Ryan MacInnis – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Columbus Blue Jackets Top 20 Prospects

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 12:54:28 +0000

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

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

The focal point of Foudy’s game is his skating ability. A former track star, he shows an explosiveness that would put him into the upper echelon of NHL players. This year he learned to use that speed to be effective without the puck. He works hard to recover dump-ins, force turnovers on the forecheck, and apply pressure on the backcheck, making him a complete two-way player. Offensively, there may still be some limitations. His shot remains average. While his ability to maintain possession through cuts at top speed has improved, his vision and decision making can leave some to be desired. Turnovers can be a part of his game when he tries to force his way into the offensive zone or to the net. While these issues may ultimately limit his NHL potential to that of middle six forward, he still projects as a very valuable player who can provide versatility. He should be able to play as a top penalty killer, and work to open up ice for his linemates. His pace of play will be a major asset in today’s NHL. - BO

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

One of the top young forwards in Russia, Marchenko is coming off a strong season. At 6-2”, he has the size and skill package which all NHL teams are looking for from potential top six wingers. As an offensive player, he is the complete package. He skates well, especially when it comes to using his edgework to create shooting opportunities. He has the skill and creativity to play through traffic and be consistently dangerous. His shot is high end. He sees the ice well as a playmaker. When the puck is not on his stick, that is where Marchenko’s game will need to grow before he can become an impact NHL player. Improving his engagement level in all three zones, and improving his awareness defensively will be key to his development and it will be interesting to see if he can round out his game in the KHL over the next few seasons. He recently signed an extension in the KHL with SKA that will keep him in the KHL until after the 2021-22 season. - BO

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Peeke is a big bodied blueliner capable of playing both a strong offensive game and a good defensive game. Although not completely offensively minded, he knows when to pinch low or when to jump in on a play which is what makes him fit in perfectly with the way Columbus’ defensive system is structured. He can shoot and has a good eye for making lead passes and back door plays allowing him to both start a rush and finish one as well. Peeke can play it a little too safe at times, preferring to stay in one spot on the blueline instead of keeping mobile, which could help his vision and give him more passing options. Keeping his feet moving and straying away from one horizontal line will be his go-to improvement project and once he acts on it he should be able to gain more confidence and up his assists column a little. Peeke is an asset on the blueline, with size, a shot, and a good head on his shoulders. - SC

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

A big-bodied center, Voronkov plays a solid two-way game. He moves surprisingly well given his frame, especially in a straight line. He is a powerful skater and tough to stop when he accelerates with the puck. He has a long reach and uses his body well to protect the puck, not only along the boards and in the corners, but also when taking pucks towards the net. It is difficult to take the puck away from him when he is skating at full speed. He provides excellent net front presence and scores many of his goals from point blank range. He also finishes his checks with regularity. He is purposeful and gets to the areas that matter. He plays an active game away from the puck and takes away time and space from opponents. Offensively he keeps his game rather simple and does not try to complicate things. He is not particularly creative or flashy, but he has skill to make plays and contribute. Voronkov’s style of play seems perfectly suited for North American rinks. - MB

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Fix-Wolansky may be small, but he packs quite the punch when it comes to carrying the puck and finding open space. He has made the adjustments to his offensive game in order to know what works for him when with the puck or without. He skates well, has good hands, and has the hockey sense to make him a threat and keep him safe when on the forecheck. He is also capable of scoring equally as much as creating scoring chances for his teammates, which is part of what makes him so fun to watch. Fix-Wolansky needed time last season to adjust to the speed at which offensive plays are made. He will need to keep his feet moving and stay sharper in his own end in order to improve his overall game and production. He is a testament to the fact that successful players do not all embody one mold, and that skill and hockey sense play a much bigger role than size in the modern game. - SC

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Tarasov had a decent season with Ässät in the Liiga. He came to Finland with high expectations and made strides as the season progressed. There were some games where he was excellent, but on the other hand, he also had mediocre performances. He didn’t make a whole lot of timely saves that could have changed the outcome of games. But when he is on his game, it is extremely difficult to score on him. Tarasov is an athletic goalie who relies a lot on his quick reflexes. He has quick legs and moves well across the crease but needs to develop the technical side of his game. When the play is more at the other end of the ice and there are fewer shots, he occasionally allows some soft goals. Tarasov has a lot of ability and potential, but he will need a strong goalie coach who puts in the work to help him improve upon his weaknesses. - MB

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

As a backup goaltender in the AHL, Kivlieniks did well in a part-time role, interestingly, his early-season crease-mate was one of the only other Latvian players and goalies in the NHL system. Kivlieniks is not the biggest goaltender size-wise but he knows how to cover his net and has a good head on his shoulders when it comes to positioning and being able to anticipate plays. He remains calm and collected in high stress situations and is capable of keeping a relatively level head after a bad goal or bad play. He will have to work a little on playing the puck and getting across the crease faster in terms of his pushing and strength. However, he still has a bright future ahead of him and tough competition as a rising goaltender in Columbus’ system, so much so that his play has elicited rumors that the organization could deal away one of their NHL netminders to give Kivlienks a bigger chance. With his determination and focus he can certainly become a starting goalie at some point, opportunity-permitting. – SC

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Our highest ranked undrafted player from our 2019 guide – by far – Chinakhov responded to the snub by laying the Russian junior league to waste, finishing fifth in the league scoring race. He has also bulked up allowing his plus puck skills to play up and to get into better positions for his fine wrist shot. He didn’t stop there, though, as he took advantage of the Russian league’s status as first to restart and parlayed a highly impressive KHL debut into first round pick status by the iconoclastic scouts of Columbus. We still have some concerns about his skating ability, in addition to his stature limiting his ability to play an inside game at the highest levels, but the remainder of his offensive tools all project as above average. Even with his warts, he plays a heady enough game to take advantage of the things he does well while minimizing his weaknesses. He should be able to contribute offensively once he comes over to North America but will need to prove that he will not require sheltering. - RW

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

For a younger goaltender, and one who’s rookie North American professional season was only last year, Vehvilainen’s development and composure were everything that Columbus could have hoped for. From the Finnish Liiga, he brought with him a calm sense of stability, focus, and athleticism. He sees the ice well and is across the net already anticipating plays before they happen, since his timing is good. A weak point is Vehilainen’s reliance on his lateral movement, meaning that he sometimes finds himself already down in the butterfly position before a shot has even hit him. He will need to rely on his experience and be more patient as to not jump on too many plays or over-compensate in any way. As the Cleveland Monsters starter last season, Vehvilainen has all the tools and had ice time he needs to grow into a starting goaltender for Columbus in the future as well. - SC

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

The first thing to be said about Thurkauf is the fact that, yes, he still has prospect eligibility even though he does not currently have a contract with the Blue Jackets and has decided to go back home to his birth country Switzerland to play in the NLA with EV Zug. That being said, it is unsure with the way hockey and the world is now if he will find his way back to Columbus or Cleveland for that matter. Thurkauf is a big forward whose ability to get to the net and find passing or shooting lanes is what makes him stand out. He needs to round out his game a bit more and find leverage in being more creative in his own end but overall, he offers enough to a team for there to be no complaints. That being said, Thurkauf could definitely find himself called up as a member of the Columbus bottom six and hold his own should the team re-assert its contractual rights to the hulking forward and bring him back in a post-pandemic world. - SC

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

It was certainly a bit of a rollercoaster of a season for Angle. For certain stretches of the season, he played at an elite level, but had trouble sustaining that week to week. However, for a seventh-round selection, the season had to be considered a success given some nice forward steps taken. Angle provides a high energy level and is always looking to lead the attack over the blueline, pushing the pace and driving the middle. He excels with the puck on his stick and looked much quicker this season, both in terms of quickness and processing ability. With greater confidence, he was able to be the focal point for Windsor’s attack on a lot of nights. His creativity and puck skill is high and he keeps his feet moving without the puck, always hunting down scoring chances. For Angle, and the entire Windsor roster for that matter, it is simply about sustaining production and effectiveness over longer stretches. Going into his overage season, Angle’s production should increase again as he continues to get stronger, quicker, and more confident. His projection remains as a middle six playmaker. - BO

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Next season will be the year for MacInnis, who is coming up on aging out of prospect eligibility and running short on time, to make an impact enough to earn an NHL roster spot. This past season, he finally made an impact and was pushed hard enough by management to produce for the Cleveland Monsters and prove to the Columbus staff that he deserved a chance. He finished second in team points for Cleveland and earned time on both special teams’ units, predominantly their powerplay, where his playmaking ability was on full display. Although not the fastest or most skillful player to watch, MacInnis is a big body and a hard forward to stop when he has the puck. He is a good two-way player and contributes well in all areas of the ice. That being said he would do well to put the finishing touches on his potential to earn a bottom six spot with the Blue Jackets. - SC

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Yet another late round pick trending in the right direction for Columbus. Berni had already both appeared in one WJC and had some experience playing against men when he was drafted, spending most of his U18 year in Switzerland’s second highest men’s league. Since then, he has spent two seasons up in the NLA, and appeared in two more WJCs for Switzerland, playing bigger roles – and more successfully – at each level, year-over-year. A heads up puck mover with strong skating ability, Berni lacks the dynamic skill set to be much more than a decent #5 at the NHL level, and his point shot all but precludes usage on the power play, but he plays a mature enough game that he could be trusted to eat his share of minutes and not need to be shielded against tougher competition. He should also be tested on the PK, where he played regularly for the Swiss WJC team and where he could provide more value to his team. - RW

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

When Karlberg played with U20 national team last July and August he was flying on the ice and looked great. He did not earn a spot on the SHL roster though and had a weird season playing another year in junior although being overqualified. Leksand was the dominant team in SuperElit even without him. The SHL team, on the other hand, was a bottom team with pressured coaches who preferred playing veterans. Karlberg was loaned out to Allsvenskan, but to by far worst team in Allsvenskan and had a tough time there as well. He was also cut for the Swedish WJC roster. Karlberg has nice hands and speed. He plays a bit too much on the outside but is a good playmaker and he has a good shot. I don’t see top six forward potential but with good work ethic I can see being a good third line winger and penalty killer with his speed. He has an SHL contract in place for next season. - JH

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Hjorth came pretty much as advertised in his first OHL season with Sarnia. The big, 6-3” defender has some projectable skills (big point shot, improving mobility, creativity and skill), however he remains a work in progress as he learns to harness and utilize his skill set effectively. In particular, his decision making will need to improve at both ends of the ice. While Sarnia struggled as a team defensively, Hjorth looked uncertain at times and coverage issues and turnovers were too prominent. However, it is important to remember that he was coming off a lost season due to injuries and was thrown into the fire on a weaker team. It will be very interesting to see how much his game can progress next season as he is now fully healthy and should have a greater confidence level due to his familiarity with the league and his teammates. Given the raw nature of his game, he is a long ways away from making an impact in the NHL, but as mentioned, he possesses the potential to be a second or third pairing defender somewhere down the line if his game continues to improve and evolve. - BO

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Christansen requires some caution when looking at his eye-popping numbers this past season. As a 20-year-old with a relatively small sample size of just 38 games, his production rates need to be viewed with some skepticism. That isn’t to say he is not a solid contributor but rather his offensive outburst needs to be tempered. The positives are his impressive shot rate at just over five shots per game, his continuous improvement in all metrics: goals/game, assist/game, points/game, and minutes/game across each season, showing a steady growth pattern throughout his junior career. He does not have a dynamic aspect to his game. He plays a good brand of physical hockey; he is a decent play maker and has a pretty good shot. He is a project that will need to round out his overall game with a few seasons in the minors before the NHL becomes a possibility. – VG

Kole Sherwood, RW (Undrafted Free Agent: Jul. 7, 2015. Previous ranking: 17)

