Philippe Desrosiers – McKeen's Hockey

AHL West Report: Life without Brannstrom, Kahkonen living the Wild life, plus much more

Tom Dorsa — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 12:55:35 +0000

With the National Hockey League's annual trade deadline falling in late February, the teams in the American Hockey League are prone to change from the fall out. Prospects being shipped from one place to another with a flurry of deals can change the face of that star youngster's career, as well as the fate of their respective teams.

Youthful players have to prove their worth with new teams, while pre-established players in the same dressing room have to fight for an increase in ice time. All of this battling occurring while the team prepares itself to ink fresh NCAA and junior hockey graduates to late-season ATOs can make for a hectic scene for fans and scouts alike.

So, in this piece, we'll check in on the best and brightest prospects in the AHL's Central Division, one of two divisions in the Western Conference.

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 26: Chicago Wolves defenceman Nic Hague (2) plays the puck during the second period of the American Hockey League game between the Chicago Wolves and Cleveland Monsters on January 26, 2019, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Life without Erik Brannstrom -- who was sent to Ottawa as part of the Mark Stone trade -- might be hard to adjust to for the Chicago Wolves, but luckily, the Golden Knights have stockpiled a bounty of top prospects playing in the AHL.

Especially Nic Hague (fourth in our preseason rankings of Vegas prospects), who has done yeoman's work in keeping the Wolves atop the Central Division standings, taking on heavy, all-situation minutes in the wake of the Brannstrom trade. His skating is still a big issue, and players can drive past the lefty blueliner pretty easily, but his raw, 6-6" size makes Hague (10-14-24) nearly unbeatable low in the zone, where he shuts down the cycle well and forces opposing forwards into turnovers.

Goaltender Oskar Dansk (14th) doesn't quite have the stats to show it, but the technical aspects of his game have improved in the AHL this season. He is moving well laterally and staying on his feet to challenge shots, as well as becoming a better puck-handler. At 25 years old, Dansk (17-9-1, 2.86 GAA, .896 Sv%) has little development left to do, and instead should settle into an NHL backup role eventually, when his health will cooperate.

Other defensemen of interest are Jake Bischoff (5th) and Zach Whitecloud (12th), who are now both playing up in the lineup thanks to the absence of Brannstrom. Bischoff (2-9-11) is a solid two-way guy with potential to man an NHL second-unit power-play, based on his plus foot speed and creativity, but his willingness to take hits and his improved gaps and reads have led to more defensive zone deployment this season. He has been called up by the Golden Knights a few times already but has yet to see NHL ice time.

Whitecloud (6-17-23) has a lower ceiling than Bischoff, but arguably a far higher floor. The 6-2" defenseman is seeing power play time for the Wolves as he has worked on his assertiveness offensively, and is already a very well-rounded d-man he works hard in the defensive zone and has a very active stick. The first NCAA free agent signing in Knights history is due for a recall.

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

Though the Iowa Wild have been a steady force near the summit of the Central Division standings this season, their team is led mostly by pro hockey veterans, and few top prospects are really shining for this club. Iowa's three leading scorers are Cal O'Reilly (32 years old), Gerald Mayhew (26), and Kyle Rau (26), while top-tier prospects Luke Kunin (2nd) and Jordan Greenway (3rd) have essentially graduated to the NHL.

However, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (7th) has been perhaps the class of AHL netminding this season, and after an All-Star Classic appearance, has continued his torrid 2018-19 season. The 22-year-old has been dynamic behind a relatively thin defensive core, using his enhanced play-reading abilities and athleticism to carry the load for the club.

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

Not much has gone right for the Detroit Red Wings this season, but if anything has, it is the development of their top-tier prospects. Unlike most rebuilding teams, who will have their prospects marinate in the junior leagues for years, Detroit has shown a willingness to give guys like Filip Zadina (1st), Michael Rasmussen (3rd), and Filip Hronek (7th) a chance to prove themselves in the pro ranks at a young age.

It is an admirable development strategy, one counter to their traditional practice of slow-walking prospect development, and the results have been promising to this point, with Zadina's curious 2018-19 season leading the charge. After a very slow start, the 2018 draft's sixth-overall selection started funneling shots on goal and using his plus-plus foot speed to impact games. He has been a solid power-play option and a middle-sixer whose Griffins run specific sets so as to utilize his speed and deft hands.

A guy on the opposite spectrum is fellow forward Givani Smith (18th), whose lack of top-end skill has really shown this season. A former second-round pick taken, seemingly, for his fiery physical game, which has paid off on the Grand Rapids penalty kill, Smith (4-3-7) has struggled in any role besides that shorthanded deployment. He is an alright skater, but his usage on Grand Rapids' fourth-line (when he isn't being healthy scratched), is pretty indicative of his shortcomings.

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

After being a black ace for the Texas Stars' run to the Calder Cup Finals last season, goaltender Philippe Desrosiers has had a memorable stretch as of late. He spent considerable time in the ECHL to start the season, as he did last season, but has enjoyed a resurgence as a split-starter with fellow netminder Landon Bow in the Texas crease.

