Steven Santini – McKeen's Hockey

By Hall Means – New Jersey Devils 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:09:45 +0000

REVIEW/STATE OF PLAY - After a season that delivered a playoff berth after five years in the wilderness, the Hart Trophy winner in Taylor Hall, breakout young talent In Nico Hischier and Will Butcher, the feeling of optimism in New Jersey heading into 2018-19 is palpable. Forwards Patrick Maroon, Brian Gibbons and Michael Grabner departed in the offseason from the forward group while John Moore is gone from the defense. The team made no major additions or changes in the off-season and are counting on their young players to take a step forward while continuing their commitment to youth and the rebuild

Nico Hischier and Taylor Hall

A HALL OF A SEASON - It is hard to come up with enough superlatives to describe Hall’s season. 41 points higher that the next Devil in scoring, 19-year-old Nico Hischier, who made an immediate impact in the NHL as his centerman. They both played through injuries. Hall was revealed to be playing with torn ligaments in his hand while Hischier dealt with a chronic wrist/hand injury throughout the season. Kyle Palmieri was a frequent third member, particularly down the stretch, scoring 15 points in 19 games as their running mate. He scored 24 goals in 62 games last season after years of 26 and 30 respectively.

The other breakout rookie sensation was Will Butcher signed as a free agent out of Denver University. He established himself as their power play quarterback now and in the future. He led all rookie defenseman with 44 points and 23 power play points (second among NHL defenders). An uneven season with a blistering first (16 points in 20 games) and final (14 points in 20 games) quarters representing the bulk of his production. The strong finish along with 4 points in 5 playoff games bode well for next season.

A repeat performance from the two sophomores may be a reach and Hall’s heroics may be hard to duplicate. They will get some help with some players coming back from injury. They will hope for a full season from Marcus Johansson whom they acquired for picks but suffered two concussions, in addition to other injuries. He will line up with Travis Zajac who had a challenging season after returning early from pectoral surgery. Clearly not the same player labouring through the year .. He is 33-years-old and questions will linger until he puts them to rest but this combo on the second line could provide Hischier and Hall breathing room

BUILDING FROM WITHIN - Pavel Zacha has not broken out in his first two seasons, and even found himself scratched at times last year. He remains a talented prospect at 21-years-old and too early to write off, but Devils management will be looking for a meaningful step forward in the coming season. Speedy Miles Wood (22-years-old) made nice progress in his sophomore campaign from 17 to 32 points. And can be expected to continue to develop in the bottom six. 19-year-old Jesper Bratt made a notable first impression with a strong start to his rookie year, even with playing time on the top line. He was also a healthy scratch in seven of the final 17 games. He will be given a shot in the top six again but not a guarantee by any means. 22-year-old John Quenneville will be given a shot at making the team after two seasons of development in the AHL. A versatile, smart and skilled forward and can play both center and wing.

Aside from a well sheltered rookie season from Will Butcher the New Jersey defense is led by veteran warrior Andy Greene. He averaged 21:47 minutes per game, leading the team in total ice time, and still handling the tough matchups at 35-years-old. Sami Vatanen was acquired from Anaheim after a late start to the season recovering from shoulder injury. It took him a while to acclimatize to his new team. He had a streaky season with some strong production. Traded for Adam Henrique he is expected to be an important element on the blueline. 23-year-old Damon Severson was locked up to a long-term deal after a breakout season in 2016-17 and followed up with a very uneven seasonthat saw him as a healthy scratch on multiple occasion. He needs to find a balanced game and show better defending as his power play time has been usurped by Butcher and Vatanen.

A long-standing strength in new Jersey has always been in the crease. Corey Schneider turned in an uncharacteristically bad season. He did not win a game from the new year on. He was hampered by a groin injury missing much of February. He underwent hip surgery in May that will keep him out of the lineup to start the season. 29-year-old Keith Kinkaid filled in admirably in Schneider’s absence and he will start the season as number one. A return to form as an elite puckstopper for Schneider, will be the biggest boost to a repeat appearance in the playoffs.

OUTLOOK - Youth will be served here and the optimism from last season may be a challenge to maintain at times as a young club develops. They are on the right path and not far away from more playoff success. Whether it is this season or not will be a challenge for a young squad that will not surprise anyone next season.

