It’s that time of year again. The World Juniors are upon us! As Oilers fans, we’re very lucky to have three defenders playing at the tournament this year. Evan Bouchard and Dmitri Samorukov will be very important pieces to Team Canada and Team Russia respectively. Phil Kemp also managed to make Team USA but he’ll play a minimal role on that club. It should be very exciting nevertheless.
It's a tough call this year. Some real game breakers are playing.
🥇Gold – Canada
🥈Silver – Finland
🥉Bronze – USA
🚨 Top Scorer – Jack HughesLuukkonen for Top Goalie.
Bouchard for top defender.
MVP = Cody Glass https://t.co/EtJvSTHVYe
— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) December 21, 2018
As for the draft eligibles themselves, this is usually an 18/19-year-old tournament, so not too many players who will get selected in June’s draft play but this year is looking to have more than in past years.
According to MyNHLDraft.com, Edmonton is sitting with the 16th overall selection and if they were to pick today using Max’s (@TPEHockey) list below, they’d be taking dynamic Russian forward Vasili Podkolzin. I wouldn’t mind that too much but I wouldn’t hold my breath thinking Podkolzin will be around when the Oilers are selecting either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPsrshIGsFI
1) Jack Hughes C (USNTDP, USHL) – 179cm, 73kg
To the surprise of nobody, Jack Hughes remains at the top of the list. Hughes is about to take on the biggest test of the season as he heads off to the World Juniors. Expectations are high for Hughes so all eyes will be on him. It’s time for Jack Hughes to crush any doubts that he is the best player in this draft class.
2) Kaapo Kakko RW (TPS Turku, Liiga) – 186cm, 82kg
Kakko’s dominance of the Finnish men’s league will be on hold as he was named to the Finnish World Junior team. Kakko will take a top 6 or possibly a first line role for the squad. Even as a 17-year-old Kakko is still expected to be a pivotal player for the squad. We all remember when Jesse Puljujärvi and Patrik Laine took the tournament by storm in 2016 and while that sheer dominance may be out of reach for Kakko, we can expect him to be another great draft eligible in the tournament.
3) Kirby Dach C (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) – 192cm, 84kg
With all the tools to become the next big thing in the NHL, Kirby Dach is truly a special player. He’s a big, powerful center out of St. Albert, Alberta that plays a dynamic style. Dach had world-class playmaking skills and vision that is already NHL level. He also has a very underrated and underused shot. Even as a pass-first player I think he has high goal scoring potential if he would shoot more. This not to mention responsible defensive play. Dach has some of the best stick checking and takeaway ability I’ve ever seen from a forward. Kirby Dach looks like a future number one center in the NHL.
4) Dylan Cozens C (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL) – 191cm, 80kg
With his size and power, similar to Dach, Dylan Cozens is another projected number one NHL center. Cozens is a high speed, versatile player that is uncontainable at the junior level. He’s likely the most NHL ready player outside of the top two. His speedy power forward play style is one that will be highly touted by teams in the new NHL.
5) Trevor Zegras C (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 72kg
This month’s big-time riser is Trevor Zegras. For too long Zegras was relegated to the third center on the stacked NTDP squad, but with Alex Turcotte injured he shown himself to be an elite center like Hughes or Turcotte. For the NTDP Zegras has actually been a primary offensive driver at the level of Hughes. Statistically, Zegras matches up very closely with Hughes. I’d also say that Zegras plays a very similar style to him. Think of Zegras as a Jack Hughes-lite.
6) Alex Turcotte C (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 88kg
It’s been a rough season for Turcotte. He’s finally back from injury, but missing so much time hasn’t been good for his draft stock. As Turcotte returns he is getting a 1st line center role as Hughes is off at the World Juniors. Turcotte is an elite skating two-way center with dangerous offensive capabilities and high-class defensive responsibility.
7) Alex Newhook C (Victoria Grizzlies, BCHL) – 180cm, 83kg
The BCHL’s leading scorer has torched the league with his dynamite speed and tenacity. Projecting out performance at the Jr. A level can be tough, but Newhook isn’t just producing. Newhook has all the tools to fit right into the new NHL’s focus on speed and skill. He is still a pretty raw prospect and could be a while off the NHL, but the collegiate system is very good at developing those types of prospects. Newhook is a Boston College commit.
8) Bowen Byram D (Vancouver Giants, WHL) – 183cm, 81kg
Skill, skating, poise, and playmaking are how Bowen Byram will take over the NHL. He is 3rd in points on his WHL team, the Vancouver Giants, and their clear MVP. Night in and night out Byram has been nothing but stellar all season. He can do anything a team needs of him. A shutdown role, a power play quarterback, anything.
