Robert Orr – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: BELL – Scout’s Notebook – Midseason Stock Watch on 10 Prospects

Josh Bell — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 12:28:09 +0000

HV71s Oscar Fisker Molgaard
Photo: Carl Sandin / BILDBYRÅN /

We’re past the midpoint of the 2023-24 hockey season, with eyes already starting to look towards playoffs or in the case of some NHL teams - the NHL Draft.

Reaching this point in the campaign provides an excellent sample size to analyze which players are meeting expectations or which aren’t taking the steps forward that were hoped. There’s enough hockey left to be played that players' trajectories can still shift, but in all likelihood, the path they’re on at this point is how their season will be remembered.

I looked at prospects across the globe and highlighted 10 that have either raised their stock so far this season or have seen their stock fall. By no means is this a comprehensive list, but simply 10 that have stood out to me enough versus pre-season expectations - positively or negatively.

Stock Down: Xavier Bourgault, Bakersfield Condors, AHL (Edmonton Oilers)

Xavier Bourgault entered the AHL last season as a rookie and truly impressed, fitting in extremely well with the Bakersfield Condors. The Edmonton Oilers top prospect put up respectable numbers in his first year and all signs pointed to 2024-25 being another step in the right direction. That hasn’t been the case. Bourgault is on pace to fall below his stat totals in goals and assists this season, despite looking to play 10 extra games.

Drafted 22nd overall in 2021, there was hope from the Oilers that he would become an offensive threat in the NHL. Looking at where his points are coming from right now though, he may fall into a special-teams role in the long term. His ability to produce (especially to score) at even strength has taken a step backward if anything. There’s still potential here but right now, Bourgault is looking like a bottom-six, complementary player.

Stock Up: Oscar Fisker Molgaard, HV71, SHL (Seattle Kraken)

In his sophomore season in the SHL, Oscar Fisker Molgaard seems to be getting more comfortable with every game played. And it’s starting to show. The 52nd selection of the Seattle Kraken in the 2023 NHL Draft, Fisker Molgaard returned to HV71 this season and has seen his time on ice slowly increase throughout. After helping Team Denmark to a World Juniors (D1A) Bronze Medal, he’s back in the SHL and on fire, with points in 10 of his last 14 games.

To make this even more impressive, he’s doing it playing as a centre. Most 18-year-olds in the SHL would be slid to the wing to play with a more veteran pivot. Not Fisker Molgaard, whose intelligence and improving playmaking have been making him look like a potential middle-six centreman in the NHL. What’s more impressive is that he’s likely to continue to get better. He currently weighs in at 168 pounds. How will he play with another 10-15 pounds? Could this be a potential 2C? This is very much a player to continue to keep an eye on as he develops.

Stock Up: Nikita Grebyonkin, Metallurg Magnitogors, KHL (Toronto Maple Leafs)

He may not have heard his name until 135th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, but Nikita Grebyonkin is not looking like a fifth-round pick right now. After being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Russian forward returned to play in the KHL, leading all rookies in points (26) and earning the honour of the league’s Best Rookie Award. Now in his sophomore season, he’s looking even stronger, getting regular minutes on the power play and playing a more complete game.

The competitiveness that the young forward brings stands out in both ends of the ice. His shot looks better, in both his power and his accuracy, which has led to him being on pace to double his goal total from a year ago. This is all while playing LESS on average this season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk than he did a year ago with Amur Khabarovsk. Grebyonkin will be an interesting name to keep an eye on in the coming months, as his KHL deal is over at the end of this season. Will the Maple Leafs be able to bring him to North America?

Stock Down: Noel Gunler, Karpat, Liiga (Carolina Hurricanes)

It wasn’t that long ago that public discussions about Noel Gunler were around whether or not he should be ranked in the top 10 of the 2020 NHL Draft. He ended up hearing his name called 41st by the Carolina Hurricanes, sliding out of the first round likely due to some off-ice issues that were discussed. Either way, the thought was maybe they got a steal. Since being drafted though, Gunler hasn’t developed into that player that many hoped. He did even head overseas to play in the AHL for the 2022-23 season but ultimately headed back to Europe this season.

Now playing in the Liiga with Karpat (he was in the SHL before his year with the Chicago Wolves), Gunler hasn’t been able to settle in, collecting just eight points in 24 games, including five goals. Not great for a player who is known for his goal-scoring. Now adding to this, Gunler hasn’t played since January 10th, due to a transfer dispute between the Malmo Redhawks and Karpat. So it seems unlikely that he’ll be able to bounce back at this point. Gunler’s future is in question at this point, and whether he’s still on a path to being an NHLer is up for debate.

Stock Up: Niko Huuhtanen, Jukurit, Liiga (Tampa Bay Lightning)

When you get into the later rounds of the NHL Draft, you’re really just crossing your fingers that you’re selecting a future NHLer. You bet on a trait or traits that your scouting department has put high value on (skill, physicality, size, etc.), and hope for the best. In the 2021 NHL Draft, with the final selection, the Tampa Bay Lighting were likely doing just that when they called Niko Huuhtanen’s name 224th overall. The next season, he led the WHL in goals for a rookie (37). In 2022-23? He led the Liiga in goals AND points from a rookie, earning Rookie of the Year honours. And now - he’s looking even better.

The Finn has truly taken steps forward in each season, and that has continued this year in the Liiga with Jukurit. He’s on pace to nearly double his output from his rookie year, largely thanks to his tremendous improvement in his playmaking. He’s very much a goal scorer, but his vision and ability to distribute the puck have stood out this season. With his contract up at the end of the season, perhaps a move to the AHL is next for Huuhtanen.

Stock Down: Danila Klimovich, Abbotsford Canucks, AHL (Vancouver Canucks)

The Vancouver Canucks made a fairly bold choice drafting Danila Klimovich 41st overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. After all, it’s not often that a player gets drafted playing in Belarus. But the young prospect had done enough to show the Canucks’ brass that he was their guy. He immediately came overseas for the 2021-22 season and then took a noticeable step forward in 2022-23. All signs were positive.

This season though, has been a different story. He’s been in and out of the lineup, often scratched but there have also been some injuries along the way. His point totals are way down, across the board with just four points in 17 games, a long stretch from the 29 last season or even the 18 the year prior. There are aspects of his game to love, like his pace and creativity, but the rest of his game is falling behind. If he’s going to become an NHL regular, he’ll need to show some positive steps soon.

Stock Up: Robert Orr, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL (Carolina Hurricanes)

When the Carolina Hurricanes drafted the next Bobby Orr 136th overall in 2021, they were drafting a never-give-up prospect that plays a hard-nosed game. He was a younger player in the class, with a September 1st birthdate. Well, it looks like his development may be catching up. He’s among the QMJHL leaders in points this season with 63 in just 47 games, already setting a career-high in the league.

Orr was traded to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan last season and seems to have settled in this year. He’s been playing with a tremendous amount of confidence and is already looking like a player destined for the NHL. I was high on him in his draft year, and it’s excellent to see him coming into his own. It’s important to note that he’s now an older player in the league, so this level of play is expected of him, but it’s fantastic to see him taking those steps. Look for him to jump to the AHL next season.

