William Lockwood – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD (February 26th to March 3rd) – Matthews at the center of Maple Leafs run – Favourable schedules and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 15:00:03 +0000

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) chases the play during the regular season NHL game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on April 26, 2022 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON.(Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

The Maple Leafs haven’t just won their last six games, they’ve outscored their competition an incredible 33-14 over that span. At the center of that run has been Auston Matthews, who’s provided 10 goals and 13 points over his past five contests. That gives him 52 goals and 76 points through 55 outings in 2023-24.

There was a time when Sam Reinhart was challenging Matthews for the goal-scoring lead, but Matthews’ edge in that battle has jumped to 13 goals. Not only did Matthews reach the 50-goal milestone before any other player hit 40, but there are still just 10 other skaters with at least 30 tallies this year.

Even after factoring in the Toronto game Matthews was unavailable for, the star forward is on pace for 76 markers. If he could actually do that, it would leave him in a four-way tie for fifth in the all-time single-season goal-scoring list. Along the way, he would also become the first player to reach the 70-goal mark since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93.

Of course, his pace has been skewed by his recent hot streak, but part of what makes Matthews impressive is how consistent he is. Dating back to Dec. 2, Matthews hasn’t had a goal drought last longer than two games (Dec. 30-Jan. 2, Jan. 13-14), and he’s provided at least one marker in 12 of his last 15 appearances.

It'll be exciting to see what he can do over the final weeks of the campaign and his pursuit of the 70-goal milestone adds an interesting wrinkle to a Hart Trophy conversation that’s been largely dominated by Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon, who are leading the Art Trophy race with 95 points (36 goals) and 93 points (34), respectively.

Arizona Coyotes - TUE @ MTL, THU @ TOR, FRI @ OTT (BTB), SUN @ WSH

The Coyotes are on the road next week and are set to play in Montreal on Tuesday, Toronto on Thursday, Ottawa on Friday and Washington on Sunday. Although an extended road trip is far from ideal, three of those four adversaries are well outside a playoff spot.

Arizona has lost 11 straight games, so it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that there aren’t many Coyotes players who have looked great recently. That said, it’s worth keeping an eye on Dylan Guenther. With the team focused on the future, the 20-year-old is serving on the first line and top power-play unit, leading to him averaging 18:17 of ice time, including 4:39 with the man advantage, over his past four contests. He hasn’t been good, but not great so far, providing six goals and 11 points across 19 outings this season, but given his high-end offensive upside, and the choice minutes he’s been receiving, Guenther has the potential to finish the campaign on a high note.

At the other end of the spectrum, veteran forward Jason Zucker has seen his role fade, to the point where he’s logged just 10:47 per game over his last three appearances, compared to his season average of 14:06. Although the Coyotes are likely to shop him ahead of the deadline, his $5.3 million cap hit might scare off contenders, and even if he does get moved, his new team likely wouldn’t use him as more than a third liner. Zucker has had periods this campaign where he’s performed well enough to be worth utilizing in fantasy, but only managers in particularly deep leagues should be using him at this time.

On the goaltending front, Connor Ingram has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, but based on his original 7-10 day timetable from Feb. 14, he should be about ready to return. The 26-year-old goaltender has been one of the bright spots for Arizona this campaign with a 17-13-2 record, 2.76 GAA and .912 save percentage across 35 outings. He’d be worth starting in fantasy on any night next week except for Thursday versus Toronto.

Dallas Stars - MON VS NYI, TUE @ COL (BTB), THU VS WPG, SAT VS SJS

The Stars will play in Colorado on Tuesday, but outside of that, they’ll be at home, hosting matches against the Islanders on Monday, the Jets on Thursday and the Sharks on Saturday. It’s one of the tougher schedules I’m highlighting, but Stars players will at least get plenty of opportunities to make an impact next week with four games ahead of them.

This hasn’t been a great campaign for Jake Oettinger, who has a 20-10-4 record, 2.98 GAA and .902 save percentage through 35 contests and he’s been particularly rough recently, allowing 10 goals on 65 shots (.846 save percentage) over his past three games. Scott Wedgewood, who has a 13-6-4 record, 2.97 GAA and .899 save percentage in 13 outings, isn’t an ideal alternative, but perhaps the backup goaltender will get some additional work next week so Oettinger can rest and regroup. If nothing else, Wedgewood should start either Monday or Tuesday. If he gets the Avalanche assignment, then it would be best to avoid him, but the Islanders are in a three-way tie for 21st offensively with 2.93 goals per game, so that would be a favorable adversary for the backup goaltender.

Goaltending hasn’t been Dallas’ only problem. The Stars have also been held to just two goals over their last two contests. Joe Pavelski has done alright in that span, providing a goal and an assist. He went through a slump from Jan. 23-Feb. 19 in which he was limited to four assists across 10 games, but the veteran forward seems to be heating up again. Even at the age of 39, he’s one of Dallas’ top performers with 20 goals and 48 points in 58 appearances.

Jamie Benn has also managed to stand out during the Stars’ recent struggles, supplying an assist in each of his last three games. He has just nine goals and 33 points through 58 outings this season, which is a major step down from his 78-point 2022-23 campaign. However, he’s been playing alongside Pavelski at even strength and serves on the top power-play unit, so Benn is in a position to be productive down the stretch.

Edmonton Oilers - MON VS LAK, WED VS STL, SAT @ SEA, SUN @ PIT (BTB)

Edmonton will host the Kings and the Blues on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. After that, the Oilers will travel to Seattle on Saturday and Pittsburgh on Sunday. LA and St. Louis are having decent, but not amazing campaigns while Seattle and Pittsburgh are behind in the battle for a wild-card spot.

The good times for Stuart Skinner appear to be behind him. He’s posted a 2-2-1 record, 4.20 GAA and .863 save percentage over his past five games, making this his worst stretch since his early season struggles. While Skinner still might shake this off and get hot again, this might create an opening for Jack Campbell, who has been paying his dues with AHL Bakersfield, to get a fresh opportunity. The veteran netminder has a .919 save percentage over his last 12 AHL appearances, so he’s settled down and would be worth keeping a close eye on if Edmonton calls him up.

While goaltending is something of a question mark for the Oilers, their offense is as strong as ever. Connor McDavid has been leading the charge as usual, providing an unreal 14 assists over his last five games alone. Meanwhile, Corey Perry seems to be fitting in with the Oilers, supplying three goals and four points over his past four contests. He hasn’t seen much power-play ice time, but he has shared the ice with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at even strength.

Perry should be a good pickup for as long as he’s seeing time on either of the top two lines, but you’ll want to continue to monitor that situation. Edmonton might still add another skilled forward before the March 8 deadline, and if they do, then Perry might shift to serving primarily on the third unit, which would significantly hurt his fantasy value.

Florida Panthers - TUE VS BUF, THU VS MTL, SAT @ DET

The Panthers are one of the rare teams I’m covering with just three scheduled games, but they’re well-positioned to win all three contests. They’ll host the Sabres and the Canadiens on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, before heading to Detroit for a match on Saturday. Of those adversaries, the Red Wings are the only ones still with playoff aspirations.

