Victor Mete – McKeen's Hockey

OH, CANADA! – NHL Trade Deadline Edition

Jeff Veillette — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 14:57:40 +0000

Welcome back to “Oh, Canada” – a weekly journey across Canada’s temporary North Division, exploring stories that may have happened throughout the week. With the NHL’s Trade Deadline occurring on Monday Afternoon, this week’s issue will be a quick glance at each team’s transactions in the days and hours before the cutoff.

COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 10: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Nick Foligno (71) looks on during the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on February 10, 2020. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire)

Calgary Flames

April 11^th: Traded G David Rittich to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 3^rd Round Draft Pick in 2022
April 12^th: Traded F Sam Bennett and a 6^th Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Emil Heineman and a 2^nd Round Draft Pick in 2022

With the disappointing season that the Flames have had, it wasn’t a big shock to see them look more towards selling than buying. Nothing short of a miracle will get them into the playoffs at this point, so it stands to reason that the team would look towards refilling the cupboard a bit.

Which pieces would go, though, was the bigger question. Rittich’s departure makes sense given his upcoming free agent status and the long-term commitment the team has with Jacob Markstrom, but Bennett was a bit surprising. After all, we were only days removed from him telling the world that he was no longer interested in being traded! But, when a haul like the Flames received – a second-round pick and Heineman, a recent second-round pick himself – becomes available, the equation changes and you’re suddenly okay with moving a bottom six forward.

I think there is still a little more the Flames could’ve possibly done here. Derek Ryan, for example, feels like the sort of player they would have likely gotten phone calls on but chose not to move. But with so much of their core locked up to term and a lot of uncertainty around the league at the moment, it makes sense that they didn’t want to go into a snap fire sale at the highest level. What they did get done should be considered a particularly good effort.

Edmonton Oilers

April 12^th: Traded a Conditional 4^th Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the New Jersey Devils for D Dmitry Kulikov

The Oilers didn’t do a heck of a lot to add, and with the team in the position that they are, that decision seems like a confusing one. Ken Holland talked about a look towards next year as a spending year, telling reporters “I don’t know that you can be all-in every year. I think you pick and choose.”

To Holland’s credit, the Oilers could find themselves in a very flexible position next year, with a bevy of contracts coming off the books to supply them with $27 million in cap space. On the other hand, some of those names (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson, Tyson Barrie, Kailer Yamamoto, Mike Smith) will take up a decent chunk of money to either re-sign or replace, and there’s no guarantee – especially in Smith’s case – that they put up the same results next year.

Not to mention a few other factors at play here like, I don’t know, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl producing at career-high rates, and while Toronto seems to be a formidable potential opponent, they’ll still have Vegas to deal with when the divisions go back to normal next year. It seems to me that while the team aren’t sure-fire favourites, they’re good enough to have a shot, and so long as you have a generational talent in his prime available, you push forward. Instead, all that happened is a minor pick for depth transaction – Kulikov is a body who can play games and minutes and that’s important to any playoff team, but he’s not going to be breaking any games.

Montreal Canadiens

April 12^th: Lost D Victor Mete on Waivers to the Ottawa Senators
April 12^th: Traded a 7^th Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the Philadelphia Flyers for D Erik Gustafsson

The Canadiens have a bit more of an excuse for a quiet deadline, given that that they had lost four of five going into the deadline and seem to mostly be playoff-secure right now due to the Flames’ failures, rather than their own success. It’s very reminiscent of last year’s team – perhaps the sign of a core that is decent, but still not ready to be in the contender conversation for a little bit.

They also already made their splash in acquiring Eric Staal on March 26^th, and with just one point to his name in the six games since (albeit an OT winner), that may have given Marc Bergevin some pause on attempting another. They did make an intriguing attempt at a buy-low, though, in acquiring Flyers’ defenceman Erik Gustafsson, who probably has the most shocking-to-stumble-upon 60-point season of any active NHLer (2018/19 with Chicago).

I don’t think Montreal is expecting to get a repeat of that out of him, and with an expiring contract, they likely don’t have time to find out. But he’s a perfectly capable defenceman who can contribute in the defensive zone, even if he appears to be a shell of his former self offensively. Given the loss of Victor Mete to waivers earlier in the day, the low-cost bet appears to be sound.

Ottawa Senators

April 11^th: Traded D Mike Reilly to the Boston Bruins for a 3^rd Round Draft Pick in 2022
April 12^th: Claimed D Victor Mete on Waivers from Montreal Canadiens
April 12^th: Traded D Erik Gudbranson to the Nashville Predators for Brandon Fortunato and a 7^th Round Draft Pick in 2023
April 12^th: Traded D Braydon Coburn to the New York Islanders for a 7^th Round Draft Pick in 2022

Victor Mete

It should come to no surprise that the Senators would be sellers in a clear rebuild year, but after the way Erik Gudbranson and Brayden Coburn were talked about as invaluable members of the team by DJ Smith in the weeks prior, there was some wonder whether he was asset-pumping or sure that they’d stick around.

It seems the answer is neither, as both have moved on and neither fetched much – 7^th round picks in later years, and a warm-body contract in Fortunato. It stands to reason for the Senators to take what they could get there, though, and as the market for big, defence first, non-play driving defencemen fades year after year, what they could get just wasn’t much.

Redemption came in their other two transactions. Getting a 22-year-old Victor Mete for free from the Canadiens via waivers, presumably with lots of ice time now available to him, was a great free wallet. Even if he doesn’t amount to his previous hype, he still at least seems to be a young, capable NHLer, so the potential on the acquisition is nearly all upside. Mike Reilly would be a tough loss to a team in a more competitive position but given that he will be out of his prime by the time the Senators are ready, getting a third round pick in a buyer’s market is a solid alternative.

Toronto Maple Leafs

April 9^th: Traded a Conditional 7^th Round Draft Pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for F Riley Nash
April 11^th: Traded a 1^st Round Draft Pick in 2021 and a 4^th Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and 4^th Round Draft Pick in 2021, for F Nick Foligno (two salary retentions) and F Stefan Noesen
April 11^th: Traded a 3^rd Round Draft Pick in 2022 to the Calgary Flames for G David Rittich
April 12^th: Traded F Alexander Barabanov to the San Jose Sharks for F Antti Suomela
April 12^th: Traded a 5^th Round Pick in 2022 to the Anaheim Ducks for D Ben Hutton

Few, if any teams were more active in trying to check all possible boxes than the Maple Leafs in their deadline week. Nash brings them a fourth line, absence-of-event defensive forward, and acquiring him first gave Toronto some LTIR flexibility as he recovers from a sprained knee. Rittich gives them a fourth goalie to play regular season games while they figure out which of Jack Campbell, Frederik Andersen, and Michael Hutchinson are healthy and/or good. Ben Hutton has played games throughout the season and will be a warmer option should a depth defenceman be required. Over in San Jose, the Leafs get to do a favour to a European signing who didn’t work out and find him another spot to try to make a name for himself, while getting back a player who can play centre if their depth severely lessens.

The big fish here is obviously Foligno, who fetched the biggest return of any rental forward this week. Toronto is hoping that he can be the piece that brings it all together – someone who bolsters their sandpaper while contributing a solid two-way game. His familial relation to the city through his father Mike helps create an early bond with the fanbase.

From a traditional perspective, I think the Maple Leafs checked a lot of boxes. They sharpened their tools up front, on defence, and in goal. There are some arguments to be had about the costs, mostly on the Foligno trade, and whether a spend that steep could’ve been better put towards a higher-talent player. But in an interesting plot twist, Kyle Dubas has stuck with conventional wisdom, and we’ll see where it takes them.

Adam Gaudette

Vancouver Canucks

April 12^th: Traded F Adam Gaudette to the Chicago Blackhawks for F Matthew Highmore
April 12^th: Traded a 4^th Round Draft Pick in 2021 to the Chicago Blackhawks for D Madison Bowey and a 5^th Round Draft Pick in 2021
April 12^th: Traded D Jordie Benn to the Winnipeg Jets for a 6^th Round Draft Pick in 2021

Traditionally, this is one of the best weeks in the year to wonder what exactly the Vancouver Canucks are thinking, as this is right about the time where this management group has frequently let sharper minds in the fanbase down. Usually, this is the time where you expect the Canucks to sell and replenish their pick capital, only for them to case a bunch of pre-prime aged reclamation projects in hopes that what Jim Benning once liked about them can be found again.

Now, looking at the above list, it’s easy to say that they’ve literally done just that once again. They extended Tanner Pearson instead of trading him, they kept Brandon Sutter, they kept Travis Hamonic, they kept Alex Edler, they didn’t move out anyone with term, and they come out of this all with only a couple low picks and two 25-year-old longshots. But I’d argue, for once, that they can take a pass on this one.

With the Canucks in a completely unenviable spot due to their COVID-19 outbreak, I understand the interest in doing right by the players and avoiding moving them whenever possible this week. Most reports seem to suggest that Gaudette preferred to move, and given his position as potential patient zero, I can see why they made it work for him. Benn was unlikely to return next year and moving him to a Canadian team to minimize disruption was likely something he was happy with. I’m kind of into the Madison Bowey play as well – his NHL career hasn’t been great to date, but he’s at the very least a solid tweener, and the average value gap between a 4^th and 5^th rounder isn’t significant.

In normal circumstances, I’d be all over dunking on this deadline. This time? We’ll give them a pass. It’s fine given how up against the wall they were.

Winnipeg Jets

April 12^th: Traded a 6^th Round Draft Pick in 2021 to the Vancouver Canucks for D Jordie Benn

So, on the note of Benn, Winnipeg was where he landed, as the Jets’ only move of significance this week. In him, they get a veteran who has seen his way around the league, making stops in Dallas, Montreal, and obviously, Vancouver on his way to his new home. He’s best known as a physical, shot blocking defenceman who can put up a limited, but existent rate of production, and has some comfort on the penalty kill. Most underlying metrics aren’t super high on him, though the popular Evolving Hockey Goals Above Replacement model has him as Vancouver’s second most positively impactful player this year.

Suffice to say, while he’s not a slam dunk acquisition, he’s the kind that a team can make for a sixth-round pick and be satisfied. That’s especially true if you’re the Winnipeg Jets, who for all of their scoring talent and their elite goaltending, simply do not have a strong defence core. As it stands, we’re talking about a team where Neal Pionk seems to clearly be their top defenceman, with no one, even the high-priced Josh Morrissey, really stepping up to declare themselves as a well above-average piece, let alone be a star.

The big question here is – could they have done more? As mentioned last week, there was talk of Mattias Ekholm, but Nashville’s price got excessive quickly. David Savard may have been an interesting add, though he ultimately landed in Tampa Bay. Not outbidding Boston on Mike Reilly is the one that really confuses me, as the cost of a third-round pick was little to nothing for a player like him. The Jets are in a great position to go for it this year, and while Benn helps, I’m just not sure it’s enough of a leap forward in that position. Then again, when you have one of the best goalies in the world at your disposal, maybe you don’t have to do much defending.

