Q: Best RFA signing? Tyler Motte: 59.6% Adam Gaudette: 26.8% Jake Virtanen: 10.8% Q: Best UFA signing? Braden Holtby: 83.9% N/A: 7.9% Jayce Hawryluk: 7.7% TRADE: 2022 3rd round pick (VAN) to VGK for Nate Schmidt Graph MEAN SCORE: 4.78 Q: How much faith do you have in the front office? Graph MEAN SCORE: 3.41 Comparison to other teams:
Team
Mean Score
Detroit Red Wings
4.89
Columbus Blue Jackets
4.46
New York Rangers
4.38
Los Angeles Kings
4.3
Carolina Hurricanes
4.24
Toronto Maple Leafs
4.23
Edmonton Oilers
4.09
Winnipeg Jets
4.01
Montreal Canadiens
3.99
Minnesota Wild
3.99
Calgary Flames
3.8
New Jersey Devils
3.77
Ottawa Senators
3.63
San Jose Sharks
3.61
Vancouver Canucks
3.41
Florida Panthers
3.33
Nashville Predators
3.26
Anaheim Ducks
3.06
Buffalo Sabres
2.95
Pittsburgh Penguins
2.8
Arizona Coyotes
2.7
Chicago Blackhawks
2.48
Most Exciting Prospects:
Vasili Podkolzin: 58.3%
Nils Hoglander 30.6%
Olli Juolevi, D 5.9%
Jack Rathbone, D: **3.5%
Q: Will this team make the playoffs next season? YES: 78.7% NO: 21.3% Q: If yes, how far will they go? FIRST ROUND: 41.4% SECOND ROUND: 43.5% WCF: 11.7% SCF: 0% WIN STANLEY CUP: 3.3% Q: Where will they end up in their division? 1ST: 1% 2ND: 14.3% 3RD: 45.1% 4TH: 23.4% 5TH: 12.2% 6TH: 1.7% 7TH: 1.7% 8TH: 0.3% Q: What state is this team currently in? REBUILDERS: 3.1% BUBBLE TEAM: 66.3% PLAYOFF TEAM: 30.1% TOP CONTENDER: 0.7% Q: Where will they be in 5 years? REBUILDERS: 0% BUBBLE TEAM: 3.1% PLAYOFF TEAM: 29.5% TOP CONTENDER: 67% Q: What is the most pressing concern with your team? Word cloud Season Results Last Year:
W
L
OTL
P
GF
GA
36
27
6
81
228 (8th)
217 (17th)
Team finished 4th in the Pacific Lost Second Round (4-3) versus Vegas Golden Knights Won First Round (4-2) versus St. Louis Blues Won Qualifying Round (3-1) versus Minnesota Wild Top Scorers and Goalies:
Player
GP
G
A
PTS
+/-
PIM
ATOI
J.T. Miller
69
27
45
72
11
47
20:06
Elias Pettersson
68
27
39
66
16
18
18:32
Bo Horvat
69
22
31
53
-15
21
19:44
Quinn Hughes
68
8
45
41
-10
22
21:53
Tanner Pearson
69
21
24
45
-4
27
16:31
Player
GP
W
L
OTL
SV%
GAA
GSAA
Braden Holtby
48
25
14
6
.897
3.11
-16.76
Thatcher Demko
27
13
10
2
.905
3.06
-3.67
Additions/Subtractions: *Links contain the Reddit threads of their announcement
There is at least one weekly thread like this at hockey but I've never seen one here so let's hear your thoughts! edit: I meant bold predictions for the Jets
Where are they now? CHL Priority Draft #1 overall picks
Being the #1 overall draft pick in the NHL comes with some pretty sizable expectations, and basically every pick goes on to have at least relative success in the league. However, years before the NHL draft, there's the CHL drafts. In these drafts, which each have their own, slightly different names, the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL have their teams pick the top prospects from their regions. However, these drafts are much less of a sure thing than their NHL counterparts. In this post, we look at the first overall pick in each league's draft since the 2003 season. QMJHL Entry Draft 2003- Sidney Crosby, C, Rimouski Océanic Incredibly hyped since his teenage days, Crosby has undeniably delivered. With over 1000 points, 3 Stanley Cups, 2 Hart Trophies, and 2 Conn Smythes, Crosby is a truly generational player. 2004- James Sheppard, C, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles A respectable player who never quite reached stardom, Sheppard was a high pick in the NHL draft as well, going 9th overall to the Minnesota Wild. Sheppard bounced between the NHL and AHL after being drafted, but was never able to eclipse 30 points in an NHL season. In 2015, he headed to Europe to play for the Kloten Flyers in the National League A (Switzerland). He now plays in for Eisebaren Berlin in the Deutsch Elite League. In his time in Europe, he has scored around .5/ppg. 2005- Alex Grant, D, Saint John Sea Dogs A big, physical defenseman with a booming shot, Grant is the least successful player we have encountered so far. After aging out of junior, Grant bounced around the AHL and ECHL, usually scoring between 20-40 points per season. His only NHL experience was 7 NHL appearances between Anaheim and Arizona, with 5 of those coming in 2015-16. After a 36 point season with the Iowa Wild last season, Grant signed with Jokerit of the KHL for next year. 2006- Yann Sauve, D, Saint John Sea Dogs Another middling defenseman selected first overall by Saint John. Oof. Similarly to Grant, Sauve bounced around the AHL and ECHL for years, playing 5 NHL games with Vancouver in 2011. He made the jump to Europe in 2016-17, and will play for Zagreb in the EBEL, a Central European league, next season. 2007- Simon Despres, D, Saint John Sea Dogs Finally! The Sea Dogs pick an NHL player. Despres has had a decent career, playing nearly 200 NHL games with Anaheim and Pittsburgh (a figure that could have been much higher if not for injuries). After playing in the KHL last season, Despres will return to the NHL with the Habs next year. 2008- Brandon Gormley, D, Moncton Wildcats A player who was perpetually stuck as a 7/8 defenseman at the NHL level, Gormley played 240 AHL games (compared to 58 in the NHL) before joining Mora IK in the Swedish League last season. 2009- Oliver Archembault, F, Val-d'Or Foreurs The first player on our list who never made the NHL at all, though he was drafted in the 4th round. Archembault has spent the vast majority of his career in the ECHL, where he is a PPG player, with occasional unsuccessful stints in the AHL. Scored 31 points in 19 games for the Allan Americans of the ECHL last year, and 18 in 29 in the AHL for the Syracuse Crunch. 2010- Dillon Fournier, D, Lewiston MAINEiacs Another player who never cracked an NHL roster, though Fournier was a 2nd round pick. Now plies his trade for the Indy Fuel in the ECHL, though he doesn't play major minutes and hasn't scored a goal in 2 seasons. 2011- Nathan MacKinnon, C, Baie-Comeau Drakkar MacKinnon was picked 1st overall again in the NHL draft, and won the Calder Trophy before regressing a bit as part of an underwhelming Avs team. However, he exploded last year, scoring 97 points and garnering serious contention for the Hart as he helped revitalize the Avs. 2012- Daniel Audette, C, Sherbrooke Phoenix The 3rd QMJHL player on this list to never crack the NHL. Audette was drafted by the Habs, and has been playing for their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, since he aged out of junior, where he has scored at a respectable .44 ppg clip. 2013 on- really too early to work with OHL Priority Draft 2003- Patrick McNeill, D, Saginaw Spirit A career AHLer who never played an NHL game. Has played over 400 games in the AHL, the majority with the Hershey Bears, where he scored around 30 points a season. In 2015 he jumped to the DEL, and will play Augsburger Panther next season. 2004- John Hughes, C, Belville Bulls Hughes has never played an NHL game, but has absolutely dominated in Europe since leaving juniors. After bouncing around the EBEL, he joined Austrian EBEL team EC Salzburg in 2012. He has scored well over a PPG there ever since, including 85 points in 54 games in 2013-14. He has lead the league in assists 6 times. 2005- John Tavares, C, Oshawa Generals A pretty decent player I guess? Has scored 621 NHL points after being picked 1st overall by the Islanders, before joining Toronto this summer. Yeah you probably don't need me to elaborate too much on him. 2006- Steven Stamkos, C, Sarnia Sting Another amazing talent, taken #1 overall in the NHL draft the year after Tavares. Has been somewhat derailed by injuries, but is still an exceptional player and has won a Rocket Richard. Has been the Tampa Bay captain for 5 seasons running. 2007- Ryan O'Reilly, C, Erie Otters Again a slam dunk 1st overall pick by an OHL team. Tim Hortons incidents aside, O'Reilly has been a highly successful individual and is regarded as one of the best two-way centers in the league. 2008- John McFarland, F, Sudbury Wolves A big power forward, McFarland only ever appeared in 3 NHL games, all in the 2015-16 season for the Florida Panthers (who originally drafted him in the second round in 2010). Has spent the majority of his career in the AHL and ECHL, and scored 7 points in 11 games for HC La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss Second Division last year. 2009- Daniel Catenacci, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Another bit-part player, Catenacci has spent his the majority of his career in the Buffalo Sabres organization, where he has played has played over 300 AHL games and is a solid middle 6 forward. Played 11 NHL games in the 2015-16 season. 2010- Alex Galchenyuk, C (...well sorta), Sarnia Sting A player with immense talent and a high ceiling, fans have been waiting for Galchenyuk to really hit his stride. He has hit 50 points once, in 2015-16, and can hopefully reach his full potential in Arizona after being traded out of Montreal. 2011- Aaron Ekblad, D, Barrie Colts An extremely talented defenseman, Ekblad impressively won the Calder in his first NHL season (very rare for a defenseman) and has been a fixture on the Panthers blueline. In recent years concussions have caused him to struggle, but he still has plenty of time to improve into a truly elite blueliner. 2012- Connor McDavid, C, Erie Otters Probably the best purely offensive player in the NHL today. Has already won 2 Art Ross trophies by the age of 21, which is ridiculous. WHL Bantam Draft 2003- Jonathan Toews, C, Tri-City Americans (though he never played for them, going to the NCAA instead) One of the most successful captains in NHL history, Toews has lead the Blackhawks to 3 Stanley Cup victories. While his production has gone down in recent years, Toews remains an excellent 1C, just one who is perhaps slightly overpaid. 2004- Ryan Kerr, D, Prince George Cougars Honestly a bit of a shocking #1 overall pick, Kerr never seemed to be good enough for the WHL, let alone the NHL. Purely an enforcer, Kerr's best season in the WHL saw him score 15 points, with just 1 goal, while amassing 168 PIMS. Since aging out of junior, Kerr has joined York University in the Canadian College league, where he continues to score very infrequently. 2005- Colton Teubert, D, Regina Pats Another big defenseman who racked up the PIMS, Teubert has been at least marginally successful. After being drafted in the 1st round by Los Angeles, Teubert bounced around the minor leagues before being called up to play 24 NHL games for Edmonton in 2011-12. Since then, he has gone overseas to Germany, where he is a stay-at-home defenseman for the Nurnberg Ice Tigers. 2006- Jared Cowen, D, Spokane Chiefs Good lord, yet another big, physical defenseman going #1 in the WHL draft. Cowen, a top 10 NHL draft pick, has carved out a career as a bottom pairing defenseman in the NHL, playing over 250 NHL games in his time in Ottawa, before being traded to Toronto and sent to Robidas Island. 2007- Quinton Howden, F, Moose Jaw Warriors A decent two-way forward, Howden was never able to quite make it in the NHL, and has spent most of his career in the AHL, where he put up decent numbers. He has received occasional NHL callups throughout his career, but none have amounted to much. Last season, he left North America to go play for Belarusian outfit Dinamo Minsk in the KHL, where he scored 32 points in 56 games. 2008- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, F, Red Deer Rebels A good NHL player, Nugent-Hopkins excelled in his first NHL season, scoring 52 points in 62 games. However, as part of a god-awful Oilers team, he regressed a bit since then, and was Edmonton's 3C in recent years. He did shine playing alongside Connor McDavid on the first line last season though. 2009- Derrick Pouliot, D, Portland Winter Hawks A talented skater with good offensive instincts, Pouliot's career has sadly been decimated by injuries, which have undoubtedly stalled his growth. He played over 70 games in one season for the first time last year in Vancouver, where he his a solid bottom 4 defenseman. 2010- Alex Forsberg, F, Prince George Cougars The Cougars once again missed badly on a #1 overall pick, as Forsberg would never go on to play an NHL game. After aging out of junior, Forsberg joined the Canadian College league, where he scored 23 points in 24 games. 2011- Jake Virtanen, RW, Calgary Hitmen A power forward with a lot of raw talent, Virtanen has struggled to put everything together to become a successful player in the NHL. He has developed slowly, but played his first full season in the league last year for Vancouver, scoring 20 points in 75 games. 2012- Matthew Barzal, C, Seattle Thunderbirds A highly touted prospect, Barzal spent an extra year in junior, where he absolutely dominated and won the WHL Championship. He then joined the high-scoring Islanders last season, where he won the Calder Trophy after scoring at a PPG pace. Well, that's everyone. What can we learn from this data? If I'm being honest, not much. Like any draft, you have your superstars, your middling guys, and your total busts, and the younger the prospects are, the lower their floor can turn out to be. I guess really the only takeaway is that you shouldn't draft big, physical defenseman 1st overall. Of the players drafted, 7 never made an NHL appearance, and 14 total have played under 60 NHL games.
