Vladimir Grudinin – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #11 Carolina Hurricanes – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:11:21 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 19: UMASS Minutemen defenseman Scott Morrow (23) during the Hockey East Championship game between the University of Massachusetts Minutemen and the University of Connecticut Huskies on March 19, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Since coach Rod Brind’Amour was hired, shortly after Don Waddell was installed as GM, the team has been to the Conference Final twice in the last six years. They have never missed the playoffs in that time, and advanced to at least the second round in each of the last four years. An impressive record, and even more so because in that time they have built a tremendous young core, learning how to win together. They are now entering their prime. Waddell is now leaving the team and the search is on for his replacement, while Eric Tulsky fills in as interim GM. Waddell had been patient over the years. Brent Burns was added in summer of 2022, but it wasn’t really until this trade deadline that he went for it. Adding Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh for a huge package of prospects and picks. Guentzel is a free agent, but there does seem to be a mutual desire to work something out. If that does not come to fruition, they will likely be aggressive in free agency and on the trade front.

That such a successful organization ranks 11th in the league for their prospect pool is a testament to their scouting staff and development team. They have a talent for recognizing talent in later rounds and developing them into stars. They have only picked in the first round three times in the last five years. Those picks include last year’s 30th overall pick Bradly Nadeau (ranked 34th by McKeens), and emerging superstar Seth Jarvis, just off a breakout season, capped off by an outstanding playoff. They have graduated only one of three goalies in the entire NHL in second round pick Pyotr Kotchetkov. Leading the group is McKeen’s 7th ranked prospect in 6’ 3” Alexander Nikishin, drafted in the third round in 2020, who led his team, and all defensemen, in scoring in KHL. His contract is through 2024-25 and he can make an immediate impact when he is ready to come over. Ready to make the roster as early as next season is Scott Morrow (ranked 49th), who has signed his entry level contract.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Alexander Nikishin	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`20(69th)	67	17	39	56	39
2	Bradly Nadeau	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	`23(30th)	37	19	27	46	12
3	Scott Morrow	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	`21(40th)	37	6	24	30	25
4	Aleksi Heimosalmi	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	`21(44th)	47	2	14	16	12
5	Jackson Blake	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	`21(109th)	40	22	38	60	26
6	Jayden Perron	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	`23(94th)	39	11	7	18	8
7	Gleb Trikozov	LW	19	6-1/185	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	`22(60th)	39	11	10	21	18
8	Felix Unger Sorum	RW	18	5-11/170	Leksands (SHL)	`23(62nd)	35	3	12	15	2
9	Anttoni Honka	D	23	5-10/180	JYP (Fin-Liiga)	`19(83rd)	48	2	21	23	12
10	Ronan Seeley	D	21	6-0/175	Chicago (AHL)	`20(208th)	58	2	12	14	16
11	Domenick Fensore	D	22	5-7/155	Chicago (AHL)	`19(90th)	39	2	14	16	18
12	Noel Gunler	RW	22	6-2/180	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	`20(41st)	24	5	3	5	6
13	Zion Nybeck	LW	21	5-8/182	AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)	`20(115th)	52	17	27	44	12
14	Simon Forsmark	D	20	6-2/195	Timra (SHL)	`22(101st)	52	6	13	19	2
15	Vladimir Grudinin	D	20	5-10/160	CSKA-Severstal (KHL)	`22(156th)	53	2	8	10	10

1. Alexander Nikishin, D, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Not only has Nikishin emerged as one of the best defense prospects in hockey, he is also arguably the best defenseman anywhere in the world outside of the NHL, at any age. This season he was named the captain of the storied KHL franchise SKA, he ended up as that team’s leading scorer, and he had the most points out of any defensemen in the league, all of which are simply incredible for a prospect who is still just 22 years old. The way that he is able to leave a huge impact with both his skill and his physical play, in all zones and all situations, is so rare. Carolina landing him in the 3rd round, 69th overall, in 2020 is looking like one of the biggest draft steals in recent history, and they have to be licking their chops about getting him to the NHL as soon as possible.

2. Bradley Nadeau, LW, University of Maine (NCAA)

You could give Nadeau the nickname Mr. Coast-to-Coast, both for his extreme continental crisscrossing over the past few seasons, as well as for his ability to make highlight-reel plays in transition. What he accomplished this year was nothing short of incredible, entering the NCAA as an 18-year-old and then leading his team in scoring with well over a point-per-game average. However, his success unfortunately flew under the radar a bit because Maine is usually a weaker program with a lower national profile compared to other schools that are top threats most seasons. He's a shifty, multi-faceted offensive weapon, and his high-end proficiency and deception as both a shooter and playmaker make him hard to defend against. Luckily for other college teams, the Hurricanes wanted him to turn pro sooner rather than later and already got him signed to his entry-level contract.

3. Scott Morrow, D, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

Morrow was a little bit of a risky pick for the Hurricanes at 40th overall in the 2021 draft, but he has rewarded their trust admirably in the years since, emerging as one of the best defense prospects in all of hockey. The program at UMass-Amherst turned out to be an ideal environment for his development, and after two consecutive seasons as his team’s leading scorer he signed his entry-level contract. Even more impressive, he joined Carolina’s roster immediately and made his NHL debut only a few short days after leaving college. He has sublime all-direction skating ability, crisp puck skills and a big shot from the point. There were prior concerns about his defensive play and his risky, freewheeling style, but those have mostly abated. Don’t be surprised if he never sees time in the AHL at all and starts next season with the Canes.

4. Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat (Liiga)

There has never been any doubt that Heimosalmi is a highly skilled defenseman. His talents as a skater are superb, and so is his ability to control and make moves with the puck while flying around the ice at his highest gear. The difficulty, however, has involved him figuring out how to actually make the most out of his given gifts. His production this season was almost identical to what it was last year with the exact same team, and it’s never great to see stagnation in a young prospect instead of improvement. He has the physical tools to be more of a difference-maker on the scoresheet but needs to get a little more crafty and aware when it comes to dissecting opposing defensive structures. He’s already under contract for a few more years, so Carolina has plenty of time to help his offense come along.

5. Jackson Blake, RW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Yet another recent alumni from the vaunted Chicago Steel prospect factory, Blake played like a man possessed this year for North Dakota. He was one of the top offensive producers in all of college hockey, and scored a staggering 31 more points than his nearest teammate, which goes to show just how integral he was for his squad. His efforts also made him a finalist for the Hobey Baker award, and rightfully so, though he did lose to the fully deserving wunderkind Macklin Celebrini. His dad, former NHLer Jason Blake, overcame his short stature with outsized perseverance, craftiness and work ethic, and the apple didn't fall far from the tree here. He’ll get a good, long look from the Hurricanes in training camp in the fall to see if he's ready for full-time NHL duty, but some duty in the AHL instead shouldn’t slow down his current rate of progression.

6. Jayden Perron, RW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Perron didn't necessarily have a seamless transition to the NCAA this season while following the same path as Blake, going from the star-studded Steel in the USHL to a more blue collar North Dakota group. The good news is that things eventually start to come together for him. That was fully expected, too, considering how great his hockey IQ and drive to improve are. He still likes to play bigger than his size and is already showing a proficiency for getting back into high danger scoring areas against the bigger and older opponents he is now facing. He'll likely still need a few more years in college before he's ready for the pro leagues, but that will provide him plenty of time to keep adapting his offensive tools and add other elements to his game, which will both be essential for bolstering his chances of becoming an NHLer.

7. Gleb Trikozov, LW, Omskie Krylia (VHL)

Trikozov is an electrifying, winger forward who has consistently produced points over the past few seasons in Russia, in spite of regular shuttling up and down levels, albeit within the same parent organization. He has as deep of a bag of puck tricks as any other forward prospect out there, and always relishes beating enemy defenders one-on-one in dramatic fashion. And if that wasn’t enough, he can absolutely bury shots, including when others feed him for the one-timer. There are questions about how his loose playing style and tendency to try doing everything himself will translate to the NHL or just how well he can play within greater structure, and his defensive commitment often isn’t where it needs to be. However, Carolina just signed him to an entry-level contract this spring, so they’re willing to see how everything unfolds, which is the right call for such an inherently talented prospect.

8. Felix Unger Sorum, RW, Leksands IF (SHL)

Unger Sorum is a highly entertaining player to watch because he's so slippery and elusive out on the ice. He loves to attack east-west in the neutral and offensive zones and slants heavily towards passing instead of shooting, and despite that book on him already being well known by now it doesn't make it much easier for opponents to actually stop him, because he's just that effective in the way that he plays. There are undoubtedly still some major adjustments that he will need to make before being NHL-ready, especially the extra strength and sturdiness needed to bounce off of checks on the smaller North American ice, but there’s no rush for that to happen, and his seamless transition from the J20 to the SHL this year for Leksand is a great sign for his ability to adjust to new challenges.

9. Anttoni Honka, D, JYP (Liiga)

Honka crossed the pond to North America for all of last season but then returned home to Jyväskylä for 2023-24 because of Carolina's lack of an AHL affiliate. Those globe-trotting circumstances don't appear to be doing him any favors, as his development seems to have stalled as of late. That's a worrying sign for various reasons, including the fact that something very similar happened to his brother, Julius, a former high draft pick of the Dallas Stars who is an almost identical style of blueliner and fell out of the NHL much sooner than expected. It's not easy to make a living as an undersized puck-moving defenseman, and Honka needs to soon demonstrate an elite proficiency in the role that he plays, because only the best of the very best are able to survive. Time is running out for him quickly.