Connor McDavid steals spotlight, Team Canada and Team USA U18 reports

David Burstyn — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:02:59 +0000

Connor McDavid is blowing the hype out of the water.

The 1997-born forward dominated competition that were mostly two years his senior. McDavid not only led the tournament in scoring, but was named MVP and Best Forward following his exceptional play.

McDavid helped lead Canada back to prominence with a gold medal. It was the first time the Americans didn’t capture gold in the past five tournaments.

Several players increased their draft stock with solid tournament performances. Here’s a look at some of the players from Team Canada and Team USA that left a lasting impression in Sochi, Russia.

Team Canada

Connor McDavid (C, 2015)

Named tournament MVP after producing 6-8-6-14 totals, setting a new Team Canada point total .. recorded back-to-back hat tricks in round robin play against Sweden and Switzerland .. electrifying talent with the puck as he was able to generate offense out of innocent-looking plays .. double under-ager used this tournament to put himself on the hockey world map .. the most heralded prospect to come out of the CHL since Sidney Crosby.

Morgan Klimchuk (RW, 2013)

Tied for 7^th in tournament scoring riding shotgun with McDavid on Team Canada’s first line .. highly involved in the offensive zone due to his ability to stay with plays and makes incredible use of his shot selection .. a permanent fixture for head coach Don Hay in PP situations where Klimchuk delivered the offensive goods.

Nicholas Baptiste (RW, 2013)

Recorded two key assists in the gold medal game, including the GWG .. was used in all situations and played a simple, yet effective game showcasing his above-average skill-set .. took advantage of his ice-time and played in all situations, including the dying minutes of both the gold medal and semi-final game to help Team Canada preserve its lead.

Laurent Dauphin (LW, 2013)

Showed up when it mattered most with his best performance in the gold-medal game where he scored a goal and an assist in the gold-medal final .. a fearless and hard-nosed competitor who would always fight his way into the slot or go hard to the net .. skating was exposed at times but made up for it with keen attention to detail and uncompromising work ethic.

Samuel Morin (D, 2013)

Cool, calm and collected, he logged a ton of minutes and was very practical in terms of his decision-making .. simplistic in his approach, he utilized his speed advantageously and kept forwards to the outside with his long reach .. played with a heightened intensity .. his draft stock soared after this tournament as he has great size and is only scratching the tip of his potential.

Dillon Heatherington (D, 2013)

Consummate two-way tower of power, he was always involved along the boards and winning loose puck battles .. showed a keen sense of anticipation and was never out of position .. staunch defensive efforts coupled with the ability to make a play with the puck made him highly-serviceable.

Philippe Desrosiers (G, 2013)

Only undefeated goalie in the entire tournament went 6-0 while only allowing six goals against all tournament .. recorded back-to-back shutouts, including final game of round robin against Sweden as well as the quarterfinal game against Czechs .. never fell behind in one game this tournament as he always played with the lead .. aggressive in his reads and handling the puck, plays a determined butterfly style and was very diligent with his rebounds .. upped his draft stock considerably with stand-out performance.

Team USA

Steven Santini (D, 2013)

Named the tournament’s best defenseman .. Santini’s no nonsense approach, coupled with his physical brand of play, kept the opposition not only in check but off the scoreboard .. one of the most physically-imposing defensemen at the tournament despite going pointless, he recorded the highest +/- for his team (+8) second-highest in the tournament.

Tommy Vannelli (D, 2013)

Hard to imagine that he only joined the Program a few weeks before the start of the U18 World Championships as he took over the PP duties and was on the ice for the dying stages of the gold-medal game looking for the equalizer .. calculated and ultra-poised on the line to make a play .. showed good defensive awareness to complement his maturing offensive game.

JT Compher (C, 2013)

Returned for his second consecutive U18 World Championship (won gold in 2012 as an under-ager), capturing a silver medal in 2013 for his efforts .. heart and soul player went to the wall each and every game with gutsy performances, including the shootout winner in semi-final game against Team Russia .. team captain averaged a point a game and was relied upon by Coach Granato to score goals and kill penalties .. a jack of all trades.

