Serron Noel – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Chapin Landvogt, Ethan Hetu, Viktor Fomich — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 18:14:17 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 27: Florida Panthers left wing Grigori Denisenko (14) and center Aleksander Barkov (16) talk during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers, held on April 27, 2021, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Mackie Samoskevich RW

As a member of the Chicago Steel in his draft season and as a Michigan Wolverine, it was easy for Samoskevich to get lost among a sea of other highly-drafted, highly-talented NHL prospects. Samoskevich's list of teammates read off as a top prospect list of their own, and Samoskevich's game has definitely benefited from playing alongside such talented players. But that being said, Samoskevich's profile still ultimately stands on its own two feet. Samoskevich is an offensive talent, a quality playmaker and someone who is always looking to drive play and put his teammates in positions to score. Samoskevich wasn't a centerpiece offensive player as a freshman at Michigan, and the night-to-night quality of his contributions fluctuated more than he likely would have liked. But when Samoskevich was at his best, he was driving play and taking over shifts. Like many offense-first prospects around his age, Samoskevich doesn't use the inside of the ice as well as he should. His offensive tendencies are in need of some refinement, and he'll need to get better at learning to accept creating some less-than-ideal offensive chances rather than holding on to the puck too long in order to find the perfect look. If he can introduce some habits in his game that will serve him well at the pro level, his path to the NHL will become much smoother. There's a talent package that should allow Samoskevich to become a capable contributor to an NHL scoring line, and even perhaps a play-driving one, but there's a good deal of development that needs to happen before Samoskevich can get there. – EH

2 - Grigori Denisenko LW

Selected 15^th overall in the 2018 draft, Denisenko’s progress has been much slower than many, ourselves included, who have expected future NHL stardom, could foresee. He has completed his second full, albeit truncated, season of play in North America. He made the jump from Russia after a full KHL season with modest production which was boosted by a strong WJC. His move the North America coincided with Covid and Denisenko found himself in no-man’s land until the NHL and then AHL started up in 20-21. That first season showed promise, but last season cast a bit of a shadow on his prospect status. Only suiting up once for a deep and high-octane Panthers team, Denisenko was left to grow in the AHL, where things were progressing along well enough until a mid-January blocked shot resulted in a broken kneecap, ending his season. Presumably fit to begin the upcoming campaign, Denisenko likely needs further AHL time to determine his ability to help the NHL squad. On the other hand, with multiple regulars having departed the club while Anthony Duclair appears to be out for perhaps the entire season, there seems to be a lower line job for the taking, should Denisenko be ready to take the next step this fall. – CL

3 - Justin Sourdif RW

It was a good final year for Sourdif in the WHL. A midseason trade saw him join the Edmonton Oil Kings where he played a key role in their WHL Championship victory. Unfortunately, a training injury kept Sourdif from suiting up for Canada again at the re-started WJC’s in August, however, he remains a key prospect for the Panthers moving forward. Sourdif has a very well-rounded game. He is extremely versatile. He can impact the game because of his speed, which he uses to be active in puck pursuit in all three zones. He can impact the game with his physicality and tenaciousness. He is skilled and can make plays at high speed. Sourdif loves to take on defenders one on one and will look to work his way into the middle of the ice. An intelligent playmaker, his confidence in his shot also improved this year, especially once he joined Edmonton and became more of a support player on a stronger team. His pro journey will begin this season with Charlotte and Sourdif should be an immediate impact player for the Checkers. Depending on how he deals with the size and strength of pro defenders, he could move quickly through Florida’s system. Sourdif projects as a middle six forward who can play a variety of different roles, likely starting out in a bottom six role before moving up. - BO

4 - Evan Nause D

Nause was an instrumental piece in Quebec’s organization last season. He plays a very effective game in all three zones of the ice and performs extremely well under pressure. Nause might not be the most skilled or flashiest player, but he’s very reliable, makes sound decisions at all times and makes everything seem effortless. The Panthers prospect will be playing once again this season with a scary Quebec Remparts team where they’ll look to make up for last season’s disappointing run by going all in with new acquisitions such as Justin Robidas to their already stacked offensive group. The focus this year for Nause will be to take yet another step forward as an offensive defender. He moves well and Florida will be looking for him to use his skating ability to be more aggressive with the puck to help create offensive opportunities for the Remparts. The former second round selection does look like a potential #4-6 defender for Florida in the future and someone who could be a fairly versatile depth defender. However, if the aforementioned offensive game continues to progress, there is a chance that his projection changes to be a more integral building block. - EB

5 - Michael Benning D

There has been a lot of conversation about the changing face of the “modern” NHL defenseman, and as speed and skill continue to be prioritized in blueliners, the idea of the prototypical defenseman being six-foot-four and ready to smash opposing forwards into the boards have begun to die out. There have been many faces of this new wave of modern NHL defensemen, and Michael Benning could be another name in the ever-expanding list of talented undersized defensemen who have impactful NHL careers. Benning, a longtime teammate of Edmonton Oilers prospect Carter Savoie, had always been a play-controlling, productive offensive defenseman. But when Benning got to the University of Denver, a team with championship aspirations, his old habits weren’t going to get him to where he needed to go. He needed to polish his game and add some more safety to a profile that was all about aggression and chance creation as a junior player. Benning’s sophomore season was a massive step up from his freshman offering, and he helped lead an extremely talented Pioneers team to an NCAA national championship. Benning’s offensive game is well-developed, and he has all the elements to his game that give him NHL upside as an offensive defenseman. He can skate and contribute in transition, he can see the offensive zone quite well and pairs poise and playmaking flair to be a strong offensive zone facilitator. Benning’s game in his own zone isn’t nearly as developed as his offensive game, and that could pose issues for his pro projection. But even if he doesn’t improve in his own zone, he should still have NHL upside as a puck-moving offensive defenseman who will work best when paired with a defense-first partner. - EH

6 - Aleksi Heponiemi C

A 2017 2^nd rounder, Heponiemi is a little engine that could. His 5’10” height has always been suboptimal, but his 155-pound body has only exacerbated the challenge of his sticking in the NHL. Nonetheless, he has continued to put up gaudy numbers. Drafted after putting up over one point per game in the WHL, he proceeded to top two PPG in his D+1 year, before returning to his native Finland as a 19-year-old, where he sported 46 points in 50 regular season outings. The past two seasons have seen Heponiemi find his level, hitting a wall in his production his first time out in the AHL, producing nicely with MoDo of the HockeyAllsvenskan in 20-21 before getting a 9-game debut with the Panthers (two points). Last season with the Charlotte Checkers, Heponiemi established himself as one of the most adept power play actors in the entire AHL. Few players could enter the opposition zone as fluently as the Finn and his puck prowess in all situations was clearly at another level. He is hitting a crossroads heading into this season, the last of his contract, as Florida is built to win and there is no indication that he is even seen as one of the first call-ups, save for a need for a power play specialist. Then again, few clubs have been able to turn players into unexpected offensive weapons in recent years better than the Panthers. – CL

7 - Vladislav Lukashevich D

The season had been pretty uneventful for Vladislav Lukashevich and not in a good way, as after being sidelined for eight months due to an undisclosed injury, he returned to game action midseason and looked rather rusty. Even though he still was able to get in a decent amount of MHL game action, he didn’t look like much of a difference maker there and it might be fair to consider his entire season a wash. 12 months after being drafted, Lukashevich is more or less in the same developmental place he was when the Panthers called his name: he has a great frame that still needs to add a good deal of muscle, solid skating and skill, but the whole is not yet equal to the sum of his parts. All signs are pointing towards another season spent mostly in the MHL junior league this season, which might be a bit disappointing, but is not unexpected after the season he had. Lukashevich will be expected to be one of the leaders of his team, which would be good for his development. It should also be added that it is the final year of his current contract and seeing how the Lokomotiv organization is strong on the blueline, it will be difficult to get opportunities there, possibly making the young player more likely to look favorably at a move to North America. - VF

8 - Max Gildon D

After a strong rookie season in the AHL in 2021, that saw Gildon named a member of the All-Rookie Team, last year was a big step backward for the former Hobey Baker candidate, thanks to a lower body injury that ended his season in December. This year, he will try to recover the momentum he had built previously as he looks to become a top defender for Charlotte. Gildon has a very intriguing athletic make-up. He skates pretty well for his size (6’3), protects the crease and defends with physicality, and shows well as a puck mover with good hands and vision. He may not be a natural powerplay quarterback or a highly creative player, but there is a good chance that he could develop into an all situations top four defender. Without question, Florida has openings in their third pairing and will be looking to promote a prospect or two to that role. Given his recovery from injury, Gildon would appear to be a long shot at one of those spots. However, if he rebounds well and performs like he did in his rookie AHL season, he could easily push his way to the top of a weaker farm system. - BO

9 - Nathan Staios D

An undersized defender, Staois is the son of former NHL defender Steve Staois. Playing for his father in Hamilton, the younger Staois was a standout in his final (overage) year in the OHL, helping the Bulldogs win an OHL Championship. His strong performance led to him being named the recipient of the Max Kaminsky trophy, awarded to the league’s top defenseman. Then following the conclusion of the Memorial Cup, the Panthers inked him to a contract as a free agent. Staois is a tremendous skater, something he relies on to be an impactful offensive defender. He gains the offensive zone with ease on most occasions at the junior level and is terrific at walking the line inside the offensive zone to keep plays alive. While undersized, he also competes hard in the defensive zone to make up for his lack of stature. However, there are some decision-making issues which could become amplified at the pro level. A high risk/high reward type of player, he will need to learn to pick his spots to activate better. Additionally, his defensive zone awareness and ability to win 50/50 battles in high traffic areas will need to improve for him to be effective at even strength in the AHL. Staois has terrific potential to be an impactful defender, but like any free agent signing, he may take time to reach it as a longer shot. - BO

10 - John Ludvig D

It was a tough year for Panthers’ defensive prospects at the AHL level last year. Max Gildon missed most of the year with a lower body injury and John Ludvig missed almost the entire season following hip surgery. He battled back to play in the last few games of Charlotte’s year, which was encouraging, but you can throw his performance in those games out the window. This coming season will be a fresh start for Ludvig to try to re-find the confidence he had as one of the WHL’s best defenders previously. The question is, how will this serious hip injury affect his skating ability and ability to improve it further? Entering the pro ranks, Ludvig’s skating was the area of his game that still needed the most work and now that might be difficult for him. However, the rest of his game is extremely solid. He has a booming point shot, putting his entire 215lbs frame behind it. He is poised with the puck and shows good vision in all three zones. He is an aggressive defender who clears the crease and makes opposing forwards work to gain touches, especially along the wall. This well-rounded game gives him an NHL projection, even if his skating never improves beyond average. Like organization-mate Gildon, Ludvig will be looking to rebound as one of Charlotte’s top defenders this season, helping to re-emerge as a top prospect in the Florida system. – BO

11 - Mack Guzda

A free agent signing by the Panthers this past season out of the OHL, Guzda showed massive growth in a year split between Owen Sound and Barrie. The big netminder has improved his quickness and agility and will get a chance to play in the AHL this year.

12 - Serron Noel

A power winger, Noel struggled to adapt to the pace of the pro game in his first full AHL season. There is some concern that his development has plateaued. However, this year should give Florida a better indication of his potential.

13 - Logan Hutsko

After four good years at Boston College, Hutsko’s first pro season was largely a success for Charlotte. An undersized scoring forward, Hutsko will have to put up numbers to be a valuable pro.

14 - Zach Uens

What Florida has in Uens remains to be seen. The athletic defender shows good potential at both ends, however finding a true role at the pro level may be difficult. More should be known after he turned pro this season.

15 - Matt Kiersted

While an older prospect, Kiersted was once a prize free agent signing out of UND. The competitive two-way defender may have limited upside, but he could be a full time NHL player in a depth role this coming season.

16 - Liam Arnsby

Drafted late in 2022, Arnsby is an aggressive, defensively oriented center. He hits like a truck and can play a variety of roles. Upgrading his skating will be key as he returns to the OHL with North Bay.

17 - Josh Davies

Like Arnsby, Davies was a late round pick in 2022 who projects as a bottom six NHL player because of his tenacity and high energy game. He will look to improve his offensive production with Swift Current this season (WHL).

18 - Marek Alscher

A suffocating defensive defender, Alscher was a solid presence for the Portland Winterhawks in his first WHL season. Is there room for him to grow as a puck carrier or is his ceiling limited?

19 - Henry Bowlby

There is not much in the way of offensive potential for the defensive minded forward out of Harvard, however he could one day play a depth role for the Panthers as a penalty killing fourth liner.

20 - Kasper Puutio

Admittedly, this list was solidified prior to the completion of the WJC’s where Puutio emerged out of nowhere to be named the tournament’s top defender. A former 5th rounder, he will look to carry over that success to the Liiga level this coming season.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: FLORIDA PANTHERS – RANK: #20 – TIER IV

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:07:50 +0000

Florida Panthers

#20 Florida - The Panthers' system has the best goalie prospect around, and three more top 100 guys, but zero depth, a residual effect of the Tallon years.

TAMPA, FL - MAY 26: Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight (30) during Game 6 of the First Round of the NHL Play-offs between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning on May 26, 2021 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)

Spencer Knight

Here is our runaway top goaltending prospect in the sport. This would have been the case even if the Panthers hadn’t shown us in the post-season that they were willing to play Knight in the net at the expense of Sergei Bobrovsky, their incumbent starter, signed to a very long-term contract, for a very big cap hit. In watching Knight over the past four seasons, it is safe to state here that he has no notable weak spots to his game. He is the embodiment of everything an NHL team hopes to see in any goalie prospect, the yardstick against which all others are measured. He fills up the net; He is very athletic; He is exceptionally square to the shooter; He steps up in the biggest moments; He avoids wasted movements; He anticipates the play masterfully; He can play the puck himself better than most NHL goalies; He avoids unforced second chances by the opposition.

We, at McKeen’s, liked him enough in his draft year to feel comfortable projecting him as a rare first round goaltender (although this is growing less rare every year, it seems), and he has only improved over two seasons with Boston College, topping a .930 save percentage each year. His brief, late-season and post-season cameos with Florida only maintained these impressions. Knight will be pushing Bobrovsky for playing time all season, and sooner than later, force Florida into a buyout. He is a star in the making. - RW

Anton Lundell

We don’t yet know whether Lundell will spend the season in the NHL, but we know that there is nothing left for him to figure out in Finland, where he finished his age 19 season as the fifth best scorer on a point-per-game basis of anyone who played at least 20 games. He also captained Team Finland to a Bronze Medal at the WJC, while tying for third overall in tournament scoring among all nations. Finally, he was Finland’s leading scorer at the World Championships. So, yeah, it’s pretty amazing that he was available at 12^th overall in last year’s draft, with all due respect to the 11 taken ahead of him.

Skating will never be his strong suit and is the primary reason why he wasn’t drafted higher, but he knows how to get himself into open space and then capitalize on any opportunities that develop once he gets there. Equal parts creator and finisher, he can seem faster with the puck on his stick than he is when empty-handed. He can seem to lack physicality, but that is a byproduct of his patience, as he prefers to wait for something to develop then to force an error with aggression. Further, he will play in the greasy areas, but lets the play come to him, rather than trying to hunt it down. Even if he doesn’t break into the NHL full time this year, Lundell has first line center upside, and it will be here sooner than later. - RW

Grigori Denisenko

Last summer Denisenko left the KHL with some believing it was too early for him to make the jump. On one hand he had a very good World Juniors that year, while on the other he really had not established himself as a full-time KHL player yet. Unable to secure a KHL loan to start the previous season, Denisenko had to wait for the NHL/AHL to start to play. Thankfully, it does not appear it had any long-term effect, as when the AHL season started he looked totally solid there, even earning a call-up to the NHL, making it to the total of seven NHL games in his debut North American season.

Next season will be quite critical for him in terms of his development as an NHL player. He has the skating ability, a great right-handed shot and the overall attacking skillset. He needs to put everything together consistently and live up to his potential as a top line NHL player. Not easy to predict if he will succeed, but the star potential is certainly there, which should make the Panthers organization and fans really hopeful that he does. - VF

Mackie Samoskevich

Michigan commit Mackie Samoskevich had a season of two halves. He had 10 points within four games, and after a three-point night on January 2nd, giving him 21 points in 14 games, things changed. He was held off the scoresheet for two games, and then was held out of the lineup due to injury for six weeks. When he returned, he still had his moments, but the frequency of his magic was gone, finishing the regular season with 16 more points in 20 games. While some of these inconsistencies can be chalked up to injury recovery, it does make Samoskevich a bit of a gamble as a first round selection.

His best two characteristics are his skating ability and playmaking sense. When healthy, he flies. His ability to get from his own to the offensive end is high-end, regularly forcing the defenses into mistakes. He can maintain that speed over longer distances, but also has the short-area quickness to win races for loose pucks within a zone, and the edges to turn those wins into news playmaking lanes. These are not player comparisons, per se, but you can see some elements of what has made players like Mathew Barzal and Jonathan Huberdeau so successful as NHLers when watching Samoskevich. He will attend the University of Michigan next season and will look to carve out a significant role on that incredibly deep team. Hopefully he is able to improve his consistency, add some muscle, and improve his play away from the puck in his time at Ann Arbor. - RW

Ty Smilanic

One of the biggest 2020 draft day fallers, Florida scooped Smilanic up in the 3^rd round, and the young forward is already making the Panthers feel good about the pick thanks to a very strong freshman campaign with Quinnipiac, tying for the team lead in goals. Perhaps if his draft year had not been inundated with multiple injuries, his potential would have been easier to spot. As is, he is a swift skater, has a well-rounded offensive game – even if he trended much more towards goals this year – and can be utilized in all situations, as his average of over 2.5 minutes of shorthanded ice time per game for the Bobcats indicates.

Currently utilized as a center, there is a school of thought that he would eventually have more value on the wing. There are also questions about how he will hold up when the going gets rougher, as he could seem to shy away from contact at times. Still filling out a lanky 6-1” frame, perhaps added bulk would give him additional assertiveness in the corners. Whatever the case, Florida has no reason to rush Smilanic in his development. He looks to have a middle six upside now, but we will be a lot smarter about his projection after a normal collegiate season next year, instead of playing the same three teams over and over again. Time is still needed, but he is facing the right direction. - RW

Max Gildon

One of the lesser-reported, funky side effects of COVID on the world of North American hockey was that three AHL franchises elected to keep their rinks shut throughout the season. One of those AHL teams was the Florida affiliate in Charlotte. As a result, the Panthers had to find contingency solutions to keep their not-ready-for-primetime prospects on the ice this year. The bulk of them played with Tampa’s affiliate in Syracuse, but a few required third or fourth options for ice time. Gildon was one of those whose solution required creativity, and he ended up spending the season with Edmonton’s farm club in Bakersfield.

Coming fresh out of the University of New Hampshire, his rookie pro season did not go according to plan but was nonetheless very successful. He was Bakersfield’s leading scorer among defenders, and by the season’s second half, was regularly playing upwards of 22 minutes per game, including a few games above 25 minutes of ice time. As an amateur, Gildon always demonstrated a raw, but tantalizing skill set, with an ideal frame, good mobility, solid puck skills, and a sort of intuition that would lead to excitement – at one end of the rink or the other. He still needs at least one more full AHL campaign before we begin to worry about finding him an NHL job, but his development has remained on the right trajectory since draft day. - RW

Serron Noel

It seems as though the last two years of Noel’s development have really plateaued after a promising start to his career as a prospect in the OHL. Under a point per game in his final season in the OHL, Noel was used sparingly on a deep Syracuse team in his first pro season last year in the AHL. The 6’5, 215lbs winger has an intriguing package of size and skill, but a lack of production (or at least a positive step forward) can often be alarming.