Carey The Load – Montreal Canadiens 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:13:10 +0000

REVIEW/STATE OF PLAY - It is hard to overstate how devastating the 2017-18 season was after winning their division in 2016-17, the third time in five years. Out of the playoffs in 2015-16 after losing franchise netminder Carey Price for much of the season his return to form was a harbinger of a window to win it all. GM Marc Bergevin has not been shy about making a big off-season trade, but was relatively quiet apart from moving out contentious former third overall draft pick Alex Galchenyuk for Max Domi this season. At the heart of moving out Galchenyuk was the disappointment in his inability to anchor a top two center position, an Achilles’ heel that has haunted Bergevin in all his wheeling and dealing.

TOUGH OFF-SEASON NEWS - The Canadiens entered the offseason with a huge amount of cap space that was meant to be used to solidify the center position. John Tavares was a target and the feeling was a core including Weber, Price and a true number one center would give them a shot in the next few seasons. Tavares declined to consider offers from the team, nor could they use that cap space to land another center such as Ryan O’Reilly in trade or Paul Stastny in free agency.

A further blow was dealt when it was announced that Weber will miss much of the 2018-19 season after undergoing offseason knee surgery for a meniscal tear. He is expected to be out until December at the earliest. After a successful first year in Montreal he missed much of last season with multiple injuries including surgery on his foot to repair a tendon.

Further controversy included Captain Max Pacioretty, who endured a difficult season and enters camp with no offer from the Canadians and a free agent at seasons end. H likely to be traded presumably for the elusive help down the center. A big dip in in his shooting percentage did not help his goal scoring and a knee injury ended his season in March. As a rental his return will be mitigated but there will be interest in a goal scoring left wing at 29-years old.

GM Bergevin say he is ‘not ready to say we’re rebuilding’. Their futility landed them with the third overall pick and they went for a center in Jesper Kotkaniemi from Finland over highly touted wingers and defenseman. They expect Drouin (23), Domi (23), Brendan Gallagher (26), Andrew Shaw (27) Philip Danault (25) and newly acquired Joel Armia (25) to make up their current core heading into their prime, removing Pacioretty from the equation.

They are counting on a number of youngsters to make a leap this year in Jacob De La Rose (23), Nikita Scherbak (22), Artturi Lehkonen (23) and Charles Hudon (24). Scherbak and Hudon were both rookies last season with Scherbak appearing in only 26 games. He did score 30 points in 26 games in the AHL so will be given a chance to earn a full-time spot in training camp. Lehkonen was a disappointment last season after scoring 18 the prior season. It is possible he lines up on the second line with Kotkaniemi but thrusting an 18-year-old into the harshest spotlight in the NHL is a risky gamble. An unforgiving fan base, or management desperation, could force their hand after learning nothing from the Galchenyuk experience, or even pushing Drouin into that role last season.

A CHALLENGE IN THE MIDDLE - The Canadiens brought back Tomas Plekanec for one season to shore up the middle. It now looks like it will be Drouin, Danault, Plekanec in the top three spots. Hardly a dominant line-up and replacing Galchenyuk on the wing with Domi won’t necessarily increase scoring. Bergevin has been clear he prefers to play Drouin on the wing and he was not helped with shuffling back and forth, winning only 42.5% of his faceoffs. The return for Pacioretty, which may not happen until later this season will have an impact. As the forwards stand now, they will continue to be in the bottom third of the league in offense.

The defense suffers a huge loss with Weber out and Carey Price had the most challenging year of his career in 2017-18 and is so critical to any success he will have to rebound. Jeff Petry was one of the few bright spots in a dismal season stepping up in Weber’s absence hitting career highs in points (42) and ice time (23:30). He scored 23 power play points versus seven the prior season. His production is likely tied to his role with Weber out of the line-up. The next two defenders who had the most ice time were veterans Karl Alzner and Jordie Benn. They made a significant commitment to Alzner despite mediocre skating and puck movement, going against the NHL trend towards mobile puck moving blueliners. Victor Mete was another nice surprise in a bleak year, making the team out of training camp as a 19-year-old. Encouraging season for a productive career. Sophomore defence campaigns can be challenging should not be expected to carry the load.

OUTLOOK - The stats were pretty damning finishing 29^th in goals scored, 26^th in goals against, 30^th on the penalty kill, 29^th in faceoff percentage. They also finished 31^st in shooting percentage (7.7%) and 25^th in save percentage (0.980) and might suggest bad puck luck. They will need to see an improvement in both to have any chance at the playoffs this year. The window for a team to win with Price and Weber is in the next two or three seasons, perhaps four before they have $18.357 in annual cap space tied up in two 35-year-olds.

2018 WJC in Review: Canada

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 13:59:20 +0000

Even after they lost in the showcase outdoor game against the host US, a 4-3 decision that was sealed in the shootout, there was never any real question about the ability of the Canadian team to win the 2018 WJC. That is, there was no real question after the tournament got underway.

Before the event began, we – and many others – were calling for the host nation to defend their title, with Canada finishing a respectable third. There were questions from all sorts of pundits about the choices made by the Canadian braintrust about who to bring to the tournament. That offensive talents like Cody Glass and Nick Suzuki were left with their CHL teams while more offensively limited players such as Alex Formenton and Maxime Comtois were brought to Buffalo raised more than a few eyebrows. There was even some concern about Canada being potentially thin on the blueline as they entered the WJC with health questions surrounding returning defender Dante Fabbro.

As it turned out, all of the aforementioned national anxiety was for naught. Fabbro, after being held back Early in the tournament was stellar the rest of the way. In two early games, he was limited to 3:34 and 5:18 of time on ice respectively. He played solid second pairing minutes the rest of the way. Although Kale Clague and Victor Mete both actually missed one game each due to injuries, every member of the defense corps stood up and played their role in limiting all opponents to 10 non-shootout goals combined across seven games.

Canada would start most shifts with the puck, and never surrender them. Beginning with faceoffs, where four of the top nine among all teams wore the red and white, Canada had the puck. Sam Steel, Brett Howden, Michael McLeod and Robert Thomas all won at least 60% of their draws. From there, the puck was spread out, with everyone joining in the fun. After Dillon Dube, who led the team with 30 shots on goal, no one else had more than Drake Batherson’s 19. Each of the 13 forwards scored at least one goal, and each of the seven defensemen, barring Fabbro, added at least one assist.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 5: Canada against Sweden during the gold medal game of the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

This truly team-wide effort made it no surprise that, once the smoke had cleared and the Canadians were holding their medals aloft, only one member of the victorious squad was named to the tournament All-Star team. Cale Makar, who tied for the WJC lead in scoring by a defenseman with eight points in seven games was the honored individual, which was ironic as he was clearly on the Canadian third pairing throughout. Most of his production was attributed to the team’s lights-out power play unit. He was dominant on the man advantage, to be sure, but there is a good argument to be made that he was not the most effective blueliner on his team. For my money, that sobriquet belongs to Conor Timmins, whose fake shot/pass from the point was redirected by Tyler Steenbergen late in the Gold Medal game to break a 1-1 tie and shortly thereafter, secure the Gold for Canada.

Both Timmins and Makar are Avalanche prospects, the former selected in the second round last and the later selected fourth overall. While Makar is clearly the more dynamic of the two, Timmins has the all-around game that suggests a higher floor and the potential for a longer career in the NHL. He was often the first defenseman out in critical defensive situations. His positioning was very impressive and his panic threshold was off the charts high. His reads were very mature for his age.

While I may have hoped to see more out of Jake Bean and Cal Foote, both highly pedigreed blueliners, each with a mid-first round tag attached to their names (Carolina and Tampa Bay, respectively), the Canadian blueline crew were exemplary. They were all fleet of foot, responsible in their own zone and still more than capable of leading the transition from defense to offense. As much as starting netminder Carter Hart (backup Colton Point only appeared in the Slovakia game) was stellar, with very little between him and WJC All Star goalie Filip Gustavsson of Sweden, he could thank his blueliners for making life easy on him. When the puck did get through to him, he anticipated very well, was seemingly always square to the shooter and gave up very few second opportunities.

Moving on to the forwards, the depth of this unit is best expressed in the fact that the least used forward, the unofficial 13^th man, Tyler Steenbergen, was the one who scored the Gold Medal winning goal with less than two minutes left in the final. As mentioned above, each forward scored at least one goal, and everyone had at least two points. Many claimed Ottawa draft pick Drake Batherson as the Canadian break out player, and in some ways he was, with seven goals in seven games, and he was a fourth liner.

Ice time among the forwards was shared pretty democratically, with only captain Dillon Dube ever playing more than 20 minutes in a given game, which he did twice. The first line was generally receiving roughly 17-18 minutes of ice time per game, giving everyone an opportunity to impact the game. Sometimes it was the aforementioned Batherson, showing a preternatural ability to redirect point shots with a deft tip. Maxime Comtois was a grinder extraordinaire, forechecking hard, winning the puck and creating a dangerous offensive chance in the same shift. Dillon Dube was another skillful sandpaper player, constantly driving the net and taking shot after shot. Alex Formenton was a speed demon, very dangerous on the PK. Jonah Gadjovich added great net front presence to a dangerous power play. Brett Howden was a very quiet point per game player, seeing as how four of his seven points came in the quarterfinal against Switzerland and two more against Denmark. The rest of the time, he was used in a shut down capacity and excelled in that role. Boris Katchouk plays with great hockey IQ, a puck fiend with great upper body strength against whom it is nearly impossible to steal the puck. Jordan Kyrou is one of the better skaters not yet in the NHL and his hands are nearly as dashing as his feet. The patterns he can cut through a defense are nearly breathtaking. Michael McLeod is another plus skater, with a strong north-south game and solid board presence. Taylor Raddysh has remarkable hands, with fantastic ability to maneuver in very limited space and manage to get off a dangerous shot in situations where most players would cough up the puck. Sam Steel showed off some of the offensive instincts that allowed him to lead the WHL in scoring last year, regularly showing up in the right place at the right time to make something happen. Tyler Steenbergen was near invisible until he redirected the above-discussed Timmins pass-shot from the point to give Team Canada the last lead in the final game. Finally, Robert Thomas showed off his high end playmaking game, able to squeeze the puck through a tight seam to hit a surprisingly open teammate in the slot over and over again.

When a team wins an aged-based tournament, the future is generally (and rightfully) an afterthought. Flags fly forever and gold never fades. That said, this year’s success will have little to no bearing on the roster that Canada brings to the WJC next year. Only three players, all forwards (Comtois, Formenton, and Thomas) will be eligible to return to the 2019 tournament in Vancouver to try to defend the title on home soil. The Canadian hockey pipeline remains strong, but it will be tested strong next December.

