Category: Reports

Joe Iginla – #21 Edmonton Oil Kings – August 13, 2008 – Right shot right wing – 5.10 / 174

Strengths: Displays good hands and a solid shot. Willing to drive to the net and absorb contact to create scoring chances. Plays with strong hustle and energy, showing a consistent effort on the backcheck.

Opportunities for Improvement: Has a tendency to over handle the puck and force plays, whether by passing into traffic or holding onto it too long. Needs to show quicker decision-making and greater composure in the defensive zone. His smaller stature can make him easier to contain when battling against larger defensemen.

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

Player Description

6

6

4

7

5

4

6

3

Power forward

Alofa Tunoa Ta’amu – #5 Edmonton Oil Kings – May 28, 2008 – Left shot defenseman – 6.02 / 237

Strengths: Possesses a long reach and effectively uses an active stick to disrupt plays. Once he gains control, he can make a clean outlet to relieve pressure. Though primarily a defensive defenseman, he will occasionally join the rush to support the play.

Opportunities for Improvement: Needs to improve the timing of his pinches, as misreads can lead to odd-man chances against.

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

Player Description

5

4

4

4

4

4

4

7

Defensive

JP Hurlbert #2 Kamloops Blazers – April 11, 2008 – Right shot right wing. 6.00 / 182

Strength: Competes at a high level. Quick feet with strong edges and soft hands. Shows a bit of grit and consistently engages himself in the play every shift. Recorded 2 faceoffs taken with 50% success. Hard night for him – double teamed all night long speaks to the threat he poses. Opportunity for Improvement: None noted. Potential – First round

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

Player Description

7

8

8

8

7

6

8

6

2-way forward

Cooper Williams #16 Saskatoon Blades – February 18, 2008 Left shot centre. 6.01 / 159

Strength: Strong skater with good wheels and smooth edge work. Decent speed. Went 100% on faceoffs. Opportunity for Improvement: Needs to be stronger and more effective in board battles. Potential – Late 1st / early second

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

Player Description

6

5

6

7

6

4

6

5

Power Forward

Mathis Preston #96 Spokane Chiefs – July 21, 2008 – Right shot right wing. 5.11 / 177

Preston is a skilled forward. Strength: Anticipates the play effectively and consistently gets pucks through traffic to the net. Possesses a quick, accurate shot and competes hard along the boards, often regaining possession when he loses it. Willingly takes a hit to make a play and immediately re-engages in the action. Uses his body effectively and can make crisp, accurate passes even under heavy pressure. Opportunity for Improvement: None noted.

Skating	Shooting	Passing	Puck Handling Skills	Hockey IQ	Physicality	Offensive Upside	Defensive Upside
8	9	7	8	7	6	7	6

Ossie McIntyre #19 Spokane Chiefs – March 18, 2009 – Left shot centre. 5.09 / 163

McIntyre is a defensive forward. Strength: Thinks the game quickly and consistently finds open ice. Anticipates the play well with strong situational awareness and keeps his head up as a puck carrier. A reliable backchecker who disrupts opposing rushes effectively. Shows good edge work and balance, often battling through traffic—even when triple-teamed along the boards—to come out with the puck. Finishes his checks with a touch of grit, even got into a fight in this viewing. Opportunity for Improvement: Can be knocked down too easily; would benefit from improving his stance and lower-body strength to increase stability. 

Skating

Shooting

Passing

Puck Handling Skills

Hockey IQ

Physicality

Offensive Upside

Defensive Upside

7

4

4

7

6

7

4

4

Carter Esler #30 Spokane Chiefs – November 28, 2008 – Left catch goalie. 5.10 / 166

Strength: Handles the puck well and challenges shooters aggressively at the top of the crease. Maintains strong positioning, staying square to the shooter with a solid glove hand. Recovers quickly to his feet and effectively directs pucks out of play or into the corners. Holds his ground under pressure in front of the net. Opportunity for Improvement: None noted. 

Technical Fundamentals

Positioning

Skating

Athleticism & Reflexes

Situational Play / IQ

Rebound Control

Compete

Starter / Back-up

6

6

5

6

6

6

5

Starter

PRO SCOUTING REPORT- BY Jocke Andersson – Head Scout Sweden and CO Scout Europe

Player: Anton Frondell
Position: Forward (C/LW) — Left shot
DOB: 2007
Club: Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
Report Focus: Most recent SHL games (multi-viewing sample)

Frondell showcases a totally modern, pace-driven scoring forward who hunts interior ice and finishes in stride. Plays with confidence, good touch in-tight, and a pro-caliber release.

