Scott Reedy – McKeen's Hockey

NCAA TOURNAMENT RECAP – Minutemen Win First NCAA Title

Jashvina Shah — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:32:24 +0000

The NCAA tournament featured 16 teams, but due to COVID protocols, there were some changes and eventually only 14 teams ended up playing. First St. Lawrence, the ECAC’s automatic bid and tournament champion, was removed because the coach tested positive for COVID in the hours after celebrating the team’s Conference tournament victory. In their stead, Notre Dame snuck into the tournament.

But when Notre Dame went through COVID testing at the Albany regional, they, too, were sent home because of COVID protocols. Then, on the day of their Midwest Regional game, Michigan was informed they would also not be able to play.

For COVID protocols, teams worked with local contract tracers — so those at the different regional states — to determine close contacts stemming from a positive test. A positive test does not automatically mean a team is ineligible, but teams can be deemed ineligible due to subsequent contract tracing.

Here is a recap of the weekend and the subsequent Frozen Four:

Fargo Regional

North Dakota vs. American International

In recent years, we’ve seen No. 4 seeds upsetting No. 1 seeds. We also saw American International, an actual No. 16 seed, knock off the No. 1 seed St. Cloud State in 2019. But this game was not made for upsets. North Dakota was considered one of the best teams in the country, and they skated away with a 5-1 victory.

Jasper Weatherby (SJS) struck first less than 10 minutes into the game. And about three minutes later, he scored again. North Dakota wasn’t done with scoring in the first, though, as Grant Mismash (NSH) and Collin Adams (NYI) also added tallies. American International’s lone goal came in the third period, courtney of Tobias Fladeby.

Adams added another tally in the third. Junior Adam Scheel (DAL) made 24 saves. Jacob Bernard-Docker (OTT), Tyler Kleven (OTT), Judd Caufield (PIT) Jake Sandseron (OTT) each recorded an assist. Stefano Durante started for AIC but was replaced by Jake Kucharski (CAR) after allowing four goals on nine shots. Kucharski allowed one goal while making 19 saves.

Minnesota-Duluth vs. Michigan

This game was not played as Michigan was informed the day of the game that they would not be able to play due to COVID protocols. A player had tested positive before regionals and was left on campus. A different player that traveled with the team later tested positive.

North Dakota vs. Minnesota-Duluth

The NCHC rivalry game ended up being the best of the NCAA tournament. North Dakota against the perennial, two-time defending champions.

For two periods, the game was deadlocked. Then early in the third periods the Bulldogs struck twice in 1:20 thanks to Jackson Cates (PHI) and Cole Koepke (TBL) to take the 2-0 lead. A well-coached team, the Bulldogs began to stymie the Fighting Hawks, looking like they would return to the Frozen Four.

And they were two minutes away from doing so, before Adams scored again. 50 seconds later, Jordan Kawaguchi (DAL) scored. The game went into overtime.

And overtime. And overtime. And overtime. At one point, the Bulldogs scored — or they thought they had scored, but the goal was called back. And so they kept on playing.

Finally, in the fifth overtime — officially making the contest the longest NCAA tournament game, men’s or women’s, in history, Minnesota-Duluth sent out its rested fourth line and Luke Mylymok (’01), who had barely played during the first seven (!!!) periods, scored the game winner.

Shane Pinto (OTT) netted two assists while Weatherby added one.

Loveland Regional

Minnesota State vs. Quinnipiac

The Mavericks, cursed by first-round losses, opened up this year’s NCAA tournament against the Bobcats, who made the NCAA tournament after losing in the ECAC’s three-team tournament, but whose regular season was strong enough to keep them in consideration. The forced elimination of St. Lawrence due to COVID protocols, as discussed above, further cemented their place in the tournament as the sole representative from the ECAC.

Odeen Tufto (TB) put Quinnipiac up 1-0 early in the first period. With five minutes left in the frame, Peter DiLiberatore (VGK) made it 2-0. The Mavericks cut the lead in half with the lone second-period tally.

The third frame featured the most scoring action, started by CJ McGee, who scored his first goal of the year, to bring the Bobcats back up to a two-goal lead. Nathan Smith (WIN) scored for the Mavericks and Cade Borchardt scored with a minute left in regulation to tie the game. Ryan Sandelin, the son of Minnesota-Duluth coach Scott Sandelin, scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Dryden McKay made 27 stops for the Mavericks while Keith Petruzzelli (DET) made 34 for Quinnipiac.

Minnesota vs. Nebraska-Omaha

This game ended almost as soon as it started, with Mason Nevers scoring his first collegiate goal to put Minnesota up 1-0. Minnesota reeled off three goals in the first period before Taylor Ward put the Mavericks on the board. Less than a minute into the second period, Ryan Johnson (BUF) put the Gophers back up by three. Two more tallies in the period sealed the eventual 7-2 win for Minnesota.

Jack LaFontaine (CAR) made 26 stops for the winners. Jack Perbix (ANA), Scott Reedy (SJS) and Sampo Ranta (COL) all scored. Brock Faber (LAK) recorded five assists. Blake McLaughlin (ANA), Sammy Walker (TBL), Jackson LaCombe (ANA), and Johnson each contributed a single helper. Tyler Weiss (COL) recorded two assists for Nebraska-Omaha. Isiah Saville (VGK) got the start for the losing side but was pulled after allowing five goals on 10 shots.

Minnesota vs. Minnesota State

It seemed Minnesota used up all its goals against Nebraska-Omaha because they came out flat against the purple Mavericks. Minnesota State earned a 4-0 shutout backed by 22 saves from Dryden McKay and goals from Sam Morton, Sandelin, Smith and Dallas Gerads. Minnesota’s Jack LaFontaine made 23 stops in the losing cause.

Bridgeport Regional

Wisconsin vs. Bemidji State

The Badgers returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014 and for the first time under Tony Granato, largely bolstered by decent goaltending and offensive power from Cole Caufield (MTL). On the opposite side were the Pioneers.

In the biggest upset of the first round, Bemidji State dominated Wisconsin. They scored six minutes into the game and added another goal with 16 seconds left. The Badgers took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play early in the second with power play quarterback Linus Weissbach bringing the Badgers to within one. The Pioneers struck twice more in the last five minutes — including on a shorthanded tally that got the better of Weissbach — to make it 4-1.

Another goal in the third seemed to put the game away. But none other than Cole Caufield struck twice to cut the deficit. A shorthanded empty net goal with two seconds left sealed the victory for Bemidji State.

Caufield added an assist to his aforementioned goals. Shortly after the game, he signed with Montreal. Not long afterwards, he won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top player.

Massachusetts vs. Lake Superior State

The Lakers returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1995-96 after winning their first conference tournament since 1994-95. The Minutemen, meanwhile, returned after falling in the 2019 national championship game.

UMass started the scoring in the first, but Lake Superior State tied it before the frame ended. From the second period onward, it was all the Minutemen, who scored four more goals and shut out the Lakers for the remainder of the game en route to a 5-1 win.

Zac Jones (NYR) recorded three assists while Filip Lindberg (MIN) made 30 stops in the victory.

Massachusetts vs. Bemidji State

The Minutemen put out a statement on the regional championship game, shutting out the Pioneers 4-0 to claim a second-consecutive berth to the Frozen Four. Carson Gicewicz recorded a natural hat trick in the victory. Marc Del Gaizo (NSH) recorded two assists and Matthew Kessel (STL) had one. Lindberg made 18 saves in the shutout.

Albany Regional

Boston College vs. Notre Dame

Notre Dame received a positive test upon arrival in Albany for the regional and were forced to withdraw. Boston College advanced in light of the no-contest.

St. Cloud State vs. Boston University

After a scoreless first, BU opened the scoring eight seconds into the second frame. St. Cloud’s Micah Miller tied the game off a fluke play where the puck bounced high and everyone except for Nolan Walker — the player whose stick the puck landed on — lost sight of it. Nick Perbix (TBL) gave the Huskies a 2-1 lead before Jake Wise’s (CHI) first goal of the season tied it.

In the third period, the Huskies were awarded a penalty shot, which they converted to regain the lead. St. Cloud State added two more goals in the win. Drew Commesso (CHI) made 32 saves in a losing cause while David Hrenak (LAK) made 34 in the win. Veeti Miettinen (TOR) scored a goal for the winners.

St. Cloud State vs. Boston College

The Eagles struck first thanks to Matt Boldy (MIN) and retained the 1-0 lead into the intermission, but from there on out it was all St. Cloud State. The Huskies scored three goals in the third period from Luke Jaycox, Will Hammer and Nolan Walker. Micah Miller added an empty net goal in the third. Boston College’s Spencer Knight (FLA) made 32 saves in defeat. Hrenak made 26 in the victory. On a down note, St. Cloud’s leading scorer, Easton Brodziński, broke his leg in the game.

Frozen Four

The Frozen Four featured three title-less programs in UMass, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State. The Bulldogs, of course, were trying to earn their third-straight national title. This would also be Minnesota State’s first ever Frozen Four appearance.

The Minutemen started the Frozen Four without leading goal scorer Carson Gicewicz and starting goaltender Filip Lindberg, as well as two other depth players, due to COVID protocols.

Minnesota State vs. St. Cloud State

The in-state rivalry game featured offensive, fast-paced, back-and-forth play between two evenly matched teams. Precise passing on the power play led to a couple good chances. One of those chances was a rebound that bounced straight to St. Cloud’s Spencer Meier, who shot the puck into an empty net. On Minnesota State’s tying goal, the Huskies couldn’t clear and Nathan Smith won the puck battle, earning the goal. But Minnesota State’s euphoria was short lived, as the Huskies reclaimed the lead 10 seconds later. The defense allowed St. Cloud’s Nolan Walker to take the puck and he skated past a defender who was closing in on him, stickhandled around another defender and made a quick, slick pass to Kyler Kupka, who scored. The Huskies held on to the one-goal lead heading into the first intermission.

Will Hammer’s second period goal seemed to put the game further out of reach for Minnesota State, but the Mavericks did not go away quietly. They responded with control of the puck, turning up the pace of play scoring once just past the middle point of the period, and that continued persistence led to a tripping penalty on St. Cloud that, in turn, led to the Mavericks tying the game with another Nathan Smith goal. In the third period, the Mavericks took the one-goal lead early, through the stick of Dallas Gerads and kept up the pressure and followed with another onslaught.

The Huskies were without leading goal scorer Easton Brodzinski, but it was his replacement — Joe Molenaar — who tied the game in the third period. With the teams evenly matched, it looked as though the game would go into overtime. The Mavericks earned a couple of good chances very late into the game, but Hrenak made the stops. Minnesota State had an offensive zone draw, but the Huskies won the face-off and took the puck up ice. They fought to keep it in the zone with Seamus Donohue collecting the puck in the corner and sending it to Nolan Walker, who took the shot from the blue line that gave St. Cloud state the lead with 45 seconds left. It was all the Huskies needed.

In addition to Nathan Smith’s (WIN) two goals for Minnesota State, Sam Hentges (MIN) recorded an assist and David Hrenak (LAK) made 25 saves.

Minnesota-Duluth vs. UMass

The rematch of 2019’s national championship game was much closer than that title game. In 2019, the Bulldogs scored and then clamped down. This year, the Minutemen actually took the lead on a Zac Jones (NYR) goal in the first period. The Bulldogs, an exceptionally well-coached team, tied the game up a just a few minutes later and entered the first intermission tied 1-1. Cole Koepke (TBL) scored first in the second to put the Bulldogs ahead.

This time, unlike 2019, the Bulldogs were unable to put the Minutemen away. UMass — bolstered by previous Frozen Four experience — came right back with pressure and even a scoring chance, which led to a UMD icing call and was then another UMass scoring chance. Just like that, the Minutemen kept attacking. UMass set the pace in the third and kept the Bulldogs chasing. Minnesota-Duluth was able to even out the run of play eventually, but the Minutemen crashed the net midway through the third and tied the game, with Anthony Del Gaizo credited with the equalizer.

The game went into overtime. Unlike with UMD’s earlier game against North Dakota, from the time the puck dropped in overtime, this time the Bulldogs looked exhausted. The Minutemen dominated and It looked very uncharacteristic of the Bulldogs, who spent overtime on their heels. UMass attacked relentlessly. It seemed like it was only a matter of time until UMass would score. That break came late in the first overtime period, when Bobby Trivigno fought to hold on to the puck deep in the offensive zone, skated around the net and fed the puck to Garrett Wait, who was waiting at the edge of the crease. Wait had a small, empty hole of the net to shoot through. He made no mistake, putting UMass in the final again, and ending any hope of a threepeat from Minnesota-Duluth.

UMass vs. St. Cloud State

The Huskies started the final game of the collegiate 2020-21 season game strong and with energy. They even hit a crossbar early on. The Huskies kept up the pace but unfortunately for them, luck did not go their way. The Minutemen scored the first goal after a Husky lost an edge and fell into a teammate, giving the Minutemen a breakaway chance which was converted by blueliner Aaron Bohlinger, his first of the season. With just over a minute left in the period, Reed Lebster of the Minutemen scored on offsides goal that could not be reviewed for offsides based on NCAA rules.

Play at that point was still even between the two teams, and the Huskies believed they still had a chance. SCSU also had a shorthanded scoring chance early in the second. The Huskies managed to kill off the penalty and seemed to still be playing with jump and earning chances.

But things changed when the Huskies received a power play of their own.

The Huskies had regrouped in their own end and were bringing the puck back up the ice. One of the Huskies aimed to send a cross-ice pass at a teammate, but it was deflected by UMass’ Philip Lagunov, who chased it down in the neutral zone, picked up the puck, made an excellent toe drag to get around the lone remaining defender. Lagunov took it calmly to the net and quickly shot it stick side to give UMass a 3-0 lead.

It was all over for the Huskies, who were deflated by the shorthanded marker. The Minutemen won 5-0, winning the program’s first NCAA title.

In his return to net, Lindberg made 25 saves. Hrenak made 17 in the losing cause for Minnesota-Duluth.

***

Brock Faber's (LAK) five points led tournament scoring amongst drafted players. Minnesota State’s Nathan Smith (WIN) led all drafted players in goals, netting four. Wisconsin’s Cole Caufield (MIN) and North Dakota’s Jasper Weatherby (SJS) and Collin Adams (NYI) all had two-goal games. Zac Jones (NYR) recorded four points.

Lindberg (MIN) allowed just one goal in 254:30 minutes of play, good for a .986 save percentage. Hrenak (LAK) played the most minutes and posted a .895 save percentage.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: San Jose Sharks Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:27:01 +0000

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

Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

A move to the London Knights to play under Dale Hunter last offseason may have saved Merkley’s status as a top end defensive prospect, as he improved considerably in terms of maturity and engagement level. Merkley’s best assets are his four-way mobility and his creative playmaking. His edgework is high end, as his lateral movement is so fluid and explosive. He plays a higher risk style of game, pushing the pace, which leads to the odd turnover, but he did cut down on those turnovers last year by playing less selfishly and by selecting pinches more carefully. Even without a great shot, he moves well enough to keep defenders guessing. Previously prone to tantrums when things were not going his way, he appears to have figured out how to control his emotions more effectively. Additionally, we saw him more consistently engaged physically in his own zone. The Sharks would be wise not to rush him, ensuring that he can build up confidence at the professional level without becoming frustrated and reverting back to his previous tendencies. He still projects as a quality top four puck moving defender who can anchor a powerplay unit. – BO

Ozzy Weisblatt, RW (31^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

The competitive Weisblatt is an abrasive energy player. His speed and relentless pursuit of the puck makes him valuable in a variety of situations. He was a difference maker last year, finishing the shortened season second in team scoring, and among the leaders for all U18 players in the WHL. While not large, he is extremely quick, with the acceleration, powerful stride, and breakaway top speed to be a threat, with and without the puck. He will look to attack quickly in transition and is aggressive trying to beat defenders wide to the net. He is also one of the first back to the defensive end, applying back pressure and trying to force turnovers. Wiesblatt also has strong edgework that allows him to change direction quickly at full speed. He is an intelligent playmaker who demonstrates poise with the puck in all situations. At times, he can be too predictable in his attacks, leading to costly turnovers. He does not have a ton of confidence in his shooting, often passing up shot opportunities to pass instead. Even if Wiesblatt’s offensive abilities fail to translate, he could be an effective middle six piece who fits on both special teams’ units. – BO

Thomas Bordeleau, C (38^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Bordeleau greatest asset is a wicked wrist shot which he loves firing right over the goalie’s shoulder. He can fire it off successfully whether he is static or in motion, and his lightning release gives the netminder no time to set up. Before he prepares the shot, Bordeleau can also impress with his stick skills. His hands are quick and soft, and he regularly pulls off creative maneuvers. He is a dynamic zone entry machine, and his unpredictable approach leaves defenders guessing, and generally coming up short. He used to limit his effectiveness by staying to the offensive perimeter, but by last season’s second half, he was pushing play up the middle as well, and pulling it off more often than not. Bordeleau will have to show that he can more consistently play with the type of effort needed to succeed in the tough parts of the ice. Even with his greater willingness to play on the inside, that effort is not yet consistent. At higher levels, the outside path will prove much harder for generating scoring chances. He needs to keep his feet moving and get his nose dirty to reach his top six scoring forward potential. – RW

