest a surefire NHL upside is within. There is some promise there, but I would want to see him do something at the top flight in Switzerland. All of his success thus far has come in the junior ranks, or in the second tier. The other sixth rounder, a rare Finnish pick by Kekalainen, is someone I can get on board with. To be completely honest, we have had Vehvilainen ranked in previous drafts, but left him out this year, his fourth of draft eligibility. Mostly, we figured if his amazing run at the WJC in 2017 was not enough to get him noticed, what else could he do. He is borderline undersized by modern netminding standards, but he dominated in the top men’s league in Finland and then led Karpat to the Liiga championship while still mourning the death of his father. He was also named the top goaltender in Liiga. Not every goalie with that hardware makes it in the NHL, but some (Tim Thomas, Kari Lehtonen, Antti Raanta, Miikka Kiprusoff, etc.) do. Trey Fix-Wolansky, the Columbus draftee we listed as an honorable mention selection, does not look like a good player, as he is short and stocky, and he is not the greatest skater, but he is very strong on the puck and has finished first or second in scoring for the woeful Edmonton Oil Kings in each of the last two seasons. So those are the picks that are off our boards. Despite not having the full-throated backing of the McKeens scouting staff, we can see good reasons for liking each of them (OK, maybe not Karlberg).

Thankfully, we really like their first two picks. Liam Foudy was a classic late riser. He began the season in a bottom six role with the London Knights, but when the perennial powerhouse decided that this was not going to be their year, a few veterans were traded away and Foudy ascended way up the depth chart. And he excelled. Over the second half of the season, he was one of the more electric players in the OHL, and backed it up with strong performances in the CHL Top Prospects Game as well as at the WU18s. He also has a strong case to be proclaimed the best athlete in the draft class. Kirill Marchenko was someone who drew mixed reviews from our Russian-based scouts, but raised his play for international events. He has a great skill set and fantastic size and could project to nearly any role down the road. The Blue Jackets are certainly an enigmatic team when it comes to scouting, but they are correct more than their fair share of the time. I wouldn’t put it past them to surprise again.

OFP – 52.25

New Jersey Devils
1 (17) Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL) - ranked 15th
4 (110) Xavier Bernard, D, Drummondville (QMJHL) - ranked 71st
5 (136) Akira Schmid, G, Langnau U20 (Elite Jr. A) - ranked Honorable Mention
5 (151) Yegor Sharangovich, C, Dynamo Minsk (KHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (172) Mitchell Hoelscher, C, Ottawa (OHL) - ranked 134th
7 (203) Eetu Pakkila, LW, Karpat U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga) - unranked

One year after injecting a boat load of talent into the organization thanks not only to owning the number one pick in the draft, but making 11 total selections, this year, the Devils exhibited a magnificent turnaround and ended up trading away both their second and third round picks, as part of packages for Michael Grabner, and Sami Vatanen. Considering that the team still has the young core drafted in 2017 as well as a surprise playoff berth in their recent past, it’s a pretty good trade off. And even picking 17^th this year, in a deep draft for defenders, the Devils were able to add another high end talent to their system, a player who many had projected to be taken in the top ten. Ty Smith, while small, is an excellent puck mover and plays an advanced positional game in his own end. In league play, he has been very effective at winning the puck back for his team, although he has had his bumps in the CHL Top Prospects Game as well as at the WU18s. Still, between his skating, puck skills, and high, high hockey IQ, there is potential for a future first pairing defender.

When they finally selected a second player, 93 picks later, the Devils were fortunate to get late Xavier Bernard, a player who looks much different than Smith, but has similar attributes. He is a smooth skater, can make the basic passes, and exhibits promising hockey IQ. On the other hand, Bernard is not a natural puck mover, but has much more impressive size and knows how to utilize it. New Jersey went to Europe with both of their fifth round picks, both times taking players from smaller hockey nations who have plenty of international experience. Akira Schmid started his draft off with a bang, thanks to a stellar showing at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. He was then one of the top goalies in the Swiss junior ranks, but struggled at the WU18s to end the year. He has enough size and athleticism to be a decent gamble. Yegor Sharangovich was in his third year of eligibility and has three WJCs (one in the second tier) under his belt for his native Belarus. He played a depth role for the Dynamo Minsk KHL team this year, but has flashed impressive goal scoring ability in the past.

Sixth rounder Mitchell Hoelscher is slight, but wiry strong. His production with the Ottawa 67s was not much in his first full season in the OHL, but he is a good skater, and plays an intelligent brand of hockey. He has energy line upside. With their final 2018 selection, the Devils popped Finnish winger Eetu Pakkila, a winger with great feet and a good shot. Despite decent numbers for Karpat’s U20 team, Pakkila slipped under the radar due to rarely being considered for international duty for any age group in Finland. While one could quibble about the upside about their late round selections, with the exception of Hoelscher, the Devils did a nice job of drafting players with a history of production in their local leagues. And without exception, each player has at least one attribute that suggest NHL upside.

OFP – 52.5

New York Islanders
1 (11) Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 5th
1 (12) Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) - ranked 8th
2 (41) Bode Wilde, D, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 17th
2 (43) Ruslan Iskhakov, RW, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) - ranked 68th
3 (72) Jakub Skarek, G, Dukla Jihlava (Czech) - ranked 93rd
4 (103) Jacob Pivonka, C, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 182nd
5 (134) Blade Jenkins, C, Saginaw (OHL) - ranked 69th
7 (196) Christian Krygier, D, Lincoln (USHL) - unranked

Two years ago, the Islanders drafted Kieffer Bellows from the USNTDP and seem to be pretty happy with their choice. Of course, Lou Lamoriello was not there when that draft went down. He was in Toronto. His Maple Leafs drafted Auston Matthews, another (indirect) USNTDP alum, and a couple of other program graduates in the middle rounds. Prior to his time in Toronto, Lamoriello spent many years in New Jersey and his draft record there is also dotted with players who had come from the program. That history aside, it is still at least somewhat surprising that the Islanders ended up with three players from this year’s stacked USNTDP graduating class. Two of those players, right winger Oliver Wahlstrom and defensemen Bode Wilde, were widely not expected to be available at picks 11 and 41 respectively. Wahlstrom is one of the best natural goal scorers in the draft class. He is a near elite sniper, a fantastic puck player and a very strong skater as well. He can float for some stretches, but his talent suggested he should have gone up to five picks earlier were the other teams not so focused on drafting centers at the top. Wilde elicited some rumors that his stock had fallen before the draft, partially due to a poor showing at the WU18s and partly due to de-committing from Michigan. He is not the most intense defender, but looks downright pretty carrying the puck up the ice. He is a high end skater and puck handler and mostly needs refinements to his game away from the puck to be an impact player.