Noel skates well for a big player, especially linearly. Due to the power he generates North/South, Noel excels driving the net where he has the skill to finish off plays in tight. However, he still needs to add more dynamic layers to his stride to make him more effective moving through traffic, when he is not able to drive through defenders. Additionally, his play away from the puck needs to become more consistent, especially if he wants to carve out a career as a high end third line winger, which appears to be his likely high-end potential at this point. This coming season Noel will look to establish himself as a consistently productive AHL player who can stay in the lineup for the Crunch. Positive progression is a must this year after two relatively stagnant years. - BO

Evan Nause

An extremely well-rounded defender, Nause may not be flashy, but he is highly effective. After playing with Sioux Falls of the USHL two seasons ago (where he made the USHL All Rookie Team), Nause joined Quebec of the QMJHL this past year. Interestingly enough, he was drafted in the top ten twice in the QMJHL. First by Val-d’or in 2019 (sixth overall), then by Quebec in 2020 (fifth overall). This past year, there was a transition period at the beginning, but as the QMJHL season progressed, he seemed to look more comfortable with each passing month.

A strong skating defender, Nause uses his strong agility and four-way mobility to impact the game at both ends of the ice. He is comfortable and smooth moving backwards and laterally, allowing him to maintain a close gap when defending in transition. He is quick and fluid moving forward allowing him to escape forecheckers in order to create space for clean exits. Nause is also a highly intelligent defender. His exit passes always seem to hit the mark and it is rare to see him turn the puck over, even when he is trying to play with pace. One might wonder, then, why a 6’2 defender with such a well-rounded skill set would be drafted in the late second round. The answer is that Nause’s NHL potential may be limited to more of a secondary role (perhaps a #4-5) due to the fact that his puck skills are average, and his game is simplistic. If Nause’s offensive capabilities improve, he could look like a steal at the draft. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Cole Schwindt

This past year was supposed to be Cole Schwindt’s swan song in the OHL. He likely would have taken another step forward offensively, while leading the Mississauga Steelheads to a solid position in the standings. However, the OHL season was canceled due to the pandemic. Thankfully the Panthers found a place for Schwindt to play in the AHL with Syracuse, even if he played sparingly. Not exactly the banner year he would have likely had, but better than nothing.

Drafted as a potentially elite shutdown defensive forward, Schwindt’s confidence as an offensive player and playmaker has blossomed. He still has the qualities that you look for in a great shutdown forward (size, reach, awareness, skating ability), however Florida must have been really happy to see his play with the puck take such a positive step forward previously. In the AHL, Schwindt played the exact kind of role you would have expected, killing penalties, excelling in the defensive end, and engaging on the forecheck. However, offensively he struggled. This year, in his second AHL season, Schwindt should be an AHL regular, and the Panthers will likely get a better indication of whether he can develop into that elite third line forward, or whether he profiles as more of a depth piece. - BO

Justin Sourdif

After being selected in the third round by the Florida Panthers, Sourdif was returned to Vancouver (WHL) to resume his junior career as an 18-year-old, where he dominated in posting 34 points in just 22 games, showing another level of offensive upside that may not have been as apparent in his draft year. An athletic player with great skating abilities, Sourdif is able to blow by or bulldoze through opponents with equal ease thanks to his lower center of gravity. His release is powerful and can beat goalies from distance or from in front with a deft set of hands. His puck control is excellent, and he excels at going to the correct areas on the ice in order for the puck to find him – traits that should translate well to the pro level.

His awareness in all three zones is generally reminiscent of older players, which should endear him to coaches. He thinks the game well and can play center or wing and contribute on the powerplay or penalty kill. He struggles with consistency and needs to bulk up in order to withstand the rigours of the pro game. He will likely play one final season of junior as a 19-year-old in 2021-22, where he figures to be among the top scorers in the league. - AS

Aleksi Heponiemi

A former standout in the WHL, Heponiemi’s transition to pro hockey has not been seamless. The ultra-quick and creative playmaker has had some trouble adjusting to the strength requirements of the pro game. However, he remains a potential middle six forward for the Panthers and will get an opportunity to be a full time NHL player this season.

Matt Kiersted

One of the top prizes of the college free agent crop this past season, Kiersted has been a winner wherever he has played. After four solid seasons with UND, the strong skating, two-way defender has turned pro. He got into a few games with Florida last year and will look to crack the roster again this season in a third pairing role. However, some time at the AHL level may not be terrible for him either.

John Ludvig

A former standout for Portland of the WHL, the big, physical two-way blueliner had a very good first pro season with Syracuse last year. While the roster crunch (no pun intended) limited his game action, he proved that he could develop into a potential top four defender for the Panthers within the next few seasons, with a profile similar to the Maple Leafs’ Jake Muzzin.

Samuel Montembeault

The 2020/21 season was unquestionably a step backwards for the former third round selection, as he struggled in the AHL after getting a long look in the NHL the year prior. He will continue to serve as Florida’s top injury call-up and still has the chance to become Spencer Knight’s back-up in the future.

Michael Benning

A fourth-round pick in 2020, Benning may not be large (5’8, 180lbs) but he is an extremely talented offensive defender. He was an immediate impact player for the University of Denver as a freshman last season and will look to become one of the top offensive blueliners in college this season as a sophomore.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:09:56 +0000

These are our final prospect ranking prior to the start of the season. As a subscriber you can download the list in an excel chart and can link to the player pages in the chart found here. As always, the rankings you see below are based on our 20-80 scouting system looking at five categories for skaters (Skating, Shot, Puck Skills, Hockey Smarts, Physicality) and six for netminders (Athleticism/Quickness/Speed, Compete/Temperament, Vision/Play Reading, Technique/Style, Rebound Control, Puck Handling). Our prospect team spent large portions of their last few months pre-COVID in the rinks, watching the players below and many others, and further work on video (Instat Hockey has been a terrific resource in recent days) before passing judgement on their future projections.

The 20-80 scouting system is meant to allow players from different leagues in different parts of the world to be compared to one another, such that grades on a player in the OHL can be directly compared to grades from an AHL player, and to grades of someone playing in the MHL.

PROSPECT CRITERIA

Players under 26 years of age as of the September 15th prior (Sep. 15, 1994) to the season in question who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in any one season – or 25 last year (20 for goalies, 15 last season) are considered prospects

RANK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	ACQUIRED
1	Alexis Lafreniere	NYR	LW	19	6-1/195	`20(1st)
2	Tim Stutzle	Ott	C	18	6-1/185	`20(3rd)
3	Quinton Byfield	LA	C	18	6-4/215	`20(2nd)
4	Trevor Zegras	Ana	C	19	6-0/170	`19(9th)
5	Kirill Kaprizov	Min	LW	23	5-10/200	`15(135th)
6	Lucas Raymond	Det	LW	18	5-11/170	`20(4th)
7	Dylan Cozens	Buf	C	19	6-3/185	`19(7th)
8	Bowen Byram	Col	D	19	6-0/195	`19(4th)
9	Peyton Krebs	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`19(17th)
10	Jake Sanderson	Ott	D	18	6-1/185	`20(5th)
11	Moritz Seider	Det	D	19	6-3/185	`19(6th)
12	Jamie Drysdale	Ana	D	18	5-11/175	`20(6th)
13	Igor Shesterkin	NYR	G	25	6-1/190	`14(118th)
14	Alexander Holtz	NJ	RW	18	6-0/190	`20(7th)
15	Cole Perfetti	Wpg	LW	19	5-10/180	`20(10th)
16	Marco Rossi	Min	C	19	5-9/185	`20(9th)
17	Vasili Podkolzin	Van	RW	19	6-1/190	`19(10th)
18	Victor Soderstrom	Ari	D	19	5-11/180	`19(11th)
19	Nick Robertson	Tor	LW	19	5-9/160	`19(53rd)
20	Cole Caufield	Mtl	RW	19	5-7/165	`19(15th)
21	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	18	6-3/175	`20(11th)
22	Spencer Knight	Fla	G	19	6-3/195	`19(13th)
23	Philip Broberg	Edm	D	19	6-3/200	`19(8th)
24	Jack Quinn	Buf	RW	19	6-0/180	`20(8th)
25	Matthew Boldy	Min	LW	19	6-1/190	`19(12th)
26	Nils Lundkvist	NYR	D	20	5-11/180	`18(28th)
27	Seth Jarvis	Car	RW	18	5-10/175	`20(13th)
28	Ty Smith	NJ	D	20	5-10/180	`18(17th)
29	Grigori Denisenko	Fla	LW	20	5-11/185	`18(15th)
30	Barrett Hayton	Ari	C	20	6-1/190	`18(5th)
31	Alex Newhook	Col	C	19	5-10/195	`19(16th)
32	Thomas Harley	Dal	D	19	6-3/190	`19(18th)
33	Alex Turcotte	LA	C	19	5-11/185	`19(5th)
34	Vitali Kravtsov	NYR	RW	21	6-3/185	`18(9th)
35	Philip Tomasino	Nsh	C	19	5-11/180	`19(24th)
36	Connor McMichael	Wsh	C	19	5-11/175	`19(25th)
37	Dawson Mercer	NJ	C	19	6-0/180	`20(18th)
38	Ilya Sorokin	NYI	G	25	6-2/180	`14(78th)
39	Gabriel Vilardi	LA	RW	21	6-3/200	`17(11th)
40	Ryan Merkley	SJ	D	20	5-11/170	`18(21st)
41	Alexander Romanov	Mtl	D	20	5-11/185	`18(38th)
42	Kaiden Guhle	Mtl	D	18	6-2/190	`20(16th)
43	Samuel Poulin	Pit	LW	19	6-1/205	`19(21st)
44	K'Andre Miller	NYR	D	20	6-3/205	`18(22nd)
45	Scott Perunovich	StL	D	22	5-10/175	`18(45th)
46	Evan Bouchard	Edm	D	21	6-2/195	`18(10th)
47	Braden Schneider	NYR	D	19	6-2/200	`20(19th)
48	Juuso Valimaki	Cgy	D	22	6-2/205	`17(16th)
49	Cam York	Phi	D	19	5-11/175	`19(14th)
50	Anton Lundell	Fla	C	19	6-1/185	`20(12th)
51	Morgan Frost	Phi	C	21	5-11/180	`17(27th)
52	Owen Tippett	Fla	RW	21	6-1/200	`17(10th)
53	Albert Johansson	Det	D	19	5-11/165	`19(60th)
54	Liam Foudy	CBJ	C	20	6-0/175	`18(18th)
55	Kieffer Bellows	NYI	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(19th)
56	Arthur Kaliyev	LA	RW	19	6-2/190	`19(33rd)
57	Oliver Wahlstrom	NYI	RW	20	6-1/205	`18(11th)
58	Nils Hoglander	Van	RW	20	5-9/185	`19(40th)
59	Matias Maccelli	Ari	LW	20	5-11/170	`19(98th)
60	Tobias Bjornfot	LA	D	19	6-0/200	`19(22nd)
61	Jacob Bernard-Docker	Ott	D	20	6-0/180	`18(26th)
62	Connor Zary	Cgy	C	19	6-0/180	`20(24th)
63	Dominik Bokk	Car	RW	20	6-1/180	T(StL-9/19)
64	Ryan Suzuki	Car	C	19	6-0/180	`19(28th)
65	Dylan Samberg	Wpg	D	21	6-3/190	`17(43rd)
66	Jake Bean	Car	D	22	6-1/175	`16(13th)
67	Josh Norris	Ott	C	21	6-1/195	T(SJ-9/18)
68	Rasmus Kupari	LA	C	20	6-1/185	`18(20th)
69	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	19	5-9/165	`19(26th)
70	Drake Batherson	Ott	RW	22	6-1/190	`17(121st)
71	Jan Jenik	Ari	RW	20	6-1/180	`18(65th)
72	John-Jason Peterka	Buf	LW	18	5-11/190	`20(34th)
73	Kirill Marchenko	CBJ	LW	20	6-3/190	`18(49th)
74	Bode Wilde	NYI	D	20	6-2/195	`18(41st)
75	John Beecher	Bos	C	19	6-3/210	`19(30th)
76	Tyler Madden	LA	C	21	5-10/155	T(Van-2/20)
77	Jack Studnicka	Bos	C	21	6-1/170	`17(53rd)
78	Jake Oettinger	Dal	G	22	6-4/210	`17(26th)
79	Alex Formenton	Ott	LW	21	6-2/165	`17(47th)
80	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	19	6-3/200	`19(49th)
81	Calen Addison	Min	D	20	5-10/180	T(Pit-2/20)
82	Ty Dellandrea	Dal	C	20	6-0/185	`18(13th)
83	Akil Thomas	LA	C	20	5-11/170	`18(51st)
84	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	18	5-10/180	`20(30th)
85	Ian Mitchell	Chi	D	21	5-11/175	`17(57th)
86	Jason Robertson	Dal	LW	21	6-2/195	`17(39th)
87	Hendrix Lapierre	Wsh	C	18	5-11/180	`20(22nd)
88	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`20(29th)
89	Theodor Niederbach	Det	C	18	5-11/175	`20(51st)
90	Zac Jones	NYR	D	20	5-10/175	`19(68th)
91	Robert Mastrosimone	Det	LW	19	5-10/160	`19(54th)
92	Joe Veleno	Det	C	20	6-1/195	`18(30th)
93	Rodion Amirov	Tor	LW	19	6-0/170	`20(15th)
94	Jake Neighbours	StL	LW	18	5-11/195	`20(26th)
95	Julien Gauthier	NYR	RW	23	6-4/225	T(Car-2/20)
96	Justus Annunen	Col	G	20	6-4/215	`18(64th)
97	Egor Zamula	Phi	D	20	6-4/175	FA(9/18)
98	Shane Pinto	Ott	C	20	6-2/190	`19(32nd)
99	Noel Gunler	Car	RW	19	6-2/175	`20(41st)
100	Ridly Greig	Ott	C	18	5-11/165	`20(28th)
101	Jesse Ylonen	Mtl	RW	21	6-1/185	`18(35th)
102	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	20	6-0/195	`19(50th)
103	Mattias Norlinder	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`19(64th)
104	Olli Juolevi	Van	D	22	6-3/200	`16(5th)
105	Kristian Vesalainen	Wpg	LW	21	6-3/205	`17(24th)
106	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	20	6-4/195	`19(38th)
107	Jan Mysak	Mtl	C	18	5-11/180	`20(49th)
108	Cayden Primeau	Mtl	G	21	6-3/180	`17(199th)
109	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	LW	20	6-1/170	`19(79th)
110	Morgan Barron	NYR	C	22	6-2/200	`17(174th)
111	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	19	5-11/180	`19(20th)
112	Dylan Holloway	Edm	C	19	6-0/205	`20(14th)
113	Jack Dugan	VGK	RW	22	6-2/185	`17(142nd)
114	Alexander Khovanov	Min	C	20	5-11/195	`18(86th)
115	Jacob Perreault	Ana	RW	18	5-11/195	`20(27th)
116	Jake Evans	Mtl	C	24	6-0/185	`14(207th)
117	Adam Beckman	Min	LW	19	6-1/170	`19(75th)
118	Jett Woo	Van	D	20	6-0/205	`18(37th)
119	Nolan Foote	NJ	LW	20	6-3/190	T(TB-2/20)
120	Logan Brown	Ott	C	22	6-6/220	`16(11th)
121	Martin Kaut	Col	RW	21	6-1/175	`18(16th)
122	Jack Rathbone	Van	D	21	5-10/175	`17(95th)
123	Ozzy Wiesblatt	SJ	RW	18	5-10/185	`20(31st)
124	Ryan O'Rourke	Min	D	18	6-0/180	`20(39th)
125	Lukas Reichel	Chi	LW	18	6-0/170	`20(17th)
126	Jordan Harris	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`18(71st)
127	Lukas Dostal	Ana	G	20	6-1/170	`18(85th)
128	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/205	`19(45th)
129	Conor Timmins	Col	D	22	6-1/185	`17(32nd)
130	Lassi Thomson	Ott	D	20	6-0/190	`19(19th)
131	Eeli Tolvanen	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/175	`17(30th)
132	Kasper Simontaival	LA	RW	18	5-9/180	`20(66th)
133	Roni Hirvonen	Tor	C	18	5-9/165	`20(59th)
134	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	18	5-9/180	`20(38th)
135	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	Ana	C	20	6-1/195	`18(54th)
136	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	18	6-4/200	`20(44th)
137	Tyson Foerster	Phi	C	18	6-1/195	`20(23rd)
138	Helge Grans	LA	D	18	6-2/205	`20(35th)
139	Jonathan Dahlen	SJ	LW	23	5-11/185	T(Van-2/19)
140	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	18	5-11/175	`20(37th)
141	Alexander Alexeyev	Wsh	D	21	6-3/200	`18(31st)
142	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	Pit	D	21	6-2/170	`17(23rd)
143	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	18	5-10/160	`20(64th)
144	Oskari Laaksonen	Buf	D	21	6-2/165	`17(89th)
145	Filip Hallander	Tor	LW	20	6-1/185	T(Pit-8/20)
146	Serron Noel	Fla	RW	20	6-5/205	`18(34th)
147	Martin Chromiak	LA	LW	18	6-0/185	`20(128th)
148	Shakir Mukhamadullin	NJ	D	18	6-3/180	`20(20th)
149	Mattias Samuelsson	Buf	D	20	6-3/215	`18(32nd)
150	Janne Kuokkanen	NJ	LW	22	6-1/190	T(Car-2/20)
151	Ryan Johnson	Buf	D	19	6-0/175	`19(31st)
152	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	19	5-8/175	`20(124th)
153	Martin Fehervary	Wsh	D	21	6-1/190	`18(46th)
154	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	Buf	G	21	6-4/195	`17(54th)
155	Will Lockwood	Van	RW	22	5-11/175	`16(64th)
156	Isac Lundestrom	Ana	C	21	6-0/185	`18(23rd)
157	Michael DiPietro	Van	G	21	6-0/195	`17(64th)
158	Jonatan Berggren	Det	RW	20	5-10/185	`18(33rd)
159	Kevin Bahl	NJ	D	20	6-6/230	T(Ari-12/19)
160	Aliaksei Protas	Wsh	C	19	6-5/205	`19(91st)
161	Reilly Walsh	NJ	D	21	5-11/180	`17(81st)
162	Nick Abruzzese	Tor	C	21	5-9/160	`19(124th)
163	Tyler Tucker	StL	D	20	6-1/205	`18(200th)
164	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	19	5-10/170	`19(129th)
165	Klim Kostin	StL	C	21	6-3/195	`17(31st)
166	Brayden Tracey	Ana	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(29th)
167	Joel Hofer	StL	G	20	6-3/160	`18(107th)
168	Joey Anderson	Tor	RW	22	6-0/195	T(NJ-10/20)
169	Yegor Spiridonov	SJ	C	19	6-2/195	`19(108th)
170	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	19	6-1/205	`20(36th)
171	Joey Keane	Car	D	21	6-0/185	T(NYR-2/20)
172	Jared McIsaac	Det	D	20	6-1/195	`18(36th)
173	Jamieson Rees	Car	C	19	5-10/175	`19(44th)
174	Ivan Morozov	VGK	C	20	6-1/180	`18(61st)
175	Rem Pitlick	Nsh	C	23	5-11/200	`16(76th)
176	Tyce Thompson	NJ	RW	21	6-0/170	`19(96th)
177	Michael McLeod	NJ	C	22	6-2/195	`16(12th)
178	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	LA	C	21	5-11/190	`17(41st)
179	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	19	6-0/165	`19(214th)
180	Antti Tuomisto	Det	D	19	6-4/190	`19(35th)
181	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	18	5-9/155	`20(134th)
182	Luke Evangelista	Nsh	RW	18	5-11/170	`20(42nd)
183	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	18	6-1/180	`20(52nd)
184	Joni Ikonen	Mtl	C	21	5-10/170	`17(58th)
185	Olivier Rodrigue	Edm	G	20	6-1/165	`18(62nd)
186	Lucas Elvenes	VGK	RW	21	6-0/175	`17(127th)
187	Anthony Angello	Pit	RW	24	6-5/205	`14(145th)
188	Tuukka Tieksola	Car	RW	19	5-10/160	`19(121st)
189	Declan Chisholm	Wpg	D	20	6-1/190	`18(150th)
190	Cole Koepke	TB	LW	22	6-1/195	`18(183rd)
191	Valtteri Puustinen	Pit	RW	21	5-9/185	`19(203rd)
192	Ty Smilanic	Fla	C	18	6-1/175	`20(74th)
193	Patrik Puistola	Car	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(73rd)
194	Justin Barron	Col	D	19	6-2/190	`20(25th)
195	Andrew Peeke	CBJ	D	22	6-3/210	`16(34th)
196	Michael Vukojevic	NJ	D	19	6-3/210	`19(82nd)
197	Alec Regula	Chi	D	20	6-3/200	T(Det-10/19)
198	Connor Corcoran	VGK	D	20	6-1/185	`18(154th)
199	Jeremy Swayman	Bos	G	22	6-1/190	`17(111th)
200	Pyotr Kochetkov	Car	G	21	6-1/175	`19(36th)
201	Mikey Anderson	LA	D	21	6-0/195	`17(103rd)
202	Carter Savoie	Edm	LW	18	5-9/190	`20(100th)
203	Samuel Walker	TB	C	21	5-11/160	`17(200th)
204	William Wallinder	Det	D	18	6-4/190	`20(32nd)
205	Jack Drury	Car	C	20	5-11/180	`18(42nd)
206	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	18	5-9/185	`20(54th)
207	Cal Petersen	LA	G	26	6-3/190	FA(7/17)
208	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	18	6-0/200	`20(72nd)
209	Tarmo Reunanen	NYR	D	22	6-0/180	`16(98th)
210	Simon Holmstrom	NYI	RW	19	6-1/185	`19(23rd)
211	Aleksi Saarela	Fla	RW	23	5-11/200	T(Chi-10/19)
212	Anton Johannesson	Wpg	D	18	5-9/155	`20(133rd)
213	Lauri Pajuniemi	NYR	RW	21	6-0/185	`18(132nd)
214	Morgan Geekie	Car	C	22	6-2/180	`17(67th)
215	Shane Bowers	Col	C	21	6-2/190	T(Ott-11/17)
216	Sasha Chmelevski	SJ	C	21	5-11/190	`17(185th)
217	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	20	5-8/155	`18(43rd)
218	Cole Schwindt	Fla	RW	19	6-2/185	`19(81st)
219	Hugo Alnefelt	TB	G	19	6-3/195	`19(71st)
220	Nikita Okhotyuk	NJ	D	20	6-1/195	`19(61st)
221	Sampo Ranta	Col	LW	20	6-2/205	`18(78th)
222	Alexander Volkov	TB	LW	23	6-1/190	`17(48th)
223	Alexander True	SJ	C	23	6-5/205	FA(7/18)
224	John Leonard	SJ	C	22	5-11/190	`18(182nd)
225	Carl Grundstrom	LA	LW	23	6-0/195	T(Tor-1/19)
226	Dmitri Semykin	TB	D	20	6-3/200	`18(90th)
227	Cal Foote	TB	D	22	6-4/215	`17(14th)
228	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	18	5-11/175	`20(75th)
229	Alex Barre-Boulet	TB	C	23	5-10/165	FA(3/18)
230	Tristen Robins	SJ	RW	19	5-10/175	`20(56th)
231	Max Gildon	Fla	D	21	6-3/190	`17(66th)
232	Nikita Alexandrov	StL	C	20	6-0/180	`19(62nd)
233	Michael Benning	Fla	D	18	5-9/180	`20(95th)
234	Justin Sourdif	Fla	RW	18	5-11/175	`20(87th)
235	Tanner Laczynski	Phi	C	23	6-1/200	`16(169th)
236	Eamon Powell	TB	D	18	5-11/165	`20(116th)
237	Kaedan Korczak	VGK	D	19	6-3/190	`19(41st)
238	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	18	6-1/180	`20(47th)
239	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	21	5-10/175	`18(171st)
240	Pius Suter	Chi	C	24	5-11/170	FA(7/20)
241	Wade Allison	Phi	RW	23	6-2/205	`16(52nd)
242	Bobby Brink	Phi	RW	19	5-10/165	`19(34th)
243	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	18	5-10/180	`20(68th)
244	David Farrance	Nsh	D	21	5-11/190	`17(92nd)
245	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	18	6-2/185	`20(33rd)
246	Dmitri Voronkov	CBJ	LW	20	6-4/190	`19(114th)
247	German Rubtsov	Phi	C	22	6-2/190	`16(22nd)
248	Vitaly Abramov	Ott	RW	22	5-9/175	T(CBJ-2/19)
249	Alex Laferriere	LA	RW	19	6-0/175	`20(83rd)
250	Trey Fix-Wolansky	CBJ	RW	21	5-8/185	`18(204th)
251	Isaac Ratcliffe	Phi	LW	21	6-5/200	`17(35th)
252	Kale Clague	LA	D	22	6-0/180	`16(51st)
253	Landon Slaggert	Chi	LW	18	5-11/180	`20(79th)
254	Wyatt Kalynuk	Chi	D	23	6-1/180	FA(7/20)
255	Mikko Kokkonen	Tor	D	19	5-11/200	`19(84th)
256	Kevin Mandolese	Ott	G	20	6-4/180	`18(157th)
257	Daniil Tarasov	CBJ	G	21	6-5/185	`17(86th)
258	Evan Barratt	Chi	C	21	6-0/190	`17(90th)
259	Tyler Benson	Edm	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(32nd)
260	Yegor Korshkov	Tor	RW	24	6-4/215	`16(31st)
261	Hunter Skinner	NYR	D	19	6-2/175	`19(112th)
262	Riley Damiani	Dal	C	20	5-9/165	`18(137th)
263	Ryan McLeod	Edm	C	21	6-2/205	`18(40th)
264	Ilya Konovalov	Edm	G	22	6-0/195	`19(85th)
265	Will Cuylle	NYR	LW	18	6-3/205	`20(60th)
266	Evan Vierling	NYR	C	18	6-0/165	`20(127th)
267	Emil Heineman	Fla	LW	19	6-0/180	`20(43rd)
268	Zayde Wisdom	Phi	RW	18	5-10/195	`20(94th)
269	Hunter Jones	Min	G	20	6-4/195	`19(59th)
270	Ty Tullio	Edm	RW	18	5-10/165	`20(126th)
271	Jordan Spence	LA	D	19	5-10/165	`19(95th)
272	Dmitri Zavgorodny	Cgy	LW	20	5-9/175	`18(198th)
273	Alex Beaucage	Col	RW	19	6-1/195	`19(78th)
274	Matiss Kivlenieks	CBJ	G	24	6-2/190	FA(5/17)
275	Artyom Zub	Ott	D	25	6-2/200	FA(5/20)
276	Urho Vaakanainen	Bos	D	22	6-0/185	`17(18th)
277	Dmitri Samorukov	Edm	D	21	6-2/180	`17(84th)
278	Michal Teply	Chi	LW	19	6-3/185	`19(105th)
279	Colby Ambrosio	Col	C	18	5-8/170	`20(118th)
280	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	20	6-7/195	`19(37th)
281	Jeremy Lauzon	Bos	D	23	6-3/205	`15(52nd)
282	Dennis Gilbert	Col	D	24	6-2/200	T(Chi-10/20)
283	Trent Frederic	Bos	C	22	6-4/215	`16(29th)
284	Lucas Carlsson	Chi	D	23	6-0/190	`16(110th)
285	Zack Macewen	Van	RW	24	6-3/205	FA(3/17)
286	Brandon Hagel	Chi	LW	22	6-1/175	FA(10/18)
287	Vasily Ponomarev	Car	C	18	5-10/180	`20(53rd)
288	Jakub Zboril	Bos	D	23	6-1/200	`15(13th)
289	Garrett Pilon	Wsh	RW	22	5-11/190	`16(87th)
290	Jeremy Bracco	Car	RW	23	5-9/180	FA(10/20)
291	Dylan Sikura	VGK	RW	25	6-0/170	T(Chi-9/20)
292	Kyle Capobianco	Ari	D	23	6-1/180	`15(63rd)
293	Sami Niku	Wpg	D	24	6-0/175	`15(198th)
294	John Farinacci	Ari	C	19	5-11/185	`19(76th)
295	Jackson Lacombe	Ana	D	19	6-1/170	`19(39th)
296	David Cotton	Car	LW	23	6-3/205	`15(169th)
297	Erik Portillo	Buf	G	20	6-6/210	`19(67th)
298	Jacob Truscott	Van	D	18	6-1/170	`20(144th)
299	Mikhail Berdin	Wpg	G	22	6-2/165	`16(157th)
300	Cam Hillis	Mtl	C	20	5-10/170	`18(66th)

