TSN’s Bob McKenzie released his NHL trade deadline special podcast yesterday and within it, he went over an interesting scenario in which the Edmonton Oilers could relieve themselves of Milan Lucic’s contract AND perhaps the Jesse Puljujarvi issue.
If Mark Stone is not back with the Senators and Duchene, they’re going to have to get to the salary cap floor. They may have to do some deals where they bring in money just to bring in money. But if you’re going to do that, weaponize that ability to take on other people’s bad contracts and I’m thinking Lucic.
I’m thinking out loud but if I were a general manager and I had plenty of room and didn’t mind shelling out the money and I’ve got to get to the cap floor, I might go to Edmonton and say, “Tell you what, I’ll take the Lucic contract from you but I want Puljujarvi and something else to do it.”
And that’s how you get out from underneath it. I don’t know how Edmonton would feel about that. Maybe Puljujarvi is going to get traded anyways but maybe they want an asset for him… But cap space is an asset and if the new general manager comes in there and is hamstrung with all these contracts, it’s going to be really difficult for them to turn the corner… (source)
I know my good friend SPR brought this exact scenario up earlier this week and I think he’s a little pissed that the Bobfather has stolen it…
This whole Puljujarvi debacle has me in pieces. I’m way too emotionally invested in this player, but it’s one of those things, right? We all have something or someone that we’d die on a hill for and for me it’s Pulju. I think I was the same with Yakupov though. I have a soft spot in my heart for those uber happy go lucky players who are always smiling.
I think I’m so used to seeing what Leon and Connor bring to the table that I’ve been watching the Oilers games this year to see what Jesse might do.
Well, he might not be doing much for them anymore. I’m pretty resigned to him leaving now and it’s upsetting. I did say that I’d hop on the “Fire Chiarelli” bandwagon if he traded Pulju and I feel like I’ve got nowhere to go now. OH, THE IRONY!
So I’m on the “Retire Hitchcock” bandwagon now. I blame him for this mess because he’s the one that said: “I can fix him”. Instead, he’s done the ol’ “Hitch and Ditch” with Puljujarvi and it won’t matter to him because he’s gone at the end of the year…
THE 2019 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
Anyways, I didn’t want to just talk about my boy. I wanted to talk about the draft a little bit.
Right now, as I write this, the Oilers are sitting at 5th overall according to Tankathon.com. They have a 26.1% chance of hopping into the top-3 and an 8.5% chance of winning the draft lottery outright and getting the chance to draft Jack Hughes.
Wouldn’t that be something if the Oilers won the lottery again? Could you imagine the outrage? You’d have to think that the NHL would institute some rule (again) that would prevent a team from drafting 1st overall more than three times in a five year period or something to that effect if it did go down.
But I’m looking at the top-5 of this year’s draft and I’m seeing a lot of skill on the wing.
Mynhldraft.com has the following players in their top-5:
Jack Hughes – C – USNTDP (USA)
Kappo Kakko – RW – TPS (SM-Liiga)
Kirby Dach – C – Saskatoon (WHL)
Dylan Cozens – RW – Lethbridge (WHL)
Trevor Zegras – C – USNTDP (USA)
That website aggregates all the major rankings and posts a mock draft once or twice a month. So I enjoy using that resource to see where the draft prospects are situated at any given time during the season.
So if Edmonton were to draft today and the rankings didn’t change, then their man would be Trevor Zegras. I’ve read reports that have referred him to as “Jack Hughes-lite”.
“A creative player with exciting puck skills. Zegras blends good speed with unique lines to cause separation through the neutral zone and distribute effectively to his mates.” (source)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWUNxfbGV4
Tankathon.com’s top-5 players for the 2019 entry draft look like this:
You’ll probably notice the position change for Cozens there from RW to C. He can play both but I expect him to be a winger to start his NHL career at least and perhaps make the jump a bit later when he’s grown into his body a bit.
I simmed the draft lottery and what do you know, the Oilers jumped up two spots into 3rd overall. They’d have the enigmatic Russian known as Vasili Podkolzin if that were the case.
A multi-tool force who plays nasty but also can beat you with ridiculous puck skills, Podkolzin’s desire to develop in Russia shouldn’t trump his game-breaking upside.” (source)
I’ve heard Podkolzin being described as a mean mother f*cker and with his skill and ability to take over games, doesn’t that remind you of Evgeni Malkin? Edmonton could take him and then leave him in Russia for a year or two and bring him over as a 20-year-old to maximize the impact upon arrival too.
