*Listed based on order of Upside's Lottery Edition Rankings by Head of Scouting E-Mac. 

Check out this comprehensive quintessential rankings spreadsheet.

*Quotes from our Western based scout Sandman.

*Photos by Nate Shore

Here's Sandman's Prospect Tiers/Shelves

1) Bedard

2) Fantilli

3) Carlsson

4) Smith

5) Dvorsky/Michkov

6) ASP/Reinbacher/Benson/Leonard/Barlow

7) Sale/Danielson/Wood/Moore

8) Ritchie/Willander/Heidt/Perreault

9) Musty/Gauthier/Dragicevic/Cristall/Gulyayev/Honzek/Yager

10) Stenberg/Halttunen/Ziemmer/Simashev/Nadeau/Cataford

11) Kiiskinen/But/DowerNilsson/Hameenaho/Edstrom/Lindstein/Fowler/Hrabal

What else can be said about the uber-talented prospect...

"I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michkov slide further than number 5, due to the concerns outlined by Bob McKenzie."

Quotes from our Western based scout Sandman.

"Carlsson is tied for the 10th best Season for a player under-19 in SHL history. 

That, and he’s a 6’3” center."

Of note, were he available in the 2o22 NHL draft, Sandman would have ranked him 1st overall.

~ Sandman

"Dalibor Dvorsky started slow, but came on as the tourney [U18s] went along, showing up in big games, with not as much talent around him as other teams. Big kid, skates very well, plays a tight 200-ft game. Has the speed to blow past defenders, and make plays off the rush. Best of all, is that he has a nose for the net, and is a gifted goal-scorer. His shot is NHL ready, whether it's a slapper, wrister, one-timer, or backhander. Plays with a bit of power in his game, and uses his size in battle, whether it's on the forecheck, or to separate man from puck. Not at all afraid of traffic, or the dirty areas. He has high IQ and vision, and can also make high-end plays. Top-10 all day."

Quote from our Western based scout Sandman.

"Ryan Leonard is a player I like very much. His passing ability, vision, and IQ were on display today. I'm very impressed with his playmaking. Button said on the play-by-play that the Smith/ Perrault/ Leonard line from the USDP is the best line by far in Junior hockey anywhere in the world, and I believe him. Leonard is not huge, but he plays a power-forward style- fights hard along the boards, plays heavy, and muscles opponents off the puck. Already plays a very well-rounded, mature two-way game, with speed, and good motor. He's more of a goal-scorer, but he's no slouch in the playmaking department."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Will Smith is tied for the 2nd best points total (20) in the history of the tourney, while Perreault is 5th (18), and Leonard is 9th (17). My thoughts on the American from April 23rd:

There's no doubt in my mind that Will Smith is firmly entrenched as the first pick outside the big 4, in this year's draft. He doesn't really have any weaknesses. He's an excellent skater who plays with elite pace, but his stickhandling is sublime- he could do it in a broom closet, all of which combine to make him an intimidating force to defenders. His brain is always a step ahead, which allows him to outpace opponents, and create space for himself and his teammates, and he makes high-end plays in transition and off the rush. I've heard him called a goal-scorer, but I think he's kind of equal parts scorer and playmaker. Moves seemingly effortlessly through traffic. Scouts rave about his small-area game, and he uses all kinds of deception (head fakes, jukes, eye fakes, etc) to stay unpredictable. As good as he is on the attack, he's just as good in the defensive zone."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"If you were to ask me any other draft year but this one, I would tell you to stay away from players from the Swiss leagues until later rounds. To me, despite the fact that that system has produced NHLers, the play over there more closely resembles figure skating than the style of hockey we're accustomed to. That said, Reinbacher will be one of the first 2 defensemen taken in this draft, and deservedly so IMO. This season, as an 18 year-old, Reinbacher put up 22 points in 46 games (0.48 ppg), playing against men in Switzerland's top-tier league- which puts him in a tie for 20th overall in points by defensemen, and first overall for a player under-20 (there's only 5 more 18 yo players in that league) by 15 points. Reinbacher's 18 year-old season in the men's league is the second-best all-time for D, eclipsed only by Roman Josi, who put up 24 points in 42 games (0.57 ppg) in his 18 yo year, which was actually his D+1 year (Reinbacher is one of the older players in this draft, having an October birthday, so he played this season as an 18 yo). From what I have read, Reinbacher already comes with a solid base of mature defensive ability- he's not overly physical (even though he can throw a good hit here and there), but will use his size and strength to separate man from puck. He plays a calm, poised positional game in his own zone, and uses his stick well. He's a shutdown guy, who uses smarts and a good gap to consistently keep the puck out of danger areas, although he has been accused of puck-watching and floating sometimes. His game is not flashy, and he keeps it simple in the offensive zone as well. His main weapon is said to be his shot, and his ability to get it on net through traffic- making life difficult for opposing goalies, and creating opportunities for teammates. One of his other specialtes is transition, and his percentage of exits and entries with control is very high. He has confidence in carrying. Reinbacher is an excellent skater in a technical sense, where his smoothness and mechanics are sound, but his speed needs work, as he's not getting enough power in his stride. It is believed, though, that this deficiency will work itself out as he matures, and gets stronger. The ceiling here is top-pairing D."

"Reinbacher could be the first D-man taken, maybe even in the top-10, as some have compared him to Moritz Seider. For me, it's between him, Sandin-Pelikka, and Dragicevic for first D taken. My favorite of those players is Dragicevic- size, sublime IQ, and the skating issues have been overblown. He's sitting at 75 points in 66 WHL games. None of Korchinski last year (7th overall), Mintukov (10th), or Mateychuk (12th) had a point-per-game, and they are all considered top-notch prospects this year."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Gabe Perrault is not the biggest, or fastest, but his skill, vision, and IQ are all elite. His stats in this, his draft year, are pretty comparable to those of Jack Hughes'. The main difference between the 2 players, other than Hughes playing the more important C position, is the skating- Hughes has always been elite, while GP has room for improvement in that area. GP is also not as good a defensive player as he could be. He's another guy who's equally goal-scorer as he is playmaker IMO, as he shoots a lot, but he's an amazing passer-he finds the seams just as good as anybody. His shooting arsenal is vast, and he can beat goalies in a number of ways. I think he might be a riser on Draft day."

For comparison:

Jack Hughes Draft year statistics:

USNTDP juniors (USHL): 24gp/12g/36a/48pts,+17, 4 PIM, 2 ppg

US National U18 Team (USDP): 50gp/34g/78a/112pts, 28 PIM, 2.24 ppg

USA U-18 (WJC-18): 7gp/9g/11a/20pts,+10, 8 PIM, 2.85 ppg

Gabe Perreault Draft year statistics:

USNTDP Juniors (USHL): 23gp/19g/26a/45pts, +22, 8 PIM, 1.95 ppg

US National U18 Team (USDP): 58gp/51g/70a/121pts,+70, 8 PIM, 2.08 ppg

USA U-18 (WJC-18): 7gp/5g/13a/18pts,+15, 0 PIM, 2.57 ppg 

GP Doesn't quite reach Hughes' lofty numbers, but pretty similar- and Hughes went first overall. I think many will be surprised by where GP goes this upcoming draft. Hughes is a C, a more important position, whereas Perrault is a RW. Biggest difference is the skating- Hughes had elite speed, while GP has room to grow in that area.

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Oliver Moore had a goal, and an assist today. This is the guy I wanted to see, as he's the USDP Player I'm least sure about. He's interesting, because he put up good numbers on the USDP Juniors squad, while playing on the second line. He's wearing an "A" for USA today. He's listed at 5'11", plays C, and might be the fastest player in this year's draft. Best part might be that he looks to have a very well-rounded game, and uses his speed to disrupt plays, and frustrate puck-carriers. Blistering speed, blistering shot, won't be outworked. Maybe a little Matt Barzal there? Excellent in transition, and zone entry."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

 "Zach Benson is a 5'10", 159lb LW, who plays for the powerhouse Winnipeg Ice- the best team in the WHL, and also the highest-scoring. 98 points in 60 games, with a plus/minus of +68, which is incredible production, even if you were to argue that his points totals are propped up playing with the supreme scoring talent that he has around him. Fact is, Benson is a play-driver, and makes his linemates better with his elite IQ, smarts, and playmaking. Simply put, Benson is a wizard with the puck on his stick- he is able to do things that most players cannot, and he sees the ice like few can. In all areas of the ice, Benson is always a few steps ahead of the play, and his decision-making and problem-solving are as good, or better, than anyone in this class. He consistently finds open space, and gets the puck to teammates in high-danger, when he's not attacking high-danger areas himself. He's capable of making high-end plays at top-speed, and is deadly off the rush. Benson lacks size, but it seems nobody told him about it, as he is ultra-competitive, and will not back down. He competes in all the greasy areas, forechecks and backchecks hard, and will take any physical abuse necessary to get the job done. His motor is always running high, he's always dialed-in, and intense. He can push the pace in all 3 zones, despite the fact that his skating is not elite. Benson has plenty of short-burst quickness, and evasiveness, along with high-end agility, edges, and balance which, combined with his fantastic puck-protection and stickhandling, makes him highly elusive. His straight-line, as well as top speed are slightly lacking however, and have room for improvement. Best of all, is that while Benson is indeed a high-end offensive catalyst, he is also a stalwart defensive player, being so highly aware and competitive. Sebastian High of Dobber Prospects says that Benson may be the best defensive forward in this class. Caleb Kerney of The Hockey Writers says Benson has the floor of Zach Hyman, and the ceiling of Mitch Marner. Kinda reminds me of Brayden Point, although Benson is a better skater than Point was at the same age. 36 goals is an indication of a goal-scorer, but he's a dual threat offensively, although some say he still needs work on his shot. I'm still thinking top-10. 

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Matt Wood was Canada's second-leading scorer (7 goals and 13 points in 7 games), behind 16 yo Macklin Celebrini, but he came as advertised, and stood out in a good way every time he was on the ice. He was simply dominant. He's a shoot-first power-forward, with impressive size (6'4"), and a nose for the net, with an impressive shooting arsenal. Skating needs a bit of work, particularly his acceleration, but it's not close to being as bad as people say it is. I wouldn't be scared off from drafting him because of his skating."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"It will be interesting to see where LW Daniil But is chosen on Draft day. He has some first-round attributes, and most of his skills are translatable to the NHL. First off, But is 6'5", and skates very well for a player his size. He has an amazing top speed, but the problem is- it takes him a bit longer to get up to that speed. His acceleration and start-up are a bit sluggish, and he's still a little awkward-looking, with improvements needed in his mechanics in order to achieve more balance and agility. Some of this will come naturally, as he gets stronger, and some will be cleared up with a skating coach- still some surprising mobility from a player that huge.If you watch his highlights, you'll be impressed. His puck skills are said to be high-end, with great stickhandling, passing, and puck protection. The asset that's mentioned most aside from his mobility, is his shot, which is already NHL-calibre. To go with this, is his deception and release- he uses head fakes, and stick trickery to fool opposing goalies and defenders, and he can get off shots lightning quick. But will use his size and strength to bull his way to the middle of the ice, to front of the net, or in the corners and half-wall in order to hold off checkers, but he is surprisingly not that physical, and lacks edge in his game- otherwise, he would be an absolute force. He might be more of a goal-scorer, but some say he might be one of the best playmakers in this draft. His abilities and size made him an option for the KHL, where he spent 15 games, more than many of his peers, and he had 32 points in 32 games in the Russian junior league- top-10 in scoring for players under-18, top-6 in ppg for that age group."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"C Nate Danielson has no real discernable weakness in his game, but he doesn't have the flash and dash of some of his contemporaries. That doesn't mean he's not a high-end offensive player, or highly skilled. In 2021-22, his D-minus-1 year, he had 57 points in 53 games for Brandon of the WHL, for a ppg of 1.07. This season, he put up 78 points in 68 games, for a ppg of 1.14- which isn't that big of a jump. Part of the issue is that Brandon has slipped a few spots in the standings, and in goals-for, and the quality of wingers on the Wheaties has diminished. Brandon simply lacks high-end scorers this year. On a better team, I think we see Danielson with over 90 points. Danielson is 6'1", and skates better than the majority of draft-eligibles in this class, and he uses that speed to play a pro-style, 200-ft game. He has top-notch intelligence, awareness, and decision-making, and he's more of a playmaker than shooter. Danielson has the ability to find, and to create open space for himself and his teammates, and he can also find the seams to funnel the puck to high-danger consistently- or he can unleash his deadly, accurate shot with very little space to do so. He's good at drawing attackers towards him, then passing to open teammates. In transition, he can complete exits and entries with his passes, or he can skate it through the neutral zone with full control. This is a player who works hard, is aggressive in all zones, and wants to make a difference every shift- he can drive play, and push the pace, plus he can play a physical game. He's competitive, and is not afraid to get his nose dirty, or to battle hard in the greasy areas. There's already a solid base of defensive ability here, and he can kill the opposition's plays and separate man from puck in a number of ways, and he's good against the rush. He is counted on to shutdown the opposition's top players. Top-notch anticipation, and a good stick. He can play both sides of special teams too. Danielson could use an upgrade to his lateral agility, the power in his shot, and like most teenagers-his consistency. Ceiling here is top-6 C, and he's looking like a shoo-in to be taken in the top-15"

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"C Calum Ritchie was Canada's 3rd best player, with 9 points in 7 games, but he's still a favorite of mine. He started the tournament slow, like most of the team, but looked more like himself later on. Ritchie has a bit of everything- he's a good skater, has size, top-notch offensive instincts, and two-way acumen. Great stickhandler and shooter, plays a physical game, and is not afraid of competing in the dirty areas, or in front of the net. Reads the play well, and is always in the right position. He owns a hard, heavy, accurate shot, with a deceptive release, but can also make high-end plays. Has the quickness, anticipation, and stickhandling to carry or pass in transition. Needs explosiveness in his skating, and more consistency in his physical game.."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Another one of my favorite draft-eligibles is 6'1" LW Colby Barlow, but like most of Team Canada, he disappointed in the U-18's, with 3 goals, and 4 points in 6 games. His time as Captain of the OHL's Owen Sound Attack is a different story, with 46 goals, and 79 points in only 59 games- 16th in ppg, and 5th in goals as a 17-year-old. His 46 tallies represent almost 20% of Owen Sound's goals. Barlow reminds me a lot of Mason McTavish, in that they both look much bigger than they actually are, both are uncommonly strong, and both get a surprising amount of power out of their seemingly lumbering stride. Both lean more towards being pure goal-scorers, than playmakers, and both could grow caveman beards at a very young age. Barlow has one of the best shots in the draft- it's blisteringly hard, heavy, and accurate, and he has good hands in tight for outmanouvering goalies, cleaning up garbage, and tipping pucks. His hands are gifted, and he's adept at finding space in the offensive zone to unleash his shot, recieve passes, or find teammates in high danger. He plays in the trenches, wins pucks in battle, works in the danger areas, takes punishment in front of the net, and initiates contact, but he could stand to use his physicality more. One of Barlow's best traits is his commitment to defense- he's a true leader, and wants to set the example with his all-around play. He takes more pride in his defense than he does in his scoring. He will even put his body on the line to block shots, and he drags his teammates into the fight. Power-forward with top-6 potential, he will probably go top-12."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"I wouldn't be at all surprised to see ASP being the first defenseman taken. The ASP-Theo Lindstein pairing was the best in the tournament, and Sweden's offense seemed to flow through them. ASP is not just your typical "Modern-day defenseman", as he's much more dynamic than that. This is the type of player that has a chance to be up in the Stratoshere with the likes of a Makar, or Karlsson. His U-18 production this year, with 11 points in 7 games, is tied for the sixth-best of all time. His production in the J20 Liiga this year (36 points in 31 games, 1.16 ppg) is 4th-best all-time for an under-18 player, and his ppg were better than Karlsson's. He's stunningly fast, a sublime stickhandler, elite vision and IQ, but maybe best of all- he shows a defensive conscience as well. He's good against the rush, uses his stick to break up plays, and has good gap control. Fantastic transitional player, and he's often the first in the zone. Knows when to activate, and is a good shooter. Not surprisingly, he does needs to get stronger, though he will never be a physical player."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Kasper Halttunen was another player that opened eyes in this tourney, although some perceptions need to be muted, as it IS a competition where all the players are 17 or under. Halttunen was dominant at times, and showed off some very impressive skating, especially for a guy who is 6'3". Like Wood, he's very much a shoot-first power-forward, but his shot is elite- hard, heavy, and accurate. He has the offensive awareness though, to make plays and drive the offense. He knows how to use his size to bull his way around, and attacks the net, but also has two-way acumen. Can play a physical game, but is inconsistent in this regard. 1st-rounder is still my bet."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"C David Edstrom was a favorite of mine to watch. He's 6'3", and has a knack for being in the right place at all times. His skills are all average, or slightly above, but his IQ and vision are quite good. He moves well for a player his size, but needs more explosiveness in his stride. He's not particularly flashy, but can find seams for high-end passes, and knows where to go to open those seams to recieve. Plays a well-rounded, mature 3-zone game, and his attention to defense makes life easier for teammates. He can play a physical game at times. His compete is inconsistent at times, and he needs work on his shot, but he seems like a safe pick. Edstrom played 11 games with men in the SHL, and reportedly aquitted himself very well."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Honzek has size (6'4"), and is projected to be more of a LW in the pros. Last year, as a 16/17 year-old, he was the highest scoring non-draft eligible player in Slovakia's Men's League, with 14 points in 49 games-quite a feat. This year, he has 43 points in 31 games with the Vancouver Giants- who are at about the same level as Brandon. Honzek is not flashy, but he has outstanding hockey sense, and moves well for a player his size. He's said to be a pretty good 200 ft player as well. Like Danielson, he will use his size to crash the net, or dig in the corners. Owns a good shot, with a nice release. I have no doubt he produce at higher levels."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Otto Stenberg opened my eyes this tournament. Looking at his stats back home in Sweden, he didn't seem like a potential first-rounder to me, but he put up one of the top U-18 performances of all time, with 16 points in 7 games, after only managing 26 points in 29 J20 Liiga games. For context, U-18 teammate, and fellow 2023 Draft-eligible Noah Dower-Nilsson had 54 points in 37 J20 Liiga games, on the same team (Frolunda). Fact is, Stenberg played 23 SHL games (with 3 points), which is a great sign for a kid his age, and Frolunda, being one of the top teams in the J20, has plenty of 18, 19, and 20 year olds to bury a 17 yo like Stenberg. He was also deployed on his off-wing, after spending his previous career at C, with the hope that having the inside lane would augment his shot. It's obvious from watching him, that he's worthy of a first-rounder. Stenberg might not have size on his resume, but his skill, IQ, and vision are all elite. He's a very well-rounded player, and uses his skill and smarts in all 3 zones. He can drive play, plays with pace, and seems to be equally a play-maker and shooter. Excellent skater, with top-tier stickhandling, making him a killer in 1-on-1 situations. Look for him later in the first round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Scouting reports on him have changed fairly drastically since the first third of the WHL season, when he was talked about glowingly- even compared somewhere to Patrice Bergeron in his approach to defense (can't find the article now). Brayden Yager is still an offensive weapon (78 points in 67 games for Moose Jaw), and they say his main weapon is his shot, which can be lethal- but why then, only 28 goals? Surely nothing to sniff at, but not the kind of numbers one would expect. It seems there are caveats to most aspects of Yager's game, from his shooting, to his playmaking, to his skating, and his defense. His inconsistent off-puck game is being criticized as well, and may be the root of his problems. At even strength, he doesn't seek out the high-danger areas to exploit his shot well enough, or recieve passes, and he spends too much time on the perimeter, with few touches, and not much on-puck time. Yager's vision and passing are good enough, but he often passes to low-danger. Many writers say his playmaking isn't his best trait, and he could be more accurate with his shot. In transition, his exits are good when he's passing, and not carrying, but his entries are inefficient. Defensively, he's inconsistent as well, and doesn't always succeed in keeping opponents out of danger areas, or separating them from the puck. He can be overly aggressive sometimes, passive other times. Another part of the problem is that he has a hitch in his skating- he has sound technique, but poor acceleration and edges. Fast in a straight line, but loses speed in crossovers. Perhaps his numbers are inflated in Moose Jaw, where they have the 8th-best goals-for, but have a pretty good top-6 in my estimation. I'm reading an article right now that compares him to Mike Hoffman. Yikes. I still think he'll be a good player at the NHL level, but he has a lot to iron out. He's been slipping in some mocks, out of the top-10, and I think he may slip some more, but I still see potential."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Quentin Musty. I love this kid, and I want you to as well. 78 points in 53 games for the middling Sudbury Wolves, who drafted the American-born LW first overall in the 2021 Priority Draft. Pro-rated to 65 games, would give him 95 points. 78.6% of his points came at 5 vs 5. Musty is a supremely skilled offensive player, but some aspects of his play in the other 2 zones have scouts very divided. Musty is listed at 6'2" (some say 6'3"), and plays a power-forward style- he doesn't often throw big hits, but he bulls his way around the ice, using his size and strength to impose his will, be it along the boards, or attacking the net. Coming in to the year, Musty was known as a goal-scorer, with an NHL-calibre wrister and one-timer that he needs no time or space to get off, but he's added a top-tier playmaking dimension to his repertoire that rivals most of his contemporaries in this draft. Makes high quality plays off the rush. He has the gift of finding the open space in any situation, for shots, passes through traffic, or a lane to maneuver, and has a deft arsenal of stick moves, toe drags, jukes, dekes and fakes to get around in traffic. Supreme puck skills, puck protection, and stickhandling. Here's where it gets muddy. Musty is knocked in most scouting reports for his off-puck game, some aspects of his defense, and often his effort and engagement when not in the offensive zone. Much of his problem is that while he possesses a good straight-away power stride, his lateral movement is very lacking. He loses power in his crossovers, and his acceleration needs work. I believe that due to this, he tries to avoid overextending himself. It can hurt him when defending the rush, and he sometimes has to defer to teammates to do some of the dirty work. Many believe that if he can fix his speed, he will be an imposing force who will dominate games with his playmaking and power game, and some have questioned his hockey sense. I think he will be considered a steal in a few years."

