Ondrej Vala – McKeen's Hockey

Dallas Stars Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 19:02:12 +0000

With Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and John Klingberg among many other superstar talents, the Dallas Stars are well within their competitive window. However, the Stars have missed the postseason in each of the last two seasons and eight out of ten years. Clearly, something hasn't clicked, be it coaching, injuries, or something harder to define.

Disregarding their other issues, the root of their lack of consistent winning ability has been a poor drafting and development pipeline. We all know of Ivan Vishnevskiy, Scott Glennie, and Jack Campbell, former first-rounders drafted as future stars only to flame out under the weight of the Stars' ghastly expectations. But it has extended into the later half of the decade, with guys like Valeri Nichushkin, Denis Gurianov, and Julius Honka also so far failing to live up to expectations.

Ask us about the early results from the last two drafts, and we say: General Manager Jim Nill is pretty effectively treating this issue, as the 2017 and 2018 drafts are arguably the best of his six-year Dallas tenure. Starting with super prospect Miro Heiskanen, a young Finn so talented and so promising that not even an Erik Karlsson deal could persuade Nill to trade him away, 10 of the top 20 prospects on the list come from the last two draft years.

On the Heiskanen front, the Stars have been stellar in scouting European players, a trend that has continued into this season. Two of their highest three picks this season were relatively obscure Swedish Junior players, which indicates a confidence in their European scouts. They also draft players with immense size frequently, with eight of their top-ten prospects measuring in at 6-3" or taller, which doesn’t even include 12th-ranked Curtis Douglas at 6-8".

With a third head coach in as many seasons, and the lingering concerns over a Tyler Seguin contract extension, the Dallas Stars have issues at hand that are arguably more important than prospect development. But, as this has been the most crippling struggle for Dallas over this window, and the effects of proper drafting and developing will have an instant positive impact on this squad.

Miro Heiskanen

1 Miro Heiskanen, D (3rd overall, 2017. Last year: 1st) Though Rasmus Dahlin has Calder Trophy written all over him, another young European defenseman will be in the running. At third-overall in 2017, Miro Heiskanen became the highest Stars draft pick since Mike Modano in 1988, and the immense hype surrounding the young left-hander is justified. Named the best defenseman in the Finnish Liiga with HIFK Helsinki at just 18 years old, Heiskanen is a brilliant puck-mover with impeccable hockey sense, someone who can control the game with and without the puck. A wonderful skater, Heiskanen can take the game over by asserting himself offensively with his legs and vision. He has tremendous discipline defensively and never allows many dangerous shots on goal from his side, and he is also more mature and mentally developed than basically any 18-year-old blueliner in the game, capable of playing 25+ minutes a night with ease. He dominated a men's league as a teenager last season, and will be an instant top-four defenseman with the Stars in 2018-19.

2 Ty Dellandrea, C (13th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Ty Dellandrea was considered to be somewhat of a stretch at 13th overall this past June, a selection that sent the local Dallas crowd going home from the draft with raised eyebrows. However, what the scrappy, skilled center did with a horrendous Flint Firebirds squad deserves a first-round pick and this spot on the prospect rankings. With a 20-43-0-5 OHL team that had the league's second-worst record, Dellandrea stood out, leading the club with 27 goals in addition to his 32 helpers. He boasts exciting stickhandling abilities that can hang with nearly anyone in this draft, a concrete two-way game, and some fine edgework combined with good top skating speed. His positioning away from the puck is near elite, and most of his goals were scored by him finding open ice with his nifty vision and potting easy net-front set-ups. He is inconsistent, with his best days being spread out in time, but it is hard not to attribute that to his presence on an awful junior team. If he can stick in the pros at a consistent rate, then he looks to be a smart pick for the Stars.

3 Jason Robertson, RW (39th overall, 2017. Last year: 4th) Projected as a first-rounder in 2017, Jason Robertson slipped to the Stars on day two, as a reputation for being lazy and uninterested away from the puck affected his draft stock. Always looking to improve, he took those criticisms to heart and worked on making himself a more complete player over the past season, and early results indicate a new-and-improved Robertson is a year closer to cracking the Stars' NHL roster. With the OHL's Kingston Frotenacs, he posted 41 goals and career-bests in 46 assists and 87 points, leading the team in scoring. He has plus size that gives him a power forward element and makes him hard to push off the puck, a booming set of shots that have equal parts speed and accuracy, and nifty stickhandling moves that make him an elusive forward to cover. His defensive game has taken steps, or more so, leaps and bounds, over the past season, with an increase in d-zone physicality and a decrease in risky plays coming up the ice. Robertson's only issue is a big one, and that's his skating speed, which is well behind NHL caliber without many signs of improvement; he has great edgework and superb acceleration, but without formidable top speed, his offensive game could make him a one-trick pony.

4 Jason Dickinson, C (29th overall, 2013. Last year: 8th) A 2013 draft pick, Jason Dickinson has been around this system for awhile and has not shown any reason, at least with Dallas, for a permanent NHL spot. But, with a new coach in Dallas who encourages creativity and well-roundedness, Dickinson might be in line for the roster spot his AHL numbers indicate he deserves. One of the Texas Stars' leading goal-scorers despite playing only just over half the schedule (18 goals in 42 games), Dickinson has an understated offensive game and goal-scoring touch for a player whose main draw is two-way stability. On that, he's a splendid penalty-killer, strong and tenacious around the boards, and one who will sacrifice himself for the betterment of the team. Offensively, he is crafty and resourceful with the puck, fast enough to make plays for himself, and strong enough to sustain puck possession. He has a bullet for a wrist shot and also boasts calm, effective playmaking skills to be a solid two-way, bottom-six forward who can play all three spots. His biggest problem is a lack of offensive assertiveness. He has a myriad of offensive tools at is disposal, but needs to better utilize them to find success.

Jake Oettinger

5 Jake Oettinger, G (26th overall, 2017. Last year: 5th) The first goaltender taken in the 2017 draft, Dallas actually traded up to take the American netminder, and his stats at the NCAA level suggest that the move will eventually pay off for the Stars. Backstopping a loaded, prestigious Boston University program over the past two seasons, Oettinger has been one of college hockey's best in the crease, going 21-13-4 with a .915 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average last season, earning an NCAA tournament appearance. The denoted goaltender of the future for the Stars, he has a massive physical frame (6-4", 212 lbs), excellent play-reading abilities, and a certain maturity in the crease that allows him to make all the easy saves and rarely get beaten on inside scoring chances. His lateral movement is insanely refined, and his technical game oozes intelligence and peace of mind. His biggest issue right now is transitioning from a standing position to a low butterfly, but he is athletic enough to make ends meet in that regard over time. The Team USA World Junior starter is already a workhorse for the Terriers, and the Stars will let him marinate in the lower levels with Ben Bishop signed for five more seasons. He projects to be an upper-to-mid-tier starter at the NHL level.

6 Colton Point, G (128th overall, 2016. Last year: Unranked) The thing about Oettinger's development is this: after a huge 2017-18 season, former fifth-rounder Colton Point -- a 2018 WJC gold medalist -- is not far away from where Oettinger stands as the franchise's goalie of the future. The 6-4" goaltender went ballistic with Colgate this past season, earning a Hobey Baker Award top-ten finish with a 16-12-5 record, .944 SV%, and 1.74 GAA with an undermanned, overwhelmed Raiders squad that finished at .500 on the season. In 16 of his 33 starts, Point made more than 30 saves, including a 51-save shutout over Harvard. The ECAC Player of the Year finalist has a big upper-body that is supplemented by his good positioning, and the lateral movement to track pucks all around him. He is a battler in the crease who loves to compete, and will stay at a 100% intensity level for the entirety of a game. After signing an ELC with the Stars, he is making the jump to their AHL affiliate where he will compete with Landon Bow for the job as the starter. For success in 2018-19, the 20-year-old needs to prove in the pros that his monstrous 2017-18 campaign was not a blip on the radar and was more a preview of what's to come.

