Hossa
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After the worst season in more than a decade, the 2018 draft was an important once for the HFNHL Canucks. Originally slated to pick 13th, a pre-draft trade to move up to ninth overall gave the club its first top ten selection since Evgeni Malkin in 2004. The organization also flipped prospects Will Lockwood, Jeff Taylor and Fredrik Olofsson for some additional late round picks as well. In sum, the club made 11 picks across seven rounds.
1st round, 9th overall: Evan Bouchard, D (London, OHL)
NHL: 10th overall, Edmonton
Often labelled the best passer in the draft, Bouchard is also 6'2", has a great shot and a better skater than he looks. A general on the blueline in the John Carlson/Brent Burns mold, the big question for me is defence, as the offence will be there. While the target was Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Noah Dobson, Bouchard was also the clear preference over Adam Boqvist or Barrett Hayton, the next two players on our list. And while not flip of the table ecstatic to see him at nine, after taking Robert Thomas and Alex Formenton out of London last year, going back to the Knights development system is comfortable. Moreover, while he slipped a bit in the NHL draft from his consensus ranking in the 6-7 range, Edmonton is an absolutely perfect fit and within two years he should be piling on the points with McDavid.
2nd round, 43rd overall: Filip Hallander, C/W (Timra, SHL)
NHL: 58th overall, Pittsburgh
More of a winger than a centre, Hallander is a young player who grew over the year, and has broad offensive tools, can play fast, and goes to the net. One of a handful of players to choose from at 43rd, but having taken Bouchard in the first round already, and Connor Timmins, Henri Jokiharju and Reilly Walsh last year, another right-shot puck-mover was less enticing. Hallander was targeted as a sleeper by the organization after a very good season in the Allsvenskan league, helping Timra qualify for the SHL next year. Missed the U18s due to an injury, which may have limited his pre-draft hype, but good to see Pittsburgh trade up for him in the second round, even if he slipped a bit.
2nd round, 57th overall: Aleksandar Georgiyev, G (New York Rangers, NHL)
NHL: N/A
A quadruple re-entry, Georgiyev is a fascinating pick for a number of reasons. One, he was born in 1996 in Bulgaria, grew up in Russia and developed as a goalie in Finland. Two, he was never drafted, despite success in SM-liiga and starting for the Russians at the World Juniors a couple years ago. And yet, he signed last summer after a strong showing at New York's development camp, and after a rocky start in the AHL, thrived in the second half and then after being promoted to the NHL. Likely to be Henrik Lundqvist's back-up next year, and a future starter down the line. Not the biggest goalie, but the league is moving away a bit from the humongous goalies of the last few years anyway.
3rd round, 75th overall: Jordan Harris, D (Kimball Union Academy, US-HS)
NHL: 71st overall, Montreal
After hitting on Reilly Walsh out of high school last year, Harris is a similar pick as an average sized mobile blueliner who is off to a very good college program, Northeastern. Harris had a good, not great season for Kimball Union, but possesses outstanding skating ability and a good first pass. More a puck mover than rusher, Harris has plenty of physical development left, but should be able to step into Northeastern's line-up and hopefully follow the development trajectory of Jeremy Davies.
4th round, 106th overall: Logan Hutsko, C (Boston College, NCAA)
NHL: 89th overall, Florida
Another great story. Once a highly rated kid, Hutsko went undrafted last year after missing almost the entire season due to a broken neck, which makes his immediate transition to Boston College even more impressive. Won the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award - Clayton Keller, Colin White and Jack Eichel were the last three to do so - and was probably BC's best player all year. Not big and not super fast, but Hutsko is quick with good edges, and more importantly has has outstanding hands, vision and creativity. Considerable upside for this spot in the draft, and like Hallander, encouraging to see Florida trade up for him.
4th round, 121st overall: Philipp Kurashev, C (Quebec, QMJHL)
NHL: 120th overall, Chicago
A hard player to figure out because in terms of talent, Kurashev should be a first rounder. A centre with vision, skating ability and a very good shot, he is also decent size and has room to fill out further. But after an outstanding rookie year in 2016-17 in Quebec, he did not really progress this past year, which as a late birthday was a problem. Questions linger about his consistency and compete level, but finding centres with real upside at this point in the draft is not easy. Plus he satisfies my Swiss quota for this year.
5th round, 137th overall: Luke Henman, C (Blainsville-Boisbriand, QMJHL)
NHL: 96th overall, Carolina
Although another playmaking centre from the Q, he and Kurashev have wildly different development paths. Raw and physically underdeveloped, Henman played last year in minor midget before joining Blainsville-Boisbriand and slowly adjusting throughout the year, eventually playing a major role in the club's playoff run. Vision and hands are his best assets, as he sees the ice well and can think the game at a high level. Skating is only average, but technically sound, and should improve as he fills out. Very raw but an intriguing long-term project, a bit like Warren Foegele who Carolina has done well with.
