Hossa
Registered User
A good time for an update with most seasons wrapping up, other GMs dropping theirs, and a few players potentially graduating this summer. Overall, not as strong at the top end as some years but happy with the depth, except in goal.
1. Phil Tomasino, Forward – Nashville (NHL), Milwaukee (AHL)
Selected 1st round, 18th overall, 2019 HFNHL Draft
If not for some questionable roster choices in Nashville, Tomasino should have graduated by now after a good rookie season last year. Instead, he spent most of this year back in the AHL until a recent call-up since which he has put up 16 points in 22 games and helped the Predators make an unlikely playoff push Tomasino is probably a winger not a centre, and more complimentary than a driver, but otherwise a safe bet to be a top six forward with his skating, skill and intelligence, and soon.
2. Dylan Holloway, Forward – Edmonton (NHL), Bakersfield (AHL)
Selected 1st round, 24th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
Another player impacted by questionable roster choices, Holloway played his way onto the Oilers with an electric pre-season, had a bad giveaway in the first regular season game and was banished for months to the fourth line. There remain a range of possible outcomes with Holloway, who is an elite skater who flashes skill and creativity, has improved his shot and always competes hard, but with production that can come and go for reasons unknown.
3. Lian Bichsel, Defence – Leksands IF (SHL)
Selected 1st round, 30th overall, 2022 HFNHL Draft
It has been a tale of two seasons for Bichsel, who struggled with the SHL pace early in the year, then blew away scouts with an impactful performance at the World Juniors, and carried that momentum into a strong second half, especially offensively. Bichsel’s size, physicality and skating will play in the NHL, and the World Juniors highlighted his improved sense and decision-making defensively. There is not a ton of offensive upside, but Bichsel does have the mobility and hands to activate off the point.
4. Jordan Harris, Defence – Montreal (NHL)
Selected 3rd round, 75th overall, 2018 HFNHL Draft
Harris is all but graduated at this point, given he has transitioned smoothly directly from NCAA to the NHL and has already signed a two-year extension. While the production in Montreal has not been eye-popping – 17 points in 63 points – the underlying numbers have been extremely good in somewhat shelter minutes. Harris has plus skating and hockey sense, allowing him to defend well, but without much creativity or playmaking ability. As such, he profiles more as a poor man’s Jared Spurgeon.
5. Carter Mazur, Forward – Denver (NCAA)
Selected 5th round, 131st overall, 2021 HFNHL Draft
An aggressive ranking for a player whose development trajectory has taken off sharply since being drafted, Mazur was a star at the summer World Juniors and early contender for the Hobey Baker before slowing in the second half as Denver sought to spread out the offnce. Mazur is an inside-driven player who plays an energetic agitating style, with significantly improved skating, hands, shot and overall finishing ability, to the point where he looks like a likely second line winger in the Tyler Bertuzzi mold.
6. Mason Lohrei, Defence – Ohio State (NCAA)
Selected 7th round, 210th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
As a player who grew late and switched to defence very late, Lohrei has gone from unknown in his original draft year to being viewed as an elite college player as a sophomore. When he signs his ELC, Lohrei will be a fascinating case study as a 6’4” defender with good but certainly not elite skating who plays in college like a jumbo-sized Cale Makar. Lohrei’s defensive zone play, especially on the penalty kill, has come a long way in a short time, which should help ease his transition and adjustments in style.
7. Shai Buium, Defence – Denver (NCAA)
Selected 1st round, 31st overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
A similar player to Lohrei in many ways, Buium was also a late convert whose game has evolved considerably in a few years. Buium’s transition to college as a true freshman was surprisingly smooth last year, without any sophomore slump. The size and hands have always stood out, and Buium’s vision and passing have started to as well, with improving play in his own zone. The question remains his feet and whether that will constrain his upside, especially as pace and pressure increases.
8. Jackson Lacombe, Defence – Minnesota (NCAA)
Selected 2nd round, 49th overall, 2019 HFNHL Draft
Yet another toolsy defenceman with an offensive lean to his game, Lacombe again – stop me if you have read this before – transitioned to defence late and has spent now four years in college developing his game. Unlike Lohrei and Buium, Lacombe is an elite skater with all the tools except hockey sense, with decision making that can baffle fans and scouts alike, especially juxtaposed against his elite level plays that display vision and creativity. Could be a top four player soon, or never earn an NHL coach’s trust.
