The 2022 NHL Draft is right around the corner, just 1 week away from the release of this draft guide. The purpose of this draft guide is to provide a slightly in-depth reasoning as to why these players are ranked where they are ranked. Albeit, it is not exactly my proudest work. This year being the first time doing an actual draft guide, mostly solo but with some help from other members here at RecruitScouting, it’s been difficult. It may not read the smoothest, it may not fully show in-depth my feelings about these players, but it is a quick write up that I’ve really pushed myself to do this year – in an ongoing burnout. With that note out of the way, let’s talk about this draft class, and I promise, now that I know how much time this will take, it will be a year-long project for next year.
The 2022 NHL Draft class was discussed as being a top-tier draft class for nearly 3 years now, and while it has taken a hit in greatness, I still think this class is fairly strong, however, it may not be too deep. Of course, with the pandemic blasting through the hockey world and shutting down games, it’s still hard to tell what this class will look like 10 years down the road. Who knows, this could be stronger than any of us imagined.
#1- Logan Cooley- Say what you want, but Logan Cooley is my number 1 go-to guy for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The almost 5’11 centreman had my attention all year long, and the upside is too good to pass on at the number 1 spot, which could be shared between up to 3 players. While Shane Wright has fast passing ability with extreme accuracy, Cooley has quicker skating ability, able to read plays very quickly and adapt to them. Cooley can turn on an edge and create tons of space on the ice before making an open pass, or make a few fancy moves on his way to the net before sending one home. Cooley is one of the best playmakers of the draft and is quick on his feet for any situation. Cooley does everything quickly and excels at controlling the pace, controlling the gap between him and a defender, and when to use his body language to manipulate goaltenders and defenseman. He knows where his teammates are and utilizes them well, but my favourite part of Cooley’s game is his ability to run a line by himself if he needed to. Cooley can drive the play exceptionally well while creating room for teammates to get into the slots, and his defensive game can’t be knocked either. Wright may be better than him defensively, but Cooley is good too, he can intercept plays, steal the puck well and hustle back to catch up to puck carriers. It really is neck and neck between Cooley and Wright for one, but if we champion upside, I would give the edge to Cooley. The hard part is however, is Cooley should only be number 1 if he is given a year. Cooley needs an extra year in the NCAA before stepping into the NHL if you want him to be the best from the class, which won’t work if you rush him. Cooley needs the NCAA to develop and round out his tools. The NCAA is the premier league for rounding out a prospects game, and Minnesota is a great program, so I have no doubts in my mind that it will be a huge benefit to him before getting in the pros. My last reasoning for Cooley being number 1 may be silly, but he will bring fans to the arena. He is so slick and skillful that people are going to want to tune in to see what he’s doing. The high-pace and skilful centreman could wind up being the most skillful player to come out of this draft class.
Potential: Franchise
Potential rank: 5/10
“Logan cooley is my favorite player in the draft. He has elite puck handling skills and creativity. His skating is above average and he can weeve through defenses with ease. To go along with that his work ethic and intensity is 2nd to none. He isn’t afraid to throw the body and do anything to help his team win. He is really solid defensively and can create offense during the penalty kill. I think he will be the best player in the draft by a good margin.”- Tait Borst
#2- Shane Wright- I’m definitely going to catch flack for the specific ranking I have of Wright, but it is truly how I feel after my viewings this year. Wright is among the group of 3 this year that I have given the potential ‘franchise’ to, meaning he could be as low as 3rd overall, but I would say he is likely to be closer to 1 than 3. Wright does a lot of things exceptionally well. He is the best positional player in the draft this year without a question. Wright knows where to be on the ice in all circumstances and can make quick passes with exceptional accuracy. He is among the smartest players in this draft class, able to make give and go plays and have the puck follow him around. Wright has size and a defensive game to him that he does above-average in. He is no Patrice Bergeron, but he’s certainly someone who should be noted for his defensive game as well. He has a great shot that has been slowing down this year however, and he needs to utilize that part of his game some more to become better. On top of that, my main issue with Wright is his pace of play and his driving ability. I’m not sure if it is a confidence thing or some ‘do it by the book’ thing, but Wright needs to play with the puck on his stick more. I love how well he distributes the puck, but I need to see that Wright can carry a play on his back and be the leader in the offensive zone, which I just haven’t seen that much of this season. For pace, Wright can make high-speed passes and high impact plays, but when he does hold the puck, he will slow down and not speed up like he used to. Wright has become predictable in that matter – carrying the puck passed the blue line, turning around to buy space before making a pass. We’ve seen it all season long everytime he does drive the offensive zone, which has become boring, yes, but also predictable, which I don’t like. The tricky part of Wright is that he’s way too good for the OHL, but does that rush him for the NHL? Slafkovsky can play in Europe for another year and have less pressure, Cooley can run the NCAA for a season too, but how do you go with Wright? The pressure of having to step up in a big Canadian market like the Habs is going to be difficult. Which is why that number 1 spot is between Wright and Cooley for me.
Potential: Franchise
Potential rank: 5/10
“A future cornerstone in the NHL, Shane Wright will bring a lot of talent to his future NHL team. He has a mature element to his game, that consists of his strong skating his elite release on his shot, his ability to get the puck on and off his stick when he is passing, and his overall IQ. He has a good defensive side to his game, however, can still improve in areas while he adapts to the NHL level.” – Spencer Lazary
#3- Simon Nemec- There has been this year long debate about who the best defender in the class is, that debate has mostly come down to Jiricek and Nemec, and lately, a lot of people have started to say that Jiricek is the best defender in this class. I am a little bit shocked by this. There were interviews at the draft combine, where Nemec was heard to say there is no debate on who is better, Nemec said he was better than Jiricek in every aspect of the game and should be the first defence taken. Fun trash talk or not, I believe Nemec is correct. Offensively, Nemec has near perfect positioning, knows when to be in certain areas of the ice and sets himself up nicely. Nemec has a strong and accurate shot and a nice release to boot. He is able to make high tempo passes accurately and hardly ever misses the mark. His give and go game for a defender is also appreciated, as he’s able to hold possession and be patient looking for his next pass and then moving into a slot quickly. Defensively, Nemec plays the body and uses his defensive stick to disrupt plays. He puts his body in front of the puck and is difficult to move out of the way. Nemec reads every detail of a developing play and makes the quick decision of where to be. He’s great in transition, very mobile, and can see what play is developing before it happens. We talk about hockey IQ as one of the best traits a prospect can have; and Nemec tiptoes around the greatness territory in that area. Nemec may be the safest bet of an NHL talent who could probably play next year and still be a reliable minute muncher, and still have room to move into something more.
Potential: Franchise
Potential rank: 4/10
“Šimon Nemec was the number one prospect in my 2022 draft rankings at one point. He deserved it. Yes, he won’t be selected by Montreal with the first overall pick but he’s a TOP5 player for sure. I love his skating, how smart he is along the boards, and how deep in the offensive zone he can go to stop beginning counter-attacks. He has some holes in defensive responsibilities, but nothing too serious to be worried about. He can deal with a lot of DF work already.” – Jakub Hromada
#4- Juraj Slafkovsky- The big man with a plan is someone who has certainly caught the attention of NHL GMs as of late. Slafkovsky is currently leading the pack, from Bob McKenzie’s rankings, as being the front man of this draft, but I disagree. In a world where Wright doesn’t go first overall, Slafkovsky is still behind him. As a 6’4 powerful forward, Slafkovsky has tremendous skating for his size, with a long and powerful stride that builds speed the more it’s used. No doubt we also need to discuss his shot, with a frame like his, his shot is blistering to goalies, however it could use some tuning for effectiveness. Slafkovsky is able to score from anywhere on the ice, but needs to pick his shot selection better than he does. Slafkovsky is also polarizing, able to play physically too as potentially the hardest hitting forward in this draft class. The game clicked for Slafkovsky after the olympic games, as he was able to consistently produce afterwards. He interrupts plays well, uses his long reach to win battles and can push guys off the puck easily, but there are still negatives to his game. Slafkovsky needs more awareness, better positioning and to become more effective as a shooter and a playmaker – his decision making will need an upgrade, but I’m not worried. Slafkovsky will be a better player if you can leave him in Europe for a year before bringing him over than if you throw him in the NHL right away. I see a second line scoring threat who will battle and go head to head with any player regardless of skill level in order to get the puck.
Potential: Top 6 W
Potential rank: 8.5/10
“Considered one of the best wingers in the class, Slafkovský played this past season with TPS of the Liiga. He is a big, strong power-forward who can engage in all areas of the game. Slafkovsky is extremely mobile along the boards, as he can move and protect the puck extremely well. His shot is another elite asset surrounding his game. He had the ability to be a productive offensive winger. One area his game he can improve on is his skating ability.” – Clare McManus
#5- Joakim Kemell- Give Kemell a foot and he will take a mile. A lot of people see Kemell as a sharpshooting prospect for this year and that’s it, and that is very wrong. Kemell has an absolutely ridiculous shot, able to pinpoint spots on the net and get the puck there, with blister speed as well. A nice release, Kemell also delivers on the one-timer opportunities, but he’s more than just a shooter. Kemell has speed better than most in this class and utilizes it well. Kemell can slow it down or speed it up, has good mobility and reads the open spaces on the ice well to take it for himself. Kemell always makes room for himself with and without the puck and his teammates are able to read that. He’s good at stealing the puck, good at playing down the middle, can drive a play with and play with pace and quickness that is still at the top of this draft class. I’ve loved Kemell since my first viewing last summer where he was able to lap junior age players and make them look like dogs on skates, and he’s been able to continue the show this year. He played top line in the U20 league, the top line against men in Liiga this year where he was able to be the top producer in the league until an injury, and I have a feeling you could be seeing a top line NHL winger as well. Kemell doesn’t shy away from puck battles either and will always have enough top end skills to provide.
Potential: Top 6 W
Potential rank: 8.5/10
“Kemell is one of the best goal-scoring players in this year’s draft. Offensively, he does a great job at carrying the puck through the neutral zone and making decisions as to if he should pass, dump and chase, or quickly maneuver around a defensemen. He is an effective player down low, as he can make lots of skilled plays below the hasmarks. He’s very good along the wall in the defensive zone at getting pucks out. Using his stick to poke at the puck is one of his strong suits.” – Clare McManus
#6- David Jiricek- Jiricek, offensively gifted, defensively a work in progress. Offensively, Jiricek has an absolute rocket of a shot, one that would certainly even exceed an NHL standard. He is able to do this confidently, and frequently, letting off bombs from his shots. Jiricek is also a talented skater, able to wiggle and shimmy his way to gain an advantage on defenders, and able to hold possession a good amount while doing so. Jiricek shows plenty of high end skills that NHL coaches would adore, but now that brings me to what NHL coaches would hate and will attempt to move him out of. Defensively, Jiricek has made tremendous strides this year. From being ranked in my 20s at the start of the year due to defensive inefficiencies to being moved into my top 10 would certainly show that. Jiricek has moved into being a somewhat reliable defender in terms of physicality, being hard on the puck and keeping possession defensively when needed. There is still plenty to work on though. His decision making is still wildly inconsistent, he needs to have better use of his stick when reading the rushes, and he needs to gain more consistency on the puck defensively, as I feel he is easily knocked off, and easily attacked. Jiricek still needs a huge boost of defensive skills, but with the strides he has made in just a few months, against men, I find that he will be able to be seen as at least somewhat reliable at the NHL level one day.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 8/10
“Defenseman with good size and strong skating. Generates acceleration and good speed with a long stride. Jiricek is smooth when carrying the puck into the neutral zone being able to beat opponents with his speed and good stickhandling. Works well around the boards and possesses good poke checking. He has power in his slap shots and sets up himself very well into high-danger scoring positions.” – Adam Duchon
#7- Pavel Mintyukov- Mintyukov has continued to impress time after time this season, and although Saginaw has been one of the worst OHL teams, Mintyukov has been the leading factor for the team, being the team’s leading scorer as a defender. Mintyukov has excellent play reading ability, can make passes at a high-tempo pace, can position himself extremely well and be a dual-threat in the offensive zone, unafraid to play higher up at the hash marks. Defensively, Mintyukov has shown to be one of the most responsible players in his own end of the ice. Tying up the empty man, making sure his presence is known in front of the net, lifting sticks at good times, grabbing the inside edge on breakouts and seriously being a disruptor in plays. With the puck on his stick, Mintyukov has great awareness and decision making and makes the safe options at getting the puck outside of his own end. Mintyukov is a threat in each area of the ice, and that’s why I see a serious talent who can wind up within the top 10 this year. Now for the knock that I have on him. Mintyukov is not the greatest skater, his speed is about average and his shot can be finicky. However, he’s got time to figure these adjustments to his game to get better.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 8/10
“Pavel Mintyukov is a true-blue offensive defence, who will find a fit on a line with a ‘stay-at-home” style defender. Mintyukov can drive the play from the backend, and lead a powerplay unit, but he lacks defensive ability. He has good size but needs to work on the defensive side of his game before making a huge impact at the NHL level. Mintyukov has first pairing potential and with time should become an elite defenceman in the NHL.” – Spencer Lazary
#8- Matt Savoie- As one of the earliest known prospects in this draft, Savoie was listed to be a prodigy a few years back, and some of those skills he was known for ring very loud and true at this point still. Savoie is an extremely quick skater, with terrific north-south speed, Savoie uses his crossover to gain momentum leading into the offensive zone. As an undersized forward, I’ve liked seeing Savoie more on the wing than anything else. He hasn’t been great defensively, can play the perimeters well but is not limited to it, and he excels at taking the breakout a bit early. Savoie is also strong and has plenty of balance, being hard to knock off the puck when pushing for the net, and aside from the speed and overall quickness of his game, he’s still one of the smartest offensive forwards in this draft class and one of the best positional players too. The puck follows Savoie around every game he plays, Savoie is able to think the game at a fast level and understand the spaces he needs to be in for his team. As some scouts have mentioned he relies too much on his speed, I don’t agree and I don’t see a problem if it were true. Even taking away Savoie’s speed, you are left with someone who makes every play a quick and precise one and that to me will translate to the NHL well. To become better, I want Savoie to show more involvement sometimes, gain consistency and to lower the amount of times that he is lazy, just to round out his game a bit more and a tad more patience would help too.
