TOP 100 PROSPECTS

RASMUS DAHLIN BORN April 13, 2000, Trollhattan, Swe. 2017-18 Frolunda POS D HT 6-2 WT 183 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 1 DAHLIN SKIPPED the world under-18s in Russia, but who could blame him? The kid had a busy season. On top of a successful campaign in Sweden’s top league, the wunderkind D-man was also a star at the world juniors and advanced to earn a place on Sweden’s Olympic team, making him the youngest player in Korea. “There aren’t many holes in his game,” said one scout. “He’s got size, skill and smarts. He plays against men, and he’s a dominant force. He can play the game almost any way you want. He’s got man-strength now. He’s an effortless skater, has high-end puck skills and great physical attributes. There’s nobody close to him – he’s No. 1, then there’s everybody else.” Most impressive about Dahlin’s performance at the WJC in Buffalo was how smart and competitive he was on the defensive side of the puck. His puck-moving ability is what put him on the map, but his game has matured incredibly since his first WJC at 16. And you still get the kid who can dazzle when the puck is on his stick. “He’s a fun player to watch,” said another scout. “He’s very creative, and he has the ability to change a game.” ANDREI SVECHNIKOV BORN March 26, 2000, Barnaul, Rus. 2017-18 Barrie POS L HT 6-3 WT 187 SHOOTS RW INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 2 HAD AN INJURY and his participation in the world juniors not robbed him of 24 games this season, there’s a very good chance Svechnikov would have put up 60 goals for the OHL’s Barrie Colts. What appeals to scouts most about Svechnikov is not that he can dominate but the array of ways in which he can do so. “He has all the pro tools, and he can beat you any which way,” said one scout. “He can beat you with power, he can beat you with skill. He’s a very talented guy.” There might not be a more NHL-ready player in this draft than Svechnikov, particularly if he can have a productive summer in the gym. It’s probably not accurate to label him as a pure power forward, although he definitely has those elements to his game. The brother of Detroit prospect Evgeny Svechnikov also plays a good two-way game and has a deceptively soft touch with the puck. “He looks to me like a guy who is going to walk into the NHL next year and be a really good player and continue to develop,” said another scout. “He likes to score, and he likes to take it to the net, but he makes plays as well. BRADY TKACHUK BORN Sept. 16, 1999, St. Louis, Mo. 2017-18 Boston University POS C HT 6-3 WT 196 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 4 HIS OWN OLDER brother, Calgary Flames antagonist Matthew Tkachuk, is leery of facing him in the NHL, which should tell you a little about Brady’s potential. The son of former NHL star Keith Tkachuk plays a tough, mature game that stood out at the world juniors, as the youngster was trusted in last-minute situations. Give Tkachuk space and he’ll impress you with his offensive game, too. “He’s a high-end power forward,” said one scout. “He plays hard and has a good skill set. The world juniors were his coming-out party and got him re-energized.” As one of the younger players in college hockey this past season, Tkachuk finished fourth in team scoring and once again proved that older competition does not faze him. Perhaps that’s why another talent evaluator believes the power forward could join the AHL as a teenager next season. “His payoff isn’t going to be as quick as his brother,” said the scout. “I think he needs another year to physically fill out and smooth out his skating before he gets to the NHL. But he’s got all the tools. He’s going to be a power forward in the NHL.” FILIP ZADINA BORN Nov. 27, 1999, Pardubice, Czech Rep. 2017-18 Halifax POS LW HT 6-1 WT 192 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 3 MUCH LIKE FORMER Halifax Moosehead Nico Hischier last season, Zadina used the WJC as a springboard to elevate himself up a lot of teams’ draft lists. In fact, one scout whose team is picking lower said if his team was picking second, it would take Zadina over Svechnikov. “I think he’s the best goal scorer in the draft,” said the scout. He also speculated that if Carolina keeps the No. 2 pick, it might consider a Zadina-Martin Necas tandem that worked so well at the world juniors. Zadina is a natural scorer with a terrific shot that he loves to use. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a one-dimensional player. “He cares about playing when he doesn’t have the puck, and he’s a really competitive kid,” said another scout. “Halifax was a young team, and they weren’t supposed to be as good as they were this year. He was a big part of surprising a lot of people, and he made guys around him better.” In a league where goals are difficult to come by, a player with Zadina’s touch will be difficult to pass up for teams picking near the top of the draft.

ADAM BOQVIST BORN Aug. 15, 2000, Falun, Swe. 2017-18 Brynas Jr. POS D HT 5-11 WT 170 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 8 IN A YEAR WHERE all eyes have been on a different Swedish defenseman, Boqvist has shown a lot of promise and flash. It all started with a virtuoso performance at the summer’s Ivan Hlinka tourney, where he finished second among all scorers with eight points in five games and helped Sweden win a bronze medal. “He is dynamic,” said one scout. “He has really good puck skills and doesn’t make many mistakes defensively.” Boqvist got his first Swedish League experience this season, and while he didn’t make much of a dent offensively, he was prodigious in junior, particularly in the playoffs. At one point, he was also loaned out to the second-tier Allsvenskan. While that’s a demotion, it was still a chance to play against men instead of teens. Size is not a strength, but talent hawks are learning that blueliners are different these days. “He’s made for today’s game,” said another scout. “He’s a great skater, has excellent puck skills, poise and vision. He transports and manages the puck well. He’s the favored size for a lot of people right now, the kind of guy that would have been overlooked before.” QUINN HUGHES BORN Oct. 14, 1999, Orlando, Fla. 2017-18 Michigan POS D HT 5-10 WT 174 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 7 IF YOU’RE GOING to be an undersized defenseman in the NHL, there are a number of boxes you have to check off, and Hughes fills all of them. He’s a terrific skater who makes an excellent first pass, but he is just as likely to skate the puck out of danger. Hughes defends pretty well for a smaller player and, although he won’t initiate it, doesn’t shy away from physical play. But there’s little doubt Hughes’ most prominent attribute is his ability to get around the ice. “He is explosive,” said one scout. “He can go zero to 60 and 60 to zero like nothing. Hughes with the puck is going from goal line to red line as fast as he can. He’s really trying to push the puck up the ice in the straightest, fastest way possible.” Hughes knows he’s going to lose most of the physical battles but gets high marks from scouts for not shying away from engaging in them. His shot will have to get better if he wants to be a serious point producer and power-play contributor. But at a time when undersized defensemen have a better chance than ever to be impact players, Quinn has a wide array of tools to become one of them. EVAN BOUCHARD BORN Oct. 20, 1999, Oakville, Ont. 2017-18 London POS D HT 6-2 WT 192 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 6 IT’S NOT OFTEN the London Knights have been a seller in the OHL, but they did take a step back. That meant a ton of work for Bouchard on the back end, and the kid came through with flying colors, leading the team in scoring by a wide margin. “He makes a 60-foot stretch pass better than anyone else in this draft class – right on the tape,” said one scout. “He passes the puck better than anyone else in this draft, too. He’s not nasty but is difficult to play against. The only concern is skating, but he likes to slow the game down.” On top of his great shot and power play quarterbacking, Bouchard also has size that some of the other high-end ‘D’ in the draft lack. As a late birthday, he has already played three full seasons with London, soaking up all the lessons he can from the pro staff and cadre of top-end prospects who have passed through before him. “He’s taken the OHL by storm this season,” said another scout. “He has elite hockey sense, he’s an elite passer. He has the best chance (amongst OHLers) after Andrei Svechnikov to go straight to the NHL next year.” OLIVER WAHLSTROM BORN June 13, 2000, Yarmouth, Mass. 2017-18 USA NTDP POS RW HT 6-1 WT 205 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 5 THERE IS NO shortage of natural scorers at the top of the 2018 draft, and Wahlstrom is right there with the best of them. The American-born son of a Swedish player, Wahlstrom is a big-time shooter. He’ll shoot the puck from anywhere and has a quick, heavy release. “He can shoot with guys hanging off him, he can shoot at speed, he can shoot from awkward angles,” said a scout. “He can turn a corner on a guy and shoot while he’s putting his hip out.” The biggest knock on Wahlstrom, as it is on a lot of players in the U.S. National Team Development Program under-18 program, is consistency of effort. One scout said Wahlstrom doesn’t always show up with his ‘A’ game, and he’d like to see a player that big finish his checks in the offensive zone more. “I see some entitlement in his game,” said another scout. “He’s been excellent, but I think he should have been better, especially in the first half. I think people should be talking about him higher, but they’re not wrong.” Wahlstrom’s father, Joakim, played two years at the University of Maine in the late 1980s.