9. Topi Niemela, Defence – Karpat (Liiga)
Selected 2nd round, 55th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
Cut from a completely different cloth as those above him here, Niemela would be a perfect partner for any of Bichsel, Lohrei, Buium or Lacombe. Niemela is a smooth, intelligent and creative defencemen who twice stood out at the World Juniors and set records last year in the Liiga, with this past season coming off underwhelming on the surface. While Niemela’s underlying numbers remain strong, the broader question remains what his NHL projection.
10. Caedan Bankier, Forward – Kamloops (WHL)
Selected 4th round, 127th overall, 2021 HFNHL Draft
One of the breakout stars of the group, Bankier went from an underwhelming D+1 season to playing his way onto a very strong Canadian WJC team this year, and has been one of the top players in the WHL from start to finish in Kamloops. Bankier has the size and hands to play in the NHL, and has shown the defence and face-off ability to stick as a centre, albeit one that would probably need quick wingers to support in transition.
11. Ryan Greene, Forward – Boston University (NCAA)
Selected 3rd round, 94th overall, 2022 HFNHL Draft
A bit more of a name prospect than Bankier coming into the year, Greene similarly played his way into competition for a spot on Canada’s WJC team after a surprisingly strong start as a freshman at Boston University. While Greene was the last cut in camp, he has had a great season start to finish creating offence through his skating and playmaking ability on a BU team now into the Frozen Four. Combined with a 6’1” frame he can fill out, he would easily go higher in a year-on redraft.
12. Elias Pettersson, Defence – Orebro (SHL)
Selected 4th round, 114th overall, 2022 HFNHL Draft
Called D-Petey to distinguish him from the Canucks forward he may someday play with, Pettersson has emerged this year as a player who looks like a future NHLer given his size, skating and defensive ability, with a surprising amount of offence playing a regular shift in the SHL. D-Petey played well in a support role at the WJC and has been a regular all year in Orebro. While there may not be a ton of upside in his projection, if the offence continues to improve he has a chance to be a Brian Dumoulin-type player.
13. Nikita Nesterenko, Forward – Boston College (NCAA), Anaheim (NHL)
Selected 6th round, 166th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
Another late bloomer physically, Nesterenko was drafted by Minnesota out of New Jersey prep school and took a year in the BCHL before landing in Boston College as a surprise Hockey East rookie of the year. Nesterenko is now 6’2”, a very good skater, with great hands and playmaking ability, and has looked not at all out of place so far in Anaheim. While he still needs to fill out and shoot more, Nesterenko suddenly looks like a good-chance future middle six forward.
14. Filip Hallander, Forward – Wilkes-Barre (AHL), Pittsburgh (NHL)
Selected 2nd round, 44th overall, 2018 HFNHL Draft
It has been a winding road for Hallander, who is only 22 years old and yet somehow seems like he has been around forever. After some major injuries over the years, Hallander has been around a point per game this year in the AHL and showed well in a short call-up to Pittsburgh. Hallander is probably more of a bottom six player, but he has shown enough offence across levels to be a useful player who competes hard on the cycle, kills penalties and complements more skilled players as a Jesper Fast type.
15. Cole Guttman, Forward – Rockford (AHL), Chicago (NHL)
Selected 7th round, 189th overall, 2019 HFNHL Draft
Opting not to sign in Tampa after captaining Denver to a national championship, Guttman hit the ground running in the AHL and was then called up to Chicago, where he immediately started producing before being shut down to injury. Guttman is atypical as a 5’9” centre with average skating, but he does everything else well, strong on face-offs, competitive, skilled, with a great shot and good hands. His adjustment to NHL pace, and willingness to continue playing on the inside, bodes well for next year.
16. Jacob Peterson, Forward – Texas (AHL), San Jose (NHL)
Selected 7th round, 233rd overall, 2021 HFNHL Draft
After scoring 12 goals as a rookie last year in Dallas, Peterson was sent down to the AHL and later dealt to San Jose where he was recently called up to the Sharks, looking again like the possible middle six winger he showed last year. Peterson is average in size and skating, but intelligent and skilled, with a shot that could make him a weapon in a depth role, although his window could close quickly.
17. Tim Berni, Defence – Columbus (NHL)
Selected 7th round, 204th overall, 2019 HFNHL Draft
Of all the players expected to emerge as an NHL regular this year, Berni was not on the list. And yet, he not only got a call-up with all the injuries in Columbus, but has carved out a nightly place in the line-up while others have shuttled up and down between the roster, the press box and the AHL. Berni is not a flashy or imposing player, but he is intelligent and mobile, plays within his limits and just turned 23, so a career as a bottom pairing defenceman is now suddenly quite likely.