Potential: Top 6 W
Potential rank: 8/10
#9- Cutter Gauthier- Gauthier has undoubtedly become one of my favourite prospects for the draft this year, with his size, his ability to skate, his powerful shot and overall physicality of a man on the ice with kids makes me want to draft him. Gauthier is a powerful skater, able to break into the offensive zone like a train and holding the puck on the outside for protection before making a pass or deciding to shoot on the net. Gauthier has been known as one of the best shooters for the draft, and I believe it to be true- in situations, Gauthier knows where to aim to get a rebound out of it too if needed. Gauthier is smart positionally and can set up players just as well as he can shoot. When Gauthier has open room, the defending team has already given up too much, that’s how good of a shooter he is. Aside from his shot though, his physicality has truly stood out to me, he’s able to defend the play and crash into opponents, knocking them over many times. When you combine the skillset that Gauthier has with his size, you’ve got a sure bet of an NHL player who can handle whatever you throw at him. I see someone who doesn’t likely have any top line potential, but will be fine in any situation on the 2nd line.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 9/10
“Gauthier is one of my favorite players in the draft. His agility and speed for his size is not common and you pair that with his lightning quick release and you have a very dangerous player. I believe he will be a top 2 center in the NHL because he has a high IQ and uses his body well when fighting in the corners. He could work on his shot selection but I did notice as the year went on he was making some really high end passes to his teammates. If he can continue to work on his playmaking ability Gauthier will be a nightmare to defend. Also to note, Gauthier has leadership abilities and has a mentality that will help his team succeed in the playoffs.”- Tait Borst
#10- Jonathan Lekkerimaki- The small-ish Swedish forward has recently been talked about in the top 10 of this year’s draft, and while I’m torn on it, it wouldn’t be a bad pick if someone did take him there. Lekkerimaki has a well-rounded game, able to read teammates well for both passing and receiving passes. He has a great shot for his size that will likely translate well to the next level, and positions himself well to utilize that skill. He’s an above average skater, good stride and speed, and is able to control the puck efficiently. He uses his body to create separation between the puck and opponents, and will go into the boards to battle for it. At the SHL level, Lekkerimaki has also shown to be skillful against pros, beating some in foot races and rifling some home. Moving forward, I’d like Lekkerimaki to develop his patience and skating ability, neither are bad but I think he could become more effective if he did get better in these areas.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 8/10
“Lekkerimäki has all the tools to become a very good player at
the NHL level. He possesses a very good shot coupled with the ability of
finding opening where he can set himself in to get a shot off. He is also a
decent passer, and I could see him be a good playmaker. Lekkerimäki
skates well and gets through the neutral zone with speed. One aspect of
the game that Lekkerimäki needs to improve is his defensive game,
however I do think that will come with another year of development. I
think that Lekkerimäki could go anywhere between the 6-15 range.” – Alfonso Acevedo
#11- Danila Yurov- Don’t let the KHL point totals fool you, Danila Yurov is seriously skilled. With nearly no time on ice in the KHL, Yurov was able to dominate in his MHL showings instead. A speedy winger, Yurov sees the ice well and understands when to hold onto the puck and when to distribute it all at a high pace of play. Yurov is an above average skater, a good stride but I find others are able to keep up with him for the most part. He has a lot of balance and can keep control of the puck when defenders are on him, has a great shot but there are still flaws within his game. I find he doesn’t create a lot of space offensively and sometimes distributes too early to teammates resulting in a lost play instead of holding it. Yurov battles hard and doesn’t shy away, but gives up on plays too early sometimes too, not often but I have noticed it. On the upside, I’m not sure Yurov has a fantastic amount of it so I think Yurov falling between 10-15 makes more sense for me than being inside of the top 5.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 8/10
“Yurov was one of the most frustrating prospects to scout. Dressed for a lot of KHL games, but didn’t get a lot of playtime. In the MHL he was clearly a cut above his peers. In his MHL play he’s an analytical darling, generating dangerous shot attempts and zone transitions and a phenomenal rate. He demonstrates strong ability to push pucks into more dangerous areas for better quality scoring chances and he has the shooting ability to get the puck in the net. The transition game is where he really seems to shine though. His ability to work through neutral ice and enter the offensive zone was, at times, unstoppable. The combination of his edgework and stickwork while skating at speed allows him to fool and shake defenders regularly. Comfortably a first rounder, possibly worth as high as top 10.” – Jack Dawkins
#12- Frank Nazar- While somewhat undersized, Nazar can really move on the ice. With great speed, Nazar is able to make crossover to manipulate defenders and get by them, using good puck protection and mobility to keep the puck on his stick while driving the net, and an above average shot to top it off. Nazar makes creative passes and plays, has a good ceiling to him and can slow down the play with patience if he needs to. He’s certainly an interesting prospect for this year, but I happen to like other players more. Nazar isn’t too good defensively and can be lazy and sluggish at times. Furthermore, Nazar sometimes skates directly into danger, coughing up the puck and not backchecking afterwards. Nazar does have good potential, but I need more consistency and effort from him and more spatial awareness when playing slower in the offensive zone. I see Nazar more as a middle 6 winger than someone who will be able to play on the first line, which is why I currently have him outside my top 10.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 8/10
“Nazar plays with high pace and is a fantastic skater. He is able to use his edges to get around defenders and find his teammates with his highly skilled vision. He has good hands and every once in a while will pull of a high light real move to the net. To take his game to a real high level he needs to work on his finishing ability and his consistency.” – Tait Borst
#13- Ivan Miroshnichenko- What a difficult player to rank. With the Russian factor this year and the injuries and the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. However, Miroshnichenko is still a great prospect and should still be taken within the first round of the draft. With a powerful shot, Miroshnichenko has great accuracy and strength in his release and has no problem releasing it quickly after receiving a pass. Miroshnichenko displays a good amount of patience on the ice, sometimes being able to fool defenders by holding on to the puck longer. There’s confidence in his game, he’s a better skater than people give him credit for and he’s able to create a lot of room in high danger areas. I do see some troubles for upside with him and see him more of a middle 6 role, but I believe he’s got a great shot at fulfilling that.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 8/10
“I think Ivan is an odd case to look at, especially since he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier on in the season. When you watch him play, you see a future 30-40 goal scorer from him. Ivan’s shot is probably the best in this draft-class as his ovechkin-esque one-timer is extremely lethal. He can and tries to score from pretty much anywhere along the ice and can make anyone foolish enough to block his shot scared. He’s definitely a player that will be valuable on the powerplay as it’s where he makes his money. He’s a solid skater who moves efficiently along the ice surface, and also a player who’s not afraid to dish-out hits. His main area of concern is his defensive effort. Similar to Trikozov, Miroshnichenko often puts in almost-no effort in the defensive zone. He’s gotta put help out his dman and give them a viable option on the breakout.” – Rayan Tubecc
#14- Kevin Korchinski- Korchinski has some very excellent traits that should be addressed as top-of-the-line, but some traits that certainly put a bit of a red flag on his game as well. Korchinski is great on the puck, able to maneuver and use his agility to create separation before making a pass. He makes very accurate passes, and has a good shot to go along with it. He is a fairly raw defenceman who boasts some serious upside, which is clear to see when he is on the puck, although I would wish he was a little bit quicker on making decisions – but that comes with time. Off the puck, Korchinski has left sour tastes in my mouth. His defensive work is below-average in my opinion, as I’ve seen many lazy stick taps, giving up on certain plays, not using a good defensive stick, or being caught up trying to initiate a breakout / rush too quickly and winding up with the puck behind him. Korchinski could have the dangers of being a high risk / high reward player. He should be suited to being a top 20 pick in this draft, and for good reason. Korchinski may be the player this year who rings true the definition of ‘you aren’t drafting these players for how good they are at 18, you are drafting them for who they will be at 25’. He is very moldable with the skills that he has now, and the upwards trajectory that he has proven throughout the year and the playoffs shows for it.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 6.5/10
#15- Owen Pickering- Pickering has been someone who has been climbing my list all year long, however, within my final viewings, has left me wanting more. I may have been overrating him a tad, so instead of a mid 1st round talent, I now have him listed as a mid-to-late 1st round talent. Regardless, we have a 6’5 defence who has lots of room to add weight, has good speed to him, a powerful and accurate show, and passing abilities with great upside available, meaning he shouldn’t be there past pick 25. Most of Pickering’s flaws come from strength in my opinion. His shot could be more powerful than it is, but as he adds weight and strength, it will be. I wish he was a bit more dominant defensively, but once strength is added, he will be. His awareness defensively is sometimes a question mark, I’m not sure if it is just awareness of if he is a bit lazy at times, but he is perhaps average or even below average defensively. He has a great stick and reach though, so I’m hoping that comes with time. Pickering needs to play with a higher gear more often than he does as I believe it will allow him to translate into a top line player more. Pickering positions himself greatly and can adapt to ongoing situations fairly quickly offensively as well. Pickering is one of the highest-ceiling players that you can take in this draft, so it won’t be much of a surprise when NHL scouts are drooling over him on draft day.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 6.5/10
#16- Jagger Firkus- And then we have Firkus, the small and loveable prospect from Moose Jaw who has been putting on a show all year, displaying high offensive upside, slickness, and being a blast to watch. Firkus knows how to entertain; he has great hands, good foot speed, and a ridiculous shot for his size. At only 5’10 and just north of 150 lbs, Firkus shoots like someone 20 lbs heavier. An excellent release, Firkus not only has strength, but nice accuracy to his shooting that makes him deadly – especially once he starts adding more weight. In terms of skill, Firkus does not shy away from his own confidence levels, willing to try some nice moves to get around defenders or beat goaltenders, and that confidence will continue to grow as he does a terrific job at manipulating. He’s speedy in each decision he makes, whether it be a shot, a change of pace or a pass, he can do it all at top speed. I’d say Firkus is someone you bank on for upside, with a real possibility of him being a top 10 player from this class. Don’t shy away from the size, once Firkus adds more strength and weight, you are looking at a deadly offensive talent.
Potential: Top 6 W
Potential rank: 6.5/10
#17- Noah Ostlund- Another high ceiling player in this class, Ostlund can skate with the best of them. He has quick hands that he uses to finesse defenders and manipulate passing directions. A playmaker at heart, Ostlund loves to use his feet and hands to bring out the best of his abilities. Ostlund can create room on the ice before quickly making a pass to the slot or open teammates and then immediately looking for another spot on the ice. Ostlund has good puck control, quick hands, quick brains and a shot that’s good but could use more strength. Ostlund should easily be taken in the first round due to his upside as Ostlund has a lot of tools in the back pocket that make him look as skillful as some of the top players in this class. Ostlund should gain strength and confidence over the next few years before he hits the NHL.