Anton Frondell plays a brand of hockey that feels tailor-made for the modern game: fast through the middle, intelligent off the puck, and lethal the moment the puck touches his blade. Drafted third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2025 and now a top Blackhawks prospect on loan with Djurgårdens IF, he looks every bit the future NHL finisher—one whose rhythm and pace set the tone for his line from the first shift. He accelerates entries, reads pressure early, and turns half-chances into clean looks with a release that needs almost no runway. The effect is cumulative: defenders start to respect his feet, goalies start to respect his hands, and space opens where there shouldn’t be any.

The speed is more than straight-line. Frondell carries pace through his handles—shoulders level, hands away from the body, edges loaded—so he can attack a defender’s hips without telegraphing his next touch. When gaps close at the blue line he doesn’t die on the play; he chips past pressure, wins the first race underneath, and instantly reloads to the interior. That transition from retrieval to threat is where he separates from peers: he’s scanning for the next layer even as he’s collecting the puck, which keeps defenders guessing and teammates in motion.

His intelligence shows most in how he arrives at dangerous ice. Rather than hovering on the perimeter, he slashes off the weak side on a defender’s blind shoulder or delays just enough to create a lane through skates. In the zone he stays connected to the puck carrier—close enough to be an option, far enough to stretch coverage—and he’s comfortable rotating below the goal line to support. Off the rush he understands how to stack defenders: carry with speed, flash pass to pull the goalie’s eyes, then snap the shot through the screen he just created.

The shot is pro-ready. Frondell scores in three distinct ways: a catch-and-release from the dots that jumps off the blade; a one-touch finish in traffic where he sets his feet early; and a short pull that changes the angle by a stick-length, forcing the goalie to move. Technically, his heel-to-toe transfer is clean, the bottom hand stays loose until the last instant, and he disguises intent with minimal tell. Because his head and shoulders remain quiet, pucks leave before the goalie’s weight is set. It’s the profile of a winger who can beat structure, not just capitalize on it.

Small-area touches round out the scoring kit. He receives cleanly at speed, uses shoulder fakes to exit contact, and protects with inside-leg leverage rather than overrelying on upper-body strength. On the power play he reads rotations well, happy to live on the flank for a one-timer look, but equally willing to slide into bumper space and shoot off the catch. He doesn’t force east-west hero passes; he’ll take the give-and-go, move his feet, and re-present as a shooting threat in the slot. That quick, correct play keeps tempo high and feeds back into his finishing threat.

The work rate holds shift to shift. He tracks hard through the middle, closes space on the backcheck, and turns defense into offense with clean first touches. When a game swings against his team, his next shift typically features a retrieval or net drive that drags momentum back their way. He isn’t a heavy hitter, but he’s competitive in traffic and comfortable living on the interior. As he adds lower-body strength, board holds and net-front anchors should become even more reliable.

There’s development still to come, especially with continued reps at center. Low-slot posture and stick detail can tighten—earlier shoulder checks before scrums, blade on passing lanes rather than chasing the puck. At the offensive blue line the extra handle shows up occasionally against tight gaps; the fix is earlier distribution to keep group speed and then re-attack into space. Faceoff craft, timing, counters, tie-up to kick-out, is a typical growth item for young centers and should trend up with reps.

NHL projection and role fit: As a recent first-round selection of the Blackhawks, Frondell projects to translate quickly as a top-nine forward with real top-six upside on a pace-driven team. Early deployment should lean to the wing at even strength, with a north-south line that lets him attack off entries and arrive as a primary finisher in the slot. On special teams he projects as a PP2 fixture from the weak-side flank or bumper, where his quick-release, catch-and-shoot timing elevates shot quality without overcomplicating puck movement. With continued gains in defensive detail and decision speed at the line, he has a clear path to PP1 trigger-man usage and tougher five-on-five matchups.

The modern NHL rewards exactly what Frondell brings: speed that carries through touches, cognition that creates separation without the puck, and a release that punishes even half-windows. Pair him with a transport defenseman or a pace-driving center, give him clean routes to the interior, and his scoring tools will show quickly. Layer the defensive habits underneath, and you have a long-term, play-driving scorer who can tilt games with a single, decisive touch.

At a Glance

Anton Frondell’s calling card is a quick, versatile shot that plays from the dots in. He skates above team pace, creating early separation with his first three strides. His identity is that of a shooter who goes to the middle, competes to win pucks back, and can move between center and left wing. The growth track is clear: add defensive detail and speed up decisions against set defensive lines.

