After releasing part one to the draft guide on Wednesday, here is the second part. This covers all of the players I have ranked 101-224, including some help from others.
To see part 1, Click here
101. Martin Misiak – (Center) – Youngstown Phantoms – USHL – Slovakia
Misiak has had an eventful year. Leaving Slovakia’s pro league to join the USHL halfway through, and then eventually winning the USHL championship. Misiak is a gifted, two-way centreman who plays very maturely for this class. He’s a reliable puck handler, reliable backchecker and he always plays a smart, possession-style game. Misiak isn’t somebody that I would necessarily bet against making the NHL. He’s a very smart prospect, but I think I see more middle 6 than anything else.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
102. Juraj Pekarcik- (Winger) – HK Nitra – Slovakia – Slovakia
Pekarcik is a very smart player, and that was noticeable through his international games this season. Pekarcik is always scanning for passing lanes, what options he has to skate into and is always right on the puck for a rebound or making himself available for a deflection. I’m not entirely sure that Pekarcik’s ceiling is high enough to earn a high rank, but the IQ is there and the work-hard style of hockey is clearly visible.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Big forward with presence in all three-zones, uses his body very well in battles for the puck. He’s very useful in penalty killing and with his mindset to work hard he is able to force a breakaway. He moves the puck quickly in transition and his stickhandling skills help him to get out from tight spaces”. – Adam Duchon
103. Albert Schioldan- (Winger) – HV71 – J20 Nationell – Denmark
Schioldan is certainly worthy of being ranked, and I might end up higher on him than most people. Schioldan is a very responsible forward who I think could fit any role of a winger or centreman. Schioldan showcases above average speed, good hands, nice finishes in tight, and utilizing space to the best of his ability. He may even end up on a pro power-play unit someday. The top category for Schioldan is his IQ. He’s extremely smart, and smooth with his stick-on-puck work, able to generate space between himself and opponents, putting the puck in difficult to grab spots for defenders before letting off a release. Schioldan understands to the fullest the basic systems and lanes in a hockey environment, which is why I believe he could end up being special.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Schioldan has a great hockey mind and tonnes of offensive IQ leading to him to play a mature, well-rounded game. His skating is smooth which allows him to make plays whilst in motion but if I had to critique, he could add explosiveness and agility. His shot is his best weapon as his release is quick and accurate and when pairing his hands you see an offensive forward who can pull a move and release a shot in a instant. Defensively, Schioldan works hard and uses his IQ to anticipate opponents and has a good defensive toolset to contribute off the puck. Could be stronger on the faceoff dot”. – Joe Maciag
104. Carson Rehkopf- (Winger) – Kitchener Rangers – OHL – Canada
Rehkopf certainly has a nose for the net. Another player that battles hard for his goals, occupies the slot well and puts himself in good scoring chances near the net. It also helps that he has a booming shot, great physicality and a strong stride and presence to go along with it. I could definitely see Rehkopf turning out as a fun 3rd line power forward someday, and that’s just as important to building a winning team, because I think Rehkopf could be a solid playoff player as well.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 5/10
- “Rehkopf is, to some, a complete package of a winger. The power forward possesses an NHL-ready shot with lethal power and a quick release making it difficult for any goalie to stop. As well he is a quick skater. Rehkopf is fluid in motion and utilizes his speed with his 6-1 194 lbs frame to be a physical force on the ice. His offensive package overall is enticing, as he could be a top-six winger with value in all areas of the ice. Just Rehkopf needs to become more consistent. He has games where he looks like the best player on the ice, and then the next night, he looks disengaged with the play. If he can become steady in his game-to-game level of play and work ethic, some team is going to be very happy picking him up on Day 2 of the draft”. – Curtis Rines
105. Theo Lindstein- (Left Shot Defence) – Brynas IF – SHL – Sweden
I was hoping to find a more defence-first type of game in Lindstein after the disappointing offensive season, but I really don’t see that too much. Even when Lindstein is showcasing good defensive habits, I can’t get over how much he’s lacked at growing his game from last year to this year. I don’t think there is anything that has necessarily gotten all that much better, and his overall athleticism lacks too much for me to see his defensive game translating smoothly. Lindstein needs to become quicker, add more intensity to his game and find more awareness before he makes an appropriate jump to the pro ranks.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 4/10
- “Theo Lindstein is a good skater both forward and backwards. He has good edges and has a decent top-speed. Lindstein is capable of carrying the puck up ice but he does it rarely and I would like to see him do it more often. Lindstein’s defensive play is good, he is responsible with the puck and has a good first pass that he uses to get the puck out of his own end. There are times however where he will just throw the puck into nothingness, and he will need to clean that up. Lindstein has a good shot which he gets through on net. He has good gap control, but he still needs to get stronger which was evident during the games against men”. – Alfonso Acevedo
106. Lenni Hameenaho- (Winger) – Assat – Liiga – Finland
Hameenaho spent this season tearing up Liiga, the professional Finnish league, and that’s not an easy thing to do as a draft eligible player. Now I’ll be honest, I don’t think too much of Hameenaho’s game will translate over to North America, but there are some key traits that make him the player he is; his positioning and his quick thinking. Those two go hand in hand and are both the reasons why he was so successful this year. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. His overall athleticism, pace and quickness I would say are below average in the Liiga, and I’m just not totally sure where he goes from him moving forward.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 5/10
- “Lenni Hämeenaho skates well and he has good edges. He has a good skating base and a good stride; however, they are a little short. His top-speed is also good, but I would like to see him add some more acceleration to his skating to get him up the ice quicker. Hämeenaho does need to get stronger on his feet, though that will come with time as he adds more muscle to his frame. I would also like to see him use frame to his advantage more often along the boards. One thing I really like seeing Hämeenaho do in the offensive zone is getting his stick open for either a pass or a tip on net”. – Alfonso Acevedo
107. Aram Minnetian- (Right Shot Defence) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Minnetian has sort of been the go-to NTDP defenceman all year, and nothing has really changed towards the end of the season. I wish Minnetian would add more strength and maybe more fluidity to his game, but he has good hockey IQ, good positioning, good physicality and fairly good offensive instincts, able to set himself up for good passes and opening up some space. I think he’ll be fine in the future, and while the potential of a first line player likely isn’t there, I think he could be a reliable bottom 4 defender on most teams.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 4/10
- “Aram Minnetian is an interesting offensive-defenseman that’s struggled to string together his scoring in a way that some expected. He possesses very strong puck-handling and doesn’t lose much skating ability when the puck is on his stick, helping him drive through the neutral zone or work around the offensive zone with ease. But overeagerness to control the puck and a struggling ability to open up plays holds him back. Minnetian’s aggressiveness also carries over to his defensive performances, although that’s not always an inherent negative. There are many who argue that Minnetian will break-out in due time but there’s reason to question just how well he’ll project to the pro leagues”. – Gabe Foley
108. Arttu Alasiurua- (Forward) – Karpat – U20 SM-sarja – Finland
He’s been so fun to watch this season if I’m honest. His Hlinka play really impressed me, but even watching the end of the season in regular season action and the U18s solidified my fondness for Alasiurua. The overall pace of his game isn’t anything spectacular, there were bits and pieces in his international play, but his shot selection and shot itself is what does it for me. He has a lot of patience behind his release, able to wait out the goalie before firing one home, and his shot is sometimes difficult to read. I fully believe he’s someone who will hear his name called on day 2 of the draft.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
109. Will Vote- (Forward) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
The short king love will continue another year with Will Vote. Although standing at 5’7, this is a player worthy of drafting. Not exceptionally high, but I’m definitely swinging at him at some point in the later rounds. Smooth on the puck, Vote ranks above average in IQ, patience, possession and positioning. All the P’s that make a player great. However, the size does hinder him a bit, and a lack of play driving himself leads him to fall down my board a bit. Moving forward, if Vote can find a jump in his game to be a play driver and not just a very smart linemate, he could end up being special.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
110. Jimmy Clark- (Winger) – Green Bay Gamblers – USHL – USA
I was also fairly high on Clark to start the season, but I feel that potential is starting to slow down a little bit as I didn’t see too many improvements from the start to now. Clark has good hands in tight, good finishing ability, good hockey IQ and shot selection, but the overall athleticism and ceiling just isn’t there for me. Expect him to fall in the mid-to-late sections of this draft.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Clark is a hardworking crafty player. He has nifty hands and has great vision. He draws defenders to him then dishes a pass to his open teammate. He works hard at both ends of the ice. He needs to work on getting another gear in his skating speed”. – Tait Borst
111. Kaden Hammell- (Right Shot Defence) – Everett Silvertips – WHL – Canada
A good skating coach just might have what’s missing from Hammell’s game and might be able to turn him into a very reliable middle pairing defender. It’s strange watching Hammell, his overall athleticism, IQ and compete level are all above average, but his skating stands out as it’s … goofy? Awkward? So after watching him a few times I still think he could probably improve his mobility and the power he generates in his stride, and even with the goofy skating he can still outskate opponents, so imagine what he could do with more power. I did enjoy Hammell and will have him ranked, but some of the mobility issues and body language are really what hinders his potential.
Potential: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 3/10
112. Benjamin Poitras- (Center) – Sioux City Musketeers – USHL – Canada
Poitras does a lot of things well, nothing exceptional, but he’s a well-rounded player who I think given his floor and power, could end up in an NHL role someday. He has a great shot, he occupies the slot with ease, wins puck battles, plays physically and has a strong stride that he uses to gain ground on opponents. He’s a very translatable player and for that reason I think he’ll be taken within the first 4 rounds and for good reason.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 5/10
113. Scott Ratzlaff- (Goalie) – Seattle Thunderbirds – WHL – Canada
Honestly, the biggest reason Ratzlaff isn’t one of my first 3 ranked goalies is because he lacks overall size that will be exposed more at the NHL level, and that his overall athleticism isn’t quite on par with a #1 ranked goaltender. That being said, Ratzlaff has one of the highest IQ’s of any goaltender in this draft, positions himself very well, great amounts of poise and readiness, his rebound control ranks above average as well, and he anticipates shots from anywhere on the ice. He’s still one of the best goalies available for this year’s draft, even if he is only 6’0.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
114. Tanner Ludtke- (Center) – Lincoln Stars – USHL – USA
There is hardly any cheating with Ludtke, plays an honest game, while not necessarily a two way player, he doesn’t cheat his offence. He works for his goals, knows to use his body as much as he can for space, drives the net well and dishes a fair amount of passes to the slot. I don’t think I see the same upside that some people do, but I’d definitely say his overall chances of playing pro hockey look pretty good.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 5/10
115. Dylan MacKinnon- (Right Shot Defence) – Halifax Mooseheads – QMJHL – Canada
MacKinnon plays a well rounded game, from his offence to his transition to defence and handling the rush, breakout and neutral zone, MacKinnon can do it all. While he does above average in every category, I’m not sure there is much athleticism to carry that skill further into the next levels. If MacKinnon makes the NHL, I believe he will hone a shut down role as a bottom pairing guy, but I would also say the chance of hitting that potential is pretty good.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 4/10
- “6’2 right handed defenders will always have their value and Mackinnon is no exception. He has a nice shot when he actually uses it. His game, and appeal to scouts, definitely centers more around his physical game. His highlight reel of hard hits plays like a Best of the NHL compilation. He doesn’t need much momentum to inflict damage either. Mackinnon has figured out how to inflict a punishing hit on someone from practically a standstill. It means that opponents tend not to come away from a corner or wall battle with him without taking a hit. He’s the kind of defender that can wear opposing forwards down over the course of a 7 game series”. – Jack Dawkins
116. Cooper Foster- (Center) – Ottawa 67s – OHL – Canada
Hailing from the north, and only playing his first OHL season, Foster has certainly impressed me. His skating stride is still somewhat of a question mark at times and I know he could add strength in it, but even then he is above-average in speed and skating. His patience and IQ are both solid and above-average and his two way game falls under the same rank. My only problem with foster is that he doesn’t necessarily do anything elite to push him to the next level. However, it was his first season and he’s still learning, and has been noted as an easily coachable kid, so I would definitely bet that he could meet my expectations.
