Dead Coyote
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- Oct 10, 2017
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Standings based on current standings and average lottery position (not lottery results). Picks based on BPA and not need. This is more of a ranking than a mock draft. I don't really have any claims to fame, I'm just a girl who has watched an incredible amount of hockey this year (primarily OHL (I've watched every London Knights game), KHL, SHL, NCAA, and Liiga in that order) as I've watched...maybe 100ish games of hockey so far and will probably hit around 150 by the end of all seasons (as I also watch a bit of J20 and USHL and CHL hockey).
#1 Columbus Blue Jackets:
Connor Bedard
Obvious pick here. Bedard is lighting the hockey world on fire. He has an elite shot, skating, and hockey IQ. While he's a little bit undersized, he has a scrappiness to his game that not many other players of his height have, and he has plenty of time to grow and fill out his body. His puck protection skills are generally very good and it's likely that he'll make the NHL without much of a fuss. He scores seemingly at will with his incredible combination of skating, puck handling, and shot. He projects as a #1 C/W depending on his growth, size, and injuries in the future. Likely to be an elite franchise goalscorer and potential HHOFer.
#2 San Jose Sharks:
Matvei Michkov
In terms of hockey talent, Michkov is the clear 2nd overall talent, behind only Bedard. While Fantilli and Carlsson are also very good, Michkov has been playing against men and has shined when given the opportunity. While he may drop past this because of outside influences, and there's an argument to be had for Fantilli to be above him, to me he's the clear #2 talent and he continues to score at a record pace. His hockey IQ is second only to Bedard but he prefers to be more of a playmaker, while also undersized he uses his time and space incredibly well with an incredibly quick release, his skating is also elite, and his shot is good. His vision on the ice is incredible and he uses it to position extremely well. Projects as an elite #1 franchise winger, again depending on injuries and growth/size. Likely an elite playmaker and potential HHOFer.
#3 Chicago Blackhawks
Adam Fantilli
Fantilli could arguably be #2 on this draft, and many rankings have him #2 (nearly all of them, in fact) but I think he's just a smidge less valuable than Michkov, as there are still some questions about his weaknesses and how his game will translate, questions that I just don't really have about Michkov, who has been playing against men already. Fantilli has good skating, an elite shot, and some bite to his game, and is no slouch in the IQ department. He's also huge, and that's something you can't teach. He's physical and can crash the net and is the elusive power forward that all NHL teams covet. He projects as an elite #1 C and could be the best two way center in the draft if he can improve his defensive game. Likely an elite goalscorer.
#4 Anaheim Ducks
Leo Carlsson
Carlsson is another player who could easily move up the draft 2 spots and rounds out the consensus top 4. For much of the season I've flip flopped on Fantilli and Carlsson, and they could easily have swapped positions here. Another huge center, the Swede has some concerns about whether he'll play center in the NHL, as he hasn't played center nearly at all this year in the SHL, which I believe is primarily because of the tradition of the Swedish coaches. He's a silky smooth skater, has very good IQ and puckhandling, his shot is good and his puck protection is also very good. One of the standouts of his game is his vision as he generally prefers to be a playmaker but his shot is above average. He isn't afraid to go into the corners or to the net but isn't a physical player and prefers to use stickwork and his IQ when he plays defensively. While I don't believe this is the case myself, and haven't really seen it in the games I've watched, there are some concerns about his compete level and I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that. However I currently believe that Carlsson is the most complete two way player in the draft, has already been playing against men, and while his skating could use a little bit of work as well as his shot (mostly confidence and using it more) he is already IMO a complete all round player. Projects as a #1C. Likely to be an elite playmaker and two way player.
#5 Montreal Canadiens
Zach Benson
Benson has quickly become one of my favorite players in the draft and while he's a small undersized forward, it's clear that he has serious talent. Watch any Ice game and you'll see that Benson is the straw that stirs the drink, and every time I've watched I've come out feeling that among Geekie, Savoie, and Benson it's Benson that always looks like the best player among the three, and the other two are no slouches. Another player with a huge hockey IQ, Benson controls the pace of the game through his vision and can move the puck exceptionally well. He can be a feisty player and has a motor that never quits and a high compete level. His skating is very good as well. He has elite offensive tools, the question is if his tools will transition well to the NHL as a small player. Projects as a #1C/W depending on size/growth and injuries. Likely an elite playmaker.
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#6 Arizona Coyotes
Eduard Sale
Sale is an intriguing prospect with very good offensive instincts who is responsible and good at both ends of the ice. He's very clearly offense first but his smarts serve him well at both ends and he's engaged defensively. He isn't afraid of battling in the corner or going to the net but his strength needs work to fill out his body and add to these assets. While he flies under the radar a bit because of it, he's proven that he can produce while playing against men and isn't just an offensive talent. His skating is good, his acceleration could be better but his top speed is good and his agility and edgework are very good. His shot is also top notch, his release is very quick and accurate although he generally prefers to use his vision and is a primary playmaker. His puck handling is very good, he's creative but not flashy. All around, he's a very good prospect with both high upside and a high chance of getting to that point. Projects as a #1W. Likely an all-round scoring threat and two way player.
#7 Philadelphia Flyers
Andrew Cristall
The next picks are probably the hardest and ones I spent the most time thinking of in the 1st round. All 3 of these guys play similar games and have similar tools. I have Cristall #1 among them because he has the best combination of tools among them. Cristall is a relatively undersized forward who has incredible offensive instincts. He has superb puck handling skills, very good vision and hockey IQ and a great shot. His puck handling skills are absolutely elite and he's both creative and flashy with them. His vision and hockey IQ are outstanding and IMO he has the highest IQ in the draft. What stands out the most is that Cristall has an instant execution speed and is always one step ahead of opponents. He has a lethal release and doesn't require ANY time or space in order to execute. His accuracy with his passes is extremely good and also IMO the best in the draft. He can expertly pass through lanes of traffic with very little time. His shot is also extremely accurate and has a very quick release. He's capable of scoring both back hand and forehand and because he needs so little time and can both shoot and pass it's very hard to read him. His skating is one of the knocks against him, but while I think he needs to work on his strength and puck protection, I actually think his skating is fine. His acceleration is good and his top speed is okay, he can be but isn't always engaged defensively and his compete does need work as does his play without the puck, he loves going to the middle and will go to the net but does need to develop more strength in order to cycle, protect the puck, and forecheck better. However his offensive instincts are impossible to ignore and I think he has a good chance of being able to put on more strength. Projects as a #1 Elite Winger. Likely a good top 6 scoring threat.
