Zayde Wisdom – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #10

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 14:13:14 +0000

Top 20 Philadelphia Flyers Prospects

1. Matvei Michkov

Move over Austin Powers, Matvei Michkov is the new International Man of Mystery. On talent alone, Michkov deserved to be selected inside the top five of this year’s draft. He had been hyped just as long as Bedard for the top of the 2023 class. However, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the corresponding ban on Russia from the IIHF threw a huge wrench into that narrative. His contract situation in the KHL (another three seasons, at minimum) further complicate things. However, the Flyers decided that the risk was worth the reward. An elite offensive player, Michkov is one of the most creative and gifted young players outside of the NHL. Over the next three years in the KHL, the Flyers will be looking for improved consistency away from the puck, improved utilization of his teammates, and improvements made to his explosiveness as a skater. All signs would point to Philadelphia receiving an immediate impact player once he arrives, rewarding their patience, just as the Wild were rewarded with Kirill Kaprizov.

2. Cutter Gauthier

One of the more recent additions to the Philadelphia organization, Gauthier was selected fifth overall in 2022 out of the USNTDP. He was a standout player for the program, including a strong performance at the U18s. Post-draft, he has continued that success, helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the World Juniors and contributing over one point per game as a freshman with NCAA Boston College. He plays a fearless game, driving the net, jumping into puck battles, and playing so with speed. He's a high-volume shooter who could pick his shots better, but you have to appreciate the confidence. He plays in a style that should allow him to seamlessly adjust to the NHL. He has already confirmed that he will stick in Boston for his sophomore season, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s wearing the orange, black, and white.

3. Tyson Foerster

Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 Draft, Foerster has had some issues with a nagging shoulder injury but has always been able to find his game. He spent the pandemic with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, easily transitioning to the higher level. He spent more time in the OHL in 2021-22 but returned to the AHL last season, even seeing time in the NHL. In fact, he almost looked better in the NHL than he had at any other level. Foerster has one of the best shots not in the NHL and does extremely well at creating offense, both for himself and his teammates. He plays hard and shows promising attention to the defensive side of the puck as well. His skating was a worry in his draft year but has steadily improved since then. He looks NHL-ready and likely makes the jump in 2023-24 as a middle-six producer.

4. Bobby Brink

The Flyers have been patient with Brink, which has proven to be the correct path. He was selected 34th overall in 2019 from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, where he had been named USHL Forward of the Year. Following the draft, he made the jump to the NCAA with the University of Denver, transitioning seamlessly with a strong rookie season, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. After a down sophomore campaign, Brink exploded in 2021-22, leading the entire NCAA in points (57) and was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He moved up to the AHL last season, continuing his upward development slope. He’s a very strong skater , who does well at getting off the wall and into the middle of the ice. He’s not far off from a middle-six role in the NHL.

5. Oliver Bonk

Bonk, the son of former Ottawa Senator standout Radek, has a game predicated on his strong positioning, anticipation, and awareness. One would probably expect nothing less from someone who grew up around the game. One of the smartest defenders available in the 2023 draft, he is a disruptive force in the defensive end. Additionally, what makes Bonk such a defensive asset is his ability to kickstart the transition game. As mentioned, his IQ is the strongest component of his game, and this is evident when he has the puck on his stick in the defensive zone. From an offensive perspective, there may be some limitations to his game. He is not a dynamic skater, either in terms of his linear quickness or his agility. He will jump up in the play and he does a great job of getting pucks through to the net, both skills based off his high intelligence level. However, he is not incredibly creative, and that lack of quickness hurts him as a carrier. There is a fairly safe road to Bonk becoming a dependable, longtime second pairing defender at the NHL level. The London Knight’s track record at developing blueliners is another factor in his favor.

6. Emil Andrae

One of the most exciting defensive prospects out there, Andrae is the picture of the modern defender. He thrives jumping up into the rush and leading the transition, using his light footwork to navigate through the opposition. Drafted 54th overall in 2020, he joined SHL HV71 during a rough season which saw the team relegated. He followed with an excellent season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, helping the team jump right back to the SHL and earning the Best Junior award, leading all rookies in points. He also starred on the Swedish WJC team, leading all defenders in goals and being named to the tournament All-Star Team. He’s a strong playmaker with excellent vision and has been improving his decision-making over the past few seasons. His size may be a concern, but he has the skill of a top four defender. He made the jump to North America at the end of last season and will look to build off a strong, yet brief cameo.

7. Helge Grans

Grans still has a lot of work left to do before he'll be ready to hack it at the NHL level. His play thus far in the AHL hasn't lived up to expectations, but the long-term upside that he possesses is undeniable. He checks off a lot of boxes that you want to see in a defenseman: athleticism, size, reach, mobility, and puck movement. Heck, he even shoots right-handed. Unfortunately, he still struggles to blend all these tools together. There are fair questions about his hockey sense and processing speed, and for a blueliner with his profile, you'd like to see more sandpaper and a stronger willingness to work hard to win positioning and pucks. Grans could be the type of prospect who blows up in his mid 20s, or he might never become much more than he is right now.

8. Carson Bjarnason

It was a tale of two seasons for Bjarnson in 2022-23, with a storybook start to his campaign but then a horror finish, as injuries derailed him during the back end of the regular season and again at the IIHF U18s. The good news for him now is that his long-term projection is still very promising. He is an impeccably well-rounded netminder, with plenty of natural net coverage, stoic mental composure, refined technique and stance, and clean movements in his crease. When he is at the top of his game, he can single-handedly steal wins for his team while making it look easy and routine. He has the right combination of traits to eventually become an NHL number one, and he'll get two more years’ worth of reps as a starter in the WHL to help prepare himself, while gaining valuable and transferable experience in that kind of role. Like almost all teenage goalies, he is still very much a project, with consistency concerns and the need to cut down on the number of weak goals he allows, but his foundation is solid.

9. Elliott Desnoyers

A later round pick selected 135th overall in 2020, Desnoyers moved to the Halifax Mooseheads from the Moncton Wildcats in 2020-21, suiting up as an alternate captain. He took a big step forward on the ice while also taking on more of a leadership role in 2021-22, wearing the ‘C’. He made the jump to the Phantoms last season and continued to show improvement as one of the more productive players on the team. He seems able to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup and succeed, playing a hard-fought game with an underrated amount of skill. Desnoyers plays a smart game, rarely making a mistake. He’s well on his way to becoming a solid bottom six contributor who could move up in the lineup in the appropriate situation. It is already safe to call him a draft success considering where he was selected and how he has since progressed.

10. Ronnie Attard

One of the older prospects not yet in the NHL, it’s been a long road for Attard. However, it seems like that road and the patience of Flyers’ brass with him has paid off. Selected 72nd overall in 2019 after a huge season with the USHL Tri-City Storm where he was named USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year, as well as USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then jumped to the NCAA’s Western Michigan University where the success continued, being named a two-time NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman within his three years there. Last season, he continued his rise, joining the Phantoms and fitting right in. He’s an aggressive, offensive defender that performs very well in transition. He has all the tools to be a reliable bottom-four defender at the next level and isn’t far off from making it.

11. Egor Zamula

This is a huge year for Zamula as he is no longer exempt from waivers. The puck moving defender has a real solid shot of finally becoming a permanent fixture on the Flyers’ blueline this season, but his defensive game still needs to show growth.

12. Ethan Samson

A two-way defender out of the WHL, Samson has developed incredibly well since being drafted. He holds the offensive blueline extremely well and makes opposing players earn touches in the defensive end. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the pro level this year.

13. Alexei Kolosov

An outstanding athlete, Kolosov was already a starter in the KHL as a 21-year-old last year, playing for hometown Minsk. He could move up the prospect rankings pretty quickly if he plays well with Lehigh Valley this year.

14. Alexis Gendron

Among the Q’s leading goal scorers last year, Gendron is deadly in open space. His speed can be deadly, but there are still concerns about his lack of size. He is likely returning to the Q for an overage year and is a contender to lead the league in scoring.

15. Olle Lycksell

While the Flyers’ depth chart looks pretty crowded right now, Lycksell has to be one of the favourites to be called up in a case of a long-term injury. He is a very creative playmaker and he was great after finally crossing the pond to play in the AHL last year.

16. Devin Kaplan

Kaplan plays such a mature, pro ready game already as a young prospect. He had a solid freshman year at Boston University, but there is a need for him to continue to become a more dynamic skater. Kaplan is a potentially elite bottom six player and penalty killer.

17. Samuel Ersson

Thrust into NHL action last year, Ersson held his own and managed to win six games for the Flyers as a rookie. The soon to be 24-year-old finds himself as part of a crowded crease, but he has NHL upside.

18. Denver Barkey

A tenacious worker, Barkey does so many things well and that’s why the Flyers used a third-round selection on him this year. He is a serious 2023-24 breakout candidate with the London Knights.

19. Samu Tuomaala

After a disastrous 2021-22 season, Tuomaala appears to have gotten himself back on track with a strong season in the Finnish second league. He still has the speed. He still has the big shot. But there are still questions about his hockey sense.

20. Zayde Wisdom

Possibly still feeling the after-effects of a wonky shoulder, Wisdom’s development has stalled in a big way. He was so good in that Covid shortened AHL season and he has yet to come close to matching that. Let’s see if he can get back on track this year as an AHL regular.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #14 Philadelphia Flyers

Josh Bell — Sun, 21 May 2023 12:53:44 +0000

The Cliff Fletcher era (since 2018) ended following another difficult season, with the GM stubbornly insisting the Flyers were close to contending and resisting any retooling. Even coach John Tortorella surprisingly called for a rebuild mid-season. Now, the franchise will be given the chance with newly named President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones, and new GM Danny Briere. The early signaling suggests they will be looking at investing in prospects for the next few years, and offseason talk has turned to who will move to attain future assets. Briere has a reputation for embracing analytics, and how that affects decision-making remains to be seen with Jones being more traditional in approach.

Philadelphia owns nine picks in the upcoming draft and four first rounders over the next three years. Look for them to add to that stockpile significantly in the coming months. They have the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft, which should net a quality prospect in a deep draft. They added Cutter Gauthier fifth overall last year. A confident player, who plays a fearless game, seems to fit the classic Flyers identity. He should be in the line-up very soon. They also have two NHL-ready prospects in Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink, so a youth injection next season seems inevitable. This should be a very transformed roster in a year’s time, with no veteran untouchables, with the possible exception of goalie Carter Hart. How deep the new regime will want to go remains to be seen. Whether to the foundations like Chicago, or something more in the middle. Stay tuned.

Cutter Gauthier of USA celebrates during the friendly under-20 ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2022 in Moncton.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN

Cutter Gauthier

One of the more recent additions to the Philadelphia Flyers, Cutter Gauthier was selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft from the USNTDP. He was a standout player in the program, including a strong performance at the Under-18s. Post-draft, he’s continued that success forward, helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the World Juniors and playing over a point per game as a freshman with Boston College in the NCAA. He plays a fearless game, driving the net, jumping into puck battles, and he does so with speed. He's a high-volume shooter that could pick his shots better, but you have to appreciate the confidence. He plays a game that seems like it will adjust to the NHL seamlessly. He’s already confirmed that he’s sticking in Boston for his sophomore season, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s wearing the orange, black, and white.

2. Bobby Brink

The Flyers have been patient with Bobby Brink, and that’s proven to be the correct path. Selected 34th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, where he was named USHL Forward of the Year. Following the draft, he made the jump to the NCAA and the University of Denver, fitting right in with a strong rookie season, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. He continued that for another season and then exploded in 2021-22, leading the entire NCAA in points (57) and was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He’s moved up to the AHL this season, continuing his upward development slope. He’s a very strong skater, who does well at getting off the wall and into the middle of the ice. He’s not far off from a middle-six role in the NHL.

3. Tyson Foerster

Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Tyson Foerster has had some issues with a nagging shoulder injury but has always been able to find his game. He spent the pandemic with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, easily transitioning to the next level. He did spend some more time in the OHL in 2021-22 but is back in the AHL this season and has even seen time in the NHL, almost looking better in the NHL than any other level. He has one of the best shots not in the NHL and does extremely well at creating offense, either for himself or his teammates. He plays hard and shows promising attention to the defensive side of the puck as well. His skating was a worry in his draft year but has been steadily improving. He looks NHL-ready and likely makes the jump in 2023-24 as a middle-six producer.

4. Emil Andrae

One of the most exciting defensive prospects out there, Emil Andrae is the picture of the modern defender. He thrives jumping up into the rush and leading transition, using his light footwork to navigate the opposition. Drafted 54th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Andrae joined HV71 in the SHL during a rough year where they were relegated. He had an excellent season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, helping the team jump back to the SHL and earning the Best Junior award, leading all rookies in points. He also starred on the Swedish World Junior team, leading all defenders in goals and being named to the All-Star Team. He’s a strong playmaker with excellent vision and has been improving his decision-making over the past few seasons. His size may lead to concern, but he has the skill of a top-four defender. He’s already made the jump to North America, where he’s already beginning to excel.

5. Elliot Desnoyers

A later draft pick at 135th overall in 2020, Elliot Desnoyers moved to the Halifax Mooseheads from the Moncton Wildcats in 2020-21 as the alternate captain. He took a big step forward before taking another big step as the captain in 2021-22. He made the jump to the Phantoms this season and has continued to improve as one of the more productive players on the team. He’s a player that seems to be able to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup and succeed, playing a hard-fought game with an underrated amount of skill. He plays a smart game, rarely making a mistake. He’s well on his way to becoming a solid bottom-six contributor that could move up in the lineup in the appropriate situation. Already with his development, it’s safe to call him a success considering where he was drafted and how he’s progressed.

6. Ronnie Attard

One of the older prospects not yet in the NHL, it’s been a long road for Ronnie Attard. However, it seems like that road and the patience of Flyers’ brass with him has paid off. The Flyers selected him 72nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft after a huge season in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm where he was named USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year, and USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then jumped to the NCAA’s Western Michigan University where the success continued, being named a two-time NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman within his three years there. This season, he’s continued his rise, joining the Phantoms and seeming to fit right in. He’s an aggressive, offensive defender that does very well in transition. He has all the tools to be a reliable bottom-four defender at the next level and isn’t far off.

7. Egor Zamula

After going undrafted, the Flyers signed Egor Zamula to an entry-level deal in 2018, just after his first season in North America in the WHL. He spent two more seasons with the Calgary Hitmen as a point-per-game defender. In 2020-21, he jumped to the next level and ever since has seemed on the cusp of being an NHLer. He’s seen some time with the Flyers in each season but just hasn’t made the permanent jump yet. The Russian is a two-way defender that moves very well. He can jump up into the rush or the offensive zone when he needs to but he’s just as comfortable sitting back and defending. He relies more on his active stick rather than his physical game, which shouldn’t be a problem in his translation to the NHL. He seems ready to make the jump and could be a middle-pairing asset.

8. Ethan Samson

Another late selection by the Flyers, he was drafted 174th overall in 2021 from the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. He’s been steadily improving his game after being drafted and just capped off a point-per-game season in what should be his final year in the Dub. He’s a very well-rounded prospect although he doesn’t have that one asset that will carry him to the NHL. He’s likely a two-way defender when all is said and done. He has some skill in his game, but only utilizes it in bursts. He’s shown that he can produce, thanks to a big shot and some accurate passing. He defends well, not afraid to mix things up physically. Given the averageness of his game, the NHL isn’t a guarantee, and it does seem more likely that he carves out an AHL spot for himself. He could be a call-up option as well though and lock down a depth defender role.

9. Alexis Gendron

Selected near the end of the 2022 NHL Draft, the Flyers waited until the 220th selection to call Alexis Gendron’s name. He’s had a steady progression through his three seasons in the QMJHL, seeing his production jump forward significantly each season. He has no fear in his game despite his 5-foot-9 frame, often getting into the high-danger areas and finding his way into puck battles. He has an intriguing amount of creativity on the ice and has shown that he can put the puck in the net or dish it out. He’s a bit more reactive instead of proactive, and his ceiling is quite limited. His development has been promising and he’s still young, but at this point, it seems likely that he peaks as an AHLer. Even if that is the case, that’s a good return on a seventh-round flyer.

10. Olle Lycksell

Drafted way back in the 2017 NHL Draft, 168th overall, Olle Lycksell is another prospect in the system where patience has paid off. Drafted out the J20 SuperElit, he split the following season between the J20 SuperElit and SHL before spending the next three seasons as a regularly productive forward in the SHL. This season, he’s made the move overseas to the AHL, even seeing some time in the NHL. He’s been one of the most productive forwards for the Phantoms, exceeding expectations for a sixth-round pick. The centreman has good hands, a great level of creativity, and a very accurate snapshot. It was once thought to be a stretch for him to reach the NHL, but it now looks like just a matter of time. He looks like he could be a reliable secondary scoring option in the bottom six.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Ethan Hetu, Zack Szweras, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 20:35:33 +0000

1 - Cutter Gauthier LW

Cutter Gauthier, the fifth-overall pick at the 2022 NHL draft, was a bit of a divisive prospect in his draft cycle. His first-round merits weren’t up for debate — pretty much everyone agreed on his chops as a top-half-of-the-first-round talent — but it was his status among the draft’s very best prospects that garnered the most debate. Sources within the game, such as Bob McKenzie of TSN’s rankings based on polls of NHL scouts, ranked him as a prospect deserving of top-five consideration, and the Flyers seemed to agree, while rankings from the media held his game in less of a high regard, ranking him more around the back of the top-ten or the early teens. The split in opinion on Gauthier can be largely explained by his on-ice profile. The merits of Gauthier’s game, the best aspects of his profile, read off like a coach’s wishlist for things he or she wants in a skater. Gauthier is fearless, always looking to create chances in any way he can, even in the dirty areas of the ice. He has a high work ethic, finding ways to remain active and close to the play on every shift. He’s physical, and he regularly engages in and wins board battles. Perhaps most importantly for his pro projection, Gauthier is a disciplined prospect, always working within the structure and system his coach provides for him. Some players want to excel in the game on their own terms, while Gauthier instead looks like a player keenly interested in maximizing his effectiveness within his coach’s vision rather than his own. That’s not to say he’s without high-end tools, his shot, for example, is among the very best in his class, but that is to say that his overall profile emphasizes the high likelihood of him being an impactful NHL-er rather than him having a chance at becoming a game-breaking star. - EH

2 - Cam York D

It was a pretty solid first full pro season for York, as he split time between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley before a foot fracture ended his season early. In Philadelphia, he was quarterbacking the top powerplay unit, a role that he is definitely being groomed for. York is a terrific distributor because of his vision and mobility. He remains composed at all times working the point because he has confidence in his ability to elude checks and consistently makes quick decisions under pressure. His composure translates to the defensive end too, where he is a breakout machine. Again, he rarely panics in the face of pressure and can either carry out or make a successful exit pass to clear the defensive zone. The highest scoring defender in the history of the U.S. NTDP, York’s offensive potential at the NHL level remains sky high. Defensively, his progression will be tied to his ability to add strength to help him win puck battles and positional battles more consistently. His positioning and reads are sound, but he was overwhelmed at times as a rookie playing on a struggling team. Even with the acquisition of Anthony DeAngelo, York figures to play the entire upcoming season with Philadelphia. DeAngelo will definitely cut into his powerplay time, but York should still play a consistent role, likely paired with a veteran such as Justin Braun, on the third pairing. Eventually, he should slide into a top four role and take over top powerplay responsibilities as one of the Flyers’ key young cornerstones. - BO

