The 2024 World Juniors has come and gone, and team USA gets to walk away with gold. After an exciting tournament with many upset losses, surprising performances, and future stars taking the center stage, there is certainly a lot that we need to go over, so let’s not waste anytime. Starting with the last place team and moving on to the victorious team USA, let’s review the players who seized their moment at the 2024 World Juniors.
Team Norway. (0-4-1) Last Place Regulation.
After losing their 4 games, and a crushing overtime defeat against Germany in the regulation match, Norway will be demoted to Division 1 and be replaced by Kazakhstan next year. Since the 1980s Norway has never been able to remain in the top Division of the World Juniors, history repeats itself yet again as Norway has once again been regulated.
But is it all terrible news for team Norway? Not at all, there were a few bright spots for Norway in fact.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora IK (Hockeyallsvenskan), Right Hand, 6’1”, 198lbs. Born October 5th, 2005.
Scoring 5 points and 3 goals to finish amongst the top of his team. MBN has proven he can still produce a respectable offense even when facing much better teams. Many already believe MBN had first round potential, and now he has solidified the confidence in many scouts eyes that he is a player to be taken seriously. Norway may not be the first country people think about when asked about future NHL stars, but every now and then an under the radar player such as MBN comes along, proving that Norway still has a lot to offer the hockey world.
“Brandsegg-Nygard is a robust and powerful winger who excels in physical play. His skating is characterized by effortless, long strides, contributing to his effectiveness in the 200-foot game. Notably, he displays persistence on the puck during backchecks and puck pursuits, utilizing his long reach to initiate contact on the puck carrier, leading to turnovers and intense pressure.” – DraftPro’s Steven Pratas.
Petter Vesterheim, F, Mora IK (Hockeyallsvenskan), Left Hand, 5’11”, 172lbs. Born September 30th, 2004.
A quick mention should be given to Petter Vesterheim, MBN’s linemate both at the World Juniors and with Mora IK. Petter Vesterheim showed a lot of determination when facing stiff competition, and perhaps even proven he should be considered as a viable option on draft day. So far Vesterheim has gone unnoticed, and at 19 years old, his chances for being drafted are not certain. So if anyone needed this respectable performance with Norway, it was Petter Vesterheim. Here’s hoping that in the very least a camp invite is offered to Vesterheim.
Stian Solberg, D, Vålerenga (Norway), Left Hand, 6’2”, 192lbs. Born December 29th, 2005.
Stian Solberg did all he could do on an outmatched Norway team, but there is a good chance this performance helped Solberg more than one may think on first perception. He carried Norway’s defense in a lot of ways, and despite all of this pressure on the 18-year-old, he still managed to grab two points with Norway. Coming from an often overlooked European region, it’s unlikely Solberg will be picked up early, but he proved that there is value in his old school defensive game. Here’s hoping a GM on draft day takes the gamble on the very underrated Stian Solberg.
Team Germany (2-3) Regulation Elimination.
Germany is a country that often faces ups and downs when it comes to the World Juniors. Being too good to be eliminated, but not good enough to make it far in the top division. This year, they narrowly missed out on the quarter finals and ended up in a real seat clencher against Norway, where they won in overtime. Germany’s highlight this year was their upset victory over Finland in the regulation round, showing that they can still provide some upset victories at the big World Juniors Stage.
Veit Oswald, LW, EHC München (DEL), Left Hand, 6’2”, 179lbs. Born August 31st, 2004.
At 19 years old, Veit Oswald needed a good showing in order to get noticed by the World Junior Scouts. Despite having a good size and a DEL championship, Veit Oswald hasn’t been able to properly get himself over in the eyes of the scouts. With 5 points and 3 goals, including a pivotal 2 goal game against Finland, Veit Oswald had an overall excellent showing. Oswald continues to play well with equal competition, and is not too shabby playing with grown men in DEL. Perhaps this was the performance he needed to grab the attention of someone or anyone on draft day.
“He is a very effective forechecker who is aware of the passing options and consistently eliminates them with his reach. He’s a player who protects the puck effectively and can buy time and space for his team.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Phillip Sinn, D, RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL), Left Hand, 6’2”, 192lbs. Born January 13th, 2004.
A quick mention should go to one of the most underrated defensemen in the World Juniors this year, one Phillip Sinn. 4 points and a goal on a struggling team Germany is pretty good showing for a player who struggles to get the attention needed to get properly considered by scouts. On top of this he has a solid size to him, which could push him over the edge as a potentially viable defensive prospect.
Julius Sumpf, C, Moncton Wild Cats (QMJHL), Left Hand, 6’2”, 185lbs. Born January 11th, 2005.
One of team Germany’s youngest players, Sumpf had a respectable performance, scoring 3 points and a goal. Not as high as most other young players in the World Juniors, it is still worth a mentioning considering the team he played for. Since making the move to the QMJHL, Sumpf has proven he can hang with stiff competition and still produce good numbers. Now he proved that he can still produce offense even when completely outmatched. Without out a doubt his draft stock shot up candidly after this WC.
Paul Mayer, D, Adler Mannheim (DEL), Left Hand, 6’3”, 187lbs. Born September 25th, 2005.
Mayer has built up a solid amount of attention heading into the World Juniors. He’s a big defensemen, has a high ceiling as a potential defensive defensemen or possibly even a two-way defensemen. Mayer may not have wow’d many on the scoresheet, but that isn’t his kind of game. Mayer has been praised numerous times for his shut-down style and his skills were fully displayed at the juniors. While this may not have been the outcome that Mayer wanted, it still felt right to give him a shout out.
Team Latvia (1-4) Quarter Finals Loss
Like Germany and Norway, Latvia has a rough history at the World Juniors. Stuck in the not good enough to challenge the big teams, too good to stay in Division 1 for more than a year or two. With a respectable performance against Slovakia and a strong win against Germany, Latvia still has a lot to be proud of this year. Their drafted players: Dans Locmelis and Sandis Vilmanis had a good year, showcasing that Latvia can still produce NHL worthy hockey players. But their young players were lacking in any real chance to showcase what they can properly do.
Peteris Bulans, D, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL), Left Hand, 6’0”, 185lbs. Born March 8th, 2005.
If any draft eligible player could be mentioned for team Latvia, it would be Peteris Bulans from the QMJHL. Bulans has a few good qualities, he was able to score 2 points for a team that was shutout more than once this year. And in the QMJHL, he has the potential to be an excellent playmaking defensemen. So while 2 points isn’t very eye grabbing, it’s at least something for the still young defensemen to build off of.
Eriks Mateiko, F, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL), Left Hand, 6’4”, 201lbs. Born November 18th, 2005.
While Mateiko did not have an eye-caching world juniors, he is sill a high-interest player coming into the tournament. While he did not make a strong case to be a top end draft pick, his big stature and great potential is too much to ignore. Mateiko could be an excellent late round pick for a team who want to take a gamble on a potential power forward in Mateiko. His QMJHL season is also going well, so there could potentially be a hidden diamond in the rough here with Eriks Mateiko.
Team Switzerland (1-3-1) Quarter Finals Loss
After going 1-3 in regulation, Switzerland was put in the unfortunate position to go up against the powerhouse team that was team Sweden in the quarter finals. It was not as one sided as many expected as Switzerland put up a good fight, forcing Sweden into overtime. But at the end of the day Sweden did win, and it was another lower-mid finish for Switzerland. But still, Switzerland has a plethora of young players to get excited about:
Jonas Taibal, F, EHC Winterthur (SL), Left Hand, 5’11”, 183lbs. Born August 19th, 2004.
This is Taibal’s 3rd World Juniors appearance, and his highest scoring appearance yet. Scoring 5 points in 5 games is a solid tournament for a player who has struggled to make any real convincing arguments to be drafted. Taibal continues to provide evidence that he is a competitive player who can produce results. So while his chances on being drafted are still small, his future as an undrafted free agent is still respectable, and a camp invite is likely in his future is a draft selection is not.
Gregory Weber, RW, Bern U20 (U20 Elit), Right Hand, 5’9”, 154lbs. Born January 7th, 2004.
Similar to Taibal, Weber needed this good showing to get any sort of attention from scouts. In fact, much of what I said about Jonas Taibal can also be applied to Weber. They are both players who have struggled to get attention in their European leagues, though have proven time and again in these international tournaments that they can still play with the big boys. Only time will tell where these two will end up in the future. DraftPro’s long time scout Murray Caldwell was impressed with Weber’s performance at the WJs however, and had this to say:
“A small player with great wheels. He’s tenacious with good work ethic, creating turnovers on the backcheck. He has great balance when taking the body too. He often works the boards, coming out with the puck by using his sick rather than his body.”
Daniil Ustinkov, D, ZSC Lions (NL), Left Hand, 6’0”, 198lbs. Born August 26th, 2006.
To many, Ustinkov properly stepped up for Switzerland as he managed to grab 2 assists after it was all said and done. There are still many who don’t know Ustinkov as a potential sleeper pick in the 2nd/3rd rounds. His solid size and underrated hockey IQ will go a long way in selling Ustinkov to many GMs on draft day.
“One thing that stood out about his game with the puck was that when he accelerates and plays with speed. Everything seems easier for him, though his timing is something he struggles with. It’s important for him to quickly get into the right rhythm and take up his responsibilities.” – DraftPro’s Dany Gelinas.
Leon Muggli, D, EV Zug (NL), Left Hand, 6’0”, 165lbs. Born July 9th, 2006.
Switzerland greatly benefitted from having Muggli on their team. While Rodwin Dionicio was their main support on the blue line, Muggli played a pivotal role in easing the pressure off of Dionicio. If there is one word to sell you on Muggli, it is potential. His high ceiling as a potential elite puck moving defensemen should be everyone’s main takeaway on Leon Muggli.
“Léon was the Swiss team’s most-used defenseman, playing in all game situations (PP, PK). Technically solid in 1-on-1 battles, with good body position and stickchecking. On the other hand, he needs to be careful with his play with the puck, which can sometimes be too soft. It’s obvious that he can create play and carry it if need be though.” – DraftPro’s Dany Gelinas.
Simon Meier, F, Penticton Vees (BCHL), Left Hand, 5’10”, 161lbs. Born March 10th, 2005.
While Meier only had 2 goals and 2 points this year, his point per game season so far in the BCHL should also be mentioned as a selling point. Simon Meier would have benefitted greatly if Switzerland was able to have a U19 team in the World Junior A Challenge from a month ago. But as of right now Meier will have to accept with what he was given. And he showcased a decent amount of offensive potential with team Switzerland’s U20 team.
“Meier capably leads the rush up the ice and is comfortable with the puck on his stick. He has some skill and can dish the puck capably. Meier is a player with some speed and skill and he has a good hockey IQ, but he is not the most patient player.” DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Alessio Beglieri, G, Biel-Bienne U20 (U20 Elit), Left Hand, 5’11”, 174lbs. Born January 5th, 2004.
One of the best goalies in the World Juniors this year if you factor in the team he was playing for, Beglieri should be proud that he kept his numbers solid throughout the tournament. The only reason Switzerland had as many close games as they did was because they had a red hot Beglieri in net. And if it wasn’t for the powerhouse that was the USA, who beat Switzerland 11-3, Beglieri’s numbers would be even better. He’s turned 20 since these World Juniors, and he’s under that coveted height of 6’2” that scouts expect from Goaltenders. Even if he remains undrafted, suspect a camp invite for this criminally underrated goaltender.
Team Canada (3-2) Quarter Finals Loss.
Yes, Canada is being mentioned this early. After a solid 3-1 regulation, Canada was upset by Czechia with mere seconds left in the third period. No doubt, hockey fans will be talking about this loss for a long time. What was the reason for Canada’s collapse? Likely a plethora of reasons, but certainly it’s not due to a lack of talent. Since Canada is, Canada, there isn’t many draft eligible prospects that could find a spot on the competitive U20 team. But let’s go over the ones that did make it in:
Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA), Left Hand, 6’0”, 190lbs. Born June 13th, 2006.
One can’t help but almost feel disappointed with Macklin Celebrini and the rest of team Canada this year. Big names like Matthew Savoie, Connor Geekie, Brayden Yager, Nate Danielson and many more struggled to even make it to a point per game level. The second highest scoring player on team Canada was Brayden Yager, who scored 5 points. So depending on how you look at it, Celebrini’s 8 points are either a good thing or bad thing. 2024’s top prospect outscored all other players on team Canada, which is nice and all, but Celebrini couldn’t even crack the top 15 of players in the entire tournament. It’s still unlikely that this performance will hurt Celebrini’s chances of going first overall, but hockey fans can’t help but feel that they were sold a little short with team Canada this year. Still, Celebrini is insanely talented, and it’s nearly impossible NOT to talk about his exciting potential as an elite NHL forward. Here is just a small blurb of DraftPro’s Liam Staples, who was very impressed with Celebrini:
“The skating ability of Celebrini is magnificent, he has powerful strides that allow him to attack through the middle of the ice with ease. He played very confidently with the puck on his stick, yet he was even more aggressive to win the puck back when he lost it. The level of his hockey IQ allows him to read the situation on the ice providing him a step on his opponents before they can adjust.”
Mathis Rousseau, G, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL), Left Hand, 5’11”, 172lbs. Born September 10th, 2004.
While Canada was overall a disappointment this year the blame can not be put on the goaltending. Throughout Rousseau’s career he has never had a save percentage below a .900, and these World Juniors let him display his skills in net and prove that he can handle the pressure better than most goalies today. Going .912 in save percentage this year, and .924 for the Moosehead’s playoff run, Rousseau is a goalie worth considering come draft day. To handle oneself under pressure is one of the best traits for a goaltender, and Rousseau has it in spades.
“He holds his edges and is a patient goaltender. Rousseau is a goalie who tracks the puck extremely well and is well aware of where all the potential passes are. On top of this he has very good box control and excellent lateral movement. He moves well and is compact but doesn’t look small in the net.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Owen Allard, C, Soo Greyhounds (OHL), Left Hand, 6’2”, 201lbs. Born January 13th, 2004.
Owen Allard only had 3 points this year, but that was still higher than Matthew Savoie, tied Connor Geekie, and was much higher than many other drafted players on team Canada got. Owen Allard proved that he can hang with the big names, even if the team is struggling to find any cohesion on the ice. Allard is a likely option to be picked, but it’s unlikely this performance demands a high selection.
“Allard is a quick player who makes good reads on the ice and finds the seams routinely. He can pass the puck through players or indirect and make it easy to receive. Allard is an effective player at supporting the rush on the weak side and reads the play well with whether to go to the net or stay in the middle” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Team Slovakia (3-1-1) Quarter Finals Loss.
Team Slovakia seemed as if they were poised for a medal this year. But a tough OT loss to Finland stopped their journey early in the quarter finals. With a roster filled with drafted players, Slovakia’s efforts to build more hockey stars are starting bear fruit. Big names like Servac Petrovsky, Filip Mesar, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Maxim Strbak are proving to be high end players, so Slovakia’s run for a medal are by no means over. As on top of these drafted players, there were also a few names that emerged as potential future NHLers:
Luka Radivojevic, D, Örebro HK (J20 Nationell), Right Hand, 5’10”, 161lbs. Born January 3rd, 2007.
Though Slovakia doesn’t have many 2024 draft eligible players this year, there is a 2025 eligible player that needs mentioning: Luka Radviojevic. At 17 years old Radviojevic is already playing in the U20 leagues, scoring a lot for an under-aged defensemen. This year at the World Juniors he proved that not only could he step up to the even stiffer competition, he can score points, including a goal. Without a doubt this is only the start for Luka Radviojevic, as it’s likely we are looking at a future first round pick in 2025. He’ll most certainly be returning to the World Juniors next year, where he could be challenging for the top defensemen in the whole tournament.
“He is like Letang with impressive speed. If he gets caught deep, he has the ability to come back and take away the rush. He consistently shoots the puck with authority and accuracy, looking for tips or deflections. Makes puck distribution look much too simple.” – DraftPro’s Murray Caldwell.
Team Finland (3-4) Semi Finals Loss.
It never feels good to get so far and to come back with nothing, this year, that was team Finland. After going 2-2 in regulation, Finland needed to dig deep against a very game team Slovakia in the quarter finals and pushed team USA to their limit as well, but sadly came up short against the best team in the tournament. Finally they came up short in a chaotic 8-5 game against Czechia. 4th place is the position no one wants, but Finland has a lot of notable players to go through.
Jere Lassila, C, JYP (Liiga), Left Hand, 5’10”, 176lbs. Born March 8th, 2004.
Playing amongst men in Liiga, Jere Lassila led team Finland in points this year. At 19 years old he is a bit old for the ideal top round draft pick, but without a doubt Jere Lassila proved his value at the World Juniors, scoring 8 points to put him on the upper echelon of players. Every year there is a player like Jere Lassila that proves initial impressions false. Lassila is a top end prospect that deserves a consideration at the draft this year.
“He is a confident player in the faceoff circle and wins many important draws. He is more mature than most who is responsible and can find the lanes as an effective passer who can put the puck on the stick. Lassila is a clutch player and would be very helpful for some key minutes on a great team in the playoffs.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Konsta Helenius, F, Jukurit (Liiga), Right Hand, 5’11”, 181lbs. Born May 11th, 2006.
Ranking in the upper half of the first round before this tournament, it’s unlikely Konsta Helenius will see a major change in his placement. Scoring 2 points is neither a disappointing nor a satisfying conclusion to Helenius’ World Juniors considering his age. His skill was on full display and even though he didn’t make the impact many would have hoped, he still blended in very well with all the other top tier athletes on team Finland.
“A very effort-driven, hard working, board-battling forward who can possess the pace of a game on the wing. He does everything to get open and does a good job getting a quick shot on net.” DraftPro’s Joeseph Stanislau.
Jesse Pulkinen, D, JYP (Liiga), Left Hand, 6’6”, 216lbs. Born December 27th, 2004.
One of the most impressive draft-eligible defensemen this year was Finland’s Jesse Pulkinen. The big defensemen has captured a lot of intention from scouts as he stepped up for team Finland, providing multiple offensive and defensive highlights. He scored 3 points this tournament and impressed many who were not initially convinced Pulkinen earned a position on Finland’s defensive roster.
“Despite occasional difficulties in corralling passes, he possesses relatively soft hands for a big man. His offensive instincts are growing, constantly utilizing his heavy shot. Pulkkinen’s offensive upside is evident in surprising the opposition with impressive rushes through the neutral zone, showcasing quick hands to navigate around or through bodies.” – DraftPro’s Steven Pratas
Tommi Männistö, RW, Michigan State University (NCAA), Left Hand, 6’0”, 194lbs. Born February 7th, 2004.
A quick mention to Michigan State’s Tommi Männistö. He competed exceptionally well, easily keeping up with an already speedy team Finland. On top of that he scored 3 goals for Finland, supplying Finland with constant offensive pressure that helped the team tremendously. Männistö clearly displayed his impressive blend of goal scoring and skating ability.
“Männistö is a player who is not afraid to drive the center lane with the puck on his stick. He clearly wants to make a difference and often does. Männistö needs talented players to be an effective player but he has a good skill set. When he is with other talented players his game elevates and he can help support the play. He always has his head up and is ready to intercept the puck and is patient to take all the ice that the defense will give him.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Liiga), Right Hand, 6’2”, 194lbs. Born June 27th, 2006.
Like Konsta Helenius, this was not an exceptionally good or bad showing for Emil Hemming. He proved he could keep up with his older teammates but didn’t quite grab the attention for himself. As of right now Emil Hemming is considered a late first rounder or early second rounder. He showed that he doesn’t necessarily have to hide in Konsta Helenius’ shadow, this could be spun into a positive for his future draft position.
“There’s potential for Emil to evolve into a dynamic power forward with numerous offensive attributes, but leveraging his raw strength more effectively in tough puck battles could significantly boost his draft stock. Seeing him play with more grit would enhance his overall game.” – DraftPro’s Steven Pratas.
Noa Vali, G, TPS (Liiga), Left Hand, 6’1”, 159lbs. Born April 19th, 2005.
The 18-year-old goaltender may have only had 2 games this tournament but he proved why he could be a potential candidate for a late round goalie selection. He finished with a save percentage of .928, and a GAA of 1.94. This places him easily in the top 5 goalies for the tournament, though again he only had 2 games. Nonetheless this gives hope to fans of Noa Vali, and seeing how this is a slower draft year for goaltending, all hope is not loss for this especially underrated goalie.
Team Czechia (4-3-1) Bronze Medal.
No team has faced more ups and downs that team Czechia this year, from their gritty and well-earned wins over Canada and Finland to the crushing defeat to Sweden in the semi finals, no doubt the Czech fans had a lot of drama this year. Not only was team Czechia one of the most exciting teams to watch, but they also had many great showings from their drafted and undrafted players alike.
Matyas Melovsky, C, Baie-Commeau Drakkar (QMJHL), Right Hand, 6’0”, 183lbs. Born May 25th, 2004.
With 11 points at the World Juniors, Matyas Melovsky has a strong argument as the best undrafted player in the entire tournament. 11 Points is enough to place him in the top 3 for all skaters, and amongst the highest for his entire team aside from Jiri Kulich. This couldn’t have gone better for Melovsky, as GMs will have to be willingly blind to overlook a performance such as this. Consider Melovsky officially on everyone’s radar as he made a strong argument to go in the top half of the draft.
Ondrej Becher, F, Prince George Cougars (WHL), Left Hand, 6’0”, 172lbs. Born February 22nd, 2004.
Czechia was blessed this year as they have two excellent showings from their draft eligible roster. Ondrej Becher from the WHL got to showcase just why he should be considered a top-end draft pick. He’s on pace for a big break out season with the Cougars this year and was a top 5 player in the World Juniors this year. This blew many former draft picks out of the water and it’s likely no one suspected a showing such as this from Becher. A player with excellent offensive creativity and shooting power, Becher proved a lot of his initial doubters wrong this year at the World Juniors.
“Becher supports the puck well and can keep up with some higher end talent and be a key piece on a line. He is a player who can elevate his game at times, and he can play with some speed and size.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Dominik Rymon, F, Everett Silvertips (WHL), Left Hand, 5’10”, 154lbs. Born May 29th, 2004.
One should mention the Everett Silvertip’s Dominik Rymon. Rymon is in a similar situation to Ondrej Becher as he is a 19-year-old player who has gone mostly under the radar, on pace for an excellent WHL season after a strong World Juniors Performance. Rymon’s size may play against him, but he proved he can be a reliable force on the ice during high stakes games.
“He can drive the center lane or is comfortable going to the wall and being a physical player. Rymon has great hands and is an offensively skilled player who can dictate the play as an older player in the tournament. At times his decision making at the offensive blueline can be too risky and he can turnover the puck.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Tomas Galvas, D, Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia), Left Hand, 5’10”, 148lbs. Born February 11th, 2006.