10. Ronan Seeley, D, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

Seeley is one of the few Hurricanes prospects who stuck around with the Chicago Wolves after the minor league organization severed ties with their former NHL affiliate, and he seemed to be especially affected by the troubled and unusual circumstances, seemingly taking a step backwards in his development. Once a steady, trustworthy and well-rounded defender, he now looks like a shell of his former self. Just how much of that is his situation, and how much is an individual struggle to elevate his play to the AHL level? That jump is a steep one to make, even for former top defenders in junior leagues, and many never make it. He has one year left on his ELC with Carolina to figure everything out, but he'll need to solidify his professional identity and reaffirm what kind of value he could provide for the franchise long-term.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CAROLINA HURRICANES – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:07:00 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) against the New York Rangers during Game 6 of round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs on May 28, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Pyotr Kochetkov G

It was quite the whirlwind year for Kochetkov, a former second round pick of the Hurricanes. He started the year in the KHL, where he performed well. Then he came over to North America in March to play in the AHL…where he performed well. This was followed by the necessity of Kochetkov being thrown into a handful of starts in the NHL playoffs for Carolina due to injuries to both Freddie Andersen and Antti Raanta. Lastly, his season culminated with a reassignment to AHL Chicago (after the Hurricanes were eliminated) where he helped the Wolves capture a Calder Cup. Not too shabby for a pro debut in North America. Kochetkov has proven to be so successful thus far because of his quickness and aggressiveness in the crease. A highly agile netminder, he can afford to cut down angles aggressively because he recovers so well moving post to post and front to back. Of course, NHL goaltending coaches (like Carolina’s Jason Muzzatti) will work to refine Kochetkov’s movement to make him a little quieter in the crease. However, he definitely has the make-up and resume of a topflight goaltending prospect, something that is reflected in our prospect rankings. As of right now, Kochetkov is projected to start the season in the AHL as Chicago’s starting netminder because both Andersen and Raanta have recovered from their knee injuries. A full year as a starter in North America will be great for his development. With the two goalies ahead of him set to become UFA’s after this coming season, it seems likely that Kochetkov is being groomed for an NHL position in 2023-24. - BO

2 - Scott Morrow D

To a certain extent, Scott Morrow’s freshman season at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst was a success. He was the team’s second-highest scorer and flashed the sort of offensive talent that isn’t commonly seen in defensemen, let alone defensemen who fall to the second round of the NHL draft. Morrow is a creative problem-solver in the offensive zone, acting with decisiveness and conviction when he has a chance in mind that he wants to create. For someone of his size (six-foot-two-, 195 pounds) Morrow moves very well and has definite upside as a transition defenseman in the NHL. He can deftly sift his way through traffic to facilitate zone entries, and the way he uses his big frame to protect the puck while he’s carrying it through the neutral zone is absolutely notable. Morrow’s offensive game is strong enough that he has the upside to eventually become a power play quarterback in the NHL. But while the offensive side to Morrow’s game is quite promising and developed, it’s the defensive side of his game that could hold him back. Morrow isn’t a physical player yet, and his reads in the defensive zone need improvement. There’s a great canvas of tools for an NHL development staff to work with in improving Morrow’s all-around game, but he’ll need to possibly make sacrifices in his offense in order to get there. If he can make some adjustments to make his game more sustainable and well-rounded, Morrow can become an extremely impactful NHL defenseman. If he remains an aggressive, risk-taking offensive force, he’ll still get his NHL chances, and could become a power-play specialist at the next level if no defensive development occurs. - EH

3 - Jack Drury C

The son of former NHL’er Ted Drury, and the nephew of current New York Rangers General Manager Chris Drury, Jack was excellent in his first AHL season last year. He was among the rookie scoring leaders during the regular season and then took his game to another level in the playoffs, averaging over a point per game in helping the Wolves capture the Calder Cup. Drury was even rewarded with a brief NHL call up that saw him score in both contests, while playing key minutes on the penalty kill. At this point, he seems destined to be a long-time middle six player for the Hurricanes thanks to his well-rounded skill set. There really isn’t anything that Drury does not do well, and this gives him such great versatility as a player. His coaches can employ him in any situation. With several openings in their bottom six this coming year, it seems likely that he will be a full time NHL player. Carolina believes that someone like Drury can replace Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter internally and on a cheap entry level contract, helping them to alleviate any cap concerns that they might have. One has to wonder if the Hurricanes see Drury as a replacement for pending UFA Jordan Staal in a year’s time if he performs admirably this year. - BO

4 - Alexander Nikishin D

It’s amazing how much can change in just one year and Alexander Nikishin is a perfect example of it: on year ago, in August of 2021, the biggest concerns regarding the blueliner revolved around his cardiac abnormalities, which he had to overcome to be able to play regular hockey and have a chance to establish himself as a full-time KHL player, but he did all of that and much more. Over 2021-22, Nikishin has become the top young defenseman in the KHL and even earned himself an Olympic invitation, where he won a silver medal. In the offseason he was the main part of a blockbuster KHL trade in which the powerhouse SKA traded nine (nine!!!) player assets for him including some of their top prospects. For Hurricanes fans this trade had some negative side effects, as it was announced that Nikishin will not only earn notably more money now, but also will add one more year to his contract length, locking him to the KHL through the 2024/25 season. That said, he will be only 23 when he frees up and with the way he is developing we can expect him to become a reliable hard-hitting top-4 D with some nice attacking abilities including a hard shot and a solid first pass. Until then, playing for a top KHL contender would give Nikishin a chance to push his game to new heights. - VF

5 - Ryan Suzuki C

Luck has not been on Ryan Suzuki’s side since the Hurricanes selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft. The year after being drafted, Suzuki suffered a significant eye injury that has left him with a permanent blind spot in that injured eye. Then the pandemic happened, and Suzuki was thrust into the AHL in a limited role, rather than starring for the OHL in his final year of junior eligibility. Last season, injuries plagued him yet again, limiting him to only 34 games. This included him missing the entire Calder Cup playoffs. The younger brother of Montreal Canadiens young star Nick, 21-year-old Ryan is far too young to give up on as a serious NHL prospect. Ryan is actually a better skater than his older brother and he possesses the same kind of passing touch and sense in the offensive zone. Despite battling injuries, he has taken steps forward to become a better and more engaged player without the puck. That said, the younger Suzuki’s calling card will be his ability to play as a top six center who can make plays with the puck for his wingers and push the pace of play. Until he stays healthy and emerges as a top producer at the AHL level, he likely will not push for a spot on the Hurricanes. Patience will be key here for Carolina and their development staff. - BO

6 - Gleb Trikozov LW

Gleb Trikozov, selected No. 60 by the Carolina Hurricanes, had a remarkable second half of the season. He looked incredible in the MHL (Russia's 1st youth league) playoffs, helping his team make a deep run. A decent sized forward, Trikozov has an effective offensive game, good hockey sense and skill. His skating is great, and he uses it effectively, especially in assisting in zone entries for his team. His explosiveness with the puck is also excellent. Without the puck, Trikozov constantly applies pressure, but could stand to play a little more physically to help him secure turnovers. Offensively he is calm and patient. This helps him maintain possession deep into the offensive zone. Trikozov is also a strong shooter. He often moves to the right before he shoots; his size allows him to create separation from his opponent in two steps, creating a good shooting lane. He effectively finds free space in the offensive zone, reacting and adapting to the play smartly. Moving forward it will be about proving himself at the higher levels in Russia before making the jump to North America. Adding strength and improving his ability to utilize his teammates are key next steps. Look for him to split this year between the VHL, MHL, and KHL. - DB

7 - Alexander Perevalov - LW

The first half of Alexander Perevalov’s MHL season was one of the most dominant performances of his age at this level that have been witnessed in years and even though the second half of the season wasn’t as bright, it is still curious how or why he lasted until the third round of the 2022 draft. A right-handed left-wing sniper who needs just a bit of time and space to make goalies look just useless, Perevalov has clear top six upside, and the Hurricanes and their fans should be pleased to have him in the organization. It won’t be a smooth path for him though, as his Lokomotiv KHL organization is a strong one and is not expected to give him big role next season, so the realistic outcome that we can hope for him will be splitting time between the MHL junior league and a 13th forward role in the KHL. Short-term role aside, Perevalov’s abilities can allow him to be effective even in a limited role (especially if the inconsistency issues of the second half of the season are over) and, hopefully gradually earn him more trust and ice time. Perevalov’s KHL contract runs for two more seasons so it is a bit early to discuss the possibility of him crossing the pond at this point, but it is a likely eventuality if he will not be getting enough development opportunities at home. - VF

8 - Ville Koivunen LW

A 2021 draftee of the Carolina Hurricanes, Koivunen continues to be very slenderly built with his 162-pound frame but that didn’t stop him from spending this past winter excelling in the Finnish Liiga. In his draft year, Koivunen played for Kärpät’s U20 team and was named the circuit’s Rookie of the Year, earning a multi-year contract in the process. He already began paying that back in spades this year earning a regular spot among the club’s top nine and collecting himself 29 points, making him one of the pro league’s top rookies. After a 10-point effort at the U18 Worlds in 2021, Koivunen was quiet on the scoresheet in a checking line role for Finland at this summer’s WJC but is staring at a prime spot on a scoring line for this winter’s tournament. Talented as both a playmaker and finisher, Koivunen is a complimentary player who demonstrates a calm and collective game with strong hockey IQ. Adept with the puck, he avoids crumbling under pressure and makes it hard on opponents to separate him from the puck. Whereas continued practice and the addition of leg and lower body strength will surely have a very positive effect on his skating, he’s still a ways away from possessing the type of skating that would allow him to make effective use of his skills at the NHL level. Intensity and conditioning over 60 minutes will need to improve as well, but there’s plenty of time for the young winger. In light of the importance of Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen for the Canes, it’s no wonder that the team enjoys success in selecting the few Finns is adds every couple of drafts. - CL

9 - Aleksi Heimosalmi D

A 2021 second round selection of the Carolina Hurricanes, Heimosalmi has continued in his development where he left off at the 2021 U18 Worlds, where he was named the tournament’s top defender thanks to his two goal, eight point effort over seven games. Although his role was often quite small, he spent this past season entirely in Liiga action, learning many of the nuances of professional play. Those lessons were on full display in this summer’s WJC as he put up a goal, seven points, and a +4 on his way to gaining a silver medal. There, he showed great edges, a strong command of the puck all along the blueline, and a keen ability to conduct productive transitions. His skating ability allows him to be highly effective in defending without having to overexert himself physically. The Hurricanes were all about accumulating bodies at the 2021 NHL draft, even moving back out of the first round to grab more darts in the second, where they selected Heimosalmi and fellow Finn Ville Koivunen. Both have continued to look like steals to date. For Heimosalmi, who is still under contract with Ässat, the key this season will be to take on more responsibility for his club team, ultimately exerting more of his exceptional talent along the opposition blueline. His fantastic skating and stickhandling will be his calling card moving forward, but he’ll need to continue adding strength every step of the way so as to avoid the kind of role he had last season. Having made 40 selections over the past four drafts, the Hurricanes have a stacked prospect bin and will happily give Heimosalmi all the time he needs. The hopes are high that he’ll one day be a prime transitional defenseman at the NHL level. – CL

10 - Noel Gunler RW

The 41^st overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, Noel Gunler has proven that the inconsistency and character issues that were looming over him on draft day do not affect his immense skill for the game. The Carolina Hurricanes were able to take a flyer on Gunler in the 2^nd round due to other teams’ concerns about those issues and it has already paid dividends as the forward finished 5^th in SHL scoring for players 21 and under. Gunler saw his role with Brynas decrease as the year went on finishing the year averaging 10-14 minutes of ice time while producing 23 points in 52 games. After his SHL season was over, the Hurricanes brought him over to North America where he finished off the year with the AHL Chicago Wolves. In his time with Chicago, Gunler netted 5 points in 11 regular season games before playing 10 playoff games. Gunler’s game is based off the immense skill he possesses, and he has the unique ability to find the soft areas of the ice when off the puck, often positioning himself in high-danger areas of the ice. When he is in those high-danger areas, he uses his goal scoring instincts and quick release to beat goaltenders. In order to take his game to the next level, Gunler could work on improving his first step and his east-west movement. He is expected to be at NHL training camp with the Hurricanes and will most likely end up playing top-six minutes for Chicago in the AHL. Gunler projects as a top-nine forward who can inject scoring into the lineup. – ZS

11 - Vasily Ponomarev

The energetic, playmaking center played most of the year on loan in Russia but returned to North America in time to help Chicago win a Calder Cup Championship.