3 - Bobby Brink RW

Bobby Brink was the most productive scorer in the NCAA last season, and his success at the University of Denver is what led him to sign his NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. An early second-round pick at the 2019 draft, Brink’s offensive talent was never in doubt. Brink’s puck skills, his stickhandling, passing, and control of the flow of play with the puck on his stick is extremely good. He has this shiftiness to him that makes him a difficult task to handle for opposing defenders, and it’s impossible to guess what Brink will do next with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. There are few players in college hockey who create offense the way Brink does, and by the end of his brilliant junior campaign he looked like he’d mastered the art of creating offense against college defenses. The issue with Brink, and the reason he didn’t go in the first round in 2019, largely lies in the way he creates offense and his most talked-about tool: his skating. To address the first point, Brink creates offense from the outside, and rarely is one to use the more difficult areas of the ice to create his chances. For many players, they can survive doing so because of their ability to separate from defenders. Brink’s skating, while more developed than it was in his draft year, is still far from being sufficient enough to give him a separation gear, and he’ll struggle to play the same style of offense against NHL defenses. If Brink can improve his skating significantly, then he can be a similar player as an NHLer to who he was in college, but massive improvements in his skating are unlikely, what’s more likely is Brink either makes the necessary stylistic and habitual adjustments to survive as a scorer in the NHL or wholly fails to live up to the hype he generated as a college star. - EH

4 - Tyson Foerster C

The last two seasons have not been kind to Foerster, the Flyers’ 23rd overall selection in 2020. Two years ago, with the OHL on a pandemic related hiatus, Foerster suffered a leg fracture that limited his playing time with Lehigh Valley in the AHL. Last year, the injury bug bit again as a shoulder injury kept him out for the majority of the season until the Flyers returned Foerster back to the OHL to help Barrie with their playoff run. In reality, he should have been returned to the OHL at the very beginning of the season to help his development. On a positive note, he looked fully healthy at the summer World Juniors playing for Canada, where he had a strong tournament. Drafted with the potential of playing center, Foerster appears locked in as a winger now. It is there that he can take advantage of his outstanding shot, especially from a stand still. He also plays a competitive game without the puck, working hard to win battles, forecheck, and force turnovers defensively. The weak spot of his game, Foerster’s explosiveness and top speed, have improved since being drafted, however it will need to continue to improve over the next few years for him to become a top six forward for the Flyers. He projects as a middle six goal scorer who can be a weapon on the powerplay. This coming season, Foerster will likely spend the full season in Lehigh Valley, hoping to finally have a healthy campaign at the AHL level. - BO

5 - Egor Zamula D

Now fully healthy following back surgery in 2020, the former free agent signing out of Calgary (WHL) is coming off of a strong year in the AHL with Lehigh Valley, where Zamula was one of the team’s best defenders. He even earned a small cup of coffee with the Flyers; a reward for his strong play in the AHL. He is a strong and mobile two-way defender with the upside to be a difference maker at both ends. An excellent athlete, he is terrific at defending pace and closing off lanes in transition. He is aggressive with his gaps, and he uses his long reach to be disruptive. He can also have a positive impact on the transition game offensively as his long strides allow him to chew up space quickly and lead the attack through the neutral zone. He is not the most naturally skilled player with the puck, but he protects it well and sees the ice well enough to make quick decisions. The key for him is to continue to add strength and bulk to his wiry frame so that he can apply physical pressure more consistently and effectively at the NHL level. This coming season, he is likely ticketed for another AHL year, although he should also be one of the top injury call-ups for the Flyers. In a year or two, he should be ready for a third pairing role with the opportunity to work higher in the lineup down the road. - BO

6 - Ronnie Attard D

A third-round pick at the 2019 draft, Ronne Attard enjoyed an extremely successful career at Western Michigan University, and by the time he was a senior he had grown into being an all-situations top-of-the-lineup force for first-year coach Pat Ferschweiler. Attard’s time in college led him to make an immediate jump to the NHL with the Flyers, and Attard’s 15-game stretch as an NHL newbie was uneven. There were moments of promise, and Attard was even given looks on both of the Flyers’ special teams units. There were also moments where Attard looked like he badly needed additional development time in the AHL, times when the extremely talented and deceptive playmakers of the NHL were able to expose Attard’s inexperience to create offense. At times, Attard looked like he could weather the storm in the NHL, but those moments were too infrequent for him to comfortably project as an NHL defenseman immediately next season. If Attard can get some time as a top defenseman at AHL Lehigh Valley, he’ll learn to grow more comfortable with the professional game in a lower pressure setting. Attard is a big defenseman who moves well and can theoretically provide value at both ends of the ice. He showed enough as a college defenseman to reasonably have AHL number-one defenseman upside, and if he can stick as an NHLer and develop a bit more he could possibly anchor a bottom-pairing as a two-way defenseman who contributes on the secondary units of both special teams’ groups. - EH

7 - Noah Cates LW

Noah Cates’ four-year progression at the University of Minnesota-Duluth might look a bit puzzling to onlookers, as he never truly became a game-breaking offensive player after his point-per-game sophomore season. But in the absence of high-end offensive development, Cates has polished his game and become a true two-way force. The 23-year-old forward was a fifth-round pick at the 2017 draft and has an inside track to remain with the Flyers’ NHL club next season after scoring five goals and nine points in his first 16 NHL games. Cates, a six-foot-one left wing, is the kind of two-way player that NHL coaches will have a difficult time leaving out of their lineup. Despite his inexperience, Cates got time on the Flyers’ penalty kill and figures to have a future in that role in the NHL. Cates is a smart player, and he often puts himself in the right place at the right time. Some might attribute players who do that often as them simply being lucky, but Cates’ offensive game is largely based on opportunism. Cates creates his own luck, always reading the play and finding ways to be in the exact places his teammates want a linemate to be in. His raw tools won’t overwhelm, and his upside as an offensive generator in the NHL is limited, but if he finds ways to remain reasonably productive at the NHL level despite not having a ton of plainly visible offensive talent, that shouldn’t surprise anybody. As a potential penalty killer who gives his team sporadic bursts of scoring, Cates can forge a solid NHL career. He doesn’t have the most upside of any Flyers prospect, but he’s a decent bet to make an NHL impact and be someone coaches always find a way to fit in their lineup. - EH

8 - Wade Allison RW

Is there a player in professional hockey with worse luck than Wade Allison the last few seasons? He was penciled into the Flyers’ lineup this past season before suffering an ankle injury. Then upon returning he suffered an MCL sprain. Just when you thought he was healthy, boom…he acquired a serious arm laceration from a skate. When healthy, Allison is a middle six NHL forward. He has proven that at the NHL level already. His combination of size, skill, and power skating is impressive, and he can be a load to handle for even NHL defenders as he drives the net. Allison has looked particularly impressive on the powerplay at the NHL level, playing as the bumper or net front presence. That said, have all these injuries stunted his development? The coming season is a huge one for him. The Flyers, once again, have some openings in their middle six that he could grab hold of. Additionally, one of his top competitors for those spots, Bobby Brink, has been lost to injury. Allison needs to come to camp healthy and stay healthy. If he does, he should be a full time NHL player this season and a likely productive one. As the Flyers continue their rebuild, there is definitely a spot for a power scorer like Allison, so long as his body can hold up. - BO

9 - Elliot Desnoyers LW

Desnoyers was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers for his simple, off-puck, defensive brand of hockey. He was a high energy, depth player for Moncton in his draft year. However, after his draft season, Desnoyers completely transformed into a whole different player following a deal to Halifax. Captain of the Mooseheads, Elliot is now a confident puck mover that excels in transition and dictates the pace of the play. His skating is excellent, and he can blow past defenders with ease. Desnoyers also played for Team Canada in the most recent 2022 World Juniors and despite not playing a lot of minutes, he was an important piece for them as they won the gold medal. The only thing holding back Desnoyers is his size and the lack of an elite shot, but given his versatility, it is easy to see him eventually finding a role at the NHL level. That could be as more of a fourth line forechecker and penalty killer, or it could be as a high-energy, playmaking middle six forward. Desnoyers will start his pro journey this season in the AHL, and it seems likely that he will start lower in the lineup to build up confidence in his offensive game while playing against men. After a few years, look for him to be knocking on the door of the Flyers. - EB

10 - Emil Andrae D

The 54^th overall selection in the 2020 NHL draft by the Phillidelphia Flyers, Andrae is an undersized defenceman who exudes confidence on both sides of the ice. He plays with a ton of tenacity, never takes a shift off, and is committed to winning puck battles. Andrae has good four-way mobility, generating speed with strong crossovers and detailed footwork. He is quite gifted in the offensive zone, has a strong ability to scan the ice for open passing/shooting lanes to exploit. While undersized, he has a stocky frame, which allows him to be physical and results in him rarely losing his balance in battles. Since being drafted, Andrae has split the past few seasons between the SHL and Sweden’s second league Allsvenskan. Last season, his HV71 squad competed in the Allsvenskan, where Andrae elevated his game finishing with 33 points in 41 games. He also helped lead HV71 to the Allsvenskan championship with 11 points in 10 playoff games, helping them win promotion back to the SHL. Andrae has also had a ton of success internationally, being named Captain of both the January and August Swedish World Junior teams. At the recent tournament, he led his team in points with 8 in 7 games on his way to helping Sweden capture gold. Andrae also finished 2^nd in points out of all defencemen and was named to the Media All-Star team. He is poised for another strong season for HV71 and will look to dominate the SHL as he did the Allsvenskan last season. - ZS

11 - Samu Tuomaala

A strong skating sniper, Tuomaala’s development wasn’t handled in the best way this past season. The Flyers tried to start the 18/19-year-old at the AHL level but that failed, so they loaned him back to Finland where he also played sparingly. He will try to prove that he is worthy of a larger role in Liiga this season, starting the year with Jukurit from the very beginning.

12 - Jay O'Brien

Everyone’s favourite controversial first round pick, O’Brien’s development path has been a unique one. However, he’s finally found a home at Boston University and has been trending back upwards. The Flyers will be looking for O’Brien to become one of the NCAA’s best offensive players this season.

13 - Ivan Fedotov

Unfortunately, a black cloud is hanging over Fedotov because of his arrest and detainment in Russia after signing with Philadelphia. The promising netminder could have been Philadelphia’s backup this year but his career now hangs in jeopardy. On talent alone, he probably deserves to be higher in these rankings, but the circumstances dictate him being lower.

14 - Alexei Kolosov

A highly athletic Belarussian netminder, Kolosov will need to continue to refine his technical skills while playing in the KHL. He is a longer-term project but one with great potential.

15 - Ethan Samson

One of the WHL’s breakout stars last year, Samson emerged as a two-way threat on a rebuilding Prince George team. The big defender was drafted as more of a physical shutdown type, but his confidence and abilities with the puck have improved tenfold.

16 - Owen McLaughlin

McLaughlin showed significant growth playing in the USHL last season. He helped Sioux City capture a Clark Cup and was a consistent offensive force. The talented and intelligent playmaker will have to continue to upgrade his skating to be an impactful freshman with UND this season.

17 - Zayde Wisdom

After a breakout season at the pro level during the height of the pandemic, Wisdom really raised some eyebrows. However, a shoulder injury and the rehab of it definitely negatively impacted his development as he returned to the OHL last year with mixed results. Wisdom is a hard worker with skill, but hopefully he focused on getting back his speed and quickness this offseason.

18 - Devin Kaplan

An intelligent power winger, Kaplan is the prototypical third line player for today’s NHL. He just needs to focus on improving his quickness while attending Boston University.

19 - Isaac Ratcliffe

The upcoming season will be a huge one for the big winger (no pun intended). He has struggled to adapt to the pace of play in his first three pro seasons. If he does not become a consistent offensive force at the AHL level this season, he may not be qualified by the Flyers next offseason.

20 - Alex Bump

Very much a project pick that Philadelphia will have to be patient with. Bump is a power winger with a scorer’s touch. He needs to improve his quickness and overall skating ability (a trend in Philadelphia’s system). He will likely play with Omaha (USHL) this year before going to Vermont the following season. He could be one of the better players in the USHL this year.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – RANK: #10 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:46:42 +0000

Philadelphia Flyers

#10 Philadelphia - Although lacking in elite level prospects, with all due respect to Cam York, the Flyers' system has a deep and impressive second tier of talent that makes the system one to be respected.

ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 31: Michigan Wolverines defenseman Cam York (4) during the Michigan Wolverines game versus the Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday January 31, 2020 at Yost Ice Arena Center in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

Cam York

While I am sure that Cam York would have appreciated an opportunity to compete for an NCAA title, that simply wasn’t an option over his two seasons with the stacked Michigan Wolverines. The tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic when he was a freshman. As a sophomore, his role was even more instrumental and the Wolverines were even better, top to bottom, but the team wasn’t allowed to compete in the postseason due to an unspecified number of positive COVID tests among the players and staff just as the tournament was about to get underway.

As a result, York left school, coming off the fifth highest scoring season (by PPG) of any Michigan defender since the turn of the century. He played big minutes, in all situations, and was a true play driver. While his offensive game was ready to roll from his pre-draft days in the USNTDP, where his game grew on campus was in being able to set the pace for the team. With the puck on his stick, York can slow the pace down, or speed it up, as he wishes. He is a masterful puck carrier, who can look dynamic rushing the puck, even though his speed is closer to fine than great. He looked ready in his brief pro debut and seems likely to open this season as part of the Flyers’ third defensive pairing, which should include some time on the second power play unit as well. Eventually though, he has #2/3 upside. - RW

Tyson Foerster

Fresh off being a first round selection by the Flyers in 2020, Foerster was able to spend the most recent season in the AHL with Lehigh Valley because of the OHL’s cancellation. An elite level scorer, it was great for Foerster to be able to play in the AHL early so that he could learn to adapt to the pace and strength requirements of the pro game.

A player who endured a late growth spurt, Foerster is what you would call a late bloomer. Armed with a cannon of a wrist shot and one timer, Foerster is lethal from anywhere on the ice and has the sort of scoring instincts that cannot be taught. However, he has worked hard to add more explosiveness to his stride, in addition to more dynamism to his edgework, in the name of becoming a more consistent offensive player. The Flyers are hoping that Foerster can transform himself into more than just a triggerman and thus far the results have been good. He was not the most consistent AHL contributor as a 19-year-old, however he did show improvement in his physical tools and is on track to become a strong NHL contributor. This coming season, Foerster will be granted the opportunity to play in the AHL again, rather than return to the OHL, given that he played over 20 games as a pro last season. He is still likely a year or two away from being a Flyer. - BO

Morgan Frost

It was a year to forget for the former first round pick, as Frost required season ending shoulder surgery only a couple games into the season. This was after breaking camp with the Flyers, earning a bottom six role to start the season. Will a lost year of development have significant repercussions?

Frost has always been a player who has stood out because of his combination of skill and vision. Over the course of his OHL and pro career, he has been able to upgrade his skating to become a more elusive and dynamic player in transition. The question is, what will Frost’s role at the NHL level ultimately be? Is he a center or a wing? Has he done enough to improve his skill set to be a top six forward? Can he continue to improve his play away from the puck to make him a more versatile player? Coming off of a serious injury, Frost’s place in Philadelphia’s lineup this season is far from solidified. He will have to earn it in camp. Given that Frost is a year away from being waiver eligible, this is going to be a big year for his development. - BO

Wade Allison

Last season may have been shortened due to the pandemic, but at least it was a relatively healthy one for Allison (outside of an ankle injury to start this year). In his rookie pro season, he split it relatively evenly between the NHL and AHL and excelled at both levels. A hard charging power forward, the former second round pick was hampered by injuries throughout the last three of his four seasons at Western Michigan, most notably a torn knee ligament. As mentioned earlier, his 2020/21 season was also slightly delayed as he was recovering from ankle surgery. The speed with which he excited as a draft eligible prospect in the USHL is a little diminished, but Allison manages to get positioning down low and forces the opponents to pay undue attention to him, helping open up more room for his linemates.

Due to turn 24 on the day before Philadelphia’s season opener, there seems to be little more development for him in the AHL, even though his complete minor league experience consists of 10 games last season. He could easily jump right into a bottom six role next season, providing energy in a moderately sheltered role to start, while working towards a more impactful role as time goes by, provided that he stays healthy. The top six upside he demonstrated before his injuries struck may still be within. - RW

Jay O’Brien

From the penthouse to the outhouse and back to the penthouse, O’Brien’s nascent career has already seen more starts and stops than most, but here he is, trending back upwards when all hope seemed lost as recently as last year. A rare first rounder out of prep school, O’Brien was a perfect storm of puck skills and outlandish confidence. He went from the draft to Providence and promptly fell flat on his face, with a five-point freshman season in which his play lived down to his production.

Instead of pushing through the disappointment and trying to make it work in Rhode Island, he decamped to British Columbia, spending a season with Penticton of the BCHL as he sought a new collegiate home. He was good enough with the Vees to be a 1^st Team, BCHL All Star, but not so overwhelming as to regain all of his prospect sheen. That only came this year, in a return to the NCAA, this time with Boston University, where he tied for the team lead in scoring, in a season that was even more COVID-disrupted than most. Forgetting the twisted path he took to this point, what we have now is a shifty, tricky player who has a knack for drawing penalties, and creating scoring chances in equal measure. Remembering that twisted path, we definitely want to see O’Brien build off of this year before we really begin tooting his horn, but he is very much back in the picture, and in the Flyers’ future plans. - RW

Egor Zamula

Yegor Zamula is another former WHL player that got into his first NHL game this season. After a great performance at the 2020 World Juniors, Zamula opted for neck surgery and used the early part of Covid to recover and rehab himself before taking on his next challenge at the pro level. Now at one hundred percent, the lanky Russian defender is trying to establish himself on a Philadelphia blueline teaming with talent.

He is a smooth skating big man who controls the offensive blue line. He is able to make subtle plays that big men don’t typically have in their game, such as small area passes and quick footwork. In his own zone he uses his skating to get to dump ins quickly and then he starts the exit. He is effective because of his quick decision making. He knows when to carry, when to pass and when to dump it in. He can rush the puck and has the ability to make a play or two as pressure comes to him. His shot is good although his long frame and mechanics make his slap shot release slow; his snap and wrist shot are much more effective. After going undrafted his game has grown leaps and bounds. While his offensive upside might still limit him from being a top of the rotation guy, his movement, size, and improved defensive game make him a valuable asset and potential long time NHL defender. - VG

Bobby Brink

Honestly, the 2020-21 was not a great year for Bobby Orr Brink (there is contractual obligation to spell out his complete name at least once in every article in which he appears). Things started off well enough, with three points in his first three games before he joined Team USA in preparing for the WJC, where he looked good again. The goals didn’t go in like they had in previous seasons, but not for lack of effort, not to mention his advanced ability to set up his shot with a subtle angle change to his blade right before releasing, widening his shooting lane.

Now even if they didn’t go in for him, Brink did a fine job helping to create offense for his teammates. Despite his relative lack of goals last year, scoring remains the top draw to his profile. As he is still very small and his skating, while improved, remains on the clunky side, he may be caught between a rock and hard place in terms of his NHL likelihood if he doesn’t get the goals pouring in again like he did as a freshman. His type of player profile doesn’t often get a prolonged NHL chance if they are not scoring, but if Brink has a backup plan, it is under his helmet. He has a knack for reading and reacting exceptionally quickly, and that will always help him maximize his skills. A rebound as a junior will likely mean an NHL contract is coming. - RW

Samu Tuomaala

Finland’s leading scorer at the WU-18s, Tuomaala brings a high level of skills along with a high energy style of play. The scouting profile on Tuomaala starts with his skating prowess. He has a powerful stride, with quick acceleration, and his movement all together seems effortless. His other offensive tools are also of impressive quality. A top goal scorer dating back to his days in U12 tournaments, he picks his shots well and can sow off a deadly release from both static positions as well as in motion. One thing to note is that he is not shy about releasing the puck from a distance. While he has scored more than his fair share from beyond the circles, a credit to the strength of his shot, those pucks are much less likely to find twine in the pros. Further, he rarely shoots from the slot. For some players, that is indicative of playing too much on the perimeter, although Tuomaala’s willingness to get into it along the walls is a good counter-indication that this is not the case for him.

