Ian Moran, an NHL veteran of over 550 NHL games and Director of NHL Scouting for Neutral Zone, takes a closer look at our C+ rated prospects for the upcoming draft. He then makes a case for why they may be a late-round selection or why an NHL organization might not draft them at all.
Neutral Zone’s grading system:
A: Low Risk to Make an NHL Impact; High probability of playing NHL games before 22 years old.
A-: Low to Moderate Risk to make and NHL Impact; High to Moderate probability of playing NHL games before 22 years old.
B+: Moderate Risk to make an NHL Impact; moderate probability of playing NHL games before 22 years old.
B: High Risk to make an NHL impact; moderate to low probability of playing NHL games before 22 years old.
B-: Low probability of playing NHL games before 22 years old; some NHL potential
C+: Low probability of playing NHL games but has NHL traits and potential
C: NHL Draft consideration but unranked in Neutral Zone’s final draft list
| Tyler Brennan | Prince George Cougars | WHL | L | G | 6’4″ | 192 | Prince George Cougars | 2018 | Winnipeg, MB | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has sound goaltending fundamentals to go along with NHL size. He has fifty-nine games of WHL experience. During the 2021/22 WHL playoffs, he had a 0.954 sv%. He has excellent anticipation on deflections and high slot tips. He has a very quick stick when players attack the net from below the goal line. He plays the puck well and has the passing skills to be an asset in the transition game. We have seen him make 200′ clears while shorthanded.
C me not: He will need to continue developing his overall skating ability and posture to not expose the upper third of the net on his glove side. Interestingly he gave up sixteen rebound goals that came from his left or glove side. Even “average” NHLers will recognize and expose when his weight is on his toes and fire it high glove.
His Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Prince George Cougars at Kelowna Rockets, February 17, 2022: Brennan looked totally in control as he stopped 41 of 43 shots in the Prince George win. The 6’4″ athletic goaltender may have looked quick and explosive when moving laterally, but the thing that jumped out to us was his ability to stay within the posts. Brennan was ready from the start as his first save came on a one-timer from the high slot. Where not only did he make the save, but he calmly found his defenseman and made an easy pass to start the transition. There were times early in the game when Price George was running around and we liked his ability to get whistles. He gave up two goals in the third period. The first was on a beautifully placed short side-shelf goal where Babcock caught him leaning for a potential royal road pass and the other came with 0:30 seconds left on the perfectly executed tip in the low slot. We liked his confidence when handling the puck as he had 10 attempted passes or exchanges with teammates and 9 of them were clean. Brennan also made a 200′ clear while short-handed in the first period. Neutral Zone currently has him rated as “C+” for the 2022 NHL Draft, but we will be watching him closely as the season moves into March.
U20: 2022 NHL Draft Eligible Goalie Report, December 8, 2021: Last 5 game snapshot- Prince George goes as far as their goalie, and the last five games continue to show that. Tyler has done a great job keeping them in games but unfortunately has a 1-4 record to show. Special team goals and goals coming over turnovers have been their Achilles heel the last few games. With Tyler’s size and presence in the net, it’s easy to see why he is touted as a prospect for this upcoming draft. Brennan has good fundamentals and is an average skater. He does a good job of playing all of his big frame and allowing plays to develop while making the proper read. The biggest area of development that Tyler will have to develop is eliminating his methodical approach in certain situations. Whether it is a lack of explosive ability to move laterally or he is trying to be too textbook, Brennan will occasionally look uncomfortable on lateral plays. This will need to continue to develop and improve over the second half of the season.
CSSHL Showcase, February 16, 2018: Tyler had a very strong Showcase and was arguably the best goalie in both divisions. He stopped all 66 shots he faced in 2 starts. He fell short in the team’s shootout loss to Delta Green but was otherwise perfect on the weekend. The 2003 is a monster in net and plays with good depth in the net. He’s very confident in his abilities and displays great calmness in the net. His positioning is sound and he takes away a lot of net while remaining square to his shooters. Grade: A
Rocky Mountain Classic, November 27, 2017: A big goalie who uses his size well. Very rarely does he seem out of position and tracks the puck through traffic well. Great rebound control with his pads, and he is especially confident with his glove hand. He also is not a bad puck handler either. Grade: A-
Hockey Manitoba Bantam Showcase, October 12, 2017: Tyler is a monster in net, standing at 6’2. He did well to challenge shooters and take away the open net and has strong-smart puck handling ability behind the net. He flashes excellent fluidity and awareness and is capable of stealing games for his team. Tyler will have a great chance of getting drafted into the WHL next summer. Grade: A
| Niklas Kokko | Karpat | Finland-Jr. | L | G | 6’3″ | 185 | Oulu, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: In twenty-nine SM-sarja regular-season games he had a .914 sv%. When there is chaos happening in the defensive zone he can remain calm and focused.
C me not: He had a 4.11 GAA and a .891 sv% in four games at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He was not the starter for Finland at the U18 World Junior Championships. He tends to drop his shoulders and make himself small on screened point shots.
His Neutral Zone evaluations:
U20 SM-sarja: Karpat vs JYP, February 19, 2022: Kokko pitched a shutout in a 5-0 win over JYP Jyvaskyla in his last contest, stopping all 19 shots. Kokko is a big presence in the net, covering the top corners well even in his butterfly with his hips up. He was very composed all night, especially when the opposition had their best chances on a couple of 2 on 1’s. He ate up a lot of pucks with solid rebound control and always seemed to be in the right spot at the right time to make a clean save. It was great to see how calm he was when ready for a shot, but also how he demonstrated his explosiveness when beating passes and following rebounds. Overall, he put together a perfect performance in this one, and will be exciting to see how he finishes the season down the end stretch. Grade: A
U20: 2022 NHL Draft Eligible Goalie Report, December 8, 2021: Last 5 game snapshot- This Finnish goaltender has been doing a good job in his country’s U20 league so far this season. He earned a chance to play for Team Finland in the recent under-18 international games against the US and Sweden, struggling to go 0-2 with an 85% save percentage in both games. He has had a mix of good and bad games for his junior team and will look to find more consistency in December. Niklas has a very calm demeanor in the net and shows off his active hands, being able to catch or deflect shots cleanly to control his rebounds when he tracks the puck well. He does a good job holding his feet with patience and does not commit too early on shots or lateral plays. Watching his international games, his confidence seemed to have wavered when he let in a goal, as a string of more goals tended to follow. Through more time and experience, he should be able to find a better way to reset his mental state and bounce back after a goal to make the next save, instead of giving up these goals in bunches. Kokko can be better in his games to come, but he shows he has the tools to be a reliable goaltender who can make elite saves when he is dialed in and confident in himself.
| Mike Callow | St. Sebastian’s | NE Prep | R | F | 6’4″ | 187 | Harvard | 2022 | South Boston, MA | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He’s an athletic 6’4″ right-wing who scored 26 goals in 25 New England prep school games. When he gets into a full-time hockey environment he has a the physical tools needed to blossom into a legitimate NHL prospect.
C me not: Playing in prep hockey for four years did not enhance his understanding that he needs to be an abrasive SOB to have a career in hockey. When you’re 6’4″ in professional hockey you are either the bullet or the target. How long will it take him to develop into a bullet?
His Neutral Zone evaluations:
USA Hockey Nationals 18U, May 3, 2022: A large winger at 6’4 and 190 lbs, Callow can move well and has tremendous ability on the half wall to break out pucks to a swinging center or to chip it out past the defender. He ended up with a goal and three assists in this week’s action while playing on one of just two lines. As could be said with each of the Boston Jr. Eagles players, the endurance was downright impressive. The Harvard commit was physical and good in the transition game, moving up ice quickly and would move the puck before pressure came on in the neutral zone, and would try to create off the rush. Grade: B
U18: St. Sebastian’s vs Belmont Hill and Nobles vs Rivers, November 26, 2021: The towering right wing looked like he could do what he wanted to out there. When carrying the puck he quickly changed angles to expose open ice or passing seams, he used his massive frame to protect the puck showing the agility to spin off contact in tight quarters and showed powerful quick bursts when beating Belmont Hill defensemen to loose pucks. His snap shot is a rocket that hit the net and generated secondary scoring opportunities. There is no doubt that Callow will be watched very closely during every St. Sebastian’s game this year.
USA Hockey’s Select 17’s, July 14, 2021: Callow is a long, gangly forward out of St. Sebastian’s School (MA) who has shown real improvement in his stride and mobility. He covered a lot of ice, he got in on the forecheck and killed penalties but he didn’t finish his checks here or stop on pucks. He combines his long stride and speed with a long reach and ability to shield the puck from opposing defenders and get shots off in stride. He backchecked hard and looked determined throughout the week getting his stick in lanes and his body in front of shots in the defensive zone. He’s got a solid foundation as an athletic two-way forward but he’s raw particularly when the pace picked up and he’ll need to fill into his frame and play a more physical, detailed game. He has major long-term potential but has a way to go. College: Harvard Grade: B-
Massachusetts Festival, June 9, 2021: Callow just continues to get better and better with each viewing. There’s no denying his strength and his size and that is even further evidence if you look at his off-ice and on-ice testing at the PHL where he was near the top in almost every strength and agility category. He’s an athlete with a ton of upside but what you saw on the ice here was equally as impressive. He’s one of those offensive players who doesn’t need many looks at the net in order to put it past the goaltender. He can absolutely rip the puck and we saw him do so on Friday from the tops of the circle putting it bar and in. He uses his size and strength to his advantage on the way to the net, shielding the puck from opposing defenders and creating a breakaway solely with his frame and pushing the puck to space. He is a lot of fun to watch and he will be given every opportunity for evaluation at National Camp in June. National Camp Selection. Grade: A
U16: BC Jr Eagles vs Neponset Valley River Rats, March 19, 2021: Mike was the most consistent player on the ice and a threat to score each shift. He used his long reach to protect the puck from opponents and buy time and space. He was effective coming down the wing and using his edges to cut to space in the slot. Made seam passes easily and made his teammates around him better. He was tough to contain below the dots in the offensive zone and easily rolled-off pressure. Was a step faster than defenders and quickly gained the edge on zone entries. Competed hard in each zone and was responsible in his own end. Snapped pucks on net and shot for rebounds. Picked up two assists on the night and was a big factor in the win. Grade: A
Quick Hit: Top 20 Standouts from Saturday at the Yale Showcase, September 26, 2020: Mike was all over the puck as he has grown into a tall, aggressive power forward. He showed speed once he got going and was all over the puck all game. he played on the first group. He protected the puck with his reach and drove the net. His height helped his vision as he made smart passes and even sent a hard backhand cross the neutral zone. Mike is still raw which is scary as he was the most impactful player for a lot of his shifts.
U16: Cape Cod Whalers at Seacoast Spartans, August 31, 2020: Mike put the time into this Summer training. His feet look quicker while escaping from pressure, his stride is more frequent when in open ice and he is physically strong enough to not only extend in zone possession while protecting the puck, but on several occasions, he drove the net with a defender literally on his back. In all honesty, Mike looks physically stronger in all aspects of the game and tonight was very confident playing through contact and winning battles. He also showed some nice wiggle-in 1 on 1 situations. One effort led to a beautiful primary assist on a backdoor goal and on another he had a ridiculously smooth one-handed dangle through the neutral zone that had the defender pivoting in the wrong direction. It wasn’t a dangerous or foolish attempt for a highlight-reel play. It was just a smooth 1 on 1 dangle that was impressive. As always Mike’s shot was/is a rocket and with 5.6 seconds left he had an in-tight cross-body one-timer that hit the crossbar. At 6’3″ and athletic Mike has a lot to offer a college coaching staff and more games like tonight will continue to differentiate him from his peers. Game Grade: A
Blue Line Elite Prep Cup, August 5, 2020: Callow came exactly as advertised here in Hooksett. The big man can really elongate his strides to gain an advantage as he carries it up the ice. His vision was on full display here, stealing pucks with that long stick, making slick no-look passes and tossing the puck to space where his linemates could win races. He stopped on the net to make himself more of a nuisance and was a factor in each game he played offensively. We would have liked to see him use his size more at this event, but he has a bright future ahead, especially as colleges start looking closer at his age group. Solid performance here and he has more upside to tap into as he gets stronger. Grade: B+
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: He is an incredibly long player who is just growing into himself. Michael’s upside is through the roof, but right now he is very raw. Each scout noticed that his skating has improved immensely, his first step has become more consistent and that carrying the puck does not slow him down. He is very strong on the cycle & his improved first step allows him to confidently take the puck to the net. He played with an edge & won 50/50 pucks. A great example of this occurred when he beat a Team White player on an icing. The play stayed alive & although he did not get a helper his effort lead to a goal later in the shift. Michael has a quick release & has the ability to 1 time pucks off of every type of pass. We really liked his grime & willingness to go to the dirty areas. Again, his upside is huge. Grade: B
World Selects Invite 2004 Division, July 10 2019: Callow is an intriguing prospect with a tall, thin frame, soft hands and puck touch. He needs to get stronger and improve his stride, but he’s long, he’s athletic, and he has a high ceiling with his size and skill. He scored a nice goal on a spin and shoot in the slot and added three assists which showed some vision and ability to get the puck to his teammates in scoring areas. He’s raw and has a way to go, but really like his upside and his puck play for his size. Grade: B+
Massachusetts Festival, May 16, 2019: Callow was a bad, bad dude at this event. He was the biggest and strongest player on any of the four teams and he took without asking on every shift. Simply put, there were players who could not knock him off the puck and because he was near the net front he racked up a number of goals. He still has more weight and strength to add to his frame which means he can get even more dangerous below the dots. He largely played the center role and he was a very difficult obstacle to get around especially when he was coming in on the forecheck. He was the best player in this age group at shielding the puck and even though there were some details of his game that still need rounding out he was able to dominate for stretches. His best goal on the weekend was a solid toe drag rip that went top shelf. Grade: A
USA Hockey Nationals U14, April 30, 2019: Michael looked tall among this age group and appears to be growing. He has a smooth stride with deceptive speed. One day one, he took off on a line rush, gained the blue and delayed to allow the opposing defense to sag towards their net. He then snapped a shot, top corner through the traffic. It was an elite shot. Callow stayed moving and got to good spots. He scored another goal on a wrister off a Berard faceoff win. Its showed Michael had played against older players in prep hockey. He must keep getting stronger as ultimately his game rounds out when he can dominate below the dots. He is not quite there yet but was one of the better players in Pittsburgh.
Eastern Exposure Cup, November 7, 2018: Michael had a nice weekend for himself. He was constantly around the puck and making plays- he has a good frame and protects it well down low. Likes to get to the dirty areas and the puck to the net. Lots of upside here- attends St. Sebastian’s. Grade: A-
U14: USHL Fall Classic, October 24, 2018: Michael is a long, lanky right-shot with the ability to fill out and add weight to his frame. He has long strides and average feet which let him get around the ice well. He has a long reach and is tough to defend on the perimeter of the rink. He will use his edges and reach to wheel the entirety of the zone. He sees the ice well and always has his head up to find passing lanes. He is smart and uses give-and-goes to create chances down low. He has a heavy shot with a quick release. High upside. Grade: A-
STX Combine, August 20, 2018: We really liked his ability to hold onto the puck and shield it from attackers. His body positioning is excellent and he has good offensive instincts. His ability to hang on to the puck allows teammates time and space to get open and he does well dishing the puck off and setting up plays. We would like to see his feet be a little quicker and have a little more jump but he still had a nice showing this weekend.
2004 Crimson Combine, August 12, 2018: Callow is a solid two way forward who competes hard in all areas of the ice. Has a good stick and speed to make plays and contribute to the offense when needed. Has the ability to mix it up and play a hard- nosed game as well. Attends St. Sebastian’s.
Pro-Am Mini Chowder Cup, August 6, 2018: Callow was a valuable player for Coach Ciarletta because with his combination of size, physicality and speed: he could be plugged in on offense or defense. We’ve seen him at F but here we saw him play D and he did not look at all out of place. He hunts the puck, regardless of where you play him and he will go through you if he needs to retrieve it. He gives you an honest effort each game and he will affect the play offensively, even if you put him on D: rang the right post after a backcheck steal at one point. Good athlete.
Blue Line Elite Prep Cup, June 13, 2018: Michael Callow was incorrectly listed as wearing #24 but he wore 8 here. He was also one of the bigger forwards in this 04 division. As such that size affords him more time with the puck: he can possess it longer because he has the frame to shield it effectively for extended periods. He also has a long stick which he uses to regain possession, especially in loose puck scrums. Callow is strong on that stick, showing off at one point with a 1-handed curl move. He is willing to take a hit to move the puck: most of the time he is being hit by a smaller player. He moves well for a big body with a repeatable gallop to his stride. His vision to find the open man when on the rush is a nice aspect to his game as well, which means you can’t just key in on stopping him because he will dish it off. Looked good against his fellow cohorts.
U14: Nationals, April 18, 2018: Callow is strong and did well as he is one of the few 2004s in this report. Kept his gaps tight and was able to make all the plays with the puck. Played mature game for his age as he was consistent and prepared. Good mobility and very good hockey sense. He anticipated well. High upside player.
2003 Crimson Combine, August 2017: As a 2004 playing in a 2003 birth year event Callow brought a lot of energy every shift, he competes and plays at a high speed.
| Eric Alarie | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | L | LW | 6’1″ | 198 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 2018 | Winnipeg, MB | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has an NHL frame. Including the WHL playoffs, he scored 27 goals this year with 25 of them coming from inside the house. He has the strength and balance to shoot off a wide dribble without needing the extra stickhandle. He shows nice offensive zone anticipation and knows how to read the quiet areas.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Eric is the kind of player who grows on you as you watch him and if you were his coach I think you would love him. He is direct and loves to go north and south. There isn’t a lot of flash to his game and at times he almost seems too simple, but I’ll tell you what… solid professional careers are built from making the correct play more than your opponents. He’s a big kid at 6’1 200lbs, but he looks to me like he could carry another ten to twelve pounds without it impacting his speed or agility. Let’s face it if you’re watching this year’s National League playoffs players like Eric are having an impact. He’s hard on pucks, enjoys running into people and most importantly he stays out of the box. His frame and willingness to be disruptive are huge assets, but it’s his mental capacity to make the right play over and over that NHL organizations will be looking at.
C me not: His points per game dropped in 2021/22, as did his shots on goal percentage and puck battles won percentage. As a 2003 standing 6’1″ and 200 pounds, we would like to see him use his body to be a more destructive presence. Through 163 career WHL games (including playoffs) he has 27 penalty minutes.
His Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Moose Jaw vs Prince Albert, April 2021: An honest hard working game for Alarie. He was a disruptive force as an F1, stopping on every puck and never allowing himself to be looked off by an opposing player. He likes to play through contact with two hands on his stick which makes him very strong along the walls and in front of the net. Alarie showed poise when receiving breakout passes in the defensive zone, got his feet moving north very quickly and consistently found the easy outlet. Alarie is a very consistent dependable power forward who is at his best when he keeps it simple.
Canada Winter Games, March 2019: Alarie wore the C for Team Manitoba and lead by example he did throughout the week. Was a strong power forward who cleaned up around the net. Had good hands in tight areas, did a good job elevated the puck in tight on goalies for some nice finishes. Heavy on pucks in the corners and along walls. Finished checks all over the ice. Played in all situations, defensively did a nice job getting in shot lanes to block shots, had a good active stick on penalty kills to break up plays. Grade- B
CSSHL Showcase, February 2018: Eric is a strong skater and plays a heavy game. He is strong on his skates and displayed solid edge work. He can beat you with speed or out-muscle you while driving the net. He’s effective down-low in the corners and on the cycle. Very smooth with the puck on his stick and he plays a solid 200ft game. He’s very versatile and can play effectively on both the power play and penalty kill. The 2003 finished with 5 points in 4 games and scored in 3 of those games. He’s a very consistent forward that produces every game. Grade: A-
U14: Rocky Mountain Classic Bantam, November 2017: A very impressive forward. Eric is very strong on his skates, has good speed and is an excellent outside speed type of power forward who will use those assets to drive to the net and fight for ice. He has excellent vision, sees teammates well and is an unselfish play maker. Eric was effective as well both as a power play and penalty killing forward. Grade: A
U14: Hockey Manitoba Bantam Showcase, October 2017: Eric is one of the top forwards for the Rink Hockey Academy out of the CSSHL. RHA played two exhibition games at the showcase over the weekend and Eric finished with two goals and three assists. He plays a fast hard-nosed game, using his size and speed to get pucks in deep and work the corners. He has a heavy-accurate wrist shot and with any space in close, he is sure to find the back of the net. Grade: A
| Anton Johansson | Leksand | SHL | R | D | 6’4″ | 179 | Linkoping, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He’s a 6’4″ 179-pound right-shot Swedish defender who started the 2021/22 season by playing in twelve games in the J18 Region and by the end of the year played four games in the SHL. He is light on his feet and pivots smoothly. He finished the year averaging 1.02 hard body checks per game. He seems to be a late bloomer who is coming into his own.
C me not: He is 6’4″ and has a slight frame. Will he be able to add the necessary weight to be a factor in the defensive game? Yes, he did play four games in the SHL, but for the 2021/22 season, he won 47% of his puck battles. He attempted 168 shots from along the blueline, 72 of them were blocked or missed the net. He scored twelve goals in 2021/22 with five of them coming from the top of the crease so what exactly is his offensive upside?
| Jack Sparkes | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL | R | D | 6’8″ | 234 | Michigan State | 2022 | Toronto, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’8″ 234-pound right-shot defenseman who improved with each viewing this season. He is going to Michigan State where he can continue to build on his athleticism and overall game.
C me not: He is a defensive prospect who needs time to develop. Yes, all players need time, but how much time will he require and will he be better suited as a potential NHL college free agent at some point down the road?
His Neutral Zone evaluations:
OJHL: Toronto Jr. Canadiens vs St. Michael’s Buzzers, February 20, 2022: This was a game to forget for the entire Buzzer’s squad as they lost 9-0, but we did like the fire Sparkes showed when he started a fight with 12 minutes left in the third period. Honestly it was just one of those games, but we did think he was moving more smoothly than we had seen a few weeks ago versus the Wellington Dukes.
OJHL: Wellington Dukes vs St. Michael’s Buzzers, February 4, 2022: This was St. Mike’s first game after a 43 day break and as such he looked a little tentative defensively and conversely over he tended to over complicate things offensively. An example, early in the first he attempted to use the back of the net for a self reverse that led to a turnover, defensive zone time and a scoring opportunity for the Dukes. We feel as the game went on Sparkes settled in and as expected it looked like the game slowed down for him. On the power play he lined up on the left flank where his one-timer was able to be utilized and resulted in a rocket of a goal. Sparkes is a true NHL prospect.
OJHL: The OJHL Showcase, December 1, 2021: Sparkes plays in all situations for his team. A giant of a player, listed at 6’7” and 230 pounds. His mobility is very good. Jack’s use of all four edges allows his big body, and long reach to become very effective in managing gap situations, pivoting to retrieve pucks or defending attacks. He used his body and stick position regularly to angle and create puck separation along boards or low in the defensive zone. While use of body is effective, Sparkes is not physically punishing, rather, contains opponents in a manner that minimizes any threat. He is a smart player, making good decisions with and without the puck. Sparkes distributed the puck in a simple, yet effective manner, during his power play time. His speed is adequate and he is willing to advance the puck by carrying it into open ice when available. Lower half strength increase will help contribute to his skating development. It is hard to imagine that this player has reached his ceiling. Four years at a good college program at Michigan State will help put him in a position to play professionally. Sparkes has improved significantly since our viewings in his U16 season. He might be the most improved player we have seen since U16 in the last few seasons. Grade: A
OJHL: St. Michael’s Buzzers vs Wellington Dukes, November 11, 2021: The first thing you notice about Jack Sparkes is his enormous size. The second thing is his high level of coordination and athleticism. Even though he’s 6’8″ Sparkes has a nice skating base with a deep knee and flexibility for a powerful cross-under. Defensively he played with an active stick, but still showed the awareness to keep his poke check hidden until he needed to block a shot or defend in a 1 on 1 situation. Although he will need to become more detailed, we think he has a chance to be a force at killing penalties in professional hockey. In this game we liked his quickness and inside edge explosiveness after recognizing Duke’s players who had bobbled the puck or turned their pack to the play. Although he did not see a ton of power play time Sparkes earned a secondary power play assist. What we loved about the assist was the fluidity he showed as he sprinted to keep a puck in at the blueline, the hard stop he made without getting off balance and the puck poise he showed to make a hard flat pass across the blueline with a Duke’s penalty killer in his face. It seems like every time we see him play he improves.
OJHL: St. Michael’s Buzzers vs Toronto Jr. Canadiens, October 15, 2021: Sparkes is a 6’8″ mountain of a young man with incredibly good feet. When not under pressure he moves well laterally and does not need to cross over while pivoting, but we do see cross-overs when under pressure. He retrieved dump-ins with his head on swivel locating the layers of forecheckers. We liked that he did not crowd his goaltender when he came out to play the puck, instead falling off to the corner for easier transition. Sparkes played the top of the umbrella on the power play where his touches were smooth. He showed the ability to work give and goes along the offensive blueline and his snap shots created rebounds. Defensively there were times when he defended with his stick parallel to the ice, but when he needed to take away passing / shooting lanes his stick positioning was sound. As a penalty killer he maintained shooting lanes and showed nice acceleration when the Jr. Canadiens rolled into an umbrella and he was forced to move from the crease to face-off dot to take away time and space. There is a lot to like about this young right shot defenseman.
| James Fisher | Belmont Hill | NE Prep | R | F | 6’2″ | 195 | Northeastern | 2023 | Wilmington, MA | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He’s a big athletic right-shot forward who is very effective playing his off-wing. He has the frame to be power forward who can extend offensive zone time through strong play along the walls. He has a quick hard release that gets on goalies quickly and generates rebounds.
C me not: He was not used as a penalty killer for his prep team. He is a shooter who led his team in goals, but not in points. How quickly will he adjust to life in the USHL and then Hockey East?
His Neutral Zone evaluations:
U18: 2022 NHL Draft Eligible players in the Belmont Hill Jamboree, November 28, 2021: The big righty is starting to find consistency in his mentality as a powerful player. We saw him play hard competitive hockey for most of the Fall and we saw more of it in the Jamboree. On the forecheck he was a very effective F1 as he used his speed to cut the ice in half to contain the opposing defender in the corner and then separate the man from the puck. After contact he beat his man to open ice with or without the puck. He had a number of grade “A’ scoring opportunities, but the thing we liked most was his ability to get open in the soft area of the slot and fire one-timers that hit the net. We liked how he moved the puck quickly in transition and then moved his feet to continue impacting the play. He read opposing defender’s gaps well on zone entries and did not force foolish dangles or risk turnovers in the grey area (Except once in the closing minutes of a 6-0 win versus Proctor). Fisher will continue to have NHL eyes on him before, during and after every Belmont Hill game for the rest of the season.
NE Prep: Belmont Hill Jamboree, December 2, 2021: James used a strong stride and great pace to push opponents into bad gaps and gain the zone. He moved laterally very quickly and the puck stayed on his stick. Fisher drove the net and was able to dip and drive to the paint. He drove with his outside edge and was balanced with quick hands in tight. He played with pace and was able to win puck battles along the wall. He helped his defensemen and even made a loud step at his defensive blue line to stop a line rush. He played gritty areas and around the net, he ripped the puck and he also looked smooth and really skilled. He sniped one top cheddar against Brunswick which ended up being the game winner. James is a versatile player and can play any role. He will adjust well to junior hockey and then the college game well. He is talented, strong, skilled and tough. Grade: A-
U18: St. Sebastian’s vs Belmont Hill and Nobles vs Rivers, November 26, 2021: Fisher is a power forward who is really just beginning to scratch the surface of understanding how his game will be most effective. He showed a nice combination of being able to protect the puck using his wide backside as well as being able to look off opposing defenders by having his eyes up scanning the ice. In all three zones he won physical battles showing the strength to throw opposing defenders to the side and he won races to loose pucks after linemates dumped it in. Fisher is Northeastern commit who is looking to continue building on a very strong Fall.
Neponset Valley River Rats Showcase 2021, September 15, 2021: Athletic, playmaking forward that plays with pace and attacks directly. He has a long stride and gets up to speed quickly. He found seams all week long and was constantly creating breakaway chances or odd-man rushes by slipping into open ice. He is confident with the puck and wants the puck on his stick in all three zones. He attacks defenders directly through the neutral zone and puts them on their heels. He has slick hands and can make opponents miss in space or tight areas. He keeps his feet moving off-cycle and escapes defenders. He sees the ice well and made several nice reads to get the puck to teammates in open areas. He is able to change speeds effectively and uses his edges and balance to cut to soft areas. He has a quick release on his shoot and hides it well off the rush. He gets to the net and is quick to jump on loose pucks and rebounds. Was a threat to score each time out on the ice. Grade: A-
Massachusetts Festival, June 9, 2021: Fisher attacks defenders with speed and can open up ice for himself to work with. He took good angles on the forecheck and eliminated space for defenders to work with. He forced turnovers in the offensive zone to sustain offensive zone time. He scored a nice goal where he retrieved a puck on the half wall and continued to walk to the middle sniping one over the blocker. Grade: B-
Cape Cod Whalers Midget Showcase, October 29, 2020: Opened eyes here this weekend. He was one of, if not the best player on the ice at the U16 level. The Belmont Hill sophomore constantly pushed the pace offensively and created scoring chances each shift. Athletic and strong frame lets him pick up speed quickly and bounce off pressure. Got pucks to the net and was aggressive in the dirty areas. Creative with the puck on his stick and made some nice reads to get teammates the puck in space. High tempo and motor and was constantly putting defenders on their heels. He has strong edges and is balanced. Made defenders miss in space and releases his shot quickly in stride. Has a cannon one-timer and found soft areas in the slot to release it from. Upside. Grade: A-
Beantown Classic, August 31, 2020: Fisher is a tall, athletic, high ceiling prospect who showed an expansive skill set here. He showed speed on the rush, he demonstrated puck carrying ability on end to end carries with the ability to stickhandling through traffic and a rocket release in stride. He had the puck on his stick a lot throughout the tournament and combined both finesse and power as he broke down defenders and got to the scoring areas with the puck. He stole a puck from an opponent on the forecheck and with no angle snuck a quick wrister top left corner just under the bar which was a brilliant snipe. He needs to get stronger and play with more jam to really develop the power element of his game but he has a lot of tools and showed flashes here of a high end prospect in the making. He comes off a strong first season at Belmont Hill and looks poised for a breakout season.
USA Hockey Select 15 Camp, August 24, 2019: Fisher has a rare combination of size and smooth hands but needs improvement on his skating ability, in particular his stride and crossovers. He has great touch on his passes, can sauce the puck over sticks effortlessly and showed a strong net front presence. He consistently won wall battles and came out of scrums with possession and he’s both powerful and balanced getting pucks from the wall or the corners to the net. Tough to plays against, hard on the puck and developing into a skilled power forward. Will make the jump to NE Prep this season playing for Belmont Hill. Grade: B-
Massachusetts Festival, May 16, 2019: Fisher shows a well-rounded game and there is very little that he doesn’t do well. He has a strong frame and played the center role with consistency and quick strike capability. He is shifty on his feet and able to get goaltenders off-balance. He also has good vision in the offensive zone and knows when to make the pass versus when to take the shot. Is able to cut to the net effectively and made a nice play to snap it five hole for a goal. Also, can wind up the one-timer and beat you to the short side as well. Every time his line was on the ice there was at least one offensive chance and he was generally at the center of the action. Grade: A
Beantown Summer Futures, Prospects, August 2018: Another 2004 who appears to be playing midget for the Bruins. James has decent size and is balanced on his skates. Played with his head up and made smart passes. He put his teammates in spots to make plays. He is interesting as he looked like a player that does a lot well and may take some time to figure out.
TPE Spring, April 16, 2018: Fisher continues to add to his resume the more you watch him play. He has a hard shot and he is able to get it off cleanly by staying in motion until a better angle appears. His ability to possess the puck despite body checks and wall battles was impressive given that he wasn’t the biggest player in this game. Isn’t afraid to get to the net either, scoring on a net-front shovel in the first half.
Beantown Prospects Division, August 17, 2017: Plays big and fast. Moves well through the neutral zone as he is attacking opposing defensemen. He gets in hard on the forecheck to cause havoc. Great shot and is always a scoring threat when the puck is on his stick. Scored a nice backhand goal on a breakaway deke that showed skill and poise. He competed hard against the older kids and won battles.
| Ruslan Gazizov | London Knights | OHL | L | F | 5’11” | 187 | London Knights | 2021 | Novy Urengoy, RUS | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: As a puck carrier he can play with pace and he is very confident attacking the royal road when the puck is on his stick. He was an assistant captain who recorded three goals and seven assists in five games for Russia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He could have easily stayed home in Russia during his draft year, but he showed that he wants to play in the NHL by coming over to play in the OHL.
C me not: He started 2021/22 with thirteen points in his first twelve OHL games. He finished with 28 points in 54 games, including two points in his final ten games. He won 45% of his puck battles. He had 220 attempted shots in 2021/22 with 48 coming while on the man advantage. Of those 48 power play attempts, 19 were blocked or missed the net entirely.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
OHL: London Knights at Sarnia Sting, November 23, 2021: Gazizov is a new addition to the Knights and was playing in his 5th game in Sarnia tonight. He has adjusted to the OHL well and was close to 2 points per game in his first 4 games. He moves the puck very well and shows strong offensive instincts. He played on London’s top line tonight and generated consistent offense in this game. He had a number of quality scoring chances both 5 on 5 and on the powerplay. He is an excellent passer but needs to shoot the puck. He is passing in good shooting areas. Much of this is due to confidence and playing with new linemates. Gazizov is a player to watch as he adjusts to the pace and physical play in the OHL. He has good upside offensively already and has only played a handful of games at this level with his new teammates. Grade: B
World Selects Invite, June 4, 2018: A tall, athletic forward who had a lot of possession time here carrying the puck end to end and making plays off the rush. He has good speed and uses it to his advantage when going wide on zone entries to beat defenders with his feet. He had an even 2-2-4 line in 5 games and showed to be one of the top forwards on his team.
| Grayden Siepmann | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | R | D | 5’11” | 185 | Calgary Hitmen | 2019 | Kamloops, BC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He shows poise and confidence with the puck and an understanding of how to work to be an outlet for his defensive partner. He had three points in three games for Team Canada at the U18 WJC. He has the passing skills to be a true asset in today’s NHL game which thrives on transition. He has won 53.5% of his puck battles during his two seasons in the WHL. He averaged over 2:35 on both the power play and penalty kill during 2021/22.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: In today’s professional hockey Siepmann will be viewed as a transition machine. He is poised with the puck, makes quick accurate passes and rarely forces pucks into poor decisions. As the weakside defenseman while in defensive zone coverage he scans the ice looking for opposing players slipping into the high slot or defensemen crashing backdoor. We love the awareness he shows when his partner is engaged in a corner scrum and Siepmann falls to a near soft chip so he can wheel the net for a clean breakout. Although he might not have pure speed when skating forwards we feel that he skates just as fast as a puck carrier and his edgework is excellent while evading hard charging forwards. We do not view him as a number 1 power play option in professional hockey, but he has the passing skills and first touch to run the top of the umbrella or be a back door option on power play number 2. We do feel that his attention to detail and anticipation will make him an excellent penalty killer.
C me not: Although physically strong and positionally sound he is listed at under 6’0″ and under 190 pounds. Will NHL general managers look for a bigger can player who can provide the same role in their organization? He has never been a points producer at any level. Is he offensively talented and creative enough to run a second power-play unit in the NHL? And can these traits be developed?
Neutral Zone evalauations:
WHL: Calgary Hitmen as of December 27, 2021 Season stats: Games played 26, Goals 3 Assists 3, Points 6, plus/minus 7, Penalty Minutes 14, Penalties Drawn 6, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 21:48, Power play time 2:06, Short-handed time 2:44, Shots 3.8, %Shots on goal 56%, Puck battles 13, %Puck battles won 53%, Hits 0.23, Hits against 0.85
WHL: Calgary Hitmen NHL Prospects, May 5, 2021: A young talented mobile defenseman, who brings a nice balance to the big, stout defense core that makes up the Calgary Hitmen. Grayden has quick feet and good acceleration. He shows real poise under pressure, and not only shows his ability to elude pressure with quick feet, but also with strong edge work and quick turns. He moves the puck well out of his own zone, skating confidently with the puck, and with good speed. He has solid hand skills, demonstrates good puck control, and nice crisp passing. Offensively he is still finding his confidence, but he does have a cannon of a shot from the point, even if it can be a bit wild in terms of accuracy. Defensively, Grayden plays strong positionally. A few times he did seem to get a little floaty in his zone, losing his positioning by following players away from the play, but for the most part, this undersized defenseman has a good understanding of angles, and how to take away options. He will need to continue to put on weight to be able to be a complete defender, but the athleticism Grayden has is abundant, and his future looks exciting to us. Grade: B-
WHL Calgary Hitmen NHL Prospects, April 1, 2021: Siepmann, like most first year WHL defenders found himself getting caught out of position by doing too much puck watching. He did look a little smaller on the back-end, however playing alongside Galloway, Prokop and Jackson Van De Leest, most would look undersized. His frame is solid and for a positive he didn’t get outmuscled in 1-on-1 battles. He understands how to position himself properly to give him the best advantage to contain forwards trying to get to the net out of the corner. His puck moving was fairly non-existent as a majority of his plays were glass-and-out.