Tyler Motte (C, 2013)

Recorded the highest amount of goals for Team USA with five while providing clutch scoring .. a dual-threat due to his work ethic, Motte was always in motion and could make plays by quickly charging up ice .. great in transition, he would often catch the opposition off guard with timely stick raises.

Michael McCarron (RW, 2013)

Biggest player up front in the entire tournament came slightly unraveled against Team Sweden with undisciplined penalties but rebounded nicely in both the semi-final and gold-medal game .. imposed his will and was extremely effective down low when charging the net .. caught up ice on a handful of occasions as he struggled with the big ice surface but showed good patience and offensive prowess.

2013 NHL Draft – Top 30 Comments

McKeen's Staff — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:08:42 +0000

1) Nathan MacKinnon, C, Halifax (QMJHL) - Multi-faceted gamebreaker equipped with speed, power, a cunning shot - and the ability to process and execute at sonic tempo. His nine-game goal streak in October is the longest in the league so far (14-5-19).

2) Seth Jones, D, Portland (WHL) - Powerful and skilled with tremendous skating speed and range. Few blueline prospects have ever possessed this kind of athleticism and raw natural physical ability - and he's still just scratching the surface.

3) Jonathan Drouin, LW, Halifax (QMJHL) - Rarely takes a back seat to top-rated linemate Nate MacKinnon and often drives the bus with his mesmerizing speed and skill set. Cracking Canada's U20 World Junior team as an underager is yet another feather in the cap.

4) Aleksander Barkov, C, Tappara (Fin) - An instinctive, methodical forward with remarkable poise and polish. The ceiling here may be limitless given his rare accomplishments at such a tender age - as an impact scorer in the Finnish SM-liiga as a 17-year-old.

5) Elias Lindholm, C, Brynas (Swe) - Top junior-aged scorer in the Swedish Elitserien and key catalyst on the point of the Brynas power play. A diverse all-around forward with skill, imagination, a fiery competitive streak - and the goods to go first overall.

6) Sean Monahan, C, Ottawa (OHL) - A clutch performer who shows up when the games matter most. Continues to produce offense without last season's strong support cast, though was set back by a 10-game suspension for an errant elbow.

7) Hunter Shinkaruk, LW, Medicine Hat (WHL) - A dynamic top-end talent who can turn defenders with a blinding change of pace and lightning-fast stick skills. Emerging as prime attraction for the Tigers and helping fill the void of departed super-scorer Emerson Etem.

8) Rasmus Ristolainen, D, TPS Turku (Fin) - Impressively averages 20-plus minutes per game as an 18-year-old in the Finnish SM-liiga. Looks to be among the safer picks as he's a big, strong, aggressive blueline leader who can be relied on in any situation.

9) Ryan Pulock, D, Brandon (WHL) - A 'jack-of-all-trades' defenseman equipped with a cannon of a slapshot. Thrives offensively driven by sharp anticipation but needs to continue tightening up in down-low defensive situations. (Pictured above)

10) Anthony Mantha, RW, Val d'Or (QMJHL) - Lethal sniper boasting a rare mix of size, mobility and shooting abilities. Gives goalies nightmares thanks to a dynamic release, however he needs to play with more intensity away from the puck.

11) Andre Burakovsky, LW, Malmo (Swe 2) - Sent NHL tongues wagging with standout international performances at the Ivan Hlinka and 4 Nations tournies. Pure offensive talents are impressive featuring terrific skating speed and a big-game wristshot.

12) Nikita Zadorov, D, London (OHL) - Enormous rearguard is slowly learning 'on the job' and continues to improve his defensive reads and involvement. A growing contributing factor in the Knights' current unbeaten streak before reporting to Russia's WJC camp.

13) Adam Erne, LW, Quebec (QMJHL) - Vaulting up the charts and proving our preliminary ranking was on the low side. Creative playmaker with power, skill, and a ferocious appetite for the puck - can go around or through opponents.

14) Curtis Lazar, C, Edmonton (WHL) - Tough full-menu forward who augments his game by playing staunch defense and doing all the little things away from the puck. Finding the net again with seven goals in eight December games after a dry November (12-0-6-6).

