Rio Kaiser – McKeen's Hockey

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Draft-Eligible Players to Watch

Brock Otten — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:00:55 +0000

There is a general rule when watching first-time draft-eligible players at the World Junior Championships; a good performance should help raise a player’s stock, but a poor tournament should not considerably lower a player’s stock. Historically, this is a tough tournament for underagers to excel at. Not everyone is ready for the limelight like Connor Bedard was in 2023 when he set the new scoring record for a U18 player, or like Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi were when they led Finland to a gold medal in 2016, combining for 30 points. Auston Matthews had a single goal when he played for the US as a U18 player. Sergei Fedorov, Scott Niedermayer, David Legwand, Brian Leetch, and Sebastian Aho are among the many who were held pointless. Bottom line, there are more failures than success stories and it’s important to keep that in perspective when evaluating draft-eligible players at this tournament.

That said, we’d be lying to you if we said we weren’t keeping tabs on certain players to see how they perform. This year, there are several players to keep an eye on and we’ve got you covered with that list.

Matthew Schaefer - Defense - Canada

Our new top-ranked player for the 2025 NHL Draft (as per our recent update), there wasn’t a lot of skepticism about Schaefer making this team. However, there was no guarantee, given his age, that he would receive a prominent role. After the exhibition schedule, it certainly appears that Schaefer is going to receive significant ice time and responsibility for Canada. He was one of the team’s top defenders in the tune-up games and he is poised to have a big tournament. The Canadian scoring record for a U18 defender at this event is held by Ryan Ellis with seven and Schaefer could challenge that.

Porter Martone - Wing - Canada

The power winger is likely to be a bottom-six player on this Canadian team, perhaps even a victim of the numbers game in the press box. The key for him will be providing physicality without crossing the thin line that exists in IIHF hockey.

Jack Ivankovic - Goaltender - Canada

Unlikely to see significant time ahead of Carter George or Carson Bjarnason, but stranger things have happened at this tournament. Realistically, Ivankovic is here to gain experience for future events. If anything, this serves as a great break from the OHL for Ivankovic, who has struggled the last month for the reeling Brampton Steelheads.

James Hagens - Center - USA

Hagens enters the tournament as the first-line center for the United States as part of an all-Boston College unit with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. Their chemistry should really help them in a short tournament and all three could be right up near the top of the tournament scoring leaders. As we approach this tournament, Hagens is finding himself off the top spot on several current 2025 lists (including ours). A dominating performance here could go a long way to proving to scouts that he is still the top player this year.

Logan Hensler - Defense - USA

It hasn’t been an easy freshman year for Hensler at Wisconsin, who entered the year neck and neck with Schaefer as the top defender available, but now finds himself firmly behind the talented Canadian. However, Hensler has a chance to be a pretty versatile defender for the U.S. at this event and that could really help him gain a hold of the second-best defender title.

Vojtech Cihar - Wing - Czechia

There’s no guarantee that Cihar plays much of a role for a Czech team with serious medal aspirations, however, the talented winger has had a terrific year in the Czech league and is firmly on the draft radar as a top two-round candidate. Can he find a way to carve out a role?

Carlos Handel - Defense - Germany

Handel hasn’t had the kind of offensive impact, especially of late, as many had hoped he would when he joined Halifax of the QMJHL for his draft year. However, he’s still a pretty highly regarded prospect and he’s going to likely get top-four ice time for Germany at this event; an excellent opportunity for him to shine on the big stage.

David Lewandowski - Center - Germany

Another German standout who has crossed the pond to play in the CHL, Lewandowski has excelled for Saskatoon of the WHL. The big pivot plays a power game that should help him match up well against some of the other big powers in Germany’s division. Look for him to play a top-three-line role.

Rio Kaiser - Defense - Germany

A lesser-known prospect eligible for this year, Kaiser is still someone on the draft radar because of his size and intriguing athleticism on the backend. He hasn’t received a ton of ice time in the DEL this year, but he could play a prominent defensive role at this tournament and open up some eyes.

Bruno Osmanis - Wing - Latvia

Playing a good chunk of the year in the Allsvenskan (Swedish second-tier pro league), Osmanis has actually produced well playing against men in a limited role. This sets him up well for success at this event, where he’s going to be counted on by Latvia to be one of their go-to offensive players.

Luka Radivojevic - Defense - Slovakia

Our scouting team has been pretty divided on Radivojevic this year, so the fact that he should get decent ice time for Slovakia could help with that division. He’s been playing better lately after the move to Muskegon of the USHL, but how impactful can he be at the higher levels given his lack of size? We’re curious to see how he defends at this event, against the world’s best.

Jan Chovan - Center - Slovakia

Chovan came into the year with a fair amount of hype after a good U17 year and a strong Hlinka/Gretzky Cup performance, but his production in the Finnish U20 league has been underwhelming. The big pivot can play a heavy, two-way game and that should make him an ideal bottom-six player for the Slovaks. Would Chovan consider a post-WJC move to the OHL, where Sudbury owns his rights?

Tomas Pobezal - Center - Slovakia

Pobezal is on pace for a legendary season in the Slovak men’s league, right on par with the likes of Marian Hossa and Marian Gaborik. That has him right in the conversation as a top 50 selection this year. He may not be flashy, but Pobezal is gritty, intelligent, and versatile. Look for him to play a middle-six role for the Slovaks.

Victor Eklund - Wing - Sweden

Another potential top-five selection playing in this year’s tournament (along with Schaefer, Martone, and Hagens). There’s no guarantee that Eklund receives a lot of ice time for the Swedes, but he’s the kind of dynamic offensive player who can have an eventual impact in the tournament.

2025 NHL DRAFT: Early Season Favourites – Europe – Kaiser, Schäfer, Pul, Meier & Gesson

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:56:23 +0000

_{Rio Kaiser}

Time for another series at McKeen’s from our scouting staff. The 2025 NHL Draft season is well underway and our scouts have been busy soaking in the action around the globe. Analyzing early season play can be difficult; perhaps even a bit of a ruse. Hot starts aren’t always sustainable and cold starts are not always indicative. However, players can still catch our attention in positive ways and that’s what this series intends to highlight.