The third USNTDP player drafted by the Islanders this year, Jacob Pivonka is more of a grinding role player with decent hands, but plays a 200 foot game, and has NHL bloodlines, as father Michal played over 800 games in the NHL. Outside of those three, the Islanders drafted two others with USNTDP ties, although they were not in the program in their draft year. Fifth rounder Blade Jenkins left the program for Saginaw of the OHL prior to this past season. He plays a gritty game and is a gifted skater, although the latter trait does not always show up at game time. He has very good sleeper potential. In the seventh round the Islanders selected Christian Krygier, the more physical of the Krygier twins who spent this season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. Krygier has very marginal puck skills, but he skates well and plays hard.

Not every pick made by the Islanders this year was American. In fact, immediately after drafting Wahlstrom, Lamoriello and company returned to their table for a couple of minutes to work the phones (reportedly to trade the pick for immediate NHL help) but then returned to the podium and selected Noah Dobson, another player thought by some to be a potential top five pick and leading the Titan to both QMJHL and Memorial Cup championships, eating up a ton of minutes on the journey. Dobson looks like nothing so much as a future first pairing blueliner, between the wheels, the smarts, and the ability to put that bulk to work. His shot and puck playing ability also grade out as above average. He might be only twelve months from playing in the NHL. Two picks after nabbing Wilde, the Isles made an upside play in drafting pint-sized Russian winger Ruslan Iskhakov, who while not as quick as other players of his stature, has amazing hands and has been hard to catch. He has performed well both in Russian junior league play as well as on the international stage.

Finally, nothing rounds out a diverse draft class like a promising goalie. Along with four forwards and three blueliners, the Islanders selected Jakub Skarek, a highly accomplished netminder from the Czech Republic, in the third round. Although he looked bad at the most recent WJC (his second go round in the high profile tournament), he is very athletic, has prototypical size and reads the play well. He will get to test himself against more advanced competition this year as he leaves his homeland to play for Pelicans in Finland’s top circuit, Liiga. While I would have preferred them drafting the other Krygier with their seventh round pick, this is almost the perfect draft class. Two players ranked in our top ten, another ranked as a first round talent, and three more in our top 100. There are players who will be ready for professional hockey within one or two seasons, and players who will need (and due to where they were drafted from) and will receive three or four years before forcing the Islanders’ hands. Along with Mathew Barzal, Wahlstrom and Dobson should make up a big part of the team’s core for years to come.

OFP – 55

New York Rangers
1 (9) Vitali Kravtsov, RW, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) - ranked 16th
1 (22) K'Andre Miller, D, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 14th
1 (28) Nils Lundkvist, D, Lulea (SHL) - ranked 37th
2 (39) Olof Lindbom, G, Djurgardens J20 (SuperElit) - ranked 91st
3 (70) Jakob Ragnarsson, D, Almtuna (Allesvenskan) - ranked 152nd
3 (88) Joey Keane, D, Barrie (OHL) - ranked 99th
4 (101) Nico Gross, D, Oshawa (OHL) - ranked 82nd
5 (132) Lauri Pajuniemi, RW, TPS (Liiga) - unranked
6 (163) Simon Kjellberg, D, Rogle J20 (SuperElit) - unranked
7 (216) Riley Hughes, RW, St. Sebastian's School (USHS - MA) - ranked 208th

With three first round picks, including the drafting of my personal favorite player from the 2018 draft class, I want to be able to say nice things about the Rangers’ large draft haul. Unfortunately, I am underwhelmed. Of course, with 10 players taken, they have definitely given their organizational depth, for years an afterthought, a serious injection of talent. Further, considering the imbalance of their draft class, with six blueliners taken among the 10 picks, I know that they did not go for balance, but drafted the top player on their board. Further, with the early success of their two 2017 first rounders (Lias Andersson, and Filip Chytil), both of whom were thought to be reaches at the time, I cannot assume to know more than they do. I can note the six player drafted out of Europe, and how four of those six were already playing in men’s leagues, meaning their lead time to being ready will be shorter than others. That’s definitely a positive. Again though, I wanted to see more upside.

Starting in the first round, they took two Europeans who have already experienced impressive performances in the top leagues in their respective countries. Ninth overall pick Vitali Kravtsov had one of, if not the, best performances ever by a teenager in the KHL playoffs. He earned plus-plus grades for his skating, puck skills and shot. He might be able to come to North America after one more season with Chelyabinsk. If there is a concern here, it is due to having so little international experience, we do not have a great feel for how he would do on the smaller North American ice surface. At pick 22, the Rangers selected my personal favorite in K’Andre Miller. He is a tremendous athlete, has prototype build for a defenseman, is a terrific skater and plays with brawn and skill. If there is a downside, it is how raw he is as a defender, having only converted from forward three seasons ago. He could be a legit number one defender, but will need at least three years in college before he is ready. With the 28^th pick of the first round, the Rangers selected late rising Swedish blueliner Nils Lundkvist. He is undersized, but incredibly skilled with the puck and demonstrates very impressive hockey intelligence. He was excellent in the Swedish junior ranks, but struggled some in roughly half a season in the SHL and underwhelmed at the WU18s. There is also the question of whether he is a good enough skater to mitigate his size issues. All three first rounders could work, but none is without questions.

