Vladimir Alistrov – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: 2024 European Free Agent Frenzy – 31 Players You May See in the NHL or AHL Next Season

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:58:50 +0000

_{Marcus Sylvegard (Växjö Lakers HC)}

If you’re looking for a player to come into your line-up and do what, say, an Andrey Kuzmenko did in his initial NHL season, then this year’s crop of European free agents will leave you thirsty. As every year, several players have stepped to the forefront to gain some NHL attention as free agent entities, but there’s no surefire scorer out there just ready to be instantly plugged into an NHL line-up with a production guarantee. Are there candidates? You bet. But there’s reason to believe they’ll need some North American seasoning or at least will first have to battle with other candidates for a lower-line NHL role to start off with.

Nonetheless, we’re seeing some players here who have been very successful in Europe after years of pro play. A few were already putting up points last year, but the scouting community needed to see them verify it in a follow-up season, which several ultimately have. Then you’ve got those mid-20s guys who have just now shown up on the scene in a scoring capacity and thus, one has to wonder if they’ve truly arrived as an NHL topic or if the stars were just aligned properly in this particular season.

What’s clear is that a few players out of Europe will be signed once again by a handful of NHL teams and these are some of the key names you’ll want to keep a lookout for.

Get ‘em while they’re hot

Maxim Tsyplakov (RUS) - C/RW - 25 - 6’3”, 190 lbs. - KHL

Not only the most prominent UFA out of the KHL (and we’re only including Russian players here if they are not on contract in Russia next season) but in all of Europe in the current batch, Tsyplakov has somewhat exploded on the scene this season to the tune of 31 goals and 47 points in 65 games. He was actually on pace to have a much better output than that but has only potted 2 goals since a 4-goal explosion 11 games ago. As a pro, Tsyplakov already played 22 games of KHL hockey as an 18-year-old. He then had 4 straight seasons between 9 and 17 points before chipping in 25 last season, when he became a regular top 9 fixture for his Spartak Moscow club. For NHL teams, Tsyplakov’s size and nose for the net are both attractive, and there’s a well-crafted wrist shot here that slyly finds holes in goalies. But there is a skating deficit to mention, as he moves around the ice like a player whose leg strength isn’t quite up to par. It’s not the kind of deficit that has lumbering out there and to be honest, there are some regular NHLers out there who don’t skate all that differently. An NHL team signing him may not know just how much offense it's getting, but he’s an adept face-off man who has spent plenty of time playing bottom-two-line hockey in his career, so there’s something to gain out of him if the offense doesn’t translate.

Marcus Sylvegard (SWE) - RW - 24 - 6’0”, 190 lbs. - SHL

The Sylvegard family is one that is very well known in Sweden’s 3rd largest city of Malmö. That is where Marcus and his older brother Emil, long the SHL’s bad boy answer to Tom Wilson, have made a name for themselves with a few pit stops in Växjö, a name you don’t even want to try to pronounce. That’s where they both are now and Marcus was one of the league’s top free-agent signings last summer after a breakthrough 7th SHL season with 45 points in 57 total games. Solidly built and simply fantastic at getting into shooting positions, Sylvegard has been worth every penny, uh, “öre” this season as he’s set a career-high with 23 goals (41 points) in 47 games while amassing an impressive +25 rating. Very strong at protecting the puck, quick on rebounds, and possessing a deceptive one-timer from the Ovechkin spot on the power play, two straight seasons of upper-echelon SHL production should be convincing enough to obtain an NHL contract. A team bringing in Sylvegard could find itself with a Daniel Sprong-type producer by the end of his first season in North America.

Jerry Turkulainen (FIN) - RW - 25 - 5’7”, 160 lbs. - Liiga

We’d normally hesitate to put a player like Turkulainen on this list. He’s now 25 and is in the midst of his 8th straight season of Liiga hockey, having never accumulated less than 26 points in a season. And that was back when he was a teen and just entering his 20s. So, NHL teams know who he is. He also just signed a contract with Swiss NL club Ajoie for next season, so there’s that. But for the first time in his career, he’s leading Liiga in scoring (61 points in 56 games) and that’s coming on the heels of his first 50-point season just last year. In addition, be it his motor, his agility, his stickhandling, his shot, or his on-ice vision - all of his primary skills are not only above average (often downright smooth), but look as though they’d translate quite well to the North American rink, where his incredibly slick hands and quick passes as well as his first three steps (hops, even) could take considerable advantage of areas where there’s little space. No doubt, his size is why he may be one of the best players you’ve never heard of, but he sure does seem to be exactly where Mats Zuccarello was at before an NHL team decided to chance it on him as a free agent.

Oscar Eklind (SWE) - LW - 25 - 6’4”, 220 lbs. - SHL

There’s been a lot of slow cooking for Eklind, whose size has always been tantalizing but whose skating and rather slow reactions long had skeptics thinking he’d be little more than a HockeyAllsvenskan pro. But Brynäs felt he was ready several seasons ago and brought him in for a lower-line role while investing in his development on other fronts. After seasons of 17 and 16 points, he’s now taken a new step with a very even-keeled Lulea club this season, thus far authoring 15 goals, 25 points, and 62 penalty minutes in 44 games, the latter stat placing him among the league’s top 10. What’s more is that Eklind has shown himself to, at times, be a bit explosive in his first few steps and he’s firmly implanted as the bumper man on the team’s first power play unit. The coaching staff also has him on the ice in the waning moments of games when the team is in the lead, so there’s a level of trust in him as a team leader and a guy who gets the job done. You can’t teach size, and now he’s taken steps in all the departments you can teach, so a team looking to bring in a big body with some job may just have a contract for him.

Christian Heljanko (FIN) - G - 26 - 6’0”, 187 lbs. - Liiga

When you come from a country that is renowned for developing goalies, it can be easy to get lost in the fray, especially when you’re not north of 6’3”. But at some point, a combination of the eye test and your achievements can simply no longer be overlooked. In his 6th year as a starter for the famed Tappara program, Heljanko has already won two league titles and been named the league’s top goaltender twice. His numbers are actually slightly down this year, even if he’s still moving along nicely in the wins column (24) and leads the way with 7 shutouts. A great deal of athleticism is accompanied by Heljanko’s strong ability to track the puck. We’ve rarely gotten to see him play internationally, even if he technically has a U18 Worlds silver to his name, but the feeling is that he may have a decent shot at making the men’s team this spring for the World Championship. At the moment, there’s hardly a more established European league netminder who hasn’t already been given a shot in North America.

Marcus Hardegard (SWE) - D - 26 - 6’1”, 203 lbs. - SHL

In a free agency year really devoid of clearcut blueline additions, Hardegard is about the best of the bunch. No doubt, he already raised some eyebrows last season with Örebro for whom he collected 12 goals and 27 points as a #4 defenseman. Now he’s having an immensely solid season for Lulea, a team that has him on the ice in all situations. Very sturdy and always willing to initiate and play through physical play, Hardegard stands out a bit due to his wide stance and bowlegged playing style, which furthers the impression that you just can’t knock this guy down. He’s seen international action for Team Sweden this winter and is looking like a WC candidate, which would be quite an accomplishment in light of how many NHLers will likely be available for that tournament. Hardegard brings all the basic requirements and is also a fixture on Lulea’s power play unit, even if his 6 goals and 24 points aren’t blowing anyone away. But he’s a warrior and tough to beat in his zone.

Daniel Vozenilek (CZE) - LW/C - 28 - 6’3”, 216 lbs. - Czechia

Having just turned 28, Vozenilek is not a player you’ll see on many European free-agent lists. We have him here because his 6 goals, 16 points, and +12 rating in 22 playoff games last season, which subsequently filtered into a spot on the men’s WC squad, were his real coming out party and all he’s done this season is keep the scoring going. His 21 goals, 48 points, and +21 rating in 51 games thus far have him way up top in all of those stat categories leaguewide while his 65 penalty minutes allude to his ability to play a brazen game as well. Moreover, he can score in many ways and carries himself in a very confident manner on the ice, seemingly understanding what his best options are in just about every situation. With heavy-set Czechs such as Jiri Smejkal and Radim Zahorna having been added to NHL organizations in recent years, it wouldn’t surprise us in the least if a team rolls the dice to see what Vozenilek could mean for their organization next season.

Justin Schutz (GER) - LW - 23 - 5’11”, 185 lbs. - DEL

If you’re a draft aficionado, then chances are you’ll recognize Schutz’s name, but perhaps not know where from or why. A former member of Germany’s U18 and U20 outfits that featured the likes of Moritz Seider, Tim Stützle, JJ Peterka, and Dominik Bokk, Schutz was selected in the 6th round of the 2018 draft by the Florida Panthers, who have since detached themselves from his rights. A DEL regular the past four seasons, he’s gone from a talented 3rd line youngster to being the DEL’s top goal scorer within the matter of one season, currently leading the entire league with 27 goals in 51 games after tallying 15 markers in 73 games last season. His totals of 43 points and a +21 are not only career bests but also have him firmly implanted among the league’s top 10. But aside from a tenacious motor, a strong sense of where the goal is, some slick moves, and soft mitts, Schutz plays with a refreshing joie de vivre, celebrating goals and his teammates in a manner reminiscent of winning Olympic gold. A student of the game who often plays with a chip on his shoulder, his ascendancy has but only begun and all signs are that he’ll be wearing his nation’s jersey at this spring’s World Championship. If you’ve been a fan of low-key European signings in the past such as Dominik Kahun or Pius Suter, then keep an eye on if and when Schutz dots his name on an NHL contract.

Jakub Rychlovsky (CZE) - LW - 22 - 5’10”, 181 lbs. - Czechia

The truth of the matter is that you can’t look at the Tipsport Extraliga scoring list in the Czech Republic without Rychlovsky’s name popping out at you right away. His 26 goals top all U23 players by far and have him currently at first overall in the league. Add in another 20 assists and a +8 for an outfit that has had its problems keeping goals out of the net and you can see that NHL eyes will indeed be watching. This said, Rychlovsky is more or less a successful culmination of many factors because the eye test won’t necessarily scream “NHL talent”. He’s simply a sound hockey player who is just now budding into a topic in his 6th pro season, but only his second in the nation’s top league. Alas, the 22 points in 62 games from last season have been blown out of the water this season, so the upward trajectory is considerable. And as opposed to some of the older players on this list, he can be given a 2-year ELC right off the bat. Expect a team cramming to add younger depth to the system to reel him over at this point.

Return visits?

Vladimir Alistrov (BLR) - LW - 23 - 6’3”, 190 lbs. - KHL

Already last season, there was reason to believe that this former undrafted WHLer would have to be gaining NHL interest after enjoying a top 9 roll up front that saw him put up 15 goals and 33 points in 73 KHL total games for Dinamo Minsk. As a player clearly built and designed for North American play, Alistrov took his goods to powerhouse St. Petersburg and then took the next step. Although having lost the second half of the season to injury, he had put up 13 goals and 31 points in just 39 games while collecting a +16 along the way. That had him on pace for over 50 points, which is something seldom done in the KHL, much less by a player this young. Might be a bit off the radar in light of the season-ending injury.

Oscar Flynn (CZE) - RW - 24 - 5’9”, 163 lbs. - Czechia

A little guy we touched upon last season when he arrived on the scene with 25 goals and 44 points in 61 total games. That’s turned into 19 goals and 44 points this season in just 45 games to date as his overall game and chemistry with a strong, young attack on the White Tigers (Bili Tyrgri) continue to grow. Size remains a key concern and has prevented some of the better scorers around Europe from getting a look overseas, but a +14 indicates that he’s effective at 5-against-5 as well.

Leon Hüttl (GER) - D - 23 - 6’0”, 180 lbs. - DEL

A righty shot we mentioned for the first time last spring, Hüttl has spent this season reinforcing everything he achieved last year for a top DEL club. A player possessing the kind of strong shutdown abilities that earned him a spot with the national team at last spring’s WC, his offensive production has dropped a bit this year, even if his 7 goals in 46 games have already eclipsed last season’s 6 in 57 total games. His real importance to his team and coaching staff is nonetheless documented by his ice time. He hasn’t seen less than 21 minutes of ice in the past ten games, often getting over 24 minutes of playing time. He is a workhorse in the traditional sense.

Janne Kuokkanen (FIN) - C/LW - 25 - 6’1”, 194 lbs. - SHL

It wasn’t too long ago that we saw Kuokkanen put up 25 points in 50 NHL games for the New Jersey Devils. He couldn’t quite equal that total the next season (17 in 57 games) and then headed over to Europe at a time when the organization was bringing in tons of young talent. After a solid, yet unspectacular season in the Swiss NL, he is now one of the few SHL players clipping at over a PPG pace, and doing it for a team in the bottom half of the standings. With 41 points in 40 games, and averaging over 18 minutes of ice time a game, he looks like one of the prime European players who’d be ready to step right into a 3rd-line NHL job if a team is willing to go that route this summer. He’s got the whole package for a job of that nature.

Filip Larsson (SWE) - G - 25 - 6’2”, 194 lbs. - SHL

A mid-20s goaltender who has taken an unusual path to SHL play, namely consisting of one year of USHL, then NCAA, and then pro play split between the AHL and ECHL. Then some slow marinating in the HockeyAllsvenskan earned him a backup gig in the SHL this season. Seeing more time than most would have expected, his impressive 16-9 record is accompanied by an even more impressive 1.97 GAA and .917 SV%. Doesn’t do much spectacularly, but everything solidly. Strong lateral movements for a netminder with a desired size.