While the speedy and highly skilled Galvas was not on the opening roster for team Czechia, an unfortunate injury to Adam Jiricek left a space open for Tomas Galvas to fill in. The 17-year-old defensemen did not spoil his opportunity, giving Czechia some solid offense. His determination and excellent skating skills were on full display, Steven Pratas had to say on Galvas:
“Galvas possesses an extra step that allows him to create separation from the opposition, making his overall skating ability a significant strength. He demonstrates intelligence in his positional game, fearlessly jumping into offensive opportunities when they arise. His excellent vision up the middle of the ice and ability to anticipate pressure result in accurate passes to his defensive partner.”
Team Sweden (5-1-1) Silver Medal.
Sweden had another good showing this year as they settled on the silver medal after losing to team USA in the finals. You can’t really blame them, as it seems team USA could beat the San Jose Sharks let alone Sweden’s U20 team. Sweden only had three listed players that are eligible for the draft this year, but fans of the Vancouver Canucks should be excited for Jonathon Lekkerimaki who scored 10 points and 7 goals this year. Sabre’s prospect Noah Ostlund also finished with 10 points. And Sweden had 3 of the best defensemen in the whole tournament with Axel Sandin-Pekilla, Theo Lindstein, and Tom Willander.
Hugo Hävelid, G, Djurgårdens (Hockeyallsvenskan), Left Hand, 5’10”, 179lbs. Born January 1st, 2004.
Sweden’s roster was filled mostly of drafted players, but there goalie Hugo Hävelid earned this placement on his team and did not squander his opportunity. Hävelid’s NHL path is going to be a rough and rocky road. Being only 5’10” puts a big ‘con’ on his player sheet in many scouts eyes, and whether justified or not, it’s a sad reality for many goaltenders. While his draft likeliness is low, there will almost certainly be a GM or two whose willing to invite Hävelid to a training camp, especially after his performance at this year’s World Juniors, where many would place him as the #2 goalie in the whole tournament.
Team USA (7-0) Gold Medal.
What else is there to say about team USA? It’s rare we see such a clear favourite at the World Juniors and this year the US did not disappoint. With big names such as Gabriel Perreault, Gavin Brindley, Will Smith, Ryan Leonard and so many more, it’s going to be a long time before we see a team USA at his caliber again. They earned their gold medal, as they dominated the tournament in nearly every category.
Zeev Buium, D, University of Denver (NCAA), Left Hand, 6’0”, 183lbs. Born December 7th, 2005.
Like Sweden, team USA was filled with primarily drafted players. So there is really only one name to name, but he certainly earned it. Zeev Buium was without a doubt the best undrafted defensemen in the World Juniors and is certainly in the conversation for best defensemen overall in the tournament. This was huge for Buium, who, while making a strong argument for being a first round pick early in the year, has solidified his position and erased all doubt from skeptics. This goes double for Buium who had two staunch draft rivals in the World Juniors in Konsta Helenius and Emil Hemming. Buium was nearly a point per game defensemen, scoring goals, setting up plays, moving the puck, and doing everything a high-quality offensive defensemen should be doing in order to sell himself to the scouts. If anyone benefitted from the World Juniors this year, it was Zeev Buium.
“His hockey sense is outstanding, rarely making incorrect plays or executing poor passes. Excelling in breaking out of his zone, he is adept at making long, accurate stretch passes. His reads allow him to make timely decisions about whether to join the offensive play, a tactic he employs frequently, or to stay back and defend.” – DraftPro’s Steven Pratas.
For more 2024 NHL Draft content be sure to pick up your copy of the DraftPro 2024 NHL Draft Preview Magazine in either digital or physical copy available now.
Each gameday DraftPro Scouts can be found in the corner seats of junior rinks watching the next wave of talent develop into potentially one day becoming the next Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, or Andrei Vasilevskiy.
At DraftPro we want to share some of those reports gathers from those views in this feature we call “From the Corner Seats”. For the first instalment we bring you game reports from earlier this fall.
October 13, 2023 Prince George Cougars 4 vs Kelowna Rockets 5 (WHL) Prospera Place, Kelowna B.C. DraftPro Scout: Matt Hnatiuk
11 F, Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 6’0″, 181, L, DOB 08.01.2006
Tij is a growing power forward who is starting to play more like his father. He has a powerful skating stride and stance and uses it well to propel himself around the ice. His pace is about average, but it’s his ability to turn his backside towards an opponent and make himself about 8 feet wide and protect the puck. This ability makes him very useful to maintain puck possession as well as create offense out of nothing. His ability to control zone exits and entries is directly tied to his ability to protect the puck. He has a near NHL level shot (again similar to his fathers) and he can get it away quickly. He plays a methodically thought out game and sees the ice well at both ends of the rink. Being an Iginla, there is no questioning his compete level, ever. The only thing I would like to see him develop and use more is the physical/aggressive side of his game. He can show flashes of it, but it is never consistent. As a player who can play in any situation, and be plugged into any position up front and perform as required, Tij should be looked at as a top player this season.
October 14, 2023 Rouyn-Noranda vs Cap Breton – QMJHL Centre 200 DraftPro Scout: Samuel Laplant
3 D Tomas Lavoie, Cap Breton (QMJHL), 6’4”, 220, R, DOB 03.31.2006
An extremely reliable defenseman on both sides of the ice. His defensive game is excellent. He uses his long reach so well to block opponents’ passing lines. That’s one of the reasons he’s used on the power play kill. He’s rarely beaten 1-on-1 because of his stick work and positioning. He positions himself well to either block the opponent’s space with his stick or to just poke-check the opponent. In front of the net, Lavoie isn’t afraid to let his presence be known by pushing the opponent and sometimes even cross-checking them. It’s also quite rare for an opposing player to take advantage of a puck in front of the net. He’s very good at using his strength, his physical game and his stick to prevent them from making a play. When an opposing player gets too close to his goalie, he doesn’t hesitate to protect him and push him off. Lavoie already has the physique of an NHL player. He finishes his checks well and separates the player from the puck. He wins his battles along the boards where he uses his physical play or his stick to retrieve the puck. His passing game is what makes him reliable in his zone. His first pass is excellent and he always makes the simple play. He moves well with the puck to give himself a better passing line. His first 3-4 strides allow him to create a good distance between himself and a player trying to chase him into his own zone. This acceleration also allows him to support the attack and carry the puck into the offensive zone. His skating stroke is very interesting for his size. He handles the puck well, but he’s not considered a player with a lot of skill handling. He tries to make 1-on-1 moves but gets the puck taken away because his hands aren’t fast enough. His slapshot is powerful. Cap Breton uses it very often on the powerplay. He’s also very intelligent in his shot selection. He shoots when there’s traffic in front of the net or when a teammate is heading for the net to deflect. However, his wrist shot needs more precision. He often shoots over the net. Lavoie is very intelligent. His decisions are smart and that’s why he’s an extremely reliable player. He reminds me of Alex Pietriangelo, only faster. In my opinion, if he’s still available in the second half of the first round, I’d jump on him.
October 21, 2023 Torpedo Nizhny 4 vs Amur Khabarovsk 2 Trade Union Sports Palace DraftPro Scout: Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
21 D, Anton Silayev, Russia (Torpedo, KHL), 6’7”, 207, L, DOB 04.11.2006
Anton Silayev is the definition of the future when it comes to big, strong and agile defensemen. He has such tremendous transitioning and edgework to the point where he looks like he is gliding on water. Anton Silayev is the definition of a smooth and patient defensive defenseman who has tremendous raw offensive upside. Yes he may not be the fastest skating defenseman on the ice as due to his size, he does not have the same quickness in feet, but the way he transitions, his lateral movement alone is equivalent to NHL worthy skating. When it comes to defining what raw means on his offensive upside, he is very opportunistic at shooting the puck from the point as each shot is a missile. The aspect that is raw is that he absolutely needs to refine his accuracy as many times he likes to shoot high during screens which goes over the goaltender. When discussing his puck handling abilities, he absolutely needs to work on his hand speed when deking as his moves can be telegraphed by the opponents. Not many can get the biscuit off of him due to his fantastic body positioning. When it comes to his passing, this is by far his best aspect of his puck skills as every pass comes flat and crisp, even with the high saucers from end to end. Even though he has such a big frame, it seems like he does not necessarily like to throw the body so much which there is some work needed at effectively throwing many checks to become NHL worthy. The highlighting aspect of Silayev’s game is absolutely the way he vision’s the game. It seems that every play, he understands the aspect of using proper stick work when stopping a pass, as well as him seemingly being in the perfect position in any situation which because of this, not many teams pass through him. With no mistake about it, Anton Silayev is the future of big and agile defensemen as he is a crucial candidate to be selected top 10 in the 2024 NHL draft similar to his counter part Dmitri Simashev.
October 27, 2023 Windsor Spitfires vs Sarnia Sting (OHL) Budweiser Garden DraftPro Scout: Zach Morris
Greentree is the offensive powerhouse for the Spitfires and although he only record one primary assist, it was extremely evident. He was all over the ice controlling play and dominating possession in the offensive zone. His skating looked extremely smooth and was a key part of his game. He displayed excellent open face skating as well as edge work to get by defenders and keep them off of him. When leading the rush you could see his high level stickhandling ability on full display. He was deeking by opponents and moving his stick in a way that was very William Nylander esq. He has excellent scoring instincts and isn’t afraid to shoot. In tight he has great hands and a deadly backhand shot. One downside is he is sometimes hesitant to pass the puck and holds on too long trying to create a scoring chance. Instead he should look to reset and hope another opportunity will arise or just ensure the team keeps possession.
November 5th 2023 New Jersey 8 vs Nichols 5 (USHS-Prep) Northtowns Center DraftPro Scout: Steven Pratas
2 D Jack Sullivan, Nichols School (USHS-Prep), 6’1”, 174, L, DOB 03.24.2006
Jack plays an offensively active game as his shot gives him the ability to exploit the opposition when they’re out of position. He’s able to quickly turn his hips when receiving the puck on the point or from the top of the circle and release a missile toward the net. The power he produces is quite impressive as noted from his back leg being lifted into the air after his wind up. Sullivan is a true leader on the ice, he eats up most ice time on the team, plays in all situations, and heavily relied on to produce on the score sheet. He plays the same game despite the score and isn’t easily demotivated. Smooth skater, edgework from forward to backward starting is done in a split-second. He’s able to swiftly get into proper position after gliding into the play. Powerplay specialist, his playmaking ability really shows on the man advantage. Accurate passer through traffic and sticks. His neutral zone coverage and gap control is usually excellent, but his active stick often breaks up plays from occurring. Beating him on the inside is a challenging mission for forwards, he constantly has his eyes on their chest rather than the puck. Towering at 6’1”, Jack uses his body to hide the puck when being pressured and isn’t afraid to lay the body in the open ice. Sullivan oozes confidence with the puck even when heavily pursued, he often acts as if there’s no one around him. Plays a heavy game when taking opponents on-on-one, which can cause penalties. Excels at being the last line of defense as he understands when or not to pinch along the boards. His vision up the ice is very inconsistent as he doesn’t take advantage of the opposition’s long changes and tired players. Sullivan doesn’t make the correct passes to his wingers at times which causes him to turn back toward his goal ultimately causing turnovers. Urgency and awareness are a weakness, communication with his d-partner may be the culprit.
November 11th, 2023 Green Bay 5 v Lincoln 2 (USHL) Resoch Center DraftPro Scout: Andy Miller
2 Adam Kleber, D, Lincoln Stars (USHL), R, 6’4”, 210, DOB 3.24.2006
Kleber moves well for a big player. He is a defender who can jump up in the play and he is able to recover with some speed and get back in time often. Kleber is a very good player at boxing out at the net front. He makes excellent reads on the ice and often intercepts the pass to turn the puck out of the defensive zone. Kleber could improve his lateral movement, it looks laboured at times. He is a good defender who can gauge players speed and use effective gap control to limit their speed. Kleber has an ability to see the ice and retain that information when going into the corner to retrieve the puck and be able to initiate the breakout under pressure. He is miserable to play against when he is on the penalty kill, but needs to ensure he doesn’t run around for hits and focuses on protecting the net front. Kleber has a nice long reach and capably uses that to get in the passing lanes. He makes good passes and reads, but is not an elite passer. He is a player who consistently makes a good decision. Kleber can jump up into the play and has a shot that can be tough to stop. He can get his shot off quickly when needed. If things go well in his development he could be an Ian Cole/Ben Chiarot type defender in a few years, likely a solid second pair defenseman. He is worth a look in the late second or third round in the upcoming draft.
November 11, 2023 Calgary Hitmen vs Edmonton Oil Kings – WHL Rogers Place DraftPro Scout: Colin Johnson
26 D Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen (WHL), 6’3’’, 194, R, DOB 2005.09.29
A better game than I’ve seen him play previously. He did less rushing of the puck and made more outlet passes to exit the zone. Unfortunately, he still has some major red flags in his game. Decision making is questionable as he makes low percentage attempts for plays and is making the extra move rather than passing the puck because he is looking to open up a lane for himself. He is a primarily shoot fist defenceman and isn’t looking to get his teammates involved. Lastly, he is a player that plays on the edge a lot causing him to take unnecessary bad penalties. These are significant question marks in his game that don’t seem to be fixing themselves and pose an issue to his transferability to the next level. The undisputed part about is that he is massively talented. Big body, strong and willing to be physical defensively. A good skater that uses footwork in the offensive zone and speed to exit and enter the zones. Most importantly is his shot. It is just an elite level shot that could score on NHL goalies right now. Both wrist shot and slap shot are powerful with deadly accuracy. He pinpoints exactly where he wants to put each shot and doesn’t normally miss his spot. If his game matures and he begins to use his teammates more he will be a top offensive defenceman from this draft. But due to his lack of awareness on defence, where he looks lost at occasionally, he doesn’t project out as a great two-way defender until his effort from the offensive end is transferred to the defensive end.
November 17, 2023 Fargo 4 USNTDP 5 USA Hockey Arena DraftPro Scout: Liam Staples
23 D Cole Hutson, USNTDP, 5’10” 158 L. 28-06-2006
Cole is a smooth skating defenceman and similar to his brother Lane, Cole is also a pass first, puck moving defenceman. The first impression of Cole was noticing how well he plays defensively with his stick. Cole managed to time his challenge with his stick well and did not get burned by getting his timing wrong. Listed at 5’10” Cole is a smaller defenceman that relies on mobility and efficient puck moving. A common trend NHL teams are strongly taking into consideration when drafting a defenseman is the prospects height. The last five Stanley Cup Champions, St. Louis, Tampa Bay x2, Colorado and Vegas, all had defencemen on their playoff roster listed as six feet or taller, there are two exceptions to this trend with Samuel Girard and Cale Makar on Colorado listed as 5’10” and 5’11” respectfully, but every hockey fan would tell you, both are elite level defencemen and a very rare commodity to come by. A positive for Hutson is he will have several years for his body to develop and grow into a bigger and stronger frame although this trend is an important thought to consider. The trend is not saying to avoid drafting or never draft defenceman listed as under six feet, the trend is saying that NHL organizations that are successful in the playoffs winning the Stanley Cup have focused on building their blueline on defenceman that are tall and strong because they know they will be relied upon to take heavy damage and punishment during a Stanley Cup run. Defencemen that are smaller are more susceptible to injury from obtaining heavy punishing hits against larger forwards game in and game out for four rounds of the playoffs. Hutson is a skilled-puck moving defenceman, he has a good habit of checking his shoulder to observe the ice before skating in for a puck retrieval and showed he is capable of making breakout passes to teammates while under pressure from his opponent. An interesting note made about Hutson from his viewing against Fargo was his ability to draw in his opponent to then spin off of him to skate off in the other direction. This is a very effective maneuver for smaller players battling against larger opponents in the corner as it will allow the player to protect the puck better as well as create separation space from his opponent to skate into open ice. Hutson plays cool defensively and does not show a lot of panic to his game, he did make a few errors in the defensive zone leading to turnovers, if he can limit errors in the defensive zone, his stock will rise.
November 19, 2023 HC Plzen 4 vs Rytiri Kladno 2 (Tipsport Extraliga) CEZ Stadium DraftPro Scout: Brogan Houston
5, RD Adam Jiricek, HC Plzen (Tipsport Extraliga), 6’1”, 152, R, DOB 6.28.2006
As a 152-pound 17-year-old playing among fully grown men in the Czech Extraliga, Adam Jiricek holds his own. Once he grows a little more, he will dominate — and judging by the size of his older brother, David Jiricek, he could put on three inches and 50 pounds. Jiricek excels at both ends of the ice, although his statline doesn’t show it. In the offensive zone, he plays the quarterback position, and does quite well under pressure from the opposing team’s wingers. He makes lots of nifty passes around defenders in the offensive zone to set his teammates up. Think of Quinn Hughes in the offensive zone — that’s Adam Jiricek. In his own end, Jiricek is the most fearless shot blocker in his draft class. He’d much prefer to take a shot to the legs than have the puck stay in his zone for another second. His positioning on the penalty kill is also something to write home about. He covers two attackers at once, blocking them from passing to each other and shooting. If he can do this in the NHL, he will be very valuable. Jiricek’s first pass is also excellent. In one instance in Sunday’s game against Rytiri Kladno, Jiricek broke up a rush and immediately sprung a 50-foot pass off the boards to his teammate, who then had a one-on-one chance. Jiricek had several other notable first passes that could have turned into goals. At the moment, Jiricek has zero points through 16 games in the big league. Last year, however, he potted 12 goals and 29 points in 41 games at the U-20 level. As he grows and adjusts to the more rigourous style of play, his offensive game should improve to at least what it was last year. Jiricek has the chance to be a star defenseman in the NHL, although he will have to grow and develop more before that dream becomes a reality.
Throughout mid December, the World Junior A Challenge was held in Truro Nova Scotia, where five teams faced off in a competitive round robin tournament. This year we got to see two team Canadas, Canada East and Canada West. As well Team USA, Sweden, and Slovakia. While it may not get the same press as the big World Juniors coming at the end of the year, the A Challenge gives us a chance to see players that may not have what it takes to make the highly competitive U20 rosters. The A challenge is especially crucial for Canadian players playing in the Junior “A” leagues, who may not get the chance to shine in the bigger CHL leagues. Big names in this year’s draft such as Trevor Connelly and Alexander Zetterberg have a chance to truly shine as the stars of their teams. And we even get to see a bit of a glimpse into the 2025 draft class as well.
Tournament Recap
Dec 10th saw Canada West lose 4-2 against Sweden, and Canada East win 7-2 against Slovakia. Dec 11th saw USA defeat Slovakia 6-1, and Canada East defeat Canada West 5-2. The 12th saw only one game, as Alexander Zetterberg faced off against Trevor Connelly in a high scoring affair, where the US won 7-4. Dec 13th saw Canada West defeat Slovakia 7-3, and Canada East shutout Sweden 5-0. The red-hot team USA went up against Canada West on the 14th, where USA won 5-1. Dec 15th, the final night before the finals, saw Sweden beat Slovakia 6-2, and USA beat Canada East 7-2.
After the first 10 games, USA held a clear 4-0 lead, scoring 25 goals. Second place was team Canada East, with a record of 3-1, and 19 goals. Sweden ended their first 4 going 2-2 and 14 goals. Canada West finished 1-3 with 12 goals. And Slovakia finished last going 0-4 with 8 goals total.
The Semi Finals saw team USA (1st) face team Canada West (4th), where team Canada West upset the powerhouse Americans in a crushing 4-3 OT win. The US went to the bronze medal game, while Canada West went to the gold medal game. Canada East (2nd) faced Sweden (3rd) where Canada East barely managed to out score a very game team Sweden, winning 7-5. The Bronze medal game between team USA and team Sweden was another high scoring affair, where Sweden yet again scored 5 goals but could not get the win. USA won 8-5, securing the bronze medal. Finally it was Canada VS Canada for the gold which saw yet another surprising upset as the 1-3 Canada West beat team USA and team Canada East to win the gold medal. Team Canada West won 7-2 in the gold medal game.
So after an interesting ride for the A Challenge this year, who shined brightest?
Team Canada East, Silver Medal.
Trevor Hoskin, C, Cobourg Cougars (OJHL), Right Hand, 6’1”, 172 lbs. Born May 18th, 2004.
Representing the OJHL and the Cobourg Cougars, Trevor Hoskin tied for first overall in points for the tournament. With 3 goals 8 assists and 11 points, Hoskin was a consistent player for team Canada East. And being the main offensive force on one of the best teams in the A Challenge looks good on the 19-year-olds career resume. Coming from the OJHL, Hoskin is going to need big moments in order to get noticed. One of the best players to come out of the A Challenge is certainly a place to start. On top of this, Hoskin has a great chance to make it to 100 points this year. If he can continue to play at the top of his game, Hoskin could find a spot in the draft this year. As he is now in the very least being talked about.
“Trevor possesses so much skill with the puck, he is a super competitive player who wants to win and has elite playmaking skills.” – DraftPro’s Carson Klein.
Dylan Edwards, F, Toronto Patriots (OJHL), Left Hand, 5’8”, 154 lbs. Born July 20th, 2005.
Formerly apart of the Erie Otters, Dylan Edwards impressed many in this A Challenge with his 6 goals and 10 points. Like Hoskin, Edwards needed this big showing. His name is now in circulation, as it is hard to ignore the showing that Edwards had. While his time in the OJHL has been good, it is by no means attention grabbing. These 6 goals will certainly boost his stock on draft day.
“Plays hard on the puck and creates lots of chances to score with his powerful shot.” – DraftPro’s Carson Klein.
Andy Reist, F, Cobourg Cougars (OJHL), Left Hand, 6’0”, 174lbs. Born May 15th, 2004.
Another OJHL rep, as well as Trevor Hoskin’s linemate, Andy Reist finished the A Challenge with 7 points and 4 goals. On top of this, Reist had an incredible game 1 against Slovakia, scoring three goals to help Canada win 7-2. He remained at a steady point per game for the rest of the tournament, showing he can stay at a competitive level night in and night out.
“His offensive instincts are extremely gifted. He becomes an automatic threat to create an opportunity for his team anytime he is in the offensive zone.” – DraftPro’s Carson Klein.
Etienne Lessard, D, Cornwall Colts (CCHL), Left Hand, 5’9”, 174 lbs. Born May 22nd, 2004.
From the Cornwall Colts of the CCHL, Lessard was Team Canada East’s best defensemen. He shows great two-way capabilities, dishing out assists and playing smart on both ends. He’s already more than doubled last years point total in Cornwall, on pace for over 70 points in 48 games. His small stature is always going to be a question for scouts. But 6 points in 6 games playing against stiff competition is a good start to get Lessard noticed.
Dawson Labre, G, Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL), Left Hand, 6’3”, 181 lbs. Born June 22nd, 2004.