Sorry for the delay, at work. The numbering format is funky with copy paste, however this is the order. I dont have time for format as i am in meetings all day.
Clayton Keller, C, Arizona Coyotes DOB: 7/29/98 | Ht: 5' 10" | Wt: 168 2016-17 stats, Boston University (Hockey East): 31 GP | 21 G | 24 A Projected 2017-18 team: Arizona (NHL)
Keller is one of the game's best prospects and coming off a fantastic 2016-17 season. He was among the most dominant freshmen of the past 20 years, a top player for the gold medal-winning Team USA at the World Juniors and wrapped it up with some NHL games for Arizona. He is a dynamic playmaker who excites you anytime he's on the ice. Keller gets plus grades with his speed and puck skills, but his hockey IQ pushes him into the top tier of players. He's an extremely crafty playmaker who can also play on the defensive side of the puck well despite his smaller size, due to his awareness and speed. He should be a quality NHL player in 2017-18, and an early favorite for the Calder Trophy.
Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils DOB: 1/04/99 | Ht: 6' 0.75" | Wt: 176 2016-17 stats, Halifax (QMJHL): 57 GP | 38 G | 48 A Projected 2017-18 team: New Jersey (NHL)
Hischier was fantastic from the word "go" this past season, between league and international play. He's the complete package offensively. He's a very good skater, with the ability to be dangerous due to his first step and top gear, but particularly due to how elusive he is from a standstill. Hischier is a creative puck handler who can dictate possession with his skill and often stands out with how he can generate offense with his creativity. However, his best trait is his hockey sense. He anticipates pressure, moves the puck into the right places and outsmarts defenders. "[Hischier] can take over a game and does so consistently," one scout said. He isn't a bulky guy, but he gets to the net with frequency and is a solid defensive center.
Mathew Barzal, C, New York Islanders DOB: 5/26/97 | Ht: 6' 0" | Wt: 187 2016-17 stats, Seattle (WHL): 41 GP | 10 G | 69 A Projected 2017-18 team: New York (NHL)
Barzal was one of the top players in the CHL last season, with his playmaking standing out on a nightly basis, and he led Seattle to a Memorial Cup appearance. Barzal has elite agility and vision, is tough to check and makes tough offensive plays seem routine. He is not a dynamic two-way center who will take the tough minutes, but he is the first man over the boards if you want control of the puck. I expect him to be a top-six forward in the NHL, and he has the potential to be among the best forwards in the league.
Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins DOB: 12/21/97 | Ht: 6' 1" | Wt: 212 2016-17 stats, Boston University (Hockey East): 38 GP | 5 G | 21 A Projected 2017-18 team: Boston (NHL)
McAvoy had a season full of success. He was one of the top players for Team USA at the World Juniors and for Boston University in college hockey, then stepped into the Bruins lineup at the tail end of the season and made an immediate impact. He has high-end mobility, has great offensive IQ and is a tough competitor. If you had to nitpick a weakness, it's that his defensive reads aren't yet refined and he can be victim to some errors. However, he's shown noticeable progress in that latter area, and given how well he possesses the puck, he nullifies those issues to an extent.
Nolan Patrick, C, Philadelphia Flyers DOB: 9/19/98 | Ht: 6' 2" | Wt: 198 2016-17 stats, Brandon (WHL): 33 GP | 20 G | 26 A Projected 2017-18 team: Philadelphia (NHL)
Patrick didn't have the best draft season, mostly because he missed a substantial portion due to injury. However, he remains a top prospect. Patrick's best trait is his hockey sense. He's a highly creative playmaker with high-end vision and puck skills. Patrick also shows an above-average shot and can generate it from tight spaces. His skating isn't as dynamic as his playmaking, but he'll be able to keep up in the NHL. He's a player without a glaring flaw and is what you want in a top-level center: a two-way forward with skill, size and intelligence who can contribute in all areas of the game.
Strome got caught in CHL-NHL limbo; he wasn't quite ready to play for the Coyotes, but when he was sent back, he cleared two points per game in the OHL. On a skills level, I haven't seen a ton of progression from last season, but he was elite last season and remains so, even if he doesn't seem as shiny. Strome is a tall center with incredible vision, a big shot and good puck skills. Improving his skating and strength remain key issues for him in terms of becoming a top-six forward at the NHL level, but with a big summer, it's possible.
Alexander Nylander, RW, Buffalo Sabres DOB: 3/02/98 | Ht: 6' 1" | Wt: 181 2016-17 stats, Rochester (AHL): 65 GP | 10 G | 18 A Projected 2017-18 team: Rochester (AHL)
Nylander had an up-and-down season. He was great at the World Juniors versus his peers yet again. In the pro levels, he struggled to earn the trust of his coaching staff and was sheltered from tough situations, although he was still a top power-play option. His skill is fantastic, as he makes high-level plays seem routine and is quite creative. I wish he was a little quicker, and his off-the-puck game needs a lot of work, but his offensive upside is NHL top-six level.
Tyson Jost, C/LW, Colorado Avalanche DOB: 3/14/98 | Ht: 5' 11" | Wt: 194 2016-17 stats, North Dakota (NCHC): 33 GP | 16 G | 19 A Projected 2017-18 team: Colorado (NHL)
As a freshman this past season, Tyson Jost was one of the top players in a tough NCHC conference, skating for North Dakota, and had a quite memorable cup of tea with Colorado toward the end of the NHL season. Jost is a well-rounded center. He can play the game with speed and skill, making an occasional highlight-reel play while also being a reliable defensive player. The Jonathan Toews comparison is a little lazy given the paths through North Dakota for both; moreover, I see Jost being a little more offensively tilted. A little bulk will go a long way to his being a full-time NHL player next season.
Gabriel Vilardi, C, Los Angeles Kings DOB: 8/16/99 | Ht: 6' 2.75" | Wt: 201 2016-17 stats, Windsor (OHL): 49 GP | 29 G | 32 A Projected 2017-18 team: Windsor (OHL)
Big men who can make plays with the puck are hard to find, and Gabriel Vilardi fits the bill. His skill is legitimately at the top level, as his ability to maintain possession, create offense off the rush and evade pressure as good as some of the better 5-foot-11 forwards. He also possesses good vision and can make tough distributions seem easy. He's a player who makes his teammates better. Vilardi's skating is an issue, with a below-average top gear.
Casey Mittelstadt, C, Buffalo Sabres DOB: 11/22/98 | Ht: 6' 0.75" | Wt: 201 2016-17 stats, Eden Praire (HS MN): 25 GP | 21 G | 43 A Projected 2017-18 team: Minnesota (Big Ten)
Mittelstadt has been a highly touted player for the past few years, and was a top player in the USHL this past season along with a stint with his high school team. Mittelstadt is a dynamic playmaker who can generate scoring chances in bunches. He can dangle in open ice with the best of them, and can make a highlight happen at any moment. Mittelstadt sees the ice well, often executing on high-difficulty feeds and being a primary starting point of offense. His skating isn't as dynamic as his hands, but he skates well and has a separation gear in his feet. He isn't as great off the puck; despite a strong frame, he loses more battles than he should. He is committed to the University of Minnesota.
Thomas Chabot, D, Ottawa Senators DOB: 1/30/97 | Ht: 6' 2" | Wt: 190 2016-17 stats, Saint John (QMJHL): 34 GP | 10 G | 35 A Projected 2017-18 team: Ottawa (NHL)
Chabot was QMJHL Defenseman of the Year, QMJHL playoffs MVP and world juniors MVP -- not too shabby! His skating ability is ridiculous for a tall defenseman. His vision is great, and he can play an up-tempo game. He's competent defensively, but whenever he's on the ice, his team seems to have the puck. Chabot looks ready to step into the NHL next season in a significant role, and has star potential.
Kaprizov has been lighting the world on fire in the KHL, showing scoring numbers that line up with the best teenagers to ever play in the top Russian league. The KHL's quality has dipped as it expanded, so that's worth noting, but regardless Kaprizov has been impressive and was the top forward at the World Juniors as well. He skates well, is a great playmaker who plays at a quick pace, and can finish chances. He wins puck battles despite his size, and finds a way to be around the puck a lot. Kaprizov re-signed with his KHL team, so it will be three more seasons overseas unless his contract is bought out.
Cody Glass, C, Vegas Golden Knights DOB: 4/01/99 | Ht: 6' 1.75" | Wt: 178 2016-17 stats, Portland (WHL): 69 GP | 32 G | 62 A Projected 2017-18 team: Portland (WHL)
The first of Vegas' three first-round picks was a riser all season. He is a dynamic playmaker, who has the skill, size and hockey IQ to be a significant scorer in the NHL. He has coordinated with the puck for a player his size, and he makes tough dekes seem easy. He's a smart playmaker who can make plays at a quick tempo and control the center third of the ice. Some scouts I talk to praise his skating; I haven't seen a blow-you-away gear from him, but he's certainly above average in that area. Defensively, he is decent. His frame needs to be bulked up a ton, as he can be pushed off pucks too easily, but he works hard for pucks.
Nick Suzuki, C, Vegas Golden Knights DOB: 8/10/99 | Ht: 5' 10.75" | Wt: 183 2016-17 stats, Owen Sound (OHL): 65 GP | 45 G | 51 A Projected 2017-18 team: Owen Sound (OHL)
Suzuki was consistently impressive and one of the top overall players in the OHL this season. The first thing any scout will say about him is to praise his hockey sense. He sees the ice well as a playmaker, but his ability to make quick, creative and correct decisions consistently helps him make a dangerous two-way force. Suzuki can make a difficult open-ice dangle or a quick chip to get the puck up and to the right spot. Defensively, he's solid on his positional play, winning battles without taking penalties, and he is a shorthanded scoring threat to boot. His skating technique isn't sublime, but I wouldn't categorize him as slow -- maybe just a little awkward in how his feet get him where he's going.
