Simon Forsmark – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CAROLINA HURRICANES – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #15

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:11:41 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) watches the puck during his first NHL debut game during game five of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on May 15, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 15th (May 2025 - 10th)
GM: Eric Tulsky Hired: May 2024
COACH: Rod Brind’Amour Hired: May 2018

The Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect pool is built from the blue line out, headlined by 23-year-old Alexander Nikishin. The 6-foot-4 Russian defender arrives after a dominant six-year KHL career in which he posted 54 goals and 177 points, leading all KHL defensemen in scoring for back-to-back seasons (2022–24). With his rare combination of size, skill, and poise, Nikishin is set to make his full-time NHL debut in 2025-26 and should be an immediate difference-maker.

Behind him, Carolina’s depth on defense is striking, with several of the organization’s top 15 McKeen’s prospects patrolling the blue line. Although Scott Morrow is now out of the picture – sent to the Rangers in a deal that brought in K’Andre Miller – other names to watch include Aleksi Heimosalmi, Simon Forsmark, Noel Fransen, Dominick Fensore, Dominik Badinka, and newly drafted Kurban Limatov.

Up front, the pipeline is thinner but still boasts high-end skill. Since Jackson Blake’s graduation, Bradly Nadeau has stepped into the role of top forward prospect. Fresh off a standout NCAA career at Maine, he led all rookies in goals (32) and finished second in points (58) among all rookies during his debut pro season, establishing himself as a legitimate scoring threat.

At the NHL level, new GM Eric Tulsky wasted no time making bold moves. Carolina’s aggressive summer began with the acquisition of Mikko Rantanen and continued with a quick pivot to bring in 23-year-old Logan Stankoven—one of the league’s top young forwards. Stankoven now joins a core featuring Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, giving the Hurricanes both elite talent in their prime and a strong wave of youth on the horizon.

With a defensive pipeline that rivals any in the league and a few forwards capable of stepping into impact roles, Carolina’s system is well positioned to keep the team in contention for years. The challenge for Tulsky will be integrating these prospects into an already competitive roster without losing the depth that has long been a hallmark of the Hurricanes’ success.

Carolina Hurricanes Top-15 Prospects

1 - Alexander Nikishin

The Carolina Hurricanes found a gem in Alexander Nikishin, drafted in the third-round in 2020. At just 23, he was arguably the best defenceman in the KHL, playing with remarkable poise and is always calm under pressure. Nikishin excels defensively, using his awareness, timing, and angling to shut down plays effectively. He sticks to opponents well, sealing them against the boards with precise checks and using his active stick to disrupt plays. Offensively, he’s efficient rather than flashy, moving smoothly with the puck and delivering accurate, well-timed passes. He keeps his head up, scanning the ice for options, and has a heavy shot that’s netted him 17 goals this season. While he occasionally over handles the puck, he’s usually patient and makes smart decisions. Nikishin is NHL-ready and showed some great flashes with Carolina in the playoffs this past season. He projects as a top-pairing defenceman with unmatched two-way impact.

2 - Bradly Nadeau

It’s looking more and more like Bradly Nadeau will make the jump to the NHL this year, provided his training camp and preseason performance are up to his current standards. His performance in the AHL during the 2024-25 season was impressive, ranking among the best goal scorers. Nadeau started 2025 at a point-per-game pace and stayed red hot down the stretch and now is ready for the next step. He brings a high-level shot to the Canes’ bottom six with a variety of releases that are all equally deadly. There’s a real opportunity to earn a spot on Carolina’s power play this year if he can showcase the same offensive prowess he terrorized the AHL with last year. But he’s not just a shooter. Nadeau is also a strong playmaker who pre-scans for lanes and actively engages defenders to make his passes deceptive. Don’t be surprised to see Nadeau make waves during his rookie campaign. He has historically risen to the occasion and taken little time to find his groove in new leagues.

3 - Nikita Artamanov

Nikita Artamonov broke into the KHL last season as one of the league’s hardest working forwards, impressing with his relentless motor and ability to create offence through effort. This year, he took a major step forward, tallying 39 points in 63 games and setting a KHL record for goals by a DY+1 player with 22. His wrist shot and net-front awareness both improved significantly, and his game looks far more composed without losing the high-energy style that makes him so effective. Artamonov also remained a strong forechecker and transitioned pucks up ice with more control. He’s polished many of his roughest edges and now looks like a major steal for Carolina. He has just re-signed with Torpedo for two more seasons which will extend his time before making the jump to North America, but this should not scare Canes fans. He needs time to make improvements and has the potential to become a talented playmaker and checking forward for years to come.

4 - Kurban Limatov

Kurban Limatov was our highest ranked Russian player from last season and was snatched up by Carolina in the third round of the 2025 draft. He has explosive speed which he uses incredibly well to transport the puck into the offensive zone and a heavy shot which finds its way to the back of the net often. He is a physical defender who finishes his checks hard, using well timed step ups and intelligent angling to cut off his opponents and shut down play before it can even set up. Limatov needs to improve his playmaking ability and learn to use his passing to create offensive opportunities. A lot of the time this season, he was not much of a creator which held his team back offensively. Kurban projects as a top four defenceman whose strengths in the NHL will be shut down defence and great transporting ability. He will need some more time in Russia to continue to develop but looks on track to reach his full potential.

5 - Semyon Frolov

Semyon Frolov is the prototypical Russian-style goalie, and it is pretty easy to see why he was the third goalie picked in the 2025 draft. He has excellent athleticism, able to stretch and explode in many situations. He’s also an exceptional skater, having fluid, quick movement both on his feet and along the ice in any butterfly motions. He’s a competitive and aggressive goalie, someone that could really fire up a team by making huge saves. But he struggles with consistently making proper reads, executing correct plans and has erratic rebound control. Rebounds can be ironed out easily, but cognitive aspects of the game are harder to improve upon and can really hurt a goalie in higher levels. The raw physical talents of Frolov give him the potential to be an effective NHL goalie, but without development in the intellectual aspects of the game, could mean the difference between being a starter, and a backup, or worst case, a third string.

6 - Dominik Badinka

Badinka didn’t take a very big step forward, considering how good he looked in the SHL in his draft year. The young right-hander’s mobility and pace in the defensive zone looked good as ever and he was poised on the puck, but nothing really progressed. He’s added some weight, but the offensive zone play still leaves a lot to be desired. Despite his ice time in the SHL dwindling and his mysterious snub from Czechia’s WJC team, Badinka made the jump to AHL Chicago. The sample size is too small to make any judgements, but his toolkit should make his transition to smaller ice pretty smooth. The only snag is his lack of a pronounced physical game. He’ll finish checks, but he’ll have to turn it up a notch to keep up with the level of physicality in North America. If all goes well, Badinka could be a solid bottom pair defenceman, bringing defensive stability and puck moving skills.

7 - Felix Unger-Sorum

Felix Unger-Sorum made the jump across the pond this past year, joining the Chicago Wolves. He had a solid season adjusting to the North American game, which many expected to be a challenge given his offensive style that leans heavily on lateral movement and opening space for teammates to strike. He still lacks the physicality needed to take the next step, often shying away from contact instead of taking hits to make plays. Although his creativity has helped him earn top power play minutes and create dangerous chances, Felix Unger-Sorum needs to embrace contact and puck battles as opposed to his more avoidant approach. I’d expect him to rack up points in the Chicago Wolves’ top six in the coming years rather than grind out fourth-line minutes for the Canes. With the sheer number of similar players Carolina has in the system, it’s tough to project where Felix fits in at the next level.

8 - Ivan Ryabkin

One year ago, Ivan Ryabkin was being compared to other high-flying Russian offensive dynamos Matvei Michkov and Ivan Demidov. Putting up 58 points as a 16-year-old in the MHL was an impressive feat, and, naturally, everyone was expecting an even bigger offensive explosion. What ended up happening was an explosion of the worst kind. Rumored off-ice issues with Moscow Dynamo flared up almost immediately and seemed to be confirmed when he was shipped off to Muskegon in the USHL in January. Despite the negative reputation this location change gave him, Ryabkin turned around his case with his play. Finding a goal-scoring touch, his offence looked solid in his 41-game stint with the Lumberjacks. In addition to his shot, Ryabkin has always been a great distributor, creating great chances for his teammates consistently. I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out Ryabkin’s pestilence and grit. This guy is NOT fun to play against, becoming infamous for his borderline illegal hits and ability to piss off opposing teams. Some of his drawbacks naturally arise from this questionable play, tending to take some egregiously bad penalties at times. Ryabkin also struggles with skating speed and overall conditioning. Taking his height and weight into consideration, he is essentially a bowling ball on the ice. Ivan Ryabkin is undoubtedly one of the most divisive prospects in all of hockey today, though there is still a legitimate path for him to make the NHL.

9 - Justin Robidas

Justin Robidas entered his second pro season this past year with the Chicago Wolves after spending the previous year with the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals. He posted extremely impressive totals with 55 points through 70 games in the AHL and two points in two games with the Carolina Hurricanes. While he’s on the shorter end, Robidas is incredibly smart and has some of the best timing of any AHL prospect I’ve seen recently. His game is so fluid that, as a viewer, I question if defenders have any impact on him when working the give-and-go on the rush. Justin hits cross crease passes with ease, using deception to open seams and throw goalies off. Robidas is another offensive-minded, undersized Canes forward, so the competition for ice time will be fierce, but Robidas deserves a greater shot to prove himself in the NHL next year, given how his brain has translated to points at every level of play so far.

10 - Noel Fransen

In spite of poor team performance, Fransen’s first full season of pro hockey was a resounding success and he’s looking like a potential draft steal. He was a key piece on the backend for Västerås IK, confidently carrying pucks end to end with his strong mobility and supplying a ton of offence thanks to his excellent playmaking ability and deadly shot. In fact, he led all defencemen in the HockeyAllsvenskan under the age of 21 in scoring. His defensive reads and defensive zone play in general still needs improvement, but it’s clear he’s getting better with experience. Fransén was projected to be a high-ceiling, low floor prospect in his draft year. As his defensive zone play, explosiveness, and physical strength and resilience improve, so too will his chance of hitting that ceiling. He’s passed the HockeyAllsvenskan test with flying colours, but the SHL will be a different beast. If he can find success there with Färjestad BK, then he should make the jump to North America a year or two after.

