Prospect Info: 2022 Draft Prospects, Part II
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2022 Draft Profile:
LW Julian Lutz, EHC Munchen DEL
The runaway best German prospect for the 2022 draft is Julian Lutz, a 6'2-185 forward with excellent skating, a nice skill set, and a high-compete level which sees him crashing creases on the regular. He's also possessing of multiple elements which could see him as the type of sleeper every team is searching intensely for after the first round, as Lutz combines size, speed and scoring acumen and may be underrated to this point because of superficial reasons. The German DEL is actually a very strong league which does not get nearly enough credit, and we've seen several German players drafted from there in recent years who turned out to be tremendously good picks: Seider, Peterka, Reichel. Though Lutz may lack some of the high end upside of his aforementioned countrymen, there is certainly the potential of a second line scoring forward with a power element to his game.
There are still many raw elements to Lutz's game. He needs work on the defensive side of the puck, but it's not for lack of effort. This kid's motor is difficult not to love, but sometimes he can get so desperate to recapture the puck that he loses positioning or assignment. Good coaching can certainly fix his problems in the defensive zone. He is always supporting his teammates and working, so I feel the ability to be a good defender is there.
Offensively, he's been a bit overmatched in his small sample of DEL games, but he's shown a great deal of talent in tournament play for Team Germany. His feet are always moving and he's a beast on the forecheck. He's willing to nose-down into the greasy areas and battle, and with his strength and frame there is certainly the potential of an interior forward at the NHL level. Lutz is a nifty puck handler with good edges and can be a load to get the puck from down low. He needs some work on the accuracy of his shooting, I feel he is prone to rushing shots without cluing in on the goaltender's positioning or potential shot-blockers first. His passing is good for the most part, though I feel he's more north/south than a true creator out there.
Ultimately, I feel Lutz's true potential is not necessarily a line driver, but a strong complimentary piece. He possesses the requisite skill to play with good line-mates, and his willingness to rush the net and throw his body around creates room for the rest of his team in the offensive zone. I really like his potential, but you're probably going to have to wait a few years to see him really find his stride. To me, Julian Lutz is a very good pick as soon as the early second round -- where the combination of a solid floor as a very fast and frenetic bottom-6 forechecker and a ceiling of a middle six scorer makes him a very good pick. For the Devils, Lutz makes a ton of sense as there is an organizational need for both scoring LWs and interior/power-type forwards and Julian Lutz has the potential to be both.
LW Julian Lutz, EHC Munchen DEL
The runaway best German prospect for the 2022 draft is Julian Lutz, a 6'2-185 forward with excellent skating, a nice skill set, and a high-compete level which sees him crashing creases on the regular. He's also possessing of multiple elements which could see him as the type of sleeper every team is searching intensely for after the first round, as Lutz combines size, speed and scoring acumen and may be underrated to this point because of superficial reasons. The German DEL is actually a very strong league which does not get nearly enough credit, and we've seen several German players drafted from there in recent years who turned out to be tremendously good picks: Seider, Peterka, Reichel. Though Lutz may lack some of the high end upside of his aforementioned countrymen, there is certainly the potential of a second line scoring forward with a power element to his game.
There are still many raw elements to Lutz's game. He needs work on the defensive side of the puck, but it's not for lack of effort. This kid's motor is difficult not to love, but sometimes he can get so desperate to recapture the puck that he loses positioning or assignment. Good coaching can certainly fix his problems in the defensive zone. He is always supporting his teammates and working, so I feel the ability to be a good defender is there.
Offensively, he's been a bit overmatched in his small sample of DEL games, but he's shown a great deal of talent in tournament play for Team Germany. His feet are always moving and he's a beast on the forecheck. He's willing to nose-down into the greasy areas and battle, and with his strength and frame there is certainly the potential of an interior forward at the NHL level. Lutz is a nifty puck handler with good edges and can be a load to get the puck from down low. He needs some work on the accuracy of his shooting, I feel he is prone to rushing shots without cluing in on the goaltender's positioning or potential shot-blockers first. His passing is good for the most part, though I feel he's more north/south than a true creator out there.
Ultimately, I feel Lutz's true potential is not necessarily a line driver, but a strong complimentary piece. He possesses the requisite skill to play with good line-mates, and his willingness to rush the net and throw his body around creates room for the rest of his team in the offensive zone. I really like his potential, but you're probably going to have to wait a few years to see him really find his stride. To me, Julian Lutz is a very good pick as soon as the early second round -- where the combination of a solid floor as a very fast and frenetic bottom-6 forechecker and a ceiling of a middle six scorer makes him a very good pick. For the Devils, Lutz makes a ton of sense as there is an organizational need for both scoring LWs and interior/power-type forwards and Julian Lutz has the potential to be both.