Carson Rehkopfi of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Stock Up: Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener Rangers, OHL (Seattle Kraken)

I’ve already covered Carson Rehkopf’s tremendous season in a previous article, but he’s very much worth the mention here as well. The Kitchener Ranger star forward has exploded offensively this season, currently sitting second in the league in goals (37) and eighth in points per game (1.57). His play this season even earned him a spot on Team Canada for the World Juniors, where he stayed hot with four points in five games.

Rehkopf’s ability to score goals might just be enough to carry him all the way to the NHL. That’s always been a staple of his game and while it’s gotten better this year, so has the rest of his game, elevating him to another level in the OHL. He’s showing the potential to be a top-six winger for the Kraken down the line, an excellent projection for the 50th overall pick in 2023.

Stock Down: David Reinbacher, Kloten, NL (Montreal Canadiens)

When the Montreal Canadiens shocked and drafted Austrian defender David Reinbacher fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, they put some lofty expectations on the defender. He was coming off an outstanding year, earning NL honours as Youngster (Rookie) of the Year, standing out at the World Juniors, and even earning a spot in the World Championships for Team Austria. To cap it off by being drafted fifth overall in a tough market, expectations skyrocketed for the young player.

Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as hoped for Reinbacher. Back in Switzerland with EHC Kloten, he’s struggled to match his rookie-year output. Part of this may be due to an injury he had to start the year, and he hasn’t exactly seemed 100% healthy. Looking at his game, it’s obvious that there are still strides needed in his development to become a potential top-four defender in the NHL. He has a lot of tools to like, such as his mobility and confidence defensively, but that two-way ability seems to have stalled. Still, I expect him to move to the AHL next season, where at least one full year would be helpful to his game.

Stock Up: Massimo Rizzo, University of Denver, NCAA (Philadelphia Flyers)

The last highlighted prospect, Massimo Rizzo has been dominating the NCAA this season with the University of Denver. He currently leads the entire nation in points with 44 in just 28 games. Drafted way back in 2019 and way down at 216th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes, this is outstanding progression for the young forward. For his efforts, he’s been nominated for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top player.

As well, Rizzo earned a sport with Team Canada this season, playing in the Spengler Cup in Switzerland, where he looked extremely comfortable playing against men. The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Rizzo in the offseason along with a 2025 fifth-round pick for the rights to David Kase, a deal that’s already looking excellent for the Flyers. Rizzo’s rights expire in August 2025, so you can bet that the Flyers will be looking to lock him up prior to that.

2021 NHL DRAFT: METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 19:53:16 +0000

2021 NHL Draft Review

Time to review the draft, in depth. As I have done in previous seasons, this review will cover the league one division at a time. For each team, we will offer a quick summary of their draft class, a deeper look at their first pick/first rounder(s), and then a look at what we think to be the best value pick of their draft class, and a final look at their worst value pick. Once the divisions have all been covered, a final article will go over some other miscellaneous trends of the draft that was (odds & ends), and the annual McKeens shadow draft class. Let’s dig in.

Metropolitan Division

Scott Morrow. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Carolina Hurricanes

2 (40) Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep (USHS-MN)

2 (44) Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat (Liiga)

2 (51) Ville Koivunen, LW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

3 (83) Patrik Hamrla, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech)

3 (94) Aidan Hreschuk, D, USNTDP (USHL)

4 (109) Jackson Blake, RW, Chicago (USHL)

5 (136) Robert Orr, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

5 (147) Justin Robidas, C, Val-d’Or (QMJHL)

6 (170) Bryce Montgomery, D, London (OHL)

6 (187) Nikita Quapp, G, Krefeld Pinguine (DEL)

7 (200) Yegor Naumov, G, MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva (MHL)

7 (209) Nikita Guslistov, C, Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

7(219) Joel Nystrom, D, Farjestad (SHL)

Carolina traded its first-round pick on Draft Day, to Nashville, for two second rounders. The Hurricanes acquired an additional second rounder from Columbus in exchange for Jake Bean, and then traded away their own second rounder to Los Angeles for extra picks in both the third and fourth rounds. One of those extra third rounders was then traded to LA for a later third rounder as well as an extra fifth rounder. They got another third rounder from Detroit as part of the Alex Nedeljkovic/Jonathan Bernier swap, and then finally traded away their own, natural third rounder to Vegas for a third rounder next year. Shortly thereafter, Carolina traded away its own fourth round pick to Ottawa for extra picks in the fifth and sixth rounds. That doesn’t account for all of the pre-shuffling done to the picks that Carolina eventually made, as they had already added a few late round selections from trades in 2019 and 2020. At the end of the two days of drafting, Carolina had added 13 prospects to its already overflowing system.

When a team makes close to double its allotted picks, there are bound to be some head scratchers, and the new Hurricanes include their share. For example, it is rare for teams to draft multiple goaltenders in a single year, although it happens occasionally. But drafting three goalies in a single year? It has not happened, but rarely, and this was only the second such occurrence in the seven-round era of the draft, which began in 2005. Here is the full list:

Montreal, 1972 (Michel Larocque, Dave Elenbaas, Yves Archambeault, Graham Parsons)

Philadelphia, 1972 (Daryl Fedorak, David Hastings, Raynald Boutin)

Minnesota North Stars, 1974 (Pete LoPresti, Dave Heitz, Brian Holderness)

Washington, 1974 (Garth Malarchuk, Kelvin Erickson, Bob Blanchet)

Buffalo, 1975 (Bob Sauve, Don Edwards, Len Moher)

NY Rangers, 1975 (Doug Soetaert, Bill Cheropita, Tom McNamara)

St. Louis, 1976 (Mike Liut, Paul Skidmore, Jim Bales)

Montreal, 1977 (Robert Holland, Richard Sevigny, Barry Borrett, Mark Holden, Carey Walker, Jean Belisle, Bob Daly)

Philadelphia, 1977 (Yves Guillemette, Pete Peeters, Steve Jones, Mike Laycock)

St. Louis, 1978 (Jim Lockhurst, Bob Froese, Carl Bloomberg)

Winnipeg, 1981 (Marc Behrend, Bob O'Connor, Greg Dick)

Boston, 1983 (Allan LaRochelle, Terry Taillefer, Norm Foster)

Buffalo, 1983 (Tom Barrasso, Daren Puppa, Marc Hamelin)

Winnipeg, 1985 (Daniel Berthiaume, Tom Draper, Dave Quigley Jr)

New Jersey, 1988 (Chad Erickson, Bryan LaFort, Charles Hughes II)

Minnesota North Stars, 1989 (Bryan Schoen, Scott Cashman, Arturs Irbe)

Quebec Nordiques, 1989 (John Tanner, Sergei Mylnikov, Paul Krake)

Minnesota North Stars, 1990 (Roman Turek, Jeff Levy, J.P. McKersie)

New Jersey, 1990 (Martin Brodeur, Mike Dunham, Corey Schwab)

Los Angeles, 1991 (Pauli Jaks, Craig Brown, Andre Bouliane)

Minnesota North Stars, 1991 (Mike Torchia, Geoff Finch, Derek Herlofsky)

Detroit, 1992 (Greg Scott, C.J. Denomme, Ryan Bach)

Quebec, 1992 (Manny Fernandez, Steve Passmore, Aaron Ellis)

