Trey Fix-Wolansky – McKeen's Hockey

AHL: Hall: 11 Prospects in Make-or-Break Seasons

Dave Hall — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:57:11 +0000

_{LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 03: Los Angeles Kings Left Wing Alex Turcotte (38) celebrates a goal during a game between the New Jersey Devil and the Los Angeles Kings on March 3rd, 2024 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire)}

A tale as old as time: a promising former junior star struggling to make the leap to the NHL.

Each year, some players see their dreams slip further out of reach, whether due to injuries, a failure to adapt their game, or simply falling out of favour with their team.

The pressure intensifies when a prospect reaches the ages of 24 to 26. Whether fair or not, hockey seems to have an unspoken rule: if a player hasn't solidified their spot by this age, the window to realize their potential begins to close rapidly. While a few defy the odds and break through the pattern, the margin for error narrows considerably.

Time may be on the verge of running out for these NHL hopefuls. Here’s a look at some players battling to keep their dreams alive as they approach one of their final opportunities to crack an NHL lineup.

Kole Lind, 25, Dallas Stars

Kole Lind, originally drafted 33rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks, has yet to implant his game at the NHL level. He is nearly 26, and with just 31 games on his resume, that dream is fading away by the day. Despite the lack of opportunity, his play in the AHL has steadily improved, going from a 17-point rookie campaign to subsequent seasons of 44, 35 (in just 46 games), 62, and most recently, 65 points. All of this is positive growth, but the question remains: can he translate this success to the NHL?

Now part of the Dallas Stars organization, Lind will be competing against names like Logan Stankoven and Colin Blackwell on the right side, with the likely scenario being that he remains a valuable call-up option rather than securing a permanent roster spot. Yet, given the lack of current depth on the wing in Dallas, the prospect of him seeing games doesn’t feel too far-fetched.

Valtteri Puustinen, 25, Pittsburgh Penguins

Valtteri Puustinen, a 2019 seventh-round pick, has defied expectations by becoming a consistent producer for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, highlighted by back-to-back 20-goal campaigns. Heck, he even posted 20 points in 53 NHL games during his only true audition last year (2023-24).

His play earned him a two-year extension, and at 25, Puustinen feels on the verge of becoming a fringe NHL player. However, his defensive acumen and play off the puck need polishing to establish trust with head coach Mike Sullivan. While a return to the minors seems likely, the time is now for Puustinen to make his move toward becoming a full-time NHL player.

Jett Woo, 24, Vancouver Canucks

Jett Woo, once known for his high-powered offensive ability in junior hockey, has struggled to maintain that form at the pro level. At one point, he was even utilized as a fourth-line winger. Slowly but surely, Woo has grown his game, though, posting improved point totals in consecutive seasons, including a career-high 31 points last season.

Now 24, Woo has become known more for his physical, hard-nosed style of play rather than his offensive contributions. He has placed himself in a position to be one of the Canucks’ top call-up options on the right side, but whether he can stick in the NHL remains to be seen. The reality of him becoming a full-time AHLer is becoming increasingly obvious with each season.

Alec Regula, 24, Boston Bruins

Alec Regula, a right-shot defender with a large 6-foot-4 frame, was selected in the third round of the 2018 draft. That pick was soon followed with high hopes after a career-high 60-point season with the London Knights in his draft-plus-two year. However, Regula’s career has been marred by inconsistency and injury since turning pro.

Now, after consecutive seasons focused primarily on AHL reps, Regula is trending in the right direction and could contribute at the NHL level soon. However, a recent summer surgery may derail his chances this season, but as a right-shot defender, his options will likely remain open a bit longer.

Raphaël Lavoie, 24, Edmonton Oilers

Raphaël Lavoie’s skillset puts him in a challenging spot when it comes to fitting into the Edmonton Oilers scheme. Known for his booming, NHL-caliber shot, the Quebec native has made a name for himself with his offensive contributions, scoring 71 goals across 202 AHL games.

However, his lack of foot speed and dynamic ability creates a dead-end road to evolving into a bottom-six role, which feels like his only pathway toward carving a spot within this team. At 24 years old, Lavoie may need an injury to a top-six player to get his shot at the NHL level, or perhaps a change of scenery where his offensive skills can be better utilized.

Alex Turcotte, 23, Akil Thomas, 24 & Samuel Fagemo, 24, Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have long been lauded for their deep prospect pool, but at some point, these youngsters have to prove themselves, right? Sitting atop those expectations is Alex Turcotte, who has yet to truly establish himself since being drafted fifth overall in 2019. Injuries have played their part, but given the pedigree, his 0.67 point-per-game clip at the AHL level doesn’t necessarily scream top-5 pick. With his sights set on making the NHL team out of camp, the time for him to bring his A-game is now.

While their pedigree may not be as high, Akil Thomas and Samuel Fagemo, both 24, are also feeling the pressure to translate their AHL success to the NHL. Both players showcase two varying playing styles. With Thomas much more ready to provide bottom-six minutes, the time is ticking for both to take that next leap in development. Fagemo has proven his ability to score at the AHL level, so now it’s time to take that release to the pro level.

Adam Beckman, 23, New Jersey Devils

Adam Beckman, a third-round pick by the Minnesota Wild in 2019, had a standout junior career, including a 107-point season with the Spokane Chiefs. However, his transition to pro hockey has sung a slightly different tune, with just 108 points in 181 AHL games and only three assists in 23 NHL games.

This summer, Beckman was given a fresh start with the New Jersey Devils in a trade, but he faces stiff competition on a young and talented Devils roster. At this point, his best chance may come as a top call-up option, but at 23, time is running out for him to establish himself as a full-time NHL contributor.

Grigori Denisenko, 24, Vegas Golden Knights

Grigori Denisenko appeared to get the fresh start he needed after being plucked off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights early into the 2023-24 season. In Florida’s system, he managed just 63 points in 101 AHL games over three years and was soon on track to become a potential first-round disappointment. In Vegas, however, his game enjoyed some rejuvenation, nearly matching his previous three-season total combined, with 56 points in 65 games.

Despite his improved play, Denisenko, now 24, faces an uphill battle to crack the Golden Knights’ roster, especially given their depth. With only 32 NHL games under his belt, he’ll need to make his mark soon if he hopes to secure a spot in the league.

Trey Fix-Wolansky, 25, Columbus Blue Jackets

Trey Fix-Wolansky has everything you want in a middle-six forward: speed, work ethic, and consistent production at every level he’s played. Everything, that is, except size, since he is just 5-foot-7. At 25 years old, the window is closing for him to make a permanent jump to the NHL. Despite his size, Fix-Wolansky has proven himself to be a formidable player, and with a new coach in Columbus, he may still have a shot at breaking through. However, how many more 60-point AHL seasons will it take for him to earn that permanent role, if ever?

Playing Blue Jackets hockey is still well on his radar, and if a teetering AHL tweener is all the upside he has, then he’s not the worst player to have in that role. The problem is, with 224 AHL games under his belt, he’s trending awfully close to being considered a league veteran, which has put a long list of players without a chair in North America over recent years.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #14

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:19:31 +0000

Top 20 Columbus Blue Jacket Prospects

1. Adam Fantilli - C

You couldn’t ask for a better season from an NCAA freshman. Adam Fantilli stepped onto the Michigan Wolverines roster and absolutely dominated the league last season, taking home the Hobey Baker Award - a rarity for a draft-eligible player. His 1.81 points per game was the best pace for a draft-eligible since Paul Kariya in 1990. Fantilli is an all-around, franchise-altering prospect. He plays with a confidence that obviously grew over the course of his draft year, especially after the World Juniors, finishing his collegiate season with 38 points in the final 19 games. His passing is sharp and crisp, and his shot looks ready for the NHL. He plays hard, he plays fast, and he plays smart. He can play in any situation and rise to the call. You have to really nitpick to find a flaw in his game, particularly considering where he is in his development. For that reason Columbus has already signed him away from college and he will be turning pro immediately. Expectations are sky high as he looks to secure an immediate top six role in the Columbus lineup.

2. David Jiricek - D

If the 2022 NHL Draft were to be redone today, it’s hard to imagine Jiricek not hearing his name called in the top two. The Czech defender made the transition from his homeland to the AHL immediately following the draft. He was one of the best rookies and one of the most productive defenders in the entire league last season, even getting his first taste of NHL action, appearing in two games. He takes charge in transition, leading exits and entries for his team thanks to his strong crossovers and mobility. He has an absolute cannon of a shot, can play with a physical edge, and tends to dictate play every time he hits the ice. He can get caught taking risks, but not to an extreme level considering the level that he’s playing at his age. There’s lots of time for development in front of him. Jiricek is making it very easy to project him as a top pairing defender.

3. Denton Mateychuk - D

Not long after selecting Jiricek at sixth overall, the Blue Jackets were back up to the podium to call another defender’s name, in Denton Mateychuk. The defender has since completed his second full season in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors, this time as the team’s captain. He is an excellent skater, not afraid to jump up into the rush as a fourth attacker for his team. You’ll rarely see him make a mistake or turn the puck over. He’s just so matter of fact and confident in his play. Even on the defensive side of the puck, he is incredibly difficult to beat thanks to his positioning and active stick. Like Jiricek, it’s not hard to picture Mateychuk in the NHL, considering his build and style are perfect for the modern defender. Projecting him as a top four, PP1 rearguard seems like a safe bet and the top two is very much within reach.

4. Corson Ceulemans - D

The Blue Jackets have put a large focus into drafting defenders recently, looking especially at high upside. Ceulemans is just that, a defenseman with a very high ceiling. Selected 25th overall in 2021 out of the AJHL, he made the jump to the NCAA in 2021-22, where he stepped in very well as an offensive rearguard. He especially stood out as a top player last season on a struggling Wisconsin team. Two seasons were enough for Ceulemans, who signed with the Blue Jackets and joined the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters to end 2022-23. He’s an athletic, aggressive defender who loves to get involved in the play and take risks. He can get caught often though and relies on his long stride to catch up - which likely won’t bail him out as much as he moves up. If he can pick his opportunities better, he could be a strong, offensive top four D.

5. Stanislav Svozil - D

Yet another exciting defender in this farm system, Svozil has had an up-and-down development path, including a dip in his stock during his draft year. That worked out well for the Blue Jackets, selecting him 69th overall in 2021. Since then, he joined WHL’s Regina Pats and his stock has been rising substantially. He was a top defender at the 2023 World Juniors and a large part of why Team Czechia earned a silver medal. Even while playing with Connor Bedard, Svozil has shown ability to dictate play, leading the rush from his own end. His confidence has been increasingly growing, not afraid to join the transition or jump up into the play. His defensive game and decision-making look better and better with each game, putting him in position to be a future top four NHL defender.

6. Gavin Brindley

It’s hard to miss Brindley on the ice, as he brings a highly competitive game. He plays with fierce intensity, diving into puck battles, fighting hard on the forecheck, and working to force turnovers. He’s fearless in his work despite his diminutive frame. He never takes his foot off the gas, and he gets results due to that effort. On top of this competitiveness, he brings excellent hands, allowing him to navigate traffic with ease and get the puck into the high-danger areas himself. He also has top-notch speed and deception to his game, consistently changing direction when attacking. He’s a strong playmaker too, doing very well to create offense for his teammates. He’s almost equally effective defensively as he is offensively. The biggest knocks against him are his size and strength, as he does need to put on some muscle in order to see his style of play succeed at the next level. It would also be important to see him shoot a little more, as he’s very much a pass-first player. He has the foundation in place to become a reliable middle-six winger who moves up and down the lineup as needed.