Chapin Landvogt - European Scout

For Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, there are a few players of note, with the majority hailing from Germany. We are aware that several of the most interesting German prospects for next summer’s draft are currently playing in North America, namely David Lewandowski, Max Bleicher, and Carlos Händel. That leaves forward Dustin Willhöft as the top German prospect playing in Germany and he’s having a very fine season indeed for a powerhouse DNL team that is helping him rack up over two points per game, but likely holding him back from the higher level of hockey he’s capable of. Thus, we’ll look to highlight him later this season, very much hoping he’ll be an underager at the WJC.

For now, we’d like to give a little look at the following players, several of whom you’ll probably be hearing about for the first time.

Rio Kaiser - D - Lausitzer Füchse (DEL2)

6’7”, 207 lbs. - 2006-10-07

Now, you’ll probably recall having seen his unique name on our site in the past. That shouldn’t be surprising seeing as how the 6’7” Kaiser was already at 6’5” by the time he was 15. He’s now in his initial draft year and already playing his second season of pro hockey. And the scouting community knows it. His team’s games have been visited by a slew of them.

The interest is fully understandable as Kaiser has proven to be exactly what you want in a defenseman his size, namely a shot-blocking, punishing physical specimen who, on top of that, gives you a tick more than you may expect, meaning he moves well for his size and makes quick, generally sound decisions with the puck.

He’s also looking more and more like a WJC candidate, having gained increased ice time in a recent 3-game U20 tilt against Finland, having started off as the number 7 defenseman. That changed quickly. Making things more impressive is that the Eisbären Berlin of the DEL, with whom he is contracted, hasn’t hesitated to call him up for Champions Hockey League action. He’s chugging along right now with 2 assists, 4 penalty minutes, and a +1 playing in Germany’s second-highest division.

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To begin, you want to know if a player this size is ready to throw his weight around - or perhaps even scare the living bejesus out of opposing forwards. Here (wearing 17 in white) we see Kaiser displaying just that in Champions Hockey League action.

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We also like to know what he’s like gathering pucks in his zone with a forechecker on his back. Here, we get a sample of some confidence under pressure, even if we’ll have to suffice with the puck getting out of the zone as opposed to a solid first pass.

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In conjunction with that, you like to see a young guy like this adjusting to the mistake scenarios that will be coming with youth. He does pretty well putting a band-aid on these hiccups.

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With the puck, we have no problem with his ability to take a few steps, get the puck on goal, and then safely reassume his spot as a blueliner. There may be more to come over time, but it’s good to see Kaiser staying within his abilities here.

What we’re really ecstatic about at this point is that Kaiser prides himself in blocking shots. He’s constantly doing it. And he often ends up with the puck afterwards, starting a movement in the other direction as well.

He’s been really good at it internationally, as seen in this clip.

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But he’s getting it done at the pro level as well, as seen in these two clips.

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We’re not worried at this point about offensive production. Perhaps the most telling is that the one-year-older Paul Mayer was the talk of the town at this juncture last season, but eventually saw his stock drop. Kaiser is now doing the same stuff even better to date and is both bigger and a more solid skater. Where will he be by next April?

Maxim Schäfer - LW - Eisbären Berlin Juniors (DNL)

6’3”, 183 lbs. - 2007-05-17

At this early junction in the season, you can view Maxim Schäfer as the “other Schaefer” in the 2025 NHL Draft. After all, he has been one of the bigger surprises on the DEL scene this season. After a decent Hlinka Gretzky Cup that saw him primarily on the first line, the 17-year-old (a May birthday) came back to Germany and forced himself into a loaded Eisbären DEL line-up, the reigning champ and host to a plethora of former AHLers and long-term national team players. He hasn’t been there for the points, but he’s gotten into 11 regular season games for the big club and another four Champions Hockey League games.

Simply put, despite a bit of hunch in his skating style, he’s shown the wherewithal to hang with the older guys, the skating to keep pace in Germany’s top circuit, and the aptitude to stick to what the coach, former NHLer Serge Aubin, asks of him. And absolutely nobody saw it coming!

At the junior level, he’s been the impact player we expected, collecting 23 points in 11 DNL games, which is the 4th best PPG pace in the league. Fortunately for Schäfer, Berlin and Mannheim are the two clubs the NHL scene is most familiar with, so if this surprise early season showing ends up as the beginning of a strong showing throughout the season, important people are going to know all about it.

Oh, and he was on the second line for the U20’s recent test game series against Finland. So, there’s that.

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We’re only going to provide some glimpses here, as this is about Schäfer’s ability to show flashes at a much higher level. Here, he sets himself up in the slot and gets a pretty doggone nice pass. He then shoots without hesitation. That’s not a given from a 17-year-old.

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Similar story here, where he knows to make his way to the net and then banks a rebound on goal without thinking about it. A solid reaction.

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Also endearing is his willingness to just be in front of the net and grind things out in the corner. Here he’s battling in the slot and then heads to the boards with a much older opponent, coming out on top physically and allowing his teammate to keep the play going in his team’s favor.

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We get an even better feel of things here. Schäfer is in the slot and tips a shot from the point. He then engages in the corner with a full body check to the opposing defenseman. His team continues then continues to maintain puck possession.

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At the international level, we’ve gotten to see some little plays like this, where he got his sole point at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer. The goal scorer was Dustin Willhöft, who we may see him playing with at the WJC.

Elias Pul - C/LW - Weiden Blue Devils (DEL2)

6’1, 165” - 2006-05-15

One of our faves since he popped up as a 16-year-old underager at the U18 Worlds (one that was disastrous for Germany, no less), Pul had an unspectacular draft year and dropped off the map a bit, even if the program still has big plans with him. But off the map he is no longer, seeing as how he has exploded on the scene in Germany’s DEL2, signing with league newbie Weiden and showing up as its top goal scorer (7) through 19 games.

We’ve come to know Pul as pretty strong on face-offs and very enthusiastic in his approach to everything on the ice. He's a quick thinker with the puck and he definitely has a good feel for how much time he has - or doesn't have - in any given situation. He’s been experiencing a lot of puck luck around the goal this season, but that’s an attest to the kind of anticipation he possesses. He sees things being created and knows where to plant himself if he’s not the guy with the puck doing the creating.

