Ryder Rolston – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Colorado Avalanche Top 20 Prospects

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 12:50:07 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Colorado Avalanche 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.

Bowen Byram, D (4^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Skating makes Byram an up-tempo offensive dynamo who can carry the puck from end to end. He can shoot with the best of them, has an effective one-timer, a half slap shot, a good wrist shot when he leans into one, but also has an effective throw-it-at-the-net shot that beats the first forward. He also has excellent vision and passing skills to carve open defenses that overcommit to shutting him down. He is an excellent defender transitioning from the offensive blueline into a more attacking position in the slot. His edges, speed and fluidity make him hard to defend in open space at the top of the blue line which enables him to beat guys one on one. He sees the play unfolding in front of him, he can hit a homerun pass, skate himself out of trouble and make smart simple plays with the puck. He can create his own space and can drive the net. His defensive game has shown some modest improvements, particularly in his gaps and his recovering ability. Byram has all the tools to develop into a top pairing offensive weapon who will quarterback a powerplay at the next level. - VG

Alex Newhook, C (16^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Newhook has been earning awards and scoring accolades since he was around 13 years old, something that he was able to maintain in his freshman season at Boston College, being named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, the Hockey East Rookie of the Year, the New England Rookie of the Year, and the NCAA Top Collegiate Rookie. He also ranked second nationally in scoring amongst freshmen. Newhook first lined up as a left winger last season, but then was moved to center to split up the scoring balance on the team. The move also helped him reach another level. Skating is probably his best asset – he is extremely fast, and he also moves well laterally. He can weave in and out effortlessly, cycles very well in the offensive zone, and is especially good on the power play. He has a good shot. He sees the ice well and knows how to be patient. He doesn’t have the biggest frame, but he is nevertheless good at protecting the puck. Newhook certainly has the size, skating and scoring ability to make it to the NHL, where he projects as a potential first liner. - JS

Justus Annunen, G (64^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Annunen reads the play really well, he is square to the puck and does not give shooters much room to shoot at. He seldom needs to make flashy, athletic saves, even though he is capable of them. He remains patient and does not commit to shooters too soon. At times he even uses anticipation to make saves on high-danger shots. He is confident in his abilities and his calm demeanor gives him an advantage in many situations. He moves well from post to post and has quick reactions and a fast glove hand with very good rebound control. Furthermore, he is vocal and communicates well with his defensemen. On the downside, the 6-4” netminder has only modest puck handling skills. When he handles the puck outside of the crease, he most often gives a simple, short pass, or rims the puck up the ice. He rarely attempts to make long-range passes, even if there is an opportunity to do so. This might be a matter of confidence because he seems hesitant when he has to play the puck. At the end of the day, Annunen has the tools to be a starting goalie in the NHL. - MB

Martin Kaut, RW (16^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

A highly regarded two-way winger, Kaut has sometimes struggled with a lack of offensive assertiveness, but he has more confidence in his shot in additional to improving speed of late. That boosted speed has made him more of an enticing prospect, now combining his great technical skating skill with more tempo when he has the puck. A pest on defense, his hockey IQ is superb and he plays deep and physical in his own zone, challenging opposing wingers against the wall with his 6-2” frame and essentially playing as a third defenseman, which includes his work on the penalty kill. Kaut’s quick, heavy wrist shot is difficult for goaltenders to handle, and his shot placement - oftentimes shooting to generate a rebound - is solid, especially on the rush. His ceiling is as a top-six two-way winger who can play an auxiliary role to a Nazem Kadri type, and with his maturity and adaptability being no issue, he should contend for a spot on the roster as soon as next season. - TD

Conor Timmins, D (32^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Considering how quickly Timmins acclimated himself to the pro ranks, it is easy to forget that he missed the entirety of the 2018-19 season while recovering from post-concussion syndrome. Thrown on the Eagles’ top defense pair his puck-moving prowess also showed out. With high-end hockey sense and responsibility, he played heavy penalty kill minutes and was particularly effective at battling opponents against the boards, using his size to win puck battles. Effective at creating plays with his hands and through passing, he also contributed during on the power play. He does not have dynamic speed or skill, but he has the technical skating ability that allows him to carry the puck out of the zone and push the offense the other way. His gaps are very tight, but he is prone to being beat on the outside with his lack of speed, which means he will have to improve his stick work at the blueline or play more passive defending. Timmins projects as a middle-pair shutdown guy who specializes in protecting leads or matching up with an opponent’s top line, but he will need another year or two in the AHL first. – TD

Justin Barron, D (25^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A blood clot wiped out a large portion of Barron’s draft year, and when he did play, he struggled on the bottom feeding Mooseheads. Reports were positive enough by the time the draft rolled around that Colorado was comfortable taking him in the first round. The right-shooting defender has good size and moves extremely well at that size. With his strong positioning, gap control, and ability to separate attackers from the puck, he projects as a high end defensive player in the NHL; perhaps better if he can increase his physical intensity to be more consistently menacing. Where the concern now lies is projecting Barron’s offensive game and his impact as a puck mover. While his mobility is a major asset and he flashes the ability to be a lead attacker in transition, his puck skill and game management are not dynamic. His decision making with the puck also appeared to take a step backward last year as he was asked to take on a leadership role. It is also possible that last year was a poor indication of his abilities, faced with the pressure of leading a rebuilding team and recuperating from a serious ailment. – BO

Shane Bowers, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017. Originally: 28^th overall, 2017 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 5)

In his first full pro season, Bowers showed why he was originally taken with a late first round pick by Ottawa, before being packaged in the Matt Duchene trade in 2017. Tempo and skill are what define the Boston University alum’s game, and his two-way domination of his opponents in 2019-20 was predicated upon exactly those features of his game. Hard on the forecheck and relentlessly physical on the penalty kill, Bowers is smart, attentive, and takes pride in helping his blueliners on defense. Offensively, he possesses great one-on-one skill and likes to pressure defenders by taking the puck deep in the zone and making plays from below the goal line, though he can be inconsistent with the puck and try to force plays that aren’t there. Playing with energy and pace, the Halifax native specializes in doing the grunt work and letting his more-skilled teammates shine, which makes his ceiling of a checking line, PK centerman one he can surely achieve soon. - TD

Sampo Ranta, LW (78^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

The pros and cons of Sampo Ranta have remained the same since his draft year with Sioux City of the USHL. Based on his raw tools alone, the Finnish winger is dynamic enough to rank in the top three or four of this system. He is a strong skater, with excellent edge work giving him great agility. He plays a high pace and constantly puts defenders on their heels. He reads the game well and makes decisions quickly at both ends of the ice. He has an NHL frame. He can play an assertive style and impose his will on the game. He even does so physically on occasion, throwing his weight around in the service of puck recovery. On the con side, Ranta’s production has never matched his skills. He couldn’t reach the point-per-game mark in his draft year in the USHL, and while his sophomore scoring for the Golden Gophers was a notch better than his work as a freshman, it can’t be considered more than secondary yet. Ranta may make that leap, with his outputs matching his inputs, and if he does, he could be a top six player. If that step never comes, there are enough ingredients here for a good bottom six forward at the highest level. – RW

Jean-Luc Foudy, C (75^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Speed is the name of the game here. Like his brother Liam, Jean-Luc Foudy is an elite level skater. He carves up open ice with his explosiveness and agility. Not only is he quick, but his lateral skating is equally good, allowing him to change direction smoothly even at top speed. Using his speed, he is a high-level playmaker when attacking the offensive zone. He backs up defenders and opens up scoring lanes for his linemates as he circles the offensive zone until he sees an opening. Where Foudy struggles is finding ways to consistently break through to the middle of the ice. He can be neutralized by patient defenders who keep him to the perimeter. Shooting is not a strength either, so his attacks can be predictable at times, leading to too many attacks that end in the corner, or trapped in the neutral zone. Between his high-end athleticism, skating ability, and playmaking potential, he projects as a potential impact forward as long as additional physical maturity leads to more confidence in his ability to play through traffic. – BO

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (171^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 19)

The son of former NHLer Andrei Kovalenko, Nikolai is coming off a breakout season in the KHL with Lokomotiv. His 21 points were the second most of any U21 player in the league. With terrific bloodlines, his best strength is his hockey sense. He is an active player without the puck, who keeps his feet moving in the offensive zone to seek out scoring chances, and a strong two-way player whose physicality makes him an all situations kind of player. Next year, Kovalenko will return to Lokomotiv and will look to improve his offensive numbers even further. However, his KHL contract is up after the 2020-21 season, which opens up the possibility that he makes the jump to North America after that. He projects as a middle six winger for the Avalanche and is not likely to put up the kind of offensive seasons that his father did with Edmonton and Quebec/Colorado, although he can still be a very valuable NHLer. - BO

Alex Beaucage, RW (78^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

Beaucage is an analytics darling and a player with hidden pro potential as a third-round pick. He has the size to terrorize and he has the scoring touch to be a threat from any location on the ice. He maintained his offensive flair this season as the number one option on his Huskies team, leading the team in scoring after winning the Memorial Cup last year. He has his warts, and the Monsters will have to “coach the junior out of him” when he arrives, but he shows potential to be an NHLer on a middle line. His skating is strong enough to work in the pros but could use some refinement, and his play without the puck, as with many junior scorers, could use some attention, but he is strong in puck pursuit on the backcheck, which is encouraging. He will take a little while to get there, but he has the chance to be a solid secondary scorer at the NHL level. – MS

Colby Ambrosio, C (118^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

While Ambrosio has scored more than he has created for his linemates, the highlight of his game is his immense skillset playing the puck made more impressive as he rarely overplays the puck. He generally plays a simple game, saving his best moves for troubling scenarios, where he can make defenders and netminders look silly. He has great hands in tight and a knack for making something good happen. The shot – particularly his hard wrister and his one-timer from the Ovechkin spot on the power play - is also an absolute weapon. Ambrosio is a volume shooter, who is liable to let one go from anywhere in the offensive zone. That propensity seems to be related to his hands, as he is fond of making sharp angle shots and will sometimes rush one off. There are some concerns with his size deficit as well as average-at-best skating, a troubling combination, although he is fairly agile. Furthermore, while he reads the play well, tends to make the right decision, and plays hard, but is not always the one to get the play into the heart of high-danger country. – RW

Dennis Gilbert, D (Trade: Oct. 10, 2020. Originally: 91^st overall, 2015 [Chicago]. Previous ranking: 8 [Chicago])

Gilbert is a throwback defender who stays back, hits, blocks shots, and imposes physical play on his opponents. He is also a wonderful skater who can push the puck up and out of his own zone with ease. He has been a solid defensive defenseman with his smart, tight gaps and physical tools, locking up his opponents against the boards and stealing the puck with his length. He can move the puck out of trouble on his own and is capable of moving through the neutral zone with the puck but lacks the puck-handling skill to beat defenders one-on-one. That is what is most frustrating about Gilbert’s game; there are offensive defensemen in this sport who would kill to skate the way the he can, and yet Gilbert does very little with it, providing few points from the backend and showing little offensive confidence. It is not his game, but he plays a solid enough stay-at-home game to make himself useful regardless. He played 21 games on Chicago’s bottom pair before going down with a wrist injury and that is where you can expect Gilbert to play going forward, albeit now as a member of the Avalanche organization. – TD

Ryder Rolston, RW (139^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A late birthday member of the 2019 USNTDP group, Rolston was expected to dominate in his draft year with Waterloo and there were stretches when he did just that (14 points in the final nine games of 2019). But he also had long fallow stretches (eight and five game stretches after New Year’s with a single point during each). Like his father, longtime New Jersey Devil Brian, Ryder is a fantastic skater, featuring an impressive first few steps to give him a quick advantage, with a heavy shot and a promising two-way game. His hands can play fast as well, but he doesn’t dazzle with puck skills so much as show promising ability to maintain possession under duress. He will need to add some East-West to his game at Notre Dame to be less predictable, and less prone to finding his rushes dying in the corners, taking better advantage of his plus agility, and let his tools play to their level, but the core pieces of a valuable player are there. – RW

Logan O’Connor, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 23, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

