Zack Ostapchuk – McKeen's Hockey

AHL: Early Season Favourites – AHL – Ostapchuk, Tuch, Johnson & Webber

Michael Moroz — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:00:48 +0000

Time for another series at McKeen’s from our scouting staff. The 2024-25 season is well underway and our scouts have been busy soaking in the action around the globe. Our scouts have also been paying close attention to already-drafted and free-agent-signed prospects playing in the AHL. Analyzing early season play can be difficult; perhaps even a bit of a ruse. Hot starts aren’t always sustainable and cold starts are not always indicative. However, players can still catch our attention in positive ways and that’s what this series intends to highlight.

Michael Moroz - AHL Atlantic Division & AHL North Division Regional Scout

Zack Ostapchuk - Center/Left Wing - Belleville Senators

6’4, 212lbs - 2003-05-29

Ottawa Senators fans haven’t had too many reasons to feel excited about their team’s selections at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Tyler Boucher, their first-round pick, has struggled to gain traction in both the junior and pro games. Benjamin Roger, one of their second-round picks, was not signed by the team and is currently playing Canadian university hockey. Oliver Johansson, Carson Latimer, and Chandler Romeo haven’t necessarily panned out, either. This leaves Zack Ostapchuk, the earlier of their second-round picks, as the last hope for Senators fans to have some sort of material gain from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and by all accounts, it looks like Ostapchuk will develop into an effective NHL player.

Ostapchuk’s game is built on his defensive acumen, physicality, and an unrelenting willingness to go to the hard areas. At approximately 6 '4 and 212 lbs, he also has the size and strength to win positioning and puck battles in tight areas, and he’s unafraid to hold other players accountable by dropping the gloves. Questions still remain regarding Ostapchuk’s offensive ceiling, but he should be able to play, at the minimum, in the NHL for 10+ years as a bottom-six forward who kills penalties. The Senators’ top brass appears to see this too. Ostapchuk started the year in Belleville, and got off to a hot start, tallying five points in six games. He was recently recalled by the Senators and has been effective in a third/fourth line role, and it looks like he’s going to have a chance to spend significant time in the NHL this season. You can be excited, Senators fans - there’s a player here!

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He’s a clip of Ostapchuk using his offensive awareness to position himself in the slot to deflect a pass from Tyler Kleven, which results in a goal. Notice how he’s got his stick on the ice in anticipation of the pass - he can read the play before it happens.

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This is a clip of Ostapchuk where he comes into the offensive zone as a well-positioned F3, ready for a pass. Cole Reinhardt makes a quick pass out from behind the net to Ostapchuk, who uses a strong half-slapshot to hammer it home.

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Finally, here’s a clip of Ostapchuk’s solid defensive game. He tracks back and covers for his defenceman, intercepting a Marlies' pass by using his well-positioned stick. He finishes the play by making a hit in the corner on Marlies’ forward Robert Mastrosimone.

Luke Tuch - Left Wing - Laval Rocket

6’2, 215lbs - 2002-03-07

Luke Tuch, the younger brother of Buffalo Sabres’ forward Alex Tuch, has followed a slower yet steady development path to get to where he is today. After being selected out of the USNTDP in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, Tuch embarked on a solid four-year collegiate career at Boston University. Although points were never in abundance for Tuch at BU, he could be counted on as a nightly contributor with his unrelenting hard-nosed attitude and power-forward style game. There were some concerns among Canadiens’ fans that Tuch would forgo signing with the team in favour of free agency, but these concerns have been quashed. Tuch is playing with the Laval Rocket and looks to be on track to earn NHL time with the Canadiens as early as this season.

If you have been paying close attention to my work, you may notice that I place strong value on hard-nosed players who are willing to compete at both ends of the ice. Skill has been in abundance in the NHL, both throughout the regular season and the playoffs, but the game specifically changes in the playoffs. During the playoffs, players are forced to increase their level of play, while also being counted on to make plays in a very physical game with limited time and space. But why does all of this context matter in the case of Tuch? Well - Tuch is the perfect player for the playoffs. He plays well at both ends of the ice, is unafraid to make a hit or block a shot, has a quick and accurate release, and most importantly - he competes. In a world with NHL GMs battling for every little edge over one another, Tuch looks to be the type of player who can eventually provide one in the playoffs for the Canadiens.

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Here’s a clip of Tuch, number 17 in white, making a quick pass off the wall and going straight to the net. By going straight to the net, Tuch positions himself quite well to grab the loose puck after it was blocked by the Syracuse defender. Tuch then makes a nice spinorama shot and gets an assist on Laval’s goal.

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This is a clip from an NHL preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tuch grabs the puck and bursts into the Leafs’ zone, driving wide and shielding the puck from Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a recent Stanley Cup champion and very capable NHL defenceman. Tuch gets the shot off, but it’s Tuch’s shielding that’s the most impressive here.

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Here’s a short clip from Tuch with Boston University. Immediately right off the faceoff, Tuch goes straight to the point to block a shot in a close game against the University of Maine. Tuch knows the game situation and is willing to put his body on the line to help his team win.

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Again, right from the faceoff - Tuch skates to the point to block a University of Vermont defenceman’s shot.

Ryan Johnson - Defence - Rochester Americans

6’1, 195lbs - 2001-07-24

Johnson was a very under-the-radar prospect heading into his draft season with the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL. With Sioux Falls, however, Johnson emerged - and ultimately played a huge role on a Clark Cup-winning team. Rapidly rising in the minds of managers and scouts alike, Johnson was selected in the first round at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. After the draft, Johnson went on to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota for coach Bob Motzko and compiled a very strong four-year career, narrowly losing the national championship game to Quinnipiac University in 2023. Johnson seemingly did it all during his college career, and carried over his collegiate success by having a strong first pro season in 2023/2024, split between the Rochester Americans and the Buffalo Sabres. Now back in the AHL, Johnson is eager to prove he belongs as a full-time player in the NHL.

Johnson’s game is all about his skating and his hockey awareness. A fluid and almost effortless skater, Johnson’s speed and edgework are truly phenomenal to watch. His skating almost never puts him out of position, and when he has the puck, he can use his sound edgework to pivot and make plays under pressure. Johnson also knows when he can jump down the wall in the offensive zone or join the rush from the neutral zone, which makes him a very calculating yet opportunistic player. Questions remain about whether he is particularly dynamic offensively, but it’s not hard to envision that Johnson could be a top-four minute munching defenceman who plays in all situations. The Sabres have a bunch of young defencemen, so time will tell whether Johnson ultimately gets the opportunity to play heavy minutes in Buffalo, but I don’t think anybody doubts that he can play.

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Here’s a clip of Johnson’s evasiveness and edgework in motion. He gets a pass in the offensive zone and makes a quick fake before releasing a shot from the point on the net.

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Another highlight of Johnson’s game is his low-sailing slapshot that he can release quickly and accurately. The shot doesn’t go in, but these are the types of shots coaches require from NHL defencemen.

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This is a clip of Johnson’s skating ability and attack attitude in motion. Johnson skates down the wall before cutting to the net to release a quick backhand shot. His quick bursts of speed are almost effortless.

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Finally, here’s Johnson’s deceptive release which almost stuns the Marlies’ goalie. Johnson gets an assist on this play, as the rebound is put in by a Rochester Americans’ forward.

Cade Webber - Defence - Toronto Marlies

6’7, 212lbs - 2001-01-05

Throughout Webber’s time in prep school, junior, and college, patience has been key. Webber certainly had the physical tools to get a jumpstart on multiple levels of hockey during his career, but it has been the extended time at each level (apart from his one season in the BCHL with the Penticton Vees) that has really enabled Webber to develop his game. Webber was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and played four seasons of college hockey at Boston University. Webber’s rights were traded from Carolina to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, and he signed following the conclusion of his college career. While he was at BU, Webber never tallied more than 6 points in a single season - and yes, these statistical trends usually do not indicate a hopeful NHL player. With all that being said, Webber is more than points on a scoresheet. As a defender, you must defend; it’s in the name of the position. Webber can certainly defend, and it looks like he’s proved some of his critics wrong to start the season in the AHL.

The hallmark of Webber’s game is his ability to use his size and strength to defend. At 6 ‘7 and 212 lbs, Webber can use his size to engage in net-front battles with any size or strength of competition. He’s almost impossible to move, and his strong stick lets him prevent plays from happening before they begin. At times he can also be just straight-up mean, and he’s always willing to lay a hit in the corners on opposing forwards. I’m not sure if Webber will make the NHL, and if he does it may only be in a bottom pair or seventh defenceman role, but I think Webber has a chance. He will need a lot of time in the AHL, but as of today, it appears Webber is on the right track.