9 NOAH DOBSON BORN Jan. 7, 2000, Summerside, P.E.I. 2017-18 Acadie-Bathurst POS D HT 6-3 WT 179 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 9 THE MOST EXCITING thing about Dobson is that he is still on a steep ascent. “He keeps climbing every time I see him,” said one scout. “He’s not even close to his ceiling yet.” A native of Prince Edward Island, Dobson left his home province in 2015 to play for the Red Bull Akademie in Salzburg, Austria, a new hot-house program that attracted other 2018 prospects such as Ryan Savage, Sampo Ranta and Martin Pospisil (Chicago pick Wouter Peeters also played there). Though the experience and competition was good, talent hawks believe Dobson was still getting reacclimated to the North American game this season, his second in the ‘Q’ since returning from Europe. Nonetheless, he’s a special talent. “I love him,” said another scout. “He played too much this year, 30 minutes a night, so you were seeing a guy trying to conserve energy and play on a rocking chair. But early on he was slicing through the ice and putting defenders on their heels. His puck retrieval is good. He’s 6-foot-3, and to skate like he can…wait until he gets another 20 pounds on him.” 10 TY SMITH BORN March 24, 2000, Lloydminster, Sask. 2017-18 Spokane POS D HT 5-11 WT 176 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 19 SMITH IS an undersized defensemen who can make plays and move the puck well – and that, of course, is the theme of this draft. And while he’s not as offensively dynamic as Adam Boqvist and Quinn Hughes at the top of the draft, Smith is a better player defensively than his more heralded fellow prospects. It’s hard to think of a 5-foot-11 defenseman as a workhorse, but that’s exactly what Smith was for the Spokane Chiefs this season. “What does he not do?” asked one scout. “He plays top-pairing minutes. He gets first defensive assignments. He’s not as offensively dynamic as those top guys, but neither of them can defend even remotely compared to this guy.” At the NHL level, Smith projects as a No. 3 or 4 defenseman. He likely won’t put up the kinds of numbers he has at the junior level, but he’s seen as a player who will be able to contribute. “If you’re a small D-man, you have to be smart with the puck and not panic, and that’s what this kid does,” said another scout. “He’s able to freeze forecheckers, and he has good agility and mobility to escape pressure and make a good play.” 11 JOE VELENO BORN Jan. 13, 2000, Montreal, Que. 2017-18 Drummondville POS C HT 6-1 WT 194 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 10 IF THERE’S ONE thing we can certainly glean from Veleno, it’s that the kid takes his hockey seriously. He rolled into the season with high expectations and started off the summer Ivan Hlinka tournament slowly for Canada before turning it on. “It looked like he was trying to live up to the hype at the beginning, but then he settled in,” said one scout. “He works. He plays hard and has leadership qualities.” There were reasons for the pressure: Veleno was the first QMJHL talent to be granted exceptional status to join the league a season early, and Saint John picked him first overall in the 2015 ‘Q’ draft. After winning a title with Saint John in 2017, Veleno returned to a young Sea Dogs team that lost a ton of talent. With the team flagging, he was traded to Drummondville midseason, and his results improved dramatically. “He was putting a lot of pressure on himself in Saint John,” said another scout. “It was probably the best scenario for him to go. He still needs to shoot the puck more, but that’s not him – he’s a playmaker. He works his butt off every game.” 12 BARRETT HAYTON BORN June 9, 2000, Kitchener, Ont. 2017-18 Sault Ste. Marie POS C HT 6-1 WT 185 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 12 PLAYING ON ONE of the best, most star-studded teams in major junior, Hayton was a little buried in the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds’ lineup this season. Of course, you could also make the case he played sheltered minutes as well. There is a lot to like, particularly for teams looking for a two-way pivot. “Everybody talks about having to have a center,” said a scout. “Well, there aren’t many centers in this draft better than this guy. He’s an honest, hardworking guy who plays a 200-foot game and chips in offensively.” Scouts don’t anticipate Hayton will be a No. 1 center on a contending team, but he could possibly develop into that. He was one of Canada’s best players in the Ivan Hlinka Tournament and a solid contributor for the Greyhounds. Some liken him to teammate and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Morgan Frost, with not quite as much offensive ability but a touch more complete game. “I’m not sure we’ve seen the best of him yet,” said another scout. “He defers a little. Sometimes he takes a backseat to those other guys, but he’s diligent and very responsible.”

13 JOEL FARABEE BORN Feb. 25, 2000, Cicero, N.Y. 2017-18 USA NTDP POS LW HT 6-0 WT 168 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 11 PART OF THE three-man wrecking crew for the U.S. under-18 program along with Jack Hughes and Oliver Wahlstrom, Farabee is another natural goal scorer. But he also block shots, kills penalties and plays the game at an ultra-competitive level. “He reminds me of Jack Roslovic when he played third wheel on a line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk,” said a scout. “You put this kid out there and he has the sense to be able to play with good players.” Farabee will find out what it’s like without Hughes and Wahlstrom next year when he plays at Boston University. He has NHL height but still has a lot of filling out to do. When he does that, he’ll become a more explosive player. “If he gets 10 percent stronger, he’ll be able to make five more plays a game,” said another scout. “When you factor in the extra strength, he’ll find another gear.” One thing that is not a concern with Farabee is his work ethic. “He’s high energy, high compete, high skill,” said a scout. “It’s tough to find a guy that works harder than Joel Farabee who has his kind of talent.” 14 ISAC LUNDESTROM BORN Nov. 6, 1999, Gallivare, Swe. 2017-18 Lulea POS C HT 6-0 WT 185 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 20 WHILE BIG GUNS like Lias Andersson, Elias Pettersson and Alexander Nylander made up the marquee for Sweden’s forwards at the world juniors, Lundestrom centered the most consistent and competitive line with Tim Soderlund (Chicago) and Oskar Steen (Boston). “I’m a big fan,” said one scout. “He already plays a developed and polished game: two-way player, diligent in coming back, reliable in the faceoff circle. He’s almost as safe a pick as there is.” With the exception of playoff duty with the junior squad, Lundestrom spent his entire campaign in the Swedish League with Lulea as the second-line center. Scouts were hoping to see him used down the middle, so it worked out well. “He has played very well in the SHL against men and was getting solid minutes,” said another scout. “He’s a big part of that team. He has a good personality.” Lundestrom also played well at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan, showing off nice two-way play and offensive flash. In a lot of ways, he is reminiscent of Andersson, the New York Rangers first-rounder. 15 BODE WILDE BORN Jan. 24, 2000, Montreal, Que. 2017-18 USA NTDP POS D HT 6-2 WT 196 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 23 IN TERMS OF raw tools, there might not be a more physically gifted defenseman in this draft than Wilde. The only problem is he often lives up to his surname. He checks off a lot of boxes scouts need to fill with good size, along with skating and puckhandling abilities. The big concern with Wilde is his ability to process the game. “In all honesty, Bode Wilde is a mystery to me,” said one scout. “He looks like a million bucks because he can really skate and he has great puck skills. He’ll make a really good play and then he’ll make one that really makes you question his hockey sense.” The question is, can that particular hockey attribute be taught to him the next couple years? Wilde is committed to the University of Michigan next season, but the Saginaw Spirit own his OHL rights. One scout compared Wilde to an NFL prospect who rockets up the draft charts because he impresses at the combine, but the combine results fail to translate to similar performance on the field. “But in terms of getting a guy you can mold,” said another scout, “he’s a pretty good lump of clay.” 16 TY DELLANDREA BORN July 21, 2000, Toronto, Ont. 2017-18 Flint POS C HT 6-1 WT 190 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 42 DELLANDREA WAS taken fifth overall by the Flint Firebirds in the OHL draft at the height of the franchise’s dysfunction. He easily could have claimed “NCAA interest” and forced a trade, but he reported to the Michigan city and has blossomed into a force. “He’s rising up the charts,” said one scout. “Flint is a mediocre team, and he was their best player. If you put him on the Soo, he’d be every bit as good as Barrett Hayton. He’s very smart, very skilled, and he’s a great competitor. He has a good variety of deceptive moves.” Dellandrea first jumped onto the map at the CHL Top Prospects Game, where he separated himself from a lot of the other forwards in the draft class with his twogoal performance. Back with the Firebirds, he immediately went on a seven-game point streak, but he couldn’t get the team back into the playoffs. “He was phenomenal in a tough situation; he had to be their No. 1 option,” said another scout. “He’s a really good playmaker with good instincts.” He did get one more showcase with Canada’s under-18 team, too, and had five points in five games.

