NHL Entry Draft Future Draft Watch

[RAFI BOMB]

Dylan Guenther at eliteprospects.com

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Kent Johnson at eliteprospects.com

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Matvei Sumin at eliteprospects.com

 

[MatchesMalone]

Funny how things work out, the top end of 2021 class is going to be on the weak side, particularly at forward, largely because almost all of the best '03 forwards are late birthdays. Clearly the best Finnish '03 Brad Lambert, and arguably the best Swedish, Russian and American '03 forwards, Ludwig Persson, Danila Yurov and Jack Devine are all late birthdays, in addition to defensemen Simon Forsmark and Pavel Mintyukov.

That leaves pretty slim pickings for 2021, but add those prospects to the already stacked group of '04s starring Matthew Savoie, Shane Wright, Matvei Michkov, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Rutger McGroarty, Simon Nemec, and it looks like 2022 is going to be an unbelievably good draft.

 

[MatchesMalone]

Of course there are still going to be some gems to be found in 2021. Simon Robertsson played two SHL games last week, his third and fourth of the season. Playing 12:49 and 13:04, he scored his first SHL goal on four shots, and added two hits.

 

[Sens72]

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/394719/william-eklund (2021)

 

[MatchesMalone]

At one point against USA two forecheckers collided hard trying to chase him down, a la Datsyuk vs. Mike Grier.

I had to go and hunt this down for you guys. WU17: USA 6 – CANW 4 (Preliminary) at 1:15:40

I know it's still a long way from the 2021 draft, and the field is so wide open, but as of right now Lambos would be my pick for first overall.

The only real weakness I've noticed is he is sometimes a little too risky and gets burned, but it's nothing foundational - most of the time he makes the smart, responsible play - so for a 16 year old that should be coachable. He was first unit powerplay and penalty kill for Team White at U17s. Defensively his positioning, awareness and timing are as good as anyone I've seen for the 2021 class so far. Not overly physical but he has the frame so it could still come. On the powerplay he keeps PKs on their toes by mixing it up nicely between the pass, slap shot, wrist shot, and faking all three.

Brandt Clarke and Luke Hughes aren't far behind. Hughes is the most dynamic, but both Clarke and Lambos are better defensively. The most impressive thing about Hughes is how he's so often able to hold onto the puck, make plays and challenge opponents, without getting himself in trouble. Lambos is more dynamic than Clarke, but Clarke is a smarter playmaker. Both are exceptional defensively; Clarke is more physical, but Lambos's stickchecking is impeccable - I can't stress this point enough, I don't know how many times I've seen him just sweep the puck off an attacking forward's stick, take possession himself, and make a play out of the zone.

 

[Skid]

Kent Johnson at eliteprospects.com

This guy will be 1st OA

 

[MatchesMalone]

This guy will be 1st OA

Interesting. I've only seen about a game and a half of him from the Junior A Challenge but I have to say I was very impressed. Hands and creativity looked elite at that level. He'll be top ten for sure, but his stats this season in BCHL aren't any better than Turris, Jost or Newhook at the same age. What is it that sets him apart you think?

 

[Skid]

Interesting. I've only seen about a game and a half of him from the Junior A Challenge but I have to say I was very impressed. Hands and creativity looked elite at that level. He'll be top ten for sure, but his stats this season in BCHL aren't any better than Turris, Jost or Newhook at the same age. What is it that sets him apart you think?

You’re right, I’m exaggerating a bit. But I’m very high on him. Newhook and jost were on stacked teams and turris was a different era. Johnson is doing this solo. Very interesting to see how he does as a true freshman next year...

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[Spartachat]

Looks like a talented player. However, his height worries me. At 5"3 he is only 8 inches taller than Bettman.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Looks like a talented player. However, his height worries me. At 5"3 he is only 8 inches taller than Bettman.

 

[MatchesMalone]

Wow some of the footwork on that Seamus Casey is ridiculous. I've been looking at his stats and thinking he could really be something, but I guess seeing is believing.

 

[MatchesMalone]

This was a really cool one. Bedard vs. Kiviharju: Generational Cup

2018 WSI U13s

Semifinal - Draftday Selects vs. Finland Selects

Kiviharju #11 blue, Bedard #98 red


25:30-26:40 opening shift features a couple head to head moments
25:50 Bedard and Kiviharju race for the puck
26:15 Kiviharju not urgent enough against Bedard, leads to scoring chance against


28:30 Kiviharju steps up to disrupt the transition, then plays the body behind the net


29:30 Bedard steps off the bench and into a loose puck in the high slot

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
30:55 Bedard goes one on one against Kiviharju

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
34:30-35:30 Bedard shift featuring everything but a goal

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
36:15 Kiviharju breaks up a 3 on 1

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
37:30 Kiviharju powerplay, makes a high risk play

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
54:50-55:05 Bedard draws penalty with a nifty move

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
55:40-56:25 Bedard goes HAM to tie it up

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
1:13:40-1:13:55 Kiviharju with some defensive stickwork

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
1:21:35 Kiviharju intercepts at offensive blue line. Kid loves to shoot the puck, and he knows where to put it to create scoring chances

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
1:26:35-1:27:45 this one is a really fun sequence. Bedard pushing for the tying goal
1:27:05 he dangles Kiviharju one on one,
1:27:10 Kiviharju with the poke on Bedard
1:27:35 Kiviharju with the dagger. Did I mention he loves to shoot the puck?