Potential: Top 6 F
Potential rank: 6/10
“The Nykvarn, Sweden native played this past season with Djurgårdens IF of the SHL. Ostlund is known to have a high-motor all over the ice, generating many plays with his speed and puck-handling skills. He possesses a strong hockey IQ and does well to create space for himself to make a quick move or pass to a teammate. While Ostlund is an extremely smart forward, he lacks goal-scoring instincts, which may lead to him falling in the draft.” – Clare McManus
#18- Denton Mateychuk- There are people out there who view Mateychuk as a top 10 pick, I however do not. I do like Mateychuk, he creates space extremely well, puck control is huge, and awareness is also a huge check mark for him. He can maneuver his body to work himself out of danger from opponents, which I’ve found to be Mateychuk’s greatest skill: he is able to adapt and change his direction / pace / movement in order to hold possession. And I love possession based players. Offensively, Mateychuk has a well-accurate shot, although I’d like more power behind it and a quicker release. Mateychuk isn’t the greatest skater, which holds him back on a defensive ranking quite a bit for me. Mateychuk has gained defensive IQ throughout the year, adding more physicality, confidence and grabbing the inside edge on opponents. My biggest concerns with Mateychuk are currently; his pace of play, as I’d like him to think and act on the ice quicker, consistency in decision making which I feel will be no problem for him to clean up, especially after he’s come this far, and his speed which I haven’t seen become too much better since the start of the year.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 6/10
#19- Filip Mesar- Mesar may be one of the highest ceiling players of this draft and should be taken in the first round without question. A high upside player, Mesar needs to build strength and consistency, but other than that he hoists a bunch of top-end skills. Mesar is a good skater, ability to find space to skate and how to capitalize on open areas. He has a good shot, plays with a high-intensity motor, and can dazzle a couple of opponents before sending one home. Mesar has excellent mobility, able to turn on a dime and twist his body to get out of dangerous areas and battles and has excellent puck control, using his legs down low to ensure balance when pushing for the net. Mesar is also excellent at manipulating players, faking directions, passes or shots to fool the defenders and then cut in a different direction. Mesar is full of skill, and in a few years he could develop into a top line forward.
Potential: Top 6 F
Potential rank: 6/10
“I love when a forward is able to dangle the puck at such a high speed. And that’s Mešár’s case. His acceleration is out of this world, as well as his quick hands. I see Lucas Raymond vibes in him a little bit. He can be a steal from this draft if he slips to the end of the first round. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad decision to play CHL hockey next year.” – Jakub Hromada
#20- Brad Lambert- Lambert is a very controversial prospect for this year’s draft. In terms of skill, Lambert has plenty and looks to have one of the best upsides of the draft. However, a lack of IQ and being a perimeter player halts him greatly. His positioning is not great and he lacks consistency and effort a lot. While I still think Lambert could be taken in the first round, he really needs to clean up his game. He has fantastic speed and can puck handle very well while making good passes whether on the breakout or in the offensive zone, but is slow to react off the puck. Lambert has been caught out of position too much and has probably been the cause of many missed opportunities. While a very shaky prospect to take, he can be someone to bank on in the late first, but I think I would maybe take him out of Finland as he seems to struggle more against pro competition as it stands right now.
Potential: Top 6 W
Potential rank: 6/10
“By far one of the most interesting prospects slated to go in the
first round this year. Lambert has all the tools he needs to succeed at the
next level but has just not managed to put them together. He is one of
the most dynamic skaters I’ve seen this year and can get the puck up ice
well with speed. With some added explosivity to his stride he could be
very dangerous. His passing accuracy could use some work and I do
think that if he doesn’t learn how to push into the middle soon rather
than playing on the outside all the time, he won’t have a very good
chance at succeeding in the NHL. I also don’t believe Lambert is a
winger as I believe the Center position is much more suited to his play
style and so hopefully the team that drafts him sees this and makes the
right call. Although he has falling massively in many rankings, I believe
that with the tools he possesses that he is still worth a top 10 selection.” – Alfonso Acevedo
#21- Mattias Havelid- Yes, let’s have a chat about Havelid. Earlier in the season, I was not convinced of him being a first round talent. However, our Swedish scout had him ranked very high and convinced me to give him some more viewings, and he was right. Havelid is an above-average skater, has a good stride, can move a bit faster than most talented players, but it’s other areas of his skating that grab my attention. Havelid has excellent mobility, able to turn around and maneuver with ease. Where he chooses to skate too is noticeable, he thinks the game at an incredibly high pace and skates to where he believes he is most needed within a second. Havelid is also equipped with an absolutely ridiculous shot- an uber fast release and solid accuracy to go along with it. Havelid is truly a gamer. He takes the inside edge on defence, and can push around a few players bigger than him. His ranking though will not show off his skill set, as I am worried about his current strength, and the fact that he is undersized. However, if Havelid slips out of the first, NHL scouts will be scratching their heads down the road, as they would have passed on a high-upside, skillful and shifty defender who thinks and reads the game well beyond his peers.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 6/10
“Mattias Hävelid is the best Swedish defenseman available in
this year’s draft full stop. He skates the puck exceptionally well and has
the capabilities to skate around the offensive zone multiple times while
he’s looking for an option. His defensive zone play however, is not
exceptional and I would like to see his decision making be a little better.
For a defenseman standing 5’9”, I would say he is one of the more
physical defensemen, particularly in the neutral zone. Overall, thanks to
his skating and offensive abilities, I think Hävelid is a player a team
should seriously consider taking in the first round.” – Alfonso Acevedo
#22- Liam Ohgren- Yup, Liam Ohgren may be the real deal. While Ohgren already has NHL size, and may not have a lot of upside room, he looks like a sure thing to be an NHL player. Ohgren is speedy, has decent hands, but can drive a play super well. He has great strength, able to battle with any player of the ice and come out on top almost every time. Ohgren has great balance, great patience, a fantastic shot with positioning and IQ among the best in the draft. A reliable player as well, Ohgren can interrupt ongoing plays before blasting down the ice and setting up teammates. The best parts of Ohgren’s game will make him an NHL player for sure, but the upside can hinder him a bit as I’m not sure there is much room for Ohgren to grow in any department of the game other than quicker decision making. Ohgren is likely to be a middle 6 forward who won’t take very long to reach the NHL either.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 7.5/10
“One of the most skilled Swedish forwards in the draft, Ohgren possesses quick speed and crafty hands. He’s an offensive weapon as he has strong goal-scoring instincts.” – Clare McManus
#23- Marco Kasper- Kasper has seriously garnered a lot of potential throughout the season and recently has crept into a lot of scouts top 10 lists. I however, cannot see the upside enough to rank Kasper inside the top 10. He’s an important player, and I think he has a really good chance of being an NHLer, but I do not see the same offensive upside that others see. Kasper is responsible and trustworthy, will be able to hunt players down and steal the puck, but I see a player who will occupy a 3rd or 4th line centre spot and that’s about it. I like Kasper, but there are players in this draft who I feel will have a larger impact on their team than him.
Potential: Bottom 6 C
Potential rank: 8.5/10
“
Marco Kasper played practically the entire season at the SHL
level and did not look at all out of place playing against men. Kasper is a
good skater who has good acceleration and good edges. He has a good
passing ability and is willing to get in on the forecheck. On the defensive
side, he has good defensive positioning and is willing to curl down deep
to support the breakout. One aspect of his game that I like and that I
think will help him at the next level is his willingness to get to the front
of the net where he does well to bang the rebounds home. I think Kasper
will be a good top 6 winger at the NHL level. I could see him be taken
anywhere in the first round after the top 15.” – Alfonso Acevedo
#24- Jiri Kulich- Much like some NHL scouts, I absolutely love Jiri Kulich as he has continued to grow on me throughout the season. With a good pace of play, Kulich has the ability to make high-impact plays but also knows when to slow the play down to create time and space. Kulich has a great shot, better accurate than hard but it still has some strength to it of course. Kulich is also a responsible player, able to play in all situations, driving offence, hidden in space for a one-time shot, puck battles, defensive awareness and two-way ability are all strengths. Kulich is someone I can see playing in the middle 6, being a reliable player who offers a good shot, decent speed, but lots of patience and IQ.
Potential: Middle 6 C
Potential rank: 7/10
“Left-handed forward with strong stride and smooth skating. Kulich possesses skill when beating defenders while carrying the puck at a high speed. He’s got great shooting skills, especially one-times and wrist shots with great power and excellent accuracy. He is very good defensively too, Kulich isn’t afraid to hit an opponent and does well with denying passing opportunities, if the attacker tries to get into a better position, he keeps up with him and tries to keep him in low-danger situation and forces him to go back.” – Adam Duchon
#25- Owen Beck- Beck probably isn’t going to ‘wow’ you with any high-skill play, but he’s one of those players who doesn’t cheat the game and would be important to any team moving forward. As a first year OHL player, Beck has showcased size, great north-south speed, good defensive abilities, a powerful shot and physicality to boost. Beck has become one of my favourite OHL players, credit to Lauren Kelly. Beck has shown to be an honest player who could be putting up more points in the future. He’s a reliable centreman as well, able to knock players off the puck or swooping in to steal it and has been one of the most dominant and polarizing centremen in the OHL this season. If you give Beck a few years, he will develop into a middle 6 centreman who is trustworthy even against NHL competition.
Potential: Middle 6 C
Potential rank: 7/10
“A potential shutdown centerman in the NHL who has a very well-put-together offensive game, Owen Beck is going to be a steal in this year’s draft. Slotted in at the end of the 1st round, Beck has the potential to be a 2nd line center, who can play big minutes against the opposition’s best player, and also has the smarts and skill to contribute offensively at the next level.” – Spencer Lazary
#26- Rutger McGroarty- A lot of people have knocked McGroarty but I still think he’s worthy of a first round pick. He has a hard shot, an excellent release and one-timer ability, and his skating is not that great of an issue to me. McGroarty should however, focus on getting better for puck control, spatial awareness and overall mobility. I could see McGroarty finding some struggles against NHL defenders, but he utilizes his time well and can be deadly on the man advantage, either way he is at least a 3rd liner who can be used on the power play, but there is definitely still some potential for a second line scoring winger as well. McGroarty needs to have more movement in his game however, whether it be skating or positioning as he sometimes feels like a passenger offensively instead of a driver, and sometimes he parks himself on the outside, where I would like him to be more involved in action.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 7/10
“Rutger McGroarty is a player who has all the makings of an NHL captain someday. He puts everything he has into every shift. He lays the body to get momentum and really steps up in big stages. His shot is probably his best weapon. It is accurate and quick. His skating isnt as bad as some say. I think he improved it throughout the season and its not a weakness.”- Tait Borst
#27- Fraser Minten- Minten may as well be known as a top 50 lock for this year and I would be absolutely shocked if he wasn’t either picked in the top 50 or the first Blazer taken off the board. Minten doesn’t have a wow factor to his game in the sense of hands, or extreme speed or a powerful shot, but is once again an important player to have on your team, and one who never cheats. Minten has a reliable two way game to him, able to hustle back with a good motor, interrupt or end plays from the opposition before hustling back down to the other end to give his team a scoring chance. He’s the most reliable player on that Kamloops squad, and looks like he will certainly be an NHL player to me.
Potential: Middle 6 C/ 3C
Potential rank: 7/10
#28- Conor Geekie- Geekie has been fine this year, but is more likely a pick for the late first round than a top 10 talent. Geekie has a good frame to him, at 6’4 and over 200 lbs already, but is missing some steps in where I’d like him to be. Geekie has good hands in tight, good puck control and a great shot. On top of that, he can distribute pucks well in front of the net to set teammates up, and while Geekie has the size to do it, plays too much down the middle for my liking. Geekie does not open up space on the ice and is slower than many players in this class – so there are definitely some obstacles to overcome. Geekie can also be inconsistent for games at a time, but you are getting someone who can throw the body, demand the play around him and win battles along the boards when he is involved. I just think Geekie may be a little limited in overall potential.