Desrosiers (not ranked) has appeared in nine out of Texas' last 12 games, and in that stretch, has posted a 2.43 GAA and .913 Sv%. He has been noticeably better at reading plays, and comes out to the lip of the crease to challenge opposing shooters more often.

Undrafted, free-agent signing Joel L'Esperance (not ranked) has lit up the AHL this season, to the tune of 29 goals. The big-bodied, versatile centerman has earned a recall to Dallas and has appeared in six NHL contests, just a year removed from signing an ATO out of Michigan Tech. Though L'Esperance (29-15-44) likely will never be a pure scorer at the NHL level, his offensive skills are underrated, and he can fill out a second power-play unit for a long time.

Another surefire NHLer, Roope Hintz (9th) is essentially finished with AHL hockey and has graduated to Dallas. It's a well-deserved promotion for perhaps the best pure skater in the organization, as his foot speed, stride length, and top speed are all well above league-average. The former second-round draft pick (9-13-22 in the AHL) has a wicked wrist shot and also quite a bit of chemistry with Denis Gurianov, which could help accelerate the development of the Russian.

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

After being squeezed out of ice time due to a resurgent Blackhawks team making a late-season playoff push, youthful defenseman Henri Jokiharju was assigned to Rockford and immediately became an impact player in an AHL team in a tight postseason race of their own. The former WHLer (2nd) has posted 12 points (1-11-12) in 13 games since being sent down.

Though he could stand to better take a hit, his skating, shot, defensive intelligence, and transitional game are at an NHL level at just 19 years old. He is probably better suited to get increased ice time with the IceHogs than to play on the third pair in Chicago, as the Blackhawks brass want the Finn to develop into an all-around defenseman, similar to (though with not as high a ceiling as) Duncan Keith.

Though his 15-game ride in the NHL was underwhelming, centerman Luke Johnson (19th) has taken major strides in his development this season. Mostly a two-way defensive forward with some creativity, Johnson (13-13-26) has become more assertive on offense and has earned himself some time on the Rockford second power play unit. His NHL game will be more of honing in on his best qualities, the Marcus Kruger-esque fourth-line checking role.

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

Though the Admirals lost one of their leading scorers, Emil Pettersson, in a trade with the Coyotes, they acquired forward Adam Helewka in the same deal, and Helewka (17th in Arizona's preseason prospect rankings) has been money for the thin Milwaukee forward core. Though he can be inconsistent and now joins a more stacked organization, the Canadian forward remains very intriguing.

With 11 points (4-7-11) in 10 games since joining the club, Helewka has been driving play at 5-on-5 with his creativity and hustle, though his skating is a major issue. He has a goal-scoring package to him, and he kills penalties for the Admirals, making him a very useful AHL player, even if he has a limited NHL-caliber ceiling.

Defenseman Alexandre Carrier (8th) continues to be an assist machine, and a forward's best friend at even strength and on the power play. As an undersized defenseman with middle-pair potential, his game will have to be one of that style, and his puck-moving skills and foot quickness fall in line with that. Luckily, that's just what Nashville asks of its defensemen in the Peter Laviolette system, and his playing style can help the NHL team in that regard.

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

With a team that has lost some top prospects over the course of the season, such as Kristian Vesalainen (1st), Jack Roslovic (2nd), Mason Appleton (3rd), and Sami Niku (4th), Michael Spacek (9th) has been leading the way. The 2015 fourth-rounder has zeroed in on becoming a more well-rounded player this season, and has focused less on shooting and more on playmaking.

For a guy whose shot is a weapon on the power play, his commitment to improving as a passer has shown so far in 2018-19, as he is on pace for a career high in points (8-26-34) by virtue of those 26 helpers. His hockey sense plays up his average skillset, and he probably is best suited for a depth shooting role. Though he has an undersized frame, he has been solid as a checking-line forward at times.

Though the speed and energy of JC Lipon (20th) can be infectious at times, he has been stagnant as a prospect and it is hard to make anything of him. After experiencing a nine-game NHL trial three seasons ago, he has not been back to the top league since, and at 25, he really can't do any more improving.

He lacks high-end skills to compliment his speed, and has embraced the role of a fighter on his team, which can often be a death sentence for a young player's future. Once a depth forward for the Canadian World Junior Championships team, Lipon (10-14-24) looks more like a career AHLer than anything at this stage in his development.

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

The top-rated European prospect from the 2017 draft, Klim Kostin has taken a pretty considerable step backwards in a 2018-19 season that has been anything but good to San Antonio. Kostin (2nd) has been a quiet player offensively, has taken a ton of penalties, and is not being nearly as assertive from a physical standpoint.

There is still a lot of promise in Kostin, who is seen by the Blues as an untouchable prospect, especially considering he is only 19 years old and this is already his second full AHL season. However, Kostin (7-11-18) will need to ramp us his intensity in the offensive zone and his willingness to shoot the puck to live up to the initial hype. He will never be an elite skater, but he can be a go-to power forward.

Jordan Kyrou (3rd) has been a bright spot on an otherwise bleak Rampage team this season, leading the club with 41 points (16-25-41) in as many games, carrying with him his offseason prowess from his junior days. However, Ville Husso (7th) has been worrisome and horrid this season.

