Paul Ludwinski – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Chicago Blackhawks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:00:55 +0000

ALLENTOWN, PA - MARCH 26: Michigan Wolverines Forward Frank Nazar III (91) prior to the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Final between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on March 26, 2023, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Lottery ball luck changed the course of the franchise with the arrival of Connor Bedard last season. They were once again rewarded for cleaning the house in recent years with the number two overall pick. That should net them another elite young player to join an enviable group of prospects that will grow together and be formidable before very long. They have had five first round picks in the last two NHL drafts. They dropped from 19th to third in organizational depth because of the graduations of Connor Bedard (1st overall, 2023), Kevin Korchinski (7th 2022), and Lukas Reichel (17th2020). Oliver Moore (19th, 2023) and Frank Nazar (13th, 2022) own high-end offensive upside and are ranked 43rd and 60th respectively by McKeens on their overall prospect ranking. Sam Rinzel (25th, 2022) is a longer-term project, but has progressed more rapidly than expected.

The Hawks own four first round picks in the next two drafts. In this year’s draft the team have seven picks in the first three rounds. In 2025, they have seven picks in the first four rounds. Following the draft in June of last year Davidson did get busy adding veterans to surround his youngsters in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Josh Bailey and Corey Perry. Foligno is the only one remaining and you can expect the team to spend some of the draft capital they have accumulated to date. Connor Bedard is only turning 19 this season but is not your typical teenager and is ready to be a dominant player very soon. Davidson would be wise to give the future young stars room to succeed by upgrading the supporting cast. He certainly has the tools in cap space and in picks to add some more core younger players and character veterans to teach the kids how to win.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Frank Nazar	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	`22(13th)	41	17	24	41	18
2	Oliver Moore	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	`23(19th)	39	9	24	33	8
3	Ethan Del Mastro	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	`21(105th)	69	7	30	37	54
4	Drew Commesso	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	`20(47th)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
5	Sam Rinzel	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	`22(25th)	39	2	26	28	20
6	Nick Lardis	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	`23(67th)	37	29	21	50	12
7	Ryan Greene	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	`22(57th)	40	12	24	36	6
8	Adam Gajan	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	`23(35th)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
9	Nolan Allan	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	`21(32nd)	60	5	12	17	47
10	Colton Dach	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	`21(62nd)	48	11	15	26	39
11	Gavin Hayes	RW	19	6-1/175	Fln-Soo (OHL)	`22(66th)	55	37	39	76	20
12	Roman Kantserov	RW	19	5-9/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`23(44th)	53	8	7	15	10
13	Paul Ludwinski	C	20	5-11/185	Kingston (OHL)	`22(39th)	60	23	46	69	27
14	Landon Slaggert	LW	21	6-0/180	Notre Dame (B1G)	`20(79th)	36	20	11	31	10
					Chicago (NHL)	`20(79th)	16	1	3	4	4
15	Aidan Thompson	C	22	5-11/180	Denver (NCHC)	`22(90th)	44	11	19	30	35

1. Frank Nazar, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

After being limited to just 13 games in 2022-23 due to injury Nazar was clearly intent on rebounding in a big way this season, and boy did he ever. He scored at a point-per-game pace in the NCAA for Michigan and also did the same at the World Juniors, helping the United States win the gold medal. And as if that wasn’t enough, he put a bow on the year by scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game. He plays the game at a breakneck pace and is able to slice through coverage like a hot knife through butter. He’s equally tenacious without the puck, as there aren’t many forwards out there who are better on the forecheck. Players with his short stature often have a tough time in the NHL, but Nazar just plays so fast and so focused that it’s hard to make contact and slow him down.

2. Oliver Moore, C, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

Moore is one of the fastest hockey players in the world, across all ages and leagues and levels, and him being that good in that specific area makes it easier to adjust to new situations, because he knows he always has that elite trait to lean on. That's the main reason why it took him no time at all to find his bearings in the NCAA, and he'll experience a similar luxury when he goes to the AHL. Well, that’s if he even stops there at all on his way to Chicago, which could very well happen. He's also quite smart about how he uses that speed to be a difference-maker for his team all over the ice, and the more his hands can keep catching up to his feet, the more maddening it's going to be for enemy defenders who are tasked with neutralizing him.

3. Ethan Del Mastro, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

The way that Del Mastro continues to constantly build more and more layers upon the foundation of his game is quite impressive and should not be undervalued. He is making huge strides in his development every year, and his secret is knowing his strengths and steadfastly perfecting them. Mature and poised beyond his years, he sees the ice in front of him with expert awareness and always knows exactly where he needs to be and what his next move is, whether that’s driving play forward or looking to win the puck back. He keeps things simple and no-frills, but that’s a perfectly fine strategy for him to focus on since every decision he makes is usually the correct one. He’s the type of defensemen who could conceivably accumulate more than 1,000 games in the NHL because coaches will always be able to rely on him as a two-way difference-maker.

4. Drew Commesso, G, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

Commesso’s development to this point could accurately be described as “slow and steady,” but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to goaltenders. At no point in his three years in the NCAA was he ever within the upper echelon of college goalies, but he was always very good, winning more games than he lost while also helping Boston University win a Hockey East title in 2023. His first year in the AHL was very much in the same mold: good, steady performances from start to finish and respectable statistics overall, even though he never exactly established himself as one of the best netminding prospects in the league. Nevertheless, Stanley Cups have been won before with goalies who are steady eddies who didn’t need to steal games single-handedly, so long as they made the right saves at the right times.

5. Sam Rinzel, D, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

Rinzel has always been seen as a bit of a long-term project, and Chicago’s expectations were undoubtedly centered around reasonable year-over-year growth. He hasn’t needed to be a major difference-maker yet, so long as he kept getting closer and closer to the projected ceiling of him becoming that kind of player one day. So far, so good. This past season was easily his most impressive one yet, finishing with more points than any other defender on his team, while also guarding his own zone admirably well as a college freshman. He’s the type of big, rangy, right-shooting blueliner that all teams highly covet these days, which is why the Blackhawks used a 1st-round draft pick to acquire him even though he was still a long way away from the NHL at the time. Their patience should pay off eventually so long as they are content to stay the course.

6. Nick Lardis, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Lardis was a late riser for the 2023 draft and was on such a steep upward trajectory down that stretch, so it's a real shame that his 2023-24 season was sliced in half due to injury. Regardless, he still looked great when he was in the lineup, and then led his team in playoff scoring, albeit in a six-game losing effort in the opening round. He is a blazingly fast skater who is always dangerous on the rush, both on breakaways and in odd-man situations, with quick hands that can open up goalies in different ways. He's also a lethal finisher from the circles when he gets clean shooting looks. His offensive game might never quite be well-rounded enough to become a Top 6 mainstay for an NHL team, but if not, he has a great shot at becoming a speedy Middle 6 option.

7. Ryan Greene, C, Boston University (NCAA)

Greene is a rock-solid, no-frills center who plays an impressively complete game. What he might lack in flash and excitement he more than makes up for with reliability and versatility, the kind of forward that a coach never feels nervous about sending over the boards. Think about the specific type of heavy, strong value that players like Charlie Coyle, Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher provide, and that will give you a rough idea of what the Blackhawks are hoping to have on their hands one day with Greene once he reaches his peak. While he didn't get as much fanfare as teammates Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, he was also an essential piece of the Boston University squad that made the Frozen Four this spring, and he'll have an even bigger role on the team next season because Celebrini will undoubtedly be in the NHL.

8. Adam Gajan, G, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Goaltenders are historically more enigmatic and difficult to analyze compared to players at other positions, and Gajan exemplifies this more than most of his peers right now. He has put up some stellar performances against elite competition at the past two World Juniors tournaments, but for some reason has been far less consistent and reliable between the pipes for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers, despite the stakes being much lower. The good news is that the Slovakian import still appears to have a lot of untapped potential, with ideal NHL size and a great blend of quickness, reflexes and flexibility. He's heading to the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the fall and will have plenty of time while there to refine his technique, dial in his mental acuity, and cut down the number of weak goals that he currently has a tendency to allow.

9. Nolan Allan, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

It’s undeniable that the sport of hockey is getting faster and more purely skilled. However, there will always still be an element of physicality, and that’s where Allan comes in. He’s strong and he’s sturdy, and he’s more than happy to focus on the nitty gritty aspects of the sport, while leaving the more flashy and exciting stuff to others. That said, smarts are more important than violence for modern shutdown defensemen, and he understands this evolution well. His game is more about blocking shots and keeping opposing forwards away from his own net by boxing them out or pinning them to the boards, as opposed to dropping the gloves or chasing thunderous hits. The work he does is still vitally important for team success, especially in the postseason, and there aren’t a lot of other blueliners in his age group who are as good in this particular role.

10. Colton Dach, C, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

It must be quite frustrating to have been Dach lately, as COVID forced him to miss most of his draft season and then injuries have limited his number of games played for the past two consecutive seasons. It must also be frustrating for the Blackhawks, who have only gotten to see small portions of dominating play from one of their prized forward prospects, and who surely worry that all of this missed time during such an important period of his development could be hindering his chances of reaching his full potential. At least he’s been able to be part of a gold medal-winning Canadian roster at the World Juniors and helped the Seattle Thunderbirds win the 2023 WHL title, both of which provided beneficial experience for him, and his brand of big-body, puck-possession hockey has already been working for him in the AHL when he’s been healthy enough to showcase it.

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

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #1

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:17:29 +0000

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 10: Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel (27) looks on during a game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Top 2o Chicago Blackhawks Prospects

1. Connor Bedard - C

What more can even be said about Bedard at this point that hasn't been said already? In much the same way that Connor McDavid could skate at a level that no prospect before him ever had, Bedard's shot is unlike anything ever seen before. Not just its unparalleled accuracy and velocity, but also his proficiency with all shot styles, his ability to shoot off either foot, how well he disguises his release, his perfect toe drags to move the puck into better shooting lanes, and his unnatural knack for knowing where, when, and how to shoot. He's also unfairly lethal as a playmaker for many of the same reasons, and the harder opponents try to take away his shot, the easier it is for him to pass the puck over to a wide-open teammate. He's still on the smaller side, and always will be. That said, he is elusive with his skating, which reduces the number of times he has to physically engage, and he reads the play at such an advanced level that he can reliably get a step ahead of opponents mentally when otherwise it might be a close race in terms of footspeed alone. The next NHL superstar has arrived.

2. Lukas Reichel - LW

Everything that Reichel does out on the ice just seems so natural to him. Even as a yet-to-be-drafted teenager playing against men in Germany's top professional league, he looked confident, comfortable, and mature well beyond his years, already like a seasoned veteran. That same aura followed him to the AHL and now NHL, and the Blackhawks have to be hoping that he will be a leader as they slowly and methodically attempt to build their next Cup-contending team. He always seems to be thinking the play ahead of everyone else, always knows what his next move should be, and almost always executes his intentions successfully. He might not have the skating, shot, or playmaking to become one of the very top point producers in the league, but you can expect him to be in the 50-70 point range pretty consistently, and for those seasons to start happening soon.

3. Kevin Korchinski - D

One of the best offensive defensemen in all of junior hockey, Korchinski racked up a ridiculous point total last season, with 73. However, what's important to remember about him is that there is still an enormous amount of growth potential within his game. He's still skinny and slight within his tall frame and could really increase his strength and power if he commits hard to his gym habits. There also remains a lot of work to be done with his reads, decision-making, and overall puck management, as a lot of possessions for the Thunderbirds ended when coming off his stick. On one hand, those existing issues are concerning. On the other hand, if you look at how effective and successful he already is despite these flaws it suggests a salivating potential for just how high his ceiling might reach. The sky's the limit.

4. Frank Nazar

Nazar finally returned to action late in the season last year after a long injury layoff, and there was an undeniable amount of rust for him to shake off before he could really showcase why he was picked by the Blackhawks at 13th overall. Luckily for him, his Michigan team made it all the way to the Frozen Four semifinals, so he was granted a few extra opportunities to get back into the swing of things. He is an electrifying prospect because his feet are always moving, he can manipulate the puck with the best of them, and he can see the ice very well at high speeds, which includes lanes for him to attack the net himself, as well as opportunities to set up a teammate for a better look. He is a little on the smaller side, but he should be able to overcome that with his drive and tenacity.

