Hossa
Registered User
For the purpose of this list, Thomas Chabot and Jakub Vrana are graduated - despite not having played yet in the HFNHL - and Adam Erne, also yet to make his HFNHL debut, is assumed to be dealt, per a pending trade.
1) Robert Thomas, Center
A fantastic season for Thomas, who made the Blues out of camp and played consistently on the third line and occasionally on the powerplay through to the Stanley Cup finals, all before turning 20 years old. His 33 points in 70 games wasn't groundbreaking, but he improved as the season went along and outscored other 19 year old rookie centers like Filip Chytil and Casey Mittelstadt. It will be interesting to see whether there's a sophomore slump after a very long season and off-season surgery, but long-term he has first line center upside.
2) Evan Bouchard, Defence
Another London Knight, Bouchard's post-draft season was more of the same in the OHL, with a mixed bag at other levels. He was effective in a short seven game trial to start the year in Edmonton - he drove play but at times was lost defensively - and solid but underwhelming at the WJC. Perhaps most encouraging was his late season stint in the AHL, where Bouchard produced at a point per game pace. The offence will play at the NHL level, because Bouchard's skills and hockey sense are that good, but the question is whether his defensive game will progress enough for him to be a true top pairing player. If I didn't have some doubts, he would be first on this list.
3) Troy Terry, RW
Acquired roughly a year ago in a trade for David Krejci, Terry's season got off to a rough start, as he was totally overmatched in the NHL. But he quickly established himself in half a season in the AHL as an elite player at that level, and was very good in a late season recall in Anaheim. A broken leg ended the year early, and will affect his off-season training - which Terry needs, as he remains physically underdeveloped - but he is probably done with the AHL, and could again start the year on the first line in Anaheim.
4) Henri Jokiharju, D
After a third of the NHL season, Jokiharju looked like a darkhorse Calder candidate, playing top minutes for Joel Quenneville and with Duncan Keith. He was the top play driver on the Hawks blueline and looked capable in auditions on the powerplay. Then everything went sideways. Quenneville was fired, Colliton came in and scratched him. He was ultimately sent down to the AHL and then traded last week. Along the way he performed very well as a 19 year old in the AHL and won gold at both the WJC and World Championships, a remarkably rare feat that was overlooked in a strange year, all before he turned 20. Jokiharju is going to have a long NHL career, he has already proven he can play and his hockey sense is elite. The only questions are upside, production and whether he ends up partnered with Dahlin.
5) Adam Gaudette, C
Yet another player who broke camp with their NHL team but, like Terry and Jokiharju, couldn't stick all year. Gaudette actually played much more in the NHL than Terry, and was likewise very good in his time in the AHL, but never really found his groove in Vancouver. It doesn't help that the team has a glut of overpaid plugs, but there are legitimate questions about whether Gaudette's skating and playmaking ability are good enough to be a second line centre down the road. He holds this spot for now, but is a cut below the others.
6) Alexandar Georgiev, G
An aggressive ranking for a goalie who last year was a second round pick in the HFNHL as a quadruple overager, but Georgiev proved in the final third of last year's season that he has the potential to be a starting goalie and soon. He clearly outplayed Lundqvist and was the starter by season's end, however the arrival of Igor Shestyorkin raises questions about what the Rangers will do with Lundqvist and Georgiev. But 23 year olds who can steal games in the NHL are hot commodities so even if the Bulgarian-born Georgiev gets squeezed out, he should get a shot as a starter sooner rather than later.
7) Josh Norris, C
The first player on the list not to play in the NHL last year, Norris took a huge step forward in his sophomore year at Michigan, partnering with Quinn Hughes to produce elite numbers and flash high-end skill at the NCAA level. But then he sustained an injury early in the WJC, played through it for a few games but was shut down for the year thereafter. Now signed with Ottawa, Norris remains intriguing but enigmatic - an elite athlete who is reliable in all zones, and a true centre who takes all the big draws, Norris flashes high-end talent but never imposes himself on the game. Probably tops out as an Adam Henrique type, but could have more upside than believed in his draft year.
8) Conor Timmins, D
Had Timmins not missed the year with a concussion, he would probably be fifth on this list. That's how good his draft +1 season was. And the good news is he was a full participant at the Colorado Avalanche development camp last month, so he should be ready to go this coming year. A lost year of development time is never good, but Timmins is at least in the same situation as last summer, with a shot to crack the club out of camp, especially with Tyson Barrie gone.
