Tag Archives: Kaapo Kakko

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

Edmonton Oilers: McLellan Safe for Another Day + TPE Hockey’s October Top-31 2019 NHL Draft Prospects


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PHEW! The Oilers fanbase collectively let out a sigh of deep relief after the final buzzer sounded in New York Saturday afternoon. Connor McDavid scored the winning tally on the PP in the 3rd and the Rangers couldn’t claw back into it despite the Laurel and Hardy act between Cam Talbot and his defense with 10 minutes remaining.

The 3rd line of Jesse Puljujarvi, Ryan Strome, and Drake Caggiula dominated the shot share throughout the evening and gave us a glimpse of what they’re capable of doing when on top of their games. Too bad they couldn’t put one behind future hall-of-famer Henrik Lundqvist.

*Did you know that Henrik Lundqvist played at the Viking Cup in Camrose for Sweden back in the day?*

Speaking of great goaltending, apart from the brain fart, Cam Talbot was on his game Saturday afternoon. He looked like his old self and that has to shower the team in confidence knowing they don’t have to worry about the goaltender.

Another player that really impressed me was Kailer Yamamoto. I know I’ve been harping on McLellan for putting him in the top-6 without “earning it” but yesterday he had his “A” game. I loved his quick stick and his ability to draw penalties versus the Rangers. He drew two in the 3rd and the Oilers capitalized on one, the game-winner.

Does anybody else think that Yamo’s ability to draw infractions from the other team is a reason he’s drawing into the roster every game?

There was a shift near the end of the match where Oscar Klefbom had the puck in his own zone and was looking to carry it out but the forwards wanted a change and so he stopped and cut back into his zone keeping his chest and eyes forward to see what lanes opened up. If I recall correctly, he simply moved it to his D partner who I think was Adam Larsson (Who was looking about as good as he’s looked since joining Edmonton. Man was he wallpapering Rangers left and right!) and they then proceeded up the ice but it was such a mature and technical move. I was really impressed.

Not that there weren’t any poor shifts for the Oilers, the two posts from Zibanejad could’ve really put the team in a spot of bother, I saw a team that was moving the puck WAY faster and WAY better. Be that because they were playing a team that is expected to be a major player in the Jack Hughes sweepstakes or because this team, take a breath, actually has the ability and skill to play a “fast” game, it does not concern me.

The 2 points are in the bag! Bring on the Jets!

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TPE HOCKEY’S TOP-31 2019 NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS

1) Jack Hughes C (USNTDP, USHL) – 179cm, 73kg
Not much left to say about Jack Hughes. He’s the guy, the nearly undisputed number one for the 2019 NHL Draft. While some have said that Kaapo Kakko could challenge Hughes, I personally don’t buy it. Hughes has the ability to make any game he plays belong to him game. He can take over any game and nobody can stop him.

2) Kaapo Kakko RW (TPS Turku, Liiga) – 186cm, 82kg
Early this season Kakko shocked everyone with a point per game pace in the Liiga (FIN pro league). This would’ve outdone stars like Laine and Barkov. This lead to a lot saying that Kakko could go 1st overall. Since then Kakko has slowed down a bit but still looks amazing. With Kakko’s performance, we could see another Matthews and Laine situation with Hughes and him. When he is on the ice you know it because he’s such an impact player.

3) Anttoni Honka D (JYP Jyväskylä, Liiga) – 179cm, 77kg
Like Kakko, Honka came out flying early this season. In his early Liiga games, Honka was producing as a top pairing defenseman for JYP Jyväskylä. Although, he then slowed down quite a bit and now only has 4 points in 12 games. Still, Honka is a top pairing defenseman in Finland’s professional league. Rarely do we see this from such a young prospect. I would say that we won’t see something like this again for a long time, but 2020 eligible Kasper Simontaival became the first 2002 born player to play professional hockey for Tappara of the Liiga.

4) Alex Turcotte C (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 88kg
We haven’t had a large sample size to see Turcotte this season, so there isn’t much to say. He’s a point per game in 2 games for the USNTDP and we’ll just have to wait and see. Although the next two on this list are seriously threatening Turcotte’s hold on the #4 spot.

5) Dylan Cozens C (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL) – 191cm, 80kg
Cozens has exploded early in his 2nd WHL season. Cozens holds the #4 spot in WHL points per game with 5 goals and 7 assists in 6 games. He’s flashed his amazing goal scoring ability and playmaking skills too. If Cozens keeps up this pace he will move up.

6) Kirby Dach C (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) – 192cm, 84kg
Dach has played similarly to Cozens early this season. While last season Dach was mostly a playmaker, he’s now shown more scoring ability. My criticism of him last year was that he had scoring ability, but favored passing too much. This year, Dach has started to take advantage of his scoring ability even scoring a hat-trick in his second game.

7) Alex Newhook C (Victoria Grizzlies, BCHL) – 180cm, 83kg
Newhook has dominated his league much like Cozens and Dach. His 16 points in 12 games is impressive but not as impressive as what the two ahead of him are doing. Newhook is playing very well in the BCHL, but the BCHL is not as competitive as the WHL.

8) Raphaël Lavoie C/W (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL) – 193cm, 87kg
With 7 goals and 3 assists in 7 games, Lavoie has performed quite well. The big-bodied, versatile forward has played very well so far for Halifax. His size and power allows him to play a hard game around the net. This style of play lets him pot quite a bit of goals.

9) Peyton Krebs C/LW (Kootenay Ice, WHL) – 180cm, 78kg
Now wearing an “A” for Kootenay, Krebs has performed quite well so far. Krebs has shown his Gaudreau like abilities in the offensive zone. Few guys in the WHL can combine skill and playmaking ability like he can.