Sam Steel, C, Anaheim Ducks DOB: 2/03/98 | Ht: 6' 0" | Wt: 179 2016-17 stats, Regina (WHL): 66 GP | 50 G | 81 A Projected 2017-18 team: Regina (WHL)
Steel was the top scorer in the WHL this past season, having the most productive campaign by an 18-year-old in that league in decades. He is a dynamic playmaker with the top-end puck skills and vision to be a potential difference-maker in the NHL. His skating isn't as dynamic as those other attributes, but I think he skates well, and given his IQ, he's able to make plays at a very quick pace. Steel is a scorer but showed progression off the puck, as well, being a solid defensive center at the junior level, which allowed him to have the puck more often. Once he gains bulk, he'll be ready for the NHL, potentially as soon as this season.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, Columbus Blue Jackets DOB: 6/24/98 | Ht: 6' 3" | Wt: 209 2016-17 stats, Cape Breton/Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL): 48 GP | 21 G | 34 A Projected 2017-18 team: Columbus (NHL)
If someone says he or she has a perfect feel on what Pierre-Luc Dubois is at this point, that person is a liar. After blowing through the QMJHL in 2015-16, being drafted third overall and nearly making Columbus out of camp, Dubois had a rocky season. His production rates plummeted, and he was just fine at the World Juniors. With all that in mind, I have reason for optimism. He's a skilled, smart, big man, he wins a lot of puck battles, he has a good shot, and he has significantly improved his skating. There is reasonable concern about whether he has the pure offensive instincts to be a top-end scorer in the NHL or is a middle-range scorer who can log tough minutes. You see flashes of a great deke or pass from him, but he isn't consistent in those displays.
First-rounder Tippett is an exciting winger to watch. He was a dominant goal scorer this season, due to both the quality and quantity of shots on goal. His ability to go from 0 to 60 -- metaphorically speaking, though he's darn quick -- is impressive, and he can gain the offensive blue line with ease. He has a high skill level and can make some open-ice plays, but he's much more comfortable going north-south than east-west. He can kill penalties due to his speed and IQ, and can be a shorthanded scoring threat while doing so. Tippett's game is more about playing in straight lines, but don't let his tilted goal-to-assist ratio fool you, as he can make plays to his teammates too.
Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks DOB: 2/25/97 | Ht: 6' 1" | Wt: 192 2016-17 stats, North Dakota (NCHC): 32 GP | 16 G | 18 A Projected 2017-18 team: Vancouver (NHL)
Boeser didn't have as promising a season as a sophomore as he did as a freshman at North Dakota, but a wrist issue that plagued him most of the season was likely a factor. When he got time with the Canucks, he looked extremely impressive for a junior-aged player. Boeser has a high skill level, a good shot, competes for pucks and is smart enough to make skilled plays at an NHL pace. His skating will never be a selling point but will not hold him back, given all his other assets. He generates offense and shot attempts in bunches and could be a significant NHL scorer.
Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Nashville Predators DOB: 4/22/99 | Ht: 5' 10.25" | Wt: 170 2016-17 stats, Sioux City (USHL): 52 GP | 30 G | 24 A Projected 2017-18 team: Jokerit (KHL)
The Predators' first-round pick this summer has produced everywhere he has gone. He was one of the best players in the USHL this past season and has looked very good in international play for Finland the past few seasons. Tolvanen is known mostly for his big-time shot. However, he is more than a shooter. He has great hands, can make difficult feeds and can play at a quick pace, though he is most comfortable when winding up his cannon. He's small and not incredibly quick for a player his size (though I think his skating is adequate), but he's smart enough to put himself in position to score and has a little physical edge to his game. He will head to Finland for a season before entering the Predators system in earnest. The Predators landed Eeli Tolvanen at No. 30 overall in the 2017 draft. Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire
Heiskanen established himself as a regular in the middle of a top Finnish league team's lineup as one of the younger players in this draft class, before coming off the board at No. 3 to the Stars. He shows great ability at both ends of the rink. His hockey sense is advanced to the point that he dictates the play with how effectively he moves the puck. He makes great decisions, understands how to create chances while keeping his plays simple and overall shows no issues playing at a pro pace. His mobility is very good as well. He's a little shorter than average for an NHL defender and needs bulk, but I see his hockey IQ translating well down the line.
Bean missed a substantial part of the 2016-17 season due to a training camp injury. When he was healthy, he was his typical great self. I have some doubts about how dynamic he is in terms of his skating and puck skills, but his two-way IQ and high-end vision make him a top-end prospect. He is calm with the puck and is as refined in his positional play as you will find for a player his age. All he does wherever he goes is produce and be an all-situations horse. He should be one of the top defensemen in the CHL next season as well as Canada's No. 1 defenseman at the world juniors.
Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche DOB: 10/30/98 | Ht: 5' 11.25" | Wt: 180 2016-17 stats, Brooks (AJHL): 54 GP | 24 G | 51 A Projected 2017-18 team: UMass (Hockey East)
Makar was lights-out this season in the AJHL, including a dominant performance at the World Junior A Challenge. Makar skates very well, with a good burst out of each stride. He's aggressive jumping into the play and can pressure opponents with his speed. He's also a highly skilled puck handler, with high-end offensive instincts. He can make tough offensive plays with consistency and quarterback a power play with the best of them. His defense was passable at the Junior A level. His size is the main issue, as he has a short wingspan and can struggle to win battles or close gaps.
Daniel Sprong, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins DOB: 3/17/97 | Ht: 6' 0" | Wt: 181 2016-17 stats, Charlottetown (QMJHL): 31 GP | 32 G | 27 A Projected 2017-18 team: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL)
Sprong is basically the entirety of the Penguins' farm system right now and had a strong season in the QMJHL as a 19-year-old, prepping him to compete for a job this fall. He is a game-breaker with high-end speed, puck skills and finishing ability. He can be a little selfish at times, but he's a dynamic shot generator and playmaker. He's not an option to kill penalties or use on a big defensive zone draw, but he'll score a lot of goals and push the play forward.
Klim Kostin, C/LW, St. Louis Blues DOB: 5/05/99 | Ht: 6' 3" | Wt: 196 2016-17 stats, Dynamo Moscow (KHL): 8 GP | 0 G | 0 A Projected 2017-18 team: Chicago (AHL)
Kostin's ice time was limited playing versus men this past season in Russia, but he has impressed in international play the past few years. His skill level is incredible, as he makes tough offensive plays seem easy. He can stick handle in open space, but also excels as a playmaker, making the smart play. He can get caught trying to do too much, but usually reads the ice well and makes the right decision. Kostin's skating isn't high-end, but he skates well for a player his size, and should be average as a pro.
Mikhail Sergachev, D, Tampa Bay Lightning DOB: 6/25/98 | Ht: 6' 3" | Wt: 216 2016-17 stats, Windsor (OHL): 50 GP | 10 G | 33 A Projected 2017-18 team: Tampa Bay (NHL)
Sergachev had an interesting season, playing briefly with the Canadiens in the NHL, being sent back to the OHL, winning a Memorial Cup and then being traded to Tampa Bay for Jonathan Drouin. He was good but not dominant in the OHL. His skating is ridiculous for a big defenseman, as he's able to get up into the rush. He has decent skill, moving the puck more efficiently this season and has a big shot. He doesn't shy away from physical play, and though his defense has shown progress, his D-zone reads and risky plays are remaining issues in his game.
Jordan Kyrou, C/RW, St. Louis Blues DOB: 5/08/98 | Ht: 6' 0" | Wt: 185 2016-17 stats, Sarnia (OHL): 66 GP | 30 G | 64 A Projected 2017-18 team: Sarnia (OHL)
Jordan Kyrou is an elite skater with great hands, who makes dynamic plays on a routine basis. He is among the best in his age group from a skills standpoint. He has never been a well-rounded player though, is indifferent defensively, and can hurt his team with his decision-making. He is a tough prospect to get a proper read on due to the variance in his play, but few players can dominate a shift like Kyrou.
Erik Brannstrom, D, Vegas Golden Knights DOB: 9/02/99 | Ht: 5' 10" | Wt: 173 2016-17 stats, HV 71 (SHL): 35 GP | 1 G | 5 A Projected 2017-18 team: HV71 (SHL)
Brannstrom is a favorite of mine. I've been impressed the past two to three seasons, and I think he has a good pro ceiling. He's a small defenseman at 5-foot-10, but he does a lot well. Brannstrom is a great skater, is gifted on his edges and has a good top gear. He can make plays in open ice because his feet and great vision allow him to make a lot happen despite less-than-fantastic puck skills. His defense could use a little tweaking, as I've seen him make errors he shouldn't, but he has still displayed the ability to play tough minutes.
Philippe Myers, D, Philadelphia Flyers DOB: 1/25/97 | Ht: 6' 5" | Wt: 209 2016-17 stats, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL): 34 GP | 10 G | 25 A Projected 2017-18 team: Lehigh Valley (AHL)
Myers has been everything the Flyers could have hoped when they brought him into camp for a tryout two seasons ago. Defensemen who stand 6-foot-5 and can skate at a pro level are hard to find, and combining that with above-average hockey IQ and capable puck handling ability makes for one heck of a player. Defensively, Myers plays a refined game and displays solid positional play in his own zone. He has all the indicators of being a top-four defenseman in the NHL.
Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW, Winnipeg Jets DOB: 6/01/99 | Ht: 6' 3.25" | Wt: 207 2016-17 stats, Frolunda (SHL): 26 GP | 1 G | 5 A Projected 2017-18 team: HPK (Liiga)
Vesalainen split time between the SHL and Liiga as he struggled to establish himself at either level as a 17-year-old but ended his season on a strong note, being named the MVP of the IIHF under-18 championship. His poor regular season aside, he has a lot of promise. Players who can jet as well as he does at that size are hard to find. His speed and wingspan make him incredibly dangerous, and he has great puck skills. While not a premier playmaker, he is able to generate quite a bit of offense from his creativity, speed and ability to drive the high-percentage areas. On the negative side, he isn't great defensively, and though he can play a power game, he needs to work on being more consistent in puck battles.
Luke Kunin, C, Minnesota Wild DOB: 12/04/97 | Ht: 6' 0" | Wt: 192 2016-17 stats, Wisconsin (Big Ten): 35 GP | 22 G | 16 A Projected 2017-18 team: Minnesota (NHL)
Kunin was good between Wisconsin and as Team USA's captain at the World Juniors, and blew me away as a 19-year-old in the AHL. He's always a coach's favorite who plays a ton of minutes, and is a smart two-way center. He grinds for pucks, skates and handles the puck well, and has a big shot. I don't watch him and see him making highlight-reel plays, but he makes a lot of smart plays. He'll be a reliable NHL player for a long time.
Yamamoto is a plus skater, puck handler and passer. He has great agility on his edges combined with a good top gear. He can create when he is carrying the puck due to his skill, creativity and ability to see the ice. He can come down the wing with speed one shift and quarterback a power play the next. At the WHL level as an 18-year-old, he showed that he could be decent defensively, but the main concern going forward is how he will do away from the puck, given his small size.
Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Minnesota Wild DOB: 1/29/97 | Ht: 6' 2" | Wt: 196 2016-17 stats, Farjestad (SHL): 26 GP | 8 G | 8 A Projected 2017-18 team: Minnesota (NHL)
Eriksson Ek made the Wild to start the 2016-17 season, but a falloff in play landed him in Sweden for one more season -- where he was fantastic in the SHL. Eriksson is a smart two-way center who competes for pucks, and while his skill/speed combo isn't fantastic, he always seems to be making a play thanks to good vision. He projects to be an effective center in the NHL who can be relied on in any situation. He'll be a full-time NHL player this season.