7. Dmitri Voronkov - LW

Voronkov might be one of the most NHL-ready forwards out there. At 6- 4”, 190 pounds, the Russian forward knows how to utilize his size well after already having pushed men around in the KHL for four seasons. On top of that, he has already participated in the World Juniors, World Championship, and Olympics for Team Russia. He plays hard with and without the puck, making his presence felt whenever he’s on the ice. There’s nothing spectacular about his game, as he is just a well-rounded player. And to further that, nothing is glaring that will hold him back from making the NHL. His skating isn’t the prettiest, and his overall ceiling isn’t that high, but he still seems like a safe bet. He’s not going to be a highlight-reel or top-offensive player but likely fits into a consistent bottom six role.

8. Jordan Dumais - RW

The Blue Jackets might have hit a home run in the 2022 NHL Draft when they selected Dumais 96th overall. He was coming off a 109-point sophomore season with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads. Still, there were concerns about his 5-foot-9, 174-pound frame and his skating mechanics, but Dumais continued to push forward, capping off a league-leading 140-point season last year, second behind only Connor Bedard in the entire CHL. There’s no question that the skill is there. There’s also no question that the work ethic is there, which more often than not can carry a skilled player to the NHL. He has an excellent shot, great hands, and solid vision to go with it. The skating issues in his stride can be improved with development - it’s not a deal breaker. He should be a middle-six contributor in the NHL if he doesn’t reach the top six.

9. William Whitelaw - RW

Whitelaw is a volume shooter with few peers. What's truly remarkable though, is how many of his shots are consistently high quality. He has a serpentine ability to navigate through traffic and get closer to the net, and it's almost unnatural how well he can unload dangerous shots from unfavourable angles and body positions. He can strike quickly and accurately even in the heaviest traffic. His release is truly a sight to behold, coming off his stick with lightning quickness and sending pucks to their targets at blazing speeds. Guys with smaller stature like Whitelaw’s need to work extra hard to succeed, and that's not something you'll ever have to worry about in his case. He is feisty as hell and plays with a massive chip on his shoulder. He usually doesn't go around the ice looking for trouble, but anyone bringing it to him does so at their own peril. There is a fire inside him that never stops burning, and you can tell how it also helps heat up those that he plays with. Players who can score goals with this kind of proficiency are rare, and his supporting intangibles and character strongly suggest that his net-filling talents will scale up to the NHL level.

10. Luca Del Bel Belluz - C

Del Bel Belluz has been a bit of a polarizing prospect ever since his draft year. Selected 44th overall in in the 2022 NHL Draft, there must be something that has stood out to the Blue Jackets because not only did they draft him, but they signed him to his entry-level deal not long after. Del Bel Belluz spent two and half seasons with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads (it would have been three and a half if not for the cancelled season), before being traded to the Sarnia Sting last season. He’s been a solid contributor and plays a fine game. There doesn’t seem to be that one, high-end quality to pin on him that most prospects need to excel at the higher levels. He has quick hands and shows off strong passing, but there’s a lack of flow in his game that is concerning. A ceiling of a middle-six contributor is there as a high-end might reasonable outcome.

11. James Malatesta - LW

A stocky scoring winger, Malatesta is coming off a tremendous year in the QMJHL that saw him win a Memorial Cup with Quebec. He was the MVP of both the QMJHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup. It will be interesting to see how his game translates to the pro level this year.

12. Samuel Knazko - D

Already an accomplished international player, Knazko has played for Slovakia at both the Olympics and the World Championships in recent years. Not bad for a young defender who only recently turned 21. A strong skating, two-way defender, Knazko should be close to earning a full-time spot on the Blue Jackets.

13. Guillaume Richard - D

Richard is far from a sexy prospect. He’s not the most skilled defender. However, his mature defensive approach will likely play well at the pro level, which puts him in high regard by Columbus. Richard will return to Providence for his junior season this year in hopes of improving his offensive play.

14. Andrew Strathmann - D

Strathmann, a recent fourth round pick, is expected to repeat the USHL level next year before heading to North Dakota. The talented powerplay quarterback has great mobility, but Columbus will be looking to see improvements made to his decision making at both ends.

15. Jake Christiansen - D

After signing out of the WHL as a free agent, Christiansen has put together back-to-back strong pro seasons. His offensive prowess has yet to translate to the NHL level, but he’ll likely be given another opportunity this year as he is out of options and is no longer exempt from waivers.

16. Marcus Bjork - D

A very pleasant surprise for Columbus after signing last season out of Sweden. Bjork came in and was a steady presence at both the AHL and NHL level. The crowded nature of the system may push him out, but he has shown an ability to quarterback the powerplay and provide solid depth.

17. Mikael Pyyhtia - C

Pyyhtia is a goal scoring winger who took a step backwards last season split between pro in North America and Finland. He will be playing full time in the AHL this coming season and that should give Columbus a better indication of his upside.

18. Trey Fix-Wolansky - RW

A fan favourite in the AHL and with the Columbus fan base, everyone seems to be cheering for Fix-Wolansky to earn a full-time role in the NHL. His breakout year in the AHL helped his cause and he plays a fearless game that could make him a valuable checking line player this year.

19. Kirill Dolzhenkov - RW

Dolzhenkov is a mammoth winger who loves to bring it physically, imposing his will to help create space and chances. Columbus will be hoping that he can see more time at the KHL or VHL level this season, playing against men, to help him improve his pace and skating.

20. Hunter McKown - C

After improving each of his three NCAA campaings at Colorado College, the former USNTDP member signed with Columbus late last seasons. McKown is a solid defensive center with good goal scoring potential. After getting some NHL time late last year, he likely plays out this year at the AHL level.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #11 Columbus Blue Jackets

Josh Bell — Mon, 22 May 2023 14:43:26 +0000

Jarmo Kekäläinen celebrated his 10th anniversary as GM in February and has enjoyed some success in that time, but his team have missed the playoffs since the shortened pandemic season. They started this season with some optimism after landing the most sought-after free agent in Johnny Gaudreau. The season quickly unraveled as they were devastated by injuries, leading the league in man games lost by February by a large margin. The lost season returned another high draft pick, giving them two picks in the first round.

Kekäläinen has built his current team largely through the draft and development, including five first round picks in the last two. The reason they fell from 4^th last season to 11^th this year is because of one of the more impressive graduating classes this year and last. They saw 21-year-old Kent Johnson, their 6^th overall pick from 2021, earn a full-time role on the club. Kirill Marchenko (22) a second rounder who saw a rapid development and fired 21 goals as a rookie also made the step to the pros. They were joined by Liam Foudy (23) and Tim Bern (23). Last season saw 12th overall pick in 2021 Cole Sillinger graduate, and he now has 143 NHL games under his belt. That year also saw Yegor Chinakhov (22), picked 21^st overall, move up to the NHL. At the 2022 draft they added two blue chip defenders at 6^th and 12^th overall in David Jiricek and Denton Mateychuk respectively. They are joined by fellow first rounder Corson Ceulemans and rapidly rising third round pick Stanislav Svozil on an enviable defensive pool. While that young group will still need time to gel and mature, look for Columbus to improve on the ice next season with bigger goals down the road.

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 24: Cleveland Monsters defenceman David Jiricek (55) shoots during the second period of the American Hockey League game between the Toronto Marlies and Cleveland Monsters on March 24, 2023, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

David Jiricek

If the 2022 NHL Draft were to be re-drafted today, it’s hard to imagine David Jiricek not hearing his name called in the top two. The Czech defender made the transition from his homeland to the AHL immediately following the draft. He’s been one of the best rookies and one of the most productive defenders in the entire league this season, even getting his first taste of NHL action in two games. He takes charge in transition, leading exits and entries for his team thanks to his strong crossovers and mobility. He has an absolute cannon of a shot, can play with a physical edge, and tends to dictate play every time he hits the ice. He can get caught taking risks, but despite the level that he’s playing at, he’s still very young. There’s lots of time for development in front of him. He’s making it very easy to project him as a top-line defender.

2. Denton Mateychuk

Not long after selecting Jiricek at 6th overall, the Blue Jackets were back up to the podium to call another defender’s name, Denton Mateychuk. The defender is in his second full season in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors and was named team captain to start the year. He’s an excellent skater, not afraid to jump up into the rush as a fourth attacker for his team. You’ll rarely see him make a mistake or turn the puck over. He’s just so matter-of-fact and confident in his play. Even on the defensive side of the puck, he’s incredibly difficult to beat thanks to his positioning and active stick. Like Jiricek, it’s not hard to picture Mateychuk in the NHL, he’s built as a modern defender. Projecting him as a top-four, PP1 rearguard seems like a safe bet and the top two is very much within reach.

3. Corson Ceulemans

The Blue Jackets have put a large focus into drafting defenders recently, looking especially at high upside. Corson Ceulemans is just that, a defenseman with a very high ceiling. Selected 25th overall in 2021 out of the AJHL, he made the jump to the NCAA in 2021-22, where he stepped in very well as an offensive rearguard. Especially this season on a struggling Wisconsin team, he stood out as a top player. Two seasons was enough for Ceulemans who signed with the Blue Jackets and recently joined the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. He’s an athletic, aggressive defender that loves to get involved in the play and take risks. He can get caught often though and relies on his long stride to catch up - which likely won’t bail him out as much as he moves up. If he can pick his opportunities better, he could be a strong, offensive top-four D.

4. Stanislav Svozil

Yet another defender in this farm system, Stanislav Svozil has had an up-and-down development path, including a dip in his stock during his draft year. That worked out well for the Blue Jackets, selecting him 69th overall in 2021. Since then, he joined WHL’s Regina Pats, and his stock has been rising substantially. He was a top defender at the 2023 World Juniors and a large part of why Team Czechia earned a silver medal. Even while playing with Connor Bedard, Svozil has shown that he has the ability to dictate play, leading the rush from his own end. His confidence has been increasingly growing, not afraid to join the transition or jump up into the play. His defensive game and decision-making look better and better with each game, putting him in a position to be a top-four NHL defender in the future.

5. Dmitri Voronkov

The first forward on the Blue Jackets’ list, Dmitri Voronkov might be one of the most NHL-ready forwards out there. At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, the Russian forward knows how to utilize his size well after pushing men around in the KHL for four seasons already. On top of that, he’s already participated in the World Juniors, World Championship, and Olympics for Team Russia. He plays hard with or without the puck, making his presence felt whenever he’s on the ice. There’s nothing spectacular about his game, he’s just a well-rounded player. And to further that, nothing is glaring that will hold him back from making the NHL. His skating isn’t the prettiest, and the ceiling isn’t that high, but he still seems like a safe bet. He’s not going to be a highlight-reel or top-offensive player but likely fits into a consistent bottom-six role.

6. Jordan Dumais

The Blue Jackets might have hit a home run in the 2022 NHL Draft when they selected Jordan Dumais 96th overall. He was coming off his sophomore season with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, and a 109-point performance. Still, there were concerns about his 5-foot-9, 174-pound frame and his skating mechanics. But Dumais continued to push forward, capping off a 140-point season this year, second behind only Connor Bedard in the entire CHL. There’s no question that the skill is there. There’s also no question that the work ethic is there, which more often than not can carry a skilled player to the NHL. He has an excellent shot, great hands, and solid vision to go with it. The skating issues in his stride can be improved with development - it’s not a deal breaker. He should be a middle-six contributor in the NHL if he doesn’t reach the top six.