10) Bowen Byram D (Vancouver Giants, WHL) – 183cm, 81kg
So far Byram has flashed his ridiculous skill and vision on the ice. His puck skills and passing ability has gotten him in quite a few highlight reels. The problem is that Byram hasn’t produced. He’s got 5 points in 8 games, but has only gotten a point in 3 games. He hasn’t produced nearly to the point per game rate he was in last year’s playoffs.

11) Ryan Suzuki C (Barrie Colts, OHL) – 183cm, 78kg
The OHL’s leading scorer is one of the highest risers this month. Last season we saw Suzuki’s staggering playmaking abilities and slick wrister. Although, it didn’t translate to a lot of points until this year. Taking a bigger role with the Barrie Colts, Suzuki has been simply amazing. If he continues this pace he could end up in the top 5-10 as soon as next month.

12) Vasili Podkolzin RW (Vityaz Podolsk U17, Russia U17) – 181cm, 75kg
The powerful, skilled, all around winger has shown his ability to dominate at the Hlinka tournament. Since then, Podkolzin hasn’t produced at the rates we’d hope in the MHL (Russia 20). In other international U18 competition Podkolzin has looked good, but he has to produce in the MHL.

13) Cole Caufield RW/C (USNTDP, USHL) – 168cm, 70kg
The goal scoring machine has continued his dominance with the NTDP. In their game against the highly ranked Norte Dame team in their NCAA crossover competition he played a great game and potted a goal for the Americans. Despite his size, Caufield and his goal-scoring ability cannot be stopped.

14) Cam York D (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 75kg
York has been pivotal in the great performance of the USNTDP. This season York is off to a hot start and has contributed in every situation. So far he has been the best defenseman on the ice every time he steps out.

15) Mikko Kokkonen D (Jukurit, Liiga) – 180cm, 86kg
The finish defenseman has broken out early this season. Producing at almost half a point per game as a 17 year old in the Liiga for Jukurit is very impressive. What’s even more impressive is that he’s done it playing mostly third pairing minutes.

16) Jakob Pelletier C/W (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL) – 175cm, 72kg
The small, two-way forward has continued his great play into this season. Pelletier is one of the smartest players in this draft. My problem with Pelletier is that so far I haven’t seen to much improvement from this season to last. While last season was great in terms of performance, not showing much improvement is concerning.

17) Arthur Kaliyev LW (Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL) – 188cm, 86kg
After a weak showing at the Hlinka tournament early this season, Kaliyev has exploded. In his first 3 games he scored 9 points in an amazing showing. He’s slowed down a bit now, but has shown a lot of improvement since the Hlinka.

18) Philip Broberg D (AIK J20, SuperElit) – 190cm, 90kg
The slick defensemen is considered by many, including me, to be one of the most overrated players in the draft. Although this certainly doesn’t mean he isn’t a great player. He’s not the top 5 talent he was touted to be after the Hlinka, but he’s been impressive in the Allsvenskan (SWE 2nd league). He has all the skill and talent. He just needs to put up some points.

19) Trevor Zegras C (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 72kg
The Boston University commit has been a reliable center for the U18s. He’s a constant offensive threat and not bad in the defensive zone. Zegras has been stuck behind Jack Hughes throughout all his time with the USNTDP. We haven’t seen Zegras get all the opportunities he’s earned and deserved, so he’s often overlooked.

20) Pavel Dorofeyev W (Stalnye Lisy/Metallurg Magnitogorsk, MHL/KHL) – 184cm, 74kg
The skilled Russian sniper just recently earned a promotion to the KHL. He’s one of the youngest player competing in the 2nd best league in the world. Dorofeyev has definitely earned the spot, but he has to compete hard to keep it.

21) Matthew Boldy C/W (USNTDP, USHL) – 183cm, 79kg
Boldy has risen for a lot of people as of late. At the All American Prospects Game he was given player of the game and looks fantastic. The big forward has learned to use his size and strength to his advantage over the summer. Boldy is definitely a guy to keep an eye on.

22) Nils Höglander LW (Rögle BK, SHL) – 174cm, 84kg
After a solid season in the Allsvenskan (SWE 2nd league), Höglander is now playing in the SHL. Despite being pointless in 7 games he can still hold his own against men. Höglander needs to improve his offensive production to hold a 1st round spot this season.

23) Albin Grewe C/RW (Djurgårdens IF J20, SuperElit) – 182cm, 80kg
After outdoing expectations in the SuperElit, Grewe got a promotion up to the Djurgårdens SHL squad. The team out of Stockholm, Sweden is one of the better in the SHL. It’s a tough team to make, and doing it as a 17 year old says a lot of about Grewe.

24) Moritz Seider D (Alder Mannheim, DEL) – 192cm, 83kg
The youngest player in the German professional league has played well in a sheltered role for Alder Mannheim. He’s only got 1 goal in his 8 games, but that’s in one of the better professional leagues outside North America. Seider has held his own pretty well, but he has to start putting up points.

25) Dustin Wolf G (Everett Silvertips, WHL) – 183cm, 68kg
The Everett Silvertips have leaned hard on then 17 year old goaltender. Wolf has played every single game for the Silvertips. So far he has played quite well, he had one rough game, but otherwise he’s been very good. With a .922 Sv% he’s been one of the better starting goaltenders in the WHL. He is a top candidate for the 2019 WHL Goaltender of the Year Award.

26) Nathan Légaré F (Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL) – 182cm, 89kg
Légaré is the biggest riser this month. He’s gone from unranked to the first round in only a few weeks. Légaré was at one point 1st in QMJHL scoring and not sits at 4th. Légaré plays center or either wing. He’s physical, tenacious, and a power forward that can score and distribute the puck.

27) Maxim Cajkovic W (Saint John Sea Dogs) – 180cm, 85kg
Cajkovic and the Saint John Sea Dogs came out flying early this season. With 4 points including 1 great goal in his first 2 games it looked like Cajkovic was going to be a big riser this season. Since then, he’s scored 2 points in 8 games. He still has the talent to be a first rounder, but he has to produce.