11 - Simon Forsmark

All before turning 22, Forsmark already has 150 games under his belt at the SHL level. A fourth-round pick in 2022, Forsmark has turned into a solid top four defenceman for Timrå IK. Forsmark has continued to improve his offensive production while remaining a solid defender. He should remain an impactful defenceman for Timrå IK before the Hurricanes sign him to an entry-level contract or let his rights expire on June 1.

12 - Domenick Fensore

Fensore is as dynamic a defender as they come and makes you forget that he is undersized at all. He was an almost 0.5 point-per-game player for the Wolves last season and shined in his two games with the Hurricanes when he was called up. With Scott Morrow out of the picture, Fensore’s usage will likely increase in almost all situations. Don’t be surprised if he runs away with the opportunity as the Wolves’ best offensive defenceman.

13 - Gleb Trikozov

Two leg injuries cost Trikozov almost his entire North American debut season. In the 20 games he did play, the Russian didn’t produce much that was noteworthy and largely struggled. Injuries and issues translating his game from Russia to the AHL will be the key things Trikozov looks to leave behind this season. If he can get back to his game, he should be a solid middle six playmaker for the Wolves.

14 - Aleksi Heimosalmi

Heimosalmi finds himself in a tough spot after a rough 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. A -29 plus-minus combined with 14 points in 56 games doesn’t help the Finn, who will be competing just for ice time this year. With Dominik Badinka moving over to North America, Heimosalmi likely finds himself in a make-or-break year as a prospect. He’ll be battling for third-pairing minutes in the AHL this season.

15 - Ryan Suzuki

At 24 years old, Suzuki may not even be considered a prospect by some. Last season, he led the Wolves with 59 points as the team’s first-line center. Suzuki will assume the same role this season as an older prospect / younger vet who can help get the best out of some of the other prospects. Barring unlucky injuries for the Hurricanes down the middle, Suzuki will remain with the Wolves as their best offensive-driving center.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #10 Carolina Hurricanes – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Wed, 28 May 2025 12:32:42 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) waits for a face-off during his first NHL debut game during game five of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on May 15, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

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Carolina 25 Prospects

NHL PROSPECTS: Top five drafted prospects in Europe

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:43:02 +0000

The 24-25 season has played host to a number of European draft picks making some real noise in leagues across the continent. Whereas the top five draft picks on the European side of the pond was a relatively clear story in recent years, a good dozen players threw their names in the hat to claim a spot in the following list this season. In addition, some of our honorable mentions here not only would have been on those recent lists, but a couple actually were also (we’re looking at you, messers Nikishin and Sandin-Pellikka)!

Long story short, the NHL teams who own these players’ rights have a whole lot to look forward to.

Of course, as nice a season as the following players have had, it’s up to them to take the next step!

Ivan Demidov - RW/C - KHL - Montreal Canadians 1st rounder in 2024

Sure, there was plenty of fanfare about Demidov at last summer’s draft and the seemingly typical unknowns with respect to his status as a Russian prospect moving forward. In Demidov’s case, his draft year was basically spent in the MHL junior circuit and as dominating as his stats there were, such a measuring stick is laden with uncertainty. A Montreal organization that has done plenty of drafting over the past half decade had no qualms in selecting him fifth overall and welp, it looks like they’ve got a player who may one day end up being among the top three to come out of this draft. He’s only proceeded to spend the entire 24-25 season playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL and it’s been beautiful. 49 points and a +17 in 63 regular season games has been absolutely outstanding for any player at the age of 18/19 in his rookie pro season, but it’s been accompanied by no lack of highlights and flashes of brilliance along the way. His current KHL contract ends this spring once the playoffs have concluded, so the expectation is that we’ll see him in North America next fall. The leaguewide excitement is warranted and considerable, to say the least.

He (91) can rip it!

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He can dish it off!

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Dmitri Buchelnikov - LW - KHL - Detroit Red Wings 2nd rounder in 2022

When Buchelnikov was drafted, he was one of those picks that was very intriguing but clouded by uncertainty among world events and in light of his incredible draft year stats coming entirely in the Russian MHL. Where have we heard that before? Well, Buchelnikov followed his strong draft year with a noticeable VHL season before becoming a KHL regular on loan last season, putting up 29 points in the process. That strong step has turned into a monster 24-25 season in which the 21-year-old has accumulated 51 points in 62 KHL games, mostly on the strength of 36 assists, becoming a key powerplay quarterback in the process. Shifty and slick with the puck, Buchelnikov has the kind of game-reading smarts that rarely see him make a poor decision with the puck while also being able to make timely passes and throw absolute darts on goal at any given time. Detroit will need to wait another year, but the Red Wings could have another ready-made youngster coming into the fray as of the summer of 2026.

He (72) can rip it!

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He can dish it off!

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Lenni Hämeenaho - RW - Liiga - New Jersey Devils 2nd rounder in 2023

Hämeenaho has been one of these players who just continues to produce wherever he plays and in whatever environment. He’s been ready-made for a power play role at every step of his development in the last half dozen years and neither his size nor tools have ever really been brought into question with respect to their projectability. He was a regular Liiga player in his draft year and now he’s one of the guys at the top of his team’s scoring list. He’s just continued to produce throughout the season, now at 20-31-51 in 58 games, even turning things up a notch with nine points in his final 10 regular season games. Little stands in the way of him signing his ELC this summer and joining a New Jersey Devils team that can realistically hope that it has another Jesper Bratt style impact player on its hands.

He (29) can rip it!

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He can dish it off!

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He can even run with it…

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Jesse Kiiskinen - C - Liiga - Detroit Red Wings (by trade) 3rd rounder in 2023

Another Red Wings prospect, albeit a Nashville pick from 2023 that Steve Yzerman traded for, Kiiskinen has absolutely exploded this season, becoming his team’s top scorer. Eyebrows were raised with 10 Liiga points in his DY+1, but nobody would have seen him putting up 14-30-44 and +6 numbers in his DY+2. But that’s exactly what he did! The crafty righty shot whose game just keeps getting slicker might have had even better numbers if he hadn’t been a key component for an upstart silver medal WJC squad for which he went 6-1-7 in 7 contests. In short, it’s been a phenomenal season and word is, he’s even getting consideration for the men’s WC this spring. As always, Finland has plenty of players to pick from but what doesn’t seem to be in question is Kiiskinen’s near future. An ELC is all but in the bag and even if he’s given another year in Europe, he clearly looks like he has the offensive skills and wherewithal to put his name on the NHL map within the next three seasons.

He can rip it!

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He (38) can dish it off!

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Oliver Kapanen - C - SHL - Montreal Canadiens 2nd rounder in 2021

Kapanen spent a whole lot of time with the Canadiens last fall, even suiting up for 12 games (2 assists) before being loaned out to the Olli Jokinen-coached Timra squad in the Swedish SHL, where he then proceeded to take the league by storm. To be clear, his 27- and then 34-point seasons in Liiga play the previous two years where strong indicators about where things were headed for this 21-year-old, but finishing this season with 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games, including five points in the final two games of the season was nothing short of an attest to where he’s at and how close he is to contributing at the NHL level. Strong on the face-off and opportunistic throughout the offensive zone, it’s hard to imagine Kapanen outside of North America next season. There are NHL teams for whom Kapanen could easily be seen as the top prospect at this very moment.

He (89) can snipe it!

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He can dish it off!

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He’s got face-off game…

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Honorable mention:

Nikita Artamanov - RW - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 2nd rounder in 2024

We all knew he was good last season, putting up 23 points in 54 KHL games as an 18-year-old. Impressive! That wasn’t sexy enough to make him a first-round pick but seeing him jump from seven to 22 goals (38 points thus far) this season sure makes him feel like a first rounder now.

Semyon Chistyakov - D - KHL - Nashville Predators 4th rounder in 2019

The Predators have always been able to find defensive gems in the draft and after next season, Chistyakov will likely count as yet another. We’ve liked him for years now, but his career high 17 goals, 38 points, and +28 have put him in a whole new light at this point.

Simon Forsmark - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 4th rounder in 2022

Goodness, Carolina sure knows how to pick them. Good-sized defenseman increased his output with even more responsibility this season. Just the type of player you hope to hit on in the middle rounds.

Artyom Galimov - LW - KHL - Anaheim Ducks 5th rounder in 2020

Some might say he’s the top draftee in all of Europe. After all, he’s got 35-24-59 and +30 in 65 KHL games this season. That puts him way up there in league scoring. However, he is already 25 and only really exploded this season, even if in a big way. What comes next?

Marcus Gidlöf - G - SHL - New York Islanders 5th rounder in 2024

We liked him a lot as a midrounder with strong upside last summer. Alas, even we didn’t see him turning into a late-season SHL starter and putting up some of the most solid numbers in the league. Throw in Gamzin (KHL) and the Islanders suddenly have some interesting goaltending options.

Samuel Jonsson - G - HockeyAllsvenskan - Edmonton Oilers 5th rounder in 2022

Just 21, the 6-foot-5 netminder is killing it for HA contender Karlskoga, (somewhat) coming out of nowhere with a 17-6 record and 1.88 GAA. Now we’ll see if he becomes the go-to guy in the playoffs.

Vitali Kravtsov - RW/LW - KHL - Vancouver Canuck (Rangers) 1st rounder in 2018

It’s taken a good long while, but Kravtsov has finally put in a season that has him firmly entrenched as a “scorer”, albeit in the KHL. 27 goals, 55 points, and a +28 are all career highs. So, uh, is he heading back to North America? His KHL contract is up...

Viljami Marjala - C/LW - Liiga - Buffalo Sabres 5th rounder in 2021

Several decent, but unspectacular seasons in the QMJHL have turned into two straight solid Liiga seasons and he’s just 22 now. Only eight goals this year, but 51 points! A top Liiga playmaker.

Vadim Moroz - LW/RW - KHL - Utah HC 3rd rounder in 2023

The good-sized Belarussian winger had two decent KHL seasons as an uncertain lower line player for a struggling Dinamo Minsk. Now he’s tearing things apart with 25 goals and 42 points. The +17 looks good too. And he’s just 21. Nice!

