Patrick Sieloff – McKeen's Hockey

Ottawa Senators Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:49:27 +0000

I am sure that it comes as no surprise to you, the knowledgeable hockey fan, to read that the Ottawa Senators are in a bad place as an organization. Owner Eugene Melnyk meddling and bumbling through PR faux pas to the point that the team had to hire a PR firm for damage control; suspended assistant GM Randy Lee being arrested in Buffalo on salubrious harassment charges from an incident which occurred during the NHL Draft combine; the ongoing spat between former Senator Mike Hoffman (and his fiancée) and Senators’ super star Erik Karlsson (and his wife) that resulted in the former player being dealt to San Jose for a paltry return (who then traded him to Florida – an Ottawa division rival – for a greater return than he paid in the original acquisition); the ill-fated Matt Duchene trade, which, among other pieces, cost the Senators their 2017 first round pick Shane Bowers, as well as their choice of fist rounder in 2018 or 2019 – they chose to keep the 2018 pick.

It is still unclear if the team can hold on to Erik Karlsson, whose current contract is set to expire after the 2018-19 season and the word on the street is that has been frustrated by the direction and leadership of the franchise and would prefer to move on.

None of the above is necessarily news, or even really about prospects, per se. But it leads to the essential question, what comes next?

The Sens are largely expected to struggle this season, a projection that would not have been much different had Hoffman not been traded. It can be dangerous for any team to trade away its first round pick – especially without lottery protection – a full season in advance. Sure, San Jose has also moved its 2019 first rounder, but no one is really worried about that pick turning into Jack Hughes, or Kaapo Kakko, or any other top flight 2019 draft eligible.

For Ottawa, the presence of Matt Duchene may have the same impact as Tom Kurvers did for Toronto from 1989-1991, or Phil Kessel did for the same provincial rivals between 2009-2015. For those who forgot the recent history, Toronto traded a future to New Jersey for Kurvers, but their season did not turn out as they had expected internally and the pick turned into Scott Niedermayer, who now has a plaque in his honor in Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame. Kessel came to the Maple Leafs for two future first round picks. Because Brian Burke badly misjudged his squad’s place on the success cycle, both picks were top 10s, turning into Tyler Seguin (second overall) and Dougie Hamilton (ninth overall).

Unless Craig Anderson finds the fountain of youth for the third time at age 37, the Senators might not get their reward for being among the worst teams in the league. With top prospects Colin White and Brady Tkachuk expected in some circles to graduate from prospecthood this season, and no first round pick on deck, the Senators might need to trade Karlsson to have any truly high end prospects still in the pipeline. Without some combination of luck and shrewd management, neither of which has been associated with Ottawa for some time, the organization may be beginning a stretch of ugliness reminiscent of what divisional rival Buffalo Sabres had being going through for the past five seasons.

Brady Tkachuk

1 Brady Tkachuk, LW (4^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Son of Keith and brother of Matthew, Brady Tkachuk has the blood lines as well as the skill set and mentality to play a key role on a winning NHL team. He has a big, strong frame and plays a power game, but with soft enough hands to make tricky plays and surprise with a feint as he powers his way to the net or through the cycle. In addition to having all of the raw tools one could ask for in a young winger, his sense for the game may have been the best among anyone in the 2018 draft class. He did not dominate, but played at a very high level as a true freshman in the NCAA – one of the youngest players in collegiate hockey. He recently announced that he would leave BU and has a good chance to spend the year in the NHL, although AHL and OHL are still possibilities.

2 Logan Brown, C (11^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 3^rd) Between Brown and Tkachuk, the future Senators will not lack for size up front. Thankfully, these two also fit the bill for the modern game with skills and mobility to go with their bulk. For the second straight year, Brown was held back by injuries, but when he was healthy, took his game to another level, scoring more frequently, leading Kitchener deep into the OHL playoffs one year after helping Windsor win the Memorial Cup. He even looked good in his truncated appearance for Team USA at the WJC. The most impressive facets of his game are his soft and skilled hands, and his hockey IQ. He has a pro game, but the lost development time may make his path to the NHL slower than hoped.

3 Colin White, RW/C (21^st overall, 2015. Last Year: 2^nd) A fantastic skater with plus hockey sense, White started last season in the NHL, but shelved due to a wrist injury. Upon his recovery, he went back to the AHL, where he was often the best player on the ice for Belleville, earning a lengthy recall to Ottawa that encompassed the first six weeks of 2018. He has above average offensive tools as well, although they are not as notable as his reads and decision making. He can play both on the wing and up the middle and is likely to win a bottom six role to open this season. His history with Boston College and the USNTDP before that suggests that he could eventually work his way up to a second line role although third line on a good team is most likely.