28) Tobias Björnfot D (Djurgårdens IF J20, SuperElit) – 183cm, 85kg
After a weak the Hlinka performance, Björnfot hasn’t performed up to expectations. His defensive play has still been good, although his offensive production isn’t up to par. It was hoped that Björnfot would get a shot at playing in the SHL this season, but it seems unlikely now.

29) Alex Vlasic D (USNTDP, USHL) – 196cm, 86kg
Vlasic is one of the safest picks late in the first round. He’s a towering, smart defender that plays a very good two-way game. He’s been used as the USNTDP’s shutdown defender, but also has shown offensive capabilities.

30) Simon Holmström RW (HV71 J20, SuperElit) – 181cm, 78kg
Right now we aren’t completely sure who Holmström is. Last season he looked very good in his appearances in the SuperElit (SWE U20). Although we didn’t get to see him at the Hlinka tournament, nor this season at all. Injuries have taken Simon Holmström out long-term and there is no concrete information on his return.

31) Marshall Warren D (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 73kg
Warren has performed well in his appearances in the USNTDP collegiate series where the U18s take in college squads. He’s shown off his offensive ability by scoring in two consecutive games against the highly ranked Notre Dame and Michigan teams. Warren continues to also display his stellar two- way game.

Thanks to Max over at @TPEHockey once again!

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

Oilers Poking Around Three Dmen + TPE Hockey’s September Top-31 for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft

Today Josh Morrissey signed a two-year bridge deal worth $3.15M per year to basically set the marker for Darnell Nurse and the Edmonton Oilers.

I can’t see Nurse is going to get much more than that. The Oilers have been holding strong at $3M and Morrissey’s deal might bring that up a bit but it certainly shouldn’t bring it anywhere near the $4M valuation that Anton Thun has of his client.

Then there’s this from our friend Bruce McCurdy replying to an excellent idea from Supernova:

Like I said yesterday on Twitter, I wouldn’t be surprised if Darnell Nurse was on the plane to Germany but he didn’t play because he missed all of or the majority of training camp because hi agent only sees short-term dollar signs.

Plan B

Chiarelli was asked if there was a “Plan B” the other day and he said yes. I imagine that plan includes sending out feelers on such defenders as Tyson Barrie, Justin Faulk, and the newly-minted free agent Jake Dotchin.

Jake Dotchin is a new one and I haven’t heard what really happened with him and the Lightning but he must’ve really stepped in it in order to get thrown on unconditional waivers. To be clear, as far as I know, his contract hasn’t been terminated yet. Dotchin has cleared unconditional waivers though so the next step is cutting Dotchin loose.

Hockey teams are usually pretty lenient and don’t want anything to do with NHLPA filing grievances on their players’ behalf. It’s a weird situation but regardless, I asked one of my sources what the deal was there and I was told that he’s a young guy and the Oilers like him.

Personally, I don’t see him as much better than Matt Benning and if we’re being truthful, wouldn’t it be more prudent to aim a bit higher than Jake Dotchin?

Max from TPE Hockey is back with his 2019 NHL draft prospect rankings for the month of September.

This time we threw in a little stat called “Age-Adjusted NHLe” and since most of the seasons haven’t started for these players, we’re using last year’s point totals to find our age-adjusted NHLe.

You can read about that here.

Draft eligible prospects don’t all play in the same league, and aren’t all the same age, so it doesn’t make sense to judge their statistics as if they do.

League/Age Adjusted Points Per Game can help us put all the prospects on even ground. To do this, we simply multiply the PPG of a player by two numbers: an age multiplier and a league multiplier. These multipliers adjust the PPGs of players to show how they would produce if they were all the same age, playing in the same league. In this case, that league is the OHL, the top Canadian junior league, and that age is exactly 17.

The numbers will look a bit odd, especially for the high-end players like Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. I asked my friend Sam Happi (The Puck Authority and @DraftLook) about this and he said that the league translation factor, which is meant to represent the average player, doesn’t really do players like Hughes justice since they are so far above average. I’d also add to that that the competition from league to league can really vary. The SM-Liiga where Anttoni Honka and Kaapo Kakko play full-time is much more competitive than the USHL where Hughes plays most of his games or the BCHL where Alex Newhook plays.

So just keep that in mind when you’re looking at that. I do remember asking Rob Vollman about the USNTDP translation factor in Auston Matthews’ draft year and was told that since nobody makes the jump from that program to the NHL, there was no need to do up a factor for it… I imagine most people are using the USHL’s translation factor for the time being but I bet that’ll change in the future.

If you’d like a list of the translation factors for each league, click this link.

You can check out a little video before that and/or his previous summer rankings here.

1)  Jack Hughes C (USNTDP, USHL) – 179cm, 73kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 18pts)
The undisputed #1 pick will revolutionize whatever franchise drafts him. Jack Hughes is the brother of last year’s 7th overall pick, Quinn Hughes. Just like Quinn, Jack is an elite skater and reads the game better than anybody. Jack will spend this season with the USNTDP in the USHL. Hughes will rip up that league as last year he was the best player in the USHL at only 16.

2)  Kaapo Kakko RW (TPS Turku, Liiga) – 186cm, 82kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 11pts)
Kakko is everything you want in a winger. He’s a big guy but sacrifices nothing because of it. He’s quick on his feet and just as quick thinking. Kakko is ultra-skilled and has all the offensive talent to become an elite NHL winger. Whenever he’s on the ice everybody knows it, he stands out instantly.

3)  Anttoni Honka D (JYP Jyväskylä, Liiga) – 179cm, 77kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 17pts)
Brother of Julias Honka, Anttoni is already a star in the Finish pro league at 17. Honka spent last year in the pros on JYP playing 20 games with them. At the start of this season, Honka became a top pairing defenseman for JYP. He played in the Champions Hockey League and stood out every game.