Potential: Middle 6 C
Potential rank: 7/10
#29- Lian Bichsel- Bichsel should definitely be a hard sought-after prospect for this year’s draft. If you are looking for a big defenceman with good strength, but also good skating and stickhandling – he might be your man. Bichsel is powerful, isn’t afraid to throw his body around and uses his reach to shut down plays. While I haven’t been as impressed with him defensively, his offensive skill set is what sets it for me. He’s a good skater for his size, can dance through a few opponents from time to time, Bichsel is overgrown for junior hockey. At the SHL level, Bichsel left me wanting more each shift, he didn’t show as many high upside plays that I saw as a junior, so if this is just a confidence thing, I think Bichsel can shake it. His upside shows as a top 4 defender, and I believe he should spend a few more years playing pro in Europe before making the jump to the NHL.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 5.5/10
“The 6’5”, 225 pound Swiss defenseman is a smooth-skater, with long strides who possesses decent acceleration. He moves very well along the blueline and uses his strong, powerful shot to his advantage. Bichsel does a good job on controlled zone exits, having the ability to make accurate passes. Defensively, Bichsel uses his big reach to break up plays and close the gap on the opposition.” – Clare McManus
#30- Jimmy Snuggerud- Snuggerud has gained more hype as of recent, but I’m still of the opinion that he is a late first or early second type of player. Snuggerud has an awesome shot, a very quick release and plays a heavy offensive game. He loves being down low in the offensive zone, whether it be in front of the net or near the corners for support. He makes smooth passes and can use his mobility to protect the puck while giving it to a teammate. Snuggerud is someone who should be on a line with a speedy offensive forward who can pass to the slot or create room for Snuggerud to shoot in the corners. I see Jimmy as a 3rd liner, but maybe even a second liner if given the right linemates.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 6.5/10
“Snuggerud is a player that caught my eye in a great way everytime I watched the USNTDP. He is a big body who plays hard at both ends of the ice. He is really smart defensively and is a good forchecker. When he gets the puck he can either make a really nice pass to his teammate or he can unload a heavy wrister. His one time ability on the powerplay is also something that will help him get points in the NHL. He improved so much this season and if he can continue on that trajectory at Minnesota he will become a very good 2nd liner.”- Tait Borst
#31- Alexander Suzdalev- Suzdalev is another Swedish prospect that has certainly caught my attention throughout this season. With a lanky frame on him, Suzdalev has a lot of room to grow in weight and add strength. Suzdalev has great speed, able to catch up and run with the wolves on the play, making himself available, and ready to catch a pass and release. Suzdalev can also drive the play himself however and create room and space easily in the offensive zone, able to create room for passes, or use his excellently accurate shot to fire one home. Suzdalev is a dual threat that I would recommend taking within the top 50 of this years draft.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 6.5/10
“Suzdalev is a very interesting prospect who can both score and
distribute the puck well. He skates well and moves around the ice with
ease. Suzdalev had a good shot and is always looking to get open for a
shot. I think he has the potential to be a 20-goal scorer one day. When it
comes to Suzdalevs game however, the most impressive part, for me, is
his playmaking ability. Suzdalez seems to find his open teammates quite
well and his passing accuracy makes sure that they get the puck on their
stick more times than not. Suzdalev will need a few years of development before he is ready for NHL duty but I think that with his skill sets I could see a team taking him in the second round.”- Alonso Acevedo
#32- Nathan Gaucher- I know the point totals may not show how good Gaucher is, but he has a good chance of being an NHL player. Gaucher plays a power forward role, able to hit well, use his size for good, unload a whopping shot and he can skate fairly well for his size as well. Gaucher reminds me of someone who will comfortably occupy a 3rd line role, will get physical when he needs to be, and will be able to play on the power play in an open slot position to fire a few home. Positionally, Gaucher does well in all 3 zones, able to intercept plays defensively and apply immense pressure on the opposition as well.
Potential: 3rd line C
Potential rank: 7.5/10
#33- Sam Rinzel- While I do love the upside, and feel like Sam Rinzel does have a large toolkit of skills to choose from, there are parts of his game that really turn me away. For the positives, I love his offensive game more than his defensive. I think Rinzel has a booming shot, utilizes his size to create room on the ice, picks up and delivers passes well, however, I can find him to be a bit of a stand still defenceman at times – not really rotating around or using much mobility, which I saw more of at the high school level. Defensively, Rinzel has not impressed me too much. I understand there’s a lot of potential to be seen there, he has a long reach and does use his stick effectively most of the time. I’d like to see Rinzel be a bit more active in front of the net, use more physicality, understand better positioning and awareness defensively. I found he was flat footed quite often, even at the high school level so it is definitely a work in progress, but the upside is definitely attractive.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 5/10
“Rinzel has a smooth powerful skating stride. He has all the attributes to produce offensively but he lacks the IQ to put everything together sometimes. His defensive reads need a lot of work. He tends to get caught puck watching and lose his man. If he can improve his defensive game he has legitamite top 4 upside.”- Tait Borst
#34- Vladimir Grudinin- An undersized defenceman, Grudinin shows flashy signs of being extremely talented. He’s a fantastic skater, is able to run the blue line well and blow by opponents, or manipulate opposing defenders with his feet and hands. However, his lack of size truly does play a role in where I see him moving forward. With great potential, and fairly good defensive play, he’s certainly worthy of a top 100 pick. However, he needs to build strength and become a tad more physical. I see a silky smooth defender, but I’m not sure I see one who will have an easy translation to the NHL.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 5/10
“Grudinin’s speed and agility allow him to be surprisingly rangey for a small defender. He’s got excellent puck movement and offensive instincts that show well against other junior level competition. He seems to understand that he has to try to “play big” because he’s only 5’10, 160 pounds. To that end he does not shy away from contact, or board battles. I have questions about his hockeyIQ and ability to read the ice, but he offsets that with quick reactions and good athleticism. Could see him going anywhere from 2nd round to 4th round. He demonstrates a lot of offensive upside, which is something teams are always searching for but we have seen similarly sized defenders with similar skill sets struggle to gain traction due partially to their size.” – Jack Dawkins
#35- Luca Del Bel Belluz- Del Bel Belluz has been a fun prospect to watch this year, and does deserve some hype for the points that he’s raised this year. Del Bel Belluz can skate well, could add some strength and weight to his frame, but that will come with time. He can realize the space and time that he has and will utilize that to drive offence. Luca can be lazy at times, can be out of position and can cough up the puck more than I’d like, but I think Del Bel Belluz will take a long time to develop into his true potential.
Potential: Top 9 F
Potential rank: 5/10
“Del Bel Belluz has a good offensive game, that’s centred around his shot which is NHL-ready, it wouldn’t be surprising if Del Bel Belluz makes the move to the wing at the NHL level because his defensive game is not as far advanced as his offensive side of the puck is. He has the potential to be a top-6 forward, however, can still slot in on a good 3rd line and be productive, he is said to be a 2nd-3rd round pick in this upcoming draft, so expect him to have plenty of time to develop.” – Spencer Lazary
#36- Fabian Wagner- Wagner has a lot to his game to fall in love with. His point totals are lower than I would expect for the kind of game he plays, so expect him to be a fairly consistent player through juniors, and through the pro ranks as well. Wagner never cheats – he plays an honest game, battles hard in all situations, has a good motor, makes passes at a high speed and loves to get into dirty areas to result in any win possible. Wagner is one of those players I will always have love for, because they always work out one way or another. Wagner is a possession player, even if he is not the one with possession, he is someone who will make sure his team has control of the play. He opens up space for them, gets into position well, and has a great shot to boot. His skating is well above average in this class, and he had an excellent combine, so I’m hoping NHL teams take notice of how he controls the game. Wagner is an important piece to any puzzle NHL teams are trying to create – he is necessary.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 6/10
#37- Ryan Chesley- Chesley has been steadily falling down quite a few lists, and while the upside is hard to see at times, Chesley is definitely a first round talent based on defence alone. Chesley can have flashes of offence at times, his skating is fine, his stickhandling is good and his creativity can fluctuate, showing signs of someone who could produce more points if he wanted to. Defensively, Chesley is atop of the class in terms of defensive IQ. He knows when to use his mobility and to be agile when dealing in the corners. He has patience with the puck and enough confidence to realize he isn’t going to make a mistake. Chesley is good with stick lifts, good with physicality, but I’ve found the one-knock to be his awareness when he is out of battle. Chesley is so used to being the reliable defender that I believe he winds up caught off guard when his defensive partner is in battle instead of him. Overall, a quick clean up of out-of-battle awareness and positioning is one of the only things that Chesley really needs to work on.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 7/10
“Chesley is a deffenseman who really excels in his own end. He makes excellent defensive reads and is able to break up a lot of plays. He is not a flashy player but he is very effective. He has a lot of offensive potential. Hes a good skater and very strong on his skates. I project him as a number 3 or 4 shutdown Dman who can make a great first pass and can occasionally let one rip from the point.” – Tait Borst
#38- Tristan Luneau- Luneau is a very fun prospect to watch for this year, and is perhaps being underrated by quite a few people as well. His defensive game at the start of the year was lackluster, and fell behind the average for defenders in this draft class. By the end of the year, Luneau had cleaned up a lot of his defensive inefficiencies, gaining awareness, spatial control, physicality, reading, and stick lifting. Offensively, Luneau has no issues jumping in heavy to help a play become finished, but needs to move around the puck quicker and not skate himself into danger where he loses the puck. Overall, my biggest worry about Luneau’s game may be his upside, but I still see someone who will make an NHL roster spot in the future with him.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 7/10
#39- Lane Hutson- Love him or hate him, Lane Hutson is an extremely skilled defenceman equipped with many tools NHL teams will love. However, due to his size and playstyle, Hutson is extremely difficult to gauge for the NHL level. Hutson goes for the stick well defensively, walking away quite impressively after stealing the puck off an opponent, and his defensive stick is additionally well-positioned. However, his size shows in the lack of physicality, and while Hutson can be tenacious at times, he struggles against already junior-sized players in puck battles more frequently than not. Hutson is a fine skater, but his poise, passing and decision making offensively is what I’ve really enjoyed from him. As great as the skillset is, Hutson reminds me of someone who will always excel in juniors but struggle against larger, faster and stronger competition. I love Hutson, but I would not spend a pick until the second round on him, especially if you have a few picks.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 4.5/10
“Lane Hutson could be one of the biggest steals of the draft. Lane is a good skater and has an elite hockey IQ. He is really agile and can turn on a dime which allows him to get open space to find his teammates with a crisp pass. His size is could be an issue but I have seen him be able to use his low center of gravity to fend off bigger and stronger defenders which gives me a lot of hope that as he gets stronger that will only get better. He has an incredible ceiling as a top power play, offense driving defenseman.” – Tait Borst
#40- Ty Nelson- Nelson had a red hot season, putting up 51 points in 66 OHL games, proving to be quite the offensive threat. However, I’m not sold that Nelson has much more room to grow. He is undersized height wise for a defender, but he is bulky and can be physical as well. He has flash to him, good skating, good puck handling and a rough and tough shot. He impresses in quite a few ways, but there are also flaws to his game. Defensively, Nelson doesn’t have too long of a reach, so often he applies pressure onto the puck holder. Nelson places himself out of position at these points and passes are made with Nelson now away from the puck and other players. His physicality and decision making are shaky and inconsistent, and even if worked on, I’m not sure anything will elevate Nelson’s game much further.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 4.5/10
“Nelson is one of the most intriguing defensemen in this year’s draft class. It’s no secret that he possesses an excellent offensive game with a great shot from the point and tons of speed in the rush. Nelson has the ability to quarterback a powerplay with ease as he excels at keeping the play moving with his mix of powerful shot and puck-moving capability. However, he lacks in his decision-making, and his smaller frame lets him down when it comes to defending. I personally do not think size will be an issue as he has time to grow but for now, it is one of the red flags in his game. The upside is there with Nelson to be a top-four, power-play quarterback in the NHL, but the risk with him is the question marks on if his skill set can transition to the professional level. Although he is more than likely seen as boom or bust at this point, I would not let him slip past the early second round.”- Curtis Rines
#41- Julian Lutz- I had a scout who works for me tell me he has Lutz ranked within his first round – I thought he has too small a sample size to judge as a first right now. But through those games, coming off an injury that set him out for nearly the entire season, able to do what he accomplished, proves he can be a first round guy. He has size to him already, plays a physically demanding game, throws hits well for a forward, has a motor on him that lasts a long time with a wicked release for a shot, great passing ability and pace of play. Lutz was able to step in against men this year and hold his own, playing with fantastic pace and making plays at a high tempo. Lutz will be a dangerous player who still holds a lot of unknown potential that I would certainly swing on in the late first. Great floor already, could be worth the gamble for sure.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 5.5/10
#42- Noah Warren- Warren has slowly crept up my list throughout the year, but my final viewing and gut feel like an early to mid 2nd is a great spot to have him. He’s a massive frame of 6’5 and 225 lbs, so he already boasts NHL-ready size. He hits hard, and I love that about him, but there are some things to worry about still. Offensively, I’ve loved how Noah Warren holds the blue line and he has an absolute bomb of a shot. He passes the puck well, it could be quicker but it is definitely fine. Defensively, Warren needs to do better in position and getting a jump ahead of the offender. Warren would slow down his backwards skating and let someone blow past him because he couldn’t read them well enough. Overall, Warren is definitely a safe bet who does show some glimpses of offensive upside. His forward skating is good for his size, so it is always a bonus on top.
