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HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - DECEMBER 29: Canada's Connor Bedard #16 backhands the puck while Austria's Tim Geifes #21 defends during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 29, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

2023 World Juniors: Group A Round-Robin Roundup

Part of the excitement of the World Junior Championships is that there are always going to be surprises and upsets. Group A, consisting of Austria, Canada, Czechia, Germany, and Sweden, wasted no time in that aspect, with Czechia upsetting Canada 5-2 on the first day of the tournament. The Czechs went on to win the pool thanks to their offense clicking, standout defenders, and one of the best goaltenders in the tournament. Their team top-down has arguably played the best all-around tournament of any team in the pool so far. Their only loss came against Team Sweden, 3-2, the lone overtime game in Group A.

Reeling from the loss to Czechia, Canada bounced back in a big way on the back of Connor Bedard, who’s re-writing the Canadian history books at the World Juniors. After scoring just twice in the first game, the team put up 11 against both the Germans and Austrians, closing out the Preliminary round with another five against Team Sweden to secure second place heading into the Quarterfinals.

The loss was Sweden’s only one in the tournament but due to their overtime win over Czechia, they finished the round-robin in third place. Goaltender Carl Lindbom and defender Ludvig Jansson have been the biggest bright spots for the Swedes and will be relied upon heavily if the team is going to challenge for a medal.

Goaltender Nikita Quapp stood on his head for Team Germany while they earned the fourth and final Quarterfinal spot, thanks to a 4-2 win over Austria. Austria on the other hand will be heading to the relegation game after going winless in the tournament, failing to score a goal in their first three games.

Group A Standings (W-OTW-OTL-L)

  1. Czechia - 3-0-1-0
  2. Canada - 3-0-0-1
  3.  Sweden - 2-1-0-1
  4. Germany - 1-0-0-3
  5.  Austria - 0-0-0-4

Czechia

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

  1. Stanislav Svozil - 1-5-6
  2. David Spacek - 3-3-6
  3. Matyas Sapovaliv - 0-5-5
  4. Jaroslav Chmelar - 3-2-5
  5. Gabriel Szturc - 3-2-5
Top Three Performers
  1. Stanislav Svozil

While Stanislav Svozil has always been a solid defender, he wasn’t expected to be a top defender at the World Juniors. Even on his own team, the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect was believed to be the second-best d-man behind David Jiricek. But Svozil surprised, looks to be a strong contender for Top Defender in this event and could even earn some MVP consideration. On top of leading his team in points, the defender played big minutes, including 21:50 in the Czechia shocking win over Canada - a game where he had a goal and an assist. Svozil’s play offensively and his ability to not only break up plays in his end but suppress shots against have been truly dominant throughout the tournament so far. His play will need to continue if the Czechs are going to earn a medal.

  1. Tomas Suchanek

One of only three goaltenders in the tournament to play all four of their team’s Preliminary games, Tomas Suchanek was huge for Czechia. Starting off the tournament against the juggernaut Canadians, the netminder started his tournament with a statement game, stopping 36 shots for a .947 save percentage (SV%). He finished the preliminary round with a .933 SV%. He kept his team in every single game, coming up with huge saves night in and night out. There’s absolutely something to be said for the confidence a team can have when their goaltender plays as he has so far. Eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft as a double overager, Suchanek also impressed in the tournament for his playmaking, picking up three assists - a World Juniors record. Like Svozil, if Czechia wins a medal, it will likely be on the back of Suchanek.

  1. David Jiricek

While it’s been Svozil stealing the show so far on the Czech blue line, Jiricek is right behind him, and not by much. A fellow Blue Jackets prospect, Jiricek has been so reliable with the puck, rarely making a mistake. Picking up an assist in each of the first two games, he truly turned it on in the third game against Sweden, recording a goal and an assist, nearly adding a couple of other goals on truly impressive individual efforts. When he’s on his game and determined, he’s practically unstoppable and that’s shown throughout the round-robin. While there are some solid forwards for the Czechia group in this event that have been having great tournaments, the play of Svozil, Suchanek, and Jiricek is a huge reason for their upset over Canada and the team’s success heading into the medal rounds.

Biggest Surprise

Eduard Sale

While there have been several bright spots on this team, Jiri Kulich deserves a mention on top of the three above and the dominant win over Canada, the biggest surprise has been the play of Eduard Sale. Coming into the season, Sale was a top-10 prospect in this class. He’s been dominant in international events, so the same was expected here. Yet he’s been fairly quiet (three assists) and has seen his minutes dwindle from over 20 minutes in the game against Canada to just 3:47 in the final game where he didn’t hit the ice through the first two periods Sale has the skill to be a top prospect, but his defensive game and his competitiveness without the puck have been less than desired. It will be worth keeping an eye on him in the elimination rounds to see if he can turn it around.

Canada

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

  1. Connor Bedard - 6-12-18
    2. Logan Stankoven - 2-6-8
    3. Dylan Guenther - 4-2-6
    4. Shane Wright - 3-3-6
    5. Joshua Roy - 3-3-6

Top Three Performers

  1. Connor Bedard

Expectations were high coming into the tournament for Connor Bedard, after putting up eight points in his first time in the event last year. He’s been exceeding those expectations through the first four games though, collecting 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in that time. He has 10 points over the next-highest total in the tournament (Logan Stankoven) and has simply been on another level in terms of both talent and production. He’s entering the elimination rounds ready to put his name on top of the history books for Canada, as he’s already tied Jordan Eberle for goals by a Canadian in the event (14) and in the final game, tied Eric Lindros for most points (31), tied Jaromir Jagr for most points for a U18 player, and tied the single-tournament record for a Canadian. With potentially three more games to play, is Peter Forsberg’s 31-point single tournament record within reach?

  1. Logan Stankoven

Outside of Bedard, it’s been Logan Stankoven standing out the most on the Canadian roster. The Dallas Stars prospect is the only player in the tournament (again, outside of Bedard) with at least two points per game, and he’s done that thanks to his relentless motor and competitiveness. He never takes his foot off the gas and has the skill to put up points as well. Playing with Bedard has certainly helped Stankoven and frankly put him in quite the shadow, but Stakoven has been standing out all on his own as well. On top of his tenacious play, he’s been dominant in the faceoff circle, leading the tournament in faceoff percentage. His passing and awareness have been remarkable. Every time he hits the ice, his presence has been felt. As the pressure of the games grows, expect Stankoven to only get better and better.

  1. Dylan Guenther

Many players could be in this third spot, including Joshua Roy, Olen Zellweger, Brandt Clarke, and Thomas Milic. But Dylan Guenther has been excellent for the Canadians. He’s played with Bedard and with Shane Wright and Brennan Othmann, being a play-driver or a supporter depending on what the situation calls for. He’s tied in second in the tournament in goals (four) with USA’s Jimmy Snuggerud. His finishing has been stellar for the Canadians, often capitalizing on the team’s impressive passing. He’s also shown off some great playmaking though, gaining a couple of assists through the event as well. Guenther has been playing in the NHL this season and looks very much like a man among boys at times. He’ll be depended on as a leader down the stretch.

Biggest Surprise

Canada upset in opener by Czechia

There are lots of positives to look at for this Canadian team, but it didn’t start that way. In the opening game of the event against Czechia, the team was too focused on individual efforts and struggled defensively, resulting in them getting shut down by the Czechs. Goaltender Benjamin Gaudreau struggled, letting in five goals in just under half of the game. For the Czechs, Tomas Suchanek stood on his head, putting together a standout performance to hold the Canadians to their lowest goal total of the tournament. Even Bedard was held to just one goal and point in the game - his next lowest total was four points. The Canadians figured it out as the tournament rolled on, putting their best performance together against Sweden in the final Preliminary game. But that game versus Czechia put the team up against a hot goaltender and the Slovaks in the Quarterfinals, instead of the Swiss.