18. Dylan Peterson, Forward – Boston University (NCAA)
Selected 4th round, 100th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
On the surface, Peterson’s season looks a bit underwhelming, as a junior with about half a point per game. But he did seem to turn a corner around the new year, with big performances at the Beanpot and in the Hockey East playoffs, and looks primed for a strong senior year, not unlike Jack McBain’s trajectory across town at BC. At the end of the day, Peterson remains 6’4”with elite skating ability, good hands and improving ability defensively. At worst, he profiles as a jumbo Sam Lafferty.
19. Artur Akhtyamov, Goalie – Neftyanik Almetievsk (VHL)
Selected 3rd round, 95th overall, 2021 HFNHL Draft
Akhtyamov’s season is hard to evaluate in prospect development terms. What does one do with a 21 year old putting up a .943 save percentage in 39 regular season games (and another 6 playoff games with a .952 in the VHL)? Other than the first half of 2021-22, Akhtyamov has consistently performed extremely well at all levels. He is also a 6’1” goalie who has yet to really prove it in the KHL. But, if you are picking lottery cards from the goalie pool, a Russian with elite athleticism is a good bet.
20. Jakub Malek, Goalie – Ilves (Liiga)
Selected 5th round, 150th overall, 2022 HFNHL Draft
While the aggregate numbers are underwhelming, Malek’s progression throughout the year has been encouraging, as he thrived in the second half in Liiga, including posting a couple shutouts after returning from a confidence-boosting tour in the Mestis. Malek is big, athletic and raw, but to have found a level of success at 20 in the Liiga is encouraging.
Honourable Mentions:
1. Phil Tomasino, Forward – Nashville (NHL), Milwaukee (AHL)
Selected 1st round, 18th overall, 2019 HFNHL Draft
If not for some questionable roster choices in Nashville, Tomasino should have graduated by now after a good rookie season last year. Instead, he spent most of this year back in the AHL until a recent call-up since which he has put up 16 points in 22 games and helped the Predators make an unlikely playoff push Tomasino is probably a winger not a centre, and more complimentary than a driver, but otherwise a safe bet to be a top six forward with his skating, skill and intelligence, and soon.
2. Dylan Holloway, Forward – Edmonton (NHL), Bakersfield (AHL)
Selected 1st round, 24th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
Another player impacted by questionable roster choices, Holloway played his way onto the Oilers with an electric pre-season, had a bad giveaway in the first regular season game and was banished for months to the fourth line. There remain a range of possible outcomes with Holloway, who is an elite skater who flashes skill and creativity, has improved his shot and always competes hard, but with production that can come and go for reasons unknown.
3. Lian Bichsel, Defence – Leksands IF (SHL)
Selected 1st round, 30th overall, 2022 HFNHL Draft
It has been a tale of two seasons for Bichsel, who struggled with the SHL pace early in the year, then blew away scouts with an impactful performance at the World Juniors, and carried that momentum into a strong second half, especially offensively. Bichsel’s size, physicality and skating will play in the NHL, and the World Juniors highlighted his improved sense and decision-making defensively. There is not a ton of offensive upside, but Bichsel does have the mobility and hands to activate off the point.
4. Jordan Harris, Defence – Montreal (NHL)
Selected 3rd round, 75th overall, 2018 HFNHL Draft
Harris is all but graduated at this point, given he has transitioned smoothly directly from NCAA to the NHL and has already signed a two-year extension. While the production in Montreal has not been eye-popping – 17 points in 63 points – the underlying numbers have been extremely good in somewhat shelter minutes. Harris has plus skating and hockey sense, allowing him to defend well, but without much creativity or playmaking ability. As such, he profiles more as a poor man’s Jared Spurgeon.
5. Carter Mazur, Forward – Denver (NCAA)
Selected 5th round, 131st overall, 2021 HFNHL Draft
An aggressive ranking for a player whose development trajectory has taken off sharply since being drafted, Mazur was a star at the summer World Juniors and early contender for the Hobey Baker before slowing in the second half as Denver sought to spread out the offnce. Mazur is an inside-driven player who plays an energetic agitating style, with significantly improved skating, hands, shot and overall finishing ability, to the point where he looks like a likely second line winger in the Tyler Bertuzzi mold.
6. Mason Lohrei, Defence – Ohio State (NCAA)
Selected 7th round, 210th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
As a player who grew late and switched to defence very late, Lohrei has gone from unknown in his original draft year to being viewed as an elite college player as a sophomore. When he signs his ELC, Lohrei will be a fascinating case study as a 6’4” defender with good but certainly not elite skating who plays in college like a jumbo-sized Cale Makar. Lohrei’s defensive zone play, especially on the penalty kill, has come a long way in a short time, which should help ease his transition and adjustments in style.