Ilya Nabokov - G - KHL - Colorado Avalanche 2nd rounder in 2024

Already an overage sensation last summer, Nabokov has done nothing other than double down on his potential with a 23-16 season featuring a 2.16 GAA and .925 SV%. Granted, those are fairly “pedestrian” technical stats in the KHL, but he’s a gamer and a winner.

Alexander Nikishin - D - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 3rd rounder in 2020

It’s basically groundhog day again this year, even if Nikishin’s numbers are a wee bit lower than in seasons before. Of course, he’s second in KHL scoring among defensemen and his 17 goals are tied for first, so there’s that. The SKA Saint Pete’s captain is as NHL-ready as they come.

Joel Nyström - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 7th rounder in 2021

Has arrived as a full-fledged SHL defenseman for a contender this season, putting up six goals and 27 points in the regular season. Hardly surprising that another Carolina pick is establishing himself as a possible NHL defenseman despite being a seventh round pick.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka - D - SHL - Detroit Red Wings 1st rounder in 2023

Kicked off the season with one highlight reel after another. 12 goals and 29 points is some solid blueline work for an SHL teenager. Had bouts with consistency and was good, but not overly dominant at the WJC. Still a dreamy prospect with a possibly special NHL future.

Arno Tiefensee - G - DEL - Dallas Stars 5th rounder in 2023

In a bad season for DEL goalie stats, Tiefensee is near the top across the board in most categories and the clear #1 for his Mannheim team. Brutally strong numbers and six wins in his final 10 starts to the season have folks excited in Mannheim now that it’s playoff time!

Zemyon Vyazoyov - G - KHL - Seattle Kraken 6th rounder in 2021

Second in the KHL with a 1.86 GAA and second overall with a .936 SV%. He’s taken a big step this year with a winning record, even if he’s still just a 1b for his team.

Yegor Zavragin - G - KHL - Philadelphia Flyers 3rd rounder in 2023

Zavragin is just 19 and already a full-fledged starter at the KHL - for a winner, no less. Looks like good things are ahead for the growing goaltender.

Other notables:

Zakhar Bardakov (COL, KHL), Maxim Berezkin (EDM, KHL), Henrik Borgström (WAS, SHL), Alex Chmelevski (SJS, KHL), Liam Dower-Nilsson (DET, HockeyAllsvenskan), Noel Fransen (CAR, HockeyAllsvenskan), Hugo Gabrielson (VAN, HockeyAllsvenskan), Kirill Gerasimyuk (FLA, VHL), Olaf Glifford (FLA, SHL), Vasili Glotov (BUF, KHL), Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD, KHL), Filip Hallander (PIT, SHL), Juha Jatkola (NAS, Liiga), Roman Kantserov (CHI, KHL), Oiva Keskinen (CBJ, Liiga), Bogdan Konyushkov (MTL, KHL), Josef Korenar (UHC, CZE), Rasmus Korhonen (UHC, HockeyAllsvenskan), Yaroslav Korostelyov (SJS, MHL), Matvei Korotky (STL, MHL), Topias Leiponen (BUF, HockeyAllsvenskan), Jakob Malek (NJD, Liiga), Ivan Morozov (VGK, KHL), Felix Nilsson (NAS, SHL), Victor Nörringer (NAS, SWE U20), Ilya Pautov (PHI, MHL), Prokhor Poltapov (BUF, KHL), Daniil Pylenkov (TBL, KHL), Dmitri Rashevsky (WIN, KHL), Vinzenz Rohrer (MTL, NL), Otto Salin (LAK, Liiga), Daniil Savunov (UHC, VHL), Melker Thelin (UHC, HockeyAllsvenskan), Lassi Thomson (OTT, SHL), Victor Söderström (CHI, SHL), Danila Yurov (MIN, KHL)

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #11 Carolina Hurricanes – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:11:21 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 19: UMASS Minutemen defenseman Scott Morrow (23) during the Hockey East Championship game between the University of Massachusetts Minutemen and the University of Connecticut Huskies on March 19, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Since coach Rod Brind’Amour was hired, shortly after Don Waddell was installed as GM, the team has been to the Conference Final twice in the last six years. They have never missed the playoffs in that time, and advanced to at least the second round in each of the last four years. An impressive record, and even more so because in that time they have built a tremendous young core, learning how to win together. They are now entering their prime. Waddell is now leaving the team and the search is on for his replacement, while Eric Tulsky fills in as interim GM. Waddell had been patient over the years. Brent Burns was added in summer of 2022, but it wasn’t really until this trade deadline that he went for it. Adding Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh for a huge package of prospects and picks. Guentzel is a free agent, but there does seem to be a mutual desire to work something out. If that does not come to fruition, they will likely be aggressive in free agency and on the trade front.

That such a successful organization ranks 11th in the league for their prospect pool is a testament to their scouting staff and development team. They have a talent for recognizing talent in later rounds and developing them into stars. They have only picked in the first round three times in the last five years. Those picks include last year’s 30th overall pick Bradly Nadeau (ranked 34th by McKeens), and emerging superstar Seth Jarvis, just off a breakout season, capped off by an outstanding playoff. They have graduated only one of three goalies in the entire NHL in second round pick Pyotr Kotchetkov. Leading the group is McKeen’s 7th ranked prospect in 6’ 3” Alexander Nikishin, drafted in the third round in 2020, who led his team, and all defensemen, in scoring in KHL. His contract is through 2024-25 and he can make an immediate impact when he is ready to come over. Ready to make the roster as early as next season is Scott Morrow (ranked 49th), who has signed his entry level contract.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Alexander Nikishin	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`20(69th)	67	17	39	56	39
2	Bradly Nadeau	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	`23(30th)	37	19	27	46	12
3	Scott Morrow	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	`21(40th)	37	6	24	30	25
4	Aleksi Heimosalmi	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	`21(44th)	47	2	14	16	12
5	Jackson Blake	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	`21(109th)	40	22	38	60	26
6	Jayden Perron	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	`23(94th)	39	11	7	18	8
7	Gleb Trikozov	LW	19	6-1/185	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	`22(60th)	39	11	10	21	18
8	Felix Unger Sorum	RW	18	5-11/170	Leksands (SHL)	`23(62nd)	35	3	12	15	2
9	Anttoni Honka	D	23	5-10/180	JYP (Fin-Liiga)	`19(83rd)	48	2	21	23	12
10	Ronan Seeley	D	21	6-0/175	Chicago (AHL)	`20(208th)	58	2	12	14	16
11	Domenick Fensore	D	22	5-7/155	Chicago (AHL)	`19(90th)	39	2	14	16	18
12	Noel Gunler	RW	22	6-2/180	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	`20(41st)	24	5	3	5	6
13	Zion Nybeck	LW	21	5-8/182	AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)	`20(115th)	52	17	27	44	12
14	Simon Forsmark	D	20	6-2/195	Timra (SHL)	`22(101st)	52	6	13	19	2
15	Vladimir Grudinin	D	20	5-10/160	CSKA-Severstal (KHL)	`22(156th)	53	2	8	10	10

1. Alexander Nikishin, D, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Not only has Nikishin emerged as one of the best defense prospects in hockey, he is also arguably the best defenseman anywhere in the world outside of the NHL, at any age. This season he was named the captain of the storied KHL franchise SKA, he ended up as that team’s leading scorer, and he had the most points out of any defensemen in the league, all of which are simply incredible for a prospect who is still just 22 years old. The way that he is able to leave a huge impact with both his skill and his physical play, in all zones and all situations, is so rare. Carolina landing him in the 3rd round, 69th overall, in 2020 is looking like one of the biggest draft steals in recent history, and they have to be licking their chops about getting him to the NHL as soon as possible.

2. Bradley Nadeau, LW, University of Maine (NCAA)

You could give Nadeau the nickname Mr. Coast-to-Coast, both for his extreme continental crisscrossing over the past few seasons, as well as for his ability to make highlight-reel plays in transition. What he accomplished this year was nothing short of incredible, entering the NCAA as an 18-year-old and then leading his team in scoring with well over a point-per-game average. However, his success unfortunately flew under the radar a bit because Maine is usually a weaker program with a lower national profile compared to other schools that are top threats most seasons. He's a shifty, multi-faceted offensive weapon, and his high-end proficiency and deception as both a shooter and playmaker make him hard to defend against. Luckily for other college teams, the Hurricanes wanted him to turn pro sooner rather than later and already got him signed to his entry-level contract.

3. Scott Morrow, D, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

Morrow was a little bit of a risky pick for the Hurricanes at 40th overall in the 2021 draft, but he has rewarded their trust admirably in the years since, emerging as one of the best defense prospects in all of hockey. The program at UMass-Amherst turned out to be an ideal environment for his development, and after two consecutive seasons as his team’s leading scorer he signed his entry-level contract. Even more impressive, he joined Carolina’s roster immediately and made his NHL debut only a few short days after leaving college. He has sublime all-direction skating ability, crisp puck skills and a big shot from the point. There were prior concerns about his defensive play and his risky, freewheeling style, but those have mostly abated. Don’t be surprised if he never sees time in the AHL at all and starts next season with the Canes.

4. Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat (Liiga)

There has never been any doubt that Heimosalmi is a highly skilled defenseman. His talents as a skater are superb, and so is his ability to control and make moves with the puck while flying around the ice at his highest gear. The difficulty, however, has involved him figuring out how to actually make the most out of his given gifts. His production this season was almost identical to what it was last year with the exact same team, and it’s never great to see stagnation in a young prospect instead of improvement. He has the physical tools to be more of a difference-maker on the scoresheet but needs to get a little more crafty and aware when it comes to dissecting opposing defensive structures. He’s already under contract for a few more years, so Carolina has plenty of time to help his offense come along.

5. Jackson Blake, RW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Yet another recent alumni from the vaunted Chicago Steel prospect factory, Blake played like a man possessed this year for North Dakota. He was one of the top offensive producers in all of college hockey, and scored a staggering 31 more points than his nearest teammate, which goes to show just how integral he was for his squad. His efforts also made him a finalist for the Hobey Baker award, and rightfully so, though he did lose to the fully deserving wunderkind Macklin Celebrini. His dad, former NHLer Jason Blake, overcame his short stature with outsized perseverance, craftiness and work ethic, and the apple didn't fall far from the tree here. He’ll get a good, long look from the Hurricanes in training camp in the fall to see if he's ready for full-time NHL duty, but some duty in the AHL instead shouldn’t slow down his current rate of progression.