7 Riley Tufte, LW (25th overall, 2016. Last year: 6th) Yet another humongous, physical NCAA star, 6-6" Riley Tufte is becoming the lethal power forward prospect he was drafted to become. He has become accustomed to the speed and skill of NCAA hockey, and with Minnesota-Duluth, scored a team-high 16 goals in his sophomore season in 2017-18. With unmatched size and physical toughness, he plays a dangerous offensive game that combines his plus playmaking and stickhandling with natural corporeal competitiveness. He can drive right to the net with his strong upper-body or draw opposing players to him against the boards to set up a teammate. With improvements in comfort and skating ability (he can move for a big guy, but can not exactly fly out there), Tufte can play the ideal power forward game, one that consists of constant pressure and physical imposition that forces defenders to react and move. Like most college players, he is a long-term project, but he has skills no coach can teach and a size advantage no common defender can come around. He will return to Duluth in 2018-19.

8 Denis Gurianov, RW (12th overall, 2015. Last year: 3rd) Everyone will agree: Denis Gurianov, at 12th overall in 2015, was the wrong pick. With Mat Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Brock Boeser among others still waiting, the Stars stretched out and grabbed a Russian minor-leaguer. Nonetheless, it's still too early to label Gurianov as a bust, even if his prospect ranking took a major hit. The 21-year-old has incredible straight-line speed, coupled with near elite acceleration and a never-give-up, high-energy motor; his frame (6-3", 200 lbs) is also at an NHL level, so at the very least, he could be a useful forechecker. His wrist shot is superb, with a quick release and the ability to fire from anywhere. Gurianov's defensive efforts are underappreciated, as he uses his speed and size to get into passing and shooting lanes well. His main problem is perhaps the biggest one you can have: a lack of hockey sense. Often looking lost out there, his positioning is terrible, his playmaking vision lags, and, as a healthy scratch for many Texas Stars playoff games in their Calder Cup Finals run, his coaches do not trust him in big moments. Without a major improvement in that aisle, he has bust potential.

9 Roope Hintz, C/LW (49th overall, 2015. Last year: 7th) Another example of quality scouting in Europe, the Stars grabbed Roope Hintz in what was considered an off-the-board second-round pick in 2015. Very mature and experienced at 21 years old - having played three full seasons in Liiga and winning the World Junior gold - he could be an NHL forward now and hold his own. His rookie AHL season was an instant success, as he led all Stars prospects in points with Texas, playing both center and wing over the year and becoming increasingly comfortable on the smaller North American ice. Hintz has insane top speed, and though his acceleration lags, he can blow right past opposing defenders with enough time and space to generate speed. His hands are swift and stellar, and though he is mostly a playmaker rather than a shooter, his wrist shot is fantastic. With one of the most well-rounded gameplay arsenals in the Dallas system, Hintz will be a useful NHL player for a while once he is ready.

Adam Mascherin

10 Adam Mascherin, LW (100th overall, 2018. Last year: 10th [Florida]) Adam Mascherin is not your typical prospect. Drafted as an early second-rounder by the Florida Panthers in 2015, the Kitchener Rangers star opted to re-enter the draft three years later after never signing with his draft team. At 100th overall, Dallas nabbed the 20-year-old in what can be called a reclamation project, and with his OHL eligibility used up, he will immediately report to AHL Texas. A former 100-point OHL player, it is clear that he has offensive skills, and he will probably transition to the pros as more of a goal-scorer than a playmaker with the high-power, tricky wrist shot he possesses. A very hard worker, he is short and stocky and uses his upper body strength well to get into dangerous scoring positions. He has sneakily good speed and great rink senses, although his two-way game is still developing. If he can be a prolific offensive force for Texas and Dallas, he will find a place high on the depth chart. If not, he was still worth the risk as a mid-round overager.

11 Oskar Back, C (75th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) A young Swedish forward who has been playing above his age level for years, Oskar Back has long had top-nine NHL potential, and the Stars grabbed the 18-year-old forward with a third-round selection in last summer's draft. With a very versatile skillset, he will soon find success at the SHL level, after tallying 32 points in 38 games in the Swedish Junior ranks. He has deadly speed that allows him to push the pace of the game, and deft hand-eye coordination and stickhandling skills that help him put the puck where it belongs, be it on a teammate's stick blade for a shot or his own. He tends to look for a pass over taking a shot, but his vision and quick decision-making lets him drop beautiful assists with ease. His plus size and strength allow his two-way game to flourish, really helping his game come to complete fruition. He isn't very strong away from the puck, and on account of that, he projects to play the wing rather than center at higher levels, but his game is otherwise formidable in most other facets.

12 Curtis Douglas, C (106th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) There is no secret as to why the Stars took a chance on Curtis Douglas with the 106th pick last summer. A 6-8" center with respectable wheels and some underappreciated playmaking skill, he is a very unique prospect whose uncommon physique is something to build upon. A decent OHL player, between the Barrie Colts and Windsor Spitfires last season, he tapped home 22 goals and assisted on 25 in his second full junior season. Obviously, his main selling point is his size, which he uses extremely well, shoving off defenders, getting inside/net-front position, and shielding the puck off well, but he can skate pretty well too. His top speed is what you would imagine at his size, but his cuts, acceleration, and backward-to-forward transitioning is reminiscent of a player a foot shorter. He also has splendid offensive vision that allows him to thread difficult passes through the slot for goals, and the attentiveness to be an effective forechecker. What Douglas will become is nearly impossible to project, but between his size and skills, Dallas might as well see where this goes.

13 Gavin Bayreuther, D (Free Agent Signing: Mar. 17, 2017. Last year: 11th) Not really an organization for big free agent prospect signings, the Stars inked undrafted NCAA defenseman Gavin Bayreuther last season and had the young lefthander anchor the AHL blueline this past year, with mixed results. The St. Lawrence University standout paced all Texas defensemen with 32 points, but displayed some growing pains, specifically in his own zone, where he looked lost with the pace and skill of the pro game. Otherwise, Bayreuther exhibited the assets that made him a hot commodity as a free agent, showing off his mobility, playmaking skills, and reliability defending zone entries. Mostly an offensive-defenseman, he has excellent foot speed, good hands, and loves to pass up the ice. A fixture on the Stars' power play, he has the prototypical offensive patience and vision of a defenseman like him. He is still a season away from an NHL roster spot, but the potential is there so long as he works on his defensive game.

14 Riley Damiani, C (137th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) An undersized center, Riley Diamiani is one of those guys that remains an offensive threat even without any single dynamic skill, just by virtue of his hockey sense and general intelligence. The Kitchener forward, who occasionally centered a line with fellow 2018 Stars pick Adam Mascherin this past season, netted 19 goals and 18 assists in 2017-18. With strong acceleration and decent top speed, he was a central part of both the defensive and offensive efforts of the OHL's Rangers when on the ice. He can join or push the offensive rush with ease, but he appears more comfortable without the puck, and he mostly camps out somewhere near the net to fire off one of his blazing wrist shots directly off a pass. His positioning is solid in all three zones and his non-stop, energetic motor is another point in his favor. As a center, Diamiani needs to become more assertive with the puck and be a more effective set-up man, especially with his swift, elusive stickhandling skills; he does not really have a winger's skillset or the size to make something happen against the boards, so it looks like his future will be down the middle, but there will be no long-term future for the 18-year-old without an improvement in that aisle.

Albin Eriksson

15 Albin Eriksson, RW (44th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Albin Eriksson compares his game to that of future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin, and from a purely stylistic standpoint, it is hard to disagree. Eriksson is a menacing power forward with a deadly mix of size (6-4", 207 lbs) and intensity, using that combo to score at over a point-per-game in the Swedish Junior levels (22-18-40 in 38 games). He skates well for a guy of his stature, has crazy quick hands and elusiveness to fly past defenders, and has above-average play-reading abilities. He truly is like Malkin from a style perspective: a power forward with an unpredictable, skilled, complete offensive game. So why is he ranked so low in the prospect rundown, especially as a mid second-rounder? Eriksson is a square peg in the round hole of hockey, being mostly a dud in his time in the SHL, and not often being called upon to represent Sweden in international play. He lacks the dynamic skill to be a top-six forward at high levels, but plays too fast and unstructured of a style to be a depth scoring option. He has middle-six NHL potential with the Stars if he can harness his skill into something more readily useful down the road.

