Going to leave out the graduates:
1)Matthew Savoie
2) Devon Levi
3) Isak Rosen/Jiri Kulich
4) Jiri Kulich/Isak Rosen
5) Noah Ostland
6) Ryan Johnson
7) Josh Bloom
8) Olivier Nadeau
9) Brandon Biro
10) Lukas Rousek
I would consider Zach Benson and Devon Levi graduated. Since I don't have these guys graded out right at the moment, I'm gunna go off the cuff and probably regret it later:
1A) Matthew Savoie: RW/C - averaging over 2 pts/game since he went back to the WHL, had 5 in a 6-game assignment to the AHL and now off to the U20s. He's playing almost all RW in viewing in the WHL thus far. In the 18 games he has played across three leagues, he has put up points in 15. His pre-season rookie camp injury may have kept him off the NHL roster.
1B) Jiri Kulich: C/W - Still only 19, still crushing pucks at the AHL level. His 10 ES goals leads all AHL goal scorers. His 6 on the PP is tied for 2nd in the AHL. He has three OT GWG's for this year and his first taste of the NHL. Did I mention he's playing center? Because he's almost always lined up at center. Oh, and he's being allowed to go to another U20.
3) Isak Rosen: LW/RW - got a longer recall than Kulich but part of that is A) he's a year older and B) his defensive game at the AHL level is much better right now.
4) Ryan Johnson: D - I almost have him as graduated. He was a recall after injury and has slotted in well on both his natural side and on the opposite/off-hand side. It seems like he's around for good as they've sent a depth player to waivers in order to keep him up as other forwards come off the IR. Smart, smooth and surprisingly offensively aggressive after years of being a safety valve at UM.
5) Noah Ostlund: C/LW - Should be Sweden's first line center at the U20's if he's healthy, but he's been out of Växjö's lineup for a month now. Hoping he is in and can spring board into the end of his club season there before coming over. He's mostly played depth roles for Växjö but still over 16 minutes a game (like Walberg) but for the 2nd place team in the SHL.
6) Anton Walberg: W/C - Could be on Ostlund's wing at the U20's, a nice collection of size and willingness to go into traffic to apply it offensively which is a rarity among the high end of the Sabre prospects (they have a lot of smaller guys at forward). He's pulling down over 16 minutes a game for Malmö which is in their top 6 among forwards (yay!) but Malmö is also third last in the SHL (boo!).
7) Prokhor Poltapov: W - Just came off a long-ish goal drought in the KHL, but has a bunch of capable tools, including being a bit abrasive as well as somewhat timely with how he produces offense.
8) Vsevolod Komarov: RD - Was one of the key drivers for Quebec's Q championship and MemCup winner, now part of a big deal to Drummondville who are also looking to go deep and perhaps get to Saginaw for another Memorial Cup appearance. Another guy who can do it all, could develop into a good 4 as he continues to round out his game.
9) Maxim Strbak: RD - The "other" freshman defenseman at Michigan State behind highly touted Levshunov. Strong on the international stage, should be a key player for the Slovaks' U20 team in a few weeks. Can do a bit over everything, but the physical play is probably his ticket to the next level.
10) Nikita Novikov: LD - At times since R. Johnson's call-up to the NHL, he's been the Amerks' best defenseman at AHL level. Safe. Should be a player IMO.
Yes, I left out Levi who has mostly been in the NHL but had a 2-game reset in the AHL. His numbers since returning are very strong, even if he has work yet to improve things like rebound control. Similarly, Benson not only has made the team but he went from being part of the only line they had working well at the start of the season (third line with Mittelstadt and Greenway) to a 2nd line with Cozens and Peterka and is now playing on the top line with Tuch and Thompson. And he really is the straw that stirs the drink and has deserved the promotion up the lineup.
HM's would probably be forward Tyson Kozak who plays like a grizzled pro at the AHL level but hasn't turned 21 yet.
I figure I will regret not grading these out but if there are any wild variables, I'll make an adjustment.