Florida has won 10 of its last 12 games, but the Panthers were dealt a potentially massive blow Thursday when Gustav Forsling and Matthew Tkachuk were forced to exit the match due to undisclosed injuries. At the time of writing, it’s not clear how significant those injuries are, but those are two key players for the Panthers.

If Tkachuk, who has 20 goals and 65 points through 57 games, is forced to miss time then William Lockwood will likely draw into the lineup for the first time since Jan. 19 and play regularly. The 25-year-old would serve primarily on the fourth line, so he wouldn’t at all be directly replacing Tkachuk, but Lockwood is a good source of hits when he is in the lineup, so he’s worthy of note in very specific fantasy circumstances.

We might also see Evan Rodrigues shift into a top-six role and move up to the first power-play unit if Tkachuk is unavailable. That would be a meaningful boost for Rodrigues, who has eight goals and 33 points through 57 appearances in 2023-24.

Forsling has eight goals and 27 points in 56 contests this season, but he’s only used sparingly with the man advantage, so his absence wouldn’t meaningfully impact the Panthers in that regard. In terms of even-strength minutes, though, we might see Oliver Ekman-Larsson asked to do significantly more. Josh Mahura would also likely start playing regularly after spending Florida’s past two contests as a healthy scratch.

Minnesota Wild - TUE VS CAR, THU @ NSH, SAT @ STL, SUN VS SJS (BTB)

Minnesota will host the Hurricanes on Tuesday, and then the Wild will have a two-game road trip with games in Nashville on Thursday and St. Louis on Saturday. They’ll conclude the week with a home contest versus the Sharks. Carolina is a tough opponent, but the Predators and the Blues are middle-of-the-road squads while San Jose is near the bottom of the pack.

With a 26-24-6 record, the Wild are running out of time to prove to management that they shouldn’t be sellers at the deadline. If they’re able to convince the front office of that, it will be thanks in large part to the efforts of their top line.

Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy are three of the hottest forwards in the league. Kaprizov is on a six-game scoring streak in which he’s provided five goals and 14 points. Over the same span, Eriksson Ek has supplied seven goals and 13 points while Boldy has contributed four goals and 11 points. Minnesota has gone from 17-20-5 on Jan. 13 to 26-24-6 at the time of writing, which is a significant climb, but the Wild are still on the outside looking in on the wild-card race. The Wild have little margin for error, which might serve to further motivate that star trio.

If Minnesota does start selling, though, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will likely be among those moved. The 39-year-old is having a rough campaign with an 11-10-3 record, 2.96 GAA and .897 save percentage across 27 contests, but contenders will appreciate the added goaltending depth he can provide coupled with the wealth of playoff experience he brings to the table. It’s worth monitoring the situation because, with a strong team playing in front of him, Fleury might have some use down the stretch, although his playing time will likely be limited.

Should the Wild deal Fleury and write off this campaign, it will be interesting to see if they give Jesper Wallstedt another shot. He had a disastrous introduction to the NHL, allowing seven goals on 34 shots to Dallas on Jan. 10, but that’s obviously a small sample size and the 21-year-old is a highly regarded goaltending prospect, so it might be worth it to give him some starts down the stretch to provide him with more NHL experience. Alternatively, if the Wild believe his development is better served remaining with AHL Iowa, then veteran journeyman Zane McIntyre might finish the campaign with Minnesota. In that scenario, Filip Gustavsson would likely be leaned on massively down the stretch, as would McIntyre in Iowa.

New Jersey Devils - TUE @ SJS, FRI @ ARI, SUN @ LAK

The Devils will spend the week on the road, playing against the Sharks on Tuesday, the Coyotes on Friday and the Kings on Sunday. Although they’re playing in just three games, Anaheim and San Jose rank 30th and 31st, respectively, in the standings, which makes Devils players especially appealing next week.

Nico Daws has allowed 11 goals over his past two games, bringing him down to 6-8-0 with a 3.32 GAA and .895 save percentage through 14 appearances this season. Vitek Vanecek (lower body) might return soon, but he has a 17-9-3 record, 3.18 GAA and .890 save percentage in 32 contests, so he’s hardly an ideal alternative.

New Jersey will likely make a strong push to get a goaltender before the deadline. Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom seems like one possibility, provided he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a trade. If they get him or another netminder, then Daws will likely be sent to the minors while Vanecek, who is in the second season of his three-year, $10.2 million contract, would be relegated to the backup role.

At least the Devils have a strong forward corps. Tyler Toffoli isn’t the headliner of it, but he’s certainly a noteworthy component. The 31-year-old is on a four-game scoring streak (two goals, four points), which brings him up to 24 goals and 39 points in 55 contests this season. Jack Hughes is also dialled in with three goals and six points over his past six appearances.

Ottawa Senators - MON @ WSH, TUE @ NSH (BTB), FRI VS ARI, SAT @ PHI (BTB)

Ottawa will open the week with road contests versus the Capitals on Monday and the Predators on Tuesday. The Senators will then host the Coyotes on Friday before playing in Philadelphia on Saturday. None of those opponents is high-end, though Nashville still has playoff aspirations while Philadelphia is currently in a reasonably secure position in the battle for a postseason berth.

The Senators won’t make the playoffs, but that won’t be for lack of trying on the part of Claude Giroux. The 36-year-old forward is on a seven-game scoring streak in which he’s collected three goals and nine points. That gives him 18 goals and 51 points through 54 outings in 2023-24. Giroux’s three-year, $19.5 million contract runs through 2024-25, and he has a no-movement clause, so he’s unlikely to be traded before the deadline, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s any temptation there for him to reevaluate his plans. He’s never won a Cup, and Ottawa might not be able to provide him with a great shot at a serious playoff run before his contract is up.

Still, that’s a decision Giroux is more likely to make next season. Instead, Vladimir Tarasenko, who is playing through a one-year, $5 million deal, is far more likely to be moved in the coming weeks. It is worth noting that he has a full no-trade clause, so Tarasenko will have a lot of sway over where he goes. The 32-year-old winger has 15 goals and 37 points over 52 contests this season and would be a great middle-six forward for most contenders.

As Ottawa sells and looks toward the future, Ridly Greig might also start playing an expanded role. The 21-year-old has nine goals and 21 points in 44 outings while averaging 14:27 of ice time, including a modest 0:43 with the man advantage. In particular, that power-play time might expand down the stretch, which could aid Greig in finishing the campaign on a positive note.

Washington Capitals - MON VS OTT, TUE @ DET (BTB), FRI VS PHI, SUN VS ARI

The Capitals will spend most of the week at home, hosting Ottawa on Monday, Philadelphia on Friday and Arizona on Sunday. The Capitals will also have a brief excursion to Detroit for a contest Tuesday. The Senators and the Coyotes are set to be sellers at the deadline, making them the more vulnerable of the Capitals’ upcoming adversaries.

Alex Ovechkin was limited to just six goals and 20 points across his first 33 games in 2023-24, but that rough stretch is well behind him. First, he provided an impressive two goals and seven points through six games from Dec. 30-Jan. 11, then the 38-year-old truly caught fire starting on Jan. 24, contributing eight goals and 14 points over his past 10 appearances.