CSSHL Midget Showcase, February 16 2020: Grayden is a smart, smooth-skating defenceman with strong puck-moving capabilities. He makes crisp first passes out of the defensive zone and he was quick to move the puck to his forwards in the offensive zone. He did well to choose when to shoot or pass based on traffic and he always keeps his head on a swivel. The ’04 has really good awareness in all three zones and he showed off good stick positioning in the defensive zone while on the penalty kill. We liked his ability to hold the offensive blueline. He was effective at stopping pucks shot off the boards or glass and he was quick to get the puck from his skates to his stick. Grayden has a strong hockey IQ to along with his strong skating abilities and we liked how he performed this weekend. Grade: A-
U16: WHL Cup (Calgary), November 10, 2019: Grayden is a very solid, very steady defensemen. He is a strong defender with his body, and while he isn’t an overtly physical player, he battles hard and wins those board battles consistently. In front of the net he does well to protect the goalie. His initial steps are very strong and allow him to cut down players quickly, but he doesn’t necessarily have the best agility on his edges without the puck, but when Grayden starts skating with the puck, we see a more athletic stride, more pop in his stride, and a defensemen who is more then capable of generating offense from the back end with strong passing. Sometimes Grayden will try to force the homerun play, but he seems to learn quickly from his mistakes and adjusts accordingly to what the opposition is giving him. Grade: B+
U15: Rocky Mountain Classic (Calgary), December 8, 2018: The all-around defense man played well for Yale through the weekend and was a reliable presence in his own end. Siepmann is a physical defender who plays a heads up game and makes smart reads in his end and defending off transition. Has a good active stick that he uses to break up passes In his own end. He showed good outlets coming out of his end and can stretch the ice out with his passing ability. He can escape pressure using his skating ability to free up space for himself. He has some skill in the offensive end, jumping into the high circle/slot area to see if he can open for a shot. On the line he uses lateral movement to try and find shooting lanes to get pucks on net. He can be prone to turning the puck over in the neutral zone with some sloppy passes that he could look to improve on as well as being more consistent through shifts as he can make errors with the puck at times. Grade: B
2004s: North American Hockey Classic (Winnipeg), June 27, 2018: Grayden plays with a lot of grit and physicality. He isn’t afraid to mix things up and doesn’t back down from anyone. He’s got a smooth stride and above average mobility. The 2004 makes quick decisions in his own end and played time on the PP. Grade: B
| Hunter Haight | Barrie Colts | OHL | R | C | 5’10” | 172 | Barrie Colts | 2020 | Strathroy, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 22 goals in 63 regular-season goals for Barrie. 69% of his shots hit the net. During his first season of OHL action, he was a regular contributor to both special teams units. Twenty of his twenty-three goals came from within the house. On the three goals that weren’t from the house he was moving laterally towards the house and shot the puck while the goalie’s feet weren’t set.
C me not: He has always had a nose for the net and the ability to score, but does his shot have the power and deception to beat NHL goalies regularly? He won 41% of his puck battles. During 2021/22 he scored three power-play goals on 49 attempted shots with 19 of those attempts not reaching the net.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
Toronto Marlies Classic, February 2, 2020: Haight is an impressive 200 foot center, Haight continues to be one of our favorite skilled centers outside of the major centers. Haight is outstanding through the neutral zone with a full head of steam and generates space for himself and his linemates. He is also difficult to contain off the cycle with his quick first step and sturdy skating stride. Haight has been elevating his game as the season progresses and he becomes more comfortable with his speedy linemates. Haight and Brady Stonehouse were both very difficult for defenders to contain at the Marlies tournament this weekend. Grade: B+
Toronto Titans Early Bird Tournament Report: Minor Midget AAA, September 24, 2019: Haight is a right shot center/winger Haight showed versatility playing in any situation for Elgin. A smooth skater with offensive skills, Haight often plays the point on the PP. Haight was also effective in penalty killing situations with good body positioning and smart decision making. He keeps his feet moving in the offensive zone, often hitting the seam with a willingness to make a move to get into the prime scoring area. He needs to pull the trigger quicker and has the potential to elevate his game with some better vision for his wingers. Elgin’s most effective offensive player at the Titan’s with points in every game. Grade: B+
| Kasper Lundell | Finland U18 | International | L | F | 5’11” | 176 | Espoo, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has leadership qualities and has worn a letter for HIFK at both the U16 and U17 levels. He plays with the game details demanded by an NHL coaching staff. The “little things” like stopping on pucks, defensive zone awareness and smart angles while defending will allow him to impact an NHL line-up in a bottom six role.
C me not: As the puck carrier and a left shot he is very content to remain along the left wall through the neutral zone and stay outside of the dot line on zone entries. He is quick laterally and shows deception while cycling below the goal line, but again he seems content to stay below the goal line looking for the perfect play.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
U18: Team Finland vs Team Russia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, August 10, 2021: Lundell played an honest hardworking game that would translate well to North America. He stopped on every puck, battled along the walls and was very detail orientated away from the puck as his head was constantly on a swivel, his stick was in passing lanes and he was always a dependable weakside net front safety net. On the forecheck we liked his angles as an F1 and it was obvious he knew his job was to be disruptive in not letting the Russian defensemen get the net for easy breakouts. Lundell was a constant presence in front of the net and more than willing to take the goalie’s eyes away while on the power play. Although not as highly touted as some of his teammates, he earned more ice time than any other Finnish forward (18:07 TOI).
| Ben MacDonald | Nobles & Greenough | NE Prep | L | C | 5’11” | 165 | Harvard | 2023 | Weston, MA | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He can shoot while his feet are moving and is very good at using opposing defenders as a screen. During the 2021/22 New England prep season he showed high-end vision and touch as he ran the power play from the top of the umbrella. As a puck carrier he can turn on a dime and more importantly the puck does not slow him down.
C me not: He has a slight frame and will need to continue spending time developing an explosive first step and overall strength to be a puck carrier in professional hockey. On-line rushes, he can get comfortable outside the face-off dots looking for the perfect pass.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
Flood Marr Tournament, December 31, 2021: MacDonald entered the tournament after being listed on NHL Central Scouting; a tall, thin, athletic forward with slick set of hands and playmaking ability. He finished the weekend with 2 goals and 3 assists including a highlight reel snipe top corner over the goalies blocker on the power play. He can quarterback the power play and was used on the point to survey the ice, manage the puck and engage as a shooting and passing threat. He is smooth both in stride and puck carrying ability, he can read a play, find the lane and place the puck anywhere he wants. He’s one of the most skilled players, plays a possession style game, weaves through the neutral zone with poise and is able to make plays at pace. His stride is so fluid he can not only get to speed quickly but maintain it up the ice with little effort. With that being said, given his athletic frame, skating ability and puck handling he could take over games at this level and he doesn’t, he plays a bit perimeter, he sits back and waits for the puck to come to him at times and didn’t engage much in the physical game. Like the tools and the upside but he’s going to have to get stronger and play a more complete game to make an impact at higher levels. Grade: B+
Neponset Valley River Rats Showcase, September 15, 2021: The Harvard commit was strong here and constantly created offensive chances. He plays at top speed and works hard in all three zones. The left-shot hunted pucks and was always the first forechecker in on the defender creating problems. He can play in all situations and was used on both the PP and PK. He takes good angles pressuring the puck and was relentless in creating turnovers. He sees the ice well and plays well at top speed. Confident with comfortable with the puck on his stick. He changes directions quickly and will peel back when he doesn’t have a lane to regroup and find more ice. He has some touch on his passes and threaded a few pucks through traffic to create scoring chances. A strong weekend overall and will be interesting to watch this winter for Nobles. Grade: B+
Massachusetts Festival, June 9, 2021: MacDonald has powerful strides and can generate good speed. He has good size standing at 6’1 and has a great frame to build on. He is strong and can close in quickly on defenders on the forecheck. He is effective in the offensive zone and makes plays consistently. He generated chances off the cycle and got pucks to the net. He competed every time he was on the ice. Good selection for the National Camp. National Camp Selection. Grade: B+
Cape Cod Whalers Midget Showcase, October 29, 2020: Ben played on the same line as Fisher and constantly created offensive chances. He is listed at 6’1 and has a high motor and compete level. He keeps his feet moving in the offensive zone and was tough to track down off-the-cycle. He has soft, slick hands and made several plays through traffic and over sticks. He sees the ice well and gets to spots right before the puck gets there. Scored a nice goal by driving the net. He is patient and doesn’t rush plays. He will wait for the lane to open before saucing or snapping a pass to a teammates stick. He snaps the puck in stride and picks corners. Is primed to have a big year at Nobles this Winter. Grade: B+
Beantown Classic, August 31, 2020: MacDonald is a tall, thin, athletic forward who made slick passes to the slot off the rush. He was involved, got to spots and worked hard away from the puck to get open. Subtle high-end talent.
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Ben is only 5’9” but has a long, athletic frame and should continue to grow and fill out. He possesses soft, quick hands and was able to make difficult passes over sticks and in traffic. He showed good sense on the rush making a Gretzky turn away from pressure to buy time and space and hitting the late trailer instead of throwing a low off angle shot. Grade: B-
Mass Festival 2004s, May 16, 2019: MacDonald constantly hovered around the play and that led to more quality scoring opportunities shift after shift. He was strong on the rush and sneaky as he would accelerate through the red line. He knew when to dish the puck off and went to shoot it but he was best as a facilitator at this event. We also like his ability to patrol the middle of the ice and noted a few steals on his record as well. Scored a nice goal off of a long possession and another one off of tap-in. We will want to see more of him in the coming season. Grade: B-
| Jake Furlong | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 190 | Halifax Mooseheads | 2020 | Upper Tantallon, NS | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a two-way defender who finished 2021/22 with 42 points in 67 games as well as leading Halifax with a +22. He averaged 24:37 of TOI and won 56% of his puck battles. He generates transition from the defensive zone by understanding body positioning and using high-end puck anticipation to race to rebounds.
C me not: He is a two-way defender who needs to continue developing his play in the offensive zone, especially while moving laterally along the offensive blue line. During the 2021/22 season, he averaged 2:29 of power-play time per game, yet he only attempted 54 shots. 21 of those shot attempts hit the net and 18 of those were blocked. Eight of those power-play blocks came as he was moving laterally along the blueline and then collapsed into the royal road as he was shooting which allowed the penalty killer to regain his positioning for the block.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
QMJHL: Halifax Mooseheads Draft Prospects, November 16, 2021: Furlong is a solid two-way defenseman who keeps improving with every viewing. Although he appears to be very strong and physically confident right right now, we feel his skating posture will allow him to still be athletic and carry 15-20 more pounds. Defensively he shows the lateral foot work and awareness to pinch off line rushes early in the neutral zone without exposing the dangerous ice. We like his ability to clear shooting lanes without getting tied up and when things breakdown Furlong is more than willing to get big low to eat the puck. Offensively he keeps it simple and stays away from trying to beat guys one on one. He moves the puck quickly, but does have the puck poise to move laterally to generate passing lanes. He walks the offensive blueline with confidence looking for clear lanes, deflections or high tips and when he does have space to let one fly his slapper is a rocket.
Pro-Am Mini Chowder Cup, August 6, 2018: Furlong has good low-end power to his stride and a solid frame to work with as he continues to grow. He skates with the mind of a track star: hunched for maximum aerodynamic effect and bolts forward with a good push off. We like that he made good decisions on when to step up and when to fall back. He also is not afraid to play physical: laying out an opponent in open ice and quickly sliding back into position. Moves very well because his stride is clean and efficient. Has some nice vision and stick skill as well: made a nifty backhand drop pass to an oncoming rusher in his wake. Might have been the top defenseman on a team stacked with talent.
| Alex Sotek | Team Slovakia U18 | Slovakia2 | R | RW | 6’0″ | 176 | Poprad, SVK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has played 45 games in Slovakia’s top league and 96 total games against men in Slovakia. He has averaged 1.10 points per game while playing against his peers in Slovakia. 66% of his shots hit the net. He plays a high energy annoying game that leads to him drawing penalties.
Ian Moran’s Thoughts: Sotek is a high-energy winger who brings it every shift. On the forecheck he is a very aggressive F1 who shows the foot speed to win races for loose pucks and the fearlessness to throw his body into the mix. I like the spacing and awareness he shows as an F2 or F3 because you rarely see him getting trapped on the wrong side of the opposing forwards or going the wrong way on a clean breakout pass. As a puck carrier, Sotek is not slowed down by the puck and he has the type of puck-carrying ease that makes defenders fear being beaten wide. Although he did not produce much offensively in the Slovakian professional league, Sotek has good numbers in the U20 age group with 63 points in 55 games over the past 3 seasons. To me his pace of play and awareness away from the puck make him an ideal late-round pick who heads to the Major Junior next year to blossom. (May 2022)
C me not: During the 2021/22 season, he won 40% of his puck battles which was down from 56% during the 2020/21 season. Yes, he played significantly more games in Slovakia’s top men’s league, but this highlights his need to gain strength to play his style in the NHL. He had two points in four games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is a right-shot forward who generates his offense from the right dot lane.
| Jesperi Kaukonen | Assat U20 | U20 SM | L | RW | 5’10” | 172 | Paimio, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He initiates body contact with two hands on his stick. During wall battles, he shows the body awareness to take the defender’s hands away by spinning through contact. 64% of his shots his the net. He attacks the low slot looking for rebounds.
C me not: He only has one game of International playing experience and that occurred during the 2019/20 season at the U16 level. During the 2021/22 season, he won 45% of his puck battles while playing primarily U20 hockey. At 5’10” and 170 pounds he will need to add strength and power to his frame as historically 76% of his shots come from the low slot.
| Quinn Finley | Madison Capitols | USHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 170 | Wisconsin | 2023 | Saumico, WI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: As a puck carrier he is a skilled forward who understands how to create mismatches in speed. He moves his feet through contact which allows him to draw penalties. 58% of his shots hit the net. During 5on5 play his attention to detail away from the puck grew considerably during 2021/22.
C me not: He has won 45.5% of his puck battles during his two seasons in the USHL. During the 2021/22 season, he averaged 17:19 of TOI with 3:08 of that coming while on the power play. He attempted 326 shots with 84 of those on the power play. 35 of those attempts came from outside of the dot lane.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
USHL: Madison vs Dubuque, February 23, 2022: Smaller scrappy forward that plays a prototypical energizing role. He’s going to be on top of you on the forecheck and he will be pestering you on the backcheck. His feet never stop moving and he keeps this energy throughout the entire game. One thing that I though Finley did well in the game tonight was show a physical side. He didn’t let his size determine the fight he wanted to show in the game. He will finish his checks and take checks at the same time and get up and do it again. B-
USHL: Madison Capitols vs Green Bay Gamblers, October 30, 2021: In the 4-2 Madison win Finley earned 15:59 in total ice time including 3:19 while on the power play. Statistically he finished plus 1 with 1 assist, 7 shots on goal (5PP), an additional 3 shots were blocked and 1 takeaway versus 1 giveaway that occurred in the offensive grey area when trying to beat a defender 1 on 1. As always it is very easy to notice Finley’s speed and offensive instincts, The puck seemed to follow into the scoring area or high slot. He looked comfortable with his move to the bumper spot while on the power play and we feel his quick release will lead to more power play points. He showed jam while digging for rebounds and his ability to extend an offensive zone scrum led to his assist. Although not a banger, we feel he looked stronger on the puck and more confident in physical confrontations.
USHL: Weekend #4, October 27, 2021: Really nice puck release on Finley. He’s able to corral the puck quickly and get accurate shots off without hesitation. Scored a nice goal in the slot area, catching a puck from low to high, and under pressure, catch and shoot before the goalie knew he had it. He does a good job at keeping his feet moving and staying in motion in the offensive zone, this gives him a chance to sneak into open areas. In the defensive zone he continues that same habit but without the same effect. Needs to learn to put the brakes on and see what’s coming behind him. Grade: B-
USHL: Madison Capitols vs Tri-City Storm, September 24, 2021: In the 2-1 loss to Tri-City Finley earned 19:06 in total ice time including 3:23 in power play time. Statistically he finished minus 1 (OT Winner), with 1 shot on goal, 1 blocked shot, 1 hit and 5 giveaways versus 5 takeaways. Among Madison’s forwards he was second behind Kyle Kukkonen in 5 on 5 ice time. Immediately we noticed more accountability in Finley’s game, noting that he maintained line-ups while in defensive zone coverage and showed nice awareness when he collapsed to lift an opponent’s stick to prevent a quality scoring chance. We liked how he stopped hard on pucks and showed a willingness to compete in all three zones. He had two power play scoring opportunities that went wide, but it was obvious that Finley wanted the puck and wanted to be a difference maker.
USHL: Madison Capitols vs Des Moines Buccaneers, September 23, 2021: In the 6-3 loss to Des Moines Finley earned 17:31 in total ice time including 2:35 while on the power play. Statistically he finished an even plus/minus with 1 goal on 4 shots (3PP), 1 power play one-timer that was blocked in the high slot and 8 giveaways versus 2 takeaways. As was signified by his 8 giveaways, we do not feel this was a good game for Finley. In our opinion his opponents were more desperate to win the physical confrontations and often times Finley took the long route to the puck. He is a highly skilled forward who has the ability to make plays happen out of thin air, but this was a night to have a short memory.
USA Hockey Selects 17’s, July 14, 2021: Finley played fast, smart and highly skilled hockey here. He had soft first touches and passed pucks rapidly to smart spots. He put his teammates in spots to make plays. He zipped pucks quickly through the middle zone. He had a ton of puck possession time as he showed poise and had the skill to possess and plan his attacks. His skating was smooth with a long stride. He was all over the ice all week. Finley made one touch passes, threw sauce, made backhand passes and used the indirect. His vision was superb. His hands were quick and helped him find seams to thread pucks through. Quinn also scored some goals. He fired a wrister after he curled and wheeled to the net. The puck never slowed him. He also scored on a breakaway on a pretty deke. QF scored on both his penalty shots in shootouts as well. One on a slow approach and snipe and the other on a wicked snapper. He had a great week and was a factor all over the ice. He made the Hlinka Team as well as NZ’s All-Star Team. Grade: A
USHL: Draft Recap, May 8, 2020: Finley was an NTDP camp invite. He is our 23rd ranked 2004 in the USA and could have made the team at camp. He is quick, fast and mobile. He pushes bad gaps on opponents and knows how to create space. He uses that space well as he has the tools to move laterally to open passing and shooting lanes or hold possession and let plays develop. His edges are elite. He is both clever and mature and can change the angle on his shot, can bait a defender and then dish it to open space and doesn’t have predetermined moves; he reads defenders and reacts to their weaknesses. High ceiling player who remains uncommitted.
U15: Whitby Silver Stick (2004s), December 18, 2019: A smooth skating forward, Finley adjusts to passes and when he breaks stride to get a pass, he is able to get back to full speed in a few steps. He pushed defenders back on entries with his speed and maintained possession on the peripheral. Finley needs to use his speed and edgework to attack the net and work on shooting while in full stride or in tight. Grade: B
U15: USHL Showcase, October 25, 2019: Quinn is an athletic, playmaking forward that is skilled with and without the puck. Handles the puck well and plays through traffic. He has a rocket for a shot and uses it in all situations. Strong enough to challenge goalies from the outside. In one viewing he cut down the wing and snapped the puck far side under the bar. He is smart and finds the soft ice in the offensive zone. He has good timing and changes pace to open up time and space through the neutral zone. He has good puck skills and made several nice touch plays to create scoring chances. He works hard on both sides of the puck and isn’t afraid to use his body to play physical. High upside. Grade: A-
U15: MN Bantam Elite League, September 2019: Quinn was simply the best all-around player for us this weekend. A combination of skating, puck skills and understanding for the game made him impossible to shut down. To go along with all his traits, he was unselfish and competed extremely hard. He showed he is a winner and a player any coach would want on his team.
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Finley is a quick, shifty, cerebral playmaker who was all over the ice here creating for his teammates. He’s light on his feet, accelerates seamlessly in any direction and has the quick, nifty hands to make opponents miss. Finley is both clever and mature and can change the angle on his shot, can bait a defender and then dish it to open space and doesn’t have predetermined moves; he reads defenders and reacts to their weaknesses. The same goes for his shooting, he has his head up, he reads the goalie and tries to get them to move and then shoots to the opening. His hands are smooth and elusive and he has impressive puck control, maintaining possession in traffic and receiving hard passes in stride. Dynamic, quick, skilled and smart. Made a lot of plays here and show the vision and playmaking ability to play at the next level. Up and coming NCAA/CHL prospect. Grade: B+
| Matthew Ward | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | L | C | 5’8″ | 157 | Swift Current Broncos | 2019 | Kamloops, BC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: Over the past two seasons Swift Current has scored 252 total goals with Ward being involved in 79 of them, including being involved in 57 of the 181 goals scored during the 2021/22 season. 59% of his shots hit the net. When you watch a game he leaves no doubt in your mind that he played in it.
C me not: He is listed at 5’8″ 157 pounds and has won 40% of his puck battles over the past two WHL seasons. He plays an aggressive physical style that impacts the game, but he has been on the receiving end of 1.38 hard body checks per game over his two WHL seasons.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Prince Albert Raiders vs Swift Current, November 19, 2021: Mathew is another one of the Broncos highly touted prospects. He averaged a point per game in the WHL bubble last season as a 16-year-old, and this year he is ahead of that pace. This game we didn’t see the explosive and dynamic offensive side of his game, but we did see his physicality on full-display. His skating, balance and center of gravity is incredibly impressive. He threw several bone-crushing body checks to players moving faster and who were much bigger, furthermore he leveled a few who were trying to hit him. Mathew doesn’t look small on the ice, nor does he play small. He competes very hard and attacks the puck and the opposition with a purpose. His 200 foot game was quite impressive. He was tough on the forecheck and on the backcheck. In the offensive, neutral and defensive zones he punished the opposition. With the puck on his stick he can make plays. His passing is top notch, accurate and smart – hard when required or soft touches into open ice were both executed very well. On the power play he was the main distributor, the puck was on and off his stick in a split second giving his teammates perfect dishes to shoot. The shots from the Broncos were limited in this game, however Mathew has proven he has a touch around the net. We will hear his name called in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Grade B+
WHL: Swift Current Broncos NHL Prospects, May 20, 2021: Without a doubt, the best player on the Broncos team right now. Being part of what is turning out to be a very deep 2004 prospect pool, Ward is the present and future of this program. He plays with a massively high hockey IQ. At both ends of the ice, he anticipates plays well, and makes good decisions. In his own end, he can be out muscled, and he is undersized at the moment, but he constantly puts himself in areas where he can pick off passes. He has a good stick, using it well to both take away options, but to also get in on guys and lift sticks. Everything about his game is sneaky good. He has an ultra smooth stride that looks effortless, and it does look like at times that he is missing an extra gear, but constantly, at both ends of the ice, we find him making plays that surprise us a bit. Again, in his own zone, he seems to surprise puck carriers with his ability to get in close quickly, and force awkward plays. Offensively, when it seems like he’s about to be swallowed, he is able to create that little separation to make a play, or to win a race. On the forecheck, he assesses and attacks smartly, and again, always seems to surprise opponents with his ability to get in on them quickly. Maybe it’s because he does look so casual on the ice at times, that opponents and scouts like us at Neutral Zone can undervalue his foot speed. The game looks easy to him, and when he carries the puck he does a good job of controlling the pace of play. He does seemingly like to play at a slower pace, but he is also more then capable of playing at that high end pace as well. Ward has excellent hands. He makes good passes all over the ice. Under duress, he still is able to create angles, and find spaces to pass the puck to. He sends soft passes, and even when he is passing long distance, pucks land on their target with accuracy and lightness for teammates to control easily. He sees the ice incredibly well, uses his feet and hands to create all sorts of different attacking angles, and really does a good job to make himself a dual threat to either shoot or pass when he is in possession of the puck. He has a lightning fast release. He doesn’t shoot the puck with a ton of pace, but it is deadly accurate. On the powerplay he likes to curl off the half boards and attack the middle of the ice where he can pass or shoot. Ward has the potential to be an elite player, and with more physical development, is only going to get better. He is the type of player who can make teammates better because of the way he plays, and the skill set he possesses. As a 2004, he’ll be a real name to consider next year, especially if he finds himself with a strong supporting cast. Grade: B+
WHL Cup, November 10, 2019: Ward might be the most natural playmaker in his age group. Smooth hands, quick stick handling skills, and the creativity to pull off moves that most people couldn’t envision let alone pull off. Ward does it consistently. He has great vision on the ice, and makes plays all over the place, at pace, with players all over him, he has the confidence and skills to make plays in limited time and space. Ward plays with good pace, and plays strong on his edges, but he is lacking explosion, and can struggle at times to break away from coverage with his feet, and as skilled as Mathew is, he can still be swallowed up by stronger more physical players, and they can keep him to the perimeter where he is less dangerous. Grade: B+
Rocky Mountain Classic, December 8, 2018: Ward was a machine who’s engine never stopped running through the weekend, playing in all situations and consistently being a pain in the ass to play against for the opposition. Ward is a shifty player who will create for teammates in the offensive end and though he’s not the biggest, he loves to throw the body to separate the player from puck. He’s an easy skater who can find separation through the neutral zone and has the hands and creative thinking to open up space for teammates off the rush. He can play in 1 on 1s down low with his hands and quick starts and stops. Ward is a competitive player at both ends of the ice and works hard in his own end making sure to get back in back pressure or close lanes from the point. Ward could work on becoming stronger for puck protection as he can get knocked off down low and continue to get quicker as it’s not a weakness but as a smaller player is something that allows you to escape pressure a bit easier. Grade: B
CSSHL Showcase, February 16, 2018: Mathew is a smooth skater; he has creative vision and passing. He’s quick and shifty in the corners and does well to create space for himself. The 2004 is a playmaker and thinks pass first but can score if the opportunity presents itself. He is talented with the puck and makes things happen in the offensive zone. The underage was arguably the team’s best forward over the weekend and is sure to get a lot of attention in his WHL draft year next season. He finished with 4 points through 4 games and played on the top PP unit. Grade: A-
| Jake Livanavage | Chicago Steel | USHL | L | D | 5’10” | 161 | North Dakota | 2023 | Gilbert, AZ | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He averaged 22:46 of TOI during 2021/22 and was a key contributor to both special teams units. He carries the puck on his forehand which allows him to excel in transitional offense. During his two years in the USHL, he has won 53.5% of his puck battles and hit the net with 56.5% of his shots. He had four points in four games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. His play got stronger as his draft year progressed as was shown by having nine assists in his final ten games and finishing +7.
C me not: Yes he has the skating base needed to be a potential NHL defenseman but he also has a slight frame and is listed at 161 pounds. How long will it take him to add the strength and power needed to win puck battles in the NHL? During 2021/22 he attempted 53 shots while on the power play with 13 of them going wide and 11 being blocked. Unless he continues to develop his shot, NHL players will feast on this type of predictability and limit his overall effectiveness.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
USHL: Chicago Steel at Youngstown Phantoms, April 17, 2022: Livanavage is a smooth skating average sized offensively gifted left shot defenseman. He is well balanced, shows a smooth powerful heel to heel stride while pivoting as well as the speed to pull away from forecheckers while they are on his back. We liked his ability to keep the puck on his forehand which allowed him to snap passes in any direction. Positioned on the top of the umbrella or 1-3-1 formation, Livanavage is the quarterback on the Steel’s top powerplay unit where we liked his deception and unpredictability. He showed the stick skills to one-touch passes to either flank and we liked the awareness he showed to collapse into the high slot when the Youngstown penalty killers showed too much respect for the shooters along the dot lanes. Defensively Livanavage used his quickness to contain the puck to the corner and a very active stick to force turnovers. As with any young player Livanavage will need to continue adding lower body strength to defend in the NHL, but his ability to transition the will lead him to hearing his name in Montreal.
USHL: Tri City v Fargo; Chicago v Youngstown, December 10, 2021: Livanavage is an undersized skilled defenseman who exhibits elite patience and puck distribution. He QBs the power play and distributes the puck to the flanks for one-timer opportunities. Livanavage can skate the puck up the ice well but constantly has his head up as he prefers to distribute. Grade: B
USA Hockey Select 17’s, July 14, 2021: Jake played smart hockey with a strong stride and quick feet. He played up ice a lot with the puck but when he had to defend, he moved quickly with smart angles to create turnovers. Despite not being a big defender, he won wall battles as he is balanced and competitive. He transitioned rapidly and used the middle as well as his feet to get the offense started. His transitions looked smooth and could carry end to end or make any type of pass. He moved pucks. Jake regrouped when he didn;t see what he liked and was very good at skating backwards with the puck to wait and create. He oozed confidence and always had his head up. The Gilbert, AZ native’s stride is exceptional and that allowed him to expend less energy. He swiveled, protected and distributed the puck at an elite level. He was dangerous off the offensive blue line. He activated in and out of the slot and worked the high cycle. He was skilled with the puck up top and shook off opponents. He easily moved in every direction to manufacture passing seams, skating space and shooting lanes. He shot with his head up and was dominant at times. He controlled the game through stretches. He was named to the Hlinka team and most importantly the NZ All-Star team as well. Great year so far for Jake after a championship with Chicago in the USHL and now his success here. High level athlete with terrific upside. Grade: A-
USHL: Chicago Steel vs. Green Bay Gamblers, March 29, 2021: Livanavage was a tender for Chicago this off-season out of Phoenix Jr. Coyotes program. A polished skating, agile, heads up defenseman who is quick back to pucks, can evade forecheck pressure and make split second decisions with the puck. He’s elusive and skilled, he has a quick first step and can generate speed on his crossovers. He can snap passes off like a veteran and dust it off if he sees a lane. He, like most of the defenders on this team, likes to activate from the backend and jump up into the rush and become a fourth forward and has the speed and quickness to get back. He’s young and he’s undersized but he’s tight on his gaps, he’s smooth in transition and can make plays up ice. Grade: B
Notre Dame U16 Shootout, December 27, 2019: Jake stood out to us from the get go. He is really slick in all facets and plays with a lot of poise and polish for a younger player skating up with the 16U’s. Great acceleration and control of his feet. He loves to activate offensively and has excellent puck skills and offensive creativity. He is smart, sneaky player who does well to find open ice for looks in the offensive zone and can fire the puck. Very good in transition and keeps his gaps tight and had a solid defensive showing. We are interested to see more of him the rest of this season and whether he sticks at 16U. Grade: B+
U15 Tier 1 Showcase; Lewis Center Ohio, October 8, 2019: Livanavage is a solid, mistake-free defender who plays tight and aggressive in the defensive zone and can do well with the puck outside of it. He can makes above average passes and had a couple nice stretch passes in particular. Good awareness with the puck and sees the ice well. His feet could get a little lighter but his straight line speed is good and acceleration decent. Anticipates and reads well and always in position. Grade: C
| Francesco Iasenza | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | L | D | 5’11” | 179 | Moncton Wildcats | 2020 | Pointe Claire, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a leader who is willing to do the little things necessary to win shift after shift. He pays attention to the details away from the puck like he is a veteran. During 2021/22 he averaged 21:52 of TOI with only 3:46 of it being penalty kill minutes. Through 85 career QMJHL games, he has won 60.5% of his puck battles.
Neutral Zone Ian Moran: There is little doubt that Iasenza is a leader on the ice as he naturally does little things that coaches love and has been rewarded by being named an Assistant Captain after 21 games in the QMJHL. He is an excellent penalty killer who plays in straight lines and is more than willing to get big low to block shots. He easily clears shooting lanes and wins wall battles in all three zones, basically Iasenza plays dramatically larger than his listed 5’11” 179lbs and even as a 2004 his opponents treat him with fear and respect. Offensively he consistently makes the the easy read to release pressure in the defensive zone or makes a hard flat pass to his forwards. He has a hard snap shot from the point and is more than willing to one-time any type of bouncing puck that comes his way, but as his game develops Iasenza will need to continue working on his shot from the point and the ability to open shooting lanes so his shot get through to the net. To Neutral Zone he is a no frills hard nosed defense first defenseman who puts winning and his team’s success above all else. As of right now Iasenza is probably not on many popular draft lists, but we feel his leadership and attitude make him an ideal mid-round pick.
C me not: He averaged 0:37 TOI of power-play time during 2021/22. How will the combination of his physical style of play and being 5’11” and 179 pounds hold up in the NHL? Through 85 career QMJHL games, 43.5% of his shots hit the net. During 2021/22 he had forty-seven point shots blocked.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
Ville de Saguenay: CCM Midget AAA Challenge, February 10, 2020: Francesco is a good sized defender who has a nice, long stride with good agility. He comes out from behind his own net with the puck on his stick and comes up the ice with speed. A firm, crisp passer with a hard slap shot and a heady style of play. He has smooth hands, good puck control, and carries with some real jump. He gets shot off quickly and plays a very smart, mature game at such a young age. He has exceptional vision and reads the ice very well. His offensive blueline mobility was on display as he would walk the line and zip passes; thinks it quick and solid distributor. He closes well and defends with both his feet and stick. He is always aware of what is going on and with some experience, Lasenza can develop into a high end offensive-defenseman. Grade A-
| Kocha Delic | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | L | C | 5’10” | 183 | Sudbury Wolves | 2020 | Mississauga, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has a high motor and can play with pace through the neutral zone. With or without the puck he keeps his feet moving which allows him to draw penalties. 66% of his shots hit the net. During the U18 World Championships, he scored 19 goals with twelve of them coming from within feet of the crease.
C me not: During 2021/22 he played 65 OHL games averaging 2:37 of power-play TOI. In that power-play time, he attempted 54 power-play shots with 21 of them missing the net or being blocked. With his pace and work ethic, he averaged 0:40 in penalty kill minutes. He won 49% of his puck battles.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
OHL: Sudbury Wolves at Niagara Ice Dogs, February 14, 2022: An undersised forward but Delic has quick hands and quick feet that helps him be an effective player for his team. Combined with his relentless work ethic, Delic always seems to be around the puck – quick to make a play or quick to generate separation. He is not a perimeter player, as he showed a willingness to play inside when needed, either at the offensive crease or below the goal line. Would like to see more offence generated when in possession of the puck in the OZ. Grade B
OHL: Oshawa Generals vs Sudbury Wolves, November 9, 2021: Kocha is an average sized forward who displays fast feet and a decent stick skill set. He displays speed, uses it to chip and get on defensemen fast and will at least finish with a bump on his man. Grade C+
PBHH Invitational, June 9, 2021: Delic was drafted in the early second round after a great season leading Toronto Titans in points alongside first rounder Nicholas Moldenhauer. He’s a heady playmaker with vision and a quick stick. He showed real speed here on the rush and 1v1 skill while at pace and has soft, slick hands to sauce passes over sticks in stride. He’s quick on draws, he gets back to support his defenseman and was excellent on the forecheck especially in the third game on a penalty kill where his forecheck caused 2 turnovers in the same shift and held the puck in their zone for 20-30 seconds. His hands are both smooth and elusive, he can change speed and accelerate wide on defenders or cut inside with slick moves and get pucks to the net. He scored a nice goal on a quick release snap shot in the third game and was consistently around the puck. He’ll be in the NHL Draft discussion for 2022 as he enters his OHL rookie year in 2021-2022 season. Grade: B+
Canada Youth Olympic Team (U-15) VS Lac St-Louis Lions, January 16, 2020: Nifty player who is extremely dangerous when the puck is on his stick. He played on a line with Fimis and showed great chemistry all afternoon. He’s effective at shielding the puck and keeping plays alive – he’s a possession type player who loves controlling the play, especially below the dots. He had some great shifts in this game stopping and turning on defenseman down low below the dots, making it difficult to contain him. Delic is solid and well balanced on his feet which enables him to hold off pressure and fight off checks to give him extra time with the puck. He scored a beautiful goal in this one after receiving a puck on the wing by Fimis, burning the defenseman wide finishing it off by doing a forehand backhand move.