4)  Alex Turcotte C (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 88kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 10pts)
The two-way center out of the USNTDP played in the shadow of Jack Hughes, but that doesn’t diminish his game. Turcotte is a high-intensity player that combines speed, size, and skill with great defensive capabilities.

5)  Alex Newhook C (Victoria Grizzlies, BCHL) – 180cm, 83kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 8pts)
Newhook is all about speed. He can zip into the offensive zone and great opportunities for his team. Newhook is mainly a playmaker, but he does have goal scoring ability. He’s also good in the defensive zone and competes very hard.

6)  Dylan Cozens C (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL) – 191cm, 80kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 12pts)
The 2018 WHL Rookie of the Year is an all-around offensive player. Cozens is a big bodied center who is also very fast. He is mainly a goal scorer but does have playmaking abilities. Cozens has a sick release and super accurate shot.

7)  Kirby Dach C (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) – 192cm, 84kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 11pts)
Dach was a standout at the Hlinka tournament where he was the best draft eligible Canadian. He is a pure playmaker who can drive offense for any team he’s on. He uses his vision of the ice to open spaces for teammates and create scoring chances.

8)  Raphaël Lavoie C/W (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL) – 193cm, 87kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 10pts)
Lavoie is the first player hailing from the QMJHL. He’s a big guy who is super dangerous around the net. That combined with his shot allowed him to score 30 goals as a rookie in the QMJHL. Lavoie went to the U18 World Juniors last season and scored 5 goals in 5 games. He also was taken on the U20 Summer Showcase roster for Canada.

9)  Bowen Byram D (Vancouver Giants, WHL) – 183cm, 81kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 6pts)
The Vancouver Giants pick is a player that can control every part of the game. His skating, passing, and vision allow him to dictate what happens when he’s on the ice. Byram is also great on the rush he uses his speed, lateral movement, and hands to work around defenders.

10) Peyton Krebs C/LW (Kootenay Ice, WHL) – 180cm, 78kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 11pts)
The 2016 WHL 1st overall pick is a small playmaker coming out of Kootenay. Krebs is a lot like Johnny Gaudreau. Krebs is an elusive player who can easily avoid physical play. He also has good hands, speed, and a wicked wrister.

11) Vasili Podkolzin RW (Vityaz Podolsk U17, Russia U17) – 181cm, 75kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 5pts)
Podkolzin exploded at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He led the tournament in points and goals playing with Russia. He showed his unbelievable highlight reel skill and clutch play. Podkolzin is super strong, and at top speed, he can’t be stopped.

12) Cole Caufield RW/C (USNTDP, USHL) – 168cm, 70kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 13pts)
The 168cm (5’6”) goal scorer is one of the most fun players to watch. Caufield was a goal a game with the U17 and U18 USNTDP teams. Caufield is electric but is written off because of his size. Even with his size, Caufield finished 2nd in points at the U17s only behind Jack Hughes.

13) Jakob Pelletier C/W (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL) – 175cm, 72kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 12pts)
Pelletier was statistically the best player coming out of the QMJHL. He is an all-around offensive player who can make plays and score. He also has all the skating abilities to make for a great NHLer.

14) Cam York D (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 75kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 5pts)
York is the star defensemen for the USNTDP. He played a lot with the U18 team and went to the U18 World Juniors. Even as a 16-year-old at the tournament he was the best defensemen for the Americans.

15) Ryan Suzuki C (Barrie Colts, OHL) – 183cm, 78kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 10pts)
The 1st overall pick of the 2017 OHL Draft is one of the smartest players and best passers in this draft. He makes plays that no one sees coming, it’s almost as if he has eyes in the back of his head. Like his older brother Nick who was recently dealt to Montreal, he has a solid wrist shot that can pick a corner from the dot.

16) Mikko Kokkonen D (Jukurit, Liiga) – 180cm, 86kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 4pts)
Kokkonen has had a great start to his first season in the Finish pro league. He’s gotten two nice assists in his first two games. Kokkonen has been leaned on a lot by Team Finland in international competition. If Kokkonen can continue to produce in the Liiga he will fight for a top 10 spot.

17) Simon Holmström RW (HV71 J20, SuperElit) – 181cm, 78kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 11pts)
We could be talking about Holmström tearing up the SHL right now. Unfortunately, he is currently out with an injury. He was brilliant in the U20 Swedish league as a 16-year-old but didn’t get to play internationally because of injury. He is the strongest candidate to rise as he gets more exposure.

18) Philip Broberg D (AIK J20, SuperElit) – 190cm, 90kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 6pts)
Philip Broberg was the breakout player of the Hlinka tournament. He showed his amazing speed and skill on the rush. At that tournament, Broberg looked easily like a top 5 pick. Although, there are concerns with Broberg’s game. He had trouble producing in league play and international play before the tournament. Broberg needs to prove he can do what he did in the Hlinka on a regular basis.

https://twitter.com/NHLDraft2019/status/1039949613845958656

19) Trevor Zegras C (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 72kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 9pts)
Zegras is a dangerous player with the puck. He has stellar stickhandling, high caliber speed, and is very smart. He loves to rush the puck but sometimes turns it over in the neutral zone when doing this. His shot is also something to watch out for from the slot.

20) Tobias Björnfot D (Djurgårdens IF J20, SuperElit) – 183cm, 85kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 5pts)
Björnfot has struggled a lot in international competition, but thrived in league play. This season he is starting in the U20 Swedish league and looks to try and crack the SHL roster for Djurgårdens. Björnfot is defiantly a player to keep an eye on this year.