What Stands Out on Video

Frondell finishes in multiple ways, from one-touch and catch-and-shoot to a short pull that changes the angle; he often releases late and beats goalies before they’re set. His timing is sharp as he finds soft seams off the weak side and arrives on the goalie’s eyes, comfortable finishing while in motion. With the puck, he shows soft hands and simple shoulder fakes to exit contact, keeping the blade loaded and ready. His entries are driven by pace, pushing defenders back at the line; when the middle closes, he chips with speed and wins the first race underneath. The motor is consistent, he tracks back hard, wins second pucks, and goes to the blue paint without hesitation.

What Needs Work

At center, he needs to refine low-slot posture and stick detail, adding earlier shoulder checks before net-front scrums. At the offensive blue line, he should trim extra touches against tight gaps and move the puck earlier to maintain team speed. On faceoffs, he will benefit from adding counters, tightening timing, and improving tie-up mechanics. Continued lower-body strength will help him hold the wall and anchor net-front positions more reliably.

Usage & Fit

At even strength, he projects best in a top-nine role on a north–south line, complemented by linemates who keep pace through the middle. On the power play, he fits on the flank or in the bumper, where quick-strike actions—dot pops for the wrister, low-to-high one-timers, and bumper slips into the slot.maximize his release. Penalty-kill usage can come later, as his instincts and work rate suggest future potential.

Skills Snapshot (20–80 NHL Scale)

His skating rates a 55, reflecting above-average speed that he carries through his handles. 

Puck skills are a 60, with confident in-tight manipulation and clean receptions at pace. Shot and finishing also land at 60, supported by multiple release types and inside-ice conversion. Playmaking sits at 55, as he sees weak-side seams but is still growing on early give-and-go reads. Hockey sense is 55, showing sound off-puck scans and spacing in the offensive zone. 

Compete and motor grade at 60, with persistent retrievals and momentum-shifting energy. Defensive detail is 50, indicating structure and stick angles are still developing, and physicality is 50, as he engages willingly while the frame continues to fill out.

Overall, he trends from 55 now to 60 in ~2 years, projecting as a middle-six NHL forward with top-six upside if play-driving and center-ice detail continue to rise.

Recent Game Notes

He consistently created Grade-A chances by arriving into slot seams from the weak side and mixed his finishes, a quick wrist shot from the dot, one-touch in traffic, and angle-changing releases that froze goalies. Speedy entries backed defenders off and opened delay options for trailing teammates. After momentum swings, his response shifts were energetic and productive. Defensive-zone reps at center are increasing, and his sorting improves when shoulder checks are frequent.

Development Plan (Next 6–12 Months)

He should log more defensive reps at center to sharpen stick discipline and inside shoulder checks. Decision speed at the blue line needs to quicken—move it early, then re-attack into space. Faceoff work should focus on counters and timing, particularly on the strong side. A dedicated strength block aimed at lower-body power will support board battles and net-front holds.

October 3rd, 2025

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 8 vs Charlottetown Islanders 0

Centre D’Excellence Sports Rousseau

By Tyler Ballesteros Willard

---

#10 D, Owen Conrad

Team: Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL

Height/Weight 6’3”, 210Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB: March 10th, 2007

Overview:

Owen Conrad is a mobile yet steady defensive defenseman who has shown promising offensive progression. His composure is his greatest asset, consistently staying in position and making smart, simple plays. While his shot isn’t poor, he often misses the net, limiting rebound opportunities—keeping his shots low would improve this. Though not a quick puck handler, he maintains control well but shouldn’t rely on deking unless necessary. His passing is solid, helping Charlottetown transition smoothly into the offensive zone. At 6’3, he moves well for his size, with fluid transitions and long strides that aid his acceleration. Physically, he delivers clean checks but needs to develop more strength and a greater willingness to throw big hits. Defensively, his awareness and stickwork make him difficult to beat, as he excels at poke-checking and intercepting passes. While generally sound in his positioning, he occasionally makes poor pinches, leaving him out of position.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top-6 Defenseman 

Floor: AHL Top-2 Dman

Special Teams: PK2

Production Outlook: 20-25~ Points

Pick Range: 6th-7th round

Strengths:

• Defensive Play and Poised Decision Making: Extremely strong in positioning, stickwork, and defending the rush, making him difficult to beat in one-on-one situations.
• Passing: A strong passer, particularly on breakouts, with the ability to make accurate and quick passes under pressure.
• Skating: Smooth backward skating and solid stride extensions, giving him the ability to transition effectively on the ice.