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Lou Bloom
Registered User
- Oct 14, 2020
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A player I really like if the Devils were to get a mid to late 1st round pick at the deadline (or if he were to somehow fall to their 2nd) is Jiri Kulich. Just a very smart, two way winger who will do all the dirty work, while also having the offensive skill to play in a top 6. His work on the boards, puck protection, forechecking and work in the d-zone in a men's league are all very good for such a young player (won't turn 18 until April), He also does most of his scoring damage up close in high danger areas which is something the Devils could very much use.
I couldn't agree with you more, here. I have Kulich ranked as high as anyone right now, at #18 overall. Here's my write-up from 2/3:
2022 Draft Profile:
LW/C Jiri Kulich, Karlovy EHL Czechia
Every year there are prospects I don't shut up about because I feel their consensus value lags far below their actual upside. Jiri Kulich is one of these prospects. I'm not certain why his consensus draft position generally falls in the early second round range, because he is a prospect I would strongly consider in the middle of the first round. This is a player who starts every shift like he was shot out of a cannon and leaves every iota of effort on the ice and starts the next shift the exact same way. But Jiri Kulich is not simply about compete level, because here we have a player with projectable size at 6'0-175, very good skating, high-level intelligence and no shortage of skills. While he lacks the singular elite physical tool which will make him a star-caliber top-liner, we do have a player with potential to perform in the NHL as a high-level, two-way second line forward with the capacity to slot up in the line-up.
I made a point in the previous paragraph of saying Kulich lacks a singular elite physical tool, but I need to begin an analysis of skills by hammering home the fact that the young Czechian forward's compete level is absolutely elite. I also need to repeat the fact that -- in my oft-stated opinion -- compete level may be the most important tool a hockey player can have, as it plays up every other one of their skills. With Kulich, he is always on the puck, he is a beast on the forecheck, and even if initially beaten he never gives up on a play. He plays as if there is a magnet towards the opposing net -- he's always driving into the opposing crease, with or without the puck. His game can generally be described as north/south, but I'd say he's more like "north/north". Though this can seem simple and rudimentary, it's amazing how many young hockey players choose the fancy play or the dazzle dazzle over the inclination to constantly flood the area where most goals are scored. While a more perimeter game can benefit elite talents like a Patrick Kane or a Nikita Kucherov, those elite talents actually benefit from having a linemate like Kulich who is just bum-rushing the crease and pounding shots on net.
And Kulich certainly possesses the requisite skill to play with high-caliber linemates. He's one of those "jack of all trades master of none" sorts -- he shoots well, he passes well, he puck handles well, he sees the ice well, he skates well. There are no weaknesses unless you're really nitpicking, which is especially impressive considering Kulich is on the younger side for the 2022 draft with a mid-April birthdate -- and even moreso when you consider he's playing quite well in a bottom 6 role for a team in the Czechia men's league. Though Kulich plays a great deal of center right now, I actually prefer him in the NHL as a LW -- I feel his game on both ends of the ice is improved through simplification, as this is a wonderful but also wonderfully non-complicated player. In the defensive zone, Kulich hustles his tail off to retrieve the puck, then makes smart plays to begin or compliment transition. In the offensive zone, Kulich works his tail off and when he gets the puck, he's looking to drive to the net or fire it on net. His passing his effective but lacks high-end creativity -- he hits the open man, but is not the guy to anticipate or create the lanes necessary for dazzling east-west plays. But if there's an open guy in tight make no mistake, Kulich will find him.
Jiri Kulich to me is a low risk, late-first-round draft pick whose reward is far higher than most people are giving him credit for. His compete mixed with an active brain which I'd alsmost describe as "hockey street smarts" plays up his skill set which is impressive and weakness-free in its own right. I say a player with a very high floor as a beast on an NHL 3rd line, but not just that. If Kulich can improve his already quite good skating and puckhandling a couple of notches, it's important to not underestimate his ability to compliment top talent -- this is certainly a kid with 30+ goal upside, in my opinion. As such, and also taking into account his all-around game -- I'm going to be proud to rank Jiri Kulich in my mid-first round rankings.
