HFNHL Jackets Top 20 Prospects update
I always have a tough time with these lists, balancing potential versus likelihood of achieving it. I tend to favour upside, so newer prospects tend to get ranked more highly than guys who have established themselves at a lower ceiling, but where a guy's path to the pros seems clearer, that will move him up the list. And of course this represents a moment-in-time snapshot at best.
Graduated: Chris Tierney, 2012 4/108 (previously: ranked 4)
1. RC Nick Suzuki, 2017 1/13 (New)
Led Owen Sound to a 33-2-3 finish on the OHL season. Slightly undersized for an NHL center (he's not done growing), but his speed, skill and hockey sense more than make up for it. A complete leader who is a year or two away from Vegas - either playing on Cody Glass' wing or centering a scoring line of his own.
2. RW Nathan Beauvillier, Trade NSH 2016 (2)
Beauvillier was a key part of the return on a pair of trades with Nashville that saw the Jackets part with Devan Dubnyk and Mikko Koivu. He was arguably the second piece to Adrian Kempe (see below), but he beat the projections to carve out a role for himself as a 19-year-old with the NHL Islanders, scoring a respectable 24 points in 66 games (in his first pro season at any level). His speed, skill and versatility could give him a 20-year career as a top-6 in the NHL, but he'll need to add more strength to his slight frame.
3. LW Adrian Kempe, Trade NSH 2016 (1)
Power forward is two years into adapting his game to North America. He earned 25 games in the bigs last year with the Kings, and while he could benefit from another season in the minors (where he has been successful but not yet dominant), he has a very good chance of playing the bulk of the year with LA, where they're looking both for scoring and for cap relief. Big bull has a scorer's instincts and loves to hit.
4. RD Dante Fabbro, 2016 1/13 (4)
Fabbro's solid season would look much more impressive if he hadn't been a teammate of - and drafted before - US phenom Charlie McAvoy. The slick-skating two-way defender put up .5 points per game as a freshman with Boston University, and was steady in limited minutes at the World Juniors - joining Tyson Jost as a rare Junior B grad on the CHL-heavy Canadian squad. Will get the opportunity to take over the Terriers' blueline as a sophomore, and continue his steady development towards becoming a top-4 two-way defender.
5. G Anthony Stolarz, 2012 3/61 (5)
Huge netminder performed well in limited time in the NHL, putting up at .928 save percentage across seven games for the injury-ravaged Flyers. He was a bit more erratic for Lehigh Valley in the AHL, where his intensity continues to lead to inconsistency. Great package of size, athleticism and reactions projects well, but he still needs to learn to calm down in the crease, trust his size and positioning, and be able to shake off the occasional bad goal.
6. RW Kole Lind, 2017 2/43 (New)
Speed, skill and smarts made him very nearly a first-round selection. Kelowna's top scorer (by a wide margin) skates well, gets himself into good spots on the ice and has great finish. Most effective when he plays with an edge, he needs to add strength to his projectable frame to bring it more consistently.
7. C-LW Zach Sanford, Trade NYR 2015 (13)
Big pivot left Boston College after his sophomore season to turn pro, and managed to appear in 39 NHL games between Washington and St. Louis in his first pro season. His offensive upside, skating and puck possession abilities give him top-6 potential, but he needs the chance to play in that role to develop further - at the AHL level if necessary - and, like Lind, has to add strength to his lean frame to be able to impose his will more consistently - but where Lind is still growing, Sanford needs to put the work in to get stronger as a 22-year-old.
8. LC Morgan Frost, 2017 2/52 (New)
Versatile forward was a surprise first-round selection in the NHL. Plays a 200-foot game and does a lot of the little things right, but won't blow you away with top-end skills or speed. Can create on his own or provide complementary skills. Contributed in all situations, including both special teams. Like Lind and Sanford before him, he needs time to grow into his lean frame.