16 Joseph Cecconi, D (133rd overall, 2015. Last year: 13th) When you play alongside Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes on the Michigan blueline, the spotlight will, understandably, not be on you. Joseph Cecconi, in his senior year, will now step into the glare for the Wolverines after being named the program's captain. The former World Junior gold medalist had his best offensive season last year, scoring five goals in addition to 17 assists, helping Michigan reach the Frozen Four for the first time in seven seasons. A big and strong stay-at-home defenseman with a developing offensive game, he has great gap control and quick enough feet to mark his man throughout the defensive zone. He does not carry the puck much, but instead utilizes his fast and accurate stretch passes to spark a transition game. He projects to be a well-rounded bottom-pairing defenseman with minimal offensive upside, but his game has many facets to like.

17 Dillon Heatherington, D (Trade: Mar. 1, 2017 [Columbus]. Last year: 17th) A former second-rounder, Dillon Heatherington would have been an NHL All-Star 20 years ago, but as the game trends toward faster and smaller defensemen, keeping a major-league roster spot has been a challenge for him. One of the AHL's best and most physical d-men last season, the 6-4" lefty also made a mark with his nastiness and intensity in the Dallas locker room, accruing 26 penalty minutes and a point in his six top-flight games last season. His size and strength permits him to shove opposing forwards around and force them to the outside to limit high-danger shots; when they do get by him, he has decent enough foot speed to track them back down and cut a pass or shot off. After the 2017-18 campaign, it looked like Heatherington would have the seventh defenseman job locked down with Dallas, but it became clear that the Stars brass lacks confidence in the former Calder Cup champ after signing Roman Polak for that role.

18 Nicholas Caamano, C/RW (146th overall, 2016. Last year: 16th) One of the last cuts from the Stars' 2017 training camp roster, Nicholas Caamano has made a great first impressions on Dallas' front office personnel. After a mid-season trade from Ty Dellandrea's Flint Firebirds to the Hamilton Bulldogs, the offensive dynamo erupted for 36 points in 41 games, followed by 22 in 21 postseason matches as Hamilton took home the OHL Championship. He plays a goal-scoring offense-first game, but has made major strides in his playmaking over the past few seasons, as his smarts have let him evolve into a more complete player. His shot is electric, he can skate with the best of them, plays both sides of the special teams equation, and has some strong power forward moves despite average size. A young 20-year-old, Caamano will join the AHL Stars in 2018-19 as Dallas tries to develop him into another fifth-round steal.

19 Ondrej Vala, D (Free Agent Signing: Sep. 29, 2016. Last year: 20th) Undrafted out of the 2016 draft, Ondrej Vala joined the Stars' prospect club at the annual Traverse City tournament and signed a three-year ELC directly after. Something impressed the Stars then, and the exceptional two-way WHL defender has shown us all what he showed the Dallas brass back then. A mid-season acquisition by the Everett Silvertips, Vala was like a rock on the blueline during a stretch run, and playoff run, that concluded in a berth in the WHL Finals. He is massive (6-4", 210 lbs), with a frame that he uses well in his own zone to dislodge opposing forwards' position and scoop pucks out from the boards by using his body as a shield. He also has a cannon from the blueline, one he utilizes at every opportunity, and can skate well for a big man, covering a lot of ground in all three zones. The 20-year-old will likely transition to the AHL, where he will continue to fine-tune his raw defensive zone coverage.

20 Dawson Barteaux, D (168th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) The only defenseman the Stars drafted in 2018 and the first Stars' defensive selection since Miro Heiskanen, highly-mobile puck-moving defenseman Dawson Barteaux has all the makings of a late-round draft steal. He made huge strides in 2017-18 with the Red Deer Rebels while playing alongside Capitals first-rounder Alexander Alexeyev, recording three goals and 29 assists in 64 regular-season games. He played in all situations for Red Deer, including both special teams sides, eating up a lot of minutes as a cool, calm presence on their blue line. A possession machine and a driver of offense, Barteaux mixes riskiness with safe play, a trait that should translate well to the pros. He is a great skater and has exciting stickhandling abilities, but needs to work on his point shot a little, as well as the intricacies of defensive zone play.

State of the CHL: The Western Hockey League

Vince Gibbons — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 16:45:59 +0000

The ebbs and flows of Junior hockey is part of what makes each season so interesting and entertaining. Powerhouse programs must reset every couple of years and out of those ashes new teams move to take over the league and dominate the game. This year in the WHL is no different with a couple of teams really taking steps forward with a good shot at becoming the WHL Champions and Memorial Cup Contenders. With the trade deadline recently passing (and what a wild ride that was this season), the rosters have stabilized and these will be the teams going forward.

Moose Jaw and Swift Current have taken the league by storm this year as they battle for home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Their division also boasts a Brandon Wheat Kings team that has been in and out of the CHL top 10 standing all year as well as the 100^th Memorial Cup hosts Regina Pats so game in and game out there has been highly competitive hockey, for critical points in the standings. Out in the West things are as competitive as ever with Everett, Portland, Kelowna and Victoria all within 4 points of each other at the top of the Western Conference. Everett continues to impress league-wide, with a sound defensive game and high end goaltending and solid team game. The other top teams of the East are sporting high end offensive talents like Cody Glass (Por), Skyler McKenzie (Por), Matthew Phillips (Vic), Kole Lind (Kel), and Dillion Dube (Kel) who are all having excellent seasons having been previously drafted into the NHL.

The Eastern Conference:

East Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Moose Jaw Warriors 48-38-7-1-2-79

Jayden Halbgewachs. Photo by Marc Smith

Moose Jaw has been an offensive dynamo all season and at the trade deadline were able to add pieces that will help stabilize the back end and the defensive game. The scoring is being led by two 20 year olds in Brayden Burke (Unsigned) and Jayden Halbgewach (signed SJS) who are sitting one and two in the WHL in scoring. These two might not even be the most offensive players on the team as Brett Howden missed 24 games and has only lately seemed to be hitting his stride. At the deadline Moose Jaw addressed their biggest needs by grabbing a big stay out home defenseman in Brandon Schuldhaus from Red Deer as well as top scoring defenseman and recent World Juniors Gold Medalist Kale Clague (LAK 2016) from Brandon. His dynamic puck moving skills should only enhance this team’s offensive prowess. The largest contribution from a draft eligible player has to have come from Jett Woo. He has been a consistent defender in all situations showing a strong competitive fire in his own zone. He isn’t a dynamic player but more of a jack of all trades defender who can chip in offensively while playing steady responsible minutes. This team has set themselves up to come out of the East as they have the top offensive numbers averaging nearly 0.75 of a goal per game more than anyone else in the league. That coupled with the roughly 3.00 overall goals against average is a strong indicator of future success for this win-now franchise.

Swift Current Bronco’s 49-33-12-3-1-70

Tyler Steembergen, Swift Current Broncos. Photo courtesy of Swift Current Broncos,

Swift Current possess the most dynamic duo in the league this year and it really hasn’t even been that close. Tyler Steenbergen (Ari) is averaging over one goal per game with 36 in 34 games while averaging an assist per game at 35 assists in 34 games. Even more impressive is Aleksi Heponiemi (Fla) who has 89 points in just 37 games (2.41ppg). Throw in an amazing overage year for Glenn Gawdin (Cgy) and they were a one line team who were impressing night after night. Over the course of the season a number of key additions have been made to balance out the scoring and ensure the team kept rolling with a few key members at the WJC. Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn, and Giorgio Estephan now lead a more than capable supporting cast of forwards who will help the offense. On the defensive side Colby Sissons (NJ) has taken a big step offensively while maintaining his strong defensive play. Finally the addition of Stuart Skinner (Edm) as a true #1 has been a great add as they push for a seemingly inevitable clash with Moose Jaw in the Eastern Final. Riley Stotts (2018) had been their best draft eligible prospect but was moved out to add Gennaro and Malenstyn so they look pretty thin for 2000’s on the roster.

