The Anaheim Ducks’ first trip to the draft podium came back in 1993 and have been making draft picks for what will be 30 years this coming June. During this time they have selected both well and poorly, let’s take a look at some of their previous draft day histories.
The Ducks haven’t had much success in their drafting in their earlier years, not until the 2000s did they see some repeated success from the podium. Albeit their most franchise defining selection came all the way in their first draft in 1993 when they selected Paul Kariya.
The Ducks winger had a hall of fame career cut short due to injuries but he made and left his mark on the game with great plays, great goals and a great sense of the game. Kariya finished off his career with 989 points in 989 games, Kariya was very deserving of his high selection at number four and will go down as arguably the best Anaheim Duck of all time.
Another top selection in their history came in the 2003 draft where they selected Ryan Getzlaf. The two-way centre had a career spanning three decades, amassing over 1000 points, and one Cup for the team. Along with being the teams longest serving captain. All said and done Getzlaf will have his number 15 up in the rafters sooner rather than later for the Ducks.
One more top pick in their history comes again from the 2003 draft when they selected Corey Perry in the first round, pick 28. Perry was a goal scorer for the Ducks. Along with helping secure their only Stanley cup in franchise history in 2007, Perry also picked up some individual hardware with a Rocket Richard trophy and Hart trophy in 2010-2011. The 2003 draft produced the most long term team success their franchise has enjoyed to date.
But where there is gold there is also fools gold, and this came in the form of three players in particular. Coming up first must be that of 2nd overall pick in 2005 Bobby Ryan. Being picked second overall always adds pressure but when you add in the fact that he was picked right after Sidney Crosby this pick had plenty of prestige to it. While he was not bad at all, he was just not what the Ducks had hoped for, playing in parts of six seasons with the Ducks. Not once being a point per game player and being traded away, Bobby Ryan did not have the most successful tenure in Anaheim and when you consider that his name was second off the board, this makes it all the more of a hard pick.
Second must come from the 2001 draft where the Ducks picked Stanislav Chistov at 5th overall. He only played 136 games with the ducks out of his total 196 and amassed a total points of 61 in his short career in the NHL before leaving to Russia for the next 10 seasons.
Third on this list comes from the 2000 draft which saw them select Alexei Smirnov 12th overall. Smirnov played only 52 games in his total NHL career, all with the ducks scoring 6 points. There was not much from this pick, the six-foot-three centre never panned out too much for the ducks and that brings him on to this list.
Currently in 2023 the Ducks have a nice group of young talent after a few successful drafts in the past handful of years. They sit at 29th in the league and eliminated from the playoffs. With that their eyes are on the draft and who they could possibly pick. Their most recent track history for drafting shows that they do not particularly favour one league more heavily than any others. As well, given their recent history of picks being pretty even between defence and forward prospects and the prospects ranked in and around the top five the Ducks should be targeting players like, Leo Carlsson, Zach Benson, Matvei Michkov and an outside chance at bulking up their defence by looking at Axel Sandin Pellikka.
These potential players to draft will help fill two needs the ducks lack sorely. Goals for per game and goals against per game. The Ducks currently rank dead last in goals against per game with 4.01 goals against per game and they rank second last in the league for goals for per game at a dismal 2.55 goals per game. Benson is a 100-point player in the WHL, Michkov is potentially the second-best player in this draft behind Bedard and Michkov’s offence is dynamic when not trying to do it all. Carlsson will fit well with their wingers and Pelikka will help bolster their defence in a few years with Drysdale and Zellweger.
When it comes down to it the Ducks have not been the best at drafting overall, but in the last handful of years they have really turned it around so on June 28th 2023 we will see what the Ducks come up with next to add to their draft day selection history.
The 2023 NHL entry draft is getting ever closer to hockey fans, and the excitement fans have for who their teams are going to draft this year is ever higher as the regular seasons across the globe are coming to an end, and playoff season is just around the corner. And there is a lot for fans to be excited for this year, as the draft is looking like one of the strongest in years.
Connor Bedard is looking increasingly like a franchise-level player, rivaling the likes of Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Nathan Mackinnon, Austin Matthews, and Connor McDavid. Adam Fantilli would have been a first-overall pick in arguably the last six drafts, Leo Carlsson is the next big center to come out of Sweden, and he is a must-grab in the top 5. And, of course, there is the Russian sniper: Matvei Michkov, who, despite being signed to the KHL until 2026, is so good that any team picking in the top 5 will be more than willing to wait for the Russian star.
But after the big 4 in this year’s draft, who fills out the remaining slots is always an exciting mystery come draft day. Teams must allocate their scouting resources to best support the organization’s roster on draft day. Who needs the top defensemen? Say, over-the-top sniper or goaltender? That is why we at DraftPro are excited to present an in-depth look at every position and who best thrives in that position. Who is the best sniper? The best power forward? offensive defensemen? Hopefully, after this 8-part series, all these questions will be answered.
Seven DraftPro scouts were asked their top 5-7 players for the following positions: sniper, playmaker, two-way forward, power forward, offensive defenseman, defensive defenseman, two-way defenseman, and goaltender. Their lists were recorded separately, and then once all seven scouts handed in their lists, their results were compared to one another. The final lists you read here determined the average each player placed. This is not a ranking of the best players overall, simply a ranking of who is the best for each given position. Players may be placed on multiple lists, as many players are not one-dimensional, and can not be forced into one category.
Thank you to the following scouts for providing their lists: Jared Brown, Matt Hnatiuk, Tyler Karoway, Andrew LeBlanc, Murray Caldwell, Andy Miller, and Jody Horak.
The sniper is the main force of pure goal-scoring potential on the team. Snipers can score goals in a multitude of ways, but what sets them aside from other goal-scorers on the team is their ability to score long-distance goals via their powerful and accurate shots. Many players can score goals, but goal-scoring alone does not make them snipers. This critical ability to score from a distance is what makes snipers so feared, and loved.
Here are DraftPro’s honorable mentions, players who were given attention from certain scouts but overall lacked consensus from the rest of the team:
Gabriel Perreault, Noah Dower-Nilsson, Koehn Ziemmer, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Carey Terrance, and Luca Pinelli.
And here are DraftPro’s TOP 10 Snipers in the 2023 NHL draft class:
“Thrives on the powerplay where he’s given space to get shots off. He’s dangerous from the circles and can also clean up rebounds in front.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
This 6’3″ Fin has a lot to sell to scouts. He’s big, and he’s powerful. Being able to play the role of a Power Forward most nights, it’s Halttunen’s power that makes him such a dangerous sniper as well. Kasper Halttunen is suspected of going in the 2nd round this year, making him a safe pick to go for after your first pick is already taken. And for teams who gave up their first-round pick and are picking their first player in the second, the big skater with the wicked shot will not be a bad investment.
“Slippery, slick, intelligent, elite hockey IQ, a composed brilliant player maker, makes excellent passes like someone much older, pure goal scorer.” – Murray Caldwell.
Zach Benson is a high-utility player who can do many things. In other words, this will not be the last time you see Zach Benson on these lists. He can make offensive and defensive plays, and of course, he can score goals from anywhere. The spots between 5-10 are up in the air for most scout rankings, but one thing Benson has over, say, an Andrew Cristal or Will Smith is his ability to snipe as well. As of writing this review, Benson has 36 goals in 60 games. He is not quite a top 5 sniper, but he definitely needs to be mentioned.
Samuel Honzek, Vancouver Giants, WHL, #21-31 overall (1st round).
“Goalies should be scared when he is on the ice. Honzek’s accuracy sets him apart from the other snipers in this draft class. The release he has on his shot gives his shots so much velocity it’s in the net before the goalie can even react.” – Tyler Karoway.
Like Kasper Halttunen, Honzek is a big boy. At 6’4″ tall, Honzek is a threatening offensive presence on the ice. His big body makes him hard to cover and knock off the puck, giving him more space to unleash his awesome shots. Honzek is an excellent pick for teams in the latter end of the 1st. As of writing this review, Honzek just broke over the 20-goal mark in his first season in the WHL. It will be exciting to see him grow as he likely will have another year to tear it up with the Giants.
Matthew Wood, University of Connecticut, NCAA, #28-38 overall (1st-2nd Round).
“Wood is a pure goal scorer who gets to the high danger areas and finishes with the best of them.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
Another late 1st round option, and get this, another BIG boy at 6’3″. This Alberta native had an incredible season in the BCHL last season, where he led the entire league in goals (45) and points (85). Now, in NCAA, Matthew Wood has put up a respectable season, where he is one of the top goal-scorers in his age group. Speaking to former Victoria Royals goaltender: Griffen Outhouse, he had a lot of praise for the young kid, who he stated had an “NHL level shot already,” Matthew Wood is also the first player on this list to be named twice by our scouts. Being ranked as high as 3rd by Andrew Leblanc.
“Excellent release on his shot and super accurate in picking his spots.” – Jody Horak.
Yager just missed out on the top five, but he was mentioned 3 times by our scouts. Being ranked 3rd, 5th, and 6th. Now we’re getting into (almost) our PURE snipers. As a player, Yager brings a lot to the table, but he is a debated name here at DraftPro. But one thing that is impossible to argue against is just how good of a shot he has. Yager has 26 goals and 74 points as of writing this review and continues to be a shining star for in Moose Jaw. After speaking with Yager, for a player feature written earlier this year, it’s clear Yager strives for efficiency and drive as the main influencers for his game. He wants to be a player coaches can count on and keep his performance at a consistently high level.
Adam Fantilli, University of Michigan, NCAA, #2 overall (1st Round).
“Fantilli shoots the puck a lot, and he is incredibly accurate with his shot. If he maintains his shots per game and drops his shooting percentage in half, he will be around a 30-goal scorer, which would be very impressive as a rookie. He has a quick release and hits his spots which will give NHL goalies trouble” – Andy Miller.
Adam Fantilli, as mentioned earlier, would have been the 1st overall pick last year and arguably the first overall pick of every recent draft until Austin Matthews. Perhaps in time, he could rival even him. Fantilli has it all to be great in the NHL. He’s got a good size, he’s an explosive skater, a highly skilled stick handler, and of course, he has a great shot. It’s this shot that puts him at an advantage over Matvei Michkov. While Michkov’s shot is incredible and elite, if the 2nd overall picking team requires goal-scoring, Fantilli is not the downgrade from Michkov that we once expected him to be.
Ryan Leonard, USNTDP, USHL, #7-12 overall (1st Round).