9) Boris Katchouk, LW
Another Soo Greyhound who didn't have the ideal rookie pro season, but in Katchouk's case he simply got buried on a deep Syracuse roster and didn't earn better ice time throughout the year the way guys like Mathieu Joseph and Anthony Cirelli did the year before. In his final junior season, Katchouk was able to impose his will on OHL opponents, but in the AHL he struggled to adjust. The tools are still there, and hopefully he gets off to a better start this coming year.
10) Sami Niku, D
At this point, the slots are interchangeable. Niku was acquired with Terry in the Krejci deal after an outstanding AHL rookie campaign. Last year didn't go as smoothly, as Niku was too talented for the AHL but not able to find his footing in Winnipeg. Playing time was also an issue but shouldn't be this coming season with several departures on the Jets blueline. It's a critical season for Niku as an NHL prospect.
11) Alex Formenton, LW
Formenton was in an odd situation at the start of last year, able to play in the NHL due to his skating, but with plenty of room for development in the rest of his game. He ended up back in London and performed fine, but sustained an injury and missed the WJC, and didn't get into any AHL playoffs games either. While the skills have come a long way since being drafted, the projection on Formenton is still unclear. Is he Shean Donovan or Shawn McEachern? Both had long careers built around skating, neither spelt their names right, but only one was ever a particularly valuable player.
12) Andrew Peeke, D
It can be hard to predict which top college defencemen can graduate almost directly to the NHL - as guys like Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce have done - and which like Michael Paliotta and Dennis Gilbert really didn't. Peeke has attributes in common with all those players, with great size, outstanding mobility and a game that leans more towards his own zone. The Bluejackets seem very high on him which gives me hope he can be more like the former guys than the latter.
13) Phillip Tomasino, C
Plenty written already about Tomasino after the draft, but worth noting he featured well at the Predators development camp, flashing his combination of skating and stickhandling that underpin his intriguing upside. A successful draft+1 season for Tomasino would be improved production, a full season at centre, and pushing for a WJC spot.
14) Zach Senyshyn, RW
Senyshyn is the cautionary tale for Katchouk and Formenton above, a player who was drafted as a raw collection of tools and progressed very well in his final two junior seasons, only to plateau upon reaching the AHL. The concern in junior was he was a one-trick pony - an elite goal scorer who produced mostly by relying upon his skating. Now the Bruins are developing him as a penalty killer and role player. He holds this spot for now.
15) Filip Hallander, W/C
Hallander had a fantastic rookie year in the SHL, producing some of the better numbers for a U19 player in recent years and saving his best for the playoffs, when he produced five goals and eight points in seven games. Timra was still relegated though, so Hallander will play with Lulea and probably feature much more prominently on the Swedish team at the WJC. Hallander's production relative to age and competition has been very good for years, the question is how his game translates to the NHL. The most common comparison is Patric Hornqvist and there are similarities there.
16) Phillip Kurashev, C
On talent alone, Kurashev was a first round talent and has been for years, but his production in the QMJHL the last two years hasn't always matched his ability. This past season was generally a success in league play, but where Kurashev stood out was at the WJC, where he was an all-star, and at the World Championships, where he put up a few points in a regular role for Switzerland. Should start the year in Rockford but has an outside shot to play in Chicago this year.
17) Reilly Walsh, D
In some ways, Walsh had the opposite season from Kurashev. His production - just under a point per game as a 19 year old d-man - is remarkable for the NCAA. And yet he was passed over for the WJC team, despite nearly playing onto the club a year earlier. Some of that production was helped by playing with Adam Fox on the powerplay, but Walsh's offensive tools are legit. This year will be a test with Fox gone, not only in terms of running the offence but playing unsheltered defensive minutes.
18) Tristan Jarry, G
Hard to figure out where to slot in Jarry, who has showed flashes in the NHL and at times been dominant in the AHL, but seems to have been passed over by Casey DeSmith and at 24, no longer has that new car smell of a top goalie prospect. A trade is likely if he can't beat out DeSmith for the back-up job, which is probably for the best.
19) Marcus Hogberg, G
Hogberg has taken a different path to get at roughly the same place as Jarry, a 24 year old goalie with NHL potential and the ability to start in the AHL, who may end up a victim of the numbers game. He has a one way deal next year, so he should get first shot over other goalie prospects in Ottawa like Gustavsson and Daccord, but who knows.