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 3)

Dahlen is kind of an odd bird in the way that he chose to play in Allsvenskan in three of the last four seasons, although almost all teams in the SHL would have wanted to sign him. He is creative with strong offensive instincts. He has developed his playmaking and is a more dynamic offensive driver than earlier in his career. He is strong both on the power play and at even strength, generally serving as his line’s play driver. His top speed is average by NHL standards, but he has impressive agility and is very elusive with the puck in the offensive zone. Dahlen’s defensive play is okay but still not great and it can cause him to disappear during parts of games as he rarely plays the PK, wins battles in his own end, or turns the play around all on his own. He will need to improve on that side of the game to reach the highest level. He is a top six forward talent. The 22-year-old will probably play in Sweden for at least one more year, maybe even two. He is still a good prospect, and if he can keep developing, could reach his ceiling. - JH

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Spiridonov is a limited skater technically but has good balance has at least average speed. He is strong and smart and makes good decisions. He is strong along the boards and in tight areas, works hard and is smart without the puck. He finds open spaces offensively; he has good instincts getting ready to shoot and he plays responsibly defensively. He has the assets to be a useful player on both a power play and a penalty kill. He is good at getting open to shoot but his accuracy and timing on the puck could be better, and he hasn’t yet proven himself as a goal scorer, although he is fine as a playmaker. On the penalty kill, Spiridonov is particularly good at reading passing lanes and disturbing the play. He can detect where the play is going and act appropriately, rather than react after the fact. He has very limited men’s level experience, with much of his success coming in the Russian junior leagues. The lack of elite puck skills and limited skating give Spiridonov a third line ceiling, but his work ethic, strength, PK capabilities, and team play would fit that role, where he could provide offensive depth. - JH

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

The concern around Chmelevski has long been his skating, and in his first full AHL season, that lack of speed and agility was obvious. Though his puck skills and menacing wrist shot release have made him a lethal offensive option, he had trouble getting past the more mobile defenders of the pro ranks and was hesitant to carry the puck through the neutral zone. Even if he never improves on his feet, he still projects as a long-term NHL piece, as he excels in every other facet of the game. He processes the game at a high speed and makes great decisions with the puck, both offensively and defensively, and has shown himself capable as a penalty-killer. He dealt with injuries for stretches of the 2019-20 season but still posted a solid scoring line and exhibited an ability to score goals in different ways, including as a net-front guy and rebound goblin. Chmelevski's shot and hockey sense give him top-six potential in the future, but with his lack of speed and the uncertain ability to take on heavy responsibility on defense, the Sharks could ultimately deploy him as a middle-six two-way center once his time comes. - TD

Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Not long ago, it was difficult to decide whether True was even a legitimate prospect worthy of being on the radar of an NHL organization. An undrafted center without particularly impressive numbers as a WHL overager has since progressed into one of the most heralded prospects in the San Jose system. He is a dangerous power forward with a plethora of offensive tools, the most notable of which is his overpowering size and balance, which makes him capable of driving the net and playing the cycle against nearly anyone. Possessing a hard shot and great passing skill, his offensive game is more than just grinding; he can set himself or anyone else up for a quality scoring chance from just about anywhere in the zone, though sometimes his decision making and skating speed lags behind his puck skills. Importantly, True is mean, and while that comes with some discipline issues, it also includes a likable assertiveness and aggression. He showed exactly what he can be during a brief NHL recall last season, a bottom six play-driving, cycling center who is hard to defend against. - TD

John Leonard, LW (182^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

A sixth-round draft pick, Leonard is a good example of a solid investment and solid development not ending on draft day. Leonard signed with San Jose following his junior season at UMass, and the late bloomer has not disappointed. He spent two seasons in the USHL where his offensive output increased from five goals and nine points to 19 goals and 34 points. Still, neither total was enough for an NHL team to draft him in his first two years of eligibility. His game picked up in a big way in college, and after finally hearing his name called at the draft following his freshman season, he netted a career-high 40 points as a sophomore and was on pace to eclipse that total as a junior, as he led the country in goals and led UMass in scoring before COVID-19 put an early end to the season. The junior was also named New England’s best forward as well as a Hobey Baker finalist. He has soft hands and is able to easily grab loose pucks. He is not afraid to shoot - as evidenced by his goal total — and has a quick release. The former afterthought now has some projecting top six potential. – JS

Tristen Robins, C (56^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Robins used a terrific second half last season to lead the Saskatoon Blades in scoring. There is a lot to like about him as a very well-rounded offensive player. He plays with pace both with and without the puck and has an elusiveness that makes him a constant threat. The transition to center showcased his ability to create with the puck on his stick and unlocked a new level of confidence. An aggressive shooter, he possesses a quality release which he utilizes for quick strikes coming through the middle. He works the give and go well with his linemates and is always looking to attack. He keeps his feet moving in the offensive zone and can be a menace to defend as he slips behind defenders. Robins is also a competent two-way player whose play without the puck really improved after that aforementioned move to the middle. He uses his speed well to apply back pressure and to angle off forwards in the neutral zone, forcing turnovers. Adding strength will be key for Robins’ effectiveness in traffic and in the cycle. – BO

Brandon Coe, RW (98^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

While North Bay struggled to find the win column consistently last season, Coe was able to elevate his game to become an offensive leader. The major allure of his game comes from his size and speed combination. He is very explosive and powerful for a 6-3” forward, consistently blowing past defenders in transition. However, he is more than just a North-South player, as his lateral quickness and edgework are strong, too, allowing him to cut in and out of traffic at top speed. Coe has also learned to use his size more effectively to protect the puck down low and has gained confidence in his heavy shot being a weapon. There is a question of whether he thinks the game well enough to be more than just a change of pace energy player at the NHL level. Additionally, he needs to improve his play away from the puck to become a more consistent three zone player. His physical tools are intriguing but developing them into a cohesive player will be a project. – BO

Danil Gushchin, LW (76^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Gushchin needs to play with an edge to be successful. It is clear that when he does so, his skill set can absolutely shine. His hands and feet are both very quick and deceptive. He is capable of pulling off fantastic zone entries. Despite lacking in size, he is incredibly dogged on the puck and skilled at sheltering it from backcheckers, earning himself more than a few penalties. In short, his puck skills are above and beyond is age group. But he does not always play with that edge, which can be spotted by a more lackadaisical approach to puck handling and an excess of turnovers. Gushchin doesn’t have blazing speed, but his feet play up thanks to edgework and agility that can dazzle. His ability to make extra sharp cuts plays into his usage on zone entries as he can carve up multiple layers of the defense. When he loses that edge, his feet stop moving, he stops taking risks, and he functionally disappears. Gushchin tends to be more “on” when his team has the puck, and flat when they don’t. He can go from an expert reading of the play to a disinterested bystander in a single shift. – RW

Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Knyazev saw modest growth in his second season in North America for a much-improved Sagueneens team last year. His 43 points were tops among blueliners on the club, and among the top ten in scoring among defensemen in the QMJHL. He also fine-tuned his defensive game as he improved his play-reading on the smaller ice. His skating is the focal point of his play, and the gatekeeper to his success; it allows him to cover a lot of ice in a short time and in all directions. Not only fast, Knyazev is agile and reaches top speed quickly. He is an offense-first defender and thinks the game with offense in mind. He continued his play as a defensive sharpshooter with a second-consecutive year with double digits in goals. His 11 goals were the most on the team on the back end. His abilities slotted in well next to massive blueliner Louis Crevier, as the pint-sized Knyazev had more permission to freewheel with the big Crevier minding his post. Knyazev is still a project for the pro game, and undersized, but he has the foundation to be a solid powerplay contributor and speedy defender at the NHL level. - MS

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 20191. Previous ranking: 8)

Hamaliuk moved to Kelowna to help them compete for a Memorial Cup but like most of his teammates never really took stride last year. When his game is on, he is an imposing albeit somewhat lumbering figure on the ice. He is excellent in the cycle game where his size and reach help him dictate play along the walls. He has decent hands that work with his game, he can carry off the wall, and is a solid net front guy. He scores a lot of goals from the goal mouth where he can use his strength to finish off plays in traffic. His skating is a bit of a concern as he looks a step behind the play through the neutral zone and is reliant on others to get the puck in the zone. Defensively he is physical and willing to engage to make a play. It was somewhat of a disappointing season to only collect 31 points in 56 games after being brought in to bolster the offense, after nearly being a point-per-game player last season. - VG

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Blichfeld is yet another steal from untapped regions of Europe taken with a seventh-round pick by an organization deserving of tons of credit in the way they get max value out of every draft selection. After dominating the WHL in his final season with Portland with a league-best 114 points, his transition to the pros was a highly-anticipated one, and the Danish winger delivered with 16 goals and 16 assists in just 44 games of action as an AHL rookie. A big reason for his success with the Barracuda is his heavy, rapid shot, which is a weapon at even strength and on the power play (five of his 16 goals came on the man-advantage). Grading out as an average skater, Blichfeld is not really one to carry the puck, but does a superb job at finding open areas of the ice away from the puck to receive shooting chances. With steady hands and decent awareness of the ice, he is a fairly versatile player who could kill penalties and be a depth scorer in the NHL. - TD

Alexei Melnichuk, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 10)

A late free agent signing, Melnichuk alone was responsible for moving the Sharks up two slots in our organizational prospect rankings. On the smaller side for a modern netminder, he gained some notoriety two years ago when a hot start with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg in Russia’s second men’s league, led to an invitation to wear the national colors during the Junior Super Series. Melnichuk excelled in the tune up series and earned a spot on the Russian WJC team as the backup. He bombed in his only game. That might have prevented him from being drafted, but two years later, with a stellar (mostly) full season debut in the KHL to his name, Melnichuk was back in the crosshairs of NHL scouts. He moves well in his crease and likes to challenge shooters when he can. He works hard for his saves and reads the games well, although the numbers at InStatScout make clear that he can really struggle with shots to the top corners, the bane of many smaller netminders. If Melnichuk adapts well to the AHL, he may be in the NHL before long. - RW

Jacob McGrew, RW (159^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Jake McGrew is a California native who has done enough to earn himself a look from as a late round flier. Unfortunately, his career has been derailed by a couple of season-ending knee surgeries. Last season started with high expectations after his first 30 goal season in 2018-19. He jumped out of the gate with five goals in his first six games and looked to be breaking out, but another season ending knee surgery put a halt to a promising overage campaign. At this point he seems to be a long shot to make the NHL and may even struggle to play in the AHL next season. When he is healthy, he plays an up-tempo game and has a great release that enables him to score goals. If he gets healthy, he has a shot at be a middle six forward if he can get his development back on track and avoid any more long-term injuries. - VG

Brinson Pasichnuk, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 31, 2020. Previous ranking: 12)

If you don’t have picks, you have to attack the free talent pool with gusto. Two members of the Sharks’ top 15 were free talent pickups, and the depth of the system includes a clean dozen others who received some consideration. Pasichnuk is the only one of the bunch that was added in 2020. A physical defender – although one who plays relatively clean – with a big shot from the point, the Arizona State graduate was one of the top NCAA free agents last offseason. Lauded for his maturity, on and off the ice, Pasichnuk may have a chance to break right into the San Jose NHL lineup whenever the 2020-21 season begins. In truth, he very well may deserve to rank higher on this list than the Spinal Tap number, as he has almost a sure-fire NHL player. The challenge is that that he is also older than most of the players above him and his ceiling may not be far above his floor. - RW

Santeri Hatakka, D (184^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Hatakka split the 2019-20 season between the Liiga and Mestis, Finland’s second-highest league. He also has a solid, yet unspectacular World Juniors tournament. He role was limited in the Liiga as he averaged fewer than 11 minutes of ice-time per game. A strong skater with very good acceleration, he moves well in all directions and can carry the puck from his own end. Stickhandling needs work, though, as he has occasional problems controlling the puck efficiently and keeping up his pace. His willing ness to battle has always stood out. Furthermore, he defends well in tight areas and is very assertive in the defensive zone. He did not have the strongest season possible, but he showed glimpses of potential in the Liiga and could break out as soon as the upcoming season if he can move up the depth chart. Overall, Hatakka is a mobile defenseman with strong physical tool and some untapped offensive potential. - MB

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

A smart and versatile forward who finally put his sense to use offensively, scoring a career high 15 goals in his junior season with the Golden Gophers, Reedy has a few tools that suggest he could make a career for himself on the fourth line, playing in the corners and eating up some minutes on the PK. Before he gets there though, he has to show that he can regain some of the speed he showed in his first year with the USNTDP program. To his credit, his feet move well, but his legs are heavy. That means he can maneuver around small spaces nimbly enough but falls behind when the game opens up. He will have to stress his power credentials more and rely very heavily on his hockey IQ to overcome the skating deficit. Of course, he also has to sign, which he still has not as of this writing. He could become a free agent if he plays out his senior year without putting pen to paper with the Sharks. - RW

Lean Bergmann, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

In his current state, Bergmann is the definition of a raw prospect. He can score, he has very quick hands for someone his size, and he can effectively utilize his size and strength to create offensive chances for himself. The German loves to drive the net, with and without the puck, and has the physicality to make it happen. As a net-front power-play guy, he can get bumped off the puck in front of the goal pretty easily, which makes me fear for how ineffective his body strength would actually be at the NHL level. He is a good shooter and has solid skating speed, especially at 200+ pounds, but has little passing game. He played on the penalty kill with the AHL Barracuda and competes hard. He focuses his energy on shoveling pucks on goal and wearing down his opponents, which is precisely what an NHL team would want out of a depth player like Bergmann can be in the near future. - TD

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – SAN JOSE SHARKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 25

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 11:45:50 +0000

San Jose Sharks

On the bright side, the San Jose system is not the worst in hockey. At least not now. For every team (there aren’t many) that is currently leaner, we have to remind ourselves that the Sharks will not have a first round pick whenever the 2020 draft actually happens. That pick, a lock for a lottery (if there is one), was transferred to Ottawa as part of the big Erik Karlsson trade.

I am sure that they will add some nice prospects with their pair of second rounders and the late first round pick they got in trade from Tampa Bay, but not having a high end first rounder while other teams will be injecting heavy doses of talent into their systems will likely knock the Sharks into the league basement when we re-do this exercise as part of the 2020-21 annual guidebook.

How do things get so bad? In a large part, this is related to the natural success cycle that many teams go through. Their top players are all veterans and are all very good, and the organization did whatever it could to maximize their chances at postseason success. While it’s true that the core of Joe Thornton, Brent Burns, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Logan Couture never won a Stanley Cup, they were always in the hunt. This will be only the second season since the lockout in which the Sharks did not qualify for the postseason, and in those 15 seasons, they got past the first round nine times, including four appearances in the Western Conference finals and one trip to the Stanley Cup.

One may lament the lack of rings, but San Jose should be proud of the success they experienced.

But that’s over now. Marleau left the team twice. Pavelski is with Dallas. Thornton is 40. Vlasic is 33 and struggling. Burns is 35 and still going strong, but 35 is not the new 25. Karlsson and Tomas Hertl will be healthy again, Couture still has time left before exiting his prime. Timo Meier and Evander Kane may be ready to become the new core up front. Yet there is no guarantee that the new core will have anywhere like the success of the old core. There are serious questions about the team’s goaltending as incumbent starter Martin Jones with two straight seasons with save percentages below .900.

In short, this is an organization that should be preparing to bring in fresh faces to a lot of spots in the lineup. There is not a single area, in the NHL or anywhere in the system, that can be fairly considered deep. We see three players who could, with some luck and the right opportunity, emerge as top half of the lineup players, although one has shown an unwillingness to stick with the slings and arrows of player development outside of his native Sweden. Another is among the more mercurial prospects in the sport. And even going deeper into the system, Martin Jones’ replacement is not yet here, with not a single goalie featuring in their top 15.

Finally, we remember that having a deep system is a numbers game, as the attrition rate is frightfully large. In the past four drafts, the Sharks have drafted five players thrice, and six once. San Jose has eight picks for 2020 at present. They need to make them count to supplement the new core. - RW

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: San Jose Sharks defensemen Ryan Merkley (6) in action during a NHL preseason game between the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks played on September 20, 2018 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

It has not always been easy for the highly touted Merkley in the Ontario Hockey League. Through his four years in the league, he has endured trades (from organizations who became too distraught with him), benchings (from coaches who grew distraught with him), and snubs from Hockey Canada. However, a move to the London Knights to play under Dale Hunter this offseason may have saved Merkley’s status as a top end defensive prospect. No bones about it, Merkley had a terrific year playing under Hunter and improved considerably in terms of maturity and engagement level.