5. Oliver Moore

Without a doubt, Moore was one of the most, if not the most, dynamic skaters in the 2023 draft class. It is his quickness and his ability to lead the counterattack with pace that makes him such a dangerous offensive player. The anchor of the USNTDP’s second line this season, Moore saw a ton of different linemates on his flanks in order to try to give the U18 team better secondary scoring. While his production may not have been consistent, his two-way effort and engagement always were. There may be some limitations to his ability to blend his quickness and skill and that could prevent him from being a premier playmaker at the next level. It seems extremely likely that Moore will become a very useful NHL player in some capacity, but after a few years at the University of Minnesota, will he end up as a Dylan Larkin type or more of an Andrew Cogliano type?

6. Sam Rinzel

The Blackhawks never expected anything truly elite out of Rinzel right away, so they won't be concerned at all that his 2022-23 season was solid, without being spectacular. And they certainly won't regret taking him as high as 25th overall. The focus has always been on his tantalizing tools, and being patient as he learns to master those tools while moving from high school hockey to the more competitive USHL, and then on to a very good University of Minnesota program next year. Rangy, mobile, right-shooting defensemen hold immense value in the NHL, and teams have to pay a premium to add them or accept playing the long game in their development. However, the signs of growth are showing, such as how Rinzel helped USA win gold at the World Junior A Challenge. If Rinzel pops it won't be right away, but the wait will have been worth it.

7. Drew Commesso

Goaltending prospects don't come much more steady and consistent than Commesso does, as evidenced by his save percentage numbers of the past four seasons. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, as his numbers are consistently pretty good. He's a well-rounded, technically sound netminder who neither has any standout traits, nor any real notable weaknesses. Everything about his game is solid, albeit not spectacular: his play-tracking, his technique, his reflexes, his positioning, and so on. Even his size and natural net coverage is pretty average. That said, sometimes that's all you need out of a goalie to win a championship. He helped his Boston University team reach the Frozen Four, only to be undone in the semifinals against Minnesota, the top-ranked team in the nation. He projects as becoming at least an NHL backup, with a starter's job not out of the question.

8. Nick Lardis

A midseason trade to Hamilton lit a fire under Lardis, transforming him into one of the more dynamic offensive players in the OHL. The key for him will be maintaining that high level of play into this season with the Bulldogs, proving that the conclusion to last season wasn’t an anomaly. Lardis’ combination of quickness and goal scoring ability will make him a very intriguing option for the Blackhawks in the future. With a consistent motor, skill, speed, and scoring ability, he projects as a top six complementary player along the lines of a Jake Guentzel at the next level. However, other areas of his game still require further growth; he is a bit of a long-term project in that regard and that is why he fell to the third round compared to where we had him ranked (32nd) going into the draft. There is a need to expand his game with the puck beyond simply being a North/South attacker, varying his approach. Additionally, he will need to be better in puck protection scenarios and improve his strength away from the puck in the other zones. Even with some inconsistencies, his offensive ceiling is quite high.

9. Ethan Del Mastro

Del Mastro has won gold medals playing internationally for Canada in three straight years, first at the IIHF U18s in 2021 and then the World Juniors in both 2022 and 2023. He played 20 total games across those three tournaments, and over that span he scored exactly zero goals. That's not his whole story as a prospect, but it is a good reflection of it. Del Mastro is a big, responsible defender who is well-suited to a modern shutdown role, with competent skating and puck-handling abilities. He can still go old school and dish out some punishment too. And don't look now, but his offensive game is also coming along, scoring at a point-per-game pace with both of his teams last year in Mississauga and later Sarnia. There might not be a prospect in Chicago's pipeline who has a safer NHL floor than Del Mastro, and a top-four ceiling is a realistic possibility.

10. Ilya Safonov

Safonov is a fantastic example of the value that teams can find by scouting and drafting re-entry prospects. Passed over in both 2019 and 2020, the Blackhawks took a flyer on the hulking Russian centre in the sixth round, 172nd overall, in 2021 and right now that pick is looking incredibly shrewd. He has since grown into a capable, difference-making two-way power forward in the KHL. Perhaps most impressively, he was named the captain of his team at just 21 years of age, the youngest in franchise history. He's so strong, athletic, gritty, and competitive that he is a lot to handle physically, even at the hands of veteran Russian pros and former NHLers. He can chip in points as a net-front presence, though his real value comes from how well he defends and matches up against opposing lines. Chicago will do their damnedest to get him to North America as soon as possible.

11. Colton Dach

Injuries really plagued Dach last year, including a high-profile shoulder injury at the WJC’s. But he was able to return for the WHL playoffs and helped Seattle capture a title. The power forward will try to stay healthy as he turns pro this season and could move quickly through the system if he adjusts to the pace well.

12. Alex Vlasic

Defence is the name of the game for Vlasic, who is a unique player because of his combination of size (6’6”) and mobility. Coming off a solid rookie year in the AHL after turning pro, Vlasic has put himself in contention for a roster spot this year.

13. Adam Gajan

The first goalie taken in the 2023 Draft, Gajan is quite the story. He’s gone from having to make his own recruitment videos to being a top NHL prospect thanks to a tremendous World Juniors for Slovakia. The hyper athletic netminder will be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth this year.

14. Nolan Allen

A WHL champion this year with Seattle (along with fellow Blackhawks prospects Colton Dach and Kevin Korchinski), Allen is a steady, stay at home defender. His upside at the NHL level is likely capped, but he could move quickly through the system thanks to a refined game.

15. Roman Kantserov

The 2023 second round pick offers intriguing offensive upside because of his ability to impact the transition game and play with pace. He will be given time to develop slowly in Russia with the hopes that he can improve his play off the puck.

16. Gavin Hayes

An underrated player in both the OHL and in the Blackhawks’ system, Hayes is coming off of a great year with Flint that saw him hit the 40-goal plateau. A tenacious power winger, he will have his sights set on cracking 50 this year.

17. Ryan Greene

Greene is an athletic pivot who had a very good freshman season with Boston University last year. His quickness and tenaciousness make him a potential middle six, two-way center for the Blackhawks in the future.

18. Cole Guttman

The surprise of the 2022-23 season as Guttman was an immediate impact player at both the AHL and NHL levels after turning pro out of Denver. Intelligent and quick, is he a sneaky Calder candidate for the upcoming year?

19. Wyatt Kaiser

Kaiser jumped immediately to the NHL level after signing out of UMD late last year, playing out the stretch run with the Hawks. The highly mobile defender has a shot at a roster spot this year too, but Chicago may opt to give him time at Rockford first to allow him more significant ice time.

20. Paul Ludwinski

Another Hawks prospect who had injury problems last season, Ludwinski did not have the kind of season with Kingston of the OHL that many people expected. This coming season will serve as a restart for him as he looks to emerge as an offensive leader for a young and improving Frontenacs team.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:10:02 +0000

1 - Lukas Reichel LW

Like his fellow countryman and top prospect J.J. Peterka, Reichel was a standout in his first pro season in North America last year. He averaged over a point per game for Rockford of the AHL and earned a short stint in the NHL. Granted, there were some struggles at the NHL level, especially from a strength perspective, but Reichel should now understand what it takes to be a consistent offensive player at the top level. In reality, a lack of strength is the only thing holding him back from being a quality top six NHL contributor. He is skilled. He is intelligent. He skates well and continues to improve his ability to push pace and attack. He is improving his reads in all three zones and projects as a well-rounded two-way player. Like his uncle Robert, Lukas should have a long and prosperous NHL career. The Blackhawks have not made their intentions this year a secret. It is clear that they have entered full rebuild mode and will be giving Reichel every opportunity to secure a full-time role in Chicago out of training camp. If he performs well, he could get an opportunity to play with someone like Patrick Kane (as long as Kane isn’t traded) at even strength and on the powerplay. As such, Reichel is certainly a preseason Calder candidate. Long term, he has the potential to be a first line winger as part of a new generation of Blackhawks being ushered in. - BO

2 - Frank Nazar C

The Chicago Blackhawks traded a lot for the right to draft Nazar 13th overall at the 2022 NHL draft, sending former top center prospect Kirby Dach to the Montreal Canadiens in order to secure that draft pick. With his selection, Nazar instantly became the Blackhawks’ new top center prospect, and he heads to the University of Michigan next season with the expectation of being an instant impact scorer. Nazar spent his draft year at the U.S. National Team Development Program, and he had a solid year, scoring above a point-per-game rate. Nazar’s speed proved too much to handle for many USHL defenders. Nazar’s skating is his best tool overall. He’s a genuine burner, with the ability to beat defenders with his pace alone. Nazar complements his straight-line speed with strong edgework, and he has an ability to manipulate defenses with his skating that’s more advanced than his peers. Nazar’s stride looks effortless, and despite often operating at high speeds he rarely burns out and finds himself at the end of shifts without enough energy to properly compete. Nazar relies more on his feet than his hands to create offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates, but that’s not to say he has any deficiencies with the puck on his stick. He’s a quality stickhandler and his puck skills are strong enough to keep up with the pace of the game that he plays at. But while there is genuinely quite a bit of upside to Nazar’s overall profile, there is also some risk. Nazar lacks the prototypical size many scouts want to see from their NHL centers, and Nazar may need to alter some of his habits in order to thrive at the professional level. At lower levels, Nazar’s speed alone can be enough to beat defenders, but when he reaches higher levels of hockey, he’ll need to expand his overall arsenal. It’s an open question as to whether Nazar has enough of a complete game to stick at center, but what’s not up for debate is the raw potential in his game. He has a chance to become a dynamic, top-of-the-lineup offensive player, although he’s no guarantee to realize that potential. - EH

3 - Kevin Korchinski D

What a year it was for Korchinski, who started the season off fairly slowly, drawing concerns from scouts about his on-ice decision-making. After Christmas Korchinski exploded, piling up the points as the T-Birds embarked on a memorable post-season run that saw them erase series deficits to beat the favored Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers in game 7s on the road, before falling in the WHL finals in a series whose scheduling conflicts forced them to play an extra road game. Korchinski had much to do with that run, finishing the season at a near-PPG pace. His draft stock shot up and he was ultimately selected 7^th overall by the Blackhawks. A powerful skater with a long, efficient stride, Korchinski can reach full flight quickly and is adept at walking the blueline, making him a dangerous threat on the powerplay. He carries the puck with ease and confidence and is passing is crisp, although his reads can be questionable at times. Korchinski’s biggest improvement as the year progressed, was becoming more decisive with the puck and thinking the game at a quicker pace. Improvement on his wrist shot and getting it through traffic would also help Korchinski become more of a dual threat from up top on the powerplay. Like all young players, he needs to become stronger and fill out his lean frame, in order to play defense at the next level. Korchinski will almost certainly be returned to junior for his draft+1 season, although the possibility of a 9-game tryout to start the year remains. - AS

4 - Sam Rinzel D

The Chicago Blackhawks have made the direction of their franchise no secret. GM Kyle Davidson is playing the long game, beginning to stockpile draft picks and acquire high-upside players that might require more time and patience than other NHL franchises could typically afford to give them. Their selection of Sam Rinzel 25th overall at the 2022 draft raised eyebrows from some, as Rinzel was a divisive prospect who did not receive universal first-round acclaim. But taking rankings out of the equation, Rinzel is the exact sort of prospect who fits the Blackhawks’ plans. Rinzel, who spent most of his draft season playing at the high school level in Minnesota, is a raw prospect who offers a tantalizing package of tools. Rinzel is big and skates quite well for someone his size. Rinzel is an aggressive defenseman, and he has shown flashes of game-breaking ability from the blueline. But with the upside Rinzel presents comes significant red flags and question marks in his game. First and foremost, Rinzel is extremely talented but also quite raw — he’ll need a lot of work to get to a point where he’s pro-ready — and he’s also not shown a level of defensive competence that gives any confidence in his ability to sustain his aggressive style of play in more demanding and competitive hockey settings. Rinzel will need to find a way to make the proper adjustments to his game to make him a viable two-way defenseman while also maintaining the sort of uber-aggressive, uber-creative style that’s set him apart so far. Simply maintaining the identity of his game, the identity that has made him a top prospect in the first place could be challenging given the demands of college and professional coaches. But Rinzel, who will spend another year in the USHL before playing college hockey as a Minnesota Gopher, has a lot of time to improve. He’s a true boom-or-bust prospect, and it’s far too early to reasonably project his NHL future. All we can do at this point is eagerly observe how he handles higher levels of hockey and how his game changes, if at all when faced with additional adversity. - EH