There’s energy in his game and he sure has been getting his nose dirty, showing no hesitation to move through traffic. All in all, it’s like he's realizing how good he can be and what impact he can make. Playing with a low-expectations newbie in the DEL2 has him blooming - and we’re here for the ride.

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Pul (#11) makes his way out of the neutral zone and right on through the defense for a nifty backhand goal as if he’s been doing it for years.

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Here we see him hustle to establish a 2-on-1 only to follow it with a quick, timely return pass for the assist.

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Despite losing the puck here, a teammate nicely defers it back to him and he goes on to look mighty slick deking out the goalie.

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And although subtle, Pul catches a pass here, quickly fakes a further pass, and slides it past the goalie with a backhander to end the play.

Remember the name because barring injury, you’ll be seeing this young man at the WJC.

Rafael Meier - LW - Kloten Flyers (SUI)

6’0”, 181 lbs. - 2005-05-10

He’s an overager, but don’t be surprised if you know nothing about him. Few do. After all, he missed all but 24 total games last season, spread out among three teams in three leagues, most of which were in Switzerland’s 2nd pro division, the SL, where he got into 10 games (1-3-4).

This season, the burly winger has not only made his NL club Kloten (which brought us David Reinbacher), but he’s currently 5th in scoring with 4-5-9 in games. He’s also sporting a nice little +5. This makes him the league’s top U20 player.

What’s really raised our eyebrows is how much of a gamer he is. His bow-legged movements stick out but don’t slow him down and certainly help him hold his own physically, allowing him to hang on to the puck much like a veteran. His offense has also been coming in different ways, allowing us to realize that he can roll with the punches and still be dangerous.

If the recent U20 test games are any indication, we can all count on seeing him wind up with a top 6 role at the upcoming WJC. He’s already shown up in 11 contests with the national team this year, putting up 5 points in the process.

So, what are we seeing from him this season?

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We’ve seen Meier (92) serve as a net-front presence for the national team and in NL action. Here’s some of his craftiness around the net.

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Here’s a blast from the left-wing side that cleanly beats the goaltender.

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Here he is making a little pass and then heading to the net for the rebound.

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We sure like seeing this kind of a wristing snipe.

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And the vision and wherewithal involved with this assist isn’t commonplace for 19-year-olds in a league like the NL.

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And when a player just walks to the net and tucks the biscuit past the goalie like this, you can see how come he’s getting power play time wherever he’s playing.

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We’ll conclude with this little clip that provides more insight into Meier’s (here #11) head-manning of the puck and the kind of board work that we’ve come to expect from him. He’s on pace for over 20 points as a pure rookie who missed a good chunk of his draft year. That doesn’t happen much in this league filled with former NHLers and AHLers.

Adrian Gesson - C/W - Red Bull Juniors (AlpsHL)

5’10”, 172 lbs. - 2006-06-13

We’d like to highlight Gesson as a bit of a lightweight who has had next to no recognition on the international scene. Granted, he’s seen precious little international ice, although his 6 points in five D1A-U18 games last spring weren’t shabby. And with a September 13th birthday, he’s going to be one of the most experienced overagers (and still 18) by next summer’s draft.

As one of many no-names on the Red Bull Juniors roster this fall, one lacking prospect star power, Gesson has gone about the business of establishing himself as a point-getting gamer. What we really like is that he’s always around the net and he’s always finding ways to make pucks in the slot a danger to the opponent. He’s shown a keen sense of finding corners and reading the offensive charges in order to be Johnny on the spot. And for an RB Junior squad that is definitely lacking firepower this fall, his 11 points in 18 games has him just one behind team leader - and two years older - Daniel Assavolyuk. His +3 is second on the team too.

We have no clue what this will all mean or look like next spring and heading into the summer but he’s a go-to player with some crafty traits.

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This attempt didn’t go in, but we’re seeing Gesson drive to the net like this regularly.

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Much like here, where this one did go in.

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And then when finding corners like he does here.

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And this is what we’re seeing around the goalmouth, where he’s so often been in the right place at the right time.

There’s no telling if he’s going to keep this up. We’ll be watching because such an innate gift of goalscoring is something that grows on trees.

GERMANY: 2024-25 Hockey season kicks off!

Chapin Landvogt — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:30:36 +0000

Veit Oswald of Germany during the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Photo: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN / COP 89 / MI0591

The 24-25 season has been starting up across pro and junior leagues throughout Germany this past week. And we’re as excited as can be about some of the stories that should be unfolding on the prospect scene throughout the season.

One of key stories we’ll be following this season revolves around the DEL’s most successful clubs the past decade, the Munich Red Bulls. Aside from opening up a new arena, which will be the most modern in all of Europe, the team was one of the least active on the international market despite acquiring recent AHLer Adam Brooks and former NHLer - and cog in the German ice hockey scene - Tobias Rieder, who’ll be making his DEL debut. The underlying story is that the team appears to ready to double down on its intentions of bringing along internally developed U23 players such as goaltender Simon Wolf (20), defensemen Sten Fischer (21) and Jakob Weber (20), and forwards Filip Varejcka (23), Quirin Bader, Nikolaus Heigl (both 21), and Veit Oswald (20), who was the DEL’s shooting star last winter.

Oswald also proved to be a bit of a surprise seeing as how season’s such as the one he had have often led to getting drafted. It didn’t, but it did ultimately lead to him being invited to Toronto’s summer development camp. With a set role in a team filled with renewed championship ambitions, it still needs to be denoted that Oswald won’t turn 21 until August of 2025, so his draft eligibility is not yet a thing of the past.

And when one considers how similar his season was last year to the final season JJ Peterka had for the same club before jumping to the AHL, there’s probably no-one in the organization who’ll be more excited about the new arena’s opening night festivities, which will feature a match-up against Peterka’s Buffalo Sabres.

This all said, we’ve viewed goaltender Wolf as one of the most hidden goaltending talents in Europe in recent years and as things are now, he has a very good shot of sliding in as the team’s back-up goaltender, a move his pro play in the AlpsHL to date has supported. Could he become the next Arno Tiefensee?