Colin White, C/RW, Ottawa Senators DOB: 1/30/97 | Ht: 6' 1" | Wt: 190 2016-17 stats, Boston College (Hockey East): 35 GP | 16 G | 17 A Projected 2017-18 team: Ottawa (NHL)
White stagnated a little this past season. But even given that stagnation, he remains a legitimate prospect and projects as a two-way center in the NHL. White doesn't wow you on any given shift, but he makes good plays all over the ice. His hockey sense is top-end on both sides of the puck, he has a decent skill set, and is very competitive in puck battles, always seeming to come out on the winning end.
Connor's first half was a little rough, failing to get it going in the NHL (and getting hurt), but he torched the AHL in the second half. He's a great skater who can jet through the neutral zone and is able to gain the offensive zone with control of the puck. He can make the difficult passes, but his game is more about going in straight lines and exposing defenders. His off-puck game hasn't developed the past few seasons, and that will be the major hurdle to becoming a quality NHL player.
Samuel Girard, D, Nashville Predators DOB: 5/12/98 | Ht: 5' 10" | Wt: 161 2016-17 stats, Shawinigan (QMJHL): 59 GP | 9 G | 66 A Projected 2017-18 team: Shawinigan (QMJHL)
There are few players in the CHL with the offensive tools and production of Samuel Girard, who led QMJHL defensemen in scoring for the second straight season. He's one of the most dynamic and entertaining prospects in hockey. He's a quick and agile skater with great hands, and he moves the puck at a high-end level. His defense isn't as good as his offense, in part due to a small, slight frame. Although he can close gaps on his checks, he struggles to win battles.
Ryan Poehling, C, Montreal Canadiens DOB: 1/03/99 | Ht: 6' 1.75" | Wt: 183 2016-17 stats, St. Cloud State (NCHC): 35 GP | 7 G | 6 A Projected 2017-18 team: St. Cloud State (NCHC)
Montreal's first-round pick this summer was one of the youngest players in college hockey this season, skating for St. Cloud State. He was decent at times, with the inconsistencies expected of a 17-year-old going against opponents in their early 20s. Poehling is a smart playmaker down the middle who can score as well. He displays good hand-eye coordination, consistently makes above-average skill plays and can play with pace. His skating isn't fantastic, but he can get through the neutral zone well. Defensively, he thinks the game fine and works hard to win pucks.
Christian Fischer, C/RW, Arizona Coyotes DOB: 4/15/97 | Ht: 6' 2" | Wt: 214 2016-17 stats, Tucson (AHL): 57 GP | 20 G | 27 A Projected 2017-18 team: Tucson (AHL)
The Coyotes surprised some in the business by assigning Christian Fischer to the AHL instead of having him play for a Memorial Cup in the OHL for Windsor, but it looks wise now after Fischer was one of the best teenagers in the AHL of the past 20 year and got some NHL time to boot. He's got a great skill level for a big winger, making creative plays at a pro pace, coupling that with a quality shot and a good power game. He also showed fine defensive play for an under-20 player. Improving his first few steps will be key going forward, but all signs are pointing up for Fischer.
Vitaly Abramov, RW/LW, Columbus Blue Jackets DOB: 5/08/98 | Ht: 5' 9" | Wt: 174 2016-17 stats, Gatineau (QMJHL): 66 GP | 46 G | 58 A Projected 2017-18 team: Gatineau (QMJHL)
Abramov followed a great rookie season in the QMJHL by winning the league MVP in 2016-17. However, what was more impressive was his short stint in the AHL, in which he was one of Cleveland's top players. He has high-end speed and puck skills, and his transition to upper-level physical play was quite impressive for such a small winger. He's trending in the right direction and could make an intriguing NHL camp bid.
Josh Ho-Sang, C/RW, New York Islanders DOB: 1/22/96 | Ht: 6' 0' | Wt: 172 2016-17 stats, Bridgeport (AHL): 50 GP | 10 G | 26 A Projected 2017-18 team: New York (NHL)
The past few seasons, Josh Ho-Sang has bounced between being a top-50 overall prospect to being outside the top 100 in six-month intervals. After a strong showing during the final weeks of the 2016-17 NHL season, he has tilted back toward the optimistic part of his projection. He's a dynamic skater and puck handler who can be a dangerous playmaker at the NHL level. He'll never be a great defender, and he has had a series of issues with coaches at different levels, but he has shown that he can score versus NHL players. Josh Ho-Sang notched four goals and six assists in 21 NHL games in 2016-17. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Kasperi Kapanen, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs DOB: 7/23/96 | Ht: 6' 0" | Wt: 181 2016-17 stats, Toronto (AHL): 43 GP | 18 G | 25 A Projected 2017-18 team: Toronto (NHL)
Kapanen was electric in the AHL while he was just OK in the NHL, but he has the potential to be a scorer at the top level. He has dynamic qualities in his speed and skill, and improved his defensive play to the point where was killing penalties for the Marlies this past season. Kapanen will always be an offense-tilted player who may not win every battle in the NHL, but the overall growth of his game this season is very promising. He's right on the cusp of joining the Leafs on a permanent basis.
Jakub Vrana, LW, Washington Capitals DOB: 2/28/96 | Ht: 5' 11" | Wt: 185 2016-17 stats, Hershey (AHL): 49 GP | 19 G | 17 A Projected 2017-18 team: Washington (NHL)
Vrana had another strong AHL campaign but didn't show a ton of progress from where he was heading into 2016-17. Some scouts argue he seemed bored, but there's also the argument that he didn't assert himself enough, which has been a continuous trend of his game away from the puck. When he's on his game, Vrana is a dynamic winger and one of the most dangerous players in the AHL. He can beat defensemen with his great speed and skill and is able to finish off scoring chances.
Olli Juolevi, D, Vancouver Canucks DOB: 5/05/98 | Ht: 6' 3" | Wt: 198 2016-17 stats, London (OHL): 58 GP | 10 G | 32 A Projected 2017-18 team: London (OHL)
Former No. 5 overall pick Olli Juolevi's season was comparable to his previous campaign, but you expect progression from the 17-year-old season to the 18-year-old season, not stagnation. Juolevi has talent, but doesn't always assert himself offensively, too often being a secondary piece in the attack. His defense has been just fine but not outstanding; while his reads are good, he loses too many battles. Juolevi is a fantastic skater with all the tools to be a successful, two-way NHL defenseman, but he will need to step up his game in 2018-19.
Timothy Liljegren, D, Toronto Maple Leafs DOB: 4/30/99 | Ht: 6' 0" | Wt: 191 2016-17 stats, Rogle (SHL): 19 GP | 1 G | 4 A Projected 2017-18 team: Rogle (SHL)
Timothy Liljegren missed a sizeable chunk of this past season due to mono. When healthy, he has elite talent. He can make the in-tight plays and control the puck in ways that distinguish him as a puck mover. He skates well and can get up in a rush, but his skill and offensive mind elevate him to the highest levels. One negative is that he gives the puck away at times, trying to make one extra play. His defense is OK, but there are times when he is a clear negative on that side on the puck.
Taylor Raddysh, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning DOB: 2/18/98 | Ht: 6' 2" | Wt: 207 2016-17 stats, Erie (OHL): 58 GP | 42 G | 67 A Projected 2017-18 team: Erie (OHL)
Raddysh had a great campaign, putting up giant numbers in the OHL season and playoffs. He was also good at the World Juniors for an underage player, serving as the net-front presence on Canada's top power-play unit. He's a big body who wins a lot of battles, but has a lot of talent to his game. He's got solid hands, above-average vision and a good shot. The issue is a lack of explosiveness in his skating.
Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues DOB: 7/02/99 | Ht: 5' 11.5" | Wt: 188 2016-17 stats, London (OHL): 66 GP | 16 G | 50 A Projected 2017-18 team: London (OHL)
Thomas was consistently impressive this past season, and was an important part of yet another dominant London team in the OHL. He's a smart and skilled center. His coordination and creativity with the puck are top-notch, and he consistently moves the puck into good spaces to generate chances. Thomas can be quite effective on the defensive side of the puck, despite his smaller frame, and was one of London's better penalty killers this season.
Kale Clague, D, Los Angeles Kings DOB: 6/05/98 | Ht: 6' 0" | Wt: 176 2016-17 stats, Brandon (WHL): 48 GP | 5 G | 35 A Projected 2017-18 team: Brandon (WHL)
Clague had a great bounce-back season, being a first-team All-Star in the WHL and returning to the form of a top prospect -- which is why I had him rated in the first round prior to the 2016 draft. He's a mobile defenseman with fine skills, and makes good reads at both ends of the rink. He doesn't take over a game, but he's always noticeable. I expect him to be an impact player again in the WHL and at this year's World Juniors.
Lias Andersson, C, New York Rangers DOB: 10/13/98 | Ht: 5' 11.25" | Wt: 198 2016-17 stats, HV 71 (SHL): 42 GP | 9 G | 10 A Projected 2017-18 team: Frolunda (SHL)
Andersson was a solid piece for HV 71 in the SHL and Sweden's world junior team this season; he has produced wherever he has gone the past few seasons. He won't dazzle with high-end dekes, but there is a lot of skill to Andersson's game. He makes quick decisions, has a quick shot, sees his options well and has good puck skills. Andersson might be below average in size, but he's tough and strong for a player his age, and he can kill penalties adequately.
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks DOB: 11/12/98 | Ht: 6' 2" | Wt: 161 2016-17 stats, Timra (Allsvenskan): 43 GP | 19 G | 22 A Projected 2017-18 team: Vaxjo (SHL)
Pettersson was a significant riser this season, producing at a high level against men in Sweden. Pettersson has very quick hands and a ton of creativity in his game, along with the ability to generate space for himself. He sees the ice well and can make difficult feeds. Pettersson's game isn't perfect. He struggles to win battles due to a wiry frame and lack of intensity. His skating has improved to the point that it's no longer a concern.
Brown had a rough third time in his OHL season, as he struggled with injury issues; when he was playing, he never seemed comfortable. Huge centers who are also dynamic playmakers are incredibly rare. While Brown has his warts -- in that he's not exactly a warrior in the corners or a guy with fantastic defensive skills -- he is a unique type of player who makes unique plays. There's upside here.
Alex DeBrincat, RW, Chicago Blackhawks DOB: 12/18/97 | Ht: 5' 7" | Wt: 165 2016-17 stats, Erie (OHL): 63 GP | 65 G | 62 A Projected 2017-18 team: Rockford (AHL)
DeBrincat continues to put up points in giant bunches. He led the OHL in goals and points and led the OHL playoffs in scoring. There is a lot to love about his game. He has high-end puck skills, plays with fast pace, and has a fantastic shot. The issue for me isn't DeBrincat's 5-foot-7 frame, it is whether he's a good enough skater for that 5-foot-7 frame. To his credit, he battles well and wins more pucks than his frame suggests. His OHL resume suggests a top-end prospect, but when I've seen him at NHL and world junior camps, I haven't seen the same player show up.