5 - Drew Commesso G

While Russian phenom Yaroslav Askarov got most of the attention (by far) of the 2021 draft’s goalie class, Drew Commesso led a second tier of goalie prospects that saw five netminders go in the second and third rounds of the draft. Commesso himself was selected 46th overall by the Blackhawks, and upon his selection, he instantly became the Blackhawks’ most promising drafted goalie prospect. Commesso is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, and he’s spent the past two seasons stopping pucks for the Boston University Terriers. Commesso isn’t a big goalie, but at six-foot-two he stands tall enough where size won’t be a concern for his ability to play in the NHL. Like many young goalies, Commesso has been a bit inconsistent, and he’s had brilliant games for the Terriers as well as games he’d like to move on from. His performance was enough for him to earn a spot with the United States Beijing Winter Olympics squad. Commesso is a poised goalie who rarely panics in the crease, carefully taking the time to square up to shooters and challenge incoming rushes. He moves very well in the crease, and his athleticism serves him well when his technique isn’t enough. Commesso will need to put together a more consistent college season before he’s ready to turn pro, and even if he does as soon as next season, he’s still likely a decent way away from the NHL. Ultimately, Commesso has a chance to become a starting goalie in the NHL if things break right. - EH

6 - Wyatt Kaiser D

Wyatt Kaiser’s game isn’t exactly a difficult one to get a handle on. What he does well is relatively easy to see, and he doesn’t go to any particularly great lengths to hide the things he needs to improve. The thing that sticks most about Kaiser is his skating. Kaiser moves exceptionally well. His skating checks all the boxes. He accelerates well, has the edgework to make quick turns, and remain an elusive presence when shuttling pucks through the neutral zone. He’s not an overwhelmingly deceptive skater, but he the shifts where he gives opposing skaters fits as they attempt to interrupt him are common enough to give confidence in his offensive projection. Kaiser also spent nearly as much time killing penalties as he did on the power play, and his speed allows him to get around the defensive zone quickly and get to loose pucks before heavier-footed opposing attackers. While Kaiser isn’t an overwhelming physical presence, he also isn’t shy about that side of the game and will get his hands dirty when he needs to. But just as Kaiser’s qualities as a skater are immediately evident, as are the shortcomings in his other offensive tools. Kaiser’s playmaking is fine, but he relies far more on his feet to create separation and chances than he does his abilities as a reader of the play and a facilitator of his teammates. The result of Kaiser’s less impressive other offensive tools is that his projection on that side of the ice as a pro is limited. Still, there’s enough to Kaiser’s game to give him NHL upside, and he could be a nice, well-rounded bottom-pairing piece if he continues to show he can weather difficult minutes and if he can find more ways to create offense beyond just using his excellent skating. - EH

7 - Alec Regula D

A hulking, right shot defender, Regula, much like the team’s other top pro prospects, is well positioned to become a full time NHL defender this coming season. He played in 15 games to close out last season and became fairly battle tested as the Hawks coaching staff had him playing over 20 minutes per game in all situations. Does that give him a leg up heading into the year? It does seem likely. The 6’4, former London Knights standout, combines his great length with great four-way mobility. For a defender of his size his skating ability is very impressive, and this can make him an asset at both ends of the ice. His offensive potential may be somewhat limited at the NHL level (unless Chicago opts to use him in the bumper role on the powerplay like London coach Dale Hunter used to), due to average transporting and passing skills, however his defensive potential is quite high. Regula has great instincts as a shot blocker and his reach is extremely disruptive when protecting the slot and the net front area. As he gains confidence, look for the physical side of his game to become relatively dominant too. A potential top four defender, Regula could reach that potential as early as this season on a rebuilding Chicago team. - BO

8 - Ethan Del Mastro D

The 105th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Ethan Del Mastro had a great season as the captain of the Steelheads, displaying strength on both sides of the puck consistently. The former 12th overall selection in the 2019 OHL Draft had a good rookie season, finishing with seven points (7A) in 57 games. Unfortunately for Del Mastro, he was forced to miss the 2020-2021 season due to Covid-19. Fortunately for Del Mastro, he got the opportunity to play in the U18 World Championship. During the 2021-2022, Del Mastro had a breakout season, finishing with 48 points (7A,41A) in 68 games, which was 14th in the league for points by a defenseman, 10th in the league for assists by a defenseman, 2nd on the team for assists and 4th on the team for points. Del Mastro also got the opportunity to play in the U20 World Junior Championship. Del Mastro’s best assets are his competitiveness and physicality. Del Mastro is a strong defender who utilizes his size and reach to make it difficult on opponents trying to enter the offensive zone or find space in the slot. He’s consistently in the play and has the motor to out-battle opponents for the puck. He plays an aggressive style that forces opponents to second think about going into the corners because he’s so physical. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Del Mastro will once again be looked to be a leader for the Steelheads and be one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, and also one that every team will not look forward to play against. - DK

9 - Paul Ludwinski C

The 39^th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Paul Ludwinski is the type of player that any fan gets excited for when they’re on the ice. He brings such great energy each shift and seems to have a motor that never quits. Ludwinski was the 5th overall selection in the 2020 OHL Draft after a successful season as the captain of the Toronto Marlboros. He has always played a strong responsible game and displays great leadership. Unfortunately for Ludwinski, him and others were unable to play during the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid-19 shutdown. Ludwinski was able to adjust quickly to the OHL because of his hockey sense and responsible play. His role was limited due to being on a talented Frontenacs team, but he was still able to be effective and make the most of his minutes. When he was given to chance in the top-6 due to injuries, he never disappointed and looked like he belonged. Finishing the season with 43 points (16G,27A) in 67 games, Ludwinski was 6^th on his team in points, and also tied for first in goals in the playoffs with seven, also adding five assists as well in 11 games. Ludwinski’s best assets are his competitiveness and hockey sense, especially his play away from the puck. Each shift Ludwinski is on the ice, you know. You could argue that on the majority of his shifts, he is the hardest working player on the ice. He battles hard in the corners and never backs down from any opponents. Ludwinski is so effective because he does so much without the puck. He finds open space quickly and understands where to be at all times in all three zones. Making it easy for teammates to play with. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Ludwinski will look to take a step forward as he continues to grow as a strong 200ft player. - DK

10 - Arvid Soderblom G

Among AHL rookie netminders last season, Soderblom was a major standout. His .919 save percentage was second best behind AHL Goaltender of the Year Dustin Wolf among first year goalies. Needless to say, it was a very successful North American debut for the big Swedish netminder. As such, the Hawks actually cut ties with pretty much all other goalies previously in the pro system: a massive vote of confidence for Soderblom. With Drew Commesso likely still a few years away, he will have a solid chance to prove that he can be Chicago’s goaltender of the future. The former free agent signing out of Sweden takes away the bottom of the net so well with quick pads and strong lateral movement. He definitely has that combination of size and athleticism you want from the position today. Coming into his first pro season in North America, there were some concerns about his play tracking ability, positioning, and rebound control; essentially the technical elements, however all of these attributes proved to be further along in development than anticipated. As such, the Hawks find themselves with perhaps an NHL ready netminder. With only Alex Stalock and the injury prone Petr Mrazek in his way at the pro level, it seems inevitable that Soderblom gets more than a handful of games at the NHL level this coming season. However, there is also prevailing thought that suggests Chicago does not want to throw Soderblom to the wolves this season, given how poor the Blackhawks likely end up being. There is no need to rush him, especially given the strong potential he has thus far shown. - BO

11 - Isaak Phillips

The Hawks have high hopes for Phillips, a highly athletic defender with intriguing upside at both ends. He is probably more suited to a defensive role in the future, but he has improved considerably in recent seasons.

12 - Colton Dach

After trading older brother Kirby, the Hawks still have the younger Colton, who they drafted in 2021. His skating took a nice step forward this year and he may end up being one of the better forwards in the WHL this season.

13 - Nolan Allan

A surprise first rounder in 2021, Allan has a safe projection as an NHL defender because of his combination of size, mobility, and physicality. The hope is that his offensive game can continue to improve.

14 - Gavin Hayes

Hayes is a power winger with a big shot. He improved with each passing month in the OHL last season and could be a breakout candidate this year with consistent ice time and responsibility.

15 - Alex Vlasic

A similar prospect to Nolan Allan, Vlasic is also a big defender with mobility who has a chance to be a shutdown type for the Hawks. He jumped from Boston U straight to the NHL last season but may require some AHL time this year.

16 - Ryan Greene

Chicago’s second round selection this year, Greene is a skilled center with a strong skating stride. He will play for Boston University this season as a freshman.

17 - Landon Slaggert

The University of Notre Dame winger has a game tailored to be a standout bottom six winger in today’s NHL. He competes hard at both ends, skates well enough, and has strong off puck awareness.

18 - Josiah Slavin

The younger brother of NHL defender Jaccob, Josiah is a big winger who had a solid first full pro season after turning pro from Colorado College. He might be a full time NHL player this season.

19 - Michal Teply

A skilled playmaking winger, Teply is coming off his first full pro season in North America after playing a middle six role for Rockford. He will look to take on more responsibility and earn an NHL call up this season.

20 - Jaxson Stauber

The Hawks signed Stauber, a standout at Providence, as a free agent this offseason. The 6’3 netminder will likely back-up Soderblom in Rockford this season.

2022 NHL DRAFT: OHL – Paul Ludwinski, C/W, Kingston Frontenacs

Brock Otten — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 16:53:39 +0000

Generally speaking, Paul Ludwinski has been a bit of a tough player to get a read on this year. He came into the season as one of my favourite players from the 2020 OHL Draft crop, after watching him dominate the GTHL with the Toronto Marlboros. However, his performance thus far in his rookie year (and draft year) has best been described as inconsistent. Part of that has been due to an ever-changing role. He has played on the first line as a wing with Shane Wright. He has centered a checking line. And done pretty much everything else in between. The other cause of Ludwinski’s inconsistency has been his inability to blend his quickness and puck skill. There are times where he dazzles in transition and others where he struggles to escape the neutral zone because his feet are moving faster than his hands. As such, scouts have had a difficult time ascertaining Ludwinski’s true potential as a pro. If the hands catch up and he learns to slow the game down to make better decisions with the puck, then Ludwinski could easily develop into a top six forward and likely outperform his draft slot. If this does not happen, he still has the potential to be a long time NHL player because of his tenaciousness, defensive awareness, and ability to use his speed on the forecheck and to drive the net. Next year, if Shane Wright is in the NHL, Ludwinski could slide into the top line role for the Frontenacs and be given every opportunity to progress positively as an offensive player, especially given that Kingston should still have a decent supporting cast around him.

Paul Ludwinski of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

Skating

Paul Ludwinski	Date of Birth: 2004-04-23
Position: C/W, Shoots: L	H/W: 5'11", 172lbs
Stats to Date: (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Kingston, OHL (60-11-23-34)

A standout quality for Ludwinski, his straight-line speed allows him to be effective in transition with the puck, and a strong forechecker/backchecker without it. Ludwinski consistently applies pressure to puck carriers in all three zones, closing quickly with his impressive first step quickness. While usually a North/South attacker, Ludwinski does show the ability to use linear crossovers to build speed while altering direction, and he can look comfortable playing on his edges to cut back to the middle to help create separation or avoid stick checks. He pivots well too, allowing him to negotiate traffic and find success down low as he spins off checks, keeps his feet moving and helps to prolong possession for Kingston. Ultimately Ludwinski profiles as an above average skater in nearly every regard and his ability to further add quickness and greater confidence on his edges will be key to his success at the NHL level eventually.

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A nice play in transition by Ludwinski that shows off his ability to alter direction quickly. He takes on Hamilton defender Gavin White (a terrific skater himself) one on one, fakes left, goes right and gets behind him for the glorious chance.

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A gorgeous goal from Ludwinski recently which really showcases his speed and explosiveness. He splits both Peterborough defenders, catching them on their heels, and finishes on the backhand as he falls to the ice.

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Kind of a nothing play, but I felt like it really showed all that Ludwinski had to offer as a skater. He uses a partial c-cut to protect the puck, then builds speed quickly out of the cut, using a few linear crossovers to help him gain the offensive zone. The pass and turnover at the end of the clip weren’t great, but the skating on display here is.