#8 Vancouver Canucks
Oliver Moore
Moore is a very interesting prospect who is arguably the best skater in the draft. He has an extremely high hockey IQ and a great shot. His puck handling skills are good, he can be creative with and without the puck and has the puck handling skills to bait defenders and create space. While he doesn't have the point total that his teammates do, it's not for lack of skill. His combination of skills is the highest on his team in my opinion. There's nothing that he's weak at- he's both good offensively and defensively, with and without the puck. He's engaged both offensively and defensively and has extremely high end IQ. With Moore it's often the little things he does that leave me coming away most impressed. He does an extremely good job of drawing out defenders and creating space in the offensive zone and he's a player who makes everyone on his line better. His passing is good, he isn't as technically sound as Cristall or Smith but his vision and IQ are just as good and he's much better without the puck. His shot is very good as he has a quick hard release and is very accurate. He has the accuracy to have variety in his shot placement that makes it hard for goalies to anticipate it and he has plenty of power. He's a good mix between playmaker and scorer and can do both. He shined playing up the line-up and has an extremely high upside, once he shows what he can do with good linemates I can predict he'll be rated much higher. Projects as #1 elite two way C/W. Likely a dangerous two way scoring threat.
#9 St. Louis Blues
Will Smith
This was the hardest ranking to choose for me so far, and might be the hardest of the whole draft for me. There's no denying Smith's talent. He has one of the highest point totals the USDP has ever seen, right up there with players like Jack Hughes and Auston Matthews. He has tremendous hockey IQ, one of, if not arguably the best in the draft. On the other hand, the rest of his skills are only good or average. He does everything well, but doesn't seem to be elite at one particular thing. He has gotten better as the season progressed, and his shot and release are good. His skating is decent but is probably his weakest tool. It gets the job done but could definitely be improved upon. At times he reminds of Dylan Strome, elite hockey sense, vision, IQ, and passing, decent shot, decent puck handling- but his skating could hold him back from being the elite playmaker he could be. He could be more engaged physically and without the puck, as he often lacks a drive when forechecking and is inconsistent with his backcheck. His puck handling is good but not super creative. He has really good patience with the puck and incredible vision though- it often makes up for the deficit with his skating as he is usually a step ahead of everyone else on the ice. Projects as a #1C. Likely elite playmaker.
#10 Detroit Red Wings
Jayden Perron
I will probably get flack for this, but Perron is a very high talent and skill player that's very similar to Moore. The only problem is that he's 5'8. That's it. That's the only problem. His hockey IQ is very good. His skating is very good. His shot is good. His puck handling is good. He's engaged physically and defensively, and is good on the forecheck. He's either above average or very good at everything. And he doesn't play his size either. He's not afraid to go to the net or forecheck and doesn't shy away from hits either. If he was 3 or 4 inches bigger he'd probably be a top 3 or top 5 talent in this draft. Unfortunately, he isn't. There are real questions about whether he'll be strong enough to play an NHL game and whether his body will be able to sustain that. The good thing is that he's young and could easily grow or put on strength. The other good thing is that even if he isn't capable of doing that he'll still potentially have an NHL career. He's just too good at everything else to not get a shot from somebody in the modern NHL and has a good chance of being successful when he does. He may sit and stew for a while, and he could drop from this admittedly high position because of those concerns. But on talent and skill alone, he deserves to be top 10. Projects to be #1 Elite two way winger. Likely ends up good two way winger.
#11 Buffalo Sabres
Ryan Leonard
Leonard is a bread and butter prospect that has a very solid toolkit and is NHL ready. He's big and physical and good defensively. He has an incredible, incredible shot. One of the best shooters in the draft and one of the best goalscorers. His skating is very very good for a man of his size. He projects very well at the NHL level and is nasty. He could be one of the best power forwards in this draft. He can be an absolute wrecking ball and is very smart offensively. He's physically strong and his puck handling is nothing to scoff at. It's like he was genetically built in a lab to be a strong physical two way center. You could insert him into the NHL lineup right now and he wouldn't look out of place. He's a very safe draft pick. His is very powerful with a quick release and a lot of shot variety, he doesn't need a lot of time and space. He's engaged both offensively and defensively and is responsible. He forechecks well and finishes his checks often. Projects to be #1/#2 two way center. Likely good two way center
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#12 Arizona Coyotes
Lukas Dragicevic
Dragicevic is a very polarizing and hard to project player. Many people have him late first round or even 2nd round. People cite his defensive liabilities and skating as reasons that he's not high, but to me he's the best defenseman in the draft. He has a big man's frame at 6"3 and to me his skating is fine. For his size it's quite good and I think will improve. His defensive liabilities, I just don't see. He can definitely make boneheaded plays. But his hockey IQ is very good to me, his positioning is very good, his vision is very good, he has a good shot- and defensively I think his stickwork is very good. He isn't overly physical but he's smart and uses his stickwork well. He knows generally how to defend. He can push people to the corner with his strength or use his large reach to poke or lift the stick. I think part of the reason he's low is because he's on a pretty bad team and is given full reign to play offensively, he's a huge minute muncher and the offense of his team runs through him, he plays regular near 30 minutes per game. I believe he's the highest upside defender in this draft, by far. Projects as elite #1 offensive D. Likely PPQB and top 4 d-man.
#13 Washington Capitals
Brandon Yager
Yager was much higher earlier in the season and is still very good, especially his shot. He has one of the best shots in the draft. He's a very similar player to Leonard, and is arguably the best two way player in the draft. His tools are generally good, he was asked to work on his passing ability and he has shown that he's capable of doing that this year. His puck handling is pretty good, he isn't super physical like Leonard is but is still very good defensively and on the forecheck. Another bread and butter type player who is NHL ready now. Skating is good for his size as well, though he isn't as big as others he still has room to grow. His top speed isn't amazing but his agility is good and it's good enough to get the job done. He's engaged physically and defensively, forechecks well and isn't afraid of going in the corners or to the net. Safe pick but doesn't quite have the puck skills or IQ needed to take the next step offensively as of yet. It is possible that his passing can improve enough that he can become more of a dual threat in the future. Projects as #1/#2C. Likely elite two way center.