Merkley’s best assets are his four-way mobility and his creativity as a playmaker. His edgework is among the best in the OHL, as his lateral movement is so fluid and explosive. This makes him very difficult to contain when he is manning the point. While he will likely always play a higher risk style of game by pushing the pace, and you will have to live with the odd turnover from him trying to beat a defender one on one, he did cut down on those turnovers this year by playing less selfishly and by selecting his times to pinch more carefully. His shot has never developed to become a huge weapon, but he moves well enough to keep defenders guessing.

Where we saw the biggest improvements this year from Merkley were in his defensive engagement and in his attitude on ice. Previously prone to tantrums when things were not going his way, we saw little of that in London. He appears to have figured out how to control his emotions more effectively, committing fewer undisciplined penalties and behaving maturely when things do not go his way. Additionally, we saw him more consistently engaged as a physical player in his own zone.

While it is extremely encouraging to see Merkley taking some steps forward, it is also important to temper expectations as he approaches his first pro season. The Sharks would be wise not to rush him, to ensure that he can build up confidence at the professional level without becoming frustrated and reverting back to his previous tendencies. In the future, he projects as a quality top four puck moving defender who can anchor a powerplay unit. - BO

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

A two-way center who is good in many areas but without having elite skills. Spiridonov is a limited skater technically but has good balance and is not slow, with at least average speed. He is strong and smart and makes good decisions all over the ice. He is strong along the boards and in tight areas of the game but lacks a flashy offensive game. He works hard and is smart without the puck. He finds open spaces offensively; he has good instincts getting ready to shoot and he plays responsibly defensively.

He has the assets to be a useful player on both a power play and a penalty kill. On the power play I would like to see him improve his shot. He is good at getting open to shoot but his accuracy and timing on the puck could be better. He has yet to prove himself as a goal scorer. He is an okay playmaker. On the penalty kill he is particularly good at reading passing lanes and disturbing the play. He can detect where the play is going and act rather than react to a play when it is already happening.

Spridonov has yet to play in the KHL and if he does, it will probably be in a limited role. In VHL, Russia’s second pro league, is where he probably will play most of his next season trying to develop his game. His contract with St Petersburg is for one more year. The lack of elite puck skills and limited skating makes me project him as a third line center at best. His work ethic, strength, PK capabilities, and team play are what you look for a player in that role. He has good instincts to put up some points offensively as well in that role. - JH

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. 2019 Rank: 8)

Originally a 2nd round pick of the Senators in 2016, Dahlen has been traded twice, played one season in the AHL and returned to Sweden for the 2019-20 season. He is kind of an odd bird in the way that he chose to play in Allsvenskan although almost all teams in the SHL would have wanted to sign him. He was named the top forward and league MVP in Allsvenskan scoring 77 points in 51 games and had five points in the first playoff game before the pandemic ended the season.

He is creative with strong offensive instincts. He has developed his playmaking and is a more dynamic offensive driver than earlier in his career. He is strong both on the power play and at even strength. He likes to be the driver as well and is not that comfortable when playing a smaller role on a line. His top speed is average by NHL standards, but he has impressive agility and is very elusive with the puck in the offensive zone.

His defensive play is okay but still not great and it can make him invisible during parts of games as he rarely plays the PK, wins battles in his own end, or turns the play all on his own. He will need to improve on that side of the game if he wants to reach the highest level. He is a top six forward talent and that is a tough position to reach in the NHL. I believe he will take his time before he steps over to North America again. The 22-year-old will probably play in Sweden for at least one more year, maybe even two. Still a good prospect and if he can keep developing, he could reach his ceiling. - JH

SAN JOSE, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Sasha Chmelevski of the San Jose Sharks (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

Chmelevski is a future NHLer and a certified steal three years removed from being selected by the Sharks in the sixth round. However, the concern around the Huntington Beach native has long been his skating, and in his first full AHL season, that lack of speed and agility was obvious. Though his puck skills and menacing wrist shot release made him a lethal offensive option, he had trouble getting past the more mobile defenders of the pro ranks and was hesitant to carry the puck through the neutral zone in fear of being unable to weave past defensemen as he did in the OHL.

Even if he never improves on his feet, I would bet a large sum on the former American WJC star becoming a long-term NHL piece, as he excels in every other facet of the game. He processes the game at a high speed and makes great decisions with the puck, both offensively and defensively, where he has shown himself capable as a penalty-killer. He dealt with injuries for certain stretches of the 2019-20 AHL season but still posted a solid 42-11-16-27 line and exhibited an ability to score goals in different ways, sometimes as a net-front guy and rebound goblin.

Chmelevski's shot and hockey sense give him top-six potential in the future, but with a lack of blistering speed and the uncertain ability to take on heavy responsibility on defense, the Sharks could deploy him as a middle-six two-way center as soon as his NHL career kicks off, which will be in the near future. - TD

Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. 2019 Rank: 20)

The emergence of True over the past couple of seasons is one of the most fascinating development stories in hockey, and another example of San Jose’s terrific job of scouting otherwise unheralded European players. Not long ago, it was difficult to decide whether the Danish forward was even a legitimate prospect worthy of being on the radar of an NHL organization. An undrafted center without particularly impressive numbers as a WHL overager progressed into one of the most heralded prospects in the San Jose system.

True is a dangerous power forward with a plethora of offensive tools, the most notable of which is his freakish size and balance, which makes him capable of driving the net and playing the cycle against nearly anyone. Possessing a hard shot and great passing skill, his offensive game is more than just 90s-style grind; he can set himself or anyone else up for a quality scoring chance from just about anywhere in the zone, though sometimes his decision making and lack of skating speed lags behind his puck skills.

Most importantly for someone who plays this style, True is mean, and while that comes with some discipline issues, it also includes a likable assertiveness and mental aggression. True earned a brief NHL recall to the struggling Sharks and showed exactly what he can be long-term, a play-driving, cycling center who can be hard to defend against in the bottom-six of a good Sharks forward lineup. - TD

John Leonard, LW (182^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

His game picked up in a big way in college, and after finally hearing his name called at the draft following his freshman season, he netted a career-high 40 points as a sophomore and was on pace to eclipse that total as a junior, as he led the country in goals and led UMass in scoring before COVID-19 put an early end to the season. The junior was also named New England’s best forward as well as a Hobey Baker finalist. He has soft hands and is able to easily grab loose pucks. He is not afraid to shoot - as evidenced by his goal total — and has a quick release. The former afterthought now has some projecting top six potential. - JS

Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 12)

Knyazev saw modest growth in his second season in North America for a much-improved Sagueneens team this year. His 43 points were tops among blueliners on the club, and among the top ten in scoring among defensemen in the QMJHL. He also fine-tuned his defensive game as he improved his play-reading on the smaller ice.

His skating is the focal point of his play, and the gatekeeper to his success; it allows him to cover a lot of ice in a short time and in all directions. Not only fast, Knyazev is agile and reaches top speed quickly. He is an offence-first defender and thinks the game with offence in mind. He continued his play as a defensive sharpshooter with a second-consecutive year with double digits in goals. His 11 goals were the most on the team on the back end.

His abilities slotted in well next to massive blueliner Louis Crevier, as the pint-sized Knyazev had more permission to freewheel with the big Crevier minding his post. Knyazev is still a project for the pro game, and undersized, but he has the foundation to be a solid powerplay contributor and speedy defender at the NHL level. - MS

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 20191. 2019 Rank: 13)

Hamaliuk moved to Kelowna to help them compete for a Memorial Cup but like most of his teammates never really took stride this year. When his game is on, he is an imposing albeit somewhat lumbering figure on the ice. He is excellent in the cycle game where his size and reach help him dictate play along the walls. He has decent hands that work with his game, he can carry off the wall, and is a solid net front guy. He scores a lot of goals from the goal mouth where he can use his strength to finish off plays in traffic.

His skating is a bit of a concern as he looks a step behind the play through the neutral zone and is reliant on others to get the puck in the zone. Defensively he is physical and willing to engage to make a play. It was somewhat of a disappointing season to only collect 31 points in 56 games after being brought in to bolster the offense, after nearly being a point-per-game player last season. - VG

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

A big reason for his success with the Barracuda is his heavy, rapid shot, which is a weapon at even strength and on the power play (five of his 16 goals came on the man-advantage). Grading out as an average skater, Blichfeld is not really one to carry the puck, but does a superb job at finding open areas of the ice away from the puck to receive shooting chances. With steady hands and decent awareness of the ice, he is a fairly versatile player who could kill penalties and be a depth scorer in the NHL. - TD

Alexei Melnichuk, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 4, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

That might have prevented him from being drafted, but two years later, with a stellar (mostly) full season debut in the KHL to his name, Melnichuk was back in the crosshairs of NHL scouts. He moves well in his crease and likes to challenge shooters when he can. He works hard for his saves and reads the games well, although the numbers at InStathockey make clear that he can really struggle with shots to the top corners, the bane of many smaller netminders. If Melnichuk adapts well to the AHL, he may be in the NHL before long. - RW

Jacob McGrew, RW (159^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

At this point he seems to be a long shot to make the NHL and may even struggle to play in the AHL next season. When he is healthy, he plays an up-tempo game and has a great release that enables him to score goals. If he gets healthy, he has a shot at be a middle six forward if he can get his development back on track and avoid any more long-term injuries. - VG

Brinson Pasichnuk, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 31, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

A physical defender – although one who plays relatively clean – with a big shot from the point, the Arizona State graduate was one of the top NCAA free agents this year. Lauded for his maturity, on and off the ice, Pasichnuk may have a chance to break right into the San Jose NHL lineup whenever the 2020-21 season begins. In truth, he very well may deserve to rank higher on this list as he is almost a sure-fire NHL player. The challenge is that that he is also older than most of the players above him and his ceiling may not be far above his floor. - RW

Santeri Hatakka, D (184^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

A strong skater with very good acceleration, he moves well in all directions and can carry the puck from his own end. Stickhandling needs work, though, as he has occasional problems controlling the puck efficiently and keeping up his pace. His willingness to battle has always stood out. Furthermore, he defends well in tight areas and is very assertive in the defensive zone.

He did not have the strongest season possible, but he showed glimpses of potential in the Liiga and could break out as soon as the upcoming season if he can move up the depth chart. Overall, Hatakka is a mobile defenseman with strong physical tool and some untapped offensive potential. - MB

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

To his credit, his feet move well, but his legs are heavy. That means he can maneuver around small spaces nimbly enough but falls behind when the game opens up. He will have to stress his power credentials more and rely very heavily on his hockey IQ to overcome the skating deficit. Of course, he also has to sign, which he still has not as of this writing. He could become a free agent if he plays out his senior year without putting pen to paper with the Sharks. - RW

Lean Bergmann, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

He is a good shooter and has solid skating speed, especially at 200+ pounds, but has little passing game. He played on the penalty kill with the AHL Barracuda and competes hard. He focuses his energy on shoveling pucks on goal and wearing down his opponents, which is precisely what an NHL team would want out of a depth player like Bergmann can be in the near future. - TD

San Jose Sharks 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:10:26 +0000

As a team that is always in the midst of contention, the Sharks have long been in the habit of trading away draft picks as well as prospects in order to strengthen their current NHL roster and keep their window of contention open just that much wider. Think the recent trades for Erik Karlsson and Evander Kane and remember that there were others.

To illustrate this point further, they have not had a full complement of seven draft picks since 2015 – coincidentally their last year not in the playoff picture – and of their two first rounders in the four drafts since then, one (Josh Norris, 2017) was traded away in the Karlsson trade.

Compounding the lack of picks in the San Jose pipeline, a number of the players chosen have not panned out and while it is too early to place the bust label on many of them, it is fair to say that all too many of the Sharks’ recent picks have not trended in the right direction as far as their development has been concerned.

Even at the time of drafting a number of these players, it seemed clear that they were taking flyers on long shots, players who had aspects to their game to recommend them, but also had red flags. Think of 2018 pick Jasper Weatherby’s great numbers in the BCHL, but also his more advanced age. Or think of 2017 pick Jake McGrew’s performance as a teen in Southern California, but also that he missed his entire draft year to injury. 2018 pick Zachary Emond, a netminder, showed promise when he played, but he was a backup. Or think of 2015 second rounder Jeremy Roy. A smart and poised two-way defenseman but with a big knee injury already on his resume. More followed.

To help supplement a system lacking picks, the Sharks have scoured the free agent market for additional prospects. Of the 48 players currently defined as “prospects” in the San Jose system, an eye-catching 17 were brought into the system as free agents. Mostly of the undrafted sort, although a few had been previously selected by other teams at the draft and either never signed, or, in one case, signed but never received a second contract and is still prospect-eligible.

While free agent additions can always add depth to any system, and the hockey world is full of late bloomers who make legit careers for themselves, the downside is that these players were passed over for a reason. Sometimes similar reasons as the long shot draftees I discussed a couple of paragraphs above, and sometimes others.

Like with many of the Sharks’ long shot draft picks, many of the free agent signings will not pan out as full time NHLers. And of those that do, most will be playing on the bottom half of the lineup. Even with those caveats in mind, the gambit is thus far a positive one for this organization. Five of the 20 players listed here were acquired as free agents, including two netminders who aim to follow in current NHL starter Martin Jones’ footsteps, as he, too, entered the professional ranks as a free agent signee. -Ryan Wagman

San Jose Sharks center Antti Suomela (40) (Photo by Nick Turchiaro/Icon Sportswire)

1 Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 2) One of the most polarizing prospects on the planet, Merkley can dazzle with his skating ability and offensive talents, but can frustrate with his on ice composure and defensive commitment. Not even a trade from Guelph to Peterborough could alleviate those concerns. Merkley is competitive and plays the game with a chip on his shoulder. At times, when things do not go according to plan, his competitive nature turns to frustration that is expressed in negative ways on the ice. However, Merkley is extremely talented. His four way mobility is among the best of any defensive prospect, as he uses his agility to create both passing and shooting lanes. He is a dynamic puck carrier who can have a very large impact on the game. As such, patience is required on the part of San Jose and their development coaches. Merkley may always be a high risk, high reward defender, but in the right environment he could thrive as a primary puck mover and powerplay quarterback who can elevate the offensive play of those around him. - BO

2 Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 5) Chmelevski is a very pro ready prospect because of how he has been able to round out his game over the course of his OHL career. He is the type of forward who can excel in any situation and this versatility will make him an NHL player sooner rather than later. His best asset might be his shot release, which is lightning quick. But he is more than just a goal scorer, as he processes the game very well and is especially dangerous in transition with his ability to make quick decisions with the puck. His skating will probably need to continue to improve in order for him to hit his high end potential as a top six forward at the NHL level. But at the very worst, he seems like a safe bet to be a steady middle six option for San Jose, perhaps as early as the coming NHL season. - BO

3 Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Spiridonov had a good season in Russia, scoring almost a point a game in the Russian junior league and playing more than 20 games on the international stage with the U18 national team, including at the Gretzky Hlinka Cup and the WU18. He was one of the top scorers for his team at the U18s, where he made a strong impression that most likely convinced the Sharks to take him with a relatively high pick. The Magnitogorsk native is a solid two-way center with good size and with a good knack for playing hard along the boards. He has also good hands and solid skates, that allow him to protect the puck while in the offensive zone. Spiridonov is a good passer and a decent scorer, but his top quality is his two-way ability. Hopefully, he will get some pro experience next year. - ASR

4 Dylan Gambrell, C (60^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 3) An fast and highly intelligent center, Gambrell’s versatility and playmaking make him the prototypical middle-six pivot the Sharks need for the future. He possesses the sensational top speed and plus edgework necessary to drive past defenders, and his intelligence and hockey sense make him a lethal playmaker. The accuracy of his wrist shot can be a weapon on the power play and in transition, though he is more of a facilitator. Gambrell -- with his great maturity and presence on defense -- projects more as a depth center and penalty-killing maestro than anything else, as his shot and vision are solid, but not top-six quality. That fact can be worrisome out of a former second-rounder and near point-per-game AHL player, but that is where his game is at right now. - TD

5 Ivan Chekhovich, LW (212^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 9) The QMJHL’s second-leading scorer is a sniper of the highest order. His 43 goals were beaten by teammate Nathan Légaré by two, but the Russian winger has an excellent wrister with a big sweeping motion. His four playoff points tied for second-best on the Drakkar in their disappointing seven-game loss in the opening round. Chekhovich turned that into a positive, with a strong end of the season with the Barracuda. It was the second year in a row that he joined the pro squad at the end of the year, and impressed both times. Chekhovich’s skating is powerful, and he pairs it with good edgework. Like most young forwards, he needs to get bigger and stronger, and he needs work away from the puck, but if his offensive potential continues to flourish at the AHL level, he is an NHL triggerman waiting to strike in San Jose. - MS