Ovechkin’s resurgence isn’t shocking -- he always seems to find a way to bounce back when people start writing him off -- but Connor McMichael’s recent success is eyebrow-raising. The 23-year-old has supplied four tallies over his last two games and five goals in his past four appearances. That brings him up to 12 goals and 22 points through 53 contests this campaign. It helps that he’s been playing in a somewhat expanded role recently, averaging 16:11 of ice time over his past eight contests compared to 15:07 prior to that point. Keep an eye on him because while McMichael has been somewhat slow to establish himself in the NHL, he does have serious potential.

It's not all good news for Washington, though. T.J. Oshie sustained a lower-body injury Thursday. If he ends up missing time, then Sonny Milano might serve in an expanded role. Milano has five goals and 10 points in 26 contests, including two points over three games since returning from his own injury.

Big10 Playoff Preview – Dominant Ohio State with the bye, Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State favored in opening round

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 13:24:03 +0000

With only seven teams Big10 hockey is a bit of a misnomer. The conference will likely sprout to eight in the next handful of years as the University of Illinois joins ranks, but the current conference setup means playoff seedings must be formulated creatively.

The top ranked team throughout the regular season gets a first round bye, while the second seed plays the basement dwellers, the three seed is matched up against the sixes, and in the middle we have the fourth and fifth seeds.

For the 2018-19 Big10 conference, there happened to be a large gap in results between regular season champions Ohio State, returning much of the Frozen Four roster from 2017-18, and the rest of the conference. While the Buckeyes put up 46 in-conference points, the remaining six teams all ranged between 30-37 points in Big10 play.

Let’s take a look at what is in store in the Big10 playoffs, which begins this weekend (Mar. 8-10) with three best-of-three rounds.

#2 Notre Dame vs #7 Michigan State

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 05: Michigan Wolverines forward Michael Pastujov (21) beats Notre Dame Fighting Irish goaltender Cale Morris (32) late in the 3rd period to tie the game during a Frozen Four Semifinal between the University of Michigan and Notre Dame on April 5, 2018. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

In four previous games this year, the Fighting Irish have yet to drop a match to the Spartans, winning three and tying once. Both teams have been up and down of late, splitting most of their season-ending weekend series. Both teams can put pucks in nets, with similar goals scored totals (ND – 101; MSU – 99), but the Irish have a clear edge in defending, having surrendered 37 fewer goals across 34 games. Much of that edge is tied to the man between the pipes in Cale Morris, whose .925 save percentage as a junior is actually a marked step down from his .944 mark as a sophomore. Meanwhile, Michigan State has rotated between Drew DeRidder and John Lethemon, wo put up save percentages of .906 and .903 respectively.

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 16: Michigan State Spartans forward Patrick Khodorenko (55) and Ohio State Buckeyes forward Mason Jobst (26)- Big 10 Men's Ice Hockey Tournament quarterfinal game between Michigan State and Ohio State on March 16, 2017 (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire)

If MSU is to have a hope of advancing, they will need to find a way to score a lot. Their top line of Taro Hirose, Patrick Khodorenko, and Mitchell Lewandowski, undrafted all, each scored more than Notre Dame’s leading scorer. In fact, Hirose led all NCAA players in points with 50, five more than the runner-up. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of depth behind the big three at MSU, while Notre Dame’s roster is littered with NHL draft picks, even if they are on the young end for the most part. I expect to see at least one of the MSU top line signed by an NHL team before the completion of the Frozen Four. All three signing would not be out of the realm of comprehension either.

Prediction: Notre Dame in three

#3 Minnesota vs #6 Michigan

In the season series between the two clubs, Minnesota won twice, Michigan once, and the clubs tied the other time. Considering that the gap between them in the standings is a meagre two points, the series should be closer than it appears at first blush. In conference play both teams scored 76 times and both surrendered 75 goals against. Michigan is coming off of a Frozen Four appearance while the Golden Gophers last made the tournament in 2013-14.

ANN ARBOR, MI - MARCH 03: Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) in the BIG10 Hockey Tournament on March 3, 2018, a (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

This series should come down to health. Minnesota is deep and talented with 13 drafted players dotting the lineup. With nine drafted players, Michigan is no slouch, but the most talented forward among that group, and the team as whole, Josh Norris, will be unavailable due to surgery he underwent after his appearance for Team USA at the last WJC. Michigan’s success will rest on the shoulders of a pair of Vancouver prospects in Quinn Hughes and William Lockwood. With a quick exit, it is not unreasonable to suggest that both could be suiting up in Vancouver within ten days. As neither of their top two goalies (Strauss Mann and Hayden Lavigne) could stop even 90% of shots faced, they will have to drive possession in addition to pacing the offense. Jake Slaker, the Nick and Michael Pastujov brothers (the latter an Islanders draft pick) and blueliner Joseph Cecconi (a Dallas draft pick) provide most of the offensive support.

Minnesota received strong netminder from Mat Robson, a sophomore who stopped for a star turn in the BCHL after leaving Ontario and before landing on campus. The offensive leader is speedy forward Rem Pitlick, a Nashville prospect. He is ably supported by Tyler Sheehy, Brent Gates (Anaheim) and Brannon McManus. The latter is a candidate to be drafted as a third year eligible player as his USHL scoring exploits have finally caught up to him as a sophomore. A trio of drafted freshmen in Sammy Walker (TB), Blake McLaughlin (Ana) and Sampo Ranta (Col) should also be able to spread the attack around. What Minnesota lacks is a game breaking blueliner like Hughes, although to be honest, there is not another like him anywhere in the NCAA. The point remains, though that the Gophers’ offense is led by their forwards.

The biggest edge either team has on the other is on special teams. Minnesota was far superior on both the power play (24.2% vs 16.3% and the PK (83.2% vs 78.2%). If they can draw a few penalties, that should be enough to tip the scales in their favor.

Prediction: Minnesota in two

#4 Penn State vs #5 Wisconsin

Interestingly, the 4/5 matchup is less evenly paired than either of the other two first round pairings. Although only one point separates them in Conference play, Penn State’s goal differential was +5, while Wisconsin was outscored by 12 goals in Big10 play on the year. On the other hand, Wisconsin won the season series, 2-1-1. Neither team was very good at killing penalties, although the Badgers’ 74.1% kill rate ranked 59^th out of 60 D1 programs. They were better on the power play (44^th nationwide), but Penn State’s power play was best in the conference and fourth overall, which is a big edge to the Nittany Lions in this best of three.

Wisconsin had a deep with 17 players reaching double digits in points, although no one ahead of Philadelphia draft pick Wyatt Kalynuk’s 23 points from the blueline. He was one of five with at least 20 points, although one of those five was K’Andre Miller, a Rangers’ first rounder from last year, who missed the last two weeks of the regular season with a lower body injury and his status for the weekend is up in the air as of Tuesday evening.

Penn State also has a significant player missing due to injury in Aarne Talvitie, who sustained a serious knee injury playing for Finland at the WJC and has since underwent surgery. No matter, as the team still has 11 players who put up at least 20 points, eight of whom topped the leading scoring from Wisconsin. Much of Penn State’s offense comes from their forwards, although Cole Hults (Los Angeles) and Kris Myllari are capable collegiate point men. But with five forwards at or near point per game status, Penn State should be able to score their way out of trouble.