"I would have to say that left-shooting RW Eduard Sale had a disappointing tournament, but in his defense, he didn't have much to work with. His 4 goals and 6 points in 5 games led the Czechs, and the next highest scorer on the team had 4 points. Back home, Sale played most of the season with men in Czechia's top league, with 14 points in 43 games, which seems paltry, but he led all players under the age of 20 by 8 points. Not too long ago, I read an article that compared Sale's style to that of Taylor Hall, and now when I watch him play, that's all I see. Like Hall, Sale is 6'1", is a speedster, but plays a rather non-flashy game. He doesn't make any risky plays, just smart and efficient ones. Great hands, and elite vision and anticipation- he's both goal-scorer and playmaker. His shot is hard and accurate, and his passes are crisp. He gets involved in transition, and can skate it in on his own, cleanly and crisply. He's not a stalwart defensively right now, so he'll need to grow in this area. He does exhibit good positioning in this area though. Still looks top-10 to me."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Left-shooting RW Nick Lardis was a 6th overall pick in the OHL Draft, by Peterborough in 2021. This season, after putting up only 19 points in 36 games, he was traded to Hamilton, where he amassed 25 goals and 46 points in only 33 games (an incredible 1.39 ppg, pro-rated to 90+ points over 65 games), followed by 5 goals and 10 points in 6 playoff games- 4 more points than any other member of the Bulldogs. I think he was hopelessly buried on a deep Petes team, behind players like Tucker Robertson, Connor Lockhart, Owen Beck, and others. In the U-18's, he had 4 goals in 7 games; however, 3 of those came in one game against the Germans, and 1 came against the Czechs. Lardis is a pretty exciting offensive player- he has plenty of speed in his 5'11" frame, and a packed offensive toolkit. He's far more of a shooter than he is a playmaker, but he has the vision to make difficult passes as well. His shot is blistering, with a fine release to decieve goalies, and he has the moves in tight to deke them out as well. Nice stickhandling, and some slick 1-on-1 moves to get around, or through traffic, and can produce off the rush. Has the skills to skate it through transition. It is said that the problem with Lardis is that he doesn't play good defense, and his physical game is fairly non-existent. He has a slight build, and needs to build strength in order to play with men at the next level, and he has to build a defensive game-but the talent is there."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"LW Andrew Cristall is definitely a player I expected more from, with 6 points in 7 games, considering he amassed 95 points in only 56 WHL games for Kelowna. If he didn't suffer an injury, he would've had well over 100. Even more impressive is that he had those numbers on the team with the 16th most (out of 22) goals-for, so it's not like he had a ton of help (he led the team in points by 16). Cristall started very slowly, and looked lost for the first 3 games of the tourney, as did a few of his Team Canada teammates. I've referred to Cristall as a "poor man's Bedard". He's only 5'10", but is an offensive wizard. His hockey sense, IQ, and creativity are all elite, even if his skating is not. He's a gifted stickhandler, and like Bedard, is extremely shifty and elusive, being capable of beating opponents 1-on-1, and weaving through traffic with his elite deceptiveness, and his extensive arsenal of dekes and fancy moves, as well as his amazing puck-protection- which was on display many times. Despite owning these skills, he doesn't need to be flashy all the time, and more often than not, will keep it simple. Cristall is a good skater, but definitely not elite, and has room for improvement- he still shows great agility and balance, and can change direction quickly. He can create plays out of nothing, and sees passes available that few players can. His defensive awareness is definitely above average, but he's a bit of a work in progress- sometimes he doesn't engage enough, but it's not a negative- I would consider him a good 3-zone player. AC is not afraid to get his nose dirty, plays in traffic, and doesn't back down from the battle areas. This kid is not a "complimentary" player, he's a facilitator, and play-driver. Top-20."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"D Dmitri Simashev is a different animal- a 6'4", 200 lb animal. I know very little first-hand about this player too, but he's said to be a difference-maker in both ends of the rink. 12 points in 33 MHL games, which earned him 18 games in the KHL, where he scored no points, but received positive reviews for his defensive play. Like Gulyayev, he is said to be one of the best skaters in the draft, and on a D-man who is 6'4", that should be enough, but he also exhibits elite puck-control and possession. It's a treat to watch him skate and handle the puck, weaving through traffic, and undressing opponents, I would recommend you try it. Unlike Gulyayev, he is a defensive stalwart, but has an extensive offensive toolkit, and vision. Good passing game, doesn't give up possession, and creates solid outlets- or, he can easily skate it out with full control. Supreme awareness and processing skills all over the ice, but his offensive touch is not showing up on scoresheets. That has a lot to do with his team, and his teammates- most seem to agree that there's a whole other offensive dimension just waiting under the surface. He's usually the best player on the ice. Needs work on his shot, release, and physical play, but there's easily first-round talent here, along with top-2 potential. Russian factor will come in to play, but like Gulyayev, he could slip into the first."

"D Theo Lindstein was part of the best duo on defense at the U-18's in my estimation. At one point last year, he was touted as a potential top-10 pick in this draft, but he's found himself ranked by most to be picked in the first third of the second round. Lindstein finished 7th overall in scoring for D in the tourney, with 5 points in 7 games, but had an up-and-down year back home. Only 7 points in 14 J20 games, but had an impressive amount of games for Brynas of the SHL, with 32 (2 points)- you don't get that many games if you're not doing something right. To me, Lindstein looks a lot like TJ Brodie- he's an effortless skater, with fantastic mobility in all directions, and while he's not physical, he's extremely responsible in all 3 zones, and a quiet defensive conscience. I think it may be his attention to defense that has slowed his offense a bit, but I have confidence that he will learn to put it all together. Lindstein has high IQ and hockey sense, great feet, fantastic transitional skill, and is an excellent passer and puck-mover. Nice hard wrister from the point. The only real weakness here is size (6'0"), and lack of physicality. Early 2nd round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"D Oliver Bonk has pedigree, being 1994 Ottawa first-rounder C Radek Bonk's son- and like his father, he plays a solid, if not spectacular, two-way game. The younger Bonk plies his trade for London of the OHL, where he posted a respectable 40 points in 67 games, and is still playing in the playoffs, so far with 9 assists in 16 games. Bonk has smarts and awareness in all situations, but most agree that his NHL projection has slid more towards being a defensive D in the show. He uses smart positioning, good gaps, and physicality down low, and in front of the net. He has size (6'1"), and uses it to angle opponents out of danger areas. He gets good reviews for his transition game as well, being calm and confident in his carries, and outlets- and he's good at snuffing out rushes and disrupting the cycle, using his anticipation and stick. He's playing behind Logan Mailloux, but he's a fine playmaker in the offensive zone, and can pinch from time to time, but he's at his best holding the line, and keeping pucks inside the zone. His shot is hard and accurate, and he's a nice stickhandler. Like his father, Oliver has some skating deficiencies, specifically his acceleration and top speed- he employs a long stride that looks smooth, but lacks some power. Based on his solid technique, it can be assumed that some of his issues will work themselves out as he gets stronger, but he will never be a burner. Ceiling here is 4th/5th Defenseman in the show, and he's showing up most often in the 2nd round."

"D Jakub Dvorak is 6'5", and skates well for a guy his size. He uses his size, reach, and stick in all 3 zones. He reminds me a bit of Yan Kuznetsov, where he can blend into the background, but in a good way. Exhibits exemplary positioning, and keeps good gap control. He had 3 points (all against Germany) in 5 games in this tournament, but he won't be counted on for offense in the pros.He'll take care of his own end, and the net-front, help stifle rushes, and move the puck in transition. 2nd rounder."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Here's another one I like, Denis Gauthier's son, and Julien Gauthier's nephew, Ethan. 30 goals and 69 points in 66 games for Sherbrooke in the Q, who drafted the RW first overall in 2021. 11 points in 11 games in the playoffs. Ethan is only 5'11, 176lbs, but he's a fearless buzzsaw, constantly in his opponents' face, and a thorn in their side, and he backs down from nobody. Kinda reminds me of Mike Peca in that regard. Since he's part of the Gauthier clan, you can bet he spends a lot of time in the gym, and that he's stronger than he looks, and physically fit. He was well over a ppg until December, and then his offensive production slowed down- 29 points in his last 31 games. Part of that is the team he plays for- he's 4th on the Pheonix for forwards in ice-time. Whether he's on the scoreboard or not, he's still affecting the game in every way possible- he's a responsible 200-ft player, a hellacious forechecker, relentlessly physical, and his off-puck game is tip-top. He's the embodiment of the adage, "a guy you love to have on your team, but hate to play against". EG has smarts and IQ in all facets of the game, and when he doesn't have the puck, he's getting in position to make himself an option for a play, and he has an excellent shot with a wicked release, he's good in tight to the net, and he has playmaking acumen. He's a guy who doesn't need flash to get the job done. Skating-wise, he's excellent, can change pace and direction quickly, but there's room to grow in this area. His transition game is a bit inconsistent, and sometimes non-existent- some say he needs to play with better pace, although he seems to have no problem handling the puck at high speeds. He's still considered raw with room to grow, particularly in his offensive game. Look for him in the late 20's."

"Koehn Ziemmer might be the second-best draft-eligible player coming from the Prince George Cougars, but he's one of the top power-forwards in this year's draft. He reminds me a lot of USA's Ryan Leonard, in that both players are 6'0", but both play like they're 6'3". Ziemmer likes the physical play, and isn't afraid of the dirty areas. In 50/50 confrontations, it is usually Ziemmer coming out with the puck, being both tenacious, and deceptively strong. He knows how to use his body well, and how to separate his man from the puck, and his speed helps him to break up rushes and plays inside the zone, including the cycle. Very good anticipation, IQ, and positioning, and causes many turnovers. On the other side of the rink, he has top-tier hockey sense, and playmaking ability, to go with one of the best shots in the draft. Very good puckhandler, with excellent puck-protection, and can make the highlight reel with his playmaking, or shot. Goes to the net hard looking for garbage, or screen the goalie. 89 points in 68 games, and I wouldn't fault anyone who chose this kid over his teammate, Riley Heidt."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"I haven't seen much video of D Mikhail Gulyayev, but he sounds like a world beater. He's only 5'10", but he's as dynamic and productive as you can hope for in an offensive D-man. 25 points in 22 games with Omskie-Yastreby of the MHL, Russia's top junior league, which puts him second in the entire league, with 1.14 ppg (behind a guy who only played 7 games), a big feat for a 17 yo playing in a U-20 league. His production gave him promotions to the VHL (4 points in 12 games, 1st for U-20 players), and the KHL (1 point in 13 games). He's said to be one of the best skaters in this class, and his offensive potential is up there with Axel Sandin Pelikka. His speed, edges, 4-directional mobility, and smooth stickhandling backs up defenders, and he can break ankles with his moves. If you look at his highlights, he can pull off hard, accurate, long-range passes through traffic. Elite vision, IQ, and offensive skills. Killer transitional player, makes plays off the rush, and is a fine shooter. His defense is perhaps average, and will need fine-tuning. The Russian factor will be present, but most think he has a shot at the first round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Michael Hrabal, 18 yo, 6'6",216lbs, catches left. 2.86 GAA, .908% with the Omaha Lancers (USHL). Athletic, quick feet with long legs to seal off the bottom of the net. Handles the puck well, and can make long passes. High-end rebound control, cool and calm even when screened, and tracks play well. Glove is slow on high-danger shots, needs more strength in his legs for better mobility in his crease. He's got a weak 5-hole, too. Covers a lot of net, but stays too deep in it due to his mobility issues. 2nd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Tom Willander was Sweden's second-leading scorer from the blueline after Sandin-Pellikka, with 8 points in 7 games. He reminds me of 2020 Detroit second-rounder, William Wallinder (yes, I see the similarity in their names), in that they are both calm and steady, go about their business quietly. Very mobile in all directions. He's able to play well in all situations anywhere on the ice, and can play both sides of special teams, and both sides of transition. He can lead the rush into the O zone, but knows when to back off and switch to defense, to snuff the rush. Great awareness all over the ice. He shoots well, knows when to activate, and is a crisp, accurate passer. Like Wallinder, he could develop his offense a bit in the pros. Potential second-rounder. Very dependable player."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"I think we can all agree that we like C Alex Newhook, who was drafted 16th overall in 2019, out of the BCHL by Colorado. We're not shy about bringing his name up in trade proposals with the Avs- but what if I made the statement that C Bradly Nadeau might be on the same level as Newhook was in his draft year? First off, I've seen Nadeau listed between 5'9" 155lbs, up to 5'11",179lbs by eliteprospects, while Newhook is 5'10",190lbs. Newhook amassed 102 points in 53 BCHL games for the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL in his draft year, followed by 24 points in 15 playoff games. Compare that to Nadeau's stats from this, his draft year- 113 points in 54 games for the Penticton Vees, with 35 points in 17 playoff games, en route to winning the BCHL Championship. To be fair, this year's edition of the Vees scored 304 goals in 54 games (5.6 g/gp), compared to the 2018-19 Grizzlies total of 231 goals in 58 games (3.9 g/gp), which is a rather large chasm of 73 goals, for a difference of 1.7 g/gp. Simply put, Nadeau has a lot more talent around him to prop up his totals. You may remember that Newhook went on in his D+1 year to tear up the NCAA, with an impressive 42 points in 34 games for Boston College. If you look at the player, however, you get the full picture. First of all, both players are known for their speed, agility, and elusiveness- good enough to get around, or weave through opponents, or just flat-out burn them. The edge goes to Newhook, who has more game-breaking speed, but both have good puck control and playmaking at high speeds, both push the pace, and both drive play. Nadeau is the better shooter though, with a wrister and one-timer that are said to be NHL-calibre. Logan Horn of The Hockey Writers says,"I'm comfortable saying he is one of the 5-best shooters in the 2023 Draft, and I don't think he's number 5". Both use their speed and smarts to be excellent 200-ft players, both are amazing on both sides of transition, but both have high offensive awareness, and both see the ice extremely well. Nadeau's main weakness is that he plays in the BCHL, but he will need to bulk up, get stronger, and perhaps improve his physical play. He is committed to the University of Maine for next year. He'll go in the second round, if he doesn't get picked in the late first."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

I confess that I didn't notice 6'2" LW/C Juraj Pekarcik in the U-18's as much as I should have, as he finished with an outstanding 10 points in 7 games, tied for 11th in tournament scoring ahead of names like Oliver Moore, Calum Ritchie, and Eduard Sale, amongst others. Impressive, especially considering that he played for the Slovaks, who ended up surprising with a 4th-place finish. JP's points came: 2 against Sweden, 1 against Canada, 4 against Germany, 2 against Finland, 1 against USA. He was held pointless in the bronze medal game against our Team Canada in the second meeting of the two teams, but he played an incredible 28 minutes. Point of fact, he didn't play under 20 minutes in any game, save for one. What I did notice is that JP is a good, albeit not elite skater for his size, and he likes to carry the puck through the breakout into the offensive zone(even burning some of our D), and he can really push the pace. Obviously, he has excellent puck control, and puck protection, and can be dangerous off the rush. He plays a power game, and battles physically all over the ice, and in the hard areas, and he is said to posess a reasonably good off-puck game as well, always being in good position on both sides of the puck. Stays active, has a good motor, and as one can imagine, he forechecks relentlessly. He has a defensive conscience, and uses his stick well to break up plays. JP has a good shot, with a deceptive release, but it's hard to project his offensive game to the NHL, as it's said that he needs too much time to make plays, and he can be pressured into making errors with the puck. Back home in Slovakia, he played an impressive 30 games (with 3 points) in the top-tier men's league, with another 8 games in the second-tier men's league (with an impressive 8 points), and 16 games in the U20 Junior circuit (20 points). Only 2 under-18 players played more games in the top league than JP, and only 1 player had more points. In the second-tier, Pekarcik was the only under-18 player to hit a ppg. Obviously, Button likes him, and E-Mac from Upside Hockey had him ranked pretty early. It should be mentioned that Pekarcik is one of the youngest players in the draft, with a September 12th Birthday. I'm going to guess 4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"I was perhaps more disappointed with 6'2" D Lukas Dragicevic than I was with [fellow defensemen] Price or Allen, although I was a little more prepared for LD's mistakes. Dragicevic's skating has never looked as bad as some say it is, but it was the cause of some of his mistakes and giveaways. He's a bit of an average skater, and at this stage, he can be beat by the faster kids- although he has a good top speed. Only 4 points in the tourney for him, but he's supposed to be an offensive force- after all, he was the 4th-highest scoring D in the WHL, playing kids up to 21 years old. 15 goals, and 75 points in only 68 games for Tri-City. Obviously, he has a myriad of offensive tools at his disposal, and that will be his ticket going forward. He has a fantastic shot, and sublime passing ability, combined with good stickhandling, and some 1-on-1 skill. His IQ and vision in the offensive zone are off the charts, and he's no slouch in the defensive zone, either. He often uses his size to outmuscle opponents, and knock them off the puck, but he usually relies more on smarts and positioning, than physicality. Not afraid of the rough-going though. He has a quality first-pass, and the stickhandling to carry through transition, and lead the rush. Good puck-protection, too. I still think he'll go in the last third of the 1st."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Let's be honest- any one of us would end up with at least a couple of assists if we played this season on the powerhouse University of Michigan, a program that is populated by the likes of Adam Fantilli, Mackie Samoskevich, Rutger McGroarty, TJ Hughes, Dylan Duke, Luke Hughes, Seamus Casey, and Frank Nazar. Looking at RW Gavin Brindley's numbers in this, his Draft year, there's an argument to be made that he was just as much a facilitator, as he was a benefactor of being surrounded by all of that talent. First of all, 38 points in 41 games is jaw-dropping for a first-year draft-eligible in the NCAA, no matter what team that individual plays for. Secondly, he placed 5th in scoring on the team, with numbers close to 2022 Jets first-rounder, and top prospect, Rutger McGroarty- who was 4th on the Wolverines, with 39 points in 39 games. There were plenty of NHL Draftees that finished lower than him in scoring on the team. Brindley missed last year's draft by three weeks, being born on October 5th, making him a bit older than most of his contemporaries in the draft, but he also had very encouraging point totals in 2021-22, with 42 points in 51 games for Tri-City of the USHL, 9 points in 15 games for the USDP, and played in the U-18 tournament, putting up 4 points in 6 games. This season, he had the opportunity to play in the WJC as well, with 4 points in 7 games, getting much less ice-time than the big guns of Team USA. Pretty impressive resume. Brindley lacks size, at 5'9.5" (he'll play at 5'10" at least), but he makes his presence felt at both ends of the rink. Despite his diminutive stature, Brindley is a fiery competitor, with a hard-nosed, often physical approach, and he strives to make a difference in all 3 zones, never shying away from the dirty areas. He has speed and agility, but lacks an elite top gear- still he has the skating, the moves, the deception, and the stickhandling to weave through traffic, and beat defenders 1-on-1. He often displays a hard, accurate shot with a nice release, but he doesn't use it nearly enough, and it has affected his goal-scoring numbers. Even so, Brindley's high-quality playmaking is his the top weapon in his arsenal, and he's capable of threading tape-to-tape passes through traffic to high-danger areas, and he can confidently carry or pass the puck through transition. He has a non-stop motor, and plays with pace, making his game projectable to the next level, as a potential top-6 NHLer. Brindley will need to bulk up considerably, being listed at only 157lbs, and he will need to work on his top-speed. He also has to shoot a lot more. 2nd/3rd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"When profiling C/LW Riley Heidt, I think one would have to talk about his WHL season, moreso than his U-18 Tournament experience. Heidt joined the tourney after his Prince George Cougars were eliminated from the WHL Playoffs, playing 5 games with only 2 assists, and a minus-2, mostly playing with fellow CHLers Tanner Howe and Nick Lardis. Heidt never really gained much traction, and wasn't able to showcase his talents too much, as the trio had varying ice-times game-to-game, and they only played 10 minutes in the bronze-clinching game against the Slovaks. Tournament aside, Heidt is one my favorites for this upcoming draft, as he's an absolutely lights-out offensive weapon, and a killer with the puck on his stick. He tied Bedard for the most assists in the WHL this year, with an incredible 72. I have no idea why he is not getting top-10 consideration for this draft. 

First of all, Heidt is one of the best skaters in this year's crop, with excellent balance and agility, as well as an elite separation gear to burn opponents. He uses that skill, along with silky smooth stickhandling and exceptional energy and pace, to drive play in a way that few can. He can easily carry the transition through the neutral zone, to deep into the offensive zone with confidence- and it's that confidence, and desire to have the puck that is one of Heidt's defining qualities. He simply strives to make a difference every time he steps on the ice. He's fiery and feisty, and battles on every inch of the ice, never backing down- despite standing only 5'11", and contributes in every situation, in all 3 zones. He plays well off the puck as well, being in the right position at all times, including in the defensive zone, where he can snuff plays with his anticipation and supreme competitveness, and uses a good stick to block lanes. High IQ and awareness, and elevates his teammates- just ask Chase Wheatcroft what playing with Heidt can do for you. If there's a weakness in Heidt's game, it may be the fact that he doesn't use his lethal shot more, instead deferring to his elite passing to get the job done. He will need to bulk up and get stronger for the next level, but this is one player who will play in any team's top-6. Most have him top-20, but like I said above, he's a top-10 talent. I would easily take Heidt over Benson or Yager."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Everyone wants a big C who can move, and that's just what 6'3" Anton Wahlberg is. He was one of my favorite players in the U-18's, with 6 points in 7 games. He's somewhat of a meat-and-potatoes guy, but he also has some flashy, even explosive qualities. The goal he scored to break the 3-3 tie with Slovakia (eventual game-winner) was him intercepting the puck just inside the offensive zone along the boards, cutting to the middle, and whipping the puck in, top corner, from just inside the circle. Obviously, his shot and release are elite, and might be his best asset. Wahlberg is a good skater too, and uses his size well on the forecheck, below the dots, in front of the net, and in the greasy areas. Very physical, competes hard in all zones, and finishes his checks- looks like a bull in a china shop. He is adept at finding open space to recieve passes, or to unleash his shot. His offensive instincts are quite good, but he could use a little more creativity. 27 points in 32 J20 games, and spent 17 games in the SHL. Maybe late second-round, early third."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Defenseman Strbak is helping his draft stock, being tied for 6th in scoring amongst D men in the U-18's, with 6 points in 7 games. His defensive game has never been in doubt, as he plays a calm, poised game, highlighted by physicality (he's 6'2"), mobility, his ability to separate man from puck, and his quick, accurate outlet passes to start transition the other way. He's not as flashy as his D counterparts that are littered throughout the second round of this year's draft, but he's a safe and dependable option. Strbak is a minute-muncher, and he can play in all situations-but his offense is still raw. His output in this tournament shows promise in that area. He put up 18 points this year in 46 USHL games- respectable, but not top-tier"

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"LW Carson Rehkopf is a 6'3" power forward who dazzles with his speed, and NHL-calibre shot. His release is lightning-quick, and he can get it off from the rush. 30 goals, and 59 points in 68 games for Kitchener of the OHL. Uses his size and stength to be a force in all 3 zones, and down low. He's a titan in front of the net. Has shown plenty of defensive acumen, and playmaking ability, but lacks consistency in those areas. He also lacks consistency and intensity in his physical ability- he can unleash big hits, and outmuscle most players, but he doesn't always do it. Needs time to work on the accuracy of his shot."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"I will admit that I usually turn my nose up at prospects that are smaller than 5'10", but I recently read a description of C/W William Whitelaw that compared him to Yanni Gourde, and my eyebrows were raised. Whitelaw is small, but he has enormous heart, and plays like he's 6'2". In 2021-22, Whitelaw played at the famed Shattuck-St.Mary's School, where he produced the 10th-best U-17 season in Prep-circuit history, with 110 points in 55 games (didn't hurt that he played with Mack Celebrini). He graduated to the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL this season, where he had 61 points in 62 games, to go with 90 PIM, and then contributed 9 points in 9 playoff games en route to winning the USHL Championship. Whitelaw is like the Tasmanian Devil, with his never-ending well of energy, his relentless work ethic, killer compete level, his grit, and his bite. Despite being listed at 5'9", and a stocky 172lbs, he plays a hard, heavy game, never gives up on plays, and makes life miserable for opponents. Whitelaw is a high-end skater, with built-in shiftiness, agility, and balance, and is hard to knock off the puck. He pushes the pace, drives play, and can stickhandle and make plays at top speed. Supremely skilled, with outstanding vision and creativity, and he has an NHL-caliber shot and release. Whitelaw has good 1-on-1 skill, and can score highlight-reel goals. He can transport the puck through neutral ice, pushing pace in transition, and gain entry- and is very good at creating opportunities off the rush. He can also drive the net like a power-forward, and is tenacious on both the forecheck and the backcheck, limiting time and space for puck carriers. He is counted on to play both sides of special teams, and shows effort in all 3 zones. The one hitch he has is that his defensive game is still a work in progress, as his awareness in this zone is still catching up to his awareness in the other end of the rink. Most scouts seem to believe that Whitelaw will be shifted to the wing when he gets to the pros, but you never know- Gourde can still play C at his size, and if Whitelaw has the desire, the sky seems to be the limit. Next year, he's going to the University of Wisconsin, where Cole Caufield went. Whitelaw looks to have the ceiling of a middle-six forward. Like Stankoven, look for him in the 2nd round.