Similar to their second rounder, Olof Lindbom, the first netminder selected in 2018. He is a good goalie prospect, as far as that class goes, was a world beater at the WU18s, and receives especially high grades for his ability to read the play and his technique, but he is a goalie after all. He is also slightly undersized by modern goaltending standards, listed at only 6-1”. Of their remaining six picks the Rangers selected four defensemen. Jakob Ragnarsson and Simon Kjellberg were both drafted out of Sweden, and Joey Keane and Nico Gross were both selected out of the OHL. Keane is interesting as a second year eligible prospect who took big steps in his second season with the Barrie Colts. He is a very good skater, with a decent all around game. Ragnarsson’s father Marcus played for the Sharks and the Flyers around the turn of the century. He is more of a defense-first defender, who makes a sharp first pass. He has never been tested outside of Sweden’s domestic leagues.

Simon Kjellberg is another bloodlines player, as his father Patric spent time with Montreal, Nashville, and Anaheim. The younger Kjellberg has good size, and plays a muscular game, but his skating is currently very rough. He will need to improve that aspect of his game significantly to have a chance at playing in the NHL. Of the four mid round defenders, I have the most time for Nico Gross, a Swiss national who has already played at two WJCs and three WU18s. He is a solid skater, who plays with poise and energy. While not often an offensive force, he has shown enough flashes there to project for more growth in that side of his game. Of the two late round forwards, Lauri Pajuniemi could surprise. He has high end puck handling ability and held his own in his first year in Liiga. As for seventh rounder Riley Hughes, he is not bad as far as prep products go, but there is a reason why more and more future collegians are electing to play in the USHL instead of staying home. He has never really been tested against high end competition. He is likely to spend next year in the USHL (Sioux Falls has his rights) before attending Northeastern in 2019. I have no doubt but that one or two of the players drafted by the Rangers this year will exceed my expectations, but I would have been happier if I did not have to make this kind of mitigating remark.

OFP – 53.25

Philadelphia Flyers
1 (14) Joel Farabee, LW, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked 12th
1 (19) Jay O'Brien, C, Thayer Academy (USHS-MA) - ranked 48th
2 (50) Adam Ginning, D, Linkoping (SHL) - ranked 42nd
4 (112) Jack St. Ivany, D, Sioux Falls (USHL) - ranked 108th
5 (127) Wyatte Wylie, D, Everett (WHL) - ranked 139th
5 (143) Samuel Ersson, G, Bryan J20 (SuperElit) - ranked Honorable Mention
6 (174) Gavin Hain, C, USNTDP (USHL) - ranked Honorable Mention
7 (205) Marcus Westfalt, C/LW, Brynas IF (SHL) - ranked 162nd

As with the Rangers above, I expected to like the Flyers’ draft class more than I did. Again, this has nothing to do with the players taken. Fine talents, all of them. The Flyers have been strong with USHL prospects over the past few years and dug deep in the top NCAA-feeder league once again, with three selections, plus another who will head to college from the pre ranks. They have also scouted Sweden heavily in recent years and took three more Swedish prospects this year. And continuing the theme of visiting familiar territory, the final Flyers’ pick not yet accounted for came from the same Everett program in the WHL where they would have been comfortable in light of top prospect Carter Hart calling it home. I like the Flyers drafting from areas where they are comfortable that they can project out. I like that the Flyers selected players of different positions, with two centers, two wingers, three defensemen and a goaltender (it wouldn’t be a Flyers draft without at least one goalie). And, as stated above, I like the players. I just see this draft class and the draft slots that the Flyers owned, and do not see many high value picks. Some players drafted roughly where they should have been selected, some taken earlier than I would have advised, and one notably higher than we believed was reasonable.

They kicked things off in fine fashion, with winger Joel Farabee, one of two players they selected out of the USNTDP system. Farabee can play up or down the lineup. He has experience in the middle, but is more natural on the wing. He is a true 200 foot player with skill, grit and heavy on the intangibles. He will need to bulk up at Boston University, but his potential is top six, both special teams and a team leader. Five picks later, Ron Hextall and friends stepped to the podium again and dropped jaws across the hockey world. Jay O’Brien is a confident young man, brash even, and he shows some high end attributes, with a fine shot and slick puck handling skills. He plays tough and he has been well coached, but he has very rarely been tested against other high caliber prospects. He was the big man on campus at Thayer, scoring closing to three points per game than two. But in 12 games of experience in Tier I hockey over the last two years, he had only three points. All draft picks are risky, but high picks out of the high school ranks are riskier than most.

Philadelphia’s first three picks on day two were all blueliners, each with good size. Adam Ginning is the stay-at-home type of the trio. Although he contributed offense at a decent clip for Sweden at the WU18s, his game is about positioning and making the first pass to clear the zone. Low upside, but high floor. After sitting out the third round, the Flyers used their fourth rounder on second year eligible Jack St. Ivany of Sioux Falls in the USHL. He was very young in his first year of eligibility and only one year removed from playing U16 hockey in the Los Angeles area. He took a few big steps forward this year for the Stampede and shows some two-way ability. I’m a fan. The Flyers rounded out their blueline haul with Wyatte Wylie, an alliterative late 99 birthdate player who not only played with Carter Hart in Everett, but is actually from Everett. He is not bursting with skill but plays hard.