Brandon Wheat Kings 48-28-15-3-2-61

Stelios Matheos, Photo by Tim Smith, courtesy of the WHL

You can assess what Brandon thought of their chances of coming out of the East this year by what they did at the deadline. After being in and out of the CHL top 10 most of the season Brandon traded away their MVP and perhaps the top defenseman in the league this year to a divisional rival in Moose Jaw. Brandon had been paced by Ty Lewis and Stelio Mattheos up front both on pace for 40 goals seasons but that didn’t look to be enough to get past one let alone both of Moose Jaw and Swift Current. Brandon has a lot of young talent to build around going forward with Chase Hartje (2018) and Luka Burzan (2018) coming over in the deal for Clague, as well as the home grown Cole Reinhardt (2018). The nicest future piece could be the speedy play in Jonny Hooker (2020) who has not looked out of place in a his 31 games.

Regina Pats 49-24-20-5-0-53

As the Host of this year’s Memorial Cup Regina has a spot already booked in the tournament but has been adding veteran players throughout the season to ensure a strong showing. The team has been built around an impressive top pairing for Josh Mahura and Cale Fleury. Both log big minutes in all situations creating offense while shutting the door on some of the top forwards in the WHL. Mahura has taken another step this year and his offensive production has been amongst the league leaders from the back end. Cameron Hebig has adjusted quickly to add some 20 year old offense after a slow offensive starts to the season for Nick Henry (Col) and Jake Leschyshyn (VGK). Sam Steel (Ana) is really the straw that stirs the drink for this team offensively as he averages over 1.3 ppg heading into the last 20 games of the season. This team is poised to be the top wild card which is a pretty favorable outcome heading out of the division and avoiding the top three teams in the conference. Despite trading away a lot of youth to keep the team strong for a host season the club have managed to keep Emil Oksanen (2018) on the roster through the deadline. He is a fast, offensive minded right shot winger who is averaging just under a point per game while looking to be drafted in his second year of eligibility.

Saskatoon Blades 48-23-22-2-1-49

Saskatoon will likely make the playoffs as the Central Division is really struggling to produce anything that resembles a challenge for the Wild card. Saskatoon has to be pleased with the development of Eric Florchuk (2018) and Chase Wouters (2018) who have both been solid contributors. While neither looks to be a high end offensive talent at the pro level both have shown themselves to be effective secondary producers in junior. Throw in the development of Kirby Dach (2019) and Saskatoon looks ready to take over the division as some of these teams start to age out of their current rosters.

Prince Albert Raiders 47-18-20-7-2-45

As the division basement dwellers standing suggests they are weaker than all the previously mentioned teams. That said they likely would make the playoffs as a 2 or 3 seed in the Central division. The team plays a structured game and while there aren’t big name drafted players Vojtech Budik (Buf) has acquitted himself well on the back end. The real jewel of Prince Albert’s roster is Cole Fonstand (2018) who leads all WHL draft eligible players in primary points with 34 in 47 games. Overall he averages .98 points per game and is able to drive offense despite being undersized on a team that doesn’t have a ton of high end support for him.

Central Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Medicine Hat Tigers 48-24-19-5-0-53

The Tigers lead the Central division by a pretty wide margin in what could be the worst division in the CHL this season. The team is led in all respects by David Quenneville (NYI) who drives play with his excellent transition game and is leading the WHL in defensive scoring this year with 53 points. Medicine Hat has a pretty young team that is gaining confidence with each victory this year. That youth is led by 2018 draft eligible Ryan Chyzowski, who has good size and can play in all three zones. He has earned power play time in the second half of the season which should help improve his production (15G, 17A) as we close out the season.

Lethbridge Hurricanes 47-22-21-4-0-48

Lethbridge has been a team in flux. Earlier in the season they seemed to be making a push acquiring Lane Zablocki (Det) from Red Deer but then at the deadline shipped him to Victoria to help them make a push. Once the decision to move out some veterans had been made they moved major assets in Stuart Skinner (Edm) and Giorgio Estephan to bring back some youth and draft picks. In a division where a win one lose one record pulls you ahead for a playoff spot the team is not a serious contender to oust any of the power house teams in the Eastern division. Through all this transition one thing has been a constant; undersized defender Calen Addison (2018) has been driving offensive chances and using his great vision and playmaking to produce points at a very high level (G-7-A-33-PTS-40).

Kooteney ICE 47-21-23-3-0-45

Kooteney has been in the basement of this division since the departure of Sam Reinhart (Buf) to the NHL. This current incarnation’s place in the standings is more the rest of the division getting worse than it is of team gaining legitimacy as a force in the Central. The most impressive piece on this roster is 16 year old Peyton Krebs (2019) who looks every bit the part of a first overall pick from the 2016 Bantam Draft. He is near a point per game playing in all situations and is second on the team scoring in his Draft -1 year, very impressive.

Calgary Hitmen 47-15-26-5-1-36

The Calgary Hitman had a fire sale this season and while most of the assets collected came back in draft picks a good number of draft eligible players remain part of the roster. With Jake Bean (Car) moved out Vladislav Yeryomenko (2018) has become the number one defender for this team. He is aggressive and skates very well with and without the puck and is starting to show better playmaking skills. In addition a rookie in Jackson Van De Leest (2019) has shown he is capable of helping shoulder more minutes on the back end. Those kids coupled with the a nice collection of 17 year olds in Riley Stotts (2018), Carson Focht (2018), Tristen Nielsen (2018), and Egor Zamula (2018) are all getting valuable minutes for the remainder of the season.

Red Deer Rebels 47-11-25-8-3-33

The Rebels have under achieved throughout the early part of the season forcing management’s hand to start rebuilding. Two key pieces in the rebuild look to be Kristian Reichel (2018) and Alex Alexeyev (2018). While playing in the Czech league Reichel was overlooked but this year in Red Deer coupled with a strong showing at the WJC have him moving up draft boards. His skating is very strong which has helped him establish himself as a 200 foot player capable of producing and defending. Alexeyev has been impressive this year and he has dynamic skating and excellent vision and passing skills. He needs to work on his game in his own zone and can have mental lapses in his own zone but he has a ton of potential. They have also been running a 2019 eligible goalie as a starter for most of this season. Ethan Anders‘ (2019) numbers have been respectable despite a number of breakdowns defensively in front of him.

Edmonton Oil Kings 46-13-27-4-2-32

Edmonton’s Memorial Cup victory seems a long time ago as the organization has had another tough season after building back to back Memorial Cup teams just a few years ago. The offense comes from the stick of Trey Fix-Wolansky (Unsigned) who is a very dangerous undersized player. Brett Kemp (2018) may be a late round pick this year despite the team’s struggles overall. The real developmental progression for the Oil Kings is in the 2001’s where Matthew Robertson and Liam Keeler both have shown some real promise.

The Western Conference:

U.S. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Everett Silvertips 48-30-16-1-1-62

Everett seems to be built for playoff hockey. Carter Hart (Phi), after being afflicted with mono to start the season, has rebounded to put up some ridiculous numbers. His sparkling 1.51 GAA in 24 games is leaps and bounds better than anyone else in the league. By comparison only three other goalies have a GAA under 3.00 (at least 20 games played) and the best of them is at a 2.77. His save % of .953 is 40 points higher than the next goalie who has played at least 20 games. The scoring is well distributed on this team but the real punch comes from two overage players that have produced while still buying into the defense first system of head coach Dennis Williams. Both Matt Fonteyne and Patrick Bajkov have really shown something this year as they both average well over 1.00 ppg. 2018 draft eligible Riley Sutter has shown that he too can generate offense while playing a sound defensive game. He has good size and speed that sets him apart from other draft eligible forwards in this year’s draft.

Portland Winterhawks 47-28-15-1-3-60

Portland boasts some of the most offensively gifted players in the league. Undersized Skyler McKenzie (Wpg) has a shot at eclipsing 100pts this year and is still targeting a 50 goal season. He likely is the third best forward on his line as he skates with Cody Glass (VGK) and Kieffer Bellows (NYI) on a nightly basis. On the back end they are led by Henri Jokiharju (Chi) and the recently added Dennis Cholowski (Det). Both of these defenders can carry the puck and distribute it at a high level. John Ludvig is the most likely 2018 prospect for this team. He is a pretty effective defensive defenseman capable of making a good first pass while playing a strong physical game.