Potential: Middle 6 C
Potential rank: 3/10
117. Ryan Fine- (Forward) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Fine has seen a huge increase in his play this season compared to last season, where I started to sour on him. Fine showcases good work ethic, consistently good hockey IQ and positional sense, but also a great display of patience and possession, two areas of the game I find the most important. While lacking some size, Fine does come with some bite and isn’t afraid to be physical and can be seen getting dirty for his goals as well.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
118. Felix Nilsson- (Center) – Rogle BK – J20 Nationell – Sweden
He’s athletic, but I’m not sure how much more strength he’s going to be able to add on. On top of that, I found him wildly inconsistent in effort and pace, and he isn’t the quickest to let off a release or make a pass. Nilsson would be the most effective on the power-play given how well he’s done with space and time, but I’m not sure I see enough well-roundedness to warrant a high ranking.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Felix Nilsson is a good skater who has a good stride and decent top-speed. I think his overall acceleration needs work as he doesn’t gather enough speed through his defensive zone and neutral zone. I like his forechecking ability and I believe that once he adds some more speed to his skating, he could be a very good forechecking forward. Nilsson protects the puck well, has a good set of hands and has a good passing ability. Nilsson’s overall game is good. He positions himself well and supports his defensemen well in the defensive zone. He is also willing to backcheck, but I would like to see him be more consistent. I think his faceoff taking ability is good, but it will need to be improved”. – Alfonso Acevedo
119. Austin Roest- (Center) – Everett Silvertips – WHL – Canada
I loved Roest last year and I love Roest this year. Good athleticism, great hop in his game to reach his top-end speed quickly, great at moving in all 4 directions, great on the special teams unit, and his work ethic is undeniable. I definitely think Roest will get drafted this year as he was such a dual threat on the ice every time Everett played. There were times that I was watching other players and couldn’t help but catch glimpses of Roest.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
120. Joseph Henneberry- (Winger) – Acadie-Bathurst Titans – QMJHL – Canada
I’m a little bit surprised Henneberry isn’t getting as much love as I’m about to give. I know the Q isn’t really known as the ‘premier’ league in Canada, but the Remparts did just win the Memorial Cup, and a lot of Q teams are very workhorse-based rosters. Henneberry is not the exception to that. I know 36 points this year also doesn’t stand out, but when I watch Henneberry, I feel like I’m watching a future 35-or even 40-goal scorer after his draft year. He boasts a powerful stride, able to take it wide and fight for goals and space, has good hands, and can get the puck off his stick exceptionally fast, sometimes difficult to read for the goaltenders. There was one backhand goal he scored that I’m surprised had that much power behind it when it didn’t even look like he was setting up for it at all. Henneberry is just one of those players who will eventually fall into their place, and I think there’s enough to warrant a mid round pick with the place I see him falling.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Once Acadie-Bathurst traded away their best players, that was basically the end of their season. In spite of that Joseph Henneberry put up a few nice highlights and became a “who’s that” player. He was a guy whose name would show up when you were scouting other players. Someone on the Titan would make a good play and you’d say “who’s that,” check your notes and it would be the kid from Nova Scotia, wearing number 27. Henneberry has great size and good wheels. He’d be a bit of a long term project, but there’s definitely something to work with”. – Jack Dawkins
121. Hugo Pettersson- (Winger) – HV71 – J20 Nationell – Sweden
Hugo Pettersson has been so much fun to watch here in my final viewings. A decent sized player, Pettersson possesses some of the most important skills in a prospect; confidence, hands, shot, patience and creativity. Oh, almost forgot to mention that he’s likely one of the best manipulators in the Swedish junior league. Pettersson pulls players in with ease before making a play into open ice, hitting teammates sticks and setting them up for a chance. While he isn’t speedy, Pettersson can also find space of his own easily and bury one him if given the chance. This is another player who I anticipate will look even better over the next few years if he’s drafted.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
122. Yegor Rimashevsky- (Forward) – MHK Dynamo Moskva – MHL – Russia
Rimashevsky is very entertaining to watch. He has smooth hands, he’s all about the highlight reels and celly’s, but that’s where my issue lies with him. As silky as he looks, he often looks disengaged from the play, or poorly positions himself leaving him a bunch of nothing. That’s a huge red flag for a player of his type. I will admit though, his play down the middle can be effective and he can work as both a goal scorer and playmaker, but the consistency, care, attention to detail and effort need to see improvements.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Before his injury, I found that his skating was mediocre and his pace felt quiet. He only tried in games that “mattered” and were close. But when his team was losing a substantial amount and/or the team he was playing against wasn’t good, he just didn’t show any effort. I’d rather not talk about how lazy and selfish he plays when he doesn’t try, so I’ll quickly run by what makes him a player worth a draft pick. His two-way ability has a sneaky yet aggressive forecheck ability. He covers using stick movements and lanes are always closed when he’s around. He’s able to fluctuate from offensive strategic hockey to a shutdown defensive ability, and it reminds me of Phillip Danault in these cases. These moments where he switches from end to end make me believe that he possesses a ton of potential. I don’t think he contains a lot of elusiveness or plain skill, but he does manage to create using a simple and consistent game. He keeps to the basics, and he plays really “black and white”. His game makes me think there’s untapped North American potential there, but how certain is it? There’s not a high ceiling with him and I don’t even know if he cares enough at points to make that translation, but if he’s able to live up to what he does when he’s trying, I’m sure he can make himself a viable draft pick”. – Pavel Malyugin
123. Yegor Goryunov- (Winger) – Victoriaville Tigres – QMJHL – Russia
This may come as a shock, and believe me, I was shocked myself, but if there’s one ‘hidden gem’ for this year, it’s Yegor Goryunov. An overager, who wasn’t even a point-per-game in the QMJHL, but I don’t even care. When Goryunov is on, he’s on and can look like a player who’s already been drafted by a team. His stride may be a bit goofy at times, but he generates a lot of power in it when he really wants to beat opponents. His overall athleticism is above average, his shot selection and shot itself rank highly in my regard, so I’m not sure why he had a lack of goals and points this year. Maybe if he gets drafted and developed a bit by a team, I think Goryunov could seriously make a name for himself as the vibe I get from him is that he is certainly a prospect. I hope I’m right.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Early in the season he struggled to produce. As the season went on, there were flashes of brilliance. He gets to speed very quickly with the puck on his stick and is able to stickhandle very deftly at top speed. He has a tendency to make even well positioned defenders look really bad. Isn’t afraid to use his body size (6’2) to play the physical game. Definitely a raw project but there’s a lot to like, it’s tough to teach size and speed, and he’s got both of those”. – Jack Dawkins
124. Tommaso De Luca- (Center) – Spokane Chiefs – WHL – Switzerland
Tommaso De Luca is a fun player to watch, and the overall curve of skill that he leaped over this season has been fun to watch and note down as well. It shows the amount of effort he put in this year. And while standing at 6’0 and 179lbs, I can’t help but feel as though he could still use some strength to become better. I also think De Luca really has to think about his next play or move, which, I wish it came a little more natural to him. There’s no denying the skill and effort, I just wish he flowed with the game a little bit better, so I’m nervous about where that puts him against faster and stronger competition.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 2.5/10
- “Tommasso De Luca is a very fun player. I think the point totals don’t show the skillset he possesses. He moves around the ice pretty good, he’s good with puck protection and his edges. He’s pretty good with the puck as he showcases him creating space for himself and his teammates often. He scans the ice pretty well for optimal passes. Wouldn’t be surprised if his production increases in his D+1 year”. – Rayan Tubeec
125. Mazden Leslie- (Right Shot Defence) – Vancouver Giants – WHL
While I’m a huge fan of Leslie, it may not seem like I’m sold on him for what I’m about to write, and that’s the truth. Leslie is one of the most creative defenders in the draft – able to find escape routes easily, able to make high-pace give and go plays, able to play deep offensively and make some magic happen, and able to finish in tight quite often. But all of those do make me question the future player of Leslie. There are times where it feels Leslie may care about looking fancy a little too much. He lacks defensive awareness. His overall athleticism might not allow him to be as flashy of a player at the next levels, which raises the biggest question of his game. If the flashiness doesn’t transfer over, then what? I’m not sure Leslie is well-rounded or high-upside enough to make those questions go away. So consider myself a big fan, but perhaps a hesitant one if I were drafting early.
Potential: Middle pair D
Potential rank: 2.5/10
- “Mazden Leslie is another out of many skilled draft eligible WHL defenseman on this tier, He’s a offensive minded dman with good shooting instincts and solid tape to tape passer. He’s got the potential to be a PP QB in the NHL, however his defensive game is a weak point. He’s very passive in the defensive zone, and when pressured, makes some ill-advised decisions with the puck”. – Rayan Tubeec
126. Hoyt Stanley- (Right Shot Defence) – Victoria Grizzlies – BCHL – Canada
Stanley has been receiving some hype towards the end of the season, and I honestly think it’s for a good reason. Stanley boasts good size, smart skating ability, terrific patience from a defender, has a booming shot, plays a smart and safe defensive game and plays well in tight too. Stanley has all the makings of the modern day defender, but the overall speed of his game keeps him out of ‘top prospect’ territory for me, especially being in the BCHL. I think Stanley looks more like a 4th or 5th round talent and he is somebody I would certainly look for if I were drafting.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 3.5/10
- “Stanley is a tall offensive mobile defenseman. He has really impressed me every time ive watched him. He is a solid rush defender and does a good job keeping people to the outside. He is a good puck mover and can make accurate outlet passes. He Is good under pressure and can make escape moves look easy. He is a good skater for his size and does a good job picking his time to join the rush. I think he will be a mid-late round steal”. – Tait Borst
127. Albert Wikman- (Left Shot Defence) – Farjestads BK – J20 Nationell – Sweden
There’s been a lot of hype in the community over Wikman recently, with some even ranking him as a first rounder, so I will chime in on my thoughts: I just don’t see it. I watch Wikman and I can’t help but feel he does a lot of things well, but he doesn’t necessarily do anything far above average. Especially in a class this strong and deep, I feel best with having Wikman as an early third most likely. Defensively he’s smart, positions himself well but isn’t overly strong or sizeable, and offensively he just sort of plays like most defenders in this draft. Fine skating on the blue line, positioning is fine, but nothing sticks out to me. Maybe I didn’t catch the same games, but I’d feel more confident with him as a 3rd rounder.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 3.5/10
128. Jake Fisher- (Forward) Cretin-Derham Hall – USHS-MN – USA
Fisher has really impressed me in the last few viewings, and I think he does a lot well that could lead him to a decent NHL role. Firstly, he’s a very smart player positionally, always putting himself in scoring opportunities and making nice cut give-and-go plays. He’s always watching where his teammates could use relief, he watches what pockets of space are open and gets to them, and his stick is always ready to receive a pass on. I think a season in the USHL would benefit Fisher greatly next season.
