Tag Archives: 2019 World Junior Hockey Championships

Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Pre-World Juniors 2019 NHL Entry Draft Top 31 Rankings from @TPEHockey

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Prospects

Edmonton Oilers: Will Klefbom’s Injury Force a Trade Plus 2019 World Junior Championships Group A Preview

The hockey gods have a funny way of doing business, don’t they? The Oilers best defenseman goes down with a couple of busted fingers after taking a clapper point-black from Sven Andrighetto. Man, if Oscar Klefbom didn’t have bad luck he wouldn’t have any luck. The guy can’t seem to buy a break.

That said, I saw that Caleb Jones has been called up. I’ll say this about Jones, if you liked Yohann Auvitu, you’re going to love this guy. He’s a roamer for sure. I mean he’s not quite as adventurous as Auvitu was, he likes to go walkabout. I watched him leave his teammates out to dry quite a few times in Bakersfield this year.

That’s the bad. The good is that he can transport the puck very well. He’s adept at getting out of sticky situations with the puck on his blade as opposed to off the glass and out.

I’m just wondering if Peter Chiarelli might make a call to new Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher and see how much a Radko Gudas might cost. The Flyers are in a bad way right now and they’ve got to do something ASAP. They had that game vs. Calgary in the bag and gave it right back to the Flames in the final minute… Brutal.

Or perhaps it’s time to see how the Carolina Hurricanes are feeling about some of their defenders. They’re not playing so hot right now either and their owner has gone public now with his displeasure.

https://twitter.com/MikeKellyNHL/status/1072968608865796097


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2019 World Junior Hockey Championships Group A Preview

Team Canada | Last Year: Gold | Projection: Silver

Another World Juniors means another stacked Canadian team. I’m only highlighting three of their top talents, but there are so many that deserve a mention. Gabe Vilardi is one, but he is just returning from injury and his condition is in question after a tough stint in the AHL. The Canadian team might not have the goaltending they did in previous years when they had Carter Hart, but it’s nothing to worry about. All around Canada is one of the best teams at this tournament with no glaring weaknesses.

Evan Bouchard | D | London Knights | Edmonton

Bouchard is the clear #1 defender for this stacked Canadian squad. He spent 7 games up with the Edmonton Oilers where he saw limited ice time. He was then sent back to London of the OHL where he has been dominant in every sense of the word. He’s well over a point per game and the captain of another great London team. Last season he registered 87 points in 67 games which lead him to be selected 10th overall by the Oilers. Bouchard is one of thepuck-movingmoving defenders in the tournament, and most defiantly the best passer. Even with an amazing d-core, Canada will rely heavily on Bouchard.

Cody Glass | C | Portland Winterhawks | Vegas

This is Cody Glass’ year. Glass would have been in the NHL this year if it wasn’t for Vegas GM, George McPhee’s, bias against teenagers in the NHL. He’s here to prove not only that he should be in the NHL, but that he should’ve been on last year’s gold medal team too. Glass is hovering around 2.00 points per game in the WHL with Portland. He’s got a lot to prove to Hockey Canada, Vegas, and to himself. As a 6th overall pick, the expectation is that he should be able to compete at the NHL level. There is a lot of pressure on Glass, and he’s a name you have to keep an eye on.

Maxime Comtois | LW | Drummondville Voltigeurs | Anaheim

Comtois is this year’s big surprise. After his start in the NHL nobody thought he’d be going to the World Juniors. He spent 10 games with Anaheim and score in his first games, and had 7 points in those 10 games until being sent down to the AHL where he had a goal in 4 games. Now he’s back in the QMJHL joining a stacked Drummondville squad. Comtois is going to be completely dominant if he plays in the tournament like he did for Anaheim.

Alexis Lafrenière | LW | Rimouski Océanic | 2020 Draft

What’s there to say that already hasn’t been said with Lafrenière? A 17-year-old not draft eligible until 2020 is going to play in the World Juniors. Lafrenière sits around 3rd in QMJHL scoring at the moment. The Rimouski player won CHL Rookie of the Year over 2nd overall pick from this past draft, Andrei Svechnikov last year. At the Hlinka tournament earlier this season he was tied for 1st in points with Vasili Podkolzin. Lafrenière is no joke and the projected 1st pick in 2020. He’s dynamic, he’s highly skilled, and he’s ridiculously smart. Lafrenière being on the team is accomplishment enough, but he could also be one of their top players.