12 - Joey Keane

In an odd turn of events, just as Keane was set to become a full time NHL defender, he signed a one year deal in the KHL. He was one of the better defenders in the AHL last year and Carolina will retain his rights.

13 – Ronan Seeley

The two-way defender with great mobility served as the captain of the Everett Silvertips of the WHL last season and recently helped Canada win the August World Juniors. His pro upside may be a bit of an unknown, but he does have pro qualities.

14 - Anttoni Honka

An undersized, but strong skating, offensive defender, Honka led Liiga in assists from the back-end last season and will make his North American pro debut this coming season.

15 - Vladimir Grudinin

We had Grudinin ranked quite high for the draft, so it was surprising to see him fall the way he did. An intelligent two-way defender, Grudinin will try to break in as a full time KHL player this season.

16 - Jamieson Rees

A high energy forward with an aggressive attacking mentality, Rees helped Chicago win an AHL Championship this year in a depth role. The Hurricanes will be looking for him to take on more offensive responsibility this coming season.

17 - Justin Robidas

The son of former NHL defender Stephane Robidas, Justin is an intelligent and pesky center who never backs down from a challenge despite his size limitations. He had a great year as captain of Val’d’or last season.

18 - Domenick Fensore

Fensore’s junior season at Boston University served as a breakout campaign for the small, but skilled defender. He will return for a senior year and serve as captain of the Terriers.

19 - Jackson Blake

Opting to play another year in the USHL this season with Chicago, Blake will make his NCAA debut this season with UND. The son of former NHL’er Jason Blake, Jackson plays a similar up-tempo game.

20 - Patrik Puistola

A sharpshooting winger with a shoot first mentality, Puistola is coming off of his best Liiga season to date with 16 goals. He will look to take another step forward this season in the Jukurit program.

2022 NHL DRAFT REVIEW: EASTERN DIVISION – SCOUT’S FAVOURITES

Brock Otten, Will Scouch, and Sam McGilligan — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 11:46:37 +0000

The 2022 NHL Draft has come and gone. Montreal was a gracious host to not only NHL organizations and selected players, but also to McKeens' very own Brock Otten, Will Scouch, and Sam McGilligan. The three were in Montreal and in the thick of the action last week. To recap the draft, the three have highlighted their favourite selections for both Conferences. Additionally, we have provided a listing of each team's selections, coinciding with where the McKeen's scouting team had them ranked.

Denton Mateychuk - photo by Candice Ward

Brock Otten’s Favourite Selections

-in no particular order

Reid Dyck (BOS, #183)

Dyck isn’t the most consistent netminder out there. Part of that had to do with the youth movement in Swift Current and just how many high danger chances he saw against him. Part of it is because of some technical flaws. However, he has shown an ability to steal games and he was a real standout at the U18’s for Canada. A bit of Matt Murray in his game from his draft year.

Jake Richard (BUF, #170)

A real diamond in the rough. Richard improved a ton in the second half of the USHL season. He was one of the youngest guys available this year and I believe that as he matures physically, his skating can improve a lot. His skill and sense below the goaline is very impressive. Really good player in traffic. Watch out for him in the future.

Denton Mateychuk (CBJ, #12)

Just how much you value Mateychuk depends on how you view his defensive game and I think it has more potential than people give it credit for. Yeah, his play near the crease and near the wall needs to be better and he needs to increase his physical intensity. But I really like how he defends pace and I think his offensive skill set is unique and exciting. By drafting Jiricek AND Mateychuk, Columbus clearly had a plan and I’m here for it.

Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

Unlike a few of my contemporaries, I wasn’t crazy about Hutson as a first rounder. I do think that there is a lot of risk here. But at the end of the second round? That risk is absolutely, one hundred percent worth it. He may be the most talented offensive defender available this year. How the rest improves remains to be seen, but at this spot, how could you be unhappy with this selection?

Calle Odelius (NYI, #65)

I can kind of understand why Odelius fell a bit. He does a lot of things well, but not a lot at an elite level. The one thing that he does do at a fairly elite level is skate and that is what has me excited about this selection. Between Odelius and Isaiah George, the Islanders took two of the better skating defenders available. That was obviously by plan. I really liked Odelius at the U18’s for Sweden and I think he has a great shot at outproducing this draft slot.

Adam Sykora (NYR, #63)

I figured that Sykora would go higher than this. Strong skater. Good physical tools. His game improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the year playing against men. Sykora looks like a really nice bet to be a strong middle six option and at #63, you can’t do much better than that. It will be interesting to see if he plays in the WHL this coming season.

Zam Plante (PIT, #150)

Love the value here. Plante is someone who consistently caught my attention when I watched him this year. Great energy in the offensive zone. Strong puck skill and boards play. As he matures physically, I think he could actually develop into a pretty good skater too, like his Dad. Plante is exactly the type of player that Pittsburgh has developed well the last decade.

Connor Kurth (TBL, #192)

One of the USHL’s most improved players this year, I was shocked to see Kurth go this low, especially with so many other re-entry USHL guys coming off the board. Needless to say, I love this pick. Kurth will need to continue to improve his skating and conditioning, but he is a terrific complementary offensive player because of his skill, finishing ability, and success playing through traffic. I think he develops into an NHL player for Tampa.

Nic Moldenhauer (TOR, #95)

If not for a couple freak injuries at the beginning of the year, I think Moldenhauer ends up being a top 50, maybe even first round selection. There is lots to like here. Good skater. Good at navigating traffic and finding success playing through the middle of the ice. Plays both ends. Regardless of whether he takes the NCAA route or comes to the OHL, I think Moldenhauer will prove to be a great pick and an eventual NHL player.

Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

Coming into the year, Miroshnichenko looked like a pretty solid bet to be a top ten pick. He has been unbelievable internationally. However, his play against men in the VHL did leave some to be desired and then of course he had that unfortunate cancer diagnosis. Sounds like he is healthy now and I think he has a chance to develop into a real solid top six forward for the Capitals. IMO, he has the potential to be the best goal scorer from this draft class.

TAMPERE, FINLAND - MAY 26: Slovakia's Adam Sykora #10 celebrates after scoring a first period goal against Finland during Quarterfinal Round action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at Nokia Arena on May 26, 2022 in Tampere, Finland. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Will Scouch’s Favourite Selections

Vladimir Grudinin (CAR, #156)

Part of me was stunned that NHL teams kept passing on Grudinin as long as they did, but I was also not surprised at the same time. It felt weird. Names like Dolzhenkov and Duda went as high as 120 picks higher than Grudinin, while Grudinin was clearly a more dynamic and mobile player playing at higher levels than the other two. Carolina was excited to land this player, I think, he’s massively mobile, just needs to work on making his forward stride more efficient generating separation, but his edges and skill are wonderful. I was a huge fan of this player, and I think Carolina got themselves a very good one.

Adam Sykora (NYR, #63)

Sykora is such a New York Ranger, I tell you what. Hard-working, intense, good skill, great defensive instincts, Sykora is just an admirable player that earns what he gets and has the advantage of youth. I was surprised he wasn’t picked at least in the top 40, and with the Rangers first pick, they got what I think is great value in Adam Sykora.

Jiri Kulich (BUF, #28)

The Sabres did an excellent job on Thursday night, capped off with selecting Jiri Kulich, who is a player I feel will be as good as he is strong at the end of the day. He’s smart, skilled, has a remarkable finishing ability, and is a smart positional player that can be knocked around a bit. The upside may not be as high with the finished product, but I feel Kulich will be a nice piece down the lineup in Buffalo that could be a power play option with the shot he has.

Gleb Trikozov (CAR, #60)

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Gleb Trikozov. He was in my top 10, and I love that he was the first name Carolina took. The tools are immense, and his issue is often consistency and bringing his intense puck skill game to his play off the puck defensively. An extremely exciting player to watch, Trikozov could be a massive get for Carolina at 60 with his dual threat offense and relative youth in the draft class.

Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

Who doesn’t love Lane Hutson? Who doesn’t want to see him moving and shaking off defenders at the blueline, deceiving with his skill and opening passing lanes to get pucks into scoring areas? He’s going to need to improve his ability to create separation with his edges and generate speed under pressure, but his fluid footwork and excellent skill level are an excellent foundation to build on. He’s determined and confident, and I just love this guy. Getting him almost in the 3rd round, especially as the 4th player off your list, is just a great swing.

Filip Mesar (MTL, #26)

Mesar was ranked in my top 15. I love how he gets around the ice, and the intelligence he brings to the table off-puck especially. He’s skilled, brings a great motor, and is up near the top of the pile when it comes to mobility and speed in multiple directions. I do also think there could be a psychological factor uniting Mesar with childhood friend Juraj Slafkovsky. He was the first player I profiled this year and I really enjoyed what I saw. If he can improve his finishing skill and shot quality, especially off the rush, he could be an excellent offensive player in multiple positions and roles.

Noah Ostlund (BUF, #16)

I was honestly stunned that Noah Ostlund went just one pick after Jonathan Lekkerimaki and ahead of Liam Ohgren. Ostlund is one of the fastest and most agile players in the draft. He anticipates pressure and uses skill to create space and lanes to connect with linemates, and just needs to develop a quicker first couple steps to get into that space and continue driving play up the ice. He’s a soft playmaker, finding teammates through traffic while also being able to open lanes with skill. He’s small and slight, and may take time, but patience could be greatly rewarded, and I adore the Sabres’ approach to the first round.

Denton Mateychuk (CBJ, #12)

Some love Denton Mateychuk as a top-10 talent, some even higher. Others see him as a fringe first round pick. Personally, I fell somewhere in the middle. He gains a ton in his game from his confidence and freedom, but the talent with his skill level and deception that drives those traits feels like it will need to improve in order to get the job done at higher levels. He’s not the most mobile coverage defender on defensive rushes, but he has a strong sense of timing on puck movement and drove safe, but strong pass completion in huge volumes. I’m frankly just glad we know where he went in the draft and we can stop arguing, to be honest, and I love that Columbus went all in on him. If it works, it’ll be a ton of fun.

Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

I was pleasantly surprised to see Washington hand a pick to Ivan Miroshnichenko. I had him ranked 28th, and had he played a full season as he was before his diagnosis, I could see him being closer to where Washington drafted him. He has an excellent release, and great strength on his frame to fend off pressure in the VHL, but his puck management and vision of the ice was a limiting factor in transition and the skill level agility seemed to be lacking from his game relative to what I remember from previous years. With his cancer in remission, I’m really hopeful Miroshnichenko’s toughest days are behind him, and will be fascinated to see where he ends up.