From a Devils standpoint, they're probably going to be picking too high in the first round to consider Kulich quite yet. But if he were to fall to the Devils 2nd round pick? Then holy crap would I want him there. This may sound unrealistic, but keep in mind that -- as of today -- the Devils second round pick falls at #36 overall. The Bob McKenzie poll has him at #40, McKeen's has him at #34, Craig Button at #33, Recruites at #31. In any of these cases, Kulich would have "steal of the draft" type potential, especially considering not just where my ranking of him will fall, but also Smaht Scouting (#18) and FC Hockey (#26). Jiri Kulich is a terrific hockey prospect as a two-way winger with versatility and power and skill in his high-engine brand of hockey.
LW/C Jiri Kulich, Karlovy EHL Czechia
Every year there are prospects I don't shut up about because I feel their consensus value lags far below their actual upside. Jiri Kulich is one of these prospects. I'm not certain why his consensus draft position generally falls in the early second round range, because he is a prospect I would strongly consider in the middle of the first round. This is a player who starts every shift like he was shot out of a cannon and leaves every iota of effort on the ice and starts the next shift the exact same way. But Jiri Kulich is not simply about compete level, because here we have a player with projectable size at 6'0-175, very good skating, high-level intelligence and no shortage of skills. While he lacks the singular elite physical tool which will make him a star-caliber top-liner, we do have a player with potential to perform in the NHL as a high-level, two-way second line forward with the capacity to slot up in the line-up.
I made a point in the previous paragraph of saying Kulich lacks a singular elite physical tool, but I need to begin an analysis of skills by hammering home the fact that the young Czechian forward's compete level is absolutely elite. I also need to repeat the fact that -- in my oft-stated opinion -- compete level may be the most important tool a hockey player can have, as it plays up every other one of their skills. With Kulich, he is always on the puck, he is a beast on the forecheck, and even if initially beaten he never gives up on a play. He plays as if there is a magnet towards the opposing net -- he's always driving into the opposing crease, with or without the puck. His game can generally be described as north/south, but I'd say he's more like "north/north". Though this can seem simple and rudimentary, it's amazing how many young hockey players choose the fancy play or the dazzle dazzle over the inclination to constantly flood the area where most goals are scored. While a more perimeter game can benefit elite talents like a Patrick Kane or a Nikita Kucherov, those elite talents actually benefit from having a linemate like Kulich who is just bum-rushing the crease and pounding shots on net.
And Kulich certainly possesses the requisite skill to play with high-caliber linemates. He's one of those "jack of all trades master of none" sorts -- he shoots well, he passes well, he puck handles well, he sees the ice well, he skates well. There are no weaknesses unless you're really nitpicking, which is especially impressive considering Kulich is on the younger side for the 2022 draft with a mid-April birthdate -- and even moreso when you consider he's playing quite well in a bottom 6 role for a team in the Czechia men's league. Though Kulich plays a great deal of center right now, I actually prefer him in the NHL as a LW -- I feel his game on both ends of the ice is improved through simplification, as this is a wonderful but also wonderfully non-complicated player. In the defensive zone, Kulich hustles his tail off to retrieve the puck, then makes smart plays to begin or compliment transition. In the offensive zone, Kulich works his tail off and when he gets the puck, he's looking to drive to the net or fire it on net. His passing his effective but lacks high-end creativity -- he hits the open man, but is not the guy to anticipate or create the lanes necessary for dazzling east-west plays. But if there's an open guy in tight make no mistake, Kulich will find him.
Jiri Kulich to me is a low risk, late-first-round draft pick whose reward is far higher than most people are giving him credit for. His compete mixed with an active brain which I'd alsmost describe as "hockey street smarts" plays up his skill set which is impressive and weakness-free in its own right. I say a player with a very high floor as a beast on an NHL 3rd line, but not just that. If Kulich can improve his already quite good skating and puckhandling a couple of notches, it's important to not underestimate his ability to compliment top talent -- this is certainly a kid with 30+ goal upside, in my opinion. As such, and also taking into account his all-around game -- I'm going to be proud to rank Jiri Kulich in my mid-first round rankings.
From a Devils standpoint, they're probably going to be picking too high in the first round to consider Kulich quite yet. But if he were to fall to the Devils 2nd round pick? Then holy crap would I want him there. This may sound unrealistic, but keep in mind that -- as of today -- the Devils second round pick falls at #36 overall. The Bob McKenzie poll has him at #40, McKeen's has him at #34, Craig Button at #33, Recruites at #31. In any of these cases, Kulich would have "steal of the draft" type potential, especially considering not just where my ranking of him will fall, but also Smaht Scouting (#18) and FC Hockey (#26). Jiri Kulich is a terrific hockey prospect as a two-way winger with versatility and power and skill in his high-engine brand of hockey.