Raphaël Lavoie | RW | Halifax Mooseheads | 2019 Draft

This was a controversial pick. If Hockey Canada hasn’t already put out their camp roster for the tournament then I would not have had Lavoie here. I have a multitude of Canadians ranked ahead of Lavoie for the upcoming draft. My pick to make this team would have been Dach and an overeager that will be mentioned later on. Lavoie is around a point per game in the Quebec League and isn’t exactly dominant like Kirby Dach. Lavoie is late birthday and is older than most of the 2019 class which defiantly influenced his chances in making this team. Hockey Canada likely fell in love with his height, weight, and grit.

Brett Leason | C | Prince Albert Raiders | 2019 Overager

Leason has shocked everyone with WHL leading performance so far this season. Leason was a 2018 draft eligible but was undrafted. This season he’s at over 2.00 points per game in the WHL. Not many saw this coming. Leason is a double threat player that can score and pass. He’s squaring up to be this year’s Drake Batherson.


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Russia | Last Year: Quarters Loss | Prediction: Fifth

Overall this Russian team is just ok. They have some big-time talent up front, but not a lot of depth. There’s not much to brag about on defense either. The Red Deer Rebel’s Alexander Alexeyev is the main threat on the blueline. Their first two lines have some middle tier guys like Ivan Chekovich and Alexander Khovanov plus the players mentioned below could be dangerous. Their goaltending is average, but nothing special. They have a solid goaltender in Daniil Tarasov, but he’s not top tier in this tournament. Nothing about this Russian squad screams medal winner this year.

Vitali Kravtsov | RW | Traktor Chelyabinsk | New York Rangers

New York Rangers fans will argue that Vitali Kravtsov could be the top player at this tournament. He’s just over half a point per game in the KHL and is in competition for Traktor Chelyabinsk’s top scorer as an 18-year-old. Kravtsov is a 6’4” (192cm) winger with elite skill. He plays with a lot of feistiness and isn’t afraid to use his size. He’s great at breaking away from defenders with his hands and using that thick frame for puck protection. Kravtsov has proven that he can stand with pro players in the KHL, so he should have no problem at the World Juniors. The fate of the Russian squad revolves around Kravtsov and what he can do for this team.

Klim Kostin | C/W | San Antonio Rampage | St. Louis

Kostin is Russia’s key returning player on this squad. Last year he scored 5 goals and 3 assists in just 5 games. Kostin fell big time to the Blues at the 2017 draft due to injuries and questions regarding if he’d play in North America or stay in Russia in the future. He’s an impactful power forward currently playing for San Antonio in the American League. Kostin has long been a staple of Russian junior hockey as in his draft -1 year he captained both the U17 and U18 team. Kostin has struggled a little this season in the AHL, but it’s not a big concern.

Grigori Denisenko | LW | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | Florida

Florida’s flashy left winger is Russia’s premier threat on the left side. Denisenko is a slick, agile player with a lot of finishing ability. Often we see the Russian team favor older players and restrict the minutes of younger guys, but that won’t be the case with Denisenko. He’s Russia’s 2nd youngest player and as the 15th overall pick last year, he will be an important cog for the Russians.

Czech Republic | Last Year: Fourth | Projection: Sixth

It’s worth noting that Filip Chytil of the New York Rangers was named to the preliminary roster, but he is currently playing in the NHL. It’s unlikely he’ll be released to play at the World Juniors.

In terms of draft eligibles, the Czechs have two on their preliminary roster, but neither of them really have a chance at the team nor are top prospects for the 2019 draft. The two being Petr Cajka of the Erie Otters and Martin Hugo Has of Tappara in Finland.

Overall this Czech team has a few big names up front but generally aren’t slated to be competitive with the top teams. They have don’t have a single noteworthy name on defense. It’s likely that most people wouldn’t recognize a single name on the blueline. Great goaltending and forwards only get you so far without defense.