4 Filip Gustavsson, G (55^th overall, 2016 [Pittsburgh]. Last Year: 2^nd [Pittsburgh]) There were a lot of moving parts in the three way deadline deal that sent Derrick Brassard from Ottawa to Pittsburgh, but it is fair to summarize the return to Ottawa as being a late first round pick (Bernard-Docker) and Gustavsson, who now wears the mantle of “Goalie of the Future” for the Senators. A very athletic netminder who is advanced at reading the play, he was coming off a strong season in Sweden, both domestically with Lulea, and internationally, backstopping Sweden to a Silver Medal at the WJC. His movements are quick and precise and allow him to challenge shooters aggressively knowing he can recover if needed. He should get at least one season in the AHL before the future becomes the present in Ottawa.

Alex Formenton

5 Alex Formenton, LW (47^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11^th) One of the fastest skaters in the OHL last year, Formenton was so impressive in the pre-season for Ottawa that he broke camp in the NHL shortly after his 18^th birthday and played in one game before being returned to London. He is still young enough, and talented enough, that he was one of the few legit prospects not traded by the Knights as they began to regroup. Despite his near-elite speed, Formenton is not a great offensive threat. That is not to say that he is not a contributor to the attack, but that offense is generally not the focus of his game. He is a defensive specialist and fights a lot harder than his lean figure might suggest. A PK weapon, he also began to show a creative side with the puck last year and may have more to offer at that end given time.

6 Drake Batherson, C (121^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 12^th) A late bloomer who keeps on blooming, Batherson went from the Maritime Junior Hockey League to a top six role with a competitive QMJHL team to a national hero in the space of 24 months. Despite scoring seven goals (without a single assist) in seven games at the WJC he is more of a playmaker than a finisher. On the other hand, he has incredible hand-eye coordination and could build for himself a long NHL career if all he does is park himself in the slot and wait for shots to deflect. He has a solid frame, but needs to add more bulk to play that role as a professional. Could also stand to improve his skating, although he has a nice burst of speed available.

7 Jonny Tychonick, D (48^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A dominant two-way defender for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL for the past two seasons, Tychonick was a rare Tier 1 player to receive consideration for the Canadian U18 squad. He catches the eye with his fantastic skating acumen and backs it up with a solid point shot and great puck control. He is on the lean side and it can be hard to adequately gauge the hockey sense of players playing in lower quality development leagues, but to his credit, he made the best of the path that he was on. The North Dakota commit was also entrusted with time killing penalties and shifts against the toughest competition the BCHL had to offer. He is at least three years away from NHL, but has enough upside to be worth waiting on.

8 Jacob Bernard-Docker, D (26^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Like Tychonick above, Jacob Bernard-Docker was a cut above as a dominant blueliner in Tier 1 in Western Canada. Named the Most Outstanding Defenseman in the AJHL, JBD has a full set of tools, grading out as above average in terms of his mobility and with anything a defenseman might do with the puck. Although a bit beefier than Tychonick, Bernard-Docker is less likely to use his frame to physically impose himself on opponents. Although less dynamic than his new organization mate and soon to be teammate at the University of North Dakota, Bernard-Docker is more advanced in his own zone. He is skilled at shutting down opposing attacks and beginning the transition. He is the safer prospect of the two, and not without upside of his own.

9 Johnny Gruden, LW (95^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Every year the USNTDP has a few players in middle six or bottom six roles who thrive once the hackles are taken off at the collegiate level. Johnny Gruden, whose father just coached the Hamilton Bulldogs to an OHL title, is most notable for his hockey smarts, but there is enough skill in his stick to be a pretty big factor at Miami starting next season. A lot of his offense with the program came from sensing where to position himself and when to strike. He does a lot of small, subtle things to help his game play up. He also has sneaky speed, helping him get to where he needs to go and trip up opponents on occasion when he suddenly changes gears.

10 Christian Wolanin, D (107^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 13^th) An NCAA champ as a freshman, Wolanin improved his produced for North Dakota year over year before turning pro after his junior season. He is not the fleetest of foot, although his first few steps are fairly impressive. His production comes as a traditional point man of sorts. He has a quick release on his snap shot, which can find twine or get a rebound. He is willing to step up past the faceoff dots and has the vision to hit a teammate in a better scoring area. He was an offense first defenseman as a collegian, and a brief NHL trial showed that he could play that game in the NHL, and there seems to be room for him in the NHL rotation right now. He will likely need to be protected somewhat as his defensive zone game is a bit on the raw side.