One thing for certain, this guy is no Nail Yakupov.
For me, my top-5 players I’d like to draft go as thus:
Jack Hughes – Closest thing to Patrick Kane you’ll see.
Kappo Kakko – Combine Matt Duchene’s speed and agility with Joe Sakic’s wrist shot.
Vasili Podkolzin – Russian Peter Forsberg?
Kirby Dach – He reminds me of Ryan Getzlaf sans the jerk part.
Dylan Cozens – I get a Jeff Carter feel when I watch Cozens play.
The comparisons are a bit glorified but you get the gist.
I think we all hope that the Oilers aren’t drafting in these spots anymore but the reality is that the combination of Chiarelli and Hitchcock has left us where we are. So we might as well cover it and get to know the players that could be part of the organization.
The Vegas Golden Misfits are going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018!!! Love ’em or hate ’em it’s an amazing story and this is one punk rocker’s way of giving tribute! Click the pic above and get yours today!Elias Pettersson’s nickname is “Alien”. Here’s a shirt to celebrate it! Click the image to buy one!What a hilarious phrase! Click the pic to get yours today!
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 Hughes
— 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.
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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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Tonight the inaugural Hlinka Gretzky Cup will begin and I just wanted to give you the heads up on some of the talent that will be gracing the ice in Edmonton and Red Deer for the next 5 days!
What I’m going to do here is just give you a brief overview of the players you should be paying attention to if you end up watching the games on TV or actually going to the games.
We’ll start with the lesser known teams and work our way to the Canadian team because Canada dominates this tourney nearly every year and it usually has the most talent on its roster.
(Sh*t! I just saw Derek Neumeier’s title to his post over at FC Hockey… My bad! Check his post out. It’s very good! Hopefully, some traffic love will appease the blogging gods for using basically the same title…)
First, a little video and if you haven’t, please SUBSCRIBE to our channel!
Rochette has dual citizenship (CAN/SUI) and has spent the last 5 years plying his trade in the Swiss system. This year he was drafted by the Chicoutimi Sagunéens 7th overall in the QMJHL draft.
2019 draft eligible
A dynamic playmaker who has good vision and the ability to make passes in traffic. He is a fluid skater and is skilled with the puck. (link)
Delemont is part of a new breed of defenseman coming to the forefront of hockey. The small offensive defenseman.
2020 draft eligible
Delemont makes up for his lack of size with deft skating abilities and offensive play. He has been productive on the back end at nearly every level he has played at. Confidence and mobility with the puck on the blue line, cerebral decision making. (link)
Drafted 1st overall by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the most recent CHL import draft, it’s been a while since a Slovak has been this hyped but Cajkovic is the most talented player on Team Slovakia by far and will be impossible to miss.
2019 draft eligible
Cajkovic is pure offense from his shot all the way down to his fancy feet that deke and dangle their way towards premium scoring chances. (link)
Slovakia’s top 2020 eligible prospect will lace ’em up for the team and provide some offense from the blueline.
2020 draft eligible
A composed two-way defender who can make quick decision with the puck and move well laterally. His stride is long and efficient, it makes it simple for him to jump up in the rush off a first pass. (link)
Saint John also added this talented Czech in the import draft this year. Oilers prospect Ostap Safin, should he get sent back to junior, is going to have a couple of fine forwards to play with in Prikryl and Cajkovic next season.
2019 draft eligible
Highly skilled centre. Provides leadership and is a scoring threat whenever he is on the ice. Was a standout player on a team that could not seem to get it going during World Under-17 Challenge. High hockey IQ and always seems to be in the right place. Can play the point on the power play. Top prospect for 2018 CHL Import draft with potential to develop into pro prospect. (link)
Martin Hugo Has is a massive defender who’ll be suiting up for Tampere in the SM-Liiga next season. He’ll draw the scouts attention simply due to his size and physicality.
2019 draft eligible
He possesses an absolute cannon for a shot from the blue line, gets pucks through traffic. Thinks the game well in his own zone, doesn’t just throw the puck away but he is proactive with the puck on his stick. (link)
Zaitsev was selected by the Red Deer Rebels in the import draft this year and will be suiting up for them in the upcoming season. So there’s a good reason for Rebels fans to take in Russia’s games.