7. Luca Del Bel Belluz

Luca Del Bel Belluz has been a bit of a polarizing prospect ever since his draft year. Selected in the 2022 NHL Draft, 44th overall, there must be something that has stood out to the Blue Jackets because not only did they draft him, but they signed him to his entry-level deal not long after. Del Bel Belluz spent two and half seasons with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads (it would have been three and a half if not for the cancelled season), before being traded to the Sarnia Sting this season. He’s been a solid contributor and plays a fine game. There doesn’t seem to be that one, high-end quality to pin on him that most prospects need to excel at the higher levels. He does have quick hands and shows off some strong passing, but there’s a lack of flow in his game that is concerning. The ceiling of a middle-six contributor is there but might be high for the prospect.

8. Guillaume Richard

A Canadian that opted for the NCAA route, Guillaume Richard has now spent two seasons with Providence College, also appearing for Team Canada twice with the U17 and U18 teams. While his numbers don’t show it, he’s a strong rush defender thanks to his skating ability and his offensive awareness. He’s played better in the last two seasons than his production suggests, but it’s likely that his offensive ceiling at the next level remains relatively low. Instead, look for him to be a solid puck mover that leans a little more defensively, using his long reach and positioning to get in the right places at the right time. Especially with the other defenders in the prospect pool, that’s a good role for Richard to mould himself to excel at the next level. He needs to build strength, but there’s a bottom-two or call-up NHL defender here.

9. James Malatesta

The Blue Jackets have shown that they aren’t afraid to bet on talent over size and selecting James Malatesta 133rd overall in the 2021 NHL Draft is proof of that. Now four seasons into his QMJHL career with the Quebec Remparts, the forward has proven to be a no-quit, fearless player that plays the game at a fast pace with or without the puck on his stick. His stats through junior have been good but not eye-popping, but he does seem like a player that will just get better and better at each level. While he can make some poor decisions with the puck or in terms of his positioning, there’s a solid base of a prospect here that the Blue Jackets should be able to mould into a bottom-six NHLer, that could play up the lineup if needed. He’s already signed his entry-level deal, so look for him to stand out next season with the Cleveland Monsters.

10. Samuel Knazko

Selected in 2020, 78th overall, Samuel Knazko was coming off a strong second season in the U20 SM-liiga. He spent two more seasons there with TPS U20, before heading overseas to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. With an impressive first season in North America checked off his list, he shifted to the AHL this season where he’s been adjusting well to the pace and speed of the game. He’s also already played in the Olympics and World Championships with Team Slovakia. With the plethora of offensive defenders in the system, don’t sleep on just how valuable Knazko could be to the team’s future. He defends the rush very well, angling out attackers and getting his stick in the lanes. He can play with a physical edge and seems comfortable with the puck on his stick as well. He could slide into a future bottom-four role, likely bottom-two, as a defence-first piece.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Cozens Making a Leap, Jarvis, Cirelli, Hall and many more

Scott Cullen — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 16:19:32 +0000

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, Dylan Cozens is making a leap and it is getting overshadowed by one of his teammates. Seth Jarvis, Anthony Cirelli, Taylor Hall, and many more are offering potential value for fantasy hockey managers.

Dylan Cozens. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

#1 The spotlight in Buffalo is shining on center Tage Thompson, and deservedly so after his five-goal game in Columbus, but I’m not here to recommend Tage Thompson. He should be rostered in every league already. But, sticking in Buffalo, center Dylan Cozens is getting overshadowed by Thompson’s monster season. Cozens is a 21-year-old who was the seventh pick in the 2019 Draft. He made nice progress through his first two NHL seasons but has broken through this year. Cozens has a five-game point streak and has produced three points in each of the past three games. Now he is up to 27 points (10 G, 17 A) in 26 games which is more than okay from a second line center.

#2 When he finished last season on the top line for the Carolina Hurricanes, Seth Jarvis looked like he was well on his way to being a first line scoring winger. He struggled, scoring just seven points (3 G, 4 A) in 20 games, and that landed him on the fantasy waiver wire, but he is starting to round back into form. Jarvis has six points (2 G, 4 A) during a six-game point streak and is back on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas.

#3 Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli missed the first couple of months while he recovered from shoulder surgery. He has returned to the lineup now and has three assists and 12 shots on goal in his first three games. Though he is known for his high-quality defensive play, Cirelli is skating on the right side of a line with Brandon Hagel and Brayden Point, a good opportunity to put up points. Cirelli has surpassed 40 points twice in his career and even though he has missed 23 games this season, he could still have a shot to hit that threshold.

#4 Known as more a playmaker than a finisher, Boston Bruins left winger Taylor Hall has nevertheless become a goal scorer recently, in part because he is taking more shots. Hall has five goals and 21 shots on goal in the past five games and is now up to 20 points (11 G, 9 A) in 25 games for a Bruins team that is winning almost every night.

#5 Although his shot rate has dropped from 3.44 per game last season to 2.33 shots per game this season, Los Angeles Kings winger Viktor Arvidsson is heating up. In his past 12 games, Arvidsson has a dozen points (4 G, 8 A) and continues to thrive on a line with Trevor Moore and Phillip Danault. That trio has combined for 55.7% of expected goals during five-on-five play.

#6 Erik Haula has somehow managed to score just one goal on 57 shots for the New Jersey Devils this season, but he does have five assists in the past six games. When he has played with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, that line has controlled an astonishing 72.7% of expected goals during five-on-five play. That is the highest rate for any line that has played more than 100 five-on-five minutes together. The leaders in even-strength expected goals for per 60 minutes (minimum 200 even-strength minutes) are Matthew Tkachuk (4.61), Brady Tkachuk (4.56), Patrice Bergeron (4.38), Claude Giroux (4.36), and then a couple of Devils – Tomas Tatar (4.35) and Erik Haula (4.18).

#7 While the top Devils skaters – Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Dougie Hamilton – are obviously rostered in fantasy leagues there is still potential value from the supporting cast, too. Second year right winger Dawson Mercer, for example, has seven points (2 G, 5 A) in the past eight games and takes a regular turn on New Jersey’s first power play unit.

#8 There are precious few positive things going on in Philadelphia this season, but Kevin Hayes has been productive, even as the Flyers are losing on a regular basis. In the past 14 games, the Flyers have won just two games, even as Hayes has put up 16 points (7 G, 9 A) and 48 shots on goal. His production gets a boost when Travis Konecny is healthy as 13 of Hayes’ 28 points this season have come on goals involving Konecny. Hayes has never scored more than 55 points in a season but is on track to surpass that total this season.

#9 While we are searching for value on losing teams, Chicago Blackhawks center Max Domi has 12 points (5 G, 7 A) and 35 shots on goal in the past 13 games. Chicago has only won two of those games, but that has not prevented Domi from making the most of the opportunity he is getting. Part of that opportunity is playing a career-high 18:35 per game and he has won 57% of his faceoffs. It would be the first season of Domi’s career in which he won more than half of his draws.

#10 Since returning from a lower-body injury, Washington Capitals right winger T.J. Oshie has continued to battle. In eight games, the 35-year-old has six points (3 G, 3 A), 23 shots on goal, and 25 hits, for good measure. On a Capitals team that is trying to stay competitive, Oshie remains a valuable piece, and that includes his role on the top power play unit.

#11 Through the first 18 games of the season, Nashville Predators forward Mikael Granlund had managed just one goal on 27 shots. He has since scored five points (3 G, 2 A) in the past five games, and may be better off now that he is back on the wing, skating on a line with rookie Juuso Parssinen and veteran Matt Duchene.

#12 Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry typically does not score enough to generate much fantasy interest, but when he is scoring, his physical play does hold some banger league appeal. Lowry has seven points (2 G, 5 A) in the past seven games and, like he has for each of his previous eight NHL seasons, he is averaging more than two hits per game.

#13 It is rarely easy for a backup goaltender to take starts away from the established No. 1 on the team. It is even harder is the No. 1 was the runner-up in Vezina Trophy voting last season. Nevertheless, that is what is happening in Calgary right now. As Jacob Markstrom struggles to find his form, Daniel Vladar has started six of the past eight games, posting a 4-1-1 record and .929 save percentage. That kind of performance allows the Flames to be patient with Markstrom but, for fantasy purposes, Vladar’s value still figures to be short-term. If he continues to play well, then he can complicate that decision to some degree, but Markstrom is likely to return to the starter’s role in the not-too-distant future.

#14 Vladar is one of several rookie goaltenders offering value this season. Logan Thompson in Vegas is the leader, holding a starting role for a first-place team and posting a .918 save percentage in 19 starts. Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner has stepped up, with a .915 save percentage in 15 games, while Jack Campbell has struggled. Carolina’s Pyotr Kochetkov has a .914 save percentage in 10 games and, with Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta not having the best track record for staying healty, Kochetkov could have a significant role.

#15 The Colorado Avalanche are dealing with a terrible run of injuries, especially at forward, where they are missing Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen, and Evan Rodrigues. That does not leave Mikko Rantanen with much support. As is stands right now, Alex Newhook and Charles Hudon are flanking Rantanen on Colorado’s top line. Newhook has nine points (6 G, 3 A) in 24 games but has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time over the past three games. Hudon, the former Montreal Canadiens winger, spent the 2020-2021 season in Switzerland and has 73 points (38 G, 35 A) in 86 AHL games since. In two games since he was recalled, Hudon does not have any points but has put 10 shots on goal.

#16 The Calgary Flames have recalled 5-foot-7 winger Matthew Phillips from the American Hockey League, where he was leading the league with 30 points (15 G, 15 A) in 20 games. The challenge for Phillips will be getting real opportunity with skilled linemates. If the Flames offer that, he just might score enough to secure his place in the NHL. The only other skater in the AHL this year averaging more than 1.50 points per game while playing more than 10 games is Columbus prospect Trey Fix-Wolansky, who has 22 points (10 G, 12 A) in 14 games for Cleveland.

#17 Vegas center Jack Eichel is out with a lower-body injury and that has resulted in Paul Cotter getting a chance to skate on the top line with Chandler Stephenson at center and Mark Stone on right wing. Cotter has six points (4 G, 2 A) in 18 games but is averaging more than 15 minutes of ice time per game in the past three while Eichel has been sidelined.

#18 The career of St. Louis Blues winger Josh Leivo has been marked by stints in the AHL and healthy scratches but when he is given a real opportunity, he has the skill to contribute offensively. Leivo has nine points (2 G, 7 A) in the past 14 games, averaging more than 14 minutes of ice time per game. He is skating with Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn, not a bad spot to pick up some points.

#19 Although he has played just a dozen games due to injury, Columbus Blue Jackets right winger Patrik Laine is still seeking his first secondary assist of the season. He is one of nine players that has at least nine points and all nine points have been primary points, either a goal or first assist. The others: Alexander Wennberg, Filip Chytil, Josh Leivo, Josh Anderson, Jason Dickinson, Christian Fischer, Blake Lizotte, and Evan Rodrigues. Philadelphia Flyers right winger Travis Konecny has 12 first assists and just one secondary assist.

While it is standard for playmakers to have more primary assists – 80.8% of Connor McDavid’s points are primary points, for example – there is some value to be found if a player has not been grabbing any secondary assists, because there is a lot of luck in that distribution. A few notables with more than 92% of their points as primary points: Nick Paul, Gabe Vilardi, Jonathan Toews, Victor Olofsson, Yegor Sharangovich, and Jake Guentzel.