Reading about him on THW, after a 2-1 shootout victory over Cedar Rapids, his coach was quoted as saying,"...I don't think I've ever seen a hockey player work that hard. He was backchecking. He was tracking, he was heavy, he was hard. He's made for those moments. Let's be honest, Will Whitelaw is a future NHL player, and he's an unbelievable kid."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Russian-born Aydar Suniev had some very positive reviews for his play in the 2022 BCHL Showcase, and the comments are in line with everything else I've read about him this year. Suniev is a sturdily built 6'2", 205lb power-forward playing LW for the BCHL Champions, the Penticton Vees, and finished 3rd in league scoring behind teammates Bradly and Josh Nadeau, with 45 goals and 45 assists in 50 games, followed by 23 points in 15 playoff games. Suniev uses his size and strength proficiently in all situations, and fights hard- winning more than his fair share of puck battles, and muscling through traffic. He's a load to handle on both the forecheck and the backcheck, and his game has plenty of deception to shake off defenders, and he has excellent protection skills as well as stickhandling. He attacks the middle, and there's little anyone can do to stop him. He's a force along the boards, and nearly impossible to move from in front of the net, and he's strong on his skates. There's effort, and awareness in his game defensively, and he can steer his man to the outside, and away from danger. His shot and release are NHL-calibre, but unfortunately, his skating is not. Some say he has a good short-area burst, but he has a stiff, lumbering stride in need of improvements to his acceleration, top-speed, and his crossovers. More important to me is the fact that he's not really a play-driver or facilitator, and is more a player that feeds off of the more skilled playmakers- and in his case, I wonder how much he's propped up by playing with two of the best in the league, one of them (Bradly Nadeau) being a potential first-round pick. Another question is- how much does he benefit from being so well-developed physically in a Junior A league? Suniev is committed to UMass next year."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Charlie Stramel is one of the oldest players in the draft, but he's the second-youngest in the NCAA, behind Matt Wood. In 2021-22, his D-minus-1 year, he put up 15 points in 16 USNTDP games, which put him at 11th in ppg (0.94) for U-18 players in the USHL, ahead of players like Gavin Brindley (0.82), Oliver Moore (0.81), Will Smith (0.78), and Gabe Perreault (0.68), although Stramel's sample size was smaller (those players had at least 32 games). For the NTDP, Stramel had a total of 23 points in 28 games, tied for 13th with a ppg of 0.82, ahead of players like Ryan Leonard (0.69), Gracyn Sawchyn (0.63), and Gavin Brindley (0.6). This season, he had a disappointing 12 points in 33 games for the U of Wisconsin in the NCAA. Part of that may be the fact that the Badgers were a mediocre offensive team, tied for 41st out of 60 teams in Div.1 for Goals-per-Game, at 2.61. Matt Wood's UConn team were 17th overall, with 3.23 Goals-per-Game, by contrast. Stramel is a 6'3", 216lb mobile, physical power-forward with two-way ability, and good offensive IQ, despite the stats. The reason he's ranked in the first round is because he has a lot more to give than he was able to show this year in college- had he stayed in on the US Development Team this year, he might be top-15 in the draft, maybe top-10. Stramel is highly aggressive, full of energy, relentless, and physically intimidating. He's fairly polished defensively, but raw offensively. He has a great shot with a quick, deceptive release, and has the anticipation and vision to make plays. Skating wise, he needs to improve his explosiveness, but once he gets going, he's a freight train. He can play a rough, grinding game, or a skilled one. Don't pay too much attention to the numbers this year, he will score at the NHL level, no doubt. Most see a top-6 NHL power forward. He will go in the latter stages of the first."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Soo Greyhounds D Andrew Gibson has been lurking around the 2nd and 3rd rounds in mocks at times this year, and it's because he's a solid, 2-way performer. I think he did himself a favor at the U-18's for Team Canada, with 3 points in 7 games, playing anywhere from 13:25 TOI, up to 25:15 in the bronze medal-clinching game against the Slovaks- second on the team, behind Dragicevic. Gibson is 6'3", blessed with good 4-directional mobility, and plays a safe, reliable game, with calmness and poise. Gibson is pretty meat-and-potatoes, and does a lot of the heavy lifting and dirty jobs for his team, and can play in any situation- he can play both sides of special teams as well. He plays a very physical game, and employs good gaps, limiting time and space, and closing in for big hits. Gibson has puck skill, and he can perform safe outlets to get the puck out of the zone, and can do so in transition. He also has vision enough to be a contributor on offense as well, with the ability to distribute the puck around the zone, even through traffic. He gets pucks to the net for rebounds and tips, with his hard, accurate wrister. He is a smart, two-way workhorse, who put up 21 points in 45 games for a Soo team that finished 18th out of 20 teams in the OHL, and was their second-leading scorer on D- so it's not outlandish to suggest that his numbers would have looked better on a different team. Gibson is still fairly raw, and could use some fine-tuning with his decision-making, and some aspects of his defensive game. He moves well, but has room to upgrade his skating, and perhaps his shot. 2nd/3rd round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"It's hard to judge any of the players from Canada's team in this year's U-18 tournament, as they looked very disjointed, and at times, disinterested- most especially, the defense. D Caden Price was Canada's top-scoring defenseman (5 points in 7 games), but like fellow defensemen Cam Allen and Lukas Dragicevic, he was beat often, made plenty of mistakes with the puck, and missed assignments. Normally, Price is a fine example of a "modern-day defenseman", which is one that plays a quality 2-way game, with a quick transition, good skating, and puck-distribution. Price is not a very physical player, but uses his hockey sense and speed to make plays in all 3 zones- he can lead the rush through transition with his passing game, or with his feet, and he uses those same attributes to kill plays in the D zone. Good shooter and distributor in the offensive zone, and walks the line skillfully. It should be noted that Price is another August birthday, making him one of the youngest players in the draft, and giving him a slightly longer runway than other developing prospects. 40 points in 65 games to lead Kelowna's defense is very respectable, especially considering that Kelowna's offense is fairly weak, but there's room to grow his offense, his shot, and his decision-making. I still like this player, and I still see him going in the first half of the second round. I think it's worth mentioning that Canada typically doesn't show as well in this tournament, as in the WJC- with only 4 golds in the last 24 years."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"LW Nico Myatovic had 60 points this year (including 30 goals) in 68 games for a deep Seattle Thunderbirds team, but what's more impressive is that 49 of those points came 5 vs 5. Myatovic is a 6'2" power-forward whose skating is quite good- very good straight-line, but with lateral mobility, and good edges. He's known for his work in the slot, and gets a lot of his goals off of tips and rebounds, and provides a big screen. Very good finding open spaces in front of the net, creates seams to recieve passes, and has the speed to join the cycle from that vantage point. Likes the dirty areas, forechecks hard, and does a lot of the dirty work along the boards, corners, and net-front, and has a good stick with a long reach. Myatovic also works hard in his own zone, using his stick, speed, and physicality to kill plays, and separate man from puck. Pressures well, and takes away space from attackers. Hard and aggressive in the middle of the ice, and at the points to create turnovers. Provides good support for his D, and other teammates. Good at snuffing out rushes by attacking the puck-carrier. Seems to have a projectable game to the NHL, and I would bet on him going in round 2. I really like this player."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Now for one of the oldest players in the Draft, with a Sept.30th birthday, 18 yo Slovakian C Martin Misiak, with 10 points in 29 games for HC Nove Zamky of the top-tier Slovakian pro-league, and 17 points in 27 games for Youngstown of the USHL. For U-20 players in the Slovakian league, his 10 points ranked 2nd. While his regular-season numbers for Youngstown look paltry, he managed to lead the team in playoff scoring, with 10 points in 9 games- ahead of fellow draft-eligible teammate, William Whitelaw. Misiak already has the physical tools, being 6'2" and a good skater, but he also plays a steady 200-ft game, and uses that size well to win battles and separate man from puck. Though his skating has some room to grow, he exhibits good edges and agility, with excellent acceleration that he can use to win races to loose pucks. He can also weave around, and through traffic with his tight puck-control, and shielding abilities. He is far more of a passer than scorer, and he has the vision and IQ of a playmaker- he needs work on his shot. He understands how to position himself and use his body and stick in the D zone, but he is also a very competent transitional player, never cheating good defensive play for offense. It is said though, that he may not possess high-end offensive chops right now, but he could perhaps make a good 3C in the NHL someday. 3rd/4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Danny Nelson looks like he will make a good 3rd line C. He moves fairly well, especially for a big man, has good hands, and a wicked shot with a nice release. He does a lot of the dirty work for his team, winning battles along the boards, and playing a solid two-way game. Bit of a meat-and-potatoes guy."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"American D Aram Minnetian seems to be a favorite among scouts, and was once considered a surefire first-rounder, but his offensive production in the USDP has been disappointing, with only 6 points in 22 games with the USNTDP Junior Team. In the U-18's, he was USA's 3rd-highest scoring D-man, with 4 points in 7 games, but was tied with Ryan Leonard for 1st in the tourney, with a whopping plus/minus of +16. There's no denying his fantastic skating ability; he's blazing fast, with silky smooth mechanics, and there's few he can't separate from. To add to this, is his effortless stickhandling. He walks the blueline with confidence, and has a hard shot. He is both capable play-maker, passer, and skilled puck-mover. Perhaps best of all is his defensive commitment, and his transitional ability. He snuffs rushes at the line, and in the neutral zone, and eliminates time and space with his speed, and an active stick. Many scouts say the reason for his lack of production is a weak USDP Draft Class, but in my opinion, he has a hitch in his hockey sense, and poor shot selection. The fact that he was a forward only 2 years ago both helps him, and hinders him, as it might have helped his skating/ stickhandling, but it can't be easy to learn to run the offense from the blueline in that time. Just my opinion. He just seems to not know when to activate, when to pass, and when to shoot- a lot of his shots were blocked, he missed the net plenty, and it seemed like his passes in the offensive zone were getting picked off with regularity. Scouts consider him a good two-way, transitional defender who could make a fine second-pairing D, if he could develop his offense- most other aspects of his game are well above average. He needs to also get stronger, as he's only 6'0". Look for him in the second round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"RW Coulson Pitre is a personal favorite of mine. 60 points in 59 games for the Flint Firebirds of the OHL. He's a 6'1" power-forward, and the type of player that teams need to win. "Pitre is a highly-intelligent forward who responds well on both sides of the puck. He plays in all situations, including the PK, but it's his effectiveness 5-on-5 that draws interest in him. He's an above average skater, but doesn't possess any after-burners. Instead, he uses his high IQ, along with the skating skills he does have to be in the right places. Pitre has shown great control with the puck on his stick, and when you combine his vision with his IQ, he makes the right decision consistently. He is also a very elusive player and makes himself an option for his teammates. He's also a gifted passer who identifies lanes and seams quickly, and can deliver a tape-to-tape pass. Pitre is a power-forward. He does not shy away from contact whether he is delivering the physicality, or on th recieving end of a hit to make a play. Willing to battle, and fight through contact. It's not just about offence for Pitre. His three-zone game is very accomplished. I think it's fair to say he plays a pro-style game now."- from Dominic Tiano, OHL Writers."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"6'0" RW Jesse Kiiskanen is an exciting offensive player, and someone I wanted to see play. 5 points in 5 games for the disappointing Finns, but I don't think he hurt his draft stock. His numbers back home are impressive, with 43 points in just 31 games, good enough for 16th in the entire U20 Liiga, although only 4 players in the top-20 had a better ppg than his 1.39. He is first for ppg for draft-elible players coming out of the U20. His production earned him 7 games in the top men's Liiga, and it's important to note that he's one of the youngest players in this draft, with an August birthday. JK owns an impressive offensive arsenal, complete with solid speed, high IQ and vision, and a good shot. He's also an excellent playmaker, and can dish in transition, and off the rush. He's one of those players who the puck seems to follow around. He's still known to be more of a shooter, with a top-notch selection of shots to use, and a quick, deceptive release. He leads by example, with a great work ethic, and isn't afraid to do the dirty work, or to compete in the dirty areas. He's a versatile, all-situations player who strives to make a difference whenever he's on the ice, and he's the type that forechecks as hard as he backchecks. Good in all 3 zones, and helps the transition. Love this player, and i think he'll go late in the 1st."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Carson Bjarnason, 17 yo, 6'3",181lbs, catches left. 3.08 GAA, .900% with Brandon (WHL). Good footwork, cuts down the angles and challenges shooters. Covers the bottom of the net, and moves well in his crease. Cool, calm and patient. Plays his posts well. Needs work on his rebound control, and glove. 2nd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Gracyn Sawchyn is a right-handed C for the powerhouse Seattle Thunderbirds, and put up 58 points in 58 games playing 2nd and 3rd line duties behind some older, talented offensive players. Sawchyn is one of those players who doesn't do anything at an elite level, but he also has no weaknesses. He skates quite well, but it's augmented by his high motor and compete level. He does a lot of the little things a team needs to win-he's tenacious and aware in all zones, and is an excellent defensive player, with a penchant for causing turnovers, and frustrating opponents, taking away time and space. He forechecks and backchecks hard, and similarly, he's equally good on both sides of the transition. He's smart, has vision and IQ, but keeps it relatively simple, and doesn't try to do too much- his shot and passing game are not necessarily high-end, but he gets the job done. If he were on a different team, with more minutes, this kid might just be first-round material."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Tanner Molendyk put up very mediocre numbers this season for a player labelled an "offensive defenseman"- only 37 points in 67 games for Saskatoon of the WHL. Expect a whole lot more next year, as he played this season behind 21 yo Captain Aiden De La Gorgendiere, 19 yo Charlie Wright, and 20 yo Blake Gustafson, which cut very deep into his numbers. Scouts will know this fact, so I doubt he'll be around for the Flames' second-rounder, and may in fact, be picked in the first. The reason is that his offensive game is severely underrated, and his 200-ft game is lights out! Molendyk is a stalwart defensively, and despite being only 5'11", plays a physical brand of hockey. A few writers say that he's the best D-man against the rush in the draft. This season, his coach used him to shadow Bedard in many contests, who was completely shut down twice, mainly due to Molendyk's efforts. He is one of the fastest D-men in the draft, in all directions, with superb agility and edges. This helps him in his transition game, where he can drive play with sharp passes, or by carrying it himself. In the offensive zone, he is adept at choosing when to activate, and has a dangerous shot and offensive IQ. He's been compared to Kris Russell, but he's too good of a skater for that comparison. I liken him to a physical, chippy TJ Brodie. (I know I use the Brodie comparison too much."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Jacob Fowler, 18 yo, 6'2",201lbs, catches left. I think he's a bit underrated. 2.28 GAA, .921% in 40 games with Youngstown (USHL), along with 1.36 GAA, .932% in 9 playoff games. His movements are quick and controlled, he tracks play very well, and his positioning is impeccable. Good patience, timing, and rebound control. I believe he'll go higher than projected."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"I've heard all year about Finnish D prospect, Arttu Karki. I haven't seen him play, but I've been following his stats, and man- they are impressive. For Tappara's U20 Liiga team (where our own Topi Ronni played some games), Karki had 39 points in 36 games, which is the 7th best points total for an 18 yo in a season all-time in that league. Better yet, his 1.08 ppg is better than anyone in the top-20 on that list, with the exception of 2 players. For all ages in the U20, he ranks with the 17th best season all-time. Karki is 6'2", and has good, if not spectacular 4-directional speed, and is obviously highly skilled offensively, running the offense from the blueline with his high IQ and vision, and a booming shot. AK owns sublime passing, and playmaking skills, although he often tries to do much, and force things. He's a smart, puck-moving defenseman, who plays with poise, and physicality along the boards and in front of the net. The big downside is that his defensive play is not adequate, and may be the reason he didn't get to play any games in the top-tier men's league. Most draft-worthy prospects get at least a few games in the Liiga. His gap control is said to be off, and he allows attackers way too much time and space. One writer said he's surprisingly inconsistent on retrievals, and on breakouts - sometimes he feathers a brilliant breakaway pass from a large distance, sometimes he will mess it up by waiting too long. I still wonder about this kid's potentialLook for him in the 3rd round."

~ Sandman's draft thoughts

"Hunter Brzustewicz is one of the older players available in the draft, with a November 2004 birthday, but that shouldn't throw shade over his 57 points in 68 games for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, which is 28 points ahead of his nearest teammate. Like Akey, he is tagged with the label "modern-day defenseman", but is also often called "reliable", and a "two-way defenseman". Also like Akey, he may live to outclass his draft position. Another six-footer, he's said to be much stronger than his size, but he tends to use his superb skating and positioning to kill rushes, and break up the forecheck, but will use physicality when needed, and will fight hard in the dirty areas. Calm under pressure, but plays with pace and maturity, and of course- he will lead the transition. He needs some work on his gap control, according to some pundits, and his shot needs work- but some of those pundits say he might be one of the most NHL-ready defensemen in the draft."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"I have compared LW Kalan Lind to a poor man's Brad Marchand. This is the kid who was running around, playing physical, and stirring the pot so much in the Top Prospects Game, that he had to fight 6'4" Alex Pharand. Lind is not at all afraid of the rough-going, fighting hard in the dirty areas, or driving opponents crazy. Likes to crash the net, and has a knack for scoring garbage goals, but he has a good shot from farther out as well. He might be one of the best forecheckers in this draft, and has a non-stop motor. His hard-working nature, and competitiveness makes him a quality, 200-ft player, and he uses his physicality and stick to pressure puck-carriers, and separate man from puck. Though he plays like a bull in a china shop, he also has good IQ and vision, with strong playmaking ability, and a good off-puck game. Kole Lind's brother had 44 points in 43 games for the Red Deer Rebels. He's 6'0", but is listed at only 154lbs, so he needs to seriously bulk up."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Trey Augustine, 18 yo, 6'1",179lbs, catches left. Dominant in the U-18's for team USA, with a 1.61 GAA, and a .934%, but his stats in the WJC were less shiny, at 2.85 GAA, .891%. Played in the USDP, with 2.34 GAA, and a .928% with the USNTDP Juniors. Augustine is athletic enough to scramble when necessary, but relies on a structured technique, with quick movement around the crease, and the ability to read and react. His movements are quick up-and-down, post-to-post, and he has tight control. He handles rebounds well, and has a good glove. His mobility and structure make up for a percieved lack of height, but he could make himself a lot bigger in the net when setting up for the shot. Committed to Michigan State. 2nd/3rd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Team Canada Captain, D Cam Allen deserves perhaps more criticism than Price for that tournament, as his mistakes seemed to be of higher quality, and quantity. 4 points in 7 games, with a minus-2, where Price was plus-2. Another prototypical "modern-day defenseman", but I think Allen is far more driven (usually) to be a clean player defensively, and has dedicated his game as such. in 2021-22, Allen had 37 points in 65 games, but dropped to 25 in 62 this year. Part of that is the fact is that Guelph has the 10th best goals-for in the OHL, another part of that is the fact he plays behind a 19yo, and a 21 yo. Personally, I would usually peg a player with 37 points in his Draft-minus 1 year, to be closer to a ppg player in his draft year, but I think Allen was cast in a more defensive role this year, and took it on vigorously. He doesn't seem to activate much from the point, despite the fact that he can shoot it hard. He'a a good skater, but not elite, and perhaps a hair below Price in this area, but I think that on a good day, Allen is the better defensive player. Both are solid, all-around D with puck skill, hockey sense, and vision in all zones. Both play well on either side of transition, but Allen is chippier, more willing to initiate contact, and more hard-nosed. Allen is 5'11", whereas Price is 6'1". There's still a lot of growth to be done in both of their games, and I think Allen has a LOT more to show offensively. 2nd half of the 2nd round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Diminutive RW Jayden Perron had an amazing season, amassing 72 points in just 61 USHL games for the perrenial powerhouse Chicago Steel. That total puts him in a tie for 5th overall in the league, however- 6 of the top-12 leading scorers played for the Steel this season, so excitement over his numbers might have to be tempered slightly. Despite playing with the best of the USHL, Perron is a gifted offensive talent on his own. I would call him equal parts goal-scorer and playmaker, having both a high-end shot and release that he can get off accurately in full stride, and the elite offensive awareness to see the ice for plays to high-danger that few can find. He creates offense off the rush at full speed, or he can confidently slow the play down to scan and wait for the play to develop. He's a wizard at deception and manipulation, and he creates space for himself and teammates to get open. He's a play-driver, and can push pace. JP exudes a desire to make a difference in all 3 zones, and works diligently in the defensive zone to disrupt plays, clog lanes, and limit time and space- mostly with his positioning and his stick, as he shies away a bit from physicality due to lack of size and strength. Still, he will go to the battle zones if the play dictates it. On the transition, he can carry or pass it through as he exhibits good stickhandling and puck-protection, and he's said to be very successful in his entries. Skating-wise, he is quick with exellent agility and elusiveness, but he needs work on his explosiveness and top speed. Still, he is very slippery and can dart in and out of traffic, avoiding checks. He's only 5'9", and will need plenty of work on his strength in order to be sucessful at the next level- he already tends to avoid contact. He's likely a  target 2nd/3rd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Winger Lenni Hameenaho might be one of the older players in this draft, with a November birthday, but that shouldn't take away from how impressive his season was, with 21 points in 51 games in the men's league, which is better than Juraj Slafkovsky's Draft-Season output of 10 points in 31 games. His output puts him first in the Liiga for players under-19 by 6 points, ahead of names like Kemell, Nyman, Kaskimaki, and our own Topi Ronni. Hammy is a six-footer, but he plays much bigger, as he often comes out with the puck in battles, can play a physical game, battles hard in the danger areas, and is good in front of the net. Best of all, perhaps, is that he employs a sound 200-ft game, very difficult and unusual for a player his age, playing in a men’s league.He skates very well, but could use more explosiveness in his stride. In his draft minus-one year, he put up 21 goals and 37 points in 42 J20 Liiga games, which is excellent production, putting him 3rd for players under-18 in that league. Look for him in the first half of the second round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"I've already raved about Team Canada D Tristan Bertucci, and I did mention his partner for 3 games, D Quinton Burns - but I have to talk about him, because I liked him very much. Burns is one of those players that comes with the adage, "good at everything, but not elite at any one thing". Burns has excellent 4-directional mobility, and he uses it to play a solid, 200-ft game. He is 6'1", and is quite physical to separate man from puck, and he's a bit mean down low, in front of the net, and boards. Takes away time and space, and frustrates opponents, and causes turnovers. Bit of a shift disturber- you could tell he was reining it in a bit for this tourney, so as not to take penalties. Quality vision and anticipation, makes good reads with hard, crisp passes, and even affects transition, with his feet and hands, and he makes nice outlets,too. Burns exhibits great puck-protection, and distributes the puck well in the attacking zone, but has far more room to grow offensively. Owns a nice, hard shot, too. 29 points in 54 games, to go with 106 PIMs for Kingston of the OHL- pretty good stats, playing for a team that finished 17th out of 20 teams, and second-worst in Goals-for, and he was 12 points ahead of the next defenseman on his team. I think this kid is just scratching the surface, and will one day make a good second-pairing guy. 3rd/4th round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