Adam Najman (CZE) - C/LW - 23 - 6’0”, 190 lbs. - Czechia

A bulldog of a player who always likes to be involved in the nitty gritty, Najman brings a number of tools to the table and has spent several years displaying some impressive playmaking abilities, especially after battling for the puck and pouncing on broken plays, some of which he creates. There’s a lot of energy to his game. His 11 goals and 42 points in 59 games last season have turned into 12 goals and 45 points in 49 games this season. Unfortunately, his low goal totals are not from a lack of trying, but from a lack of finish. But he sure is in the middle of chance creation quite a bit. Currently 4th overall in NL scoring.

Ruben Rafkin (FIN) - 22 - D - 6’0”, 190 lbs. - Liiga

Looking like a probable draftee in 2020 after a year in the USHL and then his one season in the OHL, Rafkin decided to continue his career in his homeland and has since seen four straight seasons of Liiga action. This one has clearly been his most solid to date with 4 goals and 24 points in 54 games. It’s been a less-than-impressive year for a fairly young TPS club and no one will be smiling about the -15 Rafkin has collected, but he’s averaged almost 20 minutes of ice time a night. He’s seen 22+ minutes a night on 28 occasions and even logged almost 29 minutes in a late October OT tilt. As a young, righty shot minute muncher who was in plenty of scouts’ notebooks a few years back, this could be the performance a team was looking for in order to bring him into the depth mix. He’s currently viewed as a candidate for the men’s WC this spring.

Theo Rochette (SUI/CAN) - 22 - C/LW - 5’11”, 172 lbs. - Swiss NL

One of the most successful and highest-scoring CHL junior players to go undrafted over the past four years, Rochette went from winning a Memorial Cup while contributing 127 points over 83 total games to taking not only a regular shift in the NL but also serving as the league’s top-scoring U23 player with 11 goals and 29 points in 46 games, putting him well ahead of several current notable NHL draftees. Some players simply will themselves into an NHL job and Rochette looks like he has everything necessary to be the next Swiss player to take the Pius Suter path to the NHL.

Ostap Safin (CZE/RUS) - 25 - RW/LW - 6’5”, 203 lbs. - KHL

Once a 2017 4th rounder of the Edmonton Oilers, the hockey world understood Safin as having a strong shot and above-average skating and speed for a man his size. There were growing pains in his younger years and he simply never really popped in the QMJHL, ECHL, or AHL. After a less-than-impressive season for Sparta Prague last year, he surprisingly jumped over the KHL, made solely possible by him denouncing the Czech half of his citizenship in order to not count as a foreigner in Russia. That this has led to an absolute breakthrough 36-point, +16 season right when his KHL one-year show-me contract has concluded means that he’s there for the taking, should a team be convinced that his KHL season is indicative of him having found the long sought-after toolbox.

Michael Spacek (CZE) - 26 - C/RW - 5’11”, 187 lbs. - Swiss NL

It may be the last time we bother mentioning one of the best Czech players not currently in a regular NHL role, but the former Winnipeg Jets draft pick with a boatload of WHL and AHL experience just keeps plugging away as a go-to scorer in a top European league. This season has even been a bit better than last with 17 goals, 49 points, and a +10 in 47 games to date. In addition, if there was a Lady Byng trophy dished out in the NL, he’d be about the top candidate. Rarely one to be found in the sin bin, this righty shot mainstay on the Czech national team isn’t getting younger but continues to be one of the most notable European forwards to have never taken an NHL shift.

Off the beaten path

Dominik Egli (SUI) - D - 25 - 5’9”, 179 lbs. - NL

Involved with the national team program since he was 16, Egli is an on-again, off-again member of the men’s “Nati” and has already played in parts of eight straight NL seasons. Having put up 28 points or more in each of the past four seasons, he’s sitting pretty with 7-27-34 and a career-best +17 as the NL playoffs are about to start. Brings the necessary mobility for a player his size. Never been tested outside of Swiss borders.

Nicolas Mattinen (CAN) - D - 25 - 6’6”, 225 lbs. - DEL

Four years of OHL hockey were followed by three seasons of U Sports hockey before getting a short (and impressive) look in the AHL. He then took his show to Europe and after a really nice first year with Villach of the lower-class ICEHL in predominantly Austria, Mattinen found his way to the DEL and has been tearing things up ever since. With 16-30-46 (and a +11) in 51 games, he’s not only the league’s top-scoring defenseman, he’s 7th overall in scoring. His size is something few in Germany have been able to deal with. If an NHL squad isn’t ready to give him a look, he’ll surely be bagging himself an NL, KHL, or SHL contract for next season.

Igor Merezhko (UKR) - D - 25 - 6’4”, 220 lbs. - Slovakia

If it were the late 90s, chances are that Merezhko would long since have a role in an NHL organization. He’s big, uses his reach to stuff out opponents, blocks a ton of shots and well, isn’t the best skater out there. But he likes to shoot and he does it a lot. After four years with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL, he ventured out to Uzbekistan (yes, you read that correctly) for his first season of pro hockey in the VHL. It was a league he didn’t look to be able to get out of until he skipped over to Denmark on a whim last winter and put up some impressive numbers. That led to a gig in Slovakia where he has since exploded. 10 goals, 48 points, and a +28 in 49 games are what he’s got to show for his efforts. Oh, and he’s a cog for the Ukrainian national team. It’s hard not to want to see what he could do in a season of AHL hockey and with the kind of all-around pro preparation afforded in North America.

Dominik Pavlat (CZE) - G - 24 - 6’2”, 174 lbs. - Czechia

Way up there in the stats department with a 2.16 GAA and .929 SV%, Pavlat has arrived as a verifiable starter and is sporting a career-best 16-12 record. After many years of spending time here and there in the Czech Republic’s lower leagues, he’s found spot duty in the top league in recent years and has now been acquired by Pardubice down the stretch run, which should include a healthy playoff run. And it looks promising as he’s now 3-1 with a 1.52 GAA and .042 SV% with his new employer. Quick lateral movements and strong puck tracking separate him from his peers in the Tippsport Extraliga.

Stanislav Skorvanek (SVK) - G - 28 - 6’2”, 192 lbs. - Slovakia

Our eyebrows were raised when the late 20s journeyman goaltender became a starter for the first time last season and had an impressive playoff run with a 10-8 record with a 1.83 GAA and .944 SV% in 18 games, then made his WC debut for Slovakia last spring and went 3-1 with a 1.26 GAA and .954 SV% in 4 outings. Was it lightning in a bottle? Well, he’s proceeded to become the league’s absolute workhorse with a 24-14 record in 38 games including a 2.33 GAA and .931 SV% in 38 outings. In a day and age where teams are talking about keeping 3 goalies around, chancing it on a ready-made Skorvanek looks like a viable option for a couple of teams out there with a tight budget.

Hidden gems?

Daniel Gazda (CZE) - D - 26 - 6’1”, 207 lbs. - Czechia

He’s got decent size and can get around the ice all right. He doesn’t really stick out much in just about any situation, but that’s often a good thing for a defenseman. There’s not a whole lot to write home about nor to complain about. But he’s a righty shot, and he simply loves to shoot. He’s doing it all the time, with every opportunity. And although he can definitely bomb it, there are plenty of little pauses and fakes in there before getting off deceptive snapshots. At the moment, he’s got 17 goals, 30 points, and a +11 rating in 52 games. That’s a lot of goals for any pro-league D-man. He’s never ventured outside of the Czech Republic, so this might be time to give him a minor-league look.

Daniil Gutik (RUS) - LW - 22 - 6’3”, 190 lbs. - KHL

A player with some surreal skills, Gutik can be a bit of a behemoth out on the ice, but it’s his incredibly slick stickwork that jumps at you most. He’s hard to defend against and has tempted scouts with some of the sleek moves he’s pulled off along the way as well as the passes that follow, even if everyone would like to see him shoot more. This has been his best KHL season to date and his KHL contract concludes this spring. That’ll likely make him a player of interest for any team that feels the raw skill and now proven pro production (12 goals and 36 points this season) is worth trying to hammer a good dose of “compete” into him, ‘cause that has been questioned plenty in recent years.

Matias Mäntykivi (FIN) - C - 22 - 5’11”, 162 lbs. - Liiga

A Boston Bruins 6th rounder in 2019, Mäntykivi wasn’t offered a contract last summer and will now be a free agent for any team to sign. That he apparently didn’t care for being brushed off by his drafting team may very well be evident in the 19 goals and 49 points he’s put up in 58 games in his 5th full season of Liiga hockey, which clearly marks a career-high and is accompanied by a sweet +24 rating. The size is anything but ideal, but he’s got great vision and some nifty hands. He’ll need to add muscle and continue working on his overall skating, but he sure does look ready for a stint in the AHL.

Wiktor Nilsson (SWE) - C - 22 - 6’0”, 165 lbs. - HockeyAllsvenskan

In a chronically low-scoring league, it’s seldom to see a 22-year-old player go from being an interesting 15-goal guy at 21 to a 37-point first-line guy a season later for a top club with a whole lot of ambition. He’s been in the Djurgarden program for 6 straight years and wants to gain promotion with them. But one way or another, there’s too much offensive acumen to not be in the SHL or AHL next season. Already plays with a chip on his shoulder, so some added weight would make the righty even more interesting.

Josh Samanski (GER/CAN) - C/LW - 21 - 6’6”, 190 lbs. - DEL

Just slightly no longer draft-eligible, Samanski is the son of a former Canadian pro who has made a career as a coach in Germany. A former OHLer and 2-time WJC contestant, Samanski has been playing pro hockey for several years now, with over 40 DEL per season for three straight years. Whereas he technically arrived in the league last year, this is the season where he’s become a cog in his wildly successful team's game plan. With hulking size, Samanski is able to play a rough ‘n tumble game while threading passes on a needle and adeptly charging the net. Trusted in all phases of the game, including late shorthanded situations with a 1-goal lead, Samanski currently has 9 goals and 26 points with the playoffs just around the corner. His all-round game has him firmly in the eyes of the national team.

Nikita Sedov (RUS) - D - 22 - 6’1”, 187 lbs. - KHL

If the name perhaps sounds familiar, you’re not off base. After spending time in juniors in Colorado, he went on to play a lower-line role for the Regina Pats between 2018 and 2020. There’s been little to write about since he returned to Russia, but right as his most recent contract is expiring, he’s gone out and become a full-time KHL player. Now, his 4-14-18 and +14 in 57 games won’t necessarily jump out at you, but they have him just 3 points behind the top-scoring defenseman on a team whose impressive producers are just about all of the younger variety. In addition, that +/- rating is tied for tops on the team. It’s a bit of a shame that Sedov has only scored 4 goals because his celebrations are well-choreographed, but it should be noted that he gets pucks to the net with regularity, isn’t hesitant to initiate physical play, and averages over 15 minutes of ice time per night. If a team gives him an AHL shot, it should do so with the readiness to invest 2-3 years in him, but there’s potential here for NHL minutes someday.

Colin Ugbekile (GER) - D - 24 - 6’1”, 198 lbs. - DEL

The shooting star of the league among German non-draft eligibles, Ugbekile has gained plenty of experience in Cologne in recent years but transferred to Iserlohn last summer in hopes of obtaining a bigger role with some powerplay opportunities involved. Well, he’s not only gotten that, but fully taken the bull by the horns. This has culminated in a Unit 1 power play spot leading to 12 goals and 33 points in 51 games while averaging roughly 22 minutes of ice time a night. Big, sturdy, and capable of initiating and handling rough stuff, the well-spoken defender with 3 years of USHL experience has finally arrived as a pro and has seen his game expand in leaps and bounds this season. Particularly his hands and mind have caught to what were already strong skating skills. Granted, he’s playing for a club that only recently was able to escape the basement of the standings in what has been a thrilling run to avoid relegation, but the added responsibility has been a boon to him discovering his inner Bobby Orr. Hard to imagine that he won’t be auditioning for a bigger paycheck at the men’s WC this spring.

SIDE NOTE

It bears mentioning every year that above and beyond the players listed above, both the Swiss NL and KHL are chock full of former NHLers, NHL draft picks, AHLers, Canadian juniors, and college hockey players, not to mention former European free agent signings of NHL teams that have since returned to Europe. These leagues also employ a large number of established pros who you’ll see dressing for their respective national teams. These leagues feature many players who were in the NHL in recent years or on the bubble to the NHL, usually as highly effective AHLers. Naturally, any number of these players could of course still be in the sightlines of NHL teams or maintain the connections that would see them return to a franchise in the coming months.

NHL: 2023 European free agent frenzy – 25 players you may see in the NHL or AHL next season

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 19:07:58 +0000

2023 European free agent frenzy

It happens every year. The springtime rolls around and the time period between the various European league playoffs and the ensuing men’s World Championship sees a good handful or more of usually mid-20s European free agents added to the deck by NHL teams, sometimes even getting 2-year deals in the process. This year should be no different. However, no-one should be expecting an Andrey Kuzmenko to result from this year’s crop. The prize gem of last spring’s group, Kuzmenko has become an instant contributor to the Canucks attack and is currenting steering his way towards a 40-goal season.