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Florida Panthers Top 20 Prospects

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 12:47:18 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Florida Panthers 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.

Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hailed as the top goaltending prospect heading into college hockey last season, Knight has only solidified the hype, leading Boston College to a regular-season Hockey East championship and earning a spot on Hockey East’s All-Rookie team thanks to a solid save percentage, while playing in all but one game. He can clear the puck quickly and tracks it very well. He possesses a quick stick when clearing the crease and he has quick reflexes. He won’t make many “wow” saves, but that is a good thing as it means he isn’t being caught out of position. While there are many qualities of Knight’s game to like, there are two that indicate his high likelihood of becoming an NHL goaltender - his size and speed in the net. He is 6-3” and fills the net nicely, leaving few obvious holes. The game gets quicker at each level and his ability to keep up and even excel as a freshman is a good sign for his ability to adapt. While he is expected to return to school for another season, he is already not far from being ready for the next step. - JS

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

The complete package offensively and with the potential to be one of the highest scoring players in the NHL, it is important to remember that it is hard for young Russian players to earn quality ice time in the KHL, regardless of player skill or production, and that was the case for Denisenko, who found himself in a bottom six role most nights with Lokomotiv. An exciting prospect because of the intensity he plays with, in combination with his high end skill level, he plays the game hard, brings a physical element, and loves to get under the skin of the opposition as a pest. While discipline can be an occasional issue, his ferocity is an integral part of his game as he looks to push the pace and attack the offensive zone. He has the speed, hands, and finishing ability, and the creativity to be one of the best players on the planet. Outside of discipline, Denisenko’s main knock is consistency. Given how hard he plays, he could easily start his NHL career in a checking line role and still find success, but he should be able to work his way up the lineup. – BO

Anton Lundell, C (12^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A big chunk of Lundell’s attractiveness is in the maturity of his game. He helps move the flow of the game in the right direction, winning a loose puck in his own end and dishing to a teammate better positioned to carry it up the ice; getting his stick on the puck as a forechecker, forcing a fumble; creeping away from coverage to make himself a target for a pass in a better spot; always being in the right side of the puck defensively; making the right pass out of pressure. I could go on. Lundell lacks flash, so a defender might shade away, but Lundell notices and makes the defender pay. He is effective in a high paced game thanks to his ability to process the game and anticipate. He is a very good puck mover. He is an accomplished finisher thanks to the accuracy of his wrist and snap shots. His top speed is fine, even if he lacks strong acceleration. His floor is in the NHL. The areas where he currently comes up short of awesome are all areas that can be improved with time. It is harder to teach what he already has. – RW

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Skilled winger Tippett has an exemplary attitude both on and off the ice and boasts a skill set and maturity level that even many seasoned players lack. He was on the cusp of making the Panthers’ roster last season as he was leading AHL Springfield in points as well as ice time among forwards. He has made one of the smoother transitions from the OHL to the AHL last season, perhaps only matched by Bruins’ forward Jack Studnicka in terms of performance and impact. His work ethic and shooting ability are both impressive, and his drive to make plays during special team’s situations makes him an asset. The only thing that needs slight work is Tippett’s defensive positioning but that will come with more time spent at the professional level. Overall, he is a fabulous forward and makes his presence felt every shift. The hope is that he stays healthy and continues to develop and by next season he should be making his NHL debut. - SC

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

After such a strong post draft season in 2018-19, Noel disappointed last season. Not only did his offensive game and consistency regress but didn’t even earn a sniff at the WJC. A very big power forward, Noel still possesses NHL impact potential. He skates well for a bigger player, showing the ability to drive through defenders on the way to the net. His hands and finishing ability in tight are excellent. When he is on his game, he also makes a large impact physically, using size, reach, and skating ability to close in on opposing players quickly. Unfortunately, he can struggle to create his own scoring chances because his puck skills and overall agility both still require development. Additionally, his physical game took a step back, as the consistency of his engagement level without the puck was absent. Florida will have to be patient with Noel as he moves to the professional level this season. He still projects as a middle six power forward who can score, however he may need more time in the AHL than originally thought. – BO

Ty Smilanic, C (74^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Despite missing close to one third of his draft year due to an assortment of injuries and illnesses, Smilanic always returned to action quicker than expected, even if his performance was rusty. As a result, his skillset was demonstrated inconsistently. He occasionally flashed plus straight-ahead speed and quality edge work. He is very good at creating room for himself and is a cycle master. He also has the wherewithal to change speeds, keeping defenders at bay and generating space to move the puck around. He can drive the play with both his feet and his decision making. He was sometimes too deliberate with the puck, limiting his effectiveness. This trait left some to occasionally question his creativity and offensive upside, but with none of the issues being chronic in nature, we should expect him to get back to his previous upwards trajectory in short order with Quinnipiac. Smilanic has a very good head for the game and will be, at bare minimum, a very reliable player who can be trusted to give his all in all situations. With a touch more flash, he will have opponents on their heels regularly. – RW

Aleksi Saarela, C (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89^th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 5)

Saarela has had a frustrating start to his North American career, good enough to earn call ups to the NHL but still not quite managing to stick for good. Now in his fourth organization (NYR, Car, Chi came first), he is a force when it comes to pure strength and stability on the ice, as he is an all-round skilled player. Despite being moved many times, he has done well at making the necessary adjustments needed to succeed since joining the Panthers’ system. Last season he finished second in forward points with the Falcons and managed to be a consistent member of their special teams as well. Next season he will have to do better at being present and not turning the puck over in the neutral zone. He is a good two-way player but he needs to avoid developing lazy habits in his own end or cheating and leaving too early when exiting the zone. Saarela deserves a break and has what it takes to be given a proper chance, where his skating, puck possession, and overall hockey sense can be put on show. He would make a decent addition to Florida’s bottom six. - SC

Cole Schwindt, C (81^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

It was a breakout season for the Mississauga Steelhead center, who finished the year exceptionally well and has positioned himself for an even larger breakout next year. Schwindt has the body and make-up of a terrific third line center. He plays and excels in all situations. He protects the puck well through traffic, using his wide base and reach to keep defenders at bay. He plays with intensity in all three zones and has become one of the better two-way forwards in the OHL. Additionally, his skating has improved further, giving him more of an extra gear to aid in his ability to generate offense in transition, and to help him be more effective away from the puck. Next year, Schwindt should continue to improve and has to be considered one of the more underrated prospects currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League. The offensive upside may be somewhat limited, but his game is so well rounded that it is difficult to see him failing to become an NHL player in the future. - BO

Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

A Texas product, Gildon spent his youth playing locally until he went to the USNTDP. He played in the WU-18 tournament, where he won a gold medal while scoring the most goals by a defenseman and being named to the tournament’s all-star team. The third-round pick signed with the Panthers after three years with the UNH Wildcats. Gildon has always been able to contribute offensively, and he led New Hampshire in scoring last season. He is a smooth skater with good stick handling skills. He is physical and isn’t afraid of taking a hit to play the puck, but because of his good defensive stick, he doesn’t need physicality to dislodge the puck from opponents. He appeared on the first power play unit and quarterbacked it well thanks to his vision and ability to cycle. He can weave through his opponents smoothly. He is gifted, but still raw, and needs a season or two in the AHL before hitting the NHL. – JS

Michael Benning, D (95^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Benning is a high upside puck moving defender with very intriguing offensive potential. He is at home on the point as a powerplay quarterback. His edgework is extremely crisp, creating power in his lateral movements. He can shift quickly without losing speed and get back into stride very smoothly, allowing him to spin off defenders to create passing and shooting lanes. He also shows well navigating traffic through the neutral zone as a facilitator in transition and is an overall aggressive offensive player. He is constantly looking to attack, leading the rush out of his own end. The question is whether Benning defends well enough to play consistently at even strength. He is undersized and has a tendency to get bullied in his own end, even if he is a willing combatant. He also plays a high-risk game, leaving him susceptible to being out of position defensively with the need to scramble. His overall game is quite raw, and it will be interesting to see how he handles a new challenge next year in the NCAA. – BO

Justin Sourdif, C/RW (87^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

While Sourdif’s offensive production doesn’t immediately jump out at you as elite, his even strength performance was quite strong, and right up there with some fellow WHL’ers who were taken in the first round. Sourdif perhaps gets lost in the shuffle because his physical tools leave some to be desired, but he is an extremely effective and well-rounded player. His speed and explosiveness are best summarized as average, however his brain operates more quickly and he can therefore play at a quicker pace. He is equal parts goal scorer and playmaker, and equally effective both with and without the puck. He possesses a strong wrist shot, a quick release, and is great at jumping gaps, anticipating openings before they happen. He can pick apart defensive zone coverage by changing pace and direction with the puck and has the hands and creativity to play through traffic. A strong two-way center, he uses his high IQ to apply pressure on both the forecheck and the backcheck. He is often the first forward back and is terrific at defending the middle, taking away shooting lanes in the slot. As he gains strength, second line center is not out of the question. – BO

Emil Heineman, LW (43^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Heineman came out of nowhere to light up the Swedish junior leagues in his draft year, scoring nearly a goal per game, and later looking at ease in a shorter cameo in the SHL. Time will tell if this was more a matter of skill blooming or simply being more physically mature than most of the competition, but he has some strong qualities. Heineman is an explosive straight-line skater who generates a great deal of speed coming down the wing. He is also a strong goal scorer with an NHL caliber wrist shot. He scores most often off the rush or with some room from the circles and understands how to slip behind defenders to get open. He is also a solid energy player who uses his speed to create havoc on the forecheck and who shows potential as a strong defensive forward. His puck skills, agility, and playmaking all level out as average, which probably limits his overall potential. That said, there is still enough there to suggest that, even if he doesn’t develop further as a goal scorer, he can be an effective NHL role player. – BO

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Kolyachonok has everything you would look for in a future shutdown defender at the NHL level. He has good size. He skates extremely well, showing an explosive first few strides and fluid lateral movement. This helps him to not only shutdown the transition game of opponents, but he is so quick to close in on attackers and loose pucks that teams have trouble setting up in the defensive zone when Kolyachonok is on the ice. Offensively, he has a big point shot and he makes a strong outlet pass. On the other hand, he is not a creative player or someone that should be expected to put up large offensive numbers at the next level. Playing a smart, composed, and safe game, Kolyachonok projects as a possible second pairing, defensively oriented defender at the NHL level. He returns to Flint next year where he will look to continue to evolve as a two-way defender, perhaps gaining confidence in his ability to use his strengths as a skater to help lead the breakout. - BO