Anaheim, 1993 (Joel Gagnon, Mikhail Shtalenkov, Tom Askey)

Boston, 1994 (Yevgeni Ryabchikov, John Grahame, Neil Savary)

NY Rangers, 1997 (Jason McLean, Shawn Degagne, Johan Holmqvist)

Florida, 1999 (Alex Auld, Jean-Francois Laniel, Jonathan Charron)

Nashville, 1999 (Brian Finley, Jan Lasak, Kyle Kettles)

Los Angeles, 2001 (Terry Denike, Cristobal Huet, Sebastien Laplante)

Tampa Bay, 2002 (Joseph Pearce, Fredrik Norrena, Vasili Koshechkin)

Vancouver, 2002 (Lukas Mensator, Robert McVicar, Matt Violin)

Nashville, 2003 (Teemu Lassila, Rustam Sidikov, Miroslav Hanuljak)

Philadelphia, 2003 (David Tremblay, Rejean Beauchemin, Ville Hostikka)

San Jose, 2004 (Thomas Greiss, Jason Churchill, Derek Macintyre, Brian Mahoney-Wilson)

Philadelphia, 2015 (Felix Sandstrom, Matej Tomek, Ivan Fedotov)

Carolina, 2021 (Patrik Hamrla, Nikita Quapp, Yegor Naumov)

Just check out that Montreal draft from 1977 – seven goalies! Of course, in many of those early years, teams could just keep making selections for as long as they wanted. Carolina threw in five blueliners five forwards to go along with the goalie trio, and made selections from around the hockey playing world, including – as this is Carolina – two picks among their first three, from Finland.

First pick – Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 Prep (USHS MN), 40^th overall

A pick with significant risk of flopping, but also the potential for a significant reward, if Morrow learns to play away from the puck, and his high-end skating and puck skills, with which he dominated at the prep level against weak competition. Playing against low level opponents for much of the last two years, he did not have to worry about risk taking as he was simply bigger, faster, and more skilled than everyone on the ice. In a late draft-year cameo with Fargo of the USHL, he was met with the limits to his approach for the first time. His risky plays were easily snuffed by opponents. The tools are as good as any defenseman in this draft class, outside of top six picks Power, Hughes, and Edvinsson, but he will need a complete reassessment of how to play his game in order to achieve his potential ceiling. His next steps will be made at UMass, which has an impressive recent history of developing blueliners. Carolina was perfectly positioned to take on this type of risk considering the sheer number of picks they had to play with.

Best value pick(s) –Justin Robidas, C, Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL), 147^th overall

Carolina drafted quite a few players marginally later than we had them ranked, suggesting a lot of good value was accrued, but Robidas was the one and only pick among their baker’s dozen that we would wholeheartedly classify as a steal. In a draft that prioritized size, Robidas was easy to slip through the cracks, standing only 5-7” and all. Son of longtime NHL’er Stephane Robidas, young Justin is a born leader – he wore the ‘A’ in his draft year and is slated to wear the ‘C’ this coming season – skates well, is reliable in all ends, and has impressive puck skills, to boot. He plays a fearless style as well, allowing you to sometimes forget his lack of height. If the Hurricanes give him any kind of chance at all, Robidas will maximize his potential.

Worst value pick – Patrik Hamrla, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech), 83^rd overall

If you take three goalies, it stands to reason that you have misgivings about the first one. Look at that list above, of the 35 times in NHL history that a team selected three or more goalies in a single draft class. The goalies listed after each team and year are listed in the order they were selected. How many of the 35 panned out? Michel Larocque, Bob Sauve, Tom Barrasso, Martin Brodeur, Roman Turek, Manny Fernandez, and Thomas Greiss. That is one out of five. Beyond that, you have to wonder why Hamrla didn’t get into a single game at the WU18s, as the Czech team’s top two goalies, Oliver Satny and Tomas Suchanek, both struggled mightily. If I have to pick one goalie out of the Carolina three – all of whom are 6-3”, and between 190-200 pounds, I will take sixth rounder Quapp, but that’s just a hunch. None of the three are sure things, even for goalies.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Michigan's Kent Johnson in action during their loss to Notre Dame, 2-1, Saturday, November 28, 2020, at Michigan's Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire)

Columbus Blue Jackets

1 (5) Kent Johnson, C, Michigan (NCAA/Big 10)

1 (12) Cole Sillinger, LW, Sioux Falls (USHL)

1 (25) Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL)

3 (69) Stanislav Svozil, D, HC Kometa Brno (Czech)

4 (101) Guillaume Richard, D, Tri-City (USHL)

5 (132) Nikolai Makorov, D, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

5 (133) James Malatesta, LW, Quebec (QMJHL)

6 (165) Ben Boyd, C, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

7 (197) Martin Rysavy, LW, HC Prerov (Czech 2)

After a few years of shallow draft classes, GM Jarmo Kekalainen fully embraced the rebuild this year, admitting that their second-round adventures were the best the previous core could achieve, and trading NHL assets for additional picks, and ending up as the only team with three first rounders, only the second time in team history to have had that distinction. At first blush, the Blue Jackets did a far better job selecting their three new candidates for ‘Face of the Franchise’ status than they did in 2013, when they had selected Alexander Wennberg, Kerby Rychel, and Marko Dano in the draft’s opening round.

Columbus leaned towards bigger players, with only fifth rounder James Malatesta measuring under 6-0”. Another interesting tidbit about this draft class is the presence of two Czech-based players, giving the Blue Jackets a full third of all Czech-based drafted players. Beyond that, the team actually drafted more North American than they have usually done in recent years, with only one Russian player joining the two Czechs, as opposed to the six North Americans they drafted. There are more than a few players here who should be a part of the next competitive Columbus team.

First first round pick – Kent Johnson, C, University of Michigan Wolverines (NCAA/Big 10), 5^th overall

There was not another person in this draft class with a greater puck handling game than Johnson. Some of the moves he pulled off this year, there isn’t a defender in the sport at any level who could stop him. Now, that will change as teams see more video of him, scout him more, come to expect his brand of trickery. There are a few things that Johnson needs to clean up before being ready for the NHL, and the path to retaining his style of play while adjusting to a top six NHL role might be thinner than the Blue Jackets hope, but they should still be expecting a top line caliber forward (he is a center for Michigan, but I expect him to be a winger down the line). He needs to learn to make the simple play more often, and show the ability to make the adjustment to the defense, instead of making the defense always adjust to him. If he can pull that off, he will be an All Star.

Second first round pick – Cole Sillinger, LW, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)

One of the better finishers in the draft class, Sillinger left the WHL for the USHL last year due to the uncertainty surrounding the former league in terms being able to have a season. He made the adjustment to the new league seamlessly, winning the USHL Rookie of the Year award despite only playing roughly 60% of the season. Unlike most finishers, he has a solid two-way game, and is strong enough off the puck to be putu on the ice to defend late leads. Sillinger, son of former Blue Jacket Mike Sillinger, and born in Columbus while his father was a team member, lacks Johnson’s upside, but he might be closer to his own ceiling and more ready to play in the NHL.

