How's Svechnikov, Zadina, Tkachuk & Wahlstrom sound?
Wrote this on Wahlstrom a few weeks ago when I watched 3 USHL games. I know he's talented, that's obvious to see, but my overall feeling was a little complicated:
Oliver Walhstrom (RW), as I alluded to, is the most purely skilled NTDP player. Most obviously, he’s got a dangler’s hands and mentality. He's certainly not shy about breaking out the moves. But he can have a knack for forcing dekes and 1-on-1 plays that feel flashy for the sake of it. He doesn’t have tunnel vision and can make quality passes and cycle it; he can just force some plays now and again. His hands and 1-on-1 moves are part of his charm, and he can be dangerous with them, but there's some maturing to do on that front. A good skater, with a powerful stride. He’s got good size, he’s sturdy, and he has no issue battling down low or finishing checks…..when he wants to. His energy level could dip off puck into sleepy territory, and he could take a few too many circuitous routes or be guilty of staying too perimeter or disengaged. That's more my issue. He needs to round out areas of his game, even if he won’t be confused for a 2-way player. Is that effort, average-ish hockey sense, or both? Going back to the Hlinka, I think of Rasmus Kupari as a similar talent player, though I thought Kupari was a better skater, but a little more inconsistent even and not as strong on his skates or in the corners. I think comparing the two will be interesting. Do I think Wahlstrom is a top 10 level pick, as he’s touted? Don’t know. He’s someone my present feeling on is: I like him because I see the skill, but I’m not banging on the table for him either. But I'll keep watching him and all these guys.
Svech looks like the real deal from what I saw in tournaments last year. Haven't seen him in the OHL yet, but he broke his hand a while back. He was really getting hot before he broke it too, after a slow-ish start. No detailed report yet from me, but he probably doesn't need a big one either. He's the clear #2 and looks like the prototype of a dynamic power winger. He just does everything offensively, and looks close to as projectable an elite winger as it gets.
Tkachuk I saw a lot at the u18s, and he was one of my clear 3 top players, with Poehling and Mismash. Haven't seen him play for BU. I know the stats aren't what his brother's were at any level, but the talent difference Matthew got to play with at every level compared to Brady is stark. If he ends up 90% of what his brother is, it wouldn't blow my mind tbh. They really couldn't play any more alike if they tried. Maybe Brady skates a touch better, while Matthew is a little more skilled, but he's a good one. Like his bro, he's very smart and excels below the dot (especially passing), loves to get grimy, pisses people off, will surprise you with his hands, and and is just a whirling dervish of entertainment who skill players would love to have on their wing. He does make it an interesting case study in that he's definitely a wing-man type who hasn't played with any really top talent players. He's always been "good," but he could be hiding his true level some also. Lot of people have him around 5, though I wonder if he's not closer to 10 in talent. But I'm also really sure he's going to be a good one with a super high floor. I would like to see him score a little more at BU though. Looking at his stats, his shooting % is incredibly unlucky because he's taking a ton of shots.
I have not seen a second of Zadina. I need to though because he's looking like a sure-fire top 5 player.
I'll add that Farabee and Kotkaniemi are two of my favorite forwards and both have a chance to be top 10, or maybe just outside. Of course you then have some d-men sprinkled in, but you seem to want to know about the forwards. When I watch someone close enough to give an actual report, I'll do so.