Forge
Blissfully Mediocre
Is there a reason that I should not want to take Mattias Havelid in the third round? I see a pretty big range on him
glenwo2
JESPER BRATWURST
@StevenToddIves : "He's(Alex Bump) probably going to be available late anyway, as no one has given him any reasonable ranking aside from Central Scouting which lists him at #69 for North American skaters. "
BTW, from your description of him, I'd say he'd be good value if he was still there in the 6th round or am I crazy?
And who knows? He may turn out to be another Bratt(though not with the same talent but he could put it altogether and become a solid NHL'er).
BTW, from your description of him, I'd say he'd be good value if he was still there in the 6th round or am I crazy?
And who knows? He may turn out to be another Bratt(though not with the same talent but he could put it altogether and become a solid NHL'er).
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No, I think Havelid is a pretty good pick in the 3rd round and he's a right-shot defenseman, which the Devils sorely need. He's certainly got speed and offensive skill, and although he's pretty weak defensively right now he's at least competitive, which gives him some upside in this respect.
@StevenToddIves : "He's(Alex Bump) probably going to be available late anyway, as no one has given him any reasonable ranking aside from Central Scouting which lists him at #69 for North American skaters. "
BTW, from your description of him, I'd say he'd be good value if he was still there in the 6th round or am I crazy?
And who knows? He may turn out to be another Bratt(though not with the same talent but he could put it altogether and become a solid NHL'er).
Yes, this is exactly why I write up kids like Alex Bump -- because he certainly has upside. He's also no guarantee to make the NHL at all, but as late as the 6th round is certainly when it's ok to take these kinds of chances. Bump's upside is not quite Bratt, but it's really high for a kid on virtually no one's radar this late in the draft season.
I would add that it's really rare to find players of Bratt or Gritsyuk-type talent past the third round, which is why I pump their tires so hard when I find these sorts of "super sleepers". I guess the best recent example of this would be Dmitri Rashevsky, who was completely passed over in the 2020 draft before being stolen in the 5th round last year by Winnipeg. I feel Rashevsky has the sort of talent to be as good as Bratt if he hits his upside.
@StevenToddIves : "He's(Alex Bump) probably going to be available late anyway, as no one has given him any reasonable ranking aside from Central Scouting which lists him at #69 for North American skaters. "
BTW, am I crazy?
).
yes but so are most of us that post about a team struggling along like NJ
Hey @StevenToddIves, love your work as always. You mentioned before that the Devils also lack depth at Center, what players are you looking for us at C? Thanks
Thanks for the kind words, they mean a lot.
If I'm the Devils, my strategy in the first few rounds would be to draft the best available player early in the draft, then key out positions/areas of need later on. The Devils draft needs, in my opinion, are as such:
1 Right Defense
2 Interior/Power Forwards
3 Depth Centers
4 Goaltender
There are several players I've already written up who can be possibly be found later in the draft who could help the Devils shore up their center depth.
Matias Sapovaliv is a 6'4 Czech defensive center who has displayed some offensive upside for Saginaw of the OHL and can possibly fall to the early 3rd round. Cole Spicer plays a defensive C role for the US-NTDP and can likely be had in the 5th-7th rounds. Lincoln (USHL) C Brennan Ali is one of my favorite sleepers in the draft, a physical 6'1 pivot who plays a ferocious two-way game and should be available by the 4th/5th rounds. Gatineau's Sam Savoie is only 5'9, but he's a boxy 190 pounds and has outstanding skates; I think he'll be available past the 5th round. Ivan Ivan is another QMJHL center who can give you a bottom 6 center in the final few rounds of the draft. Also in the QMJHL are hard-working Markus Vidicek and the blindingly fast Alex Blais, both guys who should be around past the 3rd round.
I'll be doing more write ups in the coming weeks where I will identify some nice sleepers out of the WHL, OHL, Finland, Sweden and Russia -- and there look to be some interesting names up the middle in those leagues, as well.
