HFNHLOilers
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Its offically over a year since i took over the HFNHL Oilers. A prospect pool that feature Marco Rossi/Jesper Wallstadt/David Jirecek/Frazer Minten/Elias Salamonsson. On the NHL young side Payton Krebs an Mattias Samuelsson, an Joel Hofer.
The original plan was to keep most of this pool an just build on it. However as many know an opportunity arose, an well it didnt work out the way i expected. Its still why the farm an pool is deeper than ever before.
2 Offical graduations on this list are Joel Hofer an Adam Fantilli.
1st Winger Boston College Ryan Leonard
Leonard was not the guy i targetted when i made a bold choice. However once the Mitchkov dream ended, it was a pretty obvious call. I took Leonard an never looked back. He has all the tools of a pesky winger, but all the skills you want of a top liner. All Leonard did this season in college is prove why hes a top prospect. Coming oh so close to a national frozen 4 title. Which he chooses to chase again this season.
Projection: Top line two way pest winger
2nd Defense London Knights Sam Dickinson
Not the first guy we wanted to take, but not in anyways shape or form a slouch. Coming from probably the best system at turning out NHL talent. Dickinson is a top pairing minute munching defensemen. He is calm under pressure and has shown great flashes on both ends of the ice.
Projection: Number 2 Two way defensemen.
3rd Defense Saginaw Spirit Zayne Parekh
Zayne is the best offensive defensemen we have seen in a very long time As is apparent from his production in the OHL. Well im usually gun shy on offensive dmen this early. Zayne put alot of questions to rest about can he defend in my mind and scouts minds. With his play in the memorial cup, as the Spirit won it all, beating out fellow Oiler Sam Dickinson.
Projection: 1st powerplay/#2 puck moving Dman
4th Defense Clevland Monsters David Jirecek
David Jirecek needs to work on his defensive game, an i think his overall attitude. Spatting with the Jackets organization about where he is playing. That being said Jirecek has been great offensively for a teenage defensemen playing in the AHL. With Columbus really turning over new leaves, im curious what this means for Jirecek this season. Another up an down year? Times going to tell but hes gotta keep progressing an growing.
Projection #3-4 Two way Defender
5th Defense Nizhny Novagorod Anton Silyaev
The hulking Dman comes with very little offensive potential, but if you look at Jirecek an Perekh that is perfectly fine. Silayev is going to be that guy who just suffocates offense. Towering in at 6 foot 7, not many players are going to be able to fly around him. He is physically intimidating, and has already shown he can hold his own against men.
Projection Top PK, Shutdown Dman 2-4
6th Center Oshawa Generals Callum Ritchie
Ritchie is my AGMs guy, after a down year being injured. Ritchie came back with a vengance proving why he was once a top OHL pick. Leading the Generals all the way to the OHL finals, before being steam rolled bu the champs London Knights. Ritchie will never been an elite number 1 C, but he could be the perfect fit behind Fantilli for years to come.
Projection #2 Playmaking center
7th C/W Kitchener Rangers Carson Rehnkompf
Rehnkompf did slow down towards the end of the season some suspect he was hurt. However, all he did was produce even earning a spot on team canada WJC. He wont ever be a star but his game lends well to a 2nd line powerforward style game. Help open up ice for his teammates.
Projection 2nd line Powerforward
8th Winger North Bay Battalion Anthony Romani
What else is to be said about Romani, i think he should have won regular season MVP. As he dragged a mediocre North Bay team. All season long, coming in 2nd in league scoring. Romani is a guy who is a boom or bust on this list. But he earned himself a potential 3rd round pick after going undrafted last year. Romani has the most potential drop off this list. But i cant ignore what he did this season in comparison to his peers.
Projection Middle six scoring winger
9th Center Frolunda HC Otto Stenberg
Stenberg is kinda trapped in the Swedish league. Seems to be views as too good for his age group. But not ready for the pros, as such his offensive production is lackluster. What gives me hope is how good he was in the WJC again in a depth role. Im still not sure hes anymore more than a swiss army knife prospect who fits into that PK, 3rd line guy, but time will tell.
