By DraftPro Staff

The U18 World Hockey Championships just wrapped up last week in Frisco, Texas, and was a scouting hotspot in a year that was anything but the norm for NHL staffs who are charged with evaluating the next wave of NHL talent.

It is a ‘must see’ event any season holding considerable weight as a last look event, but this year in particular, it might be the only hockey some of these guys would play under the watchful eyes of NHL teams. And it was an opportunity for the players to make an impression with plenty doing just that over the two-week event.

Draft Prospects Hockey was not able to be in attendance for the event due to pandemic/logistic issues but had scheduled multiple evaluators to view each minute of play and give us a breakdown of what transpired via their video viewing.

In this ten-part series we will look at each team entry and provide some review of prospects, how they performed and how their performance might have affected their draft stock.

The host American’s had a pretty underwhelming tournament as a whole. From the comeback loss to Russia to the Quarter Final defeat at the hands of Sweden. The early departure was shocking and surprising to say the least.

They missed some of their big offensive guns due to injury and the forward group they had did not deliver much outside of the top line. Most the offense had to come from the defense and that left them out of position in their own end. They gave up a lot of odd man rushes due to turnovers.

Mrebeko looked solid in net but got hurt. On the back-end Behrens was a bright spot creating offense with his legs. He can really fly and has some touch for a defender. Also not shy to throw his body around with several big hits in this event. Duke was consistent and brings it every game, going to the net front, and that type of offense just translates to the next level. Pastujov was really the heart of this team offensively and unfortunately when he went cold so did the team.

Here are some player reports from our crew on the U.S. U18 players that stood out.

30 G, KAIDAN MBEREKO, 5’11, 183, L, DOB 07.28.2003

Above average athleticism allows him to get to every shot and use his lightning fast reflexes to stop pucks. His movements while still fast were more controlled and he was not over playing his crease or playing that erratic as we’ve seen in previous viewings. The quickness in his pads/legs are impressive. Solid downlow coverage giving shooters nothing to shoot through. Great job limiting second chances swallowing up shots. Excellent tracking on the PK, not often did you see him having to make a desperation maneuver. Had some issues a couple times in this tournament with a leg injury but came back both games he left. He was excellent in the shootout and was absolutely dialed in. Not overreacting to the puck and following the shooters body extremely well staying square and aggressive on them. For Mbereko to come out with an injury and then return and play strong shows strong mental focus, a very positive sight. That mental fortitude can be huge in carving out an NHL career at this position. His numbers haven’t been great this year but his technique, athleticism, and hockey IQ all are valuable attributes that teams can build on top of and potentially develop into an NHL goalie.

20 D, LANE HUTSON, 5’6, 165, L, DOB 04.14.2004

Hutson was lights out good with the puck and playing against older competition looked a step ahead which counteracts his small frame. Looked more and more confident as the games went on. Outstanding skater that dictates the pace starting from him rushing pucks out of his zone regularly. Intelligently reads open space in all three zones and skates through them. His footwork is already elite. Agility already elite. Patience and shiftiness in carving up the ice and shaking around defenders. He’s as slippery as a snail out of its shell. Ability to change directions on a dime using cuts, turns, hard stops, essentially anything using the edges of the skate. Pushed the US attack. Excellent vision and ability to open space up. His skating, vision, and playmaking abilities make him a solid PP quarterback. Quick, slick hands scoring a shootout winner against Czechia. Has the instincts and acceleration to join the attack and act as a fourth forward. Great puck control in motion. Battles hard through contact but it goes without saying that his size will be an issue and will need to combat it by finding ways to move the puck quickly and staying elusive. His impressive play has warranted a first round prediction for 2022 but the size factor could see him drop. Regardless, has top four offensive defenseman upside.

24 D, TY GALLAGHER, 6’0, 190, RD, DOB 03.06.2003

Gallagher is a smooth skating right shot defender that has an absolute cannon from the point. He was on the second pairing in this event and played well. He is not afraid to shoot and looks for traffic with a lane to the net before firing. He was used on the second power play unit as a one timer option, taking this role from Schmidt earlier in the tournament. He calls for it and wants it in the wheelhouse and when it is, he can really rip it. He also has a heavy wrist shot and walks the line well to get it off. We love how he follows his own play up driving in from the point looking for rebounds. Most of his goals come from the initial point shot but to show diversity like that offensively proves he has the drive to get net front. He is a strong skater on his edges with quick footwork. He does have a pretty choppy stride that could use some work but he has pace to his game and speed isn’t a problem. Defensively he is strong. He does a good job of moving his feet to create passing lanes and just needs to remember to keep it simple some times. If he can add some muscle and become more of a physical presence his defensive game would be a lot better as he brings almost no grit to the game right now. Gallagher has the tools to become a right shot defender with a cannon of a shot and high offensive IQ at the pro level. He projects as a goal scoring defender but could end up a power play specialist like a Tyson Barrie. He is a few years away as he needs to work on his defensive game.

27 D, ROMAN SCHMIDT, 6’5, 206, R, DOB 02.27.2003

Schmidt is a big right shot defender with an edge. He plays in the top four where he anchors a unit while a more offensive inclined partner like Behrens runs loose offensively. He provides the new age style of shut down defense that involves being able to move the puck. He is a strong skater but still a bit sluggish on the first step. Once he gets going he carries his weight well and can get going mainly on edge work and power. He will need to work on his foot speed especially off the pivot for the next level. He is physical and will try to catch you with your head down if you aren’t careful. He had some strong physical moments and finished a couple big open ice hits. Completely punishing type of body checks from a hulking dman. He reads and times his hits perfect. Schmidt toes the line after whistles sometimes but always is the first one to stand up for a teammate. We love the motor he shows as he is competitive shift to shift and takes very few off. His IQ is decent, and he understands what his job is. He doesn’t force things too often and relies on making the smart play albeit the easy one. You won’t see him lead the rush too often but when he gets going he will try to take it all the way along the outside. More often than not he is making a short first pass and trailing the play as support. Most of his offense will come from his heavy shot from the point. Even his wrist shot is heavy. He needs to work on getting to the middle to take shots as he is quite stationary at the point and does not cycle well. NHL teams will likely step up earlier to nab a big right shot defender that plays a physical brand of hockey. Even though he has the size we do think he is a few years away from the NHL still as he will need to refine his play with the puck in transition and not getting too overzealous chasing defensively.