Draftees

Speaking of which, naturally piquing our interest is what the season has in store for draft picks Kevin Bicker (DET), Hakan Hänelt (WAS), Nikita Quapp (CAR), and yes, Tiefensee (DAL). Of the three, Tiefensee is by far the most established and backed his surprisingly effective overage draft season with a 19-13 record and 2.43 GAA as the verified number 1 in goal for Mannheim last season, kicking that latter stat up a bit 2.32 in 7 playoff games. His upward trend is thoroughly expected to continue this season and on the whole, he’s in an ideal developmental spot for a player taken with a later round selection.

As for Bicker, Hänelt, and Quapp, all three are in more unique situations. For Bicker, this is Year 2 of his (probably rushed) DEL career, which saw him gather all of 3 points in 41 games last season before a leg injury ended his season prematurely. Bicker’s game is built on speed and after showing off his wares adequately at the WJC, he’s entering this year not only with a more prominent role in store for Frankfurt, but also the responsibility of being a go-to driver for this winter’s WJC. Hänelt’s great success last season was in actually getting through the season without any major physical setbacks. Otherwise, his 3 points in 40 games were nothing to write home about and he would need to make a big splash this season to re-garner a slot on the radar of prospect viability, as he’s quickly become an afterthought.

The 6’4” Quapp, on the other hand, is entering his first true DEL season after going 11-14 with a 2.63 GAA and .920 SV% in the DEL2 last season, decent numbers for a team that is among the most financially restricted in that respective league. He’ll now back up Norwegian international Henrik Haukeland, where he’ll have little competition entering the season. Furthermore, his Düsseldorf squad is itself among the most financially strapped in the DEL, meaning they’ll be counting on him as no less than a solid number 2 in net, with fire hydrant style responsibility if things sour. That’s how the season may have to kick off after Haukeland was injured in the most recent test game and is doubtful to be back in time for the opener.

U20 players

Unlike its European counterparts in Sweden, Finland, and even the Czech Republic, the number of players aged 17-19 who see ice time in the DEL can usually be counted on one hand during any given season. This leaves us wondering about the fates of a handful of youngsters who have been signed by DEL teams, unknowing what’s on dock for them. About the most fascinating thing that could happen on this front is seeing Dustin Willhöft (MAN), David Lewandowski (DUS), and Mateu Späth (CLG) wiggle their way into DEL action this season, hopefully even a (semi-)regular shift. That’s the kind of thing talents such as these tend to do in the aforementioned countries, even at the age of 17.

But there are a few more we’ll be watching closely. Edwin Tropmann (COL) was a top prospect heading into last season, as was Paul Mayer (MAN). And while Mayer saw DEL action and then finished the season with a fairly regular shift in the DEL2 - showing little statwise at either station - Tropmann’s early-season injury threw him out of the loop almost completely. We recently saw him playing this summer for the nation’s U20 team and he looked like he was getting back to form as the team’s top defenseman. These two defensemen are on the outside looking in with their DEL clubs, but both are strong likelihoods at one of the other two levels of pro hockey and should each be locks for the WJC team.

So, what will come of 6’7”, 207-pound defenseman Rio Kaiser in his draft year? He already got into 20 pro games (3 at the DEL level) this past season while being “Okay” at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer. He’s already played both of Berlin’s Champions Hockey League games, so he’s getting a look. And that size just does not grow on trees. A very similar scenario has set in for 5’7” Alexander Vladelchtchikov with Bremerhaven, a defenseman who looked like he might be all the rage back when he was 14. A strong DNL season last year finally earned the 19-year-old a DEL contract with Bremerhaven, a team that has traditionally had problems bringing in younger German talent. But even among draft-eligible defenseman, he has overager Rayan Bettahar ahead of him, a player who lost a good portion of last season to a broken jaw when he was cheap-shotted after making a thundering open-ice check. He has been getting long looks in the preseason. Chances are that Vladelchtchikov will see time in the DEL2 instead, where he recently got his first pro league assist.

Two more players we had on our draft radar not too long ago were defender Lua Niehus of Frankfurt and forward Linus Brandl of Straubing, both now 19. Heading into last season, much was expected of each but Niehus got into injury trouble while Brandl found himself basically being a 13th forward for Landshut in the DEL2. Both were part of Germany’s WJC entry, but Brandl’s role was that of an extra forward while Niehus’ tournament was already over after one game. The skill levels each possess were never really in question until last season, when the expectations proved to clearly be overwhelming, with Brandl’s skating weaknesses proving to be damning while Niehus’ 5’9”, 160-pound body just wasn’t up to the physical task. Will both or either take the next step already this season? Barring injury, you’ll see both at the WJC.

Getting long in the prospect tooth is former Rögle prospect, forward Roman Kechter (20), who was wonderful for Nuremberg last season, collecting 17 points and +1 rating over 42 games. He also captained the U20 team after having captained the U18 team in 2022. We mention him here because he’s finding himself in a situation with a low-budget team where he’ll be fully expected to carry the load of a top 9 forward and see situational ice time in what could be a lot of hard scenarios. In fact, there’s likely not a 20-year-old in the league who’ll have a more concrete regular shift and responsibility than Kechter. And it’ll bear watching.

What we can also say is that particularly Düsseldorf, Iserlohn, and Nuremberg look bound to make use of plenty of U23 players, with a good handful being under 20. Particularly forwards Lenny Boos (17) in Düsseldorf, Max Brunner (18) in Iserlohn, and defenseman Max Merkl (18) are players who bring above-average skill sets to the table (by German standards) and each was a cog in seeing the U18 team gain promotion this past spring. With Boos being the son of a long-time DEL pro, Brunner having spent the past two seasons in Sweden, and Merkl already the author of 15 DEL appearances in his young career, it’s not unreasonable to think each will see some DEL action this season. A breakthrough by any could earn draft consideration.

UFAs to be?