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As mentioned, Ludwinski can use his speed to be an effective forechecker. Here he closes quickly on Vegas draft pick Artur Cholach as he retrieves a dump in, then separates him from the puck and is able to swing the puck out into the slot, just missing on the connection with Maddox Callens.

Grade: 55

Shot

Ludwinski’s shot has the potential to be more of a weapon for him than it is currently. There are times where he looks the part of a high-end finisher and others where he struggles to find the back of the net, even on the easiest of chances. His best weapon is his one timer, which he uses effectively in transition, but he also has a quick wrist shot that he can unleash from the slot. He doesn’t shoot a ton and is probably best described as a pass first kind of player currently, however there is potential for him to be a better goal scorer if he can improve the accuracy of his wrist shot and increase velocity on every shot in his repertoire.

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First an example of Ludwinski’s shot being a positive for him. He makes a great saucer pass to spring Matthew Soto, and then drives wide to become a passing option. He finishes with the one timer top shelf.

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Now an example of Ludwinski missing an easy chance for a goal that he earned by beating his man to the net in transition. Ludwinski earns a lot of chances like this, especially when he plays the wing with Shane Wright, but finishing consistently has been an issue.

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This example shows how Ludwinski just doesn’t have the utmost confidence in his shot and is, at times, pass first to a fault. He makes a great move to get into the slot, but then tries to force a cross ice pass rather than use a quick snap shot to try to beat the netminder.

Grade: 50

Skills

Without question, this is the most difficult area of Ludwinski’s game to evaluate. There are moments where he absolutely dazzles with his one-on-one skill and creativity. He can turn defenders inside out with his ability to blend elite pace with stick skill and puck control. Then there are many more instances where Ludwinski’s feet are moving too fast for his hands. He loses control trying to make moves at full speed. He fails to secure passes in transition. He bobbles the puck when pressured by defenders in the offensive zone. He over skates the puck. So which Ludwinski is the real one? It is easy to forget that this is Ludwinski’s first season in the OHL after last year’s hiatus. There have been numerous instances of players who take time to develop consistency in their skill application when they like to play at a feverish pace. Liam Foudy and Alex Formenton are two great recent examples. One has to believe that as Ludwinski matures physically and takes on a larger role in Kingston, his ability to blend his quickness and skill will improve. It is the classic, “his hands have to catch up to his feet.” If they don’t? Then it probably does limit Ludwinski’s impact as a pro player, perhaps relegating him to a high energy bottom six role. But there is also the potential for him to improve further as an impact offensive player and someone who is more suited to playing through the middle of the lineup.

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There are moments like this where Ludwinski dazzles in transition.

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Or this. Ludwinski can take advantage of defenders down low who don’t eliminate him physically by avoiding stickchecks with his quick hands.

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Or this. He turns another defender inside out and gets a great look from the slot.

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But then there are instances like this where Ludwinski fails to secure an outlet cleanly and struggles to maintain possession.

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Or instances like this from the recent Top Prospect’s Game where Ludwinski just can’t gather the puck when also attempting to build speed. There is an anxiousness to his game at times, where he tries to rush the play before he even has possession.

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Another example of Ludwinski simply over skating the puck, again from a desire to try to push the pace before he has cleanly secured possession.

Grade: 55

Smarts

I believe part of the problem with Ludwinski’s inconsistent offensive play is his desire to push the pace of play at all costs. Yes, his hands need to catch up with his feet. But he also needs to learn to alter pace to be less predictable. A lot of the time Ludwinski will turn the puck over by trying to drive through defenders, because he either can’t beat them with speed, or he can’t beat them with a one on one move. His ability to set the tempo is intriguing, but he could learn a lot from teammate Shane Wright in his ability to slow the play down to survey the ice, allowing teammates to catch up, ultimately giving him more options as a passer. There are times when attacking with speed is the best option. There are others where a simple chip and chase is the better option (especially given his speed). And then there are others where Ludwinski could use a c-cut or pivot to alter pace after gaining the offensive zone. It is about learning to select the right strategy at the right time and that will take his game to another level, rather than playing at a feverish pace 100% of the time. Ludwinski does show great potential as a playmaker though, even if his reads with the puck are not consistently the best ones. His anticipation in the offensive end is sound and it helps him to both sniff out scoring chances, and make great finds to set up teammates. This anticipation and awareness is applicable in all three zones too, as Ludwinski works hard to apply back pressure and force turnovers. His speed allows him to recover well, and he is never out of a play, combining his physical tenaciousness with a strong stick to be effective in the defensive end and on the penalty kill. Ludwinski has the potential to develop into a high end two-way forward and the positional versatility he has shown this year (going back and forth between center and the wing) has to be alluring to NHL scouts.

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Ludwinski loves to use his speed to track down pucks and his vision below the goal line is among his best attributes. He cuts off the pass behind the net and sets up a great scoring chance from the slot.

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Nice passing play here between Ludwinski and Shane Wright. He could have received that pass and tried to force his way to the net, but he knew Wright was working the give and go and he waited for him to break free before sending the pass back.

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Another great passing play below the goal line from Ludwinski. This sets up a goal for the Fronts.

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But there have been too many instances like this from Ludwinski this year as he attempts to drive through opposing defenses with little success. Would have loved to have seen Ludwinski chip and chase on this play to try to secure possession down low. Or he could have peeled off just inside the blueline, throwing on the breaks and pivoting to his backhand to allow the other Fronts players to gain the line. If at that point there still isn’t a good option, he could again, just dump the puck.

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However, Ludwinski’s positioning and awareness in the defensive end stands out in a positive way. This is a great defensive play as he covers for his defender to cut off the pass to the slot, then he starts the breakout effectively.

Grade: 55

Physicality/Compete

As mentioned, Ludwinski has a nonstop motor in all three zones and it is a large reason why he has been such a versatile player for the Frontenacs this year. He is not an overtly physical player per say. No one will confuse him with Raffi Torres. However, he will use his body to help separate players from the puck and is very aggressive in puck pursuit. He loves to get after it on the forecheck and his effort on the backcheck is consistent as he looks to clog passing lanes or apply back pressure with stick lifts or tie ups. Moving forward, as Ludwinski puts on muscle, one could probably expect him to become an even more tenacious player. As is, he drives the net, plays through contact, and plays up tempo.

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Great tie-up here by Ludwinski on the backcheck as he lifts the stick of fellow 2022 draft eligible forward (and fellow high energy player) Brady Stonehouse. Ludwinski makes these types of plays on a relatively consistent basis.

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More 2022 draft eligible on 2022 draft eligible crime as Ludwinski bodies Owen Beck off the puck in the neutral zone to force a turnover. Again, he is not a big hitter, but he will engage physically to help secure possession or apply back pressure.

Grade: 55

OFP: 54

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

2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #51 thru #60

Brock Otten — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 20:50:31 +0000

In case you missed it, we updated our 2022 NHL Draft rankings recently. You can find that here. Shane Wright still headlines the list but the gap is unquestionably closing as other candidates elevate their play.

With this piece our intention is to briefly introduce you to each of the players that fill out the rest of the Top 100 (ranked 50-100), after previously looking at the Top 50. Below you will find a short summary of their games in addition to a top highlight. In the coming months you will see in-depth scouting reports published by our regional scouts on each of these players (like this one on Shane Wright).

Paul Ludwinski of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

Paul Ludwinski - Center/Wing - Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Early on in the OHL season, Ludwinski, a former high draft pick in the OHL priority selection, was being used as the third wheel on the team’s first line with Shane Wright and Martin Chromiak. The fit just wasn’t right. Since shifting back to center in a middle six role, Ludwinski has been more noticeable as someone who can lead the attack into the offensive zone and not simply support it. His skating, specifically his quickness, is a major asset and Ludwinski puts it to good use at both ends. His energy level is consistently high as he works to apply back pressure or retrieve loose pucks. There are moments where he flashes high-end skill and creativity, especially when attacking the offensive zone. There are others where his hands seem to lag behind his feet, and he fails to execute which leads to a loss of possession or a missed opportunity. At the very least Ludwinski profiles as a quality bottom six center at the NHL with his two-way awareness and energy. At best, some of those flashes become more consistent and Ludwinski becomes a play driver with his attacking tendencies.

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Jordan Dumais - Wing - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

The track record for players like Dumais is not terrific. He is a smaller forward (5’9) who also happens to lack dynamic qualities in his stride and quickness. If he is not able to improve his skating, he probably tops out as a high end AHL player or European pro player. However, if he does, he has the skill, sense, and creativity to be a very good offensive player in the NHL; the kind of guy who we reflect on in five years and say, “how on earth did this guy get drafted where he did.” Dumais has consistently been among the QMJHL’s leading scorers this year and was on fire prior to the league’s shutdown due to the east coast’s pandemic restrictions. Even as is, his maneuverability in tight is strong and it allows him to be elusive and escape pressure in the offensive zone. He is, simply put, a puck magnet. Many players in recent years have proven that skating, especially quickness, can be improved. But the things that Dumais does well are much harder to upgrade.

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Aleksanteri Kaskimaki - Wing - HIFK (Fin U20)

A strong skating, attacking winger, Kaskimaki has had a very strong statistical season in the Finnish junior leagues this year. He is exceptionally dangerous on the counter and in transition because of his linear quickness and ability to catch defenders flat footed. Kaskimaki also shows strong awareness as a playmaker and does well to scan the ice when at full speed to find open teammates before pressure collapses around him. Physicality is not really a large component to his game, but he does show well as a two-way player at the junior level with his positioning and active stick. Similar to some other players ranked in this range, currently there are some skill limitations to what Kaskimaki can accomplish. His hands do not always operate as quickly as his feet, especially as he attempts to alter pace or direction to evade traffic. If he can add some other layers to his game, or perform well at the Liiga level, he could move up this list by season’s end.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-53-aleksanteri_kaskimaki_-_2nd_period_6_27_-_6_40.mp4

Luca Del Bel Belluz - Center - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Unquestionably, LDBB (as OHL scouts have come to know him) has been one of the most improved players this year. A former teammate of Adam Fantilli in the GTHL, DelBelBelluz struggled with the pace of the OHL game in his rookie year two years ago (he is a late born ‘03). However, he is now stronger, quicker, and more confident. The results speak for themselves. He is the first line center on one of the best teams in the OHL and has emerged as one of the league’s premier two-way pivots. DelBelBelluz solves problems so efficiently in the offensive zone because of his quick hands; he is a tough player to pin down. For all his strengths, his skating ability remains an area requiring growth, especially given that much of his game is predicated on his ability to lead the attack and maneuver through traffic. That said, his agility and quickness out of pivots already looks much improved from the start of the year. DelBelBelluz is a player who just seems to be getting better and better and he is majorly trending upwards.