Projection PK forward/middle 6 center.
10th Center St Andrews Dean Letourneau
Dean is going to be on this list a long time i feel. Like Silayaev he is a massive beast, both need to grow into their bodies, but Letourneau more. Hes going to face much better competition next year, an he needs an organization willing to be patient an guide him. But if he can hit boy oh boy can be be something.
Projection Top 6 center if he hits. If he doesnt AHL plug.
11th Winger Branford Bulldogs Nick Lardis
First question with Lardis is can he ever actually stay healthy. Is his 1 big trick good enough to make the NHL. Lardis is a goal scoring machine, 29 in 37 games shows it. However like Eiserman, alot of the rest of his game leaves questions. The biggest one is health. Being hurt in back to back seasons for an extended period is not good.
Projection Middle 6 goal scoring winger
12th Goalie Ontario Reign Erik Portillo
Portillo has been great in the AHL. He likely will play out most of this year in the AHL as the starter barring any injuries or struggles from the kings goalies. I suspect next year he is challenging for atleast the back up spot behind Kuemper(assuming he bounce back).
Projection Platoon goalie 1b type
13th Defense Skellelftea AIK Elias Salomonsson
Salomonsson is a smooth skating, modern day mobile defensemen. I dont know if his upside is much more than a #4. But he does all the things you want from a modern dman. Hes a guy i could see skyrocketting up my list or just staying around this range. Expected to come to North America this year, an play for the Moose.
14th Center Saskatoon Blades Frazer Minten
Minten made the NHL to start the year, a good feel good story. However was sent back fairly quickly after he failed to produce offensively. Which is exactly why Minten is down here. He really isnt anything special on offense. His game is going to be all centered around the PK an being a hard nosed/hard working player. I see him as a great 3 C at some point. Which is why i dont think hs deserves to be any higher on this list.
Projection 3rd line PK two way hard nose C
15th Center Oshawa Generals Rasmus Kumpulainen
For his first year on small ice i was not disapointed by his production. However, i still have some questions about his offensive upside an that is why he is down here. He is on a stacked Generals team an with no likely major graduations, im not sure if his ice time will increase alot. That being said im happy with his progress an hope to see more out of him his second year in North America.
Projection 3rd line Big body 2 way C/W
16th Winger Bridgeport Islanders Ruslan Ishakov
Ishakov offense is explosive, an he has done nothing but score at the AHL level. However, being a small guy and not exactly a complete player he has yet to really get a look at the NHL level. Can this finally be the year the always scoring deprived Islanders give him a chance?. The potential is above many on this list. But hes such a boom or bust guy i can justify him being higher.
Projection Top 6 scoring winger or AHL/KHL Star
17th Center Toronto Marlies Roni Hirvonen
Its pretty clear at this point in development the offense is likely never coming. That being said he has a great tool set that i think still has the makings of a bottom 6 PK forward. Maybe even a PP specialist.
Projection PK bottom 6 specialist
18th Goalie Seattle Thunderbirds Scott Ratzlaff
Ratzlaff has the unfortunate role of having to be a starter for a team who went all in. They saw alot of guys move on, but he still played pretty well. I dont see a future starter but he has the skill set to be a good back up goalie down the line.
Projection Back up goalie
19th Defense Guelph Storm Cam Allen
Allen unlike Ritchie did not help his stock at all this season. He did come on late in the season. But right now hes a very clear project. The reason hes in my top 20 is purely on pedigree, he was not too long ago viewed as a top prospect. This year really is going to go along way in proving if Allen an his off ice issues/injuries were holding him back. Or if hes just one of those dominated youth hockey, but never had the skills to reach that next level.
Projection Boom or bust Dman.