Alexander Suzdalev (WSH, #70)

This guy is all hands, creativity and agility, but the footwork and ability to escape pressure with his feet really limits his upside and caused a bit of a slide relative to my ranking. He drove excellent efficiency moving pucks up the ice in great volumes at the J20 level in my tracking, but his lack of pace and need for processing time really limited his impact at the HockeyAllsvenskan level. He may not be SHL ready next year, but he may also be too good for the J20 level if his skating and strength improve. The skill level, problem solving, and creativity is high end and in the early 3rd round, you could’ve done significantly worse.

FRISCO, TX USA - MAY 1: Russia's Ivan Miroshnichenko #10 shoots the puck and scores a first period goal against the Czech Republic during preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on May 1, 2021 in Frisco, TX USA. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Sam McGilligan’s Favourite Selections

1: Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

This was easily my feel-good moment for the draft. Ivan Miroshnichenko had unfortunately caught a lot of negative attention throughout the season due to not meeting pre-season expectations, resulting in him flying down draft boards. Then his illness was revealed, throwing his future in hockey into question. I wasn't sure where Miro was going to end up going in the draft but seeing him go in the first round was a fantastic moment. Add in that Washington is one of the best organizations for high potential players slipping due to medical reasons and this becomes one of, if not my favourite pick in the draft

2: Gleb Trikozov (CAR, #60)

Gleb is one of the most entertaining prospects I've ever watched. There is such a high-level toolkit across the board -- skating, shooting, hands, passing, you name it. There's inconsistency in the processing of the game but even then, sometimes Trikozov is able to come up with complex solutions to problems that just wow me. He's the epitome of the "raw, boom or bust" archetype but I think there's enough smarts there to bet on the boom. The Hurricanes grabbed a first level talent at 60th overall, and it might just be the best value pick of the draft.

3: Noah Östlund (BUF, #16)

Östlund is one of three players I can confidently say are my favourites in the class, so there's a little bias here. Nonetheless, Östlund is as intelligent and dynamic as any forward you can find in the class. I believed he was very likely to be the last of the Djurgårdens' forwards to be taken, so imagine the shock on my face when Buffalo took him above Öhgren. Östlund is a high ceiling, connector-type center that will make the life of everyone around him easier. A primary playdriver with insanely high potential in all three zones, Östlund is one of the few with true star potential in this class. Buffalo deserves a ton of credit for this one whether it works out or not.

4: Calle Odelius (NYI, #65)

Calle Odelius slipping this far shocked me quite a bit. I think Odelius is the easiest of the Swedish defenders to project to the NHL while also carrying a fair bit more upside than others think. Calle's ability to manipulate pressure into creating space for himself is near the top of the class. His actions once entering the space can be hit or miss, but some of the greatest plays I've seen from a defender this year have come from Calle Odelius in open space so there's legitimate upside if his processing can be refined. Even if that doesn't happen, Odelius has strong enough fundamentals to be a complimentary defensive/transitional option.

5: Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

If Lane Hutson is a few inches taller, he's a slam dunk top 10 guy. If Lane Hutson was just a bit more explosive, he's a slam dunk top 10 guy. If both of these things end up happening, then Hutson has "best player in the class" potential and that's not something I normally say lightly. As a Habs fan myself, I was internally screaming at the idea of picking Hutson and I'm beyond ecstatic he gets to enter the era of the Kent Hughes Canadiens. He fits everything that the team is looking for on the back end -- skill, manipulation, agility and brilliant decision making. The sky's the limit for this short defender.

6: Seamus Casey (NJ, #46)

Considering he has an argument amongst the best handlers in the draft regardless of position, Seamus Casey might just be the most skilled defender one could take this year, period. The problem with Casey is he seems less willing to activate and utilize his hilarious skill with the puck than you'd hope for someone of this talent. His NCAA career needs to be focused on re-integrating this ability with the puck across all facets of his game so that he becomes the ultimate transitional/OZ weapon that he was projected to be early in the year.

7: Vladimir Grudinin (CAR, #156)

This is probably just the best pure value pick there was in the draft. I think Grudinin is pretty clearly a first-round talent, yet he was found in the mid-late rounds of the draft. Vladimir spent the bulk of his season playing professional hockey in Russia across both the VHL and the KHL, never really looking too far out of the way in either league despite being undersized. His world class mobility helped circumvent that issue and allowed him to consistently play at the high pace these leagues demand. Once again, Carolina identifies and scoops up the value wherever it is.

8: Isaac Howard (TB, #31)

Isaac Howard's outfit alone could register him a spot on this list, but I'll defer to his hockey ability instead. This player managed to match pace with Cooley and Nazar, both highly regarded prospects in their own right, yet didn't earn similar draft stock due to some inefficiencies within his game that cast doubt on his ability to process professional hockey. I do think Howard is a level behind what those two considering the packages each currently offer, but I also believe Howard has upside in the same range due to the hilarious manipulative abilities he has. With the right development, Howard can contend with the best players in this draft.

9: Devin Kaplan (PHI, #69)

This was just a brilliant pick for pure value reasons. Kaplan frequently uses a fantastic set of hands and a great sense of space to be one of the smartest complimentary players the draft has to offer in both transition and the offensive zone. His skating doesn't create enough separation for his hands to be a primary creation threat, but there's nothing within his form that indicates this is an issue that can't be overcome. Considering this was the third round, Kaplan was one of the best picks a GM could make in that range.

10: David Jiricek (CBJ, #6)

I'm kind of surprised my pick for the best defender in the 2022 class fell out of the top five. He's everything NHL GM's look for -- skilled, dynamic, large but with lots of room for physical improvements and brutally aggressive. Jiricek's combination of skills make him a bit risky compared to Nemec, but the booming upside is so ridiculously high that I couldn't see the Flyers passing on him. Yet here we are, and the Blue Jackets were fortunate enough to have a true top pairing prospect fall on their laps. Jarmo made the easy, but right decision, and it immediately makes Jiricek one of the best selections in the draft.

2022 NHL DRAFT
Boston Bruins
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Matthew Poitras	C/W	54	73
Cole Spicer	C	117	82
Dans Locmelis	C	119	177
Frederic Brunet	D	132	NR
Reid Dyck	G	183	114
Jackson Edward	D	200	HM

Buffalo Sabres
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Matthew Savoie	C	9	6
Noah Ostlund	C	16	22
Jiri Kulich	C/W	28	15
Topias Leinonen	G	41	98
Viktor Neuchev	W	74	83
Mats Lindgren	D	106	35
Vsevolod Komarov	D	134	221
Jake Richard	W	170	111
Gustav Karlsson	C	187	NR
Joel Ratkovic Berndtsson	W	202	NR
Linus Sjodin	C	211	220

Carolina Hurricanes
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Gleb Trikozov	W	60	26
Alexander Perevalov	W	71	25
Simon Forsmark	D	101	68
Cruz Lucius	W	124	140
Vladimir Grudinin	D	156	32
Jakub Vondras	G	171	NR
Alexander Pelevin	D	205	NR

Columbus Blue Jackets
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
David Jiricek	D	6	5
Denton Mateychuk	D	12	17
Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	44	45
Jordan Dumais	W	96	72
Kirill Dolzhenkov	W	109	66
Sergei Ivanov	G	138	HM
James Fisher	W	203	NR

Detroit Red Wings
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Marco Kasper	C	8	24
Dylan James	W	40	63
Dmitri Buchelnikov	W	52	97
Anton Johansson	D	105	NR
Amadeus Lombardi	C	113	202
Maximilian Kilpinen	W	129	NR
Tnias Mathurin	D	137	122
Owen Mehlenbacher	W/C	201	216
Brennan Ali	C	212	103

Florida Panthers
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Marek Alscher	D	93	NR
Ludvig Jansson	D	125	102
Sandis Vilmanis	W	157	105
Josh Davies	W	186	199
Tyler Muszelik	G	189	HM
Liam Arnsby	C/W	214	197
Jack Devine	W	221	143

Montreal Canadiens
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Juraj Slafkovsky	W	1	3
Filip Mesar	W	26	16
Owen Beck	C	33	33
Lane Hutson	D	62	40
Vinzenz Rohrer	W	75	78
Adam Engstrom	D	92	HM
Cedrick Guindon	C/W	127	108
Jared Davidson	C	130	NR
Emmett Croteau	G	162	NR
Petteri Nurmi	D	194	HM
Miguel Tourigny	D	216	NR

New Jersey Devils
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Simon Nemec	D	2	4
Seamus Casey	D	46	39
Tyler Brennan	G	102	142
Daniil Orlov	D	110	131
Charlie Leddy	D	136	128
Petr Hauser	W	141	NR
Josh Filmon	W	166	148
Artem Barabosha	D	198	214

New York Islanders
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Calle Odelius	D	65	30
Quinn Finley	D	78	104
Isaiah George	D	98	61
Matthew Maggio	W	142	173
Daylan Kuefler	W	174	NR

New York Rangers
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Adam Sykora	W	63	48
Bryce Mcconnell-Barker	C/W	97	95
Noah Laba	C	111	NR
Victor Mancini	D	159	NR
Maxim Barbashev	W	161	183
Zak Karpa	C	191	NR

Ottawa Senators
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Filip Nordberg	D	64	NR
Oskar Pettersson	W	72	166
Tomas Hamara	D	87	76
Stephen Halliday	C	104	123
Jorian Donovan	D	136	194
Cameron O'Neill	W	143	191
Kevin Reidler	G	151	NR
Theo Wallberg	D	168	NR
Tyson Dyck	C/W	206	171

Philadelphia Flyers
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Cutter Gauthier	C/W	5	13
Devin Kaplan	W	69	69
Alex Bump	W	133	91
Hunter Mcdonald	D	165	NR
Santeri Sulku	W	197	206
Alexis Gendron	W	220	71

Pittsburgh Penguins
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Owen Pickering	D	21	37
Sergey Murashov	G	118	NR
Zam Plante	C/W	150	96
Nolan Collins	D	167	NR
Luke Devlin	C	181	HM

Tampa Bay Lightning
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Isaac Howard	W	31	23
Lucas Edmonds	W	86	116
Nick Malik	G	160	172
Connor Kurth	W	192	81
Dyllan Gill	D	223	NR
Klavs Veinbergs	W	224	NR

Toronto Maple Leafs
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Fraser Minten	C	38	101
Nicholas Moldenhauer	C/W	95	75
Dennis Hildeby	G	122	NR
Nikita Grebenkin	W	135	HM
Brandon Lisowsky	W	218	53

Washington Capitals
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Ivan Miroshnichenko	W	20	19
Ryan Chesley	D	37	34
Alexander Suzdalev	W	70	119
Ludwig Persson	W	85	88
Jake Karabela	W/C	149	84
Ryan Hofer	W	181	NR
David Gucciardi	D	213	178

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2022 NHL DRAFT FINAL RANKINGS – FIRST ROUND – TOP 32

Brock Otten — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 20:49:39 +0000

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

Wow, was it ever great to have a somewhat normal scouting season again after the last two pandemic filled years. The Canadian Hockey League (OHL, QMJHL, WHL) played out a full season again and are in the midst of their Championship series’. The Swedish Junior leagues also returned to a full slate. The Under 18’s were exciting, with Sweden upsetting the gold medal favourites from the United States. Sure, we didn’t get a World Junior A Challenge and Canada didn’t participate in the Hlinka/Gretzky at the start of the year, but overall, the 2021/22 scouting season was significantly easier.