#14 Calgary Flames
Colby Barlow
Barlow is an intriguing prospect and another very safe pick. He's one of the top goalscorers in the draft but also is one of the most mature and pro level two way players as well. His shot is 2nd only behind Bedard IMO. His passing is nearly non existent but he doesn't try and force plays with it and creates opportunities for himself with his high octane energy and physicality. He doesn't drive the play but he drives himself and doesn't need any playmaker on his line to produce. His skating isn't amazing but is good enough and his high energy play is a boon in and of itself. Has definite leadership qualities and was named captain at 17 for multiple teams. Mostly needs to work on puck handling and skating as his hands can leave something to be desired. He isn't a super creative player and sometimes tries to do too much with the puck and can't use his hands effectively to pull it off. If he can learn and improve on these two assets he'll be an even more complete player than he already is and have very high upside as the only thing he's really missing to be an NHL goal scoring threat is a combination of these tools. Projects as goalscoring #1W. Likely PP specialist and two way winger.
#15 Montreal Canadiens
David Reinbacher
Reinbacher didn't get a chance to show off much at the WJC as he had to play on the awful Austrian team unfortunately, but he made the best out of the opportunities he got. Although he didn't get to show off offense much, he definitely showed off what he can do defensively and was relied upon heavily by the Austrians and didn't look bad. His stickwork and skating is very good, his positioning was good and defensively his hockey IQ looked good as well. Domestically he's already been playing against men and hasn't looked out of place, and has a solid point total for a mens league as a d-man. He does many of the little things right and while I think his strongest asset is his hockey IQ I don't think he has any one elite talent. However he should be a safe bet to make it in the NHL and could be a strong two way defenseman. He hasn't yet shown that he can be capable of producing offense but I wouldn't say it's a weakness of his game as he has a good shot and should be able to contribute offensively when he isn't leaned upon defensively. Projects as a top 4 d-man. Likely a top 4 defenseman.
#16 Pittsburgh Penguins
Gabe Perreault
Perreault is a really interesting prospect who has tremendous upside. Much like Smith, his skating is his biggest weakness as he doesn't have good acceleration and his top speed is only okay. His agility is all right but for a player of his size he needs to improve his skating and strength to reach his upside in the NHL. However his vision and hockey IQ are very very good and on par with top 10 talents in the draft. His playmaking ability is very good and his passing is good as well. His shot is at a decent level but he almost never uses it and will try to make the pass to a fault. Unlike Cristall his passing level isn't quite good enough to thread it through too many players. He is somewhat engaged defensively and generally isn't afraid of forechecking and going to the net but his play without the puck definitely needs work. Projects as elite #1W playmaker. Likely boom or bust top 6 forward.
#17 Nashville Predators
Riley Heidt
One of the most improved prospects in the draft Heidt is an intriguing prospect that does a lot of things well. His scoring and defensive abilities are both good and he's also physical and can be a mean player. He's a very good playmaker and distributor especially on the PP and can very effectively QB a PP. He is generally engaged physically, offensively, and defensively and isn't afraid to forecheck or go to the net. He can sometimes struggle with consistency issues but in recent times I don't think he has much at all and is part of the reason I'm higher on him than I was. He has tremendous upside but could end up being anywhere in a lineup. Projects as a #1W good two way playmaker. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#18 Detroit Red Wings
Dalibor Dvorsky
Dvorsky is a solid player. He can be relied upon defensively and is a solid two way player. There are, to me, a lot of questions about his offensive upside though. His toolset is solid but he hasn't shown the right combination of tools to show any elite offensive skills yet. His IQ might be his best asset but he doesn't have any one skill that I would call elite, there is no doubt that he will be an NHL player, he is already NHL ready after playing in a mens league, And he will likely be productive in the NHL once he meshes with teammates and gets a chance in the top 6. He could potentially grow a lot as a player and is already elite offensively. His puck handling is good, he's engaged offensively and defensively, his forecheck is good. He does need to definitely work on his shot and passing but he is currently a good complimentary player who will be able to play up and down the lineup and his upside is very high if he can improve on his current skills. Projects as a en elite #2 two way center. Likely a very good defensive center.
#19 Winnipeg Jets
Quentin Musty
Musty is a very strange prospect. He's really, really hard to project. Sometimes he looks like a top 10 talent. Sometimes he looks like he shouldn't even be drafted. He's inconsistent- you could get either one of those players at any given time. To his credit, he is improving on his weaknesses. He's more engaged defensively and is using his teammates much better. He has all of the skills and tools to succeed in the NHL and has a very high upside. His puck handling is very good, his shot is good, and his passing is good. His skating is very good. What he needs to do is learn how to play better in a system and be less of a selfish player. If he can do that he could be an elite NHL winger. If he can't he may not be in the NHL at all or may follow the same route as a Rob Schremp type player. Projects as a #1W. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#20 Seattle Kraken
Ethan Gauthier
Gauthier is a very good all around player especially offensively as he has a very high IQ and can both distribute and shoot the puck. His first touches are very good and he has good vision and passing. He is primarily a playmaker and is good on both ends of the puck, he's defensively responsible and is a very physical and nasty player. The only knock against him is his compete and energy level, and he does need to improve on his skating as well, primarily his acceleration. Projects as a top 6 two way winger/power forward. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#21 Colorado Avalanche
William Whitelaw
Like Perron, Whitelaw is an incredible undersized forward at only 5'9. He has top ten talent in terms of puck handling, passing, and shooting, and his skating is also very good, but he is generally a selfish player and is almost completely disengaged defensively. When the puck is on his stick he's electric and has extremely good hands, but he's inconsistent and has several glaring weaknesses in his game. If he were taller there would be more willingness to ignore his faults, but ultimately to succeed in the NHL he will have to vastly improve his strength and willingness to work on defense. While he has some of the highest upside of any player and could be the steal of the draft it's equally as likely that he could be the worst pick of the draft and never make the NHL. He's a very boom or bust prospect and only Whitelaw himself has any idea whether or not he'll be able to work on his weaknesses. Projects as elite #1W scoring threat. Likely KHL talent.
#22 Chicago Blackhawks
Nate Danielson
Danielson is an extremely mature responsible two way forward. His game is already that of an NHLer and he's capable at all 3 ends of the ice. Defense is his bread and butter skill and he's an excellent shutdown forward who is engaged both physically and defensively. He forechecks well and his frame is good for an 18yo, he could have more strength but he's capable of playing with men now and being useful. He's a very all round player with no one elite skill, but he has a great motor and willingness to do the hard stuff. He has greatly improved his play over the course of the season, he looked hesitant and passive offensively at the start of the season but is being more aggressive and taking more risks now and is picking his shots much better and using his skating to put himself in a position to score. He still doesn't strike me as a play driver, but all of his skills are either average or above average so he could easily be a steal in the draft if he is able to work on his hands and become more deadly offensively. Projects as a #2C. Likely elite defensive center.
