Pavel Novak – McKeen's Hockey

2022 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: TEAM CZECHIA – Experienced Forwards, Young Defense look for 11th Consecutive Quarter Final Appearance

Derek O'Brien with notes from Vince Gibbons and Clare McManus — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 15:34:40 +0000

There doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary about Czechia’s roster at this year’s World Junior Championship, and therefore results out of the ordinary shouldn’t be expected.

Of the 28 players named to the preliminary roster by head coach Karel Mlejnek and assistants David Bruk and Pavel Trnka, only eight are returning from last year’s squad that the same trio led to a familiar quarterfinal loss. While 10 have already been drafted by NHL teams, only four players have yet to be draft-eligible: late 2003-born defencemen David Jiricek, David Moravec and Matej Pinkas, and 2004-born forward Jiri Kulich.

The team was dealt a significant blow when goaltender Nick Malik, who has experience from two previous World Juniors, chose not to risk losing his starting job with KooKoo Kouvola in the top Finnish league. Malik is having a fantastic rookie professional season and was projected to be the Czechs’ starting goalie. His absence gives Jan Bednar a chance to step into the starter’s role, although Jakub Malek might challenge.

The Czech defense is quite young, taking advantage of a strong 2003-born defense core led by Jiricek and Stanislav Svozil, who both played for the team last year and held their own as 17-year-olds. A year older, they’ll be expected to lead this year. The only two 19-year-olds on the back end are Michal Hradek and Michael Krutil. At 6-3 and 203lbs, Krutil is the biggest of a skilled but not-so-big group, which includes the 5-9 puck-mover Jiri Tichacek.

The Czech group of forwards is more experienced, with 10 of 15 players named being 19 years old and six already drafted. As is often the case, this group has some high-end talent but is somewhat lacking on depth, with center Jan Mysak and right winger Pavel Novak the team’s two most dangerous offensive weapons. Expect to see them together on the team’s top line and power-play unit, as was the case last year. While Novak is speedy and somewhat undersized, the biggest Czech forwards are 18-year-old wingers Jaroslav Chmelar and Martin Rysavy.

So far this season, the Czech national junior team has played seven games in the summer, which included its players based in North America, and a three-game U20 tournament in Sweden in November, which included only European-based players.

The Czechs play their first tournament game against Canada on December 26.

In a group that contains Canada, Finland, Germany and Austria, the Czechs are solidly projected to finish third. Any thoughts about the Germans challenging them were put into serious doubt with the recent announcement that Tim Stutzle, J. J. Peterka and Lukas Reichel would not be playing. In any case, the Czechs have made it to the quarterfinals of this tournament the last 10 years in a row and, barring a major collapse, will do so again. Going beyond that is possible but will be very difficult for a country that has only one final-four appearance in the last 16 years.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jan Bednar, G

With Malik declining the invitation to play, the starting job is Bednar’s to lose. As a 16-year-old, Bednar burst onto the scene, winning the Extraliga’s Rookie-of-the-Year award with Karlovy Vary. Positionally sound, mobile, 6-foot-4 and 196lbs, he was pegged as a future impact goaltender. However, Bednar’s 2019-20 campaign was a disappointment as he was stuck behind a weak team. Bednar was drafted in the fourth round by the Detroit Red Wings in 2020 and is now the starting goalie for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the QMJHL. Although the lustre has somewhat worn off him over the past couple of years, the World Juniors could be his chance to show everybody that he still has the potential to be an NHL starter.

FRISCO, TX USA - MAY 1: The Czech Republic's Stanislav Svozil #14 skates with the puck while Russia's Prokhor Poltapov #13 chases him down during preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on May 1, 2021 in Frisco, TX USA. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Stanislav Svozil, D

At 18 years of age, this Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect more than held his own in his first World Junior Championship last year. Lauded for his high hockey IQ, speed and solid two-way game, the Czechs will rely heavily upon the experienced d-man, who after two Extraliga seasons with Kometa Brno, now plays for the WHL’s Regina Pats. Whereas his offensive contributions have been minimal among older players, focusing his efforts more on the defensive side of things, Svozil will now be expected to play a big role in the transition game and quarterback the power play. While not particularly big for a defenseman at 6-1 and 185lbs, he is known for his speed, allowing him to contribute offensively without sacrificing anything on the back end.

EDMONTON, AB CANADA - DECEMBER 26: Czech Republic's David Jiricek #8 battles for puck possession against Sweden's Arvid Costmar #14 in preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 26, 2020 in Edmonton, AB Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

David Jiricek, D

Jiricek is the other young stud Czech defenseman, who looks to be a sure-fire first rounder in 2022 – and top-10 according to many sources – due to his late-2003 birthday. Jiricek was the Czech Extraliga’s Rookie-of-the-Year last season as he picked up three goals and 10 points in 36 regular-season and playoff games as a top-four defenceman with Skoda Plzen. So far this season, Jiricek, who turned 18 in late November, already has five goals and 11 points in 29 games. Already more offensively inclined than Svozil, the Czechs will definitely look to Jiricek to jump into the rush and contribute offensively. At 6’3” and 190lbs, Jiricek already has the height and with added weight over time could be a physically imposing figure added to his skill set.

Michael Krutil, D

Ishockey, Karjala Tournament, Tjeckien - Sverige: Jan Mysak #44, CZE during Icehockey Beijer Hockey Games match between Czech Republic - Sweden at the Hartwall Arena on 05. November 2020 in Helsinki, Finland. (Tomi Hänninen/Newspix24)
© Bildbyrån

Jan Mysak, C/LW

A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Draft, Mysak will be expected to carry the offensive load and be a veteran presence for the Czechs in his third World Junior Championship and his second as captain. After struggling as a pro last season split between hometown Litvinov and the AHL’s Laval Rocket, in which he garnered three points in 33 total games, he is now back in the OHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he is once again scoring at better than a point per game. Internationally he has shown a scoring touch as well and has led the Czech national junior team with 10 points in seven games so far this season.

Jakub Brabenec, C

Brabenec is a playmaking center who sees the ice well and could be a mid- to late-round Draft pick this year. After seeing limited ice time as a 13^th forward in 23 Extraliga games and three second-division games last season, Brabenec now plays for the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders, where he has 32 points in 28 games. Like many good centers, he’s strong defensively and he tends to look to pass rather than shoot, so he will need wingers to get open if he’s to help the team to his maximum potential.