From the Smiths Falls Bears, Dawson Labre led Canada East between the pipes. He was one of the few goalies of the entire tournament that finished their save percentage above a .900. Without a doubt the best goalie to come out of the A Challenge. With another slow draft year for goalies, this couldn’t have gone better for Dawson Labre. A strong performance now will certainly get scouts interested in the young Canadian goaltender.
Team Canada West, Gold Medal.
Jack Silverberg, F, Okotoks Oilers (AJHL), Right Hand, 5’9”, 165 lbs. Born December 1st, 2004.
After scoring 3 goals and 6 points to end the tournament, Team Canada West displayed why Hockey is indeed a team sport. From the AJHL, which had 3 players picked last year in the draft, Silverberg is making a strong argument to be the best player out of the AJHL this year. He has potential to be a big goal scorer when his team needs him, which was on full display on his 2-goal game against Slovakia. His draft stock certainly improved after winning gold for team Canada West, something that the other AJHL drafted players from last year can not say.
Logan Sawyer, LW, Brooks Bandits (AJHL), Left Hand, 6’1”, 174 lbs. Born May 6th, 2006.
From the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits, Logan Sawyer likely has the greatest chance of being drafted from team Canada West. While he and Jack Silverberg scored equal points in the tournament, Sawyer will likely look better coming out of the A Challenge due to being a year younger. On top of that he is looking on par with players such as Hudson Malinoski and Aiden Fink who were drafted from the AJHL last year. But he has a gold medal that they do not have.
“Sawyer uses his big frame and skating ability to drive through coverage and capably keeps control of the puck. He has excellent vision on the ice and reads plays consistently. On top of this he has an excellent release for his shot, making him a dangerous scoring threat as well. He has the potential to be a solid second line power forward who could become a Nick Schmaltz type NHLer if things go very well.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Matthew Van Blaricom, F, Humboldt Broncos (SJHL), Right Hand, 5’11”, 174 lbs. Born August 26th, 2006.
With 4 goals and 5 points after its all said and done, Matthew Van Blaricom should certainly get noticed for leading team Canada West in goals. Currently sitting at nearly a goal per game for the Humboldt Broncos in the SJHL, Van Blaricom is immerging as a pretty underrated goal scorer. Being only 17 years old, Van Blaricom’s chances of being picked are starting to rise, his gold medal and goal scoring abilities will certainly build his reputation and lead to his name being tossed around come draft day.
Layne Loomer, F, Blackfald Bulldogs (AJHL), Right Hand, 5’11”, 170 lbs. Born July 17th, 2005.
If one more nod had to go to any skater on the gold medal team, it would be Layne Loomer from the Blackfald Bulldogs. 3 goals and 2 assists are not too shabby for a team that did not have an easy time in the tournament by any means. Loomer looks like he is on pace for a solid season in the AJHL this year, and a gold medal at the A Challenge should go far in building his resume.
Erick Roest, G, Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL), Left Hand, 6’0”, 170 lbs. Born October 26th, 2004.
Team Canada West’s goaltender, Erick Roest deserves a mention after his impressive showing in the semi finals and finals. His poise and clutch abilities were on full display for team Canada West’s final games and it is unlikely Canada West would win any gold without Roest between the pipes. He shows these same abilities in the AJHL playoffs as well. If any GM is looking for a sleeper pick in the later rounds, why not take a chance on a goalie that has proven he can handle the pressure?
Team Slovakia, 5th place.
Daniel Jencko, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), Left Hand, 6’0”, 181 lbs. Born January 9th, 2005.
There is really only one player to mention on team Slovakia and that is Daniel Jencko. Despite only being 18 years old, Jencko is already a well travelled player. Having seasons in the Slovakia leagues, J20 Nationell, SHL, USHL, multiple international tournaments, and now the World Juniors A Challenge. Slovakia was outclassed in this tournament, but that didn’t stop Jencko from putting up a good fight with 4 points and 2 goals. Slovakia may have went 0-4, but Jencko was a positive that came out of the tournament for Slovakia. His solid skating and playmaking abilities were on full display, and he showcased his not-too-shabby shot as well. After being in, so far, 3 leagues this year, it will be hard to predict where, or if, Jencko will end up on draft day. But here’s hoping a GM will take a chance on this fiery Slovakian forward.
Adam Cedzo, F, HC Oceláři Třinac (Czechia), Right Hand, 5’10”, 157 lbs. Born February 23rd, 2005.
A quick mention should go to Adam Cedzo from the Czechia League as well. He played well for a team that was often struggling and showcased a lot of high effort plays. He got 3 points for the tournament often being there for most of Slovakia’s big offensive and defensive plays. A solid and underrated player.
Team Sweden, 4th place.
Alexander Zetterberg, C, Örebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell), Right Hand, 5’8” 159 lbs. Born April 27th, 2006.
So far, the players mentioned were undoubtedly helped by their performances in the A Challenge, but as we look at Zetterberg, it’s not that simple. He did have a good showing, scoring 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points to cap off the tournament. But no medals will certainly hurt his stock come draft day. His chances of making the U20 World Juniors team is small, so this was Zetterberg’s big chance to showcase his talents to the scouts watching. And in some ways, he certainly did. He finished in the top 5 for goal scorers at the end of it all, but that was not enough to place him in the top 5 for points overall. Still, he scored more points that any player on Team Canada West, so that has to mean something. Overall Zetterberg had a shaky tournament, with some ups and some downs. His amazing stick handling was on full display and he got to showcase his goal scoring ability.
“He is a game breaker who can have an off shift and then on one shift dominate and take the game over. Zetterberg is accurate and can get some power behind his shots. He has the ability to cover the opposition and can finish off the plays well. Zetterberg is likely going to develop into a second liner with some good offense. He will likely be a mid-second round selection and great selection for any team in the upcoming draft.” DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Lucas Pettersson, C, MoDo Hockey J20 (J20 Nationell), Left Hand, 5’11” 170 lbs. Born April 17th, 2006.
One player that was undoubtedly helped on team Sweden, was one Lucas Pettersson. With 8 points to finish the tournament, Pettersson certainly brought some eyes on him as he displayed his good all-round game. He is a player suitable for the earlier rounds, possibly as high as the 3rd or maybe even the 2nd round. It depends on how the rest of his season goes of course, but now his name is out there, as player who can hang and even improve a clear high draft pick such as Alexander Zetterberg.
“Peterson is a quick skating forward. He is a very strong skater and can use this to be an effective player on the power play. Petterson sees lanes before they open up and is very aware. He has a high hockey IQ with great vision. Petterson makes good decisions more often than not. Pettersson will be a third or fourth round selection, likely inside the top 100. He could develop into a good two way forward who could develop into a Teurovinen or Eberle type forward.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Anton Frondell, F, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell), Left Hand, 6’0”, 179 lbs. Born May 7th, 2007.
Who could be one of the best players in the 2025 NHL draft, Anton Frondell shows a lot of promise at 16 years old. 7 points is not bad for a young man such as himself, which goes double considering all of team Sweden was underaged compared to the other teams. Frondell showcased excellent positioning and hockey IQ, playing on par with a lot of older guys pretty easily. He had 2 multipoint games and is already looking like he has a permanent spot in the U20 Nationell League at only 16 years old. Without out a doubt this is only the beginning for Anton Frondell.
“Frondell is a dynamic player who has a knack to finish plays off with his quick and deceptive release. Frondell is a player who elevates the skill of others on the ice with him and he is one of the youngest players in the tournament. Frondell is a player who will be one to watch for the 2025 draft and should be a top two round selection if he continues his development.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell), Right Hand, 5’10”, 152 lbs. October 3rd, 2006.
Brother to the San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund, Victor showcased some promising glimpses of skill and potential. He has a good energy about him and can set up plays very well. Excellent passing overall helped Eklund get to 7 points with 6 assists. It’s not so certain that Victor will be on par with his brother William, but a good showing for team Sweden will help Eklund out come draft day. Like Anton Frondell, Eklund is playing comfortably in the U20 Nationell League, and with William Eklund already making strides in the NHL, don’t be surprised to hear Victor Eklund’s name called sooner rather than later.
Alfons Freij, D, Växjö Lakers HC J20 (J20 Nationell), Left Hand, 6’1”, 192 lbs. Born February 12th, 2006.
Arguably the best defensemen from the entire tournament, Alfons Freij is making a strong case to go in the first round. He’s a great skater, an excellent passer and play reader, without a doubt Alfons Freij is an excellent offensive defensemen. A defensemen whose capable of scoring multiple goals a night, Alfons Freij has definitely captured the attention from scouts and GMs after his performance in the World Juniors A Challenge. A true testament to the tournaments growing relevance in recent years.
Team USA, Bronze Medal.
Trevor Connelly, F, Tri-City Storm (USHL), Left Hand, 6’1”, 161 lbs. Born February 28th, 2006.
It’s hard to argue for anyone else having as much pressure as Connelly had when coming into this tournament. His placement on draft day is highly debated, and many are not sure if he is truly first round worthy. But after tying the lead for points in the tournament, scoring 6 goals including a 4-goal game against Sweden, Connelly’s stock has certainly improved. He shows that he can be a top guy, that he can take over a game, and that he can lead his team to win in big situations. While Erick Roest and the rest of Team Canada West upset the Americans in the semi finals, Connelly was a prime reason for his teams dominant win over Sweden. Overall it was a great tournament for Trevor Connelly and the results have certainly planted himself as a first rounder, maybe even a top ten draft pick.
“Connelly is a superb skater who is not afraid to drive the center lane with speed, with or without the puck. He is a game breaker who can elevate the game of all those around him. He is an electric player who is very exciting to watch. Connelly will develop into a first or second-line center and could develop into the range of a Matt Barzal type center. He is a lock to be a first rounder and likely in the top half of the first round.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller
Mac Swanson, F, Fargo Force (USHL), Left Hand, 5’7”, 157 lbs. Born January 10th, 2006.
After tying Trevor Connelly and Trevor Hoskin for top point scorer, Mac Swanson has certainly put his name on the board. The 17-year-old now has two bronze medals and a solid season in the USHL to put on his resume. Swanson was likely going to be selected no matter what, but now the question as to where he places is starting to become clear. He seems destined for the first half of the draft after this performance. He showcased excellent playmaking skills, enough to give him three multipoint games. The future is looking up for this Alaskan born forward.
“Swanson is a smooth skater who has excellent edge control and balance, a truly dynamic forward who moves the puck well. He could develop into a dynamic second line center who could be hard to cover at the NHL level due to his vision and high hockey IQ that he possesses.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller
James Reeder, F, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), Right Hand, 5’9”, 168 lbs. Born October 6th, 2005.
For his draft year, Reeder did not perform to what he had hoped in the USHL. Now as an 18-year-old, he’s looking like a point per game player, but that is unlikely going to cut it as there are a plethora of 17-year-olds making similar strides. That is why Reeder needed this excellent performance at the A Challenge. Scoring 8 goals, making him the top goal scorer of the tournament, and 10 points, James Reeder may have just put himself on the map.
“Reeder is a quick skater and works to get to the inside. He has the ability to receive passes at the net front and finish consistently. He is a player who has a great release that is hard to read. Reeder goes to the net like Gallagher and is able to keep his hands open and available to finish off the play. Reeder has the ability to be a second liner if he can continue to finish plays off or a third liner with some offensive abilities. If he develops to his maximum potential he could be a Ryan Johansen type player.” – DraftPro’s Andy Miller.
Joe Connor, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL), Left Hand, 5’10”, 174 lbs. Born March 31st, 2005.
The heart and soul of this team USA, Joe Connor displayed his excellent playmaking and hockey IQ all tournament long. Scoring 4 goals and 10 points, Joe Conner was the main reason why team USA had 4 10-point players. Not just through his goals and assists, but puck driving ability. Without a doubt one of the most underrated players to come out of the A Challenge, and he certainly deserves to have his name passed around the draft board.
November and December were a very busy months in the world of hockey scouting with multiple U17, U18, and U20 events taking place all over the world. Our evaluators annually make these events must see as they are pinnacle to the big picture of each participating prospect as we get a true read on these young men before the big day in June. Add to that the publication of our annual Preview Magazine and things were pretty hectic in the Draft Prospects Hockey offices. To catch up we will be releasing some event reviews of the next few weeks and start us off with this three in one review of the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the November U18 Five Nations, and the November U20 Five Nations events that all possessed multiple future undrafted NHL talent. Below is a review of who stood out from each event with notes from various scouts.
Guite is a fast skating tall player. If he bulks up he will be an immense player. He has very slick hands and can stick handles in a phone booth. Guite is a very offensive player with a high skill set. He is a strong player with the puck on his stick and he finds the puck or it finds him. Guite is a player who has first line offensive talent. He is a player who works hard and wants to pick his team up after a bad play or goal against. Guite is an effective passer who can initiate a breakout. He is starting to show some defensive awareness and can backcheck hard and strip players of the puck. Guite has the knowledge to predict where he needs to be to be an important part of the offense of his team. He needs to mature more in his own end and learn how to fill in the gaps against high level players. Guite needs to want the puck more when he needs to battle for it, he wants to score so much at times I wonder if he really wants to battle to get possession when he is first man in. He is an outstanding offensive player who can drive the play in the offensive zone confidently. Guite is a goal scorer and if he continues to fill the net could be a first rounder in 2025. – Andy Miller
#11 Matthew Schaefer, D, Canada White, 6’1”, 161, L, DOB 08.05.2007
Schaefer proved why he was named captain and is the number one defenseman of this team. He showed his skill in all facets of the game. His most important asset is his skating because of how good it is and the fact that it elevates all the other aspects of his game. His edge work and ability to open-face skate along the blue line are exceptional. It allows him to see the entire play and turn effortlessly. It also gives him the ability to walk the line and maintain space from the opposition. He has tremendous crossovers which give him great bursts of speed that allow him to lead the rush. In the offensive zone, he isn’t afraid to fire a wrist shot from the point. He has an accurate shot with a quick release that is on target. He uses his shot to create rebounds and scoring opportunities. He was the powerplay quarterback and that is where he was able to show off his full offensive skillset. He demonstrated great vision sending cross-ice passes and setting up scoring chances. Considering it was the team’s first game and they didn’t really practice makes it even more impressive. He has excellent stick handles as well which help him lead the rush. However, playing with Huang, the pair need to learn to lead the rush less or stay back when the other does. His backwards skating is also exceptional which helps him shut down the opposition’s attack earlier because he is able to switch to backwards earlier. His backwards skating is so good because of his crossover ability. He is a pest in the defensive zone and has a good poke check. He is constantly hounding opponents down and trying to lift their sticks to steal with puck away. He needs to reel in his aggression sometimes as it cost him when he took a sloppy cross-checking penalty. – Zach Morris
#1 Jack Ivankovic, G, Canada White, 5’11”, 170, L, DOB 5.22.2007
Ivankovic moves in and out of the post smoothly and covers up holes quickly. His tracking is very strong and his work ethic seems very high. Ivankovic has superb box control and almost never over plays the puck. He has a very calming presence in the net and is developing his game as he gains experience. Ivankovic has all the tools to be the next great Canadian goaltender for years to come with proper development. He is a goaltender who knows where everyone is and he takes that information and uses it to predict where the puck could go and always knows exactly where he needs to be. Ivnakovic’s rebound control is very consistent and he controls the puck and puts it to an area that his team can control it or he covers it. He is a goaltender who likes to go out and play the puck and does so confidently. When Ivankovic makes a big save it is often not very exciting unlike most other goaltenders and that means he is in position and makes good reads. Ivankovic is so aware as he will clear pucks beside the net and get them out of the danger areas. I hesitate to say this but Ivankovic is a good puck mover, who has strong box control and is very calm in the net , while elevating his game when it is more important he gives off the vibes of Carey Price. It is very early to lock someone in as first but Ivankovic has an excellent chance of being the first goaltender selected in the 2025 draft as he could be a franchise goal. – Andy Miller
USA STANDOUTS
#50 Will Moore, F, USA, 6’2”, 160, L, DOB 03.24.2007
Moore had an unreal game for USA. He only finished with an assist although his skill was on full display. He did an excellent job forechecking and put a ton of pressure on the Czechia players in their defensive zone. He was able to force a couple of turnovers as a result. He did a good job pinning players along the boards and allowing for a teammate to come in and steal the puck. He is a great skater and that was on full display. He used his strength and speed to drive to the net. He had great crossovers and did a great job at turning. He was extremely shifty, this helped him maintain possession in the offensive zone. He did a great job utilizing this skill along the boards to shake off defenders. His shot has a quick release and is usually on target. He is a pass-first player and that was evident in this game. He has excellent vision and his passes are very accurate. He had an insane no-look backhand pass showing his creativity and skill. He demonstrated his defensive skills while on the penalty. He did a good job of maintaining position and not overcommitting. He has excellent stick lifts. Moore is a very complete player and when he isn’t impacting the score sheet he impacts the game in many other ways. – Zach Morris
#59 Charlie Trethewey, D, USA, 6’1, 190, R, DOB 08.02.2007
Charlie Trethewey is going to be a top prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft. He is a dynamic two-way defenseman. He exploded for 2 goals and 3 assists in this game. He shoots the puck well beyond his years. He scored from the top of the circles twice with hard and accurate shots. He has playmaking skills to complement his scoring ability. When he can’t beat the goalie cleanly, he finds sticks in front for deflections which resulted in a goal. He makes a great first pass and has a high-level hockey IQ. His defensive game is a bit more difficult to comment on as this entire game was played with special teams. However, he was being used in all situations and was effective on the penalty kill. He has a good stick to intercept passes. He is also impressive physically at 6’1 and 190 pounds. While not a punishing hitter, he separates his man from the puck and finishes the play. He is an average skater but I wouldn’t expect it to hold him back as an impact player at the next level. Overall, Trethewey checks a lot of boxes as an upcoming prospect and is an early first-round pick candidate. – Andreaus Kostopoulos
#38 LJ Mooney, F, USA, 5’6”, 145, R, DOB 3.8.2007
Mooney has an incredible shot with a deadly release. He is a speedy forward who creates time and space on the ice. Mooney goes into the corners and battles for the puck. He is a player who works hard and leaves it all out on the ice. Mooney is a player who has good hands and can stick handles in tight spaces and maintain control. He is confident enough to go to the net front and knows how to protect the puck or remain open to receive the puck when doing so. Mooney has an excellent shot and a very quick release the puck will be on his stick for only a moment. He has a nasty edge to his play and really works players over in the corner. Mooney has some of the Gallagher edge to his game. He has a good all-around game with some skill and a bit of a scoring touch. Mooney will have a chance at being a third-round pick but likely fall to the fourth unless he scores more regularly. – Andy Miller
SWEDEN STANDOUTS
#14 Filip Ekberg, F, Sweden, 5’9” 163, L, DOB 04.14.2007
Ekberg is a very talented offensive player who was able to display his offensive skills during the game. He is a phenomenal skater and is extremely dynamic and fluid. He is very fast and has great crossovers which contribute to his speed. He has excellent edge work and open face skating which help him control possession in the offensive zone and skate around to create space. He has good stick handles, nothing to fancy but he has a nice toe drag. He scored an incredible goal skating around the offensive zone for a while then dished it off and got it back at the point and skated by multiple players down the left side to the goalie making a nice move to his backhand to score. He displayed his exceptional skating and stickhandling skills on the goal. He has good vision and makes some solid passes that are fairly accurate. His shot is nothing special but it does the job. Improving his accuracy would help him. The physical element of his game is practically non-existent but for a player his size that is not that surprising. He is still able to fend off hits well. He doesn’t do much defensively but he isn’t afraid to get in the shooting lane and block some shots. – Zach Morris
#5 Sascha Boumedienne, D, Sweden, 6’1”, 170, L, DOB 1.17.2007
Boumedienne plays the net front well and keeps the opposition to the outside. He is a good skater with decent edge control. Boumedienne skates well with the puck on his stick and walks the line well and protects the offensive blueline. He sees the lanes and can make great passes on the tape or to an open area. Boumedienne is excellent at looking at his options before receiving the puck but at times he mentally commits so much to an option that he can’t adjust after receiving the puck. He is a player who works hard on the wall and seems to enjoy the physical side of the game and dishing out hits. Boumedienne is good at clearing the puck from the net front. His tracking of the puck could improve a bit as a defender. Boumedienne is an effective player and keeping players to the outside of the net. He makes nice tight turns and uses them to out maneuver opponents with the puck on his stick. Boumedienne has the ability to let a hard heavy shot off from the point that can beat a quality goaltender clean. He has the ability to become a fairly big defenseman that is a good skater too and can be very versatile and work both sides of the puck. Boumedienne has the complete package and could be an option in the first round if his offense is consistent. – Andy Miller
#16 Anton Frondell, F, Sweden, 6’0” 179, L, DOB 05.07.2007
Frondell is an excellent power forward and he was able to showcase that against Czechia. He made an impact with his physicality almost every shift he was on the ice. He threw out numerous big hits and even a couple of nice reverse hits. He is extremely strong with the puck when carrying it or driving to the net. He is also great along the boards and it is very hard to get the puck from him because he is rarely outmuscled. He is also an excellent forechecker and did a good job pinning opponents along the boards. He has solid skating and is pretty fast thanks to his long strides. His edge work is what stood out the most and was great. His shot is exceptional and he used it to score a great goal. It was a turn-around shot that was perfectly placed. His shot has a quick release and is accurate and powerful. He has a good snap shot as well and his one-timer is powerful but not really accurate. He did take a bad tripping penalty, it was completely unnecessary. He was being overly aggressive and not careful with his stick when attacking. He needs to be less aggressive and show more restraint defensively. He did a good job following players and was never really out of position. He used his long reach to get his stick in passing lanes. – Andy Miller
CZECHIA STANDOUTS
#17 F, Adam Benak, Czechia, 5’7, 157, L, DOB 04.10.2007
Adam Benak is a can’t miss player whenever he is on the ice. He is one of the fastest players I have ever seen at the junior level. He goes from a standstill to top speed in a hurry. His agility is also top tier. His skating style reminds me of Nathan MacKinnon, a pretty good player in the NHL. He is an offensive threat at all times. Once his team gets possession of the puck, he bolts at full speed to become a passing option. With the puck, he backs off defenders with speed. He shoots the puck hard for a small guy. His playmaking ability is even stronger than his scoring touch. His hockey IQ is extremely strong, as he always knows where the right spot is on the ice. The only question with Benak is his size. He is 5’7 and 157 pounds. For his sake, I hope he grows to be able to handle the physical demands of pro hockey. Benak is touted as a top prospect for the 2025 NHL draft, and for good reason. – Andreus Kostopoulos
#25 RW Matej Pekar, Czechia (2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge), 5’9” 146lbs, L, DOB 08.08.2007
Pekar was one of the best players on the ice for Czechia and Canada really felt his impact. He netted the second goal for Czechia which helped them get back into the game and eventually win it. He showed off his entire offensive skillset throughout the game. He was great at maintaining possession in the offensive zone and creating scoring chances. He has an excellent wrist shot with a really fast release and he didn’t hesitate to use it. He has great vision and made a few nice cross-ice passes that turned into quality scoring chances for his teammates. He is a great skater, with his primary skill being his edge work and open-face skating. In the offensive zone, he uses this to maintain possession and turn along the boards and in the open to keep defenders off of him. He is really strong along the boards as he was able to constantly outmuscle the Canadian players to get the puck off them. He has a great stick lift that he was able to use and snatch the puck away from them. He was an offensive juggernaut for Czechia but his defensive game should not be overlooked. He also did a great job keeping his composure multiple times when Canadian players took a run at him after the whistle. – Zach Morris
#16 F Adam Novotny, Czechia (2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge), 6’0” 174lbs, L, DOB 11.13.2007