17 RASMUS SANDIN BORN March 7, 2000, Uppsala, Swe. 2017-18 Sault Ste. Marie POS D HT 5-11 WT 190 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 36 IT’S NOT COMMON for a player to leave Europe for the CHL once his season has already begun, but the strategy paid off for Sandin. After departing Sweden’s Rogle in October, the talented defenseman became part of the most fearsome collective in all of major junior on a juggernaut Sault Ste. Marie outfit. “I’m a big Sandin fan,” said one scout. “He’s that new wave defenseman: great hockey sense, great mobility, light on his edges. He might be one of the best passers in the OHL, outside of Evan Bouchard. He needs to work on his defensive play, but he’s smart.” Sandin kicked off his draft year with Sweden’s under-18 squad at the Ivan Hlinka tourney, where he partnered with Adam Boqvist. With Boqvist being even more rush-happy, Sandin covered more on the pairing. “He’s a solid allaround defenseman,” said another scout. “He moves the puck well and is a good skater. At the Hlinka, he enabled Boqvist to get up ice.” With Sault Ste. Marie dominating the OHL, Sandin piled up points, and since he wasn’t loaned from Rogle (he had an out in his contract), he can return next year. 18 JESPERI KOTKANIEMI BORN July 6, 2000, Pori, Fin. 2017-18 Assat POS C HT 6-2 WT 190 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 16 THERE’S A REASON scouts watch players multiple times their draft season: sometimes first impressions aren’t so hot. That was the case with Kotkaniemi this summer when he suited up for Finland internationally. “He was terrible at the Hlinka tourney – he couldn’t skate,” said a scout. “But he has a hockey mind and executes his skills.” So yeah, Kotkaniemi had some work on his hands. But to the young man’s credit, he has put a lot of work in already, and evaluators took note. “His skating has come a long way, and he works on it practically every day,” said another scout. “His upper body leans forward, and they are correcting that. He is skilled, goes into the physical battles and he’s unpredictable with his moves.” He’s also a character kid, which helps Kotkaniemi’s case. His season was the inverse of countryman Rasmus Kupari (who started off hot), and Kotkaniemi ended strong as Finland’s top-line center at the Five Nations in Michigan and the world under-18s. Domestically, he finished third in scoring with Assat Pori, spending the entire campaign with the Liiga squad. 19 AKIL THOMAS BORN Jan. 2, 2000, Brandon, Fla. 2017-18 Niagara POS C HT 6-0 WT 170 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 27 FOR A PLAYER who’s not seen as flashy by many in the scouting community, Thomas put up impressive point totals. There is, however, a wide variance of opinion on Thomas as a prospect depending upon which set of eyeballs has watched him play. Those who like him are enamored of his skill level and playmaking ability. But those who are less impressed would like to see more from him. “Akil is good, but not elite at anything,” said one scout. “He’s always in the right position, but you wish he would do more by being in that position. He’s in a good position to create offense, but not a lot really happens. He’s in a good position defensively, but he doesn’t always cover his guy. So he’s always on the fringe of making really good plays.” Thomas is not a physical presence, but he has a solid base of fundamentals and can play in traffic. He did much of his best work on the IceDogs’ power play, where he played the point. “In Niagara, when he gets time and space, he’s going to find anybody,” said another scout. “He makes seam passes, backdoor plays. Makes them look easy, actually.” 20 RYAN MCLEOD BORN Sept. 21, 1999, Mississauga, Ont. 2017-18 Mississauga POS C HT 6-2 WT 190 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 26 THERE’S A HUGE premium put on speed in today’s NHL, which bodes quite well for McLeod, the younger brother of New Jersey prospect Mikey McLeod. Wheels are not a concern for Ryan, who had a breakout season in Mississauga. McLeod projects as a top-six forward but not necessarily a No. 1 center. While his skating is undeniably near the top of the draft list, there are concerns about other core attributes. “Sometimes people can get mesmerized by his skating,” said one scout. “Everyone in the NHL wants faster, faster, faster. He can really skate, but I’m not sure he’s going to be a high-end player because I don’t know if he has the skill or hockey sense to be a highend player.” Another scout noticed McLeod is more effective playing a simplified game based on speed. “He’s very good in straight lines,” said the scout. “The simpler he plays, the better his hockey is. He has the speed to drive wide, the speed to turn the corner, and when you watch him do that he becomes a different player. He tries to be a bit too finesse-oriented. Sometimes he plays too much east-west.”

21 JETT WOO BORN July 27, 2000, Winnipeg, Man. 2017-18 Moose Jaw POS D HT 6-0 WT 205 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 51 SLOWED BY INJURY this season, Woo wasn’t able to display his classic hitting game as much as he would have liked. He remains a hard-hitting defenseman who won’t create a lot of offense but will be fully engaged in the game. There are concerns his physical approach may wear him down at higher levels and, if that happens, it will make him less effective. “He’s not the biggest guy in the world,” said one scout, “but he plays like he’s the biggest player in the world. He’s built like a fire hydrant.” Even though hitting is a big part of his game, it’s not the only dimension he has. In terms of his ability to move the puck, he’s seen as a safe and steady option. And while he won’t dazzle anyone with his offensive ability, it’s not a detriment to his game. “A lot of times with smaller guys you want their physical game to complement his defensive game,” said another scout. “With him, it’s the reverse.” There is a comfort level that he can play in most game situations. “You can put him on in the last minute of the game whether you’re winning or losing,” said a scout. “He’s very versatile.” 22 GRIGORI DENISENKO BORN June 24, 2000, Novosibirsk, Rus. 2017-18 Yaroslavl Jr. POS LW HT 5-10 WT 165 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 18 THE RUSSIAN Hockey Federation decided to keep Denisenko off its national under-18 team because of his penchant for hurting people. That is seen as both a blessing and a curse when it comes to his prospects of succeeding. “He’s a wild child,” a scout said. “He comes 100 miles per hour. He hurts his team at times with penalties because he plays so aggressively. But that’s one of the things you like about him. If you tone him down so he won’t get kicked out, he’s going to bring a physical edge to a guy who has a good skill level and skating ability.” One scout said he asked some members of his staff what they thought of Denisenko at the World Jr. A Hockey Challenge in December, where he had four points and 27 penalty minutes in three games. The scout was told Denisenko was the best draft-eligible player they had seen to that point. He asked the same three scouts about Denisenko later in the season and received far less glowing reviews. But there remains some intrigue. “He creates plays out of nothing,” said another scout. “And with that skill, he can run over guys.” 23 JACOB OLOFSSON BORN Feb. 8, 2000, Pitea, Swe. 2017-18 Timra POS C HT 6-2 WT 192 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 34 AS AN INTEGRAL part of the Timra team that lifted itself from the Allsvenskan into the top Swedish League, Olofsson acquitted himself well against men this season. He projects as a responsible twoway center with good size, and while there are no glaring holes in his game, nothing really stands out about it, either. “If you think you’re getting a high-end offensive player, I question that,” said one scout. “He’s a hard worker and a good checker who has size and can skate but rarely scores points. His worst role on that team was second-line center, and you could argue sometimes he played as a No. 1. He was counted on for heavy minutes.” Is there a chance he does have more of an offensive bent but didn’t show it this season? One scout believes that’s the case, saying his offensive game will grow as he becomes more comfortable. “We don’t know what his offensive upside is,” said the scout. “He didn’t show a ton of offense this year, but I think it’s there.” Scouts would’ve liked to see it against players his age, but Olofsson had just three assists in seven games at the world under-18s. 24 VITALI KRAVTSOV BORN Dec. 23, 1999, Vladivostok, Rus. 2017-18 Chelyabinsk POS RW HT 6-2 WT 183 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 35 WITH A LATE 1999 birthday, Kravtsov was too old to play in any of the under-18 tournaments this season and did not play in the world juniors. He was not on many scouts’ radars last season, and he played in all three Russian leagues, so it made it difficult for talent evaluators to catch up with him. “You had to make an effort to go and see him,” said one scout, “but when you did, it was worth the effort.” Complicating matters even more was the fact Kravtsov saved his best play for late in the season, scoring six goals and 11 points in 16 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL playoffs. “The better the hockey, the higher the age group, the better I thought he played,” said another scout. “I thought sometimes he got bored with his peers. He’s ready to play in the KHL, so if he’s ready to play there, he’s not far off being ready to play here.” Kravtsov has size, good puck skills and an ability to beat people 1-on-1. He also plays with grit and physical temerity. He could be a player a team takes a chance on in the first round and snatches higher than he was projected.

25 RASMUS KUPARI

BORN March 15, 2000, Kotka, Fin. 2017-18 Karpat POS C HT 5-11 WT 163 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 15 EXPECTATIONS FOR Kupari got off to some unrealistic levels after he scorched the scoreboard at the Ivan Hlinka summer tournament. And sure, seven points in four games is impressive though four of those came in a romp over a weak Slovakia team. Nonetheless, the bar had been set high, and it was a challenge for Kupari to live up to that standard. “He’s a good player, but he needs to mentally mature and put it all together at the highest level,” said one scout. “I have a feeling that what people saw at the Hlinka may not be accurate. He sure has upside, but he’s still learning hockey culture.” Kupari hails from Kotka, a coastal town in Finland better known for soccer and basketball. He was a bit player on Finland’s disappointing world junior team, but he saw his role with Karpat Oulu increase once he started playing on a line with Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Kristian Vesalainen. “He’s a funny guy because he hasn’t really been able to play his game at an elite level much, but now he’s getting more ice time,” said one scout. “He’s a first-round name, but is he top-15 or top-30?”

26 K’ANDRE MILLER

BORN Jan. 21, 2000, Hopkins, Minn. 2017-18 USA NTDP POS D HT 6-4 WT 205 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 32 IF THERE WAS one word to describe Miller, it’s “potential.” Talent hawks are very excited about what the young man has the capability to become, and he’s on the right path. “He’s a physical specimen,” said one scout. “He has a beautiful, powerful stride, and he’s becoming a real stout defender. At the least, he’ll be a minute-eater because he’s such a great athlete. I love his floor and I love his ceiling.” Miller grew up as a forward but switched to defense in recent years. Because of that, he is still learning the position, but he proved himself to be one of the NTDP’s top blueliners this season. The fact he still has room to grow into his role is also a positive for evaluators. “I like him a lot,” said another scout. “He’s raw and has a lot of good qualities. He’s athletic – and I like that the kid played forward before. He hasn’t even rounded out his details yet.” A Wisconsin commit, Miller will get a perfect place to grow under coach Tony Granato. The Badgers have been successful on the recruiting trail lately, so Miller will also get some nice internal competition at the next level.

