Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
- 22,938
- 29,631
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[TD]PROSPECT RANKING[/TD]
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[TD]1. C Macklin Celebrini[/TD]
[TD]Boston University, NCAA
[6’0”. 197lbs. Born on June 13, 2006.]
Two-way center with a strong commitment to defensive duties. Good build. Doesn’t take any shifts off. Backchecks harder than anyone else in the draft. More often than not, Celebrini acts as a 3rd defenseman which is a trait I don’t think I’ve ever seen out of a 1st overall pick. But he’s also a juggernaut on offense. Needless to say, he does it all. In his prime, he’s probably going to be a player that’s regularly in the Selke conversation. Not unlike Jonathan Toews or Patrice Bergeron.[/TD]
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[TD]2. LD Anton Silayev[/TD]
[TD]Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL
[6’7”. 207lbs. Born on April 11, 2006.]
A physical anomaly. Not only is Silayev gigantic, but he also moves well in all directions. The upside with Silayev pretty much dwarfs anyone in this year’s draft class because if he hits, there’s very few players like him in the NHL. And even if he doesn’t hit his ceiling, there should still be room for him in an NHL lineup. He already plays a pro game. I think the second his contract ends in 2026, he’ll be ready to make the jump. We may be looking at the next Zdeno Chara.[/TD]
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[TD]3. LW Tij Iginla[/TD]
[TD]Kelowna Rockets, WHL
[6’0”. 191lbs. Born on August 1, 2006.]
There’s no player in the draft that has seen the rate of improvement that Iginla has. He was a good prospect in the first half of the season, but he became a great one in the latter half. And if you look where he was a year ago, when he wasn’t seen as a top prospect, the development has been staggering. Where will he be next year? In 5 years? Iginla is young for this draft class and still has lots of runway to keep growing his game. His deceptive stickhandling ability fools defenders, and that in conjunction with how he can ward off pressure with his body, gives Iginla extra dimensions. He has found lots of success hitting the back of the net this season and should be a regular 30+ scorer in the NHL.[/TD]
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[TD]4. C Cayden Lindstrom[/TD]
[TD]Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
[6’3”. 213lbs. Born on February 3, 2006.]
Big player with a ton of skill. His skating and puck handling is really good for a player of his size. He’s also strong at protecting the puck. At the moment he’s unrefined, but there’s great upside to work with. Lindstrom has the potential to be a type of player that there are few of in the NHL. The big question with him is if the mysterious back injury ends up being a long term problem. You don’t ever want to use a top 5 pick on an injury prone player. I don’t have access to the medical information, but NHL teams will and it’ll play a large part in where Lindstrom gets drafted.[/TD]
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[TD]5. RW Ivan Demidov[/TD]
[TD]SKA St. Petersburg, MHL
[5’11”. 168lbs. Born on December 10, 2005.]
Against inferior talent at the MHL level, he’s able to deke and showboat his way onto highlight reels which can be inefficient at times. It’s fun to watch when it works but it’s frustrating when it amounts to nothing or worse, a turnover. Against men in the VHL and KHL (small sample size) he doesn’t look out of place, but he’s much less threatening since he can’t pull off those same moves against better players. That’s not to say he won’t ever be able to play his game at higher levels, but it does give me pause. There’s a massive skill gap between him and the low end of MHL players which makes it difficult to project. Demidov is strong on his skates with a low center of gravity. Foot speed is average.[/TD]
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[TD]6. RD Artyom Levshunov[/TD]
[TD]Michigan State University, NCAA
[6’2”. 205lbs. Born on October 28, 2005.]
Good size that allows him to be physically imposing and cover lots of ice. He’s not a burner, but he’s mobile. He's an effective defenseman, although he can appear nonchalant and lackadaisical. He reminds me a bit of Seth Jones in that regard where there’s inconsistencies in effort on a shift to shift basis. A relatively safe pick in a weak draft that should have a long career, even if it isn’t as a top pairing defender. The tools make it clear why he’s regarded as a top 5 pick, but admittedly I lack some enthusiasm for him.[/TD]
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[TD]7. LD Sam Dickinson[/TD]
[TD]London Knights, OHL
[6’3”. 203lbs. Born on June 7, 2006.]