21) Nils Höglander LW (Rögle BK, SHL) – 174cm, 84kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 5pts)
While splitting time between the Swedish 2nd pro league and Swedish U20 league Höglander was on a point per game pace in the U20s before being moved up to the 2nd league. He is a primarily small and skilled player with a physical edge to his game, much like former superstar Theo Fleury.

https://twitter.com/coreypronman/status/953655644766253057

22) Maxim Cajkovic W (Saint John Sea Dogs) – 180cm, 85kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 7pts)
The 1st overall pick is this year’s CHL Import Draft was put on the map after leading the U18 World Juniors in points per game and was second to Jack Hughes in points. Cajkovic is an offensive-minded player with all the tools to be a big-time producer in the QMJHL this year.

23) Marshall Warren D (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 73kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 5pts)
Marshall Warren is a perfect all around defensemen coming out of the USNTDP. Warren is one of the best athletes in the draft too. His skating allows him to play a two-way game as he uses it to defend and great space in the offensive zone.

24) Arthur Kaliyev LW (Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL) – 188cm, 86kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 10pts)
The U17 leader the OHL in goals and points is the top American outside of the USNTDP. Kaliyev is an aggressive power forward who was an important part of the OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs.

25) Pavel Dorofeyev W (Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk, MHL) – 184cm, 74kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 11pts)
Dorofeyev is a dangerous goal scorer out of Russia. His shot is his best attribute, but he is also very skilled. He was able to play on the Russian U18 team last year which is very impressive because the Russian program is known to heavily favoring older players. Dorofeyev scored 4 points in that tournament.

26) Blake Murray C (Sudbury Wolves, OHL) – 188cm, 81kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 11pts)
Playing on a very weak Sudbury team Blake Murray managed to produce well for an U17 player in the OHL. Without much support on his wings Murray scored the 2nd most goals of U17 OHLers.

27) Dustin Wolf G (Everett Silvertips, WHL) – 183cm, 68kg 
Last year’s WHL break out goaltender has continued his great play into the WHL pre-season. Currently he is 3-0 with a .927 Sv%. Last year Wolf got some good time as the starting goaltender and managed to win the CHL Goaltender of the Week. The hit on Wolf is his size at only 183cm (6’0”). Wolf standout quality is his puckhandling. Last year at 16 he got 4 assists in 20 games. In my mind he is the best puckhandling goalie in junior hockey. For more info check out my full article on on Wolf and this year’s goaltending crop.

28) Matthew Boldy C/W (USNTDP, USHL) – 183cm, 79kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 1pts)
The American power forward is a monster in front of the net. Boldy also has very good playmaking abilities and offensive IQ. Boldy was unfortunately snubbed from being able to play with the U18 team at the USNTDP.

29) Albin Grewe C/RW (Djurgårdens IF J20, SuperElit) – 182cm, 80kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 7pts)
Grewe left a lot to be desired after last season with Djurgårdens J20 and international play. Despite this he broke out at the Hlinka and then has been great in the Swedish U20 league and is currently at a point per game pace.

https://twitter.com/NHLProspectsYT/status/1041496759195893760

30) Alex Vlasic D (USNTDP, USHL) – 196cm, 86kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 4pts)
Vlasic is an enormous shut down defensemen who plays a lot like Zdeno Chara. He uses his long stick to block passing lanes and has a booming shot. The cousin of the Shark’s shutdown defender Marc-Édouard Vlasic plays a lot like Marc-Édouard too.

31) Moritz Seider D (Alder Mannheim, DEL) – 192cm, 83kg (Age-Adjusted NHLe: 1pt)
The German monster playing the German pro league is one of the most interesting prospects in this draft. So interesting that I wrote an entire article on him.

https://twitter.com/NHLProspectsYT/status/1041500814676844545

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Andy Lehoux Draft Profile: Alex Turcotte – As Good As Hughes?

While Jack Hughes is highlighting the 2019 NHL Draft, Alex Turcotte, one of his teammates with the U.S. National Junior Team, is still being ranked at the top of the draft. 

Born in February 2001, Turcotte manages to get 15 goals and 47 points in 39 USDP games with the US. National U17 team. That stands up pretty good against past top prospect productions. He also got 8 goals and 32 points in 31 USHL games. He then got the chance to play with the Us national U18 team where he got 3 goals and 16 points in 19 USDP games. Despite all those crazy numbers, I was even more impressed with is play on the ice. Turcotte is a dynamic two-way center that is known as a great skater and complete player. But now, enough of all those stats, let’s look at every aspect of Alex Turcotte’s game. That means skating, shooting, passing, stick-Handling, defensive game, physicality, hockey IQ and competitiveness. 

Skating

By far the best strength of his game, Turcotte’s skating is one of the best of the draft. He is amazingly fast and he got a great acceleration. He can shift gears in a matter of instant and easily pass any defenceman. He is always hustling and keeps his feet moving in all three zones. His edge work is good, but not amazing. He more often than not use speed or stick-handling to pass a defenceman rather than use edge work. He can accelerate in many different ways and he is able to start from his own zone and still be the first one to reach the opponent’s net. He easily gets 5 stars for his skating.

Shooting

Turcotte has a decent shot. He can fire a quick, precise wrister when he’s at high speed or a super powerful wrist shot when he has more time and space. He has a good release that allows him to have a pretty diverse artillery. He had 31 goals throughout 102 games this year. I would want to see him shoot a bit more, but just evaluating his shot, I would give him 4 stars. 

Passing

Turcotte’s vision is really good. He loves to skate around the offensive zone and find a passing line. His bread and butter is that saucer pass to the crease. With his flashy style of play, he often attracts the opponent on him leaving more space for his teammate in the slot and Turcotte is often able to find them. On zone exits, he can quickly pass at a high speed while continuing to accelerate and his reaction time to open passing line is almost non-existent. Overall, he’s a pretty decent passer. I wouldn’t consider him as a playmaker, but he does often set up teammates for easy goals. I will give him 4 stars. 