The only real challenge is the ranking of Russian/Belarussian players due to the sanctions lobbied against those countries for their unjust military campaign on the Ukraine. They did not play at the U18’s. They will not be allowed to enter the CHL Import Draft next year. Acquiring VISA’s may be difficult for them in North America next year, should they sign pro deals. And that’s without mentioning the ever-complicated KHL/NHL relationship that always muddles draft prognostication. Bottom line, where these players go in the NHL draft this year is the true wild card. Rather than try to predict that, we have ranked said players based on their talent level and where we believe they should go. Having had conversations with scouts, the sense is that the numerous circumstances surrounding them will lead them to drop.

As for our final list itself, Kingston Frontenacs center Shane Wright remains on top. Admittedly, it was closer than it was to start the year, with Logan Cooley and Juraj Slavkovsky really pressing him, but we ultimately felt that his combination of a high ceiling, and safe floor, in addition to his position (a true center), made him the most valuable player available. In our draft guide, we will go in depth on some concerns over his play down the stretch but know that Wright remains our number one heading into the 2022 NHL Draft.

Rounding out the top three are the aforementioned Cooley and Slafkovsky. Cooley slots slightly ahead due to his pace, skill, and ability to play down the middle. Whereas Slafkovsky’s strong international resume to close out the year pushes him up to three from number seven in our midseason list. Both of these players project to be impact players in the NHL…and quickly. It would not shock us if both were in the NHL for 2023/24.

At four and five we have everyone’s favourite debate; Simon Nemec vs. David Jiricek. We like Nemec’s processing ability slightly better and believe that he has more offensive upside than people give him credit for. Whereas Jiricek probably has a higher overall ceiling, but also a lower floor. Both defenders would be terrific selections for any NHL team this year and should develop into potential top pairing anchors.

Concluding the top ten are a slew of potentially dynamic offensive forwards; Matthew Savoie, Joakim Kemell, Brad Lambert, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Danila Yurov. All five come with some inherent risk; be it size concerns, production concerns, or contract concerns, but they each represent the opportunity for an NHL team to select a first line play driver.

When we look at the differences between our midseason list (released in January) and our final rankings, there were many players who climbed and many who fell. Let’s take a look at the five biggest risers and the five biggest fallers:

The Risers

Kevin Korchinski (from 46th to 18th)
Jonathan Lekkerimaki (from 21st to 9th)
Noah Warren (from 98th to 38th)
Lane Hutson (from 63rd to 40th)
Ryan Chesley (from 55th to 34th)

Bonus- Adam Sykora (from HM-Outside the Top 100 to 48th)

The Fallers

Seamus Casey (from 17th to 39th)
Ty Nelson (from 24th to 46th)
Simon Forsmark (from 27th to 68th)
Ludwig Persson (from 42nd to 88th)
Jorian Donovan (from 95th to 194th)

McKeen's Subcribers can access the full 224 player list with Honourable mentions HERE - link through to the player profile. As the draft in Montreal draws nearer, be sure to pick up our 2022 NHL Draft Guide, which will include many feature pieces, write ups on all players ranked (and HM’s), an early 2023 ranking, and much more. This guide should be available in the next week or so. You can go here to subscribe.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	HT/WT	DOB	NATION	TEAM	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Shane Wright	C	6-0/190	5-Jan-04	Canada	Kingston (OHL)	63-32-62-94
2	Logan Cooley	C	5-10/175	4-May-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	51-27-48-75
3	Juraj Slafkovsky	LW	6-4/220	30-Mar-04	Slovakia	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	31-5-5-10
4	Simon Nemec	D	6-0/190	15-Feb-04	Slovakia	HK Nitra (Svk)	39-1-25-26
5	David Jiricek	D	6-3/190	28-Nov-03	Czech	HC Plzen (Cze)	29-5-6-11
6	Matthew Savoie	C	5-9/180	1-Jan-04	Canada	Winnipeg (WHL)	65-35-55-90
7	Joakim Kemell	RW	5-11/175	27-Apr-04	Finland	JYP (Fin-Liiga)	39-15-8-23
8	Brad Lambert	C	6-0/180	19-Dec-03	Finland	JYP-Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	49-4-6-10
9	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	RW	5-11/170	24-Jul-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (SHL)	26-7-2-9
10	Danila Yurov	RW	6-1/175	22-Dec-03	Russia	Stalnye Lisy (MHL)	23-13-23-36
11	Pavel Mintyukov	D	6-1/195	25-Nov-03	Russia	Saginaw (OHL)	67-17-45-62
12	Frank Nazar	C	5-10/175	14-Jan-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	56-28-42-70
13	Cutter Gauthier	LW	6-2/190	19-Jan-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	54-34-31-65
14	Conor Geekie	C	6-3/195	5-May-04	Canada	Winnipeg (WHL)	63-24-46-70
15	Jiri Kulich	C	6-0/175	14-Apr-04	Czech	Karlovy Vary (Cze)	49-9-5-14
16	Filip Mesar	C	5-10/165	3-Jan-04	Slovakia	HK Poprad (Svk)	37-8-8-16
17	Denton Mateychuk	D	5-11/190	12-Jul-04	Canada	Moose Jaw (WHL)	65-13-51-64
18	Kevin Korchinski	D	6-2/185	21-Jun-04	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	67-4-61-65
19	Ivan Miroshnichenko	LW	6-1/185	4-Feb-04	Russia	Omskie Krylya (VHL)	31-10-6-16
20	Jagger Firkus	RW	5-10/155	29-Apr-04	Canada	Moose Jaw (WHL)	66-36-44-80
21	Liam Ohgren	LW	6-0/185	28-Jan-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	30-33-25-58
22	Noah Ostlund	C	5-11/165	11-Mar-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	32-9-33-42
23	Isaac Howard	LW	5-10/185	30-Mar-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	60-33-49-82
24	Marco Kasper	C	6-1/185	8-Apr-04	Austria	Rogle (SHL)	46-7-4-11
25	Alexander Perevalov	LW	6-0/190	16-Apr-04	Russia	Loko (MHL)	44-25-26-51
26	Gleb Trikozov	LW	6-1/185	12-Aug-04	Russia	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	35-23-22-45
27	David Goyette	C	5-10/170	27-Mar-04	Canada	Sudbury (OHL)	66-33-40-73
28	Sam Rinzel	D	6-4/180	25-Jun-04	USA	Chaska (USHS-MN)	27-9-29-38
29	Tristan Luneau	D	6-1/190	12-Jan-04	Canada	Gatineau (QMJHL)	63-12-31-43
30	Calle Odelius	D	5-11/185	30-May-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	43-7-23-30
31	Jimmy Snuggerud	RW	6-1/185	1-Jun-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	59-24-39-63
32	Vladimir Grudinin	D	5-10/160	9-Dec-03	Russia	Krasnaya Armiya (MHL)	18-2-11-13

2022 NHL DRAFT: SCOUCHING #4 – Vladimir Grudinin – LHD/RSD – CSKA Moskva #98 – The Most Fun Defender You Probably Haven’t Seen for the 2022 NHL Draft

Will Scouch — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 13:11:25 +0000

RED DEER, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 27: Russia vs Switzerland preliminary round action a the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at WP Centrium on December 27, 2021 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Vladimir Grudinin - LHD/RSD - CSKA Moskva #98 - Avg. Rnk - 32.56

18GP - 2G+11A - 2.82% G% 18.34% INV% - 15.04 NHLeS

One area of player analysis in hockey I believe is yet to be mined for real value is that of undersized defenders that drive good defensive results. Size isn’t the be-all-end-all. It just changes the equation you use to evaluate players. In my view, lacking size requires significant mobility advantages, skill, and offensive possession ability to minimize time spent playing defensively in order to drive results on both ends of the ice. A player in my first round that exemplifies exactly what I’m looking for is Vladimir Grudinin, playing across all three levels of CSKA Moscow’s program. While Grudinin may not be scoring at the highest rates you’ve ever seen, the potential tucked away in his data as well as in the video could help unlock one of the more mobile and exciting defenders in this year’s draft, including in his KHL minutes I saw.

If you haven’t read the background on my work and approach, please read the embedded article before continuing below.

Once you have read the article, or are familiar with Scouching, here is the full video. Powered by Instat.com

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Grudinin-moveGetPass.mp4

Defensemen may not step up into the middle of the ice much, but Grudinin was top ten in my dataset for defensemen getting these chances. He also sat in my top 15 for defenders when it came to pass completions, controlling offensive transitions, suppressing dangerous shots against, leading to an excellent shot attempt differential. Five of seven games tracked were at the professional level in Russia, so these kinds of metrics transporting pucks and getting play to safety are certainly notable, and the tape certainly supports the value that could lie in Grudinin’s game.

Grudinin is a player whose play revolves around his mobility. There isn’t an A-tier high end speed to his game in full stride, but he’s one of the more agile defenders in all four directions you’re going to find. This allows him to create space and step into it extremely well to move pucks, leading to the strong pass completion trend in his data. I don’t track special teams’ data, but there’s a ton of potential for Grudinin to run a blueline on the power play with his ability to move laterally and draw pressure around the offensive zone. There’s a dynamic trait to his skating that comes out, and hopefully comes out more as he can be unpredictable and deceptive managing the puck looking for breakout options. The offensive potential is tantalizing, and I’d love to see him being more aggressive and assertive in the offensive zone, navigating pressure and creating more danger than he already did. His puck control is really impressive, chaining together multiple moves and getting into dangerous space.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Grudinin-movePassShot.mp4

A common criticism with undersized defenders is their defensive ability, and it’s important to remember that I focused on Grudinin at the professional level for his dataset, and while there may be some concerns we’ll outline, this area is not something I’m terribly concerned about. The mobility that Grudinin brings allows him to be an excellent pursuit defender along the boards. He can constantly follow play and adapt to changes quickly, even if he causes some inopportune turnovers on breakouts. He can push out of his pivots well and close gaps extremely well on defensive rushes, leading to his strong defensive transition involvement. Grudinin is also not afraid of stepping from the offensive blueline and snuffing out breakouts, leading stick first, ready to adapt if pucks get into space. Strength will be a concern for Grudinin, but he at least tries when the time comes, and has moderate success closing out play along the boards and in front of the net. He can get low to the ice, box out aggressive opponents cutting through the middle of the ice and knows how to use his feet to his advantage.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Grudinin-get4.mp4

His lack of high speed beyond his mobility does cause issues if he falls a step or two behind on defensive rushes. It seems like it’s an unfortunate reality that if Grudinin stops moving his feet, problems occur. The slightest hesitation or second guess on what play to make can be enough to remove him as an offensive quarterback threat. This issue also comes up on defensive rushes if he’s beaten a step wide, without the reach to stick check in unconventional positions. That being said, when Grudinin has the play in front of him, and he’s working his inside edges to pick his backwards skating lane, he’s a remarkable stick checker that can quickly turn play around. Further on the bright side of his defensive game, is Grudinin being able to adapt to pressure and find ways to get his stick on pucks under pressure, even if he’s seemingly taken out of play. The NHL is full of situations where you may need to make a play with 200 pounds heaped on your back, and I’m hopeful that Grudinin can continue to develop this mindset.