[**ThePuckHound - Easton Cowan (E-Mac #47)**]

"He's a puck hound. He never gives up, never quits. He has great skating and decent skills. He always exceeds expectations. He's a winner. "

Our Twitter thread on Final Ranked 47th Easton Cowan (drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs)

~ E-Mac's Top 10 "winners"

"I have to take the opportunity to mention a player I really like, and someone who has improved their stock at the U-18s, Tristan Bertucci. For Flint of the OHL, he amassed 50 points this year, in 63 games, to go with 5 points in 7 playoff games. In the U-18's, he's being used as a 3rd-pairing, shutdown guy- and he's looked excellent in that role, despite having no points. Extremely steady and reliable. He's always in the right place, never misses his assignments, and always makes good decisions with the puck. He's 6'2", and plays with a physical edge. He has nice speed, and excellent stickhandling, and he scans the ice for options with his head up. He moves confidently with the puck through transition, and can pull off nice stretch passes. He has a hard, accurate shot, and plenty of offensive accumen. I see him as a riser on draft day."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Emil Jarventie had more ppg in the U-18's than Noah Dower-Nilsson (6 points in 7 games), and maybe more ice-time and opportunity, but for my money, NDN is a much better player. NDN had exemplary numbers for Frolunda's J20 team, one of the top teams on that circuit, with 54 points in 37 games- good enough for 7th in the entire league, although his 1.46 ppg were 3rd in the top-20, which is extremely impressive, especially for a 17 yo. He is a 6'0" Center, with elite sense and creativity, and the stickhandling and elusiveness to beat most defenders 1-on-1. Very fast and agile, with the ability to dart in and out of traffic, and change direction on a dime. He has a quick, accurate shot, and makes crisp passes seemingly out of nowhere. Like Jarventie, he can find teammates with passes that few others would be able to pull off. Basically, while he's capable of making mistakes, he's still a lights-out offensive player with high level skills and IQ. Defensively, he's not as good, but he's not bad either. He works diligently in his own zone, has a good stick, and exhibits good positioning. He has the speed and tenacity to take away time and space from opponents. Still could use a little work in this area. Second-rounder all day."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"RW Mathieu Cataford plays middle-six duty, with little PP time on a deep Halifax Mooseheads squad, but still managed 75 points in 68 games. I think this kid might be the closest thing to a Brayden Point/ Anthony Cirelli-type player in this draft. His high-end intelligence helps him excel in all zones, but his defensive play is what's often talked about. He exhibits solid positioning, the physicality to separate man from puck, the speed to disrupt plays and harass puck-carriers, and the IQ to be a couple of steps ahead of the play, to pick his opponents pockets, or head off passes. Makes quick reads, and is equally effective on the forecheck, as he is on the backcheck. Works and competes hard. He is very fast in a straight line, but some aspects of his skating could use a little improvement. Most writers suggest that he would make a great middle-six complimentary player, but I think he has a much higher ceiling."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Felix Nilsson may one day make a fine 3rd-line C in the NHL, and there's nothing wrong with that. He is praised for his smarts, but I like his quality 200-ft game. This season, he was one of the top U-18 players in the J20 circuit, with 41 points in 36 games, earning him 18 games with Rogle's SHL squad, where he impressed. He exhibits high-quality IQ and vision, and is a fine playmaker. He attacks the center of the ice in transition and in the offensive zone, and is an expert in finding, and creating, open space. He makes good decisions, and needs little time to do so. He shows the ability to drive play, contributes to both sides of transition, and can make high-end plays off the rush. Nilsson brings his smarts, anticipation, and vision with him in the defensive zone, where he is two steps ahead of the play. At the end of the day, the consensus reads that Nilsson is one of those "not elite in any one area, but good at everything" types- the one exception being his brain. His skating and his shot may be hovering around average, but both require some work. He is not a very physical player either, but this is a player that makes everyone around him better, and if he improves his shortcomings, he will be a quality NHLer. Look for him in the 2nd round."

~ Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"LW Noel Nordh is player for Sweden who I noticed in a good way. He's 6'2", a very good skater, and plays with energy and tenacity. He always seems to be at the front of the net, or just skating through, to get tips or rebounds, or a good screen. He's a master of the screen. He's highly competitive, physical, and has a fine motor- he battles hard in the dirty areas. Has good offensive awareness, but backchecks hard, and is solid and aggressive in his own zone, winning pucks, and turning them back the other way. Very effective defensively. He owns a hard, heavy shot that he needs to use more, and has great hands for scoring and passing. I feel like this is a player that has tons of room to grow offensively, but plays a good enough all-around game to be considered a player with a high floor. 5 points in 7 games this tournament, to go with 27 points in 38 J20 games in Sweden. Third round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"6'1" C Carey Terrance had 47 points in 67 to lead the Erie Otters, who were the 3rd-worst offensive team in the OHL. For the Americans at the U-18's, he was 9th in scoring with 6 points in 7 games. He's an excellent skater, who likes to compete along the boards, down low, and in front of the net. He's fairly creative, and has a solid base of IQ and hockey sense, but his shot is one of his main weapons- It's hard and heavy, with a quick realease, but he simply doesn't use it enough, and misses the net often. Terrance has good stickhandling skill, and is ultra-competitive in all areas. He seems to be a good defensive player, with exemplary positioning, and a good stick. He brings that competitiveness and hockey sense with him in his own zone- he blocks shots, snuffs entries, fights for pucks, and picks off passes. Although he thrives in the hard areas, he could be more physical. He might just be one of those players that does the unsung duties that a team needs, in order to win. Valuable third-liner perhaps? Third round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Alex Ciernik is a left-shooting RW who hails from Slovakia, born in Germany, but has been playing in Sweden for many years. He's one of the older players in the draft with an October birthday, and has been dominant in the J20 Liiga since his D-minus-1 year in 2021-22, where he posted 47 points in 43 games, and dominated the U-18 tournament on a line with Dalibor Dvorsky, with 12 points in 5 games. This season, he split time between the J20 (21 points in 18 games), and the second-tier Allsvenskan (12 points in 25 games- 12th for players under 20), and even the World Juniors (3 points in 5 games). Ciernik is only 5'10", but he's built like a fire hydrant, at 180lbs, and he plays big. Skating-wise, he's often referred to as one of the finest skaters in the draft, up there with Oliver Moore, and he has the skill and stickhandling to match- able to separate from opponents, or dart through them. He has excellent offensive instincts and IQ, and he's a wizard with the puck on his stick, and a gifted playmaker. He also has a hard, heavy shot, and can score from distance, or in tight. He's not afraid to get his nose dirty, he will battle for pucks in the hard areas, and has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Ciernik can be a game-breaker, but his defensive game is almost non-existent, and he can be invisible without the puck. Still, there's tons of potential, and top-6 winger upside. Early second-round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Adam Gajan, 19 yo, 6'2"167lbs,catches left. Best Goalkeeper award at WJC, with a .936 sv%. Most of the year was spent with Chippewa (NAHL), with 2.57 GAA and a .917%. Plays a hybrid style using reflexes and athleticism, with a tight butterfly. Extremely fast up-and-down, and side-to-side, quite competitive. Not too good with puckhandling, needs more control of his movements to avoid sliding too far. 2nd/3rd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"The term "modern-day defenseman" is used very often to describe Beau Akey. His style and situation are very similar to Molendyk's, as he's been all over the place in projections, from everywhere in the second-round to late first. Like Molendyk, he's an offensive defenseman who's numbers have been cut down a bit because he plays behind some older players, namely Connor Punnett, and Brandt Clarke. Like Molendyk, he's an excellent skater-and probably the more elite of the two, and every aspect of his feet are exceptional- his edges, agility, start-up, acceleration, and 4-directional mobility. He's a whiz in transition, and can carry the puck out, or pass it with equal aplomb. Defensively, he's effective, but doesn't yet have the physical game that Molendyk has, instead relying on his sense and anticipation, positioning, and stick to snuff plays, but he's not in the same league as TM defensively. He's 6'0", and put up 47 points in 66 games, and is considered by many to have more promise than some of the D that will be picked before him."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Carter Sotheran had the enviable task of riding shotgun this season with high-profile offensive defenseman Luca Cagnoni in Portland, with 23 points in 68 games. Despite the difference in size and ability, Sotheran has made a name for himself as well, as a smart, skilled workhorse. He's 6'3", but only 185lbs, so he's quite far from filling out, and he's a good skater, though his acceleration, edgework, and transition from forward to backward movement need work. Sotheran has great vision and anticipation in all zones, and he's a fully capable puck-mover. In the defensive zone, he's good against the rush, plays a physical brand of hockey to separate man from puck, and is tough in front of the net. He's already a top shutdown defenseman, and competes hard. Once he wrangles the puck, he turns it the other way with his top-notch transition abilities. Sotheran doesn't need to throw it away, or rim it off the glass- he can make high-quality breakout passes, often using deception to escape pressure in order to find the right option. He also flashes the ability to carry the puck through layers of traffic at times, with tight puck-protection, and by manipulating attackers into giving him room- though he has Cagnoni to defer to. Offensively, it seems to be a unanimous perception that Sotheran's offense has yet to be unlocked, but he's still a good distributor in the zone, and moves around with that same flair for deception, and he has a good shot. He's got far more than his point totals would indicate, and he will be in demand on Draft day 2, as big, physical, mobile defensemen are always popular. I'm betting on round 3, but he could go as early as round 2."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Oscar Fisker-Molgaard, like Felix Nilsson, is a 6'0" left-handed C plying his trade in the J20 and SHL in Sweden. In the J20, he put up 23 points in 21 games, tied with Felix Unger-Sorum for 7th overall in ppg for under-18 players, at 1.10. His performance earned him an incredible 41 games in the SHL (most games this year for an under-18 player by 9), with 7 points (1st overall for under-18 players). He is currently playing in the World Championships for Denmark. Very impressive resume, considering how far he's come after leaving home in 2021 to play a higher level of hockey in Sweden- he wasn't really on the radar at the beginning of this season. This shows his character, maturity, and his work ethic- all of which he brings to the rink. OFM plays a hard-working, intelligent game in all areas of the ice- he already has a solid base of defensive skills and awareness, but he's just scratching the surface of his offensive potential. His off-puck game is said to be a strength as well. He has great 1-on-1 skill, being able to beat opponents with an array of moves and dekes, made possible by his sublime stickhandling, puck-protection, and puck-control. Skating is very good, perhaps not elite, but he never stops moving his feet. He flashes some elite-level playmaking, and has all the tools, but his offense is still raw. Scouts would like see more from him in this area, and he needs to develop a better shot, but it's a good bet that he gets there. There's an NHL player here. 2nd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Scott Ratzlaff, 18 yo, 6'2",172lbs, catches left. 34 games with Seattle (WHL), with 2.15 GAA, .918%, but no games in the playoffs, as he plays behind veteran Thomas Milic. Made a name for himself in the Hlinka Tourney, where he played 4 games, with a sterling 0.5 GAA, and a .976%. Hybrid goalie with solid, economic mobility in his crease, and a knack for handling rebounds- knowing how to smother them up, or angle them where he wants them to go. He's very smart and aware in tracking pucks. His blocker needs improvement, but he has shown the attitude and commitment needed to improving his game. He's not the best puckhandler, either. Round 3."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Etienne Morin would be a good player to spend a middle 2nd rounder on. 72 points in 67 games for Moncton of the Q, followed by 17 points in 12 playoff games. He's a fast, agile skater who, unlike many offensive D prospects from the Q, has a sound two-way game to match his top-tier offensive instincts and IQ. Solid gap-control, and physical along the boards, and in front of the net. Plays confidently in all situations, and all zones. Hard, accurate shot, and excellent puck-handling ability. He excels in transition, with good exit, and entry ability. If there's a weakness, it would perhaps be his size (6'0"), and strength. Many suggest he will make a fine second-pairing D in the big leagues."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"6'0"176lb Belarussian LW Yegor Sidorov passed through last year's draft without getting picked, but his play this year has picked up noticeably, putting him on the radar to be drafted this year. In 2021-22, with the Saskatoon Blades, he had 23 goals and 35 points in 58 games. If he were drafted last year, he would've been rather young, with a June 18th birthday. This year, he's learned to attack more, rather than letting the play come to him, and it's paid off with 40 goals and 76 points in only 53 games, followed by 19 points in 16 playoff games. Sidorov is that player you might describe as,"one-dimensional, but it's a damn good dimension", as he's all goal-scorer, with the skills and mentality to match. Sidorov has a solid array of hard, accurate shots that he gets on net consistently, and he can pick off the smallest holes to put the puck in behind the goalie. He has a rocket of a one-timer from the half-wall on the PP, and he seemingly needs only a flick of the stick with very little time and space to get his wrister off from high-danger, even in traffic. His release is deceptive and lightning quick. He makes traversing the ice through traffic look easy, as he's an effortless skater with good speed, as well as edges and agility. He's very mobile east-west, and his puck-control and stickhandling skills are top-tier- he could stickhandle in a broom closet, and he can beat opponents 1-on-1. A lot of his assists come from rebounds and tips that come from his shots, as he doesn't use his teammates very well, and I've read that he still stays on the outside too much. Defensively, he still has a long way to go as he lacks urgency and effort. A team may still like his skills enough to take him, with the hopes he can round out his game."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"C Connor Levis is ranked as a "B" prospect by Central Scouting, meaning they see him going in the 2nd round, or early in the 3rd. This is already his 3rd year with the Blazers, being their 20th overall pick in the 2019 WHL Draft. This year, he put up an impressive 67 points in 68 games, centering the 2nd line with Leafs prospect, Fraser Minten. Levis is considered a bit raw, and a long-term prospect, but he already exhibits a fast, powerful skating stride, on a 6'2" frame. He employs a power-forward style, with good hockey sense, physicality, and a solid shot. He is defensively aware, but still needs some work in this area."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Mazden Leslie was given a "C" rating earlier this year by Central Scouting, meaning they feel he will picked in the 4th-6th rounds of the Draft. How can a D who put up 50 points in 66 games for a team (Vancouver Giants) that had the second-worst goals-for, and finished 16th overall in the WHL, be given such a mediocre rating? While Leslie has size (6'1") and obviously has offensive chops, he has trouble in other parts of his game that make scouts doubt if he will ever make the NHL. First off, his skating and stickhandling are average- he has an ok short-burst, but his acceleration and top-speed are questionable. Loses power in turns. At the beginning of the year, he didn't have much defense in his game to speak of, but in reading interviews with him and his coach, some credit must be given, as Leslie openly acknowleges this fact, and has steadily improved this part of his game throughout the year. By the time the playoffs rolled around, the coach was giving him more favorable reviews. It seems that Leslie has problems with his decision-making, and problem solving- I've read that he makes mistakes when his first option doesn't turn out, and coughs up pucks when his second option fails. He is able to stifle rushes coming back, right when they start in the offensive zone, and he's reportedly good aginst the rush in the neutral zone as well, but he still makes questionable choices, and can pinch at ill-advised times. He has become far better in his positioning, and in using his stick to break up plays, but his own-zone play is a work in progress. The good part is that Leslie is most comfortable with the puck on his stick, and carries with confidence, and can do both in transition. 64 PIM is an indication of a chip on his shoulder. His passes are hard, crisp, and accurate, and he makes clean breakouts. In the attacking zone, he has an eye for offense, and has a strong shot that he gets through traffic to create offense off of tips and rebounds, and to make goalies work. Runs the PP point well, and he has no problem pinching to become another forward. A few years back, we took a chance on a raw D Jeremie Poirier, who is now paying dividends, and this kid might have a chance to do that for a team that takes a chance on him. I do believe, however, that he'll go in the third round, because as I said above- 50 points on a poor offensive team, and the next two D-men behind him in scoring on the team had 27, and 15 points respectively- so he didn't have all the help in the world."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"RHC Timur Mukhanov gets some love from scouts, despite standing only 5'9", and 170lbs. He's fairly rare, in that he spent the majority of the year in the VHL, which is Russia's second-tier pro league, with 8 points in 31 games, after putting up 17 points in 15 MHL games. He even got a game in the KHL, which is impressive, considering he doesn't turn 18 until June. Mukhanov is another sparkplug who plays with relentless pace and energy, and makes up for his size somewhat by being a high-end skater, with great edges and agility. Like most good small players, he has learned to be slippery and elusive, but he owns the kind of skating and puck control that backs opponents up. He's hard to catch, but he's not scared of competing in the hard areas, or taking a hit to make a play. He will muck it up in front of the net, looking for rebounds and tips, or in the corners against larger opponents. He has good vision, and makes good decisions very quickly, and makes things happen in the offensive zone. He is also a good practitioner of deception and manipulation, and can draw defenders to him, thus opening up the ice for teammates. In transition, he's one of the few players on his VHL team, which is one of the worst teams in the league, to be able to start breakouts, and carry the puck through the neutral zone, gaining entry with control, although he doesn't always know what to do when he crosses the blue-line. Mukhanov creates plenty of opportunities for himself, but he needs work on his shot, and his finishing skills in general. Defensively, he doesn't make as much of an impact, and he can be caught puck-watching, or floating- he's far more aggressive in other areas of the ice. The big problem with TM is projecting his offense to the NHL, and answering the question of whether or not he could play in a team's bottom-6."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Drew Fortescue is a 6'3" defenseman with the USNTDP who seems to get mixed reviews. Joey Padmanabhan, the American Scout from EP Rinkside said this in his team USA U-18 Tournament Preview: "There's a lot to like about Drew Fortescue's game; he's a bit more defensive-minded than some of his teammates, stopping rushes early, using pre-scans consistently on his retrievals, and making a good first-pass through defensive layers. Fortescue has some offensive upside, too. He doesn't have the heaviest shot, but walks the line well and gets pucks on net, or finds an outlet in dangerous space. He will be a valuable asset down the lineup for the Americans". For me, watching him at the U-18's, I didn't see a player that looked like a very good NHL prospect. His mobility looked a bit sub-par, and his passing and stickhandling were clunky. With these two deficiencies, the rest of his game is affected from there, including his defensive coverage. He ended up getting 3 points, with 2 assists coming against the surprising Slovaks, and a goal against the Swiss, and he did have a plus/minus of +9 in 7 games, but that might not be so impressive considering the firepower on Team USA. For my money, Zach Schulz and Paul Fischer looked better in the "defensive defenseman" role. Fortescue had 5 points in 22 games for the USNTDP Juniors in the USHL, along with 26 points in 62 games for the USDP Under-18 Team- hardly earth-shattering numbers. He will have time to work on his game next year at Boston College, as many scouts say there is still a ton of unlocked potential.."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"LW Roman Kantserov is another fire hydrant, at 5'9", 176lbs, who will be picked in the second round of the Draft, despite having first-round talent. Kantserov is one of the older draft-eligibles in this year's crop, with a Sept.20 birthday, but even if he had been born 5 days earlier, he still would've been a second-rounder in 2021-22, as he finished 23rd in the MHL last year, with a stat line of 57 points in 55 games. This year, he finished 10th in that league, with 54 points in 45 games. Kantserov is a high-skill, elite IQ offensive contributor, but he's also extremely competitive, hard-nosed, and hustles his butt off- which are qualities that bode well for a player with his stature. He forechecks hard, goes to work in the trenches, and fights for position in front of the net like he was 6'3". He's not afraid of the rough-going, and will take a hit to make a play, and he will also dish out the physicality. Playmaking is his specialty, and though he usually keeps it simple, he can thread a pass as well as anyone. Kantserov has an elite offensive toolkit, with high-end vision, and the ability to exploit open space. His shot is a bit weak, but his accuracy, deception, and release are not, which gives him success in this area, as his 27 goals puts him 5th in the MHL for goal-scoring. Skating is good, but he's more shifty and slippery than outright fast, with excellent agility, and short-burst quickness to weave around opponents, along with tight puck control and protection. Defensively, his motor and compete keeps his head well above water, with his specialty being his pickpocketing skills, as well as his active stick. Many scouts say that he still has more offense than he's shown, and that he has the ability to drive play more often than he does. He may go as high as in the 2nd/3rd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"For a change of pace from 6-foot speedy offensive D, let's look at 6'2" Dylan MacKinnon. Only 23 points in 61 games, but he's not really counted on for that. This kid concentrates on his own zone, and punishing the opposition. He's no meathead though, as he possesses a powerful skating stride, and a solid puck-moving game. He's a quality rush-killer, and closes in on opponents with crushing hits. As one could imagine, he's intimidating in all areas of the defensive zone, from the boards, to the corners to the net-front. He's poised and confident, intelligent, and reasonably skilled. From some reports, his shot is excellent, and his offensive game is improving all the time. Still has plenty of promise offensively, and he does play behind 3 older D-men in Brady Schultz, David Moravec, and Jake Furlong. He might be more of a 3rd-rounder."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

Samuel Urban, 18 yo, 6'1",183lbs, catches left. He was impressive in the U-18's for Slovakia, with a 3.74 GAA, and a .908%. He got 4 games with Sioux City of the USHL (2.80 GAA, .918%), 3 games in Slovakia's U20 league (2.02 GAA, .935%), and 14 games in Slovakia's Second-tier league (4.51 GAA, .897%). Seems to play a polished technical game, with good mobility, a tight post game, and excellent up-and-down movement. Scouts say he needs work, as things start falling apart when games get harder, and when he plays better competition, but his stats look ok to me. He looks to be a true butterfly goalie who falls back on his technique, and doesn't improvise much at this stage. 5th/6th round.