2019 draft eligible
Wonderful skater with strong agility and edge work that gets him into prime set-up areas with regularity. Zaitsev was a top-six player for most of the year, centering either the first or second line. He has good size and keen vision, but he also lends support well below the circles in his own end. Zaitsev seems more like a playmaker than a shooter, but his ability to think ahead of time and properly rank the best options is what separates him from most 2019-eligible pivots. (link)
Russia’s no.1 dman is slated to be one of the most important pieces to their team at this tournament.
Mobile, two-way defenceman. Excellent skater, escapes hits with his skating agility. Really smooth and effortless skater – smart positional defender who transitions quickly. Hard guy to forecheck and can skate the puck out of trouble. He lacks size and strength. Needs to add a little strength for puck battles, as his compete can only take him so far. Loads of upside to his game. (link)
Podkolzin will most likely be manning Russia’s top line at the tournament.
2019 draft eligible
Podkolzin is one of those noticeable players because he works extremely hard but also finds a way to be involved in most quality chances for his team. He busts his rump every shift, so it’s no coincidence the puck seems to always find him. He also owns a deadly shot. (link)
SPEED! He’ll be one of the faster players at the tournament. So you might actually miss him if you’re not paying attention.
2019 draft eligible
Diminutive yet dangerous goal scorer who hunts for pucks and is willing to pay a high price to grab them. Altonen has speed and a heavy shot that keeps both defenders and goalies honest, so his pump fakes usually leads to a lot of bodies sliding across the deck. His combination of speed and elite stickhandling terrorizes unsure opponents. (link)
Kokkonen is the straw that stirs the drink for this Finland team. Look for him to be a massive factor in the team’s success or lack thereof.
2019 draft eligible
One of best defenceman in this age group. Kokkonen has already seen time in Liiga playing for Jukurit. Jumps into the play, has good offensive instincts. Has a very good shot that he keeps low and accurate. Can be physical when needed to separate the opponent from the puck. (link)
Scored at nearly a point-per-game at last year’s u18’s, he should be an important contributor to Finland’s offense this year as well.
2020 eligible
The most interesting aspect of Lundell’s game is his maturity. His hockey IQ is excellent and his defensive play and positioning are much better than would be expected from the player of his age. Lundell has solid hands but he doesn’t make unnecessary dekes for the sake of being flashy. He focuses on simple yet efficient play instead. (link)
He will challenge Alexis Lafreniere for the scoring title at this tournament and for the 1st overall selection in 2020. I think he’d be a top-10 pick in this year’s draft if he were able to be selected a year early.
2020 draft eligible
A 2020 draft eligible who has been touted as the next great forward coming out of Sweden for many years now. Holtz has been playing above his age since he was a pre-teen and actually spent some time last year playing at Sweden’s top junior level in the SuperElit, where he scored a productive 8 points in 11 games. Holtz has been dominant against his own age group for years now, and he is well known for his instinctive offensive play, fundamental scoring abilities and intelligent well rounded offensive game. (link)
Returns for his second kick at the can in this tourney. Has a motor that never stops and will be an integral part of Sweden’s leadership core.
2019 draft eligible
Described as a dynamic power forward who doesn’t take shifts off. Can create offense on his own with crafty puck handling and explosiveness on the attack. (link)
This year’s high-end smooth skating right-shot 2-way defender out of Sweden is Victor Soderstrom. Will anchor the Swedish defense along with Tobias Bjornfot.
2019 draft eligible
He is a balanced defender who shows terrific skating abilities both with and without the puck. He can play a dependable defensive game, a mobile offensive game, or a hard-nosed physical game depending on the situations he adjusts to. His puck moving side is quite efficient. He has a turn and burn transitional game in which he gets pucks into the offensive zone productively. (link)
From all accounts, Bjornfot is a SOLID two-way defender who’s more talented on the defensive side of the puck than the offensive. Not to say that he’s not offensively gifted as his 22pts in 42 games for Djurgarden suggest there IS offense there but he may find that playing a more shut-down role may benefit him more in this tournament.
2019 draft eligible
There are not many flaws in Bjornfot’s defensive game. He plays physically in the corners and in front of the net, maintains solid gap control, and rarely gets beaten in one-on-one situations. (link)
Ridiculously talented sniper currently cutting up the OHL for Hamilton. A likely candidate to lead the US in scoring this week.
