Ondrej Kos – McKeen's Hockey

2024 IIHF U18 World Championship – McKeen’s Team Predictions

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:08:46 +0000

231226 Konsta Helenius of Finland ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Finland and Canada on December 26, 2023 in Gothenburg.
Photo: Carl Sandin / BILDBYRÅN / kod CS / CS0473

The 2024 IIHF U18 World Championships kick off early Thursday morning (Eastern time) in Finland. This is one of the most important events in the scouting calendar and as such, McKeen’s staff brings you their predictions for the tournament.

Medal Predictions

GOLD

Canada (7x)

USA (4)

SILVER

USA (5x)

Sweden (3x)

Finland (2x)

Canada (1x)

BRONZE

Finland (4x)

Canada (3x)

Sweden (2x)

USA (1x)

Czechia (1x)

James Hagens. Photo by Rena Laverty.

Award Predictions

TOURNAMENT MVP

James Hagens, USA (4x)

Tij Iginla, Canada (3x)

Porter Martone, Canada (2x)

Trevor Connelly, USA (1x)

Konsta Helenius, Finland (1x)

BEST DEFENDER

Henry Mews, Canada (3x)

Aron Kiviharju, Finland (2x)

Alfons Freij, Sweden (2x)

Cole Hutson, USA (2x)

Logan Hensler, USA (1x)

Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Sweden (1x)

BEST GOALTENDER

Carter George, Canada (4x)

Ryerson Leenders, Canada (2x)

Kim Saarinen, Finland (2x)

Nicholas Kempf, USA (1x)

Herman Liv, Sweden (1x)

Burning Questions

WHAT WILL BE THE SURPRISE OF THE TOURNAMENT?

“That the tournament will see many fantastic performances from players not eligible for the 2024 draft. I foresee many late 2006 born players and the 2007 born players in this tournament coming out and making names for themselves. Gavin McKenna, Matthew Schaefer, James Hagens, Logan Hensler, Luka Radivojevic, Adam Benák, Jakob Ihs Wozniak, Olivers Murineks and Niklas Aaram Olsen are just a few names that could really show out for their respective nations as underage talents.” (Steven Graves)

“Gavin McKenna will help Team Canada more than predicted.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“The surprise is that Sweden loses in the quarterfinals, failing to make the semifinals for the first time since 2015 (when they had a disastrous 8th place finish). This also would end their run of five straight medals. This is made possible by a round robin loss to the Czechs, setting up a date with either the US or Finland in the quarterfinals. I'm just not confident in Sweden's depth and goaltending, in addition to the fact that they don't have a true game breaker in the lineup up front.” (Brock Otten)

“Finland's goaltending will be better than most people expect, and it will make them a very hard out in the semifinals but then carry them to a bronze medal.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Kazakhstan doesn't score more than one goal all tournament. With the sheer power level of Group B, Kazakhstan can't break through for more than a single goal. However, that goal will come against Canada. Because, well, of course it will.” (Felix Robbins)

“I think the surprise of the tournament for many people is going to be Cole Hutson. With the Hutson name sort of comes the expectation of high-octane offense, and I think that certainly could be there, but I think this tournament could really help show the progress he's made in making his game more well-rounded. I've found him to be inconsistent at times but in what is likely to be a big role for the Americans, Hutson could really surprise some people if he strings together a bunch of quality games where he plays strong two-way hockey.” (Ethan Hetu)

“I think Jett Luchanko ends up being the top forward for Canada in the tournament. I think his skating and compete level will shine in this short tournament.” (Jamison Derksen)

“Czechia - They're my dark horse for a medal this year. They clinched silver at the last Hlinka Gretzky Cup and are bringing many players from that squad to the U18s. The offense looks particularly strong with top players like Adam Benák, Max Curran, and Ondřej Kos. Moreover, Czechia boasts decent secondary scoring, which is crucial when competing with top nations. If Czechia performs well, expected leaders Adam Jecho and Tomáš Galvas could elevate their stock and contend for the first round.” (Matej Deraj)

WHICH DRAFT PROSPECT WILL RAISE HIS STOCK THE MOST?

Leo Sahlin Wallenius
Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN

“Leo Sahlin Wallenius, when people see his combination of skating prowess and offensive efficiency against the best of his peers - they’re going to realize that he has the tools to be a top-4 option in the NHL one day.” (Steven Graves)

“Cole Eiserman will have a terrific tournament, helping his lately falling draft stock to rise.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“Jett Luchanko - I just see him featuring big for Canada as one of the team's natural centers. His speed will play really well on the bigger ice and I think they slot him between guys like Ritchie, Greentree, Martone, etc. He's going to prove that he is one of the draft's elite playmaking pivots.” (Brock Otten)

“Marek Vanacker's stock has been rising steadily throughout this season, but this will be his best opportunity yet to showcase his abilities, and his game will reach an entirely new level now that he finally has elite talent to work alongside.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Alfons Freij. I've been hyping him up all year long, and I think that he's got the perfect opportunity to prove that he deserves FIRM 1st round consideration. Maybe even assert himself as one of the top D in the draft class.” (Felix Robbins)

“I think Emil Hemming has a chance to raise his stock the most. It's an interesting thing with guys who play professionally earlier than their peers, I think many of them get tagged with being "high floor, but lower ceiling" as a result of the fact that they're often operating in limited roles with their pro teams. Hemming is an example of a player who has had question marks related to his upside due to his league play with TPS. If he has an excellent tournament against his peers he can really firmly cement himself as a first-round prospect.” (Ethan Hetu)

“I think Henry Mews has an awesome opportunity to revitalize his draft stock this tournament. It’s pretty easy to see him establishing himself as the #1 D on Canada’s blueline and having a huge tournament.” (Jamison Derksen)

“Tomáš Galvas - I feel like he needs to perform at a bigger stage to truly showcase his talent. Galvas had a strong year with Liberec in Czechia top tier league, however, he's still a bit in Adam Jiříček's shadow and doesn't get the recognition he deserves, in my opinion. He's a brilliant skater, a smart two-way defenseman who loves to join the rush and make plays with the puck. Due to Jiříček's absence, he should be the key defenseman for Czechia and show he belongs to the first two rounds of the upcoming NHL Draft.” (Matej Deraj)

WHICH DRAFT PROSPECT ARE YOU MOST INTRIGUED TO SEE PERFORM?