Sweden

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

  1. Ludvig Jansson - 3-3-6
    2. Filip Bystedt - 2-3-5
    3. Fabian Wagner - 2-2-4
    4. Isak Rosen - 2-2-4
    5. Adam Engstrom - 1-2-3

Top Three Performers

  1. Ludvig Jansson

The World Juniors often have some surprises throughout the tournament every year, but this year the biggest may be the play of Ludvig Jansson. In the last World Juniors, he played four games, failing to record a point. In 25 HockeyAllsvenskan games this season, he has six points. In this tournament’s four games, he’s matched that total with three goals and three assists. The Florida Panthers prospect is leading the team in points and is tied for the lead in points by a defenseman. Jansson’s come up big when he needs to as well, highlighted by his performance in the game versus Czechia. In that game, he potted a regulation goal and ended the match in overtime with an excellent drive to the net and a nifty backhand. He’s been one of the best players in the tournament so far, let alone on Team Sweden.

  1. Carl Lindbom

Arguably the top player for Sweden so far, goaltender Carl Lindom came into the tournament as the likely Top Goaltender winner and hasn’t disappointed. The Vegas Golden Knights netminder has played all four of Sweden’s games, repping a very impressive .942 SV%. He started the tournament off with back-to-back shutouts versus Austria and Germany, making 28 saves in the latter, a tight 1-0 win for Sweden. In the game against the Czechs, he made another 33 saves followed by 39 in the loss to the Canadians. Even in that lone loss though, he still played well, being left out to dry on multiple occasions by his defenders. He’s very much in consideration for the best goaltender of the tournament still but will need to bounce back from the five goals let in against Canada.

  1. Filip Bystedt

Through the Preliminary round, Filip Bystedt has been the top forward for the Swedes. The San Jose Sharks prospect has shown off tremendous skating and puck control throughout the Preliminary round, from going coast to coast to driving the net. He’s leading the team’s forwards in points, largely thanks to his scoring chance generation. He’s been peppering goaltenders with shots and should have more goals than his total shows. He’s been robbed on multiple occasions, and you can bet heading into the elimination rounds he’ll be looking to change that. He’s shown some impressive two-way ability at times as well, stealing pucks and being reliable in his own zone. Unless some other forwards step up, he’ll be relied on heavily moving forward.

Biggest Surprise

Ludvig Jansson outproducing big-name forwards

Jansson’s performance deserves more attention. The Swedes are always a contender in this event, thanks to their highly offensive forwards. On a roster with Bystedt, Isak Rosen, Fabian Lysell, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Simon Robertsson, Noah Ostlund, Leo Carlsson, and Liam Ohgren, there wouldn’t be a single person that would have bet on Jansson leading the team in points at this point in the tournament. So, while Jansson’s play has stood out, the lack of offensive production (outside of the 11-0 win over Austria) from some of the big names is alarming heading into the Quarterfinals. Lysell is still looking for his first point in the tournament, Ohgren has just one point, while Robertsson, Carlsson, and Ostlund together have as many points as Jansson. They’ll need some bounces to go their way moving forward.

Germany

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

  1. Roman Kechter - 2-1-3
    2. Phillipp Krening - 1-2-3
    3. Phillip Sinn - 1-2-3
    4. Julian Lutz - 0-2-2
    5. Quirin Bader - 0-2-2

Top Three Performers

  1. Nikita Quapp

He may have only played two and a half games in the Preliminary round, but Nikita Quapp has been the star for Team Germany. A top-three player on the World Junior team last year as well, the Carolina Hurricanes prospect has stepped his game up in a big way. His first game came against the strong Swedish lineup, where he made 43 saves, only letting one goal in, for a .977 SV%. He followed that up with his first and only win so far versus Austria, before playing just half that game against Team Czechia where he let in two of the eight total goals against. He finished with a .952 SV%, one of the best stats in the tournament. His technique has been on point throughout the tournament, standing on his head at times to give his team a fighting chance. Expect more of that through the elimination rounds.

  1. Julian Lutz

To be honest, after Quapp, there’s a big gap with the rest of the team in terms of stand-out performances throughout the tournament. Julian Lutz is in that second tier of standouts though. There are times when he shows off his high level of skill that can see him walk through a team, and there are other times when he seems to fade into the background. If he can gain some consistency in the medal rounds, then watch out. The Arizona Coyotes prospect has proven to be the most skilled player on the German team, showing off remarkable hands and an ability to create space for himself en route to the opposing net. He may not have found the back of the net yet in the tournament, but he’s been extremely close at times. It looks like he’s getting closer, which should bode well for the Germans heading into the Quarterfinals.

  1. Philipp Krening

There are a number of players that could probably fill in this third spot, but Phillipp Krening’s performance versus Austria gives him the edge. Not only was his performance one of the best of the game, but of the day at the World Juniors. He was creating chances, was excellent in possession, and contributed well in his own end. His goal was a rebound to open the scoring in the game versus Austria, adding a great assist on the fourth goal in the game as well. His other assist came in the game against Canada on a German power play, the team’s second goal of the game. Even when his team was down, Krening never gave up in a game, always looking to keep the spark alive for his team.

Biggest Surprise

Nikita Quapp and Germany’s performance versus Sweden

While the pool was always going to be a three-horse race with Canada, Czechia, and Sweden, no one seemed to tell Quapp and the Germans that. Their performance versus Sweden was truly remarkable, with Quapp the saving grace to keep the game close. Of his 43 saves in the game, many of them came in quick bunches. He remained sharp throughout the match, with his impressive technique never seeming to waiver. There were many times when the game could have gotten out of hand, but Quapp stood tall. While he just has one win and two and a half games played, he’s looked like one of the best netminders in the event to this point. He has a tough Quarterfinal matchup against Team USA but look for Quapp to keep it close for his team.

Austria

Top-Five Scorers (G-A-Pts)

  1. Ian Scherzer - 1-0-1
    2. Jonas Dobnig - 1-0-1
    3. Vinzenz Rohrer - 0-1-1
    4. Luca Auer - 0-1-1
    5. Finn van Ee - 0-1-1

Top Three Performers

  1. David Reinbacher

While the Austrian team struggled to get their footing in this event, the play of defenseman David Reinbacher was a true bright spot for the group. The 2023 NHL Draft-eligible stood out as the best player on this team every game, highlighted by a standout performance in the final match versus Germany, doing everything in his power to get his team to the Quarterfinal. The defender put the team on his back every time he was on the ice, producing scoring chances, leading the transition game, and shutting plays down defensively. He’s a big body that plays with a physical edge and has great mobility. He might be leaving the event without a point, but he’s still the top player for this Austrian team.

  1. Ian Scherzer

After Reinbacher, the Austrian team did quite struggle in this event. However, in the fourth and final game of the Preliminary round, 2023 NHL Draft-eligible Ian Scherzer potted the first goal for Austria in the event, after being shut out in their first three games. It was a great shot where he took advantage of the space in front of him and fired it through the netminder. Scherzer was one of the more consistent players throughout the tournament for the team, despite being relied upon heavily as a younger player in this event. He was the team’s 1C and did well in the role, playing heavy minutes.

  1. Vinzenz Rohrer

After missing the first game with an illness, Austrian captain Vinzenz Rohrer returned to the lineup and played the remaining games. While he didn’t collect a point until his primary assist on Scherzer’s goal in the fourth game, he was the heart and soul of this team. Every time he was on the ice, he never took his foot off the gas and battled hard to make something happen for his team. When it didn’t happen on the ice, the Montreal Canadiens prospect showed maturity and poise night in and night out as he faced the media after games. He was giving speeches to the team, trying to get them going, and never seemed to give up faith in himself or the team.

Biggest Surprise

The outstanding play of David Reinbacher

Coming into the tournament, Reinbacher already had first-round attention for the 2023 NHL Draft. However, on a team that was expected to be playing in the relegation game, expectations for the defender were low. But he stood out in every single game, impressing with his ability to stick with his man defensively, get in the lanes to break up plays, and use his feet and vision to lead the transition to the offensive zone. Especially in the final round-robin game versus Germany, where he played over 26 minutes, Reinbacher was a man on a mission and had one of the best performances from a defender in this event. While you can’t put too much stock in one event for the NHL Draft, this has definitely given him a bump further up the first round. He was absolutely one of the most impressive defensemen in the Preliminary round.