Stick-Handling

Turcotte has some quick hands. He can stick-handle while gaining speed, stopping or turning and still keep the puck moving at a high pace. On a breakaway, he loves to shoot the puck on the near side, or fake that shot to go to the far side where he often beats the goalie with his speed. Stick-handling is an important part of his game. He uses it on zone exit, zone entries and continuously in the offensive zone. 5 stars

Defensive Game

Turcotte is a good 2-way center, but what makes him so good defensively is his intention. He really put efforts to backcheck and cover his guy. There are plenty of examples, but on this one single play, Turcotte started as the last guy behind and manage to overtake his teammates just to come back defensively and still took part of the counter-attack. In the defensive zone, he reacts quickly when the puck goes near his guy and throw some good stick-lift here and there. I will give him 4 stars.

Physicality

Alex Turcotte is 5 foot 11 and weight 194 pounds. If he’s undersized, he does not step back from any physical challenge. With is intensity, he is able to get out of board battle with the puck a surprising amount of time. He protects the puck fairly well and never gives up even if he loses the possession. He’s not a physical player, but he’s never completely outmatched in physical battles, so I’m going to give him 3 stars.

 Hockey IQ

With his flashy speed and stick-handling, he likes to attract all the pressure on him to open his teammates. His complete set of skill allows him to jump from strategy to strategy and adapts to his opponent play. Every one of his plays are flashy but calculated. I will give him 4 stars for Hockey IQ. 

Competitiveness

When I first saw Turcotte’s highlights, I saw a speedy and skilled forward, but I was amazingly impressed with his intensity and competitiveness. He is always moving and puts all his efforts to recover the puck or just backcheck to cover the extra forward. Even at the end his shifts, Turcotte is able to backcheck, restart the attack and backcheck again without stopping. He might be 5 foot 11, but he does not stop an instant before jumping into board battle or a puck in the crease. With Peyton Krebs, he is, in my opinion, the most intense prospect from the top of the draft. So he definitely gets 5 stars.

So in my opinion, Alex Turcotte should be in contention for the #2 spot with Kaapo Kakko. He’s a complete, but yet very dynamic player and a type of forward that you won’t find often. He can shoot, he can pass, he can outskate you, he can dangle you, he can defend against you and he won’t often be outmatched physically. That’s what I call a complete player. I understand other prospects like Dylan Cozens, Kirby Dach, Peyton Krebs and Alex Newhook are often rank ahead of Turcotte and that’s totally fair. They are all very close to each other and those players give us a different set of skills, but I personally think Turcotte is starting the year with a step ahead. 

Anyway, what do YOU think of Alex Turcotte. Is he a top 5 prospect, is he the second best center behind Jack Hughes or am I wrong and he shouldn’t be in this conversation? I would love to see your opinion!

Andy Lehoux is one of YouTube’s foremost NHL draft prospect profilers. His videos are amongst the best you’ll find online and on a personal note, I love his French accent. It really adds a different flavor to his reports.

We’ve teamed up this season to bring you profiles for the upcoming draft in both the audio/video AND the text platforms in order to give you a much better idea of what kind of players are going to be dominating the NHL in years to come.

You can follow Andy here on Twitter and please go to his YouTube Channel, NHL Draft Central, and subscribe! You won’t regret it!

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Oilers’ Puljujarvi to Star in Finnish Children’s TV Show + NEW 2019 NHL Draft Rankings

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I am sure that some of you who are reading this have seen some pics floating around Twitter of the Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi playing hockey with children back in Finland. Well, it turns out that he’s playing a big part in a Finnish children’s TV show called “Pikku Kiekko” which I’m told translates to “Little Puck”.

After asking my Finnish sources what this TV show as all about, I was sent some links to help out.

This show is documenting a hockey club they have in Oulu called The Kiimingin Kiekko-Pojat (KKP) Special Hockey team. Now the reason that this club is so special is that it is a team made up players who are physically and mentally challenged.

KKP Special Hockey is the first team of its kind in all of Finland. It was founded around 2015.

“We started a year ago with a clear goal in our minds. We wanted to offer children with special needs an opportunity to play ice hockey and make friends through the hobby”, says the team leader Jaana Lauri. (Source)

If you’re not exactly sure what “Special Hockey” is, you’re not alone. I have never read or seen anything about it until I decided to write this post. This is what Wikipedia has to tell us about it:

Special Hockey is a version of ice hockey adapted for athletes with a developmental disability or cognitive disorder. It differs from ice sledge hockey, which was developed instead for athletes with a physical disability. 

Special hockey is sometimes known as adaptive hockey, and emphasizes fun, teamwork, social interaction, and providing an environment adapted to the ability of the participant. It provides an opportunity to be accepted and part of a team, that otherwise would not exist. Special hockey programs are open to males and females of all ages, not just children. 

Special hockey uses standard ice hockey equipment, has modified ice hockey rules such as no offside, icing, or penalties, and is a non-contact sport without scores and standings. (Source)

That sounds like a helluva lot of fun!

I’m very proud that such a young man like Jesse Puljujarvi would lend his time and his heart to such a wonderful cause. It shows great maturity and character for a person of his age to align himself with a Special Hockey team in Finland.

The Edmonton Oilers are a very lucky club to have such a caring individual in their organization. Not that he’s the only one, that’s not what I’m saying but if I hear Dan Tencer wonder aloud how much time Pulju spends alone and question Jesse’s work ethic, I’m going to puke.

Tell ya what, let’s throw Dan Tencer into rural Finland to scout hockey and see how he fares. I can almost assure you that he’d be spending a lot more time alone that Pulju does… Difference being, the Finns would treat him a helluva lot better than Tencer does when Jesse Puljujarvi isn’t around.

Anyways… Rant over. I wanted to get that off my chest.