Pavel Novak, RW

Pavel Novak from the Kelowna Rocket (24-13-18-31-8-8) is a smaller winger that has continued to impress. Building on an impressive draft season he again is leading his team is most every statistical category. He is first in goals, assists and points and drives so much of the offense. He will play a similar role for the Czech team at the World Juniors where opportunistic players will have to make the most of their chances to compete against the top teams in the tournament. Novak has a good combination of speed and skill where he can make plays in open ice, attacking off the rush and making defenders back off. He is a player who engages and competes hard which despite his size and allows him to win a surprising amount of puck battles. He is capable of creating offense out of very little with his great vision or improving finishing ability which make his him a key top six forward for the Czechs.

Michal Gut, C

Michal Gut from the Everett Silvertips (24-7-25-32-8-23) is a player that has grown substantially in the structured defense first style Everett is known for. His offensive game is predicated on his quick evaluation and decision making rather than his speed and skill but is a player that will contribute at both ends of the ice. This year he has taken a step in his game away from the puck and has shown a willingness in his own zone to do more than his part. His passing skills and ability to create should help him chip in offensively especially on a roster that will need timely scoring. He is a player that can contribute even if he isn’t scoring with his energy and ability to cycle the puck and wear down opponents.

Goaltenders (3):

Daniel Král (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Acadie-Bathurst, QMJHL), Jakub Málek (Vsetín).

Defensemen (9):

Matěj Pinkas (Litoměřice), David Jiříček (Plzeň), Jakub Šedivý (Benátky nad Jizerou), David Moravec (Mladá Boleslav), Michal Hrádek (Pardubice), Jiří Ticháček (Kladno), Michael Krutil (Rockford, AHL), Stanislav Svozil (Regina, WHL), David Špaček (Sherbrooke, QMJHL).

Forwards (16):

Josef Koláček, Tomáš Urban (both Litoměřice), Jakub Konečný (Sparta Prague), Sebastián Malát (Plzeň), Tomáš Chlubna (České Budějovice), Vojtěch Jiruš (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jiří Kulich (Karlovy Vary), Stanislav Vrhel (Lahti, Finland), Jaroslav Chmelař (Jokerit Helsinki, Finland U20), Jakub Kos (Ilves Tampere, Finland), Michal Gut (Everett, WHL), Martin Ryšavý (Moose Jaw, WHL), Jan Myšák (Hamilton, OHL), Pavel Novák (Kelowna, WHL), Ivan Ivan (Cape Breton, QMJHL), Jakub Brabenec (Charlottetown, QMJHL).

2021 World Junior Championship: Czech Republic Training Camp Roster Preview

Derek O'Brien — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:42:22 +0000

National junior head coach Karel Mlejnek named the Czech Republic’s preliminary 45-man roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at a press conference on Wednesday (Dec. 2, 2020). As expected, the list includes 10 returnees from last season’s team and nine players who have been drafted by NHL teams.

In a group that includes Russia, Sweden, the USA and Austria, the Czechs are projected to finish fourth and advance to the quarter-finals. Whatever they achieve beyond that would be a pleasant surprise.

With the unusual circumstances that have affected all teams in the tournament to varying degrees, the Czech Republic was hit hard by a second wave of COVID-19 in the autumn, resulting in a shutdown of all organized sports for much of October and November. Furthermore, many teams have been forced to quarantine for additional time due to localized positive tests. While all of the team’s CHL-based players have returned home, some have been limited to only a handful of games.

While the Czech national junior team hasn’t played this season, save for a three-game series with Slovakia back in July, 10 junior-aged players were named to the Czech senior men’s team that competed at the Karjala Cup in Finland in November.

The last two years, the Czechs were led by Anaheim Ducks prospect Lukas Dostal in goal, but he’s too old this year. Last season, Dostal missed a couple of games due to injury, which gave Lukas Parik and Nick Malik an opportunity to get into some game action. The three goalies on the roster this time will be Parik, Malik and Jan Bednar, but the starting job is wide open.

Last year’s young defence corps will be this year’s gain, with four returning defencemen – Martin Has, Karel Klikora, Simon Kubicek, and Radek Kucerik. But the most interesting names on defence from a scouting perspective are 17-year-olds Stanislav Svozil and David Jiricek. Both were born in 2003 but their birthdays mean Svozil will be eligible to be drafted in 2021 and Jiricek in 2022. Additionally, both played at the Karjala Cup and Mlejnek indicated they both have a good shot at making the team.

“Based to their play so far, their chances are very high,” Mlejnek said at the press conference. “I don’t think they seemed out of place at all at the Karjala by being so young. They adjusted to the opportunities they were given and played with confidence. We believe that they will continue to prove that throughout December.”

Up front, the consensus top two lines based on Mlejnek’s lines in July and at the Karjala Cup in November consist of Jan Mysak centering Pavel Novak and Adam Raska and Jaromir Pytlik between Michal Teply and Filip Koffer. Novak – a 2002-born Minnesota Wild prospect – and Koffer will be playing in their first WJC while the other four all return from last year. After the top six, the talent up front drops off significantly. Marcel Barinka, who spent the past two seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads, had a solid shot at being the third-line center but declined the invitation to camp, having just signed with German club Kolner Haie and wanting to have a good camp there in anticipation of a December 17 opening to the DEL season.

Jan Mysak during the ice hockey quarter final game in The IIHF U18 World Championship between Sweden and The Czech Republic
Photo: Jonas Forsberg / BILDBYRÅN

Lukas Parik, G

While it’s not totally clear who the Czechs’ starting goalie will be, national team general manager Filip Pesan may have tipped his hand when he named Parik to the Karjala Cup roster. He played in one game there and stopped 27 of 30 shots against a Russian team that consisted exclusively of junior-aged players and will largely be the same squad that the Czechs will face in Group B in Edmonton. The other two goalies in contention are Nick Malik and Jan Bednar, who are both a year younger. At 6-4”, Parik is a big goalie who relies on his size and positioning to stop pucks, in contrast to the equally big but more acrobatic Bednar.

Martin Has, D

Has has only played in a couple games this season for second-division HC Benatky nad Jizerou, making this the first time he has played for a club in his home country since he was 16. The Washington Capitals‘ draft pick has spent two seasons with Tappara Tampere‘s junior squad in Finland, where his mobility and hockey sense were occasional issues. Has played last season in the OHL with the Guelph Storm. The right-shot defenseman is an intriguing blueliner with a promising tool set, but he looks very raw at the moment. At his first WJC he had a solid tournament with three points in six games, and will be heavily relied upon this time around.