“Uses his big frame to hold defenders off and gets the pick off his stick quickly to beat goaltenders.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
The first thing that jumps out with Leonard’s skill set and play style is his explosiveness. He’s a hard fighter, a pest to deal with, and capitalizes on all his opportunities. He is more than capable of racking up points when he’s hot, making him one of the best-looking options in the first half of the first round. Ryan Leonard was mentioned 5 times in our scout’s lists, being ranked around the 3rd-5th position. He is no doubt a top 5 sniper in this draft. These top 5 are all very close. Leonard being the 4th best sniper is not a blow to him, he’s an excellent player, and any team will be clamoring to have him with their franchise.
“Barlow is a quick player who has a deceptive shot that he can get off quickly and under pressure. He moves laterally well and can change his shooting lane at the last second. Being a 17/18-year-old top 5 OHL scorer bodes well for his future.” – Andy Miller
Goals tend to win games, so players who can provide goals are a hot commodity in the NHL. This makes Barlow likely one of the top players to come out of the OHL this year. Because as of right now, he has 46 goals with the Attack, which is 4th overall and 1st overall for all draft-eligible players. Out of the seven scouts who provided lists, five of them mentioned Colby Barlow and four of those five had him at #3 or higher. Barlow’s skill is so good it’s hard to believe we got two more guys to mention.
Matvei Michkov, HK Sochi, KHL, #2-5 overall (1st Round).
“Michkov’s ability to score from all areas of the offensive zone makes him the most dangerous threat of this class.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
Michkov has come with a lot of questions, but his shot is not one of them. Michkov has arguably the best pure wrist shot in the draft, and while Bedard is a goal-scoring machine, Michkov plays the pure sniper role better than Bedard. He scores through traffic, he scores up close, he scores from afar, he can do it all. He’s good enough to join the HK Sochi in the KHL, so I suspect some growing interest in Michkov’s KHL career, as whoever picks him will be waiting for their own Krill Kaprisov story. Michkov is well worth the wait. Despite him being small, despite him having the looming question of his Russian contract, despite him being questionable in his playmaking and defensive abilities, Michkov is still considered a top 5, maybe even top 3 or 2 level prospect. And that’s all to do with his sniping. That’s how good he is.
Connor Bedard, Regina Pats, WHL.
“What makes Bedard’s goal-scoring potential so unique is his uncanny ability to change the release point of his shot to get around blocking defenders or fool goaltenders. He has the nastiest release I’ve ever seen and has the potential to be the game’s next-best goal scorer.” – Jared Brown.
What else is there to say about Connor Bedard? Connor Bedard was unanimously placed 1st overall by all of our scouts. Bedard, of course, is more than just a sniper, as he has an argument for best playmaker and two-way forward as well. But for now, Bedard is our clear number-one sniper. He finished his season with 71 goals, playing for the lackluster Regina Pats in one of the strongest WHL leagues in recent memory, so yeah, he can score goals. He also wow’d audiences at the World Juniors, taking every scout who called him ‘pretty good’ and smacked them across the face until they said ‘really good.’ And it shouldn’t be too controversial to say that Connor Bedard from the Regina Pats, is the best sniper in the 2023 NHL draft class.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.
Minnesota State High School League State Tournament Review
By Jody Horak
It is every kid’s dream when they lace up skates in Minnesota. To one day, put on the jersey of the school and community you live in, to skate out onto the ice to 18,000 screaming fans at the Xcel Energy Center, the home to the Minnesota Wild. To hear the fight song of the school band and the national anthem, to get ready for the introductions, say “hi mom and dad” or wink to the camera, some using the platform to be spoken advertisements for community businesses. For some, it’s the greatest stage to show off their hair and the hard work and creativity they must do to try and make that treasured “all hockey hair team.” Most importantly, it’s the hard work and sacrifices made by so many people of the same school and community coming together to watch 20 young men reach the dream of playing in the state high school hockey tournament and trying to achieve that ultimate goal: winning a state championship with your buddies you’ve skated with and known your whole life.
It brings a camaraderie like no other, people from all over the state (whose teams are not even in it) coming to take it in and watch the competition level, traditions that have lasted years for many, heck, I even take these four days off from work every year because there is nothing better than watching kids achieve their dreams, the purity and compete level of just playing the game; not for money, not for attention, and certainly not for themselves. Playing to win a title for each other, their coaches, their families, and their whole community who are all their biggest fans and supporters. There is nothing better at this level in the entire country folks and it’s not even close. It’s the time of year where the phrase was coined, “the North hates the metro, the metro hates private schools and everyone hates Edina…”
Phil Housley (South St. Paul), Neal Broten (Roseau), Jamie Langenbrunner (Cloquet), Matt Cullen (Moorhead), Mark Parrish (Bloomington Jefferson), Paul Martin (Elk River), TJ Oshie (Warroad), Blake Wheeler (Breck), Ryan McDonagh (Cretin-Derham Hall), and Brock Nelson (Warroad)…these are all prominent past and present NHL players whose talent and skills were first put on display playing in the state hockey tournament. Broten, Langenbrunner, Cullen, Oshie and McDonagh won Stanley Cups and they will be the first to tell you that playing in the Minnesota State Hockey Tournament ranks right up there with winning the Stanley Cup. Mark Parrish comes back every year to do the broadcasting for the tournament and he’s always so excited and happy to watch these kids and is in awe at the talent and compete level every year. He played over 700 games in the NHL and he always must mention that the greatest time of his life was playing in this tournament, with his best buddies, and winning state titles…
This year’s state tournament provided a flair for the dramatics. Several overtime games, an almost epic upset for the ages, and a first in the 79-year history of the Minnesota State Hockey Tournament: hat tricks from two players on different teams in the state championship game. That was the instant classic Class A title game between the Mahtomedi Zephyrs and the undefeated Warroad Warriors. Mahtomedi came back from two goals down twice and scored the game winner in double overtime to end Warroad’s undefeated dream season 6-5 and win the state championship. After narrowly escaping a crushing upset to Hill Murray in the opening round, the Minnetonka Skippers defeated the Edina Hornets 2-1 in the Class AA championship after an Edina opportunity in the closing minute clanked off both pipes and bounced out.
The Tourney brings out college coaches from all over the country, NHL and junior league scouts. It has provided a platform for some players to stand out and get noticed, to try and become the next Broten, Oshie or McDonagh. Let’s look at the players of the tournament who stood out the most, as it was an extremely talented, competitive list to narrow down.
An athletic and poised goaltender, Walock’s play in net almost moved Northfield to the semifinal but came up just short in OT to Orono. He stopped 48 of 50 shots and a handful of his saves were spectacular. He moves side to side quickly and his butterfly positioning is spot on, pads tight together, stick in front covering the five-hole. He squares up to the shooter, does not leave much on the short side and challenges well. I like his reflexes, quickness, and that he stays focused on the puck and seems to always know where it is. He gives up rebounds here and there, but he recovers well to get in position to make a second save and cover up the puck. He plays the position with confidence; nothing seems to rattle him or take away his focus on stopping the puck. Has a quick glove but his biggest attribute is his technique and quickness playing the butterfly style. At the goaltending position, Walock was a standout in the tournament. Walock posted a .95 SV % and a 2.00 GAA in 2 games at the tourney.
Shaugabay had the best vision and playmaking ability of anyone I watched in the tournament. His ability to know where everyone on his team is on the ice is an exceptional thing to see. He had a half dozen passes in this tourney that made your mouth drop or just sit in amazement. He also protects the puck so well with his positioning, making it difficult for the opposing team to get the puck away from him. He logged more minutes than any forward in the tournament, playing at a high level and seeming to find a second gear even when shifts were too long. He had 8 points, 13 SOG, 0 PIM, 0 BS and was a +6 for the tourney. He is good on his edges and can turn up the ice quickly with his smooth skating. Has incredible patience with the puck and his decision making. His team did not win the elusive title but after the tournament, Shaugabay was awarded the Mr. Hockey award, given to the best senior hockey player in the state. He is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a 2023 NHL draft eligible.
If you want a player with speed on your team, look no further than Pilgrim. He had two hat tricks in this tournament, including in the state championship game. He is a dynamic skater with elusive speed. A player can be defending him and in good position and the next thing you know, Pilgrim has blown right by. He has a great work ethic and hustles on both ends of the rink. He has great craftsmanship with the puck, soft hands but also the ability to get a wrist shot off and label it for the corners with precision. Being only a junior, he has tremendous offensive upside to look forward to. He is an accurate passer, good at keeping it in front of his line mates so they can receive the pass in stride. He was a big-time performer and the pressure never fazed him throughout the tourney, finishing with 8 points, 26 SOG, 0 PIM, 2 BS and a +6. Look for him to be one of the top forwards coming out of Minnesota next season. 2024 NHL draft eligible.