17 D, AIDAN HRESCHUK, 5’11, 182, LD, DOB 02.19.2003

Hreschuk is a smooth skating left shot defender that can play up and down the depth chart. We love his versatility and ability to play any role needed. He can play top line minutes as an offensive defender like he did to start the season or play down the line up like he did in Texas. Still in a top four role he was relied upon heavily to transfer pucks up ice and hold the blue line. Strong ability to read the pinch and hold the blue line at the right times. He does not pinch just for the sake of it if he goes into a battle, he expects to win it. He is a bit soft in battles. His feel for the game is excellent. Defensively he played well against top lines but had a quiet tournament overall. He reads his positioning well and just needs to build the strength and battle level/motor. He has a great first pass and is tape to tape with his head up right away. Where he runs into trouble is under pressure and giving the puck away. He is such a good skater edge work wise that he can evade traffic and needs to do so more he will buy himself a ton of time. He is a few years away as he will need some time to mature and learn to play without the puck defensively but has some useful tools at his disposal.

2 D, SEAN BEHRENS, 5’10, 176, L, DOB 03.31.2003

Behrens was team USA’s best defenseman and one of the best in this tournament. An impactful presence defending the transition and the cycle. Terrific game away from the puck. His feet never stopped moving showing an impressive motor and willingness to work and battle each shift. The high compete level was accompanied by his strong physical play, stepping up into big hits and doing a great job of separating the man from the puck. Made terrific defensive reads cutting off passes deep in his zone and engaging along the boards to force turnovers. He may be a smaller defenseman but he has some thickness to him that allows him to play like a little bulldozer. Really impressed with the way he was able to handle the bigger, stronger players at this event. Fluid puck moving blueliner using his feet to carry pucks out his zone and attacking straight on before crossing over his feet to get by the line of defense in the neutral zone. Very reminiscent to how Tory Krug plays. Feisty and will out battle everyone on the ice. We like his chances of going in the first round and becoming a top four two-way defenseman.

4 C, JACK HUGHES, 6’0, 165, L, DOB 11.02.2003

Hughes had an up and down tournament. He was clearly playing hurt at points and it drastically impacted his play. Unfortunately, for anyone hoping to see him showcase his offensive talent and generate chances would be disappointed by what they witnessed. His passes were missing his mark. Tried doing too much, whether it was force feeding a soft pass through players or taking ill-advised shots. Disguised a few of his shots shooting through defenders or dragging the puck closer to his body before releasing. Skilled creative passer but the choices were just poor in many instances. Smooth stick handles coming through the neutral zone using quick dekes to make his way into the zone. Excellent use of keeping the puck in his hip pocket. He should focus on bulking up in the summer. Easily getting knocked off the puck or pushed up along the boards that ends his route. Fluid heel-to-heel pivots and edgework. Smooth and agile. His leg strength is not all that great. Overall, despite the possibility he was playing hurt, we would’ve liked to see him make smarter choices with the puck. The talent level is there to become a top six forward and a first rounder in 2022, but first we want to see if he can be a play driver.

28 C, CHARLIE STRAMEL, 6’3, 209, R, DOB 10.15.2004

Stramel was a positive as a 2023 draft eligible. Not in the same way Bedard and Michkov were but he had his moments. Great stick to poke the puck free up high springing himself on a breakaway during a PK. The big young man is trusted to play on both the PP and PK. Parks himself in front of the net on the PP with his stick normally up showing ready for a tip, Smooth puck handler. Using his reach to carry pucks and protect it from stick checks well. Puck distribution skills are a strength. Soft passing ability on both his forehand and backhand. Great hockey IQ. Slowing the game down making smart passes like passing it back to his defensemen to restart the breakout. Likes to stay in motion and keep his feet moving at both ends of the rink which is a big win for such a big guy. Generates good speed through his lower body. For a big man, he was getting bounced off the puck a little too easily and really could have been stronger on the puck. Improving his balance and adding an extra gear will do him wonders in his ability to attack off the rush and in his puck protection. There is a ton of growth to be had in his game and has plenty of time to make those improvements.

25 LW, DYLAN DUKE, 5’10, 181, L, DOB 03.04.2003

Duke is a feisty winger that makes his living around the net. Top line left winger where he really brought the pace and energy his team needed. He has a nice combination of skill and grit that he puts together in a package that NHL teams will love. Offensively he is all around the net causing havoc for defenders. He isn’t the biggest but he battles his butt off in front of the net and gains position in front. He scores most of his goals from around the net as he finishes rebounds or tips in point shots. He has sick hand eye and can bat pucks in, inches from the goalies face. I love his battle level shift to shift and he gets in on the forecheck and plays a physical brand of hockey. Defensively he is great on the backcheck and always ties up a man on the way back. He can be trusted to chip it out under pressure and make passes with a defender pinching. Duke is used on the penalty kill where he uses his foot speed to jump lanes and redirect passes. He is an excellent skater mostly with quick footwork and strong edges down low. He has a really strong lower body and as his upper body catches up he will be a force on the puck. He protects it well at top speed and although he doesn’t carry it much in transition, he is capable if he gets a chance. He plays net front on the top power play unit where he is looking to provide a screen and a tip. His struggle will be creating offense for himself as it seems like he is more of a secondary or complimentary offensive point producer. Be that one that guys love to play with as he is willing to get in on the forecheck and dig pucks out. He projects as a top six winger that can also play down the line up if need be. We like him as a boarder first rounder to mid second rounder.

12 LW, SASHA PASTUJOV, 6’0, 175, R, DOB 07.15.2003

Pastujov is a skilled winger that plays the game with a unique combo of size, speed and skill. He uses his body extremely well to dominate the puck below the goal line. He wins most battles he goes into and has a bit of a Zach Hyman to his boards and half wall game. Where he really stands out is his passing ability and vision. The way he sees the game is elite and he is the type of player goal scorers want to play with. Yet, he is able to finish plays himself whether from in tight or at a distance. He sets up on the one timer side on the top power play unit where he is looking to connect with his slap shot. He was on the top line in Texas and really seemed like the offensive leader for this team with key injuries. The teams energy swung in sequence with his play, as he picked up his pace so did his team play. Sound defensively for a winger as he has a strong stick and lifts a lot of sticks through the zone. He makes the safe play and shows strong IQ to escape pressure, possessing the hands to carry the puck through pressure. His skating is his biggest knock as he doesn’t have the prettiest stride or fastest feet. Yet he creates so much power on his edges he seems to get around just fine. We like him in the second half of the first round due to his playmaking and offensive abilities.

Pastujov finished with eight points, including five goals, in five game to lead the American offensive attack.

Contributors to this report included Dan Stewart, Matt Morrison, Alex Taxman, Kai Farenholtz and Jared Brown.
Photo credit IIHF.com

If you would like to learn more about the 2021 NHL Draft and its prospects be sure to pick up one of the below draft resources and support the #DraftPro crew.

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-guide/

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-yearbook/

By DraftPro Staff

The U18 World Hockey Championships just wrapped up last week in Frisco, Texas, and was a scouting hotspot in a year that was anything but the norm for NHL staffs who are charged with evaluating the next wave of NHL talent.