WJC 2018 – Team Preview – Canada

Mike Sanderson — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 23:21:33 +0000

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 4: Canada's Dante Fabbro #8 stops the puck from crossing over the goal line while his goalie Carter Hart #31 dives to make the save during semifinal round action at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

It was a home tournament for the Canadians last year when they settled for silver on the Bell Centre ice over the Americans in Montreal, and while Buffalo is technically on American soil, it will still feel like a home tournament this time around. KeyBank Center will be filled to the brim with loud and proud Canucks wearing the Maple Leaf, much like the 2011 tournament in the City of Good Neighbors. Team Canada will hope this one replicates the 2011 edition in every way but the final period, as Canada blew a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes and Russia stunned the largely-Canadian crowd with a 5-3 victory, snatching the gold medal from the chests of a strong Canadian outfit.

It will be another strong team this time around, especially defensively. Three returnees in Jake Bean, Kale Clague and Dante Fabbro lead the blueline corp, and four first rounders are among the group in Fabbro, Bean, Cal Foote and Cale Makar. The back end got another shot in the arm with the loan of Montreal Canadiens’ defender Victor Mete, who spent a good amount of the first half of the NHL season paired with hulking defenceman Shea Weber. Returning goaltender Carter Hart is expected to take the lion’s share of the starts, while Colgate product Colton Point will back him up.

In all, there are seven players returning from last year’s silver-medal squad, as well as head coach Dominique Ducharme and staff, and they hope to upgrade to gold this time around.

One question mark is the health of Fabbro. He was injured in an exhibition game and previously turned-away defender Josh Mahura was brought back to take his place in the interim. If Fabbro is missing from the tournament or at less than 100%, the Team Canada powerplay could take a hit.

Ten to Watch

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 5: Canada's Kale Clague #10 skates during gold medal game action at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Kale Clague, D

One of several core members of Team Canada’s blueline is the Los Angeles top pick in 2016. The Brandon Wheat King is a strong offensively-inclined blueliner who figures to feature on the point during Canadian powerplays. He is a very strong puck distributor, though he can also send out a blast from the point on occasion. His game is all about confidence, and he is a very confident defenseman heading into Buffalo. Clague has already surpassed last season’s point totals in just 28 games, while doubling his goal output. His 47 points lead all defenders in the Western Hockey League by seven, and his +31 on the backend is second in the league and tops among blueliners. When he is on top of his game, his style is very complimentary to any offensive system, and he can carry the puck and dodge checkers with ease. He is playing with a lot of confidence this time around. Last year at the WJC, he had six assists in seven games. Expect another strong performance from the Lloydminster, AB product.

Dillon Dube, C/RW

The Kelowna Rockets forward expects to be among the most frequently called-upon forwards from Dominique Ducharme in the tournament, and it is hard to argue against the Calgary second rounder. He has 39 points in 27 games this season, and a five-point-in-two-game effort for Team WHL in the Canada-Russia series earlier this year. He is a skilled playmaker and his best asset is his vision. He can hit players in traffic and read the seams to optimize his feeds. He seemingly floats on the ice; his agility and footwork are among the best of his age group, and he can handle the puck and work the offence at high speed. He had three assists in seven games in Montreal and Toronto last year. His toughest test will be how he handles the top pairs of each country each night, as he is sure to take on some tough ice time, but he has shown the skills to work and play through it.

Alex Formenton, LW

Formenton has had a strong finish to the 2017 calendar year, capped off by a selection to the national world junior team. Just one of three potential returnees for the 2019 edition, he very nearly made the Ottawa Senators this season, playing in one regular season game before returning to the London Knights, where he has since produced at a point-a-game rate. While he is still a raw forward, his skating ability is what keeps him hanging with the best in the world. He will be used as an energy forward by coach Ducharme thanks to the plays he creates with his top speed and footwork. The improvement comes after an inconsistent year last year, with only 34 points in the regular season and a no-show with no points in 14 playoff games. His inconsistent play has opened his game up to criticism, and he has worked hard to overcome that. If he can stay with that consistent showing of his offensive skills and hockey sense, he could be an important forward in the Team Canada attack. This is his first appearance with Team Canada at any level.

Carter Hart, G

Throughout the years in this tournament, Team Canada has received some excellent goaltending performances as well as some spotty ones, regardless of pedigree or draft position of the goaltender in question. If there has ever been a lock for an excellent goaltender performance at the WJC, look no further than Carter Hart. His goals-against-average this season and last has not jumped above two in the regular season, and he put together a great playoff last season with the Everett Silvertips. Couple that with an impressive 2017 world juniors appearance, notwithstanding the five-hole goal by shootout sniper Troy Terry of the Americans for the gold. The Philadelphia second rounder is coming into the tournament carrying the Silvertips on his back with a .961 save percentage and a 1.32 GAA in 17 appearances. He is a very smart butterfly goaltender, and is a contender for best netminder of the tournament. His rebound control is top-notch, and he plays a very efficient, calm and conservative game. His only black mark is his puck handling, as he can be caught on an adventure in the defensive zone on occasion.

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 5: Canada's Taylor Raddysh #16 skates with the puck during gold medal game action against the U.S. at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Jordan Kyrou, C/RW

The flashy point totals are the first thing you notice about Kyrou’s performance, but you should be watching his defensive play. As good as he is on the scoresheet, he is just as strong at preventing goals. He joins Team Canada while leading the Ontario Hockey League in scoring with 58 points in 30 games, and the plan is to feature Kyrou prominently in the Team Canada attack. The St. Louis second rounder could be a great match with Dube in how they both read the game so well. Kyrou is a natural playmaker and can handle the puck very smartly. Maybe even more of an asset in the international game is his transition game. He can intercept a pass and make the jump to the attack in an instant, often catching opposing defenders on their heels. He reads the play so well that when the seams open up, the puck is on the stick of a teammate in an optimal scoring position. In previous international experience, he put up eight points in seven games with the Canadian under-18 squad in 2015-16.

Cale Makar, D

This is Makar’s first appearance for Team Canada at the top international level, and it has been a long time coming. The Colorado first rounder has had a strong first season as a freshman for UMass-Amherst, leading their defense corps in points with nine heading into the tournament. His last appearance in a Team Canada uniform was an eight-points-in-four-games performance at the 2016 World Junior A Challenge last year where he dominated at times as captain for Canada West. He has great vision and his ability to read the play is one of the strongest in his age group. He has all the makings of a franchise-level defenseman, and he will be showcased in this tournament, as it will be the first viewing of the former Brooks Bandit who honed his craft in the Alberta Junior A ranks for many. The Calgary native is a very strong skater who makes all his plays at top speed, and makes things happen every time he steps on the ice. Look for his stock to climb even higher in Buffalo.

Michael McLeod, C

Mississauga Steelheads captain Michael McLeod is a beast on the ice. His size and skating are hard to miss, and he can make plays happen by himself. He suffered a knee injury in training camp with the New Jersey Devils, but he is healthy now and performing at over a point-a-game clip for Mississauga. While Mete is the only NHL representative on Team Canada, there can be a asterisk put on McLeod’s name. Because his knee injury was suffered while in the care of the New Jersey Devils, he was rehabbed in Newark, as opposed to Mississauga. As a result, he trained for the first month and a half of the season with injured NHL players like Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac and Brian Boyle. The experience of seeing what kind of work it takes to get and stay at the highest level has had an impact on how he plays and trains, and can only help him going forward. The polarizing center will bring a strong game to Buffalo, and his lack of big PIMs totals keeps him reliable, especially with the differences between OHL and IIHF rulebooks that can catch some North American players off guard.

Victor Mete, D

Mete is the only member of the National Hockey League to join Team Canada this year. He made the Canadiens by playing a smooth, no-nonsense game with smart play-reading. He has four assists in 27 games at the highest level, after posting 44 points last year in the OHL. His experience in the NHL will serve him and Team Canada greatly in the tourney. Experience playing with the best and against the best is an invaluable resource as he now gets to read the plays from the best of his age group. While his size is not optimal, it is not a hindrance to the way Mete can control the game in front of him. It is clear the Toronto native has made a massive jump in his development from the time he was picked in the fourth round in 2016 to now, and other Team Canada members could be well suited to learn from him. He can be used in all situations, where his skating and hockey sense will triumph, especially on the power play with his strong point shot.

Taylor Raddysh, RW

The Erie Otter forward was used as a bit of a triggerman last year with Ducharme’s Team Canada, tying for the team-lead with five goals. The Toronto native had a great season at all levels and had an impact on the OHL champion Otters last season, with 31 points in the playoffs and another 11 in five Memorial Cup games. The Tampa Bay second rounder can create plenty with his offensive skills and protects the puck very well. The scoresheet continues to have his name on it even with the absence of last season’s linemates Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat, who both have had impacts at the NHL level this season. He was one of Erie’s best defensive forward last year, and figures to have an impact with Canada’s skilled forwards, in particular on the penalty kill where he can use his top-notch anticipation to pick off passes. 44 points in 30 games demonstrates how he can play by himself to create plays, but coming to Team Canada will be get the opportunity to once again play with players of similar skillsets. He has historically shown the ability to play very well as a complimentary piece, and will fit in anywhere in the lineup. Watch out for his snap shot.

Sam Steel, C

The Anaheim first rounder has been a factor every time he puts the Maple Leaf on his chest, and this tournament should be no exception. His huge year last year, with 131 points in 66 games, and another 30 in 23 playoff games, has continued with 35 points in 27 so far this season. He is a first-year captain of the Regina Pats, but has been a member of the leadership core in Saskatchewan’s capital for the last three seasons, showing his character. Not just an offensive force, he skews slightly more towards being a playmaker than a scorer, but it is his hustle on the backcheck that endeared himself to the Team Canada brass. He is rarely caught out of position and his hockey sense allows his anticipation to shine. He has an impact on every game he plays with his feet, his stick or his hands. This is the first time Steel will be representing his country since 2015-16 at the Ivan Hlinka, and it is a long time coming for the Sherwood Park, AB, native. It should not be the last, either.

Surprise Player

Drake Batherson, C

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward Drake Batherson is one of only two players from the QMJHL on Team Canada this season, and he has blossomed into an all-around offensive force in the eastern-most league. He has spent time atop the Quebec scoring list with his dominant individual play with the Screaming Eagles, but it is his pedigree of playing well with other talented players that will turn him into an asset. He compliments other stars by bringing out their greatest strengths, and he can play up and down the lineup with his strong hockey sense. The Senators prospect will be an important forward who can play all situations for Dominique Ducharme.

McKeen’s Prospects: Looking back at our rankings at the quarter mark

Ryan Wagman — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 17:26:31 +0000

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Philadelphia Flyers Center Nolan Patrick (19) skates during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers on November 27, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

When putting together a top prospect list, as we did for the recent McKeens yearbook, one of the ever-present challenges is balancing the immediate gratification of “ready-now” players, with what we perceive to be greater potential big-picture value. Even though we led off our top 250 with Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier, respectively, two teenagers fresh off their selection at the top of the 2017 Entry Draft, we did not really believe them to offer the best short term value among prospects.

Both of those players have been performing well at the NHL level as first year pros, but they earned their stops at the top of the rankings for the length of their development that is still to come.