6 Noah Gregor, C (111^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 4) Playing in the WHL as a 20 year old you need to dominate the league to show you have the tools to make it to the pro game. More often than not Gregor showed that, although some nights he was inconsistent with his effort. What he excels at is a speed game where he can go at defenders with the puck. He is a very good puck handler who can shoot the puck hard and with good accuracy. He is a bit too small to be called a “power forward” but he is strong and is willing to take the puck to the net. He projects as a guy who plays bottom six minutes with some penalty kill time. - VG

7 Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not ranked) Blichfeld capped off his WHL career by putting up a whopping 53 goals and 114 points in 68 games for the Winterhawks. He was a real standout for Portland, and also impressed on the international stage with Denmark in two previous WJCs. Blichfeld is a natural scorer with very good offensive instincts, has a great shot, and plays a pretty good all round game. He will take his game up to the AHL as he will skate for the Barracudas this season, giving him a good taste at the professional level where he should be able to translate his game to a higher level of play. He will start as bottom six forward, and could move up to a top six role if he settles in and produces even a portion of his WHL production.- KO

8 Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. Last Year: 5 [Vancouver]) With crazy quick hands and the hockey IQ to put them to use on the attack, Dahlen has an exciting game that packs a punch in his small frame. He is an expert playmaker with a pair of scintillating hands and the lateral mobility to play up his otherwise sluggish skating speed, and is becoming more comfortable with unleashing his speedy shot. A predator on the forecheck, the 21-year-old can become a very good energy line player and depth scorer in time, but there are questions to be had on his work ethic and effort level, as he is already on his third organization, and his departure from Vancouver was an ugly one. If he shows well in training camp, he could be in contention for an NHL roster spot this fall. - TD

9 Antti Suomela, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jun. 6, 2018. Last Year: 11) At the end of the 2017-18 NHL campaign, a small bidding war over Suomela, the Liiga scoring champion that season, was waged by a multitude of stateside organizations. The hype was justified, but as the 2018-19 season went forward, we saw how poorly the raw, fascinating skill of the 25-year-old translated to the North American game at the NHL level. His speed and skill were on display early in the season, but he ate up healthy scratches and wound up in the AHL by December. He still has the potential to be a top-six forward; a lethal skater and often deadly setup man, Suomela can contribute in many ways, even without the puck, as his anticipation for where the play is flowing is unreal. With some NHL spots up for grabs in San Jose this season, he could be the guy to count on for depth scoring. - TD

10 Josef Korenar, G (Unsigned free agent, signed Jul. 13, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Imagine being a 21-year-old unsigned free agent who effectively stole the starting job for a postseason-qualified AHL team, in spite of minimal pro experience beforehand; that is what Josef Korenar did in 2018-19, starring for the AHL San Jose Barracuda and exhibiting the potential to be the Sharks’ goaltender of the future. The AHL All-Star showed otherworldly smarts and play-reading vision in his first full year in the pros, complimenting a highly athletic and controlled style in the crease. His rebound control can be spotty, as his tool selection still needs some work, but that is a teachable quality. Expect him to get the bulk of starts with the Barracuda in 2019-20, with a non-zero chance of an NHL appearance after the troublesome years of netminders Martin Jones and Aaron Dell last season. -TD

11 Mario Ferraro, D (49^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 6) Always playing second fiddle to his superstar collegiate teammate Cale Makar, Ferraro could have returned as the big man on campus now that Makar has turned pro. Instead, Ferraro is taking his own creative, puck moving game to the pros as well. Although undersized, he plays with tremendous energy, while not neglecting his duties in his own zone. One of three Minutemen to wear the C last year, he leads by example with a strong point shot and attention to detail in his own end, allowing him to be used on both special teams’ units. There are still some raw elements to Ferraro’s game, but his strong collection of tools might allow him to play as high as the second pairing, as he is the type for whom the total package may be better than the sum of their parts. - RW

12 Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Knyazev got the green light from Saugeneens’ coach Yanick Jean a lot in his first North American season, and he impressed offensively from the back end. His 34 points were second best among blueliners on his team, and the leader was an overager. The Chicoutimi team struggled to score at times, and Knyazev was a factor when they did put the puck in the net. He is an offence-first defender, who skates very well and covers a lot of ice for a smaller-sized player. Not only fast, he is agile and reaches top speed quickly. He can start or finish the offence, as proven by his great first pass and his 13 goals on the season. Knyazev is still a bit of a project, and will need to grow, but he has the foundation to be a solid powerplay contributor and speedy defender at the NHL level. - MS

13 Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) After starting the season very strong, Hamaliuk suffered a serious knee injury as a result of a knee on knee on hit that limited him to 31 games last season. He did put up 11 goals and 26 points in 32 games in that span, and played a very dominant physical game. He is your prototypical power forward, who also plays with a lot of speed and energy. He has a great shot, strong net presence, and plays a solid two-way game. His injury really affected his draft status, as he would have been a possible first round pick. Hamaliuk should have a career year after being moved to Kelowna in the offseason. With the Rockets hosting the Memorial Cup, he will be showcased and put in the spotlight where he should flourish. He projects to be a power forward with top six potential, if he should prove fully recovered with no loss to his skating ability. - KO

14 Andrew Shortridge, G (Undrafted free agent, signed Apr. 3, 2019. Last Year: IE) Shortridge is a 6-4” goalie who hails from Anchorage, Alaska. He just finished up a very successful three-year run with Quinnipiac University and was voted the ECAC Goaltender of the Year (Ken Dryden Award) and was also named as a Richter Award Finalist last season; he had a career-high and NCAA best .940 save percentage and a good run in the playoffs to boot. He is good at making that first save and gobbling up the puck. He is smart, he anticipates well and tracks the puck very well in traffic. Shortridge is also very athletic and can make the big saves that eventually win games. As he is thin at 185 pounds, he needs to get stronger before he can move beyond the Barracuda. - RC

15 Karlis Cukste, D (130^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 16) After four years in North America, the Latvian import seems to have grown accustomed to the style and pace of play. The high penalty minute totals of his freshman year at Quinnipiac are a thing of a past, while his offensive impact has increased. He lacks any true impact skills, but he is a fine skater and excels at skating the puck out of trouble. Cukste plays a fine two-way game, not bringing much in the way of flash, but playing steadily at both ends and keeping unforced errors to a minimum. He is expected to return to school for a final season, this time wearing the A on his chest, but the Sharks should be making clear that they will offer him a contract upon the completion of his collegiate eligibility. He has NHL upside. - RW

16 Jayden Halbgewachs, LW/C (Undrafted free agent, signed Dec. 28, 2017. Last Year: 12) Undrafted and signed by the Sharks near the midway mark of his electric, 129-point 2017-18 season with WHL Moose Jaw, the former junior scoring champion showed flashes of brilliance in his first pro year, but on the flip side, an utter lack of consistency and assertiveness. His elite positioning away from the puck, nifty wrist shot, and slippery hands make Halbgewachs a sneaky killer on offense. He loves to dangle through traffic and set up below the hash marks, where his intelligence and passing skill come into play, but his undersized, 5-8” frame, inability to beat defenders due to a lack of speed, and defensive insufficiencies make him a frustrating player to watch. He can still be a skilled depth scorer at the NHL level, but not without major upgrades in his game. - TD

17 Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 15) When you see Reedy at his best, he almost seems dynamic. He has great size, eye catching speed, and can be a possession machine, creating zone entries and maintaining the puck even under physical duress. The tools are certainly there for him to be a legitimate contributor at the highest level. The problem is that he has been regressing – at a slow rate, but regression all the same – since his year with the USNTDP U17 squad. At that time, he was receiving cameos with the U18 team and looking like the next big thing. But Reedy underwhelmed in his draft year and now through two seasons with the Golden Gophers, he has not surpassed seven goals in a season and his assist rate has fallen. He still has a chance to play in a bottom six role, but he needs to step it up to reach even that level. - RW

18 Jeremy Roy, D (31^st overall, 2015. Last Year: 7) Roy’s career to this point, even dating back to his junior days, has been defined by injuries. It is very difficult to get into any kind of developmental rhythm when your body is failing you, but the potential for him to be an impact NHL defenseman is still there, just with a grain of salt. His smarts and puck skills scream big-minute NHL blueliner, while his size helps sustain a solid package of three-zone reliability and potency. He is not a very good skater, but has active feet and decent agility to play up his skating. Maybe the 22-year-old who has never played in an NHL game is a bust, but consider that the 58 games Roy played with AHL San Jose are the most he has laced up for in one season since his 2013-14 season in the QMJHL. Injuries have plagued him, but he is building health and strength and could still have an NHL future. - TD

19 Nick DeSimone, D (Undrafted free agent, signed Mar. 30, 2017. Last Year: 17) In terms of raw skill, there are not many players in the Sharks farm system that would outclass DeSimone. An offensively-oriented right-handed blueliner, he is aggressive at all times, uses his lanky, 6-2” frame to get inside position on the puck, and possesses the surprisingly quick wheels capable of blowing by defenders. With his blazing shot and craftiness with the puck, the Union College product became a mainstay on the Barracuda power play over the course of the 2018-19 campaign. Of course, raw skill does not just up and make you a great player, and the 24-year-old is a case study on that. Lacking defensive discipline and good decision-making in his own zone, he can be someone that drags his defense partner down and has his team playing unnecessary minutes in the defensive zone. – TD

20 Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. Last Year: not ranked) An undrafted forward signed to an entry-level contract last year, True made the Sharks’ decision to put him on the NHL books a great one with a breakout year with AHL San Jose. The lanky 22-year-old formed into somewhat of a power forward threat in the top minor league last season, posting a career high in points that dates back into his WHL days (66-24-31-55). The Danish hybrid forward plays on both sides of the special teams, drives even-strength offense at will, and creates plays for his teammates with his intense cycle game. He is a subpar skater in almost every fashion, but can play a decent forechecking/depth scoring role in the NHL if he works on his shooting and defensive discipline. - TD

Dropping the puck on the 2018-19 NCAA season – Part 2 – Hockey East, NCHC, Big 10

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:54:50 +0000

In yesterday’s look at the NCAA season that is slowly cracking open. We touched upon the Atlantic 10, WCHA, and ECAC conferences. While national champions have come from the latter two conferences in recent years, there is no doubting that the strength of the collegiate game lies in the three conferences discussed here.

Hockey East

While some of the more well-known traditional powerhouses are based in the northeast, the vaunted Hockey east conference had a down year last season and seem to be in line for a repeat (in relative terms) this year. There are teams that were also-rans last year and who will likely continue to be league doormats this year. Chief among those is Vermont. Outside of leading scorer, who left school early to sign an ELC with Tampa, the majority of last year’s roster has returned, but the roster was not a strong one. There are three players who have been drafted by NHL clubs on the roster, but none has yet made a strong case that they are worthy of high-level professional careers after leaving the Catamounts. If there is a player to watch, it is junior captain Matt Alvaro, the leading returning scorer. Despite their conference schedule opener, in which they shut out Boston University by a 4-0 total, Merrimack will be in tough to be a factor as the year draws out. Defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic, a Winnipeg draft pick, plays a strong two-way game, but each of the top four point getters from last year have moved on and the team will need younger players to step up and contribute in ways they never have. The early season results are promising, but it is far too early to assume the growth is real. That said, netminder Craig Pantano was strong in partial duty last year and may be the type of unsung hero the Warriors need to stay competitive. New Hampshire used to be a staple at the NCAA conference, but they have been on the outside looking in for each of the last five years. Unlike the other bottom feeding systems, the Wildcats have a few impressive players available to them. Sharks’ pick Mike Robinson barely played last year as a freshman, but he seems to have a grip on the job early on and has performed well so far. Athletic Panthers’ prospect Max Gildon leads the blueline, and senior captain Marcus Vela (San Jose) is the center-piece of the offensive attack. Joining the attack will be veterans Ara Nazarian, Liam Blackburn, and Charlie Kelleher.

In the next rung of teams in Hockey East, we can look at UConn. Still a relative neophyte to the upper rungs, the Huskies are only in their fifth season in the conference, after migrating from the Atlantic. They are an interesting team in that the majority of their players of note are European-raised players, including their top two netminders, Adam Huska (NYR) and Tomas Vomacka (Nsh), blueliner Philip Nyberg (Buf), and forwards Ruslan Iskhakov (NYI) and Jachym Kondelik (Nsh). A few scoring forwards of note who have not been drafted include a pair of juniors in big Benjamin Freeman and Alexandre Payusov. A seeming concussion sustained by Iskhakov in the season’s second game could be a big setback to the team if he is unable to recover in a speedy fashion. The Maine Black Bears were seemingly ready to get back on the upswing, if not quite reach the heights that the program has in the past thirty years, which has seen them crowned NCAA champs twice, and reach seven other Frozen Fours. Unfortunately, days before the opening game, defender Patrick Holway, a Detroit pick, left the team due to unstated personal issues. In his absence, the team will lean more heavily on senior Rob Michel, the team captain, and sophomore Brady Keeper, both of whom have two-way bonafides. Up front, the team will rely on Detroit pick Chase Pearson to generate offense, and he will be joined by freshman Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup, one of the top scorers in the USHL last year. More than anything, though, Maine’s hopes will rest on the crease work on Boston pick Jeremy Swayman, who was stellar as a freshman, earning Hockey East All-Rookie team honors and playing for Team USA in the WJC. He needs to be at least as good again for the school to have designs on a Tournament berth.

Next up are a couple of Massachusetts schools in UMass and UMass-Lowell. The UMass-Lowell River Hawks have been a solid contender ever since Norm Bazin took over the head coaching duties of a floundering program in 2011-12. They rarely get the press they deserve as they tend to lack in high profile, drafted players. With only four drafted players at present – only one of whom was taken before the sixth round, expect the team to be a sleeper again. Most of their top scorers return, led by Kenneth Hausinger, Ryan Dmowski, and Ryan Lohin (TB). The team has seen more turnover at the blueline, but Croix Evingson (Wpg) is slated to take a step forward, while Detroit pick Seth Barton has gotten his collegiate career off to a good start. Swedish puck mover Mattias Goransson could also garner NHL looks. Also, while Christoffer Hernberg had the lion’s share of the goaltending workload last year, Rangers pick Tyler Wall seems to have the coaches’ trust this time around. UMass Amherst does not have the recent success of Lowell to look back to, but they do have one of the top prospects in the collegiate game on the roster in Cale Makar (Col). The talented blueliner was strong last year, both as a freshman for the Minutemen as well as for Team Canada in the WJC, and should be even better this year, in what is likely his final season on campus. He is joined on the blueline by Mario Ferraro (SJ) and Marc Del Gaizo, both skilled puck movers. The forwards are less imposing as a group, but most of the big producers return from last year, led by Mitchell Chaffee, John Leonard (SJ), and Oliver Chau, who has missed the start of the season due to illness. A couple of exciting freshmen in Bobby Trivigno and Anthony Del Gaizo (Marc’s older brother), coming off strong USHL campaigns, make the team more of a scoring threat. Incumbent starting netminder Matt Murray returns, and he will be challenged by Finnish freshman Filip Lindberg.

Staying in the state of Massachusetts, powerhouses BC and BU have both gotten off to lousy starts to their respective seasons, but both have far too much talent up and down the roster not to expect brighter days ahead. Boston College may have the most deserved pessimism among the two, having scored only five goals in their first three games. Toronto pick Joseph Woll has as much talent as any collegiate netminder and he should keep the Eagles in most games, but he will need help. The most likely offensive presence is in the form of freshman Oliver Wahlstrom, a top draft pick of the Islanders and a pure sniper if such a beast exists. Another freshman with the burden of great expectations is Minnesota pick Jack McBain. Among returning forwards, Logan Hutsko (Fla), David Cotton (Car) and Graham McPhee (Edm) are the most consistent offensive threats. The talented and undersized Jacob Tortora could also take a step forward. The blueline lacks a true dynamic two-way threat, but Michael Karow (Ari) and Casey Fitzgerald (Buf) can both hold their own and Michael Kim is a good college player. Boston University also has a star between the pipes in Jake Oettinger, a former Dallas first rounder, who has been inconsistent, but with high end flashes in his collegiate career. The Terriers are deepest along the blueline, with five drafted players, all of whom deserve their high press. They are led by co-captain Dante Fabbro (Nsh), and supplemented by skill in David Farrance (Nsh) and Chad Krys (Chi), and more defensively centered defensemen, such as Cam Crotty (Ari) and Kasper Kotkansalo (Det). Up front, there are former first rounders including Shane Bowers (Col) and Joel Farabee (Phi) and later picks who are almost as talented in Patrick Harper (Nsh) and Jake Wise (Chi). Co-Captain Bobo Carpenter, a senior, has long been rumored to be a free agent contract beneficiary after graduation. While they have not done so yet, this team is chock full of players who can beat you on any given night.