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Ryan Chesley. Photo by Rena Laverty/USA Hockey

Ryan Chesley - Defense - USNDP (USHL)

Admittedly, Chesley is a player that we have ranked lower than our contemporaries. There is a lot to like about Chesley’s game. He is an absolute workhorse in the defensive end and one of the more physically punishing and suffocating defenders available this year. He is as strong as an ox down low. Chesley is also a high-end skater who shows quickness in bursts as he escapes pressure to lead the breakout. He occasionally quarterbacks the powerplay of the U.S. U18 team and does show an ability to use his four-way quickness to open up lanes for him or teammates to exploit. Our concern revolves around his awareness and vision. For every positive play Chesley makes, he can make a negative one with the puck by skating into traffic or telegraphing a pass that gets picked off. Because of his physical tools, he should become an NHL defender. However, we question his upside as a two-way defender and wonder if he is better suited to play a simple, stay at home role similar to former NHL defender Tim Gleason, who had similar issues and strengths as a junior player.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-55-ryan_chesley_-_2nd_period_0_52_-_1_4.mp4

Danny Zhilkin - Center - Guelph Storm (OHL)

It is hard not to appreciate the physical tools that Zhilkin brings to the table. He can be a dynamic transitional attacker with his speed and hands. It seems like every game he is able to break through on a rush by beating one or two defenders to the net in order to get a look in tight. Zhilkin has also transformed his game to become a quality two-way player whose effort and physical intensity in the defensive end is strong. The disconnect is that Zhilkin can have tunnel vision as an offensive player, which makes you question just how well he processes the game at full speed. He does not show a consistent ability to make his attacks unpredictable by altering pace and, as a result, he can be turnover prone. As a late born 2003 player, there is a little less room for improvement too, even if he has shown considerable growth as a player this year. The physical shell of an NHL center is present, but one has to wonder if the processing ability is good enough to be a top six player.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-56-danny_zhilkin_-_3rd_period_2_27_-_2_40.mp4

Isaiah George - Defense - London Knights (OHL)

Everyone knows the London Knights are a development factory. This year is no different with several players likely to be drafted inside the Top 100. The best of the bunch according to us is mobile defender Isaiah George. Early on, George showed well as a simple stay at home defender who consistently squashed transitional attacks with his ability to maintain close gaps. However, he has slowly gained confidence in his ability to use his quickness to be a difference maker offensively. He now leads the attack out of the defensive zone and is consistently pushing deep in the offensive zone. He won’t wow you with skill, but there is a real efficiency to his game. Despite the return of Logan Mailloux and import Kirill Steklov, he continues to see significant minutes from Dale Hunter and has really earned his trust. It is easy to see George becoming an NHL defender in some capacity because of his elite mobility, especially under the watchful eye of the Knights’ development staff.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-57-isaiah_george_-_1st_period_12_4_-_12_16.mp4

Rieger Lorenz - Wing - Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)

Lorenz received a first-round grade from us early in the season, however now finds himself rated a little lower to no fault of his own. It is more of a case of others stepping up to surpass him, rather than Lorenz playing poorly. He has remained one of the highest scoring players in the AJHL and consistently produces every time he hits the ice. He does a lot of things well. He has a good combination of size, quickness, and skill and is consistently able to work his way into the slot at the AJHL level to create scoring chances. He competes hard away from the puck and is eager to be a difference maker away from the puck. Like any tier two prospect, the question is, what is the upside? How skilled is Lorenz really? The University of Denver commit would have benefited greatly from the World Junior A Challenge occurring, but sadly it was axed again this year. So, scouts (us included) will have to wait and see if Lorenz ends up making the Canadian U18 team this year to give them a comparison and a true assessment of his abilities and potential. Is there an elite quality in his game?

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-58-rieger_lorenz_-_1st_period_16_41_-_16_53.mp4

Tyler Duke. Photo by Rena Laverty, USNTDP

Tyler Duke - Defense - USNDP (USHL)

Duke is the kind of player you have to see play to truly appreciate how greatly he impacts the game. His production has been modest, especially for an undersized defender. No question, it would be great to see him be a little more aggressive offensively to be more of a game breaker. But his game is so efficient. A breakout machine, Duke rarely gets pinned in the defensive zone and has such terrific scanning habits and instincts under pressure. His four-way mobility is good and it allows him to create space so that he can make those clean exits. It is rare to see Duke turn the puck over or fail to exit the zone. His overall game management skills are terrific, as he holds the line and keeps pucks in or communicates in the defensive end to ensure zone coverage holds up. He will lose marks for his lack of size and game breaking offensive skill set; however his measure of dependability has to be worth something. One has to wonder if he were placed in a different role and received more powerplay time, would we see his offensive confidence blossom?

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-59-tyler_duke_-_1st_period_21_8_-_21_23.mp4

Mattias Havelid - Defense - Linkoping (SHL)

Another undersized defender, Havelid is an intelligent and impressive two-way player. The son of former Anaheim Ducks defender Niclas Havelid, Mattias was one of the best defensemen at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky cup. His poised and mature approach has also earned him a long look at the SHL level this season. Havelid manages the powerplay well with quick feet and a big point shot, and he shows well as an overall puck mover thanks to his vision. His defensive zone awareness is also solid, and it makes him a very competent and dependable all situations defender. However, does Havelid do anything at an elite or above average level that would see him project as a true top four defender? He’s mobile, but he could be quicker given his lack of size. He is skilled, but is he skilled enough to be a top unit powerplay QB in the NHL? The jack of all trades mantra can be a kiss of death for undersized defenders. That said, Havelid does have pedigree and a solid IQ, which should carry him to a pro career in some capacity. All eyes will be on him at the U18’s as he tries to replicate his success from the Hlinka/Gretzky.

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2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 100

Brock Otten — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:59:29 +0000

RED DEER, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 26: USA vs Slovakia preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at WP Centrium on December 26, 2021 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

A new year means a new draft ranking at McKeen’s Hockey, as we expand our list at mid-season to a Top 100. Back in mid-November, we released our preliminary ranking, a top 32, so this serves not only as an update, but an expansion too.

Like many, we were disappointed with the abrupt ending of the World Junior Championships, not just because it robbed us of some terrific hockey, but because it prevented a high-quality look at some of the best talents in this draft year. While a poor showing at the World Juniors is often dismissed, a strong showing can really help elevate a player’s standing. Ultimately, the decision to stop the tournament was the correct one, given the circumstances, however, hopefully the World Under 18’s can occur in Germany as planned in April.

At this point Kingston Frontenacs center and former CHL exceptional status player Shane Wright remains at the top of our rankings, however the gap is admittedly closing between him and some of the other players inside of our top five. Defenseman Simon Nemec is having a historically good season in the Slovak men’s league and will play for Slovakia at the Olympics. Center Logan Cooley is proving to be a dynamic two-way threat and is fresh off a terrific performance at the Biosteel All American Game. Center Matthew Savoie of the Winnipeg Ice continues to lead the WHL in scoring on the top ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. A year ago, it was unfathomable to imagine anyone else but Wright being selected first overall. That concept is not as far-fetched today. Without question, Wright will need to pick up his play in the second half to withstand his competitors.

Looking specifically at those ranked inside our first round (top 32), the positional breakdown is as follows: 10 defenders, 22 forwards, and zero goaltenders. In fact, we do not have a single goaltender ranked inside the first two rounds. Tyler Brennan and Topias Leinonen are our top goaltenders, ranked 84th and 87th, respectively. The quality and depth of goaltenders available this year may be the worst that we have ever seen as a scouting staff.

Regionally, the breakdown is as follows: ten players from the CHL, seven players from the USHL (more specifically the NTDP), four players in Sweden, four players in Russia, three players in Finland, two players in Slovakia, and two players in Czechia. The U.S. National Development program is extremely well represented with ten players inside of our first two rounds.

This top 100 was formed in consultation with our regional scouts and our video scouting team. Now that we have our midseason list formed, look for our annual, in-depth individual scouting reports to start being published in the very near future.

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Shane Wright	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/190	5-Jan-04	25-12-19-31
2	Simon Nemec	D	HK Nitra (Svk)	6-1/190	15-Feb-04	28-0-19-19
3	Matthew Savoie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	5-9/180	1-Jan-04	35-19-34-53
4	Logan Cooley	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	4-May-04	25-15-20-35
5	Danila Yurov	RW	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	6-1/175	22-Dec-03	21-0-0-0
6	Joakim Kemell	RW	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/175	27-Apr-04	21-12-6-18
7	Juraj Slafkovsky	LW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-4/225	30-Mar-04	20-1-3-4
8	Conor Geekie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	6-4/205	5-May-04	35-11-27-38
9	Brad Lambert	C	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/180	19-Dec-03	24-2-4-6
10	Ivan Miroshnichenko	LW	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	6-1/185	4-Feb-04	30-9-6-15
11	David Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Cze)	6-3/190	28-Nov-03	29-5-6-11
12	Filip Mesar	C	HK Poprad (Svk)	5-10/165	3-Jan-04	22-6-5-11
13	Pavel Mintyukov	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-03	31-6-17-23
14	Denton Mateychuk	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Jul-04	35-7-24-31
15	Marco Kasper	C	Rogle BK (SHL)	6-1/185	8-Apr-04	27-4-2-6
16	Alexander Perevalov	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-0/190	16-Apr-04	29-19-20-39
17	Seamus Casey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	8-Jan-04	31-5-13-18
18	Frank Nazar	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/175	14-Jan-04	33-15-23-38
19	Noah Ostlund	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-10/160	11-Mar-04	19-6-18-24
20	Cutter Gauthier	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/190	19-Jan-04	33-20-12-32
21	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-11/170	24-Jul-04	25-19-15-34
22	Tristan Luneau	D	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/175	12-Jan-04	26-5-10-15
23	Nathan Gaucher	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/205	6-Nov-03	30-15-11-26
24	Ty Nelson	D	North Bay (OHL)	5-9/195	30-Mar-04	33-5-21-26
25	Vladimir Grudinin	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	5-10/160	9-Dec-03	15-2-7-9
26	Owen Beck	C	Mississauga (OHL)	5-11/190	3-Feb-04	33-13-16-29
27	Simon Forsmark	D	Orebro (SHL)	6-2/195	17-Oct-03	22-0-1-1
28	Mats Lindgren	D	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/175	26-Aug-04	34-2-19-21
29	Rutger McGroarty	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/205	30-Mar-04	27-15-17-32
30	Jiri Kulich	C	Karlovy Vary (Cze)	6-0/175	14-Apr-04	31-7-4-11
31	Isaac Howard	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	30-Mar-04	33-15-24-39
32	Jimmy Snuggerud	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/185	1-Jun-04	33-16-22-38
33	Filip Bystedt	C	Linkopings (SHL)	6-4/185	4-Feb-04	14-1-1-2
34	Brandon Lisowsky	LW	Saskatoon (WHL)	5-8/175	13-Apr-04	35-19-10-29
35	Jagger Firkus	RW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-10/155	29-Apr-04	38-23-21-44
36	Maveric Lamoureux	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-7/195	13-Jan-04	30-3-8-11
37	Matthew Poitras	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/175	10-Mar-04	29-10-13-23
38	Adam Ingram	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-2/165	14-Oct-03	27-16-20-36
39	Liam Ohgren	LW	Djurgardens (SHL)	6-0/185	28-Jan-04	21-1-1-2
40	Calle Odelius	D	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	6-0/185	30-May-04	28-4-17-21
41	Sam Rinzel	D	Chaska (USHS-MN)	6-4/180	25-Jun-04	13-3-13-16
42	Ludwig Persson	LW	Frolunda J20 (Swe J20)	6-0/180	8-Oct-03	24-16-19-35
43	Artyom Duda	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Rus)	6-1/180	8-Apr-04	36-11-20-31
44	Jani Nyman	RW	KOOVEE (Fin-Mestis)	6-3/210	30-Jul-04	23-14-9-23
45	Matyas Sapovaliv	C	Saginaw (OHL)	6-3/180	12-Feb-04	31-10-16-26
46	Kevin Korchinski	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/185	21-Jun-04	32-4-24-28
47	Gleb Trikozov	RW	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	6-1/185	12-Aug-04	17-9-8-17
48	David Goyette	C	Sudbury (OHL)	5-11/170	27-Mar-04	32-12-18-30
49	Owen Pickering	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-3/180	27-Jan-04	34-6-15-21
50	Lian Bichsel	D	Leksands (SHL)	6-5/215	18-May-04	13-0-1-1
51	Paul Ludwinski	LW	Kingston (OHL)	5-11/175	23-Apr-04	28-6-13-19
52	Jordan Dumais	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-8/165	15-Apr-04	30-16-31-47
53	Aleksanteri Kaskimaki	LW	HIFK (Fin U20)	6-0/185	6-Feb-04	22-15-14-29
54	Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/180	10-Nov-03	33-18-27-45
55	Ryan Chesley	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	27-Feb-04	32-2-5-7
56	Danny Zhilkin	C	Guelph (OHL)	6-2/185	19-Dec-03	27-10-14-24
57	Isaiah George	D	London (OHL)	6-0/195	15-Feb-04	29-1-9-10
58	Rieger Lorenz	LW	Okotoks (AJHL)	6-1/185	30-Mar-04	43-28-39-67
59	Tyler Duke	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-8/180	19-Jul-04	27-1-7-8
60	Mattias Havelid	D	Linkopings (SHL)	5-9/170	1-Jan-04	12-0-0-0
61	Arseni Koromyslov	D	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	6-3/180	3-Nov-03	22-0-8-8
62	Jack Hughes 2	C	Northeastern (NCAA-HE)	6-0/165	2-Nov-03	22-5-4-9
63	Lane Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-8/150	14-Feb-04	33-4-25-29
64	Gavin Hayes	RW	Flint (OHL)	6-1/175	14-May-04	30-8-9-17
65	Otto Salin	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/185	7-Mar-04	5-0-1-1
66	Hunter Haight	C	Barrie (OHL)	5-10/175	4-Apr-04	24-8-6-14
67	Antonin Verreault	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	5-8/165	28-Jul-04	29-8-18-26
68	Cameron Lund	RW	Green Bay (USHL)	6-2/185	7-Jun-04	30-11-9-20
69	Bryce McConnell-Barker	C	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-1/185	4-Jun-04	34-11-12-23
70	Brennan Ali	C	Lincoln (USHL)	6-1/195	9-Feb-04	2-0-0-0
71	David Spacek	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/170	18-Feb-03	27-5-20-25
72	Angus Booth	D	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-0/175	27-Apr-04	30-1-20-21
73	Jake Livanavage	D	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/160	6-May-04	32-2-25-27
74	Markus Vidicek	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-10/160	21-Mar-04	30-9-18-27
75	Matthew Seminoff	RW	Kamloops (WHL)	5-10/160	27-Dec-03	30-15-18-33
76	Kasper Kulonummi	D	Jokerit (Fin U20)	6-0/175	1-Mar-04	25-2-16-18
77	Vinzenz Rohrer	RW	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/160	9-Sep-04	30-9-14-23
78	Elias Salomonsson	D	Skelleftea J20 (Swe J20)	6-1/170	31-Aug-04	24-8-9-17
79	Liam Arnsby	C	North Bay (OHL)	5-10/180	20-Nov-03	32-8-10-18
80	Daniil Orlov	D	Sakhalinskiye Akuly (MHL)	6-2/180	21-Dec-03	44-8-18-26
81	Quinn Finley	LW	Madison (USHL)	6-0/170	8-Aug-04	14-5-5-10
82	Topi Ronni	C	Tappara (Fin U20)	6-1/180	5-May-04	21-7-11-18
83	Jordan Gustafson	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/180	20-Jan-04	29-13-18-31
84	Tyler Brennan	G	Prince George (WHL)	6-4/190	27-Sep-03	8-11-2, 3.34, .902
85	Cole Spicer	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/175	13-Jun-04	31-10-12-22
86	Ryan Greene	C	Green Bay (USHL)	6-1/175	21-Oct-03	28-10-16-26
87	Topias Leinonen	G	JyP (Fin U20)	6-4/215	19-Jul-04	17GP, 2.17, .919
88	Alexander Suzdalev	LW	HV 71 J20 (Swe J20)	6-2/175	5-Mar-04	31-11-22-33
89	Pano Fimis	C	Niagara (OHL)	5-10/175	17-Jun-04	27-5-14-19
90	Spencer Sova	D	Erie (OHL)	6-1/185	10-Jan-04	30-2-12-14
91	Yoan Loshing	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-9/160	29-Feb-04	19-8-5-13
92	Jack Devine	RW	Denver (NCHC)	5-11/175	1-Oct-03	19-2-12-14
93	Ruslan Gazizov	RW	London (OHL)	5-11/185	21-Jan-04	20-5-11-16
94	Jackson Dorrington	D	Des Moines (USHL)	6-2/190	13-Apr-04	27-3-7-10
95	Jorian Donovan	D	Hamilton (OHL)	6-1/180	5-Apr-04	31-3-9-12
96	Jere Lassila	C	JyP (Fin U20)	5-9/170	8-Mar-04	13-7-4-11
97	Tucker Robertson	C	Peterborough (OHL)	5-11/190	22-Jun-03	31-19-23-42
98	Noah Warren	D	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-5/215	15-Jul-04	29-3-9-12
99	Zakary Lavoie	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	5-11/170	15-Mar-04	31-10-15-25
100	Boston Buckberger	D	Brooks (AJHL)	5-10/175	1-Jun-03	42-11-9-20