20) Sammy Walker, C/W
Several players who could slot in here, but this will go to Walker who followed up a Mr. Hockey last year by winning Big-10 Rookie of the Year with Minnesota this past season. Yet another smaller gem in the Tampa system, Walker brings plus-skating and plenty of energy, and has shown the offensive skill to become an elite college player. Whether his 160lbs frame ever allows him to play in the NHL remains to be seen, but he's a fun prospect to have.
Honourable Mentions
Jordan Harris: Although he had a far less sexy freshman year, Harris stepped right in from high school to a top four role in Northeastern, thanks to elite skating and good hockey sense. The question is offence.
Jackson Lacombe: Another plus-skater who will try to jump from high school to the NCAA, Lacombe has more upside than Harris but is very much a work in progress in his own zone.
Will Borgen: A hard player to slot, after a solid but quiet rookie pro season, Borgen is similar to Peeke but with a bit less of everything.
Zack MacEwen: A late bloomer who took a major step forward in his second AHL campaign and even got a look in Vancouver, Mac probably gets squeezed out by the pluggers in camp but will get another shot eventually.
Joel L'Esperance: Came out of nowhere to have an outstanding AHL rookie year, scoring at a 40 goal pace and earning several promotions to Dallas. The numbers probably overstate the upside but could be a player.
Dominik Masin: Similar profile to Borgen, but has not progressed enough in three AHL seasons. Should get some call-ups but the upside is dissipating.
Cole Hults: The top defenceman on maybe the top offensive team in the NCAA, Hults quietly put up 28 points as a sophomore, and progressed defensively. If the skating was better, he would be way up the list.
Tobias Geisser: On one hand, Geisser is a 6'4" blueliner with plus-plus skating who stuck in the AHL as a 19 year old. On the other hand, he didn't play much or that well. Tools for days, but very much a project.
Daniil Yurtaikin: A recent UDFA signing, Yurtaikin is actually a very intriguing talent, with elite skating and the hands to make skilled plays at top speed. Needs time, but a darkhorse.
Dennis Yan: Holding on to a spot as an honourable mention, but Yan like Masin is struggling to rise to the top of a deep Tampa system. Needs to score goals this year, that's his thing.
1) Robert Thomas, Center
A fantastic season for Thomas, who made the Blues out of camp and played consistently on the third line and occasionally on the powerplay through to the Stanley Cup finals, all before turning 20 years old. His 33 points in 70 games wasn't groundbreaking, but he improved as the season went along and outscored other 19 year old rookie centers like Filip Chytil and Casey Mittelstadt. It will be interesting to see whether there's a sophomore slump after a very long season and off-season surgery, but long-term he has first line center upside.
2) Evan Bouchard, Defence
Another London Knight, Bouchard's post-draft season was more of the same in the OHL, with a mixed bag at other levels. He was effective in a short seven game trial to start the year in Edmonton - he drove play but at times was lost defensively - and solid but underwhelming at the WJC. Perhaps most encouraging was his late season stint in the AHL, where Bouchard produced at a point per game pace. The offence will play at the NHL level, because Bouchard's skills and hockey sense are that good, but the question is whether his defensive game will progress enough for him to be a true top pairing player. If I didn't have some doubts, he would be first on this list.
3) Troy Terry, RW
Acquired roughly a year ago in a trade for David Krejci, Terry's season got off to a rough start, as he was totally overmatched in the NHL. But he quickly established himself in half a season in the AHL as an elite player at that level, and was very good in a late season recall in Anaheim. A broken leg ended the year early, and will affect his off-season training - which Terry needs, as he remains physically underdeveloped - but he is probably done with the AHL, and could again start the year on the first line in Anaheim.
4) Henri Jokiharju, D
After a third of the NHL season, Jokiharju looked like a darkhorse Calder candidate, playing top minutes for Joel Quenneville and with Duncan Keith. He was the top play driver on the Hawks blueline and looked capable in auditions on the powerplay. Then everything went sideways. Quenneville was fired, Colliton came in and scratched him. He was ultimately sent down to the AHL and then traded last week. Along the way he performed very well as a 19 year old in the AHL and won gold at both the WJC and World Championships, a remarkably rare feat that was overlooked in a strange year, all before he turned 20. Jokiharju is going to have a long NHL career, he has already proven he can play and his hockey sense is elite. The only questions are upside, production and whether he ends up partnered with Dahlin.