Third first round pick – Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

The only team with three first round picks, Columbus went for a blueliner after nabbing the two high end forwards to kick off their draft. The Blue Jackets’ reward for sending the last month and change of Nick Foligno’s contract to Toronto, Ceulemans has a very well-balanced game, with equal parts offense and defense, just as able to kill a rush as to generate one. He has a strong NHL frame and puts it to good use, with a physical side that few offensively inclined defenders display these days. He will spend the next few years with Wisconsin, where he will have to show that he can make the adjustment from the AJHL to a significantly higher level of the sport. He has #2/3 upside.

Best value pick – Stanislav Svozil, D, HC Kometa Brno, Czech, 69^th overall

An absolute steal of a pick, Svozil had a lot of people giving him first round grades earlier in the year, but moderate performances in both the WJC and the WU18s. But even with those tournaments in consideration, he should have been selected sometime in the second round, considering his strong skating ability and hockey IQ, refined over two seasons playing against men in the Czech pro leagues. It is fair to question his offensive upside, but even there, he flashes enough hints of ability that I would not be surprised to see him one day getting regular, if not primary, power play minutes at the highest level. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Svozil ends up a more valuable NHLer than Ceulemans one day, even if it would be a mild upset.

Worst value pick – Ben Boyd, C, Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL, 165^th overall

This is no disrespect to Boyd, a big center who puts that size to use. He was just way off the radar and never showed any substantial offensive upside. In the sixth round, taking gambles should be encouraged and this placement is not meant to chide Columbus either. Boyd is on the younger side of this draft class, and more development could very well be coming. This distinction is really just a way of noting that we quite liked Columbus’ approach to the draft this year and saw no faults in any of their other picks.

.Jack Hughes. Photo by Rena Laverty/USA Hockey

New Jersey Devils

1 (4) Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP (USHL)

1 (29) Chase Stillman, RW, Esbjerg U20 (Denmark U20)/ Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

3 (68) Samu Salminen, C, Jokerit U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

4 (100) Jakub Malek, G, VHK Vsetin (Czech 2)

5 (129) Topias Vilen, D, Pelicans (Liiga)

6 (164) Viktor Hurtig, D, Vasteras IK J20 (J20 Nationell)

7 (203) Zakhar Bardakov, C, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

Early as it is, I have to admit that I liked Tom Fitzgerald’s first draft more than I do this one. How much was actually by his design, I cannot say, but I can say that I had a few plausible choices for ‘worst value pick’ from this draft class. On the other hand, the Devils made the absolutely correct decision with their first pick, and I’m not even considering the PR boost they got from drafting the brother of recent #1 overall pick Jack Hughes in making that assessment. While Hughes has a touch more potential to fail to reach his ceiling that do the players selected in the top three (Power, Beniers, McTavish), it just so happens that his ceiling is higher than them all, partially due to his birth date, and partially due to his tools and how raw they are.

If there was anything truly curious about the New Jersey 2021 draft class, it is that, after Hughes, all of the other picks were based in Europe, at least this year. Even their second first rounder, Chase Stillman, ostensibly an OHL player, played most of his season in Denmark, before joining up with Team Canada for the WU18s. Their day two included two Finns, a Czech, a Swede, and a Russian. I can only presume that if they had any additional picks, they would have used them on players from Slovakia, Germany, Austria, and/or Switzerland. Incidentally, New Jersey has drafted players from each of those countries, with the exception of Germany, in recent years. Thankfully, Nico Daws, who they drafted out of the OHL last year, spent time last year in Germany, so they have covered all of the main hockey bases in Europe. Size may have been a mild theme for them, though, as every player they selected this year is at least 6-0” tall. Fitzgerald was a 6-footer, too.

First first round pick – Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP (USHL), 4^th overall

Bar none, Hughes was the best skater in the 2021 draft class. That is almost to be expected given what we know about his older brothers, Quinn and future teammate Jack. Where he starts to differ from his brothers is that Luke also has ideal NHL size for a blueliner, already standing 6-2”, and given his birthdate being less than one week before the cutoff, he has more room for additional biological growth than practically all players drafted this year. More than just a speed demon, Hughes’ other tools also all grade out as plus, and the only reason he wasn’t talked about as much as top two picks Power and Beniers was that a laceration from a skate to his leg knocked him out for the second half of the season, including the WU18s. He was healthy before the draft, though, and after a season or two at Michigan, he will be ready to start the climb towards future #1 NHL defender.

Second first round pick – Chase Stillman, RW, Esbjerg U20 (Denmark U20)/Sudbury (OHL)

Son of longtime NHLer Cory Stillman, and brother of current Blackhawk Riley Stillman, Chase lacks the upside traditionally associated with the first round, but his floor was among the highest of those available as Day One wound down. The most impressive element of his game is his physicality. Not in the sense that he is a face-puncher, but that it can be miserable to play against him. He skates well enough, and demonstrates solid decision making, allowing for him to be utilized in all manner of roles and in all situations. Had the Devils still owned their second-round pick, which would have been only seven spots later, I suspect that Stillman would have still been available, and would have been more understandable. Using that late first rounder that they received from the Islanders in the Kyle Palmieri deal on Still says more about what they thought of the other options than an indication on Stillman’s projected future role with the club.

Best value pick - Zakhar Bardakov, C, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

Drafted in his third year of eligibility, Bardakov broke into the KHL this year and showed a lot of same strengths and weaknesses as did Stillman. He has a big frame, skates well, and is reliable in all three zones and all situations. On the down side, Bardakov’s offensive potential isn’t much to get too excited about. Furthermore, as a 20-year-old, there is only so much more growth that we can expect out of his game. Even so, as a seventh-round pick who Russian contract expires after next season, he could provide near-immediate value to the club, if only in a bottom-line role. Also, Yegor Sharangovich had a fairly similar profile as a 20-year-old when the Devils used a fifth-round pick on him in 2018.

Worst value pick – Jakub Malek, G, VHK Vsetin (Czech 2), 100^th overall

I admit that I might have a blind spot in player evaluation, as I am generally not very high on goalies who played in lower-level European leagues and have little to no international competitive experience. And that’s where Malek falls. He is a very big guy who has never played above the Czech second division. Even that experience has been limited. Had the Devils drafted Topias Vilen in the fourth round and held off on Malek until the fifth round, I would have had a real dilemma as to who to put here. They drafted both though, so I suppose it’s really a case of ‘no harm, no foul.’.

TRINEC, CZECH REPUBLIC - DECEMBER 29: Kazakhstan vs Finland preliminary round action at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship at Werk Arena on December 29, 2019 in Trinec, Czech Republic. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

New York Islanders

2 (52) Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga)

3 (93) Tristan Lennox, G, Saginaw (OHL)

4 (125) Cameron Berg, C, Muskegon (USHL)

5 (157) Eetu Liukas, LW, TPS (Liiga)

6 (189) Aleksi Malinen, D, JYP (Liiga)

7 (221) Tomas Machu, D, Draci Sumperk (Czech 2)

The Islanders recent draft history has not been especially kind. Sure, some of their first rounders have hit big (Barzal, Beauvilier), and a few others are trending in the right direction (Dobson, Wahlstrom), but even among the top end picks, there have been prominent flops (Dal Colle, Ho-Sang), and there has been an absolute lack of impact from any pick outside of the first round, with literally zero earning extended time since the 2014 draft class. Among the top candidates to break that post-first-round losing streak are a pair of Finnish prospects in Robin Salo and Otto Koivula, both listed in our top 15 for the Islanders (see upcoming McKeens annual). Another top prospect, Ruslan Iskhakov, spent last season in Finland as well.