Prediction: Penn State in two if Miller misses the weekend. In three if he plays

No matter how the quarterfinals shake out, all of the teams would be hard pressed to knock out Ohio State, who attack in waves, with speed and skill. The Buckeyes don’t have an abundance of drafted players, although Philadelphia draft pick Tanner Laczynski could have been a strong contender for the Hobey Baker trophy if he had not missed nine games, while free agent Mason Jobst is small of stature but plays an out-sized role in the attack, topping the point per game mark for the third straight year. He is already 25 years old, but has earned a pro contract. Ohio State netminder Tommy Nappier has outperformed incumbent starter Sean Romeo and his broad, 6-3” frame and sparkling .937 save percentage, second in the NCAA, are sure to have NHL scouts lurking. It would be a massive upset if Ohio State does not win the Big10 title.

NHL Prospect Watch: Coyotes Wood catching fire

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:18:08 +0000

In a lost season, a team should feel free to trade off as many expiring assets as it can. The Arizona Coyotes (once again) found themselves in such a position last season and took the opportunity to safeguard the future by trading the last few months of Mikkel Boedker’s contract to the Colorado Avalanche (who, in all honesty, should not have been spending future value for a slight chance at a playoff round which ultimately never happened anyway).

Kyle Wood

In exchange for Boedker, the Coyotes received their own expiring contract in Alex Tanguay, in addition to the player rights for former first round pick Connor Bleackley and former third round pick Kyle Wood, a towering blueliner then finishing up his OHL eligibility with North Bay. As Bleackley was a first rounder, the Coyotes would have been able to pick up a compensatory second round selection in the 2016 draft if they elected not to sign him. Arizona let Bleackley walk (he was eventually re-drafted in the fifth round by St. Louis) and traded the compensatory pick to Detroit as part of the package that allowed the Coyotes to move up in the first round and select Jakob Chychrun. Tanguay had a fine finish to his season in the desert, but has not signed to play anywhere since then and his career seems to be over. Boedker signed a four year deal with San Jose in the offseason. The only player involved in the trade who is still with the acquiring team is young Kyle Wood (Arizona, 3/84, 2014 – drafted by Colorado, D, Tucson (AHL)).

After putting up solid offensive numbers in his two post-draft seasons with the Battalion, Wood has had a fantastic start to his pro career, averaging one point per game in his first 18 AHL contests. As of this writing, only three AHL blueliners – all veterans of the circuit - have outscored the rookie. Before discussing Wood as a player, I should point out that if the Coyotes were challenging for the postseason this year, he would warrant an NHL call-up around now. Luke Schenn isn’t contributing much and Anthony DeAngelo has proven nothing except that he is not ready for the NHL. That said, the Coyotes are still in the build phase and Wood should not be rushed.

Wood is much more than a big body for the blueline, although at 6-5”, 210, he is really big. He will use his large and strong body to his advantage in the corners, but does not play with the snarl you would want to label him a bruiser. If you only looked at his career PIM numbers, noting his OHL four year high of 21 minutes in the box, you would think he played soft. He is not soft, but he does not play to hurt. He plays to get the puck. Once he was the disc, he is very patient, knowing that opponents need well above average strength to knock him off it. He plays with his head up and sees the ice and his options very well, with his height perhaps assisting him to see passing or shooting lanes through traffic. His point total is a reflection of his utility on the point when his team is in possession. His passes are good, but his slap shot is a hammer when he lines it up right. He has not always been a big scorer in the OHL (his career high in goals was 16, but his next best season saw only eight goals scored), but his point shot can beat most pro goalies. Like many graduates of Stan Butler’s Battalion program, Wood also offers plus hockey IQ. He relies on his intelligence and sound positioning more than brute strength in his own zone.

Unfortunately, he also has to rely on his instincts and positioning to make up for his one true deficiency. He is not a very good skater. He generally seems sluggish with slow feet and poor acceleration. His gaps will look a little large for comfort, although he has so far made up for it for the most part with his long reach. In other words, while he can be beaten wide, the opponent will have to go really wide to do it. Between his size, shot, puck comfort and heavy feet, Wood brings to mind a young Cody Franson. Not bad for a couple of months of Mikkel Boedker.

William Lockwood (Vancouver, 3/64, 2016, RW, Michigan (Big 10))

A depth line winger with last year’s USNTDP squad, Lockwood rose up some draft boards with a strong showing at the prestigious WU-18 tournament at season’s end, contributing seven points in seven games for the bronze-medal winning American team.

If you look only at the collection of numbers on the back of Lockwood’s hockey card, you wouldn’t find much with which to be impressed. Outside of the aforementioned tournament, his offensive involvement was middling at best. Six points in 20 USHL league games and 33 points in 59 other games for the national squad. He is also physically unprepossessing, standing 5-11” and weighing a sprightly 172 pounds, he will not intimidate many high schoolers.

Now a freshman with the Michigan Wolverines, a team decimated by graduations and early absconding professionals (Kyle Connor and Zach Werenski were just the most prominent names to leave) Lockwood is the early season scoring leader. 12 points in 16 games is decent for a freshman on a young roster, taken without context, but in the context described above, it’s actually pretty impressive.

The fact is, the USNTDP has often pigeon-holed its less prominent players, sticking them in strictly defined roles and having them play out their assignments without much chance of ascending to more favorable roles. Lockwood was one such player. A good penalty killer with the USNTDP, he remains in that role with the Wolverines. He plays with a very high energy motor, and is much more physical than his size would suggest. Although his offensive vision and stickhandling skills are still raw and at times dicey, his instincts are to create offense when the opportunity arises. Watching him, you can almost see him trying to be a playmaker and create excitement, but his hands are just not catching up to what his brain is suggesting. They are quick enough, but not as soft as most point producers’. Nevertheless, he will gain fans for his willingness to grind out shifts. Lockwood needs at least two more years in college to be ready for the professional game, from a physical perspective if nothing else, and he may better settle into a leadership role in that time. At present, he projects as a future third line shift disturber and penalty killer. All in all, a decent prospect for the Canucks.

Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles, 1/29, 2014, C, Ontario (AHL))

Blessed with tremendous speed and no shortage of offensive creativity, former first rounder Adrian Kempe has struggled to adapt to the North American game. With 28 points in 55 games last season, a decent if unspectacular season, he could have been excused for his production by dint of it being his first season spent away from his native Sweden. He could bring people out of their seats when given the chance to motor up the ice. His shot and puck skills both showed flashes of above average utility. There were still too many occurrences of him not being on his game though, particularly when away from the puck.

The inconsistency has not faded in the first third of his second season in the AHL and the results bear that out as he has only seven points in his first 21 games this year with Ontario. He still shows flashes of great speed and tantalizing puck skills, but he is not showing a well-rounded game and it is reasonable to be concerned about his hockey IQ. To his credit, though Kempe is still one of the younger regulars in the AHL, having turned 20 less than three months ago. He would not be the first European import who needed two or so seasons to get up to speed and turn his inherent skills into shift-after-shift production.

Carl Grundstrom (Toronto, 2/57, 2016, LW, Frolunda (SHL))

In his first season with Frolunda, Grundstrom has 13 points in his first 27 games, nearly equal his full season total with Modo from last year. Considering the clear skew towards goals in his points (11 goals against only two assists), the numbers are more impressive. He currently sits as the SHL’s leading U20 scorer.