20th Winger Sudbury Wolves Kocha Delic
Coming in last is Kocha Delic, who projects to be a bottom 6 energy guy. Who can chip im offensively here an there. I suspect his peak is a 4th liner. With stints on the 3rd for injuries.
Projection 4th line energy guy
The original plan was to keep most of this pool an just build on it. However as many know an opportunity arose, an well it didnt work out the way i expected. Its still why the farm an pool is deeper than ever before.
2 Offical graduations on this list are Joel Hofer an Adam Fantilli.
1st Winger Boston College Ryan Leonard
Leonard was not the guy i targetted when i made a bold choice. However once the Mitchkov dream ended, it was a pretty obvious call. I took Leonard an never looked back. He has all the tools of a pesky winger, but all the skills you want of a top liner. All Leonard did this season in college is prove why hes a top prospect. Coming oh so close to a national frozen 4 title. Which he chooses to chase again this season.
Projection: Top line two way pest winger
2nd Defense London Knights Sam Dickinson
Not the first guy we wanted to take, but not in anyways shape or form a slouch. Coming from probably the best system at turning out NHL talent. Dickinson is a top pairing minute munching defensemen. He is calm under pressure and has shown great flashes on both ends of the ice.
Projection: Number 2 Two way defensemen.
3rd Defense Saginaw Spirit Zayne Parekh
Zayne is the best offensive defensemen we have seen in a very long time As is apparent from his production in the OHL. Well im usually gun shy on offensive dmen this early. Zayne put alot of questions to rest about can he defend in my mind and scouts minds. With his play in the memorial cup, as the Spirit won it all, beating out fellow Oiler Sam Dickinson.
Projection: 1st powerplay/#2 puck moving Dman
4th Defense Clevland Monsters David Jirecek
David Jirecek needs to work on his defensive game, an i think his overall attitude. Spatting with the Jackets organization about where he is playing. That being said Jirecek has been great offensively for a teenage defensemen playing in the AHL. With Columbus really turning over new leaves, im curious what this means for Jirecek this season. Another up an down year? Times going to tell but hes gotta keep progressing an growing.
Projection #3-4 Two way Defender
5th Defense Nizhny Novagorod Anton Silyaev
The hulking Dman comes with very little offensive potential, but if you look at Jirecek an Perekh that is perfectly fine. Silayev is going to be that guy who just suffocates offense. Towering in at 6 foot 7, not many players are going to be able to fly around him. He is physically intimidating, and has already shown he can hold his own against men.
Projection Top PK, Shutdown Dman 2-4
6th Center Oshawa Generals Callum Ritchie
Ritchie is my AGMs guy, after a down year being injured. Ritchie came back with a vengance proving why he was once a top OHL pick. Leading the Generals all the way to the OHL finals, before being steam rolled bu the champs London Knights. Ritchie will never been an elite number 1 C, but he could be the perfect fit behind Fantilli for years to come.
Projection #2 Playmaking center
7th C/W Kitchener Rangers Carson Rehnkompf
Rehnkompf did slow down towards the end of the season some suspect he was hurt. However, all he did was produce even earning a spot on team canada WJC. He wont ever be a star but his game lends well to a 2nd line powerforward style game. Help open up ice for his teammates.
Projection 2nd line Powerforward
8th Winger North Bay Battalion Anthony Romani
What else is to be said about Romani, i think he should have won regular season MVP. As he dragged a mediocre North Bay team. All season long, coming in 2nd in league scoring. Romani is a guy who is a boom or bust on this list. But he earned himself a potential 3rd round pick after going undrafted last year. Romani has the most potential drop off this list. But i cant ignore what he did this season in comparison to his peers.
Projection Middle six scoring winger
9th Center Frolunda HC Otto Stenberg
Stenberg is kinda trapped in the Swedish league. Seems to be views as too good for his age group. But not ready for the pros, as such his offensive production is lackluster. What gives me hope is how good he was in the WJC again in a depth role. Im still not sure hes anymore more than a swiss army knife prospect who fits into that PK, 3rd line guy, but time will tell.