Weaknesses:

• Shooting: Needs to improve accuracy and intelligence on his shots, particularly from long-range.
• Confidence with the puck: Needs let the game come to him more than him trying to force a play.
• Pace of play: Although very calm under pressure, he lacks urgency to outperform others.

In-game Observations:

• In the ¼ mark in the 1st, although caught on an unlucky break as his stick snapped, he remained calm and as the puck came towards Owen, he kicked it into a safe situation where his partner can get the puck out.
• Near the ¾ mark of the 1st, on the PP, showcased although not hard, but very crisp and accurate puck distribution, making it easy for Tyler Peddle to wire his one-timers hard.
• On the Villeneuve goal, Owen could have been a bit more reserved in positioning and should have backchecked into the play a bit harder.
• Early in the 2nd, Conrad showcased quick and heavy shot mechanics, rang a shot off the post from the point.
• Near ¾ mark in the 2nd, Owen played sound in positioning as he did an excellent job closing Carbonneau’s backhand angle after Carbonneau deked through into the slot.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 5
• Puck Skill: 4
• Scoring Ability: 3
• Playmaking Ability: 5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 6
• Defensive Play: 7

#72 D, Xavier Villeneuve

Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL

Height/Weight: 5’11”, 157 lbs

Shoots: Left

DOB: September 29, 2007

Overview:

When it comes to the future of blueliners from the QMJHL, look no further than Xavier Villeneuve. Xavier is an electrifying offensive-minded defenseman with great agility and dazzling puck-handling abilities up the rush, showing significant potential for the 2026 NHL draft as a 1st round pick. Known for his tremendous confidence in carrying the puck and reading the offensive zone, Villeneuve brings a unique flair to the back end for the Armada as even though he is quite the risk taker, he is excellent at understanding when to take risks for the team’s own good. When looking at offensive defensemen, Villeneuve does an excellent job at utilizing his shot as much as he can to cause havoc, or even score. However, his small size limits his effectiveness in physical battles in the corners as, and he’ll need to add a lot of strength to succeed at the NHL level because even though the league has many smaller players now, the league is now as physical as ever and he will need to get ready to endure long 82 game seasons.  

Player Projection

Ceiling: First Pair Offensive Defenseman 

Floor: Top-4/5 Offensive Defenseman, PP QB. (If not, unlikely NHL shot)

Special Teams: PP1 Quarterback

Production Outlook: 55–65 Points

Pick Range: Mid 1st Round

Strengths:

• Skating and Edgework: Villeneuve’s agility is elite, with quick pivots and tight turns.
• Puck Skills and Passing: Soft hands make his passing smooth and effective, supporting his offensive style. 
• Offensive Awareness: Villeneuve has the confidence and vision to be quite the quarterback from the blue line in any scenario (Not even on the powerplay).

Weaknesses:

• Physicality and Balance: Building strength is an absolute must for him to him to be more durable.
• Defensive positioning and decision making with the puck in his own end. 
• Discipline: Needs to be mindful of how he possesses himself, especially how he handles external factors.

In-game observations: 

• On his first shift of the 1st period, received the puck from the back of his own net, waited a bit too long for the play to develop. Because of it, performed a very risky pass. Moments later, he showed great activation as he moved his feet and broke the puck out quick. Just shortly after exploded for a breakaway though Gladu made the save.
• Near the halfway mark of the 1st, while at the o-zone blueline, Villeneuve showcasing rapid footwork and head movement. Although his shot was blocked, Xavier continuously forced the opposing forward to keep guessing.
• On Armada’s 2nd goal, on the PK, after Nobert got the puck in the o-zone, he passed it over to a flying Villeneuve where with elite anticipation, dangled the wazzoo through the opposition to go backhand top shelf for a highlight reel goal. Passed the ¾ mark of the 2nd, he performed that exact same deke, instead, he crisply passed it over to a wide-open Nobert which he roofed it, giving Armada a 5-0 lead and Villeneuve’s a primary assist.
• Halfway mark of the 2nd, on the PK, Villeneuve chased the opposition a bit too hard, because of it, an opposing forward took advantage of his positioning and got a dangerous shot in the slot.
• Times in this game where he would show his rapid acceleration, though he needs to be sound when using his energy as he gets tired later on in his shifts.
• Late in the 2nd, on the PP, Villeneuve showing his crisp passing again as he laid it perfectly into Carbonneau’s wheelhouse for an easy one-timer to hammer home for a 6-0 lead and another primary assist.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 7
• Puck Skill: 7
• Scoring Ability: 5
• Playmaking Ability: 7
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 3
• Defensive Play: 4