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

I can't think of many defensive defensemen currently playing in the NHL who didn't put up some manner of offensive numbers when they were in junior. That's why I wonder about all the love D Brady Cleveland is getting. A short time ago, I wrote a fairly scathing description of Cleveland's USDP teammate, D Drew Fortescue- but at least Fortescue has some untapped potential in the numbers department, where Cleveland apparently does not. 9 points total, to go with 166 PIM's, in 74 games in the USDP, and no points in 7 games at the U-18's, where I wasn't really enamoured with either defenseman. I thought Zach Schulz and Paul Fischer looked much better in the "defensive defenseman" role, and they got more TOI as the second-pairing. Cleveland had ice-times of 6:15, 7:58, and 1:43 (I think he may have left early with an injury) in the gold-medal game against Slovakia. The reason that Cleveland will be in demand on the second day of the draft is that he's 6'5",210lbs, moves well for a big man, and is a good passer on the breakout, and through the neutral zone. BC takes pride in his defensive game, modeling his game after Brandon Carlo. He's a punishing hitter, very mindful on retrievals, and has the mobility to keep a good gap on attackers, eventually angling them into his own version of the "tunnel of death". He's very good against the rush, and hard to play against in front of the net, below the goal-line, and along the wall, plus- he blocks the shots he can't outright prevent. His passing game is good, and he knows how to move the puck quickly. He apparently has a blistering shot, not unlike Tyler Kleven (Senators' 2020 2nd-round pick #44), but he doesn't try to do too much in the offensive zone- and he will never be counted on for that side of the game. I can see there being room in the NHL for a big, mobile, mean defenseman like BC, and I can respect him for knowing what kind of player he is. If Kleven can go in the second-round, I can easily see Cleveland going in the 3rd/4th round of a draft like this one.

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

LHRW Hannes Hellberg, 6'1"185lbs, 18yo, D+1. Finished 5th in the J20 in Sweden, playing for Leksands, with 42gp/34g/23a/57pts, and 1st in goals. His performance earned him a game in the SHL, and another in the HockeyEttan- disappointing that he didn't get more games in the higher leagues, but perhaps an indication that he has some warts to work through. Obviously, he's as pure goal-scorer as you can get, but he actually has decent playmaking skills as well. He employs strong puck-protection, and handling skill to weave through traffic. He also has good defensive awareness. Double-H is a good skater, but there's plenty of room for improvement."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"The Vancouver Giants finished 16 out of 22 teams in the WHL, but their offense was second-last in the league. That might make 6'3",198lb C Jaden Lipinski's offensive output of 51 points in 66 games look a bit more shiny. Lipinski is not fleet-of-foot, with sluggish speed and acceleration, and his agility is not great, but the good news is that he's smart, plays a physical 200-ft game, and perhaps most importantly- he has gained confidence carrying the puck by greatly developing his puck-protection skills. Lipinski will move the puck up ice by shielding the puck with his body, arms, and rear-end, and this skill helps him in all 3 zones, in traffic, and in tight spaces. He doesn't need to just put the puck off the glass, or dump it in- he has confidence in puck possession. He won't be confused with teammate Sam Honzek, but he has a reasonable offensive toolkit, and some IQ and vision in all situations to go along with it. The Giants don't hesitate to use him on both sides of special teams. He has good hands, will go to the net, and not surprisingly, he's a down-low force, and a nightmare along the boards. Some big players don't use their size, but that's not a problem with Lipinski- he throws his weight around, and uses it to win pucks for his team. Defensively, he has the anticipation to know where to position himself to limit time and space for attackers, and has that physicality plus an active stick. If Lipinski can improve his speed, suddenly you have a very good prospect with a shot at bottom-6 duty, and the potential for even more. 4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"LW Ethan Miedema was one of the principle assets that was sent to Kingston from Windsor in the Shane Wright trade, after being a 4th-overall pick by the Spits in 2021. Miedema is a 6'4",201lb power-forward who moves well for his size, and plays a 200-ft game. His game is still raw in many areas, and he will need time to develop, but he is said to have a tantalizing size/skill ratio. Offensively, he is known more for his vision and playmaking, and his strong instincts, with the ability to find teammates in open space with crisp, hard passes. Despite being known as a playmaking winger, he is also a sniper, owning a hard and accurate array of shots with a quick, deceptive release, and a nice set of hands in tight. He plays hard and heavy all over the ice, and is a load to handle along the boards, down low, and in front of the net. He can dominate in the greasy areas, but needs more consistency in regards to his physicality. He can push the pace, but will often defer to his teammates to carry. Defensively, he shows good positioning, and brings his size and strength to separate man from puck, but can sometimes get caught watching the play, and not being aggressive enough. Mobility-wise, he needs more explosiveness, and perhaps better agility, but gets around fairly well for a guy his size, sometimes exhibiting a knack for getting ahead of the play. His offensive numbers took a hit when he was sent to a weaker Kingston team, having 31 points in 36 games before the trade, and only 21 points in 32 games after. Miedema may have a high floor, possibly in the role of third-line winger in the NHL, if he doesn't make it up to being a regular top-6 player. He can also play C. 3rd/4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Calgarian Aiden Fink plays RW in the AJHL for the Champs, the Brooks Bandits, who regularly dominated the competition. His 97 points in 54 games was tops in the league, and he added 13 points in 15 playoff games. In the World Junior A Challenge, Fink finished 1st in tournament scoring by 3 points, with 12 points in 6 games- though Canada West finished 4th out of 5 teams. The event featured names like Otto Stenberg, Zeb Forsfjall, Cole Knuble, Felix Unger Sorum, Tanner Ludtke, Felix Nilsson, Anton Wahlberg, Tanner Adams, and Tom Willander. Though Fink is only 5'9",152lbs, he plays much bigger, winning battles regularly with his high compete and hard-nosed approach to the game. He can make plays at high speed confidently, even under pressure. Fink is excellent at puck-distribution, be it in transition or to high-danger areas in the offensive zone. He works with advanced offensive awareness and vision, and uses all the space he can to draw attackers and open seams for his wide array of high-end passes, as well as weave through traffic to scan for options. There's also a good shot with a deceptive release in his arsenal. He is intense, and has high motor and compete, and strives to be a difference-maker in all 3 zones- he is a dedicated defensive player, and can carry through transition with full control. Though he lacks an efficient stride and top-end speed, he makes up for it somewhat with his hard work in always keeping his feet in motion, and manages to play with pace. It's still a little difficult to project Junior A players, being that the competition is not as good, and Fink will probably need the full 4 years of college to develop, as he is committed to Penn State."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"One name I've heard all year is D Matteo Mann, but I've been reluctant to write about him, as he looked like a huge player with little talent that would end up being a pylon at the next level. Turns out, the more I've looked into him, the better he's looked. Mann is 6'5" (some say 6'6"), and one of the heaviest players in the draft at 225lbs, and has obviously been working diligently to correct his mobility issues, as he's now considered a decent skater- which will terrorize opponents. Defense is by far his first priority, and he's actually a skilled, smart, and able shutdown D, with an overwhelming wingspan, and a punishing physical presence. He intimidates, and makes life hard for attackers, as he's nearly impossible to beat in puck battles, and he's like a shark along the boards and in front of the net. His backwards skating is decent, and he can stop opponents entering the zone with his gap and active stick. He is smart, disruptive, and mean, and exhibits positional awareness- steering opponents out of danger, and keeping the net-front clean. Mann was able to showcase his talents at the Top Prospects Game, where he showed he could hang with the best in the CHL, and shut them down- he also had 2 shots, playing on a pairing with Jonathan Tourigny. With the Chicoutimi Saqueneens this season, he only managed 5 points in 45 games, and while he'll never be counted on for offense, he can ride shotgun with the more skilled players, and not look out of place. You rarely see him pinch, but he can work the point, and he has a hard shot that he uses to cause chaos around the net. Going forward, Mann will need to keep improving his mobility, especially his start-up and explosiveness, and he has to establish more of an offensive game. He could go as early as the 3rd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"6'1",195lb D Albert Wikman is not the Swedish Denis Gauthier, but it seems like he wants to be. Wikman is known as a true defensive defenseman, with physicality being one of his specialties. He has been said to have glimpses of a two-way game from time-to-time, sometimes even giving pinching-up into the offensive zone a try, but he takes a lot of pride in his own-zone play. He has some flashes of offensive IQ, being able to distribute from the blueline, and spot open lanes to get shots on net. 12 points in 43 J20 games for Farjestad, along with 11 SHL games under his belt, which shows he's doing something good. Wikman is a smooth skater, with a powerful stride, but could use some work on his top-speed. He has all of the skills you would expect a quality defensive player to have- a tight gap, good stick, positioning, and high-end anticipation to break up plays and intercept passes.He's often dominant along the boards, and in front of the net, very energetic and competitive. Wikman is not devoid of puck-skill, and creates many successful zone exits with smart, efficient breakout passes- but he can also carry through the neutral zone himself with solid stickhandling and puck-control. He's been climbing the rankings lately, even up to the second round, and # 71 by Craig Button."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"C Rasmus Kumpalainen has many of the same traits as Nordh. Kumpalainen put up 5 points in 5 games for Finland in the tournament, and displayed a solid, all-around power-forward game, with skill and some speed. Kump plays well in the hard areas, competing and battling hard, exhibiting excellent puck protection, and the stickhandling to dance around defenders. Like Nordh, he's competitive and has motor. His IQ and vision makes him a solid performer in all 3 zones, and he'a a quality defensive player, capable of killing plays and rushes. Good player without the puck, and has smart positioning in all situations. He moves ok, but his skating is a work in progress. 34 points in 41 U20 Liiga games back home in Finland."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Winger Emil Jarventie had 6 points in 5 games. He's undersized, at 5'10", but plays a fairly explosive offensive game. His shot is lethal, and his offensive instincts are his bread and butter, and he exhibits excellent hockey sense and IQ. He can pull off passes that few others can-through traffic, and at at long distance. His feet are quick, even explosive in close quarters, but he could use work on his top speed. He works hard, doesn't shy away from battling in hard areas, and has a good motor. His stickhandling is another strength, and he has plenty of 1-on-1 shiftiness. Pretty small, and not very strong, but he forechecks hard, and takes punishment in front of the net. Jarventie played 21 games with 19 points this season in the J20, but spent even more time in the men's leagues, with stops in the Mestis (where he put up an impressive 7 points in 19 games, 12th for players under 20, and first for players under 18- the other players in his age group played 3 games or less), and 15 games in the Liiga. His defensive game needs some work. Look for him in the 3rd round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Left-handed RW Alexander Rykov had a remarkably similar year to that of Mukhanov, but he most likely has a better ceiling/floor ratio. Rykov, like Mukhanov, played the majority of his hockey in Russia's second-tier men's league, the VHL, with an impressive 11 points in 20 games. He got 6 games in the KHL, which is remarkable for a kid who doesn't turn 18 until July, but he spent a lot of time on the IR. Rykov plays a very mature, 200-ft game, with an emphasis on defense and transition. He's smart, hard-working, and responsible, and stands 5'11'',170lbs. Rykov is an excellent skater, and is said to have one of the smoothest strides coming out of Russia this year- although there are those who say he has room to improve in most areas of his skating. Add to that his great puck-control, and solid 1-on-1 moves, and you have a player that can weave through the neutral zone, and cross the line with full control. In the offensive zone, he forechecks very well, regularly causing turnovers. Rykov is far from being the flashiest, or most prolific of offensive players, instead keeping it simple- but he has good IQ and vision. He is not the most dominant goal-scorer either, but he has an ok shot. Defensively, he shows excellent awareness, and aggression, and can get physical. He stays active, and is good at cutting off time and space. Very good anticipation to intercept plays, and get the puck going back the other way on the breakout. Rykov is very raw, but has some potential in him to translate his game to a middle-six winger in the NHL, but it is not an imposibility that he could play in a bottom-six checking role."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Damian Clara, 18 yo, 6'6",207lbs, catches left. The Italian-born Clara spent most of the year with Farjestad of the J20, playing the third-most games, 35, with a 2.79 GAA, and a .903%- 15th overall in the league in both categories. He played well in 2 games on loan to BIK Karlskoga of the AllSvenskan, with a 2.50 GAA, and a .936%. Clara obviously has an incredibly long reach with his arms and legs, and covers a lot of net, which he tends to stay deep in. Seals the bottom of the net well, but needs work on most aspects of his game, including his five-hole, rebound control, and glove, while also strengthening his overall mobility in the crease."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Paul Fischer, like Schulz, is a 6'1" defensive defenseman, but you hear more about "long-term potential" and "project", when it comes to Fischer. It may have to do with Fischer's confidence in carrying the puck- although he doesn't always make the best decisions. Fischer has a big frame, and is tough and physical below the goal-line, along the boards, and in front of the net. I wouldn't call him outright fast, but he's a good skater capable of winning races to loose pucks at times. He's very good against the rush, and has a good stick to break up plays. Fischer is comfortable carrying, or passing through transition, and he can connect with breakouts. In the offensive zone, he can activate at times, but is more comfortable walking the line, extending offensive zone time. He has apparently had some PP time this year, where he showed off a good point-shot that he was able to get on net through traffic, and an ability to distribute from the point. Only 27 points in a combined 78 USDP games, and 1 point in 7 games at the U-18's, so he's obviously very raw. He'll be going to Notre Dame in the fall. 4th/5th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Left-handed RW Cole Brown is the type of player scouts love in the middle rounds of the draft. He stands 6'3", but only 170lbs, and scored 42 points in 60 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs, who had the 15th best offense out of 20 teams in the OHL. Fairly meager totals, but consider this: Star forward Logan Morrison was traded on January 6th to the Ottawa 67's by Hamilton for 6 draft picks, giving other players on the team like Brown more ice-time and responsibility. In 26 games before Morrison was traded, Brown had 13 points- but in 34 games after the trade, Brown had a much more palatable 29 points (hope my math is right). Looks to me like there might be a player there. Brown is a North-South power-forward, who actually has great speed in a straight line, with good edges and agility which, when combined with his puck-protection ability and stickhandling, gives him the ability to drive play. Still, he could use some work on his explosiveness and acceleration, but he's fast enough to occasionally beat opponents wide. CB keeps things simple, but effective, and he knows how to find open spaces in the offensive zone to facilitate scoring opportunities. He's a load to handle on the forecheck, around the net, and on the cycle, and he can be dominant along the wall in all 3 zones. Scouts say, however, that he hesitates in his decision-making, not fully trusting his instincts, which can often cost his team opportunity, and even possession. He also doesn't attack the middle lane enough. With only 17 goals, it's safe to say that he needs work on his shot, and his finishing skills. Defensively, he's aware, and makes smart plays with his positioning, reach, and stick to limit chances for opponents, but his physicality in this zone gets mixed reviews. Brown is still fairly raw, but if he can bulk up and get stronger, while working on his explosiveness, you have a prospect who could conceivably have the floor of a bottom-six winger with a splash of offense, and some PK ability. If he gets more aggressive in the middle, and cleans up his decision-making in addition, you could have a quality middle-six power-forward."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"The BCHL Showcase is a one-stop shop for scouts and college recruits to evaluate talent in one place, and consists of each team in the league playing one home, and one away game in 4 nights of action. This years event took place between Oct.17th-20th in Chilliwack, BC. Hoyt Stanley is a 6'2",196lb right-handed D playing in the BCHL for the Victoria Grizzlies, and some fans say he is usually the best player on the team most nights, but some of his shortcomings were on full display for scouts in the Showcase, although Cornell University has liked him enough over the span of the season to bring him into their fold next year. It's fair to say that Stanley is more potential than finished product right now. He is said to have good mobility for his size, and a smart two-way game, compiling 38 points in 53 games of Junior A- which was surprisingly good enough to be tied for 8th place in D-scoring in the league. Daniel Gee of Elite Prospects was at the Showcase, and said at the time that Stanley has some bad defensive habits and an immature game, struggling in multi-dimensional defensive situations, and failing to guide attackers to the outside in transition due to some faulty footwork where he struggles in pivots and lacks explosiveness in turns. Stanley has enough assets to pique the interest of NHL clubs, but he looks a bit like a project at this point."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"RW Felix Unger Sorum might have raised his draft stock more than anyone, with his performance in this tournament. He had the enviable task of riding shotgun with Otto Stenberg, but he was able to show off his hard-working, playmaking style, as well as his defensive awareness. Sorum skates well, but is not a burner, and his offensive skillset makes him an equally good passer, as shooter, with a quick, deceptive release. Works hard on and off the puck, and can play both sides of special teams, but isn't a physical player. 10 points in 7 games in the tourney, and 46 points in 42 J20 games- pretty good production. Still a bit raw, and the youngest player in the draft, being born a day before the cut-off."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

LHD Emil Pieniniemi was another player from Finland's disappointing squad at the U-18's that I wanted to see, and I felt that while he was solid at times, he was largely disappointing- although he was Finland's Player of the Game in the quarterfinal against Slovakia, the game where the Finns were eliminated. 13 points in 31 games in Finland's U20 league, with 1 game in the Liiga. You can't expect a player like Pieniniemi to be spectacular, as parts of his game are raw, and other parts of his game have divided scouts as to whether or not he has an NHL future. EP has an NHL frame, at 6'2", and is a solid skater who flashes 2-way ability, although at this point, I would say his defensive game is far more developed, and will be his calling card to the pros. EP is often aware enough, and proactive enough, to be able to snuff rushes in the neutral zone by steering his man to the boards, and engaging physically. He is smart with his stick, and has the long reach to block lanes, and poke check the puck away from attackers. He has the gaps and mobility to stick to his man like glue, and takes away time, space, and options in the defensive zone with his tight positioning- however, he can be pressured into making bad decisions with the puck, a theme that seems to haunt his overall game. In transition, he's fully capable of carrying the puck out of the zone and through neutral ice, and he has a quality first pass. In the offensive zone, he shows an ability to beat the high forward and pinch into open space, but it too often doesn't go anywhere, and he needs work on the accuracy and velocity of his shot. Back home in Finland, he's shown the ability to run the offense from the point, and the skill to distribute from there, but he often makes senseless plays, instead of the simple ones, that make scouts question his hockey sense. He will need to speed up his decision-making going forward, and develop better awareness if he wants an NHL job, but he could be a good pick in later rounds as he exhibits the ability to turn defense into offensive transition."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

I mentioned D Zach Schulz, so here he is. Schulz, like Fortescue, had 3 points in the U-18's, but was +11 and had more ice-time- including 21:01 in the Gold-Medal game against Sweden, which was third-most for D in that game. Only 13 points in a combined 71 games in the USDP, but he will never be counted on for offense. Schulz is a very strong 6'1", and 195lbs, and is a powerful skater. He plays an intelligent, reliable, defense-first shutdown game. His mobility enables him to track down puck-carriers and deliver the body to separate them from the puck, and remove them from the play. Excellent gap-control, and net-front presence, along with a physical style. His play with the puck seems to be efficient, with the capability of making a good first-pass, and he handles the puck reasonably well. Offensively, he doesn't really try to do too much, but he's capable of moving the puck, and he does have an NHL-calibre shot, but he's considered very raw in that end of the ice. High compete, and a team-first kid, who captained Team USA despite being 17 until June, which says something about his character. He will be attending the University of Wisconsin in the fall. I like him a lot. 4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

