By DraftPro staff

I know, I know, what a disappointment the abbreviated World Juniors were, not only to the fans, the players, the coaches, trainers and countless volunteers, but also the NHL types who really look forward to this event as the majority of them get to see, in a two week snapshot, of the best prospects coming down the pipeline for their NHL franchises.

Even though there were just a few games played, our guys still were able to see some of the highly regarded draft eligible against those who were a couple years older than they and competing at an elite level and were more than happy to offer these takes and opinions from these limited views.

TOP 2022 DRAFT ELIGIBLES

“Shane Wright is still a dominant defensive centre currently. His attention to detail and IQ away from the puck is better than anyone else in his class. He’s also got 25 primary points out of his 30. And SH% is low. I’ll admit he hasn’t shown anything exceptional that makes me go “wow” this year. So it’s fair to maybe say he isn’t going to be a franchise centre but he will be an elite first liner in his NHL career. The top 10 is very much up for grabs in terms of jockeying for position. A lot of strong candidates but it’s missing elite talent in the top 10.” – Jared Brown

“Did Brad Lambert bring his stock back up into the top five discussion following the very abbreviated WJC? He showed just what a dynamic, offensive player he can be in the two games he played by being able to carry the puck around/through traffic, fire shots on net or distribute the puck to linemates with near perfection. His skating was smooth, precise, and allowed him to be a threat to break away every time he was on the ice. His vision and ability to spot teammates was incredible and the best part is, he made it look easy. He finally looked like he was having fun again. He displayed the talents he used that originally had his name near the top of draft lists. But unless he can shake the monkey off his back and continue this caliber of play back home regardless of linemates, I feel he won’t quite have enough to crack the top five at the end of the day.” – Matt Hnatiuk

“Logan Cooley has a real good shot at going 2nd overall, after of course Shane Wright. Skating is dynamic both laterally and vertically. Shot keeps on improving and should be considered a strength. Playmaking and puck distribution are near elite. Two-way hockey sense is high-end.” – Jared Brown

“Joakim Kemell wasn’t the guy we saw before the injury. His confidence level seems to be significantly lower and it’s interesting to see how long it will take for him to pick it back up as he hasn’t had this kind of slumps earlier during his career. Before the injury Kemell looked like he shot the puck knowing he was going to score with every puck he shot at the goal. In WJC it seemed like he shot the puck just to finish the attack which is a giant difference to what we saw from him earlier. He is still skating well though, is responsible and playing with good attitude. He didn’t really make anything happen. He tried. He just lacks the feeling that he’s on top of the world and the confidence.” – Mikko Saarela

“Assuming David Jiricek comes back from his knee injury with no complications, he will be a top five pick. He is the most NHL ready defenseman in the class. His powerful stride combined with his big physical presence make him a force to be reckoned with on the ice. To top it off, he has some of the best hands you will see out of a guy his size. He could be a regular NHLer as soon as next year.” – Andrew LeBlanc

“Once again, Simon Nemec displayed he is a defenseman who offers skill and an offensive touch.  Poised and smooth transitional skating.  Composed with the puck, but not as much without the puck.  Still has his struggles and areas of improvement, but provided slick puck movement up the ice.  With his head up, he recognizes what is in front of him quickly. Quick stick handle and cuts on his edges, he is most efficient on the attack through the neutral zone.  His mind processes the game like a forward.  A team looking to add offense and creativity from the backend, he is a top option in this draft. There are still some question marks without the puck. His gap control and overall mindset in the defensive zone need improvement, but not drastic.  He should contend for a top ten spot, as well as the top defenseman taken in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.” – Joseph Peters

“I’ll add onto Nemec by saying I didn’t like the way he defended. He wasn’t tough in front of his net and didn’t box his man out well. I thought his anticipation and timing on making defensive stops was a smidge off and at times had him behind his man and chasing. But if you want and offensive defenceman with creativity like Joseph said, Nemec is your man. He constantly activates into the rush and provides his forwards with a passing option in transition. He plays the game how you’d want a mobile offensive minded defender to play, aggressive, confident, and the skill to maneuver through traffic. Defensive game can be worked on. But having the confidence to create offence and opportunities as consistently as he does is a talent and an early sight at a defenceman that can be of impact at the pro level.” – Jared Brown

“Juraj Slafkovsky never seems to reach full speed and his slow skating allowed the opposing players to pressure him from behind a lot and it clearly was a conscious decision by them to do that as often as possible. Slafkovsky uses his body very well to protect the puck but when you don’t create separation and you are double-teamed you can only do so much. His defensive positioning also needs quite a bit of work, he tends to drop very deep and forget about his guy (loosing coverage). He clearly wants to take over a shift, but he was often quite passive when his team had the puck. He usually shoots a lot which sometimes leads to a bunch of blocked shots. That didn’t happen in this game but against Sweden he took 13 shots and five of them were blocked. Slafkovsky’s long reach allowed him to pressure the American defencemen one contest and take the puck away a couple of times. If he only skated better, he could do so much more out there. He’s got a lot of potential but he’s far from being NHL ready.” – Mikko Saarela

“Slafkovsky’s best attribute is by far his hockey IQ in my opinion. This man pre-scans before every puck touch, then once with the puck is back to scanning and assessing his passing options. This allows him to execute on quick passing plays as soon as he gets the puck. Excellent vision and puck distribution from the outside. In the game against USA I though he was the only forward really generating offence. I agree his top speed isn’t at a high level, but mobility wise he moves well enough for such a big man. The heads-up awareness is utilized to identify routes of attack quickly and effectively skate the puck through the neutral zone and gain zone entries for his team.” – Jared Brown

OTHER 2022 STANDOUTS

“Lian Bichsel inserted himself in the first-round discussion at the WJC. In his one game against the Russians, Bichsel imposed his will physically and did not let the skilled wingers dance around him. He is a big man, but don’t let that fool you. Bichsel has great hands for a guy his size. He is excellent at feeling pressure from forecheckers and making a quick move to send them flying by. What’s holding him back from the top tier of defensemen in this class? His skating ability. He has a powerful stride when he gets going but takes a while to get up to speed. In the next few months, if Bichsel improves his skating skill while adding more size, he will have to be considered in the first round.” – Andrew LeBlanc