11 Aaron Luchuk, C (UDFA: Dec. 26, 2017. Last Year: IE) Never drafted, Luchuk spent three and a half seasons with the Windsor Spitfires, playing a critical role in their 2017 Memorial Cup victory, before he was traded to the Barrie Colts in mid-December. He was already only seven points away from a career high, but his season would only get better. Much better. He already had 51 points in 30 games at the time of the trade. 11 days later, he signed an ELC as a free agent with Ottawa, and finished the season with 81 more points in 50 regular season and postseason games with Barrie. Despite the sensational point totals, he lacks dynamic offensive skills, although does everything pretty well. His size also works against him, although he is willing to fight for space and loose pucks. He is a player, if probably not a high end one.

Andreas Englund

12 Andreas Englund, D (40^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 9^th) Very big, but very impressive afoot, especially for his size, Englund has been hampered thus far in his career by his complete lack of any offensive elements to his game. He is clearly more comfortable playing in his own zone as he has played the role of stay-at-home blueliner since his amateur days. Englund’s puck skills extend as far as retrieving the puck and getting to a teammate, who can get it out of the Belleville end. He has had a few short NHL cups of coffee in each of the last two years since coming over from Sweden, and should be in line for a bit more this season.

13 Patrick Sieloff, D (Trade: Jun. 27, 2016 [Calgary]. Last Year: not ranked) Acquired from Calgary two summers ago for Alex Chaisson, Sieloff has played in a single NHL game for both NHL organizations to which he has belonged, and scored a goal in each. That statistical fluke aside, offense is not really his jam. Sieloff is built thick and plays tough, sometimes overly so. He can get in trouble with his aggressiveness, such as when he concussed teammate Clarke MacArthur in training camp. He also skates well, getting to top speed rapidly and is reliably competent in his own zone. He is primed to battle it out this year for the distinction of opening camp as the team’s #6/7 defender.

14 Maxime Lajoie, D (133^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 14^th) A solid skater who plays a fairly polished game on both sides of the puck, Lajoie had a decent rookie pro season last year, especially considering the circumstances of injuries that caused him to miss over 20 games and the fact that Belleville had a very bad hockey club last year. He was able to demonstrate an impressive ability to process the game, and he is able to transition the puck from zone to zone thanks to his mobility and puck handling skills. Lajoie is still on the slight side and needs a full, healthy season to give us a better idea of how his development will play out.

Gabriel Gagne

15 Gabriel Gagne, RW (36^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 20^th) Gagne’s permanently raw collection of tools were unable to have much of an impact in his first pro season, leading to a humbling stretch in the ECHL. His follow-up campaign was much better. He went from barely getting one shot on net per game to leading Belleville with 177 shots and a team high 20 goals. The paltry assist total (5) looks bad, but there wasn’t anyone else on the team who could score, so there were only so many assists to go around. Gagne is still growing into his lanky 6-5” frame, but he skates well, has above average puck skills, including a deadly shot from medium range and he knows how to put his body to good use. He is the player in this system who improved the most season over season.

16 Christian Jaros, D (139^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 5^th) As many of the other young blueliners in the system – particularly those with AHL experience – are either purely offensive or purely defensive defenders, Jaros stands out as having a more well-balanced game. Despite missing too much time to injuries in his first year in North America, he had good results for Belleville, and earned a few games with the Senators as well. He has a powerful point shot and moves the puck with skill. He is big and physical, without being mean. He has enough mobility to not be a weak link, although skating is not his strength. Of all of the defensemen in the second half of this list, Jaros has the highest likelihood of being more than a third pairing defender over time.

17 Filip Chlapik, C (48^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 8^th) Considering how well Chlapik did in his first pro season, leading Belleville in scoring despite missing 24 games, and playing in 20 games in the NHL, it may seem odd to see him ranked relatively low. Adding to the cognitive dissonance here is the fact that Chlapik is probably the first center to be called up again in case of injury. The answer lies in his lack of tools, or dynamic elements to his game. The big, Czech forward is a below average skater whose hands are soft and he can make some plays at the AHL level, but we doubt he has enough flash to create offense on his own in the NHL. He is an intelligent and has learned how to play within his limitations, at least at the QMJHL level, but he has further to go to prove he can do it at the highest levels.

18 Kevin Mandolese, G (157^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) In terms of pure ability from a physical standpoint, Mandolese may have been the best netminder available in the 2018 draft. Unfortunately, his performance never matched his visuals for long stretches and he split the season with QMJHL veteran Kyle Jessiman. He is a solid shot blocker who reads plays well and can be credited for improving upon his consistency in net over the course of the last year. Further to his credit, the defense in front of him was poor last year, so he may not have been fully at fault for his mediocre numbers, especially as they were markedly better than his partner. He needs to do a better job of keeping his arms up in the butterfly to prevent more rush goals. For now, he is a goalie to watch, instead of to plan around.