Husso is supposed to be one of the best goaltending prospects in the sport, but was surpassed on the Rampage depth chart and outperformed by Jordan Binnington and Jared Coreau. Husso (6-14-0, 3.45, .881) has the raw tools, but has lost a step in terms of play-reading and competitiveness.

Dallas – System Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connor McDavid steals spotlight, Team Canada and Team USA U18 reports

David Burstyn — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:02:59 +0000

Connor McDavid is blowing the hype out of the water.

The 1997-born forward dominated competition that were mostly two years his senior. McDavid not only led the tournament in scoring, but was named MVP and Best Forward following his exceptional play.

McDavid helped lead Canada back to prominence with a gold medal. It was the first time the Americans didn’t capture gold in the past five tournaments.

Several players increased their draft stock with solid tournament performances. Here’s a look at some of the players from Team Canada and Team USA that left a lasting impression in Sochi, Russia.

Team Canada

Connor McDavid (C, 2015)

Named tournament MVP after producing 6-8-6-14 totals, setting a new Team Canada point total .. recorded back-to-back hat tricks in round robin play against Sweden and Switzerland .. electrifying talent with the puck as he was able to generate offense out of innocent-looking plays .. double under-ager used this tournament to put himself on the hockey world map .. the most heralded prospect to come out of the CHL since Sidney Crosby.

Morgan Klimchuk (RW, 2013)

Tied for 7^th in tournament scoring riding shotgun with McDavid on Team Canada’s first line .. highly involved in the offensive zone due to his ability to stay with plays and makes incredible use of his shot selection .. a permanent fixture for head coach Don Hay in PP situations where Klimchuk delivered the offensive goods.

Nicholas Baptiste (RW, 2013)

Recorded two key assists in the gold medal game, including the GWG .. was used in all situations and played a simple, yet effective game showcasing his above-average skill-set .. took advantage of his ice-time and played in all situations, including the dying minutes of both the gold medal and semi-final game to help Team Canada preserve its lead.

Laurent Dauphin (LW, 2013)

Showed up when it mattered most with his best performance in the gold-medal game where he scored a goal and an assist in the gold-medal final .. a fearless and hard-nosed competitor who would always fight his way into the slot or go hard to the net .. skating was exposed at times but made up for it with keen attention to detail and uncompromising work ethic.

Samuel Morin (D, 2013)

Cool, calm and collected, he logged a ton of minutes and was very practical in terms of his decision-making .. simplistic in his approach, he utilized his speed advantageously and kept forwards to the outside with his long reach .. played with a heightened intensity .. his draft stock soared after this tournament as he has great size and is only scratching the tip of his potential.

Dillon Heatherington (D, 2013)

Consummate two-way tower of power, he was always involved along the boards and winning loose puck battles .. showed a keen sense of anticipation and was never out of position .. staunch defensive efforts coupled with the ability to make a play with the puck made him highly-serviceable.

Philippe Desrosiers (G, 2013)

Only undefeated goalie in the entire tournament went 6-0 while only allowing six goals against all tournament .. recorded back-to-back shutouts, including final game of round robin against Sweden as well as the quarterfinal game against Czechs .. never fell behind in one game this tournament as he always played with the lead .. aggressive in his reads and handling the puck, plays a determined butterfly style and was very diligent with his rebounds .. upped his draft stock considerably with stand-out performance.

Team USA

Steven Santini (D, 2013)

Named the tournament’s best defenseman .. Santini’s no nonsense approach, coupled with his physical brand of play, kept the opposition not only in check but off the scoreboard .. one of the most physically-imposing defensemen at the tournament despite going pointless, he recorded the highest +/- for his team (+8) second-highest in the tournament.

Tommy Vannelli (D, 2013)

Hard to imagine that he only joined the Program a few weeks before the start of the U18 World Championships as he took over the PP duties and was on the ice for the dying stages of the gold-medal game looking for the equalizer .. calculated and ultra-poised on the line to make a play .. showed good defensive awareness to complement his maturing offensive game.

JT Compher (C, 2013)

Returned for his second consecutive U18 World Championship (won gold in 2012 as an under-ager), capturing a silver medal in 2013 for his efforts .. heart and soul player went to the wall each and every game with gutsy performances, including the shootout winner in semi-final game against Team Russia .. team captain averaged a point a game and was relied upon by Coach Granato to score goals and kill penalties .. a jack of all trades.

Tyler Motte (C, 2013)

Recorded the highest amount of goals for Team USA with five while providing clutch scoring .. a dual-threat due to his work ethic, Motte was always in motion and could make plays by quickly charging up ice .. great in transition, he would often catch the opposition off guard with timely stick raises.

Michael McCarron (RW, 2013)

Biggest player up front in the entire tournament came slightly unraveled against Team Sweden with undisciplined penalties but rebounded nicely in both the semi-final and gold-medal game .. imposed his will and was extremely effective down low when charging the net .. caught up ice on a handful of occasions as he struggled with the big ice surface but showed good patience and offensive prowess.