Simon Kubicek, D

Kubicek is a very well-rounded two-way defender who plays physical and is tough to compete against in the defensive zone, although it has been noted that his speed needs to improve if he wants to make it to the next level, which may be why he was passed over in the 2020 Draft. The late-born 2001 has been a standout the last two years for Seattle and played well at the World Juniors for the Czechs, and they will count on him to be even better this season. So far he has spent this season with HC Stadion Litomerice in the Czech second division, where he has played on the team’s top defensive pair.

Stanislav Svozil, D

A potential first-round pick for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Svozil debuted in the Extraliga last season as a 16-year-old and didn’t look out of place in the pros, tallying five points in 41 games. This year, he has become a regular on the Kometa Brno defense and made his senior national team debut at the Karjala Cup, although that hasn’t translated into offensive production. While not particularly big for a defenseman at 6-1” and 172lbs, he is known for his speed, allowing him to contribute offensively without sacrificing anything on the back end. Being 10 months older than fellow 17-year-old Jiricek, Svozil probably has a slightly better chance of making the team.

Jan Mysak, C

A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in this year’s NHL Draft, 2002-born Mysak will be expected to carry the offensive load for the Czechs in his second World Junior Championship. After scoring at better than a point-per-game clip last season for Hamilton in the OHL, he is back home in Litvinov this season but has been held pointless in his first nine games of the season, averaging about 14 minutes per game on the Extraliga’s lowest-scoring team. Internationally he has shown a scoring touch, with four points in three games for the U20 national team back in July, and an assist in two games for the senior men’s team in November. In these games, he has mostly been centering a line with speedy, undersized wingers Pavel Novak and Adam Raska.

Michal Teply, LW

Teply is another player who has seen limited action back home in the Czech Republic after playing last season in the CHL, coming from the Winnipeg Ice to Mlada Boleslav and Litomerice, where he has played only a handful of games so far. He is a skilled and instinctive offensive-minded player whose passing skills and vision are his biggest strengths. He makes the right choices with the puck and his overall skill level is very high. He has a good, accurate wrist shot and the potential to be a good goal-scorer at the pro level. At 6-3” and 192lbs, he is one of the biggest forwards on this Czech team. In pre-tournament games, Teply has been playing the left side with Jaromir Pytlik and Filip Koffer.

Jaromir Pytlik, C

A member of the Soo Greyhounds now playing for HC Litomerice in the Czech second division, Pytlik is another returning player and top-six forward on this team. Last season, he began the tournament on a line with Jan Jenik but that lasted all of 15 seconds before the team’s star forward went down with a knee injury. After that, the Czech forward lines were a mess and Pytlik played a depth role. He is a mature two-way forward who plays a very heavy, pro-ready game. The versatile New Jersey Devils prospect excels playing through traffic, prolonging possession along the wall, and finishing off plays tight to the crease. He competes hard at both ends and shows high-end anticipation as a defensive forward and penalty killer.

Adam Raska, RW

After spending last season with the Rimouski Oceanic, tallying 21 points and 37 penalty minutes in just 35 games and then getting drafted by the San Jose Sharks, Raska has returned to the club that developed him, split this season so far between Trinec in the Extraliga and second-league affiliate Frydek-Mistek. Raska was a depth forward at last year’s WJC but will be a top-six forward this year, lining up on Mysak’s right side, where he should get a chance to display his goal-scoring touch. While somewhat undersized at 5-10” and 168lbs, he plays bigger than his size, not shying away from the physical play, which should only improve as he bulks up.

Goaltenders:
Lukáš Pařík (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Karlovy Vary), Nick Malík, Tomáš Suchánek (both Frýdek-Místek), Šimon Zajíček (Litvínov).

Defencemen:
Karel Klikorka (Mladá Boleslav), Martin Hugo Haš (Benátky nad Jizerou), Michal Hrádek (Pardubice), Stanislav Svozil (Kometa Brno), Adam Rutar (Olomouc), David Jiříček, Vladimír Kremláček (both Plzeň), Ondřej Baláž, Michael Krutil, Šimon Kubíček, Jan Mlčák, Daniel Poizl (all Litoměřice), Radek Kučeřík (Přerov), Jiří Suhrada (Zlín).

Forwards:
Adam Najman, Jakub Rychlovský (both Liberec), Michal Gut (Sokolov), Martin Beránek (České Budějovice), Jonáš Peterek, Adam Raška (both Frýdek-Místek), Jakub Brabenec (Kometa Brno), Sebastián Malát (Plzeň), David Vitouch (Sparta Praha), David Jindra, Filip Koffer, Martin Lang, Pavel Novák, Filip Přikryl, Jaromír Pytlík, Michal Teplý, Matěj Toman (all Litoměřice), Jan Myšák (Litvínov), Ivan Ivan (Vítkovice), Martin Ryšavý (Přerov), Radek Mužík (Lulea, Sweden), Theodor Pištěk (Örebro, S), Ondřej Pšenička (Waterloo, USHL).

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Minnesota Wild Top 20 Prospects

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 12:25:49 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Minnesota Wild prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 1)

Kaprizov is a dual threat with the puck. He has an excellent selection of shots and scoring touch around the net. His wrist shot release is very quick and does not give goalies much time to prepare. His one-timer is hard and accurate, with an effective weight transfer and follow-through. He can also set up his teammates for scoring chances with high end vision. Part of what makes him such a dangerous player is his ability to find soft spots. His movements are calculated in the offensive zone. He thinks the game at a very high level, creatively anticipating and taking advantage of any extra offensive zone room. His puck control in tight quarters is impressive and he has a quick stick in traffic. Kaprizov is a skilled skater with superb edge work and quickness. He can make shifty moves to evade opponents and buy time to make plays. His defensive game is also quite advanced. He uses his stick well to disrupt opponents and he works hard without the puck to regain possession, never quitting. He is a world-class talent with tremendous potential to be an impact player. – MB