Novotny was probably the best player for Czechia and that was obvious. He finished the game with a goal and an assist. He is an excellent skater, extremely fast, and has great crossovers, turns and edgework. He combines all these skills to blow by players when leading the rush and driving to the net. For his size, he leaves a lot on the table in terms of physicality. He could pin players along the boards and outmuscle them in front of either net, however, he does not. Adding a physical element to his game would help him a lot. His passes are excellent and extremely accurate. He has a wide range of passes but his cross-ice ones are the best in his arsenal. He made a good pass to the other side of the ice for an assist on the second goal. He did a good job getting it through multiple defenders’ sticks. He does a good job at making look like he’s going to shoot before ultimately passing. He had a bad turnover in the defensive zone holding on to the puck too long waiting to make the perfect pass. Sometimes he needs to dish it off and ensure the team maintains possession. He is an extremely fast skater who utilizes crossovers very well. He is a very aggressive player defensively and he was able to steal the puck with some nice stick lifts as a result. Being aggressive could cost him because he may overcommit to a player and then get beat and be out of position as a result. He has an excellent shot that is extremely powerful. He was able to score the goal off a long wrist shot. – Zach Morris
CANADA RED STANDOUTS
#9 LW Gavin Mckenna, Team Canada Red, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), 5’11”,165 , L, DOB 11.20.2007
An offensive forward with great vision and a very quick shot. His vision is extremely strong for his age. He’s excellent at finding his teammates in the offensive zone. If the shooting option isn’t there, he draws pressure towards himself to open up a passing option for his teammates. That’s one of the reasons he’s on the powerplay. However, his passes can be sloppy during zone exits or in the neutral zone. He also sometimes tries risky passes with soft jump passes, creating a giveaway. His shooting is extremely threatening. He’s quick and accurate. He likes to use defenders as screens when entering the zone and on the powerplay. His skating is good. His first three slides give him great acceleration. But I’d like to see him be a little more explosive in his play. Mckenna is sometimes soft and lacks dynamism when he doesn’t have the puck. His positioning when he doesn’t have the puck needs to be improved for him to be more effective defensively. He has a good reach, but if he put more intensity on the forecheck with his acceleration, he’d cause a lot of turnovers. He has good hands. He has the ability to defend against 2-3 players and then pass the puck to his teammates. However, I found he took too long shifts. He needs to be smarter about crossing the red line and dumping and changing. It’s quite impressive what he can already do at the age of 15. He’ll certainly have a lot of pressure on him with his exceptional WHL status. He still has plenty of time to develop, as he’s only eligible for the 2026 draft. – Samuel Laplante
#15 C Ryan Roobroeck, Team Canada Red, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL), 6’02”,185 , L, DOB 09.25.2007
A goal scorer with a powerful, accurate shot. He already has a shot that could break through in the NHL. He likes to shoot from a good distance. With his good hands, he creates space for himself to shoot from. He’s also a skill player. He can be a threat in 1-on-1 situations, and he’s capable of taking on 2 players in the offensive zone. His skating is average. He can keep up with the speed of the game, but nothing more. He needs to work on his acceleration to be more of a threat in 1vs1. He’s also good on the forecheck. He has a long reach, which creates a lot of turnovers for his opponents. But if he had more speed, he’d be even more of a threat with his pressure. He positions himself well in the defensive zone to block shots and pass lines. His passing is good. In the offensive zone, he finds his teammates. But he has more of a shoot-first mentality. However, he’ll need to keep his head up when leaving the zone. He was caught making a pass in the middle without looking, which created a turnover and a scoring chance for the opposition. He’ll also have to make better decisions on his passing choices and keep things simple. As for his physical game, I was surprised that with his size, he didn’t hit at all. With his size, he has to hit and finish his checks to separate the player from the puck. Certainly, if he improves his explosiveness and intensity, it will improve his physical game. It’s clear that with his shooting and offensive skills he could develop into a top-six forward. He’ll be eligible for the 2026 draft and still has plenty of time to develop. – Samuel Laplante
Reschny has elite level skill. He is a speedy forward who can use his speed to separate himself from checkers. Reschny is an offensive dynamo with a ton of skill and talent. He has high end vision and sees the ice so well that he can find lanes that most don’t even think to look for. Reschny finds the puck and open spaces on the ice. He is a very good powerplay player as he is continuously moving and always dangerous. Reschny can be knocked down and he continues on with the play and doesn’t give up. He has an incredible ability to finish off plays. Reschny has the ability to put the puck on a dime and lay it flat for the recipient. He is an electric player who is a difference maker who will become an NHL regular and make an impact on his team. Reschny will likely be a first round selection or early second rounder. – Andy Miller
FINLAND STANDOUTS
#3 Jesper Kotivarji, D, Finland, R, 5’11”, 157 DOB 7.24.2007
Kotivarji is a responsible defender who typically maintains good position. He is a very good skater and is well balanced. Kotivarji is an effective defender on the penalty kill as he boxes out well with his skating and balance. He is a player who is well balanced and can throw good clean body checks that knock players off the puck. Kotivarji is quick to clear loose pucks from the net front area. He is a dynamic player who can quarterback a power play and direct the play in an effective manner. Kotivarji is a player who sees the lanes before they are open and to match his great vision are great hands that let him thread the needle with the puck. He has a very good point shot and gets it off quickly, even a good one timer and can put the puck through traffic and in the back of the net. Kotivarji patrols the offensive blueline with confidence and smart decisions. He reads the play very well and when the forwards drop low he moves in and is comfortable walking into a shot and driving it through the net. Kotivarji reminds me of Kiviharju so he has a chance of being a top selection in the 2025 draft if he continues to develop. – Andy Miller
U18 Five Nations Tournament
Hämeenlinna, Finland
November 6-12, 2023
USA
#34, F, Cole Eiserman, USA (USNTDP, U18 USA), 6”, 195, L, DOB 08.29.2006
Cole Eiserman no doubt about is considered to be the Americans new prodigy for hockey. He is the definition of a marksman when he enters the circles in the offensive zone. Cole is an aware, pin-point accurate, power-forward like sniper who does not miss the net very often. His shot is electric similar to missiles that have one target locked on it, that being the net. His wrister from any area on the ice is what creates his biggest punch. What is astounding is that he can also charging towards the opposition to win puck battles. His offensive awareness is outstanding as he has a nose for the net. His hands are very smooth as he can pretty much deke through anyone. That being said even though he is a winger, he sometimes plays a little too high up which causes him to be out of position. He is a powerful skater as even though he may not be the fastest, his good lateral movement and strong balance allow him to power through the opposition. From a defensive point of view, even though he may not wow you by always sacrificing the body but is not a disappointment. At the end of the day, what it comes down to is his ability to accelerate quickly is what he needs to work on and when that is improved, there is no questions asked about him having the comparison of Ilya Kovalchuk. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
#10, F, James Hagens, Sweden (Orebro HK U20, U18 Sweden), 5’10”, 170, L, DOB 11.03.2006
James Hagens is the definition of the future for the Americans. Every time he is on the ice, he is a wizard with the biscuit. James is an agile, conscious playmaker who has the underrated ability of shooting the puck. His quick snapshot is what catches the goaltender off guard when it comes to shooting. The way he handles the puck, not only his hands are quick, but it does not come off his stick very often until he decides to pass it. When he is in playmaking mode, he looks like he enters the flow state which is his highest peak as he has the awareness of a falcon as he truly understands where his opponents are going to be. Where he showcases his skating is not through the quick agile turns, but it is the way he creates his speed while on the rush as he shows him always keeping his feet moving is what highlights his skating aspect. He will need to improve on his lateral movement if he wants to get quicker at the inside edgework. When it comes to his defensive game, there are some weaknesses of him not willing to sacrifice the body all of the time and not giving always defensive support as normally a center would. What he needs to work on is his physicality level, but there is a lot of time for that to happen. He needs to get stronger at fending checks but most importantly, having the desire to throw effective checks. When some of these inconsistencies are fixed, he will absolutely be competing for a top 5 pick who may resemble to a Jack Eichel of the future. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
#18 LW Kristian Epperson, USNTDP Juniors (U18 Five Nations), 5’11”, 183, L, DOB 05.16.2006
Epperson is a positionally solid 200-foot winger with good hockey instincts in and around the net. Does a great job of pressuring and creating havoc for the opposition d-men in his defensive zone with his aggressive approach. Tends to get his stick or body in shooting lanes to prevent pucks from reaching his goal. He’s a versatile forward that is capable of doing what is required from the coach due to his extended skill set. He doesn’t seem to possess a skill that is highly above the rest, but rather has a jack of all trades sort of game. Has the ability to be an impactful penalty killer as he is hungry to chip at loose pucks. Has shutdown role potential as he understands his strengths away from the puck. Plays an assertive game down low, being physical is part of his game as he has the frame to lean on his opposition. Generates a high amount of power in his quick release, able to finish in the slot. Decent skating ability as he has a powerful burst but is rarely shown more then once during a shift. A weakness of his game is doing too much with the puck, as well as holding onto it for too long along the boards when his teammates are severely open. He needs to be quicker at deciding when to dish the puck and to be more aware of the ice that he has to work it. Epperson has the right idea when he gains the puck in transition but his passing and decision-making execution is often poorly done. – Steven Pratas
#24 C Christian Humphreys, USNTDP Juniors (U18 Five Nations), 5’11”, 170, R, DOB 02.04.2006
Extremely quick and light on his feet, Humphreys is noticeable in all zones on the ice. His ability to create separation from his opponents is very impressive. Terrific puck and stick handling ability as he’s able to showcase soft hands even when he’s going at top speed. Protecting the puck along the boards and being able to break away from a defender due to his fast stop and starts is part of his game. Processes his surroundings in a blink of an eye when possessing the puck and can pick out his teammates crashing the net. Quick thinker and fast reaction time, seems to always do the correct play. Passes and hard and crisp, demonstrates tons of creativity when he gathers speed behind the net in the offensive zone as he skates toward the point. Continuously drives play when handling the puck, always looking to exploit open ice. Able to slow down play and wait for linemates to get into scoring areas around the net before dishing the puck. Constantly a threat near the net, he’s very elusive and can get into open areas. Gets to loose pucks quite easily, his acceleration is visibly a strength. Agile pivot ability, does a great job of always facing the puck carrier when looking to receive the puck. Not overly physical, but has decent size and frame as being listed at 5’11” and 170 pounds, he doesn’t get outworked in the corners. Has a tremendous shooting ability which is most evident on the powerplay, as he’s able to play along the point and the top of the circle to receive one timer passes. Has a proper shot selection and takes the shot if the opportunity presents itself. Defensively, he plays a very aggressive approach as he pressures his man. Backchecking and covering for his pinching d-man is part of his game which makes reliable. – Steven Pratas
#23, D, Cole Hutson, USA (USNTDP, U18 USA), 5’10”, 160, L, DOB 06.28.2006
Cole Hutson no question is the Americans best defender. Even though he still needs some small portions of improvement like his shot power, there are so many wonders that teams look for in a defenseman that Cole caries. The best example of that is, which is arguably his best attribute, is his understand of the game and his high hockey IQ. He reads the play like no other and even though he is sometimes smaller, he will use his smarts to his advantage. Whether it seems like there is an open lane for a forward, he seems to close that off in no time. Whether it is also gapping control defending the neutral zone, Cole does not let many pass by him very easily considering he has tremendous amounts of awareness when using his stick for poke checking or shot blocking. Even though he is only 160 lbs, what is key is that he is actually effective physically where has his brother Lane isn’t. In the offensive side, he understands what pass to make and when, whether it is a short pass or a long breakout pass, he gets the job done. Even though he does not have the strongest shot, he still has good enough accuracy, but he understands what position to be always in, even in the offensive zone. What is unique too is that as much he is a good passer, he is a better puck handler as he loves deking around the opponents to create space The last thing that needs to be mentioned, is his skating. Even though Axel has above average speed which is still considered good, it is his lateral movement and transitions that makes him one of the smoothest skaters of the 2024 NHL draft for defensemen which is truly key. He will still need to produce more muscle to become stronger and more effective physically, Cole Hutson is absolutely one of the better offensive defensemen in the 2024 draft class as he is compared to his brother Lane but stronger. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
SWEDEN
#26 C Alexander Zetterberg, Sweden (U18 Five Nations), 5’8”, 159, R, DOB 04.27.2006
Zetterberg may be an undersized center as being listed at 5’8” but has tremendous amounts of pure skill and is a high caliber skater. His low center of gravity helps with his nimble lateral movement which he uses at times to escape situations and to quickly change his body’s direction toward the goal. The puck sticks to his blade like glue when in possession has great control at corralling the puck down low as well. Able to make plays in tight areas due to his frame which results in constant pressure toward the goal. Zetterberg’s vision in the offensive zone is excellent, constantly looking for that pass in the high danger areas before dishing it to the point if it’s not available. This is a player who craves the puck, wanting to create chances and be a difference maker as noted by his stick taps. On the powerplay you can really see how powerful and quick his release is, constantly at the top of the circle and ready to fire a one-timer into the back of the net. His wrist shot is accurate, although the power isn’t fully developed, he can still wire it on target. Alexander’s scoring ability is very prevalent in his game, he seems to know where to be around the net to give himself the best chance of contributing to a goal. Often able to sneak behind defenders undetected whether it be on the rush through the neutral zone or in the offensive zone, the extra second or two is vital in keeping additional play opportunities alive. Defensively sound, he understands his responsibilities in his own end but is willing to leave the zone early if he anticipates a change in team possession. The biggest concern of Zetterberg’s current and future game is his overall strength and frame. It will be hard for him to establish open ice in the slot and be a net front presence without gaining more body mass. He can easily get outmuscled and outworked along the boards near the end of shifts. For being light on his feet, his balance is questionable at times as little contact can cause him to fall and lose positional ground. Receiving long passes directed at him sometimes go untouched, as he can’t make contact with his small reach and stick. Overall, Zetterberg is a very intriguing skilled forward that can do damage on the scoresheet with his offensive capabilities, he dominates the more he has the puck. – Steven Pratas
#11 F, Lucas Pettersson, Sweden (MoDo Hockey J20, Sweden U18), 5’11”, 170, L, DOB 05.17.2006
Lucas Pettersson is no doubt about it one of Sweden’s strongest and more versatile players who can do anything on the ice. Every time he is on the ice, he is a detective that is at the right place at the right time. He is a dynamic, strong, and reliable playmaking center who has a strong balance. He may not be the fastest skater on the ice, but what is key is that he uses his good agility along with his great hockey IQ to place himself in good positioning. His puck skills are at a good level has his hands are overall smooth but should use them a tad more often. His passing is very good as he is very crisp at making the short end passes and could even thread the needle through a crowd in surprising fashion. The aspect that his skating does need to improve is his quick feet so he can be a cannon out of the gate. His shot may not be the most powerful, but it is still quick enough and accurate to get the goaltender off guard with his quick release. The underrated aspect that actually showcases Lucas’ game is that as much he is an offensive player, he is great defensively. Not to mention, an underrated aspect of his game is his defensive awareness when defending rushes. As a center who stays in position while keeping his momentum, he is a good penalty killer. What it comes down to as an overall weakness is that he will need to improve on his faceoff skills. When it comes to physicality, he’s not the greatest but he is not the worst as he shrugs off checks easily. When discussing potential, he is on a very good path of becoming a 2nd line centerman who can be placed in any situation, similar to Barrett Hayton. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
#24 C Linus Eriksson, Sweden (U18 Five Nations), 6’0”, 185, L, DOB 03.23.2006
Watching him for the first time, it is very clear that Eriiksson is a highly intelligent center with and without the puck, his hockey IQ pulses through his play. His decision making and passing ability is what makes him so deadly with moving the puck up the ice. He shows tremendous levels of patience, mix that with his eyes constantly analyzing his surroundings and you will be an offensive playmaking threat. Excellent at controlling play, it seems the game slows down when he has possession. Eriksson constantly creates chances with his timing on passes down low and through high danger areas. He’s aware of where his teammates will be and can dish the puck with ease. Terrific skating ability that can keep up with just about anyone on the ice. Once he gets his crossovers going, there’s very little you can do if you aren’t already on him. Terrific at the face-off dot, has a good technique and extra effort that can win crucial draws. Two-way ability, he is constantly supporting the puck carrier in breakouts and through the neutral zone, rarely relying just on his defenseman to defend if it gets turned in transition. Getting back in play and being to point out to his d-men areas of the ice or opposition to cover is part of his game. It seems his communication is pretty solid as defensive coverage was spot on throughout the game. Would like to see Linus have a more shooters approach from the looks he had, as it is clear, he enjoys passing the puck around. Linus’s physicality or lack of could also be improved, such as being tenacious in the corners or in front of the net battling for inside position. – Steven Pratas
#18 F, Victor Eklund, Sweden (Djurgardens IF J20, Sweden U18), 5’10”, 150Ibs, R, DOB 10.03.2006
Victor Eklund is the definition of being electric and passion for the super Swedes. He has the work ethic of a racehorse who cannot be stopped. Victor Eklund is a rouged playmaking winger who definitely shows some grit to his game. Every time he has the puck, his hands may not be the fastest, but boy oh boy they act like immovable objects. His passing is adequate enough to make the right play, but it is not considered a wow factor of his game. Even though he’s not the fastest guy on the ice, he has certainly tremendous amounts of flexibility as he can get by his opponents due to his good lateral movement. Even though he is not known for shooting, he has an adequate toe drag release shot as he also does not really showcase his one timer ability. He has a very respective defensive game for a winger. Some minor inconsistencies he will have to work on is his positioning in the offensive zone as he will play all over the place like a centerman. Even though he is only 150 pounds, he may not throw many hits, but my oh my they can’t get the puck off him due to his strong stability on his skates. No doubt about it, Victor Eklund is already building his draft stock in the 2025 NHL draft to become a crucial top 6 forward. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
#4 D, Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Sweden (Vaxjo Lakers HC J20, Sweden U18), 6”, 175, L, DOB 04.10.2006
Leo Sahlin Wallenius is considered to be one of the more complete defensemen that Sweden has to offer. He is one of those defensemen that’s toolbox is like a swiss army knife with the more useful tools being in the defensive end. Sahlin Wallenius is a mobile two-way defenseman who shows tremendous responsibility when it comes to positioning. One of his strongest tools is that he has a very active but very reliable stick as he will put his opponents into pretzels. His best aspect is his awareness as he understands when to stay in position properly or when it’s time to check after his opponent to retrieve the puck back. Some small inconsistencies in that aspect are he mainly needs to improve his physicality standards of boxing out his opponents’ preventing screens in-front of the goaltender. Some aspects in his skating that are good is that he has very smooth back skating and he does not choke up a lot when he is skating reverse considering he mostly places himself in good positioning to block shots or intercept passes. His mix of smooth transitioning and calm skating allows him to get out of dangerous situations. What is important for him that he needs to work on his acceleration and footwork speed. Even though his deking abilities are not the smoothest, he does not lose the puck very often due to his strong puck control. His strongest offensive asset however is his passing. Whatever pass that needs to be completed, he can get the job done, even the very far breakout passes, he can get it very close but most of the time get it on the tape. Where he lacks in his offensive category is his shooting as he needs to be better at shooting from the point. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
#12 LW Melvin Fernstrom, Sweden (U18 Five Nations), 6’1”, 185, R, DOB 02.28.2006
Fernstrom plays an extremely assertive and aggressive game in the offensive end. Excels when the game gets chippy, thrives in a physical environment as he plays with an edge. He’s a strong winger, constantly being a pest near the goal. Crashing the net and looking for loose pucks is part of his power forward type of game. Outstanding nose for the net with and without the puck. Fernstrom floats into those open areas around the slot and is ready to release a quick shot. Scoring instincts are already there and can shoot the puck with little available space. He acknowledges where the high percentage shooting areas are and is able to get there without hesitation. Does a good job at winning puck battles and chipping at the opposition’s sticks. Board and corner play is terrific as he takes full advantage of his build to slow down and tire the opposition. The determination to win the puck is often seen but can be inconsistent especially at the end half of his shifts. While known for his physicality and scoring, Fernstrom does make smart passes and has decent awareness of his linemates positions in all three zones. The accuracy of passes going across the width of the ice in high danger areas could be improved. His skating stride is very generic but powerful. Once he gets those legs moving, he can easily cover the left side of the ice. Explosiveness may not fully be developed yet but overall his skating is nothing to fear. Defensively does a great job of having an active stick and directing play to the outside. He often gets a piece of a defensemen’s stick that causes them to panic leading to turnovers. His backchecking is apparent but lacks that second effort at times to stop the trailer from reaching the net or receiving the puck. – Steven Pratas
#20 D, Alfons Freij, Sweden (Vaxjo Lakers HC J20, Sweden U18), 6’1”, 190, L, DOB 02.12.2006
Alfons Freij is considered to be one of the more underrated defensemen that Sweden has to offer. He is one of those defensemen that’s defense is matched by his offense. Freij is a steady two-way defenseman who shows underrated offensive ability on the powerplay One of his strongest tools is that he has a very active but very reliable stick as he will put his opponents into pretzels. His best aspect is his awareness as he understands when to stay in position properly or when it’s time to check after his opponent to retrieve the puck back. Some small inconsistencies in that aspect are he mainly needs to improve his physicality standards of boxing out his opponents’ preventing screens in-front of the goaltender. Some aspects in his skating that are good is that he has very smooth back skating and he does not choke up a lot when he is skating reverse considering he mostly places himself in good positioning to block shots or intercept passes. His transitioning will need to be quicker in order to become a more effective skater. What is important for him that he needs to work on his acceleration and footwork speed. Even though his deking abilities are not the smoothest, he does not lose the puck very often due to his strong puck control and good patience. His strongest offensive asset however is his passing. Whatever pass that needs to be completed, he can get the job done, even the very far breakout passes, he can get it very close but most of the time get it on the tape. Where he lacks in his offensive category is his shooting as he needs to be better at shooting from the point. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
CZECHIA
#23 C Petr Sikora, Czechia (U18 Five Nations), 5’11”, 170, L, DOB 01.02.2006
Solid at the draw, Petr plays a smooth game up the middle of the ice. Extremely quick feet and is able to shift his positioning to get his body in the way of passing and shooting lanes, most evident on the penalty kill. Constantly has his head on a swivel looking to pick up the open man. Sikora has eyes for the net, after retrieving the puck along the boards he’s able to drive the puck to the net if he sees open ice. It is clear that Sikora is one of the top skilled guys on his team as he is constantly driving play and creating chances with his excellent timed passes. He is highly relied on to produce for Czechia as seen by the number of shifts and overall ice time he was given. Despite the score, I was very impressed by how consistent his play was throughout the game, he still maintained a high gas tank and willingness to compete. Sikora demands the puck which usually results in something positive occurring. He’s smart, he doesn’t usually force a play forward, rather retreats the puck back at the end of a shift which eliminates turnovers. His work ethic and determination are transparent, he expects himself to give it his all every shift and can be visibly annoyed if he misses a loose puck, as seen by him slashing the boards in frustration. He’s able to break up plays with his active stick and his forechecking effort. He excels at maintaining possession of the puck through center ice and picking out open wingers flying by. Petr has a sneaky quick release that can catch goaltenders off guard, he has good shooting instincts around the net. A weakness of his game is getting out muscled on the puck. Cheating in his own zone is often a problem as well, he tends to leave his defensive zone without the puck first or his team having full possession, rather hoping the puck gets to him. His balance is questionable at times as well, fighting for positioning in and around the net can sometimes cause him to stumble. Overall, Sikora is an intriguing centerman with positive offensive tools who is a valuable player for Czechia. – Steven Pratas
#20 LW Ondrej Kos, Czechia (U18 Five Nations), 6’1”, 148, L, DOB 03.07.2006