The league will also feature a number of young players we feel continue to be of interest to NHL teams under the right circumstances. Defenseman Colin Ugbekile (22) and Leon Hüttl (23) top that list on the defensive front. Each has established himself as an up-n-comer in the national team and each is an absolute cog on his team’s blueline, contributing value in all three zones. Ugbekile even became a power play specialist last season, putting up 12 goals and 33 points. Cologne’s goaltender, Tobias Ancicka (23), finally established himself as a DEL starter last season, going 23-15 with a 2.51 GAA. After spending part of his junior years in Finland, this son of a former German national team member (of Czech descent) is finally turning promise into results and will play for a Sharks team that has as much pressure as anyone to perform this season, seeing as how it has the best attendance in Europe and few championships to show for it.

His teammate Justin Schütz (24), a former draft pick of the Florida Panthers, put up a league-leading 30 goals in 55 games last season. Snubbed from the national team before the Men’s WC, it’s safe to say that he’ll be looking to verify last season’s results with a renewed push towards an NHL contract. At the same time, there’s probably not a German player in the league who has the wheels, hockey IQ, and hands of Wojciech Stachowiak, a 25-year-old forward who saw his stats drop a wee bit in DEL play last season, but then went 2-7-9 in 8 WC games in the Czech Republic. It’s difficult imagining a player with his drive and overall package not getting a look in North America at some point. There’s simply too much hustle there.

It wasn’t too long ago that we spilled some words in favor of now 22-year-old forwards Alexander Blank, Danjo Leonhardt, and former OHLer Josh Samanski. All three will be taking on even bigger roles for their teams, with Blank fighting relegation from the get-go while the latter two will be aiming for a top 4 spot in the league with their Straubing Tigers. And while Blank continues to see his game grow into that of a playmaker, there were times last year where we found ourselves thinking that it won’t be long until Leonhardt’s 13 goals turn into 25. He’s certainly got the surrounding cast for it this year. Neither is as entrenched in their team’s plans as Samanski is, who is on the fast track to a more stable spot in the national team. The 6’6” forwards skates like he’s 5 inches shorter and broke through last season with 12 goals and 33 points. It’s going to be hard for the NHL not to take notice if 40+ points and WC appearance ends up being in the cards for him this season.

Sticking with the Tigers, goaltender Florian Bugl (6’1”, 187 pounds) has really been nothing short of spectacular the past few seasons. He’s now 22 and although long thought to be ahead of Dallas’ Arno Tiefensee, hasn’t been drafted. But he’s put up 17-8 and then 15-8 records the past two seasons and even got into 3 of his team’s 6 playoff games last season. He once again has a veteran North American goaltender to share duties with, but with his Straubing Tigers now in the Champions Hockey League and fully expected to be a top 4 club in the DEL again, there’s no reason to believe he’ll see fewer starts than he has to date as “spreading the wealth” will be part of the goaltending ice time plan.

DEL2

As wonderful as it is to theorize about possible draftees getting their feet wet in the DEL, it’s the second tier DEL2 that plays a much more significant role for the development of draftable youngsters. There’s usually more ice time to go around and teams are regularly looking for cheaper options for lower line roles. In addition, there’s a U23 role in place that downright requires the team to suit up a certain number of players 22 or younger for every game. We even expect many of the names listed above to more likely find themselves taking shifts here rather than the DEL as just about every DEL team has an affiliate in the lower ranks to whom they send their most promising youngsters.

The most prominent parking stations are Munich’s affiliate Kaufbeuren and Berlin’s affiliate Lausitz. These teams usually have some of the smaller league budgets, but see their rosters pepped up with youngsters the DEL teams acquire or bring up through their own junior programs. This year, we’ll be keeping a close eye on Kaufbeuren samples Jakob Peukert (D/18), Fabian Nifosi (D/20), Leon Sivic (F/20), and Jonas Fischer (F/19). The same is true for Lausitz with respect to the aforementioned Kaiser (D/17), Marlon Braun (D/20), Nils Elten (D/21), and Filip Ziesche (F/19). If we’re lucky, Linus Vieillard (G/18) will already be up to the task, as we’d like nothing more than to see him force his way into WJC consideration. He’s been slyly good wherever he’s played to date.

While at it, Nico Pertuch (19) is looking like the frontrunner for the spot as Germany’s #1 at the WJC and he spent all of last season as the back-up in Ravensburg. That role - including more ice time - is all but certain this season, so he’ll be a name to follow closely. We’ve liked him since he was 17, but the 6’2”, 212-pounder really took some major steps last season and shows some impressive mental fortitude.

As far as players are concerned who were already in scout’s notebooks this past summer and who could certainly gain overage drafting consideration with a strong winter are Kassel’s Clemens Sager and Weiden’s Elias Pul, both forwards. A north/south player with some moxy, Sager has a penchant for being very involved in board work while smart enough to compliment skill players of any sort. His team is a heavy favorite for the DEL2 championship and with that, promotion to the DEL. Will he get the ice time we’d hope for on such a loaded squad? That’s something we won’t really need to be asking with respect to league newbie Weiden, which has plucked the solid two-way Pul from the Red Bull Juniors program and looks ready to force-feed him with DEL2 minutes. He’ll need to adjust to bigger and better opponents, but if the talent and overall wherewithal we’ve come to know from him truly speak of his package, then he could be turning a lot of heads by season’s end.

DNL

At the nation’s top junior level, Landshut was the surprise victor last spring, coming back from being down 2-0 in the series against powerhouse Berlin to come out on top with a 3-2 Best-of-Five victory, much of that success on the backs of forwards Tobias Schwarz and Simon Seidl. The two not only lead the way offensively throughout the playoffs, but also got into several dozen DEL2 games as well as a starring role in the D1A U18 Worlds, where Germany went 5-0 in gaining promotion back into the elite group. With DEL contracts in their pockets (Straubing), the sky's the limit for the duo, which is expected to spend most the season back in the DEL2, but should be about a lock for Germany at the WJC.

