[04-May-2026 15:31:54 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class 'WP_Widget' not found in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_news_feed_widget.php:3 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_news_feed_widget.php on line 3 [04-May-2026 15:31:55 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class 'WP_Widget' not found in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_sidebar_menu_widget.php:3 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_sidebar_menu_widget.php on line 3 [04-May-2026 15:31:45 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_editorials.php:22 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_editorials.php on line 22 [04-May-2026 15:31:46 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_tabs.php:50 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_tabs.php on line 50 [04-May-2026 15:31:47 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_heading.php:15 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_heading.php on line 15 Yegor Zavragin – McKeen's Hockey https://www.mckeenshockey.com The Essential Hockey Annual Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:26:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #10 Philadelphia Flyers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects https://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospects-blog/mckeens-2026-nhl-prospect-report-10-philadelphia-flyers-organization-overview-top-15-prospects/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospects-blog/mckeens-2026-nhl-prospect-report-10-philadelphia-flyers-organization-overview-top-15-prospects/#respond Mon, 04 May 2026 20:00:02 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=199311 Read More... from MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #10 Philadelphia Flyers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

]]>
EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 15: Philadelphia Flyers Center Jett Luchanko (17) attacks the offensive zone on a power play the first period of the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Philadelphia Flyers on October 15, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 10th (Last Year - 12th)
GM: Daniel Brière Hired: May 2023
COACH: Rick Tocchet Hired: May 2025

The 2025 NHL Draft marked a pivotal chapter for the Philadelphia Flyers and their future. The organization made six selections across the first two rounds, all of whom are now held in high regard within the system. At the NHL level, the Flyers continue to navigate a transitional phase under new head coach Rick Tocchet. While there have been obvious growing pains, they did manage to punch a ticket to the Stanley Cup playoffs on the strength of a tremendous final stretch run. Should they fall short this year, fans can rest easy knowing additional reinforcements are on the way.

Leading that incoming wave is Porter Martone, McKeen’s second-ranked prospect. After his encouraging freshman season at Michigan State was cut short, Martone signed his entry-level contract and officially embarked on his NHL career. As a 6th overall pick, he’s expected to make a major impact on this team’s forward group. The remainder of the Flyers’ 2025 early-round class — including Jack Nesbitt (92nd), Carter Amico, Jack Murtagh, Shane Vansaghi (164th), and Matthew Gard — all feature prominently within the organization’s top 15 prospects, with most expecting to feature in NHL conversations over the next few seasons. Jett Luchanko (51st) currently ranks second within the system here at McKeen’s. While his stock has taken a slight hit this season, he's expected to compete for a roster spot as early as 2026-27 and bring a two-way presence down the middle. Close behind are Oliver Bonk (104th), Denver Barkey (128th), and Alex Bump (88th), all of whom have either seen NHL action or are on the cusp of making their introduction.

The rebuild in Philadelphia may not be fully complete, but the organization has assembled a strong collection of young talent in recent years. With several key pieces now knocking on the door, the Flyers appear well-positioned to take a meaningful step forward in the near future.

NHL RNK PLAYER POS AGE HT/WT 2024-25 TM GP G(W) A(L) PTS(GAA) PIM(SPCT)
Phi 1 Porter Martone RW 19 6-3/205 Michigan State (NCAA) 35 25 25 50 78
Phi 1 Porter Martone RW 19 6-3/205 Philadelphia (NHL) 9 4 6 10 6
Phi 2 Jett Luchanko C 19 5-11/185 Gue-Bfd (OHL) 38 7 36 43 34
Phi 2 Jett Luchanko C 19 5-11/185 Philadelphia (NHL) 4 0 0 0 2
Phi 3 Yegor Zavragin G 20 6-2/185 SKA-VMF St. Petersburg (VHL) 18 10 6 1.44 0.949
Phi 3 Yegor Zavragin G 20 6-2/185 SKA St. Petersburg (KHL) 12 5 7 2.63 0.919
Phi 4 Alex Bump LW 22 6-0/195 Lehigh Valley (AHL) 36 11 15 26 22
Phi 4 Alex Bump LW 22 6-0/195 Philadelphia (NHL) 17 5 4 9 2
Phi 5 Jack Nesbitt C 19 6-5/185 Windsor (OHL) 55 25 33 58 67
Phi 6 Oliver Bonk D 21 6-2/195 Lehigh Valley (AHL) 46 6 13 19 22
Phi 6 Oliver Bonk D 21 6-2/195 Philadelphia (NHL) 1 1 1 2 0
Phi 7 Denver Barkey C 21 5-8/160 Philadelphia (NHL) 43 5 12 17 16
Phi 7 Denver Barkey C 21 5-8/160 Lehigh Valley (AHL) 26 7 9 16 20
Phi 8 Shane Vansaghi RW 19 6-3/210 Michigan State (NCAA) 35 4 7 11 28
Phi 9 Heikki Ruohonen C 19 6-1/205 Harvard (NCAA) 28 6 13 19 18
Phi 10 Carson Bjarnason G 20 6-3/185 Lehigh Valley (AHL) 32 14 11 3.43 0.877
Phi 11 Jack Berglund C 20 6-3/210 Farjestads (SHL) 40 7 5 12 26
Phi 11 Jack Berglund C 20 6-3/210 Lehigh Valley (AHL) 5 1 0 1 13
Phi 11 Jack Berglund C 20 6-3/210 Farjestads (Swe J20) 2 0 3 3 2
Phi 12 Spencer Gill D 19 6-4/215 Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) 16 3 8 11 23
Phi 13 Matthew Gard C 19 6-5/190 RD-Sea (WHL) 55 17 16 33 82
Phi 14 Jack Murtagh LW 18 6-1/200 Boston University (NCAA) 35 6 5 11 25
Phi 15 Carter Amico D 19 6-6/230 Muskegon (USHL) 27 1 10 11 41
Phi 15 Carter Amico D 19 6-6/230 Boston University (NCAA) 18 0 0 0 12
  1. Porter Martone, RW, Michigan State University (NCAA) (Currently with Philadelphia Flyers)

    After going sixth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Porter Martone has put up a season that’s in strong contention for the Hobey Baker Award. The evolution of Martone’s goal scoring prowess and overall offensive IQ has skyrocketed from last season, netting 25 goals and 50 points on the year. He has been the focal point of the Spartan’s offence this season and has played so well with center, Charlie Stramel. Martone’s two-way game has been fine as well, a good back checker and generally smart when defending in his own zone but he is not overly physical with his frame and does not feature on the penalty kill. Where he does live up to the Tkachuk comparisons is his innate ability to get under the opponent's skin. Martone pisses his opponents off in every area and is great at drawing penalties. He will feature in the Flyers’ top nine next season and be an excellent winger for years to come, hopefully he will slot next into a player like Trevor Zegras to feed him pucks.

  2. Jett Luchanko, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

    Luchanko was seen as a reach at pick thirteen when the Flyers called his name back in 2024, but he’s shown what made him so enticing in that range over the past two seasons. He’s very well rounded with an underrated playmaking game, amazing straight-line speed, and is a strong defender. He was used in an energy forward role with Canada at the World Juniors and didn’t quite find the results that were expected, but domestically, his numbers with Guelph and Brantford have been solid. He joined Philly for a four-game stint to start the year but was sent down after going pointless. Luchanko may be seen as more of a third liner at the next level, but in a pinch, could fill a role in an NHL top six due to his combination of grit, speed, and smarts. With a total of seventeen games of experience within the Flyers organization, it seems Philly may be setting up to offer him a roster spot next year, provided he performs well at camp.

  3. Yegor Zavragin, G, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

    One of the top young netminders in Russia currently, Zavragin has been a standout in the KHL this year, even though he has received less playing time with SKA than last year, a breakout season for him. Splitting time between SKA and their VHL club, he continues to make progress and is proving that he is a bonafide NHL goaltending prospect. Zavragin is extremely athletic, but the true secret to his success lies in his ability to harness that athleticism. His movement is composed and controlled; it is rare to find such refinement in a young netminder with his athletic ability and quickness. As such, Zavragin brings consistency to the ice in the KHL, and the hope is that he can make the jump to the NHL and have a similar kind of impact; Zavragin’s upside is sky high as an NHL starter. He is signed with SKA until the end of the 2026/27 season and at that point, the expectation would be that he would sign with the Flyers and cross the pond.

  4. Alex Bump, LW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

    Last year, Bump captured an NCAA championship with Western Michigan, massively elevating his status as an NHL prospect. This year, as a first-year pro, he’s been a solid contributor for Lehigh Valley, showcasing a skill set that should make him an NHL player, sooner, rather than later. A classic power winger, Bump excels in getting to the net and playing through the middle of the ice. He’s also a skilled finisher and his play away from the puck improved a lot over his two years at Western Michigan. His skating has also improved to the point where it’s clearly not an issue at the AHL level. Where Bump fits into this Flyers roster in the future remains to be seen given their now excellent depth, however, he may be given a true opportunity as early as next year to gain a full time spot in the lineup. Bump’s projection as a potential top six forward remains unchanged from last year when he was one of our largest risers in this report.

  5. Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

    After picking Luchanko in 2024, it was little surprise to see Philadelphia take another “reach” on a larger player to add some size to a fairly short lineup. Nesbitt has a solid brain, finding nice short passes and keeping possession in the cycle game. He has a mean streak and can be fairly undisciplined at times, lashing out and retaliating often. His long reach helps defensively to take away space and generate turnovers, and his footwork has improved since his draft year. A larger concern for me is his athleticism. He seems to have trouble staying on balance and doesn’t find much success jumping from lane to lane to make plays. Like Luchanko, I think he’s more of a third liner who can advance the puck in transition with his quick hands and long stride, plus bring defensive support with an edge, but I don’t see his in-zone offence being more than retrieving pucks off the boards. Perhaps a bit pessimistic given larger players' tendencies to develop later, but the clumsiness in his game will be a large hurdle to overcome.

  6. Oliver Bonk, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

    The son of former NHL pivot Radek Bonk, Oliver was a first round selection of the Flyers back in 2023 and is coming off of three straight outstanding seasons for the London Knights of the OHL. Utilized in unique ways by Dale Hunter and the Knights’ coaching staff, Oliver blossomed as a two-way standout and powerplay contributor. As a first-year pro with Lehigh Valley, the offensive side of things has been a bit of a struggle for him, however, he’s been adequate defensively, using his above average mobility, size/strength, and high-end IQ to help him adjust to the pace and power of the pro game. The million-dollar question is will Bonk’s offensive game slowly blossom at the pro level, or will he need to re–invent himself as more of a defensive stalwart to earn NHL ice time? It’s too early to say and more will be learned next year after an offseason of targeted training and another year of confidence gained. Bonk still projects as a potential second pairing defender who can play in a variety of situations.

  7. Denver Barkey, C, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

    Barkey is a bit like “The Little Engine That Could.” He’s not the biggest or the quickest, which is why there have been some concerns over his NHL projection, however, few work as hard as he does on the ice. It’s that classic hockey cliche of playing larger than you are. Barley’s tenacity, solid hands, and excellent vision/anticipation made him a workhorse for Dale Hunter in London, where he was a two-time OHL champion and a Memorial Cup champion. Those same things have made him an immediate impact player at the pro level this year as a rookie. So much so that he was called up by the Flyers and has excelled in a secondary role. Is Barkey’s upside significant as an NHL player? He’s not likely to become a significant NHL scorer. However, he has already demonstrated that he can be an effective NHL player; the kind of guy who can kill penalties and play through the middle of your lineup for a decade. At this point, it seems very likely that Barkey develops into a fan favourite in Philly.

  8. Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State University (NCAA)

    Vansaghi is playing the same game that he played last year for Michigan State, and it is making his coach, Adam Nightengale, very happy. There are a few players in the NCAA who use their physicality better than Vansaghi, forechecking and pressuring opponents with incredible ferocity. He goes to dirty areas to retrieve pucks, to win battles or just to throw off opposing possessions. Vansaghi’s game is all based on his defensive aspects. On offence, Shane Vansaghi displayed great puck carrying abilities, all due to how well he maintains under pressure, his back acting like a brick wall to deter opponents. His passing and stick handling work still needs some improvement, but they are never going to be the hallmarks of his game. Vansaghi still has plenty of time to develop in college and come to Philadelphia when he is ready to be a bottom six checking forward, reminiscent of the Broad Street Bullies.

  9. Heikki Ruohonen, C, Harvard University (NCAA)

    The Flyers may have found themselves a pretty solid young two-way center here in Ruohonen. After starting the year slow with Harvard, he exploded during the World Juniors for Finland, showing the whole prospect world his playmaking and composure with the puck on his stick. That confidence has followed him back to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has put up eight points in his last ten games (as of writing this). Ruohonen’s speed, which has improved greatly from last year, and two-way game should carry over well in the NHL. With the continued development of his four-way mobility, puck carrying, and physicality, he can be a really valuable player for the Flyers down the line. Given Harvard's consistency issues, could Ruohonen be an intriguing player in the transfer portal this offseason? Or will he return to Harvard for his sophomore year? Ruohonen projects as a high-end third-line center who can play up and down the lineup when needed.

  10. Carson Bjarnason, G, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

    Even though Zavragin appears to be the crown jewel of the Flyers’ goaltending prospects, Bjarnason is still an intriguing prospect with the chance to develop into an NHL netminder. Sure, his WHL career with Brandon never really hit the heights that it was expected to, especially in the WHL playoffs. However, he’s still a big netminder who can take away shooting lanes and the bottom of the net well. He’s currently in the midst of his first pro season with Lehigh Valley and his play has met expectations; he’s shown flashes of solid play but has been largely inconsistent. This is obviously not uncommon for first year pro netminders. Given that Zavragin still has another year on his KHL contract, Bjarnason will have another year to truly assert himself as a prominent pro prospect in the AHL. The Flyers have had a bit of a difficult time developing goaltending prospects in recent years, with others showing promise but falling short of high expectations. Hopefully Bjarnason can help buck that trend.

  11. Jack Berglund, C, Farjestad (SHL) (Currently with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL)

    Berglund served as the captain for Team Sweden at this year’s WJC’s and he was a key cog in their gold medal victory. He is a solid two-way power center who is inside driven and projects as a quality third line center.

  12. Spencer Gill, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

    Finally, back on the ice after a lengthy injury recovery, Gill will look to get back up to steam heading into this year’s QMJHL playoffs. The big, physical defender is a solid two-way threat and hopefully he has put injuries behind him.

  13. Matthew Gard, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

    For Gard, it’s about continuing to improve his confidence and play with the puck to improve his NHL projection. The big power center has the tools to become a quality checking line NHL player.

  14. Jack Murtagh, LW, Boston University (NCAA)

    We really liked Murtagh at the draft last year (we ranked him as a first round prospect), however he’s been a disappointment as a freshman at Boston University this year. He’s more of a longer-term project than we would have thought given his competitive nature and strong scoring instincts.

  15. Carter Amico, D, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

    Amico wasn’t getting much ice time with Boston University, so he left the program and returned to the USHL, this time with Muskegon (formerly of the NTDP). He has the frame and mindset to be a quality stay at home type, but his game needs to continue to evolve.

]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospects-blog/mckeens-2026-nhl-prospect-report-10-philadelphia-flyers-organization-overview-top-15-prospects/feed/ 0
NHL: Victor Nuño – Dynasty Stock Watch – Philadelphia Flyers Edition https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-victor-nuno-dynasty-stock-watch-philadelphia-flyers-edition/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-victor-nuno-dynasty-stock-watch-philadelphia-flyers-edition/#respond Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:39:39 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=198750 Read More... from NHL: Victor Nuño – Dynasty Stock Watch – Philadelphia Flyers Edition

]]>
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 14: Michigan State Spartans forward Porter Martone (22) scores a goal against Notre Dame Fighting Irish goaltender Nicholas Kempf (31) during a men's college hockey game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 14, 2025 at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend IN. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire)

Team Outlook

The Flyers continue to operate in a gray area between retooling and rebuilding, showing little appetite for a true bottom-out approach. Under coaches like John Tortorella and, more recently, Rick Tocchet, the organization has squeezed strong structure and effort out of its roster, keeping the team competitive enough to avoid the league’s basement but limiting access to elite draft capital. While Philadelphia does feature several intriguing young pieces, the overall roster still lacks high-end star power and remains thin at key positions, leaving long-term upside somewhat capped. For dynasty managers, this creates a complex evaluation environment, development opportunities exist because of strong coaching and defined roles, but the team context may also suppress offensive ceilings unless certain prospects clearly separate themselves from the pack.