]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-world-junior-championship-group-round-robin-recap/feed/ 0 2023 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAM PREVIEW – AUSTRIA https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-iihf-world-junior-championship-team-preview-austria/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-iihf-world-junior-championship-team-preview-austria/#respond Sat, 24 Dec 2022 15:58:59 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=179913 Read More... from 2023 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAM PREVIEW – AUSTRIA

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EDMONTON, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 27: Austria vs Finland preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 27, 2021 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Team Austria - Group A Preview

Relegation is back, baby! And that will be the topic of the tournament for Team Austria. No matter how upstart Coach Kirk Furey’s boys play, the goal here can only be to avoid relegation. Anything above and beyond that can be seen as overachievement. If Austria manages to lock up class retention in round robin play, they’ll have to find a way past at least one opponent, and the most likely candidates are rival Germany or northern neighbor Czechia. A win in Game 3 against Germany is the most likely path to maintaining the class and would likely mean a spot in the quarterfinals. That’s a spot we haven’t seen the likes of Austria in, like, forever.

Should the preliminary round conclude without a victory, then chances are high that either Latvia or western neighbor Switzerland (if not highly touted Slovakia) will be the opponent in the best-of-three playdown, something Furey is going to want to avoid at all costs. Unfortunately, the biggest piece of the puzzle in achieving the nation’s goal is not going to be in Halifax. Detroit’s 2022 first rounder Marco Kasper will not be attending the tourney due to personal and club-related reasons. The Austrian federation says he has their full backing and understanding in this decision, but when you’re basically a one-trick pony, things get real tough when that pony isn’t there.

In goal, the team will feature three young men who are all currently playing in the nation’s second tier pro league, AlpsHL. That’s good and fine, but not one of them is a starter nor have any of the three played in more than eight games this season. Benedikt Oschgan is by far the youngest of the group and has some sizzling numbers (.925 save percentage) in four games. He’s also gotten into action with the Austrian program’s U18 and U20 teams thus far. The blueline features a rather large contingent of returnees from last summer, with David Reinbacher being the key. He’s not only the sole member of the group playing at a level as high as the Swiss NL, he’s also a top 90 candidate for the upcoming draft. Thimo Nickl was the last Austrian-born defenseman drafted by an NHL team.

The forward group features a hodgepodge of bodies playing in various (mostly pro) leagues, with four skaters currently outside of Austria. The attack will be spearheaded by Montreal Canadiens 2022 3rd rounder Vincenz Rohrer, who’ll have to be an absolute key in avoiding relegation. He’ll be assisted by a number of returnees from the summer tournament, including 17-year-old Ian Scherzer, who is a late round candidate for next summer’s draft and, like Kasper, laces up his skates for the Rögle organization in Sweden. The great majority of the forward options are playing pro in the upper class ICEHL or aforementioned AlpsHL. Of them, undrafted Luca Auer made a highly physical impression in August, but nary a soul is making much of a dent on the scoresheet for their respective clubs in leagues akin to maybe the ECHL, level wise. In short, offense is going to be really hard to come by.

The goal is clear, and it may take 7 games to achieve, but we’ve seen what good spirits and a little bit of luck can mean for a team (see Denmark not too long ago), particularly in the preliminary round. In light of Austria’s shockingly poor performances at the U18 level in recent years, retaining the class would be a huge shot in the arm for the morale of this federation.

10 to Watch

Vinzenz Rohrer - C/RW

A likely center for Austria in Halifax, Rohrer is the nation’s nonplus ultra at this tournament and will be its go-to man in most all situations, particularly those involving offense. Currently clipping at over a PPG for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL in his D+1 season, the righty shot will be a key ingredient to the team’s power play and his strong board play and wily style cutting through defenses will likely be what earns the Austrians most of their power play opportunities in the first place. The team will count on him to be the difference in no less than the preliminary round match-up against Germany.

David Reinbacher - D

The blueline could theoretically consist of five 19-year-olds, complemented by Reinbacher, who will be staring at a good 25+ minutes per game in contests where Austria is competitive. Having just turned 18 in October, Reinbacher has been a tour de force in the early part of the season, collecting 14 points and a +9 in his first 28 games, all with Kloten in the highly competitive Swiss NL. A top prospect for next summer’s draft, the 6’2”, 187-pound righty shot is both mobile and happy to shoot, and will play the game any way it comes, even if he’s still rough around the edges. Expect to hear his name quite a bit, as he’s not only a vet of the past WJC, but also debuted for the national team at the recent Deutschland Cup.

Ian Scherzer of Austria during the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship group stage game between Austria and Sweden on August 12, 2022 in Edmonton.
Photo: Joel Ma

Ian Scherzer - C

Just 17, Scherzer is entering his second WJC and already collected three points in four contests this past summer. Further demonstrating just how promising Scherzer is, he has seven points for Rögle’s U20 team thus far this season, already deemed too good for the club’s U18 outfit. With Kasper out of the picture, this will be Scherzer’s shot to show the hockey world what kind of player he really is now that relegation is part of the equation. Whether ready or not, he’s going to have to chip in offensively if he wants to be part of this tournament again next winter.

Luca Auer - W

The unexpected top scorer for the RB Juniors in the AlpsHL last season (48 points in 35 games) as just a 17-year-old, Auer also gained valuable experience at both the D1B U18 Worlds (6 points in 4 games) and then again as a physical force at the summer WJC. In both tourneys, he racked up a whopping 31 penalty minutes, which is one of the odder feats you’ll see in the course of a season. Currently playing a yeoman’s role for reigning ICEHL champion Salzburg, Auer will be counted on to not only take on a top six role in Halifax but play with the kind of constant edge that will get under the skin of opponents. Can he top those 31 PMs of 5 months ago? It’d be wise for this Austrian side to stay out of the penalty box.

Thomas Pfarrmaier - G

He tagged along in August as the third stringer and has basically split time in net with Germany’s Simon Wolf as part of the RB Juniors outfit that plays in the AlpsHL. Despite four wins in eight games, he’s allowing almost 3.5 goals per game and is sporting a sub-.900 save percentage. Alas, he may be Austria’s best option in goal this tournament or at least be the guy to “take the fall” against the real big boys.

Finn van Ee - W

Entering his third WJC, van Ee is a hustling winger who started the season strongly in the AlpsHL and has been honing his craft with traditional Austrian powerhouse Klagenfurt the past 20-some games. In general, he’s not a scorer, but will need to chew up important minutes in all three zones and as part of the PK unit. Half Dutch, this is van Ee’s last hurrah at this level and you can bet he’ll be looking to put his footprint on each and every game.

Sleeper: Benedikt Oschgan - G
One of only two 2005-born players on this roster, there’s really nothing saying he won’t get some, if not most, of the action in goal at this tournament. Not only does he have better numbers and more appearances than his counterparts in goal, but the program could really begin investing in the near future by getting him some action already in this event. Who knows, maybe they have him planned as the guy who faces Czechia and Germany.

 

 

]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-iihf-world-junior-championship-team-preview-austria/feed/ 0 2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #71 thru #80 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhl-draft-midseason-ranking-top-100-player-profiles-video-71-80/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhl-draft-midseason-ranking-top-100-player-profiles-video-71-80/#respond Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:57:42 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=175293 Read More... from 2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #71 thru #80

]]> In case you missed it, we updated our 2022 NHL Draft rankings recently. You can find that here. Shane Wright still headlines the list but the gap is unquestionably closing as other candidates elevate their play.

With this piece our intention is to briefly introduce you to each of the players that fill out the rest of the Top 100 (ranked 50-100), after previously looking at the Top 50. Below you will find a short summary of their games in addition to a top highlight. In the coming months you will see in-depth scouting reports published by our regional scouts on each of these players (like this one on Shane Wright).