The first Columbus area native to be signed by the Blue Jackets, Sherwood has developed enough to find himself regularly under consideration whenever the NHL team needs an injury replacement. Even though his second professional season saw his already low offensive contributions take a tumble, he still managed to appear in three games. He has a solid figure, and all of his tools project to at least average potential, but nothing really seems like it can eclipse that low ceiling. He is aggressive and plays with his heart on his sleeve, which can be endearing, even if he is unlikely to ever receive a long-term NHL contract. Having been loaned out to KHL side Kunlun Red Star for the duration of the pandemic pause, Sherwood should be in line to once again receive NHL action this year. To start to see more regular time in the NHL, he will need to begin showing more than just grit in the AHL. - RW

Samuel Johannesson, D (176^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ignored in his first season of draft eligibility, Johannesson moved up from the Swedish junior ranks to the SHL partway through last season and more than held his own, even if he could not replicate his big partial season offensive numbers from the SuperElit. The right-handed blueliner is on the smaller side, but is a fine skater, and plays a very mature game. His reads are beyond his years and he is a skilled puck mover. His hockey IQ allows him to remain calm when the going gets rough and be trusted in numerous situations. Unfortunately, Johannesson has not been given as frequent an opportunity to prove himself in the SHL so far this year, as his ice time over three minutes per game through his first 11 matches. He does not have a top four ceiling, but his combination of attributes, especially the skating, puck moving and brains, make a depth defenseman outcome reasonable, which is as much as anyone could hope for out of the sixth round. - RW

Samuel Knazko, D (78^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A long-time stalwart for Slovakia’s age-based national teams, Knazko is now in his third season of development in Finland’s top junior league, ignoring the siren song of the CHL, where he has been a first round pick in the Import Draft for two years running – his CHL rights are currently held by the Seattle Thunderbirds. As solid as he has been in the Finnish juniors, his overall game presents questions as to what type of player he could become, making his selection in the third round by the Blue Jackets, perhaps even more head scratching than their first round pick of Yegor Chinakhov. Outside of his ability to read the game, none of his tools really sticks out. Even though he was given a big role for Slovakia at the most recent WJC (in addition to other big tournaments) the step up in competition hampered his effectiveness. One would like to see him either move to the CHL, or push his way into the Liiga, as his continued development seems to require a better level of opponent. - RW

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A big Norwegian with two years of North American hockey under his belt, Bjorgvik Holm made the jump from 16U Tier I hockey in Colorado to the OHL, with only two games in the USHL to ease the transition. Prior to that, he was still playing in Norway, and taking on similar importance to their national programs as Knazko did for Slovakia’s. It was easy to see how raw he was last year, prone to rushing pucks wildly out of the defensive zone with only marginal applied pressure. He skates quite well for his size, and knows how to use his size, while showing just enough flashes of adequacy with the puck to be hopeful of more with added higher-level experience. To that effect, he has returned to Norway for the duration of the pandemic, and through the first roughly ten games of the men’s league season, was among the top scoring blueliners in the nation. Take that with however much salt you need, but it isn’t bad. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 27

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 15:57:24 +0000

Columbus Blue Jackets

Starting with the bad news, the Blue Jackets own only five picks in the 2020 draft, as their second round pick belongs to Ottawa as a remnant from the Ryan Dzingel trade last year while their third rounder will go to LA, via Ottawa and Toronto, stemming from the Ian Cole trade. There was a chance that Columbus would pick up an extra second rounder as a result of a conditional deal, but Markus Hannikainen did not play in ten games for the Arizona Coyotes this year (he didn’t play a single NHL game, in fact), so they are left with only a handful.

At least they still have their first rounder, though. The Blue Jackets have only had one first rounder in the past three draft classes (you can find his name first on the list below), and not only did they not pick on day one last year, but their entire draft class consisted of only three players, none picked in the top 100. So, we can state with some confidence that, should GM Jarmo Kekalainen not trade the pick, Columbus will likely find themselves with a new top prospect after the draft.

For optimists, we can note that Kekalainen has done a pretty good at the draft table since moderately stumbling with his first two draft classes in 2013 and 2014. And even that first class saw the team draft Alexander Wennberg and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The team has drafted well not just with their early picks (Pierre-Luc Dubois, Zach Werenski), but has also hit with some late rounders (Elvis Merzlikins, Vladislav Gavrikov, Markus Nutivaara). We also think enough of their three picks from last year, that each one has found a home in the current top 15.

For pessimists, noting that two fourth rounders and a seventh rounder from 12 months prior are all rated in the top 15 prospects of this team is also a consequence of having an empty shelf. One of those three, Russian winger Dmitri Voronkov looks like a genuine keeper, thanks to spending his entire age 19 season in the KHL and featuring an explosive performance at the WJC, but the other two are still very much considered depth prospects and would be likely not to make the cut on most other lists in this guide.

This lack of depth stems directly from the organization’s decision to go for broke last year. They traded away seven future draft picks (two of which will still be due after the 2020 draft is in the books), and a couple of solid prospects to give their team – middling as it was – a better chance in the 2019 postseason, acquiring Matt Duchene, Dzingel, Ian Cole, Adam McQuaid, and others, to strengthen their presumptive playoff push. The 2019 playoffs were critical for the organization as stars Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin were both pending UFAs and neither was looking likely to return.

Now, teams do not typically raise banners for winning a playoff round, but it is also fair to note that Kekalainen’s ploy worked. The Blue Jackets won the franchise’s first ever playoff round, with perhaps the most stunning upset in the history of the NHL, sweeping the top seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. And with Bobrovsky and Panarin now gone, the team is still competitive, even if they lack the high-end skill players that most competitive teams seem to have in abundance.

Columbus will need to keep hitting on their late rounders and free talent pickups to remain competitive until they start keeping their full slate of draft picks again – or better yet, acquiring extra picks.

Liam Foudy of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

The captain of the London Knights had a terrific final year in the OHL that also saw him capture gold with Canada at the WJC’s, and play his first couple NHL games. With the progression he has shown and with a pro ready game, it is not unfathomable to believe that Foudy can step right into an NHL role next season without playing in the AHL.

Of course, the focal point of his game is his skating ability. A former track star, Foudy is electric on the ice, showing an explosiveness that would put him into the upper echelon of NHL players, let alone OHL players. What he did this year was learn to use that speed to be effective without the puck; a key to his development. He works hard to recover dump-ins, force turnovers on the forecheck, and apply pressure on the backcheck. One could now classify Foudy as a very complete two-way player.

Offensively, there may still be some limitations. His shot remains average. While his ability to maintain possession through cuts at top speed has improved, his vision and decision making can leave some to be desired. Turnovers can be a part of his game when he tries to force his way into the offensive zone or to the net.

While these issues may ultimately limit his NHL potential to that of middle six forward, he still projects as a very valuable player who can provide versatility to the Columbus coaching staff; something that was evident in his brief two game emergency call up this season. He should be able to play as a top penalty killer, and work to open up ice for his linemates. Bottom line; his pace of play will be a major asset in today’s NHL. - BO

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

One of the top young forwards in Russia, Marchenko is coming off a strong season that has helped to solidify his status as a top NHL prospect. He was one of the best rookies in the KHL, had a tremendous first round in the KHL playoffs, and was one of Russia’s best players at this year’s World Junior Championships. At 6-2”, he has the size and skill package which all NHL teams are looking for from potential top six wingers.

As an offensive player, Marchenko is the complete package. He skates well, especially when it comes to using his edgework to create shooting opportunities. He has the skill and creativity to play through traffic and be consistently dangerous. His shot is high end. He sees the ice well as a playmaker. He is simply a very well-rounded offensive player. When the puck is not on his stick, that is where Marchenko’s game will need to grow before he can become an impact NHL player.

Improving his engagement level in all three zones and improving his awareness defensively will be key to his development and it will be interesting to see if he can round out his game in the KHL over the next few seasons. He recently signed an extension in the KHL with SKA that will keep him in the KHL until after the 2021-22 season. Columbus fans will need to be patient; however the wait could be worth it as it is highly likely that Marchenko is ready to step into a top six role for 2022-23. - BO

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Andrew Peek #2 of the Columbus Blue Jackets (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

During the 2020 playoffs it was evident that the Blue Jackets were reliant on two main defensemen in Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, seeing as how Jones played around thirty minutes or more per game. The Jackets could use some fresher young talent and that is where former Notre Dame captain, defenseman Andrew Peeke comes into play. Peeke is a big bodied blueliner capable of playing both a strong offensive game and a good defensive game. Although not completely offensively minded, he knows when to pinch low or when to jump in on a play which is what makes him fit in perfectly with the way Columbus’ defensive system is structured.

He can shoot and has a good eye for making lead passes and back door plays allowing him to both start a rush and finish one as well. Peeke can play it a little too safe at times, preferring to stay in one spot on the blueline instead of keeping mobile, which could help his vision and give him more passing options. Keeping his feet moving and straying away from one horizontal line will be his go-to improvement project and once he acts on it, he should be able to gain more confidence and up his assists column a little. Peeke is an asset on the blueline, with size, a shot, and a good head on his shoulders. He would make a good permanent addition to the Blue Jackets bottom four at some point in the near future. - SC

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Voronkov earned a regular spot in the KHL in 2019-20 after spending the majority of his previous season in the VHL, the second-highest Russian league. His ice-time increased as the KHL season progressed and he averaged almost 13 minutes per game by the playoffs. The big-bodied center plays a solid two-way game. He moves surprisingly well given his frame, especially in a straight line. He is a powerful skater and tough to stop when he accelerates with the puck. He has a long reach and uses his body well to protect the puck, not only along the boards and in the corners, but also when taking pucks towards the net. It is difficult to take the puck away from him when he is skating at full speed.

He provides excellent net front presence and scores many of his goals from point blank range. He also finishes his checks with regularity. He is purposeful and gets to the areas that matter. He plays an active game away from the puck and takes away time and space from opponents. Offensively he keeps his game rather simple and does not try to complicate things. He is not particularly creative or flashy, but he has skill to make plays and contribute. Voronkov’s style of play seems perfectly suited for North American rinks – it will be interesting to monitor his development as he begins his second KHL season with Ak Bars Kazan. The Columbus Blue Jackets should be very excited about the progress of their fourth-round pick. - MB

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 13: Trey Fix-Wolansky #64 of the Columbus Blue Jackets (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Based on size alone, Fix-Wolansky can be compared to a younger Alex DeBrincat due to their small, compact size and agile skating ability, although the Blue Jackets prospect is actually a little smaller than the Blackhawks’ scoring winger. Fix-Wolansky may be small, but he packs quite the punch when it comes to carrying the puck and finding open space. He has made the proper adjustments to his offensive game in order to know what works for him when with the puck or without. He skates well, has good hands and has the hockey sense to make him a threat and keep him safe when on the forecheck.

He is also capable of scoring equally as much as setting up scoring chances for his teammates, which is part of what makes him so fun to watch. Fix-Wolansky’s +/- suffered this past season with the AHL Cleveland Monsters during his rookie season as he adjusted to the speed at which offensive plays are made. He will need to keep his feet moving and stay sharper in his own end when it comes to next season in order to improve his overall game and production.

He is a testament to the fact that successful players do not all embody one mold, and that skill and hockey sense play a much bigger role than size in the modern game. With the right determination and improvements in his defensive game, Fix-Wolansky could see some ice time as part of the Blue Jackets bottom six as early as next season which is quite the feat for a seventh round pick, no matter how tall. - SC

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

Tarasov is an athletic goalie who relies a lot on his quick reflexes. He has quick legs and moves well across the crease but needs to develop the technical side of his game. When the play is more at the other end of the ice and there are fewer shots, he occasionally allows some soft goals. Tarasov has a lot of ability and potential, but he will need a strong goalie coach who puts in the work to help him improve upon his weaknesses. - MB

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

As a backup goaltender in the AHL, Kivlenieks did well in a part-time role, interestingly, his early-season crease-mate was one of the only other Latvian players and goalies in the NHL system. Kivlenieks is not the biggest goaltender size-wise but he knows how to cover his net and has a good head on his shoulders when it comes to positioning and being able to anticipate plays. He remains calm and collected in high stress situations and is capable of keeping a relatively level head after a bad goal or bad play.