Later in the fifth round, Philadelphia drafted the obligatory goalie, picking up Swede Samuel Ersson, who has been overshadowed in his homeland by Olof Lindbom and others, but was an absolute workhorse for Brynas’ U20 team and some of the best numbers in the SuperElit. He is a technically proficient goalie with a good frame. Speaking of overlooked, sixth rounder Gavin Hain was often relegated to the bottom six with the USNTDP, below players like Farabee and others, but he is not without a modicum of hockey skill and is responsible in all three zones. I haven’t seen anything to suggest he has hidden talent, but he is not a bad way to use a sixth round pick. Finally, the Flyers used their seventh rounder on big Swedish winger Marcus Westfalt. His skill set is moderate, but he uses his big frame well to create havoc in front of the net. If Jay O’Brien works out, the Flyers will be laughing for ages. If not, Farabee is safe enough that the draft class will not be a write-off, but will be looked at as a relative disappointment.

OFP – 52.5

Pittsburgh Penguins
2 (53) Calen Addison, D, Lethbridge (WHL) - ranked 30th
2 (58) Filip Hallander, C, Timra (Allsvenskan) - ranked 47th
5 (129) Justin Almeida, C/LW, Moose Jaw (WHL) - ranked 173rd
6 (177) Liam Gorman, C, St. Sebastian's School (USHS - MA) - unranked

Only four picks, but the Penguins made them count. Well, most of them anyway. Actually, they would have had a fifth pick, but traded up into the late second round when they saw value on the board. Despite not picking until 53^rd overall, the Penguins walked away with two players who had reasonable arguments to go in the first round. Their first pick, Lethbridge defender Calen Addison is a modern style blueliner, making up in speed and daring what he lacks in size or the ability to play physically. He needs a lot of work off the puck, but he proved both in the Ivan Hlinka tournament and the WHL postseason that he can step up his production in the spotlight.

The player they gave up two later picks to nab towards the close of the second was Swedish center Filip Hallander, who had a very strong draft year in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second highest men’s league. The fact that he was as productive as he was (20 points in 40 games) while dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of the WU18s. He is very physical while still playing clean, and grades out above average as a skater, shooter, and for his hockey intelligence. With Timra now in the top flight SHL, and Hallander presumably healthy, Hallander’s stock could leap forward next year. The Penguins went with production over physical maturity when they finally selected again late in the fifth round, selecting Moose Jaw’s second year eligible center, Justin Almeida. After scoring only 28 points between the Warriors and Prince George in his first year of draft eligibility, he was an afterthought entering the year, but with 43 goals and 98 points for the powerhouse Warriors, he could not be overlooked again. He is a strong skater and gifted with the puck on his stick. Finally, they took Massachusetts prepster Liam Gorman, with their final pick. Gorman was not really on our radar, and in fact was only the number three scorer with St. Sebastian’s, behind fellow draft pick Riley Hughes. He has plus size though, and is likely to spend next season in the USHL. The 2018 draft class will not alter the trajectory of the Penguins’ fortunes, but they should be pleased with the type of quality they came away with.

OFP – 52.25

Washington Capitals
1 (31) Alexander Alexeyev, D, Red Deer (WHL) - ranked 35th
2 (46) Martin Fehervary, D, Oskarshamn (Allsvenskan) - ranked 78th
2 (47) Kody Clark, RW, Ottawa (OHL) - ranked 138th
3 (93) Riley Sutter, RW, Everett (WHL) - ranked 87th
4 (124) Mitchell Gibson, G, Lone Star (NAHL) - unranked
6 (161) Alex Kannok-Leipert, D, Vancouver (WHL) - unranked
7 (217) Eric Florchuk, C, Saskatoon (WHL) - ranked 168th

If there is a team for which the draft is a serious afterthought, it would be the team that is still hungover from the release of winning their first Stanley Cup championship. That is not to imply that the Capitals did not draft some good prospects, but that they would not be focused from the top down on these players at the moment. True to the Washington drafting rulebook, they went heavy on the WHL (four players), avoided the QMJHL and Finland, and took a player from a lower level of hockey (NAHL goalie Mitchell Gibson). With three forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, they balanced themselves positionally.

Their first round pick, Alexander Alexeyev, could have been taken higher, but suffered through a trying draft year, most notably dealing with the unexpected passing of his mother in the days before the CHL Top Prospects game. He is a very big player who skates beautifully, handles the puck very well and processes the game wisely. Given a full, healthy season, he could take off. Washington buttressed the blueline with their first of two consecutive picks in the middle of the second round, taking Slovakian Martin Fehervary, who has been playing in Sweden for the last four seasons. A veteran of two WJCs and two WU18s, Fehervary is a great skater and a physical player, but has minimal offensive upside. While we think Fehervary was a slight reach at 46, the selection of Kody Clark (son of Wendel) at 47 was a massive overreach. Like Alexeyev (and his own father) Clark has been injury prone in his two OHL seasons, but has no real standout tool. His skating and shooting abilities are fine, but he looked like a better candidate for the middle rounds than the second round. Also, this is the first time the Capitals have selected a player out of the OHL since drafting Tom Wilson in the first round in 2012.

A more appropriate pick was their use of a fourth rounder on another bloodline player in Riley Sutter, the son of Ron from the famous clan. A big, beefy player, Sutter will never be mistaken for an elite skater, but he plays a responsible, heavy game and can finish. Goalie Mitchell Gibson was not very prominent on our radar, but the NAHL has a knack for producing one or two goalies of note every year, and Gibson was obviously the one for 2018. He was named the top netminder in the league and will likely spend next year in the USHL before moving on to Harvard. The Capitals will give him plenty of time.

The Capitals ended their draft with two more players from the WHL in Vancouver blueliner Alex Kannok-Leipert and Saskatoon center Eric Florchuk. Kannok-Leipert is undersized and does not have a standout attribute, although he is a decent skater and is surprisingly physical. Florchuk, on the other hand, 2018’s Mr. Irrelevant, is quote good value for the end of the draft. His trade at midseason from the competing Victoria Royals to the moribund Saskatoon Chiefs, might have pushed him off the radar for some scouts, but he scored a decent clip for both clubs. He is a fine skater and a gifted puck handler. Although the Capitals selected some interesting players here, the leap to draft safe early will hurt them within a few years when they need to integrate low salaried youth into an aging roster.