Buy Candidates

Porter Martone, RW

Why Buy?

Martone continues to look like one of the most complete offensive talents in the Flyers system, blending high-end skill with size, pace, and a willingness to attack inside ice. His transition from the OHL to the NCAA has been impressive, producing well over a point per game for Michigan State, a team currently sitting atop the national rankings. He drives offense through strong puck protection, confident handling in traffic, and the ability to create chances both off the rush and during extended zone time. While his Under 20 World Junior Championship with Canada was solid rather than dominant, it still reinforced the overall consistency in his game against strong competition.

What makes Martone particularly appealing is how well his style fits Philadelphia’s organizational identity. He competes, tracks back defensively, and remains engaged even when offense is not coming easily, traits that should help him earn trust quickly at higher levels. His strong NCAA transition has allowed his star potential to remain steady at 58% in the Hockey Prospecting model while pushing his NHLer probability even higher, reflecting a player whose floor continues to rise alongside legitimate top-line upside.

Yegor Zavragin, G

Why Buy?

Zavragin has quietly emerged as one of the more intriguing long-term bets in Philadelphia’s system, especially for dynasty managers searching for goaltending upside before the market catches up. The Flyers have been chasing stability in net for years, cycling through options like Cal Petersen, Ivan Fedotov, Aleksei Kolosov, Sam Ersson, and more recently Dan Vladar, yet none project as clear long-term solutions. That organizational uncertainty creates a meaningful opportunity window for a prospect like Zavragin to climb the depth chart if his development continues on its current trajectory.

His profile is built on positional efficiency, calm tracking, and controlled rebound management rather than highlight-driven athleticism, traits that historically translate well as competition increases. Strong KHL results have pushed his projection upward, with Hockey Prospecting now giving him roughly an eighty-five percent chance of becoming an NHL regular, with stylistic comparables ranging from Nikolai Khabibulin to Sergei Bobrovsky and Ilya Samsonov. Goaltender development remains unpredictable, but Zavragin’s trend line suggests rising NHL viability rather than stagnation, making him a worthwhile speculative buy in deeper dynasty formats before his role becomes more clearly defined.

Carson Bjarnason, G

Why Buy?

Bjarnason brings a different profile to the Flyers’ goaltending depth chart, leaning more heavily on size and athleticism. He covers the net well, challenges shooters aggressively, and has shown flashes of game-stealing potential when locked in. While his transition to the AHL has been uneven by the raw numbers, his expected goals per goal conceded remains positive, suggesting his underlying play has been better than the surface results indicate. His technical consistency is still developing, but the physical foundation and compete level remain clear strengths.

From a projection standpoint, Hockey Prospecting currently gives Bjarnason roughly a 27 percent chance of becoming an NHL regular, lower than Zavragin but still a meaningful development trajectory. One of his higher-end comparables is Ryan Miller, which highlights the upside that can emerge if his reads and structure continue to improve. In a Flyers system searching for long-term stability in net, Bjarnason represents a longer-term upside bet, a goaltender whose dynasty value is tied less to immediate results and more to whether his technical growth eventually catches up to his athletic toolkit.

Sell Candidates

Jett Luchanko, C

Why Sell?

Luchanko is a smart, competitive center whose game is built on pace, responsibility, and strong off-puck habits. Coaches tend to trust players with his processing speed and work ethic, and that has already led to brief NHL looks, including four games in each of the past two seasons, an unexpected opportunity so soon after being selected thirteenth overall in the 2024 draft. However, his offensive profile has not separated the way many expected. Rather than driving play through dynamic creation, much of his production comes from effort, timing, and structure, which can limit long-term fantasy upside if scoring growth stalls.

The bigger concern is the recent trend line. His OHL scoring has declined over the past two seasons, and even after moving to a powerhouse Brantford Bulldogs lineup, he is currently producing below a point-per-game pace. That drop is reflected in his pNHLe, which has fallen from a peak above 75 to closer to 40, signaling a shift in projected offensive ceiling. If another manager still views Luchanko as a future top-line option, this may be an ideal window to sell before perception fully adjusts to the underlying trajectory.

Jack Nesbit, C

Why Sell?

Nesbit’s size, physical engagement, and willingness to play through contact continue to attract attention, and those traits give him a clear pathway toward NHL usage. He protects pucks well, competes along the boards, and can wear down defenders over the course of a game, qualities that often translate into real-life value even when fantasy production lags behind. However, many viewed his selection at 12th overall by Philadelphia as a reach, with his draft stock boosted in part by the possibility that he could remain at center long term. That positional projection can still carry weight in dynasty markets, making this a window to capitalize on perceived upside.

From a fantasy perspective, the concerns lie in offensive ceiling and sustainability. Nesbit has yet to consistently demonstrate the play-driving or finishing ability required to project beyond a complementary bottom-six role, and without a defined power-play pathway his production may remain situational rather than repeatable. Data from AdvancedHockeyStats.com reflects that uncertainty, projecting roughly a two percent chance of becoming a star and about a 20% chance of establishing himself as an NHL regular. If another manager is still valuing him based on frame and draft pedigree, moving him now could be a prudent long-term decision before expectations recalibrate.

Denver Barkey, LW

Why Sell?

Barkey remains a highly intelligent and creative player whose vision and puck skills continue to stand out, but his development path this season has begun to shift expectations. Splitting time between the NHL and AHL, he has leaned more into a reliable, defense-first profile than a pure offensive driver. According to Evolving Hockey, he already grades in the top 20percentile among NHL forwards defensively, showing strong awareness, positioning, and play disruption, while his offensive impacts currently sit closer to the bottom 20 percentile. That contrast suggests his long-term role may center more on reliability than production.

The risk lies in projection versus deployment. Barkey will likely need consistent offensive usage to unlock meaningful value, and it is not yet clear that he will receive that opportunity at higher levels. If another manager is still valuing him primarily for junior scoring and perceived offensive upside, this may be an ideal window to sell before his role solidifies as a strong real-life contributor with a more limited fantasy ceiling.

Summary

Player Role Key Insight
Porter Martone Buy High-end winger with size, skill, and top-line fantasy upside
Yegor Zavragin Buy Calm, technically sound goalie trending toward being an NHL starter
Carson Bjarnason Buy Athletic goalie with upside if technical consistency improves
Jett Luchanko Sell Reliable center whose fantasy ceiling may be capped
Jack Nesbit Sell Physical forward with limited offensive projection
Denver Barkey Sell Defensive winger who has limited long-term fantasy value

 

 

]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-victor-nuno-dynasty-stock-watch-philadelphia-flyers-edition/feed/ 0
MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #12 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2025-26-nhl-yearbook-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-prospect-profiles-organizational-rank-12/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2025-26-nhl-yearbook-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-prospect-profiles-organizational-rank-12/#respond Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:23:37 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=195049 Read More... from MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #12

]]>
Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images.

Prospect System Ranking – 12th (May 2025 - 14th)
GM: Daniel Brière Hired: May 2023
COACH: Rick Tocchet Hired: May 2025

The Philadelphia Flyers have entered a new chapter, anchored by Matvei Michkov’s arrival, Rick Tocchet’s hiring, and a wave of impressive draft additions.

Armed with six picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft, GM Daniel Brière enjoyed a significant influx of elite talent. Headlining the haul was sixth overall selection Porter Martone, McKeen’s 10th-ranked prospect, followed just six picks later by Jack Nesbitt. Carter Amico, Jack Murtagh, and Shane Vansaghi rounded out a class that sees all five land inside the organization’s top 11 prospects.

They join an emerging young core that already features Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and newcomer Jakob Pelletier—each under the age of 26 and already contributing at the NHL level.

Now sitting second on Philadelphia’s prospect list is Jett Luchanko, a dynamic, two-way center set to compete for an NHL roster spot as early as next fall. On the blue line, Oliver Bonk is closing in on a pro debut, while forward Denver Barkey—his teammate with the OHL’s London Knights—is also set to make the jump after chasing a Memorial Cup together.

With Tocchet behind the bench and Michkov poised to become the face of the rebuild, the Flyers’ plan is clear: surround their elite talent with a deep supporting cast developed from within. They may still be a few years away from legitimate contention, but the foundation is now firmly in place.

Philadelphia Flyers Top-15 Prospects

1 - Porter Martone

After three strong seasons in the OHL, the Flyers made Martone the sixth overall pick in 2025. Last year, as captain of the Brampton Steelheads, Martone finished seventh in league scoring and had a very successful individual season despite Brampton’s disappointment as a team. Martone is a unique player. He’s highly skilled and intelligent, operating as an equal parts playmaker and goal scorer. He’s also 6-foot-3 and loves to get under the skin of opponents by towing the line as a pest similar to the likes of Corey Perry. This coming season, Martone decided to leave the OHL to play at Michigan State, a new challenge for the budding power winger. With the Spartans Martone will focus on improving his pace, making his off puck play more consistent, and continuing to learn to use his physical approach to be a dominant offensive player. There is no doubt that Martone possesses top line upside as an NHL player.

2 - Jett Luchanko

One has to wonder if the Flyers were unhappy to see Luchanko stick with last place Guelph this year, rather than move to a contender for a long playoff run. On the other hand, this did allow him to finish the year at the AHL level with Lehigh Valley, an approach that worked wonders for a similar prospect and player, Mike Richards, back in the day. Luchanko is your classic hard-working pivot, similar to Richards…although he’s a significantly better skater. He competes and is effective in all three zones. He can play any role; his versatility is impressive. He excels as a playmaker, both when he’s attacking with speed through the middle or when he slows the pace and operates along the periphery. He already cracked Philadelphia’s opening night roster last year and he could do so permanently next season if he has a good offseason. His game is mature enough to handle a middle six role already, without sacrificing upside.

3 - Oliver Bonk

After graduation from the OHL, it will be interesting to see how his unique skill set translates to the pro level, given the kind of role he took on under Dale Hunter in London. His offensive production is driven by shot-slot generation from playing the bumper on the power play and from off puck movement. Will he continue to be able to play that role at the next level? I think of Alec Regula as a former Knight who had similar usage and he’s had a tough time transitioning. However, Bonk is more than that. He defends well. He blocks shots. He’s a special teams anchor on both sides for London. Given that his on-puck play may not translate quite as well, the key for him will be the continued improvement of his defensive game and physical intensity. Realistically, he projects as a jack of all trades number four defender who can play a variety of different roles for the Flyers.

4 - Alex Bump

After an extremely promising freshman campaign two years ago, Bump followed that up with an even more impressive sophomore season year for Western Michigan, emerging as one of the top forwards in collegiate hockey. As such, his prospect status is on the rise. Bump is a do it all kind of forward. He’s extremely effective at driving play in transition thanks to improved skating, strong protection skill, and a creative approach. He has a wicked shot thanks to a deceptive and quick release. He works hard to earn touches and competes in all three zones making him a versatile player. This is a player who may not need much more seasoning before he’s NHL ready; his game is very mature. Now signed by the Flyers he will begin his pro career this coming season. He should move through the system quite quickly and could even be a sneaky roster candidate for the Flyers out of camp.

5 - Jack Nesbitt

The Flyers pulled off a minor shock at the 2025 draft by selecting Nesbitt as high as they did, 12th overall. But it’s easy to see why the Flyers were so enamored by Nesbitt. The massive pivot was one of the most improved players in the OHL this past year, dramatically altering his game to help him unlock his upside as a physically dominant two-way center. What Philadelphia is banking on is that Nesbitt is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. As his frame fills out, what kind of effect will that have on his game? Can Nesbitt develop into an Adam Lowry kind of player for the Flyers in the future, who can anchor their third line and take on key defensive assignments? Does he have more offensive upside than that? It will be interesting to see Nesbitt develop with the Spitfires over the next few seasons.

6 - Yegor Zavragin

Yegor Zavragin’s development has been going the proper way that you’d want from a Russian pick. Just two years after being drafted, he’s already ascended to being a starter in the KHL, a rare feat. He’s extremely quick on his feet, both making rapid adjustments with strong edges, and exploding laterally. He’s great transitioning up and down and has good athletic ability allowing him to stretch out to make big stops. He has solid positioning, can be over aggressive, but he generally uses smart routes through the crease, amplifying his quick movement. He struggles with moving excessively and has a habit to not set his feet or over slide into a save taking him out of position. He tracks pucks just fine, but he doesn’t read shots well and poorly reacts with his hands. When screened, he struggles fighting for vision and can let pucks blow by him. His early KHL success is promising, but he’s still very raw. If his development continued at this pace he would be a starter in the NHL but fits a tandem role or good backup much better.

7 - Jack Murtagh

Having turned 18 on August 22nd, Jack Murtagh will be one of the youngest freshmen in college this upcoming season. Besides his obvious age advantage, the Flyers saw plenty of strengths on the ice from his past year with the NTDP to make him an early second-rounder in the 2025 NHL Draft. You could go on and on about his offensive habits. He is always moving in the offensive zone, creating chance after chance for himself and his teammates. Being a strong skater certainly helps with that offense, but Murtagh is a consistent worker bee in the neutral and defensive zone. His tendency to be annoying to play against is visible in a lot of his viewings, but it could be more consistent. Murtagh will have heavy competition for premium ice time on a stacked BU forward core, however, his work ethic and grit will lead many to say, this kid is only 18?

8 - Nikita Grebyonkin

Nikita Grebyonkin was impressive as a first-year pro in North America last season, particularly because he played well at both the AHL and NHL levels while experiencing a midseason trade. While playing with the Toronto Marlies and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season in the AHL, Grebyonkin showcased a unique combination of speed and skill that makes fans salivate about his NHL potential. Grebyonkin has good speed that allows him to get in quickly on the attack, and he’s got nice hands in tight that can paralyze goalies. He even looked quite good in a bottom six role in limited action with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, so there’s definitely a real player here with top nine NHL potential. Grebyonkin obviously still has some room to work on his game, as he could probably shoot the puck more to make better use of his quick release, but he made great strides last season and should be ready for full-time NHL action soon.

9 - Spencer Gill

Spencer Gill was the first QMJHL player drafted in 2024, taken 59th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. The lanky 6-foot-4 right-hand defenceman showed a great two-way game in his draft year, scoring 46 points in 65 games as well as five points in five playoff games. The following season, he maintained similar production with 35 points in 51 games before an ankle injury ended his campaign in February. This summer, Gill announced that he weighs officially 216 pounds, which is a 31-pound difference from last year. He will play the 2025-2026 season with the Armada and will likely join Lehigh Valley in 2026-2027. Gill plays with pure confidence. In the defensive zone, he uses his imposing frame to physically force turnovers and likes sharp, long passes when exiting the defensive zone to support offensively. Off the puck, he moves impressively well for his size, creating opportunities and joining rushes. Additionally, Gill has notably a very good shot from the point, which he uses often. Gill has a fairly high ceiling, if everything goes well, he could be a reliable second pair defenceman one day.

10 - Carter Amico

After being sidelined for the season with a kneecap injury, Carter Amico is set to come back with a vengeance. He showed a high level of physicality in his short sample size of games that included appearances against various college programs. Amico is going to bring the boom to the Hockey East next season. In addition to his shut-down style, he is a solid puck carrier who is as good at retrievals as he is at throwing opponents on the ground. Boston University will be a big jump for a prospect who has been out for so long, that’s undeniable. However, it’s a guarantee that Amico will be the Terriers' most physical player this season, and that’s what the Flyers drafted him for.

11 - Shane Vansaghi

Opponents know Shane Vansaghi is coming because they feel it. He’s a big power forward who leverages his size to forecheck and dish out hits. He’s shown flashes of playmaking, which makes him an endearing prospect, but he still has plenty of room to grow in that department. If he can improve his skating and playmaking at Michigan State next season, there is reason to believe a middle six role is achievable.

12 - Denver Barkey

Barkey has spent the past two seasons tearing up the OHL with the London Knights. He’s earned 184 points in 114 games primarily off his precision passing. He sets up his teammates well and can also score goals off one-two passes. As an undersized forward, it will be easier to project him when he plays for Lehigh next year, a middling AHL team, versus arguably the most dominant CHL team.