Marco Rossi, C (9^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

One of the 2020 draft’s best two-way centers, Rossi has a mature understanding of his defensive responsibilities, and a high skill level, giving him both a high ceiling and a high floor. He pulverized expectations, leading the OHL in scoring before the season was cancelled. The Austrian import showcased a creative side along with explosiveness, strength on the puck, and confidence. He is at his best working the wall, either near the faceoff circle or behind the net. He is consistently first to dump-ins, gaining inside positioning. His lower body is very strong, making him very difficult to separate from the puck. He keeps those feet moving at all times, spinning off checks, while maintaining possession, creating a chance for himself or his linemates, able to make something out of nothing thanks to soft hands. Often the first man back, he leverages everything he has on puck carriers to re-establish possession, applying back pressure and forcing turnovers. His lack of size could be an issue due to his abrasive style of play. A notoriously hard worker, Rossi signed with ZSC in Switzerland and will play there until he makes the NHL roster. – BO

Matthew Boldy, LW (12^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Entering Boston College as a true freshman, Boldy was expected to be an impact player, but faltered, at least on the scoresheet, with only three points through the first half. When he returned from winter break, he went on a tear, putting up points in 15 of the final 21 games played. That stretch included three three-point games and he finished the season with 23 second-half points. Over that stretch, he was the fifth-highest scorer in the country. Because of the first-half slump, Boldy did not put up the numbers he was expected to have. But that should not take away from his attributes. The speed of college hockey can make for a difficult learning curve and it can take many talented freshmen a semester or more to adjust. While Boldy did not show up on the score sheet as much, he still played well - especially for an 18-year-old. He is a very good skater who can power up the ice. He is a great playmaker, thanks in part to his stick handling, his speed and his incredibly soft hands. He projects to be a first liner once he completes his time on campus. - JS

Calen Addison, D (53^rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. Previous ranking: 3)

Addison’s game revolves around his skating. He was one of the smoothest, and quickest skaters in the WHL last year. His footwork along the blueline is excellent, using his edges to create lanes for shooting or passing. His shot is much improved with both velocity and accuracy. He can step into a big slapshot or a solid one-timer, but his most dangerous shot is a hard wrister that will get past the first defender and onto the net, leading to frequent tips and deflections. His ability to quarterback the offense is impressive, with constant movement, a willingness to push down the wall, and crisp passing ability. Addison would rather hold onto the puck then throw it away and while he occasionally gets caught out, his recovery speed allows him to gamble more than most. Addison can still get a bit overmatched in his own zone, but improved footwork and speed enable him to clear more pucks and generate turnovers. He competes well and uses some of his strengths to manage better in his own zone than in his draft year. - VG

Alexander Khovanov, C (86^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

While Khovanov still struggles with his discipline, he also led Moncton in scoring last season. He is a strong skater, an excellent playmaker, and is willing to take the puck to the house for strong shots in tight and from distance. He is very ferocious offensively, and is willing to run players over to create, but that very fine line still needs harnessing. He currently has an effective game that would allow him to take a regular shift offensively at the NHL level today, but there are still too many ways to take him off his focus. The book on Khovanov as a defender is to nail him hard and it will take him out of the game, as he will be too focused on retribution. That has to change for him to have a strong impact on the game. He will be playing this season in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan, a solid team that can provide him with support and strong veteran leadership. His desire is to ultimately play in the NHL as soon as possible. He could be a superstar at the highest level, but feisty top-line forward is his most likely result. - MS

Adam Beckman, C (75^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Beckman took his offensive game to another level last year, ending as one of the WHL’s top performers. He has fair size and moves very well on the ice. He is quick with everything, including release, forecheck, back check, and transitioning the play out of his own zone. He is comfortable with the puck on his stick and will attack the net from anywhere. He can carry it out of the corner or lead the rush and bury a one timer. His shot is accurate with a great release, giving it enough power to beat goalies from distance and he can also finish in traffic. He is an excellent net front guy who battles while keeping his stick free to make plays. Good hand eye coordination enables him to deflect a lot of pucks when screening the goalie. He doesn’t overhandle and looks to release the puck as soon as he gets into a scoring area. His wrist shot is hard and accurate, and he consistently shoots between the pad and the blocker. There have been real strides in his game each of the past few seasons and if that continues, he could be a worthwhile top six NHL forward. – VG

Ryan O’Rourke, D (39^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A leader at every level, O’Rourke is a reliable two-way defender whose IQ, tenaciousness, and skill level make him a potential top four defender going forward. He took on more responsibility as a puck mover last year, demonstrating improved confidence with the puck and improvements to his skating and overall mobility. Of course, his largest contribution comes in the defensive end. He is an extremely smart defensively and rarely makes a mistake in his own end. He is aggressive physically, and will step up to deny zone entries, picking his spots judiciously. He is great at defending the rush, with tight gaps and angling off defenders to the wall. A great shot blocker, he stays square to shooters and shows little fear. He is quick to pucks in his own end, has a very effective breakout pass and good vision up ice. O’Rourke has a very heavy point shot and does well to sneak back door or jump into the slot to receive passes. His instincts and shooting ability give him some value as a play facilitator, even if he is not a gifted puck rusher. He can anchor a penalty killing unit and be a potential physical shutdown defender. – BO

Marat Khusnutdinov, C (37^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Khusnutdinov is a well-rounded but undersized center. His skating is his best asset, and he can beat you in transition, pushing defenders back with his speed, or using his edgework and quickness to keep plays alive down low. He avoids hits with his agility and quick feet, and is likewise an asset off the puck, chasing down loose pucks, applying pressure on the forecheck, and pushing hard on the backcheck. He can force turnovers routinely. Khusnutdinov is a pass first pivot whose playmaking ability is high end. He exhibits good vision when playing with pace and when operating the half wall. He occasionally tries to do too much with the puck and could stand to make quicker decisions, however his hands make him a force with the puck. There are some concerns about his finishing ability and some concern over his production in the MHL, as his 38 points last year were good but not exceptional. Even away from the scoresheet, he routinely was an impact player, and should have bottom six and PK value if he can’t crack the top half of the lineup. – BO

Hunter Jones, G (59^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Last year, Jones struggled with consistency in his draft eligible season. In the first half of the year, he was one of the OHL’s top goalies. In the second half, he fell apart. A year stronger, Jones was able to maintain a high level of play for the majority of the year for Peterborough, one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Jones uses his size well (6-4”) to his advantage as a butterfly goaltender and did well to improve both his rebound control and his footwork this year. In particular, his ability to fight through traffic to swallow up shots, limiting second chances, progressed. He will likely turn pro next year and still projects as an NHL goaltender long term. His ability to continue to improve his athleticism and his mental focus will be a deciding factor as to whether he can be a starter long term. - BO