7. Shai Buium, Defence – Denver (NCAA)
Selected 1st round, 31st overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
A similar player to Lohrei in many ways, Buium was also a late convert whose game has evolved considerably in a few years. Buium’s transition to college as a true freshman was surprisingly smooth last year, without any sophomore slump. The size and hands have always stood out, and Buium’s vision and passing have started to as well, with improving play in his own zone. The question remains his feet and whether that will constrain his upside, especially as pace and pressure increases.
8. Jackson Lacombe, Defence – Minnesota (NCAA)
Selected 2nd round, 49th overall, 2019 HFNHL Draft
Yet another toolsy defenceman with an offensive lean to his game, Lacombe again – stop me if you have read this before – transitioned to defence late and has spent now four years in college developing his game. Unlike Lohrei and Buium, Lacombe is an elite skater with all the tools except hockey sense, with decision making that can baffle fans and scouts alike, especially juxtaposed against his elite level plays that display vision and creativity. Could be a top four player soon, or never earn an NHL coach’s trust.
9. Topi Niemela, Defence – Karpat (Liiga)
Selected 2nd round, 55th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
Cut from a completely different cloth as those above him here, Niemela would be a perfect partner for any of Bichsel, Lohrei, Buium or Lacombe. Niemela is a smooth, intelligent and creative defencemen who twice stood out at the World Juniors and set records last year in the Liiga, with this past season coming off underwhelming on the surface. While Niemela’s underlying numbers remain strong, the broader question remains what his NHL projection.
10. Caedan Bankier, Forward – Kamloops (WHL)
Selected 4th round, 127th overall, 2021 HFNHL Draft
One of the breakout stars of the group, Bankier went from an underwhelming D+1 season to playing his way onto a very strong Canadian WJC team this year, and has been one of the top players in the WHL from start to finish in Kamloops. Bankier has the size and hands to play in the NHL, and has shown the defence and face-off ability to stick as a centre, albeit one that would probably need quick wingers to support in transition.
11. Ryan Greene, Forward – Boston University (NCAA)
Selected 3rd round, 94th overall, 2022 HFNHL Draft
A bit more of a name prospect than Bankier coming into the year, Greene similarly played his way into competition for a spot on Canada’s WJC team after a surprisingly strong start as a freshman at Boston University. While Greene was the last cut in camp, he has had a great season start to finish creating offence through his skating and playmaking ability on a BU team now into the Frozen Four. Combined with a 6’1” frame he can fill out, he would easily go higher in a year-on redraft.
12. Elias Pettersson, Defence – Orebro (SHL)
Selected 4th round, 114th overall, 2022 HFNHL Draft
Called D-Petey to distinguish him from the Canucks forward he may someday play with, Pettersson has emerged this year as a player who looks like a future NHLer given his size, skating and defensive ability, with a surprising amount of offence playing a regular shift in the SHL. D-Petey played well in a support role at the WJC and has been a regular all year in Orebro. While there may not be a ton of upside in his projection, if the offence continues to improve he has a chance to be a Brian Dumoulin-type player.
13. Nikita Nesterenko, Forward – Boston College (NCAA), Anaheim (NHL)
Selected 6th round, 166th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
Another late bloomer physically, Nesterenko was drafted by Minnesota out of New Jersey prep school and took a year in the BCHL before landing in Boston College as a surprise Hockey East rookie of the year. Nesterenko is now 6’2”, a very good skater, with great hands and playmaking ability, and has looked not at all out of place so far in Anaheim. While he still needs to fill out and shoot more, Nesterenko suddenly looks like a good-chance future middle six forward.
14. Filip Hallander, Forward – Wilkes-Barre (AHL), Pittsburgh (NHL)
Selected 2nd round, 44th overall, 2018 HFNHL Draft
It has been a winding road for Hallander, who is only 22 years old and yet somehow seems like he has been around forever. After some major injuries over the years, Hallander has been around a point per game this year in the AHL and showed well in a short call-up to Pittsburgh. Hallander is probably more of a bottom six player, but he has shown enough offence across levels to be a useful player who competes hard on the cycle, kills penalties and complements more skilled players as a Jesper Fast type.
15. Cole Guttman, Forward – Rockford (AHL), Chicago (NHL)
Selected 7th round, 189th overall, 2019 HFNHL Draft
Opting not to sign in Tampa after captaining Denver to a national championship, Guttman hit the ground running in the AHL and was then called up to Chicago, where he immediately started producing before being shut down to injury. Guttman is atypical as a 5’9” centre with average skating, but he does everything else well, strong on face-offs, competitive, skilled, with a great shot and good hands. His adjustment to NHL pace, and willingness to continue playing on the inside, bodes well for next year.