Slukynsky may have given up 6 goals in the championship game but he had several point blank, high-quality saves in the game and had a strong tournament overall. He plays with a calm demeanor and great leadership which is a huge advantage to have in the crease. He plays a hybrid, butterfly style of goaltending. He shows great flexibility, has great anticipation in reading the play and when to challenge shooters. He is active with his stick, will play the puck up and stop pucks behind the net that are dumped in and set it up for his defenseman. He does not always control his rebounds the best, but he does maintain good positioning and focus to make the second or third save. Finished the tourney with a .90 SV%, and a 3.33 GAA. Slukynsky was awarded the Frank Brimsek award the day after the tourney, given to the best senior goaltender in the state. He will continue his hockey future collegiately at Northern Michigan. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
#11 LW, Charlie Drage, Mahtomedi Zephyrs, 5’11”, 161, L, DOB 1.26.05
I don’t think there was anyone in the tournament that was as clutch of a performer as Drage. Tied 1-1 in the semifinal in a disciplined defensive battle against Hermantown, Drage skated down one on two and ripped a wrister with about 48 seconds left beyond the high slot area and it went upper corner, bar down, sending Mahtomedi to the championship game. It was there, again, he showed his great leadership and ability to put his team on his back and netted a hat trick in the third period to tie the game against Warroad, coming back from two goals down twice in the period. There are elements you can teach but the drive and will of this young man reflected his character. He scores goals with precise shooting and a great release on his wrist shot, but he also plays two-way hockey. He covers his player defensively and he hustles on the back check. Has good vision on the ice, makes smart, accurate passes and does not try to force pucks. Drage had a tournament (8 points, 23 SOG, 0 PIM, 5 BS, +5) many will never forget and brought home a second state championship for Mahtomedi. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
Class AA
#21 D, Colton Jamieson, Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders, 6’1”, 185, L, DOB 11.28.04
A talented two-way defenseman, Jamieson is excellent in his transition skating. He moves the puck from his own zone with accurate, crisp passes. He has good sense and vision in seeing when the opportunities are available to him to rush the puck up ice and is not hesitant to do so. Plays a disciplined defensive game, has a strong body that allows him to pin guys in the defensive corner and it’s difficult to get around him. Positions himself well to be an option for his defensive partner and corrals passes in stride to keep moving up the ice. He is tough to beat one-on-one defensively and rarely gets beat wide. He needs to improve finding his assignment in front of his own net sooner, but Jamieson is a great skating defenseman with strong offensive and defensive capabilities. I thought he was Cretin-Derham Hall’s most consistent player throughout the tourney. He had 0 points, 7 SOG, 6 BS and was -5 for the tournament. Committed to the University of St. Thomas. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
Lindberg was Moorhead’s best player in the tournament and only being a sophomore, he looks to have a bright future ahead. He had a beautiful goal in the quarterfinals when he rushed it up the ice and used his speed to beat the defender wide on his backhand side, and just as he cut to the net pulled the puck to his forehand and roofed it over the goalie into the net. He had 2 points, 5 SOG, 2 PIM, 5 BS and was a -2 in 2 state tournament games. He displays incredible patience with the puck, confidence in his decision-making, and does not panic with the puck. He plays with great maturity as a youngster. Played penalty kill, power play, and logged heavy minutes as the top defenseman for Moorhead. Has a good release on his shot from the blue line, keeps it low trying to get it through screens or looking for tips. Has good gap control on players skating into the defensive zone and angles them wide, not giving them much of a shooting lane. He is a solid, talented, skilled defenseman. 2025 NHL draft eligible.
#20 D, Landon Cottingham, Hill Murray Pioneers, 5’10”, 165, R, DOB 4.3.07
This was a breakout performance for the young Cottingham. Along with his goaltender, Cottingham almost helped Hill Murray to an epic upset over top-ranked Minnetonka, if only they took 1:01 off the game (when Minnetonka tied the game to send it to OT). He had two goals and an assist in that game. His first goal was a result of his strong skating and rushing it over the blue line, seeing he was one-on-three, he rifled a quick wrister from just inside the blue line and beat the goalie high. It was an amazing individual effort. He also played solid defensively, blocking shots and tying up players in front of his net, not giving the forwards much space to get to the front of the net or get prime scoring chances. He is a solid two-way defenseman. Finished the state tournament with 6 points, 6 SOG, 2 PIM, 2 BS and was a +4. Helped lead Hill Murray to a consolation trophy and was named to the all-tournament team, the only sophomore from the whole tourney to make it. 2025 NHL draft eligible.
Despite not being as consistent as I’ve seen him be before, Thoreson was still one of the standout players in the tournament. In three state tournament games, he had 7 points, 18 SOG, 6 PIM, 1 BS and was a +5. He possesses great speed and has great playmaking skills but also glimpses of scoring touch, with his go to the net style of play. He has great edgework, stops and starts quickly and eludes defenders with his shifty edges. He finds ways to get open with his speed on the breakout and catch passes on the fly with soft hands. His work ethic is unmatched, he is always outhustling others on the ice. He did get knocked around more than I’ve seen before, and it could have been playing against bigger, stronger forwards (Minnetonka) but he will need to increase his strength and balance on his skates at the next level. He has a lot of speed, finesse, playmaking ability and a compete level that make him an intriguing prospect. He is committed to St. Cloud State University. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
#21 RW, Bobby Cowan, Edina Hornets, 5’11”, 176, R, DOB, 6.12.06
I’ll be honest, never even heard of Bobby Cowan until the state tournament. I know his name now. He can score goals and he has a lot of finesse to his game and great dangling capabilities that he displayed a few times throughout the tourney. He took the puck and toe-dragged one defender and went through the legs of the other before roofing it into the upper corner on the goaltender on one of his goals in the tournament. He finished the tournament with 7 points, 12 SOG, 2 PIM, 1 BS and was a +6, and was a catalyst for Edina in getting to the state championship game. He will not dazzle you with his skating but his natural ability to shoot the puck and score goals along with his crafty, soft hands makes him someone to keep an eye on next season. He does a great job separating from defenders in the neutral zone to be an option for long, breakout passes. Has a shoot first mentality, balanced on his skates and good at getting into high scoring areas. 2024 NHL draft eligible.
#18 C, Jackson Nevers, Edina Hornets, 6’0”, 202, R, DOB 7.27.05
Nevers is the heart and soul of this Edina team. He has a tremendous work ethic, wears the “C” and shows incredible leadership. He plays a tough, strong game and is not afraid to be physical. He is a solid two-way forward, plays smart in all zones, back checks hard defensively and goes to the net hard offensively. He is great in the face-off circle. He is heavily relied upon to play against opposing team’s best forwards. Very capable and successful penalty killer. He keeps his feet moving, stops and starts, has his stick in the passing lanes and forces shots from the perimeter or low-quality scoring areas. He does a good job dishing off passes coming into the offensive zone and then going to the net hard for rebounds. Nevers had 2 points, 10 SOG, 2 PIM, 4 BS, and was a +4 in three games at the tournament. He plays very consistently, knows and understands the game with great hockey sense. Potential to be a bottom six forward, and a solid penalty killer at the NHL level. Nevers is committed to the University of Minnesota. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
#23 D, John Stout, Minnetonka Skippers, 6’0”, 179, L, DOB 4.20.06
Stout is a poised, elite level skater who has vast offensive capabilities from the back end. He has great sense when to pass it up the ice or can see when he has time and space and will rush it up ice. He can get caught in the offensive zone too much when the puck gets turned over but with his skating ability is able to get back and defend quickly. He is excellent quarterbacking the power play and trying to draw penalty killers out of position and creating odd-man situations in dangerous scoring areas. Plays disciplined hockey, very good defending on the rush, steps up appropriately and angles well. He has excellent playmaking ability with his meticulous passing and patience with the puck. He was Minnetonka’s best defenseman in my opinion and a huge reason they won the state championship. He finished with 2 points, 8 SOG, 0 PIM, 6 BS and was a +3 for the tourney. Stout has a bright future ahead of him and should be considered a solid defensive prospect for next season. Committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. 2024 NHL draft eligible.
Burrows was Minnetonka’s best player in the tournament and that is saying a lot with how much talent they have on their team. He is a natural goal scorer who just knows how to score goals, and where to shoot from. He is an excellent prototype of a power forward. He plays a strong, tough, physical style of offense. Protects the puck well in tight and in the corners with his balance and size. Plays smart in the neutral zone, can create turnovers with his anticipation and move the puck into the offensive zone to create scoring opportunities. He will not blow you away with his speed, but his skating is solid for his size and his crossovers are quick. Played on the power play down low, creating many scoring chances trying to skate out to the front of the net and get shots. Burrows scored timely goals all tournament long and was a huge factor in Minnetonka winning the state championship. Finished the tourney with 5 points, 10 SOG, 4 PIM and was a +3. I look for him to receive more notoriety next season after his performance in the tourney. 2024 NHL draft eligible.
Photos courtesy Aaron Lavinsky & Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune
If you are looking for a detailed rundown on the 2023 draft class as a whole be sure to pick up your copy of the Draft Prospects Hockey 2023 Preview Magazine available for instant download or print through Amazon.
Welcome to Draft Prospects Hockey’s introduction to the 2023 NHL Draft Class series. This is a multi-part series which we will be releasing over the next couple weeks to give you the readers some insight on whom we feel is the cream of the crop for 2023.
As the 2022/23 season for the CHL is beginning to open up this September and early October, one can look at the plethora of prospects being produced by the WHL this year, where 14 of the top 64 prospects via DraftPro’s rankings are coming from WHL teams, and 9 are coming from the OHL. As of right now, as we look at the start of the 2022/23 season, there are only 2 players from the QMJHL to make the top 64. Despite of this, one should not overlook the top QMJHL player for the 2023 draft class: Ethan Gauthier.
Gauthier finished his rookies season with the Sherbrooke Phoenix with 39 points in 62 games. And just recently helped his team win gold in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2022, scoring 7 points in 5 games. Placing 4th overall in points, alongside the WHL’s Zach Benson and the OHL’s Cameron Allen. “Really burst onto the national scene after his past summer’s Hlinka-G” said DraftPro’s head QMJHL scout: Christian B-Cote. Gauthier proved himself a high value prospect, beating out fellow 2023 entry draft candidates Reilly Heidt, Colby Barlow, and Quinten Musty to name a few. Making Gauthier, who currently sits at #47 on DraftPro’s top 64 ranking, a potential player to climb the rankings if he can follow up his HGC (Hlinka Gretzky Cup) performance with an explosive QMJHL season with the Phoenix.
Speaking of Phoenix, Gauthier joins Austin Matthews as a representative of players from Arizona, being born on January 25th, 2005, in Phoenix Arizona. He now lives in Canada and considers himself Canadian as he looks to complete his 7th season in Canada.
“Initially was thought of a 3-4th line on that Canadian team but kept scoring his way up in the lineup.” B-Cote said as we looked at Gauthier’s first season in QMJHL. “He is an excellent playmaker/scoring threat.” B-Cote goes on. Gauthier has quickly made a case for being an overlooked prospect this year. He posses the abilities that many other high-end talents have in this year’s draft class. He’s smart, a strong skater, and positions himself in ways that brings confidence to his coaches and players around him. “He’s got an imposing presence on the ice in the sense that he plays bigger than his listed size.” B-Cote adds in regard to his impact on the ice. “He will wisely protect the front of his net and act super responsibly. On the rush, he exudes patience and hockey-intellect. Ethan Gauthier is not only an excellent player, he makes everyone around him better. I could see him creeping into the 1st round.” B-Cote’s final words summarize Gauthier’s impact as a player. Suspect more from this exciting player both on the ice and in the rankings as the season moves forward.
The second player to make DraftPro’s top 64 rankings is Tyler Peddle from the Drummondville Voltigeurs, coming in exactly at #64. He is another player with the likely potential to climb. Also, as his last two seasons were split with the QMJHL in 2022 and the Shattuck St. Mary’s in 2021, he finds himself playing for the Voltigeurs once again, hoping to increase his point total from last year (35pts) with a team he now has a years’ experience with. “His greatest asset is his positioning, notably on the breakout, and the way he can create space for himself.” B-Cote said when asked Peddle’s greatest asset on the ice.