6. Jayden Perron, RW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Perron didn't necessarily have a seamless transition to the NCAA this season while following the same path as Blake, going from the star-studded Steel in the USHL to a more blue collar North Dakota group. The good news is that things eventually start to come together for him. That was fully expected, too, considering how great his hockey IQ and drive to improve are. He still likes to play bigger than his size and is already showing a proficiency for getting back into high danger scoring areas against the bigger and older opponents he is now facing. He'll likely still need a few more years in college before he's ready for the pro leagues, but that will provide him plenty of time to keep adapting his offensive tools and add other elements to his game, which will both be essential for bolstering his chances of becoming an NHLer.

7. Gleb Trikozov, LW, Omskie Krylia (VHL)

Trikozov is an electrifying, winger forward who has consistently produced points over the past few seasons in Russia, in spite of regular shuttling up and down levels, albeit within the same parent organization. He has as deep of a bag of puck tricks as any other forward prospect out there, and always relishes beating enemy defenders one-on-one in dramatic fashion. And if that wasn’t enough, he can absolutely bury shots, including when others feed him for the one-timer. There are questions about how his loose playing style and tendency to try doing everything himself will translate to the NHL or just how well he can play within greater structure, and his defensive commitment often isn’t where it needs to be. However, Carolina just signed him to an entry-level contract this spring, so they’re willing to see how everything unfolds, which is the right call for such an inherently talented prospect.

8. Felix Unger Sorum, RW, Leksands IF (SHL)

Unger Sorum is a highly entertaining player to watch because he's so slippery and elusive out on the ice. He loves to attack east-west in the neutral and offensive zones and slants heavily towards passing instead of shooting, and despite that book on him already being well known by now it doesn't make it much easier for opponents to actually stop him, because he's just that effective in the way that he plays. There are undoubtedly still some major adjustments that he will need to make before being NHL-ready, especially the extra strength and sturdiness needed to bounce off of checks on the smaller North American ice, but there’s no rush for that to happen, and his seamless transition from the J20 to the SHL this year for Leksand is a great sign for his ability to adjust to new challenges.

9. Anttoni Honka, D, JYP (Liiga)

Honka crossed the pond to North America for all of last season but then returned home to Jyväskylä for 2023-24 because of Carolina's lack of an AHL affiliate. Those globe-trotting circumstances don't appear to be doing him any favors, as his development seems to have stalled as of late. That's a worrying sign for various reasons, including the fact that something very similar happened to his brother, Julius, a former high draft pick of the Dallas Stars who is an almost identical style of blueliner and fell out of the NHL much sooner than expected. It's not easy to make a living as an undersized puck-moving defenseman, and Honka needs to soon demonstrate an elite proficiency in the role that he plays, because only the best of the very best are able to survive. Time is running out for him quickly.

10. Ronan Seeley, D, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

Seeley is one of the few Hurricanes prospects who stuck around with the Chicago Wolves after the minor league organization severed ties with their former NHL affiliate, and he seemed to be especially affected by the troubled and unusual circumstances, seemingly taking a step backwards in his development. Once a steady, trustworthy and well-rounded defender, he now looks like a shell of his former self. Just how much of that is his situation, and how much is an individual struggle to elevate his play to the AHL level? That jump is a steep one to make, even for former top defenders in junior leagues, and many never make it. He has one year left on his ELC with Carolina to figure everything out, but he'll need to solidify his professional identity and reaffirm what kind of value he could provide for the franchise long-term.

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

2022 NHL DRAFT: Sweden – Simon Forsmark, D, Örebro HK, SHL

Sam Happi — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 15:35:38 +0000

It is always an encouraging sign for a first-year draft-eligible player to establish himself in a regular role in the Swedish Hockey League, one of the better professional circuits in the world. Simon Forsmark has been a busy man this season, playing 22 games in the Swedish U20 league and tallying over a point per game in those appearances. But even more meaningful is the first entry on his SHL statline: 33 games played. That is a feat, and demonstrates a level of maturity and dependability already possessed by the 18 year old.

Forsmark is fairly unspectacular to watch. His skating isn’t great, he isn’t ultra-involved offensively, and he doesn’t lay thunderous hits. But he’s very effective in whatever role he plays: his junior statline demonstrates his dominance in an offensive role at that level, while his long SHL stint is a display of maturity and strong two-way play. At the heart of Forsmark’s impact, regardless of role, is his intelligence. He’s a reliable outlet passer that can strike into the neutral zone with long passes. He has a terrific sense for open space on the breakout, allowing him to play with poise and avoid pressure. And he’s even able to carry the puck forwards, seeking out pockets of ice and effectively mitigating average skating and puck skills. Throw in a heavy shot and impressive strength in his own zone, and you’ve found a promising two-way defenceman. A development staff will look to clean up Forsmark’s stride and improve his puck skills while continuing to nurture his awareness and intelligence. His ability to outsmart opponents may wane as the pace becomes higher and the opponents become better. But if Forsmark can continue to develop his technical skills, he should be able to strike a balance where he remains an effective defenceman.

Örebro's Simon Forsmark during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Örebro and Brynäs on 28 December 2021 in Örebro.
Foto: Johan Bernström / BILDBYRÅN / COP 119 / JB0086

Simon Forsmark	Date of Birth: 2003-10-17
Position: D, Shoots: L	H/W: 6'2", 194lbs
Stats to Date: (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Örebro HK, (36-0-3-3-2)

Skating

Forsmark’s skating is a weird thing– watching him skate in open ice, his skating, honestly, doesn’t seem to be very good. It’s choppy, there’s not a lot of power being generated, and he doesn’t look very fast. But Forsmark has this weird escapability aspect to his game– he’s very good at creating space from forecheckers and largely does so using his skating. His skating is certainly a greater asset to him than it might seem to be in isolated sequences, as evidenced by his strong breakout game and ability to hang around in the SHL for over thirty games this season.

He has this wide, inefficient stride that doesn’t generate much power nor separation. Frankly, I’d say the skating looks pretty ugly right here.

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But Forsmark has this impressive ability to go back for a puck with a forechecker on his back and maneuver his way to open space in order to make a play.

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A big part of it is intelligence, and it’s something we’ll discuss further in the smarts section. Watch him just part the sea of Canadian opponents here without ever being truly challenged by any of them. He’s got a very good nose for open ice. It’s fascinating.

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Forsmark is a decent skater right now who I think could certainly add speed and explosiveness with an NHL staff– increasing the power of a stride tends to be one of the more straightforward aspects of player development (as demonstrated by all the ‘power skating’ camps in existence). Additionally, the impact of his mobility is magnified by the intelligence with which he deploys it, something that will get more discussion under the ‘Smarts’ header.

Grade: 50

Shot

Forsmark has a big slap shot, one that can beat goaltenders clean from above the circles. He’s 6’2” and close to 200 pounds, which certainly helps with the power aspect, but the Swede also displays an accuracy and control of his slapper that is uncharacteristic of teenage players.

This was Forsmark’s first professional goal, scored during an 11-game stint in the HockeyEttan (Sweden’s third-division pro circuit). He steps into one from just past the blueline and cleanly beats the goalie, no screen required.

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He’s very dangerous when he’s able to step into his shot. This one finds the top corner.

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Forsmark also has an accurate wrister, albeit less powerful. There seems to be a hint of deceptiveness in his release; Canada’s goalie doesn’t seem to have a very good read on the puck on this shot.

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He walks in and picks the top corner, another shot that the goalie doesn’t seem to have much of a read on.

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Grade: 55

Smarts

Forsmark’s strong sense for open space in his own zone allows him to maximize his so-so skating on the breakout. Let’s take another look at that clip against Canada– the one where it looked as if Forsmark was wearing forechecker repellent. First of all, cutting close behind the net gives Forsmark some distance from F1; as a fairly unexplosive skater, he would struggle to create that separation all by himself. He then enters a passing stance as Canada’s forwards surround him, causing them to play the passing lanes rather than challenge Forsmark himself. Then, he recognizes space to the middle of the ice, takes it, and ends up near the offensive blueline by the time he chips the puck in. Canada’s forecheck could have done a better job here for sure, but Forsmark made the most out of their mistakes with poise and awareness.

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Here’s another occasion where Forsmark skates himself out of trouble without ever showing impressive explosiveness or speed. He misdirects F1 enough to get the forechecker on his back, then cuts towards the wide open middle of the ice where he has an easy outlet.

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The play above is another excellent demonstration of poise and awareness. Forsmark doesn’t rush to get the puck off his stick after losing the initial forechecker. Four of the five Swedish skaters are all bunched together at the puck; Forsmark recognizes that and finds the fifth in a less dense area.

Forsmark is a pass-first player in transition, looking to move the puck up through outlet passes rather than skating it himself. He’ll generally find some open ice in his own zone, then get his head up and move the puck to a forward, as we’ve discussed. His first inclination tends to be to look cross ice, which is often an especially good strategy against junior forecheckers, who like to cheat towards the strong side. He’s able to make some pretty nice long passes, like this long flip out into the neutral zone.

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He is good at recognizing when that cross-ice play isn’t available and doesn’t usually force anything through the middle, which would pretty quickly get him on the bad side of his coaches. He can be a little slow to rebound to an alternative read once he recognizes that cross-ice isn’t an option, like on this play:

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The play up the boards is a good option when Forsmark first begins his read process, but is no longer available by the time that Forsmark finishes looking towards the middle and eventually defaults to that play. He ends up putting his winger in a tough spot to make a play. Accelerating his overall read process (as to be able to look into the middle, cross that option off, and then look up the boards all quick enough where the board play is still an option) or getting better at recognizing situations where the cross-ice play should not be his first read would both work as solutions to this problem.

Grade: 55

Skills

The Swede is a difficult man to check– something already demonstrated by his escapability in forechecking situations. Forsmark retains that elusiveness while carrying the puck up ice, effectively using his body to protect the puck as he maneuvers around challengers. In this clip, he protects the puck well from the first forechecker, then beats the next opponent along the boards with a quick move to his backhand.