“With much anticipation from the group of forwards from Slovakia, Filip Mesar was one of those key forwards to the success of this team.  Playing with some highly skilled forwards he fit right in as a top six forward.  Fluid skating winger who pounces on the puck with a quick strike ability.  On the powerplay or even strength, he gets the puck on net.  Often finds a way to escape with his fluid skating and nifty stickhandling.  Handles the puck with a calm, yet, higher tempo nature.  He is going to find a way to get his shot off.  Had some trouble leading the charge down the ice.  Great awareness and competition go a long way with him.  Gets into a fog, but he can quickly reset himself.  Overall, he is a legit forward in the 2022 draft class, who sort of hides behind the curtains of the other names.”  – Joseph Peters

“Marco Kasper took on an enormous task of representing his country as the captain of a team with less high-end power and depth than others. No matter the score, he displayed smarts, skill, and passion, sometimes crossing the line. His aggressive style of play, his tenacious pursuit of the puck, reasons him as a standout from this shortened tournament. Impressively smart winger showing he anticipates passes by jumping into the lane and disrupting the intended play reaching with his stick, then going on the attack. Has that drive to the net attitude. With his hand skills and strong balanced skating on his edges, along with his general hockey smarts and mechanics, Kasper may have solidified himself as a late first round selection in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.” – Joseph Peters

“Kasper was a literal bulldozer and made opponent’s lives a living hell along the boards and in front of the net. Having not watched the kid since last year’s tournament, it’s incredible how far one can come. I’ll never forget his innocent, light hearted interview during the intermission on TSN at last years tournament, the kid was all smiles and seemed as if he couldn’t harm a fly… now he’s just a pure ball of hate. Doesn’t fly by anybody, always flying shoulder first into every check, tying up sticks and bashing bodies in front… he’s a menace. Kasper knew if he wanted to grab attention at this event, he’d have to do so with his physicality and defense. There were a few defensive mishaps here and there in front of goal where he missed catching the late guy coming in for a rebound, but when you’re facing ~60 shots a game… how can you blame him for 2 mistakes when he’s done 30 things correctly?.. it’d just be unfair. He made the most of his opportunities in the offensive zone and showed off some good footwork and effort when chasing pucks in deep. I don’t think Kasper will be as dynamic as his line mate Vinzenz Rohrer… but by god, could I see this guy stirring the pot and being a clinical middle 6 forward on the NHL stage.” – Kai Farenholtz

“Jiri Kulich played with relentless puck pursuit mentality. Using his speed and strong forward strides to consistently be the first forward on the forecheck. His skating is an asset and uses it to his advantage to close gaps and pressure quickly. Possesses an extremely active stick as he checks his man. Whacks at the puck trying to poke it free. Leads with it defensively to take away space and force his opposition into an uncomfortable position. Operated on his off side on the powerplay where he likes to utilize his one-timer or whipping wrist shot to get pucks through to the net. Generates a lot of power in his shots. Showed off some quick skilled hands to perform moves with the puck at full speed. Sometimes his hands don’t move as fast as his feet which causes him to bobble the puck or over skate it. There is a solid foundation of abilities to work with for Kulich. He owns great skating, speed, and utilization of it with and without the puck. Gives you 100% effort without the puck and can quickly turn a turnover into a rush chance. There is a lot to like in Kulich’s game.” – Jared Brown

“Adam Sykora is the player type every coach would like to have in their team. He reminds me of Artturi Lehkonen, a high-energy player with great skating. Sykora showed absolutely relentless backchecking and forechecking. He’s got everything you want in a bottom six forward except the size. He’s not your typical top six forward but with the right linemates he can fit there as well. Sykora has shown in Slovakia that he can also score. I think he deserved at least 14-15 minutes of ice time at WJC but he didn’t get more than 10. He didn’t allow Sweden to have almost any controlled attacks and the puck stayed mostly in the offensive zone when he was on the ice. Sykora is definitely someone worth drafting.” – Mikko Saarela

2023 ELIGIBLES SHINE

“Matvei Michkov. This kid is a pure goal scorer and a highly effective offensive talent. He is willing to shoot the puck from anywhere using any form of shot he can get away, and he gets them on net with speed and accuracy. He has an astonishingly quick wrist shot that is deadly accurate, and he displayed the fact that his backhand shot is very ‘Crosbyesque’ in its power (sometimes it’s just lucky. See his goal vs Sweden). His skating was low and powerful giving him a solid, balanced stance no matter the speed he is travelling down the ice. He is creative and deceptive with his movements and speed, allowing him to draw defenders in before he explodes forward making his move. His passing was highly accurate and extremely crisp in all situations and speeds. His vision is elite and time seems to slow down for him in the offensive zone, giving him the ability to quickly decide pass, shoot, deke or carry the puck. He displayed the ability to drive hard to the net with and without the puck and create high quality scoring chances shift after shift. He did seem to be lacking in his defensive play, but that isn’t what he’s on the ice for. Teams long for players like him, and I’m sure there are many licking their chops at a chance to select him. Unfortunately they will have to wait until 2026 before they even have a chance of adding him to their roster due to his KHL contract.” – Matt Hnatiuk

“I thought Dalibor Dvorsky looked matured and a player that can be trusted to play respectable minutes and not a 16-year-old that needed to be sheltered. Displayed strong compete along the boards in his own end. Solid IQ to get inside body positioning and outwork his opponent to get the puck back. Overall showed high compete and good defensive positioning. He looks to anticipate and knock down passes, not always looking to chase down the hit and instead stay with the developing play away from the puck. He’s a great give and go passer. Keeps his feet moving after he distributes the puck. Quick hands in tight spaces to dish off high IQ passes that showed off his small area skill level. Great accuracy on these passes, keeping the continuation of the play going. Though he didn’t showcase elite talent or skill in his skating or the ability to create high-danger opportunities, Dvorsky played a strong 200ft game down the middle and distributed the puck with intelligence and accuracy.” – Jared Brown

“Connor Bedard is a gem.  He oozes brilliance and offensive talent.  In this shortened tournament, he showed he is a versatile goal scorer with an NHL shot.  Slippery on his edges, as he can pull the puck on a string close to his body, toe dragging the opposition.  Certainly got the most out of his ice time.  He is truly a brilliant skater.  Fast feet and controlled body movement.  Feet, hands, mind, vision, he has it all.  Defending is not too shabby either.  He applies pressure and is positionally aware.  Wisely uses his stick to redirect the play in front of him.  When able, he can quickly transition up the ice.  Finds a way to cycle the puck, interchange, get into the middle of the ice, as well as gain position in front of the net.  He just finds a way.  Rarely a time where he looks out of place.  With the absurd amount of talent stacking up for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, in my opinion Bedard has the tools and mindset to maintain his position as the projected first overall pick.” – Joseph Peters