19 Julius Bergman, D (Trade: Jun. 19, 2018 [San Jose]. Last Year: 17^th [San Jose]) A big part of the return from San Jose in the Mike Hoffman deal, Bergman has had an up and down professional career since the Sharks made him a second round pick in 2014. Last season had its own mini ups and downs as he found a way to make his shot count more often, netting a career high ten goals, while he continued to struggle – sometimes mightily so – in his own zone. Seen as an offensive defenseman as an amateur, he still flashes those tools, but has never really developed his off-puck game. He may have more of a chance in the Ottawa system, but he will still need to show more consistent commitment first.

20 Andrew Sturtz, RW (Mar. 28, 2018. Last Year: IE) The first foray into the college free agent the Senators have made in a while, Sturtz already has some experience with the Ottawa area, having spent his pre-college years playing in Carleton Place in the CCHA. A smaller player who plays a bigger game than he should, but earned attention thanks to his puck skills. Sturtz is blessed with strong hands, very good hand-eye coordination and slippery puck control skills. His shot is only so-so, but he has a knack for getting himself into prime scoring position. He also skates well, which made him elusive in the collegiate ranks. He will have to prove himself in Belleville first, but he is worth keeping an eye on.

NHL Prospect Watch: Coyotes Wood catching fire

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:18:08 +0000

In a lost season, a team should feel free to trade off as many expiring assets as it can. The Arizona Coyotes (once again) found themselves in such a position last season and took the opportunity to safeguard the future by trading the last few months of Mikkel Boedker’s contract to the Colorado Avalanche (who, in all honesty, should not have been spending future value for a slight chance at a playoff round which ultimately never happened anyway).

Kyle Wood

In exchange for Boedker, the Coyotes received their own expiring contract in Alex Tanguay, in addition to the player rights for former first round pick Connor Bleackley and former third round pick Kyle Wood, a towering blueliner then finishing up his OHL eligibility with North Bay. As Bleackley was a first rounder, the Coyotes would have been able to pick up a compensatory second round selection in the 2016 draft if they elected not to sign him. Arizona let Bleackley walk (he was eventually re-drafted in the fifth round by St. Louis) and traded the compensatory pick to Detroit as part of the package that allowed the Coyotes to move up in the first round and select Jakob Chychrun. Tanguay had a fine finish to his season in the desert, but has not signed to play anywhere since then and his career seems to be over. Boedker signed a four year deal with San Jose in the offseason. The only player involved in the trade who is still with the acquiring team is young Kyle Wood (Arizona, 3/84, 2014 – drafted by Colorado, D, Tucson (AHL)).

After putting up solid offensive numbers in his two post-draft seasons with the Battalion, Wood has had a fantastic start to his pro career, averaging one point per game in his first 18 AHL contests. As of this writing, only three AHL blueliners – all veterans of the circuit - have outscored the rookie. Before discussing Wood as a player, I should point out that if the Coyotes were challenging for the postseason this year, he would warrant an NHL call-up around now. Luke Schenn isn’t contributing much and Anthony DeAngelo has proven nothing except that he is not ready for the NHL. That said, the Coyotes are still in the build phase and Wood should not be rushed.

Wood is much more than a big body for the blueline, although at 6-5”, 210, he is really big. He will use his large and strong body to his advantage in the corners, but does not play with the snarl you would want to label him a bruiser. If you only looked at his career PIM numbers, noting his OHL four year high of 21 minutes in the box, you would think he played soft. He is not soft, but he does not play to hurt. He plays to get the puck. Once he was the disc, he is very patient, knowing that opponents need well above average strength to knock him off it. He plays with his head up and sees the ice and his options very well, with his height perhaps assisting him to see passing or shooting lanes through traffic. His point total is a reflection of his utility on the point when his team is in possession. His passes are good, but his slap shot is a hammer when he lines it up right. He has not always been a big scorer in the OHL (his career high in goals was 16, but his next best season saw only eight goals scored), but his point shot can beat most pro goalies. Like many graduates of Stan Butler’s Battalion program, Wood also offers plus hockey IQ. He relies on his intelligence and sound positioning more than brute strength in his own zone.

Unfortunately, he also has to rely on his instincts and positioning to make up for his one true deficiency. He is not a very good skater. He generally seems sluggish with slow feet and poor acceleration. His gaps will look a little large for comfort, although he has so far made up for it for the most part with his long reach. In other words, while he can be beaten wide, the opponent will have to go really wide to do it. Between his size, shot, puck comfort and heavy feet, Wood brings to mind a young Cody Franson. Not bad for a couple of months of Mikkel Boedker.

William Lockwood (Vancouver, 3/64, 2016, RW, Michigan (Big 10))

A depth line winger with last year’s USNTDP squad, Lockwood rose up some draft boards with a strong showing at the prestigious WU-18 tournament at season’s end, contributing seven points in seven games for the bronze-medal winning American team.