"How Bad Could It Be?" - A Great Big Long Look at Team Canada 2018
If you're a Team Canada fan, I'm sure you had the same reaction I did when the NHL stonewalled the idea of top-tier pro players in the next Olympics - a feeling of dread, some minor chest pains, and a couple of stray tears. After hearing the news, I had one big question – how bad could it be? Would Canada get crushed? Would every team be affected equally by the NHL block? Will I wind up drinking myself to death next February? I did some research and made my conclusion – it's not going to be as bad as you may think. To back that up, I made a detailed list of players who may possibly don the maple leaf at next year's Olympics. It isn't easy to make a new national team from scratch. You can't just take a roster from the Spengler or Deutschland Cup tournaments and call it a day. Those rosters are usually just picking players from one or two European leagues at a time – they aren't the best we can do. I'll admit, the talent pool for Canada is pretty shallow once you get out of the NHL. Most of Canada's elite players are under contract with NHL teams, leaving them ineligible to play (there's no word yet if players on NHL contracts playing with farm teams or in junior can play, but that would create one hell of a mess. We're going to assume here that any player with an active NHL contract, whether it's entry-level, two-way or whatever, will be ineligible.) So let's make a trip to the Island of Misfit Toys, and see what Canada has to work with. Before we go over the possible choices, here's some extra context for the Not-Quite-Ready-For-Prime-Time Skaters. The last time Canada was unable to bring NHLers to an Olympics was the 1994 games, held in Lillehammer, Norway. Canada boasted players such as Paul Kariya, who was still a freshman with the Univ. of Maine, and Petr Nedved, who was out of the bigs in the midst of a contract dispute. The bulk of the roster was made of AHL/NHL tweeners and junior players who hadn't yet made their mark on the hockey world. Players like Todd Hlushko and Chris Kontos played big minutes, and Corey Hirsch played every minute of the tourney in net. Nonetheless, Canada made it to the gold medal game, losing to Sweden in the shootout when the world met a kid named Peter Forsberg. There's a precedent for a cobbled-together team of scraps winning a medal. Here's some quick info on the likely makeup of the 2018 team.
Some players will be top prospects who aren't in the NHL just yet. Some players will be from the minor leagues, playing on AHL contracts. Others will be in Europe, suiting up in Russia, Sweden, Finland, Germany and Switzerland. A couple of possible players could be found from the NCAA. This roster will be older than the one in Lillehammer, mostly because it relies on minor-leaguers and European pros more than can't-miss prospects.
The tournament will be played on international-sized ice, giving players experienced with big ice hockey an advantage toward making the team. Also, the surface gives smaller, faster and more skilled players a significant edge over bigger, stronger but slower players.
Hockey Canada tends to lean on players who have represented them in the past, either at World Championships, World Juniors, or smaller events. Experience and good performances with the maple leaf will do wonders for a player's chances.
In the past, Team Canada had to lean on players who were on extended contract holdouts. Nedved in Lillehammer was a prime example. While we haven't seen a good old-fashioned season-long holdout for a long time, the run-up to the Olympics is different. It's possible that some free agents will either sign overseas or with an AHL team as a way to make themselves available for the squad.
As an alternative, Hockey Canada organised an official exhibition team of players in the past who train together and play exhibition games during Olympic years. It's unclear if that type of program will be brought back in time for PyeongChang – after all, the NHL announcement didn't leave anyone with a lot of time. However, bringing back this program and providing a small stipend for interested players could attract higher-quality free agents and give some lesser-known hopeful high-end training and resources.
Allowing non-NHL players with NHL contracts to play would greatly improve Canada's chances, but this roster is made with the assumption that they would be blocked from playing. As a chaser, I'll provide a list at the end of players who will become free agents this summer who could be sniped for this team. I'll also provide a short list of players who have supported, either to the press, to teammates, through Twitter or whatever, the idea of playing in PyeongChang, despite league rules.
Let's start with the forwards.
FORWARDS
Brandon Kozun Will be 27 5'8, 172 Los Angeles, CA (moved to Calgary as a kid) Lokomotiv (KHL) Barring any changes, Kozun will be a crucial part of the Canadian team. He never got his due in the NHL, getting four points in 20 games in bottom-six minutes with a bad Leafs team. His small stature was always going to hold him back in the show. Since leaving to the KHL's larger ice surfaces, he's taken off. 49 points in 58 games last season, 56 in 59 this year, with point-per-game playoff performances. The kid's got game, and a guaranteed KHL contract next season, getting rid of any potential NHL complications. To make things sweeter, Kozun's been money every time he's ever worn a Team Canada sweater, getting 7 points in 6 World Junior games and adding two assists at this year's Deutschland Cup. Jason Akeson Will be 27 5'10, 185 Orleans, ON Binghamton (AHL) Akeson is fast as hell. He's got terrific playmaking skills, and his defensive coverage is okay. The main reason he's never been able to stick in the NHL is simple: he's 5'10, 185, and not strong on the puck. Three big concerns, though: he's never been able to produce in the NHL, scoring only one goal in 15 games; he's never played for Canada before; and he faired poorly in his lone big-size outing, getting only 5 points in 17 games in a KHL stint. He's coming off a barnburner of a year with the Binghamton Sens on an AHL deal, where he's nearly hit a point-per-game. While his performance has been great, he's vulnerable for what I'm going to call a “deal and steal” - he may be offered an NHL deal and accept, therefore making him ineligible for the Games. Mason Raymond Will be 32 6'1, 179 Cochrane, AB Unsigned Hockey fans always knew he had speed to burn. Had offensive upside, too, with two NHL seasons of 40+ points. Not the toughest or strongest player, but given open space, he could be important. Has Spengler Cup and Word Championship experience. Raymond will be a wildcard – he hasn't played professional hockey this season, choosing instead to take care of his wife, who's been suffering from Lyme disease. Personal matters aside, he is clear to play, contract-wise and his skill set could benefit the team if he isn't rusty. Dan Paille Will be 33 6'0, 196 Welland, ON Brynas (SHL) Paille is long past his best-before date, granted. But the former World Junior Captain and Spengler Cup champ can still pull his weight in a bottom-six role. Paille took his game to Sweden this year, where he helped push a stalling Brynas squad into the playoffs. Paille's calling card is his work ethic and energy level, and he still has decent speed. He will fill a leadership role with the team, if selected, possibly serving either as captain or an assistant. To make things slightly better, he plays his best hockey under pressure, winning a Stanley Cup, an OHL title and two World Junior medals to go with the Spengler Cup title. Jordan Szwarz Will be 26 5'11, 201 Burlington, ON Providence (AHL) Szwarz has no Team Canada experience on any level and has never played for a full season on big ice. He has won no major awards and hasn't impressed on an NHL level – 4 goals and no assists in 35 games. So, why is he on the list? Simple – he's scored the most points of any Canadian on an AHL contract this season under age 30, getting 52 points in 60 games. His contract is up this summer, however, and his high level of play could mean a deal and steal. Gilbert Brule Will be 31 5'11, 187 Nizhnekamsk (KHL) It's probably been a looooong time since you've read that name. Yes, I assure you I'm serious. First of all, Gilbert Brule is alive. Secondly, he's actually been pretty good in Russia. He finished this season with 32 points in 37 games with Nizhnekamsk, after getting 10 points in 16 games with Zagreb. Most importantly, he's already got a contract for next year with the team, keeping him eligible. He's still got some energy, speed and offensive touch – whether he can stay healthy, though, is the biggest question. Max Talbot Will turn 34 during Games 5'11, 181 Lemoyne, QC Lokomotiv (KHL) Talbot was the captain of this year's Canadian team at the Deutschland Cup, which is not nothing. Since he left the NHL last year, Talbot has found a home along Brandon Kozun with Loko, with 36 points this year. Talbot has taken on more of a leadership role with Loko and the Deutschland Cup team, and if he's picked, he'll likely do the same in Korea. Talbot has experience with big ice, having played in Finland during the last lockout and playing this season in Russia. He's also played for Canada before, both at the U17s and World Juniors. Oh, and he's got a Cup-winning goal. Justin Azevedo Will be 29 5'7, 174 West Lorne, ON Kazan (KHL) Azevedo is living proof that good things can come in small packages. The former CHL player of the year has been in Europe for five years now, spending most of that time with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL. While his offensive output decreased this year, his compete level hasn't. He can thread the needle with a good pass and possesses an incredible set of hands. He's used to the big ice and played U17 and U18 hockey for Team Canada. He's as close to a lock for this team as we can get. Francis Pare Will be 30 5'10, 190 Lemoyne, QC Geneve-Servette (NLA) Pare won't be in danger of a deal-and-steal; he's already signed Russia for next year. The former KHL All-Star, Gagarin Cup champion, QMJHL MVP and Calder Cup winner grew up in the same town as Max Talbot, and now has a chance to play with him again. Pare was on this year's winning Canadian team at the Spengler Cup. Pare can play all three forward positions, and can protect the puck quite well, despite his size. Curtis Valk Will turn 25 during Games 5'9, 170 Medicine Hat, AB Utica (AHL) Valk is another small dynamo. He's had a good year with Utica, going 69-16-28-44 this year on an AHL contract. Potential deal-and-steal aside, he's a dark horse pick for two reasons – he's never played for Canada and ever set foot on European ice. That being said, he's versatile, able to fit anywhere on the top four lines and can find the net. Wojtek Wolski Will turn 32 during Games 6'3, 220 Zabrze, POL (grew up in Toronto) Magnitogorsk (KHL) Wolski is a rare quantity – a big forward who's proven to be useful on big ice. He's spent four years in Siberia, literally, putting up better point totals each year until this season. Then, things changed. Wolski broke his neck in an ugly head-first collision with the boards early in the year, wiping him out for the season. He hasn't played since. If he's healthy, his knowledge of big ice play and his incredible individual skill will be useful, as well as his size and surprising toughness. If he can't suit up, Canada will need to hunt hard for a similar player. Luke Adam Will be 27 6'2, 207 St. John's, NL Mannheim (DEL) A poor man's Wojtek Wolski, Adam is adapting well to the European game. He spent his first year on big ice with the German league's Adler Mannheim, where he put up good offensive numbers. Adam was dominant at the World Juniors for Canada seven years ago, with 8 points in 6 games, but never got it going long-term in the NHL. He's under contract for another two seasons. Andrew Ebbett Will be 35 5'9, 176 Vernon, BC Bern (NLA) This is a bit of a reach, but hey – this whole team is a bit of a reach. Ebbett is doing fine in Switzerland with a good team but is getting up there in age. He's a jack of all trades, but master of none. His main attraction is how he played at this year's Spengler Cup. Wearing the maple leaf for the first time, Ebbett tore ass in Davos, scoring 8 points in 5 games. Don't count him out – pencil him in for a depth spot. Matt Ellison Will be 34 5'11, 231 Duncan, BC Minsk (KHL) Two-way player with tonnes of European and big ice experience. He's been in Europe since 2008, playing in the KHL and NLA. Ellison is a Swiss Army Knife on skates, playing all three forward spots and shifting his game to what is required. He's even got some offensive upside, flirting with point-per-game numbers for the past three years in the K. Bud Holloway Will be 29 6'0, 214 Wapella, SK Skelleftea (SHL) I want to see him make it, just so Canada can be represented by someone named Bud. Bud signed a deal with Montreal in 2015, hoping for an NHL shot after tearing apart Europe for four years. He didn't stick, but led his AHL team with 61 points, then left for the K before going back to Sweden. Holloway has played 16 games for Canada and has won two Swedish titles. He's got some size, strength, and can lead a team into battle if needed. He could be a great tool for Team Canada. Derek Roy Will be 34 5'9, 187 Ottawa, ON Chelyabinsk (KHL) Two seasons removed from being an NHL 30-point scorer and a decade from his point-per-game peak, Roy will not be – or at least, should not be – relied on as an offensive threat. His main purpose would be as an experienced leader. Roy played at the World Juniors, World Championship, Spengler and Deutschland Cup, and has done well in each. His current play isn't encouraging. He's coming off a KHL season where he scored only 22 points in 65 games. Even by our new, much lower standards, that still sucks. Rob Klinkhammer Will be 31 6'3, 214 Lethbridge, AB Minsk (KHL) Klinkhammer has made a good niche for himself in the K as a power forward, finishing with 38 points and 65 penalty minutes. Nobody's ever going to mistake Klink for a top-flight sniper, but he will certainly be useful in a bottom six role. He's deceptively fast for his size, possesses good hockey IQ and can use his size to win crucial corner battles. His biggest hurdle: he's never played a second for Team Canada at any level. For a player with his skill set, that's not surprising, but it might be enough to keep him off the ice in PyeongChang. Nick Petersen Will be 28 6'3, 196 Wakefield, QC Berlin (DEL) Five years in Germany have treated Petersen pretty well. A larger player, he can play a strong puck-possession game and his skating isn't bad. He's strong in front of the net. All these things could help him make the final squad – especially since there don't seem to be a lot of players Petersen's size in contention. Kevin Clark will be 30 5'9, 172 Winnipeg, MB Brynas (SHL) He's scrappy, and fast as hell and can find the net quick. The biggest knock on Clark is his size. Even on this team, which will likely be shorter than average, Clark is basically fun-sized. His Spengler and Deutschland Cup experience and four full seasons abroad will be important for his bid for ice-time. That's 19 players. I don't know who will be named, but given the state of affairs, I'd expect most of them to be on Team Canada in PyeongChang. There are some other options at forward, including CHL stars who haven't signed contracts with the teams that drafted them. WHL scoring whiz Adam Brooks hasn't signed with the Leafs yet, and Erie Otter set-up man extraordinaire Taylor Raddysh hasn't yet hooked up with Tampa. Despite being picked last summer by Florida and Buffalo, Adam Mascherin and Cliff Pu also haven't signed. If none of the four signs a deal before next February, they're all good to go. Draft-eligible players like Nolan Patrick, Gabe Vilardi, Owen Tippett, Nick Suzuki and Mike Rasmussen could also join in. However, I wouldn't bet on most of them hitting the ice in Korea – no team will wait until late February to sign a lottery pick, after all. I've got my eye on two NCAA players, too. Union Dutchman Spencer Foo will be heading into his senior year, while Dylan Sikura will do the same with Northeastern. Foo led all Canadian college players with 62 points in 38 games (yes, you read that right) while Sikura ended with 57 points in 38 games. Foo is undrafted - the Hawks snagged Sikura with a late pick in 2014. Since both are active college players, neither has an NHL contract. So that's the forward corps. Let's move back, shall we?