Kos is a powerful skilled winger with excellent mobility for his size. His acceleration and ability to jump into transition is impressive. Being listed at 6’1”, Ondrej uses his frame to his advantage to protect the puck and forcefully push the puck toward the net from the outside. Above average stick handling ability, able to maintain control of the puck at top speed. He’s able to make quick decision-making calls with the puck to create scoring opportunities, especially around the net. His passing ability is a strength of his, especially moving the puck into the neutral zone as his passes are done with a purpose. Soft hands in the slot, he dishes the puck in areas most players would shoot, fooling the goalie as seen by his assist in the 3rd. He’s not a selfish player, seems to have a pass first mentality rather than to shoot it. His long reach gives him the ability to cause chaos on the forecheck causing turnovers. Does an excellent job of tying up the defender to let his linemate come grab the puck. He’s a force down low, can quickly shift and turn his body in a drop of a dime and dish the puck for an open point shot. His second effort at the end of his shifts is what helps highlight his character, as seen from his diving backchecking play that almost poked the way away from a 2-on-1 rush in the 3rd period. Mind you, the score was already 6-2 for the USA and Ondrej was still determined to prevent any more goals from being scored. He’s a workhorse on both ends of the ice, has good 200-foot qualities for a winger. His size will only increase, as he is currently only 148 pounds, there’s tons of growth left for Kos. Overall, Kos has the necessary skill set and size an ideal winger should have, he definitely has some upside. – Steven Pratas
#10 D Adam Kral, Czechia (U18 Five Nations), 6’2”, 181, R, DOB 02.08.2006
Kral is a true defender at heart with glimpses of offensive ability. Excellent size and strength to be able contain the opposition top players. Skating is not an issue for Kral, he can transition from forward to backhand skating quickly to prevent rushes from ensuing. Although he can be caught flat footed at times, he relies on his body positioning to push the play to the outside. Lifts sticks and constantly gains inside position in the defensive zone. Decent at bringing the puck through the neutral zone but is sometimes too slow to pass the puck to his wingers as he opts to dump it in. Actively pinches to keep the puck in along the boards. Tends to do the safest play available with very little creativity or surprising plays in his arsenal. Plays in all situations, heavily dependable to be positively impactful on the ice. Struggles with turnovers, forecheckers can cause him to fumble the puck under pressure. His ability to corral the puck along the point needs work as well, he tends to panic when being pursued. – Steven Pratas
FINLAND
#24 C Joona Saarelainen, Finland (U18 Five Nations), 5’9”, 176, L, DOB 04.04.2006
Joona plays a relatively safe and productive game as a 200-foot centerman. He takes pride in being a reliable and defensively minded player who doesn’t take many risks with and without the puck. Joona’s hockey sense is on full display in his quick decision making and in-game reads in his own end. Picks his spot when to jump into the rush or when to stay back based on the number of players pursuing the play and stamina left in his shift. Saarelainen has a good habit of not over skating and gliding out of position to get to pucks and puck battles. His stops and starts is what stands out in his skating ability along with his above average footstep and edgework when turning suddenly. Glides extremely deep in his defensive end when his team is breaking out, always supporting the puck carrier in all three zones. This constantly makes him an available passing option up the middle of the ice. His active stick is phenomenal in his end, constantly swiping at the opposition’s stick causing turnovers. His competitive spirit allows him to continue to be ferocious on the puck even when his gas tank is near empty. His positional game is excellent, eliminates tons of plays from occurring through the middle of the ice and forces the puck to the outside. Getting to loose pucks is a strength of his as his small stature gives him additional agility other players lack. Fantastic at the faceoff circle, he tends to get really low to the ice giving him great leverage when the puck hits the ice. Joona moves the puck through the neutral zone with speed. His fast hands and stick handling allow him to quickly change his puck protection stance moving forward. Skates into open ice but lacks that on-ice vision through traffic. Has a hard time reading the play occasionally as he can’t see over or through the opposition. His shot and scoring instincts are not fully developed, he tends to have a pass first mentality even in danger areas. Other Weaknesses of Saarelainen’s game are on the physical side of the game. He gets outmuscled on the puck but has decent lower body strength to keep his balance. Surprisingly, Joona does throw his body around once a while and isn’t afraid to engage physicality along the boards or even open ice. Overall, he has great attributes a two-way centerman should have but is missing that offensive spark. – Steven Pratas
#28 LW Lauri Sinivuori, Finland (U18 Five Nations), 6’0”, 165, L, DOB 04.28.2006
The moment the game started it was clear that Sinivuori was engaged and ready to compete. His forechecking ability was on display the whole game as he was hungry to cause chaos in the o-zone. Excels at supporting puck battles along the wall as his work ethic is a strength of his. He can outmuscle opponents by lifting their sticks and get inside position of the puck relatively easily. Constantly finishing his check and leaning on the opposition, it’s evident physically is part of his game. Puck protection along his stick and feet are a strength, it’s hard for him to get pushed off the puck. Excellent net front presence who can screen the goalie in the correct area. Valuable on both special teams, Lauri demonstrates good anticipation and awareness of where he should be. His Long active stick pushes play on the outside during the penalty kill. Lauri does lots of the dirty work around the net to achieve possession of the puck, an underrated opponent of his game. This allows his line to keep constant pressure. Lauri is a type of player who would be beneficial on any line as he plays his game to his strengths and doesn’t try to overthink situations. He makes himself a passing option along the wing with his quick pivot and stick along the ice. Can make short accurate passes in danger areas as he has decent on-ice vision through the neutral and offensive zone. Sinivuori is a quick skater and has decent acceleration, he’s able to pressure defenders and shooting lanes when needed. On the power play he can rotate between being in front of the net and near a faceoff circle to let go of his release. Scoring goals is not his bread and butter but will continue to score rebound goals with his current positioning around the crease. – Steven Pratas
#29 RW Kasper Pikkarainen, Finland (U18 Five Nations), 6’3”, 194, R, DOB 08.07.2006
Pikkarainen was quite noticeable the second I saw him step onto the ice. He already has NHL size as being 6’3” and almost 200 pounds which makes him very durable. He moves very well, able to swiftly crossover from a gliding position to get into the required area. His first few steps are surprisingly very fast which he uses to close time and space away from the opposition’s puck carrier. Kasper is very alert about his speed and can change trajectory in a drop of a dime. Dominates at winning puck battles and loose pucks with his frame. Impactful at being a net front presence, rarely can be fully contained with sheer strength. Can also tie up players down low to let his linemates come and grab the puck. Shot blocking and getting in the way of shooting lanes is part of his game as well. Does a good job of continuing the play in the offensive zone with short smart plays. The power he generates from his wrist shot is impressive as you can see his stick bend in full speed, he fully leans into it while the back of his leg springs into the air. His in-game reads in all three zones are what makes him effective at supporting the puck. Kasper doesn’t seem to have an eye for the net at times, he should be trying to force the play into the slot area with his power more. He generates scoring chances for himself and his linemates after cycling the puck. Taking two unnecessary tripping penalties in the 3rd period when his team was leading 1-0 foreshadowed his overall positive game. He needs to be cautious of how aggressively he swipes at pucks as his reach is longer than his average peer. His stick is a valuable tool for his defensive game but needs to be used with more coordination if he wants to be a reliable winger when his team needs his work ethic the most. Kasper has the makings of a player who has an increasing level of upside to his game. It’ll be interesting to see how progression is the rest of the year, he may be extra motivated to perform well as he was left off Finland’s Hlinka Gretzky roster a few months ago. – Steven Pratas
SWITZERLAND
#20 RW David Bosson, Switzerland (U18 Five Nations), 6’1”, 187, R, DOB 01.17.2006
Bosson plays a calm and more laid-back approach than the average winger would ideally play. Has a good frame and with size that allows him to hard on the puck. He tends to let his other forwards press the play forward while he supports as the 3rd forward. He played a rather defensive approach against the Americans, unsure if that was the game plan going into it or is how his game usually is. Constantly picking his own time when to use his skating ability as he tends to glide and stay in a certain area until play drastically moves. Very generic skating skills but makes up for its decent positioning in his own end. Careless at times with and without the puck, seems to be lacking a sense of urgency. Great communication on the ice as he directs his teammates with his stick to locations that need to be covered. Tends to have a good understanding of where his players and the opposition want to be and is able to get into those gaps to support. Didn’t have many offensive looks or continued pressure to really determine his playmaking ability. He did however have a few good short passes while he was pinned up against the boards. Corralling pucks and gaining control with pucks within grasp needs work, Bosson’s work ethic wasn’t fully shown throughout the game. Overall, there wasn’t that much that impressed me about David’s game against the Americans. He’s a solid player but lacks any eye-popping skills or abilities that makes him stand out. – Steven Pratas
#4 D Gian Meier, Switzerland (U18 Five Nations), 6’2”, 170, R, DOB 07.10.2006
Meier plays a steady game on the back end. He patrols the front of his net well, looking to use his size to push players away from the inside position. Although at times he puck watches at the end of his shifts which was apparent on the Americans 3rd goal, where the opposition net front presence quickly shifted a few feet away for a tap in. Good under pressure, makes the correct passes when he rings the puck around the boards. Plays 1-on-1 situations quite well, he knows when to slide on the ice to block passes directed toward the trailer crashing the net. Not overly physical but is effective at chipping away at pucks in the corners. Precise foot placement, he doesn’t over assert himself when moving around on the ice as he understands positioning. He has a long smooth stride but didn’t make many plays forward that would make him considered a puck moving defenseman. Efficient transition between forward and backwards skating, but his overall skating ability is nothing eye popping. While breaking out of his zone, his first pass is usually the most expected one. Rarely jumped into the play and wasn’t a constant threat along the point. Gian did however demonstrate his quick shooting ability when given the chance to release it on goal. Lacks offensive instincts but when he received a terrific pass at the top of the slot, the puck jumped over his stick. When defending in transition during odd man rushes, he wasn’t able to pick up the streaking winger on the far side driving the net, which resulted in another tap in goal against. He struggled all night with key split-second decision-making calls, finishing with a -3 rating. Meier has potential to play a shutdown role as he plays a stay-at-home type of game, just needs to work on his coverage when the puck is being passed on the width of the ice. – Steven Pratas
#18 C Robin Nico Antenen, Switzerland (U18 Five Nations), 6’1”, 190, L, DOB 05.21.2006
Leading the Swiss in forward ice time against the Americans, it’s evident that he’s a valuable player for the club for a good reason. Antenen is very dependable in all zones and possesses many attributes a well-rounded two-way forward should have. Played in all situations, Nico maintained a good work ethic despite the score getting carried away in the 3rd.Usually at the center position, Robin excelled at the wing in this game when it came to cycling the puck and getting in scoring areas when his linemates had the puck. He can maintain good defensive coverage and instantly push the puck forward in transition with pace. Skillful use of inside and outside edges, especially when he’s using his active stick to claw at the puck. Antenen can really fly down the ice and maintain a good speed and intensity throughout the game. Once he sees an opportunity to chase down the puck and get to it first, he explodes. Has a knack for breaking up plays on the forecheck and through the neutral zone. Once he has the puck in 1-on-1 situations he’s creative, as noted from his quick inside to outside stick handling movement which gave him a quality scoring chance. Terrific at give and goes along the boards as he opens himself up to be a passing option. His wrist shot is quick, produces good velocity and he isn’t afraid to let it rip ways out. They’re times in the game when Antenen should have distributed the puck to open ice or a teammate but decided to take on unfavorable matchups resulting in turnovers. It was difficult to analyze his offensive ability at times, as sustaining offensive pressure is difficult against the loaded Americans. He does, however, know how to be effective down low and around the net as his line had the most success creating scoring chances. – Steven Pratas
U20 Five Nations Tournament
Chomutov, Czech Republic
November 7-12, 2023
Switzerland U20
#3 Daniil Ustinkov, D, 6-0, 198, L, DOB 8.26.2006
Ustinkov has had a good draft season so far even though he has been moved from the NL to the SL to get more ice time. His play at this event while it did not overly impress it did not disappoint either. He did not get big minutes as we had hoped but did take a regular shift and saw some sporadic special teams play as well. His biggest impact was the transitioning of play from his own zone up to the attack. His offensive contributions were rather muted as he was playing with less skilled teammates and relied on the safe play rather then anything overly creative. His skating, a major asset, was on display in puck retrievals and in skating the puck out of his zone while a passing option presented itself. His passes were on point and even creative at times. His defensive play was solid as he supported his partner well, brought some physicality, and showed his typical poise in his own zone. – Dan Stewart
#22 RWR Gregory Weber 5.9 160 DOB 01.07.2004
Small player with great wheels…tenacious…a great work ethic…creates turnovers on the backcheck…then using his edges digs in & wheels north…strong deceptive wrist shot…great balance when slipping body checks…showing great versatility to move in & out of the play…working off the boards coming out with the puck by using his stick rather than his body. – Murray Caldwell
#12 CL Mattheo Reinhard 5.9 174 DOB 06.26.2004
Not sure why I have never heard of this player…has excellent speed & stick handling maneuvers…toe drags to elude a forecheck on the rush…deft hands…makes end to end rushes…skating is where he really shines…makes some really good turns while maintaining puck control…has elite puck distribution…unfortunately there is no one on his team that can think off the rush as good as he does…has very good vision to make timely passes through the seam. – Murray Caldwell
#18 RW/LW/L Julien Rod 5.10 181 DOB 11.22.2004
A versatile forward…a natural option when it comes to faceoffs from either side…quick hands allows him to go forward with the puck or back to the corner in the DZ…it is all about his hands…they are strong & soft…has good net front presence…drives to the net…backs off to get in a better shooting position or can sneak in behind the defender…shows great compete…work ethic…a take away is his foot speed in the neutral zone…yet when he is in the OZ he is a threat when shooting. – Murray Caldwell
Finland U20
#10 RDR Joona Vaisanen 6.0 176 DOB 07.29.2004
Strong offensive threat…stick handles with speed & control…likes to have the puck & keep control…this is one area where he really tries to split the opponents forward by using a slap pass & pushing them back when on the attack…this makes the opponent back up because they are unsure of his next move…he anticipates the opponent really well when in the OZ by moving with speed across the blue line…sending shots to the net with accuracy…I found when he is playing with players at this level he lacks confidence…way more confidence at the USHL level…he may not know how good he is yet? He seems to have the intangibles to be a great two-way Dman…his foot speed is as good as anyone at this level…he doesn’t let the opponent blow past him when he is in the defensive side… not afraid to block shots…great recognition of a threat & how to play it…strong board battles. This guy has the potential just not sure what is holding him back. – Murray Caldwell
#18 C/RW/R Konsta Helenius 5.11 181 DOB 05.11.2006
Here is feisty offensive player…I think he looks upon the opponent that there is no size differential…he has tremendous core strength & it is shown when he dishes out some excellent body checks to separate players from the puck…a fun guy to watch with great hockey sense & vision…the best part of his game is his IQ…a beautiful skater that looks almost delicate with his lightness on his feet a big improvement from last year…this guy possess a wrist shot that is hard to match in his age group…his shot all the makings of a Matthews…accurate…heavy…smart shooting locations…a pure first liner. – Murray Caldwell
#52 Topias Hynninen, C, 5-10, 170, L, DOB 12.19.2005
Hynninen was a surprise add to this roster for some but did not look out of place playing his complete game one bit. He lacks the high-end offensive skills of some of the other flashier players on the squad but his two-way play and dogged determination had him playing a regular shift as well as both special teams at times. A playmaker who handles the puck and moves well, he had a few very impressive offensive plays that had you think he could become an NHL top six forward but for sure his all-round 200-foot game looks like he has top nine potential worse case. Didn’t really standout at this event but that was a good thing overall as he also did not look like the play was over his head either. – Dan Stewart
#28 RWR Emil Hemming 6.2 194 DOB 06.27.2006
Best forward on either side of the ocean…extremely intelligent when it comes to playmaking…a natural puck distributor…has a set of hands not comparable to anyone at this age…tremendously gifted when it comes to not being impatient…he is so calm when in control of the puck…confidence written all over him with his body language…can shoot off his back foot with deadly accuracy…great edges that will turn a Dman inside out…from a toe drag to a flip of the puck and retrieval on the other side…to me he looks like a Mr. Magic with his puck skills…his skating is nothing to laugh at either…doesn’t show off his explosive speed until he has the puck then look out…best part he is a 2 way player this year…in one game while coming back to help his goalie he lifted the stick of the opponent taking away a scoring threat…back checks stripping players of the puck…not just creating a turnover it is what he does with the puck once he turns it over…you just don’t know if he is going to rush the puck or slow it down…he makes those decision so incredibly quick…it appears he sees everything around him…hard work ethic…drive…poise…anticipation…creative…competent… stamina of a camel…a very big motor… so much potential from his size to his readiness to play at the next level. – Murray Caldwell
Slovakia U20
#7 RDR Luca Radivojevic 5.10 161 DOB 01.03.2007 DE 2025
This player could be the best D-man to ever come out of Slovakia…has all the tools, superb skating ability…edges…powerful stride…produces max in speed in 3 strides…knows how to play the game away from the puck…using his superior hockey sense he knows when to turn to skate forward to shut down an attacker & not allowing a forward get around him…his leg strength comes into play when forcing the opponents to the wall…using his feet and stick he shuts down the cross seam passes by the opponent…fearless shot blocker…he has offensive awareness when to rush the puck & to lay off…he is like a Letang with impressive speed if he gets caught deep he has the ability to come back & take away the rush…consistently shooting the puck with authority & accuracy looking for tips or deflections…makes puck distribution look much to simple…doesn’t force the play through the middle often flipping the puck up out of danger or off the boards out of harm’s way. We should probably learn how to say his name. I think we will be saying it a lot soon. – Murray Caldwell
Czechia U20
#5 RD Adam Jiricek 6.2 168 DOB 06.28.2006
An impressive minute mucher…doesn’t waste energy while on the ice…makes only what matters most decisions…this comes from really understanding the game…mobile defender with elite skating in all aspects…vision…tremendous amount of stamina when defending…does not seem to tired…constant board battles…pinning opponents waiting for his teammates to come in & retrieve the puck…for not an overly tall person he has long reach & uses a long stick…the old stick really bends when he gets an opportunity show off his velocity on his slap shot…if it goes head high you might want to lay flat on the ice or at the very least duck…not a juggernaut offensive threat in most cases but probably one of the best defensive defenders in this years draft. – Murray Caldwell
#7 LD Tomas Cibulka 6.0 170 DOB 04.02.2004
Not sure why this guy isn’t on my radar in fact I thought he was drafted in his draft year…he does a lot really well…mobile Dman that has a great shot…an offensive machine…effortless skating…he finds lanes for skating out of coverage sometimes when double teamed…he can slam on the brakes draw the puck tight to his body while shielding the puck with his stick…then spin & carry the puck out of the zone…has great one on one defensive skills pushing the opponent outside…gap management is excellent…in some of the games he seems to rush the play & often not move the puck quickly enough for break out passes…that is a little disturbing…looking unsure of himself…yet he shows creativity at times when rushing through the neutral zone…sometimes flexing his body to go one way & goes the other. I will have to watch some of his QMJHL games & see what or why he isn’t performing like he did in his draft year. – Murray Caldwell
#79 Tomas Galvas, D, 5-10, 148, L, DOB 2.11.2006
If this kid was 6-3 he likely would be in the discussion for top blueliner in this years draft class, maybe even as one of the top overall picks, problem is he is generously listed 5-10 and only a buck fifty soaking wet. He was a big minute munching defender playing in all offensive situations at this event. He was able to show off his fluid and explosive skating ability, solid offensive creativity, and a deadly transition game. His play on the other side of the puck was just as strong as his feet allow him to keep up with any attacker and his work rate helped him win many battles that he had him no business winning at his size. – Dan Stewart
#18 LW/RW/L Matej Mastalirsky 6.1 170 DOB 07.10.2005
Another one that showed excellent potential in & out of the play…using his speed to force turnovers…agility to move around forwards & Dmen off a rush…nice balance on his skates…shows that he can stickhandle maintain control in small tight areas at times…has good awareness of what is happening around him…the anticipation seems to be there when it comes to knowing where to play away from the puck…doesn’t seem to mind a hard game…looks to be pretty solid overall…grit…determination…willingness to battle…strong shot…sensible plays…really good a receiving passes on the fly…a lot of these players show such good potential…some lack the hard work…others lack consistent play like in this case. – Murray Caldwell
#20 CR Matej Pribyl 6.3 207 DOB 05.27.2004
A big center that can really shoot the puck…off the rush he showed twice that he can let it rip…if they can set him up for a one timer he can really pound it…decent edge work…doesn’t get lost on the play…not the fastest skater yet he shows up at the right time…showed some good determination over the tournament…anticipates…created some nice turn overs on board battles…yet I found he lacked consistency…showed he had potential in a few games. – Murray Caldwell
#24 LW/RW Adam Zidlicky 6.0 170 DOB 01.28.2005
A gritty 2 way forward…intelligent player…excellent anticipation off the rush…the first thing I notice about this player is that he might be a very good Dman…it is his self awareness of how to execute on the play…he knows his strengths against certain players…knows how to defend by using his stick & body to read off the play…whereas on the OZ rush he knows that he can drive through a lot of defenders due to lower body strength…he has excellent speed not so much explosive but timely pushes to get past the defender by getting a step on them then releasing a heavy wrist shot…if he could just shoot with more accuracy…he misses the net way too often…he just wants to shoot with no regard for accuracy or even his teammates at times…this player has the potential with his hard work to get to the next level…I would like to see what he could do on a defensive pairing…he has a little bit of nasty in his play which could make him a very good F9. – Murray Caldwell
#6 Dominik Badinka, D, 6-3, 183, R DOB 11.27.2005
Badinka played a solid support role at this event logging regular minutes five on five. He showed well despite not starting the event overly strong in his own zone. His play with the puck was solid as he joined the rush and even hauled it up ice when the opportunity presented itself. The thing with Badinka is that he often will skate himself into dead-ends. He is best when he moves the puck with a skilled teammate as an obvious option and can attack using his strong skating ability. As the event moved along his defense tightened up and he seemed to gain confidence which helps his overall impact. Did not look out of place. – Dan Stewart
Sweden U20
#7 LD Hugo Fransson 6.0 180 DOB 08.03.2004
Just starting to really come into his own…maturing nicely into a defender for both sides of the puck…intelligent puck distribution…highly dangerous & accurate slap/wrist shot…this guy has a real cannon…mobile in all zones…exceptional lateral movement at the blue line to get to better shot positioning…his skating & puck handling can push opponents back when entering the oz…likes to work off of broken plays he is keen at getting to the puck before anyone else…high IQ allows him to make lanes instead of just passing the puck…on the defensive side he can cut off attackers by keeping them outside…then with body positioning actively strip them of the puck…he has not let up on his passion to play the game at high level he continues to develop in all aspects of the game. I feel he will be selected this year. – Murray Caldwell
#19 LWR Hugo Pettersson 6.0 185 DOB 05.01.2005
Not an elite player yet shows some excellent quality…skating is smooth & with a nice glide…strong & physical…using his strength on board battles…comes away more then not with the puck…a shoot first no nonsense style of player…creative…excellent puck distribution…tenacious puck retrieval…playmaking is amongst the best on his team. – Murray Caldwell
#14 RW/C/L Erik Pahlsson 6.1 183 DOB 04.09.2004
One of the best players consistently in this tournament for Sweden…2 way player tracks down the opponents with speed…uses his body to twist pucks out of the hands of the opponent…a shooter for the most part…he was all over the ice…all around the puck…he made one really nice move with a pass between his legs that resulted in a goal against Czechia…great hands in tight…wicked release that can fool you…he will look to pass & release a blistering wrist shot……he can absolutely corral hard passes…plays with speed & intensity almost every shift…has excellent vision & anticipation giving his teammates passing options…his style of play he does not take many penalties because he does not need to put his stick where it does not belong when checking or in the offensive zones…plays a disciplined style…I am actually not sure what I am missing why he has not been drafted…he shows amazing potential. – Murray Caldwell
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If you liked the above reports and summaries, be sure to pick up your copy of the DraftPro 2024 Draft Preview Magazine today in either digital or physical copy versions.