13 - Carson Bjarnason

Albeit some shaky few playoff games, Bjarnason has steadily improved his regular-season stats in each of his four years with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Compared to most goalie prospects in the NHL, Bjarnason has one of the clearer paths to the national. He’ll need a few seasons, like most goalies in the AHL, with Lehigh to be truly NHL-ready.

14 - Samu Tuomaala

Tuomaala has proven that he can leverage his shooting skill into being a reliable top six scoring threat at the AHL level. He proved to be a consistent source of offence for the Phantoms last season. Assuming he can stay healthy, Tuomaala can prove he could be a depth-scoring option for the Flyers next season and earn a call-up opportunity. He’ll first have to show he can get more out of his shot and that his -19 was a one-off.

15 - Ethan Samson

Ideally, for a prospect, you want them to take a step forward without one back; for Samson, that is not the case. Last season, Samson doubled his point production to 24 points, but also was the worst of the defensive group for the Phantoms with a -12. His lackluster offence doesn’t make up for his lackluster defence, so Samson will need to take big steps in the right direction with Lehigh next year if the NHL is anywhere in his future.

]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2025-26-nhl-yearbook-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-prospect-profiles-organizational-rank-12/feed/ 0
2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #14 Philadelphia Flyers – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2025-nhl-prospects-report-14-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-nhl-affiliated-prospects/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2025-nhl-prospects-report-14-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-nhl-affiliated-prospects/#respond Mon, 26 May 2025 15:08:32 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=193275 Read More... from 2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #14 Philadelphia Flyers – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

]]>
EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 15: Philadelphia Flyers Center Jett Luchanko (17) attacks the offensive zone on a power play the first period of the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Philadelphia Flyers on October 15, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire)

Subscribers can download the PDF in subscriber downloads.

Please note you can scroll through the PDF document here as well

Philadelphia 25 Prospects ]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2025-nhl-prospects-report-14-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-nhl-affiliated-prospects/feed/ 0
NHL PROSPECTS: Top five drafted prospects in Europe https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-prospects-top-drafted-prospects-europe/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-prospects-top-drafted-prospects-europe/#respond Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:43:02 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=192507 Read More... from NHL PROSPECTS: Top five drafted prospects in Europe

]]>
The 24-25 season has played host to a number of European draft picks making some real noise in leagues across the continent. Whereas the top five draft picks on the European side of the pond was a relatively clear story in recent years, a good dozen players threw their names in the hat to claim a spot in the following list this season. In addition, some of our honorable mentions here not only would have been on those recent lists, but a couple actually were also (we’re looking at you, messers Nikishin and Sandin-Pellikka)!

Long story short, the NHL teams who own these players’ rights have a whole lot to look forward to.

Of course, as nice a season as the following players have had, it’s up to them to take the next step!

  1. Ivan Demidov - RW/C - KHL - Montreal Canadians 1st rounder in 2024

Sure, there was plenty of fanfare about Demidov at last summer’s draft and the seemingly typical unknowns with respect to his status as a Russian prospect moving forward. In Demidov’s case, his draft year was basically spent in the MHL junior circuit and as dominating as his stats there were, such a measuring stick is laden with uncertainty. A Montreal organization that has done plenty of drafting over the past half decade had no qualms in selecting him fifth overall and welp, it looks like they’ve got a player who may one day end up being among the top three to come out of this draft. He’s only proceeded to spend the entire 24-25 season playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL and it’s been beautiful. 49 points and a +17 in 63 regular season games has been absolutely outstanding for any player at the age of 18/19 in his rookie pro season, but it’s been accompanied by no lack of highlights and flashes of brilliance along the way. His current KHL contract ends this spring once the playoffs have concluded, so the expectation is that we’ll see him in North America next fall. The leaguewide excitement is warranted and considerable, to say the least.

He (91) can rip it!

He can dish it off!

  1. Dmitri Buchelnikov - LW - KHL - Detroit Red Wings 2nd rounder in 2022 

When Buchelnikov was drafted, he was one of those picks that was very intriguing but clouded by uncertainty among world events and in light of his incredible draft year stats coming entirely in the Russian MHL. Where have we heard that before? Well, Buchelnikov followed his strong draft year with a noticeable VHL season before becoming a KHL regular on loan last season, putting up 29 points in the process. That strong step has turned into a monster 24-25 season in which the 21-year-old has accumulated 51 points in 62 KHL games, mostly on the strength of 36 assists, becoming a key powerplay quarterback in the process. Shifty and slick with the puck, Buchelnikov has the kind of game-reading smarts that rarely see him make a poor decision with the puck while also being able to make timely passes and throw absolute darts on goal at any given time. Detroit will need to wait another year, but the Red Wings could have another ready-made youngster coming into the fray as of the summer of 2026.

He (72) can rip it!

He can dish it off!

  1. Lenni Hämeenaho - RW - Liiga - New Jersey Devils 2nd rounder in 2023

Hämeenaho has been one of these players who just continues to produce wherever he plays and in whatever environment. He’s been ready-made for a power play role at every step of his development in the last half dozen years and neither his size nor tools have ever really been brought into question with respect to their projectability. He was a regular Liiga player in his draft year and now he’s one of the guys at the top of his team’s scoring list. He’s just continued to produce throughout the season, now at 20-31-51 in 58 games, even turning things up a notch with nine points in his final 10 regular season games. Little stands in the way of him signing his ELC this summer and joining a New Jersey Devils team that can realistically hope that it has another Jesper Bratt style impact player on its hands.

He (29) can rip it!

He can dish it off!

He can even run with it…

  1. Jesse Kiiskinen - C - Liiga - Detroit Red Wings (by trade) 3rd rounder in 2023

Another Red Wings prospect, albeit a Nashville pick from 2023 that Steve Yzerman traded for, Kiiskinen has absolutely exploded this season, becoming his team’s top scorer. Eyebrows were raised with 10 Liiga points in his DY+1, but nobody would have seen him putting up 14-30-44 and +6 numbers in his DY+2. But that’s exactly what he did! The crafty righty shot whose game just keeps getting slicker might have had even better numbers if he hadn’t been a key component for an upstart silver medal WJC squad for which he went 6-1-7 in 7 contests. In short, it’s been a phenomenal season and word is, he’s even getting consideration for the men’s WC this spring. As always, Finland has plenty of players to pick from but what doesn’t seem to be in question is Kiiskinen’s near future. An ELC is all but in the bag and even if he’s given another year in Europe, he clearly looks like he has the offensive skills and wherewithal to put his name on the NHL map within the next three seasons.

He can rip it!

He (38) can dish it off!

  1. Oliver Kapanen - C - SHL - Montreal Canadiens 2nd rounder in 2021

Kapanen spent a whole lot of time with the Canadiens last fall, even suiting up for 12 games (2 assists) before being loaned out to the Olli Jokinen-coached Timra squad in the Swedish SHL, where he then proceeded to take the league by storm. To be clear, his 27- and then 34-point seasons in Liiga play the previous two years where strong indicators about where things were headed for this 21-year-old, but finishing this season with 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games, including five points in the final two games of the season was nothing short of an attest to where he’s at and how close he is to contributing at the NHL level. Strong on the face-off and opportunistic throughout the offensive zone, it’s hard to imagine Kapanen outside of North America next season. There are NHL teams for whom Kapanen could easily be seen as the top prospect at this very moment.

He (89) can snipe it!

He can dish it off!

He’s got face-off game…

Honorable mention:

Nikita Artamanov - RW - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 2nd rounder in 2024

We all knew he was good last season, putting up 23 points in 54 KHL games as an 18-year-old. Impressive! That wasn’t sexy enough to make him a first-round pick but seeing him jump from seven to 22 goals (38 points thus far) this season sure makes him feel like a first rounder now.

Semyon Chistyakov - D - KHL - Nashville Predators 4th rounder in 2019

The Predators have always been able to find defensive gems in the draft and after next season, Chistyakov will likely count as yet another. We’ve liked him for years now, but his career high 17 goals, 38 points, and +28 have put him in a whole new light at this point.

Simon Forsmark - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 4th rounder in 2022

Goodness, Carolina sure knows how to pick them. Good-sized defenseman increased his output with even more responsibility this season. Just the type of player you hope to hit on in the middle rounds.

Artyom Galimov - LW - KHL - Anaheim Ducks 5th rounder in 2020

Some might say he’s the top draftee in all of Europe. After all, he’s got 35-24-59 and +30 in 65 KHL games this season. That puts him way up there in league scoring. However, he is already 25 and only really exploded this season, even if in a big way. What comes next?

Marcus Gidlöf - G - SHL - New York Islanders 5th rounder in 2024

We liked him a lot as a midrounder with strong upside last summer. Alas, even we didn’t see him turning into a late-season SHL starter and putting up some of the most solid numbers in the league. Throw in Gamzin (KHL) and the Islanders suddenly have some interesting goaltending options.

Samuel Jonsson - G - HockeyAllsvenskan - Edmonton Oilers 5th rounder in 2022

Just 21, the 6-foot-5 netminder is killing it for HA contender Karlskoga, (somewhat) coming out of nowhere with a 17-6 record and 1.88 GAA. Now we’ll see if he becomes the go-to guy in the playoffs.

Vitali Kravtsov - RW/LW - KHL - Vancouver Canuck (Rangers) 1st rounder in 2018

It’s taken a good long while, but Kravtsov has finally put in a season that has him firmly entrenched as a “scorer”, albeit in the KHL. 27 goals, 55 points, and a +28 are all career highs. So, uh, is he heading back to North America? His KHL contract is up...

Viljami Marjala - C/LW - Liiga - Buffalo Sabres 5th rounder in 2021

Several decent, but unspectacular seasons in the QMJHL have turned into two straight solid Liiga seasons and he’s just 22 now. Only eight goals this year, but 51 points! A top Liiga playmaker.

Vadim Moroz - LW/RW - KHL - Utah HC 3rd rounder in 2023

The good-sized Belarussian winger had two decent KHL seasons as an uncertain lower line player for a struggling Dinamo Minsk. Now he’s tearing things apart with 25 goals and 42 points. The +17 looks good too. And he’s just 21. Nice!

Ilya Nabokov - G - KHL - Colorado Avalanche 2nd rounder in 2024

Already an overage sensation last summer, Nabokov has done nothing other than double down on his potential with a 23-16 season featuring a 2.16 GAA and .925 SV%. Granted, those are fairly “pedestrian” technical stats in the KHL, but he’s a gamer and a winner.

Alexander Nikishin - D - KHL - Carolina Hurricanes 3rd rounder in 2020

It’s basically groundhog day again this year, even if Nikishin’s numbers are a wee bit lower than in seasons before. Of course, he’s second in KHL scoring among defensemen and his 17 goals are tied for first, so there’s that. The SKA Saint Pete’s captain is as NHL-ready as they come.

Joel Nyström - D - SHL - Carolina Hurricanes 7th rounder in 2021

Has arrived as a full-fledged SHL defenseman for a contender this season, putting up six goals and 27 points in the regular season. Hardly surprising that another Carolina pick is establishing himself as a possible NHL defenseman despite being a seventh round pick.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka - D - SHL - Detroit Red Wings 1st rounder in 2023

Kicked off the season with one highlight reel after another. 12 goals and 29 points is some solid blueline work for an SHL teenager. Had bouts with consistency and was good, but not overly dominant at the WJC. Still a dreamy prospect with a possibly special NHL future.

Arno Tiefensee - G - DEL - Dallas Stars 5th rounder in 2023

In a bad season for DEL goalie stats, Tiefensee is near the top across the board in most categories and the clear #1 for his Mannheim team. Brutally strong numbers and six wins in his final 10 starts to the season have folks excited in Mannheim now that it’s playoff time!

Zemyon Vyazoyov - G - KHL - Seattle Kraken 6th rounder in 2021

Second in the KHL with a 1.86 GAA and second overall with a .936 SV%. He’s taken a big step this year with a winning record, even if he’s still just a 1b for his team.

Yegor Zavragin - G - KHL - Philadelphia Flyers 3rd rounder in 2023

Zavragin is just 19 and already a full-fledged starter at the KHL - for a winner, no less. Looks like good things are ahead for the growing goaltender.

Other notables:

Zakhar Bardakov (COL, KHL), Maxim Berezkin (EDM, KHL), Henrik Borgström (WAS, SHL), Alex Chmelevski (SJS, KHL), Liam Dower-Nilsson (DET, HockeyAllsvenskan), Noel Fransen (CAR, HockeyAllsvenskan), Hugo Gabrielson (VAN, HockeyAllsvenskan), Kirill Gerasimyuk (FLA, VHL), Olaf Glifford (FLA, SHL), Vasili Glotov (BUF, KHL), Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD, KHL), Filip Hallander (PIT, SHL), Juha Jatkola (NAS, Liiga), Roman Kantserov (CHI, KHL), Oiva Keskinen (CBJ, Liiga), Bogdan Konyushkov (MTL, KHL), Josef Korenar (UHC, CZE), Rasmus Korhonen (UHC, HockeyAllsvenskan), Yaroslav Korostelyov (SJS, MHL), Matvei Korotky (STL, MHL), Topias Leiponen (BUF, HockeyAllsvenskan), Jakob Malek (NJD, Liiga), Ivan Morozov (VGK, KHL), Felix Nilsson (NAS, SHL), Victor Nörringer (NAS, SWE U20), Ilya Pautov (PHI, MHL), Prokhor Poltapov (BUF, KHL), Daniil Pylenkov (TBL, KHL), Dmitri Rashevsky (WIN, KHL), Vinzenz Rohrer (MTL, NL), Otto Salin (LAK, Liiga), Daniil Savunov (UHC, VHL), Melker Thelin (UHC, HockeyAllsvenskan), Lassi Thomson (OTT, SHL), Victor Söderström (CHI, SHL), Danila Yurov (MIN, KHL)

]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-prospects-top-drafted-prospects-europe/feed/ 0
MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #16 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2024-25-nhl-yearbook-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-prospect-profiles-organizational-rank-16/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2024-25-nhl-yearbook-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-prospect-profiles-organizational-rank-16/#respond Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:00:09 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=188229 Read More... from MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #16

]]>
24.08.21. The Nikolai Puchkov memorial tournament. SKA (St.Petersburg) - HC Sochi (Sochi). @ Matvey Michkov

Prospect System Ranking – 16th (Previous Rank - 17th)
GM: Daniel Brière Hired: May 2023
COACH: John Tortorella Hired: June 2022

In a word: Matvei Michkov. The Philadelphia Flyers' prospect system might not be overflowing with high-end talent, but it’s anchored by one of the most exciting prospects in recent memory. With only four names in our McKeen’s top 150, the Flyers’ farm system is propped up by a giant—Michkov, our fourth-ranked prospect.

After six teams passed on the Russian phenom at the 2023 Entry Draft, the Flyers were gifted an opportunity to fast-track their progression. Originally projected to be a few years away, Michkov has made the jump to North America early and is set to become a top six threat for what could be a quick graduation in our rankings.

He joins a young core that already includes recently graduated prospects Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, and Cam York. These names are complemented by already established young Flyers like Morgan Frost, Owen Tippett, and newly acquired Jamie Drysdale.

On the backend, the Flyers have several prospects progressing nicely in Lehigh Valley who could crack the NHL roster sooner rather than later. Emil Andrae (112th), Ronnie Attard (191st) top that list on the farm, and Helge Grans joins that battle for a future on the Flyers’ blue line.

Additionally, OHL prospects, Jett Luchanko (58th) and Oliver Bonk (85th), are projected to contribute down the road after a few more years of development. Meanwhile, 2023 third rounder Denver Barkey (206th) is coming off an incredibly potent 102-point campaign to go with an OHL Championship with the London Knights.

Although still recovering from the Cutter Gauthier situation, The Flyers rebuild is beginning to take shape and is inching closer to rounding out their youthful core. They are well-positioned to continue adding talent, as they hold six picks within the first two rounds of the 2025 Entry Draft—three in the first and three in the second round. Success may still be a few years down the road, but at least there are some exciting youngsters to star in the show.