A former captain of the University of Denver men’s hockey team, whose rink sits just over six miles from the Avalanche’s arena in downtown Denver, O’Connor was a training camp invite who earned an ELC and promptly dominated the AHL in his 2018-19 rookie pro season. A very good skater who brings loads of energy to the ice, the native of well-known hockey hotbed Missouri City, Texas is creative with the puck and while he is not a dangler, he can beat defenders with speed and inventiveness. Capable of playing all three forward spots and up-and-down the lineup, his talent is matched only by his versatility, which makes him an easy player to recall and insert anywhere on the depth chart. Smart and on the Colorado Eagles penalty kill, the 24-year-old excels in operating at the top of the defensive zone and closing down passing lanes. It is hard to imagine him as a point-scorer at the NHL level (just two goals in 16 games in his stint with the Avs this season), but he is so well-versed and reliable that he can have a long career as a utility figure in Colorado’s deep forward lineup. - TD

Danila Zhuravlyov, D (146^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Zhuravlyov is a highly mobile defenseman with smooth pivots and strong edges. He has a powerful stride and good acceleration; the puck does not slow him down when he carries it up the ice. He is strong on his skates. He shows awareness both with and without the puck. He reads plays well and has a good eye for the game. He intercepts passes and clogs lanes in his own end. He maintains correct defensive side positioning and keeps opponents on the perimeter, protecting the middle of the ice efficiently. He is strong with his hands and wins stick battles. Offensively, he makes sound decisions with the puck and can move it quickly. He also distributes the puck well in the offensive zone and has a heavy shot. Zhuravlyov has a lot of tools: the skating ability, puck skills, smarts and athleticism. He is only going to get better as he gains more KHL experience and additional strength. - MB

Drew Helleson, D (47^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Helleson is a defensive defenseman. He might not contribute a lot offensively, but he is solid. After spending two years at Shattuck St. Mary’s, he joined the USNTDP. He also played for the U.S. in the U-17 World Hockey Classic and again in the U-18 World Junior Championship. While he is a stay at home defender, he moves very well - especially given his 6-2” frame. Helleson has a long reach that he uses well. He won’t wow you, but he is extremely solid. He protects the puck well and doesn’t make many mistakes. And at only 19 years of age, that is a good sign - especially for a freshman defender still adjusting to college hockey. Since Helleson isn’t much of an offensive contributor, speed will be his biggest asset in determining how he fares at the next level, as he will have to prove that he can keep up with faster opponents. - JS

Sasha Mutala, RW (140^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Mutala has a modest offensive arsenal but he makes the most of it. There is a nice blend of size, speed and grit that make him a pretty effective player in any game scenario. He has very good speed on the top and pretty good agility and footwork overall. He has good vision and passing skills and has an above average shot. None of his offensive tools are really eye catching but it doesn’t prevent him from being an effective player. He can play with a bit of sandpaper and work the down low game very effectively, using his size to protect the puck. He isn’t a huge physical presence on the ice but he is not intimidated by physical play. He isn’t a great puck handler, but his skills are fine for the style of game he plays. In the future he is likely to peak at a 3rd line winger who helps on the penalty kill, and is sound defensively, keeping his opponent honest everywhere on the ice. - VG

Luka Burzan, C (171^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Burzan has continued to grow and evolve since being drafted. He has a solid combination of speed and competitiveness that make him attractive as a potential bottom six player. He has a solid defensive game and is a capable of creating turnovers, getting in lanes and engaging physically in his own zone. He generates rush opportunities by keeping pressure on the puck and is very effective on the fore and back check because of his puck pursuit. He doesn’t wow with his hands or one on one skills, but he is a capable puck handler. His offensive game really is driven from two things: puck pressure and willingness to get to the net. Both of those features are predominant in his production. He has a good ability to find space around the crease, find the puck and find room to release it. 32 of his 37 goals last season were from below and between the dots (stats from Instatsport.com), so he is a player that will go to the net. Due to this I think his offense will translate a bit better than most guys projected for bottom six roles. – VG

Trent Miner, G (202^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

A smaller netminder by modern standards, Miner went from the heavy side of a goaltending platoon in his draft year, to the short end of the stick last season, losing time to the better performing David Tendeck, an Arizona prospect. We expect him to regain full control of the crease once the 2020-21 WHL season gets underway, giving him a chance to show that steady presence between the pipes, coupled with his ability to track play as well as his solid puck skills, will be worth an NHL contract with the Avalanche. Miner may be notably further away from an NHL career than Adam Werner (the other primary candidate for this slot), who also has much more impressive size, but Miner has also shown greater consistency and the ability to maintain a higher level of play over longer stretches in recent years than has Werner. If more consistent minutes allow Miner to play up to his potential, it will be hard for Colorado to avoid his potential as a future NHL backup and not award him with an ELC. - RW

McKEEN’S 2020 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – USNTDP DOWNSTREAM: Late birthday draft eligibles thrive in hot house program

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 30 May 2020 21:43:12 +0000

Sean Farrell in the USNTDP program. Photo by Rena Laverty

Keith Ballard. David Booth. Matt Carle. Bill Cass. Adam Clendening. Austin Czarnik. Thatcher Demko. Rick DiPietro. Jack Eichel. Shane Eiserman. Casey Fitzgerald. Nick Foligno. Cam Fowler. Tom Fritsche. Nate Hagemo. T.J. Hensick. Quinn Hughes. Trevor Janicke. Patrick Kane. Phil Kessel. Luke Kunin. Kevin Labanc. Dwight LaBrosse. Ryan Lannon. John-Michael Liles. Luke Martin. Auston Matthews. Nick Mattson. Charlie McAvoy. Jake McCabe. Michael Mersch. Mark Mitera. Matt Nieto. Jake Oettinger. Nick Pannoni. Brandon Saad. Jordan Schroeder. Nick Shore. Bill Sweatt. Tage Thompson. Brady Tkachuk. Matthew Tkachuk. Colin Wilson.

Take a look at those names above. A good mix of all stars, journeymen and flameouts. They all have something in common. Can you guess what? I’ll drop in an extra clue.

Sean Farrell. Ryder Rolston.

Figured it out yet? No? OK, I’ll spill the beans.

All of those players mentioned were USNTDP alums and all had late birthdates (between Sep. 16-Dec. 31). All were drafted at least one year after completing their time in the hothouse program. Many of the players went from the development program directly to college. A number stayed in the USHL, spending a year with a “regular” club, and a few switched course for a CHL team, or in the case of Matthews, Europe.

I have given some thought over the last few years to how the two-year run with what is frankly a world class program, a program that in recent years sees half of its roster or more drafted, impacts the player who has to wait for another year before being eligible to hear his name called by an NHL club.

Clearly, for some of those guys, the wait didn’t hurt at all. The list above includes an impressive number of players selected at the top of the first round including no less than three first overall picks in Matthews, Kane, and DiPietro.

Even though there were others with late birthdates who were not drafted at all, it is safe to assume that having a birthdate up to three months earlier would not have made a difference. Not all USNTDP players end up superstars no matter when they were born.

Seeing as how my regular beat is covering the USHL, and how the USNTDP crosses my path on a regular basis, I was interested in getting a better understanding of the context of players returning to the USHL at-large after a two year stint in the program. With this year’s late birthday holdovers Farrell and Rolston as our window, I spoke to people from both the league and from the USHL – including our two holdovers - and NHL communities to illuminate the matter for me, and ultimately for you.

We should first remember that not all USNTDP players are the same (no kidding!). Those three first overall picks, the Tkachuks, McAvoy, and others, they would have been drafted around the same slots had they made the draft eligibility cutoff dates. Of note, these players and a few other high-profile ones went from the USNTDP to a higher level of play, mostly college.

Speaking with Chicago Steel GM Ryan Hardy, who previously spent three years as the Director of Player Personnel with the program, he noted that players who were utilized in top six (forward) or top four (defenseman) roles with the program have essentially graduated from the league after those two years. They will go to college right away if they are academically eligible, and in some cases will even accelerate their schooling to meet the academic requirements of their school of choice.

COVID-19 notwithstanding, we will see that next year with the USNTDP class of 2020 underager Matthew Beniers. This is a player that was bumped (a-la Jack Hughes and Cam York) from the U17 team to the U18 team just over halfway through his first year in the system and finished his last year second in team scoring behind only Thomas Bordeleau. He is in the running as a top 10 pick in 2021 and Harvard will make sure there is a roster spot for him as long as he qualified academically. All reports indicate that he has.

The other late 2002 born player on this year’s USNTDP class, Hunter Strand, has skill, but played lower down the lineup. He is an impressive skater and likes to drive the net, but he was not playing in a top role. Speaking to him at the All-American prospect game in January, he told me that he intended to return to the USHL and build up his confidence before moving on the Notre Dame. Mind you, this self-awareness about his confidence after a top prospect game in which he put up a goal and an assist. The Alaska native was later drafted by Tri-City, second overall in the USHL Entry draft a few weeks ago.

For the two players who returned to the USHL this year, they had similar reasoning. Both Farrell and Rolston were bottom six staples with the 2019 class. When the top nine included five first round picks, there is no shame in playing on the fourth line, but it is also true that neither player saw extensive special teams duty (Rolston received secondary power play time and Farrell was used a little bit on the penalty kill).

Farrell, in particular, also was not yet academically eligible for Harvard. In addition to taking the 2019-20 season/school year to brush up his academic credentials, he was keen on spending another year in the USHL, as he relayed to me in January. He wanted to play in all situations and improve all facets of his game. Playing with the Chicago Steel, he was also afforded the chance to work regularly with skills coach extraordinaire Darryl Belfry. Belfry would come in around once a month and those sessions, as well as the twice weekly team practices, allowed Farrell to make significant improvements to his shooting, his ability to protect the puck despite a smaller frame, and other puck skills.

Another interesting point brought up by the soft-spoken Farrell was in regard to playing on a line with fellow draft eligible Brendan Brisson and Mathieu De St. Phalle for the majority of the season. The line finished first, second and seventh in the league in scoring. It was Farrell’s belief that playing with the same line for much of the year helped the three of them synergistically, as they could all develop their games in tandem, with the comfort of stability helping to fortify the confidence to try new things.

Considering how heavy the Steel were in draft prospects, both first time eligible and players on a second or third chance, I broached the topic of preparedness with team GM Hardy. Specifically, I wanted to know how much more prepared for a draft season in the USHL Farrell was compared to fellow first time eligible Brisson or Sam Colangelo, considering that we have all three ranked in the 21-47 range.

“I think the experience that the players get there (USNTDP), particularly in terms of the competition that they play, really prepares them to be successful coming into the USHL…Sean played 70 games of USHL hockey, played 15 or so against colleges, was fortunate to play in the U18 worlds. He had the benefit of so much experience previously and a level of comfort comes with that.”

Asked if the benefit extends beyond just the games they play, Hardy elaborated that it was about “the focus on hockey that they have there. From the strength and conditioning standpoint, and the strength of their schedule, you end up with a player that knows the expectations on him and the challenges that will come with that.”

Hardy went on to mention how the advantages of the USNTDP were especially prevalent in the early part of the season. “Sean was consistently detailed and dominant all over the rink. Brisson was dominant on the power play right away, but the play off the puck, the everyday completely-focused-on-hockey lifestyle took a little bit...You expect a program kid that is first year eligible to produce right away, but you don’t know that a kid from high school will manifest immediately… In terms of hockey sense and competitiveness, he was the standard for the three (Brisson and Colangelo), particularly in the early going.”

Ultimately, he felt that the experience of playing in the National Program had the player more prepared to play in an elevated role and that the challenges of the system were beneficial to their development.

An NHL scout largely echoed those thoughts, pointing out that the late birthday USNTDP’ers play against the best in their age group globally, and also a competitive schedule with USHL and NCAA teams. They get to be in a hockey environment 24 hours a day and train with other top players. They can’t help but get better from the experience. This scout also noted how his time with the program helped Farrell, nominally a skilled, top six type of player, learn how to defend and how to respond in the face of adversity, allowing him to join the Steel with a more confident mindset than most joining the league at the same age.

