Ryker Evans – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Marner and Tavares Leading Maple Leafs, Ducks Battling and More

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 15:51:24 +0000

_{TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 03: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) skates with the puck during the NHL Hockey match between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs on December 3rd, 2022 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire)}

In fantasy play, we try to look for any advantage we can, so it’s always helpful if there are reliable factors that we can consider that might impact a game's outcome. For example, all else being equal, a rested team should have an advantage over a tired one, right? That’s an easy assumption to make, but I wondered how reliable a factor that was, so I looked into it.

Teams on the second half of a back-to-back have a 31-40-6 record this season, but that’s a fairly small sample size for this kind of thing, so let’s take the results of every game dating back to the 2005-06 campaign. Looking at that, the record for teams playing on no rest is 3,560-3,394-943. If you count overtime/shootout losses among the defeats, that’s a .451 winning percentage, which is statistically relevant, but not dramatic.

What about playing on the road? That’s another obvious disadvantage, but how serious of a burden is it? Dating back to 2005-06, the road team has a 10,460-9,834-2,698 record, which is a .455 winning percentage. In other words, playing on the road is only a slightly smaller burden than playing on no rest. While we’re at it, let’s combine the two: A road team playing on no rest has a winning percentage of just .425 (2,298-2,464-640). So if you really want to bank on a team underperforming relative to their average, then taking a team on the second half of a back-to-back on the road is the way to go.

In the reverse, is there an ideal amount of rest for a team? Teams that had one day off between games have a winning percentage of .508 (12,265-9,101-2,759), two days is .521 (4,368-3,051-962), three days is .501 (1,106-845-255) and four or more days is .493 (1,034-822-242), so two days rest between games is the sweet spot, but difference in those winning percentages isn’t significant.

Ultimately, believing a team on the road or a tired squad will underperform is going to prove to be a fair assessment often, but it’s not a magic bullet. By the same token, key injuries don’t always lead to the results we might anticipate. The Avalanche certainly struggled early in the campaign when they had far more than their fair share of players on the shelf, but recently, the Maple Leafs have been defying expectations.

At the time of writing, Toronto is now 6-1-0 without Auston Matthews this season. On Wednesday, Toronto was missing Max Domi (lower body), Calle Jarnkrok (groin), David Kampf (lower body), Max Pacioretty (lower body) and Ryan Reaves (suspension) in addition to Matthews (upper body), and Toronto still managed to beat Vegas 3-0. To be fair, the Golden Knights had injuries of their own at the time of the contest, most notably to Mark Stone (lower body), but they were the healthier team and a top-tier contender, so the Maple Leafs continuing to excel under those circumstances is impressive.

Mitch Marner has been a major factor in Toronto’s continued success, providing six goals and 26 points through 20 appearances, and the Vegas victory was his third straight multi-point showing. He’s never reached the 100-point milestone before, but he’s come close and might finally hit that mark this campaign. John Tavares has also stepped up recently, supplying four goals and eight points across six appearances, giving him nine goals and 19 points through 19 outings.

Both are also playing on an expiring contract, and there are questions about their future with the team. The lack of playoff success has led to frustration regarding Toronto’s model of building the squad around four extremely expensive forwards. Going into the campaign, there was an assumption that at the least, the 34-year-old Tavares would take a significant pay cut from his current $11 million cap hit in his next contract given his declining production. That might still happen, but his play so far this season suggests that talk of his decline might have been overstated, and, especially with the cap rising, he might still be able to command a sizable payday. Then there’s Marner, who presumably expects a raise from his $10.903 million cap hit and will likely get it with Toronto or elsewhere.

The Maple Leafs certainly have some big front office questions to answer, in the coming months, but at least on the ice, things seem to be going well for now despite the challenges.

Anaheim Ducks

Mon vs SEA, Wed @ SEA, Fri vs LAK, Sun vs OTT

The NHL schedule next week contains some very heavy dates: There will be 11 games Monday, 15 on Wednesday, 14 on Friday and 12 on Saturday. Due to that, a lot of teams are playing four times despite the league taking Thursday off for American Thanksgiving.

Every team featured will be playing in four games, starting with the Ducks, who will host Seattle on Monday, play in Seattle on Wednesday and then return to Anaheim for contests against the Kings on Friday and Senators on Sunday.

The Ducks were also a team I highlighted last week and noted the squad’s underwhelming offense, but going into Friday’s action, Anaheim is on a three-game winning streak in which it’s tallied a combined 13 goals.

Trevor Zegras has gotten in on the action, supplying a goal and three points over that span, which doubles his season point total to six. We discussed last week that he had been dealing with some bad puck luck and has been playing a more complete game despite his offensive woes, so perhaps everything is starting to come together for him. He’s an intriguing buy-low candidate, especially because Zegras continues to serve in a top-six capacity.

If you’re looking for the hottest forward on the Ducks, though, then Brett Leason is your man. He didn’t start the campaign was much of a role, even being a healthy scratch in five of six games from Oct. 27-Nov. 8, but he’s taken off with two goals and seven points across his last five outings. Leason has also averaged 15:00 of ice time, including 1:28 with the man advantage, across his past four appearances, so he’s finally getting a solid opportunity. The 25-year-old still isn’t likely to be a major offensive force for long -- you'd have to go back to his junior days to find the last time he was a major scorer -- but he’s providing some solid short-term value.

On the blueliner, Olen Zellweger has two goals and four points over his last three appearances, bringing him up to four goals and eight points across 17 outings in 2024-25. The 21-year-old is serving on the top power-play unit, but the Ducks rank 27th with the man advantage, converting just 15.3 percent of the time, so it’s not as good of a role as it could be. Still, Zellweger should at least breach the 30-point mark this year as long as he stays healthy.

Boston Bruins

Tue vs. VAN, Wed @ NYI, Fri vs. PIT, Sun vs. MTL

After three straight losses to drop their record to 8-9-3, the Bruins fired head coach Jim Montgomery and named Joe Sacco as the interim bench boss. Boston’s first game under Sacco saw the Bruins outshoot Utah 31-21 en route to a 1-0 victory. Joonas Korpisalo was in net for the shutout, improving to 4-2-1 with a 2.38 GAA and .911 save percentage in eight appearances. Given Jeremy Swayman’s struggles -- he has a 5-7-2 record, 3.47 GAA and .884 save percentage in 14 outings -- it'll be interesting to see if Sacco leans on Korpisalo more than his predecessor.

Next week, though, both goaltenders will likely see use given the packed schedule. The Bruins will host the Canucks on Tuesday, play on the road against the Islanders on Wednesday and conclude the week with home tilts versus the Penguins and Canadiens on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Swayman has been part of the problem in Boston, but the Bruins also rank 31st offensively with just 2.33 goals per game. David Pastrnak continues to lead the charge with eight goals and 18 points through 21 outings, but he’s the only player with at least 15 points. Meanwhile, Brad Marchand (five goals, 14 points) and Elias Lindholm (three goals, 10 points) are the only other two Bruins who have hit the double-digit mark. To put that into context, 200 players have at least 10 points through Thursday’s action, which averages out to 6.25 players per team, so Boston is far behind the curve in terms of its scoring depth.

He's probably not the answer, but I am interested to see if Sacco tries to get Tyler Johnson into games. The 34-year-old forward has appeared in just five contests in 2024-25, averaging 13:31 of ice time in those outings. Although he hasn’t recorded a point this year, Johnson has proved in the past to be a decent secondary scorer, so maybe he could do some damage from the third line if given a chance to get into a rhythm by playing regularly.

Outside of that, though, the Bruins just really need more out of players who were already getting opportunities. The issue for Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha isn’t a lack of ice time, it’s just that they haven’t put up points with any regularity. Coyle has just four goals and an assist through 21 outings after recording 60 points in 2023-24. Zacha has three goals and seven points, but after showing some life from Nov. 7-12 (two goals and four points in three games), he’s on a four-game point drought.

Maybe the answer is simply to just some forward groupings and stick with it for a while. Coyle’s most common linemates this campaign are Marchand and Morgan Geekie, but that trio has only shared the ice for 11.9 percent of Coyle’s even-strength minutes. That’s a lot of line mixing, which might lead to an inability to develop chemistry. It’s something to monitor as we see what Sacco’s plans are to reverse the Bruins’ fortunes.

Los Angeles Kings

Mon @ SJS, Wed vs. WPG, Fri @ ANA, Sat vs. OTT

The Kings will start the week on the road against San Jose on Monday but return home to host the Jets on Wednesday. LA will then play in Anaheim on Friday and host the Senators on Saturday.

The Kings have seen modest success with their 10-7-3 record, but they have dropped three of their past four games, recording just seven goals over that stretch.

Quinton Byfield is among the cold forwards with only an assist across his past five outings. He has two goals and nine points through 20 appearances overall. Interestingly, he hasn’t recorded a single point on the power play in 2024-25 despite averaging a solid 2:07 of ice time with the man advantage. LA does rank 29th in power-play conversions at 14.3 percent, so that is an obvious factor, but you’d still expect at least some production there. Byfield’s 5.3 shooting percent is also a sharp drop from his 12.4 percent in 2023-24 -- he finished that campaign with 20 goals and 55 points -- so the young forward might have been somewhat unlucky through the first quarter of the season. Don’t be surprised if his production ticks up as the campaign progresses.

Philip Danault also has struggled to find the back of the net, tallying a single goal through 20 appearances, though he does have nine assists. His 3.2 shooting percentage is far below his 12.3 average from 2021-22 through 2023-24, so Danault is another LA forward who could enjoy an increase in production.

At the other end of the spectrum, Adrian Kempe is red hot, supplying four goals over his past three games (LA has totaled just six total goals in that span), bringing him up to nine markers and 18 points through 20 appearances. Even there, though, Kempe has just three power-play points. LA did far better with the man advantage in 2023-24, ranking 12th with a 22.6 success rate, so these players could see an increase in special-teams points.

Minnesota Wild

Mon vs. WPG, Wed @ BUF, Fri vs. CHI, Sat vs. NSH

One team that’s had no offensive issues -- or any issues, really -- is Minnesota. The Wild have won three of their past four games, improving to 13-3-3. They’ll look to keep the good times rolling when they host another high-end squad in Winnipeg on Monday. From there, Minnesota will play in Buffalo on Wednesday before returning home to play the Blackhawks on Friday and the Predators on Saturday.

Filip Gustavsson continues to be a key part of the Wild’s success with his 9-3-2 record, 2.07 GAA and .926 save percentage through 14 appearances. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in each of his past five starts. Marc-Andre Fleury, by contrast, isn’t turning heads with his play, but the 39-year-old has been a capable backup with a 4-0-1 record, 2.76 GAA and .904 save percentage in five starts.

Up front, Kirill Kaprizov is on a seven-game scoring streak with six goals and 13 points in that span, bringing him up to 13 goals and 34 points through 19 appearances in 2024-25. Even with his $9 million annual cap hit, he’s providing tremendous value. Kaprizov’s contract runs through 2025-26, but by the time it expires, the Wild will be in a far better cap position because Zach Parise and Ryan Suter’s buyouts will be far smaller factors. The Wild have roughly $14.7 million in dead cap space this year, but Suter and Parise will generate a combined $1,666,666 in dead cap space annually from 2025-26 through 2028-29 before coming off the books entirely.

Paying Kaprizov top dollar when the time comes makes sense given his reliability as a top offensive threat. Someone who doesn’t factor onto the scoresheet nearly as regularly is Frederick Gaudreau, but the 31-year-old has been playing like an elite recently, providing four goals and 12 points across his past 11 appearances. Gaudreau is worth having in your lineup while he’s this hot, but don’t expect it to last, and keep in mind that even with his recent rise in production, he’s still serving in just a third-line capacity. He is also on the second power-play unit instead of the top one and hasn’t gotten a point yet with the man advantage.

New Jersey Devils

Mon vs. NSH, Wed vs. STL, Fri @ DET, Sat vs. WSH

We’ve already touched on a lot of players who haven’t put up noteworthy power-play numbers, so let’s shift to New Jersey, which ranks second with the man advantage with a 31.8 percent success rate.

The Devils will host the Predators on Monday and the Blues on Wednesday. They’ll then play in Detroit on Friday before returning home to face the Capitals on Saturday.

New Jersey’s power play and offense in general is certainly part of the reason the squad is 13-7-2. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has played a significant role in that, providing two goals and 16 points, including seven with the man advantage, through 22 appearances. He was held off the scoresheet for the first six games of 2024-25 but has since recorded at least a point in 13 of 16 appearances.

Hamilton wasn’t much of a factor in 2023-24 due to injury, which led to Luke Hughes serving on the top power-play unit last year. Hamilton’s return to health means Hughes is averaging just 1:04 with the man advantage in 2024-25 and that’s eaten into the young blueliner’s production. The 21-year-old Hughes also missed New Jersey’s first nine outings because of a shoulder problem, which likely put him behind the curve. All this has led to him recording just two assists through 13 outings. Hughes might start to do better as he gets into a rhythm, but this is shaping up to be a sophomore slump campaign.

His elder brother, Jack Hughes, is doing just fine, though. He already has eight goals and 25 points through 22 appearances. The older Hughes is also red hot with six helpers across his past three outings, including five on the power play.

Of course, the Devils did just fine last season too and still missed the playoffs. The difference this year has been improved goaltending. Jacob Markstrom isn’t in Vezina Trophy contention, but he’s holding his own nicely with a 9-5-1 record, 2.54 GAA and .907 save percentage through 15 appearances. Jake Allen is also playing an arguably underrated role as the backup, providing a 4-2-1 record, 2.30 GAA and .916 save percentage in seven starts. Especially in a busy week, like the one upcoming, having two solid goaltenders is a huge luxury.

New York Islanders

Mon vs. DET, Wed vs. BOS, Fri @ WSH, Sat vs. BUF

The Islanders have two solid goaltenders too, though it hasn’t always felt that way this season. Ilya Sorokin has more-or-less fulfilled his end of the bargain with a 2.64 GAA and a .914 save percentage through 12 appearances, but Semyon Varlamov struggled early in the campaign. He has stabilized since, but that early damage has left him with a .903 save percentage, although his GAA has improved to a respectable 2.60.

Either way, it’s the offense that’s really the problem with the Islanders, and that’s what they’ll need more of next week. New York will host the Red Wings on Monday and the Bruins on Wednesday. They’ll then play in Washington on Friday and conclude the week with a home game versus the Sabres.

The Islanders have managed just four goals over their past three games and weirdly, Pierre Engvall scored two of them. Engvall had a three-game goal-scoring streak from Nov. 14-19, but the 28-year-old finished with just 10 goals and 28 points in 74 outings last season and has just five points through 12 outings in 2024-25 even after accounting for his recent hot streak, so don’t expect much from him going forward.

The player the Islanders really need to step up is Bo Horvat, but he’s been held off the scoresheet in five of his past six appearances, leaving him with five goals and 14 points through 20 outings. Those are abysmal numbers given his $8.5 million cap hit, but to be far, he’d usually get to play alongside Mathew Barzal, who hasn’t been in the lineup since Oct. 30 due to an upper-body injury. However, Barzal’s original timetable was 4-6 weeks, and there hasn’t been much in the way of updates, so you shouldn’t count on Horvat getting help from Barzal in the upcoming week.

Anders Lee is sometimes a great linemate. He has seven goals and 13 points in 20 outings in 2024-25, but he’s also streaky and is presently cold, having been held off the scoresheet in each of the Islanders’ past three games.

Then there’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who highlights the Islanders’ lack of depth. The 32-year-old forward is a fine forward, but he’s never recorded more than 43 points in a single campaign, so the fact that he’s on the top line and first power-play unit is far less than ideal. He has five goals and nine points through 20 appearances in 2024-25.

Horvat and Lee might heat up again, but the Islanders’ overall offensive situation isn’t likely to get a lot better until Barzal comes back.

New York Rangers

Mon vs. STL, Wed @ CAR, Fri @ PHI, Sat vs. MTL

The Islanders’ rivals, the Rangers, appear to be in a far better position. They have a 12-5-1 record and will look to build on that next week. The Rangers will host the Blues on Monday, play in Carolina on Wednesday and Philadelphia on Friday and finish the week by hosting the Canadiens on Saturday.