Projection PK forward/middle 6 center.
10th Center St Andrews Dean Letourneau
Dean is going to be on this list a long time i feel. Like Silayaev he is a massive beast, both need to grow into their bodies, but Letourneau more. Hes going to face much better competition next year, an he needs an organization willing to be patient an guide him. But if he can hit boy oh boy can be be something.
Projection Top 6 center if he hits. If he doesnt AHL plug.
11th Winger Branford Bulldogs Nick Lardis
First question with Lardis is can he ever actually stay healthy. Is his 1 big trick good enough to make the NHL. Lardis is a goal scoring machine, 29 in 37 games shows it. However like Eiserman, alot of the rest of his game leaves questions. The biggest one is health. Being hurt in back to back seasons for an extended period is not good.
Projection Middle 6 goal scoring winger
12th Goalie Ontario Reign Erik Portillo
Portillo has been great in the AHL. He likely will play out most of this year in the AHL as the starter barring any injuries or struggles from the kings goalies. I suspect next year he is challenging for atleast the back up spot behind Kuemper(assuming he bounce back).
Projection Platoon goalie 1b type
13th Defense Skellelftea AIK Elias Salomonsson
Salomonsson is a smooth skating, modern day mobile defensemen. I dont know if his upside is much more than a #4. But he does all the things you want from a modern dman. Hes a guy i could see skyrocketting up my list or just staying around this range. Expected to come to North America this year, an play for the Moose.
14th Center Saskatoon Blades Frazer Minten
Minten made the NHL to start the year, a good feel good story. However was sent back fairly quickly after he failed to produce offensively. Which is exactly why Minten is down here. He really isnt anything special on offense. His game is going to be all centered around the PK an being a hard nosed/hard working player. I see him as a great 3 C at some point. Which is why i dont think hs deserves to be any higher on this list.
Projection 3rd line PK two way hard nose C
15th Center Oshawa Generals Rasmus Kumpulainen
For his first year on small ice i was not disapointed by his production. However, i still have some questions about his offensive upside an that is why he is down here. He is on a stacked Generals team an with no likely major graduations, im not sure if his ice time will increase alot. That being said im happy with his progress an hope to see more out of him his second year in North America.
Projection 3rd line Big body 2 way C/W
16th Winger Bridgeport Islanders Ruslan Ishakov
Ishakov offense is explosive, an he has done nothing but score at the AHL level. However, being a small guy and not exactly a complete player he has yet to really get a look at the NHL level. Can this finally be the year the always scoring deprived Islanders give him a chance?. The potential is above many on this list. But hes such a boom or bust guy i can justify him being higher.
Projection Top 6 scoring winger or AHL/KHL Star
17th Center Toronto Marlies Roni Hirvonen
Its pretty clear at this point in development the offense is likely never coming. That being said he has a great tool set that i think still has the makings of a bottom 6 PK forward. Maybe even a PP specialist.
Projection PK bottom 6 specialist
18th Goalie Seattle Thunderbirds Scott Ratzlaff
Ratzlaff has the unfortunate role of having to be a starter for a team who went all in. They saw alot of guys move on, but he still played pretty well. I dont see a future starter but he has the skill set to be a good back up goalie down the line.
Projection Back up goalie
19th Defense Guelph Storm Cam Allen
Allen unlike Ritchie did not help his stock at all this season. He did come on late in the season. But right now hes a very clear project. The reason hes in my top 20 is purely on pedigree, he was not too long ago viewed as a top prospect. This year really is going to go along way in proving if Allen an his off ice issues/injuries were holding him back. Or if hes just one of those dominated youth hockey, but never had the skills to reach that next level.
Projection Boom or bust Dman.
20th Winger Sudbury Wolves Kocha Delic
Coming in last is Kocha Delic, who projects to be a bottom 6 energy guy. Who can chip im offensively here an there. I suspect his peak is a 4th liner. With stints on the 3rd for injuries.
Projection 4th line energy guy