Seattle Thunderbirds 47-25-16-4-2-56

After losing Matt Barzal (NYI), Ryan Gropp (NYR), and Ethan Bear (Edm) a by-committee approach has led to solid season in the US Division for Seattle. The team sports five players in Nolan Volcan (Unsigned), Donovan Neuls (Unsigned), Zack Andrusiak (Unsigned), Austin Strand (LAK) and Sami Moilanen (Unsigned) who all average right around 1.00 ppg. Seattle has been looking for a stabilizing force in net as three goalies have played over ten games each already this season. The duo of Dorrin Luding (Unsigned) and Liam Hughes (Unsigned) will be asked to deliver solid performances down the stretch if they have any hopes of catching either Portland or Everett.

Tri-City Americans 46-23-16-7-0-53

Juuso Valimaki of the Tri-City Americans.

A highly competitive team that relies on the strength of their back end and strong overage goaltending to compete in a challenging division. The deadline acquisition of Jake Bean (Car) from the Calgary Hitmen really sets the expectations for the group heading into the last 20 games. Dylan Coghlan (Vgk) , Bean and Juuso Valimaki (Cgy) all put up excellent offensive numbers. Up front Morgan Geekie (Car) has been very consistent this year averaging the 1.25 ppg he did in his draft season. Isaac Johnson leads the charge for 2018 potential draft picks as he has a big frame and some decent offensive skills for an overage player. Highly touted Michael Rasmussen (Det) has continued to show his goal scoring prowess this season dispute struggling to stay in the lineup.

Spokane Chiefs 47-25-19-1-2-53

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, photo by Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

The optics of being last in the division do not reflect the strength of this team and their potential to win a round as a wild card in the playoffs. Jaret Anderson-Dolan (LAK) has been a consistent and steady force for this team as it started without one of the most dynamic players in the league in Kailer Yamomoto (Edm). Now 20 games in Yamamoto has rounded back into form and is averaging 1.48 PPG. Add in the early season trade the brought in Zach Fischer (Cgy) the team has a nice balanced group of forwards. On the back end they boast Ty Smith (2018) who has a real shot at going in the top 10 of this year’s NHL entry draft. Despite his stature he projects to be a dynamic playmaker that can carry the puck with speed, while displaying excellent vision and playmaking ability.

B.C. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Kelowna Rockets 46-29-14-2-1-61

Cal Foote of Kelowna Rockets

Kelowna’s roster is loaded to bear and despite a lot of injury trouble with key players have been able to battle to the top of the B.C. Division. Kelowna was able to provide the captain for team Canada in Dillon Dube (Cgy), while also providing minute munching defender Cal Foote (TBL). Foote brings the gritty toughness you love in a top pairing defenseman while still being a good playmaker and shooter. Kole Lind (Van) has been pacing the offense this year along with Carsen Twarynski (Phi) as both are on pace to hit 40 goals this season. While being loaded with current draft picks the team still has a number of pieces NHL teams will covet over the next few drafts, Kyle Topping (2018), Libor Zabransky (2018), and Nolan Foote (2019) have all been large contributors to the team’s success this year which bodes well over the next few seasons.

Victoria Royals 48-27-17-3-1-58

Matthew Phillips (Cgy) has been one of the top goal scorers in the entire WHL over the past three seasons and with him signing his ELC in December will very likely be gone after this year. With a goal scoring talent like that leaving town Victoria has a gone all in this year adding Tanner Kaspick (StL), Noah Gregor (SJS), Lane Zablocki (Det), Andrei Grishakov, and Jeff De Wit, showing a real commitment to making their way out of the Western Conference. Tyler Soy (Ana) who early in the season was recognized as the CHL player of the week has had points in 13 of his last 15 games while the new players have since established some chemistry with their new team. In net Griffen Outhouse leads the league in shots faced and saves giving him a very respectable .912 Sv% this season which puts him 3^rd in the league for goalies who have played in over 20 games. If he can stay hot into the playoffs Victoria has a real chance at making the Western Final.

Vancouver Giants 47-25-15-4-3-57

Ty Ronning (NYR) paces Vancouver’s offense with his impressive 42 goals in just 49 games this season. This is even more impressive given that Tyler Benson (Edm) has continued to be plagued by injury problems, missing 13 games already this year after having missed 39 in 2017 and 42 in 2016. Milos Roman (2018) has taken advantage of this and has been providing a playmaking presence on the team with his 21 assists with many projecting him to be a top 60 pick this year.

Kamloops Blazers 47-21-23-1-2-45

Kamloops shipped out a number of their top guys at the deadline with key personnel Garrett Pilon and Ondrej Vala both leaving for Everett. The strength of the U.S. division means that a team stuck in neutral in the B.C. division is a long shot to make the playoffs and Kamloops would have to play lights out down the stretch to even catch a Wild Card spot.

Prince George Cougars 48-18-23-4-3

With Dennis Cholowski (Det) joining the Cougars this summer rather than continue along the college route there was a heightened expectation that was never reached this year. He was impressive scoring 13 goals and 26 assists prior to the trade deadline but could not carry the team. A major hole in the team this season has been scoring with just one player (Josh Maser) with over 20 goals. Nikita Popugaev (NJD), a promising Russian import was expected to lead the line offensively however his commitment to a total team game was lacking, as was his commitment to play in North America as he jumped ship back to Russian after only 13 games. There are a couple of promising youngsters that could hear their names called at the 2018 NHL Entry draft this year including Ilijah Colina, and Jackson Leppard. Leppard is a power forward with a big body and frame that can really shoot the puck, while Colina is a small speedy winger who was in the bottom six in Portland until heading north of the border. Since joining Prince George he has scored 6pts in 9 games in an expanded role with his new team.

***

This season the WHL has two highly competitive divisions and five elite teams in Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Everett, Portland and Kelowna all with a real shot at making the Championship series. The wildcard format is very practical this year, as without it a quality team would be left out of the playoff picture in each Conference. While it is a much debated structure in hockey this season in particular shows the practicality of having potential divisional cross over teams as it ensures that the best 16 teams in the WHL get a shot to go for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, which would not have been the case in a pure divisional playoff structure.

2018 WJC in Review: The Czech Republic

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 22:04:35 +0000

It was whispered in some quarters (hint: here ß https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/wjc-2018-team-preview-czech-republic/) that the Czechs might be on the upswing. In hindsight, it should not have been hard to spot. Even though the nation had not been able to escape the quarterfinals of the year-end WU18 tournament since 2013-14 (and all of those players have since aged out of junior level hockey) the nation did medal in four of the past five Ivan Hlinka tourneys, including a 2016 gold.

That gold medal squad was well represented on this iteration of the Czech U20, including stars Martin Necas, Filip Chytil and supporting players Jakub Skarek, Jakub Galvas, Filip Kral, Radim Salda, Martin Kaut, Ostap Safin, and Filip Zadina.

With the more “proven” players listed above being offensively talented forwards, it should have come as no real surprise that the team had a very potent offense. Their 18 goals in the preliminary round was second only to Sweden in Group B, and fourth among all competing nations.

On the other hand, what proved to be their downfall was also relatively easy to spot. They surrendered 15 goals in those same four games, ranking seventh out of ten teams, ahead of only one squad that finished out of the relegation round. Their netminding was so unsteady that head coach Filip Pesan called for his backup in four of their seven overall games.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 5: The Czech Republic's Jakub Skarek #1 looks on during bronze medal game action against the U.S. at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

On the other hand, that type of quick trigger finger may have hurt as much as it helped, with both main goalies, the aforementioned Skarek – perhaps the top netminding prospect for the 2018 NHL draft – and Josef Korenar - signed as an undrafted free agent to an ELC by the San Jose Sharks after a solitary strong season with Lincoln of the USHL – anticipating a spot on the bench every time the opposition gained the zone with numbers. Skarek had moments were he looked like the real deal, especially early in the tournament. He moves around the crease very well, and is able to cover the net from post to post. But he fought the puck all too often. Korenar showed some scramble ability and comfort moving to get to second chances, but traffic was a bugbear and there were simply too many second chances for anyone’s comfort. Skarek will get another chance to redeem himself on the world’s greatest U20 stage next year in Vancouver.