Potential: Middle pair D
Potential rank: 5.5/10
#43- Calle Odelius- Odelius varies greatly on rankings, and while I’m not on board with the high side, I’m not fully on the low side either, however, I definitely lean lower than high. Odelius is a smooth skater, although I have seen him beat many times in a foot race. Odelius can make high impact plays and keep pace great in the offensive zone, but defensively lacks confidence and it can show. He struggles to make a quick play without coughing up the puck or getting beat from taking too long on the decision making. Combining the defensive decision making with slightly above average skating but a great shot leaves him as a bit of a lower mark in terms of how I judge his potential. Odelius is a fairly safe bet to make in the second round, but I would not personally spend a first on him.
Potential: Middle pair D
Potential rank: 5.5/10
“Odelius played this past season with Djurgårdens IF of the SHL. He is an effective two-way defenseman who can skate well and move the puck with ease. One of his best abilities are his transition passes up ice. He reads plays well and is able to make long, accurate passes up ice. Defensively, he maintains a good gap control and does well to close up lanes from the opposition.” – Clare McManus
#44- David Goyette- As someone who has had the pleasure of watching Goyette live on multiple occasions in Sudbury this year, let me tell you he really is a skills player. Goyette is undersized, but very speedy and plays with a nose for the net. His ability to create plays at a high pace shows his capability of moving onto to further levels. Goyette led his line this year and I believe he made his teammates better. He has good hands, good physicality, good stick lifts and if he can’t find positioning, he creates it. He will make space and utilize it to his advantage. Goyette is sure going to be a steal if he slips past 50, he’s a waterbug.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 5.5/10
“Goyette is one of the best playmakers in this year’s draft class. His creativity with the puck is outstanding, and he can make plays out of nothing. He can also shoot the puck just as well as he passes it. Overall, his ability with the puck makes him such a fun player to watch in the OHL. His confidence is always showing, even if sometimes it can bring some trouble. Regarding his skating, he has a good stride and maneuvers well through traffic. Goyette is on the smaller side of the spectrum, which has affected his defensive game. Instead of engaging physically when he should, he prefers to stick check most of the time, even when it is obvious it will be ineffective. Although there is some risk in picking Goyette, his high-end skill keeps him in the upper echelon of this draft class.” – Curtis Rines
#45- Cameron Lund- Cameron Lund is one of my favourite players to watch this season, and is perhaps even a tad bit underrated in my eyes. He’s got size to him, he’s a great skater, makes his presence known on the ice and is a tough player to play against. Lund has smooth hands that he can whip out for some dangles when he wishes to, but his aggressiveness, power, shot and skating are all pros in my eyes and are all translatable to the NHL level. Despite the point totals, Lund is extremely translatable, has all the tools necessary to be an NHL player, while he looks more like a middle 6 player to me, I’d say his chances are pretty good. He just needs to put in more effort more frequently.
Potential: Middle 6 C
Potential rank: 5.5/10
“Cam Lund is a skilled big body. He has a really accurate and hard wrist shot. His skating is pretty good for his size but he should work on is top line speed. He also needs to work on consistency, he can be a big time player when he’s giving 100% effort, but he tends to take shifts off. If he can give it his all everytime he touches the ice he could have real top 6 upside.” – Tait BorstF
#46- Maveric Lamoureux- Some of hockey twitter may not like me for this, but in defence of Lamoureux, he should deserve to go within the top 64 of the draft without question. In terms of skating, Lamoureux is fine, he isn’t a strong skater but – you’ve got an NBA player on skates, of course he isn’t going to be a Heiskanen or Makar. However, his skating is fine in my eyes for a guy who is as lanky as he is. His reach is huge and it does show in games how well he understands how it works. He isn’t very agile, but he has a great shot and positions himself well offensively. As someone who is 6’7 and only 198 lbs, you’ve got a boatload of potential for him to add 20 or even 30 pounds, add strength, and become a better skater with better balance. I would certainly look at taking Lamoureux in the second round, as he still has quite a few flaws in his game, but the potential is extremely hard to pass up – especially because he’s made some great strides this year.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 4.5/10
#47- Adam Ingram- I have loved Adam Ingram this season and his display of dominance at the USHL level. He’s fairly skinny, has a boat load of room to put weight on, has good skating, has a good shot, has made great positional plays, has good hands and shows an all around ability to make the offense better on his team. However, the worry comes in how well he will translate. Ingram has been known to play very high offensively, almost acting as a 3rd defender, cycling around waiting for an open space pass in order to exploit the area and defence to get a shot off. Ingram shows well on the power play, and even though he has a lot of potential to give, the very base of his game can be questionable.
Potential: Top 6 F
Potential rank: 4/10
“Ingram seems to be in the right place a lot when it comes to the offensive zone, which compensates for his slightly below average skating. He has a heck of a shot and has good vision as well. He needs to get faster if he wants to make it to the next level”- Tait Borst
#48- Mats Lindgren- While many in this class have described Lindgren as ‘raw’ or someone who boasts ‘plenty of potential’ I somewhat agree and disagree. Lindgren does few things extremely well, and other parts of his game I did not care for too much. Lindgren holds the blue line extremely well, cuts into the slot better than most defenses can, and his tight-area game is absolutely bonkers. Lindgren has awesome puck control, but I’m not sure how much it lasts at the upper levels. Lindgren is a fine skater, but his skating backwards could really use some work. Defensively, Lindgren can be a stand still player, watching plays unfold in front of him, limiting his role in shutting anything down. The main areas of concern for Lindgren are play away from the puck, defensive IQ, effort at times, backwards skating and physicality. Areas that he excels in is puck control, frontal skating, positional creation with the puck, passing and stick handling.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 4/10
#49- Jake Livanavage- Livanavage and Grudinin are two similar players to me. Both are undersized defencemen who skate well, are good at holding the blue line and pushing the corners, both have good feet and battle hard. I see the same problems in both where I need to see Livanavage gain more strength as he struggles to battle against bigger players. Livanavage handles the puck extremely well and is a great player with the puck on his stick, and positions himself well offensively, although I find he performs better on the power play where he has more room. Livanavage may struggle more against bigger competition with more limited space.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 4/10
“I really like his skating ability and his hockey IQ. He makes a great first pass and usses his speed to join the rush. He is smart defensively but needs to get stronger so he can win more battles”- Tait Borst
#50- Viktor Neuchev- Neuchev may be one of the quickest MHL players out there this year, and while it took a lot of convincing and watching, I’d say he’s well worth the swing. Avto did not have a great team, and Neuchev learned to be the possession driver in each case. Neuchev may not translate due to his overconfidence in puck handling, holding onto possession a bit long sometimes or his IQ being somewhat inconsistent. However, his speed is great, he’s flashy and does wreak of confidence in a good way, he holds possession well for the most part and has grown in that area of the game throughout the year. His shot is above average, he’s got room to add strength, his defensive game could use some cleaning up, but the upside with this player is undeniably worth the gamble to ignore the red flags. To make a comparison, not stylistically, but draft year status, I was told to not have Joshua Roy in my 40s last year and instead to have him in my 6th round. I declined, because although there were plenty of red flags, there was a light at the end of the tunnel: Roy was one of the best positional players and shooters of last year’s draft. Neuchev has insane potential and a great possession baiting game, so I would again take him in the early 2nd and see if he can prove me right.
Potential: Top 6 F
Potential rank: 4/10
#51- Seamus Casey- Casey came into this draft boasting his high-upside talents, offensive explosiveness and incredible creativity- and while he still boasts those skills, has left me feeling underwhelmed during this season. Casey is a fine skater, not the greatest stride but he knows how to get past opponents. He has a decent shot, fairly accurate but very inconsistent. His positioning and awareness is also very inconsistent, sometimes scratching your head wondering where he was planning to go- both with and without the puck. While Casey is definitely a raw prospect, I don’t believe I would take him in the first based on the risk that seems to outweigh the reward lately. Defensively, Casey still needs a lot of work. His awareness and decision making are below-average in this draft class, making him a hefty work in progress, but a good swing for the second round.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 4/10
“Casey has a lot of upside. He is one of the best skating defensemen in the draft. His offensive IQ allows him to pick the right times to jump in the rush and create offense using his skating and passing ability. He Needs to work on his defensive side of the game. He tends to get a little lost in his own end. He also needs to get stronger so he can win more board battles. All this to say he is a player that I think has a really high offensive upside and if he can work on his defensive game he could be a real good defender as well with that skating ability.” – Tait Borst
#52- Mathew Ward- One of my scouts really really likes Mathew Ward, and while I sometimes have trouble seeing him in an NHL uniform, Ward is truly skilled. Ward is an undersized, get-under-your-skin kind of player. Grabs a lot of penalty minutes, doesn’t back down from battles, is gritty and chippy and will be a teammate that you appreciate. But more than that – Ward has some seriously slick skills. Ward is speedy, but his IQ is well above average, able to make plays at a high-tempo while thinking outside of the box at the same time. Ward is flashy, with a shot that looks like it came from someone bigger than himself. If Ward can work on puck control a bit more and give himself more space, I think he has the tools to bring himself to the next level regardless of his size.
Potential: Top 6 F
Potential rank: 4/10
#53- Paul Ludwinski- Ludwinski is another OHL favourite from me this year. He plays with a high motor, never letting a shift off, but has been impressing me since his AAA days, some skills still remain at the OHL level. Ludwinski is a workhorse, he backchecks hard and will play in all situations, but on top of that, he’s an extremely smart player who does care about making his teammates around him better. He’s great at creating space in the offensive zone, whether he has the puck or not, and I’d like for him to gain more confidence in carrying the puck, as it would allow that skill to show even more. Ludwinski may be a slow burn, but will prove to be a good prospect over the next few seasons.