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32

Brock Otten — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:58:52 +0000

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Shane Wright	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/190	5-Jan-04	25-12-19-31
2	Simon Nemec	D	HK Nitra (Svk)	6-1/190	15-Feb-04	28-0-19-19
3	Matthew Savoie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	5-9/180	1-Jan-04	35-19-34-53
4	Logan Cooley	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	4-May-04	25-15-20-35
5	Danila Yurov	RW	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	6-1/175	22-Dec-03	21-0-0-0
6	Joakim Kemell	RW	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/175	27-Apr-04	21-12-6-18
7	Juraj Slafkovsky	LW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-4/225	30-Mar-04	20-1-3-4
8	Conor Geekie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	6-4/205	5-May-04	35-11-27-38
9	Brad Lambert	C	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/180	19-Dec-03	24-2-4-6
10	Ivan Miroshnichenko	LW	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	6-1/185	4-Feb-04	30-9-6-15
11	David Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Cze)	6-3/190	28-Nov-03	29-5-6-11
12	Filip Mesar	C	HK Poprad (Svk)	5-10/165	3-Jan-04	22-6-5-11
13	Pavel Mintyukov	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-03	31-6-17-23
14	Denton Mateychuk	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Jul-04	35-7-24-31
15	Marco Kasper	C	Rogle BK (SHL)	6-1/185	8-Apr-04	27-4-2-6
16	Alexander Perevalov	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-0/190	16-Apr-04	29-19-20-39
17	Seamus Casey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	8-Jan-04	31-5-13-18
18	Frank Nazar	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/175	14-Jan-04	33-15-23-38
19	Noah Ostlund	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-10/160	11-Mar-04	19-6-18-24
20	Cutter Gauthier	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/190	19-Jan-04	33-20-12-32
21	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-11/170	24-Jul-04	25-19-15-34
22	Tristan Luneau	D	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/175	12-Jan-04	26-5-10-15
23	Nathan Gaucher	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/205	6-Nov-03	30-15-11-26
24	Ty Nelson	D	North Bay (OHL)	5-9/195	30-Mar-04	33-5-21-26
25	Vladimir Grudinin	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	5-10/160	9-Dec-03	15-2-7-9
26	Owen Beck	C	Mississauga (OHL)	5-11/190	3-Feb-04	33-13-16-29
27	Simon Forsmark	D	Orebro (SHL)	6-2/195	17-Oct-03	22-0-1-1
28	Mats Lindgren	D	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/175	26-Aug-04	34-2-19-21
29	Rutger McGroarty	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/205	30-Mar-04	27-15-17-32
30	Jiri Kulich	C	Karlovy Vary (Cze)	6-0/175	14-Apr-04	31-7-4-11
31	Isaac Howard	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	30-Mar-04	33-15-24-39
32	Jimmy Snuggerud	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/185	1-Jun-04	33-16-22-38

OHL: 2022 NHL DRAFT Video Review – Dylan Krill’s Five Early Prospects to Watch

Dylan Krill — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 17:12:56 +0000

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Robert Calisti of the Soo Greyhounds scored into an empty net to secure a 4-1 victory against the Flint Firebirds. Who knew that Calisti’s goal would be the last one scored in the Ontario Hockey League before an over 18 month layoff due to the COVID pandemic.

However, thanks to vaccines and safety precautions, the OHL is back! We are a quarter of the way through the 2021/22 season now and that means it is time to take stock in individual and team performances. The London Knights have dominated early on the back of balanced scoring and tremendous goaltending from Brett Brochu. The Eastern Conference is a log jam of teams fighting consistency. And the league’s double rookie crop (those selected in the 2020 and 2021 Priority, Import, and U18 drafts) is becoming more comfortable with each passing week.

A good portion of that rookie crop makes up the talented OHL players eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal next summer. While it may be too early to make sweeping generalizations or concrete projections, considering many of those eligible are trying to find consistency after their first two months in the league, we can identify some players who have caught our eye.

Dylan Krill’s Five

Hello my name is...David Goyette

Background Information
Team: Sudbury Wolves	Position: C
Height/Weight: 5'11, 174lbs	Birthdate: 2004-03-27
Season to Date Stats	GP-21 G-4 A-12 PTS-16

Attributes to Like

Puck Skill

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-Puck-Skills-1-Deke-In-Transition-3.mp4

Goyette has been able to put his impressive hands on display many times this year. Here Goyette receives the puck in transition and enters the offensive zone. He makes a nice deke to move the puck from his inside, making the defender bite, then quickly back to his outside to successfully open up space for himself for a high-danger chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-Puck-Skills-2-Deke-In-Transition.mp4

Goyette starts this play by picking up a loose puck behind his net and reading the ice to see where open space exists. Goyette starts to gain acceleration along the boards while protecting the puck, he quickly gets his head up, identifies an incoming hit, and makes an excellent one-handed deke to push the puck past the opponent, creating a 3 on 2 rush.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-Puck-Skills-3-Deke-Toe-Drag.mp4

While in transition with a teammate, he notices the defense collapsing so he slows up and follows behind his teammate to create more space. After receiving a drop pass, he makes a quick fake shot, freezing the defender and making him reach to attempt to block the shot, but Goyette acknowledges the defender with his stick fully extended so he makes a great toe-drag around the stick, gets around the outside, and brings the puck back in to his inside to get a shot on net.

Vision/Playmaking Ability

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-VisionPlaymaking-Ability1-Patience-With-Puck-For-Assist.mp4

Goyette displays great patience on this play. Receiving the puck below the hash-marks, Goyette holds the puck and waits for options to open up. He is in a position where he looks like he’s going to shoot, freezing the goalie, but then he elects to pass it to his teammate who just gets open in the perfect time in the slot for a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-VisionPlaymaking-Ability-2-Playing-With-Pace.mp4

Goyette starts this play by receiving a pass on the transition, creating an offensive zone entry. He takes the puck wide, drawing in a defender and opening up space. He then completes a pass to his teammate in the slot for a good scoring chance. The shot gets blocked and ends up loose behind the net. Goyette takes advantage and quickly picks it up and makes a quick pass around the net to another teammate for another high-danger scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-VisionPlaymaking-Ability-3-Pass-Through-Traffic-2.mp4

Goyette is very consistent with making smart, creative plays at high-pace. In this play, Goyette goes to pick up a loose puck, noticing a defending applying pressure, he makes a quick backhand pass through the defender perfectly placed on his teammates stick. Understanding where his teammate was going to end up, made this simple play very effective with perfect execution

Skating

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-Skating-1-Deception.mp4

This was a really nice play displaying his use of deception in both his skating and body language. Goyette picks up the puck in the defensive zone and makes two quick dekes to get past two opponents. He notices his opponent being aggressive and applying a lot pressure so he makes a slight turn, making it seem like he’s going to regroup in his own zone, but he makes a sharp cut using his strong edges to quickly turn and accelerate back the other way, completely beating his opponent and gaining space to create an offensive zone entry.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-Skating-2-Transition-DZ-Exit-to-OZ-Entry.mp4

This was a good play to display Goyette’s straight-line skating and speed. Starting the breakout from behind the net, he begins to accelerate quickly with a good use of crossovers. When exiting the defensive zone, he puts the jets on and gets great strength in each stride, gaining great speed through the neutral zone, pushing the defenders back. He uses some more crossovers before entering the offensive zone to open up more space and to stay unpredictable. He ends up going wide, keeping good puck protection along the boards and successfully completes the zone entry.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/David-Goyette-Skating-2-OZ-Entry.mp4

A simple, yet effective transition from a clean defensive zone exit into a controlled offensive zone entry. Picking up the loose puck in his own end, he makes a quick deke to get around an opponent then quickly accelerates behind the net, using great power in each stride with a good use of crossovers. After skating around the net, he quickly scans the ice and after a few strides he gets to top speed, beating two opponents clean and completing a successful offensive zone entry.

Rest of the Season Outlook

Goyette has spent this season moving up and down the lineup, playing with different teammates, but the majority of the time he’s been used as their top-line center, usually playing with fellow 2022 NHL draft eligible, Evan Konyen and 2023 eligible, Quentin Musty. Throughout the season, Goyette has been able to use his speed very effectively and consistently, being able to drive play well on the transition for his team. With his chemistry growing with his linemates, I believe Goyette will continue to produce offense and be a key player for the Wolves in all situations.