His ability to control the breakout feeds into his style of an ‘offense first’ forward. “You can tell he wants the puck and there’s no risk in giving it to him.” B-Cotes says, giving high praise to a confident player who feels comfortable with the offensive side of the game. “Whether it’s identifying needs defensively then quickly switching to offense-mode, Tyler displays a supreme level of hockey IQ.” B-Cote said in regard to Peddle’s defensive game, showing a valuable mentality in not undermining the defensive aspects of his game. “Don’t be surprised if you see him reverse-hit, like Forsberg did back in the day, then skillfully stickhandle through opponents in the neutral zone.”
To start off the QMJHL’s large list of defensemen, the Halifax Mooseheads produce another Mackinnon to put into their alumni, this time with likes of one Dylan Mackinnon. If one is looking for a strong defensively minded player then look no further than Dylan Mackinnon. “He’s a confident player who finishes checks in the offensive zone without sacrificing chances in his own end.” B-Cote said when asked what stood out about this player. He is also developing into an effective defensemen in more regards than simply defense, “Makes beautiful passes along the ice and possesses an accurate wrist shot.” B-Cote adds, referring to Mackinnon as: “A very strong defender in all aspects.”
Mackinnon’s stats may not pop out at first glance, but one shouldn’t pass over the fact he helped team Canada in the HGC, getting himself 1 assist, and finishing with a positive plus/minus. “I believe he will continue to make positive contributions in his second season with the Mooseheads.” B-Cote stated to summarize his thoughts on Mackinnon.
In opposite light of Mackinnon, who plays much like a classic defensemen, we have the Shawinigan Cataractes’s Jordan Tourigny. Tourigny plays like a true offensive defensemen, utilizing strong passes and skating to generate most of his offense. According to B-Cote, Tourigny favors to build momentum for his team via strong passes from behind the net, where he is often the one to begin the breakout for his team.
“To that effect, he displays a good vision for where to pass.” B-Cote adds, in reference to Tourigny’s playmaking abilities. On top of this, Tourigny is very much a player with strong utility in his game. “His skating is on-par with peers in the QMJHL but he’s not afraid to jump towards loose pucks along the boards in his zone.” B-Cote describes his ability to skate at a high level, while also putting himself in grittier situations. “In the offensive zone, he will stay well inside the blue line and direct pucks to the net with force, not necessarily to score on clean shots but to create chaos for the opponent. Jordan T can be deployed in all situations…” B-Cote finishes his summary on Tourigny by calling him an “important piece” to a rebuilding Cataractes team.
“Mathieu Cataford has a myriad of valuable strengths; simply labeling him a play-making scorer is too restrictive.” B-Cote said when discussing Mackinnon’s teammate, Mathieu Cataford. Cataford finished his season with the Mooseheads scoring 46 points, higher than one Ethan Gauthier, as well as anyone else on this list. He also showed up for the HGC, where he got an assist, and joined his fellow QMJHL players in representing the QMJHL in a year where the other CHL leagues are stacked with talent.
But to truly sell the value that Cataford has as a prospect, here is the rest of Christian B-Cote’s quote on Cataford: “On attack, he’s constantly adjusting the angle of attack near the net. He skates with an evidently powerful stride in straight lines and carries the puck effortlessly. He’s a creative, heads-up, smart passer, using a give-n-go play with his partners to score. Defensively, he will quickly transform takeaways into scoring chances by giving zero time for the opposing D to set up. If that wasn’t enough, he’s effective in the faceoff dot and displays excellent leadership qualities.” Cataford without a doubt has the potential to be a steal of a pick in the 2nd to 3rd round that he is suspected to go in. To add to B-Cote’s praise, Cataford is also a well-built player, likely being over a 6’0” tall player once he is in the NHL, making him a player tons of upsides and practically no downsides. The sky is the limit for this young forward.
If one is looking for a steady and reliable defensemen, than look to Étienne Morin. “the second-year Wildcat has every tool you’d want in a defenseman: smooth skating, poise, nice stretch passes and a good shot from the point. Then, in his zone, he uses his stick well and quickly puts pressure on opposing forwards entering.” B-Cote said when discussing Morin’s many upsides. Though Morin’s downside falls into his own fervor as a player in a competitive league. “He will need to continue up his compete level” B-Cote adds in addition to his bulk disadvantages that are by no means insurmountable. With the proper gains, and application of his physical game and strength, B-Cote sees a highly rewarding top 2 defensemen for a team willing to put in the time, Describing Morin as a player with a “High ceiling and no real flaws.” And as his natural growth takes place, suspect that already short list of downsides to shrink.
Another late round defensemen on this list, Luke Coughlin hopes to win over fans with his highly talented skating ability. “Coughlin immediately stands out given his fluid skating, especially backwards. He makes quick direction changes with ease, mainly without the puck.” B-Cote describes by far Coughlin’s greatest skill on the ice. He is a defensemen with immense potential to play in the offensive zone but lacks the proper pieces as of right now. “he likely needs to develop more poise and patience.” B-Cote says in reference to Coughlin’s game when he has the puck.
Coughlin seems to struggle to apply these skills he has as a skater and stickhandler into his offensive game. While he seems reckless at times, such as “throwing the puck away instead of buying himself more time” according to B-Cote, he also seems self-restrictive in other aspects. B-Cote continues on by outlining his playstyle on the blueline. Describing him as a player who stickhandles with great confidence but is yet to truly apply his ability to skate, dangle, and pass in the offensive zone, despite him having no problem flexing these skills at his end of the ice. These downsides however are common with young players. Like Morin, Coughlin will be a rewarding player for teams willing to put in the time. If Coughlin can fix these issues, he will certainly jump in the draft.
Our last defensemen on this list, Nathan Drapeau has the fortunate December birthday that gave him one more season prior to his draft eligible year. He in turn has more experience than many others on this list. He’s also a memorial cup winner with the Sea Dogs last season and is starting fresh with a new team; the Val-d’Or Foreurs. “He’s tough to play against and possesses a reliable shot from the point to give his linemates scoring chances.” B-Cote said about the late round underdog. And after finishing the 2021/22 season with 15 points and a very impressive 25 +/-, Drapeau gives good reason to go in 2023, playing that harder style as a defensemen not many are quick to fill at a young age.
The final player on this list and the QMJHL best offering for a skater between the pipes: Kyle Hagen. Though he doesn’t carry with him a large resume under the QMJHL, where he has only one game. He does carry impressive credentials such as being a 1st round pick, as a goalie, in the QMJHL’s draft. He caught the attention of QMJHL GMs where he kept consistently high numbers on a struggling Lac St. Louis Lions team. “I liked him a lot in the summer showcases leading up to his Q draft year, given his quickness, technique, and focus.” B-Cote said in reference to the new QMJHL star. Still high praise and excitement being built for a player who hasn’t truly started in the QMJHL.
He’s also developed a good character at a young age, being well regarded as a polite and kind young man. Giving his proper respects to all those on and off the ice, even to those simply “holding doors open” according to B-Cote, describing Hagen as a very cordial young man. Like most goalies, suspect Hagen to go in the later rounds in 2023, but don’t be surprised if he grows into a late round steal as the years go by.
For more on QMJHL prospects, and the 2023 draft class as a whole, be sure to pick up a copy of our 2023 Draft Preview Magazine available later this fall and subscribe to our bi-monthly DraftPro newsletter full of up-to-date info and scouting reports.
Welcome to Draft Prospects Hockey’s introduction to the 2023 NHL Draft Class series. This is a multi-part series which we will be releasing over the next couple weeks to give you the readers some insight on whom we feel is the cream of the crop for 2023
The Oshawa General’s Calum Ritchie takes the highest spot for an OHL Representative in DraftPro’s Top 64 players in the 2023 draft class. Ritchie claims the #7 spot, but with only one rookie season in the OHL under his belt, Ritchie still has a lot more to show this 2022/23 season. Look no further than his appearance in the 2022 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup where he put up 10 points for his team in only 5 games. This was the highest point total in the entire tournament beating out his fellow teammates Brayden Yager and Zach Benson (#5 and #8 on DraftPro’s rankings respectively) making Ritchie an intriguing prospect to follow this season as he comes to represent the OHL in a season where the WHL has never looked so filled with talent.
“Ritchie is one of those forwards that can lead the attack for his team, and he did that on many nights in his rookie season for the Gens.” Says DraftPro’s head director of scouting, Jared Brown. “He’s consistently produced at every level/event he’s played at due to his dynamic skill set and dual shot-pass threat.”
Ritchie is making his name as a reliable player in a myriad of situations, a threat at every level of play. A momentum producer for his team, letting his many set of skills be applied to not only his game, but his team’s game as well.
“One thing he does extremely well is building up positive speed differentials when attacking defenders off the rush and pushing them on their heels. Quick weight shifts and change of speed makes him a deceptive skater which is a valuable asset to have when creating offense in transition.” Brown goes on. All of this barring in mind that he has only played one OHL season, and while he has experienced the growing pains of many a rookie, Ritchie still impresses.
“His play suffered some inconsistencies as the OHL regular season winded down last year, but I was impressed by how he was able to turn things around in the playoffs and tied two NHL affiliated prospects in scoring with their first-round exit to Kingston.” Brown describes Ritchie’s fluctuating performance as a rookie. These consistency issues are common for young players, and what should be noted is Ritchie’s strong performance in the playoffs last year, which when coupled with his performance at the HGC (Hlinka-Gretzky Cup) Calum Ritchie is not a player to struggle in high pressure situations. Fully suspect this player to thrive again if the Generals make it to the playoffs again next season, and with Ritchie playing center, its highly likely that they return to the playoffs again in 2023.
No. 10 on DraftPro’s rankings and the third highest wingman out of the 64 players is Colby Barlow of the Owen Sound Attack. Barlow put up similar numbers to Calum Ritchie last year, and similar to Ritchie, Barlow had his rookie season last year. Also similar to Ritchie is Barlow’s size, coming in a 6’1” and averaging at around 195-200lbs. He was also in the HGC, putting up 5 points for his team.