***

Ryder Rolston, USHL. Photo by Hickling Images

Unlike Farrell, Ryder Rolston had the option of going straight from the USNTDP to college, in his case, Notre Dame. When I spoke with him in January, he expressed the opinion that a year spent with the Waterloo Black Hawks would be best for his development.

When I asked him to discuss the difference between his time with the program to Waterloo, he made a point of mentioning how much he had benefited from practicing with the best players in the country on a daily basis. Every day they would work on different skills. He also gained appreciation for approaching the draft by watching how his old teammates had handled it last year. That learning curve had better prepared him for this season. On the other hand, he had nothing but positives to relay from his season with Waterloo. Specifically, he felt that the Blackhawks were notably more team-oriented than the program. He had to be more cognizant of the importance of every game. The goals of the team – winning – were different than the goals of the USNTDP, which are seemingly focused on skill development up until the team reaches the IIHF World U18 tournament at the end of the year.

***

Looking for another perspective on how USHL teams view USNTDP grads who are returning to the USHL after their two years in the program are up, I spoke to a player personnel department member of one club. While his point of view was focused on the team aspect, his thoughts largely paralleled those of the Chicago GM and the NHL scout.

“For the most part, every year in the USHL Phase II Draft these players are highly coveted because they've spent two years playing in the league (on top of college games) and are the most ready to play in the USHL for that reason. I think you even look at some of the college kids that come back into the league and sometimes takes them a bit to get back into the junior swing of things whereas the NTDP kids seem to hit the ground running in the fall.

“For the late-birthday players and the USHL teams that draft them, I think it's a win-win though. The last couple of years the NTDP late-birthday players who find themselves on a USHL roster oftentimes didn't play big roles their U18 year and/or were moved down to the U17 team after the first of the year. Those players then get to come in and with another year of junior hockey under their belt, play bigger roles for their USHL team, and grow their games in their draft year. I suppose this is just an assumption, but Farrell likely isn't being put in the same situations he was this year at Harvard that he was with the Steel--the same could probably be said about Rolston had he went to Notre Dame this year. It's the same idea of NHL teams keeping NHL-ready players in the AHL for a bit longer and that's generally always a win-win for the NHL organization and the player's growth.”

To this person’s point, the USHL Entry Draft this year was loaded with names drawn from the USNTDP roster. There were the two late birthdays (Strand will go to Tri-City, Beniers was drafted late by Chicago, which took a flyer on the possibility that Harvard can’t play this year due to COVID-19. Three other members of the U18 team who are not expected to go directly to the NCAA were also taken in the first round of the USHL Entry Draft (Owen Gallatin, Tanner Latsch and Daniel Laatsch). Beniers was just one of seven from the program to have their rights drafted by one USHL team or another.

Finally, if you want a heads-up on the late birthdays from next year’s USNTDP U18 squad, look at netminder Gibson Homer, and forwards Jack Devine, and Jack Hughes (no relation).

2019 WJAC: Standout performances, rising draft stock

Derek Neumeier — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:33:54 +0000

When it comes to exciting junior hockey tournaments that start in December, the World Juniors aren't the only game in town.

While lesser known as an international event, the annual World Junior A Challenge has steadily become a must-see event for scouts. Whereas the WJC usually skews toward 19-year-olds, the WJAC is a lot younger on average, making it easier for draft-eligible prospects to make the roster of the participating countries.

There is no shortage of big NHL names that have played in the event in recent years, including (but not limited to) Vladimir Tarasenko, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Cale Makar and Kyle Turris. While it's impossible to predict the future, don't be surprised if a number of different players from this year's iteration of the WJAC end up becoming household NHL names one day.

Hosted this year in Dawson Creek, B.C. (no, it has nothing to do with the former television show) and featuring the United States, Russia, the Czech Republic and two Canadian teams made up solely of Junior A-level players (Canada East and Canada West), the tournament was a real treat to watch, for both fans and scouts alike. Entertaining hockey was played from start to finish, ultimately culminating in a thrilling gold-medal game that saw Russia defeat the Canada-East squad in double overtime.

Here now is a breakdown of each of the five teams and how they performed.

Canada West

To say it was a disappointing finish for the Canada West team on home ice would be a major understatement. With Carolina Hurricanes 2019 7th-rounder Massimo Rizzo, the BCHL's leading scorer in Kent Johnson, and big-time point-producing Okotoks Oilers teammates Carter Savoie and Michael Benning, it was expected that Canada West would be an offensive powerhouse. And yet, that presumed flame turned out to be little more than a fizzle, as the group won just one preliminary game and failed to reach the semifinals.

Johnson, Savoie, and Benning all had a few moments that looked good, but overall, they failed to make much of an impact, to the disappointment of the eyes of scouts. Savoie and Benning specifically read the very ice well and are able to strike when they get the puck with room to operate, but both prospects really had trouble creating it for themselves and their teammates.

Spruce Grove Saints netminder Matthew Davis, a tournament returnee, was ultimately Canada West's main bright spot, outperforming Detroit Red Wings pick Carter Gylander and guiding the team to their lone victory with a 25-save shutout that included stopping four of five shots in a shootout. It seems unlikely that he did enough to put him on the draft radar of NHL clubs, considering his slight 6-0” frame, though he will have a few years at the University of Denver to refine his game.

Czech Republic

Despite bringing the oldest roster among all the teams, it was another disappointing World Junior A Challenge for the Czechs, who only have one bronze medal (in 2017) to their credit since becoming a part of the tournament. Things started off well for them, pulling off wins over Russia, Canada West and Canada East in the round-robin, but they were handily trounced 5-1 by Russia in the semifinals and then narrowly edged 2-1 in overtime in the bronze-medal game by the Americans. Offense was quite a team effort, as 13 different players picked up two points or more, though Halifax Mooseheads forward Marcel Barinka led the team in scoring with three goals and four assists in seven games.

Big netminder Jakub Dobes was passed over in the 2019 NHL draft, but his strong play in Dawson Creek might help him get his name called this upcoming June. He naturally fills the net well and has good technique and reflexes, so there is enough of a base there for teams to develop long-term. He took his development to North America a few years ago and recently bumped himself up from the Topeka Pilots of the NAHL to the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, where he will likely stay until he's ready to attend Ohio State University.

United States

The high-flying American team was easily the tournament's most entertaining, and they rolled through the preliminary games undefeated while racking up a couple of lopsided wins. So, it came as quite an upset when they were stopped by Canada East in the semifinals. Led offensively by Chicago Steel teammates Brendan Brisson, Sean Farrell, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, and Sam Colangelo, the quartet of forwards carried their lethal chemistry from Illinois to Dawson Creek and made playing defense an absolute nightmare for opposing squads.

Brisson ended up as the tournament’s leading scorer, with the brunt of his production coming through his lethal one-timer from the right faceoff circle, but that strategy became a little predictable by the end of the tournament and he was held off the score sheet in the final two games. Farrell, an alumnus of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, was always noticeable in a good way because of his advanced hockey sense and non-stop motor.

The U.S. also received plenty of depth production beyond the four Steel teammates, most notably from sturdy forward Trevor Kuntar (who scored the bronze medal-winning overtime goal) and blueliners Mike Koster (a 2019 Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick, who had six points in six games) and Mitchell Miller (who also had six points in six games), the latter two both from the USHL’s Tri-City program. On the flip side, it was a bit of a disappointing showing for Waterloo Blackhawks forward (and another NTDP alumni) in Ryder Rolston, who has a lot of natural offensive tools but really struggled to get into a rhythm here.

Canada East

For much of this year's World Junior A Challenge, Canada East's hopes were hung on goaltender Devon Levi — but luckily for them, he was more than up to the task. Levi was simply sensational in this event, making save after save after save for a Canada East team that was outshot in every contest. He is not the biggest of goalies but has very advanced control of his crease movement and was superb at tracking shots through traffic. He got pulled in a lopsided round-robin match versus the U.S., but the Carleton Place Canadians netminder would exact his revenge against the Americans in the semifinal, turning aside 41 of 42 shots to steal a dramatic victory.

He was equally impressive in the gold-medal game, making 36 saves (including nine in extra time), but a Russian powerplay goal in double overtime ended his Cinderella run. He was deservingly named tournament MVP for his heroic efforts, and almost certainly improved his odds of being selected in the 2020 NHL draft.

Offense was fairly spread out on the Canada East roster, with Ayrton Martino, Ryland Mosley and Philippe Chapleau finishing tied for the team's scoring lead with five points apiece. And though he didn't appear often on the score sheet, Charles Tremblay's speed to the outside was another major weapon for his team.

Russia

Russia had the youngest roster at this year's World Junior A Challenge (every player was 16 or 17), but they also had one that was talented, deep and balanced, and in the end their young age didn't end up being a detriment. They actually struggled in the preliminary round, managing just one win (which came in overtime), but they brought their "A" game when it mattered most: the elimination games.

For my money, center Vasili Ponomaryov was the best forward in the entire tournament, using his excellent blend of sense, skill, and work ethic to make a consistently positive difference in all three zones. His stats from the event don't jump off the page at you, but he created offense in ways that should translate well to the NHL. Daniil Gushchin was another a standout up front, using his blazing acceleration to generate odd man rushes with impressive frequency. He also has the hands and shot to make good on those chances, converting for three goals.

Quick, undersized forwards Marat Khusnutdinov and Alexander Pashin were nice complementary pieces on the roster, but their performances were a little disappointing because they failed to live up to strong showings from last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. On the back end, with Daniil Chayka, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Kirill Kirsanov, Yan Kuznetsov, and Kirill Steklov, their big and mobile defense group was just too hard for opposing teams to crack. Chayka, a member of the OHL’s Guelph Storm, was especially impressive, covering the ice very well and moving the puck with consistency and composure. Mukhamadullin was an easy player to notice — for both good and bad reasons. He makes open ice disappear for opponents thanks to his reach and skating, and his slapshot from the point was a frequent offensive weapon, but he still has a lot of work to do with puck movement and own-zone decision-making.

Even when Russia's stout defense did crack, undersized-but-fast goaltender Yegor Guskov was there to bail them out, posting a .959 save percentage. Even though it is rare for goalies of Guskov's size (about 5-foot-11) to get drafted and play in the NHL these days, he does a lot of the things that are necessary for guys like him to succeed.

USHL: Ryder Rolston, Waterloo Black Hawks (2020)

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:01:38 +0000

Ryder Rolston spent all of last year playing with the legendary USNTDP U18 class, but was one of three regulars who were too young to be eligible for the 2019 draft. Currently tied for the scoring lead on a strong Waterloo side, he is one of the better draft eligible players in the USHL this season, even including the current USNTDP U18 squad. He is a high end skater with a plus shot, but he plays a simple, North-South game for the most part. He has adjusted well to being a team’s focal point after spending two years as a useful cog in a much bigger machine. He has top six potential, but a more realistic outcome would be a middle six role on a good club. The comparisons to his father Brian are easy to make, and will be discussed at greater length below.

Ryder Rolston	2020 NHL Draft Eligible
Position: RW, Shoots R	H/W: 6-0", 165 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL (13-5-6-11-4)

Ryder Rolston, USHL. Photo by Hickling Images

Characteristics

Skating: In a case of the apple not falling far from the tree, Ryder Rolston is a very good skater, much like his father, long-time NHL’er Brian. The first few steps are solid, but his top speed is a standout trait. He is very quick off the mark, and is often in the position of leading the offensive attack. He bends very sharply at the waist while accelerating, making him quite aerodynamic. Would like to see more agility, but the speed will make him a weapon and can demonstrate great edgework. Grade: 60

Shot: Rolston ha a big, hard wrist shot, and he loves to fire the puck. His 51 shots on net in 13 games not only leads the Back Hawks, but are a full 20 more than the runner up. He is able to get a strong shot off even under tight coverage. He would do well to think more about shot selection on occasion, instead of just shot volume, as he can lapse into shooting the puck too early into a zone entry, making it more difficult for Waterloo to sustain the attack. Grade: 55

Skills: He has a quick stick, but Rolston is not a high end puck handler. He can maintain possession at a high level, allowing him to rag the puck in the offensive zone when he can’t find a passing option, but I have yet to see him fool defenders with his puck skills. Grade: 50

Smarts: As with his skating, so too with his hockey IQ. Like his father, Ryder plays a strong two-way game, and has already seen a lot of time n both special teams units. He keeps his head up and his stick down and is constantly looking to pick off passes when the opposition has the puck. His ability to think the game and process the game conditions rapidly ensure that his floor will be high enough to forge out an NHL career even if his skills don’t allow him to play in a top six role. Grade: 55

Physicality: Rolston can withstand being defended against physically, but is not himself a physically engaging player. He will also need to gain a fair bit of muscle mass before he moves on. He has the frame to carry more weight, but he will not be a heavyweight. Grade: 45

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 54

USHL 2019-20 Season Preview – Fall Classic 2019

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 14:13:08 +0000

As is now customary in the USHL, the league season opened in the outskirts of Pittsburgh, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Over a four day period, when one of the main ice sheets was not being used by the pre-season Pittsburgh Penguins, or one of many elite youth tournaments featuring teams from around the country, all 16 teams* in the league gathered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, around 50 miles away from the nearest USHL franchise (Youngstown, Ohio), to play their first two games of the regular season.