If you look only at the collection of numbers on the back of Lockwood’s hockey card, you wouldn’t find much with which to be impressed. Outside of the aforementioned tournament, his offensive involvement was middling at best. Six points in 20 USHL league games and 33 points in 59 other games for the national squad. He is also physically unprepossessing, standing 5-11” and weighing a sprightly 172 pounds, he will not intimidate many high schoolers.

Now a freshman with the Michigan Wolverines, a team decimated by graduations and early absconding professionals (Kyle Connor and Zach Werenski were just the most prominent names to leave) Lockwood is the early season scoring leader. 12 points in 16 games is decent for a freshman on a young roster, taken without context, but in the context described above, it’s actually pretty impressive.

The fact is, the USNTDP has often pigeon-holed its less prominent players, sticking them in strictly defined roles and having them play out their assignments without much chance of ascending to more favorable roles. Lockwood was one such player. A good penalty killer with the USNTDP, he remains in that role with the Wolverines. He plays with a very high energy motor, and is much more physical than his size would suggest. Although his offensive vision and stickhandling skills are still raw and at times dicey, his instincts are to create offense when the opportunity arises. Watching him, you can almost see him trying to be a playmaker and create excitement, but his hands are just not catching up to what his brain is suggesting. They are quick enough, but not as soft as most point producers’. Nevertheless, he will gain fans for his willingness to grind out shifts. Lockwood needs at least two more years in college to be ready for the professional game, from a physical perspective if nothing else, and he may better settle into a leadership role in that time. At present, he projects as a future third line shift disturber and penalty killer. All in all, a decent prospect for the Canucks.

Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles, 1/29, 2014, C, Ontario (AHL))

Blessed with tremendous speed and no shortage of offensive creativity, former first rounder Adrian Kempe has struggled to adapt to the North American game. With 28 points in 55 games last season, a decent if unspectacular season, he could have been excused for his production by dint of it being his first season spent away from his native Sweden. He could bring people out of their seats when given the chance to motor up the ice. His shot and puck skills both showed flashes of above average utility. There were still too many occurrences of him not being on his game though, particularly when away from the puck.

The inconsistency has not faded in the first third of his second season in the AHL and the results bear that out as he has only seven points in his first 21 games this year with Ontario. He still shows flashes of great speed and tantalizing puck skills, but he is not showing a well-rounded game and it is reasonable to be concerned about his hockey IQ. To his credit, though Kempe is still one of the younger regulars in the AHL, having turned 20 less than three months ago. He would not be the first European import who needed two or so seasons to get up to speed and turn his inherent skills into shift-after-shift production.

Carl Grundstrom (Toronto, 2/57, 2016, LW, Frolunda (SHL))

In his first season with Frolunda, Grundstrom has 13 points in his first 27 games, nearly equal his full season total with Modo from last year. Considering the clear skew towards goals in his points (11 goals against only two assists), the numbers are more impressive. He currently sits as the SHL’s leading U20 scorer.

According to Hockey Prospectus Sweden correspondent Jimmy Hamrin (@jimmyhamrin), Grundstrom has taken steps to become a more efficient shooter this year. Some of it seems to be related to basic physical development, as he is both more notably stronger and faster and the shot is similarly harder. Frolunda being a stronger outfit than Modo was, he has more freedom to be creative on the ice and he is demonstrating more of a proclivity to try to create offense on his own than in the past.

Grundstrom was only a bit part player on a competitive Swedish entry to the 2016 WJC, one of three draft eligible forwards on the team along with Alexander Nylander and Rasmus Asplund. He scored once in the seven games. This year’s tournament promises to be more of a stage for the well-rounded winger to emerge as a prospect of note. Expect him to take on a top six role for Sweden. Further, with the graduation of at least half of the Maple Leafs’ top ten prospects, Grundstrom should elbow his way onto most organizational top prospect lists next summer.

Andong “Misha” Song (N.Y. Islanders, 6/172, 2015, D, Madison (USHL))

So far this season, Song has appeared in 20 games for a middling Madison squad in the USHL. Turing 20 this January, this is Song’s first experience outside of high school hockey, not counting a few appearances for China’s national U-18 team. The former Islanders’ sixth rounder is clearly out of his depth.

In 20 games with the Capitals, Song has yet to record a single point. He has also yet to be demerited with a penalty -minor, major or otherwise. He has taken five shots on net. He is a -3 and only finished one game as a plus. The fact is, he dresses and gets in a few odd shifts per game. He can skate well enough but there isn’t much there to suggest an NHL prospect. It’s possible he would start to show something given more ice time, but he has not shown enough to earn more ice time, either. Even in high school last year, at prestigious Phillips Andover academy, seven teammates scored more.