Whitby Silver Stick, December 18, 2019: Delic has surprising speed for his size and strength and uses it to pressure the puck both in the offensive zone on the forecheck and in the neutral zone on the backcheck. He uses his strength to stay in motion below the offensive goal line and often brushes by defenders who do not have great body positioning on him. Ideally, Delic needs to attack the net more with the puck when he is down low in the offensive zone. Grade: B+
Battle of the Border, November 19, 2019: Delic has great speed and has a dangerous shot using various release points to surprise opposing goalies. He can drag it and get high velocity on it or he can release it quickly from the high slot. Delic delays and finds the high guy, displaying his vision with the puck on his stick. He needs to work on his puck handling skills in tight and be willing to shoot the puck rather deking in tight. GRADE: B+
Toronto Titans Early Bird Tournament Report – 2019 Minor Midget AAA, September 24, 2019: Delic a gifted forward with a strong work ethic Delic showed he has the potential to dominate in the age group. A powerful skater with excellent puck skills and hockey IQ – Delic was dangerous on most shifts this tournament. A nifty skater with quick cuts he trusts his feet and hands. He was slippery offensively and difficult to contain around the net. Delic played a hard 200 foot game and was consistently noticeable each shift. Delic checks a lot of offensive boxes for us with his skill and speed but we also liked his compete and willingness to win pucks. Delic has a good size/speed combination and was definitely among the top forwards in the tournament. A player we believe could dominate the GTHL this season offensively if he continues to develop. Grade: A-
Junior Chowder Cup, August 6, 2019: Delic was quite simply one of the best forwards at this event. He has a good frame to work with at the 2004 level at 5’9 170 and his best attribute is that he can really fly. He was easily one of the best skaters we saw over the course of the weekend. He can accelerate quickly and once he gets the puck he is a blur: a great first step and maintains that momentum through all three zones. More than a few times he burned the defense by simply outskating them: they couldn’t touch him on the outside edge as he reached the net. When he went into the middle he was both slippery and smart with the puck: he didn’t bite off more than he could chew and he looked to take the space the D gave him. He was smart about passing too, used great short area feeds in order to keep the offense moving. Without the puck, he was great at gaining separation and finds scoring areas to squat in. He made himself available in the zone as well: filling lanes on the rush and opening up his hips to accept the pass cleanly in-stride. He will be a hot commodity in his OHL Draft year. Grade: A-
World Selects Invite 2004 Division, July 10, 2019: Kocha had some of the best hands at WSI. He spun with the puck, made people miss, and sauced pucks all over the ice. He tipped a puck that was 12 inches off the ice. Great hand-eye coordination. His vision was also excellent as he was able to see the weak side in zone and the late wave on the rush. He is also really tough and has a nasty side which we liked. He is not a tall player but Delic showed pop when he hit and dug pucks out from dirty areas. His skating is strong and he gets around the sheet of ice well. We noted him at Silver stick as more of a north/south type. He did that here as he was direct and worked hard back to his end. The puck skills were not something we noticed before. He has a diverse set of talents and as a result, lots of upside. Tough, strong, skilled and prepared game. Grade: A-
Silver Stick Finals 2004s, February 10, 2019: Delic plays a pro-style. Big, strong and gets up and down the sheet well. Has some wiggle but understands how to protect the puck. Played very hard and was all over the ice here. Size/speed combination was almost unmatched and he drove the net hard. Worked back to his end and got sticks in lanes. Played the point on the power play and ran it well with Chen. Mature approach for a 2004. Skills with translate to the next level. Played with intensity, grit and has lots of tools. Grade: A-
Eastern Exposure Cup, November 7, 2018: Kocha was the best player in the event by far. The left shot forward is big and mean, and he plays the full 200 feet of the ice. He is hard to knock off pucks and competes every shift. Hockey IQ is very high and knows how to make plays in transition, really good job supporting the puck in his own zone. Scored a few really nice goals- can really fire the puck. Grade: A
| Linus Hemstrom | Brynas IF J20 | J20 Nationell | R | RW | 6’0″ | 172 | Gavle, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a slight right-shot forward who can play both wings. As a puck carrier, he shows deception and creativity, but we like that he works to create open ice for his linemates when he doesn’t have the puck. He had thirteen points in eight J18 games and nineteen in thirty-six J20 games. He keeps his feet moving through body contact which leads to him drawing penalties. 59% of his shots hit the net.
Ce me not: Although he was a member of Sweden’s U18 World Championship team he had zero points and averaged under seven minutes of ice time. He won 37% of his puck battles.
| Devin Kaplan | NTDP U18 | USHL | R | F | 6’3″ | 198 | Boston University | 2022 | Bridgewater, NJ | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He averaged under fourteen minutes of TOI for the USNTDP, but still registered 38 points in 53 games and eighteen points in 22 games versus USHL competition. 67% of his shots hit the net. He has an NHL frame that he uses to extend offensive zone puck possession time. 73.2% of his shots came from within the house with 82.8% coming from the top of the crease.
C me not: At 6’3″ and 198 pounds he won 51% of his puck battles during his draft year. His average TOI dropped from 16:48 during 2020/21 to 13:58 during 2021/22.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
NTDP U18 vs Cornell, November 3, 2021: Kaplan was not noticeable in this game. It seemed a few times early in the game he tried to beat defenders down the wing or out of the corner without much success. His foot speed being average, limited him against the older and stronger opponents.
USA U17 NTDP vs Soo Eagles, October 15, 2020: Devin is a big, powerful forward with skilled hands who uses his powerful stride and created scoring opportunities. He had the puck for 30 seconds on the penalty kill as he had some scoring chances and worked hard to retrieve the puck and killed time off. He has a quick, accurate release as he scored top shelf goal after he dangled the defender through the legs. He works hard on the forecheck as he uses his size to finish checks and creates turnovers. He uses his long reach and strength to protect the puck and will drive to the net. He also has great vision as he will set up his teammates for scoring opportunities. Grade B
Some standout forwards from the 2019 Nationals & how they’ve developed over the past 12 months, April 9, 2020: Kaplan was one of the best, if not the best, projectable prospects in the tournament. He has great size and athleticism, smooth hands and puck protection ability. He can go wide on defenders with speed or he can cut in and make plays towards the net. He is a gifted passer and has the power in his shot to score from outside. He shoots with his head up, he reads the goalie and can place his shots. He uses his reach and size to shield the puck down low and has better vision and passing ability than he gets credit for, especially coming off the wall in the offensive zone. Only negative was at times he showed his age and immaturity (he’s an ’04 playing predominately 02’s) as he’d be slow getting back at times and overexposed the puck and got stripped. He has the size, the skating, the athleticism and the shooting ability to be a special player down the line; finished the tournament with a team high 6 goals and 1 assist in 5 games. College: Boston University
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Well, we’ve certainly been watching Devin for a long time. He feels like someone who is a 2002 rather than an ’04 because he has always played against the older kids. And he hasn’t just played against them. At times he has dominated and every time I’ve seen him he’s has been a positive force in those games or tourneys. He has everything you want in a power forward. He plays with his head up through contact and his first touch is phenomenal on both his forehand or backhand. There’s no doubt he has the vision to make plays, but I think he’s a shooter. A goal scorer. Devin can protect the puck and extend plays like no one else in his bracket. He’s so strong and powerful that larger defenders have a really tough time containing him. And if you’re small and quick, he shields the puck while in motion and he has his way with you. I’m legitimately excited to watch his development over the next few years. He’s a kid that the U.S.N.T.D.P. can do great things for. Being on the ice every day training with the best kids in the U.S. is going to really ramp up his intensity and attention to detail. It’s going to be great preparation for all of the kids, but I really think the increased intensity is going to make his game take off. I know that sounds foolish because he’s been at another level for the past few years, but I genuinely believe that Devin’s about to explode. Combine his skill set with his size and he has a chance to hear his name early in 2022.
OHL Draft US Rankings, April 2020: Although Neutral Zone had Devin ranked the #13 American eligible for the Ontario Hockey League Draft, Devin fell to the 12th round at #232 after his commitment to the U.S. National U17 Team.
Top 250 US Prospect Rankings, January 2020: Devin was ranked #17 in the United States with numbers 10-20 dominated by dynamic forwards. #10 Logan Cooley, #11 Cutter Gauthier, #12 Gavin Hayes, #13 Nick Pierre, #14 Jimmy Snuggerud, #15 Maxim Namestnikov, #18 Isaac Howard & #20 Zach Filak. Of this group Cooley, Gauthier, Snuggerud, Kaplan and Howard were chosen to represent Team USA on the U. S. National U17 Team.
ECC Labor Day U16, September 2019: Devin is a big, bruising forward who was playing up by a year in this division but he certainly looked as though he belonged. This is largely because he’s been playing up for most of his young career. There were times in this game where he was simply bullying smaller or weaker players because of his size and strength advantage. For a big man he finds ways to weave around traffic and even though he has the ability to go through people he is able to move his feet well in order to dance around them. He is keenly aware of his options on the rush and we like his ability to set up goal scoring plays by breaking the zone down and then locating a teammate who has created a mismatch situation. He can obviously take it by himself break into the zone by holding off defenders and firing one home if you give him any type of room to the outside. While he moves well for his age there is certainly additional upside to tap into. He can generate more push with his lower body through added strength and that will make him even more dangerous as he moves up to higher levels. All told, another strong performance for the Terrier commit. Grade: B+ College: BU
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 2019: Devin is strong, athletic and at this stage thinks the game like a pro. Although he had an underwhelming tournament there were flashes of brilliance. In every offensive situation his poise and vision were on display while his ability to protect the puck is second to none. At times it seemed like his passes were too hard for his teammates to handle. His snapshot and release are elite. A very athletic forward who we believe he will gain quickness as he trains. We have seen Devin play with higher age groups and he dominated, but this week lacked the consistency we have come to expect. Grade: B College: Boston University
NZ All Star Teams USA Hockey Select 15s, July 2019: Neutral Zone scouts selected Devin to be on the Team White All Star Team.
World Selects Invite 2004 Division, July 2019: Kaplan is a tall, highly athletic forward with soft hands and a rocket release. He can fly up the wall and pull away from defenders and he’s a sharp shooter who can score from anywhere in the offensive zone with a combination of power, accuracy and release. His best goal came off the rush where he made a quick dangle move inside on the defenseman on a zone entry, cut across the top of the circles, read the goalie, and fired a hard snap shot over the goalies shoulder with almost no room. He has a strong net front presence and scored on a nice tip play showing hand eye coordination and the size and strength to dig in around the net. He has all the tools to be an elite goal scoring skill and power forward at the next level but we would have liked to see more compete, more bite and more well-roundedness to his game as he can overly rely on his talent and his size and take shifts off. He had 4 goals and an assist for 5 points in 7 games and looks like a sure-fire NTDP candidate. College: Boston University Grade: A-
U16 USA Hockey Nationals, May 2019: Kaplan was one of the best, if not the best, projectable prospects in the tournament. He has great size and athleticism, smooth hands and puck protection ability. He can go wide on defenders with speed or he can cut in and make plays towards the net. He is a gifted passer and has the power in his shot to score from outside. He shoots with his head up, he reads the goalie and can place his shots. He uses his reach and size to shield the puck down low and has better vision and passing ability than he gets credit for, especially coming off the wall in the offensive zone. Only negative was at times he showed his age and immaturity (he’s an ’04 playing predominately 02’s) as he’d be slow getting back at times and overexposed the puck and got stripped. He has the size, the skating, the athleticism and the shooting ability to be a special player down the line; finished the tournament with a team high 6 goals and 1 assist in 5 games. College: Boston University
HPHL/Beast Showcase U16, October 2018: Power-forward that is a threat to score each time he touches the puck. Long reach and stride. Gets up to speed quickly and handles the puck well in transition. Direct player and uses his speed, edges and size to beat defenders wide and drive the net. Dynamic with the puck on his stick and uses a slashing style to attack opponents. Slick set of hands allow him to make touch plays down low as well as break down defenders one-on-one. Drags the puck off the rush and snaps shots through the defender’s legs. All around dynamic talent with a high ceiling. Player to watch. Grade: A College: BU
ECC U16 Labor Day Showcase, September 2018: Devin is a big, strong 6’2 power forward who just committed to BU recently. What’s impressive about his game is that he was playing up by two years in this U16 Division and looks to be the strongest and biggest competitor here. He won pretty much every strength battle along the walls and in open ice. He also was great at recognizing mismatches and finding the open man, plus releasing his wrist shot quickly in the offensive zone. You have not heard the last of him: his stock is only going up. Grade: A College: BU
STX 68 Combine, August 20th 2018: Kaplan is already embracing the power forward mold at this point in his career. He has size and uses it to his advantage in every area of his game. Plays with an edge with and without the puck. Drives the net hard, camps out in the tough areas and wins a lot of puck battles. Aside from his physical prowess he has a lot skill, moves really well, and is very intelligent. Makes a lot of crafty, clever plays with the puck and always seems a play ahead of everybody. Elite shooting ability and has a nose for the net. He is one to follow very closely this upcoming season. One of the best forwards of the event.
2004 Crimson Combine, August 7th 2018: We saw Devin a handful of times last year as he played up with the 2003 group. He is physically developed, has great size and one of the best releases we have seen for a 14-year old. Competes hard and finishes his checks. Tough to play against and a constant threat when he is on the ice.
ECC Labor Day, September 2017: Big right shot forward that can take a game over. He has a great shot, and he plays hard and competes for puck. He is very crafty and offensively gifted. He had the OT winner in the semi-finals, he used the d-man as a screen and blew it by the goalie to move on to the finals. Plays big minutes and is relied on by his team.
Mini Chowder Cup, August 2017: He is a pretty impressive player. Playing up by a year is one thing, but he played in both divisions and played well. It’s worth noting that the young man is already roughly 5’11” which we suspect helped his cause to play on the 2003 team, although we gathered he plays 2003 full time down in NJ. Simply put, he is just strong, winning puck battles easily against players a year older than him. He is really tough to pry the puck away from as well: a difficult assignment for any 03 D. He puts in the work wherever his team needs him during a game: he will block a shot, drive to the net to create a scoring chance, steal a puck in the neutral zone, whatever it takes. Looking forward to what 2018 has in store for him.
| Kirill Dolzhenkov | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | MHL | L | LW | 6’6″ | 236 | Moscow, RUS | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’6″ forward who scored fourteen goals in thirty-three MHL games. He has been a captain for CSKA at the U16 through U18 levels.
C me not: As an eighteen-year-old, he is listed as weighing 236 pounds, yet won 43% of his puck battles in the MHL. He has also been on the receiving end of 0.77 hard body checks per game which leads us to ask is he just willing to take a hit to make a play or is he a big kid who’s a target?
| Alexander Suzdalev | HV71 | HockeyAllsvenskan | L | LW | 6’2″ | 175 | Khabarovsk | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ 175-pound left wing who registered 51 points in 45 J20 Nationell games. During 2021/22 he attempted 214 shots with 56 coming while on the man advantage. 63% of his shots hit the net.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: He is a big body that did not see much TOI during the recent U18 World’s, but we see him as a young player with a good work ethic who will continue training and filling out until he’s playing in North America around 205lbs. At that point, he has a chance to be an NHLer. (May 2022)
C me not: He won 42% of his puck battles. He was a member of Sweden’s U18 WJC team, but he averaged under five minutes of TOI per game and was held without a point.
| Francois-James Buteau | Cape Breton Eagles | QMJHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 194 | Cape Breton Eagles | 2020 | Blainville, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’4″ left-shot defender who has won 57% of his puck battles during his two seasons in the QMJHL. He added more physicality to his game as his hard body checks rose from 0.51 to 0.91 per game. His minus 28 looks glaring until you realize that six Cape Breton defensemen had worse plus/minus ratings than he did and he played more games than all of them.
QMJHL Game recap: Cape Brenton Eagles vs Acadie-Bathurst Titan, March 17, 2022: The reason we liked Buteau’s game was the simple fact that the defenseman had 2 minor penalties for taking runs at Titan players. At 6’4″ we like the fact that Buteau is adding a mean streak to his game. When you combine this with his fight on March 13 versus Sherbrooke we feel that he is beginning to feel comfortable with who he is and how he is going to create space for himself in the future.
C me not: During 2021/22 he attempted 130 point shots and 49 of them were blocked. In professional hockey that just can’t happen as a defensive specialist.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
Ville de Saguenay: CCM Midget AAA Challenge, February 10, 2020: Francois-James is a big, fairly mobile defenseman who is not afraid to jump into the attack from the opponents blue line. He had a nice open ice hit on a 1v1 zone entry, catching the rushing forward off guard. He is tall and light on his feet and showed some bite down low in his own zone. He has a solid stride for his size with plenty of room for improvement. Shows good poise and handles the puck fairly well. Grade B
| Zach Filak | Sarnia Sting | OHL | L | C | 6’2″ | 185 | Sarnia Sting | 2020 | Northville, MI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a strong heady two-way forward who can impact the game in all three zones. He has an NHL frame to continue building on. Through midget hockey, he has never been a big point producer, but he had twenty-two points in 62 OHL games during 2021/22.
Neutral Zone’s Director of Scouting Brendan Collins: Filak slid to the 9th round in last year’s OHL Draft(2020) but only because he was committed to Michigan State at the time; he has since signed with the Sarnia Sting who got him for a bargain at that stage in the draft. He’s a strong, two-way forward who made as many plays in his defensive zone as he did in the offensive zone. He’s hard on the puck, he wins 50/50 pucks and works the cycle well.
C me not: He won 42% of his puck battles. He scored 10 goals on 127 total shots attempted in 2021/22. He is a willing net-front presence who scored five power-play goals, but we feel that number can rise if he can continue developing his hand-eye coordination as he deflected ten power-play point shots wide.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
USA Hockey’s Select 17’s, July 14, 2021: Filak was another highly regarded player here who played well in our opinion as we named him to our All-Star team. However, he did not get the call from USA hockey. He is still highly regarded in our book and while it wasn’t his very best, it was better than most. He scored four goals in four games and added an assist. He lived near the net and scored one goal on a pretty redirect. He scored another tip goal on the power play and another in the same game on a wicked shot up under the bar preceded by a really quick release. He is smooth, confident and can score. He moved well in the neutral zone to get open and made a nice open ice hit in the neutral zone. He outworked opponents to pucks and forechecked hard. He had one bad giveaway in a tie game as he tried to do too much. He did not have a formal season as Zach plays in the OHL for Sarnia. He looked pretty good for a player with no real game time. He was involved in a lot of ways. Grade: B+
Some standout forwards from the 2019 Nationals & how they’ve developed over the past 12 months, April 9, 2020: The biggest standout feature to Filak’s game is how utterly difficult it is to remove him from the puck. He uses his body really well to shield the puck, and adding his foot and hand quickness into the equation and he is a beast puck possession player. Excellent hands and creativity. He uses these abilities to create space well and buy himself time to make plays and exploit open ice. Excellent reads and awareness. He has a great feel for the game and is very smart. Excellent two-way game.
MAHA Bantam Festival 2004s< April 19, 2020: Zachary has good size around 5’11 who plays a physical game and will drive to the net to make it difficult for the defenders. He has quick hands along with being a strong skater makes him an effective player. He has a quick release as he scored a nice goal coming down the wing. He also set up his teammates for 2 goals in the same game. He has great skill and the combination of size makes him an effective player.
HPHL U16 Showcase; Woodridge, IL, December 6, 2019: The biggest standout feature to Filak’s game is how utterly difficult it is to remove him from the puck. He uses his body really well to shield the puck, and adding his foot and hand quickness into the equation and he is a beast puck possession player. Excellent hands and creativity. He uses these abilities to create space well and buy himself time to make plays and exploit open ice. Excellent reads and awareness. He has a great feel for the game and is very smart. Excellent two-way game. Grade: A
MAHA U16 Showcase. Troy, MI, September 16, 2019: Zach is a big, strong player who gets in on the forecheck to cause turnovers by using his body. He does a great job of cycling by protecting the puck and using cut backs to beat the defender. He uses his teammates effectively by moving the puck quickly and getting himself open in scoring areas. He was a little quiet on the weekend but we do see him be more effective as the season goes along. College: Michigan St.
USA Hockey Select 15’s, August 24, 2019: Filak is a tall (looked taller than listed) player who looked silky/smooth with possession. His hands are soft and he played with his head up. His skating must tighten up a bit as he is long and still pretty thin. As he gets stronger, he will get more from his stride and become a faster and more balanced skater. He is fine now but when he got tired his feet became sloppy. He is still raw with tremendous upside. We liked that he was willing to play with a physical edge. He hit on the forecheck and created turnovers. Made a couple big hits that got the bench going. He backchecked hard and stayed on the correct side of the puck. He made a lot of plays here. His offensive instincts are excellent and he moved the puck quickly when called for but also help, showed poise and waited for plays to develop. Took his ice and dished and played well in every situation. Talented played with a high ceiling. Finished with six points. Grade: A- College: Michigan State
MAHA Festival 2004s, June 30, 2019: Zachary is a big kid who uses his size and reach to his advantage. He has the patience with the puck and the vision to see the ice as he sets his teammates for scoring opportunities. He is a great skater with the ability to beat defenders along with his stick handling skills. He made a nice pass off the cycle to his teammate in the slot for a goal. In the games we watched he didn’t really produce but he did create opportunities.
U16 USA Hockey Nationals, May 14, 2019: Filak is an ’04 playing up a level and not only fits in but excels. He’s a tall, long, raw forward who has high hockey IQ and awareness. He’s still growing into his frame so his footwork needs time to develop and his hands are good but not great. However, he has a long reach, he protects the puck very well and showed some bite along the wall and in front of his own net protecting his goalie. He sees the ice very well, he showed some poise and vision and has a maturity and presence beyond his years. High ceiling prospect who is only scratching the surface ending the week with 3 assists in 3 games. Would like to see him shoot the puck more and be more assertive but for an ’04 to be one of the best players on the ice in all three games we watched is pretty impressive. College: Michigan State
HPHL 16U Showcase, December 10, 2018: Filak shows very well for himself being a younger player on the ice compared to his peers. Good confidence and poise with the puck, not afraid to try and make plays and take chances. Long, strong stride and good feet, good hands. Very high offensive upside in addition to what he can do currently. We look forward to tracking his development and progress as the season moves along. Grade: B+
U15/U16: HPHL Illinois Showcase:, November 29, 2018: Hard to imagine Zach playing at the Bantam Major level as he was effective here against much older players. Solid size and strength help him to adjust to the higher paced physical game. He was confident with the puck on his stick and showed no panic. Protected pucks in the offensive zone and showed he has the skill to compete with the older players. He has the skating and the pucks skills to score at the higher level. As the game slows down for him throughout the year, he should improve his offensive output.
U16: USHL Fall Classic, October 29, 2018: Zach was very impressive playing against much older players and a strong player pool in this tournament. He has size for his age, which is helping his transition. He also displayed nice feet and puck skills to go along with the size. He stuck his nose into the physical areas and didn’t back down. Showed the ability to make some plays on the rush with his reach and puck skills. A lot of potential in his game as he gains experience and the game slows down for him.
HPHL/Beast Showcase U16, October 6, 2018: Long and lanky forward that skates hard and plays smart. Another high-end 2004 with a ton of upside. He is at his best on the Power Play when given space. Electric puck skills and has great vision to see passing lanes. Slick and can break down defenders in tight space or off the rush. Grade: B+
STX Combine, August 20, 2018: Filak plays with a major chip on his shoulder. Very aggressive, chippy, gets under opponents’ skin. Never passes up a chance to finish a check and likes to give a little extra when the opportunity presents itself. Very hard on the puck and wins a lot of battles. Displayed good hands and decent playmaking ability. There is probably more where that came from so we would like to see more of it.
| Owen Mehlenbacher | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | F | 6’2″ | 190 | Wisconsin | 2022 | Fort Erie, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ 190-pound power forward who understands that he can impact the game offensively by using his power to bull his way to the net. Including the USHL playoffs, he scored twenty goals from inside of the house with fourteen of them coming from within feet of the crease. He had 41 points while averaging 14:31 of TOI during 2021/22. 66% of his shots hit the net. He is going into the University of Wisconsin in the Fall of 2022.
C me not: Over his two seasons in the USHL he has won 50% of his puck battles. He received more hard body checks per game during 2021/22 than he gave out.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
USHL: Two Games. Muskegon at Cedar Rapids, March 8, 2022: Owen has good size forward with speed, long reach, and skill. He used his long legs and long reach to the force the play and create problems for the retreating defense. He was consistently involved offensively and defensively. He was effective in the face-off circle and killed penalties. His length and commitment throughout all three zones makes him a difficult player to play against. He assisted on Muskegon’s 2nd goal in game 1 by using his speed, long reach, and good puck protection to beat the defender wide down the right side, cut in at the net, creating a rebound for his teammate to bury. He had a nice blocked shot that he then transitioned to a 3-on-2 rush the other way. He scored late in game 2 winning the left dot face-off, going to the front of the net and deflecting the point shot to beat the goalie. Grade: B+
USHL: Youngstown Phantoms vs Muskegon Lumberjacks, April 3, 2021: Mehlenbacher is a bigger forward who plays a hard north/ south game and registered one goal on five shots in this contest. The Wisconsin commit is not afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice, doing some of his best work battling at the net front. On multiple occasions, he looked to lower his shoulder and take the puck to the net, often with the defenseman as well. He is strong on his stick, as well as his skates and is hard to deter when he has momentum and balance working on his side. Mehlenbacher scored his goal by going to the net hard, staying down strong on his stick and winning a net-front battle to bury a backdoor pass with a defenseman all over him. He is also effective on the forecheck where he uses his reach and strength to create turnovers and would often win the puck battle, helping his team establish the offensive zone attack. Overall, Mehlenbacher is a strong, powerful forward who is always looking to get the puck to the net and plays a straight ahead style of hockey. Grade: B
Torinto Marlies Classic, February 2, 2020: Mehlenbacher is a true power forward who is rarely contained down low because of his strength. Defensively he sees the ice well from his defensive wall and uses a cross ice pass with accuracy to create an attack on the opposite side of the defensive overload. On the PP, he plays the half-wall and only needs a step to attack the net from the side. Mehlenbacher showed his strength and finesse scoring a Forsberg type goal with 3 defenders on him. Grade: A-
Whitby Silver Stick, December 18, 2019: With his size along the wall, Mehlebacher uses his body to protect and control the puck. He stays in motion and draws attention from multiple defenders and uses his vision to find the open man. Mehlenbacher gets to the net and has soft hands to finish in the dirty areas and has a heavy accurate shot in tight. Grade: A-
U15: USHL Showcase, October 25, 2019: Owen comes to Buffalo from the Southern Tier Admirals U14 squad. He is a January 2004 and centers Buffalo’s top unit. Counted on to play in several situations. Always around the puck and plays a strong north/south game. He is still a bit raw and his feet and speed are still a work in progress. He has good hands and touch on the puck. Made some nice chip plays to create scoring chances for teammates. He has a strong shot with a quick release that he uses off-the-rush. Grade: B
World Selects Invite 2004 Division, July 10, 2019: Mehlenbacher is a tall, thin, raw, athletic forward with a long reach and soft hands around the net. He had an impressive 8 goals in 9 games which came from a variety of ways; he drives the net with his stick on the ice and had some one-touch finishes in tight, he scored from the high slot, one of which was top corner over the goalies shoulder, and scored on catch and shoot plays all over the offensive zone. He has a rocket release, he shoots to score, and uses his length and his speed to get open in the scoring areas and make plays. He also showed some grit and toughness on the forecheck and delivering open ice hits in the neutral zone. One play, his teammate was on the receiving end of a dirty cheap shot and Owen jumped over the boards and went after the opponent to defend his teammate. For a spring/summer tournament to show that kind of character in defense of a teammate is impressive. 10 points in 9 games with exciting potential to be an early round pick in next year’s OHL draft. Grade: A-
| Zam Plante | Chicago Steel | USHL | L | F | 5’9″ | 161 | Minnesota Duluth | 2022 | Hermantown, MN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: It is very impressive that he recorded 64 points in 22 games for Hermantown High School, but it is more impressive that he score ten goals and twenty-one points in thirty-one USHL games. His shots hit the net 73% of the time. Offensively he plays a mature game. Meaning that he understands what his teammates are doing and why they are doing it and he does not just try to beat opponents 1on1.
C me not: He is listed at 5’9″ and 161 pounds. He won 42% of his puck battles. This combination means that although he is very competitive, he will need to spend time in the weight room building his strength so he can win puck battles in professional hockey.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
USHL: Chicago Steel at Youngstown Phantoms, April 17, 2022: Plante is an offensive catalyst who can make decisions or reads while at top speed and has the puck poise to outwait a defender before he finally shoots or makes a play. He picked up a secondary assist on Saturday, but what really stood out to us was his willingness to look for downhill tips or to shoot far pad while a linemate was driving towards the crease. As a puck carrier Plant disguises his change of speed on zone entry very well and has the edge control to cut hard laterally to take advantage of the open ice in the middle. While cycling he showed the strength to maintain puck possession after contact and as an undersized forward would initiate contact to create space for himself.
MNHS: Class A State Championship. Warroad vs Hermantown., March 13, 2022: Plante led the Hawks to victory with two goals coming in a span of two minutes as he was dangerous all game with and without the puck. His first goal came from a rush down the wall where the defenseman ended up poking the puck away, his linemate then lifted his stick where Plante made a turnaround shot that he hammered short side high off the bar. Shortly after he came late to join a rush where he found some space in the high slot and blasted a hard one timer passed the netminder. Zam can score with the best of them but also has incredible vision to find guys in high quality areas. He slithers through traffic and is tough to get a body on but also will finish his own checks on puck carriers. He has a quick defensive stick that he used to force turnovers and poke pucks loose. In the offensive zone he was a must watch with the puck as he would make his way to the interior of the defense and be a threat. GRADE: A
USA Hockey Selects 17’s, July 14, 2021: Plante is a small, high IQ forward out of Hermantown (MN) who led his team to the MN State Tournament this year. He had 61 points in 20 games including 29 goals which was all on display here as he showed his explosive skating and playmaking ability in every game. He’s quick, elusive and dynamic with the puck and he’s got superb vision and passing ability. He can read the whole sheet, he has mature instincts and can make split second decisions under pressure. Plante is versatile in how he attacks on the rush; he can beat defenders with speed wide and cut in with his edge control or he can curl off contact and hit the trailer or he can cut across the top circles and either rip it from the outside which his shot has both the power and quick release to score from there or take it in deep and set up below the dots. He has excellent awareness and can sense pressure, knows where his teammates are on the ice at all time and is able to read and react to how the defense plays him to find the best route to the net. He’s one of those players who has a creative and even imaginative skill set who is playing at another level mentally seeing plays develop before they happen and has the skill to make it happen. He’s most known for his hockey sense, quickness and crafty playmaking ability and while that was on display here; what caught our attention was his improved edges and balance and his grit game where he chased down defenders on the forecheck and was a menace in the neutral zone. He fished pucks out of corners, he was able to spin off and dip under checks and not only find the seams but had the skill to deliver passes on the tape to scoring areas. He has not quit in his game whatsoever, his feet are moving constantly and he has that next year where he can pull away from defenders in any situation and create offense off transitions or line rushes or broken plays or out of corners, etc. He finished the tournament with 2 goals in 4 games; one of which was a really nice goal where he went wide with speed around a defender and cut in low and scored a sneaky off-angle snipe at top speed. He’s tricky, he’s highly intelligent, he creates plays that aren’t there and has a deceptively powerful shot that he can score from the outside. Grade: A-
Minnesota HS State Championship Class A. Day #1, April 2, 2021: Plante played an impressive 34 minutes out of a 51 minute game for Hermantown and was the heart and soul of the team. The sophomore who leads the team in scoring this season was everywhere. He has a high separation speed, a high motor, natural offensive instincts and a high IQ. In his first play of the game, he carried the puck wide on the rush and lured two players towards him and then feathered a slick pass to the slot right on his teammate’s stick. He showed burst in the neutral zone to get around defenders and create separation and he can access his full array of offensive weapons at full speed. He had a pair of assists which were both not only good looks but skillful passes; one he went behind the net and tricked the goalie into thinking it was a wrap around and centred it short side for the one-touch goal and the other was at the point carrying the puck across and getting the goalie moving and then sliding a backdoor feed beside the net for another one-touch score. He scored the final goal for Hermantown on a nifty move in tight deke where he showed quick hands and elusive footwork to make defenders miss and operate in small areas and finish. The most impressive however was not his skill or relentless, no-quit- attitude in this game but rather his leadership and being a great teammate. On his second assist while the team was down 5-1 he went hard to the net while the other kids were celebrating and grabbed the puck because a JV player had scored his first varsity goal and he wanted to give him the keepsake. High character play by a high character player. Grade: A
Minnesota Elite League Review, October 28, 2020: Plante was arguably the most highly regarded Bantam last year in the state of Minnesota which garnered him a 1st round USHL draft selection. He has made a seamless transition to the high school level playing against bigger, faster, strong competition and so far has compiled 8 goals and 9 assists over 12 games. The 2004 prospect is a blue chip skill forward with vision, poise, slick hands and a scorer’s blade. He scored a goal in week 4 where he carried the puck behind the net and was cutting up to the slot and saw the goalie down so he roofed it over the shoulder from practically the goal line with nearly no angle for an elite score. His head is always up, he can read the entire sheet at pace and has the puck skill and touch to put pucks anywhere he wants on the ice. He threads passses through tight windows in the neutral zone, he has the 1v1 ability to get around defenders on the rush in open ice and is a dual shooting and passing threat when he’s in the slot. He’s swift, he’s quick, he can create offense out of nothing because of his poise and possession ability to lure defenders out of position and slide pucks to his teammates in key scoring areas. Serious hockey sense and vision to create offense and the creativity and dynamic stick skill to facilitate it. The Hermantown prospect will be a major presence this season in Minnesota HS as a first year, 2004 birth year and should garner serious NCAA/WHL attention.
MN Elite League Week Four, October 8, 2020: Made himself noticeable using his skating and hockey sense. His game to me is someone that you do not notice right away from flash or skill but pops up on the score sheet. Skates hard and likes to get himself into the corners. Not afraid to use his energy to battle. Grade: A-
MN Bantam Elite League, September 4, 2019: The son of former NHL player Derek Plante is just a hockey player, plain and simple. He competes very hard and understands the game extremely well. Without the puck he knows where to be to get possession. When the puck is on his stick he can be effective in many ways. Whether it was beating a defender on the rush and getting a great scoring opportunity or threading the needle in tight areas to an open teammate, he was a menace to deal with. He checked all the boxes of a great player down the road.
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Zam is very confident below the goal line & on the cycle in general. He is very effective when his line establishes a hard forecheck. His quickness and acceleration allows him to create space and he has the vision to find his linemates in the scoring areas. On the power play he is very confident in Gretzky’s office and had a clever primary assist against Team Gold from just that spot. Zam has an active stick on the penalty kill and is able to anticipate passes that other penalty killers did not. All of our scouts agreed that he is a very solid player with and without the puck. He was one of the more consistent forwards in Buffalo and Team Forest was better when he was on the ice. Grade: B
Minnesota CCM High Performance 2004’s, July 17, 2019: This winger isn’t afraid to attack defensemen with his skill and speed. He has the ability to take the puck wide and put the puck between his legs — not many kids his age are willing to attempt this next-level move. At times he wasn’t successful, but it’s clear he has worked on using this as a tool to contribute with his game. An excellent player who plays the game hard, however he can be caught doing too much due to his competitive nature. He can stickhandle in traffic and isn’t afraid to cut across the ice to make a play or create space for himself.
| Alexis Gendron | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | L | C | 5’10” | 174 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2019 | Coteau-du-Lac, QC | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 30 goals in 66 games with 61% of his shots hitting the net. He can play all three forward positions effectively. He is a player with good system awareness who trusts that his linemates will do their jobs. His style of play is abrasive and he draws penalties. He had four goals in six playoff games. All but two of his goals came from within the house and sixteen of them came from the low slot.
Neutral Zone’s Sotiri Athanasopoulos: Gendron is a player coaches love to have in the lineup as he competes every shift- hard on pucks, wins stick battles, and is first on the forecheck. In this contest, Gendron imposed himself physically often beating the defenseman to loose pucks allowing his team to maintain possession.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Gendron does not let anyone off the hook choosing to finish his checks with authority and consistently beating his man into the play or open ice. He has strong hands and passes the puck with pace. We feel his abrasiveness and attention to detail make him a potential penalty killer in professional hockey.
C me not: He is listed at 5’10” and 174 pounds. How will his body hold up to his style of play against bigger and stronger NHLers? Over the past two QMJHL seasons, he has averaged receiving 0.97 hard body checks per game and won 42% of his puck battles. He was -21 on a team that had a forward rated +11.
| Noah Warren | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | R | D | 6’5″ | 215 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2020 | St. Jean sur Richelieu, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’5″ right-shot defender who has leadership qualities. Over the past two seasons he’s won 61.5% of his puck battles. He dished out 1.51 hard body checks per game, which was up from 0.84 in 2020/21. He has a real presence on the ice.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Warren is a massive right-shot defender who destroys everything he touches in the QMJHL after he makes body contact. He defends with tight gaps and shows the timing to step up early in the neutral zone or at the defensive blue line to be disruptive and end a line rush. Warren does not need to cross over while pivoting, but right now his skating base might be too wide. We feel that through an NHL development coach’s help, he will be able to consistently bring his skates to shoulder-width apart which will allow for more power and a quicker recovery. In the defensive zone, Warren plays with his stick on the ice and easily clears lanes. Simply, he is a large right-shot defender with a lot going for him and we feel he is a National League development coach’s dream. We expect him to be drafted, and play another year in the QMJHL working on his puck skills and confidence before embarking on a professional career that will include time in the American League before he earns an opportunity for time in the NHL.