OFP – 51.5

2018 NHL Draft: For One Weekend, Dallas Was The Center of the Hockey World

Tom Dorsa — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 16:52:27 +0000

DALLAS, Texas -- The Stars franchise moved to the state of Texas in 1993 after low attendance in Bloomington, Minnesota forced club ownership to send the club to the Lone Star State. In their 25 seasons in Dallas, they have lifted the Stanley Cup once, won the Western Conference twice, and have been blessed with Hockey Hall of Fame players like Mike Modano, Brett Hull, and Ed Belfour to send fans in green and black into elation regularly.

Dallas is not received as a traditional hockey market. Outside of the fanfare for the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area has never been the most potent and passionate sports town, so how does hockey work in a city where the average daily temperature is 97 degrees Fahrenheit in July?

Don’t answer. The only correct response to that question is to absorb what happened last weekend in the ninth-biggest city in the United States, as the 2018 National Hockey League Draft roared through American Airlines Center in Dallas’s West End.

You see, Dallas has never had the honor of representing the game of hockey on its biggest stage. Close to every team staff thanked Stars general manager Jim Nill, the city, and the team for the hospitality over the Draft weekend, and it felt like something new -- because to many of us, it was.

AAC played host to NHL All-Star Weekend in 2007, but the game was on a Wednesday and Dallas had just two players selected to the West All-Star squad. One was Marty Turco, famous for holding the single-season goals against average record for a goalie with a starter’s numbers (55 games, 1.72 GAA), but the other was Philippe Boucher -- unless you’re Philippe himself or a long-time Stars fan, you have likely not thought of him in ages, if you have heard of him at all.

Dallas has never hosted an outdoor game. Dallas had never received the Entry Draft until 2018. In conclusion, to have the hockey world revolve around one city is normal, but in Dallas, it is a completely new experience. The future of the sport and some of its top young talents hinging on the city’s impressively growing hockey fanbase, and a chance to show the rest of the league -- and the rest of North America’s 30 NHL cities and surrounding markets -- that we belong.

Dallas made no mistake. That place was loud.

6:00am, Thursday, June 21st. I had rolled out of bed just about 10 minutes prior to the top of the hour, finishing the packing of bags begun the night before. I won’t see my Austin area residence for three days as I travel to a one-of-a-kind experience up north.

I make my customary stops up Interstate 35 along the path -- by the way, for those that aren’t familiar, Austin is about three and a half hours out of Dallas -- Buc-ee’s in Temple, Czech Stop in West, QuikTrip in Duncanville. This is a familiar trip, having attended Dallas Stars games close to my entire life, but with a certain intriguing uniqueness to it.

Traveling up north to Plano, a Dallas sister city, I encounter a major problem. US Route 75 going northbound is closed in all four lanes, with a fuel truck having tipped over during the overnight hours, leaving the freeway derelict. That’s cool, I’ll take a detour, it’s close enough to Dallas that there are a variety of smaller, slower side streets to get where you’re headed.

To one side of me on Greenville Avenue is Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, a Plano native and emerging Norris Trophy contender. To the other, NHL.com’s Dan Rosen, a longtime Draft aficionado in town. That’s… not normal, and this particular surreal quality to it all made it weirder. These are people I look up to in numerous ways and for numerous reasons, just driving alongside me, like typical dudes with typical lives.

That is a feeling we embraced over the weekend, but Thursday was a big beginning, a coming-out party so to speak. These big name presences weren’t in town for nothing.

Going downtown from my hotel, littered with hockey jerseys of all kinds was the DART light rail train. Generally on game days, you’ll look at a sea of victory green, the Stars’ home colors. On Thursday, fans and representatives from all over filled public transit providing local fans with a hint on what the weekend might be like. But, it was Dallas fans that stole the show.

Live Puck Soup event at the 2018 NHL Draft. Greg Wyshynski and Dave Lozo with special guest Stephen Johns. Photo by Tom Dorsa.

When I write “stole the show,” I am being literal. Puck Soup, a podcast hosted by ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski and Dave Lozo of VICE Sports, with special guest Stephen Johns had to change buildings last minute for a live show in downtown Dallas. Stars fans were loading the original venue up to a point where a larger facility was needed.

A town not seen as a strong hockey market forced two national hockey writers to change their podcast’s venue at the last minute because fans wanted to hear three guys talk about pucks and sticks. Puck Soup is a whole lot more than that, but it’s a hockey show for true hockey fans -- a demographic of which Dallas, Texas evidently has a lot.

Friday, June 23rd, 3:30pm. The fan fest on the AAC plaza began at noon, and a line of sweaty, suffering fans swarm the entry gate anyway. The Stanley Cup is there, Jamie Benn and crew are signing autographs, there are fun games to play around the building, that kind of thing.

It’s about 3:30pm with the doors for the arena opening in a half hour. A line hundreds of feet long has already formed and is only getting lengthier, with an estimated 1,100 people (a very rough estimate taken from a friend working with the promotions staff) gathering around the arena for the pre-Draft festivities. Dallas has gone into full NHL Draft superfan mode.

With that comes booing the absolute hell out of Gary Bettman. I couldn’t even hear the commissioner speak over the boos filling the arena from terrace level to draft floor. Bettman thrives off of it, but Stars fans get the last laugh -- after all, Bettman deprived Dallas of another year of the Modano/Jere Lehtinen/Sergei Zubov Stars, and he deserves this.

But even then, the situation required a step back. Gary Bettman was standing on a stage in our arena, being berated by a victory green wave of rabid fans of our team, smirking at the podium against the noise in our city. We had seen it on television, and some of us in this massive state have traveled elsewhere to be a paid part of it, but never before has this happened this way.

2018 NHL Draft floor. Photo by Tom Dorsa

Those boos became cheers, applause, and appreciation rather quickly, as Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, who saved the franchise from bankruptcy, stepped up. Let’s back up a bit so we can get a sense of the full impact of Gaglardi and the love affair for the Canadian businessman.