*The USNTDP U-17 and U-18 squads play different schedules, but their combined records are used in the league standings. Also, only the U-18 team featured here.

The USHL is a funny league. Like the OHL, WHL, or QMJHL, it is a great league for high end under 20 hockey players. The USHL has close to a 100% graduation rate for its players either going to play for Division I NCAA programs, or turning pro in Europe. There is, however, a critical difference between the USHL and the CHL leagues.

Whereas the CHL will only lose two or three players directly to the pros after their age 17 year, and maybe 6-10 more after their age 18 seasons, the vast majority of players stick around until their eligibility is exhausted. On the other hand, around 35-60% of the best 17 year old’s in the league move on to play college hockey as true freshman. Half or more of the rest go to school after their age 18 season. For the most part, the only players who use up their eligibility are the depth player of whom their commitment schools do not have as high hopes and push for a delay in enrollment so as to get a player who is at least physically mature, even if he will not be a top end collegiate player.

What that leaves us with is a league that sees a tremendous amount of year-over-year turnover, particularly among the high end of the league. It is very difficult to not only know the various rosters before the puck drops, but to know who to look out for in any given year as development is rapid.

While I was not able to get to the arenas in time to see the opening game, missing a chance to see the Dubuque Fighting Saints take out the Muskegon Lumberjacks by a 4-1 margin. I also had to leave before the games of the final day commenced, but over three days of attendance, I got to see each team play at least once, seeing all or parts of 12 games in under 72 hours. I say “parts of” games, as there was some overlap around midday each day, forcing me, and scouts from every NHL and seemingly every NCAA Division I school, to jump back and forth between arenas. As much as the event is great for NHL scouts to familiarize themselves with the new batch of talent from one of the better prospect leagues in the world, it is also a great chance for college recruiters and coaches to look for late blooming talent that have not yet committed themselves to one program or another.

With the caveat that the teams will change markedly as the season progresses, due to injuries, trades, and players leaving or leaving for high school programs, imperfect information is always better than no information and I’d rather share what I know about the early 2019-20 season in the USHL with you than not do it.

For those who just want to know which teams are best/worst, I was most impressed with Waterloo, Chicago, and Cedar Rapids. Des Moines, Sioux City, and Muskegon had it roughest. For everybody else, keep reading.

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Prediction – 1^st in the Eastern Conference)

I am going alphabetically, so it is just a coincidence that the team I had as the best on the weekend is going first. After getting past the first round for the first time in nine years last season, the RoughRiders are positioned to go further in 2019-20. Outscoring opponents 10-3 on the weekend, it was the defense that stood out to me most consistently. The name everyone knows is Will Francis, a sixth round pick of Anaheim’s last summer. He was always a good skater for his size, but he looks to be a bit more assertive with the puck this year. He is joined on the blueline by a number of other sizable, mobile blueliners, several of whom should be watched closely by NHL scouts this season. 17 year olds among them include Alex Gagne, a big player who can help to push the pace, and Bennet Zmolek, who is more of a first pass kind of player. Most impressive though was Ben Meehan, an 18 year old who spent his draft year playing New England prep school hockey. Although not as big as his teammates, he has dynamic elements to his puck game and isn’t exactly small. He could be a game breaker.

The forwards are solid, but there might not be a future NHLer among them, although I wouldn’t put it past Grant Silianoff to have a big second year of eligibility. He is a very good skater with solid hockey IQ. Instead, look in net. I’d also keep half an eye on Justin Hryckowian, an 18-year old who joins the team after a year at prep school, who brings pace and energy, blended with some puck skills. The RoughRiders will probably split the crease, at least in the early going, but at least on one out of every two games, giant Colorado draft pick Shamil Shmakov will fill up the space between the pipes. His limbs are so long, I have taken to calling him Shamil the Shpider. Unlike most big netminders, he is aggressive in the crease. According to Alessandro Seren Rosso, he had been inconsistent in Russia, but it’s easy to see what the Avalanche like about him.

Chicago Steel (Prediction – 2^nd in the Eastern Conference)

Once again, the fact that another of our expected front-runners comes near the top of our list is coincidental. Despite the loss of top scorers Nicholas Abruzzese and Robert Mastrosimone to the college ranks, the Steel should once again be one of the strongest teams in the league, and may in fact be a more well-rounded team this year than the squad that made it to the Clark Cup finals last year.

The biggest change is in net, as the graduation of inconsistent incumbent Justin Robbins has paved the way for a pair of newcomers to the league in Victor Ostman from Sweden and Ian Shane from California. Both were steady in their debut games, allowing a pair of goals apiece. The blueline should also be stronger than the youthful crew in place last year. While Luke Reid is the only defender likely to be observed closely for draft reasons this year, the North Dakota commit has some flaws to iron out in his own end. On the other hand, 2021 eligible Owen Power is ready to lead the charge from the back. He is large, mobile and his game grew by leaps and bounds as a 16 year old rookie in the league last year. He is trending to be a high pick when his time comes.

The offensive attack will be led by a trio of intriguing draft eligible forwards in late-‘01 birthdays Sean Farrell (late of the USNTDP) and Brendan Brisson (son of super-agent Pat Brisson), and Sam Colangelo. Farrell and Brisson both play skilled games with pace and hockey IQ. Neither have great size, but make things happen on the ice. Colangelo has similar attributes, but better size in his package. Also worth keeping an eye on are Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, whose overall game is almost as much fun as his name, and Matthew “Mackie” Samoskevich, a late-’02 birthday who looks like a probable draft pick in the 2021 draft. Famously under the tutelage of star skills coach Darryl Belfry, the Steel have talent up and down the lineup and will be a tough out all season, even though their roster is the youngest (excepting the USNTDP, which has age limits) in the league.

Des Moines Buccaneers (Prediction – 7^th in the Western Conference)

While the Buccaneers were pretty rough in their opening weekend, all hope is not lost for the Iowan squad. Their team is at an odd juncture of being among the oldest in the league, but only in the middle of the pack in terms of experience at this level. It is fair to expect more out of imports Yaroslav Alexeyev, who has already seen success at the QMJHL level, as well as from third year USHLer Jan Kern, who played for his native Czech Republic at last year’s WJC. I would also assume there is more offense to come from 2001 borns Mason Nevers and Michael Mancinelli, who have flashed their skills in the past.

A lot of their hopes to turn around the tough beginning will rest on the shoulders on former USNTDP backup netminder Cameron Rowe. He has the requisite athleticism you want in a top goaltender, but needs to take a few steps forward in terms of his consistency and focus. Rowe will need the blueline to step up and minimize Grade A scoring chances against and I will be keeping my eyes on a pair of 2001s to play key roles in that endeavor in Nicklas Andrews, an undersized puck mover, and John Driscoll, a much bigger, rangier player who is more of a stay-at-home type.

For those interested in first year draft eligible players, I will be focused on Iowa native Noah Ellis, a UMass (Amherst) commit who is entering his first year in the league and is being given a chance to prove himself on the power play, as well as center Matt Choupani, who has come to the USHL from the AAA ranks in Quebec. He has solid wheels, some puck protection ability, and brings energy to all three zones.

Dubuque Fighting Saints (Prediction – 3^rd in the Eastern Conference)

The Fighting Saints always build talented rosters, even if most of their players are on the older side (oldest roster in the league) and many are not necessarily on the forefront of NHL scouting radars. Exhibits 1A and 1B to that point are the Jackson twins, Ty (a center) and Dylan (RW). A pair of waterbugs on the top line, Dylan is the bigger of the two, at 5-9”, 155. They are both quick and talented, playing a creative, instinctive game. Had they been born 10 days later, they would have been first time eligibles next June, but were passed over last season. In a similar boat, but one year older, is Riese Gaber, tiny yet one of the most talented stick handlers in the league. Gaber could be a potential free agent signing out of college like recent signings Blake Lizotte and Mason Jobst, but he is going to turn 20 this week and 5-8” is still small, even in the modern NHL.

Dubuque also has a pair of already drafted players in the lineup in Swedish netminder Erik Portillo, who aced his debut, holding Muskegon to a single goal on 23 shots. Jimmy Hamrin was very high on this mountain man from his time in the Swedish junior ranks and the Buffalo Sabres were intrigued enough to use their third round pick on him. Blueliner Braden Doyle looked overwhelmed late last season after his prep schedule ended, but Los Angeles saw enough potential to use a late pick on him and he looks much better in the early going, with his stickhandling and puck rushing abilities more able to come to the fore. Both Portillo and Doyle will be critical to Dubuque’s chances this year.

In terms of first time draft eligible for this season, look back to the Jackson line where Stephen Halliday is being tasked with creating room for his talented linemates. Already standing 6-4” and over 210 pounds, he has the size to play a power game and the speed and puck skills to keep up in the modern game. The first overall pick in the USHL Futures draft in 2018, he was stuck on a now-defunct Central Illinois team last year and now has the chance to establish his draft stock in light of his natural gifts. First, he will need to play with some snarl to match his skill as he was getting pushed around too easily by smaller players for my liking.

Fargo Force (Prediction – 6^th in the Western Conference)

A team with age and size on its side, Cary Eades’ team is set to compete now. The most well-known names on the roster belong to netminder Cole Brady and forward Aaron Huglen, both entering their first full seasons in the USHL but with NHL affiliations already in place. Brady was a late round pick of New Jersey and Huglen of Buffalo in last June’s draft. Brady impressed in his debut games. He takes up a lot of room in the crease, has his movements under control, stays square to the shooter and flashes a quick glove. Huglen missed the USHL Classic due to injury but his high end skill set is expected to make him one of the Force’s offensive leaders.

Fargo’s chances will rest on their ability to limit the scoring chances provided to the opposition, which they looked more than capable of doing in the opening weekend. Their blueline crew is relatively anonymous, although big Cedric Fiedler played for Switzerland at last year’s WU18 tournament. Their first pairing for the moment consists of Noah Beck and Colton Huard, who are both reliable defenders with plus size but without any remarkable tools to their name. In the absence of Huglen, their top offensive threats look like a pair of 18 year olds who passed over at the draft last year in Lynden Breen and Kaden Bohlsen. The former brings the skill and play driving ability and the latter brings the size and trigger. 16-year old Tristan Broz is also worth noting, although his draft date won’t be until 2022.

While any of the names mentioned in the last paragraph can make enough noise in their respective second years of draft eligibility to hear their names called next June (I would say that Bohlsen is the odds-on favorite in that duck race), the only first year eligible player who played a regular shift at the USHL Classic was Kyle Smolen, who was essentially their extra skater.

Green Bay Gamblers (Prediction – 8^th in the Eastern Conference)

In the absence of much in the way of 2002 born talent, the primary point of interest in scouting the Gamblers this year is to see how a trio of drafted forwards continue their development. Big Texan Ryan O’Reilly is the rare player who is still gracing the rinks of the USHL in his draft + two season. He has always had talented mitts and good shot, but has struggled with his consistency throughout his time in the league and his first few steps have remained below average. The other two drafted players were more surprising that they were selected in the first place. In the seventh round last year, Boston drafted Jake Schmaltz and Tampa took McKade Webster. The Schmaltz selection was odd in that he was a bottom six player without any discernable high end tools in his draft year as a member of the Steel. For Webster, it was his second year of eligibility, but he missed most of the season to injury. Schmaltz should take on a bigger role this year and we will get the chance to see if there is any latent skill lying beneath the two-way responsibility. Webster is healthy and brings energy, but can his early point pace be sustained over time?