It is a ‘must see’ event any season holding considerable weight as a last look event, but this year in particular, it might be the only hockey some of these guys would play under the watchful eyes of NHL teams. And it was an opportunity for the players to make an impression with plenty doing just that over the two-week event.

Draft Prospects Hockey was not able to be in attendance for the event due to pandemic/logistic issues but had scheduled multiple evaluators to view each minute of play and give us a breakdown of what transpired via their video viewing.

In this ten-part series we will look at each team entry and provide some review of prospects, how they performed and how their performance might have affected their draft stock.

Belarus was the surprise team of the tournament, thanks to a dominant breakout performance by winger Danila Klimovich, and some quick puck movement on the back end from defender Dmitri Kuzmin. Those two were not the only ones who stood out however.

Belarus only lost to Canada and Russia by three goals apiece and showed that they can hang with the hockey nations of the world at this level. As a team, their strong puck movement in the offensive zone, and specifically on the power play was the most impressive part of their tournament. They had excellent chemistry and were able to connect on multiple high-level plays, often taking advantage of PP opportunities, and finishing with the 4th best power play in the tournament. The Belarussian team were overwhelmed at times by the Canadians, Russian, and Swede’s speed and skill.

Here are some player reports from our crew on the Belarus U18 players that stood out.

30 G, IVAN ZHIGALOV, 6’3, 165, R, DOB 4.30.2003

Zhigalov, a rare right catching goaltender, and a breakout star for Belarus. He was bombarded with grade A chance after grade A chance, but he stood tall, stopping some shots that seemed unsavable in his limited action. The first thing you notice about Zhigalov is he’s big, and he fills the net well. He seals his posts incredibly well and makes it tough for shooters to find daylight when facing him straight on. He’s also very agile, able to get across the crease quickly to make saves and can track the puck well through screens and deflections. His reflexes allow him to make second and even third opportunity stops, something a goaltender needs to be able to do. He looks to be a fine skater technically, and I didn’t see any glaring issues when it came to his rebound control. Very small sample size so his draft status remains unclear. If he is still there in the seventh round however it might be a prudent low-risk selection.

5 D, DMITRI KUZMIN, 5’10, 176, L, DOB 04.23.2003

Kuzmin is a smaller offensive defenseman with high-end puck skills and creativity. Isn’t the fastest skater but has strong edges and cuts to change directions on a dime away from checkers. Agile and Quick. Excellent lateral mobility. Uses his skating to open the ice up and create opportunities for his teammates. Great vision and creativity under pressure with a low-panic threshold. Strong puck distribution skills with a soft touch to make skilled passes in a variety of ways. Individual skills to dance 1-on-1. He’ll need to limit the turnovers as he has a ton of skill but can get caught trying to do too much, turning pucks over at the offensive blueline and unfortunately not showing the straight-line speed to get back. Have to love though that he is always looking to make a play. Strength is an area that he will need to continue building on as he will shy away from physical play. Uses his feet to defend and stay mobile. Defends with a good gap, could be tighter, but his solid stick positioning fends off puck carriers. The creativity and the flash he showed as a puck carrier raises his offensive upside but needs to reel in his offensive mind at times to make smarter plays, and choose the right time. He has potential to become a top four defenseman that sees PP time and gives you extra offense down the depth chart on the blueline.

8 LW, MIROSLAV MIKHALYOV, 5’9, 152, LW, DOB 06.12.2003

Mikhalyov is an offensively skilled left shot winger that is still fairly undersized. He uses a long stick to make up for it. Has a bit of Mats Zuccarello to his game as a smaller play with a long stick. He was playing on the second line left wing and was strong in that role. Offensively he has some jam and will play in the dirty areas of the ice. He will engage in puck battle but sadly just gets outmuscled most times. Defensively it is much of the same where his positioning is strong but then gets pushed around. He did make some smart plays in Texas but also seemed to be hesitant to bring his full potential. His size will be a big issue for him but we love his IQ and puck handling ability. He may be worth a late round pick and hope that over the years he matures and grows physically. He has the skillset that would translate well as far as IQ and vision.

20 RW DANILA KLIMOVICH, 6’1, 187, R, DOB 01-09-2003

Klimovich is a creative right shot forward with offensive talent. He plays on the top line for the Belarus team and is really their top offensive option. He has a very creative mindset for the game and demands the puck at all times. I love how much he wants to make an impact but he has very poor body language towards his teammates when they miss passes or plays. With the puck hes a wizard with some fantastic one on one skill and stick handling ability. He can embarrass you in one on one scenarios as he is shifty and will try creative dekes to get open ice. I love his hands in tight as he showed all game he could still create under pressure. Watching Klimovich in Texas all you could hear was the LMFAO ft. Lil Jon tune “Shots” in your head as the “Belarusian rocket” was dangerously firing shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots on net for Belarus. Looking like an Overchkin-lite from the circle jamming one-timers or taking a millisecond to release a snapshot from the slot area. And it worked for him as he was lighting up the event, but teams soon found the way to stop Belarus was to limit Klimovich’s time and space. A mammoth of a shot, his wrister, slapper, and snapper are all high caliber and he isn’t afraid to shoot from anywhere, literally. He is a strong skater with a long lanky stride and some power behind it. He is a fairly straight up skater and carries his height. Defensively he has room to grow effort wise as he doesn’t jump until he has a chance to get it. Love his offensive game and battle level but needs to bring it shift to shift. He has a high IQ and when the effort matches up like some of the tournaments earlier games he pulls off some pretty plays to help the team. He might not be far away as he has a solid build for the NHL and just needs to improve his game a bit more away from the puck. He has a high ceiling and potential to be a top six winger if everything pans out in his development. He isn’t likely to be a safe pick that can play down the line up so if he makes it, he is producing. An exciting offensive talent that put his name on many draft boards at this event.

The three best players of the tournament for Belarus were goaltender Tikhon Chaika, Kuzmin, and Klimovich. Klimovich led the team in scoring with six goals in five games. Kuzmin and 2022 eligible forward Yegor Sidorov each potted five points to tie for second in scoring.

Contributors to this report included Dan Stewart, Matt Morrison, Alex Taxman, Kai Farenholtz and Jared Brown.
Photo credit IIHF.com

If you would like to learn more about the 2021 NHL Draft and its prospects be sure to pick up one of the below draft resources and support the #DraftPro crew.

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-guide/

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-yearbook/

By DraftPro Staff

The U18 World Hockey Championships just wrapped up last week in Frisco, Texas, and was a scouting hotspot in a year that was anything but the norm for NHL staffs who are charged with evaluating the next wave of NHL talent.

It is a ‘must see’ event any season holding considerable weight as a last look event, but this year in particular, it might be the only hockey some of these guys would play under the watchful eyes of NHL teams. And it was an opportunity for the players to make an impression with plenty doing just that over the two-week event.