He will have to work a little on playing the puck and getting across the crease faster in terms of his pushing and strength. However, he still has a bright future ahead of him and tough competition as a rising goaltender in Columbus’ system, so much so that his play has elicited rumors that the organization could deal away one of their NHL netminders to give Kivlenieks a bigger chance. With his determination and focus he can certainly become a starting goalie at some point, opportunity-permitting. - SC

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

A weak point is Vehilainen’s reliance on his lateral movement, meaning that he sometimes finds himself already down in the butterfly position before a shot has even hit him. He will need to rely on his experience and be more patient as to not jump on too many plays or over-compensate in any way. As the Cleveland Monsters starter last season, Vehvilainen has all the tools and had ice time he needs to grow into a starting goaltender for Columbus in the future as well. - SC

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Thurkauf is a big forward whose ability to get to the net and find passing or shooting lanes is what makes him stand out. He needs to round out his game a bit more and find leverage in being more creative in his own end but overall, he offers enough to a team for there to be no complaints. That being said, Thurkauf could definitely find himself called up as a member of the Columbus bottom six and hold his own should the team re-assert its contractual rights to the hulking forward and bring him back in a post-pandemic world. - SC

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 16)

With greater confidence, he was able to be the focal point for Windsor’s attack on a lot of nights. His creativity and puck skill are high and he keeps his feet moving without the puck, always hunting down scoring chances. For Angle, and the entire Windsor roster for that matter, it is simply about sustaining production and effectiveness over longer stretches. Going into his overage season, Angle’s production should increase again as he continues to get stronger, quicker, and more confident. His projection remains as a middle six playmaker. - BO

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Next season will be the year for MacInnis, who is coming up on aging out of prospect eligibility and running short on time to make an impact enough to earn an NHL roster spot. This past season, he finally made an impact and was pushed hard enough by management to produce for the Cleveland Monsters and prove to the Columbus staff that he deserved a chance. He finished second in team points for Cleveland and earned time on both special teams’ units, predominantly their powerplay, where his playmaking ability was on full display.

Although not the fastest or most skillful player to watch, MacInnis is a big body and a hard forward to stop when he has the puck. He is a good two-way player and contributes well in all areas of the ice. That being said he would do well to put the finishing touches on his potential to earn a bottom six spot with the Blue Jackets. - SC

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

A heads up puck mover with strong skating ability, Berni lacks the dynamic skill set to be much more than a decent #5 at the NHL level, and his point shot all but precludes usage on the power play, but he plays a mature enough game that he could be trusted to eat his share of minutes and not need to be shielded against tougher competition. He should also be tested on the PK, where he played regularly for the Swiss WJC team and where he could provide more value to his team. - RW

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

The SHL team, on the other hand, was a bottom team with pressured coaches who preferred playing veterans. Karlberg was loaned out to Allsvenskan, but to by far worst team in Allsvenskan and had a tough time there as well. He was also cut for the Swedish WJC roster.

Karlberg has nice hands and speed. He plays a bit too much on the outside but is a good playmaker and he has a good shot. I don’t see top six forward potential but with good work ethic I can see being a good third line winger and penalty killer with his speed. He has an SHL contract in place for next season. - JH

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)

It will be very interesting to see how much his game can progress next season as he is now fully healthy and should have a greater confidence level due to his familiarity with the league and his teammates. Given the raw nature of his game, he is a long ways away from making an impact in the NHL, but as mentioned, he possesses the potential to be a second or third pairing defender somewhere down the line if his game continues to improve and evolve. - BO

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

he positives are his impressive shot rate at just over 5 shots per game, his continuous improvement in all metrics: goals/game, assist/game, points/game, and minutes/game across each season, showing a steady growth pattern throughout his junior career. He does not have a dynamic aspect to his game. He plays a good brand of physical hockey; he is a decent play maker and has a pretty good shot. He is a project that will need to round out his overall game with a few seasons in the minors before the NHL becomes a possibility. - VG

Arizona – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 20:11:28 +0000

As one of the first teams to whole-heartedly embrace analytics as a driving factor in team building, the Coyotes have been a fascinating case study on how to acquire prospects under the new-aged rubrics.

The analytics era in Arizona can be directly traced to the hiring of John Chayka as General Manager in May 2016, approximately one month prior to the 2016 Entry Draft. Between his two draft classes, the Coyotes have added 14 players to the system, five in his first go round and nine this summer. It is clearly too early to come to any sort of conclusion, but there are some patterns that can be discerned in the tea leaves.

Before we look too closely into the Chayka drafts, we should recap how the team had previously made their selections, as a number of players featured on their top 20 are from previous draft classes. In the two draft classes before Chayka (BC), the Coyotes selected 18 players, 11 of whom were taken out of the CHL, three out of the US National Development Program, and the other four all out of Sweden. The forwards all had two-way ability in addition to above average offensive production as juniors, while the defensemen were rarely drafted at all – only three in the last two years of BC drafting.

Looking at that last note, it seems that one of the first commitments of the Analysts Draft (AD) era in Arizona has been to add positional balance to the system, using nine of the first 14 AD picks on blueliners. With one very notable exception, the forwards drafted have been as noteworthy for their unrealized tools as for previous production.

As for the AD defensemen drafted, they can be characterized by above average skating at minimum, relatively mature hockey sense and, like their forward brethren, toolsiness. It is still too early to analyze the Coyotes’ AD strategy for goalie development, as they had not drafted any, but have acquired two from the collegiate ranks, one as a free agent and one in trade for one of the forwards drafted BC. AD drafts have also stuck with Sweden as the only geographical talent overseas from which they have selected, which could be a function of available scouts, but is more likely a matter of small sample sizes. That said, they have been very open to drafting from lower profile amateur leagues in North America, having selected players from the OJHL, MJHL, and CCHL, in addition to the non-USNTDP portion of the USHL, demonstrating a belief in player characteristics being able to trump the more easily projectable numbers accrued in the well-scouted CHL leagues.

As a result of these four draft classes, both BC and AD, as well as the other means of prospect acquisition employed by both regimes, the Coyotes have a system mixed with both past production and projections for future production. The team has high end athleticism as well as heightened hockey sense. For an organization whose NHL roster is still being roughed into shape, there will be a lot of options available internally depending on how specific players develop in juniors, college, Europe or the AHL and how openings arise at the NHL level. At least a few spots should open up this year, which leads us to the two players most likely to gobble them up.

Clayton Keller

1 Clayton Keller – The early front-runner for the 2017 Calder Trophy, Keller is a magical puck player. He has breakaway speed, but can change up his gears in order to fool opposing defenders, or to help create a gap for hitting a teammate in stride. His offensive vision is near elite and he adds high-end agility to his speed to keep his body safe from bigger players. After excelling at the USNTDP, he barely needed one dominant season with BU before turning pro. His two assists in his first three games with the Coyotes are a nice preview of what is to come.

HELSINKI, FINLAND - DECEMBER 26: Canada's Dylan Strome #9 celebrates after scoring Team Canada's second goal of the game during preliminary round action at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

2 Dylan Strome – He was never as good as former Erie teammate Connor McDavid, nor the 2015 2nd overall pick Jack Eichel, and his career has not taken off like pick #4 Mitch Marner, but Strome is definitively not a bust. He has improved his skating to the average level. Everything else is plus-plus. He has an elite shot with power, speed and timing. He is a top tier playmaker and very good in the faceoff circle. If Keller is the Calder frontrunner, Strome is close behind.

3 Nick Merkley – While Strome’s failure to immediately launch into the stratosphere is not a disappointment, Merkley’s relative stagnation has been. Drafted late in the 2015 first round as a skilled, agitating big moment player, he seriously hurt his knee in his post draft year and has not really returned to previous levels. That said, he still has plus hands and is a very skilled puck mover. His edge work also still flashes plus. He is ready for pro hockey.

4 Christian Fischer – A strong skater for a wide body, Fischer has impressive jump. Like those ranked above him in this list, he sees the ice very well and can execute tricky and creative passes. Unlike those others, the big winger is more a goal scorer than a playmaker. He goes to the net and can beat most goalies with his sharp wrist shot from the slot area on in. While his AHL rookie numbers were strong, he needs to cut down on forcing plays, which lead to too many turnovers.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph

5 Pierre-Olivier Joseph – Tall and very lanky, Pierre-Olivier is the younger brother of Tampa Bay prospect Mathieu Joseph. He is an exceptional skater with a keen understanding of the game and high-end athleticism. He clearly needs to add weight to his 6-2”, 165 frame, but his smarts, skating and ability to play the puck will allow him to play a critical two-way blueline role wherever he plays on his way up the hockey ladder. His development will not be quick, but his upside is quite high.

6 Kyle Wood – Among rookie defenders in the AHL, Wood finished third in scoring with 43 points, including 14 goals. Including all of the top 20 scoring AHL rookies, none had a worse +/- than Wood’s -23. While he has elite size, a booming point shot and is comfortable and precise with the puck, Wood has one glaring deficiency to his game and that is skating. He has slow feet and poor acceleration. Will always need to be sheltered.

7 Brandon Hickey – After rebounding from a down sophomore year (offensively, at least) Hickey was dealt by Calgary to Arizona in the days leading up to the draft as the main part of the package that sent starting goalie Mike Smith to Alberta. Quicker than fast, Hickey plays with good alertness in his own zone, allowing him to pick off many a loose pass or from sloppy stickwork. He has a decent enough shot to profile on a second power play unit, but his best work is in his own zone.

8 MacKenzie Entwistle – A high-risk, high-reward projection pick, the Coyotes selected Entwistle in the third round this year after a stellar WU18 tournament put a bow on what was otherwise a disappointing draft year with Hamilton in the OHL between injury and lack of production. He is an above average skater who has decent puck protection skills, but struggled to convert that into good scoring opportunities in league play. With some offensive refinement, could be a two-way threat.

9 Filip Westerlund – A strong skater with great puck skills for a blueliner, as well as high hockey IQ. In spite of those gifts, it is easy to underrate Westerlund as he is quite undersized and has a weak shot from the point. He will be a more effective skater for his real NHL team than for fantasy hockey players. In other words, he will be key in getting the puck out of his own zone, but once in the offensive end, he will mostly leave it to his teammates.

10 Conor Garland – After leading the CHL in points in two consecutive seasons with Moncton, Garland struggled to reach the scoresheet in his first pro season with Tucson. With his diminutive stature, he can sneak up on people, and when he is on his game, can be a pest. He is an active puck hunter in his own zone and has plus hand-eye coordination. He tries to make up in bravery what he lacks in size/strength, but he is easily nullified when he spends too much time in the dirty areas of the ice.

11 Adin Hill – Although the raw numbers behind Adin Hill’s first pro season do not stick out, particularly after a rougher go of things in the season’s second half, he was Tucson’s most reliable (if not consistent) goaltender across the grand scheme of the season. He is a calm netminder who limits second chances and is unfazed by heavy traffic or a heavy workload. The Coyotes brought in two other young goalies to compete for the title of “Goalie of the Future” in the desert, but Hill should still be the front-runner.

12 Kyle Capobianco – A decent two-way defenseman who spent his entire OHL career on a Sudbury team that was unable to rebuild competently, Capobianco has been their leading blueline scorer for each of the past three seasons. Although he skates well when underway, he is slow to transition. Further, his shot, while heavy, is too often off-target. He will be tested more seriously in his upcoming rookie pro season.

13 Noel Hoefenmayer – A bit under the radar with a middling Ottawa 67s team this year, Hoefenmayer took a big step forward in his draft year, impressing primarily with his hockey IQ and puck moving skills. His skating, particularly his turns, can let him down when it comes to dealing with speedy rushes down the wing. His shot is also a solid weapon, and he is able to hit the target from the point with any of his wrist, slap or snap shots.