Potential rank: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 2.5/10
129. Tanner Adams- (Winger) – Tri-City Storm – USHL – USA
Adams showcases a good burst of speed down the wing, can take it wide and drive the net, shows purpose in where he skates and positions himself really well offensively. Defensively, Adams keeps his stick towards the middle and plays a tight-reliable game that shows I can trust him in all situations. Adams may not be the smoothest of players, I think he could have better hands and play in tight, but I see someone who may become a third liner who can ease his way into some special teams units.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 2.5/10
- “Tanner Adams has become a popular prospect given his all-situations ability. He’s a small, beefy forward that has the speed, strength, and hockey IQ to match any opponents. He fits into systems well and can be trusted with the puck on his stick but isn’t scared of battling in front of the net or going into the corners to make plays. There’s a lot to be impressed by in terms of Adams’ skillset but his game seems to be missing some independent direction on the ice. If he can become more proud, Adams could develop into an impressive pro talent. And thankfully, his late birthday gives him added development time. There’s a lot of maturing to do but he seemingly has all of the pieces to be a solid player”. – Gabe Foley
130. Ales Cech- (Left Shot Defence) – Mlada Boleslav BK – Czechia – Czechia
A guy I championed for last year’s draft, Cech has continued to show signs of high impact offensive upside but doing so very inconsistently. However, last year I pointed to his defensive game being the standout reason I liked him, and that still rings true. I find Cech is very reliable defensively, able to pick off opponents easily and quickly, engage in puck battles well, and have a good sense of positioning. I still think while the offence is inconsistent and a worry since the issue hasn’t been resolved, he should still be a mid to late round pick as I believe he could become an NHL-calibre defender someday.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 3.5/10
- “Tall defenceman able to keep calm under pressure. His skating is smooth, his stick work is very good and he denies passing opportunites with his reach. Uses his body well but there is still potential to add more muscles. Despite that, he is engaging in puck battles around the boards and is pretty succesful with winning the puck”. – Adam Duchon
131. Lucas St. Louis- (Left Shot Defence) – Dubuque Fighting Saints – USHL – USA
St. Louis has all the offensive talent in the world, but where I worry is how he translates as a 5 ’10 defender who doesn’t do as well as I’d like defensively and who cheats constantly to get to spots on the ice that later on, he will be beaten to consistently. St. Louis makes a lot of dangerous plays, offensively he holds the blue line well and demonstrates patience and footwork to manipulate the open ice in his favour. I think there’s top 4 potential, but reaching that potential isn’t very high.
Potential rank: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “Lucas St. Louis is a solid two-way defenseman, using long, clean strides and good puck-handling to support his team in transition and an active reach and strong chest to shut down opponents going the other way. But slow decision-making under pressure, the occasional awry pass, and a lack of rapid development hold back his ceiling. St. Louis will be an interesting mid-to-late round option for teams looking to add heft to their blue-line but without major growth this season, he may be in competition for any one pick”. – Gabe Foley
132. Arvid Bergstrom- (Left Shot Defence) – Djurgardens IF – J20 Nationell – Sweden
It’s too bad Bergstrom is not too sizable for his skillset to really move him up lists, but Bergstrom is a great skater, has a good shot and brings some excitement with the jump in his game. Bergstrom plays with a good pace, able to beat opponents clean when he’s given ice, and able to intercept plays but noticing them developing early. He isn’t overly physical, and his positioning can be blown up easily since he likes to move around a lot. He’s very active, but that comes as a disadvantage at times.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
133. Jake Livanavage- (Left Shot Defence) – Chicago Steel – USHL – USA
While undersized and yes, now overaged, I still think Livanavage has a lot of skills that could come in handy to make himself a potential NHL defender. First of all, his defensive play isn’t the greatest and could use some fine tuning, but it makes it all the better that he’s a UND commit. He has the offensive tools that the modern day defenceman should boast; good hands, good feet, manipulative, good with fakes, and able to dish out some nice passes to the slot and help on the breakout. Livanavage is someone that I certainly don’t mind ranking again, a second time around.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “Jake Livanage is a re-entry defenseman that’s earned the Chicago Steel’s top-defenseman role thanks to his strong puck-handling and a good ability to control play in the regroup. He uses quick strides to build speed, helping him both join the rush and backcheck quickly and without sacrificing his team. But shaky decision-making under pressure and questions about awareness scare some off of Livanavage’s trail. He’s certainly been a pivotal piece for the Steel, giving credence to his potential, but some continue to question his projectability”. – Gabe Foley
134. Zeb Forsfjall- (Center) – Skelleftea AIK – J20 Nationell – Sweden
I’m not sure that Forsfjall has enough top-end talent to elevate his game to the next level of the pro ranks. He’s very poised, very smart and has good shot selection and playmaking abilities, but his overall positioning and pace just doesn’t do it for me.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 2/10
135. Matthew Mayich- (Left Shot Defence) – Ottawa 67s – OHL – Canada
While Mayich could use some work defensively, he uses a very active stick to take away lanes from opponents. Mayich also chooses good times to play against the boards defensively and keeps his head on a swivel for evolving plays. While weak, Mayich boasts high potential when he does add strength and grows his all-around game. Offensively, Mayich jumps in on good opportunities and offers a good shot selection when he does.
Potential: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Stay-at-home blueliner with efficient puck-moving abilities. Skates well and possesses above-average hockey IQ. Although 6-2, Mayich is only 150 lbs, so adding a bit of muscle would be a good step in his development. Not as raw as some of the other OHL defenders and has not looked out of place on a strong 67’s team”. – Joe Maciag
136. Tyler Peddle- (Winger) – Drummondville Voltigeurs – QMJHL – Canada
My biggest concern with Peddle is I don’t see a whole lot better of a prospect that I saw last year. He’s become a little bit more consistent, which was his biggest hurdle, but other than that small change, I feel like I’m just watching someone who has matured a bit more and gotten a better feel for the QMJHL. He’s a heavy guy, can throw his weight around, battles for pucks and has a nose for the net, but I’m not sure that I’m looking at a guy who could fit into the top 6.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 4/10
- “There’s a lot of “projectable” parts to his game but the production just wasn’t there for him. It’s really odd too because he seemingly has a nice shot. He’s a strong forechecker and shows good tenacity with loose pucks and puck battles. On the attack he seeks to exploit defensive gaps and creates space for himself. He’s capable on the backcheck and shows good defensive zone commitment. He does everything right but the points just haven’t come as plentiful as one might expect from a player with his profile. If a team takes a chance on him because of everything else he does well, maybe he’ll surprise them with a Draft+1 breakout year scoring-wise”. – Jack Dawkins
137. Jesse Kiiskinen- (Winger) – Pelicans – U20 SM-sarja – Finland
Kiiskinen is a strong kid with some good habits in Finland, and can be reliable because of it. Fantastic work ethic, nose for the net and isn’t afraid to get dirty, and he battles hard. On top of that, his skating is above average, which makes him effective at driving the net and ripping off a few shots – I’m not fully convinced the potential is there for me to give him a high ranking, but the chances of him being an effective 3rd or 4th line grinder in the NHL look pretty good.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 4/10
- “Jesse Kiiskinen is a good skater with good agility and a good skating base. He has a good stride, but it lacks power. I would also attribute this to his acceleration which although is good lacks separation speed. Kiiskinen can also get in on the forecheck quickly and force the defence to make a quick decision. He has a good passing ability and vision which he uses to distribute the puck to teammates. He also possesses a good shot and a nice set of hands. Kiiskinen is willing to backcheck and is also willing to be physical. One aspect of Kiiskinens’ game that keeps him from being higher up in this list is his lack of consistency. He competes well but then he’ll have a game where there is absolutely no compete whatsoever”. – Alfonso Acevedo
138. Alexander Hellnemo- (Goalie) – Skelleftea AIK – J20 Nationell – Sweden
Hellnemo ranks high in positioning, rebound control, poise and readiness, but ranks low in size in the net. Hellnemo is always scanning and getting into a good position to make saves, but I can’t help but feel he hasn’t faced a whole lot of tough shots. Given the space in the net that is open, I’d say he gets lucky fairly often, and he’s an overager. I’d probably hold off on taking Hellnemo until closer to the end of day 2 as I prefer a few goaltenders over him.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
139. Noel Nordh- (Winger) – Brynas IF – J20 Nationell – Sweden
I think there’s a bit of grit here and he will engage in battles, he has a great shot when he has time and space, but I just find the pace is not there. Even at the junior level, players were not as eager to stop Nordh as they should have been, and Nord, due to his size, took advantage of that. At the next level, I could definitely see Nordh getting bullied more in front of the net, and stripped off the puck much easier as the pace increases so much. I think he’s a mid-round guy.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 4/10
- “Noel Nordh is a good skater with a good stride and good edges. His overall top-speed is okay, but his acceleration will be in need of some work. I love his tenaciousness, but it is inconsistent, and I would like to see him do it more often. He has a good shot which he gets off quickly, however I would like to see him get into open spaces more often so he’s open for a shot. Nordh’s defensive positioning is good, but I would like to see him have a more active stick. He also has a good passing ability which he couples well with his puck protecting ability when he is looking for an open teammate”. – Alfonso Acevedo
140. Zach Schulz- (Left Shot Defence) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Schulz exhibits great amounts of patience and attention to detail that it would be hard not to put him on this list. While not quite overly gifted offensively, Schulz does hold the blue line well and has a quick burst of backwards skating right off the hop to allow him to keep speed with the offenders more easily. He pushes to the outside of the ice well, knowing when to step up, and knows how to use his defensive stick as well. I could see Schulz being a good pick in the middle to late stages of this draft.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 3/10
141. Daniil Karpovich- (Left Shot Defence) – Avto Yekaterinburg – MHL – Belarus
While the hockey sense is lacking (greatly), Karpovich has a booming shot, plays a hard physical game, and has some inconsistent work ethic. I do think that the hockey sense can be worked on, it’s a positioning thing that I think could be fixed easily, especially if his body language is fixed up when rushes are developing against him. Karpovich to me, if he does get to the NHL, will be a bottom 4 defenceman but will have the chance to play on the second PP unit. Parts of his game seem fun offensively, but it truly is the IQ that lacks drastically for a prospect in most areas of the ice. There are times that I can see some smart plays.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 3/10
142. Carter Sotheran- (Right Shot Defence) – Portland Winterhawks – WHL – Canada
There is quite a bit to like about Sotheran, and while many people in the scouting community seem to be big fans of Sotheran, I believe I will take the opposing approach. While he boasts size, a good shot and overall smarts, I don’t think I see the athleticism or footspeed appropriate for the next levels. Sotheran is a big rangy and strong defender, but often gets caught flat footed defensively and falls behind the play against some of the quicker players in the WHL. While he hits hard, he doesn’t always choose good opportunities to hit, and that was noted in my viewings. When I picture Sotheran’s game against tougher and tougher competition, I’m not sure he will be as effective as he could’ve been.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Sotheran is a tall lanky puck moving defender. He is a good skater who has good top speed. He does a good job defending the rush and has a good defensive stick. He needs to work on his consistency in his Dzone positioning as he tends to get caught chasing and leaving a guy open. He gives good breakout passes when not under pressure but needs to work on his poise under pressure, he tends to panic and cough up the puck when under pressure. I’d like to see him work on his agility and ability to walk the line. I would also like to see him join the rush more. He is at his best when he joins the rush and uses his speed to help out offensively”. – Tait Borst
143. Cole Brown- (Winger) – Hamilton Bulldogs – OHL – Canada
Brown had a more impressive second half after a fairly disappointing first half of the season, and is creeping up the mid-rounds of my board. A lankier player, Brown is able to intercept neutral zone passes and break into the opposing end. However, I don’t see Brown as much of a playdriver as I’d like to, and see him as a complimentary passenger instead – someone who does very well in the slot and can potentially get into net-front battles to put your team ahead. Moving forward I’d like to see Brown bring more ‘umph’ to his game and use his size and skill to drive the net himself.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 2/10
144. Hunter Anderson- (Forward) – Shattuck St. Mary’s – USHS-Prep – USA
Anderson did impress me a little bit more than Nehring, but there are still many layers of Anderson’s game that will need some fine tuning, or won’t be translatable to the next level. A larger portion of his goals are scored from the outside, and while they still go in, I just don’t see it at the next level at all. His skating, speed and in-tight finishing are much more evident as translatable skills, which I believe he can be capable of pulling off in the NCAA. His playmaking and quickness, and his ability to move in all 4 directions with a quick burst will help him create space quickly at the next level.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Hunter Anderson has been a dominant presence in high school, showing off an entire offensive toolset that was clearly one step above the rest. But his skating raises concerns, especially when thinking about how his endurance will hold up to the next levels. Anderson also has a tendency to stretch too far on the breakout and look a little mission-less if play is driving through him. If he can become a little less focused on scoring, Anderson’s raw skills could give him exciting potential. But there is certainly maturing to come”. – Gabe Foley
145. Charlie Cerrato- (Forward) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Cerrato is one of the more difficult players to gauge on this ranking as he’s on a very good team, obviously with the NTDP squad, but he didn’t get a whole lot of minutes to prove himself as much as the others. A strong skater, Cerrato showcases good playmaking abilities and moves the puck for dangerous chances a fair amount. My biggest concern with Cerrato is his reaction time to certain parts of the game, his positioning, and his consistency.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Charlie Cerrato is very aware of his positioning and uses clean skating to support his teammates well in all three zones. But despite a skillset that is strong enough to takeover play, he never seems to overwhelm opponents. If Cerrato can become more of an impactful play-driver, he could have exciting upside, but an inability to really control play leaves viewers always wanting a bit more. Still, Cerrato is well-rounded enough to warrant strong draft consideration”. – Gabe Foley
146. Noa Vali- (Goalie) – TPS – U20 SM-sarja – Finland
I watched Vali all year and my only real knack on him is that in each viewing, he just left me wanting a little more. Vali has a good work ethic, he’s fairly sound in the crease but he overthinks the game more than I’d like him to. There are times where his positioning seems like an over-compensation for some reason. I think Vali should probably be grouped in the same breath as Damian Clara in terms of where I’d expect him to go; which is in the late 3rd to the early 5th round. While smaller and perhaps not as calm as Clara, Vali boasts good potential down low and can redirect pucks where he wants them to go often. Vali gets really focused in when he is being heavily contested with shots within close distance, and that’s a reason I think he’s one of the top in this class.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
- “My personal favorite in this class. Vali will probably not get selected until the late rounds, if at all. But that is because of one reason, size. Vali is 6’0. What he lacks in size is certainly made up for in his quick reactions and his reading of the game. He anticipates plays really well and has excellent skating to go with it. His stats in the Finnish u20 league were very good and internationally he was excellent. Unfortunately he was only given the net once at the U18 worlds against Norway and wasn’t really given a chance to show what he can do on that big stage”. – Danny Tiffany
147. Ivan Remezovsky- (Left Shot Defence) – SKA-1946 St. Petersburg – MHL – Russia
He didn’t have the offensive input I was expecting and hoping for this year, but there’s no denying that Remezovsky is a fluid and mobile defender who does a great job at making that first pass. Remezovsky is trusted on the breakout, has an above average stride, and great body language that carries him through the NZ if needed. This might just be a prospect who takes longer to reach their ceiling in comparison to others.