Philadelphia Flyers Top-15 Prospects

1. Matvei Michkov

Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent assortment of global repercussions, have prevented North American hockey fans from watching Michkov shine at prestigious events like the World Juniors. And that's a real shame, because if his high scoring totals in the KHL are any indication, he could have put on quite a show. He has a razor-sharp ability to dissect opposing defenders one-on-one or carve his way through larger crowds of traffic and is one of the best pure finishers in the world for his age group. There is a certain incisiveness to his mindset that sets him apart from others. Will he be a true superstar in the NHL? That will depend on whether he can become fast enough to create more separation on the smaller North American ice surfaces, because there are times right now where he gets bottled up too easily.

2. Jett Luchanko

It was a little surprising to see Luchanko get picked as high as he did in the 2024 draft, but in Philadelphia's defense, his best hockey of the season was saved for last, with a superb showing at the IIHF U18s as one of Canada’s go-to forwards. It's also always hard for teams to pass up on centers who are both highly skilled and high in character. Guelph wasn't a good team last year, but he really embraced the situation nevertheless, assuming the role of their first-line pivot and competing hard every single game, win or lose. Luchanko will continue to be a leader for that club and log a lot of minutes in both offensive and defensive situations, which should help his game take big strides forward in multiple different directions. How far can he take his game once he is consistently in an environment where others are on his level?

3. Oliver Bonk

Bonk is like a young defenceman version of Costco: he offers everything, and the quality is always good, though you'll rarely get anything that's truly top of the line. Every NHL team needs blueliners who can play in all situations, move up or down defence pairs as needed, and provide a stabilizing presence throughout without any worries or problems, and he is the epitome of that. It's no coincidence that London continues to be one of the best teams in the OHL with Bonk logging tons of minutes for them. The more you watch him, the more you appreciate the amazing nuance and fine details of his game. He'll probably join the Flyers at a young age and start out in a limited role, before steadily taking on more and more minutes until he eventually becomes one of their most trusted go-to guys.

4. Emil Andrae

Andrae received a decent look up with the Flyers back in October, but from what they saw the organization’s brass decided that he wasn’t quite ready for the challenge, so they sent him down to the AHL to let the year play out for him there instead. Nevertheless, the franchise is still committed to a serious youth movement, so come next training camp he should get another heavily scrutinized trial. For a defenceman his size he plays incredibly hard, which is always a bonus in Philadelphia. He’s also well above average when it comes to driving offence from the back end, and he deserves full marks for his mental makeup. That’s a great foundation to have in place, so now the big X-factor for him becomes his skating, which will need to keep improving, and improving a lot, to counterbalance the aforementioned deficiencies in his stature.

5. Ronnie Attard

Attard has always been a late bloomer, so Flyers fans need not be too concerned that he hasn’t seemed fully equipped for full-time NHL duty yet, despite being 25 years old now and getting looks with the big club intermittently across the past three seasons. And out of all the types of prospects that teams should be extra patient with, right-shooting defencemen with size and prior track records of contributing offensively should be right at the top of the list, because they have outsized value if they can find a way to put all the pieces together. All that said, the team wants healthy internal competition for most roster spots, so if Attard isn’t careful he could get left in the dust by others. He isn’t going to get handed a job no matter how appealing his upside may be.

6. Carson Bjarnason

Bjarnason's underwhelming stats this season were more of a reflection of Brandon's lackluster roster, and not the performance or long-term upside of their starting goalie. That whole team had neither a hope nor a prayer in the opening round of the playoffs, and they looked and acted like it. There were too many games throughout the year when Bjarnason was clearly not dialed in, and that's never ideal, but there were also plenty that the Wheat Kings never would have had a chance of winning without his heroics. Thinking big-picture, the Flyers are likely still content with the draft capital they spent on him, because he has everything that you'd want to see in a young goaltender, including size, refined technique, fluid mobility in the crease, and the ability to hang in there during games where he gets pelted with rubber.

7. Denver Barkey

Barkey is the type of prospect who seems like he was born to play hockey. There is such a natural ease to how he thinks and feels the game. At the same time, he's far from laid back or casual. Few can match his focus, competitive drive, and desire to win, but all of those seem second nature to him as well. He might not possess as much raw skill as other top prospects have, but his production exploded last season because he knows exactly which parts of his game he can improve, and how to do so. His lack of size and strength will persist and unfortunately hinder his NHL impact to some degree, but there is little doubt that he will eventually work himself onto the Flyers in some capacity and find ways to stick around for a long time.

8. Spencer Gill

Even though Gill played a lot of minutes last year for Rimouski, produced a reasonable number of points, and helped Canada win gold at the IIHF U18s, it still feels like he’s just scratching the surface of what he can become as a player. He’s a tall, rangy defender who always covers a wide territory when he’s on the ice and commits himself to contributing in all three zones. As of right now there’s a lot of work to be done with his puck management, and he will also need to learn how to defend his zone a little tighter and with more sandpaper, but over the next two seasons he’s going to gobble up huge minutes on a good Océanic team that should challenge for a league title or two, so he’ll be in an environment that should be conducive for his ongoing learning and refinement.

9. Alexei Kolosov

The trend toward bigger puck stoppers in the NHL is well-documented by now, and the disadvantages experienced by smaller ones is undeniable, but the Flyers have to be optimistic about Kolosov because of his track record in the KHL over the past few seasons. He was the number one goalie for Minsk Dynamo for two years in a row and put forth a valiant effort during the league’s most recent playoffs, but didn't get the goal support he needed from the team in front of him. His reflexes are quite quick, and he does a good job of staying in control while being active in his crease, which are essential these days for non-giant netminders. He made the anticipated move to Lehigh Valley in the AHL late last year, but as of this writing is still deciding where he wants to play this upcoming season.

10. Samu Tuomaala

Tuomaala has had a bit of a rocky development since getting drafted, bouncing around a handful of different clubs in Finland and then surprisingly being snubbed for his home nation's representation at two straight World Juniors tournaments. However, his first full season in North America was an encouraging course correction, spending the entirety of it with the Phantoms and establishing himself as a productive top six winger for them. He's a slippery offensive creator with the ability to make defenders miss, as well as a deceptively heavy shot for a guy his size. His limitations have stemmed from his lack of strength and top-line speed. The Flyers have shown an eagerness to test out many of their prospects in NHL action, so Tuomaala could get his first look with the big club as early as next fall if he has a notable training camp and preseason.

11. Elliot Desnoyers

Desnoyers has come far in his career through hard work, will, and sheer determination. He’s not necessarily lacking in talent, but it’s those other intangibles that have taken him further than others. However, that’s a taxing way to play. His second season in the AHL was a step back from his first, which doesn’t bode well for the sustainability of his style. It’s not too late for him, but will he be able to mix in other ways of being successful?

12. Carter Sotheran

In his draft year Sotheran looked like a prospect who was on the cusp of taking a big step forward, and we saw that outcome loud and clear in 2023-24. He became more impenetrable defensively, his offensive contributions increased, and he just really came into his own overall. His progression stemmed primarily from huge increases to his confidence and comfort level. There is always value in right-shooting blueliners with mobility, size, and three-zone influence, so keep an eye on Sotheran.

13. Yegor Zavragin

The Flyers have very high expectations of Zavragin and it’s easy to see why, especially following a year over in Russia where he was nearly unbeatable on two different rosters. Playing at the VHL level, which is one step below the KHL, he was named the league’s best rookie and had the highest save percentage among regular goalies, which are both impressive feats for someone who just turned 19 in August.

14. Alex Bump

Western Michigan University is a scrappy program that fights uphill against the bigger schools in their conference and takes pride in being an underdog. In those ways, Bump fits right in. He’s a clever and diligent forward who usually finds ways to leave his mark, even though none of his physical or skill-based traits are particular standouts. With the offseason departure of some key teammates he will need to take on a much bigger role in 2024-25.

15. Jack Berglund

Sweden has really found a knack for developing big, smart, two-way workhouse centers, and Berglund is one of the newest names among those ranks. There’s nothing necessarily flashy in his game, aside from above average speed in a straight line, but he just goes out there every shift and works his tail off, helping to tilt the ice in his team’s favour. He’ll be a longtime pro for sure, much like his father Christian and uncle Carl were.

]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2024-25-nhl-yearbook-philadelphia-flyers-top-15-prospect-profiles-organizational-rank-16/feed/ 0
MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #17 Philadelphia Flyers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2024-nhl-prospect-report-17-philadelphia-flyers/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2024-nhl-prospect-report-17-philadelphia-flyers/#respond Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:24:11 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=186394 Read More... from MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #17 Philadelphia Flyers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

]]>

Daniel Briere had an eventful first season as a rookie General Manager with more than his share of challenges, but received positive reviews for many of the moves he has made. He inherited an organization that had been run with Chuck Fletcher as GM, and stubbornly stuck to the belief they had a competitive team coming out of the Covid seasons. Briere and President of Hockey Operations, Keith Jones began a process of rebuilding. Briere started his tenure by watching the overall 2nd ranked prospect on this list, Matvei Michkov, fall to the team at pick number seven at the 2023 NHL Draft over concerns on whether he would be coming to North America soon. Rumours that he may be coming over as as soon as next season have been growing, with suggestions that Flyers and SKA (his Russian team) are discussing that possibility. He had earlier, once again very quietly, orchestrated the addition of giant goaltender Ivan Fedotov from Russia, surprising many.

He then moved defenseman Ivan Provorov for a first-round pick in 2023, adding talented Oliver Bonk at 22nd overall and a second-round pick 2024. The next big challenge was a trade demand from top rated prospect Cutter Gauthier (fourth overall on this list) that was a leftover from the previous regime. In accommodating his request, management did an excellent job of keeping it quiet and getting the best possible return in defenseman Jamie Drysdale from Anaheim along with a second-round pick in 2025. At the end of the day and wheeling and dealing, he has four picks in the first two rounds of both the 2024 and 2025 drafts. After surprisingly calling for a rebuild, under the previous regime, John Tortorella received a full buy-in from the team for a surprising first half of the season from a disciplined unit. That should not suggest the Flyers are done with their rebuild. They need to add some more high-end pieces before they are ready to truly begin the climb. They will utilize all of their picks.

RNK PLAYER POS AGE HT/WT TM Acquired GP G(W) A(L) PTS(GAA) PIM(SPCT)
1 Matvei Michkov RW 19 5-10/170 SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL) `23(7th) 48 19 22 41 26
2 Oliver Bonk D 19 6-2/175 London (OHL) `23(22nd) 60 24 43 67 32
3 Emil Andrae D 22 5-9/185 Lehigh Valley (AHL) `20(54th) 61 5 27 32 66
          Philadelphia (NHL) `20(54th) 4 0 0 0 0
4 Ronnie Attard D 25 6-3/210 Lehigh Valley (AHL) `19(72nd) 48 10 17 27 37
          Philadelphia (NHL) `19(72nd) 12 0 2 2 6
5 Carson Bjarnason G 18 6-3/185 Brandon (WHL) `23(51st) 46 24 17 3.01 0.907
6 Denver Barkey C 19 5-8/160 London (OHL) `23(95th) 64 35 67 102 28
7 Alexei Kolosov G 22 6-1/185 Dinamo Minsk (KHL) `21(78th) 47 22 21 2.39 0.907
8 Samu Tuomaala RW 21 5-10/175 Lehigh Valley (AHL) `21(46th) 69 15 28 43 12
9 Elliot Desnoyers LW 22 5-10/185 Lehigh Valley (AHL) `20(135th) 63 6 16 22 23
10 Carter Sotheran D 18 6-3/195 Portland (WHL) `23(135th) 66 13 27 40 68
11 Helge Grans D 21 6-2/205 Lehigh Valley (AHL) T(LA-6/23) 56 1 7 8 24
12 Olle Lycksell RW 24 5-11/175 Lehigh Valley (AHL) `17(168th) 38 19 20 39 14
          Philadelphia (NHL) `17(168th) 18 1 4 5 6
13 Ethan Samson D 20 6-1/195 Lehigh Valley (AHL) `21(174th) 63 3 9 12 56
14 Yegor Zavragin G 18 6-2/185 Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk (VHL) `23(87th) 17 13 1 1.60 0.943
15 Alex Bump LW 20 6-0/195 Western Michigan (NCHC) `22(133rd) 38 14 22 36 27
1. Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent assortment of global repercussions, have prevented North American hockey fans from watching Michkov shine at prestigious events like the World Juniors. And that's a real shame, because if his high scoring totals in the KHL are any indication, he could have put on quite a show. He has a razor-sharp ability to dissect opposing defenders one-on-one or carve his way through larger crowds of traffic, and is one of the best pure finishers in the world for his age group. There is a certain incisiveness to his mindset that sets him apart from others. Will he be a true superstar in the NHL? That will depend on whether he can become fast enough to create more separation on the smaller North American ice surfaces, because there are times right now where he gets bottled up too easily.

2. Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (OHL)

Bonk is like a young defenseman version of Costco: he offers everything and the quality is always good, though you'll rarely get anything that's truly top of the line. Every NHL team needs blueliners who can play in all situations, move up or down defense pairs as needed, and provide a stabilizing presence throughout without any worries or problems, and he is the epitome of that. It's no coincidence that London continues to be one of the best teams in the OHL with Bonk logging tons of minutes for them. The more you watch him, the more you appreciate the amazing nuance and fine details of his game. He'll probably join the Flyers at a young age and start out in a limited role, before steadily taking on more and more minutes until he eventually becomes one of their most trusted go-to guys.

3. Emil Andrae, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Andrae received a decent look up with the Flyers back in October, but from what they saw the organization’s brass decided that he wasn’t quite ready for the challenge, so they sent him down to the AHL to let the year play out for him there instead. Nevertheless, the franchise is still committed to a serious youth movement, so come next training camp he should get another heavily scrutinized trial. For a defenseman his size he plays incredibly hard, which is always a bonus in Philadelphia. He’s also well above average when it comes to driving offense from the back end, and he deserves full marks for his mental makeup. That’s a great foundation to have in place, so now the big X-factor for him becomes his skating, which will need to keep improving, and improving a lot, to counterbalance the aforementioned deficiencies in his stature.

4. Ronnie Attard, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Attard has always been a late bloomer, so Flyers fans need not be too concerned that he hasn’t seemed fully equipped for full-time NHL duty yet, despite being 25 years old now and getting looks with the big club intermittently across the past three seasons. And out of all the types of prospects that teams should be extra patient with, right-shooting defensemen with size and prior track records of contributing offensively should be right at the top of the list, because they have outsized value if they can find a way to put all the pieces together. All that said, the team wants healthy internal competition for most roster spots, so if Attard isn’t careful he could get left in the dust by others. He isn’t going to get handed a job no matter how appealing his upside may be.

5. Carson Bjarnason, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Bjarnason's underwhelming stats this season are more of a reflection of Brandon's lackluster roster, and not the performance or long-term upside of their starting goalie. That whole team had neither a hope nor a prayer in the opening round of the playoffs, and they looked and acted like it. There were too many games throughout the year when Bjarnason was clearly not dialed in, and that's never ideal, but there were also plenty that the Wheat Kings never would have had a chance of winning without his heroics. Thinking big-picture, the Flyers are likely still content with the draft capital they spent on him, because he has everything that you'd want to see in a young goaltender, including size, refined technique, fluid mobility in the crease, and the ability to hang in there during games where he gets pelted with rubber.

6. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL)

Barkey is the type of prospect who seems like he was born to play hockey. There is such a natural ease to how he thinks and feels the game. At the same time, he's far from laid back or casual. Few can match his focus, competitive drive and desire to win, but all of those seem second nature to him as well. He might not possess as much raw skill as other top prospects have, but his production explodes this season because he knows exactly which parts of his game he can improve, and how to do so. His lack of size and strength will persist and unfortunately hinder his NHL impact to some degree, but there is little doubt that he will eventually work himself onto the Flyers in some capacity and find ways to stick around for a long time.

7. Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

The trend toward bigger puck stoppers in the NHL is well-documented by now, and the disadvantages experienced by smaller ones is undeniable, but the Flyers have to be optimistic about Kolosov because of his track record in the KHL over the past few seasons. He was the number one goalie for Minsk Dynamo for two years in a row and put forth a valiant effort during the league’s most recent playoffs, but didn't get the goal support he needed from the team in front of him. His reflexes are quite quick and he does a good job of staying in control while being active in his crease, which are essentially these days for non-giant netminders. He's already made the anticipated move to Lehigh Valley in the AHL and will be given a fair shot to win the starter's job there next season.