Perhaps seeing a trend, the Islanders went heavy into Finland this year. Their first pick, taken in the second round, was as close to a no-brainer as one can get after the top few picks. More on Raty below, but him being available where he was is ridiculous. The Islanders went back to Finland for picks in the fifth and sixth rounds as well. The Islanders didn’t draft any smaller players, with all six picks standing 6-0” or taller, but one was a goalie, so that doesn’t really count, and two of the other five are exactly 6-0”, and only two of their skater picks measure in at 6-2” or greater, so I wouldn’t go so far as to say the Isles targeted size. I am not yet sure that this draft class will break that cycle of emptiness past the first round, but I am more optimistic about these picks than I have been about any recent NYI draft

First pick – Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga), 52^nd overall

There were a few players selected on day two of the draft for whom many in the preseason thought would be first round candidates, or even locks. Only Raty was in consideration as a top five pick. There were even voices that had him as the favorite for first overall before the 2020-21 season kicked off. Admittedly, Raty’s season did not go as hoped. He struggled a fair bit in the first half, to the extent that he wasn’t selected for Finland’s WJC roster, which was especially surprising as he had been a member of their WJC team in 2019, and was pretty good, to boot. So Raty’s stock had clearly dropped, but he was already turning things around in the second half. He spent the bulk of the season playing against men in Liiga, albeit in limited minutes and roles. He still has a sublime skillset with the puck and still lacks any glaring weaknesses in his projection. The Islanders getting him in the second round – late in the second no less! – is nothing short of grand larceny. And as if to emphasize that point, Raty put up 14 points in six games with Finland’s U20 team in summer tournaments.

Best value pick – Cameron Berg, C, Muskegon (USHL), 125^th overall

I might be biased, having followed Berg’s progression for two seasons now, but the value isn’t even that the Islanders drafted a player with third round talents in the fourth round. It’s that Berg should have been drafted last year, after one of the best second halves in the USHL. His second year of eligibility was another step forward for the second half of his first go-round, exceeding one point per game playing with San Jose prospect Daniil Gushchin. He showed more skill as a playmaker, without losing any of the fire of his shot. He added more grit to his game. If he can improve his skating even marginally at Nebraska-Omaha, he will have middle six NHL upside.

Worst value pick – Eetu Liukas, LW, TPS (Liiga), 157^th overall

To be honest, the Islanders didn’t have any poor value picks this year. Seventh rounder Tomas Machu wasn’t really on our radars, but he’s massive and played a big defensive role against men in the Czech second division last year, and should be a featured blueliner on the Czech WJC team this year. Liukas isn’t a bad gamble for the fifth round either. He can shoot the puck, he’s quite physical, and plays a reliable two-way game. He is simply the only other Islanders’ pick, besides Machu, which didn’t cause me to immediately say “nice pick”. It was fine. There is fourth line upside here if it all works out.

Brennan Othmann of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

New York Rangers

1 (16) Brennan Othmann, LW, EHC Olten (SL)/Flint (OHL)

3 (65) Jayden Grubbe, C, Red Deer (WHL)

3 (75) Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

4 (104) Brody Lamb, LW/RW, Dodge County HS (USHS-MN)

4 (106) Kalle Vaisanen, LW, TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

4 (112) Talyn Boyko, G, Tri-City (WHL)

5 (144) Jaroslav Chmelar, RW, Jokerit U18 (U18 SM-sarja)

7 (208) Hank Kempf, D, Muskegon (USHL)

After a few years of picking at the top, a result of their stated goal to rebuild, the Rangers have turned their organization back around, to a position around the middle of the pack. Seemingly as a result, instead of holding a ton of top picks, drafting for immediate upside, Chris Drury’s first draft as GM saw him focus on complementary types with the first few picks, and extremely raw players later on. It would be fair to categorize their first three picks, and the final one, in the complementary bucket, while their fourth and fifth rounders fit the mold of dart throws on long term upside. For three of the four in the second grouping, part of that supposed upside rests in their extreme physical dimensions, with Boyko, in particular fitting that bill, as the second 6-8” netminder drafted by the Rangers in the past two drafts.

A final note, that may be more coincidental than anything, on Day Two, the Rangers drafted exclusively from three geographical buckets. Canada was represented by three players out of the WHL. The US was represented by two players headed to the college route, one of whom played in high school last year and the other a USHL veteran. Finally, Europe was represented by two players drafted out of the Finnish junior leagues, one a native Finn, the other a Czech import. Both played in the year-ending WU18 tournament, along with the Rangers first rounder, an OHL’er who happened to spend the Ontario-wide hockey cancellation playing in Switzerland.

First round pick – Brennan Othmann, LW, EHC Olten, SL/Flint Firebirds (OHL), 16^th overall

Othman does a lot well, but the one area where he truly stands out is as a finisher, given a very strong shot and a willingness to follow it to the net, and pay the price to collect rebounds. He impressed during the OHL cancellation by playing in the Swiss second men’s division, where he teamed up wit the draft’s eventual third overall pick, Mason McTavish. Othmann lacks the flash of recent Rangers’ first rounders, but he brings a solid combination of upside (2^nd line) and certainty (pro-style game, solid frame, well-rounded, grit). His year end work with Gold-Medal winning Team Canada also showed that he could produce respectably playing with other high-end talents, without looking like a passenger.

Best value pick – Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL), 75^th overall

Korczak is small, and his production tis year with Moose Jaw was a step down from what he did in the full season before he was draft eligible, but there is still more than enough to like in his profile, suggestive of a player who can find a way to contribute at the NHL level. A gifted playmaker, he thinks nothing of taking physical punishment to make a play, his numbers should also improve if the level of his linemates improves. He has also worn the ‘A’ for the Warriors for two seasons already, a testament to the intangibles he brings.

Worst value pick – Brody Lamb, LW/RW, Dodge County Wildcats (USHS-MN), 104^th overall

A rambunctious winger who scored at a breathtaking clip in the Minnesota high school ranks, Lamb struggled to adjust to the higher level of play in the USHL after his prep season had ended. He can shoot the puck and gets involved physically, but his game lacks the structure that most other draft eligible have and it is hard to see him progress to the point of NHL utility. In fact, it is hard to even now how long it would take if he were to make that leap. Committed to Minnesota, he is lined up to spend two years in the USHL as an intermediate step before entering the collegiate world. Even if he does figure it out, the timeline is so long that the implied value in the selection can only diminish. As a seventh-round pick, he would have made a lot more sense.

Samu Tuomaala.

Philadelphia Flyers

2 (46) Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

3 (78) Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo-Molodechno (Belarus)

4 (110) Brian Zanetti, D, Lugano U20 (U20 Elit)

5 (158) Ty Murchison, D, USNTDP (USHL)

6 (174) Ethan Samson, D, Prince George (WHL)

7 (206) Owen McLaughlin, C, Mount St. Charles Academy 18U AAA (USHS-RI)

From 2014 until 2018, under the stewardship of former General Manager Ron Hextall, the Flyers drafted seven goaltenders across five years. It only took two drafts under current GM Chuck Fletcher for the Flyers to add another netminder to their pool. A good one, too. Third round pick Alexei Kolosov was the third goalie drafted this year, and the first after the first round. We had him ranked fourth among his fellow crease guardians, but either way the young Belarussian is now the team’s top puck stopping prospect.