Hello my name is...Paul Ludwinski

Background Information
Team: Kingston Frontenacs	Position: C/W
Height/Weight: 5'11, 172lbs	Birthdate: 2004-04-23
Season to Date Stats	GP-19 G-3 A-9 PTS-12

Attributes to Like

Positional Awareness

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-Positional-Awareness-1-Give-Go-In-Transition.mp4

Ludwinski starts this play by joining his team on the breakout, accelerating quickly. He picks up the loose puck in the neutral zone and carries it into the offensive zone with great speed. After entering the zone, he skates towards the slot, making the defender bite. He then makes a nice behind the back, drop-pass to his teammate and makes it seem like he’s going hard to the net, before making a hard cut, dropping back into open space. He then receives the pass and gets a quick shot on net for a good scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-Positional-Awareness-2-Offensive-Awareness.mp4

A great shift here from Ludwinski displaying his offensive and positional awareness. This whole shift Ludwinski consistently provides an option for a pass by always getting into open space and supporting his teammates with the puck. He continues by driving the puck movement and prolonging possession in the offensive zone by creating chances for his team.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-Postional-Awareness-3-Play-With-Pace-High-Danger-Pass.mp4

Ludwinski displays his speed and ability to play with high pace on this shift. He starts by circling back in his zone to gain acceleration. After receiving the puck, he makes a good move to protect the puck. Making his way into the neutral zone he makes a strong pass to his teammate at the blueline. After making the pass, Ludwinski turns on the jets and goes hard straight to the net, but nothing comes from it. Then away from the puck he skates to the slot for an option, receives it and quickly passes it to his teammate for a scoring chance.

Defensive Awareness

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-Defensive-Awareness-1.mp4

Two great defensive plays here by Ludwinski to take away two scoring chances. It begins with a good attempt with his stick to disrupt the play, but not getting all of the puck. He follows the play with great energy, chasing down the puck carrier and making a strong stick lift, then sweeps the puck away. Unfortunately, the puck ends up on another opponent's stick, but Ludwinski makes the smart play and ties up his man at the net to shut down any chance for a tip.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-Defensive-Awareness-2.mp4

Ludwinski applies great pressure and forces the puck carrier to make a drop pass to his teammate. He misses his first attempt at reaching out to poke the puck off his stick, but stays with him and with a strong defensive stick he tries again and is successful this time, knocking the puck off his stick. After stealing it and accelerating quickly, he transitioned into the offensive zone and created a scoring chance off the rush.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-Defensive-Awareness-3.mp4

An excellent display of Ludwinski’s high-motor and ability to get back to defend. Following a turnover, Ludwinski starts deep in his own zone. He notices a two-on-one beginning to form so he puts full effort into his backcheck, quickly getting to his top speed. He catches up to the play and in perfect timing, makes a great stick lift to take away the high-danger scoring chance.

Energy/High-Motor

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-EnergyHigh-Motor-1-Compete.mp4

A great play in transition with Ludwinski catching a pass off the boards with speed. Using his quick feet and strong edges he gets past an opponent and lowers his shoulder, cutting to the inside while protecting the puck. He attempts to pass to his teammate for a high-danger scoring chance, but doesn’t connect. He continues to follow the play with great speed, and while pressuring the puck carrier, he steals the puck easily off his stick to regain possession.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-EnergyHigh-Motor-2-Compete-2.mp4

Ludwinski’s high-motor and speed make him very effective at winning puck battles and this shift is another example. He doesn’t get to the puck first, but he blocks and knocks down the pass attempt and handles the puck, making a nice bank-pass and while attempting to get around the defender, he forces him to take a penalty.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Paul-Ludwinski-EnergyHigh-Motor-3-Energy.mp4

Here’s another great sequence by Ludwinski displaying his high-motor. He uses crossovers efficiently to quickly accelerate before receiving the puck in the neutral zone. With great speed he drives into the offensive zone, forcing the defenders back. He makes a slight fake drop pass, but continues to go hard to the net, getting a good shot off. Ludwinski continues with speed behind the net seeing the play go the other way, he displays a great backcheck and successfully catches up to force the opponent to dump the puck in.

Rest of the Season Outlook

As of recently Ludwinski hasn’t been able to produce offense consistently, but in each game, he is still able to find ways to be effective with his high-motor and two-way awareness. Playing on both special teams, Ludwinski has been a very responsible and reliable player for the Frontenacs. Splitting time playing on different lines and positions, he’s been used in many different ways, but has been able to adapt well. He has a great combination of competitiveness, defensive awareness and high hockey sense that many teams will be looking for at the NHL draft.

Hello my name is...Hunter Haight

Background Information
Team: Barrie Colts	Position: C
Height/Weight: 5'10, 167lbs	Birthdate: 2004-04-04
Season to Date Stats	GP-18 G -5 A-6 PTS-11

Attributes to Like

Skating

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Agile-Skating-1.mp4

Here Haight is able to use his agile skating and strong edge work to his advantage to get into open space while being pressured. Making sharp turns and cuts to quickly change pace and direction to keep defenders on their toes, being hard to defend and keep up with is something he consistently does.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Agile-Skating-2.mp4

Haight starts the breakout by gaining speed and receiving the puck behind the net. Before entering the neutral zone, he completes a nice bank-pass to his teammate entering the offensive zone. He then takes three powerful strides and quickly gets to top-speed into the zone for a passing option.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Agile-Skating-3-1.mp4

Another breakout by Haight with him effectively using crossovers to gain speed and stay deceptive. Reading the ice well and understanding where he needs to go to get into open space, he enters the offensive zone in the middle of the ice, but elects to drive to the outside for better options. He uses his edges well to stay strong and balanced when making sharp turns.

Scoring Ability

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Scoring-Ability-Goal-1.mp4

A highlight reel goal by Haight here displaying his great puck skills and offensive mind. Receiving a pass on his skates and directing it to his stick, he notices the defender being over-aggressive and completes a great toe-drag to get around him, finishing with a hard release, resulting in a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Scoring-Ability-Goal-2.mp4

Starting this play by carrying the puck on the transition, he passes up to his teammate with speed, following close behind in open space. After they both enter the offensive zone, Haight receives a drop-pass and drives towards the net, and with a quick release at the hash-marks, he scores top corner over the glove.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Scoring-Ability-3-One-Timer.mp4

On the powerplay, Haight moves the puck back to his defenseman to reset. As he skates towards him, they make a nice play to swap places. Haight quickly gets into open space and gets set up, firing off a well-placed one-timer for a scoring chance.

Positional Awareness

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Positional-Awareness-1.mp4

A play on the powerplay displaying Haight’s positional awareness. In the bumper role, Haight understands he needs to always be in position to receive and make passes quickly. While in the slot, Haight stick lifts his opponent to open passing lanes for his teammates. He consistently is looking to create options, whether that be with a pass, shot or deflection.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Positional-Awareness-2.mp4

In the offensive zone, Haight quickly finds space in the slot to give a great passing option. Haight consistently supports his teammates and gives them an option when under pressure. He begins to move the puck well to a teammate in the zone and finds a way to sneak behind the play to get open for a high-danger scoring chance. He continues after and goes on to create more scoring chances and prolong possession with his playmaking and vision.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hunter-Haight-Positional-Awareness-3.mp4

Haight ends up behind the play, but manages to sneak up on the puck carrier, lifts his stick and steals the puck away. He quickly accelerates while driving towards the net, but makes a hard cut to the middle, drawing the attention of the defenders, and makes a nice drop pass to his teammate for a good scoring chance.

Rest of the Season Outlook

Haight has consistently been effective in each game on both sides of the puck and has displayed little difficulty adjusting to the league, already centering the Colts top line at times. He uses his speed to drive his line well on the transition and has shown how valuable he is by consistently creating chances for his team while still providing defensive coverage to suppress chances against. Haight has shown that he has a high offensive ceiling with both his playmaking and scoring touch. I fully expect him to continue to produce and rise up draft rankings as the season goes on.

Hello my name is...Luca Del Bel Belluz

Background Information
Team: Mississauga Steelheads	Position: C
Height/Weight: 6'1, 178lbs	Birthdate: 2003-11-10
Season to Date Stats	GP-19 G-11 A-12 PTS-23

Attributes to Like

Puck Skill and Creativity

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Puck-Skill-and-Creativity-1-Assist-1.mp4

Del Bel Belluz protects the puck well along the boards and attempts to pass it back to his teammate, but gets intercepted. Right after the opponent loses control, he takes back the puck and quickly passes to his teammate. Then he goes to find open space to support his teammates. Receiving a pass in the corners, he comes out and makes two great dekes to go inside-out of two opponents then complete a pass to his teammate, resulting in a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Puck-Skill-and-Creativity-2-Deke.mp4

A great offensive zone entry by Del Bel Belluz cutting into traffic with ease, controlling and protecting the puck well. After getting through two opponents, he makes a great deke to go inside from his backhand, putting the puck between the defenders’ feet, opening up space for a great scoring chance, coming close, but still drawing a penalty.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Puck-Skill-and-Creativity-3-Goal-1.mp4

An incredible display of puck skill by Del Bel Belluz here. On a two-on-one, he has great speed and gets a clear lane into open space for the pass. He receives a saucer pass a foot in-front of the goalie and manages to control and toe-drag around the goalie for a highlight reel goal.

Puck Protection Ability

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Puck-Protection-1.mp4

A great sequence displaying impressive puck handling and protection. Del Bel Belluz uses his full length to extend to keep the puck away from opponents and has great control in traffic. Here he’s able to drive into the offensive zone and into the slot and still get a shot off in traffic, resulting in a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Puck-Protection-2-Goal-2.mp4

Starting this play on the breakout, Del Bel Belluz gets pressured by an opponent, but he uses his body to shield the puck and beat him wide. He starts to lose control while entering the offensive zone, but somehow manages to keep control of the puck by using his skates, getting past three opponents and setting up a high-danger scoring chance off the rush.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Puck-Protection-3Goal-3.mp4

Another play starting on the breakout, Del Bel Belluz gains good speed while receiving the puck. He skates down the middle in the neutral zone, but cuts wide quickly when entering the offensive zone to get past a defender, once again using his length to protect the puck. He makes a slight hesitation, faking a shot to freeze the goalie and completes a nice wrap-around for a goal.

Vision

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Vision-1.mp4

This was a very impressive play by Del Bel Belluz displaying great vision. After entering the offensive zone, he made a couple stick handles waiting for the defender to bite, once he did, he made an excellent saucer pass with little room right on the stick of his teammate for a high-danger scoring chance. He was patient with the puck and timed the play perfectly.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Vision-2-Assist-2.mp4

Starting in his own zone, he collects the puck and takes a few strides with his head up. He identifies an open passing lane and his teammate open down the ice. He successfully completes a long stretch-pass to spring his teammate on a breakaway, resulting in a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Luca-DelBellBelluz-Vision-2.mp4

A simple, yet effective play on the transition. Del Bel Belluz receives the puck in the neutral zone and skates through and into the offensive zone. Once he enters the zone, he makes a pass to his teammate and continues to go to the net. He takes one quick look to see that the defender is biting and when his teammate makes a pass back to him, he instantly makes a pass to his other teammate open in the slot for a high-danger scoring chance.

Rest of the Season Outlook

After seeing NHL Central Scouting give Del Bel Belluz a “C” grade, I realized he is a player I believed some needed to watch more. Tied for most points on his team, he has become one the most creative and all-around players eligible for the NHL draft in the OHL. I don’t expect him to slow down production because of his ability to create chances very consistently and his willingness to go after the puck. He has displayed many times how skilled he is by making plays no one else can or would even attempt. With his confidence high, I believe he will soon get the attention he deserves.

Hello my name is...Beau Jelsma

Background Information
Team: Barrie Colts	Position: LW
Height/Weight: 5'9, 174lbs	Birthdate: 2004-04-28
Season to Date Stats	GP-19 G-6 A-4 PTS-10

Attributes to Like

Energy/High-Motor

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-EnergyHigh-Motor-Compete-1.mp4

Starting this play in his own zone, Jelsma picks up a loose puck and instantly puts his foot on the gas, making a quick pass to his teammate for a give-and-go to get around an opponent. Gaining great speed through the neutral zone, he elects to dump the puck in and beats his opponent to the puck. He manages to get through a few opponents by protecting the puck, then finds space to become a passing option.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-EnergyHigh-MotorCompete-2.mp4

Jelsma puts his high-motor and speed on full display here. After gaining momentum in his own zone, he picks up the loose puck in the neutral zone and takes full advantage of an opponent that fell. Entering the offensive zone with speed he makes a cut into the slot and makes a skilled backhand play. After coming up short, the play begins to go the other way so Jelsma puts in a full effort on his backcheck and ends up forcing his opponent to dump the puck in.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-EnergyHigh-Motor-Goal-3.mp4

An excellent effort by Jelsma here to chase down a loose puck and use his speed to separate himself to create a breakaway. At top speed he makes a simple play to go backhand, coming to a complete stop and then back to forehand for a nice goal.