27 MARTIN KAUT

BORN Oct. 2, 1999, Brno, Czech Rep. 2017-18 Pardubice POS RW HT 6-1 WT 174 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 13 UPON HEARING Kaut was included on the Czech roster for the World Championship, one scout had this to say: “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to go back to Europe, but now I might have to go again.” Kaut had a very strong WJC for the surprising Czech team, and that provided him with momentum for the second half of the season with Pardubice. Scouts don’t necessarily see him as a top talent in any one area of the game, but he’s a player who does many things well, which makes him very attractive as a future second- or third-line forward. “He seems to be a guy who is overlooked,” said another scout. “I don’t find anything fancy in his play. He’s got better than average tools, better than average skater, better than average skill, better than average hockey sense. I don’t think he’s exceptional in any one of these areas, but his accountability and consistency are like a Swiss watch. Every game he’s the same.” One scout described him as an F-7, which would make him the top third-line player, at worst. But he does have the potential to fit into a top-six role someday. At the least he’s a useful middle-six forward.

28 DOMINIK BOKK

BORN Feb. 3, 2000, Schweinfurt, Ger. 2017-18 Vaxjo Jr. POS RW HT 6-1 WT 179 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 28 BOKK GOT A great endorsement from Vaxjo teammate Elias Pettersson when the Vancouver Canucks superprospect said at the world juniors that he and Bokk had similar attributes. That’s something scouts began to catch on to as well this season. “He’s a skilled player,” said one scout. “He put up really good numbers in the first half, and a lot of people were watching him.” What is particularly interesting about Bokk is he just finished his first campaign in Sweden. A German national, he had grown up playing against lesser competition in the junior ranks. Now there’s a baseline for what he can do against not only players his own age, but also men, thanks to the games he played in the Swedish League. “He’s an intriguing kid,” said another scout. “He’s a highskill player and a fast skater. It was interesting to watch him in his first year in Sweden. It was a learning year for him, and he’s opened a lot of eyes. You wonder where he can get to from here.” A fun bit of trivia: his CHL major junior rights are owned by Prince Albert, the same team that struck German gold with Leon Draisaitl.

29 SERRON NOEL BORN Aug. 8, 2000, Guelph, Ont. 2017-18 Oshawa POS RW HT 6-5 WT 209 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 14 WHILE THE GAME

trends away from size and more towards speed, Noel, at 6-foot-5 and 209 pounds already, is the rare player to have both. “He’s a power forward, a big body and he can really skate,” said one scout. “He’s at his best when he’s going hard to the net.” Playing for a decent Oshawa Generals squad this season, Noel made big strides offensively and ticked off all the major events you’d want to see in a Canadian junior prospect: he won gold with Canada at the summer Ivan Hlinka, he popped in a goal at the CHL Top Prospects Game and he ended his season at the world under-18s, making an impact right away. He’s not a finished product, and the fact there is so much to build on is exciting for talent hawks. “He has come a long way,” said another scout. “He’s very raw and very athletic. He’ll probably end up at 235 pounds when he’s done. He skates like the wind, has good hands and has a physical element. He’ll be (a forward) in a top nine for sure. I see power forward potential. He’s got to learn to play without the puck. That’s the negative, but he’ll figure it out.”

30 SAMPO RANTA BORN May 31, 2000, Naantali, Fin. 2017-18 Sioux City POS LW HT 6-2 WT 192 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 50 IN RANTA, AN

NHL franchise will be getting a missile with first-round tools, albeit one that definitely needs assistance with a guidance system. “Great skater, big body, great shot,” said one scout. “He’s a drive-and-shoot guy – he can beat defensemen wide. I don’t think he’s very smart – there isn’t a lot of creativity, and he doesn’t put himself in good areas. His hockey sense is a concern. He reminds me of the Virtanen kid Vancouver drafted.” Jake Virtanen, of course, went sixth overall in 2014 and is still trying to find his way in the NHL, but expectations won’t be so high on Ranta. Before the Finnish import even considers the pro ranks, he’s headed to the University of Wisconsin under the tutelage of coach and former NHLer Tony Granato. That’s a great landing place for a kid with such promise. “He’s got great hands and he handles the puck in tight areas,” said another scout. “He goes from zero to 60 faster than anyone else in the USHL. I don’t think he has great hockey sense right now, and he tries to do too much 1-on-1, but he shoots the puck and knows where he’s putting it.”

31 MATTIAS SAMUELSSON BORN March 14, 2000, Voorhees, N.J. 2017-18 USA NTDP POS D HT 6-3 WT 216 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 31 IF YOU WANT

to tease a scout this year, ask him to pick between Samuelsson and teammate K’Andre Miller. Both Team USA defensemen have excellent resumes but are vastly different. Miller has raw potential, whereas Samuelsson looks like a solid, can’tfail pick. “He’s going to play for a long time,” said a scout. “Top pairing or top-four guy with a nasty streak, soft hands, high IQ and good footwork.” The son of former NHLer Kjell Samuelsson, Mattias is committed to Western Michigan University, where his older brother, Lukas, just completed his freshman season. Mattias also captained Team USA at the world under-18s, and there’s just a lot to like about a kid that has so much going for him already. “He has size and good poise with the puck,” said another scout. “He can keep the play going, and he gets pucks through to the net. He has the makeup to be a real good NHL D-man. What I don’t like is that he’s casual – he gets a little sleepy sometimes.” Assuming Samuelsson can shore up that aspect of his game, he’s going to be a very solid pro in the not-too-distant future.

32 RYAN MERKLEY BORN Aug. 14, 2000, Oakville, Ont. 2017-18 Guelph POS D HT 5-11 WT 170 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 47 BY FAR, MERKLEY

is the biggest X-factor in the entire draft class. On the plus side, he’s an offensive wizard on the blueline with excellent mobility, tailor-made for today’s game. On the other side of the ledger, he’s a black hole on defense, and his attitude is being questioned. “Anyone you talk to about him, there’s going to be a ‘but…’ ” said one scout. “His ability to skate and make plays – not many players are like him. But everyone is asking if he’s the next Anthony DeAngelo, with the bad attitude and the lack of emotional control. Defensively, he has to get better – at times it’s like he’s bored.” So in sum, you have a top-five talent with baggage. It is also worth considering, however, that Merkley is in a great situation, playing for veteran junior coach George Burnett in Guelph. “We know he’s high risk, and those guys come with a qualifier,” said another scout. “When he’s good, he can be very good. When he’s bad, he’s equally bad. George Burnett had P.K. Subban in Belleville and P.K. used to drive him over the edge some nights. But they found a way to make it work.”

33 BENOIT-OLIVIER GROULX BORN Feb. 6, 2000, Rouen, France 2017-18 Halifax POS C HT 6-1 WT 190 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 22 SOME NHL FRANCHISE

will reach for raw skill at the end of the first round, and that’s all well and good. But if you want a safe selection, Groulx should be near the top of the list. The son of AHL Syracuse coach Benoit Groulx, the Halifax forward plays the game the right way. “He’s not a flashy guy, but he’s really smart,” said one scout. “He’s two-way, hard-working forward. So competitive.” Part of the youngest team in the ‘Q,’ Groulx ended up playing with top-five draft prospect Filip Zadina, though realistically Groulx is better suited for work on the second line or even a shutdown unit. “The skating scares me a bit,” said another scout. “He has plenty of grit and jam; the skill set is just OK. He’s a nasty little guy to play against. He’s an excellent penalty killer, probably a first-rounder. I’d be ecstatic if I got him in the second round.” Even when Groulx isn’t scoring, he’s winning faceoffs and putting himself in good positions. On a Halifax team that will be hosting the Memorial Cup in 2018-19, he’ll be a key cog, especially since Zadina will most likely be gone.

34 JARED McISAAC BORN March 27, 2000, Truro, N.S. 2017-18 Halifax POS D HT 6-1 WT 194 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 21 THE FACT THAT

Team Canada has called upon McIsaac at every opportunity – including when he has been an underager – speaks volumes to the kind of game he provides. “He’s a steady, smart, two-way guy,” said one scout. “Any coach would love him.” The QMJHL’s defensive rookie of the year in 2016-17, McIsaac already has a silver medal from the Youth Olympic Games, a gold from the Ivan Hlinka and played in the world under-18 tournament twice. He caught fire at the end of the regular season, registering 21 points in the final 20 games, though offense won’t be his ticket to the NHL. “He’s a throwback defenseman,” said another scout. “We already know what he’s going to be. Hard to play against, hard to beat 1-on-1. Great stick, skates well and moves the puck. Not sure how much offense he has in his game.” Highly touted out of midget, McIsaac was taken second overall in the QMJHL draft by his hometown Mooseheads, but the franchise had to pull off a big-time trade to make it happen. Needless to say, the gambit has worked.