Potential: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 2/10
148. Eric Pohlkamp- (Right Shot Defence) – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders – USHL – USA
I love Pohlkamp. As a DY+1, putting up the stats he did, on the team he did, all while being a physical force on the backend, makes me want to put Pohlkamp in my top 100. I’m not sure if he’ll end up there, but I want it. Pohlkamp is a bit undersized for the weight he carries, and while he does hit hard and actively seeks out physicality, he removes himself from good positioning to do so. His game-thinking will need some tuning before he makes the jump to the next level, but even offensively, the guy is gifted. Offering a booming shot, he’s exciting to watch when he’s on the power play and winding up for a shot. Pohlkamp puts so much strength behind those shots that have beaten the goaltenders time after time. He’s a bit of a below-average skater backwards, but his ability to scan the ice moving forwards is admirable. He’s got that dawg in him.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 3/10
149. Mark Sever- (Forward) – Kloten – U20-Elite – Slovenia
I actually really like Mark Sever and would be someone I’d easily take a tab on towards the end of the draft. There’s a lot of potential which is evident through his positioning. His hands are good in tight situations, he’s able to shift his way through opponents and has good finishing technique too.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Mark Sever is a forward with incredible hands who can read defenders well and can anticipate their movements. However, I find Sever to be on the slower side his stride is janky and he lacks top speed and acceleration. If Sever could fix his skating issues you would see a prolific point scorer with Sever’s impressive shot, passing and his offensive IQ at an already high level. Generally, Sever is strong on the puck and can be a real task stripping him from it although on the boards I would like to see a bit more tenacity from Sever. Faceoffs are good with a wide variety of tools”. – Joe Maciag
150. Ben Robertson- (Left Shot Defence) – Waterloo Blackhawks – USHL – USA
Robertson does few things very well, and the rest of his ability is certainly above average. Robertson displays a good amount of patience on the special teams, not throwing the puck away until he sees an opening that he likes, and he holds the blue line fairly well at even strength as well. Some things Robertson really needs to work on however, is his overall mobility and top-end speed, reactions, and not biting on certain players. Robertson often bites on creative players or plays which leaves him out of position in his own end, which turns into him running around defensively.
Potential: Middle-pair D
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Robertson is a small but strong puck moving defender. He makes a great first pass and does a good job at reading when to join the rush. He does a solid job at defending rushes and pushing forwards to the outside. He needs to improve his lateral movement to really take advantage of his vision from the point”. – Tait Borst
151. Erik Påhlsson- (Center) – HV71 – J20 Nationell – Sweden
I was a fan of Pahlsson last year, but this year, I’m surprised he isn’t getting more recognition. A strong player, Pahlsson can play down any lane of the ice and use his powerful stride and physicality to demand the play. Pahlsson can beat opponents clean before using his body to drive the net, and he showcases good hands, patience and playmaking ability. In the slot, Pahlsson can use a difficult-to-read release with a powerful shot that I believe could be beneficial to him moving on to the next levels. Moving down the middle of the ice in the defensive zone or neutral zone, his awareness and puck movement could be better, and I prefer he be on the outside in these areas.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Påhlsson is an overall good two-way forward, who plays well in all three zones. He is a good faceoff man, especially on his strong side. He also supports the breakout well and does well to position himself to support the defenseman in his own zone”. – Alfonso Acevedo
152. Connor MacPherson- (Winger) – Leamington Flyers – GOJHL – Canada
I’m not sure what it is, but MacPherson impressed me way more than I thought he would. Even playing in the GOJHL, MacPherson exemplified great athleticism, a strong skating stride, fantastic hands, great displays of patience, an above average shot, playmaking ability, and even winning much of his puck battles. I seriously think MacPherson would even be able to showcase this at the BCHL and NCAA levels. Give him a couple of years to develop, and I think he could pose a threat. Now, I get it was the GOJHL, but he’s one of the most dominating players I’ve seen in that league, and that could be hard to judge. However, I am confident in having him ranked, I think the only downside is that he’s potentially somebody that you wait for a little longer than most.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 2/10
153. Adam Gajan- (Goalie) – Chippewa Steel – NAHL – Slovakia
One of those goalies I didn’t want to buy into the hype from. I mean, a +1 draft eligible goaltender who is still playing in the NAHL? I had my doubts. But from watching him this season after his impressive WJC-20 stint, I can see it, and I dig it too. Gajan boasts some intense athletic abilities. His readiness and reaction to the puck is almost unmatched in this draft, his ability to spring up and drop down with such speed shows off his athletic ability, and his stretch saves highlight just how flexible he can be. Gajan may not become one of the best in this class, but in terms of goalies, the Minnesota-Duluth commit may boast one of the highest ceilings in the draft.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
- “Adam Gajan is an exciting, positionless goaltender that uses great athleticism and sharp reflexes to shut down opponents. He’s far from the most fundamental goaltender but knows how to make big plays in a way that only the best NHL goalies can. There’s going to be a long road ahead for Gajan, who will need to bring a general wash of maturity to his game, but he has a flashy style that will make him fun to follow. The sky seems to be the limit for Gajan”. – Gabe Foley
154. Charlie Stramel- (Center) – University of Wisconsin – NCAA – USA
I was wondering why, all season, there had been hype around Stramel that died off, and I’ve always sort of been on the opposite opinion of him. I didn’t see him as a top 10 guy, nor a first round pick, and looking back I’m not sure why things never clicked for him. He wasn’t all that offensive with the NTDP and would struggle to score, and then again in the NCAA except for a short burst, but I think I’ve finally understood the reason why. And knowing why is very important to understanding why I’m ranking him where I’m ranking him. It’s because Stramel is the best he can be in a low-paced environment. When the game slows down – on the power play, or on a 2-on-1, or an odd man rush, or a breakaway even for that matter – when he has time and space, he can finish. But when the game picks up, when the intensity is running, and players are all over each other and space is harder to hold, he isn’t noticeable. So while I’ve had Stramel low for most of the year, this could see him drop more, because the NHL is a different beast, and if he can’t produce in a high-paced environment for the NTDP, and you can’t do it in the NCAA either, I’m not certain it will be possible in the NHL.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 3.5/10
155. Linus Brandl- (Center) – Jungadler Mannheim – DNL U20 – Germany
Perhaps I overrated Brandl a little bit at the start of the year, but I’m still a fan. This is a natural C, he doesn’t cheat, he works hard in all areas of the game, and he’s a winner. Frankly put, he is a winner. Brandl, in the future, could become a very reliable 3C who can work the penalty kill, be physical and score a couple goals too.
Potential: Bottom 6 C
Potential rank: 3.5/10
- “Brandl is an excellent two-way centre he owns a big body and uses it excellently in both offensively and defensively. When going forward Brandl owns a range of impressive tools from a quick release, smooth passing and a big body which can be a nightmare for defenders. Using his high-level IQ and frame he generates a lot of success from the net front position acting as a screen or putting home rebounds and generally being a nuisance in front of the net. Brandl’s forechecking game is very good for his age he likes to go into the corners and play the body and play the energy role. Defensively, he does well and for a player of his offensive ability and output you often see the defensive game neglected but not for Brandl. We see a 200ft player just as willingly to play defence as offence he likes to use his body and stick to disrupt plays and is active in blocking pass/shot lanes. In terms of skating Brandl is good enough he can transition, has good top end speed and is strong on his skates although could add some agility and edge-work to his game”. – Joe Maciag
156. Mikey DeAngelo- (Winger) – Green Bay Gamblers – USHL – USA
The point totals may not be there, but you know what is? DeAngelo. Oh, he’s also there, there and there. DeAngelo has showcased great positional awareness and finds ice well in the neutral zone and offensive ends of the ice. He does a good job at protecting the puck and has a powerful stride to go along with it. He’s also much shiftier now than he was at the start of the season and bits of skill are starting to be highlighted, so I’m excited for what he can do in the future.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 3.5/10
- “Mikey DeAngelo made an interesting move to right wing this season, after spending much of high young career at center. The move significantly supported his forechecking, giving him more direction when driving into the zone and pressuring opponents. DeAngelo uses a big frame and quick stickhandling to make plays in the corners and control the slot. His directionless and blocky skating raise strong concerns about DeAngelo’s development path but for teams looking for a hard-playing, strong-frame winger with center experience, he’s a perfect fit”. – Gabe Foley
157. Tom Leppa- (Center) – Jokerit – U20 SM-sarja – Finland
I really like Leppa. As weak as this Finnish class is this year, there are a few that I truly champion based on the specific set of skills each of them hold. Leppa, for example, battles hard, has good footspeed and hustle, and a surprisingly good shot, but lacks the consistency. Too many times this season Leppa had bursts of skill just to be followed by an on-ice product that could be best described as a carless 3rd liner. He would look disengaged at times, and then pull you out of your seat a few games later. This problem rings true with many Fins this year. If he can fix the inconsistencies, I think he could win up as a good 3rd line centreman.
