Tyson Jost – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – BUFFALO SABRES – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:37:53 +0000

ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 28: Buffalo Sabres Defenceman Rasmus Dahlin (26) follows the play during a game between the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres on January 28, 2023, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Review: In 2022-23, the Buffalo Sabres missed the playoffs, extending their NHL-record postseason drought to 12th consecutive campaigns. As hard as it is for a fanbase to feel good after that much pain, the latest iteration of the Sabres were fun to watch and showed plenty of promise. Tage Thompson led the offense with 47 goals and 94 points in 78 contests, making GM Kevyn Adams look like a genius for locking him up in the summer of 2022 to a seven-year, $50 million contract that will begin in 2023-24. Thompson was far from their only weapon though. Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch and Dylan Cozen each provided over 30 goals and 65 points while Rasmus Dahlin was one of the league’s top offensive defensemen, contributing 15 goals and 73 points. With that core, Buffalo ranked third offensively (3.57 goals per game), but the squad was ultimately held back by poor defense and mediocre goaltending.

What’s Changed? While it’s not technically a change, the single biggest difference from 2022-23 to 2023-24 is that Buffalo will now get a full campaign of Devon Levi after the goaltending prospect appeared in seven NHL contests last year. The 21-year-old has a lot to prove, but he has the potential to be the solution in net Buffalo sorely needs. The Sabres also inked defensemen Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton in the hopes of making life a little easier on their goaltenders.

What would success look like? At this point if the Sabres make the playoffs, that’s a win. It’s not going to be easy in the immensely competitive Atlantic Division, but it’s certainly an obtainable goal for Buffalo. That talented offense that carried them last year is still there and many of their key forwards are just now entering their prime. If Clifton and Johnson help stabilize their defense while Owen Power takes another step forward in his march towards being an elite two-way blueliner, then Buffalo will be a far more well-rounded team. Levi is by far the biggest X-Factor, but even a decent year out of him might be all the Sabres need to get over the hump.

What could go wrong? It’s just as possible that Levi might not be ready. Even with an encouraging seven-game stint with the Sabres last campaign, he’s still largely inexperienced and has yet to be tested against the grind of an 82-game season. If he’s not up to the task then that leaves Buffalo with Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but both left plenty to be desired last season. The Sabres offense should be at least fine even in a worst-case scenario, but Skinner has had a rollercoaster career, so there’s no guarantee he’ll come even close to his 35-goal and 82-point 2022-23 performance.

Top Breakout Candidate: It’s got to be Levi. As much of a risk as he is, the talent and opportunity are there. If he proves that he’s capable now of holding that starting gig – and yes that’s a significant if – then he’ll have the benefit of the Sabres’ immense offensive support, making it possible for him to reach the 30-win mark as a rookie.

Forwards

Tage Thompson - C

Hard to believe there was a question about how Tage Thompson would do as a follow-up to his breakout 38-goal season in 2021-2022, but he showed it was not a one-season-wonder. Thompson piled up career-highs in goals (47), assists (47), and points (94) and led the Sabres in goals and points. It’s incredible to see his growth in production at the center spot and how he’s become one of the elite players in the NHL and a couple years after there was doubt as to whether he’d be an NHL player at all. Thompson’s explosion has spurred the Sabres out of the doldrums of a seemingly never-ending rebuild into a team that’s on the brink of making the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and possibly becoming a Stanley Cup contender. Understandably, Thompson’s shot output increased in 2022-2023 and his shot percentage improved by nearly one percent (15 to 15.9). That’s the kind of repeatable output the Sabres love to see because they’ll want him to continue ripping the puck. What’s more impressive is he doubled his goal output on the power play from 10 to 20 goals. He has an elite shot and one of the most potent one-timers in the game and it makes him someone opposing penalty kills must cover at all costs. With 53 of his 94 points coming on the power play last season, Thompson alone makes committing penalties against Buffalo a recipe for losing games.

Jeff Skinner - LW

The turnaround Jeff Skinner’s career has had under coach Don Granato continued in 2022-2023. Skinner was second on the Sabres in points with 82 and was third on the team in goals with 35. It was the first time he had 30-plus goals in consecutive seasons and his 82 points broke his previous career-high of 63 (which he’d done four times, twice each with Buffalo and Carolina). After his 40-goal season in 2018-2019, he scored 21 goals the next two seasons combined playing for Ralph Krueger and Granato. Skinner continued his career-long trait of being an outstanding even strength scorer with 27 of his 35 coming at evens and 25 at 5-on-5. While Skinner has never been a strong power play scorer, his 21 power play points last season set a new career high. While Skinner was a top-line scorer for Buffalo in his first season with the Sabres, his resurgence under Granato has had him there again playing on a line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. Although Granato tried to see what other line combinations would work last training camp, the experimentation didn’t last long and the trio was reunited quickly. Expect them to stay together this season and be one of the NHL’s top scoring lines again.

Alex Tuch - RW

Alex Tuch continued to be the power forward the Sabres always dreamed of again last season. Tuch had a career year with 36 goals and 79 points with 27 goals coming on even strength (21 of them at 5-on-5). At 6’4” 219 pounds, Tuch’s work around the net complements the high-end skill of Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner with the ability to boss his way to and around the net. Coupling that with a deceptive wrist shot and he’s proved to be an all-around offensive threat for the Sabres. On top of his offensive production, Tuch also plays a strong two-way game again incorporating his size and reach to disrupt puck carriers and ability to be physical when needed. Although Buffalo’s penalty kill hasn’t been a high point in recent years, Tuch had a shorthanded goal for the second straight season. But it’s the offensive ability that sets Tuch apart and that he scored at more than a point per game pace for the first time in his career last season at age 26 shows he’s hitting his prime at the right time for the Sabres. Although Buffalo has a load of offensive options, Tuch’s power forward play makes him unique and a necessary change-up compared to the speedy snipers and skill players elsewhere on the roster.

Dylan Cozens - C

It was only a matter of time before Dylan Cozens had a true breakout season and 2022-2023 was it. Cozens set career highs with 31 goals and 68 points in just his third season. The 22-year-old from Yukon took the lessons learned from his first two NHL seasons as well as from playing wing for Canada at the 2022 World Championships to become more of a shooter and lean into that part of his game. It paid off in a big way as his shot output jumped dramatically (160 to 211) and his shooting percentage with it (8.1 to 14.7). Cozens was a threat in all situations and scored 24 goals at even strength to go with five on the power play and two shorthanded. His tenacious forechecking and eagerness to play the body helps him stand out from the likes of Thompson, Peyton Krebs, and Casey Mittelstadt up the middle. Even though his new scoring marks set a tricky bar to meet or exceed, the growth in his game and how players like Thompson have elevated over the years indicate that being able to do just that is very possible. Cozens slots in automatically as the Sabres’ No. 2 center as well as leading their second power play unit. As he’s gotten stronger, his physical play has grown but it’s the offensive end of the ice where he’s most dangerous and he was the de facto leader on a line with rookies J.J. Peterka and Jack Quinn last season despite the three of them all being roughly the same age. It’s right to expect a bit more from Cozens this season because we’re just starting to see the best of him now.

Jack Quinn - RW

Quinn’s rookie season didn’t have the kinds of numbers that knock your hair back when compared to some of the other outstanding first-year players around the league, but a deeper look at what he accomplished shows there’s reason to believe he’d be due for a big season. Quinn had 14 goals and 37 points over 75 games in 2022-2023. That put him seventh among NHL rookies in scoring and tied for eighth in goals with Montreal’s Raphael Harvey-Pinard. Quinn’s output was similar to what Dylan Cozens had in his second NHL season but Quinn’s skill with his shot and stick handling ability indicates he’s a player that will be able to fill the net in years to come. What’s difficult for him this season is how he’ll come back from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon he sustained during offseason workouts in June. That injury will keep him out of action until December or January at the latest and will certainly affect his total offensive output. The Sabres depth at forward will prevent Quinn’s absence from being a major blow, but how it affects his further development is worth paying attention to. It’s the second time Quinn has had an injury affect his offseason. In April 2021, he needed sports hernia surgery that ended his season in the AHL, but his performance in 2021-2022 showed he had no lingering ill effects. Buffalo hopes that will repeat itself when he returns in winter.

J.J. Peterka - LW

Peterka’s first NHL season saw him ride the typical rookie roller coaster in learning what he can and can’t get away with against the best players in the world. He had 12 goals and 32 helpers for the Sabres and showed the speed and creativity in his game that has everyone in Buffalo excited to see what more he’s capable of doing. Although he’s working on improving his two-way game, it’s the offensive play that will set him apart from his peers. His ability to get in behind defenders with his speed helps him get free for chances but how he finishes plays will be something to keep an eye on going forward. He’s able to create opportunities out of nowhere and what he’s capable of doing sets him apart from his usual linemates in Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn. He and Quinn have chemistry from their year together in AHL Rochester and that helped them both during last season in Buffalo, although they would occasionally struggle while learning the ropes. But that’s nothing out of the ordinary when bringing along two 21-year-old players into their first NHL seasons. More will be expected of Peterka, of course, and with Quinn’s absence to start the season the hope is all steps he’s taken in the offseason will pay off instantly. He was outstanding for Germany during the 2023 World Championships. He tied for second in the tournament in scoring with 12 points in 10 games and was named the best forward in the tournament. Germany won silver, their first medal at Worlds since 1953.

