Prospect Info: Samkow Memorial HFCBJ 2024 Summer Prospect Rankings: #2

[CBJWerenski8]

Vote for the best prospect from the above poll (listed alphabetically) and post who you think should be added from the full (remaining) list below. Criteria is that they are under 25 and haven't spent the majority of a season in the NHL. (This criteria may not match any particular service's/outlet's, or anyone's here who makes a list. Be that as it may...) Yes, there was some discussion on the inclusion of a few key young players, and this is the list we've arrived at.

Notes:
1) We've made every effort to have the full prospect list as accurate as possible. If you have quibbles with the list, or if you feel like we've left someone off, please shoot me a PM and we'll see if it needs to be fixed. "Graduates" from last year's list, and players no longer in the organization, include:
Tyler Angle (C) (unranked)
Ben Boyd (C) (unranked)
Jacob Christiansen (D) (#19)
Joshua Dunne (C) (unranked)
Adam Fantilli (C) (#1)
Trey Fix-Wolansky (RW) (HM)
Robbie Stucker (RD) (HM)
Daniil Tarasov (G) (#9)
Calvin Thurkauf (C/LW) (unranked)
Dmitri Voronkov (C) (#4)

2) There are no set guidelines to determine how you vote. Peak potential, likelihood of NHL career, pathway to playing time, expectations based on draft status -- any/all of these can be used at your discretion. There is no right/wrong way to vote.

3) There was some discussion on the first five. That said, we didn't fuss too much about it because you all can "fix" it in the add voting. Those five don't have to be the top five, if we get a player added and then enough posters vote for him in the subsequent poll.

4) Each poll is open for two days. We will do our best to keep these going with a fresh poll every other day, but pre-apologies if we miss one here or there, or opt to delay one over a Sunday or something like that.

The list so far:
1. Cayden Lindstrom (C)


Select your add from the list below (again, please let me know if there are corrections).
Luke Ashton (LD)
Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm (LD)
Cameron Butler (RW)
Corson Ceulemans (RD)
Cole Clayton (RD)
Luca Del Bel Belluz (C)
Kirill Dolzhenkov (RW)
James Fisher (RW/MOD)
Evan Gardner (G)
Jet Greaves (G)
Tanner Henricks (RD)
Aidan Hreschuk (LD)
Sergei Ivanov (G)
Oiva Keskinen (C)
Samuel Knazko (LD)
Nolan Lalonde (G)
Nikolai Makarov (LD)
James Malatesta (LW)
Luca Marrelli (RD)
Max McCue (C)
Hunter McKown (C)
Tyler Peddle (C)
Luca Pinelli (C)
Mikael Pyyhtia (LW)
Guillaume Richard (LD)
Martin Rysavy (LW)
Melvin Strahl (G)
Andrew Strathman (LD)
Stanislav Svozil (LD)
William Whitelaw (C)

Added: Jordan Dumais (RW)

Add votes (as of ABGTC):
Greaves - 13
Malatesta - 5
Svozil - 3
Ivanov - 3
LDBB - 2

Click to read more...

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

If you read the reports, he didn't ride the train, he was the only one that could keep up and think the game in a similar manner. He's not going to wow you but he's going to be a 40pt guy that plays the PK and 5v5 very well. Just needs to keep progressing.

I just meant there wouldn't have been nearly as much hype around him if Bedard played in a different team. Every fan, journalist and scout was watching his team for Bedard, so he people noticed him playing a leading D-man role as well. That'll naturally boost your status in all rankings.

 

[MoeBartoli]

Mateychuk add Malatesta

Same here

 

[MissADD]

Mateychuk add Greaves

 

[DarkandStormy]

Just want to add that he has become a bit of a forgotten man around here. He wasn’t spectacular for Cleveland but we were all very high on him this time a year ago. Hes my next add, I just hope people haven’t forgotten about him.

As long as we're doing plugs, I hear James Fisher is going places

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

As long as we're doing plugs, I hear James Fisher is going places

You know he's coming up, and soon.

 

[NotWendell]

Add Greaves

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

As an outsider I am surprised at the preference for Mateychuk over Jiricek.

Jiricek was a teenager in the NHL season and availed himself pretty well for the most part; I'd have been very surprised if Mateychuk looked any better. Yeah, he might have piled up more assists, but his game is still very much a "junior" style, which would have gotten exposed pretty badly IMO.

Mateychuk strikes me as undersized offensive dman who has a lot of really good skills, but is not really elite in any of those skills.