If you have a conspiratorial mind (I sometimes do – it’s OK to admit it), you might think he was drafted for PR purposes, as the first Chinese national selected in the NHL draft. A more nefarious explanation was that his selection was a paean to Islanders’ minority owner Charles Wang, himself a Chinese national. At present, Song has neither a college commitment, nor a professional future in North American hockey.

Patrick Sieloff (Ottawa, 2/42, 2012 – drafted by Calgary, D, Binghampton (AHL))

Acquired in the offseason from Calgary in exchange for bottom six winger Alex Chiasson, Sieloff made a strong – and negative – first impression on his new teammates by decking veteran forward Clarke MacArthur in training camp with an elbow, giving the latter another serious concussion from which he is just now starting to recover from. Sieloff had to be removed from the scrimmage as a precaution after Bobby Ryan fought him and then Chris Neil attempted to enact revenge as well.

Originally drafted out of the USNTDP program, Sieloff eschewed college and finished his junior career with Windsor of the OHL. He also took home a WJC gold medal that year, representing the red, white and blue. Now in his third AHL season, it is pretty clear what Sieloff’s calling card as a prospect is. He is, simply, a mean player who will seek out opponents to hit, and hit hard. Also a plus skater, he uses that trait to his advantage in adding velocity to his checks. He achieves top speed quickly and likes open ice hits. His offensive ability, notwithstanding the fact that he scored a goal in his lone NHL game to date, is limited to carrying the puck through the neutral zone. He has basic stickhandling skills, but lacks the creativity and/or offensive vision to do much with the biscuit. In other words, you worry more when the opponent has the puck than when Sieloff does. If the Sens players are over Sieloff’s hit on MacArthur, he could be a useful third pairing blueliner in the NHL as soon as this year should the need arise.

2016 NHL Draft Guide: Calgary Flames draft strategy

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 17:48:11 +0000

While the majority of NHL teams have three individuals carrying the load for draft and other player personnel decisions, in the positions of the GM, the Director of Scouting/Amateur Scouting and the Director of Player Personnel, the Flames make do with two, as GM Brad Treliving is also the man in charge of Player Personnel. Tod Button is the Director of Scouting, a position he has held since the 2001-02 season, five of those seasons as the Director of Amateur Scouting.

While previous Button drafts have run the gamut of amateur leagues and positional inclinations, in those five years he has never drafted more than one player per year from a European league. Furthermore, only once (in 2013) have the Flames drafted more than their standard allotment of seven players. Another trend of note is that in each season, one pick has either been massive or a noted purveyor of truculence. In the past three drafts, the Flames have drafted Keegan Kanzig, Hunter Smith and Riley Bruce, each of whom is at least 6-6” and plays mean. The previous season, they drafted Patrick Sieloff, who made up in spirit what he lacked in vertical.

They tend to draft skill early, with current roster stalwarts Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett both taken with top ten picks in recent years and turn to character players later on. However, last year’s sixth round selection of Andrew Mangiapane, who produced 104 points for Barrie in the OHL, but was handicapped by his listed measurements of 5-10”, 176, showed that they are not averse to betting on skill late. Perhaps they have learned the lesson of Johnny Gaudreau, drafted in the fourth round the year before Button was moved to his current role.

Also notable is that the Flames have not feared taking goaltenders with relatively early picks as witnessed in their usage of a second rounder for Mason McDonald in 2014 and a third rounder for Jon Gillies in 2012. Finally, each of Button’s five first rounders have been forwards.

Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Possible picks: Picking sixth in this year’s draft, some likely picks to fit their mold include Matthew Tkachuk, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Michael McLeod. Their predilection for oversized players could see the Flames looking at a player like Timothy Gettinger, Keaton Middleton or Oleg Sosunov in the mid- to late-rounds.

NHL Prospect Watch: Calgary Flames

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 17 May 2016 22:57:15 +0000

After a pretty disappointing season for their AHL team, the Calgary Flames can rest more easily knowing that three of the top prospects in the system were not yet at the minor pro level. We won’t spend too much time discussing Andrew Mangiapane, a steal of a sixth rounder last summer. While undersized, Mangiapane plays a big game, coupling puck skills, a high hockey IQ and tenacity that should leave Flames’ execs satisfied that he will not shy from the tighter game in the pros. As he was drafted in his second year of eligibility, Mangiapane is already 20 years old and is signed to his ELC. He will join Stockton next year coming off two straight 100 point seasons for Barrie.