Colby Barlow
“He’s one of the better skaters from an early look at the 2023 draft. His skating mechanics are incredibly profound as he explodes through his strides for impressive straight-line acceleration.” Said DraftPro’s Jared Brown, giving Barlow high praise as a skater, which is an ever-important skill to have in the modern NHL. Brown goes on: “He’s able to be a ferocious forechecker due to his speed and size to pressure defenders quickly and force them into mistakes/turnovers.” From the get-go, Barlow looks to have the potential to play power forward roles for his team. This coupled with his pure goal scoring ability makes Barlow an intriguing asset to have on any team.
Brown had this to say about Barlow’s goal scoring performance last year: “Barlow broke Owen Sound’s team record for goals by a 16-year-old last year which was previously set at 22 goals by Bobby Ryan in 2003-2004 season. It was and wasn’t surprising when you think about it. Barlow does an excellent job finding open spots in the middle ice and opening himself up to passes.” And Brown goes on: “Excellent at quickly getting his hands set and ready to deliver the puck with power and speed.”
Overall Barlow gives himself a good argument for one of the most dynamic wingers in the league. His size, skating, and shooting abilities is making him an ever more impactful player on his team, and potentially even the entire OHL if he’s only going to improve from his rookie season. “Barlow earned the trust of his coaches last year in Owen Sound earlier on and was used in all situations even in the playoffs, something that’s impressive for a 16-year-old.” Brown says to sum up Barlow’s impactful rookie season. It’s going to be interesting to see the competition arise from Ritchie and Barlow, two impactful rookie players who are going to use their dynamic skill sets to push their teams in 2023. But there is one more player making an argument for a top 10 pick in 2023.
Quentin Musty, an American player who plays for the Sudbury Wolves lands at #11 on Draft Pro’s Top 64 prospects. Like Barlow, Musty is a winger, making their close placement to one another on the rankings that much more indictive on how tight the competition is in the OHL this year. Musty also put on a similar performance in point total, also on his rookie season, and put up 5 points in the HGC, similar to Barlow, only this time on his American team, where he had one less game than Barlow. Musty also has a slight size advantage over Barlow, being 6’2” and coming in at 205lbs.
Unlike Barlow, who shows glimpses of a power forward skill set, Brown describes Musty as a pure power forward winger. “He’s a big power forward that will engage physically, has elite skill, can pass through layers, and place his shots top corner to beat goalies high.” Brown continues on his vast skill set: “He oozes creativity, dynamic puck skills, and imagination to dance defenders 1-on-1 and pull fans out of their seats with his dekes.”
While it seems Musty has all the skill to be a “Impactful top 6 winger in the NHL” according to Brown, there are still some hurdles to overcome. “His game can be very inconsistent at times and his pace are areas that need to continue showing growth” Brown says. Similar to Ritchie and Barlow, Musty is coming off of a rookie season that proceeded a Shakey post covid OHL. Brown still had a lot of positivity to shine on Musty’s performance last year: “He was on a young rebuilding Sudbury team last year but still played a prominent offensive role for his club”, he goes on by saying: “Expectation is for him to continue to lead the offensive for Sudbury while showcasing why he’s a potential top ten draft pick.” This season, which is hoping to be much more stable, is going to be a big one for a winger with a lot to prove as he sits just outside DraftPro’s Top 10.
The OHL’s highest ranking defensemen and DraftPro’s #31 overall prospect is the Guelph Storm’s Cameron Allen. “Allen has almost everything you look for in a defenseman. He can skate plays out, join the rush, match the puck carrier’s speed to defend the rush wonderfully. Has a strong point shot that can beat goalies from range, makes plays inside the offensive zone, can be physically abrasive and a thorn in his opponents side with terrific man-on-man defense.” Says DraftPro’s head scout Jared Brown. This quote should be a telling sample of what makes Allen a great defensemen and future NHLer. Brown goes on by praising Allen as a he “established himself quickly on the Guelph Storm last year” and was quick to play the role as a “top 4 defensemen.”
Cam Allen of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images
During the HGC is when Allen truly came into his own as a defensemen. He led all other defensemen in points by the end of the tournament and established himself as “a great leader for team Canada”. This passion for the game was very clear during his OHL season and during the HGC this past summer. “He can let his emotions get the best of him at times showing that he is a very passionate player and person.” Brown said, referring to Allen’s presence on the ice. Though emotions are surely to get the better of players at times, perhaps at the most dire moments of a game, one shouldn’t overlook the high value that passion and genuine connection to the game can have on one’s performance, especially for such a born leader on the ice such as Cameron Allen.
DraftPro’s #34 prospect, and forward for the Erie Otters, is Carey Terrance. Terrance finds himself in an interesting position as a forward playing for a weaker Erie Otters team, as well as being on a team with high competition for forwards. “He didn’t have a productive season but it’s important to note that he played a weak Erie team and only average the ninth most ice time amongst Otters forwards.” Brown had to say about Terrance’s lackluster rookie season, where he only got 24 points, 10 goals, in 62 games. Brown gives a valuable dispute against his low point total, because Terrance should be anything but overlooked.
He’s quickly making a name for himself as a fast and agile skater, utilizing these skills in his defensive forward play style, getting into position, and checking opposing skaters with quick positioning. “He’s a solid two-way center that executes his defensive duties and assists his defenseman downlow.” Brown had to say about his defensive game. But as a 2-way forward, Terrance shines at both ends of the ice. “He’s good at performing tight turns in small areas to escape pressure in the offensive zone.” And Brown goes on: “Terrance’s game is about speed and that’s when he’s most noticeable.”
As the game becomes more dynamic and complex, players that can utilize their multi-faceted utility on multiple ends of the ice are becoming increasingly more valuable. Terrance is the first full fledged 2-way forward on this list, and it should be telling that he will find NHL ice time in the future, no matter where he is picked in 2023.
If there is one way to describe DraftPro’s #2 OHL Defensemen Donovan McCoy, that is reliability. “McCoy’s statistics don’t pop out, but as a first year OHLer, he had the second highest average ice time amongst Petes defenseman showing that the former first round OHL draft pick earned his coaches trust.” Brown said when asked about McCoy. This is an impressive stat when considering the Pete’s had 2 drafted players and 5 players over 18 last year. Making the 16/17-year-old a top end player of his team early in his career.
McCoy conveys a steady play style that doesn’t seem to jump out at you immediately. Rather he tends to keep his came tight and controlled, never overstepping his presence, and keeping himself consistent with the lineup. “He’s a solid two-way defender that does a lot of things well but isn’t elite in one particular area.” Brown said about McCoy’s subtle game. But he also had this to say about McCoy: “He showed more confidence near the end of the season in carrying the puck out of his end to start the breakout more consistently.”
It seems like McCoy’s greatest attribute and downside is his caution. As a defensemen this marks the trait as momentum control on the ice. And what would be a downside, i.e. his caution to be more aggressive is slowly being diminished as he gets more comfortable on the ice. One should remember that this was a 16/17-year-old player, playing top line minutes for a struggling Petes team. His potential will only increase as he continues to find his place in the lineup, hopefully remaining as the reliable anchor for his team’s momentum.
To finish off the preview list we have one last defensemen, and DraftPro’s #58 player: Beau Akey. Beau Akey whose ice time was diminished due to “an experienced Barrie Colts blue line last year” according to Brown and so was only able to put up 16 points. This isn’t a bad total for a defensemen, especially one of Akey’s age and one who had his ice time last year.
Unlike McCoy, Akey comes with a clear set of specialized advantages in his play style: Being a “Fluid skater with great mobility” according to Brown and being able to “defend the rush and exit his zone with control. A polished skater who moves well in all four directions.” Akey doesn’t have the height advantage compared to a Donavon McCoy, being only 6’0”. “He’s not a big defender but will play with a physical edge and regularly play the body along the boards to rub players off the puck.”
While McCoy seems to keep the defensive momentum for his team, Akey seems to lean more towards the offense side of things. Seeming to focus more on out skating his opponents and making up for his size with a more physical playstyle. Akey is a defensemen who will put himself in front of the action to swing the momentum back into his teams end. Where he does a “Great job finding shooting lanes up at the point by staying in motion laterally.” According to Brown.
For more on OHL prospects, and the 2023 draft class as a whole, be sure to pick up a copy of our 2023 Draft Preview Magazine available later this fall and subscribe to our bi-monthly DraftPro newsletter full of up-to-date info and scouting reports.
The 2022 NHL Draft has come and gone. It was a very entertaining first round in Montreal. The unknown of who the first selection by Montreal would be, some surprise selections, and big trades on the floor made the night one to remember.
We loved the ‘I’m going to make your team pay on the ice’ vibe Wright was throwing at the Canadiens table when Seattle finally selected the top ranked prospect at fourth overall. Some teams made some great pick, others left us scratching our heads while ultimately we will not know if those were the right selections for a few more seasons.
And who does Chicago think they are fooling with the obvious ‘Cave for Connor’, or if you prefer ‘Bust for Bedard’, tank job in full swing?
For the below review we are strictly looking at each NHL teams draft selections weighing in draft position and talent harvested, not trades for NHL talent or moving out of bad contracts.
Bolded name predicts a potential top of the lineup prospect. Meaning that prospect that has the potential to be a top line forward, top pairing defender, or starting NHL goaltender as projected today.
NHL TEAM DRAFT GRADES
DRAFTPRO’S NEXT BEST
Below is a list of who we had ranked as next best available when the final 2022 NHL Draft selection was made by Colorado when they took QMJHL goaltender Ivan Zhigalov at pick 225 overall. Those who were ranked but went unselected in the 2022 NHL Draft.
So that is a wrap for us at DraftPro on the 2022 NHL Draft. It has been a pleasure watching these kids over the past 2-3 years develop and get to this point in their journey.
Now on to the 2023 NHL Draft…
Keep your eyes peeled for our ‘2022 Ivan Hlinka Review’ series to hit the website in August as well as our ‘Introduction to the 2023 Draft Class’ series to hit the website in September. And be sure to get your hands on the 2023 Draft Preview Magazine to be released in both digital and print later this fall.
A few of our scouts from this season have been asked to give us what they think are some ‘hot takes’ on the 2022 NHL draft as we are just hours away from the first round. ‘Hot Takes’ are draft thoughts or even opinions that might be a bit of a shock to the public consensus but what they believe could or will happen. Thoughts from our evaluators after two years watching these prospects develop and seeing the NHL talent hounds following their every move. We know many of these will not happen but this is a fun little exercise that will hopefully give our readers some entertainment, even discussion points, as you wait for the first pick to be announced in mere hours.