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I wouldn’t say he has a great set of hands, because Forsmark’s stickhandling is not particularly quick nor does his control over the puck seem to be pinpoint. Instead, he really just relies upon that sense for open ice once again– when a defender challenges him, he knows exactly where to move the puck to make it so they can’t reach it. He isn’t doing anything complex with the puck; he’s just stickhandling away from defenders and towards open ice. It sounds simple, but many players, including those with better puck skills, stickhandle into defenders and have poor results because of it. Like his skating, the influence of Forsmark’s hands is magnified through the way that he deploys them.

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Here’s some offensive punch: Forsmark receives a pass behind him, drags it up into a shooting position, and scores from the slot. All while surrounded by some pretty serious traffic.

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Forsmark’s skills are functional, if not outwardly impressive. He isn’t a dangler and doesn’t make any dazzling plays with the puck, but he has enough puck skill and (equally importantly) intelligence to effectively make plays in traffic. He can lose a forechecker, step around a player in the neutral zone, and even work his way into the slot. It might not look particularly pretty, but he gets it done.

Skills: 50

Physicality/Compete

Forsmark is unafraid to get into the game physically, looking to close attackers off along the boards and occasionally stepping up to make a play on a forward in the neutral zone. The way that he chooses to contact opposing players is interesting; Forsmark seems to shy away from the big hit, even when the opportunity is there, and would rather just win body positioning and remove his foe from the play. It’s not that he’s soft or shies away from contact. Some guys hit to hurt, others hit to knock the player down, but Forsmark seems to have no further intent than to remove his target from the puck. To some degree it would seem to be a lack of hitting skill; he can line guys up pretty good, but the actual hit can look awkward and sometimes ineffective.

This looks like it’s going to be a big open-ice hit, until Forsmark seems to pull off a little bit and only gets partial contact.

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But Forsmark is definitely strong. I am impressed with how he’s been able to push SHL forwards around, that’s a nice feat for an 18 year old. He very effectively removes a forward from a puck battle here.

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He’s very good at sealing off forwards that try to beat him wide, using his strength to win body positioning even when the forward would appear to have a half-step, and then wrestling the attacker off their route and towards the boards. This forward’s body positioning seems like it will enable him to loop around the net and make a play, but Forsmark simply pushes on his shoulder with enough force to send the forward into the boards.

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This opponent also seems to have body positioning on Forsmark going beneath the goal line, but Forsmark is just too strong.

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I would like to see Forsmark look to engage attackers in the neutral zone and around the blueline more frequently, using his physicality in those regions rather than letting them work the puck lower into the offensive zone. However, his impressive strength provides a strong foundation for what should be a valuable physical aspect to his game, with some development.

Grade: 55

OFP: 53.75

Skating 50; Shot 55; Smarts: 55; Skills 50; Physicality/Compete: 55

2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 50 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #21 thru #30

Brock Otten — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:10:39 +0000

With this series of articles it is our intention is to briefly introduce you to each of the players ranked in our Top 50. Below you will find a short summary of their games in addition to a top highlight. In the coming months you will see in depth scouting reports published by our regional scouts on each of these players.

Djurgården's Jonathan Lekkerimäki during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Djurgården and Oskarshamn on October 21, 2021 in Stockholm.
Photo: Andreas L Eriksson / BILDBYRÅN

Jonathan Lekkerimaki - Center - Djurgårdens J20 (Swe J20)

A shoot first center, Lekkerimaki is definitely in contention for being the top goal scoring forward available this year. He possesses both an elite shot and terrific scoring instincts, allowing him to be a threat to score everytime he takes the ice. His performance this draft year has been terrific. One of the offensive leaders in the J20 league, Lekkermaki has also performed admirably in limited SHL action. Additionally, his five goals were tied for third at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup last summer. The only issue is that our scouts are not entirely convinced that he skates well enough to be a consistent impact player at the next level. If he were larger, this would be less of an issue, but as a sub six-foot player, we do wish that he possessed a slightly more explosive stride. As he matures physically, there is certainly hope that he can get quicker and if he does, there is no question that his ceiling is that of a consistent 30-goal scorer at the NHL level.

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Tristan Luneau - Defense - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Luneau got a late start to his season after recovering from offseason surgery on a nagging lower-body injury. Coming into the year, there was some thought that Luneau could be one of the top defenders available in 2022 and a potential top 10 selection. However, the injury and slow start have pushed him further down draft boards, including our own. This is because Luneau’s upside may be lower than initially thought, as his projection changes to that of a solid second pairing defender, rather than a potential workhorse. His game has few holes. He does everything relatively well. He skates well. He moves the puck well. He defends well. He can quarterback the powerplay or lead a penalty killing group. He also has good size and a right handed shot. But one has to question whether he does any of these things at an elite level. Additionally, he will need to increase his physical intensity level to be more consistent. The QMJHL covid hiatus will be ending soon and Luneau will look to show progression in his game down the stretch.

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Nathan Gaucher - Center - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

No one will confuse Nathan Gaucher with Connor McDavid. He is not the most dynamic or creative player available this year. However, his tools are highly projectable to the next level, with upside as a high-end middle six center. A physical, two-way, power center, Gaucher is incredibly difficult to play against. He can push the pace with long, powerful strides, driving the middle to apply pressure. He excels playing through contact and controls the wall well, rarely giving up possession deep in the offensive zone. While you would like to see greater offensive production from him given his age (a late born ‘03), there is no denying how well his skill set could translate to the NHL level. To a certain extent, many parallels can be made between Gaucher and recent selection Dawson Mercer. At worst, Gaucher could develop into a shutdown center who anchors a penalty kill and takes tough defensive assignments. That type of floor is going to be very attractive to teams in the later first round who are looking for a more pro ready prospect who can make an impact sooner, rather than later.

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Ty Nelson of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ty Nelson - Defense - North Bay Battalion (OHL)

The former first overall selection in his OHL priority draft, Nelson is a player who has shown tremendous progression thus far in his short OHL career. The competitive, yet diminutive defender has worked hard to improve his decision making and composure in the defensive end. He is one of the most natural powerplay quarterbacks available this year because of his vision and bomb of a point shot. He loves to step up on attackers early and plays an aggressive brand of defense to counterbalance his lack of reach. He is not a prospect without warts. While his forward stride does generate power, his transitions and overall four-way mobility will need to improve for a defender of his size. Additionally, he will need to continue to improve his reads in zone coverage. However, he has improved with each passing month for the Battalion and has elevated himself into the upper echelon of OHL defenders already. Nelson has the skill set and drive to have a Ryan Ellis like career at the NHL level as a dependable #2-3 defender. Scouts have to be impressed with his willingness to accept instruction and progress thus far.

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Vladimir Grudinin - Defense - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Grudinin is a player who was really hurt by the cancellation of the World Juniors this year. The late born ‘03 was gaining more ice time and responsibility with each passing game for the Russians. And with his late birth date, he is not eligible for the U18’s this year. The undersized Russian defender is a natural powerplay QB, much like Nelson ranked ahead of him. He has performed well at every level he has played at this year, including a half dozen games in the KHL. Due to varying opinions on his physical tools and his ceiling as a defensive player, he has become a very divisive prospect in the scouting community. While we have him ranked as a first-round selection, NHL Central Scouting has him 40th in Europe alone (putting him essentially outside of their Top 100). We have a lot of faith in Grudinin’s offensive skill set and his intelligence level and do believe that he can develop into a quality NHL player and an asset as a puck moving defender.

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Owen Beck of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

Owen Beck - Center - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

A favourite of our OHL regional scouts, Beck has exploded onto the scouting scene this year for a surprisingly fantastic Mississauga Steelheads team. Beck blends quickness, skill, and tenaciousness into a package that makes him the perfect modern-day middle six center. Hands down one of the fastest skaters available this year, Beck consistently explodes through the neutral zone, putting defenders on their heels. Unlike many highly quick and deceptive players, Beck also shows great touch and awareness when operating at full speed. Beck is also a competitive two-way forward who is excellent on faceoffs, can kill penalties, and who uses his speed to be disruptive on the backcheck and forecheck. There may ultimately be some limitations to his skill development, creativity, and upside, but he is armed with enough offensive tools to suggest that he could be a very valuable and longtime NHL player. Beck is the perfect player for the modern-day NHL game, a game predicated on speed and the ability to dictate pace.

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Simon Forsmark - Defense - Orebro (SHL)

Forsmark may not be the flashiest defender available, but it is his dependability and projectability that has us and other scouts intrigued about his NHL upside. A strong two-way blueliner, Forsmark can shut down the transition game with his mobility and strong gap control. He consistently wins one on one battles, using his 6’2 frame to play aggressively and take away space in the middle of the ice. He also exhibits good poise with the puck, consistently making heads up break outs, helping to clear the zone. While the offensive production has not carried over from the J20 league to the SHL thus far, he has been able to play a steady, mistake free game against men and that is impressive given his age (even as a late born ‘03). The ultimate question being asked is, how much can Forsmark’s offensive abilities be improved? Does he project as more of a dependable stay at home type at the NHL level, or can he be a highly impactful #3 defender who can play in any situation. Our Swedish scouts love his game and believe that what he has shown at the J20 level this year is a better indication of his offensive potential.

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Mats Lindgren - Defense - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

The son of former NHL forward…Mats Lindgren, junior is a highly mobile puck moving defender who has had a strong year for Kamloops of the Western Hockey League. One of the draft’s best skating defenders, Lindgren’s fluid stride is a sight to behold. An effortless mover in all four directions, Lindgren can positively impact the transition game by leading the breakout. While his shot is not yet an asset, he does show tremendous potential as a powerplay quarterback because of high-end vision and the ability to use his lateral quickness to evade sticks and hold the line. The part missing from his game at this point is consistency. He goes stretches without making the kind of impact that you would expect from such a dominant skater. His defensive game also leaves some to be desired, as mental lapses can be an issue, especially in zone coverage situations. However, these areas of weakness can be improved upon, whereas Lindgren’s puck moving abilities and skating abilities are more innate. The upside is quite high, so long as the NHL team that selects him is patient with his development as he builds up confidence in his abilities at both ends of the ice.