According to Hockey Prospectus Sweden correspondent Jimmy Hamrin (@jimmyhamrin), Grundstrom has taken steps to become a more efficient shooter this year. Some of it seems to be related to basic physical development, as he is both more notably stronger and faster and the shot is similarly harder. Frolunda being a stronger outfit than Modo was, he has more freedom to be creative on the ice and he is demonstrating more of a proclivity to try to create offense on his own than in the past.

Grundstrom was only a bit part player on a competitive Swedish entry to the 2016 WJC, one of three draft eligible forwards on the team along with Alexander Nylander and Rasmus Asplund. He scored once in the seven games. This year’s tournament promises to be more of a stage for the well-rounded winger to emerge as a prospect of note. Expect him to take on a top six role for Sweden. Further, with the graduation of at least half of the Maple Leafs’ top ten prospects, Grundstrom should elbow his way onto most organizational top prospect lists next summer.

Andong “Misha” Song (N.Y. Islanders, 6/172, 2015, D, Madison (USHL))

So far this season, Song has appeared in 20 games for a middling Madison squad in the USHL. Turing 20 this January, this is Song’s first experience outside of high school hockey, not counting a few appearances for China’s national U-18 team. The former Islanders’ sixth rounder is clearly out of his depth.

In 20 games with the Capitals, Song has yet to record a single point. He has also yet to be demerited with a penalty -minor, major or otherwise. He has taken five shots on net. He is a -3 and only finished one game as a plus. The fact is, he dresses and gets in a few odd shifts per game. He can skate well enough but there isn’t much there to suggest an NHL prospect. It’s possible he would start to show something given more ice time, but he has not shown enough to earn more ice time, either. Even in high school last year, at prestigious Phillips Andover academy, seven teammates scored more.

If you have a conspiratorial mind (I sometimes do – it’s OK to admit it), you might think he was drafted for PR purposes, as the first Chinese national selected in the NHL draft. A more nefarious explanation was that his selection was a paean to Islanders’ minority owner Charles Wang, himself a Chinese national. At present, Song has neither a college commitment, nor a professional future in North American hockey.

Patrick Sieloff (Ottawa, 2/42, 2012 – drafted by Calgary, D, Binghampton (AHL))

Acquired in the offseason from Calgary in exchange for bottom six winger Alex Chiasson, Sieloff made a strong – and negative – first impression on his new teammates by decking veteran forward Clarke MacArthur in training camp with an elbow, giving the latter another serious concussion from which he is just now starting to recover from. Sieloff had to be removed from the scrimmage as a precaution after Bobby Ryan fought him and then Chris Neil attempted to enact revenge as well.

Originally drafted out of the USNTDP program, Sieloff eschewed college and finished his junior career with Windsor of the OHL. He also took home a WJC gold medal that year, representing the red, white and blue. Now in his third AHL season, it is pretty clear what Sieloff’s calling card as a prospect is. He is, simply, a mean player who will seek out opponents to hit, and hit hard. Also a plus skater, he uses that trait to his advantage in adding velocity to his checks. He achieves top speed quickly and likes open ice hits. His offensive ability, notwithstanding the fact that he scored a goal in his lone NHL game to date, is limited to carrying the puck through the neutral zone. He has basic stickhandling skills, but lacks the creativity and/or offensive vision to do much with the biscuit. In other words, you worry more when the opponent has the puck than when Sieloff does. If the Sens players are over Sieloff’s hit on MacArthur, he could be a useful third pairing blueliner in the NHL as soon as this year should the need arise.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Vancouver Canucks

Grant McCagg — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:02:10 +0000

Olli Juolevi of the London Knights was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

The Canucks surprised some draft pundits by selecting defenceman Olli Juolevi instead of one of the highly regarded forwards…the consensus at McKeen’s, however is that the poised Finn has the skill and smarts to be the team’s number one defenceman once he adds some more beef to his 6-2 frame. William Lockwood captured the interest of scouts in U-18 tournaments with his speed, non-stop motor and tenacity. An Andrew Shaw type player, he should be a candidate for third-line duty at the NHL level once he’s had some seasoning and additional off-ice training at Michigan.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	5	5	Olli Juolevi	D	FIN	6-2/185	London (OHL)
3	64	71	William Lockwood	RW	USA	5-11/175	NTDP (USA)
5	140	107	Cole Candella	D	CAN	6-1/190	Hamilton (OHL)
6	154	149	Jakob Stukel	LW	CAN	5-11/185	Calgary (WHL)
7	184	NR	Rodrigo Abols	C	LAT	6-4/190	Portland (WHL)
7	194	NR	Brett McKenzie	C	CAN	6-2/190	North Bay (OHL)

Cole Candella of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Brett McKenzie of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Cole Candella was a solid selection in the fifth round..he’s a steady defender with okay size and skills that may develop into a bottom-line pairing defenceman. Jacob Stukel was well worth a flyer in the sixth following his 35-goal campaign in Calgary...while he lacks size and ideal defensive tendencies there is no denying his ability to put the puck in the net. Rodrigo Abols had a solid rookie campaign for Portland…the 6-4 Latvian center is expected to return to the WHL as an overager given his lack of experience in North America.

Brett McKenzie was the third straight previously undrafted prospect selected by the Canucks at the end of the draft...a two-way center that was surprisingly overlooked in last year’s draft. He may have the best chance of the three at making the adjustment to the pro game given his all-around abilities.

Grade- B: The Canucks would have gotten a higher grade had they picked more than twice in the top four rounds…the decision to go with the elite defenceman at fifth overall to fill a glaring long-term need, and ability to obtain value despite the lack of high picks nevertheless made it a solid draft result.

All-American Prospects Game: Krys, Tkachuk star for Team Roenick

David Burstyn — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 07:35:29 +0000

Chad Krys left a favourable impression among NHL scouts at the 2015 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.

The Ridgefield, Connecticut native delivered a standout performance, showcasing the skill and poise that should translate into a first-round berth at the 2016 NHL Draft.

Up front, the duo of Matthew Tkachuk and Luke Kunin led the charge for Team Roenick - with the former making a convincing case to be a high draft pick next June.

Here are scouting reports for Team Roenick including Krys and a pair of bulky rearguards in Griffin Luce and Andrew Peeke, all of whom drew 'B' ratings (2nd/3rd rounders) from Central Scouting in the initial Players To Watch list.

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Joey Anderson (2016), RW, NTDP (USA)

Played on the top line and did all the little things necessary for his lines success .. brings understated puck skills that were not as obvious as his linemates - Luke Kunin and Matthew Tkachuk - who shadowed his contributions .. average size - but competes and finishes all checks .. aggressive in board battles and hurls his body into the fray .. had the wherewithal to get the puck to Kunin and Tkachuk at all times, smart enough to play within the framework of the line and not be selfish .. good fast skater .. offensive instincts are polished as he is the sum of his parts and plays a very unassuming game with leadership qualities .. the Roseville, Minnesota native is committed to the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Stephen Dhillon (2016), G, Niagara (OHL)

Came in prematurely for Team Roenick and played the majority of the game - in relief of Tyler Parsons of the London Knights who forgot his neck guard and got blasted with a shot early that took him out of the game .. an athletic goalie with good size .. stays on his feet .. can be prone to allowing weak goals, however is resilient as he will bounce back and settle down with a big save .. suffers lulls in his game as well as intermittent mental lapses .. does possess solid fundamentals and looks the part but needs to bear down .. can be a bit of a scrambler when he loses position.