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Heponiemi, who had a lot of success playing major junior and in the less gritty Liiga, had a very unkind season as he transitioned into the AHL this past season. As one of the lightest players in the AHL, he seemed to have difficulty holding onto the puck, often getting separated from it too easily and not winning his battles enough. Although still nifty and creative on the ice, there were certainly more limitations apparent as he took on a new league and level of play, with a lack of weight or the strength needed to be a strong puck carrier and offensive threat in the AHL. Of course there are always exceptions and players like Elias Pettersson who are exceptionally skilled, work hard, and who weigh under 180lbs, but those players are rare and for Heponiemi to prove himself as a great, he will have to get much stronger and dominant on the puck in another go-round in the AHL, to earn a callup as a bottom six forward. - SC

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42^nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Previous ranking: 10)

After playing top minutes with the Carolina Hurricanes feeder team in Charlotte and earning top power play ice time as well, the smooth skating forward was traded to the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline. Although he only managed to fit in five games before the COVID-19 break, Luostarinen brings starting line experience and strong skating and puck handling skills. He is not a terribly showy player, but his technical skills stand out when the puck is on his stick. He has the potential to make plays happen at the NHL level with the Florida Panthers as part of their quiet but deadly bottom six, however he needs to be better without the puck and more aggressive and physical when forechecking and battling. Luostarinen will start the season back in his native Finland with KalPa in the Liiga as European leagues are getting underway even while the game in North America is in wait-and-see mode, but expect to see him earn his first call up to the Florida Panthers later in the season. – SC

Kasper Puutio, D (153^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Despite spending much of his draft year on the worst team in the WHL, Puutio still managed to shine in his North American debut season. A slick skating puck mover, he combines high end agility and edge work to achieve solid speed and perfect crossovers, and as a result, his positioning is near flawless. Trusting in his wheels, he plays a very calm game, with tremendous poise. He generally makes the safe play in his own zone, but also has a knack for timing his plays such that he waits out the opposition to make a better pass than a more skittish defender would. The right-handed shot is more of a quick puck mover than a static blueline bomber. Without a lot of flash, he profiles as a potential #4/5 option on a solid team as long as he grows a little stronger, such that he can more vigorously defend his netminder’s crease. Puutio has returned to Finland for the 2020-21 season, back to the Karpat system he grew up in, and is now spending most of his playing against men in Liiga. – RW

Justin Schutz, LW (170^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

The young forward wrapped up the 19-20 season, his first as a full-time pro, with DEL regular season champion Red Bulls Munich, where he joined the slightly younger JJ Peterka on an all-kid line. Were it not for the names on the back of the jerseys, you would hardly be able to tell the two players apart on the ice. Their skating and style of play is that similar in the grand scheme of things. Of average height, but solidly built, Schutz reads the game very well and plays as if he's doing exactly what his coach is telling him to do, leading one to believe that he wasn't allowed to demonstrate his full abilities. Solid hands and puck decisions are accompanied by strong skating attributes and a very solid work ethic. He proved to be very adept in 1-on-1 situations, often those along the boards, against men at the pro level. He will return to the Munich club for another season next year. - CL

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

There is a lot to like about Hutsko, a former third-round draft pick. He went from Shattuck St. Mary’s to a key role in the middle of the USNTDP lineup. He also appeared in the World Hockey Classic U-17. As a freshman, he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and was awarded the Hockey East Rookie of the Year. He is a fast skater and makes his skating look effortless. He also drives the net hard. Hutsko has good stick handling abilities and played a regular role on BC’s power play. He is definitely more on the underrated side, however there is one big question mark surrounding his game that has seeing held him back— injuries. Hutsko has been injury prone throughout his career and missed nearly the entire 2016-17 season. He has had some bad luck, and whether or not he can stay healthy will decide ultimately what, if any, NHL career he can have. – JS

Devon Levi, G (212^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

It was quite the year for the 6-0” goaltender out of the CCHL. Not only was he the CCHL Top Goalie and MVP, but he was also honored as the CJHL top Goalie and MVP as the best player in all of Canadian Junior A. Levi also helped Canada East reach the final of the World Junior A Challenge, earning MVP at an event that features some of the best draft eligible players in the world. While he may not have the elite size that scouts are looking for, he makes up for it by utilizing his athleticism to cover his angles well, reading and reacting to the play as well as any goaltender available in North America last year. Outside of his height, he has practically everything a team might want in a goaltending prospect, not too dissimilar to Dustin Wolf from the 2019 draft class. A late bloomer who shows clear NHL qualities, Levi will head to Northeastern next year and be the starter for a top NCAA program. – BO

Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 13)

Often times goaltenders need more time to come into their own and develop than do skaters and this may be just the case for Montembeault, who has spent exactly 25 games up with the Panthers over the years, and has experienced moderate success. It just does not feel like he is ready to make the full time jump to the NHL and still has more room to develop. He is agile, quick, and tracks the puck well but he is still missing aspects of his game where it comes to reading how quickly NHL plays develop. He has the potential to start more games in the NHL, but for now it is up in the air as to whether he is capable of being a starter or not, depending on his continued development. Let it be known that Montembeault certainly has the compete level and spirit to do so but the rest is up to his physical performance in net. - SC

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – FLORIDA PANTHERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 4

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 19:33:33 +0000

Florida Panthers

One of the fun things about writing these little team essays to kick off each top 15 is that I get to discuss whatever interests me about a given team. Maybe they scout heavily from a particular geographic area, or they ignore an area altogether. Maybe the system is well-balanced, or particularly unbalanced.

The Florida Panthers have an excellent system. They have made some seriously funky selections over the years to raise the odd eyebrow. Some have worked out splendidly, or are in the course of doing so, like #11 Justin Schutz below, drafted out of the Red Bull Akademie playing in the Czech U18 league. Sometimes they don’t work out, like the majority of players they have selected in recent years who have taken the collegiate route. This clearly doesn’t apply to the likes of Spencer Knight, Max Gildon, or Logan Hutsko, all on this list, but too many of their collegiate prospects are in grave danger of not being worth an ELC once they exhaust their NCAA eligibility.

But these are not the points I wish to make about the exceptionally strong and deep Florida system. I also won’t spend too much time noting that the depth was significantly juiced through three trade acquisitions in the last 12 months which brought in top 15 prospects Aleksi Saarela, Eetu Luostarinen, and Chase Priskie, all three of whom have at one point belonged to the Carolina Hurricanes, but not all of whom were acquired directly from the Hurricanes.

The future is bright, Panthers fans. Enjoy it!

I want to instead talk about a Florida mistake. In recent years, many teams have been loading up on CHL prospects in the early rounds and using their middle/late round picks on collegians or Europeans. The CHL players are generally easier to scout accurately, while the others avenues can lead to more sleepers and late bloomers and the drafting team has more time to decide on offering a contract to a college-bound player or someone drafted out of Europe.

There are exceptions to the above paragraph of course. On the one hand, a team should absolutely draft top-level Europeans and college-bound players early. The Panthers do this regularly. Look on the list below. Their top two prospects, also known as their first-round picks in the two previous drafts, include a USNTDP alum who is now playing at Boston College, and a Russian playing at home. The team will reap the rewards of those picks for much of the next decade barring something truly unfortunate.

The other exception is drafting CHL players late if they are in their second or third year of draft eligibility. While the other developmental tracks tend to have more late bloomers, once in a while an 18 or 19 year old playing junior hockey in Canada makes a big leap and becomes worthy of draft consideration when he was an afterthought after his age-17 season. Whereas late rounders are generally lottery tickets and it makes sense to give organization as much lead time as possible before making a decision on a 17 year old headed to Michigan State, or Frolunda, if you feel an 18- or 19- year old from Kamloops or Rouyn-Noranda is a good bet to contribute at the professional level, than you should definitely use a pick on him, especially as you can sign him immediately (or within one year) and put him to work under your own coaches.

Not signing an overager draft pick is a massive failure at the draft table. Last year, the Panthers used their sixth and seventh round picks on two such 20-year-old players, in Greg Meireles of Kitchener and Matthew Wedman of Seattle. One COVID-19 interrupted season later, and the Panthers did not sign either of them. I am absolutely nit-picking about a system this deep, but what an avoidable waste of two draft picks.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: Boston College Eagles goaltender Spencer Knight (30) makes a glove save during the Beanpot consolation game between the Harvard Crimson and the Boston College Eagles on February 10, 2020, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

The Florida Panthers took a big gamble in using their first-round pick on a goaltender. Goaltenders are very rarely drafted in the first round because they can be very difficult to project. Knight spent two seasons with the USNTDP and also recorded the best save percentage in the tournament while earning a U18 World Junior Championship bronze medal. Knight also earned a World U-17 gold medal and suited up again with the U.S. in the World Juniors this past year. At the WJC, he was named one of the U.S.’ top three players.

He was hailed as the top goaltending prospect heading into college hockey, a big expectation for a freshman goaltender. But Knight has only solidified the hype, leading Boston College to a regular-season Hockey East championship and earning a spot on Hockey East’s All-Rookie team thanks to a solid save percentage.

He can clear the puck quickly and tracks it very well. He possesses a quick stick when clearing the crease and he has quick reflexes. Knight won’t make “wow” saves, but that is a good thing - it means he isn’t being caught out of position.

While there are many qualities of Knight’s game to like, there are two that indicate his likelihood of becoming an NHL goaltender - his size and speed in the net. He is 6-3” and fills the net nicely. The game gets quicker at each level and his ability to keep up as a freshman is a good sign. While he is expected to return to school for another season, he is already not far from being ready for the next step. - JS

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 1)

There is a reason why many consider Denisenko to be one of the top forward prospects on the planet; he is the complete package offensively and has the potential to be one of the highest scoring players in the NHL. After lighting up the last two World Junior Championships, Denisenko signed his NHL contract with Florida and will be heading to North America next season.

Some may point to Denisenko’s lackluster stats in the KHL and question why he is so highly regarded. It is important to remember that it is hard for young Russian players to earn quality ice time in the KHL, regardless of player skill or production, and that was the case for Denisenko, who found himself in a bottom six role most nights with Lokomotiv.

Denisenko is an exciting prospect because of the intensity he plays with, in combination with his high-end skill level. He plays the game hard, brings a physical element, and loves to get under the skin of the opposition as a pest. While discipline can be an issue at times, his ferocity is an integral part of his game as he looks to push the pace and attack the offensive zone. He has the speed, the hands, and finishing ability, and the creativity to be one of the best players on the planet.

The knock on Denisenko, outside of penalty issues, is his consistency. However, his potential remains sky high. It is highly likely that Dale Tallon and the Panthers are planning on Denisenko being a part of their lineup for the 2020-21 season. Given how hard he plays, he could easily start in a checking line role and still find success. However, eventually, he should be able to work his way up the lineup. - BO

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 2)

For the Panthers organization which boasts one of the lower fan attendance marks in the NHL, drafting and choosing the right fresh faces is everything. Tippett is by far one of the strongest draft picks Florida has made, and he is an ideal candidate to grow into a top six forward for the team, and as a member of their core group and one of the faces of the organization. The skilled winger has an exemplary attitude both on and off the ice and boasts a skill set and maturity level that even many seasoned players do not have.

Tippett was on the cusp of making the Panthers’ roster this past season as he was leading the AHL Springfield Thunderbirds in points as well as ice time among forwards. He has made one of the smoother transitions from the OHL to the AHL last season, with only Providence Bruins forward Jack Studnicka at his level in terms of performance and impact.

His work ethic and offensive shooting ability are both impressive, and his drive to make plays during special teams’ situations makes him an asset to have on the ice. The only thing that needs slight work is Tippett’s defensive positioning but that will come with more time spent on professional level ice.

Overall, he is a fabulous forward and makes his presence felt every shift. The hope is that he stays healthy and continues to develop and by next season he should be making his NHL debut. - SC

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 4)

After such a strong draft +1 season with the Generals in 2018/19, the expectations placed on Noel heading into this season were quite high. However, the year was a disappointment for him and his development. Not only did his offensive game and consistency regress (with both Oshawa and Kitchener), but he failed to earn an invite to the Canadian World Junior camp too, something that looked like a lock after his strong performance at the team’s summer showcase prior to the start of the season.

A 6-5” power forward, Noel still possesses the potential to be an impactful player in the NHL. He skates well for a bigger player, showing the ability to drive through defenders on the way to the net. His hands and finishing ability in tight are excellent. When he is on his game, he also makes a large impact physically, using his size, reach, and skating ability to close in on opposing players quickly to force turnovers.

Unfortunately, this season certainly brought to light some current limitations to his game. Noel can struggle to create his own scoring chances because his puck skill and overall agility are still areas that require development. Additionally, this year we saw his physical game take a step back, as the consistency of his engagement level without the puck was not present.

Many believed that a midseason deal to Kitchener would reignite his game, but it actually caused further regression. Florida will have to be patient with Noel as he moves to the professional level this season. He still projects as a middle six power forward who can score, however he may need more time in the AHL than originally thought. - BO

Aleksi Saarela, D (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89^th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Pre-season: 4 [Chicago])

For such a talented player, it has been a rather frustrating start to Saarela’s career in North America, constantly being good enough to earn call ups to the NHL but still not quite having what it takes to fully stay up with a club. The former third round New York Rangers draft pick was traded first to the Carolina Hurricanes, before stopping in the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization and now with the Panthers, spanning the last three of those teams in a single season.

Saarela is a force when it comes to pure strength and stability on the ice as he is an all-round skilled hockey player. Despite being moved many times, he has done well at making the necessary adjustments needed to succeed with the Panthers with their AHL affiliate in Springfield. Last season he finished second in forward points with Springfield and managed to be a consistent member of their special teams as well.

Next season he will have to do better at being present and not turning the puck over in the neutral zone. He is a good two-way player but he needs to make sure to not develop any lazy habits in his own end or cheating and leaving too early when exiting the zone. Saarela deserves a break and has what it takes to be given a proper chance, where his skating, puck possession, and overall hockey sense can be put on show. He would make a decent addition to Florida’s roster as part of their bottom six. - SC

Cole Schwindt, C (81^st overall, 2019. Pre-season: 9)

He plays and excels in all situations. He protects the puck well through traffic, using his wide base and reach to keep defenders at bay. He plays with intensity in all three zones and has become one of the better two-way forwards in the OHL. Additionally, his skating has improved further, giving him more of an extra gear to aid in his ability to generate offense in transition, and to help him be more effective away from the puck.

Next year, Schwindt should continue to improve and has to be considered one of the more underrated prospects currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League. The offensive upside may be somewhat limited, but his game is so well rounded that it is difficult to see him failing to become an NHL player in the future. - BO

Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: UR)

Gildon has always been able to contribute offensively, and he led New Hampshire in scoring this season. He is a smooth skater with good stick handling skills. He is physical and isn’t afraid of taking a hit to play the puck, but because of his good defensive stick, he doesn’t need physicality to dislodge the puck from opponents.

He appeared on the first power play unit and quarterbacked it well thanks to his vision and ability to cycle. He can weave through his opponents smoothly. He is gifted, but still raw, and needs a season or two in the AHL before hitting the NHL. - JS

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 6)

Offensively, he has a big point shot and he makes a strong outlet pass. On the other hand, he is not a creative player or someone that should be expected to put up large offensive numbers at the next level. Playing a smart, composed, and safe game, Kolyachonok projects as a possible second pairing, defensively oriented defender at the NHL level.

He returns to Flint next year where he will look to continue to evolve as a two-way defender, perhaps gaining confidence in his ability to use his strengths as a skater to help lead the breakout. - BO

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 5)

Although still nifty and creative on the ice, there were certainly more limitations apparent as he took on a new league and level of play, with a lack of weight or the strength needed to be a strong puck carrier and offensive threat in the AHL.

Of course there are always exceptions and players like Elias Pettersson who are exceptionally skilled, work hard, and who weigh under 180lbs, but those players are rare and for Heponiemi to prove himself as a great, he will have to get much stronger and dominant on the puck in another go-round in the AHL, to earn a callup as a bottom six forward. - SC

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42^nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Pre-season: 6 [Carolina])

He is not a terribly showy player, but his technical skills stand out when the puck is on his stick. He has the potential to make plays happen at the NHL level with the Florida Panthers as part of their quiet but deadly bottom six, however he needs to be better without the puck and more aggressive and physical when forechecking and battling.

Luostarinen will start the season back in his native Finland with KalPa in the Liiga as European leagues are getting underway even while the game in North America is in wait-and-see mode, but expect to see him earn his first call up to the Florida Panthers later in the season. - SC

Justin Schutz, KW (170^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Of average height, but solidly built, Schutz reads the game very well and plays as if he's doing exactly what his coach is telling him to do, leading one to believe that he wasn't allowed to demonstrate his full abilities.

Solid hands and puck decisions are accompanied by strong skating attributes and a very solid work ethic. He proved to be very adept in 1-on-1 situations, often those along the boards, against men at the pro level. He will return to the Munich club for another season next year. - CL

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

He is a fast skater and makes his skating look effortless. He also drives the net hard. Hutsko has good stick handling abilities and played a regular role on BC’s power play. He is definitely more on the underrated side, however there is one big question mark surrounding his game that has seeing held him back— injuries. Hutsko has been injury prone throughout his career and missed nearly the entire 2016-17 season. He has had some bad luck, and whether or not he can stay healthy will decide ultimately what, if any, NHL career he can have. - JS

Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Pre-season: 8)

He is agile, quick, and tracks the puck well but he is still missing aspects of his game where it comes to reading how quickly NHL plays develop. He has the potential to start more games in the NHL, but for now it is up in the air as to whether he is capable of being a starter or not, depending on his continued development.

Let it be known that Montembeault certainly has the compete level and spirit to do so but the rest is up to his physical performance in net. - SC

Chase Priskie, D (Trade: Feb. 20, 2020. Originally: 177^thoverall, 2016 [Washington]. Pre-season: 13 [Carolina])

After finishing second overall for defensive points on the Charlotte Checkers, Priskie was traded at the deadline to the Panthers, after which he immediately recorded four points in five games with the Thunder, getting off to a good start with his new organization. Priskie never got an NHL chance with the Carolina Hurricanes, but if he continues next season the way he started with Springfield there is no doubt that he will be one of the first defensemen called up to the Panthers.

He is smart with the puck, physical, and a good playmaker, which makes him deadly on the attack. He would fit well into Florida’s bottom four when he earns his chance, and it would be interesting to see how his smarts adapt to the NHL game. Priskie plays with such passion and fearlessness that his first call up should go well helping the Panthers look good for picking him up. - SC

John Ludvig, D (69^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: UR)

Ludvig had an explosion of offense this year playing with a high paced, dynamic offensive group that boasted numerous highly talented players. His point per game pace is a sign there is some offensive tools in there but do not mistake that for the bread and butter of his game.

He is a heavy player with a stocky frame that he uses to control his own zone. He is a physical, bruising defender that has an eye to make the responsible play, with and without the puck. He fits the mold of a bottom pairing guy that could play up a pairing with a more dynamic partner.

He can move the puck and makes sound decisions in his own zone. His gap control in the neutral zone is excellent and he can push players to the outside by taking good angles and taking away space. He will jump into the rush but is always a trailer and is not an end to end rusher as his point totals may indicate. At the blueline he is a cautious decision maker who keeps pucks active and moving, rather than making a cross-seam back door pass that can be picked off. - VG

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

McKeens Hockey; Article by Ryan Wagman — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:50:55 +0000

I write these words less than 24 hours after the Dallas Stars took game one of the Stanley Cup Finals against the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning. Unlike most seasons wherein the end of the Stanley Cup marks the beginning of off-season player movement, this year teams have taken an early start to the transactional Ferris wheel as many expect the upcoming offseason (from the awarding of the Cup, through to the draft in the first week of October to the start of the 2020-21 season perhaps as soon as early December, pending COVID trends in North America) to be especially turbulent.