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Firstov, a second-round pick from Russian, played in Russia until 2018-19, when he moved to North America as a 17-year-old. He spent one season in the USHL with Waterloo, where he impressed enough to make the league’s All-Rookie team. He adapted quickly to the North American game and continued that success into college, where he led all UConn freshmen in scoring while playing in every game. A member of Hockey East’s All-Rookie team, Firstov showcased his promising abilities. He is a good skater with solid speed, and he glides smoothly. He uses his 6-0” frame well and plays a decent physical game. Along those lines, he doesn’t get pushed out of position or off the puck easily. Firstov has a long reach and a quick stick, which he uses effectively. He projects as a second line forward if he continues on the same trajectory from the past two seasons. - JS

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 8)

Kahkonen has been the class of the American Hockey League over the past two seasons, and the Aldege Bastien Award for the league’s top netminder, as well as his spot on the AHL‘s First All-Star Team for the 2019-20 season, were well deserved. At 25-6-3 in backstopping the Iowa Wild, the 23-year-old led AHL goalies in wins and shutouts (seven) and was fourth place in save percentage (.927) and goals against average (2.07). The Finn does it with his mature technique and style, rarely falling out of position and possessing the temperament to maintain focus in hectic situations. His speed and athleticism grade as above average, as well as his ability to read developing plays and react accordingly with his high-level instincts and reflexes. Kahkonen showed well in his five-game big-league stint with Minnesota, and with Devan Dubnyk on the wrong side of 30, you can expect the 2014 fourth-rounder to not only be the Wild’s goalie of the future but also of the present. – TD

Daemon Hunt, D (63^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Despite missing around three months in his draft year due to a skate laceration on his arm, Hunt returned none the worse for wear, with four assists in his five post-recovery games. A high-end skater who can showcase promising elements on both sides of the puck, although not always at the same time, he seems to do everything at high speed, in both directions. His skating is the most consistent part of his game. He features a quick release snapshot and generally gets it off from a spot that allows it to get to the net. He is a solid puck mover as well, although he has not shown the type of dynamic characteristics which are necessary to be a legit top three blueliner at the highest level. Similar things can be said of his play off the puck. He holds his own, can shut down dangerous opponents and defend against the rush, but none of those consistently enough to envision him in a shutdown role. His career can go in multiple directions from here but most of them end up with him being a viable NHL’er. – RW

Pavel Novak, RW (146^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A longtime age-based international staple for the Czech Republic, Novak transitioned quite seamlessly to the WHL, leading Kelowna Rockets in points when the season was cancelled. Small, but hard-working, he quickly developed into an all-situations player. He does a lot of things well, without any facet of his game sticking out, suggesting a lower ceiling, but also a reasonable floor. Without being especially fast, he is a very agile skater with plus escapability and deception. He tends to prefer creating space for linemates than trying for himself. His wrist shot is strong, but he is more of a playmaker than a shooter. The overall maturity of Novak’s game provides optimism that he will continue to make adjustments and take on greater roles for his team next year, being more comfortable playing on the smaller ice surfaces of North America and with the English language, although it is less likely that his skill set takes a big leap forward. His package of skills would fit in well on a modern-day bottom six, one that still wants to see offensive production on all lines. – RW

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 9)

Honestly, hats off to Ivan Lodnia this year. Sent back to the OHL for his overage year after it was initially thought that he would start his pro career, he never pouted. Even after the IceDogs gutted their roster at the trade deadline, he continued to play strong and was a key leader on a young team. He was the Dogs offense in the second half and ended up having a solid year from a production standpoint. Lodnia’s hands are his best asset. He is a terrific player in transition because of his high-end creativity and ability to make defenders miss. He projects as a middle six winger; however, he may need several years in the AHL to get used to the speed and strength of the professional game. His skating has improved over the course of his OHL career, but further progression in this area will be needed. - BO

Damien Giroux, C (155^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

The captain of the Saginaw Spirit, Giroux is the kind of player who wears his heart on his sleeve on the ice. He will go through a wall to make a play and his energy level and tenacity make him one of the league’s best two-way forwards. Giroux is also a quality goal scorer who possesses high end scoring instincts and a quick release. He provides versatility by being able to play center or the wing, however his skating ability will need to improve further if he wishes to stay down the middle at the next level. At the NHL level, Giroux projects as a bottom six winger who can anchor a penalty killing unit and provide goals in a checking line/energy role. It is likely that he will need several years at the AHL level before he is ready to be a successful NHL player. Again, his skating ability may not be good enough to play that kind of role in the NHL today, which means that his high IQ will have to carry him. - BO

Marshall Warren, D (166^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Warren is an interesting prospect because as a young, smaller defenseman, he held his own as a true freshman in college hockey. Before college, he played for the USNTDP with fellow Minnesota draft pick and current college teammate Matthew Boldy, playing in both the World U-17 and the World U-18 championships along the way. An offensive defenseman, Warren was able to contribute to Boston College’s scoring on a regular basis. As mentioned earlier, he lacks the size of most NHL defensemen at 5-11” and 163 pounds. But his skills and skating could make the sixth-round pick a steal. At 19 years old, Warren has time to develop and grow stronger. In the meantime, he is a quick skater and stickhandler who excels at crisp passes. He is effective on the rush because he can move the puck safely up the ice via passing or skating. Assuming his size can be overlooked, Warren projects to a second-pairing defenseman with power play upside. - JS

Connor Dewar, LW (92^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Dewar was an over-ager who excelled in the WHL, earning a 2018 third-round draft pick from the Wild, and then experienced an up-and-down first season in the professional ranks with AHL Iowa in 2019-20. Buried in a very deep Iowa lineup, Dewar played a fairly defensive role and wasn’t able to display his full offensive potential, scoring just six goals in 52 games following a 36-goal campaign with WHL Everett. Production aside, he exhibits great hands and passing skills, quick footwork and pivoting speed, and a highly regarded reputation as a hardworking, selfless forward. To credit Dewar, he plays an incredibly versatile game and can be relied on for heavy two-way and penalty kill minutes. If his offensive game never materializes, he can provide value and remain an intriguing prospect as a potential checking-line role player, as he does not have any large voids in his game and can play both center and wing. - TD

Louis Belpedio, D (80^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 14)