#23 Nashville Predators
Dmitri Simashev
Simashev is a huge and nasty defenseman who doesn't look out of place in the KHL. He's a huge body who isn't afraid to be physical and is the exact type of defenseman that you want in front of your net clearing the crease. He's very strong and can drive guys to the outside and win battles. Unfortunately we haven't seen a ton of offensive acumen from him, but as the season goes on he's shown flashes of high offensive upside. If he does continue growing as an offensive player and gets more confidence he could be the best dman in this draft. His skating is good but not great. He's another very safe pick and solid player, especially defensively. Projects as a top 4 defensive d-man. Likely an NHL shutdown defenseman.
#24 Minnesota Wild
Sam Honzek
Huge scoring forward. Excellent at puck protection and very good at forechecking and cycling the puck. Engaged offensively, defensively, and physically. Not afraid to go to the net or into the corners. Has good offensive instincts and high hockey IQ. His hands are pretty good, his shot is good, his passing is good. The biggest flaw is his skating. His acceleration isn't amazing and his top speed is only okay but he has all the tools to succeed. If he improves his skating even a little bit he'll be at the NHL level, and if he improves it a lot he'll be a steal in the draft and very good in all 3 zones. Projects as #2C. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#25 St. Louis Blues
Axel Sandin-Pellikka
ASP is a very good two way and offensive defenseman. His stickwork is very good and he has great offensive instincts with the puck. He also has a good enough shot that he can be a dual threat. His skating is really the stand out elite skill here as there's not a single weakness in it, he is a very good skater and can do everything. Could improve his strength to avoid being boxed out and improve his ability to clear the crease and handle men at the highest level. It's easy to see why teams fall in love with him due to his skating ability and complete package. His IQ is also high and his tools are good. Questions are with his size and strength and his ability to play under pressure. His poise isn't always the greatest on the defensive side. Projects as a #2 transitional D. Likely top 4 d-man.
#26 Columbus Blue Jackets
Calum Ritchie
Ritchie is one of the most intelligent players in the draft. He can often look passive and like he's not doing much on the ice simply because his positioning and IQ are near perfect, he's almost always in the right place at the right time and will show up on the score sheet when you least expect him. He isn't flashy. He won't dazzle you by dangling through 4 guys, but his game is very simple and he's able to find the gaps in coverage and penetrate there. He's engaged defensively, for the most part, but his skating is holding him back from taking the next step. He is rarely a successful forechecker due to his foot speed but if he can improve that he has the size and tools to be a productive top 6 forward. He has good puckhandling skills and vision and his shot is fine. Projects as a #2C. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#27 New York Rangers
Matthew Wood
Wood is an interesting prospect. As he is now, he's super super raw. He has a great shot and is great in a slow, measured game. But that's almost all he does right now. He's intelligent, but rarely uses his IQ. His puck handling is okay. He does have good tools, he needs to work on his skating, and he needs to stop being as selfish. He almost never uses his teammates. He does have a very high upside though, and could be very very good in the NHL, especially because he is still very young and still growing. He could be a dual scoring threat some day, his shot is very good and his IQ is good enough that he could use it to create plays. If he can improve his skating, he'll be able to play his game a lot better and transfer his skills to the NHL much better, and if he can take a step further and use his IQ to create time and space for himself and teammates, he could definitely be a top 6 player. He's steadily been improving and being less selfish as the season goes on. Projects as a #1W/C. Likely a middle 6 tweener.
#28 St. Louis Blues
Gracyn Sawchyn
Sawchyn is trending upwards the longer the season goes. He has really good puck handling skills, one of the best in this draft, and has good offensive instincts. He has high IQ and good vision. He forechecks very well, and is engaged defensively as well. He isn't huge, but he can be physical. He has a lot of upside and lots of top 6 capable skills. His skating isn't amazing, he needs to improve on his foot speed and top speed. He also needs to improve his strength and puck protection. He hasn't had a lot of time this season in his games but I expect him to take a huge step next season when he gets more responsibility. Projects as a #2C. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#29 Vegas Golden Knights
Noah Dower-Nilsson
NDN is a prospect who is producing historically in the J20 league. He's grown a bit over the season. He's a solid skater, not super fast but good enough, good puck handling skills, and can take pucks off the boards and beat people 1-on-1. His IQ is pretty good as well. He has good passing and a good shot and can play well on the PP. He's engaged both defensively and offensively. He isn't a physical player but he can forecheck pretty well. Great player on the rush. Projects as a good two way #2W. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#30 San Jose Sharks
Gavin Brindley
Brindley has massively improved so much over the course of the season and has turned a corner recently. He's producing more and showing a lot more creativeness and offensive upside. His skating is really good, his IQ and puck handling have gotten better, his playmaking has gotten better. His puck protection and strength needs a bit of work as he's still undersized, but he's engaged defensively and physically, he's good on the forecheck. He's growing a lot and was already a solid pick as a bottom 6er, if he's able to keep improving he'll definitely have top 6 upside. Projects as a #2W. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#31 Carolina Hurricanes
Roman Kantserov
Kantserov is another small undersized forward. However he's good at both ends of the ice, engaged in all 3 zones, he has excellent IQ and good vision. He has a great shot and is a dual scoring threat. His skating is very good, he's very creative and crafty and has the puck handling skills to back that up. He really needs to work on his strength and puck protection and his leg strength are those are his main issues. He can QB a PP very well. Projects as a #2W. Likely PP specialist, boom or bust.
#32 Toronto Maple Leafs
Oliver Bonk
Bonk is a good two way defender, he's big and has a little bit of bite to his game. He defends players well off the rush with his body and can play somewhat of a shutdown role while also contributing offensively. His shot is good, his top speed and acceleration are both pretty good, his agility needs a little bit of work but he's overall very solid defensively. His IQ isn't super high but he can show flashes of offensive brilliance, one criticism is that he needs to be a bit faster with decision making in the offensive zone but I believe this is a product of him not having as much experience as he's relied upon defensively in London. He loves to shoot and will be very good on the PP when he's given more opportunity. Projects as top 4 two way defenseman. Likely PPQB.