“Keep a look out for David Reinbacher. If there was one positive thing about Austria’s blue line, it’s the blooming presence of 2023 eligible Reinbacher… in fact, he seemed as if he was the only one comfortable with the puck on his blade in most situations when it came to Austria’s defenders. For a late 04 on an inexperienced and overwhelmed core, I was astounded with his professionalism and poise at this stage already, especially given his team’s situation. I found he was quite adept at taking away lanes with his quick defensive thinking and really forced opponents to make adjustments on the rush since he read the developing play so maturely. He was tidy with his stick checks and with the bit of size that he possesses he was terrific at holding attackers wide while they tried to develop plays down low. His play with the puck was just as noticeable, as he was the only defender that wasn’t rimming the puck up the boards with his head down… always surveying, and not afraid to take matters into his own hands and even stickhandle a forechecker before lacing an easy pass. He’s mature beyond his years in all aspects of his game… this is surely a prospect I’d have as a first rounder, and possibly a top defender in the forward heavy 2023 draft.” – Kai Farenholtz

So that is a wrap for us from the abbreviated 2022 World Junior Championships as we hold out hope that the IIHF and participating countries will be able to get a redux event off the ground some time before the 2022 NHL Draft in July.

We value all of our views on a prospect as a part of the big picture when formulating our rankings and that is what these two games were for our guys, a piece of the puzzle. We will be once again going into ranking meeting as we look to put together our teams Winter Rankings in the coming weeks so be sure to keep an eye out for those.

And if you are looking for a mid-season rundown on the 2022 draft class as a whole be sure to pick up your copy of the Draft Prospects Hockey 2022 Preview Magazine available for instant download or print through Amazon.

Photo’s courtesy of IIHF.com

By DraftPro staff

Every draft season there are a handful of names that slip through the cracks for one reason or another and become late round gems. The prospects who were not getting all the first-round hype or headlines for much or all of the season only to end up one of the top prospect the entire draft crop produces when looking back after a couple years. The term often used is a diamond in the rough and below is our mid-season list of potential diamonds.

This ‘Diamonds in the Rough’ video highlights some of these names with breakdowns by various members of the scouting staff at DraftPro, narrated and edited by the talented Kai Farneholtz as well.

BOSTON BUCKBERGER | D | BROOKS BANDITS | AJHL | 5’11” | 172 | L | DOB 06.01.03
“2003 born defensemen with great puck control, footwork and passing. Bit questionable in the top speed dept. But is working hard at developing that area of his game. He displays high end offensive zone awareness and reads developing plays with ease. He has an accurate shot that he keeps low and loaded with power with a nice release. He has high end passing abilities and can place the puck on the tape of his teammates no matter the distance. Defensively he uses his play reading to acutely pressure his opponent and create turnovers. While he’s not an overly physical player, he will still throw his weight around if needed, but seems to prefer using his other skill sets to gain possession when he can. Boston is a two-way d-man who can totally control the flow of the game. He will shut teams down using his puck control and maneuverability in his own zone, or he will make beautiful passes time after time to set up his teammates in the o-zone.” – Matt Hnatiuk

MICHAEL MASTRODOMENICO | D | LINCOLN STARS | USHL | 6’2” | 196 | R | DOB 04.19.04
“Steady strides and full of composure on his skates. Strong poise and control of tempo in his game. Smooth skater, solid pushes with balance and the ability to stop and turn when needed. Handles the puck with fluidity. He does not have the quickest hands, but he can quickly move the puck up the ice and generate rushes with tape to tape stretch passes catching his forward in stride. Generates many rushes dishing the puck from his end of the ice connecting with his forwards on the wall or in the middle of the ice. Willing to shoot the puck from just about anywhere, showing he has a tricky mind looking to catch goalies off their angles with out of the norm shots. Anticipates when and where he should move the puck, as well as how he handles pressure on the wall by pinning his man to the glass. For the most part, he eliminates his man from being a threat with a battle on the boards, as well as clearing the front of the net for his goaltender. With proper time and development, he could be a special hidden talent from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.” – Joseph Peters

PAVEL MINTYUKOV | D | SAGINAW SPIRIT | OHL | 6’1” | 192 | L | DOB 11.25.03
“Impacting the play early and often at both ends of the ice for Saginaw of the OHL, Mintyukov has adapted to a new team and country very well. On the ice he has shown impressive strength on the wall and net front, displayed solid all-encompassing mobility both rushing the puck up ice and staying with his check defensively. He uses his smarts to make the right reads and plays at both ends of the rink. Also shows that he can, and rather likes to play chippy and throw the body. The late 2003 born player is poised, patient, and confident with the puck on his blade, using solid vision to scan the ice and find his options, displaying quick hands, also having a dangerous shot, looking for high percentage opportunities, often sneaking deep into the o-zone for a chance, and is a minute-munching, complete defender. Consider me a fan. I could see this talented Russian import selected in the first round come July and playing inside an NHL top four in a few seasons.” – Dan Stewart

VINZENZ ROHRER | RW | OTTAWA 67’S | OHL | 5’11” | 168 | R | DOB 09.09.04
“Found himself at home quick in Ottawa as the import has fit in seamlessly. Now leading all rookies in points with 22 in 28 games. He shows how smart a player he is on a night to night basis. Cerebral instincts that allow him to make decisions at top speed. Super creative iq and makes some high light real dekes in transition. High compete level and motor shift to shift. Struggles a bit when the game gets physical and hangs around the perimeter too much. When things open up watch out for the soft hands and vision. Plays the power play and a little bit on the penalty kill. Fits nicely on the right wing but can play his off wing with a strong backhand. Projects as a middle 6 winger that can play up and down the line up. I’d consider him versatile and able to play a role. Agile skating and high Iq should ease that transition to the next level. See some flashes of a right shot Andreas Johnsson at times.” – Matt Morrison