Draft Prospects Hockey was not able to be in attendance for the event due to pandemic/logistic issues but had scheduled multiple evaluators to view each minute of play and give us a breakdown of what transpired via their video viewing.

In this ten-part series we will look at each team entry and provide some review of prospects, how they performed and how their performance might have affected their draft stock.

Czech Republic had a tough tournament and found themselves eliminated in the quarterfinal by Canada. The final of that game was a blow out and kind of summarized their tournament. Even scoring 3 goals against Canada wasn’t enough as they just could not get a save or make the defensive plays they needed.

Defensively everything was getting to the middle and they had very little push back. On top of that they were undisciplined taking way too many penalties. The loss of David Jiricek on the back end proved massive as they really missed his presence. And other top players failed to play up to the bar set by past play including potential first rounder in 2021, two-way defender Stanislav Svozil.

Here are some player reports from our crew on the Czech U18 players that stood out.

1 G, TOMAS SUCHANEK, 6’1, 170, L, DOB 04.30.2003

Had an up, and mostly down tournament for the Czechs. Showed solid focus and reflexes though could have been more aggressive. A hybrid goalie with quick feet and good athleticism assisting him in his butterfly. Movements are light and it shows in his crease play. Swims around in his crease to find loose pucks. Seems a bit narrow in his stance with his arms set closely to his body as if he is constricted. Great reflexes to pop his shoulders up to stop shots labelled for the top corners, did this multiple times, and liked his ability to fight off those shots. Rebound control was solid. Efficient use of his stick to direct pucks away into the corners. As well as showed good control of shots into his breadbasket and eliminating rebounds. Not sure if he showed enough to interest NHL teams at his size but we might think of him as a later round option.

5 D, DAVID JIRICEK, 6’3, 187, R, DOB 11.28.2003

He was all over the ice, making himself a factor at both ends of the ice using his size in both areas. Solidly built and still growing. Outmuscling his man off the puck along the perimeter. Excellent job gaining inside body positioning. Has a long reach that gets his stick in the way of shots, deflecting them away. That long reach is effectively used to protect the puck beautifully as he pinches down the wall. Incredibly strong offensive instincts accompanied by his aggressive nature of play. When he pinches down the wall, he is always looking to make a play and direct puck towards the net or look for a teammate in a high-percentage area. Has a booming one timer. Accurate outlet passes. Did a much better job keeping his passes a tad softer than in previous viewings. Plays with a ton of intensity, battling hard for every puck. Amazing work ethic. Smart, safe playing the puck in the final two minutes protecting the lead. Tamed himself back from playing out of position. He has great two-way upside with his mobility and size paired together. Has the potential to become a top pairing defenseman as he can do it all and play in all-situations. Unfortunately he fell to an injury and missed the second half of the tournament for the Czechs.

14 D, STANISLAV SVOZIL, 6’1, 172, L, DOB 01.17.2003

An offensive left shot defender with sound mobility for his size. He started on the second pair and played top 4 minutes all tournament. Strong when he was moving his feet and carrying the puck in off the line looking to create offensively. Love his IQ with the puck as he does not just pinch for no reason, he is looking to create a scoring chance. He will use his hands to stick handle into traffic and isn’t afraid to pull up and shoot. His best trait is his puck moving ability, reading the play and finding his teammates. That extends to his own end as well where he has a beautiful first pass. A beautiful skater with an excellent stride both forwards and backwards. He pivots with ease and his lateral movements make him rangy. At times he can think too offensive and skate himself into trouble when he doesn’t need too. He is a defender that can run a pairing as he dictates play and wants the puck on his stick. His skating helps him on the penalty kill where he can jump the lane and intercept passes. He also runs the power play unit where I think he is an excellent QB from the top of the umbrella. He knows when to move it and when to shoot the puck. Walks the line until a lane opens up and gets his shots on net. Defensively he has a high motor but doesn’t rush himself and force things. Didn’t have a great tournament, showed panic when he lost his man defensively and his game can unraveled from there. But as he gets back in the play with his feet he often is able to reel it in. He could also stand to use his body a bit more to protect the puck or make stronger contact. He could be a few years away but should pan out as a second pair defender at the next level, a mobile puck moving defender with an offensive IQ.

4 D, JIRI TICHACEK, 5’9, 170, L, DOB 01.30.2003

Tichacek is a small left shot defender that plays his heart out every shift. He was on the top unit and trusted to eat big minutes against the top lines. He is a fiery player that can chip in offensively. He will lead the rush or join at the end of the play but knows what to do when he gets there as well. He shows some touch around the net putting a few shots on net off the rush. Love the timing of his rushes as he isn’t up in the play every shift but only when he senses a real chance. He has a quick release and can get pucks on net under pressure whether its off the rush or on the line as he is able to walk it with his footwork. He has fast feet and generates a ton of speed and power through his lower body. Obviously, his size is not a strength, but he makes up for it in heart. He wants to make a difference every shift he is out there. He was on the second power play unit where he sets it right in the wheelhouse for his teammates to try and one-time the puck. He also did a great job on the penalty kill using his speed to get in the way and interrupt play. Defensively he isn’t afraid to throw his body around but does get outpower in front often. With the puck he is effective evading pressure. He projects as a bottom pairing defender that can play every role and kill penalties while adding a bit of offense. He will just need to get stronger to compete against NHL competition.

22 D, JAKUB SEDIVY, 6’1, 189, L, DOB 05.10.2003

Sedivy is a long lanky left shot defender that brings an admirable two-way game. He wore the ‘C’ and played on the top pair with Tichacek forming solid chemistry. A strong skater with a long lanky stride and some decent foot speed but choppy first steps. He can be a bit out of control and really just needs to play a calmer game to be a more effective player. He jumps into the rush at times but not often. In this event really focused on shutting down the opposing teams top players. He was on his opponent and wouldn’t let up. Steps up to stop the opposing breakout in the neutral zone and at the line. Defends with a tight gap and uses his size efficiently to assert physical dominance. The thing we love most about his game is his compete level and motor on a shift to shift basis. He can move the puck and shows some consistent playmaking ability. He also has a sneaky heavy shot but he doesn’t shoot enough. We would love to see him attack the open ice more with the puck. He was a main stay on the penalty kill where he is literally willing to dive headfirst in front of pucks for his team. He projects as a bottom pair defender and reminds a bit of a Martin Marincin. He could be a few years away and more of a project as he will need to learn to move the puck at pro hockey speed.