Casey Mittelstadt - C

Patience is proving to be Casey Mittelstadt’s best quality during his time with Buffalo. The 2017 No. 8 overall pick in the NHL Draft had a career year for the Sabres last season. He had 16 goals and 59 points in a year that was a borderline make-it-or-break-it season for him. His point total was more than twice his previous career-high of 25 points back in 2018-2019 and his 15 goals were three better than his previous best also set that season. Aside from good health, what allowed Mittelstadt to break out was his versatility. He played both at center and on the wing and showed he could lift his linemates in any given situation. He also showed he can be an effective scorer on the power play and provide help shorthanded as well. As a 5-on-5 player he was above-average in shot generation and suppression and broke even in goals scored and allowed when he was on the ice. Although the light that shined on Mittlestadt in previous seasons seemed to focus on his negative outcomes, there’s no doubt he was able to turn that around last season by consistently being involved offensively and creating shots and scoring opportunities for his teammates. A devoted teammate, Mittelstadt always strives to improve his game and to do what he can to better himself for the rest of the group. That he was able to post a breakout season and still be under the radar compared to his teammates speaks volumes to the value he does have. He’s become a vital cog for the rest of the lineup and gives the Sabres depth scoring beyond the first line for sure and takes the heat off some of his younger teammates as well. That said, it was such a standout year from him that it stands to wonder what he can do to follow that up this season.

Peyton Krebs - LW

While the majority of the attention among the Sabres youngest players went to the likes of Jack Quinn, Dylan Cozens, and JJ Peterka, Peyton Krebs did a lot of the dirty work that doesn’t always get noticed, least of all in the stat columns. Krebs was an anchor up the middle on a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo. While that line gets referred to as the “fourth line” often, the truth is it functioned as the Sabres’ shut down/energy line used to change the tempo of the game in their favor and regain steady puck possession. Krebs was able to do this by transforming into an irritator and a tenacious forechecker. Although he doesn’t stand out physically, he was able to use his body and his strength to his advantage to throw opponents off their games. Krebs even went so far as to get in a few fights last season, a rarity among the Sabres in general. All that said, Krebs still set career highs with nine goals and 26 points. What makes him different than a lot of forwards that play that kind of role is Krebs still has strong offensive instincts and abilities. He has an uncanny ability to read plays and to make difficult passes that would normally not come from other third-or-fourth-line forwards. Although Krebs thrives in the shutdown role, he is more than capable of sliding up the lineup to add more offense when called upon. At 22 years old, there’s a lot more to come from Krebs, the question is how much more offense will come or how much more of a shutdown forward he will turn out to be.

Victor Olofsson - RW

Every team in the league has a pariah when it comes to the fan base and unfortunately for Victor Olofsson, he was it last year. What’s wild is Olofsson had a career-high 28 goals last season, fifth most on the team, seven of which came on the power play. Of his 40 points, 12 came on the power play and his 17 goals at 5-on-5 were the most he’s had in a season in his career. The raw box car numbers seem great, assists aside, and they scream out that he’s a player who is doing what’s asked of him and is capable of more. So, what’s got fans upset with him? It’s his 5-on-5 play in general that stood out in the worst way. The majority of Olofsson’s teammates had better possession numbers away from him than with him (according to Natural Stat Trick) and at 5-on-5 he was 10th on the team in scoring but the Sabres were outscored 52-34 when he was on the ice. And while Tage Thompson’s numbers exploded on the power play, Olofsson’s have plateaued with seven power play goals in three straight seasons. There’s an opportunity for redemption this season, however. With Quinn out until December or January, it opens the chance for Olofsson to reclaim his role in the lineup by becoming a stronger 5-on-5 player and to not just rely on ripping shots from the circle to score goals and generate chances. He enters the season in the final year of his contract so there’s an abundance of motivation for him to turn it around with Buffalo and if not ultimately with them then another team to acquire him.

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin - D

Of the many players whose careers have blossomed in Buffalo under coach Don Granato, Rasmus Dahlin’s growth into one of the top point-producing defensemen in the NHL is perhaps the sweetest redemption. When he arrived as a rookie in 2018, scoring was never a problem but playing a solid all-around game was a bit difficult. For a couple of seasons, the offense waned and the worry about whether he’d live up to being a No. 1 overall draft pick began, but over the past two seasons, and especially after 2022-2023, he’s shown to be exactly who many thought he would become. He was fourth on the Sabres in scoring last season with 73 points including 15 goals, both of which set new career highs. He was fifth among NHL defensemen in scoring and had 32 points on the power play which was fourth best among blue liners. His possession and shot metrics at 5-on-5 were tops among Sabres defensemen as well and showed that it wasn’t just the points that carried his game, something noticed by the PHWA voters as he finished eighth in Norris Trophy voting. He’s Buffalo’s No. 1 defenseman by far and one of the best in the NHL and just 23 years old.

Owen Power - D

Power’s rookie season showed a lot of why he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2021. His 35 points made him the leading scorer among rookie defensemen and 26 of those points came at even strength. He was entrusted with power play duty on the second unit thanks to Rasmus Dahlin running the show most of the time, but he was apt to distribute there with eight power play points. Even though Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson made up most of the time on the first pairing, Power was tasked with vital ice time and averaged 23:48 per game, second only to Dahlin. At 20 years old, Power was a major contributor and a vital cog to the Sabres defense corps and the maturity in his game earned him the coaching staff’s trust. What helped that out was his unflappable ability to work out of tough situations and his ice-cold demeanor to get the job done. His advanced numbers did not stand out as strongly as the anecdotes and standard statistics (his 5-on-5 expected goals percentage was under 49 percent) and his defense partners seemed to take a lot of that blame. With the additions of Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson, we’ll get to see how well Power adjusts with one of them by his side for much of the season. If nothing else, Power has shown early in his career he’s not only up to such challenges but also ready to exceed expectations as well.

Mattias Samuelsson - D

When Mattias Samuelsson signed a seven-year, $30 million extension last October, there was a lot of head-scratching going on around the league because he’s a guy who hadn’t played a lot of NHL games and wasn’t known for producing points. Then he paired up with Rasmus Dahlin and the young Swede put up career numbers and became a much better defensive player as well. Coincidence? Not according to Dahlin and the Sabres coaching staff. Samuelsson’s dogged defensive and physical play, to them, allows Dahlin to have more freedom in the offensive zone to create as well as carry the puck all over the ice. If a $4 million-plus cap hit allows for that, you can argue that it’s money very well spent. But Samuelsson does enough of his own work to justify the deal. His big size causes opponents to be weary of going into corners against him for pucks as well as dread being around the front of the net. He’s also capable enough with the puck to make a good first pass out of the zone to start a breakout. Samuelsson is a modern-day throwback defensive defenseman where 20 years ago he’d have spent a lot of time scrapping with foes, but now he’ll settle disputes during the flow of play instead. Intangibles don’t generally have a price tag, but for Samuelsson there’s a solid approximation of the value.

Connor Clifton - D

The Sabres had a few areas of weakness last season that didn’t have to do with goaltending. They weren’t very good on the penalty kill (fifth worst in the NHL) and they weren’t a physical team (last in the NHL in hits by a substantial margin). To address those needs, the Sabres signed former Boston Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton to a three-year, $10 million contract. Clifton arrives in Buffalo with a history of playing for Don Granato during his junior hockey days and a reputation for delivering physically punishing hits all over the ice while also capable of playing up-tempo hockey. Clifton had 208 hits last season, 23rd most in the league, which was 101 more hits than the Sabres leader Mattias Samuelsson (who played in 23 fewer games). The hits stand out, but Clifton also had 23 points and only had 60 PIM last season. With his style of hockey, he provides an arguably necessary change on the Sabres blue line and a player who can draw attention away from their more skilled players when the temperature rises throughout a game. He’s not there to be a goon, of course, but instead he’ll be counted on to use his solid speed to help move the puck as well as adding some physical explosiveness to the blue line group. The Sabres haven’t had a player who made opponents keep their heads on a swivel in many years and they’re expecting Clifton to change that for them and give them an element they’ll need if they’re to make the playoffs and have success therein.

Goaltending

Devon Levi - G

It might seem premature to bank on Devon Levi as an NHL starter this upcoming season for the Buffalo Sabres. But even if he only splits the net with one of the more established options the team has under contract, it’s hard to argue that he’s the most talented piece they have on the roster by a wide margin.

Buffalo finally seemed to admit defeat on the Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen experiment this past season when they signed Levi to an entry-level deal at the culmination of his second collegiate season. Luukkonen, while the starter for Buffalo over the largest volume of games, once again struggled to put up league-average numbers and lost out on nearly a third of the starts on the year to a 41-year-old Craig Anderson. And while Eric Comrie always seemed just a step away from being ready to take the reins at the NHL level, his abbreviated performance at the NHL level last year also looked like nothing more than a tweener backup option to be used as a stopgap. Buffalo desperately needs to finally take a step forward, and Levi seems like their best chance to do that. The good news, though, is that he’s got all the makings of being the next franchise number one. He’s taken top-tier tracking and fluid lower-body movements and added in cleaner transitions than initially displayed his draft year. Perhaps the best part of his game, though, is that he’s got lightning-quick hands and a willingness to stop the puck to halt play; he’s perfectly confident setting up the face-off in his own end, and he holds his depth long enough to control incoming approaches from the offense. For Buffalo, the structure he has in his game should help balance out a defensive lineup that has struggled to establish consistency over the last decade-plus, especially with young names poised to revamp the blue line in the team’s incoming era. A Sabres lineup with Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power pairing up with Devon Levi could become a team to watch for in the East. The question, ultimately, isn’t whether or not Levi is ready – it’s how many games he’ll have to play in rotation with Comrie and Luukkonen.