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Rutger McGroarty - Wing - NTDP U18 (USHL)

A budding power forward prospect, McGroarty plays a heavy game in the offensive end. He shows terrific puck protection skills and tendencies, possessing the strength and skill to put opposing defenders on his back as he drives the net, in addition to consistently winning one on one battles along the wall. McGroarty combines this effective physical and power game with great scoring instincts and a terrific shot. That combination gives him definitive top six upside, especially after a few years at the University of Michigan, where he is scheduled to play next season. The only real issue with his game is a lack of power in his stride which prevents him from building speed quickly to create separation. This does not really hurt him from being a consistent offensive contributor at the USHL level (or even the NCAA level in those exhibitions), however it could definitely hinder his effectiveness at the NHL level where he won’t be able to overwhelm defenders physically with ease. If McGroarty was a high-level skater, we would be discussing him as a potential top ten selection. With the right developmental team, coaches, and patience, McGroarty could become a great complementary offensive piece for his future team.

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Jiri Kulich - Center - Karlovy Vary (Cze)

Flying under the radar thus far, Kulich is low key having a terrific season in the Czech men’s league as a U18 player. His production has been right on par with Carolina Hurricanes former first round pick and young contributor Martin Necas at the same age. Kulich loves to attack the offensive end with speed, even if there is room for improvement in his explosiveness and power. He succeeds because of his creativity and ability to maintain control through directional changes and pivots. A well-rounded offensive player, Kulich is equal parts playmaker and goal scorer. He is especially dangerous in the home plate area with a quick and deceptive wrist shot. Kulich also excels at times as a defensive player and projects as a strong two-way center once he fills out and matures physically. He has very much been a prospect trending up in recent months and he should get a great opportunity to show what he is truly capable of at the U18’s in April, where he will likely serve as the captain for Czechia.

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2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 100

Brock Otten — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:59:29 +0000

RED DEER, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 26: USA vs Slovakia preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at WP Centrium on December 26, 2021 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

A new year means a new draft ranking at McKeen’s Hockey, as we expand our list at mid-season to a Top 100. Back in mid-November, we released our preliminary ranking, a top 32, so this serves not only as an update, but an expansion too.

Like many, we were disappointed with the abrupt ending of the World Junior Championships, not just because it robbed us of some terrific hockey, but because it prevented a high-quality look at some of the best talents in this draft year. While a poor showing at the World Juniors is often dismissed, a strong showing can really help elevate a player’s standing. Ultimately, the decision to stop the tournament was the correct one, given the circumstances, however, hopefully the World Under 18’s can occur in Germany as planned in April.

At this point Kingston Frontenacs center and former CHL exceptional status player Shane Wright remains at the top of our rankings, however the gap is admittedly closing between him and some of the other players inside of our top five. Defenseman Simon Nemec is having a historically good season in the Slovak men’s league and will play for Slovakia at the Olympics. Center Logan Cooley is proving to be a dynamic two-way threat and is fresh off a terrific performance at the Biosteel All American Game. Center Matthew Savoie of the Winnipeg Ice continues to lead the WHL in scoring on the top ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. A year ago, it was unfathomable to imagine anyone else but Wright being selected first overall. That concept is not as far-fetched today. Without question, Wright will need to pick up his play in the second half to withstand his competitors.

Looking specifically at those ranked inside our first round (top 32), the positional breakdown is as follows: 10 defenders, 22 forwards, and zero goaltenders. In fact, we do not have a single goaltender ranked inside the first two rounds. Tyler Brennan and Topias Leinonen are our top goaltenders, ranked 84th and 87th, respectively. The quality and depth of goaltenders available this year may be the worst that we have ever seen as a scouting staff.

Regionally, the breakdown is as follows: ten players from the CHL, seven players from the USHL (more specifically the NTDP), four players in Sweden, four players in Russia, three players in Finland, two players in Slovakia, and two players in Czechia. The U.S. National Development program is extremely well represented with ten players inside of our first two rounds.

This top 100 was formed in consultation with our regional scouts and our video scouting team. Now that we have our midseason list formed, look for our annual, in-depth individual scouting reports to start being published in the very near future.

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Shane Wright	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/190	5-Jan-04	25-12-19-31
2	Simon Nemec	D	HK Nitra (Svk)	6-1/190	15-Feb-04	28-0-19-19
3	Matthew Savoie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	5-9/180	1-Jan-04	35-19-34-53
4	Logan Cooley	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	4-May-04	25-15-20-35
5	Danila Yurov	RW	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	6-1/175	22-Dec-03	21-0-0-0
6	Joakim Kemell	RW	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/175	27-Apr-04	21-12-6-18
7	Juraj Slafkovsky	LW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-4/225	30-Mar-04	20-1-3-4
8	Conor Geekie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	6-4/205	5-May-04	35-11-27-38
9	Brad Lambert	C	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/180	19-Dec-03	24-2-4-6
10	Ivan Miroshnichenko	LW	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	6-1/185	4-Feb-04	30-9-6-15
11	David Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Cze)	6-3/190	28-Nov-03	29-5-6-11
12	Filip Mesar	C	HK Poprad (Svk)	5-10/165	3-Jan-04	22-6-5-11
13	Pavel Mintyukov	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-03	31-6-17-23
14	Denton Mateychuk	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Jul-04	35-7-24-31
15	Marco Kasper	C	Rogle BK (SHL)	6-1/185	8-Apr-04	27-4-2-6
16	Alexander Perevalov	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-0/190	16-Apr-04	29-19-20-39
17	Seamus Casey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	8-Jan-04	31-5-13-18
18	Frank Nazar	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/175	14-Jan-04	33-15-23-38
19	Noah Ostlund	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-10/160	11-Mar-04	19-6-18-24
20	Cutter Gauthier	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/190	19-Jan-04	33-20-12-32
21	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-11/170	24-Jul-04	25-19-15-34
22	Tristan Luneau	D	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/175	12-Jan-04	26-5-10-15
23	Nathan Gaucher	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/205	6-Nov-03	30-15-11-26
24	Ty Nelson	D	North Bay (OHL)	5-9/195	30-Mar-04	33-5-21-26
25	Vladimir Grudinin	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	5-10/160	9-Dec-03	15-2-7-9
26	Owen Beck	C	Mississauga (OHL)	5-11/190	3-Feb-04	33-13-16-29
27	Simon Forsmark	D	Orebro (SHL)	6-2/195	17-Oct-03	22-0-1-1
28	Mats Lindgren	D	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/175	26-Aug-04	34-2-19-21
29	Rutger McGroarty	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/205	30-Mar-04	27-15-17-32
30	Jiri Kulich	C	Karlovy Vary (Cze)	6-0/175	14-Apr-04	31-7-4-11
31	Isaac Howard	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	30-Mar-04	33-15-24-39
32	Jimmy Snuggerud	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/185	1-Jun-04	33-16-22-38
33	Filip Bystedt	C	Linkopings (SHL)	6-4/185	4-Feb-04	14-1-1-2
34	Brandon Lisowsky	LW	Saskatoon (WHL)	5-8/175	13-Apr-04	35-19-10-29
35	Jagger Firkus	RW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-10/155	29-Apr-04	38-23-21-44
36	Maveric Lamoureux	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-7/195	13-Jan-04	30-3-8-11
37	Matthew Poitras	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/175	10-Mar-04	29-10-13-23
38	Adam Ingram	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-2/165	14-Oct-03	27-16-20-36
39	Liam Ohgren	LW	Djurgardens (SHL)	6-0/185	28-Jan-04	21-1-1-2
40	Calle Odelius	D	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	6-0/185	30-May-04	28-4-17-21
41	Sam Rinzel	D	Chaska (USHS-MN)	6-4/180	25-Jun-04	13-3-13-16
42	Ludwig Persson	LW	Frolunda J20 (Swe J20)	6-0/180	8-Oct-03	24-16-19-35
43	Artyom Duda	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Rus)	6-1/180	8-Apr-04	36-11-20-31
44	Jani Nyman	RW	KOOVEE (Fin-Mestis)	6-3/210	30-Jul-04	23-14-9-23
45	Matyas Sapovaliv	C	Saginaw (OHL)	6-3/180	12-Feb-04	31-10-16-26
46	Kevin Korchinski	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/185	21-Jun-04	32-4-24-28
47	Gleb Trikozov	RW	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	6-1/185	12-Aug-04	17-9-8-17
48	David Goyette	C	Sudbury (OHL)	5-11/170	27-Mar-04	32-12-18-30
49	Owen Pickering	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-3/180	27-Jan-04	34-6-15-21
50	Lian Bichsel	D	Leksands (SHL)	6-5/215	18-May-04	13-0-1-1
51	Paul Ludwinski	LW	Kingston (OHL)	5-11/175	23-Apr-04	28-6-13-19
52	Jordan Dumais	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-8/165	15-Apr-04	30-16-31-47
53	Aleksanteri Kaskimaki	LW	HIFK (Fin U20)	6-0/185	6-Feb-04	22-15-14-29
54	Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/180	10-Nov-03	33-18-27-45
55	Ryan Chesley	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	27-Feb-04	32-2-5-7
56	Danny Zhilkin	C	Guelph (OHL)	6-2/185	19-Dec-03	27-10-14-24
57	Isaiah George	D	London (OHL)	6-0/195	15-Feb-04	29-1-9-10
58	Rieger Lorenz	LW	Okotoks (AJHL)	6-1/185	30-Mar-04	43-28-39-67
59	Tyler Duke	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-8/180	19-Jul-04	27-1-7-8
60	Mattias Havelid	D	Linkopings (SHL)	5-9/170	1-Jan-04	12-0-0-0
61	Arseni Koromyslov	D	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	6-3/180	3-Nov-03	22-0-8-8
62	Jack Hughes 2	C	Northeastern (NCAA-HE)	6-0/165	2-Nov-03	22-5-4-9
63	Lane Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-8/150	14-Feb-04	33-4-25-29
64	Gavin Hayes	RW	Flint (OHL)	6-1/175	14-May-04	30-8-9-17
65	Otto Salin	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/185	7-Mar-04	5-0-1-1
66	Hunter Haight	C	Barrie (OHL)	5-10/175	4-Apr-04	24-8-6-14
67	Antonin Verreault	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	5-8/165	28-Jul-04	29-8-18-26
68	Cameron Lund	RW	Green Bay (USHL)	6-2/185	7-Jun-04	30-11-9-20
69	Bryce McConnell-Barker	C	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-1/185	4-Jun-04	34-11-12-23
70	Brennan Ali	C	Lincoln (USHL)	6-1/195	9-Feb-04	2-0-0-0
71	David Spacek	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/170	18-Feb-03	27-5-20-25
72	Angus Booth	D	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-0/175	27-Apr-04	30-1-20-21
73	Jake Livanavage	D	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/160	6-May-04	32-2-25-27
74	Markus Vidicek	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-10/160	21-Mar-04	30-9-18-27
75	Matthew Seminoff	RW	Kamloops (WHL)	5-10/160	27-Dec-03	30-15-18-33
76	Kasper Kulonummi	D	Jokerit (Fin U20)	6-0/175	1-Mar-04	25-2-16-18
77	Vinzenz Rohrer	RW	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/160	9-Sep-04	30-9-14-23
78	Elias Salomonsson	D	Skelleftea J20 (Swe J20)	6-1/170	31-Aug-04	24-8-9-17
79	Liam Arnsby	C	North Bay (OHL)	5-10/180	20-Nov-03	32-8-10-18
80	Daniil Orlov	D	Sakhalinskiye Akuly (MHL)	6-2/180	21-Dec-03	44-8-18-26
81	Quinn Finley	LW	Madison (USHL)	6-0/170	8-Aug-04	14-5-5-10
82	Topi Ronni	C	Tappara (Fin U20)	6-1/180	5-May-04	21-7-11-18
83	Jordan Gustafson	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/180	20-Jan-04	29-13-18-31
84	Tyler Brennan	G	Prince George (WHL)	6-4/190	27-Sep-03	8-11-2, 3.34, .902
85	Cole Spicer	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/175	13-Jun-04	31-10-12-22
86	Ryan Greene	C	Green Bay (USHL)	6-1/175	21-Oct-03	28-10-16-26
87	Topias Leinonen	G	JyP (Fin U20)	6-4/215	19-Jul-04	17GP, 2.17, .919
88	Alexander Suzdalev	LW	HV 71 J20 (Swe J20)	6-2/175	5-Mar-04	31-11-22-33
89	Pano Fimis	C	Niagara (OHL)	5-10/175	17-Jun-04	27-5-14-19
90	Spencer Sova	D	Erie (OHL)	6-1/185	10-Jan-04	30-2-12-14
91	Yoan Loshing	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-9/160	29-Feb-04	19-8-5-13
92	Jack Devine	RW	Denver (NCHC)	5-11/175	1-Oct-03	19-2-12-14
93	Ruslan Gazizov	RW	London (OHL)	5-11/185	21-Jan-04	20-5-11-16
94	Jackson Dorrington	D	Des Moines (USHL)	6-2/190	13-Apr-04	27-3-7-10
95	Jorian Donovan	D	Hamilton (OHL)	6-1/180	5-Apr-04	31-3-9-12
96	Jere Lassila	C	JyP (Fin U20)	5-9/170	8-Mar-04	13-7-4-11
97	Tucker Robertson	C	Peterborough (OHL)	5-11/190	22-Jun-03	31-19-23-42
98	Noah Warren	D	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-5/215	15-Jul-04	29-3-9-12
99	Zakary Lavoie	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	5-11/170	15-Mar-04	31-10-15-25
100	Boston Buckberger	D	Brooks (AJHL)	5-10/175	1-Jun-03	42-11-9-20