6 D, MATEJ PINKAS, 6’2, 190, L, DOB 11.15.2003

Pinkas was a defensive stalwart for the Czechs. Has a solid frame and uses his size to step up physically and turnover pucks. Strong upper body strength that separates the man from the puck with ease. Nothing gets by him. Gapping up quickly in many areas. At his blueline, through the neutral zone, and below his goal line and in the corners. He isn’t the cleanest skater, but the timing of his gaps was solid and masked some of the skating deficiencies. Very much looks like a one trick pony that is a defensive defenseman at heart. The game that he plays is slowly being faced out of in the NHL so he will have to provide another element to his game in the future if he hopes to be drafted in 2022. A possible bottom pairing/depth shutdown defenseman.

16 D, DAVID MORAVEC, 6’0, 183, L, DOB 09.18.2003

Moravec just misses the draft cutoff date by three days making him eligible for the 2022 draft. Hard to describe his game, tries to play a two-way game but is better with the puck than without it. His skating needs working on. Adding more flexion in his hips will provide better acceleration and strong edgework. We classify his skating as average, but he will rush the puck occasionally and when he hits top gear it is at least decent. Great short-range passer. First passes to start the breakout were feathery and accurate. Passing execution is the best part of his game. Likes to pinch down from the line to get involved in the Ozone. Good job of keeping pucks in at the line. Defending the transition he is aggressive looking to stop the carriers route before they enter the zone and force a dump in. In his zone he is a bit of a bystander at times playing passive defensively. Has average size. Moravec shows glimpses of promising play but then can get lost in the shuffle. If he improves his first step and skating, I could see a big step taken from his offensive play as a defenseman that can generate chances off the rush.

15 RW/LW, JAKUB KOS, 6’3, 187, L, DOB 05.30.2003

Kos had the most ice time amongst the Czech forwards to no surprise. An instrumental piece to the team, versatile forward playing in all-situations. He’s a big man that can skate. It may not look the smoothest, but he can produce strong top speed. Mobile, glides around and can coast in his edges, benefiting the way he plays which is staying heavily involved around the puck. Smart. Picks his routes well and has a solid understanding on where to be to receive a pass. Makes quick one-touch passes. Has nice vision from the boards to facilitate pucks to an open man. High compete level to win puck battles. He is the type of winger that does a lot of the dirty work and muck and grinding in the corners winning back possession. Good hand-eye tipping at pucks or knocking passes down. A drawback is his skill level appears to be average and the offensive output will have to come from hard work. Strong two-way player that is committed on the backcheck and assisting his defenders below the circles. Covered his point man extremely well, blocking a couple of shots and getting out quickly to limit their time and space. Through his compete level and hockey IQ, he could very well make a career out of being a bottom six two-way winger that plays on the PK and in a checking role. Likely a mid-to-late rounder.

9 LW, MARTIN RYSAVY, 6’2, 203, LW, DOB 06.06.2003

Rysavy is a big left winger with some wicked soft hands and scoring touch. The thing that stands out right away is his shooting ability. Right from the jump he put some heavy snap shots on net and he can shoot it off both feet. He started on the second line left wing and was effective creating offense. Love his battle level showing how he can fight off traffic in front before finishing under pressure. Excellent shot with a heavy release. He was on the second power play unit on the one timer side where he was throwing heavy shots on net. Confident with the puck. He can control things with his size down low and protects the puck well. He did seem quiet on some shifts as his motor dips at times. But other times he was engaged and throwing hits and looked like a serious power forward potential. Martin has potential as a middle six winger that can play with your top lines because of his skill set. He could be just two years away as he has the size and skill, just needs to work on his skating. He isn’t the best skater and his edgework could be stronger to improve his ability to escape through checks.

27 C, GABRIEL SZTURC, 5’10, 176, L, DOB 09.24.2003

Szturc isn’t the type of player that has standout skills that blow you away but instead captures your attention through his hardnose play and shift-to-shift compete level. Brings the energy chasing down players in his own end and while on the forecheck. Strong coming down on the puck. Utilizes sharp edges and hard stops to maintain a cycle. Solid control behind the net to outwork and outskate the defender and then making a power move to the middle to get a shot on net. An excellent penalty killer for the Czechs. Pressuring the breakout getting stick-on-stick to provide disruption and showing good hand-eye to score in tight. Strong, quick first step to close gaps quickly. Solid footspeed. Smart defensively creating turnovers in the neutral zone and in his own end. Hunts for the puck, great awareness, and anticipation. No complaints on his two-way ability but will need to see more creativity offensively if he is to be a higher pick in 2022.

13 RW, LUKAS PAJER, 5’11, 187, R, DOB 07.04.2003

Pajer is a fast skating forward that likes to carry the puck in transition and be the one that enters the zone. Great acceleration with the puck. Skates with a wider base but getting full use out of his quick strides and recovering smoothly. Carries so much momentum to the point he can coast around the ice with ease. Effectively using his speed to hustle and chase down the puck and finishes his checks. Committed on the backcheck. Great work ethic applying stick pressure and is no pushover as he will out battle you for the puck. Solid puck movement along the boards using his skating to move freely with the puck and create his own passing lanes. Edges are good enough to be used in sharp turns and stop ups whilst controlling the puck. Moves into the bumper spot and get set for a one-timer on the PP. He has a bit of play driving ability which benefits his NHL chances. Has had a strong showing in the tournament and rose our rankings as a late round option.

11 C, JAKUB BRABENEC, 6’2, 176, L, DOB 09.11.2003

Brabenec played a reliable three-zone game. Sent out for important defensive zone faceoffs. Making safe decisions with the puck steering away from riskier plays. Has good size though still has room to fill out. Did a solid job of engaging his body, tying up bodies along the wall and letting a teammate come in and retrieve the puck. Covered for his defense. A strong skater with excellent stride recovery and knee bend. Good straight-line speed. Showed some elusiveness with the puck darting through and into the offensive zone, using quick cuts to evade defenseman and in one case drawing a penalty. Positioned on the half wall on the PP, strong vision and passing across the zone lanes for chances. At points had playmakers tunnel vision passing up shooting opportunities in prime real estate for a pass. When he did shoot it was strong, but lacked accuracy. His offensive skillset looked average as his handles were just okay. Liked the reliable game he brought though.

Szturc, Brabenec and Moravec tied for the scoring lead with four points apiece in five games.

Contributors to this report included Dan Stewart, Matt Morrison, Alex Taxman, Kai Farenholtz and Jared Brown.
Photo credit IIHF.com

If you would like to learn more about the 2021 NHL Draft and its prospects be sure to pick up one of the below draft resources and support the #DraftPro crew.

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-guide/

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-yearbook/

By DraftPro Staff

The U18 World Hockey Championships just wrapped up last week in Frisco, Texas, and was a scouting hotspot in a year that was anything but the norm for NHL staffs who are charged with evaluating the next wave of NHL talent.