#15 D, Bo Damphousse

Team: Armada Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL

Height/Weight 6’1”, 180Ibs

Shoots: Right

DOB: October 21st, 2007

Overview:

Bo Damphousse is a well-rounded defenseman for the Armada, known for his strong skating, stick positioning, and defensive awareness. His standout skills include excellent puck control, actively defensive stickwork defending the rush, and displaying excellent one-on-one defense, particularly in rush situations. While his backward skating and stride offer power, he needs to improve acceleration. His passing, especially on breakouts, is truly a key asset to offensive game due to how great the transition of play it becomes; however, his shooting accuracy needs quite a bit of work in order for decently offensive chances to come his way due to the fact he shoots high. He is physically pretty solid, Damphousse plays responsibly but could improve his physicality in some areas, like boxing out opponents in-front of the net. Projected as a late 1st round pick to early 2nd round in the 2026 NHL Draft, he has the potential to be a top-pairing or elite 3-4 mobile shutdown defenseman with high end penalty-killing traits with a straight hockey mind playing the game in a simple way, but the right.

Player Projection

Ceiling: 4-5 Puck Moving Defenseman 

Floor: 7th D

Special Teams: PK2

Production Outlook: 20-25~ Points

Pick Range: Mid 3rd Round-4th Round

Strengths:

• Defensive Play: Extremely strong in positioning, stickwork, and defending the rush, making him difficult to beat in one-on-one situations.
• Passing: A strong passer, particularly on breakouts, with the ability to make accurate and quick passes under pressure.
• Skating: Smooth backward skating and solid stride extensions, giving him the ability to transition effectively on the ice.

Weaknesses:

• Shooting: Needs to improve accuracy and intelligence on his shots, particularly from long-range.
• Physicality: Could be more consistent in using his body to box out opponents and prevent screens.
• Positional Awareness: Although plays square when defending the rush, he does chase the puck carrier on many occasions in his own end.

In-game observations: 

• In the later stages of the 1st period, displayed great consistency and calmness in the way he was distributing the puck, especially with his breakout passes are controlled and crisp to ease the transition of play.
• Near the ¼ mark of the 2nd, Damphousse shown that he has grown his confidence and being patient at the o-zone blueline spinning away from the opposition, then shooting the puck low through traffic, leading to a primary assist on Armada’s 4th goal.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6
• Puck Skill: 4
• Scoring Ability: 3
• Playmaking Ability: 5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 5
• Defensive Play: 7

---

#11 F, Matt Gosselin

Team: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL

Height/Weight: 5’7”, 168Ibs

Shoots: Right

DOB February 14th, 2006

Overview:

Matt Gosselin is a high-motor, two-way center known for his defensive reliability, strong positioning, and relentless compete level. Though undersized, he compensates with explosive edgework and smart support play in all zones, frequently aiding breakouts and engaging in puck battles through timing and anticipation rather than physical strength. Offensively, he plays a simple game—his shot lacks power, but he generates chances through smart positioning, rebound creation, and crisp, accurate passing. However, he struggles with puck control under pressure and can rush decisions, particularly when space tightens. On the power play, he’s learning to exploit soft coverage areas but must focus on consistently putting pucks on net rather than aiming for perfection. Defensively, he truly excels on the penalty kill with strong gap control, fearless shot blocking, and disciplined reads. His compete level stands out every shift, consistently backchecking hard and sacrificing his body when needed. What really helps out his defensive play mentioned earlier is his explosive edges. Although he does not get the most power from his stride, his quick footwork allows him to explode quickly in order to win puck battles.

Player Projection

Ceiling: NHL Bottom-6 / Penalty Kill Specialist

Floor: AHL Top 6 Forward
Special Teams: PK
Production Outlook: 15–25 Point Energy Forward
Pick Range: Undrafted Free Agent

Strengths:

• Versatility: Acts as a great sponge for his teammates. All over the place/always involved in the play.
• Defensive Awareness: Consistently positions himself well and disrupts plays with interceptions and shot blocks.
• Compete Level: Willingness to do anything for the team (Blocking shots, getting involved hard in puck battles).

Weaknesses:

• Shooting Consistency: Needs to improve his mechanics to develop more power, most importantly, his mentality of getting shots on goal and not overly perfecting it yet.
• Size: Although great involvement on the forecheck, he gets muscled off very easily.
• Consistency in puck skills: Although showcases great 1-on-1 ability against the goaltender, he needs to be crisper with his hand movement when controlling the puck on the rush.