Potential: Bottom 6 C
Potential rank: 3.5/10
- “Tom Leppä’s biggest hindrance to his current game is his lack of speed. He has a good stride with some good mechanics and has good edges. He shows a decent level of strength to tie up his man in the faceoff dot and plays well defensively, where he supports his defensemen well and has good positioning. It’s his lack of top-speed, which is below-average, and his overall acceleration that needs the most work as he just can’t get the puck through the neutral zone himself. If he can improve this, I could see him as a good top nine player”. – Alfonso Acevedo
158. Aydar Suniev- (Winger) – Penticton Vees – BCHL – Russia
Suniev was able to finish a lot of chances in tight this year, showcasing that he can be a powerful and reliable presence in the slot, and a complimentary goal scorer at that. My biggest concern with Suniev is that his athleticism and ceiling are not as great as I’d hope them to be. He can work for his goals, power through opponents, but at the next levels, even the NCAA, I see him struggling a little bit more with his presence down the middle. I could still see him dominating the scoresheets, but finding more issues in his game. And then moving on from the NCAA, I’m just not sure the athleticism carries through. There are players who play faster and with more pace unfortunately, but he’s still an honest swing in the first half of the draft.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 3.5/10
- “Suniev is a big, strong, power forward. He has a fantastic one timer and a very quick release. He is strong on the puck and is hard to get off of it. He needs to work on his shot selection and work on his playmaking instead of forcing shots. He also needs to work on his speed. If he can gain more speed he could be a very dangerous player at the next level”. – Tait Borst
159. Tuomas Uronen- (Forward) – HIFK – U20 SM-sarja – Finland
Uronen is someone who is likely to be drafted in the late stages for his overall projectability. Someone who could fill a bottom line role, who can score maybe 10 goals in a season and be a reliable physical player as well. Uronen has some size to him that he knows to utilize and knows how to position himself as well. I don’t see the overall athleticism or pace to push him higher than a bottom line guy, but what you see is what you get and I think that could work out nicely for him in the future.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 3.5/10
- “Tuomas Uronen is a good skater who has both good edgework and acceleration. He moves the puck well on the cycle and can be dogged on pucks however there are some consistency issues that need to be sorted out. Uronen possesses a good shot that he gets off quickly and gets on net. There is some work needed to be done defensively as I would like to see him support his defensemen better in his own end. I also have some concern about his puck control as he has a tendency to lose the puck or have it slip off his stick”. – Alfonso Acevedo
160. Kalem Parker- (Right Shot Defence) – Victoria Royals – WHL – Canada
Parker has had hot flashes this year but there are gaps where I’m not noticing him as much on the ice. When he’s on though, he’s on, and Victoria was likely not a very easy team to play on this past season. Parker however, has above average skating, above average athleticism, physicality and a well-aimed shot that I think highlights him as a mid round pick. While only 6 ‘0, I believe there still could be room for him to step into the NHL someday due to his well-roundedness and hopeful upside as he becomes more consistent.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2.5/10
- “Kalem Parker is a guy who could turn out to be a top 4 dman. He has offensive instincts, He makes solid tape to tape passes, and skates really well, which is beneficial for the transition. He’s also very aggressive when attacking the puck carrier, closing the gap in order to snuff out the opposition”. – Rayan Tubeec
161. Norwin Panocha- (Left Shot Defence) – Eisbaren Juniors Berlin – DNL U20 – Germany
Panocha really impressed me throughout the year but he’s sometimes a difficult player to read. Panocha to me always looks like he could be more dominant than he is; with a good skating stride that has effortless power behind it, he looks like he could be much faster when carrying the puck. Panocha displays good patience and positioning and his passes are almost always tape to tape and hard. Panocha needs to open up his body more to make a play and come a bit further back when breaking out as his other defence partner sometimes has no one to support or pass to.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2.5/10
- “Panocha is quite a shifty defencemen who likes to minimise his gap control and play close to his opponents. On the blue line Panocha’s first instinct is to puck on net but I find this to be more of a confidence issue and he doesn’t want to handle the puck. His shot is weak but accurate which makes it great for tips and redirects in front. Isn’t afraid to get involved physically. Doesn’t like to break the puck out”. – Joe Maciag
162. Adam Dybal- (Goalie) HC Energie Karlovy Vary – Czechia U20 – Czechia
Dybal is one of the most athletic goaltenders I’ve seen come out of Europe in recent memory, but that doesn’t mean that he’s the best. He ranks highly athletically, but ranks fairly moderate in IQ, positioning, and poise, but ranks below average in near-net effectiveness. Too many times Dybal was giving up rebounds or lacking the awareness in tight to make saves, and that can be a bit scary. At the same time, he’s young, it’s a goalie, who knows what’ll happen.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
163. Nikita Ishimnikov- (Right Shot Defence) – Avto Yekaterinburg – MHL – Russia
I have mixed emotions on Ishimnikov. On one hand, he has size, he has good mobility and skating, brings intensity to the ice and has a booming shot… but on the other hand, he lacks using his size defensively, does not position himself very well and there are many times where I fear his decisions on the ice. I think Ishimnikov is somebody who boasts great potential, but is probably better saved for the later part of the draft.
Potential: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “While I do think he has a pretty funky offensive ability, I don’t believe he’s defined enough to be considered a top Russian player. His skating seriously worries me, as his mechanics look rusty and his quickness lacks. He often tangles himself up and fails to pivot from forward to backward. Because of that, he’s been burnt way too many times coming back the other way. I would see him as a 7th round possibility for some teams”. – Pavel Malyugin
164. Ty Higgins– (Right Shot Defence) – Acadie-Bathurst Titans – QMJHL – Canada
While he doesn’t have the cleanest stride, Higgins delivers above average power in his steps. He loves to rush the puck up ice if defenders are backing off, and he seems to have a fairly strong release too. My big issue with Higgins is that the spots where he is choosing to take his chances from, are not going to cut it at the next level. His defensive game does not help that either. I wouldn’t say Higgins is bad defensively, but probably below average for a draft eligible defender. Higgins attempts to explode northwards too early too often, or in bad judgement that can sometimes leave his team in a tricky situation. I think Higgins does showcase a lot of offensive skill, the bigger question is how translatable it is.
Potential: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
165. Austin Burnevik- (Winger) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Burnevik is a bigger bodied player on that NTDP squad, and while he has impressed me with his shooting, power, physicality and work ethic, there is one thing that is drastically holding him back; speed. Not just skating, but he lacks quickness in every area. At the next level, goalies are going to be able to read his shot so easily, and defence will catch up to him. But if that is something Burnevik can fix up in the next few years, his chances look solid.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 3.5/10
166. Larry Keenan- (Left Shot Defence) – Culver Military Academy – USHS-Prep – USA
Keenan shows that he can be an offensive minded defender, and while his USHS-Prep games highlight that, the competition is weaker than major junior leagues. I think given Keenan’s size and in-your-face style of play, that he may end up more equipped for the defensive side of things moving into the next levels. Don’t get me wrong, there is offensive flare there that will translate, but I do believe his defensive game is what will make that transition smoother in the long run. He’s a strong kid who brings a lot of power to the ice in his shifts.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2.5/10
167. Peetu Kiukas- (Left Shot Defence) – SaiPa – U20 SM-sarja – Finland
I actually really like Kiukas as he’s a safe player to place a bet on. Kiukas has above average skating with a strong stride that allows him to beat unknowing defenders, and he makes sure to execute it on controlled exits as well. Kiukas has a good shot from the point and looked to be a solid go-to on the power play for that reason and his one-timer. Kiukas makes sure to push outwards defensively, playing a bit higher but he has limited the opposing team to controlled entries quite a few times. I think there’s room for Kiukas to go towards the bottom of the draft as a reliable two-way defender who has a decent floor and maybe a surprising ceiling as well.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2.5/10
168. Emil Kuusla- (Winger) – Jokerit – U20 SM-sarja – Finland
Kuusla is a tricky one to rank because he has so much skill to him and can be a wildcard but… I don’t know what role he would play at the pro level in North America. I can’t see him filling a bottom 6 role, but I don’t know if I can see his skill truly bringing him up to a top 6 role. Kuusla is tough to gauge for that reason, but I’ll still have him ranked. Good feet, a shot that can be inconsistent but has resulted in some highlight-reel goals, but he doesn’t feel quick enough for the skills to fully translate.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “Emil Kuusla is a good skater who is willing to get himself in front of the net on the power play and is always seems to be moving. Kuusla possesses a good passing ability and does well to get his head up to headman the puck up to teammates. I would like to see him improve his puck-handling ability, as he tends to lose the puck when he is in full flight. I don’t think he’s aggressive enough in the neutral zone, he tends to back off defensively and waits for the opponent to break into the zone. I would also like to see him be more supportive on the break out as he’s often long gone leaving his teammate to make a far end pass which more often than not gets intercepted”. – Alfonso Acevedo
169. Emil Pieniniemi- (Left Shot Defence) – Karpat – U20 SM-sarja – Finland
Pieniniemi showcases good athleticism, while boasting decent size and playmaking ability. Pieniniemi is quick with his decision making, mirrors the oncoming rush well and is always scanning to hit teammates with crispy passes. I didn’t get as great of a read as I would have liked on him, but he’s a player I think I’d feel comfortable swinging on later in the draft based on his puck moving upside.
Potential: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “Emil Pieniniemi has really improved over this past year in my eyes. Earlier in the year I had concerns in regard to his passing accuracy, however over the last few months he has taken great strides in improving it. Pieniniemi is an overall good skater, his stride is good, and he has good acceleration. He has a good passing ability with a good first pass and get the puck up ice to his teammates well. Defensively he gets into position well and uses his stick well defensively, I would like to see him improve his one-on-one defense however as he is oftentimes defending more with his stuck than his body. I also love how he is willing to block shots”. – Alfonso Acevedo
170. Samuel Barcik- (Right Shot Defence) – HKM Zvolen – Slovakia – Slovakia
Honestly, the best part of Barcik’s game is that he has size and he knows how and when to use it. While Barcik doesn’t shy down from any battles or physicality, he can be late to jump into positions at times, missing a hit and positioning himself poorly, or let the forwards blow past him. Barcik is probably better suited for the late rounds of the draft.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2.5/10
- “Two-way defenseman with good size and skating, plays physical game and focuses more on defense than offense. Uses his reach to break up potential high danger plays from opponent. Uses his body very well around boards and retrieves the puck around them” – Adam Duchon
171. Raivis Strazdins- (Forward) – HS Riga – Latvia – Latvia
Although I didn’t watch too much of him to get super confident, I can definitely see me taking a late round swing on Strazdins. Playing in Latvia, the competition was fairly weak, but as a 6 ‘4 – 181 lbs forward who has good footspeed and a wicked shot, it makes me think something is there. Getting him to North America would be a blast, and I truly believe he would look good over here playing for a CHL team.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 1.5/10
172. Kevin Bicker- (Forward) – Jungadler Mannheim – DNL U20 – Germany
Bicker’s movements are not only smooth, but powerful too. Bicker constantly drives from the outside to the inside, using his body and a bit of physicality to fight for his space. Good hands in tight, good manipulation tactics and spatial awareness with the puck. Bicker has had a successful international season that I think should definitely earn him a draft spot.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 1/10
- “Bicker is a high energy forward with really good skill and compete level. Bicker gives 100% every shift and looks to help his team in every zone on the ice. A trademark of Bickers game is his excellent skating which beautifully blends speed, agility and strength which sees him skate down the wing and drive to net effectively. Offensively, Bicker can handle the puck extremely well especially at speed however his shot and passing could be improved in order to extract more production from his game. Bicker likes to throw the body and get involved on the forecheck and defensively which earns him penalty kill. Bicker has signed in DEL for the 2023/24 season, I am excited to see how he does at this level”. – Joe Maciag
173. Marco Mignosa- (Winger) – Soo Greyhounds – OHL – Canada
Mignosa’s ability to finish in close is among the best in the OHL, and while there are a few aspects of his game that I’m not a fan of. He needs to have more jump to his game, and maybe it’s just due to his overall athleticism, but I don’t see a top-end speed that I think will translate. He also needs to be more aware on-puck. He’s great at finding space off-puck, which is above-average in this class, but when trying to make a play with the puck, there are some concerns. Mignosa tries to force too much at times which leads to lost possession.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 1/10
174. Leo Braillard- (Winger) – Shawinigan Cataractes – QMJHL – Switzerland
I don’t know what it is with Braillard, he looks great at the Hlinka but then looks fairly average in regular season play in Switzerland. Doesn’t make the WJC-20 team, then heads over to the QMJHL where he starts off below average before gaining some confidence before the season ends. Then, he looks good again at the U18s. I think Braillard needs to gain some confidence and be the go-to guy in a year or two for a QMJHL team or even an NL team, where, if he can develop in that regard, he could be a fairly good scorer in the NHL. I’m just not so sure that Braillard can be the absolute go-to guy on a team.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 1/10
175. Damian Clara- (Goalie) Farjestads BK – J20 Nationell – Italy
Clara had a lot of hype heading into this season due to the fact that he could be the ‘next Italian stallion’ drafted into the NHL. I do agree with that assessment, Clara certainly deserves to be taken in this year’s draft, however, he fits in the back-half of this class. A good option anytime after the third/fourth round is where I see him. Clara has tremendous potential due to his size, but he ranks fairly average in most categories. His rebound control, his overall positioning, his consistency, his athleticism and so on. In fact, he’d probably receive a B in every skill that I’m looking for, which is not a bad thing, but it does make me question his ability to progress into the A or higher category. Despite that, Clara is still among the best in the class for goaltenders, and the ‘Italian stallion’ 100% deserves to hear his name on draft day.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
- “Damian Clara is a very athletic goalie who covers the bottom of the net well and good reaction time. He has good edges and gets from post to post well. I really like his confidence when coming out to play the puck and his ability to follow the puck. One area that I think Clara needs to work on is his gloves positioning when in set as it appears to be too low which hampers his ability to get his glove up quickly to make a save. This hurts his glove hand which is good but lacks consistency”. – Alfonso Acevedo
176. Jayson Shaugaby- (Winger) – Green Bay Gamblers – USHL – Canada
Shaugaby will certainly earn a ranking, but I don’t think I’m as high on him now as I was to start the season. He pulls off some fun moves, has a good shot and good offensive instincts and IQ, but the athleticism, ceiling and pace are not up to what I was hoping them to be. I don’t think Shaugaby has become all that much better than he was last year, and I worry about how often he slows down his game in the offensive end. I’d take him later in the draft.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 1/10
- “Jayson Shaugabay won Minnesota’s coveted ‘Mr. Hockey Award’ this season, on the back of a tremendous high school hockey season, where his quick stickhandling and even quicker feet were able to beat opponents with ease. Those abilities didn’t translate as well to the USHL in the second-half of Shaugabay’s season, although he was point-per-game in the league before his high school season started. There’s reason for doubt if Shaugabay’s frame and crafty style will translate upwards, but there’s no doubting that it gives him quite a high ceiling”. – Gabe Foley
177. Jakub Dvorak- (Left Shot Defence) – Liberec Bílí Tygři – Czechia – Czechia
Dvorak is fine, but there are some aspects of his game I just can’t get behind. Offensively, Dvorak is great. He’s tall, strong, has a good shot, has an average playmaking IQ from the blue line, and a fairly good skater. It’s when the puck comes out that everything goes south. He’s huge but he’s hesitant to play physically, he gets walked often because of that, he lacks defensive IQ, and he doesn’t have any high-end talents that would earn a high ranking. I’m not sure I see more than a possible 3rd pairing D-man, and that’s if he can fix up his defensive game.