Although Northeastern will no longer be able to rely on NCAA superstars Dylan Sikura or Adam Gaudette, they are still loaded with talent up and down the lineup and feature a stud netminder in Cayden Primeau (Mtl). An offensively inclined team, the attack includes assistance from the blueline in the form of Jeremy Davies (NJ), Ryan Shea (Chi), Eric Williams, and freshman Jordan Harris (Mtl). Even absent Gaudette and Sikura, the Huskies feature freshman Tyler Madden (Vancouver) and Matt Filipe (Car) up front, in addition to proven producers including Zach Solow, Brandon Hawkins, Grant Jozefek, and many more. In a conference full of outstanding goaltenders, it should be no surprise that our top ranked team, Providence, has one of their own in Hayden Hawkey (Edm), who is more than just a fantastic hockey name. Like with Northeastern, the Friars get a lot of offense from the blueline, led in their case by Jacob Bryson (Buf), Ben Mirageas (NYI) and Spenser Young. The Friars can also roll three solid scoring lines if everyone performs up to expectations. Philadelphia first rounder Jay O’Brien has been slow to start, but he should acclimate from the prep ranks to Hockey East in short order to take a place of prominence alongside player including Kasper Bjorkqvist (Pit), Brandon Duhaime (Min), Jack Dugan (Veg), Josh Wilkins, and Scott Conway. Any of the last four teams mentioned could feasibly end the year as Hockey East champions and pose legitimate title hopes. But if the last two seasons are any indication, they will have to prove they can hang with the titans from the Midwest.

National Collegiate Hockey Conference

For each of the past three seasons, when it came time to crown a national champion, the last team standing was a member of the NCHC conference. To give an idea at the depth of strength in this conference, the threepeat of sorts was accomplished by three different schools. One of those schools was not Miami University, although RedHawks were a finalist in 2009, their best ever finish. After three losing seasons, for them to threaten the powerhouses atop the conference once league play begins would be a shocker. Florida prospect Karch Bachman, one of the speedier players in the college ranks, may finally be ready to be a legitimate offensive contributor if his first few games are an indication. The team has some talent from the blueline as well, namely Grant Hutton, who is expected to have a few NHL options to choose from at the end of his senior season, and freshman Derek Daschke. The top new recruit though, and Miami’s big hope for the future, is Johnny Gruden, a top line player with the USNTDP last year and a fourth round pick by Ottawa. The team has a number of other solid players dotting the roster, but lacks much in the way of dynamic skill. A team with more higher end talent on the roster but a less cohesive team game is Nebraska-Omaha. Up front, there are offensively inclined forwards sch as Frederik Olofsson (Chicago), Steven Spinner (Washington) and Zach Jordan (watch out for this guy). Colorado pick Tyler Weiss should also be fun to watch, as he was often pigeon-holed into a bottom six role last year in the USNTDP, but his inherent skills suggest a higher ceiling. Pittsburgh draft pick Ryan Jones and Arizona pick Dean Stewart lead the blueline. Incumbent netminder Evan Weninger returns, but his position is not entrenched and Philadelphia prospect Matej Tomek will challenge after leaving North Dakota, where he never got a chance to play.

At this point, Western Michigan is probably also an underdog. Flyers’ prospect Wade Allison has dynamic scoring potential, and is one of, if not my absolute favorite player to watch in the college game, but he has not played since last January due to a lower body injury, and there are only rumors about the imminence of his eventual return. In his absence, St. Louis pick Hugh McGing will play a prominent role in the attack along with free agent Dawson DiPietro and Vegas pick Paul Cotter. Senior Colt Conrad is also auditioning for an NHL contract, after scoring at a point per game pace last year. From the blueline, the player to watch is Mattias Samuelsson, recently a second round pick of Buffalo’s. As he is more of a defensive defenseman, watch for smaller Cam Lee to add to the offense from behind. The squad will need more steadiness in net than they have received of late to launch a strong challenge for postseason play. Colorado College is a team on the rise, but it may be a year too soon to put them near the top. After four seasons with no more than eight victories, they took off with 15 wins last year, and should breach a .500 record this year with continued development from some of their key contributors. Netminder Alex Leclerc is too small to garner NHL interest, but is a very good collegiate goalie. Up front, Florida pick Chris Wilkie is ready to contribute after sitting out last season as a transfer. He joins a quarter of talented upperclassmen in Nicholas Halloran, Mason Bergh, Trey Bradley, and Westin Michaud. I also have my eyes on freshmen Benjamin Copeland and Erik Middendorf, both of whom were overlooked at the draft last year after strong seasons in the USHL. Although the forwards drive the Tigers’ attack, the defensive corps is not without talent, particularly in the forms of Kristian Blumenschein, and Benjamin Israel.

Three years removed from a championship, the North Dakota team that takes the ice today bears little resemblance to the title team. The only players of note with ties to the title are Dallas pick Rhett Gardner, a beefy two-way forward, and Hayden Shaw, a smaller, reliable and non-flashy defender. Hope and indeed expectations for continued contention is drawn from the Fighting Hawks’ recent recruiting classes. The blueline is receiving a talent injection from freshmen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Jonny Tychonick, who were ironically both drafted early by Ottawa last June. They join Colton Poolman, whose game is very reminiscent of brother Tucker’s. Versatile forward Grant Mismash, a Nashville pick, is expected to take his game up a notch up front. The team also needs to figure out which of Adam Scheel or Peter Thome (Clb) will take over as the starter from the departed Cam Johnson. Denver has more connections to their recent title, but now that Dylan Gambrell and Henrik Borgstrom have both turned pro, the core has changed. The team still has the makings of a contender though, with dynamic defender Ian Mitchell (Chi) set to be the main attraction. He is joined by a couple of freshmen blueliners of whom greatness is expected in Slava Demin (Veg) and Sean Comrie. Up front, the team will have to take a committee approach to scoring, as there is skill, but little of it is truly high end. There is a trio of drafted freshmen who could be better than anticipated in Cole Guttman (TB), Mathias Emilio Pettersen (Cgy), and Brett Stapley (Mtl). They join big game hero Jarid Lukosevicius. As with North Dakota, the Pioneers have to answers questions in net, as heralded recruit Filip Larsson is out indefinitely and Devin Cooley, who has taken the reins to start the season, is largely unproven.

The best hope for a fourth different NCHC championship in four seasons is St. Cloud State, which was actually the top ranked team in the country heading into the playoffs last year. There are teams in this conference with more NHL-bound talent than at St. Cloud State, but the Huskies do not lack in that regards either, while they fill in at the edges with a high caliber of support player. Former Montreal first rounder Ryan Poehling is ready to take the next step offensively and breach one point per game. Helping him to fill the nets are Patrick Newell, Robby Jackson, Blake Lizotte, and Easton Brodzinski. The blueline is similarly deep and skilled, led by tiny Jack Ahcan, Nick Perbix (TB), Jon Lizotte (no relation to Blake) and Jimmy Schuldt, who surprised many by ignoring the lure of the NHL after his junior season. Finally, in net, the team is equally comfortable going with David Hrenak (LA) or Jeffrey Smith, both of whom have displayed the ability to stop pucks at an above average rate in the NCAA. Of course, the NCHC could easily claim another title from a repeat champion. Last year’s champions, Minnesota-Duluth, were not expected to make a strong push, as they had a very young roster and were widely thought to be a season or two way from their “window”. Amazingly, only three of their top ten scorers from last year are gone. The blueline returns three sophomores who both spent time on the American WJC squad in Scott Perunovich (StL), Mikey Anderson (LA), and Dylan Samberg (Wpg). Netminder Hunter Shepard is still anonymous, despite his workhorse status on last year’s title run. Up front, former Dallas first rounder Riley Tufte is overdue to breakthrough, as he has been slowly refining his game to the point where he is nearly unstoppable down low. Helping out with the attack will be Peter Krieger, Nick Swaney (Min), and freshman Noah Cates (Phi). This year’s Bulldogs may be even better than last year’s champs.

Big 10

While last season saw the NCHC claim the crown for the third year in a row, it should not be forgotten that each of the other three teams in the Frozen Four came out of the Big 10. Of course, Michigan State was not one of those teams. The Spartans are now 11 years removed from their most recent title. They should see their wins total grow for the third year running, but are still not quite a challenger. They return nine of their top ten scorers from last year and Taro Hirose, Mitch Lewandowski, and Patrick Khodorenko are expected to lead the team once again. As promising as that trio is, it is unclear where the secondary scoring will come from. Starting netminder John Lethemon is good enough to keep MSU in games, but should not be expected to steal too many. After the Spartans, any team could reasonably reach the NCAA tournament, but some are less likely than others. Next up would probably have to be Penn State. It is easy to forget that the Nittany Lions have only been back in the NCAA for six seasons. Most of their top scorers from last year are returning, but the talent level is still something short of dynamic. Chicago pick Evan Barratt could be ready for the next step and Colorado pick Denis Smirnov is probably the most talented of the bunch. Upperclassmen Chase Berger, Brandon Biro, and Nathan Sucese are auditioning for NHL scouts and are productive, if not necessarily exciting players. The blueline is a relative weakspot, led as it is by Cole Hults (LA) and Kris Myllari. In net, Peyton Jones has had a nice career thus far, but it is unclear that he can be anything more than adequate at this level.

Since a pair of Frozen Four appearances earlier in the decade, Minnesota has been a bit of a hit-or-miss team. Last year saw a bit of both, but without second leading scorer Casey Mittelstadt on the team, the Golden Gophers could struggle once again to get back to the top. As always, they are exceptional recruiters, with this year’s star freshmen including Blake McLaughlin (Ana), Sampo Ranta (Col), and the draft eligible blueliner Benjamin Brinkman. Some of the returning players who could be critical include forwards Rem Pitlick (Nsh), Scott Reedy (SJ), Thomas Novak (Nsh), Brent Gates (Ana), and Tyler Sheehy along with blueliners Clayton Phillips (Pit), Ryan Zuhlsdorf (TB), and Tyler Nanne (NYR). In the early going it seems that last year’s backup netminder, Mat Robson, has surpassed former starter Eric Schierhorn. If Robson can maintain his performance over the full season such as he has in a part time role, the Gophers could be better than expected. The talent is here, but it needs to come together. Put anther way, Minnesota’s talent with Penn State’s structure could be a front runner. Wisconsin won 20 games in 2016-17 after combining for 12 victories in the two seasons prior, eliciting visions of grandeur. Unfortunately, the team sunk back down to 14 wins last year, prompting a rethink of the team’s standing. The Badgers are a team whose strength is on the blueline with five drafted players – all underclassmen - taking charge. Returning from last year are the physical Tyler Inamoto (Fla), the quiet puck mover Josh Ess (Chi), and offensively inclined puck rusher Wyatt Kalynuk (Phi). Joining them this season are a pair of USNTDP grads in checker Ty Emberson (Ari) and the dynamic K’Andre Miller (NYR), who has superstar potential. Veteran Peter Tischke rounds out the blueline corps. Up front, Wisconsin is not as exciting, but Sean Dhooghe, among the smallest high level players I have ever watched is a joy. Linus Weissbach (Buf) and Max Zimmer (Car) look like they will contribute and I have reasonably optimistic expectations of Tarek Baker as well. Like much of the conference, the Badgers are unsettled in net.

Notre Dame has been to the Frozen Four for both of the last two seasons, but the graduation of Jake Evans, the school’s number three scorer since the turn of the century, will have an impact. That said, the Fighting Irish are constantly restocking, so the team should be a strong competitor once more. Cale Morris was exception in net last year, winning the Mike Richter Award as the top goalie in the nation and will still be very good even if he takes a step back. Big Andrew Peeke (Clb) and mobile Matthew Hellickson (NJ) make a strong start to the blueline while veteran Bobby Nardella along with new recruit Spencer Stastney (Nsh) look like a good second pairing with two way capability. The top players up front include Callahan Burke, Cam Morrison (Col), and Dylan Malmquist. Even big Joe Wegwerth can overcome his stiff hands by being a tank in the opposing crease. Freshmen Jacob Pivonka (NYI), Graham Slaggert, and Alex Steeves could also go a long way to giving the Irish attack the needed depth to succeed. Ohio State does not have the flashy names that dot the rosters of most of the rest of the Big 10, but they have talent up and down the team and can win in many ways. They seem to be using a rotation in net, with both incumbent starter Sean Romeo and the younger Tommy Nappier in line to play a good amount. None of their key blueliners have been drafted, but any of Wyatt Ege, Grant Gabriele, Matt Miller, Gordi Myer, or Sasha Larocque can hurt you. There is a smattering of NHL interest up front, such as power forward Dakota Joshua (Tor), playmaker Carson Meyer (Clb) who transferred from Miami, smaller dynamo Mason Jobst and Hobey Baker candidate Tanner Taczynski (Phi). I could go on, but that might be enough to get back to the Frozen Four.

As good as Notre Dame and Ohio State are, not to mention Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Penn State, if the Michigan Wolverines get even halfway decent work in net, they could be the best team in the country. Quinn Hughes was a top ten pick last year by Vancouver and is as dynamic as blueliners get. This will be his last tune-up before moving to the NHL. First line center Josh Norris had a fine freshman season and then was one of the main pieces moving from San Jose to Ottawa in the Erik Karlsson trade. Will Lockwood (Van) is healthy again and provides an agitating, skilled presence. The Pastujov brothers, Nick (NYI) and Michael, provide strength and skill up front. Minnesota pick Nicholas Boka is a talented puck mover from the blueliner who can get the puck moving in the right direction when Hughes is catching his breath. Luke Martin (Car) and Joseph Cecconi (Dal) has shutdown qualities. Brendan Warren (Phi) can contribute offense while playing the tough minutes up front. Moving down the lineup there are other surprises in store as well. Ohio State may be a safer bet, but Michigan has the best chance among any team in the nation, to dominate any given night.

San Jose Sharks Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 15:28:27 +0000

Much like the rivals they share a state with, the San Jose Sharks are perennial Stanley Cup contenders. Just two seasons removed from running all the way to the Cup final, the Sharks have most of the same core group of players still making an impact on the active roster and look ready to make another charge for the hardware.

That group, however, is collectively entering the last parts of their prime years. Captain Joe Pavelski is 34, Joe Thornton is 39, Brent Burns is 33, Marc Edouard-Vlasic is 31, and Logan Couture (still elite, still pretty young) is already a sneakily old 29-years-old. Despite their accumulated years, Peter DeBoer's team has no plans of slowing down just yet, coming off another 100-point season, their eighth in the Thornton era.

They made an astute signing in locking Evander Kane down, and got some value from a Mike Hoffman acquisition and re-trade. Their current focus is to prolong an already relatively lengthy competitive window by providing auxiliary support to their aging stars, and that approach has flowed down to the replenishment of the Sharks' prospect pool.

Since they have had just one lottery pick since 2007, they must be savvy in finding late-round value and signing undrafted free agents. With some burgeoning stars in prospects from late rounds, like Sasha Chmelevski, Noah Gregor, and Rudolfs Balcers, they have one area covered, but in terms of top 20 rankings, San Jose is about as proficient in signing skilled undrafted free agents.

With six of their top 20 prospects being free agent signings, the Sharks boast a great deal of talent in finding cheap, experienced, and no-risk prospects that, given their age, could all make immediate NHL impacts. They have also done a stellar job at keeping an abundance of centers in their prospect pools to eventually develop into potential Thornton replacements, starting with top prospect Josh Norris.

The competitive window is still, for now, wide open, and these youngsters are more than capable of providing supplemental value to the veterans of the teal and black in an effort to recapture a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.

1 Josh Norris, C (19th overall, 2017. Last year: 2nd) Having a skilled, two-way center in Logan Couture on the squad has given Sharks fans a taste at what Josh Norris, San Jose's 2017 first-rounder, can be. A special playmaker and a fabulous defensively-inclined centerman like Norris can be of value anywhere in the lineup, but exudes top-six potential with his patience, smarts, and puck-possession game. His physical game is refined for an average-sized center, as he uses his body to retrieve pucks in the defensive zone well. The 19-year-old can stay in college and work on his shot and offensive output with Michigan next season and beyond, which he could definitely stand to do.

Images from the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, Texas on Friday June 22, 2018. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

2 Ryan Merkley, D (21st overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Ryan Merkley's draft stock fell throughout the season leading up to the NHL Draft, as rumors of selfishness and a lack of coachability dropped him to 21st overall. It appears in hindsight that San Jose got a steal, and with just raw talent in mind, Merkley is a top-ten player in the draft class. With explosive speed and angelic passing skills, the Guelph Storm blueliner's mental creativity has the tools to succeed. He is very imaginative with the puck and creates plays from scratch the way few other defensemen in this draft class can. Merkley creates offense like a fourth forward most times but can defend like one too; he'll need to put out more backchecking and defensive effort to improve as a complete defenseman in the future.

3 Dylan Gambrell, C (60th overall, 2016. Last year: 4th) A late second-round pick after San Jose's Western Conference championship campaign in 2016, Dylan Gambrell has already made his presence known in Northern California. The playmaking center appeared in three games with the Sharks after signing his ELC in March, arriving straight from his stomping grounds at the University of Denver, where he won an NCAA championship in 2017. Reliable and responsible in his own end, Gambrell really opens up his game to new realms when he has the puck, when he employs his tantalizing puck protection skills to find teammates with passes. He has sensational top speed and can drive past defenders with his plus edgework. San Jose has a need at fourth-line center and Gambrell could compete for that role in 2018-19.