A fast and effective puck mover with a right hand shot from the blueline, Belpedio has been a serviceable AHL defenseman for two full seasons and looks primed for an NHL depth role at some point soon. The 2014 third-round pick is a plus skater with a smooth grasp for controlling the puck through the neutral zone and into the attacking side, and has done so frequently with AHL Iowa, one of the more impressive things about the 24-year-old. His awareness of the ice and his positioning has improved since his first foray into the pro ranks, but his gap control and stick discipline still leave much room to improve. While he has spent time on the penalty kill, he is not the most reliable shorthanded defender. He quarterbacks the power play with the minor league side, and he has some good stick skills and a solid ability to get the puck through traffic. If he can be a decent enough defender to make the NHL roster long-term, he would likely see time on the man-advantage on occasion. Another AHL season seems most likely for the Illinois native. - TD

Mitchell Chaffee, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 24, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Chaffee was an undrafted free-agent signee out of Massachusetts. He had just finished his junior season, where he captained the Minutemen. He recorded a career-high 18 goals and 42 points as a sophomore. That season, he led Hockey East in scoring en route to UMass’ championship game appearance. He is another great development story as he went from low offensive production during his two years of USHL hockey to becoming a prolific collegiate scorer at UMass. Chaffee is a smooth skater who turns well. He is a stocky 6-0”, 207 pounds and likes to play a physical game. He also doesn’t get pushed off the puck easily. He can score goals, but he also sets up his teammates well with beautiful feeds that make it look like the puck is floating. Chaffee also played on UMass’ power play unit. He might not project as more than a bottom six energy forward, but considering how far he has recently come, we shouldn’t discount the possibility that more is in store. – JS

Nico Sturm, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 1, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

A big center without any clearly above average tools, Sturm held his own in his first professional season, including a cameo up with the Wild. A big scorer at the collegiate level with Clarkson, the German native has come a long, long way from his first North American campaign, which ended with three points in 21 games at the NAHL level. Considering how much he has improved when allowed to repeat a level, I would expect more production from Sturm this season, whether in the AHL or NHL. If his feet were quicker, or he had greater scoring instincts, I would be more optimistic about his upside, but he is already 25 years of age, creating a limit to potential future growth. Skilled hands, and strong work along the walls still give him an NHL floor, even if it is only in a bottom six role. This might be his last chance to assert himself as an NHL’er. - RW

WHL: Pavel Novak, RW, Kelowna (2020)

Arlo Schulz — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 15:12:55 +0000

Pavel Novak has met or exceeded all expectations since coming over to North America in his draft year. He is a deceptive player with good wheels, a great motor and a decent wrist shot. Despite his diminutive size, Novak is a smart player capable of killing penalties and is very coachable. He is adept at zone entries but struggles at times on breakouts. Novak has above-average offensive upside and projects as a second-line winger at the pro level, provided he continues to adjust to the North American game and develops his ability to be effective in tight, physical, gritty games.

Pavel Novak	Draft Status: 2020 eligible
Position: RW, Shoots R	H/W: 5' 10", 170 lbs
Stats to Date (GP-G-A-PTS-Pims)	Kelowna Rockest, WHL (33-16-15-31-23)

KELOWNA, BC - DECEMBER 27: Pavel Novak #11 of the Kelowna Rockets skates against the Kamloops Blazers at Prospera Place on December 27, 2019 in Kelowna, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze)

Skating: Novak is a decent skater. His top speed is average but where he excels is in agility, edgework and the ability to change directions on a dime. He gets up to speed quickly and takes the most direct path at all times. Grade: 55

Shot: Novak has a good wrist shot and can score from distance with it, especially from the point on the powerplay. His one-timer needs some work still. He possesses a decent slap shot but rarely utilizes it. Grade: 55

Skills: Novak is a very deceptive player with the puck. He likes to turn his skates and body to fool defenders and open up passing lanes, making him an effective player off the rush. He will look off defenders before delivering passes cross-seam on the powerplay, and likes to move the puck into open spaces for teammates to skate into at even-strength. He needs to work on deflections and doesn't challenge defenders one-on-one enough, preferring to move the puck to a teammate. Can be taken out of games when keyed on by opposition and time and space is at a premium. Grade: 55

Smarts: An industrious player with a non-stop motor, Novak is a heads-up winger who is learning quickly when to use his skillset and vision and when to simply make the safe play with the puck. He is trusted on the point position on the powerplay and on the penalty kill, and this despite a language barrier in his first year in North America playing on smaller ice. He will make the occasional mistake but never the same one twice. Anticipates the game well. Grade: 55

Physicality: Novak is willing to take a hit to make a play but suffers in games played along the boards. He lacks strength and can't always get to prime scoring areas on the ice. He can be knocked off the puck easily by bigger opponents and has yet to learn how to score ugly goals. Grade: 45

Overall Future Projection (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.

WHL 2019-2020 Season Preview – Western Conference

Vince Gibbons — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 15:58:20 +0000

One of the joys of junior hockey is that the age limitations force roster turnover of top teams in 3-4-year cycles creating a new league every couple of seasons. This ensures that no team stays at the top of the league for too long. The class of the league last season was the Prince Albert Raiders. Wire to wire the top team in the WHL with three lines of scoring, three defenders with over 40 points each, and an NHL-drafted goalie prospect in Ian Scott, they ticked all the boxes of a team that was able to dominate the league.

This year they will be without three graduated top overage forwards in Dante Hannoun, Noah Gregor, and Sean Montgomery, who combined for an impressive 101 goals. Top scorer from last year Brett Leason is still in pro camp and could play in the AHL this season if he continues to show well. If he does that is another 36 goals no longer with the roster. Does this leave the door open to another team in the WHL to dominate the 2019-2020 regular season? Does Prince Albert have the staying power to remain at the top? These articles will try to answer those questions months in advance. (Teams are listed in their projected divisional rankings). Today we look at the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference article can be found here:

Nolan Foote #29 of the Kelowna Rockets (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze

B.C. Division

Vancouver Giants (1^st)

Having come within an overtime goal of a trip to the Memorial Cup, the Giants are fortunate to return some outstanding players including top defender Bowen Byram (Colorado, 1^st 2019). He can handle all the minutes he is given and is able to generate offense as well as anyone from the back end. Tristen Nielsen and Milos Roman (Calgary, 4^th 2018) give them experienced center play while draft eligible Justin Sourdif has picked up where he left off last season and might be their most productive forward this season. Another 2020 potential draft pick is Lukas Svejkovsky, a talented right shot winger with very good playmaking skills. That balance of youthful skill and solid veterans can be seen across their lineup and is a big part of why they are favorites to win the division this season. Returning 20 year old David Tendeck (Arizona 6^th, 2018), along with the younger Trent Miner (Colorado, 7^th 2019) certainly helps their cause as a team looking to come out of the West.