Cole Eiserman could be the next American hockey superstar.
His dad played for UMass Lowell and his uncle was drafted by the Predators. Hockey is in his blood and he seems to have gotten all of their skill sets and more. He is from the hockey hotbed of Massachusetts and recently switched his commitment from Minnesota to be closer to home at BU.
He previously played at Shattuck-St. Mary with his friend Macklin Celibrini. At Shattuck-St.Mary he collected 154 points and 88 points in successive years. In 2022-2023 he spent most of the year with USNTDP U17 team and recorded 72 points in 42 games, including 43 goals. In 20 games with the U18 team he scored 26 goals and 32 points. He was electric most games in his DY-1 season and left fans and scouts on the edge of their seats waiting for what he would do next. Eiserman will be at BU with Celibrini next season and they will be one of the favorites to make the Frozen four in 2025. Celibrini and Eiserman have been reported in the media as being good friends and the two are likely to go 1-2 in the draft this June.
On the International scene he recorded 20 points in 7 games and as a 17-year-old at the U18s he recorded 11 points in 7 games. As an underaged player at the U18’s in April 2023 Eiserman was tied in the lead with 9 goals in 7 games and was electric for the American squad at the tournament.
This upcoming season with the USNTDP, Eiserman has the possibility of breaking records set by Cole Caufield (goals) and Gabe Perraeualt (points).
Eiserman is already off to a hot start again this season with the NTDP U18 squad and will be a joy to watch as this season moves along as he chases NTDP scoring records.
The question is why is Eiserman seen as a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft in June? Andy Miller with Draft Prospects Hockey breaks down Eiserman’s game as he tries to answers that question.
Skating
Cole Eiserman is a solid skater who is well balanced and has strong edge work. He changes directions with speed and purpose. He has decent top end speed and tries to use that to create separation from checkers all over the ice.
In Clip 1, Eiserman picks up the puck in his zone and uses his skating ability, great edge control and utilizes excellent puck protection to lose checks through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone. In this clip you see how he reads the play well and makes excellent decisions. He is a very creative player who can drive the middle lane with confidence.
Offensive Vision & Awareness
Eiserman’s vision on the offensive side of the game is next level. He sees options out there that most don’t. He finds the puck or it finds him and he can create time and space to gain zone entries or to create chances if in the zone. Eiserman constantly has his eyes scanning the ice so he is aware where everyone is and knows who is covered and who is open.
Eiserman’s awareness on the ice is exceptional and would in many other years have locked him in as first overall, but he is a lock for top 5. He makes great reads with his IQ too, not only does he see what is happening but decides what to do quickly. Eiserman seems to love pressure and being tested and rises to the challenge of the situation. Offensively Eiserman makes great decisions almost all the time and defensively he does pretty well too.
In the below clip, Cole Eiserman, #34, absorbs the hit and capably makes a play with the puck to set up a shot from the point. You then see him disengage and that allows him move to the high slot to be both an offensive option and capable of covering his defensive responsibilities too.
In the next clip, Cole Eiserman, #34, he reads the play well while in the slot in the defensive zone. You can see him maintaining speed by circling in the zone and tracking the puck and all the players on the ice exceptionally well. He outsmarts and out works three opponents to win the puck battle and start the breakout. Eiserman then takes the bouncing puck up the wall and does not force the puck elsewhere, gains control and enters the zone with possession. He creates a quality chance at the other end of the ice by driving the net. Towards the end of the net front battle in the offensive zone he drifts out and picks up the loose puck and misses a quality chance. He at times plays like a centre often to be found in the high slot.
Puck Retrieval & Work Ethic
Eiserman is very consistent on the offensive side of the puck and is driven to be a difference maker on that side of the puck. He is incredibly competitive and appears to want to be the top player on the ice. His defensive play is very good for someone with his skill set and age, as you can find him playing the 200 foot game often, but this could still improve over time.
Eiserman has a level of physicality to his game and uses it to protect the puck from defenders. He frequently uses his frame to retrieve the puck in the corners. He can throw his weight around and can take hits too.
Eiserman is a good forechecker and does an effective job hunting down the puck. He has a decent level of responsibility but he will have to grow into being a penalty killer at the top level of the game. He has demonstrated the ability to backcheck with speed and purpose in many viewings.
In the below clip, Cole Eiserman gets to his net front and effectively reads the play and goes to the player at the back door and ties up his hands. This is a player in a dangerous spot by keeping his feet moving and using his stick to tie up his opponent’s stick at the right time.
In this next clip, Cole Eiserman is playing the high slot in the defensive zone and makes an excellent read on the defenders going D to D and picks off the puck with his quick first few strides and great hands. Next he continues up ice after the interception and changes speeds effectively and makes great use of toe drags to buy time and space. If he decided to lower his shoulder and drive the centre lane I wonder if he could have taken the puck in alone behind the defender. Here is where some extra power in his stride would give him the confidence to drive that lane a bit more. He makes a good pass to his teammate that results in an opportunity at the net front. Being a bit more selfish here might result in a higher quality chance. He then follows the rebound to the corner and is first on the puck with ease and ensures they maintain possession and pressure in the offensive zone.
Puck Control
Eiserman’s hands are exceptional with the puck on his stick as he is incredibly smooth with it. He receives good accurate passes well and capably adjusts to poor passes that others would struggle to corral.
In the below clip, Cole Eiserman picks the puck up the wall just outside his defensive blueline, attracts attention and starts a rush that creates a quality chance. At the end of the rush he goes to the net front but is off by a foot or so to be able to get a quality rebound chance and his body language here made him look like he was watching the play as opposed to being engaged.. You are also able to see Eiserman take a hard hit to gather the puck off the wall and corral it smoothly; he then rotates on his edges and demonstrates a very high end skill set. Then he gets on his horse and hustles back and nullifies a quality chance with his skating and his body. The check doesn’t look like much, but he has a lot of speed and to maintain edge control and throw your body weight in a different direction is something that demonstrates great skating, core strength and balance. He could target the players hands or body a bit more to be more effective with the hit. This is the type of clip that makes people discuss the potential for Cole Eiserman to go first overall, he plays the 200 foot game, much like a responsible centre, even though he is on the wing.
Shooting & Scoring
Eiserman’s scoring ability is elite. His recent draftee rivals include Cole Caufield and Austin Matthews. These are two elite NHL scorers and he has such a good release that he will certainly be among the top scorers in the NHL within a few years of being drafted. Eiserman looks to shoot the puck and when he does it is at worst a great chance and very often, a goal. He is a generational type scorer in the likes of Matthews and Caufield, when he is around the net it is regularly going to end up in it. He averages about 8 shots a game and scores 1.2 goals a game, which means he has an above average shooting percentage for the NHL, but it is not out of the realm of reasonableness to eventually get to that level again at the NHL.
In this clip, shows Eiserman getting open and it shows his impressive release that is quick, accurate and lethal. You can see how dangerous of a player he will be on the Powerplay, but also at even strength, as his shot could rival Caufield, Matthews, maybe even Ovechkin.
Puck Handling
Eiserman is an incredibly creative player who has magical hands with the puck on his stick. His imagination on the ice and finds the openings and/or his teammates. Eiserman’s creativity benefits from his ability to pass the puck on the tape is incredible. His vision is exceptional and he sees what is going on before it happens. Eiserman is not likely to be anywhere near leading his team in assists, but he still has the ability to make plays.
In this clip, Cole Eiserman receives the puck off a pass that is not on the tape and he adjusts well and maintains his speed. As he gains the offensive blueline he decides to pull the puck behind him unaware of the backchecker whom he gives the puck to with this move. This play shows his creativity, but how he at times can get too focused on what is in front of him and forget about who is behind him.
Areas of Improvement
In our last clip, Cole Eiserman, #34, makes an obviously scripted drop pass in the neutral zone that creates a turnover by dropping to the opposition. He does keep his head up after the error and keeps engaged in the play with no obvious negative body language. He could have demonstrated a bit more drive after the turnover, but he responded reasonably well. This shows while he is a very creative player even he can be lulled into routine.
Be sure to pick up your copy of the DraftPro 2024 Draft Preview Magazine today in either digital or physical copy versions.
Sam Dickinson is someone who has been touted by many for a very long time as someone with an NHL future.
Dickinson’s final year before the OHL draft was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however in Dickinson’s during that season he was still able to rack up points. Thanks to his stellar play, he was selected fourth overall in the OHL draft in 2022 to the Niagara Ice Dogs. After being selected by the Ice Dogs, he was traded to the London Knights for three second-rounders, three third rounders, and a fifth rounder. London had high expectations for him and hoped that he could be their new franchise defencemen for the next few years and oh boy did he live up to that. In his first season with the Knights in 2022-2023, Dickinson helped lead the Knights to a Memorial Cup finals appearance. Dickinson was selected to the OHL First All-Rookie Team thanks to an exceptional season. He was then selected to represent Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where helped lead the team to another Gold Medal as one of the top defencemen.
The question is why is Dickinson seen as a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft in June? Zach Morris with Draft Prospects Hockey breaks down Dickinson’s game as he tries to answers that question.
Dickinson is an absolute workhorse of a defenceman who eats minutes and is typically out there facing the harder matchups. He is one of the bigger defencemen coming into the draft this year, standing at 6-foot-3 and uses his size to his advantage. He is constantly outmuscling players along the boards and in front of the net. His skating skills are always evident, you can see in the way he uses crossovers and long strides to create separation when leading the rush. As well as his smooth and fluid skating when hustling back on defence. Sam’s skating is one of his greatest assets, which always keeps him involved in the play no matter where he is on the ice. He is a shows flashes of his offensive skills, which was especially evident during the Hlinka Cup tournament. Playing with Oliver Bonk in London you’d think his offensive potential would be limited but so far he has excelled and seen lots of powerplay time which has allowed him to get off to a hot start, amassing 8 points in 7 games. Playing with Bonk also allows him to show off his high IQ and defensive ability. Bonk is constantly taking part in the rush and playing deep in the offensive zone causing Dickinson to play a more conservative role. He won’t always wow you with a spectacular move when he has the puck but his vision and passing ability are always on display. He is looking to create the best scoring chance and is extremely patient with the puck. That can also be one of his biggest downfalls. Sam will have the occasional turnover because he is waiting too long to make the best play rather than just advancing the puck. The problem is when he turns it over it is typically a bad one. He also has a lethal shot from the point and is not afraid to use it. He has seen tons of penalty kill time which has allowed him to further showcase his defensive awareness and IQ. Dickinson’s game isn’t as face paced offensively as some of the other defencemen in this year’s draft, but he has the fundamentals down to a tee which allows him to excel and play a fluid game.
Skating One of Sam’s greatest assets is his skating ability, he makes it look effortless and smooth. His skating is not always on display as he is calculated with his movement and energy. When he needs a burst of speed to lead the rush or hustle back on defence it is evident the tremendous talent he poses. Dickinson is able to blow by defenders when leading the rush because of his exceptional crossovers and long strides. When skating back to defend the rush he poses extraordinary speed skating backwards thanks to his cross overs and unders. The way he is able to transition from going forward to backward and still maintain his momentum is a thing of beauty. His edge work is evident when walking the blue line in the offensive zone. Dickinson’s skating always keeps him in the play even if it seems like he’s not. His skating, aside from his size, is one of the main reasons he looks like a man amongst boys and one why he is such a highly touted prospect in this year’s draft.
In the following clip you can see Sam demonstrating his excellent skating ability. He shows his exceptional crossover ability and 10 to 2 skating.
Defensive Play and Physical Ability Sam’s defensive play is something that constantly stands out and is really being show cased this season. Playing with Oliver Bonk, Dickinson has taken more of a defensive role on the pairing. Bonk is constantly involved in the rush and jumps into the play in the offensive zone. This has allowed Dickinson’s defensive game to truly shine, I’m sure the coach is not too thrilled about the amount of plays Dickinson has had to defend by himself or at the very least slow down until Bonk or one of the other forwards is able to get back in time to aid him. On the flip side Sam has been able to show off his high hockey IQ consistently stifling the opponent’s attack. He is very active with his stick constantly poke checking opponents, but he is always careful and ensures that he does not take a penalty. Dickinson is almost always in the right spot, whether that is covering his man in front of the net and boxing him to ensure the goalie isn’t screened and the player can’t tip the puck or shadowing the man with the puck. Dickinson was gifted with physical attributes standing at a towering 6’3” and weighing in at 194lbs and he doesn’t put them to waste. He uses his size to get in the way of players and slow the rush down. Dickinson often pins opponents along the boards in order to snatch the puck from them or allow a teammate to do so. He uses his large frame to block shots or at least disrupt the shooting lane, this is extremely evident on the penalty kill.
In this clip Bonk makes a bad turnover in the defensive zone and Dickinson is immediately in the right position taking his man in front and communicating the with Bonk and letting him know to take the player with the puck. Later in the video you can see another good play by Sam, he out muscles his man on the boards using his large frame and positional awareness.
Although Dickinson was unable to clear the puck from the zone on the penalty kill at the start of the clip, in the end he recovered exceptionally. He blocked the first shot attempt and even though he was on his knees, he somehow managed to get his stick in the way and deflect the second shot attempt.
His defence partner makes a sloppy pass on the line trying to send it across to Dickinson. Luckily, Dickinson is able to recover and is there to slow down the play. On the second attempt he is able to get his stick in the way to break up a potential breakaway pass.
He puts pressure on his man in the defensive zone with his active stick and forced the Greyhounds player to take a bad one-handed backhand shot and then makes a terrific stretch pass out of the zone.
Playmaking and Passing Ability Sam’s greatest asset on offence is his vision. He rarely rushes a pass and loves to look for the best scoring opportunity rather than dishing it off to the first open player he sees. He shows his poise when leading the rush from his own zone. His passes are tape to tape lasers that are rarely off the mark and as a result he feels more comfortable taking some risks. He is not afraid to send a pass-through defender because he trusts his accuracy and vision. His stretch passes from inside his zone to the opposing teams’ blue line are a work of art. Sam’s passing is an instrumental part to his blazing hot start this season.
In this clip he held on to the puck and waited to see if there was a better option. He spotted Bonk on the opposite point and snuck across a pass which led to a good scoring opportunity for Bonk.
Dickinson gets the puck and goes on the rush. He slows the play down to allow the trailing skater to join the play. He sends a beautiful cross-ice pass to a wide-open number 39, Max McCue, who fires a nice wrister.
Shooting Dickinson is never afraid to fire off a wrister or one time from the point and with the power, speed and accuracy that his shot possess I can’t blame him. He is rarely just firing a shot on net because he has the puck, he bides his time and picks his moments. He knows when he’s got the opportunity to let a slap shot go or throw a wrist shot on net with a target in mind. He loves to looks for a potential tip opportunity and let a wrist shot go.
On the powerplay Dickinson wires a nice hard and accurate wrister from the point that goes in for a goal.
Dickinson gets the puck at the top of the point and fires a clapper that is deflected by Sam O’Reilly in front for a goal. You can see the power and accuracy on Dickinson’s shot. He put it on the right side of the goalie where O’Reilly was positioned for a good chance at tipping it.
Areas of Improvement For all the positive aspects of Sam’s game there are still some rough edges that not to be ironed out. He has two issues that go hand in hand. Dickinson sometimes seems almost lacksidasidcale on the ice and it looks like he doesn’t realize the pressure that is coming towards him or the importance of the situation. He bides his time waiting for a better opportunity and it can lead to all his options disappearing and the opposition trapping him in a tough spot. Although this helps him conserve his energy and stay on the ice for longer shifts it can lead to costly turnovers at inopportune times. He is also prone to holding on to the puck for extended periods of time which also leads to turnovers. By this point I’m sure you can guess, his biggest issue is he gives the puck away too much. If Sam is able to clean that part of his game up and show more urgency with the puck, he will be a stud two-way defenceman in the NHL for a very long time.
Summary It is rare to see a defenceman who is able to excel at all areas of the game, however, Sam Dickinson is exactly that. He is an absolute beast of a defencemen who plays big minutes and plays in all situations. Dickinson is a menace in the defensive zone hounding opponents with his physical presence and not giving them a second to breath with his poke checks and stick lifts. His skating ability is expectational, he makes look easy and it will only continue to improve as he develops. He is a dynamic playmaker, his vision and passing ability are second to none in the OHL. He has an excellent wrist shot that he can fire off quick. It should be a big year for him, and he is already off to a blazing hot start. Sam Dickinson is a tremendous prospect who will almost certainly be selected inside the top 10 of the draft this year.
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is a best-on-best U18 hockey tournament that runs every year in August. It is the unofficial season kick off for most NHL Draft talent hounds. At the same time the World Junior Summer Showcase took place and featured a handful of the top NHL Draft eligible prospects that were seeing the ice for the first time on a fresh new season.
Our evaluators annually make these two events must see as they start the grind of watching the next draft crop enter their draft season. Below is a review of who stood out from each event with notes from various scouts.
The definition of an offensive dynamo for the Canadians. Every time he has the puck, he seems to carry tremendous poise and has awareness, seems like he has eyes in the back of his head. He has elite soft touching passing skills as every pass comes flat and crisp. Even though he’s not the fastest guy on the ice, he has certainly tremendous amounts of agility as he can fend off defenders due to his tremendous edgework. Even though he is known to be more so of a playmaker with tremendous amounts of anticipation to fake off defenders, he has a rocket of a wrist shot which makes him even more lethal on both ends of the offensive spectrum. As a centerman, he is very good in the draw, and he plays like a traditional centerman as he is in position to make the right play. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
Maxim was a fun player to watch. He has a little bit of everything in his toolbox which was nice to see. Despite the score of games, he was pretty good in his own end and even better in the offensive end. He can make plays and score and coming out of the QMJHL he’s got some motor on him too. I found Maxim was able to utilize all his skills to help his team in any areas that were needed. Maxim is a player who I would keep a close eye on heading into his draft year as he is a player that could see his draft stock rise quickly. – Seth Silver
Big, tough, physical, plays with an edge, and the ability to show up and produce at a high level. This is the unicorn player in the NHL right now and every team is looking for it. Lindstrom has great hands and a quick release that catches defenses off guard. He skates well and makes up for his lack of edgework as a big man by having excellent speed. He plays hard and will use his big frame as an advantage in goal scoring but also intimidation. He plays hard and breaks the stereotype of power forwards lacking hockey IQ. He’s smart on the offensive end and knows where to be to receive passes or set up his teammates. Another note on his game is he has a knack for showing up in the clutch. – Colin Johnson
Ritchie was one of Canada’s fast and agile marksmen. When on the ice, he looks like he is a race car due his agility. The definition of a fast and electrifying sniper who seems to never miss a scoring chance whether it’s a goal or an assist. His shot is just a laser beam locked on to one target from anywhere on the ice. His agility seems to give him a huge advantage over the opponent as he is one of the best at doing wraparounds. He has tremendous offensive awareness as he seems to always be at the right place at the right time to either stop a player from making a play, or if it’s even creating his own scoring chance. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
Spence was no doubt about it one of Canada’s strongest and fastest skaters. Every time he was on the ice, he was a charging bull. He is a dynamic, strong, and fast playmaking winger who has a nose for the net. He has such strong lateral movement to the point it allows him to squeeze through not one but two defenders. His puck skills are at an elite level has his hands have a quite some silk to them. His passing is very good as he is very crisp at making the short end passes and could even thread the needle through a crowd in surprising fashion. He has strong anticipation and in-game reads which he then uses his lightning speed to his advantage. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
Michael Misa, C, Canada, 5’11, 160, L, 2025 NHL Draft eligible.