15) Josh Morrissey, D, Prince Albert (WHL) - Instrumental in anchoring this season's turnaround in the standings for the Raiders, from last place to first. Dynamic skater and puck rusher, but lack of size and defensive holes can appear cavernous at times.

16) Robert Hagg, D, MODO (Swe J20) - Struggled at the 4 Nations Tournament in November, yet has the ingredients to be a solid two-way defenseman as he hits, can log the puck up ice, and packs a rocket point shot. Effort level can be higher in key defensive times.

17) Frederik Gauthier, C, Rimouski (QMJHL) - Dominated Midget last season taking his team to within a win of the Telus Cup, then bypassed a Harvard University commitment. Large, energetic two-way pivot - but hasn't been as intense since returning from broken jaw.

18) Max Domi, C, London (OHL) - An offensive tyrant playing on the top line of the OHL's best team - the recently-unbeatable London Knights - currently on a 21-game streak. Easily climbs higher with improved emphasis placed on his play without the puck.

19) Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Traktor (Rus) - Boasts arguably the best package of size, speed and, skill, but his stock is tempered by the 'Russian' factor plus doubts about how much vision there is. Showed lots of flash but not much substance in Canada-Russia Challenge.

20) Darnell Nurse, D, Sault Ste Marie (OHL) - Excellent athleticism and character - has the tools to be a quality shutdown defender at the next level if he can add weight to a slender frame. Gradually learning to simplify his game - and that 'less is best' in his case.

21) J.T. Compher, C, NTDP (USA) - Plays a hard, 'take-no-prisoners' style of game and can also punish opponents on the score sheet. Beginning to come around after being derailed early this season by concussions.

22) Valentin Zykov, LW, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) - Russian import acclimatized instantly to the QMJHL and has been turning heads since the opening whistle with enticing mix of skill, power, and moxy. An absolute tank of a player impossible to knock off the puck.

23) Jason Dickinson, C, Guelph (OHL) - Curiously fell off the grid through November and December, raising concerns about his intensity and work ethic. Expect the freefall to continue unless he starts to play with more jam and gets involved.

24) Zachary Fucale, G, Halifax (QMJHL) - Likely the first goalie off the board given attractive raw natural technical abilities. Record is stellar - leads Q with 21 wins - for the country's top team - although his personal stats are a bit underwhelming.

25) Jacob de la Rose, LW, Leksands (Swe 2) - Starting to find his way as a 17-year-old Swedish rookie in the second-tier Allsvenskan. Projects as valuable complementary player who plays a spirited game and does all the little things. Offensive ceiling is the unknown.

26) Kerby Rychel, LW, Windsor (OHL) - Slightly off his goal production from last season and not playing with the same type of determination or intensity either. Needs to ramp up his defensive efforts - and pick up the footspeed and skating.

27) Hudson Fasching, C, NTDP (USA) - There's appealing size and raw natural ability here yet he is still plagued by inconsistency leaving viewers uncertain as to which player will show up. His skating also needs to show improvement.

28) William Carrier, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL) - Solid two-way winger ran up impressive 11-game point streak through mid-Nov (8-11-19) for lowly Screaming Eagles. Struggled along with team since then though - minus-15 in past 11 games

29) Eric Comrie, G, Tri-City (WHL) - All-competitive workhorse has appeared in 31 of 34 games so far this season for Americans. Great technician with excellent game-reading abilities and lateral quickness - among best-skating goalies available in draft.

30) Steven Santini, D, NTDP (USA) - An effective defender with a healthy mean streak - and heavy hits that destroy opponents - ideal complement for a puckmoving partner. Safer pick is showing steady improvement this season and continues to get better each game.

LEGEND: DEC., 2012 RANK) PLAYER, POS, TM (LG)

2013 Draft Notebook: Up And Adam

McKeen's Staff — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:33:05 +0000

Everything is coming together for Quebec winger Adam Erne.

The industry and creativity never stops from the hard-working New Haven, C.T. native - among the biggest risers on our December list - moving solidly into the top 15.

Erne's truncated skating stride has been identified as a shortcoming in the past, however his quickness and top speed have improved significantly over the past year.

Another of this month's chartbusters is Baie-Comeau winger and Russian import Valentin Zykov. Although taking a Russian with your first-round pick is sometimes akin to writing your own pink slip, Zykov has been too good to dismiss any longer.