RUSLAN GAZIZOV | RW | LONDON KNIGHTS | OHL | 5’11” | 187 | L | DOB 01.21.04
“Has immediately had an offensive impact in the OHL for the powerhouse London Knights. He’s a deceptive skater that changes his pace on a dime to fool defenders. Agile and explosive edgework in tight spaces to separate himself for a check and also really hard to knock off the puck once he has a defender on his back. He’s built like a fire hydrant, absorbing contact like a pro and solid puck protection skills. Possesses both the quick offensive mindset to make fast passing plays and the patience to delay and wait for his desired passing lane to open up. Solid vision to survey the ice, create high-danger chances and operate as an above average playmaker. Effective at playing his off wing and that’s where he likes to be. As the season rolls on, I expect more people to notice Gazizov since he is now playing in the OHL and wouldn’t be shocked to see him make a rise in the rankings. I think he’s a second round prospect.” – Jared Brown

JAKUB HUJER | LW | ROUYN-NORANDA HUSKIES | QMJHL | 6’3” | 194 | L | DOB 06.17.04
“Hujer is a solid element on his struggling Huskies team. He stands out on the wing with his impressive size and the level of effort he provides. You will routinely notice him forechecking with an active stick, either in the offensive zone or back in his own end. He’s fairly proficient at stripping pucks off opponents and blocking shots. He doesn’t show hesitation towards getting into board battles though won’t necessarily come away with the puck every time. I would love to see him be more assertive in carrying the puck on his own. Typically, he’s too often the third touch up the ice, meaning he’s often behind the play or dependent on some lesser-skilled teammates making progress up ice. When he does have the puck on his stick in the opposing zone, it usually leads to, at minimum, a scoring chance or an accurate transfer to his linemate. In general, his passes are accurate as well as off his stick with correct timing. On the PP, he’s usually down near the goal line, distributing towards the slot. Finally, as much as I like his defensive game 5on5, it strangely didn’t look as crisp on the PK: he found himself sort of lost in between the dots, a little jittery or chasing the puck carrier. There are some strong elements to work with from the start and, so long as he’s an open learner, he can continue to develop his overall game. A solid mid-round, potential middle of the lineup, pick.” – Christian B-Cote

JIRI KULICH | C | HC ENERGIE KARLOVY VARY | CZECHIA | 6’0” | 172 | L | DOB 04.14.04
“An impressive draft season is unfolding in the Czech Extraliga with HC Energie Karlovy Vary. Center Kulich plays an exciting two-way style game and is producing offense at an impressive rate. A slippery, shifty, elusive skater, strong on his edges. Slick puck skills and quick shot release with good mustard behind it that have fared well while playing against men. Excellent anticipation. His one timer and ability to get it off quickly is a real weapon inside the offensive zone. His creativity and puck protection also stand out. Always moving, gets to good spots, tenacious, plays with good speed. He is not just an offensive player but also brings a solid two-way effort. Willing to use his frame and play physical along the wall even when going up against someone larger and older than he. He is a leader and someone teammates gravitate towards following. Plays a mature game. Has jumped up my list as the season has gone on. Likely made his way into a first round spot on a few NHL team boards.” – Dan Stewart

FILIP NORDBERG | D | SÖDERTÄLJE SK | HOCKEYALLSVENSKAN | 6’4” | 207 | L | DOB 03.05.04
“Bursting onto the international scene, Nordberg has sure made an impact. The big Swede is excellent at using his frame and reach to make it difficult for opponents to manufacture much of anything. This is also a testament of his great positioning defensively. He knows when to apply pressure and is exceptional at getting the puck out of his own zone. The main criticism on Nordberg is his conservative offensive zone play. He sticks to his blue line like glue. However, when playing the puck, he is good at getting it in deep and has hard shot that gets through traffic. In an era that sees a lot of puck moving defensemen coming through the ranks, Nordberg brings a different type of game that still has its place in the NHL. In a draft class that is chalk full of top tier Swedish defensemen, Nordberg is going under the radar. With a bit of work on his offensive play, Nordberg could see himself playing in the NHL in the next few years.” – Andrew LeBlanc

OSCAR PANTZARE | D | FRÖLUNDA HC J18 | J18 REGION | 6’1” | 187 | L | DOB 04.21.04
“Pantzare has really powerful skating and excellent hands. Few defensemen have the offensive upside that Oscar has, as he really can make other top players look like fools. He possesses a lethal shot with great accuracy and reads the game well, especially in the offensive zone. His balance is great as he retains puck-possession and body-control despite receiving hits and pushes. This makes him difficult to stop once traveling at high speed as he combines his speed, balance and great hands to break through. There was hype surrounding him last season entering his first year in Frölunda after recording the most points out of all defensemen in the famous Swedish tournament TV-Pucken. That season was abbreviated, yet since then he has 10 goals and 14 assists in 27 games played. Unfortunately, he has struggled to find consistency in his defensive game and has been playing a bit immature. He hasn’t played a single game with the Frölunda U20 team despite playing in his last season as a U18 player. Notable is that 3 other 2004 born defenseman got the opportunity ahead of Pantzare in the organization. Only playing 27 games over the last two seasons is far from a dream scenario and we should expect him to take further steps in his development and mature a lot as a player as we are now back to a regular schedule.” – Niclas Karlsson

SANDIS VILMANIS | RW | LULEÅ HF J20 | J20 NATIONELL | 6’1” | 194 | L | DOB 01.23.04
“This Latvian born player is a skilled leftwing with many offensive tools in his toolbox. Vilmanis is a combination between a lethal sniper/playmaker and a hard-working power forward. The compete level of this young guy is very high, never quits on a play and can also throw his body into a hit on the forecheck. Has fluid skating with energetic and powerful first steps, but it is his handling with the puck at speed that makes him so dangerous. On the downside he would be inactive in the defensive zone and sometimes come on the wrong side of the attacking defender, so the defensive attribute is an area open for improvement. Clinical when scoring chance is given and he doesn´t hesitate to release his hard, well disguised shot. Vilmanis holds a solid hockey mind which clearly shows in his quick decisions with nice well-timed passes all over the ice. Leads his team (Lulea J20) in both goals and points and it will be exciting to see if he gets the chance of playing with the pros in SHL this year. He is not projected to go in the top rounds but with his season efforts this far I do believe that he can be a diamond in the rough.” – Charlie Thelin