Misa is a special talent. Hard to pin down and very elusive. He shows off elite level vision and hands creating plays all over the ice. Sees the ice and makes passes that don’t look to have lanes but still get through. Has excellent speed and agility with the ability to handle pucks and make plays at top speed. Smart and creative. Not a physical beast but is a beast in the offensive zone. One of our scouts compared him to Mitch Marner and I can see it. – Dan Stewart
Martone was the definition of an offensive dynamo for the Canadians that was hard for opponents to stop. When that puck is on Martone’s stick, that puck is not coming off until Porter decides to either let it rip or dish. Martone is a dynamic, agile and playmaking centerman who has an arsenal of weapons. Every time he has the puck, he seems to carry tremendous poise and has awareness like none other as it seems like he has eyes in the back of his head. He has elite soft touching passing skills as every pass comes flat and crisp. Even though he’s not the fastest guy on the ice, he has certainly tremendous amounts of agility as he can fend off defenders like none other due to his tremendous edgework, especially being a guy at 6’3. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
Parekh no doubt about it is one of the most electrifying defensemen that Canada had to offer. Parekh is an agile, smooth skating offensive defenseman. Blessed with tremendous confidence, Zayne displays tremendous poise handling the puck under pressure followed by precise execution of his plays as it shows in his fast and smooth hands. His ability to visualize the oncoming pressure and then fake the opposition into going one way as he exits the other way is truly exciting. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
Sam Dickinson, D, Canada, 6’3, 195, L, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
Dickinson was the best player on the ice during many games. At 6’3 and 195 pounds, Dickinson has the physical maturity to play at the NHL level. He bullied the opposition along the boards in his own end to stop the play and move the puck up ice. He anticipates plays at a high level and intercepted a pass in the neutral zone during the third period to create an odd man rush for Canada. The London Knight also has strong skating ability. He uses his edges to spin off of forecheckers which creates time and space to make a play up ice. Dickinson’s offensive skills makes him a complete player. He has great poise with the puck and is not afraid to hang on to the puck until passing lanes develop. In the offensive zone, he sifts pucks through opposing wingers to create net front opportunities. – Andreus Kostopoulos
Henry Mews, D, Canada, 6”, 180, R, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
Mews was one of the most attack minded defensemen of the Canadian team. Every time he lugs the puck, he looks like he’s gliding on water. An agile, smooth skating offensive defenseman with very good passing abilities. Blessed with a lot of offensive confidence, Henry displays tremendous poise handling the puck under pressure followed by precise execution of his plays as it shows in his smooth hands. He is very good at bringing his opponents near him and dishing the sauce back the other way calmly or even escapes with the puck the other way. In-game reads, anticipation is very good offensively. His ability to visualize the oncoming pressure and then fake the opposition into going one way as he exits the other way is truly fascinating. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
Adam Benak, C, Czechia, 5’6”, 140, L, 2025 NHL Draft eligible.
At just 16 years of age, Benak has already defined himself as the best player of Czechia. Every time he is on the ice, he is the definition of a wizard with the puck. He has such strong lateral movement to the point it allows him to squeeze through not one but two defenders, even along the boards. His puck skills are at an elite level as his hands have a quite some silk to them. His soft touch passing abilities are world class to the point where even if there are 3-4 players screening him, he will still somehow thread the needle through a giant crowd. He has strong anticipation and in-game reads which he then uses his lightning speed to his advantage. Benak still has to improve his physique by building a bit more muscle, but he no doubt about it is going to be a force to be reckoned with for 2025 NHL draft. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
Adam Jiricek, D Czechia, 6’2”, 152, R, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
Jiricek might be the best skater in the 2024 draft class. He evades forechecking opponents on a consistent basis by using his elusive edgework and going around them. He plays the game with a poise that belies his age. Even in high-pressure situations, he never panics. For that reason, he plays a lot of minutes in all situations: powerplay, penalty kill, must- score, hold-the-lead, etc. One thing that sets Jiricek apart from the rest is his passing. He sees the game as well as anyone, which allows him to transition the puck seamlessly from the defensive zone to the neutral zone. – Brogan Houston
Trevor Connelly, C, USA, 6’1″,161, L, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
Connelly is gifted with blazing speed which he uses to beat defenders on both the inside and outside of the puck. His goal scoring ability from inside the faceoff dots makes him a threat every time he’s in the offensive zone. Trevor’s shot may be one of the best in his draft class, as his velocity and accuracy helps showcase his shoot first mentality. Connelly has a nose for the net which most goal scorers possess, he’s able to slide into open ice and demand the puck in high scoring areas. Highly skilled passer with exceptional on-ice vision, he seems to surprise his own teammates with his ability to dish the puck in tough situations. Willing to throw the body around and not be outworked physically when battling for the puck. Trevor plays with a chip on his shoulder, which helps to highlight his overall character and willingness to become a leader when called upon. – Steven Pratas
William Felicio, D, USA, 5’10”, 160, L, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
Felicio was the best Americans defensemen on the attack. Every time he is on the ice, he is the definition of a wizard with the puck. He is a dynamic, agile, and calm offensive defenseman who his very poised to make the right play. He has such strong lateral movement to the point it allows Will to deke around any opponent he wants. His puck skills are at a very high level has his hands have a quite some silk to them. His soft touch passing abilities are very good the point where even if there is a crowd, he can still make the accurate pass. He has strong anticipation and in-game reads which he then uses his edgework to his advantage. His shot may not be the most powerful, but it is still quick enough and accurate to get the goaltender off guard with his quick release to get it through traffic. Due to his strong poise, he too has good defensive abilities as he has a very good active stick. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
Christian Kirsch, G, Switzerland, 6’2”, 174. L, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
Kirsch has a decent ability to get out and set up the puck, and demonstrated some comfort. He is good with rebounds and absorbs most shots that he should. Kirsch can over move if there is lateral puck movement and speed coming up the ice, he needs to keep his game more simple at times. He typically plays deeper in his crease, which allows him to move quickly from side to side. Kirsch settled his team down time and time again and gives them a reason to believe they can win. Kirsch is a player who works through adversity and is determined to give his all from puck drop to the end of the game. He moves his all and is a resilient goaltender. If Kirsch continues this play throughout the upcoming season his name will be called in the upcoming 2024 NHL draft. – Andy Miller
Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D, Sweden, 6’0”, 176, L, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
An excellent, two-way defenseman who will be of high interest come the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Comfortable puck carrier. You immediately notice his ability to carry the puck from his defensive zone into the opposing zone to create offensive pressure. Spends his shifts winning puck battles in the defensive zone and providing accurate breakout passes to his linemates. Had the confidence of his Swedish coaches. A workhorse. – Logan McBride
Herman Liv, G, Sweden, 5’11”, 159, L, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
Quick and athletic puck stopper has bloodlines as his father was Stefan Liv. He held Sweden in games making saves he had no business making and robbing more than a few shooters. Strong mobility and agility, works hard and challenges shooters aggressively, flashes exceptional reflexes. While the size is not NHL ideal, he screams a late round pick an NHL team will stow away as a development project that could turn into something special. – Dan Stewart
Was one of the most complete defensemen on the ice for the Fins. In any situation he seems to be in the right place at the right time. He’s a highly skilled, puck moving, offensive defenseman who also has a reliable defensive game. Displays tremendous poise handling the puck under pressure followed by precise execution of plays. Elite passer. He is very good at bringing his opponents near him and calmly dishing the sauce back the other way. In-game reads, anticipation, and deception are all top notch. His ability to visualize the oncoming pressure and then fake the opposition into going one way as he exits the other way is truly fascinating. Elite edgework and his tremendously quick feet. He is currently a muffin shooter but hopefully that can be improved with added strength. Kiviharju should contend for a high selection of the 2024 NHL Draft and may develop into a dynamic top four NHL defender once he gains strength. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
A versatile, exciting, poised forward. His hand speed seems to have matched his electric skating. He’s a very mobile, puck fast skating, playmaking center who was also very lethal on the wing during this event. Due to his tremendously quick feet and strong lateral movement, he is hard to defend against. His hands are as smooth as silk to the point where he connects each passing play he makes to perfection. Helenius is already proving himself to be a top 2024 NHL Draft pick and can become a 1st line NHL playmaker. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
James Hagens, C, USA White, 5’10”, 152, L, 2025 NHL Draft eligible.
Exceptional skater with loads of offensive sense and playmaking skills. Makes smart decisions showing high IQ and awareness. Has an underrated shot that will only get more deadly as he gains strength, already catches tenders by surprise with his drag and release mechanics. Played relentless on both sides, strong forecheck and work rate. Just creates so many opportunities for both his teammates and himself. Top prospect for next year’s draft with top line NHL potential. – Dan Stewart
Cole Eiserman, LW, USA White, 5’11”, 192, R, 2024 NHL Draft eligible.
A fast, charging, marksman who has a real nose for the net. His anticipation in the offensive zone is outstanding as he tries to put him into a position to make his teammates around him better. Cole has arguably one of the hardest, quickest shot releases of the U20 US team as they seem like they come off his blade almost like arrows that never miss their target, especially his very fast toe-drag like wrist shot. A huge competitor to become the 1st overall pick of the 2024 NHL draft and become the next top goal scorer for an NHL team someday. – Tyler Ballesteros-Willard
The Best Are Brought Out Again as the UMHSEL Shines in the State of Hockey.
For almost two full months, the best of the best high school hockey players in Minnesota were in full effect in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League. There was tons of talent displayed, bringing in scouts from all over the country and these kids’ day in and day out did not disappoint. 7 teams representing Minnesota made up the league along with Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep school, Team Wisconsin and on occasion Team North Dakota. TDS Transportation won the regular season title at 13-4-3 but it was Sanford Power taking home the coveted trophy with a 5-4 dramatic overtime win over MAP South Hockey. Only three teams finished above .500 in the league (one being Shattuck) showing the parity and competitiveness of this league. We’ll look at some of the players who stood out, looking mostly at 2023 eligible players and a few that we will surely hear about for the next few seasons.
TDS Transportation
Teddy Townsend, C, 5-10,165, DOB 9.2.05
Led by 2023 NHL eligible Teddy Townsend, who is a prolific playmaker with great hockey sense and an unselfish demeanor of play. Townsend finished second in the league with 39 points. Dynamic creativity when making passes, can no-look pass right on to his linemates stick. Does not lose many battles in the corners, is a grinder and protects the puck. His feet are constantly moving. Good at creating space and utilizing patience when making decisions with the puck. Small in stature but makes up for it with excellent skating, top notch playmaking ability and great hockey sense. Has tremendous explosiveness and speed that allows him to separate from opponents. He seems to always know what the next play is going to be and is mindful of what the low risk play is going to be. Does not shoot a ton but will take his opportunities when he sees them and get pucks to the net. Attacks the net for rebounds. Townsend will take his talents to the University of Minnesota next season.
Javon Moore, LW, 6-2, 181, DOB 12.7.05
Another standout, Javon Moore, who is NHL eligible in 2024 really stood out as an elite skater who will put pucks in the net. He has tremendous acceleration; his feet are constantly moving, and he plays all phases of the game extremely well. Has particularly good vision on the ice, knows where his line mates are and makes accurate passes. Mindful defensive awareness on his position and who and where he needs to cover. Backchecks hard and gets back quickly with his speed. Multi-dimensional attributes in his scoring, playmaking and skating ability will make him a great player at the next level. The University of Minnesota commit finished with 29 points and will surely turn heads as he progresses this season and beyond. Look for big things to come from him.
Sanford Power
Hampton Slukynsky, G, 6-1, 170, DOB 7.2.05
He did go 4-2 with a 2.51 GAA and a .939 save %, despite playing limited games due to injury. Those are amazing numbers in a league full of elite talent and lots of offense. Slukynsky is an athletic, very focused goaltender. He follows the puck extremely well and can locate pucks even through heavy traffic in front of him. I really like that he is very active with his stick, trying to play the puck whenever he can and looks confident and capable in doing so. Needs to work on the accuracy of his passes. Has good technique, moves laterally in the butterfly very effectively and positionally sound on his slides. Hybrid goaltender who traps pucks into his body effortlessly on shots outside the slot. Gives up some ugly, loose rebounds but is able to recover and with quick pushes make the 2nd or 3rd saves. Covers well low in the butterfly, stays tight and stick is in great position covering the five-hole area. Played on the USA U18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup posting a 2.11 GAA and .926 save percentage in 2 games played. Shows he can play at the highest level in his age group. Look for him to be a mid to late round selection in the draft, potentially higher if he has a great year. Committed to Northern Michigan. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
Aaron Reierson, RW, 6-1, 161, DOB 2.27.05
Sanford was led in the playoffs by 2023 eligible Aaron Reierson, who had 6 goals and 1 assist in 3 games. He is aggressive on pucks and pursues hard on the forecheck. He has good speed when in transition but skating in open space with time has average to less than average speed. He reads and anticipates plays well in scoring areas and makes him a threat to put a lot of pucks in the net. Needs to have more intensity in his game away from the puck. Noticeable on the power play, stands around a little too much when on the PK. Has a ripping wrist shot, lets it fly and gets it off quickly. Does not pass up opportunities to shoot the puck. Will throw his body around. Has good hands when stickhandling the puck, can maneuver and get creative with the puck on his stick. Keeps his game simple, doesn’t try to do too much or hold onto the puck longer than he should. Makes the smart plays, gets it deep into the zone when necessary, clears pucks out of his zone. Could improve on his defensive game, being more aggressive and keeping his feet moving picking up players. Passes in stride to teammates and is good corralling passes while in stride. Works hard battling in the corners and trying to come away with pucks in the offensive zone. Has a good hockey sense on scoring goals, when watching him you can see that he knows where to go and what to do to get to the net. Attacks the net, creates traffic and is quick to try and get loose rebounds.
Garrett Lindberg, D, 5-4, 130, DOB 3.8.07
Listed at only 5’4”, this smooth skating, skilled defenseman held his own on the ice. He has exceptional footwork and plays with patience and poise with the puck. Displays a great level of maturity. He gets himself in position to be an option for passes on the breakouts and moves the puck up ice quickly and accurately. Played power play and penalty kill. Good on the blue line for the power play, moving the puck and his feet to create good, quality scoring chances. On the penalty kill, he moves bodies around and is good positionally in front of his net. At times, tends to force pucks into traffic as he tries to “thread the needle” with his passes. Very offensively gifted, great skater and incredible awareness on the ice, knowing when to join the play. Even if he gets caught in the offensive zone, has the mindset to get back and be in a great position on defense. Does not shy away from contact, will be physical in the corners and knock guys around in front of the net. Quick, crafty hands go along with being able to rush the puck up ice with ease. Scans the ice well and has impressive decision making. Consistent hockey player with extreme versatility to play all situations. Great ability to read plays developing and has good gap control and reacts quickly. Could sacrifice his body more to block shots. Not a lot of weaknesses in his game. If he can add a few inches, he will be a dynamic player to watch develop. Keep an eye on this kid. 2025 NHL draft eligible.
Shattuck St. Mary’s
Calvin Vachon, G, 6-0, 161, DOB 7.19.05
Calvin Vachon led the league with a 1.88 GAA. The grandson of the great Rogie Vachon, Calvin is a very athletic, quick, agile goaltender with a lot of potential. Makes smart decisions moving the puck, handles pucks well behind his net. He anticipates well, knowing when to challenge shooters. Performs the butterfly position admirably, staying tight and pads flush to the ice. His lateral movement is quick and precise. Possesses ability and competitiveness to make the big saves, never gives up on plays. Communicates with his teammates, see a lot of gesturing with his glove to point out open opponents to his defenseman out in front of the net. Does not reveal many holes while down in the butterfly position, covers his five-hole and lower portion of the net very well. View him as a potential highly regarded goalie at the next level. NHL comparable to Jonathan Quick. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
Zach Nehring, C, 6-3, 179, DOB 3.7.05
Another 2023 that really impressed and has great potential to slip in somewhere in the draft is Zach Nehring. He has good size and plays physical and gets himself in high scoring areas. Finished with 21 points, 14 of them goals. He is not afraid to use his body in all zones and deliver hits whenever he can. Puts himself in a good position in front of the net to collect garbage goals. Makes smart plays with the puck and delivers crisp, accurate passes to his teammates. Positionally sound in the defensive zone, always looking around to cover someone. Does not accelerate quickly but once he gets moving, has nice long strides and keeps his feet moving. High quality vision on the ice. Competes hard and will battle hard in corners and is not afraid to stand up to opponents. Has a quick release on his wrist shot and does not pass on shooting the puck when he has the opportunities. Has the potential to be a great two-way player at the next level. Makes smart plays, using the boards and avoiding the danger zones in his defensive zone. Handles the puck well but could get more creative when going one on one with the defense. Active stick and long reach allow him to create turnovers defensively and be a threat in front of the opposing net. Committed to Western Michigan. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
Hunter Anderson, F, 5-9, 181, DOB 4.28.05
That leads to the superstar of the team. 2023 eligible Hunter Anderson who already is ranked on the central scouting report. He led the league in goals with 20, showing his significant talent to score goals. Finished with 13 assists to go with that. He is quick to release his shot and get pucks to the net and attacks the net for rebounds. Has great playmaking ability with the way he reads the play and being aware of open teammates even without looking at them. He is tenacious in front of the opposing team’s net. Feet are always moving, and he is quick to get pucks to the net and attack rebounds. Looks to score first but has significant playmaking ability with the way he passes and handles the puck. Has good velocity and is excellent with the catch and release on his wrist shot. Has average acceleration explosiveness, his transitions from zone to zone are extremely good and his ability to stop and start on a dime are a great attribute for playing special teams. Has smooth hands and finesse when handling the puck, has a creative toolbox he isn’t afraid to go to on one on ones. Does not lack effort or work ethic shift to shift. Stands out on a team loaded with high end, quality talent. Not a very big guy but is strong on his skates and does not get knocked around very easily. Great at using his speed and receiving passes in stride on the breakout and in the neutral zone. Anderson is someone who has the intangibles to really succeed and excel at the next level despite being smaller in stature. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
SIT Mutual Funds
Jackson Nevers, C, 6-0, 181, DOB 7.27.05
He is a 2023 eligible forward who plays with high energy and does great things in all phases of the game. Teams will love his consistency and versatility to play a lot of different types of situations in games. Finished with 17 points, 9 of them goals. He has a good motor in space, would not say he has high end speed but plays with high energy and keeps his feet moving around the ice. Very good in the faceoff circle, wins a high percentage of his draws. On his forehand side, he will line up on the wing to get the draw and get shots to the net. He makes himself available to receive passes by keeping his stick on the ice and following the play everywhere, getting himself in position to catch passes. Solid with the puck on his stick, not overly crafty but makes good decisions and is smart offensively. He is a good penalty killer, very patient, does not overcompensate, keeps an active stick and forces the opposition to take bad shots and not get time and space. Needs to pursue the puck more persistently on the forecheck, relies on his read and react instead of just attacking at times.
Gavin Uhlenkamp, F, 5-9, 154, DOB 3.27.06
A 2024 eligible standout was forward Uhlenkamp, an excellent skater with explosive, quick acceleration. Love how he uses his speed to create offensive opportunities and blow by the defense. Great stickhandler with the puck even at top speed. Good on special teams, both PP and PK. Excellent vision and playmaking ability allow him to be good on the PP using the perimeter, time and space to create scoring chances with the man advantage. On the PK, he stops and starts quickly and gets his stick in the passing lanes, not allowing opponents much time to create. Uses his body well in the corners to protect the puck and win battles despite having a small frame. Ties up players and is one of the first to notice open players with his sense to play in the defensive zone with his “head on a swivel.” Not the natural goal scoring type, but a dynamic playmaker and high energy player. NHL comparable to Zach Parise. He is committed to the University of Wisconsin and look for him to do big things these next two seasons. He was the leading scorer for SIT Mutual with 22 points. 2024 NHL draft eligible.
Map South Hockey
Jake Fisher, C, 6-1, 185, DOB 3.27.05
Jake Fisher led the entire league in scoring with 44 points, 20 goals and 24 assists. He is a very skilled forward, displays tremendous confidence and has great craftsmanship when handling the puck. The 2023 eligible plays a smart game and is almost equal amounts goal scorer as playmaker. He has a nose for the net and knows where to be to score goals. Has good vision and knows where his teammates are and where they are going. Delivers crisp, hard passes. Has the eye for getting open for his teammates and anticipating where he needs to go. Needs to work harder after losing pucks to get it back. Creative with the puck and able to maneuver defenders one on one with quick hands and excellent control with the puck. Excellent power play man with his ability to score and rip pucks to the net but also with his above average passing. First few strides could improve but once he gets going, he has deceptive speed and can separate himself from opponents. Committed to Northern Michigan.
Colton Jamieson, D, 6-1, 185, DOB 11.28.04
He tied for the league lead in points for a defenseman with 20. He is a good skater for his size and his one touch passing is impeccable. His transition skating forward to backward is excellent as he can jump into the play and get himself back defensively with timing and great recovery. Knows when to pinch and anticipates that with great intuitiveness. Always seems to be a viable option for his D partner on D-to-D breakout passes. Could be a little quicker stopping and starting in the defensive zone. The way he one touch passes and moves the puck in all three zones is fascinating to watch. Not super physical for his size. Gets himself involved offensively but could shoot the puck more and get pucks to the net. Excels at playing at a fast pace or slowing the play down and handling the puck. Does not shy away from blocking shots. Does not get caught puck watching often, is very active and aggressive in reading the play and getting control of pucks. Has huge upside if he can continue to raise his game the way he has to this point. Committed to the University of St. Thomas. 2023 NHL draft eligible.
Recap Now it is fair to say that there could be some more names on this list. Some of them jump to the USHL or go to the NTDP, but Minnesota hockey is still arguably the best, intense, competitive hockey you’ll find anywhere in the country. This league continues to produce elite talent and send young men to division I colleges and the NHL. It would not come as any surprise to see 7-10 names from this league come off the board at the 2023 NHL draft. Most of these guys will be staying and playing for their respective high schools and trying to reach the dream of making the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. This league is just the beginning to something bigger.
One scout will see a sure fire top six scorer while another scout might see a AHL journeyman. One might see a can’t miss prospect while the other scout might not see anything to get excited about.
At Draft Prospects Hockey we task our group of evaluators to not only breakdown skill sets of each prospect they observe and speak on progression from view to view, which is very important to track, but also to give their best assessment of what type of future player these kids could eventually become at the highest level in an attempt to give our readers an educated idea of what upside each NHL prospect might have. That can be a daunting task as much change happens between views in a season let alone in the time between viewing a seventeen-year-old boy to when that same boy becomes a twenty-five-year-old man playing at the NHL level. But if you look close enough the clues to make those projections are there.