Conversely, our rankings for the Calder Trophy looks not at best prospect in general, but focused on players we saw as having more opportunity to shine right now. That is one reason why Hischier was slotted behind Patrick in the overall prospect ranking, but outmanned him by nine spots in the Calder rankings. Another way of looking at that disparity is through the lens of Spencer Foo, signed as an undrafted free agent by the Calgary Flames after a stellar run at Union College. We saw a good opportunity for his skill set and maturity to earn him a top nine role right away, giving us comfort in ranking him ninth (one ahead of Patrick) in the Calder rankings, while only giving him the highly coveted 112 spot in the overall prospect rankings.

With the 2017-18 season now almost two months, and slightly over one quarter of the way through, this is as good a time as any to look at players we missed on. The easiest place to start would be with the aforementioned Foo. Instead, Foo failed to impress the Flames’ brass in pre-season, and was sent back to Stockton, where he has found the professional game to be more difficult than he (and we) had expected. Through 17 games with the Heat, he has scored but a single goal, to go along with five assists.

Another player for whom I am starting to downgrade expectations is our fifth ranked prospect, the Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi. I had long thought of him as a very mature player, with a high-end two-way game. Someone as likely to play on the first PK unit as he was to pot 20-25 goals on the regular. After all, he was trending in that direction as a 17 year old playing with men in Liiga and Mestis, Finland’s top two levels. I still see him as a strong two-way player, who should have a long NHL career. But looking at what he has achieved since being drafted (and it is still very early) highlights the fact that although he was always pushed to play among older players, he never sustained great offense at any senior level. He may simply lack that creative, dynamic element that is necessary on a first line. He looks more middle six than top six.

While some players step up to new levels and destroy the competition as handily as they had against their former set of competition, others take a few months, or even a season and change, to find their feet. I am happy to shine a light on a player exceeding expectations early, but will try to reserve judgement on players who need some more time to acclimatize. Cale Makar is doing well enough as a freshman at UMass-Amherst, but not really outperforming less heralded fellow freshman blueliner Mario Ferraro. Even more disconcerting, Colin White has struggled mightily in his first full season in the AHL, with only five points in his first 12 games. So why would I be down on Foo and not on White? For the simply reason that Foo is three years older – he has less time available to him to make his mark.

Like Foo, although not to the same extent, Zach Aston-Reese brought high expectations with him when he signed a contract as a collegiate free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins. As a high-scoring Hobey Baker Award finalist, he was expected to take the fast track to the NHL in Western Pennsylvania. As a 23 year old, his window was similarly limited. With two goals and nine point sin his first 15 games this year in the AHL with the Baby Pens, he is on his way to blowing his one big chance. He has shown enough that I am not bearish with him as I am with Foo, but I am concerned.

I have no worries about the slow hand Ottawa is taking with future superstar Thomas Chabot. The team clearly prefers that he learn the ropes away from the bright lights in Belleville. The B-Sens are not the best team in the AHL, but he is holding his own, and has performed well enough in his brief NHL cameos, with three assists through his first five NHL games, with decent possession metrics, albeit in sheltered usage. His future remains bright, even if it will not begin as soon as we had anticipated a few months ago, ranking him fifth in the Calder chase.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 02: Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Victor Mete (53) skates with the puck during a NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadians on November 2, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN.The Wild defeated the Canadians 6-3.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

For every player we missed on the high side, there is one we missed by underrating. We had rated Victor Mete ninth among all Montreal prospects, behind two other blueliners. He was outside of the top 250 altogether. We recognized his great mobility and a strong point shot, but were not convinced he could be more than a good number four, and we certainly did not think him ready for steady NHL action. Not only did he make the Habs out of training camp, but he played with Shea Weber in the early goings. He has not looked out of place, although I still suspect that he will be sent back to the London Knights before playing a 40^th game and burning a year service time. He has been burned in the back too often of late and has seen his minutes dwindling as a result. Further, his relative Corsi% is ahead of only Joe Morrow among current Montreal defenders. Even though he is still raw, he deserved to be ranked higher than ninth with Montreal, and should have made the top 250.

While we were clearly too low on Mete, at least in his case, we had him ranked in the top 20 of his organization. There are two players who have seen significant action in the NHL, and have performed even better than Mete, who fell short of organizational top 20. The first is Robert Hagg, defenseman of Philadelphia. We were, of course, well aware of Hagg. The former second round pick was a three time participant for Team Sweden at the WJC and had already spent three full seasons learning the North American game in the AHL, first coming over at age 19. He played a relatively quiet game, with a modicum of offense through in from the point. He has plus mobility and was very reliable when it came to getting the puck out of his own end. What kept Hagg from the book was a combination of a very deep Philadelphia system and a crippling propensity to commit an unforced error on an almost daily basis. He has been receiving a ton of ice time for the Flyers in the early going, but his good press show more luck than skill. He has not been sheltered by coach Dave Hakstol, starting more than his share of shifts in the defensive zone. It stands to reason that his shot share is in the red. On the other hand, for every goal that was scored against the Flyers with Hagg on the ice at even strength, three were scored by Philly. That good fortune will run out. In spite of his early, unexpected success, Hagg still lacks the upside of many of the other prospects in the Philadelphia system, but as a usable now player who has a relatively high floor, he should have been able to sneak onto the Philadelphia top 20.

The other player I want to point out in this exercise is New Jersey’s Jesper Bratt. Bratt is neither the leading nor the runner-up in scoring for a New Jersey rookie, but that is more indicative of the strength of the Devils’ rookie class than an indictment of Bratt’s play, as he is currently fifth in team scoring with 14 points through his first 23 games. Undersized, but quick and with exciting hands, the former sixth rounder has been a revelation in the early-goings. He has even taken on a crucial role in the team’s second PK unit, scoring once. While his possession numbers are middling, they stand up well enough in comparison to his teammates’. So why did he miss our NJ top 20? Had we hewed more closely to our objective 20/80 scores, he actually would have slotted in around 15^th. But we chose to deviate for the pure scouting scores. The reason behind that approach was that at a certain point, the difference between the scores is not as exact as the numbers suggest. While a 55 OFP is clearly better than a 52, a 53 and a 51 are really rather close. Further, when scores are close, we usually leaned towards the player deemed closer to his prime. We made the very false assumption that, at still only 19 years of age, we would have more chances to view Bratt among his peers, seemingly as an import player with the London Knights in the OHL. More than Hagg, Bratt looks like the real deal.

It is still too early to come to any broad conclusions about the art of prospecting. In any ranking, showing what can only be a snapshot in time, there will be players whose relative positioning are not truly indicative of what they are or will be. For both good and bad. We will miss on a few every year, but we will never be afraid of looking back at our misses to refine our process and produce rankings that are better and better with each passing season.

Montréal – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:37:57 +0000

Although lacking in knock-out superstar prospects, especially since trading their 2016 first rounder Mikhail Sergachev to Tampa Bay in exchange for young winger Jonathan Drouin, himself not long removed from prospectdom, the Habs have a very deep system chockful of viable players.

Watching the Montreal system evolve, it was clear that they were ready for a changing of the guard. Not only did they trade their top defensive prospect in the offseason, but they also moved out a number of other young blueliners, many of whom still retained prospect eligibility. Nathan Beaulieu, a first rounder from 2011, was traded in the days leading up to the draft to Buffalo for a third round pick. One month prior, the team inked Jakub Jerabek, a Czech rearguard who put up great numbers in the KHL last year.

The day before the draft, the team acquired David Schlemko from the expansion Vegas, for a 2019 fifth rounder. They walked away from longtime quarterback Andrei Markov and brought in Mark Streit to take the role of veteran presence. The cherry on top, considering only the NHL roster, was the free agent signing of Karl Alzner as a shutdown option, and rounded out their July 1 with bringing in backline depth in Matt Taormina and Joe Morrow.

All of the above has little to do with prospects, but it leads, although not likely directly connected to, Montreal’s strategy over the last two draft classes. In 2016, four of the Canadiens’ six draft picks were blueliners. After grabbing Sergachev with the ninth overall pick, they selected undersized and mobile Victor Mete in the fourth round, Minnesota high schooler Casey Staum in the fifth and big Victor Arvidsson in the seventh. While Sergachev was dealt for Drouin and the latter two have not yet established themselves as draft day steals, Mete had a strong post-draft year in between injuries.

Montreal repeated that strategy again in the most recent draft, using four of seven picks on blueliners, starting with second rounder Josh Brook. Between the third and fifth rounds, they also selected Scott Walford, Cale Fleury, and Jarret Tyszka. All four of their new defensemen were selected from the WHL, which may have been a coincidence, but surely made one of their scouts feel special. Beyond that coincidence, all four were considered to be great value where they were selected.

If we take all of the blueliners added to the organization in the last two years, add on Noah Juulsen (first round) and Simon Bourque (sixth round) from 2015 and Brett Lernout (third round) from 2014, what we get is a team that is preparing to turn over their defensive corps. Seven of their top 20 prospects are blueliners and while not all will succeed, by buying in bulk, the Canadiens expect to have at least a few percolate up to the top.

As long as the team is willing to trust minutes at the NHL level to young players, this is a strategy that can pay big long-term dividends. If even two can become part of the core rotation in the next two years, Montreal will be able to balance the hefty defense dollars paid to Shea Weber, Jeff Petry and Karl Alzner with minimum contracts, giving them more resources to allocate to the forwards.

Ryan Poehling, 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Photo by IIHF/Csaba Domotor

1 Ryan Poehling – One of the youngest players to play NCAA hockey last year, Poehling’s number with St. Cloud State need to be taken with a grain of salt. He rarely played assertively with the puck and as a result, his point totals were mediocre. He showed flashes of puck skills and high hockey IQ, but once he pulled on the red, white and blue at the WU18 tournament, he exploded and was often the best American on the ice. Expect big things from Poehling in his sophomore season.

2 Noah Juulsen – After struggling in his first post-draft season to replicate the offensive production of his draft year, Juulsen rebounded in a big way last year with 34 points in 49 games for the defensively stifling Everett Silvertips. He also made Team Canada for the first time, showcasing his plus puck moving skills as well as a very impressive physical game at the marquee event. He will be given as much time as he needs to develop on the farm, but he projects as a good number three in his prime.

Michael McCarron

3 Mike McCarron – First the obvious, positive and negative. To McCarron’s credit, he is massive, 6-5”, and stocky. On the downside, his feet are slow. He moves better than he used to, though, and has the hockey IQ and smooth hands to negate some of his inherent handicap. While his AHL production has been somewhat stagnant, he has always demonstrated plus vision with the puck and the instincts of a playmaker. With a touch more aggression, he can still be an impact middle six center.

Nikita Scherbak

4 Nikita Scherbak – Scherbak, Montreal’s 2014 first round pick, took pleasing strides forward in his offensive game in his second season in the AHL. He is active in all three zones and displays solid puck skills on a regular basis. Although slight, he drives the net with power. His offensive potential suggests a future on a second line, but he needs to show more creativity to evade closer checks and figure out how to more regularly maintain possession of the puck after entering the zone.