Very good size profile and top notch skating. Dickinson can put the burners on when necessary, but he’s really efficient when it comes to conserving his energy. I could see him logging heavy minutes in the NHL as a result. He’s quite poised in the defensive end, and I think his positioning is mature for a prospect of his age. His passing could use some more refining, but he’s easily projectable at the next level.[/TD]
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[TD]8. RD Zayne Parekh[/TD]
[TD]Saginaw Spirit, OHL
[6’0”. 178lbs. Born on February 15, 2006.]
A double edged sword, because he likes to play offensive-minded and positionless hockey. Parekh is all over the place at any given time, so his teammates are constantly having to fill in and cover for him on the fly. This could work in certain systems, but it’s not a safe projection. There’s high scoring upside here, but you’re potentially making some sacrifices to make it work. The team that figures out the right scheme could have an elite offensive defenseman on their hands.[/TD]
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[TD]9. LD Zeev Buium[/TD]
[TD]Denver University, NCAA
[6’0”. 186lbs. Born on December 7, 2005.]
Makes good reads. Physically undeveloped. I find he has a tendency to get beat and knocked off balance so he needs to get stronger. Top speed isn’t desirable. My big concern is that I don’t see one standout elite attribute, other than edgework. He’s closer to a jack of all trades, master of none. However the offensive production has been noticeably impressive for a freshman, and he does process the game well. Adam Fox has all the same shortcomings, so there is still a clear path for Buium to succeed at the next level.[/TD]
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[TD]10. RD Carter Yakemchuk[/TD]
[TD]Calgary Hitmen, WHL
[6’3”. 202lbs. Born on September 29, 2005.]
Big right handed defensemen that move well and put up points get scooped up rather quickly in the draft. Yakemchuk fits that mold. I think his biggest weakness is defensive positioning but he has other physical tools that allow him to recover from those mistakes. He has a heavy shot from the point, and plays with aggression and a willingness to throw hits. He’s good at deking around players, breaking ankles, and then firing off a drag shot. These are the types of players you have to draft, because they’re nearly impossible to acquire once they’re in the league.[/TD]
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[TD]11. RW Beckett Sennecke[/TD]
[TD]Oshawa Generals, OHL
[6’2”. 181lbs. Born on January 28, 2006.]
He could use some more stability in his stride but the results are there. The kid can fly, and his hands keep up with his feet. He’s tall, rangy, and a dual threat. He’s great at both scoring and playmaking. He also really knows how to take advantage of open ice. He can manipulate his way through space like liquid. As the season went on, he continued to get adjusted to his newly sprouted height, and quickly gained a ton of confidence come playoff time. It got to the point where Sennecke was executing high level dekes at a high pace. The improvement over the course of the season bodes well for his future.[/TD]
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[TD]12. LW Cole Eiserman[/TD]
[TD]U18's, USNTDP
[6’0”. 197lbs. Born on August 29, 2006.]
He’s very young for the draft which gives him some runway to work with. Eiserman is a shooter, and nothing else. When he’s not scoring goals, he looks nothing like a 1st round pick. His playmaking ability is no more than average, and his defensive game is lacking. Even in the offensive end, he forces a lot of shots that never get through. Still, he’s playing at a goal per game pace. That’s elite level scoring. I could see him as an empty stat producer during the regular season, but also the type of player that gets neutralized in the playoffs.[/TD]
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[TD]13. LW/RW Nikita Artamonov[/TD]
[TD]Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL
[5’11”. 187lbs. Born on November 17, 2005.]
Consistently plays at a high pace and compete level. His elite playmaking is among the best in the draft. He’s able to find passing lanes and get the puck through traffic. Overall quick at processing the game. If you put him on a line with the fastest players in the NHL, he’ll be able to keep up and spot them for passes with ease.[/TD]
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[TD]14. C Konsta Helenius[/TD]
[TD]Jukurit, Liiga
[5’11”. 189lbs. Born on May 11, 2006.]
Well-developed two-way center. Great awareness on both ends of the ice. High IQ player. Effective at finding the puck and keeping it in possession. He’s kind of a vanilla pick, but you can only let a player like this slip so far before you regret it. He could be a solid 2C option.[/TD]
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[TD]15. C/W Berkly Catton[/TD]
[TD]Spokane Chiefs, WHL
[5’10”. 175lbs. Born on January 14, 2006.]
