Kessel deserves some serious consideration at this point IMO.
He does. But so do a lot of others IMO. We have entered the mushy middle. Lots of guys here that could develop well and have NHL careers…or fall off and be career minor leaguers. I see a lot of guys in this range I value pretty similarly.
Tucker, Zherenko and Burns. I value the 3 of them about the same as Pekarcik.
But there’s others all about at the same level too.
Kessel was solid in the AHL last season. No standout attribute but he’s 6’3” and a righty. That has value.
Gaudet has shown promise in Jrs. Can he continue it at the pro level? TBD.
Loof has been pretty good in Liiga and has a nasty side. We’ll see how he translates that to the AHL this season.
Koromyslov is a bit underrated IMO as we don’t really get to see much of him but he played most of last season on the KHL’s best team as an 18-19 year old. Won’t put up a lot of points but his gaps and outlets are solid, he has size and he’s mean.
Dickinson was having a breakout season a then missed 1 1/2 years with a broken femur. He’ll have to make his return in pro hockey. Will be be able to regain his game and continue? The speed is certainly still there.
Robertsson hasn’t put up much points but he plays a mature game and seems to be transitioning himself from a scorer to a complimentary 3rd line winger type. That’s smart as that’s what he’ll need to be to make it.
Kaskimaki can absolutely fly and has shown flashes in Liiga. Maybe he could eventually carve out a bottom-6 career.
Peterson lacks skill and also lacks hockey sense. Normally that would eliminate a player from having an NHL career but he skates well, is big and good defensively. Having areas where he excels allows him to possibly carve out a niche role as a 4th line defensive type.
Vorobyov came out of nowhere and looked really good at prospect camp. He’s also put up good numbers in the VHL. He’s likely a long shot but he clearly has some talent.
Stancl is new. I don’t know a ton about him yet but he’s supposedly good defensively too.
Malmstrom was a good college d-man and Beck currently is one.
Many of these guys won’t make it but I see reasons why any of them could.
That leaves Fischer, Skinner, Laferriere, Cranley, Mayich, Susuyev, Abramov, Washkurak, Sim and Ellis. Some of these guys possibly have potential too.
There’s always surprises.