It is a ‘must see’ event any season holding considerable weight as a last look event, but this year in particular, it might be the only hockey some of these guys would play under the watchful eyes of NHL teams. And it was an opportunity for the players to make an impression with plenty doing just that over the two-week event.

Draft Prospects Hockey was not able to be in attendance for the event due to pandemic/logistic issues but had scheduled multiple evaluators to view each minute of play and give us a breakdown of what transpired via their video viewing.

In this ten-part series we will look at each team entry and provide some review of prospects, how they performed and how their performance might have affected their draft stock.

Switzerland had quite an interesting tournament to say the least. They’re not very big, and not very skilled, yet they managed to hang around in a couple games, notably vs Sweden. They controlled a large portion of that game, until a devastating five-minute major penalty turned a 1-0 lead into a 3-1 deficit. The penalty kill didn’t just struggle against Sweden, they had massive issues against Belarus, and that was surprising for a team that defended well at five on five.

The Swiss team was blown out by both Belarus and Canada, but played extremely tough, tight games against both Sweden and Finland. This tournament was another example that they can compete with the higher end competition although they lack the premier talent needed to turn those games into wins.

Here are some player reports from our crew on the Swiss U18 players that stood out.

6 D, BRIAN ZANETTI, 6’2, 174, L, DOB 03.15.2003

Zanetti had a strong tournament moving the puck under pressure and despite being outmatched, he was good defensively. Strong below his goal line, shielding the puck through contact letting his back take the brunt of the blow and keeping the puck in front of him. Terrific control downlow understanding the pressure coming at him and smartly moving the puck 10 feet or so to start the breakout. Short range passes were clean and executed. Plays with a calm demeanor starting the transition. He isn’t the cleanest puck carrier as he is more effective passing it off then carrying it all the way. In previous viewing, we saw him making more soft, skilled plays in the neutral zone and Ozone but did not seen those same plays at the U18s. Solid neutral zone reads to close his gaps. Smart, accurate reads normally lead to turnovers. Strong edgework keeping him mobile and defending laterally well. Fearlessly getting himself into shooting lanes to block shots for his netminder. After the whistle made it known to not touch his goalie or be near him as he will dump you to the ice. He can be a little timid in his in-zone defense where he stays boxed into protecting the front of the net area. We see potential for Zanetti to become a two-way defenseman. He makes a lot of smart plays throughout the course of a game and his skating is intriguing to the point that he is worth a pick sometime in the later rounds.

21 D, DARIO SIDLER, 5’7, 159, R, DOB 06.04.2003

Sidler is a tiny defenseman that will be competitive in man-on-man physical battles but does not have the strength to be effective against stronger opponents. Gets easily shed and needs to play to his strengths. Those are his ability to skate the puck in transition and play a fast puck moving game. Quick feet. Swift linear crossovers darting out of his zone. Doesn’t have the strongest stride but when the feet are moving fast and he is using his inside edges to evade players, that is where he is at his best. Soft touch with the puck. Good use of small chips or flip passes. We liked his foot speed defending the rush and using his stick drive attackers out wide. Had a good game against the rush not allowing a lot by him. His stick is his best asset defensively and needs to use it actively to sniff out pucks off the puck carrier. When the attack is set up, he gets stagnant with his positioning and looks a bit lost. He can be late to lanes or cutting off the man which means he has to out battle his opponent and again, he doesn’t have the physical strength to do that. We would be surprised to see Sidler be picked in July as unfortunately his size is a major issue and we don’t see high-end abilities or talent to counter it.

9 D, LIAN BICHSEL, 6’5, 212, L, DOB 05.18.2004

Hard to believe the towering 6’5” defenseman is a 2004 born and not eligible until 2022 meanwhile you know NHL scouts saw this game and were licking their lips seeing what young Bichsel could turn into. Though his foot speed isn’t something to rave about, he has a strong yet smooth stride that is effective in playing north-south hockey. Has a ton of poise as the puck carrier leading the attack. Went for an end-to-end rush showcasing good skill with the puck and driving hard to the net getting a dangerous scoring chance off. Edges can see improvements, turns and pivots are slow. Showed solid patience at the top of the blue on the PP. Big body, incredibly hard to knock off the puck. Strong puck protection combining both his size and long reach. Super heavy on the puck and leaning his stick over top of the oppositions. Great outlet passes leading to controlled zone exits. Liked the use of occasionally using the boards to lead his passes. Uses his stick to seal off passing lanes on the PK. Makes smart reads to close gaps as attackers enter the zone, actively looking to shut them down at his blueline. Will use his size to his advantage in board battles but we wouldn’t classify him as an overwhelming physical presence. Could use his size more defensively. Bichsel has the potential to become a top four two-way defenseman and terrific upside as a puck moving defenseman as the confidence is already there.

7 C, JOEL HENRY, 5’7, 154, L, DOB 05.15.2003

Henry was a Swiss player to catch our eye as his fast puck movement created some chances for his line. Quick puck distribution skills and vision. Efficient moving it in transition. Unfortunately, he isn’t lightning quick which is something he would need to be considering his height. Smooth puck control. Fast offensive instincts to complete passes under pressure. Off the puck he supported his teammates well. While we liked Henry’s game, he does not exhibit a single elite trait and the size is an ultimate downfall that will be a reason why he goes undrafted in July. If he can improve his foot speed and up his acceleration to be more dangerous in transition, using his speed and puck control to be more impactful, then down the road we could see Henry’s name pop up possibly at the World Juniors or another international tournament for the Swiss.

27 RW LOUIS ROBIN, 5’8, 150, R, DOB 01.13.2003

Robin has got the wheels and was an effective piece on this team, handful of times he was the guy entrusted with getting the biscuit over the blueline with energetic and explosive skating. He was awarded a penalty shot but unfortunately his hands were pretty predictable and basic. But we give Robin credit where credit is due, his footwork is electric and he blends in some good core balance to go along with his small frame. He’s not afraid to take that extra step and lean into a defender to gain that extra inch to get to the net. His shot is pin-point accurate and he gets it off really quickly. Not sure if a shot and speed will be all he needs to make that next leap, but he was very tough to ignore, his skating is visibly a cut above his peers and as the rest of his game catches up with his skating, it could possibly make for a lethal winger. Later round project pick or unselected and might get a look next season.