We have seen a few trades of NHL pieces, one deal which impacted this guidebook, as Toronto sent Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh and Swedish winger Filip Hallander was among those coming back to Toronto. Hallander was our selection for the second-best prospect in the Penguins system and now holds that title for the Maple Leafs. That trade knocked the Penguins down a few slots on our organizational rankings and allowed Toronto to go the other way accordingly.

Of course, with the draft roughly 17 days away, and with it a complete re-shuffling of the organizational rankings, this is just a snapshot in time of how every team’s system shakes up. We will re-run this list, incorporating the drafted players, in our pre-season fantasy guide, where we will expand the lists up to 20.

What you are about to dive into is a comprehensive list of all prospect eligible players on all 31 teams. To hold prospect eligibility, a player needs to 25 or younger, as of September 15, 2020. All skaters need to have played less than 60 career games, with no more than 35 of those games coming in a single season (or 25 for this past shortened season). For goalies, the age criteria remain the same, but the games played benchmark drops to 30 career games and 20 in a given season (or 15 last year). Any cutoff that does not hew exactly to the Calder Trophy award criteria is, by nature, arbitrary, but we aim to be inclusive for all players who have not yet cemented NHL jobs and/or have not had a prolonged chance to prove himself capable – or incapable.

We rank 15 per team, as depth is as important as the high end. Our goal is to identify players who could – if they have an advocate for them within the team’s braintrust – play a role in the NHL. These players were identified through our thorough vetting of each prospect across the globe, assigning scores, or grades, to five areas for skaters (skating, shot, puck skills, smarts, physicality) and six for netminders (athleticism/speed/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, positioning/technique, rebound control, and puck handling). Depending on the position, the grades are run through an algorithm to come up with an overall future projection (OFP).

The OFP, if the scout is being honest, measures the future role we anticipate the prospect being able to hold. A 50 score is the lower threshold to be a regular 4^th line forward, or bottom pairing defender. Grades over 56 are potential top line/pairing skaters. The grades in between, obviously project to the middle of the lineup.

As we are reminded every year, development is not linear. Some players take unexpected sudden leaps forward (see Marino, John), and others stagnate (see Ho-Sang, Josh), and many do exactly what we expect of them when they are given the chance. As much as I trust the analysts in our team, I can also tell you that this exercise is always humbling. There will be at least one player who we rate highly who bombs. There will be at least one player who did not feature on his team’s top 15 who becomes an NHL regular next year. We accept those errors in judgment and promise you, our faithful subscriber, that we will learn from them and refine our work for next year, as we learn just as NHL teams learn.

Until then, please enjoy this snapshot view of the future of the beautiful, frozen game. Putting this together has provided at least some sense of normalcy during this crazy summer.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired
Ana	1	Trevor Zegras	C	19	6-0/170	Boston University (HE)	`19(9th)
Min	2	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	23	5-10/200	CSKA (KHL)	`15(135th)
Col	3	Bowen Byram	D	19	6-0/195	Vancouver (WHL)	`19(4th)
Buf	4	Dylan Cozens	C	19	6-3/185	Lethbridge (WHL)	`19(7th)
Fla	5	Spencer Knight	G	19	6-3/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(13th)
VGK	6	Peyton Krebs	C	19	5-11/180	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(17th)
Ari	7	Victor Soderstrom	D	19	5-11/180	Brynas (Swe)	`19(11th)
Mtl	8	Cole Caufield	RW	19	5-7/165	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(15th)
Van	9	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	19	6-1/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`19(10th)
Edm	10	Philip Broberg	D	19	6-3/200	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`19(8th)
Tor	11	Nick Robertson	LW	19	5-9/160	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(53rd)
Col	12	Alex Newhook	C	19	5-10/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(16th)
Det	13	Moritz Seider	D	19	6-3/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`19(6th)
Fla	14	Grigori Denisenko	LW	20	5-11/185	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(15th)
Min	15	Matthew Boldy	LW	19	6-1/190	Boston College (HE)	`19(12th)
NJ	16	Ty Smith	D	20	5-10/180	Spokane (WHL)	`18(17th)
LA	17	Alex Turcotte	C	19	5-11/185	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(5th)
Nsh	18	Philip Tomasino	C	19	5-11/180	Nia-Osh (OHL)	`19(24th)
Pit	19	Samuel Poulin	LW	19	6-1/205	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	`19(21st)
Wsh	20	Connor McMichael	C	19	5-11/175	London (OHL)	`19(25th)
LA	21	Gabriel Vilardi	RW	21	6-3/200	Ontario (AHL)	`17(11th)
NYR	22	Igor Shesterkin	G	24	6-1/190	Hartford (AHL)	`14(118th)
Dal	23	Thomas Harley	D	19	6-3/190	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(18th)
Ari	24	Barrett Hayton	C	20	6-1/190	Arizona (NHL)	`18(5th)
NYR	25	Nils Lundkvist	D	20	5-11/180	Lulea (Swe)	`18(28th)
LA	26	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	19	6-2/190	Hamilton (OHL)	`19(33rd)
Cgy	27	Juuso Valimaki	D	21	6-2/205	DNP - Injured	`17(16th)
Det	28	Jared McIsaac	D	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(36th)
NYR	29	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	20	6-3/185	Hartford (AHL)	`18(9th)
Edm	30	Evan Bouchard	D	20	6-2/195	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(10th)
NYR	31	K'Andre Miller	D	20	6-3/205	Wisconsin (B1G)	`18(22nd)
Edm	32	Raphael Lavoie	RW	19	6-4/195	Hal-Chi (QMJHL)	`19(38th)
NYI	33	Ilya Sorokin	G	25	6-2/180	CSKA (KHL)	`14(78th)
Det	34	Albert Johansson	D	19	5-11/165	Farjestads (Swe)	`19(60th)
Ari	35	Matias Maccelli	LW	19	5-11/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(98th)
Van	36	Nils Hoglander	RW	19	5-9/185	Rogle (Swe)	`19(40th)
Ari	37	Jan Jenik	RW	20	6-1/180	Hamilton (OHL)	`18(65th)
Phi	38	Cam York	D	19	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`19(14th)
Phi	39	Morgan Frost	C	21	5-11/180	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`17(27th)
Ana	40	Lukas Dostal	G	20	6-1/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`18(85th)
LA	41	Tobias Bjornfot	D	19	6-0/200	Ontario (AHL)	`19(22nd)
SJ	42	Ryan Merkley	D	20	5-11/170	London (OHL)	`18(21st)
NYI	43	Kieffer Bellows	LW	22	6-0/200	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(19th)
NYI	44	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	20	6-1/205	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(11th)
LA	45	Rasmus Kupari	C	20	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	`18(20th)
CBJ	46	Liam Foudy	C	20	6-0/175	London (OHL)	`18(18th)
LA	47	Tyler Madden	C	20	5-10/155	Northeastern (HE)	T(Van-2/20)
Mtl	48	Alexander Romanov	D	20	5-11/185	CSKA (KHL)	`18(38th)
NYI	49	Bode Wilde	D	20	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(41st)
Ott	50	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCHC)	`18(26th)
Cgy	51	Jakob Pelletier	LW	19	5-9/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(26th)
LA	52	Akil Thomas	C	20	5-11/170	Nia-Pbo (OHL)	`18(51st)
Wpg	53	Dylan Samberg	D	21	6-3/190	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`17(43rd)
Chi	54	Ian Mitchell	D	21	5-11/175	Denver (NCHC)	`17(57th)
Ott	55	Josh Norris	C	21	6-1/195	Belleville (AHL)	T(SJ-9/18)
NYR	56	Matthew Robertson	D	19	6-3/200	Edmonton (WHL)	`19(49th)
VGK	57	Pavel Dorofeyev	LW	19	6-1/170	Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`19(79th)
Dal	58	Jake Oettinger	G	21	6-4/210	Texas (AHL)	`17(26th)
Ott	59	Drake Batherson	RW	22	6-1/190	Belleville (AHL)	`17(121st)
LA	60	Samuel Fagemo	RW	20	6-0/195	Frolunda (Swe)	`19(50th)
Col	61	Justus Annunen	G	20	6-4/215	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`18(64th)
Bos	62	John Beecher	C	19	6-3/210	Michigan (B1G)	`19(30th)
Phi	63	Egor Zamula	D	20	6-4/175	Calgary (WHL)	FA(9/18)
NYR	64	Zac Jones	D	19	5-10/175	Massachusetts (HE)	`19(68th)
CBJ	65	Kirill Marchenko	LW	20	6-3/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(49th)
VGK	66	Jack Dugan	RW	22	6-2/185	Providence (HE)	`17(142nd)
StL	67	Scott Perunovich	D	22	5-10/175	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(45th)
Bos	68	Jack Studnicka	C	21	6-1/170	Providence (AHL)	`17(53rd)
Dal	69	Ty Dellandrea	C	20	6-0/185	Flint (OHL)	`18(13th)
Min	70	Calen Addison	D	20	5-10/180	Lethbridge (WHL)	T(Pit-2/20)
NYR	71	Julien Gauthier	RW	22	6-4/225	Charlotte (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Van	72	Olli Juolevi	D	22	6-3/200	Utica (AHL)	`16(5th)
NJ	73	Nolan Foote	LW	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	T(TB-2/20)
NJ	74	Janne Kuokkanen	LW	22	6-1/190	Cha-Bng (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Ott	75	Alex Formenton	LW	21	6-2/165	Belleville (AHL)	`17(47th)
Det	76	Robert Mastrosimone	LW	19	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	`19(54th)
NYR	77	Morgan Barron	C	21	6-2/200	Cornell (ECAC)	`17(174th)
Mtl	78	Jesse Ylonen	RW	20	6-1/185	Pelicans (Fin)	`18(35th)
Car	79	Dominik Bokk	RW	20	6-1/180	Rogle (Swe)	T(StL-9/19)
Nsh	80	Egor Afanasyev	RW	19	6-3/205	Windsor (OHL)	`19(45th)
Ana	81	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(54th)
Min	82	Alexander Khovanov	C	20	5-11/195	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(86th)
Det	83	Joe Veleno	C	20	6-1/195	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`18(30th)
NJ	84	Kevin Bahl	D	20	6-6/230	Ottawa (OHL)	T(Ari-12/19)
Car	85	Ryan Suzuki	C	19	6-0/180	Bar-Sag (OHL)	`19(28th)
Van	86	Jett Woo	D	20	6-0/205	Calgary (WHL)	`18(37th)
Mtl	87	Mattias Norlinder	D	20	5-11/180	MODO (Swe 2)	`19(64th)
Min	88	Adam Beckman	LW	19	6-1/170	Spokane (WHL)	`19(75th)
Bos	89	Jeremy Swayman	G	21	6-1/190	Maine (HE)	`17(111th)
Wpg	90	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	21	6-3/205	Manitoba (AHL)	`17(24th)
Tor	91	Filip Hallander	LW	20	6-1/185	Lulea (Swe)	T(Pit-8/20)
Fla	92	Owen Tippett	RW	21	6-1/200	Springfield (AHL)	`17(10th)
Car	93	Jake Bean	D	22	6-1/175	Charlotte (AHL)	`16(13th)
Ott	94	Shane Pinto	C	19	6-2/190	North Dakota (NCHC)	`19(32nd)
Col	95	Martin Kaut	RW	20	6-1/175	Colorado (AHL)	`18(16th)
Van	96	Jack Rathbone	D	21	5-10/175	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(95th)
Tor	97	Nick Abruzzese	C	21	5-9/160	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(124th)
Bos	98	Urho Vaakanainen	D	21	6-0/185	Providence (AHL)	`17(18th)
Wsh	99	Alexander Alexeyev	D	20	6-3/200	Hershey (AHL)	`18(31st)
NYI	100	Simon Holmstrom	RW	19	6-1/185	Bridgeport (AHL)	`19(23rd)
LA	101	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	21	5-11/190	Ontario (AHL)	`17(41st)
Car	102	Joey Keane	D	21	6-0/185	Hfd-Cha (AHL)	T(NYR-2/20)
Wsh	103	Martin Fehervary	D	20	6-1/190	Hershey (AHL)	`18(46th)
StL	104	Tyler Tucker	D	20	6-1/205	Bar-Fnt (OHL)	`18(200th)
SJ	105	Yegor Spiridonov	C	19	6-2/195	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)	`19(108th)
NJ	106	Joey Anderson	RW	22	6-0/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(73rd)
Col	107	Conor Timmins	D	21	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	`17(32nd)
StL	108	Klim Kostin	C	21	6-3/195	San Antonio (AHL)	`17(31st)
Mtl	109	Cayden Primeau	G	21	6-3/180	Laval (AHL)	`17(199th)
SJ	110	Jonathan Dahlen	LW	22	5-11/185	Timra IK (Swe 2)	T(Van-2/19)
NJ	111	Reilly Walsh	D	21	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(81st)
Buf	112	Oskari Laaksonen	D	21	6-2/165	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`17(89th)
NJ	113	Arseni Gritsyuk	RW	19	5-10/170	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	`19(129th)
Wsh	114	Aliaksei Protas	C	19	6-5/205	Prince Albert (WHL)	`19(91st)
Cgy	115	Dustin Wolf	G	19	6-0/165	Everett (WHL)	`19(214th)
StL	116	Joel Hofer	G	20	6-3/160	Portland (WHL)	`18(107th)
VGK	117	Ivan Morozov	C	20	6-1/180	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(61st)
Mtl	118	Jake Evans	C	24	6-0/185	Laval (AHL)	`14(207th)
Nsh	119	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	21	5-10/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	`17(30th)
Wpg	120	Ville Heinola	D	19	5-11/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`19(20th)
VGK	121	Lucas Elvenes	RW	21	6-0/175	Chicago (AHL)	`17(127th)
TB	122	Cole Koepke	LW	22	6-1/195	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(183rd)
Ana	123	Isac Lundestrom	C	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	`18(23rd)
NYR	124	Tarmo Reunanen	D	22	6-0/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`16(98th)
Mtl	125	Jordan Harris	D	20	5-11/180	Northeastern (HE)	`18(71st)
Ana	126	Brayden Tracey	LW	19	6-0/175	MJ-Vic (WHL)	`19(29th)
Phi	127	Tanner Laczynski	C	23	6-1/200	Ohio State (B1G)	`16(169th)
Chi	128	Alec Regula	D	20	6-3/200	London (OHL)	T(Det-10/19)
Buf	129	Mattias Samuelsson	D	20	6-3/215	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(32nd)
Car	130	Jamieson Rees	C	19	5-10/175	Sarnia (OHL)	`19(44th)
Edm	131	Olivier Rodrigue	G	20	6-1/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(62nd)
Fla	132	Serron Noel	RW	20	6-5/205	Osh-Kit (OHL)	`18(34th)
Det	133	Antti Tuomisto	D	19	6-4/190	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	`19(35th)
Dal	134	Jason Robertson	LW	21	6-2/195	Texas (AHL)	`17(39th)
Mtl	135	Joni Ikonen	C	21	5-10/170	DNP - Injured	`17(58th)
Nsh	136	Rem Pitlick	C	23	5-11/200	Milwaukee (AHL)	`16(76th)
Ott	137	Logan Brown	C	22	6-6/220	Belleville (AHL)	`16(11th)
TB	138	Samuel Walker	C	21	5-11/160	Minnesota (B1G)	`17(200th)
Phi	139	Wade Allison	RW	22	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`16(52nd)
Wpg	140	Declan Chisholm	D	20	6-1/190	Peterborough (OHL)	`18(150th)
NJ	141	Tyce Thompson	RW	21	6-1/180	Providence (HE)	`19(96th)
VGK	142	Connor Corcoran	D	20	6-1/185	Windsor (OHL)	`18(154th)
Ana	143	Jackson Lacombe	D	19	6-1/170	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(39th)
NYR	144	Lauri Pajuniemi	RW	21	6-0/185	TPS Turku (Fin)	`18(132nd)
Car	145	Tuukka Tieksola	RW	19	5-10/160	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	`19(121st)
CBJ	146	Andrew Peeke	D	22	6-3/210	Cleveland (AHL)	`16(34th)
Ana	147	Axel Andersson	D	20	6-0/180	Moncton (QMJHL)	T(Bos-2/20)
Car	148	Patrik Puistola	LW	19	6-0/175	Tap-Juk-Koo (Fin)	`19(73rd)
NJ	149	Michael McLeod	C	22	6-2/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(12th)
Car	150	Pyotr Kochetkov	G	21	6-1/175	SKA-VIT (KHL)	`19(36th)
NJ	151	Michael Vukojevic	D	19	6-3/210	Kitchener (OHL)	`19(82nd)
NYI	152	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	20	5-8/155	UConn (HE)	`18(43rd)
Wpg	153	Sami Niku	D	23	6-0/175	Manitoba (AHL)	`15(198th)
TB	154	Hugo Alnefelt	G	19	6-3/195	HV 71 (Swe)	`19(71st)
NJ	155	Nikita Okhotyuk	D	19	6-1/195	Ottawa (OHL)	`19(61st)
NYR	156	Hunter Skinner	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	`19(112th)
LA	157	Mikey Anderson	D	21	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	`17(103rd)
Col	158	Shane Bowers	C	21	6-2/190	Colorado (AHL)	T(Ott-11/17)
NYI	159	Joshua Ho-Sang	RW	24	6-0/175	Bri-SA (AHL)	`14(28th)
LA	160	Cal Petersen	G	25	6-3/190	Ontario (AHL)	FA(7/17)
Col	161	Sampo Ranta	LW	20	6-2/205	Minnesota (B1G)	`18(78th)
Wpg	162	Mikhail Berdin	G	22	6-2/165	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(157th)
Bos	163	Jeremy Lauzon	D	23	6-3/205	Providence (AHL)	`15(52nd)
Nsh	164	David Farrance	D	21	5-11/190	Boston University (HE)	`17(92nd)
Van	165	Will Lockwood	RW	22	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`16(64th)
NYI	166	Sebastian Aho	D	24	5-10/175	Bridgeport (AHL)	`17(139th)
Wpg	167	Logan Stanley	D	22	6-7/225	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(18th)
Buf	168	Ryan Johnson	D	19	6-0/175	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(31st)
Van	169	Michael DiPietro	G	21	6-0/195	Utica (AHL)	`17(64th)
VGK	170	Kaedan Korczak	D	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	`19(41st)
Car	171	Jack Drury	C	20	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`18(42nd)
StL	172	Nikita Alexandrov	C	19	6-0/180	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	`19(62nd)
Col	173	Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	20	5-10/175	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(171st)
Nsh	174	Juuso Parssinen	C	19	6-2/205	TPS Turku (Fin)	`19(210th)
Chi	175	Pius Suter	C	24	5-11/170	ZSC Lions (NLA)	FA(7/20)
Fla	176	Aleksi Saarela	RW	23	5-11/200	Rfd-Spr (AHL)	T(Chi-10/19)
Bos	177	Trent Frederic	C	22	6-4/215	Providence (AHL)	`16(29th)
CBJ	178	Dmitri Voronkov	LW	20	6-4/190	Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)	`19(114th)
Ott	179	Lassi Thomson	D	19	6-0/190	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(19th)
Car	180	Morgan Geekie	C	22	6-2/180	Charlotte (AHL)	`17(67th)
CBJ	181	Trey Fix-Wolansky	RW	21	5-8/185	Cleveland (AHL)	`18(204th)
Ott	182	Vitaly Abramov	RW	22	5-9/175	Belleville (AHL)	T(CBJ-2/19)
TB	183	Alexander Volkov	LW	23	6-1/190	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(48th)
Tor	184	Mikko Kokkonen	D	19	5-11/200	Jukurit (Fin)	`19(84th)
Ott	185	Kevin Mandolese	G	20	6-4/180	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	`18(157th)
CBJ	186	Daniil Tarasov	G	21	6-5/185	Assat Pori (Fin)	`17(86th)
LA	187	Carl Grundstrom	LW	22	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	T(Tor-1/19)
LA	188	Kale Clague	D	22	6-0/180	Ontario (AHL)	`16(51st)
Ott	189	Artyom Zub	D	24	6-2/200	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	FA(5/20)
Edm	190	Tyler Benson	LW	22	6-0/200	Bakersfield (AHL)	`16(32nd)
Det	191	Jonatan Berggren	RW	20	5-10/185	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`18(33rd)
Tor	192	Yegor Korshkov	RW	24	6-4/215	Toronto (AHL)	`16(31st)
Dal	193	Riley Damiani	C	20	5-9/165	Kitchener (OHL)	`18(137th)
VGK	194	Zach Whitecloud	D	23	6-2/210	Chicago (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Buf	195	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	21	6-4/195	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`17(54th)
Car	196	David Cotton	LW	23	6-3/205	Boston College (HE)	`15(169th)
Chi	197	Wyatt Kalynuk	D	23	6-1/180	Wisconsin (B1G)	FA(7/20)
Min	198	Hunter Jones	G	19	6-4/195	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(59th)
LA	199	Jordan Spence	D	19	5-10/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(95th)
Cgy	200	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	20	5-9/175	Rimouski (QMJHL)	`18(198th)
Col	201	Alex Beaucage	RW	19	6-1/195	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	`19(78th)
TB	202	Dmitri Semykin	D	20	6-3/200	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	`18(90th)
CBJ	203	Matiss Kivlenieks	G	24	6-2/190	Cleveland (AHL)	FA(5/17)
StL	204	Ville Husso	G	25	6-3/205	San Antonio (AHL)	`14(94th)
Phi	205	Bobby Brink	RW	19	5-10/165	Denver (NCHC)	`19(34th)
NYI	206	Otto Koivula	C	22	6-4/220	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(120th)
Car	207	Eetu Makiniemi	G	21	6-2/180	KOOVEE (Fin 2)	`17(104th)
NYI	208	Anatoli Golyshev	RW	25	5-8/180	Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)	`16(95th)
Chi	209	Evan Barratt	C	21	6-0/190	Penn State (B1G)	`17(90th)
Buf	210	Erik Portillo	G	20	6-6/210	Dubuque (USHL)	`19(67th)
Fla	211	Cole Schwindt	RW	19	6-2/185	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(81st)
Chi	212	Michal Teply	LW	19	6-3/185	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(105th)
Ott	213	Mads Sogaard	G	19	6-7/195	Medicine Hat (WHL)	`19(37th)
Buf	214	Jonas Johansson	G	24	6-4/205	Rochester (AHL)	`14(61st)
TB	215	Cal Foote	D	21	6-4/215	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(14th)
StL	216	Niko Mikkola	D	24	6-5/200	San Antonio (AHL)	`15(127th)
NYI	217	Robin Salo	D	21	6-1/190	SaiPa (Fin)	`17(46th)
Bos	218	Jakub Zboril	D	23	6-1/200	Providence (AHL)	`15(13th)
Buf	219	Will Borgen	D	23	6-2/200	Rochester (AHL)	`15(92nd)
Pit	220	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	21	6-2/170	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`17(23rd)
SJ	221	Sasha Chmelevski	C	21	5-11/190	San Jose (AHL)	`17(185th)
Ari	222	Kyle Capobianco	D	23	6-1/180	Tucson (AHL)	`15(63rd)
Det	223	Keith Petruzzelli	G	21	6-5/180	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`17(88th)
Wsh	224	Garrett Pilon	RW	22	5-11/190	Hershey (AHL)	`16(87th)
NJ	225	Nikola Pasic	RW	19	5-10/185	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	`19(189th)
TB	226	Alex Barre-Boulet	C	23	5-10/165	Syracuse (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Edm	227	Ryan McLeod	C	20	6-2/205	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(40th)
NYI	228	Samuel Bolduc	D	19	6-3/210	BLB-She (QMJHL)	`19(57th)
Ott	229	Joey Daccord	G	24	6-2/195	Belleville (AHL)	`15(199th)
StL	230	Hugh McGing	C	22	5-9/180	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(138th)
Edm	231	Cooper Marody	C	23	6-0/180	Bakersfield (AHL)	T(Phi-3/18)
Tor	232	Jeremy Bracco	RW	23	5-9/180	Toronto (AHL)	`15(61st)
Phi	233	German Rubtsov	C	22	6-2/190	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`16(22nd)
Wsh	234	Brian Pinho	C	25	6-1/195	Hershey (AHL)	`13(174th)
Col	235	Logan O'Connor	RW	24	6-0/170	Colorado (AHL)	FA(7/18)
Buf	236	Casey Fitzgerald	D	23	5-11/190	Rochester (AHL)	`16(86th)
NJ	237	Daniil Misyul	D	19	6-3/180	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`19(70th)
Ari	238	John Farinacci	C	19	5-11/185	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(76th)
Edm	239	Aapeli Rasanen	C	22	6-0/195	Boston College (HE)	`16(153rd)
Pit	240	Anthony Angello	RW	24	6-5/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`14(145th)
Mtl	241	Cam Hillis	C	20	5-10/170	Guelph (OHL)	`18(66th)
Cgy	242	Mathias Emilio Pettersen	RW	20	5-9/170	Denver (NCHC)	`18(167th)
SJ	243	Alexander True	C	23	6-5/205	San Jose (AHL)	FA(7/18)
NYI	244	Reece Newkirk	C	19	5-11/175	Portland (WHL)	`19(147th)
Dal	245	Dawson Barteaux	D	20	6-0/180	RD-Wpg (WHL)	`18(168th)
Bos	246	Jack Ahcan	D	23	5-8/185	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	FA(3/20)
Det	247	Seth Barton	D	21	6-2/175	Mass-Lowell (HE)	`18(81st)
Fla	248	Max Gildon	D	21	6-3/190	New Hampshire (HE)	`17(66th)
Ari	249	Aku Raty	RW	19	6-0/175	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`19(151st)
Wpg	250	David Gustafsson	C	20	6-1/195	Winnipeg (NHL)	`18(60th)