Scoring hasn’t really been the name of the game for most of Europe’s top leagues this year and even those who have been impressively notable, most particularly forwards Dmitri Jaskin and Antti Suomela - each having been the regular season top scorers for the KHL and SHL respectively - had just returned back to Europe after having been in North America for no less than this past season. Nonetheless, there are players who have moved into the spotlight and are looking like viable depth options for NHL clubs. Below are a number of names you should keep an eye on over the next few months.

You can bet your bottom dollar that several will be found in NHL or AHL rinks next winter.

Get ‘em while they’re hot

Växjö's Hardy Häman Aktell celebrates after 1-0 during quarter-final three in the SHL between Växjö and Luleå on March 20, 2023 in Växjö.
Photo: Jonas Ljungdahl / BILDBYRÅN /

Hardy Haman Aktell (SWE) - D - 24 - 6’4”, 196 lbs. - SHL

A 2016 4th rounder of the Nashville Predators, we can’t see any situation in which Haman Aktell goes unsigned by an NHL team this spring unless he simply wishes to play elsewhere. For those who have followed his evolution the past 4+ seasons, the lanky defender brings everything you’d want from a player you’d look to sign with the goal of having him step right into your line-up in a lower line capacity next season. His NHL upside is, well, uh, the sky's the limit. He has shown the ability to do a bit of everything in all three zones and it’s thoroughly legitimate to think he could be logging big minutes within a few seasons of his NHL debut. This season has been his big arrival in the SHL after incremental growth into a stud defenseman for one of Europe’s top leagues. His size and mobility are top-flight and now he’s added PP quarterback to the resume. After a 36-point, +23 regular season (51 games), he’s clipping at a PPG in three playoff games thus far. Look for him in an NHL rink next season, although some AHL seasoning may be the course of preference for the team signing him. Maybe.

Samuel Johanesson (SWE) - D - 22 - 5’11”, 176 lbs. - SHL

Drafted by Columbus as an overager in 2020, Johanesson has already hit free agency and has decided to burst onto the scene in a point-producing capacity to coincide with this newfound status. Lost a bit in the numbers game for Rogle two straight seasons after a promising draft year, it was thoroughly understandable that Columbus had little incentive to sign him. Now the righty shot has put up 35 points in 55 games thus far, effectively blowing any prior showings out of the water. The confidence he’s shown in being a two-way defensive asset has us feeling like now would be just the right time to introduce him to the challenges of the AHL to see just what his future holds. It’s not inconceivable that if everything goes right, he’s just a few years away from being a poor man’s Klingberg.

Valtteri Pulli (FIN) - D - 22 - 6’6”, 225 lbs. - Liiga

The only non-Swede in this section of the European UFA list, Pulli is a surefire signing this spring. He’ll get his shot in North America via the AHL and remains a project, one that offers a world of size and some pretty good wheels for a man in such a body. You’d want him to be a physical force, but he brings an all-round game and likes to engage himself in the offensive zone. His 18 points in 56 games have been just fine for a player getting in his first full season of pro hockey and someone has thankfully let him know that a pokecheck can be highly effective when you’ve got that size. He may prove moot having him on this list by publishing as his signing with the San Jose Sharks seems all but official just now.

Oskar Stal Lyrenas - RW - 24 - 6’1”, 185 lbs. - SHL

Oskar’s name may be the most unique, but certainly not the sexiest name on this list. Nonetheless, for those watching, there have been too many moments this season where the game just seemed to evolve around Stal Lyrenas and his creativity. In the midst of his second full season of SHL hockey after years of plodding development in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Stal Lyrenas has popped in 15 goals and 33 points in 52 total SHL games in a primarily second line role. Again, his hockey sense and the means by which play seems to gravitate around him while he’s on the ice is what has him sought after right now despite the somewhat average production. Normally, we’d say teams would like to wait it out another season to see if he can top things off with an even bigger 23-24, but those following closely must know that he needs to be grabbed now before the cat’s out of the bag.

The usual suspects

Rickard Hugg (SWE) - LW/RW - 24 - 5’10”, 190 lbs. - SHL

Even when he was putting up 73 points for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL in 18-19, it didn’t feel like Hugg was going to be an NHL option any time soon. There were just too many detractions with regard to his skating, awareness, and wherewithal. Fast forward to this season, where he’s wrapping up his second straight season of 40+ points with a top SHL club, and we’re seeing a young man who is forcing himself into the conversation. There’s a lot of drive to the net in Hugg and his presence on the ice is constantly creating more space for his teammates, for whom he’s got a good eye. And that can go a long way on the smaller ice surfaces around North America. But is he ready to give up a nice gig in a top European league to give it another shot overseas, one that would surely begin in the AHL? He’s got a number of current teammates who spent time in the AHL only to return to the shinier lights of the SHL…

Patrik Karlqvist (SWE) - RW - 30 - 6’1”, 216 lbs. - SHL

A long time high-scoring minor leaguer in Sweden, Karlqvist made waves last season by putting up 52 points in 49 games in his first ever SHL season. He wavered a bit in the playoffs with just 3 points in 10 games, but his team was the underdog hit of the postseason. Now he’s topped that output last season with 61 points in 52 games this season. Oh, and a tough first round out in the pre-playoffs nonetheless saw him add 5 goals and 6 points in 3 games. There’s nowhere left to go but up for Karlqvist, who’s keen sense of timing and magnificent shot make him a constant threat in what is traditionally a rather low-scoring league. He’s older now, so it’s unlikely anything happens, but this guy can simply score. He’s got a Andreychuk presence around the net with a Hoffmann-style shot from the face-off circles.

Konstantin Okulov (RUS) - RW - 28 - 6’0”, 181 lbs. - KHL

The tricky winger has been on the map for several years now and has been big come playoff time in 3 of the last 4 seasons, currently chipping in 7 assists in 9 games in this postseason to boot. In fact, he’s now coming off his best ever regular season with career highs of 36 assists and 54 points. There’s a clever hockey player here who knows how to generate offense. Is this the year he comes over and tests his mitts in North America? He’s arguably as NHL-ready as any established pro outside of North America.

Jiri Smejkal (CZE) - LW/RW - 26 - 6’4”, 223 lbs. - SHL

The aforementioned Karlqvist’s winger, Smejkal is coming off a fantastic debut in the Swedish SHL. His size and nose for the net (24 goals in 52 games) allowed him to have a bull-in-the-China-shop impact this season. His game includes some bang, but also a refreshing amount of skill. We thought he’d be a hot topic for an NHL team last season after his 25-goal, 45-point outburst in 44 Liiga games, and now he’s only reinforced that impression with his practically repeat performance in the stronger SHL. Also, you’ve got to think that if a Radim Zohorna keeps getting an NHL contract, then Smejkal’s has got to be right around the corner.

Adam Tambellini (CAN) - C/RW - 28 - 6’4”, 195 lbs. - SHL

Son to Steve, brother to Jeff, we wrote about Tambellini’s SHL exploits last year at this time. With Rogle having gone through a tough season this year after being heaped with expectations in the pre-season, Tambellini has continued to be steady and was a key figure in righting the ship just in time for the playoffs. His 23 goals and 49 points in 55 games has been instrumental for a club that features as much impact youth as any on the continent and Tambellini continues to display a strong use of his size and a terrific shot, which is deadly on the power play. He’s getting up there in age, so it’s looking like it’s now or never for another shot at the NHL - or the choice to continue a comfortable life as an impact player in Europe.

Off the beaten path

Isac Brannstrom (SWE) - LW/RW - 24 - 5’10”, 176 lbs. - SHL

The older brother to Ottawa Senators prospect Erik Brannstrom, Isac has been plugging away in the SHL for six seasons now, seeing his production increase every year (2 points, 10, 18, 22, 24, 29) while buzzing all around the ice and becoming a truly effective defensive zone catalyst for an always competitive Lulea. Many of his points are of the highlight reel variety, showing off creative hands and timely bursts of speed. A year or two of AHL seasoning and a team should have a reliable two-way forward for the bottom six. Will Brannstrom be up to giving it a shot?

Grigori Dronov (RUS) - D - 25 - 6’3”, 201 lbs. - KHL

After seven years of KHL hockey, with much of last season being lost to injury, Dronov is at that point in his development where a team would have every reason to believe they’d be adding a Zub/Zaitsev/Lyubushkin type of player to their line-up. In the midst of his best season ever (10 goals, 23 points in 50 games), he’s also been a cog in his team’s current playoff run, which has been surprisingly successful in knocking out Avtomobilist in a 7-game first round bout. An all-rounder with a fine first pass, his possible impact in North America simply won’t be known until he comes over. He does appear to have the goods to be a bottom three defenseman at the NHL level.

Waltteri Merela (FIN) - F - 24 - 6’2”, 196 lbs. - Liiga

Never drafted and never having played outside of Finland, Merela made a bit of a name for himself last season in Finland after transferring to Tappara, with whom he accumulated 22 goals, 52 points, and a +38 rating over 72 total games. It was a hard ask for him to keep up at that pace, but he did chip in 33 points in 41 games this season while looking like a more finely developed pro. Expect there to be some interest as one of the more raw, but sturdy players on the market. And he’s very happy being a goalmouth presence, hanging around the net and keeping things active in the slot, which is never a bad thing.

Marcus Sylvegard (SWE) - RW/LW - 23 - 6’0”, 190 lbs. - SHL

Thickly built and from one of Sweden’s more colorful hockey families, Sylvegard has exploded this season playing with former NHLer Carl Soderberg. With 18 goals and 45 points in 55 games to date, the righty shot has become a power play weapon and real buzzsaw around the net. Always playing with a chip on his shoulder, there’s plenty of feistiness to go around, but he’s no world beater in the skating department. We’d love to see how his game looks in an AHL rink and think his jump in production is indicative of what’s to come moving forward.

Time for another look

David Bernhardt (SWE) - D - 25 - 6’4”, 209 lbs. - HockeyAllsvenskan

A former Philadelphia Flyers draft pick, Bernhardt was never signed and never otherwise played in North America. Despite some force-feeding into the SHL with a nice season along the way (14 points in 53 games as a 20-year-old), the well-built defender decided to spend the better part of two seasons in Liiga action, where he never popped. Looking for a new lease on life, he joined MoDo of the HockeyAllsvenskan last season and enjoyed immediate success as the team’s PP blueliner, topping a 14-goal, 44-point regular season with another 12 points in 13 postseason games. There has been no step back this year with Bernhardt upping the ante to the tune of 19 goals, 51 points, and a +26 rating in 52 regular season games, placing him 5th overall in league scoring. This young man is as ready for AHL action as an overlooked college player who then explodes in the ECHL. The size and skillset are there. The right coaching could be the decisive difference on a path to the NHL. Or he’ll be suiting up for an SHL club next season.

Dominik Lakatos (CZE) - F - 25 - 5’11”, 179 lbs. - Czech Extraliga

A 2017 6th rounder of the New York Rangers, it’s been a long time since Lakatos was a nice little plugger for his nation’s WJC squad at the 2016 event. He’s now spent the absolute bulk of his career in the Czech Republic, having come up in the powerhouse program of Liberec. With the exception of a 15-game outlier in Finland, Lakatos has been true to his native country and has developed into one of the few top scorers in the top league under 30 years of age. Already a free agent to be had as a 44- and then 39-point scorer for Vitkovice the past few years, he’s put his stamp on the league with a 47-point, +20 campaign this year, taking place in 51 games. Word is, he’s got a strong shot at being part of the upcoming Worlds and if the NHL doesn’t come knocking with a likely 2-way contract, then his next stop may be in Sweden or Switzerland.

Linus Nassen (SWE) - D - 24 - 6’0”, 183 lbs. - Liiga

We’ve always liked the Swedish defender’s mobility. His passing game has never really been in question, especially when breaking out of his zone. His two seasons of WHL play were fine, but he didn’t necessarily leave an impression that screamed “future NHLer”. Now several years of lower line layman work in the SHL have been followed by two strong seasons of Liiga action, even if this season’s workload led to a drop in stats for a struggling club. Most importantly, Nassen has turned into a pro player who can manage a defensive unit and constantly set his forwards in motion with a strong transitional game. This would seem the right time for Nassen to be given a shot at the AHL level with his sights set on a Sebastian Aho (the Swedish one) type of role in the NHL down the line.

Sami Niku (FIN) - D - 26 - 6’1”, 196 lbs. - Liiga

It feels a bit weird mentioning this player who spent the past five seasons being on the cusp of the NHL, getting into 67 games of action along the way. A two-way defenseman who can be quite the all-rounder on his good days, Niku even had 6 assists for Montreal in 13 games as late as last season. As such, it should come as no surprise that he excelled with 9 goals and 42 points in 54 games of Liiga action this year. He’s also a top candidate for Finland at the upcoming Worlds. If he were in a situation like Haman Aktell, we’d have no doubt that he’d probably have a good handful of suitors at this point. Clearly though, Niku isn’t heading back to North America without a guarantee of an NHL role next season.