9) Peyton Krebs C/LW (Kootenay Ice, WHL) – 180cm, 78kg
The Kootenay Ice have had a rough go this season. They’re in the bottom three in the WHL standings, and it sounds like the team is bound for a move out of their current home in Cranbrook to Winnipeg. Although the constant bright spot in the organization has been Peyton Krebs. Krebs leads the team in points by 10 plus points. Peyton Krebs is a high IQ center that plays a smart game with and without the puck.
10) Ryan Suzuki C (Barrie Colts, OHL) – 183cm, 78kg
Ryan Suzuki possesses some of the best playmaking capabilities in the draft class. He sees the ice better than anyone which allows him to make passes nobody on the ice can anticipate. Suzuki started the season at a monstrous pace in terms of points but has slowed down since. He still is a playmaking threat every night despite his slowed pace.
11) Anttoni Honka D (KeuPa, Mestis) – 179cm, 77kg
Anttoni Honka has begun to fall out of top 3-5 consideration. After his performance last season he looked like he could be the next Miro Heiskanen. Although he has now been demoted to the Finnish 2nd league. Honka will be at the World Juniors and that will be his chance to prove himself to be the same player we saw last season.
12) Cole Caufield RW/C (USNTDP, USHL) – 168cm, 70kg
The highest ranked pure sniper in the draft class and Alex DeBrincat clone, Cole Caufield, has dominated at every stage of his career. He was right around a goal a game with the NTDP U17s last year and is on a similar pace this year. His size won’t be able to hold back his ridiculous goal scoring ability.
13) Bobby Brink RW (Sioux City, USHL) – 178cm, 75kg
Brink’s season has turned scouts on their heads. Before the season he didn’t crack a USA Hlinka roster that excluded NTDP players. Some players on that team aren’t even expected to be drafted. Now, Brink floats around 1st or 2nd in USHL points and is well in the lead for USHL points per game. He later went on to play on the USA’s World Jr. A Challenge team and was named MVP. Bobby Brink is an elite offensive driver that creates more offense than anyone of his team. Brink is even making an argument for him to be a top 10 player.
14) Jakob Pelletier C/W (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL) – 175cm, 72kg
Pelletier currently leads the QMJHL’s 2019 draft eligibles in points and assists. He’s been a major offensive contributor for the shining Moncton Wildcats. My growing problem with Pelletier is that he’s not driving his team’s offense like Bobby Brink is. Although Pelletier is still a very good offensive threat when he’s put in the right situations.
15) Ville Heinola D (Lukko, Liiga) – 180cm, 80kg
The biggest riser out of Europe this month is Ville Heinola. After gaining a lot of confidence in the Finnish top league he’s put on display his full skill set. Heinola can skate circles around the opponents in the offensive zone. He’s often able to dish the puck to a teammate after creating space with his skating. Heinola is seen as a 2nd rounder now, but it won’t be long before he’s a consensus top 20 pick.
16) Vasili Podkolzin RW (SKA St. Petersburg, MHL) – 181cm, 75kg
After his stellar Hlinka performance, Podkolzin has struggled shockingly in league play. He hasn’t produced to the standards of a top 5 rounds pick, let alone a top 5 overall pick. The thing is that in international play he’s looked like an easy bet for the top 5. He’s got all the tools to be a top 5 pick, but he has to put it together in league play.
17) Mikko Kokkonen D (Jukurit, Liiga) – 180cm, 86kg
As a 17 year old defensemen, Kokkonen is 10th in his Liiga team’s scoring. Unfortunately he’s been cut for the Finnish World Junior team, but hopefully that only serves to motivate him as he goes back to the Finnish Liiga. Kokkonen is a offensive minded defensemen with the abilities to open lanes and create opportunities for his teammates.
18) Matthew Boldy C/W (USNTDP, USHL) – 183cm, 79kg
Boldy’s stock has exploded since his MVP worthy All American Prospects Game performance. The big power forward is hard to contain and dominant at the junior level. Boldy stands out as one of the first players you’ll notice when watching the NTDP. He stands out every time he’s on the ice with his big body and quick feet.
19) Raphaël Lavoie C/W (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL) – 193cm, 87kg
Lavoie has been the only former top 10 player falling significantly. The main factor that has contributed to this is his lack of improvement from last season. Point total wise he isn’t far ahead of last season, and I haven’t seen improvements on his IQ based deficiencies. With that being said he’s still a very good prospect.