“Darels Uljanskis - I want to see just how good he is in a best on best tournament with his peers. He is the most promising talent among the 2006 born players out of Latvia, so I want to really see how his two-way game holds up playing lots of minutes for Latvia. This could be a big tournament for him, as this will be the place where the most eyes will be on him.” (Steven Graves)

“Definitely Kiviharju, who missed a good amount of time this season.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“Aron Kiviharju - Once hyped, now a bit of an afterthought because of injuries this year. What will we see from him now that he's (assumingly) healthy? Finland is going to need him at the top of their game because they are top heavy this year and will be playing the crap out of their big guns. Has his development truly plateaued?” (Brock Otten)

“Emil Hemming. He was a force of nature early in the season at the U20 level in Finland, but then his game cooled off a lot once he got called up to the Liiga. This tournament will be a fresh opportunity for him, and he has the potential to be one of the best players there and one of the top point producers.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Lucas Pettersson, since I haven't been too sure of what to make of him as of late. He's fallen out of my first round due to others in the region outperforming him, but I think being surrounded by very talented teammates is going to give him the chance to play a more elevated game and showcase the dominant offensive ability he's flashed throughout the J20 season. I feel like we'll get to know who Lucas Pettersson really is, once and for all.” (Felix Robbins)

“I'm most intrigued to see Aron Kiviharju here. It's a bit of an obvious answer, but the reality is he was once viewed as a high-end prospect but has had injuries completely derail his progress.This is his chance to really make his mark before the draft.” (Ethan Hetu)

“I think it will be pretty nice to see Liam Greentree with some better linemates after the season in Windsor. It’ll also be interesting to see how his skating looks on the bigger ice.” (Jamison Derksen)

“Konsta Helenius - After a massive year in Finnish Liiga, Helenius is ready to represent his country at the home tournament. As the anticipated leader of Finland's offense, all eyes will be on Helenius to see how he performs and elevates his stock. A successful tournament could put him in the top five conversation for the upcoming draft. He's an extremely smart, well-rounded player who projects as a future top centre. It'll be interesting to watch him play against his peers again after a successful season in the Finnish top tier league.” (Matej Deraj)

WHICH 2025 PROSPECT MAKES HIS MARK?

“Logan Hensler - Hensler is a name you’re going to start to hear more and more as the 2025 draft comes around. I think he is the best defender in the 2006 class of Americans, and I think he’s just scratching the surface on what he could be. He is going to impress with his skating and his two-way play the entire tournamen. Hensler will solidify himself as a top-5 player going into the 2025 draft. He has all the tools to be a top-2 NHL defender, and I think he’ll showcase why at the tournament.” (Steven Graves)

“James Hagens will prove himself to be the best available player for the 2025 NHL draft.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“Matt Schaefer - This is such a tough question because of how many outstanding late born 2006's there are at this tournament like Hagens, Hensler, Martone, McQueen, etc. However, I think Schaefer is a guy people are underrating because his offensive production in Erie this year was pretty pedestrian compared to some of the other top young defenders out of the CHL in recent years. Yet, he proved at the U17's that he was one of the best defenders in this age group and I think he's up for the challenge here, to show that he's a candidate to be the best 2007 born defender.” (Brock Otten)

“James Hagens will have a tremendous tournament, leading the United States in scoring and cementing himself as the undisputed frontrunner to get picked 1st overall in the 2025 draft.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Viggo Nordlund. Undersized, shifty, dynamic playmaker from Skelleftea who absolutely took over the J20 Playoffs this season, scoring nearly 3 points per game. Like Victor Eklund at the Hlinka Gretzky, Nordlund is going to bulldog his way to the spotlight and show off that offensive toolkit as well.” (Felix Robbins)

“James Hagens - The obvious choice, but he's going to play a leading role on a really strong Team USA and is surrounded by exceptional offensive players. He's a dynamic creator and I think this tournament will mark the beginning of his hype cycle as teams that don't win the Macklin Celebrini lottery shift their focus towards him.” (Ethan Hetu)

“Definitely Luka Radivojevic, he will be leaned on heavily on the back end for Slovakia. I don’t expect Slovakia to have a great tournament but Radivojevic will be the one to watch in those Slovakia games.” (Jamison Derksen)

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 – Celebrini sits comfortably on top – Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking – Strong defense group defines this draft class

Brock Otten — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:58:41 +0000

It’s time to update and expand our 2024 NHL Draft rankings. Since our preliminary ranking in December, we’ve passed some major events on the scouting calendar, like the World Juniors, CHL Top Prospect’s Game, World Junior A Challenge, and the USA Hockey All American Game.

Macklin Celebrini still sits comfortably at the top of our rankings. Not only has he continued to be a difference maker for Boston University, but he was also a solid contributor at the World Juniors for an underwhelming Canadian team, an impressive feat for a double underager. In our opinion, he is unquestionably the top prospect available this year and is the one player we view as a near surefire high impact player at the NHL level.

One player moving up our ranking inside the top ten is Ivan Demidov. While ice time issues have limited his impact at the KHL level, he has been an absolute monster at the MHL level and in a draft that we feel lacks high end upside, he stands out as a potential difference maker. One player falling inside of our top ten is Cole Eiserman. While the goal scoring ability is unquestionably impressive, we’ve been left wanting more from the rest of his game and feel that his development is showing signs of plateauing.

Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh is another big-time mover and shaker for us as he pushes his way inside the top ten. At this point, his production and offensive upside is too vast to ignore. Yes, there are questions regarding his defensive game. Yes, there are questions about how he fits into an NHL system given Saginaw’s unique modern approach. However, the skill and sense are so high end that we believe the reward outweighs the risk.

Other movers and shakers include Jett Luchanko (40th to 18th), Alfons Freij (32nd to 21st), Harrison Brunicke (HM to 25th), and Dom Badinka (58th to 28th). Luchanko is a speedy, playmaking pivot who brings consistent effort in all three zones. As he bulks up, he should be able to become a more consistent point producer. Freij has been terrific internationally this year for the Swedish U18 team and is starting to remind us of Tom Willander in regard to his steady presence on the ice at both ends. Brunicke is a very mobile, right-handed shot defender with size who remains a work in progress. He flashes high end skill and upside in the defensive end, and we believe that he is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. Dom Badinka has a similar profile to Freij in the sense that he has a very projectable frame and skill set. He has been steadily improving in the SHL this year with Malmo and the Czech blueliner projects as an all situations top four, right shot blueliner.

Overall, 2024 is still holding strong as a quality draft for defenders. In fact, 14 of our first round graded players are defenseman. On the other hand, the strength of this goaltending crop remains to be seen. OHL netminders Carter George and Ryerson Leenders remain our top ranked goalies and the only ones inside of our Top 70. There are others pushing up the list (like NTDP netminder Nick Kempf and WHL re-entry Lukas Matecha), but it’s not looking like the ideal year to use a high pick on a stopper.

In the coming weeks, expect to see a podcast on our new YT channel (here), where Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, Associate Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, and Director of Video Scouting, Josh Bell, debate the midseason list and provide some insight into why certain players are ranked where they are.