After recently signing with the Flyers, Tuomaala’s playing location for this coming season is a bit of a mystery. He could return to Karpat (on loan) this coming season and look to further establish himself as a regular in Liiga. He could play in the AHL or in the OHL with Sudbury. Either way, when all is said and done, he has the makings of becoming a quality middle six goal scorer for the Flyers, not unlike other players on this list Foerster or Brink. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Zayde Wisdom

Talk about a prospect who made the most out of the OHL’s cancellation last year. A fourth-round selection by the Flyers in 2020, Wisdom played in the AHL as a U19 player for Lehigh Valley and was one of the most productive young players in the league last year. His 18 points were third most by a U19 player and his point per game mark (0.64) was higher than higher profiled fellow 2020 selections Quinton Byfield, and Jacob Perreault. The word “steal” gets thrown around way too often, but Wisdom looks like the very definition of that so far.

In his draft year, Wisdom raised eyebrows by excelling alongside the exceptional Shane Wright, and Los Angeles Kings 2020 pick Martin Chromiak, as part of a tremendous first line for the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL. His compete level is off the charts, and he showed himself to be the perfect complementary scoring line player who could finish off chances, drive the net, and work hard in puck pursuit. However, at the AHL level, he showed that scouts may have underestimated his skill level and overall ceiling. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury suffered this offseason (and subsequent surgery) will keep him out of action for the foreseeable future. A mid-season return is possible, however where the Flyers assign him remains to be seen. He is eligible to play in the AHL again, but given the nature of the injury, Philadelphia could opt to return him to Kingston to ease him back into action at some point. Regardless of the injury, Wisdom is a prospect on the rise in the Flyers’ system and he profiles as a high-end middle six winger in the near future. - BO

Tanner Laczynski

Like Wade Allison above, Laczynski spent his full complement of four seasons in college, in this case, Ohio State. Laczynski is a very different player, though, a more cerebral playmaker to Allison’s power winger. Never blessed with great skating, Laczynski has often succeeded by slowing the game down, forcing the opposition to guess, and often enough, to guess wrong. Putting aside his five game NHL cameo at season’s end, in which he averaged under 10 minutes of ice time per game, the center showed enough in his AHL debut run – which was also limited, in this case to 14 games – to remain optimistic that his approach can succeed against pros as well.

The same age as Allison, Laczynski may not be as ready to make a full-time jump to the NHL, as his style is less conducive to playing depth minutes. While certainly capable off the puck, his strengths lie with his puck movement, and he doesn’t have much experience being forced to play a grinding game that often comes with the territory of a bottom six role. Best for his development would be a return to Lehigh Valley to work on adding a rougher edge to his game. If he can do that while still generating copious amounts of offense for his team, he will surely force his way back for a return engagement in the NHL. - RW

Emil Andrae

Andrae, a 2020 second round selection, makes up for his lack of size with skill and determination. A terrific powerplay QB because of his vision and awareness, Andrae was solid in his first full SHL season with HV71. However, the team did get relegated to the Allsvenskan for the upcoming season, which may or may not be great for his development depending on the ice time he receives.

Ronnie Attard

Attard is coming off a season where he established himself as one of the top defenders in the NCHC with Western Michigan. The big, physical blueliner hits hard and shoots hard. As he continues to improve his skating, he could just develop into a solid second pairing defender for the Flyers in the future. He will return to WMU for his junior season in 2021/22.

Elliot Desnoyers

One of the breakout stars of the 2020/21 QMJHL season, Desnoyers went from 0.57 points per game in his draft year to over 1.3 this past year following an offseason trade to Halifax. The high energy winger proved that he can be a go to offensive player, suggesting that his offensive upside may be higher than scouts gave him credit for. A future third line featuring both Wisdom and Desnoyers could be unbelievably successful.

Alexei Kolosov

The third goaltender off the board in 2021 (behind Wallstedt and Cossa), Kolosov had quite the interesting draft year. He was supposed to be the starter for the Erie Otters of the OHL, but the cancellation forced him to stay home in Belarus...where he just happened to earn a spot with Minsk of the KHL. Kolosov is an electric athlete in the crease, but the technical components of his game will require growth.

Mason Millman

Playing in the AHL instead of the OHL this past season, Millman did have some difficulty adjusting. However, had he played in the OHL, he would have been one of the best defenders in the league for Saginaw. Now that the intelligent and mobile blueliner knows what to expect, he should be in position to have a better second pro season as a 20-year-old.

OHL in AHL Part Five: Zayde Wisdom (Philadelphia), Tyson Foerster (Philadelphia), Mason Millman (Philadelphia), Jack Quinn (Buffalo)

Brock Otten — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:52:10 +0000

In a normal season, players from the CHL under the age of 20 (save for the odd player granted exceptional status like Joe Veleno) would not be eligible to play in the AHL due to the agreement with the Canadian Hockey League. However, 2021 has been anything but normal. While many draft eligible players from Ontario have gone overseas to play and advance their development, OHL players that were already drafted into the NHL have been granted the opportunity to play in the AHL while they await the start-up of the Ontario Hockey League. 28 players who would have otherwise been sent back to the OHL, have started their pro careers early. For many, the results have been terrific, and this experience has done wonders for their development.

As part of a seven-part series, I will be evaluating the performances of each of those 28 players.

Zayde Wisdom - Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Right Wing, 5’10, 200lbs

OHL Rights: Kingston Frontenacs

NHL Rights: Philadelphia Flyers

Statistics: 11gp, 6g, 4a, 10p, 4pim, +2

When we last left him:

An easy player to cheer for, Wisdom had a terrific draft year for the Kingston Frontenacs, causing him to sharply rise up the draft rankings over the course of the season. A fourth liner the year prior, Wisdom’s play alongside the exceptional Shane Wright and import Martin Chromiak, helped him move inside the top 75 on most draft lists prior to the draft (at McKeen’s, we had him 66th). Ultimately Wisdom would be drafted at the beginning of the fourth round by the Flyers. Last season in Kingston, Wisdom became the ultimate complimentary scoring line player. His well rounded profile and non stop motor made him the perfect player to pair with the aforementioned Wright. However, Wisdom was more than just a passenger. He had proven that he could drive the pace of play and create with the puck on his stick, just as effectively as he could recover dump ins, drive the net, and get himself open in that home plate area. The question was, what kind of upside does Wisdom have as an NHL player?

2021 McKeen’s Yearbook Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality: 55

Assessing his AHL play:

Wisdom has been nothing short of a revelation for the Phantoms this year in the AHL, emerging as one of their best players as an 18 year old. He has joined Cal O’Reilly and Ryan Fitzgerald to form one of the best and most consistent lines in the AHL this season. Playing with O’Reilly is great for Wisdom. A veteran of the NHL and AHL, O’Reilly has to be considered one of the AHL’s elite playmakers and he is doing his best to mimic the relationship that Wisdom has with Shane Wright in Kingston. Wisdom is also seeing significant time on the powerplay, playing the half wall and net front, although most of his production has come at even strength.

Here is the truth; you are not going to read about many negative things in this assessment of Wisdom. His play in the AHL has been profoundly positive.

With the puck on his stick, he is excelling. He is showing confidence in his ability to lead the charge and is creating chances for his linemates and for himself in transition. His agility and lateral quickness look more refined, as he is making defenders miss and avoiding stick checks while carving up the neutral zone. There have been some turnovers from trying to force things through multiple defenders (especially in the neutral zone), but the critical thing is that you see him working hard to get the puck back right away. He never quits on a play.

Without the puck on his stick, he is excelling. He is such an ox and is already so strong. He is proving to be a load to handle for many pro defenders in tight spaces, as he is dominating along the wall and forcing turnovers. He is also playing physical, using his size and strength to engage in all three zones and make his presence felt. He is driving the net hard. He is finding gaps in defensive zone coverage and getting himself in scoring position and earning those opportunities to hit the score sheet consistently. The effort is there in all three zones too. Basically, Wisdom is showing us that everything he could do well at the OHL level, he can do equally well at the pro level.

Going back to the question I posed earlier...what kind of upside does Wisdom have at the NHL level? I believe he is showing that many people he could be a top six NHL player and that his offensive skill set is good enough to play a scoring line role.

Game Tape:

*Wisdom wears #14 for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1-zayde_wisdom_-_2nd_period_6_19_-_6_33.mp4

By now, I think everyone has seen this goal, as it was featured on SportsCenter and went viral. Wisdom forces the turnover and holds off two Penguins defenders before finishing on the backhand. This play obviously shows off his strength and how difficult he is to knock off stride. It also shows that his skill level and hands might be better than many gave him credit for at the draft last year.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2-zayde_wisdom_-_3rd_period_24_18_-_24_31.mp4

Here, Wisdom shows off the quality of his wrist shot and the quickness of his release. Hershey defender Rob O’Gara can’t handle the dump in and Wisdom pounces on his fumble, makes a sharp cut and builds speed with a couple crossovers to create separation. Then he wires one top shelf. The quality of Wisdom’s shot and his potential as a goal scorer is something that I have always felt was underrated.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3-zayde_wisdom_-_1st_period_21_1_-_21_14.mp4

Two great plays by Wisdom here along the wall. First the determined effort to keep the play alive, then once in the offensive zone, he makes a great no look drop pass to find Max Willman in the slot for the goal. Wisdom is more than just a high energy goal scorer.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/4-zayde_wisdom_-_2nd_period_16_49_-_17_2.mp4

In this clip, we see Wisdom draw a penalty with his tenaciousness, strength, and quickness. Martin Fehervary of Hershey is one of the better stay at home defense prospects in the AHL and a high end skater, but Wisdom forces him to take a holding penalty as he works the chip and chase. This is one of several penalty calls that Wisdom has drawn this year with how hard he competes for loose pucks and how hard he is to neutralize.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/5-zayde_wisdom_-_2nd_period_20_2_-_20_15.mp4

Nikita Okhotyuk...meet Zayde Wisdom. These two are extremely familiar with each other from playing against each other many times the last few years in the OHL. For those unfamiliar, Okhotyuk is (or was) one of the strongest and most physical defenders in the OHL with Ottawa. Here Wisdom uses the reverse hit and Okhotyuk hits a wall. Not many guys are capable of doing this against him and it shows you just how strong Wisdom is.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/6-zayde_wisdom_-_1st_period_17_51_-_18_6.mp4

Here is the thing about this clip: these are the types of plays Wisdom is making on the regular at the AHL level. The neutral zone turnover is not great. He needs to get that puck in deep and not try to go through four defenders. However, he stays with the play, forces a turnover and then proceeds to go to work down low. The pass out does not result in a scoring chance, but this play was impressive nonetheless. And it was impressive because I could have found many similar clips to this one. Wisdom is just so difficult to pin down.

AHL Performance Grade: A

Continuing in the OHL:

Look out OHL. Honestly...good luck stopping the Shane Wright, Zayde Wisdom, and Martin Chromiak line when action returns. Wisdom has to be riding a serious confidence high knowing that he has proven that he can dominate shifts at the AHL level. Chromiak has played extremely well in the Slovakian men’s league this year. And Shane Wright...well he’s Shane Wright. This line could be not only among the best in the OHL, but the best in the entire CHL. Wisdom should be able to build upon his breakout season last year to become a point per game player, and then some, this season. Look for his value and reputation as an NHL prospect to continue to skyrocket.

Tyson Foerster - Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Right Wing/Center, 6’2, 194lbs

OHL Rights: Barrie Colts

NHL Rights: Philadelphia Flyers

Statistics: 4gp, 0g, 1a, 1p, 4pim, -4

When we last left him:

One of the 2020 draft’s biggest risers from the start of the year to the finish, Foerster ended up being drafted in the first round by Philadelphia. Foerster’s best asset is unquestionably his shot. He is absolutely lethal on the powerplay with his ability to fire one timers ala Ovechkin or Stamkos. Foerster is also a high level thinker and a player who navigates defensive zone coverage with precision in order to consistently get himself shooting and scoring opportunities. However, there are many aspects of his game that scouts want to see improve. The majority of his production last year came on the powerplay, so he will need to prove that he can be as consistently dangerous at even strength. That can be achieved by continuing to improve his quickness and strength on the puck. Scouts also want to see Foerster create his own scoring chances, rather than be just a triggerman. Goal scorers at the next level need to be able to score in many different ways and Foerster will need to round out his game to be successful at the next level.

2021 McKeen’s Yearbook Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 60, Skills: 55, Smarts: 60, Physicality: 50

Assessing his AHL play:

Before we assess Foerster’s play so far this year, it is important to note that he suffered a pretty serious injury in his first AHL game. A fractured tibia kept him out for a month, and has limited him to only four games thus far. In those four games, Foerster is getting good playing time for Lehigh Valley, playing right wing on a scoring line and getting significant powerplay time. On the powerplay, he is taking up his typical spot on the corner of the umbrella, rotating back to the point when needed. The fact that he suffered such a serious injury (there were fears that it was more significant at the time), means that his grade and this assessment is most definitely incomplete.

Foerster is showing flashes of what he is capable of. The odd burst into the offensive zone with an attempt to cut into the middle to create a shooting lane. He is getting some scoring chances by getting himself open in the offensive zone, looking to use his big wrist shot. He is engaged and makes a concerted effort away from the puck, taking the body on the forecheck and working hard along the wall to keep pucks alive.

The effort has been there, but the results certainly have not been. Firstly, I believe that the Lehigh Valley coaching staff is doing him a disservice by playing him on the right side on the powerplay. He is a lot more effective on the off wing with the man advantage because of how good his one timer is. His timing looks off because of it. Additionally, the pace of play and how quick his decision making has to be seems to be negatively impacting his play. He is struggling to get shots off or accept passes in a way that is not typical of him in the OHL. The confidence just is not there yet and a lot of that probably has to do with his injury and late start to the year/time off.

Unlike his teammate and fellow 2020 draftee Zayde Wisdom, Foerster just does not look quite ready for the AHL level at this point.

Game Tape:

*Foerster wears #71 for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1-tyson_foerster_-_3rd_period_30_40_-_30_57.mp4

It seemed only fair to start off with footage of Foerster’s injury. A sliding Steve Whitney takes out Foerster’s footing and he suffers a fractured tibia. As mentioned, it was initially feared that the injury was way more serious, so Foerster is fortunate that he was only out a month.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2-tyson_foerster_-_3rd_period_27_53_-_28_15.mp4

In this clip, we see Foerster’s only pro point to date. On the powerplay, he puts a weak wrister on net and it gets tipped in front. I mean, that is hockey for you. It does not have to be pretty. I am sure that is not how Foerster envisioned his first point looking, but it worked.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3-tyson_foerster_-_2nd_period_20_6_-_20_28.mp4

It is pretty tough to blame this shorthanded goal solely on Foerster. That pass from Derrick Pouliot was not a good one; into his skates and behind him. However, Foerster needs to find a way to get control and get that puck into the offensive zone. Overall, there are a bunch of clips that I could have used showing Foerster struggling to gain control or keep control of the puck. Again, this seems like a combination of a lack of confidence and difficulty with the pace.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/4-tyson_foerster_-_2nd_period_34_12_-_34_25.mp4

As was stated, the Phantoms are using Foerster on the right side on the powerplay and he just does not look comfortable there. You can tell from this clip. Usually Foerster is geared up for the one timer on the left side, positioning his body to release quickly. Here, he accepts the pass nearly perpendicular to the goal and in the time it takes him to get into shooting position, shot blockers have clogged the lane and his shot gets partially blocked and dribbles toward the net. For comparison’s sake, here was Foerster’s heat map last year (courtesy the great Prashanth Iyer, found here).

It is obvious that Foerster has some things that he needs to work on. And one of those is becoming a threat from all parts of the ice (to improve his five on five production). However, he is a recently turned 19 year old kid getting his first taste of pro hockey. You would think that they would want to put him into situations that would make him the most comfortable and confident.

AHL Performance Grade: Incomplete

Continuing in the OHL:

Getting a small taste of pro hockey, even if the injury was unfortunate, can not be considered a bad thing for Foerster. The experience likely gave him a lot of information about the types of improvements that he needs to make to his game to be an impact offensive player at the next level. He can take that information back to Barrie and try to become a dominant force at even strength. The Colts will have a dominant powerplay, and the goal production will be there again for him. But we are all looking for him to continue to improve by learning how to create his own scoring chances, by becoming more consistent in driving the middle of the ice, and by increasing his physical intensity level (which he did appear to do in that small sample size in the AHL).

Mason Millman - Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Defense, 6’1, 176lbs

OHL Rights: Saginaw Spirit

NHL Rights: Philadelphia Flyers

Statistics: 8gp, 0g, 2a, 2p, 4pim, +1

When we last left him:

Millman had to be considered one of the most improved players in the OHL last year. Take away the first 11 games of the year and Millman was nearly a point per game defender. He's such a strong skater and he really gained confidence in his ability to lead the attack and play with more aggressiveness offensively. Millman isn't just strictly an offensive defender either. His defensive game really improved in 2019/20. Because of his strong mobility, he defends in transition quite well and shows great gap control. The will and effort to engage physically improved too, although he needs to continue to get stronger to be a little more consistent when it comes to tying up attackers near the crease and to win those one on one challenges along the wall. Overall, Millman appeared to be a prospect who was truly trending in the right direction and beginning to look like a very savvy selection by the Flyers in the fourth round in 2019.

2021 McKeen’s Yearbook Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 50, Physicality: 50

Assessing his AHL play:

Millman appeared to start slowly at the AHL level, but he is really starting to find his game and the Lehigh Valley coaching staff appears to be taking note of that. He is still not playing much on special teams, but his time on ice has increased in each of the last four games for the Phantoms. As he earns the trust of his coaches, look for him to get more time on the powerplay, especially with Lehigh Valley struggling so mightily with the man advantage (12% on the season).

The best way to describe Millman’s play so far would be...quietly effective. Initially, he was having some trouble with turnovers in his own end, but he is starting to gain confidence in his ability to use his feet to escape trouble and to create cleaner exits. He is also starting to be aggressive in playing deeper in the offensive zone, pinching to keep pucks in and extending his rushes deeper across the blueline. He has such great instincts in this regard and is great at slipping behind coverage to make himself available for passes into the slot. Millman is also doing a great job of getting his shots on net and is generating good second chance opportunities because of it. He is certainly not at the level of confidence with the puck that you would witness in the OHL, but it is only a matter of time before we see greater production from him if his ice time continues to climb.

Defensively, he is standing out in a positive way. He is still occasionally getting trucked by a larger forward who has built up speed entering the zone and he is unable to prevent them from recovering a dump in or get to the net. However, for the most part, he is winning his challenges in the corners and along the wall by engaging physically and holding up opposing forwards until support arrives. His mobility and quickness is proving to be a great asset for him as he takes great routes to dump ins and is able to prevent opposing teams from setting up their offense by keeping his feet moving and initiating clean exits. That is classic modern day defense. The best offense is the best defense. You don’t have to defend much if the other team can’t set up their attack and you can consistently keep them on their heels.