Beyond that little tidbit, there isn’t much to note trend-wise, besides perhaps the organization’s stronger lean towards European talent than any year since 2018, where they selected three out of Sweden. First pick (second round) Samu Tuomaala was actually the first Finn drafted by Philadelphia since (scroll, scroll, scroll) Joonas Lehtivuori, a fourth rounder from 2006. Kosolev was actually the first player drafted out of Belarus in franchise history, as the other Belarussian they selected (Maxim Sushko, 4^th round, 2017) was playing in the OHL at the time. As for Switzerland, homeland of fourth rounder Brian Zanetti, he was the third Swiss national drafted by the Flyers, and the second who was actually playing in his homeland at the time, after 2003 fourth rounder Kevin Romy. Neat factoids, if not that meaningful.

First pick – Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 46^th overall

A top performer for Finland’s WU18 team – and one of the best in the entire tournament on any team - Tuomaala is small, but can fly, and has a well-rounded set of tools for the offensive zone, and a promising sense of responsibility off the puck. He even plays with a healthy dose of grit. In fact, if teams weren’t so inexplicably drawn to size this year, he could easily have been a good fit in the late first round. The Flyers have already signed him to an Entry Level Contract, although they have loaned him back to Karpat to continue his development at home for another season. Expect Tuomaala to battle for a spot on Finland’s WJC roster as well. This is their best – although not only – value pick.

Best value pick – Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo-Molodechno (Belarus), 115^th overall

On the smaller side for a modern netminder, Kolosov is nevertheless a very promising young ‘tender. He split his regular season between the Belarussian league and Belarus’ KHL squad and put up numbers that surpassed his crease-mates with both clubs. He was also Belarus’ starter during the World Championships and is expected to play for his homeland in the upcoming Winter Olympics. The question is whether he will leave his club team for the Olympics, or if he will join Erie of the OHL, where he would have played last year if the OHL had had a season. His best trait is his ability to read the flow of the game, while he has no obvious real weak spots.

Worst value pick – Ty Murchison, D, USNTDP (USHL), 158^th overall

With all due respect to Murchison, who has had his good moments for the USNTDP, and has decent size, there were eight draft eligible defensemen on the USNTDP last year, and I would have drafted seven of them before calling on the Arizona State commit. Not only that, three of the ones I would have preferred (Ty Gallagher, who was eventually drafted, and Jacob Martin and Ethan Straky, who were not) were still available at the time. It isn’t that Murchison is bad, but there is just mothering about his game that sticks out as an NHL-level tool.

Pittsburgh Penguins

2 (58) Tristan Broz, LW/C, Fargo (USHL)

5 (154) Isaac Beliveau, D, Rimouski (QMJHL)

7 (194) Ryan McCleary, D, Calgary (WHL)

7 (215) Daniel Laatsch, D, Sioux City (USHL)

7 (218) Kirill Tankov, C, SKA-Varyagi im. Morozova (MHL)

With only five more players added to the system, once again, the Penguins went (relatively) without at the draft. It has now been nine draft classes in a row in which Pittsburgh has made fewer than the allotted seven picks. Next year is already slated to make a ten-draft run with missing picks, as the Penguins’ third rounder has already been dealt to Los Angeles. Furthermore, they are still stuck on only two first rounders in that nine-year stretch.

On the one hand, missing picks isn’t that big a deal when you are winning, and the Penguins have done an awful lot of that over the years, with two Stanley Cups. On the other hand, the team hasn’t escaped the first round (which meant a loss in the playoff qualifiers in 2020) in three years, and the NHL roster core isn’t getting any younger. At some point – a point that they may have already passed – the Penguins will need to bring fresh faces into the lineup, and the best place to find fresh faces has traditionally been from within. Teddy Blugers was the last prospect to rise from within to secure a regular NHL job, and the prospects they keep adding with the picks they do keep are in his vein; well-rounded, lunch bucket, bottom half of the lineup types. Someday soon, Crosby and Malkin won’t be able to carry the torch anymore and the Penguins won’t have anyone ready to step up in their place. Not that anyone can really take over from those two, but there won’t even be any legitimate top six options left.

First pick – Tristan Broz, LW/C, Fargo Force (USHL), 58^th overall

Not that Broz is going to be the guy to jump into a top six spot in the next few years, but he could be a really good third line option. He looks like an NHL forward with his frame and smooth, clean skating stride. His puck skills are OK, but he reads the zone very well and is a talented playmaker, who will take a hit to make the play. He doesn’t get shy when the games get tighter, and was the primary reason behind Fargo’s reaching the Clark Cup finals last year. I expect him to play three years at Minnesota, but Broz might not need any additional AHL seasoning after that. A strong pick for the end of the second round. Good thing, too, as Pittsburgh had to wait for nearly 100 more players to be taken off the board before they could make another selection.

Best value pick – Daniel Laatsch, D, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), 215^th overall

Laatsch is no sure thing, but for a late seventh round pick, one of the final ten players selected (although not Pittsburgh’s last selection), he is a very fun, intriguing gamble. A unique player, he is very tall, but also very thin. His offensive game will occasionally flash an awkward utility, as he drives the puck deep into the offensive zone, but his core skills are better suited for simplicity. Despite his reed-thin frame, he has fearless physicality. The USNTDP grad, who needed a year away from the program to be draft-worthy, Laatsch is headed to Wisconsin, which has done a solid job developing blueliners in recent years. I don’t know that he fits into a traditional NHL role, but he could have real value within a few years.

Worst value pick – Ryan McCleary, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL), 194^th overall

As I have mentioned a few times in this series, there is almost no such thing as bad value in the seventh round. They are all gambles by that point, with minimal honest expectations of ever playing in the NHL. But when a team only makes five picks, and three of those are in the seventh round, I have to pick someone. So why McCleary? Two reasons. First, when you only have five picks, it is imperative that you swing for the fences. McCleary is physically underdeveloped and has never demonstrated a big upside, even in U18 hockey in Saskatchewan. The best we can say about McCleary is that he will take the hit to make the play, and that he was born in September, 2003, making him one of the youngest players drafted this year. Second, the other four guys Pittsburgh drafted have more elements going for them. We will know more once he plays a full season in the WHL.

Vincent Iorio. Courtesy of the WHL.

Washington Capitals

2 (55) Vincent Iorio, D, Brandon (WHL)

3 (80) Brent Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)

4 (119) Joaquim Lemay, D, Salmon Arm (BCHL)

5 (151) Haakon Hanelt, LW/RW, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL)

6 (176) Dru Krebs, D, Medicine Hat (WHL)

6 (183) Chase Clark, G, Jersey Hitmen (NCDA)

With only six picks – missing the all-important first rounder, but not quite making up for it by having an extra sixth rounder instead of picking in the seventh, Washington went heavy on the blueline this year, using four of the six picks on a rearguard, five picks, if you include the goalie. While the positional lean may have been a fluke of circumstance, how the Washington draft board shook out in this pandemic season, what is absolutely not a fluke, but a systemic lean that goes back years, is the team’s preference for drafting players out of Western Canada. Two of five in 2020. Two of four in 2019. Four of seven in 2018. None in 2017, but three of seven in 2016. I could go on. Of their six picks this year, three were out of the WHL and one more came from the BCHL. At least we can say that Washington didn’t follow the herd this year, fetishizing size and brawn. Their first pick is big, as is the goalie selection (Clark is actually huge). But the others are average sized, or smaller.