2022 Draft Profile:
RW Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw WHL
If you're looking for a creative, crafty and fun offensive winger to take in the second round, Jagger Firkus just might be your guy. He's unlikely to last until the 3rd however, as his 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in just 52 games for the Warriors has certainly garnered him a great deal of scouting attention. However, he's also unlikely to be a strong consideration in the first round, because we're dealing with an undersized (5'10-155) all-offense winger who has decent but not very impressive skating ability, a combination which usually drops a forward to Day 2 of the draft no matter how scintillating their scoring abilities.
In the offensive zone, the only word I can use to describe Firkus is electrifying. The only WHL product with more scoring upside for the 2022 draft is Matthew Savoie, who is a slam dunk to go in the top 10 overall. Firkus has a seemingly endless bag of tricks, whether we're talking about his myriad shot release points, his passing creativity and almost patented spin-o-rama dishes, or his bottomless litany of beautiful stick handling dekes. This kid is an absolute artist with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone -- you just never know what he's going to do next. Outside of skating, all of his offensive arsenal is at an elite or near-elite level. His hands are magic -- Firkus can knock a puck out of mid-air with defensemen on either side of him and make countless moves in split seconds to create separation for himself while simultaneously opening up passing and shooting lanes. He's in the conversation for best hands in the draft. His shot is ridiculous for a kid of his size -- forehand, backhand, wrister, snapper -- he gets them all off quickly and deceptively with the ability to pick a corner from outside the circles. His passing is unbelievably creative -- sometimes so much so that he fools his own teammates. His patented move is fooling the defender into thinking they have the passing lane smothered, then quickly spinning to change the angle and lacing a wire to his teammate's blade when it didn't seem possible. Firkus can flat out generate offense -- he's slippery, elusive, smart and fun to watch.
However, Firkus' problems being and end any time he doesn't have the puck, and in all three zones. As good as the native Albertan is at playing in the offensive zone, he struggles almost as badly in the defensive zone. Though he is wickedly adept at picking off pucks in space, in tight battles he is almost routinely outmuscled in physical puck battles. This is a player who needs a ton of work in the weight room to improve core strength. His defensive positioning is poor and he floats a lot. In transition, Firkus' desire to always make the pretty play can lead to turnovers and rushes in the opposite direction. His lack of pure foot speed limits him as a transition/possession weapon, and he's pretty much just "a guy" out there until his team affirms possession in the offensive zone, which is where his talents truly begin to sparkle.
Ultimately, Jagger Firkus is a player with considerable strengths and considerable aspects he desperately needs to work on in order to allow his considerable strengths to play out at the professional level. If it all comes together, we have the potential of a high-scoring top 6 forward at the NHL level. If it does not, there is also the possibility NHL coaches will not wish to mitigate the risks with such a high-wire type player. I feel the terrific offensive skills will see Firkus get his name called in the #35-#50 overall range at the 2022 NHL Draft, and thereafter he'll be one of the most intriguing later-round players to watch develop over the coming years.
RW Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw WHL
If you're looking for a creative, crafty and fun offensive winger to take in the second round, Jagger Firkus just might be your guy. He's unlikely to last until the 3rd however, as his 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points in just 52 games for the Warriors has certainly garnered him a great deal of scouting attention. However, he's also unlikely to be a strong consideration in the first round, because we're dealing with an undersized (5'10-155) all-offense winger who has decent but not very impressive skating ability, a combination which usually drops a forward to Day 2 of the draft no matter how scintillating their scoring abilities.
In the offensive zone, the only word I can use to describe Firkus is electrifying. The only WHL product with more scoring upside for the 2022 draft is Matthew Savoie, who is a slam dunk to go in the top 10 overall. Firkus has a seemingly endless bag of tricks, whether we're talking about his myriad shot release points, his passing creativity and almost patented spin-o-rama dishes, or his bottomless litany of beautiful stick handling dekes. This kid is an absolute artist with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone -- you just never know what he's going to do next. Outside of skating, all of his offensive arsenal is at an elite or near-elite level. His hands are magic -- Firkus can knock a puck out of mid-air with defensemen on either side of him and make countless moves in split seconds to create separation for himself while simultaneously opening up passing and shooting lanes. He's in the conversation for best hands in the draft. His shot is ridiculous for a kid of his size -- forehand, backhand, wrister, snapper -- he gets them all off quickly and deceptively with the ability to pick a corner from outside the circles. His passing is unbelievably creative -- sometimes so much so that he fools his own teammates. His patented move is fooling the defender into thinking they have the passing lane smothered, then quickly spinning to change the angle and lacing a wire to his teammate's blade when it didn't seem possible. Firkus can flat out generate offense -- he's slippery, elusive, smart and fun to watch.