#20 At the other end of the spectrum, the forwards that have the lowest percentage of primary points (minimum nine points) are: Artturi Lehkonen, Kyle Okposo, Stefan Noesen, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Joel Farabee, and Patrick Kane. All six are at 50% of lower, with Lehkonen only managing 38.9% of his points as primary points. That does not mean to automatically get rid of these players, but it could be a warning sign that they have been fortunate to accumulate more secondary assists.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:30:54 +0000

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 29: Columbus Blue Jackets Left Wing Kent Johnson (13) looks on during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 29, 2022, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Kent Johnson C

There are some prospects where when you watch them either live or on film, you really need to look at the details of their game to find why they’re highly touted. Some prospects don’t make it easy, some prospects only show their upside in very small snippets of game action. Kent Johnson is not one of those prospects. It might only take watching a shift or two to fully understand why the Blue Jackets took Johnson with the fifth-overall selection at the 2021 NHL draft. On the ice, Johnson plays like a machine, a sort of machine that takes any in-game situation and spits out the play that’s most likely to end up on a highlight reel. If there’s one word to define Johnson’s game, it’s flash. He’ll spin around a defender in one moment and then attempt a lacrosse-style goal in the next. There are few prospects who ooze as much raw offensive talent as Johnson, few prospects who can match his puck skills, creativity, or ability to quickly break down a defence at a high speed. Johnson also doesn’t play like one of those all-flash, no-substance players either, the sort that sits atop top prospect lists but never quite pans out as an effective NHL-er. There is a foundation to Johnson’s game, pro-ready habits, and a high hockey IQ that will allow him to translate his immense talent to more difficult levels of competition. There will be an adjustment period, undoubtedly, but if he can continue his development, he has a strong chance to become a dynamic offensive star in Columbus, joining a Blue Jackets team that is, at least on paper, among the most offensively gifted rosters in franchise history. - EH

2 - David Jiricek D

The 6^th overall pick in the last NHL Draft had a strong World Juniors. Even though he wasn´t as dominant and flashy as one might have expected, he was a key defenseman for Czechia and a force at the blueline. Jiříček has shown offensive skills, solid puck-moving, and a strong shot. His defensive game was a pleasant surprise; he was great at using his stick and closing the gaps. Jiříček is a very aggressive, physical player who can lay massive hits. On the other hand, he sometimes makes poor decisions, chases the opposition pointlessly, or allows opponents to easily get past him. Those types of mistakes were kept to a minimum at the World Juniors. Having played two years in the Czech top tier league, Jiříček has established himself in men´s hockey. He even played a couple of games with the Men´s National Team at the last World Championship. There is talk he might be ready for the opening night lineup spot with the Blue Jackets; however, that seems doubtful. Jiříček will likely start the season in the AHL, but he has a chance to play some games in the NHL even this year. He is physically ready for the big stage and has shown progress in important areas of his game. Although he may be a boom-or-bust type, his potential is tremendous despite the risks. If everything goes right, the Blue Jackets will have a legit first-pairing defenseman. - MD

3 - Denton Mateychuk D

Watching Mateychuk play, there are times when it's easy to forget that he is a defenseman, because he spends so much time in the offensive zone — and he does a lot of damage up there. He has top-pairing upside and backs it up with obvious leadership attributes, so it makes sense that Columbus was willing to snag him as high as 12th overall in 2022. He plays his best hockey from the offensive blueline onward, and it's rare to see a defender so comfortable and effective anywhere in the attacking third of the rink. He possesses the vision and playmaking ability to move the puck around the zone and set up his teammates, but he is equally adept at firing shots from the point or getting right into the home plate area to score from in tight. He has an uncanny ability to get himself open in dangerous spaces. While his offensive efforts often leave him less energized for - and less focused on - his defensive assignments, Moose Jaw wants to run-and-gun right now by design, so he essentially plays how they ask him to. He thinks the game quite well and has a competitively high work rate, so improvements from him on the defensive side of the puck are expected to manifest. His skating isn't a weakness by any means, but it's not at the same level as NHL offensive defensemen like Cale Makar, Adam Fox or Quinn Hughes. The young Warriors wrote a nice underdog story last season and are primed to take a big leap this year, and Mateychuk will be an integral cog in their system. - DN

4 - Kirill Marchenko LW

The Blue Jackets have waited patiently for the big winger to cross the pond. His status as a prospect has risen considerably in recent seasons, especially following a strong performance at the 2020 WJC’s. Now he has finally signed and has a great shot of stepping right into Columbus’ lineup as a top nine winger. There is a reason he is listed as a Calder Trophy candidate by us. Marchenko is at his best when he can drive the net and work his way to the net. At 6’3, his puck protection ability is terrific, even when playing with pace. This is because his hands are solid. Marchenko also has a good shot and scoring instincts, something that should help him earn an immediate role in the NHL. There is room for his physical intensity level to be more consistent. The same could be said for his two-way play and his vision as a passer. However, Marchenko has great potential as a top six winger at the NHL level and he could even begin to realize that potential this season in Columbus. Thanks to spending several years in the KHL, he is ready to compete against men. - BO

5 - Corson Ceulemans D

The 25th pick at the 2021 NHL draft, Corson Ceulemans went to the University of Wisconsin and authored an impressive freshman season, displaying clear progress as he got more comfortable on college ice and more confident in his abilities. Ceulemans checks all the boxes of traits scouts want to see in a modern defenseman, and Ceulemans presents those traits with this rambunctious, passionate style that adds some extra spice to his game and presents its own challenges. Ceulemans is big, physical, and willing to do whatever it takes to improve his team’s chances to win a game. If that means diving in front of a howitzer of a slap shot to protect an out-of-position goalie, Ceulemans will do that. If that means engaging in the corners with a physical forward in order to disrupt his possession of the puck, Ceulemans will be there. If that means taking the puck up the ice, securing the offensive zone, and helping his team create scoring chances, Ceulemans will find a way to get the job done. He’s well-rounded, and he’s good at most of the things that he does, which makes his projection easy, at least tools-wise. The issue with Ceulemans sometimes is how he approaches the game. There can sometimes be too much aggression in how he plays, too strong of a desire to achieve every one of his team’s goals on each and every shift. Too often, Ceulemans will get caught attempting to make a play that could end up helping his team greatly but has a very low chance of actually paying dividends. If Ceulemans can learn to add some patience and balance to his game, he can become a strong top-four defenseman at the NHL level. - EH

6 - Dmitri Voronkov LW

Voronkov has s true fighter’s competitive mentality, as he is always in the thick of the battle, where the dirty work needs to be done: hitting hard, getting under opponents’ skin, making the net-front area his office and not being shy about dropping the gloves if an opponent crosses the line. His attacking potential is still a great unknown, as after a great 2021 KHL playoffs, there was no continuation of that success the season after that, which can only be partially explained by his team’s overall offensive struggles, but at least some of the blame needs to fall squarely on Voronkov’s shoulders. This season his team has been revitalized with big names like Alexander Radulov, Vadim Shipachyov, and Vyacheslav Voynov, so they are clearly aiming at becoming the KHL champions, which might affect Voronkov both in good and bad ways: while it might make it harder for him to earn a big role on the team, if he does get sufficient ice time, it might really give his attacking game the right kind of boost and confidence that he needs. Regardless of how things go, there is still ample reason to believe in his NHL potential thanks to his style of play, and with a more advanced attacking game, he can be viewed as a potential versatile middle-six forward. He has two more years on his KHL contract to show what he can do. - VF

7 - Luca Del Bel Belluz C

The 44^th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Luca Del Bel Belluz is one of the most exciting prospects drafted because of his high-end offensive tools and creativity. As a late 03’ birthday, Del Bel Belluz was eligible to play in the OHL during the 2019-2020 season. During that season he was only able to produce 6 points (1G,5A) in 58 games. After the shutdown year, expectations weren’t high, and Del Bel Belluz was able to come into a new season with added weight and strength. Quickly becoming a top producer on his team, the Steelheads and many scouts were shocked with the amount of improvement that was made in Del Bel Belluz’s game. Finishing the season second in points on his team with 76 points (30G,46A) in 68 games, which also was 24^th in the OHL in points. Del Bel Belluz’s best assets and his playmaking and puck handling. He’s able to make such creative plays with both his vision and ability to see plays before they happen. He has great timing and rarely ever misses an opportunity to create a high-danger scoring chance happen. Whether it be along the boards or in-tight in the slot, he’s able to fight through traffic and keep the puck on his stick like a magnet. Going into the 2022-2023 season, expectations will be high for Del Bel Belluz as he will be one of the top offensive players in the league with a hungry Steelheads team that will be pushing in the playoffs once again. There’s a real possibility that Del Bel Belluz could crack the top 10 in OHL points next season. - DK

8 - Nick Blankenburg D

If one just looks at his age, height and the fact that he went undrafted in every year of his draft eligibility, Nick Blankenburg might not look very relevant to NHL teams. But that view of Blankenburg’s game would be misguided, as there’s a lot to like in the package of tools he offers, despite those realities. Blankenburg, the captain of the Michigan Wolverines in his senior season, signed an entry-level deal with the Blue Jackets and immediately impressed. Blankenburg was fearless, racking up 19 hits in just seven games of action. Despite standing at just five feet and nine inches tall, Blankenburg invites physical contact, and readily engages with forwards in physical battles in order to interrupt play. Oftentimes Blankenburg’s first means of dealing with an incoming offensive rush is to play the body, and that approach has its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, Blankenburg’s rough-and-tumble physical game can be effective defensively and has the added benefit of being “hard to play against,” a quality NHL coaches and executives highly value. But on the other hand, sometimes the best defensive play can be made with a stick or just through adept positioning, rather than just physical aggression, and Blankenburg hasn’t shown himself to be at a top level in those areas to this point. Offensively, Blankenburg shouldn’t be mistaken for a gifted player, but he does have some chops there. The Blue Jackets gave him a few looks on the power play, and he found ways to fire pucks through traffic and not look out of place. He may not stick as a power-play defenseman long-term, but he was decently productive in college and should get a few more chances there. When taking the full picture of Blankenburg’s game into account, he looks like he can be a sort of “heart-and-soul” bottom-pairing defenseman who brings physicality, leadership, and occasional spurts of offensive ability. - EH

9 - Liam Foudy RW

Is this the year that Foudy finally breaks into the NHL full time? Back in 2020, when Foudy burst onto the scene by playing great hockey for Columbus in the NHL playoffs, it seemed like he would never even see the AHL. Two seasons later and Foudy has yet to rediscover the magic he showed during that playoff run, bouncing between the NHL and the AHL. Foudy is of course known for his blistering speed. The former track star is an absolutely dynamic mover who can cause havoc on the forecheck and penalty kill. As an offensive player, he is still finding his way as his hands and decision-making attempt to catch up to the pace he is capable of playing at. This is why Columbus has continued to send him down to the AHL, in hopes that they can make him more than just a high energy bottom six player. Now Foudy is no longer exempt from waivers meaning that if he does not make the Jackets, he would need to clear to be sent to Cleveland. As such, it would be shocking if he did not make the NHL roster full time this season. This probably includes significant responsibility on the penalty kill, but likely limited playing time at even strength. Even if the offensive game never comes around at the NHL level, Foudy will still provide value as a change of pace, high energy attacker and penalty killer and should have a lengthy NHL career as a fourth liner. - BO

10 - Stanislav Svozil D

A Czech defender who played with the Regina Pats of the WHL this past season, Svozil is a mobile puck mover and a former third round selection of the Blue Jackets. A veteran of the Czech National team program, Svozil also competed for Czechia at the recent World Junior Championships, wearing an “A” and helping them to a solid fourth place finish. Svozil’s best quality is his four-way mobility. An effortless mover in any direction, he is terrific at holding the offensive blueline, using lateral quickness to evade defenders and open up lanes. This mobility also comes in handy in the defensive end as he can be difficult to beat one on one; Svozil defends pace quite well by being aggressive to close off attackers. His overall defensive abilities remain slightly inconsistent. A lot of this has to do with inconsistent physical engagement. At the pro level, he is going to need to be more difficult to play against in order to be considered a true two-way defender. Additionally, his decision making when leading transitional attacks is also inconsistent. This coming season it appears that Columbus is going to have Svozil play at the AHL level as an “underager.” This could actually be good for his development to help him adjust to the pace of play, in addition to forcing him to improve his strength down low. If all goes well, he could project as a second or third pairing defender for the Jackets in a few years. – BO

11 - Daniil Tarasov

The big netminder’s first pro season in North America didn’t exactly go according to plan after he had to undergo surgery on his hip, ending his season prematurely. Expected to make a full recovery, Tarasov will be Cleveland’s starter this season.

