HFNHL: Prospects making it, 2017 Edition

[MatthewFlames]

For the Flamettes:

Still in Camp:

Jacob Larsson: Knee surgery over the summer meant a late start to camp and he's started slowly. Probably starting in the AHL.

Mathew Barzal: Doug Weight says he's starting in the bigs. Has had a good pre-season, especially on the power play.

Oliver Bjorkstrand: Seems to be overcoming his usual slow starts to the season and seems to be firing on all cylinders now.

Filip Hronek: He hasn't stood out, there has been a few negative comments about his performances this pre-season but he's still around in camp with a lot of other extra Dmen.

Laurent Broissoit: Strong camp, pretty much locking in the backup job.

Nick Lappin: Having a strong camp, should stick the entire season in the NHL this year.

William Carrier: Having a good camp and now performing well in the exhibition games. Likely starter in the bottom 6 for the Knights.

Gemel Smith: Last season made the team out of camp in a surprise before being sent down. Another strong camp, and this year showing a bit more of his offensive skills. Stars want to be faster and tougher, Smith is the prescription for that.

Taylor Leier: Every year feels like the year, but this year must be the year. He's sparkled in camp and pre-season games, done everything possible to stick, and is waiver eligible.

AJ Greer: Quieter camp for Greer, not sure he's doing enough to stick. The next couple pre-season games will be key. — turns out he has a concussion.

Ryan Lomberg: Just a super fun player to watch, great skater and pesky. Hard to see where the Flames have an opening for him, but he keeps impressing.

Edit: Greer update

Click to read more...

 

[Vagrant]

Henrik Haapala - One of the last cuts from Florida as they trim down to 26 in preparation for opening night. I would imagine he would be on the short list for one of the first available call ups if he can embrace the AHL and really dominate, which isn't out of the realm of reasonable considering his dominance in Liiga last season.

Alex DeBrincat - After a goal and an assist last night in a dress rehearsal situation, it's looking more and more likely that DeBrincat has made the Blackhawks opening night roster. In addition, he'll probably be on a scoring line to be determined. There have been instances where he has skated with Patrick Kane's line and Toews' line. There's not much better spots for one of your dynamic young scorers to land.

Jan Ruuta - This one was a bit of a surprise. I assumed that Ruuta would be in the mix for a starting position with Chicago, but when Cody Franson signed his PTO with the Hawks, my expectations were minimized. He has really stormed the NHL in the preseason by scoring in his first game and posting 7 shots in his second. Chicago is offering rave reviews about the 27-year-old blueliner and he projects to start the season with the Hawks. With Ville Pokka being controversially waived today, his status has been cemented.

Alex Iaffalo - Another surprise is Iaffalo sticking around in Kings camp for as long as he has. It's unlikely he makes the squad this season, but he has stated his case quite well. His fast skating and aggressive style have drawn praise from Kings brass and he looks like a strong candidate for a call up if he fails to make the team out of camp. Great first camp for the 23-year-old.

Charlie McAvoy - This one was a bit of a foregone conclusion, but the fact that he's slated to play first pairing type minutes this season was a bit of a surprise. With the uncertainty on the Bruins blueline, this is a perfect spot for McAvoy to break in and really claim his designation of core piece of the Bruins defense. Many Calder favorites list are showing McAvoy some love, though I highly doubt any of that comes to fruition considering the difficult road for defenders to get consideration as evidenced by Werenski last season.

Brandon Montour - Montour is another guy who was pretty much earmarked for a roster spot this season after a mid-season call up last year and a highly impressive playoff run, but to come into the season as an unquestioned member of the Top 4 will be an interesting situation for Montour who has beaten every level he has ever played. Montour offers offensive upside like few defense prospects in the game and it will be interesting to see if he can carve a role for the Ducks.

Blake Speers - It's not all great news for Capitals prospects. Blake Speers, after making the team out of camp last season, was sent to the AHL to resume his professional career. Hopes are still high for young Speers, but it would have been really nice to see him continue his upward trajectory to the NHL this season. Upside seems somewhat limited, but he projects to be a middle six forward with a bit of offensive touch and a lot of leadership qualities. I expect him to take a big step in his first full professional season.

Jack Roslovic - Another victim of numbers so far in his professional career, Roslovic looks prepared to start another AHL campaign with Kyle Connor potentially joining him. Both players have done enough to garner NHL looks, but the Top 6 in Winnipeg is pretty locked up. Roslovic will look to carry his momentum forward from a decent year in the AHL last season and try to force the Jets to accommodate him and his long time friend Connor.