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Here’s a clip of Webber angling Alex DeBrincat during the NHL preseason. He keeps him to the outside and uses his long reach and excellent stick positioning to prevent DeBrincat from shooting at the Leafs’ goalie. Webber finishes the play by making a hit on DeBrincat in the corner.

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This is a clip of Webber cradling a pass before releasing a shot on the net. The clip is nothing special but shows that Webber has decent puck skills for his size and that he can make simple plays in the offensive zone.

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Finally, here’s Webber jumping into the play during his time at Boston University. He calls for and receives a pass before releasing a quick backhand in-tight against Northeastern University. Not bad for a big man!

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – OTTAWA SENATORS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #24

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:00:03 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 24th (Previous Rank - 24th)
GM: Steve Staois Hired: December 2023
COACH: Travis Green Hired: May 2024

The Ottawa Senators remain steady, holding onto their 24th spot in our McKeen’s prospect rankings. While a position in the bottom half is far from ideal, the good news is that they boast a youthful core already making an impact with the big club. With several rising stars on the team, including Tim Stützle (22 years old), Jake Sanderson (21), Brady Tkachuk (24), Drake Batherson (26), Josh Norris (25), Shane Pinto (23), Thomas Chabot (27) and Ridly Greig (23) all flirting with their primes, it feels like a breakout is long overdue.

To bolster this already sound foundation, the Senators added Carter Yakemchuk–McKeen’s 26th-ranked prospect–with their seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Yakemchuk brings potential top four upside on the blue line, comfortably keeping the organization afloat in our rankings. Furthermore, the addition of Xavier Bourgault (135th)–via a Roby Jarventie trade–adds an element of hopeful scoring prowess, though Bourgault has struggled to replicate his offensive success at the pro level. GM Steve Staios is banking on the development staff to push Bourgault toward reaching that potential he was once handed when drafted 21st overall in 2021.

High hopes also surround 2023 second-rounder Zack Ostapchuk (163rd), who recently completed his rookie pro campaign in Belleville. While his 28 points in 71 games weren't earth-shattering, his versatile two-way game could make him a valuable candidate for bottom-six minutes on an offensively gifted Senators team.

In the crease, Mads Søgaard (115th) and Leevi Meriläinen (196th) anchor the team’s goaltending depth in the farm. However, the recent addition of Linus Ullmark complicates either goaltender’s path to securing an NHL backup role in the short term.

Despite lofty expectations, the Senators failed to meet their potential in 2023-24. Having leveraged quite a few draft picks—selecting twice in the first three rounds over the last two drafts—the margin for error is slim. The time is now for this core to succeed, and the team’s future draft capital may continue to pay the price to reach that goal.

Ottawa Senators Top-15 Prospects

1. Carter Yakemchuk

Yakemchuk, a big, right shot defender with two-way upside, was the 7th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft out of Calgary (WHL). Given his late 2005 birth year, Yakemchuk is already more physically advanced than the majority of the players selected this past year and that means he may be very close to NHL ready. His skating has already improved a lot in the last calendar year and that’s had a profound impact on his offensive production. A skilled powerplay quarterback, Yakemchuk has an absolute bomb from the point and should be able to continue to run a powerplay at the higher levels. Defensively, Yakemchuk is a physical throwback to yesteryears. He loves to play through the opposition and relishes the opportunity to throw his weight around. The big concern for Yakemchuk is how well does he think the game? Can he improve his puck management and the consistency of his defensive reads? He should return to the WHL this season and he will once again be one of the top defenders in the league.

2. Mads Sogaard

The big Danish netminder is about to hit a crossroads in his pro career. After splitting two years ago between the NHL and the AHL, Sogaard took a back seat to veterans Korpisalo and Forsberg in Ottawa this past season. The good news is that he played much better with Belleville. The bad news is that he’s struggled mightily in a handful of NHL appearances last year. The other bad news is that Sogaard will no longer be exempt from waivers this season. Insert the crossroads. After bringing in Linus Ullmark to start, what do they do with Anton Forsberg? Do they look to sneak Sogaard through waivers or try to find a trade partner for him? The latter would be shocking because he still has significant NHL upside due to his size and athleticism, but stranger things have happened. The reality is that Sogaard’s play has to do the talking during training camp this year.

3. Xavier Bourgault

Flipped for injured winger Roby Jarventie early this offseason, Bourgault serves as an interesting reclamation project for the Senators. Last season certainly wasn’t the best year for Bourgault and his development. The former first round pick hit a sophomore slump in the AHL with Bakersfield and was particularly ineffective in the second half of the season. The Condors had a pretty veteran-laden roster, especially up front, and Bourgault just wasn’t able to earn consistent ice time and offensive opportunities because of it. However, it’s way too early to give up on the talented pivot. He still possesses top six upside, particularly because of his scoring ability and high end shot. The focus for him needs to be on continuing to improve his quickness and his strength to allow him to earn more touches. He needs to do a better job playing through contact and this summer will be a big one for him from a conditioning standpoint. Look for the former QMJHL star and first round pick to have a bounce back year with Belleville. His NHL future in a new organization might just depend on it.

4. Zack Ostapchuk

Ostapchuk exploded onto the prospect scene a few years ago after a breakout postseason with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) and he hasn’t looked back since. Two WJC gold medals and a cup of coffee in the NHL later and Ostapchuk is still very much relevant as an NHL prospect. The big forward is the prototypical middle six forward in today’s NHL. He has size. He is surprisingly quick. He has great attention to detail as a two-way forward. He brings physicality. At this point, it’s just about increasing his confidence with the puck at the pro level and learning to adjust to the pace of the pro game. It’s not inconceivable to see Ostapchuk in a bottom six role with the Senators to open this year if he has a strong training camp, especially since he’s had a strong finish to the year in the AHL.

5. Leevi Merilainen

Depth is never a bad thing, especially at the goaltending position. Due to Ottawa’s depth last year, Merilainen had to spend a good chunk of his first pro season in North America in the ECHL. This is common, as many NHL netminders have had to spend time in the ECHL. The good news is that Merilainen was solid in both the ECHL and in his time with Belleville (AHL). Merilainen continues to work hard to improve his positioning and puck tracking to help him with his consistency, something that he has struggled with dating back to his OHL days with Kingston. However, as the solid season in Liiga two years ago proved, he’s come a long way. The next step is finding a permanent spot in the AHL for him, which is why the team traded 2018 draft pick Kevin Mandolese. Between Merilainen and Sogaard, the Senators have a great chance of finding a quality NHL netminder.

6. Tyler Kleven

Kleven’s first pro season had to be classified as a success. The big, physical defender excelled in Belleville, even showing well offensively at times, which is certainly not going to be his calling card. Kleven excels in the defensive end with his strong mobility, reach, and aggressive physical nature; simply put, Kleven can be a nightmare for opposing forwards in the defensive end. From an offensive perspective, the majority of his offence is created from his big point shot and ability to get pucks through traffic from the point. He’s not likely to be much of a point producer at the NHL level, but he is still on track to become a PK anchor and second pairing option for Ottawa in the near future. That near future could be as early as this season, if Kleven can have a strong training camp.

7. Angus Crookshank

You never know how a player is going to bounce back from a serious injury. The former New Hampshire standout tore his ACL and missed the entire 2021/22 season. The year post injury ended up being his first full season of pro hockey and Crookshank was quite solid. However, last year he really took his game to that next level as Belleville’s leading scorer. He even played very well in a small sample in Ottawa, scoring his first few NHL goals. Crookshank profiles as a versatile, fan favourite whose energy in the offensive end is infectious. He excels driving the net and he’s managed to improve his speed post knee injury. Crookshank has also greatly improved his on puck play and shooting ability as a pro, which has improved his outlook and upside. He has proven this year that he is knocking on the door of a full-time spot in Ottawa. There is a very real possibility that he finds his way into the Senators’ top nine to start the year.

8. Stephen Halliday

Things didn’t go exactly as planned at Ohio State last year as the team underperformed in comparison to expectations, however Halliday did have another solid season as a sophomore. The USHL’s modern day all time leading scorer recently signed with the Senators and finished out the year with Belleville on a very high note. Halliday is a big, playmaking center whose game has made huge strides over the last five years. He’s gone from being a one dimensional and inconsistent player with big skating concerns to a play driving power pivot who actually projects as a solid pro because of his mobility and engagement level improvements. Now he will need to prove that those improvements will play well at the pro level. If all goes well, Halliday could move quickly through the system. He projects as a middle six center who can be a quality net front presence on the powerplay.