This DNL season will nonetheless be one that is all about redemption for traditional powerhouse Mannheim, a program that will host one of the biggest storylines coming out of Germany, a young man we’ve been talking about for a bit now named Max Penkin. We’re not going to hold back in saying that he’s the most dynamic forward prospect coming out of Germany since Tim Stützle. That’s the trajectory at this point. Now, Mannheim started slowly out of the gates last season and found itself on the outside looking in once the initial qualification round concluded after just 14 games, placing the team in a B group that would battle to retain the class and thus, out of championship contention.

This hiccup surely will be a thing of the past and many of the reasons could be seen at the Eli Palfreyman Memorial Invitational in Canada at the conclusion of August. There, fans were able to see Penkin’s exploits. To clarify, Penkin is a 15-year-old who is first eligible for the 2027 draft. He dominated the U17 league last season and is set to be a go-to figure already this year, maybe even getting a look at the pro level. He is that intriguing and he’s actually so young that he had to gain “Exceptional Status” to be permitted to play at the DNL level already this season.

But fans at the tournament above were also able to see several other players who’ll look to be draft topics next summer, namely crafty tiny tot Dustin Willhöft, defenseman Nick Mahler, and dynamic twins Gustavs and Rihards Griva, originally from Latvia. We’re also excited to see what 18-year old overager Nikita Zhvanov (Tschwanow) will be able to do after a shortened 23-24 season saw him put up 28 points in 33 games and another 9 (and +9) in 18 games for 3rd league pro team Heilbronn.

Along with Mannheim, the usual suspects are expected to throw their hats into the championship picture, namely Berlin and Cologne. And with Germany back with the big boys at the U18 level, the DNL will continue to hold great importance as the provider of what will likely be over 50% of the team come next April. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup this past summer once again saw Germany overwhelmed at times, but a 2-1 victory over Finland was huge for the program and a placement game loss to Switzerland saw a wonderful effort by Germany tossed down the tubes with a late breakdown.

With that in mind, some of the most exciting DNL names to follow this year are those of Maxim Schäfer, Elias Schneider, Tom Fitschen, Moritz Kretschmar (all Berlin), Tobin Brandt, Noah and Marco Münzenberger (both roughly 6’4” and no confirmed relation to Edmonton prospect Luca), Matthias Pape, Max Ziergiebel (all Cologne), Niclas Focks, Konstantin Redinger, Tim Schütz (all Krefeld), Peukert (Kaufbeuren), and Fabio & Timo Kose (Regensburg).

Following the DNL this year will be about focussing on what talent forces its way onto the U18 roster. If any come into WJC consideration, then we’re talking about an exception of sorts as Coach Abstreiter rarely strays from his eldest options, most of whom have pro or CHL experience under their belts.

But to be clear, we’re here to see just how far Penkin can take his prospect star at this early stage in his career. He’s got 3 points in the loaded team’s first 5 games.

NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS: 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Preview – Players to Watch

Brock Otten — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:19:17 +0000

The first scouting event of the new draft season is right around the corner, and everyone is rightfully excited. On July 31st, action gets under way at the 2023 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in Breclav and Trencin, with Canada looking to repeat as Champions. Last year, Canada captured gold on the back of strong play by Cal Ritchie, Brayden Yager, and Cam Allen, and they enter this year’s tournament as the favourites again. Once again, Russia will not be participating due to the ongoing war with Ukraine, and Germany will be taking their usual spot.

Let’s go over some of the players to watch for each team.

Group A

Czechia

Adam Jecho - Forward

Amazingly, this will be Jecho’s third Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. He’s still looking for his first goal at the event but should definitely earn it this year as one of the top forwards in the tournament. A potential lottery pick, he has recently signed on with Edmonton of the WHL for this year. The big winger is dynamite in transition with his size and speed.

Adam Jiricek - Defense

The younger brother of top Columbus prospect David Jiricek, Adam plays a similar kind of game. He can have a real positive impact on the game offensively but is still finding his footing as an elite two-way player. He is another potential lottery selection on this roster.

David Svozil - Defense

Another brother of a solid NHL defense prospect, David is the sibling of Stanislav. He too is a smooth skating puck mover, but he has a larger frame than his brother giving him a bit better defensive upside.

Tomas Galvas - Defense

Intelligent, two-way defender with high end skating ability. Galvas has already seen action in the Czech Extraliga. There will be questions about his high-end upside, but this is going to be a big tournament for him to prove that he belongs in the first round conversation like his teammates.

Jakub Fibigr - Defense

If you hadn’t guessed, the defense should be the strong suit of this Czech team with four potential high selections coming into the season. Fibigr is also a smooth skating defender, but one with the potential to quarterback the powerplay and put up points.

Adam Benak (2025) - Forward

One of the few 2007 born players at the event this year, Benak is an incredibly talented center who dazzled at the U17’s last year as an underager, even pulling off “The Michigan.” His role on this Czech squad could be more support oriented, but he’s a potential top prospect for 2025.

Germany

Manuel Schams - Defense

The likely captain of this Germany squad, Schams has been relied upon to be the top defender in the ‘05 age group thus far. A two-way defender and possibly Germany’s best hope to have a 2024 draft selection, look for him to eat heavy minutes.

Rio Kaiser (2025) - Defense

Kaiser is a raw defender with great upside thanks to his massive 6’7 frame. He is a late born 2006, so he’s not NHL draft eligible until 2025. Recently selected by Peterborough in the Import Draft, he will stay in Germany this year.

David Lewandowski (2025) - Forward

The 2007 age group is a much better one for Germany with several players showing the potential to be potential NHL draft selections. Lewandowski is a rangy pivot with strong puck protection skill, and he could be the team’s first line center despite being an underager.

Gustavs Griva (2025) - Forward

Another 2007 born player on the roster who will likely play a large role. Latvian born, but German raised winger who also has a twin on the team (Richards). While both are great players, Gustavs is the likely higher touted for now.

Carlos Handel (2025) - Defense

Yes, another high end 2007. Handel could be one of the top defenders on this German team as an underager. He’s going to be playing this year in Sweden with the Malmo program. There is high hope that he can turn into a Seider/Reinbacher type of prospect in the future.

Sweden

Alexander Zetterberg - Forward

No, he is not the son of former Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg, but there is apparently some distant relation between the two. What is certain is that Zetterberg enters the year as the top 2006 born Swedish player eligible for the draft (there are other strong late 2005’s). As such, the diminutive, but skilled and feisty center will be counted upon to be an offensive leader for this Swedish team.