35 SCOTT PERUNOVICH BORN August 18, 1998, Hibbing, Minn. 2017-18 Minnesota-Duluth POS D HT 5-9 WT 165 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES nr THERE IS ALWAYS

at least one major prospect who zips up the draft board as the year goes on, and Perunovich deserves the title this season. Passed over in two drafts, the former Minnesota high schooler and USHLer now has world junior bronze, an NCAA title and NCAA rookie-of-the-year honors to his name. “He’s not a big kid, but he had a phenomenal season,” said one scout. “He may have made the biggest leap from one year to the next that I’ve ever seen. Last year in (USHL) Cedar Rapids, you wouldn’t have noticed him even if you were looking.” Evaluators give Minnesota-Duluth coach Scott Sandelin a lot of credit for allowing Perunovich to be himself as a freshman, and the kid ended up leading the Bulldogs in scoring while playing a key role in their run to the Frozen Four title. Perunovich was a surprise entry on Team USA’s WJC team, but that’s where he really started to make an impression. “What he showed at the world juniors is that he can play at that level of competition,” said another scout. “He really stood out on the power play. He has great vision.”

36 JONATAN BERGGREN BORN July 16, 2000, Uppsala, Swe. 2017-18 Skelleftea Jr. POS RW HT 5-11 WT 183 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 30 THE MOMENTUM

Berggren gained with his performance at the world under-18s might be enough to propel him to the top half of the second round or perhaps even the first. To be sure, he was Sweden’s most dangerous player in the tournament and put up eye-popping numbers with Skelleftea’s under-20 team. Scouts were impressed that he excelled against his peers and are eager to see what he can accomplish against men in Sweden next season. Size is an issue with him, and he’ll have to get stronger to endure the physical elevation of play at the next level. Though Berggren doesn’t necessarily shy away from physical play, he doesn’t excel in it either. “He struggles under contact,” said a scout. “That being said, he’s an excellent skater. He’s able to navigate and not put himself into a lot of physical situations. Not that he avoids it, but he’s at a disadvantage with any physical encounter.” Scouts were encouraged to see Berggren raise his level of play at the world under-18s, where he was Sweden’s top scorer. “He took on a more primary role, and he dictated the play,” said another scout.

37 JAKUB LAUKO BORN March 28, 2000, Prague, Czech Rep. 2017-18 Chomutov POS C HT 6-1 WT 172 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 49 ONE SCOUT

believes Lauko is the fastest skater in the draft. Alas, it takes more than just blinding speed to be an effective NHL player. That’s why most scouts view Lauko as a thirdline center at the NHL level. For all the opportunities Lauko creates with his speed, he fails to cash in on a fair number of them. Even though he had three goals and six points at the world under18s, scouts came away a little disappointed by what they saw. The one wild card with Lauko is he’s fearless about going to the dirty areas of the ice. He has no hesitation going hard to the net, and that may serve him well if he hopes to increase his offensive impact, but he’s going to have to improve his touch around the net and his puck skills. He’s already an NHL-caliber skater without the puck. It’s when he has the puck on his stick that scouts have concerns. “He’s got good speed, but he’s not really creative,” said a scout. “He’s not an offensive threat. It’s not a bad thing, but everything points to him being a third-line guy. He’s high energy, and he’s a two-way guy who works really hard.”

38 FILIP JOHANSSON BORN March 23, 2000, Vasteras, Swe. 2017-18 Leksand Jr. POS D HT 6-1 WT 187 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 38 RASMUS DAHLIN

and Adam Boqvist may be grabbing all the headlines when it comes to talented Swedish blueliners in this draft class, but scouts are low-key buzzing about Johansson, an under-the-radar guy who does a lot of things right. “I like him a lot,” said one scout. “He’s a very reliable defenseman, steady on and off the puck. He’s good at moving the puck, and he has a good one-timer. At the Five Nations, he was more of a PK guy and someone they could play in late-game situations.” Internationally, Johansson has always taken the call for Sweden, earning several medals in the process. He played for Leksand of the Allsvenskan and got secondpairing duty in the post-season, when the team successfully won its way to promotion, meaning Johansson will get reps in the Swedish League next season. That’s great for his development, particularly since he just got his first experience against men this season. With that foundation, Johansson is a rising star. “He’s a solid, all-around defenseman,” said another scout. “Nothing too fancy, but always reliable.”

39 JACOB BERNARD-DOCKER BORN June 30, 2000, Canmore, Alta. 2017-18 Okotoks POS D HT 6-1 WT 172 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 25 IN MANY WAYS,

Bernard-Docker is the perfect foil for fellow Jr. A star Jonny Tychonick. The two are childhood friends and played on the same pairing at the World Jr. A Challenge and CJHL Prospects Game. Bernard-Docker, also committed to North Dakota, is the more grounded of the two. “He’s well-rounded, reliable in his own end, plays physical and is a great skater,” said one scout. “He was cleaning up Tychonick’s rushes at the WJAC. He’s more polished – I would have him out in the last minute of the game.” Bernard-Docker was the top-scoring blueliner in the AJHL playoffs, leading Okotoks to the final before falling to Spruce Grove. Whether he goes to North Dakota next year or in 2019-20 was still up in the air during the season, but it’s pretty clear he has upside. “He comes to make plays: smooth, efficient, low-panic, moves the puck well,” said another scout. “He’s kind of the opposite of Tychonick – he’s structured and efficient.” So which of the childhood friends goes first in the draft: the high-ceiling Tychonick or the safer choice in Bernard-Docker?

40 ADAM GINNING BORN Jan. 13, 2000, Linkoping, Swe. 2017-18 Linkoping POS D HT 6-3 WT 196 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 17 SCOUTS NOTICED

something about Ginning this year. When he played in an under-18 tournament in Plymouth on NHL-sized ice, he was able to assert himself physically. But on the internationalsized ice at the world under-18s, he wasn’t as effective. Ginning is a throwback, an old-school defensive defenseman who plays a nasty, physical game. And while offense is not his forte, he can make an acceptable first pass out. “The more simple he keeps it the better off he is,” said a scout. “If he tries to do too much, he turns it over. He might go later in the first round because those guys are hard to find. Everybody takes a chance on skill players early, but a team might have an extra pick and take him in the bottom of the first.” As captain of the Swedish under-18 team, Ginning has good leadership capabilities. Part of what makes him effective as a defensive defenseman is his positioning. “He’s able to initiate contact and drive the physical play without running around and being out of position,” said another scout. “He’s safe defensively and he’s aggressive, which is hard to balance.”

41 JONNY TYCHONICK BORN March 3, 2000, Calgary, Alta. 2017-18 Penticton POS D HT 6-0 WT 174 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 33 THIS SEASON’S

Canadian Jr. A Prospects Game was a fun and chaotic contest played on small ice, with a near-line brawl thrown in late in the affair. But it was also the perfect showcase for Tychonick, who demonstrated he can play fast and aggressive from the blueline. “He’s a highly competitive, NHL skater,” said one scout. “He wants to win, and he has a good skill set. He’s trying to make an impact every shift – maybe to a fault sometimes. He needs to be dialed back a bit.” So the kid’s a wild horse. But the same was said of Jake Gardiner when he was a teen, and he worked out pretty well. For Tychonick, it’s all about taking that awesome speed and skill and honing it into a more complete game. “He always leaves me wanting more,” said another scout. “He skates well, but I’m not sure what he’s accomplishing out there. He passes the puck well, and he’s mobile. His game is a little helterskelter, but that’s coachable.” Committed to the University of North Dakota, Tychonick will have a great coaching staff at his disposal to provide the guidance he needs in the next few seasons.

42 NICOLAS BEAUDIN BORN Oct. 7, 1999, Chateauguay, Que. 2017-18 Drummondville POS D HT 5-11 WT 172 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 77 WHILE NOAH DOBSON

is the QMJHL’s defensive jewel of the draft, don’t sleep on Beaudin, the Voltigeurs rearguard who had talent hawks intrigued. “He’s the biggest puzzle, but I love him,” said one scout. “He’s not Samuel Girard; he’s not that dynamic. I don’t think he’ll be the power play guy others see, but with the way he skates and thinks the game, you have to pay attention. He makes that good first pass and has great escapability. He’s very smart. But he’s pretty slight.” On a fun Drummondville squad, Beaudin made great strides. He was consistent with his offense all season and turned things on in the playoffs, registering more than a point per game before the Volts fell to Victoriaville in the second round. “He’s a really good skater, effortless,” said another scout. “He’s also a great passer with good vision. He’ll make passes other defensemen don’t even see. I’d like to see an extra gear – the power isn’t there yet – but he can get there once he gets stronger.” Assuming Beaudin hits the gym hard the next couple of summers, he could bring a varied skill package to the table.

43 HALLANDER FILIP BORN June 29, 2000, Sundsvall, Swe. 2017-18 Timra POS C HT 6-1 WT 185 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 54 HALLANDER, WHO

lined up with Jacob Olofsson on Timra in the Swedish Allsvenskan, missed the world under-18s with an injury. He did, however, impress scouts with his willingness to play through pain as his team successfully made it back to the Tier I Swedish League. “I don’t know how you can watch him and not like him,” said a scout. “He played hurt from February on. By the time the playoffs came along he was only playing on the power play. I think he’s a really tough kid.” Hallander’s offensive instincts make him a possible second-liner at the NHL level, but he also has an ability to move up and down the lineup. What might hold him back from being a top-line player is his skating. It wouldn’t be much better than average at the NHL level. Most like his two-way game but want to see more offense and physical play. “I don’t find him to be a playmaker at all, but he’s smart enough to play with good players, and he’s gritty enough to play with third-line players,” said another scout. “He’s slightly better without the puck than he is with it. Offensively, he’s pretty good for a guy who is not a burner.”