9. Gabriel Eliasson

It is very clear that Ottawa went into this year’s NHL draft with the intention of becoming more difficult to play against. Yakemchuk was first off the board at seven and then they used their early second on rugged Swedish defender Gabriel Eliasson. Simply put, Eliasson is just downright mean. Think early 90’s mean. If anything, discipline has been his biggest issue. He needs to refine his approach. However, he’s a solid skater for his size and has the potential to develop into a very good defensive player. Eliasson intends to play this season in the USHL with Cedar Rapids before making the jump to the NCAA with the University of Michigan. Given the violent nature of his defensive approach, it was probably wise for him to come to North America early to develop.

10. Tyler Boucher

Boucher is every draft pundit’s favourite joke these days because of how highly he was selected by the Senators (10th overall in 2021) and how poorly his development has gone thus far. While expectations regarding Boucher’s potential need to be tempered, we believe that he has been unfairly criticized. While he was undoubtedly overdrafted, and he may never be able to shake that in the eyes of the scouting community, he remains someone with a possible NHL future. Unfortunately, injuries and suspensions have played a large role in the stagnation of his development. Just this year, Boucher’s start as a pro with Belleville was delayed because of a groin injury suffered during training camp. After returning, he was more of a role player suggesting that Ottawa is going to need further patience with him moving forward. Boucher is still an excellent forechecker and a consistent physical threat. He should, at the very least, develop into a quality checking line player. However, he flashes the ability to use his speed on the counterattack, and his hands in tight are better than people give him credit for. Don’t close the book on Boucher just yet.

11. Maxence Guenette

An AHL All Star last year, Guenette took another step forward in what had to be considered an integral year for his development. Now entering his fourth pro season, Guenette will be facing waivers this season. Guenette’s calling card has always been his offensive capabilities and his ability to run the powerplay. However, he continues to work hard to round out his game in the defensive end and has put himself in contention for a roster spot.

12. Jorian Donovan

A Memorial Cup champion this past season with the Saginaw Spirit, Donovan has developed very well during his time in the OHL. He’s gone from an erratic puck mover to a solid two-way defender who can use his mobility to his advantage at either end. The son of Sens development coach Shean Donovan, Jorian will turn pro this year with Belleville.

13. Oskar Pettersson

Unhappy with his ice time in the SHL, Pettersson made the jump to the AHL with Belleville in February of last year, finishing out the season in North America. The former third rounder performed well and looks to be on track to developing into a steady bottom six presence for the Senators in the future.

14. Tomas Hamara

A heady two-way defender, Hamara closed out last season well in the OHL with Brantford; the trade from Kitchener was a real turning point for his development. Now he’ll turn pro this year with Belleville. The upside may not be significant, but Hamara does enough things well that he could be a third pairing option.

15. Kevin Reidler

The big Swedish netminder was excellent for Dubuque in the USHL last year; he was unquestionably one of the best performing goalies in the league. He was especially solid in the Clark Cup playoffs for Dubuque, stealing games and rounds for them. Now he’ll head to the University of Nebraska-Omaha to further his development.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #24 Ottawa Senators – Organization Overview – Top 15 prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Fri, 31 May 2024 19:05:20 +0000

The Senators and their fans were cautiously optimistic entering the 2023-24 season. They had new ownership in Michael Andlauer, after long time owner Eugene Melnyk passed away, promising calm after some tumultuous years. That did not last long, as a terrible start made it clear they were on the way to missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years under Pierre Dorion. His mutual departure was hastened by an error that cost the franchise a first-round pick by not disclosing a no trade list as part of a trade to another team. He was replaced by Steve Staois who had just joined as President of Hockey Operations in September, on an interim basis, but was made permanent by the new year. Staois replaced coach D.J. Smith with long time Senators stalwart Jacques Martin, also on an interim basis, to analyze the team before a coaching change was made. In May, Travis Green became the next head coach of the team.

Despite continued turmoil, and recent deadline trades, the Senators continue to boast one of the best young cores in the NHL. Graduated prospects, Tim Stutzle (22-years old), Jake Sanderson (21), and Ridly Greig (21), all from an outstanding 2020 draft, join young stars captain Brady Tkachuk (24), Drake Batherson (26), injury plagued Josh Norris (25), Thomas Chabot (27), and Jakob Chychrun (26). They have two first round picks, acquiring Boston’s first round pick in the summer trade of Alex Debrincat to Detroit. In the pipeline, the biggest hope is in goal, and great hope one of Mads Sogaard or Leevi Merilainen continue to develop as they have. Sogaard is waivers exempt next season, so his time is now to show he belongs in the NHL. We will see if they can find the Andlauer promised stability and could surprise teams this season.

1. Mads Sogaard, G, Belleville Senators (AHL)

The big Danish netminder is about to hit a crossroads in his pro career. After splitting last year between the NHL and the AHL, Sogaard has taken a back seat to veterans Korpisalo and Forsberg in Ottawa this season. The good news is that he’s played much better with Belleville. The bad news is that he’s struggled mightily in a handful of NHL appearances this year. The other bad news is that he will no longer be exempt from waivers next season. Insert the crossroads. With Korpisalo and Forsberg still on the books next year, what does Ottawa do with Sogaard? Do they move/waive one of Forsberg/Korpisalo? Do they look to sneak him through waivers or try to find a trade partner for him? The latter would be shocking because he still has significant NHL upside due to his size and athleticism, but stranger things have happened. The reality is that his play has to do the talking during training camp next year.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Mads Sogaard	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	`19(37th)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
2	Zack Ostapchuk	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	`21(39th)	69	17	11	28	47
					Ottawa (NHL)	`21(39th)	7	0	0	0	0
3	Leevi Merilainen	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	`20(71st)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
4	Tyler Kleven	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	`20(44th)	53	5	16	21	51
					Ottawa (NHL)	`20(44th)	9	0	1	1	2
5	Angus Crookshank	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	`18(126th)	50	24	22	46	60
					Ottawa (NHL)	`18(126th)	13	2	1	3	4
6	Roby Jarventie	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	`20(33rd)	22	9	11	20	22
					Ottawa (NHL)	`20(33rd)	7	0	1	1	4
7	Egor Sokolov	LW	23	6-4/235	Belleville (AHL)	`20(61st)	71	21	25	46	69
8	Stephen Halliday	C	21	6-3/210	Ohio State (B1G)	`22(104th)	38	10	26	36	30
9	Tyler Boucher	RW	21	6-1/205	Belleville (AHL)	`21(10th)	21	2	3	5	34
10	Jorian Donovan	D	20	6-1/180	Bfd-Sag (OHL)	`22(136th)	66	13	33	46	73
11	Maxence Guenette	D	23	6-1/180	Belleville (AHL)	`19(187th)	58	7	27	34	18
					Ottawa (NHL)	`19(187th)	7	0	0	0	2
12	Lassi Thomson	D	23	6-0/190	Belleville (AHL)	W(Ana-10/23)	67	6	15	21	56
13	Hoyt Stanley	D	19	6-2/185	Cornell (ECAC)	`23(108th)	35	2	8	10	22
14	Tomas Hamara	D	20	6-0/185	Kit-Bfd (OHL)	`22(87th)	44	1	19	20	22
15	Kevin Reidler	G	19	6-6/200	Dubuque (USHL)	`22(151st)	39	27	5	2.86	0.902

2. Zack Ostapchuk, C, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Zach Ostapchuk exploded onto the prospect scene a few years ago after a breakout postseason with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) and he hasn’t looked back since. Two WJC gold medals and a cup of coffee in the NHL later and Ostapchuk is still very much relevant as an NHL prospect. The big forward is the prototypical middle six forward in today’s NHL. He has size. He is surprisingly quick. He possesses great attention to detail as a two-way forward. He brings physicality. At this point, it’s just about increasing his confidence with the puck at the pro level and learning to adjust to the pace of the pro game. It’s not inconceivable to see Ostapchuk in a bottom six role with the Senators to open next year if he has a strong training camp, especially since he’s had a strong finish to the year in the AHL.

3. Leevi Merilainen, G, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Depth is never a bad thing, especially at the goaltending position. Due to Ottawa’s depth this year, Merilainen has had to spend a good chunk of his first pro season in North America in the ECHL. This is common; many NHL netminders have had to spend time in the East Coast Hockey League. The good news is that he has been solid in both the ECHL and in his time with Belleville (AHL). Merilainen continues to work hard to improve his positioning and puck tracking to help him with his consistency, something that he has struggled with dating back to his OHL days with Kingston. However, as the solid season in Liiga last year proved, he’s come a long way. The next step is finding a permanent spot in the AHL for him, possibly at the expense of 2018 draft pick Kevin Mandolese. Between Merilainen and Sogaard, the Senators do have a great chance of finding a quality NHL netminder.