However, Firkus' problems being and end any time he doesn't have the puck, and in all three zones. As good as the native Albertan is at playing in the offensive zone, he struggles almost as badly in the defensive zone. Though he is wickedly adept at picking off pucks in space, in tight battles he is almost routinely outmuscled in physical puck battles. This is a player who needs a ton of work in the weight room to improve core strength. His defensive positioning is poor and he floats a lot. In transition, Firkus' desire to always make the pretty play can lead to turnovers and rushes in the opposite direction. His lack of pure foot speed limits him as a transition/possession weapon, and he's pretty much just "a guy" out there until his team affirms possession in the offensive zone, which is where his talents truly begin to sparkle.
Ultimately, Jagger Firkus is a player with considerable strengths and considerable aspects he desperately needs to work on in order to allow his considerable strengths to play out at the professional level. If it all comes together, we have the potential of a high-scoring top 6 forward at the NHL level. If it does not, there is also the possibility NHL coaches will not wish to mitigate the risks with such a high-wire type player. I feel the terrific offensive skills will see Firkus get his name called in the #35-#50 overall range at the 2022 NHL Draft, and thereafter he'll be one of the most intriguing later-round players to watch develop over the coming years.
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I wanted to include some video of LW Julian Lutz, because he's one of the players I really like for the Devils pick in the early 2nd round. Lutz is #18 in black in this video:
Here's a video of Jiri Kulich which I hope helps explain why I have one of two rankings listing him as a deserving top 20 pick:
2022 Draft Profile:
LW Reid Schaefer, Seattle WHL
I'm just going to come out and say it right away: I want Reid Schaefer on my hockey team. He's gone completely unnoticed by all the independent scouting bureaus and draft writers, but the Bob McKenzie scouting poll sees him as a late 3rd rounder at #79 overall. I'm going to have him ranked higher. Why? Well, we're talking about a 6'3-215 power forward who plays with extreme physicality and possesses the requisite skill to play alongside skilled scorers. If I'm picking anywhere in the 3rd round and I see Reid Schaefer's name on the draft board, this is the guy I'm taking. Hell, I'm drafting this kid anywhere from the mid-2nd round.
Schaefer plays a high-compete game and is features incredible physical strength which he loves to throw around. If you're a defender chasing a puck in the corners with the Spruce Grove native anywhere on the ice, you'd better be looking over your shoulder or you might spend the next few days wondering where the truck was which just ran you over. In net-front battles he is immovable and unstoppable, and he scores a ton of rebounds while creating screens and general havoc which allows his teammates to play up their own offensive acumen. Schaefer creates space for everyone else wearing his teams' jersey, and his coaches concurrently use him as sort of a Swiss army knife, flipping him from line to line according to game situation. Playing a team with a star scorer? Schaefer is a defensive beast on the checking line. Down by a goal late? Schaefer moves up to the top line and his scorers immediately have more room to work with.
Reid Schaefer has 25 goals in 47 games and would have more if he were a staple on the top-line, but he seems to relish his role as the Thunderbirds' jack-of-all-trades. He possesses a great shot, though most of his goals are of a greasier, more interior variety. His one-timer, however, is terrific -- accurate and heavy, making him a nice option for the right circle on the PP. He is an accurate and efficient passer without being a high-vision dazzler. He is a good stickhandler, though like many bigger players his go-to move is to shield the defender with his huge frame and then use his long reach to hold the puck out of their reach.
To me, Schaefer has one area of improvement which can see him become an absolute monster at the NHL level, and that's his skating. Right now, I'd say he skates well for his size and his top speeds are above average. But, much like a young Jamie Benn, if he can gear this up to the next level, his upside professionally may be beyond what anyone is close to realizing. Because he's just a dominant power forward right now in so many aspects, and the addition of a separation gear would just improve the rest of his surrounding game stratospherically.
There's nothing not to like here. I think at the very least, you'll have an intimidating 4th liner who can pop in some offense with his strong shooting and net-front play. But with a few years of development and areas of improvement, I believe the upside here is immense. I watch the NHL this year and see what similar-styled players like Tanner Jeannot and Marcus Foligno are achieving, and I feel Reid Schaefer has the upside to be even better -- sort of a prime era Jamie Benn-lite. There's no guarantee Schaefer will hit these lofty heights, but I still feel he's a terrific pick because I have few doubts he'll at least carve out a power role in an NHL bottom 6.