C/RW Cole Knuble, 5'11",183lbs, only 18 yo(!), D+1. The son of Mike Knuble was 9th this season in the USHL with 66 points in 57 games, and plays an NHL-style game- highlighted by his off-puck awareness. Knuble plays with energy and motor, with a high work-ethic, and drive. Despite his size, he battles all over the ice to secure possession for his team, and plays with physicality. He's a threat from everywhere in the offensive zone- he's both an excellent shooter and passer, and the puck seems to follow him. Knuble also has a responsible, sound defensive game. Like most on this list, he needs a bit of work on his skating going forward."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Andrew Strathmann finished 8th overall for scoring by D in the entire USHL, and 2nd for draft-eligibles, with 38 points in 56 games. 5'11", 174lbs, but might the meanest player on this list, with 102 PIM. He is knocked for some of his decision-making, and how he can sometimes be pressured into giving away the puck. Unlike the players above, he needs some work on his skating- he moves well, but is not a burner. Strathmann uses his physicality in all areas, plays with passion, initiates contact with big hits, and is adept in his own zone. Usually, he displays good IQ and playmaking, able to make stretch-passes out of the zone, while being able to kill plays at his own blueline. Nice passer in transition. He's been pegged to go in the 2nd round for most of the year, but who knows? I like him, but he needs work."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"C Denver Barkey is a diminutive 5'8", but he's built like a fire hydrant at 174lbs. Barkey's true coming out party might have been in the OHL Playoffs, in which his team, the London Knights, made it all the way to the finals, losing in 6 games to the Peterborough Petes. In those playoffs, Barkey finished tied for 3rd on the Knights in scoring, with 24 points in 20 games, after a regular season in which he scored 59 points in 61 games, with only 13 of those points coming on the powerplay. Despite not being an elite straight-line skater, Barkey can drive play and push the pace. Much like Jayden Perron, he is more quick and shifty, with good edges and east/west agility, than outright fast, and his high motor masks some of his deficiencies. He exhibits good puck protection and stickhandling to go with his feet that enable him to be slippery, and move through traffic while evading checks. He's known to be more playmaker than goal-scorer, but 11 of his playoff points were goals, which equals half of his production in his 61 regular season games. His shot is not the strongest, but he has deception and a quick release, along with accuracy to help him in this area. His main attribute is his offensive IQ, his vision, and his ability to see and exploit open space to deploy passes to high-danger. He contributes to transition, and has that high-quality off-puck game where he knows where to be to make himself an option for passes on the breakout. He is defensively aware, but is often too small to physically engage, instead relying on his positioning, and his stick to kill plays and block lanes. I can't see Barkey playing the center position after his junior career ends, but he will need to get stronger and faster if he wants to play in the show. 3rd/4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Despite being from PEI, and playing for the middling Cape Breton Eagles of the QMJHL, RW Cam Squires grew up a Flames fan, drawing inspiration from Jarome Iginla for the way he handled himself as a person and a player. Squires even met Iginla as a kid, and always admired his leadership qualities, and strong work ethic- which he applies to his own game, and to growing as a 200-ft player. Squires was third in scoring for the Eagles, with an impressive 30 goals and 64 points in 67 games, followed by a team-leading 6 points in 4 playoff games. He's average sized, at 6'0", and hovers around average for skating, but like his hero Iginla, he plays a hard-nosed style, highlighted by his motor, and high compete level, as well as his top-tier down-low game. He never takes a shift off, and attacks the front of the net, along with all the battle areas, and opens up spaces in high-danger for himself and his teammates. Skating-wise, he is said to have sound agility, and good straight-line acceleration, but his mechanics hold him back from achieving explosiveness, and a good top-speed. 30 goals sells him as a goal-scorer, but it's his elite, deceptive release and his ability to shoot while in full stride that gets him those goals, rather than the power of his shot, which could use work for the next level. He has an excellent offensive toolkit, is very smart and aware, and is capable of threading crisp, tape-to-tape passes through coverage. Defensively, he supports teammates well with a great off-puck game, and he works hard, but he's still working on this part of his game, and must eliminate his miscues, occasional puck-watching, and some percieved deficiencies against the rush. Squires is listed at only 161lbs, so he'll need to get bigger and stronger. Some think he will make a fine top-6 offensive player in the show. 3rd/4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Watch out for LHD Sawyer Mynio of the WHL Champion Seattle Thunderbirds, as he might be a big riser on draft day. Most outlets have him at 6'0", and around 170 lbs, but the T-Birds website lists him at 6'1". 31 points in 68 games, which sounds pretty vanilla, but consider that he's playing on a blueline clogged with the likes of Kevin Korchinski, Luke Prokop, Jeremy Hanzel, and Nolan Allan. Also consider that Mynio is tied for 2nd (with Korchinski) on Seattle, and 8th overall in the WHL, with an incredible plus/minus of +50. This is a skilled, smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman, who plays a calm, composed game at both ends of the ice. He can unleash a powerful wrister, or one-timer, and he can pinch at opportune times. Great one-on-one skills, and good positioning in all areas. He can even play a physical game. Shows good compete, and high motor, but doesn't get too flashy. Only 4 points in 19 games in the playoffs, but I'm sure that's because the older players are getting the lion's share of the ice-time. 3rd round, but I can easily see him sneaking into the 2nd."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"For a good chunk of the year, I've heard a bit of chatter around Sudbury Wolves' Center, Alex Pharand, and I didn't really understand why- even after watching some video. After seeing him in the Top Prospects Game (where he was actually a fill-in for injured teammate Quentin Musty), and in a 3rd-line C role for Team Canada at the U-18's, I can see a player there. Let's be clear- I don't have any illusions that AP will be more than a bottom-6 Center in the show, but he has attributes that make me believe that he has a chance to be an impact player, perhaps in the mold of a Garnet Hathaway. What sticks out about Pharand is his size (6'3"), and his mobility. He's actually a good skater for his size, and he uses that speed as a conduit to deliver a calm, poised defensive game, with smarts and physicality. He just seems to have an inate feel for the D zone, and exhibits great positioning, and the anticipation to be in the right place at the right time to kill a play, or deliver a hit. Kills penalties with aplomb. He is also not devoid of puck skill, and is able to make good passes out of danger, while under pressure. Like most of his Team Canada teammates, his performance at the U-18's was very up and down. Some games he was getting beaten regularly, and making mistakes with the puck, while other games, he was a force, like a human wrecking ball. Most remember him as the one at the Top Prospects Game that fought Kalan Lind for taking out a teammate. Mediocre numbers on a mediocre team in Sudbury of the OHL, with 39 points in 67 games- but he'll never be counted on for offense. 4th round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"5'9"C/W Luca Pinelli is another diminutive player who, like Denver Barkey, had a superb playoff run with 18 points in just 11 games for the Ottawa 67's, after a regular season that saw him post 63 points in 67 games. He was often Ottawa's best player in the playoffs, even outscoring Seattle draftee, and OHL star, Logan Morrison. Unlike other small players like Barkey and Jayden Perron, Pinelli plays with an edge and will initiate contact, and engage physically. He is a buzzsaw, and will not back down from the battle areas, and can play an agitator role. Offensively, Pinelli (who is the brother of LA Kings prospect, Francesco Pinelli) is a dual threat to shoot or pass, but is known more for his playmaking, and he can do both off the rush, or the cycle. He has a nice one-timer that can beat a goalie from long distance, with a good release. High IQ and vision, with grit and compete. He plays a well-rounded game, being able to compete in all three zones, and both sides of special teams. Defensively, he already plays a fairly refined game, and his specialty is his pick-pocketing abilty, and his work in transitioning the other way into offense. He's excellent at neutralizing his opponents sticks as well. Pinelli is a good skater, but needs a bit of work on his explosiveness, and top speed- his stride is said to be a bit short and choppy, though his acceleration is decent. I was a big fan of his brother's a few years back, and I like Luca as well- he has the makings of a middle-six NHLer someday. 2nd round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"5C Justin Gill, 6'1",187lbs, 20yo, D+2. Gill is in his third year playing for Sherbrooke, and has grown with the team, as they weren't near the powerhouse they were this year when he was a rookie. 93 points in 68 games, playing with Ethan Gauthier and Joshua Roy this past season. Gill's creativity has bloomed, along with his puckhandling and playmaking- he's much more patient now, and scans for the right play, instead of forcing things. He's a fairly good skater, but needs more explosiveness and agility. He's motivated defensively, but his own-zone game has warts. Volume shooter, with a good shot, and he's a faceoff ace."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"For many NHL GM's, a player's size and athleticism can make them a bit more draft-worthy. C Jonathan Castagna stands 6'2", and weighs 185lbs, and as a surprise invite to the Draft Combine, he finished top-10 in many categories. The fact that he was invited shows that some people in the hockey world think enough of him to include him amongst the top prospects of the draft, and in this year's case, 106 prospects were in attendance. It's hard to project a player from the US High School system, but Castagna plays for St. Andrew's College in the Canadian High School circuit, finishing 8th overall in scoring, with 72 points in 50 games. Despite playing against inferior competition to that of the CHL, many scouts say he has plenty of attributes that translate to the NHL. Other than his frame, Castagna is an explosive skater with great acceleration and top speed, and he keeps his feet moving- sprinting around the ice. His hands and stickhandling match the speed of his four-way mobility, giving him the ability to dance around opponents. In addition to his top-notch athleticism, he's among the best in this draft in terms of work ethic and motor. His offensive touch is elite compared to his competition this season, but it's a good bet that he'll never be a high-end scorer in pro hockey, but rather a two-way middle-six player at his ceiling. He's a quality defensive player, and quite physical in his own zone- he closes lanes, disrupts the cycle, lifts sticks, blocks shots, and will deliver crushing hits when given the chance. JC has a long runway, as he's joining the Penticton Vees next season, and he's committed to Cornell University in 2024-25."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Luca Cagnoni is only 5'10", but he put up some of the best numbers for draft-eligible CHL defensemen- 64 points in 67 games, which amazingly is 33 points more than the next defenseman for the Portland Winterhawks. LC is what you would expect from an undersized defenseman in the 2nd round- he's fast and shifty, has top-tier IQ and vision, loves to be the first guy into the offensive zone, and is a gifted stickhandler. He lacks physicality, and can be outmuscled, but he employs smart positioning, a good gap, a quick stick, and the anticipation to break up plays. Top-4 D all day long. He's a self-made player, as he was never drafted into the WHL, so I would guess he's a character guy."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Left-handed RW Andrei Loshko is a 6'1"170lb Belarussian, who registered 70 points in 67 games in the Q for the Chicoutimi Saqueneens, who finished 8th overall out of 18 teams. Loshko doesn't seem to get the respect he deserves as a quality 200-ft player, who can positively influence most aspects of the game when he's on the ice. Loshko is a details-oriented, offensively balanced play-driver at this level, who can control pace- and despite having an array of hard, accurate shots, with a pro-caliber release, the vast majority of his points come from his playmaking vision and creativity. Loshko has high IQ, smarts, and the ability to find teammates in high-danger consistently. He can make plays off the rush, and he can distribute from the half-wall on the PP- and he also scores from there with his deadly one-timer. He's adept at finding open space, and is very good at attacking from the middle lane, although he can be caught coasting and watching the play sometimes. He backchecks as hard as he forechecks, and stays involved in the play defensively, anticipating where the puck is going, and killing the play with his deft positioning, and active stick. He often gets the play going back the other way by making himself an option to facilitate the breakout, either by carrying himself, or by being a play-connector between his D and the other forwards. Mobility-wise, he has a long stride, but doesn't get enough power out of it, although he seems to have some small-area quickness, and a good start-up. He will need to upgrade his acceleration and top-speed, as well as his puck-control, as he currently overhandles the puck too often. Pretty underrated in my book, but he has real NHL top-6 upside if he bulks up and gets quicker. 3rd-5th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Larry Keenan, as I have learned, comes from a deep hockey lineage. His Grandfather, also named Larry Keenan, scored the St.Louis Blues' first-ever goal, and went on to be a part of their Cinderella cup-run, and his Father, Cory Keenan, was a pro-hockey player at lower levels. The younger Larry Keenan is another HS player who is rocketing up the charts, evidenced by the fact that he was invited to this year's Combine. Keenan is a solid 6'3", and 185lbs, and is quite raw, but he has shown some very translatable skills. First off, Keenan is an excellent skater with smoothness and agility, and is a developing offensive defenseman. The other pillar of his game might be his booming shot that beats goalies from the point, or his ability to skate the puck through transition. He can also connect with high-end stretch passes, or start the breakout with an accurate first-pass to a streaking teammate, and his playmaking and distribution skills are sound. He has the puck-control and elusiveness to move around in traffic, and can play a physical game- although he's quite skinny and a little weak right now. This season, he skated for Culver Military Academy in the High School circuit, compiling 37 points in 49 games- good for 2nd in the league in D scoring. Questions arise in regards to Keenan's defensive game though, and how it will translate to the next level; his effort and engagement is inconsistent, and his defensive skating needs work, but he's good enough in his own zone to be useful at the high school level. He shows the ability to stop the rush, and play hard in front of his net, but he needs to develop more in this area. The good news is that he has a long runway, as he's committed to an excellent program next year at UMass. Many scouts believe there’s top-4 potential here."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"I keep seeing American High School star, C Jake Fisher shooting up the rankings. It's very hard, at least for me, to form an opinion on players from that circuit, because the level of competition is simply inferior to that of the USHL or CHL. Fisher was 32nd in scoring in the Minnesota High School league, with 63 points in 39 games as Captain of Cretin-Durham Hall; to give a little perspective, this year's title of Mr.Hockey, given to the best player in the State, went to Jayson Shaugabay, who amassed 96 points in 31 games. Fisher was unable to leave much of a mark in his stint with the Fargo Force of the USHL, with only 1 goal and a -5 in 12 games, followed by zero points in 2 playoff games. He didn't get a lot of ice-time or responsibility in Fargo, but he still had issues adjusting his pace and timing. By all accounts, Fisher has it all at the HS level, being 6'2" and pretty fleet of foot, with an excellent array of shots, that he can use to score from anywhere. He stands out among his peers with his IQ and vision, and he's a dominant offensive weapon for his team, with plenty of hustle and motor. He stickhandles well, and pushes pace in transition with carries or passes for clean entries. Fisher's game is very well-rounded, with a sublime off-puck game, and he shows a dedication to doing his job in defensive situations. He's hard and disruptive on the forecheck, and plays a physical brand of hockey- battling in the dirty areas, winning pucks along the boards, bullying his way through traffic, and establishing a net-front presence. There aren't many holes to uncover in his game, other than the level he played at this season. He's committed to the University of Denver for the 2024-25 season, and he might be picked as early as the third round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"RHD Eric Pohlkamp, 5'11",205lbs, 19yo, D+1. This kid won Defenseman of the Year in the USHL, after scoring 51 points in 59 games, and tying for first in D scoring. Since 2011, 9 of 10 winners of this trophy have earned NHL deals, and 8 of them have played games, including Owen Power, Neal Pionk, and Brandon Montour. Pohlkamp isn't big, but he plays a throwback style, with his gritty play, physicality, and thunderous hits. He's a killer against the rush, and solid defensively. His powerful shot can beat goalies from the point, but despite eye-popping numbers, he keeps his passing and playmaking very basic, simple, and as efficient as possible. Mobility-wise, he's a smooth skater, but he needs work in powering up his stride for better speed and acceleration."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"LHD Hudson Thornton, 5'11",181lbs, 19yo, D+1. Thornton was 5th in D scoring in the WHL, with 74 points in 68 games with Prince George. He is one of the most dangerous threats offensively in the league, and often the spear of the attack for the Cougs. He's a transition ace, and uses deception to move through the neutral zone, or he can use his accurate breakout passes, and often skates the puck in deep by himself. He's comfortable and confident running things from the point, and can pinch in, attacking the front of the net. He exudes creativity and vision, and he also has a good shot. His defensive commitment is much better this year, and so is his mobility and puck-skills, but he has to keep building these assets. He may always be a bit prone to mental errors, though."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Ryan Conmy, like Griffin Erdman, is a 5'10" RW plying his trade in the USHL, in this case, the Sioux City Musketeers. 33 goals and 62 points in 60 games, putting his production 14th in the league, and according to Elite Prospects, his even strength per-minute production was second (behind Gavyn Thoreson) for non-USNTDP first-time draft-eligibles- beating out players like Jayden Perron, and Tanner Ludtke. Conmy is not the fastest player on the ice, but he's a high-IQ, 200-ft player with a sterling off-puck game. If he's not facilitating, he's finding the space to make himself an option for a pass, a lane to close down, or he's battling for possession on behalf of his team. He's always dangerous with his hard, accurate shot, or his creativity. He drives the middle, finds open areas, and can do a lot of damage if given a sliver of space to work in. The skills are very well-rounded, and he can stickhandle through traffic, or pass the puck through it. He's headed to the University of New Hampshire next year. He's probably more of a mid-round pick, or else some team will have a steal on their hands."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"LHC Angus MacDonnell may one day play in the NHL, and if he does, he'll surely be a fan-favorite. MacDonnell is only 5'10"and 185lbs, but he's abrasive, antagonistic, and physical. 41 points in 64 games, to go with 93 PIMs, split between the Sarnia Sting and the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL, and he put up 5 points in 6 playoff games. I saw him in the U-18 tournament, and I thought his offense might be a little underrated, with 5 points in 7 games. Defense is his calling card right now, and he has the proactive hockey sense to be in the right position to disrupt plays in a timely manner, carrying an active stick and closing in with physicality. He supports his D in battles, and makes himself available in outlets. He gives up very little space and time, making life hard for opponents on the forecheck, backcheck, and on the PK- where he's basically a specialist. His efforts and effectiveness are predicated by his hard work and motor, as well as his compete. He's very good at faceoffs too, although it remains to be seen if he remains a C at the next level. MacDonnell's skating, handling, and playmaking are all solid, but not spectacular or elite- if there's a skill that stands out, it's his shot and release that he used to score 29 goals this year. I think A-Mac will make a fine mid-round pick in the draft."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Back home in Sweden's J20 Liiga, Axel Landen (pronounced by the commentators as Lan-DAYNE), is considered somewhat of an "offensive defenseman", being 5th in the Liiga for U-18 defenseman, with an odd stat line of 10 goals, 6 assists, for 16 points in 44 games- which sounds more like a goal-scoring forward. In the U-18 Tournament, he was very hard to notice, as he patrolled on the third-pairing, and had no points in 7 games. That said, his performance was indicative of what I believe he will be if he ever makes the show- a swift moving, defensive stalwart, that can move the puck, and kill penalties- and there's nothing wrong with that. Yes, Landen is an excellent skater, on a 6'1" frame, and is not without puck skill. He is able to close in on attackers, eliminating time and space with his mobility, positioning, and airtight gap control, and he likes the physical game. Hard in the corners, in front of the net, and along the boards-works hard, and makes himself difficult to play against. Keeps it pretty simple, but plays with pace, makes a nice first-pass, and doesn't seem to make too many mistakes. His mobility gives him the option to transition the puck out himself, but he seems to defer to teammates more often. Needs to work on his shot, and maybe his offensive game. Third/ Fourth round pick."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Tomas Suchanek, 20 yo, 6'2",181lbs, catches left. Suchanek gave one of the best performances by a Goaltender in WJC history this season, putting up a 1.52 GAA, and a .934% in 7 games, leading Czechia to the Silver Medal- their first medal since 2005. He was named one of Czechia's 3 best players both this season, and in the 2022 WJC. He was named to the WJC All-Star Team. In the WHL this year, he was named to the US Division's Second All-Star Team, with a 3.05 GAA, and a .912%. Suchanek is a hybrid goalie, with quick reflexes, and great mobility in the crease- though he's not always in full control, as he can drift out of position at times. He reads the play well, plays aggresively, and has a great glove. His attitude and compete are said to be top-notch."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Luke Mittlestadt, 5'11",174lbs, 20yo, D+2. Casey's brother probably should've been drafted after the 2021-22 season, his second year of eligibility, after he was 3rd in the USHL for defensemen in scoring, with 55 points in 60 games. This year, he played in the NCAA for Minnesota, a very deep squad in defensemen, so he was carefully managed by his coach as a younger offensive D and given the most advantageous matchups, along with second PP duty. Still, his output of 21 points in 38 games was impressive. Mittlestadt also made Team USA's offering at the WJC, with 3 points in 7 games. He is in his element running the offense from the point, and he distributes well from there, but he also owns an excellent shot that he usually gets through traffic. He can pinch well, and has the sense to know when to do so, and he has excellent puck skills. He runs a PP calmly and confidently, and is proactive enough to be able to kill plays in the neutral zone. The main complaint about Mittlestadt in his draft year was his skating, and while he's cleaned it up a fair bit, he needs more work."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Jordan Tourigny's numbers would have been better, if he didn't play for the team (Shawinigan) with the 13th best (of 18 teams) goals-for. Still, he managed an impressive 41 points in 67 games. He's another 6-footer, but needs to bulk up considerably, as he's listed at 168 lbs. Like some other guys in this post, he's another modern-day D, with high IQ and anticipation, 3-zone acumen, transitional ability, and top-tier mobility. JT is a righty, but can play both sides. He's not the most physical, but has a bit of a chip on his shoulder, as his 69 PIM would attest."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Kiiskanen's countryman, LW Jesse Nurmi is quite similar to him, but goes about his business a little more "quietly". Nurmi is 5'11", and isn't as hard-nosed as JK, but he carries with him his own package of offensive wizardry. 5 points in 5 U-18 games, but had 50 points in 41 U20 Liiga games, second only in ppg to Kiiskinen for draft-eligibles out of Finland. Nurmi earned himself 9 games in the top-tier men's Liiga as well. Nurmi is a great skater, and has the stickhandling, evasiveness, and east-west mobility to beat opponents 1-on-1, but he's not afraid of physical confrontation, as he fights through defenders, and finishes checks- although he's not that physical. Like JK, he forechecks with his speed and a good stick, but also backchecks with the same vigour, and both play a high-tempo, high-energy game. Nurmi is a well-balanced offensive contributor, being both playmaker and shooter. He has a quick, accurate snapshot, but can also find teammates with difficult passes, whether it's cross-ice, through traffic, or off the rush. He's a bit slight, and can be pushed off the puck at times, but he doesn't back down from the greasy areas, or from contact. He'll need to get stronger, and put a bit of work into his defensive game. 2nd/3rd round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"If Adam Fantilli were a new Lamborghini Revuelto, then 6'3" 201lb Czech Center Jakub Stancl would be bread truck, and there's nothing wrong with that- after all, we need bread trucks, right? Scouts say Stancl has improved by leaps and bounds over where he was last year, in terms of his boots, and his offensive play. Still, Stancl still needs improvements to his first-step and acceleration, but once he's going, he's impossible to stop. Some time with a skating coach will benefit him, but he moves ok for a big man. This year, he played 4 different levels in Vaxjo's system in Sweden, from the J18 Region up to 8 games in 6 different call-ups with the powerhouse SHL team, who won the championship. His offensive numbers are still mediocre, with 11 goals and 17 points in 35 games with the J20 team, but getting games on a top-tier men's championship team shows that he's doing something very right. Stancl gets high grades for his mature defensive play, and the physicality and work ethic he employs while doing so. He is trusted by his coaches on the PK, and late in games with a lead to protect. He has the presence of mind to avoid mistakes, and he never gives the puck up easily, showing great puck-protection and control, while being patient and calm. His off-puck game is a plus, and he knows where to be to intercept attackers, or make himself an option for passes from teammates, then connecting with wingers on the breakout. He is an effective transitional player, and despite low numbers, he is said to be an offensive threat, with good IQ and vision, capable of creating chances for himself and his teammates. His off-puck game comes in to play here as well, as he finds spaces to go to recieve passes, and has a decent, fairly accurate shot. He has no problem handling the dirty work, fighting for contested pucks, or attacking the net-front, and he knows how to use his size. Stancl still needs to further upgrade his offensive game, his shot, and his skating, but he was ranked #72 by Bob MacKenzie. He could someday be an effective bottom-6 player in the bigs."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Alexander Hellnemo, 19 yo, 6'2",183lbs, catches left. Hellnemo is Central Scouting's #1 European Goaltender for this Draft, after going completely under the radar in 2022's crop of eligibles. 23 games for Skelleftea's J20 squad (2.32 GAA, .916%) earned him 9 games in the SHL, where he was able to acheive an impressive 2.39 GAA, and a .895%, and he also spent 2 games in the AllSvenskan (3.07 GAA, .861%). He was named best Goaltender in the J20 Nationell. Hellnemo is said to arguably be the most agile goalie in this years draft- he moves side-to-side with lightning speed, and has a well-developed glove hand. He seems to cover the top of the net as well as the bottom with equal aplomb. He arrives early to be set for the shot. The positives in his game are many, but the negatives are his over-aggression, and his penchant for staying low and hunched- making it hard for him to see through traffic and get set up. I think he may be taken higher than most expect."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"C/LW Tanner Ludtke put up some very interesting numbers for the Lincoln Stars of the USHL- 32 goals and 66 points in 57 games, good for 8th in scoring, and 6th for goals. His 1.16 ppg were just behind Jayden Perron's 1.18 ppg. He added 7 points in 9 playoff games. They say that what might hurt Ludtke's stock is his lack of dynamic qualities- he's good at many things, but not elite at any one thing, and he's average sized at 6'0",170lbs. He plays a simple game built around his work ethic. He skates well, but doesn't possess elite, game-breaking speed, although he shows good enough mobility and puck control to be useful in transition, and he has the skill to beat opponents 1-on-1. He shoots very well, and from his highlights he has an excellent one-timer. Ludtke's IQ and vision are above-average, and while not all of his passes connect, he shows offensive awareness. Defensively, he is entrusted by his coaches to match up with the other team's best players every night as a first-line C, and he's very good in face-offs. Next year, he will attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Italian-born, Swiss-bred C/LW Tommaso De Luca was the second-leading under-18 player in scoring for Switzerland's J20 league in 2021-22, earning 1 game in the men's league. He looks to be headed back to Ambri-Piotta for the 2023-24 season, but he went on a journey this year to come across the pond and play for Spokane of the WHL, with 16 goals and 49 points in 65 games. The Chiefs were the second-worst team in the league, with the third-worst goals-for, which may be the reason he's going back home next year. De Luca, from all reports, got better and better in all facets of his game as the season wore on. Early in the year, he wasn't holding on to pucks very long, opting for short possessions, but he was driving play by season's end. De Luca is an excellent skater, but needs a better top gear- still, he can sometimes separate from opponents, and beat defenders wide. According to Elite Prospects, TDL scored in the 80th percentile-and-above in the 'Dub in both scoring chances, and scoring chance passes per-60, and had high-end transition numbers- amazing, considering the team he played for. He's obviously more of a passer, but he has an ok shot with a nice release, and is good around the net. In the neutral zone, he uses deception to get the puck around, or through opponents with fakes, changes of direction, and slowing down to wait for the right play. His off-puck game is a real strength, and he understands how to open space, and then work within it, but he can also eliminate off-puck threats, and is good at anticipating the next move. Defensively, he's efficient and keeps his stick active to disrupt plays, and start the play going the opposite direction. He is generally a hard worker who plays with pace, but scouts would like him to use his body more to separate his man from the puck. He also needs work on his shot, and needs to further upgrade his skating, strength, and physicality. It's hard to tell how his game will translate to the NHL, but he might have the ceiling of a bottom-6 NHLer. Later rounds."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"RW/C Austin Roest, 5'10",165lbs, 19yo, D+1. Roest more than doubled last year's output, with 78 points in 60 games for Everett (WHL). The son of Stacy Roest is a forechecking demon, sturdy on his skates with strong speed and footwork. Like his father, Austin has a top-tier work ethic, some grit, and a relentless motor. He owns a cerebral offensive game, and strong awareness defensively. Roest is a good hockey player, but it remains to be seen if his numbers show enough growth to deserve a team spending a draft-pick on him."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Thomas Milic, 20 yo, 6'0",174lbs, catches left. Milic won gold in the WJC this year with team Canada (1.76 GAA, .932% in 6 games), and in the 2021 U-18's (0.5 GAA, .975% in 2 games). Obviously, Milic can handle pressure, and seems to perform better as the stakes, as well as the competition, ramp up. Milic is the 2023 recipient of the Del Wilson Trophy, given to the winner of the WHL Goalie of the Year (2.08 GAA, .928%), and he also took home Playoff MVP honours, after leading the Thunderbirds to the Memorial Cup, which they lost (1.95 GAA, .933% in the WHL playoffs, 2.41 GAA, .915% in the Memorial Cup). He's a fiery competitor, and has great predictive skill, and mental processing- He arrives at the right time to make a save, and stays square to the shooter. He's He's not very aggressive, but owns quick feet, and mobility. He moves laterally quite well, and recovers to his feet quickly. He says his containment in the crease, and his confidence are his two most improved qualities."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"This year's recipient of the Mr.Hockey Award, given out to the most outstanding senior high-school player in Minnesota, was Warroad High RHC Jayson Shaugabay. Between his high-school season, and his 27 games with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, he finished the year with 76 assists in 61 games. Shaugabay is only the sixth player in USHS-Minnesota history to surpass the 300-pt mark for their career. Warroad High compiled a 29-1-1 record, but lost in the Championship game. If you haven't guessed, Shaugabay is far-and-away a playmaker, and his distribution skills are his best tool. He has a quality shot that is both hard and accurate, and he most definitely needs to use it more, but he defers mostly to his deft passing game. Like most playmakers, he knows how to open and exploit space, and he likes to make plays from the boards to teammates in high danger, as he can manipulate defenders easier there, and get a better view of the ice from that vantage point. It may also have something to do with his size (5'9",168lbs), and his average skating-stride, which lacks explosiveness, and often prevents him from penetrating consistently. He will drive the middle occasionally, but prefers the perimeter at this stage. In spite of this, he is a very adept puckhandler, with the moves and protection to beat opponents 1-on-1, and slice through traffic, but he lacks the strength to push his way through. His defensive game is lacking, as well. If he can get stronger and faster at the Unversity of Minnesota-Duluth, who he has committed to for next season, there could be a real good offensive player there."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Kalem Parker is much the same as Tourigny-he plays on the worst team in the 'dub, for a conservative coach, but was the team's top-scoring blueliner, with 38 points in 68 games. KP has a very mature approach to the game, and understands that offense comes from good defense. His coach in Victoria says that he's one of their best defensive players. There's not many holes here, as he exhibits all the attributes one looks for in an offensive defenseman- speed, IQ, vision, quality puck movement, and he says he likes to play his opponents hard and gritty, with physicality. Oh, did I mention he's six-feet tall?"