RK	Name	POS	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	TP	PIM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06
11	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	48	24	29	53	95	6-3/190	29-Sep-05
12	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	48	35	28	63	25	6-0/185	1-Aug-06
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	46	28	41	69	25	6-2/200	1-Jan-06
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	34	17	31	48	40	6-1/160	28-Feb-06
15	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	26	7	27	34	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
16	Michael Brandsegg Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	32	6	7	13	14	6-1/195	5-Oct-05
17	Adam Jiříček	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2	6-2/175	28-Jun-06
18	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	50	17	37	54	32	5-11/185	21-Aug-06
19	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	22	0	7	7	26	6-2/170	22-Mar-06
20	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	37	21	23	44	35	6-1/190	14-Apr-06
21	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	33	11	15	26	12	6-1/190	12-Feb-06
22	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	35	7	4	11	0	6-1/200	27-Jun-06
23	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	34	13	18	31	16	6-0/175	3-Aug-06
24	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	41	27	18	45	42	6-2/180	17-Mar-06
25	Harrison Brunicke	D	Kamloops (WHL)	46	10	11	21	45	6-3/185	8-May-06
26	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	47	23	44	67	32	6-0/185	8-Nov-05
27	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	46	8	34	42	46	6-0/185	9-Mar-06
28	Dom Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	15	2	10	12	39	6-3/185	27-Nov-05
29	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	46	19	26	45	53	6-2/180	28-Jan-06
30	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	18	10	14	24	8	6-2/190	30-Nov-05
31	E.J. Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	0	10	10	51	6-3/185	30-Mar-06
32	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	34	7	23	30	30	6-0/180	10-Apr-06
33	Dean Letourneau	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	14	14	11	25	6	6-7/210	21-Feb-06
34	Yegor Surin	C	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	37	19	27	46	104	6-1/190	1-Aug-06
35	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	38	15	17	32	18	6-5/200	24-Mar-06
36	Maxim Massé	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	51	26	26	52	16	6-2/190	7-Apr-06
37	Lucas Pettersson	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	36	20	23	43	38	5-11/170	17-Apr-06
38	Charlie Elick	D	Brandon (WHL)	51	4	19	23	47	6-3/200	17-Jan-06
39	Raoul Boilard	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	21	31	52	32	6-2/190	7-Jan-06
40	Matvei Gridin	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	41	20	30	50	28	6-1/185	1-Mar-06
41	Nikita Artamonov	LW	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	48	7	15	22	12	5-11/185	17-Nov-05
42	Jesse Pulkkinen	D	JYP (Fin-U20)	18	11	17	28	47	6-6/215	27-Dec-04
43	Leon Muggli	D	Zug (Sui-NL)	4	0	2	2	4	6-0/165	9-Jul-06
44	Teddy Stiga	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	24	25	49	26	5-10/155	5-Apr-06
45	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	7	1	1	2	0	5-10/165	25-Jan-06
46	Miguel Marques	RW	Lethbridge (WHL)	50	22	37	59	47	5-11/170	8-Mar-06
47	John Mustard	C	Waterloo (USHL)	39	22	18	40	22	6-0/185	16-Aug-06
48	Lukas Fischer	D	Sarnia (OHL)	52	4	22	26	50	6-4/180	6-Sep-06
49	Simon Zether	C	Rogle (Swe J20)	17	11	16	27	25	6-3/185	18-Oct-05
50	Luke Misa	C	Mississauga (OHL)	51	21	46	67	8	5-10/175	25-Nov-05
51	Sebastian Soini	D	Ilves (Fin-U20)	8	0	0	0	8	6-2/195	10-Jun-06
52	Carson Wetsch	RW	Calgary (WHL)	49	19	20	39	53	6-2/185	4-May-06
53	Terik Parascak	RW	Prince George (WHL)	52	31	42	73	37	5-11/180	28-May-06
54	Christian Humphreys	C	USN U18 (USDP)	35	15	25	40	14	5-11/170	4-Feb-06
55	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	11	26	37	44	5-10/160	28-Jun-06
56	Cole Beaudoin	C	Barrie (OHL)	48	23	25	48	23	6-2/200	24-Apr-06
57	Marek Vanacker	LW	Brantford (OHL)	51	27	34	61	41	6-0/165	12-Apr-06
58	Stian Solberg	D	Vålerenga (Nor)	34	3	9	12	12	6-2/200	29-Dec-06
59	Herman Traff	RW	HV71 (Swe J20)	22	11	7	18	69	6-3/195	31-Dec-05
60	Kamil Bednarik	C	USN U18 (USDP)	41	18	25	43	40	6-0/185	26-May-06
61	Tomáš Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	26	2	4	6	6	5-10/150	11-Feb-06
62	Carter George	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	41	3.09	0.914	-	-	6-0/160	20-May-06
63	Ryerson Leenders	G	Mississauga (OHL)	38	3.19	0.909	-	-	6-1/175	1-Jun-06
64	Tanner Howe	LW	Regina (WHL)	52	24	38	62	48	5-11/180	28-Nov-05
65	Colton Roberts	D	Vancouver (WHL)	50	7	17	24	45	6-4/195	8-Jun-06
66	Ben Danford	D	Oshawa (OHL)	51	1	30	31	21	6-0/175	6-Feb-06
67	Eriks Mateiko	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	40	19	19	38	18	6-4/210	18-Nov-05
68	Daniil Ustinkov	D	ZSC (Sui-NL)	18	0	1	1	0	6-0/200	26-Aug-06
69	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	40	2	7	9	12	6-0/175	15-Feb-06
70	Clarke Caswell	C	Swift Current (WHL)	51	16	37	53	14	5-11/170	2-Feb-06
71	Jakub Fibigr	D	Mississauga (OHL)	44	6	20	26	33	6-0/170	22-Jul-06
72	Ondrej Kos	LW	KOOVEE (Fin-Liiga)	14	3	2	5	8	6-1/150	7-Mar-06
73	Sam O'Reilly	RW	London (OHL)	52	15	30	45	24	6-1/175	30-Mar-06
74	Jack Berglund	C	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	37	14	18	32	18	6-3/210	10-Apr-06
75	Linus Eriksson	C	Djurgardens IF (Swe J20)	24	5	16	21	8	6-0/185	23-Mar-06
76	Tarin Smith	D	Everett (WHL)	54	7	30	37	45	6-1/175	24-Mar-06
77	Nick Kempf	G	USN U18 (USDP)	22	3.02	0.901			6-2/190	1-Mar-06
78	Melvin Fernstrom	RW	Örebro HK (Swe J20)	38	26	28	54	26	6-1/185	28-Feb-06
79	Alexander Zetterberg	C	Örebro HK J20	35	19	27	46	10	5-9/160	27-Apr-06
80	Spencer Gill	D	Rimouski (QMJHL)	50	9	23	32	50	6-3/180	17-Aug-06
81	Kevin He	LW	Niagara (OHL)	51	26	18	44	47	5-11/185	30-Apr-06
82	Aatos Koivu	C	TPS (Fin-U20)	23	15	14	29	28	6-0/165	22-Jun-06
83	Will Skahan	D	USN U18 (USDP)	40	2	7	9	63	6-4/210	14-May-06
84	Justin Poirier	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	40	20	60	58	5-8/185	4-Sep-06
85	Maxmilian Curran	C	Tri-City (WHL)	40	5	27	32	25	6-3/190	27-Aug-06
86	Tory Pitner	D	Youngstown (USHL)	33	7	14	21	34	6-1/185	6-Mar-06
87	Lukas Matecha	G	Tri-City (WHL)	29	3.14	0.910			6-3/195	21-Mar-05
88	Brodie Ziemer	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	20	22	42	14	5-10/190	22-Feb-06
89	Niilopekka Muhonen	D	KalPa (Fin U20)	25	4	6	10		6-4/185	28-Feb-06
90	Anthony Romani	D	North Bay (OHL)	51	44	40	84	16	6-0/180	12-Jul-05
91	Julius Miettinen	RW	Everett (WHL)	53	22	24	46	30	6-3/205	20-Jan-06
92	Luca Marrelli	D	Oshawa (OHL)	50	2	38	40	14	6-1/185	4-Oct-05
93	Filip Sitar	C	Malmo (Swe J20)	33	12	31	43	10	5-11/175	29-Jun-05
94	Noel Fransen	D	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	36	17	21	38	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
95	William Zellers	LW	Shattuck St. Marys (USHS-Prep)	43	41	43	84	20	5-10/165	4-Apr-06
96	Gabriel Eliasson	D	HV71 J20	27	0	3	3	81	6-6/205	9-Sep-06
97	Kim Saarinen	G	HPK (Fin-U20)	22	2.34	0.918			6-4/180	22-Jul-06
98	Max Vilen	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	39	1	12	13	8	6-2/200	29-Jun-06
99	Gabriel Frasca	C	Kingston (OHL)	26	9	9	18	10	6-0/170	18-Feb-06
100	Harrison Meneghin	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	41	2.46	0.922			6-3/165	13-Sep-06
HM	Tanner Adams	RW	Providence (NCAA)	27	5	12	17	2	5-11/185	2-Sep
HM	Alexandre Blais	C	Rimouski (QMJHL)	53	18	48	66	30	5-10/155	14-Nov-05
HM	Viggo Gustavsson	D	HV71 (Swe J20)	33	1	10	11	38	6-2/195	11-Sep-06
HM	Andrei Krutov	LW	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	35	15	24	39	10	5-11/175	25-Apr-06
HM	Darels Uljanskis	D	AIK (Swe J20)	35	7	16	23	14	6-1/185	25-Aug-06
HM	Pavel Moysevich	G	SKA St. Petersburg (VHL)	19	2.31	0.927			6-5/175	29-Sep-04
HM	Ondrej Becher	C	Prince George (WHL)	42	19	40	59	32	6-1/175	22-Feb-04
HM	Veit Oswald	RW	EHC Munchen (DEL)	32	8	4	12	0	6-1/165	31-Aug-04
HM	Nathan Villeneuve	C	Sudbury (OHL)	47	18	21	39	52	6-0/185	13-Apr-06
HM	Petr Sikora	C	HC Ocelari Trinec (Cze U20)	27	12	21	33	26	5-11/170	2-Jan-06
HM	Oskar Vuollet	C	Skelleftea AIK (Swe J20)	32	17	24	41	6	5-10/170	3-Dec-05
HM	Kenta Isogai	F	Wenatchee (WHL)	49	25	48	73	22	5-11/155	28-Aug-04
HM	Marcus Kearsey	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	51	5	32	37	14	5-11/170	17-03-06
HM	Nate Misskey	D	Victoria (WHL	40	6	26	32	52	6-3/210	1-Dec-05
HM	Thomas Desruisseaux	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	52	10	34	44	16	5-11/160	10-Mar-06
HM	Jonathan Morello	C	St. Michaels (OJHL)	44	23	27	50	20	6-1/175	31-Jul-06
HM	Kieron Walton	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	47	15	19	34	12	6-5/205	22-Apr-06
HM	Adam Kleber	D	Lincoln (USHL)	33	5	13	18	20	6-5/205	24-Mar-06
HM	Riley Patterson	C	Barrie (OHL)	49	18	27	45	4	6-0/175	22-Mar-06
HM	Eemil Vinni	G	JoKP (Fin-Liiga)	27	2.5	0.9	-	-	6-2/285	18-Dec-06