Some may listen to this and wonder why Grudinin’s production rate might lag what you might expect for a player with the offensive potential I’m indicating, and while part of that may be due to a relative lack of power play time at the junior level, there are some processing issues that affected Grudinin leading to unnecessary turnovers when safer passing options were visible. The thing to always keep in mind is that Grudinin shows the most potential with the puck on his stick driving offense.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Grudinin-Pass.mp4

The Best Part - Offensive Upside

Grudinin didn’t score a ton, but I think with time he certainly will drive offense more than he does. The combination of skill and four-way mobility, with strong pass vision should combine extremely well with future development to build on these strengths. There’s a sense of deception when these skills combine and allows him to misdirect where his route is headed, and his natural nose for stepping into offensive zone space is rare in this draft class.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Grudinin-ThinkMoveShot.mp4

The Good Part - Mobility-Driven Defense

Yes, he’s undersized, but Grudinin’s feet and stick skill allows him to push into defensive situations to close out play. If he keeps his feet moving, he can get under pressure and muscle his way to loose pucks, and with a bit more strength and mobility improvements, his defensive ability should improve when he’s taken wide in the defensive zone and beating towards the boards when puck carriers swing wide. The ability to move quickly and adapt to directional changes is a bit of a work in progress but the signs are bright for him as an at least a competent defender.

The Not-So Good Part - Defensive Consistency

This really is the make-or-break area of his game. The NHL is fast and physical, and for all the good things in Grudinin’s game, he can still have some issues tracking rushes laterally that come at him at high pace. He doesn’t have the speed to really catch up when his pinches go poorly, so second-guessing is a bit of a problem. He’s quick, but only if he keeps his feet moving, and if he loses a step, he can have issues catching up. I think the pros outweigh the cons, but this is an issue that could limit NHL effectiveness without the puck.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Grudinin-BadGetGA.mp4

Final Thoughts

Grudinin is simply a ton of fun to watch, and I’m a huge fan, leading to the strong rating I’ve given. He’s a simple, but strong passer, and his feet unlocks excellent potential both offensively and defensively. He’s a player who I want to be more confident and assertive with the puck. When he takes the reins on an offensive rush, he should be able to be an even better transporter, but when he doesn’t, he has some issues consistently hitting pass targets, even if those are rare. The potential of his game is impossible to ignore, especially on the offensive side of the puck. His mobility allows him to get into space with and without the puck well. He’s an undersized player that can get involved physically driven through his feet. He’s aware of how to use his stick and suppress play along the boards. The talent on his feet in multiple situations rarely puts him out of play, especially when those feet keep moving, so criticism of his defensive potential may be focused more on anecdotes than his actual profile. Bigger players may cause issues right now, but it’s important to focus on the pros vs. cons in his game, and there are a ton of pros.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Grudinin-moveGetPass.mp4

The largest question is of course a bit of an elephant in the room. There is tremendous uncertainty surrounding Russian hockey and Russia in general. NHL teams have varying views on how to value Russian in this year’s draft, ranging from “Do Not Draft” to “Treat them as Usual”. For me, what happens behind the scenes with NHL teams hoping to find a way to get these players out of Russia is a major factor I have no insight to. There are still months to go until the NHL Draft, and the situation in Russia is evolving with every week. If uncertainty causes volatility in a player like Grudinin’s draft slot and he could be had in the middle rounds, I would be absolutely thrilled to take a chance and see what happens. The potential of his game at a certain point in the draft will certainly surpass those of the players drafted ahead of him, and rights are maintained for Russian players indefinitely, and to me, Grudinin is part of a small group of Russian players I would focus on in this year’s draft.

Final Ratings: Think - 2A, Move - 1C, Get - 1F, Pass - 2A, Shoot - 2B, Overall - 1D

2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 50 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #21 thru #30

Brock Otten — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:10:39 +0000

With this series of articles it is our intention is to briefly introduce you to each of the players ranked in our Top 50. Below you will find a short summary of their games in addition to a top highlight. In the coming months you will see in depth scouting reports published by our regional scouts on each of these players.

Djurgården's Jonathan Lekkerimäki during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Djurgården and Oskarshamn on October 21, 2021 in Stockholm.
Photo: Andreas L Eriksson / BILDBYRÅN

Jonathan Lekkerimaki - Center - Djurgårdens J20 (Swe J20)

A shoot first center, Lekkerimaki is definitely in contention for being the top goal scoring forward available this year. He possesses both an elite shot and terrific scoring instincts, allowing him to be a threat to score everytime he takes the ice. His performance this draft year has been terrific. One of the offensive leaders in the J20 league, Lekkermaki has also performed admirably in limited SHL action. Additionally, his five goals were tied for third at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup last summer. The only issue is that our scouts are not entirely convinced that he skates well enough to be a consistent impact player at the next level. If he were larger, this would be less of an issue, but as a sub six-foot player, we do wish that he possessed a slightly more explosive stride. As he matures physically, there is certainly hope that he can get quicker and if he does, there is no question that his ceiling is that of a consistent 30-goal scorer at the NHL level.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/21-Top-50-jonathan_lekkerimaki_-_3rd_period_7_25_-_7_37.mp4

Tristan Luneau - Defense - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Luneau got a late start to his season after recovering from offseason surgery on a nagging lower-body injury. Coming into the year, there was some thought that Luneau could be one of the top defenders available in 2022 and a potential top 10 selection. However, the injury and slow start have pushed him further down draft boards, including our own. This is because Luneau’s upside may be lower than initially thought, as his projection changes to that of a solid second pairing defender, rather than a potential workhorse. His game has few holes. He does everything relatively well. He skates well. He moves the puck well. He defends well. He can quarterback the powerplay or lead a penalty killing group. He also has good size and a right handed shot. But one has to question whether he does any of these things at an elite level. Additionally, he will need to increase his physical intensity level to be more consistent. The QMJHL covid hiatus will be ending soon and Luneau will look to show progression in his game down the stretch.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/22-Top-50-tristan_luneau_-_2nd_period_7_1_-_7_13.mp4

Nathan Gaucher - Center - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

No one will confuse Nathan Gaucher with Connor McDavid. He is not the most dynamic or creative player available this year. However, his tools are highly projectable to the next level, with upside as a high-end middle six center. A physical, two-way, power center, Gaucher is incredibly difficult to play against. He can push the pace with long, powerful strides, driving the middle to apply pressure. He excels playing through contact and controls the wall well, rarely giving up possession deep in the offensive zone. While you would like to see greater offensive production from him given his age (a late born ‘03), there is no denying how well his skill set could translate to the NHL level. To a certain extent, many parallels can be made between Gaucher and recent selection Dawson Mercer. At worst, Gaucher could develop into a shutdown center who anchors a penalty kill and takes tough defensive assignments. That type of floor is going to be very attractive to teams in the later first round who are looking for a more pro ready prospect who can make an impact sooner, rather than later.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/23-Top-50-nathan_gaucher_-_2nd_period_32_26_-_32_38.mp4

Ty Nelson of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ty Nelson - Defense - North Bay Battalion (OHL)

The former first overall selection in his OHL priority draft, Nelson is a player who has shown tremendous progression thus far in his short OHL career. The competitive, yet diminutive defender has worked hard to improve his decision making and composure in the defensive end. He is one of the most natural powerplay quarterbacks available this year because of his vision and bomb of a point shot. He loves to step up on attackers early and plays an aggressive brand of defense to counterbalance his lack of reach. He is not a prospect without warts. While his forward stride does generate power, his transitions and overall four-way mobility will need to improve for a defender of his size. Additionally, he will need to continue to improve his reads in zone coverage. However, he has improved with each passing month for the Battalion and has elevated himself into the upper echelon of OHL defenders already. Nelson has the skill set and drive to have a Ryan Ellis like career at the NHL level as a dependable #2-3 defender. Scouts have to be impressed with his willingness to accept instruction and progress thus far.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/24-Top-50-ty_nelson_-_3rd_period_0_53_-_1_5.mp4

Vladimir Grudinin - Defense - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Grudinin is a player who was really hurt by the cancellation of the World Juniors this year. The late born ‘03 was gaining more ice time and responsibility with each passing game for the Russians. And with his late birth date, he is not eligible for the U18’s this year. The undersized Russian defender is a natural powerplay QB, much like Nelson ranked ahead of him. He has performed well at every level he has played at this year, including a half dozen games in the KHL. Due to varying opinions on his physical tools and his ceiling as a defensive player, he has become a very divisive prospect in the scouting community. While we have him ranked as a first-round selection, NHL Central Scouting has him 40th in Europe alone (putting him essentially outside of their Top 100). We have a lot of faith in Grudinin’s offensive skill set and his intelligence level and do believe that he can develop into a quality NHL player and an asset as a puck moving defender.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/25-Top-50-vladimir_grudinin_-_1st_period_21_15_-_21_28.mp4

Owen Beck of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

Owen Beck - Center - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

A favourite of our OHL regional scouts, Beck has exploded onto the scouting scene this year for a surprisingly fantastic Mississauga Steelheads team. Beck blends quickness, skill, and tenaciousness into a package that makes him the perfect modern-day middle six center. Hands down one of the fastest skaters available this year, Beck consistently explodes through the neutral zone, putting defenders on their heels. Unlike many highly quick and deceptive players, Beck also shows great touch and awareness when operating at full speed. Beck is also a competitive two-way forward who is excellent on faceoffs, can kill penalties, and who uses his speed to be disruptive on the backcheck and forecheck. There may ultimately be some limitations to his skill development, creativity, and upside, but he is armed with enough offensive tools to suggest that he could be a very valuable and longtime NHL player. Beck is the perfect player for the modern-day NHL game, a game predicated on speed and the ability to dictate pace.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/26-Top-50-owen_beck_-_1st_period_20_57_-_21_9.mp4

Simon Forsmark - Defense - Orebro (SHL)

Forsmark may not be the flashiest defender available, but it is his dependability and projectability that has us and other scouts intrigued about his NHL upside. A strong two-way blueliner, Forsmark can shut down the transition game with his mobility and strong gap control. He consistently wins one on one battles, using his 6’2 frame to play aggressively and take away space in the middle of the ice. He also exhibits good poise with the puck, consistently making heads up break outs, helping to clear the zone. While the offensive production has not carried over from the J20 league to the SHL thus far, he has been able to play a steady, mistake free game against men and that is impressive given his age (even as a late born ‘03). The ultimate question being asked is, how much can Forsmark’s offensive abilities be improved? Does he project as more of a dependable stay at home type at the NHL level, or can he be a highly impactful #3 defender who can play in any situation. Our Swedish scouts love his game and believe that what he has shown at the J20 level this year is a better indication of his offensive potential.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/27-Top-50-simon_forsmark_-_1st_period_9_19_-_9_31.mp4