In-game Observations:

• On the first powerplay of the 1st period, Gosselin although not the cleanest, won a key offensive zone faceoff to Vincent Desjardins, leading to a quick Carbonneau one-timer goal and ultimately, a secondary assist.
• On Armada’s 4th goal, Gosselin used his work ethic and edgework to get through the opposition and pot home the rebound.
• Throughout this game, especially on the PK, played patiently persistent in the defensive end as although he could be a bit more reserved, as at the right place at the right time in getting the puck out.
• Just as PK ended, Gosselin joined hard on the rush and crashed the net hard which led to him almost scoring as he redirected the puck on goal.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 6.5
• Puck Skill: 4.5
• Scoring Ability: 4.5
• Playmaking Ability: 4.5
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 6.5
• Character: 7
• Physicality: 4
• Defensive Play: 7

---

#88F, Nolan Duskocy
Team: Charlottetown Islanders, QMHL
Height/Weight: 6’2, 190 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: January 26th, 2008

Overview:

Nolan Duskocy is a forechecking power forward in the making with a projectable frame, a heavy shot, and a hardworking mentality. Despite limited usage for the Islanders, he consistently made the most of his shifts with his energy, speed, and puck pursuit. His forechecking stands out as a defining feature—using long, powerful strides and a strong motor to pressure defenders into mistakes or penalties. Although not fast hands, he has the puck controlled. Duskocy owns one heavy wrist shot, combining a quick release with deceptive mechanics that allow him to shoot in motion, he will however need to work on his follow through mechanics as his shots go a little high on certain occasions. When discussing about his playmaking, he needs a lot of work. Not so from the perspective of making a crisp pass, but having a strong visual of the game as he doesn’t always understand how to not only position himself, but have a sense of trust in where his teammates are going to be. Defensively, his game remains inconsistent. While his positional awareness is sound, his backchecking effort can vary—especially when trailing the play. His skating overall is solid for his size, especially in straight lines, but his lateral quickness and pivoting need refinement.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Bottom-Six Checking Forward who can shoot.

Floor: AHL Top-6 Forward
Special Teams: PP2 (Shooter Role)/PK2 “Possibly”
Production Outlook: 10~ Goals, 25~ points
Pick Range: 150th-175th Overall

Strengths:

• Compete Level in the Offensive Zone and on the Forecheck.
• Physicality: Needs to get stronger to be more imposing on the forecheck physically speaking.
• His Speed and Acceleration: Shows powerful and explosive stride with full leg extensions.
• Dangerous wrist shot: Shows subtle yet very quick hand rotation in his shot.

Weaknesses:

• Compete level on the backchecks: Needs to develop a stronger mentality when the opposition is attacking and defend.
• Skating Mechanics: Lateral Movement: Needs to develop some flexibility in his crossover and pivots.
• Offensive Awareness/Visions: Needs to develop a stronger sense of his surroundings in the offensive zone.

In-Game Observations:

• Displayed good compete level trying to win puck battles with the use of his speed throughout the game, especially the strong consistency on the forecheck.
• Just passed the halfway mark of the 1st, did a great job on the backcheck interfering the pass, he should have however go up closer to the point so he could either be an option along the boards, or if the defenseman received the puck, be in position to block a shot.
• Throughout the game, displayed lack of confidence in carrying the puck. Should have shown confidence with the puck by carrying it more instead of just doing dump and chase plays.
• Although hasn’t gotten many puck touches in the 2nd, Nolan did do a good job by placing himself position as a primary option for his defensemen to break the puck out to.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 7
• Puck Skill: 4.5
• Scoring Ability: 5.5
• Playmaking Ability: 4
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 4.5
• Character: 6
• Physicality: 6.5
• Defensive Play: 4.5

---

#16 D, Nikita Voyaga

Team: Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL

Height/Weight 6’3”, 207Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB: October 16th, 2007

Overview:

Nikita Voyaga is a mobile yet steady defensive defenseman who leverages his size to his advantage greatly. His physicality is his greatest asset, consistently punishing his opponents all over the ice. While his shot isn’t poor from the power perspective, he often misses the net, limiting rebound opportunities—keeping his shots low would improve this greatly by following through on his shots. When it comes to his puck handling, he really needs to develop confidence by first showing composure when carrying the puck as he doesn’t always handle pressure well. His passing is solid, helping Charlottetown transition smoothly into the offensive zone, but where its lacking is his defensive awareness with the puck as not always mindful of where the opposition is and can get burned because of it. At 6’3, he moves well for his size, with fluid transitions and long strides, though needs to improve greatly his quickness in his footwork. Defensively without the puck, his awareness and stickwork make him difficult to beat, as he excels at poke-checking and intercepting passes. While generally sound in his positioning, he occasionally makes poor pinches, leaving him out of position. He does need to be cautious about his discipline.