2024 NHL DRAFT: EARLY SEASON FAVOURITES – European Video Scout – Veeti Väisänen, Sebastian Soini, Dominik Badinka, Ondrej Kos

Steven Graves — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 21:51:19 +0000

231012 Malmö Redhawks Dominik Badinka under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Malmö Redhawks och Leksand den 12 oktober 2023 i Malmö.
Foto: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN / kod PA / PA0668

Time for another series at McKeen’s from our scouting staff. The 2024 NHL Draft season is well under way and our scouts have been busy soaking in the action around the globe. Analyzing early season play can be difficult; perhaps even a bit of a ruse. Hot starts aren’t always sustainable and cold starts are not always indicative. However, players can still catch our attention in positive ways and that’s what this series intends to highlight.

Steven Graves - European Video Scout

Veeti Väisänen - Defence - KooKoo

6’0, 164lbs - 2006-02-15

Coming into the season, I was quite down on Vaisanen as a player. He played for Finland at the U18s as an underage player in April and looked downright bad. He consistently appeared overwhelmed and was forcing plays. Unfortunately, although he was poised to make the team, as Finland’s #1 defender since Aron Kiviharju was practicing with the U20 team, Vaisanen got injured and missed the summer Hlinka/Gretzky Cup.

However, Väisänen started the season in the Liiga and has played well early on. He has been taking a consistent shift for KooKoo and hasn’t looked out of place. He is averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time per game, and although at times his youth shows, you can see just how comfortable he is getting game in and out. His adjustment to playing against men has been smooth and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he pushes for a spot on the Finnish World Junior team in December.

With Väisänen, one of the first things you’ll notice about him is just how good of a skater he is. He possesses great speed, agility, and edgework, allowing him to navigate the ice with ease. His smooth stride and balance make him a dangerous defender, both in transitioning the puck from defense to offense and in covering opposing players. His skating allows him to get out of a jam, and dictate the tempo of the game as he sees fit. You will regularly see Väisänen activate from the blueline using his skating to great effect in the offensive zone, catching defenders' flat-footed. He also isn’t afraid to use his skating to transport the puck up the ice and is naturally quite an effective player in the transitional game because of it.

Väisänen also stands out with his defensive game, as he sees the ice really well and is very good at anticipating the movements of the opposition. He reads the play very well and it enables him to anticipate and intercept passes, disrupt offensive rushes, and create turnovers. Väisänen is quite responsible in his own end using his strong positioning and active stick to break-up plays, however he needs to bulk up if he wants to start winning more 50/50 puck battles and be able to clear the crease more effectively. We should see this through time but with how good of a foundation Väisänen has to build off of, we should only begin to see him become more dominant in the defensive zone as he gains weight.