20) Arthur Kaliyev LW (Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL) – 188cm, 86kg
Outside of the top 5, nobody has produced like Kaliyev. He’s top 10 in OHL scoring and approaching the top 5 in OHL goals. Although, my problem with this is that, from what I’ve seen, he benefits greatly off his stellar line of him, Brandon Saigeon, and Matthew Strome. Still, Kaliyev shows an ability to score and compete against the toughest competition in the OHL.
21) Cam York D (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 75kg
York hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations after his stellar performance at the World Under 18s. He’s still the number one defensemen on the best NTDP team we’ve ever seen, but we don’t see that top 10- 15 potential we did last season. With that York is still one of the best skating and puck-moving defenders in the draft. I could see a team in need of a defender (Edmonton?) taking a chance on him much earlier in the draft.
22) Philip Broberg D (AIK, Allsvenskan) – 190cm, 90kg
Broberg is another player similar to Podkolzin. He’s slaughtered U18 play after his wowing performance at the Hlinka but has failed to produce in the Swedish 2nd league. Still, Broberg possesses impressive skills and straight-line speed that NHL team will covet.
23) Spencer Knight G (USNTDP, USHL) – 191cm, 90kg
The only American draft-eligible not named Jack Hughes heading to the World Juniors is Spencer Knight. The top goaltender for the 2019 draft possesses all the abilities that NHL teams look for. He’s got the size, athleticism, technicality, and puck tracking. Don’t sleep on Knight going top 20.
24) Connor McMichael C (London Knights, OHL) – 183cm, 77kg
A big breakout player this season is London’s, Connor McMichael. He’s been London’s best forward while being in the presence of Liam Foudy and Alex Formenton. In the past weeks, he’s looked like a top 20 talent and maybe top 15. I don’t like to shoot players up significantly from one month to another, but McMichael is close to making me do that.
25) Nathan Légaré F (Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL) – 182cm, 89kg
The QMJHL has another competitor for the 1st round. Légaré is a tank of a player that has thrived on a very good Baie-Comeau team. He does benefit a lot from being on such a great team, but I still see a high professional upside.
26) Nils Höglander LW (Rögle BK, SHL) – 174cm, 84kg
The top performer out of the Swedish elite league has been Nils Höglander all season. It took some time to adjust to the pro game, but he’s doing great now. He was named to the Swedish World Juniors preliminary squad.
27) Alex Vlasic D (USNTDP, USHL) – 196cm, 86kg
The big defender out of the NTDP has long been on the radar due to his towering stature. My early concerns were that his size was being overvalued, but this season he’s really brought out his complete game. Think of him as a cross between Zdeno Chara and his cousin Marc-Édouard Vlasic.
28) Moritz Seider D (Alder Mannheim, DEL) – 192cm, 83kg
The top player in the 2nd division (D1A) of this month’s World Juniors could be argued to have been Moritz Seider. He was Germany’s captain as a 17-year-old. He was 2nd in points in the tournament behind only St. Louis 1st rounder Dominik Bokk. Seider is no doubt another German star talent.
29) Dustin Wolf G (Everett Silvertips, WHL) – 183cm, 73kg
Of all the goalies that have come through the draft, no goalie has the offensive upside of Dustin Wolf. Of course, I’m being sarcastic, but it’s not wrong. He has 4 assists this season with Everett and had 4 assists in 20 games last season. Other than that Wolf is one of the better puck tracking goaltenders we’ve seen in the draft class. His problem is going to be his height which seems to be about 5’11”. This could serve a problem as many teams, unfortunately, won’t draft a goalie under 6 foot or even 6’2”.
30) Pavel Dorofeyev W (Stalnye Lisy/Metallurg Magnitogorsk, MHL/KHL) – 184cm, 74kg
With KHL games under his belt, Pavel Dorofeyev has been the top performing MHLers eligible for the draft. He’s got a lot of heart in his game as he plays with a lot of tenacity and drive for the net. Dorofeyev doesn’t let up and he is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Not to mention his high skill and great skating.
31) Albin Grewe C/RW (Djurgårdens IF J20, SuperElit) – 182cm, 80kg
The last player to make the 1st round cut is Albin Grewe (pronounced Grey-vey). Despite going pointless in 10 SHL games, Grewe showed he can compete. He even laid a few heavy hits on grown men. Grewe is a ruthless center that plays with an unstoppable nose for the puck.