17 LW/RW, ATTILIO BIASCA, 6’0, 183, L, DOB 03.18.2003

A skilled finesse player that thinks the game well. Most of his good work it hunting the puck on the forecheck where he uses his energy to spark his team. He has a quick stick and is excellent creating pressure. Not afraid to throw a hit and get in on the body he will play physical. Decently strong lower body and protects the puck well. His upper body could use some work as he needs to be stronger on his stick. He was struggling in this tournament to create offense on the top line and on the top power play unit in the slot and net front where he seemed to rotate. Defensively he has a high IQ and can play down your line up due to this. He thinks the game well and understands man on man coverage while not losing his guy. He has a decent motor but it seems to come and go shift to shift. We would love to see him bring that energy throughout the entire game. He does seem to play a bit on the outside and I would love to see him get in to traffic a bit more. He loves the saucer pass and throws it even when not necessary at times. His ability on the penalty kill helps his draft status as he shows other tools he brings to the game. We think he has an ability to play lower down the line up and still create a bit of secondary offense. A later round option. He could be a project and need a few years to develop and play pro hockey before he arrives in the NHL.

23 LW LIEKET REICHLE, SWITZERLAND, 6’1, 183, L, DOB 01.23.2003

I was intrigued to get a closer look at Reichle’ s game… third in points in the U20-Elit league despite playing less games than his peers?.. he drives a hard bargain. While he was out there I was keeping a close eye mainly on his abilities on the powerplay and in the offensive line, playing on that top line, he was bound for a majority of his ice time in Sweden’s end… and I’m unfortunate to report, there isn’t much to report on with Reichle’ s game. There’s not much to his skating when he makes zone entries, in fact I’d say he’s on a bit of the slower end. With time and space in the offensive end, he was a noticeable asset on the powerplay as his decision making was like clockwork, but I found he had trouble getting the puck to the real high danger areas, as he went for a handful of low-percentage chances when push came to shove. He’s got an alright vision for the game, but I don’t think it’s anything that can translate to a higher level. If he really was a next level talent in Switzerland, I would’ve imagined he’d got to see time in the SL or NL at some point… and as he’s playing guys with pro experience at the U18’s, reality is hitting him like a sack of bricks.

Sidler led the team in scoring with three points in five contests with Robin, Bichsel and Biasca all tied for second with two points each. The three best Swiss players of the event were named after the quarter-final: Dario Sidler, Lian Bichsel, and Kevin Pasche.

Contributors to this report included Dan Stewart, Matt Morrison, Alex Taxman, Kai Farenholtz and Jared Brown.
Photo credit IIHF.com

If you would like to learn more about the 2021 NHL Draft and its prospects be sure to pick up one of the below draft resources and support the #DraftPro crew.

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-guide/

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-yearbook/

By DraftPro Staff

The U18 World Hockey Championships just wrapped up last week in Frisco, Texas, and was a scouting hotspot in a year that was anything but the norm for NHL staffs who are charged with evaluating the next wave of NHL talent.

It is a ‘must see’ event any season holding considerable weight as a last look event, but this year in particular, it might be the only hockey some of these guys would play under the watchful eyes of NHL teams. And it was an opportunity for the players to make an impression with plenty doing just that over the two-week event.

Draft Prospects Hockey was not able to be in attendance for the event due to pandemic/logistic issues but had scheduled multiple evaluators to view each minute of play and give us a breakdown of what transpired via their video viewing.

In this ten-part series we will look at each team entry and provide some review of prospects, how they performed and how their performance might have affected their draft stock.

The Latvians were outmatched during their trip to Texas going winless in their four games eliminated before the quarterfinals. Being outscored 6-21 in those contests but were competitive, in pretty much all their contests despite the one-sided goal differential.

They played with strong effort every game, giving some of the top teams a strong challenge. They played with heart, getting in oppositions faces and engaging from start to finish. Their limited offensive weapons were their undoing in the end.

Here are some player reports from our crew on the Latvian U18 players that stood out.

13 D, GUSTAVS OZOLINS, 5’10, 181, L, DOB 06.19.2003

Ozolins was clearly the backbone to Latvia’s defense core as he was iced in every important game situation. Defensively he needs to tighten up his gap control as he can be lethargic with his stick, hoping to get a touch on the puck. Has a calming demeanor to him when starting the breakout. Poised when carrying the puck as he has his head up constantly searching for a play. Shows good pace bringing the puck through the neutral zone, slowing up to draw off defenders looking for him to dump it and then accelerating to enter the zone. He is effective using his feet to start the rush, but makes inconsistent breakout pass choices, many easily getting picked off. Forcing the pass too much. Isn’t an explosive skater but has a strong straight-line stride that produces power. Solid edges, using quick hard stops to stay with players as they pull up. Controlled puck movement quarterbacking the PP. The calmness with the puck continued to show on the man advantage but would’ve liked to see more creativity or skill execution to try passing into a dangerous area. He has a thick body which aids him in puck battles. Most of his plays with the puck were safe off the glass plays besides a few mental blunder giveaways. Ozolins is worth a look as a later round option as there are quality attributes that while they’re not amazing, could make up a bottom pairing, safe, reliable defenseman.

6 C, MARTINS LAVINS, 6’0, 176, L, DOB 04.10.2003

Gritty and grimy two-way forward that’s not afraid to get under the skin of any of his opponents no matter how big or prominent they are. Captain for his team and you can see he is beloved by his teammates. He is the type of player that puts his heart into every shift and never keeps up on a battle. The work ethic is off the charts. Plays hard on the puck and finishing his checks, looking to gather energy for his team. While his skating is an area that could use work, his strength and battle level to skate through contact, checks, sticks causing opponents to wrap their hands around him. Drew a good amount of penalties during the event due to sheer effort. Skates with pace but has a short stride and not much acceleration to his boots. A bit of an up-and-down skater and if he could continuously stay low in his stride, I think then he will then generate more power. Good puck skills showed off in his deke ability. Took one around Swedish defender Edvinsson who has a very long reach with good mobility before ringing a shot off the post. He’ll take the puck and attack straight on defenders. Takes a ton of faceoffs for his team and does well on the dot. One issue is his playmaking, he needs to be quicker to see his options and deliver his pass. Often seems like he doesn’t have a play in mind when receiving the puck and that can force him to take the puck into poor areas. We could see an NHL team taking a swing on him in the later rounds and stay patient with him, letting him develop his skill level. A strong character player with bottom six buzzsaw energy type potential.

19 RW, DARELS DUKURS, 6’0, 172, L, DOB 05.06.2003

Not sure why Dukurs played such a prominent role for Latvia as we struggled to find one area he contributed. Made a few quick dekes pulling the puck into the slot area for a shot but they didn’t result in anything. Has some decent hands to pulled and drag around players in open ice. Rushed most decisions with the puck. Making plays before taking a look. His passes were continuously missing their mark forcing his teammates to go backwards to pick up pucks. Easy to knock off the puck. Lost count how many times I saw him lying on the ice. Brings physical play finishing hits. Has a pesky stick that is quite active looking to quickly stick lift players. Has good foot speed and hip flexion when performing heel-to-heel pivots but his speed isn’t great and isn’t going to dart by players very often. He shows strong bursts to slide into open spaces or skate hard on the puck but lacks consistency. Dukurs doesn’t have a large impact on most games with the way he plays and most of his abilities are average which doesn’t help him either. We wouldn’t waste a pick on him come July.