DEFENSEMEN
Marc-Andre Gragnani Will be 30 6'3, 205 L'Ile-Bizard, QC Minsk (KHL) Gragnani will likely be the defensive anchor for this team. He's played at the U18 level and at the World Championships for Team Canada and has three seasons of big-ice play under his belt. Excellent on the powerplay when given space, which he will have in abundance. Has decent speed, terrific passing skills, and isn't afraid to use his size when needed. Chris Lee Will be 37 5'11, 185 MacTier, ON Magnitogorsk (KHL) On the surface, Lee is everything you're always taught to avoid in a defenseman. He's small, not very physical, and can sometimes make mistakes in his own end. He's poised to be one of the team's oldest players, too. So what's the biggest thing about Lee? Offense. He's 100% pure, unbridled power-play energy, and has two Gagarin Cups to show for it. Lee's been a hockey journeyman since his college days, but scored more than a point-per-game as a defenseman on a KHL club that could challenge a few NHL sides. He's played in two Deutschland Cups, giving him a small, but not ignorable, amount of experience. Ryan O'Connor Will be 26 5'11, 192 Hamilton, ON HIFK (FIN) Another smaller defender, O'Connor has four years of European play under his belt and is a key figure on one of Finland's top teams. He has a solid two-way game and some U18 Team Canada experience. Unlike Lee, O'Connor is a good hitter and can defend himself against bigger players if needed. One wildcard issue comes up in his past, however – O'Connor was once suspended in junior for a doping offence. While that was long ago and he's long since paid his debt, it may be a red flag to those picking the team, especially under strict IOC doping standards. Colby Robak Will be 27 6'3, 194 Gilbert Plains, MB Utica (AHL) Robak is currently on an AHL deal with the Canucks' farm team in Utica. While he hasn't impressed in limited NHL time, the defensive-minded Robak has had a good year with Utica, with 25 points in 58 games at the time I wrote this. The deal-and-steal issue is up in the air. He played for Canada's U18 team but has little experience with big ice and his footspeed might be a problem. Jonathon Sigalet Will be 32 6'1, 203 Vancouver, BC Frolunda (SHL) Great skater with good size, a good physical player, and decent at both power plays and penalty killing. Sigalet spent this year with Frolunda in Sweden, where he's still in the thick of a playoff hunt. He played with the U18 Canada program in 2004 but only made his second appearance this season at the Deutschland Cup. Sigalet did okay, finishing with two points in three games, but his defensive play caught the eye of national team Svengali and former Olympic coach Dave King. King knows talent when he sees it – expect this guy to be in the mix. Geoff Kinrade Will be 32 6'0, 185 Nelson, BC Nizhnekamsk (KHL) Seven-year European veteran Kinrade knows how to play big-ice defence. It's as simple as that. Another of King's favourite sons, Kinrade managed to help out some pretty bad teams in Zagreb before getting his due with better KHL squads. Kinrade has Spengler and Deutschland Cup experience, which will prove valuable. Kinrade's skating, passing, two-way game and physical play will be his biggest calling cards. Mark Katic Will be 28 5'10, 181 Timmins, ON Skelleftea (SHL) Katic will be one of the top skaters on a team full of good skaters. That will be his way in, along with being able to play well both on the power-play and penalty kill. Katic is one of those mythical talents who just never got the call – after an incredible offensive season in the AHL as a 22-year-old, Katic missed most of the next year hurt before bolting for Europe. A former Canada U17 and U18 player, Katic also has Spengler and Deutschland experience, as well as five good years in Europe. Andre Benoit Will be 34 5'11, 192 St. Albert, ON Malmo (SHL) Benoit is another small, smooth-skating offensive defender. What sets him apart from the others is that he's been able to produce in the NHL. Benoit pumped in 28 points in bottom-four minutes on a below-average Avs team three years ago, but a bad run in Buffalo and getting stuck in St. Louis sent him back to Europe. Chay Genoway Will be 31 5'9, 176 Morden, MB Jokerit (KHL) I know, another small defenseman on the wrong side of 30 – stop me if you've heard this before. Genoway will be stuck in the pack, much like Benoit and the others, with his spot depending on his own performance in the run-up to the event. Genoway's earned rave reviews from Dave King, however, which could be big for him making the final team. Mat Robinson Will be 31 5'9, 185 Calgary, AB Dynamo Moscow (KHL) Last little guy, I swear. Robinson will be one of the best options out of the Lollipop Guild logjam that's forming on the Team Canada defence. Robinson is a two-time KHL All-Star who runs one of the league's top power-play units. He doesn't make many mistakes defensively. He'll be an interesting figure to watch. Stefan Elliott Will be 27 6'1, 190 Vancouver, BC Kazan (KHL) Holy crap, a defenseman who's taller than six feet? AND he doesn't completely stink? Well, don't ask too much. He's an okay two-way option, but hasn't played well for Canada in the past and hasn't adapted well to the big ice. If he makes the team, expect him to be on the bottom pair. Dante Fabbro Will be 19 6'1, 192 New Westminster, BC Boston U (NCAA) Here's a wildcard who could legitimately earn a spot. Fabbro tore up the college ranks and had a strong World Junior performance this year. He's still eligible for this year's World Juniors but may find himself on the biggest stage. He's got few weak points in his game, including his skating, shot, and in-zone defence. The deal-and-steal problem exists, though. If he signs with Nashville this summer, he's out, and Canada will have to look elsewhere for a young D talent. Shawn Lalonde Will be 27 6'1, 205 Orleans, ON Koln (DEL) One key thing held Lalonde back from the NHL – he was a Blackhawks defensive prospect at a time where making Chicago's roster was tougher than walking across the Atlantic. Five years later, Lalonde has become one of Europe's top defenders. He's topped 30 points in every season he's played in Germany, and usually tops 100 penalty minutes. Lalonde has played four games in his career for Team Canada, each as a teenager at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. He can fit anywhere in the defensive scheme for the team, which will be very, very valuable. Cam Barker Will be 31 6'3, 218 Winnipeg, MB Astana (KHL) Just hear me out, okay? Barker's experience with Team Canada is more extensive than most people on this list, having played 18 games for the team at various levels. He's done rather well since leaving for the KHL. He can play physically and can play solid offence. Two problems will follow him, though – his less-than-stellar speed and his occasionally sloppy defensive play. Top prospects Callan Foote, Nic Hague, and Junior A prodigy Cale Makar could all stand a legitimate chance of making the final squad, especially the first two, who can adapt to shutdown roles. Makar, another undersized offensive defenseman, stands less of a chance than the others, but shouldn't be ruled out.
GOALIES
Ben Scrivens Will be 31 6'2, 181 Spruce Grove, AB Minsk (KHL) Not the best goalie in the world, but on this limited list, he's a damn fine option. Scrivens fared well as a Team Canada netminder at the 2014 Worlds and is coming off a strong season in the crease for KHL side Dinamo Minsk. The main issue with Scrivens, obviously, is consistency. On any given night, one of two Scrivens' can show up: either the one who can steal you a game and make 50+ saves, or the one who lets in goals from the red line. He's a high-risk, high-reward proposition. Danny Taylor Will be 31 6'0, 198 Plymouth, GBR (grew up in Ontario) Novosibirsk (KHL) Taylor, much like several of the other players on this list, has put up good numbers everywhere he's played – OHL, ECHL, AHL, DEL, SHL, and now the KHL – but never broke through. He played his first Team Canada hockey at this year's Deutschland Cup. He's also coming off an incredible season in the KHL, where he finished with a .936 SV% over the full season. He's got a terrific butterfly and glove and moves quickly around the crease. Barry Brust Will be 34 6'2, 227 Swan River, MB Slovan (KHL) There really isn't a goalie around quite like Batshit Barry. He's an old-school guy who plays on reflex, great puck-handling and high-risk moves, and isn't afraid of some fisticuffs. Think a poor man's Hasek with Ron Hextall's mean streak. He'd be very fun to watch, but could easily become a liability for the team. He's only played for Canada once, at this year's Deutschland Cup, where he didn't do well. Tanner Jaillet Will be 24 5'11, 174 Red Deer, AB Univ. of Denver (NCAA) This one's off the board, but an interesting choice. He's young, he's small, but he gets results. The former Fort McMurray Oil Baron goalie is finishing up his junior year with the Denver Pioneers, where he stoned the whole country cold, giving up less than two goals per game and winning the NCHC goalie of the year award. He's also been a key part of getting his team to the Frozen Four, Kevin Poulin Will be 27 6'2, 205 Montreal, QC Astana (KHL) Poulin started the year playing semi-pro in Quebec but spent the rest of the season with the KHL's lone Kazakh team. Poulin is one of the youngest legitimate options on the table, but he's never played for Canada and had a fairly lousy season. His experience with big ice is negligible, and his NHL experience hasn't been great. Chet Pickard Will be 28 6'2, 216 Winnipeg, MB Iserlohn (DEL) A former World Junior and first-round flameout, Pickard has found order in the German League. Pickard first headed to Europe after a disastrous season in the ECHL five years ago and has settled in well. He's a big goalie who uses his frame well. He's not that fast, but his agility problems are offset by terrific position. He may have an outside shot at the gig, depending on his performance next season. Leland Irving Will be 29 6'0, 176 Barrhead, AB KooKoo (FIN) Irving suited up this season for a team with one of the best names in hockey. Irving was briefly the 'next great hope' for Canadian goaltending, backstopping Team Canada both at the World Juniors and the Canada-Russia Super Series (not so super if you're Russian, as it turned out). Irving never stuck in the NHL, but he may be able to use his solid positional game to earn a spot on the squad – if he can focus and give up fewer timely goals. Now, I can understand if you read all that and thought, “Dear God... this is awful.” First off, it actually isn't as bad as you think. Secondly, if NHL help is needed, there have been some players who have intimated that they'd be willing to go.