JANI NYMAN | LW | ILVES | LIIGA | 6’3” | 207 | L | DOB 07.30.04
“Nyman has been top 10 of Finnish -04’s for a long time but he has come a long way. Skating has been a major issue for him, even though it’s still not a strength of his, it doesn’t stand out as a weakness against men at Mestis level. He’s a big guy with an elite shot. He loves his wrist shot off a stride and it’s lethal. Nyman isn’t flashy with his stickhandling, but he is effective. He makes mostly simple moves while protecting the puck which he is very great at. He isn’t afraid to drive the net but with that frame you would perhaps like to see more of that. Nyman could be a great fit for a team that doesn’t have that big of a problem with picking players who have some work to do with their skating. I’d personally select him in the second half of the 1st round.” – Mikko Saarela

ARTYOM BARABOSHA | D | KRASNAYA ARMIYA MOSKVA | MHL | 6’2” | 190 | R | DOB 03.18.04
“He’s a sizable, mobile defenseman who’s always looking to move the puck up the ice. His skills start with a strong skating foundation, with a long, powerful stride. Barabosha is a fantastic puck carrier in transition, using head fakes and shoulder dips to create space for himself. It’s not uncommon for him to take the puck end to end by himself multiple times in one game at the MHL level. On defense, Barabosha boasts a very strong defensive stick and a punishing physical game. He will not allow forwards to beat him to the inside, and does a great job keeping the puck on the perimeter of the ice. Barabosha plays a rover game in the offensive zone, he follows the puck constantly, looking for holes and lanes to jump down into. His passing game is also notable, he’s got the ability to hit small pockets, find teammates in stride, and execute long stretch passes. Overall, Barabosha can be described as a strong, two-way defenseman with bottom four NHL potential.” – Alex Taxman

DANIIL DAVYDOV | C | MHK DYNAMO ST. PETERSBURG | MHL | 5’11” | 165 | L | DOB 03.06.04
SEMYON SINYATKIN | RW | MHK DYNAMO ST. PETERSBURG | MHL | 5’11” | 183 | L | DOB 03.14.04
“The dynamic duo of Semyon Sinyatkin and Daniil Davydov. The ‘04 Russians are linemates on MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg, with Davydov being the centerman and Sinyatkin mostly playing right wing. Davydov is elite on faceoffs and has high-end IQ and off-puck instincts. He’s also got a nifty set of hands and looks to funnel plays towards the center of the ice. Sinyatkin is a pure offensive force on the wing. His game is all about skill and deception, and his playmaking ability is also truly high-end.” – Alex Taxman

By Jared Brown

Matthew Poitras And His Early OHL Season Success

Matthew Poitras was one of many 2004 born OHL rookies who were robbed of their 16 year old DY-1 season. The former Whitby Wildcat went twelfth overall to the Guelph Storm in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection Draft. He finished his U16 season second in scoring in the ETAHL behind fellow 2022 NHL draft eligible Dalyn Wakely. Poitras captained his Wildcat team and they were regarded as a contender for the 2020 OHL Cup, but sadly the Covid-19 pandemic hit and cancelled the prolific U16 tournament.

Poitras has gotten off to a positive start in his OHL career. He started out by tallying ten points in six preseason games, solidifying a roster spot inside the Storm’s top nine forward group. The offensive production has carried over into season play, as at the time of writing this he has totaled up twenty points in twenty-six games for Guelph. Poitras currently sits in a tie for fourth in both Rookie Scoring and First-Year Draft Eligible Players in the OHL. He has played mostly down the middle for the Storm. Occasionally has been vaulted up the lineup to play on the first line, slotting in the right wing position.

Here at DraftPro Hockey, we have Poitras ranked in spot #41 in our latest fall rankings and has garnered a lot of attention from our OHL scouts. Now, let’s dive into why this player is a top prospect, where his strengths and weaknesses lie, and what tools he can use to have success in the NHL.

*For Reference, Poitras is #14 in either the Maroon or White jerseys for the Guelph Storm.

Puck Retrieval & Work Ethic

The No. 1 thing that you notice when watching Poitras is his play in small-ice and retrieving pucks back. One of his best assets is his ability to win his puck battles and get defenders on his back while he scans and looks for options. He has a disruptive stick which allows him to get underneath to takeaway pucks and cause giveaways. He effectively uses his stick, turning it over and having the toe of his blade pointed down, then coming over top of his opponents stick and pushing his weight down to tie up their stick. Thus, the opposition can’t get a clean first touch on the puck, causing turnovers and making defensive tie ups. He does have a habit of reaching in with his stick when he is beat and needs to be mindful of where his stick is to avoid too many stick infractions.

He plays with high level work ethic and isn’t easy to knock off the puck, showing strong balance and a low center of gravity. He’s able to handle and absorb contact to maintain control of the puck and play off the cycle well, which is a trait he can transfer over to the pro level. Poitras gets in on the forecheck and regularly pressures hard in the attacking zone. He knows he doesn’t have the speed to fly past defenders (more on his skating later) and in result will make smart short dump and chases to get in on the forecheck and gather the puck back.

In the clip below (#14 in Maroon), you see Poitras make an intelligent decision to push the puck forward on his backhand, careful to not aggressively push the Sarnia Sting player into the boards and take a potential boarding penalty. His forecheck causes a giveaway and a good scoring chance for his linemate.

Now in the next two clips you will see how determined of a player Poitras is and how well he handles playing under pressured situations in tight areas and his ability to move the puck in those scenarios.

The clip above shows Poitras making up for his mistake. He makes a poor backhand pass but then pounces on the adjacent mistake made by the defender. He applies the first bit of pressure that doesn’t allow for the Windsor player to get a clean first puck touch. Then, while getting tied up, moves the puck back to his defenceman for a point shot. Why not try it again! Poitras with one defender on his back and another coming to hit him, moves the puck once again to his defenceman for another chance.

After running into the defender at the start of the above clip, Poitras is tenacious in the board battle and fishes the puck out to regain possession for his team. Coming back down the boards, he has a gravitational pull on three defenders that are watching him and closing in as he cuts to the middle before passing it behind the net to his teammate. Lastly, Poitras pops right back up and is ready in front of the net for a return pass but sadly the pass is in his feet. Great example of not giving up on the play and bouncing back up right away after contact.