9. RD Nicolas Meloche, 2015 2/47 (9)
All-around talent has good size for the NHL, can make a clean first pass and boasts a big right-handed shot from the point. Moves well but needs to make better choices of when to close the gap, as well as when to initiate contact. Should bake for a couple of years in the minors, but Colorado's development system is a trainwreck, so it's anyone's guess what his path will look like.
10. RW Josh Leivo, Trade CGY 2015 (7)
Say what you want about Leivo, the guy can score. He lost more than half the season to injury (which raises some concerns), but putting up 10 points in 13 NHL games was enough to convince the Leafs to make him their seventh forward to protect in the Expansion Draft. He skates well, can pass and shoot, is responsible away from the puck, and should have every opportunity to play a regular bottom-6 role with a young Leafs team that is expected to build on its surprise playoff appearance.
11. LC Jujhar Khaira, 2012 4/120 (10)
Khaira brings the size and grit the Oilers covet, and can line up at center or wing, but it looks like his skill and skating will limit him to a bottom-6 role in the NHL. Split time between Edmonton and Bakersfield last year, and will have to step up his game to earn a full-time role next season. He was exposed in the expansion draft, but the Gokden Knights took higher-profile prospect Griffin Reinhart instead.
12. RC Morgan Geekie, 2017 3/74 (New)
Late bloomer plays like current Jackets captain Brandon Dubinsky. Hard worker with room to grow. Good skater and opportunistic shooter, smart two-way play and faceoff skill makes him especially useful in a possession game. Had a huge season for Tri-City.
13. G Charlie Lindgren, FA 2016 (NR)
Lindgren is a southpaw goalie with a good-sized frame, good focus and a willingness to work. Was a standout at St Cloud State before leaving after his junior year. Did yeoman's work for the Habs and IceCaps this season, and has at least the makings of a solid backup, with the potential for more with more experience.
14. C/W Andrej Nestrasil, 2009 3/84 (9)
Slow-cooked Nestrasil gets one last crack at our prospect list. He'd have graduated except his contract with the Canes wasn't picked up, so he's looking for a home. He's versatile, but at this point we know what he is: an honest soldier who lacks the speed and skill to be more than a bottom-6 forward.
15. LD Cam Dineen, Trade PHI 2016 (New)
Typical modern puck-mover is undersized, and lost development time this year after a brutal knee on knee injury. Can distribute or pull the trigger from the point. If he recovers fully and gets stronger he has the potential to be a top-4 defender who plays in all situations.
16. RD Ryan Collins, Trade PHI 2016 (New)
Lanky defender joins AHL Cleveland, going pro after his junior year at U Minn. enormous reach, but relies on size, positioning and gap control, plays a very disciplined game but should use his size more. Still needs to add strength to his long frame. Stay-at-homer is a long term project.
17. G Keith Petruzzelli, 2017 2/50 (New)
Big, athletic goalie has solid fundamentals and significant upside. Started to calm down in net. After a strong performance in the USHL and with the US Selects team, he joins Quinnipac this season. Long-term project.
18. LW Nikolai Chebykin, 2015 3/68 (15)
Taken a year and a few rounds later by the NHL Leafs, Chebykin was seldom seen during his draft year, but has found some success in the Moskva system. With good mobility for a big man and decent hands, he remains a log-term project.
19. C Sean Malone, 2013 4/112 (NR)
Utility pivot finished off a respectable NCAA career with a strong senior year for Harvard, displaying a decent two-way toolkit. Outside shot of developing into a bottom-6 forward with versatility, he'll get his first full pro season this year with Rochester. Lots of opportunity in Buffalo if he shows well.
20. LD Rob O'Gara, 2011 7/197 (14)
Stay-at-homer got his first taste of the show, dressing in three games for the injury-ravaged NHL Bruins. Big man has edge, reach and an active stick on the defensive end, but needs to adjust to the faster speed of the pro game. Tops out as a bottom-pairing physical presence.
HM: Nikolai Prokhorkin (5), Patrick Sieloff (11)