The Stars were once the highest-grossing team in the NHL, having won two straight Western Conference titles and selling out 238 games in a row in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Then owner Tom Hicks - a private equity investor from Texas who took over the team in 1995 from the Norm Green-led crew that moved them from Minnesota to Big D - was estimated to be worth over $1 billion.

2010 came. In April 2010, Hicks' company defaulted on $525 million in bank loans backed by the Stars. Attendance had cratered with the losses of Modano, Zubov, and others, and Hicks was bleeding money. The franchise once considered to be the best example of why the Southern relocation and expansion efforts of the 90s were good ideas was the worst-run club in the sport.

17 months later, lenders voted to agree to have the Stars file for bankruptcy and auctioned off to the highest bidder, and just eight weeks after, Tom Gaglardi’s bid was approved. Gaglardi is a lifelong hockey diehard who made his coin in hotels and bars, wanting so bad to be a part of the NHL that he proposed purchasing the Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Thrashers, and actually did buy a part of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.

Gaglardi brought in former, and now current team president Jim Lites as his first move as owner, ushered in a new era in the team’s identity by introducing new, more modern jerseys, and hired the aforementioned GM Jim Nill, the man responsible for the acquisitions of fan-favorites Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, and Ben Bishop as well as savvy signings like Alexander Radulov. Any positive thing this team can be viewed as, Gaglardi has been at the helm for.

He got the standing ovation he deserved with the entire league watching. The man who saved the franchise embracing the Dallas faithful on, literally, the biggest stage. Goosebumps.

Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin went number-one overall to Buffalo. Andrei Svechnikov, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Brady Tkachuk, and Barrett Hayton followed, with Filip Zadina, Quinn Hughes, Adam Boqvist, Vitali Kravtsov, and Evan Bouchard coming shortly after. The New York Islanders have the next two picks at #11 and #12, but a tense anticipation is growing for the hometown Stars are #13.

Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson, the top two players remaining on the McKeen’s rankings, became Islanders. Dallas was on the clock.

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: The Dallas Stars draft Ty Dellandrea in the first round of the 2018 NHL draft on June 22, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Jamie Benn and Mike Modano walk to the podium. The year 2018 superstar of the current Stars teams alongside the Hockey Hall of Famer and former number-one overall pick. It was a 25-year run in the DFW Metroplex coming to some sort of climax, the culmination of years past and present joining forces to introduce the future. The Stars nabbed center Ty Dellandrea from the OHL’s Flint Firebirds in what many describe as an off the board pick, one that Benn, an Art Ross Trophy winner and Hart finalist, announced.

(This article isn’t about Dellandrea, but Radek Faksa was also considered to be a stretch of a pick. Have faith).

For a market with one postseason series win in ten years, we need interesting. And fans in Dallas made Dellandrea the talk of the town. Riding the light rail back to my hotel, I heard “Ty Dellandrea” here and “Ty Dellandrea” there.

Whether fans liked the pick or not, it was enough to exude a variety of emotions from the city’s faithful. When Modano was drafted by the North Stars in 1988, he probably never imagined he would send fans in Texas into equal parts elation, confusion, and dismay by helping announce a draft pick. But that pure flash of endorphins over a guy saying a name and a player slipping a jersey on is priceless, and more or less proves that we, as a state of hockey fans, belong here

Saturday, June 23rd, 7:15 am. With round one in the books and as many as 250 teenagers in town hoping to hear their names be called, Dallas played host to an early morning treat on Saturday for rounds two through seven.

I awoke at 6:30am, headed directly to the arena, and got there at 7:15am. Rounds two through seven begin at 10:00am, with doors not even opening until 8:00am. I figured I would be the first one there.

I wasn’t even close. The fanfest outside was already packed, despite the 92 degree (F) heat (before the clock reached 8:00am) that caused the chewing gum in my pocket to melt. Though not as special and unique as Friday’s affair, the fans in Dallas showed up in force for day two.

The Stars don’t make their second selection of the Draft until 13th in the second round, or 44th overall. The wait would be further delayed, but rightfully so, as the entire league pays their respects to longtime NHL executive and Central Scouting stalwart Jim Gregory, an 82-year-old director in the league’s hockey ops department conducting his final NHL Draft.

A lot of good names remain on the “best available” board. Mattias Samuelsson goes first, with Jonathan Berggren, Serron Noel, and Jesse Ylonen following. The Detroit Red Wings would snatch Jared McIssac, while Jett Woo, Alexander Romanov, Olof Lindbom, Ryan McLeod, Bode Wilde, Jack Drury, and Ruslan Iskhakov went elsewhere.

Gregory said, slowly, almost to fire up the hometown fans: “Next in the order of selection, Dallas.” Albin Eriksson was the 44th overall pick, and though he wasn’t present for the Draft, he will forever be linked to the event in North Texas.

In the third round, the Montreal Canadiens picked center Cameron Hillis, of Guelph Storm fame. Why is this noteworthy? Well, I got to experience something that would have eluded me entirely had I not been there -- and even being present for this pick is a testament to how great of a hockey market Dallas has become.

I sat three seats away from Hillis in section 116 of American Airlines Center when the Habs called him down. He scooted past me on his way down the aisle to the draft floor, and slipped on a Montreal jersey downstairs. Arena personnel took his suit jacket and climbed back up, seeking to return it to his family, and instead gave it to me.

I stood there for a few seconds, confused, imagining what the clerk thought. To her, was I Cameron Hillis’ brother or something? We look nothing alike. Was I his OHL teammate, perhaps? I gave it his mother, too pumped and giddy to even know what I was handing her, and explained, “this is his jacket.”

A round later, Dallas area native Ryan O’Reilly, from Southlake, Texas to be exact, was drafted at 98th overall by the Red Wings. He isn’t the first Texan to be drafted, but a lifelong Stars fan being picked in the arena he spent much of his childhood watching his hockey heroes play, induced goosebumps. For all young hockey lovers from the area, you can see yourself in O’Reilly.