Adam Fox (2016), D, NTDP (USA)

Struggled in the game defensively on account of his size and decision making - beaten cleanly on one goal .. a mobile, undersized, right-shooting blueliner .. exceptional skater with superb acceleration and lateral quickness .. can really fly up the ice, however he is very slight and easily knocked off the puck .. relies primarily on his elusiveness as he has not added much strength to his game - needs to bulk up considerably .. agile and quick on his edges which makes him dangerous, can stop and turn on a dime .. makes strong decisions with time and space as exhibited on the power play where he shined .. displays outstanding vision and is a deft passer which makes him elite in that regard .. his size hinders him however - will need four years of college before he matures to the pro game .. the Jericho, New York native will attend Harvard University next fall.

Tim Gettinger (2016), LW, Sault Ste Marie (OHL)

Scored on a nice deflection goal - demonstrating a sharp touch around the net .. the North Olmsted, Ohio native sports a pro-like frame at 6-5, 210 pounds - and also possesses the hand skills to make plays and handle the puck .. more of a finesse player than a bruising one, he puts up points with his quick stick and willingness to go into traffic areas to make a play .. jumps into lanes and is always moving once he gets into the offensive zone .. skating is good but needs to get quicker - adding strength will assist in this .. needs to show more shift-to-shift consistency and move his feet in the neutral and defensive zones as he has a tendency to be a step behind the play .. should be an offensive leader for the Soo Greyhounds this year and a likely bubble NHL 1st-round draft candidate.

Ben Gleason (2016), D, London (OHL)

The native of Ortonville, Michigan bypassed the U.S. collegiate route to join the OHL London Knights this season .. a prototypical small defenseman who boasts good puck skills but does not bring much else to the table .. shows flashes of being able to stickhandle past several players - yet lacks the size to take advantage of the holes he creates .. fast not explosive, bigger forwards and defenders are easily able to take away his time and space .. likes to push up and could possibly be experimented with as a forward .. simply does not put in solid efforts defensively; tends to lose his man easily and needs to bear down on his defensive zone coverage .. lots of sizzle, no steak.

Jack Kopacka (2016), LW, Sault Ste Marie (OHL)

The Lapeer, Michigan native competed and worked hard on a make-shift line that really had little impact on the game .. his skill-set was not on full display in this game as his line spent the majority of the game chasing the puck .. only an average skater, he's a bit sluggish off the mark and not overly fast, yet compensates by pumping his feet to stay in the play .. needs to constantly be moving his feet to be effective .. grinded it out down low and in the corners but was unable to get the puck into good positions .. had some shifts where he was able to display his puck skills when in possession - yet his contributions were extremely limited.

Luke Kirwin (2016), C, Windsor (OHL)

Played centre but seemed to miss the creativity and skill to be able to accept the responsibilities that the position demands .. the Dewitt, New York native boasts a burly 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame - and skates well for his size .. possesses good bursts of speed out of the gate .. had a few shifts in which he handled the puck okay, but generally he went missing for the entire game .. played on the fourth line and was buried in terms of ice time.

Chad Krys (2016), D, NTDP (USA)

Captain of the U.S. Under-18 Team .. committed to Boston University for 2016-17 .. showed himself to be the most skilled defenseman in the game as he could effectively launch himself out of the zone .. part of a new wave of talented transition defensemen that NHL teams covet .. not explosive - and doesn't have multiple levels of quickness - yet is a strong skater who is quite efficient and makes the most out of his stride - has good short-term speed to break away .. gifted with the puck - a heads-up puck mover .. always sees his options and does not feel any pressure to make a play; low panic threshold .. possesses excellent hands and a strong feel for the game - often jumping into the rush and giving opposing defensemen something to think about .. constantly makes strong decisions with the puck which sets him apart from his peers .. not particularly imposing at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, so has to rely on stick and positional play in the defensive zone .. does play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder as he has some edge to his play albeit not in a physical sense .. would likely be considered higher in the draft if he were only taller.

Luke Kunin (2016), C, Wisconsin (B1G)

The Chesterfield, Missouri native emerged as the best player in the All-Am Prospects Game as he scored in the first 30 seconds and had confidence the rest of the game to make plays .. formed a strong tandem with linemate Matthew Tkachuk as the two were in on three of the four goals scored for Team Roenick - with Kunin notching two beautiful markers and adding a goal with an upstairs wrist shot .. utilizes a tremendous release point, turns the stick slightly just before shooting to handcuff a goalie .. skates extremely well, able to pounce into open ice - quick off the mark and marries it with quick and nimble hands .. very intelligent in the offensive zone employing a bunch of little, subtle tricks; looking off players, faking a shot and stickhandling past guys who were foolish enough to play the puck .. boasts an outstanding individual skill-set .. difficult to gauge his defensive game as his line always had the puck .. his game is advanced enough to make an impact as a true 17-year-old collegiate freshman .. should be a player who is considered in the first round despite his average size (6-0, 195 pounds).

Will Lockwood (2016), RW, NTDP (USA)

It wasn't a prime showcase for the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native, however he was able to show a few things .. noticeable in spurts in this game .. a tall and somewhat lanky winger who moves well for his size especially in straight-aways .. aware and alert in the offensive zone but there are questions about the level of his true hand skills .. used his size effectively to buy himself stay and space, but his plays with the puck were rather ordinary .. an average game playing on a line with Nick Pastujov and Riley Tufte on the left side - that barely generated much if anything at all during the game .. will attend the University of Michigan.

Griffin Luce (2016), D, NTDP (USA)

The grandson of former NHLer and Buffalo Sabres Hall-of-Famer Don Luce .. struggled early in the game with an inappropriate pinch and laboured with his play with the puck .. lost confidence in the game early and relied solely on d-to-d passes often getting rid of the puck as soon as it arrived .. offers ample size at 6-3, 215 pounds - and plays with some degree of physicality .. doesn't offer much in terms of skill however .. very average in most aspects of his game as he is quite vanilla .. skating is good for his size - yet he lacks some agility .. still growing into his massive frame .. needs to work on his overall co-ordination and develop his athleticism .. defensively, he pushes guys away but can be over zealous and has a little too much movement as evidenced by him moving across to screen Dhillon and blocking him on the game-winning goal against .. does have time on his side to round out his game and get more comfortable with his abilities .. the Williamsville, New York native will attend the University of Michigan.

Graham McPhee (2016), LW, NTDP (USA)

The son of former Washington Capitals GM George McPhee - Graham possesses excellent puck skills - and made several nice plays with the puck .. worked well on the third line to get the puck into good positions .. an explosive skater out of the gate - yet oddly enough seems to lack a separation gear .. perhaps with increased strength and size he can add this to his repertoire .. listed at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, his size is limiting in the defensive zone as well .. demonstrates outstanding vision and a strong shot which complement his game as he is an offensive threat .. especially effective when coming down the wing and given time to make a play .. scheduled to arrive at Boston College next fall.