44 LIAM FOUDY BORN Feb. 4, 2000, Toronto, Ont. 2017-18 London POS C HT 6-1 WT 183 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 45 THIS WAS A

tale of two seasons for Foudy, with the second half providing the best look at his potential. Entering the year on a veteran London Knights squad, Foudy had a small role. “He showed nice potential as an underager last year, one of those guys you bookmark for later,” said one scout. “He got off to a slow start, but London is always loaded up front. He’s such a great skater, and now he’s getting rewarded.” Once the Knights decided to become sellers on the marketplace, things opened up. NHL prospect forwards Robert Thomas, Cliff Pu and Max Jones were all traded, and Foudy took advantage. “In the second half, he took off once he got more opportunities,” said another scout. “He’s a skater; he can fly. He’s a great athlete.” Foudy was a championship hurdler in high school, and both his parents were accomplished track and field athletes, too. His dad also played in the CFL. Foudy can’t jump over opponents on the ice, but with his speed he can blaze past them. He also played for Canada at the world under-18s.

45 CALEN ADDISON BORN April 11, 2000, Brandon, Man. 2017-18 Lethbridge POS D HT 5-10 WT 179 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 52 YET ANOTHER

undersized defenseman with good offensive instincts in this draft, Addison can match numbers with any of them. After almost a point per game in the regular season, Addison scored 19 points in 16 playoff games as Lethbridge ran to the Eastern Conference final. What puts Addison a notch below his peers in this draft is his play in his own end. “Is he good enough offensively that you’re going to put up with his defense?” asked a scout. “He hasn’t proven yet 100 percent that he’s that guy.” Addison feasted on the power play. He tied for the WHL lead in power play assists among blueliners with 35. But for all his prowess with the man advantage, his strength is in running the unit, not being a triggerman. He had just 11 goals on 193 shots for a shooting percentage of only 5.7 percent. He’s not shy about jumping up, but he could pick his spots better. “He can be a little overactive, almost temperamental,” said another scout. “That’s a maturity thing. He wants to be a player. He tries to make things happen. I think he’s a second power play guy at the next level.”

46 ALLAN McSHANE BORN Feb. 14, 2000, Collingwood, Ont. 2017-18 Oshawa POS C HT 5-11 WT 190 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 62 THOUGH THE

smaller man can thrive in today’s NHL, talent evaluators want to make sure McShane can survive in a physical contest. His season started off on a tough note when he was crushed by Team Canada teammate Jett Woo during tryouts for the Ivan Hlinka. That set McShane back a bit, but his upside is also pretty tantalizing. When he gets the puck, he’s very difficult to track down – he just needs to come in from the perimeter. “He’s cerebral,” said one scout. “You’ve got a whole lot of smaller players in the OHL this year, and you wonder if he could take it to the net more.” McShane had a very successful world under-18s for Canada, ending his year on a high note. That was important, since evaluators had questions. “He’s very inconsistent for me,” said another scout. “He waits for pucks to come to him. He has to compete more. But he has great vision and he can really pass the puck.” McShane came over to Oshawa from Erie, where he was the main piece in the trade that sent Tampa’s Anthony Cirelli to the Otters during the 2016-17 season.

47 JESSE YLONEN BORN Oct. 3, 1999, Scottsdale, Ariz. 2017-18 Espoo POS RW HT 6-1 WT 168 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 56 THE SON OF

former NHLer Juha Ylonen played in Finland’s second-best circuit this season, the Mestis. Up against men, he fared pretty well and was a top-five scorer on a team that did not make the playoffs. “An excellent skater; a smart player,” said one scout. “He keeps pucks alive and thinks the game well. I wish he’d take charge of the game more. He’s a bit shy in that sense, although he doesn’t have a lot of guys to play with there.” Next season, Ylonen will get an upgrade when he suits up for the Lahti Pelicans in the Liiga, Finland’s top league. As a late 1999 birthday, he was not eligible for the world under-18s this spring, but he had a coming-out party at the tournament last year when he notched nine points in seven games in Finland’s silver medal performance. With a decent frame to build on, Ylonen just needs to get into the fray more. “He’s highly skilled,” said another scout. “He’s a good skater and can shoot the puck. He plays on the outside, which is a little concerning for me. He goes there, but you’d like to see more involvement.”

48 JACK DRURY BORN Feb. 3, 2000, Winnetka, Ill. 2017-18 Waterloo POS C HT 5-11 WT 179 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 41 THE ELEMENTS

Drury brings to the table are very comforting. He’s a captain and has NHL pedigree thanks to his dad, Ted, and his uncle Chris. And based on Jack’s resume, hard work must run in the family. “He’s a real game player,” said one scout. “He competes and does all the little things right. He’s not an elite skater at all, but he’s a warrior. The puck follows him, and he’s got some touch.” The highlight of Drury’s season was a 23-game point streak that set a new USHL record and, while streaks can be fluky, it does speak to the offensive upside he has (he was Waterloo’s top scorer, too). Perhaps the most promising thing about Drury is that he can play up and down a lineup. He wouldn’t be wasted in the bottom six if it came to that. “He has an incredible work ethic,” said another scout. “He’s a two-way, all-situations, multi-task kinda guy. At the next level, he’ll be a dependable piece of the pie. He’s got character and a high motor.” Drury also won’t be taking it easy in college: he’s committed to Harvard next season. His dad was once the team captain there.

49 JAKUB SKAREK BORN Nov. 10, 1999, Jihlava, Czech Rep. 2017-18 Jihlava POS G HT 6-3 WT 196 CATCHES L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 5 G OVERSHADOWED BY

the heroics of older San Jose prospect goalie Josef Korenar at the WJC, Skarek nonetheless showed upside at the tournament. It was actually the second world juniors for the youngster, who has been on the radar since leading the Czechs to a shocking gold at the Ivan Hlinka tournament in 2016. “He has a solid butterfly that covers the ice well, and he has the size to cover a lot of net,” said one scout. “He’s calm, but there’s also no hesitation to his game.” On the pro side, Skarek has been playing against men for several years already, helping Dukla Jihlava earn promotion to the Czech Extraliga in 2017 and playing some games for the legendary Sparta Prague team on loan. This past season was a mixed bag that saw the youngster play in both the Extraliga and the second tier on another loan. “He’s been playing pro since he was 16,” said another scout. “He should be mentally strong from that.” Next year’s challenge? Skarek has signed on with the Lahti Pelicans in Finland’s top circuit, the Liiga. He’ll get one more kick at the world juniors, too.

50 ANNUNEN JUSTUS BORN March 11, 2000, Kempele, Fin. 2017-18 Karpat Jr. POS G HT 6-4 WT 207 CATCHES L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 4 G ANNUNEN PLAYED

every game for Finland at the world under-18s – and he won every one of them, too. His best outing came in the semifinal when he posted a shutout to outduel Sweden’s Olof Lindbom, but Annunen was also stellar for the gold-medal victory over Team USA. Annunen was solid at the Five Nations in Plymouth, Michigan, which helped a resume that was incomplete based on what some European evaluators had seen back with Karpat. “He’s been a tough read for me because of the games I saw, but I hear better things about him,” said one scout. “He’s a big guy, which is a requirement these days, and his stock went up after Plymouth.” In a year that isn’t flush with netminding depth, Annunen got hot at the right time while also showing well in Finland’s junior league playoffs. And that big frame isn’t the only thing he has going for him. “He’s very calm,” said another scout. “I don’t see too many holes in his game. He has good rebound control, he’s big, and he covers a lot of net.” Annunen made a one-game Liiga debut this season.

51 NILS LUNDKVIST BORN July 27, 2000, Pitea, Swe. 2017-18 Lulea POS D HT 5-11 WT 174 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 57 THERE WERE SOME

international events that scouts said Lundkvist actually outplayed Swedish teammate Adam Boqvist. He’s not going to post the same stats Boqvist will, but he can be counted on for consistent defensive play. Scouts believe Lundkvist plays a simpler game in Sweden’s top league than he would if he were playing in the junior league. They also believe there’s room for him to grow. “He’s undersized, but I don’t think he’ll be undersized when it’s all said and done,” one scout said. “He seldom makes a mistake with the puck. He can skate and pass the puck, but he’s more safe and efficient than he is dynamic. He’s surprisingly good defensively considering he’s physically immature right now.” With his play in earlier tournaments and the SHL, scouts were looking for Lundkvist to have a big impact on the world under-18s, but they came away disappointed. The entire body of work, however, suggests he will be a safe, dependable defenseman. “He was excellent,” said another scout. “You never had to worry about him in any part of the ice. Before he gets the puck he knows where to go.”