Puck Control

Despite Poitras’s average size (5’11” & 172lbs) he showcases strong puck protection maneuvers to aid in his control along the perimeter of the offensive zone. He’ll use a free arm to shield away the defender’s hands and freely handles the puck as he surfs on the perimeter. As he enters a glide, he will consistently position the puck into his hip pocket while he scans the ice. He has an unlocked top left hand which allows him to have full range of motion in his puck handling as well as pull pucks around defenders clean with his quick decisive hands.

In the play below, you’ll see Poitras use that toe down technique with his stick to disrupt the defenders pick up of the puck. Then lures the initial defender (#74) in and gets them on his back while performing a quick punch stop, faking a cut back to fake-out the first man. He loads the puck on his forehand and waits for the second defender (#6) to make the first move, then pulls the puck to his backhand to evade them and back to his forehand to allude the third defender. Excellent puck handling skills here.

This is a great showing of deception, decisive hands, and attacking the interior. He ends the clip by getting the secondary assist by not overthinking it and making the smart backhand pass up to the point.

You see a lot of similar abilities here in the clip above. Showing the ability to turn quickly off his edges to give him separation from a defender, notice how his head is constantly up and surveying the ice. This is an aspect of Poitras game that is evident every time he has the puck. While doing that, he has the puck positioned in his hip pocket the entire time and that allows him to perform that quick forehand-backhand maneuver on the up-high forward defender.

Another great example above of Poitras attacking the inside off the boards and having a gravitational pull on the defenders which opened the ice up on the back side for a high-danger scoring chance.

Poitras jumps out of the penalty box here and shows an impressive puck pick up into a pivot that exhibits tidy footwork. The quick hands were unfortunately not enough to beat the goalie, but I love how he was still committed on the play afterwards and was able to swing the puck back out in front where his teammate gets a wraparound chance on.

Playmaking & Passing Game

As I’ve mentioned earlier in the article, Poitras displays terrific habit of constantly shoulder checking and pre-scanning with the puck to find his options. As he enters the zone his head is always up and aware of where his teammates are positioned. One thing that is evident is his intelligent puck management. He will rarely make a poor decision with the puck thanks to his high hockey IQ. He’s a master at passing in small areas, using a variety of passes to connect onto his teammates tape. He is comfortable passing off his backhand, making slip passes, short chip passes, behind the back, and saucer passes.

In the clip below, Poitras scans on his first puck touch in the corner and notices his teammates hovering in the high slot. He identifies the path and stick positioning of his defender and slips a backhand pass underneath his stick and set up a quick scoring chance.

Another example of Poitras here getting the defender’s stick and feet set off the rush and slip passing into the middle for a high-danger chance:

His vision and ability to identify passing lanes both in transition and off an offensive zone setup are excellent. He recognizes spaces in defensive schemes and threads his passes through layers. Having this strength will cater him to playing with skilled linemates, as they trust him to get them the puck and can consistently create shot chances through his passing game and excellent playmaking vision.

Poitras uses the loose gap control the defender gives him in the clip above to operate in the provided space and spots the weak side trailer coming into the play. It’s a tough pass to make but one Poitras can execute regularly.

Then in this next clip, Poitras will get rewarded for the goal. It’s an excellent example of first the commitment in the defensive zone to block the shot, then a sharp pull up at the faceoff circle. Watch his pass perfectly find the lane between three reaching defenders’ sticks and hit his teammate in stride.

I love how he continues to the front of the net after his terrific pass and by doing so gets rewarded with a garbage clean up goal.

Patience is a gift and a skill to delay and catch your opponents off guard and open up passing lanes in the process. Poitras is able to be a step ahead of his opposition due to his fast processing and strong mental skills. This is why his passing game is one of his strongest attributes and a main cog in his ability to create offence.

After he intercepts the play in the neutral zone, his poise takes over and delays his attentions with a sharp cut towards the middle and find the activating defenceman instead of skating forward into a crowded outside lane.

Excellent patience shown in the clip above as he gets the goalie and the defenders scrambling, almost sets up a goal after all his work but I like his mindset to hang onto the puck and look for a high-danger play.

On this clip, most young players would have probably forced the puck back to the crease and hope for a lucky bounce. Poitras instead corrals the puck onto his forehand while the goalie scrambles back into position, smartly feeds his teammate that can one-time the puck into a fairly open net. All created through the poise and intelligent puck management by Poitras.

Awareness

A quick touch on his awareness as it plays a pivotal part of his strong off puck play, the ability to read plays, anticipate where the puck is going and take smart routes to intercept passes with his stick. This ties into his ability to retrieve pucks back. Poitras has a great habit at getting his stick down flat to the ice to stop the pass as you’ll see in the clip below.

The route he takes sells the defender to think he is about to go up through the middle, but he keeps his stick out to the left of his body ready to cut off the D-to-D reverse pass, then quickly turns his takeaway into a scoring chance. Unfortunately, the pass was just a tad off and gets flubbed.

Areas of Improvement

Now to finally touch on his skating, the biggest area he needs to improve on in my opinion. He is strong on both his outside and inside edges, and his footwork to perform sharp cuts or turns to separate himself from a check are a strength. His forward strides, first step acceleration, and overall speed however are below average and impose as a non-threat in transition. The first glaring issue is how flexed forward his upper body is. He drops his chest and head to the ice as he skates which causes his short stride and pushing out too wide, limiting his forward momentum and explosiveness. A fault to this could be from tight hips. In each stride his hips look locked in position and don’t open up, also causing his stride recoveries to not come back in a circular motion. All of these mechanics play a part in Poitras sluggish first step and lackluster north-south game. Some flexibility training can help correct his tight hips and time with a skating coach should be focused on fixing his flexed forward posture.

Like most young players, Poitras can get stuck on the outside often. He’s a terrific slot passer from the outside, but he won’t often attack the middle and needs to do this more regularly. Especially in transition. Even as the center he’s outside-lane driven on most of his zone entries and attack routes off the rush. Having more confidence to attack the inside-lane is something I hope to see more of and can correct this issue.

And lastly, he’s very much so a pass-first player and doesn’t display either the shooting threat or scoring instincts. The biggest issue with this aspect of his game is finding open ice and soft spots on the interior in defensive structures. In the offensive zone his off puck route selections are either, head to the front of the net or provide close puck support along the wall to keep possession and cycle the puck.

