The 2004s.
Kalem Parker (D, R, 6’0″, 190, Calgary Hitmen, 10/12/2004)
Comments: Strengths: Kalem Parker’s game is built on his mobility and offensive instincts. As a quick skater with strong edgework, Parker effectively escapes pressure in the defensive zone and transitions the puck up ice with precision. His ability to make hard, flat outlet passes in stride is a standout attribute, allowing him to initiate quick and clean breakouts. Parker thrives in the offensive zone, where his vision and lateral movement enable him to create time and space. He’s adept at walking the blueline, using his hands and awareness to generate passing lanes or open himself for a shot. His puck skills are evident in his confidence to join the rush and carry the puck into the offensive zone, providing an additional layer of attack. Defensively, Parker’s hockey IQ shows in his ability to anticipate plays, as reflected in his team-high 13 takeaways during the game. He uses his quickness to intercept passes and disrupt plays effectively, especially in transition. Weaknesses: While Parker’s skating and offensive game are strengths, his play in defensive-zone battles needs significant improvement. He struggles to contain bigger, stronger opponents down low and is inconsistent in his use of physicality to disrupt puck carriers. Developing better stick positioning and leverage in one-on-one situations would help mitigate this issue. Parker’s aggressive mindset in the offensive zone occasionally results in poor decisions, such as getting caught at the blueline while attempting risky plays. These turnovers can lead to odd-man rushes against, as was the case tonight. His slashing penalty, stemming from being caught flat-footed in the neutral zone, highlights a need to improve his defensive positioning and gap control. NCAA College Hockey Fit and Development Benefits: The NCAA environment is an excellent fit for Kalem Parker’s development. The additional practice time and focus on skill refinement would allow him to enhance his decision-making and defensive-zone coverage. With fewer games in the NCAA schedule, Parker would have more opportunities for strength training to improve his ability to handle larger opponents in net-front and board battles. The college game’s emphasis on structure and systems would also help Parker refine his defensive positioning, ensuring he limits turnovers and makes smarter plays under pressure. The pace of NCAA hockey compared to the CHL would allow him to work on these aspects without sacrificing his offensive creativity. Projection: Although Kalem Parker is an NHL Draft pick he projects as a depth defenseman with power-play upside due to his skating, puck-moving ability, and offensive instincts. For this projection to materialize, he will need to develop a more reliable defensive game and improve his strength to handle physical battles. Without these improvements, he is more likely to settle into a professional career in Europe. Development Focus: Defensive Zone Play: Focus on stick positioning, body leverage, and winning battles against larger forwards. Decision-Making: Improve risk assessment in the offensive zone to reduce turnovers at the blueline. Strength Training: Add muscle to handle physical challenges and maintain gap control effectively. Defensive Positioning: Work on gap control and neutral-zone reads to avoid being caught flat-footed. Kalem Parker’s skating and offensive upside provide him with a strong foundation, and time in an NCAA program could help him develop into a reliable two-way defenseman capable of contributing in all situations at the professional level.
Maxim Muranov (RW, L, 6’2″, 188, Calgary Hitmen, 06/02/2004)
Comments: Strengths: Maxim Muranov possesses the physical tools that project well for an NHL future. At 6’2′ and 188 pounds, he has an ideal frame to continue adding strength and become a true power forward. His skating is another standout trait; Muranov’s posture and technique allow him to maintain speed and agility while navigating contact and moving laterally. He can protect the puck effectively, even at full speed, and his quick, deceptive release makes him a threat in the offensive zone. Off the puck, Muranov has made noticeable strides in adding structure to his game. He’s shown improved awareness as the weak-side forward, staying in position rather than drifting toward the puck. This development has allowed him to contribute more effectively to the team’s overall systems. Additionally, he’s demonstrated increased confidence in physical play, showing a willingness to engage in contact and maintain balance when pressured. Weaknesses: While Muranov’s skating and physical tools are strong, his overall game can still be inconsistent. He has moments where his lack of structure becomes apparent, as he occasionally laps the offensive zone without creating meaningful pressure or opportunities. His puck management also needs improvement, as evidenced by the five giveaways he recorded in this game against Victoria. Muranov has yet to fully leverage his size and physicality consistently. While he’s improved in this area, there’s still room for him to develop a more aggressive, north-south game that takes full advantage of his frame and skating ability. Defensively, his penalty-killing minutes are limited, suggesting he’s still building trust in his ability to be a reliable presence in his own zone. NCAA College Hockey Fit and Development Benefits: The NCAA environment would provide Muranov with the time needed to refine his raw skill set. The emphasis on skill development, combined with more frequent practice time and off-ice training, would allow him to continue improving his puck management, positioning, and physical strength. The NCAA schedule would also enable Muranov to focus on building ‘man strength,’ which will be critical for him to maximize his potential as a power forward. With his speed and physical tools, he has the potential to dominate at the collegiate level, building confidence while learning to play within a structured system. Projection: Maxim Muranov has the tools to develop into an NHL forward with the potential to fill a power forward role. His skating, size, and puck protection skills are NHL-caliber, but he will need to improve his processing, consistency, and ability to impact the game shift to shift. Development Focus: Puck Management: Work on minimizing turnovers, particularly in high-risk areas, to maximize offensive zone time. Consistency: Focus on playing with a purpose every shift, leveraging his physical tools to create offensive and defensive impacts. Strength Training: Prioritize adding muscle to enhance his physical game, making him harder to contain along the boards and in net-front battles. Defensive Awareness: Develop his penalty-killing ability and overall defensive positioning to become a more versatile player. Muranov’s blend of size, skating, and raw skill gives him intriguing upside. By using time in the NCAA to polish his game and add strength, he can grow into a player who contributes at both ends of the ice and transitions smoothly to the professional level.