Michael Spacek (CZE) - 25 - C/RW - 5’11”, 187 lbs. - Swiss NL

Also, a former Winnipeg Jets draft pick, Spacek spent several years in the WHL and then plugged away for three seasons in the AHL, never getting an NHL shot. He returned to Europe in the 20-21 season and has done nothing but make noise for whichever team he’s played for. With 50 points in 57 games last season for Frolunda of the SHL, he was one of the top scorers in the league. He’s just kept trucking with another 50 points in 50 games for Ambri-Piotta this season. In addition, he’s been a contributing mainstay on the Czech national team since returning to Europe, so one has to wonder what it’s going to take for Spacek to see NHL ice at some point.

Hidden gems?

Vladimir Alistrov (BLR) - LW - 22 - 6’3”, 190 lbs. - KHL

A former WHLer who went undrafted, Alistrov headed back to Belarus after his 2-season Canadian junior career and has been brought along slowly by his home country Dinamo Minsk of the KHL. This past season marked the first in which he was given a top 9 role up front and he responded in kind with 15 goals and 33 points in 73 total games. Big, sturdy, fully in tune with the North American style of play, Alistrov is starting to bloom. And that’s what teams look for after scouting kids who they decided not to spend a draft pick on at an earlier stage. One need look no further than his former teammate Ilya Usov who was signed by Tampa Bay last spring.

Oscar Flynn (CZE) - F - 23 - 5’9”, 160 lbs. - Czech Extraliga

Before, Flynn stood out in the Czech Republic due to his English name and miniature size on the ice. Nowadays he’s standing out due to his play and the unexpected points he’s been putting up. Shifty and creative, Flynn loves firing off one-timers or creating spaces to thread the needle. He’s also quite the feisty player and regularly lets emotion be a guiding trait in his game. The combination of sound to impressive skating, his willingness to shoot, and both the gumption and agility to negate any size issues should have him on the map for a few clubs looking for offense anywhere they can get it. His 24 goals, 42 points, and +11 in 58 games are career highs, but he’s been playing pro hockey for the better part of six seasons now.

Leon Huttl (GER) - D - 22 - 6’0”, 176 lbs. - DEL

Having gotten his first sniff of pro hockey at the age of 16, Huttl has taken steps each and every season since. Now the righty shot has advanced to being a top pairing defenseman on the DEL’s 2nd best team. In only his second full DEL season, Huttl has astounded hockey Germany with a master class in shutdown ability while having more than doubled his offensive contributions from the season prior, where he already suited up for the national team in various tournaments. He’s currently boasting 6 goals, 26 points, and a +27 rating in 57 total games and hardly a soul in expert circles can imagine anything other than his participation at the upcoming Worlds. Especially exciting is that he’s simply looking a good step ahead of the competition in reading plays, anticipating opponent decisions, and sniffing out opposition opportunities - and that in a league filled with former NHLers and AHLers. The word is out, so we wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see a team add him by the conclusion of the World Championship.

Adam Najman (CZE) - F - 22 - 5’11”, 185 lbs. - Czech Extraliga

Najman is an interesting case, because he’s one of these players who we’ve seen at the U18 Worlds and WJC, yet hasn’t been much more than a role player despite having always played up a level as a junior player and gone through the strong Liberec hockey factory. Now he’s spent time in the minors and was given a lower line role in the top league for several years, and suddenly it’s all gone click this winter. The author of 11 goals, 41 points, and a +18 rating over 56 games thus far this season, Najman has partnered up with the aforementioned Flynn to be one of the youngest dynamic duos on the continent. Of average size, he does have an older brother in the league who is 6’2” and 216 lbs., so it certainly looks like there’s room for additional muscle on his current frame. But rarely do you see a player just past draft eligibility break out in this concrete a manner. We’ve certainly seen players of this nature brought over to see if a few seasons of AHL time can’t push them into NHL contention.

Wojciech Stachowiak (GER) - LW - 23 - 6’1”, 187 lbs. - DEL

A little bit of USHL play once led to a spot at Michigan State, but it was clear by his sophomore year that he was ultimately going to need another path to pro prominence. He quickly joined Ingolstadt of the DEL, for which he’s been a decent lower line role player for the past few seasons. And then 23-24 happened. Stachowiak was given a bigger role in light of injuries and hasn’t looked back, not only becoming a key contributor up front (16 goals and 35 points in 59 games thus far), but a trusted all-round presence for Ingolstadt, which finished second overall in the regular season. Crafty, intelligent, and displaying surprisingly soft hands, Stachowiak has promptly entered consideration for Team Germany at the upcoming Worlds. He’s been one of the most impressive arrival stories in a DEL season full of arrival stories.

Jakob Stenqvist (SWE) - D - 25 - 6’2”, 179 lbs. - SHL

You often wonder how players slip through the cracks of the talent watch, but they do and plenty of clubs around in Europe and the KHL are watching closely every year to grab such players. Stenqvist is currently completing his 7th season of pro hockey and the righty shooting Stenqvist has steadily gone from impact player in the HockeyAllsvenskan to impact player in Liiga to impact player in the KHL, and is now impacting the SHL as well to the tune of 25 points in 52 games. In fact, if it weren’t for socio-political reasons, he’d still be in the KHL, where he impressed with 24 points in 38 total games last season. A fluid player known for implementing an intelligent game, he gets involved and moves the puck with the hands of a playmaking forward. All the while, he’s very active in his own zone, particularly in pinning opponents to the boards or freeing up pucks for a quick transition. He’s certainly a finished product at this point, so it’d be interesting to see what a sojourn to North America would mean for his future.

Filip Varejcka (GER) - 22 - 6’0”, 190 lbs. - DEL

Imagine being one of many promising offensive products coming out of the Red Bull Juniors program, being a top scorer at a lower level U18 worlds, then being brought along slowly but surely by your nation’s top DEL club, only to find yourself on the top line come playoff time. Such has been the path of a one Mr. Filip Varejcka, who is doing all this despite heavy competition from drafted teammates such as Julian Lutz and Justin Schutz. Now, he’s definitely been a role player for the better part of the regular season for several seasons now, but he’s come around as a power forward who combines strong offensive smarts with sound defensive play and a good chunk of physicality, gaining a reputation as a take-no-prisoners combatant. His 12 points in 40 regular season games are but whiff when compared to his 5 points in 3 postseason contests thus far. The scouting community follows the teams funded by the Red Bull concern closely and Munich is coming off one of the most dominating regular season performances in league history. They know who Varejcka is, even if you may be seeing his name right here for the first time.

SIDENOTE:

Above and beyond the players listed above, both the Swiss NL and KHL are chock full of former NHLers, NHL draft picks, AHLers, Canadian juniors, and college hockey players, not to mention former European free agent signings of NHL teams that have since returned to Europe. These leagues also employ a large number of established pros who you’ll also see playing for their respective national teams. Many players in both of these leagues were in the NHL in recent years or players on the bubble who were top scorers in the AHL. Naturally, any number of these players could of course still be in the sight lines of NHL teams or maintain the connections that would see them return to a franchise in the coming months.

MCKEEN’S 2019 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: Final Rankings – Top 217 Plus 100 Honourable Mention

Iain Morrell — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 17:52:23 +0000

MCKEEN'S RELEASES FINAL 2019 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS

KOSICE, SLOVAKIA - MAY 13: USA's Jack Hughes #6 and Finland's Kaapo Kakko #24 shake hands following a 3-2 overtime win for team USA during preliminary round action of the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at Steel Arena on May 13, 2019 in Kosice, Slovakia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

American center Jack Hughes or Finnish Winger Kaapo Kakko?

That is the decision facing the New Jersey Devils who won the draft lottery for the second time in the past three seasons and hold the top pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Hughes (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) led the USA Hockey National Team Development Program under-18 team in scoring while setting the NTDP career record for assists (154) and points (228) in two seasons (110 games) with the program.

He earned the highest Overall Future Projection (OFP) score of 64.50, as per the 20/80 grading system developed by McKeen's Director of Scouting Ryan Wagman.

Skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ, physicality - these are the attributes measured for skaters using the 20/80 grading system to arrive at an Overall Future Projection (OFP) score.

Six areas are assessed for goalies: athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling.

BROADWAY KAAPO

Kakko (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) earned the next highest OFP score at 64.00.

The Turku, Finland native will go to the New York Rangers with the second pick, their highest draft position since taking Brad Park in 1966 before expansion (1967-68).

Kakko led Finland with six goals while winning gold at the 2019 World Championships at just 18 years, 102 days old to become the youngest player in IIHF history to win gold at the Under-18, Under-20, and WM (World Men) levels, supplanting Connor McDavid of Canada (19 years, 130 days) from the record books.

The Chicago Blackhawks have the number three pick with the top defenseman Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants next on the McKeen's OFP scale (63.40).

Seven players in total received OFP scores of at least 60.00 this season, up from five in 2018 - and just two in 2017 when the Devils selected Nino Hischier first overall.

The next five spots in the rankings are all centers - Kirby Dach of Saskatoon (63.20 OFP), Dylan Cozens of Lethbridge (61.40), the NTDP duo of Trevor Zegras (61.25) and Alex Turcotte (60.00), and Peyton Krebs of Kootenay (59.65).

ALL AMERICAN

Spencer Knight. Photo courtesy of the USNTDP.

Spencer Knight of the NTDP is the top-rated goaltender available (55.75 OFP) at No. 32 in the McKeen's rankings.

Knight will likely go in the opening round of what will be a record haul for the U.S. National Team Development Program as upwards of eight players could be taken in the top 31 selections.

As for past records, the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) had four players taken in the opening round of the 1979 NHL Draft - as did the Toronto Marlboros (OHA) in 1972 and the Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) in 1969.

Along with Hughes (1st), Zegras (6th), and Turcotte (7th), wingers Matthew Boldy and Cole Caufield are ranked at No. 12 and 13 on the McKeen's list, with defenseman Cam York at No. 17 and center John Beecher at 30th.

Caufield (5-foot-7, 165 pounds) scored 14 goals at the U18 World Junior Championship, tying Alex Ovechkin's single-tournament goals record. However, the United States lost in a shootout to Russia in the semi-finals.

There are also four others in the program ranked in the 32 to 62 range (second round) - all defensemen - Marshall Warren (35th), Alex Vlasic (54th), Henry Thrun (58th) and Drew Helleson (62nd).

In total, 16 players from the NTDP are ranked among the top 100.

SWEDE GOLD - SWEET SEIDER

ORNSKOLDSVIK, SWEDEN - APRIL 23: Swedens Philip Broberg #4 makes a pass during preliminary round action against Russia at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fjallraven Center on April 23, 2019 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Sweden won a first-ever gold medal at the U18 World Juniors.

Four blueliners on that Swedish team are first-round candidates led by Philip Broberg of AIK, named 'Top Defenceman' at the U18 tournament, and Victor Soderstrom of Brynas, ranked No. 9 and 10 respectively on McKeen's.

U18 captain Tobias Bjornfot of Djurgardens is ranked 19th and Albert Johansson of Farjestads is 26th.

Following Dominik Bokk's selection in 2018 (25th to St. Louis), Germany will produce another first-round pick this year in Adler Mannheim defenseman Moritz Seider.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound, right-shot blueliner displayed impressive skills and maturity for his age while appearing at the 2019 World Championships (5-2-0-2).

Seider earned an OFP score of 57.50 and is ranked No. 15.

He will become the highest-selected German-born player at the NHL Draft since the Edmonton Oilers took Leon Draisaitl third overall in 2014.

Here are our final 2019 NHL Draft Rankings. They are a culmination of a season’s worth of prospect analysis and coverage on mckeenshockey.com and the tremendous work put in rinks and looking at screens and numbers from our committed team. Enjoy!

