Wheeler’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2016 NHL Draft by League (November)

Scott Wheeler — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 13:00:18 +0000

Each season, I release three instalments of my rankings of the top 60 prospects for the NHL draft.

This year, these rankings will be divided by league and produced in November, February, and May, and available online at McKeen’s for the second time.

My top 60 is not to be confused with the official McKeen's Hockey top 30, which is published throughout the draft season.

Note on the rankings: The following rankings are compiled through extensive coverage and viewings of Ottawa 67's and Gatineau Olympiques home games, which provide the chance to watch and follow a hundred or-so draft eligible players in the OHL and QMJHL who make up the majority of the top end of the draft class. For prospects from the NCAA, USHL, NTDP and abroad, I make sure I have several viewings before the first publication of these rankings in November. These viewings are cumulative from this year and last (while scouting the previous class). Events viewed beyond the CHL include the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, World Junior Development Camps, the Subway Super Series, U17s, U18s, club play internationally, marquee U.S. events, college tournaments, and a heavy focus on a select few European players in SHL and Swe. Jr. games.

November’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (overall ranking in brackets)

Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

Jakob Chychrun, Sarnia, D (#2)
Matthew Tkachuk, London, LW (#4)
Alex Nylander, Mississauga, LW (#6)
Olli Juolevi, London, D, (#10)
Alex DeBrincat, Erie, RW (#18)
Dmitri Sokolov, Sudbury, C (#20)
Michael McLeod, Mississauga, C (#23)
Logan Brown, Windsor, C (#24)
Mikhail Sergachev, Windsor, D (#26)
Max Jones, London, LW (#27)
William Bitten, Flint, C, (#28)
Sean Day, Mississauga, D (#31)
Adam Mascherin, Kitchener, C/LW (#35)
Victor Mete, London, D (#39)
Dante Salituro, Ottawa, C (#49)
Taylor Raddysh, Erie, RW (#50)
Kyle Maksimovich, Erie, LW (#51)
Travis Barron, Ottawa, LW (#58)
Nathan Bastian, Mississauga, C (#59)
Markus Niemelainen, Saginaw, D (#60)

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Cape Breton, LW/C (#9)
Vitali Abramov, Gatineau, RW (#15)
Julien Gauthier, Val-d’Or, RW (#16)
Samuel Girard, Shawinigan, D (#21)
Luke Green, Saint John, D (#32)
Maxime Fortier, Halifax, RW/C (#36)
Frederic Allard, Chicoutimi, D (#37)
Pascal Laberge, Victoriaville, C (#42)
Matthew Boucher, Quebec, LW (#43)
Otto Somppi, Halifax, C (#45)
Brandon Gignac, Shawinigan, C (#48)

Western Hockey League (WHL)

Tyler Benson, Vancouver, LW (#12)
Sam Steel, Regina, C (#14)
Jake Bean, Calgary, D (#19)
Kale Clague, Brandon, D (#22)
Dillon Dube, Kelowna, C (#29)
Simon Stransky, Prince Albert, LW (#33)
Brett Howden, Moose Jaw, C (#38)
Max Lajoie, Swift Current, D (#41)
Libor Hajek, Saskatoon, D (#44)
Vojtech Budik, Prince Albert, D (#52)
Zach Sawchenko, Moose Jaw, G (#56)
Lucas Johansen, Kelowna, D (#57)

United States (NCAA, USHL, NTDP)

Kieffer Bellows, NTDP, C, (#8)
Clayton Keller, NTDP, C (#13)
Charlie McAvoy, Boston University, D (#17)
Chad Krys, NTDP, D (#25)
Luke Kunin, Wisconsin, C (#46)
Adam Fox, NTDP, D (#53)

Sweden (SHL, Swe. Jr.)

Carl Grundstrom, MODO, LW (#30)
Rasmus Asplund, Farjestad, C/LW (#40)
Sebastian Aho, Skelleftea, D (#47)
David Bernhardt, Djurgardens, D (#54)
Jonathan Dahlen, Timra, C/LW (#55)

Finland (Liiga)

Jesse Puljujarvi, Karpat, RW (#3)
Patrik Laine, Tappara, RW (#5)

British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL)

Dante Fabbro, Penticton, D (#7)
Tyson Jost, Penticton, RW (#11)

Switzerland (NLA)

Auston Matthews, Zurich, C (#1)

Russia (MHL, U18)

German Rubtsov, Russia U18, C (#34)

Just missed: Evan Fitzpatrick, Givani Smith, Otto Makinen, Beck Malenstyn.

Adrian Kempe excels while being held back

McKeen's Staff — Wed, 21 May 2014 11:25:17 +0000

With rare exception, playing time in Sweden’s top league is in scarce supply for draft eligible prospects.

Kempe made the most of his opportunity by spending the majority of his season with MODO of the SHL. Like most young players, he didn’t play much, but left an impression with his speed, skating and offensive potential.

When Kempe has played against his peers, he’s been one of the better players on the ice.

Kempe will likely be taken much higher than the fifth round, 122^nd overall selection of his brother, Mario, who spent his draft eligible season playing for the now defunct St. John’s Fog Devils of the QMJHL.

Adrian Kempe (2014), C/LW

Played 45 games in the SHL with MODO this season, the most of all NHL draft eligible prospects - yet was buried on the fourth line and saw more than 10 minutes of ice time in just 17 of those games .. powerful and explosive skater - generates dynamic speed crossing over with a galloping bow-legged style that is not the most economical in terms of efficiency and style .. very aggressive shooter and likes to challenge defenders one-on-one and force feed his shot .. stick-handling abilities are adequate but he needs work on his play-making skills .. did a much better job this season addressing his defensive play .. still incorporates wide, looping circles - especially in the neutral zone – but comes back deep to support his defence and uses his reach better .. would benefit from playing the body more intuitively in the defensive zone .. played well against his own age group as he captured a gold medal at the World U17 Challenge in 2013 and was a point-a-game player most recently at the 2014 World U18 Championships (7-1-6-7) .. Kempe has a good physical disposition but concerns about his true finishing touch will lower his status as a pro.

SHL – McKeen's Hockey

Wheeler’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2016 NHL Draft by League (November)

Adrian Kempe excels while being held back