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Kalem Parker is much the same as Tourigny-he plays on the worst team in the 'dub, for a conservative coach, but was the team's top-scoring blueliner, with 38 points in 68 games. KP has a very mature approach to the game, and understands that offense comes from good defense. His coach in Victoria says that he's one of their best defensive players. There's not many holes here, as he exhibits all the attributes one looks for in an offensive defenseman- speed, IQ, vision, quality puck movement, and he says he likes to play his opponents hard and gritty, with physicality. Oh, did I mention he's six-feet tall?"

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"LW Mikey DeAngelo burst on the scene in 2020-21, when he managed 6 points in 8 games with the USNTDP Juniors, as a 16 year-old. He went cold the following year, putting forth only 6 points in 38 USHL games with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, but he showed better numbers this season, with 35 points in 52 games for Dubuque. The first thing mentioned about DeAngelo always seems to be his off-puck game, but then it's his tireless hard-work and relentless motor- he leaves it all on the ice every shift of every game, and his work rate is contagious to his team. He often puts himself in the right place at the right time to be available for high-danger opportunities, or to pounce on loose pucks to make plays out of nothing. There's vision and IQ in his game, as well as deception and manipulation in creating space for himself and his teammates. He also shows a wide array of hard shots that can fool goalies, or create opportunities for rebounds in front of the net. He's details-oriented, and a responsible 200-ft player, capable of killing plays with his awareness, positioning, and active stick that he uses to block lanes. There's flashes of a high-skill game, but right now he's one of those players who is good, not great at anything. He's a good skater, but needs more explosiveness and a better top-speed. He's smallish, at 5'11",181lbs, and not particularly physical. He posesses a good two-way game, but needs to improve his overall play- which he will do next year at Michigan State. Could be a solid mid-round pick, as he could be considered a player with a high floor, if he can learn to be more impactful in the defensive zone."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"C Cooper Foster may have been lost a bit, playing on a deep, powerhouse team like the Ottawa 67's, with 36 points in 63 games. The 5'11"176lb Foster already displays a well-developed defensive game, having the hockey sense, anticipation, and work ethic to be a constant disruptor of incoming plays to his zone. His active stick and exemplary positioning are big assets, and he's said to be an excellent off-puck player- he nullifies passing plays by taking opponents' sticks proactively, and does the same in the offensive zone to create room for teammates. He finds the seams to make himself an option, and has tons of energy, compete, and motor. Right now, he doesn't create a lot of high-danger opportunities, but there are signs of more to come- he already uses a large amount of deception in his game, and he can draw pressure in order to flash his crafty passing ability. His speed is an area of concern, and limits his potential right now. He can hide a lot of his speed issues in junior, on the strength of his anticipation and proactive awareness, but he'll need to get faster before he turns pro. Some of these issues will improve as he gets bigger and stronger. There's going to be opportunity for Foster going forward, as the 67's have some older players departing this off-season, so hopefully he takes advantage."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"6'0"176lb Slovakian LW Ondrej Molnar has to be excused for his paltry 19 points in 34 games for the second-worst offensive team in the OHL, the Erie Otters. He didn't have much time to adjust to North American hockey, after playing the first part of the year back home in the Slovakian top-tier Men's league, where he was the third-leading scorer for U-20 players, and first for U-18 players, with 5 points in 22 games. He was also Slovakia's leading scorer in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, with 3 points in 4 games. In 2021-22, he played in many different leagues back home, but most notably had the opportunity to play 30 games with that same top-tier team in Slovakia as a 16/17 year-old. Despite not making much of an impact this year offensively, Molnar is an offensive weapon who displays flashes of elite skill, IQ, and vision. He's an excellent skater who produces a fantastic top-speed, and is strong on his skates. Even on the smaller ice, he can complete offensive transitions with entries in full control, as he can stickhandle, make decisions, and execute at top-speed. This often begins with his willingness to support his teammates on the breakout, finding space to make himself an available option. His main tool offensively is his playmaking vision, having the skill to pull off dangerous, aggressive passes, and he stays unrattled under pressure while doing so. He has a good shot, but isn't using it enough, at least not on this side of the pond, and needs to go to the net, and attack the middle of the ice a lot more. Defensively, he has the smarts and speed to keep up and adjust to the play, and limit the time and space of puck-carriers,with a smart stick and the sense to know where to be. Still, he doesn't have the same impact in this zone as he does in the other two. This is clearly an unfinished player, with top-6 NHL potential, but he has some things to work on. Molnar appeared at 68 in MacKenzie's mid-year Draft-Rankings, so I'll say 3rd/4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Rodwin Dionicio, 6'2",205lbs, 19yo, D+1. I was surprised this kid wasn't drafted last year. He started off this year with 7 points in 17 games for Niagara (OHL), but absolutely exploded after being moved to Windsor, with a whopping 43 points in 33 games. Dionicio has been tried a forward a few times over his time in junior, as he was converted to D only a few years ago. He's intelligent and skilled, and is hard for opponents to read, as he plays a highly deceptive, manipulative game, throwing off attackers with little fakes, head movements, and changes in pace and direction. He also exhibits good puck-protection, which he needs, as speed is still a limiting factor. Highly physical, with play-killing instincts. If he can bring his mobility up to par, look out!"

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Oskar Asplund, 5'11",172lbs, 19yo, D+1. 30 pts in 49 games in the Sweden's AllSvenskan, the second-tier league- 1st for U20 Defensemen by a whopping 18 points. He's a smooth skating, two-way transitional D."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Yegor Zavragin, 17 yo, 6'2",183lbs, catches left. 21 games with Mamonty Yugry (MHL), with a 2.49 GAA, .920%, which earned him a game in the VHL where he posted a shutout. Impressive for a player who doesn't turn 18 until August. Wide, leaning forward stance gives him superb movement in the crease, and he has the calm, patient demeanor to not overreact, which puts pressure on shooters. He's nimble moving post-to-post. He's very adept at pokechecking the puck away from attackers who carry to close, and disrupting passes, but he has some issues with rebound management, and controlling the puck after a save. Still, he's got big potential. 4th/5th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"LHC Yegor Rimashevsky is 6'3"198lbs, and can really skate, with excellent straight-ahead speed, and good edges and agility to evade checkers. 26 points in 29 MHL games, but he lost a big portion of the season to injury. He's quite amazing to watch. His size and speed alone are enough to get him noticed. He also has an excellent one-timer, and a hard, accurate wrister- both of which he can score with from far out. He has a real knack for finding and exploiting soft spots in coverage, and has soft hands in tight. Obviously, he's adept at winning the battles and gaining contested pucks, but it has been said that he prefers open ice. He likes to drive around defenders and cut to the middle to unleash his shot. Very good puck-protection, and seems to stickhandle fairly well. Doesn't seem to be that much of a playmaker, and sticks to making simple passes. Apparently, he is a good forechecker, but he's excellent in switching to the backcheck, and uses his size and stick to close all lanes and play good shutdown hockey. There's whispers that he doesn't have great linemates, which affects his numbers, but I've also read that he can be lazy and inconsistent, and that he doesn't play as hard in games that don't matter. It will be interesting to see where he is taken, or if he is taken, but that size/speed combo would be hard to resist."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"D Jeremy Hanzel, 6'1",192lbs, 20yo, D+2. The Thunderbirds defenseman had 48 points in 66 games, and is a high-level activator and playmaker. He's taken steps defensively, and is now one of the WHL's best play-killers, and he's added extra layers of deception to his game. He had more TOI in the playoffs than Kevin Korchinski, or Nolan Allan. Good mobility, but needs an extra separation gear."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Noah Erliden, 17 yo, 5'11",170lbs, catches left. Erliden made a name for himself in the U-18 Tournament, where he posted a 1.49 GAA, and a .945% in 6 games, but most of his season was spent with HV71 in the J20 League, where he had totals of 2.93 GAA, and .912. Erliden is small, and plays a little hunched over, opening up spaces in the top of the net, but he makes up for it somewhat by playing highly aggressively, and moving around the crease with explosiveness. He's fairly raw, and behind the eight-ball in terms of size, which somewhat affects his ability to track the puck, so he may not be selected this year."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"RW Jan Sprynar had a tough time adjusting to life in North America, coming from Czechia to play in the Q with the Rimouski Oceanic- only 5 points in his first 14 games. Eventually, he started to get it together, and finished with a respectable, if not spectacular, 40 points in 60 games, for a team that was 9th best in the standings, but 12th out of 18 teams in goals-for. Sprynar has a large frame, standing 6'1", and weighing 176lbs, and when he fills out, he'll be hard to handle, as he's an excellent skater as well. Good first-step, and small-area quickness, and can separate from opponents in open-ice, although he could use more strength in his legs to provide more power in his already long stride. The other big pillar in his offensive game is his NHL-calibre shot, that he can use to score from long distance. Most of the year, he's been playing on the outside, but as the season wore on, he's been leaning into guys and taking the puck to the net. He's very sneaky off-puck around the goal, moving in and out of holes and waiting for opportunities for rebounds, tips, and shots. He shows his vision and IQ in always being in good position to make himself an option. Though his main weapon is his shot, he is not without creativity to make plays, and set up teammates in high danger, and his offensive skills make him a dangerous weapon on the PP. Sprynar is not particularly physical as far as throwing big hits, but he knows how to use his size to win battles, separate man from puck, and bull his way through traffic- though he has the stickhandling and puck-control to finesse his way around. He's a reponsible player as well, and backchecks almost as hard as he forechecks. His off-puck game comes in to play here as well, with his ability to anticipate where to be to cut of passing lanes, and block shots with his body, but also in being an option on the breakout. Sprynar needs to keep improving his overall game-both offensively and defensively, and his intensity and compete can wane in unimportant games, or when his team has a lead. With improved strength, and better puck-control at top speed, he will be more able to play his game in the pros. 3rd/4th round.."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"5'9", 159lb Playmaking winger Yegor Klimovich destroyed the MHL this season, with 49 points in 36 games- good for 17th in scoring, and 2nd for under-18 players. Klimovich is an excellent skater, short of being elite, but he's a one-man highlight machine, and an offensively-driven player. His IQ, vision, and creativity are all off the charts, and he consistently creates high-danger opportunities for himself and his teammates. He has great edges, agility, and stickhandling to shake off defenders. In breakouts, he picks up speed by circling in the defensive zone, and then finding open ice to make himself available for the pass. Alas, there are severe detriments to his game that make some believe he won't make it in the NHL: First off, he's almost invisible defensively, and tends to coast and cherry-pick, often leaving the zone too early. Secondly, he is not physical at all, and often avoids contact, and he can be pushed around. He can even be pressured into making mistakes, and giving up the puck, although he does show the ability to deke around opponents and make them look silly sometimes. He seems to need the kind of open-ice that can only be found in Europe, and doesn't have a good small-area game. His killer offense doesn't override his deficiencies right now."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Remember Be-bop and Rocksteady from the Ninja Turtles? Sweden had two blueliners that reminded me of them, in 6'5" 214lb Kristian Kostadinski, and 6'4", 203lb Axel Hurtig. Both are solid, not spectacular, stay-at-home players, with average speed, who play a simple, meat-and-potatoes game. Both have pretty good hockey sense for the D zone, where they play a punishing, physical brand of hockey, with quality positioning and anticipation, as well as gap control. Huge wingspans with their reach, and smart sticks, which help them clog lanes, and smother attackers. Neither will get too involved in transition, instead deferring to other players, although both can create a quality outlet pass. Neither one of these players will ever be counted on for offense, and indeed- neither will ever develop those skills. I would put Hurtig ahead as a player- he seems to be more mobile, and better with the puck, and I think he's showing up on most mocks, way before KK. I would pick Hurtig for the 3rd/4th round, and KK for the 5th/6th."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"D Arvid Bergstrom was another player I really liked, on a Swedish defense with a lot of fun players to watch. 3 points in 7 games, but back home in the J20, he had 23 points in 41 games- good enough for 23rd in D scoring, and 4th for players under 18. He's fairly young still too, with a June birthday. Bergstrom is like a poor-man's Axel Sandin-Pelikka, with great skating and pace, and a robust offensive toolkit. He's 5'11", but does not get intimidated by physicality, although he doesn't initiate contact often- instead, he uses smarts, positioning, and a quick stick to kill plays, or steal pucks. His separation speed and puckhandling gives him time and space to make the right decisions- he connects on outlet passes, both short and long, or he can skate it out in transition by himself. Excellent sense and anticipation, top-tier playmaking skills, and runs the point with patience. although using that word undermines his fine motor. Some say he's still pretty raw, and needs refinement in some areas of his decision making, particularly in his own zone- though he looked pretty solid in this tournament to me. He's a good all-around player, and is good defensively, but he's not a stalwart- he could use work in that area, along with a bit more physicality. Obviously, he's on the small side, so he needs to get bigger and stronger. He also needs to work on his shot- he walks the line and distributes just fine, but it's hard to say if his offense will translate to the NHL. 4th round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"Quentin Miller, 18 yo, 6'3",181lbs, catches left. Miller is the back-up to William Rousseau for the powerhouse Quebec Remparts, and finished with a 2.11 GAA (1st in the Q), and a .911% (4th in the Q), in only 20 games. Very good mobility, and can challenge shooters from well outside the blue paint. Reads and tracks well, and intimidates with his size. Good blocker for steering shots to the corner, and long, quick legs for sealing up the bottom of his net. Follows up with good second-and-third efforts, but his rebound control is questionable, and his glove needs work. Doesn't try to do too much, and most likely sees poorer competition than Rousseau. The sample size may be too small to warrant being selected in this year's draft."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"RW/C Tanner Adams is one of the youngest players in this year's crop, with a September 2nd birthday. In 2021-22, he put up 12 goals and 32 points in 62 USHL games for the Tri-City Storm, compared to 12 goals and 33 points in 49 games in 2022-23. This year's edition of the Storm scored 213 goals in 62 games, which is 47 less than the previous year, which probably cut into how much he was able to progress numbers-wise. He still managed to tie a 20-year-old for the highest point total on the team in the playoffs, with 5 points in 4 games. Adams is a very strong skater, who plays a very hard-nosed, physical style, evidenced by his 65 PIM, despite being only 5'11". He does a lot of the dirty work for his line, digging the puck out of the hard areas all over the ice, and battling for possession, showing relentless puck-pursuit. He has displayed very good transitional numbers, being able to enter and exit with control, and confidently carry through the neutral zone. He's a fierce forechecker, and plays with high motor and energy. Adams comes with a solid base of 3-zone awareness, but he has room to further develop his offense, and he will get a chance to do that next year at Providence College-being so young, he might have a slightly longer runway. He could have a fairly high floor perhaps, with his speed, snarl, and all-around game already giving him a shot at an NHL team's bottom-6 in the future. 4th/5th round is my prediction."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Henneberry's teammate on the Titan, RHD Ty Higgins, missed last years draft by only a few weeks, but his stats caught my eye- 13 goals and 41 points in 68 games to lead the Titan defense in scoring. Higgins eyes the defensive side of the ice as his first priority, but has skill as a two-way, responsible player and has vision in all 3 zones. He's a modern-day styled puck-mover, and he can start the rush from his own zone through the transition with a well-timed pass, or by skating it out himself, and he can kill the other team's rush coming back the other way. He uses his stick well and reads the play, proactively being in the right position to disrupt attackers- and he plays the body well. There's good IQ and vision here, and he consistently makes good decisions without giving up turnovers, and exhibits decent puck-control. Higgins has a decent shot that he can get on net through traffic, and shows deception in his distribution in the offensive zone to pry open lanes. The main problem with Higgins is his skating- he has a messy stride in need of agility, and better acceleration. He would be twice the player he is now if he could add a decent speed factor to his repertoire, and he'll have a few more years in junior to work on it."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"The Kingston Frontenacs finished the season tied for the lowest goals-scored, and were 17th out of 20 teams in the standings, missing the playoffs. Junior hockey is funny though, and the Fronts are primed to be a powerhouse next year as their young talent matures. One player who will greatly benefit is 6'2"(6'3" according to EP), 170lb LHC Owen Outwater, who finished second in scoring for Kingston, with a mere 41 points in 62 games- 1 point less than Matthew Soto. His paltry 16 goals were tied for 3rd on that squad. Outwater plays a balanced, responsible game, but he's not elite in any one area. His skating is not great, but his hustle and vision make up for it somewhat. He understands how to find open lanes in the offensive zone, and how to exploit them, and he shows some creativity and finishing ability. It's my opinion that while he's not an elite offensive weapon, he may be a casualty, numbers-wise, of the team he plays for. Defensively, he's smart and aware, guiding attackers to the outside and causing turnovers. He uses his size as leverage in puck battles, and displays off-puck awareness in support of his D, and in providing an outlet on the breakout. He's confident in carrying through transition, as he exhibits sound puck control. It's fair to say it appears that Outwater may not have a high ceiling, but he is primed to show much better point totals next season. If he can improve his skating, his floor will be that of a bottom-6 C in the NHL, as he's got the size and defensive acumen.