Potential: Bottom pair D
Potential rank: 3/10
178. Brandon Svoboda- (Center) – Youngstown Phantoms – USHL – USA
Svoboda has a powerful stride that he uses often to beat defenders. A big body, Svoboda knows to lean into defenders to get a shot off and build room between defenders and the puck. He’s heavy, plays physically, has a great shot and I could easily see him being a 35 goal scorer in the USHL if he returned next season. I think he could wind up being a solid bottom 6 forward in the NHL someday given his effort levels, size and style of play.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Brandon Svoboda is a quippy playmaker that uses clean, sharp movements to jump around opponents and play the puck to teammates. He’s an exciting forward who operates between the three lanes well without sacrificing much positioning. But there’s more to be desired with Svoboda’s hockey IQ and ability to get involved in play. He has a lot of potential to turn into an exciting NHL lineup piece but seems like he has quite a bit of maturing to go. If a patient team can give him the time to grow, they could be happily rewarded”. – Gabe Foley
179. Cole Knuble- (Center) – Fargo Force – USHL – USA
One of the more exciting over-agers in the draft, Knuble had quite a bit of offensive help in Fargo this year, but that doesn’t diminish the player he is. Knuble is a complimentary piece that I think will continue to fit that bill down the road, offering a hard nose-for-the-net, offensive instincts and a tremendous work ethic, Knuble is someone I’d certainly consider in the back half of the draft.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
180. Matteo Fabrizi- (Left Shot Defence) – Red Deer Rebels – WHL – Canada
I am willing to put away any criticisms about Fabrizi’s game aside, so long as he can continue being the massive hitter that I’ve seen he can be. I’m honestly surprised he isn’t talked about as much – and I understand the point totals don’t stick out, or that he may not be up to speed moving to the next level, but I don’t even care about that. What I do know is Fabrizi hits, he understands his role in hitting, and he hits hard. Fabrizi can continuously knock guys over and engage in battles, and I honestly find his defensive positioning to be fairly close to average. If you give him a few years, I believe there might be room for a guy like that on a bottom pairing line.
Potential: Bottom pair D
Potential rank: 3/10
181. Saige Weinstein- (Left Shot Defence) – Spokane Chiefs – WHL – Canada
Weinstein has shown flashes of high skill this season, but through my viewings I couldn’t help but feel he was very inconsistent. Shift by shift and game by game. The positives lay in his smart defensive decisions on when to step up, when to pinch and when to cut, but there are times where the effort level just feels lacking. There are shifts that just feel he doesn’t have as much ‘oomph’ to make a play. On top of that, I felt Weinstein did not develop as much as I thought he could have this season, which makes him fall outside of my top 100, but makes for an interesting pick in the late rounds if a team can get a consistent effort and play out of him.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2/10
182. Beau Jelsma- (Center) – Barrie Colts – OHL – Canada
Jelsma is someone I’ve been watching for a while now. Going undrafted last year, I’m hopeful it won’t be the same story this year. Jelsma fits well in Barrie’s system and shows all the tools to put him in a potential NHL position someday. Positions himself well offensively and can battle through the middle of the ice. Knows when to attack and that’s what makes him special, on the puck or off the puck, his awareness on when to attack the middle or the net is one of the best in the OHL. Although I don’t think Jelsma’s ceiling is very high, I would definitely take a swing on him in the later rounds of the draft and hope he can turn out a bottom 6 role.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
- “Jelsma never stops when he is on the ice. His continuous motor is a great support tool for his dynamic playmaking abilities. Although his 5’9” height may scare some scouts away, his effective skating and anticipation allow him to move around the ice easily. I do not expect him to get passed over for a second time”. – Curtis Rines
183. Colton Jamieson- (Left Shot Defence) – Cretin-Derham Hall – USHS-MN – USA
Jamieson really impressed me in the few viewings I’ve had of him, but from what I gathered, even against top Minnesota High School teams, is that he’s legit. The University of St. Thomas commit has some size to him and can shoot the lights out. Jamieson picks his pockets very well and jumps into offence a lot. Maybe too much and to the detriment of his defence, but he does battle hard in his own end of the ice. Jamieson has shown to be a good puck distributor too with good breakout habits. However, as mentioned, defence, especially at the next level, may be a bit of a problem. There is a lot of skill there and some potential that would offer a possible pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2/10
184. Ondrej Molnar- (Forward) – Erie Otters – OHL – Slovakia
I’m not sure what happened, but the move over to Erie likely hurt Molnar’s draft stock quite a bit for me. I just find that while he’s a very smart player, there were too many players in the OHL that looked bigger, stronger and faster than him. Molnar is a decent playmaker, but he can panic with the puck and while he has short bursts of confidence, it feels like he really stepped back in terms of play. I think he should go in the back half of the draft.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 1/10
- “Molnar is a playmaking winger who has speed and intensity in his game. His pass-first tendencies make him a threat to anticipate plays at a high rate and always find his teammates in open space. Molnar is also strong defensively. He holds high defensive IQ and is constantly creating turnovers. His penalty killing is strong due to his scanning habits and awareness around the ice. Molnar also works well as a primary puck carrier as he pushes the pace of play to match his own intensity. He needs to up his strength moving forward to match the physicality at the professional level, but Molnar has the talent to be a reliable top-nine winger who can play in all situations”. – Curtis Rines
185. Anton Maryshev- (Left Shot Defence) – MHK Spartak Moskva – MHL – Russia
Maryshev is an above average skater with a decently powerful stride, and he sees open ice well. Maryshev can take the puck for a skate, however his puck handling is sometimes a question mark. I also question Maryshev’s decision making offensively, and much of the time defensively as well. I find Maryshev tries to do too much and cover too much space, and he ends up being far more active than he needs to be and dispositions himself too often.
Potential: Middle pair D
Potential rank: 1/10
186. Alexander Suvorov- (Forward) – Cherepovets Severstal – KHL – Belarus
In his draft year plus two, and albeit, an older player at that, I feel there is potential for Suvorov to step into the NHL someday, so why not take a chance on drafting him. He’s undersized, but still has strength to add, he has good speed and fair skating technique, his shot is a little weaker for my liking but he picks his shots well. Oh, and he’s been doing very well in the KHL for his age. I think there might be something there for a late-late pick.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 1/10
- “An overeager every NHL team needs to be targeting. Suvorov has emerged as a solid middle-six player for Severstal this season and he’s been able to show his creativity and versatility on 5v5 and even strength. Suvorov has shown promise on a poor KHL team and he’s been able to show that he’s capable of taking on drastic minutes and tough competition. Alexander Suvorov is a player who’s proven to me that he’ll transition to the NHL with almost no hesitation. He is under a KHL contract for a while, but he’ll be there eventually. This is an Andrei Kuzmenko situation, except NHL teams have the opportunity to take this player in the draft and have the upper hand if he comes to North America”. – Pavel Malyugin
187. Brad Gardiner- (Center) – Ottawa 67s – OHL – Canada
Gardiner knows how to finish a play. A no-quit type of player, Gardiner is known for puck battles and patience in front of the net. He battles for his goals but knows to hold onto the puck when he can. His skating is a bit below average, and his overall puck protection isn’t the greatest, but Gardiner can fire it into the net and is always present for high danger opportunities.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
188. Drew Fortescue- (Left Shot Defence) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Fortescue will need to work on a couple of things before making the jump, and likely has a long NCAA career ahead of him. I find, even as a defender, he plays more on the outside than he should be. He moves the puck well to the inside, but I’m not sure the athleticism would allow him to compete down the sides with stronger and faster competition getting in his way. Fortescue is fine on the back end, able to disrupt rushes from time to time with a good defensive stick, but I’m unsure about the total upside and athleticism.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2/10
189. Yegor Zavragin- (Goalie) – Mamonty Yugry – MHL – Russia
I’m not sure if the style was different early in the year and that’s what led to some hype, but watching the recent games of Zavragin and I’m not very convinced. A goofy stance makes Zavragin noticeable in the net, and not always for good reason. He plays very tight to the goal line and drops down often and can stay there at times for no reason, this has been the sole reason he was getting scored on in my latest viewings. He boasts good athleticism but often takes small stutter steps to get into position. Again, I think Zavragin may be an ok selection in the 7th round based on his athleticism, but the positioning and IQ need some serious help if he wants to be in the NHL someday.