Green Bay’s ability to compete will rest on a group of undrafted, yet talented late 2000 and 2001 born players. Up front, I would look to Tyler Paquette, Nicholas Zabaneh, and Camden Thiesing. Paquette is big and skates well, although his hands haven’t yet caught up to his feet. Zabaneh and Theising are both undersized and have flashed the ability to execute skill plays, but without the necessary consistency to be of pro interest. On the blueline, the top two left side players, Dylan Moulton and Chris Giroday, are all situations players with solid all around games. Moulton, in particular, has the look of a promising late bloomer, after spending last season in the NAHL.

Thus far, the only first year eligible on the roster are wingers Luke Mylymok and Alex Servango. Servango has scored twice in his first three games at the level, but standing 5-8”, he will have to prove himself continuously all year. Mylymok had a decent rookie season in the USHL last year, but hasn’t shown much yet in 2019-20. I would posit that one of the players in the previous paragraph is more likely to earn the affections of NHL scouts, with Giroday and Paquette the most primed.

Lincoln Stars (Prediction – 4^th in the Western Conference)

After a terrible 2018-19 campaign, which saw the team sell off many of its better players at the trade deadline, the Stars seem to have regrouped with much better things expected for 2019-20. The lineup is stocked with players with USHL experience, with only Green Bay and Omaha have more on hand. This type of team-building is easiest to recognize with their goaltenders. Neither Ryan McInchak nor Jacob Mucitelli look like future NHLers, but neither are prone to coughing up games behind their squad.

The Stars feature four veteran forwards leading the charge, including three who all played with the Chicago Steel last season in Travis Treloar, Josh Groll, and Christian Sarlo. Groll may be recognized as a depth player for the Team USA outfit at the 2018 Hlinka, although he struggled to produce for the Steel. Treloar and Sarlo were productive, and Treloar looked, at times, like a potential NHL draft pick in the first half, before slowing down considerably in the second half. They played as a first line at the USHL Classic and could collectively be primed for a strong season now. Joining them as a critical forward is holdover Josh Lopina. He has gained in mass since last year and flashes a promising wrist shot. Through their first two games, the Stars blueline corps did not add a single point, although players like Jordan Power and Jake Boltmann should change that in short order.

Speaking of Boltmann, he is one of the few first year draft eligible players on the roster. He plays in all situations and has a solid point shot from the right side. He also plays a promising physical style. Two other draft eligibles of note are left winger Zach Urdahl and blueliner Jacob Bauer. Urdahl impressed for the Stars in a brief cameo last year. His first few steps are fine, but his top speed needs an extra gear. Bauer is a right handed shot with good size, but none of his tools flashed overly brightly on the weekend.

Madison Capitols (Prediction – 6^th in the Eastern Conference)

Ever since I began covering the USHL, the Capitols have been the dregs of the league. They would have the occasional high end prospect in their ranks, but more often than not, they were drastically outmanned by the other teams in the league. While I am not ready to state that Madison will play in the postseason for the first time in its six year history, they could be a .500 team for the first time. The roster is still too shallow for me to project for more, but progress is apparent.

My general optimism comes from the first line of forwards, with Hungarian center Kristof Papp flanked by two first year draft eligible wingers in Carson Bantle and Reid Pabich. I will start with a word on Pabich, a Madison native who helps to keep things moving along, but is the clear third wheel on this unit. If the Capitols wanted to maximize their top line, Pabich would be subbed out for another first year draft eligible in Ryan Kirwan, who had a good showing for Team USA at this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Regardless of how they move the right wing forward, the player to watch here is left winger Bantle, also a Hlinka alum. In his second season in Madison, Bantle has started the season hot, with six points through his first three games. He has ideal size, good touch, a nice top gear and a strong stick. I would like to see more aggression, but so far he looks like one of the top draft eligible prospects in the league. The line is centered by Papp, the team’s second leading scorer last season. He has very soft hands and plays creatively and now with added confidence. His size is only average and he may not have the speed to be of great NHL interest, but if he continues to push the pace as he did in the USHL Classic, he will force teams to take notice.

Although most of the attention on Madison will be placed up front, there is one blueliner who should also be minded in right handed shooting Stephen Davis, a Boston College commit. Although offensively inclined for the most part, the puck mover puts in good effort in his own end and could do enough to keep himself on the radar. Starting netminder Simon Latkoczy is also a 2002-born player, but at 5-11”, he is too small to be a draft target. That said, if he can provide Madison with at least average performance in net, the team will be competitive.

Muskegon Lumberjacks (Prediction – 5^th in the Eastern Conference)

One of the most surprising facets of the USHL this year is that Daniil Gushchin is still a part of it. The Lumberjacks have a knack for developing Russian players, with high draft picks Andrei Svechnikov and Yegor Afanasyev both recently gracing the team roster. Gushchin played with Afanasyev last year and was very impressive as a 16-year old in the league, so when the Regina Pats used the seventh overall pick in the CHL Import Draft on the pint sized winger, it was widely expected that the player would be moving to Saskatchewan. Perhaps not. Although Gushchin has not recorded a point through three league games, he is widely expected to spearhead the Lumberjacks offense as the season progresses.

Coming up behind the talented Russian is another talented left winger who is small enough to make the 5-8”, 165 lbs Gushchin look big. I am referring to 5-7”, 158 lbs Alex Gaffney, who held his own as a rookie last year, but will need to do far more than that to garner NHL attention this year. Gaffney was strong at the Hlinka, but with his frame, the Harvard commit will need to prove that he can handle the grind. Another first year draft eligible winger of note for Muskegon is Jack Williams (one of two Jack Williamses on the roster). After crushing at the Selects Hockey Academy for two years, he was electrifying in a short stint with Muskegon at the tail end of last year. He has already shown that he can bring a lot of energy to his shifts this year, but the offense will need to follow.

There are enough interesting players on the Lumberjacks to expect them to overcome their rough start to the season (5 goals through 3 games), but the only one who seems likely to be followed for draft purposes is netminder Jonathan (Jack) Williams. Passed over last year after an uneven NAHL campaign, he has the size and athleticism that teams look for. He needs the minutes and the consistency. They are the smallest team in the league, and one of the least experienced to boot, so a slow start is not all that surprising, but better days should be ahead.

Omaha Lancers (Prediction – 2^nd in the Western Conference)

Muskegon has the least experienced roster in the USHL. Omaha has, by far, the most experience, with nearly 200 more cumulative games to its players’ credit than the runner-up. Among those experienced players, none will play as critical a role in Omaha’s fortunes as that of starting goalie Akira Schmid. The 6-5” behemoth led the league in save percentage after coming over from the WHL, by way of the NAHL, and allowing for a mid-year break to represent his native Switzerland at the WJC. Considering the gap in ability between New Jersey draft pick Schmid and his backup, he should receive the lion’s share of playing time.

The Lancers’ offensive attack will reply on two 18 year olds who actually have very little USHL experience in Alexander Campbell a Nashville draft pick, and Rhett Pitlick, a Montreal selection. Campbell is coming over off a fantastic draft year in the BCHL, while Pitlick spent the bulk of his draft year playing Minnesota high school hockey. At the USHL Classic, they were generally playing opposite wings on the same line, with Pitlick playing as a trigger man on his off wing. Both players are above average skater and exciting puck players. When they are on the ice, especially playing together, the opposition should expect to be playing mostly in its own end.

Similar to the gap between Schmid and his backup, the level of talent on Omaha sees a big drop off after Campbell and Pitlick. With a plethora of 1999 and 2000 borns, there is little room o the roster for first year draft eligible, and only three played at all at the Classic. Neither Cameron Berg, Michael Cameron, or Matt Basgall did much to separate themselves. Omaha will go only as far as its three drafted players can take them.

Sioux City Musketeers (Prediction – 8^th in the Western Conference)

Eeli Tolvanen is long gone. Last year’s hero, Bobby Brink is gone now, too. Draft picks Martin Pospisil and Marcus Kallionkielli are also gone. In fact, all of the top eight on the scoring list from last year’s squad are now gone. So are the two main netminders. I have already mentioned how high the level of turnover is in this league and the Musketeers are the prime example of that trend. It isn’t all bad though. For one thing, Sioux City could have even better netminding this year as Ben Kraws and Jake Sibell have been replaced by Nashville draft pick Ethan Haider, coming off a fantastic campaign in the NAHL, where he was named the Goaltender of the Year for the Midwest region of that league.

Additionally, even though they didn’t factor into the scoring leaders last year, the team added a pair of defensemen from high end college programs around midseason and both Adam Samuelsson and Dominic Vidoli are back. The former provides a gigantic body on the blueline with enough snarl to make himself useful even without much in the way of offensive contributions. The latter is six inches shorter and 55 pounds lighter, but looks to be one of the more dynamic offensive defensemen in the league this year. As a 20 year old, he is not draft eligible, but could work his way into consideration as an undrafted free agent after more time in college at Ohio State.

The Musketeers may be a weaker squad this year, but with a plethora of 2002 borns in the lineup, the stands will always have a lot of NHL scouts in attendance. Among the first year eligible, Jackson Nieuwendyk, son of Hall of Famer Joe is currently more curiosity than legit draft prospect, but that may yet change. Offensively inclined blueliner Christian Jimenez is a decent puck mover, but his reads are still a little rough. Center Blake Biondi comes with glowing advance clippings, considering his past production for Minnesota high school powerhouse Hermantown, which last year culminated in his being named an All-USA Hockey First Teamer, along with four players who were drafted last June. There is some thought that he will yet return to play for Hermantown this year, and his early play this season in the USHL has been underwhelming, but leaving for high school will leave his prospect status with more questions than answers, even if he excels for Hermantown once again. At this point though, the top scouting draw is following in a hallowed Sioux City tradition as a high end Finnish scorer. Tolvanen begat Kallionkieli. Kallionkieli has begat Joel Maatta. Maatta has started his USHL career on fire, with the ability to control the offensive attack from the half-wall, getting right to the net on rushes and making sure his stick is ready to play the puck. Between his hands, size and solid stride, he has the makings of a top half of the draft candidate.

Sioux Falls Stampede (Prediction – 3^rd in the Western Conference)

Winning the Clark Cup last year was very nice. Starting again with only two players who contributed even 10 points to the championship team is not as nice, but flags fly forever. The goalies have turned over, too. So let’s give a quick shout-out to returning champions Jared Westcott and Ryan Sullivan, as they spend one more season in the USHL before going to school, but the simple matter is that any chance of repeating that the Stampede have will be reliant on new players. Starting in the crease, both netminders are new to the league, and neither Nathan Reid nor Grant Adams (both 2000-borns) has yet to claim a stranglehold on the starting job.

The biggest drop off from year to year for Sioux Falls is most likely on the blueline, though, as the championship team starred NHL draft picks Ryan Johnson and Max Crozier in the back in addition to other veterans of the league. The only defender on the current squad to have entered the new season with over 10 USHL games under their respective belts is the undersized Chase Foley, who held his own last year as a member of the defunct Central Illinois Flying Aces. For draft purposes, I will be keeping an eye on Evan Bushy, who joined the Stampede late last year after a strong showing for his hometown Thief River Falls High School team. Bushy didn’t record a single point in 10 regular season or four postseason games last year with Sioux Falls, but is being given a bigger role for the moment.

The forward group is also young and relatively inexperienced, but through three regular seasons, they have combined to score 12 goals, with eight different players lighting the lamp. Having a roster that can contribute from every line can only be a positive, even if it means that there isn’t a single offensive play driver, or focal point to lean on. That said, there are two first year eligible players that have earned a follow already. One is right winger Luke Weilandt, who the Stampede nabbed in the 13^th round of the most recent USHL entry Level Draft. The Chicago native leads the way with five points through three games, although he is undersized and hasn’t yet shown any high level tools. The other player of note is Poland import Jakub Lewandowski, a rangy winger who comes over after a strong season in the Czech U19 league. He has good balance on his skates, can control the puck nicely and shows a touch of creativity to boot.