That brings me to just how versatile of a player Väisänen can be once he matures. His skating, IQ, and defensive prowess allow him to play the game in all situations. He can man the powerplay because of how good he is at transporting the puck and finding open teammates from the blue line. Additionally, he can anchor a penalty kill because of how smart of a defensive player he is. This is a potential minute eater.

Although we have yet to see just how Väisänen’s offensive game has improved over last season because of how he’s being deployed in the Liiga, the very fact that he has been playing in the best league in Finland is a testament to how mature of a game he already plays at 17. I really hope we get to see him play in the upcoming WJC.

Bring on the Videos!

I really like this play from Väisänen, it’s a simple puck retrieval that allows his team to transition from defense to offense. Väisänen does a great job shielding the defender and it gives his team an easy zone entry as a result.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VaisanenClip1.mp4

Here is Väisänen’s lone Liiga goal up to this point in time. You can see how he takes advantage of how much space his opponents are giving him and makes them pay with a laser from the point. Fantastic shot and execution here.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VaisanenClip2.mp4

This is Väisänen showcasing his potential as a defender who is able to activate during transition to gain the zone or create a scoring chance on the rush. He hasn’t learned to do this with consistency in the Liiga yet, but this is the potential he does have as a puck carrier.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VaisanenClip3.mp4

This is a great heads-up play by Väisänen off the puck drop. After his team loses the faceoff in the offensive zone, Väisänen makes a great defensive read. He quickly closes out on the forward and breaks up the pass. These types of heady plays are becoming more of a regular occurrence as he continues to get comfortable playing against men.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VaisanenClip4.mp4

Sebastian Soini - Defence - Ilves

6’2, 181lbs - 2006-06-10

Soini has sort of flown under the radar among prospects eligible for the 2024 NHL draft. He didn’t make the Finnish Hlinka team in the summer even though Soini has been thought of as one of the top Finnish players among his age group for a while. Although he has gotten into a few Liiga games early in the season for Ilves, he has spent a good majority of his season thus far in the second-tier men's league in Finland where he plays in the Mestis for Koovee.

Soini stands out in a multitude of aspects, however, the one I’m most impressed with on a consistent basis is how poised he is in the defensive zone. Soini is a standout in his own end - he uses his size and reach to his advantage, effectively breaking up plays with both his stick and his body. He is a reliable shot blocker and excels in one-on-one situations against opposing forwards. His positioning and awareness in the defensive zone are very good for a player his senior.

Although Soini isn’t the most flashy skater, his skating ability is effective and best suited for his playing style as a more defensive defender. Of note, his balance and agility are two of his greatest strengths and that allows him to pivot quickly, maintain good gaps against opposing forwards, and make effective lateral movements to suppress and cut off shooting lanes. Soini is also quite strong on his edges, enabling him to maintain balance in physical battles and when battling for pucks along the boards.

Although his offensive game isn’t the most refined, one thing that stands out in it is his ability to make an effective first pass. Soini can make crisp, tape-to-tape passes to start breakouts effectively. His precision and decision-making with the puck help his teams quickly transition from defense to offense.

So, while Soini may have flown under the radar in the lead-up to the 2024 NHL draft, his performance and potential should not be underestimated. Soini's ability to make precise first passes and facilitate quick breakouts highlights his value as a player who contributes to the transition from defense to offense. While his offensive game may not be as refined as some, his defensive capabilities make him a prospect worth keeping an eye on as he continues to develop and refine his skills.

Bring on the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SoiniClip1.mp4

Here is Soini pouncing on a loose puck, shielding the defender behind him so he can retrieve the puck and get his team started the other way. Soini is very good at puck retrievals like this and is an aspect of his game I have become quite impressed with.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SoiniClip2.mp4

Again, another impressive puck retrieval and first pass by Soini - he gets into the corner after his teammate freed the puck along the boards, used his body positioning to grab the puck, and skated it behind the net and up ice to start the breakout.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SoiniClip3.mp4

I know.., another puck retrieval clip but this one shows off his skating ability. When given open ice, his opponents were barely able to change before Soini brought it back ice - I just love how seamless he can be at transitioning from defense to offense

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SoiniClip4.mp4

This clip showcases his offensive potential. Soini gets the puck at the blue line and has the opposition think he was going to shoot, only to make a quick pass over to his teammate Emil Jarventie for a much better shooting angle. I love how he is showcasing his ability to be deceptive from the blue line here.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SoiniClip5.mp4

This is Soini’s first-ever Liiga point, as he attacks down low with the puck after his forward had stopped at the line after a zone entry. Soini then does a couple of pivots to throw off the defender only to pass it back to the forward who walks in and snipes it on the net. Just a clean play for his first point in the Liiga.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SoiniClip6.mp4

Last one - here Soini does a great job maintaining his gap and keeping his stick in the shooting lane of the forward. Just an excellent defensive read and play.

Dominik Badinka - Defence - Malmö Redhawks

6’3, 183lbs - 2005-11-27

I was a little surprised to see Badinka move from Finland to Sweden for his draft season. Likely he was hoping he’d play more games in the SHL than he would in the Liiga had he stayed in Jokerit’s developmental system. Early on in Sweden, Badinka hasn’t looked out of place. He has been one of the highest-scoring defenders in the J20 league in Sweden and has even seen a couple of games up with Malmo in the SHL where he looked good.. The Czech-born defender has definitely impressed me early on in his draft season.

Badinka is a very intelligent defender. He has an advanced understanding of the game that when combined with his decision-making allows Badinka to excel in various aspects of the game. One of these aspects is how he anticipates plays - he positions himself well to block passing lanes in the defensive end where he sees fit. He is able to jump into the rush and act as a 4th forward while at the same time being in position to stop a rush going the other way. His head is always on a swivel and he is always thinking ahead in the game.

Because of his size at 6’3, he can have a positive impact on the game physically. He is excellent in board battles, especially at the J20 level, where he is outright dominant. He just knows how to position his stick and body to have an advantage in physical battles. He never hesitates to engage in battles in front of the net either - he is a physical presence in front of his crease and Badinka uses his body quite effectively to clear the slot. He can over-commit to being physical at times, however, and I have seen it lead to odd man rushes. While it’s a notable component to Badinka’s game, he could learn how to reel it in every once and a while and pick his spots better.

The last thing I’d like to zero in on with Bainka is how well he moves up and down the ice. He is a very mobile defender who is able to use his four-way mobility to great effect on both ends of the ice. Although Badinka seldom activates from his spot at the blue line, when he does he is able to use his skating in a deceptive way by arching his body one way, making the defense think that he is going one way only to make a quick cut around the defender for a better scoring opportunity. As previously stated, he doesn’t do this often but when he does, it is almost poetic and I hope to see more of this in his game moving forward.

Badinka's journey from Finland to Sweden has unveiled a promising and versatile talent on the ice. His intelligence, physicality, and mobility make him an exciting prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft... With his unique skill set and adaptability, Badinka should see himself called early. I think he has the makings of being called in the first round.