  1. David Spacek - Defense - Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

The top ranked “re-entry” player on our list, Spacek is eligible for the NHL draft for the second time this July. A large reason for his positive development this year was the move to the QMJHL to play for Sherbrooke. Spacek has been operating at nearly a point per game all year for the Phoenix, while also playing heavy minutes in all situations as a top pairing defender. The son of former NHL defender Jaroslav Spacek, David plays a bit of a similar game. He has a very well-rounded profile and the progression in his offensive skill set is a major reason why he was selected to play for the Czech team at this year’s halted World Juniors. He skates well. He distributes the puck well. He plays with an edge in the defensive zone. There is a lot to like here. Given the bloodlines and the sharp development curve, Spacek is a player deserving of a Top 100 ranking despite being passed over last year.

  1. Angus Booth - Defense - Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

Booth is another well rounded defender who has taken massive steps forward this year in his second QMJHL season. He is not the most dynamic of defenders; he won’t wow you with skill or creativity. However, his game management skills are tremendous because of excellent vision and poise under pressure. He rarely turns the puck over, even under duress, and always seems to hit the mark with his exits. Booth also is a smart defensive player who shows great awareness in coverage, can win one on one jousts, and has increased his physical intensity over the course of the season. He will need to improve his ability to get shots through to remain a powerplay quarterback at the next level, but his vision and ability to hold the line are transferable and projectable skills. Booth is definitely a favourite of our east coast scouting team.

  1. Jake Livanavage - Defense - Chicago Steel (USHL)

Yes, Livanavage is undersized. Yes, there may be some concern over his ability to defend consistently at the next level. However, his offensive skill set is extremely exciting. One of the draft's best movers on the back end, Livanavage loves to push the pace and lead the attack. Not only is he explosive moving forward, but his ability to use pivots, c-cuts, and linear crossovers allows him to alter pace and direction while maintaining possession as well as any defender in the USHL. The North Dakota commit has been tremendous for the top-notch Steel all season long. He was also excellent for the U.S. at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky. One thing scouts will be watching for down the stretch is how Livanavage is able to perform in this year’s Clark Cup playoffs. Can he elevate his game further, especially in the defensive end, to help Chicago repeat as champions?

  1. Markus Vidicek - Center - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

The pandemic related stoppage was so poorly timed for Vidicek, who was playing his best hockey right before the QMJHL went on hiatus. Coming into the year, expectations were sky high for the Halifax pivot after a very strong rookie season a year ago. However, he got off to a very slow start, struggling in a second line role for the Mooseheads, passed on the depth chart by the dynamic Jordan Dumais. If he can come back after the restart and pick up where he left off, Vidicek should be able to recoup some of the hype he had previously. Vidicek is definitely not the biggest (5’10 and 154lbs), but he finds a way to get to the middle and does most of his damage from high traffic and high danger areas. He is most definitely not a perimeter player. His strong maneuverability and agility, combined with his strong anticipation and awareness, makes him a tough cover and an elusive player in the o-zone. With a solid work rate and a determined approach, Vidicek projects as a middle six playmaker.

Matthew Seminoff - Photo by Allen Douglas

  1. Matthew Seminoff - Wing - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Seminoff is a player who absolutely makes the best of his average skill set by outworking and outhustling the opposition. A strong linear skater, Seminoff uses his quickness to be one of the WHL’s elite forecheckers. He is just flat out annoying to play against with how he consistently applies pressure and forces turnovers. Seminoff isn’t just a high energy player, he’s also a highly intelligent one who understands how to play without the puck and work between coverage. His strong anticipation makes him a true puck magnet. The combination of his speed, tenaciousness, and IQ, makes him the perfect complementary player. That said, there may be some limitations to his finishing and play creation abilities. And as a late born ‘03, he is already a little more advanced in his development. He has been in a slump the last month or so, which begs the question of whether his offensive production is falling back down to Earth. Regardless, Seminoff does look like he has a chance at becoming a Michael Bunting kind of player at the NHL level.

  1. Kasper Kulonummi - Defense - Jokerit (Fin U20)

Right now, the battle for the first Finnish defender off the board this year is between Salin and Kulonummi, with the former being a little quicker and athletic (and thus a higher grade from us). Kulonummi is a solid prospect in his own right, though. He rarely makes a mistake with the puck and shows great composure in the offensive end running the point. His lateral mobility is a strength, and he holds the line well, getting pucks on net while managing the powerplay. Kulonummi’s defensive game also shows promise because of his IQ and ability to disrupt the slot with an active stick. At this point, the question becomes, what kind of upside does Kulonummi have? A lack of physical tools may hold him back and he may not be innately skilled enough to overcome that. He looks like a solid mid round selection because right now the upside is probably not higher than a solid #4-5.

Vinzenz Rohrer of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Robert Lefebvre /OHL Images.

  1. Vinzenz Rohrer - Wing - Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

Rohrer has become a favourite of our OHL scouting team this year because of his work rate and versatility. He seems to have an endless well of energy and never stops moving his feet. He brings physicality on the forecheck and backcheck. He kills penalties and blocks shots. He can play the wing or center. He problem solves well through traffic and has the quick hands to match his quick feet. Rohrer is a dangerous transitional attacker who moves well East/West and is unpredictable. He’s more shifty than explosive, so adding power to his first few strides would really help his game. His shot and finishing skills could also be improved upon. But Rohrer’s versatility will be enticing to NHL scouts as he looks like the perfect modern day third liner. He had a really great opportunity to shine at the WJC’s, playing on Austria’s first line with Marco Kasper, but the tournament was obviously cut short.

  1. Elias Salomonsson - Defense - Skelleftea J20 (Swe J20)

Talk about a fall from grace. At this time last year, Salomonsson was considered a candidate to be the top defenseman selected and a possible top ten candidate. A poor Hlinka/Gretzky cup performance and a lack of development in the defensive end this year has led to a free fall for the smooth skating, right shot defender. The physical tools are terrific. His grades as a skater and as a creative playmaker are near the top of this class, especially from the blueline. Once he builds a head of steam exiting the defensive zone, he is hard to stop and it makes him a very dangerous player on the counter attack. However, our scouts aren’t convinced he has the toolbox to truly take advantage of his elite tools. He struggles with turnovers. He struggles in the defensive end. Both of those can be attributed to a possible lack of IQ and awareness and that is concerning. Our ranking of him is undoubtedly lower than he will go in the NHL draft. Someone will bank on his game coming together. And there’s still a chance that happens later this year. But right now, this is where we feel comfortable ranking him as a boom or bust prospect.

  1. Liam Arnsby - Center - North Bay Battalion (OHL)

Not every draft prospect has to be a potential game breaker. NHL teams need to find quality role players too. Insert Liam Arnsby, who profiles as a Scott Laughton, Casey Cizikas type at the NHL level. After struggling as an OHL rookie two seasons ago (Arnsby is a late born ‘03 and former member of that dominant Don Mills Flyers OHL Cup winning team), Arnsby has made great strides in his skating and skill development this year. He is an extremely tenacious center who is one of the most physical forwards in the OHL. He consistently competes in the defensive end and takes on tough assignments for the Battalion, working to shut down the opposition’s best. With the adjustments made to his ability to handle the puck at full speed, Arnsby has the confidence to lead the attack and is always looking to drive the middle to create. There will be limitations as he moves up the ladder, but he has a real solid shot of becoming a long-time pro. Further development as a skater will be key.

  1. Daniil Orlov - Defense - Sakhalinskiye Akuly (MHL)

Orlov is a good-sized Russian defender who is flying under the radar a bit right now. He doesn’t play for a major MHL program, and he hasn’t played for the Russian national team, but there are some projectable tools that our Russian regional scout really likes. He skates well and has impressive top speed that allows him to lead the attack. He shows well as a powerplay quarterback with his big point shot and ability to get pucks through. He has an active stick in the defensive zone and is quick to counter by skating the puck out of trouble to complete the exit. He is a late born ‘03, so his solid production in the MHL does need to be measured cautiously. Additionally, he could stand to play with a little more physical intensity, especially covering the net front. However, Orlov does show potential as a puck mover with size and mobility.