4. Tyler Kleven, D, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Kleven’s first pro season has to be classified as a success. The big, physical defender has excelled in Belleville, even showing well offensively at times, which is certainly not going to be his calling card. He excels in the defensive end with his strong mobility, reach, and aggressive physical nature; simply put, Kleven can be a nightmare for opposing forwards in the defensive end. From an offensive perspective, the majority of his offense is created from his big point shot and ability to get pucks through traffic from the point. He’s not likely to be much of a point producer at the NHL level, but he is still on track to become a PK anchor and second pairing option for Ottawa in the near future. That near future could be as early as next season, depending on what happens with Jakob Chychrun.

5. Angus Crookshank, LW, Belleville Senators (AHL)

You never know how a player is going to bounce back from a serious injury. The former New Hampshire standout tore his ACL and missed the entire 2021/22 season. Last year ended up being his first full season of pro hockey and Crookshank was quite solid. However, this year, he’s really taken his game to that next level as Belleville’s leading scorer. He’s even played very well in a small sample in Ottawa, scoring his first few NHL goals. He profiles as a versatile, fan favourite whose energy in the offensive end is infectious. He excels driving the net and he’s managed to improve his speed post knee injury. He has also greatly improved his on puck play and shooting ability as a pro, which has improved his outlook and upside. He has proven this year that he is knocking on the door of a full-time spot in Ottawa.

6. Roby Jarventie, RW, Belleville Senators (AHL)

At this point, Roby Jarventie just needs to stay healthy. He’s battled injuries the last two seasons in Belleville and has been shut down the rest of this year after knee surgery. The good news is that the knee has apparently been the source of his issues the last two years; this could be the permanent fix, allowing him to develop uninterrupted. The big, power winger excels playing a North/South game thanks to his speed and skill when driving wide. He likely has the highest offensive upside of any forward in the Ottawa system currently as he could end up as a consistent 25 goal guy with the Senators in the future. Just when is that future? It will depend on his rehab following the knee surgery. It seems likely that Ottawa will want him in the AHL again when he returns to try to ease him back in and that delays his timeline.

7. Egor Sokolov, LW, Belleville Senators (AHL)

A few years ago, Sokolov was considered one of the top prospects in Ottawa’s system. He had been a QMJHL star, an AHL All-star, and was looking like a potential top six forward in the future. However, the big winger’s development appears to have plateaued, as he has had a tough time breaking through to the NHL level. His skating just has never gotten to the point that it needed to in order for him to be a scoring line forward. Even though he’s passed through waivers this year, he’s still producing in the AHL and has NHL upside. Will that be realized as part of the Ottawa organization? A pending RFA, Sokolov could be a non-tender candidate. He could also be a trade candidate, or even a KHL candidate. This offseason should be an interesting one for him.

8. Stephen Halliday, C, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Things didn’t exactly go as planned at Ohio State this year as the team underperformed in comparison to expectations, however Halliday did have another solid season as a sophomore. The USHL’s modern day all-time leading scorer recently signed with the Senators and is finishing out the year with Belleville. He is a big, playmaking center whose game has made huge strides over the last five years. He’s gone from being a one dimensional and inconsistent player with big skating concerns to a play driving power pivot who actually projects as a solid pro because of his mobility and engagement level improvements. Now he will need to prove that those improvements will play well at the pro level. If all goes well, Halliday is the kind of player who could move quickly through the system. He projects as a middle six center who can be a quality net front presence on the powerplay.

9. Tyler Boucher, RW, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Boucher is every draft pundits favourite joke these days because of how highly he was selected by the Senators (10th overall in 2021) and how poorly his development has gone thus far. While expectations regarding his potential need to be tempered, we believe that he has been unfairly criticized. While he was undoubtedly overdrafted, and he may never be able to shake that in the eyes of the scouting community, he remains someone with a possible NHL future. Unfortunately, injuries and suspensions have really played a large role in his stagnation. Just this year, Boucher’s start as a pro with Belleville was delayed because of a groin injury suffered during training camp. Since returning, he has been more of a role player. An excellent forechecker and a consistent physical threat, he should, at the very least, develop into a quality checking line player. He has the ability to use his speed on the counterattack, and his hands in tight are better than people think. Don’t close the book on Boucher just yet.

10. Maxence Guenette, D, Belleville Senators (AHL)

An AHL All Star this year; Max Guenette has taken another step forward in what had to be considered an integral year for his development. A third-year pro, Guenette is both a pending RFA and someone facing waivers next season. He needed another solid year and to earn NHL ice time this year to prove that he could be a part of Ottawa’s future on the back end. His calling card has always been his offensive capabilities and his ability to run the powerplay. A breakout machine thanks to quick thinking and quick feet, the big, right shot defender has always put-up numbers. However, he continues to work hard to round out his game in the defensive end and has had his best pro year in that regard. He has put himself in a position to earn a spot on Ottawa’s blueline next year and projects as a third pairing guy who can help move the puck and can quarterback the secondary powerplay unit.

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).

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – OTTAWA SENATORS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Ethan Hetu, Dylan Krill — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 20:01:50 +0000

VANCOUVER, BC - APRIL 24: Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto (57) skates up ice during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on April 24, 2021 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Jake Sanderson D

Jake Sanderson was the highest-drafted defenseman at the 2020 draft, and since that point, he’s become the Senators’ top prospect without any NHL games under his belt. The six-foot-two, 190-pound defenseman has been one of the best defensemen in all of college hockey. While he only got into 23 games for the University of North Dakota last season, Sanderson was a dynamic force to be reckoned with, scoring at above a point-per-game rate and earning a selection to Team USA at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Sanderson just does so many things right in all three zones. His skating is exceptional, and he has been and will continue to be a top transitional defenseman. He likes having the puck on his stick and can be relied upon as an offensive generator both on the power play and at even strength. He’s shown an ability to fit seamlessly with highly talented teammates, something that is important to note as he’s joining a Senators team that has recently supercharged their top-six forward attack. Defensively, Sanderson plays an extremely well-rounded game, combining sound positioning, aggressive, intentional defensive stick work, and threatening (if not overwhelming) physicality. Sanderson might not have the same dynamic, special quality as other top defensive prospects, but that’s not to say that he can’t take over shifts when he’s on. He has a set of tools that will allow him to become a strong NHL defenseman and the sort of defender who has a chance to anchor a top-four pairing for many years and even, if things break right, potentially become a true top-of-the-lineup force. There might be some growing pains with Sanderson’s game, as it looks like he possibly might face top-four duty immediately as a rookie, but there are few on-ice challenges Sanderson isn’t equipped to handle and he’ll be part of what could be an exciting season in Ottawa. - EH

2 - Shane Pinto C

Expectations for Pinto were sky high coming into last season. After a strong NHL debut following his sophomore year at North Dakota in 2021, many had Pinto penciled in as a Calder Trophy candidate. However, a shoulder injury quickly killed any chance of that as Pinto was lost for the year after surgery in November. Now the expectation is that Pinto will be ready to go for training camp and is once again a Calder Trophy candidate. In a lot of ways, there are parallels between Pinto and current Senators breakout star Josh Norris. Both are well-rounded centers who excel at both ends of the ice. Both have good size and can be used as strong net front presences or down low to prolong possession. Both have good shots and scoring instincts. Realistically, Pinto and Norris could occupy the middle center spots in Ottawa’s lineup for the better part of the next decade. Pinto does need to continue to improve his skating and quickness. It is just about the only part of his game that needs improvement. Given the nature of his injury (upper body), one has to hope that Pinto has been working hard to improve this during his recovery. He should enter the year as Ottawa’s third line center and will be given significant responsibility across a variety of different situations. - BO

3 - Ridly Greig C

Whether you love Greig or hate him depends largely on whether or not he's on your team — and those feelings can burn intensely in both directions. The 28^th overall selection in the 2020 draft, and the son of former NHLer and hockey lifer Mark Greig (who currently scouts for the Philadelphia Flyers), Ridly is chaos personified on the ice. He is a center with a very impressive and well-rounded offensive toolkit and the scoring totals to match, yet one who isn't content to simply coast on his skill. If anything, he loves the nasty side of the sport the most. He will throw hits with targeted ferocity and is happy to talk trash, make stick jabs behind the refs' backs, get dirty in post-whistle scrums and utilize whatever other psychological warfare that he can to annoy the hell out of his opponents. His competitive edge is truly special, and when he is on the top of his game there are few prospects in the hockey world who can leave an impact in quite the same way that he can, which was on display at this summer's World Juniors reboot, where he was one of Canada's top forwards. However, like most players cut from similar cloth, that persona comes with drawbacks. He was suspended multiple times during his WHL career and will, perhaps fittingly, have to serve a one-game suspension to begin his NHL career after cross-checking Pierre-Luc Dubois in a preseason game in the fall of 2021. If the Senators can properly harness and focus Greig's destructive tendencies then they will be able to deploy a forward who can be a unique kind of difference-maker, especially come playoff time. - DN