Another area star, this one from Pennsylvania but playing for the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas — located in nearby North Richland Hills — was scooped up by the Washington Capitals at #124th. That young man is Mitchell Gibson, a goaltender with a 26-7-4 record, a goals against average of 1.59, and a save percentage of .935 in the 2017-18 junior season. To say he’s impressive would be an understatement to both Gibson and the hockey world of Dallas.

After nearly seven rounds and 216 picks, Eric Florchuk was the 217th and final selection of the NHL Draft. The lights glare, the applause rains from a crowd still strong after 217 picks, and Gregory signs off. The end.

2018 NHL Draft floor at the end of the 7th round. Photo by Tom Dorsa

Saturday, June 23rd, 2:30pm. It’s over. The NHL Entry Draft will be in Vancouver, British Columbia in June of 2019. We don’t know which team will pick at number-one overall, we don’t know which team the 30 others will congratulate at the podium for their Stanley Cup run. What we do know, however, is that it won’t be the same as Dallas’s weekend.

Vancouver has hosted the Stanley Cup Final this decade, has recently had the NHL Heritage Classic, and saw the 1998 All-Star game -- which was played on a Sunday and held an added sense of importance with the Nagano winter Olympics upcoming. Long story short, Vancouver has been in the league’s, and the hockey world’s, eye before. Dallas really had not until this Draft.

It will be a blast in Vancouver, but in Dallas, it was special. It was just as we imagined it would be, but Norm Green, Mike Modano, Jim Lites, Gary Bettman, Roger Staubach (no, seriously, Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach) and anyone who had anything to do with bringing hockey to Dallas could have never envisioned this.

Lites stood at the podium on Friday night and provided some numbers on the transformation of Dallas from afterthought to NHL mecca. He said Dallas had two full-sized ice rinks when the Stars relocated here, and just a few hockey players registered with USA Hockey. Now, the Metroplex has over 7,000 registered hockey players and more registered figure skaters than any major metropolitan area in North America.

On top of that, this NHL Draft was maybe the most diverse ever. Jermaine Loewen, a Jamaican-born player, along with guys like Liam Kirk from England and African-American first-rounder K’Andre Miller, made history in getting drafted where and when they did. In the case of Loewen and Kirk, they were their native country’s very first Draft selection. Dallas, the fourth-most racially diverse city in the U.S., embodies that diverse culture in its own soul.

217 Draft picks have a bright future ahead of them, 31 NHL clubs have core players around whom to build, and over 15,000 people in attendance over the weekend had a new, wonderful experience under their belt. It couldn’t have happened this way elsewhere.

2018 NHL Draft, downtown Dallas. Photo by Tom Dorsa

Sweden: Olof Lindbom (2018 Draft Eligible)

Jimmy Hamrin — Wed, 30 May 2018 13:03:35 +0000

An uneven season for Swedish goaltender Olof Lindbom finished with some outstanding performances in the playoffs for Djurgarden J18 playoffs (o.955 save percentage) and in six games at the World U18 tournament (0.949 save percentage). Jimmy Hamrin takes an indepth look at Lindbom's game below.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

CHELYABINSK, RUSSIA - APRIL 29: Sweden's Olof Linbom #1 makes a glove save against the Czech Republic during bronze medal game action at the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Olof Lindbom	2018 NHL Draft Eligible
Position: G, Catches L	H/W: 6-1", 175 lbs
Stats to date (GP - GAA - SVP)	Djurgarden J20, SuperElit (20 - 3.10 - .897)
	Djurgarden J20 Playoffs (3 - 5.61 - .823)
	Djurgarden J18 (1 - 0.99 - .958)
	Djurgarden J18 Playoffs (5 - 1.20 - .955)
	Sweden U18, Ivan Hlinka Memorial (4 - 2.50 - .885)
	Sweden U18, WU18 (6 - 1.66 - .949)

Athleticism/Quickness/Speed: Lindbom is not a spectacular goalie that challenges the shooters. He moves calmly and consistent but can stretch out when he needs to. He is good at using his full length to make tough saves, but his athleticism and speed are not strong enough on their own. He will always need to play well positionally. Of the three headlined abilities above, I would say that his quickness is his best asset. He has quick feet and can change position fast. Grade: 50

Compete/Temperament: He shows composure when he is in his “zone”. He can step up in big situations in a game to make that game-winning save and he handles pressure well. If he lets in a bad goal he does not crumble, and he is most often able to continue his game and maintain composure to make the next save, and the next. The calmness and focus in his game is impressive. Grade: 55

Vision/Reading Play: In projecting teenage goalies, I have come to learn that this ability or the hockey sense is what usually separates a solid prospect from a good prospect. Lindbom has strong hockey sense and it is mostly because of that, he can look so calm in the net. He has control of the situations and can read where the attack is going and get himself into the right position. He has struggled a bit with consistency during the J20 season, but he showed ability to adapt and played his best hockey at the end of the season. Grade: 60

Technique/Style: As with most modern goalies, Lindbom is a technically well schooled butterfly goalie. He keeps his upper body upright and is fast in getting down or up on his knees. He moves smoothly and is quite fast from post to post. He likes to use the posts to push himself sideways, but he is also strong on his skates and can move fast further out within the blue paint as well. When the puck is behind the net or in a corner Lindbom covers the nearest post well pushing himself to the post and standing with one leg “loose” so he can push himself fast to the other post when he needs to. He holds his glove low and works with it upwards, which makes him a bit weak on top shelf shots but stronger in the hole between arm and leg. He keeps his arms tight to his body making himself less leaky under his arms. Grade: 60

Rebound Control: If you, as an opponent, want to give Lindbom a hard time to makes saves, you need to put pressure on him or limit his view of the shot. He is strong at keeping the pucks he saves with his upper body. The saves he makes with his legs are, obviously, harder to contain but he is good at steering the pucks into non-dangerous areas with his legs as well. Grade: 55

