HFNHL Blue Jackets Prospect Update - Summer 2018

[Ohio Jones]

In the midst of a major rebuild, the Blue Jackets are working hard to build up depth and quality throughout their system.

But before we get to who’s in the system, we should acknowledge who has graduated out:

Grads:

C/W Anthony Beauvillier, NYI (5)
Played a regular role with the Isles, but struggled to produce significantly on an underachieving roster. Will look to earn a top-6 role in the coming season for both the Isles and the HFNHL Jackets.

C/W Adrian Kempe, LAK (2)
Stepped up in his first full NHL season, contributing 16 goals and 37 points with a +11 as one of the few young players on a veteran Kings roster. Should continue to earn opportunities to play in more situations as a physical scoring presence. He’s expected to earn third line minutes in his first HFNHL season.

G Charlie Lindgren, MTL (6)
Lindgren has proven to be a very satisfying FA signing, playing solidly for stretches as Carey Price’s primary caddy. Looks to have legit potential as a starter, but at a minimum is already a legit backup in both leagues.

C/LW Jujhar Khaira, EDM (8)
One of the last cuts from camp last year, it wasn’t long before he got called up again - and with his two-way play, big body and feisty physical presence, it looks like he’s in Edmonton to stay as a valuable role player. Currently slated to play third line minutes for Columbus opposite Kempe.

LD Rob O’Gara, NYR (16)
Big-bodied Yale grad proved to be a useful injury fill-in with Boston early before spending the rest of the season in Providence. Since traded to the Rangers, he plays a simple game as a throwback stay-at-home defender, but his surprising mobility gives him a shot at being a useful #6/7 defender. He’s currently looking at a starting role on the HFNHL Jackets’ third pairing.

So after losing those five guys, and adding a few names throug the draft, here’s what the Jackets’ farm system looks like now:

1. C/W Sam Steel, ANA (3) - Showed off his opportunistic scoring touch for Canada at the WJC with 4 goals and 9 points, then earned top forward honours at the Memorial Cup, showing off his playmaking abilities with 13 points in 5 games. In between he managed 83 points in 54 games in the Dub. Not a bad season! Will likely spend most of his first pro season in San Diego, but his speed, smarts and hands should at least merit an NHL trial as the Ducks look to rejuvenate an older roster.
2. C/W Nick Suzuki, VGK (1) - Had a good first pro camp with Vegas last fall before returning to lead Owen Sound with another strong offensive season, this time reaching the 100-point mark. Suzuki’s hands and vision are elite - he appears custom-made for the “new” NHL, but he was left off from Canada’s World Juniors roster, and may need a new situation to show how his game has developed. Might have an outside shot of joining the Cup Finalist Golden Knights’ rag-tag band of speed demons as Vegas faces the impossible task of living up to the hype of their history-making first season.
3. C Morgan Frost, PHI (7) - Dynamic and creative, Frost made tremendous progress this season by showing he could compete in traffic and play a more complete game. Came in second in OHL scoring with 112 points and a ludicrous +70 on a deep Greyhounds team, which is the only reason we have him still trailing Suzuki, who produced without quite the same bounty of riches teammate-wise. Frost could leapfrog Suzuki with another elite season if he continues to develop on this trajectory. Could be Claude Giroux’s heir-apparent-in-the-making for Philly.
4. LD Ty Smith, NJD (new) - Mobile and intelligent two-way blueliner had a superb season for Spokane, and should be a key component of Team Canada’s WJC roster next Christmas. WHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year produced more even-strength points per game than any other WHL defenceman in their draft season since 2002, ahead of names like Dumba, Reilly, Provorov, Pulock and Bouwmeester. (Credit Kershaw for the factoid!).
5. RD Dante Fabbro, NAS (4) - Fabbro’s sophomore season at BU showed great improvement as he took on the minutes of departed Bruins star Charlie McAvoy, but the expected highlight of the World Juniors was frustrating as he was injured and nearly missed the tournament, eventually playing hurt in limited minutes to win gold. His offence came on well at the college level over the course of the season, but it remains to be seen how much it will translate. Either way, he appears to be yet another terrific blueliner in Nashville’s pipeline, and is attending the Preds’ development camp this week before returning to the Terriers for his Junior year.
6. RD Jett Woo, VAN (new) - Highly mobile, heavy hitting, strong puck mover - lots to like. Among WHL blueliners (thanks again Matthew!): top under-18 in ES goals; top 2018 draft eligible in G/GP and in eG/60; ES GF% was second to Ty Smith; faced 5th hardest QoC. Should get top minutes in all situations this season, so hope to see uptick in production, even though his game is built on defence and physical play.
7. RW Kole Lind, VAN (11) - Competed at the WJC camp, by was not selected for the tournament. Instead he returned to Kelowna and hit the ice running like he had something to prove, and kept that edge throughout the season. In 58 games he was only held off the scoresheet seven times, scoring 39 goals and 95 points, and adding another 8 points in the Rockets’ 4-game playoff appearance. Should turn more heads at the Canucks’ development camp before heading to Utica for his first full pro season.
8. RW Kirill Marchenko, CBJ (new) - the first of our three Russian scoring winger enigmas. Big and fast, with vision, scorer’s hands and lots of room to get stronger, but looked bored in MHL action and his performance suffered. He stepped up for international competition, though, leading Russia with 3/3/6 in five games at the U18s, and 12 points overall in 14 international matches. He should benefit from more KHL exposure this season, but he must demonstrate the same power and drive at both ends of the ice. Boom or bust project, but the upside is enticing.
9. LD Cam Dineen, PHX (12) - oh, the difference a healthy season makes! Dineen was on fire through January with North Bay, putting up 11 goals and 36 points in 39 games before being traded to Sarnia, where his production was even more dominant with 9 goals and 28 points in 26 games to finish fourth in scoring among OHL dmen. He’ll join the AHL Roadrunners this season, and will need to show continued development defensively and physically to succeed in the pro game.
10. G Anthony Stolarz, PHI (10) - managed just four rough appearances between the E and A at the end of the season after knee surgery wiped out his year, again. Has to rebuild his game from the ground up. Does he still have NHL starter potential? Remains to be seen, but losing what amounts to two years of development may be difficult to overcome.
11. C Zach Sanford, STL (9) - missed most of the season with a dislocated shoulder suffered in camp, managing 20 AHL games late in the year as his conditioning and timing got back into form. Hopefully he’s fully healthy and will have a chance to try and earn a depth role in St Louis, but he’s more likely to start the year in San Antonio.
12. LW Jakub Lauko, BOS (new) - skated in a limited role with the Czech U20 team, but showed more of what he can with the U18 squad, putting up 3/3/6 in seven games. Two-way scorer has been playing with men in Czech for the past two years, so it’s unclear whether he would benefit as much from coming over to North America, but we’ll see what happens in tomorrow’s CHL’s import draft. (EDIT: Nope, he’ll continue to play out his contract in Czech.) Considering the Bruins’ success with Czech forwards (hello Krejci and Pastrnak!), we hope they’ve struck gold again with Lauko.
13. G Lukas Dostal, ANA (new) - another possible candidate for the import draft (DDIT: Nope, he too will remain in Czech this year), Dostal had a terrific season at various levels with both club and national teams. He will take time to bake as he’s a bit too lean, but all goalies are long term projects.
14. RW Nikolai Chebykin, TOR (18) - coming to his second development camp with the Leafs, but recently signed a two-year deal with UFA in the KHL. Big rangy winger remains an intriguing long-term project after winning the VHL championship this past season. Continues to develop his all-around game - and his English skills.
15. RD Nicholas Meloche, COL (14) - Looked decent in camp, sent down to San Antonio for his first pro season and then wasn’t given much opportunity with the Rampage before joining the ECHL Colorado Eagles, where he played a key role in their Kelly Cup Championship. The Eagles are joining the AHL this season, so he’ll look to continue that success against stiffer competition as he works on his defensive coverage and physical play.
16. LD Xavier Bernard, NJD (new) - Big man is highly mobile and a good passer. Point production should increase with more time on the PP. Should continue to get stronger and take his game to another level with the Voltigeurs this year after he joins Ty Smith at the Devils’ prospect camp next month.
17. Morgan Geekie, CAR (15) - Returned to the Tri-City Americans and helped lead them to the Western Conference Championship where they were edged it in six games by Everett. Put up 30 goals and 84 points in 68 games, and showed dependable strength on both sides of the puck as his 6-2 frame began to fill out. The WHL POTM for March signed a 3yr entry level deal with Carolina, and should take on his next challenge with the AHL Charlotte Checkers this season.
18. LW Nikolai Prokhorkin, LAK (HM) - our third long-term Russian scoring prospect, except Porky has already had a little North American exposure, and the clock is starting to run out on his chances of carving out an NHL career. Scored two goals in the Olympics for the OAR, and had a bounce back season in the KHL, but given that he’s married with two daughters, he seems unlikely to take another stab at the NHL.
19. RW Josh Leivo, TOR (13) - Basically a lost year. Trapped in perpetual limbo - considered too good to waive, but seemingly not quite good enough to earn regular playing time with the Maple Leafs, he remains under control for one more year, and can’t possibly be looking forward to another season of sitting in the press box. Will have to force the issue at camp - either by earning a spot with his play, or with a trade request.
20. C/LW Sean Malone, BUF (20) - strong-skating checker had a solid first full AHL season. While he stands an outside shot of earning a 4th line role with his hometown Sabres this coming season, he’s more likely to spend it with the Amerks further developing his all-round game. Projects as a steady bottom-6 forward.