]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhl-draft-midseason-ranking-top-100-player-profiles-video-71-80/feed/ 0 2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 100 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhldraft-mckeens-mid-season-ranking-top-100/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhldraft-mckeens-mid-season-ranking-top-100/#respond Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:59:29 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=175057 Read More... from 2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 100

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.
RANK PLAYER POS TEAM HT/WT DOB GP-G-A-PTS
1 Shane Wright C Kingston (OHL) 6-1/190 5-Jan-04 25-12-19-31
2 Simon Nemec D HK Nitra (Svk) 6-1/190 15-Feb-04 28-0-19-19
3 Matthew Savoie C Winnipeg (WHL) 5-9/180 1-Jan-04 35-19-34-53
4 Logan Cooley C USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/180 4-May-04 25-15-20-35
5 Danila Yurov RW Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) 6-1/175 22-Dec-03 21-0-0-0
6 Joakim Kemell RW JyP (Fin-Liiga) 5-11/175 27-Apr-04 21-12-6-18
7 Juraj Slafkovsky LW TPS (Fin-Liiga) 6-4/225 30-Mar-04 20-1-3-4
8 Conor Geekie C Winnipeg (WHL) 6-4/205 5-May-04 35-11-27-38
9 Brad Lambert C JyP (Fin-Liiga) 6-0/180 19-Dec-03 24-2-4-6
10 Ivan Miroshnichenko LW Omskie Krylia (VHL) 6-1/185 4-Feb-04 30-9-6-15
11 David Jiricek D HC Plzen (Cze) 6-3/190 28-Nov-03 29-5-6-11
12 Filip Mesar C HK Poprad (Svk) 5-10/165 3-Jan-04 22-6-5-11
13 Pavel Mintyukov D Saginaw (OHL) 6-1/190 25-Nov-03 31-6-17-23
14 Denton Mateychuk D Moose Jaw (WHL) 5-11/190 12-Jul-04 35-7-24-31
15 Marco Kasper C Rogle BK (SHL) 6-1/185 8-Apr-04 27-4-2-6
16 Alexander Perevalov LW Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) 6-0/190 16-Apr-04 29-19-20-39
17 Seamus Casey D USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/160 8-Jan-04 31-5-13-18
18 Frank Nazar C USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/175 14-Jan-04 33-15-23-38
19 Noah Ostlund C Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20) 5-10/160 11-Mar-04 19-6-18-24
20 Cutter Gauthier C USN U18 (USDP) 6-2/190 19-Jan-04 33-20-12-32
21 Jonathan Lekkerimaki C Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20) 5-11/170 24-Jul-04 25-19-15-34
22 Tristan Luneau D Gatineau (QMJHL) 6-2/175 12-Jan-04 26-5-10-15
23 Nathan Gaucher C Quebec (QMJHL) 6-3/205 6-Nov-03 30-15-11-26
24 Ty Nelson D North Bay (OHL) 5-9/195 30-Mar-04 33-5-21-26
25 Vladimir Grudinin D Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) 5-10/160 9-Dec-03 15-2-7-9
26 Owen Beck C Mississauga (OHL) 5-11/190 3-Feb-04 33-13-16-29
27 Simon Forsmark D Orebro (SHL) 6-2/195 17-Oct-03 22-0-1-1
28 Mats Lindgren D Kamloops (WHL) 5-11/175 26-Aug-04 34-2-19-21
29 Rutger McGroarty LW USN U18 (USDP) 6-1/205 30-Mar-04 27-15-17-32
30 Jiri Kulich C Karlovy Vary (Cze) 6-0/175 14-Apr-04 31-7-4-11
31 Isaac Howard LW USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/180 30-Mar-04 33-15-24-39
32 Jimmy Snuggerud RW USN U18 (USDP) 6-1/185 1-Jun-04 33-16-22-38
33 Filip Bystedt C Linkopings (SHL) 6-4/185 4-Feb-04 14-1-1-2
34 Brandon Lisowsky LW Saskatoon (WHL) 5-8/175 13-Apr-04 35-19-10-29
35 Jagger Firkus RW Moose Jaw (WHL) 5-10/155 29-Apr-04 38-23-21-44
36 Maveric Lamoureux D Drummondville (QMJHL) 6-7/195 13-Jan-04 30-3-8-11
37 Matthew Poitras C Guelph (OHL) 5-11/175 10-Mar-04 29-10-13-23
38 Adam Ingram C Youngstown (USHL) 6-2/165 14-Oct-03 27-16-20-36
39 Liam Ohgren LW Djurgardens (SHL) 6-0/185 28-Jan-04 21-1-1-2
40 Calle Odelius D Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20) 6-0/185 30-May-04 28-4-17-21
41 Sam Rinzel D Chaska (USHS-MN) 6-4/180 25-Jun-04 13-3-13-16
42 Ludwig Persson LW Frolunda J20 (Swe J20) 6-0/180 8-Oct-03 24-16-19-35
43 Artyom Duda D Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Rus) 6-1/180 8-Apr-04 36-11-20-31
44 Jani Nyman RW KOOVEE (Fin-Mestis) 6-3/210 30-Jul-04 23-14-9-23
45 Matyas Sapovaliv C Saginaw (OHL) 6-3/180 12-Feb-04 31-10-16-26
46 Kevin Korchinski D Seattle (WHL) 6-1/185 21-Jun-04 32-4-24-28
47 Gleb Trikozov RW Omskie Yastreby (MHL) 6-1/185 12-Aug-04 17-9-8-17
48 David Goyette C Sudbury (OHL) 5-11/170 27-Mar-04 32-12-18-30
49 Owen Pickering D Swift Current (WHL) 6-3/180 27-Jan-04 34-6-15-21
50 Lian Bichsel D Leksands (SHL) 6-5/215 18-May-04 13-0-1-1
51 Paul Ludwinski LW Kingston (OHL) 5-11/175 23-Apr-04 28-6-13-19
52 Jordan Dumais RW Halifax (QMJHL) 5-8/165 15-Apr-04 30-16-31-47
53 Aleksanteri Kaskimaki LW HIFK (Fin U20) 6-0/185 6-Feb-04 22-15-14-29
54 Luca Del Bel Belluz C Mississauga (OHL) 6-1/180 10-Nov-03 33-18-27-45
55 Ryan Chesley D USN U18 (USDP) 6-0/195 27-Feb-04 32-2-5-7
56 Danny Zhilkin C Guelph (OHL) 6-2/185 19-Dec-03 27-10-14-24
57 Isaiah George D London (OHL) 6-0/195 15-Feb-04 29-1-9-10
58 Rieger Lorenz LW Okotoks (AJHL) 6-1/185 30-Mar-04 43-28-39-67
59 Tyler Duke D USN U18 (USDP) 5-8/180 19-Jul-04 27-1-7-8
60 Mattias Havelid D Linkopings (SHL) 5-9/170 1-Jan-04 12-0-0-0
61 Arseni Koromyslov D SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) 6-3/180 3-Nov-03 22-0-8-8
62 Jack Hughes 2 C Northeastern (NCAA-HE) 6-0/165 2-Nov-03 22-5-4-9
63 Lane Hutson D USN U18 (USDP) 5-8/150 14-Feb-04 33-4-25-29
64 Gavin Hayes RW Flint (OHL) 6-1/175 14-May-04 30-8-9-17
65 Otto Salin D HIFK (Fin-Liiga) 5-11/185 7-Mar-04 5-0-1-1
66 Hunter Haight C Barrie (OHL) 5-10/175 4-Apr-04 24-8-6-14
67 Antonin Verreault LW Gatineau (QMJHL) 5-8/165 28-Jul-04 29-8-18-26
68 Cameron Lund RW Green Bay (USHL) 6-2/185 7-Jun-04 30-11-9-20
69 Bryce McConnell-Barker C Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 6-1/185 4-Jun-04 34-11-12-23
70 Brennan Ali C Lincoln (USHL) 6-1/195 9-Feb-04 2-0-0-0
71 David Spacek D Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 6-0/170 18-Feb-03 27-5-20-25