12 - Mikael Pyyhtia

A speedy and skilled winger, Pyyhtia was among the leading goal scorers in Liiga last season, a massive step forward for him. Now signed by Columbus, he will likely start his AHL journey this year, although could still be loaned back to Finland so that he can continue to bulk up.

13 - Samuel Knazko

The mobile, two-way defender played for a bunch of different teams last season but finished out the year with Seattle in the WHL. A part of that Slovak team that captured a bronze medal at the Olympics, Knazko will play with Cleveland (AHL) this year.

14 - Jake Christiansen

One of the highest scoring defenders in the AHL last season, Christiansen has emerged as a legitimate candidate to make the Blue Jackets roster this season.

15 - Tyler Angle

While Angle’s second pro season was not as impressive as his debut, he remains a potential NHL contributor in the future because of how well he works the wall and tires out opposing defenders.

16 - Trey Fix-Wolansky

Now fully healed from knee surgery, Fix-Wolansky had his best pro year yet after completing his rehab. Rewarded with an NHL audition, he also scored his first NHL goal. The undersized winger is a cannonball on the ice and now requires waivers to be sent down, giving him good odds to make the NHL roster in a fourth line role this season.

17 - Guillaume Richard

Richard is built to be a potential shutdown defender in today’s NHL, but his freshman season at Providence showed that he might even have some offensive potential.

18 - Kirill Dolzhenkov

A Russian tank, Dolzhenkov is a hulking, power winger who plays through defenders and not around them. He is a long-term project, but one with middle six upside.

19 - Jordan Dumais

One of the draft’s most polarizing players, there is no denying Dumais’ offensive talents and awareness. For a smaller player, he just needs to get quicker to be a pro top six forward.

20 - Aidan Hreschuk

A competitive two-way defender, Hreschuk had a solid freshman season at Boston College. He will return as a sophomore and attempt to improve his offensive production.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – RANK: #17 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:44:10 +0000

Columbus Blue Jackets

#17 Columbus - Columbus has six players in the top 100, but no one else seems likely to threaten the upper echelon. Blue Jackets need more big draft classes like this last one, as they had too many small draft classes in recent years.

Kent Johnson; Photo courtesy of University of Michigan

Kent Johnson - C

What a year for Ann Arbor, three players drafted inside the Top Five (four if you count recruit Luke Hughes) to give the Michigan Wolverines their greatest draft buzz since the days of the Fab Five almost 30 years ago.

Johnson is a master of the scoresheet. His puck skills are sublime. He sometimes plays as if the game is actually a skills competition, treating opponents like pylons. This approach worked tremendously in the BCHL and as well as it could in the Big 10. He is a joy to watch because of his creative approach. Yet scouts are left with the nagging feeling that he will need to make significant alterations to his game to play at the highest levels. As is, too many potential opportunities die on Johnson’s stick, and not through lack of skill, but through needlessly overcomplicating the game. Beyond that, he seldom makes his presence felt without the puck on his stick. The tools are here for an All-Star ceiling, but the pieces do not yet fit together smoothly enough. He will return to Michigan and look to improve his skating, physicality, and decision making. After his sophomore year, the Jackets should get a better read on whether he is ready to turn pro and be an impact player for them. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Cole Sillinger - C

Born in Columbus, Ohio while his father Mike “Suitcase” Sillinger played with the Blue Jackets – the eighth of a record 12 teams he would play for during his career, young Cole saw his hockey career take off after his father retired back to Regina, Saskatchewan. Interestingly enough, things came full circle when Cole was drafted by the Jackets this year.

Unsure of when, or if, the 2020-21 WHL season would take place, Cole left Medicine Hat to play in the USHL for Sioux Falls. His 46 points in 31 games would lead the Stampede in scoring. Sillinger’s bread and butter is his shot. A high-volume shooter, the shot quality is as impressive as the release, with strength, suddenness, and accuracy. The rest of his package should begin with a look at his game processing capabilities. You might want to attribute his advanced hockey mind to a childhood spent in and out of NHL rinks. He plays a two-way game, with an average of nearly two minutes of shorthanded ice time per game this year. At both ends of the ice, he is more often than not found in a position to make something positive happen for his team, with his stick at the ready to capitalize. He could improve the quickness of his first few steps, or the sharpness of his edges, however Sillinger is an NHL’er in the making. His full skill set has the look of a front line, goal scoring winger, with the questions revolving mostly on what kind of linemate assistance he will need to succeed at the highest level. He will return to Medicine Hat this year and is a candidate to lead the WHL in scoring. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Yegor Chinakhov - RW

There were quite a few skeptics a year ago when the Blue Jackets selected Chinakhov in the first round of the 2020 NHL draft, even though he was already a competent MHL goal scorer at the time. This past season he continued to do so, progressing further as a blossoming young Russian star. Interestingly enough, those same skeptics were quieter this year. Even though he got injured at the World Juniors, his season had to be considered a success by becoming a KHL champion and winning the KHL rookie of the year award.

Immediately after the end of the KHL season Chinakhov signed his entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets (burning the first year of it that way), but there are reasonable doubts about him being able to play in the NHL next season. However, he does have a history of proving the doubters wrong. He likely starts in the AHL, where he can adjust to the speed and physicality of the North American game. Armed with a wicked shot, deceptive stickhandling ability, and a strong skating base, Chinakhov is a potential top six goal scorer for the Blue Jackets. - VF

Liam Foudy - LW

Speed, speed, and more speed, that is the name of Foudy’s game. Already one of the NHL’s elite skaters, Foudy’s first pro season following a successful 2020 playoff performance with the Jackets, had its moments. No question his speed can play at the NHL level. However, his hands and ability to process the game have yet to catch up to his quickness, causing a lack of production and finish at the NHL level. This led to Foudy being on the shuttle back and forth between Cleveland (AHL) and Columbus. When in the AHL, Foudy was a standout, showing that with patience, his offensive game could come around at the NHL level.

As mentioned, Foudy’s greatest strength is his quickness. A former track star at a young age, Foudy accelerates to top speed as if he were shot out of a cannon. This allows him to be a disruptive force without the puck. With the puck, he is still learning how to best blend his skating and puck skill to be a consistently effective attacker and finisher. Worst case scenario, the offensive skill set never translates, and he becomes an effective fourth line penalty killer. Best case, he learns to utilize his gifts and is able to carve out a long career similar to that of Andrew Cogliano. - BO

Corson Ceulemans - D

The third of three first round selections made by Columbus this year, Ceulemans is a two-way defender headed to the University of Wisconsin after several years playing with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL (better known as Cale Makar’s alma mater). He showed well at the Under 18’s, playing a critical role for the gold medal winning Canadians. Ceulemans played in all situations for Canada, showcasing his versatility and potential as a two-way defender.

One of Ceuleman’s best attributes is his mobility. A strong and powerful mover in all four directions, Ceuleman rarely puts himself in a position where he cannot recover due to his excellent skating ability. As a powerplay quarterback, Ceuelemans shows great potential because of his big point shot and comfort level with playing deep in the offensive zone. At the University of Wisconsin, he will need to work on his decisiveness with the puck and learn to make quicker decisions. At times, he seems a step too slow to find a teammate with a pass or exploit open shooting lanes. Greater confidence and experience may certainly help in this regard, especially at higher levels when challenged by quicker and more skilled opponents. He is a prospect with a high floor and high ceiling. This means that at worst, Ceulemans probably still develops into a serviceable third pairing defender who can do a little bit of everything, and most importantly play the right side. At best, his confidence offensively grows, and he establishes himself as a dominant two-way defender. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Kirill Marchenko - LW

Marchenko's progress has been steady over the last couple of seasons, to the point where he has emerged as a top young player in Russia. His development curve is heading towards him becoming one of the top snipers in the KHL, although an injury did interrupt the most recent season. Another thing that he has missed this season was the World Championships, as he was left on the Team Russia taxi squad due to wingers from the NHL joining the team.

Marchenko has the right kind of tools to achieve status as a top player for the Bluejackets in the future: he is very mobile, has good size and, of course, has a high-precision right-handed shot. This coming season is the last season of his current KHL contract — my guess would be that the Blue Jackets management is counting on him to come over after that. He should emerge as one of the top forwards in the KHL this year before making that jump. Marchenko's NHL ambitions probably are at least as a top-six left wing level and given his progress thus far, that looks like a very likely outcome. - VF

Dmitri Voronkov - LW

This has been a real breakout year for Voronkov as he has shown that he can be not just a hard-working player, but also can lead his KHL team in big games. Even in the KHL playoffs, Voronkov's game just kept getting better. His impressive season concluded at the World Championships, where Voronkov played on the top line for Team Russia and made people talk about him as a legitimate candidate for the Olympics next year.

Voronkov is very versatile, always playing with high-intensity and physicality, getting to the dirty areas and under opponents' skin. Every NHL coach wants a player like that on his team. In terms of the offense, it is important not to underestimate Voronkov’s offensive skill set, as it has improved considerably in recent years. At the end of the day Voronkov may become a player who can play anywhere on the NHL team's roster and fans can be certain that his performance will be consistent. There are plenty of reasons to get excited, yet patience is the key for the Blue Jackets fans because Voronkov still has two years left on his KHL contract. When that deal is up, he should be ready to make an immediate impact in Columbus. - VF

Stanislav Svozil - D

A third-round selection this year, Svozil is only 18 years old yet has already spent roughly two full seasons playing against men in the top Czech league. He played big minutes in both the WJC and the WU-18s this year. He can read and anticipate the game at a level well above his age and experience.

In his own end, off the puck or on, he is reliable. His positioning is generally strong, taking good angles to lower the danger of any given play, whether the zone has already been established, or he is facing an opponent trying to enter his zone with control. When he has the chance to exit the zone, he has the wherewithal to make the simple, safe play if it is there, a sign of his maturity and poise. In the offensive zone, his low point totals may be deceptive, as Svozil flashes skills that could contribute more heavily to scoring chance generation. He may need some time to grow more comfortable taking a leading role against men, but even if he doesn’t, his floor is high enough that he could be a serviceable NHL defender. He has already inked his ELC with the Jackets, giving them some flexibility as to where to assign him for the upcoming season. Currently he is slated to play in the WHL with Regina (and Connor Bedard), who own his Import rights. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Andrew Peeke - D

After three seasons at Notre Dame, the last of which saw him serve as team Captain, Peeke got his pro career off to a promising start in 2019-20, falling three games shy of losing his prospect eligibility before the pandemic ended the season early. A tall, wide-bodied, right-handed shooter, he never demonstrated consistent big-time offensive upside, but profiled in more of a shut-down role, with plus mobility, a very strong off-puck game, and a tendency to transition the puck smartly.