Connor Hvidston (LW, L, 6’2″, 164, Calgary Hitmen, 09/11/2004)
Comments: Strengths: Connor Hvidston is a big, mobile forward who excels as a two-way player. His skating is fluid and efficient, allowing him to transition up the ice with ease and maintain good positioning throughout all zones. His hockey IQ is a standout trait; Hvidston consistently reads the play well, finding himself in the right spots at the right times on breakouts, neutral-zone regroups, and offensive rushes. Offensively, Hvidston is effective in zone entries, using his size and speed to attack inside ice and his vision to create opportunities for teammates. He is poised on the puck, often demonstrating excellent puck-handling and passing ability. His performance on the power play, particularly from the half-wall, showcased his ability to distribute crisp, quick passes and generate scoring chances with well-placed snap shots. Defensively, Hvidston’s angling and backchecking are strong, and he takes care of his responsibilities in his own zone. His stickwork is particularly effective in breaking up plays and transitioning possession. His compete level in puck retrievals down low and ability to win loose pucks highlight his work ethic. Weaknesses: Despite his size, Hvidston needs to become stronger on the puck, especially in board battles and when fighting for possession in tight spaces. While his overall game is sound, his play can lack consistency; there are stretches where his high-tempo, aggressive style wanes, and he becomes less impactful. Although his faceoff performance against Victoria (9 of 12) was strong, his overall faceoff skill is an area for growth. He competes well on draws but needs to refine his technique to improve against higher-caliber opponents. Hvidston also requires another gear in his skating to elevate his game further. While effective, adding more explosiveness to his stride could help him separate from defenders more consistently and become an even greater offensive threat. NCAA College Hockey Fit and Development Benefits: The NCAA environment is well-suited for Hvidston’s development. With a lighter game schedule, he would have time to focus on adding strength and explosiveness through targeted strength, power and conditioning programs. This would help him win puck battles more consistently and enhance his physical presence on the ice. The NCAA’s extra practices and structured systems would allow Hvidston to refine his defensive positioning, faceoff technique, and overall consistency. The extra practice time could also help him further develop his offensive instincts, especially in executing at a higher tempo. Projection: Connor Hvidston projects as a depth forward with strong two-way capabilities and special teams utility. His size, vision, and hockey IQ provide a solid foundation for his development, but he will need to improve his physical strength, explosiveness and consistency to reach his full potential. Development Focus: Strength Training: Focus on building core and upper-body strength for puck battles and physical play. Consistency: Develop a shift-to-shift mentality to maintain his high-tempo game throughout contests. Explosiveness: Work on improving his first few strides to add a higher gear to his skating. Faceoffs: Refine his faceoff technique to become more reliable in key situations. Connor Hvidston’s blend of size, skating, and hockey intelligence make him a strong candidate for NCAA hockey, where he could continue to hone his skills and physical tools to make an impact at the professional level.
