This will be the final part of my draft series. I will do a ranking of my personal favorites per round with some explanations the next few days, but this is the final part with prospects. It will show some goalies that caught my eyes and a few dark horse picks for the later round out of the CHL, as it is almost impossible to find write ups about those guys. Thats also the reason you find much more interesting guys for the later rounds out of Europe or lower level leagues in my series. Those guys tend to get covert much better than the later round guys out of the CHL.
Goalies:
Hayden Hawkey: 2nd year eligible from the USHL. Was a USHL rookie this season, but was by far the best goalie in the league with a 1.99 GAA and a 0.926 sv%.Considering he is neither udersized (6'2) or anything it really surprises me that he is not ranked by CSS at all. He will head to Providence for next season.
Will not go before the 5th as well, could be really good value in the 7th.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=190163
Igo Shesterkin: I don't know what to think about this guy. He has far better numbers than Vasya had as 18-year old in the MHL and has already played 9 games in the KHL (yes he is 18!!!). I don't know anything about his techniques or anything and he is only 6'0, but damn those stats alone should get some hype going.
Not sure at all where he will go but if he i still available in the 5th round we gotta consider drafting him, just for those stats.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=195577
Elvis Merzlikins: Yet another 20 year old Latvian. He already plays in the top Swiss league (NLA) and has pretty good stats for Lugano already. He is a 6'3 athletic butterfly goalie (you know that Gudlevskis kid? Sounds similar
) with a good rebound control.
After the success with Gudlevskis so far, I sure wouldn't mind yet another Latvian as their style seems to suit the NA game. Not sure where he should go, but if he is there in 5th/ 6th round he must be considered.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=66584
Kevin Reich: A nobody till midseason. He is a German that started the year in the MHL for Salzburg and moved to the USHL early in January. His numbers are not super impressive, but he got much better once he was settled in and plays pretty strong playoffs right now.
Should not go earlier than the 5th round, but as a German I would obviously like if we go after him. Is by far the best German goalie prospect since Grubauer (WSH).
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=65855
There are obviously better goalies out there, but we don't need to go for one before the 5th round, if at all. However all the goalies above show lots of promise and seem to fly under the radar for various reasons. If I have to say who I would prefer, I guess it would be the two Euro goalies, especially the Latvian as he just screems so much Gudlevskis to me. And we all know we can never have enough almost Canada upsetting goalies in the system
Now to some potential late round steals:
Blake Clarke: Last summer he was considered as a potential top15 player, now he will be happy to hear his name at all. His game has fallen off a cliff and the cliff was high (19g, 51p last season, 2g, 12p this season). However he has shown the talent last season.
He had lots of injury problems this season and according to regular viewers he had big effort problems. In the first 7 or so games after his trade he scored 5 points, but after that he fell right back to a invisible nobody. If somebody can get his confidance and effort level back on track, that team hits a homerun.
He was a great power forward with a booming shot last season and has shown a hell lot of skill last season. What he did this year? Nobody knows, cause nobody noticed him on the ice. Is also a great skater.
Somebody should take a flyer on him just due to the performance of last season and I really hope it's us. Obviously not before the 5th round, but if nobody has taken a flyer by than or even the 6th round, we should take it. He is the most extreme boom-or-bust player in this draft and is obviously looking more like a bust than anything right now, but if he gets himself back on track, he is the steal of the draft and has first line upside. And I sure don't want to miss out on that upside.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=121997
Reid Duke: A 6'0 center that played for a really bad Lethbridge team. He is starting to develop a strong two-way game, but his main asset is still his skill up front. If it wasn't for his really bad team he would most likely have much better stats , but thats not the reality and the reality is he is the only Lethbridge player worth watching right now, which could lead to much less scout attention for him.
He has shown the ability to take over a game the way few draftees can, but that has only happen a couple of times this season. However if he can build upon that talent, he could develop into a highly skilled forward with some two-way ability.
For me thats enough to keep an eye on him going into the draft. Could be a very good option in the 5th round, if he is available even later, very few players should stand between him and becoming a Lightning pick (at least I hope so)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=62308
Yannik Rathgeb: Offensive minded defender, who moved from Switzerland to the OHL last summer. He had some problems adjusting to the NA game and rink, but is due for a brakout season. Has no problem to throw his weight around, but is not seaching for opportunities. Has decent skating abilities and a good mobility. Another interesting option in the later rounds.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=95055
Edgars Kulda: 20 year old Lativan, that has put his offensive stats to a whole new level as he scored 30 goals and 60p, compared to 6goals and 17 points the season before. At 6'0 he has decent height. Can battle hard for the puck, but is mostly a skilled player. Was forced to play 4th line duties last season two to a very deep Oil Kings team, which should have helped his defensive game a lot. He took every opportunity for more ice time by storm and never looked back.
Definitly a decent 6th/7th round option, which would offer great depth to Syracuse for next season. Might develop into something decent.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=52421
Alexei Sleptsov: Offensive defender, who nobody had on the draft boards prior to the season. He is pretty skinny (6'0 165 lbs) and had just 3 assists in 45 MHL games last season. However he still moved to NA and has made huge progress getting 4 goals and 25 points in 66 games in the WHL this season. He is a great skater and due to a high understanding of the game he reads his opponents very well and uses a limited, but effective defensive tool box to get the puck.
Once he puts on more weight, his game should flourish. I like his potential a lot, because he could become a whole different player once he adds muscle. As most of the guys today, he will go in the late rounds, but is one of the defenders with higher potential that late.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=211771