4 - Egor Sokolov LW

Things really turned around for Sokolov after he committed to improving his conditioning heading into his final QMJHL season with Cape Breton in 2020. By shedding some weight, he really exploded and emerged as one of the best players in the entire CHL. As a result, Ottawa took him in the second round, in his final year of draft eligibility. Thus far as a pro, Sokolov has not disappointed, continuing to play the power game that he established as a junior player. He blends power and skill extremely well and as such, he can be a real load for defenders to handle as he drives the net. Without question, he has the offensive upside to be a top six forward at the NHL level. He could eventually be a very nice complement to some of the other young forwards Ottawa has in their stable. Is he ready for a full time NHL role? The results in an eight-game trial last year suggest that he is not and needs to continue to improve his skating and play away from the puck. However, the competition for bottom six spots in training camp will be fierce and Sokolov will be right in the thick of it. Best case scenario, he spends time in a checking line role this year, perhaps even earning some secondary powerplay time. Worst case scenario, he goes back to the AHL for another season and continues to develop. - BO

5 - Lassi Thomson D

A first-round selection by Ottawa, there was some concern that Thomson’s development had stagnated. Playing in Liiga, he was less than impressive. He even struggled in the half season he played in the AHL in 2020-21. However, he really turned a corner last season, emerging as a top defender in Belleville and leapfrogging someone Jacob Bernard-Docker, among others, on the Ottawa depth chart. Thomson has always possessed intriguing potential because of his athletic ability. He has a booming point shot that creates a lot of primary and secondary chances. He can skate with the puck, and he can defend aggressively, using his mobility to stay ahead of the action. On the other hand, his positioning and decision making have always been raw and have led to miscues at both ends. Last year, he worked to correct that and played a much safer game. As a result, he blossomed. So, what’s next for Thomson? After 16 games at the NHL level last year, he figures to earn more NHL time this coming season. Is he likely to beat out Jake Sanderson for a permanent role? Very unlikely. However, it is also likely that he becomes the team’s top call up in case of injury. After his breakout campaign, he definitely looks like he could be a #4-6 defender for the Senators in the coming years. - BO

6 - Mads Sogaard G

The hulking, 6’7 Danish netminder has been solid as a pro so far after a strong two-year stint with Medicine Hat of the WHL. Sogaard even got a nice two game audition with the Senators as an injury call up late last season, beating the Detroit Red Wings in his NHL debut. Ottawa attempted to solidify their goaltending by bringing in veteran Cam Talbot this offseason to pair with Anton Forsberg, which leaves Sogaard ticketed for the AHL yet again. However, he should also be the team’s first call up in case of injury. What makes Soogard so intriguing is that he’s an excellent athlete for a goaltender of his size. He takes up the upper portion of the net naturally with his size, but he can also cover his posts well with quick pads to take away the lower portion. It is just the technical components that continue to need refinement. Things like learning to control rebounds better, tracking the puck more efficiently and finding a balance between being aggressive and staying deep to use his size to his advantage. There might not be a better instructor to work with Sogaard than new Senators goaltending coach Zac Bierk, a large goaltender himself. Under his tutelage, Sogaard should be able to develop into an NHL netminder. Talbot’s deal is only for one year so if Sogaard has an even stronger pro year, they may opt to give him the reins in 2023-24. - BO

7 - Zack Ostapchuk C

It was a tale of two seasons in one for Ostapchuk, who came out of the gate slow in 2021-22 but turned it on down the stretch, captaining the WHL’s Giants to a massive upset of top-seeded Everett in the first round. This earned an invite to Team Canada’s under-20 team in August, where Ostapchuk anchored the third line and helped contribute to a gold medal. A Senators 2021 2^nd rounder, Ostapchuk is a lanky center who will likely never put up big offensive numbers but contributes in many other ways. Unlike most players, Ostapchuk seems more comfortable in high-traffic areas, not less. He defends well, kills penalties, and can finish plays from in tight. His skating is decent, but it will need improvement in order to play at the next level. Ostapchuk plays a direct style without much deception in his game, and offensively does his best work as the net-front presence. He gains coaches trust immediately with his defensive play, faceoffs and understanding of situations in games. Ostapchuk is adept at protecting the puck and can work in tight spaces, something that will translate well to the pro game. It will be interesting to see if the offensive side of the game comes for Ostapchuk, who admitted that he cheated for offense a bit to start last season before getting back to his game. He projects as a third-line center in the NHL, provided his progression continues. This upcoming season will likely be his last in junior. - AS

8 - Roby Jarventie RW

Rather than play another year in Liiga, Jarventie decided to play in the AHL as a 19-year-old last season, something that will likely have a positive impact on his long-term development. While his production was only average, it needs to be viewed with context. His 33 points were fifth best among U20 players in the AHL. For context, another big winger who had similar production recently in his 19-year-old AHL season was Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings, who is coming off a 35-goal season in the NHL. Jarventie also was very good at the Summer World Junior Championships for Finland, perhaps operating as their best player. All signs would point to him having a breakout year for Belleville this season. He is at his best when he can use his size and speed to drive wide, looking for opportunities to use his big shot. Armed with a big one timer, he can also be a weapon on the powerplay, working the area near the faceoff circle. The skill, size, and quickness combination is very interesting and Jarventie’s potential is that of a quality middle six scorer. That said, he will need to find a way to make other areas of his game more consistent. That includes his two-way play, attention to detail away from the puck, and his decision making with it. Still a bit of a longer-term project, the return on Jarventie will not be known for a few years still. - BO

9 - Jacob Bernard-Docker D

Calling JBD’s first full pro season a complete and utter disappointment would be unfair. However, the expectations were very high for the two-way defender out of the University of North Dakota. After turning pro late in 2021, Bernard-Docker actually jumped right to the NHL and played for Canada at the World Championships. Yet last year, he struggled mightily on the offensive side of things and the pace of play really seemed to overwhelm him and his decision making at times. No one doubts that JBD can be an NHL defender on his defensive play alone. He is an intelligent positional defender who uses plus mobility to be quick to pucks and quick to close lanes. However, his upside as an NHL player is starting to look somewhat limited. As mentioned, it would appear that Lassi Thomson has passed him on the team’s depth chart and there is no question that Jake Sanderson will do so immediately at training camp this year. So where does that leave Bernard-Docker? He likely spends the majority of another year in the AHL to try to increase his confidence with the puck at the pro level. Then Ottawa will have to make a judgment call on him. After this season, a lot more will be known. Without a significant step forward, he may end up being more of a depth defender, rather than the potential top four candidate we previously thought. - BO

10 - Tyler Boucher RW

The 10th overall selection from the 2021 NHL Draft, Tyler Boucher has yet to prove worthy of being a top 10 pick, but still shows promise to become a very physical and tough player that no team will look forward to playing against. There aren’t many players like Boucher, and that’s what makes him so unique. He has the ability to impact the game by wearing out opponents with his aggressiveness and being physical anytime there’s an opportunity, sometimes being over-aggressive. Boucher had previously played for the USNTDP, but unfortunately missed games due to having Covid-19 and also a knee injury that he obtained early in the year. During the 2021-2022 season, Boucher started the year at Boston University and played 17 games, but only produced three points (2G,1A). After a slow start, Boucher elected to leave BU and made the move to the OHL to play for the Ottawa 67’s. During his time with the 67’s, Boucher finished with 14 points (7G,7A) in 24 games. Boucher’s best assets are his physicality and competitiveness. To have a player that makes opponents think twice before going into the corners to retrieve a puck is very valuable. No matter who the opponent is, he will not back down. His presence alone allows his team to play a more simplified game, doing all the dirty work for his line. Not only is he physical, but he also brings great energy each shift. Outworking his opponents with his strength, making him very efficient in puck battles and keeping puck possession. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Boucher will look to take a step and become more of an offensive threat. With a full healthy season, Boucher will be one of the toughest players to play against in the OHL. You could also expect an increase in points. - DK

11 - Tyler Kleven

Kleven is easily one of the most physical defensive prospects on the planet right now. The 6’4 defender is also mobile for his size. This combination gives him some potential as a #4-6 defender for Ottawa. His puck skill and defensive zone awareness still needs improvement.

12 - Tomas Hamara

An intelligent two-way defender, Hamara was a third-round selection of the Sens this past draft. After giving Hamara an ELC already, it seems very likely that he’ll play in Kitchener of the OHL this season after being selected in the import draft.

13 - Leevi Merilainen

Expectations for Merilainen were pretty high heading into last OHL season with Kingston, but his performance was largely underwhelming. He will be loaned to Karpat of Liiga this season. His play tracking and ability to fight through traffic will need to improve.