5 Charles Hudon – On a list topped with four former first round picks, Hudon is the first later round selection who has already exceeded projections. In three seasons in the AHL, he has overcome questions about his size and strength to post 162 points in 207 games. He is not even that fast, but earns plaudits for his hands. His pucks skills are well above average. He is patient on the puck and sees things developing that many others cannot. He has earned his first extended NHL audition.

6 Josh Brook – The first of four defencemen drafted by Montreal this year, Brook does everything well, but nothing exceptionally. He is generally a defense first blueliner who owns a solid skill set in addition to very strong positional play. He controls his gaps, clears the defensive zone well and can be placed in a shutdown role. If his offensive game does not develop, he can still project as a decent #4/5 defender. Any more development would put the #3 in his sights.

7 Joni Ikonen – A Finnish forward developing in Sweden, the slight Ikonen has an electric offensive game, grading out as plus as a skater, shooter and puck handler. He skates well with the puck, showing great creativity and the ability to get himself into and out of trouble at will. After a strong showing at the WU18 tournament with Finland, Ikonen will be returning to his native land to play this season with KalPa in Liiga, passing up the chance to play for Hamilton in the OHL. The Habs are very high on him.

8 Jake Evans – A seventh round sleeper from the 2014 draft, Evans has spent the past three seasons with Notre Dame, where his offensive production has gone up every year, surpassing one point per game for the first time last year. He has very high hockey IQ and is a natural playmaker. He is always near the puck, pushing it in the right direction on offense, or fighting to get it back in the defensive and neutral zones. An all-situations player.

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

9 Victor Mete – Undersized but aggressive, Mete is among the smarter defensemen in the OHL. Already showing offensive talents when drafted, his production increased this year, despite injuries limiting him to 50 games, before he slowed down in the postseason. He is mobile, with above average puck skills and a point shot that demands respect.

10 Michael McNiven – Not as tall as many modern day goaltenders, McNiven was passed over on draft day despite strong numbers in a backup role with Owen Sound. Montreal signed him after impressing in rookie camp, signing him to an ELC as a free agent. Two years on, and McNiven will begin his pro career after a season in which he was named the OHL Goaltender of the Year. Plays deep in his crease and is a plus athlete.

11 Will Bitten – Moving from one poor OHL team in Flint for another in Hamilton, Bitten saw his numbers plateau in his first post-draft season. He has a high compete level and plays a responsible, 200-foot game, but can disappear at times. With Hamilton expected to be better with its young players now more experienced, expect Bitten’s above average puck skills to shine more often this year.

12 Brett Lernout – Although the depth added by the Canadiens this offseason makes it more likely that Lernout will spend most of a third full season in the AHL, he is a quietly very effective blueliner. He skates well, can play a physical game and is a steady hand for beginning the transition from defense to offense. His upside is not overly high, but he should be one of the first names considered this year when Montreal is short a defenseman.

13 Simon Bourque – Another example of a late round pick who has exceeded his expected value, Bourque put a cap on a strong junior career with a near point-per-game performance split between Rimouski and Saint John, with whom Bourque won the QMJHL title and played in the Memorial Cup for the second time. He is a solid puck mover who can lead the rush or sit back and slow the game down.

14 Cale Fleury – One of the top scorers with one of the worst teams in the CHL, Fleury, whose older brother Haydn was a top draft pick of Carolina, has a quick, hard and accurate shot and plays an aggressive game. It can be hard to scout a player whose team is often overmatched, but Fleury shows competence in his own zone as well as offensively, with an active stick, and a knack for breaking plays up.

15 Scott Walford – A smooth skater who displays solid instincts off the puck, Walford had an up and down year for an up and down Victoria Royals squad. He has good size, but plays a clean game. More a puck mover than shooter, he does not have the upside of Fleury, Brook or Tyszka, but there is enough raw material to work with here to suggest a third pairing upside is possible.

16 Daniel Carr – Had Carr played in two more games this year in Montreal, he would not have been eligible for this list. Despite the six goals he scored in his first NHL action in 2015-16, his overall game will be limited by his skating deficiencies and the fact that, already 25 years old, the former NCAA champ is already as good as he will ever be. That should be enough to play regularly for Montreal this year on the bottom six.

17 Charlie Lindgren – Another undrafted free agent making his way through the Montreal system, Lindgren had a strong first pro season in the AHL, enhanced by two strong starts against Florida and Detroit late in the year. Lindgren is a very aggressive netminder and really loves playing the puck, sometimes to his own detriment. Will have to fight to hold off McNiven for the role of Carey Price’s future backup.

18 Lukas Vejdemo – Drafted with high expectations as a third rounder after tearing up the Swedish junior ranks, Vejdemo has struggled with only 25 points across his first two campaigns in the SHL. Despite his struggles, speed doesn’t lie and he still shows flashes of enticing puck skills. He needs to take a step forward this year to remain on the radar.

19 Martin Reway – Montreal drafted the tiny, high scoring winger after a strong season as a solid offensive import in the QMJHL. He went back to Europe and put up big numbers in two seasons split between the Czech and Swiss leagues, but missed all of last year due to a heart ailment that required surgery. Reports are that he is ready to get back on the ice this year. That, in itself, is a victory.

20 Jeremiah Addison – Although his offensive abilities are rather limited, Addison is a high energy grinder with just enough in the way of skills to avoid being ignored. He ended his junior career on the highest of high notes, potting a surprising number of goals on the way to captaining the Windsor Spitfires to a Memorial Cup championship.

Having moved their AHL affiliate from St John’s to Laval, Quebec, a leisurely drive from the Bell Centre, expect to see Montreal use their AHL talent liberally. Thankfully, due to strong drafting from the first round through the seventh round, there are enough promising players that should be available on the farm to make that strategic advantage truly fruitful.

Trevor Timmins Interview: `16 draft yields blue-chip defender and late gems

Grant McCagg — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 16:16:05 +0000

The Montreal Canadiens may not have left the draft with as many prospects as the club had originally envisioned, but it didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the team's head scout after the proceedings wrapped up on Saturday afternoon (June 25) in Buffalo.

Montreal's Vice-President of Player Personnel Trevor Timmins and his scouting staff had to readjust their draft plans when both the 39th and 45th selections were dealt for Chicago winger Andrew Shaw. While head scouts are never thrilled about losing top 50 picks, Timmins was pleased with the addition of another gritty player who can add some welcome sandpaper to the lineup.

"I was glad we got Shaw," said Timmins, who saw his two second-round picks surrendered for the 24-year-old center/winger. "He's great in front of the net, and on the power play too. He will help us."

The buzz around the draft floor on Friday night was that if Columbus picked Jesse Puljujarvi, Edmonton was prepared to select Mikhail Sergachev with the fourth pick, a rumour that Timmins did not dismiss as it was a commonly held belief. Edmonton's draft plans changed, however, when Columbus surprised everyone by passing on the big Finn to take Pierre-Luc Dubois, leaving Edmonton to pass on Sergachev and add Puljujarvi.

Mind you there were plenty of different rumours swirling that day, and Edmonton GM Peter Chiarelli was on record as saying he didn't think there were any number one defencemen in the draft, a statement not necessarily believed by Timmins.

"Don't believe everything you hear from GM's," said Timmins. "There's a lot of smoke and mirrors... it's a poker game."

June 24, 2016: Mikhail Sergachyov dons his Canadians sweater after he was selected as the 9th pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

Sergachev adjusted quickly to the North American game, compiling 17 goals and 57 points on his way to being named the OHL Defenceman of the Year...a rare honour for a rookie OHL blueliner. He can be a bit lackadaisical at times in his own zone, but Timmins expects that the 6-2, 222-pound blueliner with a rocket shot and elite skating and puck skills will learn to play with more consistent effort in the defensive zone as he continues adjusting to the North American game.

"He can step up to make the big hit," said Timmins, who as usual was reluctant to heap effusive praise on his top pick for fear of generating too much pressure in the hockey-mad market. "He's a great character guy."

Will Bitten of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Timmins had no expectations that Flint Firebirds forward Will Bitten would be available when the Habs made their next pick at 70th overall. A 30-goal scorer on a team that suffered through horrible distractions and indifferent play, Bitten was ranked as a second-round pick on most draft lists, including McKeen's, which had him slotted at 47th overall

"The third round is a pretty good spot to get him," noted Timmins. "He'll need some time to put on some weight..but if you had seen (Paul) Byron in his draft year...he was 140 pounds, if that. Bitten is already 5-10 and 170 pounds or so."

What London defenceman Victor Mete lacks in size he more than makes up for in mobility and competitiveness.

"I thought he was a second round guy and we got him in the fourth round," said Timmins. "Yes, he's a shorter guy, but those guys can play now..and he can really skate."

Victor Mete of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Timmins got to see Mete play numerous times, as London was stocked with high-end prospects, and went all the way to the Memorial Cup, where Mete was a key contributor in helping the club win its second-ever CHL championship.

"He's a really good defender," said Timmins, who also scouted both Mete and Bitten at last year's Ivan Hlinka tournament. "You had to like that they played him so much in London...he was on in the last minute defending leads and was always killing penalties."

The Canadiens went a bit off the board with the selection of Casey Staum in the fifth round, a 5-11 Minnesota high school defenceman that was not on McKeen's draft list.

"You put him in the bank...he's a five-year guy," said Timmins. "Next year he'll play in Dubuque (USHL), then he'll have four years to develop at the University of Nebraska-Omaha...he'll be fine. Our scout Bobby Kinsella saw him at Dubuque a few weeks ago...they had some camp. He said he was the best player on the ice."

The knock with a couple of other scouts who saw Staum was that he had a tendency to dead end himself with the puck, but Timmins and his staff saw things differently with the smooth-skating rearguard.

"He's not the type who will skate the puck up and try to do it all on his own," said Timmins, who saw him play on several occasions. "He lets the puck do the work....he can quickly move the puck. Time will tell. We liked him on our staff a lot. We knew he wasn't getting a lot of attention. There weren't a lot of guys out watching him. Five of our guys scouted him and saw the same things."

Michael Pezzetta of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Timmins was also pleased that gritty Sudbury center Michael Pezzetta was still on the draft board when their sixth-round pick came around.

"We picked the 7th, 8th and 11th overall picks from the 2014 OHL draft in the 3rd, 4th and 6th rounds," noted Timmins, who selected four OHLers for the first time in his 14 years as Montreal's head scout. "Bitten was seven, Mete was eight, and Pezzetta was 11 in that draft. He's a real athlete this kid. He's good at all sports."

The draft was supposed to be over for the Habs at that point, but GM Marc Bergevin traded a seventh-round pick in next year's draft to Winnipeg for a pick in the final round to select 6-4 Swedish defenceman Arvid Henriksson

"We hope he's one of those picks nobody knows about," said Timmins, "and in four years when he comes over people will say 'holy jeez. Look at this guy.'"

"Our Swedish scout (Christer Rockstrom) really wanted him. As the draft went on he was saying 'we've got to get this guy.' He was pounding the table. He's a big guy, he skates well."