Projected starts: 35-40

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MINNESOTA WILD – NHL Player Profiles

Joe Yerdon – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:58:24 +0000

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 16: Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) starts to turn up ice during a game between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues on April 16, 2022, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Kirill Kaprizov

A lot of players after a monster rookie season will have the infamous “sophomore slump” but then again, most players aren’t Kirill Kaprizov. The 25-year-old Russian built upon his Calder-winning season by scoring 47 goals and 108 points. That point total made him fifth in the NHL and his goal total tied him with Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor for fifth best. Kaprizov set Wild team records for goals, assists (61), and points in a season and set the team record for most even strength goals (33) along with Ryan Hartman. Kaprizov was also the best forward when it comes to possession with a 53.6 CF% at 5-on-5, as only defenseman Jared Spurgeon (55.4) was better. Unsurprisingly, Kaprizov was the most dangerous player on the power play leading the team with 14 goals and 31 points. To call him a difference-maker since joining the Wild would be a vast understatement. He’s a legit top-10 player in the NHL and one of its elite scorers. The questions now are how long he can perform at this level, and can he exceed what he accomplished last season. He’s already a challenger for both the Rocket Richard and Art Ross trophies and gunning for the Hart Trophy comes naturally with those. Expect him to be in all those conversations this season.

Mats Zuccarello

It’s rare to see a player have the best season of their career after turning 30, but at 34 that’s precisely what Mats Zuccarello did. He was third on the Wild with 79 points including 24 goals. Zuccarello teamed up with Kaprizov and Hartman to have, perhaps, one of the most unexpected offensive explosions by a line in the NHL. Early in his career with the New York Rangers, Zuccarello was a steady offensive player capable of scoring 45-60 points per season. His first season with Minnesota was disappointing comparably, but the past two seasons has seen him produce at the best rates of his career (0.83 and 1.13 points per game). Teaming him up with Kaprizov likely has a lot to do with that jump, if not everything, but it’s still better than almost every other season he’s played in the NHL. That doesn’t generally happen for players past age 30, never mind their mid-30s. What benefits him most is he’s a naturally smart player on offense and has tremendous vision for passing as well as a sky-high hockey IQ. His size was something always used as a reason why he wouldn’t have success, but at 5-foot-8, 184 pounds he’s proved that size doesn’t always mean results.

Joel Eriksson Ek

The 25-year-old from Sweden has become one of the better defensive forwards in the league. Eriksson Ek was the Wild’s first round pick (20th) in 2015 and the improvement in his game over the past five seasons has been as impressive as it is noticeable. He set career-highs in goals (26), assists (23), and points (49) and was the smallest player on his line with Marcus Foligno and Jordan Greenway. Mind you, Eriksson Ek is 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds. He was third on the team in key advanced statistics with a 53.2 CF% and 56.9 xG%. Eriksson Ek fits in well with his linemates because, like them, he’s unafraid to throw his body around. He was fourth in hits with 138 behind Foligno (238), Brandon Duhaime (201), and Greenway (155) respectively. Physicality is contagious, but to have it come from what’s essentially the No. 2 scoring line makes them a rare team the way the NHL is played these days. Most teams will have fast-skating or overly agile lines with finishing ability, the Wild instead have a line that will punish opponents physically and drop the gloves if needed and it’s Eriksson Ek who drives the line in all those facets.

Ryan Hartman

In the seven seasons prior to last season, Ryan Hartman never scored more than 20 goals or had more than 31 points in a single season. To say that his 34-goal, 65-point season came out of nowhere is beyond true. Even in his two years previous with the Wild there was never any kind of hint this kind of outburst was possible, never mind likely. What stands out about it is that it’s the first time he played center in a full-time basis meaning, like Buffalo’s Tage Thompson, an unexpected position change turned Hartman into a goal-scoring dynamo. What helped Hartman’s scoring explode was how he shot 14.2 percent on 239 shots, career-highs in both categories as well. Is regression likely to hit hard? Probably. In his other seasons, the highest shot percentage he posted was 11.2 percent in his first full NHL season with Chicago. Normally he’s been between 8-10 percent. That said, in no other season did he play with offense drivers like Kaprizov and Zuccarello. That Hartman is a dogged forechecker with a willingness to hit, it gives him an element to his game that his linemates Kaprizov and Zuccarello lack and plenty of reasons to watch and see if he can continue to be an offensive factor.

Matthew Boldy

The anticipation that surrounded the eventual arrival of Matthew Boldy to the NHL was at a high level in the Twin Cities and when he made it to the Wild, the wait was worth it. In 47 games, Boldy posted 15 goals and 39 points and is poised to become a serious point producer from here out. The 21-year-old was the 12th overall pick in the 2019 Draft and signed with the Wild after he finished his sophomore season at Boston College in 2021. After 24 total games in the AHL in the past two seasons, his move to the NHL happened at a rapid pace, but sometimes players just need to be where they’ll flourish best. At 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, Boldy has an NHL build. He also has the kind of vision and play-making ability to improve everyone around him. He also excels at helping creating scoring chances. Boldy posted a 57 percent expected goals rate, behind only Foligno. What will be curious to watch is where Boldy factors into the lineup. It would appear their top two lines from last season are back, and Kevin Fiala–who was traded to Los Angeles–was the other winger on Boldy’s line with Frederick Gaudreau. That will put the onus on coach Dean Evason to find ways to get Boldy more involved.

Marcus Foligno

In his first 10 NHL seasons, Marcus Foligno never broke the 20-goal mark, nor had he scored 30 points in a season. Last season he was able to check off both accomplishments with a 23-goal, 42-point campaign. He also never had a season with more than 100 penalty minutes either until he had 112 last year. Through his career with Buffalo and Minnesota, 30-year-old Foligno has always been a physical player who thrives on throwing the body and wearing down opponents in the process, but he’s never been the kind of offense driver he was last season. Foligno isn’t a prolific shooter. He’s never had more than 100 shots in a season, although he came close last year with 98. All this does is make it impossible to predict how he’ll score by examining his shooting percentage. Where Foligno does a lot of damage is in close to the net cleaning up rebounds and pouncing on pucks down low. His 23.5 percent shooting last season was highest in the NHL and was down four percent from the previous season. Even with all those physical numbers, his possession numbers were still strong with a 52.5 CF%, He also led the team with a 57.8 xG% which exemplifies how he's getting scoring chances in quality areas consistently while also not being on the ice for many against him. With his play style and willingness to stand up for teammates, he’s very much the heart and soul of the Wild.

Frederick Gaudreau

The Wild were a team that thrived on players having productive seasons out of the blue. Another such player was center Frederick Gaudreau. The 29-year-old from Quebec earned a spot on the Wild out of training camp and took full advantage of it and posted a career-year with 14 goals and

44 points. It was Gaudreau’s first season playing entirely in the NHL, and he earned his way onto the third line where he teamed up with Kevin Fiala and Matthew Boldy to give the Wild a third line with equal parts skill and speed. At 6-feet tall and 179 pounds, Gaudreau is a deft skater who uses forechecking to get the puck back when his line doesn’t have it. He also carved out a consistent role with the team by being solid on special teams. Gaudreau had three points on the power play and was one of their regular players on the penalty kill. Although special teams were not one of their strongest areas, Gaudreau’s penalty kill numbers, respectively, were good. If he can build on his solid play from last year, chances are strong he’ll be able to improve his stats as well.

Jordan Greenway

As part of one of the biggest, most physical lines in the NHL that can also fill the net, Jordan Greenway casts an imposing shadow. At 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds, he’s the definition of what a power forward is built like and is a tenacious forechecker as well as a physically punishing player. He hits a lot, and he hits hard. His 155 hits last season was third-best on the Wild behind Foligno and Duhaime who each had more than 200 apiece. Greenway averaged 14:34 in ice time last season and his numbers differ from his linemates Foligno and Eriksson Ek because he doesn’t get much, if any, time on special teams. Greenway is out there to wear teams down at even strength and to intimidate opponents to keep them from winning too many puck battles in corners and along the boards. Even though descriptions like that don’t sound flattering to his offensive abilities, he can add points too. He had 27 points last season, five off his career high, and his 10 goals were two shy of his career-high 12. With the way his line plays and the fact Foligno has made a living crashing the net in Minnesota, it stands to reason Greenway could scrum his way into more goals.

Tyson Jost

The 24-year-old forward and No. 10 pick from the 2016 NHL Draft was a late-season acquisition from the Colorado Avalanche which sent Nico Sturm to Denver. As a one-for-one deal it was a means of getting two players a new setting to turn things around. In 21 games with Minnesota, Jost’s first impressions were OK with two goals and four assists. In all 80 games with the Wild and Avalanche he totaled eight goals and 12 assists. His 20 points are in line with how he’s performed in his previous four-plus seasons. Unfortunately, his average ice time per game has dipped slowly since then. His 12:51 per game with the Wild wasn’t great but was nearly a minute-and-a-half more than Sturm played and two-plus minutes more than others who were regular players like Duhaime and Nick Bjugstad. With a fresh training camp with Minnesota there’s an opportunity for Jost to grab a spot on the third or fourth line and perhaps be the latest Wild player to break out. With Kevin Fiala gone to L.A., there’s a spot up for grabs next to Gaudreau and Boldy, presumably, and Jost’s junior and college career showed he has skill to fill the net. If he can reclaim that ability the Wild would be even more dangerous in the Western Conference.