14 - Stephen Halliday

The USHL’s new all time leading scorer, Halliday finally earned a draft selection after dedicating himself to improving his conditioning and off puck play. The big power center should be an immediate impact player for an improving Ohio State program this season.

15 - Angus Crookshank

A knee injury ended Crookshank’s first full pro season before it even began. Now fully healthy again, Crookshank will look to prove that the injury has not hindered his development. The high-energy, well-rounded winger still has a great chance to develop into a impactful third liner.

16 - Philippe Daoust

The Sens sent Daoust back to Saint John (QMJHL) for his overage season a few months into last season after he struggled at the AHL level. He helped the Sea Dogs capture a Memorial Cup, but does need to improve his pace and speed this offseason.

17 - Jonny Tychonick

Tychonick will take advantage of an exception allowing seniors to return for a fifth year. The athletic defender has yet to live up to the hype, so this season at UNO might be his final chance to impress the Senators.

18 - Mark Kastelic

The big power forward got into some NHL games with Ottawa last season and did not look out of place. The former Calgary Hitmen standout needs to continue to improve his quickness, but he has bottom six potential.

19 - Maxence Guenette

Guenette’s first pro season with Belleville had its ups and downs, but he did prove that he can compete at the AHL level. An intelligent two-way defender, Guenette will need to continue to improve at both ends to be an NHL player. A lack of true standout quality may hurt him.

20 - Oliver Johansson

The real wild card of Ottawa’s system. He has shown great skill and touch at the J20 level but has not broken through to the SHL full time. His upside is significant, and this year should give Senators management and fans a better indication of his likelihood of reaching it.

2021 NHL DRAFT: UNDER THE RADAR DRAFT PICKS

Brock Otten — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 22:15:25 +0000

With the Ontario Hockey League still on hiatus, I have been trying to watch as much of the other North American junior leagues as possible. Cross referencing with public lists and the lists of our regional scouts, I have been trying to get a better read on some of the top prospects available from North America for the 2021 NHL Draft. In doing so, there have actually been numerous other prospects who have caught my eye for one reason or another. These are players generally ranked outside of the first round and all the way into the later rounds of the draft. This article intends to highlight some of those players and bring attention to them as the summer months draw nearer.

USHL

Brent Johnson

Defense, Sioux Falls Stampede

5’11, 165lbs

Johnson is actually a prospect who has garnered significant attention from the internet scouting community. By simply doing a twitter search, you can find many fans of his game who believe he should be someone who ranked near the first round. However, you are more likely to find the University of North Dakota commit ranked in the second or third.

While he has had a terrific season to date (top five in defenseman scoring in the USHL as of writing this), it actually came to an end recently when Johnson had to undergo season ending shoulder surgery. This kept him out of the BioSteel All American game and prevented him from being in consideration as an addition for the U.S. Under 18 team going to Texas. Also unfortunate for Johnson is the fact that there was no Hlinka/Gretzky Cup this year, nor a World Junior A Challenge, two events where he would have had the chance to play a starring role. No doubt scouts have a clear picture of what Johnson brings to the table, however, those high-end comparisons with his peers would have been valuable.

Johnson’s strength lies in his transitional effectiveness and ability to create using his mobility in the offensive zone. A terrific skater in every fashion, Johnson’s exits are nearly always clean, whether he elects to skate with the puck or use the stretch pass. He looks comfortable and poised running the powerplay and uses strong edge work to walk the line and open up exploitable lanes and gaps in coverage. While certainly slight (5’11, 165lbs), Johnson is actually an intense competitor in the defensive end who looks to engage physically and never seems to back down from a challenge. He is also adept at using his four-way mobility to defend transitional attacks, demonstrating terrific gap control. He certainly projects as a strong two-way, modern day NHL defender.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-brent_johnson_-_1st_period_7_54_-_8_6.mp4

While the result of this play is not a goal, Johnson creates a really high-end scoring chance from the slot with his hands and feet. He exploits the over aggressiveness of the forward defending high by walking around him then pushes aggressively to force attackers to leave their man before making a great pass on the back hand to a Sioux Falls teammate for the scoring chance. This play exhibits poise, skill, and mobility, all of which make Johnson a threat when walking or holding the line.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-brent_johnson_-_2nd_period_22_7_-_22_23.mp4

Look at how Johnson exploits the extra ice at four on four in this clip. He pushes out wide to open up the middle of the ice. Upon receiving the pass, he has a clear goal in mind by pivoting quickly to suck his defender in before finding a teammate in the slot with a heads-up pass. These types of plays seem to happen on the regular with Johnson, who controls and understands spacing so effectively. He never seems to stop moving his feet in the offensive zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-brent_johnson_-_3rd_period_12_25_-_12_37.mp4

This is a great read from Johnson as he slides into the slot to as he identifies an opening as his teammate peels off the wall. He showcases his skill level too by selling the shot fake and making the no look pass to an open teammate at the side of the net for a tap in. He could have easily hammered that on net with a one timer, but his subtle approach and patience with the puck impressively and consistently seems to find better opportunities to score.

Jack Peart

Defense, Fargo Force

5’11, 180lbs

While Scott Morrow seems to be the Prep School/High School defender generating the most buzz, Jack Peart may actually be the better NHL Draft prospect. This year’s recipient of the Mr. Hockey award in Minnesota (top HS player), Peart has split the year between Grand Rapids High in Minnesota and the Fargo Force of the USHL. He joins some terrific company among defenders who have won the award like Nick Leddy, Ryan McDonagh, and Paul Martin.

When he has played for Fargo, Peart has played quite well for the Force, one of the top teams in the USHL this season. And unlike Johnson, Peart was able to suit up in the BioSteel All American game, although the USHL team got trounced by the NTDP. I thought he might be a candidate to be named to the U.S. Under 18 team as they looked to fill out their roster for the event with outside candidates, but that was not the case.

A St. Cloud State commit, Peart has a similar skill set to aforementioned Brent Johnson. His mobility is excellent. His decision making with the puck is excellent. He defends well, especially in transition. He can QB the powerplay or anchor the PK. This is an all situations, highly intelligent, well rounded defender whose efficiency and consistency will be very attractive to NHL scouts this July.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-jack_peart_-_1st_period_6_26_-_6_38.mp4

As mentioned, Peart’s ability to defend in transition is terrific thanks to his strong four-way mobility and anticipation. He is consistently aggressive when defending attackers, stepping up early to angle them off, close gaps and use effective stick checks. Here is just one example of that. It is a relatively harmless two on two, but Peart acts quickly to get a step ahead and then minds the gap to poke the puck out and flip possession. While Peart struggled a bit at the BioSteel game, this type of consistent efficiency in the defensive end is the usual standard.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-jack_peart_-_1st_overtime_3_12_-_3_24.mp4

Such great patience by Peart here in overtime as Sioux Falls gets caught on a bad line change. He executes the two on one perfectly by working between the dots, faking the pass to get the defender to slide out of position before stopping to set up the game winner.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-jack_peart_-_3rd_period_21_51_-_22_3.mp4

Peart has a quiet efficiency to his game. While he is aggressive at times, he is often more likely to start the breakout with a stretch pass. When he does decide to jump up in the play, it is often calculated and successful, like we see here. He flashes some nice puck skill by evading nearly four stick checks from Sioux Falls players before making a nice dish to a teammate for a high-quality scoring chance. As he gains confidence in his ability to attack (transitioning from high school hockey), I believe he is capable of making more aggressive offensive plays like this.

Liam Gilmartin

Left Wing, NTDP

6’2, 190lbs

Due to the way the U.S. National Development team is constructed, it seems like every year there is a forward who slips under the radar a bit because they are not as innately skilled or “flashy” as their highly rated peers. They do the grunt work. They excel on special teams. They win board battles. They operate as the perfect complementary piece. However, it takes multiple views to generate a great appreciation for their play and their NHL potential. Last year it was Landon Slaggert. Two years ago, it was John Beecher. This year, that player is Liam Gilmartin.

A Providence College commit, Gilmartin moves around the lineup for the U.S. U18 team, moving up to play with Chaz Lucius to create space for him. Moving down to insulate some of the talented U17 players like Rutger McGroarty or Cutter Gauthier. But his play and effort are always consistent and his commitment to playing in the defensive end is extremely valuable to this U.S. team, especially as they gear up for the World Under 18’s. He also had a terrific performance at the Biosteel All American game with a goal and an assist, in addition to his play on the penalty kill being a huge standout.