Honourable Mentions

C Zach Solow, undrafted (NR) - Small but solid Northeastern pivot made it through two drafts without being selected by an NHL team, but has been invited to attend the Panthers’ prospect camp this week. Hopes to keep on Florida’s radar after scoring 26 points as an NCAA freshman.

RD Martin Bodak, undrafted (NR) - Played well for Kootenay, but real coming out party was his superb WJC for Slovakia, leading them to upset the US squad and close matches against Finland and Sweden. Another of our usual mobile two-way blueliners.

RD Seth Barton, DET (new) - Typical Jackets pick, mobile right-handed blueliner had a strong season for Trail, headed for U Mass Lowell.

LD Libor Sulak, DET (NR) - Had a simply insane season in Finland’s SM Liiga, posting 32 points in 42 games. As a defenceman. That’s crazy. Came over to Grand Rapids at the end of the season, but missed all but two games to injury. Major offensive ability, but needs to prove he knows there are two ends to the ice.

LW Eric Florchuk, WAS (new) - Traded to Saskatoon, he put up 21 points in 28 games toclose our the season. Game has no holes, but he’ll need to show he has the upside to pursue a pro career.

G Keith Petruzzelli, DET (18) - had a fairly miserable freshman year for Quinnipac, missing his shot to join the US team for the World Juniors. Long-term project will need a bounce-back year to stay on the radar.

LD Dillon Simpson, EDM (HM)
LD Ryan Collins, CBJ (17)
LD Kyle Burroughs, NYI (NR) - these three guys are all established AHLers who serve as depth defencemen for their clubs, but appear unlikely to ever be NHL regulars.

The rest:
C/W Nathan Dunkley, undrafted (new)
RD Will Warm, undrafted (NR)
LW Macauley Carson, undrafted (NR)

So... it’s coming along. Need to continue adding talent at the top end, but we look forward to being able to graduate a couple of guys each year.

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[Lord Stanley]

You've done a nice job so far during your rebuild.