Artemi Panarin continues to be the Rangers’ top forward with 10 goals and 24 points in 18 appearances in 2024-25, but offensive depth has been a big part of the Rangers’ formula. They have eight players who have hit double digits in points: Panarin, Adam Fox, Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle, Mika Zibanejad, Reilly Smith, Kaapo Kakko and Vincent Trocheck. As noted before, the average team has 6.25 players who have hit that milestone. On top of that, New York has two players -- Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil -- who are sitting at nine points.

Among those who have been at the forefront of the Rangers’ attack, Cuylle is arguably the biggest pleasant surprise. The 22-year-old has seven goals and 15 points through 18 appearances. He established himself as a regular with the team last campaign but was in the lineup primarily because of his gritty play, finishing the 2023-24 regular season with 13 goals, 21 points, 56 PIM and 249 hits. Cuylle has continued to utilize his size, dishing out 75 hits this season (he ranks fifth in that category), but he’s adding an offensive element to his game.

What makes it even more impressive is that he’s averaging a modest 13:50 of ice time and is rarely used with the man advantage -- although that might be changing as he has spent the past two games on the second unit. Among those averaging under 14 minutes, Cuylle leads the league in points, ahead of Carolina’s Eric Robinson (five goals, 13 points).

One word of caution, though: Cuylle’s 21.9 shooting percentage is likely unsustainable.

Seattle Kraken

Mon @ ANA, Wed vs. ANA, Fri @ SJS, Sat vs. SJS

The Kraken has a fairly easy schedule next week. They have a set of games against Anaheim on Monday and Wednesday followed by one against the Sharks on Friday and Saturday. In both cases, Seattle is on the road for the first half of the set and at home for the second.

Defenseman Vince Dunn (upper body) might end up returning at some point during those four games, but the status of forward Jordan Eberle (lower body) is less clear. By the time you read this, though, that might change. Kraken coach Dan Bylsma told Scott Malone on Friday that there would be an update later in the day, but at the time of writing, that update hadn’t arrived yet.

Dunn is likely to serve on the top four and first power-play unit when healthy, which might eat into Brandon Montour’s power-play time and result in Ryker Evans losing his spot on the second unit. However, just three of Montour’s 13 points and two of Evans’ 11 have come with the man advantage anyway, so that change shouldn’t have a dramatic impact on either blueliner’s production. Dunn’s return might help Seattle’s overall power play a bit, which sits at 23rd with a 16.4 conversion rate, which would modestly boost the value of Seattle’s top forwards.

Either way, Joey Daccord is likely to continue to be the key to Seattle’s success. He has a 9-3-1 record, 2.31 GAA and .923 save percentage in 13 appearances in 2024-25, putting him in the very early conversation for the Vezina Trophy. Daccord did rank fourth in save percentage (.916) and fifth in GAA (2.46) among goaltenders who logged at least 30 games last season, but his 19-18-11 record kept him well outside of the award conversation. If Seattle continues to provide him with at least some support this year -- the Kraken’s 2.85 goals per game isn’t magical, but it is a step up from 2.61 in 2023-24 -- then Daccord’s a fair bet to get over 30 wins this campaign, especially with Philipp Grubauer not exactly demanding a bigger share of the workload with his 1-6-0 record, 3.11 GAA and .881 save percentage through seven outings in 2024-25.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Vilardi, Beniers, Roslovic receiving prime opportunities

Scott Cullen — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 22:11:32 +0000

Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I’ll dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, Gabriel Vilardi is riding high with the Jets, Matty Beniers is bouncing back in Seattle, Jack Roslovic has a prime opportunity in Carolina, Rickard Rakell has decent linemates in Pittsburgh, and much more!

Here is this week’s edition of 20 Fantasy Points:

#1 Following a slow start to the season, when he had just three assists in his first six games, Winnipeg Jets right winger Gabriel Vilardi has picked up his pace and has eight points (5 G, 3 A) with 19 shots on goal during a six-game point streak. The Jets are rolling, with a 13-1 record, and Vilardi is riding high on the top line alongside Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor in addition to skating on the Jets’ top power play unit. The key for Vilardi is staying healthy. He had 77 points (45 G, 32 A) in 110 games over the previous two seasons, but he has never played more than 63 games in a season.

#2 Seattle Kraken centre Matty Beniers endured a tough sophomore season in 2023-2024, finishing with 37 points (15 G, 22 A) in 77 games. He started slowly this season, too, managing just one assist through seven games, but he has started to find his range and has delivered eight points (3 G, 5 A) with 10 shots on goal in his past seven games. The issue to be wary of with Beniers is his relatively low shot rate. Among the 227 forwards that have played at least 1000 five-on-five minutes since the start of last season, Beniers ranks 194th with 5.60 shots on goal per 60 minutes and it requires an excellent shooting percentage to sustain production at that rate.

#3 A leading candidate in the Cy Young race, with nine goals and one assist, Carolina Hurricanes right winger Jack Roslovic is making the most of his opportunity to skate on Carolina’s top line. He has seven points (6 G, 1 A) and 18 shots on goal in his past five games, and the opportunity to play with talented linemates Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov gives Roslovic a better opportunity to remain productive. Roslovic had a career-high 45 points (22 G, 23 A) in 2021-2022, but could have a decent shot at surpassing that total this season.

#4 Even as the season appears to be getting away from the Pittsburgh Penguins, veteran winger Rickard Rakell is a reliable contributor, and one that is available in quite a few leagues. Across his past 13 games, Rakell has 11 points (6 G, 5 A) and 39 shots on goal, and he is skating on Pittsburgh’s top line alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, as the Penguins load up, trying to shuffle the deck and get better results.

#5 Veteran New York Islanders right winger Kyle Palmieri is stepping up, and it’s desperately needed on a team that is dealing with injuries to Anthony Duclair and now Mathew Barzal at forward (as well as Adam Pelech on defence). In his past eight games, Palmieri has eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 20 shots on goal while playing more than 18 minutes per game. Palmieri has been a productive winger for a long time and recorded the second 30-goal season of his career in 2023-2024, so he is more than capable of fulfilling an offensive role for the Isles.

#6 While the San Jose Sharks are hoping that their rookie centres Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini will be able to handle scoring responsibilities this season, they are getting some added offence down the middle from Alex Wennberg, the veteran pivot who signed in San Jose as a free agent. Wennberg had no points in seven games to start the season but followed that up with seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 15 shots on goal in the next eight games, averaging nearly 19 minutes of ice time in that stretch.

#7 With injuries forcing the Islanders to move bodies around, they have taken veteran centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau and dropped him on right wing with Anders Lee and Bo Horvat, on what is the Islanders’ top line. He has three goals and 12 shots on goal in the past four games, and Pageau has the added benefit of being a consistent hitter. He has delivered 30 hits in 14 games, which makes him a viable fantasy contributor now that he is in a role to provide offensive production, too.

#8 The Washington Capitals have moved winger Aliaksei Protas to the top line, skating with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, and it’s paying off. The monstrous winger, listed at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, has eight points (4 G, 4 A) in his past five games and while he only has seven shots on goal, Protas already has five goals on the season after scoring six in 78 games last season. Protas’ absurdly high on-ice shooting percentage suggests that he will not continue at a point-per-game pace, but if he is going to keep getting regular shifts on the top line, his offensive contributions could still be significant.

#9 Buffalo Sabres winger JJ Peterka, 22, continues his upward trend. He picked up an assist in Thursday’s 6-1 rout of the New York Rangers, giving him 12 points (6 G, 6 A) and 29 shots on goal in 12 games. He is in a prime spot, skating on Buffalo’s top line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, and Peterka is on his way to becoming a star winger in his own right. He has been on a steady climb, both in the NHL and in international play, with all arrows pointing in the right direction for a skilled forward who keeps the puck moving the right way when he is on the ice.

#10 Los Angeles Kings winger Alex Laferriere has taken a massive step forward in his second NHL season. Even after moving down the depth chart, he has continued to produce for the Kings, delivering eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 14 shots on goal in his past seven games. Laferriere has 25 hits in 15 games, enhancing his value for fantasy managers. He is skating with Quinton Byfield and Warren Foegele, but Laferriere is also getting first-unit power play time which his even-strength linemates are not receiving.

#11 The Colorado Avalanche have been decimated by injuries but got a rare piece of good news on the injury front this week when winger Artturi Lehkonen returned to the lineup for the first time since having offseason shoulder surgery. Lehkonen has two points (1 G, 1 A) in two games, but the Avalanche’s depleted forward ranks have also resulted in Lehkonen playing a ton. He has averaged 23:48 of ice time per game in his first two games of the season and is in the prime position, skating on left wing with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

#12 Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Dmitry Orlov has a ceiling on what his fantasy value might be since he does not play on the power play, thereby limiting his offensive production. However, the Hurricanes are such a juggernaut at even strength that Orlov should not be ignored, either. He has five points (2 G, 3 A) and nine shots on goal in his past four games, upping his total point production to eight points (3 G, 5 A) in 12 games. It helps that his ice time has jumped by more than two minutes per game compared to last season, his first year in Carolina.

#13 Second year Seattle Kraken defenceman Ryker Evans is stepping into a bigger role, especially while veteran Vince Dunn is injured. In his past eight games, Evans has four points (2 G, 2 A) and 13 shots on goal, while averaging 22:15 of ice time per game. In 140 AHL games, counting regular season and playoffs, Evans has contributed 95 points (17 G, 78 A), so he is very capable of producing offensively if given the opportunity. With Brandon Montour and Dunn on the roster in Seattle, he may have to wait a bit, or at least take advantage of the opportunities when they fall to him.

#14 Former Seattle Kraken and current Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato is earning a bigger role, including first unit power play time and even strength time on the wing with Connor Bedard. In his past seven games, Donato has eight points (5 G, 3 A) and 27 shots on goal. He isn’t going to keep scoring on 21.2 percent of his shots, as he has so far this season, but that shot rate is an encouraging sign for Donato to produce more than he did in 2021-2022 when he had career highs with 16 goals and 31 goals.

#15 St. Louis Blues defenceman Colton Parayko has added some offensive flair to his game early in the season. In the past nine games, Parayko has seven points (4 G, 3 A) and 16 shots on goal while averaging 24:30 of ice time per game. While he has been on the Blues’ second power play unit, he does not have any points with the man advantage so his nine even strength points this season is the same as Sidney Crosby and David Pastrnak, among many others.

#16 Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies obviously has a prime spot on the Leafs’ top line, but he is producing to keep his spot. In his past 10 games, Knies has eight points (6 G, 2 A) and 19 shots on goal. For fantasy managers, he also brings a physical dimension, with 34 hits in 14 games this season, making him more valuable than merely his point production would indicate.

#17 San Jose Sharks rookie centre Macklin Celebrini has returned to action and while he has only played three games thus far, his production – including three goals an assist and 12 shots on goal – is eye popping. He has even been better than break-even on draws in the past two games after losing 13 of 14 faceoffs in his NHL debut. Skating on a line with veterans Mikael Granlund and Tyler Toffoli, there is ample reason to believe that Celebrini will be a Calder Trophy frontrunner in short order.

#18 Veteran Buffalo Sabres winger Jason Zucker has moved around the lineup a bit, but after being held off the scoresheet for the first three games of the season, he has put up 11 points (3 G, 8 A) in his past 11 games. He is skating on Buffalo’s third line right now, with Ryan McLeod and Jordan Greenway, but Zucker also gets first unit power play time, so he has a path to continuing that production.

#19 In the previous two seasons, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins had a .889 save percentage in 71 games, managing just 20 wins in that time.This season, Merzlikins is splitting starts with Danil Tarasov, but Merzlikins has a .910 save percentage, compared to Tarasov’s .860, so there is an opportunity for Merzlikins to earn a greater share of the starts for a surprisingly competitive Blue Jackets team.

#20 Detroit Red Wings netminder Cam Talbot is stepping up as the much-needed starter. Earlier in the season, he had a 42-save shutout against Nashville and followed that by giving up five goals on 19 shots against the New York Rangers. Since those starts, however, he has a .941 save percentage in his past four starts, giving him a .929 save percentage in seven games this season. Talbot is 37 and may not be able to handle a starter’s workload over the full season, but he had a .925 save percentage through January 2 last season (before finishing with a .903 save percentage after that), so if he has his workload managed, he could still provide value. Right now, he is showing that he is the best option available for the Red Wings and has appeal for fantasy managers, too.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #8 Seattle Kraken – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 13:00:15 +0000

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 06: Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright (51) skates after the puck during an NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Seattle Kraken on December 6, 2022 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire)

In their third year in the league, the Seattle Kraken took a step back from a 100-point season finishing with 83 points, and another high draft pick at number eight overall. The franchises early success in making the playoffs in its second year, and then pushing through to the second-round last season meant a late draft pick at 20th overall. They selected McKeen’s 140th ranked prospect in Eduard Sale. While the addition of another high pick is welcome, it cost the only head coach they have known in Dave Hakstol his job, and subsequently replaced by Dan Bylsma. GM Ron Francis felt a new voice was needed. “Too many losing streaks and losing streaks of significant numbers” was his explanation at the end of season press conference. Francis has largely stayed away from significant trades and building classically through the draft. Without providing additional firepower to Hakstol, perhaps it was inevitable they would regress from a remarkable 2022-23.

As a result of that strategy, they have the 8th ranked prospect pool in the NHL, more notable for its depth than its high-end pieces. The teams top 12 prospects all rank within our top 200. They have five in the top 100 led by Shane Wright at 21st, who may/or may not hit the superstar potential he was once touted for. Wright improved last season and looks ready for a prolonged look in the NHL and provide a one-two punch with Matty Beniers for years to come. Second round pick Jagger Firkus was the WHL’s leading scorer, and may be a year or two away, but the offensive winger will fit in on the Kraken’s top six in due course. Francis has five picks in the first three rounds of this upcoming draft, and it is likely too early to draw any conclusions on the success of the scouting and development team, but there are some encouraging signs.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Shane Wright	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	`22(4th)	59	22	25	47	18
					Seattle (NHL)	`22(4th)	8	4	1	5	0
2	Jagger Firkus	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	`22(35th)	63	61	65	126	30
3	Carson Rehkopf	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	`23(50th)	60	52	43	95	45
4	Jani Nyman	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	`22(49th)	48	26	17	43	2
5	David Goyette	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	`22(61st)	68	40	77	117	29
6	Ryker Evans	D	22	5-11/190	Seattle (NHL)	`21(35th)	36	1	8	9	20
					Coachella Valley (AHL)	`21(35th)	25	2	13	15	28
7	Ty Nelson	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	`22(68th)	54	16	36	52	50
8	Eduard Sale	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	`23(20th)	49	15	23	38	8
9	Niklas Kokko	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	`22(58th)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
				6-3/185	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	`22(58th)	10	2	5	2.36	0.906
10	Ryan Winterton	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	`21(67th)	58	22	13	35	23
				6-2/190	Seattle (NHL)	`21(67th)	9	0	0	0	0
11	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	`23(52nd)	50	9	12	21	6
12	Lukas Dragicevic	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	`23(57th)	66	14	36	50	52
13	Logan Morrison	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	FA(4/23)	64	16	25	41	4
				6-0/180	Seattle (NHL)	FA(4/23)	4	0	0	0	0
14	Caden Price	D	18	6-0/185	Kelowna (WHL)	`23(84th)	62	13	42	55	48
15	Ville Ottavainen	D	21	6-5/210	Coachella Valley (AHL)	`21(99th)	70	8	26	34	30

1. Shane Wright, C, Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

Has Shane Wright lived up to the hype that is usually attached to former CHL exceptional status players? Most would argue no. However, he’s still a top-notch NHL prospect who has had a very solid first professional season. He had a particularly strong second half with Coachella Valley and has subsequently earned a successful call up to Seattle to end the year. The real difference in Wright’s improved play has been his adjustment to the pace of the pro game. Later in the year, he began to use his speed more to his advantage, with and without the puck, and the results were terrific. This has always been something inconsistently applied and hindered his production. Of course, he remains a highly intelligent pivot with a high upside as a goal scorer because of his quick release. While the likelihood that Wright will become a superstar, as once predicted, has decreased, he is still a potential long-time contributor in Seattle’s top six; the one/two punch of Beniers and Wright remains tantalizing.