HM: Kasper Haltunnen, Daniil But, Mikhail Gulyayev, Charlie Stramel, Bradly Nadeau, Tanner Molendyk, Koehn Zimmer, Otto Stenberg, Alex Rykov
#1 Columbus Blue Jackets:
Connor Bedard
Obvious pick here. Bedard is lighting the hockey world on fire. He has an elite shot, skating, and hockey IQ. While he's a little bit undersized, he has a scrappiness to his game that not many other players of his height have, and he has plenty of time to grow and fill out his body. His puck protection skills are generally very good and it's likely that he'll make the NHL without much of a fuss. He scores seemingly at will with his incredible combination of skating, puck handling, and shot. He projects as a #1 C/W depending on his growth, size, and injuries in the future. Likely to be an elite franchise goalscorer and potential HHOFer.
#2 San Jose Sharks:
Matvei Michkov
In terms of hockey talent, Michkov is the clear 2nd overall talent, behind only Bedard. While Fantilli and Carlsson are also very good, Michkov has been playing against men and has shined when given the opportunity. While he may drop past this because of outside influences, and there's an argument to be had for Fantilli to be above him, to me he's the clear #2 talent and he continues to score at a record pace. His hockey IQ is second only to Bedard but he prefers to be more of a playmaker, while also undersized he uses his time and space incredibly well with an incredibly quick release, his skating is also elite, and his shot is good. His vision on the ice is incredible and he uses it to position extremely well. Projects as an elite #1 franchise winger, again depending on injuries and growth/size. Likely an elite playmaker and potential HHOFer.
#3 Chicago Blackhawks
Adam Fantilli
Fantilli could arguably be #2 on this draft, and many rankings have him #2 (nearly all of them, in fact) but I think he's just a smidge less valuable than Michkov, as there are still some questions about his weaknesses and how his game will translate, questions that I just don't really have about Michkov, who has been playing against men already. Fantilli has good skating, an elite shot, and some bite to his game, and is no slouch in the IQ department. He's also huge, and that's something you can't teach. He's physical and can crash the net and is the elusive power forward that all NHL teams covet. He projects as an elite #1 C and could be the best two way center in the draft if he can improve his defensive game. Likely an elite goalscorer.
#4 Anaheim Ducks
Leo Carlsson
Carlsson is another player who could easily move up the draft 2 spots and rounds out the consensus top 4. For much of the season I've flip flopped on Fantilli and Carlsson, and they could easily have swapped positions here. Another huge center, the Swede has some concerns about whether he'll play center in the NHL, as he hasn't played center nearly at all this year in the SHL, which I believe is primarily because of the tradition of the Swedish coaches. He's a silky smooth skater, has very good IQ and puckhandling, his shot is good and his puck protection is also very good. One of the standouts of his game is his vision as he generally prefers to be a playmaker but his shot is above average. He isn't afraid to go into the corners or to the net but isn't a physical player and prefers to use stickwork and his IQ when he plays defensively. While I don't believe this is the case myself, and haven't really seen it in the games I've watched, there are some concerns about his compete level and I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that. However I currently believe that Carlsson is the most complete two way player in the draft, has already been playing against men, and while his skating could use a little bit of work as well as his shot (mostly confidence and using it more) he is already IMO a complete all round player. Projects as a #1C. Likely to be an elite playmaker and two way player.
#5 Montreal Canadiens
Zach Benson
Benson has quickly become one of my favorite players in the draft and while he's a small undersized forward, it's clear that he has serious talent. Watch any Ice game and you'll see that Benson is the straw that stirs the drink, and every time I've watched I've come out feeling that among Geekie, Savoie, and Benson it's Benson that always looks like the best player among the three, and the other two are no slouches. Another player with a huge hockey IQ, Benson controls the pace of the game through his vision and can move the puck exceptionally well. He can be a feisty player and has a motor that never quits and a high compete level. His skating is very good as well. He has elite offensive tools, the question is if his tools will transition well to the NHL as a small player. Projects as a #1C/W depending on size/growth and injuries. Likely an elite playmaker.
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#6 Arizona Coyotes
Eduard Sale
Sale is an intriguing prospect with very good offensive instincts who is responsible and good at both ends of the ice. He's very clearly offense first but his smarts serve him well at both ends and he's engaged defensively. He isn't afraid of battling in the corner or going to the net but his strength needs work to fill out his body and add to these assets. While he flies under the radar a bit because of it, he's proven that he can produce while playing against men and isn't just an offensive talent. His skating is good, his acceleration could be better but his top speed is good and his agility and edgework are very good. His shot is also top notch, his release is very quick and accurate although he generally prefers to use his vision and is a primary playmaker. His puck handling is very good, he's creative but not flashy. All around, he's a very good prospect with both high upside and a high chance of getting to that point. Projects as a #1W. Likely an all-round scoring threat and two way player.
#7 Philadelphia Flyers
Andrew Cristall
The next picks are probably the hardest and ones I spent the most time thinking of in the 1st round. All 3 of these guys play similar games and have similar tools. I have Cristall #1 among them because he has the best combination of tools among them. Cristall is a relatively undersized forward who has incredible offensive instincts. He has superb puck handling skills, very good vision and hockey IQ and a great shot. His puck handling skills are absolutely elite and he's both creative and flashy with them. His vision and hockey IQ are outstanding and IMO he has the highest IQ in the draft. What stands out the most is that Cristall has an instant execution speed and is always one step ahead of opponents. He has a lethal release and doesn't require ANY time or space in order to execute. His accuracy with his passes is extremely good and also IMO the best in the draft. He can expertly pass through lanes of traffic with very little time. His shot is also extremely accurate and has a very quick release. He's capable of scoring both back hand and forehand and because he needs so little time and can both shoot and pass it's very hard to read him. His skating is one of the knocks against him, but while I think he needs to work on his strength and puck protection, I actually think his skating is fine. His acceleration is good and his top speed is okay, he can be but isn't always engaged defensively and his compete does need work as does his play without the puck, he loves going to the middle and will go to the net but does need to develop more strength in order to cycle, protect the puck, and forecheck better. However his offensive instincts are impossible to ignore and I think he has a good chance of being able to put on more strength. Projects as a #1 Elite Winger. Likely a good top 6 scoring threat.