REBELS
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Mark Scheifele, Kris Letang and Carey Price have all come out in support of playing in PyeongChang and future Olympics. None have explicitly said they would break league rules to play – they'd be foolish to do that – but if there's a possible way to smuggle them out, Hockey Canada will find it. In addition to these four possible insurgents, there are multiple players whose contracts run out this year who may be willing to make a move.
POTENTIAL FA's
Joe Thornton and Chris Kunitz both have Olympic golds from Sochi, and each is getting up there in age. Despite a great year, Kris Versteeg isn't guaranteed an NHL contract next year. Daniel Winnik and Mike Ribeiro are both serviceable vets who will look for work, while Curtis McElhinney could become a candidate in the crease. In addition to those guys, Jonathon Drouin, Scott Laughton and Gabriel Bourque all have expiring deals, and while they'll likely be re-signed or joining an NHL team, you never know.
IN CONCLUSION
I don't pretend to know who Hockey Canada is looking at for the next Olympic team. All I know is that these are likely the best guys to fill that void, in absences of NHL players. I don't think it'll be the end of the world - in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Canada got onto the podium with a roster like this. Keep in mind, the NHL block will hurt countries like the US, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic and Germany just as much as Canada. Besides, the thought of seeing players who would not be able to play for their countries under normal circumstances could make for very entertaining play. So, to answer the question I asked myself waaaaay up there at the top - you know, "how bad could it be?" The short answer is it'll be alright. You just read the long answer.
Hey guys! Back again with the prospect updates. If you want to check out old threads, look no further: World Juniors recap Dec 3 Nov 18 Nov 4 Oct 20 Oct 6 Ok so now onto the prospects. First I will explain what is in the table. For some of the stats, I have the value itself, and then also their ranking on their team in that stat in parentheses. So for example, for shots per game you would see 4 (5), which would mean they take 4 shots a game on average, and that ranks fifth on the team. For defensive prospects, you will see both their team rank and the rank among defenseman on the team. Using shots per game as an example, if you saw 4 (5,2), that would mean they take 4 shots a game on average, which ranks fifth on the team as a whole, and ranks second among defenseman on the team. Additionally, with TOI/GP, the rankings will read (team rank, rank for forwards/defenseman).
Player
Position
League
GP
G
A
P
TOI/GP
S/GP
P/60
Notes
Eeli Tolvanen
LW
KHL
39
17 (1)
15 (T3)
32 (1)
16:11 (9,4)
3.7 (2)
3.04 (1)
Tolvanen is back from the world juniors tied for the most points by a teenager in the KHL. Jokerit has eight games remaining in their schedule, so Tolvanen will likely take sole possession of the number one spot. He should be back with the team for their next game on Tuesday.
Pavel Koltygin
LW
QMJHL
40
11 (7)
21 (T3)
32 (T7)
15:32 (9,4)
1.91 (9)
2.98 (3)
Drummondville recently traded for 2018 potential top ten pick Joe Veleno. I don’t know if Veleno will play with Koltygin, but Koltygin should play will some better players now on their second line.
Jacob Paquette
D
OHL
34
3 (T8,T1)
6 (11,4)
9 (9,2)
N/A
()
N/A
Paquette is a defensive defenseman on Kingston’s top defensive pairing
Victor Ejdsell
C
SHL
29
10 (2)
8 (T5)
18 (T2)
2.34 ()
14:43 (10,6)
2.53 (2)
Ejdsell had a big three point game in his most recent game
Rem Pitlick
RW
NCAA
23
9 (1)
12 (T2)
21 (1)
N/A
2.7 (2)
N/A
Corey Pronman had this to say o Rem Pitlick: “Pitlick has been an important player for the Golden Gophers, leading their team in goals and points despite playing alongside elite prospect Casey Mittelstadt. Pitlick is a great skater who can play a skilled game at a quick tempo and finish chances.”
Patrick Harper
LW
NCAA
20
8 (T2)
13 (T1)
21 (1)
N/A
1.8 (9)
N/A
Harper returns to BU to play this weekend after scoring a goal in the Bronze medal game for the USA at the WJC.
Grant Mismash
LW
NCAA
20
5 (T5)
9 (T2)
14 (T3)
N/A
2.25 (5)
N/A
Tommy Novak
C
NCAA
22
2 (T11)
16 (1)
18 (2)
N/A
1.82 (7)
N/A
Dante Fabbro
D
NCAA
18
4 (6,2)
8 (6,2)
12 (7,2)
N/A
2.72 (6,2)
N/A
David Farrance
D
NCAA
17
0
2 (T12,T5)
2 (T15,T6,)
N/A
1.59 (12,5)
N/A
Farrance has struggled in his first year of collegiate hockey. He needs to improve his defensive game and become more consistent offensively if he wants to even get a contract.
Emil Pettersson
C
AHL
30
8 (4)
17 (T1)
25 (2)
N/A
1.8 (6)
N/A
Emil Pettersson made the AHL all-star team, and will be the only skater representative for the Milwaukee Admirals (Goalie Anders Lindback will also be at the all-star game).
Anthony Richard
C
AHL
33
9 (3)
7 (T9)
16 (6)
N/A
2.06 (5)
N/A
Trevor Murphy
D
AHL
34
3 (T9,1)
17 (T1,1)
20 (4,1)
N/A
2.76 (1,1)
N/A
Alexandre Carrier
D
AHL
34
2 (T14,T2)
10 (T5,2)
12 (T7,2)
N/A
1.18 (16,6)
N/A
Tyler Moy
C
AHL
33
4 (T7)
5 (T13)
9 (12)
N/A
1 (18)
N/A
Jack Dougherty
D
AHL
23
1 (T18,T5)
6 (T11,3)
7 (T14,T3)
N/A
1.26 (T14,5)
N/A
Yakov Trenin
LW
AHL
15
3 (T9)
4 (T17)
7 (T14)
N/A
1.27 (13)
N/A
Justin Kirkland
LW
AHL
33
0
6 (T11)
6 (T17)
N/A
1.12 (17)
N/A
Frederic Allard
D
AHL
23
2 (T14,T2)
5 (T13,4)
7 (T14,T3)
N/A
1.65 (8,3)
N/A
Joonas Lyytinen
D
ECHL
9
4
2
6
N/A
N/A
Lyytinen does not have any ranks on his stats because the Predators switched ECHL’s teams, so his ranks would be disingenuous. Next update he will have ranks.
Hardy Haman Aktell
D
SuperElit
1
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
N/A
Some big news for Hardy Haman Aktell, as he played his first game in well over a year on Saturday.
For GAA and save percentage, the two numbers are league rank/total goalies in the league. So (10,30) would mean the 10th best GAA out of 30 goalies in the league.
Player
League
Gp
GAA
Sv%
Notes
Konstantin Volkov
MHL
15
2.06 (13,68)
0.917 (27,68)
N/A
Tomas Vomacka
USHL
19
2.62 (13,36)
.909 (13,36)
N/A
Karel Vejmelka
Czech
10
2.1 (6,35)
0.924 (8,35)
N/A
I wanted to get this up today, so the schedule won’t be posted at the same time. Expect it at the latest tomorrow (Monday) morning. You can find it here
Hey guys! Back again with the prospect updates. If you want to check out old threads, look no further: Jan 7 World Juniors recap Dec 3 Nov 18 Nov 4 Oct 20 Oct 6 Ok so now onto the prospects. First I will explain what is in the table. For some of the stats, I have the value itself, and then also their ranking on their team in that stat in parentheses. So for example, for shots per game you would see 4 (5), which would mean they take 4 shots a game on average, and that ranks fifth on the team. For defensive prospects, you will see both their team rank and the rank among defenseman on the team. Using shots per game as an example, if you saw 4 (5,2), that would mean they take 4 shots a game on average, which ranks fifth on the team as a whole, and ranks second among defenseman on the team. Additionally, with TOI/GP, the rankings will read (team rank, rank for forwards/defenseman).
Player
Position
League
GP
G
A
P
TOI/GP
S/GP
P/60
Notes
Eeli Tolvanen
LW
KHL
49
19 (T1)
17 (5)
36 (2)
15:54 (11,4)
3.5 (1)
2.77 (1)
As I am sure you guys know, Tolvanen lit up the Olympics over the past couple of weeks. He returned to Helsinki and finished off the KHL regular season with 2 goals in 2 games, as well as setting the U19 goal scoring record in the KHL (previously in a tie with Kuznetsov). Jokerit’s playoff campaign begins this Saturday.
Pavel Koltygin
LW
QMJHL
55
15 (T6)
23 (T6)
38 (7)
14:18 (12,7)
1.84 (7)
2.9 (3)
Drummondville has added some offensive pieces gearing up for the playoffs, and Koltygin has seen himself fall down the lineup. He is still producing well given his minutes (as you can see with him being third on the team in P/60), but he has actually seen a drop in production this year compared to his draft year, which is generally a bad sign.
Jacob Paquette
D
OHL
54
3 (T18,4)
9 (16,5)
12 (17,4)
NA
1.02 (19,5)
NA
Paquette was in a similar situation as Koltygin. Kingston added a lot of pieces for the playoff push, and Paquette saw his role fall from a top pairing defenseman to a bottom four defensemen. Paquette still has a very good defensive game for the OHL, but the lack of any offensive improvement this season cast doubt on any NHL potential.
Dante Fabbro
D
NCAA
32
9 (4,1)
17 (T2,1)
26 (T4,1)
NA
2.66 (6,2)
NA
Fabbro has had a huge sophomore season. He is sixth in defensive scoring for underclassmen, and the only player in the same area with defensive ability near Fabbro’s is Harvard defenseman and Flames prospect Adam Fox. Fabbro is BU’s #1, and he has been their rock defensively the past month with Chad Krys out. Don’t be surprised to see him challenge for a roster spot this summer.
Rem Pitlick
RW
NCAA
36
11 (3)
15 (3)
26 (T1)
NA
2.69 (1)
NA
Pitlick has had a solid sophomore season at Minnesota. He has mainly played on a line with Mittelstadt, so take his production with a slight grain of salt. However, he did produce at near point per game pace the previous season.
Patrick Harper
LW
NCAA
20
8 (5)
13 (5)
21 (7)
NA
1.8 (9)
NA
Patrick Harper was recently ruled out for the rest of the season with an illness. By per game metrics, Harper is the leader on BU in nearly all offensive statistics. He has some of the best hands I have seen on a player at his age. However, to temper expectations a little, he is small (both height and weight), and isn’t the most physical player, which leads me to believe he will be a top six or bust type of player. Now having said that, Harper made major strides forward in his defensive game this season compared to last season.
Tommy Novak
C
NCAA
32
3 (T11)
23 (1)
26 (T1)
NA
1.75 (T7)
NA
Novak is a slick passer and a great playmaker. I wouldn’t be surprised if Poile signs him when his college season is over and he gets some playing time with Milwaukee. His puck control is fantastic and he has usually play in a depth role but still produces at a first line clip.
Grant Mismash
LW
NCAA
32
8 (5)
12 (T4)
20 (5)
NA
2.44 (4)
NA
Mismash has mainly played in UND’s middle six, often with subpar players. His point totals aren’t fantastic, but I really like Mismash. He has a ton of skill, and he is also super gritty (think Hartman). I wouldn’t be surprised if he breaks out in a big way next season when he is a consistent part of UND’s top line.
David Farrance
D/LW
NCAA
25
1 (T16)
5 (T13)
6 (15)
NA
1.4 (14)
NA
Farrance has had a rough first year at BU. Farrance often found himself in a bottom pairing role or even out of the lineup at times due to BU’s defensive depth. For the past month or so, Farrance has been playing on the wing on the third line, and has looked fine. He has the offensive skill to be a good defenseman, but his defensive game needs major work.