14 Cam Dineen – After taking the brunt of a knee-on-knee hit in December, Dineen missed the second two-thirds of the season with an MCL injury. Despite his down numbers before the injury, his draft year performance should not be forgotten. He has significant offensive upside from the blueline with above-average mobility and puck skills. Also shows promise off the puck, despite his lack of size. His positioning is advanced and he has a knack for cutting down the passing lanes in his own end.

15 Nate Schnarr – Nate Schnarr bears more than passing resemblance to the aforementioned MacKenzie Entwistle, but without the standout performance at the WU18s. Physically gifted, with strong potential in both his shooting ability as well as his stickhandling skills, he was unable to get much going offensively with a putrid Guelph team this year. Tall, lanky, and very young, there could be much more here. Check back in a few years.

16 Patrick Kudla – Drafted as an overager out of Oakville in the OJHL, Kudla moved up the hockey ladder to play with Dubuque of the USHL, and was none the worse for wear in the new league. He took on a central role for the Fighting Saints, leading rushes, using his stick very well in the defensive zone, flashing a heavy slap shot. As an example of his two-way potential, Dubuque often used him on the wing in the second half of the season. He is going to continue his career next year with Arizona State.

17 Ryan MacInnis – The son of Hockey Hall of Famer Al MacInnis, Ryan MacInnis is, to be both fair and blunt, not the player his father was. A versatile forward, he was a decent scorer at the OHL level, although never elite in that regard. In his first professional season, he looked lost more often than not. While his wheels are above average, particularly in terms of straight-ahead speed, the pace of the game seemed to be faster than he could process. He needs to step up in his sophomore campaign.

18 Merrick Madsen – One of the two collegiate goalies brought in this offseason to challenge Adin Hill for future starts in Arizona, Madsen has been very strong for the past three seasons with Harvard, taking the team to the Frozen Four as a junior this year. Physically resembling Matt Murray (very tall very lean), he reads plays well and has good balance. His athleticism is only moderate and he needs improvement in his technical game, but there are the seeds of an NHL netminder here.

19 Jalen Smereck – An unheralded defenseman with Bloomington of the USHL during his first draft year, Smereck moved north of the border to play in the OHL and the gamble paid off. After one solid season in Oshawa, he was offered an ELC by Arizona after a strong rookie camp. His follow-up OHL season, now with Flint, was even more impressive. Never the biggest, and sometimes rough on his feet, he has a strong shot and is tough to play against in his own zone.

20 Tyler Steenbergen – An undersized one-way player in his first draft year, Steenbergen exploded for 50 goals in his second draft eligible year in Swift Current, earning the chance to hear his name called by Arizona in the fifth round. In a draft class characterized by tools over production, Steenbergen was the exception for the Coyotes. His game is based on offense, but he has made strides in his own zone, particularly in terms of positioning.

Having taken a portfolio approach to player acquisition since taking over the helm, GM John Chayka now has player types available for all occasions in the system. The cream of their crop – Keller and Strome – should be in the NHL right away, but the battle of attrition to be among that second wave of graduating prospects should make for a better NHL team in the near future.

NHL Prospect Watch: Arizona Coyotes

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 12:01:59 +0000

For a team as perpetually downtrodden as the Arizona Coyotes, it may be temporarily disheartening to see their AHL so dysfunctional. The Springfield Falcons 0.445 points percentage through games of March 2 ranks 27th across the junior circuit. Thankfully, that should by no means indicate that the Coyotes are without prospects. The same reasons that Hockey Prospectus ranked their prospect pipeline fifth overall in the offseason are still in abundance, even with the graduations of Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Louis Domingue and Klas Dahlbeck, all four of whom were considered top ten prospects in the system, as well as the trade of #10 man Lucas Lessio to Montreal. The simple fact is that the vast majority of the Coyotes prospect wealth lies further away from the NHL.

The AHL team is mostly made up of grinders and journeymen. The only former first rounder who has spent the majority of his season in Springfield is winger Henrik Samuelsson and the only second rounder is fellow forward Laurent Dauphin. I believed at the time and still believe today that both players were overdrafts where they were selected. Dauphin, in his first full year as a professional, has struggled to adapt to the faster pace of the AHL game, with only 7 goals and 14 points thus far to his name. He is getting some PK time and tries in the defensive end, but much of that effort seems aimless, almost false hustle. He could make it in the NHL, but as a bottom line forward.

Henrik Samuelsson, along with his brother Philip, a blueliner, are the two most intriguing prospects playing for the Falcons. Henrik has missed a large portion of this season to injury, but returned to action a week or two ago. He is a net front player with a strong and large frame. His snap shot is decent, but most of his points will come from tips, rebounds and shovels. He positions himself well to take advantage of loose pucks and his most notable attribute is his hockey intelligence, which is rather high. He profiles as a solid middle six winger.

Older brother Philip, acquired a few years ago in a trade with the Penguins, who drafted him in the third round, has the makings of a #4/5 defender. He can handle himself in his own zone, beginning the transition to offense through solid exit passes. His point shot is serviceable, but not of the caliber that would look right on an NHL power play. Similarly, his puck skills, whether stick handling or passing or OK, but no more than average. Like Henrik, Philip sticks out for his hockey IQ. More than likely, that is helped immensely by being raised by Ulf Samuelsson, who earned an NHL career of over 1,000 games. Looking at other brother/teammate pairings across the NHL, Philip Samuelsson may play his way into a career along the lines of Jordie Benn, but Henrik will not become Jamie Benn. More like a bigger Patrick Eaves.

Before looking at the cream of Arizona’s crop, residing in the junior ranks, we would be remiss not to mention a few NCAA players who have impressed this season. Connor Clifton is a little undersized, but has played an out-sized role in Quinnipiac’s rise to prominence as one of the most powerful collegiate teams. Clifton is a very physical player, adept at clearing a crease with a series of cross checks, or running an opponent into the boards with the impact of a knife spreading butter on toast. Clifton’s puck skills are somewhat limited, but he is mobile and makes a sound outlet pass. He slapshot is passable. Also notable is how he has severely cut down his penalty minutes while maintaining his aggressive game. As a freshman, he spent 106 minutes in the sin bin across 36 games. This year, through 34 games, he has only 36 penalty minutes.

Another college player for Coyotes’ fans to keep an eye on is Brendan Warren, one of their third rounders last year. A high energy, two-way player, Warren has earned a regular shift with a powerhouse Michigan squad and looks like he will increase his production with an increased role in subsequent seasons. Not physical, he manages to play hard, by not shying away from the dirty areas, willing to take a hit to make a play and showing a clear willingness to block shots. His skating is also above average, most notably for the quickness with which he reaches his top speed. Warren should spend at least two more seasons with the Wolverines, but should be a good one once it is time for him to turn pro.

The final collegiate player of note is UConn’s Maxim Letunov, acquired in trade from St. Louis at the 2015 trade deadline in the Zbynek Michalek deal. One of the top scorers in the USHL at the time of the trade, he has adjusted very well to the college game, with over one point per game as a freshman on a one-line team. That last point is important, as it means that opponents can gear up to stop Letunov and his linemate, 2016 draft prospect Tage Thompson, and are still relatively unsuccessful at it. Letunov can sometimes coast on the ice, but when he spots a seam, can quickly add a gear or two to his wheels and beat coverage. He sees the ice well and has a knack for finding gaps to exploit, which is also helped by his quick shot release. He has put on 15 pounds or so since he was drafted, but needs another 15-20 to withstand the rigors of the pro game.

The Coyotes of recent vintage have tended to focus their drafting strategy on the CHL ranks and it is no surprise that the bulk of their talent is developing in Canada. As much as I have enjoyed watching Nick Merkley play with Kelowna, I have little to say about him now, as he recently tore his ACL and is expected to be out for 6-8 months, putting his early 2016-17 season at risk. The top prospect in the system, considering the graduations mentioned above is last season’s third overall pick Dylan Strome. If anyone suspected that he ran up his point totals playing with Connor McDavid as a draft eligible I will remind them that he played on a different even strength line than Edmonton’s savior. Further, I would point out that he has actually increased his point production from 1.9 points per game last year to 1.96 now. That marginal increase may underwhelm, but the higher the starting point, the harder it is to continue to rise. Strome has an elite level wrist shot with plus marks for its power, command, release and timing. He is also a plus-plus playmaker, able to find passing lanes exceptionally well, even through heavy traffic. Never the quickest skater, he has improved in that facet of game and is at least average now. That said, his top shelf puck skills render that facet of his game less critical. Strome is a special player with first line center projections. He should be ready for the NHL next season.

Christian Dvorak is another high scoring forward in the OHL, who like Strome, has benefitted from playing with elite teammates, in his case, Mitch Marner of the London Knights. Like Strome again, Dvorak is not reliant on his talented mate, but has his own skills to propel him to production. Fast with plus acceleration, he has strong puck skills and the right blend of vision, patience and moxie to make defenders wary of him when he has the puck. He may need some AHL seasoning, but should be in the NHL within 12-18 months. For more on Dvorak, check out Dave Burstyn’s profile on him here.

Hockey Prospectus prospect analyst Craig Smith (@Red_Vikreig) has provided some notes on other Coyotes prospects kicking around the OHL and QMJHL. Brendan Perlini has been inconsistent in his final OHL campaign, but his best can be scary good. He uses his size very well to achieve position in the offensive end and drives the net with purpose, both by going wide or straight up the middle. With increased consistency, he still projects as a top six power forward.

Ryan MacInnis is another power forward who has made strides in his game. Not overly creative, he simply prefers going wide to the net. His skating is still a concern, as it is below average for the pro game, but his shot, like his Hall of Fame father, Al, is strong (although not as strong as his old man’s legendary cannon). MacInnis is a high hockey IQ player and is most effective when making simple plays. He has third line upside with a little polishing of his game and maybe an extra step.

QMJHL leading scorer Conor Garland was stolen in the fifth round last year, with most other clubs afraid to take a chance on the offensive dynamo due to his small stature (5-8”, 163). Small as he is, all he does is score. He is a technically strong skater, and has extremely high end puck skills and a playmaker’s approach to the game. His shot is not notable and his defensive game still needs work, but the things he does well, he does better than the overwhelming majority of teenaged players. Personally, I would love to see him on a line with Dylan Strome as their skill sets seem to complement one another very nicely.

Christian Fischer walked away from a college scholarship to join the Windsor Spitfires, where he has teamed up with Winnipeg prospect Brendan Lemieux and 2016 draft eligible Logan Brown to sit in the top ten in league scoring. Fischer is a powerful skater who is better in straight lines than weaving who forechecks hard and has soft hands. His shot is decent and his ceiling is still unknown. He could be a third liner or yet another top line power forward. Another year with the Spitfires will provide clarity.

I will finish with a few words about trade deadline acquisitions Connor Bleackley and Kyle Wood. Bleackley, a former first rounder of the Colorado Avalanche, was known more for his leadership skills than his hockey skills. A decent junior level player, he has not really developed in two years since being drafted and many insiders expect the Coyotes to not bother offering him a contract after this season, allowing him to re-enter the draft and taking the compensatory second round pick instead.

Kyle Wood, on the other hand, looks like a keeper. A big, big man, he lacks some skating ability, with questionable balance, and is prone to being turned around, but makes up for it in the other facets of his game. Wood has a huge shot and is an effective, if not very creative, passer. He is solid positionally, and although much continued development is required, there are enough signs here that he is decent likelihood of reaching the NHL.

OHL Prospect Watch: MacInnis good for Rangers

David Burstyn — Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:07:02 +0000

It may have taken Ryan MacInnis a little longer to figure it out in the OHL, however now in his third season he is turning into the player that the Kitchener Rangers believed he could be.

MacInnis played only one season with the U.S. National Team Development Program before joining the Rangers in his NHL draft-eligible season.

The son of NHL Hall of Famer Al MacInnis, Ryan has improved on his point totals each season and is poised to shatter his career-best 62 points from 2014-15. He sat among the OHL scoring leaders prior to departing for the World Juniors in mid-December with an impressive 20 goals in his first 28 games (28-20-23-43).