2. Jagger Firkus, RW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

The leading scorer in the WHL this year, Firkus had a tremendous season with Moose Jaw. The former high second round selection has developed according to plan as a dominant offensive player. He is an elite manager of the game who can keep the puck on a string and who manages to work inside consistently despite being on the smaller side. Over his WHL career, he’s worked hard to improve his strength on the puck to increase his chances of becoming a top-notch offensive contributor at the NHL level. In a nutshell, he is the complete package as an offensive player, and he has the upside to be a point per game player in the NHL. Next year, he will turn pro and what that means remains to be seen. The smart prediction would have him spending the majority of a year in the AHL, just as former WHL standout Logan Stankoven did this year. However, don’t count out Firkus from making an impact at the NHL level at some point.

3. Carson Rehkopf, LW, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

While Carson Rehkopf wasn’t quite able to sustain the blistering pace he started the year with, it was a very positive draft plus one year for him with Kitchener. An emerging OHL star, Rehkopf has so many intriguing physical tools. The size and skating combination makes him very tough to stop in motion, however, he’s also very strong on the puck making him difficult to stop down low. Opposing defenses need to key in on him away from the puck because of his high-end shooting ability. He can really rifle the puck, and this makes him a monster weapon on the powerplay on the flank where he can cleanly one-time pucks past netminders. The next step is to continue to improve his engagement level as a two-way, physical player. This would help him truly dominate in all fashions and make him a top NHL prospect.

4. Jani Nyman, RW, Ilves (Liiga)

It seems like most of the Kraken’s top prospects progressed terrifically and Nyman certainly falls under that category. He exploded in Liiga, scoring 26 goals in Finland’s top professional league. He was also a standout at the World Junior Championship, playing against his peers. His skating and play on the puck has improved greatly since being drafted. He’s extremely confident in his ability to drive the net and he’s difficult to separate from the puck along the wall and inside the dots. He’s not an overtly physical player. Even though he’s got a big frame, at 6’ 4”, he’s not really a power winger. However, he does project as a complementary piece on a scoring line thanks to his scoring ability and the consistency with which he works inside to open up space. He’ll be in North America to start next year, likely playing in Coachella Valley to start.

5. David Goyette, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

The second Kraken prospect to lead his CHL league in scoring this year, Goyette was remarkable for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. The preseason favourite to win the OHL’s Eddie Powers trophy, he followed through by posting 117 points. In a system with so many high-end goal scorers like Shane Wright, Carson Rehkopf, and Jani Nyman, Goyette stands out for his excellent playmaking ability. He extends plays with his feet and his hands and he has outstanding vision; simply put, he is the type of player who makes those around him better. He is also an underrated off puck player who competes hard for loose pucks and in the defensive end. Like others in the system, he will turn pro next year and should be an immediate contributor for Coachella Valley.

6. Ty Nelson, D, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

After such a monster season a year ago, expectations for Ty Nelson were sky high coming into this year. He never quite reached those, but he still had a solid year, and his development remains on a positive track. He was one of the better defenders in the OHL, helped North Bay to another solid season, and played for Canada at the World Junior Championships. The stocky defender’s best weapon remains his booming point shot. He is a prime scoring weapon from the backend. However, he’s also a strong overall puck mover because of his mobility. He has worked hard since being drafted to become a better defensive player and he is now at the point where he is ready for a new challenge at the pro level. Continuing to focus on his decision making, with and without the puck, will be key as he adjusts to the AHL level next season. Nelson is a potential top four defender and powerplay quarterback down the line.

7. Eduard Sale, LW, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

The 20th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Sale’s first season in North America didn’t quite go as well as many had anticipated. Splitting the year between Barrie and Kitchener of the OHL, he never quite found the confidence and effectiveness to be a consistent scoring threat. Watching him in the OHL, it’s plainly obvious that his skill level is high. He can beat defenders one on one, and he can be dangerous in transition and on the powerplay when he has extra room to operate. However, his game has been too perimeter oriented, and he has struggled to play through contact on the smaller ice surfaces of the OHL. There is a need for him to add strength this offseason so that he can find more success playing through the middle of the ice. Sale remains a forward with high upside, but he may be more of a longer-term project than initially believed. He could turn pro next in the AHL or return to Kitchener of the OHL next year.

8. Niklas Kokko, G, Pelicans (Liiga)

Don’t let Niklas Kokko’s disappointing World Juniors performance shape your opinion of him. While he unquestionably struggled at that event, he has been lights out in Liiga action this year, helping Pelicans reach the Liiga final; for a 20-year-old netminder this is remarkable. The 6’ 4” goaltender plays a hybrid style that is very technically sound. He covers his angles well and plays up his size well, ensuring that he takes up as much of the net possible. He’s improved as an athlete since being drafted and this is helping him to challenge shooters more consistently. Kokko is already signed by Seattle, so one would have to think that after his strong end to this year, he will come over to play in the AHL next season. As of right now, he’s emerged as one of the better netminders outside of North America.

9. Ryan Winterton, RW, Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

For Winterton, it was always about staying healthy. He’s always been a talented player with an NHL future, but shoulder injuries had previously derailed his development in the OHL. The great news is that this year, in his first pro year, Winterton has remained healthy, and the results have been terrific. Following last year’s monster OHL playoff performance with London and a strong rookie AHL performance, he has emerged as one of Seattle’s most NHL ready prospects, as evidenced by his semi-long call up to the Kraken recently. He projects as a very versatile middle six forward. He can play multiple forward positions. He’s a confident and intelligent two-way player. He brings physicality and strong off puck play. He is a terrific complementary offensive player thanks to his ability to control the wall and shoot the puck. He’s probably not very far away from a permanent spot with Seattle.

10. Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, C, HV71 (SHL)

The Danish forward secured a permanent position at the SHL level this year with HV71 and played a secondary scoring role for them, helping them narrowly avoid relegation to the Hockey Allsvenskan. He is a well-rounded offensive player who excels as a playmaker because of his vision and quick feet. He escapes pressure regularly and plays a high energy game at both ends; he earns his touches through determination and hard work. Fisker Mølgaard, a second-round selection last year, remains more of a longer-term project, but one who could play a middle six role in the future for Seattle. Next year, he’ll have some options. He could return to HV71 again and try to earn a larger role in the SHL. He could sign with Seattle and play as a 20 year in the AHL. Or the Kraken could try to secure a spot in the CHL for him to help him take that next step.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – A look at the playoff race – Teams with favourable schedules and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 14:07:22 +0000

Last week I touched on Detroit’s losing streak, but the Red Wings’ situation has since stabilized. The Red Wings have won three of their past four games and earned a 6-3 victory in a key contest against the Islanders on Thursday. The Red Wings (36-28-6) now have a three-point edge over Washington (33-26-9) in the battle for the second wild-card spot, though Washington has two games in hand, so Detroit still has no margin for error.

At this stage, it looks like the fight for the final playoff seed in the East will come down to Detroit and Washington, but the Islanders (29-25-15), New Jersey (34-32-5), Buffalo (33-33-5) and even Pittsburgh (30-29-9) all have an outside chance of squeaking into the playoffs. Would it be shocking if, say, the Penguins earned a postseason berth? Absolutely, but it’s at least a mathematic possibility at the time of writing.

The final wild-card slot in the Western Conference is slightly more secure. Vegas (37-25-7) has a four-point edge over St. Louis (37-30-3) and a five-point lead over Minnesota (34-28-8) despite playing in one game less than either team. The Golden Knights likely still need to be solid down the stretch to secure their playoff berth, but at least they have a bit of breathing room.

The Blues and Wild are Vegas’ only real competition, but there is still an outside chance of a Cinderella story involving Calgary (33-30-5) or Seattle (28-28-12).

The Golden Knights still also have a path to earn the third seed in the Pacific Division over Los Angeles (36-22-11), though I’d almost say it doesn’t matter. Getting the third seed would put the Golden Knights on track to face Edmonton in the first round instead of Winnipeg, Colorado, Dallas or Vancouver. All five of those potential adversaries are great, so Vegas will have a tough first round either as a wild-card team or as the third seed in the Pacific Division.

Either way, the battle for the last playoff spots should be fun.

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 24: Anaheim Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) in warm up before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Anaheim Ducks on January 24, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Anaheim Ducks - TUE @ SEA, THU @ SEA, SAT @ EDM, SUN @ VAN (BTB)

Anaheim is set to play on the road all of next week. They have back-to-back contests against Seattle on Tuesday and Thursday, followed by games in Edmonton on Saturday and Vancouver on Sunday. It’s certainly not an easy schedule, especially on the back half, but the Ducks are one of the few teams scheduled to play four games, so they’re still worthy of mention.

Trevor Zegras hasn’t been in the lineup since Jan. 9 because of an ankle injury, but he has been able to resume practicing without restriction, which suggests that he’s close to returning. After exceeding the 60-point milestone in each of his previous two campaigns, he has just four goals and seven points in 20 outings this year. There’s a good chance he’ll at least be able to finish the year on a positive note, but regardless of what happens, it’s important you remember him for next season’s fantasy drafts. The 23-year-old forward should enjoy a comeback campaign, provided he gets better luck on the injury front.

The 2024-25 campaign should also be one of progress for Leo Carlsson, who has recorded nine goals and 24 points in 43 games as a rookie this season. In the meantime, though, he suffered a lower-body injury Thursday, so his status for next week’s contests is undetermined. If he can’t play then Isac Lundestrom might serve in a top-six capacity, but honestly rather than that be an opportunity for Lundestrom, it would just highlight the sorry state of the Ducks. The 24-year-old has just six points (four goals) in 34 contests this year and likely won’t do much offensively even if he moves up to the second line.

At least they have goaltender Lukas Dostal, who has done alright lately, posting a 2.69 GAA and a .916 save percentage over his past eight games. That’s worlds better than John Gibson’s 5.80 GAA (yes, really) and .833 save percentage in his past four outings. Given the disparity in their play, Dostal should get the majority of the remaining starts.

Buffalo Sabres – WED VS OTT, FRI VS NJD, SAT VS TOR (BTB)

The Sabres are likely to miss the playoffs for the 13th consecutive campaign, extending their record for the longest postseason drought in NHL history. However, they still have an outside shot of squeaking into the playoffs. In order to keep that hope alive, they’ll likely need to win all three of their contests against Ottawa on Wednesday, New Jersey on Friday and Toronto on Saturday. It’s a tall order, but at least the Sabres will have the home-ice advantage in all those games.

With Buffalo’s postseason hopes all but dashed, Jeff Skinner will likely have to wait even longer to make his first playoff appearance. The 31-year-old is approaching 1,000 career regular-season contests. This hasn’t been his best campaign, but Skinner has been alright with 24 goals and 45 points in 63 outings. He also earned his seventh career hat trick Monday when he led Buffalo in its 6-2 victory over Seattle.

Tage Thompson is surely hoping he won’t have to wait nearly as long as Skinner to get into the playoffs. However, if Thompson had played like he did in 2022-23 (47 goals, 94 points), perhaps the Sabres’ fortunes would have been different this campaign. Instead, he’s been alright, but not great with 21 goals and 43 points through 60 outings. The 27-year-old might end the season on a positive note, though. He’s on a four-game scoring streak in which Thompson has provided a goal and six points.

Meanwhile, Bowen Byram is just 22, but his name is already on the Cup thanks to his time with the Avalanche. Now a member of the Sabres, Byram is playing a prominent role and has taken advantage of that opportunity. He’s recorded three goals, six points, 17 blocks and 17 hits in eight contests while averaging 23:53 of ice time. Byram has even averaged a healthy 2:39 with the man advantage as a member of the Sabres, though the presence of Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power means the fight for power-play ice time will always be fierce among Buffalo defensemen.

Columbus Blue Jackets – TUE @ ARI, THU @ PIT, SAT VS PIT

This will mark the Blue Jackets’ fourth straight season without a playoff berth. Nothing they do now will alter the fact that it’s been a rough campaign, but they can at least end things on a positive note. It helps that they’ll be facing other non-playoff teams next week – they’ll play in Arizona on Tuesday, in Pittsburgh on Thursday and then host the Penguins on Saturday.

Johnny Gaudreau isn’t the reason Columbus will be missing the playoffs, though it is true he hasn’t lived up to expectations. His 55 points (11 goals) through 69 outings, would mark the lowest point-per-game pace of his career if the season ended now. However, Gaudreau has contributed a goal and six points in his past four contests, so the stage is set for him to finish the campaign on a positive note.

The same might be true of Alexander Nylander, who has eight goals and 11 points in 13 contests since being acquired by Columbus from Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old forward was held off the scoresheet in his previous two games, and it’s reasonable for fantasy managers to wonder if this is the right time to jump ship, especially because he doesn’t have a track record of success beyond his recent stretch. Personally, I recommend waiting a little longer though to see if his production picks up again. Keep in mind, Nylander is being utilized on the Blue Jackets’ top line and first power-play unit, which are roles that he hasn’t enjoyed for any noteworthy stretch until now, so there might be more to his production than a mere hot streak. I’m not saying that his new role has transformed him into a superstar, but he might still do well enough to be fantasy relevant the rest of the way.

Daniil Tarasov might have value going forward too. The 24-year-old has been subpar in 2023-24 with a 7-9-3 record, 3.20 GAA and .903 save percentage across 20 appearances, but he’s been far better dating back to Feb. 21, posting a 2.30 GAA and .934 save percentage over nine games. His strong play has led to the Blue Jackets increasingly using him over Elvis Merzlikins.

Ottawa Senators – WED @ BUF, THU VS CHI, SAT @ WPG

Ottawa will begin next week with a breather before playing in Buffalo on Wednesday. The Senators will then host Chicago on Thursday and play in Winnipeg on Saturday. Like Ottawa, the Sabres and Blackhawks are having campaigns and aren’t expected to make the playoffs (Chicago has been mathematically eliminated while Buffalo has just a fringe chance of a wild-card spot), so those are two winnable games.

Ottawa is in a four-way tie for 28th defensively with 3.59 goals per game despite having an xGA/60 of 2.94, which ties the Senators for 11th overall. Those two stats in combination suggest is Ottawa’s defense is underrated and has been made to look bad this year due to poor goaltending. A case could be made that Joonas Korpisalo has been this year’s worst starter, ranking last in Goals Saved Above Expected at minus-19.4. In terms of his base stats line, he has a 15-21-4 record, 3.37 GAA and .887 save percentage in 44 contests. While it would be an oversimplification to say that Ottawa isn’t making the playoffs because of Korpisalo, it is fair to say that his terrible play has been a key factor.

Unfortunately, it seems the Senators overvalued his strong 2022-23 campaign when they inked Korpisalo to a five-year contract. While he had a Goals Saved Above Expected of 12.7 last season, he finished in the negatives in each campaign from 2017-18 through 2021-22, so performing below average relative to the team in front of him appears to be the norm for Korpisalo rather than the exception. This is all to say that if you’re looking for the 29-year-old goaltender to rebound in 2024-25, you’re making a risky bet that likely won’t pay off.

Not that Anton Forsberg, who has a 12-12-0 record, 3.42 GAA and .885 save percentage in 25 outings in 2023-24, is good either. Forsberg is signed through 2024-25 at a cap hit of $2.75 million, so Ottawa might have this unfortunate duo again next year. If that’s the case, it’s hard to see them making the playoffs in 2024-25 either.

That’s unfortunate for Claude Giroux, who is 36 years old and consequently running out of chances to make another run at the Cup. If the direction of the Senators has been weighing on him, though, he hasn’t let that bleed into his game. He’s still provided a goal and five points over his past six contests, giving him 19 goals and 58 points through 68 outings overall. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the veteran finish the season on a high note. That should also be true of Brady Tkachuk, who has provided four goals and five points over his past four contests.

The goaltending clearly needs work, but with players like Giroux and Tkachuk leading the forward corps, at least that aspect of the Senators is strong.