Mats Lindgren - Defense - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

The son of former NHL forward…Mats Lindgren, junior is a highly mobile puck moving defender who has had a strong year for Kamloops of the Western Hockey League. One of the draft’s best skating defenders, Lindgren’s fluid stride is a sight to behold. An effortless mover in all four directions, Lindgren can positively impact the transition game by leading the breakout. While his shot is not yet an asset, he does show tremendous potential as a powerplay quarterback because of high-end vision and the ability to use his lateral quickness to evade sticks and hold the line. The part missing from his game at this point is consistency. He goes stretches without making the kind of impact that you would expect from such a dominant skater. His defensive game also leaves some to be desired, as mental lapses can be an issue, especially in zone coverage situations. However, these areas of weakness can be improved upon, whereas Lindgren’s puck moving abilities and skating abilities are more innate. The upside is quite high, so long as the NHL team that selects him is patient with his development as he builds up confidence in his abilities at both ends of the ice.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28-Top-50-mats_lindgren_-_1st_period_23_11_-_23_23.mp4

Rutger McGroarty - Wing - NTDP U18 (USHL)

A budding power forward prospect, McGroarty plays a heavy game in the offensive end. He shows terrific puck protection skills and tendencies, possessing the strength and skill to put opposing defenders on his back as he drives the net, in addition to consistently winning one on one battles along the wall. McGroarty combines this effective physical and power game with great scoring instincts and a terrific shot. That combination gives him definitive top six upside, especially after a few years at the University of Michigan, where he is scheduled to play next season. The only real issue with his game is a lack of power in his stride which prevents him from building speed quickly to create separation. This does not really hurt him from being a consistent offensive contributor at the USHL level (or even the NCAA level in those exhibitions), however it could definitely hinder his effectiveness at the NHL level where he won’t be able to overwhelm defenders physically with ease. If McGroarty was a high-level skater, we would be discussing him as a potential top ten selection. With the right developmental team, coaches, and patience, McGroarty could become a great complementary offensive piece for his future team.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/29-Top-50-rutger_mcgroarty_-_3rd_period_29_1_-_29_13.mp4

Jiri Kulich - Center - Karlovy Vary (Cze)

Flying under the radar thus far, Kulich is low key having a terrific season in the Czech men’s league as a U18 player. His production has been right on par with Carolina Hurricanes former first round pick and young contributor Martin Necas at the same age. Kulich loves to attack the offensive end with speed, even if there is room for improvement in his explosiveness and power. He succeeds because of his creativity and ability to maintain control through directional changes and pivots. A well-rounded offensive player, Kulich is equal parts playmaker and goal scorer. He is especially dangerous in the home plate area with a quick and deceptive wrist shot. Kulich also excels at times as a defensive player and projects as a strong two-way center once he fills out and matures physically. He has very much been a prospect trending up in recent months and he should get a great opportunity to show what he is truly capable of at the U18’s in April, where he will likely serve as the captain for Czechia.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/30-Top-50-jiri_kulich_-_1st_period_17_28_-_17_40.mp4

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 100

Brock Otten — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:59:29 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

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

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32

Brock Otten — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:58:52 +0000

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Shane Wright	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/190	5-Jan-04	25-12-19-31
2	Simon Nemec	D	HK Nitra (Svk)	6-1/190	15-Feb-04	28-0-19-19
3	Matthew Savoie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	5-9/180	1-Jan-04	35-19-34-53
4	Logan Cooley	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	4-May-04	25-15-20-35
5	Danila Yurov	RW	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	6-1/175	22-Dec-03	21-0-0-0
6	Joakim Kemell	RW	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/175	27-Apr-04	21-12-6-18
7	Juraj Slafkovsky	LW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-4/225	30-Mar-04	20-1-3-4
8	Conor Geekie	C	Winnipeg (WHL)	6-4/205	5-May-04	35-11-27-38
9	Brad Lambert	C	JyP (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/180	19-Dec-03	24-2-4-6
10	Ivan Miroshnichenko	LW	Omskie Krylia (VHL)	6-1/185	4-Feb-04	30-9-6-15
11	David Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Cze)	6-3/190	28-Nov-03	29-5-6-11
12	Filip Mesar	C	HK Poprad (Svk)	5-10/165	3-Jan-04	22-6-5-11
13	Pavel Mintyukov	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-03	31-6-17-23
14	Denton Mateychuk	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Jul-04	35-7-24-31
15	Marco Kasper	C	Rogle BK (SHL)	6-1/185	8-Apr-04	27-4-2-6
16	Alexander Perevalov	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	6-0/190	16-Apr-04	29-19-20-39
17	Seamus Casey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	8-Jan-04	31-5-13-18
18	Frank Nazar	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/175	14-Jan-04	33-15-23-38
19	Noah Ostlund	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-10/160	11-Mar-04	19-6-18-24
20	Cutter Gauthier	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/190	19-Jan-04	33-20-12-32
21	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	C	Djurgardens J20 (Swe J20)	5-11/170	24-Jul-04	25-19-15-34
22	Tristan Luneau	D	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/175	12-Jan-04	26-5-10-15
23	Nathan Gaucher	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/205	6-Nov-03	30-15-11-26
24	Ty Nelson	D	North Bay (OHL)	5-9/195	30-Mar-04	33-5-21-26
25	Vladimir Grudinin	D	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	5-10/160	9-Dec-03	15-2-7-9
26	Owen Beck	C	Mississauga (OHL)	5-11/190	3-Feb-04	33-13-16-29
27	Simon Forsmark	D	Orebro (SHL)	6-2/195	17-Oct-03	22-0-1-1
28	Mats Lindgren	D	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/175	26-Aug-04	34-2-19-21
29	Rutger McGroarty	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/205	30-Mar-04	27-15-17-32
30	Jiri Kulich	C	Karlovy Vary (Cze)	6-0/175	14-Apr-04	31-7-4-11
31	Isaac Howard	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/180	30-Mar-04	33-15-24-39
32	Jimmy Snuggerud	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/185	1-Jun-04	33-16-22-38

2022 World Junior Championship: Team Russia – Last Minute Coaching Change Creates Uncertainty on Eve of Tournament

Viktor Fomich — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 21:28:24 +0000

Team Russia finds itself in a very interesting and unusual situation for the first time, after a rare coaching change made pretty much at the last moment before the start of the preparations for the World Juniors: Igor Larionov was replaced by another Russian hockey legend Sergei Zubov. Zubov brings plenty of experience coaching in the KHL (not to mention his hockey experience as such), yet he has never coached a junior team and that has its own unique elements. To add to the difficulty of this challenge, he has to implement his tactical system in an extremely short time frame. All of this is making up quite a test for him as a coach. I think even in the pre-tournament interviews so far you could tell that he isn't exactly oozing with confidence. It also was reflected by the roster selections. At the last moment it was decided to go to the tournament without the North-American based players, not to mention a rather arguable decision to not have any of right-handed shooters on the roster.

Let's move on from the complicated coaching situation and look at the roster. One thing that immediately stands out is that there are five guys on the roster with World Juniors experience — Askarov, Khusnutdinov, Ponomaryov, Kirsanov and Mukhamadullin. This is very important, as they are fully motivated to get what they missed last time, know what to expect from this level of hockey and should get a bonus of psychological readiness, which is a big deal at the junior level even for a top contender. Even more importantly, two of these players are defensemen and that is where Team Russia does not have a lot of high-quality depth, so their experience will be crucial. There is more than enough depth throughout the forward line-up though, with a lot of skill and firepower. We fully expect the coaching staff to utilize this effectively. Even though there is a notable deficit in size as well as in terms of number of right-handed shooters, I think it would be fair to say that this year the fans will be willing to forgive the defensive issues, but not the lack of goal scoring. In goal there's highly touted prospect Askarov. It is obvious that he is expected to be the clear starter, however, even though it will be his third World Juniors, he still remains a big unknown in terms of what to expect from him.

As we usually do, let's pick our top ten players to watch and I must admit that it was extremely hard for me to limit myself to only ten guys this time, as there are so many interesting and intriguing players on the roster. Still, I tried to somehow pick the ones who will be both very exciting to follow and will be expected to have a big impact in the potential success of the team even though I'm totally guilty of excluding some really interesting and important guys too. So, here's what I got:

ORNSKOLDSVIK, SWEDEN - APRIL 27: Russia's Yaroslav Askarov #1 stretches across in attempt to make the save during semifinal round action against USA at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fjallraven Center on April 27, 2019 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

GK Yaroslav Askarov

It might not be obvious why I'm putting Askarov as the top player to watch, with all the attacking talent on the roster, but putting emotions aside it makes perfect sense to me. Barring any negative surprises Askarov will be an undisputed starter and from the team's point of view this position will likely be even more important than usual, as the defense doesn't look to be too reliable this year. As for Askarov himself, he is coming into his third World Juniors tournament, and he well knows that a player of his talent level will be expected to deliver the result. The issue is that coming into the tournament there's a big question mark on his ability to do that, as his recent performances left much to be desired. He is seemingly struggling to get his confidence back which is sometimes just painful to watch, as the elite talent is still clearly there. Still the successful World Juniors can be a turning point to get his career back on track, he will get a lot of trust from the coaches here and likely will get quite a workload on the ice too (just like he likes it) — that is just exactly what he needs now. To add to all that there is a good chance he signs with the Predators after this season, so might be reasonable for the fans to follow him close here.

RW Matvei Michkov

I'm ready for having some rotten tomatoes thrown at me for leaving Michkov at the second position here, as the Michkov hype train is steadily picking up the speed (and better make sure you make it on board in time). Seriously though, there are legitimate reasons for this hype, as the talent level is obviously extremely high here, not to mention amazing skill and hockey instincts — he can make things happen that another player won't even think of in that situation. So far, what he has done at every level he has played can only be described with one word: "Amazing!", but the potential usage of Michkov in this year's World Juniors is still a mystery, as there are enough of more experienced guys, who might be more suitable for the leader roles. Although as I write that I can't get rid of the thought that Michkov has been in the situations like that a number of times already and was able to succeed each time, which is a legitimate reason to stay excited. And I don't even want to go into discussing the potential rivalry with Connor Bedard... but I think I can express the consensus opinion on that: the 2023 NHL draft can't come soon enough.