Smaller forward with great speed. Reminds me a bit of Tyler Johnson. There’s a lot of skill with Catton, but I think he’s a non-factor off the puck. On the puck, he can drive rushes, zone entries, and open up space, but I think he’s unlikely to be the go-to puck carrier on a 1st line, or perhaps even a 2nd line if things don’t go as planned. So on the lower end it’s possible his role ends up becoming the driver on a scoring 3rd line, as well as a power play specialist, but that’s a very specific niche which means his versatility could be limited.[/TD]
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[TD]16. LW Trevor Connelly[/TD]
[TD]Tri-City Storm, USHL
[6’1”. 160lbs. Born on February 28, 2006.]
Carries the puck with purpose. Good at entering the zone with speed. High skill player with lots of natural talent. Sleight frame. Bigger players stop him along the boards. Tends to be a non-factor in the defensive end, waiting by the blueline for a breakout pass. Right now, weighing 160lbs is a big knock against him.[/TD]
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[TD]17. RW Michael Brandsegg-Nygård[/TD]
[TD]Mora IK, HockeyAllsvenskan
[6’1”. 207lbs. Born on October 5, 2005.]
Active winger on the forecheck and backcheck. Hounds puck carriers. He has ideal size, and skates well with a good motor. He’s not the most high end player, but his effort level makes him desirable. He has a good one timer, but lacks good shooting instincts.[/TD]
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[TD]18. RW Liam Greentree[/TD]
[TD]Windsor Spitfires, OHL
[6’2”. 215lbs. Born on January 1, 2006.]
Large winger that isn’t a big hitter, but he uses his big body to protect the puck well. Top speed and acceleration is lacking. Sometimes I’ll find him behind the play because he can’t catch up. Great decision maker.[/TD]
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[TD]19. LW Igor Chernyshov[/TD]
[TD]Dynamo Moskva, KHL
[6’2”. 196lbs. Born on November 30, 2005.]
Physically developed winger with a skillset that should translate into a bottom 6 role player. He’s hard nosed off the puck and commits to playing the way that coaches like. I’m hoping he can become a more consistent version of Boris Katchouk.[/TD]
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[TD]20. RD Adam Jiříček[/TD]
[TD]HC Plzeň, Czechia
[6’2”. 168lbs. Born on June 28, 2006.]
Very Bambi-esque on his skates. Built like a beanpole. Jiricek is raw and many years out. Meshes well in his team’s system which leads me to believe that he’s easily coachable. He has tools and upside, but it’s a long term projection.[/TD]
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[TD]21. C Michael Hage[/TD]
[TD]Chicago Steel, USHL
[6’1”. 188lbs. Born on April 14, 2006.]
The big thing with Hage is that he doesn’t eschew the extra responsibilities that a center has. Winning faceoffs, two way play, battling in front of the net, etc. He will stick at this position, and that gives him value.[/TD]
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[TD]22. LW Teddy Stiga[/TD]
[TD]U18's, USNTDP
[5’10”. 178lbs. Born on April 5, 2006.]
You will quite literally always find Stiga in the right spot. That speaks to his high IQ and two-way work ethic. He’s undersized but he simply plays good quality, smart hockey. If he was bigger, he’d be a consensus 1st round guy. As it stands, it is a legitimate knock against him, but the NHL upside is there regardless. He’s a joy to watch.[/TD]
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[TD]23. LW Andrew Basha[/TD]
[TD]Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
[5’11”. 187lbs. Born on November 8, 2005.]
The Robin to Lindstrom’s Batman. Hard working north-south player. With the way he plays, I could see him being a desirable 3rd liner in the NHL with the potential to play up the lineup.[/TD]
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[TD]24. LD Alfons Freij[/TD]
[TD]Växjö Lakers HC, J20 Nationell
[6’0”. 197lbs. Born on February 12, 2006.]
Really high end skater, and accurate passer that can play both sides. Size is decent too, so I like his projection. Still needs to refine his defensive game. I wish we had a chance to see him play in the SHL, but regardless I think Freij has top 4 upside. Should also be able to reliably QB any power play unit.[/TD]
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[TD]25. LD Matvei Shuravin[/TD]
[TD]Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, MHL
[6’4”. 198lbs. Born on March 22, 2006.]
High end shutdown defender. Potentially elite in that regard. Huge wingspan. Sticks to his man like glue, and plays suffocating defense. His skating looks good too. The offensive production isn’t there right now, but I think he’s a precise passer so there may be some untapped potential there.[/TD]
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[TD]26. RW Emil Hemming[/TD]
[TD]TPS, Liiga
[6’1”. 205lbs. Born on June 27, 2006.]