Philadelphia Flyers – TUE @ NYR, THU @ MTL, SAT VS CHI

The Flyers are set to play on the road against the Rangers on Tuesday and the Canadiens on Thursday before hosting the Blackhawks on Saturday. While the Rangers are a tough adversary, Philadelphia has a golden chance to collect four points against Montreal and Chicago as it looks to secure its playoff spot.

The biggest story in Philadelphia is coach John Tortorella scratching Sean Couturier for the Flyers’ 4-3 win over Toronto on Tuesday and 3-2 overtime loss to Carolina on Thursday. This comes after a stretch in which Couturier registered just three assists and had a minus-13 rating over 14 games from Feb. 15-March 19. He also has only six points (one goal) in his last 23 contests, undoing his solid start to the campaign -- 30 points (10 markers) through his first 41 appearances.

Maybe this time off will allow him to reset and come back stronger. He’ll certainly be a player to watch closely next week because when Couturier’s at his best, he’s a strong top-line option.

In the meantime, Owen Tippett has been leading the Flyers’ attack. He has three goals and eight points over his past five games, bringing him up to 25 goals and 46 points through 66 outings this year. The 25-year-old is just two goals and three points shy of his career highs.

Morgan Frost is also on a five-game scoring streak, totaling three goals and seven points in that span. He hasn’t had an amazing campaign overall (12 goals and 38 points in 59 games), but the 24-year-old has been centering the top line and serving on the first power-play unit during Couturier’s absence. Given how well he’s done in that role, Frost might continue to feature prominently even after Couturier slides back into the lineup.

Pittsburgh Penguins – TUE VS CAR, THU VS CBJ, SAT @ CBJ

The Penguins have faded out of the playoff picture at this point and things aren’t going to get any easier when they host the Hurricanes on Tuesday. The silver lining is Pittsburgh does have a home-and-away series against the lowly Blue Jackets, which will take place Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Michael Bunting, who Pittsburgh acquired from Carolina in the Jake Guentzel trade, seems to be settling in with his new team. He’s on a three-game scoring streak and has recorded a point in four of his last five contests, totaling two goals and two assists in that span. He’s seeing time on the top power-play unit and alongside Evgeni Malkin at even strength, so Bunting seems set to have a solid finish to the campaign.

Bryan Rust is looking to finish on a high note too. He’s been limited to 48 games this season due to injury, but he has been effective when healthy with 21 goals and 41 points. The 31-year-old has done particularly well recently, providing three goals and five points across his last four contests.

Lastly, while it doesn’t have fantasy relevance, you might want to pay attention to Jeff Carter. The 39-year-old is dealing with an upper-body issue, but when he returns, he’ll likely be playing out the last games of his career. While it’s possible he’ll pursue a new contract once his present one expires this summer, he likely won’t find any takers. He’s been held to nine goals and 12 points in 61 outings this campaign. Still, Carter has had a storied career, scoring 440 goals in 1,310 career games and playing a significant role in Los Angeles’ Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014.

Seattle Kraken – TUE VS ANA, THU VS ANA, SAT VS DAL

Seattle will start the week with a pair of favorable home matchups against the lowly Ducks on Tuesday and Thursday. After that two-game series, the Kraken will host the Stars on Saturday.

Vince Dunn hasn’t played since March 4 due to an upper-body injury, and he doesn’t appear to be close to returning. He’s been a key offensive defenseman for the Kraken this campaign, providing 11 goals and 45 points in 57 games. Due to Dunn’s absence, Brian Dumoulin has seen an uptick in even-strength minutes, while Ryker Evans was summoned from AHL Coachella Valley and has received a power-play role.

Evans has done decently during Dunn’s absence, recording three assists -- all with the man advantage -- in the last seven games. He’s also played with a physical edge, accumulating eight PIM and 16 hits in the same span. Once Dunn returns, Evans might lose his spot in the lineup, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue to make those kinds of contributions until Dunn’s back.

Seattle’s forward corps hasn’t done great this campaign and Seattle’s attack has been particularly lackluster recently, totaling just five goals in four games from March 14-21. Still, Oliver Bjorkstrand has been a rare bright spot with a goal and three points during that stretch. He also has five goals and eight points over his last 11 contests to put his cold spell from Jan. 30-Feb. 24 (one assist in eight outings) well behind him.

As poor as the Kraken’s offense has been, Anaheim has done even worse, ranking 30th offensively with just 2.49 goals per game. It wouldn’t be surprising to see goaltenders Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord split the two-game set against the Ducks, and both netminders would be a good play versus Anaheim.

Vegas Golden Knights – MON @ STL, TUE @ NAS, (BTB), THU @ WPG, SAT @ MIN

The Golden Knights are one of the few teams set to play four games next week, though they’ll be on the road for that stretch. They’ll play in St. Louis on Monday, Nashville on Tuesday, Winnipeg on Thursday and Minnesota on Saturday. It’s not the easiest schedule, but the Golden Knights’ hold on the second wild-card spot is loose, so they’ll need to find a way to win a good chunk of those contests.

Their pursuit of a playoff berth has been complicated by Adin Hill, who has struggled mightily with a 3.90 GAA and an .872 save percentage over his last seven games. By contrast, Logan Thompson has saved 41 of 43 shots (.953 save percentage) over his last two contests, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Vegas pivot to Thompson, at least in the short term. Earlier in the campaign, the Golden Knights might have been more open to riding out Hill’s cold spell in the hopes that he’d rebound, but they don’t really have that luxury at this stage.

In terms of offense, it’s been defenseman Shea Theodore who has led the charge. The 28-year-old has collected 15 assists in 14 outings since returning from an upper-body injury. That’s propelled him to four goals and 33 points across 34 outings in 2023-24. Theodore has missed significant portions of the last two campaigns due to injury, but he would likely breach the 50-point milestone for the second time in his career if he manages to stay healthy next season.

Meanwhile, blueliner Noah Hanifin seems to be settling in fine with Vegas. He has four assists, a plus-3 rating, 10 blocks and 10 hits in seven contests since being acquired from the Flames. Hanifin’s also averaging 22:09 of ice time with Vegas, though he’s only on the second power-play unit, which limits his offensive potential a bit.

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Vilardi proving early returns for Jets – Nichushkin doing heavy lifting – Vets picking up pace in Anaheim – Youngs guns firing in Columbus plus much, much more

Scott Cullen — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 22:57:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 13: Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) celebrates his goal during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on December 13, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dive into the numbers to help make decisions when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, the Jets must like the early returns from Gabriel Vilardi, Valeri Nichushkin is doing some heavy lifting in Colorado, veteran forwards are picking up the pace in Anaheim, young guns are starting to fire in Columbus, and the Flames are finding some top line chemistry.

#1 Right winger Gabriel Vilardi was injured in his third game with the Winnipeg Jets and missed nearly six weeks with a sprained knee. He has fully recovered now, it appears, as Vilardi has put up 10 points (5 G, 5 A) and 15 shots on goal in the past four games. With Kyle Connor out, Vilardi has joined Winnipeg’s top line, alongside Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Scheifele, and that is working out just fine. Vilardi has 13 points (6 G, 7 A) in 13 games this season, putting him ahead of Pierre-Luc Dubois, who has 12 points (5 G, 7 A) in 29 games for the Kings after Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and a second-round pick were sent to Winnipeg in exchange for Dubois.

#2 The Colorado Avalanche have decided that they are going to lean on winger Valeri Nichushkin, and he is thriving under the heavy workload. He is riding a six-game point streak, during which he has 11 points (5 G, 6 A) and 25 shots on goal, while averaging an astonishing 25:44 of ice time per game. Obviously, skating on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen is a great situation for anyone to contribute offensively, but Nichushkin is a strong two-way player in his own right and is an excellent complement to Colorado’s elite offensive talent.

#3 With injuries down the middle of the ice, the Anaheim Ducks have turned to Adam Henrique and the veteran forward has been thriving in his role, skating on a line with Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome. Henrique has not only scored seven points (6 G, 1 A) in the past six games, but he has taken 121 face-offs, winning 70 (57.9%). A 33-year-old with an expiring contract, Henrique figures to be popular leading up to the trade deadline as a proven goal-scorer who has scored at least 20 goals in six different seasons.

#4 Another veteran providing offensive production in Anaheim is Alex Killorn, the 34-year-old who was signed as a free agent in the summer after a long stay in Tampa Bay to start his career. Killorn was injured at the start of the season and struggled in his first action, managing zero goals and three assists in his first nine games with the Ducks. Since then, he has contributed nine points (4 G, 5 A) and 40 shots on goal in his past 13 games, having success alongside rookie Leo Carlsson and veteran Troy Terry. Carlsson left Thursday’s loss to Calgary with an apparent lower-body injury, which could cause further upheaval among Anaheim’s forward group.

#5 Acquired by the Flames from the Devils in the summer deal that sent Tyler Toffoli to New Jersey, Yegor Sharangovich took some time to heat up with Calgary. Sharangovich fits well alongside linemates Elias Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane. In the past eight games, Sharangovich has tallied nine points (6 G, 3 A) and is averaging 19:51 of ice time per game. He has logged more than 20 minutes in seven of his past 12 contests.

#6 Demoted to the American Hockey League at the start of the season, 21-year-old winger Kent Johnson is showing the Columbus Blue Jackets that he belongs on the big club. In his past seven games, Johnson has accumulated eight points (3 G, 5 A) despite only registering nine shots on goal. He is skating on a line with Cole Sillinger and Emil Bemstrom and Johnson is getting opportunities on Columbus’ second power play unit.

#7 Staying in Columbus, 23-year-old Kirill Marchenko continues to boost his credentials as a finisher. Marchenko has seven points (5 G, 2 A) with 15 shots on goal in his past six games. Since the start of last season, Marchenko has recorded 34 goals and 12 assists, giving him 2.83 goals per assist, which is by far the highest rate among players that have recorded at least 30 goals in that time frame.

#8 With Barrett Hayton injured, opportunity has knocked for Arizona Coyotes centre Alexander Kerfoot, who has moved up the depth chart to skate between Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz on Arizona’s top line. Kerfoot has produced 14 points (2 G, 12 A) while averaging 19:56 time on ice in his past 12 games and even for a reluctant shooter like Kerfoot, those numbers are strong enough to draw the interest of fantasy managers.

#9 One of the most snakebit players in the league at the start of the season, Montreal Canadiens right winger Josh Anderson had zero goals and two assists through 23 games. Since then, though, Anderson is heating up, putting up seven points (4 G, 3 A) and 27 shots on goal in his past nine games. On a Habs team that is thin up front, Anderson is skating with Sean Monahan and Jake Evans at evens while also taking a turn with Montreal’s second power play unit.

#10 Veteran centre Matt Duchene is enjoying a strong season in Dallas, his first season with the Stars. Centering a line with Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin on his wings, Duchene has produced 12 points (5 G, 7 A) with 22 shots on goal in his past eight games. For a Stars team that can lean so heavily on its top line, getting this kind of secondary production out of Duchene is what keeps them at the top of the Central Division.

#11 Goaltending has been a major problem for the Carolina Hurricanes this season. Starter Frederik Andersen has been injured since early November and Antti Raanta was just demoted to the American Hockey League, leaving Pyotr Kochetkov as the best option between the pipes for the Hurricanes. Since getting called up after Andersen’s injury, Kochetkov does have a .913 save percentage in 14 games. For a Hurricanes team that can still control play consistently, above average goaltending can easily bring fantasy value.

#12 Through 17 games this season, Dallas Stars defenceman Thomas Harley had a modest five points (3 G, 2 A) and 22 shots on goal while playing 17:29 per game. In 10 games since then, Harley has 10 points (6 G, 4 A) and 21 shots on goal while averaging 19:00 of ice time per game. The 22-year-old has scored on 20.9 percent of his shots, which obviously can’t continue, but increased ice time and increased shot rates can surely lead to sustainable offensive production.

#13 It has not been easy for Maple Leafs defenceman Conor Timmins, who has battled injuries throughout his career, but injuries to others in Toronto opened the door for the 25-year-old blueliner to get some regular playing time and he is making the most of it. Timmins has produced five points (1 G, 4 A) with 10 shots on goal in his past seven games. He quarterbacks the second power play unit and has generally been quite effective in his limited role. Timmins has value for those in deep leagues and is well worth watching because if he could just stay healthy for an extended period, that would be a notable development.

#14 A second-round pick by the Seattle Kraken in 2021, defenceman Ryker Evans has stepped into the Seattle lineup and looks NHL ready. He just turned 22 -years-old and has four assists in his past four games, playing more than 18 minutes in each of those four contests. Evans had 44 points (6 G, 38 A) in 71 games as an AHL rookie for Coachella Valley last season, then added 26 points (5 G, 21 A) in 26 playoff games. He started this season with eight points (2 G, 6 A) in 18 games and it was enough to earn his promotion to the big club. There is a caveat with Evans, though. He did not play in Wednesday’s win over Los Angeles and, as well as he has played, he is still competing to earn a regular spot on the Seattle blueline.

#15 Veteran St. Louis Blues defenceman Justin Faulk is not scoring like he did last season when he tallied a career high 50 points (11 G, 39 A), but he is starting to launch shots on goal at an impressive clip. While Faulk has four points (1 G, 3 A) in his past eight games, he has also put 30 shots on goal and averaging nearly four shots on goal per game is a terrific way for a defenceman to generate offensive production. Faulk’s career-high average for shots on goal per game is 3.00, set in 2016-2017 when he was with the Carolina Hurricanes.

#16 At the start of the season, as the Edmonton Oilers struggled to get on track, it sure looked like defenceman Mattias Ekholm was still battling an injury that had kept him out of action in the preseason. The veteran blueliner has steadily improved, though. In his past 21 games, Ekholm has 12 points (4 G, 8 A) and 56 shots on goal. Last season, after he was acquired from Nashville, Ekholm contributed 14 points (4 G, 10 A) and 36 shots on goal in 21 games. He has 14 shots on goal in his past three games and 19 hits in his past five games, so he has picked up the pace and as the Oilers appear to be moving in the right direction, Ekholm’s production should be enough for fantasy managers to take notice.

#17 The key for Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett is to keep generating shots. When he is putting himself in position to fire on net Tippett tends to be effective, and the goals follow. He broke through last season with a career-high 27 goals and 49 points and that has raised expectations for him this season. Although he is playing less this season, Tippett is continuing to produce. In his past six games, he has five points (3 G, 2 A) with 25 shots on goal, landing six shots on goal in each of his two most recent games. That gives him 20 points (11 G, 9 A) in 32 games and his increasing shot rate is reason to expect that the production should continue.

#18 Also in Philadelphia, goaltender Samuel Ersson has recovered from a spectacularly terrible start to the season when he allowed 14 goals on 59 shots (.763 save percentage!) in his first three appearances. Since then, the 24-year-old netminder has been more than steady, posting a 8-2-1 record and .926 save percentage in 11 starts. That is the kind of play that will give Ersson a bigger role in the Flyers crease.

#19 The Vegas Golden Knights had five different goaltenders last season, on the way to winning the Stanley Cup, so they are probably not too fazed by recent injuries to Adin Hill and Logan Thompson. Enter 24-year-old Czech netminder Jiri Patera, a sixth-round pick of the Golden Knights in 2017. Patera played one season in the USHL and two in the WHL before toiling in the minors. He has a .907 save percentage in 74 career AHL games, which does not scream NHL ready, but it’s not terrible, and he has a .909 save percentage in five career NHL appearances. If he is going to get starts behind a quality team, though, Patera might offer some short-term value for fantasy managers.

#20 What can the Toronto Maple Leafs do in goal? Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones are struggling, and Joseph Woll is hurt. It might be too soon, but would they consider giving Dennis Hildeby a shot? The 22-year-old was a fourth-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2022 and had a .918 save percentage in 21 games for Farjestads in the Swedish Hockey League last season. He has a .927 save percentage in a dozen AHL games for the Toronto Marlies this season and the way things are going for the Leafs with Woll injured, they might need to consider other options in net. At the very least, Hildeby should be monitored for those in dynasty leagues because the 6-foot-7 netminder has shown promise.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – SEATTLE KRAKEN – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #16

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 18:18:15 +0000

Top 20 Seattle Kraken Prospects

1. Shane Wright

To say that Wright had an eventful season would be an understatement. He went from the NHL to the AHL, then to the World Juniors, then back to the OHL, where he joined Windsor for the first time following the trading of his rights, and finally back to the AHL for Coachella Valley's playoff run. His results over that span were a very mixed bag. He didn't look NHL-ready in the fall but left a serious statement in his early AHL stint. He won a World Juniors gold as Canada's captain but didn't personally dominate during the tournament. He was great during the OHL regular season, but quiet as his team was swept in the opening round of the playoffs. Overall, it wasn't the performance that people expected out of a player who had been projected by many to go first overall in 2022, though you can't discount the possible impact of all the instability. Finding a steady environment for him next season will be paramount.