18 RW, PETERIS PURMALIS, 6’2, 203, L, DOB 01.07.2003

Purmalis was one of Latvia’s best offensive forwards playing with a shooters mentality. All tournament long he was attacking off the rush and trying to push defenders back with his speed. He’s a big man that can produce rapid speed by using fast tight crossovers. Good puck control in flight. Has a touch of skill in his hands and to get his hands set quickly into a shooting position. Though his rush attempts were efficient, it was only benefiting himself and is very much a straight-line attacker. Isn’t looking to move laterally into the slot. This is an area that if he can start bringing the puck more towards, he has the size, strength, and shot to create more dangerous chances for himself. Great weight transfer on his wrist shots. Has the muscle mass to power through shots. He’s strong on his stick. Effective below the circles winning pucks back using his strength. Not sure he has a ton of playmaking upside as he is always looking to swing pucks towards the net before taking a second to look for a teammate. Played with good jump on the PK and sacrificed his body to get in the way of shots. Purmalis has the potential and build to become a power forward that plays heavy and with pace in a depth role in the NHL. He will have to learn how to play within a structure and not be selfish. With that being said, there are probably better players available before his name comes up.

21 LW, ANRI RAVINSKIS, 6’2, 190, LW, DOB 01.02.2003

Ravinskis is a lanky left shot winger with some offensive touch. He stood out as one of Latvias most gifted offensive wingers throughout the tournament. He was on the second line creating offense both in transition and half ice situations. He has quick hands and a high IQ in traffic that allows him to dance around defenders with quick moves. He also played on the top power play unit on the half wall where he is looking for one timers and wrist shots. He scored a really nice goal that kind of demonstrated a little bit of what his game is all about on one rush. He cut in with patience as the high man trailing the play to add another layer to the attack. Yet once he saw the shot go on net he beelined to the front looking for a rebound. He found it and with quick hands at top speed curled the puck out of the goalies pads and shot it into the empty net. Really quick hands at top speed. He for sure is shoot first player but can pass it as well with decent vision. Where he ran into problems was with the puck in his own end as he was looking for the home run play each time instead of making smart plays. He has a high IQ, just gets too solo creative at times. When he plays within himself he is an excellent trigger man from the wing. He plays hard shift to shift and has a decent motor. Needs to engage physically more for his size but he mainly uses it to defend the puck offensively. He is a strong skater with a long lanky stride. He will need to improve his foot speed as he does take a while to get going. His edge work is strong and allows him to play in tight spaces while remaining a hard target to hit. He projects as a potential middle six winger that would be best playing with a talented playmaker. He is a few years away still as he needs to get stronger and work on his defensive game without the puck and checking abilities man on man.

22 LW, SANDIS VILMANIS, 6’0, 185, LW, DOB 01.23.2004

Vilmanis is a smooth, fluid skater with raw offensive abilities. Fluid pivots staying in motion. Skates with a wide stance. Stride isn’t the cleanest, if he lowered himself as well as improve his stride recovery, he’ll be able to add an extra gear. Transitioning with lateral crossovers attacking through the neutral zone and going wide on defenders. Drops the shoulder to try and gain inside body positioning to drive the net but the strength on his edges to bully his way in just isn’t there yet. Still, I like that he is forcing the defenders to make snap decisions as he attacks with speed. Causing turnovers in the neutral zone and turning them into a rush scoring chance. Efficient passer. Makes smart decisions with the puck in the offensive zone. The kid can stick handle in a phone booth and uses that too often in terms of getting out of trouble. Smooth passes after entering the zone to the trailer that, ease of receipt is solid. Could work harder in his own end. Add more aggression to apply stick pressure. Few time he was able to get a quick shot off in quality shooting position. Vilmanis has a strong offensive mind to facilitate clean passes from the perimeter that generates shot attempts. A hard wrist shot and deadly backhander. Has some intriguing potential for 2022.

1 G, LINARDS LIPSKIS, 6’2, 176, L, DOB 07.03.2003

Lipskis has a bit of an odd style in net as it is a bit of a mixture between a butterfly and old-fashioned stand-up at times. Did not feel comfortable with Lipski’s ability in tracking the puck to keep the score close. This is a clear issue for him. You can visibly seem him lose sight of the puck especially as the puck goes behind his net. Now that being said, He does hold his posts strong and stands up in his RVH. Decently quick reflexes in his legs shown when kicking out the pads. Quickness after a shot is slow and that shot recovery speed can leave ample amount of time for a team to take advantage of. Lateral quickness isn’t a thing of beauty and relies on his long legs to bail him out. Gets hunched over in his stance which I think was a big reason why he was beat above his shoulders 2-3 times only for the crossbar to save him. Has average size and could use it better with his net coverage. Holds his glove low and slightly closed. Likes to flash the glove when he snags a shot, but glove side was a clear weakness as he was beat many times on that side. Overplaying his angles. Getting caught over his posts and leaving room for shooters to shoot far side off the rush. For us he has a lot of concerning areas of his play in the crease that need fixing before even thinking about spending a pick on him.

20 G, MARKS SLAVINSKIS, 6’2, 157, L, DOB 10.20.2003

Slavinskis has a lanky frame but it allows him to be extremely light in his movements. Butterfly technique. He likes to stay down in the butterfly for extended amount of time. He sits back in his butterfly as well as playing deep in his crease in his RVH. Needs to pop his chest up so he remains big while down. Can drop prematurely into the butterfly. He’s lightning quick popping back up as well as when dropping to his knees. Great lateral quickness. Quick post-to-post when puck is below the goal line. He relies on his athleticism and quickness to make the saves but would benefit from more controlled movements. Seals his pads well blocking his five hole. Good job of covering pucks up smothering it with his glove and bringing his blocker hand in give no opportunities of the puck squirting out. Shaky rebound control on low shots, kicking out some juicy rebounds. Had some issues controlling the puck as it hit his glove and was unable to confidently squeeze it. The quickness in his legs are strengths to his play but will need to continue controlling his movements better as well as playing proper depth in the crease. Worth tracking for 2022.

Lavins, Ravinskis and Vilmanis were co-leading scorers with two point each. Lavins, Ravinskis and Ozolins were voted Latvia’s top three players of the tournament.

Contributors to this report included Dan Stewart, Matt Morrison, Alex Taxman, Kai Farenholtz and Jared Brown.
Photo credit IIHF.com

If you would like to learn more about the 2021 NHL Draft and its prospects be sure to pick up one of the below draft resources and support the #DraftPro crew.

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-guide

https://draftprospectshockey.com/draftpro-2021-nhl-draft-yearbook