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32

Brock Otten — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:58:52 +0000

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Shane Wright	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/190	5-Jan-04	25-12-19-31
2	Simon Nemec	D	HK Nitra (Svk)	6-1/190	15-Feb-04	28-0-19-19
3	Matthew Savoie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	5-9/180	1-Jan-04	35-19-34-53
4	Logan Cooley	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	4-May-04	25-15-20-35
5	Danila Yurov	RW	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	6-1/175	22-Dec-03	21-0-0-0
6	Joakim Kemell	RW	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/175	27-Apr-04	21-12-6-18
7	Juraj Slafkovsky	LW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-4/225	30-Mar-04	20-1-3-4
8	Conor Geekie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	6-4/205	5-May-04	35-11-27-38
9	Brad Lambert	C	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/180	19-Dec-03	24-2-4-6
10	Ivan Miroshnichenko	LW	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	6-1/185	4-Feb-04	30-9-6-15
11	David Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Cze)	6-3/190	28-Nov-03	29-5-6-11
12	Filip Mesar	C	HK Poprad (Svk)	5-10/165	3-Jan-04	22-6-5-11
13	Pavel Mintyukov	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-03	31-6-17-23
14	Denton Mateychuk	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Jul-04	35-7-24-31
15	Marco Kasper	C	Rogle BK (SHL)	6-1/185	8-Apr-04	27-4-2-6
16	Alexander Perevalov	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-0/190	16-Apr-04	29-19-20-39
17	Seamus Casey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	8-Jan-04	31-5-13-18
18	Frank Nazar	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/175	14-Jan-04	33-15-23-38
19	Noah Ostlund	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-10/160	11-Mar-04	19-6-18-24
20	Cutter Gauthier	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/190	19-Jan-04	33-20-12-32
21	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-11/170	24-Jul-04	25-19-15-34
22	Tristan Luneau	D	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/175	12-Jan-04	26-5-10-15
23	Nathan Gaucher	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/205	6-Nov-03	30-15-11-26
24	Ty Nelson	D	North Bay (OHL)	5-9/195	30-Mar-04	33-5-21-26
25	Vladimir Grudinin	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	5-10/160	9-Dec-03	15-2-7-9
26	Owen Beck	C	Mississauga (OHL)	5-11/190	3-Feb-04	33-13-16-29
27	Simon Forsmark	D	Orebro (SHL)	6-2/195	17-Oct-03	22-0-1-1
28	Mats Lindgren	D	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/175	26-Aug-04	34-2-19-21
29	Rutger McGroarty	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/205	30-Mar-04	27-15-17-32
30	Jiri Kulich	C	Karlovy Vary (Cze)	6-0/175	14-Apr-04	31-7-4-11
31	Isaac Howard	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	30-Mar-04	33-15-24-39
32	Jimmy Snuggerud	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/185	1-Jun-04	33-16-22-38

2021 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Team Sweden Preview

Mikael Holm — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 13:14:04 +0000

It seems strange to consider that Sweden is still the reigning Under-18 World Champions given they won the final against Russia in Örnsköldsvik two seemingly very long years ago, securing their first gold medal in the IIHF U18 World Championships.

While the U18s have not been a tournament where Sweden has found a lot of success over the years, they have performed better in the last decade or so. The U18s don’t approach the same status in Sweden in popularity as the World Juniors but the last tournament in Örnsköldsvik opened some eyes as the national broadcast station SVT aired the tournament.

Sweden comes to Frisco with a strong group of players with a great mix of offensive talent like Fabian Lysell and Simon Robertsson, the usual strong defensive group, and a feisty bottom six that could cause some trouble for any team in this tournament. However, there is an issue that has followed Sweden the last couple of years in international play and it is the center depth. Coming into this 2021 U18’s Victor Stjernborg was the clear number one center and now, with him not being able to play, Sweden has been weakened through the middle, just like in the World Junior Championships earlier this year. Now they will be required to rely on Arvid Eljas, Liam Dower-Nilsson, Noah Hasa and Noah Östlund. They are all very solid players but there is no clear star player or number one center.

The player that might surprise people in this tournament with a strong showing is Noah Östlund. Östlund is a player that is eligible for the 2022 draft but will be taking on big responsibilities in this tournament. With Victor Stjernborg not joining the roster in Frisco, Östlund has moved up the pecking order and will fight for the number one center spot along with Dower-Nilsson and Eljas. Perhaps they won’t rely on a number one center. Sweden might utilize their forward depth and roll out three strong lines with a clear fourth line that will do the dirty work.

If you look past the centers, the forwards are very strong. Their top six could include Fabian Lysell, Simon Robertsson, William Strömgren and Isak Rosén. Lysell and Robertsson played together in camp prior to the tournament. I believe that it would be best for the team if they were split up and put with Strömgren and Rosén. That way Sweden’s top six wouldn’t just be extremely dangerous offensively, it would be incredibly dynamic. Pair Robertsson with Rosén and you have two players where you never know if they are going to shoot the puck, or pass it, but whatever they choose, it will be dangerous.

Pairing Lysell and Strömgren together you relieve Strömgren of puck carrying duties and instead have Lysell with his exceptional speed and carrying skills, bring the puck into the offensive zone. There Strömgren can focus on finding open ice to score or create. The most important element of these pairings is that Robertsson and Lysell are both two very good forecheckers, which isn’t Strömgren and Rosén’s strongest asset. Lysell and Robertsson could take on a big chunk of that part of the game which would help Rosén and Strömgren create offense, where they excel.

The center issue isn’t the only concern Sweden needs to resolve to be successful. Their goaltending situation is not as solid as it looked in the last tournament. Last time around they had, perhaps, their strongest duo in a very long time in Hugo Alnefelt and Jesper Wallstedt. This year they come into the tournament with two goalies who have played a combined one game since November in club competition. Both Viggo Andrén and Carl Lindbom (younger brother of New York Rangers prospects Olof) will have the opportunity to seize the number one spot but they both need to have an outstanding tournament if Sweden wants to fight for the gold.

Behind Andrén and Lindbom is one half of the Hävelid twins, who both are on this roster. In goal Sweden have Hugo Hävelid and just in front of him is Mattias Hävelid playing on defense. Their father Niclas is a former NHL player for the Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers and New Jersey Devils. Their uncle Magnus was the head coach of the Swedish U18 team that won gold in 2019. So, maybe the answer is simple for Sweden when it comes to the U18 World Championships, have at least one Hävelid on the team and it is a guaranteed gold. But it is probably not that simple.