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Montreal Canadiens

Grant McCagg — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:08:37 +0000

Mikhail Sergachev of the Windsor Spitfires was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

The Habs hope to have found the eventual replacement for Andrei Markov in the top pairing with fellow Russian Mikhail Sergachev, a 6-2 220 pound defender who stepped seamlessly into North American hockey last season, accomplishing the rare feat of winning the OHL Defenceman of the Year honours as a rookie. Despite surrendering both of their second-round picks in a deal for Chicago’s Andrew Shaw, Montreal still added two players ranked top 60 by McKeen’s in the third and fourth rounds in William Bitten and Victor Mete.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	9	14	Mikhail Sergachev	D	RUS	6-2/210	Windsor (OHL)
3	70	47	Will Bitten	C	CAN	5-10/170	Flint (OHL)
4	100	55	Victor Mete	D	CAN	5-10/175	London (OHL)
5	124	NR	Casey Staum	D	USA	5-11/185	Hill-Murray (USHS-MN)
6	160	117	Michael Pezzetta	C	CAN	6-1/205	Sudbury (OHL)
7	187	NR	Arvid Henrikson	D	SWE	6-3/180	AIK (Swe)

William Bitten of the Flint Firebirds was selected by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

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

Bitten is a whirling dervish on the ice…creating offensive opportunities with a non-stop motor and quickness, and was a solid third-round pick considering he was a top-line player on Canada’s U-18 team. Mete represented even better value in the fourth round…the only drawback to the hard-nosed defender’s game is a lack of height. He was London’s main shutdown defenceman on the PK and late in games protecting a lead, and is not without some offensive upside thanks to his elite skating ability. Casey Staum is another undersized defender with elite speed who will have a five-year window to show the Habs he has pro potential.

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

Michael Pezzetta is a former first-round OHL draft pick with good size, speed and competitiveness. Montreal obtained a seventh-round round pick to draft 6-3 Swedish defender Arvid Henriksson…described by head scout Trevor Timmins as a raw sleeper pick with decent long-term upside.

Grade: A-: Sergachev was considered by most scouts to be the second-best defenceman in the draft, and when you include the acquisition of Shaw, addition of two more picks ranked in McKeen’s top 60 and a late sleeper pick in Pezzetta, Habs fans should be pleased with this draft.

OHL Prospect Watch: Marner-Strome cooking, Bunnaman growing on scouts

David Burstyn — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 16:42:23 +0000

Mitch Marner didn't have far to travel for his first Maple Leafs' rookie camp - held at his home rink, London's Budweiser Gardens.

Nerves seemed to get the best of him though as he had a sub-par camp - however the fourth-overall pick in the 2015 draft picked up where he left off scoring at a torrid pace upon his return to the OHL. Currently sitting fifth in league scoring through 19 games, the Thornhill, Ontario native has registered a point in all but two contests this season including back-to-back five point games against the Guelph Storm.

Flanking center Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk on the left side, their line is arguably the most dangerous in the OHL and possibly the entire CHL. Named co-captain to start the season, Marner flashes his elite skill every time he touches the puck. His ability to create offence out of seemingly innocent plays is uncanny. His hand and puck skills are off the charts - and he constantly pushes the envelope to get the puck into better scoring positions picking apart defences in the process.

Prior to taking a run at the NHL next fall, his primary focus this season will be on improving his strength levels and learning to fight through checks along the wall. His defensive game rarely comes into question as he constantly has possession of the puck when on the ice. Rotating between his wing position and center has given his game more versatility as well.

Marner recently participated in the Canada/Russia Challenge notching the game-winning assist in Game 4 of the series. A virtual shoe-in to make the U20 World Junior Championships; he formed good chemistry at the summer evaluation camps with Erie star Dylan Strome, the third-overall pick from 2015. The duo should be a lethal force as Canada looks to defend its gold medal title.

The pair battled for last season's OHL scoring crown right down to the wire, with Strome producing a six-point effort in the regular-season finale to take the title. They appear headed for another clash next spring.

Marner could very likely take another deep run in the playoffs as the Knights are a favourite to come out of the OHL and return to the Memorial Cup; which would be his second appearance on the main stage having competed there in his rookie campaign.

Here are notes and observations on some other OHL prospects on the McKeens watch list.

Boris Katchouk (2016), LW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Katchouk was a driving force behind the Soo Thunderbirds' Dudley Hewitt Championship last season - averaging over a point per game in the regular season and playoffs - along the Dudley Hewitt Championship series. Equipped with above-average skills and a non-stop motor that both complements his team’s style of play while also frustrating opponents. A gutsy competitor who always finishes checks and gets involved in scrums which has resulted in promotions to the top two lines. Gives the Hounds a dimension they are lacking and NHL scouts are starting to take notice due to his early offensive success through 20 games (20-7-9-16).

Victor Mete (2016), D, London (OHL)

Acquired last season for six draft picks after failing to come to terms with the Owen Sound Attack, who selected him eighth overall in last season’s OHL draft. A slick-skating defenseman who sees second unit power play time, Mete creates with his speed even though not being particularly explosive. He can enter the zone as he is able to keep a steady pace and handle the puck efficiently, albeit his offensive forays are easily diffused. Lacks ‘pop’ to his game as he can fizzle out and be a non-factor. Coupled with the fact that he is under-sized and struggles to dislodge guys in front of the net or defend well due to his lack of range, Mete faces an uphill battle and will need to bring more dimensions.

Christopher Paquette (2016), C/W, Niagara (OHL)

A large-bodied center who has gained the confidence of Coach Williamson as he flirts with him on the wing on the top line with Brendan Perlini. Paquette keeps the game simple as he dishes off quickly and does not play outside of his limitations; although at times he could stand to handle the puck more but he understands his role on the line. His skating has an awkward hitch as he has difficulty turning but he goes after guys hard and is not afraid to engage and do the dirty work to make the line go. Relentless in his pursuit of the puck as he is a dogged fore checker; what he lacks in natural skill he makes up with in determination and hustle.

Connor Bunnaman (2016), C/LW Kitchener (OHL)

One of the biggest players available in the next draft at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds - and still growing. Bunnaman takes up a lot of space on the ice and surprises with solid abilities as he can create in transition. Despite lacking a creative element to his game, Bunnaman finds his outlets quickly and also passes with authority. Better suited on the wing where he can neglect some defensive duties therefore allowing him to chase after pucks down low and along the wall without fear of losing his position. Confidence continues to soar as he is thrust into more situations and earns top six minutes.

Youngblood: 2014 World U17 Hockey Challenge – Top 50 Performers

Brendan Ross — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:47:59 +0000

Photo by Kelsey Vermeersch/ CKSN.ca

For the past week, Sarnia and the surrounding community of Lambton Shores played host to the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, an international tournament featuring the world’s top hockey talents from the 1998 age group. With an eye on the 2016 NHL Draft, USA sent a roster full of potential first round talent looking to defend its gold medal from the year prior. Through round robin play, USA dominated the competition sweeping their way to the gold medal game scoring a tournament high 29 goals and allowing just 11 goals, also a tournament best.

Entering the gold medal game versus Russia, USA had won twelve consecutive games at the Under-17 tournament but on Saturday, November 8^th, Russia’s stingy defensive efforts and impressive shot-blocking game stifled the American attack lifting them to gold.

The following is a fluid ranking of the best performances from the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, many of whom are top prospects for the 2016 and 2017 NHL Entry Drafts.

Disclaimer – This is NOT a ranking for the upcoming NHL draft classes but rather a ranking of performances from the 2014 World U17 Hockey Challenge.

50. Mikhail Sergachev (Russia) – The Russian defense core was good by committee but if there was one standout it would have to be Mikhail Sergachykov. He is a big defender who played tough minutes en route to Russia’s gold medal. With advanced mobility and effective puck moving skills, Sergachev was instrumental to getting the puck into the hands of their talented forwards. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

49. Michael McLeod (Canada Red/Mississauga Steelheads) – An elite level skater with blazing outside speed, McLeod uses his feet and lengthy wing span to operate well in the possession game. He can be a little hesitant in his decision making and passes up prime scoring opportunities for a pass but this kid has the total package to become a special talent – he just has to put it all together. He only posted one assist despite receiving prime offensive minutes but he was a big part of their quick offensive attack. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

48. Urho Vaakanainen (Finland) – One of two standout underage 1999-born players on Finland, Vaakanainen’s number 28 was easy to spot because this smooth skating defender has the total package – size, strength, hockey IQ and an ability to make impact in all three zones. He’s been deemed a comparable prospect as Sabres pick Rasmus Ristolainen was at the same age and teams certainly have him circled as a potential top pick for the 2017 draft.

47. Maxim Bain (Russia) – Talk about a player elevating his play as the games became more important and Russia’s Maxim Bain should be the focus of that conversation. The small quick-footed forward was a thorn in opposing defensemen’s side as he tenaciously hounded pucks on the forecheck. With great hand-eye coordination and a will to win any loose-puck battle, Bain forced turnover after turnover. Fortunately, he also plays the game with some noteworthy skill, showing the poise and puck handling ability to create his own offensive chances. Four of Bain’s six points came in the final three games and included the opening goal in the gold medal game. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

46. Brett Howden (Canada White/Moose Jaw Warriors) – Pro scouts have to be excited about Howden’s 6-foot-2 power game after showing a real knack for playing around the net. This big bodied winger flashed good physicality and strong skating skills, and despite battling some quiet moments, appears to own some serious pro upside. Howden potted two goals and three points while acting as an alternate captain for Canada White. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

45. Adam Mascherin (Canada Red/Kitchener Rangers) – Packed with one of the best shots in the tournament, Mascherin impressed out of the gate but as the tournament unfolded, he couldn’t maintain his offensive presence as often. Mascherin should be applauded for his two-way commitment, especially in the first two games, as he pushed the offensive attack with linemate Michael McLeod and demonstrated good backpressure on the defensive end. This budding sniper snapped home two goals and three points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

44. Nicolas Hague (Canada White/Kitchener Dutchmen/Mississauga Steelheads prospect) – Hague was just one of four Canadians playing outside of the Canadian Hockey League (Dante Fabbro, Tyson Jost, Michael O’Leary). The 6-foot-5 defender has experienced one of the sharpest development curves over the past calendar year and he showed many people why he has a bright future in hockey with an overall strong showing. Earning more minutes after 1^st overall OHL pick Jakob Chychrun was ruled out of action, Hague stepped up and took advantage of his new opportunity. Not the fleetest of foot or prettiest of skater, Hague stifled opposing offenses and even showed a simple, yet effective, ability to kick start the breakout. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

43. Janne Kuokkanen (Finland) – Kuokkanen was one of the engines that drove the Finns offensive attack and his two goals and five points speaks to his efficient motor. Playing at a quick pace, Kuokkanen is an intelligent forward who recognizes soft spots and exploits them. Under pressure or on the attack, Keokkanen excels in one-on-one situations often relying on his quick puck skills to evade trouble or create offense. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