2. Eduard Sale

A slick trickster, Sale entered the last season looking like a possible top 10 pick in the 2023 draft, ultimately slipping to the Seattle Kraken at 20th overall. Coming off his first full season in the Czech Extraliga, where he led all rookies with 14 points and took home Rookie of the Year honors, Sale also made his presence known for his country at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, WJC, and U18 Worlds. In fact, it was at that last tournament, as an underager in 2022, where he really arrived on the scene as a top prospect, racking up 8 assists in 6 games while being the prime set-up master for top prospect Jiri Kulich. Sale’s movement stands out as a top trait, stemming from technically-sound skating mechanics. He’s able to accelerate quite quickly, reaching his top speed effortlessly while displaying strong edges that he utilizes to change direction on a dime. Deceptive with quick shoulder drops and head fakes, his puck-handling is another top-flight trait and is perhaps only topped by his instinctive passes. That he’s also strong in small-area battles will be a big plus, because he’s scheduled to join the OHL Barrie Colts for 2023-24, which should be a wonderful barometer for determining just how far he is in his development.

3. Ryker Evans

Seattle made a bold move when they selected Evans with the 35th overall pick in 2021, going way outside the consensus of publicly published draft lists to nab the overager. That decision is looking better and better as time passes. Coachella Valley was one of the best teams in the AHL in 2022-23, and despite being a rookie he was already one of their best players. He is a dynamic difference-maker from the back end, able to break pucks out of his own zone, move them safely up the ice, and contribute to getting them in the opposing net. He makes a big impact at both even strength and on the powerplay. He defends pretty well too, by focusing on his gaps and getting sticks on pucks precisely. Evans was a number one defenseman in his days with WHL Regina, and if he stays on his current trajectory, he should become top half of the lineup kind of player for the Kraken, too.

4. Jagger Firkus

There is a certain ’X factor‘ to Firkus that is difficult to describe, but anyone who has watched him a lot can attest to its presence. There are times where it looks like he just inherently knows that he's going to beat you offensively, and in those moments, there is absolutely nothing that you can do to stop him. If it weren't for some other WHLer named Connor Bedard, Fircus’ goal-scoring prowess would get a lot more attention. Not only can his shot find any bit of space that a goalie is careless enough to offer up, but his ability to sneak into dangerous ice in the offensive zone is almost supernatural. A scout's common sense might note that small, scrawny players with questionable skating ability don't usually pan out in the NHL. Then again, Firkus is anything but common.

5. Jani Nyman

There are still games where Nyman blends into the scenery a little too much, but when he's really on his game he is one of the best players on the ice, even against older competition. He's a hulking winger who can work a cycle, score from in tight or distance, find teammates with high-danger passes at the right times, and move up and down the ice with momentum. Even more exciting is his continued progress in all these different areas, and if that continues, the end result could see him become an exhausting nightmare to contain or defend against at the highest levels, very similar to someone like Alex Tuch in Buffalo. If Seattle is smart, they will patiently let Nyman lay as much groundwork as necessary and then take his time building upon it to ensure he eventually reaches his highest possible ceiling.

6. David Goyette

Goyette is one of the smoothest skaters that you'll ever see at the junior level. He's just so fast, agile, and nimble, which allows him to create separation in all directions. He's also an impressively clean puck handler in motion, so it won't come as a surprise then that he is a go-to player in transition or that he is at his most effective offensively off the rush. When he does get in tight, he can deke goalies into paralysis. His lack of strength is a weakness, and it looks unlikely that he will ever be able to bulk up much, but you can't hit what you can't catch, so he should be able to remain successful so long as he doesn't lose a step with his skating. Goyette is a true leader in Sudbury and was instrumental in pulling them out of the OHL's basement and back into the playoffs last season.

7. Ty Nelson

Heading into the 2022 NHL Draft weekend there was talk that Nelson could sneak into the first round, but he ultimately fell a lot further than that, all the way down to the third round. Seattle certainly isn't complaining now, because they selected a player who suddenly had a chip on his shoulder, determined to prove the doubter wrongs, which is exactly what happened. The first overall pick in the 2020 OHL draft cemented himself as one of the best defensemen in the league, logging a mountain of minutes and leading the blueline for a Battalion team that finished second during the regular season. For a small guy he has a big personality, an elite compete level, and a cannon of a shot. Nelson could become a special player if he can continue harnessing his energy into explosive play without being too reckless.

8. Lukas Dragicevic

When it comes to offensive defensemen, there simply aren't many others who are as dangerous as Dragicevic from the offensive blueline onward. He possesses elusive footwork and slick hands, which he can use in tandem to dance around and embarrass anyone who tries to recklessly pressure him. He has a bomb of a slapshot that he loves to uncork, but he also has a hard, accurate wrister that he can use to try to beat goalies clean or send in for a deflection. As good as he is on the attacking line, he's also not shy about getting closer to the net to generate offense. Unsurprisingly, he's a monster on the powerplay. Dragicevic is additionally a major factor at driving the play up the ice. However, as easily as he can pull you out of your seat when h has the puck, he can just as easily make you pull out your hair with his mistakes and inconsistency. His decision-making is downright baffling at times, with frequent unforced turnovers. He can get lost in his own end, and worse yet, will often completely shut off his effort. He will need the right shutdown-minded partner on his left side who can cover for his risk-taking.

9. Carson Rehkopf

Rehkopf’s strong athletic profile made him a very intriguing player for scouts this year, even with concerns over the variance in his engagement level. His skating explosiveness is a strength and it makes him a great quick strike player who can consistently beat defenders to spots or pucks. Additionally, his shot was one of the heaviest in the 2023 draft class. When he’s on, Rehkopf is dialled in physically and flashes the tools to be a very good two-way player and potential shutdown type. When he’s off, he tends to disappear and makes little impact. Are the issues with consistency related to conditioning, mindset, confidence, or all three? We’ll find out the answer in the next few years, but for now, Seattle will need to be patient with Rehkopf as he figures out what kind of player he wants to be. With OHL Kitchener rebuilding this year, he’ll get all the ice time that he can handle, barring a trade to a more stacked club.

10. Oscar Fisker Molgaard

One has to wonder if there’s any such thing as a coincidence when a team hires one of the few former Danish NHLers (namely Frans Nielsen) and a few months later selects the only Danish player of note in the following draft. Regardless of any external motivations, Seattle has added a player to its suddenly burgeoning prospect bin who was one of this season’s biggest surprises in the Swedish SHL. Coming seemingly out of nowhere, Molgaard suited up for 41 SHL games, with his +6 for a struggling club being perhaps the most noticeable outcome of his play. A fleet-footed lightweight who has shown himself to be a playmaker at the junior level, he approaches the game with maturity and a strong understanding of play both with and without the puck. Tricky and creative with the puck, Molgaard is very adept at finding shooting lanes and displaying slick mitts around the goalmouth area. His forte in an offensive sense nonetheless remains the carrying and distribution of pucks. Translating those abilities to SHL play turned heads in the scouting community last season. With time on his side, he’s scheduled to continue his development with HV71 this season.

11. Caden Price

A recent draft pick of the Kraken, Price had a disappointing draft year on a poor Kelowna team. There’s a lot of hope that his play will pick up as the team around him improves. Decision making can be an issue, but Price has the potential to be an impact defender at both ends.

12. Tye Kartye

Talk about a great story. Kartye has gone from obscure OHL free agent signing to scoring big goals in the NHL playoffs for the Kraken within a single season. Kartye is so good away from the puck, a testament to the way he thinks the game. He could be a longtime fixture on Seattle’s third line.

13. Ryan Winterton

Winterton just needs to stay healthy. That’s it, that’s all. When he’s on the ice, like last season’s OHL playoffs, he’s an impact player. But the injuries remain a lingering issue, especially given the power forward style that he likes to play. He’ll turn pro this year and fingers crossed that he has put the injuries behind him.

14. Tucker Robertson

Robertson is such an easy player to cheer for given his tenacious style of play. His engine never stops. He was a pillar of strength for Peterborough in their OHL title run last year and it will be interesting to see how his offensive game translates to the pro level this year. The keys are continuing to improve his speed and quickness.

15. Jacob Melanson

The improvement over his QMJHL career was outstanding, with Melanson ending his time in the Q scoring 50 goals last season. Better yet, he brings value outside of scoring with his physicality. Another player to watch as he turns pro this year.

16 Niklas Kokko

A second-round selection in 2022, Kokko had a promising season, split between Liiga and the Finnish second tier. Signed by the Kraken, where Kokko plays this year remains a bit of a mystery, but at this point he appears to be the top goaltending prospect in the system.

17. Semyon Vyazovoi

Evaluating Russian goaltenders pre-KHL can be difficult. But Vyazovoi has been lights out in the MHL and was even impressive in the Russian second league (VHL) last year. Seattle is hoping that he can get some time in the KHL as a 20-year-old this season.

18. Ville Ottavainen

Offense will never be a big part of Ottavainen’s game, but he shows a lot of promise in the defensive end with his combination of length, mobility, and physicality. After two good seasons in Finland, he’ll be playing in Coachella Valley this year.

19. Tyson Jugnauth

Not a lot of players had good years on Wisconsin last year, but Jugnauth was one of the few. His freshman season showed a ton of promise, especially in the offensive end. He’s likely to be a three- or four-year college project, but the upside is big.

20. Logan Morrison

When Morrison finally signed an NHL deal towards the end of the OHL season, those who follow the OHL closely rejoiced. No one deserved it more. Yes, there are concerns over his skating and projection, but the IQ and playmaking ability are high end.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK: FANTASY PROSPECT RANKINGS – Top 30 Forwards – Top 20 Defense – top 10 Goalies

Peter Harling — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 19:10:17 +0000

When preparing for a fantasy draft or evaluating prospects for a trade in your fantasy league you need to understand the difference between rankings, and fantasy rankings. The difference can be subtle, or significant depending on your leagues scoring and format. Generally speaking, fantasy rankings are based on projected point production. I have found that the vast majority of readers that read and follow my work are in dynasty keeper leagues with peripheral stats, or bangers leagues. The following rankings are based on projected point production and include added value to players that can contribute other stats, such as hits, blocks, PIMs, and faceoff wins. In fantasy hockey, we have a limited number of prospect roster spots and as such I put higher value on prospects that have a quicker ETA to the NHL or have superstar upside. This will help you identify the top 30 forwards, 20 defencemen and ten goalies to target in your fantasy leagues. To be considered a prospect, skaters must be under 26-years-old, and have played in under 60 career games, or less than 35 in a single season. For goalies, less than 30 games played, or 15 in a single season.

Forwards

Connor Bedard, C – Chicago Blackhawks

Not much debate to be had here. If you put Bedard in any other draft class from the past ten years, the only time he does not go first overall is the Connor McDavid Draft. Bedard is simply a generational talent that will kick down the front door of the NHL and take the league by storm. To expect him to be a point per game player as a rookie is not out of the question, he could even push for a 90-point year. The sky is the limit.

Logan Cooley, C – Arizona Coyotes

It was looking like Cooley was returning to the NCAA for his sophomore season, but after scoring 60 points as a freshman (second overall in scoring) and little left to gain from a second season, the Coyotes signed him to his ELC. Now that he is show bound, he locks up second forward rank position as the future of the Coyotes. Cooley is a dynamic offensive and highly skilled player that should flirt with 60 points as a rookie and has the upside to be a 90-point player when he hits his prime.

Adam Fantilli, C – Columbus Blue Jackets

Fantilli lead the NCAA in scoring as a freshman which puts him in a class with Jack Eichel and Paul Kariya. He will have the opportunity to center dynamic offensive wingers like Patrik Laine or Johnny Gaudreau or both in Columbus. Fantilli brings the whole package, size, skating, skill, smarts and will deliver in fantasy leagues with points and peripheral stats as well. He could easily have landed second overall on this list.

Matvei Michkov, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

In five years when we revisit this I would not be surprised if Michkov is the second overall player ranked, but the reasons why he is only fourth have more to do with term. Signed in the KHL for three more seasons we will have to wait on Michkov, but when he comes over as a matured 21-year-old on a three-year ELC he will be the best bang for his buck in dynasty capped leagues.

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 06: Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) skates with the puck during the NHL game between Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins on January 6, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire)

Marco Rossi, C – Minnesota Wild

Rossi suffered a major setback in his development with a life-threatening bout with COVID. But he now has had two seasons of development in the AHL and after 116 games he has posted 104 points. His NHL production has not materialized through 21 games to date but count on that changing in a big way this year. Rossi is expected to take over the number one spot in Minnesota and if he develops some Chemistry between Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, look out!

Leo Carlsson, C – Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks surprised a lot of people when they selected Carlsson over Fantilli at the second overall selection at the 2023 Draft. The fact of the matter is that Carlsson is a highly skilled and projectable player. The Ducks can be patient with his development, and he could play another year in the SHL before coming to California. With Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson as a one-two punch down the middle, the Ducks have elite center depth for a long time.

Lukas Reichel, LW/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

After two seasons of development in the AHL, Reichel is ready for prime time, and his timing couldn’t be better. While expectations are Taylor Hall will get the first crack at shot gun with Bedard, Reichel could easily win one of the wing roles on the top line and flirt with a 50–60-point season.

Matthew Knies, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Leaf Nation had some lofty expectations for Knies, and he did not disappoint. He quickly became a key member of the Leafs top six and offense in a playoff series with Tampa. With a cap friendly ELC contract, he is an ideal fit on a top six line in Toronto with their prolific offense. Knies brings some size and physicality in addition to his soft hands and dangerous shot. Knies will be a stud in multi-cat leagues.

Shane Wright, C – Seattle Kraken

While it was a struggle in his D+1 year with highs and lows ranging from a regular healthy scratch, to captaining Canada to WJC Gold, and returning to the OHL. When the dust settled, he gained valuable development in the NHL, AHL, OHL and internationally and now Seattle has the option to play Wright full time in the AHL. In time Wright and Beniers will be a formidable one-two punch down the middle for Seattle, but Wright likely needs one more year before he wins a top six role with the Kraken.

Dylan Guenther, LW/RW – Arizona Coyotes

Playing in only 33 NHL games last year barely allows Guenther to remain eligible for this list. His 15 points last year was good, but not enough to stay in the show. He was loaned to Canada for the WJC and posted 10 points before returning to the WHL to help Seattle to a WHL Championship. With Cooley signing it gives an additional boost to Guenther’s value.

SAINT PAUL, MN - OCTOBER 08: Dallas Stars Center Logan Stankoven (57) looks on during the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, on October 8th, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven, C – Dallas Stars

Stankoven has dominated in the WHL and the international stage alike. He kept pace with Connor Bedard at the WJC showing he can play with elite players and pace. Stankoven will be turning pro this year and could likely skip the AHL on a lot of NHL teams, but Dallas has some depth and can be patient with this stud.

Jakob Pelletier, LW – Calgary Flames

It’s has been a long time coming for the 2019 first round pick of the Flames, but after scoring 99 points in 101 career AHL games, the time is now for Pelletier to get a real look at the NHL. The coaching change in Calgary should be another green light for Pelletier to not only make the team but crack the Flames top six.

Ryan Leonard, C/LW – Washington Capitals

The Boston College commit will likely be a one-and-done player before he signs his ELC. Drawing comparisons to the Tkachuk brothers as he plays a rambunctious game but has high end skill and hockey sense. The Capitals can be patient with their top prospect and slow cook him, but he is more instant noodle than slow cooker and can be an impact player for them next year.