Potential: Middle 6 C
Potential rank: 5/10
“The little engine that could, is the way many describe Paul Ludwinski, and that is very accurate. Ludwinski has a “no quit” attitude and uses it to his advantage on both sides of the puck. Ludwinski has good offensive abilities that mesh with his pace of play and can use that to make the transition to the NHL. Ludwinski has the potential to be a valuable member of his future NHL club, where he can play in the top nine.” – Spencer Lazary
#54- Logan Morrison- Logan Morrison had a crazy season with the OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs, and even as a double overager, who I usually don’t rank very high ever, should be taken within the top 96 easily. Morrison has become one of the best positional players in this draft class, and while a double overager, does not bother me. Positioning, reading the game, and a beautiful shot is enough to land himself on my radar and certainly NHL scouts radars. Riding on a high from the OHL playoffs, I’m expecting Morrison could make an immediate impact next year in the AHL. Morrison does need to work on his skating, but he maneuvers the offensive zone so well, it’s hard to imagine he would need much work before becoming more successful. Morrison battles hard, loves the open areas, and has no trouble capitalizing on any space in the net. A quick thinker with a quicker release should have scouts drooling this July.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 5/10
“
After being passed over in the past two drafts and not having a season in 2021, with his will to
get better and passion for the game, Morrison has seen a great deal of success on a Hamilton
team that dominated the OHL’s Eastern Conference and won an OHL Championship. In part due
to his playmaking ability, Morrison finished 6 th in OHL scoring with 100 points. With his smarts,
poise, and quick skills with the puck, Morrison works well in small areas winning those odd man
battles, where he can then use his passing and vision to create chances for his teammates. He is a
centreman that has shown an ability to play a 2-way game supporting his teammates through all
three zones on the ice. While Morrison has a high drive and should be taken in this year’s draft, a
couple things he will need to continue to improve upon are his skating with his explosiveness
and stride, as well as continuing to develop his strength to allow him to win more 1 on 1 battles
and protect the puck more effectively.” – RecruitScouting OHL scouts
#55- Isaac Howard- I didn’t like Isaac Howard throughout the season and felt he may not be deserving of a first round ballot. He may not be in the first round exactly, but he is definitely within reach. While there isn’t much to say about Howard’s game in what impresses me, there are key reasons why he does stand out however. His skating has become better since last year and the start of this season, while Howard sometimes skates into nothingness territory, he’s recently started skating more for purpose. On top of that, Howard in my eyes, has become among the better positional players in this class. While he still has his flaws, positioning, readiness and purposeful skating are 3 great skills to have in my eyes.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 5/10
“Howard is a energetic offensive forward. He has good hands and can find open space to release an accurate wrister. For his size he isn’t afraid to lay the body or get into board battles. He needs to work on the defensive side of the game and get back into plays sooner. Im really excited for him to go to Minnesota Duluth. I think they can really refine Howards defensive game and turn him into a really good forchecking high offensive top 6 forward.”- Tait Borst
#56- Matthew Poitras- Poitras has shown good potential all year long, and I believe he’s elevated his game quite a bit through the few months. He’s gained better gap control, better skating, better hands and awareness. Poitras has gained both confidence and skill in his rookie OHL season, so it makes me question just how much potential there is with him. I’ve loved watching him with Guelph and believe him to be the best prospect out of that system between him, Zhilkin and Buchinger. Poitras can play with pace, dazzle and juke a few guys but can also play a serious role in disrupting plays.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 5/10
#57- Pano Fimis- In absolute honesty, Pano Fimis did not impress me at all at the start of the season. I did not see him as a difference maker, and somebody who would not translate well to the next level, and while there are still some concerns about that, I did see a lot of improvement throughout the year from him. Fimis is a great skater, very quick on his feet and can beat opponents using that skill, he also has good hands that he likes to use, however, Fimis is too much of a north-south skater and relies on it too much. Fimis does have good tools, but lacks awareness, positioning, defensive play and an overall sense of hockey IQ compared to other players. Fimis is certainly a bet I would take in the middle rounds however, and hope to grow his senses around him. Fimis could slow down the game more and find better positioning both with and without the puck, and once he learns more patience, I believe he’ll be an even better player.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential: 5/10
“Pano has a lot of skill and with more development could be a very reliable player at the next level. His hockey IQ is very high, and that does along with his hands, he has good puck skills. Although he is ‘undersized’ he should be able to adapt to the next level, and as he matures the size will come. He has a lot of untapped potentials and should be a good 2nd to 3rd tier player in the upcoming NHL draft.” – Spencer Lazary
“Fimis is a strong-two way forward who is still yet to show that extra level of offensive explosiveness. His ability to take away the puck is one of his greatest assets mixed with his overall ability in the defensive zone. Fimis is an above-average skater who lacks a high-end top speed. If he can improve his off-the-puck play when in the offensive zone, it would go a long way in raising his ceiling.” – Curtis Rines
#58- Christian Kyrou- Kyrou has been an intriguing prospect all year long for his point totals, and while there are still some reasonably concerning holes in his game, I feel he is almost as raw as they come in terms of defensive prospects. Kyrou’s biggest concern to me, and one that stands out the most is his skating. Usually you want speedy and fluent skaters on an NHL back-end, and while Kyrou has good edgework, he lacks in speed and fluid movement. That being said, Kyrou has excellent mobility to keep the puck on his stick or find open spaces, and uses good body language to fake opponents, both offensively and defensively when going for a puck battle or loose puck. He does tend to make more mistakes than the average 3rd round defensive prospect, but as stated before, he’s very raw and I think that should come with maturity. If a skating coach can help Kyrou, I firmly believe there is some real potential for him to become an NHL defenceman.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 3.5/10
“Kyrou has a great shot, especially when letting it go from the point. His strength is most definitely the offensive side of his game, he has a strong IQ and can man the point on a powerplay very well. To make a serious impact at the next level, he needs to work on his defensive ability, he struggles to push the opposing team to the outside and sometimes lets them into the slot area for a scoring chance. If he can work on that area in his game, he could see a stable career in the NHL.” – Spencer Lazary
#59- Tyson Jugnauth- Tyson Jugnauth is the one player out of the western Junior A leagues to keep an eye on for this draft. He’s an extremely high-upside type of pick that could make teams look very intelligent for nabbing him at the draft. His combination of skill, stickwork and skating make him an eye-catching talent that should only get better when he starts putting on weight and playing through the NCAA. Committed to the University of Wisconsin, Jugnauth should find no trouble becoming more confident in his ability to apply pressure defensively, something that I find is definitely his weakness at this time. Jugnauth reads the neutral zone and offensive zone incredibly well and uses his quick skating and edges to push his team into the offensive end before setting up a shot on goal or a chance for his teammates to score. Definitely one of my favourites for this year.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 3.5/10
#60- Jordan Gustafson- Gustafson blends a lot of skills together that I’ve really liked watching this season, and it’s almost to the point of him being underrated. That may be because Craig Button overrated him to start the season, and people love going against Button, but I see Gustafson as an early to mid 2nd round talent. Gustafson has good speed and doesn’t take too long to reach his maximum, certainly above average for prospects this year. His hands are slick and he’s able to make plays in tight, add in a great shot that can beat goalies from almost anywhere and his ability to read teammates and make sharp tape to tape passes in close and I see a lot of talent in him. In puck battles, Gustafson is maybe a tad inconsistent, I’d like him to have more awareness of where he wants the puck to be next after a puck battle – but that will come with time.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4.5/10
#61- Hunter Haight- The speedy and undersized Barrie Colts player is one of my favourites out of the OHL for this draft. Haight reminds me of Cole Perfetti in some ways, and no he isn’t a top 10 pick, but he has a good mind for the game, has plenty of creativity, thinking outside of the box and using the boards well to his advantage. Haight is smart positionally, and has above average skating to him. Haight is someone I expect to have a breakout season next year, but may struggle at the NHL level in the future. He doesn’t have an enormous shot, against a good defensive defenceman I find he struggles to work his magic on them and needs to be more in control of the puck. His awareness is good, especially from the hockey IQ but he still needs to work on his spatial awareness.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4.5/10
“Hunter Haight is a forward that his coach can count on, he can play up and down the lineup in any situation during the game, which he demonstrated during his season with the Barrie Colts. Haight plays hard at both ends of the ice, which will make him a valuable player for years to come in the NHL as a top-six forward.” – Spencer Lazary
#62- Rieger Lorenz- Lorenz had frustrated me earlier on in the year and I felt he was not even worthy of a top 100 pick. Upon further viewings and watching how he plays in different situations, I can comfortably say he should be taken in the second or third round easily. With years of development ahead, a strong shot, better skating than before, spatial awareness and positional awareness at an all time high by the end of the year. I can see why people like Lorenz now. He plays hard as well, at times he can lose focus and effort, but when he’s on, he’s a force in the AJHL, able to go toe-to-toe with any player and come out on top, Lorenz has size and physicality to him that him solidify him as a top 80 pick.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4.5/10
#63- Gleb Trikozov- Gleb is a late birthday which can show great potential due to him being so young. However, that is about the max amount of potential I have seen in him. Trikozov is inconsistent in viewings, can make smart passes, has good speed although takes a bit to get to a top speed, has great hands in tight and is able to manipulate defenders and goaltenders alike, but I haven’t seen a full play driver from him. He has good positioning and knows how to read breakouts and rushes, but I’m not fully convinced he should be a first round player. There are just other players that I would rather take, as I’m not sold on the upside.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4.5/10
“Gleb has been my gem for this draft class. He’s one of those guys who has legitimate potential to be a very good top 6 forward in the NHL. He’s a player who can move around on the ice efficiently and quickly for his 6’2 frame, as he’s a proficient skater. He’s constantly dangerous with the puck with his silky-smooth hands and his eye for finding open teammates in dangerous areas. His playmaking ability is up there in the top of this draft class as he just makes his teammates a lot better than they actually are. Trikozov shot isn’t something to dismiss as his deceptive shot often fools goaltenders in the MHL, whether it be a quick opening of the blade before releasing his shot. However, his defensive game is an area to improve on for gleb. Gleb Trikozov needs to put more effort into helping his team out in the defensive zone as he’s seen leaving the zone too early. Overall, Gleb is going to be one of the many players that are going to be absolute steals in this 2022 draft class.” – Rayan Tubecc
#64- Matyas Sapovaliv- Sapovaliv has good aspects to his game that make him a valuable, high upside kind of player. For someone who is 6’3 and lanky, Matyas has good skating, fairly quick and a good skating technique as well. He’s agile for his size and reads attacks fairly well to get himself out of them. His release is quick, but he’s definitely a pass first type of player. His passing is accurate, could be quicker, but his decision making helps make those passes a fast thought. Sapovaliv is someone who will take quite some time to develop, but I certainly see quite a bit of upside in him.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 4.5/10
#65- Gavin Hayes- Hayes was getting little to no ice time to start the season, but once the minutes started coming, the points did too. Hayes is a fine skater, has good potential, could use some weight to him and to add strength, but there are still some areas that I’m not convinced on. Hayes has a good shot and good decision making, usually walking away with making the correct way – but he needs to become quicker. Those decisions are correct, but he needs to increase the tempo and still make them happen. Hayes has shown at the Hlinka and through the OHL how well he can play, but he does need the right teammates who will open up space for him at the next level in order to succeed.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 4.5/10
“It would be tough to find a harder worker than Gavin Hayes. The Flint winger has a constant motor and can be seen all over the ice. Hayes possesses excellent top-end speed and moves through the neutral zone fluidly. He is a heavy forechecker and is not afraid to get physical in the offensive zone. Although he has an above-average shot, he needs to improve his ability to find the open lanes to allow his teammates to set him up for high-quality chances. His defensive game was definitely a work-in-progress, but Hayes has seemed to improve his positioning but could still use a bit of improvement on his back check. At the NHL level, Hayes projects to be a middle-six winger who can produce offense while not being a liability in his own zone.” – Curtis Rines
#66- Filip Bystedt- Bystedt has been an extremely fun player to watch this season, and will wind up finding himself among a fairly deep second round group of players this year. Bystedt has fantastic hands, able to make plays in dangerous areas whether it be passing or shooting. Bystedt has good size to him, but is a little bit slower than other players. Bystedt’s main skills that I’ve liked this year is his ability to play in tight, maneuver through opponents, puck control, and his quick thinking of how to distribute the puck.