Gilmartin understands his role as a player on this team and plays it to a tee. He is often the first man into the offensive zone, looking to recover a dump in or force a turnover. Once he establishes possession, he is difficult to separate from the puck as he keeps his feet moving and outworks defenders. He has this same bulldog mentality as he drives the net and takes up position in the slot and net front. However, Gilmartin has better hands than he is given credit for and is skilled enough to create and finish in tight spaces. As mentioned, he is also a very hard worker in all three zones and a physically assertive defensive presence. He certainly profiles as a long time middle six player at the pro level.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-liam_gilmartin_-_1st_period_25_4_-_25_17.mp4

Gilmartin is such an effective penalty killer because of how adept he is at taking away space and anticipating passing lanes. Here he jumps the stretch pass, pokes the puck out and then fights off the check to come away with possession. Then he makes a terrific pass to Ryan St. Louis to set up the scoring chance. The theme with Gilmartin as an offensive player is that he loves to push the pace and bring the fight to you, forcing defenders to try to take away his space, which in turn opens up passing lanes. One thing I look for in players like Gilmartin (that I believe predicates NHL success) is how well they identify passing lanes and how skilled they are as playmakers, and this is a strength of Gilmartin.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-liam-gilmartin-biosteel_blue_7___1_biosteel_white_07.04.2021_-_1st_period_1_23_-_1_40.mp4

Had to show a clip from the BioSteel game, where Gilmartin was terrific. Another great pass from him to set up the opening goal for the USDP. He understands spacing well and again finds his way to the net. The controlled entry by him helped to initiate that play too.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-liam_gilmartin_-_2nd_period_9_51_-_10_3.mp4

Big surprise, Gilmartin drives the net. But this is a skilled play from him to create a significant scoring chance on what should have been a relatively harmless two on two. Beats his defender out wide, then takes away his reach by getting inside position and chipping it back to the middle, fighting off a final stick check to get a shot on goal. I have a feeling that Gilmartin is going to have a heck of a U18 tournament for the U.S. and really put himself in that second-round range come July.

Charles Alexis Legault

Defense, Lincoln Stars

6’3, 190lbs

One of the worst teams in the USHL, the Lincoln Stars have been a bit of a mess this season. Nearly all the high-end draft eligible players who came to Lincoln this year have underwhelmed (Jack O’Brien, James Stefan, Luke Mittelstadt) and that includes Boston University commit Charles Alexis Legault. One of the youngest players available, the rangy and mobile Legault has been in and out of the lineup and when he has played, he has seen limited minutes. However, in those limited minutes he has shown the potential that many thought he had as a fairly hyped defender coming through the Lac St. Louis program in Quebec.

Legault, in fact, started the year in the BCHL with West Kelowna, playing in ten exhibition games (scoring one and three assists) before returning to the USHL. His rights were traded to Lincoln from Muskegon in January and he left to play for the Stars.

As you might expect, Legault is an extremely raw player. His game does not come without blemishes. Unquestionably he would be a long-term project. And as such, he tracks best as a later round pick in 2021. However, scouting is about projections and Legault has some very projectable qualities. His explosiveness and power as a skater are extremely impressive for a big defender. His skating could be a huge asset if developed properly. Legault is also a very physical defender who has a penchant for the big hit and makes himself difficult to win battles against along the wall. At the very least, he could be molded into a strong stay at home type. However, if his confidence with the puck improves, he does seem to possess the skill level to make a larger impact at both ends.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-charles-alexis_legault_-_2nd_period_11_18_-_11_40.mp4

This first clip is from Legault’s time in the BCHL earlier this season. He recovers quickly to beat an opposing forward to the puck behind his net and then starts the breakout. He then jumps up in the play and splits out wide, identifying an open left side. This helps him set up a pretty goal to a teammate with a beautiful cross ice feed.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-charles-alexis_legault_-_1st_period_20_7_-_20_20.mp4

This clip shows off just how powerful his stride is. Reminiscent of DK Metcalf tracking down Budda Baker this year, Legault hustles back following the Lincoln turnover and catches Alex Gaffney just inside the offensive zone. And by catching, I mean manhandling him off the puck. It is this athleticism and projectability that makes Legault so interesting.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-charles-alexis_legault_-_1st_period_4_39_-_4_52.mp4

Solid defensive sequence from Legault here. Closes quickly to negate the turnovers and uses a stick check to sweep the puck to the corner, where he follows and lays a huge hit on a Tri-City player. However, the Storm keep possession and Legault finds himself out of the play, and miscommunication near the crease nearly results in a goal against. This is where Legault can get himself in trouble by skating around looking for those big hits. Because of his skating ability, size, and reach, he has been able to be successful as a rover at lower levels, but that has caught up to him and a lack of structure in his game is what makes him such a raw defender.

WHL

Sean Tschigerl

Left Wing, Calgary Hitmen

6’0, 180lbs

The production thus far this season for the former 4th overall selection in the WHL Bantam draft has been inconsistent. However, the effort and determination have been. It is only a matter of time before he is hitting the score sheet every game. Tschigerl has long been considered one of the top forwards in this Western Canada age group, which is further represented by the ‘A’ he wore for Team Black at the 2019 Under 17’s.

Tschigerl is a very versatile winger because of his speed and tenacity. He can be used in any situation and does so for the Hitmen. His effectiveness on the forecheck is especially noticeable. Ultimately, the question is, what is the offensive upside here? He flashes high end goal scoring ability. He flashes the ability to create in transition with his speed and strong one on one moves. As of writing this, the Calgary Hitmen’s season is on pause due to a covid case, so who knows how many more games he will get in. That said, Tschigerl has certainly shown enough to warrant a place inside the Top 100. He is a low risk, high reward kind of selection, and has the kind of skill set NHL teams have been jumping on earlier, rather than later, at recent drafts.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-sean_tschigerl_-_3rd_period_11_49_-_12_2.mp4

The end result here is not a great look for the Medicine Hat goaltender; definitely a soft goal. But the creation of it by Tschigerl was very impressive. He shows off his ability to change pace quickly as he beats Cole Clayton (the WHL’s leading defenseman scorer) to the outside. The puck control was also impressive as he uses his reach to secure and protect in pulling off this net drive and goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-sean_tschigerl_-_1st_period_13_32_-_13_44.mp4

Another skilled play and finish by Tschigerl. He gets inside position on his defender driving the net and goes skate to stick to finish on the backhand under pressure. The offensive consistency has not been there yet, but with his speed and ability to finish in tight, Tschigerl should be receiving more attention than he has been.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-sean_tschigerl_-_2nd_period_21_59_-_22_11.mp4

Again, this kid has great potential as a goal scorer. He was drafted so high and hyped early for good reason. Opens himself up for the one timer and pushes wide to create space and then makes no mistake with a bullet to the top shelf. That is a high end shot and release. It also makes him a dangerous powerplay weapon when utilized correctly.

Jayden Grubbe

Center, Red Deer Rebels

6’3, 200lbs

Grubbe, a powerful two-way center, is the second player on this list to suffer a season ending injury (along with the aforementioned Brent Johnson). The difference being that Grubbe managed to only play five games for Red Deer before tearing his ACL, giving scouts an extremely small sample size this season to work off of.

Much like Tschigerl, Grubbe is a highly thought of member of the 2003 WHL draft crop. Impressively, he was already serving as the captain in Red Deer as an 18-year-old, a rare feat in the CHL. Scouts were hoping to get a read on whether Grubbe’s skating had improved this season and whether he could live up to his potential as a dominant two-way force down the middle. The Rebels’ struggles this season certainly do not help the picture either, as they lost four of the five games Grubbe played (and Brent Sutter recently stepped down as head coach).

However, in watching games from last season and comparing them to this season, Grubbe appears to have worked quite hard to improve his explosiveness and overall quickness. It will still be an area requiring further work, but he certainly commanded attention in this year’s action. His attention to detail at both ends is very impressive and he is certainly not shy about using his size to excel in traffic and outwork opposing defenders. He certainly plays a prototypical heavy, pro-style game. I was also impressed with his hands and ability to protect the puck through transitional attacks. The million-dollar question is, given the nature of his injury, is there concern from NHL scouts over whether it hinders his ability to improve his skating further? Based on what I have seen, I would take that chance.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-Jayden-Grubbe-physicality.mp4

This two clip reel certainly gives you an idea of the kind of effort Grubbe provides in the defensive end and why he prides himself on being a strong two-way center. He is a very intense competitor. In the second half of that clip against Lethbridge, the player he separates from the puck is fellow 2021 draft eligible forward Zach Stringer, who is no slouch in the physicality department either. The lower body strength to ride him off the puck was impressive.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-jayden_grubbe_-_3rd_period_3_55_-_4_12.mp4

Grubbe supports the breakout well and avoids a hit at the blueline to escape the zone cleanly. After dishing off, he skates hard to the net to open up lanes for his linemates, helping to generate a good scoring chance from the slot. You do see that his stride lacks some explosiveness though, as he regains his balance after avoiding the hit. His skating has improved, but it will need to continue to be an area of focus after he rehabs his knee.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-jayden_grubbe_-_1st_period_13_20_-_13_33.mp4

Even though Grubbe plays that power center role to a tee, he does possess a fair amount of skill. That is on display here with his lone goal in the WHL this season before the injury. Great finish in tight on the powerplay.