2019 draft eligible
Kaliyev is that goal scoring winger who plays such a composed and controlled style of game. He has confidence with the puck on his stick and instinctive abilities that are a great contributor to his goal scoring success. He is a big kid who has slick puck controlling abilities, a wicked release that can stun a goalie, and the ability to score from anywhere with the puck on his stick. (link)
The only goalie on our list today. Wolf backed up Carter Hart last year in Everett and is expected to take over the starter’s role in 2018/19.
2019 draft eligible
An athletic net minder who suffocates first chance opportunities. He has excellent reflexes with his lower body and despite not being a bigger goalie, he makes up for it with his quickness and awareness.
The next great Canadian scorer is amongst you. 40+ goals as a 16-year-old in the QMJHL is mad and I’m jealous I’m not in Edmonton to watch this talent. Watch, someone will tag him with the old “Generational” this week. He might be the next Mike Bossy, who knows? All I do know is the kid scores at will and he’ll be lighting up junior oppositions for the next two seasons.
2020 draft eligible
Lafreniere is an elite scoring winger who possess one of the most lethal shots from a junior player we have seen in a while. Controls the game when he is on the ice, dictates the play and pace. He has great hands and can flash skill at times, making defenders look silly.(link)
Krebs will be, at worst, a top-ten pick in this year’s draft. He’s drawn some comparisons to Jonathan Toews due to his outstanding two-way play. Was the WHL’s first overall pick in 2016.
2019 draft eligible
Dynamic center with leadership traits, game-changing speed and creativity. Krebs can be a stopper in the defensive zone and a scoring threat in the opposing end. He is the kid you summon to take all the big draws or deliver a game-changing play. (link)
The 2018 WHL Rookie of the Year, Cozens reminds me a bit of Jeff Carter in that the release on his shot is absolutely deadly. He’s got Carter’s size but I don’t think he has his skating unfortunately. Not far off mind you but that shot though… Wow! Should be a top-ten pick next June in Vancouver.
2019 draft eligible
Cozens has a great shot and knows how to finish in a variety of ways, including roofing a backhander from in close. He competes hard in all three zones and creates separation in open ice thanks to his above-average speed. (link)
Scored big at the u17’s last year with 7pts in 5 games. Dach has that Getzlaf size/skill thing going for him. He’s also not the type to shy away from the rough stuff. Could be unstoppable once he gets his weight up to the 215lb range. Not the fastest buggy on the track though.
2019 draft eligible
Dach is a man among boys, which is going to spell a lot of trouble for teams trying to defend against him. Don’t let his size fool you, however: Dach is also incredibly skilled and patient with the puck. Displaying a style of hockey similar to a young Joe Thornton, he uses his large frame and long reach to maintain possession and work a cycle while scanning for opportunities to set up scoring chances for his teammates. (link)
Byram should be a top-5 pick in the 2019 draft. He’s such a good skater and he works his edges so well. He’ll be a top-pairing defender in the NHL someday that also QBs the powerplay. Not only that but there’s an old-school element to his game as well if you know what I mean. Shades of Denis Potvin maybe?
2019 draft eligible
Tough-as-nails defender with deceptive agility and puck handling who is earmarked for a top pairing at the NHL level. Byram is an outstanding puck mover who makes good decisions, but his powerful back skating helps him retreat in time to thwart counterattacks. He stands up at his blue line and rapidly transitions from defense to offense. (link)
Local boy, Matthew Robertson, who plays for the hometown Edmonton Oil Kings, is a smooth-skating two-way defender. Will most likely be tasked with being a shut-down defender on this Team Canada due to his high-end defense and his excellent skating.
2019 draft eligible
Earning minutes on the top penalty kill unit and power play unit as a 16 year old. A fluid skating assertive two-way defender who hs elite footwork and transitional game. He processes the game better than anyone else and makes great reads in transition. Mobile on the blue line and able to create shooting lanes with his footwork. Defends the rush well and rarely ever gets beat wide. (link)
So big thanks to draftgeek.ca, The Sporting News (Kournianos), and Future Considerations because that’s where the majority of the quotes came from. Click some of the links above to get more information.
I hope you enjoy the tournament!
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