Last year didn’t see so much regression as it did a player caught in the COVID-era no-man’s land of the taxi squad, limiting him to 18 games combined between the NHL and AHL. Peeke took on a workhorse role in his AHL time, but he could not seem to gain the trust of former Columbus coach John Tortorella. However, Torts is gone and incumbent GM Jarmo Kekalainen had enough faith in the former second rounder to grant him a two-year contract extension. Along with the shake up behind the bench, the Columbus blueline has also undergone significant upheaval, with the departure of star Seth Jones just one of the big changes. Peeke should have a real opportunity to establish himself this year, with a top four outcome still a distinct possibility. - RW

Trey Fix-Wolansky - RW

Trey Fix-Wolansky is a smaller player that plays without fear. Typically, a player of his size prefers the perimeter, but Fix-Wolansky is a guy that makes a living driving the net with and without the puck. He is comfortable along the wall and uses his low center of gravity to his advantage in puck battles. The puck skills were very noticeable in Junior but there were concerns he might not be able to handle the puck as much in the pro game. He has adjusted well and makes quicker plays without sitting on the puck as long. At the AHL level he has shown to be a solid and consistent contributor despite Covid shortened seasons and a torn ACL last year affecting his development.

His game revolves around his quick feet, effort and puck skills all of which he has continued to improve upon during his time in the AHL. Fix-Wolansky has a powerful frame and lower body that makes him a challenge to knock off the puck even though he lacks the height and wingspan of most players in the NHL. The Jackets will be looking for him to continue to play his competitive style following the rehab of his knee injury. With diminutive scorer Cam Atkinson moving on, Fix-Wolansky could find himself inserted into the middle six of a Blue Jacket roster in transition as early as next season if he proves to be fully healthy. - VG

Tyler Angle - C

Sometimes breakout performances come out of nowhere and that was the case for Angle last season as a first-year pro with Cleveland. Expectations were low for his first pro year, but he ended up scoring at over a point per game and really put himself on the map as a significant prospect in the system. Angle never stops moving his feet in the offensive zone and has the skill to be an NHL player.

Daniil Tarasov - G

A former third round pick by the Jackets, Tarasov had a strong 2020/21 season, performing well in the KHL. He even joined Cleveland briefly at the end of the season in Russia. He will play in Cleveland full time this year and has a chance to be the starter for the Monsters.

Samuel Knazko - D

The captain of Slovakia’s entry at the World Junior Championships this year, Knazko also suited up for his country at the World Championships in a depth role. The highly mobile blueliner will play in Liiga on loan this year with TPS, his first exposure to full time professional hockey.

James Malatesta

Ranked by McKeens as considerably better than a fifth round pick this year, Malatesta is built like an ox and loves to drive the net to earn scoring chances. Consistency and decision making with the puck remain issues, but he will try to improve upon those with Quebec again this year in the QMJHL.

Guillaume Richard - D

A defense first, stay at home type, Richard will attend Providence College this season. His upside may be relatively limited, but his combination of size and defensive awareness makes him a good bet to become a reliable third pairing defender in the future for Columbus.

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

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

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

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

PROSPECT CRITERIA

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

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

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Columbus Blue Jackets Top 20 Prospects

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 12:54:28 +0000

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

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

The focal point of Foudy’s game is his skating ability. A former track star, he shows an explosiveness that would put him into the upper echelon of NHL players. This year he learned to use that speed to be effective without the puck. He works hard to recover dump-ins, force turnovers on the forecheck, and apply pressure on the backcheck, making him a complete two-way player. Offensively, there may still be some limitations. His shot remains average. While his ability to maintain possession through cuts at top speed has improved, his vision and decision making can leave some to be desired. Turnovers can be a part of his game when he tries to force his way into the offensive zone or to the net. While these issues may ultimately limit his NHL potential to that of middle six forward, he still projects as a very valuable player who can provide versatility. He should be able to play as a top penalty killer, and work to open up ice for his linemates. His pace of play will be a major asset in today’s NHL. - BO

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

One of the top young forwards in Russia, Marchenko is coming off a strong season. At 6-2”, he has the size and skill package which all NHL teams are looking for from potential top six wingers. As an offensive player, he is the complete package. He skates well, especially when it comes to using his edgework to create shooting opportunities. He has the skill and creativity to play through traffic and be consistently dangerous. His shot is high end. He sees the ice well as a playmaker. When the puck is not on his stick, that is where Marchenko’s game will need to grow before he can become an impact NHL player. Improving his engagement level in all three zones, and improving his awareness defensively will be key to his development and it will be interesting to see if he can round out his game in the KHL over the next few seasons. He recently signed an extension in the KHL with SKA that will keep him in the KHL until after the 2021-22 season. - BO

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Peeke is a big bodied blueliner capable of playing both a strong offensive game and a good defensive game. Although not completely offensively minded, he knows when to pinch low or when to jump in on a play which is what makes him fit in perfectly with the way Columbus’ defensive system is structured. He can shoot and has a good eye for making lead passes and back door plays allowing him to both start a rush and finish one as well. Peeke can play it a little too safe at times, preferring to stay in one spot on the blueline instead of keeping mobile, which could help his vision and give him more passing options. Keeping his feet moving and straying away from one horizontal line will be his go-to improvement project and once he acts on it he should be able to gain more confidence and up his assists column a little. Peeke is an asset on the blueline, with size, a shot, and a good head on his shoulders. - SC

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

A big-bodied center, Voronkov plays a solid two-way game. He moves surprisingly well given his frame, especially in a straight line. He is a powerful skater and tough to stop when he accelerates with the puck. He has a long reach and uses his body well to protect the puck, not only along the boards and in the corners, but also when taking pucks towards the net. It is difficult to take the puck away from him when he is skating at full speed. He provides excellent net front presence and scores many of his goals from point blank range. He also finishes his checks with regularity. He is purposeful and gets to the areas that matter. He plays an active game away from the puck and takes away time and space from opponents. Offensively he keeps his game rather simple and does not try to complicate things. He is not particularly creative or flashy, but he has skill to make plays and contribute. Voronkov’s style of play seems perfectly suited for North American rinks. - MB

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Fix-Wolansky may be small, but he packs quite the punch when it comes to carrying the puck and finding open space. He has made the adjustments to his offensive game in order to know what works for him when with the puck or without. He skates well, has good hands, and has the hockey sense to make him a threat and keep him safe when on the forecheck. He is also capable of scoring equally as much as creating scoring chances for his teammates, which is part of what makes him so fun to watch. Fix-Wolansky needed time last season to adjust to the speed at which offensive plays are made. He will need to keep his feet moving and stay sharper in his own end in order to improve his overall game and production. He is a testament to the fact that successful players do not all embody one mold, and that skill and hockey sense play a much bigger role than size in the modern game. - SC

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Tarasov had a decent season with Ässät in the Liiga. He came to Finland with high expectations and made strides as the season progressed. There were some games where he was excellent, but on the other hand, he also had mediocre performances. He didn’t make a whole lot of timely saves that could have changed the outcome of games. But when he is on his game, it is extremely difficult to score on him. Tarasov is an athletic goalie who relies a lot on his quick reflexes. He has quick legs and moves well across the crease but needs to develop the technical side of his game. When the play is more at the other end of the ice and there are fewer shots, he occasionally allows some soft goals. Tarasov has a lot of ability and potential, but he will need a strong goalie coach who puts in the work to help him improve upon his weaknesses. - MB

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

As a backup goaltender in the AHL, Kivlieniks did well in a part-time role, interestingly, his early-season crease-mate was one of the only other Latvian players and goalies in the NHL system. Kivlieniks is not the biggest goaltender size-wise but he knows how to cover his net and has a good head on his shoulders when it comes to positioning and being able to anticipate plays. He remains calm and collected in high stress situations and is capable of keeping a relatively level head after a bad goal or bad play. He will have to work a little on playing the puck and getting across the crease faster in terms of his pushing and strength. However, he still has a bright future ahead of him and tough competition as a rising goaltender in Columbus’ system, so much so that his play has elicited rumors that the organization could deal away one of their NHL netminders to give Kivlienks a bigger chance. With his determination and focus he can certainly become a starting goalie at some point, opportunity-permitting. – SC

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Our highest ranked undrafted player from our 2019 guide – by far – Chinakhov responded to the snub by laying the Russian junior league to waste, finishing fifth in the league scoring race. He has also bulked up allowing his plus puck skills to play up and to get into better positions for his fine wrist shot. He didn’t stop there, though, as he took advantage of the Russian league’s status as first to restart and parlayed a highly impressive KHL debut into first round pick status by the iconoclastic scouts of Columbus. We still have some concerns about his skating ability, in addition to his stature limiting his ability to play an inside game at the highest levels, but the remainder of his offensive tools all project as above average. Even with his warts, he plays a heady enough game to take advantage of the things he does well while minimizing his weaknesses. He should be able to contribute offensively once he comes over to North America but will need to prove that he will not require sheltering. - RW

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

For a younger goaltender, and one who’s rookie North American professional season was only last year, Vehvilainen’s development and composure were everything that Columbus could have hoped for. From the Finnish Liiga, he brought with him a calm sense of stability, focus, and athleticism. He sees the ice well and is across the net already anticipating plays before they happen, since his timing is good. A weak point is Vehilainen’s reliance on his lateral movement, meaning that he sometimes finds himself already down in the butterfly position before a shot has even hit him. He will need to rely on his experience and be more patient as to not jump on too many plays or over-compensate in any way. As the Cleveland Monsters starter last season, Vehvilainen has all the tools and had ice time he needs to grow into a starting goaltender for Columbus in the future as well. - SC

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

The first thing to be said about Thurkauf is the fact that, yes, he still has prospect eligibility even though he does not currently have a contract with the Blue Jackets and has decided to go back home to his birth country Switzerland to play in the NLA with EV Zug. That being said, it is unsure with the way hockey and the world is now if he will find his way back to Columbus or Cleveland for that matter. Thurkauf is a big forward whose ability to get to the net and find passing or shooting lanes is what makes him stand out. He needs to round out his game a bit more and find leverage in being more creative in his own end but overall, he offers enough to a team for there to be no complaints. That being said, Thurkauf could definitely find himself called up as a member of the Columbus bottom six and hold his own should the team re-assert its contractual rights to the hulking forward and bring him back in a post-pandemic world. - SC

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

It was certainly a bit of a rollercoaster of a season for Angle. For certain stretches of the season, he played at an elite level, but had trouble sustaining that week to week. However, for a seventh-round selection, the season had to be considered a success given some nice forward steps taken. Angle provides a high energy level and is always looking to lead the attack over the blueline, pushing the pace and driving the middle. He excels with the puck on his stick and looked much quicker this season, both in terms of quickness and processing ability. With greater confidence, he was able to be the focal point for Windsor’s attack on a lot of nights. His creativity and puck skill is high and he keeps his feet moving without the puck, always hunting down scoring chances. For Angle, and the entire Windsor roster for that matter, it is simply about sustaining production and effectiveness over longer stretches. Going into his overage season, Angle’s production should increase again as he continues to get stronger, quicker, and more confident. His projection remains as a middle six playmaker. - BO