C me not: He has a wide skating base that will need to be refined to include an improved returning glide leg and a stronger toe push so he does not get exposed on strong side soft chips. We understand that he is not going to be asked to provide offense, but he had 91 of his attempted 211 shots from the point blocked during the 2021/22 season. He missed the net an additional 57 times.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
2004s: Ville de Saguenay: CCM Midget AAA Challenge, February 10, 2020: Warren is a big, physical, and dominant defenseman – perhaps the best one or two defensive prospects at this showcase. His right handed shot puts him at a premium. He’s already athletic despite his large size and is not waiting for his coordination to catch up, it already has. He has his feet moving in all situations whether displaying a long, strong, and fluid stride or busting across a blue line with the puck to find a seam for a quick, hard shot or an accurate pass. As well as being a physical player, he has a very long stick and is very very tough for forwards to gain any advantage on. He’s a rusher and a crusher who will go high in the first round. He was also chosen to be apart of Canada winter youth Olympic games. Grade A
U16: Team Quebec Camp, August 17, 2019: Intimidating presence who is already physically matured before many players in this camp. However, he is still raw which makes viewers excited of his future potential. Warren is an athletic player who moves well laterally and thrives on jumping into the rush when he sees an opportunity. He’s hard on pucks using his long reach and strength to win battles. Throughout the week Warren was exceptional making his presence felt offensively and defensively. What I admire about his game is that he’s always trying to contribute making an impact on the game everytime he’s on the ice. He’s good at finding the open lanes at the point to get quick, accurate shots on net. Whether it’s jumping into the rush or breaking the puck out Warren is always involved. However, at times he tries to do to much which leads to mistakes that put him in a vulnerable position. As he matures these types of mistakes will disappear therefore it’s not a cause for concern.
A Deep 2004 Talent Pool on Display at Junior Chowder Cup, August 6, 2019: Warren was truly a revelation at this event. We saw him late in the day and one evaluator mentioned to us that he played a Chris Pronger style of D…which we had to see for ourselves. Sure enough he looks the part, standing at a towering 6’5 200. For a player his size, his mobility is truly excellent. His steps look effortless and his fluidity moving with and without the puck were rare for a player his size. He is super smooth when he carries into the zone and he knows how to create additional space for himself by opening up his hips and swiveling to safety. He played the body well here but he could be even more physical & meaner as he gets stronger. We also like his ability to take space in the offensive zone: he isn’t merely a threat from the point – he can walk it in closer to the cage or maneuver around defenders to get a better look at the net. He rarely had to defend his own end because his team was always on the offensive, but his recovery speed was very good and that long reach allowed him to shutdown nearly every chance. He was simply the most athletically gifted D we saw at this star-studded tournament. Grade: A+
| Vsevolod Gaidamak | Ottawa 67s | OHL | L | C | 5’11” | 198 | Ottawa 67’s | 2021 | Khabarovsk | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: The 2003 is in his second year of draft eligibility and has been a captain back home in Russia. He plays a detailed orientated game at both ends of the rink but was a dominant defensive forward at the U18 World Championships in 2021. During the 2021/22 season, he attempted 246 with 219 coming from below the tops of the circles and 65% of his shots hit the net.
Neutral Zone’s Ed Besinger: He’s positionally sound, he’s always in the right spots, he has correct stick positioning to take away time and space from opponents and plays a reliable game. He supports the puck and presents a target on the breakout and is fearless attacking the net with or without the puck to create chaos around the goalie. He had more ice time than most would have anticipated during the U18 Worlds but his coaches trusted him and he made high percentage plays with very few mistakes. A reliable, two-way forward who can impact the game both with and without the puck.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: I give the kid credit. Gaidamak easily could have stayed in Russia where he was comfortable playing in the MHL, but instead, he came to North America to play in the best NHL development league in the World, the Ontario Hockey League. He doesn’t do anything that makes you jump out of your seat, but he does everything very well, consistently shows high-end anticipation, and has very good hand-eye coordination. Every time I see him play he is knocking a puck out of the air to create an offensive opportunity. He plays a full 200′ game and I like his compete. He’s hard on his opponents and generally difficult to play against. On the lowest-scoring team in the OHL Gaidamak finished with 16 goals out of the 199 that Ottawa scored. One thing that I think is of special note; I am normally not a plus/minus fan because I think it can be a misleading team-generated stat, but Gaidamak finished the season at +1 on a team with 12 players having -7 or worse and five forwards who were -12 and lower.
C me not: At 19 years old he is already thought of as a defensive forward. As a defensive forward he won 50% of his puck battles.
| Vladislav Shilo | Prince Albert Raiders | WHL | L | LW | 6’3″ | 196 | Prince Albert Raiders | 2021 | Minsk, BLR | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is 6’3″ and 196 pounds with good 1on1 creativity, especially in the offensive zone. The 2021/22 season was a huge step up in consistent competition and physicality from his native Belarus.
Neutral Zone’s Brant Kersey: Price Albert Raiders vs Swift Current Broncos, November 12, 2021: Vladislav, a first-year WHL player, was arguably the most dynamic player for the Prince Albert Raiders in this game. He is a big, powerful forward with elite hands. His puck handling all over the ice was nice to watch, but when he got over the offensive blue line he turned it up a notch. His moves and dekes were the best on the evening, by far. He can use his reach to lure defencemen out of their comfort area and then quickly pull the puck around them or push it through their feet. Listed at 6’3″ 196lbs the undrafted ‘03 will most definitely get some looks. His footwork is decent, but not a match for his hands, as he uses his hands to elude and evade. If his feet and overall speed catch up to his hands he’ll be a handful for any defender. We found it surprising to see Vladislav has yet to score this season through nine games. He had three shots on the net in this game including a few on the power play. We guess it’s only a matter of time before he gets adjusted to the WHL pace and begins putting up points regularly.
C me not: He is a big strong player who won 45% of his puck battles. He must learn to trust his linemates more and utilize them more often to create give-and-go situations. He is content to play through the right dot lane which is backed up by him scoring eight of his goals from the right side circle and the other coming on a redirect from below the goal line.
| Cole Spicer | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | F | 5’10” | 174 | North Dakota | 2023 | Grand Forks, ND | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 20 goals in 58 games while averaging 14:27 of TOI for the USNTDP team. In 2021/22 he attempted 157 total shots. Three of his goals were power-play goals. His puck battle winning % rose from 40% in 2020/21 to 55% in 2021/22. He averaged under 13:00 of TOI at the U18 World Championships and had three goals and two assists.
C me not: After putting up huge offensive numbers before the USNTDP he was not a key offensive member for Team USA. Listed at 5’10” and 174 pounds he scored thirteen of his goals from the top of the crease and another five from between the hash marks. Can he be as effective in that area in the NHL?
Neutral Zone evaluations:
U15 HPHL Playoffs, February 2020: Cole has good size as he uses his speed and quick hands to beat defenders on the rush and out of the corners. He works hard on the forecheck as he will win battles by using his strength and tenacity. He is a smart player with good vision and will set up his teammates for scoring opportunities as he set them up for a couple of goals, especially the pass he made in the final game. He has good size with a long reach as he is effective off of the cycle.
Toronto Marlies Classic, February 2, 2020: Noticeable for his work in the trenches, Spicer is a skilled player who agitates the opposition with his in your face style. He has hockey smarts and knows on a 5-on-3 PK not to pursue the puck and relies on his stick positioning to take away passing lanes and get it in the way of a shot. Spicer showed excellent hockey IQ in close around the net and found teammates in space with a number of crafty plays. We really liked his puck distribution game and ability to create off the cycle. Grade: B+
Whitby Silver Stick (2004s), December 18, 2019: Spicer plays the game with an edge and gets under the skin of his opponents by finishing his checks and playing hard on every shift. He is invaluable in the faceoff circles where he is invested on every draw and wins a high percentage of his faceoffs to create valuable possession time for his team and has the opposition chasing the puck from the start of the play more often than they would like. His tenacity shines through on the PK and Spicer is no slouch around the net on the PK or any situation as he knows how to finish. Grade: A-
Battle od the Border, November 19, 2019: Spicer is not afraid to mix it up in both the offensive and defensive zones. He showed a willingness to take the puck and drive to the net and he is not afraid to take a hit to make a play. He showed finesse with some touch passes in tight and has a quick release shot with accuracy. GRADE: B+
USHL Showcase U15, October 25, 2019: Cole has a long, athletic body and plays a power game down the center of the ice. Competes hard in all three zones and doesn’t lose puck battles. Makes sharp tape-to-tape passes and follows his pass to create open passing opportunities. Strong base makes it tough to separate from the puck. Good first step lets him separate from defenders and also grab loose pucks. He uses his reach to protect the puck around the net. Heavy shot which he uses from the perimeter of the rink. He battles in front of the net and isn’t afraid to play in the dirty areas. He was good in transition and has the speed to put defenders on their heels. Strong weekend. Grade: B+ College: North Dakota
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: He is a high compete player and this was very evident in the faceoff circle. He consistently out battled his counterparts and his line scored a goal directly from his effort on an offensive zone faceoff. His high motor allowed him to win 50/50 pucks and his skating ability gave him an advantage as he rolled off the wall to the scoring areas. Cole has the vision to look for linemates and the poise to use his defenseman on the cycle. Although he only had 1 goal, he crashed the net with a purpose and was often the primary screen on point shots. Early in the tournament Cole exposed the puck in 1v1 situations, but as the week progressed he protected the puck very well and was spinning back to create time and space for himself & his linemates. Grade: B-
World Selects Invite (2004s), July 10, 2019: Spicer is a smooth puck possession forward with a balanced stride and rocket release on his snap and wrist shots. He’s an effortless puck handler and makes it look easy, he’s strong on the puck and along the wall and he can separate in small areas with his feet and with his stick. Quick, explosive, smooth and has the balance to carry through contact and make plays in traffic. He wasn’t just a playmaker, he did the dirty work as well getting on the forecheck causing turnovers and using his speed to win races to loose pucks. He didn’t score a goal here but had a few great chances go off the post and off the crossbar with his powerful shot and he was able to set up his teammates for 4 scores. Highly skilled prospect who attacks the seams, can make plays with pace and does it all with impressive poise and composure; NTDP upside. College: North Dakota Grade: A-
U14: USHL Fall Classic, October 24, 2018: Plays on Minnesota’s top unit and is a threat to score each time on the ice. He is an athletic winger with a slight build. He is agile with the puck and uses his edges to cut to soft ice on zone entries. He is skilled with the puck and can make plays in traffic. He is good along the walls and won the majority of puck battles. Smart and manages the puck well down low and is good off the cycle. Will need to be more consistent shift-to-shift but he is at the beginning of his development curve. Grade: B+
North American Hockey Classic, June 27, 2018: Cole is a gritty winger with a lot of offensive talent. He plays a tough-physical game and was always being noticed for his hard work in the corners. He plays the body consistently but also showed very strong puck skills. His hands are quick and smooth and he had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, especially in close to the net. We were most impressed with Cole when he made a diving stick check to save what would have been a sure goal in the championship game. He gives 100% effort on the ice and seems like a real character type player that coaches love. Grade: A-
Battle for the Blue Ox, November 26, 2017: Spicer is a very strong skater with great balance who used his speed to pressure pucks and wasn’t afraid to finish hits. He didn’t possess the puck much in our viewings, but we really liked the pace and compete that he added for his team. He will be a guy we track close near the end of this season and early into next year. He was one of the top ‘04s in this event.
| Brennan Ali | Lincoln Stars | USHL | L | C | 6’1″ | 201 | Notre Dame | 2023 | Glencoe, IL | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a bull with excellent straight-line speed. Physically he will be ready to compete against the men in the NHL soon.
Neutral Zone’s Brian Murphy: Ali was the best prospect and player here in our opinion. He did everything for Avon. The ‘04 played well beyond his years. He was on pucks all weekend and tough to defend with possession. He whipped heavy, hard backhands on the net as he leaned into defensemen. Brennan settled to scoring spots and showed he could catch and shoot quickly, change his release point, transfer his balance properly and hit the net with real pop on his shot. He hit a few pipes here and buried a wicked one-timer on the power play against Tabor. In the final, he hit a crossbar and soon after created a turnover that forced Kent to take a penalty late in a tie game. He got to the point of attack quickly with a strong stride, quick stick and high IQ. He forced opponents into bad spots and processed options quickly in transition. He won many faceoffs cleanly and was exceptional on both the power play and penalty kill. Ali protected the puck and cycled it well but also made opponents miss in space. On this move the crowd around us almost all said “wow.” He looked fluid, athletic and played all 200 feet. He is an NHL prospect who may not pop for the NHL Draft because he is not a perceived speed player. He has the ability and IQ to play at that level and we would not be surprised to see a team take him in the Draft. He is a well-rounded, mature prospect. Grade: A
C me not: He did not lead his New England Prep School team in overall points. He did not lead his team in goals. And he did not lead his team in assists.
| Bogdans Hodass | Medicine Hat Tigers | WHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 203 | Medicine Hat Tigers | 2021 | Jelgave, LAT | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ 203 pounds left-shot defender who won 59% of his puck battles during his rookie year in the WHL. He played key special teams minutes for Medicine Hat. His straight forward mentality might not lead to running an NHL power-play, but we feel it is dependable style that NHL organizations like to have on their depth charts.
C me not: During 2021/22 he attempted 234 total shots from the power point. He had 86 of them blocked with 31 of those blocks coming while his team was on the power-play.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Medicine Hat Tigers vs Regina Pats, March 18, 2022: Hodass played a steady two-way game. He got off to a slow start by making an indirect pass to a teammate who was standing still in the neutral zone which led to a Tiger’s penalty, but from that point on he played a steady no frills game that coaches love. In defensive transition he gapped with his hips and stick to the middle forcing the play wide. He maintained tight gaps and did not need to crossover to move laterally while defending. We liked how he played every situation with his stick on the ice and he showed the awareness to poke the puck five or ten feet to his left or right to start transition off of a defensive zone scrum. His outlet passes were quick on the tape and when activating in the offensive zone into the high slot for a scoring opportunity his snap shot was a bullet. Hodass seemed to generate turnovers and create transition on almost every shift. He finished the game with zero points, but had three scoring opportunities and played in the 3 on 3 overtime.
| Markus Vidicek | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL | L | C | 5’10” | 154 | Halifax Mooseheads | 2020 | Kirkland, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a leader who averaged 20:05 of TOI for Halifax. He has been a key contributor to the special teams game for the past two seasons. He is incredibly slight yet still wins 50% of his puck battles. He scored 15 goals on 72 shots from the top of the crease.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Vidicek is a hard-working honest 200′ two-way center. In the defensive zone, his head is always on a swivel scanning for an open opponent or exposed passing lane. He maintains net side positioning during wall battles which consistently allows him to beat his man up the ice for transition or to beat his man to the slot area. He has a very quick stick and seems to have a knack for picking off passes or sweep-checking the puck off an opponent’s stick. Offensively he easily changes pace through the neutral zone allowing him to manipulate the gap in to his favor. He may be light, but he is strong on his skates and routinely outmuscles larger opponents and wins battles. As a 2004 he is wearing an “A” for Halifax and it is easy to see his peers respect him.
C me not: He is 5’10” and 154 pounds. How long will it take him to add the strength needed to win battles against players in the NHL?
Neutral Zone evaluations:
Ville de Saguenay: CCM Midget AAA Challenge (2004s), February 10, 2020: Vidicek is a dominant forward for his age with high-end speed, control, and hustle. He kills penalties, plays first unit powerplay, and impacts each game we witnessed. He has a slick set of hands and showcased his ability to toe drag with his feet moving. He is a creative forward with great burst and can separate in the neutral zone. All around player that is noticeable across the whole sheet and has a huge motor. He makes plays at high speed and has great awareness. An effortless skater with good reach. He’s a gamer and never takes a shift off. Good combination of skill, heart and grit – never afraid to play physical in any situation. Grade A-
Team Quebec U16, August 17, 2019: Hard working forward with a good motor who wears down his opponents. Another player who did not have his best offensive performance during the camp however his skill set, and tenacity was evident on a couple of shifts. Rather than make a pretty play or dangle Vidicek prefers the hard play by barreling through defenseman. Although Vidicek may not have been scoring he remains effective by forechecking and grinding his opponents out. You know when he’s out there he will work his tail off no matter the circumstances.
| Boston Buckberger | Brooks Bandits | AJHL | L | D | 5’11” | 172 | Wisconsin | 2022 | Saskatoon, SK | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He plays a reliable game and does not take unneeded chances. His passes are hard, flat, and on time which will help him thrive in professional hockey.
Neutral Zone’s Brendan Collins: Buckberger is a two-way defenseman. He maintains good gap control and doesn’t give up open ice easily. He is confident holding his spot as well as stopping the puck along the boards. He defends with good balance and positioning.
C me not: During 2021/22 he attempted 145 shots from the point and high slot. He had 52 of them blocked.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
Centennial Cup Quarterfinal and Semifinal, June 6, 2022: Buckberger is a solid, two-way defender that is able to jump into the offense without sacrificing any issues at his own end. He plays a clean, easy game and is poised in all situations as he manages the puck well. Boston can lead a rush on his own and slip through traffic as he drove the net on occasion to make odd man situations. He is always in the right position in all three zones, not overcommitting to pucks and only jumping at necessary times. Boston held the blue line a few times, keeping the offense going which led to some solid chances. Buckberger is deceivingly strong and was able to push guys off pucks, leaning into them and using his stick to poke pucks loose. He is not easy to play against or generate much around him either. Boston grabbed a late assist on the powerplay to get his name on the scoresheet. GRADE: B+
AJHL Finals: Spruce Grove vs Brooks, May 8, 2022: Buckberger is a two-way defenseman who was steady throughout. He maintains good gap control and doesn’t give up open ice easily. He is confident holding his spot as well as stopping the puck along the boards. He defends with good balance and positioning. He skated into a hard pass and used his strength to lean into and rip a hard one-timer on goal. He assisted on the 1st goal in game 5 on the PP as he used several quick shot fakes and change of direction at the point before passing it over to the R flank for a shot leading to a rebound goal. Grade: B
AJHL: Each Team Evaluated, February 14, 2022: Buckberger is an averaged size, mobile defenseman with skating and puck moving ability. He is a good skater with decent speed and mobility. He made good reads and decisions on when to pinch down the offensive zone wall. He did well at taking the boards away to keep pucks in the offensive zone. With the puck, he used good head and shoulder fakes to throw off attackers. He also did well at delaying and changing his shooting angles. Grade: B
| Marek Hejduk | NTDP U18 | USHL | R | F | 6’0″ | 181 | Harvard | 2022 | Parker, CO | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has the two-way dependability and awareness that professional coaches demand. He understands body positioning which allows him to rarely be caught on the wrong side of the puck.
C me not: Over his two years with the USNTDP he has won 41.5% of his puck battles. He had a better offensive season in 2020/21 than he did in 2021/22.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
U18: Team USA vs Team Sweden, November 10, 2021: In Team USA’s 5-2 win Hejduk earned 13:52 in total ice time, including a game high among forwards 3:20 while shorthanded. He did not participate in the power play. Statistically he finished with 1 goal, was +1, had 2 shots on goal, 2 grade “A” scoring chances and had 3 giveaways versus 3 takeaways. In a high paced fairly wide open game Hejduk was constantly around the puck and showed pace as a puck carrier. On a play early in the 1st period he picked up the puck in his zone at the tops of the circle and showed separational speed as he pulled away from Sweden’s backchecking forward as he gained the offensive zone. Although he might not have been flashy, Hejduk played an impactful two-way high compete game that coaches love.
U18: NTDP vs Cornell, October 23, 2021: In the 4-2 loss to Cornell Hejduk earned 13:51 in total ice time, including a game high among forwards 6:09 while shorthanded. He did not participate in the power play. Statistically he finished with 0 points, an even plus / minus, 1 shot on goal, 1 minor hooking penalty, went 1 for 2 on face-offs and 4 giveaways versus 1 takeaway. Hejduk had lots of work on the night on the PK and seemed to be one of the first forwards out to kill the penalties. He showcased his speed as well as his ability to separate himself from opponents in breaking the puck out. Hejduk made a very good play late on the PK with 5 minutes left in game, he aggressively created a turnover in the offensive slot and as soon as he gained possession he drilled a slapshot past goalie over the right pad, which would have been a go-ahead goal. The only problem was he ended up getting called for hooking penalty and team went down 5v3.
USHL: USNTDP vs Sioux City Musketeers, September 25, 2021: In Team USA’s 4-2 win Hejduk earned 13:49 in total ice time, including 0:47 while on the power play and 2:51 while shorthanded. Statistically he finished with zero points, an even plus / minus, 4 shots on goal, 1 grade “A” scoring chance, 1 hit, 1 blocked shot and 5 giveaways versus 5 takeaways. Hejduk looked noticeably more explosive than last Spring. We feel he’s always displayed good hockey sense and awareness away from the puck, but his feet looked quicker and his cross-under was far more efficient than we remember.
U18 World Championships: Team USA vs Team Russia, April 27, 2021: In Team USA’s 7-6 loss to Russia Hejduk earned 8:45 in total ice time. He did not factor into the special team’s game. Statistically he finished with 0 points, an even plus / minus, 1 hit and 0 giveaways or takeaways. He played primarily right wing in this one. As a puck carrier he showed good awareness in both the neutral zone and offensive zone while cycling. We liked how he judged the Russian defender’s gaps to either drive wide when he had space or use a soft strong side chip to establish a forecheck. Although he did not receive an assist, Hejduk’s decision to decision to drive the Russian defender deep after defensive grey area turnover led to Team USA’s offensive zone time that led to Ryan Chesley’s first period goal.
USHL: USNTDP vs Dubuque Fighting Saints, March 26, 2021: IN the 10-2 loss to Dubuque Hejduk earned 13:09 in total ice time, including 1:58 while on the power play and 0:33 while shorthanded. Statistically he had 1 assist, was -1, 4 shots on goal (1PP), 3 grade “A” scoring chances (1PP deflection), 1 blocked shot and 2 giveaways versus 3 takeaways. The right shot forward played left wing. Defensively he showed good awareness in zone as a both the strong or weakside winger. We liked how his head was on a swivel while his heals face the opposite corner. His stick was active. In offensive neutral zone situations Hejduk worked away from the puck showing when to push the pace to create space for his linemates or when to delay for better passing angles. We liked his unpredictability and creativity on line rushes as he recognized when to scissor, middle drive or delay. On the power play Hejduk was the net front presence who would slide to be the goal line option when needed. He willingly took the goalie’s eyes away and showed good hand eye coordination getting his stick on point shots. The game was a blow out and there was limited energy after the first period.
U15: USHL Showcase, October 25, 2019: Marek wants the puck on his stick and doesn’t hesitate to shoot at any opportunity. He is a skilled, fleet footed winger that plays a direct game up-and-down the wing. He can make defenders miss in space and has a slick set of hands which lets him make plays in tight spaces. He has a big shot and is most effective on the half-wall during the Power Play. He hits the one timer easily and scored a few goals on the Power Play during our viewings. He anticipates well and hits lanes quickly and with conviction. Good in transition and will either drive the puck to the net or buy space and find an open teammate. Grade: B+
U15 Tier 1 Showcase, Lewis Center Ohio, October 8, 2019: Hejduk was the player of the weekend and it was not even close. He is absolute game breaker and is just electric any time he is on the ice, with or without the puck. Supremely skilled with the puck in all facets. High end speed with equal athleticism and edge ability. Aside from his talent, no one on the ice works harder. His offensive efforts are equaled defensively and he brings an unexpected physical edge and agitation to his game for someone so highly skilled and able to generate offensively. Very physically strong. One of the better 2004-born players anyone will see this season. Grade: A
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Hejduk proved to be one of the best pure skaters in the camp; he’s agile, fast, balanced and fluid. He has slick, patient, slippery hands and was able to make defenders miss in open ice. He has soft hands, can pull away from opponents instantly and savvy passing ability to set up his teammates all over the ice. What separates him from other skilled players is that he can access all of his tools at full speed and showed an elusive, creative stick with pace. He made a series of impressive moves here that few prospects would see or be able to execute. One was a flip play over the defenders head to spring his teammate for a breakaway; another was a spin move off the wall and cut to the slot where he fired a quick low snapshot in stride. He caught a hard pass on the backhand in the neutral zone, made a clean entry and snapped a cross slot pass to Pietila for a one-touch goal. He’s tricky, showed a quick stick in tight areas and was tough for defenders to get a body on with his quickness and agility. He has a rare compete level and hockey sense combination and the edges to bounce of checks and get to scoring areas with the puck. He finished with 2 assists but was a factor nearly every shift; this was the best we have seen him. Grade: A-
U14: USA Hockey Nationals, April 30, 2019: Marek is the twin brother of T-Birds defenseman David. Marek is an excellent skater and pushed pace all week. His hands and feet are quick and he showed creativity on the rush. Marek moved well and at smart times laterally to create time and space, often firing shots through screens. He pushed bad gaps on opposing defenses and processed his options with the puck quickly. He also moved well without possession and scored a goal at the crease from Zukosky by doing so. Marek played fast, showed he could break down/dangle defenders or use his speed to beat them wide. His edges are superb and he has a ton of upside. Fun to watch and should just keep getting better.
| Theo Widen Schade | Brynas IF J20 | J20 Nationell | L | D | 6’2″ | 192 | Gavle, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: At 6’2″ and 192 pounds he has an NHL frame to continue building on. He had 25 points in 30 total games in J18 hockey for Brynas IF.
C me not: He has never represented Sweden Internationally. Does this mean he is a potential late bloomer who has real NHL upside or did he happen to have a good J18 season during his draft year?
| Jordan Gustafson | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | C | 5’11” | 179 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2019 | Ardrossan, AB | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 23 goals in 58 regular-season games for Seattle. Over the past two seasons, he has been counted on to play key special teams minutes, including this year where he averaged 3:09 while on the power-play and 2:25 while shorthanded.
C me not: During his two seasons in the WHL, he has won 46.5% of his puck battles. He is on the receiving end of 1.29 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Seattle Thunderbirds at Tri-City Americans, March 25, 22: In the 3-1 win over Tri-City Gustafson earned 23:10 in total ice time, including 4:37 while on the power play and 3:08 while shorthanded. Statistically he finished with 1 assist, a plus / minus rating of +1, 5 shots on goal (1PP), 4 grade “A” scoring opportunity, won 8 of 20 face-offs, had 0 penalty minutes, 3 shots blocked and had 6 giveaways versus 4 takeaways. As a puck carrier Gustafson played with pace and showed the ability to the gap into his favor by changing speeds and then cutting laterally or driving hard once the defender slowed up. He showed strength while cycling and on more than one occasion sacrificed his body by taking a hit to make a play. His primary assist on Seattle’s first goal came on just such a play where he took a hit along the mid-wall then beat his defender to a loose puck below the goal line before looking Tri-City’s net front defender off to find a wide open Sawyer Mynio in the slot. He looked to play either the flank on the power play, but the Thunderbirds looked to be shooters so there was a fair amount of freelancing and charging the net from rebounds. Gustafson was a key member of Seattle’s penalty killing unit as he took defensive zone face-offs and was the lone forward on the ice while killing a 5v3. He played in straight lines, showed a willingness to block pucks and used his quickness as a real asset to disrupt the Americans. A high effort, high energy player who we feel will has the mentality to be a professional.
Mac’s AAA, April 8, 2020: A great skater. He moves around the ice with effortless speed. His stride is long and fluid and he is hard on his edges. He plays with a nice mix of speed and agility that allows him to play with more time and space, and when he has time and space, he becomes incredibly dangerous. He is smart at both ends of the ice. Plays with poise, and good anticipation. Reads his teammates and his opponents very well. Soft hands and a nice passer. Can dance around opponents when he needs to. We would love to see him add a little bit more power/ explosion to his game, but he has a frame that suggests there is room to grow, and that the power will come with time. Grade: A
WHL Cup, November 10, 2019: Jordan plays with an extremely high hockey IQ. He plays with good effort all over the ice, and is a very responsible player in the defensive end. He has an active stick on defense and on offense he has one of the quickest and accurate shots in this tournament. His powerful stride allows him to get up and down the ice with ease, and he only gets better as the pace gets higher. He has the agility to be elusive, but tends to be a straight line attacker, and a power skater off of the half boards. Grade: B+
Rockey Mountain Classic, December 8, 2018: Gustafson had a productive weekend for the Rangers putting up numbers and being a threat on the ice when out there. A competitive player who battles all over the ice, in his end and the offensive, being a tough player to play against down low by finishing his hits and using a good stick to get pucks back. Gustafson is a smooth skater who has separation speed through neutral ice and the ability to escape pressure with the ability to split pressure and open space. Gustafson has high end vision and can make difficult passes look easy in tight. Gustafson drives play up ice and makes quick passes to open space with his ability to read the ice that’s given. Would like to see Gustafson get more chances in around the net as it’s tough to score from distance at the next level, as well be more consistent from shift to shift as he can be a passenger on the ice at times. Grade: B+
North American Hockey Classic, June 27, 2018: Jordan is a strong skating forward with a high compete and a lot of talent. He has great edge work and can drive the net with his speed and strength. The 2004 can beat you with speed or finesse and does well to control his speed when entering the zone so he always has time and space. Defensemen have a tough time defending against him as he can beat them in so many ways. He finished with 3 goals and 2 assists over 5 games. Grade: A
| Charlie Leddy | NTDP U18 | USHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 185 | Boston College | 2022 | Fairfield, CT | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a no-nonsense right-shot defender who takes care of his end first. He is difficult to play against averaging 1.23 hard body checks per game. During his two seasons with the NTDP he has averaged winning 59.5% of his puck battles.
C me not: At 6’1″ and 185 pounds does his style of play translate to the NHL? Meaning will an NHL organization look for someone larger who can play a bottom pairing role? He scored two goals in 157 games with the USNTDP.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
U18: Team Canada vs Team USA, April 24, 2022: Leddy played a simple two-way game and showed the hockey IQ to stay out of high risk situations. During offensive transition he worked to be an outlet for his partner and on more than one occasion we noted that Leddy passes the puck like an NHLer. In his end he took smart angles to Team Canada’s forwards which eliminated time and space and we liked how he maintained net side positioning through contact. We also like the jam he showed while protecting his net.
USHL: Chicago Steel vs NTDP U17, February 24, 2021: Leddy is a solid defenseman who competes hard and plays a simple, effective game. The Boston College commit is sound positionally and looked comfortable defending one on ones or rush opportunities coming his way. He used his stick well, getting the most out of his reach and disrupting a number of plays on his own end. Low in his zone he competed hard and was physical, winning the majority of the puck battles he was in. Leddy also made two goal-saving defensive plays. On one of the plays, he came back in desperation as a Steel forward was in the process of making a wide-open back door pass. Leddy dove and extended his stick, blocking the pass and shutting down the chance against. Throughout the night he was sound defensively and provided a sense of comfortability on the NTDP’s blueline. Grade: A-
NAHL: NTDP U17 vs Johnstown, October 8, 2020: Plays a great two-way game. He is the type of player that can play the power play, kill, and be counted on in tight situations. Skates well, holds a tight gap and uses his stick to poke. Pins guys along the boards and has the ability to jump into the play but his offense usually comes from shots at the point that he gets through. Grade: A
Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic, January 31, 2020: Leddy is an interesting sophomore. He is still raw but has great strength and a strong stride. He got on opponents quickly and hit to defend. We had the word “hits” written six times next to his name over the weekend. That’s exactly what he should be doing. He is not asked to play a big role for a really talented team yet so he played physical, moved pucks quickly and stayed on the correct side of the puck. He fired a wrister home against St. Paul’s and played some power play. We have seen him run around in youth hockey because he could. His stride is long and he generates great power and speed on the ice. Here, he is getting more disciplined and will become a high-end tw0-way guy at the DI level. He is headed in the right direction. NHL upside.
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Leddy keeps getting better as he learns how to play the position. His athletic ability and size set him apart right away in this age group and his upside is tremendous. On the defensive side, he made some hard open ice hits as he kept his gaps tight and his radar up for opponents with their head down. He also used his reach and mobility to pick passes off and start transition. He went back to front quickly. In the zone, he can defend with physicality and a quick stick but either way, he closed quickly on the puck. He won a lot of puck battles. His defensive stick is a real asset as he takes away passing and shooting lanes. Hies his poke well. . He ran around very little in his end and that’s an area we have noted he needed some work. So he has improved there. With the puck, he was able to evade the forecheck and then either lead or join the rush. He fired some hard shots on goal in stride and scored one in that manner. Along the offensive blue line, he moved well and can snal heavy shots on goal or wind up and crank college-level shots on goal. Leddy used his reach to change the angle of his release and got pucks through while making it tough for goalies to pick up the puck.His length helped him keep pucks in and won battles along the boards. He played an “up and down” game here but was under control and took care of his primary responsibilities. Very talented/athletic player with a high upside. High pick in the NZ All-Star draft. Grade: A- College: Boston College
USA Hockey Nationals U14, April 20, 2019: Leddy is big at talented at about 6’1”. Closed quickly to defend with great reach and a big frame. Plays 1v1 well as he hides his poke, can squeeze players off and also finish them and get off the check. We liked his recovery speed as he was able to take chances up ice and join the rush. Charlie has some skill up ice. He dragged and fired shots on net, fired a snapper home from the slot to tie the game against LC and scored another where he came off the wall and wristed one home, five-hole. Looked great on the power play and played in every key situation. There were some moments he looked tentative. We also would like to see him shoot more. No question he was tough to play against and is talented but he has to add more snarl and consistency to his game. High ceiling player with lots of tools. Finished with five points. College: BC
U14: USHL Fall Classic, October 24, 2018: Charlie controls the game for Mid-Fairfield on the back-end. Long, physically mature defender that will continue to get bigger and stronger. Long reach and frame allow him to smother forwards. Cuts down time and space by taking good angles and using a strong stick. Picks apart the defense by threading the puck through seams in the neutral zone. Sees the ice well and stretches the play whenever possible. Slick at the offensive blueline. Uses his size and some subtle moves to open up space to get shots on net. Smart and poised, he is never in a rush. Big time prospect. Grade: A College: Boston College
U14: Boston Breakout SuperSeries AAA, October 14, 2018: Leddy has already earned a commitment to BC out of his play from the STX 60 event. From watching him closely here we can understand why. He was one of the best defensemen at this tournament because of how polished his game is. He has a clean stride and good size but more importantly he does so many things well. His outlets are hard and direct, plus his passes are smart and effective. Once he gets into the offensive zone he is smart about the shots he takes and where he feeds the puck to in space. We like that he shoots with a purpose directing his shot to create rebound chances. His ability to gather the puck in his own zone was both efficient and sharp. It’s hard not to like what he brings to the rink. College: BC
STX 68 Combine, August 20, 2018: High-end defenseman in all facets. He can move, he has speed, excellent puck skills and decision making, physical and irritating to play against, he does it all. Heavy slapshot and he does a good job of opening up shooting lanes to get it off. Was a clear standout amongst an elite group of players this showcase. College: Boston College
2004 Crimson Combine, August 7, 2018: Big and steady right shot D man. Has a nasty streak to him and uses his frame to shut down opposing forwards. Can play different roles as he handles and moves well but can be a shut-down D man too. Playing with Mid Fairfield. Verbally committed to BC shortly after the event. College: Boston College
| Josh Filmon | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | L | F | 6’2″ | 159 | Swift Current Broncos | 2020 | Winnipeg, MB | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a former 4th round WHL pick who scored 23 goals in 67 games for Swift Current in 2021/22. At 6’2″ and 159 pounds he scored thirteen of his goals from within a few feet of the crease.
C me not: Yes he is long and lean, but he has won 40% of his puck battles during his two years in the WHL. How long will it take for him to add the power and strength needed to be a hard-charging forward in the NHL?
Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Prince Albert vs Swift Current, November 19, 2021: Josh is a tall, lanky forward who needs to develop his body a little more to reach his potential. Sitting third on the Broncos in scoring this season with 10 points in 16 games including six goals, he’s proven to have the ability to create offensively. What he needs is to muscle up a bit to become a high-end WHL player and an NHL prospect. His hands are there, they are quite good and crafty. His quick stickhandles in tight spaces were impressive. His skating is decent, but lacks that explosiveness that comes with the much needed strength. His agility is solid, however his balance needs quite a bit of work. He was knocked off the puck and off his feet too many times. His stick work on the checking side is quite good, as he uses his smarts to position himself into areas where players have limited options. When he has them cornered he often steals the puck or pokes it away. Josh made a nice heads-up quick pass to Owen Pickering for the lone Broncos goal. Right now Josh thrives on the power play, however he definitely has the potential to become an excellent all-situation player for the Broncos. Grade C+
CSSHL Elite: OHA Edmonton vs Rink Hockey Academy, October 4, 2019: Josh was the best all-around forward for RHA this game. He made plays all over the ice and was noticeable often. He displayed a quick shot and a quick stick when tracking down opponents from behind. He did well to pick players’ pockets and quickly transition back into offense to create scoring chances. The ’04 is tall and lanky with a long- smooth stride. He does well to keep his feet moving with the puck on his stick and drew a penalty with his hard work ethic. The 6’1” forward is versatile and saw a lot of time on the power play and penalty kill. He moved the puck quickly and efficiently on the PP and did well to force errors on the PK. Grade: A
| Vsevolod Komarov | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 176 | Quebec Remparts | 2021 | Chelyabinsk, RUS | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He’s a lanky 6’1″ and 175-pound defenseman who won 57% of his puck battles in the QMJHL. He uses a solid skating base to shut down the cycle and then pins his man to the wall to end it. He was +38 on a team with a goal differential of 127. He had three points and was +5 in the QMJHL playoffs.