The blueline also did its part in lighting fires. Despite having a broad range of NHL-affiliated young defensemen to play with, they could rarely keep their opponents from threatening the Czech netminder. Even relegated Belarus scored five of their 10 total goals in a thrilling game against the Czech side. Outside of clear number one blueliner Libor Hajek, a Tampa Bay second rounder, each member of their rearguard stumbled more than one. Hajek was awesome. A workhorse, he played a minimum of 20:22 in every game, including a staggering 30:46 in the quarterfinal upset win over Finland. He was a key cog at both ends, using positioning and a good stick to help sweep away danger in the defensive end and swiftly carrying the puck up the ice to help in the quick strike attack that was so effective at times for the Czechs.

Buffalo prospect Vojtech Budik, generally Hajek’s partner on the first pairing, did some nice things when he had the puck, but all too often avoided confrontation when defending, giving his opponent too much room in which to maneuver. Chicago prospect Jakub Galvas was reliable, but prone to own zone giveaways that saw him relegated to third pairing duties more often than not. Dallas prospect Ondrej Vala rarely did enough to escape the third pairing and was more often than not invisible, despite finishing second among Czech blueliners with 10 shots on goal. If there was a second defender after Hajek who escaped the tournament with passing grades it was draft eligible Filip Kral, now in his first North American season playing in the WHL with Spokane. Although he needs to add bulk, he impressed with his positional play and high panic threshold. His decent shot and above average puck moving ability should see him hear his name called on draft day this year.

If I wanted to nitpick the Czech attack, I would point out that I expected more from Rangers first rounder Filip Chytil. He was fine, scoring twice, and every now and then having a dominant shift highlighting his quick feet and hands. He even showed some toughness, playing with a broken nose. But I am selfish and wanted more. So for more I could turn to Martin Necas, who tied for the overall tournament lead in scoring with USA’s Casey Mittlestadt with 11 points, or Filip Zadina, one of the top prospects for the upcoming draft, who consistently demonstrated every type of offensive skill one could want in a forward prospect. His skating, shot, and puck skills all grade out as high end. He could stand to improve on his recognition and decision making in his own zone, but nothing about his game suggests that he is merely a one-way player. Zadina has superstar potential (Necas already is a superstar for this age-level) and is not far from reaching those heights. Among all players in the tournament, only American Kieffer Bellows took more than Zadina’s 37 shots on net.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: The Czech Republic's Martin Kaut #16 skates with the puck while Sweden's Jacob Moverare #27 chases him down during preliminary round action at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

The next three most effective Czech forwards in the tournament were all as yet undrafted, although one has not yet been eligible for those honors. The youngest of the second trio was Martin Kaut, who will challenge Skarek for the title of highest drafted player in 2018 playing in the Czech Republic. Although lean, he plays a heavy game, making his presence felt in a physical way game in and game out. He plays a strong possession game, and shows solid passing skills. He finished the tournament with seven points in seven games. Radovan Pavlik and Kristian Reichel have both already been passed over in the draft twice each, but their respective performances in Buffalo might push their luck to change in their third go-round. It was the undersized Pavlik’s first appearance in the WJC and he made the wait worth it, with six points in the seven games. He is a nice skater with good edges, has good offensive vision and works hard for rebounds. He will have to improve his Czech league production to maintain his WJC momentum through draft day, but the last few weeks are certainly a mark in his favor. Kristian Reichel, whose father Robert had a long NHL career in the 90s, has been acclimatizing to the NHL game with a poor Red Deer squad and seemed to get better as the WJC progressed. A dogged player, he featured heavily on both Czech special teams’ units. He is an above average skater, which plays up due to his great hustle, can dangle with the puck and can score with both a slap shot and a wrist shot. His frame looks wide enough to carry more weight as he matures. I expect him to be drafted if his WHL play keeps up.

Of the players mentioned above, only Reichel, Pavlik, Hajek, Budik, Vala, and Korenar will have aged out by next year. If at least two of Zadina, Necas, and Chytil are not in the NHL and are thus available to represent their country once more, the Czech squad could be even stronger in 2019. Then again, with as talented as those three are, I would not bet on it. Still, even without them, there was enough production from the 18 year old cohort this year to expect the Czech Republic to show well again next year.

Dallas – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:01:53 +0000

Jim Nill was hired as General Manager of the Dallas Stars in April, 2013. Coming off a long apprenticeship in the Detroit front office, Nill brought with him significant experience in the scouting and development realm, an area of noted strength over the years in Detroit. Four years and five draft classes into his leadership in Dallas, it seems as fair a time as any to assess which methods of the “Red Wings Way” he took to Texas.

The three most prominent traits in the Red Wings draft and development plan over that period were the heavy drafting of Europeans, the long AHL development times, and the regular selection of goalies, often in the later rounds, having selected 15 in 20 years.

Starting with the third point first. In five drafts as Stars GM, Nill has overseen the drafting of six goalies, including one first rounder. In fairness, one of them was traded away during draft weekend, but it is clear that the Nill Stars are not shy about selecting goaltenders.

To looks at development lead times, we need to expand our analysis beyond his five draft classes to also include all players already in the system when Nill was hired. Among players who were good enough to become regular NHLers with Dallas in the past four seasons, we have Colton Sceviour (348 AHL games), Alex Chiasson (66), John Klingberg (150 AHL/ European men’s hockey), Patrik Nemeth (104), Jyrki Jokipakka (199 AHL + Liiga), Jamie Oleksiak (171), Brett Ritchie (141), Esa Lindell (198 AHL + Liiga), Devin Shore (23), Radek Faksa (68), Valeri Nichushkin (0), Julius Honka, assuming he makes the team this year (191).

So there are exceptions to this rule, but Nill leans towards making sure his prospects have proven themselves at the AHL level before making the Stars for good. Of the exceptions, Chaisson and Shore were older prospects, starting their professional careers after spending a few years in college. Nichushkin going right from the draft to the NHL may have been a function of wanting to ensure the first rounder stayed in North America instead of returning to Russia, which he eventually did anyway. Faksa is the odd one out here, but he came into the AHL with a mature game, was excelling in his first full season on the farm and the Stars had a definite use for him in the lineup. I would say that he prefers long development times, but is not religious about it. Also, it would not surprise many people at all if this year’s first rounder, Miro Heiskanen, made the team right away.

Finally, a look at European drafting. In five draft classes with Nill at the helm, the Stars drafted 14 European players out 36 total picks, 13 of whom were scouted in Europe. That includes four of their seven first round selections. It seems that Nill is definitely not a subscriber to Don Cherry’s belief in down-home hockey. While the Stars have not yet built dynasty like the Red Wings had in the late 90s-early 00s, their GM is following some of the strategies that helped those teams flourish.

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 2: Finland's Miro Heiskanen #2 lets a shot go during relegation round action against Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

1 Miro Heiskanen – One of the fastest rising prospects of the 2017 draft class, Heiskanen is the epitome of the 200 foot, modern day defenseman. An exemplary skater, his puck skills and hockey IQ are also already at levels rarely seen in 18 year old blueliners. Given big minutes in Liiga for HIFK, his game matured to a great degree this year. He was also a regular for Finland’s WJC squad and a star for his country at the WU18 where he was named Best Defenseman. He needs to bulk up, but is otherwise ready.

2 Julius Honka – A precursor to Heiskanen, Honka is an undersized blueliner who combines well above average skating ability with exceptional puck play. After close to three years in the AHL, the former first round pick finally received an NHL call up last year and showed well in limited duty in the second half of the season. He will need to be sheltered for the near future, but should be a strong contributor to the Dallas power play in the mold of Sami Vatanen.