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Next season will be the year for MacInnis, who is coming up on aging out of prospect eligibility and running short on time, to make an impact enough to earn an NHL roster spot. This past season, he finally made an impact and was pushed hard enough by management to produce for the Cleveland Monsters and prove to the Columbus staff that he deserved a chance. He finished second in team points for Cleveland and earned time on both special teams’ units, predominantly their powerplay, where his playmaking ability was on full display. Although not the fastest or most skillful player to watch, MacInnis is a big body and a hard forward to stop when he has the puck. He is a good two-way player and contributes well in all areas of the ice. That being said he would do well to put the finishing touches on his potential to earn a bottom six spot with the Blue Jackets. - SC

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Yet another late round pick trending in the right direction for Columbus. Berni had already both appeared in one WJC and had some experience playing against men when he was drafted, spending most of his U18 year in Switzerland’s second highest men’s league. Since then, he has spent two seasons up in the NLA, and appeared in two more WJCs for Switzerland, playing bigger roles – and more successfully – at each level, year-over-year. A heads up puck mover with strong skating ability, Berni lacks the dynamic skill set to be much more than a decent #5 at the NHL level, and his point shot all but precludes usage on the power play, but he plays a mature enough game that he could be trusted to eat his share of minutes and not need to be shielded against tougher competition. He should also be tested on the PK, where he played regularly for the Swiss WJC team and where he could provide more value to his team. - RW

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

When Karlberg played with U20 national team last July and August he was flying on the ice and looked great. He did not earn a spot on the SHL roster though and had a weird season playing another year in junior although being overqualified. Leksand was the dominant team in SuperElit even without him. The SHL team, on the other hand, was a bottom team with pressured coaches who preferred playing veterans. Karlberg was loaned out to Allsvenskan, but to by far worst team in Allsvenskan and had a tough time there as well. He was also cut for the Swedish WJC roster. Karlberg has nice hands and speed. He plays a bit too much on the outside but is a good playmaker and he has a good shot. I don’t see top six forward potential but with good work ethic I can see being a good third line winger and penalty killer with his speed. He has an SHL contract in place for next season. - JH

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Hjorth came pretty much as advertised in his first OHL season with Sarnia. The big, 6-3” defender has some projectable skills (big point shot, improving mobility, creativity and skill), however he remains a work in progress as he learns to harness and utilize his skill set effectively. In particular, his decision making will need to improve at both ends of the ice. While Sarnia struggled as a team defensively, Hjorth looked uncertain at times and coverage issues and turnovers were too prominent. However, it is important to remember that he was coming off a lost season due to injuries and was thrown into the fire on a weaker team. It will be very interesting to see how much his game can progress next season as he is now fully healthy and should have a greater confidence level due to his familiarity with the league and his teammates. Given the raw nature of his game, he is a long ways away from making an impact in the NHL, but as mentioned, he possesses the potential to be a second or third pairing defender somewhere down the line if his game continues to improve and evolve. - BO

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Christansen requires some caution when looking at his eye-popping numbers this past season. As a 20-year-old with a relatively small sample size of just 38 games, his production rates need to be viewed with some skepticism. That isn’t to say he is not a solid contributor but rather his offensive outburst needs to be tempered. The positives are his impressive shot rate at just over five shots per game, his continuous improvement in all metrics: goals/game, assist/game, points/game, and minutes/game across each season, showing a steady growth pattern throughout his junior career. He does not have a dynamic aspect to his game. He plays a good brand of physical hockey; he is a decent play maker and has a pretty good shot. He is a project that will need to round out his overall game with a few seasons in the minors before the NHL becomes a possibility. – VG

Kole Sherwood, RW (Undrafted Free Agent: Jul. 7, 2015. Previous ranking: 17)

The first Columbus area native to be signed by the Blue Jackets, Sherwood has developed enough to find himself regularly under consideration whenever the NHL team needs an injury replacement. Even though his second professional season saw his already low offensive contributions take a tumble, he still managed to appear in three games. He has a solid figure, and all of his tools project to at least average potential, but nothing really seems like it can eclipse that low ceiling. He is aggressive and plays with his heart on his sleeve, which can be endearing, even if he is unlikely to ever receive a long-term NHL contract. Having been loaned out to KHL side Kunlun Red Star for the duration of the pandemic pause, Sherwood should be in line to once again receive NHL action this year. To start to see more regular time in the NHL, he will need to begin showing more than just grit in the AHL. - RW

Samuel Johannesson, D (176^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ignored in his first season of draft eligibility, Johannesson moved up from the Swedish junior ranks to the SHL partway through last season and more than held his own, even if he could not replicate his big partial season offensive numbers from the SuperElit. The right-handed blueliner is on the smaller side, but is a fine skater, and plays a very mature game. His reads are beyond his years and he is a skilled puck mover. His hockey IQ allows him to remain calm when the going gets rough and be trusted in numerous situations. Unfortunately, Johannesson has not been given as frequent an opportunity to prove himself in the SHL so far this year, as his ice time over three minutes per game through his first 11 matches. He does not have a top four ceiling, but his combination of attributes, especially the skating, puck moving and brains, make a depth defenseman outcome reasonable, which is as much as anyone could hope for out of the sixth round. - RW

Samuel Knazko, D (78^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A long-time stalwart for Slovakia’s age-based national teams, Knazko is now in his third season of development in Finland’s top junior league, ignoring the siren song of the CHL, where he has been a first round pick in the Import Draft for two years running – his CHL rights are currently held by the Seattle Thunderbirds. As solid as he has been in the Finnish juniors, his overall game presents questions as to what type of player he could become, making his selection in the third round by the Blue Jackets, perhaps even more head scratching than their first round pick of Yegor Chinakhov. Outside of his ability to read the game, none of his tools really sticks out. Even though he was given a big role for Slovakia at the most recent WJC (in addition to other big tournaments) the step up in competition hampered his effectiveness. One would like to see him either move to the CHL, or push his way into the Liiga, as his continued development seems to require a better level of opponent. - RW

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A big Norwegian with two years of North American hockey under his belt, Bjorgvik Holm made the jump from 16U Tier I hockey in Colorado to the OHL, with only two games in the USHL to ease the transition. Prior to that, he was still playing in Norway, and taking on similar importance to their national programs as Knazko did for Slovakia’s. It was easy to see how raw he was last year, prone to rushing pucks wildly out of the defensive zone with only marginal applied pressure. He skates quite well for his size, and knows how to use his size, while showing just enough flashes of adequacy with the puck to be hopeful of more with added higher-level experience. To that effect, he has returned to Norway for the duration of the pandemic, and through the first roughly ten games of the men’s league season, was among the top scoring blueliners in the nation. Take that with however much salt you need, but it isn’t bad. - RW

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 27

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 15:57:24 +0000

Columbus Blue Jackets

Starting with the bad news, the Blue Jackets own only five picks in the 2020 draft, as their second round pick belongs to Ottawa as a remnant from the Ryan Dzingel trade last year while their third rounder will go to LA, via Ottawa and Toronto, stemming from the Ian Cole trade. There was a chance that Columbus would pick up an extra second rounder as a result of a conditional deal, but Markus Hannikainen did not play in ten games for the Arizona Coyotes this year (he didn’t play a single NHL game, in fact), so they are left with only a handful.

At least they still have their first rounder, though. The Blue Jackets have only had one first rounder in the past three draft classes (you can find his name first on the list below), and not only did they not pick on day one last year, but their entire draft class consisted of only three players, none picked in the top 100. So, we can state with some confidence that, should GM Jarmo Kekalainen not trade the pick, Columbus will likely find themselves with a new top prospect after the draft.

For optimists, we can note that Kekalainen has done a pretty good at the draft table since moderately stumbling with his first two draft classes in 2013 and 2014. And even that first class saw the team draft Alexander Wennberg and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The team has drafted well not just with their early picks (Pierre-Luc Dubois, Zach Werenski), but has also hit with some late rounders (Elvis Merzlikins, Vladislav Gavrikov, Markus Nutivaara). We also think enough of their three picks from last year, that each one has found a home in the current top 15.

For pessimists, noting that two fourth rounders and a seventh rounder from 12 months prior are all rated in the top 15 prospects of this team is also a consequence of having an empty shelf. One of those three, Russian winger Dmitri Voronkov looks like a genuine keeper, thanks to spending his entire age 19 season in the KHL and featuring an explosive performance at the WJC, but the other two are still very much considered depth prospects and would be likely not to make the cut on most other lists in this guide.

This lack of depth stems directly from the organization’s decision to go for broke last year. They traded away seven future draft picks (two of which will still be due after the 2020 draft is in the books), and a couple of solid prospects to give their team – middling as it was – a better chance in the 2019 postseason, acquiring Matt Duchene, Dzingel, Ian Cole, Adam McQuaid, and others, to strengthen their presumptive playoff push. The 2019 playoffs were critical for the organization as stars Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin were both pending UFAs and neither was looking likely to return.

Now, teams do not typically raise banners for winning a playoff round, but it is also fair to note that Kekalainen’s ploy worked. The Blue Jackets won the franchise’s first ever playoff round, with perhaps the most stunning upset in the history of the NHL, sweeping the top seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. And with Bobrovsky and Panarin now gone, the team is still competitive, even if they lack the high-end skill players that most competitive teams seem to have in abundance.

Columbus will need to keep hitting on their late rounders and free talent pickups to remain competitive until they start keeping their full slate of draft picks again – or better yet, acquiring extra picks.

Liam Foudy of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

The captain of the London Knights had a terrific final year in the OHL that also saw him capture gold with Canada at the WJC’s, and play his first couple NHL games. With the progression he has shown and with a pro ready game, it is not unfathomable to believe that Foudy can step right into an NHL role next season without playing in the AHL.

Of course, the focal point of his game is his skating ability. A former track star, Foudy is electric on the ice, showing an explosiveness that would put him into the upper echelon of NHL players, let alone OHL players. What he did this year was learn to use that speed to be effective without the puck; a key to his development. He works hard to recover dump-ins, force turnovers on the forecheck, and apply pressure on the backcheck. One could now classify Foudy as a very complete two-way player.

Offensively, there may still be some limitations. His shot remains average. While his ability to maintain possession through cuts at top speed has improved, his vision and decision making can leave some to be desired. Turnovers can be a part of his game when he tries to force his way into the offensive zone or to the net.

While these issues may ultimately limit his NHL potential to that of middle six forward, he still projects as a very valuable player who can provide versatility to the Columbus coaching staff; something that was evident in his brief two game emergency call up this season. He should be able to play as a top penalty killer, and work to open up ice for his linemates. Bottom line; his pace of play will be a major asset in today’s NHL. - BO

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

One of the top young forwards in Russia, Marchenko is coming off a strong season that has helped to solidify his status as a top NHL prospect. He was one of the best rookies in the KHL, had a tremendous first round in the KHL playoffs, and was one of Russia’s best players at this year’s World Junior Championships. At 6-2”, he has the size and skill package which all NHL teams are looking for from potential top six wingers.

As an offensive player, Marchenko is the complete package. He skates well, especially when it comes to using his edgework to create shooting opportunities. He has the skill and creativity to play through traffic and be consistently dangerous. His shot is high end. He sees the ice well as a playmaker. He is simply a very well-rounded offensive player. When the puck is not on his stick, that is where Marchenko’s game will need to grow before he can become an impact NHL player.