8. Samu Tuomaala, RW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Tuomaala has had a bit of a rocky development since getting drafted, bouncing around a handful of different clubs in Finland and then surprisingly being snubbed for his home nation's representation at two straight World Juniors tournaments. However, his first full season in North America was an encouraging course correction, spending the entirety of it with the Phantoms and establishing himself as a productive Top 6 winger for them. He's a slippery offensive creator with the ability to make defenders miss, as well as a deceptively heavy shot for a guy his size. His limitations have stemmed from his lack of strength and top-line speed. The Flyers have shown an eagerness to test out many of their prospects in NHL action, so Tuomaala could get his first look with the big club as early as next fall if he has a notable training camp and preseason.

9. Elliot Desnoyers, LW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Desnoyers has come a long way in his hockey career riding on hard work, will, and sheer determination. That’s not to say that he’s necessarily lacking in talent, but it’s been those other intangibles that have really set him apart and taken him further than others have gone, including being drafted, making the always-contested Canadian roster for the World Juniors, and getting to dress for NHL games. That’s a draining way to play, however, when it’s pretty much all you’ve got going, and sooner or later everyone’s engine starts to clunk out after it’s been pushed into the red zone for too long. His second season in the AHL was a significant step back from his first, which doesn’t bode well for where his career is going to go from here. It’s not too late for him, but will he be able to mix in other ways of being successful?

10. Carter Sotheran, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

In his draft year Sotheran looked like a prospect who was on the cusp of taking a big step forward, and we're seeing that exact outcome loud and clear this season. He's become more impenetrable defensively, his offensive contributions have increased, and he's just really come into his own overall, and he's doing so as a go-to player on one of the best teams in the entire Canadian Hockey League. All of his progression ultimately stems from huge increases to his confidence and comfort level, which is visible with how he carries himself on the ice, especially when it comes to jumping up in the play. There is tremendous value in right-shooting blueliners with mobility, size, and the capability of impacting the play across all three zones, so the Flyers must be thrilled that they were able to add one to their prospect pool using a mere 5th-round draft pick.

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).

]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2024-nhl-prospect-report-17-philadelphia-flyers/feed/ 0
NHL PROSPECTS/NHL DRAFT: BELL – 20 Prospect Points – Lekkerimaki, Cowan, Dickinson, Masse & More https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-prospects-nhl-draft-bell-20-prospect-points-lekkerimaki-cowan-dickinson-masse/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-prospects-nhl-draft-bell-20-prospect-points-lekkerimaki-cowan-dickinson-masse/#respond Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:00:40 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=185542 Read More... from NHL PROSPECTS/NHL DRAFT: BELL – 20 Prospect Points – Lekkerimaki, Cowan, Dickinson, Masse & More

]]>
Easton Cowan of the London Knights. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Welcome to 20 Prospect Points, a bi-weekly column where I dive into the trending news surrounding prospects - drafted and draft-eligible - from around the globe.

This edition dives into the surge of Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Eason Cowan, the scoring prowess of Vancouver Canucks’ star prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and the impressive play of 2024-eligible Masim Massé and Sam Dickinson.

Drafted Prospects

#1 While it was considered a reach when the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted London Knights’ Easton Cowan 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, he’s been making the Leafs’ scouting department look pretty good this season. Cowan is currently riding a 29-game point streak, dating back to before the World Juniors. He’s racked up 55 points over that time, bringing his season total to 83 (30 goals, 53 assists) in just 47 games. While he sits second on the team in points, he’s tied for the league lead in points per game with 1.77. 

#2 With his season in the KHL wrapped up and his contract terminated, Marat Khusnutdinov has signed his entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild. He appears to be en route to the USA, pending the finalization of his visa to do so, where he should go straight into the Wild’s lineup. With the team fighting for a playoff spot, this shows that Minnesota’s brass has a great deal of trust and faith in Khusnutdinov, believing that he will make the roster better to be worth burning a year of his deal. The youth movement continues in Minnesota.

#3 Jonathan Lekkerimäki just keeps scoring. The Vancouver Canucks prospect put up nine goals through February, in as many games. He sits tied for fourth in the league with 19 goals in 42 games. He also sits 11th all-time for goals scored by a teenager in the league. With four games left on his schedule, he could add to that total and continue to climb the history books.

#4 The Washington Capitals made a very smart move recently, signing Prince George Cougars star forward Zac Funk to an entry-level contract. The undrafted prospect has been on fire this season, racking up 103 points (59 goals, 44 assists) through 60 games. His goal total leads the entire Canadian Hockey League, and he’s just one point behind Jagger Firkus for the point lead. He’s an intelligent forward who has a proven ability to put the puck in the net. He’s likely en route to some hardware this season.

#5 Every trade deadline, some interesting prospects get moved. While we’re still a few days away from the deadline, Artyom Grushnikov is an early name on that list. Drafted 48th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars, the Russian defender was moved to the Calgary Flames in the package for Chris Tanev. While you shouldn’t expect him to bring much in terms of offensive production, Grushnikov projects to be a shutdown defender and is well on his way to the NHL. This could work out well for the Flames.

#6 Speaking of the Stars, how about that Logan Stankoven? By now, if you follow hockey even casually, you’ve heard the story. A shorter prospect, Stankoven slid to 47th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. But the skill and the motor were there, and many in the public sphere were sure of it. Well, that’s paying off already, with Stankoven sitting second in the AHL in points - in his rookie season. Then he earned his first call-up, putting up four points (three goals, one assist) in four games. The hype is real.

#7 I’ve talked about Carson Rehkopf a lot this season, and rightfully so. The Seattle Kraken forward was the second CHLer to hit the 50-goal mark this season, now sitting at 50 in just 52 games. Being drafted 50th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, is a remarkable improvement from his 30 goals in 68 games last season. Make sure to keep an eye on him down the stretch and into the playoffs.

#8 It’s been over three months since Captials’ prospect Ryan Leonard went an entire NCAA game without a point. That’s a point streak of 17 games, where he’s collected 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists). The Boston College freshman only has three games this season where he hasn’t recorded a point. And yet, he still sits fourth on the team in points behind Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, and Gabe Perrault. Leonard’s season is being overshadowed by his teammates, but is very much worth the recognition.

#9 When discussing Russian prospects of the Philadelphia Flyers that were drafted in 2023, you likely think of Matvei Michkov (and rightfully so). But goaltender Yegor Zavragin is commanding some attention. He stuck in the VHL for the majority of the season with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk, finishing the regular season 13-1-0 with a league-leading .943 save percentage (SV%). That has translated to the playoffs, where he’s 2-1 with a .938 SV%.

#10 Over in North America, another Russian netminder has been turning some heads in Ivan Prosvetov. Drafted way back in 2018, 114th overall by the Arizona Coyotes, he was claimed off waivers at the beginning of this season and has been extremely strong in his AHL play. Through his first nine games, he went undefeated, repping a .944 SV% and two shutouts, although that did just come to an end at the hands of the Calgary Wranglers - a game where he still had a .935 SV%. Goalies take time, and you never know when they might take off in their development. He’s worth keeping an eye on.

Draft-Eligible Prospects

#11 A top prospect on every draft ranking out there, but still, it seems that not enough people are talking about Sam Dickinson. Perhaps it’s because of the historic play of Zayne Parekh this season in the OHL, but Dickinson’s play deserves some recognition. The defender just ended an 11-game point streak that saw him rack up 20 points, bringing his season total to 63 (17 goals, 46 assists) in 60 games. That mark is third among all defenders in the league, behind the ridiculous seasons of Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz. 

#12 Maxim Massé appears to be the top prospect in the QMJHL this season, and he’s been proving why as of late. The prospect was one of the most productive draft-eligibles around the globe over the past month, with 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) through 10 games. He’s up to 65 points (31 goals, 34 assists) in 60 games as he looks to solidify his spot as a first-round candidate in the 2024 class.

#13 Some bad news for potential first-rounder Harrison Brunicke, the defenseman is out month-to-month after taking a hard hit on February 19th. The South African-born prospect has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 49 games this season and could be considered a bit of a polarizing prospect, ranked from 21st down to 90th. He might be done for the year at this point. 

#14 A player that I keep talking about and coming back to is Ondrej Becher. The Czech prospect has been dominant in his second season with the Prince George Cougars (and his season season in North America at all). He’s up to 75 points (22 goals, 53 assists) in 50 games this season, a significant increase from last year’s results of 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) in 63 games. He’s currently riding an 11-game point streak where he’s added 19 points to his total.

#15 When scouting in a player’s draft year, it’s important to look at where a player is in their development at the beginning of the season versus the middle and the end. This shows how the player continues to progress and how high their ceiling may be. Henry Mews is an interesting player in this regard as he continues to look better and better as the season rolls on. He’s playing a much smarter, more controlled game now than he was at the start of the year. He should be a riser on boards as the draft approaches. 

#16 Alex Zetterberg is making the rare jump from the J20 Nationell this season to the NCAA’s Boston University in the fall. Zetterberg has been having a strong season in Sweden, with 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 41 games, while impressing internationally in the Hlinka, World Junior A Challenge, and various other U18 events. He’s a candidate to slide down draft boards though due to his height at 5-foot-8, but is absolutely one to watch.

#17 If the name Vladislav Bryzgalov sounds familiar, it’s likely because it is. Bryzgalov is the son of former NHLer Ilya Bryzgalov. The netminder recently made the move from the NCDC’s Ogden Mustangs, where he was 14-5-3 with a .933 SV%, to the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs where he’s been keeping the impressive run going with a .935 SV%. Looking like a late-rounder at this point, the name alone might be enough for an NHL team to bite.

#18 Looking towards the 2025 NHL Draft, Finnish forward Max Westergård has been truly coming into his own as of late in his first season in Sweden. He’s been proving too good for the J18 and he’s fitting in in the J20 Nationell.In the J18 Nationell, he has yet to play a game this season and not record a point, with 19 (six goals, 13 assists) in 10 games. He had a point per game in his first four J20 Nationell games this season, where he should stick next year. What’s the most intriguing though is his late birthday of September 3rd, meaning he’s just days away from being eligible for the 2026 class. Put him on your watchlist for next year.

#19 Moving even further along to the 2026 class, I’ve already discussed Gavin McKenna in previous pieces, but we need to keep coming back to him. The prospect has been setting the WHL on fire with the Medicine Hat Tigers, with 86 points (29 goals, 57 assists) in 54 games. To put it in perspective, Connor Bedard finished his 16-year-old season (DY-1) with 1.61 points per game (100 points in 62 games). McKenna (DY-2) is on pace for 98 points in 62 games - a 1.58 pace. 

#20 McKenna isn’t the only 2026-eligible capturing attention though. 15-year-old Viggo Björck has been tearing up the Swedish J18 Region this year, up to 98 points (33 goals, 65 assists) in 35 games - as a 15-year-old. He not only holds the assists and points records for the league but destroyed both. The closest assists total was 48 and the closest points total was 72. In his last six J18 games, he has 31 points, including two nine-point performances. You read that right.

]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/nhl-prospects-nhl-draft-bell-20-prospect-points-lekkerimaki-cowan-dickinson-masse/feed/ 0
MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/#respond Sun, 28 May 2023 16:20:45 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=181245 Read More... from MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions

]]>
It’s that time! The McKeen’s scouting staff has finalized our final rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft ahead of the release of our draft guide in a few weeks. As per usual, our list runs 224 players deep to match the number of selections in the draft, but we have included over 300 players when you include our Honorable Mentions.

Much to the surprise of no one, Connor Bedard remains our top ranked player, as he has been all season long. In fact, our top three remains unchanged from our midseason rankings with Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson holding down the second and third spots, respectively. There has been one change in our top five with Will Smith leapfrogging Matvei Michkov into the fourth position following his dominant second half and U18’s.

Russian defender Dmitry Simashev remains our top ranked blueliner but has now moved into the top ten. His combination of size, mobility, physicality, and improving offensive skill set is going to be alluring to NHL teams and we feel that his upside is the highest in a weaker crop for defenders.

A trio of Swedish players are among our biggest risers from our midseason list, with Tom Willander, Anton Wahlberg, and David Edstrom all jumping up into the first round. All three were excellent in the second half of the season, which culminated with strong performances at the U18’s. Willander, in particular, has a huge fan in our Director of Scouting, Brock Otten. “If you were to ask me who my favourite defender in the draft class is, I’d probably say Willander. He rarely makes a poor play and I believe that we are underappreciating his potential as an NHL defender because of how efficient and safe his game can be. I would be shocked if he does not become a quality second pairing guy at the NHL level and I don’t think the other defenders ranked in the first have that same assurance,” said Otten.

Another massive jumper in our list is Hamilton Bulldogs winger Nick Lardis. 98th on our midseason list, Lardis now finds himself ranked just inside of our first round. His play with Hamilton, following a trade from Peterborough has vaulted him up draft boards, including ours. His combination of quickness and scoring ability gives him a solid projection at the NHL level.

Despite having two goaltenders inside of our first round at midseason (Carson Bjarnason and Michael Hrabal), we ended the year with none. Trey Augustine is now our top ranked netminder, ranked in the mid second round. However, Augustine, Bjarnason, Hrabal, and USHL Clark Cup MVP Jacob Fowler are all closely ranked in that range.

Look for the release of our 2023 Draft Guide in the next couple weeks. It will include all of our rankings and reports, a mock draft, a preview of the 2024 NHL Draft, and much more.

As a subscriber, link to our full ranking with links to the player pages here - McKeen's Draft Rankings - You can download the ranking as an excel file as well.