4 Noah Gregor, C (111th overall, 2016. Last year: 13th) Noah Gregor has had some problems staying healthy over his junior career, but when he's at 100%, the center is an offensive sparkplug. Posting numbers better than a point-per-game in the WHL, the versatile forward has added a finisher's goal-scoring touch to his already fine offensive game, combining scoring capabilities with playmaking excellence. Gregor is also a refined defensive forward, always working his way around the defensive zone to make a difference collapsing on the puck. He has plus wheels and a heads-up visionary gameplay style. The 20-year-old signed his ELC with the Sharks last spring and will make a splash with the AHL club next year.

Sasha Chmelevski

5 Sasha Chmelevski, C (185th overall, 2017. Last year: 10th) Alexander "Sasha" Chmelevski's unpredictable gameplay style can be a double-edged sword, but when he's on, his creativity, high-end skill, and unparalleled hockey sense can make or break a team. The California native is insanely elusive on his skates, has been a lethal power-play triggerman at the OHL level, and has a heavy wrist shot. The other end of that aforementioned sword accounts for his soft style that struggles against more physical defensemen and his play away from the puck, which can cause an abundance of issues in the pro ranks. Chmelevski made his professional debut with the Barracuda last season after inking his ELC, tallying four goals in ten games over the regular season and playoffs.

6 Mario Ferraro, D (49th overall, 2017. Last year: 19th) A relatively unknown offensive defenseman before his 2017 draft year, Ferraro showed potential with the puck in the USHL, got drafted early by the Sharks, and has continued to develop those skills at UMass-Amherst alongside first-rounder Cale Makar. He has great poise, agility, and vision, which allow him to create offensive chances without sacrificing his defensive stature, something that could really pay off in the pros. He scored 23 points in his freshman year in the NCAA despite tough Hockey East competition all around him. Though he plays a pretty large, physical game, Ferraro is severely undersized for a defenseman; thankfully the 19-year-old has a reputation for his incredible work ethic and will do all he can to work around a lack of height.

7 Jeremy Roy, D (31st overall, 2015. Last year: 5th) When his health permits, Jeremy Roy's game is reminiscent of Duncan Keith with his smarts and puck skills, but that health has long been a wild card for the talented blueliner. He suffered a disastrous knee injury that effectively ended his QMJHL career in 2016-17 and played just 20 games with the AHL's Barracuda last season. When he's healthy, he's a difference maker in all three zones, with a particularly impressive offensive sharpness which is fueled by his decision-making intelligence, superb vision, and patience. He isn't a very strong skater – which may have been exacerbated by the injuries - but has plus size that helps him keep opposing forwards in front of him. As the 21-year-old continues to transition to pro hockey, nothing is more important to the development of his game than his health.

8 Radim Simek, D (UDFA: May 23, 2017. Last year: 7th) With a pro pedigree as a free agent signing from Europe, nobody questioned Simek's maturity or his ability to fit into a pro system when he moved into the Sharks program. The only concern was how the four-year Czech Extraliga pro would perform offensively after twice leading all blueliners in goals in the Czech ranks. After a full AHL season, it appears Simek brought his offensive refinement stateside with him. His 27 points was second amongst d-men on the Barracuda despite less ice time than his peers, as his plus-plus skating ability and passing talents earned him power play time down the stretch. He has an electric shot and plays bigger than his 5-11" frame would suggest. At 25 years old, Simek is a contender for a roster spot on a stacked Sharks blueline as soon as this fall.

Ivan Chekhovich

9 Ivan Chekhovich, LW (212th overall, 2017. Last year: 18th) Maybe it was his size (5-10", 176 lbs), maybe it was the infamous Russian factor, maybe it was something else, but in hindsight, Ivan Chekhovich should have been picked well before his spot at 212th overall in 2017. After relative obscurity in the Russian minor leagues, the 19-year-old became a near point-per-game player in the QMJHL and even better through his short stint in the AHL (nine points in six games). He is a dazzling playmaker who is comfortable working at center and on the wings, using his ability to slow the game down and take things over with his intelligence to create offensive chances. As for goal-scoring, he can be an impact player in that regard, as his upper-body strength relative to his size is tremendous and his hands are even better. How the Sharks will evaluate the young left-hander after a full AHL year in 2018-19 remains to be seen, but there's a lot to like about Chekhovich.

10 Maxim Letunov, C (Trade: Jun. 20, 2016 -- Arizona. Last year: 6th) Versatility is the name of Maxim Letunov's game. The UConn forward comfortably plays all three forward positions and both sides of special teams, while retaining the tools that set his game apart from an offensive perspective; those being his crazy fast hands, his plus all-around mobility, and a heavy, accurate wrist shot with a very swift release. With an odd and slight physique (6-4", 185 lbs), Letunov brings a unique physical presence to an already distinctive game. He is great at shoving defenders off in the gritty areas to gain separation as well as driving to the net with his upper-body strength. He has all the tools to succeed in the pro ranks, except for perhaps his offensive reads and patience, which will have to improve fast as his onset into the AHL begins.

11 Antti Suomela, C (UDFA: Jun. 6, 2018. Last year: IE) Over the later parts of the season, reports from Finland indicated interest from a bounty of NHL teams in center Antti Suomela, an undrafted 24-year-old who led the SM-Liiga in points. The Sharks landed the coveted pivot and inked him to an ELC in June, essentially in the same fashion they netted depth-scoring machine Joonas Donskoi, to whom Suomela's game is similar in many ways. He projects to be a middle-six forward with his combination of speed and skill that was unmatched in the Finnish leagues, capable of compiling an abundance of points without sacrificing defensive responsibility. Suomela is mature and experienced enough to immediately crack the Sharks' NHL roster, where he could be a power play setup man. There should be no concerns as to how his game will translate to North America after dominating the top Finnish men's league for years.

12 Jayden Halbgewachs, LW (UDFA: Dec. 28, 2017. Last year: IE) Jayden Halbgewachs' initial draft year was 2015, where he was coming off an unimpressive eight-point in 59-game season with Moose Jaw. Of course, the undersized left-hander blossomed into one of the most prolific pure scorers in the recent CHL history, tallying 70 goals in 72 games while earning an NHL contract with San Jose in the process. He doesn't have great speed, but his agility and sneakiness on his skates play his skating ability up; the real prize is his puck skill, as his hands are as fast as they are elusive, and he can get to anywhere on the ice with the puck still on his stick. Obviously, he has a goal-scoring touch, one powered by his elite positioning skills and a heavy shot for a 5-8" winger. He could be an impact depth scorer in the NHL, or nothing more than a really good junior player with a game that fails to translate to the pros; either way, it's a no-risk, potentially high-reward signing for an intriguing prospect with a high ceiling.

13 Vincent Praplan, LW (UDFA: Mar. 2, 2018. Last year: IE) A major contributor to a championship winning club in the Swiss leagues, Vincent Praplan was one of many shrewd free agent prospect acquisitions made by the Sharks over the past year. A former OHLer who returned to Switzerland after being passed up in his first draft eligible year, the highly-skilled forward maintains a good balance between stout playmaker and potent goal-scorer. He has good vision, crazy quick hands, and incorporates a variety of effective passes to be a solid playmaker and has a fast shot and great positioning away from the puck to score rather routinely. Praplan is a flashy and very well-rounded offensive player, but an undersized forward with a noticeably soft game; he needs to be better at taking hits and moving on, especially as he readjusts to smaller North American ice.

14 Rudolfs Balcers, LW (142nd overall, 2015. Last year: Unranked) The gamble the Sharks took with Rudolfs Balcers in the 2015 draft season has so far been a major success. A fifth-rounder, Balcers had some skill and swiftness, but he was never expected to pan out away from the big European ice. The Latvian paced the Barracuda in goals (23), points (48), and playoff points (four in four games) in 2017-18 after a 77-point campaign with the WHL's Kamloops Blazers, indicating that he has no issue transitioning to North American ice. He is a plus skater with great acceleration and edges, using that to play up his crazy quick hands and great instincts. He is a playmaker at heart, incorporating his high hockey IQ with his creativity with the puck to generate scoring chances at will, but has a solid shot and a goal-scorer's positioning away from the puck. His main issue is size/strength, as 5-11", 173 lbs is very small for a bottom-six depth guy.

Scott Reedy

15 Scott Reedy, C (102nd overall, 2017. Last year: 9th) A hard-nosed, hard-working player with the U.S. National Team Development program, Scott Reedy has continued to boast that effective gameplay style in the NCAA ranks with Minnesota. In a depth role with the Golden Gophers, Reedy posted 15 points in his freshman campaign. He follows in the footsteps of many USNTDP graduates in that he has exceptional hockey IQ and plays best in a depth support role, but his versatility and work ethic could propel him to levels higher than just a depth guy. He hustles to every loose puck with his set of strong wheels, is very solid in retrieving and repurposing pucks along the boards, and has some untapped offensive potential driven by his rapid hands, strong and sturdy power forward moves, and fearlessness in going to the dirty areas on the ice. What Reedy needs is a better first two-step acceleration and a more consistent ability to assert himself into tight games.

16 Karlis Cukste, D (130th overall, 2015. Last year: 12th) Drafted in 2015 as a pure no-risk, high-reward project, early results on Karlis Cukste suggest a reward is in the cards for the Sharks. An impressively calm presence on the blueline for Quinnipiac, the Latvian made the move to North American ice look easy, as his very physical and defense-first playing style followed him smoothly overseas. He has ideal size and superb vision for getting the puck out of his defensive zone, but most importantly, he always remains cool under heavy forechecking duress. With improving mobility, Cukste is fine handling the puck and skating through the neutral zone with it, but mostly sticks to safe, easy plays. The 21-year-old isn't the most talented defenseman at his competition level or on his team, but he has defensive qualities that NHL teams drool over.

17 Nick DeSimone, D (UDFA: Mar. 30, 2017. Last year: Unranked) A big and lofty defenseman at first sight, Nick DeSimone transforms into a powerful forward-esque blueliner at game time. With the puck, the Union College product is never afraid to get involved in things from an offensive perspective, using his concrete upper-body to get position on opposing defenders and drive right to the net in a way similar to Brent Burns stylisically. He impressed in his first full pro season with the Barracuda, flashing that offensive brilliance at times with six goals and 14 assists in what was often a top-pair role. He is a good skater with brawny strides, a plus shooter with a nasty release, and a stupendous power play weapon. His defensive game is not quite complete, but his gaps are solid and his focus in the D-zone is improving. He projects to be a depth puck-mover at the NHL level, but for an undrafted free agent signing, that's a win for San Jose.

18 Linus Karlsson, C (87th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Linus Karlsson paced the Swedish SuperElit league -- the highest league of junior competition in Sweden -- in points with 52 in 42 games this past season, so it's clear he has some game. The Sharks traded up to pick Karlsson in round three of the 2018 draft, as his offensive game has shown a lot of promise overseas. His game is centered around his nice wrist shot, which he uses at nearly every opportunity, but his play-reading ability is a plus as well. He plays a pretty physical game for a relatively light center, which will only get better as the 18-year-old grows into his body a little. Karlsson will be competing in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's second-tier league, and how the centerman will adjust to a higher level of competition is the biggest question going into 2018-19.

19 Kyle Wood, D (Trade: Jun. 14, 2018 -- Arizona. Last year: 6th -- Arizona) Formerly one of the top prospects in both the Colorado and Arizona systems, Kyle Wood is a new addition to the San Jose pool as somewhat of a recollection project. He has had an All-Star season in the AHL before, tallying 43 points in 2016-17, which included a Tucson-leading 11 power play goals. He's a massive 6-5" blueliner with an offensive mindest, surprisingly swift skating fueled by plus acceleration, and a mean slapshot that has power play catalyst written all over it. However, that skating remains a work in a progress and hasn't considerably improved in his pro career, which is the most likely reason as to why the Coyotes gave up on the right-hander. This season, if he can reignite the AHL All-Star version of himself, and not remain the bottom-of-the-depth-chart afterthought he was for the Roadrunners last year, he can shoot his way back up the prospect list.

20 Jacob Middleton, D (UFA: Sep. 7, 2017. Last year: IE) Jacob Middleton and Nick DeSimone are in basically the same spot as prospects, both being relatively older defensemen with similar games, and it just so happens to be that they played alongside one another on the Barracuda top defense pair. Middleton, a free agent who signed with the Sharks after the Kings -- his draft team -- never inked the big defenseman, led all Barracuda defensemen in points and assists in 2017-18. He is large and lofty, but has serviceable movement to assist his formidable stretch pass and offensive vision. He has a screaming slap shot with a long-winding release and a talent for getting it on net from way outside. At 22, he is mature and experienced, and has the smarts to get it done.

San Jose – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:53:59 +0000

For teams that are consistently competitive and find themselves perennially entering trade deadline period as buyers, there are a few methods available to help ensure that they have a constant stock of talented younger and cheaper players ready. Some will be needed to supplement the regular roster in depth roles and some will be needed as trade bait when the parent club is trying to fortify the NHL roster for the stretch run.

Some teams focus their scouting on very specific regions, such as how the Washington Capitals dig deep into the WHL and Switzerland. Some teams simply trade draft picks hand over fist, often years into the future, as the Rangers did for years. There are other methods available as well that can be employed by smart teams looking for maximize their assets.

The so-called “moneypuck” approach suggests that teams try to find underappreciated types of assets that will gain in appreciation over time. There are a few avenues available to all teams but utilized by only a few and which still contain value. The Sharks seem to have attacked a few of them.

One avenue is to focus on players who have already been passed over and have shown later development. Looking at the prospects who entered the system as free agents – some drafted and never signed but most who were never drafted – as well as players drafted in their second or third years of draft eligibility, shows that the Sharks have been open to this approach. The top 20 list includes four prospects who were signed by the Sharks as free agents. Amateur free agent acquisitions rarely make big marks in the NHL, but some do and some merely make it as depth players. Considering the number of actually drafted players who never make it at all, gaining depth for free is still a victory and we intend to applaud it.

Second year eligible also feature prominently in this list, as Dylan Gambrell was not drafted until his third time around, just like Adam Helewka. Joakim Ryan was drafted in his second year of eligibility.

Another avenue to drafting undervalued players is to target certain paths to the pros. While San Jose does not shun the CHL by any stretch, they have lately made a habit of finding undervalued players whose path will run through the NCAA ranks. Including players drafted this June, the Sharks have 10 prospects who spent last in the CHL. Looking at players currently in college or in a league that leads to the NCAA, the Sharks have 15. That includes both high picks (including their first three picks this year and their top selection last year) as well as players lower down the organizational pecking order such as four of the final five players they drafted in 2015.

Of course, for any strategy that cuts against traditional approaches, the proof is in the results. The Sharks have maintained their competitive edge at the NHL level, but there has not been a huge influx of prospect talent to supplement the veterans. With Patrick Marleau leaving for Toronto, perhaps one young winger will get the chance this year.

San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28). (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire)

1 Timo Meier – The Sharks highest pick since drafting Logan Couture in 2007, Meier split his first pro season pretty evenly between the AHL and NHL and came one NHL game short of losing prospect eligibility. Of average height, he is very broad and can be physically dominant when on his game. He has great puck control, combining speed and strength. His acceleration helps his skating play up. Owns a great shot, but was prone to looking for passes too much. May be ready for top six NHL duties.

Josh Norris

2 Josh Norris – A player without a clear weakness to his game, Norris is also a physical specimen. He has special playmaking skills, hiding his intentions and continuously able to surprise opponents with his passes, weighted just so to hit a teammate in stride. He is also a plus-plus defensive player, skilled at regaining possession and pushing the puck in the right direction. While he scored plenty for the USNTDP, his shot is his least impressive attribute. Has top six potential.

3 Danny O'Regan – A great example of a value pick, O’Regan was a fifth rounder playing mostly New England high school hockey in his draft year. He was a top end offensive producer at BU for four years and continued that work with a stellar rookie showing in the AHL, winning the league’s Rookie of the Year award. A solid skater, he has great offensive vision and hands. Will make a lot of highlight reel passes. Also able to finish thanks to a strong wrist shot. Defensively reliable as well.

4 Dylan Gambrell – Aa late bloomer, Gambrell’s game really only took off once he got to Denver and was placed on a great first line with Danton Heinan and Trevor Moore. With both linemates turned pro, Gambrell fit in smoothly with other high end players as a sophomore, and was instrumental in getting the Pioneers a title. Reliable in his own end, Gambrell shines when playing the puck. Has fantastic puck protection skills, plus top speed and shows great snap on his shot from middle range and in.