Joseph Peters, DraftPro Regional Scout.
After already selecting Shane Wright with the first overall pick, the host city of the draft will ignite a frenzy in the building and the Montreal fanbase around the hockey world, as the Canadiens find a way to acquire another top pick, resulting in the organization walking away with two talents in the top seven of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Montreal sends forward Josh Anderson, the 26th overall pick, and a second-round pick in 2023 to Ottawa, in exchange for the 7th overall draft pick. With the 7th overall pick, Montreal selects defenseman David Jiricek, essentially adding two top-of-the-lineup talents in Wright and Jiricek to bolster the rebuild.
Nick Malmstrom, DraftPro Regional Scout.
Brad Lambert falls. Lambert was projected as a consensus top five pick by many before the start of the season. However his play this season has seen him fall to the mid-to-late teens or even lower on many rankings. Unfortunately for the dual Finnish Canadian citizen Lambert falls even further than that. The amount of red flags Lambert has shown will deter GM’s to stay away from him with their first-round selections, leaving a team to take a high risk/high reward chance on Lambert somewhere on day two of the draft.
Andrew LeBlanc, DraftPro Regional Scout.
NTDP forward Rutger McGroarty will fall out of the first round and teams will regret it. All signs point to the fact that he’s a great teammate and leader. Combine this with his ability to score goals while also playing a solid 200-foot power game and you would think you would have a sure fire top-10 pick. But there have been concerns to whether he can keep up with the speed of the NHL game. As skating has become the most crucial skill in many scout’s eyes, and because so McGroarty will fall out of the first round. However, if he can keep up with the speed of the NHL game, he will be a top 10 pick when the “redrafts” come out 10 years later.
Jared Brown, DraftPro Head Scout.
With everything going on with Russia and Ukraine and the huge uncertainty on if Russian players will be able to report overseas, I predict we will see zero Russians get drafted in the first round on Thursday. Danila Yurov and Ivan Miroshnichenko, both regarded as the two top Russian prospects for the draft I think will be selected Friday in the second round. But I think they will be the only two Russians to be drafted in that round, with Yurov going in the 33-44 range and Miroschnichenko in the 44-64 range. Other players like Gleb Trikozov, Alexander Perevalov, and Vladimir Grudinin will have to wait until the third or fourth round to hear their names get called.
Kai Farenholtz, DraftPro Regional Scout.
Habs go off the boards and select a defender with the 1st overall pick in the draft. Looking to 2023 you don’t see any defenders as of now that project the way guys like Nemec and Jiricek, or even Korchinski, Mateychuk, and Mintyukov do. 2023 is very forward heavy, and since the Habs still wont be anywhere near competing for a playoff run next season, they can select a foundational forward with a top-5 pick with guys like Bedard, Fantilli, Michkov, Yager, Sale, and more all projecting to be available. The Habs ultimately select a defender at No.1 in 2022, then take a stab at a forward in 2023.
Alex Taxman, DraftPro Regional Scout.
2022 prospect Jack Devine goes much earlier than the consensus rankings suggest. His performance at the NCAA Frozen Four was likely enough to convince an NHL team to jump him up their board and snag him near the end of the first round despite being ranked as a second or third rounder much of the season. The single youngest player in the entire NCAA was one of the best playmakers, puck protectors, and forecheckers on the national championship winning University of Denver team.
Dan Stewart, DraftPro Editor and Director of Scouting.
NTDP defenseman Lane Hutson, all five-foot-eight and a hundred and fifty-eight pounds of him, is slated to go anywhere in the late first through the second round by most sources, with a first round selection seen as very risky due to his lack of ideal size and dynamic skating, but to the surprise of everyone he hears his name called in Montreal when the Anaheim Ducks step up to the podium and take a home run swing at 10th overall on the offensive dynamo. Looking back on the draft ten years from now, Hutson becomes a top five NHLer from this draft class.
What hot takes do you have? Post yours on twitter using the hashtag #2022NHLDraftHotTakes for a chance to win a free 2022 DraftPro Yearbook.
Pick up your 25% off 2022 DraftPro Guide ($9.79) or Yearbook ($14.99) today!
WHO ARE THE ANALYTIC DARLINGS OF THE 2022 NHL DRAFT?
In our humble opinion, advanced stats or analytics, whatever you want to call them, are not and can never become a substitute for actually getting to the rink and watching how a player performs on the ice, being able to see a season or more worth of development and progression. The art of scouting, picking the right prospect for your team and one that will excel at the NHL level, has too many variables to chalk it up to just a numbers crunch. But that is not to say that some of this data will not help. Quite the contrary, and NHL teams have openly accepted them as an add-on to actual scouting and evaluating.
The one statistic that stands out to us as a pretty good indicator of NHL success for draft prospects is the P1/E60 tracker which calculates the total primary points per estimated sixty minutes of ice time during their season. Primary points are important as it is proven that your primary point total indicates a play driving component to ones play more so than someone who builds point total through secondary assists, especially where forwards are concerned.
Also, by analyzing what prospects do on a somewhat even playing field, as in everyone getting the same time on ice, sixty minutes or one whole game, this eliminates the argument that one prospect might see more ice time than another when comparing them. Being able to look at recent comparables and how they performed in the same league also aids to tighten down the projection. As the top end baseline comparable, back in his draft year NHL Superstar Connor McDavid had the highest recorded P1/E60 since the statistic started to be tracked in 2008, a ridiculous 6.08 primary points per sixty minutes of play.
He had 94 primary points in his draft year while playing 47 total games for Erie of the OHL and accumulating 26 more secondary points for a total of 120 points. It blows your mind just how good McDavid was during his draft year.
When we look at the 2022 crop, and set a minimum time on ice (15 min) and game filter (21) to knock out any overinflated data, the top dog is Djurgårdens IF J20 winger Liam Ohgren (4.91).
Ohgren, Petr Hause (4.44), Frank Nazar III (4.33), and Logan Cooley (4.02) are also all above four primary points per 60 minutes a game with Matthew Savoie just on the outside of that (3.98). Those are pretty good stats when you consider current NHL stars who in their draft year (DY) produced at similar P1/E60 rates such as Taylor Hall at 5.01, Steven Stamkos at 4.94, Mitch Marner at 4.71, Leon Draisaitl at 4.71, John Tavares at 4.39, Andrei Svechnikov at 4.26, Nathan Mackinnon at 4.01 and Tyler Seguin at 4.01.
When you compare Ohgren’s numbers with the 2021 NHL Entry Draft leader from a year ago, the Coyotes ninth overall pick Dylan Guenther (5.91), you see a large drop off. However, the next best last year tend to all level things out with Devils draft pick Samu Salminen (4.43), Avalanche draft pick Oskar Olausson (4.31), and Flames draft pick William Stromgren (4.27) posting similar numbers to this years crop.
In 2020, the second overall pick, Quinton Byfield (4.48) of Los Angeles, led the pack with Carolina first round pick, Seth Jarvis, (4.40) coming in second. Emil Heineman (4.19), a second rounder of Calgary, came in third, Marco Rossi of Minnesota (4.18) fourth, Cole Perfetti of Winnipeg (4.11) fifth, and 2020 NHL Draft headliner Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers (4.01) sixth.
Sure there are some who did not live up to the expected NHL upside comparable to their P1/E60 rating such as Portland forward Nic Petan who had a 4.36 in his draft year or Scott Glennie of Brandon who came in at 4.23 during his draft year, but those cases are not the norm.
On defense Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators holds the top P1/E60 since it was tracked in 2008 at 2.88 with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Anything over a two is excellent for blueliners.
Toronto’s Morgan Rielly had a DY P1/E60 of 1.88, Colorado defender Bowen Byram was 1.79 and Aaron Ekblad at 1.59, Tyson Barrie at 1.58, Seth Jones at 1.56, Drew Doughty at 1.52 and Alex Pietrangelo at 1.46 all give you an idea where the NHL stars sat in their draft years.
The 2022 draft eligible leading the group is US NTDP U18 slick defender Lane Hutson at 1.92 even strength primary points per 60 minutes of play. The next nine on the list consist of a who’s who of puck movers from the backend. Denton Mateychuk (1.78), Artyom Duda (1.68), Jeremy Langlois (1.63), Mattias Havelid (1.56), and Kevin Korchinski (1.55) all sit over a primary point and a half per complete game from their various leagues.
Leading the 2021 class was Canucks draft pick Hugo Gabrielsson at 2.17. Ducks pick Olen Zellweger (1.78) and Devils pick Luke Hughes (1.69) finished top three and accumulated a fair amount of offensive production on the powerplay which this stat does not track. 2021 top pick of the Buffalo Sabres Owen Power (1.49) finished sixth on the list.
Lastly, as a little tease of what is to come for the 2023 NHL Draft here is a graph using the same criteria as above showing some of the top DY-1 performers to watch.
Again, what this numbers analysis cannot tell us is if the prospect has a hitch in his skating stride that may keep him from producing at higher levels when things move faster, or determining the work ethic and desire to succeed each prospect possesses, or if there is a reoccurring injury that might reduce his effectiveness as he progresses. It does not weight the pros and cons of physical abilities or size, if a prospect is too small to make the same impact against larger opponents, or even the value of a powerplay specialist, it only showing what data has been produced on the ice in an even playing field. That is why combining the eyeball test with these analytics is so important.
So, what does this all mean?
Where analytics are concerned, the comparable data suggest Liam Ohgren and Lane Hutson lead the pack for the 2022 NHL Draft.
Powered by www.pick224.com
For more on the 2022 draft class and beyond be sure to pick up one of our 2022 NHL Draft publications.
The 2022 CHL Import Draft featured a new challenge surrounding the selection of some European skaters. With Russian and Belarusian players deemed in-eligible due to the on-going violence in Ukraine, a major source of players that would usually supply this draft have simply been taken out of the equation. Although, on the bright side, this offers an opportunity for many players who would not normally be in a situation where there’s interest from a CHL team. Players reigning from the lands of Slovakia, Switzerland, Czechia, and more have a much higher chance of being selected this time around. And following what I believed to be a pretty potent draft, I’d like to chip in some additional info on some high-end players that were selected at the 2022 CHL Import Draft.