Big winger that plays with pace and speed. Aggressive on the forecheck. Lacks high end puck skills.[/TD]
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[TD]27. RW Terik Parascak[/TD]
[TD]Prince George Cougars, WHL
[6’0”. 179lbs. Born on May 28, 2006.]
Plays with tenacity, but skates like he’s lugging around cinder blocks. It’s obvious he has a lot of talent. You don’t score 100 points by accident. But his skating is really going to hold him back at the next level, and as it stands he needs to do a lot of work to improve it. With the right coaching, it’s possible he can reach a level that’s adequate enough for him to keep pace at the next level.[/TD]
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[TD]28. LD/RD Jesse Pulkkinen (OA)[/TD]
[TD]JYP, Liiga
[6’6”. 219lbs. Born on December 27, 2004.]
Towering defenseman that plays with confidence. Left handed, but can play the right side. He plays the game at a good pace already which should help him transition to the smaller NHL ice. His long wingspan allows him to not only suffocate players in the defensive end, but he also uses it to bait players when he’s carrying the puck up the ice. You’d think a player of his build would just be a shutdown defender, but Pulkkinen also has upside as a point producer.[/TD]
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[TD]29. RW Justin Poirier[/TD]
[TD]Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL
[5’8”. 181lbs. Born on September 4, 2006.]
Leads the Q in goal scoring, in addition to being very young. Had he been born a week later, he’d be eligible for next year’s draft instead. He has one of those shots where you blink and then it’s in the back of the net. And he can release it from really tough angles. He’s on the short side, but he’s compact and plays with a chip on his shoulder.[/TD]
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[TD]30. LW/RW Eriks Mateiko[/TD]
[TD]Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL
[6’5”. 216lbs. Born on November 18, 2005.]
6’5” behemoth that can barrel down the ice when the puck is on his stick. He’s great at playing in the slot and banging in the puck off of tip-ins and rebounds. Shot is projectable because he can get it off in stride. The Sea Dogs were really bad this year and I don’t think Mateiko had much to work with. This led to somewhat of a low scoring year for him which I think has taken him out of the larger conversation. But I think Mateiko is worthy of being recognized. Has the potential to be a good power forward.[/TD]
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[TD]31. LW Kevin He[/TD]
[TD]Niagara IceDogs, OHL
[5’11”. 181lbs. Born on April 30, 2006.]
There are very few players in the draft class that can match Kevin He’s speed. He’s always in pursuit of the puck and never gives up on the forecheck. He also has a really snappy release which has proven to be lethal. Being on the OHL’s worst team didn’t slow him down.[/TD]
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[TD]32. C/W Jett Luchanko[/TD]
[TD]Guelph Storm, OHL
[5’11”. 187lbs. Born on August 21, 2006.]
On the small side, but he makes up for it with his speedy skating. Plays at a high effort level. I’d like to see him shoot more instead of deferring when he has an open look. Should be a winger at the next level. Young for the draft.[/TD]
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[TD]REMAINDER OF MY BOARD[/TD]
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[TD]33. C/W Tanner Howe
34. RD Charlie Elick
35. RD EJ Emery
36. LD Stian Solberg
37. LD Tarin Smith
38. LW John Mustard
39. LW Marek Vanacker
40. RW Ryder Ritchie
41. C Sacha Boisvert
42. C/W Yegor Surin
43. C Dean Letourneau
44. C/W Oskar Vuollet
45. C/W Julius Miettinen
46. RW Adam Jecho
47. C Cole Beaudoin
48. LW Matvei Gridin
49. RD Henry Mews
50. LD Leo Sahlin Wallenius
51. LD Aron Kiviharju
52. LD Gabriel Eliasson
53. RD Dominik Badinka
54. C Linus Eriksson
55. RD Ben Danford
56. RW Miguel Marques
57. C AJ Spellacy
58. LD Cole Hutson
59. C/W Luke Misa
60. C Lucas Pettersson
61. RW Maxim Massé
62. LW Ollie Josephson
63. RW Carson Wetsch
64. C Kamil Bednarik
65. RW Brodie Ziemer
66. C/W Alexander Zetterberg
67. LW Clarke Caswell
68. RW Jacob Battaglia
69. LD Will Skahan
70. LD Lukas Fischer
71. RD Harrison Brunicke
72. RW Christian Humphreys
73. LD Veeti Väisänen
74. RD Luca Marrelli
75. LD Noel Fransén
76. RW Sam O'Reilly
77. RD Colton Roberts[/TD]
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[TD]PROSPECT RANKING[/TD]
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WRITE-UP
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[TD]1. C Macklin Celebrini[/TD]
[TD]Boston University, NCAA
[6’0”. 197lbs. Born on June 13, 2006.]