Player Projection

Ceiling: Top-6 Defenseman 

Floor: AHL Top-4 Dman

Special Teams: PK2

Production Outlook: 15~ Points

Pick Range: Mid 5th-Late 6th round

Strengths:

• Defensive Play without the puck: Extremely strong in positioning, stickwork, and defending the rush, making him difficult to beat in one-on-one situations.
• Passing: A strong passer, particularly on breakouts, with the ability to make accurate and quick passes under pressure.
• Physicality: Tremendously imposing on the opposition, a menace when boxing out the opposition and throwing heavy checks along the boards.

Weaknesses:

• Shooting: Needs to improve accuracy and intelligence on his shots, particularly from long-range.
• Confidence with the puck, especially in his own end: Needs let the game come to him more than him trying to force a play, needs to be mindful of his surroundings.
• Discipline: Needs to be mindful of his actions with his stick and when getting involved in scrums.

In-game Observations:

• In the ¼ mark in the 1st, although a shot that was considered slightly high, he did hit the net as he showcased when he follows through with his shot, he doesn’t miss and creates a chance with traffic in front.
• Near the ¾ mark of the 1st, Nikita laid a thunderstruck of a hit on Vincent Collard along the boards, imposing his strength at the blueline. This created momentum for the Islanders when it came to bringing the pace of play up.
• Throughout the game, although he performed the right technique on how to pinch effectively, he needs to be cautious on the number of times he does it as there were a few occasions he got burned for it and had to waste energy by backchecking hard.
• A few times in the 2nd where he was not cautious defensively with the puck and performed no look passes. As a result, they were intercepted and what happened was that he got intercepted, one of them led to a goal for Armada.
• Throughout the game, showed crisp passing when he is following through on them as they come out flat and hard which aids the quickness of transition of play.
• When facing the puck carrier, he needs to play man on man coverage and has to keep his feet moving, one occasion, Carbonneau deked through him and Nikita was flat footed.

Skater Ratings:

• Skating: 5.5
• Puck Skill: 3
• Scoring Ability: 3.5
• Playmaking Ability: 4
• Hockey Sense/IQ: 4
• Character: 5
• Physicality: 7
• Defensive Play: 6

By Jean-François Rioux Head Goalie Scout for Draft Prospects Hockey

Danai Shaiikov
Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL

In this series, instead of simply pitching the goalie with the top numbers, I’ll highlight one
goalie prospect who stood out to me in my viewings in the last month.

In his first 4 starts since moving to North America, Danai Shaiikov caught my attention early
in my viewings. His speed and agility in the crease were evident, as he covered ground well,
reset quickly to position after initial shots and showed a high compete level. He started the
year strong with 3 wins and posting a 2.05 GAA and .912 Sv%.

Strengths
His lateral movement and ability to reset after a shot are among his most reliable
tools in his positioning. He gave himself a chance on rebound opportunities and
scrambles. He stayed very active in his crease making quick and crisp adjustments
to set him up square to the puck.He also challenges shooters, cuts angles, and
doesn’t shy off his crease. That mindset can force shooters into uncomfortable looks
with rare free space to place the puck.

danai shaiikov

Weaknesses
His aggressive style sometimes comes at a cost: he can lose track of precise angles
or let gaps open up, particularly on tight or deceptive plays, complicating his save
selection. Also, his strong pushes when sliding make him overcommit on some plays,
so the recovery can be difficult, even with above average speed and quickness.

Projection & Potential
I see Shaiikov as an overager draftable prospect for the 2026 draft as he has the athletic
profile and size to draw NHL interest. I’ll be following him up all season to see his
progression in identified weaknesses, more notably if his aggressiveness can be balanced
with more structural discipline.

Noah Kosick #13 Swift Current Broncos – August 18, 2008 – Left shot centre. 5.11 / 170

Kosick is an offensive forward. Strength: Decent speed and an adequate skater. Competes hard and shows good anticipation in reading the play. Plays centre on the top power-play unit. Goes to the net and picks up rebounds and buries them. Opportunity for Improvement: Needs to improve his skating stride and overall effectiveness in the defensive zone. Can be selfish with the puck. 