The Kitchener Rangers are one of the top teams in the entire CHL largely in part to MacInnis' outstanding play and the timely arrival of Jeremy Bracco. Bracco left Boston College just five games into his collegiate career this season and immediately stepped onto the first line upon arriving in Kitchener. The two have formed sensational chemistry together and especially on the power play.

Kitchener head coach Mike Van Ryn along with assistants Daniel Tkachuk and Jay McKee, all successful OHL alumni, have helped MacInnis round out his game as the new systems encourage more creativity which plays to the strengths of his game.

Always dangerous in front of the goal, MacInnis possesses lightning-quick hands and superb reach to dance around the opposition. With added size and strength, he is in a position to take better advantage and capitalize on the time and space he creates. At times though he is tagged with being too non-chalant - and of not exploiting his excellent size as much as he could. MacInnis continues to be a work in progress, albeit other areas of his game have improved and notably his footwork as he is not as cumbersome and has more fluidity in his skating mechanics.

He made Team USA for the World Juniors on his third attempt. His scorching start to the season forced USA Hockey to take notice after being one of the early cuts during the 2015 summer evaluation camps in Lake Placid.

Like father like son, Ryan recently surpassed 'Big Al' for most career games played with the Rangers by playing in his 157th game.

Here are notes and observations on some other OHL prospects on the McKeens watch list:

Joseph Raaymakers (2016), G, Sault Ste Marie

Raaymakers trailed only Dylan Wells last season for most games played as a rookie goalie by starting in 25 games. This season, he has split the duties with New York Rangers' second-rounder Brandon Halverson, however success has been harder to come by playing behind a defense that lost a number of top blueliners to graduation, most notably Darnell Nurse. An extremely quick goalie who oozes athleticism; Raaymakers displays impressive composure in his crease and sports a solid glove hand. His ability to handle and play the puck may be the best in the league, outside of Halverson. At times, he has a tendency to lose his position to shooters on breakaways and could afford to stay on his feet longer in those situations. A butterfly-style goalie who makes the most out of his modest size and would will benefit by getting to the top of the crease quicker to cut off angles.

Michael Pezzetta (2016), C, Sudbury

Sudbury's first-round OHL draft selection from 2014 (11th overall) is a gritty and gutsy competitor who owns a strong work ethic and makes the most out of his abilities. Not blessed with an abundance of skill, Pezzetta focuses on the little things such as playing physical and finishing all his checks to add value to the Wolves. He has seen spot duty on both the second and third lines but has been unable to manufacture offence as his hand skills are not quite refined enough. Skating is another area that needs improvement as he struggles to keep up and gets lost against faster teams. Pezzetta does a good job of taking the puck to the net, although usually at the cost of overlooking a better passing option - needs to let the puck do the work for him.

Markus Niemelainen (2016), D, Saginaw

Finnish-born defender was a first-round selection in the CHL Import Draft at 18th overall, and already plays on the top defensive pairing for the Spirit. A budding prospect due to his athleticism, ability to makes plays, and a gargantuan 6-foot-6 frame that has yet to fill out. It all adds up to some intriguing potential. Possessing excellent mobility for his size and combined with outstanding reach, accentuated thanks to a long stick, he is able to keep forwards at bay, although lacks the physical disposition to pin them down. Niemelainen needs to work on his timing, especially his gap control, which is a direct result of playing in a different league and still adjusting to the pace. His puck skills and vision are ahead of his peers as he rarely settles on the first option and does an admirable job patrolling the line on the power play.

Hayden Verbeek (2016), C, Sault Ste. Marie

Hailing from a hockey playing family as his brother Ryan plays for the Kingston Frontenacs and his uncle Pat is a decorated 20-year NHL pro. A spitfire of a player, Verbeek lays it all on the line and comes at opponents with a tireless work ethic and pesky approach. Boasts rat-like qualities as he is relentless on the forecheck and never stops competing regardless of the score. He is also a strong skater as well as a responsive player who understands what coaches expect of him. Last season, he earned the trust of head coach Sheldon Keefe and played in many situations that were still beyond his skill set. Not known for his offensive prowess, Verbeek has a difficult time finishing and is only modest in size, yet still has value in the later stages of the draft.

Youngblood: Family Ties at the NHL Draft

Brendan Ross — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 17:49:46 +0000

The scouting process can be complex. Thousands of miles are travelled and countless nights are spent in cold rinks spanning the globe searching for the next critical piece in a puzzle that hopefully will develop into a Stanley Cup winning masterpiece. As notepads begin to fill up analyzing technical aspects of players’ games, intangible qualities that each possess and the statistical trends of the young competitors, there are certainly some outlaying factors that won’t hurt a player’s chances of donning an NHL jersey either. The 2014 NHL Draft class is littered with NHL family ties and hockey bloodlines. When it comes to talking hockey bloodlines, look no further than the Youngblood series to link the fathers, uncles and cousins to our future hockey talents.

Starting at the top of the draft, Sam Reinhart from the Kootenay Ice may have the most decorated family tree with father, Paul, playing over 700 NHL games spanning 11 seasons for two franchises (Atlanta Flames/Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks). Sam’s older brothers Max and Griffin both found their way onto NHL clubs. The Calgary Flames used their 64^th selection in 2010 to pick up Max Reinhart, who also competed for the Kootenay Ice. After two full AHL seasons in Abbotsford, the eldest draftee is closing in on full time NHL action. In 2012, Garth Snow of the New York Islanders selected Griffin Reinhart with the 4^th overall pick, adding a stabilizing defensive prospect with promising upside. Coming off a WHL Championship MVP performance, Griffin Reinhart captained his Edmonton Oil Kings to a CHL Memorial Cup Championship as well and looked every bit the stud defenseman that New York believed he could be. Projected as a top three player, Sam Reinhart stands a great chance of being the highest drafted Reinhart family member. The Reinharts appear to be a bloodline ready to take the NHL by storm.

There has been no shortage of discussion about talented Swede William Nylander and his dazzling skill set. Nylander is the next big ticket prospect with family ties to the NHL after his father Michael was drafted by the Hartford Whalers and played 967 regular season and playoff games. During his NHL journey, Michael Nylander skated for Hartford, Calgary, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Washington, Boston and the New York Rangers before retiring with the Capitals and returning to Sweden to play on home soil. Finishing with 221 goals and over 700 points, Nylander had an exceptional NHL career and William has certainly taken notice. Much debate surrounds the youthful William Nylander as to where he will land come draft day but his offensive talent, hunger for scoring and game breaking abilities are arguably unmatched in this draft class. With the Flames holding onto the 4^th overall selection, William Nylander could end up donning the same NHL jersey that his father once wore for four of his 15 seasons.

After playing with his speedster father Sami Kapanen in Finland’s top professional league, Kasperi is ready to follow in his father’s path and take his game to the National Hockey League. Like his dad, Kasperi is a skilled forward who flashes tremendous playmaking abilities showing excellent creativity and vision. Playing with the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers, Kapanen had a long NHL career that lasted a dozen years and witnessed him tally 202 goals and 493 points. The father-son duo ended their 2013-14 season with KalPa with seven goals each but it was Kasperi who bested his old man’s 13 points after finishing with 14 of his own in his first full Liiga season. With aspirations to reach the NHL, Kasperi is expected to be taken in the opening round which should give him bragging rights after the Kapanen elder statesman was selected 87^th overall 19 years ago by the Hartford Whalers. In less than two weeks’ time, Kasperi may hold the superior draft pedigree but as the owner of the KalPa franchise Sami remains the boss both on and off the ice and it will be him who will be signing his son’s pay cheques.

One of the most talked about NHL sons heading towards the 2014 NHL Draft is Barrie Colts’ forward Brendan Lemieux, who not only shares the last name with his father Claude Lemieux but also a similar agitating style of play. With Brendan projected as a late 1^st or early 2^nd round selection, he has a chance to be drafted higher than Claude was back in 1983 when the Montreal Canadiens selected him 26^th overall in the second round. Montreal is slated to pick in that exact 26^th slot so the stage is set to repeat with a potential Lemieux selection 31 years later. In his playing days, Claude Lemieux was an NHL journey man and an ultra-competitive “winner” taking home an amazing four Stanley Cup Championships in a career that expanded two decades. Skating for five franchises that included Montreal, New Jersey, Colorado, Phoenix and Dallas, Claude epitomized the antagonistic skilled forward and much of his personal and team successes can be attributed to his effective agitating playing style. He scored 449 goals, 944 points and accumulated 2306 penalty minutes over 1449 games. Lemieux earned a living being a pest and spent much of his time on the ice working in the trenches. With a father as a Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Brendan’s natural tendencies are to resemble his playing style and it is a true compliment to his biggest supporter. With a projectable frame and a toolbox full of offensive weaponry, Brendan Lemieux’s future looks bright and his ability to make an impact in a number of ways will definitely be coveted early in the draft.

Al MacInnis was a seven time NHL All-Star who owned a legendary and feared slap shot. Ryan MacInnis didn’t inherit his father’s defensive position or his booming shot but his competitiveness and hockey sense certainly don’t fall too far from the family tree. Playing in the same major junior town as his old man, Ryan MacInnis showed promising progression in his first OHL season with the Kitchener Rangers. With the final months coming to a close, MacInnis was earning top line minutes and leaned on heavily allowing him to gain confidence with each successful challenge met. Blessed with good vision and a great set of mitts, especially in tight quarters, Ryan MacInnis projected to be a second round selection. He remains a prospect with a promising upside and a long-range development curve but the end result could be very rewarding for the team that decides to draft him. His father’s years of NHL service that included stops in two cities (Calgary and St. Louis) will surely help to prepare Ryan for the next level and if he can assemble any sort of similar career path as his old man, he (and his NHL team) would be ecstatic.

The next three draft eligible prospects all share a similar bloodlines from the Buffalo Sabres organization. Sherbrooke’s leading scorer Daniel Audette’s father, Donald, carved out a long and prosperous NHL career as an undersized forward, exactly the path that his son is looking to replicate. With ties to Montreal as an amateur scout, Donald Audette knows his sons game better than anyone so keep a close eye on the Canadiens’ draft board.

Next in line with connections is big Portland Winterhawks centerman Dominic Turgeon, the son of Buffalo fan favourite Pierre Turgeon and nephew of former 2^nd overall pick Sylvain Turgeon. Dominic is projected as a middle-to-late round prospect but scouts love his intelligence, possession skills, size and his attention to both ends of the rink.

Lastly, Luc Snuggerud recently took home the Reed Larson award as Minnesota’s top defenseman and the young rearguard also calls former Sabres winger Dave Snuggerud uncle. Dave played four season in the NHL for Buffalo, San Jose and Philadelphia before retiring. Luc is an extremely gifted offensive defenseman who displays a great feel for defending and if everything goes as anticipated, he should hear his named called inside the opening three rounds.

Other names to note with family ties include Josh Wesley (defenseman and son of former NHL stalwart Glen Wesley), Ryan Donato (promising offensive forward and son of former Bruins forward Ted Donato), Ivan Nikolishin (undersized offensive winger and son of former Capitals forward Andrei Nikolishin), Nick Ritchie (burly skilled winger and brother of Dallas Stars prospect forward Brett Ritchie), Nick Schmaltz (dazzling skilled forward and brother of St. Louis Blues prospect defenseman Jordan Schmaltz), Alex Peters (defensive stud and brother of Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Justin Peters), Anton Karlsson (agitating forward and brother of Norris Trophy winning Erik Karlsson) and John Quenneville (intelligent two-way forward, cousin of Chicago Blackhawks’ coach Joel Quenneville, nephew of Boston Bruins Johnny Boychuk and brother of Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Peter Quenneville). In addition, speedster and projected Top 15 pick Nikolaj Ehlers’ father was drafted in 1984 by the New York Rangers in the 9^th round but choose to play out a successful career in Europe’s top professional leagues. Fred Perlini, father of sniper Brendan Perlini, was an 8^th round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1980 and skated in eight NHL games with the big club. With the Maple Leafs slated to pick 8^th overall, the NHL landscape could possibly see another Perlini wearing the blue and white.