I also want to throw up the BLH top-31 draft prospects for the 2019 draft!

I met a young fella online who loves prospects and I asked him to come aboard the BLH train to educate my readers about the young prospects coming up. This gentleman’s name is Max and he runs the Twitter account @TPEHockey. Give him a follow and without further adieu, his rankings!

1) Jack Hughes C (USNTDP, USHL) – 179cm, 73kg – 27GP – 21G – 33A – 54TP

There is no doubt that Jack Hughes will become a dynamic franchise-changing center. His skating ability and pure skill are unmatched, and that combined with his knowledge for the game allowed him to tear apart the USHL at just 16. His point totals with the USNTDP outside of the USHL ranks only behind Auston Matthews with 116 points in 60 games compared to 117 in 60 from Matthews.

2) Kaapo Kakko RW (TPS Turku U20, Jr. A SM-Liiga) – 186cm, 82kg – 38GP – 25G – 30A – 55TP

Kakko spent last season tearing down the Finnish U20 League. His 55 points in 38 games gives him the 3rd best point per game total of a 16-year-old only behind Mikael Granlund and Jesse Puljujärvi. Kakko is known for his skill, hockey sense, and mobility.

3) Alex Newhook C (Victoria Grizzlies, BCHL) – 180cm, 83kg – 45GP – 22G – 44A – 66TP

Newhook is a Boston College commit that will play for Victoria in the BCHL. Despite the perceived weakness of that league, Newhook impressed scouts. His explosive speed and quick shot allows him to create opportunities whenever the puck is on his stick.

4) Alex Turcotte C (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 88kg – 31GP – 8G – 24A – 32TP

Playing with high speed in every zone Turcotte is a high level two-way center. He spent much of last season in the shadow of Jack Hughes playing mostly with the U17 team, but got some time playing with the U18s. Turcotte has been a prodigy since he was a 10 year old when he scored 13 points in 6 games at the Brick Invitational in Edmonton.

5) Dylan Cozens C (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL) – 191cm, 80kg – 57GP – 22G – 31A – 53TP

The native of Whitehorse, Yukon was the WHL Rookie of the Year despite a tough rookie class including Kirby Dach and Peyton Krebs. Cozens is an all-around center who can do nearly anything. He combines the speed and skill that has thrived in today’s game with size and physicality.

6) Kirby Dach C (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) – 192cm, 84kg – 52GP – 7G – 39A – 46TP

Dach is another star forward coming out of the Western League, and not the last one. He showed his worth early at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in which Dach was an essential playmaker for Team Canada. He drove offense in all situations for Canada, and was essential in their gold medal run. Dach’s focus is always on offense, and is always a fun player to watch.

7) Anttoni Honka D (JYP Jyväskylä, Liiga) – 179cm, 77kg – 20GP – 2G – 7A – 9TP

Honka spends much of last year in the Finnish U20 league but got 20 games with the big club in the Finnish pro league. The brother of Dallas prospect Julias Honka also played in last year’s World Junior U18 tournament and in the U20 Summer Showcase. Honka shined in both tournaments and established his position as the top defensive prospect for this draft.

8) Bowen Byram D (Vancouver Giants, WHL) – 183cm, 81kg – 60GP – 6G – 21A – 27TP

The Swiss Army Knife defensemen plays in all situations for Vancouver in the WHL and for Canada. Byram controls the game and projects as a power play quarterback and top 2 defensemen. He showed his immense skill and passing ability in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and memorably made an amazing pass to Dylan Cozens who tied the semifinal game against the USA in a controversial goal that maybe shouldn’t have counted.

9) Raphaël Lavoie C/W (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL) – 193cm, 87kg – 68GP – 30G – 33A – 63TP

Lavoie is another top prospect coming out of the Halifax Mooseheads organization. He is a big bodied forward who is a force in front of the net. Lavoie made the U20 Summer Showcase team, and out performed many 19-year-olds. He also played in the World Junior U18 last season scoring 5 goals in 5 games.

10) Peyton Krebs C/LW (Kootenay Ice, WHL) – 180cm, 78kg – 67GP – 17G – 37A – 54GP

The 2016 WHL 1st overall pick always has the puck following him. He is a passionate player with a deadly wrist shot that can pick a corner from anywhere in the offensive zone.

11) Vasili Podkolzin RW (Vityaz Podolsk U17, Russia U17) – 181cm, 75kg – 21GP – 13G – 17A – 30TP

Podkolzin had a solid season playing in Russia’s U17 league, but exploded at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was captain of the Russian team and led the tournament in points and goals. He displayed his complete game, blistering speed, and highlight reel skill.

12) Philip Broberg D (AIK J20, SuperElit) – 190cm, 90kg – 23GP – 6G – 7A – 13TP

One of the most intriguing prospects is Philip Broberg. He had a mediocre season in the Swedish U20 league and didn’t look like a first rounder. He played 22 games with the Swedish U17 team where he only put up 3 assists. This was before going to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and exploding. Broberg was hands down the most effective defensemen at the tournament and displayed his puck carrying skills and speed. Although Broberg seemed to lack lateral agility that often comes with elite puck carriers. We’ll just have to wait to see what Broberg really is.

13) Cole Caufield RW/C (USNTDP, USHL) – 168cm, 70kg – 32GP – 23G – 10A – 33TP

Caufield is another very interesting prospect as he clocks in at only 168cm (5’6”). Despite his tiny frame, he is an electrifying goal scorer that lit up the U17 World Hockey Championship and U18 World Juniors last season. Caufield is an ultra skilled forward with some of the most natural talent in the draft class.

14) Jakob Pelletier C/W (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL) – 175cm, 72kg – 60GP – 23G – 38A – 61TP

Pelletier is primarily a playmaker with solid goal scoring ability. He is known for his shiftiness and puck carrying ability. Pelletier would have led 2001 born QMJHL players in goals, assists, and points if it wasn’t for 2020 prospect Alexis Lafreniére.