DEFENSE

Jared Spurgeon

The Minnesota Wild captain thrived last season. Known best for his puck handling ability, and he used that to become their best all-around threat from the blue line. He had 40 points, with 10 of those goals, to be the top scorer on defense. He also led defensemen in key advanced statistical measures with a 55.4 CF% and a 56.4 xG% at 5-on-5. To be a player that unites both old-school and new-school types means doing a lot of everything right. Spurgeon’s 40-point season was his best since 2018-2019 when he had a career-high 43 points and by reaching 10 goals it marked the fifth time he hit double figures in the category. Spurgeon split time among two different partners on the blue line in Alex Goligoski and Jacob Middleton. With Goligoski he had a CF% of nearly 59 percent. But after Middleton was acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline the two were paired up quite often and his possession numbers were below 48 percent. Of course, Middleton’s main strength isn’t exactly puck carrying. It’s tough to believe those two would remain a pairing with those results, but the Wild offense scored almost twice as many goals as allowed at 5-on-5 (15-8) when they were together. Maintaining production and giving Spurgeon a partner that doubles as a bodyguard can be appealing.

Jonas Brodin

All Jonas Brodin does game in, and game out is play superb defense. That’s a big undersell for one of the most under-appreciated blue liners in the NHL. Brodin led the Wild in average ice time per game clocking in at 23:26 per game. He piles on the minutes because he’s their No. 1 defenseman at 5-on-5, their top defender on the penalty kill, and worked the second power play unit. It resulted in him having a career-high in points with 30, seven on the power play. At 29 years old, Brodin is as steady as can be but at a very high level. He paired up with Matt Dumba almost exclusively last season, but also had Dmitry Kulikov when Dumba missed time. His possession numbers were slightly higher with Kulikov than Dumba, but Brodin and Dumba were excellent in keeping scoring chances reduced. In general, Brodin was solid in advanced numbers. At 5-on-5 he had a 52.5 CF% (third-best among Wild defensemen) and his 55.5 xG% was second only to Jared Spurgeon on defense. A big reason for that is how well Brodin handles the puck in general as well as under pressure. Expect him to again be the rock upon which the Wild defense is built.

Matt Dumba

This will be a season to watch Matt Dumba closely because he can become an unrestricted free agent in July. Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin are already locked in long-term and the Wild have the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts causing them cap pain for the next few seasons. The Wild added defense prospect Brock Faber in the Fiala trade and Calen Addison is knocking on the door. The Wild love Dumba but it’s fair to ask if this will be his final season in Minnesota or if he’ll even finish the season there. As one of the Wild’s jack-of-all-trades defenders, the one thing that got in Matt Dumba’s way last season was injury. A trio of injuries, two upper-body and one lower, caused him to miss 23 games, but during the 59 he did suit up he did well. He put up seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points with five coming on the power play. Since he spent nearly 90 percent of his 5-on-5 time with Brodin, there was plenty of ice time and Dumba averaged 23:06 per game. It was the sixth straight season Dumba averaged 20 or more minutes a game. Dumba plays in all situations and shows consistently how his steady game can cool down excited situations in the defensive zone. His heavy shot from the point can provide an option on offense as well. If this is it for him in Minnesota, the Wild know they’d be losing someone important.

Jacob Middleton

The allure of a tough player in the NHL will always attract fans, GMs, and coaches alike and that’s what makes Jacob Middleton so popular. Standing 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds, Middleton is a certified big guy and his penchant for using it to wear opponents down and give a bit of protection for his defense partners makes him an attractive player. Minnesota acquired him at the trade deadline last season from San Jose in exchange for goalie Kaapo Kahkonen and put him right to work with Jared Spurgeon. While their skill sets and sizes couldn’t be more different, he was brought in almost specifically with Spurgeon in mind.At nearly 27 years old, it took Middleton a few seasons to crack through to the NHL being stuck in what was a loaded Sharks system. But there he saw plenty of time providing a physical balance on a pairing with Erik Karlsson. Middleton isn’t a point-getter. In the AHL he maxed out at 28 points in 67 games with AHL San Jose back in 2017-2018. He’s also not even a tough guy in the classic sense because he’s never eclipsed 100 PIM in a season going back to his junior hockey days. But his strength comes in being smart about throwing hits (he had 118 between the Sharks and Wild last season) and not backing down from a fight (11 career fighting majors through 80 NHL games). Expect to hear more about Middleton as the season goes on.

GOALTENDING

Marc-Andre Fleury

It’s hard to say just what Minnesota is going to get this year – and it might be even harder, if possible, to root against them. They’ll enter the 2022-23 season with veteran Marc-Andre Fleury – who, with Mike Smith out in Edmonton, will be the second-oldest goaltender in the league – as their clear starter, fresh off a bizarre whirlwind year that saw him dealt to the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks and forced to make his case on the ice in order to earn a move to the playoff-bound Wild mid-season.

Fleury will be 38-years old by the time the season is over, and the story remains the same as it has been for the last four years. As one of the NHL’s most high-octane and reflex-driven goaltenders, his game will only thrive if he’s able to continue playing at the level he’s been at for the last eighteen years. He’s only as good as his most dynamic saves, and he can only post those when he’s able to perform at an elite level for a full sixty minutes. With every passing season, the wear and tear he’s sustained – his 939 career regular season NHL games are seventh among goaltenders all-time – make it riskier to bet on him continuing to achieve that goal from a technical standpoint. But despite that, he’s managed to defy the odds each and every passing season; he likely can’t pull off a 70-game season without hitting a lull, but he managed to even post quality numbers behind the free-falling Blackhawks until they dealt him to the Wild within the Division. He continues to have some magical level of youth that keeps him pushing smoothly through his crease and out into the slot, although he’s managed to rein in some of his tendencies to over-slide and get set out near the hashmarks. And ultimately, eighteen years in the NHL – behind lottery-worthy teams and Stanley Cup contenders alike – have gifted Fleury with incredible instincts. He knows his limitations at this point enough to know when to pull out all the stops and when to make the simpler save, and that seems to have left him capable of preserving his energy enough to keep his teams in games even when everyone expects him to finally bow out. The real question, it seems, isn’t if he’s still got life left – it’s simply if he has enough life left to get the Wild through a deep playoff run this year.

Projected starts: 60-65

MCKEEN’S 2019-20 YEARBOOK: Breakouts and Hidden Gems

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 11:21:34 +0000

McKeen’s Breakout and Hidden Gems are developed following our exhaustive prediction research for the coming season. They highlight some picks that we think will exceed expectations and help you win your pool. We look at points and point per game differentials, league and team trends, and then trim the list to players that will not be obvious to your opponents.

Player	AGE	P	GP	G	A	PTS
Anthony Cirelli, TB	22	C	82	21	34	55
Emerged a possession driver on Tampa's third line - & saw some top-line duties in the playoffs
Shea Theodore, VGK	24	D	81	14	35	49
Blossomed playing his off-wing side (right) alongside Brayden McNabb - and can reach higher ground
Rudolfs Balcers, Ott	22	LW	66	15	17	32
Acquired in the Erik Karlsson deal, swift-skating Latvian winger impressed in NHL trial last season
Casey Mittelstadt, Buf	20	C	74	16	23	39
Sabres hope new coach Krueger can stimulate a breakthrough after overwhelming pro debut
Tanner Pearson, Van	27	RW	82	25	20	45
Clicked playing right wing with Bo Horvat after being acquired at the trade deadline
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR	24	RW	80	28	33	61
Big breakout numbers projected spurred by arrival of fellow Russian countryman Artemi Panarin
Filip Hronek, Det	21	D	76	7	32	39
Czech defender handled significant workload in NHL debut (19:58 ATOI) - contributing 23 points in just 46 games
Nikita Gusev, NJ	27	LW	76	11	37	48
KHL scoring champ arrives to New Jersey and the NHL via Vegas and Tampa
Nazem Kadri, Col	28	C	82	30	35	65
Could eclipse career numbers playing behind MacKinnon's after arriving in summer deal for Tyson Barrie
Jack Roslovic, Wpg	22	C	82	14	26	40
Playmaking pivot enters fourth pro season ready to take on a larger role with Jets
Henrik Borgstrom, Fla	22	C	78	14	23	37
Expect progress from talented sophomore pivot en route to doubling his rookie totals
Charlie Coyle, Bos	27	RW	82	22	28	50
B's valuable trade-deadline acquisition could see move over/up to second-line wing spot
Kyle Palmieri, NJ	28	RW	78	38	28	66
Will soar to career high in goals as major beneficiary of surrounding playmaking talent
Anthony Mantha, Det	24	RW	77	32	35	67
Soared down the stretch on top line with Larkin & Bertuzzi - a precursor to fourth year breakout
Andreas Johnsson, Tor	24	LW	77	26	29	55
Opportunity knocks for Swedish winger to flourish on top line with Matthews and Nylander
Troy Terry, Ana	22	RW	66	9	20	29
Key part of Ducks' youth wave rebounding from broken leg sustained at end of solid pro debut
Filip Chytil, NYR	20	C	79	15	26	41
Expect leap in sophomore totals with opportunity as second-line center between Kreider and Buchnevich
Nick Schmaltz, Ari	23	C	82	22	33	55
Meshed well with Clayton Keller prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Mtl	19	C	81	20	31	51
Displayed remarkable poise and maturity as NHL's youngest player last season
Tyson Jost, Col	21	LW	81	16	28	44
Moves to wing alongside incoming Nazem Kadri and likely breakout totals in third pro term
Ondrej Kase, Ana	23	RW	81	26	24	50
Larger role ahead for creative Czech winger after injury cut short 2018-19 season
Joakim Nygard, Edm	26	LW	68	14	19	33
Oilers add speedy 26-year0old winger who has steadily improved through six SEL seasons
Roope Hintz, Dal	22	C	78	20	24	44
Earned spot alongside newcomer Joe Pavelski after crashing postseason with team-high five goals (tied)
Goaltender	AGE	P	GP	W	G	W
MacKenzie Blackwood, G, NJ	22	G	56	27	23	10
Seized opportunity with Schneider injury to make solid NHL debut - and could thrive on improved Devils
Elvis Merzlikins, G, CBJ	25	G	40	19	NA	NA
Charismatic Latvian and Lugano star jumps to the NHL - in wake of Bobrovsky mutiny

Mac Attack – Colorado Avalanche 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:18:37 +0000

REVIEW/STATE OF PLAY - Colorado secured a playoff berth on the last night of the season after missing the playoffs for the past three years. A remarkable turnaround after an historically bad season only winning 22 games and 48 points to almost doubling to 95 points. They owned one of the best home records in the league going 28-11-2 which included a ten-game home winning streak and a 18-4-1 record in their final 23 games.