Puck Protection Ability

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-Puck-Protection-Ability-Goal-1.mp4

After receiving the puck in the neutral zone, Jelsma rushes into the offensive zone with speed. Once he’s close to the defender he cuts to go wide and makes three quick powerful strides to accelerate. This helps to separate himself away from his opponent. Using his body well to protect the puck and his edges to stay balanced, he goes hard to the net and makes a quick backhand to forehand deke for a nice goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-Puck-Protection-2.mp4

Another great sequence where Jelsma is able to use his body and speed to protect the puck. Catching the puck in the neutral zone and going towards the boards with a defender. Jelsma slightly pushes the puck ahead, absorbs a hit, and squeezes through to create a good chance on the rush.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-Puck-Protection-3.mp4

This is another prime example that Jelsma is hard to knock off the puck and plays bigger than he is. After receiving a puck while entering the offensive zone, he quickly pokes the puck ahead before taking a hit along the boards. However he is able to escape the majority of the hit and does not lose momentum. While in the zone he notices another opponent coming towards him aggressively, so Jelsma makes a hard stop and side-steps the opponent to get away and prolong possession.

Playmaking

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-Playmaking-1-Assist-1.mp4

Following a turnover, Jelsma picks up a loose puck in the offensive zone and starts to drive towards the net. As he’s skating towards the net, he shows that he’s going to shoot, freezing the goalie, but he stays patient and waits for his teammate to get open for a one-timer. Jelsma times it perfectly and completes a tape-to-tape pass, resulting in a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-Playmaking-2-Assist-2.mp4

Jelsma is always playing with great energy and compete and this play is nothing out of the ordinary. Like usual, Jelsma beats his opponent to the loose puck in the offensive zone, he freezes and fakes as if he is going to shoot, freezing the goalie. He waits until the perfect moment where the defender is spread out, locates a hole, and completes a perfect pass to his teammate, resulting in a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Beau-Jelsma-Playmaking-3-Offensive-Awareness.mp4

A great set up by Jelsma here off the rush. Using his body along the boards to block a pass, he ends up getting through traffic and into open space. He identifies his teammate beside the net and passes to him, then cuts hard, straight to the net to complete a successful give-and-go, but the attempt comes up short.

Rest of the Season Outlook

Throughout this season, Jelsma has been very impressive. Despite only averaging 12:32 minutes per game and playing a bottom-6 role, he is tied for fourth in scoring with 6 goals. Every time he’s on the ice you will notice his energy level and how effective he is driving play with his speed and his ability to protect the puck. Jelsma plays much bigger than he is, and some teams may overlook him just because of his size, but he projects to be a strong two-way winger who can handle a bottom-6 role and be effective on both special teams.

MCKEEN’S 2022 NHL DRAFT PRELIMINARY RANKING

Brock Otten — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 23:44:35 +0000

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

It seems like just yesterday that we were putting the finishing touches on the 2021 NHL Entry Draft Guide, thanks to a late July date that was one month later than normal. The turnaround to the 2022 scouting season was short, yet in a way that is refreshing. The 2021 Draft was such a difficult one to scout with so many leagues on condensed or non-existent schedules. So far, the 2022 scouting season has seemed, well...normal and that is what is refreshing about it.

Other than a lack of Canadian participation, the 2021 Hlinka/Gretzky cup was held to kick off the season. The OHL has returned and the entire CHL is playing a full schedule. The Swedish junior leagues are back and the country looks to have a strong crop again. Every league being scouted across the globe is operating as per usual and it has made our job that much easier.

Our first 2022 NHL Draft ranking takes into account some international performances, in addition to league start-ups. The McKeen’s scouting team has been hard at work behind the scenes and we feel very confident in this early assessment.

Let’s look at a few breakdowns…

Positionally, our Top 32 includes 9 defensemen, 23 forwards, and zero goaltenders. This is the first time in a while where our list has not included a goaltender in the first round. Obviously, things can change, but right now it does not look like there is a Wallstedt, Cossa, or Spencer Knight in this group.

Regionally, our Top 32 includes ten CHL players, three players playing in Finland, six members of the U.S. U18 team (out of the USHL), six players playing in Sweden, three players playing in Russia, two players playing in Slovakia, one playing in the Czech Republic, and one playing in the AJHL.

It should come as no surprise to see Shane Wright at the top of our rankings. He is awakening from his slow start and is the reigning OHL player of the week. The brilliant two-way center still looks like a lock to be the first overall selection.

Other notables include:

Winnipeg Ice forward Matthew Savoie at #2, who is playing phenomenal hockey for arguably the CHL’s top team at the current moment.
Finnish winger Joakim Kemell at #3, who is currently leading Liiga in goal scoring and is on pace for the best U18 season in Finnish hockey history.
Long hyped Finnish winger Brad Lambert at #10, who has struggled to start the year and has become a very polarizing player already, including within our scouting ranks. His ranking at #10 serves as a middle ground compromise considering some within our team argued for him at the end of the first round, while others argued for him to be inside the top five.
Austrian born power center Marco Kasper at #18, who has been terrific playing for Rogle in the SHL and has become a favourite of our Swedish scout Patrik Bexell.
Stocky offensive defender Ty Nelson of the North Bay Battalion who makes up for a lack of ideal size with plus mobility, an intense physical approach, and a booming point shot. Like Lambert, Nelson was heavily debated, but our video scout team are huge fans of him.

Also listed are ten honorable mentions. These HM’s received heavy consideration based on the recommendation of our regional scouts. However, we just could not fit them into our first round ranking at this time. You can find those HM’s at the bottom of the list.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Shane Wright	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/190	5-Jan-04	14-6-12-18
2	Matthew Savoie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	5-9/180	1-Jan-04	18-8-21-29
3	Joakim Kemell	RW	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/175	27-Apr-04	16-12-6-18
4	Juraj Slafkovsky	LW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-4/225	30-Mar-04	13-0-3-3
5	Simon Nemec	D	HK Nitra (Svk)	6-1/190	15-Feb-04	15-0-8-8
6	Danila Yurov	RW	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	6-1/175	22-Dec-03	17-0-0-0
7	Conor Geekie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	6-4/205	5-May-04	18-6-17-23
8	Logan Cooley	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	4-May-04	15-9-11-20
9	David Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Cze)	6-3/190	28-Nov-03	20-4-5-9
10	Brad Lambert	C	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/180	19-Dec-03	15-1-3-4
11	Ivan Miroshnichenko	LW	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	6-1/185	4-Feb-04	20-4-5-9
12	Frank Nazar	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/175	14-Jan-04	18-7-13-20
13	Noah Ostlund	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-10/160	11-Mar-04	10-2-13-15
14	Elias Salomonsson	D	Skelleftea J20 (Swe J20)	6-1/170	31-Aug-04	14-5-5-10
15	Tristan Luneau	D	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/175	12-Jan-04	13-1-6-7
16	Seamus Casey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	8-Jan-04	18-5-8-13
17	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-11/170	24-Jul-04	16-16-9-25
18	Marco Kasper	C	Rogle BK (SHL)	6-1/185	8-Apr-04	16-4-2-6
19	Ryan Chesley	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	27-Feb-04	17-1-3-4
20	Filip Mesar	C	HK Poprad (Svk)	5-10/165	3-Jan-04	13-4-3-7
21	Nathan Gaucher	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/205	6-Nov-03	17-7-8-15
22	Alexander Perevalov	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-0/190	16-Apr-04	22-17-16-33
23	Rutger McGroarty	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/205	30-Mar-04	12-8-10-18
24	Rieger Lorenz	LW	Okotoks (AJHL)	6-1/185	30-Mar-04	22-12-20-32
25	Matthew Poitras	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/175	10-Mar-04	16-4-9-13
26	Ty Nelson	D	North Bay (OHL)	5-9/195	30-Mar-04	16-4-11-15
27	Ludwig Persson	LW	Frolunda J20 (Swe J20)	6-0/180	8-Oct-03	14-5-14-19
28	Denton Mateychuk	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Jul-04	16-6-9-15
29	Mats Lindgren	D	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/175	26-Aug-04	15-1-8-9
30	Isaac Howard	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	30-Mar-04	18-8-12-20
31	Liam Ohgren	LW	Djurgardens (SHL)	6-0/185	28-Jan-04	14-1-1-2
32	Paul Ludwinski	LW	Kingston (OHL)	5-11/175	23-Apr-04	14-3-7-10

	HONOURABLE MENTIONS

	Simon Forsmark	D	Orebro J20 (Swe J20)	6-2/195	17-Oct-03	19-3-18-21
	Jack Hughes	C	Northeastern (NCAA-HE)	6-0/165	2-Nov-03	12-3-2-5
	Hunter Haight	C	Barrie (OHL)	5-10/175	4-Apr-04	14-4-4-8
	Bryce McConnell-Barker	C	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-1/185	4-Jun-04	16-8-4-12
	Vladimir Grudinin	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	5-10/160	9-Dec-03	14-2-6-8
	Kevin Korchinski	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/185	21-Jun-04	14-0-8-8
	Devin Kaplan	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/200	10-Jan-04	18-4-10-14
	Lian Bichsel	D	Leksands (SHL)	6-5/215	18-May-04	6-0-1-1
	Cutter Gauthier	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/190	19-Jan-04	18-8-9-17
	Gleb Trikozov	RW	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	6-1/185	12-Aug-04	8-7-4-11

Paul Ludwinski – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Chicago Blackhawks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Frank Nazar, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

2. Oliver Moore, C, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

3. Ethan Del Mastro, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

4. Drew Commesso, G, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

5. Sam Rinzel, D, University of Minnesota (NCAA)

6. Nick Lardis, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

7. Ryan Greene, C, Boston University (NCAA)

8. Adam Gajan, G, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

9. Nolan Allan, D, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

10. Colton Dach, C, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #1

Top 2o Chicago Blackhawks Prospects

1. Connor Bedard - C

2. Lukas Reichel - LW

3. Kevin Korchinski - D

4. Frank Nazar

5. Oliver Moore

6. Sam Rinzel

7. Drew Commesso

8. Nick Lardis

9. Ethan Del Mastro

10. Ilya Safonov

11. Colton Dach

12. Alex Vlasic

13. Adam Gajan

14. Nolan Allen

15. Roman Kantserov

16. Gavin Hayes

17. Ryan Greene

18. Cole Guttman

19. Wyatt Kaiser

20. Paul Ludwinski

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospects

2022 NHL DRAFT: OHL – Paul Ludwinski, C/W, Kingston Frontenacs

Skating

Shot

Skills

Smarts

Physicality/Compete

2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #51 thru #60

Paul Ludwinski - Center/Wing - Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Jordan Dumais - Wing - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Aleksanteri Kaskimaki - Wing - HIFK (Fin U20)

Luca Del Bel Belluz - Center - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Ryan Chesley - Defense - USNDP (USHL)

Danny Zhilkin - Center - Guelph Storm (OHL)

Isaiah George - Defense - London Knights (OHL)

Rieger Lorenz - Wing - Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)

Tyler Duke - Defense - USNDP (USHL)

Mattias Havelid - Defense - Linkoping (SHL)

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 100

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32

OHL: 2022 NHL DRAFT Video Review – Dylan Krill’s Five Early Prospects to Watch

Dylan Krill’s Five

Hello my name is...David Goyette

Attributes to Like

Puck Skill

Vision/Playmaking Ability

Skating

Rest of the Season Outlook

Hello my name is...Paul Ludwinski

Attributes to Like

Positional Awareness

Defensive Awareness

Energy/High-Motor

Rest of the Season Outlook

Hello my name is...Hunter Haight

Attributes to Like

Skating

Scoring Ability

Positional Awareness

Rest of the Season Outlook

Hello my name is...Luca Del Bel Belluz

Attributes to Like

Puck Skill and Creativity

Puck Protection Ability

Vision

Rest of the Season Outlook