Kelowna Rockets (2^nd)

Hosting the Memorial Cup comes with enormous pressure to have an outstanding season. Both Regina and Red Deer have been good but not the elite teams in the league in their respective host years and Kelowna will be trying to break the WHL curse of late at the Memorial Cup. Defensively, the roster is pretty strong with Kaedan Korczak (Vegas, 2^nd 2019) and Jake Lee leading the way. Up front they have a couple of elite wingers in Nolan Foote (Tampa Bay, 1^st 2019), and Dillon Hamaliuk (San Jose, 2^nd 2019) that play a bruising power forward style of game. Draft eligible Pavel Novak showed great hands in the preseason but will have to continue that play once the games start to matter to hear his name mentioned at this season’s draft. A lot of their offense is going to come from overage players Kyle Topping and Leif Mattson, both of whom were near the 1 point per game pace last season and both look like they can shoulder even more of the heavy lifting in the early part of this season.

Kamloops Blazers (3^rd)

Last season the Blazers made the playoffs without winning half their regular season games. This year’s team has a load of potential but are likely one more season away from challenging for the top of the division. Not many teams are able to return the top three scorers from last season but the Blazers are able to do so this year. Offensively, this team has Zane Franklin who has nearly doubled his point production season over season each of the past three seasons. That steady improvement bodes well for the 20 year old who will lead a team with a number of young dynamic offensive players. Connor Zary was over one point per game last season but as a late 2001 was not eligible for last season’s NHL Entry draft. expect him to be even more prolific this year. Orrin Centazzo was the third member of that trio with 51 points last year. Add in ’03 born Logan Stankoven and Kamloops is developing some excellent forward depth that should sustain them the next couple of seasons. Defensively they possess a number of puck movers although none really appear to have the dynamic quality of a number one defender. Dylan Garand had a strong season last year and the starting job is his to lose. There is a lot of quality within this roster and they could surprise this season but it may be one year too early. Look for them to emerge as a strong contender over the next few seasons.

Victoria Royals (4^th)

The Royals have seen years of stable playoff hockey and this year looks to be a bit of a struggle. They have been battling with Vancouver the past few seasons at the top of the division but it will be tough for them to compete against the top teams now. They have less scoring than last season and a review of their roster doesn’t breed a ton of confidence. Keanu Derungs, their recent import selection, will be relied upon to generate offense playing on the wing with established center Kaid Oliver upon the latter’s return from injury. The rest of the Victoria roster is really made up of depth players that will struggle against top lines across the league. There is a lot of experience in the crease for this team with 120 WHL games between Brock Gould and Shane Farkas, which should keep the team competitive but likely is not enough to ensure them a playoff spot.

Prince George Cougars (5^th)

The Cougars have struggled the past couple of seasons and don’t look like a team that will be turning the corner this year either. Josh Maser led the team in goals last season with 30 and will be counted on as their top producing forward. Goal scoring will be an issue again for them as import player Matej Toman has not found his offensive game since coming over from the Czech Republic. Tyson Upper is the top draft eligible forward on the roster but the best draft prospect might be Rhett Rhinehart who is a towering 6-4” defender with a bit of an old school ruggedness to his game. Taylor Gauthier has the pedigree of a top goalie but with the team in front of him has put up pretty pedestrian numbers. With goalie of the future Tyler Brennan on the roster expect this to be a 1A and 1B scenario unless they are able to move Gauthier to a contender as the season moves along.

Ty Smith

U.S. Division

Portland Winterhawks (1^st)

Portland has to be the model franchise in terms of drafting players, developing them and producing the highest quality product on the ice. This year again speaks volumes about the organization. Both of the import players selected provide instant offensive talent to help replace the losses of Cody Glass, Joachim Blichfeld up front, and Jared Freadrich on the back end. This year Simon Knak and Jonas Brondberg (both 2020 draft eligible) step in and have both shown they are excellent playmakers. Cross Hanas looks ready to take a step up in responsibility after playing in the bottom six for most of last season. This year he plays the wing for Seth Jarvis who is also working his way up draft boards early. John Ludvig (Florida, 3^rd 2019) sets the tone in the defensive zone with his physical, no non-sense approach to defending. This team consistently rebuilds on the fly and look to have successfully backfilled roles with a combination of internal progression and astute import draft selections. The crease is held down by Joel Hofer (St. Louis, 4^th 2018), a behemoth of a man at 6-5” brought in last year to solidify the only perceived weakness on the roster. He may start 60 games this year and should finally start piling up some wins after his first 70 starts in the league.

Spokane Chiefs (2^nd)

In a division where goaltending dictates so much, the addition of import Lukas Parik (Los Angeles, 3^rd 2019) could be enough to push Spokane to a clear top two finish in the division but more importantly, it provides a chance to get out of the US division in the playoffs. In front of him they have a strong group of defenders led by Filip Kral (Toronto, 5^th 2018). He has a good shot and has more offensive potential than most late round picks. Up front, scoring will be by committee but Adam Beckman (Minnesota, 3^rd 2019) will be counted on to improve his 32 goal season from a year ago. Somewhat surprisingly undrafted winger Luke Toporowski has something to prove this season and will be a big part of any team success that Spokane has. Jack Finley had solid numbers in a depth role last season but the 2020 draft eligible player should be able to carve out a top six role this season. Spokane’s biggest “X” factor comes from diminutive defender Ty Smith (New Jersey, 1^st 2018) and how he responds to not making the Devils’ opening day roster. At his best, he is a dynamic puck mover and playmaker that can dictate the pace of play like few others can in this league.

Everett Silvertips (3^rd)

Defensively, Everett is consistently a top team in terms of goals against. Since 2016 they have given up the fewest goals and it hasn’t even been close. In 2016-17, they led in that department by 29 goals, by 46 in 2017-18, and by 26 in 2018-19. That is domination. It is also coaching. Dennis Williams has consistently brought something to the league that other coaches have struggled to contend with and that is a tenacious, physical team defense. It hasn’t hurt that the crease has been held down very well by Carter Hart (Philadelphia, 2^nd 2016), and now Dustin Wolf (Calgary, 7^th 2019). Everett relies on overage and import scoring talent and Bryce Kindopp and Michal Gut will be looking to provide that this season.