Below are some select reports on some of the 2022 Draft Class taken from actual game reports. We hope you enjoy these monthly reports this season as we give you, our reader, a small sample of what our evaluators see on the ice.
February 2, 2022 Reaktor Nizhnekamsk vs Ladia Togliatti (MHL) Joseph Peters
34 C Raul Yakupov, Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (MHL), 6’1”, 168, L, DOB 06.21.2004
Upright skater. Needs to bend and add some flexibility to his skating. He can skate his way down the ice with some power and create chances. Lacks elusive escape ability. When he was kept to the outside he managed to get a backhand on net for a shorthanded opportunity. Showed some patience not forcing a shot towards the net. On the power play, he could have fired the puck but recognized the chances of getting the puck on net was slim. Instead, he used his hands to carefully stop his shot and handle the puck, eventually moving it back to the point. Showed nice ability to win faceoffs. Attempted to regain possession on the power play by backchecking and stick lifting the puck carrier in the neutral zone. Creeps around the defensive zone picking up coverage. Turns his back to shield the puck and attempts to shove the opposition. Strong and competitive in the faceoff category of his position. When the puck is a 50/50 chance, he uses smarts and strength to tie up the opposing center, eliminating the option of using his stick. Either using his feet or waiting for his teammates to jump in, for the most part he can stand his ground on top of the circle. Sometimes his body language shows laziness. His feet stop moving, floats around the ice, and has his stick up by his waist. Almost as if he is waiting for the puck to come to him, rather than working to get the puck himself. He is a bit physical. Throws his body around, but it is not going to plaster someone to the glass.
February 5, 2022 Lethbridge Hurricanes vs Swift Current Broncos (WHL) Matt Hnatiuk
24 RW Josh Filmon, Swift Current (WHL), 6’2″, 159, L, DOB 03.18.2004
Josh is a tall, lean forward who is always active when he’s on the ice. For the most part he shows an average top speed that is powered by his quick feet and a nice even stride, but occasionally he will find an extra gear and get his feet to move a little faster allowing him to separate from pressure or help him win a puck race. He is good on his edges and is able to maneuver just as quickly as his feet move. He shows he has good puck control and is able to settle pucks quickly when he has to and can move them on nice and smoothly. He is able to control the puck near his top speed, but when he really wants to separate from the opposition, there is sometimes a lag from the thought of speeding up and keeping the puck on his stick. His feet start moving quicker before his head and hands can keep up. Usually he can maintain control, but sometimes, he results in a turned over puck. He does show good patience with the puck, especially on special teams and doesn’t just throw it away that often. He usually takes a second to look around and find his best options, and if he can’t find one, peels back and tries again. He shows good scoring ability as well as playmaking skill. He is fairly well rounded when it comes to this area of his game. He is equal parts shooter and passer. He has a quick wrist shot that he tries to let off as fast as he can while not allowing the goaltender to know it’s coming. He is accurate from within range (top of the circles down) and he is willing to let shots go from almost anywhere he can. His passing and playmaking are just as good as his scoring. He is able to spot streaking and open teammates and quickly dish off passes that lead to high quality scoring chances. He isn’t afraid to try higher risk passes to try and make plays happen. He has a well rounded IQ and is able to read plays as well as formations at both ends of the ice. His IQ is higher in the o-zone, but I expect that from a forward of his calibre. He also shows great anticipation in the o-zone and has an ability to know when to pressure with more intensity to create a turnover in his favor. Physically, he doesn’t play a hard game. He will use his body to separate the opponent from the puck when he needs to, but you won’t see him make bone crushing hits every shift. Defensively Josh is active, but not often a noticeable defender. He does well to chip the puck out and chase them down, and he is effective at pressuring the defense at the blue line and making them rush their movements. Josh plays a nice, even offensive game with two-way ability. He has nice puck moving and shooting skills that will translate well at the next level. I think he could be a 5th round choice this draft and has potential to be a middle six player at the next level.
February 5th, 2022 Guelph Storm vs Owen Sound Attack (OHL) Jared Brown
4 D, Michael Buchinger, Guelph (OHL), 6’0”, 185, L, DOB 04.25.2004
Buchinger is a well-rounded rearguard that provides plays on both offence and defence. Had an impressive game and was noticeable for almost the entire game. He plays both special teams and his work on the penalty kill was solid. Using his mobility to actively get our from the front of his net and pressure. Places his stick and body in the way of passes and shots. Displays an effective reaching stick while defending the rush that can stifle zone entries for the other team. Pair that with a great gap control and he’s a reliable defender against the rush. An aspect to his transitional defence is due to his effortless skating ability. He moves well in all four directions. Smooth back skater with great lateral mobility and can lead the attack up the ice by activating his feet on the breakout. Possesses high-end awareness, hockey sense, and play recognition shown in his puck movement at both ends of the rink. His puck distribution on zone exits were solid. He does have trouble making a play on his backhand. Connected on his stretch passes and made sure his zone exit passes were crisp and hard. Does a great job waiting for the lane to be open. Offensively he made smart slip passes back to a teammate covering him at the point after pinching on a 50/50 puck on the boards. His awareness allows him to recognize plays and execute on them to set up his teammates. His shots were kept low from the point and attributed to his teams first goal of the game. An area I’d like to see him improve on is his ability to play the body. Buchinger has second paring NHL potential and is a mid-round prospect in my books, possible a late second rounder.
February 13, 2022 St Michaels vs Caledon (OJHL) Matt Morrison
5 RD, Jack Sparkes, St Michaels (OJHL), 6’8, 229, R, 10-20-2003
Jack Sparkes is a long rangey defender that takes up a ton of room on the blue line. He plays for the Buzzers in the OJHL and is a part of a strong defensive group. He uses his size well to impact the game in different ways. That means physicality is there, long reach and active stick plus a long lanky stride that helps him get around with ease. He is surprisingly coordinated for his size and seems to be pretty solid at 229lbs. Some of the hits he threw in this one were heavy and exactly why he will be drafted. He started on the top pairing in a shut down role against the top line. He plays top line penalty kill and second unit power play. I will say I love how he knows what his game is and doesn’t force it. Not much offense despite a heavy shot. The wind up is just way too long and predicable. Will need work on his foot work along the blue line to get shots through as he’s a pretty stationary shooter from the point. His first step isn’t the quickest but he relies on strong edge work and a long stride to create speed. Sparkes forced a long pass a couple times and they ended up working out so I wonder if he does have some more offense to his game that is mostly playmaking. If he can work on the release he will also end up getting way more goals for a kid who already fires the puck heavy. He seems to have solid vision when he makes his first pass it is usually the quick and smart play. Defensively is where he makes his bread. He threw a huge hit in this one along the boards that sent his opposition flying. Likewise he took one he didn’t like and came back with some cross checks and a fight. Not afraid to get into it clearly and at his size that’s an element NHL teams will love. I have him as a later round pick in the NHL draft. He projects as a shut down bottom pair defender due to his size and edge.
February 13, 2022. Leksand IF J20 vs Frolunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell) Charlie Thelin
22 RW Joel Ratkovic-Berndtsson, Frolunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell), 6’0’’,179, L, DOB 10.18.2003
A tough winger with many offensive skill sets. Ratkovic has had a great season thus far as he is over a point per game player who keeps producing and working hard night in and night out. He is a player that loves to have speed under his skates and there is nothing strange with that as he possesses a rapid and fluid skating technique. His first steps are frenetic and explosive, and he follows them nicely with athletic long powerful strides. Skilled to carry the puck at this speed with his smooth stickhandling and creative mind, doesn´t panic when he´s facing an opponent as he often makes a small body deke or a fast change or direction to get past. In addition to his skill is he a player who has an amount of grit to his game, not afraid of the physical game and likes to enter the dirty areas on the ice. Can for instance throw a heavy hit on his aggressive forechecks and be involved in scrums in the corners or in front of the net. His strongest attributes are in the offensive zone, he has good positioning with his hockey sense as he always seems to appear in the right areas to release his shot or pick up a loose puck or rebound. Shows overall a great creativity and finesse in the offensive zone with smart opening passes and a confidence on the puck that results in crafty yet unexpected dekes in tight time-pressured situations. Plays a huge role with the man advantage, often the one who creates the easy entries to establish pressure. Exhibits great movement on the powerplay as well to be open and ready to release his hard accurate wrister that is a goal scorer’s shot. On the downside, can appear inactive and stationary in the defensive play, his positioning is decent, however it would be nice to see him use that hunger that shows offensively in the defensive zone as well. Ratkovic is a lethal scoring winger who is a constant offensive threat with his qualities, and I must say I’m a bit surprised that his name doesn’t get mentioned more when it comes to discussions about the upcoming NHL-draft.
February 18, 2022 The Winchendon School vs Dexter Southfield (USHS-Prep) Andrew LeBlanc
Maximum effort, scoring forward. Plays every shift like it is his last. He loves to attack through the neutral zone with speed. He plays a very north-south game and pushes the puck up the ice quickly. He has great straight-line speed, and he leaves defenders in the dust at this level. He has a great ability of getting leverage on opponents and using his speed to either create high danger chances or draw penalties. As he moves up to the next level, he will need to work on his deceptiveness coming through the neutral zone. He did not seem to have much creativity with the puck. In the offensive zone, he is always throwing pucks into dangerous areas in front of the net. Good things usually happen when he is on the puck. He crashes the net hard for rebounds. He is not the biggest guy, but he is not scared to throw his body around. He chases down loose pucks often and engages in puck battles. As he fills out his frame, he will only become more effective in fighting for 50/50 pucks. He has some work to do defensively. He shows a lot of effort, but he should work on his positioning to be more effective. One thing that is important to note is his team-first mentality. He is quick to compliment others for his own success and does not blame others for mistakes. He is the type of player that people love playing with because he makes people around him better. He is a player that is easy to root for, and by all accounts, he is an amazing teammate and leader. Badger has tremendous upside, given his drive, making him a hot commodity in the middle rounds of the 2022 NHL entry draft. If all goes well in his development, he could become a two-way middle 6 forward in the NHL.
One scout will see a sure fire top six scorer while another scout might see a AHL journeyman. One might see a can’t miss prospect while the other scout might not see anything to get excited about.
At Draft Prospects Hockey we task our group of evaluators to not only breakdown skill sets of each prospect they observe and speak on progression from view to view, which is very important to track, but also to give their best assessment of what type of future player these kids could eventually become at the highest level in an attempt to give our readers an educated idea of what upside each NHL prospect might have. That can be a daunting task as much change happens between views in a season let alone in the time between viewing a seventeen-year-old boy to when that same boy becomes a twenty-five-year-old man playing at the NHL level. But if you look close enough the clues to make those projections are there.
Below are some select reports on some of the 2022 Draft Class taken from actual game reports. We hope you enjoy these monthly reports this season as we give you, our reader, a small sample of what our evaluators see on the ice.
November 7, 2021 Sudbury Wolves vs Oshawa Generals (OHL) Jared Brown
Delic is skilled player with a soft touch on the puck. He scored the only goal for Sudbury firing home a wrister bottom corner from just above the hashmarks. Showed solid lower body movement through the shot to produce heat off his blade. Faceoffs need improving as he was losing all of them all night long. He needs to approach with a better technique as he positions his upper body incredibly hunched over which I can only assume makes it harder for him to see the puck. That ties into his skating stride, which needs complete retooling in his stride mechanics. He skates with a hunched over forward stride posture. This causes his forward strides to push out more to the side then straight back. He can look like he’s motoring, but needs to generate quick strides to hit his top speed which is an inefficient use and overall wastes more energy. He struggled to angle out his man in the neutral zone due to his poor skating posture. Delic struggles when the game gets going quick as he can’t keep up with the faster skaters. The work ethic and hustle are there. He busts his tail off each shift and was forechecking and pressuring with determination. He’ll lay the body occasionally, dipping his shoulder into his opposition. His skill was shown in his execution on short range passes and finessing over top of opposing sticks. Effective passes leading his teammates into beneficial spaces. He showed good awareness in the defensive zone to not puck watching and stay on top of the open man. Delic has the skill to create plays, he just needs to do it more consistently and part of that will come with improved skating. He’s got top nine upside as a skilled offensive center but comes with heavy risk due to his skating. But there is something there that I like so I have him as a 6th rounder.
December 3, 2021 Kristianstad IK vs Almtuna IS (HockeyAllsvenskan) Niclas Karlsson
33 D Oskar Asplund, Sweden, 5’11”, 172, L, DOB 18.11.2003
Asplund was very strong on the puck, fighting off opponents while having possession and making smart passing plays all night. He is very comfortable with the puck and isn’t stressed whatsoever out there. He keeps his head up at all times and therefore is quick to find an outlet pass when a puck is dumped behind him. Despite not having the greatest acceleration in his skating, he evades pressure super smoothly. Oskar also won the majority of his 1v1 battles involving physical contact. He has great awareness all over the ice and positions himself in the best positions in order to interrupt plays or be available to participate when his team has possession. He plays a simple but yet effective game – he exemplified this by making a quick pass in his own end, finding a new position in the middle of the ice in order to receive it again – then he made a pass out on the wing and crashed the net as the winger had a great chance to score thanks to Asplund had caught the defenders attention. He has a sneaky shot from the blue line, it often finds its way through. They’re also smart, he shoots with intention of rebounds. Defensively he’s well positioned, his gap control is great and he makes his presence known by always having an outstretched stick towards the puck carrier. He hits with intention to win the puck back, there was a situation where he skated alongside with a opponent where Asplund had a huge physical disadvantage, but thanks to his smartness, instead of trying to hit him, he just skated 2 extra strides and cut in front of the opponent and stole the puck. Him eating a lot of minutes didn’t seem to bother him, he kept his calmness and was relied on in big D-Zone starts as well as offensive ones. He also played on one of their power play units and did so with confidence.
December 10th, 2021 HK Nitra vs HK Spisska Nova Ves Matt Morrison
7 RD, Simon Nemec, HK Nitra (Slovakia), 6’1, 192, RD, 02-15-2004
Nemec is a skilled right shot defender that possesses some elite offensive talent from the blue line. One of my favorite prospects in the draft I don’t think he gets enough credit for how dynamic he is. He has the ability to change the game in the drop of a dime. He is used on the top pair and was by far the best player as he controlled play and really dictated the offense for his team from the back end. He has a bit of that Brandt Clarke to his game as he almost is a quarterback from the back end. He also plays both power play and penalty kill where he uses his skating to help create or take away lanes. Nemec had two assists in this one to help his team add to the scoreboard. His first assist was on the power play where he walked into a one timer that seemed to beat the goalie clean. Upon further review one of his forwards put a tip on it in front of the net. The way he walked from the far side to the middle before calling for his shot and letting a bomb go was impressive and should translate right away to the NHL. Surprisingly hard slap shot as well as I didn’t have him pegged as someone who can score with ease from distance but he certainly can with the slap shot at least. His second assist was a beautiful play that I think describes Nemec too a tee and really makes me impressed with his IQ. He hit his skating winger at top speed with a stretch pass from his own end with a small bank of the boards. The vision and ability to pull it off were elite and it resulting in a goal just takes the cake. Nemec also plays a strong game without the puck despite not being overly physical. That would be my knock on his game is the ability to play with his body. But for a kid that skates as good as he does he really relies on that to generate speed around the ice. Long lengthy strides are super smooth on his edges allowing him to be agile side to side and bring some versatility to his rushes. When he leads the rush himself it is almost a guaranteed zone entry. I would like to see him attack off the rush even more in transition as he has so much speed built up sometimes it looks like he could just drop a shoulder and burn them wide. Defensively his game is all skating and high IQ plays that find him in the right spot more often than not. Nemec has the talent that could translate into a legit number one in the NHL if his offense translates. Im sure he looks at a player like a Cale Makar to try to mold his offensive instincts after. I project Nemec as a top 5 pick due to his skating and offensive IQ.
January 15, 2022. Linkoping HC J20 vs Orebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell – Top 10) Charlie Thelin
21 C Filip Bystedt, Linkoping HC J20 (J20 Nationell), 6’4’’,187, L, DOB 2.4.2004.
With his big body and great physique, Bystedt displays a solid two-way game. Bystedt is a reliable centerman who plays with authority on both ends of the ice. In the defensive zone he is well-positioned and works fine with his defenceman. He has a huge advantage with his physic in the corners as he with smartness can go in with timing and absolute manhandle the attacking player to gain the puck. Can also lock the opposing players stick in a strong way to disarm potential deflections or rebound shots. Bystedt is a very smart player, has a nice poise with the puck, no hasty plays as he sees the ice well and doesn´t panic under pressure. He is not the most explosive player on the skates, but most of the time he is successful carrying the puck and gets past the defending players with his body movements and protection of the puck. His skating technique and strides are extremely powerful and when he gets his speed up and decides to take some laps in the offensive zone there is not much that stops him. His hockey sense is also clearly shown in his style of play in the offensive zone. Seems like he always finds the open space in the right time for a scoring chance and can deliver the puck with hardness and accuracy but also make those smart little passes in the tight areas along the boards. His wrister can be lethal when he gets the extra second to release it. Very valuable player both on the powerplay and on the PK where he on the penalty kill can block shots and show an overall great character. He is a mature and reliable centerman but he could improve his play along the blue lines, sometimes a bit sloppy plays that can lead to counterattacks the other way. Would be nice to see him get off his shot even faster as he possesses a forceful shot. I´m very impressed with Bystedt and his development, a big body who can still skate and handle the puck nicely, with the addition of his maturity and defensive attributes makes me rank him a late 1st or an early 2nd rounder.
January 19, 2022 Northfield Mount Hermon School vs Avon Old Farms School (USHS-Prep) Andrew LeBlanc
9 C Brennan Ali, Avon Old Farms School (USHS-Prep), 6’1”, 194, L, DOB 2.09.2004
Hardworking, physical forward. He is not the biggest player on the ice most of the time, but he plays like a wrecking ball. You will not have to tell him twice to finish his check. He enjoys being the F1 on the forecheck and he makes sure the defenders must move it quickly. He has excellent puck retrieval skills and had more takeaways in this game than you could count on your fingers. This aggressive play dominates those at this level, but he will have to be more cognizant of his positioning at the next level. A quick stickhandle could make him fly by and get caught looking silly. However, if he learns to pick his times and continues to get pucks on sticks, he could be a great defender at the next level. Watching him, I couldn’t help but see a bit of Brad Marchand in his opportunistic defensive game. He can cleanly dispossess the opposition and send a clean pass to a streaking winger. He is the go-to guy for his team in every situation. He can take faceoffs, play on the PK, and the PP. You never know what you are going to get out of an Ali shift. One shift he could be displaying his shifty dekes; another, he could level an opponent; and another, he could be skating hard to beat out an icing. Sometimes, this all happens in one shift. His high work ethic on the ice points to a high ceiling. He has a good understanding of where the shooting spots are and is good at sitting down in defensive gaps. However, his game is far from perfect, at this stage. He is selfish with the puck on net drives and can give up the puck if pressured hard. He will need to work on his vision and skill with the puck. Ali has the potential to be a useful two-way player at the next level. He is likely going to find a home in the bottom 6 for an NHL team in the future, as his offensive side seems capped. However, he is a coach’s dream. He competes hard every shift and should see himself taken within the middle rounds of the 2022 NHL entry draft.
January 21, 2022 Youngstown Phantoms vs Muskegon Lumberjacks Joseph Peters
9 C Adam Ingram, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), 6’2”, 174, L, DOB 10.14.2003
First viewing of Ingram. Some things stood out that could translate to the next level, while other parts of his game need further development. His skating looked sluggish. Minimal explosiveness in general. Slow turns on his edges. Does not generate great breakaway speed where he can clearly separate himself from the opposition. He can be more useful and effective. His smarts and size do help with his lack of speed in his skating ability, but he needs to add overall speed to really take that next step in progression. Based on this viewing, solely focusing on him, the one thing holding him back as a first round talent is his speed. Whether it is straight line or making cuts, speed is lacking. Has the ability to release the puck with a good amount of power, but his game portrays more towards a playmaker style. Seems like he is the type of player who is going to get the puck to his teammates. Certainly has touch and skill with the puck, nothing brilliant. Beyond his game in the offensive aspect, his defensive game is solid. Responsible center, getting back in the play in support of his defenseman. Pins the opposing forwards to the wall, uses his reach to disrupt the play in front of him, constantly surveying the situation in the D-zone, his defensive game has little errors. Physically he is built, uses his body to battle. His work in the faceoff aspect needs to be worked on. Adding quickness is a place to start. If he can add speed to his game, he will be a first round talent. For now, Ingram fits as a second-round talent with upside.
January 25, 2022 Spokane Chiefs vs Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) Matt Hnatiuk
14 LD Kevin Korchinski, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), 6’2″, 185, L, DOB 06.21.2004
A two-way defender who shows excellent puck moving capability. Skates with a long, smooth stride and shows a slightly above average top end speed. Has a wide stance and well-balanced form moving both forward and backward and utilizes his edges well to turn sharply, cut laterally and maneuver quickly. His puck control is top end and he shows great confidence when it is on his stick. He is comfortable carrying the puck out of his zone or moving it deep into the o-zone. His passing is one of his best abilities. He can make seamless tape to tape passes regularly and uses a variety of pass types. His passes are easily controlled, and his teammates have no issue keeping them on their sticks. His shot is quick and fired on net with very little wind up. He shows a quick release and a shot that hits with speed over power. His shots are kept low when coming from the point in hopes of a rebound and when he moves into the o-zone they start to move higher up the net. His IQ is high at both ends. When he has the puck on his stick his IQ really shows through on where and when he can quickly and accurately move the puck and the play. He shows good character and is willing to be a player to stand up for his teammates when something he feels was wrong happened. He also leads on the ice either by example or vocally. He often gives hand signals or voice prompts to set up plays or let linemates know what to do or where to go. When play gets a little physical, he doesn’t seem to shy away. He is willing to take a hit to make a play, step up cleanly on someone as they move along the wall, or if they have their head down through a zone. But this is not an option he employs often. He seemed to use a bump and run tactic most. He bumps a player off the puck, quickly gathers it up and then runs to an open area to quickly move the puck. He quickly closes his gap and keeps an active stick. He forces the play to the outer lanes and if the opponent moves across the middle, he keeps with them and forces that move to happen high in his zone. His quickness on his feet allow him to be ready for rapid changes in direction and this allows him to be effective in his zone. He could speed up his recognition in the transitional game or when under prolonged pressure, but I’m not sure how he can do that if he hasn’t already. I don’t feel this is a super huge knock against him, but it is something he needs to adjust to play at a higher caliber. He has potential to be a top four defender and someone who could aid on the PP with his passing ability.