Two-way center with a strong commitment to defensive duties. Good build. Doesn’t take any shifts off. Backchecks harder than anyone else in the draft. More often than not, Celebrini acts as a 3rd defenseman which is a trait I don’t think I’ve ever seen out of a 1st overall pick. But he’s also a juggernaut on offense. Needless to say, he does it all. In his prime, he’s probably going to be a player that’s regularly in the Selke conversation. Not unlike Jonathan Toews or Patrice Bergeron.[/TD]
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[TD]2. LD Anton Silayev[/TD]
[TD]Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL
[6’7”. 207lbs. Born on April 11, 2006.]
A physical anomaly. Not only is Silayev gigantic, but he also moves well in all directions. The upside with Silayev pretty much dwarfs anyone in this year’s draft class because if he hits, there’s very few players like him in the NHL. And even if he doesn’t hit his ceiling, there should still be room for him in an NHL lineup. He already plays a pro game. I think the second his contract ends in 2026, he’ll be ready to make the jump. We may be looking at the next Zdeno Chara.[/TD]
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[TD]3. LW Tij Iginla[/TD]
[TD]Kelowna Rockets, WHL
[6’0”. 191lbs. Born on August 1, 2006.]
There’s no player in the draft that has seen the rate of improvement that Iginla has. He was a good prospect in the first half of the season, but he became a great one in the latter half. And if you look where he was a year ago, when he wasn’t seen as a top prospect, the development has been staggering. Where will he be next year? In 5 years? Iginla is young for this draft class and still has lots of runway to keep growing his game. His deceptive stickhandling ability fools defenders, and that in conjunction with how he can ward off pressure with his body, gives Iginla extra dimensions. He has found lots of success hitting the back of the net this season and should be a regular 30+ scorer in the NHL.[/TD]
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[TD]4. C Cayden Lindstrom[/TD]
[TD]Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
[6’3”. 213lbs. Born on February 3, 2006.]
Big player with a ton of skill. His skating and puck handling is really good for a player of his size. He’s also strong at protecting the puck. At the moment he’s unrefined, but there’s great upside to work with. Lindstrom has the potential to be a type of player that there are few of in the NHL. The big question with him is if the mysterious back injury ends up being a long term problem. You don’t ever want to use a top 5 pick on an injury prone player. I don’t have access to the medical information, but NHL teams will and it’ll play a large part in where Lindstrom gets drafted.[/TD]
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[TD]5. RW Ivan Demidov[/TD]
[TD]SKA St. Petersburg, MHL
[5’11”. 168lbs. Born on December 10, 2005.]
Against inferior talent at the MHL level, he’s able to deke and showboat his way onto highlight reels which can be inefficient at times. It’s fun to watch when it works but it’s frustrating when it amounts to nothing or worse, a turnover. Against men in the VHL and KHL (small sample size) he doesn’t look out of place, but he’s much less threatening since he can’t pull off those same moves against better players. That’s not to say he won’t ever be able to play his game at higher levels, but it does give me pause. There’s a massive skill gap between him and the low end of MHL players which makes it difficult to project. Demidov is strong on his skates with a low center of gravity. Foot speed is average.[/TD]
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[TD]6. RD Artyom Levshunov[/TD]
[TD]Michigan State University, NCAA
[6’2”. 205lbs. Born on October 28, 2005.]
Good size that allows him to be physically imposing and cover lots of ice. He’s not a burner, but he’s mobile. He's an effective defenseman, although he can appear nonchalant and lackadaisical. He reminds me a bit of Seth Jones in that regard where there’s inconsistencies in effort on a shift to shift basis. A relatively safe pick in a weak draft that should have a long career, even if it isn’t as a top pairing defender. The tools make it clear why he’s regarded as a top 5 pick, but admittedly I lack some enthusiasm for him.[/TD]
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[TD]7. LD Sam Dickinson[/TD]
[TD]London Knights, OHL
[6’3”. 203lbs. Born on June 7, 2006.]
Very good size profile and top notch skating. Dickinson can put the burners on when necessary, but he’s really efficient when it comes to conserving his energy. I could see him logging heavy minutes in the NHL as a result. He’s quite poised in the defensive end, and I think his positioning is mature for a prospect of his age. His passing could use some more refining, but he’s easily projectable at the next level.[/TD]
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[TD]8. RD Zayne Parekh[/TD]
[TD]Saginaw Spirit, OHL
[6’0”. 178lbs. Born on February 15, 2006.]