In 2016-17 Bednar was thrust into role on the eve of training camp, and it was a trying season beset by major injuries and low morale. Sakic remained loyal and patient with his young coach and charges and was rewarded. Bednar finished third in voting for the Jack Adams award for coach of the year.

CULTURE SHIFTING TRADE - A big change in culture was executed when GM Sakic traded Matt Duchene for a remarkable hall of prospects and picks, including a first-round pick from the dreadful Ottawa Senators. They also received blue chip prospects Samuel Girard and Vladislav Kamenev who made their debuts as rookies last season. The biggest gain was the lifting of a cloud over the dressing room.

The biggest change on the ice was in its special teams. In 2016-17 they were last in the league (30^th) on the power play (12.6%) and second worst (29^th) on the penalty kill (76.6%). They improved significantly finishing fourth in the league on the penalty kill (83.3%) and eighth on the power play (21.3%) and third in power play goals scored (65).

Nathan Mackinnon seized the leadership in the room with an outstanding season finishing a very close second in the voting for the Hart trophy as league MVP. He finished fifth in league scoring and would have threatened for a scoring title if he had not missed eight games, finishing right behind Connor McDavid in points per game (1.32 vs. 1.31). He formed a powerhouse top line that ranked among the most dangerous in the league by years end along with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. They are 22, 25 and 21 years old respectively and anchor one of the youngest rosters in the NHL.

YOUNGEST ROSTER DRESSED 11 ROOKIES - Colorado dressed 11 different rookies in 2018-18, tying for the league lead. The most effective was 24-year-old Alexander Kerfoot signed as a free agent out of Harvard. He started off with a bang scoring 30 points in his first 40 games (40-11-19-30) but the offense dried up in the second half (39-8-5-13). He was paired with fellow rookie 21-year-old Tyson Jost towards the end of the season. Drafted 10^th overall, he has offensive skills with elite hands that were not reflected in the 22 points posted.

J. T. Compher was another rookie forward who appeared in 69 games with quiet results (69-13-10-23) and was part of the return in the Ryan O’Reilly trade. The ability for Colorado to make it back to the playoffs will be dependent on those three prospects making a step forward and playing key roles in the middle six.

Tyson Barrie

BARRIE ON FIRE - On defense Tyson Barrie established himself as an elite offensive defenseman last season. He led the league in power play time on ice and was second in points per game (0.84) finished third with 30 power play points. He missed time with a hand injury or would have been chasing a defensive scoring crown. He has not been particularly injury prone in his career, so it should not be a concern. Often mentioned in trade rumours, may have put them behind him with his performance last season

Another rookie that made an impact in 2017-18 was puck moving defender Samuel Girard, acquired in the Duchene trade. He posted 23 points in 68 games and showed poise as a 20-year-old. Nikita Zadorov (acquired in the O’Reilly trade) had a breakout season. He was physical force delivering an NHL-leading 278 hits while also blocking 106 shots. Developing into a monster shutdown defender at 6’5”, 200 pounds his 20 points were a nice bonus. He will be motivated entering his fourth season as a pending RFA, and the Avalanche will look to make him a piece of the back end for a long time.

Semyon Varlamov’s fortunes have mirrored the teams over the last number of seasons. Injuries have been a factor in most, 17-18 being no exception, and will turn 31 this year. He had an excellent season in 2018-19 with his highest save percentage in three seasons but injuries bit again. Sakic signed Philipp Grubauer to a three-year $3.3 million AAV as back up. Only 26-years-old he could threaten Varlamov for the starting job after giving Braden Holtby something to think about in Washington with a sparkling 0.923 SV%.

OUTLOOK - The Avalanche will be hard pressed to make the playoffs this year if there is any regression amongst the young core. They went from the second-best team at face-offs (53.6%) to the NHL’s worse at 44.2%. Matt Duchene took over 1000 faceoffs in 2016-17 and had a 62.6% win rate. They were the second worst team with 45.41 CF% and expected goals for percentage was fourth worst in the league (44.54%). Warning signs are there for step back on a climb up the standings in future seasons.

Colorado – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:46:50 +0000

There are three primary reasons why some teams have weak systems. The best reason is that they had drafted so well that all of their good prospects have already made the NHL, or were traded for NHL talent. If we use our cutoff birthdate for prospect eligibility (Sep. 15, 1991), without regard for NHL experience, we can clearly see that the Avalanche fit this criteria. Regular young NHL contributors include Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Nieto, Mikko Rantanen, Sven Andrighetto, and Nail Yakupov. Most teams have a few young contributors, but the Avalanche crew is particularly deep and high end.

The other two reasons are not very complimentary, and unfortunately for the Avalanche, they meet those criteria as well. The more common of the two remaining criteria is that the team drafts poorly. Some might object to saying that the Avs have a rough history at the draft table, especially considering the names above, three of whom were Colorado first rounders. In fairness to Colorado, they have not missed on too many of their top picks. Outside of the aforementioned MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen, the top of their prospect list this year features their last two first rounders, Cale Makar and Tyson Jost, both of whom are exciting talents that would rest near the top of most team lists.

The problem for Colorado has been that once the first round has ended, they have not had very much success at all. Further, not all first rounders have turned out. To the former point, of the six players listed in the first paragraph, three were to ten picks by the Avalanche, and the other three were acquired through trade or free agency. Since the 2010 draft, the only player picked by Colorado after the first round who has a full 50 NHL games under his belt has been Joseph Blandisi. Embarrassingly for the franchise, they did not even sign Blandisi, a 2012 sixth rounder, who has made his NHL mark as a member of the New Jersey Devils. There are many non-first rounders in their top 20 now (which should be obvious), but very few of whom it could be said have improved their prospect stock measurably since being drafted.

To the latter point, I present to you one Duncan Siemens as Exhibit A, and Connor Bleackley as Exhibit B. Siemens, drafted 11th overall in 2011, has a mere four games of NHL experience. He s big, strong, and can skate a bit, but has zero offensive skill whatsoever and handles the puck as though he is allergic to it. He is lucky to make the top 20 here and would miss out altogether with most other franchises Bleackley was so disappointing to the Avs, that they did not even offer him a contract, trading his rights as part of the ill begotten Mikkel Boedker trade. He is now in the St. Louis system. If a few of the players ranked here pan out, we could begin to forget the team’s years in the scouting wilderness.

The final reason, one that is thankfully rare, is that the team fails to come to terms with a good prospect before losing his rights. There are often one or two examples of this every year. Think about Mike Reilly abandoning Columbus to sign with Minnesota, or Jimmy Vesey ignoring Nashville/Buffalo to sign with the Rangers. This year, the most prominent collegian who elected to walk away from the team that drafted him is Will Butcher, a 5th round pick from 2013 who has had a brilliant career with the University of Denver, winning both an NCAA championship and the prestigious Hobey Baker Award as a senior. A highly skilled puck moving blueliner, Butcher made it known in July that he would be exploring free agency once his player rights with Colorado expire on August 15. And for those wondering, (Kerfoot + Toninato) =/= Butcher.

With these three strikes against them, what the Avalanche are left with heading into the 2017-18 season is a system with two true top prospects at the top, a steep dropoff to the next six players, all of whom have some promise, but lack clarity on what their eventual NHL upside might be. After that group of eight, there is another, even steeper drop to round out the top twenty. The last 12 players are those for whom we project either upsides as role players in the NHL, or are those with some intriguing upside, but so much uncertainty that we would not even guarantee an NHL career at all. That list looks like this:

Cale Makar for the Brooks Bandits. Photos byEmily Duncan / Brooks Bandits

1 Cale Makar – One of, if not the, preeminent offensive defenseman prospects in the game. Exploded with Brooks of the AJHL this year and was almost always the top player on the ice at every level he played (regular season, playoffs, RBC Cup, WJAC). Skating, shot and puck skills all rate as high end. His time with the UMass Minutemen should be brief. He has superstar potential.

Colorado Avalanche center Tyson Jost (27) (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire)

2 Tyson Jost – A top two center in the making, he acclimated seamlessly from the BCHL to NCAA’s defending champs with North Dakota. His hands are elite and his offensive instincts are tremendous. Came up to Colorado for a late season cameo, scoring his first NHL goal in six games. Was a key contributor on Canada’s Silver-medal winning WJC entry and was named to the NCAA All-Rookie first team.

Conor Timmins of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

3 Conor Timmins – Although Timmins lack the upside of Makar or Jost, the first pick of the 2017 second round has a little bit of everything. Only a few days too young to be a 2016 draft eligible player, he showed the ability to be a #1 at the OHL level, with enough in his puck moving and decision making that a second pairing role at the highest level is a reasonable outcome.