LW Reid Schaefer, Seattle WHL
I'm just going to come out and say it right away: I want Reid Schaefer on my hockey team. He's gone completely unnoticed by all the independent scouting bureaus and draft writers, but the Bob McKenzie scouting poll sees him as a late 3rd rounder at #79 overall. I'm going to have him ranked higher. Why? Well, we're talking about a 6'3-215 power forward who plays with extreme physicality and possesses the requisite skill to play alongside skilled scorers. If I'm picking anywhere in the 3rd round and I see Reid Schaefer's name on the draft board, this is the guy I'm taking. Hell, I'm drafting this kid anywhere from the mid-2nd round.
Schaefer plays a high-compete game and is features incredible physical strength which he loves to throw around. If you're a defender chasing a puck in the corners with the Spruce Grove native anywhere on the ice, you'd better be looking over your shoulder or you might spend the next few days wondering where the truck was which just ran you over. In net-front battles he is immovable and unstoppable, and he scores a ton of rebounds while creating screens and general havoc which allows his teammates to play up their own offensive acumen. Schaefer creates space for everyone else wearing his teams' jersey, and his coaches concurrently use him as sort of a Swiss army knife, flipping him from line to line according to game situation. Playing a team with a star scorer? Schaefer is a defensive beast on the checking line. Down by a goal late? Schaefer moves up to the top line and his scorers immediately have more room to work with.
Reid Schaefer has 25 goals in 47 games and would have more if he were a staple on the top-line, but he seems to relish his role as the Thunderbirds' jack-of-all-trades. He possesses a great shot, though most of his goals are of a greasier, more interior variety. His one-timer, however, is terrific -- accurate and heavy, making him a nice option for the right circle on the PP. He is an accurate and efficient passer without being a high-vision dazzler. He is a good stickhandler, though like many bigger players his go-to move is to shield the defender with his huge frame and then use his long reach to hold the puck out of their reach.
To me, Schaefer has one area of improvement which can see him become an absolute monster at the NHL level, and that's his skating. Right now, I'd say he skates well for his size and his top speeds are above average. But, much like a young Jamie Benn, if he can gear this up to the next level, his upside professionally may be beyond what anyone is close to realizing. Because he's just a dominant power forward right now in so many aspects, and the addition of a separation gear would just improve the rest of his surrounding game stratospherically.
There's nothing not to like here. I think at the very least, you'll have an intimidating 4th liner who can pop in some offense with his strong shooting and net-front play. But with a few years of development and areas of improvement, I believe the upside here is immense. I watch the NHL this year and see what similar-styled players like Tanner Jeannot and Marcus Foligno are achieving, and I feel Reid Schaefer has the upside to be even better -- sort of a prime era Jamie Benn-lite. There's no guarantee Schaefer will hit these lofty heights, but I still feel he's a terrific pick because I have few doubts he'll at least carve out a power role in an NHL bottom 6.
the best thing about this prospect is his name. When will you write up Lennon Ficus?
Tao Jersey Jones
Registered User
Named after TWO iconic British pop stars, McJagger ofc, and Fab Four legend, Dirk McQuickly.
Yeah, you've got to love the name Jagger Firkus. But he's also nearly certain to be one of the top upside picks available past the first round, the kid can flat out score. I'm not sure I take him if I'm the Devils, though -- he's another exterior player, and his lack of size or defensive play is complicated by a lack of high-end skating.
If the Devils picked today, their second pick would be at #37 overall. I'd rather get a interior winger who could fall like Kulich, Nyman or Lutz. Or of course a RD like Lamoureux or Luneau.
Something we need to talk about on the draft boards is the possibility of all Russian prospects falling on draft day due to the conflict in Ukraine.
I'm not politicizing -- I steer far clear of that -- but I'm looking at this from a pure hockey standpoint. Several teams could be scared off drafting Russian prospects as the uncertainty of when or even if they could come to North America grows with each passing day.
If I'm an NHL GM, I'm thinking strongly about the possibility of tremendous players like Perevalov and Trikozov falling to the 2nd round, and many Russian mid-round candidates falling perhaps to the 6th/7th.
Again, I'm not politicizing. It's just something which needs to be discussed.
I'm not politicizing -- I steer far clear of that -- but I'm looking at this from a pure hockey standpoint. Several teams could be scared off drafting Russian prospects as the uncertainty of when or even if they could come to North America grows with each passing day.