RANK PLAYER POS HT/WT DOB NATION TEAM GP-G-A-PTS
1 Connor Bedard C 5-10/185 17-Jul-05 Canada Regina (WHL) 57-71-72-143
2 Adam Fantilli C 6-2/195 12-Oct-04 Canada Michigan (B1G) 36-30-35-65
3 Leo Carlsson C 6-3/200 26-Dec-04 Sweden Orebro (SHL) 44-10-15-25
4 Will Smith C 6-0/175 17-Mar-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 59-51-75-126
5 Matvei Michkov RW 5-10/170 9-Dec-04 Russia SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL) 30-9-11-20
6 Zach Benson LW 5-9/160 12-May-05 Canada Winnipeg (WHL) 60-36-62-98
7 Dalibor Dvorsky C 6-1/200 15-Jun-05 Slovakia AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan) 38-6-8-14
8 Ryan Leonard RW 5-11/190 21-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 56-50-43-93
9 Dmitri Simashev D 6-4/200 4-Feb-05 Russia Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL) 33-1-11-12
10 Matthew Wood RW 6-3/195 6-Feb-05 Canada Connecticut (HE) 35-11-23-34
11 Oliver Moore C 5-11/185 22-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 60-31-43-74
12 Colby Barlow LW 6-0/195 14-Feb-05 Canada Owen Sound (OHL) 59-46-33-79
13 Nate Danielson C 6-1/185 27-Sep-04 Canada Brandon (WHL) 68-33-45-78
14 Axel Sandin Pellikka D 5-11/180 11-Mar-05 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 31-16-20-36
15 Daniil But LW 6-5/200 15-Feb-05 Russia Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL) 32-18-14-32
16 David Reinbacher D 6-2/185 25-Oct-04 Austria Kloten (Sui-NL) 46-3-19-22
17 Eduard Sale LW 6-1/170 10-Mar-05 Czech HC Kometa Brno (Czechia) 43-7-7-14
18 Samuel Honzek LW 6-3/185 12-Nov-04 Slovakia Vancouver (WHL) 43-23-33-56
19 Mikhail Gulyayev D 5-11/170 26-Apr-05 Russia Omskie Yastreby (MHL) 22-2-23-25
20 Lukas Dragicevic D 6-1/190 25-Apr-05 Canada Tri-City (WHL) 68-15-60-75
21 Gabe Perreault RW 5-11/165 7-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 62-53-79-132
22 Otto Stenberg C 5-11/180 29-May-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 29-11-15-26
23 Tom Willander D 6-1/180 9-Feb-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 39-4-21-25
24 Calum Ritchie C 6-2/185 21-Jan-05 Canada Oshawa (OHL) 59-24-35-59
25 Andrew Cristall LW 5-9/165 4-Feb-05 Canada Kelowna (WHL) 54-39-56-95
26 Gavin Brindley C 5-8/165 5-Oct-04 USA Michigan (B1G) 41-12-26-38
27 Bradly Nadeau LW 5-10/165 5-May-05 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 54-45-68-113
28 Anton Wahlberg C 6-3/195 4-Jul-05 Sweden Malmo (Swe J20) 32-14-13-27
29 Riley Heidt C 5-10/180 25-Mar-05 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-25-72-97
30 Brayden Yager C 5-11/165 3-Jan-05 Canada Moose Jaw (WHL) 67-28-50-78
31 David Edstrom C 6-3/185 18-Feb-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 28-15-13-28
32 Nick Lardis LW 5-10/165 8-Jul-05 Canada Pbo-Ham (OHL) 69-37-28-65
33 Kasper Halttunen RW 6-3/205 7-Jun-05 Finland HIFK (Fin-Liiga) 27-0-1-1
34 Jayden Perron RW 5-9/165 11-Jan-05 Canada Chicago (USHL) 61-24-48-72
35 Oliver Bonk D 6-2/175 9-Jan-05 Canada London (OHL) 67-10-30-40
36 Quentin Musty LW 6-2/200 6-Jul-05 USA Sudbury (OHL) 53-26-52-78
37 Trey Augustine G 6-1/185 23-Feb-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 28-1, 2.14, 0.925
38 Tanner Molendyk D 5-11/185 3-Feb-05 Canada Saskatoon (WHL) 67-9-28-37
39 William Whitelaw RW 5-9/170 5-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 62-36-25-61
40 Ethan Gauthier RW 5-11/175 26-Jan-05 Canada Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 66-30-39-69
41 Gracyn Sawchyn C 5-11/160 19-Jan-05 USA Seattle (WHL) 58-18-40-58
42 Carson Bjarnason G 6-3/185 30-Jun-05 Canada Brandon (WHL) 21-19, 3.08, 0.900
43 Aram Minnetian D 5-11/190 19-Mar-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-7-24-31
44 Michael Hrabal G 6-6/210 20-Jan-05 Czech Omaha (USHL) 9-13, 2.86, 0.908
45 Jacob Fowler G 6-1/215 24-Nov-04 USA Youngstown (USHL) 27-9, 2.28, 0.921
46 Oscar Fisker Molgaard C 6-0/165 18-Feb-05 Denmark HV 71 (SHL) 41-4-3-7
47 Carson Rehkopf LW 6-1/195 7-Jan-05 Canada Kitchener (OHL) 68-30-29-59
48 Beau Akey D 5-11/170 11-Feb-05 Canada Barrie (OHL) 66-11-36-47
49 Danny Nelson C 6-3/200 3-Aug-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-20-26-46
50 Etienne Morin D 6-0/180 9-Mar-05 Canada Moncton (QMJHL) 67-21-51-72
51 Felix Nilsson C 6-0/175 22-Jun-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 36-19-22-41
52 Maxim Strbak D 6-1/205 13-Apr-05 Slovakia Sioux Falls (USHL) 46-5-13-18
53 Jakub Dvorak D 6-5/205 25-May-05 Czech Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia) 24-0-2-2
54 Carey Terrance C 6-0/175 10-May-05 USA Erie (OHL) 67-30-17-47
55 Jesse Kiiskinen RW 5-11/180 23-Aug-05 Finland Pelicans (Fin-U20) 31-20-23-43
56 Mathieu Cataford C 5-11/185 1-Mar-05 Canada Halifax (QMJHL) 68-31-44-75
57 Roman Kantserov RW 5-9/175 20-Sep-04 Russia Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL) 45-27-27-54
58 Tristan Bertucci D 6-1/170 12-Jul-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 63-11-39-50
59 Andrew Gibson D 6-3/195 13-Feb-05 Canada Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 45-7-14-21
60 Caden Price D 6-0/185 24-Aug-05 Canada Kelowna (WHL) 65-5-35-40
61 Charlie Stramel C 6-3/215 15-Oct-04 USA Wisconsin (B1G) 33-5-7-12
62 Coulson Pitre RW 6-0/170 13-Dec-04 Canada Flint (OHL) 59-25-35-60
63 Adam Gajan G 6-2/165 6-May-04 Slovakia Chippewa Steel (NAHL) 19-12, 2.57, 0.917
64 Hoyt Stanley D 6-2/185 4-Feb-05 Canada Victoria (BCHL) 53-4-34-38
65 Andrew Strathmann D 5-10/190 27-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 56-3-35-38
66 Hunter Brzustewicz D 5-11/185 29-Nov-04 USA Kitchener (OHL) 68-6-51-57
67 Luca Pinelli C 5-8/165 5-Apr-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 67-29-34-63
68 Cam Allen D 6-0/195 7-Jan-05 Canada Guelph (OHL) 62-5-20-25
69 Tanner Ludtke C 6-0/185 27-Nov-04 USA Lincoln (USHL) 57-32-34-66
70 Theo Lindstein D 6-0/180 5-Jan-05 Sweden Brynas (SHL) 32-1-1-2
71 Koehn Ziemmer RW 6-0/205 8-Dec-04 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-41-48-89
72 Carter Sotheran D 6-3/195 26-Jun-05 Canada Portland (WHL) 68-4-19-23
73 Arttu Karki D 6-1/175 8-Dec-04 Finland Tappara (Fin-U20) 36-13-26-39
74 Albert Wikman D 6-0/190 10-Mar-05 Sweden Farjestads (Swe J20) 43-2-10-12
75 Quinton Burns D 6-1/180 14-Apr-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 54-2-27-29
76 Nico Myatovic LW 6-2/180 1-Dec-04 Canada Seattle (WHL) 68-30-30-60
77 Jeremy Hanzel D 6-0/190 27-Feb-03 Canada Seattle (WHL) 66-13-35-48
78 Easton Cowan RW 5-10/170 20-May-05 Canada London (OHL) 68-20-33-53
79 Juraj Pekarcik LW 6-2/185 12-Sep-05 Slovakia HK Nitra (Slovakia) 30-0-3-3
80 Denver Barkey C 5-8/160 27-Apr-05 Canada London (OHL) 61-22-37-59
81 Martin Misiak RW 6-2/195 30-Sep-04 Slovakia HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia) 29-1-9-10
82 Drew Fortescue D 6-1/175 28-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-1-25-26
83 Felix Unger Sorum RW 5-11/170 14-Sep-05 Sweden Leksands (Swe J20) 42-10-36-46
84 Lenni Hameenaho RW 6-0/175 7-Nov-04 Finland Assat (Fin-Liiga) 51-9-12-21
85 Kalan Lind LW 6-0/160 25-Jan-05 Canada Red Deer (WHL) 43-16-28-44
86 Rasmus Kumpulainen C 6-2/190 8-Aug-05 Finland Pelicans (Fin-U20) 41-11-23-34
87 Alex Ciernik LW 5-11/175 8-Oct-04 Slovakia Sodertalje-Vasterviks (HockeyAllsvenskan) 25-3-9-12
88 Alexander Rykov RW 6-0/175 14-Jul-05 Russia Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL) 20-4-7-11
89 Scott Ratzlaff G 6-0/175 9-Mar-05 Canada Seattle (WHL) 25-8, 2.15, 0.918
90 Yegor Rimashevsky RW 6-3/200 1-Feb-05 Belarus MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 29-13-13-26
91 Jesse Nurmi LW 5-10/165 7-Mar-05 Finland KooKoo (Fin-U20) 41-21-29-50
92 Kaden Hammell D 6-1/175 12-Mar-05 Canada Kam-Evt (WHL) 67-8-18-26
93 Jayson Shaugabay RW 5-9/155 4-May-05 USA Warroad (USHS-MN) 31-33-63-96
94 Noel Nordh RW 6-2/195 25-Jan-05 Sweden Brynas (Swe J20) 38-13-14-27
95 Gavin McCarthy D 6-1/180 2-Jun-05 USA Muskegon (USHL) 42-8-19-27
96 Tyler Peddle LW 6-0/195 28-Jan-05 Canada Drummondville (QMJHL) 64-24-17-41
97 Francesco Dell'Elce D 6-0/165 23-Jun-05 Canada St. Andrew's (CHS-O) 51-20-42-62
98 Timur Mukhanov LW 5-8/170 17-Jun-05 Russia Omskie Krylia (VHL) 31-4-4-8
99 Larry Keenan D 6-3/185 15-Mar-05 Russia Culver Academy (USHS-IN) 49-11-26-37
100 Emil Jarventie LW 5-9/165 4-Apr-05 Finland Ilves (Fin-U20) 21-8-11-19
101 Matthew Mania D 6-1/180 11-Jan-05 USA Sudbury (OHL) 67-10-28-38
102 Juha Jatkola G 6-1/175 12-Sep-02 Finland KalPa (Fin-Liiga) 20-11, 2.16, 0.903
103 Zach Nehring RW 6-3/180 7-Mar-05 USA Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN) 48-34-40-74
104 Austin Roest C 5-9/175 22-Jan-04 Canada Everett (WHL) 60-32-46-78
105 Hedqvist, Isac C 5-10/165 22-Mar-05 Sweden Lulea (Swe J20) 41-14-20-34
106 Stephen Peck G 6-2/170 18-Jan-05 USA Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT) 28GP, 1.26, 0.948
107 Yegor Klimovich RW 5-9/160 14-May-05 Russia Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL) 36-19-30-49
108 Nikita Susuyev RW 6-0/170 6-Feb-05 Russia MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL) 38-11-17-28
109 Ethan Miedema LW 6-4/205 22-Mar-05 Canada Wsr-Kgn (OHL) 68-20-32-52
110 Luca Cagnoni D 5-9/180 21-Dec-04 Canada Portland (WHL) 67-17-47-64
111 Jakub Stancl LW 6-3/200 10-Apr-05 Czech Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20) 35-11-6-17
112 Aydar Suniev LW 6-1/200 16-Nov-04 Russia Penticton (BCHL) 50-45-45-90
113 Ty Henricks LW 6-4/205 28-Jun-05 USA Fgo-Mus (USHL) 47-9-10-19
114 Yegor Vinogradov C 6-2/180 17-Apr-03 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 53-7-10-17
115 Yegor Sidorov RW 5-11/180 18-Jun-04 Belarus Saskatoon (WHL) 53-40-36-76
116 Will Vote RW 5-8/155 22-Feb-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 60-16-29-45
117 Brandon Svoboda C 6-3/210 4-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 59-16-10-26
118 Axel Landen D 6-1/185 29-Mar-05 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 44-10-6-16
119 Alexander Hellnemo G 6-2/180 5-Jan-04 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 15-8, 2.32, 0.916
120 Nikita Nedopyokin C 5-10/185 22-Mar-05 Russia SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) 37-14-18-32
121 Brady Cleveland D 6-5/210 1-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 54-0-6-6
122 Ondrej Molnar LW 5-10/170 8-Feb-05 Slovakia Erie (OHL) 34-4-15-19
123 Noah Dower Nilsson LW 6-0/175 25-Apr-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 37-26-28-54
124 Jordan Tourigny D 5-10/165 28-Feb-05 Canada Shawinigan (QMJHL) 67-6-35-41
125 Cole Knuble C 5-11/175 1-Jul-04 USA Fargo (USHL) 57-30-36-66
126 Erik Pahlsson C 6-0/170 9-Apr-04 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 46-26-37-63
127 Eric Pohlkamp D 5-10/200 23-Mar-04 USA Cedar Rapids (USHL) 59-16-35-51
128 Dylan MacKinnon D 6-1/185 12-Jan-05 Canada Halifax (QMJHL) 61-6-17-23
129 German Tochilkin LW 6-2/180 24-Sep-03 Russia Kunlun Red Star (KHL) 21-4-2-6
130 Jake Fisher C 6-1/180 27-Mar-05 USA Cretin-Durham Hall (USHS-MN) 29-34-29-63
131 Damian Clara G 6-6/215 13-Jan-05 Italy Farjestads (Swe J20) 17-17, 2.79, 0.903
132 Aiden Fink RW 5-9/155 24-Nov-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 54-41-56-97
133 Bogdan Konyushkov D 5-11/175 20-Dec-02 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 64-2-23-25
134 Yegor Zavragin G 6-2/185 23-Aug-05 Russia Mamonty Yugry (MHL) 11-6, 2.49, 0.920
135 Ty Halaburda C 5-11/175 22-Apr-05 Canada Vancouver (WHL) 66-21-16-37
136 Cole Burbidge LW 6-1/160 26-Aug-05 Canada Saint John (QMJHL) 68-19-31-50
137 Daniil Karpovich D 6-3/210 6-Dec-04 Belarus Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 47-10-25-35
138 Andrei Loshko C 6-1/175 7-Oct-04 Belarus Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 67-22-48-70
139 Beckett Hendrickson C 6-1/175 24-Jun-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 51-13-21-34
140 Alex Pharand C 6-3/205 1-May-05 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 67-18-21-39
141 Zeb Forsfjall C 5-9/170 16-Jan-05 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 34-8-14-22
142 Joe Connor C 5-9/170 31-Mar-05 USA Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT) 28-21-23-44
143 Samuel Urban G 6-1/195 1-May-05 Slovakia Team Slovakia U18 (Svk2) 1-13, 4.51, 0.897
144 Mazden Leslie D 6-0/195 15-Apr-05 Canada Vancouver (WHL) 66-12-38-50
145 Maxim Fedotov D 5-10/170 22-Jan-02 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 64-9-17-26
146 Joey Willis C 5-10/170 14-Mar-05 USA Saginaw (OHL) 68-15-29-44
147 Artyom Kashtanov C 6-6/190 9-Dec-04 Russia Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 43-15-25-40
148 Angus MacDonell C 5-9/180 11-May-05 Canada Sar-Mis (OHL) 64-29-12-41
149 Konstantin Volochko D 6-0/170 19-Jun-05 Belarus Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL) 46-8-12-20
150 Hannes Hellberg LW 6-0/175 19-Jun-05 Sweden Leksands (Swe J20) 42-34-23-57
151 Carsen Musser G 6-4/215 19-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 14-6, 3.07, 0.890
152 Yaroslav Tsulygin D 6-0/160 19-May-05 Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) 44-0-2-2
153 Thomas Milic G 6-0/180 14-Apr-03 Canada Seattle (WHL) 27-3, 2.08, 0.928
154 Arno Tiefensee G 6-4/190 1-May-02 Germany Adler Mannheim (DEL) 13-10, 2.43, 0.910
155 Quinn Mantei D 5-11/180 23-Apr-05 Canada Brandon (WHL) 67-2-23-25
156 Matthew Soto RW 5-10/180 31-Aug-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 54-15-27-42
157 Matt Copponi C 5-10/165 3-Jun-03 USA Merrimack (HE) 37-14-15-29
158 Vojtech Port D 6-2/170 3-Aug-05 Czech RD-Edm (WHL) 48-4-13-17
159 Michael DeAngelo LW 5-11/180 19-Nov-04 USA Green Bay (USHL) 52-11-24-35
160 Matteo Mann D 6-5/225 31-Dec-04 Canada Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 45-0-5-5