• He's a good skater, but I'm not sure if it's good enough to create separation vs NHL defenders
• He's got a good shot, but lacks the elite shot from the blue line that other top QBs often have, which will could limit his ability to contribute offensively
• He has good puck control, but he's not a dynamic puck carrier

And as a smaller guy who isn't great defensively, I question projecting him ahead of a guy like Jiricek, who already has the size and shot to be an impact NHL defenseman even if he stagnates.

Mateychuk does have incredible vision, which can make up for a lot of things, but there's risk there.

 

[Nanabijou]

Add Malatesta

 

[CBJWerenski8]

As an outsider I am surprised at the preference for Mateychuk over Jiricek.

Jiricek was a teenager in the NHL season and availed himself pretty well for the most part; I'd have been very surprised if Mateychuk looked any better. Yeah, he might have piled up more assists, but his game is still very much a "junior" style, which would have gotten exposed pretty badly IMO.

Mateychuk strikes me as undersized offensive dman who has a lot of really good skills, but is not really elite in any of those skills.

• He's a good skater, but I'm not sure if it's good enough to create separation vs NHL defenders
• He's got a good shot, but lacks the elite shot from the blue line that other top QBs often have, which will could limit his ability to contribute offensively
• He has good puck control, but he's not a dynamic puck carrier

And as a smaller guy who isn't great defensively, I question projecting him ahead of a guy like Jiricek, who already has the size and shot to be an impact NHL defenseman even if he stagnates.

Mateychuk does have incredible vision, which can make up for a lot of things, but there's risk there.

Mateychuk has grown a lot in his own end. He's steady, he's calm, and he can handle anything.

I do agree that if you threw Mateychuk to the wolves like they did Jiricek, he would struggle too.

Jiricek is a bigger risk than Mateychuk is. On both ends of the ice.

 

[Doggy]

As an outsider I am surprised at the preference for Mateychuk over Jiricek.

Jiricek was a teenager in the NHL season and availed himself pretty well for the most part; I'd have been very surprised if Mateychuk looked any better. Yeah, he might have piled up more assists, but his game is still very much a "junior" style, which would have gotten exposed pretty badly IMO.

Mateychuk strikes me as undersized offensive dman who has a lot of really good skills, but is not really elite in any of those skills.

• He's a good skater, but I'm not sure if it's good enough to create separation vs NHL defenders
• He's got a good shot, but lacks the elite shot from the blue line that other top QBs often have, which will could limit his ability to contribute offensively
• He has good puck control, but he's not a dynamic puck carrier

And as a smaller guy who isn't great defensively, I question projecting him ahead of a guy like Jiricek, who already has the size and shot to be an impact NHL defenseman even if he stagnates.

Mateychuk does have incredible vision, which can make up for a lot of things, but there's risk there.

Mateychuk finished the season in Cleveland thrown into the middle of the Eastern Conference finals down 3-0 and to me seemed more effective offensively and defensively than Jiricek during that time. Granted it was a small sample size but I was impressed how responsible on the defensive end Mateychuk looked against Hershey (the Calder Cup champs).

 

[CannonFire1]

Mateychuk, add Greaves. That was my vote last round as well. I don't have any problem ranking Lindstrom first, as I think that is where we all hope he lands. A legit 1C is the hardest piece to find. I would just prefer to see him complete a healthy season before ranking him that high. If he is #1, then Mateychuk and Jiricek should be #2 and #3 (in some order). I really like both players. Voting for Mateychuk based on him appearing to be more NHL ready. But I still have high hopes for Jiricek as well.

 

[SavesEmNot]

Mateychuk, add Greaves.

 

[majormajor]

Just want to add that he has become a bit of a forgotten man around here. He wasn’t spectacular for Cleveland but we were all very high on him this time a year ago. Hes my next add, I just hope people haven’t forgotten about him.

I debated between Greaves / Ivanov / Svozil for my add vote. It's not so much that I'm down on Svozil, he had an okay year, but every year I've been waiting for him to develop physically and he's still never done it. He's still lacking strength.

I just meant there wouldn't have been nearly as much hype around him if Bedard played in a different team. Every fan, journalist and scout was watching his team for Bedard, so he people noticed him playing a leading D-man role as well. That'll naturally boost your status in all rankings.

It ran the other way at times too. Svozil was outstanding even with Bedard out of the lineup and outstanding at the WJC - there was some argument that he was right up there for tournament D MVP with Jiricek. And after all of that we still heard that he was just a product of Bedard.

Mateychuk strikes me as undersized offensive dman who has a lot of really good skills, but is not really elite in any of those skills.