Of course, there are no guarantees that hockey bloodlines dictate success but many of the traits, characteristics and values of former NHL players do have a direct impact on their family members and that can be enough of an influence to give these prospects an edge. Playing in the shadows of accomplished NHL battle-tested family members can be a daunting task for these young developing hockey talents so it’s important to understand that the sons and nephews of NHL bloodlines are simply looking to sculpt their own hockey legacies rather than attempting to duplicate their families’ successes. The triumphs of any prospering athlete are best celebrated with families and there will be plenty celebrating to come for these prospects come June 27^th and 28^th in Philadelphia.

Follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter for prospect and NHLDraft updates

Youngblood: The fab five – Ontario strong

Brendan Ross — Wed, 07 May 2014 12:15:02 +0000

Ontario hockey is as strong as ever with the long line of NHL stars emerging from the Ontario Hockey League. Each of the OHL’s 20 franchises contributed to the NHL landscape in some way or another. The London Knights have sent first round selections Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner and Nazem Kadri onto successful NHL careers. The Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds are best known for contributing Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey but have also added current stars Joe Thornton and Jeff Carter. Sarnia Sting gun slinger Steven Stamkos has relocated his ability of sniping goals to warm Tampa Bay. Windsor Spitfires’ alum Taylor Hall is electrifying fans in Edmonton with his blazing speed. On Long Island, former Oshawa Generals star John Tavares has emerged as one of the NHL’s newest superstars.

The OHL has routinely churned out all-star prospects and it’s a trend that won’t disappear anytime soon. The 2013 NHL Entry Draft featured a league high eight first round selections from the OHL, highlighted by the Calgary Flames’ 6^th overall selection of Ottawa 67’s pivot Sean Monahan. In total, 37 players were chosen in seven rounds at the 2013 draft, the most from any league. As players flock to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, it’s expected that even more OHL players will hear their names called in the opening round. With 20 of the 40 invitees, the OHL dominated the 2014 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospect Game in Calgary in January. NHL Central Scouting lists 14 skaters from the OHL among its top 30 North American ranked players. The OHL bloodlines are as strong as ever in the National Hockey League.

As all eyes set on the draft eligible prospects from the Ontario League, let’s break down its top treasures starting with the top five and ending with some honourable mentions.

Ekblad defining exceptional

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Capping off a strong freshman season by winning the Emms Family Award as the OHL Rookie of the Year, Ekblad displayed considerable improvements in his skating and began to silence criticisms of his oft-debated “offensive limitations”.

Fast forward two seasons.

As his draft season draws to a close, Ekblad filled his trophy case with Ivan Hlinka gold and the 2013-14 Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman. He’s the unanimous top defenseman in the 2014 draft in a class lacking top-end star defensemen and exemplifies leadership, poise and maturity. Offensively, Ekblad has launched his game to new levels showing improved confidence and puck skills that top-pairing defensemen require. He doesn’t possess the puck rushing ability of an Erik Karlsson or the intimidating physicality of Shea Weber but he’s proven to be above average in almost every facet of the game.

The gem of the OHL class is Barrie Colts’ defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has exceeded expectations in each of his three seasons dating back to his rookie year as a 15-year-old underage player. The Belle River native was the second player, and first defenseman, to be granted “exceptional status” by Hockey Canada and he has been on an upward trajectory ever since. It was Ekblad’s efficient point shot that has served as his offensive launching pad displaying an ability to get pucks through traffic on net, resulting in a league-leading 23 goals from the blueline. Ekblad also topped the OHL in power play goals (16) showing that his offensive game has some serious upside. Besides growing an caveman-like beard that grown men are envious of, Ekblad possesses the exceptional hockey sense, size and two-way skill set to draw interest right out of the gates at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He’s a potential cornerstone defender and a player who should be ready to step right into an NHL lineup.

The accomplished Ekblad doesn’t stand alone at the top of the OHL class, as pivot Sam Bennett has assembled loads of praise from the scouting community and will serve as Ekblad’s biggest challenger from the OHL.

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Indicative by the sweater number 93 he wears, Sam Bennett grew up as a Maple Leafs’ fan idolizing Dougie Gilmour for the way he played the game with skill, grit and passion. Now as a young man, Sam Bennett is realizing a dream playing for Gilmour’s Kingston Frontenacs team as its star forward, in a similar mold as his idol. Although blessed with a dazzling offensive skillset featuring soft hands and an innate scoring ability, Sam Bennett receives the most praise for his intangibles that include an unmatched compete level, leadership services and in-game adaptability. He mixes it up in all four corners whether he’s attacking or defending and the big-game pivot will unquestionably be on the ice during the final minutes of close games after earning a reputation as a clutch player.

Bennett’s game starts with an exceptional skating stride that keeps opponents on their heels and uses his advanced hockey sense to gain ideal positioning in the attacking areas of the rink. He is a player who has become unpredictable, either unleashing a quick shot or utilizing creative vision and playmaking gifts as a setup man. In just his second season, Bennett was arguably the OHL’s most consistent player and his 25-game point streak that witnessed him tally 17 goals and 46 points was the second longest in the league. With a scrappy-in-your-face competitive style, the skilled Sam Bennett may be the most complete forward available, making him a worthy first overall selection.

Finding sophomore stardom

Common dialogue in hockey circles suggest the top pick from the OHL is a two horse race with Ekblad and Bennett as the heavy favourites but don’t overlook Oshawa Generals’ forward Michael Dal Colle. After an unexpected breakout rookie campaign that watched him collect an impressive 48 points, Dal Colle’s encore performance in his sophomore season was scoring a remarkable 39 goals and 95 points to lead all draft eligible skaters and finish top five in league scoring.

His game receives mixed reviews from analysts but he remains high on Youngblood’s list. Knocked for his effort at times in a similar way that Joe Thornton receives criticism, Dal Colle’s analytical and calculated approach often portrays his effort as lackadaisical but do not mistake that for him lacking a competitive drive because that would be drastically incorrect. Possessing creative vision and patience with the puck, Dal Colle’s playmaking skills are often understated. Particularly strong on the powerplay, Dal Colle dissects opposing defences quickly with creative back door blind passes for easy tap-ins. Equally impressive is the young man’s shooting arsenal as he possesses one of the best shots in the league. He has not perfected how to use his size and physicality efficiently but it’s an element that can easily be worked on. If he can add some snarl and pushback to his game, Dal Colle stands a good chance to tap into his star potential.

An old school prospect

Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Next on the rankings is Peterborough’s intimidating power forward Nick Ritchie, the one OHL skater with the size, strength, skill set and pedigree to develop into a true superstar. Ritchie is far from a sure bet to reach superstar status but he’s got a chance. He is a massive physical presence who moves with ease hunting down pucks using great stick skills and crushing body checks. Willing to drop the mitts to defend a teammate, Ritchie plays on the edge, as evident by his 136 penalty minutes (5^th in the OHL), and it’s this bull-in-a-china-shop approach that is so appealing to NHL scouts. Questioned for his wavering effort, Ritchie hasn’t exactly performed with ideal consistency but he has also been on a struggling franchise his entire OHL career so stagnant periods can be normal.

The tide is turning in Peterborough as the future looks bright and the same can be said for Nick Ritchie. His brother, Brett, was a second round selection of the Dallas Stars and hit his stride later in his junior career. The potential is high for Nick Ritchie and when he’s on his game, few can dominate a game like this Orangeville native. That domination alone may be worth the high investment. He is cut from the same cloth as Milan Lucic and what NHL team wouldn’t want that throwback style of power forward.

A 'dog that lacks bite

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Rounding out the top five wasn’t an easy process as several OHLers received considering including Sault Ste. Marie’s Jared McCann, Guelph’s Robby Fabbri and Sarnia’s Nikolay Goldobin. In the end, Niagara’s Brendan Perlini’s size, intelligence and skating abilities edged out his draft mates. Stamping his place inside the Top 10 early in the season after coming out of the gates hot, Brendan Perlini impressed with a well-balanced puck possession game. He made a living shielding opponents from pucks along the boards and walking off the wall to unleash a deadly shot. Perlini uses his combination of speed and puck skills to back up defenders, and his net drive and hunger for the loose puck speaks volumes of his love for scoring goals. And boy, can this kid score goals. Perlini scored 16 goals with the man advantage tying Aaron Ekblad for the lead among draft eligible skaters in the Ontario league.

Had Perlini showed scouts that he can play a more consistent physical game, he may have moved up the rankings into the top 5. For teams looking to add a sizeable winger with poise and natural scoring instincts, Brendan Perlini will be a hot target.

The abovementioned five OHL prospects are great players with appealing upsides but the pool of talent doesn’t end there. The 2014 NHL Draft class has been deemed average by most analysts and it’s an accurate assessment given the lack of a sure-fire stud prospect. However, some of the drafts most talented prospects are those that have grown accustomed to being critiqued, for varying reasons. Opting to go outside of the box to select these prospects may prove worthwhile gambles down the road given that their offensive ceilings are similar to those previously mentioned.

Building a captain

Jared McCann is one of the safest OHL skaters in terms of eventually playing in the NHL as this mature two-way forward packs both skill and intelligence into a competitive personality. McCann’s best weapon is his shot but he’s become a desired commodity because of his projectable intangibles. McCann slowed down as the season progressed finishing just shy of point-per-game numbers but scouts are more infatuated with his overall two-way presence and contributions behind the scenes.

Fabbri-ulous finish

Enjoying a long successful playoff run to cap off a fantastic season has been the perfect scenario for undersized skilled forward Robby Fabbri. A Youngblood favourite dating back to his OHL draft season, Robby Fabbri is a tremendously gifted offensive talent that uses his elite hockey intelligence, poise and competitive drive to get the job done. He’s a big game player rising to the occasion and despite critics trying to knock him down because of his size, he continues to push on…rising higher, and higher with each passing game. Sure, Fabbri plays on a star-studded Guelph Storm roster and his 45 goals (leading all draft eligible) may have been inflated slightly but this youngster knows how to exploit the goal scoring areas. Despite playing in a smaller frame, Fabbri thrives around the blue paint using his creative passing abilities to feed quick tricky passes to waiting teammates. Adding strength will be a priority but it’s the only attribute that is keeping Robby Fabbri from being a sure-fire top 10 selection. Fabbri’s doing his best Jeff Skinner impersonation heading down the playoff stretch and don’t count out this hungry forward in his quest to exceed everyone’s expectations.

Gold’n hands

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Carrying a Russian passport never helps your case but Nikolay Goldobin has done all he could to abolish the traditional fleeing Russian stereotype. Finishing one point shy with 94 points of leading all draft eligible skaters in the OHL, Nikolay Goldobin was a dynamic offensive threat on every night for the Sarnia Sting. He enjoyed a 22-point game streak posting 21 goals and 43 games.

He’s the most creative and gifted puck handler in the OHL and is capable of highlight reel action every time he hits the ice. Defensively, Goldobin will require more coaching and while his work ethic gets questioned because he’s not an in-your-face attacker, he does play hard in traffic by using a strategical approach. Goldobin thrived on the OHL’s last place team but it shouldn’t be forgotten that he was a true standout among his CHL draft peers at the Top Prospect game. Teams will weigh the risk-reward factors of selecting a fairly one-dimensional Russian in Nikolay Goldobin but his offensive talents are considered top 5 worthy and he is looking like he could be a steal if he slides outside of the top 20.

The fire of passion

Staying in Sarnia, Anthony DeAngelo led the OHL in points (71) and his 15 goals (3^rd), 56 assists (1^st among draft eligible skaters) and 30 powerplay assists (3^rd) were among the top. No one doubts DeAngelo’s offensive production as this undersized smooth-skating defenseman controls the game with ease from the back end. Tricky puck handling skills, creative vision and precise passing allows DeAngelo to push the pace with utmost confidence. He’s a passionate competitor who loves to win but his short temper and volatile attitude has been well documented, and resulted in several team and league induced suspensions. Based on talent alone, Anthony DeAngelo would be snatched up inside the top 15 but some teams have crossed him off their lists entirely. Look for the interview process at the NHL Combine to be an important element in determining DeAngelo’s ultimate draft fate as teams look for answers from this skilled defenseman.