Game Tape:

*Millman wears #8 for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1-mason_millman_-_2nd_period_33_28_-_33_41.mp4

One of the things that Millman had to work on as a defensive player is being more aggressive to step up earlier when defending in transition. Here he lays an absolutely punishing hit on a Wilkes-Barre player as he tries to gain the offensive zone. The hit neutralizes the attack and Lehigh Valley goes the other way on a three on three. Don’t expect these kinds of hits from Millman very often, but seeing him increase his aggressiveness and his physical intensity at the AHL level is very encouraging.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2-mason_millman_-_1st_period_21_6_-_21_19.mp4

Face value, this is not really a play worth talking about. Lehigh Valley forces a turnover. Millman gets a weak shot on net from the slot. Meh. However, I do think that this play shows how Millman’s confidence as an offensive player at the AHL level is growing. As mentioned, he has such great instincts as a goal scorer for being a defender and is very aggressive in pinching or jumping up into the slot area if he thinks he can get a scoring chance. The shot was not great, but the read and the intentions were.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3-mason_millman_-_3rd_period_19_26_-_19_38.mp4

Love this aggressive take by Millman as he goes end to end and makes a great pass to Cal O’Reilly in the slot. If that is a faster or stronger player than O’Reilly, that one might be in the back of the net because the scoring chance was there for the taking.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/4-real-mason_millman_-_2nd_period_19_55_-_20_7.mp4

This play was from early in the season and it is one of the only bad turnovers that I could find from Millman in his time in the AHL. Using the middle may have been the right choice in another circumstance, but he obviously underestimated Hersey’s forecheckers and he is lucky it did not end up in the back of his net. The good thing is, he has limited these types of plays lately by using his quickness to create those lanes. Now, he is keeping his feet moving in that situation and moving the puck up the wall.

AHL Performance Grade: B

Continuing in the OHL:

When he is returned to the OHL, it will be Millman’s blueline to run in Saginaw, a team that will possess a fair amount of offensive firepower. No more Bode Wilde. No more Ilya Solovyov. The first powerplay unit will be his to run and he will receive all the ice time that he can handle. As mentioned, in the second half of the 2019/20 season, Millman was one of the higher scoring defenders in the league and a realistic expectation is that he carries on that level of play. He should emerge as one of the OHL’s highest scoring defenders and a serious candidate for the Max Kaminsky as the defender of the year. At this point, Millman is emerging as one of the most underrated defensive prospects in hockey.

Jack Quinn - Rochester Americans

Right Wing, 6’0, 176lbs

OHL Rights: Ottawa 67’s

NHL Rights: Buffalo Sabres

Statistics: 7gp, 1g, 2a, 3p, 8pim, -3

When we last left him:

The 2019/20 season was a terrific one for Quinn and it resulted in a meteoric rise for him up the 2020 NHL draft rankings. Selected 8th overall by Buffalo, Quinn is an exceptional goal scoring prospect, as his 52 goals last season would suggest. In Ottawa, he was so consistent because of how he can score in many different ways; one timing pucks on the powerplay, creating scoring chances in transition and shooting in full stride, driving the net and getting inside position near the blue paint. However, Quinn is also a polished two-way player who is consistently relied upon to protect leads late in games and match up against the opponent’s best. His work along the wall and his positioning and anticipation in the defensive zone are strengths. A late bloomer and late birthday, Quinn was not without his critics who questioned if his age advantage aided his production and artificially inflated his future potential as an NHL player. A mediocre performance at the recent World Junior Championships certainly did not help sway the opinion of those who felt he was over drafted (of which, I am definitely not one of them as we, at McKeen’s, had ranked Quinn inside the Top 10 for 2020).

2021 McKeen’s Yearbook Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 60, Skills: 60, Smarts: 60, Physicality: 50

Assessing his AHL play:

The Rochester Americans have been trying their best to both shelter Quinn to bring him along slowly, but also put him in a position to build confidence. He has seen inconsistent time at even strength, bouncing around the team’s top three lines, but has seen consistent powerplay responsibility and is earning the vast majority of his scoring chances on the man advantage.

One might ascertain, based on his single goal on the season and the fact that he is tied for 14th on the Americans with only nine shots on goal through seven games, that he has struggled mightily. While I would agree that we have not seen the best of Quinn, compared to what he is capable of, I would not add the term “mightily” to describe his struggles. He is still doing Quinn things. He is engaging physically. He is winning battles along the wall by keeping his feet moving allowing the Americans to maintain or gain possession. He is playing fairly well defensively, engaged on the backcheck. He is doing the little things to help his team try to win hockey games.

However, offensively, he has been disappointing...at least when you factor in that he is the most recent eighth overall selection and he is older than the majority of 2020 draft selections already finding success in the AHL. On one hand, he is actually getting some good scoring chances. He is just struggling to finish. Similar to what I said about Arthur Kaliyev (another talented goal scorer), Quinn seems to be gripping his stick too tight and overthinking his scoring opportunities. This is resulting in shots fired wired or delayed releases (and subsequent blocks) as he tries to make the perfect shot. Additionally, Quinn is struggling to get to the net as consistently and as successfully as he did at the OHL level. Defenders are angling him off and he is being kept to the perimeter too much, something that he has worked hard to improve at over his OHL career.

At the end of the day, Jack Quinn is a highly intelligent player. He may be a little older and as such, expectations are greater, but growth is non linear. His path is not the same as some other players. He is your classic late bloomer and he needs to be given the time to get accustomed to the AHL level, just as it took him time to get accustomed to the OHL level. The fact that many are already writing him off is discouraging.

Game Tape:

*Quinn wears #25 for the Rochester Americans

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1-Jack-Quinn-rochester_americans_-_2nd_period_23_46_-_24_4.mp4

In this clip we get to see Jack Quinn’s first pro goal (not counting his tremendous shootout goal from earlier in the season). While on the powerplay, first, he delays a little too long on an initial shot attempt and it is blocked causing Rochester to almost lose possession. But they keep the puck in and Quinn gets a great cross ice feed for the one timer. This is definitely a Quinn style goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2-jack_quinn_-_2nd_period_26_33_-_26_50.mp4

The Rochester Americans capitalize on a bad change by the Syracuse Crunch and break in on a three on one. Quinn pushes out wide to create a clean passing lane and then makes a great feed to Andrew Oglevie for the tap in. Definitely a pretty first primary assist for him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3-jack_quinn_-_1st_period_18_40_-_18_53.mp4

Jack Rathbone meet Jack Quinn. Quinn’s ability to win battles behind the net and along the half wall is a highly undervalued part of his game. And he is so successful because of how willing he is to engage physically.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/4-jack_quinn_-_2nd_period_16_26_-_16_38.mp4

This clip demonstrates what I was talking about Quinn struggling with finishing off his scoring chances. It seems like he is either rushing to get shots off or he is taking too much time and overthinking placement, trying to be too precise. Quinn pounces on a loose puck and tries to get it through but the shot is blocked as he doesn’t get everything on this wrister, firing blindly after the turnover.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/5-jack_quinn_-_1st_period_12_36_-_13_6.mp4

This is a really terrific sequence from Quinn. Three shot attempts in a 30 second span. He makes a strong read to push laterally to get open for a shooting chance, filling an open lane. Then he identifies that one of his defenders is caught so he rotates back to the point and then makes a great move at the blueline to create another scoring chance. Finally he rotates down deep behind the net and gets a wrap around chance on the backhand. As Quinn begins to get accustomed to the pace and strength of the pro game, these are the types of shifts I would expect from him more often.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/6-jack_quinn_-_3rd_period_29_55_-_30_9.mp4

I read an article by the terrific Patrick Williams recently that talked about Quinn’s transition to the pro game. In the article, Rochester head coach Seth Appert talked about how Quinn needs to learn that some plays that he would have done in the OHL just can’t be done at the pro level. This is one of them. Quinn hangs on to the puck way too long here and this casualness leads to a turnover and a breakaway (that Jett Woo thankfully flubs).

AHL Performance Grade: C+

Continuing in the OHL:

Upon returning to the OHL, I would expect Quinn to return to his dominating form for the Ottawa 67’s. With no Marco Rossi in the fold this year, more eyes would be on Quinn and he would be expected to be the offensive leader for the club. Taking on this leadership role would be great for his development and facing off against each team’s best every night would also push him to be better. Look for Quinn to pair with OA Mitchell Hoelscher, his center last year, to become a deadly one-two punch and for him to be among the league leaders in goals yet again. Hopefully Quinn is able to continue to improve his vision and playmaking ability too, to continue to round out his offensive profile.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:09:56 +0000

These are our final prospect ranking prior to the start of the season. As a subscriber you can download the list in an excel chart and can link to the player pages in the chart found here. As always, the rankings you see below are based on our 20-80 scouting system looking at five categories for skaters (Skating, Shot, Puck Skills, Hockey Smarts, Physicality) and six for netminders (Athleticism/Quickness/Speed, Compete/Temperament, Vision/Play Reading, Technique/Style, Rebound Control, Puck Handling). Our prospect team spent large portions of their last few months pre-COVID in the rinks, watching the players below and many others, and further work on video (Instat Hockey has been a terrific resource in recent days) before passing judgement on their future projections.

The 20-80 scouting system is meant to allow players from different leagues in different parts of the world to be compared to one another, such that grades on a player in the OHL can be directly compared to grades from an AHL player, and to grades of someone playing in the MHL.

PROSPECT CRITERIA

Players under 26 years of age as of the September 15th prior (Sep. 15, 1994) to the season in question who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in any one season – or 25 last year (20 for goalies, 15 last season) are considered prospects