"

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"5'11",181lb RW Ty Halaburda is another one of those "not elite in any one thing, but good at everything" types, scoring 21 goals and 37 points in 66 games for the second-worst offensive team in the WHL, the Vancouver Giants. He added 3 points in 7 games for Team Canada in the U-18's. Halaburda's calling card is his speed, being one of Vancouver's fastest players, but he also has an uncommon motor, and a refined off-puck game. Some consider him one of the top penalty-killers in the league, but he is trusted in all situations. Off the puck, he is intense-chasing down puck-carriers, and working to limit time, space, and opportunity for opponents. He will not be outworked, plays physically, and never takes a shift off. Defensively, he is mature and well-rounded, with excellent awareness and anticipation, and he clogs lanes, and blocks shots with aplomb. He's a pest, and causes many turnovers. He is fairly calm and patient when carrying the puck, keeping his head up to scan for options, but his creatvity has not been shown to be high-end- he keeps things simple and workman-like. Halaburda will go to to the greasy areas, and will crash the net looking for opportunities, and he does get pretty good velocity on his shot. I like this kid, and I feel like he's the type to put up much bigger numbers in his D+1 year and beyond. I think he could one day be in an NHL team's bottom-6. 4th-6th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"RW Deagen McMillan had more even-strength points-per-60 in the WHL than Brayden Yager, or Nate Danielson, despite only collecting 47 points in 65 games. McMillan is far more of a playmaker at this stage of his development, and his passes are his main vehicle of puck transportation, as the speed and mechanics of his footwork are deficient right now. He's adept at taking the extra split second to scan for the right next move before executing, and he makes the correct choice more often than not. Those passes keep the momentum flowing the right way for his team, the Tri-City Americans, and he creates advantages and opportunities for them, even in a middle-six role. He's pretty smart, and a crafty distributor, rarely holding on to the puck for long, passing through defenders, and often connecting with high-danger passes. He's not a big shooter, but he plays the right way in the offensive zone, making plays off the rush, attacking the inside, and going to the net. With this mindset, it's perplexing that he doesn't score more- and even more perplexing is that he doesn't use his shot enough, which is reasonably hard and accurate. He's a major disruptor on the forecheck, and a beast on the backcheck- he carries a lot of value in the defensive zone, anticipating the play and closing lanes. McMillan is solidly built, at 6'1",200lbs, and uses his size as leverage in puck battles. Scouts are divided as to whether or not McMillan has an NHL future, due to his deficient speed, but even moreso due to his poor mechanics, which hamper his play even at the junior level."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Charlie Robertson, 18 yo, 6'3",161lbs, catches left. Robertson was back-up to Dominic DiVicentiis in North Bay, on the second-best team in the OHL, with a 3.17 GAA, and a .892%. He plays a fairly rigid butterfly style, challenging shooters from the top of the crease, and making the net look small with his size. He's athletic, and his glove hand is good, as is his ability to close holes in his stance quickly with solid mobility in his crease. When having to improvise, he experiences difficulties, and he doesn't really even try handling the puck, but he has a competitive attitude and doesn't give up on the play. Late rounds, if at all."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"C Alex Weiermair is a hard-working player with a good all-around game who was tasked with shutting down the opposition's best players on a nightly basis. His numbers in the USDP were affected by being relegated to bottom-6 duty in favour of more skilled offensive players, compiling only 35 points in a total of 78 games. Weiermair has size, at 6'1",190lbs, and plays with physicality, forechecking and backchecking hard. Despite not being the best skater, his numbers in transition are excellent. He reads the lanes and opens space with his crafty footwork, and smart passing, carrying through the neutral zone with full control. In the offensive zone, he drives the net, and the middle lanes, and makes space for himself by initiating contact. He is said to possess one of the best curl-and-drag shots in the draft. He attacks the middle, makes plays off the rush, and draws defenders. If he was in a more beneficial situation, with more offensive touches, he would most certainly be more favorably regarded. Defensively, he is a play-killer with the awareness to be in the right position to block lanes and pick off passes. He consistently shows the ability to angle opponents to the boards, and box them out. Going forward, he will need to improve his skating, his pace, his deceptiveness, and his play in-motion. Weiermair is going to the U of Denver in the fall."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Czech LW Lukas Hes is a 6'3",187lb hard-nosed power-forward who likes the rough-going. He has no problems asserting himself physically in either side of the ice. For a big man, he moves very well with fairly good acceleration. He can make plays off the rush, or he can set up in the zone and find teammates with crisp, accurate passes. Hes was the top under-18 player in Czechia's U20 league (and 5th overall), with a league-leading 34 goals, as well as 18 assists for 52 points in 44 games. Hes also earned 12 games on the second-tier men's team, scoring 2 goals. Obviously, his finishing skills might be his best asset, and he gets goals by attacking the middle, and by going to the net. His puck-control and protection skills allow him to push through traffic, and in to open space, but he can also draw attackers to him, thus opening space for teammates to receive his passes. Very tough player to handle on the forecheck. Defensively, he takes the same physical approach, and has the smarts to take away lanes and block shots with his body and stick, and is a solid two-way player at the junior level. He is even a decent penalty-killer. I've read, though that some of his puck skills might hold him back, such as his 1-on-1 stickhandling, and he can be pressured into giving up the puck at times. Despite having some great assets on his side, he is most often pegged to go in the later rounds."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"The Kingston Frontenacs finished 17th out of 20 teams in the OHL, and they finished second-last in goals-for. That's one reason why I believe 5th-overall OHL Draft selection, 5'11" RW Matthew Soto is being severely underrated. As one of the youngest players in the Draft, with an August.31st birthday, 17 year-old Soto, and fellow draft-eligible Owen Outwater, were 1 and 2 respectfully in scoring for the Fronts- not exactly the blueprint for success in junior hockey, or a breeding ground for offense. Despite the adversity, Soto put up some numbers- 15 goals and 42 points in 54 games. Obviously, with numbers like that, you can easily tell that Soto is primarily a playmaker, and he is just that, with top-tier IQ, vision, and smarts. He is adept at manipulating checkers into opening seams for him to get the puck to open teammates, and often he can pull off passes that nobody would see coming, or think possible- but most of the time, he doesn't need to be flashy and just keeps it simple and efficient. There's a decent shot in his arsenal, but he chooses to defer to his passing. Soto isn't just a one-dimensional offensive player though, as he exudes awareness defensively, with good positioning and a smart stick. He has some bad habits in this area though, as he can be guilty of puck-watching, and not being fully engaged. Soto is a good skater, light on his feet with good edges and agility, but he still has room to make upgrades to his acceleration and top-speed. At only 168lbs, he has a ton of bulking up to do, and he needs to get stronger. If he learns to shoot more, and rounds out his game, he has a shot at being a middle-six NHL player. Getting traded to another team would help, too. I'm thinking 3rd/4th round."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Remember Be-bop and Rocksteady from the Ninja Turtles? Sweden had two blueliners that reminded me of them, in 6'5" 214lb Kristian Kostadinski, and 6'4", 203lb Axel Hurtig. Both are solid, not spectacular, stay-at-home players, with average speed, who play a simple, meat-and-potatoes game. Both have pretty good hockey sense for the D zone, where they play a punishing, physical brand of hockey, with quality positioning and anticipation, as well as gap control. Huge wingspans with their reach, and smart sticks, which help them clog lanes, and smother attackers. Neither will get too involved in transition, instead deferring to other players, although both can create a quality outlet pass. Neither one of these players will ever be counted on for offense, and indeed- neither will ever develop those skills. I would put Hurtig ahead as a player- he seems to be more mobile, and better with the puck, and I think he's showing up on most mocks, way before KK. I would pick Hurtig for the 3rd/4th round, and KK for the 5th/6th."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

"C Joseph Henneberry already has an NHL frame, at 6'2",183lbs, and plays a hard-working, energetic power-forward style. 36 points in 59 games is respectable, considering he plays for the QMJHL's worst team- the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Henneberry has plenty of brute strength and physicality, being able to leverage his size in battles and impose his will all over the ice, but he's not without projectable skill. He's often a capable passer and play-connector through transition, moving the puck through the neutral zone, thereby allowing his team entry into the offensive zone. Like a true power-forward, he drives the net looking for scoring opportunities, or he can set up shop in front of the goalie in search of tips, rebounds, or just to set up the screen. He battles hard to gain, or keep possession, and he has good puck-protection skills, as well as puck-control. He keeps things simple, but he has skill and deception in his game, and some playmaking ability. Defensively, he battles hard and stays glued to his man, but needs a bit of work in this area, as well as his skating. I think this is a player who will pop in the next few years as he grows with his team."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

"Jan Spunar, 19 yo, 6'3"185lbs, catches left. Spunar appeared in 31 games for the Portland Winterhawks, and had a 2.61 GAA, with a .908%, and is ranked 3rd by Central Scouting for European Goaltenders. Spunar has uncanny awareness, seeing the play before it happens, and reacting accordingly. He stays calm, even when facing flurries of shots, giving his team confidence. It was said after the 2021-22 season that his technical skills, like failure to seal up his posts, and overcommitment to shots, were his weakness, but it seems a year in North America has helped him a lot in that regard. He's still not good at handling the puck. He had a rather good year in 2021-22 in the Czechia U20 league, with a 2.57 GAA, and a .911%, along with 2 wins at the U-18's."

~ from Sandman's Scouting Notebook

Ian Blomquist, 20 yo, 6'2",185lbs, catches right. 17 games with Vasteras of the AllSvenskan, with a 2.97 GAA, and a .904%, as well as some nice stats in various leagues in Sweden the last few years. I've seen his name on a few lists. He's calm under pressure, and fluid in his movements. He tracks the play well, plays the posts, and moves laterally very quickly. He's not flashy at all, and lacks a true standout skill. Glove hand needs work."

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook

LW Vilmer Alriksson might get some love on the second day of the draft, but it won't be because of his mediocre offensive production of 21 points in 43 games for Djurgardens J20. Alriksson's main attributes are his size (6'6", 214lbs), and the fact that he skates very well for a big guy. He uses his size and stength to win plenty of contested pucks, and to park in front of the net to set up the screen and look for rebounds, but he's not really an intimidating physical presence, or a big hitter. Over the course of the season, he has become a decent defensive player, using his enourmous wingspan to limit opportunities, disrupt plays, and he has the feet to stick to his man like glue. In the offensive zone, he has a decent shot and release, but hasn't shown much creativity or vision- though he is not devoid of competitiveness, and works hard. Alriksson has plenty of defensive skills, but must work on his stickhandling, and decision-making with the puck."

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook

The Tri-City Storm has been somewhat of a factory for defensemen in recent years, and 6'1",185lb LHD Philippe Blais-Savoie is one of the latest with translatable qualities. PBS has exemplary advanced stats when it comes to defense, and despite compiling a paltry 11 points in 61 games, he has some very encouraging underlying numbers on offense as well. His best quality at this point is his suffocating NHL-level shutdown game- he's pretty much dominant at the USHL level in this regard. He applies a stifling gap to attackers, angling them to the wall, and his sublime awareness and proactive positioning gives him the ability to outthink even the most skilled, deceptive opponents- lifting their sticks, pinning them to the boards, and engaging them physically when needed. He works hard, but stays composed, and isn't fooled by changes in coverage. In transition, he can carry or pass through the neutral zone, after winning possession and turning the play back the other way. Offensively, he activates often, and has the timing and instincts to know the proper time to do so, and the 1-on-1 moves to slice through traffic. He understands how to create space, and can open seams for high-danger passes. In 2021-22, he led the California USHS League in scoring by defensemen as a 16-year-old, with 24 goals and 39 points in 11 games, which is mostly a useless stat, considering that it's glorified pond hockey. The main reasons for his lack of productivity, other than being a bit buried on the Storm, may be his lack of top-end speed and elusiveness, and the fact that he only flashes high-end skill. PBS has another season with Tri-City, where he will get more beneficial ice-time, then he's off to Colorado College."

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook

RW Braeden Bowman, 6'2",194lbs, 19yo, D+2. Bowman wears an "A" in Guelph, where he put up 33 goals and 72 points in just 54 games. Bowman's main attributes lie in his pro-active off-puck game, and his solid defensive game. Offensively, he keeps it very simple and doesn't hold on to the puck very long, relying on quick possession, but he does own a fine array of shots, including his powerful one-timer. He can make plays, but likely won't ever be a big offensive threat in the pros. The off-puck game he employs gives him the awareness to position himself in the right spots to kill plays both in the neutral zone, and across the blueline- and he likes the physical game. He works hard, and has a high motor. His skating has improved, but remains his true weakness. If his mobility isn't improved, he won't make it to the NHL."

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook

Only 2 teams fail to qualify for the playoffs on a yearly basis in the Q, as there's only 18 teams in the league. The Saint John Sea Dogs made it to the postseason, finishing 15th overall, but were out in 5 games against Gatineau. LW/C Cole Burbidge was the second-leading scorer on the team, with 19 goals and 50 points in 68 games- behind overager Brady Burns. Burbidge is pretty polarizing, with more than his share of detractors, but he has a solid base of skill and sense to work with- and while he's far from a guaranteed NHL player, most of his problems will clear up as he adds strength to his 6'1",161lb body, and cleans up his skating stride. He's also one of the youngest players in the draft, with an August 26th birthday, and he's still raw. The best part of his game is his inside-driven offense, with his ability to cut to the slot for shot opportunities, or deploy his high-danger passes- and despite his slim build, he's a load to handle in front of the net. CB shows some ability below the goal line as well, coming away with the puck, and finding teammates in front of the net. There's plenty of deception in his playmaking, and he can complete a no-look pass across the ice, or draw defenders away from coverage. His puck-movement and distribution skills are above average. but his shot and release need refinement, both in power and quickness. Transitionally, he makes good, heads-up reads through the neutral zone, whether he's carrying the puck or making himself open. Defensively, he's somewhere around average, though the Sea Dogs are dead-last in goals against by 17. This is a kid who might be a top scorer in the Q over the next few years, whether he's taken with a late pick or not. Burbidge is already 20th in scoring for players 18-and-under in the Q.

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook

RW Davis Burnside, 6'0",181lbs, 19yo, D+1. 40gp/14g/7a/21pts this year, his first in the NCAA, outscoring 1st-and 2nd-round picks like Isaac Howard, Dylan James, Jack Hughes, and Rieger Lorenz, as well as Red Savage. Impressive totals for a 19 year-old. He's smart, hard-working, mean, and plays a responsible two-way game."RW Davis Burnside, 6'0",181lbs, 19yo, D+1. 40gp/14g/7a/21pts this year, his first in the NCAA, outscoring 1st-and 2nd-round picks like Isaac Howard, Dylan James, Jack Hughes, and Rieger Lorenz, as well as Red Savage. Impressive totals for a 19 year-old. He's smart, hard-working, mean, and plays a responsible two-way game."

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook

6'0",181lb LHC Kalle Carlsson was heralded as a potential first-rounder in this draft, but his numbers have slipped, along with his rankings. In the J20 league in 2021-22, as one of the youngest members of Orebro HK, he put up 27 points in just 30 games, for a ppg of 0.9, good enough to rank 3rd (just behind Otto Stenberg) for players under-17 in that league. The next highest-ranking U-17 player was David Edstrom, with 11 points. This year, his ppg slipped to 0.8, with 35 points in 44 games, with no points in 3 games in the SHL. Every description of KC starts the about the same, with the mention that he's a smart, creative, hard-working C with high IQ and top-tier playmaking. Even better, he plays a good 200-ft game. Carlsson is an excellent skater, but perhaps not elite, as there's room to grow- but he is strong on his skates, and agile. He owns a very hard shot with accuracy and deceptiveness, but he perhaps doesn't use it enough. Playmaking seems to be his forte, and he is an expert in finding teammates in open spaces, or finding open ice for himself to pull off plays, and he sees seams that few can. Defensively, he knows where to go to kill plays, intercept passes, and clog lanes- he's highly aware in all areas. He's known to be physical on occasion, to neutralize his opponents, and he will battle in the dirty areas. Dayton Reimer of The Hockey Writers likens his situation to that of Attu Raty, in that Carlsson needs time to "figure out the finer aspects of his game", and will grow in his patience, and creativity. It's hard not to like this kid, and I think he'll be a mid-round pick."C Zeb Forsfjall is only 5'9", but he's not afraid to be a difference-maker. He started the tournament strong, but cooled off a bit, finishing at 8 points in 7 games. At times, he was a play-driver and offensive facillitator. At worst, he's a competitive, 200-ft player who's versatile enough to play both special teams. Excellent skater, very elusive and shifty, with a quick change of pace. He backchecks and forechecks hard, despite his size, moves the puck well, and makes crisp zone entries with control. More of a playmaker than shooter, but his shot is pretty meh-perhaps needs a little work. He also needs to bulk up and get stronger, as he's quite slight, and can't get very involved in the physical game. He can get pushed around a bit, too. Definitely didn't wow in the J20, with only 8 goals and 22 points in 34 games for Skelleftea, yet played 17 SHL games. 3rd/4th round."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

Despite only getting 20 points in 67 games, 6'3" LHD Noah Chadwick of the Lethbridge Hurricanes actually has the toolkit to put up big numbers in the next two seasons. The Hurricanes' top-6 consists of two 20 year-olds, two 19 year-olds, then 18 year-old Chadwick, then 17 year-old Tristen Doyle- so I'm not sure what kind of ice-time Chadwick is getting. At any rate, this is what Elite Prospects says about his offensive game: "Chadwick moves through pass receptions, fakes plays, uses space, looks for teammates around the slot over shooting from the point. If the point shot's the best play, he usually aims for sticks instead of corners. He shows a similar desire to create in transition, forgoing dump-outs for passes through opponents, deceiving if necessary." Chadwick distributes well from the line, and has a pretty good shot. He knows how to open space, but is limited in how he can exploit it, due to his below-average skating and hands. He's a good defensive player, angling opponents to the outside and away from danger, and he's said to be one of the best defenders against the rush in the WHL. In short, if he can improve his mobility and puck skill, he will unlock a vast untapped dimension to his game. Look for him in the mid-to-late rounds."

~ Sandman post U18s observations

Despite a lack of notable offensive numbers (14 points in 41 games) for a powerhouse team in the Waterloo Black Hawks, 5'10", 192lb fire-hydrant D Gennadi Chaly is an offensive-generator. It may have hurt his numbers to be playing on a blueline crowded with names like Sam Rinzel (Chicago first-rounder), Nate Benoit (Minnesota 6th-rounder), 20 yo Aaron Pionk (Nate's brother), and fellow draft-eligible Ben Robertson. I have to say, this kid is fun to watch- he skates well, and has a variety of shifty and deceptive 1-on-1 moves to break ankles. The Russian-born Chaly is an aggressive attacker, pinching down the boards, or slicing through traffic with his stickhandling and repertoire of fakes and dekes, along with his slick edgework and agility. Scouts say, however, that he needs to pick his spots better to avoid the needless giveaways that his aggressiveness can sometimes create. He needs to capitalize more on the open space he manufactures, but he will have the chance to grow more next year as older players depart. Right now, as raw as his offense is, he makes a difference in the defensive end with his awareness, and active stick, as well as his tight gap-control. He's able to break up plays, block shots, and angle attackers to the boards, while boxing opponents away from the net-front, and playing a physical game. Despite his size, he's strong and has a chip on his shoulder, evidenced by his 47 PIM, and some say he might actually have a high floor, with the potential to be able to play bottom-4 minutes in the NHL someday. Chaly is committed to the University of Vermont for 2024-25."

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook

C Kocha Delic, 5'10",183lbs, 19yo, D+1. 52pts in 46 games for Sudbury of the OHL. KD is a sparkplug with no fear, and high motor. He's a transition ace, who plays an inside-driven offensive game, highlighted by his playmaking skills. Needs some work on his mobility."

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook

At first glance, RW Griffin Erdman's 41 points in 62 USHL games isn't really inspiring, until you learn that he tallied those numbers playing 3rd line minutes on a stacked Waterloo Black Hawks squad, and that 37 of those 41 points were tallied 5-on-5. In the playoffs, Erdman was Waterloo's top scorer, with 5 points in 3 games. Erdman is a mere 5'10",174lbs, but he plays an extremely hard-nosed game with unrelenting motor, battling for every inch of ice like each shift was his last, even dishing out hits if need be. He's a very good skater with his playmaking being his primary asset, and he has good skill and vision, taking the extra second to survey his options before executing. He attacks the middle, and drives the net like he was 6'2". Scouts would like him to shoot more, although his shot needs work on it's velocity. His skating and heads-up puck skill gives him the ability to skate the puck through transition, or make plays in the neutral zone. He brings the same compete and smarts to the defensive end. It's easy to see him playing in the bottom-6 of an NHL team one day, but he'll have another year in Waterloo, hopefully with expanded duties and ice-time to show his true offense ability, before heading to Northwestern University in 2024-25."

~ Sandman Scouting Notebook