C me not: He has never been chosen to represent Russia in international competition. He recorded 19 points on a team that scored 302 total goals. He attempted 217 shots and had 62 of them blocked with 44 of those blocks coming from within a few feet of the offensive blueline.
Neutral Zone evalustions:
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts Draft Prospects< December 21, 2021:
Komarov is an above average sized right shot defensive defenseman playing in his rookie season in the QMJHL. He has a wide skating base that allows him to be strong through contact and protect the puck when under a heavy forecheck. Komarov is definitely not a dangler, but he does have the puck poise and shows the stick blade manipulation by looking opposing forwards off to create passing lanes in transition. Although we feel he is a physical presence in front of his net and when eliminating the cycle we feel as he continues to mature and train we feel Komarov will need to continue focusing on his first step and explosiveness so that he will be able to compete against larger quicker players in professional hockey. At this point we feel we will continue to watch Rempart games before giving Komarov an NHL Draft grade.
QMJHL: Quebec Remparts as of December 20, 2021 Season stats: Games played 23, Goals 2 Assists 3, Points 5, plus/minus +11, Penalty Minutes 20, Penalties Drawn 2, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 15:30, Power play time 01:00, Short-handed time 0:17, Shots 3, %Shots on goal 44%, Puck battles 9, %Puck battles won 59%, Hits 0.43, Hits against 0.43
| Trey Taylor | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 185 | Clarkson | 2022 | Richmond, BC | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has leadership qualities. He is a 6’2″ defenseman whose overall two-way game developed nicely in the USHL as he finished with 43 points in 53 games. He won 59% of his puck battles. The combination of his puck poise and skating ability allows him to draw penalties.
C me not: He is a 2002 whose in his third year of draft eligibility. He attempted 159 point shots. He had 37 of them blocked and an additional 40 missed the net. 115 of those attempts came on the power play with 48 of those being blocked or missing the net.
USHL: Chicago Steel at Youngstown Phamtoms, April 17, 2022: Taylor is in his third year of National League draft eligibility and we feel he has played his way into receiving long looks from NHL organizations. The left shot retrieved pucks with pace keeping his head on swivel to locate the easiest route out of the defensive zone. His passes were hard, flat and hit his intended target on the tape and in stride, He also showed the strength to protect the puck while a forechecker was on his back and the skating ability to get the net when he needed to. It is obvious that his teammates view him as a leader on the ice and he backed that up with solid decisions that put the team first. Taylor was a key component of the Phantom’s special teams. He also showed a very quick release from the point and on Friday night scored on a quick release snap shot. Although he is having a very solid offensive season we feel he is two-way defender who has the size, skating ability and offensive vision to play professional hockey after continuing to gain strength and explosiveness at Clarkson.
USHL: NTDP vs Youngstown Phantoms, Februsry 1, 2022: Taylor is a big defenseman that is solid defensively but uses his good skating ability, puck possession, and offensive skills to contribute offensively. He skates with good balance and a long, powerful stride that helps him jump into the play but get back defensively. He showed confidence and patience carrying the puck wheeling the puck up the ice and around the offensive zone. He uses his size and good balance to defend with ease rather than panicking or getting caught off balance. He can get under the opposing forwards’ skin due to his combination of size, strength, physicality, and defensive prowess. He scored a hat-trick in the 2nd game. He scored his 1st on the PP using a wrist shot from the right point through traffic to beat the goalie. He scored his 2nd goal on a one-timer in which he moved in from the left side and was able to step into a quick, snap-shot one-timer. His 3rd was the ENG. Grade: A-
USHL: Chicago Steel vs Youngstown Phantoms, December 10, 2021: Taylor is a big all-around defenseman who is a solid defender but also contributes offensively. He uses good body position and a long reach to defend with ease. An example of this occurred early in the game when one of Chicago’s skilled, shifty forwards challenged him on the rush 1-1 and he maintained good alignment with the attacking forward’s body and used his long reach to simply poke the puck away. Taylor makes simple passes to help his team exit the zone. He demonstrates good patience and puck protection with his ability to skate with the puck around the offensive zone, specifically on the power play. Taylor loves to wheel around the zone with the puck including within deep in order to promote movement on the power play. Another example of this occurred on Youngstown’s 3rd goal of the game in which he skated around and behind the net and then fed the puck out front leading to the goal. There was also another instance on the power play when Taylor used creativity and vision on a behind the back pass skating the other way behind the offensive zone net leading to an open net scoring opportunity on a 2nd period power play. He also had a hard, heavy wrist shot from point that gave the goalie trouble on several occasions. Grade: A
USHL: Youngstown vs Cedar Rapids, November 1, 2021: Taylor is a Clarkson commit, had an all-around superb game that stood out from beginning to end finishing with a goal, two shots on net, and was a +1 for the night. Taylor has a smooth and powerful stride. His first step is strong and separates him from opponents and creates space for himself as well as giving himself the ability to easily win puck races. Once the puck is on his stick, his speed is slightly above average, but he skates with confidence, precision, and power that allows him to pick holes in the opponent’s defense effortlessly. Taylor is also big and strong and when skating through traffic makes him hard to knock off the puck. Defensively, Taylor uses his strong skating ability and reach to control gaps. When exiting the defensive zone, he’s calm and collected with the puck. He never makes a panicked or rushed play and is in control with the ability to slow the play down to the speed he needs while his teammates skate to open ice. Taylor can beat the first man up ice, make a quick snapped outlet pass, find a seam for a stretch pass, or make soft 2-foot sauce passes into areas that only his teammates can skate into. In the offensive zone, he once again uses his skating ability and calmness with the puck to walk the blue line, create himself shooting lanes, and put hard accurate shots on net. He plays heads up hockey and is solid at quarterbacking the powerplay. This resulted in a goal for him as he once again created himself a shooting lane with his skating and hammered a shot to the lower right corner from the left circle. Grade: A
CJHL Top Prospects Game, February 26, 2020: Taylor had a strong showing at this game as a polished skating, well-rounded defenseman. He manages tight gaps, he takes away space from opponents and has good closing speed and angling to stop rushes in the neutral zone. He did a nice job keeping pucks in on the offensive zone and was solid defensively picking up bodies around the net, playing the body in the corners and winning 50/50 puck battles. He has a quick stick and was able to knock pucks off sticks and force opponents to low percentage areas. His best attribute has been his skating ability which allows him to play aggressive, step up on opponents and pinch at the offensive blue line. Quick on retrievals and clever puck movement. Underrated D1 prospect but he needs to get stronger and more engaged at both ends. Grade: B
BCHL Scouting Reports: Vernon Vipers, December 13, 2019: Taylor is a very smooth skating defencemen with great edge work allowing him to elude oncoming players without trouble. He has good offensive instincts which allow him to join the rush frequently and use his recovery speed to get back after the rush. His breakout skills standout as a strong suit of his, using his vision to locate the right play or using his skating to be a “one-man breakout”. At times his offensive tendencies cause him to be caught on the wrong side of the battle or be beat to the net by the attacking player. He reads the play quite quickly and makes fast decisions as well, which allows his 175lb frame to avoid the oncoming forecheckers. Additional strength should be something Taylor works on, as forwards continue to get bigger and stronger as he moves up in level. Grade: B
CSSHL Showcase, February 16, 2018: Trey is a physical/gritty defenseman. He was noticeable mixing it up with opponents on almost every shift. He likes to get under the other team’s skin and made some really nice hits. The 2002 displayed a quick stride and jumped in on the rush a lot for secondary support. He made crisp passes in all three zones and saw time on the penalty kill where he played very aggressive. He finished with 2 goals and 1 assist through 4 games. Grade: B+
| Seamus Powell | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 168 | Boston College | 2022 | Marcellus, NY | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a fleet-footed 6’0″ 168-pound defender who won 59% of his puck battles during his draft year. His angles during defensive neutral zone transition are excellent. His offensive game has matured into a quick outlet transition producer. During his NTDP career he was a primary penalty killer. He had twelve penalty minutes in 157 NTDP games.
C me not: He attempted 69 total shots in 2021/22. During his time with the NTDP, he has averaged being on the receiving end of 1.00 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
U18: Team Canada vs Team USA, April 24, 2022: Powell finished with 1 assist and 2 giveaways compared to 7 takeaways, but what stood out to us here was his penalty killing. He attacked bouncing pucks with assertiveness and after winning the 50/50 battle Powell made sure he or his penalty killing unit got 200′ clears. We also noted his hand eye coordination and ability to knock down Team Canada’s sauce passes. Offensively Powell worked well with his partner, especially below the goal line where he showed the confidence to use the net as a pick to start transition or breakouts.
Toronto Marlies Classic, February 2, 2020: Powell seems to have the puck on his stick for extended periods of time and uses various escape manoeuvres to elude pressure and maintain possession. He does an amazing job getting a few quick strides up ice which makes it easier to make a first pass in or out of the defensive zone. Given open ice he will take it and back defenders in only to use them as a screen. He knows how to get inside the dots quickly as he backs off the offensive blue line. He uses his partner to change the point of attack in the neutral zone and hinges back for a return pass so he can transition up ice. Powell’s lightning fast feet helps creates lanes for passing and shooting and he only needs a sliver of space to get up ice. Grade: A-
U15: USHL Showcase, October 25, 2019: Seamus plays a similar game to his brother who was also in town with the NTDP on the weekend. Seamus’ best attribute is his skating. He has a long, fluid stride and gets up to speed easily. He wheels the puck out of his end and escapes pressure well. He uses the net to his advantage and will either skate to open ice or snap a breakout pass to his wings. He has good recovery speed which lets him take chances on the offensive end. He can make defenders miss and made several nice plays in transition. Will need to sure-up his play in his own end. At times would run around a bit. Solid player with high upside. Grade: B+
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: He does an excellent job of moving his feet to create passing lanes on the breakout and has the balance to fend off forecheckers after contact. HIs tournament point total does not reflect his offensive talents. Seamus passes the puck with authority yet still has the awareness to place touch passes onto areas where only his forwards can receive them. In the offensive zone he initiates the high cycle at the proper times and easily loses his defender when going back door. He walks the blueline with his head up in all situations and his quick release creates rebound scoring opportunities. He has a tendency to cheat in the defensive zone and get caught on the wrong side of the puck, but his skating ability allows him to recover quickly. Seamus has a strong stick in front of his own net and our scouts noted his poise while carrying the puck out of dangerous areas. Grade: B
Junior Chowder Cup (2004s), August 6, 2019: Powell was smooth and silky both on the offensive end as well as the defense end. We like his ability to shutdown plays in his own zone particularly using his long stick to influence the play (listed at 5’11). When he needs to change direction he keeps his hips open and is able to swivel effectively to both create space and shuffle away from the opposition. He can move the puck up ice both with his feet and with sharp passes to waiting forwards. We like the fact that not only were his passes authoritative but they regularly arrived on the tape of the recipient which meant little wasted time collecting the puck before turning up ice. Alternatively when he was patrolling the point in the offensive zone he was a great receiver of the puck: ensuring that it didn’t get too far away from him and adjusting his hands based on how hard the pass came in. He recognizes coverage quickly in his mind and sometimes that comes before his body can catch up. At one point he made an off-balance pass that hit his intended target but forced him to stutter-step in order to regain his footing. Despite this, he is a smooth, athletic defender who will be worthy of a watch moving into his age 16 season. Grade: B+
| Jakub Hujer | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | L | C | 6’3″ | 194 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | 2021 | Praha, CZE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ center with a solid skating base that will allow him to carry more weight. He understands body positioning when protecting the puck. He averaged giving over 1.12 hard body checks per game.
C me not: He won 46% of his puck battles and 48% of his shots hit the net. On 159 total shot attempts 57 of them were blocked with 20 of those blocks coming from outside of the right face-off dot while on the power-play.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
QMJHL: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies Draft Prospects, December 1, 2021: There is a lot to like about the 6’3″ Czech’s game as he continues to adjust to major junior hockey. Yes it is obvious that he is long and lanky, but we feel Hujer uses his long arms and reach to his advantage on both sides of the puck, not just on the offensive side. In the defensive zone he consistently plays stick on puck while trying to end the cycle, yet is not afraid to use a subtle kidney cross check to change an opponent’s momentum to then keep them contained in the corner. He also shows good leg drive through contact while pinning opponents to the wall or while clearing shooting lanes for his goalie. In offensive transition Hujer has a smooth first touch on both his forehand and back hand. His attacks the middle before dishing wide to his linemates and then continues to the net as a strong middle drive. In the long run we are excited about his skating posture and glide as we feel he can carry an additional 15 pounds of muscle and be an even more effective two-way center in professional hockey. Hujer is a player we will watch closely over the next few months.
| Yegor Guskov | Loko Yaroslavl | International | L | G | 5’11” | 201 | Taua, RUS | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is very consistent. He had 0.919 sv% in 22 regular season games.
C me not: He is 5’11”.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
MHL: Loko Yaroslavl vs Taifun Primorsky Krai, February 23, 2022: Guskov stopped 22 of 25 in a 7-3 victory over Taifun in his last game. He had a calm demeanor in net and presents himself well to the puck. He does a good job of staying under control by holding his edges for as long as possible and staying inside of his posts, not over committing on shots or scrums in front of the net. The goals he was beaten all were all great plays that were a result of defensive breakdowns, as his team seemed to let up on some plays after gaining a comfortable lead. One thing that stood out that he could improve on is his zone awareness, as he was found too puck focused at times when he had time to identify potential threats away from the play. Grade: B+
World Junior A Challenge, December 23, 2019: Guskov was the best goaltender of the tournament, allowing only 5 goals total. He finished with a GAA of 1.05 and a Save Percentage of .959–very impressive numbers. He was named to the Tournament All-Star team and went home with a Gold Medal around his neck after stopping 31 of 32 shots in the final game, a Double-Overtime win for Russia. The draft-eligible goaltender made several key saves, and finished with 3 wins in the tournament, including one 31 save shutout, his only loss coming in a shootout. Very impressive tournament for Guskov, who was solid and steadfast in net. Grade: A
| Ivan Guskov | Krylja Sovetov | KHL | R | C | 5’11” | 172 | Moskva, RUS | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is 5’11” 172 pounds and scored fifteen of his goals from within a few feet of the crease. He blossomed in 2021/22 by having more goals than he did total points in 2020/21.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Guskov is a gifted offensive player. He has the shooting ability to rip snapshots through the defender’s legs while his feet are moving. He also has the first touch to handle hard passes while at top speeds without bobbling them as well as being able to handle poor passes into his feet without having to look down for extended periods to make sure he has control. Guskov’s issues come when he is in defense or when his team does not have possession, as he is prone to turning his back on the puck while in his defensive zone and quite frankly he views every 50/50 puck as a 100% win for himself or his linemates. Again he is very gifted offensively and there is no doubt that he can make plays, but an NHL team will have to have a minor league coaching system that has the time to break some poor habits.
C me not: As a puck carrier, he leaves himself exposed and was on the receiving end of 1.27 hard body checks per game. He had more points in 2021/22 than he had in his previous two seasons in the MHL combined.
| Niklas Hubner | ERC Ingolstadt | DEL | L | D | 6’2″ | 181 | Ingolstadt, GER | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has leadership characteristics and was assistant captain of Germany’s U18 World Championship team. He has an NHL frame. He won 65% of his puck battles.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: There is a lot to like about Hubner’s game and future. First off he’s big and very fast. He moves very well and has high-end straight-line speed. This past year he played in both the DEL and in the DNL U20 where he was a point-per-game defenseman. He’s going to have to learn to sit back a little bit while defending, but he has NHL size and is incredibly athletic. I’d take a chance on him in the 4th-5th round, ask him to play in the CHL for a year and then work with him in the AHL for a year. In the end, you might have yourself a mid-round pick who plays games.
C me not: Only 40% of his shots hit the net. In fifteen career international games for Germany, he has registered one goal and been -10.
| Marko Stacha | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 196 | Vancouver Giants | 2020 | Ilava, SVK | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’1″ 200-pound defenseman who has played for Slovakia in each of the past two World Júnior Championships. He has played the past two seasons in the WHL. Through 52 career Western Hockey League games he has won 57% of his puck battles.
C me not: Through 52 Western Hockey League games he has hit the net with 46% of his shots. In 2021/22 he attempted 51 shots from the point, 23 of them were blocked. He was on the receiving end of 1.25 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Kamloops Blazers Draft Prospects, January 4, 2022:
Stacha has an NHL frame, a quick stick and excellent lateral quickness when closing on opposing forwards to shut down a line rush. There are the rare times when we have seen him crossover to close the gap, but the majority of times Stacha keeps his hips low and slides quickly laterally with a heel to heel motion. While boxing out or clearing shooting lanes in n the defensive zone he keeps his hips low, his chest high and he drives his opponent to less dangerous ice with quick hard inside edge pushes. Stacha works well with his defensive partner and understands how to anticipate loose pucks so he can be a quick clean outlet. The 2002 just had his second WJC cut short as he was playing for Slovakia and he is currently in his second WHL season after playing 22 games for Vancouver Giants last year.
WHL: Kamloops Blazers as of January 2, 2022 Season stats: Games played 24, Goals 5, Assists 4, Points 9, plus/minus 14, Penalty Minutes 15, Penalties Drawn 8, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 18:22, Power play time 0:53, Short-handed time 02:09, Shots 2.7, %Shots on goal 49%, Face-off % -%, Puck battles 11, %Puck battles won 56%, Hits 0.92, Hits against 1.42
| Tyler Muszelik | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | G | 6’2″ | 195 | New Hampshire | 2022 | Long Valley, NJ | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ athletic goaltender with high end anticipation and play reading abilities. While in the butterfly he has the flexibility to keep his hips high which allows him to pounce on rebounds. He had a 0.900 sv% against USHL competition and a 0.909 sv% at the U18 World Championships. He is going to University of New Hampshire and will be counted on to play heavy minutes early in his college career.
C me not: His overall skating ability is average. He is still developing his explosive lateral movement.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
U20: 2022 NHL Draft Eligible Goalie Report, December 8, 2021: Last 5 game snapshot- Tyler is on a hot streak of 5 wins in a row for the always strong US NTDP u18 team. He was very good in three recent international games against Sweden, Czech Republic, and Finland, only letting in 5 goals against in 3 games. The other two games were wins over the Adrian Bulldogs Division III where he was not great, but good enough to get his team the win. His skating abilities are average, but he makes up for it by using his size to his advantage and has great play reading ability. Tyler does a good job of staying square to the puck and presenting his hands to the shooter to take away the top corners. He also keeps his hips up in his butterfly to be as big of a target as possible, which in turn allows him to be quick to get rebound chances. One thing Tyler struggles with is his ability to explode across the crease on lateral plays. His skating ability tends to get exposed on scrambles around the net and 2 on 1 situations that are passed across the midline of the ice.
USHL: Goalie Report, October 12, 2021: Muszelik helped his team earn a big win this weekend stopping 32 of 35 shots faced. He is a decent sized goalie that showed great skating ability and is able to move quickly in the crease. At times he struggled with rebound control, but did excel at using his stick to control low shots. His greatest strength was his ability to make saves on lateral plays while keeping his balance consistently. He always seemed to be balanced even after making some big saves coming from cross-ice passes. It was a solid game for Muszelik who will look to keep building on this performance. Grade: B
USHL: Goalie Repor, January 20, 2021: Muszelik had a solid game for his team picking up a shootout win while stopping 30 of 34 shots. He has decent size and uses it well in his positioning to take away angles from shooters. He excels at handling the first shot and uses his positioning to make it difficult to beat him on straight-on shots. He did a good job of sealing the post well on dead angle shots as well, as he faced a good amount of attempts from the goal-line angles. It was impressive to see him in the shootout where he stopped every shot, and made it look easy along the way. He showed great patience and control and forced shooters into uncomfortable situations when they came down. It was a well earned win for Muszelik who played strong and was dominant in the shootout for his team. Grade: B-
U17 NTDP vs Soo Eagles, October 15, 2020: Tyler has good size and moves quickly side to side to make the saves on the cross pass. He will come out of his net and play the puck and move it up ice. He faced 18 shots and posted a shutout. He did make a couple of rebound saves on a chaotic shift. He did make the initial saves and did a good job of controlling his rebounds. Grade A
| Kyle Crnkovic | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | L | LW | 5’7″ | 165 | Saskatoon Blades | 2018 | Chestermere, AB | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is an offensive presence who has played at over a point per game pace over his last three seasons in the WHL, including 94 points in 68 games in 2021/22. He’s very difficult to make solid body contact with (0.33 hard body checks against per game). Including the playoffs, he scored 41 goals on 420 shot attempts. 32 of his goals came while playing even strength.
C me not: Although difficult to body check, he is undersized at 5’7″ and 165 pounds. 173 of his shot attempts came while on the man advantage. Eighteen of his goals came from within feet of the crease. Will he be able to find that same ice in professional hockey?
Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Saskatoon Blades, March 5, 2022: Crnkovic is a smooth skating, high IQ player for the Blades that is a dangerous player on and off the puck. As a smaller player, Crnkovic relied heavily on his footspeed to generate time and space for himself. Crnkovic is able to move pucks quickly, accurately, and jump to open space to receive passes back, or pull defenders in as a high risk player on the ice to give his linemates more time on the puck. Crnkovic seemed to be a water-bug on the ice, buzzing around the whole sheet with speed and tenacity, snapping the puck around, and snapping pucks on net to the tune of two goals (one shorthanded) on Sunday. While he is undersized at 5’7, Crnkovic is the type of new age player that a team would be lucky to have as apart of their long term plans. Crnkovic is over a point per game player, on pace for over 100 points on the season, which speaks to his commitment to playing the game at a high level despite his size. Grade: A+
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran:
Kyle is a perfect fit for today’s National Hockey League. He is shifty with the puck and elusive without it. In one on one situations he can make big guys miss by overwhelming them with his speed, making them get off balance and blowing past them or he can make smaller quicker defenders look foolish by his surprising strength and over powering them while he attacks the scoring area. He has a quick release that he gets away in tight spaces while his feet are moving and he has the accuracy to put the puck where he wants it. Some goal scorers are predictable with their release and where they’re shooting, but Kyle can fire it from varying body positions and catches the goalie leaning by out waiting him. He can slow the play down to manipulate gaps in his favor or he can accelerate past defenseman who have gapped up to play in his face. Kyle has a high compete and motor. He plays every shift with a chip on his shoulder and like he has something to prove. In all offensive situations Kyle is creative and smart, but he is electric on the power play because of his anticipation and first touch. Back in October Kyle was a ‘C’ rated Neutral Zone NHL prospect, but we have upgraded him to a ‘B’ after a strong draft year in the Western Hockey League. We feel he is a player who has the attitude and skills to produce offensively in the NHL.
(1) Brain – Excellent at creating space and manipulating gaps to his advantage.
(2) Vision & Poise – He has always had poise when the puck is on his stick in the sot, but we feel his ability to generate opportunities for his linemates has improved this season and has begun to differentiate him from others in his draft class.
(3) Feet – Quick laterally & very explosive first step. He is as fast with the puck as without it.
(4) Compete & Effort – Maximum effort and compete.
(5) Contact or Physicality – Very strong on the puck and we have noted many times that he has very strong hands.
(6) Release – Quick and accurate. Kyle does not need much time or space to bury it.
(7) One Timer Ability – An area to continue working on as he developes.
(8) Body Language – He plays with a chip on his shoulder.
(9) Special Teams Potential – Kyle’s first touch, poise, vision and ability to finish makes him a power play option in professional hockey.
(10) Intangibles – He may not be tall, but he is very strong on the puck and can extend plays after contact.
CSSHL Midget Playoffs, April 3, 2018: Crnkovic was a favorite at the championships. Entertaining and exciting each and every shift. Kyle’s pace is extremely high and despite having a whole bunch of skill, he will play the 200 feet and does not shy away from anyone or any situation. His skating is his best asset with his long stick. He has a quick first step and has the ability to change speed to beat opponents or get out of corners and rolling out of checks quickly. He put up a number of goals and points. He possesses a quick release despite not having the heaviest of shots and has the ability to make plays. Fun player to watch.
WHL Cup (2002s), October 31, 2017: An explosive skater who has a relentless engine. He forces opponents into mistakes with his aggressive style. On the offensive side of the puck he shows great vision and looks to make plays for his teammates. Because of this, it allows him to get off his tremendous shot. His release looks effortless, but it explodes off of his blade with pin point accuracy and power. Grade: A
| Daniel Michaud | Niagara Icedogs | OHL | L | F | 6’2″ | 190 | Oshawa Generals | 2019 | Burlington, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ left-shot forward who can play both center and wing.
Neutral Zone’s Paul O’Hagan: He showed good puck composure along the walls in his defensive zone and made good decisions in the transition to offense. He has excellent hands, puck skills, and ability to make plays with limited time and space.
C me not: As a 2003 it has taken him longer to adjust to the OHL than we thought it would. He only attempted 167 total shots in 2021/22 and he won 42% of his puck battles.
NeutralZone evaluations:
Neutral Zone’s Paul O’Hagan, May 2021: Michaud is a lanky Oshawa Generals forward played a limited role in his rookie season with the Generals. He played a fourth line role on a deep Generals team but his skill and offensive creativity did shine through at times this season. Michaud has always shown good skill in tight checking situations with his long reach and deceptive hands. Like most young centers in minor hockey Michaud was moved into a role on the wing in his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League. He showed good puck composure along the walls in his defensive zone and made good decisions in the transition to offense. He has excellent hands, puck skills, and ability to make plays with limited time and space.
Neutral Zone’s Paul O’Hagan, September 2020: In games viewed in March of 2020, prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, Michaud saw limited action on the wing for the Generals. He is a large body at 6.02 and presented challenges for defenders around the net when he used his size and reach to get into good shooting lanes. He handled pressure on the forecheck well and minimized mistakes in his defensive zone. He moved pucks well in transition but needs to continue to work on his overall footspeed to develop his game further. Michaud in our view was one of the most improved all around offensive players in the age group in his Minor Midget year and has all the tools to continue this trend. As he develops his strength and speed, the combination of his length and offensive creativity make him a player with good upside. The key to his upside will be developing an improved first step. This should come naturally as he matures physically.
OHL Gold Cup, May 2019: Michaud is a big bodied forward with skill and deceiving speed. His reach allows him to put pucks out of range for opposing defenders and create space for himself in tough areas like offensive corners. He easily pulls pucks through and around defenders creating scoring opportunities for himself and his team. An offensive threat on most shifts at the Gold Cup. Michaud elevated his play significantly playing with more skilled players. OHL Team: Oshawa Generals – 2nd Round, 23rd Overall Grade: B+
OHL Draft Top 40 Movers after OHL Cup, March 2019: Michaud showed in the second half of the season why many thought he would be a top offensive threat in the age group. Great skill in tight with his reach and deceptive speed. Michaud has excellent hands, puck skills, and ability to make plays with limited time and space. The first half of the season bad body language and frustration raised our concerns but these issues were corrected as the season progressed. Michaud in our view was one of the most improved all around offensive players in the age group in the second half leading his team offensively in the OMHA playoffs and OHL Cup.
2018 Minor Midget International Silver Stick, December 2018: Michaud is the go-to guy on the Red Devils front end but often only scratches the surface with his ability. He is tall and lanky and has a long, smooth stride and sees the ice well enough to slow it down and let the play develop. With some added strength to his game, Michaud will improve as a whole. A player with a big, strong frame and strong net front presence the puck seems to find his stick in good scoring areas.
Toronto Titans Minor Midget Tournament, September 2018: Michaud is a skilled lanky forward who plays with pace and skates well. Michaud has a long powerful stride and accelerates quickly. His long reach and smooth stickhandling makes it difficult or defenders. He also has a very high IQ away from puck so it always ends up back on his stick. We liked his support of pucks in both ends and his play in the 200 foot game.
| Maxim Muranov | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | L | RW | 6’2″ | 168 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | Moscow | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is 6’2″ and only 168 pounds, but has the skating base to add and carry more weight. He has good 1on1 puck skills. He can play with pace. 61% of his shots hit the net.
C me not: He has limited structure in his game and tends to go rogue. He won 46% of his puck battles. During the 2021/22 season, he attempted 135 total shots with 114 coming while even strength. Forty-six of those even-strength attempts missed the net or were blocked.
Neutral Zone Evaluations:
WHL Calgary Hitmen, March 5, 2022: A rocket on the ice, Muranov has speed to burn and used it exclusively throughout both games. Muranov is a bit of a wild card on the ice, seeming to lack structure to his game and had a few shifts where he did Nascar laps around the offensive zone, not really building any offensive pressure, but his ability to build speed while moving laterally and protect the puck at the same time was a skill that helped him in the offensive zone. Muranov has a quick, deceptive release and showed the ability to change the angle of attack and release throughout the two games on the weekend, but did struggle to find the back of the net to this point on the season. As a draft eligible player for the 2022 NHL draft, Muranov has a lot of tools that will make him an interesting prospect, but whichever team decides to take him on will need to develop a better understanding of supporting the puck away from the play, as well as changing speeds and pace to better suit his tools. Grade: B-
WHL: Calgary Hitmen Draft Prospects, December 20, 2021: Muranov is a lanky, but strong 6’2″ 165 pound rookie forward from Moscow. He has a sneaky wide dribble that he uses to open passing lanes or to get defenders leaning before he subtly slides the puck to open teammate. He has a bowlegged skating style that adds to his elusiveness in one on one situations especially when escaping from contact below the goal line. As a puck carrier there are times when Muranov tries to do too much, but we feel that a steady diet of hardnosed defenders in the Western League will get him to utilize give and goes more often. Right now he is only averaging about 11 minutes of playing time per-game, but we feel that as he learns to play a North American style he has the potential to be a dynamic offensive weapon for the Hitmen.
| Nolan Flamand | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | L | LW | 5’9″ | 159 | Kelowna Rockets | 2019 | Saskatoon, SK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He’s won 54.5% of his puck battles over the past two seasons in the WHL. He was a key contributor to both special team’s units. He can make plays in traffic.
C me not: He is undersized and not a burner. His shot on net percentage dropped from 59% in 2020/21 to 46% in 2021/22. He had 78 shots on goal during 2021/22.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Prince George Cougars at Kelowna Rockets, February 17, 2022: All we can say about Flamand is that he plays his ass off and he competes like someone we would love to have as a teammate. If you just look at his impact on this one while playing shorthanded you’ll see a player who impacted the game as much as anyone. He was an absolute puck hound up the ice forcing poor decisions and bad passes. He showed that he was not only willing to block shots, but that he was also fearless as he got big low to eat pucks including laying down to block a one-timer from 25′ away. He also showed the awareness of when to pressure or when to be passive and he generated a breakaway by forcing a Cougar’s defenseman across the blueline to his backhand before stripping him of the puck. As a center he won 19 of 33 face-offs while playing a team high 21:52 for the including a game high 2:40 while shorthanded. Flamand also had a game high six grade “A” scoring chances, including three that were one-timers from inside the house. He won 56% of his puck battles and had 4 giveaways compared to 6 takeaways. Flamand is a gamer.
WHL: Kelowna Rockets Draft Prospects, January 10, 2022:
Flamand is an undersized forward who excels in transition showing the understanding of when to use his quickness to stretch the zone or when to provide close support to create quick 2 on 1s. As a puck carrier he may not be a straight line burner, but he has high end edge control and explosiveness that generates time and space in all three zones. We like his vision and ability to pass through defender’s legs as they try to close on him. As his game continues to mature and develop, we feel Flamand will need to continue working on his release and shot as to not become predictable at higher levels. Flamand plays with high energy and his mentality of expecting to win every loose puck will only enhance his appeal to NHL teams as the season progresses.
WHL: Kelowna Rockets as of January 6, 2022 Season stats: Games played 29, Goals 5, Assists 19, Points 24, plus/minus 17, Penalty Minutes 4, Penalties Drawn 7, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 16:42, Power play time 1:54, Short-handed time 1:47, Shots 2.6, %Shots on goal 53%, Face-off % 51%, Puck battles 14, %Puck battles won 58%, Hits 0.5, Hits against 0.8
WHL: Kelowna Rockets at Kamloops Blazers, December 9, 2021: Nolan had a solid game and works well with his line mate Andrew Cristall. The two of them work off of one-another and have similar hockey IQ’s. Nolan’s skating is sold, but not dynamic. He can get from point A to point B at a fairly rapid pace, but when it comes to blowing the doors off a defenceman on a rush it wasn’t in the cards on this night. His hands are above average, picking up passes and making quick handles in traffic wasn’t an issue. Furthermore he uses his smarts combined with those skills to make things look a little too easy sometimes. Kelowna has had high hopes for Nolan and he has delivered to some extent as he sits fourth in team scoring and is averaging 0.75 ppg. He has a strong offensive upside, but also consider his defensive play, which is quite strong and responsible. Grade C+
| Braeden Bowman | Guelph Storm | OHL | R | RW | 6’2″ | 205 | Guelph Storm | 2019 | Kitchener, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 2019 fifth round OHL selection who had 27 goals in 60 games in 2021/22. He contributed both special teams units. 72% of his shots hit the net. 19 of his goals came from the top of the crease and another seven came from the high slot. He attempted 189 total shots in 2021/22 with 61 of them coming from the top of the crease.
C me not: He is 6’2″ 205 pounds and averaged 0.34 hard body checks per game. He won 49% of his puck battles. He had eighteen minor penalty minutes.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
OHL: Saginaw Spirit at Guelph Storm, January 7, 2022: Bowman is a second year draft eligible 2003 winger who plays a heavy skilled game. He recently returned from an injury but came into the game having scored 9 goals in his first 16 games so far in his rookie season. Bowman has a big body and plays a physical give and go game on offense to clear out space for himself on the net drive. He needed to hit the net in this game as he had a few chances in close but could not find an opening. Bowman was a favorite of Neutral Zone in his U16 season, he has always played a skilled edgy power game and is well suited for the physical play in the Ontario Hockey League. He did not score in this game but created space on a number of shifts and got his frame into the good scoring areas. Grade: C+
PBHH Invitational, June 15, 2021:
Games 1-3 Evaluation: Bowman was a mid-round OHL pick in 2019 and while he’s only played 2 games in the OHL he’s coming off a productive rookie year in the GOJHL. From a production standpoint he was terrific with 3 goals and 3 assists in just 6 games but being fair his game wasn’t as impressive as his stat line. His goals were a quick snap shot in the slot that beat the goalie clean, another goal catching a hard pass in the high slot and going in alone on the netminder beating him with a slick deke move and the third goal was a hard one-touch give and go goal on a 2v0 rush. He’s got size, he’s strong on his stick and can make plays both in traffic and in open ice with his protection ability. He’s a firm and accurate passer, he can get off checks and attack the net off the cycle and showed touch around the cage and tight areas with clever moves and saucer passes. Bowman is smart, he moves well away from the puck to create passing lanes and draw defenders and he is always ready to shoot or drive the net for second chance opportunities. Grade: B
NHL Draft Thoughts: Bowman hasn’t been listed in NHL Central Scouting but he’s made a strong statement so far here as one of the leading point getters in the league. He has the size, he’s a quality goal scorer and demonstrates offensive awareness and instincts both with the puck and away from it. With that being said he’s not explosive, he’s not fast, he doesn’t play with great pace and he’s not someone who creates a lot of offense on his own. He could find his way on draft boards because of his scoring touch, IQ and strong performance here statistically but he just isn’t quite there for us on our board at this stage in his career. Once he proves himself at the OHL level, which he’s more than capable of, then we’d have to really consider his draft stock at that time.
GOJHL Top Prospects Games, February 2, 2020: Bowman had a solid showing at this event. He showed off his nice hands in front; he was able to tip a few pucks and cause issues for the goaltender. He also had soft hands in tight areas; a few times during the game a puck would pop out to him with limited time and space and he found a way to make a smart little play. We liked his puck control ability in the offensive zone; he was able to get the puck on the side wall and was able to hold onto it until the play opened up. There were shifts where he would dominate offensively; wheeling his way around the zone looking for options to open up. Although he only came away with one goal for the game, you could see why he leads all 2003’s in the GOJHL with 20 goals. He has a nose for the net and likes to score. Bowman showed good starts and stops and quick edge work on the cycle. He has quick feet which allowed him to make defenders miss. He was noticeable all game and did a good job helping to create offensively. Grade: B+
Toronto Titans Minor Midget Tournament, September 28, 2018: Bowman has good size and strength on the wing and is quick on the forecheck doing a good job as F1 separating the puck from the man. He handles the puck well and is good below the goal line battling hard for loose pucks. He has to take the puck to the net and be willing to create a net presence in the offensive zone.