YouTube
1:30:00-1:30:40 Kiviharju ramps up the pressure. Create chaos for a scrambling opponent, smart

Finland selects (Finland) – Drafday (North America), Semifinal, WSI 05, May 2018, Chamonix
1:35:45 Kiviharju makes a good decision to come out and challenge the point

Kiviharju had some real struggles in this game against older competition, but comes away with a goal and I believe 5 points, and the win. Draftday had averaged 9 goals per game coming into this one, but Finland is stacked and does a pretty good job containing Bedard, who ends up with just a couple points (he averaged 5 a game coming in).

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Aaron Pionk at eliteprospects.com

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Jayson Shaugabay at eliteprospects.com

 

[MatchesMalone]

This was my first time seeing young Miroshnichenko (2022),

some highlights of #10 in Red - from the spring Five Nations U17


1:02:30 - 1:03:00


1:16:45 - 1:17:45


1:37:55 - 1:38:30

YouTube
1:54:10-1:54:40

5 NATIONS TOURNAMEN U17. Russia-Sweden. 05.02.2020
2:10:00-2:10:10

Playing a year above his age group against world class competition. Looks like a smart, highly-skilled, dynamic, tenacious power forward.

 

[MatchesMalone]

I'm curious about Simon Edvinsson. He looks dynamite at the U17 level. Frame, skating, stick skills all suggest NHL star potential, but against top offensive forwards at international competition in his own age group, he is consistently getting walked. I wonder how he does defensively in league play, i.e. how far is he behind the curve.

 

[MatchesMalone]

From the 2020 Youth Winter Olympic Games U16 hockey tournament. My first time seeing #19 in Red Matvei Michkov (2023). Third viewing on #10 Ivan Miroshnichenko (2022). Not sure which one I like better. Michkov looks smoother, craftier and maybe has better hands, but Miroshnichenko just looks like an NHL star. He's got shades of a Hossa, MacKinnon, Matthews, Tarasenko. Powerful, explosive, hunts down pucks, makes things happen all over the ice.

Not quite sure yet what kind of player Michkov is. Very high skill. His edges are f***ing unreal. Stranges/Pettersson territory. His numbers in his junior league this year were unreal. The commentators mentioned the right side doorstep area is kinda his office, a la Tavares.


8:15 - 9:20 shift, goal.


12:05 - 13:40 Miroshnichenko draws a penalty, eventually Michkov makes a ridiculous play to create a goal.


27:25 - 27:50 Miroshnichenko on the 3 on 5.

RELIVE - Ice Hockey - RUSSIA vs FINLAND - Men's Semifinal - Day 12 | Lausanne 2020
45:20 45:55 powerplay. Michkov on right boards, Miroshnichenko on the left.

RELIVE - Ice Hockey - RUSSIA vs FINLAND - Men's Semifinal - Day 12 | Lausanne 2020
58:15 - 59:00 Michkov with no Miroshnichenko, who had just been PKing.

RELIVE - Ice Hockey - RUSSIA vs FINLAND - Men's Semifinal - Day 12 | Lausanne 2020
1:00:00 - 1:01:00

RELIVE - Ice Hockey - RUSSIA vs FINLAND - Men's Semifinal - Day 12 | Lausanne 2020
1:03:30 - 1:03:50 Michkov with a slick little deceptive skating technique to open a lane for himself.

RELIVE - Ice Hockey - RUSSIA vs FINLAND - Men's Semifinal - Day 12 | Lausanne 2020
1:05:30 - 1:06:20 Look at the way Michkov springs backward off the board. What the f***? And then he does more stuff.

RELIVE - Ice Hockey - RUSSIA vs FINLAND - Men's Semifinal - Day 12 | Lausanne 2020
1:08:45 - 1:09:00 Miroshnichenko is a rabid dog.

RELIVE - Ice Hockey - RUSSIA vs FINLAND - Men's Semifinal - Day 12 | Lausanne 2020
1:24:00 - 1:24:15 Miroshnichenko goal.

RELIVE - Ice Hockey - RUSSIA vs FINLAND - Men's Semifinal - Day 12 | Lausanne 2020
1:32:05 - 1:32:25 Michkov making things happen.

I've since watched this same Ruskie team against USA too, and that's a stacked team with Frank Nazar, Rutger McGroarty, Seamus Casey, Cruz Lucius, Isaac Howard, etc. But they just had no answer for Russia's top line. They're next level.

 

[MatchesMalone]

Danila Yurov has been one of my favorite players for 2022 so far. Granted he's an older late birthday, but I think I might like him better than Matthew Savoie or Brad Lambert at this point.

Miroschnichenko and Wright are starting to pull away from the pack.