3 Denis Gurianov – Gurianov followed Honka’s path as a teenager playing in the AHL with his age 19 debut season last year, a season punctuated by a star turn for Team Russia at the WJC. Strong in all three zones, and a force on the rush thanks to plus skating and impressive stick handling ability. Has an NHL ready frame, so while a call up should not be expected too soon, he will not need to be protected once he is up. He should be able to ease into NHL duty on a bottom six role and gradually climb the ranks.

Jason Robertson of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

4 Jason Robertson – One of the better pure goal scorers available in the 2017 draft class, Robertson was too often derided for what he could not or did not do. That being, he was too often uninterested in play away from the puck and was seen as soft and possibly lazy. Since being drafted, many reports have emerged that he has taken those criticisms to heart and is dedicating himself to being stronger. He already grades as plus with his shooting, skating and close to plus with his puck skills.

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 17: The puck beats Boston University Terriers goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

5 Jake Oettinger – The first goaltender selected in the first round since Washington chose Ilya Samsonov 22nd overall in 2015, Oettinger is a very big netminder with quick limbs, excellent play reading capabilities and a reputation for calm, unflappable play between the pipes, no matter the occasion. Already a workhorse for Boston University, he will not be rushed by Dallas as he works on smoothening out his butterfly transition and puck handling. Projects as a mid-tier starter if developed right.

6 Riley Tufte – Physically imposing at 6-5”, Tufte had a very slow start to his NCAA career with Minnesota-Duluth, as the jump in competition from a season mostly spent in high school was difficult to overcome at first. By mid-year, he became accustomed to the speed of the game and begin to flash his plus puck skills and was more often able to force defenders to react instead of letting them dictate the play. With improved comfort, he can be an ideal power forward, but much more development is ahead.

7 Roope Hintz – Another player who played above his age, Hintz was already past his rookie season in Liiga, Finland’s top men’s league, and had experienced a WJC competition, when the Stars made him a second round choice. He has since spent two more seasons in Liiga, converting his excellent skating and puck handling into a scoring role. A smart player who shows good anticipation, he might not need more than a year or so in the AHL (starting now) before he is ready for the NHL.

8 Jason Dickinson – A strong two-way forward, Dickinson is nearing the point where he has done all he can in the AHL and is ready for a prolonged NHL opportunity. A strong skater and patient puck handler, his best attribute is actually his hockey sense as the former first round pick is a reliable penalty killer and back checker. He also uses his pro sized frame to advantage. He should be able to step into any role – and any forward position - and perform effectively.

9 Gemel Smith – A grinder with some skill and offensive sense, Smith excels with his puck protection abilities, using his fast hands and surprising upper body strength to keep defender away. His vision and patience make him more of an offensive asset than his middling point totals across three AHL seasons would otherwise suggest. A perfect example of Nill’s patience with prospects, Smith is ready to perform in a bottom six role in the NHL.

10 Remi Elie – Another player nearing put-up-or-shut-up time, Elie is a somewhat limited, but near NHL ready forward in the Stars’ system. A strong skater with nominal puck skills, he plays with energy and responsibility in all zones. Strong on both forecheck and backcheck, he even received ample PK time in his NHL opportunities last season. Most likely a bottom six forward, he could play higher in a puck retrieval/mule role.

11 Gavin Bayreuther – An offensive defenseman signed by the Stars as a free agent out of St. Lawrence, Bayreuther likes to pinch in deep and plays a central role on all offensive zone possessions. Although he shows effort in his own zone, with a tight gap on zone entries against and tight coverage in the corners, he can be prone to bouts of puck watching. He needs more time in the AHL to round out his game, but he has the mobility and puck handling ability to play in a bottom pairing role in the NHL.

12 Fredrik Karlstrom – An under the radar pick in the third round in 2016, Karlstrom took solid strides in his development in his first pro-draft season. Moving up from the Swedish junior ranks to play for AIK in Allsvenskan, he showed flashed of offensive talent coupled with a solid overall skill set including positive skating ability and the type of shot that suggests more goals in his future. Strong reads also bode well for his future.

13 Joseph Cecconi – A beefy defensive defenseman, Cecconi was a mild surprise as a selection for the American entry at last year’s WJC. A solid skater who can carry the puck up the ice and into the offensive zone, his offensive contributions usually end around there. Generally not very comfortable on the puck if he is being pressured, he has shown marked improvement in his own zone and puts his strong frame to good use.

14 Tyler Pitlick – Pitlick is about four weeks too young and was hurt four games too soon to lose his prospect eligibility. After years of stalled development due to injuries, he seemed to finally be ready to make good on the promise he showed as a teenager at the NCAA and then WHL levels. Before the injury that ended last year early, Pitlick showed enough as a skater, with plus hand-eye coordination and a very good shot to earn a three year contract with the Stars. If he can stay healthy, he can still have a decent NHL career.

15 Mark McNeill – A former first round pick who spent four seasons in the AHL with the Blackhawks before they finally gave up on him as part of the Johnny Oduya deal, McNeill has proven to be a strong two-way forward at the AHL level, with strong hockey IQ and solid playmaking chops before his numbers took a hit due to poor shooting percentage luck last year. If he ever gets a chance, he could be a decent bottom line center somewhere. If…

16 Nicholas Caamano – Dallas’ fifth round pick in 2016, Caamano made big strides in his first post-draft season, nearly doubling his production (37 points to 64) for a mediocre Flint team in the OHL. While he can show a decent passing touch, his top attribute is his shot, as his wrister was behind a great deal of his 35 goals this season. He still needs to bulk up and improve his game away from the puck, but stands a good chance of providing great value for his draft slot.

17 Dillon Heatherington – Acquired last season from Columbus in exchange for Lauri Korpikoski, Heatherington has about the same upside as the player going the other way, in that he projects as a bottom pairing player with more value off the puck than on. He is a subpar skater, who can sometimes make up for that lack with a strong physical game and a sharp point shot. For a team light on the blueline, he could see some NHL time this year.

18 Philippe Desrosiers – A second round pick in 2013, Desrosiers’ pro career has advanced in fits and starts since then. He still has youth, but has struggled to stay in the AHL in two seasons as a pro, spending most of his time in the ECHL. His lateral movement is very good and he can show poise between the pipes, but can be undone by a bad goal. Somewhat small by today’s standards, he has the quickness to make it work, but needs to step it up this year.

19 John Nyberg – The 2014 sixth round pick made solid strides in his second SHL season with Frolunda. Nyberg is a plus-sized defender who plays a quiet game. While not an exciting player, he is reliable and limits mistakes. His numbers (15 points in 49 games) are better than they appear as he had very little power play time. His skating has improved enough that his NHL chances are less remote than they were on draft day.

20 Ondrej Vala – Undrafted after his first season in North America with Kamloops of the WHL, Vala nonetheless impressed Dallas enough in rookie camp that he was offered an ELC on the spot. His WHL production rate improved slightly, but he projects more as a defensive defenseman anyway, a role he displayed more prominently with the Czech squad at the WJC. His specialty is retrieving the puck from behind his own net and making the first pass to begin the transition.

The Stars under Jim Nill have made solid strides in strengthening their system, from drafting underrated Europeans (particularly from Finland and Sweden) to avoiding the temptation to rush prospects out of desperation. They still tend to value size over skill more than most teams, but the system is now well-rounded with players for every type of need and every reasonable timeframe.

Ivan Hlinka Report: McLeod, Nylander shine

Grant McCagg — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 18:08:34 +0000

The Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament is renowned for being the quintessential opportunity for amateur scouts to get their first good look at the elite draft eligible prospects. Unfortunately many of the elite ones were not participating at this summer's event, including the preseason consensus top five in Auston Matthews, Jeff Chychrun, Jesse Puljujarvi, Patrick Laine and Matt Tkachuk.

Mind you there were some eye-opening performances, including the play of Canada's fourth-line center Michael McLeod, and William Nylander's younger brother Alex, who are now OHL teammates with the Mississauga Steelheads.

McLeod's all-around abilities left many wondering why he was buried on Canada's bottom line. As one NHL scout succinctly stated..."He was Canada's best draft eligible prospect," and he's continued his upward momentum on draft boards with a strong start to his OHL season. McLeod doesn't take shifts off, and is a powerful skater who is noticeable from his first shift to his last. It's hard to find a discernible negative in his game - smarts, size, defensively responsible, good puck skills, physical...it's not inconceivable that McLeod pushes for a top five spot in the 2016 NHL draft if he puts up good numbers.