42. Sam Steel (Canada Black/Regina Pats) – There were certainly highs and lows to Sam Steel’s play throughout the week, the good outweighed the bad for me. Blessed with high-end skating ability, Steel pushed the pace for Canada Black, keeping defenders on their heels. Unfortunately, Steel, who played on a line with Tyler Benson, didn’t receive a lot of support and didn’t develop much chemistry and as a result, his threatening speed wasn’t utilized very well. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

41. Mikhail Mesheryakov (Russia) – There wasn’t a more puck-hungry player on Team Russia than Mikhail Mesheryakov, as this buzzsaw forward was on a constant hunt for loose pucks. Mesheryakov impressed with his ability to slip into scoring areas uncontested and In possession, he was difficult to contain as he eluded with sharp cuts to change direction. Mesheryakov put up one goal and three points in U17 play and appears to be a good option for teams searching for possession players. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

40. Jesper Bratt (Sweden) – Jesper Bratt was the sparkplug that ignited the Swedes’ offensive attack. Skating at an underwhelming 5-foot-8 , Bratt lacks ideal size but he makes up for it in his enthusiastic offensive attacks. Blessed with good foot speed and elusive agility, Bratt slashes in and out of traffic seeking out scoring opportunities. He displayed good one-on-one puck skills and times his entries into scoring areas extremely well. Bratt’s one goal and four points trailed only Nylander in team scoring. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

39. Tyson Jost (Canada White/Penticton Vees, BCHL/Everett Silvertips prospect) – His game is based around speed and Tyson Jost wreaks havoc on opposing defenders when he’s trying (and usually succeeding) to bust out-wide on them. He is an all-around player who can be utilized in every situation and he was especially efficient in his own zone. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

38. Otto Somppi (Finland) – Somppi was a consistent attacker from the start of the tournament to the end of it, earning quality offensive minutes along the way. Intuitive in his attacks, Somppi uses his teammates well in quick give-and-gos to open up space. He was a standout in cycles and the Finns possession game, using a long reach and nifty in-tight fakes to find open linemates. As effective as he was offensively, Somppi appeared to play a committed defensive game as well. With three goals and six points, Somppi was Finland’s scoring leader. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

37. Luke Green (Canada White/Saint John SeaDogs) – He wasn’t the most consistent defender but it was clear that Luke Green possesses some intriguing upside. Green was among the most mobile defenseman and his willingness to jump into the play and act as a fourth forward was threatening. He also shakes the offensive defenseman stereotype since he showed that he can be a reliable defender inside his own blueline as well. Green joined Black’s Jake Bean and Red’s Sean Day as Canada’s highest scoring defensemen with four points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

36. Jake Kryski (Canada Red/Kamloops Blazers) – The near point-per-game WHL forward, Jake Kryski, was among Canada Red’s most active forwards scoring one goal and five points (in five games). A buzz-saw of a forward, Kryski always seemed to be in the heat of the action showing that he was very effective playing in traffic. With great hand-eye coordination, Kryski stripped opponents of possession on several instances and then quickly turned it into a prime scoring chance. With a good work ethic and some opportunistic positioning, Kryski was among Red’s most dangerous forwards. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

35. Jacob Cederholm (Sweden) – Brother to Vancouver Canucks prospect Anton Cederholm, Jacob followed in his brothers footsteps by failing to record a point. However, offensive production aside, Jacob was an instrumental part of Sweden’s transition game and was used as a pillar of defense in their shutdown game. Cederholm owns admirable size and his strength, physicality and long reach are all advantageous skills in his defensive game. With a powerful long stride, Cederholm is an impressive skater and was exceptional at lugging the puck up the ice to gain the offensive zone. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

34. Markus Niemeläinen (Finland) – Niemalainen boasts great size and strength but with his mobility and booming shot, the future looks bright for this budding 2016 NHL Draft prospect. He doesn’t make many errors and his ability to make opposing attackers work for ice is a testament to his defensive capacity. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

33. Logan Brown (Canada Red/Windsor Spitfires) – Logan Brown had a strong showing playing to his strengths and abilities. He set up on the top powerplay unit as the primary shooter, adding one goal and two powerplay assists. Brown made good use of his size in board play and was impossible to stop as he drove the net for rebounds. The Spitfires forward recorded two goals and four points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

32. Jordan Kyrou (Canada White/Sarnia Sting) – After being the only player not to be invited or participate in the Summer Orientation camp, Jordan Kyrou was selected to play for Team White and made Hockey Canada look smart for his inclusion after being the team’s most dangerous offensive forward. Blessed with silky hands, creativity and the confidence to create scoring opportunities, Jordan Kyrou had his hometown Sarnia Sting supporters on the edge of their seats. Occasionally, Kyrou tried to do too much individually but with his self-assurance, he was truly an asset. Kyrou registered four assists in five games. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

31. Linus Weissbach (Sweden) – Game after game, Linus Weissbach continued to ramp up his play with each passing shift. Weissbach is a good skater with nifty jukes and jives and his outside speed is troublesome for even the top defenders to contain. Bratt was one of four Swedish skaters who recorded four points in the tournament. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

30. Vladislav Sukhachyov (Russia) – Sukhachyov received action in four of Russia’s six games including the 6-1 semifinal win over Finland to book their ticket to the gold medal but, for whatever reason, he didn’t receive the nod in the Gold Medal game versus USA. Sukhachyov isn’t a big but he was very good in every showing posting the tournament’s third best GAA (1.70) and save percentage (.931). Quick with his reflexes and natural athleticism allows Sukhachyov to cover the net from post-to-post, teasing opponents with shot openings before quickly closing them off. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

29. Vitali Abramov (Russia) – Russia’s Mr. Steady-Eddy, Vitali Abramov came to play in all six games posting points in all but one game (vs. FIN) totalling three goals and nine points. Sharing the team scoring lead with Dmitri Sokolov, Abramov was among Russia’s most lethal offensive options. He showed good patience in possession, outwaiting checkers for open lanes, and used his agility and top-end speed to keep defenders guessing. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

28. Kristian Vesalainen (Finland) – Born in ’99 makes the 6-foot-2 Kristian Vesalainen a 2017 draft prospect but this underager showed no lag in development finishing the tournament with a team-high three goals and five points (T-2^nd in team scoring). Vesalainen is a patient and quick puck handler who thrived in the dirty areas. His ability to stick handle in tight and execute difficult feeds was very impressive. He appears to be an opportunistic scorer with a knack for slipping away from coverage into scoring areas. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

27. Sean Day (Canada Red/Mississauga Steelheads) – Day had a decent showing but failed to get his Red squad into the medal round despite being considered one of Canada’s top teams. Day’s exceptional mobility has been well documented over the past few years and it continued; however, it was surrounded by some poorly executed passing and several instances of bad decision making. There’s another level to Day’s game but we did not see it this past week. Despite his sporadic performance, Day logged a ton of minutes for Red and finished the week with a strong four points, including one powerplay goal. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

26. William Bitten (Canada Red/Ottawa 67’s) – One area that William Bitten will never fall short on is his work ethic and tenacity. The hard working 67s forward steps on the ice each shift with a balls-to-the-walls approach and when his skill level is factored in, few can match his ability to impact the game. Not overly big or strong (yet), Bitten plays every shift as if it were the last shift of a championship game. He possesses good speed and isn’t afraid to attack one-on-one or slash right into traffic. He was a sparkplug for Canada Red and he was rewarded with two goals and five points to lead his team in scoring – and rightfully so. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

25. Kailer Yamamoto (USA/Spokane Chiefs) – As one of the two late additions Kailer Yamamoto took some time to adjust to his new teammates (all of whom play together in the USNTDP). Once his feet were wet, Yamamoto formed great chemistry with sniper Max Jones and racked up three goals and seven points in as many games. A creative passer and quick in transition, Yamamoto pushed the pace for USA’s second line and showed why he’s excelling with his hometown Spokane Chiefs (12-2-6-8) as a rookie. 2017 NHL Draft prospect.

24. Jake Bean (Canada Black/Calgary Hitmen) – The only undrafted major junior player of the 66 Canadian players who competed in the U17s, Calgary Hitmen defenseman Jake Bean was among the feel-good stories of the tournament. Bean is an enthusiastic defender who has the raw potential to develop into a very good player. The Calgary Hitmen blueliner led the entire Canada Black team in scoring with one goal and four points (five games) and was named Player of the Game versus USA when he scored the lone goal (shorthanded) on a beautiful individual effort. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

23. Samuel Girard (Canada Black/Shawinigan Cataractes) – Here’s a fun defender to watch – Samuel Girard possesses the elusiveness, skating skills and puck handling abilities to excel in an offensive role rolling off checks at the offensive blueline to keep plays alive. He plays a high-risk game at times and could certainly round out his defensive game but his rare skillset will be coveted. Girard finished with on goal and three points in tournament play. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

22. Adam Fox (USA/Harvard University commit/Kitchener Rangers) – Coming off a year with the Long Island Gulls where he scored 51 points in only 22 games, Adam Fox adopted an offensive role on the USA blueline often earning top powerplay minutes alongside Luke Martin or Chad Krys. Surprisingly, Fox only earned a pair of assists in the tournament but his offensive abilities certainly created countless other prime scoring chances that went unfinished. Undersized at 5-foot-10, Fox uses elite edgework and sharp attacking skills to push the pace up ice. He operates as a crafty quarterback and flashes some high-end puck handling abilities. Fox was often the defenseman who kick-started the transition game and remains an intriguing offensive defenseman option for the 2016 draft. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

21. Joey Anderson (USA/University of Minnesota-Duluth commit/Brandon Wheat Kings prospect) – The third member of the Pastujov-Keller-Anderson line, Joey Anderson was a player who continued to elevate his play with each passing game. He was a major factor in USA’s win over Canada Red with two assists to clinch top spot in Group B and then added three goals in the quarter and semi-final games. Anderson is a hard-working two-way forward with keen hockey sense, making him an asset in all three zones. He was the perfect complement to his highly skilled linemates. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

20. William Fällström (Sweden) – A leader on and off the ice, Captain William Fällström led all Swedes in goal scoring with four tallies. Fällström combines his smart hockey sense with his all-around offensive skill set well and the outcome is a very dangerous attacker. He is a shifty pivot with a goal scorers’ touch but his two-way game is well developed also. Fällström is the type of player coaches can lean on in big-game situations. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

19. Kale Clague (Canada Black/Brandon Wheat Kings) – Canada Black’s captain, Kale Clague, is among the top defensive prospects for the 2016 draft and his play at the U17s confirmed that this smart two-way threat is among Canada’s best 98-born defenseman. Smooth and effortless in stride, Clague makes calculated risks offensively but honours his defensive commitments first and foremost. He was a fixture on Black’s powerplay displaying good reads, passing ability and occasionally used his high-end one-timer. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

18. Michael Campoli (USA/Blainville-Boisbriand Armada prospect) – Born in Quebec, Canada, defenseman Michael Campoli was one of two Americans with Canadian citizenship (Griffin Luce being the other). The American coaching staff used Campoli in a defensive shutdown role but this extremely mobile defender intrigued with his outstanding patience under pressure, bull-like defensive commitments and overall demeanour on the blueline. There’s some massive upside with Campoli as he owns the size, mobility and puck handling ability to develop on his offensive game. Consider him a top defensive prospect in my books for the 2016 draft. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