Alfons Freij - Defense

An aggressive offensive defender with quick feet, Freij has the potential to be the first Swedish defender selected in 2024. He is ultra confident with the puck on his stick, and he was good for Sweden in a depth role at last year’s World Junior A Challenge, an event containing some pretty solid older prospects.

Anton Olsson - Defense

Not to be confused with the Nashville stay at home defender of the same name. This Anton Olsson is much more offensively oriented and fleet of foot. He should help anchor the blueline with Freij, as he did at last year’s U17’s.

Lucas Pettersson - Forward

Pettersson is an intelligent two-way center who has great playmaking chops. He was the second leading U17 scorer in the Swedish J20 league last year behind Zetterberg and he should form a great 1/2 punch down the middle for Sweden.

Karl Sterner - Forward

Lately there seems to be a big Swedish forward with intriguing athletic potential available every year at the draft. This year, that player appears to be Sterner. He shows an ability to put defenders on his back and control the wall. The skill, size, and skating combination will be very interesting to watch this year.

Linus Eriksson - Forward

Don’t let the limited production at last year’s U17’s fool you, Eriksson was one of Sweden’s top players at the event. He uses his strong skating ability to impact the game in all three zones and has the creativity to be a topflight playmaker. Eriksson’s upside is very high, and he will be one to watch at this tournament and throughout this season.

Victor Eklund (2025) - Forward

A large contingent of the top end forwards on this Swedish team are late birthdays. Victor is the younger brother of top San Jose Sharks prospect William Eklund. He plays the game in a similar way, as a slippery and creative playmaker. However, he did struggle at the J20 level last year and at the U17’s.

Viggo Nordlund (2025) - Forward

Kind of a similar player to Zetterberg…and yes, he is also a late born 2006 player. Nordlund was very noticeable at last year’s U17’s due to his combination of vision, passing ability, and strong agility. He can really keep the puck on a string, and he should play a top six role at this event.

Love Harenstam (2025) - Goaltender

In contention to be the best 2007 born goaltender on the planet, there is no guarantee that Harenstam sees considerable action given that he is an underager. However, he is a player to watch based on his immense upside as the next great Swedish netminder…and of course his amazing name.

United States

Trevor Connelly - Forward

One of the key figures on this U.S. team, Connelly was already an impact player in the USHL last year as a 16-year-old for Tri-City. He brings size, speed, and skill and is a lethal scorer from inside the dots. He also competes hard away from the puck and could ultimately be a first round pick next June.

Mac Swanson - Forward

Not the biggest forward, but Swanson is incredibly skilled. He was a near point per game player in the USHL as a 16-year-old for Fargo and was one of the best players in last year’s Clark Cup playoffs. His playmaking ability and vision are near elite. This tournament will be a big test for him. Players at his size (5’7) need to produce to be drafted.

AJ Spellacy - Forward

A big power forward playing for the Windsor Spitfires who was having a terrific rookie year prior to a season ending knee injury. He was a surprise addition to camp given his injury timeline but ended up making the team. He brings a ton of physicality and energy to the ice and can be a difference maker in transition.

Aidan Park - Forward

One of a few California kids on this roster, Park is a Shattuck St. Mary’s standout who is committed to the University of Michigan in the future. He’s an intelligent two-way forward with good skill and speed who didn’t look out of place in limited USHL action last year.

William Zellers - Forward

Another Shattucks St. Mary’s player on the roster, Zellers is a high IQ support winger who should play on the first two lines of this U.S. team. The Boston University commit is also a member of the Green Bay Gamblers.

Owen Keefe - Defense

Expect Keefe to be a defensive anchor for the U.S. at this event. He’s got a very polished and mature defensive game already thanks to strong mobility, reach, and a high IQ. The Muskegon (USHL) defender is a Boston University commit.

Will Felicio - Defense

Felicio is an undersized, but talented offensive defender who can run the powerplay and move the puck. He was a member of the USHL All Rookie team last year after a great season with Madison. Look for Felicio to run a potentially dangerous powerplay at this event.

Thatcher Bernstein - Goaltender

One of the top goalies in the prep school scene last year as a 16-year-old, Bernstein appears to have the inside edge to be the starting netminder for this U.S. team. He has the size that NHL teams are looking for and he’ll be playing for Dubuque this year in the USHL.

Ryker Lee (2025) - Forward

Lee is yet another Shattuck St. Mary’s player and is perhaps the only one guaranteed to return to the program this year as a late born 2006. He is a highly creative and skilled offensive player who could play a top six role on this team despite some size/strength deficits.

Group B

Canada

Sam Dickinson - Defense

Dickinson, a London Knights defender, is a potential top ten selection this year as a dominant two-way player. He controls the play with his combination of length and mobility, and he can have a profound impact on the transition game. Look for him to be one of the better defensemen at the event.

Henry Mews - Defense

Another potential top ten selection on the blueline out of the OHL, Mews is a different player than Dickinson, but he is equally effective and intriguing as a prospect. He oozes offensive potential thanks to his high-end vision and touch. He will also be an integral part of this Canadian Hlinka team.

Zayne Parekh - Defense

Look for Parekh to quarterback to the top Canadian powerplay after a record-breaking season in the OHL. His 21 goals set a new record for scoring by a U17 defender in the OHL. He’s a hybrid style defender with a high skill level and the skating ability to play aggressively with the puck.

Berkly Catton - Forward

The former first overall pick in the WHL by Spokane, Catton will be one of the main forwards to keep an eye on at this event. He is a potential top five selection thanks to the pivot’s complete game and skill level. He can do it all on the ice.

Cayden Lindstrom - Forward

Lindstrom is a huge, but lanky forward who is still learning how to unlock his physical potential. He can be an absolute force on net drives already and flashes high end skill in transition. Imagine how good he’ll be once he fills out his frame? Expect him to be a draft riser over the course of the year and it could start with a strong performance here.