Puck Handling: Lindbom stays in his crease most times and when he gets out and play pucks it is usually simple short passing or to just to stop the puck. Grade: 40

Summary: I needed the whole season to get my head around Olof Lindbom and it was not until the U18 Worlds that I really felt that he has NHL potential. Lindbom has had some injury prone seasons earlier in his career but has always been the strongest goalie for the national team camps and events of his age group. He also had a tough time at the start of the second half of this season. His J20 team played in the Top 10 league and Lindbom had some bad games, losing the first seven games he played there. It is a short league of 18 games but it took until the last game for Lindbom to shine with a strong game that also led to a win. Then the playoff came, and he played for the J18 team and had an MVP performance on the way to winning the championship. That team was strong though and dominated every game but Lindbom came up big when he needed to. How much was the team and how much was Lindbom in the weak J20 Top 10 and in the strong J18 playoffs? In the WU18 it became evident that his potential is real. He was the most consistent player on the Swedish team and did not take a single period off. His hockey sense in combination with good technique and size impresses me the most. His ability to adapt and overcome struggles shows that he can be a good goalie pick in this draft. He still has a long way to go and first and foremost will need to put up a full strong U20 season before stepping up in a men’s league.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 54

World U18 Team Preview: Sweden

Jimmy Hamrin — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:00:55 +0000

As a big hockey country but a small country otherwise, Sweden rarely wins gold at junior level. This age group of 2000-borns has been strong, with many players doing well for themselves at elite senior level already. I haven’t done the math, but I can’t remember an age group with so many players already playing senior hockey at this age in Sweden. Eleven 2000-born players played most of their games at elite senior level (SHL or Allsvenskan) this season.

As a national team they won the U17 WHC and won bronze at the Hlinka tournament. Obviously, they will miss their best player in Rasmus Dahlin who also did not play at the Hlinka or this tournament last year either because he played with men’s national team. They will also miss some other key players like Rasmus Sandin (OHL-playoffs) and Filip Hallander (knee injury).

POPRAD, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 22: Sweden's Jacob Olofsson #27 lets a shot go during semifinal round action against the U.S. at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Absences notwithstanding, this is still a strong team with five returning players from last year’s tournament. The big center Jacob Olofsson impressed in that tournament, especially with his highlight goal versus Canada in the quarterfinal. Adam Boqvist showed his skills that put him in the top of many early draft rankings for this years. The other returnees are big defenseman Adam Ginning and the big centers David Gustafsson and Oskar Back.

What stands out with this year’s Swedish team is the skills on their core of defenseman and the size of the centers. Those assets in the team will make Sweden a hard team to beat. I believe that Sweden will have a good chance of achieving good results at this tournament and probably are the best European team on paper.

The weakness may be in goal, where Olof Lindbom have been the only goalie to continually count on over the three years of international hockey for this age group. His development has been injury prone but he has delivered for the national team. He will most likely be the starter in this tournament. The biggest goalie talent in the roster is the late 2002 born Jesper Wallstedt who has impressed at every level he has faced. This year will probably be more of a see-and-learn experience for him, but who knows?

SPISSKA NOVA VES, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 16: Pavel Azhgirei #23 of Belarus plays the puck while Sweden's Adam Boqvist #3 defends during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

The defensive core has good balance between offensive defensemen, two-way defensemen and defensive defensemen. The standouts in the categories are Boqvist and Nils Lundkvist (offensive), Filip Johansson (two-way) and Ginning (defensively).

This year’s group of forwards have a very strong core of big centremen (Olofsson, Gustafsson, Back and Marcus Westfalt). All four will probably not play center though as they all are good enough to be big contributers. The wingers are speedy and creative (standout: Jonatan Berggren) and with some good goal scorers (standout: Samuel Fagemo and Lucas Wernblom).

TOP 10 to watch:

10. Nils Hoglander FW
- A potential surprise player with his individual skills. He has great balance and puck skills. He struggles a bit with consistency and can also be a non-factor depending on which role he gets.

9. Adam Ginning D
- Big with reach and sound positioning. He needs to be effective defensively for this team to win in the big games. He has mobility and okay puck skills as well.

8. Olof Lindbom G
- Lindbom was the MVP of the J18 playoffs in Sweden but can he deliver in the big games at this stage? He is big and plays a tight game, not a spectacular goalie.

7. Marcus Westfalt C
- Big and smart. He plays responsibly and can deliver both offensively as defensively. He has been a regular for his SHL team a big portion of the season. He has developed his skating this season.

6. David Gustafsson C
- Hard working two-way player that is strong in both power play and PK. He is strong physically and is a dangerous player in front of the goal on the power play.

5. Filip Johansson D
- A very smart and mobile two-way player who is a good puck distributor. He plays well positionally and has good control of the puck. Has been a regular for Leksand in Allsvenskan.

4. Jacob Olofsson C
- Center playing both power play and penalty kill for the best team in Allsvenskan. Steps up in big situations and tries to create offense. Sometimes sloppy and needs to cover the puck better but a very interesting prospect and an important tournament for him.

3. Jonatan Berggren FW
- Speed, creativity and smooth hands. The smallish forward is a very strong junior player that has been a point producer at all junior levels this season. He is the best point producer for this national team and was the top scorer in SuperElit.

2. Nils Lundkvist D
- A very smart player with strong puck control and skills. Has been charming his way into the SHL where he has been able to be an effective puck-mover. He likes to join the attack but rarely gets caught on the wrong side of the puck.

1. Adam Boqvist D
- His lack of defensive awareness has been keeping him out of regular minutes at senior hockey. His puck skills are tremendous though and he absolutely dominates at junior level, both in the Hlnika tournament as well as in the SuperElit. Needs to perform well here to keep his status as a high first round pick. Nobody doubts the potential but how much of a long-term project will he be?