RANK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	ACQUIRED
1	Alexis Lafreniere	NYR	LW	19	6-1/195	`20(1st)
2	Tim Stutzle	Ott	C	18	6-1/185	`20(3rd)
3	Quinton Byfield	LA	C	18	6-4/215	`20(2nd)
4	Trevor Zegras	Ana	C	19	6-0/170	`19(9th)
5	Kirill Kaprizov	Min	LW	23	5-10/200	`15(135th)
6	Lucas Raymond	Det	LW	18	5-11/170	`20(4th)
7	Dylan Cozens	Buf	C	19	6-3/185	`19(7th)
8	Bowen Byram	Col	D	19	6-0/195	`19(4th)
9	Peyton Krebs	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`19(17th)
10	Jake Sanderson	Ott	D	18	6-1/185	`20(5th)
11	Moritz Seider	Det	D	19	6-3/185	`19(6th)
12	Jamie Drysdale	Ana	D	18	5-11/175	`20(6th)
13	Igor Shesterkin	NYR	G	25	6-1/190	`14(118th)
14	Alexander Holtz	NJ	RW	18	6-0/190	`20(7th)
15	Cole Perfetti	Wpg	LW	19	5-10/180	`20(10th)
16	Marco Rossi	Min	C	19	5-9/185	`20(9th)
17	Vasili Podkolzin	Van	RW	19	6-1/190	`19(10th)
18	Victor Soderstrom	Ari	D	19	5-11/180	`19(11th)
19	Nick Robertson	Tor	LW	19	5-9/160	`19(53rd)
20	Cole Caufield	Mtl	RW	19	5-7/165	`19(15th)
21	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	18	6-3/175	`20(11th)
22	Spencer Knight	Fla	G	19	6-3/195	`19(13th)
23	Philip Broberg	Edm	D	19	6-3/200	`19(8th)
24	Jack Quinn	Buf	RW	19	6-0/180	`20(8th)
25	Matthew Boldy	Min	LW	19	6-1/190	`19(12th)
26	Nils Lundkvist	NYR	D	20	5-11/180	`18(28th)
27	Seth Jarvis	Car	RW	18	5-10/175	`20(13th)
28	Ty Smith	NJ	D	20	5-10/180	`18(17th)
29	Grigori Denisenko	Fla	LW	20	5-11/185	`18(15th)
30	Barrett Hayton	Ari	C	20	6-1/190	`18(5th)
31	Alex Newhook	Col	C	19	5-10/195	`19(16th)
32	Thomas Harley	Dal	D	19	6-3/190	`19(18th)
33	Alex Turcotte	LA	C	19	5-11/185	`19(5th)
34	Vitali Kravtsov	NYR	RW	21	6-3/185	`18(9th)
35	Philip Tomasino	Nsh	C	19	5-11/180	`19(24th)
36	Connor McMichael	Wsh	C	19	5-11/175	`19(25th)
37	Dawson Mercer	NJ	C	19	6-0/180	`20(18th)
38	Ilya Sorokin	NYI	G	25	6-2/180	`14(78th)
39	Gabriel Vilardi	LA	RW	21	6-3/200	`17(11th)
40	Ryan Merkley	SJ	D	20	5-11/170	`18(21st)
41	Alexander Romanov	Mtl	D	20	5-11/185	`18(38th)
42	Kaiden Guhle	Mtl	D	18	6-2/190	`20(16th)
43	Samuel Poulin	Pit	LW	19	6-1/205	`19(21st)
44	K'Andre Miller	NYR	D	20	6-3/205	`18(22nd)
45	Scott Perunovich	StL	D	22	5-10/175	`18(45th)
46	Evan Bouchard	Edm	D	21	6-2/195	`18(10th)
47	Braden Schneider	NYR	D	19	6-2/200	`20(19th)
48	Juuso Valimaki	Cgy	D	22	6-2/205	`17(16th)
49	Cam York	Phi	D	19	5-11/175	`19(14th)
50	Anton Lundell	Fla	C	19	6-1/185	`20(12th)
51	Morgan Frost	Phi	C	21	5-11/180	`17(27th)
52	Owen Tippett	Fla	RW	21	6-1/200	`17(10th)
53	Albert Johansson	Det	D	19	5-11/165	`19(60th)
54	Liam Foudy	CBJ	C	20	6-0/175	`18(18th)
55	Kieffer Bellows	NYI	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(19th)
56	Arthur Kaliyev	LA	RW	19	6-2/190	`19(33rd)
57	Oliver Wahlstrom	NYI	RW	20	6-1/205	`18(11th)
58	Nils Hoglander	Van	RW	20	5-9/185	`19(40th)
59	Matias Maccelli	Ari	LW	20	5-11/170	`19(98th)
60	Tobias Bjornfot	LA	D	19	6-0/200	`19(22nd)
61	Jacob Bernard-Docker	Ott	D	20	6-0/180	`18(26th)
62	Connor Zary	Cgy	C	19	6-0/180	`20(24th)
63	Dominik Bokk	Car	RW	20	6-1/180	T(StL-9/19)
64	Ryan Suzuki	Car	C	19	6-0/180	`19(28th)
65	Dylan Samberg	Wpg	D	21	6-3/190	`17(43rd)
66	Jake Bean	Car	D	22	6-1/175	`16(13th)
67	Josh Norris	Ott	C	21	6-1/195	T(SJ-9/18)
68	Rasmus Kupari	LA	C	20	6-1/185	`18(20th)
69	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	19	5-9/165	`19(26th)
70	Drake Batherson	Ott	RW	22	6-1/190	`17(121st)
71	Jan Jenik	Ari	RW	20	6-1/180	`18(65th)
72	John-Jason Peterka	Buf	LW	18	5-11/190	`20(34th)
73	Kirill Marchenko	CBJ	LW	20	6-3/190	`18(49th)
74	Bode Wilde	NYI	D	20	6-2/195	`18(41st)
75	John Beecher	Bos	C	19	6-3/210	`19(30th)
76	Tyler Madden	LA	C	21	5-10/155	T(Van-2/20)
77	Jack Studnicka	Bos	C	21	6-1/170	`17(53rd)
78	Jake Oettinger	Dal	G	22	6-4/210	`17(26th)
79	Alex Formenton	Ott	LW	21	6-2/165	`17(47th)
80	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	19	6-3/200	`19(49th)
81	Calen Addison	Min	D	20	5-10/180	T(Pit-2/20)
82	Ty Dellandrea	Dal	C	20	6-0/185	`18(13th)
83	Akil Thomas	LA	C	20	5-11/170	`18(51st)
84	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	18	5-10/180	`20(30th)
85	Ian Mitchell	Chi	D	21	5-11/175	`17(57th)
86	Jason Robertson	Dal	LW	21	6-2/195	`17(39th)
87	Hendrix Lapierre	Wsh	C	18	5-11/180	`20(22nd)
88	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`20(29th)
89	Theodor Niederbach	Det	C	18	5-11/175	`20(51st)
90	Zac Jones	NYR	D	20	5-10/175	`19(68th)
91	Robert Mastrosimone	Det	LW	19	5-10/160	`19(54th)
92	Joe Veleno	Det	C	20	6-1/195	`18(30th)
93	Rodion Amirov	Tor	LW	19	6-0/170	`20(15th)
94	Jake Neighbours	StL	LW	18	5-11/195	`20(26th)
95	Julien Gauthier	NYR	RW	23	6-4/225	T(Car-2/20)
96	Justus Annunen	Col	G	20	6-4/215	`18(64th)
97	Egor Zamula	Phi	D	20	6-4/175	FA(9/18)
98	Shane Pinto	Ott	C	20	6-2/190	`19(32nd)
99	Noel Gunler	Car	RW	19	6-2/175	`20(41st)
100	Ridly Greig	Ott	C	18	5-11/165	`20(28th)
101	Jesse Ylonen	Mtl	RW	21	6-1/185	`18(35th)
102	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	20	6-0/195	`19(50th)
103	Mattias Norlinder	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`19(64th)
104	Olli Juolevi	Van	D	22	6-3/200	`16(5th)
105	Kristian Vesalainen	Wpg	LW	21	6-3/205	`17(24th)
106	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	20	6-4/195	`19(38th)
107	Jan Mysak	Mtl	C	18	5-11/180	`20(49th)
108	Cayden Primeau	Mtl	G	21	6-3/180	`17(199th)
109	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	LW	20	6-1/170	`19(79th)
110	Morgan Barron	NYR	C	22	6-2/200	`17(174th)
111	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	19	5-11/180	`19(20th)
112	Dylan Holloway	Edm	C	19	6-0/205	`20(14th)
113	Jack Dugan	VGK	RW	22	6-2/185	`17(142nd)
114	Alexander Khovanov	Min	C	20	5-11/195	`18(86th)
115	Jacob Perreault	Ana	RW	18	5-11/195	`20(27th)
116	Jake Evans	Mtl	C	24	6-0/185	`14(207th)
117	Adam Beckman	Min	LW	19	6-1/170	`19(75th)
118	Jett Woo	Van	D	20	6-0/205	`18(37th)
119	Nolan Foote	NJ	LW	20	6-3/190	T(TB-2/20)
120	Logan Brown	Ott	C	22	6-6/220	`16(11th)
121	Martin Kaut	Col	RW	21	6-1/175	`18(16th)
122	Jack Rathbone	Van	D	21	5-10/175	`17(95th)
123	Ozzy Wiesblatt	SJ	RW	18	5-10/185	`20(31st)
124	Ryan O'Rourke	Min	D	18	6-0/180	`20(39th)
125	Lukas Reichel	Chi	LW	18	6-0/170	`20(17th)
126	Jordan Harris	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`18(71st)
127	Lukas Dostal	Ana	G	20	6-1/170	`18(85th)
128	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/205	`19(45th)
129	Conor Timmins	Col	D	22	6-1/185	`17(32nd)
130	Lassi Thomson	Ott	D	20	6-0/190	`19(19th)
131	Eeli Tolvanen	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/175	`17(30th)
132	Kasper Simontaival	LA	RW	18	5-9/180	`20(66th)
133	Roni Hirvonen	Tor	C	18	5-9/165	`20(59th)
134	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	18	5-9/180	`20(38th)
135	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	Ana	C	20	6-1/195	`18(54th)
136	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	18	6-4/200	`20(44th)
137	Tyson Foerster	Phi	C	18	6-1/195	`20(23rd)
138	Helge Grans	LA	D	18	6-2/205	`20(35th)
139	Jonathan Dahlen	SJ	LW	23	5-11/185	T(Van-2/19)
140	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	18	5-11/175	`20(37th)
141	Alexander Alexeyev	Wsh	D	21	6-3/200	`18(31st)
142	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	Pit	D	21	6-2/170	`17(23rd)
143	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	18	5-10/160	`20(64th)
144	Oskari Laaksonen	Buf	D	21	6-2/165	`17(89th)
145	Filip Hallander	Tor	LW	20	6-1/185	T(Pit-8/20)
146	Serron Noel	Fla	RW	20	6-5/205	`18(34th)
147	Martin Chromiak	LA	LW	18	6-0/185	`20(128th)
148	Shakir Mukhamadullin	NJ	D	18	6-3/180	`20(20th)
149	Mattias Samuelsson	Buf	D	20	6-3/215	`18(32nd)
150	Janne Kuokkanen	NJ	LW	22	6-1/190	T(Car-2/20)
151	Ryan Johnson	Buf	D	19	6-0/175	`19(31st)
152	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	19	5-8/175	`20(124th)
153	Martin Fehervary	Wsh	D	21	6-1/190	`18(46th)
154	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	Buf	G	21	6-4/195	`17(54th)
155	Will Lockwood	Van	RW	22	5-11/175	`16(64th)
156	Isac Lundestrom	Ana	C	21	6-0/185	`18(23rd)
157	Michael DiPietro	Van	G	21	6-0/195	`17(64th)
158	Jonatan Berggren	Det	RW	20	5-10/185	`18(33rd)
159	Kevin Bahl	NJ	D	20	6-6/230	T(Ari-12/19)
160	Aliaksei Protas	Wsh	C	19	6-5/205	`19(91st)
161	Reilly Walsh	NJ	D	21	5-11/180	`17(81st)
162	Nick Abruzzese	Tor	C	21	5-9/160	`19(124th)
163	Tyler Tucker	StL	D	20	6-1/205	`18(200th)
164	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	19	5-10/170	`19(129th)
165	Klim Kostin	StL	C	21	6-3/195	`17(31st)
166	Brayden Tracey	Ana	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(29th)
167	Joel Hofer	StL	G	20	6-3/160	`18(107th)
168	Joey Anderson	Tor	RW	22	6-0/195	T(NJ-10/20)
169	Yegor Spiridonov	SJ	C	19	6-2/195	`19(108th)
170	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	19	6-1/205	`20(36th)
171	Joey Keane	Car	D	21	6-0/185	T(NYR-2/20)
172	Jared McIsaac	Det	D	20	6-1/195	`18(36th)
173	Jamieson Rees	Car	C	19	5-10/175	`19(44th)
174	Ivan Morozov	VGK	C	20	6-1/180	`18(61st)
175	Rem Pitlick	Nsh	C	23	5-11/200	`16(76th)
176	Tyce Thompson	NJ	RW	21	6-0/170	`19(96th)
177	Michael McLeod	NJ	C	22	6-2/195	`16(12th)
178	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	LA	C	21	5-11/190	`17(41st)
179	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	19	6-0/165	`19(214th)
180	Antti Tuomisto	Det	D	19	6-4/190	`19(35th)
181	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	18	5-9/155	`20(134th)
182	Luke Evangelista	Nsh	RW	18	5-11/170	`20(42nd)
183	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	18	6-1/180	`20(52nd)
184	Joni Ikonen	Mtl	C	21	5-10/170	`17(58th)
185	Olivier Rodrigue	Edm	G	20	6-1/165	`18(62nd)
186	Lucas Elvenes	VGK	RW	21	6-0/175	`17(127th)
187	Anthony Angello	Pit	RW	24	6-5/205	`14(145th)
188	Tuukka Tieksola	Car	RW	19	5-10/160	`19(121st)
189	Declan Chisholm	Wpg	D	20	6-1/190	`18(150th)
190	Cole Koepke	TB	LW	22	6-1/195	`18(183rd)
191	Valtteri Puustinen	Pit	RW	21	5-9/185	`19(203rd)
192	Ty Smilanic	Fla	C	18	6-1/175	`20(74th)
193	Patrik Puistola	Car	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(73rd)
194	Justin Barron	Col	D	19	6-2/190	`20(25th)
195	Andrew Peeke	CBJ	D	22	6-3/210	`16(34th)
196	Michael Vukojevic	NJ	D	19	6-3/210	`19(82nd)
197	Alec Regula	Chi	D	20	6-3/200	T(Det-10/19)
198	Connor Corcoran	VGK	D	20	6-1/185	`18(154th)
199	Jeremy Swayman	Bos	G	22	6-1/190	`17(111th)
200	Pyotr Kochetkov	Car	G	21	6-1/175	`19(36th)
201	Mikey Anderson	LA	D	21	6-0/195	`17(103rd)
202	Carter Savoie	Edm	LW	18	5-9/190	`20(100th)
203	Samuel Walker	TB	C	21	5-11/160	`17(200th)
204	William Wallinder	Det	D	18	6-4/190	`20(32nd)
205	Jack Drury	Car	C	20	5-11/180	`18(42nd)
206	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	18	5-9/185	`20(54th)
207	Cal Petersen	LA	G	26	6-3/190	FA(7/17)
208	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	18	6-0/200	`20(72nd)
209	Tarmo Reunanen	NYR	D	22	6-0/180	`16(98th)
210	Simon Holmstrom	NYI	RW	19	6-1/185	`19(23rd)
211	Aleksi Saarela	Fla	RW	23	5-11/200	T(Chi-10/19)
212	Anton Johannesson	Wpg	D	18	5-9/155	`20(133rd)
213	Lauri Pajuniemi	NYR	RW	21	6-0/185	`18(132nd)
214	Morgan Geekie	Car	C	22	6-2/180	`17(67th)
215	Shane Bowers	Col	C	21	6-2/190	T(Ott-11/17)
216	Sasha Chmelevski	SJ	C	21	5-11/190	`17(185th)
217	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	20	5-8/155	`18(43rd)
218	Cole Schwindt	Fla	RW	19	6-2/185	`19(81st)
219	Hugo Alnefelt	TB	G	19	6-3/195	`19(71st)
220	Nikita Okhotyuk	NJ	D	20	6-1/195	`19(61st)
221	Sampo Ranta	Col	LW	20	6-2/205	`18(78th)
222	Alexander Volkov	TB	LW	23	6-1/190	`17(48th)
223	Alexander True	SJ	C	23	6-5/205	FA(7/18)
224	John Leonard	SJ	C	22	5-11/190	`18(182nd)
225	Carl Grundstrom	LA	LW	23	6-0/195	T(Tor-1/19)
226	Dmitri Semykin	TB	D	20	6-3/200	`18(90th)
227	Cal Foote	TB	D	22	6-4/215	`17(14th)
228	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	18	5-11/175	`20(75th)
229	Alex Barre-Boulet	TB	C	23	5-10/165	FA(3/18)
230	Tristen Robins	SJ	RW	19	5-10/175	`20(56th)
231	Max Gildon	Fla	D	21	6-3/190	`17(66th)
232	Nikita Alexandrov	StL	C	20	6-0/180	`19(62nd)
233	Michael Benning	Fla	D	18	5-9/180	`20(95th)
234	Justin Sourdif	Fla	RW	18	5-11/175	`20(87th)
235	Tanner Laczynski	Phi	C	23	6-1/200	`16(169th)
236	Eamon Powell	TB	D	18	5-11/165	`20(116th)
237	Kaedan Korczak	VGK	D	19	6-3/190	`19(41st)
238	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	18	6-1/180	`20(47th)
239	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	21	5-10/175	`18(171st)
240	Pius Suter	Chi	C	24	5-11/170	FA(7/20)
241	Wade Allison	Phi	RW	23	6-2/205	`16(52nd)
242	Bobby Brink	Phi	RW	19	5-10/165	`19(34th)
243	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	18	5-10/180	`20(68th)
244	David Farrance	Nsh	D	21	5-11/190	`17(92nd)
245	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	18	6-2/185	`20(33rd)
246	Dmitri Voronkov	CBJ	LW	20	6-4/190	`19(114th)
247	German Rubtsov	Phi	C	22	6-2/190	`16(22nd)
248	Vitaly Abramov	Ott	RW	22	5-9/175	T(CBJ-2/19)
249	Alex Laferriere	LA	RW	19	6-0/175	`20(83rd)
250	Trey Fix-Wolansky	CBJ	RW	21	5-8/185	`18(204th)
251	Isaac Ratcliffe	Phi	LW	21	6-5/200	`17(35th)
252	Kale Clague	LA	D	22	6-0/180	`16(51st)
253	Landon Slaggert	Chi	LW	18	5-11/180	`20(79th)
254	Wyatt Kalynuk	Chi	D	23	6-1/180	FA(7/20)
255	Mikko Kokkonen	Tor	D	19	5-11/200	`19(84th)
256	Kevin Mandolese	Ott	G	20	6-4/180	`18(157th)
257	Daniil Tarasov	CBJ	G	21	6-5/185	`17(86th)
258	Evan Barratt	Chi	C	21	6-0/190	`17(90th)
259	Tyler Benson	Edm	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(32nd)
260	Yegor Korshkov	Tor	RW	24	6-4/215	`16(31st)
261	Hunter Skinner	NYR	D	19	6-2/175	`19(112th)
262	Riley Damiani	Dal	C	20	5-9/165	`18(137th)
263	Ryan McLeod	Edm	C	21	6-2/205	`18(40th)
264	Ilya Konovalov	Edm	G	22	6-0/195	`19(85th)
265	Will Cuylle	NYR	LW	18	6-3/205	`20(60th)
266	Evan Vierling	NYR	C	18	6-0/165	`20(127th)
267	Emil Heineman	Fla	LW	19	6-0/180	`20(43rd)
268	Zayde Wisdom	Phi	RW	18	5-10/195	`20(94th)
269	Hunter Jones	Min	G	20	6-4/195	`19(59th)
270	Ty Tullio	Edm	RW	18	5-10/165	`20(126th)
271	Jordan Spence	LA	D	19	5-10/165	`19(95th)
272	Dmitri Zavgorodny	Cgy	LW	20	5-9/175	`18(198th)
273	Alex Beaucage	Col	RW	19	6-1/195	`19(78th)
274	Matiss Kivlenieks	CBJ	G	24	6-2/190	FA(5/17)
275	Artyom Zub	Ott	D	25	6-2/200	FA(5/20)
276	Urho Vaakanainen	Bos	D	22	6-0/185	`17(18th)
277	Dmitri Samorukov	Edm	D	21	6-2/180	`17(84th)
278	Michal Teply	Chi	LW	19	6-3/185	`19(105th)
279	Colby Ambrosio	Col	C	18	5-8/170	`20(118th)
280	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	20	6-7/195	`19(37th)
281	Jeremy Lauzon	Bos	D	23	6-3/205	`15(52nd)
282	Dennis Gilbert	Col	D	24	6-2/200	T(Chi-10/20)
283	Trent Frederic	Bos	C	22	6-4/215	`16(29th)
284	Lucas Carlsson	Chi	D	23	6-0/190	`16(110th)
285	Zack Macewen	Van	RW	24	6-3/205	FA(3/17)
286	Brandon Hagel	Chi	LW	22	6-1/175	FA(10/18)
287	Vasily Ponomarev	Car	C	18	5-10/180	`20(53rd)
288	Jakub Zboril	Bos	D	23	6-1/200	`15(13th)
289	Garrett Pilon	Wsh	RW	22	5-11/190	`16(87th)
290	Jeremy Bracco	Car	RW	23	5-9/180	FA(10/20)
291	Dylan Sikura	VGK	RW	25	6-0/170	T(Chi-9/20)
292	Kyle Capobianco	Ari	D	23	6-1/180	`15(63rd)
293	Sami Niku	Wpg	D	24	6-0/175	`15(198th)
294	John Farinacci	Ari	C	19	5-11/185	`19(76th)
295	Jackson Lacombe	Ana	D	19	6-1/170	`19(39th)
296	David Cotton	Car	LW	23	6-3/205	`15(169th)
297	Erik Portillo	Buf	G	20	6-6/210	`19(67th)
298	Jacob Truscott	Van	D	18	6-1/170	`20(144th)
299	Mikhail Berdin	Wpg	G	22	6-2/165	`16(157th)
300	Cam Hillis	Mtl	C	20	5-10/170	`18(66th)

2020 NHL Draft Team Reviews: Metropolitan Division

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 18:49:20 +0000

As I sit in my kitchen, wondering about the potential NHL impact of various free agents signed to one- and two-year contracts with new teams, I am reminded that most of them will have marginal impact for their new teams (there are some exceptions, of course). But more than that, I am reminded of the 216 young men whose names were called by 31 NHL teams over the agonizingly slow draft that took place last week.

The bulk of the players drafted will never play in the NHL, and only some of the ones who do will get to the point where their careers will last long enough to reach free agency. If you don’t believe me, look at the rightly vaunted 2003 draft class. Every player from the first round played in the NHL, and only two failed to play at least 200 games in the best hockey league in the world. 14 players from that draft class have already eclipsed 1,000 NHL games. But even so, in the draft of 292 players – there were nine rounds back then – only 69 had an NHL career of at least 200 games, an amount most scouts would consider a “career”. That is less than 25% of the players drafted in an all-time great draft having significant careers. Remember Mike Egener? He was drafted by Tampa 34^th overall and holds the distinction of the highest drafted player from that draft class to never play a single NHL game.

Feeling generous, I will suppose 25% of this year’s class also reaches that total. That would give us 54 players establishing themselves in the league. And before you tell me that I should discount that 8^th and 9^th rounds from 2003, as they were marginal to begin with, 10 of the 69 200 game players were drafted in slots which no longer exist today. Still, that raises our success rate of 27%. If, in the spirit of generosity, I posit that an even 30% of this year’s players will have full-fledged careers in the league, this now gets us to a hair under 65 players. Food for thought.

All of this is a round-about way of me getting into reviewing the draft classes. As I did last year, I will break up the reviews by division, starting with the Metropolitan. For each team, I will discuss strategy, if applicable, and identify both a favorite pick and a least-liked pick. Once the divisional, team-by-team breakdowns are down, I’ll finish up with a general notes column, which will include an update to the McKeens shadow draft.

New Jersey Devils

1/7 Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgardens IF (SHL)

1/18 Dawson Mercer, RW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

1/20 Shakir Mukhamadullin, D, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

3/84 Nicolas Daws, G, Guelph (OHL)

4/99 Jaromir Pytlik, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

4/122 Ethan Edwards, D, Spruce Grove (AJHL)

5/130 Artem Shlaine, C, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-MN)

6/161 Benjamin Baumgartner, C, Davos (NLA)

The Devils didn’t have picks in the second or seventh rounds, but they made up for it by drafting three times in the first round. Furthermore, one of those picks was a second-round pick in disguise, but we’ll touch on Shakir Mukhamadullin shortly. The team did an admirable job in mixing their picks up, with one goalie, two defenders, and five forwards. Five players were drafted out of North American leagues and the other three came from Europe. All but one pick (hint: I already mentioned his name) have lengthy-ish reputations for production and are being looked at as potential contributors.

The historical production makes sense when we consider that the Devils are owned by a group that highly values analytics and that we really have no priors about the drafting tendencies of their new GM, Tom Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald inherited a system that we had ranked as tops in the league in our recent Prospect Report. From where we sit today, the either new players added this week have not increased the gap between the Devils and everyone else, but they have at least helped to maintain that lofty standing.

Not to toot our own horns too much, but most of the Devils’ picks were taken very close to where we had the player ranked. Five of the eight players were selected within five slots of our final ranking for them. Fine. I’m tooting McKeen’s’ horns. All of them. Some players will push for NHL jobs within 12 months, and others will need at least five years to see what the Devils have. Either way, outside of the two players discussed at length below, all of New Jersey’s other six picks went pretty much exactly around where they should have.

Best value pick: Dawson Mercer

This year’s draft had a very hefty third tier (the one that started right after the top three players). We knew that the nine players in that tier would all be gone before New jersey’s second pick and we had a feeling that a few others, like Anton Lundell and Rodion Amirov would also not make it, both receiving a bump due to playing successfully against men. Of the rest, we considered Mercer to be the best NHL prospect. That means that we would have seen Mercer as the clear Best Player Available at least three picks before New Jersey took control of the virtual presentation for the second time. He has a very well-rounded game with skating speed the only relative weak spot. With additional coaching and physical maturity, that area should improve as well. Mercer will outproduce his skills and provide NHL value for a very long time. We are more sure of that than we are for a few guys selected higher. This is a case of taking what the board gives you.

Worst value pick: Shakir Mukhamadullin

If Mercer was taking advantage of what the draft board gave, Mukhamadullin looks like the clear opposite. This draft featured two stud blueliners in Jamie Drysdale and Jake Sanderson. After them, there were two other clear first rounders in Kaiden Guhle and Braden Schneider. Guhle was gone two picks before the team selected Mercer. Schneider was selected immediately after Mercer. It seems that the Devils, having already drafted two high-end wingers in Mercer and Alexander Holtz, wanted a blueliner. We don’t know that they were hoping Schneider was going to be there, but when he was taken by their divisional rivals, the New York Rangers, it looks like they took the next defender in their list, even if he might have been available in the middle of the second. The Devils, not owning a second rounder, took him anyway. Mukhamadullin has earned respect for playing in the KHL as a 17-year-old. But until the beginning of the current KHL season, he has never shown any actual propensity for producing. Maybe the Devils were enamored by a very strong first month to this season, but we aren’t buying it. He has NHL upside, but I have yet to be convinced that it is more than as a reasonable #4/5 blueliner.

New York Rangers

1/1 Alexis Lafreniere, LW Rimouski (QMJHL)

1/19 Braden Schneider, D, Brandon (WHL)

2/60 William Cuylle, LW, Windsor (OHL)

3/92 Oliver Tarnstrom, C, AIK J20 (SuperElit)

4/103 Dylan Garand, G, Kamloops (WHL)

5/127 Evan Vierling, C, Barrie (OHL)

5/134 Brett Berard, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

6/165 Matthew Rempe, C, Seattle (WHL)

7/197 Hugo Ollas, G, Linkoping J20 (SuperElit)

For starters, we have to remember that even if none of the other players pan out, as long as first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere meets his (sky high) expectations, the Rangers’ 2020 draft class will be franchise changing. Lafreniere was the odds-on favorite to be the number one pick for a few years now and has never done anything to bring doubt to his first impression. He is ready to play an impact role from day one, and every facet of his game suggests a long-term top line career. We have tons of Lafreniere content on this website, so I won’t reiterate any more about why he is a superstar landing on Broadway.

So, let’s ignore the unicorn in the room for a moment, and spend a few minutes on the other eight players drafted by the Rangers this week. You know what? Even without Lafreniere, this was a damn good draft by the Rangers. I don’t love every pick, but I love some, and I really like some others. And the picks that I have the lowest opinions of were their sixth and seventh rounders. The perfect spots for risk taking. The Rangers drafted largely for early impact this year, with six of their nine draftees coming out of the three CHL leagues, giving them two years to sign them to ELCs, or to cut bait. The other three included two players from the Swedish junior ranks, and a member of the USNTDP.