Seattle Thunderbirds (4^th)

Five of the top dozen teams in the entire WHL usually come from this division and it is entirely possible that all five of these teams again make the playoffs. Top scorer from last year Matthew Wedman (Florida, 7^th 2019) is back in the fold targeting another career year after reaching 40 goals last season. He will have to do so with new linemates this year. Henrik Rybinski (Florida, 5^th 2019), Payton Mount, and Michael Horon will all take more prominent roles within the offense this season which should give NHL scouts plenty to ponder. Defensively they will be anchored by Simon Kubicek a late ’01 who is much more than a big frame on the back end. Between the pipes they have Roddy Ross (Philadelphia, 6^th 2019) perhaps the best named player in the league. He has the pro frame that NHL teams covet and has been solid in his first 25 WHL games.

Tri-City Americans (5^th)

Tri-City is a difficult team to bet against. Each year they seem to find a way to be more than the sum of their parts. Sasha Mutala (Colorado 5^th, 2019) has grown up in this organization and carries the expectations forward with this younger roster. He and Samuel Huo will lead the next generation of Tri-City players through the 2019-20 season. The difference may come in the form of Beck Warm, a 20 year old netminder who played a league high 61 games last year with a well earned 2.94 GAA and a .916 save percentage. He led the league in shots and saves last year and that will have to continue along that path if Tri-Cities are expected to compete for the Wild Card.

***

This year the US division is again the most competitive in the WHL with the possibility of all five teams making the playoffs. Out East, the rebranded Winnipeg ICE have done a lot to reinvent the club after several struggling seasons in Cranbrook and have started strong. Saskatchewan has two teams in Saskatoon and Prince Albert that met in 2^nd round of last season’s playoffs and it could easily play out that way again this season. The Central Division boils down to a Battle of Highway 2, as both Calgary and Edmonton have mature and deep rosters that can match up against anyone. There are always a few surprises as the season chugs along and it could be a Medicine Hat or an Everett who ride top end goaltending right through the playoffs. Perhaps an upstart Kamloops team is ready to compete this year. Regardless of how it all plays out, it is an exciting time to get into the local barns and watch these young players develop into future pros. Below is a top 10 of draft eligible players

Top 10 (Alphabetical Order)

Braden Schneider, Brandon

Connor McClennon, Winnipeg

Connor Zary, Kamloops

Jake Neighbours, Edmonton

Justin Sourdif, Vancouver

Kaiden Guhle, Prince Albert

Kyle Crnkovic, Saskatoon

Kasper Puutio, Swift Current

Seth Jarvis, Portland

Honorable Mentions:

Ben King, Swift Current

Carter Savoie, Sherwood Park (AJHL)

Christoffer Sedoff, Red Deer

Cross Hanas, Portland

Michael Benning, Sherwood Park (AJHL)

Pavel Novak, Kelowna

Ridly Greig, Brandon

Simon Knak, Portland

Pavel Novak – McKeen's Hockey

2022 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: TEAM CZECHIA – Experienced Forwards, Young Defense look for 11th Consecutive Quarter Final Appearance

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jan Bednar, G

Stanislav Svozil, D

David Jiricek, D

Michael Krutil, D

Jan Mysak, C/LW

Jakub Brabenec, C

Pavel Novak, RW

Michal Gut, C

Goaltenders (3):

Defensemen (9):

Forwards (16):

2021 World Junior Championship: Czech Republic Training Camp Roster Preview

Lukas Parik, G

Martin Has, D

Simon Kubicek, D

Stanislav Svozil, D

Jan Mysak, C

Michal Teply, LW

Jaromir Pytlik, C

Adam Raska, RW

Goaltenders: Lukáš Pařík (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Karlovy Vary), Nick Malík, Tomáš Suchánek (both Frýdek-Místek), Šimon Zajíček (Litvínov).

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Minnesota Wild Top 20 Prospects

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 1)

Marco Rossi, C (9th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Matthew Boldy, LW (12th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Calen Addison, D (53rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. Previous ranking: 3)

Alexander Khovanov, C (86th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Adam Beckman, C (75th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Ryan O’Rourke, D (39th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Marat Khusnutdinov, C (37th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Hunter Jones, G (59th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 8)

Daemon Hunt, D (63rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Pavel Novak, RW (146th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 9)

Damien Giroux, C (155th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Marshall Warren, D (166th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Connor Dewar, LW (92nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Louis Belpedio, D (80th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 14)

Mitchell Chaffee, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 24, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Nico Sturm, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 1, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

WHL: Pavel Novak, RW, Kelowna (2020)

WHL 2019-2020 Season Preview – Western Conference

B.C. Division

Vancouver Giants (1st)

Kelowna Rockets (2nd)

Kamloops Blazers (3rd)

Victoria Royals (4th)

Prince George Cougars (5th)

U.S. Division

Portland Winterhawks (1st)

Spokane Chiefs (2nd)

Everett Silvertips (3rd)

Seattle Thunderbirds (4th)

Tri-City Americans (5th)

Goaltenders:
Lukáš Pařík (Benátky nad Jizerou), Jan Bednář (Karlovy Vary), Nick Malík, Tomáš Suchánek (both Frýdek-Místek), Šimon Zajíček (Litvínov).

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 1)

Marco Rossi, C (9^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Matthew Boldy, LW (12^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Calen Addison, D (53^rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. Previous ranking: 3)

Alexander Khovanov, C (86^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Adam Beckman, C (75^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Ryan O’Rourke, D (39^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Marat Khusnutdinov, C (37^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Hunter Jones, G (59^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 8)

Daemon Hunt, D (63^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Pavel Novak, RW (146^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 9)

Damien Giroux, C (155^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Marshall Warren, D (166^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Connor Dewar, LW (92^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Louis Belpedio, D (80^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 14)

Vancouver Giants (1^st)

Kelowna Rockets (2^nd)

Kamloops Blazers (3^rd)

Victoria Royals (4^th)

Prince George Cougars (5^th)

Portland Winterhawks (1^st)

Spokane Chiefs (2^nd)

Everett Silvertips (3^rd)

Seattle Thunderbirds (4^th)

Tri-City Americans (5^th)