Zack Ostapchuk

Left Wing, Vancouver Giants

6’3, 200lbs

Listen, size still sells. While less emphasis is placed on it than it used to be, big forwards who can skate, bring physicality, and chip in offensively are still highly coveted by NHL scouts. That is Ostapchuk in a nutshell. The rangy winger has looked good early on with increased minutes in Vancouver and his raw combination of size and skill is definitely enticing.

A North/South attacker, Ostapchuk moves well up and down and possesses good speed for a big kid, which he uses effectively to drive the net and attack in transition. His lateral quickness, agility, and balance could all still use some work, but the basic framework is there for strong skating power forward. Ostapchuk, much like Grubbe, also shows off good hands in puck protection and is able to generate his own chances. Like a lot of bigger forwards at a young age, he will need to learn to balance his physical approach with getting himself into a better position to score. Some of the offensive inconsistency thus far can be attributed to running around a little bit, a frantic approach. But the potential is certainly there for Ostapchuk to develop into, at the very least, a high-end bottom six player at the NHL level.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-Zack-Ostapchuk-Physicality.mp4

Another great montage of physicality. First, Ostapchuk’s speed is on display as he tracks down a Prince George player on the penalty kill and then makes his presence felt physically to separate him from the puck. Ostapchuk is an impressive penalty killer because of his length and quickness. Second, he works the chip and chase and uses the reverse hit very effectively to make sure he keeps the puck alive. Unfortunately, his support is too slow and the play dies, but still an impressive physical play.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-zack_ostapchuk_-_3rd_period_23_3_-_23_15.mp4

Notice how Ostapchuk’s speed really catches the Victoria defender flat footed. He seems to beat defenders on the regular, either on the attack or on retrievals. The question is, are the hands good enough for him to develop into a consistently impactful offensive player? Here he is not able to finish as he loses control after he gets in tight (and because of the well-placed stick check).

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-zack_ostapchuk_-_1st_period_15_11_-_15_23.mp4

Another play and another break for Ostapchuk, as he picks up speed quickly and gets in alone. This time he finishes, going five hole on the Kamloops netminder. If he can truly work on his strength on the puck and ability to maintain possession through more of these rushes, he has a chance to be a high-end role player at the NHL level because of his size and speed combination.

QMJHL

James Malatesta

Left Wing, Quebec Remparts

5’9, 180lbs

No question, the crop of forwards available from the QMJHL this year is pretty deep. James Malatesta often seems to get lost in that group; the forgotten man if you will. He is not the biggest. He is not the most skilled of the group. He does not have NHL bloodlines. However, Malatesta is an impressive player in his own right.

He first caught my eye at the Under 17’s where he showed terrific chemistry with Shane Wright on Canada Black. His performance at that event was certainly eye catching. A very strong rookie season in the QMJHL last year helped fuel more hype. However, his 2020/21 season has not been quite as impressive, with his point per game average down and the Remparts struggling as a team (only four wins in their last twelve). This has caused his stock to drop on many draft lists.

However, as mentioned, Malatesta is still an impressive prospect. He is an absolute bull on the ice and nearly impossible to separate from the puck, despite being 5’9. His speed is also extremely impressive. Not only can he skate by you, but he can skate through you. A high-volume shooter, the question remains about how high Malatesta’s offensive upside is. He has had some trouble finishing off scoring chances this season and his overall consistency has been lacking. That said, I have a lot of time for Malatesta still because I love his determination on and off the puck and I think his speed and power combination will play well at the pro level.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-james_malatesta_-_3rd_period_21_3_-_21_15.mp4

Really nice puck control on display here by Malatesta. Makes a quick move at the line and then takes away the defenders reach by putting him on his back. He then makes a couple deft moves and finds a teammate for the goal. Malatesta may not be tall, but he is so powerful and difficult to separate from the puck.

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One of the reasons that Malatesta is so difficult to contain is his speed. If the CHL Top Prospect’s Game would have actually occurred this year, I would have expected him to finish near the top in many of those on ice skating tests (especially the sprints). Look at how quickly he hits that gap and explodes past the defenders to score here.

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One of the criticisms I have seen about Malatesta’s game is his decision making with the puck and this turnover certainly is not great; a very poor read. However, no one criticizes Malatesta’s determination and effort. Again, we see his speed as he tracks down the Baie-Comeau forward to negate the breakaway and execute a perfect stick lift to neutralize the situation.

Riley Kidney

Center, Acadie-Bathurst Titan,

5’11, 168lbs

For whatever reason, Riley Kidney seems to be flying under the radar right now among QMJHL eligibles despite performing well at the 2019 Under 17’s and having the third highest point per game average among U18 players in the ‘Q.” I know our QMJHL scout Benoit Belanger is quite high on him and it was one of the reasons that I wanted to watch him play. Needless to say, I came away quite impressed.

Kidney reminds me a lot of all the reasons why I loved Tristen Robins of Saskatoon at last year’s NHL draft (a player we ranked aggressively). There really is not a true weakness in his game. He keeps his feet moving constantly in the offensive end and plays with a lot of energy. Kidney is a player who always seems to be around the puck and that speaks volumes to his IQ and awareness on the ice. It is easy to see him becoming a quality middle six center at the next level because of how many things he does well and how he elevates the play of those around him. Last year Benoit really nailed his under the radar pick in Elliot Desnoyers (who has exploded with Halifax), and I like his odds of nailing this one too.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-Riley-Kidney-Puck-Control.mp4

On a nightly basis Kidney seems to put on a clinic in puck control, as this montage shows. He is just so difficult to separate from the puck. His hands are so quick in tight spaces and his agility is excellent, making him very difficult to pin down. It is what makes him such a high-quality playmaker.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-riley_kidney_-_1st_period_22_38_-_22_55.mp4

As mentioned, Kidney excels in all situations because of his high energy level and excellent anticipation in all three zones. Here is a perfect example of that. Shows off great anticipation by getting his stick in the slot to break up the pass, then beats Sea Dogs to the puck to chip it out, helping to set up a two on one for the Titan.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-riley_kidney_-_1st_period_13_2_-_13_15.mp4

Love this play by Kidney and I believe it really shows off his playmaking chops. Sure, his first shot attempt is blocked, but in reality, he is trying to put a low wrister on net as he identifies that his teammate has inside position near the crease for a redirect. When his shot is blocked, he already has an idea of what he wants to do, making a perfect seam pass to set up the goal. Kidney just seems to be consistently one step ahead of the competition.

Manix Landry

Center, Gatineau Olympiques

5’11, 180lbs

The son of former Montreal Canadiens center Eric Landry, Manix is a really interesting prospect eligible this year. A late born ‘02, his offensive production does not jump off the page at you. However, it is important to note that Gatineau is the third lowest scoring team in the QMJHL, and Landry still sits third in team scoring on top of serving as team Captain.

Interestingly enough, Manix’s father Eric was the long time coach of Gatineau prior to this season, so it is his first time playing without his father in the QMJHL.

What you notice immediately about Landry’s game is his physical intensity level. This is a kid who really plays with a chip on his shoulder and loves to get under the skin of the opposition. However, he also possesses a significant amount of skill with the puck and is an excellent play creator, especially when attacking the offensive zone with speed. He has been red hot lately, with points in 11 of his last 14 games, averaging over a point per game during that time period. If you like feisty and creative centers, then Manix Landry is your guy.

Video Samples

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-manix_landry_-_3rd_period_28_4_-_28_16.mp4

The first thing you notice about Landry’s game is his ability to create in transition and the aggressiveness with which he attacks the middle of the ice with speed. Landry uses pace changes to beat his defender one on one and then makes a skilled cut to the net where he scores on the second chance. I could have included a couple different instances just like this one.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-manix_landry_-_1st_overtime_1_32_-_1_44.mp4

Landry has proven himself to be an excellent forechecker over his time in the QMJHL because he can use his quickness and tenacity to apply pressure and retrieve dump ins. Here we see him fight through two checks to maintain possession and then he finds an open teammate in the slot for the goal. Quite often Landry draws in second and third defenders to provide support in separating him from the puck and this opens up the ice for linemates.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-manix_landry_-_1st_overtime_1_32_-_1_44.mp4

As mentioned, Landry is at his best when he is playing with fire and intensity. His game really seems to pick up when he is able to make an impact physically. Here he uses the reverse hit very effectively to secure the puck along the wall. Later, we see him get a taste of his own medicine behind the net, but it is important for him to attack and play that pest like role.