Bring on the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BadinkaClip1.mp4

This is a great video of Badinka that showcases his puck retrieval skills and his ability to transport the puck for zone entries, fighting through numerous defenders to do so.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BadinkaClip2.mp4

Here is Badinka doing a fantastic job at closing out on a forward who just received an outlet pass, then being physical and pinning him along the boards to stop the forward in his tracks.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BadinkaClip3.mp4

This is by far my favourite Badinka clip and it is easy to see why. He gets the puck at the blueline, does a few head fakes while stick handling and it was enough to make the defender lose balance and fall down and retreat in embarrassment. He plays the puck to his teammate who gets it back to Badinka who throws the puck on the net through multiple defenders, creating a rebound opportunity which his teammate capitalizes on. Beautiful assist.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BadinkaClip4.mp4

Heads up play by Badinka here - he gets the puck in the neutral zone, sees that the other team is in the middle of a line change so he takes advantage of it by coming down on the goalie and slipping it through his legs. A great showcase of his skating ability is in this clip.

Ondrej Kos - Wing - Koovee

6’1, 148lbs - 2006-03-07

Kos is a kid who really got on my radar at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he and team Czechia pulled off an impressive performance. Kos, although Czech-born, has played the past two seasons in Finland for Ilves’ development system. This season he has played the majority of it on loan to Koovee in the Mestis (Finland’s second-tier men's league) where alongside one of my fellow early season favorites Sebastian Soini - Kos has impressed early on with his offensive skillset.

My favorite element of Kos’ game is how hard he competes game in and game out. He never takes a shift off and always has his feet moving. Kos lives off of applying pressure on both the forecheck and the backcheck and is relentless when chasing a puck carrier. He often causes defenders to struggle at puck retrievals because of the pressure he is applying to them. Kos has an unwavering determination to win puck battles in both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice. It is worth mentioning that he isn’t as effective as he could be at the moment given his slight stature, but you can’t teach a player to have as good of a motor as Kos has.

To pair with Kos’ compete level, he is also a great skater. Kos is able to get down the ice in a hurry, possessing a great first step and also very good top-end speed. He is often able to outpace his opponents and is extremely dangerous in the transition game as a result, often leading rushes and being the puck carrier on his line even though he is oftentimes the youngest player on the line. One thing I consistently notice about Kos is that he is difficult to knock off the puck, as he has excellent balance and core strength to be able to maintain puck possession in some of the circumstances he gets put in. One can only imagine how much better he’ll get as he puts on some weight.

Unfortunately for Kos, although I love how he plays the game, I believe his upside may be a bit limited at the next level. He doesn’t change the pace of the game enough and nor does he create offense at a consistent enough level for himself for me to see anything more than a middle six penalty killer at the next level. I’d need to see more offensive production, and smarter offensive plays to think his ceiling is anything more than that. Improving his vision is going to be imperative in relation to his development.

For the remainder of the season, I’ll be fascinated to see if Kos can improve upon his offensive consistency in the Mestis and maybe even see some games at the WJC in December and possibly even in the Liiga. Either way, he’s been great to start the season and a player I’ve come away thoroughly impressed with.

Bring on the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SGKosClip1.mp4

This is a great representation of Kos’ game. In this clip, you can see him constantly changing his position and angle of attack to help his team on the power play and confuse the defense. He gets rewarded at the end by getting the puck in the slot and beating the goalie.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SGKosClip2.mp4

Another play where Kos is all over the puck in the offensive zone, constantly moving his feet looking for opportunities to strike.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SGKosClip3.mp4

Great play by Kos to identify his teammate was going to throw the puck into center ice.Kos is able to get a high-danger shot off because of his great anticipation on this play.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/SGKosClip4.mp4

Kos is able to effectively bring the puck up the ice in transition, and although he loses control of it on the entry, battles back, shields the puck along the wall and makes a nifty backward pass to his teammate to keep the possession in his team's hands.

HLINKA GRETZKY CUP REVIEW – Team Czechia – The Four Adams and Seven Seconds

Matej Deraj — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 14:55:47 +0000

The first home team (Slovakia) failed miserably, but the second one from Czechia had an amazing tournament. The Czechs won their group, impressively beat Finland in the semi-finals and gave the young Canadians a run for their money in the gold medal game. The match was even 2-2 after 60 minutes, therefore, the winner had to be determined in overtime. The Czechs had some good chances in extra time and even a power play, but it was Canada, who took home the gold. With seven seconds left in overtime, Malcolm Spence scored the tournament-winning goal. Although Czechia didn´t win gold, there´s nothing they should be ashamed of. They played a great tournament and a brought a couple of emerging stars to light, who all have a one thing in common: their first name is Adam.

Top Five

Adam Benák

Position: C, Shoots: L

H/W: 5´6”, 141 lbs

Date of Birth: 2007-04-10

Stats: 5 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 PTS, 4 PIM

The youngest player on the team and the only underager, forward Adam Benák, was definitely the biggest Czech star. Benák played as the 1C, led the team in scoring with impressive ten points (2+8) in four games and made a name for himself. He´s 2025 eligible and could end up as one of the top prospects for the Draft, but it all comes down to one thing: size. Unfortunately, Benák is quite undersized, being 5´6” right now. His father grew to 5´9”, and it would be fantastic if Adam could outgrow him. Apart from the lack of size, there are only positives about his game. He´s constantly moving his feet, making plays at high speed and playing ferociously with the right intensity. Benák is a highly smart player, impressive at both ends of the rink and possesses great hands and hockey sense. Truly a joy to watch.

Adam Titlbach

Position: LW, Shoots: L

H/W: 5´9”, 165 lbs

Date of Birth: 2006-02-185

Stats: 5 GP, 5 G, 3 A, 8 PTS, 0 PIM

Titlbach wasn´t a name that had been discussed much before the tournament, but he definitely put himself on the radar with his performance. He rode shotgun with Adam Benák and the duo made a couple of highlight plays together. Titlbach is a speedy forward who´s playing a fearless game and won´t hesitate to go to the net. He´s a true scorer, always shooting the puck from different angles and trying to come up with new solutions. He´s valuable at the forecheck and has skilled hands. It´ll be interesting to follow him in the next season and see how he´ll handle the physical play in the WHL, where he´s supposed to dress for the Vancouver Giants. Titlbach is also a bit undersized, but not as much as Benák and his plucky play should help him adapt better.

Adam Jiříček

Position: RD, Shoots: R

H/W: 6´2”, 152 lbs

Date of Birth: 2006-06-28

Stats: 5 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3 PTS, 4 PIM

Jiříček is already a well-known name in hockey; David Jiříček is one of the top prospects of the Blue Jackets and might be a sneaky Calder Trophy candidate for the next season. His brother Adam is eligible for the next NHL Entry Draft and might aim for a similar spot David was drafted at (#6). The younger Jiříček is also a right-handed defenseman who likes to join the rush and play with the puck on his stick. He´s a decent skater for his size due to his smooth style but lacks top speed. Unlike his brother, Adam doesn´t enjoy throwing demolishing hits as much, but he rather uses his body effectively and plays better in defense. He might be a more well-rounded player than David. He finished the tournament with the highest ATOI of all players and definitely has Top 10 potential for the next draft. We´ll see how he performs in Czech top tier league, where he´s signed with HC Plzeň.