Summary

What you get in Matthew Poitras is a competitive small-ice player with strong puck retrieval skills and compete level in the greasy areas. When he gets the puck, his ability to create and produce is blended nicely together by patience, playmaking vision, quick decisive puck handles, and accurate execution in his puck distributing. His style of play will make himself effective at the NHL level due to the fact that he can be the F1 on the forecheck and battle in tight spots to win back possession for his line, then use his brain to precisely thread passes through coverage and create shot chances for his teammates. I can see him as a complementary winger in a top nine role someday. He’s developed into one of the nicer 2022 NHL draft prospects that showcases a solid pro-minded game and I’d expect to hear his name called before the end of the second round.

Photo courtesy of OHL Images

By Kai Farenholtz

As the game of hockey continues to re-image itself along the blueline, more and more smaller statured, slender footed, puck-moving defensemen have come to man the point and become real difference makers for the teams they represent. Although, as this style of play has become more prevalent and widely accepted with more players getting the opportunity to fill in this role… pin-pointing the elite talents in this group has never been more important. And operating the blueline where the rivers meet in Kamloops, BC, we got the one and only Mats Lindgren, an elegant skating offensive juggernaut that leads the Blazers’ breakout and powerplay by breaking it down into a science.

Since it’s what Lindgren does on the ice, lets break everything down and deconstruct his game into each fine aspect and dive into what makes him the lethal puck distributor he is and discuss whether he belongs in the conversation of being tendered as a 1st round pick.

Skating

First things first… it doesn’t take a genius to see where Lindgren obliterates the competition. With a father that played 7-seasons in the NHL, it’s no wonder where Lindgren inherited this tremendous skill from… or at least got the base for, because I’d imagine Mats would be skating circles around his father at this stage.

What really stands out with Lindgren’s skating isn’t a blitzing top speed or a dangerous acceleration… although he fairs good in each of those departments, it’s his overall efficiency with his edgework and fluidity. There is never a moment where he’s tangled himself up and looks like a fish that’s washed ashore, every time he steps on the ice you’re witnessing Louvre-worthy art. Honestly, when it comes to overall aesthetic, I believe Lindgren could take home the prize for most “pleasing skater” in the 2022 NHL Draft.

As you can see in this clip, Lindgren, just like a surgeon, dissects the Kelowna blueline apart with his lateral movement and draws all eyes onto him before dishing off an effective pass to Josh Pillar.

Here’s another entry where the Victoria Royals are at the mercy of his wrath. Starting from behind his own cage, Lindgren is tasked with the breakout and executes it perfectly and takes it one step further with jump-starting the entry as well. His wide stance allows him to evade forecheckers in a truly artistic manner while maintaining the speed he built up in his own end. Lindgren doesn’t need an overpowering stride to get where he needs to go, he lets his edges do the talking.

His overall agility in tight situations… this is what will make him a hot commodity come draft night. How Lindgren is able to escape inevitable forecheck at times is nevertheless remarkable. In this clip, manning the powerplay vs. Victoria, he receives a weak pass from Pillar and gets put in a spot where it’s safe to just ring it back in and redo whatever they were trying to accomplish prior, or just retreat and try another entry. This is Mats Lindgren we’re talking about though, so why not pull a highly advanced spin and throw everyone off guard before lacing a quick pass to keep the play alive.

The way Lindgren utilizes his crossovers/unders to whip up speed in a jiffy then pick apart defenders with some picturesque agility would land him as a top-prospect in my books alone. Add in some strong balance and a decent top speed and it’s just icing on the cake. Truly, one of the most pristine skaters in the WHL.

Offensive Vision & Awareness

To be a dominant puck moving defencemen, you gotta bring more to the table than just a pretty skating form, you need to be able to draw up plays on the spot and always have a backup plan set aside. And oh boy… to put it lightly, Lindgren probably has more plays drawn up in his head than Bill Belichick has in his notebook.

Lindgren’s head is always up, scanning for options like a hawk. Before he picks up the puck from anywhere, he’ll turn his head to watch for forecheckers and passing options before gaining possession. He’s always one or two steps ahead in the mental department and can make opponents look foolish for leaving lanes open.

I’ll sauce up a little crash course here on Lindgren’s efficiency in the offensive end. His powerplay work in the grand scheme of things may be his most potent asset in line with his skating. Just follow how he operates over and over again, quarterbacking the Blazers’ powerplay like he’s trying to impress NFL scouts. Always ready to receive and prepared to dish it out in the blink of an eye. Like I said earlier, always one or two steps ahead of the play.

Another part of Lindgren’s game I’ve grown to enjoy is his play below the circles when he attempts to drive the play deep on his own accord. He’s terrific at protecting the puck on his forehand with a wide reach so when he drives down that left side off of a quick pass or a pinch, he knows how to operate in tight and behind the cage as his playbook extends to these regions of the ice as well. I got a couple of dangerous plays whipped up below.

Although, there are a few times some of that over-confidence hits the stage. Especially earlier on in the season, there would be a few blips here and there in Lindgren’s awareness where he believes he has more time than he has, resulting in an ugly turnover that leaves him stranded in a horrific one-on-one or a frightening puck battle.

The occasional screw up is something every dman runs into on a timely basis though, I wouldn’t be concerned of a nasty turnover every once awhile. The way Lindgren can manipulate defenders and forecheckers to do as he commands when he has the puck is a sight to behold. He picks apart defence like blueberries off a bush. Since he has the puck on his blade for a large majority of the game when it comes to supporting the offence and kickstarting breakouts and entries, you can’t get frustrated when he makes the odd mistake. And even then, his mistakes are a lot further in-between a majority of his peers in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Playmaking Ability

You don’t have a neat and tidy puck moving defencemen without a keen playmaking attribute… and thankfully, Lindgren is still with us in this department as well. Although he may not light up the scoresheet with two- or three-point nights on every occasion unlike other top-end offensively minded defenders in this draft like Seamus Casey or Ty Nelson. But that doesn’t mean his playmaking abilities are anything below par… unless we’re talking about it in golf terms.

As you could probably tell in a collection of the clips already showcased, Lindgren’s passing ability while tied in with his tremendous vision makes him a threat on the powerplay and even strength. And according to InStat as of the WHL’s Christmas break, Lindgren has an Accurate Pass % of 90% across 27 contests this season. To put it lightly, Lindgren is the guy you want moving the puck whether that be with his skating or his heads-up playmaking.