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	Nation
1	Jack Hughes	C	NTDP (USA)	5-10/170	14-May-01	USA
2	Kaapo Kakko	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-2/195	13-Feb-01	Finland
3	Bowen Byram	D	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jun-01	Canada
4	Kirby Dach	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-3/200	21-Jan-01	Canada
5	Dylan Cozens	C	Lethbridge (WHL)	6-3/185	9-Feb-01	Canada
6	Trevor Zegras	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/170	20-Mar-01	USA
7	Alex Turcotte	C	NTDP (USA)	5-11/185	26-Feb-01	USA
8	Peyton Krebs	C	Kootenay (WHL)	5-11/180	26-Jan-01	Canada
9	Philip Broberg	D	AIK (Swe 2)	6-3/200	25-Jun-01	Sweden
10	Victor Soderstrom	D	Brynas (Swe)	5-11/180	26-Feb-01	Sweden
11	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	SKA-1946 St. Pete. (Rus Jr)	6-1/190	24-Jun-01	Russia
12	Matthew Boldy	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/190	5-Apr-01	USA
13	Cole Caufield	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-7/165	2-Jan-01	USA
14	Raphael Lavoie	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-4/195	25-Sep-00	Canada
15	Moritz Seider	D	Adler Mannheim (DEL)	6-3/185	6-Apr-01	Germany
16	Simon Holmstrom	RW	HV 71 (Swe Jr)	6-1/185	24-May-01	Sweden
17	Cam York	D	NTDP (USA)	5-11/175	5-Jan-01	USA
18	Alex Newhook	C	Victoria (BCHL)	5-10/195	28-Jan-01	Canada
19	Tobias Bjornfot	D	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	6-0/200	6-Apr-01	Sweden
20	Philip Tomasino	C	Niagara (OHL)	5-11/180	28-Jul-01	Canada
21	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-2/190	26-Jun-01	USA
22	Ryan Suzuki	C	Barrie (OHL)	6-0/180	28-May-01	Canada
23	Samuel Poulin	LW	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-1/205	25-Feb-01	Canada
24	Thomas Harley	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-3/190	19-Aug-01	Canada
25	Ryan Johnson	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-0/175	24-Jul-01	USA
26	Albert Johansson	D	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	5-11/165	4-Jan-01	Sweden
27	Robert Mastrosimone	LW	Chicago (USHL)	5-10/160	24-Jan-01	USA
28	Connor McMichael	C	London (OHL)	5-11/175	15-Jan-01	Canada
29	Matthew Robertson	D	Edmonton (WHL)	6-3/200	9-Mar-01	Canada
30	John Beecher	C	NTDP (USA)	6-3/210	5-Apr-01	USA
31	Pavel Dorofeyev	LW	Magnitogorsk (KHL)	6-1/170	26-Oct-00	Russia
32	Spencer Knight	G	NTDP (USA)	6-3/195	19-Apr-01	USA
33	Bobby Brink	RW	Sioux City (USHL)	5-10/165	8-Jul-01	USA
34	Brett Leason	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-4/200	30-Apr-99	Canada
35	Marshall Warren	D	NTDP (USA)	5-11/170	20-Apr-01	USA
36	Egor Afanasyev	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	6-3/205	23-Jan-01	Russia
37	Ville Heinola	D	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	5-11/180	3-Feb-01	Finland
38	Nolan Foote	LW	Kelowna (WHL)	6-3/190	29-Nov-00	Canada
39	Samuel Fagemo	RW	Frolunda (Swe)	6-0/195	14-Mar-00	Sweden
40	Nick Robertson	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	5-9/160	11-Sep-01	USA
41	Nils Hoglander	RW	Rogle (Swe)	5-9/185	20-Dec-00	Sweden
42	Jamieson Rees	C	Sarnia (OHL)	5-10/175	26-Feb-01	Canada
43	Jakob Pelletier	LW	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-9/165	7-Mar-01	Canada
44	Antti Tuomisto	D	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	6-4/190	20-Jan-01	Finland
45	Lassi Thomson	D	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	24-Sep-00	Finland
46	Michal Teply	LW	Bili Tygri Liberec (Cze)	6-3/185	27-May-01	Czech
47	Brayden Tracey	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-0/175	28-May-01	Canada
48	Arseni Gritsyuk	RW	Omskie Yastreby (Rus Jr)	5-10/170	15-Mar-01	Russia
49	Yegor Chinakhov	RW	Omskie Yastreby (Rus Jr)	6-0/175	1-Feb-01	Russia
50	Mattias Norlinder	D	MoDo (Swe Jr)	5-11/180	12-Apr-00	Sweden
51	Karl Henriksson	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-9/165	5-Feb-01	Sweden
52	Vladislav Kolyachonok	D	Flint (OHL)	6-1/185	26-May-01	Belarus
53	Nikola Pasic	RW	Linkopings (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	16-Oct-00	Sweden
54	Alex Vlasic	D	NTDP (USA)	6-6/200	5-Jun-01	USA
55	Pyotr Kochetkov	G	HK Ryazan (Rus 2)	6-1/175	25-Jun-99	Russia
56	Albin Grewe	RW	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	5-11/190	22-Mar-01	Sweden
57	Trevor Janicke	C	Central Illinois (USHL)	5-10/195	25-Dec-00	USA
58	Henry Thrun	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/190	12-Mar-01	USA
59	Yegor Spiridonov	C	Stalnye Lisy Mag. (Rus Jr)	6-2/195	22-Jan-01	Russia
60	Patrik Puistola	LW	Tappara (Fin Jr)	6-0/175	11-Jan-01	Finland
61	Ilya Nikolayev	C	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	6-0/190	26-Jun-01	Russia
62	Drew Helleson	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/195	26-Mar-01	USA
63	Graeme Clarke	RW	Ottawa (OHL)	5-11/175	24-Apr-01	Canada
64	Ronnie Attard	D	Tri-City (USHL)	6-3/210	20-Mar-99	USA
65	Mads Sogaard	G	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-7/195	13-Dec-00	Denmark
66	Oleg Zaitsev	C	Red Deer (WHL)	6-1/185	7-Jan-01	Russia
67	Isaiah Saville	G	Tri-City (USHL)	6-1/190	21-Sep-00	USA
68	Kaedan Korczak	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-3/190	29-Jan-01	Canada
69	Adam Najman	C	Benatky nad Jizerou (Cze 2)	5-11/175	23-Jan-01	Czech
70	Mikko Kokkonen	D	Jukurit (Fin)	5-11/200	18-Jan-01	Finland
71	Michael Vukojevic	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-3/210	8-Jun-01	Canada
72	Patrick Moynihan	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-11/185	23-Jan-01	USA
73	Michael Gildon	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	21-Jun-01	USA
74	Judd Caulfield	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-3/205	19-Mar-01	USA
75	Vladislav Firstov	LW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-1/180	19-Jun-01	USA
76	Hugo Alnefelt	G	HV 71 (Swe Jr)	6-3/195	4-Jun-01	Sweden
77	Gianni Fairbrother	D	Everett (WHL)	6-0/195	30-Sep-00	Canada
78	Jackson Lacombe	D	Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHS-MN)	6-1/170	9-Jan-01	USA
79	Ethan Keppen	LW	Flint (OHL)	6-2/210	20-Mar-01	Canada
80	Anttoni Honka	D	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	5-10/180	5-Oct-00	Finland
81	Roman Bychkov	D	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-11/160	10-Feb-01	Russia
82	Ryder Donovan	C	Duluth East (USHS-MN)	6-3/185	4-Oct-00	USA
83	Nathan Legare	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-0/205	11-Jan-01	Canada
84	Billy Constantinou	D	Kingston (OHL)	6-0/185	25-Mar-01	Canada
85	Vojtech Strondala	C	Slavia Trebic (Cze 2)	5-7/155	17-Dec-00	Czech
86	Case McCarthy	D	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	9-Jan-01	USA
87	Simon Lundmark	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-2/200	8-Oct-00	Sweden
88	Zac Jones	D	Tri-City (USHL)	5-10/175	18-Oct-00	USA
89	Erik Portillo	G	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	6-6/210	3-Sep-00	Sweden
90	Daniil Misyul	D	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	6-3/180	20-Oct-00	Russia
91	Daniil Gutik	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	6-3/180	31-Aug-01	Russia
92	Hunter Jones	G	Peterborough (OHL)	6-4/195	21-Sep-00	Canada
93	Michael Koster	D	Chaska (USHS-MN)	5-9/175	13-Apr-01	USA
94	Aliaksei Protas	C	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-5/205	6-Jan-01	Belarus
95	Blake Murray	C	Sudbury (OHL)	6-2/190	5-Jul-01	Canada
96	Cole MacKay	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-10/190	13-Jun-01	Canada
97	Trent Miner	G	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/185	5-Jan-01	Canada
98	Semyon Chistyakov	D	Tolpar Ufa (Rus Jr)	5-10/170	7-Aug-01	Russia
99	Leevi Aaltonen	RW	KalPa (Fin Jr)	5-9/175	24-Jan-01	Finland
100	Antti Saarela	C	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	5-11/185	27-Jun-01	Finland
101	John Farinacci	C	Dexter (USHS-MA)	5-11/185	14-Feb-01	USA
102	Marcus Kallionkieli	LW	Sioux City (USHL)	6-2/195	20-Mar-01	Finland
103	Andre Lee	LW	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-4/200	26-Jul-00	Sweden
104	Kirill Slepets	RW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-10/165	6-Apr-99	Russia
105	Shane Pinto	C	Tri-City (USHL)	6-2/190	12-Nov-00	USA
106	Jordan Spence	D	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-10/165	24-Feb-01	Canada
107	Keean Washkurak	C	Mississauga (OHL)	5-10/185	16-Aug-01	Canada
108	Owen Lindmark	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	17-May-01	USA
109	Matej Blumel	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	5-11/200	31-May-00	Czech
110	Jack Malone	RW	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/190	13-Oct-00	USA
111	Jayden Struble	D	St. Sebastian's (USHS-MA)	6-0/195	8-Sep-01	USA
112	Artemi Knyazev	D	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	5-11/180	4-Jan-01	Russia
113	Maxim Cajkovic	RW	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/185	3-Jan-01	Slovakia
114	Matvey Guskov	C	London (OHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-01	Russia
115	Nikita Okhotyuk	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-1/195	4-Dec-00	Russia
116	Valeri Orekhov	D	Barys Astana (KHL)	6-1/190	17-Jul-99	Kazakhstan
117	Zdenek Sedlak	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-2/205	23-Mar-00	Czech
118	Alexander Yakovenko	D	Muskegon (USHL)	5-11/175	22-Feb-98	Russia
119	Yannick Bruschweiler	C	GC Kusnacht Lions (Sui 2)	5-10/175	29-Aug-99	Switzerland
120	Ilya Mironov	D	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	6-3/200	15-Mar-01	Russia
121	Albert Lyckasen	D	Linkopings (Swe Jr)	5-10/180	29-Jul-01	Sweden
122	Keegan Stevenson	C	Guelph (OHL)	6-1/185	31-Dec-00	Canada
123	Ilya Konovalov	G	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	6-0/195	13-Jul-98	Russia
124	Cole Schwindt	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/185	25-Apr-01	Canada
125	Domenick Fensore	D	NTDP (USA)	5-7/155	7-Sep-01	USA
126	William Francis	D	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	6-5/210	16-Nov-00	USA
127	Simon Gnyp	D	Kolner (Ger Jr)	5-11/180	10-Sep-01	Germany
128	Tuukka Tieksola	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-10/150	22-Jun-01	Finland
129	Ethan Phillips	C	Sioux Falls (USHL)	5-9/150	7-May-01	Canada
130	Linus Pettersson	RW	MoDo (Swe)	5-7/145	11-Apr-00	Sweden
131	Matias Maccelli	LW	Dubuque (USHL)	5-11/170	14-Oct-00	Finland
132	Anthony Romano	C	Sioux Falls (USHL)	5-11/185	7-Oct-00	Canada
133	Nikita Alexandrov	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/180	16-Sep-00	Germany
134	Arturs Silovs	G	HS Riga (Lat)	6-4/205	22-Mar-01	Latvia
135	August Hedlund	G	AIK (Swe Jr)	6-4/185	7-Jan-00	Sweden
136	Nicholas Porco	LW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/175	12-Mar-01	Canada
137	Joe Carroll	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-2/200	1-Feb-01	Canada
138	Alex Beaucage	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/195	25-Jul-01	Canada
139	Luke Toporowski	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/180	12-Apr-01	USA
140	Sasha Mutala	RW	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/200	6-May-01	Canada
141	Harrison Blaisdell	C	Chilliwack (BCHL)	5-11/180	18-Mar-01	Canada
142	Valentin Nussbaumer	C	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-11/165	25-Sep-00	Switzerland
143	Dustin Wolf	G	Everett (WHL)	6-0/155	16-Apr-01	USA
144	Ondrej Psenicka	RW	Sparta Praha (Cze Jr)	6-5/195	7-Jan-01	Czech
145	Juuso Parssinen	C	TPS Turku (Fin Jr)	6-2/205	1-Feb-01	Finland
146	Mitchell Brewer	D	Oshawa (OHL)	6-0/205	20-Mar-01	Canada
147	Lukas Parik	G	Liberec (Cze Jr)	6-4/185	15-Mar-01	Czech
148	Grant Silianoff	RW	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	5-11/170	4-Jan-01	USA
149	Josh Nodler	C	Fargo (USHL)	5-11/195	27-Apr-01	USA
150	Bryce Brodzinski	RW	Blaine (USHS-MN)	6-0/195	9-Aug-00	USA
151	Colten Ellis	G	Rimouski (QMJHL)	6-1/190	5-Oct-00	Canada
152	Rhett Pitlick	LW	Chaska (USHS-MN)	5-9/160	7-Feb-01	USA
153	Dillon Hamaliuk	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-3/190	30-Oct-00	Canada
154	Aleksei Sergeev	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/185	22-May-00	Russia
155	Jack York	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-0/190	17-Sep-00	Canada
156	Jacob LeGuerrier	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/200	22-Nov-00	Canada
157	Zach Uens	D	Wellington (OJHL)	6-1/180	13-May-01	Canada
158	Josh Williams	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-1/195	8-Mar-01	Canada
159	Elmer Soderblom	RW	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	6-6/220	5-Jul-01	Sweden
160	Kyle Topping	C	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/185	18-Nov-99	Canada
161	Albin Sundsvik	C	Skelleftea (Swe Jr)	6-1/185	27-Apr-01	Sweden
162	Cameron Rowe	G	NTDP (USA)	6-2/200	1-Jun-01	USA
163	Filip Lindberg	G	Massachusetts (HE)	6-0/180	31-Jan-99	Finland
164	Liam Svensson	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr 18)	6-3/195	2-Feb-01	Sweden
165	Xavier Simoneau	C	Drummondville (QMJHL)	5-6/170	19-May-01	Canada
166	Pavel Gogolev	RW	Guelph (OHL)	6-0/175	19-Feb-00	Russia
167	Danil Antropov	LW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/185	20-Dec-00	Canada
168	Daniel D'Amico	LW	Windsor (OHL)	5-9/185	26-Jan-01	Canada
169	Vladimir Alistrov	LW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-2/175	12-Feb-01	Belarus
170	Reece Newkirk	C	Portland (WHL)	5-11/175	20-Feb-01	Canada
171	Sergei Alkhimov	LW	Regina (WHL)	6-0/210	3-Jul-01	Russia
172	Adam Beckman	LW	Spokane (WHL)	6-1/170	10-May-01	Canada
173	Alexander Campbell	LW	Victoria (BCHL)	5-10/150	27-Feb-01	Canada
174	Taylor Gauthier	G	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/195	15-Feb-01	Canada
175	Max Crozier	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-1/195	19-Apr-00	Canada
176	Santeri Hatakka	D	Jokerit (Fin Jr)	6-0/175	15-Jan-01	Finland
177	Kalle Loponen	D	Hermes (Fin 2)	5-10/185	13-Mar-01	Finland
178	Eric Ciccolini	RW	Toronto Jr Canadiens (OJHL)	5-11/160	14-Jan-01	Canada
179	Aku Raty	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-11/170	5-Jul-01	Finland
180	Arvid Costmar	C	Linkopings (Swe Jr)	5-11/180	7-Jul-01	Sweden
181	Matt Brown	LW	Des Moines (USHL)	5-9/180	9-Aug-99	USA
182	Sven Leuenberger	C	Zug (Sui)	5-10/185	18-Feb-99	Switzerland
183	Jasper Patrikainen	G	Pelicans (Fin)	6-0/175	1-Jul-00	Finland
184	Jack Williams	G	Springfield (NAHL)	6-3/175	21-Jun-01	USA
185	Mikhail Abramov	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	5-10/160	26-Mar-01	Russia
186	Ben Brinkman	D	Minnesota (B1G)	6-0/215	4-Oct-00	USA
187	Chris Giroday	D	Green Bay (USHL)	6-1/175	13-Dec-00	Canada
188	Petr Cajka	C	Erie (OHL)	6-0/170	11-Dec-00	Czech
189	Mark Kastelic	C	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/215	11-Mar-99	USA
190	Kevin Wall	RW	Chilliwack (BCHL)	6-0/190	1-Feb-00	USA
191	Lucas Edmonds	RW	Karlskrona (Swe Jr)	5-11/175	27-Jan-01	Sweden
192	Carter Gylander	G	Sherwood Park (AJHL)	6-5/175	5-Jun-01	Canada
193	Ethan de Jong	RW	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	5-10/170	12-Jul-99	Canada
194	Wiljami Myllyla	RW	HIFK Helsinki (Fin Jr)	6-0/170	9-Apr-01	Finland
195	Yaroslav Likhachyov	RW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	5-10/170	2-Sep-01	Russia
196	Layton Ahac	D	Prince George (BCHL)	6-2/195	22-Feb-01	Canada
197	Alfred Barklund	D	Orebro (Swe Jr)	6-2/200	21-Oct-00	Sweden
198	Radek Muzik	LW	Lulea (Swe Jr)	6-3/180	25-Mar-01	Sweden
199	Marcus Pedersen	RW	Linkopings (Swe Jr)	6-2/165	25-May-01	Sweden
200	Filip Koffer	RW	Pardubice (Cze Jr)	5-11/175	4-Mar-01	Czech
201	Henri Nikkanen	C	Jukurit (Fin Jr)	6-3/200	28-Apr-01	Finland
202	Marc Del Gaizo	D	Massachusetts (HE)	5-9/190	11-Oct-99	USA
203	Tag Bertuzzi	LW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-0/200	18-Feb-01	Canada
204	Martin Hugo Has	D	Tappara (Fin Jr)	6-4/190	2-Feb-01	Czech
205	Jet Greaves	G	Barrie (OHL)	5-11/165	30-Mar-01	Canada
206	Mason Millman	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/175	18-Jul-01	Canada
207	Janis Jerome Moser	D	Biel-Bienne (Sui)	6-0/160	6-Jun-00	Switzerland
208	Nick Abruzzese	C	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/160	4-Jun-99	USA
209	Logan Barlage	C	Lethbridge (WHL)	6-4/200	7-Jan-01	Canada
210	Carter Berger	D	Victoria (BCHL)	6-0/200	17-Sep-99	Canada
211	Nando Eggenberger	LW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-2/205	7-Oct-99	Switzerland
212	Tyce Thompson	RW	Providence (HE)	6-1/180	12-Jul-99	USA
213	Nolan Maier	G	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-0/175	10-Jan-01	Canada
214	Massimo Rizzo	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-10/180	13-Jun-01	Canada
215	Matthew Steinburg	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	6-1/185	7-Oct-00	Canada
216	Jake Lee	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/215	13-Jul-01	Canada
217	Luke Bast	D	Brooks (AJHL)	5-9/170	20-Nov-00	Canada