#8 Vancouver Canucks
Oliver Moore
Moore is a very interesting prospect who is arguably the best skater in the draft. He has an extremely high hockey IQ and a great shot. His puck handling skills are good, he can be creative with and without the puck and has the puck handling skills to bait defenders and create space. While he doesn't have the point total that his teammates do, it's not for lack of skill. His combination of skills is the highest on his team in my opinion. There's nothing that he's weak at- he's both good offensively and defensively, with and without the puck. He's engaged both offensively and defensively and has extremely high end IQ. With Moore it's often the little things he does that leave me coming away most impressed. He does an extremely good job of drawing out defenders and creating space in the offensive zone and he's a player who makes everyone on his line better. His passing is good, he isn't as technically sound as Cristall or Smith but his vision and IQ are just as good and he's much better without the puck. His shot is very good as he has a quick hard release and is very accurate. He has the accuracy to have variety in his shot placement that makes it hard for goalies to anticipate it and he has plenty of power. He's a good mix between playmaker and scorer and can do both. He shined playing up the line-up and has an extremely high upside, once he shows what he can do with good linemates I can predict he'll be rated much higher. Projects as #1 elite two way C/W. Likely a dangerous two way scoring threat.
#9 St. Louis Blues
Will Smith
This was the hardest ranking to choose for me so far, and might be the hardest of the whole draft for me. There's no denying Smith's talent. He has one of the highest point totals the USDP has ever seen, right up there with players like Jack Hughes and Auston Matthews. He has tremendous hockey IQ, one of, if not arguably the best in the draft. On the other hand, the rest of his skills are only good or average. He does everything well, but doesn't seem to be elite at one particular thing. He has gotten better as the season progressed, and his shot and release are good. His skating is decent but is probably his weakest tool. It gets the job done but could definitely be improved upon. At times he reminds of Dylan Strome, elite hockey sense, vision, IQ, and passing, decent shot, decent puck handling- but his skating could hold him back from being the elite playmaker he could be. He could be more engaged physically and without the puck, as he often lacks a drive when forechecking and is inconsistent with his backcheck. His puck handling is good but not super creative. He has really good patience with the puck and incredible vision though- it often makes up for the deficit with his skating as he is usually a step ahead of everyone else on the ice. Projects as a #1C. Likely elite playmaker.
#10 Detroit Red Wings
Jayden Perron
I will probably get flack for this, but Perron is a very high talent and skill player that's very similar to Moore. The only problem is that he's 5'8. That's it. That's the only problem. His hockey IQ is very good. His skating is very good. His shot is good. His puck handling is good. He's engaged physically and defensively, and is good on the forecheck. He's either above average or very good at everything. And he doesn't play his size either. He's not afraid to go to the net or forecheck and doesn't shy away from hits either. If he was 3 or 4 inches bigger he'd probably be a top 3 or top 5 talent in this draft. Unfortunately, he isn't. There are real questions about whether he'll be strong enough to play an NHL game and whether his body will be able to sustain that. The good thing is that he's young and could easily grow or put on strength. The other good thing is that even if he isn't capable of doing that he'll still potentially have an NHL career. He's just too good at everything else to not get a shot from somebody in the modern NHL and has a good chance of being successful when he does. He may sit and stew for a while, and he could drop from this admittedly high position because of those concerns. But on talent and skill alone, he deserves to be top 10. Projects to be #1 Elite two way winger. Likely ends up good two way winger.
#11 Buffalo Sabres
Ryan Leonard
Leonard is a bread and butter prospect that has a very solid toolkit and is NHL ready. He's big and physical and good defensively. He has an incredible, incredible shot. One of the best shooters in the draft and one of the best goalscorers. His skating is very very good for a man of his size. He projects very well at the NHL level and is nasty. He could be one of the best power forwards in this draft. He can be an absolute wrecking ball and is very smart offensively. He's physically strong and his puck handling is nothing to scoff at. It's like he was genetically built in a lab to be a strong physical two way center. You could insert him into the NHL lineup right now and he wouldn't look out of place. He's a very safe draft pick. His is very powerful with a quick release and a lot of shot variety, he doesn't need a lot of time and space. He's engaged both offensively and defensively and is responsible. He forechecks well and finishes his checks often. Projects to be #1/#2 two way center. Likely good two way center
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#12 Arizona Coyotes
Lukas Dragicevic
Dragicevic is a very polarizing and hard to project player. Many people have him late first round or even 2nd round. People cite his defensive liabilities and skating as reasons that he's not high, but to me he's the best defenseman in the draft. He has a big man's frame at 6"3 and to me his skating is fine. For his size it's quite good and I think will improve. His defensive liabilities, I just don't see. He can definitely make boneheaded plays. But his hockey IQ is very good to me, his positioning is very good, his vision is very good, he has a good shot- and defensively I think his stickwork is very good. He isn't overly physical but he's smart and uses his stickwork well. He knows generally how to defend. He can push people to the corner with his strength or use his large reach to poke or lift the stick. I think part of the reason he's low is because he's on a pretty bad team and is given full reign to play offensively, he's a huge minute muncher and the offense of his team runs through him, he plays regular near 30 minutes per game. I believe he's the highest upside defender in this draft, by far. Projects as elite #1 offensive D. Likely PPQB and top 4 d-man.
#13 Washington Capitals
Brandon Yager
Yager was much higher earlier in the season and is still very good, especially his shot. He has one of the best shots in the draft. He's a very similar player to Leonard, and is arguably the best two way player in the draft. His tools are generally good, he was asked to work on his passing ability and he has shown that he's capable of doing that this year. His puck handling is pretty good, he isn't super physical like Leonard is but is still very good defensively and on the forecheck. Another bread and butter type player who is NHL ready now. Skating is good for his size as well, though he isn't as big as others he still has room to grow. His top speed isn't amazing but his agility is good and it's good enough to get the job done. He's engaged physically and defensively, forechecks well and isn't afraid of going in the corners or to the net. Safe pick but doesn't quite have the puck skills or IQ needed to take the next step offensively as of yet. It is possible that his passing can improve enough that he can become more of a dual threat in the future. Projects as #1/#2C. Likely elite two way center.