Emil Pettersson
C
AHL
51
10 (T5)
24 (1)
34 (T1)
NA
1.75 (6)
NA
Pettersson along with Gaudreau and maybe others will likely be the first call-up from Milwaukee if the Preds get decimated by injuries up front.
Anthony Richard
C
AHL
54
12 (4)
12 (9)
24 (7)
NA
1.89 (5)
NA
Richard is 30 in primary point production, 34 in point production, and 24 in shot production for players in the AHL 20 or younger (per game stats).
Alexandre Carrier
D
AHL
55
3 (T14,T2)
19 (2,1)
22 (T8,2)
NA
1.36 (17,6)
NA
Carrier has mainly been on the Admirals top pairing, playing with Jimmy Oligny. Carrier is also seventh in the AHL for defenseman point production by defenseman 20 or younger.
Justin Kirkland
LW
AHL
54
5 (T10)
9 (T10)
14 (T10)
NA
1.35 (18)
NA
NA
Yakov Trenin
LW
AHL
29
3 (T15)
7 (T13)
10 (16)
NA
1.69 (8)
NA
Trenin has dealt with injuries throughout this season, and has usually found himself in the bottom six.
Tyler Moy
C
AHL
52
5 (T10)
8 (11)
13 (12)
NA
1.02 (22)
NA
NA
Jack Dougherty
D
AHL
42
1 (T21,T6)
7 (T13,4)
8 (18,5)
NA
1.24 (21,7)
NA
Dougherty only has three primary points on the season, which is pretty shit for any player in any league.
Frederic Allard
D
AHL
41
4 (T13,2)
10 (10,3)
14 (T10,3)
NA
1.51 (14,4)
NA
Allard is third in defensive point production and shot generation for defenseman under the age of 20 in the AHL, and around Carrier's spots when you expand it to defenseman 21 or younger.
Joonas Lyytinen
D
AHL
24
1
3
4
NA
1.42
NA
NA
Hardy Haman Aktell
D
SuperElit
9
1
1
2
NA
NA
NA
NA
For GAA and save percentage, the two numbers are league rank/total goalies in the league. So (10,30) would mean the 10th best GAA out of 30 goalies in the league.
Player
League
Gp
GAA
Sv%
Notes
Konstantin Volkov
MHL
23
1.65 (3,78)
0.933 (T3,78)
Volkov has killed the last half of the season, shooting up to one of the top five goalies in the league.
Tomas Vomacka
USHL
32
3.01 (16,36)
.897 (22,36)
N/A
Karel Vejmelka
Czech
10
2.1 (6,35)
0.924 (8,35)
N/A
There will not be a schedule posted for this update, as seasons are starting to wrap up, and playoff schedules aren’t released yet for many teams. In terms of future updates, expect one around mayish that will include player stats, my personal projection of them for the next season as well as NHL potential, and where our prospect pool stands. Also expect a post shortly before the draft detailing what kinds of holes we need to fill in the upcoming draft, and players that could fill those holes given where we pick.
North American players starting in the KHL this year
Data taken from EliteProspects.com's KHL transactions page. It only shows guys going directly from a North American team last season to the KHL this season.
Finnish ice hockey club Ilves receive 100,000€ fine for signing free agent M. Keränen because he played in Jokerit during the season.
Finnish Elite League "Liiga" has given 100,000€ fine for Ilves due signing Michael Keränen. Keränen started season at KHL in Jokerit but Jokerit fired him. Ilves signed him as a free agent and now league has given them fine. Reason for fine is that league has made rule about signing players from Jokerit because they want to keep their league as "healthy". They dont want Jokerit to use their leagues teams as a farm team so any of the Elite league teams aren't allowed to sign players that has played for Jokerit during the season. TLDR: M. Keränen got fired from Jokerit (KHL) and Ilves (Liiga) signed him as a free agent. Ilves got fined for 100,000€ because league has their own rule about signing players that have played for Jokerit during season. Source (In Finnish): http://yle.fi/urheilu/3-9439215
2018-19 Rookie Class Player Profiles 1/35: Eeli Tolvanen
Welcome to a series of posts about the 2018-19 rookie class. These posts will be released on a daily basis and will contain information regarding players that will potentially be released on hockey cards as rookies for the upcoming season. I will also be predicting the value of each player based on a few attributes. My method of predicting the value of cards has to do with a few principles.
How many points a player has in his last season, depending on where he played. If he’s over PPG he is more likely to be worth more.
His nationality. If he is Canadian or American, he will usually be more expensive than if he’s European. (See William Nylander and Mitch Marner)
What team he plays on. If the player is on the Leafs or Canucks, he will be more sought after than if he is on the Coyotes or Sharks.
What position he plays. If he is a forward or goalie, he will likely be more expensive than if he’s a defenseman.
When he was drafted. If he was drafted early in the first round, he will likely be more expensive than if he was drafted in the second round or even if he was undrafted. Top 5 picks will be worth more than top 20 picks, etc.
How old he is. Players under 20 are more sought after than if they are over 20.
Now onto the post. Today’s player is Eeli Tolvanen. EliteProspects Page Eeli Tolvanen is a Finnish winger drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 1st Round, 30th overall. He is considered to be one of the top goal scorers of this rookie class by many and showed he can score by potting 19 goals in 49 games in the KHL in 2017-18 against men (the KHL is widely considered to be the second best league in the world.) Tolvanen previously played for Sioux City in the USHL for 2 years and has represented Finland at the U17, U18 and U20 levels. Tolvanen’s impressive 2017-18 campaign with Jokerit of the KHL led the Nashville Predators to sign him to an entry level contract and give him 3 games of NHL experience before the season ended. Tolvanen has been promoted by Upper Deck when they released the card concepts on the UD Canvas Young Gun art, guaranteeing we will see him sometime this year as a Young Guns card. Predicting his price
Tolvanen had 36 points in his last season in 49 games against men. He played 3 games for Nashville and got 0 points.
Tolvanen is Finnish.
Tolvanen plays for Nashville, a team without a huge following.
Tolvanen is a forward. This will likely increase his value.
Tolvanen is a first round pick.
Tolvanen is under 20 years old and will still be under 20 when the season begins.
Conclusion: Tolvanen is a great young prospect and any team would love to have him. A comparable to him would be Sebastian Aho. Aho was picked 5 picks after Tolvanen at 35th overall in 2015 and scored 45 points in the Finnish league in 45 games. He is also of Finnish nationality and plays for a team with a small market albeit smaller than the Nashville market. I believe Tolvanen will be a slightly expensive card and his Young Guns will be worth around 10-15$ based on this criteria. Tl;dr: Eeli Tolvanen is a good prospect and his value can be compared to that of Sebastian Aho. He will likely be worth around 10-15$. Tomorrow’s player: Lias Andersson
While rooting around the internet to find out just which of the international league's teams were still active in their respective league's playoffs, so that I could fade the eliminated team-logos, I realised there's a great amount of playoff hockey happening all around Europe that most of us aren't watching. It would be fun to change that. So here's a roundup of the highest ranking European leagues and their current playoffs status.
Jokerit. Jokerit Hockey Club Oy Areenankuja 1, FIN-00240 Helsinki Tel. +358 (0)204 1990 Fax. +358 (0)204 1992 [email protected] Interview with Scott Arnold, Team GB chat, Zach Sullivan comes out as Elite League host first pride weekend and we have all the normal features Timestamps 00:30 Caitlin's travel issues 02:30 Scott Arnold Interview 48:00 Caitlin's Canadian adventure including covering CHL prospect game 58:50 Corey Pronman general nice dude and shoutout 1:01:25 AHL Prospect of the Week and AHL Player of the To state, Jokerit, founded in 1967, is a powerhouse in Finnish ice hockey, both sport- ingly and financially. The commercialization of Finnish elite ice hockey culminated in 2014/2015 when Jokerit joined KHL. This article reflects on Jokerit’s financial and legal challenges, as well as the commercial press and progress in Nordic elite ice hockey and thus on Jokerit’s drift towards KHL. In Jokerit and Severstal face off neck and neck in playoff positioning! 9 February 2021, Tue. Drive, flair and spectacular skills: the mascots shoot-out! 8 February 2021, Mon. Like father, like son — the KHL week in review . 8 February 2021, Mon. International action and playoff battles – Women’s Hockey League round-up. 8 February 2021, Mon. Two Mozyakins for Metallurg, Gordie Howe hat Jokerit - KHL - hockey team page with roster, stats, transactions at Eliteprospects.com press and progress in Nordic elite ice hockey and thus on Jokerit’s drift towards KHL. In addition to these topics, the essay presents and discusses different aspects of the progress of KHL, as well as its reasons and consequences. Introduction ‘Jokerit lähtee KHL:ään’ (‘Jokerit leaves for KHL’) was the major sport news in Finland in the summer of 2013 (Helsingin Sanomat 2013-06 Most relevant Best selling Latest uploads Jokerit on voittanut kahdeksasta viime pelistään kolme ja epätasaisista otteista halutaan päästä eroon hyvissä ajoin ennen pudotuspelejä. Jokerit - - hockey team page with roster, stats, transactions at eliteprospects.com The Espoo Blues hope to have invested their resources wisely this year, something they haven’t always done. jokerit Jokerit. Jokerit Hockey Club Oy Areenankuja 1, FIN-00240 Helsinki Tel. +358 (0)204 1990 Fax. +358 (0)204 1992 [email protected]. Palaute. [email protected]. FIN . FIN; ENG; RUS; Tästä ostoksille. Miesten keltainen huppari Siirry kauppaan. Yksi piste ei tyydyttänyt – ”Voimme parantaa paljon” Otteluraportti 09.02.2021 21:47. Severstal Tsherepovets haki kaksi pistettä Helsingistä 2 (2020). Jokerit’s move to KHL: an odd momentum in the commercialization of Nordic elite ice hockey. Sport in Society: Vol. 23, The Progress of Elite Ice Hockey, Beyond NHL: A Focus on (G)local culture(s), Migration, Entrepreneurship, Americanization and Oligarchism. Guest Editors: Bo Carlsson, Jyri Backman and Tobias Stark, pp. 505-522. Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) - Complete rosters, stats, standings, awards and facts from Eliteprospects.com.
Jokerit nousi upeaan voittoon KHL:n huippuottelussa – iski pelin tasoihin viime hetkillä
Kommentoikaa alas kenestä minun pitäisi tehdä seuraava highlight video. Toivottavasti tykkäsitte tästä videosta ja muistakaa kommentoida ja tilata kanava. Se... This video is unavailable. Watch Queue Queue. Watch Queue Queue 11.01.2018 jokerit-kunlun red stars, Hartwall arena, Helsinki, Finland, KHL Jokerit - HIFK Salibandy kohtaaminen 27.9.2013 Campossa. keskiviikko 18. joulukuuta 2019 Jokerit nousi upeaan voittoon KHL:n huippuottelussa – iski pelin tasoihin viime hetkillä Public Night #Public_Night. Jokerit Inside reality dokumenttisarja Viasat ja Viaplay 2017. 16.2.2016 jokerit-ska, jokerit dream game and 3-1 victory.
![[2013-06-27] Finnish (Elite league) SM-Liiga team Helsingin Jokerit will join KHL for season 2014-2015! [hockey]](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/Er-eBZv9aNH2qREPvQbL1aKqAsS-UfKV4xEbzfKnmfE.jpg "[2013-06-27] Finnish (Elite league) SM-Liiga team Helsingin Jokerit will join KHL for season 2014-2015! [hockey]")