16. Jacob Peterson, Forward – Texas (AHL), San Jose (NHL)
Selected 7th round, 233rd overall, 2021 HFNHL Draft
After scoring 12 goals as a rookie last year in Dallas, Peterson was sent down to the AHL and later dealt to San Jose where he was recently called up to the Sharks, looking again like the possible middle six winger he showed last year. Peterson is average in size and skating, but intelligent and skilled, with a shot that could make him a weapon in a depth role, although his window could close quickly.
17. Tim Berni, Defence – Columbus (NHL)
Selected 7th round, 204th overall, 2019 HFNHL Draft
Of all the players expected to emerge as an NHL regular this year, Berni was not on the list. And yet, he not only got a call-up with all the injuries in Columbus, but has carved out a nightly place in the line-up while others have shuttled up and down between the roster, the press box and the AHL. Berni is not a flashy or imposing player, but he is intelligent and mobile, plays within his limits and just turned 23, so a career as a bottom pairing defenceman is now suddenly quite likely.
18. Dylan Peterson, Forward – Boston University (NCAA)
Selected 4th round, 100th overall, 2020 HFNHL Draft
On the surface, Peterson’s season looks a bit underwhelming, as a junior with about half a point per game. But he did seem to turn a corner around the new year, with big performances at the Beanpot and in the Hockey East playoffs, and looks primed for a strong senior year, not unlike Jack McBain’s trajectory across town at BC. At the end of the day, Peterson remains 6’4”with elite skating ability, good hands and improving ability defensively. At worst, he profiles as a jumbo Sam Lafferty.
19. Artur Akhtyamov, Goalie – Neftyanik Almetievsk (VHL)
Selected 3rd round, 95th overall, 2021 HFNHL Draft
Akhtyamov’s season is hard to evaluate in prospect development terms. What does one do with a 21 year old putting up a .943 save percentage in 39 regular season games (and another 6 playoff games with a .952 in the VHL)? Other than the first half of 2021-22, Akhtyamov has consistently performed extremely well at all levels. He is also a 6’1” goalie who has yet to really prove it in the KHL. But, if you are picking lottery cards from the goalie pool, a Russian with elite athleticism is a good bet.
20. Jakub Malek, Goalie – Ilves (Liiga)
Selected 5th round, 150th overall, 2022 HFNHL Draft
While the aggregate numbers are underwhelming, Malek’s progression throughout the year has been encouraging, as he thrived in the second half in Liiga, including posting a couple shutouts after returning from a confidence-boosting tour in the Mestis. Malek is big, athletic and raw, but to have found a level of success at 20 in the Liiga is encouraging.
Honourable Mentions:
- Remi Poirier: The third of three goalies all in a similar range, Poirier dominated the ECHL before a couple good months in the AHL and a cursory call-up to the NHL as a rookie pro. Has a strong track record, but average size and athleticism.
- Sammy Walker: The probable AHL rookie of the year, Walker – like Guttman – opted not to sign in Tampa and has thrived in the AHL. Has not shown as much in his call-ups to Minnesota, but plays quick, brings energy and has scored a lot of goals (surprisingly) in Iowa.
- Gage Goncalves: Another late bloomer, Goncalves has been quite good in his two AHL seasons and could easily be slotted in as high as 13 on the list, but the long-term role is unclear given average size and skating.
- Riley Duran: If this were done mid-season, Duran would be higher after a surprise pop at the summer WJC and strong start at Providence, but injuries slowed him down in the second half. A hard worker who can play a heavy, detail oriented game at centre, Duran is a likely fourth liner.
- Trevor Kuntar: Like Goncalves, could probably slot in the teens if the projection was a bit clearer. Kuntar is another heavy centre with the ability to score goals but not necessarily drive play or distribute the puck. Could light up college next year if he returns as a senior.
- Jonathan Myrenberg: A tooled-up defenceman who fared quite well in his first full season in the Allsvenskan, Myrenberg is 6’3”, can skate and make plays. The defence is a work in progress, but he could rise if he transitions well to the SHL.
- Santeri Hatakka: After playing his way onto San Jose’s opening night roster last year, Hatakka has missed most of this year with injuries, with questions about his long-term future. If he can get back to his previous level, Hatakka profiles as a strong skating third pairing defenceman.
- Matt Stienburg: Another player whose stock has tumbled, Stienburg came back from a pandemic year off to emerge as a top college player in Cornell as a de facto sophomore, only to struggle this year with injury and effectiveness. Toolsy and tough to play against.
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