4 J.T. Compher – In his first year out of the University of Michigan, Compher’s ability to produce at a strong level stayed with him as a rookie pro. With a nice blend of skating, vision and physicality, he projects as a solid middle six forward with admirable versatility.

5 Chris Bigras – After falling four games short of graduating as a prospect in 2015-16, injuries prevented Bigras from continuing his NHL career last year. When healthy, he still looks like he has NHL potential, although the chances that he can settle in as more than a good #5 are dwindling. With the Colorado blueline weak, this may be his last big chance to solidify his standing with the organization.

6 Nicolas Meloche – A mean player with some offensive potential, but skating concerns, Meloche needs to improve his turning ability to reach his potential as a player who can take on tough shifts on the blueline.

7 A.J. Greer – Similar to Meloche, but as a forward. Effective when he hustles, his lack of creativity, or patience with the puck will limit his offensive potential, but he is smart and physical enough to carve out a bottom six role.

8 Cameron Morrison – Still early in his development, Morrison had a solid, if not overpowering, freshman season with Notre Dame last year. Struggled at times with the step up to NCAA competition, but still able to show offensive flashes.

9 Alexander Kerfoot – A late acquisition as an NCAA free agent, Kerfoot was originally a fifth round pick of New Jersey’s who, like former college teammate Jimmy Vesey, chose free agency. He has very good straight-ahead speed in addition to impressive agility. Although he found twine more often as a senior, he is primarily a playmaker, with soft hands and good offensive vision.

10 Jean-Christophe Beaudin – Ready to turn pro after three strong years with Rouyn-Noranda. Beaudin’s speed will be a limiting factor, but he has an otherwise well-rounded offensive game and plays with energy and guile. Needs at least two years in the AHL.

Nick Henry, photo by Keith Hershmiller

11 Nick Henry – A strong secondary scorer in his draft year with a powerhouse Regina team in the WHL, the overall skillset leaves a number of questions about how much of his impressive point production was his own doing and how much the work of more experienced teammates. At the price of a fourth round pick, it was worth Colorado’s time to find out.

12 Dominic Toninato – Signed by Colorado as a free agent after he could not come to terms with Toronto, Toninato brings a physical, intelligent, and responsible game to the Avalanche. Not the fastest skater, he nonetheless has close-area quickness and is very hard to handle along the boards. He is not far from a bottom six NHL role.

13 Anton Lindholm – Former fifth round pick made his NHL debut and will be in the hunt for a spot on the Colorado blueline this year. There is little exciting about his game, and is very undersized, but he has a tendency to put himself in the right spot to push play in the right direction. Very low upside, but near ready.

14 Andrei Mironov – A beefy defensive defenseman who will have more of an impact through his physical game than anything he does with the puck. Finally moving to North America after nearly 200 games in the KHL.

15 Igor Shvyrov – to quote our Russian analyst, Shvyrov has “violinist hands”. He can skate, has good size and his production in the Russian junior leagues was incredible last year, but he tends to avoid physical play and can disappear in his own zone. Expected to play in the KHL this year.

16 Spencer Martin – Has long been a workhorse starter, but never on a decent team, even in the OHL. How much of that is his doing? Very good puck player for a netminder. If he can maintain level of play with a more even timeshare, he could profile as a future NHL backup.

17 Denis Smirnov – Similar in some ways to Shvyrov, Smirnov has played in North America since he was 14 and scores everywhere he goes. Scored 47 points in 39 points as a freshman for Penn State. The main drawback is that his best work comes from the perimeter. Needs to show he can produce, despite a slight frame, against tighter defenses.

18 Felix Girard – A high energy defensive forward. His upside is a fourth line, penalty killing center in the NHL. His downside is a middle six forward in the AHL.

19 Duncan Siemens – Among the worst draft picks of the last ten years. Tough and does OK in his own end, both he and his teammates and coaches know that it would be to everyone’s benefit if the puck stays clear of his stick.

20 Josh Anderson – Big beefy defender who has 21 total points across three seasons patrolling the blueline for Prince George. The Avalanche seem to like this type of player, but they rarely pan out.

After spending so many non-first round draft picks on similar style players – big, offensively challenged defensemen and two-way forwards with limited production potential, it is heartening to see the Avalanche use more picks on players with an offensive bent to their game in the past two years, including Morrison, Smirnov, Shvyrov, and Henry. This assessment, of course, does not consider the expected near future contributions of Makar and Jost, both of whom are expected to be key pieces of the next competing Colorado team.

That said, if the few guys in the system who project as middle six forwards (Compher, Morrison, Beaudin) do not pan out, the team will have a very hard time producing offense outside of the top line players. Similarly, outside of Timmins and Makar there is no one in the system who projects as more than blueline depth, and not in the power-play specialist role either. Goaltending may be the weakest spot of all. Last year’s backup, Calvin Pickard, was lost in the expansion draft and starter Semyon Varlamov had an injury-plagued down year. Spencer Martin is the only goalie in the system who can reasonably be expected to play some in the NHL, but is most likely a backup. They have drafted a few additional netminders in the past two drafts (Adam Werner, Maximilian Prajpach and Petr Kvaca), but all are viewed as lottery tickets at this time.

If nothing else, this system is proof that hitting on your first rounders is never going to be enough to build a competitive NHL lineup.

NHL Prospect Watch: World Junior Preview – Canada

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 22:31:15 +0000

Next Monday is Boxing Day in Canada. Monday also marks the opening faceoff of the 2016-17 WJC – also in Canada, incidentally enough, with the tournament being shared by Montreal and Toronto. With Team Canada all squared away (notwithstanding the potential for last minute injuries), now marks as good a time as any to provide you with a taste of what the Canadians can do on home ice.

With tremendous help from Craig Smith (QMJHL), Scott Crawford (OHL) and Kevin Olexson (WHL), what follows is a non-comprehensive look at many of the players who will be wearing the red and white over the next few weeks.

Goaltenders

Carter Hart (Philadelphia, 2/48, 2016), G, Everett (WHL)

Connor Ingram (Tampa Bay, 3/88, 2016), G, Kamloops (WHL)

Carter Hart at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Carter Hart is likely the most exciting of Philadelphia’s 326 goaltenders currently in their pipeline. Now in his fourth year with Everett, his GAA was dropped every year (3.49 -> 2.29 -> 2.14 -> 1.85) while his save percentage has also steadily risen over that time (.893 -> .915 -> .918 -> .928). Largely expected to be Canada’s primary netminder, he is a butterfly netminder with impressive agility and positioning. He is patient, squares up very nicely to the shooters and does a commendable job cutting down angles. He tends to play low and is hard to beat from bottom part of the net. If shooter’s go high, Hart also has a quick glove to snuff out opportunities.

The expected backup is Tampa Bay (we’ll be reading that a lot here) prospect Connor Ingram. Not drafted in his first year of eligibility, even though he was already a starter, Ingram raised his save percentage from .904 to .922 and drew many scouts to Kamloops. Although Ingram’s numbers are not the equal of Hart’s his Kamloops team does not play as structured a defensive game as Everett does in front of Hart, leaving Ingram exposed for more shots. He is a very athletic netminder with excellent movements and great tenacity. As with Hart, Ingram is known for high end puck tracking, and plus agility allowing him to cover the lower part of the net. Whichever netminder Canada turns to on a given night, they should have a great chance of winning.

Defensemen

Jake Bean (Carolina, 1/13, 2016), D, Calgary (WHL)

Thomas Chabot (Ottawa, 1/18, 2015), D, Saint John (QMJHL)

Kale Clague (Los Angeles, 2/51, 2016), D, Brandon (WHL)

Dante Fabbro (Nashville, 1/17, 2016), D, Boston University (HE)

Noah Juulsen (Montreal, 1/26, 2015), D, Everett (WHL)

Jeremy Lauzon (Boston, 2/52, 2015), D, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

Philippe Myers (Philadelphia, UDFA/2015), D, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

The only returning WJC defender on Team Canada is Ottawa Senators’ first rounder Thomas Chabot, one of the better skaters you can find outside of an NHL arena. Nearly a point-per-game player last year with the Sea Dogs, Chabot has upped his game after a brief stay with Ottawa at the start of the year. He may only have gotten into one game with the Senators, but he returned to the Q a man possessed. Not only is he producing points at a ridiculous pace (20 points through 14 games), but he has also taken strides with his defensive game, and showing off a sneaky hip check that he utilizes to help break up zone entries. Physicality was his least effective trait last year. Chabot will wear an ‘A’ on his sweater for team Canada and is expected to be their top blueliner in this tournament.

Noah Juulsen, a teammate of netminder Hart with Everett, is also expected to take on a critical role in the red and white blueline. Another solid two-way defender, his offensive game seems to be rebounding nicely from what was a down year last year. He is a smooth skater, who moves the puck with confidence and poise. His point shot is hard and accurate, but his defensive play has been more impressive and he could take on a shut down role in the WJC.

The youngest blueliner on a stacked Boston University roster, and one of six with NHL draft pedigree, Dante Fabbro has been having a solid, if unspectacular freshman season with the Terriers. He plays a sound game and has outstanding potential as a puck mover. I expect Fabbro to be given a more sheltered role in the WJC as Canada is going with a relatively young blueline. He could take a regular third pairing role and perhaps help out on the penalty kill.

Jake Bean may be a bit of a wild card on the Canadian blueline, as he has missed much of the first half of the WHL season to injury. Although a leader with the Calgary Hitmen, I expect him to take more of a secondary role here, and be put in positions where his puck moving skills and great point shot and offensive instincts can stick out.