Adam Jecho

Position: LW/RW, Shoots: R

H/W: 6´5”, 198 lbs

Date of Birth: 2006-03-24

Stats: 5 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 2 PTS, 0 PIM

The fourth Adam on Team Czechia who stood out is Adam Jecho. It´s easy to notice him since he´s already 6´5”. Despite his colossal size, Jecho is a pretty good skater with sufficient acceleration for such a big player. He is a two-way winger, able to play on both special teams and he uses his long stick well. Moreover, Jecho has quite soft hands and displays a lot of confidence (not only) in 1-on-1 situations, but he also even attempted a Michigan at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He tends to keep his head down from time to time and it might seem as he doesn´t always choose the best option, but he still has above-average hockey sense and very good vision. All in all, a player with a very impressive skillset. If he adjusts to the WHL well, I can see him going much higher than expected in the next NHL Draft.

Ondřej Kos

Position: LW, Shoots: L

H/W: 6´1”, 148 lbs

Date of Birth: 2006-07-03

Stats: 5 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 5 PTS, 4 PIM

Kos´s performance at the tournament was a pleasant surprise, even though it was him who made the mistake that led up to Malcolm Spence´s gold-winning goal. Kos is a two-way winger with a decent size that he uses well. He´s a dangerous forechecker, moves well and has a decent puck protection. One of his best assets is his quick wrister. However, he lacks explosiveness and sometimes tries to force plays too much, although he´s able to beat defensemen in 1-on-1 battles. An interesting player to follow in his draft season.

HMs: Jakub Milota, Matěj Kubiesa, Petr Sikora

One Disappointment

Tomáš Galvas

Position: D, Shoots: L

H/W: 5´10”, 148 lbs

Date of Birth: 2006-02-11

Stats: 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM

Galvas is a player I had in the 1^st round before the start of the season, so it´s natural I had expected a lot from him. He didn´t disappoint completely, but I had wanted to see more. Galvas is a smooth-skating two-way defenseman who likes to join the rush and contribute in the offensive zone. If I say he´s all over the ice, it´s no exaggeration. He didn´t score any points at the tournament, which wouldn´t be a problem, but I also didn´t see the impact Jiříček had on the team. Galvas had a couple of nice plays, he did show his puckhandling ability and great skating, but some of his ideas were not always the right plays to make. He´s still an interesting prospect whom I´ll follow closely during the year, so we´ll see if he can make up for it.

HLINKA GRETZKY CUP – Tournament All Star Team – Honourable Mentions – 25 outstanding player performances

Jared Brown — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:16:19 +0000

Tournament All-Star Team

F - Berkly Catton (Canada)

Catton was I think, clearly this tournament’s MVP. He did it all for Canada, playing in all situations, driving the offense and creating chances for himself or his linemates, and setting the tone for his team early in their games by throwing his weight around on the forecheck. You could also give him the nickname “captain clutch” for how often he scored timely goals in this tournament for Canada. Catton isn’t a big player playing down the middle of the ice. But he’s a high-end skater with plus-level vision, who brings competitiveness, and intelligent hockey to the forefront which complements his offensive tools. He finished with the tournament lead in goals with eight, showcasing his quick release and accuracy on midrange shots. With his plus-level vision comes the soft hands which allow him to make plays under/over sticks with confidence. There didn’t seem to be a pass he couldn’t make in this tournament.

F - Trevor Connelly (USA)

Early 2024 draft rankings are going to have Trevor Connelly skyrocketing up the boards after the tournament performance he put on for scouts. I’d rank him as the best skater in this tournament. He showcased terrific speed, mechanics, and edgework in his skating ability. He’s incredibly shifty and evasive through his edgework and finds open spaces to skate into while separating himself from his defender. Connelly was a dynamic offensive threat on the powerplay and at even strength. On the man advantage, he utilized his footwork to shift penalty killers around to open up shooting/passing lanes. I like how he’s rarely ever stationary with the puck and is always on the move, searching for defensive holes in coverage. His puck control is above average, allowing him to handle pucks and finish in tight. Connelly also brought the pace and motor on the other side of the puck, showcasing his two-way play.

F - Adam Benak (Czechia)

Although Adam Benak was a year younger than everyone else on his team, he drove the bus offensively for Czechia through his speed and high-end playmaking ability. His skating is terrific and a major strength in his ability to create offense off the rush. He showcased strong stride mechanics and two-step acceleration in straight lines. He’s a talented playmaker. Patience is a virtue and Benak has it for days. He likes to delay and hold onto pucks to draw defenders to him which allows passing lanes to open up for him. His off-puck positioning as a centre is superb. He assists his defencemen through the middle on breakouts and regularly in close support during battles. He is on the smaller side which will cause some reserves of his future potential. But he’s not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2025 and showed me through his play in this tournament that he’s got some dynamic offensive upside.

D - Sam Dickinson (Canada)

Sam Dickinson is going to challenge for a top five selection and for the top defenceman in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft. He’s big, strong, moves the puck efficiently in the defensive zone, and is mobile in the attacking end. He’s composed under pressure in the defensive zone and uses his powerful edges and solid agility to escape from attackers before moving the puck up ice. He can efficiently break the puck out with an accurate first pass or by carrying it out himself with confidence. In the offensive zone, he likes to stay in motion and make plays while on the move. Dickinson defends the rush with terrific mobility, gap control, and an active stick. He’s effective at getting his body in between the man and the puck. Defensively he was a wall in every game while also bringing a bit of an intimidating presence. This young man has the coveted tools already to be a top-pairing NHL defenceman.

D - Adam Jiricek (Czechia)

Adam Jiricek, like Sam Dickinson, didn’t put up gaudy numbers, but his well-roundedness, maturity, and skating all show signs of a potential top pairing defenceman at the pro level already. His game is already incredibly polished. He makes very few mistakes for you to critique. You can rely on him to log heavy minutes and play in all situations. He’s smart at processing what’s in front of him and the passing lanes that will open up. Then he will lay a flat, pinpoint accurate pass to his forwards for clean zone exits. Jiricek possesses elite edgework to work himself away from forecheckers or into more opportune passing/shooting lanes. Defensively he was a stalwart for Czechia, sacrificing his body to block shots on the penalty kill, and closing gaps quickly with his great mobility and defensive stick. He’s very efficient at stopping the cycle by using that big body of his to pin his opponents.