World Selects Invite, June 4, 2018: Bowman had soft first touches on pucks and has good size. Made hard, accurate passes in the neutral zone. Mostly north/south and got his body to the crease. He managed the puck well and did not overhandle it. No points but filled lanes and played hard.
| Sandis Vilmanis | Lulea | J20 Nationell | L | LW | 6’1″ | 195 | Riga, LAT | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 18 goals in 40 J20 Nationell games. He was an assistant captain for Latvia at the U18 World Championships and recorded three points in four games. He had three points in five games at the U20 WJC D1A. He is very strong along the walls and understands how to extend puck possession in the offensive zone.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Vilmanis has shown a quick release that uses the whip on the stick to generate torque and an expanded shooting area when one-timing. With a sneaky wide dribble, he also has some surprising wiggle in his 1on1 game. He makes defenders lean, then quickly shifts the puck out wide before showing the body awareness to get his hips in front of the defender.
C me not: He is a 6’1″ 195-pounder who won 39% of his puck battles in J20 competition. Yes, he understands how to extend offensive zone puck possession, but he is very content to keep the puck along the mid-walls.
| Hudson Thornton | Prince George Cougars | WHL | L | D | 5’11” | 181 | Prince George Cougars | 2018 | Winnipeg, MB | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a late 2003 who wore an “A” for Prince George. He is a solid two-way defender who finished with 43 points in 65 games. He won 58% of his puck battles in 2021/22. He is tenacious on loose pucks.
C me not: He is very willing to take a hit to make a play, but he exposes himself to 1.13 hard body checks per game. He attempted 240 shots from in between the offensive blueline and the tops of the circles. 95 of those attempts were blocked with 35 of those blocks coming while on the power play.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
WHL: Prince George Cougars at Kelowna Rockets, February 17, 2022: Thornton may look a bit undersized at 5’11” 181 pounds, but once you watch him compete you realize very quickly that he has the aggressiveness and strength to win battles. We liked his fist step explosiveness when he recognized the opportunity to win a race for 50/50 puck and he used that same explosiveness to end the cycle quickly. As a weakside defenseman he showed nice recognition on when to activate into the offense or when to be patient. Thornton’s hard flat passes, puck poise and ability to avoid coverage as he slid to the backdoor made him a key member on the Cougar’s power play (3:03TOI), but the play that separated him from his peers had nothing to do with skill as it occurred when he caught a Rocket’s penalty killer from behind to prevent a clear breakaway without taking a penalty. On the play he showed the type of speed and compete that NHL teams should be aware of. Thornton also had two primary power play assists. Both were nice passes, but the first came on a goal line to far blueline stretch pass up the middle that deserved to be on the highlight reel. In total he earned 20:38 in total ice time, won 60% of his puck battles and had 9 giveaways compared to 13 takeaways.
WHL: Prince George Cougars, June 8, 2021: Thornton is a mobile defenseman who moves the puck well and can generate good breakouts with his vision. Thornton’s stride is nice smooth, he has quick feet, and pretty good edges that allow him to be an elusive target in tight areas. However, he does seem to be missing a second gear in his overall speed. He isn’t slow, but he doesn’t seem to have that extra gear we’d like to see when he is in foot races while retrieving pucks, or trying to gain that separation from pursuing forecheckers when exiting his zone with the puck. There are times in the face of pressure, that Thornton seemingly escapes with confidence, and moves the puck up to his forwards, but often times, he can be rushed into mistakes and he can lose his composure when forecheckers are able to get physical with him. Thornton struggles in the physical side of the game. He relies heavily on positioning and quick feet to break up plays and move pucks before opponents can deter him. Once the game becomes physical there seems to be an obvious advantage for his opponents. Thornton’s greatest strength has to be his vision and passing abilities. He has the ability to make very long-distance passes, and zip the puck with pace, and most importantly, accuracy. On more then a few occasions, he made passes well over a hundred feet that were pin point, and through seams that only he could see. He also is a good QB on the power play. He moves along the blue line with confidence, he makes good decisions with the puck, and isn’t afraid to shoot when he sees an opportunity. But his shot is lacking power, and when he shoots, he’s looking to create for his teammates more than he is looking to actually score. As is the theme with Thornton, a lack of strength is stopping him from being a real dual threat at the point to pass or shoot because of his lack of power. Grade: B-
World Selects Invite, June 4, 2018: Thornton has an expansive skill set and can play a lot of different roles on a team. He’s a poised, puck possession defender with natural offensive and defensive instincts. He takes the ice that is given, he moves well with the puck on his stick and can deliver tape to tape passes in stride. He is strong, he is focused and competitive away from the puck in his own end and takes care of his net front. He’s not big, but he’s smart and efficient, he moves the puck up ice without hesitation and he can win 50/50 battles along the boards. He was second on his team in points with 2 goals and 7 assists and was able to stand out on both special teams units. He combines great hockey IQ with a hard nose and some speed and skill. The second-round pick by Prince George will make an excellent CHL/NCAA prospect.
CSSHL Showcase, February 16, 2018: Hudson has a no-quit attitude and never gives up on any play/game no matter the score. He has quick acceleration and a strong first three strides that allow him to quickly retrieve pucks or pull away from forwards when exiting the zone. The 2003 has a heavy point shot and can get it off in a hurry. His anticipation is quick and he processes the game at a high speed. He has a very high compete level and shows a lot of raw emotions on the ice. The 14-year-old also does well to engage physically and battle or pucks in all three zones. Grade: B+
Rocky Mountain Classic, November 27, 2017: Hudson is a very good two-way defenseman. Defensively he sees plays develop and uses a great sense of anticipation to break them up. He is very effective at pre-pinching taking away outlet passes as an option for his opponents. He is quick to grab a loose puck and transitions quickly into offense. Very good defensive compete level. Grade: B+
Hockey Manitoba Bantam Showcase, October 12, 2017: Hudson is a fast offensive defenseman. We always noticed him jumping in on the rush or carrying the puck in himself. He has smooth hands and is very strong on his skates. He saw lots of time on the power play and penalty kill, using his quick stick to create turnovers. The 2003 is another potential player to get drafted into the WHL. Grade: A
Western States Bantam Invite, September 22, 2017: Quick skating defender. We liked his one-timer, which lead to a goal on Sunday and how he played at a fast pace. Traffic didn’t seem to slow him down as he could maneuver through people without much trouble. Always competing, an energetic, speedy defenseman with good hands sums him up this weekend. 5 games: 1 goal: 1 assist
| Jakub Vondras | HC Plzen | International | R | G | 6’3″ | 181 | Plzen, CZH | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ athletic goalie who had a combined 0.920 sv% while playing in U20 Czechia. During the 2022 playoffs, he had a 0.935 sv% in sixteen games.
C me not: He has never represented Czechia in an international competition.
| Jacob Leblanc | Kitchener Rangers | OHL | R | D | 6’0″ | 174 | Kitchener Rangers | 2020 | Port Colborne, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He plays a solid steady game and continued to improve throughout the 2021/22 season. He has confidence in his feet and plays with a tight gap. At 174 pounds he is still slight, but he won 53% of his puck battles because of his understanding of body positioning.
C me not: At 6’0″ and 174 pounds will NHL organizations look for someone larger to play his solid steady game? During the 2021/22 season he attempted 113 total shots with 29 of them being blocked.
Neutral Zone evaluations:
OHL: Soo Greyhounds at Kitchener Rangers, January 8, 2022: Jacob Leblanc is a steady right shot defender who continues to show improvement in his first season in the OHL. Leblanc played a simple game and minimized mistakes. He showed good vision and mobility on the offensive blueline and was able to adjust his shooting lanes effectively to get pucks through to the net. He is handling pucks cleanly and is making the right passes on the offensive side of the puck. Defensively, his gap through the neutral zone continues to improve and he was able to break up the rush effectively. His body positioning was sound and he was more physical in this game through the neutral zone. Leblanc’s confidence is growing as he plays more for the Rangers. He is not a cycle buster yet like he was in his U16 career where he was able to use his strength to overpower smaller forwards. Grade: C+
OMHA Championship, March 25, 2020: Leblanc accurately represents a highly touted combination of offensive prowess and defensive responsibility and maturity. A mainstay on the blue line throughout the OMHA Championship Tournament, he was regularly relied on in even-strength and special team situations. His edgework, pivoting, and transitional play are outstanding as he recognizes gaps and capitalizes on opposing line changes in little to no time. With impressive stickhandling ability and accurate passing, he is trusted to coordinate breakouts, with or without pressure, and to quarterback the powerplay with a green light to lead rushes as he sees fit. Defensively, he regularly plays against top lines and his agility and active stick often force the offense to pursue the other half of the ice. Through leading the tournament in defenseman scoring with seven points in five games, Leblanc has cemented his draft stock and will undoubtedly be an early round selection in next month’s OHL Priority Draft. Grade: A
Toronto Marlies Classic, February 2, 2020: Leblanc a fluid defender with a strong skating stride and ability to create separation on offense. LeBlanc gets better and better every time we see him. He continues to have a strong presence on the back end; makes play after play with the puck. We continue to like his steady and reliable defending on top of a constant threat to create offensively. As the season progresses we continue to see increased confidence in his puck possession game. He can run the PP from the top but also be your best penalty killer. He is a true 2 way defender who offers upside in every aspect of his game. Grade: A-
Whitby Silver Stick, December 19, 2019: LeBlanc had a standout performance at Silverstick and really put on display why he is becoming a very solid and intriguing defenceman. In the offensive zone, he walks the line extremely well. He gets shots through and they are usually low and hard, and on net. He runs things on the power play; not shy to get his shot off but he is also a quality passer of the puck. He has good size and is very mobile. He moves well with the puck. In his own zone he is able to skate out of pressure and make a strong first pass into the neutral zone. His transition game is smooth and can regroup with ease. He makes strong outlet passes from the D-zone and is able to find teammates in transition. He has a lot of upside to his game. Grade: A-
Battle of the Border, November 19, 2019: LeBlanc is a smooth skating D who has lots of offensive upside. He is dangerous to the outside with his quick feet and acceleration and is dangerous to the inside with his silky hands. He is dangerous on the rush and knows to chip it forward and outrace his opponent. Defensively, LeBlanc uses the boards effectively to pinch off players at the blue line. GRADE: A-
Wendy Dufton Minor Midget AAA, November 3, 2019: LeBlanc is a very smart agile defender man who makes a good first pass or can skate it out of the zone. LeBlanc will jump into the play and plays the game with a lot of composure. He is an above average skater, with decent size and he see’s the game a little slower than most on the offensive side of the puck. A confident defender who manages his gap well and keeps the play in front him. His mobility and good defensive IQ make him difficult to beat to the net. Grade: B+
Toronto Titans Early Bird Tournament, Minor Midget AAA, September 24, 2019: LeBlanc is a heads up defender with good awareness in all zones of the ice. LeBlanc showed the ability to pass or skate the puck out to breakdown forechecks. He showed smooth hands and good puck possession in his zone and played a safe steady game in his zone. LeBlanc was very involved in all zones, he pinched often, and he gapped up defensively and made quality reads often. Grade: C+
Silver Stick Finals 2004s, February 10, 2019: Jacob played key minutes for the Admirals. Not flashy but enough skill to run the power play. Can drag the puck and create along the offensive blue line. Decent skater but will have to improve that overall. He will also need more mass to be a tougher defender to play against in his end. Like his upside as he has tools that are hard to teach young D like vision, puck play and poise. Grade: C+
| Parker Bell | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | L | LW | 6’4″ | 201 | Tri-City Americans | 2019 | Campbell River, BC | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: As a former 5th round WHL Bantam Draft selection he has grown into a 6’4″ 200-pound left wing who scored 18 goals and 49 points in 64 games. Seven of his goals came from the top of the crease, meaning that once he figures out how to use his body to create consistent body position he could turn into a serious net-front presence.
C me not: He won 42% of his puck battles. He was on the receiving end of 1.2 hard body checks per game. He had 33 penalty minutes. He had seven goals from the top of the crease on 38 attempted shots.
WHL: Spokane Chiefs, June 8 2021: Bell is a big body on the ice. For his size, Bell shows nice pop in his stride, and plays with a decent top end speed. Where he can look a little out of sorts is in the agility department. Often times, quick changes in direction of play, or trying to transition from backwards to forwards skating can look clumsy, and he can often lose his balance. In his own zone, he plays a responsible game. He covers the slot well, and isn’t afraid to engage along the boards. He uses his size and strength well in these situations to win puck battles. He can be a little puck focused and flat footed when he finds himself on the weakside, but he generally plays a disciplined reliable game. His pursuit of the puck is strong. There are times in our viewings, where his initial burst and aggressiveness makes puck carriers uncomfortable, but for us, he doesn’t engage his feet enough to be that consistent nuisance for the opposition. Bell’s offensive game still needs to develop. His size and strength allow him to be good in the cycle. He uses his body well to protect pucks. When he does get in front of the net, he sets a good screen. But he spends a lot of time on the perimeter for a bigger player, and he doesn’t have a ton of drive to the net. He thinks more on the ice, and tries to fall into soft spots. When he does find himself in those areas, he’s shown to have a quick release. He doesn’t have an overly hard shot, but he can get it off his blade quickly. Grade: C
| Gregory Weber | Bern U20 | U20-Elit | R | C | 5’9″ | 154 | Bern, SUI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He performed well at the U18 WJC by scoring three goals in four games. He is very shifty in 1on1 situations and has excellent lateral mobility. He understands how to manipulate defender’s gaps into his favor through subtle changes of pace.
C me not: He is 5’9″ 154 pounds and he is not a burner. In overall age-appropriate international competition, he has 15 points in 31 games.
| Antonin Verreault | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | L | LW | 5’8″ | 163 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2020 | Mirabel, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He had 46 points in 56 games. He plays a highly competitive style that leads to him drawing penalties. He is confident as a puck carrier in traffic. During 2021/22 he attempted 227 total shots with 142 of them coming from inside of the house. He had seven points in seven playoff games and has historically always performed well in the playoffs.
C me not: He won 41% of his puck battles. 56 of his attempted shots came while on the power play with 22 of those being blocked or missing the net.
QMJHL: Gatinuea Olympics Draft Prospects, December 18, 2021: Verreault is not only a skilled goal scoring winger, he is a highly competitive player who hates to lose any sort of battles for loose pucks. The undersized forward plays with pace through the neutral zone while doing an excellent job to change speeds manipulating the opposing defender’s gap control. When the defenders back off the line Verreault has the edge control to cut hard to the vacated open in ice in the middle looking for scoring options. If the defender is playing a tight gap, he has the power and continues to generate speed through a hard cross-under to drive wide and beat his opponent to the far post. When firing the puck with his feet moving Verreault has a deceptive release point and shows the puck skills to delay his shot until the goalie makes the first move. He is not a penalty killer for Gatineau this year, but he is a regular and key contributor to the power play and we feel this is where he will be used as a professional too where his puck poise and anticipation will be effective.
Ville de Saguenay: CCM Midget AAA Challenge: 2004’s, February 10, 2020: Verreault was one of 5 Quebec players to be named to Canada’s hockey team competing at the youth games. His combination of skill and speed are unmatched as far as forwards in his age group. Very impressive smaller forward with a soft puck touch and some bob and weave that gives the opposition fits. Great sense of timing when driving wide with pucks on opponents, showing IQ by instinctively knowing when to net drive, or when to zip a pass to a driving line mate. Offensive dynamo, patient with puck, spins off pressure. Elusive player who can score off the rush or a quick shot. Exciting to watch and is able to make something out of nothing. Verreault was chosen to be on Canada 2020 youth Olympic Winter games. Grade A
Canada Youth Olympic Team (U-15) VS Lac St-Louis Lions, January 16, 2020: Sneaky player who is dangerous every time the puck is on his stick. A couple of nice rushes in this one carrying the puck wide around a defenseman using great outside speed. Made a nice play on a rush where he found the trailing defenseman for an open shot from the slot. His awareness on the ice is elite as he senses breakdowns with odd man rushes. His line with Guindon and Cote had some big shifts in this one controlling the play and pouring it on the Lions with a couple of high scoring, including one of a rush. Although Verrault wants to feed his linemates, he needs to get unselfish and burry the puck when he’s in the prime scoring locations.
U16: Team Quebec, August 17, 2019: One of the fastest skaters on the ice, Verreault was buzzing all week especially in the third game. Had a beautiful breakaway goal where he split the defense and roofed one on his backhand. He’s a sneaky goal scorer with quick hands who finds the quiet areas throughout the offensive zone. Don’t be fooled by his small frame as he’s constantly making plays to the net out-battling his opponents for scoring opportunities. He’s a hungry scorer who doesn’t take shifts off. Hampered by a couple of injuries last year he still managed to tear up the league scoring at a 2 point per game clip. Verreault is a dangerous player who capitalizes on sloppy turnovers and oddman rushes. It will be interesting to see how his style of plays translates at the next level against stronger competition.
| Pavol Stetka | HC Dynamo Pardubice U20 | International | L | C | 6’6″ | 209 | Humenne, SVK | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’6″ center who scored 15 goals in 44 games in the Czechia U20 league. He represented Slovakia at this year’s World Jr Championships.
C me not: He won 42% of his puck battles. He does not play an overly physical game averaging 0.54 hard body checks per game. 2020/21 he played four games in Czechia’s top league. Last season he played zero.
| Oskar Asplund | Almtuna IS | HockeyAllsvenskan | L | D | 5’11” | 172 | Uppsala, SWE | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He recorded fourteen points in eight J20 Region games and an additional fourteen points in 48 HockeyAllsvenskan games. He won 57% of his puck battles.
C me not: He is a late 2003 who is scheduled to play J20 Nationell and HockeyAllsvenkan next season. He was a team-low -16 for Almtuna IS during 2021/22 in HockeyAllsvenskan action.
| Tomas Suchanek | Tri-City Americans | WHL | L | G | 6’2″ | 170 | Tri-City Americans | 2020 | Prerov, CZE | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He was a workhorse for Tri-City playing in 42 games with a 0.901 sv%.
Neutral Zone NHL’s Brennan Poderzay: One tendency that is a continuing problematic concern is how he falls forward on a lot of plays when he is sliding across the crease, due to his subpar skating. This desperation makes him lose maximum coverage over his shoulders and opens up holes underneath him, which has led to him being beat in these types of situations. If Suchanek wants to have an opportunity to play at the next level, he is going to have to change this habit quickly and continue to refine his skating and edge work.
C me not: In four games at the 2020/21 U18 World Championships he posted a 6.47 GAA and a 0.786 sv%.
| Stuart Rolofs | Oshawa Generals | OHL | L | LW | 6’2″ | 201 | London Knights | 2019 | Carp, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He’s a 6’2″ 200-pound winger who played parts of three seasons for London, before being acquired by Oshawa where he had 39 points in 47 games.
C me not: During 2021/22 he won 43% of his puck battles. London drafted him 20th overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Draft. He has 31 penalty minutes in 93 career OHL games.
PBHH Invitational, June 15, 2021:
Games 1-3 Evaluation: Rolofs isn’t going to turn any heads with his rookie season in London where he registered 3 assists in 31 games but he’s a former first round OHL pick and a real talent. He’s tall and athletic, he uses his reach to shield pucks from defenders and maintain possession through traffic and has soft hands to catch hard passes, make skilled passes and beat defenders 1v1. He also has some jam to his game and was great at forcing defenders one way on the forecheck and then finishing his checks to wear them down as the game went on. He doesn’t have the burst yet to pull away from defenders but his puck protection ability is excellent as he gets low, braces for contact and dishes it back and holds the puck out away from defenders reach. Rolofs scored a nice goal in the third game off a hard wrister from the faceoff dot and added two assists to give him 3 points in 3 games. He utilizes his defenders in the offensive zone and was oftentimes luring opposing forwards to overextend and play him at the hash marks or even in the corners and then he’d slide it to open point man for a quality scoring chance. He has a solid compete level and has proven he can play up and down the roster which will make him a more versatile prospect to grade which NHL team covet. Grade: B+
NHL Draft Thoughts: Rolofs is another prospect who only helped his stock here as he’s currently rated #175 overall in the upcoming NHL Draft and has played better than many listed above him. He’s strong, he’s athletic, he has outstanding protection skill and puck touch to compliment it. He probably entered this camp as a bubble NHL pick but given his play so far here he’s likely made his way into the discussion. A later round pick who is low risk and high reward.
OHL Gold Cup, May 15, 2019: Rolof’s was a standout power forward in the tournament. He played with physicality and size and dominated at times in the corners and on the boards. We liked how he outmuscled and worked defenders to get himself into key areas around the net while he still posseses the skill and touch showing an offensive flare. Rolofs, when freed up showed a heavy, accurate quick release and an ability to beat goaltenders. OHL Team: London Knights – 1st Round, 20th Overall Grade: A-
HEO Midget AAA Labor Day Showcase, September 20, 2018: Rolofs has upside with his size, work ethic and toughness. Seems as if he still needs to grow into his body but that will come with time. He loves to compete and doesn’t seem to take a shift off.
| Tommi Mannisto | Tappara U20 | U20 SM-sarja | L | RW | 6’0″ | 185 | Riihimäki, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has leadership qualities and has worn a letter at younger ages. He plays a hard aggressive style that leads to opponents being distracted by him. He draws penalties. He had seven points in four U18 SM-sarja games before moving up to U20 action where he had 18 points in 41 games.
C me not: During 2021/22 he had one assist for Finland at the U18 WJC and three points total in twenty-five U18 international games played.
| Cade Littler | Wenatchee Wild | BCHL | R | RW | 6’3″ | 202 | Minnesota State | 2023 | East Wenatchee, WA | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 76% of his shots hit the net. He scored 20 goals in 50 games on 157 total attempted shots. He had nine points in seven BCHL playoff games. He is 6’3″ and 202 pounds and is going to Minnesota State. In college, he will be coached to play the hard abrasive style that he will need to play in the NHL. He averaged 1.31 hard body checks per game.
C me not: Over the past two seasons, he has won 47.5% of his puck battles.
BCHL Playoffs: Wenatchee Wild vs Salmon Arm Silverbacks, April 20, 2022: Did a great job at carrying pucks into the offensive zone and challenging the defenders. Was able to take the puck wide using his speed and strength, put a shoulder down and shoot the puck off the rush. His ability to cut to the inside of the ice was what gave him good looks on the net. Also owns a heavy shot and isn’t afraid to shoot the puck from everywhere. Did a good job on the penalty kill by filling shot lanes and clearing away loose pucks. Wasn’t afraid to try and play offence on the PK which was effective in killing time. Scored the 1st goal of the game for the Wild by stopping the net front and tipping in a point shot. Didn’t get phased by the box out, showed good hand-eye coordination and tipped the puck downwards into the net. B+
U18: USA Hockey Selects 17’s, July 14, 2021: Cade is a big boy and still growing into his body. His stride needs some work but he was still able to make plays here. He competed hard and protected the puck. His reach is really long and he was able to get pucks on the net by changing his release point. His shot was tough to read off the blade and he was disruptive hunting pucks. He made a big hit and headed to the net. He was a distraction to the goalie, his eyes wandered to Cade and a goal was ripped home. He made the play happen. He scored a goal on a nice wrist shot from Lund. Littler is a diamond in the rough. He thinks the game pretty well and should only improve day by day. A little raw at this stage in his development but has a high ceiling. Grade: B-
U16: T1EHL Playoffs, February 17, 2021: Littler had a dominating performance all over the ice as he has a massive presence with his big frame, long, powerful stride and gifted offensive skills. His passes always find the tape of his line mates and also has incredible puck reception skills, catching all passes in his range. Cade showed he has many different ways to beat defenseman when he has the puck whether that be dancing around them, chipping the puck around and driving through them or using his speed and power to get around them. His first goal he chipped the puck into the defenseman’s feet and drove through him while fighting off another checker to get a shot off, the puck then went to his point as he stayed in front for a battle and found a loose puck to fire in the back of the net. His second goal came from the high slot with a quick and heavy release that the goaltender was unable to keep up with as Cade ripped it over his glove and off the crossbar. Defensively he was a terror as well. Littler was part of killing off the two third period 5 on 3’s, intercepting passes and blocking shots making it difficult for Anaheim to get anything going offensively as he was very disruptive. Cade scored both goals for his team and was a positive force in all situations. GRADE: A
U16: Phoenix Jr. Coyotes vs Arizona Bobcats, February 4, 2021: Littler is a big presence on the ice with a high level of skill and talent that he is able to display each time he touched the puck. He used his big frame to force his way to the net but is also able to dangle around defenders with his incredibly smooth hands. Littler has a lightning quick release that comes hard and heavy. He was always in a good support position on breakouts and regroups presenting a good option for his defensemen. Cade played a little soft and unmotivated at most times of the game but when he wanted to turn it on, he was able to dominate at will. GRADE: B
U16: Ohio Blue Jackets vs Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, January 21, 2021: Littler is a big, dominating, force with great mobility and a long smooth stride in open ice. He has a quick set of hands to go with his frame as he was able to beat defenders in a variety of ways. Cade was able to drive the play with and without the puck as his presence would push defenders back and give him more time and space to make a smart play. Using his size and strength he is not afraid to go into the corners to battle and when he does, he comes out with the puck. Littler has a cannon of a shot that he doesn’t need much room to get off and is a dangerous player below the hash marks, using tight turns and quick acceleration to create space for himself. Cade scored the game winning goal in overtime, beating the defenseman off the wall and using his long reach to tuck the puck in behind the goalie at the far post. Littler had a big presence every shift while adding a few points and garnered a lot of attention with his strong play. GRADE: A
U16: Midwest Exposure Series Showcase, September 25, 2020: Cade is a good-sized forward that is athletic and can create his own space and has good touch around the net he was scoring goals all weekend. He can also play the power forward role as he wins battles and drives hard to the net and makes it very tough for the d to contain him. He showed his ability to make plays as he would draw players in as he used his size and reach to open up space with two defenders on him and make a pass to his teammates. Grade A
USHL Draft Recap, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, May 8 2020: Cade Littler (F, R, 6’1″, 187, Wenatchee Wilderness U16, 07/12/2004) and Dominic Elliott (D, R, 5’9″, 150, Fox Motors U15, 01/26/2004) -Cade earned himself an invite to NTDP Evaluation camp after a dominate season with the Wenatchee Wild U16 program where he netted 46 goals in 55 games. He’s tall, athletic and can play with power or finesse and has great touch around the net. He has taken major strides from lasts year to now so if he continues to develop at this pace, he has a bright future ahead of him. Elliott is a defenseman but he too is not a stranger to finding the back of the net despite playing defense for Fox Motors U15 team where he netted 49 pts in 63 games on the back-end. Good feet which allows him to get around the ice efficiently. Pushes the pace and is effective on the rush. Identifies passing options quickly and snaps the puck tape-to-tape. He is balanced and athletic and makes the first-man miss. He looks to quickly transition defense to offense and has good vision and anticipation.
| Hank Cleaves | Brunswick School | NE Prep | L | LW | 6’4″ | 181 | Dartmouth | 2022 | Riverside, CT | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He’s 6’4″ and has shown consistent improvement and more athleticism over each of the past few seasons.
C me not: Although a go-to guy for Brunswick, he did not lead his New England prep school team in goals, assists or points.
NE Prep: Belmont Hill Jamboree, December 2, 2021: Cleaves is like the Grandfather for Brunswisk. We mean that as a compliment as he led by example and with his approach each game. He has a long, smooth stride and was able to pull away with the puck to lead the rush. He showed elite vision and the puck skill to slip, thread and snap pucks on the tape of his teammates. He is tall and could see over opponents, which helped in the middle zone and along the offensive blue line. He seemed to always pass to players that had a chance to then make a play. He played power play and picked up an assist there. He is interesting and a player we have not seen a lot. His game is rounding out rapidly and he is starting to get some NHL and DI college attention. We liked his overall game here a lot. Grade: A-
Beantown Classic Pro Division, September 24, 2020: Cleaves is a tall, fluid skater out of Brunswick who is a bit raw but showed some touch on the puck. He can make subtle, skilled plays under pressure and can change the angle on his shot. He needs to get more assertive in the traffic areas and use his size and strength to win puck battles but he has upside once he grows into his tall, long frame. He had 2 assists in 4 games and was sneaky good around the net with his reach, soft hands and heads up quick passing. Grade: B-
Ivy Shootout, August 13, 2020: The late 2003 should make a big leap in prep hockey on a talented Brunswick team. He showed well here as it was a bit easy at times. He had the puck a lot and wheeled to create plays. He passed and drove the net equally well and was very effective on the cycle. He is tricky and unpredictable and thus tough to cover 1v1. He anticipated plays and made quick decisions. He looked silky in space with possession and went end to end, slipping a pretty pass across for a goal on one trip. Hank can catch and shoot and quickly rip it on net. Cleaves is a player trending in the right direction and rapidly. Grade: A
U16: Notre Dame Shootout, December 27, 2019: Cleaves has an awkwardness to him but he gets around the ice quickly and always is making the right play at the right time. Very good hands and confidence with the puck. Crafty passer who sees the ice well and makes above average to even high-end passes. Good with the puck in traffic and has sneaky good offensive skill. Good gaps and has a real good stick. His ability to strip the puck and make defensive plays just with his stick are impressive. Smart player who reads the play well. Grade: B
| Jere Lassila | JYP | Liiga | L | C | 5’10” | 174 | Jyväskylän mlk, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He was captain of Finland’s U18 World Championship team and finished the tournament with four goals and eight points in six games. Coaches trust him to play key minutes in all situations. 61% of his shots hit the net. He won 52% of his puck battles. He plays a pro styled game that annoys opponents and leads to him drawing penalties.
C me not: He has historically not been an elite offensive contributor. He had two points at he 2021 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Will his frame withstand his style of play in the NHL?
U18: Team Finland vs Team Russia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, August 10, 2021: This water bug center iceman was literally always involved in the action and winning 50-50 puck battles, starting with winning 12 of 19 faceoffs. He has very quick feet and as a puck carrier showed high level elusiveness. His strong edge work allowed him to engage in wall battles or physical contact and then explode into open space for quick odd man situations. His passes were hard flat and on the tape. He handles passes cleanly on both his forehand or backhand while moving at top speed and was a consistent threat on zone entries. Lassila was used in all situations playing 5:25 on the power play, 2:16 while a man down and 17:46 in total ice time.
| Frederic Brunet | Rimouski Oceanic | QMJHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 185 | Rimouski Oceanic | Gatineau, QC | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a former 4th-round QMJHL selection who was drafted 65th overall in 2019 and blossomed this year into a 46-point defenseman for Rimouski. At 6’2″ he has an NHL frame to continue building on and he has an excellent skating base. He won 56% of his puck battles.
C me not: During 2021/22 he attempted 373 total shots. He had 110 of them blocked with 44 of those blocks coming while on the man advantage.
QMJHL: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at Rimouski Oceanic, January 31, 2021: Brunet is another young player on Rimouski’s roster who is showing improvement as the season progresses. In this contest, the big defenseman skated well, displayed sound awareness at all times in the defensive zone, and used his solid positioning to keep the puck from danger areas. During the first period, he was the lone Oceanic back on an Armada two-on-one. Recognizing the puck carrier intended to shoot, Brunet used his long reach to get his stick in the shooting late and deflect the puck safely over the glass. On multiple occasions he used this same reach and positioning to block or intercept cross-ice passes in the Rimouski zone. Rating: C+
QMJHL: Rimouski Oceanic at Baie-Comeau Drakkar, November 8, 2020: We didn’t know much about Brunet, a LHS defenseman, before watching him in this matchup. But the one thing that was obvious about his game is his skating. Brunet used his speed to effectively defend, and push the play forward throughout the contest. When Rimouski got caught making a bad line change in the third period, Brunet was able to get back in the play defensively and effectively break up an odd-man rush for Baie Comeau. He made a number of quick, accurate passes out of the defensive zone, as well. Rating: B
| Brady Berard | NTDP U18 | USHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 181 | Providence | 2022 | East Greenwich, RI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has an NHL frame. He has an explosive first step and powerful stride that will allow him to defend at an NHL level. He plays a physical game averaging 0.98 hard body checks per game. 65% of his shots hit the net. Defensively his attention to detail away from the puck will allow him to be a high-level penalty killer or a shut-down forward.
C me not: After playing a checking role with the NTDP, he will have to re-find his offensive game and instincts. During his time with Team USA, he has won 46.5% of his puck battles.
USA U17 NTDP vs Soo Eagles, October 15, 2020: Brady is a skilled player with quick hands and has great edge work which makes him hard to knock the puck off. He uses his speed to drive wide and will take the puck to the net. He scored a nice goal on a breakaway as he faked backhand/forehand as he set himself free from the defender. He scored another goal off of faceoff as he used 2 quick strides to beat the defender off the boards and buried his shot. He is a smart player as he makes plays at high speeds and will move his feet to get open for a pass. Grade A
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Berard keeps getting better. He played all 200 feet and never slowed all week. He looked prepared. He has good size and strength and used that to win battles on the forecheck and along the wall in his end. He showed a really smart stick and not only was it active but he baited opponents into turnovers by showing lanes and then taking them away. It’s a neat skill. He took his ice and can shoot or pass off the stickhandle. He can skate. His stride is productive and he is balanced and fast. His speed up the wall was excellent and he was dangerous off the edge on the rush. He scored in the slot and also showed he could cut in, off the wall and fire pucks on goal. His wrister is hard and his release is quick. He was very goon on the faceoff dot. Brady is a well-rounded 2004 who played hard and with success in every part of the ice. He is a true 200 foot center with a bright future. Grade: B+ College: Providence College
| Duncan Ramsay | Kimball Union | NE Prep | L | D | 6’4″ | 201 | Vermont | 2023 | Halifax, NS | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’4″ defender with a skating base that will continue to develop and carry more weight. He is a leader. He uses his legs to drive opposing forwards out of shooting lanes.
C me not: We’ve seen him have difficulties defending smaller quicker forwards, especially in the defensive zone below the tops of the circles.
Flood Marr Tournament, December 31, 2021: Ramsay is a former fourth round pick by Saint John in the QMJHL who showed a lot of promise at Mount Academy in Charlottetown, PEI before coming south to KUA. He has impressive size, strength and athleticism but he’s more than just a physical specimen; he’s a tough, physical, shutdown defenseman who is just beginning his trajectory. He moves very well for his size, appears to have fluid hips and can transition, pivot, maintain tight coverage on skill and speedy forwards and gap up and play physically on bigger, stronger power forwards. His physical game separated him from the rest of the defenders here as he can grind forwards down below the dots, he can angle and ride guys off the puck and he has excellent timing and spacing and made several big open ice hits. He showed natural instincts knowing when to pinch and throw the body, when to use his reach and defend with his stick or pick off passes and knew when to back off and play positional and use his angles. Ramsay surprises opposing forwards with his transitions and ability to close quick on puck carriers. Aside from his physical attributes and defensive prowess, he’s durable, reliable and can play a lot of minutes in a variety of roles. He killed penalties using his reach, body positioning and instincts to break up plays and would bare down and ice the puck and could patrol the offensive blue line on the power play and distribute pucks and let his heavy slap shot go. He’s simple with the puck but his head is always up and he can zip it and get it through traffic and on the tape. A well rounded prospect who can play up and down the roster, has a translatable game and will only get better and better as he grows into his frame and adds some polish. He’s listed as a late round NHL Draft prospect which is fair but wouldn’t be surprised if he goes higher than he’s projected given his rawness and high long term potential. Grade: A
NE Prep: Kimball Union vs New Hampton, October 18, 2020: Ramsay was the top defenseman in this game and he may have been the best player we saw in this game. He’s easy to spot, checking in at a robust 6’4 200 and we wrote three main attributes in our notes: tall, strong, smooth. He is fun to watch because he makes the routine look easy, especially given his skating stride. He is fluid in all four directions and his backward stride might be even cleaner than his forward stride. He has a lot of offensive upside to tap into and he looked strong here on the power play where he earned big minutes. He makes good decisions and opens up his body to receive the pass and he is able to do it in-motion. He has very good vision as he surveys the zone with the puck and if he decides on taking a shot he is great at getting it through a series of bodies to hit the net. He engaged in some physical play, but he can be even more imposing as he gets stronger, and that’s a scary proposition. As one of the younger players in this game, going up against opponents three years his senior and still dominating? That’s how you know you have a good one. Grade: A+
2004s: Ville de Saguenay CCM Midget AAA Challenge, February 2020: Ramsay is a big, smart, mobile defenseman. Very strong on his skates, confident with the puck and not afraid to use backhand passes on the breakouts. Ramsay displayed a willingness to carry the puck on the powerplay and has the ability to make hard, accurate passes from all over the ice. Has a very good upside both has a defenseman with his skating ability, tight gaps and clever stick play as well as offensively with his puck carrying and passing ability. Versatile skill set which will make him coveted come draft time as he can fill multiple roles. Grade B+
| Marek Alscher | Portland Winterhawks | WHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 198 | Portland Winterhawks | 2021 | Kladno, CZE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He understands that he is most effective by keeping things simple offensively and being difficult to play against. Although he played midget hockey in Finland, he has represented Czechia in 22 international games. He won 54% of his puck battles. He is detailed defensively away from the puck.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: We like that he can switch back and forth from the left or right side with ease. We feel he was most impactful as a penalty killer where his ability to hold the defensive blueline forced offsides and poor decisions. While shorthanded he used his reach to force bobbled pucks to continue moving along the wall which eventually lead to 200′ clears and timely changes. He also showed the athleticism to drop to a knee when blocking a shot without getting caught leaning or ending up off balance.