5) Adam Gaudette, C
Yet another player who broke camp with their NHL team but, like Terry and Jokiharju, couldn't stick all year. Gaudette actually played much more in the NHL than Terry, and was likewise very good in his time in the AHL, but never really found his groove in Vancouver. It doesn't help that the team has a glut of overpaid plugs, but there are legitimate questions about whether Gaudette's skating and playmaking ability are good enough to be a second line centre down the road. He holds this spot for now, but is a cut below the others.
6) Alexandar Georgiev, G
An aggressive ranking for a goalie who last year was a second round pick in the HFNHL as a quadruple overager, but Georgiev proved in the final third of last year's season that he has the potential to be a starting goalie and soon. He clearly outplayed Lundqvist and was the starter by season's end, however the arrival of Igor Shestyorkin raises questions about what the Rangers will do with Lundqvist and Georgiev. But 23 year olds who can steal games in the NHL are hot commodities so even if the Bulgarian-born Georgiev gets squeezed out, he should get a shot as a starter sooner rather than later.
7) Josh Norris, C
The first player on the list not to play in the NHL last year, Norris took a huge step forward in his sophomore year at Michigan, partnering with Quinn Hughes to produce elite numbers and flash high-end skill at the NCAA level. But then he sustained an injury early in the WJC, played through it for a few games but was shut down for the year thereafter. Now signed with Ottawa, Norris remains intriguing but enigmatic - an elite athlete who is reliable in all zones, and a true centre who takes all the big draws, Norris flashes high-end talent but never imposes himself on the game. Probably tops out as an Adam Henrique type, but could have more upside than believed in his draft year.
8) Conor Timmins, D
Had Timmins not missed the year with a concussion, he would probably be fifth on this list. That's how good his draft +1 season was. And the good news is he was a full participant at the Colorado Avalanche development camp last month, so he should be ready to go this coming year. A lost year of development time is never good, but Timmins is at least in the same situation as last summer, with a shot to crack the club out of camp, especially with Tyson Barrie gone.
9) Boris Katchouk, LW
Another Soo Greyhound who didn't have the ideal rookie pro season, but in Katchouk's case he simply got buried on a deep Syracuse roster and didn't earn better ice time throughout the year the way guys like Mathieu Joseph and Anthony Cirelli did the year before. In his final junior season, Katchouk was able to impose his will on OHL opponents, but in the AHL he struggled to adjust. The tools are still there, and hopefully he gets off to a better start this coming year.
10) Sami Niku, D
At this point, the slots are interchangeable. Niku was acquired with Terry in the Krejci deal after an outstanding AHL rookie campaign. Last year didn't go as smoothly, as Niku was too talented for the AHL but not able to find his footing in Winnipeg. Playing time was also an issue but shouldn't be this coming season with several departures on the Jets blueline. It's a critical season for Niku as an NHL prospect.
11) Alex Formenton, LW
Formenton was in an odd situation at the start of last year, able to play in the NHL due to his skating, but with plenty of room for development in the rest of his game. He ended up back in London and performed fine, but sustained an injury and missed the WJC, and didn't get into any AHL playoffs games either. While the skills have come a long way since being drafted, the projection on Formenton is still unclear. Is he Shean Donovan or Shawn McEachern? Both had long careers built around skating, neither spelt their names right, but only one was ever a particularly valuable player.
12) Andrew Peeke, D
It can be hard to predict which top college defencemen can graduate almost directly to the NHL - as guys like Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce have done - and which like Michael Paliotta and Dennis Gilbert really didn't. Peeke has attributes in common with all those players, with great size, outstanding mobility and a game that leans more towards his own zone. The Bluejackets seem very high on him which gives me hope he can be more like the former guys than the latter.
13) Phillip Tomasino, C
Plenty written already about Tomasino after the draft, but worth noting he featured well at the Predators development camp, flashing his combination of skating and stickhandling that underpin his intriguing upside. A successful draft+1 season for Tomasino would be improved production, a full season at centre, and pushing for a WJC spot.
14) Zach Senyshyn, RW
Senyshyn is the cautionary tale for Katchouk and Formenton above, a player who was drafted as a raw collection of tools and progressed very well in his final two junior seasons, only to plateau upon reaching the AHL. The concern in junior was he was a one-trick pony - an elite goal scorer who produced mostly by relying upon his skating. Now the Bruins are developing him as a penalty killer and role player. He holds this spot for now.