Maxim Masse - Forward

One of the few players from the QMJHL on the roster this year, Masse was the CHL Rookie of the Year last season. Masse is a skilled scoring winger who also has good size and plays hard away from the puck. The Hlinka/Gretzky offers him an opportunity to show scouts that he has worked hard to improve his skating.

Michael Misa (2025) - Forward

The lone 2007 born player on this Canadian roster, Misa was granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada to enter the OHL early. He did not disappoint in his rookie year, albeit in the face of some injuries. He is a dynamic force when attacking with pace because of his ability to blend speed and skill. His shot is insanely good too. Look for him to be among the team’s offensive leaders despite his age.

Porter Martone (2025) - Forward

Expectations for Martone at this event will be quite high after he was great for Canada in a depth role at the U18’s as an underager. The late born 2006 winger plays a power game and has the size and skill to dominate down low.

Malcolm Spence (2025) - Forward

Another late 2006 born forward on this roster who could play a large role, Spence is an athletic beast. His rookie year with Erie had its ups and downs, but he did enough to flash his high-end offensive upside thanks to his combination of size and skill. Of all the players on this Canadian roster, Spence is the one that I’m most intrigued to see improvement from.

Gabriel D’Aigle (2025) - Goaltender

The last time we saw D’Aigle, he was thrust into action in the medal round for Canada at the U18’s despite being only 16. While he wasn’t fantastic, he held his own under the circumstances and should be one of the best goalies at this event. He’s not NHL draft eligible until 2025 with a late November birthday.

Finland

*of note, top Finnish ‘06’s Aron Kiviharju and Konsta Helenius will compete with Finland in the upcoming U20 showcase in Plymouth instead of the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup.

Veeti Vaisanen - Defense

There is some thought out there that Vaisanen has a chance to push ahead of Kiviharju as the top Finnish defender available this year. With Kiviharju out of the event, he will get his chance to shine. He’s a highly mobile two-way defender who will need to show that his offensive capabilities are high end.

Niilopekka Muhonen - Defense

Muhonen is a big defender who has already been playing at the U18 level for a year now, suiting up at last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky and this year’s U18’s. He’s already very polished in the defensive end and has great upside as a shutdown type. Does he have the upside to match? He could easily be a first-round pick next June if he shows that.

Joona Saarelainen - Forward

Likely to be the first line center and primary play driver for this Finnish entry, Saarelainen is a skilled, but undersized pivot. He played at this tournament last year as an underager and will try to use that experience to help Finland overcome the loss of their two best players.

Roope Vesterinen - Forward

Another undersized, but skilled forward, Vesterinen was lethal at last year’s U17’s, helping Finland take bronze. He thinks the game at a high level and has the high-end skating ability to beat defenders one on one.

Emil Hemming - Forward

A nice contrast to the undersized, high skill forwards in the age group for Finland, Hemming is a skilled power winger who excels driving the middle. The question for Finland is, do they load up a first line with their three top forwards or try to balance out the roster?

Petteri Rimpinen - Goaltender

Rimpinen was on Finland’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup squad last year as an underager and returns this year as the starter. He may not have the elite size scouts are looking for (currently listed at 6’0), but he does have the athleticism. He was terrific in the Finnish junior leagues last year and has a chance to be the tournament’s best goaltender.

Switzerland

Daniil Ustinkov - Defense

Ustinkov is a player that many scouts will have their eyes on at this tournament, to see how he can lead a strong ‘06 group for Switzerland. He’s a dynamic offensive defender who looks to consistently push pace and who looks poised running the point of the powerplay. He already has a ton of experience at this U18 level internationally too.

Jamiro Reber - Forward

Heading into the tournament, Reber is the other top talent for Switzerland. He is slick and skilled, making him difficult to contain as he pushes into the offensive zone with speed. He’s leaving Switzerland to play in Sweden this year as part of the HV71 program.

Leon Muggli - Defense

Muggli has long been the captain of this strong ‘06 group and he will help anchor the defense along with Ustinkov and Gian Meier. He doesn’t have the flash of Ustinkov, but he is a hyper intelligent blueliner who excels in the defensive end.

Gian Meier - Defense

A big right shot defender, Meier is going to get a ton of ice time at this tournament as part of a strong defensive group for the Swiss. A raw player still trying to find his game, it will be interesting to track his development this year.

Yannik Ponzetto - Forward

Already signed on to play with the Halifax Mooseheads this season, Ponzetto is another integral piece of the forward group along with Reber. The big winger plays a power game, which should blend well with Reber’s skill on the top unit.

Christian Kirsch - Goaltender

Likely to be the starting netminder for the Swiss, Kirsch is a hyper athletic netminder with size. We saw him struggle at the U18’s this year as an underager, but he’s fared much better against his own age group. He has a commitment to UMass and is a draft pick of the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL).

Slovakia

Ondrej Maruna - Forward

Drafted by Charlottetown in the Import draft this year, there is belief that he will end up in the QMJHL this year. He’s a versatile two-way forward with size who may just be the top NHL draft prospect of this 2024 Slovak group. He played at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup as an underager last year too.

Theo Kiss - Forward

A UMass commit who has been playing with Mount St. Charles Academy the last few seasons, Kiss will likely play with Des Moines of the USHL this year. He is a very creative and skilled offensive player and it will be interesting to see what he can do on a larger stage.

Tomas Pobezal (2025) - Forward

The only true star of this 2006 Slovak group, Pobezal has already been on the international stage for a few years now. He played at both last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and this year’s U18’s. Thanks to a late birthday, he’s not draft eligible until 2025. This will be a big event to prove that he belongs in the conversation with some of the other top Slovaks who have dominated the tournament recently.

Luka Radivojevič (2025) - Defense

The son of former OHL’er and NHL’er Branko Radivojevič, Luka is quite different from his father. He’s a smooth skating, puck moving defender without the elite size his father had. He has been playing in Sweden the last two years and is part of a much stronger 2007 group for the Slovaks.

Tobias Tomik (2026) - Forward

Likely the youngest player at this entire event, Tomik is a December born 2007. He’s already been playing a level up Internationally for the Slovaks and now faces his next challenge as part of the U18 group. He is a pure shooter with high end goal scoring potential.