C me not: Yes, he finished the season at +20 but he was the sixth-highest defenseman on Portland with three of them being +32 and higher.
| Simon Slavicek | Flint Firebirds | OHL | L | F | 6’0″ | 170 | Praha | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has leadership skills and has worn a letter for Czechia internationally. He started the season playing U20 hockey for HC Slavia Praha where he had thirteen points in fourteen games. In 34 U18 international games, he scored 19 goals.
C me not: He finished the year with the Flint Firebirds where he had thirteen points in 40 regular-season games. He has a slight frame that needs explosiveness. He won 44% of his puck battles. He was on the receiving end of 0.81 hard body checks per game.
| Brayden Schuurman | Victoria Royals | WHL | R | C | 5’9″ | 192 | Victoria Royals | 2019 | Abbotsford, BC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 29 goals in 68 games. Over the past two seasons, 69.5% of his shots have hit the net. He represented Canada at the U18 WJC where he had two goals in four games. At 5’9″ 192 pounds he has a strong and powerful frame that allows him to fight through contact and draw penalties.
C me not: Over the past two seasons, he has won 48.5% of his puck battles. At 5’9″ and 192 pounds will he be able to defend in the NHL below the tops of the circles? He attempted 103 shots while on the power play. 21 of them were blocked.
CSSHL Midget Showcase, February 16, 2020: Brayden is a strong, heavy-skating centre with a low stride that gives him a lot of power and strength in his legs. He plays a 200ft game and is responsible in the defensive zone. He took a lot of key face-offs for the team this weekend and he battled hard in the corners. He plays tough and brings some grit but he also has a lot of skill and scoring ability to go with it. The ’04 is versatile and played big minutes on the power play and penalty kill. He was quick to get into shooting and passing lanes and he was able to clear a lot of pucks down the ice. His hockey IQ is strong he does well to use his time and space very wisely. He knows when to break out an extra gear and drive the net or when to stop up and wait for teammates to help support. Grade: A
WHL Cup, November 10, 2019: Brayden is an excellent skater, showing real strength on his edges and turns keeping them tight, and exploding out of them with really impressive power. Schuurman buzzes around the play all game, he is a good facilitator in the offensive zone and has a nice hard shot. On defense he plays aggressive with his feet, and demands opponents to make quick decisions. Often times he’ll create turnovers based on his aggression, and he is quick to transition out of the defensive zone with his quick feet. Brayden plays hard in all facets, in all situations, is relied upon to win big face offs, and leads by example on the ice with a nice mix of passion and intelligence. Grade: A-
Rocky Mountain Classic, December 8, 2018: The go to the offensive force for his team, played well over the course of the weekend and showed his high end skill and vision to create in tight. Schuurman see’s the ice so well and doesn’t need much time to make a play. He will hold onto the puck and wait for options to open in the offensive end. He attacks defenders and likes to drive the puck to the net and look for second chances. Has the awareness of where the plays going and knows how to find open space to get in position for chances around the net. He drives play up ice and has the hands and creativeness to back off defenders so he can gain entry at the line. Would like to see more physical engagement as he can shy away from the hard areas. Grade: A-
North American Hockey Classic, June 27, 2018: Brayden has quick-smooth hands and gets in on the forecheck fast and physical. He’s strong on his skates and has a low centre of gravity. The 04 has a dangerous shot and can also distribute the puck. He will consistently finish his checks and battle for pucks and positioning. Brayden has elite talent and is a sure bet to be taken in the first round of the 2019 WHL Draft. He finished with just 2 goals and no assists but had a lot of nice looks. Grade: B-
| Samuel Savoie | Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | L | C | 5’10” | 190 | Gatineau Olympiques | 2020 | Dieppe, NB | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He plays an in your face styled game that translates to professional hockey. He excels at beating his man to the open ice after contact. When he makes contact he is looking to punish his opponent. He averaged 2.6 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: We feel that although he might not be the prettiest player who makes every week’s top 10 plays, Savoie plays with an edge and a passion that is needed to succeed in professional hockey.
C me not: In 91 career QMJHL games he has 20 goals and 42 points. He won 48% of his puck battles in 2021/22. He has never been chosen to represent Canada internationally, although this could be viewed as a positive because he might start an international incident.
Ville de Saguenay: CCM Midget AAA Challenge (2004’s), February 10, 2020: Savoie is a multi-faceted offensive player who does practically everything well. He is a forward who has both speed and skill and is an excellent skater. He knows how to use his body in all areas of the ice helping him create time and space. Sam is strong on the puck, physical bellow the dots, and has a rocket of awrister. He showcased some good jump on the rush through the neutral zone and flashed his hands on an end to end carry. He’s a deadly player on the half wall of the power play demonstrating good poise with his soft touches and sneaky passes. Relied upon in key offensive situations and always seems to provide a spark at the right time. Great skater that does everything well, loses defenders and finds dead ice consistently, rolls of checks and keeps going. He can tuck the shoulder and drive the net due his good balance and has great puck control and handling in tight quarters. Awesome hands and hard, accurate shot. Grade A-
2020 East Coast Jam, January 17, 2020: Savioe shows consistently to be a high-end offensive threat every time he is viewed. Drives the offense on his line using his vision and quick release to find teammates and get pucks to the net quickly. Solid on his skates and can elude defenders in the offensive zone. Has a high compete level and will grind for pucks in the corners and was consistently good on the draws. Had a good tournament with 3 goals in 4 games and looks to go high in the QMJHL draft this summer. GRADE: A-
Monctonian AAA Challenge, January 2, 2020: Samuel is a forward with a powerful stride and strong edgework that keeps his feet moving in the neutral and offensive zones. He can find space, lose defenders, is solid on his skates, and rolls of checks to power through and keep going. He can tuck the shoulder and drive the net due his good balance and has great puck control and handling in tight quarters. Displayed a hard wrist shot that he gets off quickly and can surprise goaltenders. Had a great tournament and was an offensive threat every time his skates touched the ice. GRADE: A
| Gabe Klassen | Portland Winterhawks | WHL | L | C | 5’10” | 176 | Portland Winterhawks | 2018 | Prince Albert, SK | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He was an assistant captain for Portland. After 26 total points in his previous two WHL seasons, he scored 33 goals in 68 regular-season games and four more in nine playoff games during 2021/22. He played key special team minutes averaging 2:47 while on the power play and 2:34 while short-handed. He moves his feet through contact and draws penalties. 17 of his goals came from the top of the crease.
C me not: Over the past two seasons, he’s won 49.5% of his puck battles. He will need to continue developing his foot speed and explosiveness to play a bottom-six role in the NHL.
WHL: Portland Winterhawks vs Seattle Thunderbirds, March 19, 2022: In the 4-1 win over the Thunderbirds Klassen earned 17:59 in total ice time, including 1:48 while on the power play and 3:13 while shorthanded. Statistically he finished with 0 points, a plus / minus of 0, 4 shots on goal (0PP), 2 grade “A” scoring opportunity, 0 minor penalties, won 10 of 16 face-offs, had 1 shot blocked and had 4 giveaways versus 2 takeaways. We liked Klassen’s ability to get the puck to the net. While cycling he showed the edgework and strength to roll off of contact to attack the net and once he was there he did not back down from digging for the rebound. Klassen also showed good hand strength while battling on face-offs as well as showing the core strength to hold defenders off with while controlling the puck with one hand on his stick.
WHL: Portland Winterhawks, June 8, 2021: Klassen’s biggest asset is his shot. His release is quick and effortless. And he shoots with great accuracy. He also will shoot off of his back foot, and off balance, anything to throw the timing off for the goalie. And when he does this, he still doesn’t seem to be lacking for pace or accuracy. Gabe is also a one-time option. He has an accurate shot, and he can get that one timer off quickly. On the powerplay he is a half board threat, and at five on five, he likes to find those soft areas, and doesn’t waste time to get his shot off. Gabe also has the ability to score around the net too. He isn’t hard driver, but he’ll find those areas around the net, and again, his quick hands allow him to get the puck up and in the net quickly. As a skater, Klassen is lacking really good pace. At the junior level he looks fine, but he is lacking explosion, and he doesn’t have the best edge work. A main problem is that he plays upright, and doesn’t get generate as much power as he could from his hips and knees. He does skate well with the puck, his puck skills allow him to be assertive, and he will try to get around defenders. He has a little pop in his initial strides, but his feet aren’t as strong as his hands. As a defender, he likes to play aggressive in his own zone, and the neutral zone. It’s a kind of high risk, high reward. Sometimes he can catch opponents off guard and create a turnover, but a lot of times, it feels like to us, he’s just a half step behind, a little heavy footed in tight areas, and his aggression can put him out of position. Grade: B-
Canada Winter Games, March 1, 2019: Good sized centerman, won big draws on the penalty kill. Relentless on forecheck, good active stick caused turnovers in all three zones. Played at a high pace and with high energy. Attacked offensively with speed which was tough to match, always looked to get puck to the paint. Quick release on shot and could score in tight, around the net. Grade: B-
| Lorenzo Canonica | Shawnigan Cataractes | QMJHL | L | C | 5’11” | 179 | Shawinigan Cataractes | 2020 | Lugano | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 2003 who played in the 2020/21 World Junior Championships. He won 51% of his puck battles. He has the strength and body control to extend puck possession.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: We feel his hand strength and heavy stick make him a threat to generate transition and offensive opportunities from all three zones. He is currently killing penalties for Shawinigan (1:10per-game) and we feel this is an area that he will continue to do in professional hockey because of his awareness and anticipation. For the 2021 NHL Draft, we had Canonica rated as our 117th draft prospect earning a “B-” National League draft grade.
C me not: After scoring 15 goals in 53 regular-season games, he had zero in 15 playoff games. He is content playing on the perimeter.
| Brayden Schmitt | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | R | D | 5’11” | 161 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2020 | Truro, NS | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: Listed at 5’11’ and 161 pounds he won 55% of his puck battles during 2021/22, which was up from 49% in 2020/21.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: The right-shot defender is comfortable playing on either the left or right side. He may be under 6′ tall, but he uses a long stick and a hidden poke check to make himself seem larger while defending. Schmitt is very comfortable pulling pucks off the wall or poor passes out of his feet and his first touch is smooth. In offensive situations, he scans the ice before receiving the puck and he does not need to stickhandle before sending the puck up ice to his forwards. He shows nice game awareness when jumping into the play and understands that he can be an effective defenseman by moving his feet to create a distraction for opposing forwards when they backcheck. We like his shoulder-width base which allows him to win net-front battles and knock opposing forwards off-balance through continued contact. Schmitt is a smart two-way defenseman who is strong on his feet right now. We feel with continued training he has the skating base that will carry an additional 20 to 25 pounds and we could be looking at a defenseman who can contribute at both ends of the ice in professional hockey.
C me not: 45% of his shots hit the net. How long will it take and is it possible for him to gain the weight needed to play his style in the NHL?
| Amadeus Lombardi | Flint Firebirds | OHL | L | F | 5’10” | 167 | Flint Firebirds | 2020 | Concord, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: After scoring 18 goals in 67 regular-season games, he scored seven goals in 19 playoff games.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: What I like about this kid is that a few years ago he was a 13th-round OHL draft pick. He came in at #245 and did not play at all during the Covid shutdown, but this year he comes out and has 18 goals and 59 points in 67 games in his rookie year. To me, this is the type of kid who needs to be watched closely. Watch his tape, watch his growth from the beginning of the year until the end. He looks like a perfect late-rounder who surprises people in a few years by asking where did he come from.
C me not: He won 46% of his puck battles.
| Jacob Newcombe | Chicoutimi Sagueneens | QMJHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 194 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 2020 | Sambro, NS | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: 67% of his shots hit the net. He draws penalties.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: When you look back through our reports on Newcombe you consistently see that he’s a hard-nosed kid who gets to the net. I think he plays the same way now, but what I like about that is his ability to be abrasive without taking stupid penalties. I think he’s very aware of what’s going on around him. Where his linemates are and what they’re doing. He knows what everyone’s roles are and he does not muddy the water by trying to do someone else’s job. I know that doesn’t sound sexy and glamorous, but to me, he’s the type of player who gets to NHL training camp and he fits in because of his brain and awareness. IN the defensive zone he plays with an excellent stick and you can see that he’s always taking a quick look to make sure he’s on the right side of the puck or maintaining his line-up. It’s the same on both the neutral zone and offensive zone forechecks. He has an excellent stick and to me understands how to judge width and depth as an F2 or F3. People will look at his stat line and say he didn’t have many points, but to me, I see that he was 4th on the team in scoring on a team that didn’t score much and that he was the leading point-getter for draft-eligible players. He’s scored goals in the past and I believe that his awareness will lead to points in his future QMJHL seasons. I don’t think he’ll be a scorer in the NHL, but I do think he has the mental characteristics that lead him to have a role in an NHL organization.
C me not: He won 45% of his puck battles. He averaged 3:17 of power play ice time per game game and has 36 points total.
| Daimon Gardner | Warroad HS | Minnesota HS | L | C | 6’4″ | 201 | Clarkson | 2023 | Eagle Lake, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’4″ center who scored 45 goals in 30 Minnesota high school games. He scored three goals in 14 USHL games. 73% of his shots hit the net. He was physically overpowering in high school hockey. He has 50 penalty minutes in 39 USHL games played.
Neutral Zone Ian Moran: Even though he had some success in the USHL last year he is going to play 2022/23 in the BCHL. Some teams will view this as a positive because he showed jam while playing in the USHL so they know he has it in him. While others will wish that he was in the USHL playing a tighter checking game. Either way, he’s a 6’4″ future power forward who has the intestinal fortitude to stand up for himself and his teammates.
C me not: He won 47% of his puck battles.
| Mikey Milne | Winnipeg Ice | WHL | L | LW | 5’11” | 185 | Winnipeg Ice | Abbotsford, BC | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He had 38 in 68 regular-season games and added 13 more goals in 15 playoff games. 67% of his shots hit the net. He is confident in traffic and will attack the middle on zone entries or from the mid-wall while cycling. He draws penalties. He had 244 shots on goal with 151 of them coming from inside of the house and 86 of those from the top of the crease.
C me not: He is a 2002 who won 49% of his puck battles during the 2021/22 season. He won 46% of his puck battles in 2020/21. He is listed at 5’11” and 185 pounds. Will he be strong enough to continue living at the top of the crease in the NHL?
| Nolan Collins | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 192 | Sudbury Wolves | 2021 | Whitby, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ 192 pound right shot defenseman who finished the 2021/22 season at -1 on a team that had defenders as low as -24. His -1 was the best plus minus for any Sudbury defender who played the entire season for the Wolves. He won 56% of his puck battles. He averaged 1.07 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone’s Murray Nystrom: Collins plays a simple, reliable game for the Wolves. He has an even disposition and calmly maintains good positioning in most situations. He processes the game well and recognizes “best play” options. He consistently provides his defensive partner with an outlet option and positions himself to be available for reverses or short passes to elude checkers. He will use his partner often as an outlet, changing the point of attack, rather than risk a low percentage pass ahead. He defends well, using his body position and stick blade to remain between the offensive threat and his goal. He is particularly effective in using his stick to generate puck separation from the opponent. He is not a physically dominant player but leans in on containment situations on the wall. His edge work requires development as an improvement in his mobility could go a long way to his growth as a defenseman that is hard to play against.
C me not: He needs continued work on his four-way mobility and overall footwork. He attempted 72 points from the right half of the offensive zone. 19 of those attempts were blocked and 20 missed the net.
| Maxim Barbashev | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | L | LW | 6’1″ | 183 | Moncton Wildcats | 2020 | Moscow | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: When he is at his best he plays a hard-charging game that will endear him to professional coaching staffs. 62% of his shots hit the net.
Neutral Zone’s Brian Casey: Barbashev is power forward who plays a straight forward North-South game. I saw him play last year and as I watched him I grew to enjoy his game. He has a ton of bite and abrasiveness. He finishes his checks with authority and seems to feel that he can create time and space by intimidating his opponents.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Barbashev is an abrasive shooter. Period. He plays an abrasive style and he does not need much space get his shot off. We like that he makes the goalie move to make he save. Rarely does he come down the wing and fire a shot wide or open up for a one-timer and send it high over the bar. Barbashev might not be a burner, but he’s got an explosive first step and we do not think the puck slows him down when it’s on his stick. We also like that he is not afraid to initiate contact. His inside edge skating style gives him a low center of gravity and he uses that to his advantage when separating his opponent from the puck. In the offensive zone he is very good at finding the quiet area, and conversely he will crash the net with a heavy stick looking for rebound opportunities. After averaging a point per-game last season in Moncton (10 points in 10 games, 6 goals) Barbashev currently sits at 13 points in 21 games. We feel that to elevate himself into serious draft contention he will obviously need to pick up his scoring pace, but we also feel he will have to show commitment to be willing to put in the work to improve his stride and increase his foot speed.
C me not: He won 49% of his puck battles during the 2020/21 season. He won 43% of his puck battles in 2021/22. He needs continued development in his skating base, footwork, and return or glide leg.
| Rodwin Dionicio | Niagara Icedogs | OHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 207 | Niagara Ice Dogs | 2021 | Rapperswil, SUI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has leadership qualities and has worn a letter for Switzerland in international competition. He was -22 on a team that had defensemen -38 and lower. He tied for the defensive team lead in assists (25) in four fewer games played. In 2021/22 he won 56% of his puck battles. He averaged 1.22 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone’s Murray Nystrom: In the offensive zone he does of good job of keeping the puck in play, from the blueline, either into open areas for forwards to retrieve or at/near the crease area for tips/deflections or rebounds. Dionicio’s mobility will improve with continued training and development. Puck retrievals from deep in his zone will become smoother and more efficient as he improves his ability to pivot, not lose speed, and scan the ice for pressure. He attempts weak-side gap management (surfing) and is successful, often, in creating puck separation or disrupting attacks. His compete level is extremely high
C me not: He is on the receiving end of 1.4 hard body checks per game. During 2021/22 he attempted 193 point shots. He had 67 of them blocked.
| Ethan Whitcomb | Muskegon Lumberjacks | USHL | L | RW | 6’4″ | 201 | Nebraska Omaha | 2023 | St. Catherines, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’4″ right-wing who hit the net with 79% of his shots in 2021/22. He averaged 1.24 hard body checks per game. He sored one power play goal while averaging 0:17 of power play ice time. Including the playoffs he scored nine goals on 70 attempted shots.
C me not: He won 49% of his puck battles. He will need to be committed to spending serious time in the weight room to get the most out of 6’4″ frame.
OMHA Championship, March 25, 20202: Whitcomb has all the tools to cause havoc in the offensive end of the ice and often showed his ability to combine the role of power forward and energy forward in relation to puck pursuit and possession. His larger frame and balanced skating put defenders on notice when he is on the forecheck and he caused turnovers in every game of this past weekend’s OMHA Championship Tournament in Belleville, ON. His puck skills are crafty and elusive enough to provide himself with ample shooting opportunities and his shot is accurate enough that he deserved more than the one goal he scored in four round robin games. Whitcomb’s size, intelligence, and ability definitely put him in the late bloomer category that should generate sufficient interest in this year’s OHL Priority Draft. Grade: B+
| Keaton Dowhaniuk | Prince George Cougars | WHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 165 | Prince George Cougars | 2019 | Star City, SK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He plays a smart direct game in the defensive zone. During 2021/22 he won 55% of his puck battles. He averages 1.28 hard body checks per game. He was a key member of both special teams units averaging 1:43 of power-play time and 2:51 of short-handed ice time.
C me not: During 2021/22 he hit the net with 38% of his shots. He is listed at 165 pounds and was on the receiving end of 1.06 hard body checks per game.
WHL: Prince George Cougars at Kelowna Rockets, February 17, 2022: The left shot Dowhaniuk looked very comfortable playing the right side. We liked how he defended line rushes with a hidden poke check and how quickly he recognized that he had back-checkers making it an even man situation so he could stand the rush up early. He showed nice lateral mobility without the need to cross over when pinching opposing forwards off near the defensive blueline. In the defensive zone Dowhaniuk showed a quick first step and the ability to end the cycle, but he will need to continue adding lower body strength and power to effective against professionals. He did not spend a ton of time on the ice killing penalties, but we liked his spatial awareness as he maintained shooting lanes and did not get tied up in front of his net. Along the offensive blue line Dowhaniuk showed nice poise and loose hips. He did not get anchored to the ice and smoothly moved across the line to open shooting and passing lanes. We also liked how he recognized an opportunity to slide laterally for a one-timer and the power / stick whip he got behind the shot. In total he earned 20:49 in ice time with 0:48 being on the power play, finishing with 2 hits and 4 giveaways compared 5 takeaways. InStat shows him as only winning 14% of his puck battles compared to his season average of 55%.
CSSHL Midget Showcase, February 16, 2020: Keaton is a mobile, puck-moving defenceman with strong two-way capabilities. He was physical in the corners and he battled hard to win puck scrums. He was calm and patient with the puck on breakouts and his first pass was crisp and accurate. The ’04 was quick to step up on forwards in the neutral zone and he displayed an active stick that he used to break up passes. He saw time on the power play and he scored a big tying goal late in the team’s third game on a snipe from the half wall. There is a lot to like about this prospect and he finished with two points only playing in two of the team’s three games. Grade: A-
WHL Cup, November 10, 2019: Keaton is an ultra smooth skater. Everything he does, he makes look easy and he does it with poise. When everything around him seems to be going a million miles and hour, he looks like he is out for a leisurely stroll making smart plays with the puck whether it’s with his feet, or terrific passing. He quarterbacks the powerplay with intelligence, soft hands, and intelligent shooting. On defense he defends with his quick feet and active stick. He is incredibly smart on the ice, and solid in all three zones. Right now the game looks too easy for him. Grade: A
Rocky Mountain Classic, December 8, 2018: Dowhaniuk is an all-around smooth skating defenseman that can create and jump start the rush for his team with his excellent vision and outlet passes up ice. Dowhaniuk is a do it all defense who plays a physical game in his own end and is great in puck retrieval, using an active stick to get pucks back and then having the quick skating to relive pressure. Dowhaniuk can lead the rush up ice with great poise and ability to read open ice and isn’t scared to keep in on his stick and make a play in the offensive end when something he see’s opens. On the offensive point he can walk the line and find shooting lanes but also has the hands to beat defenders and open ice up for a better chance towards the net. An area Dowhaniuk could improve on is his physical play in retrievals as he can throw hits but’s not consistent and as well just making sure he doesn’t get caught up ice at times. Best defenseman in the class. Grade: A
| Klavs Veinbergs | HK Riga | MHL | L | LW | 6’3″ | 198 | Jelgava, LAT | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 he scored 16 goals in 47 MHL games. He represented Latvia in the 2022 World Championships. He keeps his feet moving through contact which allows him to draw penalties. 66% of his shots hit the net. Overall he had 22 total goals during the 2021/22 season with 18 of them coming from the house and 15 of those from the top of the crease.
C me not: During 2021/22 he won 43% of his puck battles. Although he is listed at 198 pounds, he will need to continue developing his first step and lower body power.
| Tnias Mathurin | North Bay Battalion | OHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 201 | North Bay Battalion | 2020 | Ajax, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ former third-round OHL selection who averaged 19:56 of TOI in 2021/22. He won 62% of his puck battles in 2021/22.
Neutral Zone’s Murray Nystrom: A left-shot defenseman with good size. Mathurin, like most at his position, will need to continue developing his edges and mobility. He does an excellent job of scanning the ice as he turns and retrieves pucks deep in his DZ. He can invite pressure, deal with it, and still recognize where his outlets are. He locates his options and is reliable in getting the puck to them promptly. His containment play in DZC will continue to improve with strength training and physical maturation. Occasionally, he can lose his D-side positioning on his opponent down low. The potential with this player is intriguing and his progress is worth continued monitoring
C me not: He attempted 82-point shots in 2021/22. He had 27 of them blocked. He took ten penalties in the defensive zone. Nine of which came while defending the cycle.
| Felix Jansson | Brynas IF J20 | J20 Nationell | L | LW | 5’10” | 183 | Gavle, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: Statistically he produced goals when playing against his peers in his native Sweden posting 27 goals in 36 games.
C me not: He has struggled producing points in international competition as he has one goal in twelve games played. He won 36% of his puck battles.
| Roberto Mancini | Saginaw Spirit | OHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 201 | Saginaw Spirit | 2019 | Vaughan, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ 200-pound defender who led his team in penalty minutes. At -17 he had the second best plus minus among Saginaw defenders. He won 62% of his puck battles. He averaged 0.98 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone’s Brendan Collins: There are elements of Mancini’s game that will interest NHL scouts especially his size, his strength, his low risk style of play, physicality and deceptive mobility but he’s limited in what he can do offensively at this point, he is physical but not aggressive, he lets the play come to him which is both good and bad depending on the scouts perspective and he’s raw when in decision making when pressured which will be the case at the higher levels. He’s a late round consideration in our ranking but odds are probably more against it than for it to get selected this July but he’s got late bloomer potential with more experience in the OHL.
C me not: He knows his limitations offensively, but are they too limited for the NHL?
| Patrick Geary | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 176 | Hamburg, NY | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He plays a hardnosed abrasive game. During 2021/22 he won 60% of his puck battles. He averaged 1.29 hard body checks per game.
C me not: Is he big enough to play his style in the NHL? During 2021/22 he attempted 83 point shots. 25 of them were blocked.
U16: Play Hockey Championships, March 24, 2021: Geary is a tall, athletic, smooth-skating, two-way defenseman who wears the “C” for the Jr. Sabres. He was excellent on retrievals winning races to puck and having the skating ability to shake off forecheckers and carry it out of his end. He has touched on his passes and quarterbacked the Jr. Sabres power play with swift and smart puck decisions. He has poise with the puck and can allow the play to develop before making his move but he can also move it under pressure and walk the blue line to open up lanes. He scored a highlight reel snapshot top corner from the point on the power play showing his release, accuracy and ability to see the goalie was down and pick his spot. Geary has improved his defensive game; he’s more assertive in the neutral zone and defensive zone stepping up on opponents and his footwork allows him to play tight coverage. He’s rarely ever beat 1v1 and he’s good at angling opponents to low percentage areas. Clever stick to break up passes to the slot and has the acceleration to create turnovers and transition instantly the other way making him dangerous to play against. A serious D1 prospect. Grade: B+
U15/U16 JGG Showcase, February 20, 2021: Geary is a left shot defenseman who is very smooth and poised with the puck. Smart player who can make the simple play or stretch the ice and make the home run pass. Silk passer in transition. Geary was very physical in this game as he kept gaps tight and made sure to finish off forwards at the defensive blueline. Made life difficult for forwards trying to enter the zone. Strong on his edges and did a good job of using the net to shake defenders and create space for himself off the breakout. Geary wasn’t involved all that much offensively but showed that he has a rocket of a shot. Rang the iron in the second off a missile of a slap shot. Grade: B
Toronto Marlies Classic, February 2, 2020: Another solid tournament in Ontario for Geary where he led the team defensively to the semi-finals. A puck manager on the backend he continued to breakdown opposition forechecks well. He spends very little time in his own end with his ability to pass first and quick after he retrieves pucks. He zips his passes to the right players moving with pace and shows a high IQ to find open players. Geary can skate the puck if he has room but is most effective when he passes and joins the attack. He continued to show good closing speed with his gap control and was effective in breaking up the attack in all 3 zones. Grade: B+
U15: USHL Showcase, October 25, 2019: Patrick is an athletic left-shot defender that plays a ton of minutes for the Buffalo U15s. He retrieves pucks well and doesn’t panic going back to get the puck. He is smart and knows spatially where he is on the ice. Wheels the net and makes a strong first pass out of his zone. He also doesn’t hesitate to reverse the puck and has confidence in his partner to make plays. He is smart in the neutral zone and uses good angles to cut down space. Jumps routes and intercepted more than a few passes before turning the play the other direction. Gets pucks to the net and uses good footwork to change angles. Will need to sure-up his play in the defensive zone, as he ran around a bit at times. Overall a strong weekend. Grade: B
U14: USHL Fall Classic, October 24, 2018: Slick puck-moving left-shot defender. Retrieves pucks well and wheels the puck around the net and out of his zone. Starts the breakout effectively with tape-to-tape passes to wingers. Takes ice when it is given to him and uses a balanced stride and a quick first step to get up to speed quickly. He sees the ice well and identifies passing options quickly. Good facilitator through the neutral zone and made several nice plays that created positive scoring chances. Spins away from contact and uses his feet and body positioning to shield the puck from forecheckers. Grade: B
| Ryan Hopkins | Penticton Vees | BCHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 174 | Maine | 2023 | Lunenburg, NS | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ right-shot defenseman who had 24 assists in 47 games. He has been a captain. During 2021/22 he won 61% of his puck battles. He is willing to block shots.
C me not: In the BCHL he was on the receiving end of 1.07 hard body checks per game. 49% of his shots hit the net. He averaged 0:21 of short-handed ice time per game.
BCHL Final: Nanaimo vs Penticton, May 23, 2022: good size, two-way defenseman. He skates with good mobility, snaps hard, accurate passes, and has a hard, heavy release as well as a strong slapshot. He is excellent with his forward to backward skating transitions which helps him with his gap control. He QBed the PP where he used effective puck distribution to the flanks, quick snapshots, and a hard one-timer. He did an excellent job of picking the puck up and quickly skating it to the middle of the ice as well as using patience to make an effective play. He scored in game 1 on the PP with a quick, hard one-timer from the top of the point. He has a quick, hard release. He generated good whip on the stick and rang one off the cross-bar in game 3. He also showed a big wind-up and a hard, heavy one-timer from the top of the PP. He assisted on the game 3 OT winner with a bullet of a stretch pass that hit his teammate in-stride eventually leading to the goal. He scored the opening goal in game 4 getting a pass at the point, getting his head up, using a subtle delay, and then ripping a half slapshot that had excellent velocity and beat the goalie through traffic up high glove side. Grade: A-
BCHL: Penticton Vees at Cranbrook Bucks, March 24, 2022: Maintained defensive side positioning during net front battles while cross checking down into numbers, willing to take a knee to eat a one-timer. In neutral zone he activated as weakside D, received a poor pass in the right dot lane but did an excellent job of using his left inside edge to control pass and then take a quick 5 hole snap shot. Vees 1st goal – hustled to offensive blueline on a change, received D to D pass, faded off to right and took a hard snapper through a screen. Shifty along offensive blueline with poise and eyes up, snap shot is quick and hits the net. Really tight gap in neutral zone, moves on the pass to create turnover, has a awareness to retrieve the puck at defensive blueline and flip it out of trouble. Real zip on passes without the need to dust it off, stretch passes are rockets and on the tape… hard wrap dump-ins do not get stopped by opposing goalie. Ends the cycle with authority and shows lower body power by throwing an opposing forward to the ice (3:00 left in 2nd). Definitely has some mean in him as he took an open ice run at Dyck as time expired in the 2nd period. Vees 2nd goal – did not get an assist, but the play started when he prevented a Bucks forward from going wide on him and getting to the net showing a hidden poke check and core strength in the battle. Retrieves pucks with his head on a swivel locating more than just forecheckers, is willing to take a hit to make a pass. Showed wiggle along the offensive blueline, faking left to release a snapshot as he faded to the right.
BCHL: Prince George vs Penticton, January 25, 2022: Smooth skating right shot defenseman. All plays he makes look effortless as he oozes talent and confidence. Made clean first passes that allowed clean breakouts and good transition to offense. Created offense by sneaking down low in the OZ. Got some great looks on net but didn’t finish his chances. B-
Stanstead College Spartans, October 13, 2020: This kid is the real deal. A 2nd round pick by Moncton in the 2020 QMJHL Draft, this guy has all the tools and another gear (or two) in him. His speed is lethal. He rushes up the ice like a linebacker with good hands. Because of his speed, he is able to take a chance on rushes knowing that if he gets caught up ice, he can still make it back to be a factor defensively. He’s got a very good shot that rarely misses the net. In his own end he uses his body well to block out defenders and knows how to get in advantageous position on an attacker. His first passes are great, and he seems to have a great perspective on his options He does not panic when under pressure and would rather bank the puck off the glass than make a poor/risky play. We will be seeing Hopkins around the rinks for quite a few years to come. Grade A+
| Max Graham | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | L | C | 6’3″ | 181 | Everett Silvertips | 2020 | Whitehorse, YT | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ forward who went undrafted in his bantam draft year, but has 33 points in 64 games for Kelowna in 2021/22. He averages 1.53 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Graham is a 200′ center who gets better with each viewing. He is an 04 who was not drafted in the WHL Bantam Draft but was able to play nine games for Everett last season before finding a home in Kelowna after a trade. Graham is a lanky forward who has quick hands around the offensive zone and is gaining an understanding of how to use his length to protect the puck to be an asset while cycling. He has a nice balanced stride with a powerful toe push that will only gain power as he matures. Graham finishes checks with authority without lunging into contact and becoming off-balance. He generally maintains net-side positioning and uses quick feet to beat his opponent back to the net or the open ice. Graham is a player that Neutral Zone did not know very well coming into the 2021-22 season, but his style of play and upward trajectory make him a very interesting professional prospect.
C me not: He won 43% of his puck battles in 2020/21 and 49% of his puck battles in 2021/22. He has yet to earn impactful special teams minutes.
| Matthew Perkins | Humboldt Broncos | SJHL | L | F | 5’11” | 174 | Minnesota Duluth | 2023 | Balgonie, SK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 he scored 23 goals in 57 games. He went undrafted in the WHL Bantam Draft in 2019 but continued to improve and develop to be drafted second overall in the 2022 USHL Phase 2 Draft. He keeps his feet moving through contact and draws penalties. 62% of his shots hit the net. He averaged 3:51 of power-play ice time per game.
C me not: After averaging 0:09 of short-handed ice time per game during 2021/22 does he have the details and awareness necessary to be a bottom-six forward in the NHL? He won 41% of his puck battles.
| Simon Latkoczy | Madison Capitols | USHL | R | G | 6’0″ | 183 | Nebraska Omaha | 2022 | Trencin, SVK | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is an athletic right-catching goaltender who has been great in the past two USHL playoffs going a combined 15-5-2 with a 2.15 GAA and a 0.925 sv%. In three games played at the 2021/22 World Junior Championship, he had a 0.922 sv%.
USHL: Goalie February Report, February 17, 2022: Latkoczy finished the weekend 1-1 allowing 7 goals on 65 shots. He has average size but shows great awareness of all attackers on the ice. He excelled at movement from post to post. He did a good job in both games of battling through screens to track pucks. He faced quite a few great scoring chances in both games and made several big stops look easy. At times he makes himself small on odd-man rush situations, exposing the upper portion of the net. Overall it was a consistent weekend for Latkoczy who will look to keep winning games for his team. Grade: B-
USHL: Goalie Report 10/18-10/19, October 12, 2021: Latkoczy was near perfect this weekend earning two wins with one shutout, stopping 52 of 53 shots faced. He is not the biggest goalie but excels with his ability to read plays and be in position on almost every shot. He showed great balance when moving laterally, and excelled at keeping his hands active while moving allowing him to make some big saves. He did a great job in penalty kill scenarios and controlled the tempo well by getting plenty of whistles from controlling his rebounds. Latkoczy is off to a near-perfect start to the season and will look to build on this successful weekend. Grade: A
C me not: In 78 career regular-season USHL games played he has a 3.52 GAA and a 0.866 sv%.
| Helmer Styf | Modo | J20 Nationell | L | C | 5’11” | 176 | Sundsvall, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is willing to attack the middle of the house as a puck carrier. He draws penalties. He averaged 1.03 body checks per game. 66% of his shots hit the net. He had 13 goals in 40 J20 Nationell games played.
C me not: He won 46% of his puck battles. He has represented Sweden internationally in eleven games and has registered three total points.
| Ivan Zhigalov | Sherbrooke Phoenix | QMJHL | R | G | 6’3″ | 161 | Sherbrooke Phoenix | 2021 | Minsk, BLR | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
Neutral Zone’s Brennan Poderzay: Zhigalov plays with a lot of energy in the crease and does a good job controlling his depth, taking a couple of extra inches when he has time to challenge more. In general, he is a strong first-save goaltender who will stop the first shot when he can see it clearly. He Struggles with his rotations and quickness on his post save recoveries, especially if he puts a rebound on an opposing player’s stick in a hurry.
| Connor McGrath | Humboldt Broncos | SJHL | L | C | 5’11” | 154 | Ferris State | 2023 | LeRoy, SK | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 he had 35 goals and 84 points in 56 games. He followed that up with ten points in eleven playoff games. He draws penalties. He scored 23 five on five even strength goals with 14 of them coming from the top of the crease.
C me not: He has a slight frame and will need to gain overall strength while in college. He won 35% of his puck battles.
Mac’s AAA, April 8, 2020: McGrath is a force at both ends of the ice, using his aggression, powerful stride and high energy to be a difference maker. On the offensive end he skates with great awareness, being a danger to shoot or pass when the puck is on his stick. His quick release is hard to read for goaltenders and his soft hands allow him to make plays for teammates in tight areas. He has great pop in his stride, and his feet always seem to be moving. McGrath is the type of player who can hurt you at both ends with his strong stick kills, high energy and high IQ. Grade: A-
| Trey Ausmus | Madison Capitols | USHL | L | D | 5’11” | 163 | North Dakota | 2023 | East Grand Forks, MN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a smart defender whose game will continue to grow as he trains and gains strength. He makes hard flat passes that are easy to handle. During his rookie year in the USHL, he won 55% of his puck battles.