Potential: Middle 6 C
Potential rank: 4.5/10
“Filip Bystedt is someone I could see playing in the NHL in a
few seasons. He has a good frame and as he continues to add strength
will get stronger. Bysted protects the puck well and is willing to be
physical when he needs to be. He movers the puck well and has a good
playmaking ability. His defensive play is good, but it still needs work. I
would also like to see him be more aggressive at both ends of the ice on
a consistent basis. With all his tools I could see Bystedt become a good
two-way player at the next level. At the draft this year I could see him
go anywhere from the late first round to the middle of the second.” – Alfonso Acevedo
#67- Alexander Perevalov- A hot start to the season blasted Perevalov up people’s lists and we all took notice. However, as the season progressed, less and less points were appearing on the boards. While Perevalov did improve his game, I believe this was a bit of a warning sign for scouts. Perevalov became a better skater, had better puck control but while his tools have become better he has lost his consistency, and I still have some troubles seeing the hockey IQ with him. Sometimes Perevalov makes plays that make me scratch my head in confusion. Throwing the puck out to no one, taking too long to make a decision resulting in a lost puck, or not making a pass when he should, attempting to skate into nothingness resulting in another lost puck. Not to mention the lack of defensive ability in my eyes, but he’s still someone to swing on in the 2nd or 3rd.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4.5/10
“Perevalov strikes me as a guy who may not be a 1st line contributor in the NHL, however, I do see a middle-6 Forward in him. When you watch him play on the ice, he is very good at puck handling & puck protection, and most of the time plays hard in puck-battles. Perevalov also is able to get into open space where his teammates can find him. On the defensive side, Perevlov shows that he’s competent enough to make some sort of impact in terms of pressuring defenders or wingers. Perevalov skating isn’t excellent by any means, as players do catch up to him at times and he doesn’t seem to drive the offense a whole lot despite what his point totals indicate.” – Rayan Tubecc
#68- Matthew Seminoff- Seminoff was a fun player to watch this season with Kamloops and brought a lot of action to the table with them. He’s speedy, follows along with the play well, makes good give and go passes, has an above average shot on him and can be a dual threat offensively with both passing IQ and shooting. My big concern with Seminoff however is, how far is the ceiling? Seminoff is a good player in juniors, but I feel he is slightly above average in nearly every aspect of the game, so what can he do to raise the ceiling? How good can he truly get? These are important questions when drafting someone hoping they hit that standard at 25.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 4.5/10
#69- Cole Knuble- Cole Knuble, much like Cameron Lund, has become one of my favourite USHL players to watch this year. Knuble is only 5’10, with a bit of beef on him, and can really wire a puck home. Knuble has great positioning, finds the open spaces and puts himself in high danger situations to give himself better chances at scoring. Knuble can hold his own in puck battles, able to lift the stick well and get under others’ skin. His puck control is above average and his skating, while inconsistent, can be above average. Knuble is sure to be a bit of a threat in the NCAA next year with Notre Dame.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4.5/10
“Cole Knuble is a hardworking offensive minded winger. He competes every time he gets on the ice and gets to the dirty areas despite his size. He has good vision and good finishing ability around the net. He needs to work on his speed and defensive play.” – Tait Borst
#70- Elias Salomonsson- I’m not entirely sure why so many people fell sour on Salomonsson, but he is still a real viable option in the 30-70 range of the draft. Salomonsson has a wicked shot, and has no problem with positioning offensively. Salomonsson makes quick, hard and accurate passes and is always ready to receive a pass for a one-timer or to hold it and shoot. Salomonsson is good with possession most of the time, but should be playing with a higher pace in all 3 zones. Offensively minded, Salomonsson hasn’t impressed me a whole ton defensively, but there is some potential there. He lifts the stick well, and he can be okay with the stickwork, but he needs consistency, pace and effort to make everything come into full effect.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 5.5/10
“The two-way defender played this past season with Skellefteå AIK of the SHL. He is a mobile defenseman who can skate well up ice and move the puck with ease. Salomonsson has the tools and instincts to be an effective puck-mover at the next level. He battles hard along the boards and can use his body to move past defenders. He will need to refine some areas of his defense game.” – Clare McManus
#71- Artyom Duda- What started the season as a trending prospect and on his way to perhaps some first round ballots, has started to see Duda do the opposite, trending downwards on quite a few lists, myself being one of them. Duda does have some raw skills that a team should undoubtedly swing on, he’s a great skater, offensively he plays with patience, great agility to get around opponents, reads his defensive partner well for passing, has good offensive vision and a good shot to go along with that. And while moldable, Duda is a purely offensive defenceman. I have not liked what I have seen from him defensively, from positioning to awareness to overall IQ. He loses his patience in his own end, is quick to throw the puck away and lacks in puck battles. As an NHL team looking at him this year, he’s going to take a lot of work defensively to be anywhere near NHL-level, even as an offensive defenceman, but the potential is certainly there.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 3/10
“Duda at his best looks like he could be the most dynamic Russian defender of the draft class, and at his worst he looks possibly undraftable. When he’s good, he’s really good, especially in the offensive zone. He demonstrates the ability to quarterback a power play and manage the cycle at 5-on-5 from the point. He’s constantly moving to open up passing and/or shooting lanes, but he’s also able to walk the puck in and make an opposing defender make a costly mistake. Defensively is where it sometimes goes awry for him. In corner battles he’s very effective at forcing opposing forwards into making low percentage plays. His ability to defend the rush is adequate on larger KHL ice. Every now and then though, he will have these games where he makes a major mistake and it snowballs into more mistakes. When he’s having a bad game, it’s almost like he second guesses everything he does and makes the wrong choice every time. This might be a confidence and coaching issue, or it might be a flaw in the player overall. Either way, this inconsistency will likely cause him to slide. His upside and potential ceiling are very high though if he can fix that consistency issue” – Jack Dawkins
#72- Dmitri Buchelnikov- One word to sum up Buchelnikov’s game? Easy, the answer is quickness. Buchelnikov plays with the appropriate amount of pace every time he steps on the ice. He knows when to play calm, he knows when to play intensely, he knows when to step back, when to pass and when to seriously drive the net. While certainly undersized, Buchelnikov doesn’t let it stop him. He excels in the speed area of the game, being able to get by opponents before they have a chance to catch him. His passes are well-thought out, quick and accurate, and he positions himself in open ice more than teams would probably like. Buchelnikov wound up on my rankings last year, and he’s crept even higher this year.
Potential: Top 6 F
Potential rank: 3/10
#73- Dominik Rymon- Rymon has probably become my favourite Czechia player to watch in my final viewings, and for good reason. Rymon plays everything the way I want him to play, he plays with pace, has an endless motor, can be on the special teams unit, both power play and penalty kill, does a good job at hustling back, interrupts plays well, has speedy feet and can fake a couple defenders before letting a shot loose. Rymon, however, is undersized and needs to work at gluing all of his pieces together. Sometimes he attempts to do too much too quickly, leading to an error or a missed pass, but I believe if that can be worked out, Rymon has all the tools necessary to be a high-pace-can’t-miss player. He plays physically at his size already and is able to throw opponents off balance. I need Rymon to work on his play away from the puck a tad, and how to read the middle of the offensive zone to really maximize on how good he can be. He is one of the best high-upside choices you can make in this draft.
Potential: Top 6 C
Potential rank: 3/10
“For me, Rymon is a winger who works extremely hard in all three zones so when it’s needed, he has no problem moving to a centerman role. An NHL team will get maybe not the best player defensively, but definitely a player who is willing to learn that and I believe, one day he will be a stud in a two-way game. He has a great shot and shows highlight-reel plays occasionally.” – Jakub Hromada
#74- Michael Buchinger- Buchinger was certainly an interesting watch this year, with many different results ringing my way. Buchinger had good offensive numbers, he makes good passes to the slot, shoots for the rebounds, and makes the simple plays to the wingers in the offensive end. Buchinger has a good shot, I have found him to have a solid release, able to pull it off quickly to beat the goaltenders. Defensively, Buchinger has been wildly inconsistent. I’d like to bet on the potential of it getting better, but he’s been good at tying up opponents but can sometimes miss the mark on stickwork or physical play or watch the play roll by him.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 3/10
#75- Ben Hemmerling- Recently one of my favourite prospects in this class, Ben Hemmerling has some unreal potential. Hemmerling is a little bit hectic, he could use some positioning vision to become more efficient for sure, but his toolkit of speed, aggressiveness and the ability to play at such a high pace makes him an intriguing prospect. He battles hard and lifts sticks well to continue offensive possession, has great acceleration and top end speed, albeit his stride isn’t the prettiest of things, but he skates with purpose most of the time. He skates to open positioning, he skates to close it, both with and without the puck. His passes are quick and accurate, and with the speed that Hemmerling plays at, if he can be a little less hectic, work on consistency and positioning away from the puck a tad bit more, I think he’ll be a high-upside player that will make his draft spot look bad.
Potential: Top 6 W
Potential rank: 3/10
#76- Daniil O. Ivanov- There’s a lot of potential in this player, and though I have limited viewings on him, I feel comfortable with him sitting within my top 100, which is something I did not expect to happen. Ivanov has good size to him already, standing at 6’4 and slightly over 200 lbs, he has the potential to be a force every time he is on the ice. While he is somewhat physical, and can throw good hits already in the MHL, and make good pins against the boards, his defensive game lacks. However, I find these issues do not last forever, especially if the right development takes place. Ivanov’s biggest defensive flaw is that he falls flat footed, makes bad decisions on when to push the offence, and his stick work on entries. He needs some help in the decision making department for these flaws, where he can learn to be more lenient at the blue line and more offensive around the boards. Offensively, Ivanov has a booming shot that has beaten goalies from the blue line repeatedly this year.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 3/10
#77- Ryan Greene- If there’s one thing that frustrates me about Ryan Greene, it is his confidence – not because he has too much, but he has too little in his own abilities. Greene, as old as he is for this class, still has tons of potential if he can use his feet more. A long stride, Greene is a solid skater who could beat most USHL opponents, something he should be getting used to. Greene also has a solid shot, both in accuracy and power, but seems to use it more on the man advantage where he has more space. He can battle well and is reliable defensively to be a workhorse, but needs to add consistency to his efforts. I see Greene as a middle 6 C, but the confidence has to grow and he has to trust in his own ability to drive the play.
Potential: Middle 6 C
Potential rank: 4/10
“Greene is a sleeper in my eyes. He has high end speed and can handle the puck while he is in top gear. He has great offensive awareness and has really good playmaking ability. He also competes hard in the defensive zone. I think if he can work on his shot he should be able to crack the NHL and contribute at both ends of the ice.”- Tait Borst
#78- Jere Lassila- Lassila is a dangerous player in the net front, consistently scoring and shooting the puck from high danger areas. Lassila is not afraid to get down and dirty in front of the net and he isn’t afraid to use his skillset to drive the puck from end to end. Lassila is an all-around player, with good feet, he’s not only quicker than competition at this stage, but his maneuverability, footwork and agility are beyond competition as well. His stickhandling is fine, but he doesn’t need to rely on it to get him in front of the net. He reads goalies well, knowing when to switch to his backhand on a shot and when to shoot from further out. Lassila thinks the game quickly and has great potential moving forward.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4/10
#79- Tucker Robertson- I believe there will be and has been already, many NHL teams that regret not taking Robertson last year. A successful tournament while COVID took out the OHL, Robertson took many by surprise, and should have been drafted. This year, he was the Petes star-man, with good skating, an excellent release, great reads of teammates and occupying all possible areas on top of being a workhorse, Robertson is still one of my favourites going into this year’s draft. I can easily say that if it works out, Robertson projects as a middle 6 NHL player who could receive special unit opportunities.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 4/10
“Robertson plays a hard-fought 200-foot game with a ton of energy. He has a great net presence and that compliments his hands and other offensive skills. Robertson could find himself being a bottom-six forward at the next level and could become a valuable player for his future club.” – Spencer Lazary
#80- Adam Sykora- Sykora is someone who I underrated earlier in the season, but has definitely found a way to be included in my top 75. Sykora is a responsible, yet shifty forward who has a motor in all 3 zones of the ice. Sykora has good speed that allows him to catch up to offensive plays and force turnovers defensively when charging back. He has good hands in tight and can fool the goaltender with a couple of fakes. Sykora knows when to shift between being skillful and being responsible however, which is a great sign. When going in the corners with the puck, Sykora is actively scanning the ice for the next simple pass, or cuts back to gain time and room responsibly. When Sykora is pushing for the net, or getting open himself for a set up, he chooses the skillful route and will maneuver through defence to find positioning, or make a few good moves to get him closer to the goalie. Sykora has an underrated shot considering his size and should definitely be considered another Slovak to look out for this year.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4/10
#81- Cruz Lucius- Lucius stepped into this year as one of my favourite prospects, but has been slipping ever since. Lucius had a near season ending injury that has sent him out for so long, I was not seeing the same Lucius as I was before. Lucius can maybe get back to the point of being an above average skater, with smooth positioning, getting his body in front of the net and being able to use his hands in tight, manipulating defenders before making a scoring chance possible. Lucius through this season however, hasn’t been up to speed or pace, and have felt him lacking in many areas. Injury or not, it will ultimately bring him down scouts lists, but I still have a feeling he has some underappreciated skills that will lead him through his NCAA career to prove he should have been taken sooner.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 4/10
“Lucius is a sniper. His shot is so quick and has pinpoint accuracy. His playmaking is a very underrated part of his game. He uses his nifty hands to get space to send a nice pass to his teammates. He needs to work on his top line speed and if he can gain a couple gears he will be a heck of a player.”- Tait Borst
#82- Antonin Verreault- Verreault has a small frame that will keep him lasting on draft boards throughout the draft – but I definitely see a late second or third round talent with him. His puck senses are good, his speed is great and he skates to important places on the ice. His awareness and pace of play are both great as well, but he needs to work on his positioning, not shying away from the physical side of the game, strength and his shot. Verreault is best when given a lot of ice on the outskirts of the offensive zone, where he makes sure to capitalize through skating and making a nice pass to the slot. Verreault is one of the more dangerous players in the QMJHL this season, but will have trouble at the bigger levels against bigger players.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 4/10
#83- Arseni Koromsylov- Koromsylov has been one of the most frustrating prospects to watch all year long. Getting 5 full viewings on him this year, I walked away from each game with a different impression of him. Koromsylov has above average skating, and can sometimes make smart moves to drive the net, or make smart movements to build space for a simple pass to the slot. Koromsylov can be a difference maker offensively sometimes, and can also work as a shut down defender defensively. However, his biggest issue is one that has lasted all season and can really make or break him, which is consistency. While consistency is an issue that many prospects can have, Koromsylov has one that is quite varied. There are times where I feel I wouldn’t take a pick on him until the 5th round, and others where I believe he could become a fringe 1st. Koromsylov struggles with decision making and effort, but when he is on his game, he is someone that you cannot take your eyes off of. Especially since he is 6’3 and boasts good potential to become a two-way defender. I would definitely consider taking this ‘boom or bust’ type prospect in this range.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 4/10
“Personally, earlier in the season I was a bit harsh on Koromsylov as he didn’t have any skills or assets to his game that were “above average”. I didn’t really understand the first round hype too. However, taking another look at him later in the season, I’d admit that I was somewhat wrong in my initial viewings. Arseni is a defenceman with good straight line speed, with decent transition ability that helps him move around the ice easily. When it comes to arseni’s puck-moving ability, it’s fine. He doesn’t really attempt any medium to high danger passes as he opts to make the safer pass. This comes to light during the moments in the offensive zone as he’s walking the blueline with the puck or the defensive zone. His shooting ability isn’t all too special as he needs to improve on his shot selection. Often, Arseni just throws it at the goalie’s chest and does not create rebounds or tips. Koromsylov’s defensive game is a highlight however as he uses his 6’3 frame to use his active stick to disrupt offensive possession by his opponents. Arseni is also not afraid to use his body to remove the puck from his opponents physically as well as block shots for his team. I think I see koromsylov as a potential nhler, but i see his ceiling as a 5th-6th dman” – Rayan Tubecc
#84- Erik Pahlsson- Pahlsson was someone I was not expecting to come out of liking as much as I did. It was hard to watch other players other than Pahlsson, as his offensive zone hockey IQ is well above average. Pahlsson needs to work on his skating, being able to become quicker and think faster of where he wants to skate, as skating with a purpose is below average. However, his positioning and readiness to receive passes, or sprint to an open area for the puck are skills that he stands out in J20 action. Pahlsson can really rifle the puck, a hard and accurate shot that I believe will be one of his best translations moving to the next level, and while his release is quite quick, I would like to see it become a little bit faster. Aside from that, Pahlsson has no problem getting into the rougher areas of the net and levelling one home, whether it is an awesome tip in goal or a rebounded shot. Pahlsson should definitely be worthy of a 2nd or 3rd round selection, as he is one of the best positional forwards in the Swedish junior league.