2019-20 OHL Preview

Brock Otten — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 01:03:50 +0000

The 2019/20 OHL season is already underway, but it is not too late to preview some of the top teams and top players in the league this year. Who are the Championship contenders? Who are the top NHL prospects playing in the league this year? Who are the top NHL draft prospects for 2020? Keep reading to find out.

Graeme Clarke of the Ottawa 67''s. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Eastern Conference

Championship Contenders

Ottawa 67’s

While there have been some losses up front for the 67’s (Sasha Chmelevski, Tye Felhaber, Kody Clark, Kyle Maksimovich, Lucas Chiodo all graduated), the defending Eastern Conference Champions do return their entire blueline and one of their starting goaltenders. Kevin Bahl (Arizona), Noel Hoefenmayer (UFA), Merrick Rippon (2020), Nikita Okhotyuk (New Jersey), Hudson Wilson (UFA), and Alec Belanger (2020) all return and should give the 67’s a chance to repeat as the top defensive team in the Ontario Hockey League (the 67’s led the league in goals against in 2018/19). Additionally, Cedrick Andree (2020) mans the crease again, a year after finishing fourth in the OHL in wins, despite splitting time late in the year with Michael Dipietro after the latter’s acquisition from Windsor. While the club’s secondary scoring remains a bit of a mystery, the top line of Austen Keating (UFA), Marco Rossi (2020), and Graeme Clarke (New Jersey) should score a ton. Management also has a boatload of draft picks (five 2nd rounders and five 3rd rounders over the next three seasons) to make moves should they require upgrades.

Sudbury Wolves

This is the Quinton Byfield (2020) show. Last year, the Wolves were led by one of the best goaltending performances that the league has ever seen from Buffalo prospect Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen. But this year, top 2020 NHL draft prospect Byfield is ready to be the catalyst and one of the best players in the OHL. Sudbury has surrounded him with enough veteran talent too, that includes Carolina draft pick Blake Murray (Carolina). But preventing goals may be the Achilles Heel of this team heading into the year. The defense is on the younger side, and neither Christian Purboo (2020) nor Mitchell Weeks (2020) have proven to be strong starting netminders. Keep an eye on two 2020 draft prospects in Jack Thompson (2020) and Isaak Phillips (2020) here, as they will be seeing a ton of minutes and could rocket up draft boards with strong performances. In a slightly weaker division, look for Sudbury to overcome some holes and earn home ice in the first round.

Peterborough Petes

Unfortunately for Peterborough, they play in the same division as the 67’s, which means one of these teams will finish third in the Conference. But Peterborough should be considered the second-best team in the East right now, even with the Ryan Merkley (San Jose) conundrum surrounding the team. The Sharks first rounder awaits a trade from the Petes after the club decided to go in a different direction. This could no doubt be a distraction, but Peterborough is a very talented team. Nick Robertson (Toronto) leads the way and is a serious candidate to lead the league in scoring and win the Red Tilson as the league’s most outstanding player. Hunter Jones (Minnesota) is a candidate to win the newly named Jim Rutherford award as the league’s top goaltender. Declan Chisholm (Winnipeg) is a top candidate to win the Max Kaminski as the league’s top defender. There is star power at every position, in addition to depth. This team is going to score a lot, and like Ottawa, they have a bevy of draft picks in the cupboard that they could use to improve further.

Oshawa Generals

While there are some serious questions surrounding the quality of goaltending Oshawa could receive this year, there are no questions about the talent level playing in front of said goaltender(s). The Generals return nearly their entire defense from a year ago, led by two NHL draft picks, Gio Vallati (Winnipeg), Nico Gross (NY Rangers), in addition to top 2020 draft prospect Lleyton Moore (2020). At forward, Serron Noel (Florida), and Allan McShane (Montreal) are the stars, but a strong supporting cast surrounds them. Look for Noel to have an absolutely monster year from an offensive perspective. His size and skill combination is so difficult for some of the league’s smaller defenders to handle. If the Generals do falter and find themselves in the middle of the pack, look for them to trade away some of their graduating players like Noel, McShane, and Vallati, in order retool for next year when the team’s goaltending could be addressed more definitively.

Barrie Colts

The Colts are a real wild card heading into the year. They underachieved last year, but a lot of that had to do with some injuries. Additionally, coach Dale Hawerchuk had to step away during training camp due to health concerns, so management brought in veteran Warren Rychel to steer the ship. Despite the turmoil, this is a very talented team. Ryan Suzuki (Carolina) should be better equipped to handle the pressure of being a top offensive option, and Matej Pekar (Buffalo) is healthy and off to a great start. On defense, Tyler Tucker (St. Louis) should be one of the better defenders in the league. Look out for rookie Brandt Clarke (2021), who is an immediate impact player and is the favorite to take home the league’s Emms Family Trophy as the top rookie after leading the OHL in preseason scoring...as a blueliner. Barrie may also have the best goaltending tandem in the OHL with Jet Greaves (2020) and Arturs Silovs (Vancouver) manning the crease. Don’t be surprised if Barrie pushes Sudbury for the Central Division.

Standings Prediction:

Ottawa
Sudbury
Peterborough
Oshawa
Barrie
Mississauga
Hamilton
North Bay
Niagara
Kingston

Western Conference

Championship Contenders

Saginaw Spirit

Cole Coskey of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Make no bones about it, this year’s Saginaw Spirit are one strong team. At the heart of the Spirit is Red Tilson contender and top 2020 draft prospect Cole Perfetti (2020). He could be a candidate to lead the league in scoring and is such an electric player in the offensive end. There is also a strong supporting cast of characters including NHL draft picks Damien Giroux (Minnesota), Blade Jenkins (NY Islanders), Nicholas Porco (Dallas), Cole Coskey (NY Islanders), and Mason Millman (Philadelphia). The real wild card here is whether the New York Islanders send star defender Bode Wilde back to the OHL for another year, even though he is eligible to play in the AHL. Another name to watch is goaltender Tristan Lennox (2021), who was a standout at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup this summer, but is not eligible for the NHL draft until 2021 because of an October birth date. This year’s Spirit team has to be considered the favorite in the West because of their depth and star power.

Kitchener Rangers

It has become abundantly clear that the Kitchener Rangers intend to compete for an OHL Championship this year because of how aggressive they have been already in making key additions to the club. This summer they brought in Axel Bergkvist (Arizona) and Ville Ottavainen (2020) through the Import Draft, and goaltender Jacob Ingham (Los Angeles) through trade. All three figure to be key components. In particular, those imports will help the Rangers defense move the puck more efficiently, an area that they struggled with last year. Recently, Kitchener also traded for OA Liam Hawel (UFA), who is a big upgrade to their top six forward group. Up front, Riley Damiani (Dallas), Greg Meireles (Florida), and Jonathan Yantsis (UFA) will be star players and all three have a chance to be near the top of the OHL scoring race. This is a very well constructed group with no glaring weakness.

London Knights

There was a lot of discussion in OHL circles last week when the London Knights were named the top team in the CHL in the preseason rankings heading into the year. Many, myself included, felt that this was not warranted. This is a London team with a completely rebuilt defense that outside of Alec Regula (Detroit), has almost no OHL experience (save Gerard Keane (2020) and his limited playing time last year). Additionally, Regula is out with a concussion and star forward Liam Foudy (Columbus) is set to miss 4-6 weeks with an upper body injury. That is not a recipe for early season success. That said, this is a talented group. Connor McMichael (Washington) should be in for a big year and will look to carry the load and help this team through some opening season challenges.

Flint Firebirds

They could not be in the OHL basement forever, right? As Flint’s high end draft selections gain more experience, this could be a very dangerous team that should break out in a big way. The team brought in veteran Anthony Popovich (UFA) to man the crease, fresh off winning an OHL Championship with Guelph last year and his veteran presence should help. Ty Dellandrea (Dallas), assuming he is returned from the Stars, will be one of the OHL’s top players and a leader at both ends of the ice. Look for Vladislav Kolyachonok (Florida) and Dennis Busby (Arizona) to really break out on the back-end, too, and have terrific seasons. Another unheralded player is Jake Durham (UFA), who returns as an OA after a breakout season last year. He has already started strong and could be among the league leaders in goal scoring. This is another well rounded team.

Erie Otters

Much like Barrie in the Eastern Conference, the Otters are being underrated in many preseason polls up to this point. This is a team that is near the top in goals returning from the previous year, and while they may not have the star power up front of other teams in the Conference, they are a very efficient unit. On the back-end though, they most definitely have a star in Jamie Drysdale (2020), who is a potential top 10 selection for this year’s NHL draft. He is an electric skater and is my preseason selection for the Max Kaminski, given to the league’s top defender. At forward, look for Hayden Fowler (2020) and Maxim Golod (2020) to breakout in a big way, too. Do not sleep on this team.

Standings Prediction

Saginaw
Kitchener
London
Flint
Erie
Windsor
Sault Ste. Marie
Owen Sound
Sarnia
Guelph

Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Top NHL Prospects to Watch

Ty Dellandrea, Flint (Dallas)

Seems likely to stick around for a few games in Dallas, but has the captaincy in Flint waiting for him upon his return. Strong two-way center who will be able to better showcase his offensive abilities this year.

Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton (Los Angeles)

Fell at the draft to the second round, but is one of the best goal scorers in the OHL. Will look to show scouts that he can play with more pace this year and improve his engagement level without the puck.

Philip Tomasino, Niagara (Nashville)

With a rebuild in Niagara likely, one has to wonder if he finishes the year with the IceDogs. Tomasino should see a nice increase in production this year with more powerplay time and another year of added strength.

Thomas Harley, Mississauga (Dallas)

Has had a very strong training camp with Dallas, but will return to Mississauga where he will look to improve his play in the defensive zone to match his dynamic offensive ability and skating stride.

Ryan Suzuki, Barrie (Carolina)

While his brother Nick starts his pro career, possibly even in the NHL, Ryan will look to lead the Barrie Colts to a division title. Ryan is an exceptional playmaker, but he will look to play more between the dots this year and increase his intensity level.

Serron Noel, Oshawa (Florida)

Noel is a physical specimen who can dominate because of his size and skill combination. The power winger drives play through the middle of the ice.

Liam Foudy, London (Columbus)

Speed is the name of Foudy’s game. He will miss the start of the year with an injury, but will look to become a more consistent offensive player upon his return.

Akil Thomas, Niagara (Los Angeles)

Like Tomasino, it seems unlikely that Thomas finishes the year in Niagara. He will be a highly coveted player because of his playmaking ability.

Nick Robertson, Peterborough (Toronto)

Because of his skill level with the puck and his tenacity without it, Robertson is one of the most exciting players to watch in the OHL. If he can stay healthy, he should have a monster season.

Connor McMichael, London (Washington)

McMichael is a versatile forward who profiles best as a goal scorer. The Washington Capitals first rounder will likely need to do a lot of heavy lifting early in the year for London.

Wild Card #1 - Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie (Arizona)

It seems very likely that Hayton spends the year in Arizona as a checking line player. Should he return to Sault Ste. Marie on the other hand, he will be one of the top players in the OHL and the top NHL prospect.

Wild Card #2 - Bode Wilde, Saginaw (NY Islanders)

With the option to keep Wilde in the AHL for the season because he was drafted out of the USDP, it seems likely that that occurs. However, should he return to the OHL, Wilde will be able to play with an incredibly talented offensive group in Saginaw and would be a favorite to lead the league in defensive scoring.

Wild Card #3 - Ryan Merkley, Peterborough (San Jose)

The Merkley trade watch is still on. Still in San Jose’s camp as he awaits a new OHL team, Merkley’s talent level is undeniable. But his attitude has him about to play for his third OHL team in as many years.

Quinton Byfield on the Sudbury Wolves. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

Top 2020 NHL Draft Prospects to Watch

Quinton Byfield, Sudbury

The name Eric Lindros has been thrown around recently because of how dominant Byfield can be below the hashmarks. His skating ability is tremendous for such a big player.

Jamie Drysdale, Erie

Drysdale is a beautiful skater himself and he uses this to impact the game both offensively and defensively. So hard to pin down in his own end, he is a breakout machine.

Cole Perfetti, Saginaw

“Goal” Perfetti, as TSN’s Craig Button calls him, is an offensive dynamo because of how well he processes the game with and without the puck.

Marco Rossi, Ottawa

Rossi is as slippery as an eel in the offensive end. He is undersized, but he plays with a lot of jam and has the skill set to match.

Jacob Perreault, Sarnia

A surprise cut from the Canadian Hlinka/Gretzky team, Perreault, the son of former NHL’er Yanic, is a terrific goal scorer who understands how to play without the puck in the offensive zone.

Antonio Stranges, London

Armed with an elusive 10 to 2 skating stride, dynamic puck skill, and a wicked backhand, Stranges is a human highlight reel. What kind of progress can other parts of his game make this year?

Jean Luc Foudy, Windsor

Brother to London’s Liam, Jean Luc is an equally gifted skater. As dangerous as he is as a playmaker in transition, Foudy will need to show that he can play through traffic more effectively.

Will Cuylle, Windsor

Power winger with a nice goal scorer’s touch. Cuylle has drawn comparisons to NHL’er James Van Riemsdyk for that reason. Needs to find a way to impact the game when he is not scoring.

Jaromir Pytlik, Sault Ste. Marie

With Hayton in Arizona, at least to start the year, the pressure will be on Pytlik to carry the offensive load in the Soo. After only playing half of last year, scouts will get a better look at him this year.

Ryan O’Rourke, Sault Ste. Marie

Hard-nosed defensive stalwart who will be looking to prove that he can be a two-way defender and possesses the offensive upside to be a high NHL draft pick.