Filip Zadina | W | Grand Rapids Griffins | Detroit

Zadina is the projected star for the Czechs. He played on the World Junior team last year and had 7 goals in 7 games. Zadina is a big-time goal scorer and a staple of any team he plays for. He’s currently playing in the American League where he got off to a slow start but is starting to heat up. Zadina will finally be reunited with his buddy Martin Necas where the pair will hope to lead the Czechs to a medal.

Martin Necas | C | Charlotte Checkers | Carolina

Necas is one of the few double returning players in this tournament. As a 17-year-old in his draft year, he was named to the team where he had 3 assists in 5 games. The next year he dominated as part of one of the tournament’s best duos in him and Zadina. With 11 points in 7 games, he lead the Czechs to a fourth-place finish. Necas is an offensive center with great speed and puck carrying ability. He’s great at dishing the puck to a linemates and creating space for his wingers. Necas will be a key piece to the Czechs if they want to have any success.

Jakub Skarek | G | Lahti Pelicans | New York Islanders

For the Czech’s, the big piece in net is going to be Skarek. The talented netminder was the consensus 1st or 2nd best goaltender in the 2018 draft but fell to the 4th spot and 3rd round. Since then he has outperformed any expectations for him with the Pelicans in the Finnish Elite League. He hovers around 3rd in Liiga save percentage at just 19. What Skarek is doing is something special. He’s a butterfly goaltender with natural goaltending talent. He’s a big guy with brisk reflexes and size to match. Skarek is actually a returning player as he played for the team in his draft year, but he struggled significantly in that spot and clearly wasn’t ready. This year though I expect him to be one of the top goaltenders at this tournament.


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Switzerland | Last Year: Quarters Loss | Projection: Seventh

This year isn’t squaring up to be much for Switzerland. The Swiss lack any high-end talent that they might have gotten in Nico Hischier a few years ago. They do have some solid returning talent, but nothing special. In goal, they have a solid netminder in Luca Hollenstein. Switzerland also has a few draft-eligible players, but none expected to make any sort of massive impact other than one overager. Their best option probably being Valentin Nussbaumer, who is playing in the QMJHL.

Nico Gross | D | Oshawa Generals | New York Rangers

A third time returning player in Nico Gross is the obvious choice to captain this team. As a 2000 born he played against the 1997 crop all the way back in the 2016-17 season. Gross currently plays for the Oshawa Generals in the OHL where he has been a reliable first pairing defender. The fourth round pick hopes to be an impact player in his third with the team.

Philip Kurashev | C | Quebec Remparts | Chicago

The Russian dual citizen decided to compete with Switzerland in IIHF competition and has been the go-to Swiss forward ever since. With the Quebec Remparts, he’s at about 1.30 points per game while driving a lot of the Remparts’ offense. In his second year at the World Juniors, Kurashev looks to be the focus of attention for the Swiss team.

Nando Eggenberger | Oshawa Generals | 2019 Overager

Nico Gross’ teammate from Oshawa and fellow triple returning player is Nando Eggenberger. Eggenberger is a veteran of Swiss hockey as he first made his pro debut at 16. Many were surprised when he went undrafted last season in a down year for him. Eggenberger has long been a player that Swiss hockey has groomed to be a pivotal player for their organization. It will be very interesting to see what he can do this year.

Denmark | Last Year: Relegation Win | Projection: Ninth

Denmark’s team, as always, is hard to predict. I won’t go over their players in depth because we don’t know enough about most of these guys. Few players are really on NHL radars other than possibly their goaltender Mads Søgaard. The 6’ 7” (200cm) behemoth of a 17-year-old is eligible for the 2019 draft and is considered by some to be a first two rounds talent. Søgaard towers over any goaltending prospect we’ve seen in the past. The Medicine Hat Tiger is expected to be their starter or at least number two guy. In terms of top players, I can only guess based on totals from last year. My best guess for their top guy is Jonas Røndbjerg, a 2017 Vegas 3rd rounder. Røndbjerg impressed last year in the SHL, but has struggled a lot this year.

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