#14 Calgary Flames
Colby Barlow
Barlow is an intriguing prospect and another very safe pick. He's one of the top goalscorers in the draft but also is one of the most mature and pro level two way players as well. His shot is 2nd only behind Bedard IMO. His passing is nearly non existent but he doesn't try and force plays with it and creates opportunities for himself with his high octane energy and physicality. He doesn't drive the play but he drives himself and doesn't need any playmaker on his line to produce. His skating isn't amazing but is good enough and his high energy play is a boon in and of itself. Has definite leadership qualities and was named captain at 17 for multiple teams. Mostly needs to work on puck handling and skating as his hands can leave something to be desired. He isn't a super creative player and sometimes tries to do too much with the puck and can't use his hands effectively to pull it off. If he can learn and improve on these two assets he'll be an even more complete player than he already is and have very high upside as the only thing he's really missing to be an NHL goal scoring threat is a combination of these tools. Projects as goalscoring #1W. Likely PP specialist and two way winger.
#15 Montreal Canadiens
David Reinbacher
Reinbacher didn't get a chance to show off much at the WJC as he had to play on the awful Austrian team unfortunately, but he made the best out of the opportunities he got. Although he didn't get to show off offense much, he definitely showed off what he can do defensively and was relied upon heavily by the Austrians and didn't look bad. His stickwork and skating is very good, his positioning was good and defensively his hockey IQ looked good as well. Domestically he's already been playing against men and hasn't looked out of place, and has a solid point total for a mens league as a d-man. He does many of the little things right and while I think his strongest asset is his hockey IQ I don't think he has any one elite talent. However he should be a safe bet to make it in the NHL and could be a strong two way defenseman. He hasn't yet shown that he can be capable of producing offense but I wouldn't say it's a weakness of his game as he has a good shot and should be able to contribute offensively when he isn't leaned upon defensively. Projects as a top 4 d-man. Likely a top 4 defenseman.
#16 Pittsburgh Penguins
Gabe Perreault
Perreault is a really interesting prospect who has tremendous upside. Much like Smith, his skating is his biggest weakness as he doesn't have good acceleration and his top speed is only okay. His agility is all right but for a player of his size he needs to improve his skating and strength to reach his upside in the NHL. However his vision and hockey IQ are very very good and on par with top 10 talents in the draft. His playmaking ability is very good and his passing is good as well. His shot is at a decent level but he almost never uses it and will try to make the pass to a fault. Unlike Cristall his passing level isn't quite good enough to thread it through too many players. He is somewhat engaged defensively and generally isn't afraid of forechecking and going to the net but his play without the puck definitely needs work. Projects as elite #1W playmaker. Likely boom or bust top 6 forward.
#17 Nashville Predators
Riley Heidt
One of the most improved prospects in the draft Heidt is an intriguing prospect that does a lot of things well. His scoring and defensive abilities are both good and he's also physical and can be a mean player. He's a very good playmaker and distributor especially on the PP and can very effectively QB a PP. He is generally engaged physically, offensively, and defensively and isn't afraid to forecheck or go to the net. He can sometimes struggle with consistency issues but in recent times I don't think he has much at all and is part of the reason I'm higher on him than I was. He has tremendous upside but could end up being anywhere in a lineup. Projects as a #1W good two way playmaker. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#18 Detroit Red Wings
Dalibor Dvorsky
Dvorsky is a solid player. He can be relied upon defensively and is a solid two way player. There are, to me, a lot of questions about his offensive upside though. His toolset is solid but he hasn't shown the right combination of tools to show any elite offensive skills yet. His IQ might be his best asset but he doesn't have any one skill that I would call elite, there is no doubt that he will be an NHL player, he is already NHL ready after playing in a mens league, And he will likely be productive in the NHL once he meshes with teammates and gets a chance in the top 6. He could potentially grow a lot as a player and is already elite offensively. His puck handling is good, he's engaged offensively and defensively, his forecheck is good. He does need to definitely work on his shot and passing but he is currently a good complimentary player who will be able to play up and down the lineup and his upside is very high if he can improve on his current skills. Projects as a en elite #2 two way center. Likely a very good defensive center.
#19 Winnipeg Jets
Quentin Musty
Musty is a very strange prospect. He's really, really hard to project. Sometimes he looks like a top 10 talent. Sometimes he looks like he shouldn't even be drafted. He's inconsistent- you could get either one of those players at any given time. To his credit, he is improving on his weaknesses. He's more engaged defensively and is using his teammates much better. He has all of the skills and tools to succeed in the NHL and has a very high upside. His puck handling is very good, his shot is good, and his passing is good. His skating is very good. What he needs to do is learn how to play better in a system and be less of a selfish player. If he can do that he could be an elite NHL winger. If he can't he may not be in the NHL at all or may follow the same route as a Rob Schremp type player. Projects as a #1W. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#20 Seattle Kraken
Ethan Gauthier
Gauthier is a very good all around player especially offensively as he has a very high IQ and can both distribute and shoot the puck. His first touches are very good and he has good vision and passing. He is primarily a playmaker and is good on both ends of the puck, he's defensively responsible and is a very physical and nasty player. The only knock against him is his compete and energy level, and he does need to improve on his skating as well, primarily his acceleration. Projects as a top 6 two way winger/power forward. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#21 Colorado Avalanche
William Whitelaw
Like Perron, Whitelaw is an incredible undersized forward at only 5'9. He has top ten talent in terms of puck handling, passing, and shooting, and his skating is also very good, but he is generally a selfish player and is almost completely disengaged defensively. When the puck is on his stick he's electric and has extremely good hands, but he's inconsistent and has several glaring weaknesses in his game. If he were taller there would be more willingness to ignore his faults, but ultimately to succeed in the NHL he will have to vastly improve his strength and willingness to work on defense. While he has some of the highest upside of any player and could be the steal of the draft it's equally as likely that he could be the worst pick of the draft and never make the NHL. He's a very boom or bust prospect and only Whitelaw himself has any idea whether or not he'll be able to work on his weaknesses. Projects as elite #1W scoring threat. Likely KHL talent.
#22 Chicago Blackhawks
Nate Danielson
Danielson is an extremely mature responsible two way forward. His game is already that of an NHLer and he's capable at all 3 ends of the ice. Defense is his bread and butter skill and he's an excellent shutdown forward who is engaged both physically and defensively. He forechecks well and his frame is good for an 18yo, he could have more strength but he's capable of playing with men now and being useful. He's a very all round player with no one elite skill, but he has a great motor and willingness to do the hard stuff. He has greatly improved his play over the course of the season, he looked hesitant and passive offensively at the start of the season but is being more aggressive and taking more risks now and is picking his shots much better and using his skating to put himself in a position to score. He still doesn't strike me as a play driver, but all of his skills are either average or above average so he could easily be a steal in the draft if he is able to work on his hands and become more deadly offensively. Projects as a #2C. Likely elite defensive center.