Ten players to keep an eye on

Luleå's Fabian Lysell during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Rögle and Luleå on 5 January 2021 in Ängelholm.
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN

Fabian Lysell RW, Age: 18, H/W: 5-10/175/, Shoots: R

After a tough season with not that big of role for his SHL team, Lysell now has the opportunity to show how good he really is to those who still doubt him. Lysell plays at the highest gear consistently and uses that in all situations. He is great on the forecheck, he is great with the puck on his stick, and he creates chances for himself and his teammates with his elusiveness. His season in the J20 Nationell in Sweden was dominant and if he brings his A-game, he could dominate this tournament as well.

Simon Edvinsson, D, Age: 18, H/W: 6-4/200/, Shoots: L

Edvinsson will be the most important defenseman on this team, and he needs to show why for Sweden to have a fruitful experience in Frisco. Edvinsson is a big, mobile defenseman that is fundamentally solid in his own zone but has issues with his decision making and breakout passes. He can carry the puck like no one else. He has exceptional skill but when put under pressure he tends to do peculiar things, particularly in the third period.

Skellefteå's Simon Robertsson during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Skellefteå and Brynäs on 5 December 2020 in Skellefteå.
Photo: Ola Westerberg / BILDBYRÅN

Simon Robertsson, RW, Age: 18, H/W: 6-0/190/, Shoots: L

Robertsson is, along with Lysell, the most important forward on this team. He is a great player in transition, using his above average speed and skill to create space for himself with the puck. Without the puck he is a selfless player who is always moving, trying to find open space for himself or create it for his teammates. He has a very good shot that he can beat the goalie with from anywhere on the ice. He is a good playmaker that on a consistent basis sets up his teammates in dangerous areas.

Noah Östlund, C, Age: 17, H/W: 5-9/145/, Shoots: L

Östlund is a smart, creative center with good speed and finishing abilities. He only played 10 games with Djurgården’s J20 team this season but in those 10 games he scored seven goals and eight assists. Surprising production as a 16-year-old in a league where pretty much everyone was older than him. He is rated as the best player born in 2004 among Swedish prospects but he has tough competition.

Elias Salomonsson, D, Age: 16, H/W: 6-0/175/, Shoots: R

Salomonsson is the main guy competing with Östlund for the title as best Swedish player born in 2004. Salomonsson is the archetype of a typical Swedish defenseman. He is good in almost any area of the game and will probably play top-4 minutes in this tournament. He is the next big defensive talent to come from Sweden and when he is on the ice, he is the commander-in-chief. He is an incredibly smart player who makes the game look easy to him. He is dangerous on the power play with his shot. While it is not incredibly powerful, it is sneaky. Salomonsson could be one of the players for next years draft that comes out of this tournament with a lot of hype.

William Strömgren LW, Age: 17, H/W: 6-3/175/, Shoots: L

Strömgren is an exciting player to watch. He has incredible hands that could make a defenseman at any level look like a fool. He also has a knack for finding loose pucks in the offensive zone and scoring. His shot is very strong, and he can utilize it in a lot of different ways. He can use it on a one-timer, he can create some space with his hands and get off a snapshot or a wrist shot. He is a big threat offensively but needs to work on his all-round game. He can become a passenger too often, not taking initiative on his own. He also has a tendency to take some bad penalties and when it comes to the knockout stages, it could cost the team. To Strömgren’s credit, he has been working on his deficiencies during the season and in the last couple of games he has played, he has looked better.

Liam Dower-Nilsson C, Age:17, H/W:6-0/175/,Shoots: L

Dower-Nilsson will have to take on a lot of responsibilities this tournament after Victor Stjernborg wasn’t able to join Team Sweden for the tournament. Dower-Nilsson is a smart center with a decent two-way game. He is a huge threat on the power play, where he usually plays behind the net. He can control the power play from Gretzky’s office, and it is quite fascinating to see. He is a pass first guy that can use his hands to get out of tough spots, but he won’t blow you away like a Strömgren. Dower-Nilsson will probably play the most out of the centers on this team and he is vital to Team Sweden’s chances to win gold.

Isak Rosén RW, Age: 18, H/W: 5-11/155/, Shoots: L

Rosén is possibly the most fun player on this team and even in the 2021 NHL Draft class this summer. Predicted to go in the first round, he is a player that takes control of the offense on his team. He is a very good skater with a solid finishing ability. He weaves in and out of traffic in the offensive zone like it is the easiest thing in the world. His hands are silky smooth, and he can set up his teammates from anywhere on the ice. He has trouble finding consistency and Sweden need him to be consistent to walk away from this tournament as two-time champions. He also needs to be more than a passenger in the defensive zone. Pairing him with either Lysell or Robertsson should help him enough defensively that he can take care of the parts of his game that makes him a possible first round pick this summer.

Anton Olsson D, Age: 18, H/W: 6-1/185/, Shoots: L

Coming into this season, Olsson was a player that a lot of people were certain was a first round pick. He looked like a defensive first kind of guy that could move well and string together some nice breakout passes. Now the question is if he is even that. Playing for Malmö in the SHL for almost the entirety of this season, he hasn’t really shown that he is the player people thought before the season. He has had trouble getting the puck out of the zone, his team barely gets into the offensive zone when he is on the ice and even his defensive game, which was talked about as one of the best in this summer’s draft, hasn’t been great. Olsson is going to be a very important part of this Swedish team and he will play a lot of minutes. He needs to get back on track and show why he should be considered in the earlier rounds this summer.

Simon Forsmark D, Age: 17, H/W: 6-1/190/, Shoots: L

Forsmark is what a lot of people hoped Olsson to be. He is a very defensively sound, puck-moving defenseman. He is born in late 2003 which means he is eligible for the 2022 draft. He has gotten opportunities to play in the SHL this season and he has not done badly. He will probably play on the third pairing and log heavy defensive zone minutes, but he can provide offense as well. Watch Forsmark be one of the most solid defensemen on the roster while also being one of the youngest.

Sleeper – Arvid Sundin LW, Age: 17 H/W: 5-10/175/ Shoots: L

Sundin is quick and evasive with his skating, his hands are very good, and he is effective at utilizing those tools to create space for himself and his teammates. He owns a nice shot that he doesn’t deploy enough. He has scored most of his goals this year after winning the puck in his own zone and going on a breakaway where he just picks a corner to score. Sundin and Brynäs teammate Joel Holmli will probably play on a fourth line together and teams need to watch out because they could cause some havoc with their speed and smarts.

Simon Forsmark – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – CAROLINA HURRICANES – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #15

Carolina Hurricanes Top-15 Prospects

1 - Alexander Nikishin

2 - Bradly Nadeau

3 - Nikita Artamanov

4 - Kurban Limatov

5 - Semyon Frolov

6 - Dominik Badinka

7 - Felix Unger-Sorum

8 - Ivan Ryabkin

9 - Justin Robidas

10 - Noel Fransen

11 - Simon Forsmark

12 - Domenick Fensore

13 - Gleb Trikozov

14 - Aleksi Heimosalmi

15 - Ryan Suzuki

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #10 Carolina Hurricanes – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

NHL PROSPECTS: Top five drafted prospects in Europe

Ivan Demidov - RW/C - KHL - Montreal Canadians 1st rounder in 2024

Dmitri Buchelnikov - LW - KHL - Detroit Red Wings 2nd rounder in 2022

Lenni Hämeenaho - RW - Liiga - New Jersey Devils 2nd rounder in 2023

Jesse Kiiskinen - C - Liiga - Detroit Red Wings (by trade) 3rd rounder in 2023

Oliver Kapanen - C - SHL - Montreal Canadiens 2nd rounder in 2021

Honorable mention:

Nikita Artamanov - RW - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 2nd rounder in 2024

Semyon Chistyakov - D - KHL - Nashville Predators 4th rounder in 2019

Simon Forsmark - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 4th rounder in 2022

Artyom Galimov - LW - KHL - Anaheim Ducks 5th rounder in 2020

Marcus Gidlöf - G - SHL - New York Islanders 5th rounder in 2024

Samuel Jonsson - G - HockeyAllsvenskan - Edmonton Oilers 5th rounder in 2022

Vitali Kravtsov - RW/LW - KHL - Vancouver Canuck (Rangers) 1st rounder in 2018

Viljami Marjala - C/LW - Liiga - Buffalo Sabres 5th rounder in 2021

Vadim Moroz - LW/RW - KHL - Utah HC 3rd rounder in 2023

Ilya Nabokov - G - KHL - Colorado Avalanche 2nd rounder in 2024

Alexander Nikishin - D - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 3rd rounder in 2020

Joel Nyström - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 7th rounder in 2021

Axel Sandin-Pellikka - D - SHL - Detroit Red Wings 1st rounder in 2023

Arno Tiefensee - G - DEL - Dallas Stars 5th rounder in 2023

Zemyon Vyazoyov - G - KHL - Seattle Kraken 6th rounder in 2021

Yegor Zavragin - G - KHL - Philadelphia Flyers 3rd rounder in 2023

Other notables:

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1. Alexander Nikishin, D, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

2. Bradley Nadeau, LW, University of Maine (NCAA)

3. Scott Morrow, D, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

4. Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat (Liiga)

5. Jackson Blake, RW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

6. Jayden Perron, RW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

7. Gleb Trikozov, LW, Omskie Krylia (VHL)

8. Felix Unger Sorum, RW, Leksands IF (SHL)

9. Anttoni Honka, D, JYP (Liiga)

10. Ronan Seeley, D, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

2022 NHL DRAFT: Sweden – Simon Forsmark, D, Örebro HK, SHL

Skating

Shot

Smarts

Skills

Physicality/Compete

2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 50 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #21 thru #30

Jonathan Lekkerimaki - Center - Djurgårdens J20 (Swe J20)

Tristan Luneau - Defense - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Nathan Gaucher - Center - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

Ty Nelson - Defense - North Bay Battalion (OHL)

Vladimir Grudinin - Defense - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Owen Beck - Center - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Simon Forsmark - Defense - Orebro (SHL)

Mats Lindgren - Defense - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Rutger McGroarty - Wing - NTDP U18 (USHL)

Jiri Kulich - Center - Karlovy Vary (Cze)

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 100

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32

2021 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Team Sweden Preview