72 Angus Booth D Shawinigan (QMJHL) 6-0/175 27-Apr-04 30-1-20-21
73 Jake Livanavage D Chicago (USHL) 5-9/160 6-May-04 32-2-25-27
74 Markus Vidicek C Halifax (QMJHL) 5-10/160 21-Mar-04 30-9-18-27
75 Matthew Seminoff RW Kamloops (WHL) 5-10/160 27-Dec-03 30-15-18-33
76 Kasper Kulonummi D Jokerit (Fin U20) 6-0/175 1-Mar-04 25-2-16-18
77 Vinzenz Rohrer RW Ottawa (OHL) 5-10/160 9-Sep-04 30-9-14-23
78 Elias Salomonsson D Skelleftea J20 (Swe J20) 6-1/170 31-Aug-04 24-8-9-17
79 Liam Arnsby C North Bay (OHL) 5-10/180 20-Nov-03 32-8-10-18
80 Daniil Orlov D Sakhalinskiye Akuly (MHL) 6-2/180 21-Dec-03 44-8-18-26
81 Quinn Finley LW Madison (USHL) 6-0/170 8-Aug-04 14-5-5-10
82 Topi Ronni C Tappara (Fin U20) 6-1/180 5-May-04 21-7-11-18
83 Jordan Gustafson C Seattle (WHL) 5-11/180 20-Jan-04 29-13-18-31
84 Tyler Brennan G Prince George (WHL) 6-4/190 27-Sep-03 8-11-2, 3.34, .902
85 Cole Spicer C USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/175 13-Jun-04 31-10-12-22
86 Ryan Greene C Green Bay (USHL) 6-1/175 21-Oct-03 28-10-16-26
87 Topias Leinonen G JyP (Fin U20) 6-4/215 19-Jul-04 17GP, 2.17, .919
88 Alexander Suzdalev LW HV 71 J20 (Swe J20) 6-2/175 5-Mar-04 31-11-22-33
89 Pano Fimis C Niagara (OHL) 5-10/175 17-Jun-04 27-5-14-19
90 Spencer Sova D Erie (OHL) 6-1/185 10-Jan-04 30-2-12-14
91 Yoan Loshing C Moncton (QMJHL) 5-9/160 29-Feb-04 19-8-5-13
92 Jack Devine RW Denver (NCHC) 5-11/175 1-Oct-03 19-2-12-14
93 Ruslan Gazizov RW London (OHL) 5-11/185 21-Jan-04 20-5-11-16
94 Jackson Dorrington D Des Moines (USHL) 6-2/190 13-Apr-04 27-3-7-10
95 Jorian Donovan D Hamilton (OHL) 6-1/180 5-Apr-04 31-3-9-12
96 Jere Lassila C JyP (Fin U20) 5-9/170 8-Mar-04 13-7-4-11
97 Tucker Robertson C Peterborough (OHL) 5-11/190 22-Jun-03 31-19-23-42
98 Noah Warren D Gatineau (QMJHL) 6-5/215 15-Jul-04 29-3-9-12
99 Zakary Lavoie RW Mississauga (OHL) 5-11/170 15-Mar-04 31-10-15-25
100 Boston Buckberger D Brooks (AJHL) 5-10/175 1-Jun-03 42-11-9-20
]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhldraft-mckeens-mid-season-ranking-top-100/feed/ 0 2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhldraft-mckeens-mid-season-ranking-top-32/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhldraft-mckeens-mid-season-ranking-top-32/#respond Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:58:52 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=175064 Read More... from 2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.
RANK PLAYER POS TEAM HT/WT DOB GP-G-A-PTS
1 Shane Wright C Kingston (OHL) 6-1/190 5-Jan-04 25-12-19-31
2 Simon Nemec D HK Nitra (Svk) 6-1/190 15-Feb-04 28-0-19-19
3 Matthew Savoie C Winnipeg (WHL) 5-9/180 1-Jan-04 35-19-34-53
4 Logan Cooley C USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/180 4-May-04 25-15-20-35
5 Danila Yurov RW Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) 6-1/175 22-Dec-03 21-0-0-0
6 Joakim Kemell RW JyP (Fin-Liiga) 5-11/175 27-Apr-04 21-12-6-18
7 Juraj Slafkovsky LW TPS (Fin-Liiga) 6-4/225 30-Mar-04 20-1-3-4
8 Conor Geekie C Winnipeg (WHL) 6-4/205 5-May-04 35-11-27-38
9 Brad Lambert C JyP (Fin-Liiga) 6-0/180 19-Dec-03 24-2-4-6
10 Ivan Miroshnichenko LW Omskie Krylia (VHL) 6-1/185 4-Feb-04 30-9-6-15
11 David Jiricek D HC Plzen (Cze) 6-3/190 28-Nov-03 29-5-6-11
12 Filip Mesar C HK Poprad (Svk) 5-10/165 3-Jan-04 22-6-5-11
13 Pavel Mintyukov D Saginaw (OHL) 6-1/190 25-Nov-03 31-6-17-23
14 Denton Mateychuk D Moose Jaw (WHL) 5-11/190 12-Jul-04 35-7-24-31
15 Marco Kasper C Rogle BK (SHL) 6-1/185 8-Apr-04 27-4-2-6
16 Alexander Perevalov LW Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) 6-0/190 16-Apr-04 29-19-20-39
17 Seamus Casey D USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/160 8-Jan-04 31-5-13-18
18 Frank Nazar C USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/175 14-Jan-04 33-15-23-38
19 Noah Ostlund C Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20) 5-10/160 11-Mar-04 19-6-18-24
20 Cutter Gauthier C USN U18 (USDP) 6-2/190 19-Jan-04 33-20-12-32
21 Jonathan Lekkerimaki C Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20) 5-11/170 24-Jul-04 25-19-15-34
22 Tristan Luneau D Gatineau (QMJHL) 6-2/175 12-Jan-04 26-5-10-15
23 Nathan Gaucher C Quebec (QMJHL) 6-3/205 6-Nov-03 30-15-11-26
24 Ty Nelson D North Bay (OHL) 5-9/195 30-Mar-04 33-5-21-26
25 Vladimir Grudinin D Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) 5-10/160 9-Dec-03 15-2-7-9
26 Owen Beck C Mississauga (OHL) 5-11/190 3-Feb-04 33-13-16-29
27 Simon Forsmark D Orebro (SHL) 6-2/195 17-Oct-03 22-0-1-1
28 Mats Lindgren D Kamloops (WHL) 5-11/175 26-Aug-04 34-2-19-21
29 Rutger McGroarty LW USN U18 (USDP) 6-1/205 30-Mar-04 27-15-17-32
30 Jiri Kulich C Karlovy Vary (Cze) 6-0/175 14-Apr-04 31-7-4-11
31 Isaac Howard LW USN U18 (USDP) 5-10/180 30-Mar-04 33-15-24-39
32 Jimmy Snuggerud RW USN U18 (USDP) 6-1/185 1-Jun-04 33-16-22-38
]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhldraft-mckeens-mid-season-ranking-top-32/feed/ 0 OHL: 2022 NHL DRAFT Video Review – Brock Otten’s Five Early Prospects to Watch https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/ohl-2022-nhl-draft-video-review-brock-ottens-early-prospects-watch/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/ohl-2022-nhl-draft-video-review-brock-ottens-early-prospects-watch/#respond Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:01:03 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=174701 Read More... from OHL: 2022 NHL DRAFT Video Review – Brock Otten’s Five Early Prospects to Watch

]]> On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 Robert Calisti of the Soo Greyhounds scored into an empty net to secure a 4-1 victory against the Flint Firebirds. Who knew that Calisti’s goal would be the last one scored in the Ontario Hockey League before an over 18 month layoff due to the COVID pandemic.