• He's a good skater, but I'm not sure if it's good enough to create separation vs NHL defenders
• He's got a good shot, but lacks the elite shot from the blue line that other top QBs often have, which will could limit his ability to contribute offensively
• He has good puck control, but he's not a dynamic puck carrier

And as a smaller guy who isn't great defensively, I question projecting him ahead of a guy like Jiricek, who already has the size and shot to be an impact NHL defenseman even if he stagnates.

Mateychuk does have incredible vision, which can make up for a lot of things, but there's risk there.

Mateychuk didn't over-rely on skills in juniors either. He didn't blow past anyone with his skating or deke defenders out of their jocks. What made him effective is just reading the play faster. And that's the key ingredient for top D in the NHL. Your Forsling's and Fox's don't have a lot going for them skillwise either.

And I think of him as a two-way D not a pure offensive D, he's thick and smart defensively.

There's no doubt that Jiricek is the bigger risk, he still gets turnstiled with his back skating. He's the one who might end up more of an offensive specialist.

 

[tunnelvision]

I'll give a tactical add vote for Greaves just to delay the addition of Malatesta. He and Dumais are behind at least Svozil, Greaves, Ivanov, Dolzhenkov and Marrelli on my list. McCue, Dumais, LDBB and Malatesta are pretty close but in a lower tier.

 

[Doggy]

I like the two day voting period (I know I threw out the idea so it's probably good I do). Specifically it gives us more time to discuss our thoughts on the votes and prospects without the chaotic jumping between threads as one thread gets replaced by another so quickly. It will be interesting if the idea holds up as we get past the top 5-10 prospects and not everyone has as strong an opinion.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I like the two day voting period (I know I threw out the idea so it's probably good I do). Specifically it gives us more time to discuss our thoughts on the votes and prospects without the chaotic jumping between threads as one thread gets replaced by another so quickly. It will be interesting if the idea holds up as we get past the top 5-10 prospects and not everyone has as strong an opinion.

More time to discuss James Fisher.

 

[Doggy]

More time to discuss James Fisher.

More time for you to make the case for him higher in the rankings

 

[18136]

Jiricek, add Ivanov.

Agreed.

 

[Xoggz22]

I look at the prospect list and can't help but think it is very deep. Not all will hit but they don't need all. Seems there is a lot of potential in all facets but I still don't buy the goaltending. I like Greaves story and he's attributed himself quite well thus far but I'm not sure he's much more than a backup NHL goaltender. For that reason alone I can't rank him above players that could be daily contributors and higher in the lineup with a strong case to get there (whether with CBJ or not). Always a fun time of year...

 

[EspenK]

I look at the prospect list and can't help but think it is very deep. Not all will hit but they don't need all. Seems there is a lot of potential in all facets but I still don't buy the goaltending. I like Greaves story and he's attributed himself quite well thus far but I'm not sure he's much more than a backup NHL goaltender. For that reason alone I can't rank him above players that could be daily contributors and higher in the lineup with a strong case to get there (whether with CBJ or not). Always a fun time of year...

I feel the exact opposite. I am having trouble getting excited about more than the top 5 or 6 . And even at 5 or 6 I begin to have feelings of "meh". Hope I'm wrong

 

[AndBoomGoesTheCannon]

Add Greaves

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

I like the two day voting period (I know I threw out the idea so it's probably good I do). Specifically it gives us more time to discuss our thoughts on the votes and prospects without the chaotic jumping between threads as one thread gets replaced by another so quickly. It will be interesting if the idea holds up as we get past the top 5-10 prospects and not everyone has as strong an opinion.

You can always do one day votes for 11–20.

 

[koteka]

I feel the exact opposite. I am having trouble getting excited about more than the top 5 or 6 . And even at 5 or 6 I begin to have feelings of "meh". Hope I'm wrong

Come on. We have 3 guys named Luca and a guy named after the actor who played Benson. There is a lot to be excited about.

 

[Monk]

I feel the exact opposite. I am having trouble getting excited about more than the top 5 or 6 . And even at 5 or 6 I begin to have feelings of "meh". Hope I'm wrong

I'm more a fan of CBJ than the NHL to be honest so I'm probably just wrong, but I thought having 5-6 prospects worth getting excited about was pretty deep.

 

[squashmaple]

I'm more a fan of CBJ than the NHL to be honest so I'm probably just wrong, but I thought having 5-6 prospects worth getting excited about was pretty deep.

It wasn't really that long ago that we didn't have any. Bemstrom was our top prospect at one point ffs.