100 HONOURABLE MENTION IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	Nation
HM	Nathan Allensen	D	Barrie (OHL)	5-11/180	3-May-01	Canada
HM	Ethan Anders	G	Red Deer (WHL)	6-1/175	26-Sep-00	Canada
HM	Nicklas Andrews	D	Des Moines (USHL)	5-10/185	6-Jul-01	USA
HM	Tyler Angle	C	Windsor (OHL)	5-9/165	30-Sep-00	Canada
HM	Marcel Barinka	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/165	3-Jan-01	Czech
HM	Roman Basran	G	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/195	26-Jul-01	Canada
HM	Luke Bignell	C	Barrie (OHL)	6-0/170	3-Nov-00	Canada
HM	Mathieu Bizier	C	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-1/185	13-May-01	Canada
HM	Oscar Bjerselius	C	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	5-11/185	18-Feb-01	Sweden
HM	Kaden Bohlsen	C	Fargo (USHL)	6-3/190	10-Jan-01	USA
HM	Samuel Bolduc	D	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-3/210	9-Dec-00	Canada
HM	Jakob Bondesson	D	Rogle (Swe Jr)	6-1/185	22-May-00	Sweden
HM	Cole Brady	G	Janesville (NAHL)	6-5/165	12-Feb-01	Canada
HM	Alex Brannstam	D	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	5-11/170	3-Jun-01	Sweden
HM	Lynden Breen	C	Central Illinois (USHL)	5-9/165	31-May-01	USA
HM	Jonas Brondberg	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-4/190	26-Jan-01	Sweden
HM	Jeremie Bucheler	D	Victoria (BCHL)	6-4/200	31-Mar-00	Canada
HM	Brett Budgell	LW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	5-11/190	1-Jun-01	Canada
HM	Luka Burzan	RW	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/190	7-Jan-00	Canada
HM	Felix Carenfelt	LW	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	13-Feb-00	Sweden
HM	Luke Cavallin	G	Flint (OHL)	6-1/190	29-Apr-01	Canada
HM	Filip Cederqvist	LW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe)	6-1/185	23-Aug-00	Sweden
HM	Cole Coskey	RW	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/190	1-Jun-99	USA
HM	Braden Doyle	D	Lawrence Academy (USHS-MA)	5-11/170	24-Aug-01	USA
HM	Justin Ducharme	LW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	5-10/180	22-Feb-00	Canada
HM	Nathan Dunkley	C	London (OHL)	5-11/195	3-May-00	Canada
HM	Pontus Englund	D	Timra (Swe Jr)	6-3/205	15-Jul-00	Sweden
HM	Lucas Feuk	LW	Sodertalje (Swe Jr)	6-0/185	19-Feb-01	Sweden
HM	Parker Ford	C	Sioux City (USHL)	5-8/170	20-Jul-00	USA
HM	Ethan Frisch	D	Fargo (USHL)	5-11/190	29-Oct-00	USA
HM	Maxim Golod	LW	Erie (OHL)	5-11/175	18-Aug-00	Canada
HM	Jacob Gronhagen	C	HV 71 (Swe Jr)	6-6/215	18-Jan-01	Sweden
HM	Maxence Guenette	D	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-1/180	28-Apr-01	Canada
HM	Hugo Gustafsson	C	Sodertalje (Swe 2)	5-10/160	23-Feb-00	Sweden
HM	Mack Guzda	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-4/215	11-Jan-01	USA
HM	Aidan Harper	G	Skipjacks HC 18U (USPHL)	6-2/170	28-May-01	USA
HM	Ludvig Hedstrom	D	Djurgardens (Swe Jr)	5-11/175	14-Apr-01	Sweden
HM	Konsta Hirvonen	LW	HIFK Helsinki (Fin Jr)	5-11/165	1-Nov-00	Finland
HM	Eric Hjorth	D	Linkopings (Swe Jr 18)	6-3/190	8-Jan-01	Sweden
HM	Samuel Hlavaj	G	Lincoln (USHL)	6-4/185	29-May-01	Slovakia
HM	Krystof Hrabik	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-4/220	24-Sep-99	Czech
HM	Rickard Hugg	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/190	18-Jan-99	Sweden
HM	Aaron Huglen	RW	Roseau (USHS-MN)	5-11/165	6-Mar-01	USA
HM	Aarne Intonen	C	TPS Turku (Fin Jr)	5-11/180	17-Jul-01	Finland
HM	Michal Ivan	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-1/185	18-Nov-99	Slovakia
HM	Dylan Jackson	RW	Dubuque (USHL)	5-9/175	6-Sep-01	Canada
HM	Ty Jackson	C	Dubuque (USHL)	5-7/150	6-Sep-01	Canada
HM	Taro Jentzsch	C	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-1/155	11-Jun-00	Germany
HM	Samuel Johannesson	D	Rogle (Swe Jr)	5-11/175	27-Dec-00	Sweden
HM	Wilson Johansson	RW	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	5-11/175	11-Oct-00	Sweden
HM	Brooklyn Kalmikov	C	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-0/165	21-Apr-01	Canada
HM	David Karlstrom	C	AIK (Swe Jr)	6-1/185	12-Mar-01	Sweden
HM	Mans Kramer	D	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	6-2/180	6-Mar-01	Sweden
HM	Jami Krannila	C	Sioux Falls (USHL)	5-10/160	3-Oct-00	Finland
HM	Grayson Ladd	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-1/175	1-Mar-01	Canada
HM	Martin Lang	LW	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/170	15-Sep-01	Czech
HM	Oscar Lawner	LW	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	5-11/185	13-Feb-01	Sweden
HM	Jonathan Lemieux	G	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-0/185	8-Jun-01	Canada
HM	Hugo Leufvenius	LW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/230	26-Mar-99	Sweden
HM	Ethan Leyh	LW	Langley (BCHL)	6-0/190	7-Sep-01	Canada
HM	Josh Lopina	C	Lincoln (USHL)	6-1/175	16-Feb-01	USA
HM	Emil Malysjev	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-3/190	1-May-01	Sweden
HM	Matias Mantykivi	C	SaiPa (Fin Jr)	5-11/160	21-Jun-01	Finland
HM	Jeremy McKenna	RW	Moncton (QMJHL)	5-10/175	20-Apr-99	Canada
HM	Billy Moskal	C	London (OHL)	6-0/185	22-Mar-00	Canada
HM	Derek Mullahy	G	Dexter (USHS-MA)	6-0/180	20-Mar-01	USA
HM	Kim Nousiainen	D	KalPa (Fin Jr)	5-9/170	14-Nov-00	Finland
HM	Zachary Okabe	RW	Grande Prairie (AJHL)	5-8/165	4-Jan-01	Canada
HM	Oliver Okuliar	LW	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-1/190	24-May-00	Slovakia
HM	Quinn Olson	LW	Okotoks (AJHL)	5-10/170	9-May-01	Canada
HM	Xavier Parent	LW	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-8/170	23-Mar-01	Canada
HM	Tommy Pasanen	D	Sioux City (USHL)	6-3/220	30-Jul-01	Germany
HM	Thomas Pelletier	D	Drummondville (QMJHL)	6-2/195	23-Aug-01	Canada
HM	Andrew Perrott	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/205	24-Aug-01	USA
HM	Kari Piiroinen	G	Windsor (OHL)	6-0/175	1-Jul-01	Finland
HM	Lukas Pilo	D	Orebro (Swe Jr)	6-1/185	7-Sep-99	Sweden
HM	Garrett Pinoniemi	C	Holy Family Catholic (USHS-MN)	5-11/150	15-Jun-01	USA
HM	Mason Primeau	C	North Bay (OHL)	6-5/205	28-Jul-01	Canada
HM	Kirby Proctor	D	Des Moines (USHL)	6-3/190	19-Apr-01	Canada
HM	Liam Ross	D	Sudbury (OHL)	6-2/195	13-May-01	Canada
HM	Henrik Rybinski	RW	Seattle (WHL)	6-0/175	26-Jun-01	Canada
HM	Nikita Sedov	D	Regina (WHL)	6-1/185	5-May-01	Russia
HM	Egor Serdyuk	RW	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	5-10/160	3-Jun-01	Russia
HM	Nikita Shashkov	LW	Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL)	5-11/180	26-Mar-99	Russia
HM	Ryan Siedem	D	Central Illinois (USHL)	6-2/190	25-Feb-01	USA
HM	Samuel Sjolund	D	AIK (Swe Jr)	6-1/175	19-May-01	Sweden
HM	Hunter Skinner	D	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/175	29-Apr-01	USA
HM	Dominik Sojka	C	Banska Bystrica (Svk Jr)	6-5/210	16-Feb-01	Slovakia
HM	Kyen Sopa	RW	Niagara (OHL)	5-9/185	30-Sep-00	Switzerland
HM	Tyler Spott	D	Green Bay (USHL)	5-10/170	17-Jun-00	Canada
HM	Matthew Struthers	C	North Bay (OHL)	6-2/210	26-Dec-99	Canada
HM	Roope Taponen	G	HIFK Helsinki (Fin Jr)	6-0/165	14-Mar-01	Finland
HM	Jacob Tortora	LW	Barrie (OHL)	5-6/165	25-Jul-99	USA
HM	Bobby Trivigno	LW	Massachusetts (HE)	5-8/155	19-Jan-99	USA
HM	Eric Uba	RW	Flint (OHL)	6-0/195	17-Dec-00	Canada
HM	Max Wahlgren	RW	MoDo (Swe)	6-1/185	9-May-01	Sweden
HM	Carl Wang	D	Sodertalje (Swe Jr)	6-2/195	28-Mar-01	Sweden
HM	Matteus Ward	G	Linkopings (Swe Jr)	6-0/170	7-Mar-01	Sweden
HM	Lukas Wernblom	C	MoDo (Swe 2)	5-9/170	22-Jul-00	Sweden
HM	Jonathan Yantsis	RW	Kitchener (OHL)	6-2/210	28-Apr-99	Canada

WHL Playoff Preview (Eastern Conference): Prince Albert dominates but Vancouver hot down the stretch

Kevin Olexson — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 18:12:54 +0000

After another exciting season in the Dub it took one final game to finalize this year’s playoffs. The Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers finish the season tied forcing a one-game playoff, the seventh in WHL history, to move on and play the Victoria Royals.