Brayden Boehm (RW, L, 5’11”, 182, Victoria Royals, 01/15/2004)
Comments: Strengths: Brayden Boehm is an explosive, dynamic winger whose game thrives on speed, physicality, and puck anticipation. His skating is elite, featuring quickness in all directions, strong edgework, and the ability to maintain speed through contact. Boehm uses his speed effectively to pressure defenders, create turnovers, and generate offensive opportunities. His separation speed makes him a constant threat on zone entries, capable of beating defenders wide or cutting inside to open up scoring lanes. Boehm’s puck handling and vision are above average, allowing him to process plays quickly and execute in tight situations. His ability to protect the puck and delay on the attack often creates scoring chances for his linemates, as seen in his two assists against Calgary. His poise in high-pressure situations—such as turning back on an attack to generate a 2v1—demonstrates his hockey IQ and ability to adapt on the fly. Physically, Boehm, engages in battles along the boards, finishes checks consistently, and doesn’t hesitate to defend teammates when necessary. He plays a high-energy, straight-line game that lends itself to versatility, excelling on the forecheck and as a penalty killer. Weaknesses: While Boehm’s speed and athleticism are assets, he sometimes relies too heavily on attacking wide lanes, limiting his scoring chances by not consistently driving the middle lane. This tendency makes him more predictable and can allow defenders to mitigate his effectiveness, especially at higher levels against defenders who can match speeds easily. His shooting also lacks deception; adding variation to his release point would make him a more dynamic offensive weapon. Boehm’s turnover rate (9 giveaways against Calgary) highlights the need for improved puck management, especially in tight areas or when under pressure. Despite his willingness to play physically, he could use his strength more effectively to win battles down low and maintain possession in high-traffic areas. NCAA College Hockey Fit and Development Benefits: An NCAA environment would be an ideal fit for Boehm, providing the structured off-ice development and physical preparation he needs to elevate his game. The focus on off-ice training would help him add strength, making him even harder to handle in puck battles and along the boards. Increased practice time and video review would refine his decision-making and positional awareness, particularly his ability to attack the middle lane with greater consistency. The slower NCAA schedule would also allow Boehm to focus on improving his shot mechanics, incorporating deceptive releases and better shot selection into his offensive arsenal. With his speed and work ethic, Boehm would thrive in a system emphasizing disciplined two-way play, enhancing his penalty-killing and defensive capabilities. Projection: Brayden Boehm projects as a depth winger with the potential to develop into a high-energy, versatile shutdown forward. His speed, physicality, and work rate will make him an asset in all situations, but he must continue to refine his offensive tools and puck management to reach his ceiling. Development Focus: Middle Lane Drives: Prioritize attacking the middle more consistently on zone entries to create higher-quality scoring opportunities. Shot Deception: Work on changing shooting angles and release points to make him less predictable. Puck Management: Focus on reducing giveaways by improving decision-making under pressure and in tight spaces. Strength Training: Continue to add muscle to enhance his ability to win puck battles and play more effectively in traffic. Boehm’s speed and tenacity already make him a significant threat. With an opportunity at continued NCAA development, he has the potential to evolve into a well-rounded, impactful professional player.
Vaughn Watterodt (C, L, 5’10”, 190, Victoria Royals, 02/13/2004)
Comments: Strengths: Vaughn Watterodt is a high-compete, straight-line center who embodies the qualities of a dependable two-way forward. His game is built on work ethic, physicality, and defensive reliability. Watterodt’s ability to finish checks, stand up for teammates, and consistently bring energy makes him a fan favorite and a leader by example on the ice. Defensively, Watterodt is detailed and effective. His active stick disrupts passing and shooting lanes, and he demonstrates strong positional awareness in all three zones. He is particularly adept at neutralizing opponents on the penalty kill, using his agility and tenacity to pressure puck carriers and force turnovers. Offensively, Watterodt plays a direct, no-nonsense game. He excels at attacking the net from below the goal line, leveraging his strength and tenacity to create chaos in high-danger areas. His expanded one-timer zone adds versatility to his shot, and his willingness to play in traffic makes him a consistent presence around the crease. His skating mechanics, featuring a deep knee bend and three-quarter stride, allow him to maintain balance and strength in physical engagements. Additionally, his understanding of his linemates’ roles ensures he stays disciplined and focused on his responsibilities, making him a trustworthy center or wing option. Weaknesses: Watterodt’s offensive toolkit, while functional, is limited by predictability. His hard shot lacks variety in release points, making it easier for goaltenders to anticipate. Similarly, he tends to stick-handle before shooting, missing opportunities for quick-strike plays. His first touch on bouncing pucks and hard passes is average, occasionally slowing down offensive transitions. Refining his puck-handling consistency and incorporating smoother catch-and-release techniques would significantly enhance his scoring potential. While his skating is effective, it could benefit from improved explosiveness and stride length to maximize his ability to transition quickly and keep pace at