C me not: During 2021/22 he averaged less than ten minutes per game. How long will it take him to gain the body mass needed to compete in the NHL? Is he a better potential college free agent signing?
USA Hockey’s Select 17’s, July 14, 2021: Trey can run the whole show from the backend. Here, we didn’t have a ton of notes on his defensive play. He handled 1v1 situations very well and closed down space quickly but most of our information is on his ability with the puck. He wheeled behind the net and hit players up ice in stride. He used simple outlets as well and his passes were crisp. He hit the center in stride with a backhand pass. He is poised. He took hits to make plays and also showed he could defend, collect pucks quickly and take off up ice. One one such play he made a quick pass, jumped up the sheet and buried a nice pass home, top corner. He has a rocket shot with a rapid release. He is supremely poised. On the power play he took a poor pass on his backhand, transferred to his forehand and quickly snapped it on the net, under pressure. Trey changed pace and utilized all his options on offense. He took another bad pass in full stride and went off his blade right to his stick without breaking stride. The East Grand Forks native played a fast, skilled game. He is terrifically athletic and made plays all over the ice. He quarterbacked the power play and controlled play there as well. He ripped a one timer home for a goal on the PP. He finished with three points in four games. The North Dakota commit did not make USA hocky’s All-Star time which we disagreed with. However, he was named to NZ’s team. Ausmus stuck with players in his end. Started transition and made poised, skilled plays all over the ice. He was used in both games Black had to go to a shootout. Says a lot of what the coaches thought of him. He is a dynamic defenseman in every sense with NHL upside. Grade: B+
Minnesota HS State Championship Class A. Day #1, April 2, 2021: Ausmus is a balanced skating, skilled puck mover who can stretch the ice and generate offensive from the blue line. He had a few carries out of his end on the breakout which he can do with ease and headman the puck through the neutral zone to generate 2v1 and 3v2 chances for his forwards and he’d follow the play up ice in the second wave. He made a few forecheckers look silly trying to take the puck from him as he can easily sidestep and stickhandle his way out of a jam. He didn’t get on the stat sheet here and he wasn’t really forced to defend much as they won 8-1 but he generated 8 shots from the point and was composed and confident with the puck on his stick. An early-round USHL draft pick, Ausmus is young but he has good size, the poise and skill to play at the higher levels. Grade: B+ College: North Dakota
Minnesota Elite League Review, October 28, 2020: One could make an argument Ausmus deserves an “A” rating through the first 5 weeks of the league especially given his age (2004) and how impactful he is for his team. He has a lot of possession time and carries it out of his end with regularity and can jump up and join offensive rushes or even spring forwards for odd man opportunities. He has a rocket shot from the point both on the snapshot that he gets off quick or a one-timer on the power play. He is strong on his stick and snaps passes off like a pro on tape all over the ice and can hit the backdoor on the power play before the opponent even knows it’s off his stick. On the breakout he’s strong and doesn’t force it; if there isn’t a lane he’ll skate it out himself and he’s able to take contact and skate through it behind the net and in the corners and rarely ever loses a 50/50 puck battle. He can score from beyond the dots and he can step up and play a physical brand of hockey at both blue lines. Ausmus wasn’t just a power play specialist, he logged time on the penalty kill and was willing to go down and block shots, won pucks along the wall and cleared it out. He doesn’t just throw it blindly up the boards or off the glass he reads the situation and places the puck where nobody is to delay more time on the kill. There are small details lacking in his game, which are common among 2004’s; he gets caught puck watching at the net front, he overextends at times defending the rush getting out beyond the dots to make a big hit or try and steal it and he doesn’t trust his feet the way he should which make his gaps inconsistent. A North Dakota commit coming off an impressive rookie season with East Grand Forks HS where he averaged over a point per game as a defenseman and one of the teams youngest players. He fell a bit in the USHL Draft this past year but has legit talent and more ability than several who were taken ahead of him.
Minnesota CCM High Performance 2004’s, July 17, 2019: Ausmus likes to use his skill to make outlet passes in his own zone, however he gets caught not moving his feet, leading to turnovers at times. He’s a smart defenseman who sees the ice very well and understands when to use his partner when he’s in trouble. His awareness and decision making with the puck is a little slow, as he struggled at times with the pace of the game throughout the camp. He uses his body well to shield pucks and make plays in all three zones using his excellent vision. College: University of North Dakota.
| Luke Devlin | St. Andrew’s College | CISAA | L | C | 6’3″ | 188 | Cornell | 2022 | Memphis, TN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ 188-pound center who is going directly into Cornell for 2022/23. He scored 19 goals in 44 games for St. Andrew’s College.
Ten single game evaluations from 2021/22: https://neutralzone.com/nhl-scouting-reports/luke-devlin/
C me not: During 2021/22 he played ten games outside of St. Andrew’s College and finished -7 with one assist.
| Miguel Tourigny | Acadie-Bathurst Titan | QMJHL | R | D | 5’8″ | 172 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 2018 | Victoriaville, QC, CAN, QC | 2021-2022: C+2020-2021: C+2019-2020: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 he registered 80 points in 65 QMJHL games and won 58% of his puck battles. He also had 96 penalty minutes. He was an assistant captain before being traded to Acadie-Bathurst.
C me not: He is an undersized defender in his third year of NHL draft eligibility.
QMJHL: Blainville Armada vs Victoriaville Tigers, December 2, 2020: Another player who was overlooked during the last draft, where I thought a team would take a chance on him due to his smooth skating and puck handling ability. I understand teams did no draft him as he’s undersized and not sure how he will fit in at the next level. Although the doubts, there’s no denying his ability where he’s been producing at a point per game pace early in the season, scoring a beautiful backhand goal in this contest. Tourigny made a nice read in the offensive zone, attacked the open seam in the middle of the ice and roofed a perfectly placed backhand far side. If Tourigny can work on his defensive game (strong on puck, winning battles, grittier along the boards) it can round out his game and make him a better two-way defenseman.
QMJHL: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2020 NHL Draft Prospects , January 9, 2020: Effortless skater who gets up and down the ice with extreme ease. He’s smooth, turns on a dime and skates the puck out of pressure with tremendous ease. He’s low to the ice which allows him to generate power with each stride. Although undersized, Tourigny does not shy away from retrieving pucks down low in the defensive zone to quickly transition to offense. He does not engage physically, which puts him at a disadvantage against bigger, tougher opponents. However, he uses smart angling techniques along with an active stick and his slick skating ability to strip pucks from opponents. He anchors the second power play where he’s more than capable than distributing or in this game, crank a couple of hard low-shots on net. Overall an extremely solid game for Tourigny who projects as a solid offensive puck distributing defenseman in the QMJHL. Due to his small frame, it’s unsure if his game can translate effectively to the next level. Game Grade B+ (Projected round 4-6)
QMAAA: Trois-Rivières vs Seminaire St-Francois Blizzard, January 20, 2018: A small puck moving defencemen, Tourigny isn’t afraid to jump up in the rush or even lead it. He’s quick and shifty and on the big ice has a lot of confidence. He is the quarterback on the powerplay, who can dish the puck off or even let it fly. He’s got a good hard shot despite his size. You do see him shying away from hits and losing those puck battles along the boards. Another year in Midget AAA should do wonders for his confidence.
Quebec Midget AAA Showcase, January 17, 2018: Tourigny is small, agile, puck moving defenseman. He is purposeful with the puck and rarely throws it blindly up the wall. His quick feet and acceleration enable him to escape from forecheck pressure and either skate pucks to open areas or deliver crisp passes up ice. He isn’t overly offensive but he will jump into rushes and join the attack, he has subtle but smooth hands and gets shot through to the net from the point. His size will limit his upside and QMJHL teams might be afraid to take him, but we liked his game here and showed great quickness
| Kasper Larsen | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | L | D | 6’6″ | 231 | Mississauga Steelheads | 2020 | Rodovre | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+2020-2021: C |
C me: He is a 6’6″ 231-pound defender who had 43 points in 57 regular-season games for Mississauga. He was an assistant captain for Denmark at the WJC D1A and has been a captain for other teams. During 2021/22 he won 57% of his puck battles. He played significant special team minutes.
C me not: He is a 2002 who just finished his first year in the OHL. During 2021/22 he attempted 100 shots while on the power play. 40 of those shots missed the net or were blocked. As 231 pound 2002, he won 57% of his puck battles.
Analyzing NHL Central Scouting’s European List 100-131, July 16, 2021: Massive Danish defender that stands 6’6’’ and 229 pounds. The left-shot played this past season for Herlev Eagles in the Denmark 1 League. He also has experience in the World Juniors where he had 14 penalty minutes in four games. He is raw and has average skating ability for his size. He relies upon his reach and body positioning to take away space and cut down angles. He plays a simple game in his own zone and doesn’t run around. Stays on his post and leans on forwards in front of the net. Closes quick to the corners and has an active stick. Blocks shots and is a pain to play against down low. He will need to work on his agility and transition game in the middle of the ice. Will get beat with speed wide. He has a big shot from the point and does a good job changing angles to get it through to the net. Average passing ability. Will need to work on touch for some of the shorter passes in space. Project player that has the physical tools to be dominant.
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, February 2021: He’s obviously an enormous project. I’d love to see him come over to train and play with the Steelheads because we’d get to see what he’s all about and see how he handles the smaller sheet with constant physical contact. As it is Larsen will need to work on his agility and quickness, but at 6’6″ someone might take a chance on him late.
| Tyler Savard | Soo Greyhounds | OHL | L | LW | 6’2″ | 179 | Soo Greyhounds | 2019 | Selwyn, ON | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ power forward who was essentially an OHL rookie this year after not playing in 2020/21 and he finished with 28 points in 49 regular season games. He was 220th overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Draft.
C me not: He won 40% of his puck battles. He is a 2003 who still has a long way to go with his overall game and off-ice development.
NOJHL: Soo Thunderbirds at Soo Eagles, March 6, 2020: Tyler is a big, strong kid with a powerful stride with skilled hands. He is a 2003 birth year as well and averaging over a point game this year. He is a smart player who plays with a lot of confidence. He controls the puck by using his size and long reach to protect the puck. He has excellent vision with the ability to set up his teammates for goals. He is effective on the cycle as he moves his feet and the puck and will drive to the net to create scoring opportunities. He is effective on the power play as he controls the play using his patience and will make accurate passes for scoring opportunities. He works hard in the defensive zone and he will play a physical game as well. Grade A
Toronto Titans Minor Midget Tournament:, September 28, 2018: Savard worked well on the top line for the Petes. Savard also plays a heavy two way game and showed some great puck skills ability to generate chances in close. Savard’s good hands and heads up play made him effective on transition and zone breakouts. His skill and sandpaper style were also very effective on the cycle down low.
| Samuel Oliver | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | L | C | 5’11” | 179 | Charlottetown Islanders | 2020 | Quispamsis, NB | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 15 goals in 38 games and 27 points overall after his trade to Drummondville. 63% of his shots hit the net. He plays an aggressive game that leads him t drawing penalties.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Oliver is an averaged sized forward with a huge heart and high compete. He shows very good game awareness while pursuing loose pucks by consistently cutting the ice in half or forcing his opponent to their backhand. The left shot is very effective when driving hard down his off wing, using his speed to gain the wide ice on the opposing defenseman, then dipping his shoulder behind the defenseman and charging hard to the far post. We’ve noted that Oliver has very good hand-eye coordination and has the quick stick to deflect point shots and knock down cross-ice passes in the neutral zone.
C me not: During 2021/22 he won 41% of his puck battles.
| Artem Kulakov | Erie Otters | OHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 216 | Erie Otters | 2020 | Bolshoy Kamen, RUS | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+2020-2021: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ 216 pound defenseman who plays with high compete. During 2021/22 he won 59% of his puck battles. He averaged 1.67 hard body checks per game.
Neutral Zone’s Ed Besinger: Kulakov is a strong, two-way defenseman out of Omskie Yastreby in the MHL where he stands 6’2” 200lbs and is tough to play against. He plays a safe calculated game with the puck making simple, high percentage plays and he’s got a great stick defensively to knock pucks off blades and pick off passes. He used his reach to pick pucks off the wall and turn up ice to lead clean breakouts and showed the ability to look off passes and find the best option. He’s a standup defenseman, physical at both blue lines challenging opponents and forcing dump-ins and he can grind opposing forwards down below the dots. The biggest knock on him is that he lacks backward acceleration from a standstill and knows it so while he plays well positionally and stays within the dots, he also plays loose gaps in the neutral zone so that he doesn’t get beat 1v1 but he gives up easy zone entries as a result. He’s got a rugged game at the net-front making forwards pay a price who try and park there and he’s tough to play against below the dots finishing checks and pinning forwards along the boards behind the net. He’s not polished at his point and his only experience is in the MHL but he’s got a promising upside as a shut-down defender who can also move pucks up the ice and patrol the offensive blue line.
C me not: He is limited offensively. 49% of his shots hit the net.
| Jozef Viliam Kmec | Prince George Cougars | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 198 | Prince George Cougars | 2021 | Kosice, SVK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: We like that he came to North America during his draft year to play in the WHL. He won 56% of his puck battles.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: He is a very explosive straight-line skater who at this level showed separation speed while retrieving dump-ins or while joining the rush, but we feel he will need to improve his posture while retreating because he can get too far on his toes. In the neutral zone, he receives passes smoothly and hits his forwards in stride. He showed good lateral mobility along the offensive blue line and liked to be involved in scissor plays or crashing back door. In the defensive zone, he can be a bit of a puck watcher.
C me not: He attempted 165 total shots during 2021/22 with 49 of those shots missing the net and another 48 being blocked.
| Venni Tolppola | Lukko U20 | U20 SM | R | C | 6’0″ | 148 | Helsinki, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: While playing against U18 SM-sarja competition he had eight goals and seven assists in nine regular games played. He added twelve points in seven U18 playoff games helping lead Kiekko-Espoo to the Championship. In U20 SM-sarja action he had eight goals and ten assists in 37 games played.
C me not: At 148 pounds he is still very slight. How long will it take for him to build the body mass needed to compete against NHL-caliber players? How willing is he to put in the work? He won 48% of his puck battles.
| Nolan Joyce | St. Sebastian’s | NE Prep | R | D | 6’1″ | 181 | Boston College | 2022 | Dedham, MA | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a smart two-way defenseman who registered 38 points in 25 New England prep school games. He has an NHL shot right and release right now. After three years of prep school hockey, he is headed to play for the Chicago Steel in 2022/23.
C me not: Boston College will always have a crew of NTDP and high NHL draft picks on their roster. Will he always be fighting an uphill battle for ice time and development?
USA Hockey Nationals 18U, May 3, 2022: Joyce takes command when he gains possession of the puck. He skates at a pace above the rest and plays an intense, engaged game. He was one of the best defensemen in the tournament this weekend while showing off a composed two-way game. At 6’1 and 185 lbs in a very athletic body, he notched a goal and an assist on the score sheet working in a five man rotation on the backend and his endurance and puck moving ability were on full display. Joyce looks to make a significant or purposeful play each time he is on the ice and is a true impact player and difference maker. Grade: A-
U18: St. Sebastian’s vs Belmont Hill and Nobles vs Rivers, November 26, 2021: Joyce is a highly competitive late 2003 right shot defenseman who wants to win at everything he does. We loved that he did not get caught up in thinking he had to go end to end to get noticed, instead choosing to play the smart heady game that we’ve gotten used to. He showed a rocket shot and his passes always hit the tape. He naturally worked to maintain dot lanes in both offensive or defensive transition, and he moved well laterally to end line rushes well before his defensive blueline. After battling an upper body injury for most of the Fall, Joyce led the U18 Boston Jr. Eagles to the Massachusetts State Championship in early November.
PHL Two Games: Team CCM vs Team Sully and Team ACT vs Team Hockey, May 28, 2021: Continued his solid play after a strong showing at Nationals in St Louis. He was moving well on the afternoon. Carries the puck at speed well and has a long fluid stride. He made some slick plays with his hands to beat forecheckers and find open teammates. Doesn’t panic or force decisions and when he gets in trouble chips the puck to safety. Was smart and under control all afternoon and created offensive chances from the backend. Grade: B+
USA Hockey Nationals U18, May 8, 2021: Joyce is a smooth-skating, calm and poised, right-shot defenseman with excellent mobility and puck control. Joyce remains relaxed under pressure especially when carrying the puck up ice and in his transition game. Nolan holds for the right play and doesn’t force pucks into bad areas or turn it over ever. His acceleration allowed him to jump into the offence and create odd-man rushes for his team. Defensively he keeps airtight gaps and has a strong, active stick to disrupt plays and force turnovers. On attacking rushes against he typically was able to stall them, force an offsides call or just disrupt the entire play. Joyce’s breakout passes were crisp and accurate. Nolan finished the week with three assists. GRADE: B
| Milton Oscarson | Orebro HK | SHL | L | C | 6’6″ | 203 | Orebro, SWE | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’6″ 203-pound center who had 29 points in 25 J20 Nationell games played. He has 24 games of SHL experience. He has been a captain. For the first time, he represented Sweden in three international games during 2021/22. In the slot he has a quick stick. Eleven of his goals came from the top of the crease.
C me not: He won 45% of his puck battles. He must learn to attack the middle of the ice as a puck carrier through the neutral zone. Overall he shows good athleticism, but he will need time to continue developing his foot speed and recovery leg to play in the NHL.
| Thomas Milic | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | G | 6’0″ | 170 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2019 | Coquitlam, BC | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He had a 0.912 sv% in 47 regular-season games played. In 25 playoff games, he had a 0.925 sv% and two shutouts. He plays the puck with confidence.
Neutral Zone’s Paul O’Hagan: Thomas may be a bit undersized for the pro game, but he has proven that he can play at a high level regardless. Thomas is a solid athlete in the net. He relies on discipline positioning, both with his hands and feet, and quick reactions to make saves. One element of his game that stood out was Thomas’ ability to play the puck. He has great hands, makes quick decisive decisions, and makes strong confident plays that help out his defense a lot. In the crease, he does well to see around screens and he tracks pucks well. He has decent rebound control, although we think his hands are particularly stronger than his legs right now. Thomas battles for shots, and catches pucks cleanly with his glove hand, while using his blocker smartly to redirect pucks out of high-scoring areas. Where we think Thomas will benefit with development, is in his lower body strength. When the game gets moving laterally, and he has to push and drive across the crease, he can look a little behind the play
C me not: He is listed at 6’0″.
| Luke Woodworth | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | R | C | 5’9″ | 154 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | 2020 | Bridgewater, NS | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has high level puck skills and 1on1 ability. 63% of his shots hit the net. He is a dangerous power play player as he scored six of goals on 56 attempted shots.
C me not: After winning 50% of his puck battles during his rookie year in the QMJHL he won 46% of his puck battles in 2021/22. At -27 he had the lowest plus-minus of any forwards on Drummondville. He was -5 in four playoff games.
2020 East Coast Ice Jam, January 17, 2020: Woodworth’s offensive skill on full display during the games viewed. He used great puck handling to deke through defenders and create time and space for his linemates. Plays the point or along the side wall on the powerplay and was very dangerous from both spots. He has an accurate shot that he gets off quickly. Is smart on the defensive side of the puck and had great positioning. Had 5 points in 4 games and was his teams most lethal offensive weapon. He is a high-end prospect and only time will tell how his size will affect where he is drafted, but the offensive ability is clearly visible. GRADE: A-
Monctonian AAA Challenge, January 2, 2020: Woodworth is a smaller framed forward with a high hockey iq and is especially gifted on the offensive side of the puck. He is decisive with the puck on his stick and has soft hands in tight to the net. Plays the point on the powerplay for his team and can slow the game down when he has possession. Plays a smart positional game and is an illusively quick skater as he can find open ice or make a tight turn to buy himself a couple more seconds. A player to watch as he gets bigger and stronger. He leads the NSMMHL in points among rookies and is 2nd in the league with 35 in 17 games and potted 2 goals and an assist in 3 round robin games. GRADE: A
| Erik Pahlsson | HV71 | SHL | L | RW | 5’11” | 172 | Landskrona, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 he had 19 goals in 45 J20 National games. He won 53% of his puck battles which was up from 48% in 2020/21. He keeps his feet moving through stick contact and draws penalties. Eighteen of his goals came from within the house and nine of those where from the top of the crease.
C me not: He had zero points while representing Sweden at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.
| Dylan Ernst | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | G | 6’2″ | 194 | Kamloops Blazers | 2019 | Weyburn, SK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He had a 0.900 sv% and a 14-8-2 record.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: Ernst is a 6’2″ goaltender with quick reflexes and excellent explosiveness, especially when going post to post in an extended butterfly. There are times when he can get over-extended and wander from the top of his crease, but his athleticism makes him an interesting goalie.
C me not: He has a 0.840 sv% on scoring area saves.
| Hunter McKown | Colorado College | NCAA | R | RW | 6’1″ | 185 | Colorado College | 2020 | St. Louis, MO | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+2019-2020: C |
C me: He plays a hard direct game. He averaged 1.25 hard body checks per game. He draws penalties in all three zones. 57% of his shots hit the net. He was the leading goal scorer (13) and point producer (21) for Colorado College.
C me not: During 2021/22 he won 46% of his puck battles which was up from 41% in 2020/21. His potential role in the NHL will be as a bottom-six forward who kills penalties and is very difficult to play against, yet he has not contributed much to Colorado College’s penalty kill unit over the past two seasons. He is a 2002 in his third year of draft eligibility.
| Elias Degnell | HV71 | SHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 170 | Huddinge, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 he won 55% of his puck battles. In transition, he has high-level ice awareness which allows him to recognize the layers of the forecheck. His passes are hard flat and well-timed.
C me not: He hit the net with 48% of his shots in 2021/22 compared with 63% of his shots in 2020/21. Yes, he plays a simple straightforward game, but will NHL teams look to someone bigger to fulfill his potential role?
| Pier-Olivier Roy | Victoriaville Tigers | QMJHL | L | D | 5’10” | 172 | Victoriaville Tigres | 2020 | Adstock, QC | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: As a 2004 he was an assistant captain for Victoriaville. He won 53% of his puck battles. He was a key contributor to both special teams units. He averaged 26:32 of ice time per game.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran: The undersized Roy is a gamer. He plays with a passion, energy, and enthusiasm that is infectious to his teammates and the fans. Defensively he matches speeds very well and has smooth lateral mobility that allows him to play even man line rushes with very tight gaps. Roy has an excellent stick. He disguises his poke checks and routinely surprises opposing forwards with his reach. He may not be a burner, but we feel he is just as fast with the puck as without it, and in today’s game that can be incredibly impactful.
C me not: He won 61% of his puck battles during the 2020/21 season. He was on the receiving end of 1.24 hard body checks per game?
| Karlis Mezsargs | HK Riga | MHL | L | G | 6’2″ | 185 | Riga, LAT | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: In 31 games played he had a 0.903 sv% for a team that went 13-42-4-5. He is patient on royal road passes, yet shows explosiveness on the pass.
C me not: In one game at the WJC D1 A games he had a 0.636 sv%. He has a scoring area sv% of 0.820. He can sag his glove while looking through traffic exposing the upper 1/3 of the net.
| Hugo Frylen | Vasteras IK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | RW | 6’2″ | 207 | Hanover, GER | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 12 goals in thirty-seven J20 Nationell games played and had 68 penalty minutes. 68% of his shots are on net.
C me not: He won 45% of his puck battles. Even though he had 68 penalty minutes, he averaged only 0.32 hard body checks per game. He has never represented Sweden internationally. He averaged 2:12 of power-play power-play ice time per game and had 20 attempted power-play shots.
| Yann Voegeli | Biel-Bienne U20 | U20-Elit | L | D | 6’1″ | 179 | Neuchatel, SUI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a quick-thinking left-shot defender with an NHL frame. He won 53% of his puck battles. He was born on August 30, 2004, so two weeks later and he would not be NHL draft eligible until next year.
C me not: He does not provide offense. He struggled with decisions away from the puck during the U18 World Championships.
| Dennis Good Bogg | AIK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | D | 6’2″ | 187 | Sundbyberg, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He has an NHL frame and is very difficult to play against. He averaged 1.27 hard body checks per game. He won 57% of his puck battles.
C me not: During 2021/22 he attempted 142 even-strength shots. He missed the net 45 times and had 38 of the attempted shots blocked.
| Connor Kurth | Dubuque Fighting Saints | USHL | R | F | 6’0″ | 207 | Minnesota | 2022 | Elk River, MN | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+2020-2021: C+ |
C me: He has a frame made to play bottom-six minutes in the NHL. During 2021/22 he had 35 goals had 81 points in 62 regular-season games. 68% of his shots hit the net. Nine of his goals came on the power-play.
C me not: Does he have the pace to create offense off of turnovers in the NHL? He has not killed penalties during his two seasons in the USHL. During his two seasons in Dubuque, he has won an average of 48% of his puck battles.
| Jakub Kopecký | Team Slovakia U18 | Slovakia2 | L | RW | 6’3″ | 187 | Grand Rapids, MI | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’3″ right-shot forward who scored 21 goals in 36 games in Slovakia’s U20 division. He scored three goals in five games at the U18 D1A World Championships. He carries the puck through the royal road with confidence.
C me not: He won 44% of his puck battles. He consistently had second-line 5on5 minutes at the U18 D1A Worlds for team Slovakia.
| Jonas Taibel | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | L | C | 5’11” | 181 | Moncton Wildcats | 2021 | Feldkirch | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He could have easily stayed in Switzerland, but we feel he showed leadership and confidence by coming to play major junior during his draft year. He captained Switzerland’s U18 team. He averaged 2:00 minutes of shorthanded ice time for Moncton.
C me not: He won 47% of his puck battles during his rookie in the QMJHL. He struggled to find his offensive game in Moncton. He averaged 2:37 of power-play time in Moncton having 38 total shot attempts and one power-play goal.
| Jan Spunar | HC Olomouc | International | L | G | 6’3″ | 185 | Olomouc | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 he had a 0.911 sv% in 31 games played in the Czechia U20 league.
C me not: In 21 overall games representing Czechia in international competition he has a 0.875 sv% and that includes having three shutouts.
| Gabriel Kangas | Vasteras IK | HockeyAllsvenskan | L | C | 5’11” | 176 | Stockholm, SWE | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: At the J20 Nationell level and against his peers he plays a hard aggressive style of hockey that North American coaches would like. He is a detailed and effective penalty killer.
C me not: This is his second year of NHL draft eligibility. During 2021/22 he had six points in 45 HockeyAllsvenskan regular-season games. He won 43% of his puck battles.
| Adam ZInka | Sioux Falls Stampede | USHL | R | F | 6’0″ | 172 | Detva | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a Slovakian forward who registered 18 points in 19 games during the 2020/21 U18 SM-sarja in Finland.
C me not: The potential drafting team will need to find out why he left the USHL in early November 2021? During the 2021/22 season he won 41% of his puck battles.
| Croix Kochendorfer | Chippewa Steel | NAHL | L | G | 6’4″ | 220 | St. Paul, MN | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is 6’4″ and athletic. He tracks pucks into his glove or body. He has poise during net front scrambles. He had a 0.908 sv% in 38 regular season NAHL games.
C me not: He has an 0.840 sv% on scoring area shots. Opponents score on 34% of their breakaways.
| Hugo Fransson | HV71 | SHL | L | D | 5’11” | 159 | Tranas, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a solid two-way defender who contributes to both special teams units. He had 26 points in 48 J20 Nationell games during 2021/22. He was an assistant for Sweden at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He moves his feet to draw penalties during transition.
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran’s single-game recap, Sweden vs the USA at the 2021 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup: This young man had a very difficult start to the game. On his first shift, Fransson attempted a pass that was intercepted and led directly to Team USA’s first goal and early lead. Because of this, we were closely watching to see how he would respond. In the end, he earned 17:21 of total ice time including 2:50 on the penalty kill and 0:14 on the power play. He also had 2 blocked shots, 4 giveaways, and 6 takeaways. In a highly stressful situation, Fransson showed nice mental toughness and rebounded to play a very strong two-way game. He is not as flashy as some of his teammates, but he plays a positionally sound and very consistent game. He showed a long stride and can maintain tight gaps with his low base and lateral movement.
C me not: He won 48% of his puck battles and had an on-net shooting percentage of 46% during 2021/22.
| Theodor Johnsson | Vaxjo | SHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 187 | Helsingborg, SWE | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’1″ right-shot defenseman who scored eleven goals in 41 J20 Nationell regular-season games. He has 18 regular-season games of SHL playing experience, plus four games of SHL playoff experience. He won 53% of his puck battles during the 2021/22 season.
C me not: Except for the 2021/22 season he has nine career goals.
| Viggo Olsson | HV71 | SHL | L | RW | 6’1″ | 187 | Jönköping, SWE | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored 10 goals in 40 J20 Nationell games while averaging less than 0:14 seconds of power-play time. 65% of his shots hit the net. Five of his goals came from the top of the crease.
C me not: He won 49% of his puck battles during 2021/22 compared to 45% in 2020/21. He averaged 0.88 body checks per game in 2020/21 compared to 0.63 in 2021/22.
| Eli Barnett | Victoria Grizzlies | BCHL | R | D | 6’5″ | 220 | Vermont | 2023 | Riverview, NB | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’5″ right-shot defenseman who averaged 1.33 hard body checks per game in 2021/22. He won 54% of his puck battles. He is spatially aware and detailed enough to be a penalty killer in professional hockey.
C me not: He attempted 182 shots while at even strength. He missed the net with 41 and had an additional 58 shots blocked.
| Karl Persman | Vasteras IK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | D | 6’7″ | 227 | Orebro, SWE | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’7″ 227-pound defenseman who has grown up playing on the Olympic ice sheet in Sweden. He has been a captain. He averaged 1.17 hard body checks per game during 2021/22. He won 51% of his puck battles.
C me not: He is in his second year of NHL draft eligibility. He has never represented Sweden internationally (this could also be viewed as a positive). Will he have or develop the mindset to be a shutdown defender in North American hockey? He crosses over while pivoting.
| Joshua Nadeau | Penticton Vees | BCHL | R | RW | 5’7″ | 157 | Maine | 2022 | St. Francis de Madaska, NB | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During the 2021/22 BCHL regular season he scored 40 goals in 54 games and added another 12 goals in 17 playoff games. He draws an incredible amount of penalties. He scored 19 goals at 5on5.
C me not: He won 45% of his puck battles. He is undersized at 5’7″. Does he have the pace to be a scorer in the NHL?
| Hobie Hedquist | Alberni Valley Bulldogs | BCHL | L | G | 6’2″ | 194 | North Dakota | 2022 | Heron Lake, MN | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+2020-2021: C |
C me: During 2021/22 he had a 0.909 sv% in 42 regular-season games, as well as a 0.920 sv% in ten playoff games. He is scheduled to go into the University of North Dakota in 2022/23 but was drafted #14 overall by Sioux Falls in the 2022 USHL Phase 2 draft. He is an excellent puck tracker.
C me not: He played in the USHL during 2020/21 and finished with a 0.831 sv%. His scoring area save percentage rose from 79% in 2020/21 to 84% in 2021/22. Over the past two seasons, shooters on breakaways have scored 30% of the time.
| Rasmus Rudslatt | AIK J20 | J20 Nationell | R | RW | 6’0″ | 181 | Stockholm, SWE | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He scored nine goals in 26 J20 Nationell regular-season games. He has a high compete which leads to him drawing penalties. 61% of his shots hit the net. During the 2021/22 season he scored 14 goals on 164 attempted shots.
C me not: During 2021/22 he won 47% of his puck battles. In 25 combined U18 international games played during the 2021/22 season, he finished with six points and zero goals scored. He missed the net 28 times from below the tops of the circles and had another 16 shots blocked from inside of the expanded house.
| Luke Pavicich | UMass Amherst | NCAA | L | G | 6’3″ | 190 | UMass Amherst | 2021 | Clarence Center, NY | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2020/21 he had a 0.919 sv% in 36 regular season games while playing in the NAHL. He had a 0.917 sv% in the playoffs. During 2021/22 he had a 0.933 sv% in four games for UMass.
C me not: He has limited experience above the NAHL.
| Zach Bookman | Brooks Bandits | AJHL | R | D | 5’10” | 176 | Merrimack | 2022 | Syracuse, NY | 2002 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During the 2021/22 season he had 81 assists in 55 regular-season games. He had eight assists in nine playoff games. He averaged 1.86 points per game during the regular season. Today’s NHL is built on quick passing transition and this is where he thrives. Over the past two seasons in the AJHL he has won 55% of his puck battles.
C me not: During 2021/22 he was on the receiving end of 1.19 hard body checks per game. He is an undersized defenseman in his third year of NHL draft eligibility.
| Bowden Singleton | Okotoks Oilers | AJHL | L | F | 5’9″ | 154 | North Dakota | 2022 | Calgary, AB | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: During 2021/22 he scored 20 goals in 60 regular-season games. He is undersized, but he knows how to move his feet to draw penalties.
C me not: He averaged 3:58 of power-play ice time per game and scored five power play goals on 140 attempted shots. He won 43% of his puck battles.
| Jeremy Wilmer | Tri City Storm | USHL | L | F | 5’7″ | 141 | Boston University | 2022 | Rockville Center, NY | 2003 | 2021-2022: C+2020-2021: C+ |
C me: During the 2021/22 USHL regular season he had 25 goals and 73 assists in 60 games. He followed that up with eight points in five playoff games. 67% of his shots hit the net. Including the playoffs he averaged 4:18 of power play ice time per game, but scored 19 even strength goals.
Neutral Zone’s Michael Crawford, May 2021: Wilmer is a smaller player who has good skill with the puck on his stick and can create in tight spaces. The Boston University commit has smooth hands and effectively navigates through traffic regularly. Wilmer does struggle when opponents play through his body though. He is a smaller player who isn’t that physically strong and can get outmuscled and outworked if the opponent doesn’t bite on his fakes. Wilmer’s skating also lacks explosion which prevents him from breaking away from opponents if he does beat them initially. He can make plays and distribute after he makes the initial move, but he often holds onto the puck a half-second too long, which can lead to dangerous turnovers. Wilmer is most effective low in the offensive zone where he experiences success off of turnovers and quick transition chances. His skill helps him take advantage of quick-strike situations where the defense is out of position. Overall, Wilmer is a skilled playmaker who excels with time and space but lacks the strength and speed to take advantage of many of the opportunities he initially creates.
C me not: Including the playoffs, during the 2021/22 season he attempted 62 shots while on the powerplay and 24 of them were blocked or missed the net.
| Harrison Ballard | Wellington Dukes | OJHL | R | C | 6’2″ | 185 | UMass Amherst | 2022 | Aurora, ON | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ right-shot center who had 28 points in 54 regular-season games. 67% of his shots hit the net and he scored all of his goals from within feet of the crease. Whether OHL teams knew he was going the NCAA route or not, he was an 8th-round selection in the 2020 OHL Priority Draft and has turned himself into 2004 whose scheduled to go into UMass for 2022/23.
Neutral Zone’s Murray Nystrom: Ballard is a skating right-shot center who was identified on the NHL Central Scouting list and it is easy to see why. He has excellent upside and is already a UMass commit. Ballard will have the opportunity to grow his game beyond junior and before becoming a professional. He confidently follows and anticipates the flow of the play, allowing him to support the puck carrier or arrive on a loose puck or generate a turnover. Instinctively, he moves in and out of traffic, in the offensive zone, as he adjusts his body and stick positioning for a potential puck. Ballard’s puck skills are very good, although he seemed to mishandle passes to him occasionally. He has a quick, sharp release, particularly coming in on the weak side. His skating is above average. He has good use of edges in small areas, quick feet provide him excellent acceleration from a dead stop. Ballard’s stride should lengthen and become more powerful with growth and training
C me not: He won 45% of his puck battles. He will need to continue developing his overall foot speed and first-step explosiveness for an opportunity in professional hockey.
| Adrian Rebelo | Brantford 99ers | OJHL | L | F | 6’2″ | 174 | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
C me: He is a 6’2″ 175 pound left shot forward who had 95 penalty minutes to go along with 31 points in 50 regular season OJHL games. He averaged 1.52 hard body checks per game and was on the receiving end 0.32 hard body checks per game. He won 51% of his puck battles. He was a 10th round 2020 OHL Priority Draft selection.
Neutral Zone’s Paul O’Hagan: Rebelo is a left-shot center with good size and length to his frame. This young, quick skating center brings a physical element to his game. Rebelo showed some effective speed, getting to loose pucks, recovering on the forecheck, or providing a competent backcheck. His physical play leads to puck separation and change of possession in favor of his side. Puck plays are inconsistent, particularly in the offensive zone. He is a determined player in and around the crease or slot area. Rebelo’s abrasive game and good skating have not translated to consistent offensive output at the Ontario Junior level yet but he is young and still developing and plays a determined 200-foot game.
C me not: He scored only one 5on5 goal from the top of the crease and three total from there throughout the entire season. He only attempted 90 total shots during the 2021/22 season.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
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