Potential: Middle 6 W
Potential rank: 4/10
#85- Jack D. Hughes- Not quite the New Jersey Wiz Kid, but Jack Hughes from Northeastern has grown on me this year. There are parts of his game I’m not a fan of, and some positive I think will help a translation to the pros in the future. Hughes needs more consistency in his game, mainly to his awareness, patience and overall hockey sense. There were times that I had to question what goal Hughes was attempting to accomplish, which was frustrating, but he also showed well in those areas too. Hughes has a wicked shot and excels with space on the ice, with the ability to make passes to the slot, cycle the puck well and find the soft ice. He has a decent two-way game that has translated fair to the NCAA and I could see going further as well.
Potential: 3C
Potential rank: 5/10
#86- Reid Schaefer- Reid Schaefer is this year’s late-season big boy hype man. He’s 6’3, 215 lbs, and can absolutely rifle the puck. He plays physically, can slow down the play and cut back to make a pass, but there are still some parts to his game that I do not like at all. Quite a few times his head was down while handling the puck, some of his stickhandling wasn’t great, and his positioning could really use some work. In my eyes, Reid Schaefer is probably a decent bet to be an NHL player, but somebody who occupies the 4th line in front of the net. These are still important players, so this pick is definitely worthy.
Potential: Bottom 6 F
Potential rank: 5/10
#87- Danny Zhilkin- I came into this season with high hopes for Zhilkin, and had him situated comfortably in my first. However, as the season dragged on he started to slip for me. Zhilkin is still good, he’s still a reliable player, but I don’t see the potential I once did with him. Zhilkin is reliable defensively, he certainly puts in effort and can win some battles against opponents in his own end, his skating is slightly above average, his shot is well aimed and has some power behind it, and his positioning is fairly good. However, Zhilkin doesn’t blast anything into great territory, just good, which is why I see him more as a late 2nd or 3rd than a first at this point.
Potential: Bottom 6 C
Potential rank: 5/10
“A two-way forward who has tons of speed to his game, which helps him on transitions, as he can burn past defenders. He plays well on both sides of the puck and has proven with the Guelph Strom that he can produce at an above-average clip. Zhilkin has top 9 potential at the NHL level and can play up and down the lineup.” – Spencer Lazary
#88- Simon Forsmark- Forsmark is an interesting prospect this year, there isn’t much to knock him on, but there are also areas that I feel are hard to translate or don’t necessarily require awe for. Forsmark is an above average skater, can throw his body around well, has a booming shot but he pushes the middle too much, and while it sometimes works for him, those opportunities won’t exist in higher levels, and he won’t get away with pushing into a crowd of professional players. Defensively, Forsmark is fine, he has good physicality, pushes to the outside well and attempts poke checks slightly above average, but I question Forsmark’s overall ceiling. He has a great floor and tools, but I’m not sure there is a lot of room for Forsmark to become dangerous.
Potential: Bottom 4 D
Potential rank: 5/10
#89- Hugo Fransson- Fransson is a prospect I’ve been intrigued by lately, and although the offensive skillset is quite obviously there, I have trouble seeing Fransson doing well defensively. His defensive awareness is nowhere near a liability, but Fransson will need plenty of work on positioning, awareness and spacing. Offensively however, Fransson is a great skater, very speedy with a decent stride, stick handles well and has confidence with the puck, he has a lot of athleticism but sometimes does not know how to use it. Fransson is someone with a very high ceiling, but will need a lot of work over the next few years. I’d recommend a team pick him up in the later rounds and keep him as a long term project to see if he hits his ceiling.
Potential: Top 4 D
Potential rank: 2.5/10
#90- Tim Almgren- Almgren is seriously one of the most underrated prospects in this draft. He’s only 5’10 and just over 150 lbs, but he is very, very shifty. Almgren has great pace to him, able to make high-tempo plays come alive, whether it be driving the net himself or finding an open spot for a shot. His decision making is as quick as his skating, and he isn’t shy when it comes to making a nice move. Almgren has a wicked shot for his size and with strength, confidence and time, I have a feeling Almgren will be able to outperform his draft spot. Almgren is even somewhat reliable on the backcheck, although he needs to add strength once again, he can hustle down and work at stealing the puck off of opponents. I would recommend taking Almgren in the early middle stages of the draft.
Potential: Top 6 F
Potential rank: 2.5/10
“Tim Almgren is the kind of player that every coach will like.
He skates well and is always moving around the ice. He moves the puck
well and has a good passing ability. He is tenacious on the puck and
battles for the puck well. He also plays the bumper position on the
powerplay well. One aspect of his game that I would like to see him
work on is his backchecking which I think he needs to be more
committed to. If he can polish his play, I think he could be a good top-9
forward. I see Almgren getting taken in the fourth round.” – Alfonso Acevedo
#91- Max Namestnikov- While undersized, there is plenty of room in the NHL for players like Namestnikov. On a fairly weak Sarnia Sting team, Namestnikov brought a ton of skill to the ice every night. He’s a great puck handler, has fairly good speed, reads the offensive zone extremely well, is great at picking up loose pucks, has fantastic patience and manipulates plays with ease. I have no doubt in my mind that Namestnikov is very underrated for the draft this year, and shows signs of having very high point totals in the OHL as early as next season. Namestnikov is a force to have his name out there as he takes control of the game with the puck on his stick, people should know his name ahead of the draft. He needs to work on strength and a harder shot, but his IQ and quickness to creativity is very high.
Potential: Top 6 F
Potential rank: 2.5/10
“Although he has ties to the NHL being the brother of Vladislav Namestnikov, he has some work to do to get there. He has a stronger offensive side than defensive, with his hockey IQ being one of his best skills. He also can score, collecting 16 goals in this past season with the Sarnia Sting. Max also has the skills to be a playmaker, he has shown that he can make smart passes around the slot area.” – Spencer Lazary
#92- Nikita Blednov- Blednov is definitely someone I would write down as a boom or bust prospect. He has great speed, reads open ice very well, and can be an impact offensive forward, especially on the man advantage. However, his greatness with space comes with negatives, as I feel on smaller ice surfaces he will struggle. He has good feet and a good motor, reads plays developing up ahead nicely, and attempts to do everything at a high-pace of play. Blednov makes quick passes and reads teammates well, has good acceleration and when driving the net can make an excellent shot through traffic. Defensively, Blednov lacks, although I believe there is potential for him to gain on his defensive game, as he is speedy and plays the whole ice- he needs to become less lazy and grow his defensive toolkit as he is not aggressive on the backend whatsoever.
Potential: Top 9 F
Potential rank: 2.5/10
#93- Jordan Dumais- You may be looking at Dumais’ Eliteprospects statline and wonder ‘how isn’t this kid ranked in the first round? A draft eligible putting up a total of 115 points this year should be a first round talent’ but I disagree. Dumais does do a lot of things correctly – he’s a good positional player, he plays with a fair enough IQ when in the offensive zone, but my biggest concern with him is how he will translate to the NHL level. Dumais doesn’t play at the appropriate pace. I would like him to play for his size. He isn’t an above average skater in this draft, especially for his size. Dumais has a great shot, and IQ, but cuts to the middle without looking too often for my comfort. His linemates were strong, and I believe it shows through games how well his team was able to play with and around him.
Potential: Middle 6 F
Potential rank: 3.5/10
#94- Kasper Kulonummi- Kulonummi was somebody I was not a fan of earlier on in the season. While he seemingly did well at the Hlinka Cup, I found there to be some real errors in his game that would hold him back throughout the year. Perhaps I overestimated those errors and how they would hold him back, because throughout the year, I felt more and more enticed to move him up. His skating has increased, both in speed and purpose from the start of the year. His offensive zone passing has always been about average, but by the end of the season, Kulonummi found more space on the ice to manipulate room for passing. He has a good wind up for a one time shot, but he is still far more consistent on the power play than full strength. Kulonummi excels with more room and space, but that gap by the end of the year started to close. Kulonummi has worked on making space if there isn’t any, and not being afraid to play deeper in the offensive end if needed. On the defensive side of things, Kulonummi has seriously progressed. He understands taking the inside edge more, and while inconsistent, it has been an increase. He battles harder and does not let his opponent win without a fight, and while his defensive stick can be a lot better, there is proof that he will work on what he needs to work on to become better. There is some serious upside when you select him at the draft, you could walk away with a middle-pairing defender who can be used on the power play unit too.
Potential: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 3.5/10
#95- Elmeri Laakso- Elmeri Laakso had a successful season in both U20 Finnish showings and in Liiga play. He boasts a decent floor already and should have no problem showing scouts the height of his ceiling as well. A late birthday, Laakso is among the youngest players in this draft class, showing good signs of creativity, speed, spatial awareness and patience. Laakso can be a possession driver, but knows when to use his passing abilities at the right times. Laakso is fine defensively, showing a good defensive stick at times, although I’d like for him to be more physically demanding. On offence, Laakso can play well both deep and on the blue line, although he will need some time to become better at puck control and keeping the puck within the offensive zone. I see Laakso as someone who, if the ceiling is hit, could occupy the middle pairing of an NHL team.
Potential rank: Middle pairing D
Potential rank: 3.5/10
#96- Grayden Siepmann- Siepmann is someone who is gaining a lot of attention reaching the end of the season, and for good reason. Maybe overlooked for some of the season, Siepmann is a reliable two way defender. His offensive instincts are well, and he jumps into developing plays quickly and sneakily. He’s a good skater speed wise and reads the ice well, but his edges may need some work. He has good hands, a well-picked shot and reads teammates’ future positioning better than the average WHL defenceman. Defensively, Siepmann is a hard worker who grabs the inside edge extremely well and is relentless on checking. He reads passes to the slot well and can interrupt plays at a high-speed tempo. Siepmann is definitely someone who should hear their name within the first half of the draft.
Potential: Middle pair D
Potential rank: 3.5/10
For part 2, 97-224 please click here