However, thanks to vaccines and safety precautions, the OHL is back! We are a quarter of the way through the 2021/22 season now and that means it is time to take stock in individual and team performances. The London Knights have dominated early on the back of balanced scoring and tremendous goaltending from Brett Brochu. The Eastern Conference is a log jam of teams fighting consistency. And the league’s double rookie crop (those selected in the 2020 and 2021 Priority, Import, and U18 drafts) is becoming more comfortable with each passing week.

A good portion of that rookie crop makes up the talented OHL players eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal next summer. While it may be too early to make sweeping generalizations or concrete projections, considering many of those eligible are trying to find consistency after their first two months in the league, we can identify some players who have caught our eye.

Hello my name is...Owen Beck

Owen Beck of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.
Background Information  
Team: Mississauga Steelheads Position: C
Height/Weight: 6'0, 190lbs Birthdate: 2004-02-03
Season to Date Stats GP-19 G -7 A-9 PTS-16

Attributes to Like

  1. Skating

Beck has been able to use his speed to consistently generate scoring chances and to push the pace of play thus far this year. Here he starts even with Bulldogs captain Colton Kammerer, but catches him flat footed at center ice and blows by him to create the two on one and subsequently scores on a nice finish off a feed from fellow 2022 eligible forward Zak Lavoie.

Here Beck circles back on the powerplay to start the breakout and goes end to end, nearly forcing Ethan Ritchie to take a penalty (but he instead makes a last second poke check). Beck gets to top speed in only a few strides, but also uses a few linear strides to alter his pace and direction, creating the successful entry and nearly a clear look all alone behind Kingston’s defense.

Later in the game he does get Ritchie to take the penalty in a similar type of play. Again, he maintains top speed through a few linear crossovers, successfully gains the zone and forces Ritchie to make the hook to prevent another clean look. In every game I have seen of Beck’s this year, he seems to draw a penalty in the offensive zone because of his quickness.

  1. Two-Way Sense/Effort

Really great sequence here from Beck in the offensive end. A 67’s player jumps the pass to the slot and looks to start the breakout, but Beck hustles and strips him off the puck before he can exit the zone. Then he makes a good (albeit weak) pass to a teammate near the faceoff circle. After that play is negated, Beck finishes a heavy check on the forecheck.

Great play on the backcheck here by Beck with the stick check to force the turnover, then he quickly turns it around and starts the breakout to create a near odd man opportunity for the Steelheads.

Beck follows the play all the way and supports his defenders by sliding down to cover the net front. He reads the Kingston attackers’ eyes and intercepts the pass into the slot. But the puck is not on his stick long as he dishes off to help start a clean exit.

  1. Playmaking Vision

A terrific set-up by Beck here to Ty Anselmini. He sells the shot and draws the defender in, only to dish off to the streaking Anselmini who is cutting backdoor. It is this patience and poise with the puck that makes Beck such an impressive playmaker.

A similar play here by Beck as he operates down low on the powerplay. He received the pass at the side of the net and could have easily put a lower percentage shot on net. Instead, he draws in the defender with a couple subtle fakes and finds Luca Del Bel Belluz wide open in the slot for the tap in goal.

Rest of the Season Outlook

Thus far, Beck has been operating as the Steelheads’ second line center behind Luca Del Bel Belluz. However, he is seeing significant special teams’ responsibility including secondary powerplay and primary penalty killing duties. He seems to be getting better with each passing week and he is consistently making those around him better. An intelligent two-way center with offensive upside, Beck has a chance to really rise up draft rankings if he can continue to make an impact at both ends of the ice. A first round grade is not inconceivable, but this level of play needs to be sustained.

Hello my name is...Matthew Poitras

Matthew Poitras of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images
Background Information  
Team: Guelph Storm Position: C
Height/Weight: 5'11, 170lbs Birthdate: 2004-03-10
Season to Date Stats GP-21 G -7 A-12 PTS-19

Attributes to Like

  1. Tenaciousness

A really nice play on the forecheck here by Poitras. He catches the Windsor defender from behind and executes the stick lift to force the turnover. Then he gets a great scoring chance on the wrap-around but can’t beat fellow 2022 draft eligible player Kyle Downey.

Poitras’ tenaciousness in the offensive end is much more consistent than his compete in the defensive end, but it is plays like this that make you believe that he has the potential to be a strong and determined two-way player. He takes out one Windsor after he escapes the scrum and then finishes his check hard at the point to try to put pressure on the Spitfires defender. He has a good stick too because of his high IQ, but it is about finding more consistency in his own end of the ice.

  1. Vision/IQ

Poitras leads the breakout with his head up and makes a nice move in the neutral zone to gain the offensive zone with numbers. He then spots the trailer in Matt Papais to create a terrific scoring chance from the home plate area.

Really nice play here by Poitras as he leads the attack into the Sarnia zone and sets up a great scoring chance by Jake Karabela. He holds off on making the pass until the Sarnia defender commits to him, knowing that he has Karabela in the slot. He gets the pass through the stick check and he also clearly understands that his patience is going to result in him taking a hit here to make this set-up.

Poitras leads a successful entry into the Soo’s zone, but is not able to make anything happen initially and is forced to the wall. He eventually comes away from the scrum with the puck and fights off a check from a Soo defender to maintain possession, allowing him to circle behind the net and make a great pass on the backhand to Luka Profaca for the goal (even if it is a bit of a weak one).

Working down low, Poitras and Jake Karabela are competing hard to keep possession below the goal line. Then Poitras makes an amazing feed to Braeden Bowman in the slot for the goal. When you combine Poitras’ compete level in the offensive zone with his skill and vision, it makes him someone capable of being a consistent threat with the puck.

  1. Shot

This is a great opportunistic goal by Poitras that really showcases both his awareness on the ice and his quick release. Jumps up to collect the turnover and then roofs a quick wrister top shelf (short side) on the Kitchener netminder.

Poitras finds a gap in coverage and uses a screen to roof one short side over Samuel Ivanov’s glove. Again, his release is deceptive and he generates pretty significant velocity on his wrister. As Poitras becomes more confident, he should develop into a pretty high end goal scorer to go with his high end passing ability and vision.

Rest of the Season Outlook

Given a first round grade in our preliminary draft rankings at McKeen’s Hockey, Poitras will need to improve his consistency at both ends of the ice in order to sustain this high ranking. The competition for that second spot behind Shane Wright from the OHL is extremely fierce and competitive, but Poitras does have a chance to be that guy. He projects to be a very versatile forward at the pro level because of his combination of mobility, vision, skill, and tenaciousness.

Hello my name is...Pavel Mintyukov

Pavel Mintyukov of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Background Information  
Team: Saginaw Spirit Position: D
Height/Weight: 6'2, 195lbs Birthdate: 2003-11-25
Season to Date Stats GP-18 G -3 A-11 PTS-14

Attributes to Like

  1. Four Way Mobility

Poor Colby Saganiuk. He bears the brunt of Mintyukov’s wrath in two of the three clips in this montage. The thing is, Colby Saganiuk is a very high end skater (even if he can be physically overmatched) and Mintyukov stuck with him rather effortlessly. Then he closed off Daniel D’Amato quickly, swallowing up ice with his long powerful strides. His quickness in all four directions is a real asset defensively.

In this montage, we see Mintyukov’s ability to escape pressure in the defensive zone with his feet. His first step quickness is impressive and he can pick up speed while changing direction. This makes him such an asset in transition and someone with a lot of offensive potential as he continues to gain confidence.

  1. Puck Skill and Offensive Potential

Here Mintyukov scores his only goal of the OHL season thus far. It is a bit of a broken play in the Erie zone and he slips behind coverage to get himself a clean look and he makes no mistake, rifling a wrist shot top shelf. Mintyukov really generates a lot of velocity with his array of different shots and it is only a matter of time before he scores more, especially on the powerplay.