Florida Panthers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:33:07 +0000

In looking through the Florida system, we were struck by how the system has a clear top three and a second clear tier with the players ranked four through six below. After that, we had around 20 players to choose from and myriad orders which we could have used to line them up.

That, in and of itself, is not that unique. Most teams have a top rung and second rung (sometimes a third) before the muddy middle. When I continued to look at those top Panthers, I further noticed that the top three consisted of the team’s three most recent first rounders. Their next three consisted of the team’s three most recent second rounders. The muddy third tier was from all over the place, including later round picks, undrafted free agents, and players of an older vintage.

It is often said about drafts that a team can win a draft with their late round picks, but an early round bust can definitely lose the draft for the team. For all intents and purposes, it seems that the Panthers have not lost any of their recent drafts, but it is equally questionable if they have won them either.

In fact, I would argue that they have not yet won a draft in the Dale Tallon era. The last late round pick to have any appreciable impact on the NHL roster was MacKenzie Weegar, who rose from a seventh round overage flier to a competent #6/7 NHL defender. So kudos to Florida for taking the plunge on Weegar, but they will need a few of those hits to build the organizational depth that they have long needed as they have sought to establish themselves as perennial contenders.

If there is anything that help that aspect it is that a lot of the third tier of prospects in the system are already experienced AHLers. There may not be any top half of roster players among the lot, but netminder Samuel Montembeault (#8) has already spent a few games with the Panthers, and blueliner Riley Stillman (#13) also had a brief cameo.

If the Panthers aim to get back into the postseason, they will also need entry level salary players to fill up the bottom six forward group and the bottom defensive pairing. That might mean more time in the show for Stillman, or for fellow blueliner Thomas Schemitsch (#10), or perhaps one of Jonathan Ang (#11) or Cliff Pu (#16) take a big step forward in their respective second pro seasons. A more likely player to make the jump would be one of Dryden Hunt (#7) or Rodrigo Abols (#18), both of whom were free agent signings. Hunt was a high scoring WHLer who signed directly out of junior hockey three years ago, while Abols signed this offseason as a free agent out of Sweden.

The Panthers have made plenty of big waves this offseason with the hiring of new head coach Joel Quenneville and free agent signings headlined by star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky (which makes it odd that three of their top 20, including their recent first round pick are netminders), defender Anton Stralman and winger Brett Connolly, with no shortage of others to back them up. But this is the NHL and the NHL is a cap league and without viable players on cheap salaries, the aforementioned free agents will be left without the support needed to win consistently.

-Ryan Wagman

Florida Panthers right wing Owen Tippett (74) (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

1 Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) Denisenko had a stellar performance at the latest WJC, leading the whole tournament with nine points – tied with his potentially future teammate Aleksi Heponiemi. The former first-round pick is a very gifted player with excellent skating and smooth hands – qualities that allow him to control the play in the offensive zone. He also has an excellent, hard shot and overall excellent puck skills. He is very dangerous in open ice as he can either pass the puck or bury the chances with his great nose for the net. He is not a physical player nor is his defensive game his forte, thus he is strictly a top six player and his success will mostly depend on how he develops his game in the offensive zone. He already said that he intends to move to NHL at the end of the coming season, but all things considered, it may be better for him to postpone his plans for a further year or two. - ASR

2 Owen Tippett, LW/RW (10^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 2) Once considered a relatively one dimensional goal scoring winger, Tippett has done a good job of rounding out his game in the OHL the last few seasons. While his ability to put the puck in the net will be his ticket to an NHL career, he has improved his play away from the puck and his patience with it to become a player who can make an impact even when he is not scoring. With good size and skating ability, Tippett is at his best when he is attacking North/South, hunting for opportunities to unleash his terrific wrist shot. He can have a tendency to float in the offensive zone and needs to be more willing to attack between the dots. He will look to show off a better two way game in hopes of cracking Florida’s roster this year. Long term, he has the skill set to be a top six, goal scoring winger and powerplay threat. - BO

3 Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) As a general rule, I am opposed to using first round picks on netminders. The bust rate is simply too high and the development timeline is simply too long. In judging the strength of Knight as a prospect, we should note that we are not considering the Panthers’ decision to lock up free agent goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a big money, seven year contract around one week after using their first rounder on Knight. By any measurement, Knight has been an elite goalie for his age group. He is a phenomenal athlete, plays a mature, refined technical game, and delights in playing the puck up the boards. His play seems to pick up a notch when the action is toughest although he can slack when getting ready for a shot off a zone entry, and he has never carried a full starting netminder’s workload. He has the tools to be a high end NHL starter, but only time will tell if he can reach it. With Bobrovsky in tow, the Panthers will give him plenty of time. - RW

4 Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 4) Noel is a unique prospect because of his combination of size, power, and athleticism. He loves to push the pace, using his explosive skating stride to enter the offensive zone and attack the net. He is so strong and as such, he is also difficult to stop when working the cycle. His hands, shot, and vision with the puck all continue to evolve too, making him a potentially dominant force offensively and physically at the OHL level. While his stride possesses a ton of power, he can still struggle with his balance and his cuts. His ability to receive passes at full stride and make moves East/West with the puck on his stick are also areas requiring growth. Noel is a potential future power forward top six winger for the Panthers who should have an excellent final year in the OHL upcoming. No doubt he is a project, but with patience, he could be a very good NHL player. - BO

5 Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 5) Heponiemi had a fantastic season with Karpat in the Liiga an was nominated for the circuit’s Rookie of the Year Award. A nifty stickhandler with excellent vision and offensive awareness, he is a natural playmaker who can finish, too. His shot has improved quite a bit, he has the ability to pick his spots and be a dual threat in the final third. While not fast, Heponiemi is highly agile on his skates and can make shifty moves to evade defenders. He needs to start using his size to his advantage more often and become tougher to play against as far as the physical game is concerned. However, I see big offensive potential and game-breaking abilities in Heponiemi’s skill set. If he can adjust his game to the NHL, he could be a first or second line player for the Panthers. - MB

6 Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Kolyachonok is noted first for his mobility, which should be considered well above average. His four way mobility and his explosiveness are major assets both offensively and defensively. The second thing he is noted for is his work ethic, on and off the ice. A mature player, he is committed and focused and should improve upon his weaknesses with time, such as his decision making with the puck. He can currently be baited into turnovers and does not utilize his skating ability well enough to escape forechecks. What Kolyachonok’s offensive ceiling is remains to be seen. A better idea of that should be given this coming season, his second in the OHL. More comfortable and with an improved roster around him, Kolyachonok should emerge as a quality powerplay QB and offensive defender to go with being a staunch defender of his own end. Long term, he profiles as an all situations second pairing defender who can eat up large minutes on the penalty kill. - BO

7 Dryden Hunt, LW (Undrafted free agent, signed Mar. 2, 2016, Last Year: 7) A late bloomer, was passed over in the draft twice, even though he was well above one point per game in his second go-round. In his overage season in the WHL with Moose Jaw, he absolutely exploded, leading the league in goals and winning the league Player of the Year award, which he capped off by signing an Entry Level deal with the Panthers. Since turning pro, Hunt has improved his relative weakness, his skating, to the point that he is around average. His offensive tools all play up thanks to his well honed instincts and sense of positioning. He has adapted well to the pro game and did not look too out of place in the NHL over as prolonged run last year. There is a new coach in town now, but he should have a chance to fight for a bottom six role. - RW

8 Samuel Montembeault, G (77^thoverall, 2015. Last Year: 9) An agile netminder who has steadily improved his performance in each season since he was drafted, Montembeault has generally been the kind of goalie who looks better than his numbers. That said, he held his own in a challenging circumstance taking over the net for a foundering Panthers squad late last year. He tracks the puck well and exudes a mature sense of calmness in between the pipes, but gives up more second chances than you would like to see in your starter. Once seen as the goalie of the future in Florida, the big money, big dollar signing of Sergei Bobrovsky, coupled with the use of a mid-first round pick on top goalie prospect Knight means that Montembeault will never again have a great opportunity to win an NHL job than he does right now, as Bobrovsky’s backup. - RW

9 Cole Schwindt, C/RW (81^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A rangy pivot, Schwindt is a very committed two-way player who uses his length to be very disruptive in the neutral zone and in the defensive end. This makes him a very effective penalty killer. With a wide skating base, Schwindt also can be difficult to separate from the puck below the hash marks as he puts defenders on his back. He was a point per game player down the stretch following the trades of Owen Tippett and Ryan McLeod out of Mississauga, but how much offensive upside he possesses is unknown. His overall skating power, his ability to create in transition, and his composure/creativity with the puck all rate out average at this current time. He will still have a few years to improve these areas and will be a focal point of Mississauga’s offense during that time. - BO

10 Thomas Schemitsch, D (88^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 20) Schemitsch has steadily improved his game and his production over the three years of his entry level deal, a period which started with him barely able to get out of the ECHL. He is a big man who moves around relatively well for his size. He also packs a big shot from the point. Where his growth has been most notable has been in his ability to read the game, as he now shows commendable awareness in all three zones, allowing to use space to his advantage with frequency. Despite his size advantage he is not an overly physical defender and he could still stand to play a more consistent game. The Panthers believe in him enough to keep him around, but it is up to Schemitsch to take that next step and force his way onto the NHL roster, where he could provide value on the third pairing. - RW

11 Jonathan Ang, C (94^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 6) A brilliant skater, Ang’s hands are almost as quick as his legs. The question he has always been asked about is his offensive ceiling. For as much as his speed allows hi to be one step ahead of the play and very difficult to contain, his numbers have never really stood out. He finally surpassed the point-per-game mark in his final season in junior, but not by a whole lot. His first taste of professional hockey was a return to that sense of frustration. He flashes the tools that got him drafted, but not consistently and he struggles to finish what he starts. Another aspect of his development that Ang needs to work on is his overall physique. He is not tall and he is very lean, which allows him to get outmuscled when he tries to play in tighter spaces. The speed will keep him on the radar as a potential bottom six player, but he has a ways to go to get there. - RW

12 Greg Meireles, C (168^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Meireles used a very strong second half to his OHL season to get drafted in his final year of eligibility. He profiles best as a jack of all trades kind of forward who can be utilized in a variety of different situations. His speed and tenaciousness make him an effective forechecker and penalty killer. His vision and hands make him an effective playmaker who loves to set up shop behind the net and near the half wall, where he can use his strong balance and lower body to keep plays alive and tire out opposing defenses until holes open up. It can often be difficult to predict how the skill sets of these older breakout CHL players translate to the pro level, but as of right now, Meireles does look like someone who could potentially be a 3rd or 4th line forward for Florida within the next couple of years. - BO

13 Riley Stillman, D (114^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 15) Son of longtime NHLer Cory Stillman, Riley’s professional rookie season was somewhat nondescript, although it ended with the young blueliner making his NHL debut. He has roughly average size, but plays a strong, physically imposing game. He has never had much presence in the offensive end – even in the OHL – but he is an accurate and sharp passer. His ultimate ceiling will depend on him proving that he can continue to excel in his own end, against better and better competition. He is the type of player that would have been more valued 10-20 years ago, when defensive defensemen were highly valued. That said, he is in an organization that may be more in line with the old school approach under GM Dale Tallon than many others and he might still have a chance to prove that he is worthy of a regular role on the third pairing by 2020-21. - RW

14 Ryan Bednard, G (206^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 17) Drafted out of the NAHL four years ago, Bednard has seen his game on a steadily upward trajectory since becoming a part of the Florida Panthers’ extended family. After one year with Youngstown of the USH and three seasons at Bowling Green State, the big netminder is turning pro. Big and hard-nosed, Bednard is an impressive athlete for his size, and is capable of filling up the net admirably. His save percentage improved continuously with BGSU, from .882 as a freshman, to .916 as a sophomore and ended up at .927 during his final, junior, year on campus. Unlike the younger Knight above, Bednard still has a few rough parts of his game that need to be ironed out. He needs to make better decisions about when and how to play the puck, while also improve his rebound control. The Florida crease may be crowded, but he should be ready to compete for the backup slot in the NHL within about two seasons. That may also be his ceiling. - RW

15 Santtu Kinnunen, D (207^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Kinnunen is an intriguing right-shot defenseman who plays with a lot of poise He has a high-panic threshold and moves the puck really well from the backend. His offensive vision and ability to consistently move the puck into good spots makes him an efficient player. He also makes smart decisions with possession in the offensive zone. He is mobile and has improved his skating, especially his first few strides have become quicker. He uses a good stick to break up plays before moving the puck in transition. He is physically raw an needs to get much stronger. All things considered, Kinnunen was a smart late round gamble for the Panthers in 2018 because his development has clearly been on an upward trajectory over the past few seasons and he has not yet reached his peak. - MB

16 Cliff Pu, RW (69^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Last Year: 14 [Carolina]) It isn’t often that you get a player traded twice before his 21^st birthday, but here we are. Pu moved from Buffalo to Carolina before his professional debut as part of the return for Jeff Skinner. His time in the Carolina system was, to be blunt, rancid and the Hurricanes sent him to Florida at the trade deadline for future considerations. He only appeared in 14 more games on the year, split between the ECHL and the AHL. Despite his debut struggles, Pu is an incredibly quick skater and can be very effective on the rush. What held him back last year was his awareness of game situations, putting himself into unfavorable positions and not being able to capitalize on his natural speed. It is too early to give up on him, but he needs to do better. He could scarcely do much worse. - RW

17 Owen Lindmark, C (137^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the lesser heralded members of the star-studded 2018-19 USNTDP class, Lindmark joined teammate Spencer Knight as a future Florida Panther when the South Florida team made him a fifth round pick. The Oklahoma native played a bottom six role for the most part with the program, earning his spot through forechecking and backchecking heavily and helping out on both special teams’ units. He is a fine skater who also shows some passing touch with the puck, but Lindmark has never given any indication that he should be relied upon one day as an offensive force. Headed to the University of Wisconsin, as part of another much ballyhooed recruiting class, he remains unlikely to get much time in an offensive role, but his safe, smart game, coupled with solid physical tools, should make it easy for him to reach his NHL ceiling, even if that ceiling is only on the fourth line. - RW

18 Rodrigo Abols, C (184^th overall, 2016 [Vancouver]. Last Year: Not ranked [not affiliated]) A big center who combines skills with a powerful style. Abols works hard and is really strong close around the net. He showed early promise in Latvia and had okay production in the CHL which got him drafted as a 20-year-old in 2016. He needed some time to adjust to the SHL but had a strong overall season with 18 goals in 45 games. He scores goals almost exclusively from close range. He plays an intense, energetic game and uses his size and hands to win loose pucks and to capitalize on rebounds. He is helped by his agile skating as well. He doesn’t have the tools to be a top six center in the NHL has enough to be a good scorer on a lower line. Next season, he will play for Springfield in the AHL. - JH

19 Benjamin Finkelstein, D (195^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 18) After flying under the radar for two years at St. Lawrence, Finkelstein took a step back to spend half a season with Waterloo of the USHL, winning the league’s Defenseman of the Year award in a scintillating 23 game performance. He returned to the collegiate ranks last year with Boston College, and performed reasonably well despite missing around half the year to injury. He is an exciting puck mover with some playmaking abilities, but also looks after things in his own zone, despite being significantly undersized. He is especially notable defensively as a shot blocker. He will be returning to campus for his senior season this year, giving Florida officials one last look before they have to decide whether he can be developed as a bottom half of the lineup defender despite his physical shortcomings. - RW

20 Linus Nassen, D (89^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 14) Nassen had his most offensive season to date although his offense isn’t going to be what gets him into the NHL. He is a solid defender who breaks up plays well despite not being over physically. He is very good with his stick and does well defending against the rush. With a goalie that made the first save so frequently in Ottawa draft pick Mad Sogaard, he was highly successful at retrieving the puck and making the first play to initiate a sound breakout. He could be an effective 5/6 who helps keep the puck out of his own net but doesn’t generate a much beyond his own blue line. Nassen’s next steps will be back in Sweden for SHL team Vaxjo.- VG

OHL Playoff Preview: Eastern Conference – Trade deadline talent arms race makes for a wide open battle

Brock Otten — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 16:22:01 +0000

This week the 2019 OHL playoffs will kick off with first round action getting under way on Thursday. More so than any year that I can remember, the field is wide open. There are favorites to take home the J.Ross Robertson Cup, sure, but the sheer number of candidates to make it to the end is greater than previous years because of how many teams loaded up with talent at this year’s trade deadline. As difficult as it is, I will make my predictions. Just do not place any large bets or wagers based upon it.

Eastern Conference First Round

Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67s. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

#1. Ottawa 67’s vs. #8. Hamilton Bulldogs

Season Series: 5-0 for Ottawa

Analysis: A rematch of last year’s 1 versus 8 match-up in the Eastern Conference, only this time the roles are reversed. The rebuilding Bulldogs match up against the top team in the OHL in Ottawa. Hamilton has done exceptionally well as the only team from last year’s Memorial Cup to make the playoffs in their respective leagues (with nearly as many wins as Regina, Swift Current, and Acadie-Bathurst combined). Arthur Kaliyev has emerged as a star in his NHL draft year, hitting the 50 goal mark and the team did a great job of trading away valuable assets but also keeping some veteran leaders around like Matthew Strome to keep order. All that said, they do not stand much of a chance against Ottawa. The 67’s are three lines deep that can score at any time. They have a physically imposing defense that can also move the puck. And either Michael Dipietro or Cedrick Andree will likely provide top notch goaltending, even if Dipietro’s health is a question mark after being forced to leave a game recently after a high shot stung him. I do have some question marks as to how they hold up later in the playoffs, but this first round victory should be a relatively easy one, no offense meant to Hamilton.

Prediction: Ottawa in 4

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Sasha Chmelevski (SJ): While he may not lead the 67’s in scoring, I feel that he is the most integral part of Ottawa’s offensive attack. When he is on, the 67’s are firing on all cylinders. He may not have had the year that I expected of him prior to the start of the year, but he remains one of the OHL’s elite offensive players because of his individual puck skill and shot generation. If Ottawa wants to take home the Eastern Conference crown, he will need to be a consistent leader.

Marco Rossi (2020): A late 2001 birthday, Rossi missed being eligible for this year’s draft by just over a week. The slick Austrian forward has been an absolute revelation as a first year Import and has met or exceeded all the expectations placed on him. His skill level is very high, but most impressive to me is his tenaciousness away from the puck. This youngster is a real puck hound who makes his presence felt in many different ways on the ice. His game is built for success in the playoffs, even if he is young. A strong performance could help solidify him as a potential top 10 selection heading into 2020 Draft season.

Jan Jenik (ARI): I could have easily mentioned Kaliyev here for Hamilton. But Jenik has been extremely noticeable since arriving at midseason. He is another player whose game is built for success in the playoffs. He plays an ‘in your face’ kind of style and is way more aggressive physically than I would have imagined. Pair that with terrific hands and a natural ability to gain the blueline with his speed and puck control and you’ve got a fierce offensive competitor who is fun to watch.

Forward #17 Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

#2. Niagara IceDogs vs. #7. North Bay Battalion

Season Series: 4-2 for Niagara

Analysis: No offense meant to North Bay. I have a great respect for legendary head coach Stan Butler. But I see this as being one of the most one-sided first round matchups. North Bay relies heavily on their first line of Justin Brazeau, Matthew Struthers, and Brad Chenier, but just do not have the depth to keep up with Niagara’s firepower up front. And while North Bay can often surprise teams in the postseason with their team commitment to defense, Niagara’s forward group may be one of the better two-way groups in the league themselves with guys like Jack Studnicka and Ben Jones anchoring the middle. In net, overager Stephen Dhillon gives Niagara an advantage too, especially with how good he was in last year’s playoffs and the experience he can take from that. The IceDogs and Battalion played a pretty lopsided final game of the regular season this past weekend and unfortunately I could see most of the games looking like that one did.