Mark Jankowksi, C, Providence (NCAA) (21^st overall, 2012)

A surprise first rounder when drafted in 2012, Jankowski spent the full four years playing for Providence, a period of time which included an NCAA championship in his junior season. Never an elite scorer, Jankowski nevertheless shows a robust tool set that suggests an ability to produce as a professional. He has filled out his frame during his collegiate career and while still lean, there is enough strength to remain effective. That said, he will not be a physical player.

The Hamilton native is comfortable on the cycle and has strong hands which allow him to maintain puck control even when the opposing defenders are keyed on him and pressuring him. Beyond strength, his hands are also rather quick and soft. He can corral misplaced passes that would be giveaways when given to inferior players and quickly turn those pucks towards the net with some zip. Speaking of zip, Jankowski’s top attribute is his shot. He has a high end release, able to get elevation, power and placement from a single touch. He sees shooting lanes well, excelling at getting the puck through screens and on the net. He is also a plus skater with good edge work and strong top speed. While his hands are soft, he is not the type to dazzle with creative puck wizardry, but he does handle it well, and as alluded to before, he is trustworthy as a puck carrier. Jankowski turned pro shortly after the conclusion of his senior year and gave the Flames brass hope for the future with six points in his first eight AHL games at the tail end of the Stockton season. While Jankowski is a natural center, he has plenty of experience at left wing and that is his clearest path to the NHL. He would benefit from a full (or near full) season in the AHL to ensure his pace has acclimated, but profiles as a potential second line winger sooner than later.

Brandon Hickey, D, Boston University (NCAA) (64^th overall, 2014)

A disappointing sophomore season for the BU Terriers aside, Brandon Hickey remains a mobile rearguard who should be firmly in the Flames plans for the near future. From the Edmonton suburb of Leduc, Hickey was scouted out of the Spruce Grove program in the AJHL. His freshman season with BU was tremendous with 17 points in 41 games, lining up with another elite prospect in Jack Eichel. With the Terriers unable to replace Eichel (no collegiate program could) Hickey’s offensive numbers suffered, dropping to eight points in 36 games. On the bright side, he gained some attention from Hockey Canada – a relative rarity among collegians – and was selected to represent his country during the WJC.

Hickey’s best attribute is his ability to lead a rush. A plus skater, he can pick a lane to exit his own zone and eat up ice on his way to the other side. His passes are crisp and he is not averse to letting one of his teammates make the zone entry when a better lane exists. His slap shot is great and his wrist shot is strong enough to suggest a solid point man down the line. Unlike many teenaged offensive blueliners, Hickey is also an asset off the puck. He keeps tight gaps on his opponents and maintains an active stick, both to strip pucks as well as to serve as an outlet for teammates who have already won the puck. He can be physical as well, although he is short of punishing. He would need to pack on 15-20 more pounds to reach that level. As of this writing, Hickey has not signed an ELC, and it is likely that he will return to BU for a third season. If his production can return to the levels of his freshman campaign, he will likely turn pro next summer. It says here that he will exceed those figures and compete for a spot on the Calgary blueline for the 2017-18 season. A number two defender is not out of the question, but it is more likely that he settles in as a solid option for the second pairing, contributing on both ends of the ice.

Adam Ollas Mattsson, D, Djurgarden (SHL) (175^th overall, 2014)

Unfortunately for AOM and the Flames, the young blueliner missed a good chunk of the season with injury, masking what had otherwise been a year of steps forward for the hulking teenager. A prominent member of Sweden’s entry at the World Juniors until the aforementioned injury hit him early in the medal round. Very much a defensive defenseman, he can nonetheless move the puck well and showed during the big tournament that he can join the rush as a puck carrier.

For the most part, though, this will not be a D-man who will ever earn much if any time on the power play. He will earn penalty killing shifts and appeal to his coaches through his willingness to step in front of slap shots. He spent most of his healthy days this year playing in the SHL, but his role in the men’s league was relatively minor, indicating that he would have been better off developing for one more year in the SuperElit (Sweden’s top junior league). At year’s end, he was healthy for the junior playoffs and was at times a dominating force, according to Hockey Prospectus author Jimmy Hamrin. Although rather far from being NHL-ready, Ollas Mattsson has the upside of a shutdown defender with a good first pass.

Oliver Kylington, D, Stockton (AHL) (60^th overall, 2015)

Another Swedish blueliner in the system, the slight Kylington may be the single highest upside player of any position in the Calgary organization. Like Ollas Mattsson profiled above, Kylington played with men as a teenager, in Kylington’s case, with Stockton of the AHL. Playing with adults is nothing new for the blazing skater, as he has appeared in SHL games at the age of 16. As can be expected with any teenager in the AHL, Kylington underwent significant growing pains this year, as partially seen in his meagre total of 12 points in 47 games.