Kale Clague should also take part in the 5-6-7 rotation, as yet another 18 year old. Although his Brandon Wheat Kings are having a down year, Clague has stepped up his role on the team, trying to fill in the enormous shoes left over by Ivan Provorov. He plays a strong transition game and has plus passing skills. His strong play reading may allow him to take shifts against opponents top lines as well.

Philippe Myers is the only player on Team Canada who has never been drafted, but he does not need to be. After being passed over in his first year of eligibility, as 8 points in 60 games did not make up for his 6-5” frame and plus skating, especially considering his size. Nonetheless, he earned an invitation to Flyers’ rookie camp and impressed enough to earn an entry level contract. His point total jumped from eight to 45 in only three more games, which he followed up with a lead role in Rouyn-Noranda’s run to the Memorial Cup. So far this year, he is close to one point per game. Myers is a puck moving protection with phenomenal reach. His transition game is fantastic as he skated like a player six inches shorter. He may be the best prospect in the game acquired as an undrafted free agent. Expect Myers to take on a top four role.

Forwards

HELSINKI, FINLAND - DECEMBER 26: Canada's Dylan Strome #9 celebrates after scoring Team Canada's second goal of the game during preliminary round action at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Mathew Barzal (NY Islanders, 1/16, 2015), C, Seattle (WHL)

Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay, 3/72, 2015), C, Oshawa (OHL)

Dillon Dube (Calgary, 2/56, 2016), C, Kelowna (WHL)

Pierre-Luc Dubois (Columbus, 1/3, 2016), C/LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)

Julien Gauthier (Carolina, 1/21, 2016), RW, Val d’Or (QMJHL)

Mathieu Joseph (Tampa Bay, 4/120, 2015), RW, Saint John (QMJHL)

Tyson Jost (Colorado, 1/10, 2016), C, North Dakota (NCHC)

Michael McLeod (New Jersey, 1/12, 2016), C, Mississauga (OHL)

Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay, 2/58, 2016), RW, Erie (OHL)

Nicolas Roy (Carolina, 4/96, 2015), C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Blake Speers (New Jersey, 3/67, 2016), RW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Mitchell Stephens (Tampa Bay, 2/33, 2015), C, Saginaw (OHL)

Dylan Strome (Arizona, 1/3, 2015), C, Erie (OHL)

In Strome and Dubois, Team Canada has the two highest drafted players in the tournament, both of whom were selected third overall in their respective draft years. While Dubois was not expected to stick in the NHL this year – although he probably should have received more of a chance, many, myself included were shocked at how Strome was used by Arizona. He played in seven games for the Coyotes, but spent just as much time in the press box and was only sent back to Erie of the OHL in late November. Strome picked up right where he left off last year, with 16 points in his first seven OHL games, fitting for a player who led the CHL in points in his draft year. Dubois, on the other hand, has disappointed since being returned to junior hockey, scoring roughly 50% less this year than last season. He has recently been rumored to be on the trading block, with Blainville-Boisbriand looking to secure his services. Strome may never be more than average as a skater, but his hockey IQ, shot and puck skills are all at or near elite levels for a junior aged player. He scored four goals in last year’s WJC tournament and Canada is counting on more of the same this time. Dubois, in spite of his relatively low point totals this year with Cape Breton, is still showing the excellent vision that convinced the Blue Jackets to use the third overall pick on him last June. Unfortunately, his skills have not stuck out as much this year. Focusing only on his primary points (goals and first assists), his production has reverted of his age 16 season. He has the skills and overall game to be a big time contributor for Canada, and a good tournament may revitalize his season.

If Strome is not the offensive catalyst for this team, Seattle’s Mathew Barzal will be. One of the returnees from last year’s WJC entry, he has something to prove after being cut from the Islanders, used even less than Strome was in Arizona. A great skater who plays a high tempo game, Barzal has exceptional vision and puck skills and is perhaps the purest playmaker on the squad. While he has only scored two goals in 13 games since being returned to the WHL, his 17 assists speak volumes about how he can contribute. I expect a much bigger output from Barzal this year than the three points he added to last year’s team.

One of five Tampa Bay Lightning prospects to make the final roster, Mathieu Joseph was an intriguing flyer in his draft year. Since then, he has emerged as one of the deadliest and most consistent snipers in the QMJHL, where he is a teammate of Chabot’s in Saint John. He scored 33 goals last year in 58 games and already lit the lamps 25 times in 29 games this year for the Sea Dogs. Joseph s a big, strong winger with plus acceleration who loves to drive the net. He has improved his ability to create offense for himself such as by finding new ways to create space in the high danger areas of the ice. He has a fast release and does not give goalies much time to adjust to his shots.

Sticking with goal scoring teenagers in the Lightning pipeline, Taylor Raddysh, an Erie teammate of Strome’s as well, is the current OHL points leader. Known going into the draft as a sluggish skater, he is now faster, particularly in his first two strides. He plays an aggressive, shoot first game and generates a ton of rebounds. Raddysh provides Canada with much needed versatility as well, with his plus hockey IQ letting him play all over the ice.

Tampa has two other forwards on the team who are expected to provide more jam and hustle than flash in Mitchell Stephens and Anthony Cirelli. Stephens, the captain of the Saginaw Spirit, is a do-it-all player for his junior club and was a member of last year’s ill-fated Canada WJC squad. Although his size is roughly average, his physical game has improved and he can be a terror on the forecheck. His slap shot is also looking harder to handle than in the past. Although seemingly better suited to a bottom six role, Stephens could also make his presence felt as an agitator creating space in a higher line. Cirelli, who went undrafted as a bantam, walked on to the Oshawa Generals team and finished his rookie season by scoring both of his team’s goals in the Memorial Cup Final, including the overtime winner. One of the hardest working forwards in the OHL, he is both faster and stronger this year, especially as it pertains to his upper body. More of an East-West player than most of his ilk, he adds a heart-and-soul dimension to the team, with the type of leadership expected of a player in his second season captaining his junior squad.

Another player on the team who has missed a large chunk of the first half to injury is Dillon Dube, a Calgary draft pick with Kelowna of the WHL. A versatile and dynamic player, he can play at any forward spot and in any manpower situation. He engages physically, but can also beat you with speed, solid puck skills and a good shot. If he is able to add offense from the bottom six, things will be looking rosy for Canada.

Tyson Jost was a teammate of Dante Fabbro’s last season with Penticton of the BCHL and will be reacquainted with his childhood friend over the next few weeks. The University of North Dakota freshman has made quick work of the NCAA, scoring over one point per game as a freshman with the defending NCAA champs. His experience in the NCAA, playing with and against much older players should help him in this tournament. His combination of skating, puck skills and hockey sense fit the description of a front line player at any level. He should be penciled into the top six here.

Drafted two picks after Jost last June, Michael McLeod has perhaps been this season’s most disappointing prospect in the OHL. Drafted as a speed demon with a nose for the net, he returned to the OHL from a long run at cam with New Jersey with perhaps too much confidence and not enough attention to detail. He has made more egregious and more frequent mistakes, at both ends of the ice. Focusing only on his skills set, he could find a good role with this team, and is an accomplished penalty killer. But he will need to be better for Team Canada than he has been this year with the Steelheads to earn a steady shift.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Colorado Avalanche

McKeen's Hockey — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 13:12:57 +0000

June 24, 2016: Tyson Jost poses Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy after he was selected by the Colorado Avalanche as the 10th pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

Colorado passed over two centers ranked higher by McKeen’s to take the 5-11 Tyson Jost…a solid prospect with two-way abilities and leadership qualities...but one whose size/skating combination may hinder his high-end offensive potential at the NHL level. Cameron Morrison had a breakthrough season in the USHL, notching 34 goals and earning a top 60 ranking…concerns with his skating however made him a slight reach in the top 40.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	10	15	Tyson Jost	C	CAN	5-11/190	Penticton (BCHL)
2	40	50	Cameron Morrison	LW	CAN	6-2/205	Youngstown (USHL)
3	71	96	Josh Anderson	D	CAN	6-2/220	Prince George (WHL)
5	131	NR	Adam Werner	G	SWE	6-5/185	Farjestads (Swe)
6	161	NR	Nathan Clurman	D	USA	6-1/190	Culver Academy (USHS-IN)
7	191	141	Travis Barron	LW	CAN	6-1/200	Ottawa (OHL)

Cameron Morrison

Josh Anderson of the Prince George Cougars was selected by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Josh Anderson’s season ended after 39 games after cracking his vertebrae….before that setback he impressed scouts with his rugged defensive play…one of the more physical prospects in the draft. Adam Werner’s size and athleticism was hard to pass over in yet another draft…albeit higher than anticipated…Travis Barron went from a top 50 candidate going into the season, and was a late cut on Canada’s Ivan Hlinka team, to a prospect almost passed over entirely in the draft. Colorado will hope he can bounce back from a subpar season.

Grade – C-: Jost and Morrison...while both good prospects who may be NHLers...were in our opinion selected too high. Anderson may have NHL potential…the others are decided longshots.

2016 NHL Draft Guide: Best Defensive Forward

Grant McCagg — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 18:12:57 +0000

Jesse Puljujarvi

BEST DEFENSIVE FORWARD

A good barometer of McLeod's defensive effectiveness was how his team played while he was absent. Mississauga had a 3.15 GAA with McLeod in the lineup. When he was out with a knee injury the GAA was 5.25. Missy's PK% with McLeod was 80.5%, without him it was 62.8%.

"His speed, size and work ethic make him a tremendous defensive forward," said one scout. "He'll be a top penalty killer and faceoff man in the NHL."