Tri-City Storm (Prediction – 5^th in the Western Conference)

Although they have yet to come away with two standings points from any of their three first games, scoring only six times in the process, there are a lot of pieces on the Tri-City roster who should be interesting follows as the season plays on. Despite losing four NHL picks to the college game in netminder Isaiah Saville, defensemen Ronnie Attard and Zac Jones, and forward Shane Pinto, a fifth draft pick, Mike Koster, who only played with the Storm in the final quarter of the season, returns. His early absence due to injury has not helped the Tri-City offense find its legs.

Even without Allard, Jones, Koster (for now), or Ruben Rafkin, upon whom high hopes were placed, but who left for an opportunity with Windsor in the OHL, the Tri-City blueline once again should provide a lot of eye candy for scouts. Most prominent among that crew is Mitchell Miller, who came over in an off-season trade from Cedar Rapids. Miller is undersized, but is a composed puck mover, who plays with a pleasant physical side away from the puck. He has a full tool kit and may be one of the better first time eligible defenders in the league this year. He is joined on the blueline by a pair of rookies who join Tri-City together from the Chicago Mission program in Kyle Aucoin and Nicholas Donato. I am not sure if Donato is part of the famous Donato hockey clan, but Aucoin is the son of longtime NHLer Adrian. He showed a few flashes of high hockey IQ during the USHL Classic, and a few reminders that he was still very raw as well.

Despite not being able to score much yet, it seems the issue is not one of a lack of talent, but more likely a matter of some bad luck over a small sample. The forwards are very young, with four first year eligibles among the season opening lineup, in addition to two more who won’t be draft eligible until 2021. The four first year eligible include Colby Ambrosio, Mark Estapa, Carter Mazur, and Nick Capone. Estapa and Ambrosio are good shooters. The latter has a knack for hitting the twine and will likely be an offensive leader for Tri-City this year, while the former looks like more of a depth, energy player for now. Capone chose the USHL over strong overtures from the QMJHL and is ready for a full season in the league after two partial years previously. He has fantastic power forward size and plays a rough game to boot. He is a strong skater for his size and shows the hands to win puck battles in the corners. He has yet to find the scoresheet, but he is the type of player who can have a big impact on the game even without scoring.

Waterloo Black Hawks (Prediction – 1^st in the Western Conference)

Three games, three wins with only four goals allowed (although only eight scored), and Waterloo is easily the early favorite in the Western Conference. Rookie goalie Gabriel Carriere has played in all three games for the Black Hawks, ignoring the lure of the OHL for the lure of Hockey East. He has been steady, but not spectacular. That said, if he keeps his numbers even close to his current .947 save percentage, NHL teams will be forced to consider the third year eligible from Ottawa.

The blueline in front of Carriere that has been so far so good at keeping opponents to the outside, is mostly young and small. It includes two first year eligible and four players who are 6-0” or smaller. The Venn diagram of young and small is basically a circle within a circle, as all three first year eligible are on the small side. Ethan Szmagaj would have been draft eligible last year were he born three days earlier, and he held his own as a USHL rookie at the time. More of a first pass than an offensive driver, he shows some grit along the boards and the quiet effectiveness of a potential late round selection. The other first year eligible also has a year of USHL experience under his belt as Nic Belpedio (brother of Minnesota’s Louie) played a solid season with Muskegon.

Szmagaj and Belpedio aside, scouts will flock to Waterloo this year as the forward units have a number of intriguing draft eligible players. The biggest name among that group is Ryder Rolston (son of Brian) who played with the USNTDP U18s last year, but was not draft eligible as a late birthday, so gets another year in the league before getting the chance to hear his name called by an NHL team. Like his father, he is a brilliant skater and plays a responsible two way game. He is an opportunistic player with a big wrist shot. He has the tools and the big game background to be one of the first players from the league to be drafted next June. The other notable first year eligible include Patrick Guzzo, Dane Montgomery, and Wyatt Schingoethe. Guzzo is a big center who can skate and was a former USHL first round pick. Montgomery is undersized, but quick, and has a nice wrist shot. He currently straddles the line between being responsible, but barely in control. Schingoethe had a great season as a 16 year old last year, trailing only Daniil Gushchin and Stephen Halliday in points in his age group. He has exceptional hockey IQ and is the type of player who can lengthen offensive zone time and can punctuate the attack with a great wrist shot, but I would like to see a touch more burst to his first few steps.

Team USA (Prediction – 7^th in the Eastern Conference)

For the purposes of this introduction, I will be completely ignoring the U17s. Sorry, fellas, we’ll talk about you next year. The U18s are not nearly as deep as last year’s team, but there is still a ton of talent here. With the exceptions of forwards Hunter Strand and Matthew Beniers, both with November birthdates that push their draft eligibility off to 2021, the rest of the lineup will be draft eligible next June. Unlike last year, where all but two draft eligible players were selected, there will be a few more from this year’s class who will enter college without NHL affiliation. I was only able to see the first Team USA game at the USHL Classic, so I won’t be so bold as to predict which players will and will not be drafted, but I saw enough to highlight some elements from some players that stuck out. Also of note, forward Ty Smilanic, who some see as the top draft prospect from this class, missed the Classic due to injury. He played the following weekend, so this isn’t a long term issue, but I will not be commenting further on him at this time.

The goaltending situation for the Program is currently blurry, with Noah Grannan and Drew Commesso splitting the net at the Classic. I saw Grannan, and he was fine and reports on Commesso were also generally positive, but neither will be following in the footsteps of Spencer Knight or Jake Oettinger as first round picks. In fact, there were reports that the Program may consider bringing in a goalie from somewhere else to augment their group when it comes time for international play.

There are several interesting blueliners in this group and Eamon Powell was most impressive to there eyes, with his dynamic skating ability and propensity to lead the rush and activate in the offensive end. He is an impressive puck handler and has a good right-handed point shot to boot. On the other hand, he is smallish and can be a bit rough in his own end. Jake Sanderson (son of Geoff) has a more traditionally desirable tool kit from a scouting perspective. He is tall and rangy, is central at both ends, and has plus edge work. Brock Faber plays a quieter game, within the team structure, and not chasing a play at either end. He has good strength and is a goalie’s friend in his own zone, working to keep the crease clear. A shout out also to big Daniel Laatsch, who can fire one from the point.

Once we get past the late birthdays up front, the most interesting draft candidate among the forwards looks like Luke Tuch, who looks a fair bit like older brother Alex, now with the Vegas Golden Knights. He is big and beefy and has good hands and decent quickness. Hunter McKown also impressed from the fourth line, thanks to his plus speed, and great hands. He has ankle breaking puck skills. Center Chase Yoder is an exceptional skater, although there are open questions about his offensive ability. Landon Slaggert is a muscular winger following in the footsteps of his older brother Graham. Landon is more likely than his brother to be drafted, as he has plus hands, and plays a much chippier game. Dylan Peterson is very big and skates well for his size with a discernable second gear. Thomas Bordeleau led the team in scoring last ear and has the early lead in goals this season. He is smallish, but plays with jam and skill. Many more views are needed.

Youngstown Phantoms (Prediction – 4^th in the Eastern Conference)

I really like the new orange uniforms, although I would appreciate them more if they put the player numbers on the shoulders. Whose idea was it to only have player numbers on the back? The first place I looked to on this team was in net, as they were debuting Chicago draft pick Dominic Basse, a gigantic puck stopper who spent his draft year playing midget hockey at the Selects Hockey Academy. His first game stepping up two levels to the USHL was brutal, though. He gave up way too many goals, including a few bouncers. To his credit, his first game after the USHL Classic was much better, stopping 22 of 24 in a victory against Muskegon. Even with that rebound, he may end up playing second fiddle to crease mate Colin Purcell. Purcell spent some time last year with the NTDP program, but spent most of his year playing Tier 1 hockey in the Cleveland area. Just as big as Besse, Purcell plays a much calmer game, is sharp from post to post, and keeps a stiff back, allowing him to cover more of the top of the net. Purcell is the early favorite to be the first goalie drafted out of the USHL, including the USNTDP stoppers.

The Phantoms’ postseason chances will be aided by a veteran blueline, with only one regular under the age of 19, unless 16-year old Austin May works his way into the regular rotation. While there are unlikely to be any future NHLers in this blueline crew, there is a ton of size, with three regulars standing at least 6-3”, while UMass (Amherst) commit Jayson Dobay brings offensive wherewithal.

While scouts will not be looking for miracles from the defensemen, the forwards have a lot to recommend them. Looking to the future, there is Japanese wunderkind Yusaku Ando, who comes to Youngstown from an elite hockey school in Western Canada. He turned 16 around one month ago and scored three goals in his first five USHL games. For the current draft, remember the name of Ben Schoen. He is small, but a gifted playmaker. He is the go-to player for his team and controls the game like a veteran from the half-wall. He has great offensive instincts and vision and could be a sleeper if he adds some muscle to help him withstand physical play.

Also fighting for scouting attention on the Phantoms are a pair of second time eligible forwards in Trevor Kuntar and Reilly Funk. This is Kuntar’s third year in the USHL, and the Harvard commit is starting this season hot. He is a solid skater with a plus top speed and a good shot. He can also flash high end puck skills, such as the play leading up to a goal scored late against Tri-City. Funk is new to the USHL, having played in the MJHL for the past two seasons. He has a great frame (6-3”, 190), which he uses to good effect along the boards. He skates well for his size and attacks the net on offense. He is coordinated and athletic and has a knack for creating room for himself with the puck with a shoulder check. With eight points in his first five games at the new level, he has put the league – as well as NCAA recruiters (he is without a college commitment) - on notice.

Top ten draft eligible players in the USHL

Ty Smilanic, USNTDP
Sean Farrell, Chicago
Jake Sanderson, USNTDP
Carson Bantle, Madison
Luke Tuch, USNTDP
Ryder Rolston, Waterloo
Colin Purcell, Youngstown
Joel Maatta, Sioux City
Thomas Bordeleau, USNTDP
Ben Shoen, Youngstown

Bonus, second time eligible draft prospects

Reilly Funk, Youngstown
Justin Hryckowian, Cedar Rapids
Ben Meehan, Cedar Rapids
Kristof Papp, Madison
Trevor Kuntar, Youngstown

MCKEEN’S 2019 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: USA – Dominating the Draft board

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 13:22:44 +0000

In the 2009 NHL Draft, the final year that the USNTDP did not play a regular USHL schedule, Kyle Palmieri was the only member of the program to be selected in the first round, going shortly after two USHL players were taken in Louis Leblanc and John Moore. Palmieri was one of 10 USNTDP players selected in the draft (and the only one of the ten to earn at least 100 NHL games in his career).

With the development team playing a set schedule against a more predictable level of competition thereafter, the program has since gone from strength to strength. Let’s have a look at the raw numbers:

Year	UNSTDP 1st Rounders	Other USHL 1st Rounders	Total USNTDP Drafted	Total Other USHL Drafted	Notable USNTDP Picks	Notable Other-USHL Picks
2010	3	1	10	10	Jason Zucker, Justin Faulk, Bryan Rust	Jaden Schwartz
2011	3	0	11	15	J.T. Miller, Connor Murphy, John Gibson	Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Kuraly, Ryan Dzingel, Scott Mayfield
2012	3	3	10	14	Jacob Trouba, Brady Skjei, Matt Grzelcyk	Zemgus Girgensons, Mike Matheson, Jaccob Slavin, Vinny Hinostroza
2013	1	0	12	13	JT Compher, Will Butcher	Jake Guentzel
2014	3	1	12	19	Dylan Larkin, Alex Tuch	Nick Schmaltz, Brandon Montour
2015	2	2	11	18	Colin White, Jack Roslovic, Christian Fischer, Troy Terry, Jordan Greenway	Kyle Connor, Brock Boeser
2016	3	1	12	16	Clayton Keller, Joey Anderson, Kieffer Bellows, Trent Frederic	Riley Tufte
2017	1	3	10	21	Josh Norris	Casey Mittelstadt, Shane Bowers, Eeli Tolvanen
2018	3	0	12	24	Oliver Wahlstrom, Joel Farabee, K'Andre Miller	Tyler Madden
Totals	22	11	100	150

Note that the numbers above only reflect players drafted directly out of the program or other USHL teams and ignores those who had previously – or would subsequently – move to the league. This deflates both USHL and USNTDP raw counts.