Skating: 4

Shooting: 4

Hockey IQ: 6 

Physicality: 4 

Defensive awareness: 4

Playmaking: 6

Puck Skills: 6

Zach Pantelakis #34 Swift Current Broncos – October 18, 2007 – Left shot centre / left wing. 5.11 / 164

Pantelakis is a power forward. Strength: Decent skater with good speed. Possesses nice hands and can finish when given the opportunity. Trusted in 4-on-4 situations. Drives the net hard, competes every shift, and shows strong hustle. Keeps his feet moving while defending in the defensive zone. Opportunity for Improvement: Could use a more active stick when defending in his own zone.

Skating: 6

Shooting: 6

Hockey IQ: 6 

Physicality: 4 

Defensive awareness: 6

Playmaking: 5

Puck Skills: 6

Stepan Kuryachenkov #33 Swift Current Broncos – July 16, 2008 – Left shot left wing. 6.00 / 165

Kuryachenkov is an energy forward. Strength: Quick feet and plays with a high level of energy. Opportunity for Improvement: Skating mechanics look a bit loose. Tends to throw the puck away when anticipating contact instead of making a stronger play under pressure.

Colt Carter #8 Moose Jaw Warriors – July 23, 2009 – Right-shot defenseman. 5.09 / 163

Carter is an offensive defenseman. Strengths: Quick to activate offensively, often jumping into the play. Possesses quick feet, strong skating ability, and delivers a solid first pass. Opportunities for Improvement: Needs to improve his recovery effort when caught up ice. Must refine the timing of his pinches to avoid leaving gaps defensively.

Skating: 6

Shooting: 4

Hockey IQ: 4 

Physicality: 4 

Defensive awareness: 4

Playmaking: 4

Puck Skills: 7

Riley Thorpe #38 Moose Jaw Warriors – March 27, 2008 – Left shot left wing. 6.00 / 173

Thorpe is a 2-way forward. Strengths: Highly effective penalty killer with a strong compete level. Possesses a quick release and consistently stays engaged by moving his feet, making plays on the puck, and finishing checks each shift. Demonstrates strong involvement in all areas of the game and contributes offensively as the point man on the top power-play unit. Opportunities for Improvement: None noted.

Skating: 6

Shooting: 6

Hockey IQ: 6 

Physicality: 6 

Defensive awareness: 6

Playmaking: 5

Puck Skills: 6

Joe Iginla #21 Edmonton Oil Kings – August 13, 2008 – Right shot right wing. 5.10 / 174

Iginla is a power forward. Strengths: Shows good hands with a decent shot. Willing to drive to the front of the net and competes hard in battles. Opportunities for Improvement: Tends to overhandle the puck and force plays, including passing into traffic or holding it too long. Needs to improve decision-making and overall comfort in the defensive zone.

Skating: 5

Shooting: 7

Hockey IQ: 4 

Physicality: 5 

Defensive awareness: 4

Playmaking: 4

Puck Skills: 8

Cohen Klassen #37 Regina Pats – September 8, 2009 – Left shot centre. 6.00 / 176

Klassen is a vanilla offensive forward. Strengths: Smart playmaker who creates opportunities for his linemates. Opportunities for Improvement: Needs to improve timing when finishing checks and show better awareness on line changes, particularly when the puck is in the defensive zone.

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Hockey IQ: 5 

Physicality: 4 

Defensive awareness: 4

Playmaking: 6

Puck Skills: 5

Cage Smith #20 Edmonton Oil Kings – December 24, 2008 – Left shot centre. 5.10 / 156

Smith is a skilled forward. Strengths: Strong shot blocker and effective penalty killer. Goes hard to the net and competes well in battles. Opportunities for Improvement: Needs to refine puck skills and show more consistency with decision-making under pressure.

Skating: 5

Shooting: 5

Hockey IQ: 5 

Physicality: 6 

Defensive awareness: 5

Playmaking: 5

Puck Skills: 5

Julien Maze #72 Regina Pats – December 7, 2007 – Left shot left wing. 5.10 / 170

Maze is a skilled forward. Strengths: Possesses good hands and a reliable shot. Willing to go to the hard areas, competes well, and battles effectively around the net. Opportunities for Improvement: Can overhandle the puck and force plays, often passing into traffic or holding onto it too long. Needs to make quicker, smarter decisions and become more confident in the defensive zone.

Skating: 7

Shooting: 7

Hockey IQ: 4 

Physicality: 4 

Defensive awareness: 4

Playmaking: 6

Puck Skills: 6