I will deduct a point (there is not really a point system here) for going so heavily into the short runway CHL leagues as those picks can go sour sooner than others. Another point deduction comes from making this draft class a double goalie draft, selecting young netminders in both the fourth and seventh rounds. Also, with nine picks, I would have anticipated more than one defenseman, even if the one they picked was one of the best of this draft class, giving the Rangers one of the highest upsides in blueline prospect depth in the league, alongside Colorado. Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller, Nils Lundqvist, Matthew Robertson, Zac Jones. I wouldn’t’ object if you wanted to throw Libor Hajek and/or onto that list as well. And now Braden Schneider. That’s a lot of Faberge eggs in one basket, if you ask me.

Best value pick: Brett Berard

The Rangers’ fifth round was magical, and many teams did not draft a single player with as much surplus value as Evan Vierling going 127^th overall. But seven picks later, New York drafted Berard, who while small and injury prone, was game in and game out the most talented offensive player in the most recent USNTDP class. Warts and all, we would have been pleased to see him drafted in the first half of round two. He will require patience as he heads off to play at Providence College, but when you have an opportunity to draft a top six caliber talent in the sixth round, you do it. The Rangers did. In contrast, Vierling was *only* a third-round talent. There are teams that didn’t draft a single player with the upside of either of Berard or Vierling at all. The Rangers got both of them in the FIFTH ROUND!

Worst value pick: Oliver Tarnstrom

We are on board with Tarnstrom as a prospect and a reasonable draft pick. He skates well and has a good head for the game, all on a frame that should be NHL-worthy once he finished filling out. But he is a center who has never shown high end offensive skills in the Swedish junior ranks and has never been a priority player on Sweden’s age-based rosters. We don’t see much in the Rangers’ last two picks either, other than the fact that both Matthew Rempe and Hugo Ollas are both 6-8”. Both in those rounds, I expect and applaud swings for the fences. For the third round, I like to see more attention paid to ceiling and Tarnstrom’s isn’t that high. Berard or Vierling in the third and Tarnstrom in the fifth would have made more sense from a value perspective.

Columbus Blue Jackets

1/21 Yegor Chinakhov, RW, Omskie Yastreby (MHL)

3/78 Samuel Knazko, D, TPS U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)

4/114 Mikael Pyyhtia, C, TPS U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)

5/145 Ole Bjorgvik Holm, D, Mississauga (OHL)

6/176 Samuel Johannesson, D, Rogle BK (SHL)

We can never, ever accuse Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen, or his top scout, Ville Soren, of being anything other than enigmatic. Some teams let the draft come to them, casting a wide net and picking whoever they like best when their time comes. Other teams decide who they want and draft them, regardless of who else might be available and without a real thought about how they can best set up their assets, perhaps trading up or down to increase picks.

Their selection of overage Russian winger Yegor Chinakhov on day one was easily the biggest draft day shocker since I started covering this area, maybe eight years ago. Some might point to their own decision to draft Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall a few years ago, over Jesse Puljujarvi, who had been the near-universal consensus as the third best prospect in 2016. That worked out well for Columbus, but Dubois was widely seen as a top 6-8 player. Chinakhov was not ranked at all by most independent scouting services. We had him ranked, but more in line with the sixth round than 21^st overall.

Of course, Columbus’ other picks were no less off the proverbial board than the Chinakhov selection. None of their other four selections were ranked by us at all, although three were at least in our Honorable Mention section. So, while it is very easy to choose the worst value pick, but not so easy to decide on their best value selection. The other aspect of the Blue Jackets’ 2020 draft is that all selected players are European based. Fifth rounder Ole Bjorgvik Holm did spend last season with Mississauga in the OHL, but has since returned home to play in the Norwegian men’s league and it is unknown whether he will come back to Canada once the OHL season starts.

Best value pick: Simon Johannesson

Considering how we had listed Johannesson, Bjorgvik Holm and Knazko all in the Honorable Mention section of our draft list, we thought that any or all of them would be reasonable late round selections. So, the later any of those are selected, the more likely it is to be good value. In the case of Johannesson, he is also an overager prospect, with a late 2000 birthdate. He has already spent a full season playing in the SHL and is a fair skater and puck mover. Not very exciting, but he has bottom pairing upside.

Worst value pick: Yegor Chinakhov

Still the most talented player drafted this year by Columbus, Chinakhov saw his stock rise for some teams with a quick start to his year in Russia. We actually liked him enough in the 2019 draft to give him a second-round grade, but he didn’t do enough in the 2019-20 season to elevate or even sustain that esteem. Word is that Columbus really likes him (no kidding, eh?) and had intel that one other team was targeting the player for their second-round pick. Not owning a second round pick themselves, and concerned that Chinakhov would not have been available for the third rounder they had just acquired from Montreal in the Josh Anderson-Max Domi deal, they drafted their guy early, oblivious to the shocked onlookers. I do wonder if a player like Chinakhov would have even attended the draft in a normal year, as the league did not have him and his family on camera for the event. Even if the skilled forward works out, there will never be a case where he could have been selected with a pick 20 or more spots later. I believe in arbitrage.

New York Islanders

3/90 Alexander Ljungkrantz, LW, Brynas J20 (SuperElit)

4/121 Alex Jefferies, RW, The Gunnery Prep (USHS-CT)

5/152 William Dufour, RW, Drummondville (QMJHL)

6/183 Matias Rajaniemi, D, Pelicans U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)

7/214 Henrik Tikkanen, G, HIFK U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)

In fairness, the Islanders’ 2020 draft class is underwhelming largely because the team traded away both of its first two round picks. Both picks were sent to Ottawa as part of the package to bring Jean-Gabriel Pageau to Long Island. Interestingly, the other five picks were all the Islanders actual picks, as they did not trade away or trade for any other selection.

If there can be said to be an overriding trend among the Islander picks, it is size. GM Lou Lamoriello has always prized larger players, and that held true here. Each of the five picks is at least 6-0” tall and three of them are at least 6-3”, with seventh round netminder Henrik Tikkanen measuring in at 6-8”. Targeted tools seem to have been bit shots and physical play. Production was certainly not a priority with these picks, as only Alex Jefferies has a sustained record of big numbers, and even he could only claim to have scored at the high school level, having spent his draft year playing for a Connecticut prep school.

Outside of William Dufour, drafted from the QMJHL, the other four picks are either European, or college-bound, giving the Islanders plenty of time to decide whether to sign them, or to cut bait. Ultimately, between the lack of big-time upside in any of the picks, and the low number of picks, the Islanders will be lucky to have even one player reach the 200 game mark at the NHL level, when all is said and done. While I don’t dislike this draft class as much as I did the Columbus crew, I can’t recommend that any Islanders’ supporters get too excited.

Best value pick: William Dufour

Two years removed from being selected sixth overall in the QMJHL Entry Draft, Dufour’s stock has diminished, but there have also been signs that he may be trending back in the right direction. After a slow start in his draft year with Chicoutimi (22 points in 31 games), he took off after a midseason trade to Drummondville (33 points in 28 games). Dufour skates well for his plus size and extends himself in all three zones. It would not be too surprising if he finds another level to his game.

Worst value pick: Alex Jefferies

In all honesty, we did not have any notes on giant seventh round netminder Henrik Tikkanen, and his numbers in the Finnish junior leagues have been underwhelming, but I have no problems with taking a late round flier on a goalie with rare physical attributes. Jefferies, on the other hand, we had notes on. And they weren’t very complimentary. Most notable is his subpar skating, which could hold him back without any serious improvements. A Merrimack commit, Jefferies shoots the puck well, but his overall skill game is not currently enough – or trending that way – for NHL impact. As fewer and fewer prospects stick with prep school hocket in their draft year, I am generally skeptical of high school numbers, and the fourth round was way too soon for me to be comfortable in rolling the dice on him.

Carolina Hurricanes

1/13 Seth Jarvis, C, Portland (WHL)

2/41 Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea (SHL)

2/53 Vasily Ponomarev, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL)

3/69 Alexander Nikishin, D, Spartak Moscow (KHL)

4/115 Zion Nybeck, RW, HV 71 J20 (SuperElit)

6/159 Lucas Mercuri, C, Salisbury HS (USHS-CT)

7/199 Alexander Pashin, RW, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

7/208 Ronan Seeley, D, Everett (WHL)

Another draft class for the Tom Dundon Carolina Hurricanes and his precept of not drafting defensemen in the first round has held steady. In fact, of the eight picks made by the Hurricanes at the draft, six were forwards, and only two were blueliners, the latter coming in the third and seventh rounds. If there is one thing that unites all of their eight picks, it is that each player, without exception, projects to at least above average puck skills. They are all creative players, adept puck handlers and puck movers. Some are big, some are small, some are tiny. Some are very good skaters, some need plenty of work getting their stride to NHL-caliber. But they all are skill players.

In some cases, skill brings offensive production along for the ride. Looking at their first pick, WHL star Seth Jarvis, and we can see how the skills have paid off. Zion Nybeck has put up big numbers in the Swedish junior ranks, as has Lucas Mercuri in AAA and prep school hockey and Alexander Pashin in the Russian junior level. On the other hand, picks like Vasily Ponomarev and Noel Gunler have not seen their skills reflected on the score sheets yet. With a strong pipeline already in place, the Hurricanes will not need to rush any of these players up the ladder, but I suspect that some players will need more time than others to reach their utmost potential.

Even before the draft, the Hurricanes system was among the best in the league, ranking fifth in our recent Prospect Report. These additions, with their inherent abilities to keep opponents on their toes and guessing, will only reinforce their prominence.

Best value pick: Noel Gunler and Ronan Seeley

Gunler was one of the most divisive players eligible for this year’s draft. Our Swedish prospect analyst, Jimmy Hamrin, compared Gunler’s reputation in Sweden to that of Ryan Merkley in Canada two years ago, in terms of play away from the puck as well as personality. The skills are undeniable. He has recently started his second season playing against men in the SHL. Yet he has almost never been called on to play for Sweden internationally, at any age range. His numbers in the SHL are not notable, but Gunler is living up to the challenge at a very young age, and still flashing his high-end skills. We had him rated as a mid-first round caliber talent. The black marks could have kept him out of the first round but picking him up ten picks into the second could be a true steal once he reaches maturity. As for Seeley, there is an awful lot to be excited about for a late seventh round pick. The Yellowknife, NWT native has an August 2002 birthdate and was a former WHL Bantam Draft first round pick who took big steps in his second season in the WHL. He is a fantastic skater – probably the top skater in the Carolina draft class – and already shows signs of having a plus two-way game. He won’t be a power play weapon, but he has enough positive elements to his game to reasonably hope for a #4/5 defender outcome.

Worst value pick: Alexander Nikishin

As a rare 18-year-old playing regularly in the KHL, Nikishin can be hard to scout, a matter not helped at all by his near complete lack of international hockey experience. He had some big moments in the Russian junior ranks in his age 17/18 season, but he hasn’t reached that type of level at the senior ranks yet. He has solid tools, but he hasn’t been able to make the whole equal the sum of the parts yet. Note that, for some teams, the worst value pick is a player we don’t think was worthy of being drafted. We have seen enough of Nikishin to be comfortable with his being drafted, but more as a late-round flier than as a mid-round staple.

Pittsburgh Penguins

2/52 Joel Blomqvist, G, Karpat U20 (Jr. A. SM-liiga)

3/77 Calle Clang, G, Rogle J20 (SuperElit)

4/108 Lukas Svejkovsky, C, Medicine Hat (WL)

5/149 Raivis Kristians Ansons, LW, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

6/170 Chase Yoder, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Not having a first-round pick is bad enough. Not having a first-round pick while your prospect pipeline is near barren is worse. Not having a first-round pick and having a barren pipeline and then using both of your first two selections on goaltenders is a new low. That is no disrespect to the goalie’s the selected. Joel Blomqvist was our second highest ranked goalie in this draft class. Calle Clang was not the third, but we had him in the sixth-round range, with the general expectation that some team would call his name earlier than that. For a system like Pittsburgh’s and with as few picks as the Penguins had, I would have liked to see more of an upside play from them.

Instead, the team drafted two goalies, with a reasonable expectation that one will be an NHL backup. After them, they selected a trio of North American based forwards without any real history of high-level production. One of them, Lukas Svejkovsky, has a skilled game, but hasn’t put it all together to be a top line WHL weapon. The other two, Quebec-based Latvian Raivis Kristians Ansons, and Texan Chase Yoder, are both more suited to defensive forward roles, roles which they have already filled ably at the junior levels.

The problem with the lack of upside in the drafted forwards is actually compounded by two of them having been drafted from out of the CHL, giving the Penguins only two years on each of them to offer a contract. At least Yoder is college, and Pittsburgh can hold off until he finishes his time at Providence before making a call on his future. The system added two goalie prospects where previously there was next to nothing. But beyond that point in their favor, the Pittsburgh’s pipeline has diminished even further in comparison to the rest of the league.

Best value pick: Chase Yoder

I must admit that there is little dynamic about Yoder’s game, but he is exceptionally responsible and reliable. He is a “little things” player and is fleet of foot, making him a promising option for the penalty kill. He could even follow in the tradition of forwards who play bottom six roles with the USNTDP but then emerge into top six roles in college. The Dallas-area product will be well worth this pick if he meets his median projected outcome of a fourth line grinder and penalty killer.

Worst value pick: Calle Clang

Not only was Clang the second goalie Pittsburgh drafted in their weird approach to 2020, but his upside is nowhere near as high as Blomqvist’s. If they both move through the system together (which is no sure thing), when one plays, the other will sit. I expect Blomqvist to win that particular battle, making Clang somewhat redundant. To his credit, Clang is very athletic and exceptionally competitive, but his overall game is very raw. If the Penguins really needed multiple goalies out of this draft class, Clang might well have been available in the fourth or fifth round, and if not him, one of several other goalies with similar projections could also have been had.

Philadelphia Flyers

1/23 Tyson Foerster, RW, Barrie (OHL)

2/54 Emil Andrae, D, HV 71 J20 (SuperElit)

4/94 Zayde Wisdom, C, Kingston (OHL)

5/135 Elliot Desnoyers, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

6/178 Connor McClennon, RW, Winnipeg (WHL)

Like Pittsburgh, the Philadelphia Flyers had only five picks to work with at the draft. Unlike their in-state rivals, the Flyers made those picks count. Outside of their first-round pick of Barrie sniper Tyson Foerster, each other player they selected was drafted later than we had them ranked. To a man, every single player the Flyers drafted has above average offensive tools of one kind or another. Some are excellent skaters, some player makers, and I have already mentioned how Foerster is a sniper.

They did go forward heavy, with four of the five playing up front. But even the one defenseman they drafted, second rounder Emil Andrae, was among the half dozen best offensive defensemen in the entire draft class. Andrae was also the only non-CHLer in this draft class, so there is downside in having only two years to get ELCs ready for four of these players. I suspect, though, that the Flyers will be happy to sign them all, especially if sixth rounder Connor McClennon proves that he has recovered from the broken collarbone that ended his season even before COVID wreaked havoc on the planet.

Another intriguing aspect of this draft class is how – at least for their top two picks – do not fit the speed component required of the modern game, which leans towards speed and skill. Foerster and Andrae aren’t actually bad skaters, but their feet are heavier than one would like. In Andrae’s case, the lack of foot speed coupled with his very small stature likely kept him from the first round. That said, skating can be improved more than certain other traits and the Flyers likely believe that these two players can both take very positive steps in this regard in the coming years.

Best value pick: Zayde Wisdom

I honestly could have chosen any of the non-first rounders for best value pick, but Wisdom is the later pick most likely to have a career, by the definition outlined in the introduction to this article. If you are subscriber to The Athletic, look up the story Scott Wheeler wrote about Wisdom. His backstory will make a fan out of anyone. But if you aren’t, just focus on what he has already done on the ice. He is short and stocky, but very solid, skates well, has plus puck skills and hockey IQ, and in playing with top linemates Martin Chromiak and Shane Wright, the latter being the early favorite for the first overall pick in the 2022 draft. Wisdom can play with top end players and help them play to their respective ceilings.

Worst value pick: Tyson Foerster

Please remember that this denotation is completely relative. While we did not rate Foerster as a likely first rounder, he was not too far away. In fact, if the Flyers simply have slightly higher belief in Foerster’s ability to improve his skating speed, he would fit very nicely in the range of the first round where they selected him. Even with that extra half-grade of skating, he will not be relied upon as an offensive driver at the NHL level, but can be very valuable as a trailer. In short, we liked Foerster a lot, just not as much as the Flyers’ scouts.

Washington Capitals

1/22 Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

4/117 Bogdan Trineyev, RW, MHL Dynamo Moskva (MHL)

5/148 Bear Hughes, C, Spokane (WHL)

6/179 Garin Bjorklund, G Medicine Hat (WHL)

7/211 Oskar Magnusson, LW, Malmo J20 (SuperElit)

Unless I am very much mistaken, the Capitals’ drafting of Hendrix Lapierre in the first round, marks the team’s first draft pick out of the QMJHL since selecting Samuel Carrier in the sixth round in 2010. If you are going to break a decade-long streak, it should be on a top player, and well, Lapierre is just that. Especially if his medicals check out and the concussions and neck injury he sustained over the last two seasons are fully in the rear view mirror. Between Lapierre and the Capitals’ 2019 first rounder Connor McMichael, the team has their next wave of front-line players to augment and lengthen the fantastic career of Alex Ovechkin. We are totally on board with that selection.

Where we have some concerns are with Washington’s other picks. Almost all of them in fact. After drafting Lapierre, the Capitals had to sit on their hands for the next 95 picks (if you watched day two of the draft, that means around a four hour wait) before they could choose again. With all due respect to their four day two picks, we see a significant lack of upside in those players. Bogdan Trineyev looked good in last year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup but couldn’t sustain that level of play during the MHL (Russian junior league) regular season. Bear Hughes was an overager, who joined the WHL late and was solid, if unspectacular in his rookie season for Spokane. In his first draft year, he tore up a lesser league (the KIJHL) before fitting in pretty seamlessly as an 18-year-old WHL rookie. Garin Bjorklund was the backup goalie with Medicine Hat. He has some positive attributes, but his performance was notably worse than nominal starter Mads Sogaard, an Ottawa prospect. He’s a longshot. Finally, seventh rounder Oskar Magnusson has good tools and put up great numbers in the top Swedish junior league. He has some promising tools, but not without considerable tweener risk.

As long as Lapierre works out, it won’t really matter how the other four picks do, especially as they were all late rounders. If Lapierre makes it and even one of the other four has even a role-player’s career, this draft will be an unmitigated success. I would put the early odds on that coming to fruition at ¼.

Best value pick: Hendrix Lapierre

Had Lapierre not suffered the upper body injuries (two or three concussions and one neck injury) he had; he would have been long gone by the time the Capitals made their pick at 22^nd overall. Lapierre’s skillset is high end. He reads the game well and is a solid skater to boot. Naturally, he needs to get stronger before reaching the NHL and he needs to show that his injuries are fully healed, something he can do with a relatively full, healthy season. If a healthy Hendrix does what we expect of him, he can be a star. That’s pretty good value.

Worst value pick: Bogdan Trineyev

For as much as we were not very impressed with Washington’s later round picks, Trineyev has the lowest upside in our opinion. In fact, were it not for his strong four games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup around 14 months ago, it is doubtful that his subsequent performance would have been enough for him to be drafted at all. He is big and rangy, but none of his offensive tools really stands out, giving him an absolute ceiling of a fourth liner. Not that Bear Hughes is much different, but the lack of ceiling is less egregious in the fifth round than in the fourth.