Potential: Goalie
Potential: Goalie
- “A disappointing season for him. I didn’t enjoy his inconsistency and a lot of his on-ice results looked like it rooted from his lack of focus and engagement. I do expect him to be picked, but I wouldn’t really draft him. Not now, at least”. – Pavel Malyugin
190. Oliver Tulk- (Center) – Calgary Hitmen – WHL – Canada
Tulk is a bit of a smaller player, but does look a little larger than his listed 5’8 stature. Tulk showcases good skating, purposeful skating and a nice release to make him a threat down low in the zone. My biggest critique on Tulk is that off-puck, he does not skate well. He jumps too early in the breakout, looking for easy central passes, cheating to get to specific spaces, and far too many times is skating behind a defender in hopes of receiving a gorgeous pass – taking himself out of an actual clean passing lane. Regardless, Tulk showcases good athleticism and should be valued in the mid-to-late stages of the draft.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 1/10
191. Calem Mangone- (Winger) – Saginaw Spirit – OHL – Canada
I know some people don’t have him ranked, and that’s fine, but Mangone is too fun to leave off my list. He doesn’t rank highly in skating and speed, or strength and shooting, but the one area he ranks highly in, is magic. Mangone has amazing hands, and he’s able to manipulate opponents constantly. Smart with his positioning, Mangone’s highlight-reel chase is why he had the point totals he did this year. He’s confident, he’s fun, and I have seen just how hard of a worker he is when he wants something. So why not draft him, and develop him (especially the skating), because he could be a very fun player in the NHL.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 1/10
192. Griffin Erdman- (Forward) – Waterloo Blackhawks – USHL – USA
Erdman is able to show that he’s a reliable player offensively when working the puck down low, but I’m not too sure what else Erdman will be able to be above average with at the next level. He’s a fine skater, he takes a lot of shots, many of which come from the slot but many of which are also low danger shots. He’s a smaller player at just 5 ’10, but he does pack a punch and work for his goals – I’m just not sure how he will stack up against tougher defence when working for goals in the future.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 1/10
193. Ty Mason- (Winger) – Weyburn Red Wings – SJHL – Canada
With room to fill out, Mason already has a difficult-to-read release that he uses to beat goalies clean from anywhere on the ice. His ability to create space in SJHL rinks is very noticeable, and while the footspeed doesn’t bring me out of my seat against this level of competition, his skating is generally effective. Mason does hang out in low-scoring areas sometimes, but often lets off incredible one-timers to make it worth it. Able to create space through skating off-puck offensively sometimes, Mason can be inconsistent and unnoticeable. I do believe there is enough potential here, and his commitment to Western Michigan should help develop him further. I’d likely spend a late round pick on him.
Potential: Middle 6 Winger
Potential rank: 1/10
- “Mason is a hard worker. He plays a quick game and is good at finding his teammates. He is more of a playmaker than goal scorer” – Tait Borst
194. Martin Matejicek- (Left Shot Defence) – HC Dukla Jihlava – Czechia U20 – Czechia
Matejicek is huge. That’s it. That’s all I really have to say. The basis of Matejicek’s game is that he hits hard (he needs to be hitting more), he shoots hard and he plays hard. His overall mobility isn’t necessarily bad but it isn’t above-average either. He’s relied on for shots from the blue line, and giving him space isn’t a great decision to make. Moving forward, Matejicek needs to work on his physicality, athleticism and mobility and his defensive positioning at times.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 2/10
195. Rasmus Larsson- (Left Shot Defence) – Vasteras IK – J20 Nationell – Sweden
Larsson is a defender who I can get behind. He breaks out in dramatic fashion, making the rushes look easy, he has size to him and while he needs to learn a more defensive part of his game, he can be physical and use his stick to end rushes. Larsson’s breakouts are fun, he’s a good skater, he takes every bit of space that he’s given, but my one biggest concern of Larsson is that … he takes too much time to make plays, which is often. As a DY+1 defender, I need him to become quicker to show that he can be successful when time and space gets thin.
Potential: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 1/10
196. Roman Kantserov- (Forward) Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk – MHL – Russia
Kantserov started the year off in many scouts’ first two rounds, but I’ve sort of fallen out of putting him up there the longer the year has progressed. To me, Kantserov does a lot of things average or slightly above average, but lacks doing anything to a high level. Which makes me think Kantserov will likely be better suited for the junior leagues before maturing into a decent KHL player rather than someone who would be great in the NHL. I think he’s more of a mid to late round talent than anything else.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 2.5/10
- “If you like players that play the game with pace and skill, you’ll definitely have time for Kantserov. For my money, Kantserov has been the best regular on Magnitogorsk’s MHL roster for the past two seasons, as he initially grabbed my attention as a D-1 player with his high-energy skill game. When Kantserov is playing at his best, he’s all over the ice, making plays and swarming the offensive zone at top speed in constant search of scoring opportunities. Kantserov I find to be a better playmaker than a scorer, but I do like his dual-threat ability, and I think has the skill to be a top nine NHL winger with powerplay upside”. – Brandon Holmes
197. Jaden Lipinskie- (Center) – Vancouver Giants – WHL – Canada
A huge-bodied forward, Lipinskie ranks above average in patience, possession and shooting but ranks below average in skating, IQ and pace. Lipinskie, to me, reminds me more of a 4th line grinder than somebody playing the middle 6 looking to generate offence. He does well in front of the net, he plays physically, he isn’t afraid of the dirty areas, but there aren’t enough athletic skills to warrant a middle 6 projection.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 2.5/10
198. Juha Jatkola- (Goalie) – KalPa – Liiga – Finland
Jatkola has done fine this year, especially being the age that he is, and while I don’t think I agree with the rankings of NHL Central Scouting, I do see the possibility of drafting him in the later stages of the draft. He has good movement, good poise, and responsible positioning. My only worry is how high his ceiling could be.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
- “One of the oldest goalies in the draft class, Jatkola has already been passed over twice. That being said, he really didn’t show being worthy of a draft pick until he exploded as a 19 year old this past season. His World juniors performance kick started a season that saw him take over the number 1 role in the Liiga for Kalpa. Not the biggest guy in the world but extremely fluid with his movements. Jatkola won’t wow you with athleticism, but positions himself well in the net, cuts down second chances and has great balance to avoid falling into scramble mode. Rarely do I see Jatkola lose his net and desperately try to get back”. – Danny Tiffany
199. Deagen McMillan- (Winger) – Tri-City Americans – WHL – Canada
McMillan really really impressed me in my viewings. Probably not the highest ceiling, but I could definitely see him taking on an NHL role someday. I see him as a bottom 6 power-forward who can be reliable to generate offence and keep pressure on the play. McMillan is much smarter than most power forwards, and boasts fairly high hockey IQ in my opinion. He’s very patient with the puck when needed, exceptional puck control and battles hard for his offence. He knows to lean into players, and with his size, he’s hard to knock off the puck. What makes me confident in McMillan is how easily he is able to control the middle in the offensive end, especially in a dominant league like this season’s WHL.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 2.5/10
200. Kristian Kostadinski- (Left Shot Defence) – Frolunda HC – J20 Nationell – Sweden
Standing at 6 ‘5, Kostadinski stands out easily. His skating stride is pretty good for his size, and while there is a fantastic base to work with, Kostadinski will need to seriously work on many parts of his game. His decision making can be short sided and questionable at times, often throwing the puck away, he can hug the blue line too long, losing out on scoring chances, he can take himself out of the play to make a hit and there are times where it seems he really has to think of the play he’s about to make. Other than that, great ceiling and a good swing to make late.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “Kristian Kostadinski is one of the tallest prospects in this year’s draft, he possesses a long reach and has a long stride. He skates well however there will need to be some improvements to it as his top-speed is below average and is a slow pivoter. Defensively, Kostadinski uses his long reach to knock the pucks off his opponents sticks and is willing to be physical, especially in front of the net where he makes it as uncomfortable as possible for the forwards. I would like to see him improve his passing ability as its accuracy needs work as does his first pass which is very inconsistent”. – Alfonso Acevedo
201. Zachary Nehring- (Winger) – Shattuck St. Mary’s – USHS-Prep – USA
Definitely has an above average and well-established shot, but I can’t help but find Nehring lacks some athletic smoothness and quickness in his game to translate over to the next level. Nehring was counted upon offensively as a go-to once they worked it down low, but the amount of offence that he was able to generate all by himself at the prep level was not as impressive as I’d hoped. I think Nehring will have a longer development ahead of him, but he has a lot of tools that will be translatable as a bottom 6 winger.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 2.5/10
202. Magomed Sharakanov- (Left Shot Defence) – MHL Dynamo Moskva – MHL – Russia
Hmmm. When watching Sharakanov, far too many times it seems he really wants to play forward rather than defence. And while he boasts a lot of forward skills that come in handy, he leaves his positioning which sometimes bites him in the butt. Defensively, I think Sharakanov really has to think of his positioning sometimes and again, there have been errors that have become costly in that sense. He is strong however and has a fun offensive toolkit so who knows, maybe he can make it work.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “I love this kid and fully believe he’s a top 100 talent in the NHL draft this year. He’s not afraid to escape from his zone and rush across the ice to try to pull off a crazy move. Even defensively, he can control opponents by forcing them into the worst spots to steal the puck and escape. Sharakanov’s willingness to explode and be the most dangerous guy on the ice comes with the issue of him not passing the puck or utilizing his teammates. He tends to ignore the simple pass on a breakout and goes right down the middle to look scary. Because of how skillful he is (which is impressive considering his size), he has enough confidence to pull off some of these moves. But when they don’t work, it’s so obvious that he doesn’t pre-plan his attacks and his speed doesn’t let him catch up quickly enough. I do believe that he’s got a North American style of play, but being able to play positional hockey while maintaining a consistent teammate style of play is a massive work in progress. But thanks to his size, physicality, and scoring, I can see him being a top 100 player in the NHL entry draft”. – Pavel Malyugin
203. Luke Coughlin – (Left Shot Defence) – Rimouski Oceanic – QMJHL – Canada
Coughlin is an interesting one. Able to hold the blue line very well, and his east-west game is strong, but I find Coughlin doesn’t quite capture the same high-skill athleticism needed to make the jump to the next level a bit easier. As a defence, I see Coughlin get beat by opponents too often, even when they are both facing the same direction. Sometimes his decision making on-puck defensively throws me off and there are plays that leave me scratching my head, but then he goes on the offensive, builds space with ease and scores. I see the offensive output, I’m just not sold on the upside.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “He didn’t play a QMJHL game until December this season due to an injury. It’s going to hurt his draft stock, but teams should take notice of him. As a power-play catalyst, he finds open teammates putting opposing penalty killers off balance. His puck movement ability is the kind of thing all NHL scouts are looking for from defenders. Strong skating mechanics are demonstrated as he executes clean, controlled zone exits. Teammates rely upon him to carry through neutral ice, and make a decisive pass to start the attack. His rangy lateral movement ability allows him to gain speed through his crossovers as he moves to avoid interceptors. He’s occasionally inexplicably bad at scrambles around his own net. It’s almost like he’s frozen by indecision and he ends up watching his team get scored upon. That’s probably something that can be coached out of him”. – Jack Dawkins
204. Paul Fischer- (Left Shot Defence) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Fischer moves around the ice well and can often look like an effortless skater – able to move in all 4 directions with smoothness. He also plays a huge safety net game, doesn’t do much that needs to be criticized, but my worry is that because of his style, I’m not sure where his potential lies. Fischer plays a solid game at all ends of the ice, makes good passes, smart distributions of the puck, plays smart positionally, but nothing high end. He also lacks physicality at times in the defensive end, so for someone his size and lacking physicality, I’d wish he showed more of an offensive jump to his game.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
205. Quinn Mantei- (Left Shot Defence) – Brandon Wheat Kings – WHL – Canada
While he doesn’t boast the cleaning skating stride, Mantei is still an above average skater who knows to take space when given the opportunity. Making smart passes, Mantei does well on the backend moving the puck up ice, scanning for open teammates and keeping it simple. Mantei has good potential, but some defensive decisions can be questionable from time to time.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
206. Alexander Rykov- (Winger) – Chelmet Chelyabinsk – VHL – Russia
The divide between the top few Russian’s in the class and the rest of the Russians is fairly large. Rykov falls somewhere in the middle. At times, he can showcase a powerful, yet goofy stride driving the net, and other times he just sort of looks, O.K. His shot can be heavy but I don’t find he often reaches his top shot potential, nor his top speed … while these are things that could be considered means for lots of potential, I’m not sure I see it the same way. Rykov will take quite a while to reach the NHL if he does, as I don’t find him technically sound.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 2/10