MICHAEL MCLEOD
JESSE PULJUJARVI
TYSON JOST
SAM STEEL
MAX JONES

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Mar-2016)

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:56:34 +0000

History is about to repeat itself at this summer's NHL Draft.

Every six years, as it goes, there has been a heated neck-and-neck race between the top two prospects to grab the coveted first-overall spot.

At the 2010 NHL Draft, it was the Taylor-Tyler derby (Hall-Seguin) which went right down to the wire.

Roll back six years prior to the Russian invasion of 2004 with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin - the '1A / 1B' year.

The race of 1998 pitted QMJHL star Vincent Lecavalier against young American hotshot David Legwand whom, as an aside, I recall delivering a scorching performance down at the old St. Mike's Arena in `97 en route to a 54-goal, 105-point rookie season for the Plymouth Whalers. Lecavalier was the consensus choice that year, however Legwand's performance at least made it a race.

The phenomenon continues this year with two teenage sensations in Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine waging a fierce battle to reach the finish line ahead. The contest has been nothing short of breathtaking to watch this season as the pair have jockeyed back and forth at the top of the McKeen's ranking board.

It could ultimately come down to a toss-up decision by the time June rolls around, with the best 'litmus test' being the World Senior Championships in May.

Auston Matthews has dazzled with Zurich of the Swiss NLA; his combination of elite hands and skating ability fully on display in what has turned out to be the 'ideal' platform for him. He can wheel and deal and pick apart a league which is light on physical play, full of open space, and all too accommodating.

It's not a knock against Matthews but instead a situation that may perhaps lead to developing some 'bad habits'. His defensive play and intensity away from the puck has been noticeable in between the sparkling moments. Like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel this season, he will have to make certain adjustments upon arriving in the NHL next fall.

Matthews is a 'clear-cut' No. 1 pick is many circles, however the staff here at McKeen's feel that the rocket-like development of Patrik Laine this season has muddied the waters.

Laine made a number of new NHL believers playing recently in his international debut with the senior Finnish national team. "He was exceptional with the national team last week. Plays very well with good players," said one top NHL scout.

Upon watching Laine's masterful showing at the U20 World Juniors, another head scout suggested that Laine "reminded him of a young Mario."

Those fortunate enough to have experienced the NHL career of Magnificant Mario Lemieux will no doubt see certain similarities in the style of Laine. His ability to dangle the puck anywhere within his body range, front, back, and side - combined with an innate sense for where the puck can be protected - is a bit eerily reminiscent of Lemieux.

The following video - his first hat trick in the SM-liiga - is a small peek into Laine's incredible talents (#29/White):

Another video featuring Laine's stickhandling wizardry :

This year's race is much closer than it might seem - and we likely won't know the outcome until the Edmonton Oilers (cough!!) reach the podium in June and announce the No. 1 selection - again.

Let's hope not.

THE REST OF THE FIRST ROUND

Among the other participants in the field, Matthew Tkachuk (London), Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton) Clayton Keller (USA), and Luke Kunin (Wisconsin) were among the big movers on the list.

The composition of the top 26 players remained intact this month as there is a group of players clustered quite tightly in the 25-to-45 range, which projects for another intriguing second round this summer.

Three players debut in the top 30 this month, that being Everett goalie Carter Hart (No. 27), strong-skating Saint John blueliner Luke Green (29), and Kelowna rearguard Lucas Johansen holding down the final place - for now. Johansen, the younger brother of Nashville Predators' forward Ryan Johansen, is gradually winning over NHL scouts with his steady growth this season.

SO WHY ISN'T LOGAN STANLEY IN THE TOP 30?

From veteran OHL watchers to NHL scouts, not many are buying into the Logan Stanley hype that the towering Windsor defenceman is a sure-fire first-rounder. Undeniably, Stanley has made impressive strides this season, yet the scouts are wary of his skating and specifically his pivots, agility, and backwards mobility. (Check out OHL expert David Burstyn's scouting take on Stanley published earlier this week).

The evolution of NHL blueliners is not trending in his favour. As one NHL scout put it, "we need to be careful, there will never be a 'next Chara' - the game is changing."

McKeen's Chief of Draft Scouting Grant McCagg adds, "how are the mammoth first round d-men picked in the past few drafts doing? Oleksiak, Tinordi, McIlrath, Morin, Cowen... the evidence is piling."

Let's not forget there is still plenty of hockey to be played before the final lists are compiled in May. Plenty of opportunity for Stanley and other first-round hopefuls to entice NHL teams with a strong stretch run and playoff performance.

Final impressions count.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	36-24-22-46
2	Patrik Laine	LW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	43-17-16-33
3	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-4/205	7-May-98	49-12-15-27
4	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	50-19-37-56
5	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	48-7-27-34
6	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	48-23-70-93
7	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	57-10-35-45
8	Alexander Nylander	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	52-28-46-72
9	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	24-Jun-98	57-37-50-87
10	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	61-22-37-59
11	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	59-14-33-47
12	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	32-3-16-19
13	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	46-40-13-53
14	Clayton Keller	C	NTDP (USA)	5-9/170	29-Jul-98	46-28-54-82
15	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	48-42-62-104
16	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	54-22-20-42
17	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	51-16-46-62
18	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	47-39-25-64
19	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	29-15-11-26
20	Riley Tufte	LW	Blaine (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	10-Apr-98	25-47-31-78
21	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	60-3-22-25
22	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	45-14-53-67
23	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (Rus)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	28-12-14-26
24	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	34-13-18-31
25	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	43-4-8-12
26	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-98	64-22-42-64
27	Carter Hart	G	Everett (WHL)	6-0/180	13-Aug-98	34W, 2.12, .919
28	Carl Grundstrom	RW	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/195	1-Dec-97	46-7-9-16
29	Luke Green	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/190	12-Jan-98	53-9-23-32
30	Lucas Johansen	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/175	16-Nov-97	60-9-32-41

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Jan-2016)

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 23:56:18 +0000

McKeen's top ranked prospect isn't the "consensus" number one for the 2016 NHL draft, a distinction that has been bestowed upon Auston Matthews for the past year or more, yet Finland's Patrik Laine has served notice to the scouting world that the decision on who goes first overall will not be an easy one, and that he is in the discussion.

"He's the first prospect that reminds me of Mario (Lemieux) since Mario," noted one senior NHL scout who was blown away by Laine's performance at the WJC over the holidays, where the 6-4 left winger compiled seven goals and six assists in seven games while leading Finland to a Gold Medal victory at home.

"It's ballsy to have him rated number one, but can't say I disagree... he could be a home run."

Laine is six months younger, three inches taller, and has outscored Matthews 29 goals to 19 in international play over the past three years. Up until now, Matthews had been considered the better prospect, but that wasn't the case at the WJC, where Laine quite simply was the dominant offensive force from tournament start to finish along with linemate and fellow draft prospect Jesse Puljujarvi (ranked third overall).

His size, strength, puck skills, shot and smarts were evident in every game, and as the world juniors went on Laine became more willing to throw his body around as well.

"He competed hard in the big games," noted one scout. "His point totals slowed down, but his willingness to compete defensively grew as they got closer to winning."

Matthews, much like fellow American Jack Eichel last season, would be a sterling consolation prize if he went second overall thanks to his first-line center potential.

"He's a can't-miss prospect...he does everything well," said one scout. "Size, puck skills, vision, skating..if he doesn't go number one, he'll be the next guy chosen. He'll play in the NHL next season."

Puljujarvi didn't hurt his draft status at the WJC either after leading the WJC in scoring and being named the tournament MVP. The two Finnish forwards moved ahead of Michael McLeod in the rankings in large part because of their eye opening offensive performance at the WJC.

"Puljujarvi may be the more complete of the two Finns at this time," said one scout. "He's certainly not afraid to go in the corners and muck it up."

The player whose stock rose the most at the tournament was Finnish defenceman Olli Juolevi due mainly to his steady, all-around game, natural skating ability and tremendous hockey smarts. He chipped in nine assists and made the all tournament team for the Gold Medal champions while playing in all situations.

"He was wonderful in that tournament...he may have been the best defenceman" said one scout. "His hockey sense and poise are tremendous."

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Patrik Laine	RW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	26-8-9-17
2	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	25-18-12-30
3	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-4/205	7-May-98	34-6-8-14
4	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	40-17-29-46
5	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	30-4-20-24
6	Alexander Nylander	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	35-23-28-51
7	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	37-6-19-25
8	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	32-15-47-62
9	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	42-11-18-29
10	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	20-1-11-12
11	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	34-26-41-67
12	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	43-15-25-40
13	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	24-Jun-98	41-26-35-61
14	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	34-6-30-36
15	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	31-30-8-38
16	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (Rus)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	20-9-11-20
17	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	34-26-18-44
18	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	36-19-17-36
19	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	44-3-15-18
20	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	22-9-9-18
21	Clayton Keller	C	NTDP (USA)	5-9/170	29-Jul-98	33-21-43-64
22	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	30-10-36-46
23	Riley Tufte	LW	Blaine (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	10-Apr-98	12-22-15-37
24	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-98	45-15-27-42
25	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	29-4-2-6
26	William Bitten	C	Flint (OHL)	5-10/170	10-Jul-98	41-20-23-43
27	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	19-8-9-17
28	Tyler Benson	LW	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/200	15-Mar-98	28-8-18-26
29	Markus Niemelainen	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-5/190	8-Jun-98	41-1-21-22
30	Carl Grundstrom	RW	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/195	1-Dec-97	30-3-5-8