Nick Pastujov (2016), C, NTDP (USA)

The second-line centre shows great ability to execute and make plays, however he struggled with consistency for the better part of the game .. completely uninvolved when the game got remotely physical - backs down and is easy to play against .. when given time and space, he can pick apart an entire team as his hands are lightning quick and he never looks down knowing exactly where it is the entire time .. does a lot of circling - pretends to look the part but doesn’t really apply himself to go the extra mile - puts in bare minimum efforts .. skates well, light on his feet, turns quickly, and with an up-right posture that enables him to survey the ice better as a result .. skilled but soft - Beau Bennett like .. the Bradenton, Florida native will attend the University of Michigan.

Andrew Peeke (2016), D, Green Bay (USHL)

A towering defender with excellent size at 6-foot-3 and a solid 210 pounds .. only has limited abilities otherwise however .. operates more as a defensive defenseman as he made mistakes when he tried to do too much .. his vision is good however when he moves the puck up the ice quickly .. demonstrates okay puck skills, however the second he had it for more than two steamboats is when troubles start to occur .. does a commendable job of moving his feet and trying to stay involved in the play .. sports good feet, pivots, turns .. moves well and is quite fluid for a big man .. will benefit from improving his shot which isn't that hard - especially given his size/strength .. has gotten better due to his willingness to compete and use his size to defend and clear the crease .. a native of Parkland, Florida - will play at the University of Notre Dame next fall.

Matthew Tkachuk (2016), LW, London (OHL)

The second best player in the All-Am Prospects Game, he was wired and dialled in - and displaying a competitive streak unmatched by anyone in this contest .. plays a brash power game similar to that of father and U.S. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Keith Tkachuk, who scored 566 career NHL goals .. came out on a mission and did everything he could to secure the win .. his internal drive makes him such a good player and helps to disguise weaknesses such as his footwork .. an average skater yet always on the move which creates the illusion he is going faster than he actually is .. anticipates the play in the offensive zone quicker and therefore gets to pucks .. plays with grit and is a dogged forechecker adept at cutting off angles and making opponents cough up the puck .. utilizes his good size and is physically stronger than most on the ice which allows him to do whatever he wants .. gained the zone on each rush he had and was nearly impossible to stop when he got a head of steam .. scored a goal by driving the net, was knocked down but still managed to raise the puck while on his knees to beat the goalie .. a man amongst boys at times Tkachuk stood out and dominated in a game featuring the nation's best players.

Riley Tufte (2016), LW, Fargo (USHL)

More was expected more from the Ham Lake, Minnesota native in this game - having been touted as one of the top Minnesota players as he scored close to a goal a game last year for Blaine High School - 23 goals in 24 games .. also set the bar high following a strong performance at last year's U17 World Hockey Challenge .. however he did not showcase any offensive prowess whatsoever in this contest - and seemed to be a step behind most plays .. a reactionary player who had trouble reading the play and keeping up .. decent shot but not over powering .. hard on the puck and is a big body but he had no legitimate scoring chances nor was he ever a threat at any period in this game .. will attend the University of Minnesota Duluth .. the jury is still very much out.

Youngblood: World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Preview

Brendan Ross — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 18:36:02 +0000

Currently known as the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the international tournament has underwent a name change from the Quebec Esso Cup (in 2011) and most recently, Hockey Canada has decided to change the format of its own team entries into the tournament. For the first time in 2014, rather than sending five provincial teams (Ontario, Quebec, Pacific, Atlantic and Western) to compete, Hockey Canada has opted to combine players from across the nation into three competitive teams - Red, White and Black. Canadian players will now have the opportunity to play alongside talented competitors from other provinces. For example, Ontarian Jakob Chychrun will be taping Nova Scotian Mitchell Balmas with passes rather than laying him out in the corner. The Under-17 Hockey Challenge is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence that is used to help identify talent for the Under-18 and National Junior Team and it has seen over 1400 National Hockey League draft picks come through the tournament.

Tournament organizers have moved up the Challenge on the calendar to November to avoid conflict with the World Junior Championships that runs over the holiday season. For the first time since Windsor hosted in 2012, the tournament returns to Ontario and the world’s top hockey talents have arrived in Sarnia, Canada as the border-town city, in collaboration with nearby Lambton Shores, is ready to host the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Group A consists of two Canadian teams (Canada White and Canada Black), Finland and last year’s bronze medalists Russia while Group B will feature Canada Red, Slovakia, Sweden and the defending champions, Team USA. For more information on World Under-17 Hockey Challenge schedules and rosters, visit the tournament website.

The majority of participants are born in the 1998 age group and these players have spent months going through evaluations to reach their goal of donning their nation’s sweater. The following breakdown of teams will help to familiarize the general public with some of the names to watch. Here are just a few of the top talents skating in the #WU172014.

Team USA (Roster)

Knocking the four-time gold medalists off of the podium will prove to be a difficult feat as Team USA enters this tournament with a very talented roster, including 20 of 22 players who compete with the US National Under-17 Team. Non-National Under-17 skaters Spokane's Kailer Yamamoto and 6-foot-3 Riley Tufte (Blaine High School) will replace injured forwards Zach Walker and Graham McPhee. The Americans won’t have to fight through chemistry issues with such familiarity and with them icing five University of Michigan commits in Nick Pastujov, James Sanchez, William Lockwood, Griffin Luce and Luke Martin. In addition, Everett Silvertips draftee Patrick Khodorenko, London Knights first round selection Max Jones and Boston University commit and USNTDP leading scorer Clayton Keller are expected to help Pastujov and Sanchez with the offensive production. Towering netminders Joseph Woll and Minnesotan Jake Oettinger won’t surrender much net for the opposition and with Griffin Luce, Luke Martin, Plymouth Whalers’ hopeful James Greenway, Chad Krys (Moncton Wildcats prospect) and Harvard commit Adam Fox patrolling the blueline teams will be in tough against the champs.

Team SWEDEN (Roster)

Just like his older brother William Nylander (Maple Leafs draft pick), Alexander Nylander is an immensely skilled forward and has the ability to create space for him to showcase his elite puck skills, vision and shot. Playing alongside Nylander on the AIK U20 team, Jesper Bratt is a two-way forward with speed to burn and a blue-collar work ethic. Undersized and physically raw defenseman Alexander Andersson owns some slick hands, shrewd hockey sense and a poised approach that helps spark the offense and quarterback the powerplay. Committed to the University of Minnesota, William Fällström is a complete two-way competitor who offers a good level of physicality and the awareness to be trusted in critical game moments.

Sweden is a team that lacks a true individual standout but the squad is comprised of some solid depth full of smart and competitive players. Look for Oskar Steen, a shifty winger with a quick release and some untapped offensive upside, and Linus Weissbach to act as forwards who have an ability to create offense on their own. Jacob Cederholm, younger brother to Vancouver Canucks draftee Anton, has already suited up in the SHL and will help the Swedes defend their zone. Niklas Andersson, the son of current Los Angeles scout and former NHLer Niklas Andersson, is already off to a hot start with the HV71 U18 team picking up six goals and 14 points through 10 games. It could be a coming out party for 5-foot-6 defenseman Oliver Horrsell as this offensive blueliner certainly knows how to fill the score sheet. Lastly, pivot Tim Wahlgren should earn plenty of minutes as his great hockey intelligence and sense for the game is evident in all three zones. Both of Sweden’s goaltenders, Filip Gustavsson and Gusten Lundh have the size and big-game pedigree to provide Sweden with great stability between the pipes.