William Eklund, LW – San Jose Sharks

Eklund nearly cracked the Sharks roster in his D+1 season with a strong nine game showing before he was loaned back to the SHL. Last year he made the move to North America and played mainly in the AHL posting 41 points through 54 games. He could be ready to not only win a roster spot with the Sharks to start the season but will compete for a top six role.

Frank Nazar, C/RW – Chicago Blackhawks

Nazar missed all but 13 games in his freshman year at Michigan due to injury. He had a strong showing at the World Junior Summer Showcase and is a lock for Team USA. He will return to Michigan and be a star player for the Wolverine and could even finish the year in Chicago if he signs his ELC. His fantasy stock is about to get a massive boost.

Jimmy Snuggerud, C – St. Louis Blues

It is too early to do a redraft of the 2022 draft, but if we do, Jimmy Snuggerud would likely be inside the top ten, well above where the Blues selected him 23^rd overall. A massive freshman season with the University of Minnesota where he scored 50 points in 40 games on arguably the top line in the NCAA with Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies. Cooley and Knies are now gone, can Snuggerud produce the same or better without those two?

Zach Benson, RW – Buffalo Sabres

Speaking of redrafting too soon, Benson fell to Buffalo at pick 13 because he is undersized. I think when we redraft the 2023 class, he will be inside the top ten, closer to top five. He has hands, vision and deception in his game that scream NHL ready. He plays a two-way game and is highly competitive. He is a few years away, but the upside is top six.

Cutter Gauthier, C/LW – Philadelphia Flyers

The big winger had an impressive freshman year at Boston College scoring 37 points in 32 games and ten more points at the WJ and then nine points at the World Championship. He will return to B.C. where the Eagles will add the NTDP trio of Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and Gabe Perreault to the fold. Big things are coming with Gauthier.

Matt Coronato, RW/LW – Calgary Flames

After posting back-to-back 36-point seasons in the NCAA at Harvard Coronato signed and made his NHL debut last year. He may be short at 5-10, but he is not a small player. He is strong and can play physically but his game is all about scoring goals.

Alexander Holtz, LW – New Jersey Devils

The seventh overall pick from the 2020 draft is now starting to trend in the wrong direction. Holtz is a sniper and has had two full seasons of development in North America. It looked like last year was when he would breakout, but he only managed four points in 19 games with the Devils. Still only 21 years old he has time but really needs to address the skating and pace to reach an NHL top six role.

Mavrik Bourque, C – Dallas Stars

Bourque had a good AHL rookie season with 20 goals and 47 points. He has some work to do however before he can compete to crack the Stars roster with their depth.

Brennan Othmann, LW – New York Rangers

Othmann finished his junior career in the OHL on a playoff run with the Petes that ended with a Championship and a Memorial Cup run. He has size and speed and skill, and scores clutch goals. A year in the AHL is in the cards for Othmann but he has top six upside in a year or two.

Will Smith, C – San Jose Sharks

The slick and skilled center had 127 points in 60 games with the NTDP in his draft year. That was not a typo. Headed to Boston College with the entire NTDP record breaking line with Perreault and Leonard, the trio could have a ridiculous freshman year. Smith has some work to do on his defensive game but should develop into the Sharks number one center with Eklund on his wing.

Jiri Kulich, C – Buffalo Sabres

Kulich scored 24 goals and 46 points as a rookie in the AHL and had nine points for Czechia at the WJC. His game got better as the season went on and in the AHL playoffs he scored 11 points in 12 games. He will have to play another year in the AHL and wait for some contracts to expire on the Sabres roster, but he is very close.

Tyson Foerster, RW – Philadelphia Flyers

His AHL rookie season was a smashing success as he scored 20 goals and 48 points in 66 games. But what was far more impressive was his late season NHL recall where he played eight games with the Flyers and scored seven points. He is NHL ready now.

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 28: Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (77) skates with the puck during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators on March 28, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Luke Evangelista, RW – Nashville Predators

Perhaps one of the players with the biggest rise in stock this year was Evangelista. Sure, he scored 111 points in his final 62 career OHL games, but 41 points in 49 AHL games as a rookie was very impressive. Even more spectacular was he earned an NHL recall and scored there too, 15 points in 24 games. He has arrived.

Ridly Greig, C/LW – Ottawa Senators

His breakout performance at the WJC was cut short due to injury, but he picked up where he left off as a rookie in the AHL scoring 29 points in 39 games in Belleville. His play earned him an NHL recall and he did not look out of place posting nine points in 20 NHL games. He is ready.

Matthew Savoie, C – Buffalo Sabres

Savoie is a prolific scorer as he has back-to-back 90-point seasons in the WHL with Winnipeg and went on a tear in the playoffs last year scoring 11 goals and 29 points in 19 games. He is undersized but he can play.

Nick Robertson, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

Injuries have plagued Robertson, who otherwise may have been playing out his ELC inside the Leafs top six. At 21-years-old he has missed a lot of development playing 82 games over the past three seasons. He needs to have a full, healthy year.

Brendan Brisson, LW/RW – Vegas Golden Knights

The Michigan alumni had a good AHL rookie season scoring 37 points in 58 games for the Silver Knights. He will be back in the AHL and should see marked improvement in his production. He is coming.

Defense

Luke Hughes, LD – New Jersey Devils

The youngest of the Huges brothers but the biggest at 6’ 2”, 183 pounds may have the highest upside. He produced at the NCAA, World Junior, and World Championship. He has two points in his two-game debut to end the year in the NHL and will play his rookie season in the NHL in the coming season. The only thing in his way from being the top offensive player right away is Dougie Hamilton.

Brandt Clarke, RD – Los Angeles Kings

Clark started the year in the NHL and after nine games with the Kings and five in the AHL he was loaned to Canada where he dominated the World Junior. Then he was returned to the OHL, and it was ridiculous as he scored 23 points in 12 playoff games. He is ready for the NHL.

Lane Hutson, LD – Montreal Canadiens

His 48-point freshman season was comparable to Cale Makar’s Hobey Baker winning sophomore year. Hutson also played key roles for the USA at the WJC and World Championships. He will return to Boston University to play with his brother and should sign following his sophomore year. Hutson has elite upside.

David Jiricek, RD – Columbus Blue Jackets

Jiricek had a tremendous D+1 season as an 18-year-old AHL rookie playing key minutes for the Monsters and scoring 38 points. His play at the WJC helped lead Czechia to a Silver Medal and he looks ready for the NHL now. His point upside may not be as elite, but he is 6’ 3”, mobile and great defensively. He is a franchise defenseman.

ELMONT, NY - OCTOBER 06: New Jersey Devils Defenseman Simon Nemec (5) during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders on October 6, 2022, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Simon Nemec, RD – New Jersey Devils

Nemec is every bit as good as Jiricek, he had a superb D+1 year as an AHL rookie scoring 34 points and was a point per game player at the WJC. His path to a number one NHL defender is harder in New Jersey with Hughes and Hamilton blocking him.

Olen Zellweger, LD – Anaheim Ducks

Zellweger has dominated the WHL to the tune of 183 career points in 180 games and was named the CHL Defenseman of the Year. He has dominated the World Junior with two Gold Medals with 17 points in 14 games. He will take his game to the AHL, and chances are he will dominate there as a rookie. He is still a year or two away from being an impact defenseman in the NHL and the Ducks number one on the blueline.

Simon Edvinsson, LD – Detroit Red Wings

After a great AHL rookie campaign Edvinsson moved up to the NHL for a nine-game audition. He was poised to make the Wings roster out of camp to start the season, but an injury will delay that arrival. He may need a short tour in the AHL to get up to speed, but he will compete with Seider for top minutes in Detroit by years end.

Scott Perunovich, LD – St. Louis Blues

By all accounts the 24-year-old should have graduated from this list by now, but three injury plagued seasons and he has been limited to 19 NHL games. His 42 points in 39 career AHL games demands he gets an opportunity to play meaningful minutes in the NHL, he just needs to stay healthy.

Pavel Mintyukov, LD – Anaheim Ducks

The Russian offensive defender saw his production dip slightly after a mid-season trade to the Ottawa 67’s, but his offensive play should translate to the AHL where he will play his rookie season with the Gulls. He has Drysdale and Zellweger ahead of him for now, but his upside is tremendous.

Denton Mateychuk, LD – Columbus Blue Jackets

Mateychuk has similar offensive upside to Mintyukov, but is a little smaller, and has one more year of junior hockey before he turns pro. The 19-year-old should shootout the lights in the WHL and be a key player for Canada at the World Junior.

Kevin Korchinski, LD – Chicago Blackhawks

His stock got a big boost when the Hawks won the Draft lottery and added Connor Bedard. Korchinski is penciled in to be the Hawks powerplay quarterback in three years or so and it is lining up to be elite. The 6’ 3” defender can skate and play a physical game as well.

Alexander Nikishin, LD – Carolina Hurricanes

Perhaps no defense prospect saw their stock rise more last year than Nikishin. His 55-point breakout in 65 games in the KHL commanded the attention of fantasy owners. He has two more years remaining on his contract so we will have to wait a while for the 21-year-old, 6’ 4” Russian stud to come to North America.

Jordan Spence, RD – Los Angeles Kings

The Kings top defensive prospect is Brandt Clarke, but the gap between him and Spence is getting smaller. Spence was a force in the AHL as a rookie posting 42 points in 46 games and played in 24 NHL games. Last year he spent more time developing in the AHL and is looking ready to secure an NHL job out of training camp.

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 17: Thomas Harley (55) of the Dallas Stars skates during the second period of the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and the Montreal Canadiens on March 17, 2022, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Thomas Harley, LD – Dallas Stars

The OHL shutdown gave Harley early access to the AHL, and the 21-year-old now has three seasons of professional hockey development under his belt, including 40 NHL career games played. He has NHL ready size, mobility, and offensive acumen. He should be a full-time player in Dallas this year and his role with the team will continue to grow.

Ville Heinola, LD – Winnipeg Jets

The 20^th overall pick from the 2019 draft nearly made the NHL in his D+1 year playing the first eight regular season games with the Jets. Ultimately, he was loaned back to his Liiga club team and since then has split time between the Liiga, AHL, NHL and some international tournaments. His play in the AHL has slowly been improving, but Heinola still has one more year of waiver exemption that likely dictates more AHL time.

Lukas Cormier, LD – Vegas Golden Knights

Cormier was a prolific offensive defenseman in junior and his rookie year in the AHL saw his offensive skill translate to the professional level as he scored 10 goals and 35 points in 62 games for the Silver Knights. Cormier has a rocket of a shot, is a crafty and creative offensive driver but is looking at another year or two in the AHL before he is ready to push for a top pairing role in Vegas.

Henry Thrun, LD – San Jose Sharks

The Ducks 2019 fourth round pick was looking for more opportunity and is assumed was not going to sign in Anaheim as they are loaded with star prospects on defense. He was traded to the Sharks who signed him within a month. The departure of Erik Karlsson has created a massive void on the Sharks roster and Thrun will try to win the job out of training camp as the team’s powerplay quarterback.

Emil Andrae, LD – Philadelphia Flyers

The 5’ 9” defender has been flushing out his resume nicely since his draft leading the J20 in defenseman points and goals, a HockeyAllsvenskan Championship, being named best junior, most goals by a defenseman in the WJC and a Bronze Medal. Last year he had a breakout season in the SHL with 26 points and finished the year in the AHL with a strong showing of six points in 10 games with the Phantoms. He will play a full season in the AHL but is a player on the rise.

Ryker Evans, LD – Seattle Kraken

The Krakens 2021 second round pick had a strong junior career with the Regina Pats, but his stock improved significantly in his rookie AHL season as his role continued to grow all season long. His 44 points in 71 regular season games was great, and it got even better in the playoffs as he produced 26 points in 26 games to help lead Coachella to the finals in their inaugural season. Evans is a prospect on the rise and on the fast track to the NHL.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RD – Detroit Red Wings

ASP is a play-driving offensive defenseman with a high hockey sense that allows him to see plays two steps ahead. He is a strong skater, perhaps not a burner, but his edge work makes him very elusive. He has the ability to be a power play QB but with Seider and Edvinsson ahead of him on the depth chart, power play minutes may be hard to come by.

Goalies.

Devon Levi, Buffalo Sabres

The rise of Devon Levi has been spectacular. The seventh-round selection by the Florida Panthers has rocketed up the rankings by cracking the Canadian WJC roster, then winning the starting role. He dominated the NCAA winning the Mike Richter Award as Best Goalie in the NCAA twice. He made his NHL debut after his junior season and posted a 5-2-0 record with a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Eric Comrie and Ukka-Pekka-Luukkonen are both under contract which should force Levi to the AHL as he is waiver exempt, but Levi could outplay them both and win the starting role out of camp. Buffalo is a team on the rise and Levi is on the cusp of becoming an elite goalie.

Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild

His first season in the AHL showed plenty of promise as he made the adjustment to North America. After a strong rookie season in Iowa with a 18-15-5 record, he closed the year at the World Championship with Sweden winning all three games with a 0.67 GAA against some of the lesser teams. With one more year remaining on M-A Fleury’s contract, Wallstedt likely has another year of AHL time before he is a full-time NHL goalie.

VANCOUVER, BC - SEPTEMBER 25: Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) in net during their preseason NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on September 25, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

You could easily make the argument that Wolf is the number one on this list. The two-time AHL Goalie of the Year winner has been outstanding as a pro goalie. He lacks some international experience and has both Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar signed for two years ahead of him in Calgary, but his performance speaks for itself. The Flames can be patient with the 22-year-old future franchise goalie as he could be one of the teams’ all-time greats.

Yaroslav Askarov, Nashville Predators

Askarov has been an elite prospect for years now, but my concern with him has been the low volume of games he was playing in Russia. Last year he came to North America and played 48 games for Milwaukee in the AHL and was outstanding as the undisputed starting goalie. His adjustment to North America and a starting goalie workload erased any potential doubt he can and will be an NHL starting goalie. Look for Askarov to get a few more cups of coffee in the NHL this year and be a full time NHL player in 2024-25.

Joel Hofer, St. Louis Blues

Hofer has rather quietly assembled a remarkable resume which includes a WHL Championship, Gold Medals at the World Championship and World Junior where he was the Best Goaltender. In his two seasons of AHL development his record is 49-36-13 with a 2.78 GAA and .912 SV%. Hofer is penciled in to start the year in the NHL as the backup to an aging and declining Jordan Binnington. It is just a matter of time before Hofer usurps him as the starting goalie.

Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks

Commesso showed good development in his three years as the Boston Terriers starting goalie in the NCAA and posted a strong 24-8-0 record in his final year. His path towards an NHL starting role looks promising as he should be the starting goalie as a rookie in the AHL with Rockford and the Hawks goalie depth is very weak outside Commesso and Arvid Soderblom.

Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings

The wait time on the Wings 2021 first round pick is a little longer. After a dominant career in the WHL, he spent the majority of his rookie season as a pro in the ECHL with Toledo where he got starting minutes. The 6’ 6” netminder will graduate to the AHL and will be mentored by veteran Alex Lyon.

Justus Annunen, Colorado Avalanche

The 6’ 4” Finnish goalie had strong numbers from the Liiga but stumbled in his rookie season in the AHL. He made adjustments in his sophomore season and saw marked improvements across the board. The 23-year-old will play his third season in the AHL and be the first option for an NHL recall if injuries require relief.

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

This will be a key year for Dostal to establish himself as an NHL goalie. The Ducks likely go with a three-headed-monster in goal with John Gibson, Alex Stalock, and Dostal to allow Calle Clang to get the starting role in the AHL. Injuries will certainly force Gibson to miss some time and Dostal could seize the starting job in Anaheim sooner than later.