First pick – Vincent Iorio, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 55^th overall

The one big skater drafted by the Capitals this year, Iorio is a very good skater for his size, and has a strong defensive zone game, but has never shown much propensity for offensive zone impact. On a rate basis, his 12 points in 22 games last year with the Wheat Kings was far and away his best junior hockey showing. His best anywhere since playing at the 14U level for Shattuck St. Mary’s back in 2016-17. His feet, length, and ability to make clean, yet hard defensive stops allow for a safe projection of a number four with some PK utility as a ceiling.

Best value pick – Brent Johnson, D, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 80^th overall

Small, but occasionally very feisty, Johnson had a very strong debut season in the USHL, his first of high-level hockey. A strong puck rusher with a knack for sticking his nose everywhere, his play was often unrefined, but his risks paid off far more often than they backfired. As his game matures, he will need to learn when to take a chance and when to play conservatively, both in terms of offensive risks as well as in his physical play, to avoid injuries like the shoulder ailment that ended his season early. The North Dakota commit is a fun player to watch and easy to root for, especially if you like to see growth of the game. Johnson is a native Texan.

Worst value pick – Joaquim Lemay, D, Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL), 119^th overall

In his second year of eligibility, the nomadic Lemay, a Quebec native, made his debut in the BCHL, after a year spent playing prep hockey in Rhode Island. He was OK. His ability to play and move the puck is his only real positive, while on the downside, he can play a bit shy, and his skating is average at best. Committed to Nebraska-Omaha, he may need another year in the BCHL or the USHL (Lincoln owns his rights and has protected him ahead of training camp), before going to campus. Were he taken with a later round pick; it would be a fine gamble. In the fourth round, for an organization that rarely takes all seven of its picks, it seems to be a needless risk with a marginal upside.

2021 NHL DRAFT: CAROLINA HURRICANES REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 18:12:07 +0000

Scott Morrow. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Carolina Hurricanes

2 (40) Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep (USHS-MN)

2 (44) Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat (Liiga)

2 (51) Ville Koivunen, LW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

3 (83) Patrik Hamrla, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech)

3 (94) Aidan Hreschuk, D, USNTDP (USHL)

4 (109) Jackson Blake, RW, Chicago (USHL)

5 (136) Robert Orr, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

5 (147) Justin Robidas, C, Val-d’Or (QMJHL)

6 (170) Bryce Montgomery, D, London (OHL)

6 (187) Nikita Quapp, G, Krefeld Pinguine (DEL)

7 (200) Yegor Naumov, G, MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva (MHL)

7 (209) Nikita Guslistov, C, Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

7(219) Joel Nystrom, D, Farjestad (SHL)

Montreal, 1972 (Michel Larocque, Dave Elenbaas, Yves Archambeault, Graham Parsons)

Philadelphia, 1972 (Daryl Fedorak, David Hastings, Raynald Boutin)

Minnesota North Stars, 1974 (Pete LoPresti, Dave Heitz, Brian Holderness)

Washington, 1974 (Garth Malarchuk, Kelvin Erickson, Bob Blanchet)

Buffalo, 1975 (Bob Sauve, Don Edwards, Len Moher)

NY Rangers, 1975 (Doug Soetaert, Bill Cheropita, Tom McNamara)

St. Louis, 1976 (Mike Liut, Paul Skidmore, Jim Bales)

Montreal, 1977 (Robert Holland, Richard Sevigny, Barry Borrett, Mark Holden, Carey Walker, Jean Belisle, Bob Daly)

Philadelphia, 1977 (Yves Guillemette, Pete Peeters, Steve Jones, Mike Laycock)

St. Louis, 1978 (Jim Lockhurst, Bob Froese, Carl Bloomberg)

Winnipeg, 1981 (Marc Behrend, Bob O'Connor, Greg Dick)

Boston, 1983 (Allan LaRochelle, Terry Taillefer, Norm Foster)

Buffalo, 1983 (Tom Barrasso, Daren Puppa, Marc Hamelin)

Winnipeg, 1985 (Daniel Berthiaume, Tom Draper, Dave Quigley Jr)

New Jersey, 1988 (Chad Erickson, Bryan LaFort, Charles Hughes II)

Minnesota North Stars, 1989 (Bryan Schoen, Scott Cashman, Arturs Irbe)

Quebec Nordiques, 1989 (John Tanner, Sergei Mylnikov, Paul Krake)

Minnesota North Stars, 1990 (Roman Turek, Jeff Levy, J.P. McKersie)

New Jersey, 1990 (Martin Brodeur, Mike Dunham, Corey Schwab)

Los Angeles, 1991 (Pauli Jaks, Craig Brown, Andre Bouliane)

Minnesota North Stars, 1991 (Mike Torchia, Geoff Finch, Derek Herlofsky)

Detroit, 1992 (Greg Scott, C.J. Denomme, Ryan Bach)

Quebec, 1992 (Manny Fernandez, Steve Passmore, Aaron Ellis)

Anaheim, 1993 (Joel Gagnon, Mikhail Shtalenkov, Tom Askey)

Boston, 1994 (Yevgeni Ryabchikov, John Grahame, Neil Savary)

NY Rangers, 1997 (Jason McLean, Shawn Degagne, Johan Holmqvist)

Florida, 1999 (Alex Auld, Jean-Francois Laniel, Jonathan Charron)

Nashville, 1999 (Brian Finley, Jan Lasak, Kyle Kettles)

Los Angeles, 2001 (Terry Denike, Cristobal Huet, Sebastien Laplante)

Tampa Bay, 2002 (Joseph Pearce, Fredrik Norrena, Vasili Koshechkin)

Vancouver, 2002 (Lukas Mensator, Robert McVicar, Matt Violin)

Nashville, 2003 (Teemu Lassila, Rustam Sidikov, Miroslav Hanuljak)

Philadelphia, 2003 (David Tremblay, Rejean Beauchemin, Ville Hostikka)

San Jose, 2004 (Thomas Greiss, Jason Churchill, Derek Macintyre, Brian Mahoney-Wilson)

Philadelphia, 2015 (Felix Sandstrom, Matej Tomek, Ivan Fedotov)

Carolina, 2021 (Patrik Hamrla, Nikita Quapp, Yegor Naumov)

First pick – Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 Prep (USHS MN), 40^th overall

Best value pick(s) –Justin Robidas, C, Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL), 147^th overall

Worst value pick – Patrik Hamrla, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech), 83^rd overall

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s April Rankings – Pre-U18 World Championship – Top 32

Brock Otten — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 21:43:22 +0000

Scouting the draft certainly has not been easy this year. We could go on at length about that. Delays to the WHL season. The (recent) cancelation of the OHL season. Shortened junior seasons in Europe. Constant disruptions due to covid protocols. Rink restrictions. A greater reliance on video. These are the struggles that independent scouting agencies like ourselves have had to endure in order to evaluate and rank the best the 2021 NHL Draft has to offer. But the show must go on. Just because scouting has been different this year does not mean that our scouts have not been putting in the work. That work just looks a little different.