17. Adam Thilander (Sweden) – Excellent in stride, Thilander thrives in possession and his ability to use his imagination in setting up teammates proved to be high-end in this tournament. Thilander uses clever feints and fakes to evade checkers and then showed a tendency to strike quickly with an absolutely booming point shot. Smart in transition and a pitbull in defensive battles, Thilander should be considered a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Draft (another late birthday). 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

16. Patrick Khodorenko (USA/Everett Silvertips prospect) – Khodorenko has always been one of the most skilled forwards in his peer group and while he may have took a back-seat to the Keller-Jones show at the U17s, he was definitely among the Americans’ best forwards. The Silvertips 2^nd round draftee hasn’t made a decision on his future (WHL or collegiate) but wherever he chooses to play, he will be fine. Khodorenko is a creative pivot with strong playmaking abilities and had he earned more top powerplay minutes, he could’ve pushed for the team scoring lead. The Californian finished with one goal and six points finishing tied for 8^thin U17 scoring. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

15. Tarmo Reunanen (Finland) – From the past week of action, Tarmo Reumanen was Finland’s best defenseman. He’s not the most technical skater but he is elusive, surprisingly quick (specifically in acceleration) and can quarterback a powerplay with ease. Booming with confidence, Reunanen is capable of unleashing a howitzer or executing a difficult pass under pressure but it’s his vision that is his best asset and allows him to be the team's prime distributor. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

14. Ryan Lindgren (USA/University of Minnesota commit/Brandon Wheat Kings prospect) – Coming out of the illustrious Shattuck St. Mary’s program where he racked up 24 goals and 88 points in 55 games during his Bantam year, Ryan Lindgren has always owned the offensive pedigree and he flashed it during competition at the U17s. Wearing the ‘C’ for the Americans, Lindgren showed to be an exceptional skater and puck possession defender. Under pressure, Lindgren would casually cut away from pressure then send a precise seam-pass to a streaking teammate. He didn't risk his defensive responsibilities for offensive rushes but occasionally, Lindgren displayed his upside as a puck-rushing defender when he made end-to-end rushes, virtually going untouched. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

13. Nikita Popugaev (Russia) – Skating at over 6-foot-4 and 205-pounds, Nikita Popugaev could have been Russia’s best pro prospect. Despite his size and youthfulness, Popugaev’s fluid and powerful skater is all that more remarkable. The 15-year-old is a late birthday which makes him a 2017 draft prospect and he has to be considered a top prospect for his age group. With slick hands and slippery outside-inside cuts at top speed, Popugaev is a beast to contain. Unlike most physically mature big men, he knows how to utilize his size and power game to his advantage. This high potential forward had three goals in tournament play. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

12. Nick Pastujov (USA/University of Michigan commit/Saginaw Spirit prospect) – A dynamic forward with make-you-miss puck skills, Pastujov clicked on a line with Keller and Joey Anderson eventually finishing with three goals and eight points (5^th). Pastujov is especially creative and dangerous around the scoring areas as he uses quick strikes or unexpected passes to hit teammates for easy tap-in goals. Patient under pressure and effective playing in high traffic areas, Pastujov’s puck handling and quick shot are on display as he releases from pressure along the boards and steps into the slot to strike. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

11. Jake Oettinger (USA/Portland Winterhawks) – Based on this tournament alone, 2017 NHL Draft goaltender Jake Oettinger has to be among the top goaltenders ranked in his draft class. Playing with a pro-sized frame (6-3, 196), Oettinger is an exceptional blocking style goaltender to owns his crease with an intimidating presence. His opponents’ attacks were sporadic but he remained poised between the pipes flashing a high-level of concentration, rebound control and an fathomable demeanour. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a goaltender play such a fundamentally solid game from the tournament’s start to finish. Oettinger finished with a sparkling 1.34 GAA to lead all goaltenders and his .934 save percentage trailed only Sweden’s Filip Gustavsson. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

10. David Quenneville (Canada White/Medicine Hat Tigers) – Joining Chad Krys, Victor Mete and Samuel Girard as one of the tournament’s most exciting offensive defensemen, David Quenneville was a treat to watch in possession. In a similar mold as former junior superstar Ryan Ellis, Quenneville possesses outstanding hockey instincts and a natural puck handling ability. Like Ellis, Quenneville can unleash a powerful point shot and is a regular on the powerplay, operating as the team’s powerplay. At 5-foot-8, Quenneville lacks ideal height but this enthusiastic defender can lay out bone-crushing body checks with the biggest of players. His statline for the U17s reads one goal and three points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

9. Victor Mete (Canada Red/London Knights) – London Knights defenseman Victor Mete turned in one of the best showings from any player. Well aware of Mete’s offensive abilities that are featured around elite skating, intelligent playmaking and a veteran-like ability to run the powerplay, Mete was most impressive in his defensive zone. The young defender was a shot-blocking machine and he was very good holding down his blueline, making sure he wasn’t conceding easy entries. Of course, he was a fixture on Canada Red’s powerplay and played a vital role to their transition game too. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

8. Dante Fabbro (Canada Red/Penticton Vees, BCHL/Seattle Thunderbirds prospect) – After watching the undersized Dante Fabbro in action, I can only imagine the damage this intelligent defenseman does in the BCHL. He’s at the top of his peer group in the way that he sees and thinks the game, allowing him the extra time to plan his next decision. He’s a precise passer and is unfazed under pressure. Strong in every direction, in possession and without the puck, Fabbro moves about the ice at will and his advanced hockey mind allows him to change his plan of attack at the last second. In terms of offensive upside, few possess his potential. Fabbro had a pair of goals and three points at the U17s. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

7. Nolan Patrick (Canada Red/Brandon Wheat Kings) – His late 1998 birthday means Nolan Patrick won’t be eligible for the NHL draft until 2017 and that’ll be a long wait for some scouts who are very excited about adding this responsible two-way forward. As Captain of Canada Red, Patrick was used in every situation including top penalty kill and powerplay units. There may not have been a smarter and more trust-worthy forward competing in the U17 as Nolan Patrick. He already owns a projectable frame, good mitts (although not overly flashy), two-way awareness and a long powerful skating stride. He is a beast in board battles and is suited as a future possession guy. Patrick plays a similar style as Winnipeg Jets Mark Scheifele and finished with five assists through five games. 2017 NHL Draft Eligible

6. Dmitri Sokolov (Russia) – Dmitri Sokolov had a coming out party at the U17s introducing himself to the North American hockey world. The big power forward has a wicked shot but also showed us some silky playmaking abilities as well, finding teammates with creative no-look passes. Not the greatest skater and he appeared a bit heavy but Sokolov uses high-end puck skills to escape pressure and his physical strength was dominant against his peers. Sokolov is a dynamic power winger who showed this past week that he owns first round pedigree. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

5. Chad Krys (USA/Moncton Wildcats prospect) – The smooth skating elusive Chad Krys finished the tournament with a defense leading seven points (all assists) and showed why he’s considered a top prospect for 2016. Elite mobility and a knack for spinning off of pressure, Krys defines a puck-rushing defenseman. With an ability to turn up ice quickly in transition, Krys is able to weave through traffic using clever puck skills, shrewd on-ice vision and high-end skating techniques. To add, Krys’ intelligence makes him an astute defensive presence as well. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

Sweden's Filip Gustavsson was the U17's top goaltender (Photo: Brendan Ross)

4. Filip Gustavsson (Sweden) – The U17’s top goaltender by a fair margin, 6-foot-2 Swede Filip Gustavsson was impenetrable from start to finish stopping 131 of the 139 shots thrown at him, more than 41 saves than the next best goaltender. With great size, Gustavsson provided few holes for the opposition to shoot at. He flashed quick reflexes and displayed fluid lateral coverage as a butterfly goaltender. He was the sole reason that Sweden advanced to the semi-finals after a 35-save shutout performance against Canada White. Filip Gustavsson held a shutout streak of over 179 minutes until he finally surrendered a goal in the USA game. Outstanding performance. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

3. Alexander Nylander (Sweden) – Famous family name aside, it’s hard not to be impressed immediately by the skill set of Alexander Nylander, son of NHLer Michael Nylander and brother to Maple Leafs’ top prospect William Nylander. To some degree, I was more impressed with the younger Nylander son than the NHL draftee based on his overall compete level and attention to defense. Alexander was Sweden’s most dynamic offensive player showcasing all-world creativity and confident one-on-one dangles. Like his brother, Alexander is a slippery playmaker who masks his intentions extremely well and his knack for slipping a pass to an unchecked linemate at unexpected times is a rare and treasured skill set. He packs a great shot and can operate at top speed. Nylander paced all Swedes in scoring with two goals and seven points. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

2. Clayton Keller (USA/Windsor Spitfires prospect) – The tournament’s leading scorer with six goals and 13 points in a half-dozen games is very big (5-9, 165) but Clayton Keller certainly showed that he plays a big-time game. The Boston University commit is an exciting player to watch with his elite puck skills, veteran-like patience and off-the-charts creativity. Each time he hit the ice, Keller was an offensive catalyst with his ability to make defenders miss. He was on his own level in this tournament with his ability to create something out of nothing. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

1. Max Jones (USA/London Knights prospect) – The London Knights had many of their brass in attendance to check out the progress of their 2014 1^st round pick Max Jones. The Knights current offensive leader, Max Domi, will definitely be playing his last year of junior hockey this season but London is hoping to exchange one dangerous player named Max for another in 2015-16. Playing a throwback style of hockey in the mold of a power forward that is featured around impressive size, strength and aggressiveness, Max Jones is the whole package and he will have NHL scouts drooling when the 2016 draft comes due. His ability to play a high-paced north-south game and his elite shooting arsenal are unmatched among his competitors. Jones led the 2014 U17’s in goal scoring with seven tallies, including a tournament leading four powerplay markers, and placed second in overall points (11). Consider Max Jones one of the leading candidates to be selected first overall come 2016. 2016 NHL Draft Eligible

Honourable Mentions

The following players performed well in tournament action and should be considered prospects to watch for future NHL drafts…

Reagan O’Grady (Canada Black), Nolan Volcan (Canada Black), Beck Malenstyn (Canada Black), Zach Poirier (Canada Black), Mason Shaw (Canada Red), Evan Fitzpatrick (Canada Red), Tanner Kaspick (Canada White), Travis Barron (Canada White), Josh Anderson (Canada White), Samuel Harvey (Canada White), Markus Nurmi (Finland), Pete Niemi (Finland), Emil Oksanen (Finland), Leevi Laakso (Finland), German Rubtkov (Russia), Nikita O. Popugayev (Russia), Mikhail Shabanov (Russia), Jakub Lacka (Slovakia), Adam Ruzicka (Slovakia), Lias Andersson (Sweden), Linus Lindstrom (Sweden), Tim Wahlgren (Sweden), Luke Martin (USA), Joseph Woll (USA)

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