McKEENS NHL DRAFT GUIDE – FINAL MOCK DRAFT 2020 – TWO ROUNDS

Ryan Wagman and Brock Otten — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 13:48:42 +0000

I know, I know. You are not here for the preamble, so I will keep it extremely brief. For this mock, we are only looking at the part of the first round for which we know the order. That is, the top 29 picks, split amongst the teams that are no longer contending for the Stanley Cup. The 30th pick will go to the team that loses in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the Champions will pick 31st. Notably, Western Conference champs Dallas own their first round pick, while Eastern Conference champs Tampa’s pick belongs to San Jose as a result of the Barclay Goodrow trade. For the sake of timing, we are completing this mock with the presumption that the Lightning, with the better regular season pedigree, and one win away, will win.

We had to wait out a pandemic and two stages of a draft lottery to get here. In the first stage, we saw the third pick going to Ottawa, the pick they received from the currently hapless San Jose Sharks in the Erik Karlsson trade. The second pick was secured by the Los Angeles Kings. The first pick was reserved for a placeholder team, one of the eight teams who appeared in the play-in round but could not break through to the official first round of the postseason.

Those eight teams all had equal 12.5% (1 in 8) chances of winning the top pick, the lottery for which was held a few weeks ago. The New York Rangers won the honors. After the top three picks, the rest of the 4-15 set is set by regular season record. Picks 16-28 were also be decided by regular season record, including all teams who were knocked out in the first or second rounds of the postseason.

The picks made here are not based on insider intelligence, but through an understanding of the players available, and our knowledge of team tendencies and needs.

Let’s Draft!

1. New York Rangers - Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

There is a very reasonable argument to be made that the highest upside among the 2020 draft class actually belongs to Quinton Byfield. I have time for that argument, considering positional value (Byfield is a center and Lafreniere is a let winger), age (Lafreniere is a late ’01 born, while Byfield has an August 2002 birthdate, giving Byfield 10 extra month of physical development to come), and size (Lafreniere has good size, Byfield is a physical specimen). That said, I would not hesitate in the slightest to select Lafreniere here.
Lafreniere is ready to step right into an NHL roster and play a top six role on day one. The six years of team control that the Rangers would have would all be valuable years and they would be starting immediately. Byfield, on the other hand, may be ready to play in the NHL right now, but he would likely need a season or so before he can start to impose himself on the game. This is basically a parallel to the two players’ respective roles on the Canadian WJC roster. Both made the team, but Lafreniere was the tournament MVP, while Byfield barely saw the ice by the end. Although a winger, Lafreniere will soon be making his linemates better, much like John Tavares used to do across town in Long Island. RW

2. Los Angeles Kings – Tim Stutzle, LW, Adler Mannheim (DEL)

After Lafreniere, the gap in expected value between Stutzle and Byfield is slight at best. The Kings organization has a vested interest in German hockey, holding ownership over the Eisbaren Berlin franchise. At minimum, that should give them added comfort in terms of what they would be getting in Stutzle, likely more so than any other team. Stutzle’s game works at top pace, and he has enough elements to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup right away and work his way into a top line role in due time. As an added bonus, Stutzle will be able to maintain game shape in Germany until the NHL is up and running once again. RW

3. Ottawa Senators (from San Jose Sharks) - Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

We know that Lafreniere will not be available at this slot, giving Ottawa the easiest selection of the draft here. They simply take whoever is left on the board between Lafreniere, Stutze and Quinton Byfield. There is a pretty clear drop off in expected future value after these three in this first round. In this scenario, Byfield falls in Ottawa’s lap, and they will not be complaining to get a player they could begin grooming to be their future top line center. Physically overwhelming at the junior level, Byfield has the tools to continue dominating at the NHL level, although many believe that he needs to process the game a gear quicker to allow for all of his tools to play to their capacity at the top level. Ottawa will need more patience with Byfield than the Rangers or Kings would need with Lafreniere or Stutzle, but the payoff will be worth it. RW

4. Detroit Red Wings – Cole Perfetti, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

The Red Wings are the biggest losers with the draft lottery outcomes. After one of the worst seasons by any team this century, they certainly had to be hoping for a shot at one of the top three, even if the top pick was out of reach. Even though there is a drop off after the top three, the Red Wings will still get a high-end player at #4. There have been numerous rumors connecting the Wings with Perfetti, who has been playing just up the road from Detroit in Saginaw. There are good arguments to be had for Detroit to pick one of the big Swedes in this draft class, but Perfetti offers a better organizational fit for Detroit as the top center outside of Byfield. There is also something to the comp between Perfetti and Brayden Point, one of Detroit GM Steve Yzerman’s biggest draft prizes from his time atop the Tampa Bay organization. Patience will be important for Detroit with Perfetti – as it would be for anyone available at this point in this scenario – but he has first line center upside. RW

5. Ottawa Senators - Jake Sanderson, D, USNTDP (USHL)

The inclination here is to connect the Senators with one of the big Swedes considering the team’s history with drafting franchise changers from Sweden (Erik Karlsson, Daniel Alfredsson) and both Raymond and Alexander Holtz would be good fits at this stage of the draft. But before making the easy choice, I should point out that the Senators’ scouting staff is not at all the same as the staff that picked Karlsson and Alfredsson. The team has only drafted two players out of Sweden in the previous four drafts. If the Senators go to Sweden it wouldn’t be crazy, and they would more than likely draft Raymond in that case. But with Byfield already a Senator in this scenario, I like them drafting the top defenseman in the draft class. Sanderson and Drysdale are very close in our rankings, a matter of taste, really, and I think Sanderson is more likely here as the Senators under Pierre Dorion tend to go with bigger, more physical players. Sanderson has a clear physical edge on Drysdale at this stage in their respective careers. Sanderson is moving on to North Dakota next season, where he will be playing alongside former Sens’ first rounder Jacob Bernard-Docker. That could be the start of a long-term relationship between the two high end blueline prospects. RW

6. Anaheim Ducks - Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie Otters (OHL)

Drysdale is both arguably the best player available in this scenario, and fits a clear need for the Ducks, who have seen their once vaunted blueline depth dwindle in recent years due to some trades that didn’t exactly work out. The Ducks haven’t used a top pick on an OHL’er since drafting Max Jones in the 2016 first round, but Drysdale would bring a new dimension to their transition game, generally helping make Anaheim a faster paced team. He could reasonably be ready for the NHL by 2021-22. RW

7. New Jersey Devils – Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda HC (SHL)

A very good outcome for the Devils, Raymond would give the young team a third potential game breaking talent to go along with their two recent first overall picks Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Raymond is a truly dynamic puck player who can make things happen on any given shift and has excelled playing against youth, even if he has struggled to assert himself playing against men in the SHL. There are scenarios where Raymond is already off the board a few picks before New Jersey gets the chance, so they will take this if things play out like this. If Raymond is gone, I see them going to the other Swede, Alexander Holtz over one of the defensemen taken fifth and sixth. RW

8. Buffalo Sabres - Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa 67s (OHL)

The Sabres are once again entering a new regime. The Jason Botterill anti-CHL drafting is a thing of the past. New GM Kevyn Adams has no track record to look to for speculation about how the team might draft. There is a general sense though that metrics will play a deeper role in their selections, especially considering the mass layoffs among the Buffalo scouting staff. So the player who le the OHL in assists and points would be a good fit in that regards. Rossi’s overall hustle and grit would also help make Buffalo tougher to play against, giving opponents a second line after Eichel’s to worry about. RW

9. Minnesota Wild – Yaroslav Askarov, G, Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)

While not as much of a wild card at the draft as the new-look Sabres, this will also be the first draft for new Minnesota GM Bill Guerin, who had been an assistant GM with Pittsburgh for the five seasons prior to this one. He would certainly have seen the value of drafting goalies, but the Penguins had only one first round pick in his time as AGM. The Wild also have new Co-Directors of Amateur Scouting in P.J. Fenton and Darren Yopyk. Had the Penguins given their 2020 first rounder to Minnesota instead of deferring to their 2021 pick, I might have gone in a different direction here, but given the choice between a potential franchise goaltender (Askarov), and a few wingers who project as top six (Anton Lundell, Alexander Holtz, Jack Quinn), I see Guerin and company going with the one who can help define a franchise. RW

10. Winnipeg Jets – Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgardens IF (SHL)

I get the sense that the Jets would sign off on this scenario in a heartbeat. It would not be hard to imagine an alternate scenario wherein Holtz is off the board at pick 5/6. Three years ago, the Jets drafted a big, skilled winger playing in Sweden named Kristian Vesalainen. Vesalainen has been jerked around since being drafted, spending time in the NHL, AHL, KHL and Liiga. Holtz is not the physical specimen that Vesalainen was, but his offensive instincts are more refined, and his draft year production put Vesalainen’s to shame. Holtz’ toolkit is robust and deep such that even though he is best known for his finishing skills, he can contribute in all facets. He may not be far at all from the NHL. RW

11. Nashville Predators – Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa 67s (OHL)

With the level of talent still available levelling off, I see Poile and company looking for a player who can help sooner than later. While there aren’t any immediate contributors available, Quinn may be pretty close. The Predators showed no compunction in going to the OHL for their first rounder last year, and Philip Tomasino has taken huge steps forward in his first post draft year. Adding Quinn to a collection of prospects up front including Tomasino, Eeli Tolvanen, Egor Afanasyev, Rem Pitlick and others would give the Predators more offensive skill on the way than perhaps at any other time in franchise history. RW

12. Florida Panthers – Braden Schneider, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Dale Tallon is on the way out in South Florida and TBD is taking his place. With that much uncertainty surrounding the organization, I would generally proceed with a strict “Best Player Available” mantra. There are three forwards and two defenders who are all pretty close in terms of expected future value. In this case, I don’t mind going heavy on positional need, as most of the Panthers’ top prospects after 20191 first rounder, goaltender Spencer Knight are forwards, while the system is very shallow on the blueline. The organization is especially shallow on the right side of the blue line, so I will give the edge to Braden Schneider here over lefty Kaiden Guhle. But in truth, either would be a solid fit. RW

13. Carolina Hurricanes (from Toronto Maple Leafs) – Anton Lundell, C, HIFK (Liiga)

If the Hurricanes, under own Tom Dundon, are adamantly opposed to drafting a defenseman in the first round, I have a hard time imaging them springing for a goalie either. With three forwards of note to consider, I see them drafting the Finn Anton Lundell over either of Seth Jarvis or Dawson Mercer as the Hurricanes and Finnish prospects have been de rigueur for quite some time now. Also, Lundell is very good, plays a mature, NHL near-ready game, and has the versatility to play anywhere in the lineup, up or down the lines, at center or on the wing. I could also see the Hurricanes being the high team on Russian forward Rodion Amirov, but Lundell’s overall game, predicated on skills and smarts, would be hard to resist here. RW

14. Edmonton Oilers – Seth Jarvis, C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Look for the Oilers to continue to build organizational depth up front, as the team has long had a hard time putting the puck in the net without one or both of McDavid or Draisaitl on the ice. The German connection could be a thing if the Oilers were interested in JJ Peterka but recall that Draisaitl was drafted out of the WHL. Instead, I see them staying closer to home. Both Portland’s Seth Jarvis and Kamloops’ Connor Zary could be good fits here. While Zary could be a good fit in the way he can help control a slower tempo, with a speedy star like McDavid on the roster, the faster option is a better fit. Jarvis could be moved to the wing to play in the top six, or kept up the middle, allowing Edmonton to eventually move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to a permanent top six wing position. Either way, Jarvis will make the Oilers that much more dangerous game in and game out. RW

15. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Pittsburgh Penguins) – Rodion Amirov, LW, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)

Given Toronto’s stated preference for speed, skill, and smarts in their prospects, some of the available options at this point are not great fits, such as defender Kaiden Guhle, or forwards Connor Zary or Dawson Mercer. The Leafs could really go in many different directions here, including trading down a ew spots to gain additional assets, but if I am keeping the pick, the best fits Toronto’s profile is Russian forward Amirov. He is physically underdeveloped, but his skill game is top six worthy, he reads the ice at a very mature level and can play at a good clip as well. Considering Toronto’s recent run of free agent signings from the KHL (Ozhiganov, Mikheyev, Barabanov), we know they are comfortable with bets on Russian talent. RW

16. Montreal Canadiens – Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)

One of the reasons I have respected how Montreal has drafted in the Bergevin era, is that they are willing to place bets on players from leagues outside the norm. Last year alone, they drafted players playing in Denmark and AAA in Alberta. This pick would not meet that definition, but it is a home run swing, nonetheless. Once Lapierre’s injury was reported to have been a neck injury and not a second concussion, some worries over his future were alleviated. There is also the slow start to his year to be considered, but coming into the season, many had assumed that the skilled playmaker would be long gone by this point. If Lapierre recovers his previous trajectory, this would be a big win. RW

17. Chicago Blackhawks – John-Jason Peterka, LW/RW, EHC Munchen (DEL)

Chicago would jump on Askarov if the Russian netminder somehow fell this far. Seeing as how he is not, and the strength of the system is defensemen – 7 of the club’s top 15 prospects is a blueliner, and that count doesn’t include Boqvist – look for the Blackhawks to add scoring depth. Two years ago, they signed Dominik Kahun as a free agent out of EHC Munchen in Germany. That worked out pretty well. Peterka is more of a scorer than the playmaking Kahun, but he also has a very reasonable top six projection. RW

18. New Jersey Devils (from Arizona Coyotes) – Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

With Lucas Raymond already under wraps, and another first rounder coming up, the Devils can afford to diversify their approach, hearken back to the drafting of Ty Smith, and draft another defenseman from the WHL in the middle of the first round. Guhle is a much different style of defender than Smith but could be a compliment to him as the other left handed defender in the top four. Guhle skates well and is one of the more physical defenders in this draft class. RW

19. Calgary Flames – Connor Zary, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

The Flames need offensive talent for a second wave, especially if Johnny Gaudreau’s days are getting shorter in Calgary. Other than 2019 first rounder Jakob Pelletier, the cupboard is conspicuously empty. They could be opportunistic in this scenario and grab a future top six center in Connor Zary. His footspeed prevents him from being taken higher, but he reads the game very well and plays a positioning and puck skill game that doesn’t rely on being faster than opponents. Winger Dawson Mercer would also be a very worthy possibility here. RW

20. New Jersey Devils (from Vancouver Canucks) – Dawson Mercer, RW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)

In this scenario, the Devils have already stocked up their system with Lucas Raymond and Kaiden Guhle. In adding Mercer to their group, they get another talented winger who could team up in a few years with recent high-end picks like Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and Michael McLeod. Mercer isn’t as flashy as Raymond – or as the centers – but he has excellent touch with the puck, and a highly advanced sense of where to be in the offensive zone to generate the most positive impact for his team. The WJC gold medalist from the 2020 event, he could be ready for the NHL faster than most other players still available. RW

21. Columbus Blue Jackets – Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

If Columbus, which has not had their full complement of picks in recent years, as they have pushed to be a competitive playoff team, can be said to have a type, it is for instinctive forwards who play versatile games that could fit up and down the lineup. If there is a player available right now who could follow in the footsteps of Alexandre Texier and Liam Foudy, Bourque fits the bill. He has high end puck skills and instincts and plays a gritty game that maximizes his tools. The system is currently weaker on the blueline, but the draft class is forward heavy and those who should be considered in this range are already off the board (Schneider, Guhle). The dropoff in forward talent between this pick and when Columbus picks again (4th round) is far steeper than the dropoff among blueline prospects. RW

22. New York Rangers (from Carolina Hurricanes) – Jan Mysak, C, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)

Contrary to popular belief, the New York Rangers 2020 draft class will be judged on more than just what they get out of presumptive first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere. I often advocate for a diversified portfolio when teams make multiple picks in the first round, but four of the top 6 prospects in the Rangers’ system prior to the draft were defensemen, and the forwards available here are better anyway. Mysak fits in the Rangers’ worldview, considering their heavy lean towards European talents in the first round of late. While the skilled Czech pivot spent the second half of the season in the OHL with Hamilton, the first half of his draft year was played out against men in his homeland. The relative success of Filip Chytil should give the Rangers’ brass comfort in the Czech option and Mysak has outproduced his strong skill set for a while now. RW

23. Philadelphia Flyers – Dylan Holloway, RW, Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA/Big 10)

Both the Ron Hextall and Chuck Fletcher regimes have been very comfortable scouting the college bound talents and seven of the club’s top 15 prospects heading into the draft spent last year playing NCAA hockey. As such, the club would have had many extra opportunities to scout Holloway, who spent his first year of eligibility playing for the Badgers, occasionally outshining recent first round picks like Alex Turcotte (LA), Cole Caufield (Mtl), and K’Andre Miller (NYR). Holloway plays a powerful North-South game with speed and skill. When he remembers to slow the game down, his non-stop motor helps his tools play up. He can fit in an energy role if top six spots are unavailable. RW

24. Washington Capitals – Lukas Reichel, LW, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL)

Outside of 2019 first rounder Connor McMichael, the Capitals have a pretty downtrodden system, with a clear lack in offensive talent. Never a team to shy away from European prospects, Reichel is one of the players that could benefit from the late draft. The German dynamo has started his 2020-21 season very strong in international play, continuing on his upward trajectory in his “natural” draft year. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts with Reichel, and he might be no more than one year away from pushing for an NHL job. RW

25. Colorado Avalanche – Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea (SHL)

The Avalanche have done well in recent drafts by just seeing where the chips fall in front of them and then taking advantage of the best talent available. Thinking back to how Alex Newhook had some doubters at the time because of his being prominently left off some Canadian teams in international competition. Perhaps a similar bit of context will make it easier for the Avalanche to pull the trigger on Noel Gunler, who is seemingly always a late cut on various Team Sweden rosters. Gunler’s offensive tools are all high end and with a bit of glue to pull it all together over the next few years as part of an increased role with Lulea in the SHL, could turn out to be one of the best value picks of the entire 2020 draft class. RW

26. St. Louis Blues – Brendan Brisson, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)

St. Louis has spread the love in terms of where they have drafted from in recent years, although they have seemed to shy away from Finland in recent years. That said, the system is altogether lacking in high end talent at this time, with many of their best having graduated to the NHL. Brisson offers an exciting, point-producing talent who will require patience as he heads of the play for the Michigan Wolverines as soon as Big 10 hockey picks back up. Brisson has line driving capabilities but will need time to mature physically. RW

27. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins) – Sam Colangelo, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL)

The Ducks already have a defenseman in this scenario, in Jamie Drysdale. If they take Colangelo now, it is because they suspect he might not be around for their next pick (#36) as the Chicago winger is one of the few power forwards in this draft class. Further, the Ducks always take players with connections to the Steel (Jack Badini in 2017, Blake McLaughlin in 2018, and Jackson Lacombe in 2019). The Ducks still value players who play heavy games as in the golden days of the Pacific Division and Colangelo has enough skill with his sandpaper to fit in the more modern game. RW

28. Ottawa Senators (from New York Islanders) – Ridly Greig, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

In our scenario here, the Senators have already drafted Quinton Byfield and Jake Sanderson. Anything else is gravy, really. On poutine. The Senators under Pierre Dorion like players who are hard to play against. I can’t say that I disagree with that preference, even in the first round, where upside is king. At the very least, a skilled player who is tough to play against can find a home down the lineup if he doesn’t reach his perceived ceiling. A late bloomer, in the sense that he needed a few months into his draft year to find his stride, Greig is certainly tough to play against, despite his still growing frame. Greig is among those who have moved over to Europe (in his case, Sweden) to stay in game shape during the COVID-delays. RW

29. Vegas Golden Knights (from New York Islanders) – Helge Grans, D, Malmo J20 (SuperElit)

The Golden Knights may be among the top half dozen teams in the NHL, but their organizational depth betrays their expansion team status. Only three years into their existence, they were so good so soon that they have already traded away the bulk of the future advantage that similar teams tend to receive. A big right-handed shooter who could have given his draft stock a tangible boost with a good U18 performance, Grans plays a tight two way game, although his off puck play is currently more advanced than his offensive ability. If he can meld all of his tools together, he profiles as a strong option for the second pairing at maturity. RW