5th round, 152nd overall: Benton Maass, D (New Hampshire, NCAA)
NHL: 18nd overall, Washington (2017)
The first of two re-entry blueliners, Maass made an extremely smooth transition this year from high school hockey and the NAHL to Hockey East, having a major impact on UNH's blueline alongside the much more heralded Max Gildon. Raw and toolsy, Maass brings good size, mobility and a big shot. Perhaps he would have been available a bit later in the draft, but if you're drafting in the middle rounds out of the USHL/NAHL or prep ranks, your best case scenario for a freshman campaign is something like what Maass did this year.
6th round, 168th overall: Cole Hults, D (Penn State, NCAA)
NHL: 134th overall, Los Angeles (2017)
One of the last cuts at the US WJC camp in December, Hults' like Maass saw his stock rise this year after a very good freshman campaign at Penn State. A similar profile to Maass, except a left shot, more physical and a bit less raw, Hults is a 6'2" two-way blueliner who should progress well over the next couple years in college. Part of the logic of targeting Maass and Hults is based on the success of Adam Gaudette, who was a hit as a re-entry after his strong freshman year a couple years ago.
7th round, 198th overall: Einar Emanuelsson, RW (Lulea, SHL)
NHL: Undrafted
A late blooming Swede who put up 13 goals and 26 points this year for Lulea, behind only Elias Petersson and Carl Grundstrom in goals by U21 players, the hope was that Emanuelsson would follow players like Janmark, Arvidsson, Olund and Soderlund as late blooming Swedes that get drafted their second or third time around. Nonetheless, Emanuelsson is a quick, darting offensive forward who drives to the net and plays with pace. Size is an issue, and not quite as gritty as Arvidsson for example, which may be why he went undrafted, but still a candidate to get signed in a year or two.
7th round, 205th overall: Sammy Walker, C (Edina High, US-HS)
NHL: 200th overall, Tampa Bay (2017)
A third and final re-entry, Sammy Walker turned heads at Tampa's development camp last year, and then returned to to Edina where he won the Mr. Hockey award as the best high school player in Minnesota. Small and slight, Walker is an exceptional skater who can really handle the puck and make plays. He's off to the University of Minnesota next year, and will need some time to develop, but no team is better at taking small players and turning them into NHLers than Tampa Bay.
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A full update of the club's top 20 prospects list will be done later, but provisionally it looks something like the following now:
1) Thomas Chabot
2) Robert Thomas
3) Evan Bouchard
4) Jakub Vrana
5) Tristan Jarry
6) Adam Gaudette
7) Boris Katchouk
8) Henrik Jokiharju
9) Connor Timmins
10) John Quenneville/Jake Walman/Josh Norris/Zach Senyshyn
1st round, 9th overall: Evan Bouchard, D (London, OHL)
NHL: 10th overall, Edmonton
Often labelled the best passer in the draft, Bouchard is also 6'2", has a great shot and a better skater than he looks. A general on the blueline in the John Carlson/Brent Burns mold, the big question for me is defence, as the offence will be there. While the target was Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Noah Dobson, Bouchard was also the clear preference over Adam Boqvist or Barrett Hayton, the next two players on our list. And while not flip of the table ecstatic to see him at nine, after taking Robert Thomas and Alex Formenton out of London last year, going back to the Knights development system is comfortable. Moreover, while he slipped a bit in the NHL draft from his consensus ranking in the 6-7 range, Edmonton is an absolutely perfect fit and within two years he should be piling on the points with McDavid.
2nd round, 43rd overall: Filip Hallander, C/W (Timra, SHL)
NHL: 58th overall, Pittsburgh
More of a winger than a centre, Hallander is a young player who grew over the year, and has broad offensive tools, can play fast, and goes to the net. One of a handful of players to choose from at 43rd, but having taken Bouchard in the first round already, and Connor Timmins, Henri Jokiharju and Reilly Walsh last year, another right-shot puck-mover was less enticing. Hallander was targeted as a sleeper by the organization after a very good season in the Allsvenskan league, helping Timra qualify for the SHL next year. Missed the U18s due to an injury, which may have limited his pre-draft hype, but good to see Pittsburgh trade up for him in the second round, even if he slipped a bit.
2nd round, 57th overall: Aleksandar Georgiyev, G (New York Rangers, NHL)
NHL: N/A
A quadruple re-entry, Georgiyev is a fascinating pick for a number of reasons. One, he was born in 1996 in Bulgaria, grew up in Russia and developed as a goalie in Finland. Two, he was never drafted, despite success in SM-liiga and starting for the Russians at the World Juniors a couple years ago. And yet, he signed last summer after a strong showing at New York's development camp, and after a rocky start in the AHL, thrived in the second half and then after being promoted to the NHL. Likely to be Henrik Lundqvist's back-up next year, and a future starter down the line. Not the biggest goalie, but the league is moving away a bit from the humongous goalies of the last few years anyway.