Adam Sykora – 1st Overall – Medicine Hat Tigers (46GP: 10G 7A 17P) Slovak ExtraLiga
It was no secret that Sykora was a high-end option for the import draft, having been left without signing an extension with HK Nitra in the Slovak ExtraLiga. Sykora’s feisty, energetic approach to the sport will add even more ferocity to Medicine Hat’s roster. After coming off a franchise-low 11-win season, the Tigers are in need of anything to get them going on the right track. Sykora will provide that aforementioned motor, but an underrated offensive game lies within him. Sykora is great in close quarters and can be a difficult player to stop while maintaining possession. He shows glimpses of stickhandling acumen and has a nose for the net. It’s highly likely that we’ll see Sykora in a Tigers sweater this fall, most likely among the top-6.
It’s hard to find a positive from Cape Breton’s 2021/22 season… 2nd last in the QMJHL for goals for and the worst goal differential in the league by a country mile (-152). It may be more of a push for a bulky sniper like Kulich to swing on by to the QMJHL, but the addition of such a player would provide immediate relief to every sanction. Kulich’s automatic scoring abilities will be a luxury on the powerplay, while his solid two-way approach will assist in his own end a fair amount. Kulich has so far committed to playing in Czechia for his DY+1 season, but if he wants to make the jump to the CHL, he’d be a valuable asset to a struggling team with some promising players on the horizon, such as Cam Squires.
The Erie Otters are a franchise known for their ability to produce outstanding offensive players regardless of position, and Molnar could easily slide into this program and fit like a glove with his blazing speed and keen offensive awareness. Molnar has played across every level in Slovakia and has proven he’s far beyond his peers at the U18 and U20 levels with those previously mentioned traits. He splits the neutral zone like a hot knife through butter and most often is able to connect with trailers upon arriving in the offensive end. Has already signed a contract with HK Nitra, but was a player highly theorized to head to the CHL for a majority of the 2021/22 season before this extension.
Jakub Chromiak – 8th Overall – Sudbury Wolves (25GP: 2G 3A 5P) – Slovak ExtraLiga Tier II
The Slovaks just keep coming… and Chromiak may be one of those players with one of the higher ceilings from this import draft, being a late 05’ birthday which makes him eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft. Jakub is the younger brother to Los Angeles Kings prospect, Martin, who also chose to take the CHL route with Kingston. Unlike his brother, Jakub is a defenceman, and has already garnered experience at the professional level with Trencin. Chromiak is a puck carrying defender and has proven to be a two-way threat in Slovakia’s Jr. leagues. He’s still a very raw prospect with so much development ahead of him. You’ll probably see his name at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, carrying on Slovakia’s Cinderella run that occurred last year.
Oh boy, I’ve been waiting for this for over a year now. De Luca was eligible for last year’s import draft, but wasn’t able to sort things out prior to the draft in order to be selected, which left him playing another season in Switzerland. De Luca didn’t blow up the league, but obvious improvement across his entire game was imminent. De Luca helped Ambri-Piotta’s U20 team clinch a playoff spot after an abysmal 2020/21 season, leading the team in scoring and placing second in U18 league scoring. De Luca’s offensive toolkit is what separates him from the rest of the pack in the U20-Elit. He possesses a quick snapshot off the rush, smooth stickhandling, and delicate edgework that allows him to slide past opposition in tight areas. The sky’s the limit for De Luca. A lot of eyes will be watching him as he’s set to be one of the best Italian-born prospects we’ve seen in a considerable amount of time. I can already see the De Luca – Catton – Bertholet connection blooming.
I am not shocked one bit that the 67s took yet another Austrian. Kasper now follows in the footsteps of Minnesota Wild prospect, Marco Rossi, and highly praised winger, Vinzenz Rohrer. Although, seeing Kasper in a 67s jersey may be more of a fantasy than we presume. Unlike the previously mentioned two, Kasper has been playing professional hockey in Sweden for the last two-seasons with Rogle. A definite middle-6 to top-6 role is most likely guaranteed for the Austrian power forward if he decides to stay in the Rogle program that has provided endless support for him. Kasper in the OHL would look great on his stat sheet, as he’d automatically become a looming offensive threat with his hard-nosed game around the net and his impressive speed. Perhaps he keeps the tradition going in Ottawa, but I highly doubt it.
Luca Auer – 25th Overall – Regina Pats (35GP: 20G 28A 48P) – AlpsHL
Unlike Kasper… here’s an Austrian that’s got nothing to lose if he decides to take the CHL route. The numbers don’t lie, Auer was one of the top scorers in the AlpsHL… in fact, he put up the best U18 season in the league’s history. His game mainly revolves around his adept hockey IQ which was presently seen at the World Juniors for a short stint. His skating could use some work as he’s not the most explosive guy on the planet. But his stickhandling is clean and is useful from a standstill and he looks to be a lethal threat on special teams. Auer so far is committed to another season in Austria, but after being selected to play overseas with the chance to play next to a generational talent?.. it’s a hard opportunity to pass up.
Braillard can be a wildcard for the 2023 NHL Draft. He’s demonstrated he’s able to be a lethal scoring threat across Switzerland’s Jr. programs, performing at a goal per game at the U17 level, and over a point per game at the U20 stage. He’s a slighter framed winger, but he packs a dynamic punch with his ability to hop on loose pucks and put away the grimy ones. His shot isn’t too bad, but it’s his motor and sense around goal that makes him an overall pest in the offensive end. Would comfortably fit in the QMJHL. If he’s got the off-ice work ethic to become stronger and faster, he could easily be a depth scorer for the Cataractes.
Alex Sotek – 58th Overall – Hamilton Bulldogs (32GP: 2G 0A 2P) – Slovak ExtraLiga
I wonder if NHL interest will increase for Sotek after being selected by the Bulldogs. He’s got all the tools to be a dynamic all-around player. His skating shows moments of excellence and shades of Antonio Stranges with the way he’s able to engage his hips, but with a lack of playing time at the professional level in Slovakia, we rarely got to see what Sotek is actually capable of. Sotek’s skating makes him a viable piece to Hamilton, production wise he could be a wildcard. He has extended his contract with Bratislava after coming off a national championship, but the ice-time and North American experience could be very enticing for the shifty Slovak winger.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki – 70th Overall – Vancouver Giants (26GP: 7G 2A 9P) – SHL
Everyone thought it was a reach when the Giants took Fabian Lysell in the 2020 CHL Import Draft… but look how that paid off. Lekkerimaki could be another one of those situations, although with more experience and success at the professional level with Djurgarden, I’d say it’s a reach, but not impossible, to see Lekkerimaki in a Giants sweater. The Giants are entering a rebuild and will see plenty of new faces for the 2022/23 season, but following a bantam draft where Vancouver selected three players in the first round… I can see a universe in which Lekkerimaki plays his DY+2 alongside a fresh young crop of promising players from Western Canada.
Rohrer and Kasper were fun pieces to watch from Austria at the World Juniors… but David Reinbacher was one player that caught my attention each shift. Sarnia knew what they were doing with this pick, and if he comes to the OHL, they will look like utter geniuses. Reinbacher plays an extremely polished, ironed-out game without many holes. He’s a confident defender with and without the puck and doesn’t stress to bring it up on occasion by himself. Was Austria’s best defender as a DY-1 at the WJs, creating turnovers, manning breakouts, and most importantly… maintaining possession. There wasn’t an ounce of doubt in his game. Could be a strong piece to Sarnia’s backend if he decides to take the CHL route, but as of now he is committed to playing in the NL with Kloten, as he was a main factor in getting that team promoted back into the big leagues.
The CHL Import Draft is always an interesting event with all of its uncertainties and current decisions, but it will always hold a stake in the league. So many players that may not have the stage to showcase their talent are provided an opportunity of a lifetime to come play their sport in the country of which it was born in front of thousands of passionate fans and hundreds of NHL scouts looking for that next breakthrough star that went against all odds. So keep an eye on not only these listed players, but everyone taken at the draft. Because one of the most beautiful things with the import draft, is its nature of unpredictability.
“His Personality is Unbelievable”: Easy-Going Matthew Savoie Performing Under the Spotlight and Relishing Every Moment.
Last year was a difficult one for prospects playing in the WHL. The league’s outlook was bleak with the COVID-19 situation in Canada, and it was looking like the entire season would have to be cancelled. For Matthew Savoie, a top prospect for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, this would not suffice. With the draft fast approaching, the young player knew he had to chase open ice, wherever he could find it.
“With the unknown of the WHL’s start because of COVID and that whole situation, I was just trying to find ice wherever I could play,” Savoie told DraftPro. “I started just outside my hometown in Sherwood Park of the AJHL and played a few games there. Unfortunately, that league got shut down as well, so I had to look at other options.”
After getting into 22 games as a rookie for the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice in 2019-2020, Savoie began playing for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL to begin the 2020-2021 season. However, after just four games, that league was forced to shut down due to Canada’s strict COVID-19 protocols. Fortunately, Savoie was able to change plans and join his brother Carter with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints.
“The USHL was an option that we looked at previously when I was considering the NCAA route. Dubuque drafted my brother a couple of years ago, so we had a relationship with the management and coaching staff there. They reached out and, luckily enough, wanted to bring me down and have me join the team. I was really grateful to get that opportunity to go play down there. With the guaranteed number of games I was going to get into, and knowing that the league wasn’t going to get shut down, I was confident that it was a good decision for my development.”
However, while it was unlikely that the USHL would shut down, numerous NCAA conferences cancelled their seasons due to the pandemic, meaning the USHL became ripe with older, stronger players. Nonetheless, Savoie had a strong season in Dubuque, racking up 21 goals and 17 assists in 34 games.
“They’re pretty similar leagues [the WHL and USHL],” Savoie remarked. “With COVID last year, there were a lot of NCAA players playing in the USHL, so last year it was definitely an older league and a bit more physical. I wouldn’t say there’s too many differences between the two leagues. There both highly skilled, top-tier junior leagues, so it was a lot of fun playing in both of them.”
As luck would have it, the WHL wound up playing a shortened season towards the end of the year, in a bubbled setting. While James Patrick, head coach of the Ice, regrets that Savoie couldn’t be there for that bonding experience, the top prospect had as smooth a return to his old club as could be hoped for; it was almost like he never left.
“We had him as a 15-year-old two years ago and last year he went to the USHL when it looked like we were going to have no hockey here,” Patrick said. “We had a really good experience in the bubble [last year] and it was great for bonding. We wished that Matt could have been part of the team for that because of how close the players became, but he fit right in as soon as he was back. One of his best friends is Owen Pederson and they [still] do a lot of things together, but as far as fitting in with the team after being away for a year, it was [a] seamless [transition].”