#23 Nashville Predators
Dmitri Simashev
Simashev is a huge and nasty defenseman who doesn't look out of place in the KHL. He's a huge body who isn't afraid to be physical and is the exact type of defenseman that you want in front of your net clearing the crease. He's very strong and can drive guys to the outside and win battles. Unfortunately we haven't seen a ton of offensive acumen from him, but as the season goes on he's shown flashes of high offensive upside. If he does continue growing as an offensive player and gets more confidence he could be the best dman in this draft. His skating is good but not great. He's another very safe pick and solid player, especially defensively. Projects as a top 4 defensive d-man. Likely an NHL shutdown defenseman.
#24 Minnesota Wild
Sam Honzek
Huge scoring forward. Excellent at puck protection and very good at forechecking and cycling the puck. Engaged offensively, defensively, and physically. Not afraid to go to the net or into the corners. Has good offensive instincts and high hockey IQ. His hands are pretty good, his shot is good, his passing is good. The biggest flaw is his skating. His acceleration isn't amazing and his top speed is only okay but he has all the tools to succeed. If he improves his skating even a little bit he'll be at the NHL level, and if he improves it a lot he'll be a steal in the draft and very good in all 3 zones. Projects as #2C. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#25 St. Louis Blues
Axel Sandin-Pellikka
ASP is a very good two way and offensive defenseman. His stickwork is very good and he has great offensive instincts with the puck. He also has a good enough shot that he can be a dual threat. His skating is really the stand out elite skill here as there's not a single weakness in it, he is a very good skater and can do everything. Could improve his strength to avoid being boxed out and improve his ability to clear the crease and handle men at the highest level. It's easy to see why teams fall in love with him due to his skating ability and complete package. His IQ is also high and his tools are good. Questions are with his size and strength and his ability to play under pressure. His poise isn't always the greatest on the defensive side. Projects as a #2 transitional D. Likely top 4 d-man.
#26 Columbus Blue Jackets
Calum Ritchie
Ritchie is one of the most intelligent players in the draft. He can often look passive and like he's not doing much on the ice simply because his positioning and IQ are near perfect, he's almost always in the right place at the right time and will show up on the score sheet when you least expect him. He isn't flashy. He won't dazzle you by dangling through 4 guys, but his game is very simple and he's able to find the gaps in coverage and penetrate there. He's engaged defensively, for the most part, but his skating is holding him back from taking the next step. He is rarely a successful forechecker due to his foot speed but if he can improve that he has the size and tools to be a productive top 6 forward. He has good puckhandling skills and vision and his shot is fine. Projects as a #2C. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#27 New York Rangers
Matthew Wood
Wood is an interesting prospect. As he is now, he's super super raw. He has a great shot and is great in a slow, measured game. But that's almost all he does right now. He's intelligent, but rarely uses his IQ. His puck handling is okay. He does have good tools, he needs to work on his skating, and he needs to stop being as selfish. He almost never uses his teammates. He does have a very high upside though, and could be very very good in the NHL, especially because he is still very young and still growing. He could be a dual scoring threat some day, his shot is very good and his IQ is good enough that he could use it to create plays. If he can improve his skating, he'll be able to play his game a lot better and transfer his skills to the NHL much better, and if he can take a step further and use his IQ to create time and space for himself and teammates, he could definitely be a top 6 player. He's steadily been improving and being less selfish as the season goes on. Projects as a #1W/C. Likely a middle 6 tweener.
#28 St. Louis Blues
Gracyn Sawchyn
Sawchyn is trending upwards the longer the season goes. He has really good puck handling skills, one of the best in this draft, and has good offensive instincts. He has high IQ and good vision. He forechecks very well, and is engaged defensively as well. He isn't huge, but he can be physical. He has a lot of upside and lots of top 6 capable skills. His skating isn't amazing, he needs to improve on his foot speed and top speed. He also needs to improve his strength and puck protection. He hasn't had a lot of time this season in his games but I expect him to take a huge step next season when he gets more responsibility. Projects as a #2C. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#29 Vegas Golden Knights
Noah Dower-Nilsson
NDN is a prospect who is producing historically in the J20 league. He's grown a bit over the season. He's a solid skater, not super fast but good enough, good puck handling skills, and can take pucks off the boards and beat people 1-on-1. His IQ is pretty good as well. He has good passing and a good shot and can play well on the PP. He's engaged both defensively and offensively. He isn't a physical player but he can forecheck pretty well. Great player on the rush. Projects as a good two way #2W. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#30 San Jose Sharks
Gavin Brindley
Brindley has massively improved so much over the course of the season and has turned a corner recently. He's producing more and showing a lot more creativeness and offensive upside. His skating is really good, his IQ and puck handling have gotten better, his playmaking has gotten better. His puck protection and strength needs a bit of work as he's still undersized, but he's engaged defensively and physically, he's good on the forecheck. He's growing a lot and was already a solid pick as a bottom 6er, if he's able to keep improving he'll definitely have top 6 upside. Projects as a #2W. Likely middle 6 tweener.
#31 Carolina Hurricanes
Roman Kantserov
Kantserov is another small undersized forward. However he's good at both ends of the ice, engaged in all 3 zones, he has excellent IQ and good vision. He has a great shot and is a dual scoring threat. His skating is very good, he's very creative and crafty and has the puck handling skills to back that up. He really needs to work on his strength and puck protection and his leg strength are those are his main issues. He can QB a PP very well. Projects as a #2W. Likely PP specialist, boom or bust.
#32 Toronto Maple Leafs
Oliver Bonk
Bonk is a good two way defender, he's big and has a little bit of bite to his game. He defends players well off the rush with his body and can play somewhat of a shutdown role while also contributing offensively. His shot is good, his top speed and acceleration are both pretty good, his agility needs a little bit of work but he's overall very solid defensively. His IQ isn't super high but he can show flashes of offensive brilliance, one criticism is that he needs to be a bit faster with decision making in the offensive zone but I believe this is a product of him not having as much experience as he's relied upon defensively in London. He loves to shoot and will be very good on the PP when he's given more opportunity. Projects as top 4 two way defenseman. Likely PPQB.
HM: Kasper Haltunnen, Daniil But, Mikhail Gulyayev, Charlie Stramel, Bradly Nadeau, Tanner Molendyk, Koehn Zimmer, Otto Stenberg, Alex Rykov
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