Opening round curtain call

The dynamic skating Josh Ho-Sang, mobile two-way defender Roland McKeown, developing power forward Ryan MacInnis, raw skilled pivot Eric Cornel, athletic netminder Alex Nedeljkovic and skilled agitator Brendan Lemieux are just a few players to keep tabs on as potential first round selections.

Two months remain until the 2014 NHL Entry Draft commences on June 27^th at the Wells Fargo Center and it marks an event full of unpredictability but one thing is for certain, the Ontario Hockey League will be well represented on day one of the draft.

Be sure to follow the McKeen’s Hockey (@mckeenshockey) Youngblood series as Brendan Ross (@RossyYoungblood) continues to break down the happenings inside the hockey prospect world.

Ryan MacInnis carries on the family business

David Burstyn — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:02:33 +0000

Ryan MacInnis has some big skates to fill.

As the son of a Hall of Famer, pressure to live up to the name will follow Ryan everywhere he goes in his playing career. The young center isn’t shying away from the comparisons, even if he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps as a defenseman.

Ryan left the United States National Team Development Program a year early to join his father’s former junior team in Kitchener. Al MacInnis won a Memorial Cup with the Kitchener Rangers in 1982 before a distinguished career split between the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues.

Similar success escaped Ryan in his rookie season on a rebuilding Rangers squad that missed the playoffs. His future, however, is quite bright. Ryan MacInnis displayed poise as a playmaker and the type of vision that could translate into NHL success. His skating and attention to defense are the notable areas of contention in his game, but it’s not hard to project the St. Louis, Mo. native carving out a career in the family business.

Ryan MacInnis (2014), C

MacInnis is the son of NHL Hall of Fame defenseman Al .. enjoyed a prosperous season last year as the first line centre of the USNTDP U17 program before joining the Rangers for the 2013-14 campaign .. after a modest first half to his OHL career, MacInnis struggled in the second half following the trade of Radek Faksa, which situated him as the second line centre .. a highly-creative and skilled player with the puck, especially within 10-15 feet of the goal .. can make a series of moves due to his lightning quick hands .. good vision and readily uses his line-mates effectively - not a selfish player .. skating holds him back considerably due to his slushy stride - his mechanics also need refinement to generate more speed out of the gate .. defensive contributions are inconsistent and surprisingly better in PK situations than 5-on-5 .. needs to be more assertive and play to his size – too often he was far too easy to play against due to a lack of a killer instinct, although he did play with more authority towards the end of the year .. MacInnis has very projectable NHL skills and if his skating can mark an improvement, he has the potential to be a top six NHL forward.

CHL Top Prospects Game notebook: Forwards

Grant McCagg — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 12:00:03 +0000

Here are some of the key plays and memorable highlights from the 2014 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

We first reviewed the game and concentrated on the play of just the 12 defencemen participating - and then went back over the contest a third time - with an eye on only the forwards.

Notes are listed below by period - and by the amount of time left in the period.

Here is a list of the defensemen and forwards by team - as they are noted below by only their last names:

DEFENCE

Team Cherry (Red): Anthony DeAngelo Haydn Fleury, Aaron Irving, Roland McKeown, Jacob Middleton, Alexis Vanier

Team Orr (White): Aaron Ekblad, Aaron Haydon, Julius Honka, Brycen Martin, Alex Peters, Ben Thomas,

FORWARDS

Team Cherry (Red): Daniel Audette, Ivan Barbashev, Conner Bleackley, Michael Dal Colle, Robby Fabbri, Nikolay Goldobin, Chase De Leo, Ryan MacInnis, Matt Mistele, Sam Reinhart, Nick Ritchie, Nikita Scherbak

Team Orr (White): Clark Bishop, Blake Clarke, Eric Cornel, Leon Draisaitl, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Ho-Sang, Brendan Lemieux, Jared McCann, Brendan Perlini, Brayden Point, Jake Virtanen, Spencer Watson

--------------

1ST PERIOD

16:20 - Lemieux out for a stroll in the park, picks up nobody.. Reinhart gets it alone in front and almost tucks it in. Lemieux carries puck out to neutral zone, gets caught by Barbashev on backcheck.

15:40 - Bad pass by Perlini back to no one at the point, could have been dangerous the other way. Not sure about his vision sometimes.

15:00 - Subtle little play by Fabbri - gets puck along the boards and encounters Virtanen.. as he turns to the boards to make it look like he's going to turn the other way with the puck, he shovels it back to the d-man as he's parallel with the boards...the puck goes right along the boards and Virtanen misses it.

9:17 - Audette tips shot off post, Honka gets it behind net with Audette following. Honka makes a great little fake with the puck that delays Audette just long enough while his teammate gets free and shovels it ahead to Cornel, who decides to try a move to the middle at his blueline instead of either chipping it or taking it along the boards...bad turnover.

9:00 - Ehlers with the rush, then the toe-drag move to the slot and backhand.. puck comes back the other way and Reinhart drives to the net past Haydon, a good example of how Reinhart's speed can be deceptive.

8:30 - Tremendous pressure by the Reinhart line, the puck squirts loose to Draisaitl, who decides to head to the boards with the puck and wipes out without being touched, Dal Colle comes along and outmuscles both Leon and Thomas to get the puck to Barbashev, who was all over on the shift. Had good chemistry with Reinhart in this game. Draisaitl was clearly outmatched when he went head-to-head versus Reinhart, but to be fair he didn't have linemates that were as good.

4:45 - Dal Colle with the first of his many ill-advised cross-ice errant passes on the night, intercepted by Ehlers who knocks it up and then bats it to himself and goes on his famous rush where he pretended to be going around the d-man when he was in fact passing it to Cornel. If he doesn't flub the return pass and puts it in that goal is on every highlight reel all week. Ehlers a little lax on the defensive side a couple of times in this game, but he's a penalty killer in Halifax. His speed is a factor in any circumstance if he uses it. He was guilty of doing a little too much 'thinking' instead of 'doing' at times in this game, but he should have been on the top line, not the fourth. Ehlers falls down a lot, which is surprising for such a great skater. Mind you on some occasions he falls down on purpose to get at a loose puck...he can get up quickly a la Crosby.

4:30 - The pass by Ehlers to Cornel was special, not sure I've seen one quite like it before.

1:35 - The Virtanen brain cramp to let Scherbak get a break, to his credit he skated back to check him. Nice play by Audette to get puck in corner and center it to De Leo in slot.

MacInnis made three decent plays in the first 14 minutes, winning a couple of board battles and checking the puck away. On another occasion an opponent just waltzed around him in the open ice. Agility and first steps are in need of some refinement. I run a little hot and cold on him, mostly cold. Sometimes he looks lost, other times he anticipates the play well. Looks like he needs plenty of teaching, something you don't always expect in an ex-pro's son.....De Leo has a hard shot - had a couple of good scoring opportunities during the game.

2ND PERIOD

19:20 - Dal Colle gets his pocket picked by Draisaitl, who showed some hustle for once in this game, but Draisaitl, loses it back to DC.

18:14 - Ho Sang finds McCann in the sweet spot in the slot.. threaded the needle on the pass between two defenders.. disguised the pass. Nice play by McCann to get to the best spot. Ho Sang and McCann had several nice plays together.. would have liked to see those two with Ehlers.

16:26 - Audette to Scherbak at own blueline. Scherbak decides to try and deflect it off skate to a linemate who misses it. Instead of stopping dead and checking Watson, does a huge lazy loop where he goes outside of his own zone and comes back in covering no one.

15:10 - Dal Colle coughs up puck when McCann comes back to hit him. Great play by Ho Sang to draw opponents to him in the middle of the slot, and then having the vision to spot Perlini for an open shot in a prime scoring spot.

15:00 - The Thomas rush....he had time to wind up so it wasn't as impressive as it first looked I don't think. Check out his right arm swinging up wildly coming up to the opponent's blueline.. he almost wiped out unimpeded.

14:50 - Superb defensive play by Bishop or McKeown springs Ritchie on a break...breaks up the pass with solid defensive awareness.

11:20 - Draisaitl gets the puck at Red blueline, does a complete circle against three checkers until Ekblad is open on the boards.

10:10 - McCann sees the d-man move up on the puck, he circles in behind to make sure the puck carrier has backup as there was danger lurking.

8:00 - Mistele passes when he should have shot.. then tried to skate back hard, which was amusing to watch - looked like he was running, kinda like Fred Flintstone when he's about to take off, feet moving a foot above the ground and Fred not going anywhere. Then when he got back, he turned around in a defensive stance. Honka came coasting in from the red line with the puck, met Mistele, shifted a little to the left and quaintly coasted past him along the boards...Honka never took one stride the whole time. Needless to say agility is not Mistele's forte.

7:15 - White power play. Ehlers in his office on the right half wall, little backhand saucer pass to Ekblad for a good chance. Does it with Drouin all of the time.

5:36 - Point does several sharp give and go's moving up the ice. the pass by Bishop back to Point inside red blueline was excellent. Scherbak is not hard to beat, do not like his defensive play. Point set up Virtanen in front, Bishop nice lateral move to pounce on rebound.

2:40 - Thomas gets pass in his skates, nice play to kick it to his stick and then waltz around Reinhart. Perlini good eye-hand coordination batting down pass 20 inches off ice.

2:25 - Ho-Sang goal. Dal Colle was the goat but Point made the play, nice move to the slot from the wall and good low shot on net that Ho-Sang batted in.

2:20 - Audette makes skilled backhand tip pass to De Leo for great chance, vision-playmaking are his strong points.

0:15 - Draisaitl showed his puck possession skills. Had a few moments in the game and could have had a goal or two with some luck, but skating and lack of intensity were issues.

3RD PERIOD

17:05 - Leon coasts on backcheck on penalty kill, not one stride from center ice to the slot - he takes one stride and he stops Fabbri feed to Scherbak for a good chance.

16:01 - Good pass by McKeown to spring Goldobin, who feeds Mistele who finally shoots. Rebound to Goldy who scores on wraparound. Ho-Sang coasting on the backcheck again.

14:30 - Audette gets walked around easily by Virtanen. Not much presence defensively.

14:08 - Nice pass from McCann to Ho-Sang.

12:15 - Point gets puck in corner, waits for Rhino to make his move, then a little deke to gain free space, gets it to the d-man for a shot.

Goldobin penalty shot - Clarke with a poor play along the boards trying to check Dal Colle, but very half heartedly - should have skated back instead as Ehlers was out of the play behind the net.

11:00 - Ritchie decides to get physical, causes havoc and turnovers because of it. He's like the forward version of Douglas Murray when he hits.

10:35 - Fabbri with smart tip pass to Barbashev who does an inside-out move on Thomas, and drives to the net only to hit the post. Barbashev hard hit on Thomas.

9:00 - Virtanen rush - he and Scherbak were on even footing, Scherbak didn't even come close to touching him, not sure about Scherbak's straight-ahead speed, quicker east to west than north south.

8:45 - Nice pass by De Leo to Bleackley in slot, Bleackley's hands looked poor on that play. Looks like his upside is third liner with average skating.

Sportsnet nominated Fabbri as the hardest working player - can't say I disagree - was very diligent on the forecheck on the penalty kill in particular, threw a few hits, competed. Tied for OHL lead in GWG with 8, and that's with missing ten games. During those ten games Guelph lost five of them....in their 36 games with Fabbri Guelph has lost three times. Has a better work ethic than Ho-Sang, and is much better defensively. I thought it was a good move to pair H-S with McCann. Ho-Sang is more effective with a smart two-way center backing him up.

4:08 - Point gets puck from Ritchie, makes a smart pass to Bishop when he goes to his backhand and shovels it laterally to make sure it's not intercepted. Bishop got it to Virtanen, and he smokes it off the post. Virtanen can really blast the puck.