190428 Lucas Raymond of Sweden and Marat Khusnutdinov of Russia during the IIHF U18 World Championship final game between Sweden and Russia on April 28 in Örnsköldsvik.
Photo: Johan Löf / BILDBYRÅN / COP 230

3.C/W Marat Khusnutdinov

Last year's World Juniors left some questions lingering about the Minnesota Wild prospect Marat Khusnutdinov's abilities, so it's about time for him to answer those. For example, while last year he spent most of the time centering the first line, there was talk that it wasn't the most effective way to utilize his talents. The talent is definitely there though: the high speed, equally high work rate and intensity, versatility and some solid skills which have also started to translate to the KHL level. It should also be mentioned that, while it hasn't been announced yet, he is expected to be the team's captain this year. Judging by the line combos at camp Khusnutdinov is likely to play at wing this year, but still the question about his usage should be one of the most important for the coaches right now. So far in the preparation tournaments it hasn’t appeared very successful. Sounds like the default option for the start of the tournament will be playing him on the opposite wing to Michkov, which sounds intriguing. However, even if that doesn’t work out I'm pretty sure that his versatility will allow him to be useful in every position in the line-up, although I think everyone would want to see a bit more than just that.

210105 Kirill Kirsanov of Russia skates during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinal between Canada and Russia on January 4, 2021 in Edmonton.
Photo: Andy Devlin / BILDBYRÅN / COP 306 / AD0008

D Kirill Kirsanov

At the beginning of the KHL season when I saw Kirsanov on his team's first pairing I must admit I didn't think it would last for too long, but he showed that not only he can survive that type of workload at the KHL level (it isn't easy for a 19-year-old kid) but can do it game in and game out without losing his reliability as well as physical impact. As it has been mentioned, this year's team might have issues on the defensive end and that's why Kirsanov's role could be instrumental, as he will be needed at the most important moments of the game. The defensive game isn't everything Kirsanov can bring, as he also is a pretty skilled, effective passer and can unload quite a powerful shot. I think he should be able to showcase his attacking abilities at this level much better than in the KHL so far, especially considering that he already has the World Juniors experience from last year, which should earn him some extra trust from the coaches. In other words, having a deep prospect pool isn't an excuse for Kings fans to not to be following Kirsanov too.

D Shakir Mukhamadullin

Mukhamadullin recently broke the news of his signing an entry level contract with the Devils, yet staying on loan in the KHL for the time being. As for the season itself, it has been rather uneven for him: some good games in the KHL where he has shown solid offensive skills, some not very good ones, where the question about his defensive abilities were raised once again. All that might be because he had to enter the KHL season after missing a lot of pre-season time due to recovering following shoulder surgery, so hopefully the World Juniors could be a completely different scenario. At the tournament he is expected to be the default powerplay point man (which is an awful news for the goalies, considering his powerful shot) and the main puck moving defenseman, as he proved his ability to support the offense in last year's tournament, so this year it makes sense to think that he will have every opportunity to showcase his attacking potential. His reliability in his own zone is a factor that remains, but let's hope the coaches can figure out what to do with that. One has to think coach Zubov might have some understanding about good two-way defense and how it should be played.

C Vasily Ponomaryov

If I'd have to find one word to describe Ponomaryov as a player I'd choose "complicated" — both in a good and a bad way. On the good side he is a high-level playmaker with great vision, being able to make some amazing passes in a high-tempo game, but on the downside there is that feeling when you see him trying to make those plays, that sometimes making things a bit more simple would be much more effective. This season the Hurricanes have decided to loan him to the KHL, yet he actually couldn't crack the KHL roster full time after failing to find a common ground with the coach. Hence, he is spending most of his time in the VHL, but it might be even better for him, as he is getting much bigger role there than he would be getting in the KHL. Also because of that situation I'm pretty sure Ponomaryov is extremely motivated to prove he deserves much better than that. He has some experience from the last year's World Juniors, where he was used mostly as an utility player, but this year the top six center role is almost guaranteed to him — hard to even imagine better conditions to show what he has actually got.

Fyodor Svechkov

C/W Fyodor Svechkov

Svechkov's current accomplishments might not seem too impressive compared to what might be expected from a stereotypical first round draft pick, but I don't think that's something that should be looked into too much. Performing like he does against pro players in the VHL is more than satisfactory for a player his age, especially since Svechkov is not an overly physically gifted prospect, so I don't think the Predators fans have anything to worry about. Actually, getting to the Team Russia World Juniors roster as an 18-year-old center, considering all the forward depth, is already an accomplishment as such. At the tournament itself it is very likely that he will be used as a center for Michkov, which might mean that a lot of two-way workload will be on Svechkov as well as a lot of the dirty work. On the other hand, if their line clicks there aren't many doubts that the points will come too, as it will likely be the team's top line. There are some questions apart from the rosy outlook above. There is a concern about Svechkov's ability to be a top line center for this tournament, not only due to being just 18, but also due to having not much practice playing at center this season, as he was used much more frequently at left wing. That is something that Svechkov will have to answer right from the start of the tournament.

W Nikita Chibrikov

Chibrikov is a case of the type of interesting player who, while not doing any of the "wow" highlight stuff, is always getting a good share of points. As we enter the World Juniors tournament, is sitting at over the point-per-game level in the pro VHL league while being just 18-years old. One of the reasons for that is that he is basically a jack of all trades in terms of the attacking game: he can start the attack and finish it, can make setups and carry the puck by himself, while possessing both the high-end skill and willingness to go to the dirty areas. He is also rather versatile and easily finds good chemistry with his linemates, that's a quality every coach likes and that's why I don't have a lot of worries about the possible role on this year's team, even though I must admit it is rather unclear at the moment. Long story short: I don't understand how the Jets were able to get him at the end of the second round of the last draft and I don't really know why there's no hype surrounding him, but I certainly don't think there is a reason why we should overlook him.

W Danila Yurov

And here we finally have a top 2022 NHL draft prospect, which is Danila Yurov, only at 9th on our list, which isn't a knock on his abilities, but rather another indication of the forward roster depth that this team has. Yurov might not have a huge role on his KHL team, but even in the rather limited minutes it has been clearly noticeable that he plays a very cerebral and creative type of game, provides a good all-around game, works hard on every inch of the ice and can play at any position he is told by the coach. Another feature of Yurov is that he is extremely consistent for someone his age — I seriously can't remember any bad games by him at all even though I have watched a good amount of them. At the recent 4 Nations Tournament Yurov was very impressive in the middle-six winger role, generated a solid number of offensive chances, so something similar will be expected from him at the World Juniors too. And, of course, this tournament will likely also pretty much define his position at the coming NHL draft, so far, I'd say he has a real chance to go in the Top 10.

D Vladimir Grudinin

Might be a bit of a wildcard from me, but if looking at the players, who are exciting to follow, 2022 NHL draft eligible defenseman Vladimir Grudinin is among the top of that group. He is undersized, which is the main reason he isn't mentioned among the top draft prospects, also has a bit of issues at the defensive game due to that, but his skillset quickly makes you forget about it. Grudinin is a natural puckmover with great skating and puck skills, always eager to join the attack and very aimed at delivering the puck to the net in every way possible including, of course, his shot, which is a dangerous weapon. Not easy to predict his role at the coming tournament, as being only 18-years old and not too physically developed yet might really matter here (although he looked totally fine playing against pros in the VHL), but if he is given a chance I think he could be right there after Mukhamadullin in terms of providing the support for the offense, which also should place him onto many more draft radars than it has been so far.

Sleeper: RW Alexander Pashin

For the first time ever, I should point out that it was very easy to choose the sleeper pick for this list, as it is hard to even think of a more perfect candidate for that than Pashin: 7th round pick, undersized, also no hype surrounding him, as he isn't playing in the KHL. Yet he is a clinical finisher and believe me, if he will get the puck and just a bit of time and space in the slot or in the right circle area, he won't miss his chance. His VHL numbers prove exactly that, as he is currently among the league leaders both in goals and in shooting percentage, which is a great achievement considering that at the start of the season there was a lot of skepticism surrounding his ability to play against the big VHL guys at all. So that's what is also expected from him in this tournament — to score goals without wasting many opportunities, as very frequently it is something that is really hard to do. By the way, his current contract also ends this season and while the Hurricanes fans are likely not expecting him to come over any time soon you can never know.

Vladimir Grudinin – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #11 Carolina Hurricanes – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Alexander Nikishin, D, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

2. Bradley Nadeau, LW, University of Maine (NCAA)

3. Scott Morrow, D, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

4. Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat (Liiga)

5. Jackson Blake, RW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

6. Jayden Perron, RW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

7. Gleb Trikozov, LW, Omskie Krylia (VHL)

8. Felix Unger Sorum, RW, Leksands IF (SHL)

9. Anttoni Honka, D, JYP (Liiga)

10. Ronan Seeley, D, Chicago Wolves (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CAROLINA HURRICANES – Top 20 Prospects

2022 NHL DRAFT REVIEW: EASTERN DIVISION – SCOUT’S FAVOURITES

Brock Otten’s Favourite Selections

Reid Dyck (BOS, #183)

Jake Richard (BUF, #170)

Denton Mateychuk (CBJ, #12)

Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

Calle Odelius (NYI, #65)

Adam Sykora (NYR, #63)

Zam Plante (PIT, #150)

Connor Kurth (TBL, #192)

Nic Moldenhauer (TOR, #95)

Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

Will Scouch’s Favourite Selections

Vladimir Grudinin (CAR, #156)

Adam Sykora (NYR, #63)

Jiri Kulich (BUF, #28)

Gleb Trikozov (CAR, #60)

Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

Filip Mesar (MTL, #26)

Noah Ostlund (BUF, #16)

Denton Mateychuk (CBJ, #12)

Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

Alexander Suzdalev (WSH, #70)

Sam McGilligan’s Favourite Selections

1: Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

2: Gleb Trikozov (CAR, #60)

3: Noah Östlund (BUF, #16)

4: Calle Odelius (NYI, #65)

5: Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

6: Seamus Casey (NJ, #46)

7: Vladimir Grudinin (CAR, #156)

8: Isaac Howard (TB, #31)

9: Devin Kaplan (PHI, #69)

10: David Jiricek (CBJ, #6)

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2022 NHL DRAFT FINAL RANKINGS – FIRST ROUND – TOP 32

The Risers

The Fallers

2022 NHL DRAFT: SCOUCHING #4 – Vladimir Grudinin – LHD/RSD – CSKA Moskva #98 – The Most Fun Defender You Probably Haven’t Seen for the 2022 NHL Draft

2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 50 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #21 thru #30

Jonathan Lekkerimaki - Center - Djurgårdens J20 (Swe J20)

Tristan Luneau - Defense - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Nathan Gaucher - Center - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

Ty Nelson - Defense - North Bay Battalion (OHL)

Vladimir Grudinin - Defense - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Owen Beck - Center - Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Simon Forsmark - Defense - Orebro (SHL)

Mats Lindgren - Defense - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Rutger McGroarty - Wing - NTDP U18 (USHL)

Jiri Kulich - Center - Karlovy Vary (Cze)

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 100

2022 NHLDRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING – TOP 32

2022 World Junior Championship: Team Russia – Last Minute Coaching Change Creates Uncertainty on Eve of Tournament