52 BLAKE McLAUGHLIN BORN Feb. 14, 2000, Grand Rapids, Minn. 2017-18 Chicago POS C HT 5-11 WT 161 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 55

McLaughlin considered splitting his draft year between the USHL Chicago Steel and his Minnesota high school team, the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks. But his torrid start with the Steel put that notion to bed, and McLaughlin spent the year putting up points for a potent Chicago offense that also featured Vegas pick Jack Dugan. “He’s been awesome,” said one scout. “He has legit skill, a high-end IQ. He plays a good puck game, especially on the power play. He’s creative and competitive. He has a slight body, but he hasn’t worked on it yet. His skating’s not great for a kid his size.” And the latter is why McLaughlin is earmarked for the 50s and not the 20s. He’s also more of a long-term prospect, committed to the University of Minnesota, where he can hit the weight room and develop under new coach Bob Motzko. “He’s more of a perimeter guy who can handle the puck,” said another scout. “He’s an extremely weak player right now. He’s got to get stronger.” But based on the potential he showed in the USHL, there’s something there with McLaughlin.

ORIGINALLY,

53 ALEXANDER KHOVANOV BORN April 12, 2000, Saratov, Rus. 2017-18 Moncton POS C HT 5-11 WT 179 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 83 THE BEST FRIEND

of prospect Andrei Svechnikov, Khovanov went second overall in the CHL import draft, one spot behind his buddy. The two of them went on a trip to the Dominican Republic over the summer and it was there Khovanov contracted hepatitis-A, which derailed him for half a season. The illness contributed to his inability to make a big impact with Moncton and has him entrenched as one of the wild cards of the draft. It also may have had a residual effect on his overall play. “If he works, he’s effective,” said a scout. “If he doesn’t bring his ‘A’ game work-wise, he’s quiet. He’s got enough to be a prospect, but people will be concerned about him working hard enough.” Khovanov has offensive instincts and sees the ice at a high level. His passing is an asset, but the knock is his quickness and speed. “He just doesn’t have it,” said another scout. “He can play with good players because he thinks the game well and sees the ice well. He doesn’t have that second gear or change of speed. The way the NHL is now, those guys are easier to contain.”

54 ALEXANDER ALEXEYEV BORN Nov. 15, 1999, St. Petersburg, Rus. 2017-18 Red Deer POS D HT 6-3 WT 190 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 24 IT WAS DIFFICULT

for scouts to get an accurate read on Alexeyev this season for reasons that are understandable. In January, he had to leave the Red Deer Rebels after the sudden death of his mother in Russia, which also forced him to miss the Top Prospects Game. Then he broke his finger in the playoffs, but he played through it and put up five points in Red Deer’s five-game first-round ouster. “I give the kid a lot of credit for coming back after his mother died,” said a scout. “He had a broken finger and still came back put up decent numbers in a short period. He has talent and size and is not afraid to go with the puck. He has to get stronger.” Once that happens, the team that takes him might have a gem – a 6-foot-3 rearguard who can defend, skate well and contribute offensively. But in order to do that, he’ll have to develop consistency. “The kid has a chance to be an absolute horse,” said another scout. “When he feels comfortable, he controls the play. Sometimes he takes the game over. Sometimes he just distributes it. He hasn’t adopted the mindset to make the most of his tools yet.”

55 STANISLAV DEMIN BORN April 4, 2000, Cypress, Calif. 2017-18 Wenatchee POS D HT 6-1 WT 187 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 97 A PRODUCT OF

the Anaheim Jr. Ducks program, Demin went to the British Columbia Jr. League as a 16-yearold last season and helped his team to a league title in 2017-18. The University of Denver commit did improve his offensive game, but scouts were looking for more from him in his draft year. “When a guy plays Jr. A, you want him to dominate, and I’m not sure he can do that,” said one scout. “He’s a good junior defenseman who makes a good first pass. He’s not that physical. There’s creativity there, so he has a chance.” Still, there’s enough there to have scouts intrigued and interested to see how he develops when he takes his game to one of the better college programs. “I think he’s one of those all-arounders,” said another scout. “I don’t think he excels in any area, but there’s no deficiencies in his game, either. “His defense is slightly above average. His skating and skill is slightly above average. His size is slightly above average. When you put it all together, a lot of slightly above average tools, they make a better player. I look at him as a potential fourth defenseman.”

56 ALBIN ERIKSSON BORN July 20, 2000, Bollnas, Swe. 2017-18 Skelleftea Jr. POS LW HT 6-4 WT 205 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 76 SCOUTS WERE

disappointed Eriksson was left off Sweden’s team for the world under-18s. He split time between the Skelleftea’s junior and elite league teams, playing better as the season went on, and showed enough that scouts thought he should have been there. At 6-foot-4, Eriksson has requisite NHL size and then some. Scouts are not concerned about him getting stronger, but he’ll also have to get quicker. He could be a draft sleeper. “He’s one of those guys you hope you can get later but could end up being a pretty good player,” said a scout. “If he goes earlier, you’re banking on him realizing that raw potential.” There is some upside if his skating develops. For a big man, Eriksson has a good touch around the net, and he also possesses a good shot. Whichever team takes him will want to leave him to develop in Sweden for a couple of seasons. “He’s not playing a complete game yet and isn’t using his skating as well as he will when he gets older,” said another scout. “Sometimes he plays down to the level of play rather than elevating it.”

57 ZAVGORODNY DMITRI BORN Aug. 11, 2000, Omsk, Rus. 2017-18 Rimouski POS C HT 5-9 WT 161 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 87 PERHAPS THE

most promising aspect of Zavgorodny’s future is he has a dynamite teammate to play with again next season in Alexis Lafreniere, the 2020 draft phenom. With both forwards at their disposal, the Oceanic have a great offense to build around. In Zavgorodny, they have a Russian import who wasted no time getting used to the North American game in the ‘Q,’ as his rookie campaign was splendid. “He’s really smart; scores goals around the net,” said one scout. “He works hard both ways and doesn’t cheat defensively.” Zavgorodny was a staple of the Russian national team as well, leading the Ivan Hlinka tournament in scoring with 10 points in five games (though Russia lost to Sweden in overtime for bronze). This summer, his focus needs to be on the physical side of things. He has the will but not the strength. “He has good puck patience, but he lacks pace,” said another scout. “He’s just an average skater because he doesn’t have the power. He’s not afraid to go to the hard areas, but he loses battles based on physics. He’s listed at 5-foot-9, but I think he’s 5-foot-8.”

58 KEVIN BAHL BORN June 27, 2000, New Westminster, B.C. 2017-18 Ottawa POS D HT 6-6 WT 231 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 65 IT’S NOT HARD

to fathom why scouts are intrigued by Bahl: you don’t find a lot of teenagers that come in at 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds – and he’s not even 18 yet. Some evaluators believe the 67’s rearguard will go higher than expected because of that, but Bahl also has the habit of playing big under the spotlight. “He flashed some offense at the CHL Top Prospects Game,” said one scout. “He’s a big body, and he moves around OK, but at the end of the day, I don’t think he has a lot of offense in his game (at the pro level). He has a physical edge. He has a shot to be a player. You can’t teach size.” Bahl, who has just two goals in two OHL season combined (including playoffs), somehow had two points at the Top Prospects Game and three points in five games at the world under-18s. Nonetheless, it’s obvious his ability to keep the puck out of his own team’s net will be his ticket to the next level, but more development in Ottawa is necessary. “He played in a lot of situations,” said another scout. “Size and reach are assets, mobility is a question mark.”

59 OLOF LINDBOM BORN July 23, 2000, Stockholm, Swe. 2017-18 Djurgarden Jr. POS G HT 6-2 WT 185 CATCHES L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 10 G A STAR AT

the world under-18s, Lindbom earned top goalie and tournament all-star honors as Sweden nabbed bronze over the Czech Republic. “He has always played well for me,” said one scout. “He’s calm in net and seems to rise to the occasion. He plays well in big games.” Perhaps that’s why Sweden gifted Lindbom with an opportunity to play with an older international squad in a pair of games against Slovakia in the spring before the under-18s. It certainly helps a young netminder to get as many looks as possible, especially since Lindbom had a pretty rough go of things locally this season. Playing for a decent Djurgarden under-20 team, Lindbom was just a middle-of-thepack goalie, albeit on the younger side for that circuit. His mission is to maximize his natural talents, particularly his frame. “He’s a pretty good talent, but I don’t see the high-end for his size,” said another scout. “He plays smaller, and that’s a bit of an issue for me. He had an up-and-down season.” Will scouts think about the lows come draft time or remember the highs, like the world under-18s?

60 JACK McBAIN BORN Jan. 6, 2000, Toronto, Ont. 2017-18 Tor. Jr. Canadiens POS C HT 6-3 WT 196 SHOOTS L INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 53 THERE IS SO,

so much promise in McBain, the youngster just needs to put it all together – and get a little faster. Playing in the Ontario Jr. A League, McBain was the main target for the opposition this season after having an excellent rookie campaign the year prior. He did fine but didn’t blow the doors off. “With the OJHL, the level of competition isn’t as good – he has a lot more time and space,” said one scout. “But he is an elite player. He’s long and really handles the puck well. He plays with a long stick, and every time I see him, he makes something happen.” Internationally, McBain was a big part of an undermanned Canada East team at the World Jr. A Challenge, and the pressure was tough for him. “I think he tried to do too much at the WJAC, and he was staying out too long on his shifts,” said another scout. “That Canada East team wasn’t very good. If he played for Canada West, it might have been a different tournament for him.” The son of former NHLer Andrew McBain, Jack is a Boston College commit, and Hockey East will be a great test next season.