3rd round, 75th overall: Jordan Harris, D (Kimball Union Academy, US-HS)
NHL: 71st overall, Montreal
After hitting on Reilly Walsh out of high school last year, Harris is a similar pick as an average sized mobile blueliner who is off to a very good college program, Northeastern. Harris had a good, not great season for Kimball Union, but possesses outstanding skating ability and a good first pass. More a puck mover than rusher, Harris has plenty of physical development left, but should be able to step into Northeastern's line-up and hopefully follow the development trajectory of Jeremy Davies.
4th round, 106th overall: Logan Hutsko, C (Boston College, NCAA)
NHL: 89th overall, Florida
Another great story. Once a highly rated kid, Hutsko went undrafted last year after missing almost the entire season due to a broken neck, which makes his immediate transition to Boston College even more impressive. Won the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award - Clayton Keller, Colin White and Jack Eichel were the last three to do so - and was probably BC's best player all year. Not big and not super fast, but Hutsko is quick with good edges, and more importantly has has outstanding hands, vision and creativity. Considerable upside for this spot in the draft, and like Hallander, encouraging to see Florida trade up for him.
4th round, 121st overall: Philipp Kurashev, C (Quebec, QMJHL)
NHL: 120th overall, Chicago
A hard player to figure out because in terms of talent, Kurashev should be a first rounder. A centre with vision, skating ability and a very good shot, he is also decent size and has room to fill out further. But after an outstanding rookie year in 2016-17 in Quebec, he did not really progress this past year, which as a late birthday was a problem. Questions linger about his consistency and compete level, but finding centres with real upside at this point in the draft is not easy. Plus he satisfies my Swiss quota for this year.
5th round, 137th overall: Luke Henman, C (Blainsville-Boisbriand, QMJHL)
NHL: 96th overall, Carolina
Although another playmaking centre from the Q, he and Kurashev have wildly different development paths. Raw and physically underdeveloped, Henman played last year in minor midget before joining Blainsville-Boisbriand and slowly adjusting throughout the year, eventually playing a major role in the club's playoff run. Vision and hands are his best assets, as he sees the ice well and can think the game at a high level. Skating is only average, but technically sound, and should improve as he fills out. Very raw but an intriguing long-term project, a bit like Warren Foegele who Carolina has done well with.
5th round, 152nd overall: Benton Maass, D (New Hampshire, NCAA)
NHL: 18nd overall, Washington (2017)
The first of two re-entry blueliners, Maass made an extremely smooth transition this year from high school hockey and the NAHL to Hockey East, having a major impact on UNH's blueline alongside the much more heralded Max Gildon. Raw and toolsy, Maass brings good size, mobility and a big shot. Perhaps he would have been available a bit later in the draft, but if you're drafting in the middle rounds out of the USHL/NAHL or prep ranks, your best case scenario for a freshman campaign is something like what Maass did this year.
6th round, 168th overall: Cole Hults, D (Penn State, NCAA)
NHL: 134th overall, Los Angeles (2017)
One of the last cuts at the US WJC camp in December, Hults' like Maass saw his stock rise this year after a very good freshman campaign at Penn State. A similar profile to Maass, except a left shot, more physical and a bit less raw, Hults is a 6'2" two-way blueliner who should progress well over the next couple years in college. Part of the logic of targeting Maass and Hults is based on the success of Adam Gaudette, who was a hit as a re-entry after his strong freshman year a couple years ago.
7th round, 198th overall: Einar Emanuelsson, RW (Lulea, SHL)
NHL: Undrafted
A late blooming Swede who put up 13 goals and 26 points this year for Lulea, behind only Elias Petersson and Carl Grundstrom in goals by U21 players, the hope was that Emanuelsson would follow players like Janmark, Arvidsson, Olund and Soderlund as late blooming Swedes that get drafted their second or third time around. Nonetheless, Emanuelsson is a quick, darting offensive forward who drives to the net and plays with pace. Size is an issue, and not quite as gritty as Arvidsson for example, which may be why he went undrafted, but still a candidate to get signed in a year or two.
7th round, 205th overall: Sammy Walker, C (Edina High, US-HS)
NHL: 200th overall, Tampa Bay (2017)
A third and final re-entry, Sammy Walker turned heads at Tampa's development camp last year, and then returned to to Edina where he won the Mr. Hockey award as the best high school player in Minnesota. Small and slight, Walker is an exceptional skater who can really handle the puck and make plays. He's off to the University of Minnesota next year, and will need some time to develop, but no team is better at taking small players and turning them into NHLers than Tampa Bay.
------
A full update of the club's top 20 prospects list will be done later, but provisionally it looks something like the following now:
1) Thomas Chabot
2) Robert Thomas
3) Evan Bouchard
4) Jakub Vrana
5) Tristan Jarry
6) Adam Gaudette
7) Boris Katchouk
8) Henrik Jokiharju
9) Connor Timmins
10) John Quenneville/Jake Walman/Josh Norris/Zach Senyshyn