A double edged sword, because he likes to play offensive-minded and positionless hockey. Parekh is all over the place at any given time, so his teammates are constantly having to fill in and cover for him on the fly. This could work in certain systems, but it’s not a safe projection. There’s high scoring upside here, but you’re potentially making some sacrifices to make it work. The team that figures out the right scheme could have an elite offensive defenseman on their hands.[/TD]
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[TD]9. LD Zeev Buium[/TD]
[TD]Denver University, NCAA
[6’0”. 186lbs. Born on December 7, 2005.]
Makes good reads. Physically undeveloped. I find he has a tendency to get beat and knocked off balance so he needs to get stronger. Top speed isn’t desirable. My big concern is that I don’t see one standout elite attribute, other than edgework. He’s closer to a jack of all trades, master of none. However the offensive production has been noticeably impressive for a freshman, and he does process the game well. Adam Fox has all the same shortcomings, so there is still a clear path for Buium to succeed at the next level.[/TD]
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[TD]10. RD Carter Yakemchuk[/TD]
[TD]Calgary Hitmen, WHL
[6’3”. 202lbs. Born on September 29, 2005.]
Big right handed defensemen that move well and put up points get scooped up rather quickly in the draft. Yakemchuk fits that mold. I think his biggest weakness is defensive positioning but he has other physical tools that allow him to recover from those mistakes. He has a heavy shot from the point, and plays with aggression and a willingness to throw hits. He’s good at deking around players, breaking ankles, and then firing off a drag shot. These are the types of players you have to draft, because they’re nearly impossible to acquire once they’re in the league.[/TD]
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[TD]11. RW Beckett Sennecke[/TD]
[TD]Oshawa Generals, OHL
[6’2”. 181lbs. Born on January 28, 2006.]
He could use some more stability in his stride but the results are there. The kid can fly, and his hands keep up with his feet. He’s tall, rangy, and a dual threat. He’s great at both scoring and playmaking. He also really knows how to take advantage of open ice. He can manipulate his way through space like liquid. As the season went on, he continued to get adjusted to his newly sprouted height, and quickly gained a ton of confidence come playoff time. It got to the point where Sennecke was executing high level dekes at a high pace. The improvement over the course of the season bodes well for his future.[/TD]
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[TD]12. LW Cole Eiserman[/TD]
[TD]U18's, USNTDP
[6’0”. 197lbs. Born on August 29, 2006.]
He’s very young for the draft which gives him some runway to work with. Eiserman is a shooter, and nothing else. When he’s not scoring goals, he looks nothing like a 1st round pick. His playmaking ability is no more than average, and his defensive game is lacking. Even in the offensive end, he forces a lot of shots that never get through. Still, he’s playing at a goal per game pace. That’s elite level scoring. I could see him as an empty stat producer during the regular season, but also the type of player that gets neutralized in the playoffs.[/TD]
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[TD]13. LW/RW Nikita Artamonov[/TD]
[TD]Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL
[5’11”. 187lbs. Born on November 17, 2005.]
Consistently plays at a high pace and compete level. His elite playmaking is among the best in the draft. He’s able to find passing lanes and get the puck through traffic. Overall quick at processing the game. If you put him on a line with the fastest players in the NHL, he’ll be able to keep up and spot them for passes with ease.[/TD]
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[TD]14. C Konsta Helenius[/TD]
[TD]Jukurit, Liiga
[5’11”. 189lbs. Born on May 11, 2006.]
Well-developed two-way center. Great awareness on both ends of the ice. High IQ player. Effective at finding the puck and keeping it in possession. He’s kind of a vanilla pick, but you can only let a player like this slip so far before you regret it. He could be a solid 2C option.[/TD]
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[TD]15. C/W Berkly Catton[/TD]
[TD]Spokane Chiefs, WHL
[5’10”. 175lbs. Born on January 14, 2006.]