Patrick could not speak more highly of Savoie’s character, and his adoration for the young player was evident in the tone of his voice. Savoie is revered by teammates, management, and coaching staff alike, and his unrelenting work ethic, coachability, and well-mannered nature plays a large role in that.
“Matt’s very popular and well-liked,” said Patrick. “He’s a very unassuming, modest, soft-spoken kid. Our two young players, [Conor] Geekie and Savoie, have quite different personalities but they’re also very close and get along great. Matt Savoie is a quieter kid. The guys love him. For a coach, his personality is unbelievable. There’s never an issue. He works, he never complains, and he’s respectful and thankful when he’s in meetings or watching video. That’s how I see him as a coach. On the ice with his play when there are corrections that are needed and things you want him to do better, he’s super receptive to that. He’s just so easy to get along with.”
The Ice have two premier 2022 draft prospects in Savoie and Geekie, but their glut of talent doesn’t end there. They also have four NHL-affiliated prospects on their roster: goaltender Gage Alexander, selected by Anaheim in 2021; right winger Connor McClennon, chosen by Philadelphia in 2020; centre Jack Finley, drafted to Tampa Bay in 2020; and defenseman Carson Lambos, who went to Minnesota with the 26th overall pick in 2021. This collection of veteran OHLers has significantly eased the leadership burden on the two 2022 draft eligible players, and that is by design.
“[Savoie] leads by example,” said Patrick. “Both him and [Geekie] are part of the leadership group. We have three 20-year-olds and a lot of 19-year olds — guys who have been leaders. We added Jack Finley this year, who was a captain in Spokane. [We also have] Carson Lambos, Jakin Smallwood, [and] Conor McClennon. We’ve talked to [the older guys] about taking the bull by the horns. I’m encouraging those guys to be more vocal.
“With Matt and Conor, I just want them to go out and play and enjoy the year. Saying that, as far as his leadership and competitiveness goes, Matt’s a guy who leads by example and has a phenomenal work ethic. He comes to work and practices with pace. I think a big strength in his game is the pace he plays at. He is an explosive skater.”
For Savoie, his older teammates have had big impact on him this season, and he’s been able to take advantage of their experiences having already gone through the draft process.
“Having veteran guys like [McClennon, Finley, and Lambos] in our dressing room that have gone through the draft process is really helpful,” Savoie said. “As well, having Conor Geekie going through the process with me this year has been really good for the both of us.”
Hockey has been a been a lifelong dream for Savoie. He fell in love with the game once his brother began playing and, like most kids who lace up the skates, always aspired to make it to the best league in the world.
“I started playing hockey when I was super young,” said the talented youngster. “I think I was three years old. My brother got into it a couple years ahead of me. Being at the rink and watching him just made me really fall in love with the game. Growing up, it was always a dream of mine to make it to the NHL, just like it is for a lot of kids in Canada. I’ve always tried to work my hardest and keep improving to hopefully make that dream a reality one day.
“In my draft year [to the WHL], you start getting into talks with some Western league teams and you get some notice from some NHL teams. At that point, when you’re 14 or 15 years old, just entering that stage of junior hockey, [you realize that you have a shot at making it].”
Savoie is projected among the top tier of skaters in the NHL Draft, a virtual lock for the top-five, but that is nothing new to him. He entered the WHL in a similar fashion, having been selected first overall by the Ice in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.
“Going into the draft I was super excited,” said Savoie. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, and when I heard my name called by Winnipeg, I was just really excited. It was a big opportunity that presented itself. With the staff and the players that they had in the organization, the new facility, and the relocation to Winnipeg, I was just really excited to come and be a part of that journey.”
For some, handling the pressure of being a top-ranked prospect may a daunting task. However, Patrick has striven to ensure that both Savoie and Geekie enjoy the experience.
“For the most part, I’m trying to keep [the pressure] to the outside,” said Savoie. “[I’m] just staying focused on the task at hand — playing games and going to the rink every day. Enjoying it and, like [Patrick] said, taking the experience for what it is. You don’t get to go through your draft year twice, so you have to take it all in and have fun with it.”
“Every time I’ve talked to him and Conor [Geekie] it’s about enjoying this time,” Patrick added. “There’s no better time in your life than when you play junior. We all understand that they’re being watched every game and they get so heavily scrutinized now, but I want them to have fun, be themselves, keep trying to get better, and compete. If they do those things, then the draft and where they get picked will take care of itself. Where you’re drafted will not make you a better player. It gives you a real big window of opportunity, but eventually you’ve got to [perform].”
It’s lessons like these which have made Patrick’s years of experience both playing and coaching in the NHL invaluable to the Ice.
“Having a guy like James [Patrick] around is definitely a big advantage,” Savoie remarked. “He’s a true pro. Having the experiences that he had playing in the NHL, and with the guys that he played with, he brings that aspect to our dressing room and passes it on to us players. The message he brings is that he always wants us to get better and keep improving. I’ve really taken that to heart. The dedication away from the rink as well — how much he talks about nutrition, how much sleep you need — just taking care of your body and paying attention to the little things like that has really helped.”
Savoie has had a strong draft year in Winnipeg, scoring 90 points in 65 games and adding another 12 points in 10 playoff games before a shoulder injury knocked him out. The skilled forward ranks third on DraftPro’s final rankings, behind only Shane Wright and Logan Cooley, our scouts cannot rave about him enough.
“Matthew Savoie is an elite-level skater,” remarked Joseph Peters. “Arguably the best skater in his draft class, he has burning speed and is highly dynamic and agile due to his incredible edgework. Savoie is an offensive weapon that every team wants. His blend of speed and skill, followed up with the ability to produce points, scoring incredible goals, is what makes him a candidate to challenge for the top-5 of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.”
“Savoie’s a player who possesses incredibly strong skating abilities and uses his adjustments to his speed to keep defenders guessing his next move,” added Matt Hnatiuk. Couple that with his puck control, shooting and passing ability and he is a total offensive threat. He has elite (or near-elite) IQ and both thinks and plays the game at a high pace. [He] is a dual threat playmaker or scorer. He could easily develop into a top-six player and is well on his way to being just that.”
According to Murray Caldwell, it’s Savoie’s hockey IQ that stands out most. “This guy can play with anyone,” he said. “Last year in the USHL he had different teammates and was still stellar. He can score no matter who his teammates are.”
In speaking with both the player and his coach himself, both feel that Savoie’s most important attribute is the quick pace at which he plays.
“[His best skills] are his first five steps and his quick hands,” Patrick asserted. “He’s quick out of the gate and has fast-twitch fibres all the way through. For 30-seconds, he can just go. He can play at a high pace, push the defense back with his speed, and get a puck and get a shot off really quickly.”
“I like to think I play at a high speed and with a quick pace,” said Savoie. “I like to possess the puck and I’m a pretty dangerous player in the offensive zone setting up my teammates, being deceptive with the puck, and finding lanes to shoot and get pucks through.”
For Patrick, who most recently was an assistant coach for the Dallas Stars from 2013-2017, Savoie’s skillset reminds him of a certain player who’s no slouch with the puck on his stick, either.
“I coached [Tyler] Seguin in Dallas, and Seguin has a phenomenal shot and super quick hands. They’re different players, but as far as his shot and his quick release, Matt [Savoie] is a little bit similar. He’s still got a long way to go because Seguin’s had a really good NHL career as a star player, but if I’m talking about Matt’s strengths, he comes late on the powerplay on entries and he comes with speed to back the defensemen off, and on the flank he can really shoot the puck.”
However, despite his stellar offensive game, Savoie has lots of room for improvement on the other side of the puck.
“Right now, I’ve been working on the defensive side of my game and my positioning in the defensive zone, [looking at] where I can be to be a better outlet for the defensemen and support the puck better,” said Savoie. “I’ve been going over video and lots of reps in practice, and it’s been really helping.”
“I think a big thing for him to play at the next level is his stamina,” added Patrick. “He’s conditioned and his fitness levels are good, but like I said, he’s fast twitch. I love his shift lengths when they’re 30-40 seconds, but if gets stuck out on the ice, his stamina is something that needs to get better. I’ve talked to him a lot about playing with his head up and not rushing. There are plays to be made and sometimes he forces them when they’re not there. There are games when he’s in on a lot of scoring chances, but I think he can even be better on the offensive side. There are games where he’s close — just almost connecting on a play. I just think that having his head up and making eye-to-eye contact with his teammates and putting his passes on the tape, he can get twice as many points if some of those plays connect. I think those are the two areas that, when they get better, it’ll be very noticeable.”
When he’s not busy working on his own game, Savoie likes to watch highlights of Brayden Point and Mat Barzal and wants to play a game similar to theirs.
“They’re really fun players to watch and they play the game the right way,” said Savoie. “Both of them are highly-skilled players and are hard-working guys who like to make their teammates better.”
Patrick certainly had more difficulty answering that question than his star centreman but offered a few comparable players of his own.
“I find it hard [to come up with a player comparison]. I’ve heard so many names. I’ve heard someone say [Brad Marchand] because Matt has a physical side; he will finish, he’s real thick —they’re about the same size — and he has real big legs and ass. I think that would be someone great to aspire to, but he’s still a ways away. I think at times with [Alex] DeBrincat in Chigago, Cole Caufield in Montreal, I see a bit of those players in him. Sometimes [Mat] Barzal with his skating and entries — gaining the line and making something happen. Those guys are all right-handers like [Savoie] as well — they skate well with a low centre of gravity.
With the draft fast approaching and Savoie becoming ever closer to realizing his childhood dreams, it can be quite a nerve-wracking experience. But armed with Patrick’s lessons, Savoie has played to the best of his abilities this year.
“Playing with confidence and being more comfortable with the puck and the pace of play has been huge for me,” said Savoie. “Just seeing things go your way and building your confidence is one of the biggest things.” Well, what better way to build more confidence than seeing a team call your name in the top-five of the NHL Entry Draft? While Savoie has made the most of his draft year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, he will soon have another challenge to relish and another league in which to keep filling the nets. Here at DraftPro, we can’t wait to see him rise to the challenge, wherever he ends up.
Looking for more 2022 NHL Draft content? Look no further than the Draft Prospects Hockey 2022 Draft Guide or 2022 Yearbook, both available in digital download (pdf). The 2022 Draft Guide is also available in print edition (Amazon).