Somewhat undersized at 6-0”, 183, Kylington does not look to have the frame to get much broader. That said, according to Hockey Prospectus Jason Lewis (who assisted with the reports of many of the AHL players in this system), he does not play down to his size and will happily engage with opposing forwards in front of his own net. He is not very effective yet in that regards, but he has not yet been a pushover. In fact, he has generally shown positive traits in his own end, with good positioning, and an understanding of how to use his stick to defend. He can also keep very tight gap control, as his skating prowess means that he will rarely be beaten with speed alone. He can be an offensive asset, and I would expect far greater numbers in the AHL next year (he is definitely not yet ready for a full-time NHL gig), as he can handle the puck and is electric when leading the rush, but he needs to show more creativity and better vision for lines of attack before he will have earned the type of trust that comes with top four minutes. Another area in need of improvement is in transition. While his hockey sense is good enough at times, he needs to do a better job of anticipating occasions of the puck going back the other way and prepare to defend, instead of chasing after lost causes or poorly considered pinches. Considering his age and his natural skating ability, along with the league’s move towards mobility over brawn, and it is easy to see why the Flames braintrust would be excited about his future. As long as they are patient, they should be rewarded.

Patrick Sieloff, D, Stockton (AHL) (42^nd overall, 2012)

Originally drafted out of the USNTDP with a reputation as a bruiser, Sieloff finished his junior career with the Windsor Spitfires before joining the Flames organization. Unfortunately, the Ann Arbor native missed most of his rookie pro season, and a good chunk of his follow up attempt to injury. Finally relatively healthy, Sieloff took big strides forward this year, cutting back on his penalty minutes significantly and even earned a late-season, one game call-up to Calgary, scoring his first goal in the process.

Although less reckless, Sieloff is still a very aggressive defenseman, always on the lookout for a big hit. He is a plus skater who lacks in puck skills, but will join the rush thanks more to his strong first step quickness and acceleration than to his offensive ability. His shot is decent from closer distances, but is not much of a weapon from the point. Like Ollas Mattsson, Sieloff will not be an offensive defenseman going forward, but unlike the other blueliners profiled above, he is close to ready for an NHL job and should tempt the new Flames bench boss – whoever that is – to push one of Dennis Wideman or Ladislav Smid out of the lineup. He does need to hone his instincts a bit more, like more young defensemen, learning when to channel his aggressiveness and when to make a more conservative decision, but there is reason to believe that Sieloff is ready to break into the regular six.

Emile Poirier, LW/RW, Stockton (AHL) (22^nd overall, 2013)

When I referred to a disappointing season in Stockton in the introduction, Poirier was one of the main culprits leading to that assessment. A former first round pick, Poirier’s production dropped nearly fifty percent form his rookie AHL season to his follow-up, going from 42 points in 55 games, to 29 points in 60 games this year. He was good enough last year to rank in Hockey Prospectus’ top 100 prospect list (#90), he is now at risk of falling out of the top ten for Calgary.

Oddly enough, in spite of diminished offensive returns, the part of the game wherein Poirier struggled most this year was in his own zone, as he would fall into the trap of puck watching and simply floating aimlessly. He still showed good offensive sense, anticipating openings well and is a plus stickhandler with a decent wrist shot up his sleeve. Thankfully for his future prospects, the Montreal native is still a tough customer who has a bit of nasty to his game. If his offensive acumen does not return, that truculence (don’t forget that the Flames’ president is Brian Burke) will earn him some chances to win an energy role. He would be above average in that role, but it would be a disappointment, as he had shown much more in the past.

Hunter Shinkaruk, LW, Stockton (AHL) (24^th overall, 2013, acquired in a trade with Vancouver for Markus Granlund)

Acquired by Calgary in an under-the-radar trade from Vancouver, for whom he had fallen out of favor as a first rounder from a previous regime, Shinkaruk has the potential to emerge as a bright spot from an otherwise dismal season. A former high-end scorer in the WHL, he took big strides forward in his second full AHL season, raising his offensive production from 34 points in 71 games with Utica last year to a combined 51 points in 62 games this year between Utica and Stockton as well as three points in eight NHL games between Vancouver and Calgary.

Fitting an underlying theme of the prospects profiled here, Shinkaruk has some chip to his game, which enhances his underlying skill. He is a good skater with solid first step quickness and a nose for the puck. He can be elusive when skating with the puck and is comfortable carrying the mail from his own zone to the other end. The Calgary native is a weapon on the rush whether passing to an open teammate or taking the shot himself. Although still undersized (5-11”, 181), he is unlikely to get much bigger, so the decision on his immediate future should be based on his hockey readiness, instead of physical preparedness. Barring a big offseason acquisition, he could find himself with an opportunity to win a second line job in the Fall.