Nylander has put himself into the top seven mix as well, and that was not necessarily the case for either of them going into the competition. Early in the tournament an NHL scout, when asked about Nylander's impressive power play goal in his first game opined that he was "not as good as his brother." A couple of weeks later that same scout was conceding that "I like him more than his brother..he competes harder," and that sentiment has been echoed by other scouts in the past month.

The 6-0 left winger was a shining light among a lacklustre Swedish forward group that may not have had another top 60 draft prospect. Despite Sweden's poor results Nylander showed up to play every game, displaying above-average puck skills, quickness and shot, and giving the Steelheads a pair of must-see prospects.

CANADIANS STRONG DOWN THE MIDDLE

The centers playing ahead of McLeod on the gold medal champions were by no means slouches either - Nolan Patrick was arguably the best player at the tournament, but of course isn't eligible to be drafted until 2017. Tyson Jost showed why he's a potential top 20 selection with a solid offensive performance. He got stronger as the tournament went on, and impressed scout from the blueline in. "He can really shoot the puck," noted one NHL scout. "I like him."

Sam Steel had the puck more than any other Canadian forward, but failed to translate his puck possession skills into high production despite many offensive opportunities as a top-two center. Scouts were varied on his performance, but he remains a top 20 candidate, thanks to his poise, creativity and vision.

On the wing, Pierre-Luc Dubois showed why he's a top 15 possibility with size, skill, strength and two-way abilities. Scouts always like a player with few flaws in his game....and Dubois fits the bill - especially now that he's playing center in the QMJHL and only further illustrating his versatility.

Tyler Benson has been a highly regarded prospect since he was a 15-year-old and expected to become the first WHL player to receive exceptional player status (later denied), but the size/skill/creativity combo is not overwhelming...and that lack of upside may keep him from being a top 15 pick despite his high profile.

Brett Howden kept involved in the play and exhibited good skating ability for his size and decent defensive play, but he failed to capitalize on chances, and had some scouts concerned about his willingness to get his nose dirty. There are no such concerns with William Bitten, who plays a much bigger game than his 5-10 160-pound frame implies. Dillon Dube and Bitten exhibited strong defensive skills, excelling on the penalty kill and working hard at both ends of the rink. The other notable Canadian forward was Jordan Kyrou, who only got better as the games got bigger playing on a line with Patrick.

Brandon defenceman Kale Clague stood out on a Canadian blueline that featured four players with first-round potential ...in large part due to his terrific mobility. While he failed to rack up points (one goal), his two-way game was evident from Game One until the final whistle in the championship game. Smart, poised and skilled, he may be a top ten pick if he shows a little more jam.

Jost's Penticton defensive teammate Dante Fabbro also turned heads with his two-way play, mobility and bodychecks, and has put himself into the discussion for a top 20 draft ranking. Samuel Girard may have been the best defenceman in the tournament - and if he was 6-1 would be touted as a top ten prospect. He's a dynamic skater with superior puck skills and smarts - and much like Anthony DeAngelo he could be one of those rare defencemen under 5-10 who gets picked in the first round because of his special dimensions.

Jake Bean struggled somewhat during the tryout camp scrimmages, but he gained confidence and poise during the Ivan Hlinka, and remains a highly regarded blueline prospect as long as he cuts down on his turnovers.

Canadian netminders Dylan Wells and Carter Hart both saw multiple-game action, and both impressed the scouting community as potential second-round selections. One thing going against Hart is being under 6-1, but he compensates by confidently challenging shooters. Some scouts like Hart more, others are a bit higher on Wells...the main consensus seems to be that they are close in the rankings.

HOW SWEDE IT AIN'T

Scouts are usually anxious to see Swedish prospects at the U-18 summer showdown, but after a couple of games it was apparent that this was one of the weaker rosters in recent memory. Nylander may be the only Swedish forward selected in the top 60, and none of the blueliners look to be top 40 candidates with the possible exception of Jacob Cederholm, a 6-4 stay-at-home blueliner who must keep working on his quickness and puck skills. Jacob Moverare is the only other defenceman that looks like a top 90 possibility.

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson kept the Swedes in most games, and was the consensus top goalie prospect at the tournament...the lone bright spot besides Nylander on a Swedish team missing many of its top draft eligible prospects.

The Americans were also without most of their highly regarded 1998-born prospects, and it resulted in a fifth-place finish that surprised no one considering their lack of talent apart from 2017 draft prospect Casey Mittelstadt. The club's two behemoth forwards, Timmy Gettinger and Riley Tufte, stood out as their top prospects and potential top 40 picks, while defencemen Andrew Peekee showed enough tools (size, mobility) to be on teams' radars as a possible second-round selection.

The Finns may have been without their three draft eligible prodigies in Laine, Olli Juolevi and Puljujarvi, but the club still boasted some interesting talent that included a 227-pound right winger who plays a pro-style game in Eetu Tuulola. "He's a horse," noted one pro scout who thinks he'll be considered in the first round. "He's got a good shot."

Defenceman Markus Niemelainen was the other Finnish prospect who caught the scouts' attention in August predominantly due to his 6-5 frame and steady play. Teams are always intrigued by rangy defenceman who are capable skaters and puck movers, and he may be a top 50 selection. Halifax Mooseheads forward Otto Somppi was quiet offensively, but nevertheless impressed scouts with his pro upside...decent size, skating and skill.

Linemates Otto Makinen and Janne Kuokkanen finished top ten in tournament scoring, but the ever-important size/skating combination is a concern with both...neither are big nor particularly fast. At this point Somppi is the more highly regarded prospect.

Libor Hajek stood out on the blueline, and was the Czech Republic's top prospect at the tournament, and only potential top 40 pick. The smart, mobile 6-2 defenceman will be closely watched in Saskatoon this season as he makes the adjustment to North American hockey. Adam Brizgala is a quick, skilled netminder who would be a top 60 cinch if he wasn't under 6-0. Ondrej Vala is another Czech blueliner making the jump to North American hockey in Kamloops, and it will be interesting to see how the 6-5 rearguard adapts to the quickness on the smaller rinks.

The Slovaks were one again lacking in draft eligible prospects, and the Swiss weren't much better, boasting only defenceman Livio Stadler as a legitimate top 90 prospect, but scouts heading to Switzerland this season won't be congregating to watch the 6-0 blueliner... a fellow named Matthews is going to be their focus.

Ondrej Vala – McKeen's Hockey

Dallas Stars Prospect System Overview

State of the CHL: The Western Hockey League

The Eastern Conference:

East Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Moose Jaw Warriors 48-38-7-1-2-79

Swift Current Bronco’s 49-33-12-3-1-70

Brandon Wheat Kings 48-28-15-3-2-61

Regina Pats 49-24-20-5-0-53

Saskatoon Blades 48-23-22-2-1-49

Prince Albert Raiders 47-18-20-7-2-45

Central Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Medicine Hat Tigers 48-24-19-5-0-53

Lethbridge Hurricanes 47-22-21-4-0-48

Kooteney ICE 47-21-23-3-0-45

Calgary Hitmen 47-15-26-5-1-36

Red Deer Rebels 47-11-25-8-3-33

Edmonton Oil Kings 46-13-27-4-2-32

The Western Conference:

U.S. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Everett Silvertips 48-30-16-1-1-62

Portland Winterhawks 47-28-15-1-3-60

Seattle Thunderbirds 47-25-16-4-2-56

Tri-City Americans 46-23-16-7-0-53

Spokane Chiefs 47-25-19-1-2-53

B.C. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Kelowna Rockets 46-29-14-2-1-61

Victoria Royals 48-27-17-3-1-58

Vancouver Giants 47-25-15-4-3-57

Kamloops Blazers 47-21-23-1-2-45

Prince George Cougars 48-18-23-4-3

2018 WJC in Review: The Czech Republic

Dallas – System Overview

Ivan Hlinka Report: McLeod, Nylander shine