15) Filip Hallander, W/C
Hallander had a fantastic rookie year in the SHL, producing some of the better numbers for a U19 player in recent years and saving his best for the playoffs, when he produced five goals and eight points in seven games. Timra was still relegated though, so Hallander will play with Lulea and probably feature much more prominently on the Swedish team at the WJC. Hallander's production relative to age and competition has been very good for years, the question is how his game translates to the NHL. The most common comparison is Patric Hornqvist and there are similarities there.
16) Phillip Kurashev, C
On talent alone, Kurashev was a first round talent and has been for years, but his production in the QMJHL the last two years hasn't always matched his ability. This past season was generally a success in league play, but where Kurashev stood out was at the WJC, where he was an all-star, and at the World Championships, where he put up a few points in a regular role for Switzerland. Should start the year in Rockford but has an outside shot to play in Chicago this year.
17) Reilly Walsh, D
In some ways, Walsh had the opposite season from Kurashev. His production - just under a point per game as a 19 year old d-man - is remarkable for the NCAA. And yet he was passed over for the WJC team, despite nearly playing onto the club a year earlier. Some of that production was helped by playing with Adam Fox on the powerplay, but Walsh's offensive tools are legit. This year will be a test with Fox gone, not only in terms of running the offence but playing unsheltered defensive minutes.
18) Tristan Jarry, G
Hard to figure out where to slot in Jarry, who has showed flashes in the NHL and at times been dominant in the AHL, but seems to have been passed over by Casey DeSmith and at 24, no longer has that new car smell of a top goalie prospect. A trade is likely if he can't beat out DeSmith for the back-up job, which is probably for the best.
19) Marcus Hogberg, G
Hogberg has taken a different path to get at roughly the same place as Jarry, a 24 year old goalie with NHL potential and the ability to start in the AHL, who may end up a victim of the numbers game. He has a one way deal next year, so he should get first shot over other goalie prospects in Ottawa like Gustavsson and Daccord, but who knows.
20) Sammy Walker, C/W
Several players who could slot in here, but this will go to Walker who followed up a Mr. Hockey last year by winning Big-10 Rookie of the Year with Minnesota this past season. Yet another smaller gem in the Tampa system, Walker brings plus-skating and plenty of energy, and has shown the offensive skill to become an elite college player. Whether his 160lbs frame ever allows him to play in the NHL remains to be seen, but he's a fun prospect to have.
Honourable Mentions
Jordan Harris: Although he had a far less sexy freshman year, Harris stepped right in from high school to a top four role in Northeastern, thanks to elite skating and good hockey sense. The question is offence.
Jackson Lacombe: Another plus-skater who will try to jump from high school to the NCAA, Lacombe has more upside than Harris but is very much a work in progress in his own zone.
Will Borgen: A hard player to slot, after a solid but quiet rookie pro season, Borgen is similar to Peeke but with a bit less of everything.
Zack MacEwen: A late bloomer who took a major step forward in his second AHL campaign and even got a look in Vancouver, Mac probably gets squeezed out by the pluggers in camp but will get another shot eventually.
Joel L'Esperance: Came out of nowhere to have an outstanding AHL rookie year, scoring at a 40 goal pace and earning several promotions to Dallas. The numbers probably overstate the upside but could be a player.
Dominik Masin: Similar profile to Borgen, but has not progressed enough in three AHL seasons. Should get some call-ups but the upside is dissipating.
Cole Hults: The top defenceman on maybe the top offensive team in the NCAA, Hults quietly put up 28 points as a sophomore, and progressed defensively. If the skating was better, he would be way up the list.
Tobias Geisser: On one hand, Geisser is a 6'4" blueliner with plus-plus skating who stuck in the AHL as a 19 year old. On the other hand, he didn't play much or that well. Tools for days, but very much a project.
Daniil Yurtaikin: A recent UDFA signing, Yurtaikin is actually a very intriguing talent, with elite skating and the hands to make skilled plays at top speed. Needs time, but a darkhorse.
Dennis Yan: Holding on to a spot as an honourable mention, but Yan like Masin is struggling to rise to the top of a deep Tampa system. Needs to score goals this year, that's his thing.