Improving his engagement level in all three zones and improving his awareness defensively will be key to his development and it will be interesting to see if he can round out his game in the KHL over the next few seasons. He recently signed an extension in the KHL with SKA that will keep him in the KHL until after the 2021-22 season. Columbus fans will need to be patient; however the wait could be worth it as it is highly likely that Marchenko is ready to step into a top six role for 2022-23. - BO

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Andrew Peek #2 of the Columbus Blue Jackets (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

During the 2020 playoffs it was evident that the Blue Jackets were reliant on two main defensemen in Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, seeing as how Jones played around thirty minutes or more per game. The Jackets could use some fresher young talent and that is where former Notre Dame captain, defenseman Andrew Peeke comes into play. Peeke is a big bodied blueliner capable of playing both a strong offensive game and a good defensive game. Although not completely offensively minded, he knows when to pinch low or when to jump in on a play which is what makes him fit in perfectly with the way Columbus’ defensive system is structured.

He can shoot and has a good eye for making lead passes and back door plays allowing him to both start a rush and finish one as well. Peeke can play it a little too safe at times, preferring to stay in one spot on the blueline instead of keeping mobile, which could help his vision and give him more passing options. Keeping his feet moving and straying away from one horizontal line will be his go-to improvement project and once he acts on it, he should be able to gain more confidence and up his assists column a little. Peeke is an asset on the blueline, with size, a shot, and a good head on his shoulders. He would make a good permanent addition to the Blue Jackets bottom four at some point in the near future. - SC

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Voronkov earned a regular spot in the KHL in 2019-20 after spending the majority of his previous season in the VHL, the second-highest Russian league. His ice-time increased as the KHL season progressed and he averaged almost 13 minutes per game by the playoffs. The big-bodied center plays a solid two-way game. He moves surprisingly well given his frame, especially in a straight line. He is a powerful skater and tough to stop when he accelerates with the puck. He has a long reach and uses his body well to protect the puck, not only along the boards and in the corners, but also when taking pucks towards the net. It is difficult to take the puck away from him when he is skating at full speed.

He provides excellent net front presence and scores many of his goals from point blank range. He also finishes his checks with regularity. He is purposeful and gets to the areas that matter. He plays an active game away from the puck and takes away time and space from opponents. Offensively he keeps his game rather simple and does not try to complicate things. He is not particularly creative or flashy, but he has skill to make plays and contribute. Voronkov’s style of play seems perfectly suited for North American rinks – it will be interesting to monitor his development as he begins his second KHL season with Ak Bars Kazan. The Columbus Blue Jackets should be very excited about the progress of their fourth-round pick. - MB

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 13: Trey Fix-Wolansky #64 of the Columbus Blue Jackets (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Based on size alone, Fix-Wolansky can be compared to a younger Alex DeBrincat due to their small, compact size and agile skating ability, although the Blue Jackets prospect is actually a little smaller than the Blackhawks’ scoring winger. Fix-Wolansky may be small, but he packs quite the punch when it comes to carrying the puck and finding open space. He has made the proper adjustments to his offensive game in order to know what works for him when with the puck or without. He skates well, has good hands and has the hockey sense to make him a threat and keep him safe when on the forecheck.

He is also capable of scoring equally as much as setting up scoring chances for his teammates, which is part of what makes him so fun to watch. Fix-Wolansky’s +/- suffered this past season with the AHL Cleveland Monsters during his rookie season as he adjusted to the speed at which offensive plays are made. He will need to keep his feet moving and stay sharper in his own end when it comes to next season in order to improve his overall game and production.

He is a testament to the fact that successful players do not all embody one mold, and that skill and hockey sense play a much bigger role than size in the modern game. With the right determination and improvements in his defensive game, Fix-Wolansky could see some ice time as part of the Blue Jackets bottom six as early as next season which is quite the feat for a seventh round pick, no matter how tall. - SC

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

Tarasov is an athletic goalie who relies a lot on his quick reflexes. He has quick legs and moves well across the crease but needs to develop the technical side of his game. When the play is more at the other end of the ice and there are fewer shots, he occasionally allows some soft goals. Tarasov has a lot of ability and potential, but he will need a strong goalie coach who puts in the work to help him improve upon his weaknesses. - MB

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

As a backup goaltender in the AHL, Kivlenieks did well in a part-time role, interestingly, his early-season crease-mate was one of the only other Latvian players and goalies in the NHL system. Kivlenieks is not the biggest goaltender size-wise but he knows how to cover his net and has a good head on his shoulders when it comes to positioning and being able to anticipate plays. He remains calm and collected in high stress situations and is capable of keeping a relatively level head after a bad goal or bad play.

He will have to work a little on playing the puck and getting across the crease faster in terms of his pushing and strength. However, he still has a bright future ahead of him and tough competition as a rising goaltender in Columbus’ system, so much so that his play has elicited rumors that the organization could deal away one of their NHL netminders to give Kivlenieks a bigger chance. With his determination and focus he can certainly become a starting goalie at some point, opportunity-permitting. - SC

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

A weak point is Vehilainen’s reliance on his lateral movement, meaning that he sometimes finds himself already down in the butterfly position before a shot has even hit him. He will need to rely on his experience and be more patient as to not jump on too many plays or over-compensate in any way. As the Cleveland Monsters starter last season, Vehvilainen has all the tools and had ice time he needs to grow into a starting goaltender for Columbus in the future as well. - SC

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Thurkauf is a big forward whose ability to get to the net and find passing or shooting lanes is what makes him stand out. He needs to round out his game a bit more and find leverage in being more creative in his own end but overall, he offers enough to a team for there to be no complaints. That being said, Thurkauf could definitely find himself called up as a member of the Columbus bottom six and hold his own should the team re-assert its contractual rights to the hulking forward and bring him back in a post-pandemic world. - SC

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 16)

With greater confidence, he was able to be the focal point for Windsor’s attack on a lot of nights. His creativity and puck skill are high and he keeps his feet moving without the puck, always hunting down scoring chances. For Angle, and the entire Windsor roster for that matter, it is simply about sustaining production and effectiveness over longer stretches. Going into his overage season, Angle’s production should increase again as he continues to get stronger, quicker, and more confident. His projection remains as a middle six playmaker. - BO

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Next season will be the year for MacInnis, who is coming up on aging out of prospect eligibility and running short on time to make an impact enough to earn an NHL roster spot. This past season, he finally made an impact and was pushed hard enough by management to produce for the Cleveland Monsters and prove to the Columbus staff that he deserved a chance. He finished second in team points for Cleveland and earned time on both special teams’ units, predominantly their powerplay, where his playmaking ability was on full display.

Although not the fastest or most skillful player to watch, MacInnis is a big body and a hard forward to stop when he has the puck. He is a good two-way player and contributes well in all areas of the ice. That being said he would do well to put the finishing touches on his potential to earn a bottom six spot with the Blue Jackets. - SC

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

A heads up puck mover with strong skating ability, Berni lacks the dynamic skill set to be much more than a decent #5 at the NHL level, and his point shot all but precludes usage on the power play, but he plays a mature enough game that he could be trusted to eat his share of minutes and not need to be shielded against tougher competition. He should also be tested on the PK, where he played regularly for the Swiss WJC team and where he could provide more value to his team. - RW

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

The SHL team, on the other hand, was a bottom team with pressured coaches who preferred playing veterans. Karlberg was loaned out to Allsvenskan, but to by far worst team in Allsvenskan and had a tough time there as well. He was also cut for the Swedish WJC roster.

Karlberg has nice hands and speed. He plays a bit too much on the outside but is a good playmaker and he has a good shot. I don’t see top six forward potential but with good work ethic I can see being a good third line winger and penalty killer with his speed. He has an SHL contract in place for next season. - JH

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)

It will be very interesting to see how much his game can progress next season as he is now fully healthy and should have a greater confidence level due to his familiarity with the league and his teammates. Given the raw nature of his game, he is a long ways away from making an impact in the NHL, but as mentioned, he possesses the potential to be a second or third pairing defender somewhere down the line if his game continues to improve and evolve. - BO

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

he positives are his impressive shot rate at just over 5 shots per game, his continuous improvement in all metrics: goals/game, assist/game, points/game, and minutes/game across each season, showing a steady growth pattern throughout his junior career. He does not have a dynamic aspect to his game. He plays a good brand of physical hockey; he is a decent play maker and has a pretty good shot. He is a project that will need to round out his overall game with a few seasons in the minors before the NHL becomes a possibility. - VG

Trey Fix-Wolansky – McKeen's Hockey

AHL: Hall: 11 Prospects in Make-or-Break Seasons

Kole Lind, 25, Dallas Stars

Valtteri Puustinen, 25, Pittsburgh Penguins

Jett Woo, 24, Vancouver Canucks

Alec Regula, 24, Boston Bruins

Raphaël Lavoie, 24, Edmonton Oilers

Alex Turcotte, 23, Akil Thomas, 24 & Samuel Fagemo, 24, Los Angeles Kings

Adam Beckman, 23, New Jersey Devils

Grigori Denisenko, 24, Vegas Golden Knights

Trey Fix-Wolansky, 25, Columbus Blue Jackets

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #14

Top 20 Columbus Blue Jacket Prospects

2. David Jiricek - D

3. Denton Mateychuk - D

4. Corson Ceulemans - D

5. Stanislav Svozil - D

6. Gavin Brindley

7. Dmitri Voronkov - LW

8. Jordan Dumais - RW

9. William Whitelaw - RW

10. Luca Del Bel Belluz - C

11. James Malatesta - LW

12. Samuel Knazko - D

13. Guillaume Richard - D

14. Andrew Strathmann - D

15. Jake Christiansen - D

16. Marcus Bjork - D

17. Mikael Pyyhtia - C

18. Trey Fix-Wolansky - RW

19. Kirill Dolzhenkov - RW

20. Hunter McKown - C

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #11 Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Cozens Making a Leap, Jarvis, Cirelli, Hall and many more

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 20 Prospects

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – RANK: #17 – TIER III

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

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Columbus Blue Jackets Top 20 Prospects

Liam Foudy, C (18th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Andrew Peeke, D (34th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Angle, C (212th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Tim Berni, D (159th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Eric Hjorth, D (104th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Kole Sherwood, RW (Undrafted Free Agent: Jul. 7, 2015. Previous ranking: 17)

Samuel Johannesson, D (176th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Knazko, D (78th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 27

Columbus Blue Jackets

Liam Foudy, C (18th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Andrew Peeke, D (34th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 25, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173rd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Tyler Angle, C (212th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 16)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Tim Berni, D (159th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

Eric Hjorth, D (104th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)

Jake Christiansen, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 4, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Yegor Chinakhov, RW (21^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: 11)

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Samuel Johannesson, D (176^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Knazko, D (78^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D (145^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Liam Foudy, C (18^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Kirill Marchenko, LW (49^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Andrew Peeke, D (34^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

Dmitri Voronkov, LW (114^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Trey Fix-Wolansky, RW (204^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Daniil Tarasov, G (86^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

Veini Vehvilainen, G (173^rd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

Calvin Thurkauf, C/LW (185^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Tyler Angle, C (212^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 16)

Ryan MacInnis, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 18, 2018. Originally: 43^rd overall, 2014 [Arizona]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Tim Berni, D (159^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Marcus Karlberg, RW/LW (80^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 15)

Eric Hjorth, D (104^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)