higher levels. NCAA College Hockey Fit and Development Benefits: Watterodt’s high-compete, high-energy style is well-suited for the structured and physically demanding NCAA game. The collegiate environment would provide him the time and resources to: Enhance Explosiveness: Strength training and focused skating development could improve his first-step quickness and stride efficiency. Refine Offensive Skills: The higher practice-to-game ratio in the NCAA would allow him to work on improving his puck-handling, release timing, and overall offensive instincts. Build Strength: Increased off-ice training would help him add functional strength to further dominate in physical battles and crease-front situations. The slower development curve of NCAA hockey would allow Watterodt to polish his defensive reliability and refine his role as a penalty killer and energy player, making him an asset in professional settings. Projection: Vaughn Watterodt projects as a depth forward with versatility to play center or wing. His high compete level, defensive details, and physicality suggest he could carve out a role as a penalty-killing specialist and energy player who agitates opponents. With refinement to his skating and offensive game, he has the potential to be a dependable, all-situations forward at the professional level. Development Focus: Puck Skills: Improve first-touch handling on hard passes and bouncing pucks; develop a smoother catch-and-release technique for scoring opportunities. Shot Variety: Work on altering shot angles and release points to make him less predictable offensively. Skating Mechanics: Focus on stride length and explosiveness to enhance overall mobility and pace. Offensive Awareness: Develop his ability to recognize and execute quick-strike opportunities, particularly in transition. Watterodt’s foundation of high effort, defensive acumen, and physicality is already professional-ready. By leveraging the NCAA’s development structure, he can evolve into a valuable two-way forward at the professional level.
Tanner Scott (LW, L, 5’9″, 175, Victoria Royals, 05/31/2004, Bowling Green)
Comments: Strengths: Tanner Scott is a highly mobile and tenacious winger whose game revolves around speed, agility, and defensive responsibility. His skating mechanics are a standout feature; he possesses great foot speed, strong edgework, and a low, balanced stride that allows him to explode into open ice or maneuver through traffic with ease. Scott is particularly effective in the neutral zone, using his speed to attack the middle of the ice on zone entries, creating time and space for himself and his teammates. Offensively, Scott’s quick hands and clever puck-handling skills allow him to maintain possession at high speeds and make plays in tight spaces. His quick-release shot is deceptive and often catches goaltenders off guard. While not an elite playmaker, his ability to scan the ice and read off his teammates ensures he contributes consistently to offensive sequences. Defensively, Scott is a workhorse. His commitment to detail and strong positional play make him highly effective in his own end. His active feet and stick enable him to force turnovers and transition play efficiently. Scott’s pace, energy, and ability to slip through contact keep him involved in critical areas, even without elite natural offensive instincts. Weaknesses: Scott’s offensive upside may be limited by his lack of natural scoring instincts. While his pace and hands generate opportunities, he occasionally struggles to capitalize on them or create high-danger plays independently. Adding more creativity and variety to his offensive toolkit, including better vision in the attacking zone, would make him a more dynamic threat. At 5’9′ and 175 pounds, Scott’s size could be a limiting factor against larger opponents, particularly in board battles and net-front situations. While he shows a willingness to engage physically, continuing to add strength will be essential to help him handle contact and maintain possession in tighter areas. NCAA College Hockey Fit and Development Benefits: Tanner Scott’s game is well-suited for the NCAA environment, where the emphasis on development, off-ice training, and a favorable practice-to-game ratio would allow him to refine his tools. The NCAA schedule would provide him with time to add functional strength, making him more resilient in physical battles and more effective in net-front scenarios. The collegiate system’s focus on team defense and systems play would enhance his already-strong defensive game, preparing him for the demands of professional hockey. Additionally, the pace and intensity of NCAA competition would challenge Scott to continue developing his offensive instincts and improve his ability to finish scoring chances. Projection: Tanner Scott projects as a depth winger with the potential to carve out a role as a reliable, high-energy player who excels in transition and on the penalty kill. His speed, defensive reliability, and ability to play with pace make him an appealing option for teams looking for versatility in their system. With further development, he could grow into a more consistent offensive contributor and more well rounded two-way player. Development Focus: Offensive Instincts: Work on creativity and vision in the offensive zone, focusing on generating and finishing high-danger opportunities. Strength Development: Add muscle to improve puck protection and the ability to win battles against larger opponents. Shot Variety: Develop shooting techniques to increase unpredictability and effectiveness as a scoring threat. Playmaking in Tight Spaces: Enhance his ability to make high-percentage plays in traffic, especially in the offensive zone. Scott’s speed and defensive commitment are NHL-caliber. An NCAA path would give him the resources to refine his game and become a valuable two-way contributor at the professional level.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images