McKeen's Hockey 2014 Draft Rankings

CHL Top Prospects Game notebook: Defence

Grant McCagg — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 15:08:01 +0000

Here are some of the key plays and memorable highlights from the 2014 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

We first reviewed the game and concentrated on the play of just the 12 defencemen participating - and then went back over the contest a third time - with an eye on only the forwards.

Notes are listed below by period - and by the amount of time left in the period.

Here is a list of the defensemen and forwards by team - as they are noted below by only their last names:

DEFENCE

Team Cherry (Red): Anthony DeAngelo Haydn Fleury, Aaron Irving, Roland McKeown, Jacob Middleton, Alexis Vanier

Team Orr (White): Aaron Ekblad, Aaron Haydon, Julius Honka, Brycen Martin, Alex Peters, Ben Thomas

FORWARDS

Team Orr (White): Clark Bishop, Blake Clarke, Eric Cornel, Leon Draisaitl, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Ho-Sang, Brendan Lemieux, Jared McCann, Brendan Perlini, Brayden Point, Jake Virtanen, Spencer Watson

--------------

1ST PERIOD

19:00 - Martin's fist shift, caught flat footed, Red gets good scoring chance, Bleackley robbed by Mason McDonald.

10:40 - DeAngelo and McKeown paired together. DeAngelo leaves player to the side of net, then puck ends up behind the net..both d-men go back there but have no chance of getting puck.

8:50 - Thomas caught pinching again. Hayden and Thomas overwhelmed by Reinhart line at 8:20...been out too long at that point. Hayden made poor decision on who to take at one point, but he had three choices as Thomas was running around taking no one.

Hayden a limited puck mover, got beat to the outside a few times, pivots need work, mind you he was paired with Thomas, who was caught up ice nearly every shift. Martin skated backwards about ten feet in this period, as he was always behind the play. Does not anticipate when to back up very well at times. Honka and McKeown turn over the puck in their own zone too often. Honka gets a lot of his passes intercepted at the blueline.

2ND PERIOD

18:00 - Two minutes in on the chance by McCann - check out the defensive play by DeAngelo and Vanier. Vanier's pivot is horrid... DeAngelo reads the play much too late and then doesn't pressure McCann at all.

17:20 - Check out the play by McKeown. Why does he just blindly dump the puck away the second he gets it..doesn't look anywhere, has lots of time, and just throws it away.

13:15 - Honka passes it to Perlini...what was Perlini doing there...was he not aware of the d-man being there..skated right into Irving, who made a good read to pinch in there and cause the turnover. Perlini looked scared to get hit there...was soft on that play...he makes a play like that in the NHL, he's riding the pine for awhile.

11:50. Strong penalty-killing shift by Fabbri. Excellent forechecking and strong battle on that play. Martin on the other hand was putrid. Not sure why they started a PP with Martin and Peters, but anyway..

11:00 First White goal - DeAngelo on the penalty-kill with Middleton - recipe for disaster. DeAngelo was lost - left Lemieux alone to sit on the goalie.

Red came back 8 seconds later. Not really anyone on White's fault other than Cornel by the look of things...doesn't help that we miss the first three seconds as the camera is still on Lemieux. Nice play by Barbashev along the boards, nice pass by Reinhart, great pass reception and fantastic shot by Dal Colle. That play right there tells you he's a top five guy..pro-style winger with a sniper's shot.

9:55 - Vanier's lead pass to Scherbak was bad...he should have been sprung on a breakaway..Thomas should have been back more covering Scherbak. Poor play by Scherbak not to at least touch it and negate an icing.

8:10 - Chance for Team Red - Honka does not see Mistele coming in on the wing...he had half the ice to himself when he got the pass from Goldobin. Mistele should have either shot or went to the net..small d-man, small goalie..instead he stays outside and passes it back through two opposing d-men to nobody. Goldobin with the old Ribiero deke, fake going outside and sidestep to the inside, it's Goldobin's bread and butter and he usually gets away with it - Martin bit and looked pretty bad on it, but most d-men do the first couple of times they play Goldobin.

6:50 - Clarke scores on the power play. Decent shot, but Nedeljkovic should have come out of his net to cut off the angle. Fleury let Clarke walk in a bit...both he and MacInnis skated to the same spot, leaving Clarke alone. MacInnis looked a little lost on the penalty kill, didn't really know what to do. Good puck movement by Ekblad on the power play.

6:30 - Thomas decides to skate from his side to mid boards in his own zone, and then stands there for a couple of seconds only to be then hopelessly out of the play. Barbashev goes to front of net, Hayden doesn't stand between net and Barb, he stands beside him to the side of the net while his defence partner stands on the same side along the boards. You know where this is going. Barbashev gets the puck, simply pivots towards the net where Hayden can't check him, and dishes the puck to a wide open Reinhart, who is stopped while Ho Sang admires the play.

5:18 - DeAngelo lost in his own end..doesn't take Virtanen, or Bishop afterwards. Good chance.

4:10 - Honka makes a nice play to evade Goldobin, but then passes the puck to Fabbri at the line. Nice intercept and play by Fabbri, but the right play by Honka was along the boards to Ehlers, who chips it out.

3:35 - Vanier gets puck at blueline. Mistele has 40 feet of wide open space to the net, he doesn't see him, wrists a soft shot on net.

3:00 - Thomas burned with moves by Dal Colle a few times in this period. I think perhaps Thomas tried too hard to do things as it was in Calgary, but he ran around more than blueliner in the second period. Dal Colle hits the post with a great chance, Cornel for the second time in period caught sleeping defensively, didn't get between the pass and Dal Colle. Barbashev with the good pass from down low again. Thomas too late to do anything about it as he was running around...Dal Colle's shot was a ten in this game, another rocket.

2:20 - Ho Sang tip goal .. and again DeAngelo doesn't take anyone, deflects it to Ho Sang, who was left alone to tip it. Not totally DeAngelo's fault, a flukey one. Point with a decent play to break into the middle and get a shot on net after intercepting a horrible pass by Dal Colle in the neutral zone. Middleton wasn't great on the play, but not really at fault. Middleton actually played okay in the first two periods. No huge gaffes, worked hard and had decent positioning. Even challenged Lemieux but Claude Jr. wanted no part of him.

3RD PERIOD

17:30 - Middleton made a nice play to kick the puck to his stick and then do a loop inside the white blueline to lose checker, then made decent move around Haydon to drive to net, but was in too close.

16:05 - Good hit by Peters on Fabbri, played the man, not the puck.

14:40 - Strong play by Fleury to steal puck in White zone and get it to front of the net.

12:55 - Haydon with puck behind the net. Loses it trying to go in front of the net as he forgets about it, and then coughs it up. Not exactly soft hands there. Turnover caused by Fabbri again on penalty kill.

11:35 - Martin lets Goldobin get in behind him, ends up causing a penalty shot. His defence partner Thomas backed up keeping an eye on the invisible man, should have sensed Martin was in trouble and tried to head off Goldobin as well. Once again Martin didn't skate backwards an inch. Can he skate backwards?

11:00 - Haydon gets rubbed out by Ritchie trying to carry the puck, turns it over, gets it back, passes it back to other d-man Peters, who is surrounded by Red guys, coughs it up... Ritchie gets a good chance.

10:40 - Martin caught up ice again..he's the first forechecker at center ice for some reason but once again misses the puck, leaving Thomas and Draisaitl the coaster to defend Barbashev..wasn't pretty. Barbashev made an inside-out move on Thomas, who bit, and he powered around him and hit the post while Leon coasted along a little too late as usual.

9:50 - Goldobin and Reinhart at it again. Reinhart beats Peters (who falls), then between Point's legs and back over to Goldobin..who does his move to the middle and barely gets around a sweepchecking Ekblad. Meanwhile Bishop is coming back and covering the lane from Goldy to Reinhart, and then checks Goldobin in front of the net. Solid play by Bishop...wish they were all as smart as him. Bishop's skating is what's going to hurt him more than anything, he's certainly got good defensive awareness though.

9:00 - Virtanen with a burst around Irving, who was at the end of a shift. Fleury, who was fresh, watched Virtanen come in 1-on-4, beat Irving and come in on the goalie while Fleury watched..at the end he put his stick in front of Virtanen's shot, but too late.

Vanier-McKeown pairing wasn't seeing a lot of ice time in the third. Can't say I blame the coaches - that's not a good pairing..Vanier not quick enough to cover for McKeown brain cramps.

7:00 - Ekblad decides to go for a foray alone red zone on the PP, DeAngelo was trying to check him.. looked like a mouse trying to check a moose, just bounced off of him when he got near.

6:43 - Even the good ones can screw up.. Reinhart with an awful turnover inside his blueline that left Watson alone to walk right in. Reinhart tried to slide a slow backhand pass over to DeAngelo...who should not have been trying to exit the zone at that time. His partner was down in the corner.. he should have remained deep in his own zone as the proper outlet for Reinhart.

6:35 - Speaking of good ones.. Ekblad's turn to screw up.. loses the puck to Goldobin trying to rush in neutral zone.. Goldobin beats Peters.. to the outside!! Peters takes a hooking penalty.

6:15 - Goldy and Sam go to work on the power play.. and the Thomas-Martin combo. Martin was lost after losing Honka, who missed the third after taking a stick to the chops. Lousy job by Martin tying up Reinhart, who scored easily. Not much pressure from Thomas on Goldy either.

5:26 - Martin takes time going into corner, then gets muscled off the puck easily by MacInnis.

5:15 - Vanier hits Lemieux in White zone...has to skate back to catch play.. not pretty. Lemieux gets great scoring chance as Virtanen goes around a covering Audette and gets it to him.. Vanier can't catch Lemieux, who is no speedster.

5:05 - Ekblad mishandles puck at blueline, Scherbak pounces on puck and gets a breakaway, hits post. Thomas didn't come close to catching him, not as fast and took wrong angle. He coughs up the puck 30 seconds later as well, and then fails to pressure De Leo who has loads of time to make pass in the slot. By this time, Thomas was lacking confidence.

4:00 - Haydon loses puck in own end trying to carry it again. Ritchie with a big shift, two big hits including Peters, but at the end of his shift....brutal speed...he's out of shape. Ho Sang whizzes by, draws the d-man over and then slides it to McCann going the other way...excellent shot by McCann. DeAngelo is the one who follows Ho Sang to nowhere.

2:15 - Point comes in on Irving and DeAngelo, tries an inside move on Irving, hits Irving's skate, bounces back to Point who gets around Irving. Where's DeAngelo? Irving kept Point to the inside, all DeAngelo had to do was cover an inside move, instead he goes in front of Irving and misses Point altogether, leaving Point with a breakaway. Stopped by Nedeljkovic, who pokechecked him.

- Fleury makes some rushes with and without the puck in the third with his team down. Like that he wanted to make a difference.

McKeen's Hockey 2014 Draft Rankings

Ryan MacInnis – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Columbus Blue Jackets Top 20 Prospects

Liam Foudy, C (18th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Andrew Peeke, D (34th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Angle, C (212th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Tim Berni, D (159th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Eric Hjorth, D (104th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Kole Sherwood, RW (Undrafted Free Agent: Jul. 7, 2015. Previous ranking: 17)

Samuel Johannesson, D (176th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Knazko, D (78th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 27

Columbus Blue Jackets

Liam Foudy, C (18th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Andrew Peeke, D (34th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173rd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Tyler Angle, C (212th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 16)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Tim Berni, D (159th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

Eric Hjorth, D (104th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Arizona – System Overview

NHL Prospect Watch: Arizona Coyotes

OHL Prospect Watch: MacInnis good for Rangers

Youngblood: Family Ties at the NHL Draft

Youngblood: The fab five – Ontario strong

Ryan MacInnis carries on the family business

CHL Top Prospects Game notebook: Forwards

CHL Top Prospects Game notebook: Defence

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Samuel Johannesson, D (176^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Knazko, D (78^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 16)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)