5 Jeremy Roy – His last two QMJHL seasons were decimated by injuries especially this last season, when he was limited to 10 games for Blainville-Boisbriand. If his knee is recovered the Sharks will have a smooth-skating two-way blueliner with their AHL team. When healthy, can do a little of everything, as helpful to the penalty kill as to the power play. More agile than fast, he is a good passer and flashes high end puck work. His odds have decreased, but it is not yet time to write Roy off.

6 Maxim Letunov – It is uncommon for many players to be traded before they sign ELCs. It is even more rare for a prospect to be dealt twice. Such is the case for Letunov, who was drafted by St. Louis, traded to Arizona and then moved again, to San Jose. An average skater with a well above average offensive skill set, Letunov needs only some internal chemistry (i.e. better offensive reads and reactions) to become a leading NCAA scorer, instead of just a good one.

7 Radim Simek – Signed as a free agent following an impressive performance for the Czech Republic at this year’s World Championships, Simek is a strong, steady skater with above-average awareness in his own zone and an aggressive stick. He profiles as a decent #4/5 defender who can move the puck and plays with a little bit befitting his shorter, yet stocky frame. A top goal scorer from the blueline in the Czech leagues, it is an open question as to how his offensive game will translate in the AHL.

8 Marcus Sorensen – A 2010 draft pick of Ottawa’s, Sorensen did not come to terms with the Senators and stayed in Sweden, slowly and steadily improving offensively until the Sharks brought him over last year. He was a bit overmatched in an NHL cameo, but was a strong AHL producer from the get-go. Although undersized, he is active on the forecheck. Can show some flash and has plus offensive tools in general. Is in line to win a bottom six winger job with San Jose this year.

Scott Reedy of the USNTDP. Photo by Rena Laverty

9 Scott Reedy – Had Reedy performed with the US U18 squad like he did at the U17 level, he would have been drafted significantly higher than the mid-fourth round slot he eventually settled into. Like many USNTDP grads, he has plus hockey IQ, and excels in a supportive role, capable of producing offensively at a middle six level and doing his part to keep the opposition off the boards. As he has matured physically, his once blazing speed has been subdued, but he is still very fast at top speed.

10 Sasha Chmelevski – A somewhat divisive player from the 2017 draft class, Chmelevski is a beguiling puck handler with a strong wrist shot, both of which give him exciting offensive potential. Where the division comes in is in some of the traits that are more indirect in terms of production. His skating lacks that extra step needed to gain clearance from opponents, although it is partially mitigated by strong edges. Secondly, he plays soft. Can be a liability off the puck and struggles against physical defenders.

11 Noah Rod – A preternaturaly mature player who has been playing grown-ups in Switzerland since he was 18, Rod has lately developed into a player who could also be counted on to produce offensively. An agitator at heart, his aggressiveness has contributed to a checkered injury history. A trusted backchecker and forechecker, he is always pressuring his opponent, no matter which side of the puck he is on. His ceiling is as a good skating energy line player. Will play in the AHL this year.

12 Karlis Cukste – Drafted out of Latvia, Cukste has made the transition to the game in North America pretty smoothly, first with a strong season with Chicago in the USHL and followed by a promising freshman campaign with Quinnipiac. He was also Latvia’s most consistent threat on an otherwise overmatched WJC team. A very physical defender, he is strongest in his own end with good gap control and positional play, but is also more than competent with the puck.

13 Noah Gregor – Although injuries ultimately held him back, Gregor was showing promising development in his first post-draft season. A versatile forward with a good engine, he plays with his head up allowing his plus offensive vision to be realized. More a playmaker than a shooter when he was drafted, he has become more skilled at finishing this year as well. Has average size and could stand to be a bit more physical.

14 Filip Sandberg – Although not a big point producer in the SHL, Sandberg was highly touted as a two-way, extremely versatile forward with Swedish champions HV71. Undersized, but strong and aggressive, he skates hard and shows a good shot along with useful puck skills. Quick to loose pucks he was a trusted penalty killer and will have a chance to play right away in a bottom six role for the Sharks.

15 Adam Helewka – A late-bloomer, Helewka exploded offensively in his age 20 season for Spokane, convincing the Sharks to use a fourth round pick on him in the process. Although his first pro year started off slowly, by year’s end, he was showing ability to drive possession thanks to solid vision and patience. He also showed some of his skating chops and it looked like a moderate amount of goal scoring ability as well. He has bottom six potential.

16 Rourke Chartier – A good two-way center, Chartier had a positive first pro season. He was able to demonstrate that his hockey IQ was still an above average trait and his pace of play was up to snuff. Like many high scoring CHL forwards, he used his first AHL foray to grow accustomed to playing further down the depth chart. Given that first step, he will have a chance to play in a more offensively-driven role this year, to see where his ceiling lies.

17 Julius Bergman – Although he has received positive accolades for smooth play for years, Bergman may be the most overrated player in the San Jose system. He is a nice passer and has certainly improved his off the puck play since his OHL days, but this is ultimately a player with few truly above average tools. His skating and shot are both OK, and he holds his own physically, but none of those traits can be considered dangerous. He has yet to prove that he deserves a longer look.

18 Ivan Chekhovich – The Sharks were very lucky to draft Chekhovich as one of the final picks of the draft. By all accounts, he should have gone off the board three or four rounds earlier after following up a strong first season in North America with a dominant performance for Russia at the WU18. Although not physical, he plays bigger than his size and works well near the net. His offensive tools all grade out well with his hands working especially well to set him up for scoring chances.

19 Mario Ferraro – An exciting offensive blueliner with some dynamic qualities, Ferraro emerged last year from relative obscurity to finish second among all USHL defensemen in scoring. Quick with strong puckhandling skills, he plays much bigger than his listed height and weight would suggest. So even though he looks very good rushing the puck up the ice, and works hard on D, he will have to prove himself anew next year playing for UMass-Amherst.

20 Joakim Ryan – A mobile blueliner from Cornell, Ryan has proven that he can contribute offensively from the blueline since finally signing. Last year, he also proved that he could score from the blueline with a solid point shot. What keeps him from ranking higher on this list is a lack of vision. He can handle the puck, but tends to wildness when pressed to pass it off. Also, he struggles transitioning back to defensive work. Finally, at 24, he has limited room left to develop.

Although the Sharks’ system is not the most exciting in the game, it is among the deepest. Drafting heavily from the college-bound ranks, also has typically meant needing patience as their prospects developed, at times slowly. This allows the team to focus on the big picture, letting them be more deliberate with their choices when it is time to promote from within.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Pacific Division – San Jose Sharks

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:45:19 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favours to regional scouts, among other reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM
1	19	34-N	28	Josh NORRIS	C	18	6-1/195	USA (NTDP-18)
2	49	78-N	121	Mario FERRARO	D	18	5-11/185	Des Moines (USHL)
4	102	40-N	60	Scott REEDY	C	18	6-1/205	USA (NTDP-18)
6	159	LV-N		Jacob MCGREW	RW	18	5-10/190	Spokane (WHL) - DNP Inj
6	185	43-N	61	Sasha CHMELEVSKI	C	18	5-11/190	Ottawa (OHL)
7	212	71-N	96	Ivan CHEKHOVICH	LW	18	5-10/180	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	19	Josh NORRIS	C	USA (NTDP-18)	61	27	33	60	36
2	49	Mario FERRARO	D	Des Moines (USHL)	60	8	33	41	42
4	102	Scott REEDY	C	USA (NTDP-18)	60	22	21	43	51
6	159	Jacob MCGREW	RW	Spokane (WHL) - DNP Inj
6	185	Sasha CHMELEVSKI	C	Ottawa (OHL)	58	21	22	43	20
7	212	Ivan CHEKHOVICH	LW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	60	26	33	59	14

San Jose Sharks – Draft Grade: 55

Josh Norris, USNTDP, photo by Rena Laverty

USA! USA! USA! The Sharks used four of their six picks in the draft on American born players, as well as one of the others on a Canadian playing in the American heartland, in Des Moines, Iowa. The only player selected by the Sharks who was not American by birth or by location of development was seventh rounder Ivan Chekhovich, a Russian winger who put up strong numbers in the QMJHL before tearing up the WU18 tournament.

Scott Reedy of the USNTDP. Photo by Rena Laverty

Their first round pick was used on USNTDP center Josh Norris, a do-everything player who won nearly half of the competitions at the Draft Combine. His passing game and hockey IQ are especially notable. They drafted his USNTDP teammate Scott Reedy in the fourth round. Reedy was highly anticipated coming into the year after a very strong performance with the U=17 team, but struggled to retain those gains in his draft year as the added boy weight seemed to slow him down some. In between those two, they selected Des Moines blueliner Mario Ferraro, an undersized but dynamic, high energy player. After maxing out on their USHL picks in the first half, their three picks in the draft’s final two rounds were all used on CHL forwards, all of whom have a history of offensive production.

Best value: Alexander Chmelevski, C, Ottawa (6/185): One of two native Californians drafted by San Jose, Chmelevski fell in the draft in part due to playing on a lackluster CHL team. He also had the black mark of a soft game working against him. On the hand, his puck play is high end and some of the moves he pulled in the CHL Top Prospect Game will remain in highlight reels for years to come.

Biggest head-scratcher: Mario Ferraro, D, Des Moines (2/49): I like Ferraro as a prospect, and his dynamic qualities are undeniable. That said, he has a playing style that was well-represented in this draft class (undersized, mobile blueliners) and there were many others still on the board at this time. It is possible that the Sharks, who would have to wait another 53 picks until their next selection feared that Ferraro would be gone by then. That may have been true, but they could have drafted better value in that slot.

McKeen’s 2017 NHL Draft Rankings (Subscribers) – Top 125 – May 31st, 2017

Iain Morrell — Wed, 31 May 2017 14:16:51 +0000

MCKEEN'S 2017 NHL DRAFT GUIDE - Learn more here!

Nico Hischier will make National Hockey League history as the first name called in Chicago at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

The New Jersey Devils hold the first overall selection having won the draft lottery, and will be looking at three prospects in particular who have risen to the top of the 2017 draft class.

Switzerland's Nico Hischier #18 leans in for the face-off during preliminary round action against the Czech Republic at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Hischier is a very attractive choice having 'checked all the boxes' during an outstanding North American debut with the Halifax Mooseheads. The native of Naters, Switzerland led all rookie scorers in the QMJHL and finished 10th in league scoring, while delivering strong performances for his country at both the U20 and U18 World Junior Championships (WJC).

A fast and dynamic skater with high-end puck skills, Hischier distinguished himself for his two-way diligence and his ability to contribute in every area of the ice and - by extension - the game. He possesses a high hockey IQ and is a very creative player combining both structure and innovation.

It will be an agonizing decision if New Jersey opts to pass on Hischier in favour of the other prime attraction - Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Winnipeg native entered the 2016-17 season as the consensus top choice after a standout season in which he tied for the league playoff scoring lead with 30 points in 21 games (13-17-30) and earned WHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Photo by Tim Smith/Brandon Sun

Patrick was injured during that playoff run however and underwent sports hernia surgery last July. His groin/abdominal problems would re-surface after playing in Brandon's opening five games, and sideline him for 34 games and force him to miss the U20 WJC.

Returning in January, Patrick still managed to finish fifth on the Wheat Kings in scoring with 20 goals and 46 points despite playing in just 33 games.

However he suffered another health setback late in the regular season - an unspecified upper-body injury - and missed the WHL playoffs.

Nolan Patrick would be the first Manitoban selected first overall in the NHL draft - with Nico Hischier set to become the first-ever Swiss-born player.

A third option emerged for New Jersey this spring at the U18 WJC where defenceman Miro Heiskanen turned in a commanding performance for Finland and effectively threw his hat into the ring.

Finland's Miro Heiskanen #2 lets a shot go during relegation round action against Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

It makes some sense for the Devils to consider adding a potential building block on the blueline given the loss of Adam Larsson in last summer's Taylor Hall deal.

Heiskanen would be the first Finnish-born player to go first overall.

CENTRE STAGE

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires sits at No. 4 on the McKeen's Top 125 - ranking the best prospects available for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward led Windsor with 29 goals and 61 points - in just 49 games - and then played a central role in helping the Spitfires win the Memorial Cup, highlighted by a four-assist performance in a win over the top-ranked Erie Otters.

Big, highly-skilled, and ultra competitive, Vilardi brings plenty of meat to the plate - but the skating has raised concerns about how impactful an NHLer he can be. Described as a 'knock kneed' skater, he will have to continue upgrading his quickness and explosiveness.

The Kingston, Ontario native can play on the wing but showcased at the Top Prospects Game in January that he is very effective playing in the middle.

The fifth-ranked prospect is Casey Mittelstadt, the top American-born player.

Mittelstadt ripped apart the high school circuit averaging 2.56 points per game (64 points in 25 games) and earning Minnesota’s distinguished Mr. Hockey award as the state’s top senior skater. He fell short though of leading his hometown Eden Prairie to a state championship, falling in the semi-finals.

Mittelstadt was questioned about returning for his senior year amid concerns that his development could be stunted. However, he helped allay some of those concerns with impressive stints in the USHL, wrapped around his high school season, recording 30 points in 24 games - for a 1.25 points-per-game average which was tops in the league.

Sharp-shooting winger Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads is next at No. 6.

The Peterborough, Ontario native infuriated with his inconsistent (and incomplete) defensive work habits but, at the end of the day, may be the best goal-scoring prospect in this draft class.

He finished fifth in the OHL with 44 goals and added another 10 goals in 20 playoff games.

Slick-skating defenceman Cale Makar of the Brooks Bandits is ranked seventh.

The Calgary, Alberta native was among this season's biggest risers - shooting up the draft chart and dazzling with his skating and skills while leading Brooks to the RBC Cup final.

Makar still has plenty of growing to do in terms of learning how to harness and deploy his exceptional talents. His education will be in good hands for his upcoming freshman season at the University of Massachusetts. Makar may benefit most by staying on the NCAA collegiate route for at least two years, though the lure of the NHL is all powerful.

Sorting out the rest of the top 10 has been a convoluted journey since the initial rankings were published last fall. That's not unusual - but this season the rankings seemed to be in a larger state of flux. There's not much to separate the next dozen or so players - all of whom could conceivably land a top 10 spot.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks was another big riser, moving up from 24th - in the preliminary ranking - to grab the No. 8 position.

A cerebral two-way pivot with good size and skill, the Winnipeg native led Portland and tied for seventh in WHL scoring during a spectacular breakout season - in which he more than tripled his rookie numbers from 2015-16.

Glass begins a run of centremen with seven of the next ten players being pivots; Michael Rasmussen (10th), Elias Pettersson (11th), Martin Necas (12th), Robert Thomas (15th), Nick Suzuki (16th), and Lias Andersson (17th).

KLIM PICKINGS

The wildcards for this year's draft will begin with swift-skating Swedish defenceman Timothy Liljegren

The native of Kristianstad, Sweden has been a prime name for 2017 since he was 16 years old - and was ranked No. 4 on our preliminary list. However, he was sidelined early by a bout of mononucleosis and struggled to find his game after returning.

There's no denying the physical gifts as he is a strong, fast skater with a good skill set featuring a heavy wristshot.

Klim Kostin

However, his hockey sense and overall decision making have continually come into question as the scrutiny on his game intensified. He doesn't seem to possess an innate feel for pressure and can be prone to stickchecks and turning pucks over on outlets. Can this part of his make-up develop and mature? Perhaps. It's a risk NHL teams must weigh before considering him as a top selection.

Another 'hot potato' pick will be Dynamo Moscow forward Klim Kostin who began the season at No. 5 in the rankings following a solid showing at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. The Penza native captained Russia and led his team in scoring (5-4-3-7) while flashing an intriguing mix of size, skill and creativity.

He also put in a decent showing at the Canada-Russia series in November, albeit not enough for World Junior team coach Valeri Bragin to include him on the U20 roster. However, Kostin underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January and missed an opportunity to further convince NHL scouts at the U18 WJC in April.

Strong and skilled with the puck, Kostin can create openings with his stickhandling and 1-on-1 abilities, but must work on his skating and consistency.

Eeli Tolvanen

Eeli Tolvanen also watched his stock soften as the season progressed after beginning as a top 10 pick (8th).

The native of Vihti, Finland tied for third in the USHL with 30 goals and then helped Sioux City reach the Clark Cup Finals. Tolvanen possesses sharp offensive instincts and a lethal shot, yet there are concerns about how his slight frame and dimensional game will translate to higher levels.

No player fell further in the rankings this season than towering Russian winger Nikita Popugaev.

The Moscow native fired 19 goals in his first 25 games with Moose Jaw, however his play tailed off in December and he was dealt a month later to Prince George where he continued to sputter.

Popugaev brings great size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds as well as a strong shooting arsenal. His skating needs to come along though, particularly his footwork and overall agility.

But the bigger concern is how badly he wants it - as his work ethic and defensive play regressed to alarming levels over the second half.