30. Dallas Stars – Kasper Simontaival, RW, Tappara U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)

Edmonton Oil Kings’ center Jake Neighbours feels like a Dallas type pick, but this team really needs some dynamic players in their lineup. Someone who can dangle through some opponents and has a knack for scoring. This team has long honed in on Finland and Simontaival certainly knows how to put the puck in the net, owning one of the most lethal shots in the draft class. He would offer a different look to anything currently in the system. RW

31. San Jose Sharks (from Tampa Bay Lightning) – Justin Barron, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

After pick 20 or so, the talent level of available prospects starts to flatten out considerably. So, you go with a player that makes you comfortable. Barron’s fans suspect he would have been long off the board by this point had he not missed a large chunk of the season to a scary blood clot issue. Now recovered, he could bring the Sharks a well-rounded, right-handed shot from the blueline who can take care of things in both ends. San Jose has heavily scouted the QMJHL in recent years, too, so they will surely have a good read on Barron. RW

32. Detroit Red Wings - Jacob Perreault, RW, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

It would certainly be a bit of a surprise if Perreault falls outside of the first round, but scouts are definitely concerned about the consistency of his effort level at both ends of the rink and the ability to get the most out of his skill set. One of the best goal scorers available, his upside is quite high and it’s why he could easily slot inside the top 20 too. The Wings snag him with the first pick of the second round, envisioning a potential powerplay set up that includes Perreault as the triggerman alongside the likes of Perfetti and Zadina. BO

33. Ottawa Senators - Ryan O’Rourke, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

O’Rourke is best described as a throwback style defender, whose game would have fit in well during the 1980’s-90’s. He plays the game hard and makes the opposition earn every inch of ice against him. However, his offensive upside may have been hidden given his role with the Greyhounds last year. His decision making with the puck is high end and he projects as a top four two-way defender in the future. Between the selection of Jake Sanderson in the first round and O’Rourke in the second, Ottawa is set to become a very difficult team to play against in a few years. BO

34. San Jose Sharks - Luke Evangelista, RW, London Knights (OHL)

Might be a bit of a shock to see Evangelista drafted ahead of a few other higher ranked OHL players, but don’t sleep on this breakout star for the London Knights. There are certainly NHL teams who see him as a potential first round selection and put a ton of stock into the London and Dale Hunter development program. San Jose would have seen a lot of Luke last year while checking in on the progress of Ryan Merkley and are likely to have been impressed with what they saw. A well-rounded winger, Evangelista’s potential as a playmaker could be higher than currently envisioned. BO

35. Los Angeles Kings - Dylan Peterson, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Peterson is the kind of player who NHL teams love a lot more than the independent scouting community. A big center who skates extremely well, Peterson profiles as both a potential playmaker and shutdown center, depending on how his development in college goes. No doubt, scouts would have taken notice of his improvement over the course of last year; the cancellation of the World U18’s likely hurt his chance of creeping into the first round with a strong performance. However, looking at the make-up of their division and conference rivals in the West, the Kings know that they will eventually need big forwards who can skate like Peterson. BO

36. Anaheim Ducks - Tyson Foerster, RW, Barrie Colts (OHL)

After taking Jamie Drysdale in round one, the Ducks turned their attention to goal scoring in the second round by selecting Barrie winger Tyson Foerster. Armed with one of the best shots in the draft, Foerster is lethal on the powerplay. His lack of a dynamic skating stride keeps him out of the first round, but his potential is too much to turn down in the early second. As he works to improve his pace and round out his game, Foerster could easily become a top six forward at the NHL level. BO

37. Nashville Predators (from New Jersey Devils) - Tyler Kleven, D, USNTDP (USHL)

No question, Tyler Kleven is another defender who NHL scouts are bound to like more than scouting agencies or independent scouts. While his offensive upside may be limited, the combination of his size, skating ability, and physicality, makes him a good candidate to develop into a modern-day shutdown defender. Nashville seeks to re-emerge as a tough team to play against again, a moniker that they held firmly a decade ago, but have lost touch with in recent years. This has caused a slide down the standings. Kleven, along with Dante Fabbro, can give the Preds those rocks on the back end that can allow players like Josi space to roam. BO

38. Buffalo Sabres - William Wallinder, D, Modo J20 (SuperElit)

Definitely a polarizing player for this year’s draft, Wallinder has physical tools in spades. A high-end mover from the back-end, he can dazzle at times and this has some scouts wondering about his high end potential if they are patient. The word patient is used because Wallinder is still learning to utilize his skill set, a fact that has other scouts questioning his IQ and vision on the ice. Whether you like him or not, defenders like Wallinder always go high in the draft because all it takes is for one franchise to believe in his potential. Buffalo, hoping to hit the jackpot, rolls the dice on the big Swede. BO

39. Minnesota Wild - Luke Tuch, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

When his brother Alex was draft eligible, and subsequently a first round selection, he was universally ranked in that first round range. While Luke does not appear to have the offensive upside of his brother, he is ranked as a possible second round selection by many publications (even if we have him well outside that range). Given Alex’s strong playoff performance this year and that bubble hockey proved that size, skill, and toughness still wins in the playoffs, look for Luke to be drafted earlier rather than later. After rolling the dice on Askarov in round one, Minnesota looks to secure a sure-fire NHL player here. BO

40. Winnipeg Jets - Jack Finley, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

One of the biggest players in the draft and also one of the youngest available, Finley’s raw potential is most certainly alluring. A potentially dominant playmaker down low once he fills out, Finley is a player who was starting to trend upwards before the WHL season was halted. Jack Finley’s father, long time NHL defender Jeff Finley, is a scout with Winnipeg, so there are obvious connections to the organization on top of him being a high upside selection. BO

41. Carolina Hurricanes (from New York Rangers) - Ty Smilanic, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

Smilanic is best described as an enigma because depending on what night you see him on, he could be one of the best or one of the worst players on the ice. If he can iron out some of those consistency issues, he could develop into a high-end offensive producer at the NHL level; no one doubts his skill level with the puck. Carolina, looking to add another skilled winger to their prospect pool, takes a chance on Smilanic. BO

42. Nashville Predators - Topi Niemela, D, Karpat (Liiga)

After taking Tyler Kleven with their first second round selection, the Predators took a different approach with their second pick in the round, selecting Finnish offensive defender Topi Niemela. A skilled playmaker from the back-end, Niemela may be lacking in the physical tools that Kleven possesses, but his high IQ and safe game allows him to move the puck effectively and it is easy to see his game translating well to the NHL level. BO

43. Florida Panthers - Marat Khusnutdinov, C, St. Petersburg (MHL)

Looking for a potentially elite two-way center, the Panthers select Russian forward Marat Khusnutdinov with their second-round pick. A powerful skater, Khusnutdinov is both a talented playmaker and a hard-working defensive center. There are some who question his upside as a top six forward, and because of that, the lure of the KHL is a real concern. However, there is no doubting that he deserves to be a top 50 selection and Florida makes a great pick here. BO

44. Toronto Maple Leafs - Jean Luc Foudy, RW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

It is definitely possible that the Leafs opt for a forward with a little more size who skates well (like Torgersson or Jarventie) at this position, however Foudy may be too alluring for Leafs’ management to pass up. After playing against his brother Liam in this year’s playoffs and seeing his speed make him one of Columbus’ most effective players, the Leafs opt for Jean Luc. Adding speed to the current lineup (and system) has to be a priority and JL Foudy is one of the draft’s quickest. He has time to iron out some of the concerns about his game (perimeter play, defensive consistency, shot confidence), and if Toronto is patient, he could turn out to be a steal. BO

45. Detroit Red Wings (from Edmonton Oilers) - Drew Commesso, G, USNTDP (USHL)

Askarov is very clearly the top goaltender available this year, but the second goalie off the board is much more of a mystery. There are a lot of players in contention for that honor. One of them is Drew Commesso, the starter for the U.S. U18 team. Commesso was consistently a standout in the USHL this year and has all the tools that teams are looking for in a potential starter. Looking to improve the team’s prospect depth at the position, Detroit takes the Boston University commit in hopes that he can be their goalie of the future. BO

46. Chicago Blackhawks (from Pittsburgh Penguins) - Nico Daws, G, Guelph Storm (OHL)

It is very possible that goaltenders go back to back at this spot in the second round, given the lack of goaltending depth in both Detroit and Chicago’s system. Looking for a goalie who is closer to the show, Chicago selects Nico Daws, an OHL netminder in his final year of eligibility. The OHL goaltender of the year, Daws improved his conditioning last offseason and the results were incredible. A massive netminder at 6’4, 200lbs, Daws looks and plays the part of a future standout for the Hawks and a possible replacement for Corey Crawford. BO

47. Montreal Canadiens - Jake Neighbours, LW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Neighbours, ranked inside or near the first round by nearly every publication (including us) takes a bit of a tumble at the draft due to a perceived lack of upside. However, he plays the kind of heavy game that the Canadiens are looking to inject into their system and lineup. Even if he only tops out as a high end third line winger, he could provide value to Montreal in that role. BO

48. Montreal Canadiens (from Chicago Blackhawks) - Ian Moore, D, St. Marks (USHS)

Montreal has taken two high end prep school defenders in recent drafts (Struble and Harris), so why not make it a trifecta? With so many selections this year, Montreal is most definitely going to select some players who will require patience (and also not require a contract offer for several years). Moore fits the bill. A high-end skater from the back-end, it remains unknown how Moore’s skill set will translate to a higher level. However, he is set to play for Chicago (USHL) this year and then attend Harvard the following year; two fantastic programs. This is the kind of high upside selection that teams with many picks always make. BO

49. Arizona Coyotes - Pick Forfeited

This selection was forfeited by Arizona as punishment for breaking league rules surrounding the individual testing of draft eligible players.

50. Calgary Flames - Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frolunda J20 (SuperElit)

Playing out of the West, and with some great power forward type prospects available in this range, it is very possible that the Flames try to inject size and skill into the organization with this selection. Will Cuylle could be a possibility, but Calgary opts for a better skater in Torgersson. Like any potential young power forward, consistency is an issue but the potential reward here is high. BO

51. Los Angeles Kings (from Vancouver Canucks) - Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

No question, someone could take a chance on Poirier a heck of a lot earlier than this. He is one of the draft’s top offensive defender prospects. His ability to QB the powerplay and jump up into the rush is elite. However, concerns over his defensive commitment and four-way mobility could push him down the board on draft day. The Kings have one of the NHL’s best farm systems so they can afford to take the chance that Poirier can eventually put his skills to use at the NHL level. BO

52. Ottawa Senators (from Columbus Blue Jackets) - Thomas Bordeleau, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Bordeleau, the son of former NHL’er Sebastien, is an undersized, but well-rounded offensive center out of the U.S. Development program. The University of Michigan commit has one of the quickest releases in the draft class and his play through traffic really improved over the course of the last USHL season. The concern that his skating is not dynamic enough, given his lack of size, pushes him down the draft board slightly, but he ends up as a great selection for the Senators. BO

53. Carolina Hurricanes - Tristen Robins, C/RW, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Some draft publications have Robins in the first round. Some have him in the fourth round. Where will he truly fall come draft day? Our second-round ranking seems like a more likely reality. What is unquestionably true, however, is that Robins was one of the best players in the WHL in the second half of last season before the stoppage. If an organization is convinced that he can stick down the middle and that his offensive upside places him as a top six forward, he could go higher. Carolina is known to put a premium on hockey sense, over physical tools (at times) and it is very possible that they are the team that selects him. BO

54. Philadelphia Flyers - Will Cuylle, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

They may not be the Broadstreet Bullies anymore, but the Flyers will always be a team that looks to assert themselves physically. That said, this is also a team that finds themselves in the bottom half of the league in hits over the last three seasons. Adding a physical power forward like Will Cuylle would make a lot of sense. Cuylle may not have had the kind of offensive season that was expected of him, but he still possesses the upside to be a high-end middle six winger and is a better goal scorer than the numbers would indicate. BO

55. San Jose Sharks (from Colorado Avalanche) - Danil Gushchin, W, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

One of the NHL’s weakest farm systems, compounded by the fact that they gave up the third overall selection this year, San Jose will look to swing for the fences on a few selections this draft. Enter Danil Gushchin. A highly skilled offensive player, Gushchin is the definition of a boom or bust pick. When he is on, he is electric. When he is off, he is invisible. He will suit up with Niagara of the OHL this year and will look to develop more consistency in helping a young team make the playoffs. For San Jose, he can be a possible difference maker if his development goes according to plan. BO

56. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington Capitals) - Brock Faber, D, USNTDP (USHL)

Even with the selection of Moritz Seider last year, and a few good young defenders in the system, the Wings are likely to continue to add quality blueliners to the organization at this year’s draft. Faber is a favourite in the analytics community because of his offensive efficiency. An intelligent two-way defender, Faber’s high IQ is likely to interest Detroit due to the decision-making issues some of their current young defenders have. BO

57. Montreal Canadiens (from St. Louis Blues) - Shakir Mukhamadullin, D, Ufa (MHL)

The whipping boy of the internet scouting community, Mukhamadullin certainly has his detractors. Many believe that he will never be able to properly utilize his physical tools because he does not think the game well enough. However, he remains...a defender with high end physical tools and that alone will draw the interest of NHL scouts. His strong start to the KHL season does not hurt either. A few years ago, Montreal rolled the dice on another raw Russian defender (Romanov) and that has worked out pretty well so far. Seeing them do it again is not farfetched. BO

58. Boston Bruins - Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

A high energy winger who excels on the forecheck and in pushing the pace, it is not hard to see why the Boston Bruins could have interest in Wiesblatt. Universally ranked higher by scouts, Wiesblatt falls a bit in a similar way to Jake Neighbours, because of a perceived lack of upside. However, Boston has never been shy to select highly probable NHL players over those with higher upside but higher bust potential. BO

59. OTT (via NYI) - Martin Chromiak, W, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

After coming over to the OHL at the mid-way point of last season, Chromiak really found his game alongside the talented Shane Wright and fellow 2020 draft eligible prospect Zayde Wisdom. A terrific support player due to his vision and ability to control the wall, Chromiak has even more to show us as a potential offensive leader. As he gains confidence, look for his goal scoring ability to become a highlight of his skills package. Ottawa would have likely seen a lot of Chromiak this year, given the close proximity and his skill set would fit in well with the team’s current young core. BO

60. Los Angeles Kings (from Vegas Golden Knights) - Pavel Gogolev, LW, Guelph Storm (OHL)

If there is a team in the NHL who loves to take a chance on second- and third-year eligible players it is the Los Angeles Kings. One of the best available this year is Guelph Storm winger Pavel Gogolev, who emerged as one of the top offensive players in the OHL last year. Once a one-dimensional goal scorer, Gogolev has worked hard to add other layers to his game and it should make him an attractive top 100 selection this October. He could move quickly through LA’s system too, even if it is incredibly strong and deep. BO

61. Ottawa Senators (from Dallas Stars) - Zayde Wisdom, RW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

After taking Chromiak a few picks earlier, the Senators opt for his teammate and linemate in Zayde Wisdom with this pick. Wisdom is a hard-working complementary piece who plays a very well rounded game. This is a kid who is highly motivated and continues to work hard to improve his game. It is not hard to see him becoming an NHL player. The question is, will the Senators still be bad enough to earn a shot at Shane Wright in 2022? BO

62. Tampa Bay Lightning - Roby Jarventie, LW, Koovee (Mestis)

While Tampa Bay may opt for a high upside defender here such as Wyatt Kaiser, Emil Andrae, or Anton Johanesson, they instead take the enigmatic Jarventie. Jarventie is the kind of winger that all NHL teams are looking for these days; big, quick, and a skilled scorer. Yet, he disappears for stretches and his international performances have left some to be desired. However, Tampa, without a first rounder, sees the upside here and hopes that he can help to offset that loss by developing into a high-end NHL scorer. BO

OHL: Zayde Wisdom, C, Kingston (2020)

Brock Otten — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 12:16:38 +0000

While Zayde Wisdom’s potential at the next level may be limited to a middle six role, his performance this year should not be ignored. Yes, he plays with phenom Shane Wright (and more recently fellow 2020 draft hopeful Martin Chromiak as well), but Wisdom is every bit as responsible for their success as they are for his.

His ability to create space in the offensive end, his consistent engagement level, and his underrated skill set as a scorer, should see him become an NHL player. Initially, the thought was that Wisdom would be a great late round selection, however his play in recent months has made scouts take notice and many are starting to see him as much more. At this point, a third round selection is not out of the question.

Zayde Wisdom	2020 NHL Draft Eligible
Position: C, Shoots R	H/W: 5-10", 201 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Kingston Frontenacs, OHL (56-27-28-55-51)

Zayde Wisdom of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Skating: Going back to his minor midget days, Wisdom’s skating has improved considerably to the point where he can actually be graded as a slightly above average mover. Part of that comes from the fact that Wisdom never stops moving his feet and appears to have an unending supply of energy on the ice. He buzzes around the ice in search of the puck. Wisdom’s first few strides could stand to be a little more explosive (which would allow him to be even more effective without the puck), but his top speed is good. He also shows the ability to make sharp cuts, especially with the puck and has terrific balance on his edges. Playing alongside Shane Wright and Martin Chromiak, he is often someone who leads the attack over the blueline and that speaks volumes as to his capability as a skater. Grade: 55

Shot: Wisdom’s shot is sneaky good. He generates a lot of velocity on his wrist shot and his release has really improved over the course of the season. He is gaining confidence in his ability to create his own scoring lanes and loves to use the toe drag to create space and use his defender as a screen. He also scores a lot of his goals within tight to the crease, where he finishes off second chances or burys pucks into an open net after a pass from Wright or Chromiak. That said, as mentioned, in the past few months we have seen him gain confidence in his ability to play with the puck and he is shooting more and generating his own high end scoring chances because of it. Grade: 55

Skills: Wisdom generally keeps things pretty simple in the offensive end and that is why he operates so well alongside his aforementioned talented linemates. While he has become more involved as the first man into the offensive zone with the puck, as a driving force in transition, he is generally a north/south attacker who looks to beat defenders with his speed and power as opposed to through creativity or deft moves. That said, you have to have skill to play with skilled players and Wisdom’s ability to handle passes while in full stride, and his ability to protect the puck through traffic are strong. Grade: 50

Smarts: While Wisdom’s energy and effort are top notch and do help to put him in position to make plays, his IQ is also strong. He has a very strong understanding of how to play without the puck. On the forecheck, he anticipates passing lanes well and forces turnovers by taking away the defenders’ primary option. He is also very adept at finding scoring lanes, slipping behind defenders and getting into those open spaces. He is not the biggest guy, yet he is so effective in tight to the crease because he reads the play well and is able to get inside positioning on larger defenders. With the puck, Wisdom keeps things simple but his decision making is sound, opting to chip pucks in when necessary. Grade: 55

Physicality: Wisdom is most definitely a little ball of energy. He is quite physical in all three zones, and is especially so on the forecheck. He excels playing through traffic because he feeds off of being engaged physically, showing a willingness to go through defenders to make a play on the puck or to get to the net. His energy and relentless nature have made him a good penalty killer early in his career. While he is only 5-10” (sometimes listed at 5-9”), Wisdom’s stocky build (around 200lbs) makes him very successful in the corners as he generally comes away with the puck in those board battles. Grade: 55

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 53.75

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.