Daniil Tarasov, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tarasov has struggled with injuries since coming to North America but put 28 games on the board last year between the AHL and NHL. Both teams were bottom dwellers in the standings, so his numbers were not overly impressive. Tarasov will share the NHL crease this year with Elvis Merzlikins as his backup but could see a healthy number of starts if he plays well.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #20 Seattle Kraken

Derek Neumeier — Tue, 16 May 2023 19:33:15 +0000

The second-year expansion team made the playoffs, and upset the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in a remarkably quick rise to competitiveness. They fell in the organizational rankings year over year with the graduation of Matty Beniers, and not surprising they are in the bottom third, as it takes time to build organizational depth. Much of their trading to date has been aimed at gathering draft picks. They had nine picks in the first four rounds of the 2022 NHL Draft and landed the third overall ranked prospect in Shane Wright, along with Jagger Firkus #88, Jani Nyman #106, David Goyette #123, Ty Nelson #131. Wright is likely to make the leap to the NHL next season, but patience will still be required with the others. GM Ron Francis has carefully crafted a competitive squad, but it is unlikely he will follow his fellow expansion team the Golden Knights in sacrificing future for immediate returns.

A tight, well-coached team with an intense forecheck, they are creating a good environment for prospects to thrive in. The only significant trade that involved picks made in the last two years was a great success, prying Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Blue Jackets for a third and fourth round pick. Well ahead of schedule both in the regular season and the playoffs, patience will remain the order of the day, adding both character and skill around their two young centerman, Beniers and Wright.

Shane Wright

To say that Wright had an eventful season would be an understatement. He went from the NHL to the AHL, then to the World Juniors, then back to the OHL where he joined Windsor for the first time following the trading of his rights, and back to the AHL for Coachella Valley's playoffs. The results over that span have been a very mixed bag. He didn't look NHL-ready in the fall but left a serious statement in his early AHL stint. He won World Juniors gold as Canada's captain but didn't dominate. He was great in the OHL regular season, but quiet as his team was swept in the opening round. Overall, it wasn't the performance that people expected out of the player who was projected to go 1^st overall in 2022, though you can't discount the possible impact of all the instability. Finding a steady environment for him next season will be paramount.

2. Jagger Firkus

There is a certain "X factor" to Firkus that is difficult to describe, but anyone who has watched him a lot can attest that it exists. There are times where it looks like he just inherently knows that he's going to beat you offensively, and in those moments, there is absolutely nothing that you can do to stop him. If it weren't for some other WHL kid named Connor Bedard his goal-scoring prowess would get a lot more attention. Not only can his shot find any bit of space that a goalie is careless enough to give up, but his ability also to sneak into dangerous ice in the offensive zone is almost supernatural. A scout's common sense might tell him or her that small, scrawny players with questionable skating ability don't usually pan out in the NHL. Then again, Firkus is anything but common.

3. Jani Nyman

There are still games where Nyman blends into the scenery a little too much, but when he's really on his game he is one of the best players on the ice, even against older competition. He's a hulking winger who can work a cycle, score from in tight or distance, find teammates with high-danger passes at the right times, and move up and down the ice with momentum. What's really exciting, though, is that he keeps making progress in all these different areas, and if that continues, the end result could see him become a player who is an exhausting nightmare to contain or defend, very similar to someone like Alex Tuch in Buffalo. If Seattle is smart, they will patiently let Nyman lay as much groundwork as necessary and then take his time building upon it to ensure he eventually reaches his highest possible ceiling.

4. David Goyette

Goyette is one of the smoothest skaters that you'll ever see at the junior level. He's just so fast and agile and nimble, which allows him to create separation in all directions. He's also an impressively clean puck handler in motion, so it won't come as a surprise then that he is a go-to player in transition or that he is at his most effective offensively off the rush. When he does get in tight, he can deke goalies into paralysis. His lack of strength is a weakness, and it looks unlikely that he will ever be able to bulk up much, but you can't hit what you can't catch, so he should be able to remain successful so long as he doesn't lose a step with his skating. Goyette is a true leader in Sudbury and was instrumental at pulling them out of the OHL's basement and back into the playoffs.

5. Ty Nelson

Heading into last year's draft weekend there was talk that Nelson could sneak into the 1st round, but he ultimately fell a lot further than that, all the way down to the 3rd round. Seattle certainly isn't complaining now, though, because they selected a player who was fired up this season and determined to prove people wrong, and that's exactly what happened. The 1st overall pick in the 2020 OHL draft cemented himself as one of the best defensemen in the league, logging a mountain of minutes and leading the blueline for a Battalion team that finished 2nd in the regular season. For a small guy he has a big personality, an elite compete level and a serious cannon of a shot. Nelson could become a special player if he can continue harnessing his energy into explosive play without being too reckless doing so.

6. Ryker Evans

Seattle made a bold move when they selected Evans with the 35th overall pick in 2021, going way outside the consensus of publicly published draft lists. However, that decision is looking better and better as time passes. Coachella Valley is one of the best teams in the AHL, and despite being a rookie he is already one of their best players. He is a dynamic difference-maker from the back end, able to break pucks out of his own zone, move them safely up the ice, and contribute to them ending up in the opposing net. Makes a big impact at both even strength and on the powerplay. Defends pretty well too, by focusing on his gaps and getting sticks on pucks precisely. Evans was a number one defenseman in his days with Regina, and if he stays on his current trajectory, he should become that same kind of player for the Kraken.

7. Tucker Robertson

Robertson had a good 16-year-old season in the OHL but didn't play a single game anywhere in 2020-21 due to COVID, and then didn't have his name get called in the 2021 draft. However, it's fair to say in hindsight that he would have gotten picked if he would have played, because he dropped an impressive 41-goal, 81-point season as soon as the OHL resumed play and was scooped up by Seattle as a re-entry prospect. His work ethic and attitude are elite, as he plays a lot of minutes in all situations and never seems to take a shift off or lose his confidence. He's a natural leader, letting his play do most of the talking and set a positive example, and it's clear that his teammates rally behind him. While his game might not fully translate to the NHL he easily projects as someone who will carve out a role and win over his coaches.

8. Jacob Melanson

Melanson got the best of two worlds this season: being a go-to, top-line player for the front half with Acadie-Bathurst, before getting traded to one of the best teams in the league and a serious championship contender in Sherbrooke in the back half. He is a blue-collar forward who is more than happy to put in work in all three zones, but undoubtedly gets the most enjoyment out of taking shots in and around the opposing net front. He can score from that area by out-working defenders for garbage goals, but he also has a high level of talent with his hand-eye coordination and timing that can't fully be taught. While what Melanson does isn't particularly exciting, the results are undeniable, and he shouldn't need to adjust his style all that much throughout his career.

9. Ryan Winterton

Once considered a top prospect heading into the OHL, Winterton hasn't quite lived up to his billing, but in his defense a lot has happened that has been outside of his control. COVID robbed him of his entire 2020-21 season with the exception of the IIHF U18s, and then he fought through shoulder problems in both of the next two years that caused him to miss even more action. Luckily for him the games he has played in have both been with very good teams, last year with a Hamilton club that went to the Memorial Cup and now with London. He is a multifaceted winger or center who can play in all situations and make an impact in any of them. If Winterton can stay healthy in the coming years he has the potential to become one of the best middle-of-the-lineup forwards in hockey.

10. Tye Kartye

The Kraken have only been around for two NHL drafts, so they have needed to roll the dice on some young free agents to fill out their system. And with the signing of Kartye they rolled themselves a Yahtzee. He grew into a leadership role with the Soo Greyhounds in his last season there, and that cultivated maturity turned out to be wildly valuable, as he exceeded all expectations as an AHL rookie. His weaknesses in size and skating ability are immaculately overcome by his mental approach, always knowing what his responsibilities are and how to get the edge on opponents to accomplish them. Kartye doesn't project very highly, but there's a decent floor to his game as a responsible, bottom six glue guy, and he conceivably might even wear a letter on his sweater at some point.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – SEATTLE KRAKEN – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Chapin Landvogt, Ethan Hetu, Dylan Krill, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 21:14:08 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - JULY 07: Seattle Kraken pick Shane Wright stands between management during the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on July 07, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Matthew Beniers C

Despite the fact that he’s only played in ten NHL games, Matthew “Matty” Beniers is quickly becoming the face of the NHL’s newest franchise. When the Kraken drafted Shane Wright at the 2022 draft, Beniers was one of the first to reach out to welcome him to the team, a team Beniers himself is still quite new to. The Kraken have taken a bit of a different route to their fellow recent expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, in building their team, but make no mistake about it: any winner GM Ron Francis is attempting to build has Beniers as its centerpiece. If one takes just a short look at Beniers’ game film, it’d be easy to mistake the 19-year-old for being a seasoned NHL veteran. Beniers has an ever-active motor, and he’s always either around the play or in movement looking to get involved. His skill level keeps pace with his energy level, and his hands are the sort of sneaky good that only Kraken fans may come to appreciate fully. Beniers is a pass-first playmaker who drives any line he centers, and he’s a center with real potential to be one of those players who elevates the production of any linemate fortunate enough to be stapled to his wing. Beniers was extremely impressive in his short NHL action last year, and he could be counted on as a true top-six center as immediately as next season by coach Dave Hakstol. It’s challenging for any young player to take on a center role in the NHL, let alone a top-six one, but Beniers has what it takes to handle it. If he can keep up his progress, he can become a two-way force as a top-six center, anchoring a scoring line and the Kraken’s special teams. - EH

2 - Shane Wright C

The 4th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Shane Wright may have slipped in the draft farther than expected, but there is no question that he could still become the best player out of the draft. The former 1st overall selection in the 2019 OHL Draft had the opportunity to play in the OHL as a 15-year-old after being granted exceptional status. In his rookie year, Wright finished with 66 points (39G,27A) in 58 games. Like others, Wright was forced to miss the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid-19 shutdown. Fortunately for Wright, he got the opportunity to play in the U18 World Championship, being named captain for team Canada. In the 2021-2022 season, Wright finished with 94 points (32,62) in 63 games, which was 8th in the league in points, 6th in the league in assists and 2nd on the team in points. Wright’s best assets are his hockey sense and playmaking. He consistently makes smart decisions with and without the puck that help create high danger chances for his team and suppress chances against. He has a great understanding of how to create space for himself and teammates, attracting defenders to allow his teammates to get open for a pass or shot. Although Wright isn’t the flashiest player, he makes up for it because he’s so mature and plays a defensively committed 200ft game. He’s excellent in transition, both in driving the play and finding teammates for a quick give-and-go. Having the ability to find holes through defenders and execute with crisp and accurate passes. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Wright will be highly motivated to prove that three teams made a mistake on passing him. You can expect him to be one of the best players in the OHL, as well as a top producer, if not the very top. - DK

3 - Jagger Firkus RW

A favourite of ours at McKeen’s during our 2022 draft coverage, the Seattle Kraken made an astute selection with the dynamic, but undersized winger. Firkus is remarkably skilled. His ability to maintain control of the puck through changes of pace and direction makes him incredibly difficult to contain in transition, even without elite speed or strength. His shot is a major weapon, especially since it is incredibly deceptive due to his ability to shoot in motion and alter his quick release. Firkus is also a hard worker who has the tenaciousness that you look for in slightly smaller wingers. The key for him moving forward is to continue to upgrade those physical tools. Not a poor skater by any standards, but given his smaller frame, it would be beneficial for him to improve his speed and explosiveness. Additionally, he needs to bulk up to be better at playing through traffic, allowing him to be more consistent. Firkus will return to Moose Jaw this season where he will look to push for the WHL’s scoring title. He should also play a role on Canada’s WJC team in December. His projection currently remains the same as it was in our draft guide; we see him as a potential first line winger who can be one of Seattle’s top offensive options. - BO

4 - David Goyette C

The 61^st overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, David Goyette was a bit of a shock to some to see him drop out of the top 50 as he was projected by some to go in the first round because of his high-end tools and elite skating. Goyette has always been a highly talented player who has produced at a highly at every level. Goyette was the 11^th overall selection in the 2020 OHL Draft and was able to find some ice during the 2020-2021 OHL shutdown season, playing four games in the National Collegiate Development Conference for the P.A.L. Junior Islanders, finishing with six points (3G,3A). In the 2021-2022 season, Goyette was relied upon heavily as he was given the role of 1C on a line with two other rookies. Goyette took a little to adjust, but once he became more comfortable, his confidence became very high, and he started to produce and never seemed to stop. Finishing the year with 73 points (33G,40A) in 66 games, Goyette lead his team, all rookies and 27^th in the league in points for a very successful year. Goyette’s best assets are his skating and playmaking. He is an elite skater who controls the pace when the puck is on his stick. He can keep up with anyone and is very deceptive and difficult to defend against because of his quickness and agility. His ability to make plays in-tight and at high-pace are so effective, he can be dangerous anywhere in the offensive zone. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Goyette will be one of the most exciting players to watch in the OHL as his creativity and high skill catch eyes very easily. You could expect Goyette to be near the top in points in the OHL next season. - DK

5 - Ty Nelson D

The 68^th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Ty Nelson will look to have a big year to prove that he fell too far in the draft, as some viewed him as a potential late first round pick. Due to his size and not being an elite skater was most likely a result, but Nelson has the tools and ability to reach a level where he could become a very useful defenseman in the NHL. The former 1^st overall pick in the 2020 OHL Draft was unfortunate like others from that draft as they were hit with Covid-19 shutting down the 2020-2021 OHL season. Nelson took that opportunity to continue to grow and become stronger. Getting more off-season training than usual may have helped Nelson with being able to adapt to the OHL easier. During the 2021-2022 season, the Battalion relied on Nelson heavily. Playing on the top pair, playing in all situations and being the go-to guy on the blue line as a rookie is very impressive. Nelson was asked to do a lot, and he succeeded. Finishing the season with 51 points (9G,42A) in 66 games which was 6^th on his team in points, 6^th in OHL rookie points and also first in OHL rookie assists. Nelson’s best assets are his competitiveness and his hockey sense. Nelson is very noticeable when he’s on the ice. He flies around with great speed and plays like a bulldog, not backing down from any battle, no matter who the opponent is. Nelson also reads play very well and makes it difficult to play against because he doesn’t give up much space and plays very aggressive. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Nelson will once again be relied upon heavily and will be the main blue liner on the Battalion. You could expect an increase in points. - DK

6 - Jani Nyman RW

Taken 49^th overall this summer, Nyman is a 6’3”, 207-pound winger who just turned 18 on July 30th. His season was very unique for a 17-year-old, having suited up 34 times for the second league Mestis team Koovee, and putting up an outstanding 18 goals and 35 points, good for 25th overall in league scoring, causing observers to recall Roby Järventie (OTT), who had similar draft year production and more recently spearheaded the Finnish attack to a silver medal at this summer’s WJC. Will Nyman be doing the same as soon as this winter? His 34 Mestis games weren’t his only action this past season, as he added another two points in two postseason games and dressed for 10 Liiga games. He had already gotten his season off to a good start, with seven points in five Hlinka Gretzky Cup contests, and he wrapped things up nicely with four points in seven games as a key member of bronze-medal-winning Finland’s second line at the U18 Worlds. Nyman’s greatest asset is his shot. His wrister, snapshot and one-timer, are all legit weapons, with impressive velocity. He can also display some very sleek hands, moving along swiftly with the puck on his stick. He tends to play slower when he doesn’t have the puck on his stick. Additionally, his overall physical play isn’t indicative of his size. At the end of the day, Seattle feels very strongly that the shot and size are there for an NHL career. Nyman is scheduled to suit up for Ilves of the Finnish Liiga this winter. – CL

7 - Ryan Winterton RW

It certainly hasn’t been easy for Winterton in recent years. Like the other OHL players in his NHL draft class, he did not get to play much in his draft year due to the OHL hiatus. However, unlike most of his peers, he didn’t get to return to play immediately with the OHL returning this season. A shoulder injury kept him out of action for the first few months. Upon returning however, he was excellent. He was an integral part of a Championship winning Hamilton Bulldogs team. Not only is he a versatile player because of his strong IQ and two-way competence, but Winterton is also a skilled play driver who can create chances for himself or his linemates. His skating ability looked much improved this past season and he is difficult to separate from the puck as he drives the net and controls the wall. On many occasions, it was difficult to distinguish between Winterton and Mason McTavish (with both having jersey numbers in the 20’s), an excellent complement for the Seattle prospect. The only concern, at this point, is health and longevity. Winterton re-injured his shoulder in the OHL playoffs but should be ready for the start of this coming OHL season. If he can remain healthy, he will be a go-to offensive player on Hamilton and should be in line for a big year. He has a chance to be a really nice middle six option for Seattle in a few years. - BO