It has been over two months since the release of our preliminary Top 32 ranking. This time around, for our mid-season ranking, we will be increasing the length of our list to 64, along with some honorable mentions.

While the top 5 remains unchanged from our previous list (Beniers, Power, Hughes, Wallstedt, Edvinsson), there have been some pretty significant changes to the way we have ranked the players inside the Top 15. Chaz Lucius, Matthew Coronato, and Sebastian Cossa have made significant jumps, while Carson Lambos, Zachary L’Heureux, and Corson Ceulemans have seen large drops.

Lucius, of the U.S. National Development Team, was injured early on in the season, severely limiting our views of him. Now fully healthy, he is playing exceptional hockey (averaging over a goal per game in the USHL) and has moved up into our Top 10. Coronato has sustained his high level of play from earlier in the USHL season, leading the USHL in goal scoring. While Sebastian Cossa has been sensational to start the WHL season in Edmonton, currently leading the ‘Dub” in save percentage. His 6’6 frame and stopping ability are going to make him very attractive to NHL scouts inside the lottery range. The last time we had two goalies taken inside the Top 15 was 2006 when Jonathan Bernier (11th) and Riku Helenius (15th) were selected. There is a very real possibility of that happening again in 2021.

Carson Lambos is definitely a widely debated prospect these days. His play in Finland (on loan) was indifferent and, unfortunately, his season was ended early due to a medical procedure which halted his WHL season two games in and has prevented him from playing at the World Under 18’s in Texas. Ultimately, our scouts are less sure of his high-end offensive potential than they were a year ago, or even several months ago. Zachary L’Heureux is a talented player, no doubt, but his inability to stay in the Halifax lineup due to suspensions has become a concerning trend. And Ceulemans’ play since the AJHL returned has not been at the same level as it was before the stoppage. His play at the U18’s in support of Brandt Clarke on Team Canada will go a long way in determining his value for the draft.

In total, there are seven new faces ranked inside of our first round compared to last time. Those would be the aforementioned Chaz Lucius, Logan Stankoven, Aidan Hreschuk, Jack Bar, Ayrton Martino, Simon Robertsson, and Ville Koivunen.

Of course, this list is far from being set in stone. The IIHF World Under 18’s in Texas, which commence at the end of April, will be highly scrutinized. With the cancellation of events like the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, the World Junior A Challenge, and the Five Nations, this will be the first time scouts will have an opportunity to compare the top talent against one another. While it is important to not use a single tournament as the basis of your evaluation on a player, there is no doubt that the results of the U18’s will have wide sweeping effects on the year end lists of NHL scouts. Of our ranked top 64, 32 (exactly half) are scheduled to play at the U18’s.

While tempering projections based on the U18’s will be one challenge, the other main one is the cancellation of the OHL season. Typically, nearly 20% of all players drafted come from the Ontario Hockey League. While some of the top players have played in Europe (like Brandt Clarke and Mason McTavish) or will be participating in the Under 18’s (like Ben Gaudreau and Wyatt Johnson), others will have their evaluations and grades based upon their performances last season. That is unless the CHL and Hockey Canada can successfully stage a prospect tournament in a bubble setting sometime before the draft (which is apparently being discussed and on the table). Where to slot OHL based players inside our final rankings will be a challenge.

As mentioned, this time around we have ranked the Top 64. Of course, there were several players who just missed this list. Our ‘Honorable Mentions’ for midseason were as follows (alphabetically): Eric Alarie, William von Barnekow, Josh Doan, Liam Gilmartin, David Gucciardi, Jayden Grubbe, Samuel Helenius, Brent Johnson, Tristan Lennox, Robert Orr, Kyle Masters, Connor Roulette, Joshua Roy, Ryan Winterton, and Trevor Wong.

Without further ado...the McKeen’s April top 32 rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft. Subcribers can access the top 64 by linking here.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Matthew Beniers	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/175	5-Nov-02	24-10-14-24
2	Owen Power	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-6/215	22-Nov-02	26-3-13-16
3	Luke Hughes	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/175	9-Sep-03	38-6-28-34
4	Jesper Wallstedt	G	Lulea (SHL)	6-3/200	14-Nov-02	12-10, 2.23, .908
5	Simon Edvinsson	D	Vasteras (Swe 2)	6-4/200	5-Feb-03	14-0-5-5
6	Chaz Lucius	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/175	2-May-03	12-13-5-18
7	Dylan Guenther	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-0/170	3-Apr-03	12-12-12-24
8	Brandt Clarke	D	Nove Zamky (Svk)	6-1/180	9-Feb-03	26-5-10-15
9	Fabian Lysell	RW	Lulea (SHL)	5-10/175	19-Jan-03	26-2-1-3
10	William Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-10/175	10-Dec-02	40-11-12-23
11	Kent Johnson	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/170	18-Oct-02	26-9-18-27
12	Aatu Raty	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-2/185	14-Nov-02	35-3-3-6
13	Matthew Coronato	LW	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/180	14-Nov-02	50-46-37-83
14	Cole Sillinger	LW	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-0/195	16-May-03	31-24-22-46
15	Sebastian Cossa	G	Edmonton (WHL)	6-6/210	21-Nov-02	12-0, 1.61, .939
16	Mason McTavish	C	Olten (Sui 2)	6-0/200	30-Jan-03	13-9-2-11
17	Francesco Pinelli	C	Acroni Jesenice (Slv)	6-0/185	11-Apr-03	13-5-6-11
18	Logan Stankoven	C	Kamloops (WHL)	5-8/170	26-Feb-03	6-7-3-10
19	Oskar Olausson	RW	HV 71 (SHL)	6-1/180	10-Nov-02	16-3-1-4
20	Ryder Korczak	C	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-10/170	23-Sep-02	13-3-11-14
21	William Stromgren	LW	MODO Hockey (Swe 2)	6-3/175	7-Jun-03	27-3-6-9
22	Isak Rosen	RW	Leksands (SHL)	5-11/155	15-Mar-03	22-0-1-1
23	Aidan Hreschuk	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/180	19-Feb-03	43-5-28-33
24	Jack Bar	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/190	24-Oct-02	32-5-10-15
25	Corson Ceulemans	D	Brooks (AJHL)	6-1/190	5-May-03	8-4-7-11
26	Simon Robertsson	RW	Skelleftea (SHL)	6-0/190	5-Feb-03	22-1-1-2
27	Ayrton Martino	LW	Omaha (USHL)	5-10/170	28-Sep-02	36-18-36-54
28	Zachary L'Heureux	LW	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-11/195	15-May-03	33-19-20-39
29	Xavier Bourgault	C	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-0/170	22-Oct-02	29-20-20-40
30	Stanislav Svozil	D	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-1/180	17-Jan-03	30-1-2-3
31	Ville Koivunen	LW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-11/160	13-Jun-03	38-23-26-49
32	Brennan Othmann	LW	Olten (Sui 2)	5-11/170	5-Jan-03	34-7-9-16