Oskar Sundqvist - Sunny comes to St. Louis after a somewhat surprising trade with the Penguins for Ryan Reeves and he has reportedly impressed enough in camp to earn a roster spot to start the season with the Blues. It will be interesting to see how high he can climb on merit considering a lot of his AHL production last year was spent riding shotgun with Jake Guentzel before anyone really knew exactly what they had there. This should be a career defining year for Sundqvist.

 

[Dempsey]

For the Kings:

Travis Sanheim - May be forcing his way onto the Flyers' opening night roster and could see PP time this season.

Tage Thompson - Looking really good for the Blues and may just make their team when it was expected that he'd need at least a year in the AHL. Still could be sent down but his play has been encouraging for a 19-year-old.

Noah Juulsen - Was playing well until an injury took him out. Still with the Habs but will likely be sent to the AHL once healthy.

Tucker Poolman - He's possibly the only legit non-goalie prospect left from the 2011 draft since he's a late bloomer who just turned pro. By all accounts Poolman has excellent potential and is nearly ready, but may be sent down for the seasoning on the farm for the NHL Jets.

Connor Hobbs - The WHL's top defenseman last season, Hobbs is now 20 and is still up with the Caps. It's for the best if he's sent down for a year in the American league though and that's what's likely to happen.

Brett Kulak - Hasn't played that great by all accounts, but is still penciled in as a contender for the NHL Flames' #6 defenseman spot.

Janne Kuokkanen - Still with the NHL Hurricanes and may even start the season with the big club after a good preseason. He's still 19, however, and can be sent to Charlotte due to being drafted out of Europe prior to joining London last year.

Jonny Brodzinski - A spot is virtually his in LA. He competes hard and has some skills, and will likely be with the NHL Kings this season after a really good second year in the AHL last season.

Joseph Blandisi - Has played a decent amount of games for the Devils the past two years but hasn't stuck full-time yet. Still doesn't need to clear waivers to be sent down so he may not survive last cuts after he comes back from a minor injury next week.

Tim Heed - 25-year-old was dynamite in the AHL last year as a rookie who signed as a free agent out of Sweden with the NHL Sharks. Now it's looking like he could stay up as the #7 defenseman and then start playing once injuries occur.

Marcus Sorensen - Looks like he's making the Sharks as their fourth line LW with a shot to move up the lineup. Another European free agent from last summer, Sorensen had a strong AHL rookie season and then played 19 games with the Sharks and all their playoff games.

 

[Brock]

Florida Panthers

Paul Ladue - Broke in late last year with the Kings but now appears to have the chance to be a top four defender for them this year.

Oscar Fantenberg - Battling for the 6th/7th defender spot in LA after signing from Sweden. Has apparently been quite strong.

Denis Malgin - Up and down last year, but looks to have locked down a top 9 spot in Florida with an excellent preseason.

Mark Jankowski - Knew I'd have to be patient with him (I used a first on him too...like Calgary), and looks like I will finally be rewarded as Janko seems to have locked down a 3rd or 4th line spot with the Flames with a solid preseason.

Samuel Blais - Biggest surprise for my team this preseason. With all the injuries in St. Louis (including ******* Fabbri), he has forced his way into contention for serious playing time with an excellent preseason. Getting rave reviews.

Travis Dermott - Has been one of the Leafs best defenders this preseason (IMO) and should be on the 3rd pairing. But because he's waiver eligible, he might end up going back to down start. I'd be shocked if he wasn't a full time NHL'er by season's end regardless of what happens to start the year.

 

[Regal Beagles]

Veto

 

[Ohio Jones]

Slim pickings for the Jackets, who are a year or two away from having a real graduating class.

Anthony Beauvillier, NYI - No surprise, after he played all of his first pro season in the Island. Expected to produce in a third line role, Beauvillier may be the "veteran" on an all-kid line with Barzal and Ho Sang.

Adrian Kempe, LAK - Answer to the trivia question: "Who scored the first NHL goal in China?", Kempe is set to play third line C and second PP unit this season in LA. A converted winger, the Kings prize his speed and skill and edge, but he needs to be more consistent defensively as he learns the center position, and be more disciplined with his stick. Will be interesting to see how he adjusts.

Josh Leivo, TOR - On the bubble after showing well in limited games last years and at camp. A likely candidate to be traded, as he's considered unlikely to clear waivers, which may mean another year of watching from the press box on most nights.

Other camp news, all bad: four players expected to get time with their respective teams this year will instead miss significant time to injury:

Charlie Lindgren
Anthony Stolarz
Zach Sanford
Sean Malone