If I'm an NHL GM, I'm thinking strongly about the possibility of tremendous players like Perevalov and Trikozov falling to the 2nd round, and many Russian mid-round candidates falling perhaps to the 6th/7th.
Again, I'm not politicizing. It's just something which needs to be discussed.
2022 Draft Profile:
LW Fraser Minten, Kamloops WHL
Minten is a disciplined, cerebral and positionally strong defensive forward with a bit of offensive pop. He's got good size at 6'1-185 and, although his skating is not great, it has shown huge improvement from his rookie WHL season and shows the promise to improve even more as he grows into his frame. Though he lacks any standout offensive skill, he also lacks any discernible weakness and we have to keep in mind this is a very advanced defensive forward.
Minten's foremost skill is in the way he thinks the game. The Vancouver native has very strong hockey sense and a mature presence whenever he steps onto the ice. He is not creative with his passing or zone entries and exits, but he is extremely efficient and rarely makes mistakes, which is rare for a forward of his age. I'd say his shot and puck skills are both good without being eye-opening but, again, this is more of a meat-and-potatoes guy than a flashy player. He just brings his lunchpail every shift and gets the job done.
Defensively is where Minten truly shines. He's a blanket over his point man, and he's ready and willing to support his teammates down low. He anticipates passing lanes nicely and features an active stick and always-moving feet. His head is on a swivel and his awareness is very good. He uses his strength and moxy to win one-on-one puck battles with regularity. Though defensive-minded wingers are probably the least glamorous of all hockey prospects, Minten is extremely good at what he does and it's important we take note of him as a legitimate NHL prospect.
Minten is generally ranked in the range of the late 2nd round to the early 4th round. I'm not sure I'm taking a forward with 3rd line upside as early as the 2nd round, but if he falls into the 4th he's certainly a terrific pick for any team there. I feel his floor is extremely high and if he can raise his skating another notch he might be the kind of player who can progress into a Selke candidate type winger for an NHL franchise.
LW Fraser Minten, Kamloops WHL
Minten is a disciplined, cerebral and positionally strong defensive forward with a bit of offensive pop. He's got good size at 6'1-185 and, although his skating is not great, it has shown huge improvement from his rookie WHL season and shows the promise to improve even more as he grows into his frame. Though he lacks any standout offensive skill, he also lacks any discernible weakness and we have to keep in mind this is a very advanced defensive forward.
Minten's foremost skill is in the way he thinks the game. The Vancouver native has very strong hockey sense and a mature presence whenever he steps onto the ice. He is not creative with his passing or zone entries and exits, but he is extremely efficient and rarely makes mistakes, which is rare for a forward of his age. I'd say his shot and puck skills are both good without being eye-opening but, again, this is more of a meat-and-potatoes guy than a flashy player. He just brings his lunchpail every shift and gets the job done.
Defensively is where Minten truly shines. He's a blanket over his point man, and he's ready and willing to support his teammates down low. He anticipates passing lanes nicely and features an active stick and always-moving feet. His head is on a swivel and his awareness is very good. He uses his strength and moxy to win one-on-one puck battles with regularity. Though defensive-minded wingers are probably the least glamorous of all hockey prospects, Minten is extremely good at what he does and it's important we take note of him as a legitimate NHL prospect.
Minten is generally ranked in the range of the late 2nd round to the early 4th round. I'm not sure I'm taking a forward with 3rd line upside as early as the 2nd round, but if he falls into the 4th he's certainly a terrific pick for any team there. I feel his floor is extremely high and if he can raise his skating another notch he might be the kind of player who can progress into a Selke candidate type winger for an NHL franchise.
Last edited:
- Dec 20, 2018
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If had extra 2nd pick we could have Gleb and Jagger and complete stranglehold on fun 1st names.
Shakir ONeal
Jimmy Hughes
- Sep 21, 2017
- 588
- 557
Its interesting because I was thinking the opposite.
Several teams are dropping out of the KHL, Several more of the teams are owned by the companies being hit by sanctions, and on top of it all, the ruble has been hit really hard.
The league may not be as strong of an option financially to play in.
Eggtimer
Registered User
I agree and with us having a very good , established prospect pool , I feel more confident in taking a somewhat "risk" of taking a Russian propspect if the value is there. A talent that would normally be a 1st round pick that falls to the 2nd or 3rd ?? Yes please.
I just don't see how you beat Ivan Ivan Ivan.