15) Cam York D (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 75kg – 33GP – 3G – 11A -14TP

Another US Development Program product slides into the top 15 and this time a defenseman. York spent a lot of time with the U18s in the USNTDP, and was a driving offensive force in the U18 World Juniors. Even being a year younger than much of the competition he was the USA’s number 1 defensemen at the U18s.

16) Ryan Suzuki C (Barrie Colts, OHL) – 183cm, 78kg – 64GP – 14G – 30A – 44TP

Suzuki was the 1st overall pick of the 2017 OHL Draft. He is one of the smartest players and best passers in this draft. Those two aspects combined lead to some amazing plays that make him look like a magician. He also has quite the wrist shot that he likes to use from the left dot.

17) Mikko Kokkonen D (Imatran Ketterä, Mestis) – 180cm, 86kg – 29GP – 0G – 9A – 9TP

Kokkonen spent last year mainly playing in the Finnish version of the AHL, Mestis. He was a key player for Finland in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and last year’s World Junior U18 tournament.

18) Tobias Björnfot D (Djurgårdens IF J20, SuperElit) – 183cm, 85kg – 42GP – 6G – 16A – 22TP

Even though he often struggled in international competition Björnfot has performed well in Sweden’s U20 league. He has solid 2 way ability and is a good passer.

19) Trevor Zegras C (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 72kg – 31GP – 11G – 21A – 32TP

Zegras was in a tough spot in the USNTDP playing not only behind Jack Hughes but Alex Turcotte too. Despite that he performed very well for the U17 team and put up very impressive point totals.

20) Simon Holmström RW (HV71 J20, SuperElit) – 181cm, 78kg – 20GP – 11G – 19A – 30TP

Holmström thrived playing in the U20 league in Sweden and even got a shot at playing in the SHL. That being said Holmström has struggled with injuries and hasn’t played in many international tournaments. He is the strongest candidate to rise as he gets more exposure.

21) Nils Höglander LW (AIK, Allsvenskan) – 174cm, 84kg – 34GP – 3G – 4A – 7TP

While splitting time between the Swedish 2nd pro league and Swedish U20 league Höglander was on a point per game pace in the U20s before being moved up to the 2nd league. Although Höglander struggled to make an impact in international play.

22) Maxim Cajkovic W (Malmö Redhawks J20) – 180cm, 85 kg – 28GP – 10G – 11A – 21TP

Cajokvic spent last season playing in the SuperElit league but broke out at the U18 World Juniors where he led the tournament in points per game. He will play next year in Saint John as he was the first pick in this year’s CHL Import Draft.

23) Arthur Kaliyev LW (Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL) – 188cm, 86kg – 68GP – 31G – 17A – 48TP

The Bulldogs rookie goal scorer surprised by making the Hamilton roster, and went on to lead U17 players in the OHL in goals and points. Although Kaliyev disappointed in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as he was outplayed by his linemate Nick Robertson who is an early 2nd rounder.

24) Blake Murray C (Sudbury Wolves, OHL) – 188cm, 81kg – 57GP – 21G – 23A – 44TP

Murray is a comparable player to Kaliyev who specializes is goal scoring. He came up 2nd in U17 OHL goals and points behind Kaliyev.

25) Marshall Warren D (USNTDP, USHL) – 180cm, 73kg – 34GP – 5G – 13A – 18TP

The two-way defender is known as a premier athlete who battled hard and plays with passion. He has a great shot in the offensive zone and is shut down in the defensive zone. Warren is also a great skater with speed going backwards and a lot of mobility.

26) Dustin Wolf G (Everett Silvertips, WHL) – 183cm, 68kg – 20GP – .928Sv%

Wolf is the best goalie in this draft. Last season he was the backup to CHL superstar goaltender Carter Hart, but got a lot of good games when Hart was out for the U20 World Juniors. In that stretch Wolf won CHL Goalie of the week, and maintained the high save percentage he had while playing easier competition as the backup. Wolf is a smaller goalie at only 183cm (6’0”) and if he was a bit taller he’d certainly be more talked about. He is also a great puck handler, in only 20 games Wolf recorded 4 assists leading him to having a higher point per game than about 10 players on his team.

27) Matthew Boldy C/W (USNTDP, USHL) – 183cm, 79kg – 34GP – 12G – 23A – 35TP

A skilled offensive player with good skating ability. Boldy was on fire in the USHL except didn’t get a shot at playing with the U18s, and didn’t get to play at the U18 World Juniors either.

28) Albin Grewe C/RW (Djurgårdens IF J20, SuperElit) – 182cm, 80kg – 36GP – 10G – 17A – 27TP

Grewe left a lot to be desired after his regular season and international play. Although in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup he showed off his skill set and speed before being pulled out after an injury.

29) Samuel Poulin LW (Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL) – 185cm, 94kg – 55GP – 16G – 29A – 45TP

The 2nd overall pick in the 2017 QMJHL Draft was taken only behind Alexis Lafreniére and made an immediate impact for Sherbrooke. He’s another high talent forward coming out of the Q along with Pelletier and Lavoie.

30) Nolan Foote LW (Kelowna Rockets, WHL) – 191cm, 85kg – 50GP – 13G – 27A – 40TP

The son of star NHL defensemen Adam Foote and brother of 2017 Tampa Bay 1st rounder Callan Foote. Unlike his family Foote plays the wing but has the same big frame and physical ability as the rest of his family.

31) Alex Vlasic D (USNTDP, USHL) – 196cm, 86kg – 34GP – 4G – 9A – 13TP

Vlasic is a towering stay at home defender who is shut down in his own zone. He is great positionally and a smart player. His remarkable height and ability to use his stick to defend makes Chara an easy comparable.

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