The Blazers made up a seven-point deficit in the last week and a half of the season, going 5-0-1 to tie Kelowna and earn a home tie-breaker game. They came in riding some momentum and sported a 6-3-1 record against the visiting Rockets this season. The Blazers were led by 16-year-old rookie goaltender Dylan Garand, who put aside 27 out of 28 shots, and forwards Connor Zary, Zane Franklin, Brody Stuart, and Captain Jermaine Loewen to earn their biggest win of the season. Next year’s Memorial Cup hosts have some work to do, as this is only the second time in the Rockets tenure that they have missed the playoffs.

The Prince Albert Raiders were far and away the top team in the Dub this year finishing with a 54-10-2-2 record for a league leading 112 points. The Vancouver Giants finished with the second-best record after going on a real tear in the last quarter of the season, as they surpassed the Everett Silvertips for the best record out of the BC and US divisions erasing a 16-point deficit. The Edmonton Oil Kings finished the season as the hottest team down the stretch winning their last 10 games to edge out the Lethbridge Hurricanes by two points for the division title.

As the quest to represent the WHL in this year’s MasterCard Memorial Cup begins, the Eastern Conference matchups look like this:

Eastern Conference

Brett Leason. Photo by Robert Murray/WHL.

The top seeded Prince Albert Raiders open their playoff series against the Red Deer Rebels boasting the best overall record, and head in to the postseason with a 7-2-1 record, where the Rebels stumbled in with a 4-5-1 record down the stretch finishing with 33 wins and 72 points. These teams played four times this season, with the Raiders taking three of the four games, losing only their first meeting of the season in Red Deer. All four games were decided by one goal, including a 2-1 shootout win by the Raiders in their most recent game played in Prince Albert.

The Raiders led the league in goals scored and finished the season with the second-best goals against. They are loaded up front with Brett Leason (36-53-89), San Jose prospect Noah Gregor (43-45-88), Montreal prospect Cole Fonstad (29-44-73), Ottawa prospect Kelly Parker (35-32-67), and Dante Hounen (29-38-67) who was acquired from the Victoria Royals and put up 31 points in 28 games with the Raiders.

The Rebels are led by Buffalo pick Brandon Hagel (41-61-102), Reece Johnson (27-26-53), and a couple of acquisitions in Cameron Hausinger (21-33-54) who put 37 points in 40 games, and Dallas pick Brett Davis (20-30-50) who produced 31 points in 41 games. On the back end, the Raiders are more than solid with Brayden Pachal (15-36-51) with 51 sporting an amazing +76, his partner Zach Hayes (3-24-27) with an equally impressive +71, Sergei Sapego (10-33-43) with a +42, and Max Martin (6-35-41) showing a +45. They have Washington Capitals 2018 first round selection Alexei Alexeyev with 43 points in 49 games, who is dealing with something but should be available, and Dawson Barteaux (7-27-34) to work their blue line.

In goal, Ian Scott has had a stellar season for the Raiders, going 38-8-1-2 with a 1.83 GAA, and a save percentage of 0.932 posting eight shutouts. The Rebels are back stopped by Ethan Anders 28-22-4-1 with a 3.09 GAA and a save percentage of 0.907 and two shutouts.

The Raiders seem to have the edge in most of the categories, but every game has been extremely close, and Red Deer was a top team last year, and anything can happen in the playoffs.

Pick - Raiders in 5

Kirby Dach

The Saskatoon Blades and Moose Jaw Warriors are set to meet as the second and third seeds in the East. The Blades have dominated the Warriors this year going 5-1 against them, including a 5-3 win near the end of the season. These are two good teams meeting, with lots of talent and players to watch.

At forward the Blades are led by top prospect Kirby Dach (25-48-73) who is slated to be a top five pick in this year’s draft, Max Gerlach (42-32-74), Washington prospect Eric Florchuk (21-29-50), and acquisitions Ryan Hughes (30-39-69) who had 29 points in 25 games, and Gary Haden (31-35-66) who scored 62 points in 55 games. The Warriors are led by line mates Tristan Langan (53-60-113) who topped 50 goals and sports a +43, and Justin Almeida (33-78-111), finishing second and third respectively in league scoring. Rookie Brayden Tracey scored 36 goals and put up 81 points in his first season with the Warriors.

On defense, both clubs have some nice features, as the Blades boast Dawson Davidson (13-62-75) and Nolan Kneen (6-39-45) with 25 points in 33 games since being acquired. One of the Warriors strengths is in their D-line, with Montreal prospect Josh Brook who scored 75 points in only 59 games, and Vancouver Canucks draftee Jet Woo (12-54-66).

In goal, Nolan Maier (36-10-6) backstops the Blades with a 2.64 GAA, a 0.910 save percentage, and four shutouts. The Warriors have used more of a committee approach as goalies Adam Evanoff (19-10-2-1) with a 2.62 GAA and a 0.916 save percentage, and Brodan Salmond (21-10-4-1) with a 2.73 GAA and 0.906 save percentage have shared the crease duties all season.

This should be a very good series to watch, and these teams are similar and should put forth an entertaining series. The Blades have dominated the regular season series, and have been the better club, and are headed in to the playoffs on an 8-2 run, but the Warriors enter on a three-game winning streak and will give them trouble, and make them earn it.

Pick - Blades in 6

Matthew Roberston, Edmonton Oil Kings

The central division winning Edmonton Oil Kings will host the Medicine Hat Tigers in the next matchup, and really seem to have the edge after going 5-0-1 against the Tigers this year, although all the games were relatively close except for one game which was a 5-0 final.

The Oil Kings Trey Fix-Wolansky (37-65-102), a Columbus Blue Jackets pick has led the charge all season and is definitely a player to watch. He is supported by Vince Loschiavo (37-25-62), Quinn Benjafield (15-39-54), and then 2019 draft prospects in Josh Williams, Vladimir Alistrov, and Jake Neighbours who will carry the load. The Tigers will rely on James Hamblin (33-44-77), Ryan Jevne (32-36-68), former Edmonton player Brett Kemp (33-27-60) who scored 21 points in 24 games for MH, and Ryan Chyzowski (27-28-55) to provide the scoring.

The Oil Kings defence is led by Conner McDonald (19-31-50), and Matthew Robertson (7-26-33) who is eligible for this year’s draft. The Tigers defence is led by Florida Panthers pick Linus Nassen (7-39-46) who will log a lot of minutes in this one. In goal, the Oil Kings have Dylan Miskew (28-11-2-3) between the pipes, who finished the season strong with his 2.53 GAA and 0.914 save percentage. He will battle the Tigers rookie Mads Sogard (19-8-2-2) with a 2.64 GAA and a 0.921 save percentage.

Even with the Oil Kings dominance throughout the regular season against the Tigers, it has been a close series and pretty equally matched. The Oil Kings ride an 11-game winning streak into the playoffs and look they have gotten hot at the right time. I like the forward depth for the Tigers and the defensive edge for the Oil Kings, and with two strong goaltenders this should be a close series. I feel it has upset potential, and despite the regular season series results, I think that Sogard can make a big difference and possibly steal this one.

Pick - Tigers in 7

Dylan Cozens

The last of the Eastern series is a central division matchup, with the Lethbridge Hurricanes playing the Calgary Hitmen. Once again, the Hurricanes dominated the season series by a 5-1 mark and scored handily as they averaged six goals a game in the series. Lethbridge has an abundance of offence, with five players who scored over 80 points, and will be a handful for the Hitmen.

The Hurricanes acquired forward Nick Henry (29-65-94) from Regina earlier this season, and the Colorado Avalanche prospect rolled on to lead the club in scoring as he put up 54 points in 44 games. Alongside of Henry, the Hurricanes also acquired Jake Leschyshyn of the Golden Knights (40-41-81) from the Pats, and he stepped in nicely as he had 49 points in 44 games. Top prospect Dylan Cozens (34-50-84), who is expected to go very early in this year’s draft, and Hurricanes Captain and Pittsburgh Penguins property Jordy Bellerive (33-50-83) filled the net regularly against the Hitmen, as Cozens had nine points in six games, and Bellerive had 13 in six. Joining them is Jake Elmer (39-42-81), who also had a very nice season and was able to knock 10 points in 6 games against the Hitmen.

As for Calgary, they have some offence as well, with line mates Mark Kastelic (47-30-77) and James Malm (34-43-77) leading the way. Malm, acquired from the Vancouver Giants put up a point a game against Lethbridge, while Kastelic scored nine points. They will be joined by Carson Focht (26-38-64), Kaden Elder (27-33-60) who was picked up from last year’s WHL champion Swift Current Broncos, Riley Stotts (19-38-57) , and Jake Kryski (19-27-46) to try keep pace with the Hurricanes.

On defense, the Hurricanes are led by Cale Addison (11-54-65), the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect will play a major role in this series and should have a good showing. He will be joined by hulking Ukranian defender Igor Merezheko (4-31-35) who will be responsible to shut down the Hitmen forwards. For Calgary, Russian defenseman Yegor Zamula (10-46-56), who was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers, and Belarussian Vladislav Yereomenko (7-26-33) will work with Dakota Krebs (4-21-25), as they have their work cut out to try and keep the Hurricanes forwards at bay, and hopefully keep the scoring to a minimum.

This will be an even more interesting series in the net, as both teams have rookie goaltenders that will duel against one another. Both goalies have been rather impressive thus far. Carl Tetachuk of Lethbridge put up a record of 24-9-1-1, with a GAA of 2.88 and a save percentage of 0.909 and two shutouts. His counterpart in Calgary, Jack McNaughton, went 25-14-3, with a GAA of 3.25 and a save percentage of 0.888, while posting two shutouts.

The Hurricanes finished the season going 9-1 down the stretch, while Calgary comes in with a 6-4 record to finish. The strong offence and forward depth of the Hurricanes should propel them to win the series, but the real story will be which 17-year-old goaltender will outplay the other, and even though McNaughton has played well down the stretch, his numbers against Lethbridge have not been good, going 1-2 against them, with a GAA of 5.16 and a save percentage of 0.838.

If the Hitmen can keep it close, and their special teams play, which was much better than the Hurricanes this year, seem to click, then they could make a good series out of this. The Hurricanes do have the experience after losing the Eastern Conference Championship two years in a row and should be extra motivated to get going for another chance.

Pick - Hurricanes in 6

LINK TO WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW HERE

WHL 2018-19 Season Preview

Kevin Olexson — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 13:22:04 +0000

Another exciting season is underway in the WHL, and 2018-19 should be a good one. The 2017-18 season ended with the WHL’s Regina Pats hosting the 2018 Memorial Cup, in which they were defeated 3-0 by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the final. This season, the Kelowna Rockets have been awarded the 2020 Memorial Cup, and as the host team, trying to retool and rebuild in transition, they have a bit of work to do before then.

The WHL had some great players move on, including prolific scorers, dynamic defenders, and some top goaltenders. Now the next draft class of players is developing into prominent roles with their respective clubs, and will see more of the spotlight and new opportunities as we head towards the 2019 draft in Vancouver.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks.