161 Paul Fischer D 6-1/190 30-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 55-4-17-21
162 Hudson Malinoski C 6-0/175 19-May-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 44-16-53-69
163 Brad Gardiner C 6-0/180 6-Mar-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 68-19-20-39
164 Zaccharya Wisdom RW 6-0/175 29-Apr-04 Canada Cedar Rapids (USHL) 59-28-20-48
165 Jonathan Castagna C 6-1/185 20-Apr-05 Canada St. Andrew's (CHS-O) 50-29-43-72
166 Tanner Adams RW 5-11/185 2-Sep-05 USA Tri-City (USHL) 49-12-21-33
167 Grayden Siepmann D 5-10/185 26-May-04 Canada Calgary (WHL) 61-9-34-43
168 Axel Hurtig D 6-3/200 10-Jun-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 34-2-6-8
169 Ian Scherzer C 6-0/180 3-Jul-05 Austria Rogle (Swe J20) 30-3-4-7
170 Ryan Conmy RW 5-9/190 23-Oct-04 USA Sioux City (USHL) 60-33-29-62
171 Ethan Hay C 6-1/190 15-Jan-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 64-17-11-28
172 Rodwin Dionicio D 6-2/205 30-Mar-04 Switzerland Nia-Wsr (OHL) 50-15-35-50
173 Josh Van Mulligen D 6-2/180 26-Jul-05 Canada Medicine Hat (WHL) 68-1-8-9
174 Nikita Ishimnikov D 6-3/195 21-Apr-05 Russia Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 41-11-7-18
175 Justin Kipkie D 6-4/190 28-Jul-05 Canada Victoria (WHL) 67-8-25-33
176 Sawyer Mynio D 6-1/175 30-Apr-05 Canada Seattle (WHL) 68-5-26-31
177 Brady Stonehouse RW 5-9/180 6-Aug-04 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 68-37-20-57
178 Hunter Anderson LW 5-9/175 28-Apr-05 USA Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN) 48-52-47-99
179 Spencer Sova D 6-0/185 10-Jan-04 Canada Erie (OHL) 68-16-23-39
180 Oliver Tulk C 5-7/170 19-Jan-05 Canada Calgary (WHL) 68-24-36-60
181 Isac Born C 5-11/165 7-Jul-04 Sweden Frolunda (SHL) 36-2-3-5
182 Beau Jelsma C 5-9/175 28-Apr-04 Canada Barrie (OHL) 67-31-30-61
183 Carmelo Crandell RW 5-11/170 2-Mar-05 Canada Sherwood Park (AJHL) 49-17-37-54
184 Stanislav Yarovoy LW 6-2/195 26-Aug-03 Russia Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL) 45-9-7-16
185 Elliot Stahlberg LW 6-0/185 29-Mar-05 Sweden Farjestads (Swe J20) 35-9-12-21
186 Ivan Anoshko C 5-11/170 7-Oct-04 Belarus Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL) 53-21-32-53
187 Jake Livanavage D 5-10/175 6-May-04 USA Chicago (USHL) 48-6-30-36
188 Adrian Carnebo D 6-2/185 1-May-04 Sweden Djurgardens (Swe J20) 43-7-28-35
189 Jaden Lipinski C 6-3/205 2-Dec-04 USA Vancouver (WHL) 66-19-32-51
190 Ian Blomquist G 6-2/185 29-Mar-03 Sweden Vasteras (HockeyAllsvenskan) 4-11, 2.97, 0.904
191 Emil Pieniniemi D 6-2/170 2-Mar-05 Finland Karpat (Fin-U20) 31-1-12-13
192 Oskar Asplund D 5-11/175 18-Nov-03 Sweden Almtuna (HockeyAllsvenskan) 49-6-24-30
193 Daniil Davydov C 5-11/165 6-Mar-04 Russia MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL) 47-11-35-46
194 Victor Sjoholm D 5-9/175 8-Jul-03 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 37-2-8-10
195 Aron Jessli LW 5-11/185 29-Oct-04 Norway Pickering (OJHL) 52-25-43-68
196 Adam Dybal G 6-1/165 2-Sep-05 Czech Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20) 29-15, 1.85, 0.942
197 Jonathan Fauchon C 5-10/170 13-Jan-04 Canada Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) 53-25-40-65
198 Luke Mittelstadt D 5-11/175 22-Jan-03 USA Minnesota (B1G) 38-5-16-21
199 Owen Beckner C 6-1/175 27-Feb-05 Canada Salmon Arm (BCHL) 53-17-33-50
200 Ilya Kanarsky G 6-2/165 6-Dec-04 Russia AKM-Junior Tula Region (MHL) 4-19, 3.59, 0.919
201 Braeden Bowman RW 6-1/205 26-Jun-03 Canada Guelph (OHL) 54-33-39-72
202 Luke Coughlin D 5-9/170 11-Apr-05 Canada Rimouski (QMJHL) 37-5-14-19
203 Norwin Panocha D 6-1/185 24-Feb-05 Germany Eisbaren Juniors Berlin (DNL U20) 34-6-16-22
204 Cole Brown LW 6-2/180 27-Apr-05 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 60-17-25-42
205 Tomas Suchanek G 6-0/180 30-Apr-03 Czech Tri-City (WHL) 27-14, 3.05, 0.912
206 Vadim Moroz RW 6-2/185 20-Nov-03 Belarus Dinamo Minsk (KHL) 39-5-9-14
207 Davis Burnside RW 5-11/175 22-Sep-03 USA Ohio State (B1G) 40-14-7-21
208 Maros Jedlicka C 6-1/185 23-Oct-02 Slovakia HKM Zvolen (Slovakia) 39-17-18-35
209 Gavyn Thoreson RW 5-8/180 30-Oct-04 USA Andover High (USHS-MN) 31-41-56-97
210 Austin Burnevik RW 6-3/200 3-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 43-6-13-19
211 Elmeri Laakso D 6-1/185 19-Jul-04 Finland SaiPa (Fin-Liiga) 32-4-7-11
212 Frantisek Dej C 6-4/200 28-Feb-05 Slovakia HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2) 24-8-13-21
213 Matvei Maximov C 6-0/175 18-Jan-05 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 48-18-19-37
214 Connor Levis RW 6-1/190 5-Oct-04 Canada Kamloops (WHL) 68-27-40-67
215 Teddy Townsend C 5-10/160 2-Sep-05 USA Eden Prairie (USHS-MN) 27-14-25-39
216 Petter Vesterheim C 5-11/165 30-Sep-04 Norway Mora (Swe J20) 41-12-27-39
217 Justin Gill C 6-1/190 27-Jan-03 Canada Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 68-44-49-93
218 Alex Weiermair C 6-0/190 10-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 55-11-15-26
219 Jan Sprynar RW 6-1/175 26-Feb-05 Czech Rimouski (QMJHL) 60-23-17-40
220 Ty Higgins D 6-0/185 26-Sep-04 Canada Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) 68-13-28-41
221 Tom Leppa C 6-0/175 31-Jul-05 Finland Jokerit (Fin-U20) 45-19-12-31
222 Aaron Pionk D 6-1/175 16-Jan-03 USA Waterloo (USHL) 60-12-24-36
223 Hampton Slukynsky G 6-1/180 2-Jul-05 USA Warroad (USHS-MN) 28-1, 1.47, 0.941
224 Noah Erliden G 5-10/170 9-Sep-05 Sweden HV71 (Swe J20) 10-8, 2.93, 0.912
HM Matthew Andonovski D 6-1/200 14-Mar-05 Canada Kitchener (OHL) 67-0-16-16
HM Gleb Artsatbanov G 6-2/170 2-Mar-04 Ukraine Sparta Praha (Czechia U20) 13-10, 1.95, 0.938
HM Cale Ashcroft D 5-10/200 5-Aug-04 Canada Tri-City (USHL) 62-8-29-37
HM Alex Assadourian LW 5-8/170 24-Jul-05 Canada Sby-Nia (OHL) 66-12-29-41
HM Arvid Bergstrom D 5-11/160 12-Jun-05 Sweden Djurgardens (Swe J20) 41-2-21-23
HM Kevin Bicker LW 6-0/175 29-Jan-05 Germany Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20) 20-10-11-21
HM Philippe Blais-Savoie D 6-0/185 10-Jun-05 USA Tri-City (USHL) 61-2-9-11
HM Linus Brandl C 5-11/185 1-Apr-05 Germany Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20) 32-25-22-47
HM Finn Brink LW 5-9/180 6-Apr-05 USA Maple Grove (USHS-MN) 31-31-38-69
HM Yaroslav Busygin D 6-3/185 14-Feb-03 Russia Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL) 42-1-2-3
HM Kalle Carlsson C 6-0/175 2-Mar-05 Sweden Orebro (Swe J20) 44-11-24-35
HM Adam Cedzo RW 5-10/165 23-Feb-05 Slovakia HC Ocelari Trinec (Czechia U20) 39-23-23-46
HM Aiden Celebrini D 6-1/185 26-Oct-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 47-5-16-21
HM Andon Cerbone C 5-8/150 13-Apr-04 USA Oma-Yng (USHL) 64-24-39-63
HM Chase Cheslock D 6-3/210 25-Oct-04 USA Rogers High (USHS-MN) 28-4-27-31
HM Sam Court D 5-10/180 7-Jan-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 52-13-59-72
HM Adam Csabi LW 5-10/160 17-Feb-05 Czech SaiPa (Fin-U18) 28-16-15-31
HM Nathaniel Davis D 6-1/185 15-Nov-04 Canada Burlington (OJHL) 45-10-26-36
HM Nathan Day G 6-2/180 4-Feb-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 17-10, 3.91, 0.874
HM Kocha Delic C 5-10/185 11-Mar-04 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 46-22-30-52
HM Tyler Duke D 5-8/180 19-Jul-04 USA Ohio State (B1G) 40-4-8-12
HM Filip Eriksson C 6-0/170 5-Nov-04 Sweden Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20) 11-5-5-10
HM Jiri Felcman C 6-4/190 17-Apr-05 Czech Langnau U20 (Sui-U20-Elit) 40-10-21-31
HM Samuel Fiala C 6-1/170 9-Apr-05 Czech Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia U20) 44-19-9-28
HM Mans Forsfjall D 6-0/180 30-Jul-02 Sweden Skelleftea (SHL) 52-2-12-14
HM Cooper Foster C 5-11/170 4-Jun-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 63-19-17-36
HM Salvatore Guzzo RW 6-0/185 17-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 58-17-11-28
HM Michael Hagens D 5-11/170 18-Feb-05 USA Chicago (USHL) 60-9-17-26
HM Sam Harris LW 5-11/190 14-Oct-03 USA Sioux Falls (USHL) 56-30-26-56
HM Jack Harvey C 5-10/175 31-Mar-03 USA Chicago (USHL) 62-40-34-74
HM Bogdans Hodass D 6-2/200 13-Apr-03 Latvia Medicine Hat (WHL) 56-11-24-35
HM Ryan Hopkins D 6-1/180 15-Apr-04 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 48-10-39-49
HM Ewan Huet G 6-0/170 8-Feb-05 Switzerland Lausanne (Sui U20-Elit) 14-12, 2.73  
HM Gustaf Kangas C 6-0/175 27-Jul-05 Sweden Vasteras (Swe J20) 27-7-13-20
HM Sean Keohane D 6-3/180 4-Nov-04 USA Dexter Southfield(USHS-MA) 32-4-12-16
HM Oiva Keskinen C 6-0/175 28-Feb-04 Finland Tappara (Fin-U20) 38-20-21-41
HM Ruslan Khazheyev G 6-4/200 20-Nov-04 Russia Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) 8-8, 2.38, 0.923
HM Matteo Koci D 6-0/165 7-Jun-05 Czech HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20) 36-7-13-20
HM Ryan Koering D 6-3/185 11-Feb-05 USA Eden Prairie (USHS-MN) 27-6-10-16
HM Cameron Korpi G 6-2/150 26-May-04 USA Tri-City (USHL) 13-4, 2.52, 0.911
HM Sergei Kosovets D 6-5/250 17-Jul-02 Russia HK Sochi (KHL) 26-2-2-4
HM Artyom Kudashov D 6-0/160 10-Jan-05 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 42-2-7-9
HM Roman Kukumberg LW 6-0/185 21-Mar-05 Slovakia HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2) 33-5-6-11
HM Emil Kuusla LW 5-9/165 11-Jan-05 Finland Jokerit (Fin-U20) 36-18-17-35
HM Jani Lampinen G 6-2/185 14-Feb-03 Finland Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-Mestis) 15-6, 2.35, 0.902
HM Charles-Alexis Legault D 6-3/205 5-Sep-03 Canada Quinnipiac (ECAC) 40-2-7-9
HM Aiden Long LW 6-3/190 13-Mar-05 Canada Whitecourt (AJHL) 50-19-27-46
HM Connor MacPherson RW 6-0/170 2-Mar-05 Canada Leamington (GOJHL) 43-28-35-63
HM Matthew Mayich D 6-2/185 21-Dec-04 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 64-5-17-22
HM Donovan McCoy D 6-0/200 11-Oct-04 Canada Peterborough (OHL) 65-2-11-13
HM Cole Miller C 6-4/175 4-Feb-05 Canada Edmonton (WHL) 61-10-9-19
HM Lucas Moore D 5-9/180 7-Jun-05 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 65-3-25-28
HM Josh Nadeau RW 5-7/145 22-Oct-03 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 54-44-66-110
HM Alexei Noskov G 6-2/205 13-Nov-04 Russia Taifun Primorsky Krai (MHL) 7-26, 3.86, 0.905
HM Owen Outwater LW 6-2/160 4-Jan-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 62-16-25-41
HM Joe Palodichuk D 6-0/165 26-Feb-03 USA Fargo (USHL) 44-8-21-29
HM Petr Pavelec LW 6-0/200 10-Feb-05 Czech HC Vitkovice (Czechia U20) 46-8-5-13
HM Oliver Peer RW 6-0/165 9-Mar-03 Canada Windsor (OHL) 63-22-45-67
HM Chris Pelosi C 6-1/180 6-Mar-05 USA Sioux Falls (USHL) 43-13-6-19
HM Matthew Perkins LW 5-11/175 21-Jan-04 Canada Youngstown (USHL) 60-15-29-44
HM Nico Pertuch G 6-2/200 29-Jul-05 Germany EV Landshut (DNL U20) 15GP, 3.57  
HM Dominik Petr C 6-2/165 30-Apr-05 Czech Lukko (Fin-U20) 18-1-0-1
HM Chase Pietila D 6-1/180 3-Mar-04 USA Youngstown (USHL) 60-7-29-36
HM Chase Pirtle RW 6-2/185 8-Mar-05 USA Mount St. Charles 18U AAA (USHS-RI) 47-20-24-44
HM Benjamin Poitras C 5-10/175 18-Jul-05 Canada Sioux City (USHL) 61-14-24-38
HM Connor Punnett D 6-1/200 16-Jun-03 Canada Barrie (OHL) 66-14-34-48
HM Ivan Remezovsky D 6-1/165 8-Feb-05 Russia SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) 45-0-13-13
HM Charlie Robertson G 6-3/165 2-Apr-05 Canada North Bay (OHL) 12-6, 3.17, 0.892
HM Pier-Olivier Roy D 5-9/175 5-Mar-04 Canada Victoriaville (QMJHL) 68-6-62-68
HM Rainers Rullers C 6-4/195 11-Dec-04 Latvia Zemgale (Fin-Mestis) 46-4-6-10
HM Bennett Schimek RW 5-11/180 15-Apr-03 USA Providence (HE) 37-11-9-20
HM Zach Schulz D 6-1/195 14-Jun-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 51-1-9-10
HM Magomed Sharakanov D 6-1/200 11-Oct-04 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 44-7-25-32
HM Cam Squires RW 5-11/165 11-Apr-05 Canada Cape Breton (QMJHL) 67-30-34-64
HM Julius Sumpf C 6-1/175 11-Jan-05 Germany RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL) 23-9-9-18
HM Alexander Suvorov RW 5-9/160 30-Nov-02 Belarus Severstal Cherepovets (KHL) 47-13-11-24
HM Gabriel Szturc C 5-11/185 24-Sep-03 Czech Kelowna (WHL) 56-24-55-79
HM Nikita Telegin C 6-1/155 21-Jun-05 Russia Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) 22-6-4-10
HM Patrick Thomas C 5-11/160 21-Aug-04 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 66-17-39-56
HM Hudson Thornton D 5-11/180 4-Nov-03 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-23-51-74
HM Jiri Tichacek D 5-9/170 30-Jan-03 Czech Rytiri Kladno (Czechia) 39-0-6-6
HM Djibril Toure D 6-6/200 5-Jun-03 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 57-5-11-16
HM Tuomas Uronen RW 5-11/180 19-Mar-05 Finland HIFK (Fin-U20) 39-20-23-43
HM Noa Vali G 6-0/160 19-Apr-05 Finland TPS (Fin-U20) 17-8, 2.38, 0.912
HM Nicholas Vantassell RW 6-4/195 18-Apr-04 USA Green Bay (USHL) 62-19-18-37
HM Visa Vedenpaa G 6-2/170 11-May-05 Finland Karpat (Fin-U20) 31GP, 0.886
HM Evgeny Volokhin G 6-3/170 6-Apr-05 Russia Mamonty Yugry (MHL) 20-6, 2.12, 0.927
HM Declan Waddick C 5-10/170 24-Jan-05 Canada Niagara (OHL) 64-28-21-49
HM Saige Weinstein D 6-0/180 30-May-05 Canada Spokane (WHL) 57-4-14-18
HM Ethan Whitcomb LW 6-4/190 13-May-04 Canada Muskegon (USHL) 53-24-24-48
HM Raul Yakupov RW 6-1/180 21-Jun-04 Russia Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (MHL) 49-32-29-61
]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/feed/ 0
2023 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 RANKING (SUBSCRIBERS) https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-draft-mckeens-mid-season-top-100-ranking/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-draft-mckeens-mid-season-top-100-ranking/#respond Tue, 31 Jan 2023 18:05:54 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=180131 Read More... from 2023 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 RANKING (SUBSCRIBERS)