PLENTY OF FINNISH

Finland gave advance warning that they would be a big factor at the 2017 NHL Draft when they captured gold at the 2016 U18 WJC.

It was Finland's first gold medal at the event since winning the first two tournaments in 1999 and 2000 - and was accomplished with a predominantly underage blueline.

They followed up this year at the U18's with a silver medal, led by the splendid duo of Miro Heiskanen and Urho Vaakanainen.

Heiskanen's exploits were well chronicled, however Vaakanainen's play may have turned just as many NHL heads. His smooth skating, subtle skills, and innate feel for the game were on full display throughout.

Vaakanainen could turn out to be one of the best players from this draft.

Expect the Finns to be high profile at this draft - as they could place up to seven players in the opening round plus another half dozen in the second.

In all, there are 16 Finnish-born players in the McKeen's Top 125 including a number of potential sleepers such as Joni Ikonen (59th), Aleksi Heponiemi (65th), Emil Oksanen (76th) and U18 WJC captain Aarne Talvitie (77th).

Finland's Santeri Virtanen #22 carries the puck during semifinal round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Gritty two-way centre Santeri Virtanen threw his name into the ring with an impressive showing at the U18 WJC after missing most of the season to injury.

His late rise wasn't a total surprise as he had initially been slotted as a potential 50-70 pick after a good showing at the Ivan Hlinka last fall.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	Nation
1	Nolan Patrick	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/200	19-Sep-98	Canada
2	Nico Hischier	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/175	4-Jan-99	Switzerland
3	Miro Heiskanen	D	HIFK Helsinki (Fin)	6-0/170	18-Jul-99	Finland
4	Gabriel Vilardi	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-3/200	16-Aug-99	Canada
5	Casey Mittelstadt	C	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	6-1/200	22-Nov-98	USA
6	Owen Tippett	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/200	16-Feb-99	Canada
7	Cale Makar	D	Brooks (AJHL)	5-11/180	30-Oct-98	Canada
8	Cody Glass	C	Portland (WHL)	6-2/180	1-Apr-99	Canada
9	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	Frolunda (Swe)	6-3/205	1-Jun-99	Finland
10	Michael Rasmussen	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-6/215	17-Apr-99	Canada
11	Elias Pettersson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/165	12-Nov-98	Sweden
12	Martin Necas	C	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-0/170	15-Jan-99	Czech
13	Urho Vaakanainen	D	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-0/185	1-Jan-99	Finland
14	Juuso Valimaki	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/205	6-Oct-98	Finland
15	Robert Thomas	C	London (OHL)	6-0/190	2-Jul-99	Canada
16	Nick Suzuki	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	10-Sep-99	Canada
17	Lias Andersson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	5-11/200	13-Oct-98	Sweden
18	Isaac Ratcliffe	LW	Guelph (OHL)	6-5/200	15-Feb-99	Canada
19	Erik Brannstrom	D	HV 71 (Swe)	5-10/175	2-Sep-99	Sweden
20	Timothy Liljegren	D	Rogle (Swe)	6-0/190	30-Apr-99	Sweden
21	Klim Kostin	C	Dynamo Moscow (Rus)	6-3/195	5-May-99	Russia
22	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	Sioux City (USHL)	5-10/175	22-Apr-99	Finland
23	Conor Timmins	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	18-Sep-98	Canada
24	Kailer Yamamoto	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-8/160	29-Sep-98	Canada
25	Jason Robertson	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-2/195	22-Jul-99	USA
26	Ryan Poehling	C	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	6-2/195	3-Jan-99	USA
27	Nicolas Hague	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-6/215	5-Dec-98	Canada
28	Josh Norris	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	5-May-99	USA
29	Shane Bowers	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-1/185	30-Jul-99	Canada
30	Cal Foote	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-4/215	13-Dec-98	USA
31	Henri Jokiharju	D	Portland (WHL)	6-0/180	17-Jun-99	Finland
32	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	HPK (Fin)	6-4/195	9-Mar-99	Finland
33	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Sep-99	Canada
34	Kole Lind	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/180	16-Oct-98	Canada
35	Jesper Boqvist	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	30-Oct-98	Sweden
36	Grant Mismash	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	19-Feb-99	USA
37	Keith Petruzzelli	G	Muskegon (USHL)	6-5/180	9-Feb-99	USA
38	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-2/165	1-Jul-99	Canada
39	Maxime Comtois	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-2/200	8-Jan-99	Canada
40	Adam Ruzicka	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-4/205	11-May-99	Slovakia
41	Morgan Frost	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/170	14-May-99	Canada
42	Filip Chytil	C	Zlin (Cze)	6-0/180	5-Sep-99	Czech
43	Nikita Popugaev	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-6/220	20-Nov-98	Russia
44	Jake Oettinger	G	Boston University (HE)	6-4/210	18-Dec-98	USA
45	Josh Brook	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-1/185	15-Jun-99	Canada
46	Santeri Virtanen	C	TPS Turku (Fin Jr)	6-2/195	11-May-99	Finland
47	Kyle Olson	C	Tri-City (WHL)	5-11/165	22-Mar-99	Canada
48	Evan Barratt	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	18-Feb-99	USA
49	Max Gildon	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/190	17-May-99	USA
50	MacKenzie Entwistle	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-3/180	14-Jul-99	Canada
51	Stelio Mattheos	RW	Brandon (WHL)	6-1/195	14-Jun-99	Canada
52	Marcus Davidsson	C	Djurgardens (Swe)	6-0/190	18-Nov-98	Sweden
53	Michael DiPietro	G	Windsor (OHL)	6-0/195	9-Jun-99	Canada
54	David Farrance	D	NTDP (USA)	5-11/190	23-Jun-99	USA
55	Stuart Skinner	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	6-3/210	1-Nov-98	Canada
56	Matthew Strome	LW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-4/210	6-Jan-99	Canada
57	Alex Formenton	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/165	13-Sep-99	Canada
58	Eemeli Rasanen	D	Kingston (OHL)	6-7/215	6-Mar-99	Finland
59	Joni Ikonen	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-10/170	14-Apr-99	Finland
60	Scott Reedy	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	4-Apr-99	USA
61	Sasha Chmelevski	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-11/190	9-Jun-99	USA
62	Filip Westerlund	D	Frolunda (Swe)	5-11/180	17-Apr-99	Sweden
63	Ian Mitchell	D	Spruce Grove (AJHL)	5-11/175	18-Jan-99	Canada
64	Maxim Zhukov	G	Green Bay (USHL)	6-3/190	22-Jul-99	Russia
65	Aleksi Heponiemi	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/150	9-Jan-99	Finland
66	Ostap Safin	LW	Sparta Praha (Cze Jr)	6-4/200	11-Feb-99	Czech
67	Jack Studnicka	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/170	18-Feb-99	Canada
68	Nick Henry	RW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/190	4-Jul-99	Canada
69	Markus Phillips	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/200	21-Mar-99	Canada
70	Jarret Tyszka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/190	15-Mar-99	Canada
71	Kirill Maksimov	RW	Niagara (OHL)	6-2/195	1-Jun-99	Russia
72	Jake Leschyshyn	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/185	10-Mar-99	Canada
73	Alexei Toropchenko	RW	MVD Balashikha (Rus Jr)	6-3/190	25-Jun-99	Russia
74	Kirill Slepets	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-10/165	6-Apr-99	Russia
75	Olle Eriksson Ek	G	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/185	22-Jun-99	Sweden
76	Emil Oksanen	LW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-1/190	25-Sep-98	Finland
77	Aarne Talvitie	C	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)	5-10/200	11-Feb-99	Finland
78	Reilly Walsh	D	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	5-11/180	21-Apr-99	USA
79	Ivan Lodnia	RW	Erie (OHL)	5-10/180	31-Aug-99	USA
80	Jonah Gadjovich	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-2/210	12-Oct-98	Canada
81	Ben Mirageas	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-1/180	8-May-99	USA
82	Dylan Samberg	D	Hermantown (USHS-MN)	6-3/190	24-Jan-99	USA
83	Antoine Morand	C	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	5-10/180	18-Feb-99	Canada
84	Morgan Geekie	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/180	20-Jul-98	Canada
85	Alexei Lipanov	C	MVD Balashikha (Rus 2)	6-0/165	17-Aug-99	Russia
86	Jack Badini	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/200	19-Jan-98	USA
87	Brady Lyle	D	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/205	6-Jun-99	Canada
88	Lucas Elvenes	C	Rogle (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	18-Aug-99	Sweden
89	Zach Gallant	C	Peterborough (OHL)	6-2/190	6-Mar-99	Canada
90	Lane Zablocki	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	5-11/190	27-Dec-98	Canada
91	Kevin Hancock	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	2-Mar-98	Canada
92	Alexandre Texier	C	Grenoble (Fra)	6-0/190	13-Sep-99	France
93	Noel Hoefenmayer	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	6-Jan-99	Canada
94	Nate Schnarr	C	Guelph (OHL)	6-3/180	15-Jun-99	Canada
95	Jonas Rondbjerg	RW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	31-Mar-99	Denmark
96	Ivan Chekhovich	LW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/180	14-Jan-99	Russia
97	Robin Salo	D	Sport (Fin)	6-1/190	13-Oct-98	Finland
98	Luke Martin	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-4/215	20-Sep-98	USA
99	Cale Fleury	D	Kootenay (WHL)	6-1/205	19-Nov-98	Canada
100	Mikey Anderson	D	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-May-99	USA
101	Mason Shaw	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-9/180	3-Nov-98	Canada
102	Linus Nyman	RW	Kingston (OHL)	5-9/160	11-Jul-99	Finland
103	Gustav Lindstrom	D	Almtuna (Swe 2)	6-2/190	20-Oct-98	Sweden
104	Marian Studenic	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-0/165	28-Oct-98	Slovakia
105	Jack Rathbone	D	Dexter (USHS-MA)	5-10/175	20-May-99	USA
106	Artyom Minulin	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-2/200	1-Oct-98	Russia
107	Kalle Miketinac	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/190	2-Apr-99	Sweden
108	Dmitri Samorukov	D	Guelph (OHL)	6-2/180	16-Jun-99	Russia
109	Ian Scott	G	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-3/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
110	Austen Keating	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/170	7-May-99	Canada
111	Maksim Sushko	RW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/185	10-Feb-99	Belarus
112	Tyler Inamoto	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/195	6-May-99	USA
113	Ty Lewis	LW	Brandon (WHL)	5-11/180	5-Mar-98	Canada
114	Drake Batherson	C	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-1/190	27-Apr-98	Canada
115	Rickard Hugg	C	Leksands (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	18-Jan-99	Sweden
116	Scott Walford	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-1/195	12-Jan-99	Canada
117	Jordy Bellerive	C	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/195	2-May-99	Canada
118	Matthew Kellenberger	D	Oakville (OJHL)	6-0/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
119	Johnathan Kovacevic	D	Merrimack (HE)	6-4/215	2-Jul-97	Canada
120	Nick Campoli	C	North York (OJHL)	5-11/190	16-Feb-99	Canada
121	Mario Ferraro	D	Des Moines (USHL)	5-11/185	17-Sep-98	Canada
122	Michael Pastujov	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	23-Aug-99	USA
123	Tyler Steenbergen	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/190	7-Jan-98	Canada
124	Mark Rubinchik	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-0/180	21-Mar-99	Russia
125	Kasper Kotkansalo	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-2/200	16-Nov-98	Finland

Scouting Report – USNTDP: Scott Reedy

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 31 May 2017 12:44:25 +0000

Ryan Wagman takes an in-depth look at Scott Reedy of the USNTDP who is ranked near the end of the second round at #60 by McKeen's, but could be a wild card at the draft as his projections is a few years out.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Scott Reedy	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: C/RW, Shoots R	H/W: 6-1", 205 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	USNTDP Juniors, USHL (21-10-4-14-39)
	US National U18 Team, USDP (60-22-20-42-51)
	USA U18, WU18 (7-1-1-2-2)

Scott Reedy of the USNTDP. Photo by Rena Laverty

Skating: In light of the physical maturity that is common to all 17 and 18 year olds, Reedy put on a good bit of weight over the past 12 months. The added heft has muted what had been a key selling point to his game in his impressive speed. When he is on his game, he is still a very strong skater, but he can run out of steam too quick. This grade is somewhat reflective of the belief that as he acclimates to his adult frame, his stamina will rebound. Grade: 60

Shot: Reedy’s shot is roughly average. Many of his goals are scored through advantageous positioning. He will get right to the opponent’s crease and try to deflect attention from his teammates. His wrist shot is definitely his weapon of choice when getting the puck on the net. His shot can finish the job when he gets into the right position to activate it, but will not be a game breaker. Grade: 50

Skills: Projects as more of a playmaker, or supportive player, than a goal scorer at the next level. Reedy has quick hands and solid puck protection skills. His vision allows him to execute relatively tricky passes through traffic. Has one-touch passing ability and knows how to work well with others. He sticks to a system and utilizes his teammates well. Grade: 55

Smarts: The hallmark of USNTDP alumni is high level hockey IQ. Reedy certainly fits that mold. He is trusted in high leverage defensive situations, such as when his team is trying to protect a tight, late lead. He is heavily involved in both ends and profiles as a reliable 200 foot player. A very strong player in his own zone, he takes advantage of his reads, anticipation and quick hands to force more than his share of turnovers. His smarts will allow him to play up and down the lineup as needed. Grade: 55

Physicality: Reedy plays a clean game, but recognizes that he has the frame to succeed in the dirty areas of the rink. Leverages his size well in the offensive zone, playing around the net and protecting the puck in the corners. Will play with some jam, but not high level aggression. Grade: 50

Summary: After being impressed with his work as an underager in the national development program last year, 2016-17 was a mild disappointment for Reedy as he was not able to establish himself as a clear cut top six scorer. That said, he is still a prospect of great interest as the University of Minnesota commit is still a plus skater with above average hockey IQ and skills. At this stage, he projects as a solid third line option down the road, with the chance for more as he gets comfortable in an adult-sized body. He could be drafted anywhere from the back end of the second round to the middle of the fourth. He will likely need at least three seasons with the Golden Gophers before he is ready to try his hand at professional hockey.

Scott Reedy – McKeen's Hockey

NCAA TOURNAMENT RECAP – Minutemen Win First NCAA Title

Fargo Regional

North Dakota vs. American International

Minnesota-Duluth vs. Michigan

North Dakota vs. Minnesota-Duluth

Loveland Regional

Minnesota State vs. Quinnipiac

Minnesota vs. Nebraska-Omaha

Minnesota vs. Minnesota State

Bridgeport Regional

Wisconsin vs. Bemidji State

Massachusetts vs. Lake Superior State

Massachusetts vs. Bemidji State

Albany Regional

Boston College vs. Notre Dame

St. Cloud State vs. Boston University

St. Cloud State vs. Boston College

Frozen Four

Minnesota State vs. St. Cloud State

Minnesota-Duluth vs. UMass

UMass vs. St. Cloud State

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: San Jose Sharks Top 20 Prospects

Ryan Merkley, D (21st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Ozzy Weisblatt, RW (31st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Thomas Bordeleau, C (38th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 3)

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

John Leonard, LW (182nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Tristen Robins, C (56th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Brandon Coe, RW (98th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Danil Gushchin, LW (76th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Artemi Knyazev, D (48th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55th overall, 20191. Previous ranking: 8)

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Alexei Melnichuk, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 10)

Jacob McGrew, RW (159th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Brinson Pasichnuk, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 31, 2020. Previous ranking: 12)

Santeri Hatakka, D (184th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

Lean Bergmann, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – SAN JOSE SHARKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 25

San Jose Sharks

Ryan Merkley, D (21st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. 2019 Rank: 8)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. 2019 Rank: 20)

John Leonard, LW (182nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Artemi Knyazev, D (48th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 12)

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55th overall, 20191. 2019 Rank: 13)

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Alexei Melnichuk, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 4, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Jacob McGrew, RW (159th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Brinson Pasichnuk, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 31, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Santeri Hatakka, D (184th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

Lean Bergmann, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

San Jose Sharks 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Dropping the puck on the 2018-19 NCAA season – Part 2 – Hockey East, NCHC, Big 10

San Jose Sharks Prospect System Overview

San Jose – System Overview

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Pacific Division – San Jose Sharks

McKeen’s 2017 NHL Draft Rankings (Subscribers) – Top 125 – May 31st, 2017

Scouting Report – USNTDP: Scott Reedy

Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Ozzy Weisblatt, RW (31^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Thomas Bordeleau, C (38^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 3)

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

John Leonard, LW (182^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Tristen Robins, C (56^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Brandon Coe, RW (98^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Danil Gushchin, LW (76^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 20191. Previous ranking: 8)

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Jacob McGrew, RW (159^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Santeri Hatakka, D (184^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. 2019 Rank: 8)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

John Leonard, LW (182^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 12)

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 20191. 2019 Rank: 13)

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Jacob McGrew, RW (159^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Santeri Hatakka, D (184^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)