Team FINLAND (Roster)

Without forwards Jesse Puljujärvi, Patrik Laine, defensemen Olli Juolevi and Jusso Välimäki, the Finns will unfortunately be missing some of their top talents from the `98 age group. However, Finland is a nation that has been pumping out some great prospects and their entry isn’t without talent. Kristian Vesalainen and Urho Vaakanainen are two of Finland`s top underagers. Vesalainen is already skating at 6-foot-2 and offers up confident puck skills, suffocating physicality and an impact shooting arsenal. Emil Oksanen is a skilled right-shooting forward playing for Blues Espoo and his game features a deceptive shot that seems to find the net with regularity. The 6-foot-1 left shooting Tappara forward Otto Mäkinen is the former teammate of Patrik Laine and he`s got an advanced playmaking skill set, featuring soft hands and creative vision. Look for Finland to rely upon their depth and play some defensive hockey, much like they`re known for, to compete in Group A.

Team RUSSIA (Roster)

The Under-17 tournament provides an opportunity for the North American hockey world to be introduced to the up-and-coming talent from overseas. As a result, there isn’t much familiarity with these players coming into the World U17 Hockey Challenge. Headlining the Russian team are forwards Dmitri Sokolov and Vitali Abramov. Undersized but extremely skilled, Vitali Abramov is considered a potential first round talent for the 2016 NHL Draft and he`s off to a great start with Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) scoring six goals and eight points (12 games). As good as Abramov is, it`s Dmitri Sokolov who projects as a potential Top 10 selection for the 2016 draft. The 6-foot-2 forward has racked up nine goals and 10 points through 13 games with Omskiye Yastreby Omsk (MHL). Russia will lean heavily on Sokolov and Abramov to provide the bulk of scoring but 6-foot-4 forward Nikita Popugaev (not to be confused with 5-foot-8 teammate Nikita O. Popugaev), Vladimir Kuznetsov and Vyacheslav Shevchenko should offer good secondary support.

Team SLOVAKIA (Roster)

Much like the Russian squad, Slovakia`s entry is a bit of a mystery. Forward Samuel Solensky is a pint-sized offensive making noise with HC Liberec`s U20 team with six goals and 16 points through the club's first 20 games. Viliam Cacho is a 5-foot-9 forward who has noteworthy playmaking skills and the offensive prowess to be considered a prospect for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Cacho racked up eight goals and 44 points in 37 games playing up with Dukla Trencin's U20 club. Keep an eye on underagers Milos Roman, Patrik Hrehorcak and Adam Ruzicka to see how they handle the competition against older opponents.

Team CANADA WHITE (Roster)

The first of Canada’s three tournament entries may just be the most popular, at least among local fans. With Sarnia hosting the event, local fans can come out to cheer on their 2014 1st-overall selection in Jakob Chychrun and 2nd-round forward Jordan Kyrou as key members of Canada White. Chychrun and Kyrou have already stepped up in their rookie seasons and are playing top minutes. In addition to the familiar Sting faces, fans can expect to get excited about Ottawa 67`s two-way threat Travis Barron, Erie`s Taylor Raddysh, Moose Jaw's Brett Howden and high scoring BCHLer Tyson Jost.

Charlottetown winger Mitchell Balmas (who replaces the injured Hunter Moreau), Saginaw Spirit defender Keaton Middleton (who replaces Josh Mahura) and Soo Greyhounds top 2014 pick Anthony Salinitri (who replaces Dillon Dube) are excited about their renewed opportunity.

The strength of Canada White comes from their outstanding defensive core which starts with Jakob Chychrun, Medicine Hat's David Quenneville (brother of New Jersey Devils 2014 1st rounder John), Luke Green of Saint John, Gabriel Bilodeau of Val d'Or and ends with the outstanding Samuel Harvey in net.

Team CANADA BLACK (Roster)

Donning the black threads for Canada is potential Top 10 2016 NHL Draft prospect and 2013 1st-overall WHL pick Tyler Benson (Vancouver Giants), 2013 2nd-overall WHL selection Sam Steel (Regina Pats) and a slew of OHL 1st-rounders in Brandon Saigeon (Belleville Bulls), Matthew Hotchkiss (Guelph Storm), Chris Paquette (Niagara IceDogs), Zach Poirier (North Bay Battalion), Cliff Pu (Oshawa Generals) and Reagan O'Grady (Kingston Frontenacs). Canada Black features some underrated scoring depth with the likes of Nolan Volcan (Seattle Thunderbirds), Pascal Laberge (Gatineau Olympiques) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) who are all off to strong starts in their respective junior leagues.

On the blueline, look for Brandon Wheat Kings Kale Clague, Shawinigan's Samuel Girard, London Knights' Tyler Nother to help solidify the defensive zone in front of 6-foot-4 goaltender Stuart Skinner (Lethbridge Hurricanes) and Reilly Pickard (Baie-Comeau Drakker) who will share crease duties.

Team CANADA RED (Roster)

A quick glance down the roster for Canada Red will certainly appear as if Hockey Canada formed an All-Ontarian team as 11 players are from the Ontario Hockey League including exceptional defender Sean Day (Mississauga Steelheads), a potential 2016 Top 3 draft prospect. Joining Day on the blueline from the OHL is the intelligent Matthew Timms (Peterborough Petes), big tough Windsor Spitfire Logan Stanley and slick skating Knight Victor Mete. On the front lines, dazzling puck rusher Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads), dangler Tye Felhaber (Saginaw Spirit), sniper Adam Mascherin (Kitchener Rangers), clutch forward William Bitten (Plymouth Whalers), power forward Givani Smith (Barrie Colts) and top 2016 prospect Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires) will all represent the OHL. In total, eight of the OHL's Top 20 selections from the 2014 draft are competing for Canada Red.

Beyond the tremendous "potential" firepower from the Ontario top picks (McLeod, Mascherin, Felhaber and Brown), Canada Red may have three of the most productive 98s in the nation in Wheat Kings forward Nolan Patrick (15-4-8-12), William Bitten (13-3-6-9) and Kamloops Blazer Jake Kryski (16-5-6-11).

Blueline soldiers outside of Ontario will consist of BCHL stud Dante Fabbro, Sherbrooke's Thomas Gregoire and Victoriaville's Guillaume Beck - all fantastic defensive prospects. With goaltenders Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes) and 6-foot-4 Phoenix puckstopper Evan Fitzpatrick in net, goals against should be held to a minimum.

On paper, Canada Red may have the best opportunity to end the red and white's three year drought of a World Under-17 Hockey Challenge gold medal. If I were a betting man (and I am), I would look towards Canada Red as the best chance to unseat the Americans.

With exhibition play slated to kick off Halloween night and the tournament commencing on Sunday, the shores of Lake Huron will be home to some outstanding world-class talent looking to make their country proud in hopes of taking home the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge gold medal.

Follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter as he covers the entirety of the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.