But that was all past, the future, starting now, looks to be even brighter. Hanging out in USHL rinks this year, whether watching the USNTDP, or a different league matchup, the amount of talent in the league this year is stunning. If we re-print the above table with a new row for 2019, I would be shocked if the 2019 numbers were not uniformly and palpably higher.So, in the previous nine drafts, the USNTDP has consistently seen two or three players selected in the first round and between 10-12 total players drafted. The rest of the USHL has been inconsistent, sometimes with three drafted players, sometimes without any. But to the league’s credit, the total numbers of USHL players drafted has been steadily on the increase and topped 20 for the first two times in each of the past two seasons.

Jack Hughes. Photo by Rena Laverty. Courtesy of the USNTDP

Let’s start with the program. Forget three players drafted in the first round. There will be at least three taken in the top 10 (Jack Hughes, Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras), and seeing five in the first ten would not surprise anyone (Matthew Boldy, Cole Caufield). The first round could see as many as ten program alumni selected (Cam York, Spencer Knight, Marshall Warren, John Beecher, Alex Vlasic), although eight is probably a safer, more realistic number here.

There are 20 USNTDP members who are eligible for the draft this June and I fully expect to hear 19 of their names called. Even three being passed over would be stunning.

Robert Mastrosimone. Photo by Brandon Anderson.

Looking at the other 16 USHL teams, I have had NHL scouts mention the names of four potential first round picks – Bobby Brink, Robert Mastrosimone, Egor Afansyev, Ryan Johnson – although none are first round locks. Going deeper, there are upwards of 35 players who could feasibly be drafted, assuming we credit the league on players who spent the bulk of their year with their respective high/prep school but finished up with a USHL club. Even if the final number is short of 35 (and it probably will be), the league should see a record number of players taken in Vancouver.

With more players drafted, more of the spotlight firmly in place, expect the impact to have a lengthy tail, with additional talented young players seeing the collegiate-via-USHL path as a viable route to the NHL and thus playing in Omaha instead of Oshawa, Dubuque instead of Drummondville, Tri-City (Storm) instead of Tri-City (Americans).

In trying to come to grips with the strengths of the current USNTDP squad, compared to previous versions, I reached out to Rod Braceful, USNTDP Assistant Director of Player Personnel. I suggested the possibility that this year’s class had fewer late birthdays, guys who would be in the class of 2001, but not eligible until 2020, such that being drafted would not be “credited” to the USNTDP.

He shot down that theory, as there are a few late birthdays with this year’s team, such as Ryder Rolston and Sean Farrell. The fact that they are not team leaders such as past late birthday players including Auston Matthews and Patrick Kane is mere coincidence.

In discussing the increased frequency of players coming from less traditional hockey markets (Hughes is technically from Florida, Michael Gildon is from Texas, Judd Caulfield is from North Dakota, Cam York is from Southern California), he noted that while the program does not take geography into consideration when recruiting, there are always a few high-end players from non-traditional markets, with one of the player selection goals being “to not disturb a player’s development but enhance it.”

This is reflected in their attempts to build a program wherein players are able to push one another to succeed positively, not negatively, where the purpose is “to make every kid in our program better when they leave after two years, we’re preparing them for the next level. What sometimes gets lost in the shuffle is how we’re preparing these kids to be pros on & off the ice, some go on to be great NHL players and some great college players but all in all they all graduate our program as great kids that turned into great young men. We only have so many spots, there are a ton of kids every year that could play here but they don’t because of that.”

USA Hockey, which runs the USNTDP, does not neglect the players who are not picked either, as the organization makes a point of selecting from the rest of the player pool for events such as the preseason Ivan Hlinka/Gretzky tournament, or the mid-season WJAC, as well as other tournaments among the pre-draft eligible set.

On the whole, it seems that the program did an exemplary job of selecting a full roster for its 2001 class. When speaking with one NHL scout about players they maybe should have taken instead of those they did, the only names that came up as potential ‘what-ifs’ were Brink, Mastrosimone, and Johnson. To pick a team of 15-yearolds, and know that, two years later, their objective hit rate would be over 85% is an amazing display of scouting and developing.

Moving on to a few pressing questions about the American-based draft eligible players from there are three player evaluations I wanted to take a little time with, beyond just pointing to the website and the associated OFPs.

Trevor Zegras ahead of Alex Turcotte

Trevor Zegras and the NTDP celebrate a goal. Photo courtesy of USNTDP.

Let’s start here as I see both players as being worthy of going in the to 5-7 picks. Both are given OFPs beginning in a 6, a mark only seven players reached this season. Some will point to Turcotte’s production this year and drop the mic, as Turcotte’s point per game production was better than anyone’s, even better than Jack Hughes. But we aren’t ranking Turcotte over Hughes, and no one in their right mind would, so we need to dig a little deeper. In any case, Zegras put up points, too.

Both players are natural centers, but I appreciate the fact that Zegras has played at every forward position this year, and never looked out of place. Secondly, with Zegras spending so much of his season on the Hughes line, he learned to play without the puck for longer stretches and still managed to shine with every touch. Turcotte, once he regained his health, was generally the focal point of the second line, meaning he received more touches and he generally lined up against secondary opponents.

But given how the OFP system does not really account for linemates, situational usage or points, but rather talent characteristics, Zegras gets the edge. From my perspective, both players can pick it and shoot with power. Turcotte lights the lamp more often, but he always plays closer to the net. I feel their goal scoring prowess will be similar at the upper levels. In terms of puck skills, they are both fantastic, high-end talents. Zegras is more of a playmaker and is one of the better passers in the draft class. Turcotte is less of a setup artist, but his hands are marvelously soft. I don’t need to split hairs there as both receive great skills grades.

I give Turcotte a slight edge in hockey IQ, as he more consistently is forced to make the read and control the play off of the read. Zegras can read the lay of the defense without flaw, but he has not been forced to lead from the front as much. I am not knocking him, but I can’t hold him as high there as I do Turcotte.

Both players are on the slight side, but while Turcotte has dealt with numerous injuries in his draft year, Zegras has played (almost) a full schedule, and plays with more of a chip on his shoulder.

If we had stopped there, Turcotte would be ranked a touch higher, but we cannot grade a player without looking at his skating ability. Turcotte is a good skater, with fine acceleration and a nice top speed. Zegras, on the other hand, is lightning. His skating grade is in the top three in this draft class. He has incredible speed, is shifty with plus edgework and can juke his way through layers of the defense like they are standing still.

Ultimately, both players should be selected high in the draft and go on to stellar careers, but we give a slight edge to Zegras.

Robert Mastrosimone over Bobby Brink

Bobby Brink. Photo by Hickling Images. Courtesy of the USHL

Starting with OFP, both Mastrosimone and Brink received identical 55.75 OFPs, although they took different routes to get there. In the regular season, both scored at a high clip, but on a per game basis, Brink was the far greater scorer with 68 points in 43 games compared to Mastrosimone’s 60 in 54.

Both had fine postseasons. After Brink’s Sioux City squad was knocked out in the first game of the USHL playoffs, he went to Sweden to join team USA at the WU18 tournament and fit right in, scoring three times in five games and earning a Bronze. Mastrosimone, as of this writing through two games of the Clark Cup Finals, leads the USHL in postseason scoring, with 15 points in 10 games.

Both are high IQ players, who play bigger than their listed measurements, both have big time shots. Brink has better hands, while Mastrosimone is a better skater.

With the skating aspect, I would be more comfortable banking on Mastrosimone in the modern game. Brink is able to find room to execute in the offensive zone, while Mastrosimone creates room and can take over shifts more. The gap between Mastrosimone and Brink is less than that between Zegras and Turcotte, but if I have to choose, I go with the Steel winger.

Best of the American Draft Class

Best Skater, Forward – Jack Hughes, USNTDP; Runner up – Trevor Zegras, USNTDP

Best Skater, Defense – Marshall Warren, USNTDP; Runner up – Michael Koster, Tri-City

Best Shot, Forward – Matthew Boldy, USNDTP; Runner up – Cole Caufield, USNTDP; Honorable Mention – Trevor Janicke, Central Illinois

Best Shot, Defense – Cam York, USNTDP; Runner up – Hunter Skinner, Lincoln

Best Puck Skills, Forward – Jack Hughes, USNDTP; Runner up (tie) – Alex Turcotte, USNTDP and Trevor Zegras, USNTDP

Best Puck Skills, Defense – Cam York, USNTDP; Runner up – Marshall Warren, USNTDP

Best Playmaker, Forward – Jack Hughes, USNTDP; Runner up – Trevor Zegras, USNTDP

Best Playmaker, Defense – Cam York, USNTDP, Runner up – Zac Jones, Tri-City

Highest Hockey IQ, Forward – Jack Hughes, USNTDP; Runner up – Alex Turcotte, USNTDP

Highest Hockey IQ, Defense – Cam York, USNTDP; Runner up – Ryan Johnson, Sioux Falls

Most Physical, Forward – John Beecher, USNTDP; Runner Up – Ryder Donovan, Dubuque

Most Physical, Defense – Alex Vlasic, USNTDP; Runner up – Lev Starikov, Des Moines

USHL Playoff Preview: New format, wild results

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 20:21:45 +0000

Looking to add more drama to its postseason, this season is the first in which the USHL has extended the playoffs through the addition of a best-of-three wildcard round, adding two teams to the festivities from each conference. Whereas the league had previously included only the top four from each conference in the playoffs, this year, the fifth and sixth teams received an extra chance as well.

The new setup sees the top two teams from each conference receive a bye week while the third through sixth teams played up to three games in three nights, all at the home arena of the higher ranked squad.

Perhaps in opposition to expectations, the wild card round saw three upsets in its four series. In the Eastern conference, third seed Muskegon fell in three games to sixth seed and defending champions, Chicago, a series capped by a game three overtime winner. Meanwhile, the fifth seed, Dubuque, won the first two games in Green Bay, negating the need for a winner-take-all finale.

In the Western Conference, third seed Fargo eliminated sixth seed Tri-City in short order, winning their two games by a combined score of 8-1. Fourth seed Sioux Falls feel to fifth seed Lincoln in three games. Like with the Muskegon-Chicago series, the home team won the first game, before dropping the next two, with the finale going to overtime.

The Conference semifinals begin tonight (Friday, April 20, 2018) with Youngstown hosting Dubuque, with the other three series beginning tomorrow evening.

Eastern Conference

Team USA (1) vs Chicago Steel (6)

This matchup may not be the mismatch the seeds suggest that it is. During the regular season, Team USA’s league games are effectively split between the USNTDP U17 and U18 squads. This arrangement was great for development, but usually pretty bad for the standings. Since rejoining the USHL in 2009-10, the USNTDP split team has only reached the postseason twice, and not since the 2011—12 season. Of the players who led this team during the regular season. Most of the top contributors will be unavailable for the postseason, as the bulk of the U18 squad, and some of the better U17 players, are currently in Russia representing flag and country at the World Under 18 Championships.

The leftover players are still very talented on the whole, but lacking in high impact. The players most likely to push the USNTDP onward are 2019 draft prospects Ryder Rolston, Matthew Boldy, and Trevor Zegras up front, and Henry Thrun from the blueline. All three forwards were point per game players in the regular season and are potential high end prospects for next year.

Jack Dugan, photo by Hickling Images.