Smaller forward with great speed. Reminds me a bit of Tyler Johnson. There’s a lot of skill with Catton, but I think he’s a non-factor off the puck. On the puck, he can drive rushes, zone entries, and open up space, but I think he’s unlikely to be the go-to puck carrier on a 1st line, or perhaps even a 2nd line if things don’t go as planned. So on the lower end it’s possible his role ends up becoming the driver on a scoring 3rd line, as well as a power play specialist, but that’s a very specific niche which means his versatility could be limited.[/TD]
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[TD]16. LW Trevor Connelly[/TD]
[TD]Tri-City Storm, USHL
[6’1”. 160lbs. Born on February 28, 2006.]
Carries the puck with purpose. Good at entering the zone with speed. High skill player with lots of natural talent. Sleight frame. Bigger players stop him along the boards. Tends to be a non-factor in the defensive end, waiting by the blueline for a breakout pass. Right now, weighing 160lbs is a big knock against him.[/TD]
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[TD]17. RW Michael Brandsegg-Nygård[/TD]
[TD]Mora IK, HockeyAllsvenskan
[6’1”. 207lbs. Born on October 5, 2005.]
Active winger on the forecheck and backcheck. Hounds puck carriers. He has ideal size, and skates well with a good motor. He’s not the most high end player, but his effort level makes him desirable. He has a good one timer, but lacks good shooting instincts.[/TD]
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[TD]18. RW Liam Greentree[/TD]
[TD]Windsor Spitfires, OHL
[6’2”. 215lbs. Born on January 1, 2006.]
Large winger that isn’t a big hitter, but he uses his big body to protect the puck well. Top speed and acceleration is lacking. Sometimes I’ll find him behind the play because he can’t catch up. Great decision maker.[/TD]
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[TD]19. LW Igor Chernyshov[/TD]
[TD]Dynamo Moskva, KHL
[6’2”. 196lbs. Born on November 30, 2005.]
Physically developed winger with a skillset that should translate into a bottom 6 role player. He’s hard nosed off the puck and commits to playing the way that coaches like. I’m hoping he can become a more consistent version of Boris Katchouk.[/TD]
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[TD]20. RD Adam Jiříček[/TD]
[TD]HC Plzeň, Czechia
[6’2”. 168lbs. Born on June 28, 2006.]
Very Bambi-esque on his skates. Built like a beanpole. Jiricek is raw and many years out. Meshes well in his team’s system which leads me to believe that he’s easily coachable. He has tools and upside, but it’s a long term projection.[/TD]
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[TD]21. C Michael Hage[/TD]
[TD]Chicago Steel, USHL
[6’1”. 188lbs. Born on April 14, 2006.]
The big thing with Hage is that he doesn’t eschew the extra responsibilities that a center has. Winning faceoffs, two way play, battling in front of the net, etc. He will stick at this position, and that gives him value.[/TD]
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[TD]22. LW Teddy Stiga[/TD]
[TD]U18's, USNTDP
[5’10”. 178lbs. Born on April 5, 2006.]
You will quite literally always find Stiga in the right spot. That speaks to his high IQ and two-way work ethic. He’s undersized but he simply plays good quality, smart hockey. If he was bigger, he’d be a consensus 1st round guy. As it stands, it is a legitimate knock against him, but the NHL upside is there regardless. He’s a joy to watch.[/TD]
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[TD]23. LW Andrew Basha[/TD]
[TD]Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
[5’11”. 187lbs. Born on November 8, 2005.]
The Robin to Lindstrom’s Batman. Hard working north-south player. With the way he plays, I could see him being a desirable 3rd liner in the NHL with the potential to play up the lineup.[/TD]
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[TD]24. LD Alfons Freij[/TD]
[TD]Växjö Lakers HC, J20 Nationell
[6’0”. 197lbs. Born on February 12, 2006.]
Really high end skater, and accurate passer that can play both sides. Size is decent too, so I like his projection. Still needs to refine his defensive game. I wish we had a chance to see him play in the SHL, but regardless I think Freij has top 4 upside. Should also be able to reliably QB any power play unit.[/TD]
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[TD]25. LD Matvei Shuravin[/TD]
[TD]Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, MHL
[6’4”. 198lbs. Born on March 22, 2006.]
High end shutdown defender. Potentially elite in that regard. Huge wingspan. Sticks to his man like glue, and plays suffocating defense. His skating looks good too. The offensive production isn’t there right now, but I think he’s a precise passer so there may be some untapped potential there.[/TD]
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[TD]26. RW Emil Hemming[/TD]
[TD]TPS, Liiga
[6’1”. 205lbs. Born on June 27, 2006.]