Strength and skill in a compact, subtly-dynamic package, Zykov possesses remarkable power for his size and age thanks to a well-developed body. Opponents are just bouncing off the St. Petersburg native, whose ability to hold off checkers, protect the puck, and create plays to the net - makes him a tantalizing NHL prospect.

Solid two-way defenseman Linus Arnesson also turned heads for Sweden at the U-20 4-Nations last month, and has moved into the top-40 discussions - bolstering what is going to be an exceptional second round. If this were a regular NHL season, general managers would be valuing second-round holdings as first-round commodities.

PETAN-ICAL GROWTH

Out west, Seth Jones' Portland teammate Nicolas Petan has been 'lights out' over the past two months, delivering goals at a clip that is making it easier to overlook his diminutive stature.

Already blessed with top-drawer playmaking vision and skill, the Delta, B.C. native has an eye-popping 16 goals in his past 20 games, blowing by his 14 goals as a rookie in `11-12.

Some will see Petan and his tiny 5-foot-8, 165-pound frame as a non-starter, that he simply isn't big enough to replicate his game against meaty NHL opponents. Other 'glass-half-full' thinkers could project a brighter NHL future based on his innate talent and impressive development.

Petan, like Arnesson, is another fast-developing prospect entering the top-40 fray upon starting the year pencilled into the third round or thereabouts.

Add another from the Portland hockey factory in Oliver Bjorkstrand to the mix, as the Danish winger has impressed in every viewing and is one to watch over the second half of the WHL season. Bjorkstrand is tricky and slippery - and looks taller than his 5-foot-10 listing. There's a bit of Kris Versteeg in the Dane's skill set - which is highlighted by a wicked wristshot.

Sleek Val d'Or winger Anthony Mantha continues to vault up the rankings and terrorize QMJHL goalies with his spectacular shot. The Longueuil, Quebec native has 28 goals from 155 shots - second-most in the league. Though still a project defensively, Mantha has been a consistent force at the other end of the rink, recording at least two shots in all but one of his 34 games this season.

THE STRAIGHT SANTINI

Aside from Zykov, the other player that managed to dislodge an incumbent from the top 30 November rankings was hard-hitting NTDP blueliner Steven Santini of Mahopac, New York.

Santini has always been admired for an efficient, straight-forward style - and this season has shown steady progress in his puckmoving and skill development.

Dropping down this month are London Knights center Bo Horvat and Seattle Thunderbirds rearguard Shea Theodore, who drew a lofty No. 2 ranking from Central Scouting on the preliminary WHL list.

Horvat would make an ideal second rounder as his skill and hockey sense are at a first-round level, but can expect trouble keeping up at the NHL level unless his mobility improves. While Theodore, a skilled and offensively-inclined blueliner, will need to develop better defensive structure - and prove that he can defend capably against outside speed.

Among those knocking on the first-round door include slick Finnish winger Artturi Lehkonen, the top junior-aged rookie scorer in the Finnish SM-liiga. The Piikkio, Finland native sits third overall among newcomers behind veteran Steve Moses and 24-year-old former OHL star Justin Azevedo.

Regina winger Morgan Klimchuk had been coming on like gangbusters through November (14-10-16-26) after a subpar start, but fell off the radar again this month, recording just a pair of assists in his last seven games. The Calgary native is the type of prospect that NHL clubs will have plenty of time for on draft day - even overlooking some inherent flaws. He boasts excellent strength on the puck for his size which is complemented by an accurate shot and good offensive instincts. When the goals dry up though, Klimchuk doesn't provide the same defensive competency like a Curtis Lazar does.

The Everett Silvertips also have an intriguing package in Swiss-born blueliner Mirco Mueller, who was moving into first-round range prior to losing partner Ryan Murray, the second-overall pick last summer. The Winterthur native has regressed since Murray was lost for the season to a shoulder injury, and is not showing the same confidence in his physical play.

WHAT THE DICKINSON

On the flip side, the last month wasn't a great one for Guelph forward and Georgetown, Ontario native Jason Dickinson.

What appeared to be untapped upside in October - looked more like unfulfilled potential in November as Dickinson has failed to bulge the twine in 17 of the past 18 games, the exception being a hat trick against Mississauga.