Prediction: Niagara in 4

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Jason Robertson (DAL): The winner of the Eddie Powers Trophy this year as the OHL’s top scorer, Robertson has been an unstoppable force since arriving in Niagara. With the IceDogs he has averaged over two points per game. While Robertson will never be a speedster, he is so good at controlling the puck in the offensive zone and slowing down the pace to open up lanes for his linemates. This makes him such an efficient player on the powerplay because he often requires two defenders to separate him from the puck. After last year’s disappointingly abrupt run with Kingston in the playoffs, Robertson will look to take that next step with Niagara and help them reach the Eastern finals.

Jack Studnicka (BOS): Another player brought in by Niagara who has had a remarkable impact, up near the two point per game mark. Studnicka is so valuable because he excels in all situations. He is on the ice when you are a goal down or a goal up late in the third period. He is going to need to be a huge part of Niagara’s penalty killing unit, which struggled at times during the regular season. A potential OHL playoffs MVP candidate.

Justin Brazeau (UFA): Sure, he has some warts. His stride is not the prettiest. He needs work on his play away from the puck and in his own end. But you cannot ignore the fact that he is a 6-6”, 60 goal scorer in the OHL, a feat that does not occur very often. With a strong first round performance (likely to be his only chance as North Bay does not have a good chance of advancing) in a playoff atmosphere with tighter checking, perhaps he can prove to NHL scouts that he deserves an NHL contract (if he has not done enough already).

Brandon Saigeon of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#3. Oshawa Generals vs. #6. Peterborough Petes

Season Series: 6-2 for Oshawa

Analysis: The Generals have owned the Petes in the season series, especially in the four games post trade deadline. In those four games, Oshawa has scored 30 goals. While Peterborough has played better of late, I just do not believe that they have the defensive chops to hang with the Generals. Oshawa rolls three very competitive scoring lines. They bring speed. They bring grit. They play in all three zones. There are some inexperienced players in their core group, but veterans like Brandon Saigeon and Nic Mattinen are battled tested after last year’s Championship victory. For as well as Hunter Jones has played this year (save for a dry spell post deadline), Kyle Keyser has been even better and should be able to turn aside the majority of Peterborough’s chances. I think Peterborough is still a year away from being a truly competitive playoff team.

Prediction: Oshawa in 5

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Brandon Saigeon (COL): 18 goals in 21 playoff games for the Hamilton Bulldogs last year in helping them win an OHL Championship. What does Saigeon have in store for us this year? One of the most lethal powerplay players in the OHL because of his shot and ability to get in scoring position. Saigeon will need to be a leader on and off the ice for a younger Oshawa team that, at its core, does not have a ton of playoff experience.

Serron Noel (FLA): Really struggled in the OHL playoffs last year during his draft year, but no question that Noel is a different player now. There are not many players in the league like him with his size, speed, and skill combination. He is just so strong on the puck, especially along the wall. In the playoffs, establishing the cycle game to tire out the opposition's best defenders is such a key component and Noel can do that in his sleep. This could be a real breakout opportunity for him to hit the mainstream spotlight.

Ryan Merkley (SJ): Without question, Merkley is one of the most individually skilled players in the OHL. His ability to create offensive scoring chances from the back-end because of his skating ability and vision are nearly unrivaled. The issue is nearly everything else. A midseason trade to Peterborough and a fresh start has not done much to squash concerns as he has found himself in the doghouse with his new club on a few occasions already. If Peterborough wants to progress past the first round, they will need a motivated Merkley at both ends of the ice.

Quinton Byfield on the Sudbury Wolves. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

#4. Sudbury Wolves vs. #5. Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: 4-2 for Sudbury

Analysis: These division rivals have not met in the playoffs since 2011; the year that Mississauga captured the Eastern Conference and hosted the Memorial Cup. That was a second round sweep for the Majors (yes, it was before they were renamed the Steelheads). This time around, I expect Sudbury to come out on top, but it could be a close one. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been sensational this year and should hypothetically give the Wolves an advantage in net, but you just never know when Jacob Ingham is going to turn in a remarkable performance. Defensively, I think these teams are fairly similar in ability. Mississauga generates more offense from their back-end. Sudbury’s defense is better in their own end. On the other hand, I do worry about Mississauga’s speed giving Sudbury’s defense some issues. That brings us to the offensive side of things. I ultimately think Sudbury has more game breakers in their line-up with the likes of Quinton Byfield and Adam Ruzicka. This could be closer than people are going to predict. Sudbury’s powerplay will need to be way better than it was in the regular season (a league worst), as teams do not go far in the playoffs without scoring on the man advantage.

Prediction: Sudbury in 6

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF): Hands down the Goaltender of the Year this year in the OHL. No offense meant to Kyle Keyser or Michael Dipietro, but this is an easy decision. Luukkonen might even be the most valuable player in the league, if such an award existed (the Red Tilson is for Most Outstanding Player, not Valuable). I have been so impressed with Luukkonen’s composure in the crease. His ability to read the play is outstanding and because of his size and athleticism, he always seems to get himself in the right position to make key saves. He is a prime time goaltending prospect.

Quinton Byfield (2020): I have been completely captivated by Byfield when I have seen him play this year. Such a fantastic and explosive skater for a big guy. I truly feel that if his game continues to progress, he could challenge for first overall in 2020. For now, it will be interesting to see how he performs in his first playoffs in the OHL. Regardless of the outcome, the experience it provides him will only make him better in the long run, which will make the Wolves better too (at least for next year anyway).

Thomas Harley (2019): All eyes will be on this potential first round pick in the first round to see how he handles the physicality of the playoffs. As skilled as he is as an offensive defenseman, a lack of defensive intensity has been one of the most discussed weak spots. Scouts will be looking to see how he defends in the corners and in front of his net, and his overall response to being up against a more powerful offensive squad and having to play more in his own end.

Continued Eastern Conference Predictions

Conference Semi Finals

#1. Ottawa vs. #4. Sudbury

#2. Niagara vs. #3. Oshawa

I am taking Ottawa and Niagara here. While I do have some concerns over Ottawa’s special teams play and their defense’s ability to handle the forecheck and move the puck, I think Sudbury is the best matchup for them. Niagara and Oshawa is a toss-up. Kyle Keyser could shut the door, especially with a big defense in front of him. But, like Guelph, I just really like the make-up of Niagara’s team. Their team speed. Their powerplay. Their core veteran group, especially up front. And Stephen Dhillon is not chopped liver.

Eastern Conference Final

#1. Ottawa vs. #2. Niagara

Like Guelph, I am all in on Niagara in the Eastern Conference. Jason Robertson, Jack Studnicka, and Akil Thomas are all nearly unstoppable right now. Plus their blueline does such a good job skating the puck out of trouble, it is difficult to pin them in their own zone, which means that you are always playing on the defensive against them.

SEE OHL PREVIEW: WESTERN CONFERENCE- LINK HERE

OHL Championship Series

Niagara IceDogs vs. Guelph Storm

Another toss up for me. Ask me tomorrow and I may just choose someone different. Both of their regular season matchups were decided by a single goal. Honestly, this comes down to goaltending. I give Niagara the advantage at forward. I give Guelph the advantage on defense. But in net, I think you have to tip your hat in Stephen Dhillon’s direction. Especially considering that there is no guarantee that Anthony Popovich finishes the postseason as Guelph’s starter. So...I am selecting the Niagara IceDogs as this year’s OHL Champions!

2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series: OHL Summary

Shaiyena Côté — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:40:50 +0000

Every fall for the past sixteen years leading up to the international U20 tournaments and the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) hosts a series of six games between the Russian Ice Hockey Federation’s top major juniors and the top major juniors playing in the CHL. These games take place across Canada with two games being played in each of the CHL’s three leagues in six different team centers each year. Team Russia takes advantage of Russian players already in Canada playing for CHL teams by rostering them for games during this series.

The first set of games this year took place against the Western Hockey League (WHL) in Kamloops at the Sandman Centre home of the Kamloops Blazers, with the second game being held at the Langley Events Centre home of the Vancouver Giants. The WHL split the game wins with Russia leaving the series tied at one win apiece before coming here to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

The first of the two OHL games was played Thursday November 8^th at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena, home to the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. A few of the players of note rostered with team OHL for the first game were Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects Morgan Frost and Isaac Ratcliffe, Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Evan Bouchard, and Montreal Canadians’ prospect Nick Suzuki. Team Russia’s OHL rostered players included; Edmonton Oilers’ prospects Kirill Maksimov and Dmitri Samorukov of the Niagara IceDogs and Guelph Storm respectively; Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Alexey Lipanov of the Kitchener Rangers and Alexey Toropchenko the St. Louis Blues prospect also from the Guelph Storm, all of whom had the chance to join their countrymen to play against their teammates on the OHL team.

Isaac Ratcliffe of team OHL Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Team OHL got off to a quick start during the first game in Sarnia with Isaac Ratcliffe scoring minutes into the first period off a high slot pass from Arizona Coyotes’ prospect Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Ratclliffe’s goal resulted from one of only four shots in the first period, the shot itself was a bullet going high glove. Team Russia seemed a little shaky at the start, but they were most likely just trying to find their legs again after their previous two games in Western Canada. Both teams took some time to gain line familiarity and worked on finding chemistry throughout the first period.

A lot came out of the first period as three out of the four goals of the game were scored in the first. The second and game winning goal for Team OHL came at the end of the period in the form of a penalty shot. A long stretch pass came from the Canadian blueline on a change to forward Mackenzie Entwistle set him off on a break away. Having full possession of the puck with a good scoring chance the right call was made on the Russian defender Saveliy Olshansky who attempted to slow him down, resulting in Entwistle getting a penalty shot. The right shot Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect made no mistake as he whistled the puck past the blocker of the Russian goaltender, Daniil Tarasov, a Columbus prospect, placing it high in the top left corner.

Stepan Starkov of team Russia Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

The last goal to come in the first period was scored by team Russia. The goal came from an outside drive deep into Canada’s zone by KHL Sochi centre Stepan Starkov who made a clever backdoor pass back to Boston Bruins’ prospect and Ufa KHL centre Pavel Shen as he waited, open in the slot, to net the one-timer. That goal came with 43 seconds left in the opening period.

The second period had more flow as players on both teams became more familiar with each other and more comfortable with their lines. Yet to be really tested were the special teams as there was only one penalty to team Russia in the first period which was successfully killed off by the Russians as Canada’s power play looked to get a little sharper. The second period saw team Russia getting a little more frustrated as they ended up in the box three times with Toropchenko leading the way with four minutes. Team Canada had a roughing minor handed out to Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Ryan McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads.

Barrett Hayton of team OHL Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Team OHL worked well on circulating and moving the puck on the power play but failed to net one as Team Russia successfully shut down the Canadian powerplay. Team Russia’s frustration came after Barrett Hayton netted a highlight reel goal on a break with assists from San Jose Sharks prospect Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm and Owen Sound’s Brady Lyle. Hayton put his puck handling ability on show as he split the two Russian defenders and slipped through the middle leaving him with few options but to deke to avoid the goaltender’s poke check. Hayton’s goal came with half the game remaining but was enough to hold off the Russian team for another thirty minutes.

The rest of the game was played out in good form with both teams looking to up their offensive chances and shots on net. Although Team Russia excelled at killing penalties and quick breakouts, their efforts were shut down by the physicality and aggressive play of the Canadian defence. The third period ended with zero goals being scored and only six minutes in penalties. Evan Bouchard lived up to the hype about him as he played a very solid game and proved why he was drafted 10^th overall in 2018. He showed off his patience with the puck, ability to win battles along the boards and backchecked well on a Russian breakaway. Despite Team OHL outshooting Team Russia 23 to 19, Team OHL had the opportunity to further their lead but the Russian goaltender Daniil Tarasov of the Supreme Hockey League’s (VHL) Neftekamsk managed to come up with some good saves as the Canadians found holes in the Russian defence. Team OHL came out on top of game one with a final score of 3 – 1 but the next game didn’t not go as planned for the Ontario Hockey League Team as they fell to the Russian team by a larger margin than the Russians did in their previous meeting.

The second game of the two game Ontario series was played on November 12 and was won by Team Russia with Russia scoring four goals and a zero response from the Ontario team, a result which left the majority of the fans in the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ontario surprised. Team Russia outshot Team OHL 28 to 23 with the Russians shutting the OHL offence down almost completely in the third period, limiting them to only five shots on goal. The star of the game for Team Russia was their goalie Pyotr Kochetkov who stopped all shots, proving that both of Team Russia’s goaltenders were strong.

Game two saw few roster changes other than the addition of four hometown Oshawa Generals’ players to the lineup; Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Giovanni Vallati was rostered for both games, Florida Panthers’ prospect Serron Noel, undrafted Austen Keating and Boston Bruins’ prospect Jack Studnicka, who wore the ‘C’ for Team OHL, were all new additions to the lineup. Ryan Merkley, Giovanni Vallati, Liam Foudy, Barrett Hayton, MacKenzie Entwistle, Owen Tippett and Ryan McLeod were all dressed for both games.

Alexander Romanov of team Russia Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Game two got off to a quick start for Team Russia as they managed to score 57 seconds in giving them an early lead. Team Russia started with a lot more energy than they had in the previous game, and they were more fired up with a physical presence from the get go. The first period saw ten minutes in penalties in total and two goals from the Russians with one from Montreal prospect Alexander Romanov and the other from Pavel Shen again. Team OHL showed frustration with their lack of productivity and quality chances but were able to keep their penalties to a minimum while making good use of screens in front of the net as they tried to get shots off. MacKenzie Entwistle and Kevin Bahl both picked up penalties for Team OHL while the aforementioned Shen and Veniamin Baranov each picked up penalties for Team Russia. Although Team OHL was down two goals heading into the second period they did not lose their morale playing the second frame and stayed focused and ready to compete with the energized Russians.

The second period was a very entertaining and well played period. Although both teams played a fairly clean game despite a minor penalty given to Team Russia, they were also both kept off the scoreboard. The action bounced back and forth and Team OHL players Studnicka and Ottawa Senators pick Alex Formenton proceeded to stand out for their puck possession skills by making solid passes and getting to the net on rushes. The shots were almost even with the Russians finishing just behind the Canadians in the second as the MVP of the game for Team Russia, goalie Kochetkov put on a show in net turning away all ten good quality chances Team OHL had and flashing the glove multiple times. By the end of the period the OHL players were feeling the pressure of being blanked for another twenty minutes and Team Russia was feeling more confident with their lead.

The end of Team Russia’s Ontario Hockey League stint finished on a high note with the Russians effectively shutting Team OHL down, reducing them to a low five shots on net in the third period and a final score of 4 - 0. Team Russia scored twice as Alexander Yaremchuk and Kirill Slepets both found the back of the net later on in the period to add a softer cushion to their lead. Tempers started to flare a little as Kevin Bahl and Bulat Shafigullin both had roughing penalties and Ryan Merkley ended up with a misconduct penalty. Through all the commotion and short-handed play, Hunter Jones remained calm and collected in his net for Team OHL keeping them in the game as their offence struggled to get the puck down the ice. The period went by slowly for fans who had come to support Team OHL but for the small contingent of Russian fans bearing flags and hats the cheering for their team continued throughout the game and well after the buzzer sounded.

As a final note, the Russian team flew out to Quebec the day following the second game against the OHL for the final two games of the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Team Russia met the best of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) first on November 13^th in Sherbrooke and played their second game in Drummondville on November 15^th. Four Russian players playing in the QMJHL; Ivan Chekhovich playing for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, drafted by the San Jose Sharks; Alexander Khovanov playing for the Moncton Wildcats, drafted by the Minnesota Wild; Pavel Koltygin playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, drafted by the Nashville Predators and Dmitry Zavgorodniy playing for the Rimouski Oceanic, drafted by the Calgary Flames all joined Team Russia for both games. Russia won both games against the QMJHL (the second game in overtime) to take the six-game series 4 – 2. The fact that Team Russia flew across Canada, played six games in six different cities in ten days against teams made up of different players and still won the series is a possible testament to the strength and skill of Team Russia and the fact that they should not be underestimated in the upcoming World Junior Championship once final team selections are made.

Overall, the play of both teams in the Ontario two-game series was strong and there was a lot of talent showcased on the ice for both Russia and the OHL. Both teams had a few undrafted players to be considered for the 2019 NHL Draft. The 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series marked the start of development camps and tournaments leading up to the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship to be held jointly in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. With that being said, it will be interesting to see the finished product of Team Canada, once the CHL selection process is complete, and Team Russia, come December 26^th when the puck drops to mark the start of the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship.

Serron Noel – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 20 Prospects

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: FLORIDA PANTHERS – RANK: #20 – TIER IV

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Florida Panthers Top 20 Prospects

Spencer Knight, G (13th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Anton Lundell, C (12th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Ty Smilanic, C (74th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Aleksi Saarela, C (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 5)

Cole Schwindt, C (81st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Max Gildon, D (66th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Michael Benning, D (95th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Justin Sourdif, C/RW (87th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Emil Heineman, LW (43rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Previous ranking: 10)

Kasper Puutio, D (153rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Justin Schutz, LW (170th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Devon Levi, G (212th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Montembeault, G (77th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 13)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – FLORIDA PANTHERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 4

Florida Panthers

Spencer Knight, G (13th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 1)

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 2)

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 4)

Aleksi Saarela, D (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Pre-season: 4 [Chicago])

Cole Schwindt, C (81st overall, 2019. Pre-season: 9)

Max Gildon, D (66th overall, 2017. Pre-season: UR)

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52nd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 6)

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 5)

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Pre-season: 6 [Carolina])

Justin Schutz, KW (170th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Samuel Montembeault, G (77th overall, 2015. Pre-season: 8)

Chase Priskie, D (Trade: Feb. 20, 2020. Originally: 177th overall, 2016 [Washington]. Pre-season: 13 [Carolina])

John Ludvig, D (69th overall, 2019. Pre-season: UR)

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

2019-20 OHL Preview

Florida Panthers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

OHL Playoff Preview: Eastern Conference – Trade deadline talent arms race makes for a wide open battle

Eastern Conference First Round

#1. Ottawa 67’s vs. #8. Hamilton Bulldogs

NHL Prospects to Watch:

#2. Niagara IceDogs vs. #7. North Bay Battalion

NHL Prospects to Watch:

#3. Oshawa Generals vs. #6. Peterborough Petes

NHL Prospects to Watch:

#4. Sudbury Wolves vs. #5. Mississauga Steelheads

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Continued Eastern Conference Predictions

Conference Semi Finals

#1. Ottawa vs. #4. Sudbury

#2. Niagara vs. #3. Oshawa

Eastern Conference Final

#1. Ottawa vs. #2. Niagara

SEE OHL PREVIEW: WESTERN CONFERENCE- LINK HERE

2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series: OHL Summary

Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Anton Lundell, C (12^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Ty Smilanic, C (74^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Aleksi Saarela, C (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89^th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 5)

Cole Schwindt, C (81^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Michael Benning, D (95^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Justin Sourdif, C/RW (87^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Emil Heineman, LW (43^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42^nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Previous ranking: 10)

Kasper Puutio, D (153^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Justin Schutz, LW (170^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Devon Levi, G (212^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 13)

Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 1)

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 2)

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 4)

Aleksi Saarela, D (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89^th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Pre-season: 4 [Chicago])

Cole Schwindt, C (81^st overall, 2019. Pre-season: 9)

Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: UR)

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 6)

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 5)

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42^nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Pre-season: 6 [Carolina])

Justin Schutz, KW (170^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Pre-season: 8)

Chase Priskie, D (Trade: Feb. 20, 2020. Originally: 177^thoverall, 2016 [Washington]. Pre-season: 13 [Carolina])

John Ludvig, D (69^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: UR)