61 JAY O’BRIEN

BORN Nov. 4, 1999, Hingham, Mass. 2017-18 Thayer Academy POS C HT 6-0 WT 174 SHOOTS R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 46

O’BRIEN FIRST

came into the limelight at the AllAmerican Prospects Game, where he was a tour de force amidst a ton of stars. That and some spot duty with Team USA had evaluators perking their ears up. “He plays a good two-way game with a good skill set,” said one scout. “He’s smart, reliable and a good skater. He does the little things well.” Playing for ex-NHL star turned coach Tony Amonte at Thayer, O’Brien was a top player in the New England prep school ranks. The competition there isn’t the same as it once was, but scouts also came out to see him at USA Hockey’s under-18 nationals, where he put up eight points in eight games for the Cape Cod Whalers, losing in the final. O’Brien could have played more USHL hockey with Youngstown once his high school season was done, but he wanted to be academically eligible to play for Providence College next year. What kind of impact can he make? “He’s a skilled forward, sees the ice well and competes,” said another scout. “Do I see him going right into Providence next year and scoring 40 points? That’s hard to do.”

62 ALEXIS GRAVEL

BORN March 21, 2000, Berlin, Germany 2017-18 Halifax POS G HT 6-3 WT 220 CATCHES R INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICES No. 7 G

COMING INTO THE

season expected to be the toprated goalie in the draft, Gravel had a bad game in the Ivan Hlinka Tournament, lost the net and was never able to get it back. Things seemed to go downhill from there. As he did early in the season, he lost the net in Halifax in the playoffs for one game, but he still posted decent stats – 2.20 GAA and .917 in his eight games. The question for scouts is whether this season was an anomaly or the start of a troubling trend. There also appeared to be weight issues with him. “He struggled, but goalies are funny that way,” said a scout. “They can struggle one year and be lightsout the next. Hopefully he can regain focus and concentration.” Although it didn’t seem he moved as well this season, scouts like what they see from a fundamentals standpoint. “He’s sound technically and plays the part of the butterfly goalie just like you want him to,” said another scout. “I didn’t think he moved very well this year. Nothing went right for him. He entered the season as the consensus No. 1, but he certainly isn’t now in my book.”

63 CURTIS DOUGLAS

C, 6-8, 201, WINDSOR (OHL) 66–22–24–46–65 Titan-sized pivot benefitted from trade. Competes hard and has touch

64 MATEJ PEKAR

C, 6-0, 165, MUSKEGON (USHL) 56–14–40–54–36 Best motor in USHL. Miami commit hunts pucks, gets points and works

65 KIRILL MARCHENKO

LW, 6-3, 168, MAMONTY YUGRY (RUS.) 31–8–8–16–33 Big, skilled kid looked great at world under-18s. Has KHL experience

66 CAM HILLIS

C, 5-11, 168, GUELPH (OHL) 60–20–39–59–48 Smaller jack-of-all-trades works hard and skates well. Low center of gravity

67 SEAN DURZI

D, 6-0, 196, OWEN SOUND (OHL) 40–15–34–49–12 Sweet puckmoving D-man passed over in 2017 draft. Not much jam

68 AXEL ANDERSSON

D, 6-0, 181, DJURGARDEN JR. (SWE.) 42–6–25–31–20 Modern-style blueliner with mobility and good hockey sense

69 RILEY SUTTER

RW, 6-2, 201, EVERETT (WHL) 68–25–28–53–70 Big, net-front presence has good hockey sense. Needs to get faster

70 ANDERSON MACDONALD

LW, 6-2, 205, MONCTON (QMJHL) 58–27–18–45–54 Power forward potential when he is energized. Sometimes plays sleepy

71 EGOR SOKOLOV

RW, 6-3, 223, CAPE BRETON (QMJHL) 64–21–21–42–39 Size, skill and a good shot, but skating and conditioning are issues

72 JORDAN HARRIS

D, 5-11, 185, KIMBALL UNION (USHS) 36–6–29–35–N/A New-school D-man can move the puck and has smarts. Jam an issue

73 OLIVIER RODRIGUE

G, 6-1, 159, DRUMMONDVILLE (QMJHL) 31-16-1, 2.50, .891 Strong technique; holds his posts and telescopes out well. Size a drawback

74 ERIC FLORCHUK

C, 6-1, 163, SASKATOON (WHL) 43–7–21–28–12 Boasts size and sneaky-fast skating. Trade from Victoria got him PP time

75 OSCAR BACK

C, 6-2, 198, FARJESTAD JR. (SWE.) 38–10–22–32–4 Two-way pivot with vision and teamfirst attitude. His skating needs work

76 LUKA BURZAN

C, 6-0, 185, BRANDON (WHL) 72–15–25–40–20 Has makings of a 200-foot power forward but needs a killer instinct

77 DAVID GUSTAFSSON C, 6-1, 194, HV71 (SWE.) 45–6–6–12–8

Sharp learning curve in SHL; power forward caught on in second half

78 JAN JENIK LW, 6-1, 165, BENATKY (CZE.2) 30–4–7–11–67

Speedy and crafty. He plays at a high pace and has nice hands near net

79 PHILIPP KURASHEV C, 6-0, 192, QUEBEC (QMJHL) 59–19–41–60–24

Smart, skilled and responsible, but he hasn’t shown much drive or pace

80 JACHYM KONDELIK C, 6-7, 218, MUSKEGON (USHL) 44–16–18–34–43

Huge kid with sweet hands needs to work on skating mechanics

81 LOGAN HUTSKO

C, 5-10, 172, BOSTON COLLEGE (HE) 37–12–19–31–16 Ex-NTDPer passed over after injuryshortened 2017. Skilled producer

82 JARED MOE G, 6-3, 205, WATERLOO (USHL) 23-6-0, 2.23, .919

USHL rookie passed over last year. His focus, athleticism tough to ignore

83 GABRIEL FORTIER LW, 5-10, 190, BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL) 66–26–33–59–59

Kid is a real battler. Fast, gets in on the forecheck and doesn’t back down

84 KEEGAN KARKI G, 6-4, 216, MUSKEGON (USHL) 24-16-0, 3.20, .890

Tons of upside thanks to his size and raw ability; matured in bounds

85 TYLER MADDEN C, 5-10, 152, TRI-CITY (USHL) 50–15–19–34–44

Quick stick and release make him an offensive threat. Skating not so quick

86 BLADE JENKINS C, 6-2, 194, SAGINAW (OHL) 68–20–24–44–20

Shaky start but finished strong. Physical, toolsy kid with a good shot

87 ALEC REGULA D, 6-2, 161, LONDON (OHL) 67–7–18–25–22

Moved up the lineup. Great range and movement. Not flashy but steady

88 JOEY KEANE D, 6-0, 185, BARRIE (OHL) 62–12–32–44–52

Passed over before; played a ton this year. Good skater and true athlete

89 JAKE WISE C, 5-10, 190, U.S. NTDP (USHL) 36–11–31–42–6

Reilly Smith-type pivot has high IQ, sturdy frame. Boston U. commit

90 XAVIER BOUCHARD D, 6-3, 190, BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL) 65–3–18–21–52

Smart puck-mover and manager with patience improved after soft start

91 COLE FONSTAD C, 5-11, 163, PRINCE ALBERT (WHL) 72–21–52–73–6

Smaller kid with high-end skill, but big, fast teams can suppress him

92 VLADISLAV KOTKOV RW, 6-4, 203, CHICOUTIMI (QMJHL) 61–21–28–49–20

Big kid with skill seemed to run out of gas down the stretch

93 NIKLAS NORDGREN RW, 5-9, 170, HIFK JR. (FIN.) 28–13–29–42–18

World under-18s hero is small and skilled but goes to the physical areas

94 JACOB SCHMIDT-SVEJSTRUP RW, 6-2, 201, FARGO (USHL) 40–26–17–43–57

Passed over late-bloomer is still getting stronger. A natural scorer

95 MILOS ROMAN C, 5-11, 187, VANCOUVER (WHL) 39–10–22–32–10

Skilled and entertaining pivot hurt his ankle after world juniors

96 LUKAS DOSTAL G, 6-1, 165, TREBIC (CZE.2) GP 20, 2.43, .921

Doesn’t have the size, but he is very quick and can steal a game

97 CURTIS HALL C, 6-2, 194, YOUNGSTOWN (USHL) 54–13–18–31–30

Responsible, big-bodied pivot will fit at Yale. Hit rough patch in January

98 KEVIN MANDOLESE G, 6-4, 181, CAPE BRETON (QMJHL) 15-13-0, 3.46, .884

Big, quick, athletic and raw stopper. Needs more structure to his game

99 JAKE PIVONKA C, 6-0, 196, U.S. NTDP (USHL) 59–8–12–20–45

Faded a bit after strong start. Swiss Army Knife works hard, skates well

100 RYAN O’REILLY RW, 6-2, 201, MADISON (USHL) 45–21–13–34–8

Denver commit is strong with a great shot, but skating/footwork need work