His passes are quite easy to receive as they’re never beamed at his teammates. At times they could be quicker, but time is made up by his teammates that easily receive his passes and can make a swift move upon reception.

And like I stated earlier, his ability to maintain his team’s possession in tight situations can come in handy in certain occasions. He knows where his teammates need to be and isn’t gonna sacrifice a good opportunity for a measly dump and reset.

One thing I’ll highlight intensely is his fast break passing. If Lindgren sees an open man there’s not a moment in his mind where he’s thinking he should hold on to the puck any longer, his stretch passes may not be as lethal as the highly praised Calle Odelius over in Sweden, but he can make a dent in an opponent’s line change if they aren’t paying enough attention… and maybe even the ref at some points as you’ll notice in the first clip.

To summarize, Lindgren’s a clinically accurate playmaker in all three zones that can make passes under serious pressure and can catch defenders sleeping at the wheel whether they’re heading off for a quick change or have their eyes fixated on Lindgren.

Shooting & Scoring Ability

A region where Lindgren isn’t an absolute stud?.. I find that hard to believe. But nevertheless, Lindgren isn’t the guy you want heaving tons of shots on goal, and I don’t believe he wants to be that player either.

I’ll keep it brief; Lindgren has a muffin of a wrister and it’s not deadly accurate by any means. Unlike a guy last year by the name of Olen Zellweger in the 2021 NHL Draft, he has a tough time making his soft shot work. I found on occasion he’s got some nights where he can at least stir up a commotion in front with a light shot on net, but on others he’s like a guy at the dart board after one too many pints of Canadian.

As you can see, even with some time and space it can be tough for Lindgren to find twine. His form and everything doesn’t need any fine tuning in my eyes, but his shot lacks deception and can be easily read by goalies.

Come to think of it… I don’t know if I’ve ever bared witness to Lindgren unleashing a one-timer in my life, and slapshots are far and few between.

As I said earlier though, it’s not Lindgren’s job to release the Kraken… it’s his duty to open the flood gates.

Puckhandling

Lindgren draws in defenders better than a lamp draws in moths at midnight in the middle of a forest in the Yukon, and you can thank his soft hands for that. I wouldn’t say his stickhandling is anything ground-breaking, although just like his passing, it’s extremely clinical and efficient.

Lindgren can get incredibly sneaky with those sidesteps in areas where forecheckers may not be expecting a tantalizing dangle. That puck at times is simply glued to his stick as you saw in the few clips vs. the Royals above. And although in this next clip the defender does take a little tumble over the blueline, it’s still a dazzling clip to have on his resume.

In simpler terms when it comes to his puckhandling skills, he’s tremendously smooth and polished. His poise with the puck on his blade is already at a professional level in my eyes. There aren’t many moments when he’s uncomfortable with the puck. He’s always calling for it from his defence partner… it’s like he’s the puck’s overprotective father.

He’s not as dynamic as a Lane Hutson or a Simon Nemec, but when it comes to gaining control and making sure his team has proper possession, Lindgren will utilize his tidy puckhandling to keep forecheckers at bay, or on some occasions stun them with a paralyzing sidestep.

Defensive Play & Physicality

This is where a decline in quality usually becomes visible in most puck moving dmen. I wouldn’t say there are many true “shutdown” dmen in this category. Lindgren’s overall defensive coverage is by no means catastrophic… but it’s not the crème de la crème of his playing style.

Positionally, Lindgren at least shows the conscious ability to predict where the play is headed one or two passes ahead (something you could thank his outstanding offensive awareness for). He knows when to commit to contact or a firm pokecheck and can alleviate pressure with solid stick positioning, I don’t mind his overall rush defence as he can keep up with most of the better skaters in the WHL.

In some footage here, Lindgren demonstrates a fair understanding of where to position himself in terms of cutting off lanes and starving teams of high-end opportunities with his stick. He’s not terrible at disrupting plays either when it comes to tying up sticks in front.

Stuff begins to fall apart when it comes to how he asserts himself in his own end. As you can imagine, Lindgren isn’t the strongest guy on the ice in terms of brute strength and that’s probably going to be the case for a majority of his career. It’s good to be positionally sound but there are times where you need to be assertive and force your opponents to think on their toes. Lindgren can be quite lackadaisical at times when it comes to winning 50/50 battles and getting first to the puck.

His lack of physicality makes him nothing but a soft bitter nuisance against stockier and stronger opponents, kind of like an annoying fruit fly. He’s not gonna do a ton of damage and he’s not going to stand out in his own zone. Defensive awareness does develop with time, but there are a few occasions in the footage below where I’m just shaking my head in disappointment when it comes to overall motor and interest in his own zone. The second clip particularly bugs me just cause he does scan and notice the forward making a dash for the net, but he fails to hitch back and tie him up before it’s too late.

Areas of Improvement

There’s not much to Lindgren’s offensive game I’d like to tweak or change. You can always want him to be faster but that’s something that’ll come with time. And I personally believe his offensive attributes will age like a premium bottle of fine wine as the miles add up.

His overall defensive game needs to be re-wired to an extent. He doesn’t need to be a “balls to the wall” defender where he’s plowing through checks and laying guys on their behinds, but he needs to get more aggressive when it comes to chasing down loose pucks and giving forecheckers a tough time. As I stated earlier, a lot of that stuff comes with experience, and although I don’t see Lindgren as a future PK specialist down the road or anything of that nature… knowing how to supress your opposition by being a touch more assertive could improve his overall two-way game immensely.

Summary

In the grand scheme of things, I don’t see why NHL teams wouldn’t want to pick up Lindgren with a mid-late 1st round pick. With the way the game is progressing, defenders like Lindgren will be the difference makers that slot into your top-4 and hold certain responsibilities on the blueline whether it be even-strength or on the powerplay.

Lindgren’s sublime edgework and offensive awareness is addictive to watch… it’s so addictive in fact that I have to purchase tickets from a shady vendor down an alley way before every game. My doctor says I should kick the stuff, but I keep coming back to watch the otherworldly smooth and calming game of Mats Lindgren. He may not dazzle you with highlight reel plays every night and make you lean out of your seat with sweet anticipation… but you know your team is in good hands when Lindgren has the puck on his blade.

Photo credit on Lindgren cover – Paige Bednorz