The Steel are led by one of the top drafted prospects in the league in Jack Dugan, a Vegas pick and one of the best non USNTDP draft prospects for this year in Blake McLaughlin. The two made up two-thirds of a great top line over the first half of the season, but were split up around mid-season after a coach firing reminiscent of what took place in Flint of the OHL last year. They also have a very promising 2019 prospect of their own in Robert Mastrosimone. Steel games have been high event games this year. Only the USNTDP has scored more and no other playoff team (including the ousted wild-card entrants) have surrendered more. That said, if they stick with Finnish import Oskar Autio in net, they have a very good chance of getting to the conference finals.

Blake McLaughlin.

Draft eligible players to watch: For Chicago, pay attention to Blake McLaughlin. After exploding in the first half of the season, his production slowed measurably in the second half, but he scored twice in the wild card round. He is a dark horse pick in the late first round or early second round. For the US squad, Erik Middendorf is one of a select few who were not taken to Russia for the WU18 tournament. He is a decent two-way player who can skate. The Colorado College commit could be taken in the seventh round if he shows some offensive punch here.

Prediction: As they played Autio throughout the wild card round, I expect the status quo to remain for the best of five here. Chicago in five.

Youngstown Phantoms (2) vs Dubuque Fighting Saints (5)

Representing Exhibit A in why the Western Conference was the stronger one this year, both combatants here surrendered more goals than they scored this year, not something you would expect from a playoff team, much less the second seed from the East. Both teams have veteran rosters, with Dubuque bringing more size, although Youngstown plays a rougher game. The Phantoms somewhat make up for the time they spend in the penalty box by having a fairly strong penalty kill. Dubuque has been much more mediocre when it comes to special teams this year.

Alex Steeves

The Fighting Saints could have been much stronger this year, as their rosters includes three players drafted by NHL teams in Casey Staum (Mtl), Cole Guttman (TB) and Santeri Virtanen (Wpg). Unfortunately, injuries have meant that Dubuque has spent the majority of the season without any of the three and are not expected to have those players now either. Their offensive attack will be spearheaded by forwards Quinn Preston and Alex Steeves, the latter of whom is draft eligible. Joshua Maniscalco, a former USNTDP member, has been very productive from the blueline as well. Their goaltending looks to be a weakspot, despite Cole Weaver’s great work in shutting down Green Bay in the Wild Card round.

The Phantoms have more offensive weapons at their disposal, including Matthew Berry, Chase Gresock, and Michael Regush. They lack much offensive punch from their defensive corps, although midseason acquisition Michael Callahan has provided solid puck movement. The teams’ biggest strength, however comes from their stoppers. They likely expected to have Chicago draft pick Wouter Peeters claim the starters job this year – and he has been pretty good - but Russian import Ivan Prosvetov has been even better. No matter which netminder they choose for the playoffs, they will have a clear edge over Dubuque in the crease.

Curtis Hall. Photo by Hickling Images/courtesy of the USHL.

Draft eligible players to watch: From Dubuque, it can only be Alexander Steeves. The Notre Dame commit has a big engine and real offensive juice. The team’s leading scorer (seventh league-wide) always wants the puck on his stick and knows what to do when he gets it. From Youngstown, the pre-season pick would have been Curtis Hall, but he has shown that his lack of puck skill severely limits his upside. My personal favorite here is the goalie Prosvetov, who can absolutely dominate at his best. But he may not get the nod as Peeters is also very good. So I will pick Michael Callahan. He is not an exciting prospect, but the Providence commit does a lot of things quietly well.

Prediction: Youngstown in four. Between the top notch goaltending and the more diverse offensive attack, they will be tough to beat, especially under the assumption that Dubuque continues to play shorthanded.

Western Conference

Waterloo Black Hawks (1) vs Lincoln Stars (5)

The Waterloo-Lincoln series should be closer than the two teams’ relative place in the USHL standings would suggest. They both scored a hair under 200 goals on the season, although Waterloo has a team-level GAA of around 0.25 better. A factor that should play a role here is special teams play. Both teams are strong on the penalty kill, with Lincoln’s 84.7% kill rate coming second in the USHL. Waterloo, at 83.8% was not far behind. On the power play, however, the Black Hawks more than make up for the shortcoming when down a man. They had the league’s second best man advantage, scoring 23.6% of the time. Lincoln could only convert on 15.6% of their power plays.

That Waterloo power play was a result of some strong offensive talent. Draft eligible Jack Drury is by far the league’s top power play producer with 12 goals and 22 assists coming on the man advantage. The team captain sees the ice well and knows how to take advantage of the extra space a power play brings. Speedy Ben Copeland, veteran Jackson Cates and midseason addition Benjamin Finkelstein (Fla) make them hard to stop.

The goalie battle is also strong here. Both teams feature drafted goalies, on the roster with Matej Tomek (Phi) playing for Waterloo and Tomas Vomacka (Nsh) for Lincoln, but there is no guarantee that either of the latter get the nod. In the wild-card round, the Stars went with normal backup Derek Schaedig, after a rough outing in game one by Vomacka. The Black Hawks also have Jared Moe, one of the better draft eligible goalies in the league pushing Tomek for playing time.

Paul Cotter

Draft Eligible Players to Watch: From Waterloo, pay attention to Drury. His offensive output has been fantastic and has the requisite hockey IQ expected from a legacy player (Son of Ted Drury) and Harvard commit. The question hanging over his prospect value is whether he can produce enough at even strength. From Lincoln, keep an eye on Paul Cotter, who scored the overtime winner in game 3 of the wild card round. He is a good skater with a nice shot and outstanding questions about his upside.

Prediction: Waterloo in four. Lincoln is the most penalized team in the league, with a gap of 129 minutes between them and the runners-up. That will really hurt them as the Black Hawks can take advantage, and will take advantage, over and over again, presuming Lincoln continues to play their brand of hockey.

Omaha Lancers (2) vs Fargo Force (3)

This series promises to be the exact inverse of the above-discussed matchup of Team USA and the Chicago Steel. While the other series should be full of end-to-end rushes, and blaring goal sirens, Omaha vs Fargo is a matchup of the two stingiest teams in the league. Fargo surrendered 133 goals on the season, while Omaha allowed only 143. Both teams enter hot, with Fargo having won five in a row and nine of ten, while Omaha is riding an eight game winning streak.

The goaltending on both sides is stellar. The expected starter for Omaha, Zach Driscoll, finished second in the league with a .934 save percentage. Fargo’s Strauss Mann came in third, at .932. Should, for any reason, either team need to turn to its backup, Fargo’s Ryan Bischel came in fifth in save percentage and Omaha’s Vincent Purpura finished eighth. Omaha’s offensive attack is led by undersized Czech veteran Filip Suchy, who came in second in league scoring with 69 points. Noah Cates (Phi) and Cole Gallant also both finished with over 50 points. Cates, in particular, is a talented player of the puck. Fargo only had one 50 point scoring in Grant Hebert, but Danish import Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup would have also reached that plateau were it not for time missed for the WJC and a subsequent injury. Fargo also has a number of defensemen who can contribute to the attack, including Ty Farmer, Spencer Meir, and Robbie Stucker (Clb).

Both teams are good on the PK, sharing identical 83.5% kill rate. On the power play, we see some separation. Omaha was very good this year, scoring on 19% of their man up opportunities. Fargo, on the other hand, put everyone to shame, with a USHL high 24.5% power play success rate. Neither team is overly penalty prone, though, so this element may be diminished in significance during this series.

Draft Eligible Players to Watch: Fargo has an older roster on the whole, without any first time eligible players of note. That said, 20 year old Danish winger Schmidt-Svejstrup turned a lot of heads with his goal scoring exploits at the beginning of the season. He lacks pace and likes to fly the zone early, but he knows how to get himself into scoring position. He finished the season with 26 goals in 40 games. On Omaha, Ryan Savage had the most pre-season hype, but has been largely disappointing. Defenseman Travis Mitchell plays a muscular, disruptive style on the blueline, and could be a late round pick, but the real player to watch is left winger Jack Randl. The Michigan commit has promising offensive touch and will be relied upon in the second wave of attack for the Lancers.

Prediction: This is the closest matchup of the round. Omaha wins in five, thanks to better offensive depth. Lots of close, one goal (or two, with the latter being an empty netter) decisions.

Should the first round proper prediction play out, the Conference finals will pit Waterloo against Omaha in the West and Youngstown against Chicago in the East. In that scenario, I see Omaha shutting down Waterloo and Youngstown outscoring Chicago to set up a Clark Cup matchup between Omaha and Youngstown. In this battle of second seeds, Omaha proves the old adage that “defense wins championships” and brings home their eighth Clark Cup championship, and their first since 2007-08.

Ryder Rolston – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Colorado Avalanche Top 20 Prospects

Bowen Byram, D (4^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Alex Newhook, C (16^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Justus Annunen, G (64^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Martin Kaut, RW (16^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Conor Timmins, D (32^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Justin Barron, D (25^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Shane Bowers, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017. Originally: 28^th overall, 2017 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 5)

Sampo Ranta, LW (78^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Jean-Luc Foudy, C (75^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (171^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 19)

Alex Beaucage, RW (78^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

Colby Ambrosio, C (118^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dennis Gilbert, D (Trade: Oct. 10, 2020. Originally: 91^st overall, 2015 [Chicago]. Previous ranking: 8 [Chicago])

Ryder Rolston, RW (139^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Logan O’Connor, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 23, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Danila Zhuravlyov, D (146^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Drew Helleson, D (47^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Sasha Mutala, RW (140^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Luka Burzan, C (171^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Trent Miner, G (202^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

McKEEN’S 2020 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – USNTDP DOWNSTREAM: Late birthday draft eligibles thrive in hot house program

2019 WJAC: Standout performances, rising draft stock

Canada West

Czech Republic

United States

Canada East

Russia

USHL: Ryder Rolston, Waterloo Black Hawks (2020)

USHL 2019-20 Season Preview – Fall Classic 2019

MCKEEN’S 2019 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: USA – Dominating the Draft board

Best of the American Draft Class

USHL Playoff Preview: New format, wild results

Ryder Rolston – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Colorado Avalanche Top 20 Prospects

Bowen Byram, D (4th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Alex Newhook, C (16th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Justus Annunen, G (64th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Martin Kaut, RW (16th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Conor Timmins, D (32nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Justin Barron, D (25th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Shane Bowers, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017. Originally: 28th overall, 2017 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 5)

Sampo Ranta, LW (78th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Jean-Luc Foudy, C (75th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (171st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 19)

Alex Beaucage, RW (78th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

Colby Ambrosio, C (118th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dennis Gilbert, D (Trade: Oct. 10, 2020. Originally: 91st overall, 2015 [Chicago]. Previous ranking: 8 [Chicago])

Ryder Rolston, RW (139th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Logan O’Connor, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed 23, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Danila Zhuravlyov, D (146th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Drew Helleson, D (47th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Sasha Mutala, RW (140th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Luka Burzan, C (171st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Trent Miner, G (202nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

McKEEN’S 2020 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – USNTDP DOWNSTREAM: Late birthday draft eligibles thrive in hot house program

2019 WJAC: Standout performances, rising draft stock

Canada West

Czech Republic

United States

Canada East

Russia

USHL: Ryder Rolston, Waterloo Black Hawks (2020)

USHL 2019-20 Season Preview – Fall Classic 2019

MCKEEN’S 2019 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: USA – Dominating the Draft board

Best of the American Draft Class

USHL Playoff Preview: New format, wild results

Bowen Byram, D (4^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Alex Newhook, C (16^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Justus Annunen, G (64^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Martin Kaut, RW (16^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Conor Timmins, D (32^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Justin Barron, D (25^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Shane Bowers, C (Trade: Nov. 5, 2017. Originally: 28^th overall, 2017 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 5)

Sampo Ranta, LW (78^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Jean-Luc Foudy, C (75^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Nikolai Kovalenko, RW (171^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 19)

Alex Beaucage, RW (78^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)

Colby Ambrosio, C (118^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dennis Gilbert, D (Trade: Oct. 10, 2020. Originally: 91^st overall, 2015 [Chicago]. Previous ranking: 8 [Chicago])

Ryder Rolston, RW (139^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Danila Zhuravlyov, D (146^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Drew Helleson, D (47^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Sasha Mutala, RW (140^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Luka Burzan, C (171^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

Trent Miner, G (202^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 16)