8 - Ryker Evans D

The Kraken shocked a lot of people, us included, when they selected Evans early in 2021. He was entering his final year of draft eligibility, and while we expected him to go, it was a bit shocking to see him go that high. However, it is easy to see why the Kraken liked, and continue to like Evans. He has elite level escapability on the back end, which makes him difficult to pin down in the defensive zone. There is a real effectiveness to his ability to start the breakout. Evans, a strong four-way mover, is also solid inside the offensive zone. He moves well laterally and is aggressive in seeking the middle of the ice and rotating down low to help create better puck movement. Evans is also a solid defender who is physically intense and makes opposing forwards earn space against him. Even if his production this year needs to be viewed with the lens that he was an overager, there is no doubting that Seattle has to be happy with his progression at both ends. He will start his pro career this season playing in Coachella Valley and given the state of Seattle’s system, he could move quickly if he plays well. At this point, Evans looks like a future #4-5 defender. - BO

9 - Kole Lind RW

A former WHL star and former high draft pick (33rd overall by Vancouver in 2017), Lind has yet to emerge as a definitive NHL player. After three years in the Vancouver system, Lind was selected by Seattle in the expansion draft. It looked like he would finally crack the NHL full time, but that was not the case as he split the year between the AHL (with Charlotte) and the Kraken. The good news is that Lind had his best professional season yet. The bad news is that his window to become an NHL player is closing fast. He is your classic power forward. He is at his best when he can dominate physically and find his way to the net. He has a big shot and good hands in tight, but also excels as a playmaker coming off the wall. The thing that has been holding him back is his skating ability and quickness. At the NHL level, Lind’s pace just hasn’t been up to par. This coming season Seattle has some openings in their bottom six and Lind is a candidate to grab one of them. Did he put in the work this offseason to improve his ability to keep up? There is still a chance that he can settle into a third line role in the future, but as mentioned, those chances become slimmer with each passing season. - BO

10 - Tucker Robertson C

The 123rd selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Tucker Robertson had a lot to prove this past season being an overager in the OHL, but he quickly found a way to stand out and stayed consistent throughout the year. Robertson had a good rookie season on a stacked Petes team, finishing with 18 points (8G,10A) in 55 games. Unfortunately for Robertson, he missed the 2020-2021 season due to Covid-19, which was most likely a reason why he went undrafted in the 2021 NHL Draft. During the 2021-2022 season, Robertson went on to have a breakout season. He produced 81 points (41G,40A) in 68 games, which was 17th in the league in points, tied for 11th in the league for goals, 2nd on the team in points and assists and 1st on the team in goals. Robertson’s best assets are his competitiveness and puck handling. He plays with a great blend of skill and tenacity, having a bite to his game. He rarely takes a shift off and is always applying great pressure on puck carriers, making it difficult to play against. He’s not afraid to use his body and play physical, but he has the understanding of when it’s appropriate or when he should stay conservative, displaying good discipline. Robertson has the ability to beat opponents one-on-one with his deceptive and quick hands. He’s very strong along the boards and can contain possession for his team when needed, also being very effective in front of the net. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Robertson will be looked at again to be a leader for the Petes and be a top points producer in the league. - DK

11 - Ville Petman

A free agent signing by the Kraken after a breakout season in Liiga that saw Petman lead Saipa in scoring. A competitive two-way winger, his finishing skill and puck skill improved significantly last year.

12 - Jacob Melanson

A physically aggressive power forward, Melanson is a terror on the forecheck. However, his confidence and skill as a goal scorer took a huge step forward last season with Acadie-Bathurst.

13 - Niklas Kokko

A second-round selection by the Kraken in 2022, Kokko is a 6’3 Finnish netminder with good technical skill and improving athleticism. He will attempt to crack Liiga full time this season.

14 - Ville Ottavainen

A massive defender, Ottavainen is coming off his best season in Liiga yet. His mobility continues to improve, and he’s added a physical element to his game now too. He will continue his development in Finland this season.

15 - Tye Kartye

One of the OHL’s leading goal scorers this season, Kartye is a player who relies on his IQ to play in a variety of situations. He is deadly near the net front and the puck seems magnetically drawn to him. Improving his skating will be the focus as he turns pro this year.

16 - Tyson Jugnauth

This offensive defender out of the BCHL has a high ceiling because of his ability to create in transition. He loves to lead the attack. How he defends at higher levels is a mystery, but more will be known after his freshman year at Wisconsin next season.

17 - Semyon Vyazovoy

Vyazovoy was one of the top goalies in the MHL for the second season in a row, a year after being selected by Seattle. The Kraken are hoping that he can finally see some time in a men’s league this season, either the VHL or KHL.

18 - Justin Janicke

A hard-working checking line forward, Janicke’s effort is consistent in all three zones. The Notre Dame winger likely doesn’t have high upside as a pro player but could be a solid role player for the Kraken in the future.

19 - Alexander True

The big Danish center has proven that he can put up big numbers in the AHL, but has had trouble cracking the NHL full time. Is this the year he finally does it?

20 - Peetro Seppala

The Kraken signed Seppala, much like Petman, after a breakout season in Liiga last year. Seppala emerged as one of the top Finnish league’s best defenders and will be given every opportunity to crack Seattle’s roster this year.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: SEATTLE KRAKEN – RANK: #32- TIER VII

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 00:42:47 +0000

Seattle Kraken

#32 Seattle - This system has only 13 eligible prospects. This system can't really be judged on a list like this until at least 2023.

Matthew Beniers. Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Matthew Beniers

The 2021 season was an extremely impressive one for Beniers, capped off with his selection by the Kraken, their first in franchise history. Even without getting onto the scoresheet with regularity (he was limited to three points in seven games), Beniers was playing in a critical two-way top six role for the United States at the World Junior Championships. He also finished his freshman season with Michigan with one point-per-game, with 14 of his 20 points marked as primary points (goals and first assists).

The allure of Beniers is far more than his offensive production as he projects as a first line, two-way center in the mold of a Jonathan Toews, or a Patrice Bergeron. No matter where he plays as he establishes himself in the NHL, he will be making his linemates better, even if they suck up with accolades. He can play a ‘meat-and-potatoes’ game, being disruptive on the forecheck, and killing the clock on the penalty kill, and he can thrill with skill. He is involved in every play, even if they are not going to directly lead to scoring chances. His speed and ability to enter the offensive zone are also major highlights to his repertoire. It would be ideal to see Beniers return to school for one more year, taking on a more offensive-minded role, and focusing on skills growth. His upside could be first line even without it, but a little bit more creative play will give him a better idea of what he can accomplish before hitting the NHL, and ideally make his professional transition that much smoother. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Will Borgen

The expansion Seattle Kraken, as of the offseason doldrums of August, have five sure thing blueliners that they should feel confident about lining up with game in, game out. Giordano, Larsson, Soucy, Dunn, and Oleksiak are all guaranteed regular minutes. There are six other seasoned pro defenders who seem to be fixing to fight for the #6/7 roles. Lauzon, Carrick, Cholowski, and the Fleury’s, Cale and Haydn, no longer have prospect eligibility, but Borgen does! A 2015 fourth rounder, Borgen was brought along slowly by Buffalo, spending two full seasons in the AHL, honing his stay-at-home game, before finally spending all of last season up with the Sabres, albeit watching from the press box far more often than he got to take the ice.

Like the others (except possibly Carrick) with whom he will be fighting for an NHL job this year, Borgen offers very little offensively. To his credit, though, he has great size, shoots from the right side, is mobile, has shown that he knows how to play within his limitations, and relishes playing the body. The Seattle system is very shallow at present, as they have not had to build up too much depth as they won’t have their own AHL team right away. Borgen is the most NHL-ready who still qualifies for this list. The upside is low, but he could be on their bottom pairing on day one and no one would bat an eye. - RW

Joey Daccord

A relatively anonymous prep school goalie drafted very late in his second year of eligibility, Daccord was the first player of note to play for Arizona State after that institution joined the NCAA ranks in 2015. His numbers improved dramatically year-over-year through his three year stretch on campus, GAA dropping from 4.03 to 3.51 and finally to 2.35, while his save percentage saw a mirroring rise, from .892, to .909, and ending at .926. The Senators promised him an NHL game after signing, but his first full pro season was split between the AHL and ECHL. Daccord got a more prolonged NHL exposure last year, even earning his first win for the Senators, but he hurt his leg in mid-March, ending his season early.

Not that he had done enough by that point to convince Ottawa management that he should be their goalie of the future, but the injury did make it easier for the Sens to give more time between the pipes to the likes of Filip Gustavsson, Marcus Hogberg, and Anton Forsberg, and feel OK about exposing Daccord to the expansion draft. Seattle nabbed him, although with the big money contracts they gave to Philip Grubauer and Chris Driedger, more AHL is in store for Daccord, who will need to stay healthy and turn more of his promise into consistent performance. - RW

Ryan Winterton

Like some other OHL players, Winterton’s only game action this year was at the Under 18’s, where he was impressive in a checking line role for Canada. One of the youngest players available this year (September 4th birthday), Winterton’s physical tools appear to have improved greatly, making him a very intriguing selection by the Kraken in the third round.

Winterton profiles as an extremely versatile player at the next level. He can play any of the forward positions. He can work in the slot or bumper position on the powerplay with his quick hands and size. He can kill penalties because of his strong two-way awareness and ability to get his stick in passing lanes. He can be a support player on a scoring line because of his ability to win battles down low and because of his terrific wrist shot that allows him to finish off chances. He has also shown the ability to play center and lead transitional attacks, backing down defenders and driving the net. Just how much offensive potential Winterton has is the real mystery. At times in his rookie season in the OHL, especially later in the year, Winterton flashed creativity and the ability to create time and space for himself with his hands. However, at the U18’s, he played much more of a North/South, linear game. We should get a better read of what he is capable of in Hamilton this season as the OHL returns. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Ryker Evans

In his second (and final) year of draft eligibility, Regina Pats defender Ryker Evans finished the WHL season as the leader in assists by blueliners with 25 (over an assist per game). Ranked by us at McKeen’s last year, Evans worked hard to improve his skating, the consistency of his physicality, and his reads in the defensive end to be a more complete overall player. This is what made him a high selection by Seattle this year.

He may not be the kind of dynamic skater you want to see from an average sized defender, but he has made some necessary adjustments to his game. What the next step for him is remains to be seen. He could return to the WHL for his overage season, or he could turn pro and play in the AHL with Charlotte, who will be Seattle’s AHL affiliate this season. If he returns to Regina in order to further improve his two-way play and physical tools, Evans has a chance to be one of the WHL’s elite defenders. In terms of a high-end upside, Evans likely profiles as a second or third pairing defender who can also play on the powerplay. As an “older” drafted player, he could move through the system faster than some of Seattle’s other prospects. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Luke Henman

The very first player in history to be signed by the Seattle Kraken, Henman has proven to be an extremely consistent QMJHL player. He is not an elite player, but he is someone who is well rounded and brings a lot to the table. This includes being a terrific leader for Blainville-Boisbriand. He sets an example with his consistency and the excellence of his game in all facets. In addition to being such a complete player, Henman has also led the Armada in scoring the last two seasons.

He may not have the skills to be an impact player in the NHL, however, he executes the small details very well. He is responsible over 200 feet, and he is appreciated by everyone, as much for his qualities as a hockey player as for his qualities as a person. This should lead him to play at least a few games in the NHL at some point. He's still a little slight to face the more rigorous demands of the pro game, but it's something that can be easily improved. He will play in the AHL this coming season and could be a third- or fourth-line winger for the Kraken in a few years. - BB

Alexander True

After three full seasons of pro hockey, there was hope that True could jump to the NHL full-time in 2020-21, but he ended up splitting time between the Sharks (seven games, one point) and the Barracuda (27 games, 20 points). The summer got hectic for True, who went to the World Championships and appeared in seven games for his native Denmark. Then, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, returning to the area where he played junior and delivered the championship-winning overtime goal in 2017. On the Kraken, True looks to become a full-time NHLer on a forward corps that certainly figures to have some open slots available to be grabbed in training camp.

True is a typical power forward with a developing set of hands and a mean streak. He saw penalty-killing duties for the Sharks last season and didn’t allow a goal. He utilizes his massive frame well and is starting to round out his offensive skills. His poor skating is probably what kept him from being drafted initially but is being improved. He struggles with discipline, takes far too many minors, and is likely limited in terms of upside at the NHL level, but certainly has the potential to be a full-time bottom of the lineup asset who could contribute on the penalty kill and even as the net-front body on the powerplay. - AS

Kole Lind

Kole Lind has taken a step in each of his first few seasons as a pro, culminating in seven NHL games with the Canucks during the most recent Covid shortened season. His game is that of a power forward where his skill level can surprise a bit. He has very good hands and a heavy shot that make him an offensive weapon. He doesn’t drive play as much as you would like for a player that plays the game like he does.

His skating is fine, but he doesn’t have the pull away speed or the high agility to be a very strong rush player or one on one attacker. His game away from the puck is still a work in progress and he may never improve enough on that side of the puck to make him a lock for consistent NHL minutes. He has shown that he can help offensively though and if he was paired with a defensively sound center, he could perhaps fit into a middle six role that suits his game more than a bottom six role would. He should get a great chance to open the year in the NHL on a new Seattle team looking to unearth a few gems in a bottom six role. - VG

Justin Janicke

Janicke’s role with the USNTDP was always as a bottom six forward, grinding, competing in board battles, and making sure that the opponent doesn’t have an easy time when his more skilled teammates were on the ice. He can get a second gear to push defenders back, is a creative passer, and has a decent shot release to boot. He might be able to produce more if given a bigger role and will try to earn one when he joins his older brother, Anaheim prospect Trevor, at Notre Dame this season.

Sometimes players like Janicke can be underutilized on the US U18 team, masking their true potential as offensive players as they conform to the role they are asked to play. While Janicke likely develops into a potential checking line player for the Kraken, there is a chance that his offensive skill set continues to improve at a quality program like Notre Dame. The answer to “what is Janicke’s high end upside,” likely is not answered any time soon as he probably spends at least three years in college before making the jump to the professional ranks. As mentioned, Justin will simply try to establish himself as a useful rotation player this coming season before earning greater trust. - - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Ville Ottavainen

Selected by Seattle in his second year of draft eligibility, Ottavainen had a much better 2020/21 season after returning home to Finland after playing the year prior for Kitchener in the OHL. With Kitchener, Ottavainen was limited to more of a depth role because of the depth of the Rangers and it prevented him from really showcasing his talents. Playing in the JYP program this past season, Ottavainen split the year between their U20 team and the main Liiga club.

One of the main reasons that Ottavainen put himself back on the scouting map was that he was able to improve his skating, in particular his explosiveness in all four directions. A big (6’4) right shot defender, Ottavainen's lack of power limited his effectiveness offensively and defensively playing with Kitchener in the OHL during his draft year. But, by making improvements to his skating, he was able to play with significantly more confidence back home in Finland. A potential two-way defender, with the potential to still develop into a powerplay quarterback, Ottavainen will remain in Finland again, where he will look to play a larger role in Liiga this coming season. He remains a long-term project, but the growth shown thus far remains encouraging. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Jacob Melanson

Injuries have really hurt the development of the hard hitting, power forward thus far in his young career. A combination of upper body injuries and a trade demand limited him to only 18 games in his draft year, but his finish to the year with Acadie-Bathurst was strong. He could be a breakout candidate in 2021.

Semyon Vyazovoi

A sixth rounder by the Kraken this year (the team’s inaugural draft), Vyazovoi performed well in the MHL this past year, posting the third best save percentage in the league. He will continue his development in Russia this season and is most definitely a longer-term project for the organization.

Carsen Twarynski

Selected from the Philadelphia Flyers organization, this former Kelowna Rockets (WHL) star has had difficulty putting up any sort of offensive numbers at the pro level the last three seasons. However, he does have NHL experience, can bring a physical element, and competes hard. He is a possible short-term solution in the bottom six until Seattle fills out their depth.