207. Carsen Musser- (Goalie) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Musser seems to be an OK bet in the late stages of the draft. He’s big and boasts good goalie size, but there are aspects of his game that need some serious fine tuning. To start, Musser needs to have more confidence in himself when positioning in the crease. Musser is constantly taking little steps to center himself, making him easy to catch off guard / making him easy to manipulate. Musser also drops down too early a lot of the time and can play too small in his crease for his size. Keeping this in mind, he still positions himself well and could be a fun pick in the 6th or 7th round of this draft.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
208. Xavier Daigle- (Left Shot Defence) – Cape Breton Eagles – QMJHL – Canada
I like Daigle. He does a lot of things fairly average, but well-rounded enough that I enjoy his game and still see some upside in him. He maneuvers the ice well, opening his hips to create space and maintain possession, he finds good escape routes defensively and knows when to push into the slot for a shot. I see enough potential that would earn him a late round pick, he just needs to build his defensive game when playing against the other team rushing into the zone.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 1/10
- “I like his gap control, but I don’t love his gap control and for him to succeed at the next level, that’s going to have to be his bread and butter. Doesn’t quite have the footspeed needed to recover from his own mistakes and misreads. Does not generate enough offensive impetus to offset the holes in his defensive game”. – Jack Dawkins
209. Alex Weiermaier- (Forward) – USA U18 – NTDP – USA
Weiermaier is fine, but there are too many flags that stick out of his game to put him anywhere in the first four rounds for me. Firstly, for the player he is, he’s too selfish. There were so many plays that could have happened this year that didn’t because he wanted to be the one to carry it. He wanted to have the possession, he wanted to do the extra play instead, which is sometimes fine depending on the player, but Weiermaier is a below-average skater, which resulted in him coughing up the puck many times when holding the puck. He’s got a good shot, and has size, but there are too many non-translatable skills for me to have him in the first half of the draft.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 2/10
210. Rainers Rullers- (Center) – Zemgale – Mestis – Latvia
Rullers has had quite the year over in Latvia, and the Mestis league in Finland, and has earned a spot on my ranking. The 6’4 power forward delivers a powerful shot, able to let his release go from anywhere, be a net-front man and even have flashes of skill driving the lanes. I think once Rullers adds some strength he could be a fun player to keep tabs on.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Rullers is a huge 6’4 centre with a great hockey IQ. Offensively, Rullers has a well-rounded toolset with room for improvement in all areas but his one-timer is one of his best assets . I would say Rullers has a pass first mentality with his ability to set up some really nice plays for his teammates. His skating can be quite slow with poor acceleration but once he gets going his speed is serviceable. His size is instantly noticeable when watching Rullers which can cause a lot of problems for any opposition as he dominates players in the Mestis. Although he does not use his size enough for my liking instead he would rather use his stick to disrupt plays. Defensively Rullers is good with solid faceoffs, good positioning and a long reach which helps a lot when going into board battles” – Joe Maciag
211. Aiden Fink- (Winger) – Brooks Bandits – AJHL – Canada
Aiden Fink is fine, but I just don’t see anything that warrants a top 100 pick. Fink does put in a good effort each game, but that comes with some of my worries. He has to battle for his goals in the AJHL. While that could be seen as a good thing, he hasn’t shown that he’s ‘too elite’ for that league, leading me to think the WHL would be a completely different story for him. I also see a lot of perimeter play with him that I’m not sure will help him in the long run. I still think a late rounder is where he should be.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 2/10
212. Nico Myatovic- (Forward) – Seattle Thunderbirds – WHL – Canada
Myatovic is a fine player, and ranks average in almost every category. Perhaps above average in his puck protection and work ethic. However, Myatovic does not strike me as someone who is going to come up big in moments or demand space or battle for the middle of the ice. I think he plays a little too much on the outside a lot and gets a lot of help from teammates opening up the ice for him.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Myatovic is a compilatory winger, he’s not a guy who is a line-driver per say. He’s got the tools to become a power forward in the NHL. He’s got good lateral movement, he sets himself in dangerous areas to set himself up for scoring chances. He’s also a good forechecker too, which helps Seattle maintain offensive pressure. He’s active in the defensive zone, knows where to be in terms of positioning”. – Rayan Tubeec
213. Noah Erliden- (Goalie) – HV71 – J20 Nationell – Sweden
You know, it’s just one of those goalies that despite the size, you have to respect enough to draft ‘em. Erliden plays a very calm and composed style of goaltending that allows him to come up clutch at important times. Erliden is hardly thrown off his game, his overall positioning would receive an A grade in my books, poise would be an A as well, and rebound control would likely be an A- or B+. To emphasize again, although Erliden is undersized, his skillset is too respectable to not have ranked, and I believe he showed great bouts of that skill set at the U18s, that realistically should lead to a draft card.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
214. Emil Kvernmo Wasenden- (Left Shot Defence) – Frisk Asker – Norway – Norway
Wasenden played well this year in the Norway pro league, and while not registering a goal in regular season action, did manage 24 assists in 51 games. Upon watching Wasenden this year compared to last year, he looks to fit in with the pro players in Norway as a young defence, which is always a good sign. Wasenden has good skating and doesn’t get beat very often with a lack of effort, he knows to play the body and not get sucked into opposing players moves. He isn’t noticeable defensively, which is a good thing because I don’t see him making any glaring mistakes that lead to goals. He picks up his man and stays on him well, and has good first passes to execute the breakout. Wasenden also throws a pretty good hit on guys, so there’s no lack of physicality from him.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 1/10
215. Jakub Stancl- (Winger) – Vaxjo Lakers – J20 Nationell – Czechia
Stancl looks best in front of the net, batting at pucks and using his size and strength to knock guys off the puck or out of the way. However, Stancl’s game is far too inconsistent and size-oriented for me to take him higher than the late rounds. Stancl to me, fits the bill of a potential fourth liner who could eventually fill in a grinder role where he has to battle for his goals in front of the net. Which, he does most of the time anyways.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 2/10
216. Collin Graf- (Winger) – Quinnipiac University – NCAA – USA
I watched Graf in his draft year and felt he probably wasn’t someone I would be eyeing up to draft. Then I watched Graf last year and felt he was a bit more convincing, but still somebody who I likely was not going to take a swing on. Watching Graf late in the year here, and I’m finally ready to pick him up in the later rounds. Graf has good foot speed, has a strong stride that allows him to physically drive the net and get a shot off. Graf is somebody who doesn’t shy away from tougher spots on the ice and his puck protection has made him quite the dangerous player in the NCAA.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Graf is a very crafty player. He has quick hands, good vision, and a really quick release. Couple that with his hockey IQ and work ethic and he has become a top player in the NCAA. He is a strong skater but needs to work on building muscle so he can win more battles”. – Tait Borst
217. Dylan Hryckowian- (Winger) – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders – USHL – Canada
Hryckowian is very intriguing. He is a DY+1 but was over a PPG in action with the Cedar Rapids USHL club. While his skating is average and his size doesn’t stand out – he can certainly play. Hryckowian showcases great amounts of patience, especially on the power play, and his shot selection is also well above average. Hryckowian is committed to Northeastern, and I think that they will clean up his skating a bit more and help develop that part of his game into his current skill set. On top of that, I’ve also noticed Hryckowian often intercepts pucks in the DZ and NZ, leading to breakouts, entries, and breakaways.
Potential: Bottom 6 Forward
Potential rank: 2/10
- “Dylan Hryckowian is a feisty forward that loves being in the heart of play, sometimes to a fault as he can get into the way of play. But being involved is the name of the game for Hryckowian, who uses a strong posture and physical style to battle opponents and work with his teammates. He also flexes a strong, sling-shot style of wrister that can beat goalies clean. But Hryckowian’s skating fundamentals raise cause for concern and might warrant quite an overhaul in the coming year, limiting his projectability as it stands. NHL upside exists for Hryckowian but it’ll take an effort to reach it”. – Gabe Foley
218. Ian Blomquist- (Goalie) – Vasteras IK – Allsvenskan – Sweden
I’m not sure I agree with Blomquist being a top 10 goalie this year, especially as a +2 draft eligible goaltender, but I do see why teams would be interested. Blomquist boasts some great positioning for a goalie, knows where to be on the ice and reads developing plays well. However, at times, Blomquist doesn’t look like he has a high athletic skill that would allow him to make very difficult saves. He looks a little slow in the net at times. I wouldn’t mind swinging on him late in the draft however, as I see a potential backup goaltender in him.
Potential: Goalie
Potential rank: Goalie
219. Antonio Fernandez- (Right Shot Defence) – Lincoln Stars – USHL
Fernandez generates a lot of power in his release, which he uses quite frequently from the blue line. Fernandez is someone who’s trusted on the power-play due to his ability to push opponents back and take ground in the middle of the ice. Good passing, Fernandez makes smart decisions by putting the puck tape to tape, but isn’t afraid to also skate it in through the neutral zone. Fernandez shows that he can be a decent offensive defenceman who can read opponents stick checks well and takes advantage of it. Fernandez is however, a smaller defender and doesn’t excel defensively.
Potential: Bottom-pair D
Potential rank: 1/10
- “Fernandez is a small smooth skating dman. He is a good passer and has good lateral movement. He joins the rush often but needs to work on not taking himself out of position to try to make something happen on the offensive side of the puck. Also needs to gain strength to be able to win more board battles” – Tait Borst
220. Stanislav Yarovoy- (Forward) – Vityaz Moscow Region – KHL – Russia
Out of the many Russian overagers for this draft, Yarovoy has probably proven to be one of the most translatable. He plays strong down the middle, can win puck battles, can rip it on goalies and make plays at the KHL level. He’s an above average skater, above average battler, and above average shooter. However, I’m not sure I see a lot of potential moving forward. When I watch Yarovoy, even a few years down the road, I’m not sure I see somebody who ends up in the top 6 role.
Potential: Bottom 6 W
Potential rank: 1.5/10
221. Matteo Mann- (Right Shot Defence) – Chicoutimi Sagueneens – QMJHL – Canada
Mann is an absolute force on the ice, who not only throws around his weight as much as he can, but his success rate of knocking players off the puck or knocking them off their feet. In all honesty, Mann is not someone you are looking at to play big minutes or in big situations; he isn’t offensive, he sometimes lacks defensive IQ, but one thing is for certain – he’s huge and will add some size and strength to any team. It’s probably worth a swing at the end of the draft.
Potential: Bottom pairing D
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “Big. 6’5 and 225 pounds from Sackville, New Brunswick. He looks like a linebacker on skates. Just an unpleasant player to have to go against in a wall or corner battle. Has a powerful skating stride and changes direction well for a player his size. Not really a carry-out threat, but he does well to send break out passes to teammates in all types of situations”. – Jack Dawkins
222. Samuel Fiala- (Center) – Bili Tygri Liberec – Czechia U20 – Czechia
Fiala has a bomb of a shot. Has some size to him, has a heavy stride that he uses to get down the ice quickly, and can absolutely rip it. Mind you, it has been very inconsistent. I think Fiala is somebody who eventually could make the NHL as a bottom 6 player who can act as a net-front guy and bury pucks from time to time, but that’s about all I can see for a player of his style.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 1.5/10
- “Reliable two-way forward with fast skating and good stride. Fiala is very unpredictable and tough to defend as he is able to change direction and confuse opponent. His playmaking ability is on a good level and finds his teammates in danger positions”. – Adam Duchon
223. Kalle Carlsson- (Center) – Orebro HK – J20 Nationell – Sweden
Watching Carlsson towards the end of the season, and he continues to drop for me unfortunately. I just don’t see any real jump in play compared to last season or even the start of this season, which would certainly worry me if I’m drafting in the first half of the draft. Taking a closer look and I feel Carlsson sort of ranks fairly average in every aspect as well … I’d maybe take him in the late stages of the draft.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 1/10
- “Kalle Carlsson is a player that I think could become a good middle six forward at the next level. He possesses a good skating ability with good acceleration which he uses to force defensemen into making a quick decision. Carlsson’s overall passing ability is good however there are times where he will completely miss his teammates stick, so I would like to see his accuracy improve. He also possesses decent vision however, although I am able to see what he is trying to do his execution is still a work in progress” – Alfonso Acevedo
224. Petter Vesterheim- (Forward) – Mora IK – J20 Nationell – Norway
Vesterheim had a successful season points wise in the J20 in Sweden, and even earned a spot on Norway’s National Men’s Team. Vesterheim to me, has a lot of high-floor value but I’m not sure I see a lot of high-ceiling upside with him, so I have to use my judgement to say I think he’s a very late pick in hopes that he could fill a 4th line role someday.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 1/10