]]>
Connor Bedard. Photo by Candice Ward.

Many important scouting events have come and gone, such as the World Junior Championships, the World Junior A Challenge, the Biosteel All American game, and the CHL Top Prospect’s Game. That means it is time for McKeen’s Hockey to update our draft rankings for the 2023 NHL draft. Back in November, we released our preliminary top 50 (found here). This time around, we have expanded our ranking to a top 100 (plus 20 honorable mentions).

The first round of this list continues to be dominated by the Western Hockey League. Four of our top ten and nine of our top 32 (first round graded) are WHL players. The United States has a very strong presence in our first round ranking too, with eight players playing south of the Canadian border.

Positionally, forwards continue to dominate the vast majority of our first-round spots, with only six defenders and two goaltenders bucking that trend. Of particular interest, we do not have a defender ranked inside of our Top 13. Is it possible that no defender is drafted inside of the top 10 in Nashville this June? According to our scouts…yes. However, it is also important to note that this is exceptionally rare. The last time no defender was taken inside of the Top 10 was 1983 (Bobby Dollas at 14th overall to Winnipeg)!

Several players made huge leaps upward in our midseason rankings. Among them are Ryan Leonard, Oliver Moore, Dmitri Simashev, Oliver Bonk, David Reinbacher, and Quentin Musty. Leonard is a strong two-way goal scoring winger with an athletic skill set. Oliver Moore is one of the best skating forwards available this year and also plays a mature two-way game. Both have stood out positively of late for the U.S. NTDP. Dmitri Simashev is a massive defender who brings physicality and mobility, but who is also gaining confidence in his offensive abilities. Oliver Bonk has emerged as one of the top defensive defenders in the OHL; a fact that was on display at this year’s Top Prospect’s Game. David Reinbacher continues to perform well in Switzerland and was a standout for an overmatched Austrian squad at the WJC’s. All three defenders are surging up our rankings and could finish the year even higher with continued strong play. Meanwhile, Quentin Musty has played very well in Sudbury post coaching change and his upside remains extremely intriguing.

Without further ado, here is our Top 100 (with 20 honorable mentions):

RANK PLAYER POS TEAM HT/WT DOB GP-G-A-PTS
1 Connor Bedard C Regina (WHL) 5-10/185 17-Jul-05 34-42-43-85
2 Adam Fantilli C Michigan (B1G) 6-2/195 12-Oct-04 22-16-24-40
3 Leo Carlsson C Orebro (SHL) 6-3/200 26-Dec-04 31-5-13-18
4 Matvei Michkov RW HK Sochi (KHL) 5-10/170 9-Dec-04 14-4-2-6
5 Will Smith C USN U18 (USDP) 6-0/175 17-Mar-05 36-28-41-69
6 Andrew Cristall LW Kelowna (WHL) 5-9/165 4-Feb-05 36-26-36-62
7 Zach Benson LW Winnipeg (WHL) 5-9/160 12-May-05 41-25-41-66
8 Nate Danielson C Brandon (WHL) 6-1/185 27-Sep-04 45-23-33-56
9 Eduard Sale LW Kometa Brno (Cze) 6-2/175 10-Mar-05 34-3-5-8
10 Dalibor Dvorsky C AIK (Allsvenskan) 6-1/200 15-Jun-05 27-4-7-11
11 Ryan Leonard RW USN U18 (USDP) 5-11/190 21-Jan-05 34-25-27-52
12 Oliver Moore C USN U18 (USDP) 5-11/185 22-Jan-05 37-21-26-47
13 Brayden Yager C Moose Jaw (WHL) 5-11/165 3-Jan-05 48-20-35-55
14 Dmitri Simashev D Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) 6-4/200 4-Feb-05 15-0-0-0
15 Colby Barlow LW Owen Sound (OHL) 6-0/195 14-Feb-05 42-36-27-63
16 Lukas Dragicevic D Tri-City (WHL) 6-1/190 25-Apr-05 44-13-42-55
17 Axel Sandin Pellikka D Skelleftea (SHL) 5-11/180 11-Mar-05 19-2-3-5
18 Mikhail Gulyayev D Avangard Omsk (KHL) 5-11/170 26-Apr-05 12-0-1-1
19 Daniil But LW Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) 6-5/200 15-Feb-05 12-1-0-1
20 Carson Bjarnason G Brandon (WHL) 6-3/185 30-Jun-05 17-14-2, 2.90, .911
21 Calum Ritchie C Oshawa (OHL) 6-2/185 21-Jan-05 43-19-25-44
22 Gavin Brindley C Michigan (B1G) 5-8/165 5-Oct-04 26-3-14-17
23 Gabe Perreault RW USN U18 (USDP) 5-11/165 7-May-05 39-35-41-76
24 Matthew Wood RW UConn (HE) 6-3/195 6-Feb-05 27-9-16-25
25 Riley Heidt C Prince George (WHL) 5-10/180 25-Mar-05 44-19-41-60
26 David Reinbacher D Kloten (Sui-NL) 6-2/185 25-Oct-04 36-2-17-19
27 Caden Price D Kelowna (WHL) 6-0/185 24-Aug-05 44-5-19-24
28 Ethan Gauthier RW Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 5-11/175 26-Jan-05 45-17-32-49
29 Quentin Musty LW Sudbury (OHL) 6-2/200 6-Jul-05 32-12-36-48
30 Kasper Halttunen LW HIFK (Fin-Liiga) 6-3/205 7-Jun-05 24-0-1-1
31 Otto Stenberg C Frolunda (Swe J20) 5-11/180 29-May-05 23-8-12-20
32 Michael Hrabal G Omaha (USHL) 6-6/210 20-Jan-05 6-9-3, 3.18, .899
33 Samuel Honzek LW Vancouver (WHL) 6-3/185 12-Nov-04 31-17-26-43
34 Jayden Perron RW Chicago (USHL) 5-9/165 11-Jan-05 37-16-18-34
35 Carson Rehkopf LW Kitchener (OHL) 6-1/195 7-Jan-05 42-19-18-37
36 Roman Kantserov RW Stalnye Lisy (MHL) 5-9/175 20-Sep-04 38-21-22-43
37 Oliver Bonk D London (OHL) 6-2/175 9-Jan-05 43-9-19-28
38 Beau Akey D Barrie (OHL) 5-11/170 11-Feb-05 42-7-29-36
39 Timur Mukhanov C Omskie Krylia (VHL) 5-8/170 17-Jun-05 28-3-4-7
40 Koehn Ziemmer RW Prince George (WHL) 6-0/205 8-Dec-04 44-26-36-62
41 Bradly Nadeau LW Penticton (BCHL) 5-10/165 5-May-05 37-31-42-73
42 Tom Willander D Rogle (Swe J20) 6-1/180 9-Feb-05 30-4-15-19
43 Luca Pinelli C Ottawa (OHL) 5-8/165 5-Apr-05 44-20-27-47
44 William Whitelaw RW Youngstown (USHL) 5-9/170 5-Feb-05 35-20-15-35
45 Trey Augustine G USN U18 (USDP) 6-1/185 23-Feb-05 14-0-2, 2.29, .925
46 Theo Lindstein D Brynas (SHL) 6-0/180 5-Jan-05 19-1-1-2
47 Mathieu Cataford C Halifax (QMJHL) 5-11/185 1-Mar-05 45-22-31-53
48 Charlie Stramel C Wisconsin (B1G) 6-3/215 15-Oct-04 23-5-4-9
49 Kaden Hammell D Kam-Evt (WHL) 6-1/175 12-Mar-05 45-6-10-16
50 Alexander Rykov RW Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL) 5-11/170 14-Jul-05 20-4-7-11
51 Maxim Strbak D Sioux Falls (USHL) 6-1/205 13-Apr-05 29-5-10-15
52 Tanner Molendyk D Saskatoon (WHL) 5-11/185 3-Feb-05 43-6-19-25
53 Anton Wahlberg C Malmo (Swe J20) 6-3/195 4-Jul-05 32-14-13-27
54 Carey Terrance C Erie (OHL) 6-0/175 10-May-05 43-20-11-31
55 Cam Allen D Guelph (OHL) 6-0/195 7-Jan-05 39-4-15-19
56 Tyler Peddle LW Drummondville (QMJHL) 6-0/195 28-Jan-05 45-18-13-31
57 Gracyn Sawchyn C Seattle (WHL) 5-11/160 19-Jan-05 43-15-32-47
58 Jesse Nurmi LW KooKoo (Fin-U20) 5-10/165 7-Mar-05 35-19-27-46
59 Carter Sotheran D Portland (WHL) 6-3/195 26-Jun-05 45-3-16-19
60 Nikita Susuyev RW MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL) 6-0/170 6-Feb-05 34-9-16-25
61 Aram Minnetian D USN U18 (USDP) 5-11/190 19-Mar-05 38-5-18-23
62 Arttu Karki D Tappara (Fin-U20) 6-1/175 8-Dec-04 30-12-22-34
63 Noah Dower Nilsson LW Frolunda (Swe J20) 6-0/175 25-Apr-05 26-24-21-45
64 Scott Ratzlaff G Seattle (WHL) 6-0/175 9-Mar-05 17-5-0, 2.26, .917
65 Andrew Strathmann D Youngstown (USHL) 5-10/190 27-Feb-05 29-2-23-25
66 Kalan Lind LW Red Deer (WHL) 6-0/160 25-Jan-05 41-15-27-42
67 Jesse Kiiskinen RW Pelicans (Fin-U20) 5-11/180 23-Aug-05 27-17-21-38
68 Etienne Morin D Moncton (QMJHL) 6-0/180 9-Mar-05 43-15-31-46
69 Coulson Pitre RW Flint (OHL) 6-0/170 13-Dec-04 41-19-22-41
70 Felix Nilsson C Rogle (Swe J20) 6-0/176 22-Jun-05 26-16-17-33
71 Hunter Brzustewicz D Kitchener (OHL) 5-11/185 29-Nov-04 42-3-30-33
72 Jakub Dvorak D Bili Tygri Liberec (Cze) 6-5/205 25-May-05 24-0-2-2
73 Andrew Gibson D Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 6-3/195 13-Feb-05 38-7-11-18
74 Ondrej Molnar LW Erie (OHL) 5-10/170 8-Feb-05 16-2-7-9
75 Martin Misiak RW Nove Zamky (Svk) 6-2/195 30-Sep-04 29-1-9-10
76 Luca Cagnoni D Portland (WHL) 5-9/180 21-Dec-04 44-12-34-46
77 Lenni Hameenaho RW Assat (Fin-Liiga) 6-0/175 7-Nov-04 35-5-10-15
78 Alex Ciernik LW Sodertalje (Swe J20) 5-11/175 8-Oct-04 11-7-7-14
79 Denver Barkey C London (OHL) 5-8/160 27-Apr-05 43-12-28-40
80 Oliver Tulk C Calgary (WHL) 5-7/170 19-Jan-05 46-19-22-41
81 Oscar Fisker Molgaard C HV 71 (SHL) 6-0/165 18-Feb-05 28-4-1-5
82 Matthew Mania D Sudbury (OHL) 6-1/180 11-Jan-05 43-7-18-25
83 Gavin McCarthy D Muskegon (USHL) 6-1/180 2-Jun-05 20-4-14-18
84 Noel Nordh RW Brynas (SHL) 6-3/195 25-Jan-05 10-1-0-1
85 Jacob Fowler G Youngstown (USHL) 6-1/215 24-Nov-04 13-6-3, 2.63, .914
86 Aydar Suniev LW Penticton (BCHL) 6-1/200 16-Nov-04 33-26-31-57
87 Emil Jarventie LW Ilves (Fin-U20) 5-9/165 4-Apr-05 21-8-11-19
88 Danny Nelson C USN U18 (USDP) 6-3/200 3-Aug-05 38-12-16-28
89 Yegor Klimovich RW Sibirskie Snaipery (MHL) 5-9/160 14-May-05 28-9-21-30
90 Adam Gajan G Green Bay (USHL) 6-2/165 6-May-04 5-1-0, 2.48, .906
91 Quinton Burns D Kingston (OHL) 6-1/180 14-Apr-05 36-1-20-21
92 Grayden Siepmann D Calgary (WHL) 5-10/185 26-May-04 45-8-27-35
93 Yegor Zavragin G Mamonty Yugry (MHL) 6-2/185 23-Aug-05 9-6-1, 2.55, .919
94 Owen Beckner C Salmon Arm (BCHL) 6-1/175 27-Feb-05 36-12-21-33
95 Aiden Fink RW Brooks (AJHL) 5-9/155 24-Nov-04 43-30-50-80
96 Matthew Soto RW Kingston (OHL) 5-10/180 31-Aug-05 44-13-22-35
97 Eric Pohlkamp D Cedar Rapids (USHL) 5-10/200 23-Mar-04 31-12-20-32
98 Nick Lardis LW Pbo-Ham (OHL) 5-10/165 8-Jul-05 41-21-16-35
99 Jayson Shaugabay RW Warroad (USHS-MN) 5-9/155 4-May-05 18-22-39-61
100 Brad Gardiner C Ottawa (OHL) 6-0/180 6-Mar-05 45-17-11-28
HM Ethan Miedema LW Wsr-Kgn (OHL) 6-4/205 22-Mar-05 45-12-22-35
HM Brady Cleveland D USN U18 (USDP) 6-5/210 1-Apr-05 34-0-5-5
HM Joey Willis C Saginaw (OHL) 5-10/170 14-Mar-05 44-9-17-26
HM Juraj Pekarcik LW Nitra (Svk) 6-1/185 12-Sep-05 26-0-3-3
HM Spencer Sova D Erie (OHL) 6-0/185 10-Jan-04 44-14-17-31
HM Zeb Forsfjall C Skelleftea (SHL) 5-9/170 16-Jan-05 10-1-0-1
HM Kalle Carlsson C Orebro (Swe J20) 6-0/175 2-Mar-05 34-6-21-27
HM David Edstrom C Frolunda (Swe J20) 6-3/185 18-Feb-05 22-10-12-22
HM Felix Unger Sorum RW Leksands (Swe J20) 5-11/170 14-Sep-05 32-9-30-39
HM Alex Pharand C Sudbury (OHL) 6-3/205 1-May-05 44-16-14-30
HM Tuomas Uronen RW HIFK (Fin-U20) 5-11/180 19-Mar-05 31-13-19-32
HM Tanner Adams RW Tri-City (USHL) 5-11/185 2-Sep-05 27-8-10-18
HM Mazden Leslie D Vancouver (WHL) 6-0/195 15-Apr-05 45-8-25-33
HM Juha Jatkola G KalPa (Fin-Liiga) 6-1/175 12-Sep-02 16-10-6, 2.14, .909
HM Connor Levis RW Kamloops (WHL) 6-1/190 5-Oct-04 43-11-25-36
HM Owen Outwater LW Kingston (OHL) 6-2/160 4-Jan-05 39-10-18-28
HM Easton Cowan RW London (OHL) 5-10/170 20-May-05 44-12-17-29
HM Rasmus Kumpulainen C Pelicans (Fin-U20) 6-2/190 8-Aug-05 36-11-20-31
HM Emil Pieniniemi D Karpat (Fin-U20) 6-2/170 2-Mar-05 26-0-10-10
HM Austin Roest C Everett (WHL) 5-9/175 22-Jan-04 46-26-35-61
]]>
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-draft-mckeens-mid-season-top-100-ranking/feed/ 0