The WHL was dominated primarily by the US and Eastern Division, but there will be a change in the power and balance with all of the player turnover. The US division has established itself as the strongest division over the past few years and there is no reason to think that this season will be any different. It is likely that this division will boast five playoff teams as well. Along with the three seeded division teams, two other teams will battle for the conference wild card spots. The Portland Winterhawks and Spokane Chiefs should battle for the top spot in the division. The Hawks look poised to take the division, under the leadership of the Vegas Golden Knights first franchise pick Cody Glass, who will challenge for the WHL scoring title this season and be one of the best players to take the ice in the league. The Hawks lost two top defenders in Dennis Cholowski (Detroit) and Henri Jokiharju (Chicago), as well as forwards Skyler McKenzie (Winnipeg) and Kiefer Bellows (NYI). They have a solid supporting cast, and overage forward Joakim Blichfeld (SJ) and defender Brendan DeJong (Car) will flourish this season. They also boast two top draft prospects in defenders --Clay Hanus and John Ludvig who should produce on the back end.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, photo by Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

The Chiefs are set to push for the division title with plenty of offense even after losing Edmonton prospect and team leader Kailer Yamamoto, and graduate Hudson Elynuik (Toronto Marlies). They will be led by LA Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan (who will surely be one to watch after he returns from the NHL), Sharks prospect Jake McGrew, a nice complement of 19-year-old players, and New Jersey Devils first round selection Ty Smith who will step up his game. This season the Chiefs will also show off prospect Luke Toporowski, who will contribute with a larger role for the club.

The Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri-City Americans, and Everett Silvertips will follow up jockeying for position. The T-Birds are building and are looking to improve after a big changeover in players. The load will be shouldered by Nolan Volcan and Zach Andrusiak, who will play as 20-year- olds this season and lead the team offensively. Jared Tyszka (Montreal) will lead the blue line, and help draft eligible prospect Jake Lee. Secondary scoring will come from Noah Philp, Matthew Wedman and eligible prospect Dillon Hamaliuk. Tri-City will be anxious to get back prospects Michael Rasmussen (Detroit), and defensemen Juuso Valimaki (Calgary), but it may take some time, if they return at all. Aside from that they will have a solid set of forwards led by Kyle Olson (Anaheim), Nolan Yaremko, and top draft eligible prospect Sasha Mutala. The defence is young and could be shaky, meaning that the offence and goaltending will both have to be better. The Everett Silvertips have had the biggest turnover, losing scoring leaders Patrick Bajkov (Florida) and Matt Fonteyne, as well as elite goaltender Carter Hart (Philadelphia). They will get back forwards Riley Sutter (Washington) and Connor Dewar (Minnesota) to lead the attack. Goaltender Dustin Wolf is a top prospect and played admirably behind Hart last season. He will have his chance to be in the spotlight and shine this year. Wyatte Wylie (Philadelphia) will lead the blueliners the depth of which is a strength of this team.

Milos Roman. Photo by Chris Relke/Vancouver Giants

The B.C. division took a step back, as the powerhouse teams have slipped. Now the Vancouver Giants seemed poised to sit atop the division along with the Victoria Royals. The Giants lost forwards Tyler Benson (Edmonton) and Ty Ronning (NYR), but have a great follow up with James Malm, Brayden Watts, and prospect Milos Roman (Calgary) to lead their offence. The Giants also have a great stable of defensemen, including Alex Kannok-Leipert (Washington), Dylan Plouffe, and a definite 2019 first round selection in Bowen Byram. The goaltending is also sound with the tandem of Arizona Coyotes pick David Tendeck and highly touted prospect Trent Miner who has put up great numbers with his play between the pipes.

The Victoria Royals will also challenge for the division title, as they have a good nucleus of players, solid goaltending, and great coaching. They lost a lot of firepower in Tyler Soy (San Diego Gulls) and Matthew Phillips (Calgary), but will be led by Dante Hannoun, Dino Kambeitz, and Kaid Oliver. The back end is good with Scott Walford (Montreal), Lane Zablocki (Detroit), and Ralph Jarrett. The Royals will be backstopped by one of the top goaltenders in the league in Griffin Outhouse who will help them with their push for another division title.

Kyle Topping of the Kelowna Rockets. Photo by Marissa Baecker/Kelowna Rockets

The Kelowna Rockets, Kamloops Blazers, and Prince George Cougars round out the division, as they will jockey for the third spot and possibly a wild card. The Rockets, after winning the bid to host the 2020 Memorial Cup will have to step things up, as this season looks a bit rough for them. They lost a good portion of their team, and top players Cal Foote (TBL), Dillon Dube (Calgary), Kole Lind (Vancouver), Carsen Twarynski (Philadelphia), have graduated and the team is in transition. They do however show five top rated prospects this season including Kyle Topping, who surprisingly went unselected in last year’s draft and will lead the team offensively this season. Top prospect and projected first rounder Nolan Foote will bear a larger role and be relied on to provide some much needed offence along with Leif Mattson. The Rockets are known for turning out defensemen, and they have top rated prospects in Kaden Korczak and Lassi Thomson in the works. In goal they have Roman Basran, another top prospect who pitched a shutout in his first ever WHL game, and will share backstop duties with James Porter.

The Kamloops Blazers are looking to take a step up after going through many changes last season. The Blazers seem like they are in rebuild mode, but they will be led by Jermaine Loewen returning from the Dallas Stars. The Blazers have some young players on their roster, and the back end will be anchored by Nolan Kneen, who should be in store for a big year. The Blazers could very well surprise a lot of teams, especially if returning goaltender Dylan Ferguson (Vegas) can put up solid numbers as he should be busy. The Cougars are also in the midst of a rebuild, as they unloaded many of their assets to finish at the bottom of the division. They have a young team without any returning NHL draftees on it, but will be led by defenders Joel Lakusta, Ryan Schoettler, Rhett Rhinehart, and forwards Ethan Browne and import Vladislav Mikhalchuk. They have a top rated goalie prospect in Taylor Gauthier between the pipes, and he looks to face a lot of shots behind a weak defence.

The battle of the Central Division should come down to the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers, followed by the Red Deer Rebels and Edmonton Oil Kings, leaving the Kootenay Ice and Calgary Hitmen battling for the wildcard positions.

Calen Addison. Photo by Robert Murray.

The Hurricanes seemed primed and ready, as they welcome back their leaders from other camps and tryouts. The offence will certainly be dynamic with Jordy Bellerive (Pittsburgh) returning, and prospect Dylan Cozens - who will definitely be an early first round pick in next year’s draft - leading the charge as they both push for the WHL scoring title as well. The secondary scoring will be in the hands of eligible prospect Logan Barlage, Taylor Ross, and Kelti Jeri-Leon. On the back end, Calen Addison (Pittsburgh) returns to beef up this blue line and contribute from the point. The goaltending looks solid with Reece Klassen, who should have a good nucleus of defence in front of him to help him put up good numbers. Medicine Hat should also be able to keep up with Lethbridge on the offensive side of things, as they also have some firepower up front. Ryan Chyzowski and Josh Williams are one of the top tandems in the league, and Williams is a likely first round selection in the upcoming draft. Captain James Hamblin will also provide some scoring punch, as they also show a very balanced group of forwards.

The Tigers lost offensive defensemen David Queneville (NYI), meaning defenders Linus Nassen (Florida) and Dylan Macpherson will have to step into bigger roles to help fill that void. The goaltending will be fine with Jordan Hollett (Ottawa) stopping pucks on the back end, but the defence is young. The Rebels also have some nice players returning, and coach Brett Sutter will be happy with Brandon Hagel and Jeff DeWit coming back to lead the forward group. The Rebels also welcome back Alexander Alexeyev (Washington) and Dawson Barteaux (Dallas) to the group, as they should both have very productive seasons. The Rebels have two players of note for draft hounds with import center Oleg Zaytsev and goaltender Ethan Anders, who should both improve this season with expanded roles.

The Edmonton Oil Kings have also been in a rebuild mode, and are looking to take the next step of their transition. They have a young team who will be led by Trey Fix-Wolansky (Columbus), along with veterans Quinn Benjafield and Vince Loschiavo to play along side of draft eligible prospects David Kope, Vladimir Alistrov, and Brett Kemp. On defence, a top prospect and projected first round selection Matthew Robertson leads the blue line with fellow draft-eligibles Jacson Alexander and Conner McDonald. The Oil Kings also have some young goaltenders in their net, and could help this team move up the ranks with some solid play.

Riley Stotts. Photo by Candice Ward/Calgary Hitmen.

Calgary will have forwards Jake Kryski and Riley Stotts (Toronto) back, along with defenseman Vladislav Yeryomenko (Nashville) who will all take larger roles and provide leadership for their maturing team. The Hitmen have a hulking defender on the radar as Jackson Van De Leest is a top draft-eligible prospect. The Kootenay Ice have been developing and rebuilding for a few years now, and they are showing a lot of youth, and a top end talent in Peyton Krebs (yet another definite first round selection). He will be joined by Brett Davis (Dallas) to lead the charge for the young ICE team. They will rely on Jonathan Smart to anchor and lead their group of defensemen as this team looks to improve and make a surge for a playoff spot.

The Eastern Division standings will look different. This division has been hit the hardest as the top teams from last season have had major overhauls, and return depleted rosters. After being defeated in the Memorial Cup Final, the Pats have lost forwards Sam Steel (Anaheim), Cameron Hebig (Edmonton), and Matt Bradley from their impressive lineup of scorers. They will be led this year by Jake Leshyshyn (Vegas), Nick Henry (Colorado), Austin Pratt, and eligible prospect Koby Morrisseau to carry the load. On defence, losing Josh Mahura (Anaheim), Cale Fleury (Montreal), and Libor Hajek (TBL) opens the door for Aaron Hyman to take a leadership role, and allow eligible prospects Nikita Sedov and Jonas Harkins to play larger parts and flourish on an experienced team. In goal, they have Max Paddock, who should get some consideration, as he backstopped the Pats to the Memorial Cup final as a rookie netminder and looked good in the process.

Cole Fonstad

It looks like the Prince Albert Raiders are ready to take a major leap and push for the division crown. The Raiders are loaded up front with players to watch in Cole Fonstad (Montreal), Noah Gregor (SJ), undrafted Brett Leason, and returnee Kody McDonald leading the way. They have an experienced blue line with Sergei Sapego, Max Martin, and Brayden Pachal ready to deliver in larger roles. Goaltender Ian Scott (Toronto) is ready to be one of the top tenders in the DUB this season and lead this team. They will battle with the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Saskatoon Blades for the division crown in what should be an exciting division to follow. The Wheat Kings will also boast a stellar offence and solid goaltending. With last seasons leading scorer Ty Lewis (Colorado) eligible to return, which would add even more scoring punch to this already impressive lineup of forwards.

Ty Smith

Stelio Mattheos (Carolina), Connor Gutenberg, Cole Reinhart, and draft eligible Luka Burzan will lead the charge for the Wheat Kings. The defence will be led by Schael Higson and Chase Hartje, with youngsters Braden Schneider and Jonny Lambos getting increased minutes. Las Vegas prospect Jiri Patera will handle duties in net, and looks to be very solid for the Wheaties, which will also help push them to the top of the division. The Saskatoon Blades have also made enormous strides this year, and will take a step up as well. They have some great prospects on the roster that will make their way to the draft this spring. They also have a forward group that can fill the nets with Max Gerlach, Eric Florchuk, and Josh Paterson returning to support Kirby Dach. Dach will be a prolific scorer and early first round pick at the draft. He will be joined by import defensemen and fellow top prospect Emil Malysjev who will settle in to a prominent role by playing with the likes of Dawson Davidson and Jackson Caller. The Blades also feature a top goaltending tandem with top prospect Nolan Maier who will carry the load this season after a stellar rookie season, and Dorrin Luding, who has looked very impressive in his appearances.

Jett Woo

The Moose Jaw Warriors will find themselves in the mix as well with Justin Almeida (Pittsburgh) back in the fold, and leading the way as one of the top players in the Dub. Almeida will take the reigns of the offence after the loss of Jayden Halbgewachs (SJ), Brayden Burke (Arizona), and Brett Howden (NYR). He will be joined by Ryan Peckford, who looked promising last year despite being passed over in the draft. He will look to make amends for that with a good showing this year with an increased role on this club. He will be joined with fellow prospect Brayden Tracey and veteran forward Tristan Langan. The back end will miss top defender Kale Clague (LAK), but will be in good shape with a strong core as Josh Brook (Montreal) and Jett Woo (Vancouver) are back there. In net, the Warriors have Adam Evanoff who was great in a limited role in his rookie season, and will get to display his skills this year in a main role. He will share time with ex-Kelowna Rocket Broden Salmond who will add some experience.

Last but not least, last seasons WHL Champion Swift Current Broncos will be hit the hardest of all teams. They have lost most of their scoring, and are in a definite rebuilding mode. Gone are the likes of Glen Gawdin (Calgary), Aleksi Heponiemi (Florida), Giorgio Estephan (Buffalo), Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn (Washington), and their leader in Tyler Steenbergen (Arizona). The defence was also depleted by losing Colby Sissons (NJ), and surprisingly undrafted Artyom Minulin (who will miss lots of time with offseason surgery). This team will be led by Max Patterson, Alec Zawatsky, and defender Connor Horning. The Broncos are young, and will be in development mode for the next few seasons. Goaltender Joel Hofer (St. Louis) is the only player that has NHL labelling, and will be extremely busy throughout the year and will face a whole lot rubber. He will have to hone his skills and stop a lot of pucks, but is unlikely to steal many games for this team.