G - Carter George (Canada)

Carter George narrowly beat out Czechia goaltender, Jakub Milota, for my top goalie of the tournament. George took advantage of securing the crease for Canada after their disastrous opening game against Finland. He exhibits great poise and steady confidence through his technical play and positioning which gives his teammates and coaches confidence when he’s in between the pipes. He always looks in control of his movements and rarely loses his net or overplays his angles. He’s a good skater and moves smoothly side-to-side. George displays strong puck tracking ability, especially when the puck is in close around his crease. He’s got a solid glove hand where he consistently catches and traps pucks inside them with ease. His puck playing skills for his age was good and he showed comfort in coming out and moving the puck from behind his net. George doesn’t have that “ideal” size for a goaltender, but his composure, positioning, and technical play really impressed me.

Honourable Mentions

Canada

Malcolm Spence - Spence I thought got better through each game of the tournament. He was an effective penalty killer for Canada where he could use his speed to pressure and create offence. His stick checking impressed me as he was terrific at taking pucks off his opposition’s stick or poking pucks into an open space for him or a teammate to skate into. That puck-stealing skill was on display with his overtime winner.

Cole Beaudoin - Beaudoin emerged as a fantastic role player for Canada with his versatile toolbox. He played centre, wing, took important faceoffs on the penalty kill, and provided a heavy game to cause havoc while forechecking. He has a strong motor, busting his butt at both ends of the rink. He also displayed a finishing touch from in and around the home plate area.

Ryder Ritchie - Ritchie was Canada’s second most dangerous forwards after Berkly Catton. Ritchie showcased a ton of confidence with the puck in this tournament and an above average individual skillset to drive the offence. He likes to attack defenders and play through traffic. Solid puck skills and offensive instincts. His skating is quick and he possesses the acceleration to separate himself from defenders.

Michael Misa - Misa dominated in their game against Slovakia where he put up six points and, in that game, showed why he deserved exceptional status in the OHL. His awareness in the offensive zone is top-notch as he looks to set his teammates up in high-danger areas. His skating is explosive and his hands work in unison with his feet to make him a dynamic puck carrying threat in transition.

Henry Mews - I thought Mews was Canada’s best defenceman in the Gold Medal Game playing a solid two-way game. His skating and footwork are high-end and make him an elusive puck carrier in transition and inside the offensive zone. He displays excellent offensive instincts and loves to activate into the attack. Moves the puck very well on breakouts, showcasing terrific vision.

Charlie Elick - Elick was a defensive specialist for Canada and a massive contributor to their penalty kill. He’s got the tools to be a strong shutdown defenceman. He uses his size to play a physical game and separate his man from the puck. Does a good job of utilizing his range to minimize gaps and get his stick into shooting lanes at the last second. He showcased solid straight-line acceleration on his carries.

Czechia

Adam Titlbach - Titlbach surely made his mark on scouts through his offensive skills and production. He’s quick in his boots and takes advantage of open ice through the neutral zone to establish controlled entries. He protects the puck very well in his hip pocket while at full speed. He shoots the puck with a quick, snappy release and showed the soft skill to make plays underneath sticks.

Ondrej Kos - Kos was a perfect complement to Titlbach and Benak on Czechia’s top line. He’s a terrific north-south skater with great speed down the wing to turn defenders around. He plays with pace off the puck and forechecks using his speed and size. He’s a threat in transition and strong along the boards with his big frame, which still has a lot of room to fill out.

Tomas Galvas - Galvas showed great maturity and pro habits in his game. He was Czechia’s second-best defenceman for me, factoring in at both ends of the rink. He utilizes his quick feet and skating to activate into the rush and stay with his man defensively while he forces them out wide. He closes out his man well along the boards and showcases good patience while starting the breakout.

Jakub Milota - Milota didn’t have a bad game and was tremendous in the Gold Medal Game. He makes up for his lack of size with his quickness and athleticism. He comes out to the top of his paint to challenge shooters and cut down his angles. Routinely squares up to shooters. He showcased good rebound control on low shots and quick reflexes in his legs.

USA

Will Zellers - After Trevor Connelly, it was Zellers who looked to create the most chances for Team USA. He created most of his chances himself by working himself into the middle of the ice for a better scoring opportunity. He’s got the quick edges needed for a smaller forward to escape pressure in small spaces. I also liked his defensive hustle and awareness in his own end.

Will Felicio - Felicio finished tied-2nd for defenceman scoring but first in goals with three. He was most effective in the tournament on the powerplay and moving the puck on breakouts. He skates with an airy stride and is light on his feet to cut, twist, and turn away from pressure. Uses his offensive instincts to get himself into scoring positions and is accurate in sniping the puck above the goalies' shoulders.

Caleb Heil - Heil’s tournament numbers don’t stand out, but when you watch him play, you see an athletic goalie who recovers quickly and is exceptional at playing the puck for his age. He managed to put up two assists in the tournament. His lateral movement is swift and he’s quick to square himself after coming across. I like his reaction speed in corralling loose pucks after he doesn’t smother the first shot he faced.

Finland

Emil Hemming - Hemming was a scoring threat on the powerplay and showcased that he possesses a very powerful and quick release. One of the best shooters in this tournament. He’s got quick hands and creativity when attacking defenders 1-on-1 off the rush. His awareness in the offensive zone while surveying along the perimeter is strong. He’s got good size already and was willing to play physical on occasion.

Tuomas Suoniemi - Suoniemi had an impressive first game of the tournament against Canada where he scored a hat trick which included a highlight reel finish. He possesses skilled hands and great puck control while moving his feet. He recognizes open pockets he can attack through due to his constant heads-up awareness. Offensively has the skill to drive his line.

Sweden

Leo Sahlin Wallenius - Wallenius played a strong two-way style and showed a knack for making offensive plays off the blueline. He’s a strong skater with good puck carrying mobility. He loves to activate into the rush. Showcased a shoot-first mentality for the most part. Defensively uses his mobility to close off players along the boards. Keeps his feet moving and uses his strength to eliminate his opponents off the puck.

Linus Eriksson - Captain for Sweden and he showcased his leadership by playing a competitive game at both ends of the rink. He’s a shifty skater in transition who displayed the ability to sidestep opponents through the neutral zone without breaking stride. He frequently scans the ice when possessing the puck and identifies quick passing options. Showed a willingness to involve himself in battles and outwork his opposition for the puck.

Switzerland

Daniil Ustinkov - The Swiss top defender did not disappoint. He’s got an all-around toolkit that allows him to play in all situations for his team. He loves to utilize his feet to carry pucks out and can do this due to his powerful skating. He’s excellent at using his edgework to escape pressure. Defensively he makes good defensive reads to intercept cross-ice passes. He’s strong defending along the boards and in defensive zone battles.

Leon Muggli - Muggli plays a bit of an old-fashioned style of defence. He’s rugged, tough, and likes to eliminate his man from the play through body contact. He’s strong on his man and was effective at breaking up cycles below his goal line. Muggli was a steady defender for the Swiss and Mr. Reliable on the backend for them.