Big winger that plays with pace and speed. Aggressive on the forecheck. Lacks high end puck skills.[/TD]
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[TD]27. RW Terik Parascak[/TD]
[TD]Prince George Cougars, WHL
[6’0”. 179lbs. Born on May 28, 2006.]
Plays with tenacity, but skates like he’s lugging around cinder blocks. It’s obvious he has a lot of talent. You don’t score 100 points by accident. But his skating is really going to hold him back at the next level, and as it stands he needs to do a lot of work to improve it. With the right coaching, it’s possible he can reach a level that’s adequate enough for him to keep pace at the next level.[/TD]
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[TD]28. LD/RD Jesse Pulkkinen (OA)[/TD]
[TD]JYP, Liiga
[6’6”. 219lbs. Born on December 27, 2004.]
Towering defenseman that plays with confidence. Left handed, but can play the right side. He plays the game at a good pace already which should help him transition to the smaller NHL ice. His long wingspan allows him to not only suffocate players in the defensive end, but he also uses it to bait players when he’s carrying the puck up the ice. You’d think a player of his build would just be a shutdown defender, but Pulkkinen also has upside as a point producer.[/TD]
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[TD]29. RW Justin Poirier[/TD]
[TD]Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL
[5’8”. 181lbs. Born on September 4, 2006.]
Leads the Q in goal scoring, in addition to being very young. Had he been born a week later, he’d be eligible for next year’s draft instead. He has one of those shots where you blink and then it’s in the back of the net. And he can release it from really tough angles. He’s on the short side, but he’s compact and plays with a chip on his shoulder.[/TD]
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[TD]30. LW/RW Eriks Mateiko[/TD]
[TD]Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL
[6’5”. 216lbs. Born on November 18, 2005.]
6’5” behemoth that can barrel down the ice when the puck is on his stick. He’s great at playing in the slot and banging in the puck off of tip-ins and rebounds. Shot is projectable because he can get it off in stride. The Sea Dogs were really bad this year and I don’t think Mateiko had much to work with. This led to somewhat of a low scoring year for him which I think has taken him out of the larger conversation. But I think Mateiko is worthy of being recognized. Has the potential to be a good power forward.[/TD]
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[TD]31. LW Kevin He[/TD]
[TD]Niagara IceDogs, OHL
[5’11”. 181lbs. Born on April 30, 2006.]
There are very few players in the draft class that can match Kevin He’s speed. He’s always in pursuit of the puck and never gives up on the forecheck. He also has a really snappy release which has proven to be lethal. Being on the OHL’s worst team didn’t slow him down.[/TD]
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[TD]32. C/W Jett Luchanko[/TD]
[TD]Guelph Storm, OHL
[5’11”. 187lbs. Born on August 21, 2006.]
On the small side, but he makes up for it with his speedy skating. Plays at a high effort level. I’d like to see him shoot more instead of deferring when he has an open look. Should be a winger at the next level. Young for the draft.[/TD]
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[/TABLE]
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]REMAINDER OF MY BOARD[/TD]
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[TR]
[TD]33. C/W Tanner Howe
34. RD Charlie Elick
35. RD EJ Emery
36. LD Stian Solberg
37. LD Tarin Smith
38. LW John Mustard
39. LW Marek Vanacker
40. RW Ryder Ritchie
41. C Sacha Boisvert
42. C/W Yegor Surin
43. C Dean Letourneau
44. C/W Oskar Vuollet
45. C/W Julius Miettinen
46. RW Adam Jecho
47. C Cole Beaudoin
48. LW Matvei Gridin
49. RD Henry Mews
50. LD Leo Sahlin Wallenius
51. LD Aron Kiviharju
52. LD Gabriel Eliasson
53. RD Dominik Badinka
54. C Linus Eriksson
55. RD Ben Danford
56. RW Miguel Marques
57. C AJ Spellacy
58. LD Cole Hutson
59. C/W Luke Misa
60. C Lucas Pettersson
61. RW Maxim Massé
62. LW Ollie Josephson
63. RW Carson Wetsch
64. C Kamil Bednarik
65. RW Brodie Ziemer
66. C/W Alexander Zetterberg
67. LW Clarke Caswell
68. RW Jacob Battaglia
69. LD Will Skahan
70. LD Lukas Fischer
71. RD Harrison Brunicke
72. RW Christian Humphreys
73. LD Veeti Väisänen
74. RD Luca Marrelli
75. LD Noel Fransén
76. RW Sam O'Reilly
77. RD Colton Roberts[/TD]
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[/TABLE]