Getting more involved and filling in the intensity gaps while be imperatives if he is to prevent further slides. His skill set coupled with an erratic compete level, compares somewhat to that of former Guelph player Peter Holland, who subsequently blossomed in the pros following an underachieving junior career.

Another player whose stock has softened over the past month is Prince Albert blueliner Josh Morrissey (Calgary, AB).

Despite being arguably the cream of this year's crop in terms of pure puckmoving savvy, Morrissey has raised plenty of red flags with his play in his own end. Nevertheless, he remains a legitimate top-ten candidate if he can tighten up the defensive efforts and bring a more consistent physical element.

As far as wildcards go, talented Russian winger Valeri Nichushkin is a classic.

Blessed with an enticing mix of size, speed, skill, and power, Nichushkin is capable of scoring NHL-caliber goals when motivated and playing a courageous game.

Yet there have always been questions about how well he reads and senses the game - concerns which remained unanswered based on his flashy - and fruitless - performance during the CHL Subway Series.

CREEPERS & SLEEPERS

Steadily sneaking up the list has been speedy and tenacious two-way winger Marc-Olivier Roy of the Blainville-Broisbriand Armada.

A former third-round pick of Montreal in the 2010 QMJHL Midget Draft, Roy has already matched his rookie totals from `11-12 and is attracting notice with his penalty totals (52) - and plus-rating rating which stands at a striking plus-51 over his 109-game QMJHL career including playoffs.

Chicago Steel rookie Thomas Ebbing may fit the bill in the department of smooth, versatile two-way centermen. The Troy, Michigan native and Bowling Green recruit has adapted quickly to the USHL and continues to show improvements with each game.

Scouts are keeping tabs on the Medicine Hat blueline where the Tigers feature a pair of intriguing wildcards in Kyle Becker and Spenser Jensen.

Both offer excellent size as well as some attractive attributes, with Becker an efficient, mobile puckmover who has put up an impressive 16 points as a rookie after going unclaimed in his draft year. The Langley, B.C. native fired 13 goals in `11-12 to lead all defensemen in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League, where he had been re-assigned by the Tigers following wrist surgery in August of 2011.

Conversely, Jensen is more a stay-at-home type with a physical dimension, and carries higher expectations having been the 14th overall pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.

A diligent and responsible defender who is tough to beat 1-on-1, the Airdrie, Alberta native has improved dramatically from his rookie season in which he played primarily at forward. Expect his stock to keep rising if the puckmoving and finesse skills can be upgraded.

AUGER'S WELL FOR FUTURE

Among the most improved players in the OHL this season has been 6-foot-7 Guelph winger Justin Auger (Waterloo, ON). Bypassed in the last draft, Auger has since taken a leap forward thanks to vastly improved skating. The new mobility is allowing him to make use of his gigantic reach and excellent compete level - and the by-product has been a more poised and confident puckhandler and playmaker.

Another towering prospect to entice NHL clubs will be 6-foot-6, 225-pound winger Tyler Hill, a Hagersville, Ontario native with dual citizen ship and playing at Hotchkiss High School following a brief USHL appearance with Chicago.

A former fifth-round OHL pick of the Ottawa 67's, Hill will be scrutinized this season as he is a classic Jekyll-and-Hyde type prone to coasting through games only to burst out with a flashy end-to-end rush and stickhandling clinic.

The quest for beef is drawing a crowd in Rimouski to see the intriguing duo of Frederik Gauthier and Samuel Morin.

Gauthier is 6-foot-5 and sits third among QMJHL rookie scorers, while Morin is the tallest player in the draft at 6-foot-7.

A native of St-Henri, Quebec and the seventh-overall pick in the 2011 QMJHL Priority Selection, Morin moves well for his size and is throwing his frame around with more authority this season - as reflected in his 78 penalty minutes - seventh-most in the league.

However, mark him a 'long term' project as there are gaps that contribute to a more difficult projection. Not a gifted puckhandler nor intuitive defender, Morin must continue to solidify his defensive decisions while developing as a suffocating defender that exploits his aggression and mammoth wingspan. His reactions and body language need to progress substantially.