Here we get a glimpse of Mintyukov’s offensive potential as he finds a loose puck in the defensive zone and makes a skilled play to create an odd man rush. Then he draws the Sarnia defender in before making a great pass to set up a Spirit goal. Mintyukov seems to be creating offensive chances pretty consistently with his feet and skill, but the points have not been piling up quite yet.

Another incredibly skilled play by Mintyukov as he pounces on a loose puck in the slot and makes a defender miss, which in turn causes a complete defensive breakdown by the Erie Otters. This leads to a tic-tac-toe tap in goal for the Spirit.

  1. Two-Way Awareness

An absolutely fantastic defensive play by Mintyukov here as he covers for his D-partner Olivier Savard on a bad pinch, forced to defend a three on one. Mintyukov quickly takes away the middle of the ice and removes all options from the Sarnia puck carrier, intercepting the pass attempt and starting a four on two the other way.

A great example of how Mintyukov can control the point using his plus mobility and his poise/awareness with the puck. He uses the whole arsenal here and I love that he did not force a shot through in either instance, opting to work it down low, which eventually leads to a Saginaw goal.

What a terrific read by Mintyukov as he jumps up to intercept a weak backhand exit pass deep in the Flint zone and then nearly scores with a nice move in tight. His anticipation and awareness in both zones is definitely above average.

Another great defensive read by Mintyukov as he stops a potential odd man opportunity dead in its tracks. He stays ahead of the play, reads the pass all the way, and steps up early to take away time and space to force the turnover.

Rest of the Season Outlook

As of writing this, Mintyukov is not inside the Top 30 of defensive scoring in the OHL this year despite seeing significant powerplay time for the Spirit. I would expect that to change as the year goes on. This is a player who is consistently creating chances with his high-end mobility and puck skill and it is only a matter of time before his production matches his talent level. Additionally, his suffocating defensive approach makes him an extremely valuable player in his own end and someone that the Saginaw coaching staff can rely on for tough matchups and assignments. There is a reason why NHL Central Scouting just increased Mintyukov’s grade to an “A” for 2022 and it is because he is the potential full package as a two-way, modern-day defender.

Hello my name is...Vinzenz Rohrer

Vinzenz Rohrer of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Robert Lefebvre /OHL Images.
Background Information  
Team: Ottawa 67's Position: C/RW
Height/Weight: 5'11, 168lbs Birthdate: 2004-09-09
Season to Date Stats GP-22 G-6 A-11 PTS-17

Attributes to Like 

  1. Puck Skill and Creativity

Rohrer intercepts a back pass at the blueline and makes OHL rookie Quinton Burns look a little foolish, turning him inside/out to create a great scoring chance. He does not finish on the play, but it does show off his quick hands

Not a great look for Kingston defender Jake Murray, but Rohrer shows off his hands and edgework to make a nice move for the goal in tight. Very Pavel Datsyukian.

Again, Rohrer is such a threat in transition because of his ability to blend quickness, skill, and vision. He keeps himself open with some quick footwork to receive a tough pass and finds Jack Beck with a great pass for the 67’s goal.

Rohrer shows off some terrific hand-eye coordination here as he bats the deflected pass forward intentionally to try to get behind the Petes defender. With the puck still bouncing, he takes it out of the air again and gets it on net for a quality scoring chance.

  1. Two-way Tenaciousness

Rohrer is a terrific penalty killer when you combine his quickness, tenaciousness, small area skill, and his anticipation/awareness. Here he makes a great read to intercept a pass in the neutral zone and breaks in alone but can’t finish.

I included this clip to really demonstrate that Rohrer is more than just a soft, creative playmaker. His compete level is consistently high. Here he closes off two Oshawa Generals from entering the zone consecutively and single handedly stops Oshawa’s zone entry attempt. He is on the ice in all situations for the 67’s and Rohrer is someone that new Ottawa head coach Dave Cameron has quickly learned to lean on.

  1. Skating Ability

Rohrer explodes into the offensive zone and forces Riley Pitt to take a tripping penalty with a quick push to the right while maintaining speed. His ability to use his edges, use linear crossovers, and alter his pace and direction makes him a difficult cover for many OHL defenders when he is attacking in transition.

Love this play by Rohrer as he initiates a two on one shorthanded. He keeps the Hamilton defender on his back and alters his pace before a quick push off laterally to create space at the last second to get himself open for the shot attempt.

Rohrer’s overall agility is on display here as he avoids the hip check while never breaking stride and gets behind the Kingston defense. However, he waits too long to make the decision to shoot or pass and he gets stripped of the puck. His indecisiveness is something that gets him in trouble at times, but over the course of the year it has improved as he has gained confidence.

Rest of the Season Outlook

I believe Rohrer is deserving of more attention that he is currently getting for a number of reasons. The first is that he is one of the youngest players available this year and playing in a new country/league, all while finding considerable success. There is more physical maturation possible and it points to a high ceiling as he gains strength. The second is that Rohrer blends his skill and skating ability very well, showing an ability to consistently create at a high pace. The third is that even though his skill level gives him a high ceiling, his tenaciousness, penalty killing prowess, and two-way awareness also gives him a high floor. It is hard to find players like that. Many expected the 67’s to be in rebuilding mode this year but players like Rohrer have them in competition for the Eastern Conference crown early on and as the season goes on, I only expect his game to continue to blossom.

Hello my name is...Matyas Sapovaliv

Matyas Sapovaliv of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Background Information  
Team: Saginaw Spirit Position: C
Height/Weight: 6'4, 190lbs Birthdate: 2004-02-12
Season to Date Stats GP-18 G-6 A-10 PTS-16

Attributes to Like

  1. Puck Protection Ability

Following a neutral zone turnover, Sapovaliv leads a successful entry, using his length to his advantage, then he makes a great pass under the pressure of the help defender. His teammate turns it over, but it was an impressive display of Sapovaliv’s ability to use his size to his advantage to prevent defenders from stripping him of the puck.

Sapovaliv gets to the dump in first and puts a defender on his back as he circles and spins into the slot for a great scoring chance. Notice again how his size and reach advantage aids him in protecting the puck from the stick check of the help defender too.

Part of what makes Sapovaliv a difficult cover deep in the offensive zone is certainly his size and skill combination. But he is also pretty agile for a big guy. His ability to stop, start, pivot, and change directions while maintaining possession gives him an advantage, as you can see from this clip. He picks up a loose puck behind the net and manages to shed two defenders. Unfortunately his pass to the slot clips the net and does not connect, but as he gains strength, he has the potential to be a real load to handle down low.

  1. Playmaking Vision

Impressive jaunt through the offensive zone by Sapovaliv as he shows off his quickness and poise with the puck by circling the zone. He eventually sets up Dean Loukus for a great chance but Loukus fans on the shot

Great decision making and vision from Sapovaliv here as throws on the breaks and pivots to create time and space and spots Nick Wong in the slot to set up a great scoring chance, which Wong is not able to finish on.

Solid job on the forecheck here by Sapovaliv as he forces the turnover and then finds a streaking Josh Bloom who can’t bury the goal. The common element to each of these three clips in this category is that Sapovaliv is making some terrific set-ups but players just aren’t finishing them. His assist totals (especially when you factor in his heavy shot and rebound generation) could be much higher than they are.

  1. Two-way Awareness and Active Stick

This is a montage of some Sapovaliv defensive highlights. He has a terrific stick in the neutral zone and defensive end, where he forces a lot of turnovers with his placement, awareness, and length. His mobility, in combination with his size, makes him a high end penalty killer too and he is used very frequently in that role by the Spirit. I believe that as he gets stronger and fills out, he could be a very high level defensive forward to go with his talents offensively.

Rest of the Season Outlook

A projectable two-way center, Sapovaliv has impressed in his first North American season with the Saginaw Spirit. He is playing in a variety of different situations for the Spirit and has shown to be extremely versatile already. He is a better skater than your average 6’4 center and has strong instincts in all three zones. He will continue to operate as a focal point of the Saginaw attack and he should get more comfortable and confident as the season goes on.

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